126 Mr. Vetvue on the Histori/ and Antiquities of Tara Hill. 



King of Wales, wrote to him that he should send him back, or refuseing see to doe, that he with 

 all his forces would goe over to him, and destroy his kingdome, and remaine there untill he had 

 found Hugh Gwary, which the King of Wales perseaveing, sent him back to Roadanus the abbot 

 againe — When King Dermott understood how he was sent over, he prepared to come to Lohra 

 with a few of his guard, and in his coach came to Lothra aforesaid, and sent one of his men to know 

 where Hugh Gawry was. The man looked about him, and could see none but Roadanus, that sate 

 in his accustomed chaire or seat, where he did use to say his prayers, under whose feet, or neere 

 adjoyning, he caused a hole to be made in the floore, for Hugh Gwary to rest in, whereof nobody 

 had knowledg but Roadanus himselfe, and one more that carried him his meat at the times of 

 refections. The king, seeing the man brought him noe tydings, he entred himselfe, and was confi- 

 dent, Roadanus being inquired of the place where Hugh Gawrey was, would not lye, but tell truth 

 as was his custom. The king accordingly entred, and saluted him with harch salutations of bitter 

 and pinching words, such as were unfitt to be spoken to such a holy and vertuous man, saying that 

 it did not belong to one of his coat to shelter or keep in his house, one that committed such a fact, 

 as to kill his sargiant that was imployed in the execution of his instructions, and prayed that there 

 would be noe abbott or monk to succeed him in his place in Lothra. By God's grace, said Road- 

 anus, there shall be abbots and raonkes for ever, and there shall be noe kings dwelling in Tarach 

 from hence forward. When they had thus bitterly spoken, the king asked where Hugh Gawry 

 was ; I know not where he is said Roadanus, if he be not where you stand, for soe he was indeed 

 right under the king's feet. The king thinking he spoke in jest, departed, and being out of the 

 house, thought with himselfe, that the holy man spoke truth, and that Hugh Gwarey was under the 

 place where he stood, and sent one of his men in againe with a pick-ax to digg the place, and to 

 bring him out by force. As soon as the man came to the place, he struck the earth with the pick- 

 ax, his hands lost all their strength on the sudaine in such manner as the party could not hft the 

 pick-ax from the ground, then he cryed mercy, and besaught Roadanus for forgiveness and 

 remission, with his benediction, which Rodanus accordingly gave him, and kept the man thenceforth 

 with him in the habitt of a monke. The king seeing him not returning entred himselfe, and 

 caused the hole to be digged, where he found Hugh Gwairie, whom he carried prisoner to Tarach. 

 " Roadanus seeing himselfe violently abused, and bereft of his kinsman, sent for others of the 

 church, and followed the king to Tarrach, and there craved Hugh Gawry of the king, which he 

 abselutely refused. After supper the king with the nobles of his court, and prelates of the church, 

 went to bed, and about midnight the king being heavely asleep, dreamed that he saw a great tree 

 that rooted deeply into the earth, whose lofty top and braunches were soe high and broad, that 

 they came neare the cloudes of heaven, and that he saw 150 men about the tree, with 150 broad- 

 mouthed sharp axes cutting the tree, and when it was cut, when it fell to the earth, the great noyse 

 it made at the time of the falling thereof, awaked the king out of his sleep ; which dream was con- 

 strued, interpreted, and expounded thus : — that this great tree, strongly rooted in the earth, and 

 braunched abroad, that it retched to the very firmament, was the king whose power was over all 

 Ireland ; and that the 150 men, with sharp axes cutting the tree, were these prelates saying the 

 150 Psalmes of David, that would cut him from the very rootes to his destruction, and fall for ever. 

 When the morning came the king, nobles, and prelates arose, and after the clergymen had don 



