The following is a collection of verse recently unearthed during a structural upgrade after an IRA bomb blast took out half the wall of the Ulster cathedral. During the course of the excavation – as a preliminary to repairing the structure to make it sound again – a small chest was discovered that contained a curious collection of scrolls.
It has long been acknowledged that the origin of the limerick lies in Ireland – or Eire as it used to be called – but no one could have guessed that it was so early on in the country’s history. These new findings, however, clearly demonstrate that this art – a simple verse in A-A-B-B-A form – were alive and well as early as the mid fifteenth century. Further, it is surprising to note that many of the materials in this collection are obituaries or of a political nature. The style is simple, usually showing the early short-phrase precursor to the true limerick, but the pattern is almost universally of a kind and indicative of the people’s sense of humour.
It is most unfortunate that the author (or authors – though this is unlikely) of these ditties must remain forever lost in the mist of time, for none of these vellums is signed. In fact, it is more probable that a monk transcribed them from common rural verse sometime between 1445 and 1460, though this is suspect and not subject to rigorous verification. Nevertheless I present them here for the interested historian or hobbyist, translated as closely as possible to the original meaning and rhyme into modern English. Carefull attention to inflection should be taken, as all of the source materials were in gaelic.
For those less well versed in the history of Eire, where possible I have postulated a date as to when I think an event it describes most likely occurred, as well as any pertinent notes I am aware of that relate to the time, but any such should annotations should be considered “educated guesswork” at best.
If a reader is familiar with any similar “Eire-ish” materials that may exist in other collections around the world, I urge you to make them known by transcribing them into the empty spaces beyond my own.
The Author
VOLUME 1
***
There once was a gaelic domain,
That desperately searched for a name.
But none could be found,
Although many abound
So “Eire” lords were all called the same.
c.1419
It is worth pointing out that in the earlier parts of the nation’s development, all army and navy commanders were called “Lord Eire” as a token of honour – regardless of what their name might have been prior to that. As a result, all references to such personages are untraceable to exact events as there is a long list of “Eires” who served in both a military and a naval capacity.
***
King Eóghan II mac Néill Óg
Was known to have lived in a bog.
And cloth, it is saíd,
Was all he could trade
And fish was the dish on his log.
c.1419
In gaelic, “log” is slang for a dining table”. Eóghan II mac Néill Óg ruled from January 1st 1419 through 1421, then was temporarily unseated until regaining the throne eleven years later. It is believed that he was the first to encourage merchants to leave the emerald isle to trade on the international markets. Unfortunately, the entire country’s economy consisted of fish (which no one particularly wanted) and a little cloth.
***
An alliance with France was a boon,
Along with the Scots and Bourboun
For the prize it was Meath
But was swept underneath
When the froggy surrendered too soon.
c1421
Eire is known to have entered into a pre-existing alliance with France on May 1st 1420. The other allies were France, Auvergne, Bourbonnais (known as the Bourboun to the Eire), Provence, Scotland and Lorraine who were already at war with England, Brittany, Burgundy and Aragon. It is believed that Eóghan II wished to do this in order to make the quiet acquisition of Meath, a territory on the isle that he believed to be rightfully Eire’s, while the armies of England’s Henry V were otherwise preoccupied. This grand strategy failed, however, when England and her allies forced France to surrender in January of 1421 before a separate peace could be negotiated – even though there is evidence that the Eire army had captured the provincial capital. Separate sources in the Tower of London Archives indicate that the ambassadors from Eire were intentionally snubbed by Henry as he knew the war was drawing to a close.
***
Domhnall the eleventh I’m told,
Had many a lass in his hold.
He sent them all ‘round,
To all o’ Europe’s men, crowned,
And now they’re all held in cuckold.
c.1422-1430
Domhnall XI spent a large amount of time marrying off his various sisters, daughters, sons, etc. throughout the various European countries in an attempt to gain both favour with these nations as wells as valuable military surveillance as the court in Eire was largely blind to the events transpiring elsewhere in the world. It may also be that he was looking for support should Eóghan make a reappearance as the plot to murder him failed and he escaped into the countryside. Amongst the known “placements” for his relatives were Burgandy, Brittany, Aragon, Navarra, Gelre, Freisland, Oldenburg, Bremen, Holstein, Mecklenburg, Genoa, Austria, Savoy, Venice and most importantly, perhaps, France, Portugal, Castille, and Naples. It is a source of curiosity amongst scholars how he could possibly have so many eligible close relatives and there is some speculation that he recruited other nobles’ offspring to play the part as the needs arose. One of these has been documented: a young lass was sent to France in 1430 who not only was not his daughter (as advertised) but was also not a virgin. It is believed that the subsequent events and Charles VII’s refusal to negotiate may have stemmed from dissident nobles having leaked the details of the plot at French court – though of course this may not be true as by that time Domhnall was no longer on the throne of Eire.
***
Ol’ Hank must be losing his mind,
For all of his troops you will find
Either crossing a moat
Or seasick - afloat
To none of this Domhnall is blind.
c. 1421-1431
There is no doubt, obviously, that this verse originated sometime during Domhnall XI’s reign – probably later rather than earlier. Other extant fragments show that the monarch was keeping careful note of the number of English troops stationed in Meath at almost all times via a very advanced “runner” messenger system. While the English were never at war with Eire during his ten-year tenure, Domhnall recorded more than a dozen instances of a large English force (between 8000 and 12,000 soldier) landing in Meath, only to depart again within several months leaving only a light garrison behind to man the ramparts of the minimal defences. This was a source of amusement to the king when there were few other such sources.
***
The ships of the navy are small
The masts of the ships they are tall
A galley of five
Could barely survive
In the still sea, let ‘lone in a squall.
c. 1422
Eire had no navy that we know of in 1421 when Domhnall XI took the throne. During the first several years of his reign he commissioned no less than 5 vessels; but the economy of Eire was such that he could ill afford the full-blown warships commonly forming the bulk of the navies of his neighbours. Instead, he was forced to settle for galleys which were unsuitable for deep waters where the potential for storms or large waves was great.
***
There once was a bailiff of Ulster
Whose boots got too big for his ulcer
The people, he found
Didn’t want him around
The taxes collected to bolster.
c. 1427
I found a reference in the national archives to the first instance of a bailiff being promoted to a tax collector. After a year’s training he assumed his post in January 1427 in the capital province, Ulster. Given the date of the other inclusions in these verses, I would assume that this one is in reference to this noble. As usual, his name was Lord Eire.
***
There once was a king without friends,
Who lacked dipl’matic means to his ends.
Alliance expired
And now he was mired
And unable to make his amends.
c. 1431
It is believed that the alliance between Eire and France (and the various other inclusions) expired in January 1431 and that all available diplomats were still on their way back from various remote parts of Europe at the time, thus Domhnall XI was powerless to negotiate its extension. Records indicate that subsequent attempts to join the new French alliance with Castille, Portugal and Naples were not well received – possibly due to the aforementioned fraudulent royal marriage – and this left Eire dangerously at the mercy of England. In desperation, Eire eventually contracted to enter Scotland’s alliance with Friesland and Helvetia.
***
<Volume 2 to follow in the next few days>
It has long been acknowledged that the origin of the limerick lies in Ireland – or Eire as it used to be called – but no one could have guessed that it was so early on in the country’s history. These new findings, however, clearly demonstrate that this art – a simple verse in A-A-B-B-A form – were alive and well as early as the mid fifteenth century. Further, it is surprising to note that many of the materials in this collection are obituaries or of a political nature. The style is simple, usually showing the early short-phrase precursor to the true limerick, but the pattern is almost universally of a kind and indicative of the people’s sense of humour.
It is most unfortunate that the author (or authors – though this is unlikely) of these ditties must remain forever lost in the mist of time, for none of these vellums is signed. In fact, it is more probable that a monk transcribed them from common rural verse sometime between 1445 and 1460, though this is suspect and not subject to rigorous verification. Nevertheless I present them here for the interested historian or hobbyist, translated as closely as possible to the original meaning and rhyme into modern English. Carefull attention to inflection should be taken, as all of the source materials were in gaelic.
For those less well versed in the history of Eire, where possible I have postulated a date as to when I think an event it describes most likely occurred, as well as any pertinent notes I am aware of that relate to the time, but any such should annotations should be considered “educated guesswork” at best.
If a reader is familiar with any similar “Eire-ish” materials that may exist in other collections around the world, I urge you to make them known by transcribing them into the empty spaces beyond my own.
The Author
VOLUME 1
***
There once was a gaelic domain,
That desperately searched for a name.
But none could be found,
Although many abound
So “Eire” lords were all called the same.
c.1419
It is worth pointing out that in the earlier parts of the nation’s development, all army and navy commanders were called “Lord Eire” as a token of honour – regardless of what their name might have been prior to that. As a result, all references to such personages are untraceable to exact events as there is a long list of “Eires” who served in both a military and a naval capacity.
***
King Eóghan II mac Néill Óg
Was known to have lived in a bog.
And cloth, it is saíd,
Was all he could trade
And fish was the dish on his log.
c.1419
In gaelic, “log” is slang for a dining table”. Eóghan II mac Néill Óg ruled from January 1st 1419 through 1421, then was temporarily unseated until regaining the throne eleven years later. It is believed that he was the first to encourage merchants to leave the emerald isle to trade on the international markets. Unfortunately, the entire country’s economy consisted of fish (which no one particularly wanted) and a little cloth.
***
An alliance with France was a boon,
Along with the Scots and Bourboun
For the prize it was Meath
But was swept underneath
When the froggy surrendered too soon.
c1421
Eire is known to have entered into a pre-existing alliance with France on May 1st 1420. The other allies were France, Auvergne, Bourbonnais (known as the Bourboun to the Eire), Provence, Scotland and Lorraine who were already at war with England, Brittany, Burgundy and Aragon. It is believed that Eóghan II wished to do this in order to make the quiet acquisition of Meath, a territory on the isle that he believed to be rightfully Eire’s, while the armies of England’s Henry V were otherwise preoccupied. This grand strategy failed, however, when England and her allies forced France to surrender in January of 1421 before a separate peace could be negotiated – even though there is evidence that the Eire army had captured the provincial capital. Separate sources in the Tower of London Archives indicate that the ambassadors from Eire were intentionally snubbed by Henry as he knew the war was drawing to a close.
***
Domhnall the eleventh I’m told,
Had many a lass in his hold.
He sent them all ‘round,
To all o’ Europe’s men, crowned,
And now they’re all held in cuckold.
c.1422-1430
Domhnall XI spent a large amount of time marrying off his various sisters, daughters, sons, etc. throughout the various European countries in an attempt to gain both favour with these nations as wells as valuable military surveillance as the court in Eire was largely blind to the events transpiring elsewhere in the world. It may also be that he was looking for support should Eóghan make a reappearance as the plot to murder him failed and he escaped into the countryside. Amongst the known “placements” for his relatives were Burgandy, Brittany, Aragon, Navarra, Gelre, Freisland, Oldenburg, Bremen, Holstein, Mecklenburg, Genoa, Austria, Savoy, Venice and most importantly, perhaps, France, Portugal, Castille, and Naples. It is a source of curiosity amongst scholars how he could possibly have so many eligible close relatives and there is some speculation that he recruited other nobles’ offspring to play the part as the needs arose. One of these has been documented: a young lass was sent to France in 1430 who not only was not his daughter (as advertised) but was also not a virgin. It is believed that the subsequent events and Charles VII’s refusal to negotiate may have stemmed from dissident nobles having leaked the details of the plot at French court – though of course this may not be true as by that time Domhnall was no longer on the throne of Eire.
***
Ol’ Hank must be losing his mind,
For all of his troops you will find
Either crossing a moat
Or seasick - afloat
To none of this Domhnall is blind.
c. 1421-1431
There is no doubt, obviously, that this verse originated sometime during Domhnall XI’s reign – probably later rather than earlier. Other extant fragments show that the monarch was keeping careful note of the number of English troops stationed in Meath at almost all times via a very advanced “runner” messenger system. While the English were never at war with Eire during his ten-year tenure, Domhnall recorded more than a dozen instances of a large English force (between 8000 and 12,000 soldier) landing in Meath, only to depart again within several months leaving only a light garrison behind to man the ramparts of the minimal defences. This was a source of amusement to the king when there were few other such sources.
***
The ships of the navy are small
The masts of the ships they are tall
A galley of five
Could barely survive
In the still sea, let ‘lone in a squall.
c. 1422
Eire had no navy that we know of in 1421 when Domhnall XI took the throne. During the first several years of his reign he commissioned no less than 5 vessels; but the economy of Eire was such that he could ill afford the full-blown warships commonly forming the bulk of the navies of his neighbours. Instead, he was forced to settle for galleys which were unsuitable for deep waters where the potential for storms or large waves was great.
***
There once was a bailiff of Ulster
Whose boots got too big for his ulcer
The people, he found
Didn’t want him around
The taxes collected to bolster.
c. 1427
I found a reference in the national archives to the first instance of a bailiff being promoted to a tax collector. After a year’s training he assumed his post in January 1427 in the capital province, Ulster. Given the date of the other inclusions in these verses, I would assume that this one is in reference to this noble. As usual, his name was Lord Eire.
***
There once was a king without friends,
Who lacked dipl’matic means to his ends.
Alliance expired
And now he was mired
And unable to make his amends.
c. 1431
It is believed that the alliance between Eire and France (and the various other inclusions) expired in January 1431 and that all available diplomats were still on their way back from various remote parts of Europe at the time, thus Domhnall XI was powerless to negotiate its extension. Records indicate that subsequent attempts to join the new French alliance with Castille, Portugal and Naples were not well received – possibly due to the aforementioned fraudulent royal marriage – and this left Eire dangerously at the mercy of England. In desperation, Eire eventually contracted to enter Scotland’s alliance with Friesland and Helvetia.
***
<Volume 2 to follow in the next few days>
