Bishops See together with the See of Clumi annexed to it The river both roundeth and runneth through the middest of the towne not passible but by bridges lying in length in one broad street having a bridge over it It is a towne of great resort and populous but formerly subject to the injury of the Rebells which made them keep a carefull watch against them That religious and devout man Brioc who flourished among the Sauls was borne and bred here Below Corke the parting of the river maketh a sweet and pleasant Iland over against the chiefe dwelling house of the Barries called Barry Court derived from Robert de Barry an Englishman who behaved himselfe valiantly in the Irish warres and was the first that manned and brought the Hauke to hand in Ireland he had the title of Baron Barry but after of Vicount Beutiphant The former river empties into the Sea below Barry Court neare Imokelly a faire possession long since of the Earles of Desmond and containes a safe road in the mouth of it As this supplyes the lower part of the country so Black-water called anciently Even-more the great river moystneth the upper part upon which dwelleth the Noble familie of Roeh who went out of England and flourished there and enjoyed the title of Vicount Fermoy and were Parliament Barons in Edward the 2. time Yoghall standeth on this rivers mouth a Major town nor great but walled about builded in length and divided into two parts the upper reacheth Norwest and hath a Church in it and the lower part Southwest the commodiousnesse of the Key makes it much frequented by Merchants The County of Waterford lyeth in the East side of Ireland stretching out it self between the rivers Broadwater West and Shour East the Main on the South and Tipperary Norwest both delightsome and very profitable When Broadwater hath out-run the County of Cork behinde it Lismore presently sheweth it self an Episcopall See where Christian once sate that was of the same Cloyster with Saint Bernard and Pope Eugenius but now annexed unto Waterford The Lumly's are Vicounts of Waterford At the mouth of which river standeth Aidmore a small town so called because it standeth near the Sea Not far from hence standeth Dungarvan having a strong hold of good force It is a Tide-haven 8 leagues from Waterford full of rocks and deep within the harbour Vicount Dessee together with the Barony of Dungarvan King Henry the sixth granted to Iohn Talbut Earl of Shrewsbury but afterward seeing it lay conveniently to that part of Mounster that was to bee brought under and reduced into order it was by a Parliament annexed to the Crown of England On the side of the river Shour Waterford the principall City of this County maketh a fair shew the Irish and Britains call it Porthlargie the English Waterford 37 leagues from Englands end It was built by certain Pirats of Norway the ayr is grosse and unhealthy the soil not fertile the streets pent and narrow yet by reason of the commodiousnesse of the harbour which is fair and wide 10 or 11 fathom deep going in it is much frequented and of great resort driving a quick trade so that it is esteemed the second City in the Kingdom and hath continued alwaies true and loyall to the Crown of England ever since Richard Earl of Pembroke wan it first and hath received many favours and priviledges from the Kings of England for their good services And Henry the seventh augmented them much for their discreet carriage of themselves against the mock-Prince Perkin Warbeck who counterfeited Richard the third under which colour he couzened a great Peer of Scotland of his fair daughter This County of Waterford together with the City King Henry the sixth gave unto Iohn Talbut Earl of Shrewsbury But by reason of wars in France and the civil dissentions between the houses of York and Lancaster the Kings of England were busied and the Nobles so intangled in those broils that they could not intend the affairs of Ireland so that the Irish grew very insolent and powerfull So that in the 28 year of H. 8. though the fault were committed long before his dayes yet for punishment by Act of Parliament it was ordered That the heirs of many Noblemen as the Earl of Shrewsbury Ormond the Duke of Norfolk and Baron Barkley and all the Abbots and Priors for they were all found liable to this punishment with the rest should forfeit all their lands and demeans in Ireland into the Kings hands for such neglect and absence The County of Limrick is an inland County lying behinde that of Cork Northward between Kerry the river Shanon and the County of Tipperary a very fruitfull and populous place but not eminent for any thing of note The Western part of it is called Conilagh wherein there is Knoc Patrick a very high hill from whence there is a pleasant prospect into the Sea where you may see how Shanon fals in to the Virginian The head City is Limrick which Shanon by parting begirteth round the Irish call it Loumeagh and the English Limrick it is a chief Market-town of Mounster and the See of a Bishop and at this day called two Towns the upper wherein stands the Cathedrall Church and a Castle and hath two gates and each of them a stone Bridge with bulwarks the one leading into the West the other into the East unto which the lower Town joyneth fenced with a wall and a Castle thereto and a fore-gate at the entrance into it Lord Esmond is Baron of Limrick In the South of this County is Kilmallo the next Town to Limrick both in substance and inhabitants incompassed likewise with a wall Vicount Sarsfield of Kilmallo Not far off standeth Adare a little Town hard unto which lyeth Elan Gibbon where dwelt the White-Knight so called for his gray hairs The other inhabitants of note are the Lacyes Browns Hâ—rlyes Chacyes Sapells and Pourcells all of English race also the Mac Shee s Mac Brian O Brien of Irish blood The County of Tipperary is bounded Westward with Limrick and the river Shanon Eastward with the County of Kilkenny with the County of Corke and Waterford southward and North with the territories of the O Carolls The south-part hath much corne and many beautifull buildings and the river Glason runneth with a large course thorow the West-part of it not farre from whose bankes stands Emly or Awn a Bishops See thorow the middest of it glideth that goodly river Shour or Swire which issuing out of Bladin hills hasteth thorow the lower Ossery of which Hen. 8. dignified the Butlers with the title of Earles and thorow Thurles which honoureth the same Family with the dignity of Vicounts and so goeth into Holy-crosse termed the County of the Holy-crosse of Tipp Then Shour goeth besides Cassile honoured with the dignity of an Arch-bishop by Eugenius third Pope of Rome from thence runneth the River down Shreading Ilands here and there and fetcheth a round about Cahir
for his pleasure Turgesius hearing that wished these Damsels Cupids wings for their more speedy arrivall But the other attired certaine young men of courage in womens apparell and had them conducted into the Kings Chamber from whence all his attendance were commanded but when hee expected more kinde embraces hee was suddenly slaine in the place so the Norwegians were destroyed and the Irish enjoyed their estate untill the yeere 1172. When Dermet Maâ— Morck King of Lemster having forced the wife of Maâ—rice O Rork King of Meth a light woman and with consent by whose husband the other was pursued so eagerly with the revenging sword that hee was driven to quite his Kingdome of Lemster and fly to England for succour to Henry the Second who very willingly entertained this occasion who had long sought occasion of getting Ireland Yet not willing to entertain it at the first in person being not a matter of that consequence for himself to undertake He gave Dermot licence to draw-what power of Voluntiers he could into that action Who applyed himself to Wales where he found a valiant Gentleman of Norman Race one Robert Fitz Stephen who willingly undertook the service with some Voluntiers whose happy and good successe caused Richard Earle of Pembroke called Strong-bow being the principall man invited by Dermot and that with the promise of his daughter and Kingdome in marriage the Earle himselfe with two hundred men at arms and a thousand other Souldiers who arrived in the Bay of Waterford 1171 and presently marched towards the town of Waterford and took it by force the next day to the exceeding terrour of that Nation Dermot then accomplishes the match giving the Earle his daughter Eva with which Ring of Mariage he affianced that Island unto this Kingdome for hee went on with such resolutions that hee in little space subdued much of Ireland Which news being carried unto Henry the Second hee made hast over thither that hee might have the glory of the Conquest and seemed to be displeased with the Earle for his forwardnesse and his rigorous using of that people recalling all from thence under pain of confiscation of their goods in England but the King seemed somewhat appeased before his going over which was 1172 at which time landing at Waterford hee imprisoned Robert Fitz Stephen as having gone over without his leave but not long after released him but took Weiford and other Territories from him Thus did hee receive the homage of divers Irish petty Kings willing to obtain them by gentle means And keeping his Christmasse there in great state and setling the Government of the Church hee is unexpectedly called into England leaving Hugh Lacy at Dublin Who in ensuing time rebelled and were brought under by King John who was the first that planted English Laws and Officers in Ireland and both annexed that Kingdome and fastned Wales to the Crown of England and was the first who enlarged the Royall style with Lord of Ireland In the yeere 1339 there was a generall warre betweene the English and Irish wherein many of the Irish perished after which time matters were quiet untill the eighteenth yeere of Richard the Second being 1400. Who went over then with a great Army but having accepted of the Rebels submission he returned into England during whose time and till the civill warres in England all matters were setled and composed without any charge or assistance out of this Kingdome But in the time of the wars between York and Lancaster wherein many Noble Families were quite extinguished in England many English came out of Ireland either to take part of possession of some inheritances which fell unto them by the death of their friends So they have but small regard of what they leave behind in Ireland The meere Irish rushed on the forsaken lands so that growing rich and proud they began to kick against authority willing to cast off the English yoke and the English Pale had its limits sometime more and sometimes lesse according as they were able to mayntaine But when those civill discords were blown over and all things became calme by the good successe of Henry the Seventh and leasure afforded to look towards Ireland which then harboured a Rebell against him one Perkin Warbeck who connterfeited himself Richard the Third but was suppressed by the sending over of 1000 men Again Henry the eighth sent over 500 souldiers to suppresse the Geraldines of English Race Afterward all peaceable untill Queene Elizabeths time when they saw themselves out of hope to plant Popish Superstition in any of her Dominions Then Religion never untill that age became the cloake for Rebellion and the Roman Locusts the incendiaries of Christendome to mayntaine the Popes usurped authority breathed every where fire and sword and worse against her sacred person and Dominions And taking advantage of the blinde zeale of the ignorant Irish unto Popery working on their variable condition Boulstering up their hopes and hearts with that old saying He that will England win must at Ireland first begin By which means they raised two dangerous Rebellions in that Country By the Earle of Desmond one 1578 the other of Tyrone about 1590 plotting and intending although it brake not out till afterward This Gerald Earle of Desmond of English Race whose Progenitours had done good service against the Irish and borderers of Wales in the behalfe of the English King had the Earldome of Kildare given them and Earles of Desmond by Edward the Third But in Henry the Eighth's days one of them being Lord Deputy and questioned for his ill government on which occasion Thomas Fitz Gerald his sonne took armes but was soon suppressed himselfe and five of his Uncles being taken and executed Queen Mary restored the Family to honour and estate But after Gerald Earle of Desmond 1578 rebelled against Queene Elizabeth unto whose aide came certaine bands of Italians and Spaniards sent by Pope Gregory the twelfth and Philip King of Spaine who landed at Swirâ—ic and built a Fort called Del ore wherein they were besieged by Arthur Grey Lord Deputy of Ireland soone taken and put to the sword And the Earle of Desmond flying into the Woods being betrayed by his own followers and his head cut off So this fire soon vanished into smoake and the Earldome by Parliament annexed to the Crowne and made a County with Sheriffs appointed yeerly to be chosen by the Lord Deputy Upon the Attainder of this Earle and his Confederates much land fell unto the Crown viz. 574628 acres English mesure wherof great part was restored to the offenders the rest divided into Signories was granted by Letters Patents unto certaine Knights and Esquires English who were called Undertakers In Kerry and Desmond by Patent to Knights 30560 Acres with yeerly rents 524 pounds six shillings and eight peace sterling In Limrick by Patent to Knights and Esquites and to their heirs were granted 96165 Acres with rents nine hundred thirty three pounds foure shillings half
A Geographicall DESCRIPTION Of the Kingdom of IRELAND According to the 5 Provinces and 32 Counties together with the Stations Creeks and Harbours belonging thereto fit for Gentlemen Souldiers and Sea-men to acquaint themselves withall As also Declaring the Right and Titles of the Kings of England unto that Kingdom Likewise Setting down a brief Relation of the former Rebellions and of their suppression especially that in Q. Elizabeths time by Tyrone whence many matters worth observing may be collected usefull for this present Service By a Well-willer to the peace of both Kingdoms London Printed by I. R. for Godfrey Emerson and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Swan in Little-Britain 1642. To the Reader Courteous Reader MAny have lately cast their Treasure do thou cast thine Eye upon distressed Ireland 't will be a way to shew thy Charity without any great venture Or if thou be in the number of Adventurers when thou shalt have read this thou wilt count thy part ensur'd The Advantage Knowledge and Delight thou mayst reap by it I referre to thine own apprehension and judgement Assuring thâ—e thou need'st not fear to engage thy purse in the survey of that Countrey where so good a King was willing to engage His Person Such is the engagement of Thy Friend and Well-wisher G. N. A Geographicall DESCRIPTION Of the Kingdom of IRELAND BEing in the North of England and desirous to passe into the Kingdom of Ireland and not willing to go more Northward although from Galloway in Scotland which Bede terms Candida casa the Vulgar White-herne there be but a short cut yet more willing to go the nearest way to Westchester but not finding the winde fair at my coming I travell'd along to Saint Davis in Pembroke-shire whence I had a speedy passage into Ireland but somewhat dangerous by reason of the sands and shelves which lye off into the sea but our putting into harbour worse because of the continuall mists that hang over the low flat land so that our Pilot could hardly discern his marks There are many fair Ports and Harbours for Ships on the East and South sides of what I shall speak in the Description of the particular Counties Concerning the names of severall Nations and Men they have their severall conceits it is known by the name Ireland to us It is an ancient Iland and not of little esteem in regard of the greatnesse of it being accounted the third Iland anciently known in the habitable world by good Geographers who say That of all Ilands for greatnesse the Indian Taprobane is chief the next after it is Britain and in a third degree another British Iland called Hibernia that is Ireland so that Ptolomie called it Little-Britain The situation is under the 10 and 12 Climats in Longitude extending 4 Degrees from the Meridian of 11 Degrees and half And the Latitude reacheth 4 Degrees from the paralel of 54 to that of 58 Degrees The Inhabitants are divided by the name of Wilde-Irish and the English Irish living in the English Pale where the English at their first going over did inclose themselves Formerly it was divided into 5 Kingdoms now Provinces namely Mounster lying Southward Lemster Eastward Connagh in the West Ulster in the North and Meth in the midst almost From North to South in length 400 miles in bredth 200 miles MOunster in Latine Mamonia the Irish Mown containeth 6 Counties besides the County of Holy crosse in Typperary the first is Kirry which lyeth near the mouth of the River Shannon and runneth out narrow at the entrance but towards the Sea with a broader promontory imbraced by the Sea on both sides A Countrey mountanous woody and wild loftily looking into the Ocean in which are many fruitfull fields and pleasant vallyes beset thick with woods A County Palatine granted to the Earle of Desmond by the speciall favour of Edward the third but being often ingratefull in their rebellious treasons and rebellions lost it Towards the Sea there is a territory called Clanmorris not farre off standeth Ardart a See of a poor Bishop called Ardfert Towards the South of this runneth a faire River named Dingle a commondious Port on the other side named Smirwick-sound or St. Marywick where the Spanyards to ayde the rebellious Earle of Desmond 1583. set footing Desmond Desmonia in Irish Deswown lyeth largely stretched out towards the South in which are three high promontories over-topping the Sea and contemning his proud waves running out into the South-west called west-Mounster The first promontory lyeth between Dingle-bay and the River Maire and is called Clan-car and hath a Castle built at Dunkeran by the Carews of England in it dwelt Donel mac Carty more a L of the Irish bloud The second lyeth inclosed within two bayes Maire and Bantre named Bear-haven This for the most part is a leane barren hungry soyle in which lived O Swillivant Beare and O Swillivant Bantre both of the same stock and high bloud in their Countrey The third called Eraugh situate between Bantre and Balatamore or Baltamore a bay or creeke famous for the multitude of Herrings that are taken there in this the O Mahouns by the gift of the Carews have large possessions the Calverts Lord Baltimort the South promontory called of the ancients Notium is at this day called Missen-head the Feildings are Earls of Desmond and Vicounts Callon The County of Corke anciently reputed a Kingdome contayning the whole space a long the Sea from Lismore unto St. Brend where it headeth Desmond westward in the bowells whereof lyeth Muskery a wild Forrest where Cormac mac xeg it is a great name and towards the Sea coast lyeth Carkray in which the mac Curties have the greatest power There lyeth towards the South Sea a Port and road anciently of good safegard for Shipps but by reason of a barre in the mouth of it it falls dry at the ebb and is now of little use it lyeth four leagues westward from the out-point of Kinsale Betweene Rosse and Kinsale there lyeth a small Iland in the Sea called Roem which may be fayled about having ten fathome water between that and the mayne three leagues from hence lieth cape de velho or Old-head from whence to England end is 46 leagues it is a high point reaching forth into the Sea from whence about a quarter of a league South-west lieth the mouth of the Haven of Kinsale a very commodious Port 10 and 15. fathome going in and 4 or 5 to the very towne which lieth up in the mouth of the river Bany in a fruitfull Soyle furnished with wood and other commodities Lord Courâ—y is Baron of Kinsale On the other side of Kinsale lyeth Kerry wherry a small territory once belonging to the E. of Desmond right before which lyeth the river Sauranus or Severanus which fetcheth its first originall from the mountaine of Muskerry and going along by the head city of the county Corke by the Irish Corcach honoured with a