provide for their own safety. So saying he set out,
accompanied by the few disciples he had made, or brought
from abroad, to traverse on foot the great plain which
stretches from the mouth of the Boyne to Tara. If those
sailors were Christians, as is most likely, we can conceive
with what anxiety they must have awaited tidings of an
attempt so hazardous and so eventful.

The Christian proceeded on his way, and the first night
of his journey lodged with a hospitable chief, whose
family he converted and baptized, especially marking out
a fine child named Beanen, called by him Benignus, from
his sweet disposition; who was destined to be one of his
most efficient coadjutors, and finally his successor in
the Primatial see of Armagh. It was about the second or
third day when, travelling probably by the northern road,
poetically called "the Slope of the Chariots," the
Christian adventurers came in sight of the roofs of Tara.
Halting on a neighbouring eminence they surveyed the
citadel of Ancient Error, like soldiers about to assault
an enemy's stronghold. The aspect of the royal hill must
have been highly imposing. The building towards the north
was the Banquet Hall, then thronged with the celebrants
of the King's birth-day, measuring from north to south
360 feet in length by 40 feet wide. South of this hall
was the King's Rath, or residence, enclosing an area of
280 yards in diameter, and including several detached
buildings, such as the house of Cormac, and the house of
the hostages. Southward still stood the new rath of the
reigning king, and yet farther south, the rath of Queen