21 



BEDELL'S TREE. 



BY RURICOLA. 



THERE is in this neighbourhood a noble tree, memorable as well on 

 its own account, being an uncommon specimen of its kind, as from 

 local circumstances, which are likely to make it equally an object of 

 interest to many of your readers. I allude to a Sycamore, in the 

 garden of the Bishop's residence at Kilmore, about three miles from 

 Cavan, and six from this place. 



s . The tree, the chief dimensions of which I have procured on the 

 spot for " The Field Naturalist," and which is in a flourishing and 

 vigorous condition, is planted at the end of a fine terrace walk, at 

 the back of the episcopal residence, overshadowing on one side the 

 adjoining church-yard. Local tradition reports it to have been planted 

 by the truly primitive and apostolical Bishop Bedell, who was advanced 

 to the see in 1629, and died in February 1641-2, having been driven 

 from his house the preceding year by the Irish rebellion, and compelled 

 to take refuge in a ruinous castle, in one of the neighouring lakes, pro- 

 perly called the Castle of Loughouter, but commonly known at this 

 time in the country by the appellation of " Bedell's Tower." The 

 Sycamore, of which I am speaking, is also a memorial of the Bishop, 

 being known by the name of " Bedell's Tree." 



Whether or not the tree was originally of his planting, seems to be 

 questionable ; indeed I have heard the supposed age, for it must in that 

 case be near two hundred years old, alleged as improbable in so quick- 

 growing and soft-wooded a tree as the sycamore : on the other hand, 

 its bulk, and the extent of its boughs, v/hich shall be particularised 

 presently, must have required no small number of years to complete 

 them; whilst the sheltered situation in which it grows, may be judged 

 favourable to its protection and preservation, 



However this be, it is certain that in the church-yard, which is con- 

 tiguous to the Bishop of Kilmore's garden, and in a spot now over- 

 shadowed by a large limb of this majestic tree, were deposited the 

 mortal remains of the venerable prelate, whose name it bears. At 

 the solemnity of his interment, the Irish papists attended with great 

 decency, and discharged a volley of shot over his grave, crying out 

 in Latin, " Requiescat in pace ultimus Anglorum ! " " May the last 

 of the English rest in peace ! " for, as recorded by Bishop Burnet in 

 his life, they had often said that as they esteemed him the best of the 



