Barret Edmund Lane Who flourished in the yeere 1518. So farre Master Stanihurst Hector Boetius putteth us in remembrance of the honour given her by Scots Pictes Irish and English nations and how that many Churches beare her name The superstitious Irish in processe of time found out a Bell called Clogg Brietta Brigids Bell whereunto to deceive the simple people they attribute great vertue and holinesse the which together with other toyes they carried about not onely in Ireland but also in England and were by Act of Parliament in England banished the land in Henry the fifts time Cambrensis reporteth that the harmonie of the foure Evangelists the worke of Saint Ierome was caused by Brigid most of it to be written in letters of gold and was as curious a worke saith he as ever I saw and called Brigids Booke the which was kept as a monument saith Stanihurst at Kildare She deceased about the yeere 510. another saith anno 548. and about the yeere 524. she was translated from the Hebrides into Dune and resteth by Saint Patrickes side as formerly hath beene declared in his life Ireland hath given her this Epitaph Flos patriae pietatis amans virtutis alumna Sidus Hibernorum Brigida virgo fuit In her Legend I finde mention of Ercus a Bishop the disciple of Saint Patricke borne in Mounster also of Saint Ruanus a Bishop Saint Numidus Saint Praecipuus Saint Daria a Virgin Saint Darlugdach called a Virgin and yet had a daughter that was baptized in the presence of Brigide This Darlugdach was the second Nunne and succeeded Brigide in Kildare whose remembrance is celebrated the same day with her Illand King of Leinster gave Brigide great honour of him I read in her Legend that hee was a most worthy Prince and fortunate in all his affaires Illand Rex Lageniae qui triginta bella in Hibernia vicit octo certamina in Britannia occidit Engusium regem Momoniae cum Ethna uxore quos Patricius baptizavit Illand King of Leinster who wonne thirty battailes in Ireland and eight combats in Britaine slue Engusus King of Mounster and Ethna his wife whom Patricke had baptized About this time lived Caelius Sedulius whom Damianus à Goes a Knight of Portingall challenged for a Spaniard Bale writeth hee was a Scot and Stanihurst that he was borne in Ireland I will first lay downe what Bale hath next what Stanihurst reporteth Caelius Sedulius saith Bale by nation a Scot. by calling a Priest a man trayned up in learning from his youth cleaved as a diligent scholler unto Hildebert the most learned Archbishop of Scots as Tritemius delivereth After the decease of his master being desirous of farther knowledge he tooke a painefull voyage in hand travailed throughout Spain France Italie Greece and Asia last of all after he had read in Achaia most learned lectures to the great profit of many hee came backe to Rome where with great labour he distributed most abundantly in like sort the treasure of singular learning Hee was a man exercised in holy Scripture of a singular wit excellently well seene in all manner of secular literature passing both for verse and prose so that Gelasius Bishop of Rome in the decrees dist 15. calleth him reverend Sedulius and gave his workes no meane commendation Patâ—rius the disciple of Gregorius Magnus and Remigius Antisiodorensis in his commentary upon him of old have published his fame and renowne Sedulius both in verse and prose hath published many workes whereof in Boston of Burie and Tritemius I onely found these that follow Vnto Macedonius the Priest a singular worke which he intituled Carmen paschale lib. 4 Pascales quicunque dapes conviva requiris Elegia vel exhortatorium ad fideles lib. 1 Cantemus socij Dom. cantemus honorem De signis virtutibus lib. 1 Domino meo charissimo Gesta et miracula Christi lib. 4 Expulerat quondam c Superutroque testamento lib. 2  In Psalmos Dividicos lib. 1  Collectanea in Paulum lib. 14 Antequam Apostolica verba In Paulum ad Romanos lib. 1 Sciendum est quod hoc Ad Corinthios lib. 2 Quod nomen suum proponit Ad Galatas lib. 1 Hoc est non ab humana Ad Ephesios lib. 1 Refere scriptura testante Ad Philippenses lib. 1 Metropoli Macedoniae cum Ad Colossenses lib. 1 Hac vice Apostolatus autor Ad Thessalonicenses lib. 2 Quod non dicit Apostolus Ad Timotheum lib. 2 Non secundum praesumptionem Ad Titum Discipulum lib. 1 Hanc epistolam scribit de Ad Philemonem lib. 1 In carcere vel in catenis Ad Hebraeos lib. 1 Quoniam apud Haebraeorum De factis Christi prosaice lib. 2  Ad Caesarem TheodosiuÌ„ lib. 1 Romulidum ductor Clariss Epist. ad diversos lib. 1 Sedulius Scotigena dilect In editionem Donati lib. 1  In Prisciani volumen lib. 1  Carmina diversi generis lib. 1  He published also certaine Hymnes which the Church useth 1 A solis ortus cardine Ad usque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem c. Hostis Herodes impie Christum venisse quid times c. 2 A solis ortus cardine Ad usque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem c. Hostis Herodes impie Christum venisse quid times c. He flourished in the yeere after the Incarnation 450. under Theodosius Iunior the Emperour what time Fergusius the second raigned in Scotland after his miserable exile by the Romanes Of this Author Sigebertus and Bostonus write more So farre Bale Stanihurst pleadeth for Ireland and writeth Sedulius was not only of Irish birth but also the light of all Ireland neither will we suffer any longer so excellent a man out of his native soile contrary to all right to exile or wander but he is rather to be restored to his former inheritance as it were with a new solemnity of birth In another place hee seemeth to qualifie the matter having already chalenged Damianus a Goes of iniurie and to reconcile the dissonance of varying writers that the Scottish is taken for the Irish and the Irish for the Scottish and to satisfie the reader noteth the confusion how that all the commentaries of Sedulius upon the Epistles of Paul beginne Sedulij Scoti Hibernensis c. the Commentarie of Sedulius the Scot of Ireland And to shut up this challenge of all sides I finde that there was a second Sedulius a man of no lesse fame and learning and hee is said to bee a Scottish man therefore let Ireland being more antient then Scotland take the first and Scotland the last In the like sort excepting the challenge standeth Fridelinus Viator so called by reason of his great travaile his stile is Scotorum Hibernicorum regis olim filius the sonne sometime of the King of the Scots in Ireland whom I couch among them of Irish birth because of the ancient stile and distinction often used
kindely intreated and bounteously rewarded the Irish souldiers the which then in his second extremity was not forgotten With shippes men and munition out of Ireland he bent his course to Wales repaired to his old friend Griffith Prince of Wales where he was most welcome and shortly restored againe to his Earldome by the meanes and intreaty of certaine strangers which had lately there arrived out of Norway Camden writeth how that Anno 1066. Godred surnamed Cronan the sonne of Hiraldniger of Island invaded the I le of Man thence came into Ireland did the like unto Dublin and a great part of Leynster made great spoyle and went backe againe The British Chronicle reporteth of Dermot a King in Ireland that in Anno 1068. he was murthered but the manner hee sheweth not the commendation he giveth of him is this He was the worthiest and noblest Prince that ever ruled in Ireland Polychronicon reporteth how that Anno 1072. at Winsore before William the Conquerour and the Cleargie the controversie between the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke was heard at large and decided and that Bedaes historie was shewed where it appeared that from Austen the Monkes time till Bedaes death about 140. yeeres the Archbishop of Canterburie had primacie over all Great Britaine Ireland that he had held Councels by Yorke summoned Bishops of Yorke consecrated Bishops and punished Bishops of Yorke for their offences and iudicially removed them Philip Flatesburie a great Antiquarie whom Stanihurst followeth and Iames Grace of Kilkenny with Dowlinge his ioynt Collectour doe write how that Anno 1074. Patricke Bishop of Dublin was consecrated in Pauls Church in London by Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterburie upon commendatorie Letters of Teridionatus alias Terdilnacus Monarch of Ireland and Godericke King of Leinster and with teste of the Clergie and Laytie of that Diocesse of his lawfull and orderly election Further I finde recorded that it was the manner to consecrate Bishops in this sort and that the Monarch of Ireland in regard of his royall principalitie and title of honour with other priviledges belonging to his Monarchie had negative voyce in the nomination of Bishops throughout his Realme Secondly how the Archbishop of Canterbury took of him that was so consecrated a corporall oath of Canonicall obedience as his predecessours formerly used to him and his successors and lastly gave him letters testimoniall thereof to the Monarch and King of Leynster Cambrensis sheweth the reason of this consecration namely how that in Ireland as then there was no Archbishop but one Bishop consecrated another untill that Anno 1148. Iohannes Papiron a Priest Cardinall sent from Eugenius 3. together with Christian Bishop of Lismore Legate of all Ireland came to the land and brought with them foures Paales But of this more in another place The same Flattesburie writeth further how that the said Lanfranke in like sort consecrated Donatus Bishop of Dublin Anno 1085. About this time Godwin and Edmund sonnes to King Harold my Author is Thomas Walsingham Monke of Saint Albans which formerly had fled into Ireland for succour unto Dermotte Mac O Nell King of Ireland returned with 66. saile landed in Sommersetshire saith Stow where Brian the sonne of Eudo Duke of Brabant met them and gave them battaile wherein saith Stow the brethren gate the victory and the Irish men with many great preyes out of Cornewall and Devonshire returned into Ireland But Walsingham which seemeth more true writeth that it was a bloudie battaile wherein 1070. of the English and Normans with certaine of the Nobilitie of the land were slaine and the enemies with aide of their ships fled and brought heavy newes home to their deerest friends in Ireland It is very like that William the Conquerour immediately upon this sent great forces into Ireland to bee revenged of them for relieving or assisting his enemies for Stow writeth out of William of Malmsbury thus Lanfranck Archbishop of Canterbury being in such favour with King William that the said William thought not good to deny any thing that hee requested procured by his industrie that the said King left his ill custome of selling his prisoners which hee tooke in Ireland which was a thing hardly granted unto him and to Wolstan Bishop of Worcester the gaine that the King had by the sale of those Irish men was such The British Chronicle reporteth how that Anno 1087. and the last yeere of William Conquerour the sonnes of Blethlyn ap Convyn sometime King of Wales gathered their strength together against Rees ap â—yder who not being able to meete with them fled to Ireland and there he purchased to himselfe great friends and got an armie of Irish men and Scots to whom hee promised great rewards when he should obtaine his kingdome so landed in South-Wales with these strangers and when his friends heard thereof they drew unto him and the other came in all haste to vanquish him before hee had made a head and gathered forces together to bee short at Wechryd they gave battaile where they were discomfited and two of the brethren slaine to wit Madoc and Kirid and the other fled and forsooke the country As soone as Rees was in quiet possession of his country he sent away the Irish men with great rewards All the Lords of the Ilands sent messengers unto Murchard alias Moragh O Brien King of Ireland that it would please him to send them some worthy man of royall bloud to be their King during the nonage of Olanus the sonne sonne of Godred King of Man Whereupon he sent unto them one Dopnald Mac Tady whom hee deepely charged to governe that kingdome which of right appertained not to him with all kindenesse love and modesty but hee was no sooner warm in the kingdome but he forgot his instructions and the charge his Lord had given him he poled he pilled and practised all kinde of tyranny for the space of three yeers Then all the Lords of the Ilands rose in armes against him and banished him out of those parts so he fled into Ireland of whom they never heard any further newes Stanihurst findeth that Anno 1095. there came certaine Esterlings to the North side of Dublin adjoyning to the Liffie and seated themselves there so that of them to this day the place is called Ostomontowne and corruptly Oxmonton and the Parish Saint Michans of one Michanus a Dane and a Bishop which founded the Church unto whom Murchard or Moragh King of Leynster gave that parcell of land to that use The faire greene or Commune now called Ostmontowne-greene was all wood and hee that diggeth at this day to any depth shall finde the ground full of great rootes From thence Anno 1098. King William Rufus by licence of Murchard had that frame which made up the roofe of Westminster Hall where no English Spider webbeth or breedeth to this day Cambrensis in his Itinerarie of Cambria reporteth how that King William standing upon some high rocke in
which cause the Earle of Desmond remained many yeares Deputy to George Duke of Clarence his god-brother but when he had spoken certaine disdainfull words against the late marryage of King Edward with the Lady Elizabeth Gray the said Lady being now Queene caused his trade of life after the Irish manner contrary to sundry old statutes enacted in that behalfe to be sifted examined by Iohn Earle of Worcester his successour Of which treasons he was attaint and condemned and for the same beheaded at Droghedah Iames the father of this Thomas of Desmond being suffered and not controuled during the government of Richard Duke of Yorke his godsip and of Thomas Earle of Kildare his kinsman put upon the Kings subjects within the Countyes of Waterford Corke Kerry and Limericke the Irish impositions of Coyne and Lyverie Cartings carriages loadings cosherings bonnaght and such like which customes are the very nurse and teat of all Irish enormities and extort from the poore tennants everlasting Sesse allowance of meate and money their bodies and goods in service so that their horses and their Galloglashes lye still upon the Farmers eate them out begger the Countrey foster a sort of idle vagabonds ready to rebell if their Lord commaund them ever nusseled in stealth and robberyes These evill presidents given by the Father the sonne did exercise being Lord Deputy to whome the reformation of that disorder especially belonged notwithstanding the same fault being winked at in others and with such rigour avenged in him it was manifestly taken for a quarrell sought and picked Two yeares after the said Earle of Worcester lost his head while Henry the 6. taken out of the towre was set up againe and King Edward proclaymed Vsurper and then was Kildare enlarged whom being likewise attainte they thought also to have ridde and shortly both the Earles of Kildare and Desmond were restored to their bloud by Parliament Sir Rowland Eustace Knight sometimes Treasurer and Lord Chauncellour and lastly Lord Deputye of Ireland founded Saint Frauncis Abbey besides Kilkullen bridge Edward a yeare before his death honoured his yonger son Richard the infant Duke of Yorke with the title of Lieutenant over this Land But his unnaturall Vnkle Richard the Third when hee had murdered the childe and the elder brother called Edward the 5. He then preferred to that Office his ovvne sonne Edward vvhose Deputy was Gerald Earle of Kildare and bare that office a vvhile in Henry the 7. his dayes To whom came the vvylie Priest Sir Richard Symonds presented a lad his scholler named Lambert vvhom he fained to be the son of George Duke of Clarence lately escaped the tovvre of Londō And the child could his pedegree so readily and had learned of the Priest such princely behaviour that he lightly moved the said Earle and many Nobles of Ireland tendering the Seed Royall of Richard Plantagenet and George his sonne as also maligning the advancement of the house of Lancaster in Henry the seventh either to thinke or make the world weene they thought verily this childe to bee Edward Earle of Warwicke the Duke of Clarences lawfull Sonne And although King Henry more then halfe marred their sport in shewing the right Earle through all the streetes of London yet the Lady Margaret Dutchesse of Burgoine sister to Edward the fourth Iohn de la Poole her Nephew the Lord Lovel Sir Thomas Broughton Knight and diverse other Captaines of this conspiracy devised to abuse the colour of this young Earles name for preferring their purpose which if it came to good they agreed to depose Lambert and to erect the very Earle indeed now prisoner in the towre for whose quarrell had they pretended to fight they deemed it likely hee should have beene made away Wherefore it was blazed in Ireland that the King to mocke his subjects had schooled a Boy to take upon him the Earle of Warwickes name and had shewed him about London to blinde the eyes of simple folkes and to defeate the lawfull Inheritour of the good Duke of Clarence their countryman and Protectour during his life to whose linage they also derived a title of the Crowne In all haste they assembled at Divelin and there in Christ-Church they Crowned this Idoll honouring him with titles imperiall feasting and triumphing rearing mighty shoutes and cryes carrying him from thence to the Kings Castle upon tall mens shoulders that he might be seene and noted as he was surely an honourable Boy to looke upon Thereupon ensued the Battle of Stoke wherein Lambert and his Master were taken but never executed the Earle of Lincolne the Lord Lovel Martine Swarte the Almaigne Captaine and Morice Fitz Thomas Captaine of the Irish were slaine and all their power discomfited Iasper Duke of Bedford and Earle of Penbroke Lieutenant and VValter Archbishop of Divelin his Deputy In this time befell another like illusion of Ireland procured from the Dutchesse aforesaid and certaine Nobles of England whereby was exalted as rightfull King of England and undoubted Earle of Vlster the counterfeit Richard Duke of Yorke preserved from King Richards cruelty as his adherents faced the matter downe and with this maygame lord named indeede Peter in scorne Perkin VVarbecke flattered themselves many yeares Then was Sir Edward Poynings Knight sent over Lord Deputy with commission to apprehend his principall partners in Ireland amongst whom was named Gerald Fitz Gerald Earle of Kildare whose purgation the King notwithstanding diverse avouching the contrary did accept After much adoe Perkin taken confessed under his owne hand-writing the course of all his proceedings whereof so much as concerneth Ireland I have heere borrowed out of Halles Chronicles I being borne in Flaunders in the towne of Turney put my selfe in service with a Britton called Pregent Meno the which brought me with him into Ireland and when wee were there arrived in the towne of Corke they of the towne because I was arrayed with some cloathes of silke of my said Masters threeped upon me that I should be the Duke of Clarences sonne that was before time at Divelin and forasmuch as I denyed it there was brought unto me the Holy Evangelists and the Crosse by the Major of the towne called Iohn Lewellin and there I tooke my oath that I was not the said Dukes sonne nor none of his blood After this came to me an English man whose name was Stephen Poytowe vvith one Iohn VValter and svvare to me that they knevv well that I vvas King Richards Bastard sonne to whom I answered vvith like oathes that I vvas not And then they advised me not to be affraide but that I should take it upon me boldly And if I vvould so doe they vvould assist me with all their povver against the King of England and not onely they but they vvere assured that the Earles of Desmond and Kildare should doe the same for they passed not vvhat part they tooke so they might be avenged
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
in his continuing of the Chronicle of Lanquet maketh the same to be Anno Dom. 423. and withall delivereth his conceit that the Scots about this time came first out of Ireland into that country which of them was called Scotland If he had referred it to a further yeere namely when the sixe sonnes of Muredus King of Vlster came to Scotland haply it would have carried some probabilitie but to say that it was the first comming of the Scots into Scotland I doe no more like of it then George Buchanan doth neither doth it concurre with the antiquities precedent or subsequent Cambrensis and Stanihurst doe direct me in this course Here I am to note saith Cambrensis that in the time of Neall Monarch of Ireland the sixe sonnes of Muredus King of Vlster with no small navie possessed the North parts of Britaine whence the nation issuing out of them and by speciall name called Scottish to this day inhabite that northerne angle but upon what occasion they came hither how and by what great treasons rather then voyages they banished the Pictes from those parts a stout nation farre passing them for armes and courage I referre to our Topographie of Britaine Stanihurst addeth this inrode into Albania was a little before the comming of Patricke So that these Noble men of Ireland came into Scotland in the time of Neale and Patricke came into Ireland in the time of Leigerius the sonne of Neale as hereafter more at large shall appeare In the meane time we reade how that Anno 430. according to Functius Celestinus Bishop of Rome sent Palladius into Scotland who was the first that gave them Bishops for unto that time the Churches without Bishops were governed by Monkes with lesse pride and outward pompe but with greater sanctitie and meekenesse of spirit c. I make mention of him for that as our Irish Anonymus and Iocelin doe write he landed in the North parts of Ireland where he hardly escaped with life as it is reported thence he went to the Ilands where he did much good lastly he came to Scotland preached the Gospell rooted out the Pelagian heresie and consecrated them Bishops c. At this time as it is written in the life of Declanus Christian religion first beganne and tooke roote in Ireland not as some have dreamed by Saint Iames the Apostle neither by Saint Patricke whom they terme the Apostle of Ireland The truth of the historie is as followeth There was one Colmannus in Mounster a reverend Priest and the first Christian which I finde upon record in Ireland that baptized one Declanus and delivered him to be brought up unto one Dymna a Christian schoolemaster under whom he profited so much that his fame was spread farre and nigh so that upon good advice and counsaile he travailed to Rome where Celestinus the Pope consecrated him Bishop where also he met with Albaeus a Bishop of Irish birth In his returne from Rome he mette with Patricke in Italie conversed a while with him and being inioyned by Celestinus hastened to Ireland and left Patricke that was bound for Rome Declanus after his arrivall in Ireland came among his owne sept whom mine Author calleth Nandesi and I take to be the ancient house of the Decies not farre from Lismore and there preached the Gospell and converted many to the Christian faith Thither came unto him saith the Legend seven holy men Mocellog Beanus Colmanus Lachuyn Moby Fyndlug and Caminanus they builded them celles conversed together and planted the Christian faith over all Mounster He went to Engus the sonne Nafrygh King of Mounster whose Pallace was in Cassill who gave him leave to preach yet received not the faith the reason of this favour as I finde it was for that Engus had married his mother and had issue by her Colman and Eochard Colman was by Saint Albaeus the Bishop baptized and then received the Ecclesiasticall habite Eochard raigned after his father King of Mounster Saint Declanus took a second iourney to Rome and was reverently entertained by David Bishop of Menevia after the effecting of his businesse he returned into Ireland and arrived in a place called Ard-naciored in Latine Altitudo ovium now called Ardmore the which soile the Lord of Nandesi gave him where goodly buildings have beene and as the record runneth Civitas sancti Declani quae in eo loco posita est vocatur Ardmore id est Altitudo magna Farther in the same Legend I finde Quatuor sanctissimi Episcopi cum suis discipulis fuerunt in Hibernia ante Patricium praedicantes in ea Christū scilicet Albaeus Declanus Ybarus Kyaranus alias Keran hi plures ad Christum rete evangelico traxerunt sed tamen sanctus Patricius Majores Hiberniae potentiores ad fidem convertit In their time Patricke sent from Celestine Bishop of Rome came to Ireland whom these foure Bishops with their followers saluted and seeing Patricke after the humour of humorous people more graced then themselves jarred with him they would not forsooth have any of forraigne nation to patronize the land In the originall it is recorded Ybarus nulla ratione consentire Sancto Patricio nunquam ei subditus esse voluit nolebat enim Patronum Hiberniae de alia gente habere conflictus magnos inter se ipsos Ybarus Patricius fecerunt But afterward by much adoe they were reconciled See gentle reader the infirmitie of men and emulation following the same At Cassill they were reconciled by Engus King of Mounster whom Patricke baptized who after his baptisme founded there the Cathedrall Church in the honour of Saint Patricke made it the Metropolitane See of Mounster and assigned Albaeus the first Bishop there This King held there a Parliament of spirituall and temporall persons of his kingdome ratifying the premisses pacifying all quarrels and yeelding contentment to all sides The Legend reporteth in quo decretum est ut Albaeus secundus Patricius Patronus Mumeniae esset Declanus secundus Patricius Patronus esset Nandeisi Nandeisi sua Diocesis usque ad finem seculi esset Postea sancti Episcopi salutantes benedicentes regem Engusum ad sua in osculo pacis cum spirituali gaudio ad opus Domini seminandum regressi sunt Wherein it was decreed that Albaeus should be a second Patricke and Patron of Mounster and that Declanus should be a second Patricke and Patrone of Nandeisi and that Nandeisi should be his Diocesse to the end of the world After all these holy Bishops saluted and blessed King Engus and in the kisse of peace with spirituall ioy returned every one to his charge to sow the worke of the Lord. Immediately there insued a grievous plague over all Mounster and especially at Cassill which was the death of thousands the manner of it was this first they had the yellow jaundies then they fell
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
of Ireland into Britaine Hect. Boet. Scot. hist. lib. 4. Anno Dom. 53. Polychron lib 1. cap. 1. cap. 37. Io. Harding Chronig Mewinus Flor. hist. Mewinus was also called Melkinus Io. Bale cent 1 cap. 57. wrote his life The stone Regall of Scotland Pol. lib. 1. cap. 58 Ponticus Virunius Io. Bale Script Brytan centur 8 Scotland for Albania from hence forward Anno Dom. 73. Galf. Mon. Booke of Houth Anno Dom. 310 The history of Realmond King of Vlster Duke of Cornewall Castreus the Gyant Sax. Gram. hist. Dan. lib. 7. The Danes come to Ireland The genealogie of Fin Erin or Fin Mac Coyll Eric or Erin what it signifieth Erin or Ireland of whom so called Occasions of the battaile of Fentra Strangers intend the utter subversion of the Irish nation A strange battaile if it be true Gillemore of Thomond revolteth Gillemore returneth The battaile of Fentra The severall garrisons of the Danes Beacons appointed in Ireland by Fin Mac Koill Karbre Lifeacher Monarch of Ireland The insolent devices of the Danes Forces of the Irish and Danes Garrestowne The marshalling of the Danes at the battaile of Ardkath Hol-trase Order of the Kings of Ireland at the field of Ardkath Dermot Lamhdhearg King of Leinster The King of Leinsters speech Osker Mac Oshen his speech Fabian part 6. cap. 198. writeth that the Danes did the like in England The battaile of Ardkath The King of Leinster slaieth the King of Denmarke his sonne The Danes overcome Ferreis a Dane fell madde Fin Mac Coile The Danes disagree in Ireland Fin Mac Coile taketh the King of Denmarke prisoner Overcommeth a Gyant Gorre burneth Fin Mac Coiles house He is killed by his own sonne The end of Fin Mac Coill W. Harrison in the description of Brit. Georg. Buchan veg Scot. lib. 4. H. Boet. Scot. hist. lib. 6. Irish consult how to helpe the Scots against the Romans Conditions of peace between the Romans and Irish. Ponticus Virunius lib. 4. Tho. Cooper Rerum Scot. lib. 5. Cambrensis Stan. in appendice Anno Dom. 430. Prosper in Chro. Palladius Geo. Buchanan â—ey Scot. lib. 5. Iocelin in vita Sancti Patricij cap. 24. Christian faith in Ireland Colmannus and Dymna The life of Saint Declanus Familie of the Decies Engus King of Mounster Ard-naciored i. Altitudo ovium now Ardmore Albaeus Declanus Ybarus Keran Emulation Cassill Church is built and made mother-Church of Mounster A Parliament A great pestilence in Mounster The life of Saint Albaeus King Cronanus of Eliach King Fintan baptized Ymleach or Emley Biga and Bretach Nunnes Nessanus the Antiquarie The life of Saint Kyaranus or Keran Keran the first Bishop of Ossorie Itinerarium Cambriae The life of Saint Ybarus The life of Abbanus the Abbot Saint Finan Saint Becanus Emenus the Abbot Civitas Magarnoid The life of Saint Patricke Anno Christi 422. Iocel in praef ad vitam Patric Sigeb ad an 432. Iohannes Clyn Antiq. Hiber Iohn Bale Scrip. Britt cent 1. 14. Segetius sent with Saint Patrick Saint Patricks works * * Probus lib. 2. of his life mentioneth it S. Patrick buried in Downe Authors that wrote of Saint Pacrick Ioc. in vita Patricis cap. 12. Milcho his daughters are babtized Laigerius Monarch of Ireland withstandeth S. Patr. Saint Pat. prophecie of the Monarch Mocho Bishop of Dune Benignus or Stephanus successour to Saint Patricke A Nunne saith Iocelin was in love with him sent for him to her bed but the signe of the Crosse made all well Erchus or Herkus a Bishop Ioc. cap. 49.51.53.68.69 seq Mac Carly Saint Paâ— sisters Lumianus Bishop of Ahtrum Conallus Lord of Connaght Saint Patricks prophecie of Dublin Dublin beleeveth and is baptized Saint Patricks Well Morguus of Castleknoke Engus and Daris receive Saint Pat. Vrmiunnan or Ormond King Eochu and his daughter baptized Cecubris the first Nunne in Ireland King Conallus and Fergus baptized Saint Pat. in Britaine Pelagians Isle of Man Eocchiad and Dublinia raised from death Dublin whence so called Saint Pat. manner of teaching Iocelin c. 1â—2 Saint Patricks three petitions for Ireland Flor. histor Anton Chron. part 2. tit 11. cap. 18. Saint Patricks workes and labour in Ireland Iocelin cap. 187. Ioc. cap. 164. and 198. Strife for Saint Patricks body The life of Saint Brigide Bernard in vita Malachiae A Synode by Dublin Kildare Bishops of Kildare Scot. hist. lib. 9 Brigides death Saint Darludach Illand King of Leinster The life of Caelius Sedulius Iohannes Bale Script Brit. cent 14. The workes of Caelius Sedulius R. Stan. prefaâ— ad lib. 1. de râ—b Hib. Append. ad cap. 17· The life of Fridelinus Viator Io. Bale script Britanic cent 14. Saint Fekin The life of Saint Modwen Saint Sith the Virgin The reader is not bound to beleeve this Osmanna the Virgin Tathe the Monkeâ— The stones of Salisbury sent for into Ireland Gillomer King of Leinster Stonehenge In praefatione ad hist. Danâ— Io. Harding Gillomer King of Leinster slaine at Saint Davids in Wales Anno Dom. â—25 Homage for Ireland Marogh one of K. Arthurs Knights Rich. Robinson in his bookes of Armes and Archerie Caxton and the booke of Houth Sir Tristram La Bell Isod Marke King of Cornewall married La Bell Isod Iealousie The life of Congellus a Britaine Bangor in Vlster Congellus supposed to be Irish. Altitudo Vltorum now called the Ardeâ—â— Brendans life Saint Fynbarry Lee â—lu Ex officio Sancti Finbarri Columbanus Columba Battaile of Cule-Dreibne Beda Ang hist. lib. 5. cap. 10. 3 Columba Io. Capgrave Columbanus his Irish disciples Deicolus Gallus Ionas a Monke 4 Columb Colmannus and Colme Saint Mochudu The life of Saint Machutus or Maclovius Iles of Aron Io. Bale cent 1. Saint Kentegernus Ruadanus his life Saint Faghua his life Saint Yta the Abbatesse Saint Mocoeinoge Divers learned men Saint Coeingenus Gleand-daloch Dymnach Saint Molva his life Saint Finnian his schoole Luacha mons Synna flu Mount Smoill Divers Bishops and learned men Berua fl The life of Saint Munnu Lazerianus If they were as faâ— in those daies as most of them proved after there would have beene old frying Mount Margee Saint Kenny his life Learned men Kilkenny Saint Kennies Church Saint Maula and her plague Aedanus his life Anmyre King of Connaght Edus or Edanus King of Connaght Brandub King of Leinster Monarch of Ireland Fernes Ferneâ— the Metropolitan See of Leinster King Brandubs death Ferne the buriall place of the Kings of Leinster Warres against Leinster An Epistle from the Divell Bishop Finan Capgrave Martyrologe Abbot Finan Finan of Cluayn jarhaird Colmannus Beda Edelthun and Egbert Colmannus or Colmanellus Eadus the sonne of King Aimireach Carantocus or Cervagh Ireland subiect to the King of England I le of Man Anno Dom. 586 Gurmundâ—â— Dowlinge and Grace Duke of Leinster and Baron of Margee Baron of Sliew Marrig Anno 587. Ireland helpeth the Britaines Ireland helpeth Cadwallin Agilbertus of Ireland the first Bishop of Winchester