360 
in the valuable collection of Dr. Petrie. But to return from 
this digression. 
Several instances of this alleged power of the Irish bards 
of rhyming to death not rats only, but even Lords Lieutenant 
of Ireland, are collected by Dr. O’Donovan, in the Preface 
to Angus O’Daly’s Satire, already mentioned, p. 17, seq. 
The following is an instance given by the Four Masters 
at the year 1414, in which an unpopular Lord Lieutenant was 
rhymed to death by the Irish bards :—John Stanley, De- 
puty of the King of England, arrived in Ireland, a man who 
gave neither mercy nor protection to clergy, laity, or men of 
science, but subjected as many of them as he came upon to 
cold, hardship, and famine.” Then, after mentioning some 
particular instances, especially his having plundered Niall, 
son of Hugh O’Higgin, the annalists proceed to say :—‘ The 
O’ Higgins, with Niall, then satirized John Stanley, who lived 
after this satire but five weeks, for he died from the virulence 
of their lampoons.” 
The most ancient story of rhyming rats to death in Ire- 
land is found in an historico-romantic tale, entitled «“‘ Imchechc 
na tnom Odimhe;” “The Adventures of the Great Com- 
pany.” The history of the Great Company is this: —On 
the death of Dallan Forgaill, the chief ollave, or poet of 
Erinn, about A. D. 600, Senchan Torpest, a distinguished 
poet of Connacht, was selected to pronounce the defunct bard’s 
funeral oration, and was subsequently elected to his place in 
the chief ollaveship of the kingdom. Senchan forthwith 
formed his establishment of bardic officers and of pupils in 
the art of poetry, &c., on a larger scale than had been known 
since the revision of the bardic institution at the great meet- 
ing of Dromceat, some twenty years previously. As chief 
poet of Erinn, he was entitled to make his visitation, with his 
retinue, of any of the provinces, and to be entertained during 
pleasure at the court of the provincial kings; and the honour 
