228 THE LEGEND OF ROSE ROCHE. 



intimated to Rose Roche, and the Prior declared, " by the 

 vestment," that to evade matrimony longer was impossible. 

 " She had," the holy man said, " an ample list to choose 

 from : there were eleven suitors in the neighbourhood, besides 

 the Big Man of the West" for so the Thane of Connaught 

 was entitled. 



In this extremity, the lady resolved to exercise, at least, 

 the privilege of free choice. The Prior was directed to ingross 

 a bond, by which the respective candidates for her hand bound 

 themselves to grant an uncontrolled right of selection to the 

 widow, and covenanted, moreover, neither to molest, nor 

 permit her to be molested, when her choice was made. The 

 deed was duly executed the day for her decision was named 

 and a reasonable time allowed for " the Big Man of the 

 West" to attend and try his fortune. 



O' Connor was surprised when the determination of the fair 

 widow was communicated. He had only time for a hurried 

 preparation, as his rivals, from their vicinity to the lady, had 

 never taken the remoter situation of " the Big Man" into 

 their consideration, when they named the day. O'Connor, 

 however, was no sluggard ; he collected his " following" 

 with all haste, and every department was complete, when, 

 alas ! the chief harper fell sick without a cause, and no other 

 was procurable for a distance of sixty miles. In this dilemma 

 A Saxon youth, who two years since had been shipwrecked 

 beneath the castle walls, was recollected. He could not, it 

 is true, " strike the bold harp," but he had a sweet and 

 mellow voice, and his skill upon the lute was admirable. In 

 wordcraft he was a thorough proficient, and with lance and 

 brand had more than once proved himself a man. O'Connor 

 had no alternative, and the stranger was selected to fill a 

 place that " Cathwold O'Connor of the harp" should have 

 more worthily occupied. 



Although the Thane of Connaught and his gallant company 

 pushed forward with all the speed that man and horse could 

 make, from bad roads and flooded rivers, they were unable to 

 reach the heights above Dhu Castle until the sun of the 

 eventful day had set. In vain knight and squire pressed on 

 their jaded steeds evening fell; all the candidates besides 

 had been in the hall for hours, and, as " the Big Man" had 

 not appeared, according to modern parlance he was v r oted. 

 present by the company, and the banquet was served. 



