where it maketh a poole there lyeth Weisford the chiefe towne it is not of any great bignesse but yet memorable in that being assaulted by Fitz Stephen a valiant Captaine it yeelded it selfe unto his protection and became a Colony of the English so that still it useth the ancient apparrell of the English and their speech but somewhat mingled with Irish Eniscort is seated on the River Slane and Fernes is seated more inward an Episcopal See beyond which River dwelt the Cavenaghs Donels Montaghs and O Moores of Irish race stirring tumultuous-spirits and amongst them the Sinottes Roches and Peppers English Vicount Mount-garretto the Butlers are the men of note on this side Slane many more English of note as most of the common sort English The County of Divelin or Dublin on the East lyeth broad upon the Sea on the west bounded with the County of Kildare on the south on two small territories of Wicklo and Arcklo once the habitation of the O Tools and O Birns and now termed the Glimes and norwest limited with the County of Meth and Nanny a small River It is a very plentifull County both in corne and cattell abounding also with game for pleasure their greatest want is fuell which is a heavie turfe or English sea-coale but in the south side a barren soile hils and woods plenty many hollow valleyes over-run with trees which they call Glinus among which was the Bishoprick of Glandelaw but now annexed to the Archbishop of Dublin All the rest of the County is rich and plentious the people of a stately port and garbe in gentile neatnesse and carriage surpassing all the rest of Ireland and it is divided into five severall Baronies Rath-downe New-castle Castle-knoc Cowloc and Balrodry This whole County is Neptunes neighbor no part thereof being twenty miles distant from the Sea To the south of Dublin Haven standeth Wicklo a narrow Haven over which bends a rocke immured strongly with fortification in stead of a Castle whose command none ought to have but English borne Lord Maynard hath the title of Baron Then from the top of a hill New-castle looketh into the Sea in the sight of the three shelves which they call the south middle and north grounds lying in length yet shall you find betweene them and the shore seven or eight fathome of water A little higher where the River Bray disburdens into the Sea is seene Oldcourt the possessions of the Walshes of Carickmain who are a large and ancient stocke Next are Powers or Poerscourt belonging formerly to a Family of that name since the Wingfeilds have the title of Vicount Powerscourt A little Iland Saint Bennets belonging to the Archbishop of Dublin lyeth in an elbow of land which the River Bray maketh The creeke or bay is called Dublin Haven which is five leagues from Wexford into which Haven the greatest River of this County powreth it selfe called Liffy whose originall being but fifteene miles distance from that place yet through his many windings and turnings he watereth many countries First south by Saint Patricks land then westward after north watering the County of Kildare at length into the east by Castle-knoc and so by Kilmainam Dublin is seated seven miles from the mouth of Liffy it is the most famous towne of all Ireland the Irish call it Bala Cleigh that is the town set upon hurdles for the first foundation thereof was laid upon hurdles by reason of the soft unsetled ground like as Sivil in Spaine is said to bee built on piles Venice on woolsack or such like matter of foundation it is an ancient towne yet was much rent and defaced in the Danish warres after it became subject to Edgar King of England who in his Charter cals it The most noble City of Ireland Then the Norwegians got it in possession and at last it fell to the English who defended it against the Irish and was planted with a Colony of Bristow men on whom King Henry the second bestowed this City and all the liberties and franchises which the men of Bristow have of which City many write in praise and commendation one thus A City in regard of the people noble of the site most pleasant by reason of the Sea and River meeting together rich and plentifull in fish for traffick famous for the green plaines delightfull and lovely beset with woods of mastbearing-trees incompassed about with Parkes of Deere So another Develin a maritine towne is the mother City of all Ireland having to it an Haven passing well frequented for traffick and enter course of Merchants matchable with our London There are many Keyes and Wharfs along the River jetting out to stop the violence of the water A very strong wall of rough building stone reacheth along by the sides of it which openeth at six gates from whence there runne forth suburbs of great length Towards the east is Dammes gate and neere it the Kings Castle very strong both by art and nature and an Armory or storehouse built by Henry Lounders Archb. 1220. Saint Andrews Church stands in the east suburbs not farre from which is Trinity Colledge which queene Elizabeth honoured with the title and priviledges of an University The north gate openeth at the Bridge built by King John of Arch-worke and this uniteth Oustmans towne to the City for here the Easterlings that came out of Norway placed themselves about 1050. In the south quarter of the City stand two gates Ormonds and Newgate the common prison These lead into Saint Thomas street being large and long where there stands a great Abbey of that name founded by Henry the second for the expiation of the murder of Thomas A Becket as some say Into the south openeth Pauls gate and Saint Nicholas which maketh a way into Saint Patricks suburbs wherein standeth the Archbishops Palace called Saint Sepulchers and a stately Church dedicated unto Saint Patrick having an arched roofe of stone and a tall steeple It maintaines a Deane a Chaunter a Chauncellor a Treasurer two Archdeacons and 22 Prebendaries the only light and lampe as the Parliament of that Kingdome said of it of all godly and Ecclesiasticall discipline and order in Ireland There is another Cathedrall Church standing in the very heart of the city called Christ-church neere the south side of which standeth the towne Hall built of square stone and called the Tolestall where the Sessions of the city are kept The chiefe Officer was a Provost but Henry the fourth gave them liberty to choose a Major and two Bayliefes after King Edward the sixth changed the two Bayliefes into two Sheriffes No inconvenience save only that the ebbing and flowing of the Sea doth much choake the mouth of Liffy that hinder great vessels from going up and makes them to observe the high water for transporting of goods Where Liffy dyeth in the Ocean Houth standeth compassed in a manner round with the Sea of which those nobles Saint Lawrence hold the Barony Not farre off is Malehide or
Bishops See together with the See of Clumi annexed to it The river both roundeth and runneth through the middest of the towne not passible but by bridges lying in length in one broad street having a bridge over it It is a towne of great resort and populous but formerly subject to the injury of the Rebells which made them keep a carefull watch against them That religious and devout man Brioc who flourished among the Sauls was borne and bred here Below Corke the parting of the river maketh a sweet and pleasant Iland over against the chiefe dwelling house of the Barries called Barry Court derived from Robert de Barry an Englishman who behaved himselfe valiantly in the Irish warres and was the first that manned and brought the Hauke to hand in Ireland he had the title of Baron Barry but after of Vicount Beutiphant The former river empties into the Sea below Barry Court neare Imokelly a faire possession long since of the Earles of Desmond and containes a safe road in the mouth of it As this supplyes the lower part of the country so Black-water called anciently Even-more the great river moystneth the upper part upon which dwelleth the Noble familie of Roeh who went out of England and flourished there and enjoyed the title of Vicount Fermoy and were Parliament Barons in Edward the 2. time Yoghall standeth on this rivers mouth a Major town nor great but walled about builded in length and divided into two parts the upper reacheth Norwest and hath a Church in it and the lower part Southwest the commodiousnesse of the Key makes it much frequented by Merchants The County of Waterford lyeth in the East side of Ireland stretching out it self between the rivers Broadwater West and Shour East the Main on the South and Tipperary Norwest both delightsome and very profitable When Broadwater hath out-run the County of Cork behinde it Lismore presently sheweth it self an Episcopall See where Christian once sate that was of the same Cloyster with Saint Bernard and Pope Eugenius but now annexed unto Waterford The Lumly's are Vicounts of Waterford At the mouth of which river standeth Aidmore a small town so called because it standeth near the Sea Not far from hence standeth Dungarvan having a strong hold of good force It is a Tide-haven 8 leagues from Waterford full of rocks and deep within the harbour Vicount Dessee together with the Barony of Dungarvan King Henry the sixth granted to Iohn Talbut Earl of Shrewsbury but afterward seeing it lay conveniently to that part of Mounster that was to bee brought under and reduced into order it was by a Parliament annexed to the Crown of England On the side of the river Shour Waterford the principall City of this County maketh a fair shew the Irish and Britains call it Porthlargie the English Waterford 37 leagues from Englands end It was built by certain Pirats of Norway the ayr is grosse and unhealthy the soil not fertile the streets pent and narrow yet by reason of the commodiousnesse of the harbour which is fair and wide 10 or 11 fathom deep going in it is much frequented and of great resort driving a quick trade so that it is esteemed the second City in the Kingdom and hath continued alwaies true and loyall to the Crown of England ever since Richard Earl of Pembroke wan it first and hath received many favours and priviledges from the Kings of England for their good services And Henry the seventh augmented them much for their discreet carriage of themselves against the mock-Prince Perkin Warbeck who counterfeited Richard the third under which colour he couzened a great Peer of Scotland of his fair daughter This County of Waterford together with the City King Henry the sixth gave unto Iohn Talbut Earl of Shrewsbury But by reason of wars in France and the civil dissentions between the houses of York and Lancaster the Kings of England were busied and the Nobles so intangled in those broils that they could not intend the affairs of Ireland so that the Irish grew very insolent and powerfull So that in the 28 year of H. 8. though the fault were committed long before his dayes yet for punishment by Act of Parliament it was ordered That the heirs of many Noblemen as the Earl of Shrewsbury Ormond the Duke of Norfolk and Baron Barkley and all the Abbots and Priors for they were all found liable to this punishment with the rest should forfeit all their lands and demeans in Ireland into the Kings hands for such neglect and absence The County of Limrick is an inland County lying behinde that of Cork Northward between Kerry the river Shanon and the County of Tipperary a very fruitfull and populous place but not eminent for any thing of note The Western part of it is called Conilagh wherein there is Knoc Patrick a very high hill from whence there is a pleasant prospect into the Sea where you may see how Shanon fals in to the Virginian The head City is Limrick which Shanon by parting begirteth round the Irish call it Loumeagh and the English Limrick it is a chief Market-town of Mounster and the See of a Bishop and at this day called two Towns the upper wherein stands the Cathedrall Church and a Castle and hath two gates and each of them a stone Bridge with bulwarks the one leading into the West the other into the East unto which the lower Town joyneth fenced with a wall and a Castle thereto and a fore-gate at the entrance into it Lord Esmond is Baron of Limrick In the South of this County is Kilmallo the next Town to Limrick both in substance and inhabitants incompassed likewise with a wall Vicount Sarsfield of Kilmallo Not far off standeth Adare a little Town hard unto which lyeth Elan Gibbon where dwelt the White-Knight so called for his gray hairs The other inhabitants of note are the Lacyes Browns Hâ—rlyes Chacyes Sapells and Pourcells all of English race also the Mac Shee s Mac Brian O Brien of Irish blood The County of Tipperary is bounded Westward with Limrick and the river Shanon Eastward with the County of Kilkenny with the County of Corke and Waterford southward and North with the territories of the O Carolls The south-part hath much corne and many beautifull buildings and the river Glason runneth with a large course thorow the West-part of it not farre from whose bankes stands Emly or Awn a Bishops See thorow the middest of it glideth that goodly river Shour or Swire which issuing out of Bladin hills hasteth thorow the lower Ossery of which Hen. 8. dignified the Butlers with the title of Earles and thorow Thurles which honoureth the same Family with the dignity of Vicounts and so goeth into Holy-crosse termed the County of the Holy-crosse of Tipp Then Shour goeth besides Cassile honoured with the dignity of an Arch-bishop by Eugenius third Pope of Rome from thence runneth the River down Shreading Ilands here and there and fetcheth a round about Cahir
Molachid belonging to the Talbots More within the countrey is Fingall a little place but very well husbanded even the garner and store-house of this Kingdome so great store of corne it yeeldeth every yeare This place discovers the idlenesse of the other Counties which would equally answer the industry of the labourer if it were imployed Divers worshipfull Families are placed here and there of English in this County as namely the Plunkets who are still Earle of Fingall and Lord of Kellene Barnwels Russels Talbots Dillons Netâ—orvils Lutterels Burnels Fitzwilliams Gouldings Ushers Cadlyes Finglasses Sarfeilds Blackneys Crucyes Baths c. NOw we come to the Province of Meth because it lyeth in the middle for strength and safety called the Chamber of Ireland peaceable likewise in the 38. yeare of Henry the eight divided into east Meth and west Meth. The County of east Meth is compassed with Kildare on the south with the County of Dublin and the Sea east on the north with the territory of Louth and with the County of west-Meth on the west The whole is divided into eighteene Baronies viz. Dueleke Scrine Slane Margallen Navan Kenlis halfe the Barony of Fower neere Kenlis Killalou Clove Moylagh Logherne Old-castle Luyn Moyfeuraragh Deese Rath-touth and Dunboyne Boyne a faire River springs out of the north side of the Kings County runneth thorow this country In the remotest places on this side Boyne are these memorable places Galtrim Killin Castle and Dunsany On the further side of Boyne are Trimletstown Gormanston and Slane the Fleming Lord of it of the next before Vicount Preston Barnwell Baron of the other Plunket Lord of Dunsany Among these last stands a Market-towne called Aboy upon the River Boyn which passing Glan Jores that is the Land of George runneth under Trim a fine towne of trade having a Castle erected by William Pepard So it flowes besides Navan the Barony of the Lamberts where the Bishops house is who having no Cathedrall Church doth all with the assent of the Clergie of Meth. Boyn then running higher and swifter neere unto Drodagh the Moores being intitled Vicount of it loseth himselfe in the Ocean Many chief Families of English blood are in this countie the Brabazens being Earles of east Meth. The county of west Meth so called in regard of the situation in relation to the former and reacheth to the River Shanon and lyeth betweene the Kings county south and Longford county north to which it is not much inferiour in any thing if answerable in civility Molingar is the chiefe towne as lying in the midst compassed with many bogges It is parted into twelve Baronies viz. Fertulogh Ferbile Delvin of which the Nugents were Barons and now Earls of west Meth Fourry as also Corkery Moyassell where the Tuts inhabited Moygoisy Rathcomire Magirquirke all propagated from English blood Clonlalon Moycassell meere Irish beare sway And others of more harsh and unpleasant names yet better liked of the Irish than our English names so that one of them said he would not learne English lest it should make him have a wry mouth Hugh Lacy subdued this county and had it given unto him by Henry the second who intending to build a Castle and bowing downe his head to shew the carpenter how hee would have a peece of timber squared had his head cut off by the same carpenter with an axe which hee held in his hand The county of Longford lyeth on the north side of west Meth made a county not long since called Anale before inhabited most by Irish and those potent and turbulent Shannon runneth along this county on the side of it and ariseth out of Therne hils in the county of le Trim and flowing along makes many open pools and after contracts himselfe againe and then runneth into a large broad mere called Lough Regith but after findes his bankes againe on which stands the towne Athlon from thence Shannon having passed the water-fall at Killoloe being very large and deepe six or seven fathome water disjoynes running with open armes to the imbracement of the city Limrick from whence speeding about sixty miles in length making here and there an Iland and where he grew shallow and passible there formerly stood forts and bulwarkes to hinder the inrode of the pilfering Irish and at last running with open mouth beyond knoc Patrick is devoured by the westerne Ocean two Irish Septs most powerfull and eminent in this county O-Pharoll Boy and O-Pharoll Ban the Lord Aungiers are dignified with the title of Baron of Longford Another Province is Conaght wherein are six Counties 1 Twomond or the county Clare which the Irish call Twowoun that is north-Mounster for so formerly was the name untill Sir Henry Sydâ—y laid it unto Connaught shooting out with a narrow promontory into the Sea westward and on the east and south side inclosed with the large streame of the River Shannon and to the west with the maine on the north barred with the county Galloway so that there is no entring of it by land The territories of Clan Richard are very fruitfull and commodious both for sea and land onely vexed with bad and idle creatures lazie inhabitants O fortunati si sua norint Did they but truly consider the benefit that would acrew by industry how would they indeavour As hath appeared by the care and paines of some English of note and esteem as the Muscegros and Clares who have built many forts and townes from whom Clare the chiefe towne takes name Other places of note Kilfennerag and Killalloe Orlaon the Bishops seat where there stands a Rock in the middest of the channell of Shannon from which the water maketh a great noyse in the fall thereof and which is a great barre and hinderance that no vessels can passe any further Not farre from this banke stands Bunraty made a Market towne by Henry 3. and is fortified with a Castle Seven miles off appeareth Clare the principall towne at a creek flowing from Shannon full of Ilands the chiefe Families are Irish the English being degenerated wholly mac Nemors mac Mahon O-Loughton the O Brians the chiefe of all and of ancient descent and now Earls of Thomond and who did good service against the Irish in Queen Elizabeth's time The County of Galloway boundeth South on Clare West on the Sea North on County Maio and East on Shannon abounding both in corne and cattle The West-shore is very craggy and rugged with a long border of greene Ilands foure of which called Aran make a Barony also Inis Ceath where the Monastery of Colman is a devout Saint founded for Scots and English but their continuall discord made the English quite forsake it More within lyeth a lake called logh Corbes spreading twenty miles in length and three or foure in breadth being navigable furnished with three hundred small Ilands full of grasse and Pine-trees but towards the Sea this lake is more streightned and runnes under Gallway Irish Gallive called so from the