38 THE pbesident's addeess. 



minister of education, was appointed in attendance on the over- 

 king, with under-ministers of education in each of the minor 

 kingdoms. Each such ollamh was assured inviolability of person, 

 right of sanctuary, and the enjoyment of certain endowments.* 



Pray observe that this was no new creation ; it was the re- 

 adjustment of a very ancient institution thrown out of gear by 

 the introduction of Christianity, or rather by the strong classical 

 and clerical direction taken in the ecclesiastical schools. It 

 appears from the Brehon laws that the sons of gentlemen were 

 expected to be taught horsemanship, chess, swimming, and the 

 use of the several weapons employed in war. The daughters 

 were to be instructed in sewing, weaving, cutting out, and 

 embroidery. 



Now, we can well conceive that a venerable saint laid more 

 stress on the elaboration of knot-work in the illumination of a 

 MS. than he did on the playing of chess, and that he was hardly 

 a master in equitation or a skilful diver. The kings and nobles 

 of Ireland were therefore compelled to make provision that such 

 of their sons as were not destined to the ecclesiastical state 

 should receive suitable teaching. According to law, every col- 

 lege had in it six masters — the headmaster, who supervised the 

 whole course of education ; the professor of religion, who 

 instructed in the Gospel history and in the articles of faith ; the 

 professor of grammar, spelling, arithmetic, and astronomy ; the 

 master of historic studies ; the under-master, who taught read- 

 ing ; and the cantor, who instructed in the recitation or singing 

 of the Psalms. 



Of the quality of learning given in these schools, many 

 now have little idea. Latin and Greek were taught, also Hebrew. 

 To test his knowledge, once when Brendan proceeded to the 

 altar, a Greek Liturgy was placed before him. He went through 

 the service without hesitation, translating into Latin at sight. 

 Still more striking is the evidence from the texts of Scripture, 

 either in Gospels, or as quoted in the Irish and Welsh Lives. 



On examination, it was seen that these were, in a great 

 many cases, corrected from the original Greek, because the Latin 



* O'Curry, " Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish," ii, p. 77. 



