J. F. Campbell Collection > Transactions of the Ossianic Society > Volume 5

jectural. From the word biv]tb is derived the family name
of 2t)AC M) Bbi^mb, which means the descendant of the Bard;
this has been anglicised to Mac Ward ; and the Mac Wards
are recorded in our Annals from almost the first establish-
ment of surnames, as chief Professors of poetry in Ulster.
Tacitus, in his "Germania," gives an account of the
German Bards, and says, that by the recital of their battle
songs, which he calls Barditus, they greatly excited the
valour of their warriors. The Bards amongst the Gauls
were highly honoured. According to Pompeius Festus, a
Bard in the Gallic language signified a singer, who cele-
brated the praises of heroes. Such was the respect paid to
this ancient order, according to Diodorus Siculus, that they
could put a stop to armies in the heat of battle. When a
Bard appeared in an army, it was either as a herald or am-
bassador ; hence his person and property were sacred in the
midst of hostile forces. After a battle they raised the song
over the deceased, and extolled the heroes who survived.
The order of Bards is of the very highest antiquity in
Ireland. We are informed in our ancient Irish MSS. that
Amergin, brother of Heber, Heremon, and Ir, the sons of
Milidh or Milesius, was appointed by them, in their go-
vernment of this country, their chief Bard, Druid and Bre-
hon. There are four poems still extant which are ascribed
to him as the first Milesian Bard.
The successor of Amergin in his poetic office appears to
have been Lughaidh, or Lugad, son of Ith, and nephew of
Milesius, as he is styled a Fileadh or poet. There is a
poem ascribed to him in the Book of Invasions, which, it is
said, he composed on the death of his wife Fail, the daughter
of Milesius.
The next chief Bard (at a long interval) of whom tliere
is any account was Roighne Rosgadhach, or Royne the
poetic, son ofUgaine M(5r, and brother of Mai who reigned