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Preface
has involved some small description of medieval Ireland,
of the seats of learning in Ireland, and of noted men whose
work was accomplished in Ireland itself ; but such descrip-
tion has been brought in with strict reference to Irish
work in other lands. Any further consideration of the
cultural development in Ireland would have been far
beyond the scope of this work, and would have involved
the laying under large tribute of the extensive medieval
literature of Ireland, both Gaelic and Hiberno-Latin.
The evidence on the other hand relating to the activities
of Irishmen beyond the Gaedhaltacht will be found to be
based almost wholly on foreign testimony.
The references given in the foot-notes represent only
some of the sources which have been explored. The
volumes consulted might be numbered by the hundred,
and I have habitually gone back to original and contemporary
authorities where these were available. In
connection with the general subject of Irish medieval
work I have waded repeatedly through the great collec-
tions Migne, the Rolls Series, the Monumenta Ger-
maniae Historica, the various Acta, the proceedings of
German and French societies and the like and have fol-
lowed every sort of clue through the borderlands and back-
ground of my subject in whatever direction the path might
lead. This however while indispensable is only second-
ary work. To give life and unity to his narrative the
historian ought to be able to write of persons and events
with the familiarity and understanding almost of an
eyewitness and contemporary, and this condition of
illumination can be present only as a result of an unflagging
interest in his subject and continuous meditation
upon it. And tho this composition from its pioneer char-
acter falls short of being an historical narrative, it could