To resume the history of surnames in Ireland. We have seen in the last article that in the year 1682 the inferior classes in Ireland, especially in Westmeath and the adjoining counties, were very forward in accommodating themselves to the English usages, particularly in their surnames, “which by all manner of ways they strove to make English or English-like.” This was more particularly the case after the defeat of the Irish at the Boyne and Aughrim, when the Irish chieftains were conquered, and the pride of the Irish people was humbled. At this period, the Irish people, finding that their ancient surnames sounded harshly in the ears of their conquerors and new English masters, found it convenient to reduce them as much as possible to the level of English pronunciation: and they accordingly rejected in almost every instance the O’ and Mac, and made various other changes in their names, so as to give them an English appearance. Thus a gentleman of the O’Neills in Tyrone changed his old name of Felim O’Neill to Felix Neele, as we learn from an epigram written in Latin on the subject by a witty scholar of the name of Conway or Mac Conwy, whose Irish feeling had not been blunted by the misfortunes of the times. The following translation of this epigram is perhaps worth preserving:-- All things has Felix changed, he has changed his name; Yea, in himself he is no more the same. Scorning to spend his days where he was reared, To drag out life among the vulgar herd, Or trudge his way through bogs in bracks and brogues, He changed his creed and joined the Saxon rogues By whom his sires were robbed; he laid aside The arms they bore for centuries with pride, The Ship, the Salmon, and the famed Red Hand, And blushed when called O’Neill in his own land! Poor, paltry skulker from thy noble race, _Infelix Felix_, weep for thy disgrace!