THE government of the Druids and of their Descendants forms a happy and enlightened epoch in the Manks history; but after the subversion of that system, it presents an awful picture of anarchy and devastation. To gratify the ambition of some turbulent chieftain, hecatombs of his fellow-creatures were frequently sacrificed; and after deluging the country with blood, perhaps the conqueror was scarcely seated on the throne, when he was expelled by some warrior more barbarous than himself: while his unoffending subjects were again overwhelmed in all the horrors of war. The people being thus generally the slaves of every new conqueror, the divine flame of liberty no longer warmed their bosoms. Oppression soon obliterated all sense of their native dignity. Under the reign of their Danish and Norwegian princes, this island, though less subject to the devastation of foreign plunderers, was frequently lacerated by the contests of domestic oppressors. The succession of their kings, however, became more regular; the martial ardor of the people increased; and some portion of freedom and tranquillity began to be established among them. By the English conquest their oppression was diminished; and by the accession of the House of Stanley the prerogative of their kings was defined and published. The severity of the Feudal system, at this period so intolerant in the surrounding nations, was, from various causes, greatly mitigated in this kingdom.

By embracing Christianity, the legislative dignity of the Druids was not immediately affected for according to the Manks tradition, they and their descendants, continued, for several years,the teachers and rulers of the people. But at length an irruption of northern Barbarians, spreading anarchy and devastation through the country, overthrew their dominion: and a long period ensued, in which the history of this Island is involved in darkness and fable, till the descent of ORRY, in the tenth century. This Prince was of the Danish line, and after subduing the Orcades and Hebrides, at last established his throne in Mona.

THE parish of Malew was in former times the most important in the Isle of Man; in it was placed that stronghold of Danish power, Castle Rushen, erected in the tenth century by Gudrod, son of Orry, the celebrated King of Man, remaining in perfect preservation and usefulness at the present day, and now surrounded by the town of Castletown, the present metropolis of the island. At a distance of about two miles stand the venerable ruins of Rushen Abbey, founded in 1134, contiguous to which is the village of Ballasalla, with its picturesque cottages and fruitful gardens, and about a mile from this village is the parish church, distant two miles from Castletown.

Malew is the largest parish in Rushen, comprising within its limits Castletown—the ancient metropolis of the Island —and Ballasalla, an agricultural village of some importance. The parish is eight miles long from north to south, and about four miles broad from east to West. It is bounded on the east by Kirk Santan and the sea, on the south by the sea, on the west by Kirk Arbory, and on the north by Kirk Marown and Kirk Patrick. Castletown being the seate of government for such a long period, many English names are found in the parish, such as : — Red Gap, Great Meadow, Bowling Green, etc. The homestead names, Grenaby, Tosaby, and Orrisdale, and many obsolete names found in old charters, such as Oxwath, Staynarhea, Steinredale, Rozefel, Oxrayzer, etc., testify to the fact that this parish was well colonised by the Norsemen, and there are very few place-names which belong to the pre-Norse period.

The earlier forms suggest St. Lua rather than St. Lupus. With the honorific prefix mo or ma, ‘my,’ and the endearing suffix oc or og, we get a great variety of forms in Ireland, Scotland and the Hebrides, such as :— Kilimaluag, Kilmoluag, Kilmoloig, Kilmolowaig and St. Moluay. We also find St. Mallock’s Fair, Luoch Fair and St. Malogue’s or Ernagola’s Fair. In the Manx names of 1153 we have two forms, Ma +Lua and Lu + oc, but in 1408 and 1511 church and parish bear St. Lupus’ name. The older dedication to St. Lua, however, has persisted to the present day, both in Manx and English. A fair, formerly held at Cross Four Ways on 25th July, was probably originally dedicated to St. Molua

The first government was a sort of aristocracy, under the Druids, which lasted to the end of the third century, about which time, says Nennius, the island was conquered by Binley, a Scot, who divided the land between himself and his followers, and this " original contract" became the foundation of their laws; which the universal traditions of the Manks ascribe to Mannan-Mac Lear, whom they believe the father, founder, and legislator of their country; and place him about the beginning of the fifth century: he was brother to Fergus II., who restored the kingdom of Scotland, A. D. 422. Towards the latter end of his reign St. Patrick landed here in his second voyage to Ireland: and after some stay left Germanus bishop, as Jocelinus says, " ad regendum et erudiendum populum in fide Christi." This Germanus was canon of the Lateran, a prudent and holy man, and one of the first assistants of St. Patrick in the conversion of Ireland; by his wisdom and conduct he firmly established the Christian religion in Mann: he died before St. Patrick, and the church celebrates his memory among the blessed, and the cathedral in Peel Castle is dedicated to him. To supply his loss, St. Patrick sent over two bishops in succession, Corrindrius and Romulus; after whose death St. Maughold was elected A. D. 498, four years after the death of St. Patrick. How long he filled the chair is uncertain, but the Manks tradition says, the temporal government continued successively in the hands of the bishops.

The place selected for the chapel was on a piece of ground called Dreem-freaie, which was considered as the most convenient for all parties, being within a mile of the united boundaries of three parishes, namely, Malew, Marown, and Santon. A part of each parish to this day forms the nominal district of St. Mark's, claims a right by purchase to the pews of the chapel, the churchyard, and to the education afforded in the school; and therefore have a just claim to a legitimate ecclesiastical parish, formed out of the three parishes, to prevent future disputes between the chaplain and the vicars of each respective parish.

This Prince was of the Danish line, and after subduing the Orcades and Hebrides, at last established his throne in Mona. Though he assumed the government by violence, his reign was undisturbed by any domestic commotion: and to his polity the Manks are indebted for the origin of their Constitutional Representatives; who for several succeeding ages sometimes feebly opposed, but more frequently sanctioned regal oppression. After a long reign, ORRY was succeeded by his son, GUTTRED; A Prince who devoted his attention to the welfare of his subjects: He erected the noble relic of Danish architecture, Castle-Rushen; and in that durable monument of his regal grandeur lies obscurely buried

The third Prince of the Danish line was REGINALD, who sacrificed the dignity of his character to lust and intemperance. His vices accelerated his ruin: for having seduced a lady whose brothers were soldiers of fortune, they revenged her dishonour by the death of her seducer. On this event, OLAVE, having assumed the crown, without the approbation of the King of Denmark, was with much apparent friendship invited to his court: but on his arrival was arraigned, and executed as a traitor to the supremacy of the Danish throne. His brother OLAIN, succeeded him, who, after an equitable reign, died in Ireland, and had for his successor ALLEN; whose memory has been branded with every crime. He was poisoned by his Governor, and most probably succeeded by MACON, a gallant Prince, who, for refusing homage to the English crown, was deprived of the diadem of the Isles. It was however soon afterwards restored to him with a plenitude of honour. He was created by the English Monarch, Admiral of a numerous fleet, with which he annually circumnavigated the British Isles; to guard them from the rapine and barbarity of the Scandinavian pirates, who, at this period, were a terror to the neighbouring kingdoms.

In the eleventh century, Gødred CROVAN, a Norwegian hero, having accompanied his king in the invasion of England, and being there defeated, sought an asylum in this Island, where he was hospitably received by the natives. The reigning Prince of Man at this period was Gødred the son of Syrric, who from his cowardice, barbarity, and in justice, became odious to his subjects. With a penetrating eye Gødred Crovan observed the discontents of the people; and animated by regal ambition, formed the daring project of dethroning the King. But this ambitious plan he concealed from the inhabitants, till he should be invested with force sufficient to commend success. To obtain this, he withdrew to his native country; and arming a numerous fleet, with great expedition returned to this Island. In his absence the tyrant died, and FINGAL, his son, was seated on the throne; from whose youth, mildness, and generosity, the Manks promised themselves many blessings. The virtues of this Prince, inspiring his subjects with heroic loyalty, for some time frustrated the hopes of the invader; who, being twice repulsed, effected by stratagem what he could not accomplish by violence. In a dark night he concealed in a wood, under a hill near Ramsay, three hundred of his troops; and on the morning landed the remainder of his forces; which, being opposed by the Manks with their usual heroism, were again almost vanquished. But in the moment of supposed victory Gødred vigorously renewing the combat, the troops that formed the ambuscade now burst upon the rear of the Manks army. A well-disputed conflict ensued: and at length the tide of conquest turned against the Manks. Their King with the prime of his nobility fell in the battle, and the residue yielded to the generosity of the Conqueror.