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Carrickfergus-Its Castle-M'Skimmin's History-Historic Outline -Bruce's Invasion-North Gate-Witches-The Church-Monuments Cure for Scolds-The County of the Town-Salt Mine of Duncrue-Fossils-Rare Plants.

LEAVING Belfast by rail to Carrickfergus, you skim along between the mountains and the Lough with a rapidity which only affords a passing glimpse of the handsome villa residences of the merchants, situated on commanding slopes, in beautifully planted lawns. It would be endless to give the names of these, and almost invidious to particularize. Passing the ruins of Green

Castle, about two miles further on, you reach the village of White Abbey, where there is a large factory belonging to Mr. Grimshaw. Here King William III. landed, and the remains of a house are still pointed out as the place where he slept that night. A little farther on there is the site of the ancient monastic establishment of White Abbey, built in 1242. From this to

CARRICKFERGUS

there is nothing worthy of notice. After Belfast it has a very deserted appearance. The shops are insignificant, and the houses inelegant; and were it not for its Castle and historical associations, the stranger would hardly think it necessary to prolong his visit beyond the few moments necessary to walk or drive through it.

It is

The Castle, however, merits a close inspection. perhaps the only one of the very ancient castles at present in a habitable condition. Situated on an insulated rock, jutting out into the bay, it commands the approach to the opulent city of Belfast, and as a military position is of much importance.

At a very early period it was selected as the site of a fortress, being one of the most celebrated of the military posts in the time of the Dalaradians, and ever since it has occupied a distinguished position in the annals of the kingdom. Carrickfergus is said to have derived its name from Feargusa, or Feargus, who was lost off this coast before the birth of Christ,

The present Castle was built by De Courcy, in 1178, who received a grant from Henry II. of all the land he might conquer in Ulster. Upon his entrance upon the scene of his intended operations he was not slow in perceiving the advantages of this fort, and, after the Norman fashion, he proceeded to build the present castle. It would be unpardonable to speak of Carrickfergus and forget that one of our most important local histories is that of M'Skimmin's history of this town. We take leave to copy the following extract from his work descriptive of the Castle, and which is so little changed that it applies equally at the present day as it did then: "Towards the town are two towers, called Half-Moons, and between them is the only entrance, defended by a strait passage, with loopholes for firearms. About the centre of this passage there was a drawbridge, and the barbican which protected it is still to be seen. A dam, west of the Castle, is believed to have been made for supplying water to the fosse. Between the half-moons there is an aperture called a machicolation for letting fall stones, melted lead, &c., upon the assailants. Inside of this gate there is a portcullis, with a like aperture for the same purpose. The arches on each side of this are Gothic, being the only ones of this order observed about the whole building. In the gun-rooms there are a few pieces of light ordnance. Within the gates is the lower yard or ballium; on the left are the vaults, which are said to be bomb-proof, above which are the officers' quarters; south of these are the armourer's forge and a

furnace for heating shot, near to which is the Lion's Den, a small projecting tower on the outer wall. Southwards, and to the right, is the entrance into the upper ballium or inner yard, by a gate with a semicircular arch, above which is a large aperture, circular at top inside; this aperture opens considerably, and on each side are notches to protect those who defended the gate. The openings above this gate appear to have been originally intended for shooting arrows; and the top of the wall above seems to have been garreted for the same purpose.

"The square tower is divided into five stories. The largest room was in the third story, with some circular windows; it was 25 feet high, 38 feet broad, 40 feet long; the ground story was bomb-proof; and within the keep there was a draw-well, 37 feet deep, but now nearly choked up with rubbish. Its water was said to have been possessed of medicinal virtues."

HISTORIC OUTLINE.

In 1315, Lord Edward Bruce having embarked 6000 men at Ayr, in Scotland, landed at the Olderfleet Castle in Lough Larne, and shortly afterwards marched towards Carrickfergus. In his progress he encountered and utterly routed the Earl of Ulster, and took many of the Anglo-Norman nobles prisoners. The Castle, however, made an obstinate defence under Thomas Mandeville. In a spirited sally made by this intrepid officer, the Scotch army would have been surprised, had it not been for the devotion of a small band of sixty

men under Neil Fleming, who boldly threw himself before the English, and thus arrested their progress by the total sacrifice of himself and his little band, exclaiming, as he joined unequal battle with his foe, "Now they shall see how we can die for our Lord." Meantime Bruce, being apprised of what had occurred, hastened to meet the English, but not before the gallant little band had been cut to pieces. Mandeville directed his troops with the view of surrounding the Scots, but was met by Bruce in person; and one Gilbert Harpur, a man of powerful strength, knowing Mandeville by the richness of his armour, rushed upon him and struck him to the ground with his battle-axe, when Bruce despatched him with a knife. The English fled back in consternation, and the party who first entered the Castle drew up the drawbridge, and left many of their comrades to the mercy of their foes. After a gallant defence, the garrison, being reduced to the greatest extremity by famine, at last surrendered to Bruce, who, having secured it, advanced to Dublin, and, after a variety of fortunes, he was attacked by Sir John Bermingham, and slain in a battle near Dundalk, and the "Bruce's Hand," which was borne as a standard, was captured.*

Carrickfergus remained as the great stronghold of the English for centuries. In 1641 it frequently changed masters, being alternately in the hands of the Scotch, English, and Irish.

A silver hand, said to have been the same that was lost by the Scots, was seen by the author near Portaferry in 1835,

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