Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/32

 28 COURCY. in penury, he saw himself possessed of Sol. English money. Let those who know the peasantry of Ireland, judge of his riches; he now commenced, and continued a regular exhibition of his person; when, having realized an independence sufficient to keep his carriage, and secure to him the conveniences of life, he declined what was exceedingly irksome to his feelings. He was unoffending and amiable in his manners to his friends and acquaintance, of whom he had latterly rather a large circle, as he was neither averse to a cheerful glass, nor pleasant company. He had naturally good sense, and his mind was not uncultivated. He departed this life with out the smallest apparent pain or agony, on the 8th Sept. 1806, in the forty-sixth year of his age, having fallen a sacrifice to a disease of the lungs combined with an affec tion of the liver. To prevent any attempt to disturb his remains, of which he had the greatest horror, a grave is sunk to the depth of twelve feet in the solid rock; and such precautions taken, as would effectually render abor tive either force or stratagem. The stupendous coffin prepared for him, was in length nine feet five inches; five men got into it with ease, and had the l i d placed upon i t . The brass plate contains the following inscription:— “Patrick Cotter O'Brien, o f Kinsale, Ireland, whose stature was eight feet one inch. Died, Sept. 8th, 1806, aged forty-six years.” There are some emblems o n i t , denoting the deceased t o have belonged t o the masonic order o f Knights Templars. GERALD COURCY, Seventeenth baron o f Kinsale, was a very brave officer i n the reign o f Henry VIII., and distinguished himself i n the wars i n France. I n 1545, h e was i n the king's army a t the siege o f Boulogne, where h e commanded a brave Irish regiment, a t the head o f which h e performed such good service i n reducing the place, that h e was knighted