By which occasion the Brittaines also put in a foot who discovering the state of the land to their Princes opened a gappe for Brennus the brother of Belinus to direct his course thither vvith the same Navy vvhich he had furnished to serve Signimius then King of Lyons amid the Galles in France But Brennus took small effect Before him also divers Kings of Brittaine had scope in Ireland Insomuch that Gurguntius the sonne of Beline reputed the same by lineall descent among his ovvne Dominions Notvvithstanding they never injoyed it longer then they could keepe possession perforce and often vvere they repelled and vvearyed vvith seeking after it as vvherein they found small fruite and blovves enough Lastly came the Spaniards from Biscaye conducted by foure Captaines of vvhose arryvall before I speake I must repeate their originall somevvhat farther and so give a light to the assoyling of a controversie that is vvhether the Irish came from Aegypt or from Spaine It shall appeare they came from both CAP. IX The arrivall of the Spaniards then called Iberians into Ireland IN the yeare of the World 2436. after the universall floud 780. while the children of Israell served in Aegypt Gathelus the sonne of Neale a great Lord in Greece was upon disfavour exiled the Country with a number of his faction adherents and friends The young Greeke being very wise valiant and well spoken got honourable entertainement with Pharao surnamed Amaenophis king of Aegypt and in short space reached to such a credit that he espoused the Kings base Daughter Scota whereof the Scotts are thought to be named This match bred to the King some tumult and to the young Gentle-man much envy wherefore assoone as the foresaid Amaenophis was drowned in the Red Sea the Princes of Aegypt so vexed Gathelus and his wife that they were faine to buske them withall their traine into Europe and came first to Lusitania where diverse of his people tyred with travaile would needs abide he builded there the city of Brigantia called afterwards Novium now Compostella The remnant passed with him into Ireland where the Barbarians highly honoured him for his cunning in all languages who also greatly perfected and beautified the Irish tongue taught them letters sought up their antiquities practised their youth in martiall feates after his Greeke and Aegyptian manner Finally so well he pleased them that to gratifie such a Benefactour they were content to name the Iland after him Gathelia and after his wife Scotia Truely that Scotia is the auncient appellation of Ireland all Chroniclers agree as it shal be more plaine when wee touch the Scottish pedigree A brute there is in Ireland but uncertainelie fathered that in remembrance of Pharao their good lord the Kerne pitching his Dart cryeth of courage faro faro but the learned thinke that to bee taken from the Spaniard who in his Ioco dicano exclaymeth fabo fabo The people left in the coast of Spaine founded the city of Bayon now part of Gascoigne and replenished all the shore towards Africk and the edges of Portugall Castile Galaecia towardes the sea Cantabricum well nigh 200. yeares after which time some of them began to minde another travaile because they were pestered with Inhabitants and whether they ever sped to Ireland it is unknowne at the leastwise in the raigne of Gurguntius the Brittaine then chiefe Lord of Bayon foure brethren Spaniards whereof two are noted Hiberus and Hirimon not the sonnes of Gathelus as writeth Boethius but his off-spring understanding that divers Western Ilands were empty desirous to live in ease and elbovv-room sayled Westvvard vvith a great retinue of men vvomen and babes hovering long about the Ilands Orchades in 60. great ships untill by good hap they met vvith Gurguntius then returning from the conquest of Denmarke vvho had refused to pay him the tribute vvhich Belinus his father vvan him they besought considering their vvant of victuals unable any longer to dvvell in their ships accumbred vvith carriage of vvomen children to direct further them to some place of habitation proffering to become his liege people to hold the same of him his heires for ever The King advising himselfe remembred vvith vvhat difficultie he kept the Irish in subjection conceived hope that these strangers vvould endeavor either to stub out that unruly generation or to nurture them so taking their oathes and hostages he mann'd their ships stored thē vvith victuall munition seated thē in Ireland Thus had the Brittaines an elder right to the Realme of Ireland then by the conquest of Henry the 2. vvhich title they never surceased to claime somtimes prevailed as in the dayes of King Arthur to vvhom the Irish Princes agnized their tribute and apparance made at his Parliament in urbe Legionū vvhich I take to be Westchester called of old Carleon as divers other citties vvere vvherein the Romanes placed the legions Again the Kings of Britain vvere thē Lords of the place vvhence this people came so as their vvinnings must have beene the Kings Dominion To all this when their owne free assent the dedition of other Princes lawfull conquest and prescription is adjoyned it forceth an invincible title But to prosecute our purpose Those Iberians being substantially ayded of Gurguntius enjoyed the Lands bestowed themselves foure brethren into foure parts thereof untill their pride and ambition armed two against other two Hiberus and his brother against Hirimon and his In this conflict Hirimon slew Hiberus and raigned quietly At this time the countrey was first named Ibernia as I have declared in the third Chapter The King to avoyde obloquie and slaunder purged himselfe to his subjects that neither maliciously nor contentiously but for his necessary defence and safeguard he had borne armes against his brother And to witnesse how farre he was from desire to rule alone he nominated speciall Captaines to be Kings under him of their severall Countryes reserving to himselfe but one fourth part and the portion of Meth allotted to the Monarchie for the better maintenance of his part These afterward clambered into five Kingdomes incompatible Leinster Connaght Vlster Mounster in two portions and sometimes to more by usurpations and compositions but ever one was elected the Monarch over all An hundred and thirtie chiefe Kings are reckoned of this Nation from Hirimon to Laigirus the sonne of Nealus magnus in whose time the blessed Bishop Patricius converted them to Christianity CAP. X. The comming of the Picts into Ireland NOW lived the Irish in tollerable order under their sundry Kings and applyed themselves to peace and gathering of wealth when suddainely Rodericke a Red-shank of Scythia fled thither with a small company of Galleyes and winde-driven in compassing round about the British coast were happely blowne ashore into Ireland These are the Picts a people from their cradle dissentious land-leapers mercilesse sowre and hardy being presented to the
in the yeere 432 and lyeth buried at Loghry in Ormund where there is a Church dedicated to his name and he is numbred among the Confessors of Ireland And to second this fable with two precedent lies the which I should haue begun withall in the front of this History as all Irish Antiquaries doe but that I would not abuse the reader being purposed beginning and ending to deliuer the truth I read as followeth Whereas in the yeere of the world 1525 Noah began to admonish the people of vengeance to come by a generall deluge for the wickednesse and detestable sinne of man and continued his admonition 120 yeeres building an Arke for the safegard of himselfe and his family one Cesara say they according vnto others Cesarea a Neece of Noah when others seemed to neglect this forewarning rigging a navy committed her selfe with her adherents to the seas to seeke adventures and to avoid the plagues that were to fall there arrived in Ireland with her three men Bithi Laigria and Fintan and fifty women within forty dayes after her arrivall the universall flood came upon them and those parts as well as upon the rest of the world and drowned them all in which perplexity of minde and imminent danger beholding the waves overwhelming all things before their eyes Fintan is said to have beene transformed into a Salmon and to have swoome all the time of the deluge about Vlster and after the fall of the water recovering his former shape to have lived longer then Adam and to have delivered strange things to the posterity so that of him the common speech riseth If I had lived Fintans yeeres I could say much But to let these fables passe The next plantation after Bartholanus as it is recorded amongst the collections of Irish antiquities is this in effect that Magog the sonne of Iaphet planted Colonies in Scythia neere the river of Tanais from whence about the yeere of the world two thousand three hundred and seventeene one Nemedus with his foure sonnes Starius Garbaneles Anvinus and Fergusius Captains over great companies of armed men were sent into this Island now called Ireland And passing by Graecia tooke with them such voluntaries as were willing to adventure with them they landed inhabited the Country and multiplied exceedingly although not without continuall warres which they held with the Giants of Chams posterity for the space of two hundred yeeres and odde In the end the Giants prevailing chased them out of the land so that they retired into Scythia and some to Greece This was about the yeere after the creation 2333 from which time the Giants kept possession of the land without forraigne invasion for many yeeres but yet in all that space their mindes not being set upon any goodnesse but altogether upon mischiefe they made no good lawes framed no common wealth they obeyed no Magistrate but fell at variance amongst themselues measuring all things by might and seditiously vexed each other In the yeere of the world 2416 and after the universall flood 750 yeeres as the Scottish History declareth one Gathelus the sonne of Nealus a Grecian upon displeasure for sundry rodes made into Macedonia and Achaia being exiled and banished his countrey with a great number of his adherents and complices went into Aegypt in the dayes of Moses where he found favour in the sight of King Pharaoh insomuch that he married with Scota his daughter continued there about 93 yeeres and multiplied exceedingly Iohannes Major Scotus calleth the verity of this History in question de hac prima profectione de Graecia Aegypto figmentum reor I am of opinion saith hee that this first going out of Greece and Aegypt is but fayned yet let us goe forward When Gathelus understood that the land was shortly for the wickednesse of the people to suffer great plagues he prepared a fleet shipped Grecians and Aegyptians hoised up saile and came upon the coast of Numidia now called Barbary thence they were put back to sea they went and came to the coast of Spaine now called Portingall as they say since that time of him called Port-gathell The inhabitants of the place resisted them gave them a sore battell and in the end after parlie Gathelus was intreated and by them directed to take his voyage into Galitia which eftsoones he did There in a short time they waxed so populous that the countrey could not sustaine them whereupon Gathelus called a Councell and being resolved what to doe tooke a great number of them with him to sea and arrived in Ireland and there grew into such estimation with the barbarous people that for knowledge especially in all languages having travelled many Countreys as is afore mentioned he was highly honoured For he not only enriched and beautified the Irish tongue but also as is said taught them letters sought up their antiquities and trained their youth in warlike exercises after the manner of the Grecians and Aegyptians from whence he descended Note here gentle reader before I wade further into this History three contrary opinions of this Gathelus the sonne of Nealus The Scottish Historiographers say it was 750 yeeres after the flood Thomas Walsingham Monke of S. Albons writeth it was 1000 yeeres and odde after the delivery of the children of Israel out of Aegypt which must be anno mundi 3455 to wit one 1000 yeeres after the former computation calling him a noble man of Scythia whom the Aegyptians banished out of Aegypt Iohn Harding a great Antiquary that knew best in his time the state of Scotland delivereth that Gathelus and Scota came to these parts after the birth of Christ in anno 75. This I give as a caveat referring unto the discreet reader the dissonance that I finde in the observation of times to bee considered of promising to lay downe faithfully euery thing as I finde the same as shall appeare in that which followeth And now to the history where we left It is said that this Gathelus of his wife Scota commanded that his followers Grecians and Aegyptians should be called Scoti that is Scottishmen And Hector Boëtius in the History of Scotland sticketh not to write that upon his marriage with Scota the foresaid commandement was published and that his followers in Aegypt Barbary Portingall Galitia and over Spaine were called Scoti But how true that is it may appeare by the Roman Histories which haue noted the accidents of those times in all which there is no mention of the Scots before the time of Constantius the Emperour which was about the yeere of Christ 310 who lyeth buried at York and was father to Constantine the great Paulus lovius writeth Scotland tooke that name upon the comming of a forraine and no great ancient nation No Latine writer before Marcellinus in Iulian the Emperours time which was about the yeere 362 remembreth the Scots neither doth it well appeare out of what Country the Scots first came into Albion when as by the Annals not only
last a plotte defalked from these parts called Meth comprising as they are now called as well East-Meth as West-Meth in Latine Midia or Media in Irish Mhidhe And here must not bee forgotten that there hath beene in these kingdomes great change and alteration by usurping and compounding among themselves and by dividing of Countries as we finde Mounster was into two parts and since have beene there great Earles deriving their names of Mounster Ormond in Irish Oirther Mughane Desmond in Irish Deasmughain and Thomond in Irish Tuathmughain the which an Italian comming into Ireland meruailed at when he inquired what great men dwelled in the land for he understood Ormond to bee orbis mundi the round world Desmond decem mundi ten worlds Thomond duo mundi two worlds profecto said he Valdè gloriósi tituli assuredly these are very glorious titles So were there also in processe of time diuers other lesser kingdomes as by the processe of the historie will very well appeare And here for this time leaving to discourse farther of the Irish kingdomes I conclude with this one remembrance that from time to time there was one chosen to be chiefe soveraigne Monarch ouer them all and the number of Monarchs from Hermon to Laogirius the sonne of Nealus Magnus that is great Neale in whose time S. Patricke converted them to Christianitie amounteth to an hundred thirty and one And now backe againe to the historie where we left It is said that of Hiber or Hiberus who was slaine as hath aboue beene recorded Ireland was called Hibernia certaine it is with the concordance of most and the best antiquaries that the land was not called Hibernia neither right Spaniard arived here before the daies of Gurguntius Divers writers haue diversly delivered the originall name of the land some corruptly some poetically some etymologically Ierna Iuvernia Ibernia Overnia Vernia Iris of the Britaines Ywerdhon of the Irish themselues Erin and tooke that name of Fin Erin of whom at large in the booke of Houth of the Saxons and English it is called Ireland that is the land of Erin All these names originally grew of Hiberus the Spaniard or in remembrance of Iberus the second King of Spaine who was the sonne of Tuball the fift sonne of Iaphet Annius Viterbiensis writeth that of this King the river is called Iberus amnis Spaine Iberia and the inhabitants about the river Iberi This land of Ireland hath also beene called Scotia Major Scotland the greater after the birth of Christ but that came of corrupting the word Scytha as I said before Lastly it hath beene called Banno of the Poets or Bardes of the land Stanihurst thinketh it was so called of the Banne a river in the County of Weixford the place is now called Bagganbun where the Britaines vpon the conquest arived and thereof is the rime At the creeke of Bagganbun Ireland was ylost and wonne But for this ancient name Banno and other the like which the Poets of Ireland haue in use I referre the courteous reader to learned Camden in his treatise of Ireland about the beginning Lanquet in his collections of antiquities noteth that the Scottish historiographers about the yeere of the world 3652. beginne their histories at Fergus the sonne of Ferquhard King of Ireland that he should come with great power out of Ireland to their aide against the Pictes and that they fauoured him so much that they chose him King and that hee raigned ouer them in Scotland 25. yeeres and how that in his raigne he slue Coile King of Britaine at what time by generall consent there was no Scottish man then commanding in Albania no Pict at that time seene in Britaine or Ireland nor Coile King of Britaine in many yeares after I am of Lanquets opinion thus he writeth These histories of the Scots as they set them forth bee full of errors and agree with none other historians Notwithstanding this Item may not stoppe the course of the historie and therefore whether he came out of Ireland as we here take it or out of Denmarke as some haue thought well he might be King of Albania for so was it then called and not Scotland and so from him I will terme them Kings of Albania untill I finde the name Scoti knowne amongst forraigne writers This Fergus saith Buchanan hauing orderly disposed of his affaires in Albania went into Ireland to pacifie and quiet troubles there risen and hoising saile for his returne into Albania he and all his company were cast away in a tempest vpon the rockes at a place of him now called in the British and Irish tongues Karregfergus or Craigfregus corruptly in English Knockfergus It is written that he advanced in his banner a red Lyon Rampant with his taile folden toward his backe as it were moved with anger the which his successors since have used After this his infortunate decease there rose great strife about the succession his two sonnes Ferlegus and Mainus were young and many exceptions were made against them in the end the two sonnes were put beside and the eldest of the sept after the Irish Tanistrie tooke place which fell upon Feritharis an Irish man brother to Fergus And this Tanistrie continued saith Buchanan unto Kenathus 3. during the raigne of fourescore Kings But I must leave them and follow onely what concerneth Irish businesse About the yeere of the world saith Lanquet 3750. and odde not allowing as he protested before but following the Scottish histories one Reuthar commander of the invaders in Albania now called Scotland was vexed with civill warres and by the Britaines banished into Ireland where he lived twelve yeeres See more of him in Hector Boetius and Buchanan The 9. King Albaniensium Scotorum so Stanihurst calleth them was Iosina Thereus and is the next that seemeth to haue any right or interest in the Irish historie This man was bred and brought up in Ireland and favoured the nation saith Bale above all others he sought peace of all men honoured Chirurgions Physitians and Druydes of Ireland raigned 24. yeeres and so ended his dayes The next that concerneth our purpose is Gillus the usurper who through much treason and many murthers aspiring to the Crowne of Albania and deservedly falling into the hatred and mislike of all his subjects was at length forced by his Nobles who rose in Armes against him to take a fisher-boate and flee into Ireland where hee was promised aide but to prevent further mischiefe one Cadall is appointed generall of an Armie to pursue the tyrant into Ireland and meeting him in the field drove Gillus to flee When the Irish men had forsaken him he hid himselfe in a denne invironed with woods and bogs where shortly after an Irish Kerne for reward found him out cut off his head and brought it to Cadall after he had tyrannized three yeeres He was the thirteenth King of Albania In the
kept swine many yeeres When Patricks six yeeres were expired one of the swine turned up a clod under the which lay so much mony as paid his ransome When he came the second time he landed at Carlingford and inquired after Milcho whose captive hee had beene who would not giue eare to his doctrine but immediately after his death his two daughters of one name Emeria were baptized Laigerius in Iocelin Leogarius Monarch of Ireland the son of Neale harkning unto Magicians and Sooth-sayers gave commandement together with his brother Corbre unto the Country for the banishing of Saint Patrick but Dichu and Rius two brethren and great Commanders under him received the faith and Conil brother to Laigerius who also himselfe shortly after grew indifferent winking at them that did receive it so that his Queene and his yonger brother received the faith and his two daughters And of Laigerius he thus prophecied because thou hast alwaies withstood my doctrine and ceased not above measure to persecute me and hast above all disdained to beleeve in him that made all things thou art the childe of death And whereas of right thou with the rest yea before all thy confederates oughtest presently to enter into everlasting torments yet insomuch as thou meekely commest unto me craving pardon and like King Achab humblest thy selfe before my God the Lord will not forthwith bring upon thee the evill which thou hast deserved notwithstanding there shall none of thy seed after thee sit upon thy seat but shall serve thy yonger brother that beleeveth in my God and his seed after him for ever As this holy man travailed in preaching the Gospell he met with a young man whose name was Mochaa or Mocho keeping swine in whose physiognomie hee perceived towardnesse and sparkles of grace he taught him baptized him trayned him up in holy Scripture made him Deacon Priest and Bishop of Dune where he lyeth buried Clonsillan and Kellestowne some five miles west of Dublin have him for their Patron where under an high rocke runneth a Spring called S. Mochon his Well Next he baptized one Benignus called also Stephanus so Probus writeth with his father mother familie who proved so good a member in the Church of God that he succeeded S. Patricke in Armagh this Benignus saith Capgrave lyeth buried in Glastenburie Saint Patricke also received into the faith one Erchas the sonne of Dega saith Iocelin whom he also made a Bishop The Martyrologe of Sarum calleth him Herkus At that time one Pheg a Poet and saith Probus Duptachus an Irish rymer or Poet in Lastgerius his Court desired baptisme and afterward all the dayes of his life converted his vaine rymes into Chrihian Poems and did much good thereby among the common people Saint Patricke had brought with him into Ireland out of Italie one Mac Cartyn of Irish birth so I reade in the martyrologe of Sarum and three sisters of his owne which proved very fruitfull Lupita who lived a Virgin and lyeth buried at Armagh Trigridia and Darercha Tigridia had seventeene sonnes and five daughters the men became Priests Monkes and Bishops the daughters were made Nunnes the Bishops were called Brochadius Brochanus Mogenochus and Lumianus Darerca the yongest sister had two Bishops to her sonnes Melrioch and Munis the martyrologe of Sarum reckoneth her children thus Mele Melk Muncse Bishops Riok Finian and Bolke Abbots Where I thinke there is some errour that Melrioch in Iocelin is Mele and Ryok in the maytyrologe Of Lumianus I reade that he baptized a Lord of the country called Fedlemus and his sonne Forkernus whose mother was a Britain his dwelling was at Ahtrum There Lumianus by their meanes builded a Church some twenty five yeeres before the founding of Armagh the which he tooke for his Bishops See and ordered Forkernus to succeed him there The possessions saith mine Author which were first given to this Church afterward by the donations of other Princes fell to belong to Armagh The holy man Patricke laboured still in the vineyard of the Lord he baptized Conallus alias Conill Lord of Connaught brother to Laigerius and his familie who gave Patricke a country called Dompnac Patricke and builded for himselfe a dwelling place called Raith-Artair After seven yeeres this Conill sent him to his brother Logan Cogan saith the Booke of Houth King of Leinster whom hee baptized together with Amolgath whom I take to be the ancestour of the house of O Malaghlin a great Lord of a country and his seven sonnes Florilegus saith they were seven Kings After this this holy man comming out of Meth and having passed over the water at Finglas went up to a hill some mile from the village Athcled now called Dublin When he had viewed the place and soile adjoyning he blessed the same and is said to have prophecied thus This village is now but small it will be great it will be inlarged with wealth and worship neither will it leave increasing untill it bee advanced to the seate of the Kingdome In a while after he came to the village where the inhabitants hearing of the wonders which the Lord wrought by his hands went out to meete him with much ioy and beleeved by his preaching and were baptized My Author addeth that upon complaint made unto him how that they were annoyed with brackish waters which of necessitie they were driven to use he walked about the village turned up cloddes digged the earth and found a Spring which is now called Saint Patrickes Well From this village Athcled hee went to Castleknok where one Murguus dwelled and commanded those places who hearing of Patricks comming refused to give him entertainement but sent him word that he was asleepe in which sleepe as the storie saith he died of which accident the common saying ariseth Thou sleepest Murguus sleepe applyed to those that sleepe heavily or are given to overmuch sleepe From Castleknok he bent his course towards Mounster and came to King Engus alias Oengus Mac Nafroic who received him ioyfully and brought him to his Palace at Cassill saith Iocelin where also one Daris a great Lord in that country shewed him much kindenesse When he had baptized the King and many thousands with him he came to Vrmiunnan now called Ormond where in like sort they received the faith and the inhabitants in remembrance of him builded a Church and dedicated the same to his name From Mounster where he preached seaven yeeres hee tooke his iourney backe to Vlster and came to King Eochu whom he baptized his daughter Cumia whom he made a Nunne and committed her to the charge of the Nunne Cecubris in the Nunnery of Drumdukain whom Patricke first vailed of all the women in Ireland Also he baptized Olcanus who went into France to studie and upon his returne â—rected schooles in Ireland and had many schollers whereof a great number were afterwards Bishops he himselfe towards his end
and deadly blow I found a fragment of an Epistle wherein a vertuous Monke declareth that to him travailing in Vlster came a grave Gentleman about Easter desirous to be confessed and howseled who in all his life time had never yet received the blessed Sacrament When he had said his minde the Priest demaunded him whether he were faultlesse in the sinne of Homicide Hee answered that hee never wist the matter to bee haynous before but being instructed thereof hee confessed the murther of five the rest hee left wounded so as he knew not whether they lived or no. Then was he taught that both the one and the other were execrable and verie meekelie humbled himselfe to repentance Solinus writeth that they woonted because they would seeme Terrible and Martiall to embrue their faces in the bloude of their Enemyes slaine Strabo the famous Geographer who flourished under Augustus and Tiberius Caesar more then fifteene hundred yeares agoe telleth without asseveration that the Irish were great Gluttons eaters of mans flesh and counted it Honourable for Parents deceased to bee eaten up of their Children and that in open sight they medled with their Wiues Mothers and Daughters which is the lesse incredible considering what Saint Hierome avoucheth of the Scots their Of-spring and Allies and what all Histories doe witnesse of the Scithians their auncient founders See Strabo lib. 4. Geograph Although since the time of Saint Patricke Christianitie was never extinct in Ireland yet the governement being hayled into contrarie factions the Nobilitie lawlesse the multitude willfull it came to passe that Religion waxed with the temporall common sort cold and feeble untill the Conquest did settle it especiallie in cases of restrainte and Discipline The Honourable state of Marriage they much abused either in contracts unlawfull meetings the Leviticall and Canonicall degrees of prohibition or in divorcementes at pleasure or in ommitting Sacramentall solemnities or in retayning either Concubines or Harlots for Wiues Yea even at this day where the Cleargie is fainte they can bee content to Marrie for a yeare and a day of probation and at the yeares end to returne her home uppon any light quarrells if the Gentlewomans friendes bee weake and unable to avenge the injurie Never heard I of so many dispensations for Marriage as those men shewe I pray God graunt they bee all authentique and buylded uppon sufficient warrant Covenant and Indent with them never so warilie never so preciselie yet they have beene founde faithlesse and perjured Where they are joyned in colour of surest Amitie there they intended to kill This ceremonâ—e reporteth Cambrensis The parties to bee coupled in League meete at Church become God-septes or Alâ—ies beare each other on his backe certaine paces in a Ring kisse together holy reliquees take blessing of the Bishoppe offer each to other a droppe of his owne bloude and drinke it up betweene them Even in the doing hereof they practise mutuall destruction They have beene used in solemne controversies to protest and sweare by Saint Patrickes Staffe called Bachal esu which oath because upon breach thereof heavy plagues ensued them they feared more to breake then if they had sworne by the holy Evangelist In Vlâ—ter thus they used to Crowne their King a white cow was brought forth which the King must kill and seeth in water whole and bathe himselfe therein starke naked then sitting in the same Caldron his people about him together with them he must eat the flesh and drinke the broath wherein he sitteth without cuppe or dish or use of his hand So much of their old Customes Now a few words of their trade at this present Cleare men they are of Skinne and hue but of themselves carelesse and bestiall Their Women are well fauoured cleare coloured faire handed bigge and large suffered from their infancie to grow at will nothing curious of their feature and proportion of body Their infants of the meaner sort are neither swadled nor lapped in Linnen but foulded up starke naked into a Blankett till they can goe and then if they get a piece of rugge to cover them they are well sped Linnen shirts the rich doe weare for wantonnes and bravery with wide hanging sleeves playted thirtie yards are little enough for one of them They have now left their Saffron and learne to wash their shirts foure or five times in a yeare Proud they are of long crisped glibbes and doe nourish the same with all their cunning to crop the front thereof they take it for a notable peece of villany Shamrotes Water-cresses Rootes and other hearbes they feede upon Oatemale and Butter they cramme together They drinke Whey Milke and Beefe broth Flesh they devoure without bread corne such as they have they keepe for their horses In haste and hunger they squese out the blood of raw flesh and aske no more dressing thereto the rest boyleth in their stomackes with Aquavitae which they swill in after such a surfeite by quarts pottles Their kyne they let blood which growen to a jelly they bake and over-spread with Butter and so eate it in lumpes One office in the house of great men is a tale-teller who bringeth his Lord on sleepe with tales vaine and frivolous whereunto the number give sooth and credence So light they are in beleeving whatsoever is with any countenance of gravitie affirmed by their Superiours whom they esteeme and honour that a lewd Prelate within these few yeares needy of money was able to perswade his parish That S. Patricke in striving with S. Peter to let an Irish Galloglass into Heaven had his head broken with the keyes for whose releife he obtained a Collation Without either precepts or observation of congruity they speake Latine like a vulgar language learned in their common Schooles of Leach-craft and Law whereat they begin Children and hold on sixteene or twentie yeares conning by roate the Aphorismes of Hypocrates and the Civill Institutions and a few other parings of those two faculties I have seene them where they kept Schoole ten in some one Chamber groveling upon couches of straw their Bookes at their noses themselves lying flatte prostate and so to chaunte out their lessons by peece-meale being the most part lustie fellowes of twenty five yeares and upwards Other Lawyers they have liable to certaine families which after the custome of the country determine and judge causes These consider of wrongs offered and received among their neighbours be it murder or fellony or trespasse all is redeemed by composition except the grudge of parties seeke revenge and the time they have to spare from spoyling and proyning they lightly bestow in parling about such matters The Breighoon so they call this kind of Lawyer sitteth him downe on a banke the Lords and Gentlemen at variance round about him and then they proceede They honour devoute Fryars and Pilgrimes suffer them to passe quietly spare them and their mansions whatsoever outrage they shew to the country besides them To robbe and
of English but of Scottish Antiquities varying among themselues great obscurity is brought among doubtfull things Some bring their originall from Ireland others from Dania Cimbrica Chersonesus and the Ilands of Gothland and Norwey neither wanted there some which were of opinion they came from Spaine deriving the name of Scottishmen from Moses himselfe and the Aegyptians as Hector Boëtius the Scottish Chronicler yet Hector himselfe preventing as it were the like objection confesseth that in the third yeere of Adrian the Emperor which was after the birth of Christ about 122 yeeres the name of Scots was not knowne unto the Romans In short time after the retinue of Gathelus searched the North-east and North-west Ilands and entred the Land which now is called Scotland so also called as the Scotish will have it of Scota But many grave writers have stumbled at the certainty of this story yet I finde for certaine that Ireland was called Scotia maior and the other Scotia minor and oftentimes confusedly the one taken for the other and the words to be of no great antiquity Capgrave in the life of Saint Columbanus saith Ireland of old was called Scotland from whence the Scottish nation inhabiting Albania next vnto great Britaine now called Scotland tooke their originall Fiacrius an Hermite being asked of a Bishop in France what hee was among other things answered Ireland the Iland of Scots is the native soile of mee and my parents It also appeareth by Orosius Claudian Isidore Hubaldus Beda the English Legend the Martyrologe secundum usum Sarum Marianus Ionas in vita Sancti Columbani Aimoinus Caesarius c. that Ireland and Scotland were usually taken one for the other But before I goe any further I thinke it not amisse to say som what to this word Scotus or Scottus the which Hector Boëtius carrieth away as derived of Scota and as thing granted There came to this Countrey of Ireland at three severall times before Gathelus great Commanders of Scythia as I have said before of the posterity of Iaphet planted themselues divided the land with great troubles and when they were at the worst alwayes they left a remnant of their nation behinde them Beda every where calleth them not Scotos but Scottos so that I finde in the word a double alteration y turned into o and th into tt Also in low Germany they call the Scythians and Scottish Schotten Nennius the Britain writeth Scythae Hiberniam obtinuerunt the Scythians gat Ireland King Alfredus translating the history of Orosius into the Saxon tongue termeth the Scots Scyttan The borderers upon Scotland cal them to this day Skyttes and Skets Walsingham writeth Of the country called Sicia alias Scythia wee haue Scita Sciticus Scoticus Scotus and Scotia Ranulphus Monke of Chester writeth as Sir Iohn Trevisa the Priest in old English laid it downe Scotts bene called as it were Scytes for they came out of Scytia Matthew Monk of Westminster saith Ex Pictis Hibernensibus Scoti originem habuerunt quasi ex diversis nationibus compacti Scot enim illud dicitur quòd ex diversis rebus in unum acervum congregatur deinde verò terra illa quae prius Albania dicebatur à Scotis Scotia nuncupatur anno gratiae 77. Of Pictes and Irish the Scots had their originall as it were compacted of divers nations for that is called Scot which of divers things is gathered into one heap afterwards that Land which was first called Albania of the Scots is called Scotia And Beda writeth that the Country now called Scotland was inhabited by Pictes that were Scythians againe In processe of time saith he Britaine besides Britaines and Pictes receiued a third nation that is of Scots upon the side of the Pictes Of the same opinion is Volateran and Iohannes Major Scotus although Hector Boëtius dissemble it Richard Stanihurst the great Philosopher and Antiquary of Ireland writeth A quo primum initio Scotiae nomen fit tractum nondum plane perspectum video c. Of what first originall the word Scotia is drawne I haue not yet found out And touching the truth of the History of Gathelus and Scota hee saith To the end the worthinesse of so great a mariage delivered unto the posterity should florish all these Grecians call themselues Scots and Ireland where they first seated themselues Scotiam But all this as a vaine fable George Buchanan and before him Humfrey Lloide have quite reiected and if Hector Boëtius bee not the chiefe forger of this history or rather vaine fable yet he hath besprinckled after his manner the whole discourse with lies With great ambition hath that silly writer labored to advance the glory of his nation in the which endeauour hee hath little regarded the honour of his Country and his owne credit For he hath purchased this amongst the learned that where as he would seeme to write all for the loue of the truth they will beleeue in a manner nothing to be true which he wrote For to what purpose should he commend to the posterity the acts of his ancestors with such maiesty of words that they have quailed the Spaniard vanquished the Irish with their only austere countenance triumphed as often as pleased themselves over the bordering Britaines where they pitched foot subiected all as furious victors that thou maist think the Scottish not so much to have invaded forraigne Countryes as to have removed to their proper possessions These fabulous dreames happely may move admiration to some old wives applause to some Abderas and laughter to the discreete reader The Scotish had as other nations tofore though now famous base beginning dusked and obscured with some barbarous rudenesse and this had beene more discretion to confesse then to vaunt or crake among the ignorant with boast of their fained doings Thus farre Stanihurst And now with Hector Boëtius his leave as the followers of Gathelus and his wife Scota in Egypt Greece Barbary Portugall Galitia and over all Spaine were not called Scoti as before is remembred no more were they termed in Ireland and Scotland but corruptly of Scytae Scoti comming originlly out of Scythia And it were more honour in mine opinion for these nations to derive their originall from Scythia then from Egypt for two causes first for that the Scythians are more ancient then the Egyptians as Trogus Volateran and Marianus Scotus do write secondly for that the Scythians come of Iaphet that was blessed and the Egyptians of Cham that was accursed but in this case leaving every man to his owne choice I will returne the History In the antiquities of Ireland it is generally receiued that Gathelus of whom I spake before gave the Irishmen the language which of him they call Gaodhealgh in British Gwidhealaec that is a language compounded of many tongues and so it may well be for by reason of his great trauell he had skill in many tongues Although as they say he were a Grecian borne yet I finde no
other contained thirty and two or else for that it lieth in the midst of the land These encrochments Slanius annexed to his inheritance and Monarchy which Monarchy continued thus the space of thirty yeeres and then Slanius departed this life and was buried in a mountaine of Meth that beareth hitherto the name after him After his decease the Princes that before were subiect unto him began to gather heart stomached the matter and denied their obedience to his successour whereupon ensued continuall warre amongst them and especially about the land of Meth which strife of long time could not bee appeased yet in the space of thirty yeeres aforesaid of these brethren and their successors there were nine Kings In the neck of all these mischiefes and hurly burlies say the Irish antiquities there came a fleet of Scythians upon the coast landed their men in Ireland made claime to the land by a title of right which they pretended from their forefather Nemedus of whom mention is made before so that by partaking with the one side and the other all was in an uproare havock was made on each side with fire and sword in most miserable manner They spent themselves in pursuing one another with such outrage that they cared not what nation or what souldier they received to their aid to hold up or beat downe a side Both the one and the other sent for aid into the Ilands now called England and Scotland Orchades Hebrides c. and acquainted forrainers with their state so farre that they could never after be rid of them to wit the Britaines till in the end they yeelded unto them the upper hand as by conquests in processe of the history shall appeare Note gentle reader how that hitherto that is the yeere of the world 2828 and before the birth of Christ 1142 these North parts of the world as England Scotland Ireland with other Iles were possessed commanded and inhabited by the posterity of Iaphet and Cham the sonnes of Noah without any speciall name given to the lands or to the Commanders of them otherwise then Samothei Celtae Oceanes Neptunists and Albions although I have hitherto used the names now in ure for the plainer delivery of the history as if they had beene knowne before neither were any called Scots as Hector Boëtius would have it After the times of the former troubles which happened in Ireland upon the landing of the Scythians I finde nothing of Ireland till the dayes of Gurguntius the sonne of Belinus who began his raine according to the ordinary account anno mundi 3580 and reigned 19 yeeres over Britaine This King after his victory atchieved in Denmark for his tribute which they there had refused to pay him returning back toward Britaine met by the Iles of Orkeney with a navy of thirthy ships Stanyhurst saith 60 with men and women whose Generall was called Bartholin or Partholin in Ponticus Virunius Partolom in Flores Historiarum Partholaim in Gualter Oxoniensis Bartholome in Fabian Harding Grafton and Caxton Irlamal of whom they thinke the country to be called Ireland Gurguntius demanded of them what they were and the occasion of their travell their answer was they were Spaniards and had long beene on the seas seeking to finde some favourable Prince to assigne them a place of habitation for that their country was so populous that it could not containe them others write that for some disordered parts they were banished their country and where they found favour they would become subiects and hold of him as their soveraigne Lord. In this fleet with the Governor of Baion their Generall before named there were foure brethren of noble birth the sonnes of Milesius others say Miletus and others Milo the two chiefe of which were called Hiberus and Hermon And beside the former differences in the parents name Dowling writeth in his Irish collections that they were the sonnes of Iubal Hector Boëtius avoucheth they were the sonnes of Gathelus and Scota Stanihurst affirmeth that Scota was great or old grand-dame to Hiber and Hermon others write they were of the posteritie of Gathelus and Scota whereas Gathelus if there were any such was a Grecian and Scota an Egyptian Hiber and Hermon Spaniards see gentle Reader how these reports hang together Gurguntius being aduised by his Councell pittying their necessitie and wandring estate granted them the Iland now called Ireland to inhabite and that they should become tributaries to him and his successors the Kings of Britaine for ever For hee called to minde that the inhabitants were an unruly people and thought by this meanes to subdue them and quietly to enioy his tribute for it seemeth that the Britaine 's made claime to Ireland to which effect I reade in the Booke of Houth that Gurguntius came into Ireland and that the land many a yeare paid him truage and to other Kings of Britaine after him but as oft as they put foote in the land they got more knocks then pence saith an Irish Chronicler The King of Britaine hastening homeward gave them Pilots and safe conductors for their arivall and possession of the land Hiberus and Hermon after their arivall by the assent of all their associates divided the land betweene them the North to Hiber and the South to Hermon But ambition the mother of mischiefe would not long suffer them to enioy peace but rent their hearts with fierie dissention inflamed their mindes to desire one Soueraigne and absolute commander over the whole land they gather forces they muster their men they put on Armes and to battaile they goe in which field Hiberus was slaine though Hector Boetius write that he went into Spaine to succeed his father and Hermon became Monarch of all Ireland Hermon being thus sole ruler and governour to avoid the murmure of his people and the euill opinion in a manner of all men conceiued against him and peaceably to governe the land fell to purge himselfe and caused the occasion of the warres to be proclaimed that he bore armes against his naturall brother not of malice or desire of soveraigntie but in defence of his owne person and safety of his people and for proofe that his heart was farre from desire to rule alone he appointed certaine Captaines as Kings to command under him certaine Countries reserving unto himselfe one fourth part and the Country of Meth annexed to the Monarchie for the better maintenance of his princely estate By this meanes this Realme of Ireland in processe of time grew to five kingdomes the first Leinster on the East side or quarter called in Latine Lagenia and in Irish Cuige-Laghen The second Conaght on the west side of the kingdome called in Latine Connacia and in Irish Cuige-Chonoght The third Vlster which is the North part of Ireland named in Latine Vltonia and in Irish Cuigh-Vlladh The fourth Mounster South and South-west in Latine Momonia and in the country speech Cuige Mughan The fift and
signifieth a skilfull archer And these Pictes brought with them the use of darts which the Irish retaine to this day But I come to Beda who goeth plaine to worke When the Britaines saith hee had possessed the greatest part of the Isle beginning at the South it happened that a nation of Pictes out of Scythia with long shippes yet not many entred the Ocean the winde driving them about beyond all the coast of Brittaine they came into Ireland and arived in the North and finding there the nation of Scots desired of them to grant them a dwelling place amongst them but they could not obtaine it c. The Scots made answere that the Iland could not hold them both but wee can give you said they good counsaile what you may doe We know another Island not farre from ours reaching to the East the which we are wont oft to discerne in cleare dayes if you will goe thither you may make it your dwelling place or if any withstand you take vs for your aide And so the Pictes sayling into Britaine began to inhabite the North parts of the Iland for the Britaine 's held the South And when the Pictes had no wives and sought them of the Scots they were granted them onely upon this condition that when the title of Soveraigntie became doubtfull they should choose them a King rather of the Feminine bloud royall then of the Masculine the which unto this day is observed amongst the Pictes And in processe of time Britaine after the Britaines and Picts received that third nation of the Scots upon that part where the Pictes had their habitation who issuing out of Ireland with their Captaine Reuda either by loue or by the sword have wonne peculiarly unto themselves those seats which they hold unto this day and of this their captaine they are called Dalreudin for in their language Dal signifieth apart And here I cannot but meruaile at Hector Boetius and Buchanan what confusion they bring into the historie without regard of the truth they name Beda they call Reuda Reuther and say that he was the sixt King of Albania and that the Britaine 's made him flee into Ireland and that in the end he was restored to his kingdome againe which can no way agree with the words of reverend Beda whose credit we may not impeach for he saith they were Scythians and wanted a dwelling place and beganne to inhabit the North parts of the Iland If Reuda were King of Albania no thanke to the Irish men to direct him thither But let us goe on with the Pictes I finde in Lanquet that the Pictes were rebellious an 9 of Arviragus Anno. Domini 53. And Polycronicon affircteth as Beda wrote before that they came to the North of Ireland in Vespasians time Stow saith it was in Anno 73. Matthew the Monke of Westminster in Anno 75. and 76. Leslaeus and Bozius write that Reuda came about the yeere 360. which is very doubtfull and that then the Pictes wanting wives desired of the Britaines that they might march with their nation their suit being denied they went to the Irish who granted them wives upon the condition in Beda before rehearsed And farther Giraldus Cambrensis Polycronicon and Grafton concurring doe say that Scotland was first called Albania of Albanactus secondly Pictlandia of the Pictes thirdly Hibernia Ireland because of the alliance or affinitie in marriage betweene the Pictes and Irish last of all Scotland or Scythians land And hereof it commeth to passe that Ireland is called Scotland and Scotland Ireland the Irish Scots and the Scots Irish as one hath largely collected and the distinction of Scotia Major and Scotia Minor Harding hath an historie out of Mewinus a Brittish Chronicler Harding lived in the time of Henry the fift and sixt and in the daies of Edward the fourth which if it be true all that is formerly spoken of Gathelus and Scota his wife by the Scottish and Irish Chroniclers is of small credit namely how that Gathelus and Scota came into these North parts together with the Pictes Anno Domini 75. his words are these speaking of the King of Britaine Then to the Peights left alive he gave Catenesse To dwell upon and have in heritage Which wedded were with Irish as I gesse Of which after Scots came on that linage For Scots be to say their language A collection of many into one Of which the Scots were called so anone But Mewinus the Bryton Chronicler Saith in his Chronicle otherwise That Gadelus and Scota in the yeere Of Christ seventie and five by assise At Stone inhabite as might suffice And of her name the country round about Scotland she cald that time without doubt This Scota was as Mewin saith the sage Daughter and bastard of King Pharao that day Whom Gadele wedded and in his old age Vnto a land he went where he inhabited ay Which yet of his name is called Gadelway And with the Peights he came into Albanie The yeere of Christ aforesaid openlie c. Polycronicon and Cambrensis accord with Harding in this point that the King gave the Pictes a place to dwell in which is now called Galleway And saith Ponticus Virunius it was desert and waste where none dwelled in many dayes before The credit of Harding is great and he that list to know farther of him let him reade Bale Bishop of Ossorie who wrote his life I will now neither confirme nor confute but acquainte the reader with such antiquities as I finde and in a word to adde something unto that which went before of the time of the Pictes comming into these North and North-west parts Florilegus writeth it was Anno Domini 77. Functius and Polydore Anno Dom. 87. To reconcile the dissonance what every one saith may stand for truth for they came in severall companies and at severall times some into Ireland some into Albania and some into England I will from henceforward leave writing the kingdome of Albania and write the kingdome of Scotland Anno Dom. 73. began Marius the sonne of Arviragus to raigne in Britaine Humfrey Lloide calleth him Meurig who after his troublesome warres for nine yeeres space against the Picts and Scots ended with the helpe of Iulius Agricola is said to have aspired towards Ireland and to have placed garrisons on the coast and to the end he might performe some exploite there entertained an Irish Prince that was driven out of his country by civill dissention for his conductor I finde no issue recorded of this businesse In the 15. yeeres civill warres which ensued vpon the death of Lucius the sonne of Coile King of Britaine it is reported that Fulgenius called the Ilanders Albanians Pictes and Irish men to his aide against whom Severus the Emperour comming from Rome gave them battaile neere unto Yorke where Severus and a Prince of Ireland were slaine and Fulgenius deadly wounded the Emperour Severus
downe for dead King Engus lamented greatly the death of seven Nobles of Mounster that were pledges with him at Cassill and miscarried in this mortalitie Not long after Declanus ended the way of all flesh and lyeth buried at Ardmore Albaeus as his owne Legend delivereth the second Patrone of Mounster after Patricke the generall Patrone of Ireland was borne in Elyach now called Ely O Caroll His fathers name was Olâ—nais his mothers Sandith a maid servant in the house of King Cronanus the Lord of Eliach was then called a King Cronanus in his rage bid his servants hang the whoore and kill the childe the servants loath to dispatch an innocent tooke him out of his Pallace and laid him under the side of a rocke One Lochanus the sonne of Lugyr passing by pittied the childe tooke him to his horse and set him to nurse among certaine Britaines in the East part of Elyach Palladius saith the story passing from Rome toward Scotland and travelling through Ireland baptized him The Britaines sent him into France where hee was trayned up in Christian schooles and brought up under Bishop Hilarius who sent him to Rome where he was consecrated Bishop and remained one whole yeere and fiftie dayes preaching and expounding holy Scripture with great admiration And saith the Legend there came unto him out of Ireland fiftie grave and reverend men of which number there were 12 Colmans 12 Coenigeni and 12 Fintans the Bishop of Rome sent them backe into Ireland they came to Dolomoir where Sampson Bishop of that See gave them entertainement There he baptized saith the storie King Fintan After he had baptized and converted many unto the faith and builded many Churches and founded many Hospitals for lazers he came to Ymleach now called Emley a Bishopricke and in the Legend termed his owne Citie fell sicke and there left his bones He conversed with Biga whom learned Camden calleth Bega Bretach Nunnes and with Nessanus a great Antiquarie saith mine Author whose antiquities I never saw Kyaranus or Keran alias Piran another of the foure Bishops that lived in Ireland before Saint Patricke commeth next to be spoken of Of him Capgrave and the Martyrologe thus write that hee was a Bishop and Confessour and termed Sanctorum Hiberniae primogenitus And yet I finde in Molanus that one Saint Mansuetus Bishop of Tullum now called Tullense oppiduÌ„ a towne in Flanders was of Irish birth fellow Disciple with Saint Clement under Saint Peter the blessed Apostle not trayned up in Ireland in the Christian faith but in forraigne countries where he was both baptized instructed and made Bishop and where he now resteth But to returne to Keran he was borne in Ossorie having to his father Domnell saith another Lugnaeus whereby I gather there were two of that name to his mother Wingella famous for life learning and sanctitie in the dayes of Saint Patricke He lived in the I le of Cleere some 30 yeeres from thence he went to Rome where hee met Saint Patricke who came to Ireland 30. yeeres after Pyranus was of note in Rome hee continued 15. yeeres expounding holy Scripture with great admiration as another saith 20. yeeres there the Bishop of Rome consecrated him Bishop He came to Ireland and was the first Bishop of Ossorie having his See at Keran in Elie O Carroll Hee refreshed saith mine Author Saint Patricke and tenne Irish Kings for the space of three dayes he confirmed Rhodanus in the faith visited the Virgin Cota with her Priest Geranus whose cell was a rocke of the â—eas not farre from the Citie of Cluan in Mounster He was a man of an austere life never ware woollen garment but the fell of Wolves and wilde beasts As he came to his lodging in time of Lent and having inquired what provision they had answere being made that they had but a pestle of Porke he commanded it to be laid on the table one scornefully refused the dyet he misliking with him threatned him an ill end which accordingly came to passe When by the course of nature he saw his end approach he called his friends unto him and said My welbeloved children and friends God hath disposed that I should trauaile out of Ireland into Cornewall and there expect the end of my dayes I cannot withstand the will of God I doe admonish you brethren to uphold the place with good workes and examples of life for there shall come children of perdition and death among you ye shall have mortalitie and warres the Churches shall become waste and desolate and the truth shall be turned into iniquitie faith shall not shine with good workes the Pastors will looke to themselves more then to their flocke feeding themselves more then their sheepe last of all I beseech you brethren pray for me that my iourney may be prosperous and that after my decease I finde not my King and my God angry but gentle and appeased when I shall appeare before him He tooke leave came to Cornewall and resteth some fifteene miles from Petrok-stow 25. miles from Mousehole where he is remembred for their Patron Cambrâ—nsis writeth that in Caerdise in Wales there is a Chappell called Saint Perans Chappell where King Henry the second in his returne from Ireland repaired to heare divine service as he hath remembred it in his Booke intituled Itinerarium Cambriae And thus much of Saint Keran or Saint Peran Of Ybarus the fourth Bishop before Saint Patricke I finde some discourse in the Legend of Abbanus the Abbot how hee baptized him and brought him up in learning and how they went together to Rome and after their returne conversed in Ireland with Saint Patricke as formerly in part hath beene delivered in the life of Declanus This Abbanus is renowned in Ireland for building of Celles and religious houses besides three Monasteries in Connaght he built in Mounster Ceall Achard Conchun alias Kill Achard where Saint Finan whom he baptized after his death was Abbot In the borders of Muskerry he builded the Nunnery of Husneach and left it to Saint Gobnaid and her Virgins another Monasterie also by Kilcullen In Nandesi as I take it now called the Decies by the towne of Briogoban he founded Kill-na-Marban and at the foot of the mountaine Crotte in Muskerie the famous Monasterie called Cluain-Airdmobecoc where Saint Becanus was Abbot the which afterward because of Becanus his lamentation in devout sort as it is written for his sinnes was called Ceall Nander Cella lachrymarum the cell of teares He founded also Cluain Findglaise Cluain Conbrum and went into Ely where he baptized and converted unto the faith thousands as the Legend reporteth in a place afterward called Rath-Becain in Latine Atrium Becani where Abbanus is recounted Patron He builded a Monasterie upon the river Berba called Ross-Mac-Treoin where the Abbot Saint Emenus resteth also in Meath Ceall-Ailbe and committed the charge thereof to the holy
became a Bishop and ended his dayes in sanctitie When Saint Patricke had baptized a second Conallus a petite King and his brother Fergus he prophecied of Fedlemus the sonne of Fergus and of Columba the sonne of Fedlemus what a holy man hee should prove as after hee did and was the founder of an hundred Monasteries Saint Patricke for all this travaile sailed into Britaine for coadiutors and fellow-labourers in this worke where he opposed himselfe both in publike and private against the Pelagians and other heretickes which disturbed the peace of the Church and brought with him thirty learned men whom afterward he consecrated Bishops So that to this day in Britaine as in Anglesey Bristoll Exeter and other places there are Churches built in remembrance of him He also converted the Isle of Man to the faith and there is a Church which also beareth his name and left them one Germanus to bee their Bishop after whose death hee ordained for that place Conidrius Ronillus and Machaldus Vpon his returne into Ireland hee met with sixe of his Disciples of Irish birth that had beene Students beyond Seas whom in the end he made Bishops Lugacius Columbanus Meldanus Lugadius Cassanus and Cheranus Then he made saith Iocelin a second iourney unto Athcled now called Dublin upon his comming which was about twentie yeeres after their conversion and found them all given to idolatrie and withall one Alpinus a King with his Queene and his retinue lamenting the death of Eocchiad their sonne heire and the drowning of their sole daughter Dublinia Patricke preached the people beleeved the King hearing of him hoped to reape some comfort to bee short saith mine Author the dead are raised to life and Athcled ever after in remembrance of the Kings daughter Dublinia was called Dublin Saint Patrickes manner was first to Catechize secondly to Baptize lastly to minister the Sacrament of the Lords Supper When with the aide of the country he builded Churches hee would not name them after any Saints name but Domnach the Church of the Lord. And when he had procured a Church to be builded in a place called Achad Fobuit and consecrated his Disciple Sennachus alias Seachuallus Bishop there the humble sute of Senachus unto him was that the Church should not be called after him as the manner was saith mine Author in many places among the Irish people The onely doctrine Patricke read and expounded unto the people was the foure Evangelists conferred with the old Testament Hee is reported to have given many blessings and to have denounced many curses He had many Disciples Kertennus Winnocus Winwallocus likewise saith Molanus Elberus Ibarus Connedus Secundinus Asicus Fiechus Sennachus Olcanus with many others which he made Bishops I finde mention also of Riochus that kept his Bookes and Papers and of Rodanus that kept his Cattell that hee made them Bishops and the world made them Saints Ireland is greatly beholding unto him for it is recorded that hee went up to the top of the Mount Hely I take it to be a hill in Ely O Carrols country where he made three petitions unto Almighty God for the people of Ireland that had received the faith First that every one might have grace to repent though it were at the last houre Secondly that they might not be utterly destroyed by Infidels Lastly that no Irish man should live till the day of Iudgement Quia delebitur per orationem sancti Patricij septem annis ante judicium for it shall be destroyed by meanes of Saint Patrickes prayers seaven yeeres before the comming of Christ to iudgement Probus maketh mention of other Petitions which for that I hold them fabulous I will not rehearse He procured as it is written of him seaven hundred Churches to bee builded in Ireland ordained five thousand Ministers consecrated three hundred and fifty Bishops successively understand in his time Darius the Booke of Houth calleth him Dares in Probus Dair a Noble man affecting Patricke and seeing him beare low saile and shrowding himselfe with all humilitie in Vlster drew him to dwell at Drumsailech now called Armagh and having used meanes there for the building of a Church Patricke went to Rome procured all confirmations necessary to his purpose arrived againe in Ireland and being of the age of 122. yeeres ended his life in the time that Aurelius Ambrosius raigned in Britaine and Forthkerrus was Monarch of Ireland Brigida and Ethembria who then were accounted two holy women shrowded him to his grave when Thassach a Bishop had ministred the Sacrament Probus writeth that the Britaine 's came with great forces attempting at severall times to fetch away his corps and that the men of Vlster did withstand them As for the purgatorie that is fathered upon him I must referre the reader to the yeere of grace 850. where he shall finde a second Patricke founder thereof In our Patricks time flourished many good Christians renowned at this day and as an Antiquarie and collector of antiquities I desire the christian reader to accept of them as I finde them And I will beginne with Brigida that gave Saint Patricke his winding sheete shee was borne as Iohn Clyn writeth anno 439. in Fochart not farre from Dondalke as Bernard deliuereth she was the base daughter of one Duptacus haply Laigerius his rymer before spoken of a Noble man saith Bale of the North parts a Captaine of Leinster saith the Book of Houth Capgrave writeth that her mother in wantonnesse having conceived and her belly being espied to be up Duptacus his wife caused her to be turned out of doores Duptacus to avoid the iâ—alousie and disquietnesse of his wife delivered her to a Poet or Bard a Magician saith Bale who kept both Mother and Daughter and trayned her up in such learning as he had skill in Shee proved so singularly learned and was in such account among all men that a Synode of Bishops assembled by Dublin used her advice in weightie causes as I reade in the Booke of Houth She became a Nunne and wrought but one miracle saith Bale that is shee used meanes to purge a Bishop one Bronus or Bruno from fornication when the fact was manifestly proved against him In the authenticke manuscript Legend of Ireland I finde that she kept most in Leinster and builded a Cell for her abode under a goodly faire Oke which afterwards grew to be a Monasterie of Virgins called Cyll-dara in Latine Cella Quercus the Cell of the Oke now Kildare and saith mine Author ibique maxima civitas postea in honore beatissimae Brigidaecrevit quae est hodie metropolis Laginensium The first Bishop by her meanes was Conlianus alias Conlaidus Stanihurst reckoneth the succession of the See in this sort Lony Ivor Conlie Donatus David Magnus Richard Iohn Symon Nicolas Walter Richard Thomas Robart Boniface Madogg William Galfride Richard Iames. Wale
by Buchanan Scoti Albanenses and Scoti Hibernenses the first he challengeth for Scotland the second he referreth to Ireland and therefore I accept of him as granted He was a Kings sonne of Ireland excellently studied in Philosophie earnestly addicted to the ecclesiasticall course of life and to the end he might plant religion and spreade abroad christianitie enterprised a voyage farre from his native soile This holy man first of all taught here and there throughout France he came to Poitiers and became father of the Monkes of Saint Hilarie and with the aide of King Clodovarus erected a stately Monasterie the like he did at Mosella in Flanders upon the top of the mount Vosagius at Argentine Curia Rhetiorum and elsewhere throughout Burgundie Lastly he came to Angia Seckingensis upon the Rhene to the end he might there also build a Cell after many godly Sermons and learned Interpretations he is said to have written a Booke of exhortations unto the sacred Virgins He flourished in the yeere 495. and resteth in the Monasterie of Seckinge before spoken of Ireland remembreth the feast of Saint Fekin that hee was of the Kings bloud and an Abbot cured many of the flixe or fluxe and dyed thereof himselfe Many things are written of Saint Modwen whom the Britaines call Mawdwen the daughter of Naughtheus the Irish King who heard Saint Patricke preach and of her companions Orbila Luge Edith Athea Lazara Sith whom the Irish call Osith Osmanna and of Brigid spoken of before whereof some began with Patricke and ended with him some began with him and lived many yeeres after as Capgrave writeth in the life of Modwen to the time of the Bishop Collumkill otherwise called Colme and Columba and the Eremite Abbot or Bishop Kevin Saint Modwen was a Nunne lived 130. yeeres The Irish Scots and English in which countries she had travailed strove for her corps at length Columkill the Bishop gave sentence for England where shee resteth at Andreisey Bale writeth how that one Galfride Abbot of Burton upon Trent in the time of King Iohn wrote the life and memorable acts of this Irish Virgin Modwen unto the posterity with great applause Capgrave writeth the life of Saint Sith otherwise called Osith that was brought up under Modwen that she was a Kings daughter and borne in England Leppeloo the Carthusian and other forraigne Writers say little of her saving that the Danes being Heathens cut off her head and that shee tooke her head in her armes carried it uprightly three furlongs off knockt at the Church doore being lockt with her bloudy hands and there fell downe The Martyrologe of Sarum confoundeth Dorothy and Saint Sith thus the 15. of Ianuarie the feast of Saint Dorothie otherwise called Saint Sith is kept in Ireland who refused marriage fled into a Monasterie where the devill appeared unto her and there mine Author left her Of Osmanna the Virgin I finde little saving what Capgrave reporteth that she was of the bloud royall in Ireland and having infidels to her parents fled into France dwelled upon the banke of Loire the river of Lions and there in peace ended her dayes I read that about this time one Tathe the sonne of an Irish King forsooke his fathers possessions went to the Diocesse of Landaffe in Wales and became a Monke builded a Monasterie and there left his bones Gualterus Calenius Archdeacon of Oxford Caxton and others doe write that Aurelius Ambrosius after his valiant exploits and noble victories went to a Monasterie neere Cair-caredoch now called Salisburie where through the treason of Hengist which the Britaines call Toill y Killill Hirion the treason of the long knives the Nobles and Princes of Britaine were slaine and buried called his Councell and demanded what monument were meete to be made there in remembrance of so many Nobles of the land there resting in the dust of the earth Carpenters Masons Carvers Ingravers and Tombe-makers being out of all places sent for came thither delivered their opinions but concluded nothing Then stepped forth a Bishop which said O King if it may stand with your pleasure there is one Merlin of Worcester a Prophet a searcher of Antiquities a man of rare gifts I wish his opinion in the matter Merlin came and being advised said as followeth Most Noble King upon occasion offered I went lately into Ireland and having ended my businesse I was inquisitive of antiquities and sight of monuments where among other things being brought to a mountaine of Kildare I saw so rare a sight in so rude a country as might bee seene there was a round row of huge stones the which none of this age had so framed neither could be unlesse Art had mastered the common skill of man send for them and set them vp as they are there couched and they will bee a monument whilst the world standeth Hereat the King smiled and said how shall we convey so great stones into Britaine from so farre a countrey and to what end as though Britaine yeelded not as good stones to all purposes Merlin replied be not displeased O King there is a hid mystery in those stones they are medicinable and as I was given to understand in Ireland the Gyants of old dwelling in that land procured them from the farthest part of Affricke and pitched them there in them they bathed themselves and were rid of their infirmities The Britaines hearing this were perswaded to send for them the King appointed his brother Vter-Pendragon with Merlin and fifteene thousand men to effect the businesse In a short time they arrived in Ireland Gillomer King of Leinster raised an Armie to resist them and reviled the Britaines saying what fooles and asses are you are the Irish better then the British stones and turning himselfe to his Armie said come on quit your selves like men keepe your monuments and defend your country Vter-Pendragon seeing this animated his company they met and manfully encountred in the end Gillomer fled and the Irish were discomfited Vter-Pendragon marched on they came by Merlins direction to the place and beholding the hugenesse of the stones they wondred yet they joyed that they had found them To worke they went some with Ropes some with Wythes some with Ladders and carried them away brought them to Britaine and pitched them in the Plaine of Salisburie which place is now called Stonehenge Beside this there are divers monuments of Gyants in Ireland as at Dundalke Louth Ardee and on the hilles not farre from the Naas the like Saxo Grammaticus reporteth of the Danes a nation famous for Gyants and mighty men and this saith he the great and huge stones laid of old upon Caves and Tombes of the dead doe declare About this time Passent the sonne of Vortiger that fled into Germany for aide arrived in the North parts Aurelius Ambrosius met him and put him to flight Passent came into Ireland delivered his griefe unto Gillomer King
browes and the labour of their owne hands And the rather for that he had to his Disciples of Irish birth Columbanus that travailed France Germanie and Italie Breudan that furnished Ireland and Scotland with holy men with Luanus and others of whom I shall have occasion to speak in their places This Congellus also Bernard is mine Author founded the Abbey of Benchor alias Bangor here in Vlster where many singular learned men of Irish birth were trayned up yea Britaines Saxons and Scots also and dispersed themselves farre and nigh as hereafter shall more plainely appeare into forraigne countries converted and confirmed thousands in the true faith The which Abbey of Benchor was afterward destroyed by Pyrates and nine hundred Monks slaine in one day and so continued waste unto the time of Malachias Bishop of Armach whereof I will speake hereafter Yet in an ancient manuscript Legend of Ireland I finde that this Congellus the Abbot was borne in Dail Naraid in Vlster of honourable Parents and upon some displeasure conceived forsooke his native soile came to Mounster to Saint Fintan Abbot of Cluoyn Ednech at the foote of Mons Blandina where he was ioyfully received who after long instruction through the counsaile of Fintan returned to his native soile and entred the Monasterie of Saint Kiaran in Cluayn Mac Noyse where Bishop Lugidus gave him orders and that in a while after he founded the famous Abbey of Benchor in Vlster in the country called Altitudo ultorum to the East sea as I reade in the life Mocoemog containing three thousand Monkes and that seven yeeres after hee went into Britaine and founded there a Monasterie that swarmed with Monkes as formerly in part is delivered whither out of all places by sea and land they flocked unto him for the same of learning which there was professed He when hee had setled his affaires there returned into Ireland and now resteth at his monasterie of Benchor The fame of both Monasteries or Colledges of Christian Philosophers and famous men thither frequenting and entercouâ—sing with domesticall and forraigne students mee thinkes should reconcile Britaine and Ireland now being in one and breed an agreement among Antiquaries Brendan among others was famous at this time borne in Connaght brought up under Hercus a Bishop and directed by Barintus a Monke he was excellently seene in the liberall sciences and travailed into Britaine to the Abbey of Bangor where hee learned the monasticall rules of Congellus from thence he went to Llancarvan and builded a Monasterie became the father of three thousand Monkes that got their living with the labour of their hands and sweate of their browes left to oversee them Machutus and Molochus travailed over Ireland and Scotland with other countries after seven yeeres peregrination he returned to Ireland and became Bishop of Kerry of old called Kiaragi but now Ardfertensis where he ended his dayes and lyeth buried at Cluenarca otherwise called Luarcha Yet in the life of Ruadanus I finde hee was buried at Cluanferta Other things that Capgrave the martyrologe and Bale have I omit When Saint Brendan was olde Saint Fynbarry was a childe hee is now the Patrone of the Cathedrall Church of Corke his Legend runneth thus There was a certaine King in Ireland called Tegernatus who had to his handmaid a very beautifull Damosell this King gave charge throughout his dominion that none should be so bold as to touch her for it was supposed he kept her for his owne tooth Yet saith the Legend one of his souldiers whose name was Amorgen a blacke Smith got her with childe the which being brought to light and the time of her travaile nigh approaching Tegernatus commanded that Amorgen the father the faire harlot the mother with her great bellie should bee cast into the fire and burned to ashes But saith the Legend they were all miraculously deliuered and the childe safely brought into the world At his baptisme he was named Loanus but in a while after three religious men that had the charge of him by reason of the beautie of his white lockes and gratious aspect called him in Irish Fuenbarrah whom now wee call Fynbarry He was brought up under Bishop Torpereus the disciple of Gregorie Bishop of Rome and was conversant with Faâ—turus another Legend calleth him Fyachna a King in Ireland who did alot him a certaine portion of land in his country Bishop Torpereus gave him orders after which he went saith the Legend into Albania now called Scotland did much good there and went from thence to Rome and was consecrated Bishop in the time of Gregorie the first then he returned to Ireland landed on the South side of the river Lee where one Edo a Noble man gave him a parcell of ground where with the aide of many good men he built the old Citie of Corke and the Cathedrall Church annexing thereto a faire Church yard wherein now standeth a watch Towre builded by the Danes The Legend speaketh of a priviledge granted to that Church-yard which I take to have beene brought in through the covetousnesse of the Priests That what faithfull soever being penitent shall bee buried there shall not after this life feele the torments of hell as if every faithfull penitent Christian were not freed from hell wheresoever he be buried But let us proceed Torpereus Bishop of Cloan his Schoolemaster was the first man that was buried in that Church-yard After this Finbarry went to Calangus a reverend man then Abbot of Cloane and concluded betweene themselves that in the feare of God they would both be buried in one place and so indeed it fell out for there Finbarry fell sicke received the Sacrament at the hands of Calangus ended his dayes and was brought to the Church-yard of old Corke and there interred shortly after followed Calangus and there Bishop Torperus the first Bishop of Cloane Finbarry the first Bishop of Corke and Calangus the first Abbot of Cloane keepe together in the dust of the earth waiting for the resurrection at the last day The fabulous circumstances of the Legend I leave to old Wives and long winters nights yet to satisfie the reader that I met with the Originall I will lay down part of the Latine rithmes sung yeerely on his day being the 25. of September not worthy of translation into English and here they follow Infantis clari matremque patremque ligatum Ambo Rex quondam flammis praeceperat uri Interea mirum bellum gessere elementa Ignis edax stupuit non audens mandere ligna Hic nondum genitus jam matris ventre moratus O nova res miris cepit clamare loquelis Obstupuit rex c. Ad Christi verbum ducentes tres seniores Infantem secum nitidum vultuque decorum Dogmata ut sacra cunabulo disceret evo Contigit ut nimio solis fervore sitiret Tunc senibus quidam praeceperat ire ministrum Vt potum puero cerva deduceret almo Statim
of the sept of Fergusius the most potent Prince of Vlster whose of-spring were dispersed over Ireland his father matched with the royall bloud of Mounster he had to his Schoolemaster one Carthagus a Bishop It is alledged in his Legend penes authorem sit fides that it was prophecied he should become a great man and build two cities the first Raithe or Raichen in Feraceall the second Lismore This diversitie of names comming upon accidents is known unto them that have skill in the old Irish. It is remembred in his life that in his youth 30. Virgins were in love with him and that hee prayed unto God to turne their carnall into spirituall love which was granted yet saith mine Author to requite their former love he builded them all Cells and they dwelled in his parish and conversed with him all the dayes of their lives He had disciples that proved rare men Mochue Mocoemoge Gobbanus Sraphanus Lazreaanus Molva Aidanus Fiachus Findeling with others He was compelled to forsake Raithen and travailed west-ward untill he came to the river Nem now called Band more falling from the mountaine Chua and running into the sea whereupon Lismore is builded and given to Saint Mocodi For the Lord of that country Nandeisi Melochtrig the son of Cokthacg before witnesse granted him that seate to build both Church and Citie where he resteth and whom one Molcolmog succeeded Machutus otherwise called Maclovius though Bale and Capgrave call him a Britaine yet I finde that he was borne in Ireland and that he was the sonne of one Lovi and therefore called Maclovy Molanus writeth that he crossing the seas and having good successe led an Eremites life in Britaine and was the disciple of Saint Brendan of Ireland He accompanied with one Aaron and kept with him in an Island of his name saith Molanus called Aaron but now I finde it in the North-west parts of Ireland belonging to the Earle of Ormond called the Isles of Aran. Lastly he was made Bishop of Aletha and is honoured at Gemblacum in Flanders where the Church say they is patronized by Saint Machutus alias Maclovius hee lived saith Bale about the yeere 540. what time Arthur commanded Britaine Kentegernus then also lived and now is remembred in Ireland and in Wales the Martyrologe of Sarum reporteth that his Mother wist not how when nor by whom he was gotten yet was shee an holy woman saith mine Author and much loved our Lady She was cast downe headlong from a rocke saith mine Author into the sea and tooke no hurt then put into a Boate alone without Sayle or Oare came into Ireland and presently travailed with child He became an Abbot of 965. Monkes kept company with Saint David and in the end was a Bishop Ruadanus borne in Ireland of Noble Parentage his father hight Byrra of the of-spring of Dnach but inhabited the West part of Leinster of olde called Osraigie but now Ossorie whose sept is called Dnachs in those parts unto this day He left Ossorie and hearing of the fame of Saint Fynnan a wise and a learned man dwelling in his owne towne so saith mine Author commonly called Clonard of Cluayn jarhaird in Meath and confines of Leinster resorted to him who for the space of certaine yeeres brought him up in sacred letters gave him orders and sent him to Muscraytrie in Mounster where he was borne where also he builded a Monasterie which standeth to this day and is maintained by the Lords of the soile From thence he went to a place called Lothra where he builded another Monasterie and lyeth there wayting the generall resurrection Saint Brendan at the same time builded a Cell not farre from that place called Tulach Brenayd that is saith mine Author Collis Brendani left Ruadan the charge thereof tooke his blessing and begun his travaile as the Legends at large doe write Ruadanus is said to have written these bookes in the Latine tongue De miraculosa arbore lib. 1 De mirabili fontium in Hibernia natura lib. 1 Contra Diarmoyd regem lib. 1 Saint Faghua lived in the time of Finbarry and founded a Monasterie upon the sea in the south part of Ireland where he became Abbot the which seat grew to be a Citie wherein a Cathedrall Church was builded and patronized by Faghua This towne of olde called Rossai Lithry but now Roskarbry hath beene walled about by a Lady of that country but now according to the fruits of warre among the Carties O Driscales and other septs scarce can the old foundation be seene There hath beene there of old saith mine Author magnum studium scholarium a great Vniversitie whereto resorted all the South-west parts of Ireland for learnings sake Saint Brendan Bishop of Kery read publikely the liberall sciences in that schoole Farther of Faghua or Faghuanus mine Author recordeth that he being sapiens probus a wise and a good man by mishap fell blinde and with many prayers and salt teares desired of God restitution of his sight for the good of his Covent and the Students brought up under him a voyce he heard saith mine Author goe get some of the breast milke of Broanus the artificers wife wash thine eyes therewith and thou shalt see He went to a Prophetesse called Yta or Ytha to learne how to come by this woman and it fell out that this woman was her sister hee found her out washed his eyes and recovered his sight whether it be true or no I know not I report it as I finde it This Saint Yta was an Abbatesse whose originall was of Meth but she was borne in Mounster Vpon the storie of Faghua dependeth the Legend of Mocoeinoge interpreted in Latine meus pulcher iuvenis my beautifull young man who proved learned an Abbot and a Bishop being the childe of those breasts that washed Faghua his eyes many admirable things are reported of him wherewith I will not trouble the reader He conversed with Coemanus or Chemanus Cannicus Finianus Abbas Colman a Bishop Daganus Abbot of Inbyr-dayle in Leinster Mocobe his owne disciple Illepius the disciple of Mocobe Molna Mofecta Cunminus longus the sonne of Fiachua and Cronanne who lyeth buried at Rosscre Luctichernus and Lazerianus with Yta Patronesse of Huae Conaill her Abbot of Cluayn Mac Noys Abbot Engus Abbot Congallus of Vlster Mocoeinoge resteth in the county of Typperary by a long foord in the way from Kilkenny to the Holy Crosse as they cal it where sometime was a Citie a Monasterie called Liath but now a Village bearing his name Liath Mocoeinoge He had in his life time much adoe with Coemanus Bledin Ronanus Foelanus Diarmoda Sugbue Lords of Ely now called Ely O Carroll and with Falke Fland King of Mounster whose chiefe Pallace was in Cashell Saint Coeingenus shall next be spoken of in Latine as much to say as pulchrogenitus he was ordered by Bishop Lugidus
for Fintan the Abbot and received at his hands the blessed Sacrament and so departed the fift of the Ides of October In remembrance of this Cannicus there is now a famous towne in Leinster called Kilkenny parted into the English and Irish towne with a small fresh or brooke that falleth into the Nure the chiefe Lord under the King is the Earle of Ormond and Ossorie the English towne is governed by a Soveraigne Bayliffes and Burgesses the Irish towne is governed by the Bishop of Ossorie and his officers and the Bishopricke of Ossorie whose principall see was first in Ely and called Sire Keran as formerly I have written in the life of Keranus afterward translated to Achadbo is now setled in Kilkenny The first founder of Saint Kennies Church there was Hugh Mapilton the fift Bishop of that See after the conquest about the yeer 1240. There was also about the same time a Church builded over against the towne upon the East side of the Nure in the honour of Saint Maula the mother of Saint Kenny whose memory is continued in that towne by her plague that fell among them and thus it was There was a great plague in that towne and such as died thereof being bound with Wythes upon the Beere were buried in Saint Maulas Churchyard after that the infection ceased women and maides went thither to dance and in stead of handkerchiefes and napkins to keepe them together in their round it is said they tooke those Wythes to serve their purpose It is generally received take it gentle reader as cheape as you finde it that Maula was angry for prophaning her Church-yard and with the Wythes infected the dancers so that shortly after in Kilkenny there died of the sicknesse man woman and childe Aedanus divers times before spoken of was of honourable parentage borne in Connaght his father hight Sothna his mother Ethne of the sept of Amluygh his companions were Molassus alias Lazerianus and Airedus also he conversed much with Saint David Bishop of Menevia now called Saint Davids and is there called Moedock this David was his master The martyrologe of Sarum calleth him Maeldock my Author yeeldeth the reason writing how that his mother conceiving with childe of him his father dreamed that he saw a starre fall from heaven upon his wife the mother of this Aedanus and therefore when he was borne he was called in Latine filius stellae in Irish Moedog that is the sonne of the starre Master Fox writeth that hee builded the Monasterie of Maibrose by the floud of Twide David the holy man advised him to repaire to his native soile for the good of his country after that hee had for a good space followed the Christian Britaines against the faithlesse Saxons He came to Ireland to Anmyre King of Connaght from thence to Leinster and builded Monasteries in Kinselach and Cluayn More what time Edus or Edanus the sonne of Anmyre King of Connaght levied warre against Brandub King of Leinster in which battaile Edus and all his Nobilitie of Connaght were slaine and Brandub became Monarch of Ireland After this he went to the North of England and was made Bishop of Lyndsey Lyndesfernensis Capgrave maketh two of one Aedanus the one an Abbot the other a Bishop and to reconcile the dissonance he was first an Abbot afterwards a Bishop so writeth Bale Beda delivereth singular commendations of him the which to avoid prolixitie I omit After all this hee returned to Leinster to Brandub the Monarch who upon speciall liking of his vertues gave him a parcell of land where he builded a Monasterie the place is called Ferna now Fernes where both Church and Monasterie are patronized as they write by Saint Moedog where afterwards both Brandub and Moedog were buried whereof the words in the life of Aedanus alias Moedog are these Magnas dedit rex oblationes Sancto Moedog agrum in quo vir Dei construxit monasterium quod dicitur Ferna in quo Sanctus Moedog sepultus est rex Brandub genus ejus post eum ibi semper sepelitur Et magna civitas in honore sancti Moedog ibi crevit quae eodem nomine vocatur Ferna Deinde facta Synodo magnatum in terra Laginensium decrevit Rex Brandub tam Laici quam Clerici ut Archiepiscopatus omnium Laginensium semper esset in sede cathedra sancti Moedog tunc sanctus Moedog a multis catholicis consecratus est Archiepiscopus The King gave many gifts to Saint Moedog and a parcell of ground where the man of God builded a Monasterie called Ferna where Saint Moedog is buried and King Brandub and his posteritie after him is there continually buried And a great Citie in the honour of Saint Moedog is there risen the which by the same name is called Ferna Afterwards a Synode or Parliament of the Nobilitie of Leinster being called together King Brandub decreed together with the Laitie and Clergie that the Archbishopricke of all Leinster should alwaies be in the seate and chayre of Saint Moedog and then Saint Moedog by many Catholikes was consecrated Archbishop According to which indeed in the Legend of Saint Molva he is called Archiepiscopus Laginensium David of Menevia being of great yeeres desired to see him before his death Moedog visited him and returned into Ireland in a troublesome time namely when all Leinster was in Armes to revenge upon Saran a Nobleman of Leinster the death of King Brandub whom he had traiterously murthered This Brandub the sonne of Eatach of the progenie or sept of Enna of whom Censelach hath originall had a most honourable funerall and was greatly lamented and intombed in the Church-yard of Saint Moedog in his Citie Ferna where his progenie the royall bloud of the Kings of Leinster is interred after his death Earle Saran so mine Author calleth him being tormented in conscience came to the Kings tombe lamented the horrible treason he had committed and could finde no rest to his dying day In the time of this Moedog the three Kings of Tuomond Connaght and Vlster with an Armie of foure and twenty thousand men came to Leinster to revenge the death of Edus before spoken of The King of Leinster called Moedog and the Clergie and commanded them all to pray while he fought and saith the storie God gave the Leinster men the victory and their enemies were overthrowne It is remembred of this Aedanus how that one comming unto him and desiring him to assigne him a Confessor his answer was Thou needst no Confessor but God who knoweth the secrets of thy heart but if thou wilt have a witnesse of thy doings goe to one Molva a learned man who shall direct thee in thy course And yet gentle reader I may not overslip one thing the which Capgrave reporteth in the life of Aedanus or Aidanus or Moedog namely how that for all the sanctitie of the Prelates in those
dayes Satan with all the internall spirits sent greeting with great thankes unto the Ecclesiasticall state upon earth in dreadfull characters For that they wanting no aide in their delights from hellish places sent such a number of damned soules into the sulphureall pits through their remisnesse in life and slacknesse in preaching as in former ages had not beene seene Whosoever devised the course it forceth not greatly the matter might seeme odious if it contained no truth Finnan in Wales as my Authors report called Gwyn was born at Ardez he travelled forraigne countries came to his native soile was Bishop of Farne saith Beda baptized Penda King of Mercia consecrated Cedd Bishop of East Saxons and lyeth buried at Cuningham in Scotland called of the Britaines Kilgwinin There was also one Finan an Abbot borne in Mounster sent by Saint Brendan to Smoir now called Mons Blandina to inhabite there who came afterwards to Corcodizbue where hee was borne builded Cels and Monasteries for religious men contended with Falbe Fland King of Mounster A third Finan there was who was master of Ruadanus a great learned man and dwelt at Cluayn jarhaird in Meath Colmannus whose life Bale writeth at large was a godly learned man borne in Ireland the sonne of one Fiachra of the bloud Royall and highly commended of Beda hee was brought up after the Apostolike rules of Congellus he succeeded Finan in the Bishopricke of Farne alias Linsey In his time there was great stirre about the observation of Easter when some alledged custome and some urged the authoritie of Rome he pleaded the Gospell both against this stir and the like trouble that rose about the shaving of Priests crownes the which he reiected saith Beda and seeing that he could not prevaile forsooke his Bishopricke and went with certaine Scots and Saxons into the Hebrydes where he ended his dayes Beda writeth how that in the yeere 664. there fell strange accidents upon the eclipse of the Sunne which was the third of May in England and Ireland and a great mortalitie in both lands in the time of Finan and Colman the godly Bishops Gentle reader thou shalt heare himselfe speake The plague pressed sore that Iland of Ireland no lesse then England there were then as that time many of noble parentage and likewise of the meane sort of English birth in the dayes of Finan and Colman the Bishops who leaving their native soile had repaired thither either for divine literature or for more continencie of life whereof some immediately gave themselves to monasticall conversation others frequenting the Cels gave diligent eare to the lectures of the readers All which the Scots he meaneth the Irish men with most willing minde daily relieved and that freely yeelding unto them bookes to reade and masterly care without hire Among these there were two young men of great towardnesse of the Nobles of England Edelthun and Egbert the first was brother to Edilhun a man beloved of God who formerly had visited Ireland for learnings sake and being well instructed returned into his country was made Bishop of Lindisfarne and for a long time governed the Church with great discretion These men being of the monasterie of Rathmelfig and all their fellowes by the mortalitie either cut off or dispersed abroad were both visited with the sicknesse and to make short that which mine Author layeth downe at large Edelthun died thereof and Egbert lived untill he was fourescore and tenne yeeres old So farre Beda There was another Colmannus otherwise called Colmanellus an Abbot of the sept of the Neilles borne in Hoichle in Meth what time the King of Leinster with an huge armie wasted the North he became first Abbot of Conor in Vlster where the godly Bishop Mac Cnessey resteth From thence he came to the place where he was born and there saith his Legend he met with Eadus the sonne of Aimireach a King of Ireland Edus Flan a Lord of that country of the sept of the Neills his kinsman Saint Columba Cylle and Saint Cannicus the Abbot who received him ioyfully Edus Flan gave him a parcell of land to build upon and to inhabit called Fyd Elo afterwards called Colmans Elo where hee founded a Monasterie and now resteth himselfe Carantocus in the martyrologe Cartak was the sonne of Keredicus a King of Ireland a good Preacher the Irish called him Ceruagh his mother was a Britaine and was delivered of him in Wales Hee travailed over Ireland and Britaine King Arthur is said to have honoured him greatly and gave him a parcell of land where he builded a Church In his latter dayes he came to Ireland and died in a towne called after his name Chervac So much Capgrave There was another of that name an Abbot in France of whom Ionas maketh mention in the life of Columbanus but not of Irish birth Now to intermit a while from speaking of these learned men I finde that Aurelius Conanus who slue Constantine that succeeded King Arthur and raigned in his stead thirty three yeeres valiantly by force of Armes brought under his command as Gualterus Oxoniensis writeth Norwey Denmarke Ireland Island Gothland the Orchades and Ocean Ilands I finde also that Malgo the nephew of this Conanus who as it is in the English history succeeded Vortipore vanquished the Irish Pictes or Scots which the Britaines called y Gwydhil Pictiard which had over-runne the Isle of Man of them called Tyr Mon and slue Serigi their King with his owne hand at Llany Gwydhil that is the Irish Church at Holy-head so write Sir Iohn Price Knight and Humfry Lloyd in the description of Cambria Florilegus saith that he subdued sixe Ilands of the Ocean adioyning unto him which Harding thus reckoneth And conquered wholy the Isle of Orkenay Ireland Denmarke Iselond and eke Norway And Gotland also obeyed his royaltie He was so wise full of fortunitie When Careticus was King of Britaine who began his raigne Anno Dom. 586. the Saxons intending to make a full conquest of the land called to their aide for a number of Pirates and sea rovers that were mighty and strong and scoured the Seas and the Ilands whose Captaine was Gurmundus one calleth him an African Fabian writeth that he had two names and was called Gurmundus and Africanus howsoever I finde that hee was the King of Norweys sonne and for his successe in England referre the reader to that historie and for his behaviour in Ireland I will acquaint the courteous reader with what I finde in which the Writers noâ— not agree Cambrensis and Polycronicon followed bad presidents and were deceived Stanihurst stammereth writing one thing in English another thing in Latine the best record I finde is in Thadie Dowlinge Chancellour of Leighlin and Iames Grace of Kilkenny They write that Gurmund was in Ireland but no King or Conquerour that with strong hand he entred Leinster like a raging
Pyrate prevailed for the time and that the Princes of the land not being able then to withstand his forces yeelded unto the iniquitie of the time and wincked at his rash enterprises And whereas he gave forth his stile King of England they laughed at it and he perceiving the wilinesse and ingeniositie of the people and having small stomacke to continue among them by reason of many mishaps which befell him left the land and went for France to seeke adventures where he ended his dayes Further they write that he had a sonne called Barchard alias Burchared Mac Gurmond whom his father made Duke of Leinster and Baron of Margee He was commonly called O Gormagheyn Hee builded Gurmund grange in Monte Margeo with other memorable things for him and his posterity hee is said to have beene the founder of the mother Church or priorie of old Leighlin but I rather beleeve hee was a Benefactor or endower thereof in the time of Saint Eubanus the originall Patron and that one Lazerianus a Bishop and Confessor Anno 651. procured the perfection of the whole as in the Leighlin records more at large doth appeare Againe it is recorded that Duke Burchard lyeth buried on the North side of the Chancell of that Cathedrall Church over against the Treasurers stall under a marble stone as it was found for certaine Anno 1589. by Thadie Dowlinge Chancellour and others with this Epitaph Hic jacet humatus Dux fundator Leniae i. Leighlenie En Gormondi Burchardus vir gratus Ecclesiae Here lyeth interred Duke Burchard the sonne of Gurmond founder of Leighlin and a gratefull man to the Church There are saith mine Author other remembrances of this in those parts as Gurmunds-grove and Gurmunds-foord the which I overpasse Mons Margeus in Irish Sliewe Marrig or Sliew Marighagha which is the mountaine reaching along by Leighlin to Butlers wood wherin as before I have touched Gurmunds-grange standeth was as I haue learned of old granted to one called de Sancto Leodegario by the name and honour of Baron de Marrighagha but time and place have brought the name to degenerate and turne from English to Irish. Of late yeeres a Gentleman of the name dwelling at Dunganstowne neere Catherlagh affirming himselfe to be lineally descended from Baron Sentleger made claime unto the same but the successe I hearken not after as impertinent to my purpose About the yeere 587. Athelfrid the Saxon King of Northumbers so tyrannized over the Britaines that they were faine to take Ireland for their refuge and Atdan King of Scots pittying their state raised forces to defend them but could not prevaile so great was the miserie of the Britaines Anno Dom. 635. was Cadwallin crowned King of Britaine Caxton and Florilegus write of cruell warres betweene Edwin sonne unto Athelfrid King of Northumbers and Cadwallin how that Edwin made him flee into Ireland destroyed his land cast downe his Castles burnt his Mannors and divided his land among his friends and lastly how that in a good while after Cadwallin came upon him with forces out of Ireland slue Edwin and recovered all his possessions In the dayes of this Cadwallin Kenevalcus otherwise called Cewalch King of West Saxons builded the Church of Winchester made it a Bishops See and the first Bishop he placed there was one Agilbertus who came out of Ireland who in a short time after was deposed say some Grafton with other writers record not the cause but Beda writeth that he was offended for that Kenelwalkus divided the Province into two that he left the See went into France became Bishop of Paris and there ended his dayes and how that Kenelwalkus sent for him againe and againe but his flat answer was for that he had dealt with him so unkindely he would never returne I must here insert that which Cambrensis writeth of the antiquities of Brechinia or Breknoke in this sort there was of old of that country which now is called Brecheinoc a governour that was a man both mighty and Noble whose name was Brachanus of whom the country of Brecheinoc Brecknokshire is so called of whom one thing came unto me worthy the noting the histories of Britaine doe testifie that he had foure and twenty daughters that were all from their childhood brought up in the service of God and happily ended their dayes in the holy purpose they tooke upon them Doctor Powell the great Antiquarie of Britaine in his learned annotations upon him explaineth the same thus This Brachanus saith he was the sonne of one Haulaph King of Ireland his mother was one Mercella the daughter of Theoderike the sonne of Tethphalt a petite King of Garthmarthrin to wit of the country which tooke the name of this Brachanus and at this day is called Brechonia or Brechinia in British Brechinoc in English Breknok This Brachanus had to his daughter one Tydvaell the wife of Congenus the sonne of Cadell a petit King of Powis and the mother of Brochmael surnamed Scithroc who slue Athelfred alias Ethelfred King of Northumberland at the river of Deva called of the Britaines Doverdwy and foyled his armie about the yeere of our Lord 603. Here Breknoktowne and Breknokshire have cause to glorie of Ireland that gave them the name and honour which they hold to this day and Ireland to glory of them that gave their Kings sonne Marcella their Lady and all that country in her right Also I cannot omit another thing of that age the which Grafton reporteth of the Clergie and I finde in Beda more reverently delivered for that I have formerly spoken much of them and shall have occasion to speake something hereafter especially seeing Bedaes words are generall to be understood as well of the one land as of the other if not rather of Ireland considering what hath beene delivered heretofore In those dayes saith Grafton the Monkes and Clergie set all their mindes to serve God and not the world and were wholly given to devotion and not to filling of the panch and pampering of the body wherefore they were then had in great reverence and honour so that they were then received with all worship And as they went by the streetes and wayes men that saw them would runne to them and desire their blessings and well was him then that might give unto them possessions and to build them houses and Churches But as they increased in riches of worldly treasure so they decreased in heauenly treasure as in the dayes of Aluredus some deale began and sithen that time hath sprung not all to the pleasure of God Then they applyed nothing that was worldly but gave themselves to preaching and teaching of the word of our Saviour Iesus Christ and followed in life the doctrine that they preached giving good example to all men And beside that they were utterly void of covetousnesse and received no possessions gladly but were enforced thereunto So farre Grafton Anno Dom.
685. was Cadwallader crowned King of Britaines that Ireland was subiect unto him Harding testifieth his words are Cadwaladrus after him gan succeed Both young and faire in florishing invent That Cadwallader was called as I reade Who of Britaine had all the Soveraigntie Of English and Saxons in each country Of Pightes Irish and Scots his under regence As Soveraigne Lord and most of excellence For other things that concerne him I referre the reader to the historie of England He had two nephewes his daughters sonnes named Ivâ—r and Heuyr who fled into Ireland saith Powell and when they saw their time came with forces against the Saxons gave them three battailes with many skirmishes and inrodes yet in the end were foiled as in the proper historie more at large appeareth And here ended the rule of the Britaines which had long continued I must now acquaint the reader with such as for learning and sanctitie were of note during this age beginning at the yeere 600. Zacharias Lippeloo out of Petrus Cameracensis writeth that about this yeere 600. there was an heathenish and idolatrous King in Ireland who had one Dympna to his daughter who secretly was baptized by one Gerebernus a Priest that travailed the land for such purposes The daughter being sole heire and her mother being now dead the father was very carefull to see her well matched according to his degree and accordingly acquainted his dearest friends and counsellers with his intent and purpose who likewise travailed carefully in the cause but could not speed to the fathers contentment As shee grew in yeeres so she excelled in beautie and the father being as wicked as she was good and faire became enamoured of his owne daughter and importunately offered her marriage Shee at the first being amazed at the motion yet at length gathering spirit desired respite for forty dayes and withall desired that it would please him to adorne her with such attire jewels and ornaments as became a Kings daughter to weare all which being granted she privately sent for Gerebernus the Priest and acquainted him with all the circumstances The Priest advised her that the safest way for her to avoid the incestuous King was to avoid the land shee immediately with the Priest together with her fathers Iester and his wife tooke shipping and arrived at Antverp When they had rested there a while and recreated themselves they of devotion saith mine Author sought out among woods and desarts a solitarie place to remaine in this resolution they came to a poore village called Ghele Gela saith Molanus and from thence they went to a thicket called Zammale where they rid some small quantity of ground made a Caban to hold them all foure where they continued well some three moneths praying and fasting In the meane while the Irish King missing his daughter Dympna lamented greatly made great inquirie and offered great rewards to know what became of her and having gotten inkling of her course hoised up saile after her and landed at Antverp immediately hee made search and sent messengers with large offers about if haply they might heare of her At the length by the coyne which they offered for reward she was found out for they said there was a faire young woman remaining in a solitary place which had sent for reliefe for her selfe and three persons more with the like coyne The messengers were brought to the place who knowing her ranne forthwith with newes to the King and he with much ioy made haste to the Caban and when he saw her said O my onely daughter Dympna my love my delight and the ioy of my heart what constrained thee to despise a regall dignity to forsake thy native soile to forget the naturall affection of a Childe toward her Parent to flee from thy father a King and to follow as a childe this old decrepit bald Priest and so willingly to condescend to his unsavorie injunctions hearken to mine advice returne with me into Ireland yeeld to thy fathers desire and I will advance thee above all the Ladies in Ireland Gerebernus the Priest preventing the young Gentlewoman turned him to the Irish King and rebuked him sharpely denouncing him for a most wicked and abhominable person then he turned him to the Gentlewoman and charged her never to give eare to so lewd a man With this the King and his company being mightily moved commanded the Priest to be taken aside and his head to be taken off his shoulders Afterward the father turned him to his daughter O daughter saith he why sufferest thou mee thy father to bee thus vexed why contemnest thou my love towards thee yeeld and thou shalt want nothing Shee with a sterne countenance made answer Thou infortunate tyrant why goest thou about with deceitfull promises to withdraw me from my setled purpose of shamefastnesse I defie thee and all thine Thou cruell tyrant why hast thou slaine the Lords Priest shalt thou escape thinkest thou the iudgement of the Almighty what torture thou wilt lay upon me I weigh not with this the father being furiously moved commanded his souldiers to cut off her head and they being loath to doe it he tooke the sword that hung by his side and with his own hands strucke off her head and with expedition returned into Ireland Thus the Priest and Dympna died of the Iester and his wife I reade nothing belike they returned home againe Molanus writeth that many yeeres after the bodies of Dympna and Gerebernus were sought ouâ— taken up and solemnly enterred The Irish in the County of Louth doe honour her belike her father dwelt there Saint Bertwin an Irish man was brought up in the Monasterie of Othbell in England from thence he went to Rome where hee led a solitarie life the space of two yeeres in his returne he came to the Forrest of Marlignia in Flanders where he builded a Chappell lastly he was made Bishop of Molania where he ended his dayes Sigebert ad an 651. writeth Many out of Eng or Scot. he knew not well the countries as strangers travailing in France preached the word of God and did much good to wit Etto Bertwinus Eloquius This Bertwin lyeth buried nigh Namurcum saith Molanus of old called Namur novus murus but now Namurra so writeth Hubertus Thomas Leodius Livinus borne in Ireland and brought up in Scotland and England under Benignus the Priest and Augustine the first Bishop of the Saxons by whom he was made Archbishop saith Molanus of the Scots saith Christianus Massaeus of Ireland saith Bale Silvestris Scotiae of the Ilanders and Red-shanckes the which charge after certaine yeeres he committed to Sylvanus his Arch-deacon and gave himselfe to travaile and tooke with him his three disciples Saint Foillanus Helias and Kilian and came to Gandavum Of him Christianus Massaeus writeth thus In the yeere of our Lord 631. Saint Livinus by nation a Scot Archbishop of Ireland came to Gandavum with three disciples and remained
there one moneth from thence he went to Esca preached Christ and converted many there some hard-hearted people slue him when he was beheaded hee rose up tooke with him his owne head beleeve it who list and carried it to Houtthein where the Angels had made a sepulchre for him He is said saith Bale to have written a booke of Homilies and in the yeere 1007. to have beene translated to Saint Bavons Church in Gandavum There was another Livinus a French man a Fryer minorite and slaine as they say about the yeere 1345. and of fame at this day in Flanders Arbogastus borne in Ireland a godly Preacher and a great Writer was the second Bishop of Argentine Anno 646. who also for his great wisedome was taken by Dagobert King of France to be of his Councell He left behinde him for the good of the Church a booke of Homilies So much Bale out of Munster Molanus writeth that about the yeere 647. some of the familie of Pipinus the first Duke of Brabant father of Saint Gertrude sent for many Preachers out of Ireland and Scotland into Brabant and the bordering regions to plant the Christian religion among them Fortanus and Vltanus are there named Lippeloo saith that about the yeere 696. Egbertus Wicbertus and Willibrodus were famous learned men in Ireland continued there a long time afterwards dispersed themselves into farre countries and with happinesse ended their dayes Molanus hereof writeth farther thus In the imperiall towne called Werda the birth of Saint Switberd whom Beda calleth Suidbertus the Bishop and Confessor is solemnized who in the time of Pipinus the first Duke of Brabant together with Saint Willibrod preached soules health unto the nations thereabouts This man among other diseases was wont to cure the disease in the throate called of the Physitians the squinancie He is termed the second of those Apostolike men which came out of England and Ireland to preach the Gospell unto the Frisians Hollanders and the nations about them Among whom being as yet but a Priest he converted many chiefly the inhabitants of the great Village Duerstadt the which now is the towne of Wâ—ic He converted also the Citie Hagenstein which now is a village adioyning unto Viana And when as by the industrie of him and Willibrodus the number of the faithfull daily increased at the intreatie of the brethren in Trajectum and Friseland both of them consented he should be consecrated Bishop Whereupon Saint Switbert whom Beda saith to have beene modest of life and meeke in heart went into England and was consecrated by Saint Willfride Bishop of Mercia Kent saith Beda had then no Bishop in the yeere 695. But Saint Willibrode went unto Duke Pipinus and having gotten leave of him departed to Rome where the yeere following Pope Sergius consecrated him And although Switbert by reason of some small time had the start of Willibrode yet Willibrode went before him in dignitie for he was the first Archbishop of Trajectum and especially by Pope Sergius consecrated Archbishop of Frisia and directed to that people And saith Beda Sergius changed his name and called him Clement because saith Molanus hee consecrated him on Saint Clements Even And he also writeth that he was Archbishop of the nations now called Frisii Transiselani Trajectenses Hollandi and Zelandi whereas Switbert is not called Bishop of Trajectum but fellow Bishop with Saint Willibrode Yet he is by speciall name called the Apostle of Teisterbandia Westfalia and of the Boructuarians for Marcellinus writeth that hee converted the county of Teisterbandia and together with it in a manner all Batua and the greater part of the lower Friseland unto the faith He also exceedingly increased the number of the beleevers in the Church at Trajectum he founded many Churches and dedicated the temples of Idols unto the honour of God In the historie of Marcellinus certaine places by especiall words are named as in Zandwic in the I le of Tila which at this day cannot be found in Arkell and Hoernaer villages of the Lordship of Gorcomia in Schoenreford now called Schoenrewoert by Leerda in Authensden nigh Huesden in Wondrighen now called Worckum in Aelborch Giesen and Riiswijâ—ke between Worckum and Huesden in Almkerk which is the territorie of Altenae in Maelsem Erkum and Avesaede in the Lordship of Buria with many other places In these countries hee hallowed Churches continually praying with great devotion for the people which hee had converted and with wholesome admonitions drawing them to the heavenly dwellings He converted the Westfalians and Boructuarians which at this day are thought to bee the people Markenses Further the renowned Duke Pipinus gave him Werda upon the river of Rhene for his good and for the establishing of his principality which place is elsewhere called the Iland of Saint Switbert though now it be part of the continent or maine land Pipinus gave him also great store of treasure wherewith he builded there a Monasterie and replenished the same with a great company of the servants of Christ. In the end this Saint Switbert died in the yeere 717. and lyeth buried in the Monasterie of Werda-Caesaris which he had founded Beda writeth that Willibrode lived in his time and went on the thirtieth and sixt yeere of his consecration Archbishop of Friseland Molanus delivereth his end that namely he ended his dayes at Westervoert and was buried at Elste in Gelderland but of Egbert and Wigbert the Martyr before mentioned he reporteth out of Beda and Marcellinus that Wigbert was one of the companions of Egbert and for the space of many yeeres had led an Anchors life in Ireland that he sailed into Friseland and for the space of two whole yeeres preached unto that nation and to their King Radbodus and seeing that he could doe no good among them returned againe to Ireland And when as Egbertus the servant of God had sent the second time unto the Friselanders and Saxons famous men for life and learning Acca Willibaldus Winiboldus Lebuinus Werenfridus Marcellinus Adalbertus Ewaldus senior and junior together with Willibrode he sent the said Wigbert who no sooner landed but King Radâ—od caused him cruelly to be tormented to death in Fosetes-landâ— an Iland in the confines of Friseland and Denmarke for that the Christians of that place by his preaching of the Gospell had destroyed there the Idoll groves of Iupiter and Fosta There was a later Wigbertus Patron of Hersweldia remembred in the Martyrologe whom I would have the reader take notice of to avoid the confusion of times And last of all of Willibrode and Wilfram there is a storie how that Raboldus after long perswasion seemed willing to be baptized and having one foot in the water demanded where be the nobilitie of Frizeland my Father Grand-father and kindred Answer being made that they were in hell hee with-drew himselfe from baptisme saying I will goe after the greatest company take your heaven to your selfe Molanus when
Queene you my Lord discover it not I. Gormo dyed for sorrow and Thira lamented in one day the departure of her Lord and husband the King the death of her sonne and her owne dolefull widdowhood Anno 939. so writeth Caradoc Abloic a most worthy Prince and Monarch of Ireland deceased Anno 940. after the death of Athelstane his brother Edmund raigned over Britaine He subdued the Danes that remained in Northumberland together with others that came out of Ireland to invade the land with Anlaffe their Captaine saith Fabian he slue some and banished the rest so writeth Cooper Anno 948. the Abbey of the blessed Virgin Mary by Dublin was founded by the Danes Molanus writeth of one Columbanus an Abbot of Irish birth that became a recluse or an anachorist Anno 957. in the Church yard of the Monasterie of Gandavum where he kept the space of two yeeres and there ended his dayes This yeere saith Caradoc Congelach King of Ireland was slaine but he sheweth not where nor how Anno 959. Edgar the sonne of Edmund beganne his raigne over England he reduced all into one Monarchie Camden found in a Charter where Edgar delivered of himselfe that it pleased God of his mercy to grant unto him together with the command of England to subdue all the Ilandish kingdomes of the Ocean together with their fierce and mighty Kings as farre as Norwey and the greatest part of Ireland with Dublin the most noble Citie thereof unto the kingdome of England Anno 966. Rodericke the sonne of Edwall Voell Prince of Wales was slaine by Irish men that landed there for a prey spoyled the country and destroyed Aberfraw Caradoc so complaineth of them Molanus writeth of one Forananus a Bishop which flourished Anno 980. he termeth him Bishop of Domenormor and Metropolitane of Ireland and Scotland where he mightily erred in the name of the place of the person and his stile For hee was Bishop of Dromore in Ireland and no Metropolitane at all but to his purpose hee findeth him among his Saints of Flanders and saith that he was warned in a vision to travaile so that he with a company of Irish Priests arrived in France and came to Rome in the time of Benedict 7. from thence he came backe to the Monasterie of Walciodorum where hee and his Priests became professed Monkes of the order of Saint Benedict for the space of twelve yeeres and there ended their dayes The Monkes there saith he were wont among other Saints at Easter yeerely to call upon him Sancte Foranane ora pro nobis untill that the reformers of Bursfeld wiped him out of the Catalogue of Saints for that he was not canonized by the Church of Rome Anno 988. as I finde in the British Chronicle Elwmaen the sonne of Abloic King of Ireland was slaine and a great number of people dyed with famine that is alwaies the end of civill warres and rebellion in Ireland Anno 1004. the Scots I know not the cause entred Ireland and after their manner as also the Danes did then in England preyed burned and destroyed they tooke Gulfath and Vbiad Irish Lords and put out their eyes they ransacked also the Citie of Dublin Anno 1012. Grace and Dowlinge the Irish Antiquaries doe concurre the English Writers are silent and deliver how that Bernaidus commonly called Brian Bowrow Monarch of Ireland and his sonne Murcath alias Murchardus Mac Brian with other Kings of the land subiect unto him gathered great power and met at Clantarfe nigh Dublin and gave a sore battaile unto Sutraic alias Sutric the sonne of Abloic King of Dublin and unto Moilmordha King of Leinster This Sutric to withstand the Monarch had hired to his aide all manner of strangers he could get by sea or by land as Danes Norwegians Scots Britaines Pirates and sea rovers The fight was desperate the field all bloud a horse they say was sometime to his belly in bloud There were slaine that day of the one side Brian the Monarch and his sonne Murchard of the other side Moilmordha King of Leinster Rodericke the Arch-Pirate and Captaine of the strangers with others of both sides innumerable Sutrick was sore wounded was brought to Dublin and shortly after died of his wound I pray thee gentle Reader who got by the bargaine As farre as ever I could learne a woman set them together by the eares The Booke of Houth after the Irish observation delivereth the story thus There was a Merchant in Dublin commonly called the white Merchant a Dane the fourth sonne of the King of Denmarke who had a faire wife of Irish birth and he being full of iealousie and ready to travaile for merchandize into farre countries desired of Brian Borow Monarch of Ireland that his wife untill his returne might waite upon his Lady soiourne in his house for the safeguard of her person credit and honestie the which was granted and the King undertooke it This Merchant made as speedy a returne as he could and being landed early in a morning with a privy key entred the chamber where his wife lay and found Morogh Mac Brian the Kings sonne in bed with his wife hee wheeled about devising what was best to be done at length resolving himselfe to depart for that time tooke Moroghs sword and put it into his owne scabbard and his into Moroghs scabbard Hee went to the King and complained of the abuse here spoken of the King answered He is my sonne give thou iudgement upon him saith the Merchant let him keepe the whore still I will be revenged upon him and his partakers in the field as soone as possibly may be and I doubt not but all Ireland shall rue the day of this villanie Immediately he went to Denmarke brought over to his aide thirty thousand Danes and Norwegians landed at Clantarfe whereof the field was called the field of Clantarfe hee summoned Morogh and his favourites to fight and thought at the first to have taken Dublin Brian Borow fearing this made more haste then good speed tarried not for the forces of the land that were comming with his sonne Donogh to his aide but rashly with his sonne Morogh the Author of all this mischiefe gave them battaile The which battaile all the forenoone being cruelly fought seemed all to leane on the Irish side but in the afternoone the Danes that were in the rere and yet fresh for any fight they had were directed to wheele about and to take the voward unknowne unto the Irish which fiercely fought and encountred with the wearie and wounded Irish and wonne the field Here was Brian Borow and his sonne Morogh and eleven thousand of the Irish slaine One thing further gentle reader note there was a Priests sonne accounted a tall man of armes who in the beginning of the battaile fled away fearing the hardinesse of the Danes and Norwegians and went to Donogh Mac Brian the brother of Morogh who was comming with forces to
is that say they the stones of your two foster brethren with that she cast up a wilde look and never beheld him cheerefully againe Ororic her Lord and husband being in pursuit of kerne theeves and outlawes that had mightily annoyed his people in the furthest part of his country she with all celerity supposing it a fit time sent for her lover Dermotte the message was no sooner delivered but hee was a horse backe posting to the Harlot to be short he tooke her away with him at which time O false heart she strugled she cryed as though she were unwilling and that hee forced her Ororic immediately heard of it gathered his forces together mustred his people craved ayde and among others wrote unto Roderick Monarch of Ireland as followeth Though I am not ignorant most renowned Prince that humane causes are to be weighed in the balance of patience and that a man endued with vertue will not effeminate himselfe by reason of the unconstant and mutable minde of a Harlot yet in so much this horrible crime whereof I am fully perswaded came to your eares before my messenger could deliver his letters a thing heretofore not heard of as farre as I remember not practised against any King of Ireland severity causeth me to call for justice when charity admonisheth me not to seeke revengement If thou behold the shame I confesse it redoundeth to me alone if you weigh the cause it is common to us both what confidence shall we repose in our subjects that are bound unto us in regard of our Princely command if this effeminate adulterer or rather queller of chastity shall escape unpunished for so abhominable a fact for the unchastised offences of Princes notoriously committed in the sight of al men breed a most pernitious imitation as precedents unto the people in summe you have sufficient experience of my good will and affection towards you you see mee wounded with the cruell darts of fortune vexed with infinite discommodities and now extremely driven to my utter shifts It remaines seeing I am wholly yours that not onely with counsell being requested but with armes being urged you revenge my quarrell this when you will and as you will not onely I aske but require at your hands Farewell The Monarch for some former quarrell against Dermot was all on fire and joyning forces with Ororic entred Leinster with fire and sword the people cry woe and alacke O bone in Irish now are wee punished for the lewdnesse of our Prince Dermot lulling himselfe in his lovers armes heareth the newes starteth upon a sodaine beholdeth his Lady hath no power to speake runneth forth calleth his men cryeth for aid throughout his country none gave â—are unto him the country thought now whereas they could not that God will be revenged on him for his exactions cruelty tyranny and all other villanies practised upon his subjects and especially for deflouring another mans wife when he saw himselfe quite forsaken voyd and destitute of all ayde he betooke himselfe to the sea and fled for England but what became of the Harlot I cannot learne belike shee hanged her selfe when she had set all the country in uprore Anno 1169. Iohn Clin and Iohn Stow are mine Authors now that Dermot is fled I am to insert a story out of the British Chronicles of Conwey and Strotflur Abbeyes afore I discourse of him which was in the same yeere that he tooke the sea how that Owen Gwyneth Prince of North-Wales had a sonne called Ryryd who in the right of his wife as it seemeth was Lord of Clochran in Ireland and another sonne begotten vpon an Irish woman called Howell and a third sonne called Madoc This Madoc finding his country in great contention and his brethren at civill warres prepared certaine ships with men and munition out of Wales and Ireland and sought adventures by seas he sailed west from the coast of Ireland so farre north that hee came to a land unknowne where he saw many strange things This land in the opinion of Humphrey Lloyde the great Antiquary of Britaine must needs be some part of that country of which the Spaniards affirme themselves to be the first discoverers since Hannos time For by reason and order of cosmographie this land to the which Madoc came must needs be sonne part of Nova-hispania or Florida whereupon it is manifest that the same country was long before discovered by Britaines and Irish men afore either Columbus or Americus Vespatius led any Spaniards thither Of the voyage and returne of this Madoc there be many fables the which I will not report He prepared ships for a second voyage and tooke with him men and women to inhabit that land therefore it is to be presupposed that he and his people inhabited part of those countries for it appeareth by Francis Loves that in Acusanus and other places the people honoured the Crosse whereby it may be gathered that Christians had been there before the comming of the Spaniards but because this people were not many they followed the manners of the land and used their language I am of opinion with others that the land whereunto Madoc came was some part of Mexico first of all for that the inhabitants of that land report their Rulers to have descended from a strange nation that came from a far country which thing is confessed by Mutesuma King of that country in his orations made for quieting of his people at his submission to the King of Castile Hernando Curtecius being then present which is laid downe in the Spanish Chronicles of the conquest of the West-Indies secondly the british words and names of places used in that country to this day doe argue the same as when they talke together they say Gwrando which is hearken or listen in British Also if you peruse Sir Humphrey Gilberts discovery they have a Bird which they call Pengwin in Brittish and Cornish a white-head but the Iland of Corroeso the Cape of Britaine the river of Gwyndoor and the white rocke of Pengwyn be British or Welch words whereby it appeareth that it was that country which Madoc and his people inhabited now remembring my selfe that my pen hath not carryed me so far unto forraigne countries by sea but that I expect Dermots returne by sea and by land into Ireland Dermot Mac Morogh came to Henry 2. in Normandie made his moane as formerly in substance is delivered craved aide for his restitution into his country being a King exiled although distressed and void of comfort unlesse hee might obtaine it at his Majesties hands the Kings hands being full of warres he granted him his favourable letters as followeth Henry King of England Duke of Normandie and Aquitaine Earle of Anjow c. unto all his subiects English Normans Welch and Scots and to all nations and people being his subiects greeting whereas Dermot Prince of Leinster most wrongfully as he enformeth banished out of his owne country hath craved our ayde therefore for
daughter in marriage and in the end when Leinster should bee quitly setled and reduced to the old Irish order Dermot should drive away the Brittans and strangers and procure no more into the Land all this was concluded vpon and solemnely undertaken by oathes on both sides yet all was but flat dissimulation In the nook of this landeth at Wexford Maurice Fitz Girald brother to Robert Fitz Stephens by the mothers side in two ships having in his company tenne Knights thirty horsemen archers and foot a hundred whereof Dermot was very glad and mightily encouraged on everie side And immediately tooke with him Morice Fitz Girald and bent his forces towards Dublin to be revenged on them for many wrongs and especially for the death of his father whom they murthered in their Councell house as formerly hath beene delivered and after for more despite buried him with a Dog They left Robert Fitz Stephens behind busily imployed in building of a Fort or a strong hold some two miles from Wexford in British and Irish called the Carricke As they drew neere Dublin they preyed they spoyled they burned all before them Dublin trembled for feare the townesmen intreated for peace the which was granted upon the delivery of certaine pledges and hostages In the meane while no small stirre arose betweene Roderic the Monarch and Donald Prince of Limerike for chiefery Whereupon there arose deadly hatred and martiall warres Roderic drew all his forces against him Dermot Mac Moroogh sent to Robert Fitz Stephens that in all haste he should draw forces to the ayde of Donald Prince of Limirike his sonne in law which was accordingly affected where Roderic was foyled lost his chiefery and with shame enough returned to his own country Now Dermot Mac Morogh is puffed up with these prosperous successes and whereas a while agoe he would have contented himselfe with Leynster alone now Connaght and all Ireland seeme little enough unto his aspiring minde Secretly hee acquainteth Robert Fitz Stephens and Maurice Fitz Gerald with his purpose and offereth any of them his daughter and heire with his inheritance after upon condition that they should send for supplies of their kindred and country men to effect his enterprises they modestly thanked him for his offers and refused his daughter for that they were both already married and withall wished him to write for Richard Strangbow with whom he had formerly concluded to that effect unto whom he addresseth his messenger and directeth his letters in this forme Dermot Mac Morogh Prince of Leinster to Richard Earle of Chepstow the sonne of Earle Gilbert sendeth greeting If you doe well consider the time of men and matters as we doe which are distressed then would you regard whether we have cause to complaine of men or to maligne and curse the infortunate time Even as the seely Storkes and Swallowes with their comming prognosticâ—te the summer season and with westerly windes are blowne away we have observed times and seasons fit for your arrivall and transportation if your affaires had correspondently accorded unto our expectations East and West no doubt would have fitted our purpose but hitherto being frustrated of your long desired presence and promises unlesse the most valiant Knights of your country birth whose valour and prowesse my penne is not able to paint unto the posterity had upheld our state and dignity We beseech you againe and againe in the league and amitie of Princes not to use further delayes our successe hitherto hath beene to our hearts desire Leynster is our owne your comming will inlarge our bounds the speedier it is the more gratefull the hastier the more joyfull the sooner the better welcome Richard Strangbow was pleased with these letters glad of the successe of Robert Fitz Stephens and cast with himselfe how hee might speedily passe for Ireland He repaired to King Henry 2. humbly beseeching him either to restore him to such possessions as by right of inheritance did belong unto him or to give him Passe to seek adventures in some forraigne country and among some strange nation Stanihurst excellently conceited layeth downe the Kings answer Henry smiling within himselfe saith Loe whether and where thou wilt goe and wander for me it shall be lawfull for thee take Dedalus wings and flye away Strangbow betweene â—east and earnest takes this for a sufficient licence and makes ready for Ireland and sends before him Reimond le Grosse nephew to Robert Fitz Stephens and Morice Fitz Gerald sonne to William Fitz Gerald the elder brother which land at Dundorogh commonly called Dundenold West of Wexford with tenne Knights forty Esquires and fourescore Archers and foot whereupon Omolaghlin Ophelin Lord of the Decies raised the country consulted with the townesmen of Waterford and concluded that it stood them upon with all expedition to set upon the strangers they made ready 3000. men by land they runne up and downe the shore they row their song was kill kill kill Reimond straight upon his arrivall had fortified himselfe the Waterfordians march against him in battaile array the Britaines being but sixscore and ten came forth to make good the field against 3000. Reymond perceiving in the skirmish that the enemy over-laid them retired to his Fort the Irish perswading themselves at that instant to give the Britaines an utter overthrow thicke and thinne with all haste pursued them and the formost entring at the foote of the last Britaine into the Fort had his head cloven in two with Reymonds sword immediately saith Reymond strike the drumme follow mee fellow souldiers the Irish being disordered and out of battaile array and discouraged with the death of one man flie away then they which in this doubtfull skirmish were like to be vanquished and quite overthrown became victors conquerours wan the field they chased the Waterfordians that were out of order at their wits ends slue of them saith Cambrensis above 500. persons and being weary of killing they cast a great number of those whom they had taken prisoners headlong from the rocks into the sea In this service Sir William Ferand a Knight deserved singular commendations and was the onely man of all the Britaines saith Stanihurst that was slaine Thus fel the pride and rash attempt of Waterford thus decayed their strength and force and thus became the ruine and overthrow of that Citie which as it bred a great hope and consolation to the Britaines so was it the cause of a great desperation and terrour to the enemy They tooke 70. of the best men in Waterford prisoners they enter into consultation and call a martiall court what was to be done with them Reymond full of pittie and compassion delivereth his opinion you my noble and valiant companions and fellow souldiers for the increase of whose honour vertue and fortune wee presently seeme to contend let us consider what is best to bee done with these our prisoners and captives for my part I doe not thinke it good nor yet allow that
would forthwith take our own armour and weapons against us well well the Mouse is in the cubbord the Fire is in the lappe and the Serpent is in the bosome the enemie is at hand ready to oppresse his adversarie and the guest is in place with small curtesie to requite his host If our enemies when they come in good array and well appointed to give the onset and to wage battel against us if they should happen to have the victorie the vpperhand over us would they deale in pitty and mercy would they grant us our lives would they put us to ransome Tush what needs many words when the deeds are apparent our victory is to bee used that the destruction of these few may bee a terror to many whereby all others and this wild and rebellious nation may take example and bewar how they meddle and encounter with us of two things we are to make choice of one for either we must valiantly and couragiously stand to performe what we have taken in hand and all fond pitty set aside boldly and stoutly to overthrowe and vanquish this rebellious and stubborne people or if we shall after the mind and opinion of Reimond altogether be pittiful and full of mercy we must hoise up our sailes and returne home leaving both the Country and all that we have already gotten to this miserable and wretched people When Herveie had made an end of his speech they put it to voyces and the voyces went on Herveis side whereupon the Captaines as men condemned were brought to the Rockes and after their Limbs were broken they were cast head long into the Seas and drowned every mothers sonne Vpon the 23. of August being Saint Bartholomewes Eeve and yeere aforesaid to wit Anno 1170. Richard surnamed Strangbow Earle of Strigulia whose original and of-spring in another place herafter if God permit shall bee laid downe landed in the Haven of Waterford where Dermos Mac Morogh Robert Fitz Stephens and Maurice Fitz Gerauld and Reimond le Grosse met him and joyned their forces together Reimond le Grosse was made generall of the field they tooke small rest after their arrivall for upon Bartholomew day being tuesday with Banners displayed in good aray they assaulted the City by water and by land the townesmen manfully defended themselves and gave them two repulses Reimond having compassed the towne espied without adjoyning unto the towne wall where now standeth a strong Bulwarke an old Cabban propped with old timber and entred into the old wall the which proppes they sawed asunder then downe falleth the cabban and withall a great part of the wall the breach thus made the Brittains doe enter and in the streets kill man woman and child and there left them in heapes In Reignald tower upon the wall of the tower they found one Reignald I take it the tower beareth the name of him and Omalaghlin Ophelim Lord of the Decies whose lives Dermot Mac Morogh saved they found there other two whom they put to the sword they rifled the houses they ransacked the City they made havock of all lastly they left there a strong ward Then according to precedent covenants Dermot gave his daughter Eva in marriage to Richard Strangbow and after solemnity thereof they all marched with their forces towards Dublin For Dermot bare them a deadly hatred and hitherto winked at them untill further oportunity served for the villany and cruelty they shewed to his father the townsmen of Dublin foreseeing his revenging mind procured to their aid as many as they could throughout the land they trenched they plashed in paces streets and narrow places all the wayes along to Waterford to hinder their march Dermot was not ignorant thereof whereupon he led the army from out the common and beaten way through the Mountaines of Glandelogh and came safe to the walles of Dublin There the Citizens sent messengers to intreat for peace and amongst others Laurence O Toole Arcbishop of Dublin while they parled without for peace Sir Remond le grosse and Sir Miles Cogan scaled the wals for saith Cambrensis they were more desirous to fight under Mars in the field then in the Senate to sit with Iupiter in Councell they made a breach they enter the Citie they put all to the sword in the meane while Hastulphus the Commander of the City with a great many of the better sort with their Riches and Iewels escaped and fled by the Sea to the North Ilands When the Earle had spent a few daies in the towne he left Miles Cogan Governour therof and by the perswasion of Dermot Mac Morogh he drew his forces into Meth to be avenged of Ororicke whom some call Morice some Murdich who was the cause of his exile and whose wife Dermot had formerly taken away The Earle no sooner entred the Countrey but the Army was given wholly to the spoile they robbed they spoiled they burned and wasted all before them Roderic King of Conoght and Monarch of Ireland seeing his neighbours house set one fire thought it high time to looke to his owne and wrotte to Dermot Mac Morogh contrary to the order of Peace formerly concluded thou hast procured and allured a swarme and multitude of strangers to invade this land all the while thou didst containe thy selfe within compasse of thine owne territories we winked at thy proceedings but forasmuch as now thou not caring for thy oath nor regarding the safety of thy hostages hast so fondly and falsly passed thy bounds I require thee that thou wouldest retire and withdraw these excourses and inrodes of strangers or else to begin I will not faile to cut off thy sonnes head and send it to thee with speed Dermot despised the messenger and would scarce vouchsafe to reade his letter upon the messengers returne Roderic was mad and in his rage caused his pledges head the sonne of Dermot Mac Morogh to be cut off In this troublesome time the Primate of Armagh called the Prelates and Clergie to a Synod at Armagh assembled a Councell where according to their wisedomes they endeavoured to finde out the cause of these miseries that fell upon the land they inquired not whether the Bishops had bought their Bishoprickes for money whether their Parsons did pray whether their Ministers were lettered what whoredome symony or lechery with other enormities raigned among the Clergie but simply like themselves posted over all to the Laytie and concluded insipienter that the iust plague fell upon the people for merchandizing of the English nation for then they bought and sold of the English birth such as they found and made them bondslaves so they served Saint Patricke called the Apostle of Ireland who was a bondman sixe yeeres in Ireland but Patricke preached Christ and the English nation reformed the land Here the sacred letters reconcile all the stone which the builders refused is become the corner stone and why so the answer followeth it is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes
are manie we are but few in comparison of their number afore we give battaile there are 3. things as I take it requisite to be considered the cause wherefore we fight the number of both sides that they be somewhat equally matched and the place where both joyne battaile together I would not have any of my speeches drawn to discourage or dismay any valiāt mind To the first our parentage is knowne we are no base people our valour is tryed our enemy hath the proofe thereof we come not to steale but to be revenged of the theeves that murthered our men robbed us of our necessary provision Secondly where we find our company small and our side weake and the ground not fitting us for any advantage where force cannot further let policie take place my advice is that a begger or a Frier shall goe from us to the Irish campe and informe them that Sir Hugh Delacy came yesternight with a great force to Drogheda and that he saw two miles off a great army of horse and foot somewhat westerly of him which he supposeth to bee the English Army that marched all night from Tradaf towards Dundalke in the meane while my sonne Nico with twenty choice horsemen together with our lackies and horseboies for the greater shew upon our hackneis and garrans shall wheele Westwards on the right hand that it may concurre with the Fryers tale and give us a signe what we shall doe and we will march after to see the event when the enemy hath discried us we shall perceive by his stirring what he meanes to doe if they turne face to us and offer fight our foot shall recouer Dondalke afore theirs and with our horses wee will so handle the matter that we shall sustaine no great losse if they fly and take the river the sea comes in we shall overtake them afore halfe passe over All were well pleased with his device and followed the direction Nico. Saint Laurence with his company wheeles before Sir Iohn de Courcy a loofe followeth after Sir Roger Poer takes the rereward the enemy having discried them takes the river Sir Nico. gave the signe whereupon the English Army give a great shout and followeth their heeles the Irish breake their araie they tumble one upon another in the water the cariage drowns some the sea and the swiftnesse of the tyde take others away such as would not venter the water were slaine by the English Othanlan and his company that had passed the water seeing the slaughter of his men could not come to the rescues by reason of the salt water the Englishmen having quitted that place were directed by the Fryer to a foord on the left hand where they passed over and pursued the rest The Horsemen overtooke the Foot of the Irish and skirmished with them untill Sir Iohn de Courcy came by that time the sea likewise had stopped the Irish from flying at a great water a mile from the Lurgan on the Southside of Dundalk The Irish seeing themselves in this strait turne their faces choose rather to dye with the sword like men then to be drowned in the seas like beasts There were in that place some 6000. Irish and about 1000. English there was no advantage of ground it booted not to fly on any side the coward must in that case try himselfe a man the fight was sore no mercy but dead blowes The foot of the English drew backe Sir Iohn de Courcy their leader was left in the midst of his enemies with a twohanded sword washing and lashing on both sides like a Lion among sheepe saith my Author Nicolas posteth to his father Amoric that was in chase of ths scattred horsemen of the Irish and cried alas father mine uncle Sir Iohn is left alone in the midst of his enemies and the foot have forsaken him with that Sir Amoric lighted killed his horse and said here my sonne take charge of these horsemen and I will lead on the foot company to the rescue of my brother Courcy come on fellow souldiers saith he let us live and dye together He gave the on-set upon the foot of the Irish rescued Sir Iohn Courcy that was sore wounded and with cruell fight in manner out of breath with the sight of him the souldiers take hart and drive the Irish to retreit the slaughter on both sides was great few of the Irish and fewer of the English were left alive The Irish got them to the Fewes and the English to Dundalke but who got the best there is no boast made Not long after Sir Iohn de Courcy went into England where the King in regard of his good service made him Lord of Conoght and Earle of Vlster upon his returne saith Stanihurst which was in the Canicular daies he fought at the Bridge of Ivora a cruell battaile and prostrated his enemies with great honour and for that I find litle written thereof I thought good thus lightly to passe it over as others before me have done After this he builded many Castles in Vlster made bridges mended high wayes repaired Churches and governed the Country in great peace untill the dayes of King Iohn where I shall have further cause to discourse of him Amids these tumults in the North Miles Cogan bestirred himselfe in the West he passed the Shannon into Conoght with 540. men where saith mine Author never Englishman entred before whereupon the Conoght men drove before them all their cattle into the fastnesses carried with thē as much as they could fired the rest with their Townes Villages Houses and Cottages Milo marched as far as Tuam where he rested 8. dayes and finding man and beast fled and the Country barren of victualls he returned towards the Shannon and by the way met with Roderic the Monarch which lay in ambush with three Companies waiting his comming At their meeting they skirmished a long while and fought a cruell fight where the enemy lost many and Milo but three men then hee passed the river and came safely to Dublin Anno William Fitz Adelme the Kings Lievtenant is called into England Hee was a man that did no honour to the King neither good to the Country whom every good man in his life time detested and all Irish Chronicles after his death have defamed In his roome the King appointed Hugh Delacy Deputy of Ireland and joyned in Commission with him Robert Poer Seneschal of Wexford and Waterford Not long after the King sent into Ireland Miles Cogan and Robert Fitz Stephens with others and gave them in regard of their service all South Mounster to with the Kingdome of Corke in Fee for ever to be equally divided betweene them except the City of Corke and one Cantred thereunto adjoyning also he gave unto Philippe de Bruse all North Mounster to wit the Kingdome of Lymerick After they had pacified Dermot Mac Carty Prince of Desmond quieted the Country and divided their territories they conducted Philippe de Bruse to Lymerick to
his men and companie and began to travaile from place to place In March about the middle of Lent he came to Armagh where he extorted and perforce exacted from the Clergie there a great masse of money and treasure and from thence he went to Dune and from Dune to Dublin laden with gold silver money and monies worth the which he extorted in every place where he came and other good did he none Hugh Tirell his fellow scraper tooke from the poore Priests at Armagh a great brasse panne or brewing fornace which served the whole house see the iust iudgment of God the which then was so constraced as Cambrensis hath delivered in his Vaticinall history and likewise in his topagraphie Philip at the townes end of Armagh was taken with a sudden pang and the same so vehement that it was supposed hee should never have recovered it When he came to himselfe a poore man standing by said Let him alone he must have breath till he come to the divell and then the divell will have him and all that he extorted from us Hugh Tirell that carried the panne as farre as Dune and the Priests curse withall in night time had his lodging set on fire where house and houshold-stuffe and all that he had there was consumed to ashes together with the horses that drew the same and so no thankes to him he left it behinde him for lacke of carriage The Castles which Lacie builded for the good of the Land were these First Laghlen of old called the Blacke Castle upon the Barrow betweene Ossory and Idrone of which Castle by Henry 2. commandment Robert Poer had the charge untill in cowardize sort he gave over the same and forsooke it whereupon Cambrensis then living maketh this invective O what worthy Champions and fit men for martiall feates were this Poer and Fitz Adelme to inhabit and command such a nation as is destitute of noble and valiant mindes but a man may espie the variable sleight of fortune disposed to smile at foolery how from the base dunghill hee advanceth to high dignities for why they two had more pleasure in chambering wantonnesse playing with young girles and on the Harpe then in bearing of shield or wearing of Armour but in sooth it is to bee admired that so Noble a Prince as Henry 2. is would send such cowards to command or to direct in place of service But to the history This blacke Castle now called New Leighlin for difference of Old Leighlin which is the Bishops seate standeth in the Barony of Ydrone which was the antient inheritance of the Carews who being Barons of Carew in Wales so farre as I can learne one of them married the daughter and heire of the Barron of Ydrone and so the Carewes became and were for the terme of many yeeres Barons of Ydrone untill the troublesome time of Richard 2. when the Carewes with all the English of Ireland in manner were driven to forsake the land He builded in Leix for Meilerius Tachmeho alias Cachmehe and as for Kildare with the country adjoyning the which as Cambrensis writeth was by Earle Strangbow given him the Governours in Hugh de Lacy his absence subtilly tooke it away from him under colour of exchange and gave him Leix a wilde savage country with woods paces bogges and rebels farre from succour or rescue In Meth he builded Clanarec Dunach killar alias Killairie the Castle of Adam de Ieypon alias sureport and Gilbert de Nugents of Delvyn In Fotheret of Onolan alias Fethred Onolan in Latin Rotheric he builded a Castle for Reimond and another for Griffin his brother the sonnes of William Fitz Girald for Walter of Ridensford he builded in Omorchu alias Moroghs country Trisseldermot otherwise called Trisdeldermot about five miles from Caterlogh and likewise Kilka in the country of Kildare For Iohn de Hereford he builded a Castle in Collach otherwise called Tulacfelmeth for Iohn declawsa alias Clavill he builded a Castle upon the Barrow not farre from Leighlin now supposed to be Carlogh though some attribute it to Eva Earle Strangbow his wife yet it is evident next after the Danes that the English men builded all the Castles of Ireland He builded also neere Aboy a Castle that he gave to Robert Bigaret another not farre from thence which he gave to Thomas Fleminge another at the Narach on the Barrow for Robert Fitz Richard lastly he builded the Castle of Derwath where he made a tragicall end for on a time when each man was busily occupied some lading some heaving some playstering some engraving the Generall also himselfe digging with a Pick-axe a desperate villaine among them whose toole the Lord Lievetenant used espying both his hands occupied and his body bent downewards with an axe cleft his head in sunder his body the two Archbishops Iohn of Dublin and Mathew of Cashill buried in the Monasterie of the Bectie that is in Monasterio Beatitudinis and his head in Saint Thomas Abbey at Dublin whose death I read in Holinshed the King was not sorry of for he was alwayes jealous of his greatnesse Vpon the death of Lacy Sir Roger le Poer a most worthy Knight who served valiantly in Vlster in company with Sir Iohn de Courcy being made Governour of the country about Leighlen in Ossorie was in most lamentable sort traiterously slaine and upon that occasion there was saith Cambrensis a privy conspiracy over all Ireland against English men But gentle Reader I must backe a little to bring on the yeeres to concurre with the history Anno 1180. The Monastery De Choro Benedicti and of Ieripont was founded The same yeere dyed Laurence Archbishop of Dublin whose life foraine Writers as Surius Baronius Molanus and Leppelo with others have written his father hight Maurice his mother Iniabre Principis filia a great Commander in Leinster the Martyrologe of Sarum saith he was bastard This Maurice being at continuall warres with Dermot Mac Morogh King of Leinster upon a league of amity concluded betweene them delivered unto him for pledge his youngest sonne Laurence Dermot sent him to a desert solitary place and barren soile to be kept where he was like to perish with famine Maurice hearing thereof tooke 12. of Dermots principall followers clapt them in prison and sent Dermot word that hee would cut off their heads unlesse he would release and send him his sonne out of that slavish and miserable servitude Dermot released the youth and delivered him not to his father but to the Bishop of Glandelogh and the Bishop charged his Chaplen with his bringing up the Chaplen trained him up so vertuously that in a short time after he was made Abbot of Glandelogh shortly after that againe upon the death of Gregory Archbishop of Dublin he was chosen to suceed him So holy a man was he as some of mine Authors doe write that he caused one of his men to whippe him twice a day belike he had deserved it in his youth
that having beene once so low brought and thoroughly subjected they afterwards lifted up themselves so strongly againe and sithence doe stand so stiffely against all rule and government Iren. They say that they continued in that lowlinesse untill the time that the division between the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke arose for the Crowne of England at which time all the great English Lords and Gentlemen which had great possessions in Ireland repaired over hither into England some to succour their Friends here and to strengthen their partie for to obtaine the Crowne others to defend their lands and possessions here against such as hovered after the same upon hope of the alteration of the kingdome and successe of that side which they favoured and affected Then the Irish whom before they had banished into the mountaines where they lived onely upon whitt meates as it is recorded seeing now their lands so dispeopled and weakened came downe into all the plaines adjoyning and thence expelling those few English that remained repossessed them againe since which they have remained in them and growing greater have brought under them many of the English which were before their Lords This was one of the occasions by which all those Countreyes which lying neere unto any Mountaines or Irish desarts had beene planted with English were shortly displanted and lost As namely in Mounster all the lands adjoyning unto Slewlogher Arlo and the bog of Allon In Connaght all the Countries bordering upon the Curlues Mointerolis and Orourkes Countrey In Leinster all the lands bordering unto the Mountaines of Glanmalour unto Shillelah unto the Brackenah and Polmonte In Vlster all the Countreyes neere unto Tirconnel Tyrone and the Scottes Eudox. Surely this was a great violence but yet by your speach it seemeth that onely the Countreyes and valleyes neere adjoyning unto those mountaines and desarts were thus recovered by the Irish but how comes it now that we see almost all that Realme repossessed of them was there any more such evill occasions growing by the troubles of England Or did the Irish out of those places so by them gotten breake further and stretch themselves out thorough the whole land for now for ought that I can understand there is no part but the bare English Pale in which the Irish have not the greatest footing Iren. But out of these small beginings by them gotten neare to the mountaines did they spread themselves into the Inland and also to their further advantage there did other like unhappy accidents happen out of England which gave heart and good opportunity to them to regaine their old possessions For in the raigne of King Edward the fourth things remained yet in the same state that they were after the late breaking out of the Irish which I spake of and that noble Prince began to cast an Eye unto Ireland and to minde the reformation of things there runne amisse for he sent over his brother the worthy Duke of Clarence who having married the heire of the Earle of Vlster and by her having all the Earledome of Vlster and much in Meath and in Mounster very carefully went about the redressing of all those late evills and though he could not beate out the Irish againe by reason of his short continuance yet hee did shut them up within those narrow corners and glynnes under the mountaines foote in which they lurked and so kept them from breaking any further by building strong holdes upon every border and fortifying all passages Amongst the which hee repaired the Castle of Clare in Thomond of which Countrey he had the inheritance and of Mortimers lands adjoyning which is now by the Irish called Killaloe But the times of that good King growing also troublesome did lett the thorough reformation of all things And thereunto soone after was added another fatall mischeife which wrought a greater calamity then all the former For the said Duke of Clarence then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was by practise of evill persons about the King his brother called thence away and soone after by sinister meanes was cleane made away Presently after whose death all the North revolting did set up Oneale for their Captaine being before that of small power and regard and there arose in that part of Thomond one of the O-Briens called Murrogh en-Ranagh that is Morrice of the Ferne or wast wilde places who gathering unto him all the reliques of the discontented Irish eftsoones surprised the said Castle of Clare burnt and spoyled all the English there dwelling and in short space possessed all that countrey beyond the River of Shanan and neere adjoyning Whence shortly breaking forth like a suddaine tempest he over-ran all Mounster and Connaght breaking downe all the holds and fortresses of the English defacing and utterly subverting all corporate Townes that were not strongly walled for those he had no meanes nor Engines to overthrow neither indeed would hee stay at all about them but speedily ran forward counting his suddennesse his most advantage that he might overtake the English before they could fortifie or gather themselves together So in short space hee cleane wyped out many great Townes as first Inchequin then Killalow before called Clariford also Thurles Mourne Buttevant and many others whose names I cannot remember and of some of which there is now no memory nor signe remaining Vpon report whereof there flocked unto him all the scumme of the Irish out of all places that ere long he had a mighty Army and thence marched foorth into Leinster where he wrought great out-rages wasting all the Countrey where he went for it was his policie to leave no hold behinde him but to make all plaine and waste In the which he soone after created himselfe King and was called King of all Ireland which before him I doe not reade that any did so generally but onely Edward le Bruce Eudox. What was there ever any generall King of all Ireland I never heard it before but that it was alwayes whilst it was under the Irish divided into foure and sometimes into five kingdomes or dominions But this Edward le Bruce what was hee that could make himselfe King of all Ireland Iren. I would tell you in case you would not challenge me anon for forgetting the matter which I had in hand that is the inconvenience and unfitnesse which I supposed to be in the lawes of the Land Eudox. No surely I have no cause for neither is this impertinent thereunto for sithence you did set your course as I remember in your first part to treate of the evils which hindered the peace and good ordering of that Land amongst which that of the inconvenience in the lawes was the first which you had in hand this discourse of the over-running wasting of the Realme is very materiall thereunto for that it was the begining of al the other evils which sithence have afflicted that land opened a way unto the Irish to recover their possession to beat out the English which
had formerly wonne the same And besides it will give a great light both unto the second and third part which is the redressing of those evils planting of some good forme or policy therin by renewing the remembrance of these occasiōs accidents by which those ruines hapned laying before us the ensamples of those times to be cōpared to ours to be warned by those which shall have to doe in the like Therefore I pray you tell them unto us and as for the point where you left I will not forget afterwards to call you backe againe thereunto Iren. This Edw. le Bruce was brother of Robert le Bruce who was King of Scotland at such time as K. Edward the second raigned here in England and bare a most malicious and spightfull minde against K. Edward doing him all the scathe that hee could and annoying his Territoryes of England whilest hee was troubled with civill warres of his Barons at home Hee also to worke him the more mischiefe sent over his said brother Edward with a power of Scottes and Red-shankes into Ireland where by the meanes of the Lacies and of the Irish with whom they combined they gave footing and gathering unto him all the scatterlings and out-lawes out of all the woods and mountaines in which they long had lurked marched foorth into the English pale which then was chiefly in the North from the point of Donluce and beyond unto Dublin Having in the middest of her Knockfergus Belfast Armagh and Carlingford which are now the most out-bounds and abandoned places in the English Pale and indeede not counted of the English Pale at all for it stretcheth now no further then Dundalke towardes the North. There the said Edward le Bruce spoyled and burnt all the olde English Pale Inhabitants and sacked and rased all Citties and Corporate Townes no lesse then Murrough en Ranagh of whom I earst tolde you For hee wasted Belfast Greene-Castle Kelles Bellturbut Castletowne Newton and many other very good Townes and strong holdes hee rooted out the noble Families of the Audlies Talbotts Tuchets Chamberlaines Maundevills and the Savages out of Ardes though of the Lo Savage there remaineth yet an heire that is now a poore Gentleman of very meane condition yet dwelling in the Ardes And comming lastly to Dundalke hee there made himselfe King and raigned the space of one whole yeare untill that Edward King of England having set some quiet in his affaires at home sent over the Lord Iohn Birmingham to bee Generall of the Warres against him who incountering him neere to Dundalke over-threw his Army and slew him Also hee presently followed the victory so hotly upon the Scottes that hee suffered them not to breathe or gather themselves together againe untill they came to the Sea-coast Notwithstanding all the way that they fledde for very rancor and despight in their returne they utterly consumed and wasted whatsoever they had before left unspoyled so as of all Townes Castles Forts Bridges and Habitations they left not any sticke standing nor any people remayning for those few which yet survived fledde from their fury further into the English Pale that now is Thus was all that goodly countrey utterly wasted And sure it is yet a most beautifull and sweet Countrey as any is under Heaven being stored throughout with many goodly Rivers replenished with all sorts of Fish most abundantly sprinkled with many very sweet Ilands and goodly Lakes like little inland Seas that will carry even shippes upon their waters adorned with goodly woods even fit for building of houses ships so commodiously as that if some Princes in the world had them they would soone hope to be Lords of all the Seas and ere long of all the world also full of very good Ports and Havens opening upon England as inviting us to come unto them to see what excellent cōmodities that Countrey can afford besides the soyle it selfe most fertile fit to yeeld all kinde of fruit that shall be committed thereunto And lastly the Heavens most milde and temperate though somwhat more moist then the parts towards the West Eudox. Truly Iren. what with your praises of the countrey and what with your discourse of the lamentable desolation therof made by those Scottes you have filled mee with a great compassion of their calamities that I doe much pitty that sweet Land to be subiect to so many evills as I see more and more to bee layde upon her and doe halfe beginne to thinke that it is as you said at the beginning her fatall misfortune above all other Countreyes that I know to bee thus miserably tossed and turmoyled with these variable stormes of affliction But since wee are thus farre entred into the consideration of her mishaps tell mee have there beene any more such tempests as you terme them wherein she hath thus wretchedly beene wracked Iren. Many more God wot have there beene in which principall parts have beene rent and torne asunder but none as I can remember so universall as this And yet the rebellion of Thomas fitz Garret did well-nye stretch it selfe into all parts of Ireland But that which was in the time of the government of the Lord Grey was surely no lesse generall then all those for there was no part free from the contagion but all conspired in one to cast off their subiection to the Crowne of England Neverthelesse thorough the most wise and valiant handling of that right noble Lord it got not the head which the former evills found for in them the Realme was left like a ship in a storme amidst all the raging surges unruled and undirected of any for they to whom she was committed either fainted in their labour or forsooke their charge But hee like a most wise Pilote kept her course carefully and held her most strongly even against those roaring billowes that he safely brought her out of all so as long after even by the space of 12. or 13. whole yeares she roade at peace thorough his onely paines and excellent indurance how ever envy list to blatter against him But of this wee shall have more occasion to speake in another place Now if you please let us returne againe unto our first course Eudox. Truely I am very glad to heare your iudgement of the government of that honorable man so soundly for I have heard it oftentimes maligned and his doings depraved of some who I perceive did rather of malicious minde or private grievance seeke to detract from the honour of his deeds and Counsels then of any iust cause but hee was neverthelesse in the iudgements of all good and wise men defended and maintained And now that hee is dead his immortall fame surviveth and flourisheth in the mouthes of all people that even those which did backbite him are checked with their owne venome and breake their galls to heare his so honorable report But let him rest in peace and turne we to our more troublesome matters of discourse of
no wayes can prove themselves to descend neither should it be greatly glorious unto them for the Spaniard that now is is come from as rude and savage nations as they there being as there may be gathered by course of ages and view of their owne History though they therein labour much to enoble themselves scarce any drop of the old Spanish blood left in them for all Spaine was first conquered by the Romans and filled with colonies from them which were still increased and the native Spaniard still cut off Afterwards the Carthaginians in all the long Punick warres having spoiled all Spaine and in the end subdued it wholly unto themselves did as it is likely root out all that were affected to the Romans And lastly the Romans having againe recovered that countrey and beate out Hannibal did doubtlesse cut off all that favored the Carthaginians so that betwixt them both to and fro there was scarce a native Spaniard left but all inhabited of Romans All which tempests of troubles being over-blowne there long after arose a new storme more dreadfull then all the former which over-ran all Spaine and made an infinite confusion of all things that was the comming downe of the Gothes the Hunnes and the Vandals And lastly all the nations of Scythia which like a mountaine flood did over-flow all Spaine and quite drowned and washt away whatsoever reliques there was left of the land-bred people yea and of all the Romans too The which Northerne nations finding the nature of the soyle and the vehement heat thereof farre differing from their constitutions tooke no felicity in that Country but from thence passed over and did spread themselves into all Countryes of Christendome of all which there is none but hath some mixture or sprinckling if not throughly peopleing of them And yet after all these the Moores and the Barbarians breaking over out of Affrica did finally possesse all Spaine or the most part thereof and did tread under their heathenish feete what ever little they found yet there standing The which though after they were beaten out by Ferdinando of Arragon and Elizabeth his wife yet they were not so cleansed but that through the marriages which they had made and mixture with the people of the land during their long continuance there they had left no pure drop of Spanish blood no more then of Roman or of Scythian So that of all nations under heaven I suppose the Spaniard is the most mingled and most uncertaine wherefore most foolishly doe the Irish thinke to enoble themselves by wresting their Auncientry from the Spaniard who is unable to derive himselfe from any in certaine Eudox. You speake very sharpely Iren. in dispraise of the Spaniard whom some others boast to be the onely brave nation under the Skie Iren. So surely he is a very brave man neither is that any thing which I speake to his derogation for in that I said he is a mingled people it is no dispraise for I thinke there is no nation now in Christendome nor much further but is mingled and compounded with others for it was a singular providence of God and a most admirall purpose of his wisedome to draw those northerne heathen nations downe into those Christian parts where they might receive Christianity and to mingle nations so remote miraculously to make as it were one blood and kindred of all people and each to have knowledge of him Eudox. Neither have you sure any more dishonoured the Irish for you have brought them from very great and ancient nations as any were in the world how ever fondly they affect the Spanish For both Scythians and Gaules were two as mighty nations as ever the world brought forth But is there any token denomination or monument of the Gaules yet remaining in Ireland as there is of the Scythians Iren. Yea surely very many words of the Gaules remaining and yet dayly used in Common speech Eudox. What was the Gaulish speech is there any part of it still used among any nation Iren. The Gaulish speech is the very British the which was very generally used here in all Brittaine before the comming of the Saxons and yet is retained of the Welshmen Cornishmen and the Brittaines of France though time working the alterarion of all things and the trading and interdeale with other nations round about have changed and greatly altered the dialect thereof but yet the originall words appeare to be the same as who hath list to read in Camden and Buchanan may see at large Besides there be many places as havens hills townes and Castles which yet beare the names from the Gaules of the which Buchanan rehearseth above 500. in Scotland and I can I thinke recount neere as many in Ireland which retaine the old denomination of the Gaules as the Menapij Cauci Venti and others by all which and many other reasonable probabilities which this short course will not suffer to be laide forth it appeareth that the cheife Inhabitants in Ireland were Gaules comming thither first out of Spain and after from besides Tanais where the Gâ—thes the Hunnes and the Getes sate downe they also being as it is said of some ancient Gaules and lastly passing out of Gallia it selfe from all the Sea-coast of Belgia and Celtica into al the southerne coasts of Ireland which they possessed and inhabited whereupon it is at this day amongst the Irish a common use to call any stranger Inhabitant there amongst them Gald that is descended from the Gaules Eudox. This is very likely for even so did those Gaules anciently possesse all the southerne coasts of our Brittaine which yet retaine their old names as the Belga in Sommerset-shire Wilshire and part of Hamshire Attrebatij in Barkeshire Regni in Sussex and Surry and many others Now thus farre then I understand your opinion that the Scythians planted in the north part of Ireland the Spaniards for so we call them what ever they were that came from Spaine in the west the Gaules in the south so that there now remaineth the east parts towards England which I would be glad to understand from whence you doe thinke them to be peopled Iren. Mary I thinke of the Brittaines themselves of which though there be little footing now remaining by reason that the Saxons afterwards and lastly the English driving out the Inhabitants thereof did possesse and people it themselves Yet amongst the Tooles the Birns or Brins the Cavenaghes and other nations in Leinster there is some memory of the Britans remayning As the Tooles are called of the old British word Tol that is a hill Countrey the Brins of the British word Brin that is woods and the Cavenaghes of the word Caune that is strong so that in these three people the very denomination of the old Britons doe still remaine Besides when any flieth under the succour and protection of any against an enemie he cryeth unto him Comericke that is in the Brittish helpe for the Brittaine is called in their owne
language Comeroy Furthermore to prove the same Ireland is by Diodorus Siculus and by Strabo called Britannia and a part of great Brittaine Finally it appeareth by good record yet extant that King Arthur and after him Gurgunt had all that Iland under their alleagiance and subjection hereunto I could add many probabilities of the names of places persons and speeches as I did in the former but they should be too long for this and I reserve them for another And thus you have had my opinion how all that Realme of Ireland was first peopled and by what nations After all which the Saxons succeeding subdued it wholly to themselves For first Egfrid King of Northumberland did utterly waste and subdue it as appeareth out of Beda's complaint against him and after him King Edgar brought it under his obedience as appeareth by an auncient Record in which it is found written that he subdued all the Islands of the North even unto Norway and brought them into his subjection Eudox. This ripping of Auncestors is very pleasing unto me and indeede savoureth of good conceipt and some reading withall I see hereby how profitable travaile and experience of forraine nations is to him that will apply them to good purpose Neither indeed would I have thought that any such antiquities could have beene avouched for the Irish that maketh me the more to long to see some other of your observations which you have gathered out of that country and have earst halfe promised to put forth And sure in this mingling of Nations appeareth as you earst well noted a wonderfull providence and purpose of Almighty God that stirred up the people in the furthest parts of the world to seeke out their regions so remote from them and by that meanes both to restore their decayed habitations and to make himselfe knowne to the heathen But was there I pray you no more generall employing of that Iland then first by the Scythians which you say were the Scottes and afterward by the Spaniards besides the Gaules Brittaines and Saxons Iren. Yes there was another and that last and greatest which was by the English when the Earle Strangbowe having conquered that land delivered up the same into the hands of Henry the second then King who sent over thither great store of Gentlemen and other warlike people amongst whom he distributed the Land and setled such a strong Colonie therein as never since could with all the subtle practices of the Irish be rooted out but abide still a mighty people of so many as remaine English of them Eudox. What is this that you say of so many as remaine English of them Why are not they that were once English English still Iren. No for some of them are degenerated and growne almost meere Irish yea and more malitious to the English then the Irish themselves Eudox. What heare I And is it possible that an Englishman brought up in such sweet civility as England affords should find such liking in that barbarous rudenes that he should forget his owne nature and forgoe his owne nation how may this bee or what I pray you may be the cause thereof Iren. Surely nothing but the first evill ordinance and institution of that Common-wealth But thereof here is no fit place to speake least by the occasion thereof offering matter of a long discourse we might be drawne from this that we have in hand namely the handleing of abuses in the Customes of Ireland Eudox. In truth Iren. you doe well remember the plot of your first purpose but yet from that me seemes yee have much swarved in all this long discourse of the first inhabiting of Ireland for what is that to your purpose Iren. Truely very materiall for if you marked the course of all that speech well it was to shew by what meanes the customes that now are in Ireland being some of them indeede very strange and almost heathenish were first brought in and that was as I said by those Nations from whom that Countrey was first peopled for the difference in manners and customes doth follow the difference of nations and people The which I have declared to you to have beene three especially which seated themselves here to wit first the Scythian then the Gaules and lastly the English Notwithstanding that I am not ignorant that there were sundry Nations which goâ— footing in that land of the which there yet remaine divers great families and septs of whom I will also in their proper places make mention Eudox. You bring your selfe Iren. very well into the way againe notwithstanding that it seemeth that you were never out of the way but now that you have passed thorough those antiquities which I could have wished not so soone ended begin when you please to declare what customes and manners have beene derived from those nations to the Irish and which of them you finde fault withall Iren. I will begin then to count their customes in the same order that I counted their Nations and first with the Scythian or Scottish manners Of the which there is one use amongst them to keepe their cattle and to live themselves the most part of the yeare in Boolies pasturing upon the mountaine and waste wilde places and removing still to fresh land as they have depastured the former The which appeareth plaine to be the manner of the Scythians as you may read in Olaus Magnus and Io Bohemus and yet is used amongst all the Tartarians and the people about the Caspian Sea which are naturally Scythians to live in heards as they call them being the very same that the Irish Boolies are driving their cattle continually with them and feeding onely on their milke and white meates Eudox. What fault can you finde with this custome for though it be an old Scythian use yet is it very behoofefull in this Country of Ireland where there are great mountaines and waste deserts full of grasse that the same should be eaten downe and nourish many thousands of cattle for the good of the whole Realme which cannot me thinks well be any other way then by keeping those Boolies there as yee have shewed Iren But by this custome of Boolying there grow in the meane time many great enormityes unto that Common-wealth For first if there be any out-lawes or loose people as they are never without some which live upon stealthes and spoyles they are evermore succoured and finde releife only in these Boolies being upon the waste places whereas else they should be driven shortly to starve or to come downe to the townes to seeke releife where by one meanes or other they would soone be caught Besides such stealthes of cattle as they make they bring commonly to those Boolies being upon those waste places where they are readily received and the theife harboured from danger of law or such Officers as might light upon him Moreover the people that thus live in those Boolies grow thereby the more barbarous and live more licentiously then they could
a prettie jest of a Frenchman who having beene sometimes in Ireland where he marked their great inquirie for newes and meeting afterwards in France an Irishman whom hee knew in Ireland first saluted him and afterwards said thus merrily O Sir I pray you tell me of curtesie have you heard any thing of the newes that you so much inquired for in your Countrey Eudox. This argueth sure in them a great desire of innovation therfore these occasions which nourish the same must be taken away as namely those Iesters Carrowes Mona-shutes all such straglers for whom me thinkes the short riddance of a Marshall were meeter then an ordinance or prohibitiō to restrain thē Therfore I pray you leave all this rabblement of Runnagates passe to other customes Iren. There is a great use amongst the Irish to make great assemblies together upon a rath or hill there to parlie as they say about matters and wrongs betweene Township Township or one privat person and another But well I wot and true it hath beene oftentimes proved that in their meetings many mischiefes have beene both practised wrought for to them doe commonly resort all the scumme of the people where they may meete and conferre of what they list which else they could not doe without suspition or knowledge of others Besides at these meetings I have knowne divers times that many Englishmen good Irish subjects have bin villainously murdered by moving one quarell or another against them For the Irish neuer come to those Raths but armed whether on horse or on foot which the English nothing suspecting are then commonly taken at advantage like sheep in the pin-folde Eudox. It may be Irenaeus that abuse may be in those meetings But these round hills and square Bawnes which you see so strongly trenched and throwne up were they say at first ordained for the same purpose that people might assemble themselves therein and therefore aunciently they were called Talk-motes that is a place of people to meete or talke of any thing that concerned any difference betweene parties and Towneships which seemeth yet to me very requisite Iren. You say very true Eudoxus the first making of these high hils were at first indeed to very good purpose for people to meet but howsoever the times when they were first made might well serve to good occasions as perhaps they did then in England yet things being since altered now Ireland much differing from the state of England the good use that then was of them is now turned to abuse for those hills wherof you speak were as you may gather by reading appointed for 2 special uses built by 2 several nations The one is that which you call Talk-motes which were built by the Saxons as the word bewraieth for it signifieth in Saxon a meeting of folk these are for the most part in forme foure square well intrenched the others that were round were cast up by the Danes as the name of them doth betoken for they are called Danes-Rathes that is hills of the Danes the which were by them devised not for treaties and parlies but appointed as fortes for them to gather unto in troublesome time when any trouble arose for the Danes being but a few in comparison of the Saxons in England used this for their safety they made those small round hills so strongly fenced in every quarter of the hundred to the end that if in the night or any other time any troublous cry or uproare should happen they might repaire with all speed unto their owne fort which was appointed for their quarter and there remaine safe till they could assemble themselves in greater strength for they were made so strong with one small entrance that whosoever came thither first were he one or two or like few he or they might there rest safe and defend themselves against many till more succour came unto them and when they were gathered to a sufficient number they marched to the next fort and so forward till they met with the perill or knew the occasions thereof But besides these two sorts of hills there were anciently divers others for some were raised where there had been a great battle fought as a memory or Trophie thereof others as monuments of burialls of the carcasses of all those that were slaine in any field upon whom they did throwe such round mounts as memorialls of them and sometimes did cast up great heapes of stones as you may read the like in many places of the Scripture and other whiles they did throw up many round heapes of earth in a circle like a garland or pitch many long stones on end in compasse every of which they say betokened some person of Note there slaine and buried for this was their auncient custome before Christianity came in amongst them that Church-yards were inclosed Eudox. You have very well declared the originall of their mounts and great stones incompassed which some vainely terme the ould Gyants Trevetts and thinke that those huge stones would not else be brought into order or reared up without the strength of Gyants And others as vainely thinke that they were never placed there by mans hand or Art but onely remained there so since the beginning and were afterwards discovered by the deluge and laide open as then by the washing of the waters or other like casualty But let them dreame their owne Imaginations to please themselves you have satisfied me much better both for that I see some confirmation thereof in the holy writt and also remember that I have read in many Historyes and Chronicles the like mounts and stones oftentimes mentioned Iren. There be many great authorities I assure you to prove the same but as for these meetings on hills whereof we were speaking it is very inconvenient that any such should be permitted Eudox. But yet it is very needefull me thinkes for many other purposes as for the countryes to gather together when there is any imposition to be laide upon them to the which they then may all agree at such meetings to devide upon themselves according to their holdings and abilities So as if at these assemblies there be any Officers as Constables Bayliffes or such like amongst them there can be no perill or doubt of such bad practises Iren Neverthelesse dangerous are such assemblies whether for Cesse or ought else the Constables and Officers being also of the Irish and if any of the English happen to be there even to them they may prove perillous Therefore for avoyding of all such evill occasions they were best to be abolished Eudox. But what is that which you call Cesse it is a word sure unused amongst us heere therefore I pray you expound the same Iren. Cesse is none other then that which your selfe called imposition but it is in a kinde unacquainted perhaps unto you For there are Cesses of sundry sorts one is the cessing of Souldiours upon the Countrey For Ireland being a
maintaine play which he setting unto him againe shortly thereby winneth all from the winner Eudox. Was this Rebell then set up at first by the Queene as you say and now become so undutifull Iren. He was I assure you the most outcast of all the O-Neales then and lifted up by her Majesty out of the dust to that he hath now wrought himselfe unto and now hee playeth like the frozen snake who being for compassion releived by the husbandman soone after he was warme began to hisse and threaten danger even to him and his Eudox. He surely then deserveth the punishment of that snake should worthily be hewed to peeces But if you like not the letting forth of Shane O-Neales sonnes against him what say you then of that advice which I heard was given by some to draw in Scotts to serve against him how like you that advice Iren. Much worse then the former for who that is experienced in those parts knoweth not that the O-Neales are neerely allyed unto the Mac-Neiles of Scotland and to the Earle of Argyle from whence they use to have all their succours of those Scottes and Redshanckes Besides all these Scottes are through long continuance intermingled and allyed to all the inhabitants of the north So as there is no hope that they will ever be wrought to serve faithfully against their old friends and kinsmen And though they would how when they have overthrowne him and the warres are finished shall they themselves be put out doe we not all know that the Scottes were the first inhabitants of all the north and that those which now are called the north Irish are indeed very Scottes which challenge the ancient inheritance and dominion of that Countrey to be their owne aunciently This then were but to leap out of the pan into the fire For the cheifest caveat and provision in reformation of the north must be to keep out those Scottes Eudox. Indeede I remember that in your discourse of the first peopling of Ireland you shewed that the Scythians or Scottes were the first that sate downe in the north whereby it seemes that they may challenge some right therein How comes it then that O-Neales claimes the dominion thereof and this Earle of Tyrone saith that the right is in him I pray you resolve me herein for it is very needefull to be knowne and maketh unto the right of the warre against him whose successe useth commonly to be according to the justnes of the cause for which it is made For if Tyrone have any right in that Seigniory me thinkes it should be wrong to thrust him out Or if as I remember you said in the beginning that O-Neale when he acknowledged the King of England for his Leige Lord and Soveraigne did as he alleadgeth reserve in the same submission his Seigniories and rights unto himselfe what should it be accounted to thrust him out of the same Iren. For the right of O-Neale in the seigniory of the north it is surely none at all For besides that the Kings of England conquered all the Realme and thereby assumed and invested all the right of that land to themselves and their heires and successours for ever So as nothing was left in O-Neale but what he received backe from them O-Neale himselfe never had any ancient Seigniory over that country but what by usurpation and incroachment after the death of the Duke of Clarence he got upon the English whose lands and possessions being formerly wasted by the Scottes under the leading of Edward le Bruce as I formerly declared unto you he eft-soones entred into and sithence hath wrongfully detained through the other occupations and great affaires which the Kings of England soone after fell into here at home so as they could not intend to the recovery of that Countrey of the north nor restraine the insolency of O-Neale who finding none now to withstand him raigned in that desolation and made himselfe Lord of those few people that remained there upon whom ever sithence he hath continued his first usurped power and now exacteth and extorteth upon all men what he list So that now to subdue or expell an usurper should bee no unjust enterprise or wrongfull warre but a restitution of auncient right unto the Crowne of England from whence they were most unjustly expelled and long kept out Eudox. I am very glad herein to be thus satisfied by you that I may the better satisfie them whom I have often heard to object these doubts and slaunderously to barke at the courses which are held against that trayterous Earle and his adherents But now that you have thus settled your service for Vlster and Connaght I would bee glad to heare your opinion for the prosecuting of Feagh Mac Hugh who being but a base villaine and of himselfe of no power yet so continually troubleth the State notwithstanding that he lyeth under their nose that I disdaine his bold arrogancy and thinke it to be the greatest indignity to the Queene that may be to suffer such a caytiffe to play such Rex and by his ensample not onely to give heart and incouragement to all such bad Rebells but also to yeeld them succour and refuge against her Majesty whensoever they fly unto his Comericke whereof I would first wish before you enter into your plot of service against him that you should lay open by what meanes he being so base first lifted himselfe up to this dangerous greatnes and how he maintaineth his part against the Queene and her power notwithstanding all that hath beene done and attempted against him And whether also hee have any pretence of right in the lands which he houldeth or in the warres that he maketh for the same Iren. I will so at your pleasure and will further declare not only the first beginning of his private house but also the originall of the sept of the Birnes and Tooles so farre as I have learned the same from some of themselves and gathered the rest by reading The people of the Birnes and Tooles as before I shewed unto you my conjecture descended from the auncient Brittaines which first inhabited all those easterne parts of Ireland as their names doe betoken for Brin in the Brittish language signifieth wooddy and Toole hilly which names it seemeth they tooke of the Countryes which they inhabited which is all very mountainous and woody In the which it seemeth that ever since the comming in of the English with Dermot ni-Gall they have continued Whether that their countrey being so rude and mountainous was of them despised and thought unworthy the inhabiting or that that they were received to grace by them and suffered to enjoy their lands as unfit for any other yet it seemeth that in some places of the same they have put foote and fortified with sundry Castles of which the ruines onely doe there now remaine since which time they are growne to that strength that they are able to lift up hand
with them what they would for they would not by any meanes returne againe nor goe forth For in that case who will not accept almost of any conditions rather then dye of hunger and miserie Eudox. It is very likely so But what then is the Ordinance and what bee the conditions which you will propose unto them which shall reserve unto them an assurance of life and liberty Iren. So soone then as they have given the best assurance of themselves which may be required which must be I suppose some of their principall men to remaine in hostage one for another and some other for the rest for other surety I reckon of none that may binde them neither of wife nor of children since then perhappes they would gladly be ridde of both from the famine I would have them first unarmed utterly and stripped quite of all their warrelike weapons then these conditions set downe made knowne unto them that they shall bee placed in Leinster and have land given them to occupy and to live upon in such sort as shall become good subjects to labour thenceforth for their living and to apply themselves to honest trades of civility as they shall every one be found meete and able for Eudox. Where then a gods name will you place them in Leinster or will you finde out any new land there for them that is yet unknowne Iren. No I will place them all in the Countrey of the Birnes and Tooles which Pheagh mac Hugh hath and in all the lands of the Cavanaghes which are now in rebellion and all the lands which will fall to her Maiestie there-abouts which I know to be very spacious and large enough to containe them being very neere twenty or thirty miles wyde Eudox. But then what will you doe with all the Birnes the Tooles and the Cavanaghes and all those that now are joyned with them Iren. At the same very time and in the same very manner that I make that Proclamation to them of Vlster will I have it also made to these and upon their submission thereunto I will take like assurance of them as of the other After which I will translate all that remaine of them unto the places of the other in Vlster with all their Creete what else they have left them the which I will cause to be divided amongst them in some meete sort as each may thereby have somewhat to sustaine himselfe a while withall untill by his further travaile and labour of the Earth hee shal be able to provide himselfe better Eudox. But will you give the land then freely unto them and make them heires of the former Rebells so may you perhaps make them also heires of all their former villainies and disorders or how else will you dispose of them Iren. Not so But all the lands will I give unto Englishmen whom I will have drawne thither who shall have the same with such estates as shall bee thought meete and for such Rent as shall eftsoones bee rated under every of those Englishmen will I place some of those Irish to bee Tennants for a certaine Rent according to the quantity of such Land as every man shall have allotted unto him and shal be found able to wield wherein this speciall regard shall be had that in no place under any Land-lord there shall bee many of them placed together but dispersed wide from their acquaintance and scattered farre abroad thorough all the Country For that is the evill which now I finde in all Ireland that the Irish dwell altogether by their septs and severall nations so as they may practise or conspire what they will whereas if there were English well placed among them they should not bee able once to stirre or to murmure but that it should be knowne and they shortened according to their demerites Eudox. You have good reason but what rating of rents meane you to what end doe you purpose the same Iren. My purpose is to rate the rent of all those lands of her Maiesties in such sort unto those Englishmen which shall take them as they shall be well able to live thereupon to yeeld her Maiesty reasonable Chiefrie and also give a competent maintenance unto the garrisons which shall be there left amongst them for those Souldiours as I tolde you remaining of the former garrisons I cast to maintaine upon the rent of those landes which shall bee escheated and to have them divided thorough all Ireland in such places as shal be thought most convenient and occasion may require And this was the course which the Romanes observed in the Conquest of England for they planted some of their Legions in all places convenient the which they caused the Countrey to maintaine cutting upon every portion of land a reasonable rent which they called Romescot the which might not surcharge the Tennant or Free-holder and might defray the pay of the Garrison and this hath beene alwayes observed by all Princes in all Countries to them newly subdued to set Garrisons amongst them to containe them in dutie whose burthen they made them to beare and the want of this ordinance in the first conquest of Ireland by Henry the Second was the cause of the so short decay of that government and the quicke recovery againe of the Irish. Therefore by all meanes it is to bee provided for And this is that I would blame if it should not misbecome mee in the late planting of Mounster that no care was had of this Ordinance nor any strength of garrison provided for by a certaine allowance out of all the saide Landes but onely the present profite looked into and the safe continuance thereof for ever heereafter neglected Eudox. But there is a Band of Souldiours layde in Mounster to the maintenance of which what oddes is there whether the Queene receiving the rent of the Countrey doe give pay at her pleasure or that there be a settled allowance appointed unto them out of her lands there Iren. There is great oddes For now that said rent of the Countrey is not appointed to the pay of the Souldiers but it is by every other occasion comming betweene converted to other uses and the Souldiours in time of peace discharged and neglected as unnecessary whereas if the said rent were appointed and ordained by an establishment to this end only it should not bee turned to any other nor in troublous times upon every occasion her Majestie bee so troubled with sending over new Souldiours as shee is now nor the Countrie ever should dare to mutinie having still the Souldiour in their necke nor any forraine enemie dare to invade knowing there so strong and great a Garrison allwayes ready to receive them Eudox. Sith then you thinke that this Romescot of the pay of the Souldiours upon the land to be both the readiest way to the Souldiers and least troublesome to her Majestie tell us I pray you how would you have the said lands rated that both a rent may
choose to be an English man of speciall regard that may be a stay and pillar of all the Borough under him Eudox. What doe you meane by your hundred and what by your Borough by that that I have read in auncient records of England an hundred did containe an hundreth villages or as some say an hundreth Plough-lands being the same which the Saxons called Cantred the which Cantred as I finde it recorded in the Blacke Booke of the Exchequer of Ireland did containe xxx villatas terrae which some call quarters of land and every villata can maintaine 400. Cowes in pasture and the 400. cowes to be devided into 4. heards so as none of them shall come neere other every villata containing 18. Plowlands as is there set downe by that which I have read of a Borough it signifieth a free towne which had a principall Officer called a Head-Borough to become Ruler and undertake for all the dwellers under him having for the same franchises and priviledges graunted them by the King whereof it was called a free Borough and of the Lawyers Franci plegium Iren. Both that which you said Eudoxus is true and yet that which I say not untrue for that which you spake of deviding the Countrey into hundreds was a devision of the lands of the Realme but this which I tell was of the people which were thus devided by the pole So that hundreth in this sense signifieth a 100. pledges which were under the command and assurance of their Alderman the which as I suppose was also called a Wapentake so named of touching the weapon or speare of their Alderman and swearing to follow him faithfully and serve their Prince truly But others thinke that a Wapentake was 10. hundreds or boroghs Likewise a Borogh as I here use it and as the old lawes still use is not a Borogh towne as they now call it that is a franchised towne But a maine pledge of 100. free persons therfore called a free borough or as you say Franci-plegium For Borh in old Saxon signifieth a pledge or surety and yet is so used with us in some speeches as Chaucer saith St Iohn to Borroh that is for assurance and warranty Eudox. I conceive the difference But now that you have thus devided the people into these Tythings and Hundreths how will you have them so preserved and continued for people doe often change their dwelling places and some must die whilst other some doe growe up into strength of yeares and become men Iren. These Hundreds I would wish to assemble themselves once every yeare with their pledges and to present themselves before the Iustices of the peace which shall bee thereunto appointed to bee surveyed and numbred to see what change hath happened since the yeare before and the defects to supplie of young plants late growne up the which are diligently to bee overlooked and viewed of what condition and demeanour they be so as pledges may bee taken for them and they put into order of some Tything of all which alterations notes is to be taken and Bookes made thereof accordingly Eudox. Now mee thinkes Irenaeus you are to bee warned to take heede lest unawares you fall into that inconvenience which you formerly found fault with in others Namely that by this booking of them you doe not gather them into a new head and having broken their former strength doe not unite them more strongly againe For every Alderman having all these free pledges of his Hundred under his commaund may me thinkes if hee be evill disposed drawe all his Companie into an evill action And likewise by this assembling of them once a yeare unto their Alderman by their Weapentakes take heede lest you also give them occasion and meanes to practise together in any conspiracyes Iren. Neither of both is to be doubted for their Aldermen and Head Boroughes will not be such men of power and countenance of themselves being to be chosen thereunto as neede to be feared Neither if hee were is his Hundred at his commaund further then his Princes service and also every Tything man may controll him in such a case And as for the assembling of the Hundred much lesse is any danger thereof to be doubted seeing it is before some Iustice of Peace or some high Constable to bee thereunto appointed So as of these Tythings there can no perill ensue but a certaine assurance of peace and great good for they are thereby withdrawne from their Lords and subjected to the Prince Moreover for the better breaking of these heads and septs which I tould you was one of the greatest strengthes of the Irish me thinkes it should bee very well to renewe that ould Statute which was made in the raigne of Edward the fourth in Ireland by which it was commaunded that whereas all men then used to be called by the name of their septs according to the severall Nations and had no surnames at all that from thenceforth each one should take upon himselfe a severall surname either of his trade and facultie or of some quality of his body or minde or of the place where he dwelt so as every one should be distinguished from the other or from the most part wherby they shall not onely not depend upon the head of their sept as now they do but also in time learne quite to forget his Irish Nation And here withall would I also wish all the O's and the Mac's which the heads of septs have taken to their names to bee utterly forbidden and extinguished For that the same being an ordinance as some say first made by O Brien for the strengthning of the Irish the abrogating thereof will asmuch infeeble them Eudox. I like this ordinance very well but now that you have thus divided distinguished them what other order will you take for their manner of life Iren. The next that I will doe shal be to appoint to every one that is not able to live of his Free-holde a certaine Trade of life to which he shall finde himselfe fittest and shal be thought ablest the which trade hee shal be bound to follow live onely thereupon All trades therefore are to be understood to be of three kindes Manuall Intellectuall mixed The first containing all such as needeth exercise of bodily labour to the performance of their profession The second consisting only of the exercise of wit reason The third sort part of bodily labor part of the wit but depending most of industrie and carefulnes Of the first sort be all handy-crafts husbandry labour Of the second be all Sciences and those which be called the liberall Arts. Of the third is Merchandize Chafferie that is buying selling without all these three there is no Common-wealth can almost consist or at the least be perfect But the Realme of Ireland wanteth the most principall of them that is the intellectuall therfore in seeking to reforme her state it is
service was performed by Sir Richard Edgecomb being appointed thereunto by a speciall commission from K. Henry the seventh There is yet extant an exact diary of all his proceedings therein from his first landing at Kinsale the 27th of Iune 1488. till his departure from Dublin the 30th of Iuly next * * What Coigny and Livery doe signifie is formerly expressed see pag. 24. Sorehon was a tax laide upon the Free-holders for certaine dayes in each quarter of a yeare to finde victualls and lodging and â—o pay certaine stipends to the Kerne Galloglasses and horsemen * * Cantred is a Brittish word answering to the Saxon Hundred How much land a Cantred containeth is variously delivered Some hould that it containes 100. townes So Gir. Barry or Cambrensis in his itinerary of Wales lib. 2. cap. 7. Dicitur autem Cantreduâ— saith he composito vocabulo tam Britannica quam Hibernica lingua tanta terrae portio quanta 100. villas contineta solet The Author here ciâ—es a record which makes it containe but 30. towne-lands and Iohn Clynn if my copy therein be not mistaken hath but 20. But another more auncient MS. sometime belonging to the Friars Minors of Multifernan hath 30. Qualibet cantreda saith Clinne continet xx al. xxx villatas terrae quaelibet villata potest sustinere 300 vaccas in pascuis itâ— quod vaccae in x. al. 1111. partes divisae nulla alteri appropinquabit quaelibet villata continet viii carucatas We finde also there the Provinces of Ireland thus divided into Cantreds Vltonia continet 35. cantredas Conacia 30. Lagenia 31. Mâ—dia 18. Momonia 70. See more concerning cantreds in Sir Hen. Spelman's excellent Glossary As cantreds are diversly estimated so are also carues or plowlands * * An. 5. Edw 4. * * The statute referres onely to the Irish dwelling among the English in the counties of Dublin Meth Vriel and Kildare Vriel called also Ergallia did anciently comprehend all that countrey which is now divided into the Counties of Louth and Monoghan although it may be conceived that Louth was onely intendâ—d by the statute because Monoghan was then in a manner wholly possessed by the Irish. * * The custome of prefixing the vowell O to many of the chiefe Irish surnames began soon after the yeere M. in the raigne of Brien boroma the son of Kennethy King of Ireland As for Mac in surnames it beareth no other signification then Fitz doth among the French and from them the English and ap with the Welsh And although it were more anciently used then the other yet it varied according to the fathers name and became not so soone fully settled in families * * Anno 25º Hen. 6. * * How requisite also an Universitie is for the further growth in learning the judicious well know This happinesse we now enjoy to the great benefit of this Land And although former attempts have beene made for erecting and establishing Vniversities in Ireland yet through want of meanes which should have beene allotted for their maintenance they have soone faded So hapned it with that Academy which Alexander de Bâ—gnor Archbishop of Dublin erected in S. Patricks Church in Dublin and procured to be confirmed by Pope Iohn the â—2th And no better succeeded that which was afterwards erected at Tredagh by Act of Parlament Anno 5. Edw. 4. as appeares in the roll of that yeare in the Chauncery whereby all the like Priviledges as the Vniversity of Oxford in England enjoyed were conferred upon it Besides these wee finde mention of others farre more ancient as at Armagh and Ross. Carbry or Ross. atlithry as it is called in the life of S. Faghnan the Founder who lived in the yeare 590. Ipse Sanctus saith the Author in australi Hibernia plagâ iuxta mare in suo Monasterio quod ipse fundavit ibi crevit civitas in quâ semper manet magnum studium scolarium quod dicitur Rossailithry habitabat But a further search were fit to bee made touching those of the elder times a a De hac re vidâ— Camd. Britan. pag. 336. annal Hib. ab to ediâ— ad an 136â— b b A regione quadam qua dicitur Scythia dicitur Scita Sciticus Scoticus Scotus Scotia Tho. Walsingham iâ— Hypodigmatâ— Neâ— striae ad an 1185. * * Hist. nat lib. 16. cap 44. * * De bâ—llo Galli â—o â—ib 2. c c Rer. Scot. lib. 2. d d Gir. Camb. Hib. expugn lib. I. cap. 2â— e e Vid. Rog. de Hoveden pag. 567 edit Franc. Camd. Brit. pag. 739. f f Rog. de Hoveden ibid. g g Chart. an 2. Io. in arce Lond. h h In Henr. 2. pag. 566· i i Consul Gir. Camb. Hib. expugn lib. 2. cap. 4 k k This Maurice soone after deceasing at Wexford king Iohn then earle of Moreton confirmed to his sonne William Fitz Maurice cantredum terrae quem Makelanus tenuit illum scâ—in quo villa de Nâ—as sita est quam comes Richardus dedit Mauritio patri ipsius Willielmi Thus the charter habetuâ— in roâ— com placis an 10. Hen. 6. in iurri Birminghamiano l l Magn. regest mon. B. Mariae iuâ—â—a Dublin fol 76. m m Romanae histor antholog lib. 2. sect 3. cap. 7. n n De iud l. 3. cap. 19. Satyr 3. lib. 1. AEneid lib. 1 o o An 45â— Lord Treasurer of Ireland Lord Deputy of Ireland
Nunne Segnith and her associates and in the North part of that country a Nunnery Ceall Abbain where he made an end of his course and slept with his fathers There was great strife for his corps betweene the North and the South the Lords of the country strove for it in Armes The North pleaded here hee first builded and made his abode the South answered with us was he borne with us hee most conversed and we will have his corps or else we will leave our carkasses in this place The body was laid in a Cart bruit beasts had the drawing of it when both sides were in Armes the silly beasts were frighted and ranne away with the dead and where he was buried I have not found as yet His Monkes howled and kept a lamentable stirre the record runneth thus Populus civitatis Magarnoid in Australibus Laginensibus sic dicebat Iste sanctus a Domino ad nos missus est per multos annos apud nos vixit monasteria multa et cellas in nostra regione edificavit et ipse est noster Sanctus et venerabilis Pater qui nostrā civitatem similiter construxit qui post multa miracula apud nos ad Dominum migravit et per eum semper a Domino adjuvari speramus et scitote quod nos morti omnes prius trademus antequam revertamini eo a nobis absente Ad hanc vocemira principum et militum utrorumque arsit surgentes in furorem magnum contendere et rixari conantes Tunc verò monachi clerici quibus non licebat bellare seorsum exierunt ululantes flentes fusis lachrymis dicentes heu heu Domine Deus cur concedis tam maximam caedem tantorū nobilium virorum circa corpus famulitui qui in sua vita multa bella prohibuit He had familiaritie with Saint Beartanus an Abbot Brendanus Molyng Flannanus Munnu Gobban and with Columba the reverend Priest Saint Patricke was sent into Ireland by Celestinus Bishop of Rome before named five yeeres after Palladius was sent into Scotland So writeth Iohannes Major Scotus and Functius therein followeth him but I thinke they are too forward in their computation for hee came into Ireland Anno 432. and for this beside Iohn Bale Bishop of Ossorie I have warrant from Iocelin the Monke of Furnese who wrote his life at the request of Thomas Primate of Ardmagh Malachias Bishop of Dune and Sir Iohn de Courcy Earle of Vlster and out of Sigebertus and Iohn Clyn Guardian of the Fryers Minors in Kilkenny in his collections of Irish antiquities who also saith that he was 16. yeeres old when the Pirates brought him out of Britaine into Ireland that he was sixe yeeres in servitude that he was eighteene yeeres under Saint Germane a Bishop in France that he spent thirty and five yeeres in converting Ireland and other Ilands to the faith that he bestowed thirty three yeeres in contemplation and that hee died anno aetatis one hundred twenty two Bale writeth his life Patricius surnamed Succetus Magonius of most writers called Magnus for his excellent vertues had in Britaine to his father one Calphurnius a Priest the sonne of Ponticus a Priest saith Iocelin and to his mother one Conche of Pannonia Concessa saith Probus sister to Saint Martin cosin saith Iocelin hee was brought up under godly tutors when Maximus reigned first under his uncle Martin afterward under Germanus Bishop of Auxerre in Burgoyne from thence he came to Italy and so to Rome where for his grave carriage and singular learning descending of noble race he got the name of a Senator Patricius His first name saith Florilegus was Nannus and in his consecration hee was called Patricius Sigebertus and Stanihurst write that in his baptisme hee was called Suchat or Suchar of Saint German Magonius and of Celestinus Patricius the like saith Beda in his Martyrologe Celestinus then Bishop of Rome sent him together with Segetius a Priest anno 432 after Palladius the Grecian unto the Scots and Irish to defend them from the Pelagian heresie he with a wonderfull fervency of spirit preached the Gospell unto the Irish nation travailing in the vineyard of the Lord the space of thirty nine yeeres converted them unto the Lord with his great learning and sanctity of life Whereupon among other miracles the which he is said to have wrought upon the top of an hill like a second Elias he prayed and fasted forty dayes and nights in a vision hee received of Christ the Gospell and a staffe an Hermit gave him the staffe saith Iocelin Hee destroyed the prophane temples of false gods hee erected monuments of piety builded Churches ordained Ministers releeued the poore redeemed captives healed the sick delivered the possessed raised sixty dead persons baptized twelve thousand if all be true which Vincentius Antonius and Capgrave report of him Out of the treasure of his pure heart many Authors affirme that he wrot in Latine these bookes De antiquitate Avalonica lib. 1 Itenerarium Confessionis lib. 1 Odoeporicon Hiberniae lib. 1 Historia Hiberniae ex Ruano lib 1 De tribus habitaculis lib. 1 De futura electorū vita lib. 1 Abiectoria quaedam 366 lib. 1 Sermones quoque lib. 1 Ad Cereticum tyrannum epist. 1 Ad Avaloniae incolas epist. 1 Ad Hibernenses Ecclesias epist. plur Ad suos Britannos epist. plur The manuscript Legend of Ireland reporteth that Saint Patrick in his Epistles wrote his owne life The Antiquaries report that in his conflicts with the sages of the Gentiles this Apostle of the Irish wrought no lesse miracles then of old Moses under Pharaoh or Peter under Nero and that he endured many dipleasures In the end after his death hee was buried neere the City of Dune but the yeere among the Historiographers is not agreed upon yet in remembrance of him this distichon was made Hi tres in Duno tumulo tumulantur in uno Brigida Patricius atque Columba pius Saint Patrick died first Brigida six yeeres after him and Columba many yeeres after her yet were all three buried in one grave What Bale hath formerly written I find he hath gathered out of Vincentius Antoninus Capgrave Leland Gildas Giraldus Cambrensis Bostonus Buriensis and Florilegus and all that Iocelin hath at large written and what Legenda Plumbea and the booke of Houth report to avoid prolixity and to shunne fabulous conceits I omit Now to the Irish Chroniclers They deliver that in his captivity in Ireland being sold to Milcho King of Vlster saith Iocelin to Milach saith Stanihurst to Cuulcu saith Florilegus to Macbuaine saith the Irish Anonymus and to reconcile them all I take it that Milcho was called Milcho Macbuaine he kept swine six yeeres no disgrace unto him for Marcellus Bishop of Rome he that will not beleeue other writers will credit the Martyrologe of Sarum by the commandement of Maximian the tyrant