TWO HISTORIES OF IRELAND The one written by Edmund Campion the other by Meredith Hanmer D r of Divinity DUBLIN Printed by the Society of Stationers M.DC.XXXIII els-where these Histories doe affoord to the knowledge of former times and the good use which may be made of them by any who have leisure desire and ability to erect and polish a lasting structure of our Irish affaires I am embouldned to present them to your Lordships patronage whose government I beseech the Almighty so to blesse that it may bee a long happines to this land Your Lordships ever humbly at commandement IAMES WARE THE PREFACE TO THE SVBSEQVENT HISTORIES WHat varietie of choyse matter the affaires of this Kingdome doe affoord to an Historian especially since the middle of the raigne of King Henry the VIII any one that is but meanely versed in our Histories can testifie But if we consider how little hath hetherto bin published wee cannot but blame the slownes of our learned men who have for by-respects forborne to take paines in so worthy a subject England hath had the happines that some parts of her Historie have bin lately excellently performed by the right honorable Francis late Viscount St. Alban the right Reverend Francis Lo Bishop of Hereford the most learned William Camden and others Some will hereafter I hope doe the like for Ireland In the meane while we are to accept of these tastes the one left unto us by Edmund Campion and the other by Doctor Hanmer who died of the plague at Dublin in the yeare M.DC.IIII before he had finished his intended worke out of whose collections what now beareth his name hath bin preserved by our most Reverend and excellently learned Primate Other helpes to passe by those which are already divulged may be plentifully had by him who will undertake this taske out of the auncient and moderne recordes both in this Kingdome and in England as also out of diverse manuscript Annales and Chartularies which are yet extant among us besides those authors of English birth as Iohn VVallingford a Monke of St Alban Thomas Wike a Canon of Osney and others which I have seene in that excellent library and treasury of MSS. antiquities gathered by Sir Robert Cotton knight and Baronett deceased who doe onely obiter touch upon our affaires An intention there was not long since by Sir Iames Ley knight then Lord chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench in Ireland afterwards Lord high Treasurer of England and Earle of Marleburgh to have published some of our country writers in this kinde for which end hee caused to be transcribed and made fit for the Presse the Annales of Iohn Clynne a Friar minor of Kilkenny who lived in the time of King Edw. the 3. the Annales of the Priory of S. Iohn the Evangelist of Kilkenny and the Annales of Multifernan Rosse and Clonmell c. But his weighty occasions did afterwards divert his purpose The copies are yet preserved and I hope ere long with other Annales and fragments of the same nature will be divulged Wee come now to the Authors in hand TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE ROBERT DUDLEY Baron of Denbigh Earle of Leicester Knight of the noble Order of the garter and S. Michaels Master of the Queenes Majesties horse and one of her Privy Councell high Chauncellour of the Vniversity of Oxford my singular good Lord. THat my travaile into Ireland might seeme neither causlesse nor fruitlesse I have thought it expedient being one member of your Lordships honorable charge to yeeld you this poore book as an accompt of my poore voyage happily not the last nor the most beautifull present that is intended to your Honour by me but surely more full of unsavoury toyle for the time then any plot of worke that ever I attempted which I write not of vanity to commend my diligence but of necessitie to excuse mine imperfection For whereas it is well knowne to the learned in this land how late it was ere I could meet with Gerald of Wales the onely Author that ministreth some indifferent furniture to this Chronicle and with what search I have beene driven to piece out the rest by helpe of forreine Writers incidently touching this Realme by a number of briefe extracts of rolles records and scattered papers These things I say considered I trust this little volume shall seeme great enough in such barren shift my defect in penning the same shal be imputed partly to my haste who must needes have ended all before I should leave the land and am now even upon point of my departure So as to handle and lay these things together I had not in all the space of ten weekes Such as it is I addresse and bequeath it to your good Lordship for two causes First that by the patronage of this Booke you may be induced to weigh the estate and become a patron to this noble Realme which claimeth kindred of your eldest auncestors and loveth entirely your noble vertues The fame whereof is now carried by those strangers that have felt them into many forraine countryes that never saw your person Secondly because there is none that knoweth mee familiarly but he knoweth vvithall how many vvayes I have beene beholding to your Lordship The regard of your deserts and of my duty hath easily wonne at my hands this testimony of a thankefull minde I might be thought ambitious if I should recount in particular the times places of your severall curtesies to mee How often at Oxford how often at the Court how at Rycot how at Windsore how by letters hovv by reportes you have not ceased to further with advice and to countenance with authority the hope and expectation of mee a single Student Therefore in summe it shall suffice mee to acknowledge the generall heape of your bounties and for them all to serve your honour frankely at least wise with a true heart Let every man esteeme in your state and fortune the thing that best contenteth and feedeth his admiration But surely to a judgement setled and rectified these outward felicities which the world gazeth on are there and therefore to be denied praiseable when they lodge those inward qualities of the minde which saving for suspition of flattery I was about to say are planted in your breast Thirteene yeares to have lived in the eye and speciall credit of a Prince yet never during all that space to have abused this ability to any mans harme to be enriched with no mans overthrow to be kindled neither with grudge nor emulation to benefit an infinite resort of dayly sutors to let downe your calling to the neede of meane subjects to retaine so lowly a stomacke such a facility so milde a nature in so high a vocation to undertake the tuition of learning and learned men These are indeede the kirnels for the which the shell of your nobilitie seemeth faire and sightly This is the sap for whose preservation the barke of your noble tree is tendered This is
understood this hee was more waspish and moved with the countenance of the sonnes then with the former iniury of the father and turning him to the King spake aloud what I have said I have said what I have written I have written never to be blotted out To be short the Bishop with great sorrow departed and in bitternesse prophecied of the ill successe of the children who dyed and lived in great honour all the dayes of their lives but these matters we are to referre to the secret iudgement of God After the decease of these five brethren five Earles and five Princes of Leinster leaving no issue behinde them the five daughters their sisters Ioane Mathilda Isabell Sibilla and Eva being honourably matched had their fathers and brethrens possessions and territories in Ireland orderly divided amongst them Ioane the eldest daughter of William Earle Marshall and eldest sister of the five brethren before spoken of was married to Warren de Mountchensen who in right of her had allotted unto him the County of Wexford they had issue one daughter Ioane that was married Anno 1247. to William de Valence a Norman the sonne of Hugh Brune Earle of March and Turryn Vicount of Curce c. hee was halfe brother to King Henry the third by Queene Isabell daughter and heire of Amerie Earle of Angolesm the widdow of King Iohn This William in the right of his wife was Earle of Penbroke and Lord of Wexford and died Anno 1296. he had issue two sonnes and two daughters William de Valence Owdomare alias Aimer de Valence Isabell and Ioane William succeeded his father in the Earldome of Penbroke and Lordship of Wexford and died without issue Aymer his brother after him was Earle of Penbroke and Lord of Wexford and died without issue whereupon the inheritance fell to the two sisters Isabell and Ioane Isabell was married to Iohn Hastings Lord Hastings of Abergevenny who in the right of his wife had one halfe of the county of Wexford allotted unto him and had issue Elizabeth which married Reynold Lord Gray of Ruthin Ioane the second sister was married to Iohn Lord Comyn who in her right had the other halfe of Wexford and he had issue two daughters Elizabeth and Ioane Elizabeth married Richard Lord Talbot and Ioane was married to David Earle of Atholl in Scotland and thus the County of Wexford was divided Mathilda or Mawde the second daughter of William Earle Marshall of England had the county of Cattelough alias Carlogh assigned unto her she was married to Hugh Bigod Earle of Norfolke father of Ralph Bigod whose daughter and heire Isabell was married to Sir Gilbert Lacy who had issue Margery and Mawd Margery was married to Iohn Lord Verdon of whom the Earle of Shrewesbury and the Earle of Essex are descended Mawd married Ieffery Genivill father to Peter Genivill whose daughter and heire was married to Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore and the first Earle of March Isabell the third daughter of William Earle Marshall of England had to her portion the county of Kilkenny She was married to Sir Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester and Herford whose discent is before spoken of Hee was slaine by the Scots in King Edward the seconds time and died without issue I have seene a Charter granted by him to the towne of Kilkenny Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester and Herford to our Seneshall of Kilkenny and to our treasurer of the same greeting know you that we for the common profit of the towne of Kilkenny of our especiall favour have granted to our loving Burgesses of the same towne c. the whole in substance is that none shall sell victuals there but it shall be prized by the officers of our towne After the decease of Sir Gilbert Clare then the Earledomes of Glocester and Herford and the County of Kilkenny fell betweene his three sisters begotten upon Isabell aforesaid to wit Elenor Margaret and Elizabeth Elenor was married to Hugh Spencer the younger Margaret was married to Peter Gaveston and after his death to Hugh Lord Audely Elizabeth was married first to William Lord Burgh Earle of Vlster the second time to Ralph Roch Baron of Farmoy thirdly to Theobald Lord Verdon and lastly to Roger Damary and had issue by every one of them Sibilla the fourth daughter of William Earle Marshall had to her part the Countie of Kildare and was married to William Ferers Earle of Ferers and Darby who had issue Agnes Isabell Mathilda Sibilla Cecilia and a second Sibill Agnes was married to VVilliam de Vescy who had issue Iohn de Vescy who had issue VVilliam de Vescy that died without issue in his fathers life time Lastly this County of Kildare was given by the King unto Iohn Fitz Thomas the first Earle of Kildare as hereafter in more convenient place shall appeare Eva the first daughter of VVilliam Earle Marshall had to her portion the Mannor of Dounmas in Leix and was married to VVilliam Bruse Lord Bruse of Gower who had issue Mathilda Elenor and Eva. Mathilda was married to Roger Mortimer Elenor was married to Humphery de Bohun Earle of Herford and Eva to Cantilupe alias VVilliam de Canlow Of the line of these Maxfields I meane of VVilliam Earle Marshall of England the pedigree discent of this Noble familie the properties and purports holds of the daughters I have seene sundry copies Nicholas Magwir Bishop of Leighlen perfected an abstract of the division of the land in Ireland among the daughters and the paritcularities thereof which is to be seene in the red towne-booke of Kilkenny and now forwards with the history from whence I have somewhat digressed Anno 1190. in which yeere the Citie of Dublin by foule mishap was fired to ashes King Richard set all in a readinesse for his iourney into the holy land gathered masses of money together and among others it is remembred what a summe of money he received of Hugh Pudsey a Norman and Bishop of Durham that gave an inestimable summe to be made an Earle whom the Antiquaries doe condemne for his intolerable pride and damnable covetousnesse whom the King also flowted after hee had received the coyne saying Loe I have made a young Earle of an old Bishop In this voyage and preparation for the recovery of Ierusalem and the ayde of the Christians in Asia there went Fredericke Emperour of Almaine Richard King of England Philip of France VVilliam of Cicilia Otho Duke of Burgundie the Venetians Pisanes Frisones Danes and Flemings Now that the King is on his iourney abroad let us talke a little gentle Reader of little Iohn at home Stanihurst leads me into the history and reporteth that Anno 1189. he came into Ireland and sojourned at Dublin the storie goeth and especially in Hector Boetius and Iohn Major Antiquaries of Scotland how that in those daies there were many outlawes in the North parts of England of these outlawes Robin Hood and little Iohn were Chiefetaines It was said of
the childe first into Scotland then into France and misdoubting the French into Italy vvhere Cardinall Pole his neere kinsman preserved him till the raigne of Edward the sixt vvith vvhom hee entred into high favour and obtayned of him his olde Inheritance of Meinothe Lastly by meanes of the said Cardinall and Sir Anthony Browne Lord Mountague whose sister hee marryed a woman worthy of such a brother Queene Mary Founder and restorer of many Noble houses repealed his attainder and set him in his fathers Earledome wherein since that time he hath shewed himselfe sundry wayes officious and serviceable towards his Common-wealth and the Crowne of England beside other good qualities of honour and curtesie they repute him heere for the best horseman in these parts of Christendome With this escape of yong Fitz Gerald the Lord Leonard Gray his Vncle on the mothers side was held suspect the same was one speciall article urged against him when hee lost his head Anno 1542. Sir VVilliam Skevington a vvorthy Governour and among all vertues very just of his vvord deceased Lord Deputy at Kilmaynam the Lord Leonard Gray succeeded him Oneale and Odonill colourably required a parley vvith the Deputy but in the vvay as they rode they burned the Navan and the tovvne of Ardee Wherefore the Deputy vvith the helpe of the Maior of Divelin Iames Fitz Symonds and the Maior of Droghedagh and the English pale met them flighted them slevv 400. of their trayne and there the Maior of Divelin for notable service in that journey vvas knighted Sir Anthony Seintleger Knight of the Garter Lord Deputy He summoned a Parliament vvherein the Geraldines vvere attainted Abbeyes suppressed the King named supreme head and King of Ireland because he recognized no longer to hold it of the Pope At this Parliament appeared Irish Lords Mac Gilpatricke Lord Barry Mac Cartimore O-Brene and diverse more vvhom follovved Con Oneale submitting himselfe to the Kings Deputy and after to the King himselfe vvho returned him richly plated created him Earle of Tyrone his base sonne Matthew Oneale Baron of Donganon As for Shane Oneale the onely sonne of his body mulier begotten hee vvas then little esteemed and of no proofe The same time Iames Earle of Desmond came to the King and vvas of him both Princely entertained and revvarded CAP. X. Edward the 6. Mary and Elizabeth BEfore the decease of Henry the 8. Seintleger was twice in England leaving at both times Sir VVilliam Brabason Lord Iustice. In his second returne An. 1546. Sir Edward Bellingham Captaine generall landed at Waterford and skowred the coast where Omore and Ocomore used to prey This yeare the city of Divelin obtained a Charter for two Sheriffes in stead of Bayliffes The Geraldines Out-lawes were taken and executed Bellingham appointed Lord Deputye erected a Mint within the Castle of Divelin which quickely wearyed them for want of fuell Andrew Brereton with 300. horsemen and 40. footemen inhabited the North as farre as Lecale where hee with 35. horsemen gave the charge upon 240. Scotts that from the out Islandes came to succour the Irish and wasted the Countrey In one yeare hee cleered those quarters that the Kings subiects might passe in peace Sir Frauncis Bryan the Kings Mynion was left Lord Iustice vvhile Bellingham repayred into England vvhere he dyed a man made up by service in the vvarres by continuall toyle therein diseased and feebled but of courage a lyon to his dying day true as steele as farre from flattery as from hearing flatterers an exceeding fervent Protestant very zealous and carefull in tendring the vvealth of Ireland vvherein the countrey giveth him the praise over all his predecessours and successours vvithin memory he spent his vvhole allovvance in hospitality calling the same his deare Masters meate none of his ovvne cost Letters commendatory offered him by the Councell vvhen Brian had vvrought his trouble before the nobility of England hee rejected as vaine and superfluous professing that if of his owne innocencie he could not uphold him hee would never seeke other shift then Credo resurrectionem mortuorum for quoth he well they may kill mee but they shall never conquer mee Sowre he was and thundering in words indeed very temperate applyed himselfe altogether to severity Lordlinesse and terrour Brian dyed within sixe weekes and Brabason became Lord Iustice till Saintleger the fourth time was sent over Deputye To him crept Mac Cartye that had lately roved and denyed his obedience with an halter about his necke and got his pardon Vpon Saintleger came Sir Iames Croftes of whose bounty and honourable dealing towards them they yeeld at this day a generall good report Crofts tarryed in office two yeares and left Sir Thomas Cusack who dyed five houres before the writing heereof and Gerald Ailmer while they both were coursing Oneale from Dundalke Queene Mary established in her Crowne committed her government once more to Saintleger whom sundry Noblemen pelted and lifted at till they shouldered him quite out of all credite He to be counted forward and plyable to the taste of King Edward the sixt his raigne rymed against the Reall Presence for his pastime and let the papers fall where Courtiers might light thereon vvho greatly magnified the pith and conveyance of that noble sonnet But the originall of his own hand-vvriting had the same firmely though contrary to his ovvne Iudgement vvandering in so many hands that his adversary caught it and tripped it in his vvay the spot vvhereof he could never vvipe out Thus vvas he removed a discreete Gentleman very studious of the State of Ireland enriched stout enough vvithout gall While the Deputy staggered uncertaine of continuance the Tooles and the Cavenaghes vvaxed cockish in the Countie of Divelin rangeing in flockes of seven or eight score on vvhom set forth the Marshall and the Sheriffes of Divelin Buckley and Gygen vvith the citties helpe and over-layde them in sudden skirmishes of which threescore were executed for example Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Deputy with whom came his Brother in law Sir Henry Sidney Treasurer This Deputy to the inestimable benefite of the Realme brought under obedience the disordered countreyes of Leix Slewmarge Ofalie Irrye and Glinmalire then late possessed by the Oconnore Omores Odempsyes and other Irish rebels Hee molested Iames Mac Conell the Scottish Islander that in those dayes joyned with the Irish and disquieted Vlster In which voyage Divelin assisted the Governour with a faire company conducted by Iohn Vsher Sheriffe and Patrick Buckley He held a Parliament wherein it was made high Treason to retaine Scots for souldiours and fellony to contract with them matrimony At his returne from England in which time Sir Henry Sidney vvas Lord Iustice hee pursued the Scots to their Ilands and there entred did them much skathe vvanne himselfe full great commendation of hardinesse sayled backe vvith the glory of that adventure vvherein I trovv tvvo more
of his matches are not remembred nor read With the nevves of Maryes death hee crossed the seas againe into England leaving Sir Henry Sidney Lord Iustice and yet againe the next yeare leaving Sir VVilliam Fitzwilliams Lord Iustice then returned he Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by Proclamation reformed and abated their base Coyne being as yet perfect in all the proportions measures allayes and values thereof as by mintanor tooke vvith him souldiours out of Divelin victualled for sixe vveekes at that citties charge under the leading of Petaboghe Sheriffe and joyning him to his povver vvent upon Shane Oneale the Irish enemy of greatest force then living Thereupon Shane hyed him into England the Lieutenant after him Fitz VVilliams Lord Iustice till Sussex sped his businesse and came backe the next and last time of his departure Sir Nicholas Arnold directed thither vvith Commission tarryed behinde him Lord Iustice and too short a vvhile as the country speaketh vvho testifieth his upright and reasonable provision of household cates the abuses whereof with sesse and souldiours doe so impoverish and alienate the needie Farmors from us that they say they might as easily beare the Irish oppressions of Conies Cuddies from which we pretend to deliver them Arnold for his better successe in government linked himselfe entirely with Gerald Earle of Kildare who likewise endeavoured to support the same with all diligence being authorized to straine the rebells at his discretion wherefore hee disposed himselfe to serve and presented the Governour many times with a number of principall Out-lawes heades In the meane while Sussex became Lord President of the North of England a spare man of body but sound healthfull brought up with Stephen Gardiner passing valiant a deep reacher very zealous in friendship quicke in resolution of extremities in the field wonderfull patient able to tyre ten souldiours learned and languaged ever doing with his penne of utterance sharpe and sententious wary busie painefull and speedie meeter to rule then to be over-ruled Sir Henry Sidney Knight of the Garter Lord President of Wales and Lord Deputie of Ireland Hee found the Realme distempered vvith Oneales rebellion and the same did extinguish vvhereof before I speake I must looke backe a little into certaine yeares past and lay together the circumstance of this lamentable tumult Of all the Irish Princes though none vvas then comparable to Oneale for antiquity and noblenesse of bloud yet had the same endured sundry varieties and vexations untill the divion began in England of the tvvo royall families Yorke and Lancaster at vvhich time the English Lords of Ireland either for zeale or for kinred and affection transporting their force thither to vphold a side the meere Irish vvaxed insolent and chiefly Oneale incroched upon the full possession of Vlster abiding so uncontrolled till Shane Oneale fearing the puissance of Henry 8. exhibited to him a voluntary submissiō surrendred all titles of honour received at his hands the Earledome of Ter-owen commonly called Tirone to be held of the King of English forme and tenure Armes he gave the bloody hand a terrible cognizance This Oneale had two sonnes Matthew a bastard and Shane legitimate but because Matthew was a lusty horseman welbeloved and a tryed Souldiour Shane but a Boy and not of much hope the father obtained the Barony of Donganon and the remainder of his Earledome to Matthew When Shane and his foster brethren grew to yeares they considered of the injury and tyranny done by policie of the base Oneale with rearing hue and cry at the side of a Castle where he lay that night when the Gentleman ran suddainely forth to answere the cry as the custome is they betrayed and murdered him The father not utterly discontent with his dispatch when he saw the proofe of his lawfull sonne and heire thenceforward fancied Shane Oneale put him in trust with all himselfe being but a Cripple notwithstanding that Matthew left issue male which liveth to whom the inheritance appertained yet after his fathers decease Shane was reputed for the rightfull Oneale tooke it kept it challenged superiority over the Irish Lords of Vlster warred also upon the English part subdued Oreyly imprisoned Odonil his wife and his sonne enriched himselfe with all Odonils forts castles and plate by way of ransome detained pledges of obedience the wife whom he carnally abused and the Childe fortified a strong Iland in Tyrone which he named spitefully Foogh-ni-Gall that is the hate of English men whom he so detested that he hanged a Souldiour for eating English bisket another by the feete mistrusted for a spy another Captaine of the Galloglaghes he slew with torture After this usurpation and tyranny hee was yet perswaded by Melchior Husse sent unto him from Gerald Earle of Kildare to reconcile himselfe to good order and to remember the honourable estate wherein King Henry placed his father which monition he accepted besought his protection and made a voyage into England where the Courtiers noteing his haughtines and barbarity devised his stile thus Oneale the great Cousin to S. Patricke friend to the Queene of England enemy to all the world besides Thence he sped home againe gratiously dealt with used Civility expelled the Scots out of all Vlster where they intended a conquest wounded and tooke prisoner Captaine Iames Mac Conill their Chieftaine whereof the said Iames deceased ordered the North so properly that if any subject could approve the losse of money or goods within his precinct he would assuredly either force the robber to restitution or of his owne cost redeeme the harme to the loosers contentation Sitting at meate before he put one morsell into his mouth he used to slice a portion above the dayly almes and send it namely to some begger at his gate saying it was meete to serve Christ first But the Lords of Vlster and elsewhere whom he yoked and spoiled at pleasure abhorring his pride and extortion craved assistance of the Deputy for redresse thereof Oneale advertised increaseth his rage disturbeth and driveth out Mac Gwire the plantiffe burneth the Metropolitane Church of Ardmagh because no English army might lodge therein for which sacriledge the Primate accursed him besiegeth Dundalke practiseth to call strangers into the land for ayde as appeareth by those letters which Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy intercepted occupieth all the North of Ireland being 100. myles broad 120. long Then addressed he plausible letters to the Potentates of Mounster exhorting them to rebell that the force of England at once might bee dismembred This message the Deputy prevented stayed the country abridged him of that hope and then proclaimed him Traytor An Irish Iester standing by and hearing Oneale denounced with addition of a new name traytor Except quoth he traytor be a more honourable title then Oneale he shall never take it upon him by my consent While the Deputy was absent in England the towne of Droghedagh was in hazard to be taken by the Rebels which
returne in the fall of the leafe now is the time intimate your defects in demaunds or what else soever may content you and see whether I will tender your common-wealth I meane not the pretended common-wealth seditiously promoted in Tom Loodles ryme but some good and substantiall matter worth the hearing which upright and equall men will indeede esteeme As for his complaint of Cesse and Imposition it savoureth either hatefull malice or childish folly malice if he would decay the garrison that preserveth the Realme folly if he thinke the Realme can be preserved vvithout a garrison vvherin I will shew you my fancie by the vvay perhaps out of all order but I pray beare vvith mee I take matters as they come next to hand I can not skill of vvritten tales Many a good-fellovv talkes of Robin Hoode that never drevv in his Bovv and many an idle head is full of Proclamations and conceiveth certaine farre fetches able in his vveening to vvield a Realme But let me see vvhich of them all can justifie that Ireland may spare the Army they kicke so much against Are your enemyes more tractable then they have beene Are they fevver Are you by your selves of force to match them If you bee then vvere England starke madde to disburse tvventie or thirtie thousand pounds a yeare for none other purpose but to vexe and grieve you that were like the husband who gelded himselfe to anger his wife You must not thinke wee love you so evill nay rather thinke truely wee tender your quietnesse and preservation as a nation derived from our auncestours ingraffed and incorporate into one body with us disturbed with a sort of barbarous people odious to God and man that lappe your bloud as greedily as ours The abuse of souldiours their horse boyes and harlots the Legerdemaine of Captaines chequerelles the purloyning of Cessors Constables the number of freedomes holding onely by concordatum the annoyance and hurt which the poore farmer endureth as I know them to be intollerable so I know them to be redressed with the first detection whose complaint hath not been heard whose enormity vvinked at what can you aske more would you have souldiours nothing insolent nothing sensuall nothing greedy no quarrellers so wish I but scarce hope for it vvould you hazard a misery certaine extreame and incurable to avoyde a trouble casuall transitory and remedilesse so vvould not I if you can prove a garrison needlesse I undertake to ease you thereof If you neede it they must bee fedde finde another vvay then this to provide for them victuall that carryeth asmuch readinesse to service and more contentation to your selves and I assure you mine assistance to set it forvvard But the Brokers of this libell are vvont to reason Why should not vvee live vvithout an Army as vvell as in England Why cannot our Noble-men of might in every border our tenants and servaunts vvithstand the Irish next them as vvell as the Northerne Lordes and Inhabitants of Riddesdale and Tiddesdale and those about the Scottish banke resist the Scotts facing and pilfering as fast as our enemyes Very good vvhat saye they then to Fraunce vvhich is no vvorser governed then England and hath an Armye Italy notvvithstanding as vvell ordered as Fraunce vvithout an Army Spaine asvvell as either of them both and continually keepes an Armye I tell you these are daungerous and hollovve kindes of Arguments which are deduced ab exemplo by example of other Realmes Many subtile diversities many varieties of circumstance many exceptions alter the case and make it utterly desperate Touching Scotland it is well knowne they were never the men whom England neede to feare They are but a corner cut out and easily tamed when they waxe outragious Your foes lie in the bosome of your Countryes more in number richer of ground desperate theeves ever at an inch unpossible to be severed from you without any fence beside your owne valiantnes and the helpe of our Souldiours England is quiet within it selfe thoroughly peopled on that side of Scotland which most requireth it guarded with an army otherwise the Lords and Gentlemen and lusty Yeoman that dwell on a row are ready to maister their private vagaries From all forraine invasions walled with the wide Ocean Were there such a Sea betwixt you and the Irish or were they shut up in an odde end of the land or had they no such opportunityes of bogges and woods as they have or were they Lords of the lesser part of Ireland or were they severed into handfuls not able to annoy whole towneships and Baronies as they doe the comparison were somewhat like but alacke it fareth not so with you you are beset round your townes be feeble the land empty the commons bare every county by it selfe cannot save it selfe Take away the terrour and feare of our Bande which increaseth your strength many an Irish Lord would be set agog that novv is full lovvly and holdeth in his hornes and the open enemy vvould scovvre your quarters that novv dares not venture lest he pay for his passage Consider me the effect of an Army vvrought in these fevv yeares for doubt vvhereof you are nothing so oft nor so lamentably pelted at as your auncestors vvere vvhich of them durst be stored vvith coyne knovving the rebells teeth vvatered thereat and himselfe not able to hold him out vvhich of them had leisure to build to lye soft and vvarme to take his ease in his ovvne home vvhich of them vvere plated or jevvelled or attyred themselves their vivves and children sumptuously after their calling as you doe now If your bagges bee full vvhere theirs were lancke if you dwell neatly where they dwelled homely if you sleep on featherbeds where they slept on couches if you be sumptuous where they vvere skant you have the more cause to honour that Scepter that so directeth you and to love the warrant that procureth you this quietnes the mother of all your wealth and prosperity Therefore to conclude where I began weigh well the sicke and wounded parts of your common wealth cure the roote regard the foundation the principall pillars the summer posts the stone walles as for the roofe and the tyles if yee repaire them onely and suffer the ground worke to perish a tempest of weather a flovve will shake your building Of some such good and substantiall reformation I would advise you friendly to consult and you shall finde me as willing to preferre the generall welfare of you all as I have beene desirous to benefit every singular person of you that hath in any lawfull suite attempted me ¶ These last words gave Sidney to the Realme as it were for a farewell and thenceforvvards looked for Sir VVilliam Fitz VVilliams his brother in law a politicke and stout gentleman now Lord Iustice and for Sir Iohn Perrot Lord president of Mounster to be settled there before his departure He was honored at the point of his going with such recourse pompe musicke shewes
Lievetenant with the allowance of twenty Gentlemen of his houshold and joyned with him in commission Iohn de Courcy with the allowance of tenne men to attend his person Robert Fitz Stephens and Miles Cogan who had nobly served him in his wars two yeers with the allowance of twenty men to attend their persons at which time saith Holinshed the Irish men paid the King a tribute of twelve pence yeerely for every house or else for every yoke of Oxen alias plow which they had of their owne Richard surnamed Strangbow had to his father Gilbert likewise surnamed Strangbow for his valour strength this Gilbert was E. of Ogye in Normandie Lord of Totenhā Alverdiston Wolaston in England so created by Henry 1. William the son of Osbert a Norman E. of Ogie in Normandie had issue Richard E. of Ogie this Richard had issue Walter Gilbert aforesaid father to Richard E. Strangbow William Fitz Osbert came into England in the ayde of William the Conquerour And as far as I can learn Walter was the first Earle of Penbroke the Britaines call it Penbraich More the head of an arme of the sea whence both the Countie and the most noble Earldome have their denominations Arnulph de monte Gomerik the yonger sonne of Roger de montegomerik that was by William the Conquerour created Earle of Arundell and Shrewsbury builded the Castle of Penbroke where Henry the seventh was borne William the Conquerour gave him Divet and Cardigan hee was Earle of Ogie and the second Earle of Penbroke and married the daughter by the mediation of Girald de Windsore Constable of his Castle of Morogh King of Leinster in Ireland Gilbert surnamed Strangbow was created by King Stephen the third Earle of Penbroke hee was Earle of Ogie in Normandie Lord of Totenham Alverdiston Wolaston and Cardigan and in England succeeded Arnulph Henry the first made him Earle of Strigule now called Chepstow and gave him Cardigan this Gilbert builded Castrogie alias Castrum Ogie in Gwent and the Castle of Stratmirike Richard surnamed Strangbow succeeded his father Gilbert his stile as I take it is thus Richard surnamed Strangbow Lord of Totenham Alverdiston Wolaston and Cardigan in England Earle of Penbroke Earle of Strigule alias Domonius de Chepstow in England Earle of Ogie in Normandie Earle of Leicester Earle Marshall of England Vicegerent of Normandie Lord Lievetenant of Ireland and Prince of Leinster in the right of Eva his wife sole heire of Dermot Mac Morogh King of Leinster This Richard had issue by his first wife a sonne a fine youth and a gallant stripling who following his father with some charge in battaile array as he passed by Idrone in Leinster to relieve Robert Fitz Stephens in Wexford upon the sight and cry of the Irish men when his father was in cruell fight gave backe with his company to the great discouragement of the host yet the Earle got the victory and commanded with the teares in his cheekes that his sonne should be cut in the middle with a sword for his cowardize in battaile he was buried in the Church of the blessed Trinitie in Dublin where now his father resteth by his side and caused the cause of his death for an Epitaph to be set over him Nate ingrate mihi pugnanti terga dedisti Non mihi sed genti regno quoque terga dedisti My sonne unkinde didst flye the field the father fighting hard Nor me nor English birth didst weigh nor kingdome didst regard How the sonne pleaded with his father for the place of service and how the father answered Stanihurst hath many circumstances hereof and delivered that his owne father in his fury and in the face of the enemy cut him off and marvaileth that Cambrensis would conceale it and in the end taketh it as a matter of truth both by the testimony of the Tombe in Christ Church as also by the industry of Sir Henry Sidney Knight a great favourer of Antiquities in preserving the same to the knowledge of the posterity Richard Earle Strangbow by his second wife Eva the daughter of Dermot Mac Morogh had issue one daughter Isabell whom Richard the first gave in marriage to William Maxfield Lord Maxfield Earle Marshall of England of whom God willing I shall have occasion to speake further when I come to his time The same yeere that Strangbow dyed viz. 1177. so Holinshed writeth Iohn de Courcy entred Vlster discomfited the Irish and wanne the Citie of Dune where the body of Saint Patricke Saint Colme and Saint Brigide the Virgin rests whom Courcy calleth tria jocalia Hiberniae the three jewels of Ireland At the winning of Dune Roderic King of Connaght and Monarch of Ireland at severall times before sworne to the King raised a mighty army against Courcy where Roderic was overthrowne and the Bishop of Dune taken prisoner among other rebels the which Bishop at the request of Cardinall Vinian then present was set at liberty This Cardinall saith mine Author intitled Sancti Stephani de monte Celio was sent from Alexander 3. and comming into England without licence was pardoned by Henry 2. and permitted to goe into Scotland and the north parts where his commission directed him when he had ended his businesse in Scotland he passed over into Man where he held his Christmas with Gotred King of Man and after the Epiphanie sailed from thence into Ireland and came thither saith Newbrigiensis the same time that the English men invaded the country and was entertained by Roderic and the Bishop of Dune and others with great reverence The Irish men aske councell of Vivian the Legate what in that case he thought best to be done whether they should fight or yeeld unto the English nation he gave counsell forgetting what Adrian 4. and Alexander 3. had formerly granted and said fight in defence of your country This Legate craftily preventing all mishaps took the Church of Dune for his sanctuary and had in readinesse the Popes commission and the King of Englands Passe unto the Captaines of Ireland for his safe conduct From thence he went to Dublin called the Prelates held a councell and filled his bagges with the sinnes of the people the English Captaines understanding of it gave him in charge either to depart the land or to goe to the warres and serve for pay with them and no longer to receive money for nought In the booke of Howth it is further alledged how that this Legate in his Synod at Dublin whether it were to curry favour with the English men and to colour his other pranckes it forceth not greatly shewed and published openly the King of Englands right to Ireland with the Popes grant and confirmation and accursed all those that gainesaid the same Now to the true history of Sir Iohn de Courcy as worthy a Knight for martiall prowesse as ever trode upon Irish ground whom Cambrensis lightly overskipped partly upon private grudge for that Sir Iohn de Courcy allowed him
land he tooke to wife in the I le of Cyprus the Lady Berengaria daughter to Garsias some say Sanctius King of Nauarre and died without issue when he had raigned nine yeeres nine moneths and two and twenty dayes It is noted by the Antiquaries that upon the death of his father he had three notable windfals the first was the Crowne of England the second was his fathers treasure which he found at Salisbury amounting to nine hundred thousands pound in coyne besides Plate precious stones Iewels and apparell lastly in the Coffers of Ieffrey Ridley Bishop of Elye who dyed intestate he found towards his coronation 3260. pound in silver five markes in gold which was better for his coronation was most Royall Iohn Comyn Archbishop of Dublin was at it Mathew Paris in Latine and Holinshed in English have penned it verbatim Will. K. of Scots did him homage and when he was the second time crowned King bare a sword before him King Richard the first yeere of his raigne gave the Lady Isabell sole daughter and heire of Richard surnamed Strangbow Earle of Penbroke to William Maxfield Lord Maxfield and Earle Marshall of England Anno 1189 This William his surname was not Marshall as Sir Iohn Plunket his collection hath laid downe but Maxfield his descent I finde thus with William the Conquerour there came into England to his ayde one Walter Maxfield a Norman that was his Marshall this Walter had issue William William had issue Walter Walter had issue Iohn Iohn had issue this William Maxfield that married Isabell the daughter of Strangbow who was made Earle Marshall of England Earle of Penbroke in Wales and Prince of Leinster in Ireland in the right of his wife This William was in great favour with King Richard the first that gave him the Lady Isabell to wife and honoured him so at his coronation that he bare a regall Scepter before the King in the top whereof was set a Crosse of gold and when the King with full determination passed over into Normandie and from thence into the Holy Land he assigned him the third governour of the Realme Iohn Earle of Morton Anno 1199. after the death of his brother Richard sent this William among others into England to set all things in a readinesse for his coronation the which being the 27. of May and yeere aforesaid gave him his full creation to the Earledome of Penbroke and girded him with the sword not long after King Iohn sent him with others as Embassadors to the French King with sundry other imployments he was also in great favour with Henry 3. as shall be shewed when I come to his raigne He had five sonnes and five daughters his sonnes all succeeded him in the Earldome of Penbroke and office of Marshalsie together with the Principality of Leinster and dyed all without issue The daughters were all honourably matched in the life time of their father and brethren and had his territories and possessions in Wales and Ireland orderly divided among them the which they and their posterity peaceably enioyed This William Earle Marshall the elder came to Ireland Anno 1207. hee builded the Castle of Kilkenny and gave the towne a Charter with priviledges wich they enjoy to this day hee founded there also the Monasterie of the blacke Fryers and ended the way of all flesh at London Anno 1220. and lyeth buried in the temple of his Lady Isabell at Tinterne in Wales William Marshall his eldest sonne succeeded him both in the office of Marshall and Earldome of Penbroke and Ogie and Principalitie of Leinster he granted a Charter to the towne of Kilkenny Anno 1223. sixt of Aprill with the testate of Thomas Fitz Antony Lord of Thomas stowne Seneschall of Leinster Fulkoe Carnae Walter Pursell William Grace Haman Grace Amnar Grace and others he ended his dayes at Kilkenny Anno 1231. and resteth in the Monastery there which his father had formerly founded Againe of this William I have seene another Charter exemplified Anno 1329. by King Edward the third with an inspexim Edwardus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Dominus Hiberniae Dux Aquitanie omnibus Ballivis Ministris omnium villarum villatorum Lagenie ceteris quibuscunque deijsdem partibus salutem Supplicavit nobis superior et communitas villae de Kilkenny quod cum Willielmus nuper Comes Mariscallus et Pembrochie tempore quo idem Comes extiterat Domini totius terrae Lageniae concesserit Burgensibus et Communitati ville predicte qui pro tempore fuerint diversas libertates inter quas videlicet quod ipsi in perpetuum per totam Lageniam terram potestatēin suam tam villa quā alibi essent quieti de theulonio lastagio poritagio de omnibus aliijs consuetudinibus quibuscunque quam quidem cartam inspeximus c. Teste Iohanne Darcy Iusticiario nostro Hibernie apud Kilkenny 8. die Iulij anno regninostri 3. per billam ipsius Iusticiarij Yet Holinshed writeth that this William Marshall the younger deceased at London and lyeth buried by his father in the new Temple Richard Marshall the second brother succeeded he was Earle Marshall of England Earle of Penbroke in Wales and Ogie in Normandie and Prince of Leinster in Ireland In the yeere 1233. and the Moneth of Aprill in a battell nigh Kildare upon the great Heath called the Curragh fighting against the Oconors hee tooke his deaths wound whereof shortly he dyed Hee lieth buried by his brother William in the blacke Fryers at Kilkennye which was the foundation of William Earle Marshall his father Henry the third lamented his death and protested that he lost then the worthiest Captaine of his time His tombe with the tombe of eighteene Knights that came over at the Conquest and resting in that Abbey at the suppression of the Monasterie was defaced and inhabitants there turned them to their private uses and of some they made swine-troughs so as there remaineth no Monument in the said Abbey save one stone whereupon the picture of a Knight is portraied bearing a shield about his necke wherein the Cantwels armes are insculped and yet the people there call it Ryddir in Curry that is the Knight slaine at the Curraghe Iohn Clyn guardian of the Fryers there in his Annals of Ireland writeth thus Post incarnatum lapsis de virgine natum Annis millenis tribus triginta ducent is In primo mensis Aprilis Kildariensis Pugna die Sabbati fuit in tristitia facti Acciderant stallo pugnae Comiti Mariscallo And upon his Tombe Hic Comes est positus Richardus vulnere fossus Cujus sub fossa Kilkennia continet ossa After the decease of Richard Gilbert Marshall the third brother was Earle Marshall of England Earle of Penbroke and Ogie and Prince of Leinster Anno 1239. King Henry the third held his Christmas at Winchester where there rose a grudge betweene the King and this Earle Gilbert by reason that this same Earle with his servants having tip-staves
Bruse Hugh Brune and others imprisoned him in Falaise in Normandy from thence he was brought to Roane and there clapt in the Tower under the custody of Robert de Veipont where shortly after he finished his life whether by leaping into the ditch thinking to make his escape or by meane of some privy hand which murther it is not as yet agreed upon Vtinam saith Mat. Paris non ut fama refert invida by occasion whereof K. Iohn was ever after had in great suspition whether justly or unjustly the Lord knoweth King Iohn fearing the secret practises of his adversaries and doubting the revolt of his Barons sent for his further security unto those whom he most suspected for hostages and pledges of their Ioialty and among others unto William de Bruse a Normand borne but Lord of Brechnok saith Guttin Owen and a great commander in South-wales The wife like a quicke Dame taking the answer out of her husbands mouth gave this round speech that shee would not give any of her sonnes to King Iohn who already had slaine and murthered his owne nephew Arthur These words being lavishly delivered unto the King set him in such a heat of displeasure against her husband though hee had rebuked her sharply for the same that the L. Bruse with his wife and children fled the Realme and got them unto Ireland for safeguard of their lives and when King Iohn came unto Ireland they fled to the I le of Man where they were apprehended and sent to the Castle of Windsore in England and there as the common fame went famished to death But William de Bruse himselfe escaped the hands of the King in Ireland and fled into France died at Corbell and was buried in Paris The next that comes upon the stage is Sir Iohn de Courcy Earle of Vlster Lord of Conaght that had lastly beene L. Liev. of Ireland who governing the land with great circumspection together with Sir Hugh de Lacy the younger who maligned him secretly and envied his prosperity in so much that hee accused him to King Iohn saying that he laid to the Kings charge the murthering of his nephew Arthure whereupon King Iohn sent for him into England and gave commission unto Sir Hugh de Lacy and his brother Walter Delacy to attach his person Sir Iohn de Courcy having secret intelligence of their drift kept himselfe a loofe Sir Hugh Delacy finding that levied an army and invaded Vlster the Country rose against him and drove him to flie Then Lacy praclaimed him traitor and marched towards him with all the forces he could make Courcy in like sort prepared for his comming At Dune they met and fought a cruell battaile where the field was all blood and many slaine on both sides but in the end the victory fell to Courcy and Lacy went back with shame enough Then Lacy practised how he might betray him It is said among the Irish that Courcy offred the combat and that Lacy refused it aleadging that it was not for him that represented the Kings person to hazard his life with an inferior being a subject and a traytor Lacy makes proclamation promising a large reward to him that should bring him in Courcy either alive or dead but it would not be then privily he dealt with some of his servants that if they would undertake the apprehension of him they should have great rewards it was concluded and this advice the betraiers gave Sir Iohn de Courcy is a mighty man in armes and of such strength that no one man dares be so hardy as lay hand upon him and againe hee is alwaies both in publick and privat well provided Yet we can direct you a course to bring your purpose to effect upon good Friday yeerly he weares no armes but is wholly given to divine contemplation and commonly walketh all solitary round about the Church-yard of Dune if you provide a troope of horsemen in a readinesse and send your espiall before there you shall have him apprehend him and worke your will and hither they came and laid hands upon him Courcy now unarmed and altogether distressed ranne to a wooden crosse that stood in the Church yard tooke the pole therof and laid about him lustily Courcy at that time had but a few attending on him and they armelesse of which number were two young Gentlemen the sonnes of Sir Amorick Saint Laurence which were slaine to bee short the Author of the Booke of Houth reporteth that Courcy in that Skirmish slew 13. of Lacy his men that died not upon the Crosse but under the Crosse but in the end he was carried away conveied beyond the seas clapt in the Towre of London and condemned to perpetuall imprisonment Whereupon Lacy for that service had the Earledome of Vlster given him and the Iudases that betrayed their Master had their hire Then they craved of Sir Hugh de Lacy a pasport into England with the relation of the good service they had done in Ireland which was granted upon condition that upon the paine of death they should never returne into Ireland againe neither to open the same afore it were demanded of them It was as followeth I Hugh de Lacy Lord Iustice of Ireland servant to my dread Soveraigne Lord King Iohn To all them that shall read these few lines greeting know you that thâ—se men whose names are under written served sometimes Sir Iohn de Courcy late Earle of Vlster but now in durance in the Towre of London and for a summe of money betraied their owne Master into my hand I deeme them no better then Iudas the traitor how hardly soever I have conceived of Courcy I hold them a thousand times more damnable traitors Wherefore let no subject within any of the Kings dominions give them any entertainment but spit in their faces and suffer them to rogue about and wander as Iewes He provided them a barke with saile and victuall but gave them no Pilots nor sea-faring men for want of skill they could not take the seas but were tossed with winde and weather along the Coast at length the Tyde brought them into the river of Corke they were no sooner landed but they were apprehended examined and brought to Sir Hugh de Lacy and forthwith all foure hanged cheeke by jole Not long after there fell some difference betweene Iohn King of England and Philip King of France for the right of some Fort in Normandie who to avoyde the shedding of Christian bloud agreed of each side to put it to a combat of King Philips part there was a French man in readinesse King Iohn upon the sudden wist not what to doe for a Champion to encounter with him at length one attending upon his person enformed him that there was one Courcy in the Towre of London the onely man in his dominions if hee would undertake it to answer the challenge King Iohn ioyfull of this sent the first yea second and third time promising large rewards and rich gifts
sides and the King of Connaught slaine Raphaell Holinshed in his Irish collection thinketh that there were slaine at that time above two thousand persons The King of England hearing thereof was mightily displeased with the Lord Iustice and sent for him into England to yeeld reason why he would permit such shamefull enormities under his governement Robert Vfford substituted Robert Fulborne as before satisfied the King that all was not true that hee was charged withall and for further contentment yeelded this reason that in policie he thought it expedient to winke at one knave cutting off another and that would save the Kings Coffers and purchase peace to the land whereat the King smiled and bid him returne to Ireland Anno 1279. Stow is mine Author King Edward commanded groats of foure pence a piece pence halfe pence and farthings to be coyned and to be currant through England and Ireland not decrying the old whereupon saith he these verses were made Edward did smite round penny halfe penny farthing The crosse passes the bond of all throughout the ring The Kings side was his head and his name written The crosse side what Citie it was made in coyned and smitten The poore man ne to Priest the penny frayses nothing Men give God aye the least they feast him with a farthing A thousand two hundred fourescore yeeres and moe On this money men wondred when it first began to goe Anno 1280. the Citie of Waterford saith Clyn through some foule mischance was all set on fire others report that some Merchant stranger being wronged as they thought by the Citizens brought bagges of powder out of their ships and threw them in the night season in at their sellers windowes and coales of fire after them and spoyled the City in that sort that it was long after ere they could recover themselves Anno 1281. Robert Fulborne Bishop of Waterford was by direction from the King ordained Lord Iustice of Ireland This yeere there was a great rebellion in Connaught and in upper Ossory and in Archloe which cost many mens lives but the ringleaders were cut off Adam Cusack slue William Barret and his brethren which contended about lands In Connaught Hogken Mac Gill Patricke was cut off in Vppsory Murtough Mac Muroch with Art his brother lost their heads at Wickloe another saith at Artchloe so Clyn and Dowlinge doe report Anno 1283. it is remembred by Clyn and others that a great part of Dublin was burned Campanile Capitulum sanctae Trinitatis saith mine Author the belfrie or steeple and Chapter house of the blessed Trinity with the Dormiture and Cloyster Others write that certaine Scots to be revenged upon some Citizens for wronging of them set Skinner-Row a fire and by that meanes the fire ranne into Christ Church but the citizens of Dublin therein greatly to bee commended before they went about to repaire their owne private houses agreed together to make a collection for repayring the ruine of that antient Church Anno 1284. flourished Ieffery or as Clyn writeth Galfridus de sancto Leodegario Bishop of Ossorie the second founder of the Cathedrall Church of Setus Canicus and the first founder of the Colledge of the Vicars of the same Church who gave unto the Colledge and vickars of the same Church for the maintenance of divine Service his Manse and lodging with the edifices thereunto adjoyning the rectory of Kilkesh and revenue de manubrinnio one marke sterling of the Abbot of Duiske for the land of Scomberlowaie with other revenues The said Ieffery by combate the combatants I finde not recorded anno 1284. recovered the Mannor of Sirekeran in Elly now Ocarolls country He builded part of the Mannors of Aghboo and Dorogh he builded a great part of the Church of Saint Canicus formerly begunne by Hugh Mapilton his Predecessor hee exchanged the towne Scomkarthie for the towne of Killamerry with William Marshall the Earle of Penbroke in his kinde of devotion he injoyned the collegiat Vicars of Kilkenny to celebrate the universary and aniversary of the reverend fathers his predecessors Walter Barkeley Galfrid Turvill Hugh Mapilton and others and his successors and Canons in the said Church of Ossory He established other things for the good of the Burgesses of Crosse ..... in the Irish towne of Kilkenny as in the foundation of the Burgesses there more at large doth appeare he dyed Anno 1286. and lyeth buried before the Chappell of our Lady in the Cathedrall Church Thus farre the Collections of Doctor Hanmer the Continuation following is taken out of the Chronicles of Henry Marleburrough HENRY MARLEBVRROVGH'S CHRONICLE OF IRELAND ANno 1285. the Lord Theobald Butler fled from Dublin and died shortly after and the Lord Theobald Verdon lost his men and horses going towards Ophali and the next morning Girald Fitz Maurice was taken prisoner and Iohn Samforde was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin and the Lord Ieffery Genuill fled and Sir Gerard Doget and Ralph Petit were slaine Anno 1287. deceased Richard Decetir Girald Fitz Maurice Thomas de Clare Richard Taff and Nicholas Telinge Knights Anno 1288. In England a bushell of Wheate was at foure pence And Fryer Stephen Fulburne Lord Iustice of Ireland dyed And Iohn Samford Archbishop of Dublin was made Lord Iustice. And the Lord Richard Burgh Earle of Vlster besieged Theobald Verdon in the Castle of Aloan and came to Trymm with a great power by the working of Walter Lacy. Anno 1290. Was the chase or discomfiture of Ophaly and divers Englishmen were slaine And Mac Coghlan slue Oâ—olaghlin And William Bourgh was discomfited at Delvin by Mac Coghlan And Gilbert Earle of Glocester married the daughter of King Iohn le Bayloll King of Scotland And Sir William Vescy was made Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1294. Deceased Iohn de Samford Archbishop of Dublin and Iohn Fitz Thomas and Iohn de la Mare tooke prisoners Richard Bourgh Earle of Vlster and William Bourgh in Meath And the Castle of Kildare was taken and by the English and Irish the whole countrie was wasted And Calwagh burnt all the rolles and tallyes of that countie And Richard was delivered out of the Castle of Leye for his two sonnes And Iohn Fitz Thomas with a great armie came into Meath Anno 1295. William Dodinsell Lord Iustice of Ireland dyed and the Lord Thomas Fitz Maurice was made Lord Iustice. Anno 1296. Fryer William de Hothum was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin Anno 1298. The Lord Thomas Fitz Maurice dyed and an agreement was made betwixt the Earle of Vlster and the Lord Iohn Fitz Thomas and Sir Iohn Wogan was made Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1299. William Archbishop of Dublin dyed and Richard de Feringes was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin Anno 1302. The King of England Edward the first went into Scotland and there Sir Iohn Wogan Lord Iustice of Ireland and the Lord Iohn Fitz Thomas with many others met with him Anno 1305. King Edward made the
inquisitions of Treylbaston The same yeere Iordan Comin slue Conthir de Ophaly and Calwagh his brother was slaine in the Court of Peirs de Birmingham at Carricke and Balimor was burnt Anno 1306. Edward the second succeeded his father being dead in the kingdome In the beginning of his raigne he called back from beyond the seas Peirs de Gaveston whose company in the presence of his father he abjured and being wholly taken up with him he neglected Isabell his Queene and his Nobles for which cause the Nobles being offended they banished the said Peirs into Ireland where also the Kings treasure that was sent over thither was wantonly consumed Then Peirs was called backe againe but in regard the Kings treasure was spent as aforesaid the Nobles make an insurrection and put away Peirs from the King Anno 1308. And in the second of King Edward the second Peirs de Gaveston by the Lords of England but contrary to the Kings minde was banished into Ireland about the nativitie of our Lady but the next yeere hee was called backe againe and the King met him at Chester Anno 1309. The Lord Ieffery Genvill became a Fryer at Trym of the order of the Preachers and the Lord Peirs de Birmingham dyed Anno 1311. Was the consecration of Iohn Leeke Archbishop of Dublin and Richard Bourgh Earle of Vlster with a great armie went to Bourath in Thomound and there he was taken prisoner by Sir Robert de Clare and Iohn Fitz Walter Lacy and many others were slaine and there dyed Sir Walter la â—aint and Sir Eustace Power And the next yeere Maurice Fitz Thomas and Thomas Fitz Iohn married two daughters of the Earle of Vlster And Saint Fingay was translated and William de Lowndres the first and Iohn the son of Sir Richard Bourgh Knight deceased and the Lord Edmund Butler made 30. Knights Anno 1313. Died Iohn Leek Archbishop of Dublin and Theobald Verdon came over Lord Iustice of Ireland and William de Montency and Richard Loundries died Anno 1315. The Lord Edward Bruse brother of the King of Scots entred the North part of Vlster with a great Army upon Saint Augustines day in the month of May and afterward hee burned Dundalke and a great part of Vrgile and the Church of Athirde was burned by the Irish And in the warre of Comeram in Vlster Richard Earle of Vlster was put to flight and Sir William Bourgh and Sir Iohn Mandevill and Sir Alan Fitz Warren were taken prisoners and the Castle of Norburgh was taken Moreover at Kenlis in Meath the Lord Roger Mortimer in the warre together with the said Edward were put to flight and many of the men men of the said Roger were slaine and taken prisoners and he burnt the Towne and after this he went as farre as Finnagh and the Skerries in Leinster and there incountred him Edmund Butler Lord Iustice of Ireland the Lord Iohn Fitz Thomas afterward Earle of Kildare and the Lord Arnold Power and every one of them had a great army to war against him and upon the sodaine there arose a dissention amongst them and so they left the field and this dissention hapned upon the 26. day of Ianuary after this hee burnt the Castle of Leye and afterward hee returned into Vlster and besieged the Castle of Knockfergus and slue Thomas Mandevill and Iohn his brother at Downe comming out of England and then returned into Scotland Anno 1316. Edward Bruse before Easter came into Ireland with the Earle of Murry and other armies and besieged the Castle of Knockfergus afterward they went to Castle Knock and there tooke the Baron prisoner and Edward Bruse lay there and Richard Earle of Vlster lay in Saint Maries Abbey neere Dublin Then the Major and Commonalty of the City of Dublin tooke the Earle of Vlster prisoner and put him in the Castle of Dublin and slew his men and spoiled the Abbey Then the said Bruse went as farre as Lymmerick after the Feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle and staied there untill after Easter and in the meane time Roger Mortimer the Kings Lievtenant landed at Waterford with a great Army and for feare of him Edward Bruse made haste to goe into the parts of Vlster and Iohn Fitz Thomas was created Earle of Kildare also Oconthir of Conaght and many other of the Irish of Conaght and Meath were slaine neere Athenry by the English there also there was a great slaughter made by Edmond Butler neere Testilldermot upon the Irish and another slaughter by the same Edmund upon Omorthe at Balitcham Anno 1317. The said Lievtenant delivered the Earle of Vlster out of the Castle of Dublin and after Whitsuntide hee banished out of Meath Sir Walter and Sir Hugh de Lacy and gave their lands unto his souldiers and they together with Edward Bruse went back into Scotland and Alexander Bignor was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin Anno 1318. The Lord Roger Mortimer went againe into England and Alexander Bignor was made Lord Iustice and Edward Bruse and the said Walter and Hugh de Lacy with a great Army landed at Dundalke upon Saint Calixtus the Popes day and there the Lord Iohn Brimingham Richard Tute and Miles Verdon with one thousand three hundred twenty foure men incountred them and slew the said Edward Bruse with eight thousand two hundred seventie foure of his men and the said Iohn Birmingham did cary the head of the said Edward into England and gave it to King Edward and the King gave unto the said Iohn and his heires males the Earledome of Lowth and the Barony of Athirdee to him and his heires also Sir Richard de Clare with foure Knights and many others were slaine in Thomond Anno 1319. The Lord Roger Mortimer came over againe Lord of Iustice of Ireland And the Towne of Athessell and Plebs were burned by the Lord Iohn Fitz Thomas brother to the Lord Maurice Fitz Thomas And the Bridge of Kilcolin was built by Maurice Iâ—kis Anno 1320. The Lord Iohn Fitz Iohn Earle of Kildare was made Lord Iustice. And the bridge of Leiglin was built by Maurice Iakis Anno 1321. There was a very great slaughter made of the Oconhurs at Balibagan by the English of Leinster and Meath And the said Earle of Lowth was made Lord Iustice Anno 1322. Died the Lord Richard Birmingham Lord of Athenry the Lord Edmund Butler and the Lord Thomas Persivall Moreover the Lord Andrew Birmingham and Sir Richard de la Londe were slaine by Onolan Anno 1323. Iohn Darcy came over Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1325. Deceased Nicolas Fitz Simon Gonvill Anno 1326. The Lord Richard Burgh Earle of Vlster died Edward the third sonne to Edward the second after the Conquest at the age of fifteene yeeres in his fathers life time upon Candlemas day was crowned King at Westminster In the beginning of whose raigne there was great likelyhood of good successe to follow For then also the Earth received fruitfulnesse the Ayre temperature and Sea
calmenesse Anno 1327. Donald sonne to Art Mac Morch and Sir Henry Traharne were taken prisoners Anno 1328. Deceased the Lord Thomas Fitz Iohn Earle of Kildare and the Lord Arnold Power and William Earle of Vlster came into Ireland Anno 1329. Iohn Brimingham Earle of Lowth and Peter his brother with many other were slaine on Whitsun even at Balibragan by the men of the Country Also the Lord Thomas Butler and divers other Noble men were slaine by Macgohegan and other Irishmen neere to Molingar Anno 1330. There died Sir Richard Deicetir Also the Earle of Vlster went with a great Army into Mounster upon Obren Also the Prior of the Hospitall then Lord Iustice put the Lord Maurice Fitz Thomas Earle of Desmond into the custody of the Marshall out of the which hee freely escaped And Sir Hugh de Lacy returned into Ireland and obteined peace of the King Anno 1331. The Earle of Vlster went into England and great slaugher was made upon the Irish in O kenslie also the Castle of Arclow was taken by the Irish and great slaughter made of the English ni the Cowlagh by Otothell where Sir Philip Bryt and many others were slaine and the Lord Anthony Lacy came over Lord Iustice of Ireland and great slaugter was made of the Irish at Thurles by the men of the Country and at Finnath in Meath there were many of them slaine by the English also the Castle of Fernis was taken and burned by the Irish also Maurice Fitz Thomas Earle of Desmond was apprehended at Limerick by the Lord Iustice upon the day of the Assumption and sent unto the Castle of Dublin Moreover the Lord Iustice tooke Sir William Birmingham and Walter his sonne at Clomell by a wile whilest hee was sick in his bed and sent them likewise unto the Castle of Dublin on the 19. day of Aprill Anno 1332. Sir William Birmingham was hanged at Dublin but Walter his sonne was delivered by reason hee was within orders Also the Castle of Clonmore was taken by the English and the Castle of Bonrath was destroyed by the Irish of Thomond also Henry Mandevill was sent prisoner to Dublin likewise Walter Burgh with two of his brethren were taken in Conaght by the Earle of Vlster and sent to the Castle of Norburgh also the said Lord Iustice was deposed by the King and went into England with his wife and children and Iohn Darcy was made Lord Iustice and great slaughter was made upon Bren Obren and Mac Carthy in Munster by the English of that Country Anno 1333. The Earle of Desmond by the Parliament held at Dublin was sent over into England unto the King and VVilliam Earle of Vlster in going toward Knock fergus upon the seventh day of Iune was treacherously slaine neere to the foords in Vlster by his owne people but his wife with his daughter and heire escaped into England which daughter was married unto the Lord Lionell the Kings sonne and afterward died at Dublin and had a daughter and heire which was afterward married unto Roger Mortimer Earle of March and Lord of Trim And to revenge the death of the said Earle the Lord Iustice of Ireland with a great Army went into Vlster But before that hee came thither the men of that Country had done the revenge and the Lord Iustice with his Army went into Scotland to the King of England because at that time hee was there in warre and hee left the Lord Thomas Burgh his Lievtenant in Ireland also on Saint Margarets Eve great slaughter was made in Scotland by the Irish and so what by the King in one part and the Lord Iustice in another Scotland was Conquered and Edward Balioll was established King of Scotland and Iohn Darcy came back Lord Iustice of Ireland and delivered VValter Birmingham out of the Castle of Dublin Anno 1336. On Saint Laurence day the Irish of Conaght were discomfited and put to flight by the English of the Country there and there were slaine tenne thousand and one Englishman Anno 1342. And in the sixteenth of King Edward the 3. Pope Benedict deceased Clement the sixth succeeded a man truly of great learning but exceeding prodigall so that hee would bestow upon his Cardinals Church livings in England when they were vacant and would goe about to impose new titles for them For which cause the King of England about the yeere 1344. disannulled the provisions so made by the Pope interdicting upon paine of imprisonment and death that none should bring any of them Anno 1348. There was great mortality in all places especially in and about the Court of Rome Avinion and about the sea coastes of England and Ireland Anno 1349. Deceased Alexander Bignor upon the foureteenth day of Iuly and the same yeere was Iohn de Saint Paul consecrated Archbishop of Dublin Anno 1355. Died Maurice Fitz Thomas Earle of Desmond L. Iustice of Ireland Anno 1356. Deceased the Lord Thomas de Rokesbie L. Iustice of Ireland Anno 1357. Began great variance betwixt Master Richard Fitz Ralphe Primat of Ardmagh and the foure Orders of begging Fryers Anno 1360. Deceaded Richard Archbishop of Ardmagh upon the seventeenth day of the Kalends of December in the Popes Court and Richard Kilminton dyed in England therefore the controversie ceased betwixt the Clergie and the orders of begging Fryers Anno 1361 and in the thirty fourth yeere of K. Edward the third about Easter began a great mortalitie of men consuming many men but few women in England and Ireland Also the same yeere the Lord Lionell Sonne to King Edward the third Duke of Clarence came over the Kings lievetenant into Ireland Anno 1362. deceased Iohn de Saint Paule Archbishop of Dublin on the fift day before the Ides of September Anno 1363. Thomas Minot was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin Anno 1369. the Lord William Windsor came over the Kings Lievetenant in Ireland Anno 1370. there was a third great Pestilence in Ireland And the Lord Gerald Fitz Maurice Earle of Desmond and the Lord Iohn Fitz Richard and the Lord Iohn Fitz Iohn and many other Noble men were taken prisoners and many others were slaine by Obren and Maccoinnard of Thomond in the moneth of Iuly Anno 1372 Sir Robert Asheton came over Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1373. there was great warre betwixt the English of Meth and Offerolle in which warre many upon both sides were slaine Anno 1375. Thomas Archbishop of Dublin departed this life and the same yeere was Richard de Wikeford consecrated Archbishop there Anno 1381 Edmund Mortimer the Kings Lievetenant in Ireland Earle of March and Vlster dyet at Coâ—ke Anno 1383. the fourth great Pestilence was in Ireland Anno 1385. Dublin Bridge fell Anno 1387. about Martilmas the Peeres of England rose against those that were of the side of King Richard the second but Robert Veer Duke of Ireland came over to Chester and got together many men and put them in array to march backe toward the
1050. al. 1014. Guil. de Nangiac Polid l. 8. Angl. hist. An. Dom. 900. Flatsbury An. Dom. 94â— 11â—2 1162 1167. This Chapter concludeth the 1. and 2. booke Cambrens de conquest Hiberniae delivered unto me by Francis Agâ—rd Polichron Plat. in Adâ— 4. Io. Stell in Chr Iohn Stow. The Kings letter Lo. Strongbow al. Chepstowe Fitz Stephens Fitz Gerald. Conditions of peace Reymond le Grose 11â—0 Divelin assaulted 〈◊〉 the Normans Hasculphus the Norman 1171. 1172. Regni sui 17. Aetatis 41. Merlines Prophecy Irish Prophets Fab. part 7. c. 237. Pol Virg lib. 13 Angl. Hist. Synode of Cashell King Henry returneth into England Ororick with one eye Earle Strongbow Strongbow Lord Warden of Ireland Pol. Virg. lib. 13 Angl. Hist. 1175. Flatsbury Basil the wife of Reymond le Grose Reymond Lord Protectour of Ireland Vlster conquered 1176. 1177. Hugh Lacye Protectour Flatâ—bury 1178. 1179. 1180. 1182. S. Patrickes Church in Divelin founded Infra cap. 4â— S. Patrickes booke of recordes Girald Camb. Ioh. Lord of Ireland In these notes I used the conference of 3. coppies much different sent me the one by my Lord of Trimlestone another from M Agard the third from M. Stanyhurst Lacy murdered 1189. Monast. de beatitudine 1187. 1198. 1199. 1â—â—â— Title to Meth. Title to Mounster Title to Vlster Connaght Burke Earle of Vlster and Connaght 11â—9 1199· Sâ—ow Graâ—ton Arthâ—rus Pâ—sthumas 120â— Iohn Courcye 1â—04 Hugh de Lacy Earle of Vlster King Iohn entreth Ireland the second time Anno 1210. Stow. Polid. lib. 15. In the supplication of soule Fabian 1212. Henry Scorchbill Lord Iustice â—228 Morice Fitz Gerald Lord Iustice. 124â— 1259· 1260. 1261. 1267· 126â— 1270. 1280. Divelin fired Records of Christ Church It was first a Priory and Canons now Deane and Chapiter Cap. Randolfe â—â—87 Blundus lib. â— 1281. 1294. 1294. Bewmarishe 12â—6 1299 1307. Templers 1. Tyâ— l. 12. c. 7. Gaâ—uin hist. Gal. l. 7. Tom. 3 Conâ— Plat. in Clem. 5 chargeth them with treason against the Christians 1309. Iohn Decer Pierce of Gavestone Sâ—ow 1311. 1313. 1314. 1315. Iohn Hussee The wordes of Okelly 1317. This is of some called the first Earle of Kildare· Mortimer· Edward Bruise raigneth in Vlster Donald sonne of Arthur Mac Murrowe 1317. Famine horrible 1318. The Scots vanquished An. 1320. Vniversity at Dublin 1321. Alice Kettle a Sorceresse 13â—7 Adam Duffe· 1â—2â— The Lord Iustice cleared of a slander· 1229. Bermingham hanged 1335· Darcye and Sussex 1337. 1338. 1340. The first notable dissention of the English in Ireland 1345. 1346. 1348. Bar. Carew 1350. Sherman Major of Divelin Sir Robert Savage 1356. 1357. 1359. 1360. 1361. Leonell Duke of Clarence 1367. 1369. 1377. Recordes of th'exchequer fought up by M. Iohn Thomas remembrancer Iohn Stow. Records of excheq an 9. Rich. 2. 1385. 1394. 1399 1329. Recordes of Exch. Iames Young in precepts of governement to the Earle of Ormond cap. 5 1402. Records of Châ—ist-Church in Divelin A letter from Corke coppied out of an old Record bearing no date An. 1408. Register of Majors Recordes of Exch. 1421. The chaste Earle of Ormond Iames Yong. In the translation of Cambrensis c. â—7 Prec of government c 27. ca. 2â— ca. 41. Lieutenants their deputyes Records of exâ—hâ—quer An. 7. An. 1â— An. 20. An. 22. An. 26. An. 27 Richard Duke of Yorke Records of Christ-church 1450. Io. Ma. l. 6 c. 16 1458. The Letter 1459. 1460. Ann Reg 1. Ann. D. 1460. Duke of Clarence Lieutenant and his Deputies 4· An. Reg. â— An. Reg. 7. An. 10. An. 18. 1467. Patrick Seinâ—leger in his collections 1469. 1470. Flatsbury 1481. Edw. 5. Rich 3. Henr. 7. 1490. 1494. an Hen. 7.14 Perkins confession 1499. 1501. Recordes of Christ-Church 1504. 1513. From henceforward I havâ— followed the relation of the wiâ—est and most indâ—fferent persons that I could acquaint my selfe withall in Ireland Register of Majors 1516. Gerald Earle of Kildare 1521. 1523. 15â—4 Talbot of Belgard slaine 1527 The Countesse of Ossory The Cardinals accusation against the Earle of Kildare Treasons layde to the Earle Kildares reply to the Cardinals oration Cardinall Woolsey 1528. 15â—0 1532. 1533 1534. 1535. The words of Lord Thomas The letter of Iames Lord Butler and Lo. Treasurer to Lord Thomas· Doctour Allen Archbishop of Divelin and L. Chancellor murdered Iohn Stow. Yong Fitz Gerald preserved 1542. Hall An. H 8. 32. 34. 1537. Sir â—ames Fitz-Simons Maior of Divelin 1542. Con Oneale Earle of Tyrone 154â— Sir Edward Bellingham Queene Mary 1553. Sir Anthony Seintleger 1554. Earle of Sussex 1557. Queene Elizabeth 1560. Sir Nic. Arnold The Earle of Sussex Oneales rebellion 1566. Oneale vanquished Mac Conil the Islander Oneale murdered The Butlers rebellion 12. Decembris 1570. The oration of James Stanihurst Speaker of the Parliament The Lord Deputies answer Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy faileth into England 25. Mar. 1571. Bartholanus in Ireland Oceanus invadeth Ireland Victory with cruelty turneth to the hurt of the conquerors A grievous infection Of Ruanus Of Cesara and Fintan Anno mundi 2317 Nemedus and his foure sonnes arrive Arrivall of Gathelus the Greek Scot. Hist. lib. 4 Hector Boet. in descript regni Scotia Et lib. â— histor Scot. Iohannes Capgrave in vita Sancti Colum. Idem in vita Sancti Fiacrij Beda Ang. hist. lib. 1. cap. 1. Volat geograph lib. 3. Io. Maior de gest Scot. l. 1. c. 4. De rebus Hiber lib. 1. Io. Maior hist. Scot. lib. 1. c. 9. Laur. Surius ver in orbe gest ud annum 1501 Bodinus Pausanias Camb. descrip Brit. cap. 7. Five sonnes of Dela arrive in Ireland anno mundi 2535. First division of Ireland Meth why so called Invasion of Scythians Anno mundi 2828 Anno mundi 3580 Gurguntius meeteth with Bartholin Hiber and Hermon Gurguntius giveth Ireland to them Booke of Houth Hiber and Hermon divide Ireland into two parts One brother killeth another The second Monarch of Ireland Ireland divided into five kingdomes Divers divisions in Ireland A Monarch alwaies in Ireland Ireland called Hibernia Divers names of Ireland Stainhurst de reh Hib. pa. 17. Camden in Hebernia Lanquet ad Annum 3652. Anno mundi 36521 Fergusius Buchanan Armes of Fergusius Tanistrie of Ireland used in Scotland Anno mundi 3750. Reuthar Iosina Thereus Io. Bale cent 14. Gillus Fridelenus the Dane taketh Dublin Frotho King of Denmarke Alb. Krant Dan. lib. 1. cap. 32. Saxo Gr. hist. Dan. lib. 5. IESVS CHRIST is borne Claudius Arviragus Flor. histor Beda eccles hist. Angl. lib. 1. c. 3. Eutropius rerum Rom. lib. 8. Camden pa. 557 Brigantes Florianus del Campo Seneca Arviragus Saxo Gram. hist. Dan. lib. 6. Albertus Krantz Dan. lib. 1. Frotho 4. Haco and Starcuterus in Ireland Dufflania or Dublin ransacked by them Of the comming of the Pictes or Scythians into these parts Io. Magnus Goth. Hist. lib. 1 cap. 27. Beda eccles hist. gentis Aug. lib. 1 cap. 1. Pictes saile into Britaine They obtaine wives of the Scots Scots under Reuda saile out
right to Leinster VValter Fitz Richard who came from Normandy with VVilliam Conquerour died Lord Strongbow of Strigule alias Chepstow without issue to whom succeeded his sisters sonne Gilbert who was created the first Earle of Pembroke had issue Richard the inheritour of Leinster by a covenant marriage of Eva the sole daughter of Mac Murrough King of Leinster This Richard conveyed to Henry the second all his title and held of him the Lordship of Leinster in foure counties Weixford Catherlagh Ossory and Kildare Richard left issue a daughter Isabel married to VVilliam Earle marshall of England now Earle of Pembroke Lord Strongbow and Lord of Leinster VVilliam had issue five sonnes who died without issue when every of them except the youngest had successively possessed their fathers lands and five daughters Maude â—oane Isabel Sibil and Eve among whom the patrimony was parted in an 31. H. 3. Of these daughters bestowed in marriage are descended many noble houses as the Mortimers Bruises Clares c. borne subjects to the Crowne of England paying ever to the King his dutyes reserved Hugh de Lacy Conquerour of Meth had issue VValter de Lacy who held the same of King Iohn paying a fine of foure thousand marks sterling and hence beganne all the severall claimes there at this day with allegiance sworne and done by their auncestours At the very first arrivall of Henry the second the Princes of Mounster came universally and did homage voluntarily and acknowledged to him and his heires duties and payes for ever Iohn de Courcy Conquerour and Earle of Vlster dyed without issue King Iohn Lord of Ireland gave the Earledome to Hugh de Lacy who had issue VValter and Hugh dead without issue and one daughter married to Reymond Burke Conquerour and Lord of Connaght Connaght descended to diverse heires owing service to the Prince but Vlster is returned by devolution to the speciall inheritance and revenues of the Crowne of England in this manner The said De Burgo had issue Richard who had issue Iohn who had issue VVilliam who was slaine without issue and a Daughter Elizabeth intytled to thirty thousand marks yearely by the Earledome of Vlster whom Edward the 3. gave in marriage to Leonel his second sonne Duke of Clarence who had issue a daughter Philippe marryed to Edmund Mortymer who had issue Edmund Anne Elinor Edmund and Elinor died without issue Anne was married to Richard Earle of Cambridge sonne to Edmund of Laugley Duke of Yorke fift sonne to Edward the third which said Richard had issue Richard Plantagenet father to Edward the fourth father to Elizabeth wife to Henry the seventh and mother to Henry the eight father to Mary Edward the sixt and Elizabeth Severall claimes to the Land of Ireland 1. First that the Irish for of the rest there is no question were subjects to the the Crowne of Brittaine before they set foote in Ireland Thus it appeareth They dwelt on that side of Spaine whereof Bayon was then cheife imperiall Citie and the same then in possession and obedience to Gurguntius 376. yeares ere Christ was borne as it was to his successours many a day after namely to Henry the which as I finde noted in certaine precepts of governement dedicated by Iames Young to Iames Butler Earle of Ormond then Lieutenant of Ireland an 1416. From this coast and Citty now part of Gascoigne came the fleete of those Iberians who in 60. ships met Gurguntius on the sea returning from the conquest of Denmarke to whom they yeelded oath and service sued for dwelling were by him conducted and planted in Ireland and became his leige people 2. Mac Gil-murrow King of Ireland with all his petty Princes Lordes and Captaines summoned to King Arthurs court held in Carlion an 519. did accordingly their homage and attended all the while his great feast and assembly lasted 3. The Monarch of Ireland and all other both reges and reguli for them and for theirs for ever betooke themselves to Henry the second in an Dom. 1172. namely those of the south whiles he lay at Waterford Dermot King of Corke which is the nation of Mac Cartyes at Cashell Donald King of Limricke which is the nation of the Obrenes Donald King of Ossory Mac Shaghlen King of Ophaly at Divelin did the like Okeruell King of Vriell Ororicke king of Meth Rodericke King of all Ireland and of Connaght This did they with consents and shoutes of their people and king Henry returned without any Battle given Onely Vlster remained which Iohn de Courcy soone after conquered and Oneale Captaine of all the Irish there came to Dublin to Richard the 2. in an 1399. And freely bound himselfe by oath and great summes of money to be true to the crowne of England 4. The same time Obrene of Thomond Oconor of Connaght Arthur Mac Murrow of Leinster and all the Irish Lords which had beene somewhat disordered renewed their obedience 5. When Ireland first received Christendome they gave themselves into the jurisdiction both spirituall temporall of the See of Rome The temporall Lordship Pope Adrian conferred upon Henry the second and hee gave the same to Iohn his younger sonne afterwards King of England and so it returned home to the Crowne 6. Alexander the 3. confirmed the gift of Adrian as in both their Charters is expressed at large 7. Vivian the legate on the Popes behalfe doth accurse and excommunicate all those that flitte from the obeysance of the Kings of England 8. The cleargy twice assembled once at Cashell secondly at Ardmagh plainely determined the conquest to be lawfull and threatned all people under paine of Gods and holy Churches indignation to accept the English kings for their Lords from time to time 9. It would aske a volume to recite the names of such Irish Princes who since the conquest have continually upon occasions revolts or petitions sworne truth and faith to the kings of England from time to time received honours wages fees pardons and petitions And thus I thinke no reasonable man will doubt of a right so old so continued so ratified so many wayes confessed CAP. III. Richard the first and King Iohn BY occasion of Lacyes mishap Iohn Courcye and Hugh de Lacye the younger with all their assistants did streight execution upon the Rebells and preventing every mischiefe ere it fell stayed the Realme from uproares Thus they continued lovingly and lived in wealth and honour all the dayes of Richard the first untill the first yeare of King Iohns raigne Henry the second had issue male VVilliam Henry Richard Ieffrey and Iohn VVilliam Henry and Richard dyed without issue Ieffrey Earle of Brittaine dyed before his father and left issue two daughters and an after-borne son called Arthur whose title to the Crowne as being the undoubted lyne of the elder brother Philip King of France and certaine Lords of England and Ireland stoutly justified Him had King Iohn taken prisoner in Normandy and
dispatched if the same be true with his owne hands at Roane Of this barbarous cruelty all mens eares were full and Courcye either of zeale or partiality spake bloudy words against it which meane his undermyners caught and did not onely heave him out of credite but also got commission to attach his body and to send him into England The Earle mistrusted his part and kept aloofe till Hugh de Lacye Lord Iustice vvas faine to levye men in armes and to invade Vlster Thence hee vvas often put to flight vvhereupon hee proclaymed Courcye Traytour and hyred sundry gentlemen vvith revvards to bring him in quicke or dead so long hee vvooed the matter that Courcyes ovvne Captaines vvere inveygled to betray their Lord. Therefore upon good Friday vvhen the Earle did off his armour and in secret meditations visited religious places bare-footed they layde for him tooke him as a rebell and shipped him into England the next way where he was adjudged to perpetuall prison Sentleger addeth in his collections that Lacy payd the Traytors their money and then immediatly hanged them This Courcye translated the Church and Prebendaryes of the Trinity in Downe to an Abbey of black Monks brought thither from Chester and the same did hallow to S. Patricke for which alteration of the name of God to his servant hee deemed himselfe justly punished Not long after as say the Irish certaine French knights came to King Iohns Court and one of them asked the combat for tryal of the Dutchy of Normandy It was not thought expedient to jeopard the title upon one mans lucke yet the challenge they determined to answere some friend put them in minde of the Earle imprisoned a Warriour of noble courage and in pitch of body like a gyant King Iohn demaunded Courcye whether hee would bee content to fight in his quarrell Not for thee said the Earle whose person I esteeme not worthy the adventure of my bloud but for the Crowne and dignity of the Realme wherein many a good man liveth against thy will The words were haply taken without dudgen as proceeding from stomack and from one counted more plaine then wise Courcye therefore being cherished to the field and refreshed with dyet fed so wonderfully after his hard keeping that the French Challenger tooke him for a monster and privily stale into Spaine Then was the Earle inlarged and crossed the seas tovvardes Ireland fifteene times evermore beaten back to the shoare vvent thence into France to change the coast and there dyed after vvhose decease vvithout heires of his body the Earledome of Vlster vvas entirely bestovved upon Hugh de Lacye for his good service In Ireland remained one of the Courcyes Lord of Rathenny and Kilbarrock vvhom as a spye of all their practises and an informer thereof to the King VValter and Hugh the sonnes of Hugh had slaine and great seditions raysed bearing themselves after the decease of their father for Governours out of checke To settle the Realme of Ireland King Iohn brought thither a maine Armye banished the Lacyes subdued the remanents tooke pledges punished malefactours established the execution of English Lawes coyned money of like value currant sterling in both Realmes The two Lacyes repentant of their follyes and tyrannies fled into France dispoyled of sumptuous apparell and unknowne meekely they served in Saint Taurines Abbey as gardners untill the Abbot by their countenance and behaviour beganne to smell their estates and pressed them so farre that they detected their offences and the due desert of much harder chastisement eftsoone beseeching the Abbot to keepe their counsells who commending their humilities yet advising them to laye holde upon their Princes favour if it might be had laboured the King his familiar and godsip earnestly for their pardons and obtained it Each of them were fined VValter at 4000. and Hugh at 2500. markes and restored him to the Lordship of Meth this to the Earledome of Vlster King Iohn made his Vice-gerent and returned home subdued the Welchmen met with Pandulphus the Legate of Innocentius the third who came to release him of the sentence wherein he stood excommunicate for his spoyle and extortion of Church goods to whom being the Popes Atturney hee made a personall surrender of both his Realmes in way of submission and after his assoylement received them againe some adde that he gave away his Kingdome to the See of Rome for him and his successours recognizing to holde the same of the Popes in fee paying yearely therefore one thousand markes and in them three hundred for Ireland Blundus sayth Centum pro utroque auri marchas Sir Thomas Moore a man in that calling office likely to sound the matter to the depth writeth precisely that neither any such writing the Pope can shew nor were it effectuall if he could How farre foorth and with what limitation a Prince may or may not addict his Realme feodary to another Iohn Maior a Scottish Chronicler and a Sorbonist not unlearned partly scanneth who thinketh 300. marks for Ireland a very hard pennyworth The instrument which our English Chronicle rehearseth might haply be motioned and drawne and then dye unratified although the copy of that record continue But certaine it is that his successours never payde it and thereto assenteth Iohn Bale in his Apology against vowes To Iohn Comin Founder of S. Patrickes Church succeeded Henry Lounders in the Archbishops See of Divelin who builded the kings Castle there being Lord Chiefe Iustice of Ireland him they nicknamed as the Irish doe commonly give additions to their Governours in respect of some fact or qualitie Scorch villaine and Burnebill because hee required to peruse the writings of his Tenants colourably pretending to learne the kinde of each mans severall tenure and burned the same before their faces causing them either to renew their estates or to holde at will In the fourth yeare of King Iohns raigne was founded the Abbey of Dowske in the sixt the Abbey of Wethny in the Countie of Limericke by Theobald le Butler Lord of the Carricke and in the twelfth Richard Tute builded the Monastery of Granard CAP. IIII. Henry the third and Edward the first AFter the death of Lownders Henry the third informed of the Truth and good service done by the Geraldines ever since their first arryvall in the Countrey made Morrice Fitz Gerald the sonne of Morrice aforesaid Lord Iustice. To him sent Edward the Prince surnamed Longshanke for assistance and power of men against the Welch Rebells who leaving Warders in the Castle of Sligaghe by him lately founded together with Phelim Oconnor and a lusty band of souldiours met the king at Chepstovv returned victoriously and by this meanes increased favour streightway they tvvo joyning vvith Cormack mac Dermot Mac Rory made a noble hosting upon Odonill the Irish enemy that invaded and grieved the Kings subjects of Vlster when Lacy was once dead Odonill being vanquished the Lord Iustice
they grew to 300. Knights of the order and into inferiour brethren innumerable But with ease and wealth they declined now to such intollerable deformities of life and other superstitious errors nothing lesse regarding then the purpose of this their foundation that the generall Councell assembled at Vienna disanulled the same for ever And thereupon as in other countries so in Ireland they confessed the publicke fame of their enormities and themselves culpable their persons they yeelded to perpetuall pennance their lands were given though with some difficulty to the Knights of S. Iohns hospitall at Ierusalem who since then for recovering the Iland of Rhodes from the Saracens became famous and multiplied much more honourably then did the Templers Of this latter foundation was the priory of S. Iohns at Kilmaynam besides Divelin Iohn Decer Major of Divelin builded the high Pype there and the Bridge over the Liffy toward S. Wolstans and a chapell of our Lady at the Fryar minors where he lyeth buried repaired the Church of the Fryars preachers and every friday tabled the Fryars at his owne costs In absence of VVogan Sr VVilliam Burcke was Lord Warden of Ireland to whom King Edward recōmended Pierce of Gavestone the disquieter of all the nobility in England a companion to the King in vice bolstered up by the King so peremptorily against the will of his Councell that whereas the said Pierce was by them exiled Edward sent him now into Ireland with much honour and many Iewels assigning him the commodities royall of that Realme which bred some bickering betweene the Earle of Vlster Sir Richard Burke and Gavestone who notwithstanding bought the hearts of the Souldiours with his liberality subdued Obrene edified sundry Castles cawswayes and bridges but within three yeares he retyred from Flaunders into England where the nobles besieged him at Scarborough and smit off his head Iohn VVogan Lord Iustice summoned a Parliament at Kilkenny where wholesome lawes were ordained but never executed There fell the Bishops in argument about their Iurisdictions and in especiall the Archbishop of Divelin forbad the Primate of Ardmagh to lift up his crosyer within the province of Leinster In ratifying of which priviledge I have seene the coppy of Pope Honorius Bull exemplified among the recordes of S. Patricks Church shortly after Rowland Ioyce then Primate stale by night in his pontificals from Howth to the priory of Gracedieu where the Archbishops servants met him and violently chased him out of all the diocesse This Archbishop was named Iohn Aleeke after whose death were elected in scisme division of sides two successours Thorneburgh Lord Chancellor and Bignore Treasurer of Ireland The Chancellor to strengthen his election hastily went to sea and perished by shipwracke the other submitting his cause to the processe of law tarryed at home and sped Theobald de Verdon Lord Iustice. Sixe thousand Scots fighting men under the conduct of Edward Bruise brother to Robert King of Scotland also the Earle Murray Iohn Menteith Iohn Steward and others landed in the north of Ireland ioyned with the Irish and conquered Vlster gave the Englishmen three notable overthrowes crowned the said Bruise King of Ireland burned Churches and Abbeyes with all the people found therein men women and children Then was Sir Edmund Butler chosen Lord Iustice who combined the Earle of Vlster and the Geraldines in friendship himselfe with Sir Iohn Mandevill and preserved the rest of the Realme In the necke of these troubles arose foure Princes of Connaght to impaire and scatter the English force But then the Burckes and the Berninghams discomfited and slew the number of eleaven thousand besides Athenry To Sir Richard Berningham belonged a lusty young swayne Iohn Hussee whom his Lord commanded to take a view of the dead carcasses about the walles and bring him word whether Okelly his mortall foe were slaine among them Hussee passed forth with one man to turne up and peruse the bodies All this marked Okelly who lurking in a bush thereby being of old time well acquainted with the valiantnes truth of Hussee sore longed to traine him from his Captaine and presuming now upon this opportunity disclosed himself said Hussee thou seest I am at all points armed and have my Esquire a manly man besides me thou art thin and thy page a youngling so that if I loved not thee for thine owne sake I might betray thee for thy Masters But come and serve me at my request I promise thee by S. Patrickes staffe to make thee a Lord in Connaght of more ground then thy Master hath in Ireland When these wordes waighed him nothing his owne man a stout lubber began to reprove him for not relenting to so rich a proffer assured him with an oath whereupon hee proffered to gage his soule for performance Now had Hussee three enemies and first he turned to his owne knave and him he slew next hee raught to Okellyes Squire a great rappe under the pit of his eare which overthrew him Thirdly he bestirred himselfe so nimbly that ere any helpe could be hoped for he had also slaine Okelly and perceiving breath in the Squire he drawed him up againe forced him upon a truncheon to beare his Lords head into the high towne which presented to Bermingham and the circumstances declared he dubbed Hussee Knight and him advaunced to many preferments whose family became afterwards Barons of Galtrime While the Scots were thus matched Robert de Bruise King of Scots tooke shore at Cragsergus to assist his brother whose Souldiours committed sacriledge and impiety against Monasteries Tombes Altars Virgins robbed Churches of all their plate and ornaments They of Vlster sent to the Lord Iustice pittifull supplication for aide in this misery who delivered them the Kings power and standerd wherewith under pretence to expell the Scots they raunged through the country with more grievance and vexation to the subjects then did the strangers Le Bruise proceeded and spoyled Cashell and wheresoever he lighted upon the Butlers lands those hee burned and destroyed unmercifully By this time had the Lord Iustice and Thomas Fitz Iohn Earle of Kildare Richard de Clare and Arnold de Powere Baron of Donoile furnished and armed thirty thousand men ready to set forward Then came newes that VVilliam de Burgo the Earles brother was taken by the Scots whereof the Irish of Vlster imboldened with the presence of the Scotish Army and with the late discomfiture which Earle Richard Burcke sustained at Coynes denyed their alleagiance openly and conspired in the behalfe of Edward le Bruise whom they proclaimed King The Lord Iustice had assembled such force against them under the leading of the Geraldines and Poweres that each of them was thought sufficient by himselfe to winne the field But suddainely the two Captaines and their adherents squared so as no good conclusion might be inferred Roger Mortimer trusting by their discention to imbeazell a
the inhabitants of the county towne of Corke being tyred with perpetuall oppressions of their Irish borderers complained themselves in a generall writing directed to the Lord of Rutheland and Corke the Kings Deputy and to the Councell of the Realme then assembled at Divelin which Letter because it openeth the decay of those partes and the state of the Realme in times past I have thought good to enter here as it was delivered me by Francis Agard Esquire one of her Majesties privy Councell in Ireland It may please your wisedomes to have pittie of us the Kings poore subjects within the county of Corke or else we be cast away for ever for where there was in this countie these Lords by name besides Knights Esquiers Gentlemen and Yeoman to a great number that might dispend yearelie 800. pounds 600. pounds 400. pounds 200. pounds 100. pounds 100. markes 20. pounds 20. markes 10. pounds some more some lesse to a great number besides these Lords following First the Lord Marquesse Caro his yearely revenues was besides Dorzey Hauen and other Creekes 2200. pounds sterling The Lord Barnevale of Bearehaven his yearely revenues was beside Bearehaven and other Creekes 1600. pounds sterling The Lord Vggan of the great Castle his yearely revenues was besides havens and creekes 1300. pounds sterling The Lord Balram of Emforte his yearely revenues was besides havens and creekes 1300. pounds sterling The Lord Courcy of Kilbretton his yearely revenues besides havens and creekes 1500. pounds sterling The Lord Mandevil of Barrenstelly his yearely revenues besides havens and creekes 1200. pounds sterling The Lord Arundell of the strand his yearely revenues besides havens and creekes 1500. pounds sterling The Lord Baron of the Guard his yearely revenues besides havens and creekes 1100. pounds sterling The Lord Sleynie of Baltimore his yearely revenue besides havens and creekes 800 pounds sterling The Lord Roche of Poole-castle his yearely revenue besides havens and creekes 1000. pounds sterling The Kings Majesty hath the Lands of the late young Barry by forfeiture the yearely revenue whereof besides two rivers and creekes and all other casualties is 1800. pounds sterling And at the end of this Parliament Your Lordship with the Kings most noble Councell may come to Corke and call before you all these Lords and other Irish men and binde them in paine of losse of life lands and goods that never any of them doe make warre upon another without licence or cōmandement of you my Lord Deputy the Kings Councell for the utter destruction of these parts is that onely cause and once all the Irish men and the Kings enemies were driven into a great valley called Glanehought betwixt two great mountaines called Maccorte or the leprous Iland and their they lived long and many yeares with their white meat till at the last these English Lords fell at variance among themselves and then the weakest part tooke certaine Irish men to take his part and so vanquished his enemy and thus fell the English Lords at variance among themselves till the Irish men were stronger then they and drave them away and now have the whole country under them but that the Lord Roche the Lord Courcy and the Lord Barry onely remaine with the least part of their auncestors possessions and young Barry is there upon the Kings portion paying his Grace never a penny Rent Wherefore we the Kings poore subjects of the Citty of Corke Kinsale and Yowghall desire your Lordship to send hither two good Iustices to see this matter ordered and some English Captaines with twenty English men that may be Captaines over us all and we will rise with them to redresse these enormities all at our owne costs And if you doe not we be all cast away and then farewell Mounster for ever And if you will not come nor send we will send over to our Liege Lord the King and complaine on you all Thus farre the letter And at this day the Citty of Corke is so encumbred with unquiet neighbours of great power that they are forced to watch their gates continually to keepe them shut at service times at meales from sunne set to sunne arising nor suffer any stranger to enter there with his weapon but to leave the same at a lodge appointed They walke out for recreation at seasons with strength of men furnished they match in wedlocke among themselves so that welnigh the whole citty is allyed together It is to be hoped that the late sent over Lord President of Mounster Sir Iohn Parrot who hath chosen the same place to abide in as having greatest neede of a Governour resident would ease the inhabitants of this feare and scourge the Irish Outlawes that annoy the whole region of Mounster Henry the 4. in the 10. yeare of his raigne gave the Sword to the Citty of Divelin which Citty was first governed as appeareth by their auncient seale called Signum propositurae by a Provost and in the 14. yeare of H. the 3. by a Major two Bayliffes which Bayliffes were changed into Sheriffes by Charter of Edward the 6. an 1547. This Majorality both for state and charge of that office and for the bountifull hospitality exceedeth any Citty in England except London While Henry the 5. reigned I finde lieutenants and deputyes of Ireland specially remembred Iohn Talbott of Hollamshire Lord of Furnyvall Thomas de Lancaster Senischa of England and Stephen le Scroope his Deputy Iohn Duke of Bedford then also Lord Keeper of England and the noble Earle of Ormond Sir Iames Butler whose grandsire was Iames surnamed the chast for that of all vices hee most abhorred the sinne of the flesh and in subduing of the same gave notable example In the red Moore of Athye the sun almost lodged in the West and miraculously standing still in his epicycle the space of three houres till the feat was accomplished and no pit in that bogge annoying either horse or man on his part he vanquished Omore and his terrible Army with a few of his owne and with the like number Arthur Mac Murrough at whose might and puissance all Leinster trembled To the imitation of this mans worthinesse the compiler of certaine precepts touching the rule of a Common-wealth exciteth his Lord the said Earle in diverse places of that Worke incidently eftsoones putting him in minde that the Irish beene false by kinde that it were expedient and a worke of Charity to execute upon them willfull and malicious transgressours the Kings Lawes somewhat sharpely That Odempsye being winked at a while abused that small time of sufferance to the injury of the Earle of Kildare intruding unjustly upon the Castle of Ley from whence the said Deputy had justly expelled him and put the Earle in possession thereof that notvvithstanding their oathes and pledges yet they are no longer true then they feele themselves the vveaker This Deputye tamed the Obriens the Burckes Mac-banons Ogaghnraghte Manus Mac
the wretch would never yeeld In the meane while defiance proclaimed with Fraunce Scotland both at once moved the King to returne Surrey out of Ireland that he might employ him in those services his prowesse integrity good nature and course of governement the country much commendeth and honoureth the name and family to this day Pierce Butler Earle of Ossory Lord Deputy Kildare attending the Kings pleasure for his dispatch recovered favour at the instance of the Duke of Suffolke whose daughter Dame Elizabeth Graye he espoused royally and so departed home Now there was a great partaker of all the Deputies Councell one Robert Talbot of Belgard whom the Geraldines hated deadly him they surmized to keepe a Kalender of all their doings and to stirre the coales that incensed brother against brother In which fury Iames Fitz Gerald meeting the said Gentleman besides Ballimore slew him even there journeying to keepe his Christmasse with the Deputy With this despitefull murder both sides brake out into open rage and especially the Countesse of Ossory Kildares sister a rare woman and able for wisedome to rule a Realme had not her stomacke over-rul'd her selfe Heere beganne intimation of new Treasons passing to and fro with complaints and replyes But Suffolke had wrought the canvas so fast in his sonne in lawes behalfe that hee was suffered to rest at home and onely Commissioners directed thither with Authority to examine the roote of their griefes wherein if they found Kildare but even tollerably purged their instructions was to depose the plaintiffe and to sweare the other Lord Deputy The Commissioners were Sir Raphe Egerton a Cheshire Knight Anthony Fitzherbert second Iustice of the Common-pleas and Iames Denton Deane of Lichfield who huddeled up those accusations as they thought good and suddenly tooke the sword from the Earle of Ossory sware the Geraldine Lord Deputy before whom Con Oneale bare the sword that day Concerning the murtherer whom they might have hanged they brought him prisoner into England presented him to Cardinall VVolsey who vvas said to hate Kildares bloud And the Cardinall intending his execution vvith more dishonour to the name caused him to be ledde about London streetes manacled and haltered vvhich asked so long time that the Deane of Lichfield stepped to the King and got the Gentleman his pardon This untimely shift inflamed the Cardinall and ripened the malice hitherto not so ranke and therefore hereafter Ossory brought evident proofes of the Deputies disorder that hee vvilfully vvinked at the Earle of Desmond vvhom hee should have attached by the Kings letters that he curryed acquaintance and friendship vvith meere Irish enemyes that he had armed them against him being the Kings Deputy that he hanged and hevved rashly good subiects vvhom hee mistrusted to leave to the Butlers friendship Yet againe therefore was Kildare commaunded to appeare which he did leaving in his roome Fitz Gerald of Leixlip whom they shortly deprived and chose the Baron of Delvin whom O-Connor tooke prisoner and there the Earle of Ossory to shew his ability of service brought to Divelin an army of Irish-men having Captaines over them Oconnor Omore and O-Carroll and at S. Mary Abbey was chosen Deputie by the Kings Councell In which office being himselfe save onely in feates of Armes a simple gentleman he bare out his honour and the charge of governement very worthily through the singular wisedome of his Countesse a Lady of such port that all Estates of the Realme couched unto her so politique that nothing was thought substantially debated without her advice manlike and tall of stature very rich and bountifull a bitter enemy the onely meane at those dayes whereby her Husbands Countrey was reclaymed from the sluttish and uncleane Irish custome to the English habite bedding house-keeping and civility But to those vertues vvas yoked such a selfe-liking and such a Majesty above the tenure of a subiect that for ensurance thereof shee sticked not to abuse her husbands honour against her brothers follye Notvvithstanding I learne not that shee practised his undoing vvhich ensued and vvas to her undoubtedly great heavinesse as upon vvhom both the blemish thereof and the sustenance of that vvhole family depended after but that shee by indirect meanes vvrought her Brother out of credite to advance her husband the common voyce and the thing it selfe speaketh All this vvhile abode the Earle of Kildare at the Court and vvith much adoe found shift to bee called before the Lords to ansvvere solemnely They sate upon him diversely affectioned and especially the Cardinall Lord Chauncellour disliked his cause comforted his accusers and enforced the Articles obiected and vvhat else soever could be gathered thereof in these words I wot well my Lord that I am not the meetest man at this Board to charge you with these treasons because it hath pleased some of your pew-fellowes to report that I am a professed enemie to all Nobilitie and namely to the Geraldines but seeing every curst boy can say asmuch when he is controlled and seeing these points are so vveightie that they should not be dissembled of us and so apparant that they cannot be denyed of you I must have leave notwithstanding your stale slaunder to be the mouth of these honorable persons at this time and to trumpe your Treasons in your way howsoever you take me First you remember how the lewde Earle your kinsman who passeth not whom he serve might he change his Master sent his confederates with letters of credence to Frauncis the French King and having but cold comfort there to Charles the Emperour proffering the helpe of Mounster and Connaght towards the conquest of Ireland if either of them vvould helpe to vvinne it from our King Hovv many letters vvhat precepts vvhat messages vvhat threats have been sent you to apprehend him and yet not done vvhy so forsooth I could not catch him Nay nay Earle forsooth you vvould not nighly vvatch him If he be justly suspected vvhy are you partiall in so great a charge If not vvhy are you fearefull to have him tryed Yea Sir it vvil be svvorne deposed to your face that for feare of meeting him you have vvinked vvilfully shunned his sight altered your course vvarned his friends stopped both eyes and eares against his detectors and vvhensoever you tooke upon you to hunt him out then vvas hee sure before-hand to bee out of your vvalke surely this juggling and false-play little became either an honest man called to such honour or a Nobleman put in such trust Had you lost but a Covv or a Garron of your ovvne tvvo hundred Kyrneghes vvould have come at your vvhistle to rescue the prey from the uttermost edge of Vlster All the Irish in Ireland must have given you the vvay But in pursuing so vveightie a mater as this mercifull God hovv nice how dangerous how wayward have you bin One while he is from home another while he keepeth home sometimes fled sometimes in the borders
neither our service nor our good meaning towards our Princes crowne availeth yet say not hereafter but in this open hostility which wee professe heere and proclaime we have shewed our selves no villaines nor churles but warriours and Gentlemen This Sword of estate is yours and not mine I received it with an oath and have used it to your benefit I should offend mine honour if I turned the same to your annoyance now have I neede of mine owne sword which I dare trust as for this common sword it flattereth me with a golden scabberd but hath in it a pestilent edge already bathed in the Geraldines blood and whetted it selfe in hope of a destruction save your selves from us as from your open enemies I am none of Henryes Deputy I am his foe I have more minde to conquere then to governe to meete him in the field then to serve him in office If all the hearts of England and Ireland that have cause thereto vvould joyne in this quarrell as I trust they will then should he be a by-word as I trust he shall for his heresie lechery and tyranny wherein the age to come may skore him among the auncient Princes of most abhominable and hatefull memorie With that he rendred up the sword and flang away like a Bedlam adding to his shamefull Oration many other slanderous and foule termes which for regard of the Kings posteritie I have no minde to utter They concluded first to murther all of the English birth in Ireland and sent an ambassador to Paulus the 3 called Mac Granell archdeacon of Kelles and rejected thence to Charles the fift whose Aunt Queene Katherine the King had lately cast off with much indignation of all the Spaniards him hee thought eith to be kindled and craved assistance to conquer the land which he promised to hold under him his heires for ever The meane while he forced an oath upon Gentlemen of every shire to ayde him camped within the pale reared a great army of English Irish and Scots invaded the Earle of Ossory and Iames his sonne Lord Butler who having intelligence thereof prevented his fury and kept those parts in order When the Butlers had stopped his rage in Mounster he fell to parlyes and treatyes with them sent them diverse messengers and letters whereby he covenanted to devide with them halfe the Kingdome would they assist his enterprise Iames Lord Treasurer in whom for their youth and acquaintance he most affied and often accumbred with such temptations finally returned his brokers with letters Taking pen in hand to write you my resolute answere I muse in the very first line by what name to call you my Lord or my Cousin seeing your notorious treason hath distayned your honour and your desperate lewdnes shamed your kindred your are so liberall in parting stakes with mee that a man would weene you had no right to the game so importunate in craving my company as if you would perswade me to hang with you for good fellowship And thinke you that Iames is so mad to gape for gudgens or so ungratious to sell his truth for a peece of Ireland were it so as it cannot be that the Chickens you reckon were both hatched and feathered yet be thou sure I had rather in this quarrell die thine enemy then live thy partner for the kindnes you proffer mee and good love in the end of your letter the best way I can I purpose to requite that is in advising you though you have fetched your feaze yet to looke well ere you leape over Ignorance and error and a certaine opinion of duty hath carried you unawares to this folly not yet so ranke but it may be cured The King is a vessell of bounty and mercy your words against his Majesty shall not bee counted malicious but rather balked out for heat and impotency except your selfe by heaping offences discover a mischievous and willfull meaning Farewell Nettled with this round answere forth he passed to increase his power offered violence to very few except that one despitous murther at Tartaine the twenty five of Iuly where in a morning earely he caused to be brought before him the honourable Prelate Doctour Allen Archbishop of Divelin and Lord Chancellor who being a reverent personage feeble for age and sicknesse kneeling at his feete in his shirte and mantle bequeathing his soule to God his body to the Traytors mercy the wretched young man commaunded there to be brained like an oxe The place is ever since hedged in overgrowne and unfrequented in detestation of the fact The people have observed that all the accessaries thereof being after pardoned for rebellion ended miserably Allen had beene in service with Cardinall VVolsey of deepe judgement in the Cannon law the onely match of Stephen Gardener another of VVolseyes Chaplaines for avoyding of which emulation he was preferred in Ireland rough and rigorous in Iustice hated of the Geraldines for his Masters sake his owne as he that crossed them diverse times and much troubled both the father and sonne in their governements nor unlike to have promoted their accusations All this while the Kings army was looked for and no succour came to the rebels which greatly quayled them being of themselves though stored with souldiours yet unfurnished with any sufficient munition to stand in a maine battell Moreover the number of wise Gentlemen did not greatly incline to his purpose And therefore when he besieged the City of Divelin the most part of those arrowes which were shot over the walles were unheaded and little or nothing affrayed them That espied the citizens and gathering the faintnes of his souldiours thereby blazed abroad upon the walles triumphant newes that the Kings Army was arryved and as it had beene so indeed suddenly rushed out of their gates uppon the Rebels who at the first sight of armed men weening no lesse but the truth was so otherwise assured that the Citty would never dare to incounter them gave ground forsooke their Captaines dispersed and scattered into diverse corners and never after met together A little before this time dyed the Earle of Kildare in the towre of London for thought and paine Sir VVilliam Skevington whom the Irish men call the gunner because hee was preferred from that office of the Kings Master-gunner to governe them and that they can full evill brooke to be ruled of any that is but meanely borne brought over an Army and with him Leonard Gray a younger sonne to the Marquesse Dorset Lord Marshall To whom Fitz Gerald yeelded and vvas sent into England vvhere hee vvith his Vncles and other principalls of the conspiracy vvere aftervvards dravvne hanged and quartered at Tiburne Soone after vvas the house of the Geraldines attaynted by Parliament and all of the name busily trayned out for feare of nevv commotions But Thomas Leurus late Bishop of Kildare schoole-master to a younger brother Gerald Fitz Gerald the Earle that novv liveth secretly stale avvay vvith
enterludes as no man remeÌ„breth the like He tooke ship towards England at the key of Divelin in Lent follovving accoÌ„panied to sea with the Estates Worshipfull of Ireland vvith innumerable harty prayers vvith that vvish of his returne vvhereof but fevv Governours in these last 60. yeares have held possession The man vvas surely much loved of them from his first office of Treasurer in the 2. yeare of Queen Mary stately vvithout disdaine familiar vvithout contempt very continent chast of body no more then enough liberall learned in many languages a great lover of learning perfect in blazoning of armes skilfull of antiquities of vvit fresh and lively in consultations very Temperate in utterance happy vvhich his experience and vvisedome hath made artificiall a preferrer of many a father to his servants both in warre and peace of commendable courage FINIS Faults escaped PAge 2. line 19. countie· p. 6. l. 24. Inchequin l. 26. de Burgo l. 28. Vlick 29. Thomond 34. Clancar p. 7. l. â—7 Killeene l. 32. Donsany 35. Beare-haven p. 8. l. 4. Brune l. 19. Doceter or D'exeter l. 22. Inchequin l. 29. Thomastowne p. 12. l. 12. Hiberus p. 21. in the â—argons for Dom reade mundi p. 22. l. 17. monarchy p. 30. l. 25. after purpose reade our p. 38. l. 36. for Mounster r. Vlster p. 46. l. 33. after Clerke adde astonished p. 61. l. 12. extreamely p. 65. l 7. coadiutors l. 30. Aldeâ—m p. 77. l. 13. after Knight adde 10. p. 82. l. 15. Birminghameâ— p. 84. l. 2. for Mounster r. Leinster l. 3. O-Tooles O-Birnes l. 37. Maupas p. 85. l. 11. Bignore p. 87. in the margent 1329. p. 90. l. 9. after Archâ—r adde Prior. l. 12. Kenwrick p. 93. in marg l. 2. 1399. p. 96. l. 32. prapofitâ—â—a p. 101. l. 5. least p. 105. l. 21. crosse out the first and. p. 118. l. 15. Rowks p. 123. l. 8. O Connor p. 136. l. 9. cheque rolles The lesser faults are as easily amended as found out by the Reader THE CHRONICLE OF IRELAND COLLECTED BY MEREDITH HANMER Doctor of Diuinity The second part THree hundred yeeres after the flood one Bartholanus the sonne of Sera with his three sonnes Languinus Salanus and Ruthurugus and their wives of the posterity of Iaphet are said to have arrived in this Island This opinion followeth Giraldus Cambrensis and him followeth Polychronicon and my selfe not meaning to swarve from the common opinion thought good to acquaint the posterity therewith With this Bartholanus as their Captaine came many of that line and multiplied exceedingly for the space of 300 yeeres to the number of 9000 fighting men Little is remembred of Bartholanus saving that with many hands he rid and made plaine a great part of the Country making paces thorow woods and thickets and that his sonnes left doubtfull remembrances of their names the first to Languinus Poole the second to mount Salanga since named Saint Dominicks hill and the third to Ruthurugus his Poole At the same time according to the common saying Where God hath his Church the Devill hath his Chappell many of the cursed seed of Cham arrived also in this Island with their Captaine Oceanus the sonne of Cham called of some Mena of Moses Mitzraim First he was in the yeere of the world 1802 the second Commander of Aegypt planted Colonies along the river Nilus and after hee had reigned there 7 yeeres he endevoured by navigation to subdue unto his Empire many parts of the world Thus waxing strong and mighty upon the seas hee prevailed much and travelled farre hee came to these North parts of the world landed many of his followers and in remembrance of his voyage left his name upon the seas which wash these lands which of him is yet called the Ocean sea After his departure hence his cursed line multiplied not so much in number as in all mischiefe and rebellion they set up a King of their owne they opposed themselves against the posterity of Iaphet they were great in strength and huge of stature and attempted great matters after the example of Cham or Zoroastres the Magician and Nimrod grandfather to Ninus they repined at the blessings bestowed upon Sem aâ—d Iaphet thinking it necessary to withstand and prevent all lawfull rule and dominion lest the curse of slavery prophecied by Noah should light upon them as at length it did Many bickerings and skirmishes were amongst them the successe was variable on both sides betweene the lawfull governours and these usurpers so much to the griefe of them that coveted to live in peace under their rightfull Princes that they determined with the chance of one generall battell either wholly to subdue those rebellious miscreants and tyrannous Giants or else to end their lives in freedome and so to be rid of farther misery They assemble together they gather their forces out of all parts of the land and comming to joyne battell with the Giants after they had fought fiercely together for the space of certaine houres the victory inclined to the rightfull part so that the lawfull Kings prevailing against this cursed brood great slaughter was made upon the whole sort of that pestiferous generation and the Kings meaning to deliver themselues of all dangers in time to come used their happy victory with great cruelty which turned to their owne confusion For they spared neither man woman nor child that came in their way for more despite and fuller satisfaction of their determinate revenge neither vouchsafed they to bury the carkasses of their slaine enemies but cast them out like a sort of dead dogs whereof through stinke of the same such an infective pestilence insued in all places throughout the Island by corruption of the ayre that few escaped with life except those that got them away by sea yea the infection was so great of those cursed carkasses of Cham his posterity that the dogs and wolves died thereof And here ended the whole race of Bartholanus and his of-spring and the Country excepting a few silly soules scattered in remote places was unpeopled And here commeth in a tale yet in great request among the Irish how that one Ruanus a Giant fearing this mortality fled into a cave and continued there till nature forced him to come forth for food and nourishment so hungry was hee that every thing was meat that came to his mouth hee covering his face with mosse and grasse fled to the farthest parts of the land into the winde to avoid the infection and so for a long time hauing taking the advantage of the ayre escaped death He is said to have lived two thousand and one and forty yeeres which is more then twice the age of Methushelah vnto the time forsooth of Saint Patrick to whom hee discoursed at large say they of all the accidents of former times In the end he was of Saint Patrick baptized and died after the birth of our Saviour
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
take possession of the Kings graunt given him in those parts As they came to the walles of Lymerick the Citizens of spight in sight of them all to the end that no Englishman should roost there set the Town on fire Philippe de Bruse was therewithal discouraged and his Company in so much that when Robert Fitz Stephens and Miles Cogan offred to adventure their lives in the recovery of the Kingdome of Lymerik with all their aide and assistance he refused it and returned with them to Corke esteeming it farre better to lose Lymric and with safetie to dwell among his lovers and friends then to lose life and kingdome by dwelling among such Iewes as will fire their owne houses and cut all English throats In a while after Miles Cogan and Raffe the sonne of Robert Fitz Stephens who had lately married Miles daughter went towards Lismore to parlee with Waterford men and determined that night to lodge with one Mac Tyrid who had solemnly invited them As they waited in the field expecting the comming of the Waterfordians this Mac Tyrid unawares stealing upon them most traiterously slue them and five of their company whereupon the whole country was in uproare insomuch that Dermot Mac Carty and all the Irish in those parts together with Mac Tyrid that most perfidious traitor were in armes determining thenceforth to be no longer the Kings loyall subjects when they had gathered their forces together they laid siege to Corke meaning to cut off Robert Fitz Stephens and all the English men there Robert Fitz Stephens being distressed in Corke fearing the open enemy without and mistrusting the secret enemy within sent post to Wexford to his nephew Reimond le Grosse praying him to come to his aide Reimund forthwith with twenty knights and one hundred foot and bowmen entred the Lee landed at Corke encountred with the enemies killed some drove other to flye and compelled the rest to submit themselves and sue for peace When the King understood of this he sent Richard Cogan brother unto Miles to supply his brothers roome in the kingdome of Corke a man no way inferiour to his brother for valour and martiall prowesse in his companie came Philip Barry and Girald Barry his brother otherwise called Silvester Giraldus Cambrensis the famous learned man nephewes of Robert Fitz Stephens with a jolly troupe of horse and foot chosen and picked men Robert Fitz Stephens and Richard Cogan enjoyed this kingdome of Corke peaceably for certaine yeeres and in processe of time for want of heires male of them it came to two daughters the one of them was married to Robert de Carew the other to Patricke de Courcy and they in right of their wives enjoyed the same during their lives and after them their heires untill such time as by a division growne as I take it in England betweene the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster the Irish men expelled them and recovered the country unto themselues Anno 1178. The Monasterie Beatae Mariae Roseae vallis called Rosglâ—s was founded Yet others thinke it was in Anno 1189. I may not forget Harvey de monte Marisco of whom often mention is made before who after many spitefull parts treacheries and false accusations exhibited by him unto the King against most noble servitors became a Monke the man was sore troubled in conscience and in his course he made the common saying true desperatio facit Monachum Hee had founded saith Felcon the Monastery of our blessed Lady de Portu Donbrodthi he gaue unto the Monasterie Saint Trinitatis of Canterbury his territories advousons along the sea coast between Waterford and Wexford and there cloystred himselfe I would saith Cambrensis he had changed his conditions with his habit The same yeere saith Holinshed there came from Pope Alexander 3. into England two Cardinals Alberto desuma and Petro de sancta Agatha whose commission was to summon the Bishops of England Ireland Scotland with the Isles and Normandie to the generall Councell of Lateran in Rome after they had obtained licence to passe through his dominions the King swore them upon the holy Evangelist that in their Legateship they should not attempt any thing that might be hurtfull to the King or his dominions and that upon their returne they should visite him homewards whereupon out of Ireland there went thither Laurence Archbishop of Dublin and Catholicus Archbishop of Tuam with some other five or sixe Irish Bishops whom the King likewise swore that they should not procure any damage to his Realmes and dominions The Realme of Ireland at this time was singular well governed by Hugh de Lacy a good man and a wise Magistrate who for the good of the land and the people established many good orders he made Bridges and builded Townes Castles and Forts throughout Leinster as Sir Iohn de Courcy did in Vlster in his time the Priest kept his Church the Souldier his Garrison and the Plow-man followed his Plough yet cankred envy quieted not her selfe practised mischiefe against him so that he was charged before the King to attempt the Crowne of Ireland and make himselfe absolute Lord of the land and that he had married the King of Connaghts daughter saith Holinshed contrary to the Kings pleasure The King immediately as Princes are jealous of great men called him into England appointed governours Iohn Constable and Richard Peche This Lacy behaved himselfe so discreetly and dutifully in England that he cleered himselfe of all suspition that the King was resolved of his truth and fidelity and sent him backe againe into Ireland with further credit then formerly he had done and that within three moneths and gave him the absolute command and Lievetenantship of the land and joyned as assistant unto him Robert Salisbury calling home the former governours It was not long but he was upon malitious occasion the second time sent for into England and one Philip of Worcester Cambrensis is mine Author a valiant souldier a bountifull and a liberall man with a most brave troupe of horse and foot arrived in Ireland with command to send over Hugh de Lacy and he to remaine there as Governour of the land until Iohn his sonne came over Stanihurst is of opinion that he went over into England and cleering himselfe speedily returned againe which cannot well stand with the course of the history for when Philip of Worcester tooke upon him the governement Lacy hastened the building and finishing of the Castle of Derwath whereof my penne immediately shall make report and there ended his dayes And now to Philip of Worcester and his companion Hugh Tirell Cambrensis and Stanihurst especially write most bitter of them of Philip how that first of all he resumed and seized unto the Kings use the lands of Ocathesie and divers other parcels which Hugh de Lacy had sold away and these he appointed to serve for the Kings provision and the Governours diet And after the winter was past he assembled and mustred
Robin Hood that he was an Earle and after outrages by him committed he kept the woods his company was of some hundred persons all chosen and picked Archers of singular strength to handle their weapons and such as durst encounter with 400. others they robbed none but the rich as Tanners and Grasiers and Vsurers and Bishops Priests and fat Abbots they shed no bloud they killed no man releeved themselves and the poore also with their spoyles Robin Hood after many theevish feats fell sicke went into a Nunnery in Scotland to be let bloud where he was betrayed and bled to death wherupon the company brake and the crue dispersed themselves every man to shift for himselfe little Iohn came to Ireland with many of his confederates and found in the woods enough to fit his humour and fell so much to his old occupation that he was faine to flye the land In the end he went to Scotland and there died There are memorable acts reported of him which I hold not for truth that he would shoot an arrow a mile off and a great deale more but them I leave among the lyes of the land Anno 1191. the Monasterie de iugo Dei was founded Anno 1193. King Richard after many most valiant exploits in the Holy Land the which I hold not so necessary for this place after the drowning of Fredericke the Emperour and after the sudden and envious departure of Philippe King of France hearing the conspiracy of the said Philippe and the treason of his brother Iohn aspiring to the Crowne of England made peace with the Saladine for three yeres and with a small company returning homewards was taken prisoner by Leopold Duke of Austria who brought him to Henry the Emperour and there kept him in prison a yeere and 5. months untill he had paid his ransome which was Anno 1194. Hee was received into England with the joy and applause of all true harts and having setled the affaires of the Realme in due sort he went into France where he had much a doe with the French King the which for brevities sake I doe omit and yet one memorable act of his I may not omit and thus it was There came unto him one Fulco a Priest who with great courage and boldnesse said Thou hast O Mighty King three daughters very vicious and of evill disposition take good heed of them and betimes provide them good husbands to whom the King in rage answered thâ—u errant lyar and shamelesse hypocrit thou knowest not where thou art nor what thou sayest I weene thou art not well in thy wits for I have never a daughter as the world will beare me witnesse get thee out of our presence To whom Fulco replyed If it like your Grace I lye not but say truth for you have three daughters which continually frequent your Court and more is the pitty wholly possesse your person I meane Pride Covetousnesse and Leachery The King thereat smiled and called his Lords and Barons unto him and related what Fulco had delivered unto him and thereupon gave his resolution Here before you all I doe presently bestow my three daughters First I give my daughter swelling Pride to the proud Templars my greedy daughter Avarice to the covetous Order of the Cistercian Monkes and my daughter Leachery to the wanton Prelats of the Church This noble King went to besiege a Town called Chalus Cheverell in Poitou in the confines of Britaine where unlooked for from the wall of the Towne he was wounded with a venomed arrow out of a Crosbow whereof shortly after hee died afore his death hee sent for him that was the cause of his death forgave him yea gave him money in his purse but after his death he was apprehended and cut off with cruell tortures Lastly King Richard tooke order for his buriall thus he bequeathed his body to Fount Ebrad there to lye at his fathers feet whom in his life time he had offended his heart to Roan that had alwayes been true unto him and his bowels to Chalus Cheverell where he tooke his death for that filth was fit for them that had beene unto him both false and rebellious Mathew Paris hath is Epitaph thus Ad Chalus cecidit Rex regni cardo Richardus His ferus his humilis his agnus his Leopardus Casus erat lucis Chalus Per secula nomen Non intellectum fuerat sed nominis omen Non patuit res clausa fuit sed luce cadente Prodiit in lucem pro casu lucis ademptae Againe of his legacie Pictavus exta ducis sepelit tellusque Chalutis Corpus dat claudi sub marmore fontis Ebrandi Neustria tuque tegis cor inexpugnabile Regis Sic loca per trina se sparsit tanta ruina Nec fuit hoc funus cui sufficeret locus unus Iohn the fift sonne of Henry the second Earle Morton alias Mortaigne and Lord of Ireland as formerly hath beene delivered by the gift of his brother King Richard the first Earle of Cornwall Dorset Sommerset Nottingham Darby Lancaster and in the right of his marriage Earle of Glocester was Crowned at Westminster King of England Anno 1199. Hee was first married to Isabell whom the Britaines called Hawise and the Cornish Avis daughter to Robert Earle of Glocester who for that they were found within the third degree were divorced so that King Iohn left both the Lady Isabell and the Earledome of Glocester whereupon by the advice of Philip King of France he matched in holy wedlocke with Isabell daughter to Amerie Earle of Angolesme This Isabell if not married had beene affianced to Hugh Brune Earle of March a Noble man of Aquitaine who gave battaile in that quarell to King Iohn and was discomfitted yet after the death of King Iohn hee had her to wife Immediatly upon the Coronation of Henry the third who succeeded him broyles beganne in England France and Ireland which had every way a tragicall end Bruse in England Arthure in France and Courcy in Ireland are testimonies thereof But orderly of these as the Nature of the Historie requires Arthure the sonne of Ieffry Plantagenet nephew to King Iohn lived when his uncle Iohn aspired to the Crowne being 16 yeeres of age he was affianced to a daughter of Philippe the French King the said Philippe Knighted him in the field he was Duke of Britain Earle of Anjou Poitiers Maine and Turrow of Normandy He did homage unto his uncle for some and to Philippe for the rest his uncle had him in Iealousie first lest that in processe of time he would make claime to the Crowne secondly for that he adhered too much to the French and the young Prince upon conference with bold spirit told him that he did him wrong and that hee was bound in honour to deliver unto him the Crowne of England with all that thereunto appertained Shortly after it fell out that King Iohn took this Arthure confederate against him with William de
French King with forraigne powers intending an open invasion was driven to prevent further mischiefe as I finde in Polychronicon to surrender his Crowne from his head and to subject his Kingdomes of England and Ireland tributarie to the See of Rome and as his client vassall and feodarie to that See to hold them of Innocentius the Bishop againe England being interdicted and Ireland likewise were after released upon agreement composition and Charter and homage as in the Chronicle of England more at large appeareth The death of King Iohn and the manner of it I referre to the English Chronicles After his decease Henry the third his eldest sonne aged about nine yeeres began his raigne Anno 1216. Anno 1220. and the fourth yeere of Henry the third so writeth Clyn Dowling and Grace together with the English Antiquities in their Irish collections all Meth was wonderfully afflicted and wasted by reason of the priuate quarrels and civill warres betweene William Earle Marshall Earle of Penbroke c. and Sir Hugh de Lacy Earle of Vlster and Lord of Connaght Trimme was besieged and brought to a lamentable plight and when the rage and furie of those garboiles was somewhat mitigated and appeased after the shedding of much bloud the same yeere to prevent afterclaps and subsequent calamities the Castle of Trim was builded About this time certaine worthy persons of great fame and renowne to wit Henry Loudreds Roger Peppard and William Peppard Lords successively de saltu Salmonis and Meiler Fitz Henry one of the first Conquerours paid nature her due sinne her debt and ended their daies It appeareth in Stanihurst that the same yeere that Henry Loudreds died viz. 1220. the Castle of Dublin was builded I meane the walles foure square or quadrangle wise but the foure Turrets and the other afterwards Sir Henry Sidney is said to have builded the inner lodgings in whose eternall commendation I finde in the said Stanihurst these verses Gesta libri referunt multorum clara virorum Laudis in chartis stigmata fixa manent Verum Sidnaei laudes haec saxa loquuntur Nec jacet in solis gloria tanta libris Si libripereant homines remanere valebunt Si pereant homines ligna manere queant Lignaque si pereant non ergo saxa peribunt Saxaque si pereant tempore tempus erit Si pereat tempus minime consumitur aevum Quod cum principio sed sine fine manet Dum libri florent homines dum vivere possunt Dum quoque cum lignis saxa manere valent Dum remanet tempus dum denique remanet aevum Laus tua Sydnaei digna perire nequit Anno 1224 Abbatia de Albo tractu was founded By generall consent of Antiquaries after the death of Henry Loudres spoken of before Maurice Fitz Gerald was by Henry the third made Lord Iustice of Ireland and afterwards fell in the Kings displeasure and was removed but the yeeres they agree not upon wherein I finde great discord The English Chronicle of Ireland delivereth that hee was made Lord Iustice Anno 1228. Florilegus and Holinshed write that he was removed from his Iusticeship Anno 1245. and Iohn Fitz Ieffery substituted in his roome Mathew Paris writeth that hee was removed Anno 1248 but howsoever they have mistaken the yeeres or whether the fault of the Printer crept in it forceth not I am to deliver to the reader the truth of the history and the most worthy service of this Noble man with the yeeres and the time as neere as I can Anno 1229. in the raigne of Henry the third Maurice Fitz Girald being Lord Iustice Mathew Paris and Holinshed write the storie one Stephen Chapplen and Nuntio to Pope Gregory came to King Henry with the Popes Apostolike Mandates and procuration letters requiring of spirituall temporall throughout England Ireland and Wales the tenth of all their moveables to the maintenance of his warres against Fredericke the Emperour At the day and place appointed when the King and his Lords spirituall and temporall met together and the Nuntio had read his letters the King was silent reputed saith mine Author as consenting thereto the Earles and Barons saith Paris all the Laytie said flatly that they would give the Pope no tenths neither subject their Baronies and locall possessions to the Church of Rome the Clergie after three or foure dayes deliberation fearing the thunderbolts of excommunication with grudging and murmurs and many a bitter curse yeelded yet Ranulphus Earle of Chester alone stood stoutly in the cause and would not permit the Clergie of his country to become in bondage neither to contribute the said tenths though England Wales Scotland and Ireland were compelled to pay Ireland sent likewise after their money Irish curses for they were driven at the worst hand to sell unto the mercilesse Merchants their Cowes Hackneyes Caddoes and Aqua vitae to make present payment and were driven in that extremitie to pawne and sell their Cups Chalices Copes Altar-clothes and vestments Anno 1230 as I finde recorded in the booke of Houth Hubertus de Burgo was Lord Iustice of Ireland as I gather in the absence of Maurice Fitz Girald to whom the King gave the land ..... and Connaught and made him Earle of Connaught and shortly after ob probitatem fidelititem ex imiam so I reade in Ypodigma Neustria being called into England for his uprightnesse and singular fidelity was made governour of the King Lord Iustice of England and Earle of Kent by the consent of all the Peeres of the Realme afterwards as the course of this world wheeles about hee fell into the Kings displeasure so that he called him old traytor and in his rage would have runne him thorow with his sword had not the Earle of Chester and others runne betweene for that saith Stow hee had taken five thousand markes of the Queene of France to hinder his purpose to avoyd the Kings displeasure this Hubert fled to the Chappell of Brandwood in Essex where he was taken and by commandement of the King sent to the Tower of London all his friends forsooke him none answered for him but the Archbishop of Dublin wherein we may behold as in a Glasse the disposition of feyned friends in former ages who in the Spring of a mans felicity like Swallowes will flye about him but when the winter of adversitie nippeth like Snailes they keepe within their shels at length this Hubert was somewhat reconciled to the Kings favour that he was inlarged yet banished the Court lastly he ended his miseries at his Mannor house of Bansted in Surry and was buried at the Church of the Fryers Preachers at London which was then in Holborne unto the which Church he gave his noble Palace at Westminster the which afterwards Walter Grey the Archbishop of Yorke bought of them and made it his Inne since commonly called Yorke House but now White-Hall So farre Stow Holinshed and others The yeere aforesaid I finde one Ieffery
sister or demaund ward then the inheritance should seeme to be divided so that the eldest sister should seeme to be segnioresse and tennant of inheritance simul semel that is to say heire of her owne part and segnioresse to her sisters which could not stand well together in this case for the eldest can demaund no more then her sisters but the chiefe mease by reason of her auncienty Moreover if the eldest sister should take homage of the yonger she should be as a segnioresse to them all and should have the ward of them and their heires which should be none other but but to cast the Lambe to the Wolfe to be devoured And therefore wee command you that you cause the aforesaid customes that bee used within our Realme of England in this case to bee proclaimed throughout our dominions of Ireland and to be straightly kept and observed in testimony whereof c. I witnesse my selfe at Westminster the ninth of February the thirteeneth yeere of our Raigne Anno 1233. or as some will have it 1234. the 7. of Aprill there appeared as it were foure Sunnes besides the naturall Sunne of a red colour and a great Circle of Christall colour from the sides whereof went out halfe Circles in the divisions whereof the foure Sunnes went forth There followed that yeere great warre and cruell bloodshed general great disturbance throughout England Wales and Ireland so write Matthew Paris and Stow. This troublesome yeere died Gualter Lacy Lord of Meath leaving behind him two daughters coheires to inherit his possession to wit Margret that was maried to the Lord Theobald Verdon and Mathilda married to Ieffray Genevile Amids these troubles in the flourishing daies of Maurice Fitz Gerald Hubert de Burgo Ieffray de Morisco and Gualter de Lacy whose ends followed according The Noble Earle Richard Maxfield Lord Maxfield Earle Marshall of England spoken of before and being by them maligned was traitorously cut off by sundry devilish draughts Matthew Paris wrot the Story at large laid downe their practise on both the sides of the seas their forged letters and secretly as it were by stealth fixing thereto the Kings seale Hee calleth them traitors Iudasses and Ieffery de Morisco he termeth Achitophell that gave wicked counsell Hubert had a lamentable end Ieffery dyed in misery Lacy was shortly cut off and Maurice Fitz Girald was with dishonour removed from his Iusticeship This Maurice of the King desired to bee reconciled to Gilbert Marshall his brother whom he greatly feared and offered in satisfaction to build with all speed a noble Monastery and to endow the same with large possessions and to furnish it with a reverent covent to pray for the soule of Richard Marshall at length with much adoe and importunate intreaty of the King and Nobility of England Gilbert Marshall granted him peace but of Earle Richards end I have spoken somewhat before About the yeere 1233. or 34. Hugh Mapleton Bishop of Ossorie whose Episcopall see was then at Achboo in upper Ossorie began the foundation of the Cathedrall Church now standing in the Irish towne of Kilkenny in the honour of God and Saint Canicus of whom the towne of Kilkenny hath the name and is reckoned the first founder Hee ordained three Canons for the service hee gave them divers Churches and tithes for their maintenance as in the foundation of those Chanons more at large doth appeare He builded the Bishops Court of Aghor adding thereto fish-ponds fishings and other necessaries Such good men lived in those dayes At the same time came the King of Connaught exhibiting a grievous complaint unto Henry the third saith Mathew Paris against Iohn de Burgo the sonne as I suppose of Hubert de Burgo before spoken of that he had entred his country with forces and wasted the same with fire and sword that it would please his Majestie to doe him justice and command such rash attempts to be bridled alledging that he was his loyall subject and paid for his kingdome an annuall pension mounting to the summe of 5000 marks ever since King Iohn had subdued his kingdome and that he would rid him of that base upstart or new commer which sought unjustly to disherit him The King tendred his reasonable requests and commanded Maurice Fitz Girald then present to plucke up by the roote the fruitlesse Plant the which Hubert Earle of Kent had sometime planted in those parts while he was in Ruffe that it might budde no more Hee wrote also unto the Nobilitie of Ireland that they should banish the said Iohn de Burgo and peaceably establish the King in his kingdome who with these princely favours joyfully returned into his country Anno 1235. saith Cooper the Irish men rebelled so hee left it and so I leave it too Anno 1236. Mathew Paris doth write that in the North parts not farre from the Abbey of Rochor Rupie and also in Ireland and the parts there abouts more apparantly strange and wonderfull sights were seene which amazed the beholders to wit there appeared comming forth of the earth companies of armed men on horseback with Speare Shield Sword and banners displaid in sundry formes and shapes riding in battaile array and encountring together and this sight appeared sundry dayes each after other sometimes they seemed to joyne as it had beene in battaile and fought sore and sometimes they seemed to just and breake staves as if it had beene at some triumphant justs of torny The people of the country beheld them a farre off with great wonder for the skirmish shewed it selfe so lively that now and then they might see them come with their empty horses sore wounded and hurt and likewise men mangled and bleeding A pittifull fight to behold and that which seemed more strange and most to be mervailed at after they vanished away the prints of their feet appeared in the ground and the grasse trodden in those places where they had beene seene Anno 1240. Petrus de Supino came from Pope Gregory into Ireland with an authenticke papall mandate requiring under paine of Excommunication and other censures ecclesiasticall the twentieth part part of the whole land besides donatives and private gratuities to the maintenance of his warres against Fredericke the Emperour where he extorted saith Mathew Paris a thousand and five hundred markes and above saith Florilegus at which time also one Petrus Pubeus intitled the Popes Familiar and kinsman and both bastards saith Bale filled in like sort his fardles in Scotland These Nuntioes were so crafty that they needed no Brokers they secretly understood by Posts and Cursitors the state of the Court of Rome which quailed them full sore that the Pope was either gone or panted for life secretly by the conduct of the Monkes of Canterbury they were conveyed to Dover where they tooke shipping and crossed the seas The Emperour Fredericke against whom this provision was made having intelligence thereof and secretly acquainted with the Popes state wrote to the King of England
Felcon over Ireland And all the West of the world and there followed immediatly a continuall untemperature of the ayre with a filthy skurfe the Winter stormy cold and wet which continued untill the 11. of Iuly and put the Gardeners Fruterers and Husbandmen void of all hope in so much they complained that Winter was turned to Summer and Summer to Winter and that they were like to lose all and bee undone Anno 1252. saith Dowling and Grace and the English Anonimus but Clyn and Florilegus write that it was 1254. King Henry gave to Prince Edward his sonne Gascoigne Ireland Wales Bristow Stanford and Grantham and sent him to Alphonsus King of Spaine to take Ellionor his sister to wife where hee was by the said King Knighted and returned together with his wife into England with great riches Anno 1255. Alanus de la Zouch was made Lord Iustice so I finde in the Booke of Houth after his departure out of Ireland hee being a Lord Baron and chiefe Iustice in England Florilegus Humfrey Loid and Stow doe write the Story how hee came to his end great strife rose in England betweene certaine of the Nobility about territories lands and titles whereto each side made claime the matters in controversie by direction from the King were decided in Westminster Hall the first Controversie was betweene Iohn Earle of Surrey and Warren and Hugh de Lacy Earle of Lincolne which went upon Lacy his side The second was betweene this Earle Warren and Allan de la Zouch this Zouch being Chiefe Iustice asked Earle Warren how he held his land Earle Warran drew foorth his sword and said by this mine Ancestors held the same and by this I presently hold it and with that ranne the Chiefe Iustice through in Westminster Hall and in his flight wounded also his sonne thence hee fled to his Castle at Risgate whome Prince Edward the Kings eldest sonne pursued with an Army to whom the Earle submitted himselfe and afterwards with friends and what with money pacified all Anno 1256. in the warres of Lewelin Prince of Wales so I find in the records of Conway Stratflur Copied by Gettine Owen Edward Earle of Chester fell to outrage one while against the King another while against the Welshmen his Army was 1500. foot and 500. horse Henry the third together with Richard Earle of Cornewall and King of Almane wrote unto him gently wishing him to returne to his Country and keepe the peace and not to provoke the Welshmen to Armes the which he refused to doe but sent to the Irishmen for succour and supplies Prince Edward the Kings eldest sonne understanding thereof rigged a Navy met with the Irish fleet killed their men and sunck their ships few onely remaining to returne and to make report of this hard successe in Ireland In a while after the King raised warres against Lewellin Prince of Wales and the Welshmen saith Paris Causa autem eorum etiam hostibus eorum justa videbatur and was brought to a narrow straight so that he sent to Ireland and to Gascoigne for succour the Irishmen not forgetting their late overthrow were loath to come being of all sides driven to serve in the end came and joyned with their Kings forces where no memorable act was performed for God saith Paris defended the poore people that put their whole confidence in him About this time to wit Anno 1256. Florished Iohannes De Sacro Bosco Bale out of Leland will have him to be a Yorkeshire man and terme him Iohn Holyfaxe Stanihurst writeth he was borne in Ireland at Holy Wood in Fingall some 12. miles from Dublin and therefore called Iohannes De Sacro Bosco which carried great likly-hood with it untill they are reconciled which side prevaileth I waigh not greatly I thought good to insert him for so much as his great learning graced him unto the posterity In his springing yeeres hee suckt the sweet milk of good learning in the famous Vniversity of Oxford afterwards he went to Paris where he professed the learned Sciences with singular commendations and there slumbreth in the dust of the earth whose exequies and funerals were there with great lamentations solemnized first hee followed Aristotle afterwards gave himselfe to the Mathematikes and addicted himselfe so much thereto that none of the posterity as is thought could follow him hee wrote De Spaera Mundi lib. 1. Tractatum de spaera quatuor De Algorismo lib. 1. Omnia quae a primeva rerum orig De Anni Ratione lib. 1. Cmoputus scientiam considerans Breviarium Iuris lib. 1. Verborum superficie penitus Vpon his Tombe together with the Mathematicall Astrolabe was insculped as followeth M. Christi bis C. quarto deno quater anno De Sacro Bosco discrevit tempora ramus Gratia cui nomen dederat divina Iohannes Anno 1258. Stepham Espee alias De longa spatha that is Stepham with the long skeine or two handed sword Earle of Salibury as I suppose was made Lord Iustice of Ireland this Stepham gave battell unto Oneile and the rebels of Vlster and Conaght and slue of them together with Oneile saith Clinne in one day three hundred fifty and two and departed this life saith Florilegus 1260. Anno 1260. William Denne was made Lord Iustice in whose time Greene Castle Arx Viridis was destroyed and the Carties plaied the Divells in Desmond where they burned spoiled preyed and slue many an innocent they became so strong and prevailed so mightily that for the space so it is reported of twelue yeeres the Desmonds durst not put plow in ground in his owne Country at length through the operation of Satan a bane of discord was throwen betweene the Carties and the Odriscoles Odonovaies Mac Donoch Mac Mahonna Mac Swines and the inhabittants of Muscrie in so much that by their cruell dissention they weakened themselves of all sides that the Desmond in the end overcame and overtopped them all but in the beginning of these garboils I find that the Carties slue of the Desmonds Iohn Fitz Thomas founder of the Monastery and Covent of Trally together with Maurice his sonne eight Barons 15. Knights beside infinite others at a place called Callan where they were buried Mine Authors are Iohn Clinne onely and the Booke of Houth In the end of these tumults dyed Sir William Denny Lord Iustice Anno 1261. Richardus de Capella otherwise called Rochell Clinne calleth him La Rochell de Capella became Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1262. There rose in Dublin a great stirre betweene the Prior and Covent of the blessed Trinity now called Christ-Church and the Communalty of the City about the tithe fish of the Liffy Anno 1264. Walter Bourke commonly called Walterus de Burgo spoken of before was made Earle of Vlster hee had married the daughter and heire of Sir Hugh Delacy the younger and in her right enjoyed the Earledome The Booke of Houth layeth downe the descent that this
Walter by the said heire of Vlster had issue Walter and hee had issue five daughters 1. Ellen that married Robert le Bruse King of Scotland 2. Elizabeth that married the Earle of Gloster 3. Iohan that married Thomas Earle of Kildare 4. Katherine that married the Earle of Louth 5. Margaret that married the Earle of Desmond the 6. Ellinor that married with the Lord Multon notwithstanding these honourable matches and amity concluded in the outward sight of the world there rose deadly warres between the Giraldins and Burks which wrought blood sheds troubles by partaking throughout the Realme of Ireland at the same time the fury of the Giraldins was so outragious in so much that Morice Fitz Maurice the second Earle of Desmond opposed himselfe against the sword and tooke at Trisledermote now called Castle Dermocke Richard de Capella the Lord Iustice Theoball le Butler and Iohn or Millis de Cogan and committed them to the prisons in Leix and Donamus but the yeere following Henry the third not pleased with these commotions and hurly burlies by mature advice taken of his Councell pacified the variance betweene them discharged Denny of his Iusticeship and appointed David Barry Lord Iustice in his place Anno 1267. David Barry tooke by the appointment of the King the sword of Iusticeship and the command of Ireland and quelled or tamed saith the English Anonymos the insolent dealing of Morice Fitz Maurice Cousin german to Girald The same yeere saith Iohn Clinne the Fryers Preachers first of all settled themselves at Rosse in Wexford and the Minors at Kilkennie and two yeeres after at Clonemell Anno 1268. Conochur Obrian was slaine by Dermot Mac Monard and the same yeere saith Felcon and Clinne Maurice Fitz Gerald Earle of Desmond was drowned crossing the seas between England and Ireland leaving behind him a sonne and heire of the age of 3. yeeres and a halfe The same yeere Robert Vfford became Lord Iustice of Ireland and began to build the Castle of Roscommon Anno 1269. Richard de Excester was made Lord Iustice who dyed the same yeere together with his wife Margery de Say the same yeere saith Florilegus Othobone the Popes Legat held a Councell at Paules in London where he called before him the Clergy of England Wales Ireland and Scotland and left among them certaine constitutions which were afterward commended by Linwood and are at this day in request the which constitutions of Otho and Othobon were afterwards confirmed by the Archbishop of Canterbury in Ed. 1. raigne Holinshead Anno 1270. The Lord Iames Audley was made Lord Iustice of Ireland and dyed with the fall of a horse in his time Florilegus and Holinshead note there was great commotion in Ireland the Irish tooke Armes against the English burned spoiled destroied and slue as well the Magistrates as others Clinne goeth more particularly to worke and delivereth how that the King of Conaght by force of Armes in the plaine field overthrew Walter Burke Earle of Vlster who hardly escaped with life yet dyed the yeere following and slue a great number of Nobles and Knights that held with the Burk and among others by especiall name the Lord Richard Verdon and the Lord Iohn Verdon and that there ensued over all Ireland great famine and pestilence as the sequell of warres About this time say our Antiquaries the Bishop of Rome sent to Ireland requiring the tithes of all spirituall promotions for 3. yeeres to come to maintaine his warres against the King of Aragon the which was greatly murmured at and gainesaid yet the Nuntio went not empty away Anno 1272. the most renowned King Henry the third having lived 65. yeeres and raigned 56. and 28 dayes ended his dayes and was buried at Westminster Edward the first of that name sonne of King Henry the third surnamed Long-shankes of the age of 35. yeers began his raigne Anno 1272. Anno 1272. and the first of Edward the first his raigne Maurice Fitz Maurice was made Lord Iustice in whose time the Irish brake out into cruell rebellion rased and destroyed the Castles of Aldleeke Roscommon Scheligath and Randon this Maurice saith Clyn not long after was betrayed by his owne followers in Ophali taken and imprisoned Anno 1273. the Lord Walter Genvill who lately returned home from the Holy Land was sent into Ireland and appointed Lord Iustice in his time so write Dowlinge and Grace the Scots and Red-shankes out of the high land crossed the seas burned townes and villages most cruelly killed man woman and childe tooke a great prey and returned home afore the country could make preparation to pursue them but in a while after to bee revenged of them Vlster and Connaught mustred a great Armie under the leading of Richardus de Burgo and Sir Eustacele Poer knight made after them entred the Islands and high land of Scotland slue as many as they could finde burned their Cabbans and Cottages and such as dwelt in caves and rockes under ground as the manner is to denne out Foxes they fired and smothered to death covering their entrances into the ground with great and huge stones and so returned into Ireland Anno 1276. what time Thomas Clare came into Ireland and married the daughter of Maurice Fitz Maurice The Castle of Roscommon was taken by the Irish and a great overthrow given vnto the English men at Glynburry Glandelory saith Clyn where William Fitz Roger Prior of the Kings hospitallers and many others were taken prisoners and a great number of others were slaine at what time also Ralph Pepard and Otholand gave O Neale a sore battaile Anno 1277. Walter Lord Genuill was sent for into England and Robert Vfford the second time tooke the office of Iusticeship at this time Muridath or Murtagh a notable rebell was taken at the Noraght by Gualter de Fant and executed Thomas Clare likewise in this rebellion slue Obryan Roe King of Thomond and yet after this the Irish drew such a draught that they closed him up in Slew Banny together with Maurice Fitz Maurice his father in law and all their forces untill they gave hostages to escape with their lives upon condition to make satisfaction for the death of O brian and his followers and in the meane while to yeeld them up the Castle of Roscommon although the conditions seemed hard prejudiciall to the Kings Maiesty yet were they driven for safeguard of their lives to condiscend thereunto In this rebellious season to cleere himselfe that in his owne person he came not to daunt the enemy Robert Vfford the Lord Iustice was sent for into England who substituted in his roome one Fryer Robert Fulborne Bishop of Waterford who when he had cleered himselfe came and resigned his place of Iusticeship Anno 1278. there rose civill warres no better then rebellion betweene Mac Dermot de Moylargo and Cathgur O Conoghor King of Connaught where there was great slaughter and bloud-shed on both
King whom the said Peeres met at Rotcotebridge and slue Thomas Molleners and spoyled the rest neverthelesse the Duke of Ireland escaped But in the same yeere on the morrow after Candlemas day a Parliament beganne at London in which were adjudged the Archbishop of Yorke the Duke of Ireland the Earle of Suffolke c. Anno 1388. foure Lord Iustices of England were banished into Ireland by a decree of the Parliament and it was not lawfull for them either to make lawes or to give counsell upon paine of the sentence of death Anno 1390. Robert de Wikeford Archbishop of Dublin departed this life and the same yeere was Robert Waldebie translated unto the Archbishopricke of Dublin being an Augustine Fryer Anno 1394. and in the seaventeenth yeere of King Richard the second died Anne Queene of England and the same yeere about Michaelmas the King crossed the seas over into Ireland and landed at Waterford the second day of the moneth of October and went back about Shrovetide Anno 1397. Fryer Richard de Northalis of the order of the Carmelites was translated to the Archbishopricke of Dublin and died the same yeere Also the same yeere Thomas de Craulie was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin And Sir Thomas Burgh and Sir Walter Birningham slue sixe hundred Irish men with their Captaine Macdowne Moreover Edmund Earle of March Lord lievetenant of Ireland with the aide of the Earle of Ormond wasted Obren's country and at the winning of his chiefe house hee made seaven Knights to wit Sir Christopher Preston Sir Iohn Bedlow Sir Edmund Loundres Sir Iohn Loundres Sir William Nugent Walter de la Hide and Robert Cadell Anno 1398. and in the two and twentieth of King Richard the second on Ascention day the Tothillis slue forty English men Among whom these were accounted as principall Iohn Fitz Williams Thomas Talbot and Thomas Comyn The same yeere upon Saint Margarets day Edmund Earle of March the Kings lievetenant was slaine with divers other by Obren and other Irishmen of Leinster at Kenlis in Leinster Then was Roger Greye elected Lord Iustice of Ireland The same yeere on the feast day of Saint Marke the Pope and Confessor came to Dublin the Noble Duke of Surrey the Kings lievetenant in Ireland and with him came Thomas Crauly Archbishop of Dublin Anno 1399. and of King Richard the three and twentieth on Sunday being the morrow after Saint Petronilla the Virgins day the illustrious King Richard landed at Waterford with two hundred shippes and the Friday after at Ford in Kenlis in the Countie of Kildare there were slaine two hundred Irish men by Ienicho and other English men and the morrow after the Citizens of Dublin brake into Obrens country slue three and thirty of the Irish and tooke fourescore men women and children The same yeere King Richard came to Dublin upon the fourth Kalends of Iuly where hee was advertized of the comming of Henry Duke of Lancaster into England whereupon he also speedily went over into England and a little while after the same King was taken prisoner by the said Henry and brought to London and there a Parliament was holden the morrow after Michaelmas day in which King Richard was deposed from his kingdome and the said Henry Duke of Lancaster was crowned King of England on the feast day of Saint Edward the Confessor Anno 1400. and in the first yeere of the raigne of King Henry the fourth at Whitsontide the Constable of Dublin Castle and divers others at Stranford in Vlster fought at Sea with the Scots where many Englishmen were slaine and drowned The same yeere on the feast of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary King Henry with a great army entred Scotland and there he was advertized that Owen Glendor with the Welsh men had taken armes against him for which cause he hastened his iourney into Wales Anno 1401. in the second yeere of King Henry the fourth Sir Iohn Stanley the kings Lievetenant in the moneth of May went over into England leaving in his roome Sir William Stanley The same yeere on Bartholomew Eeven arrived in Ireland Stephen Scroope Lievetenant unto the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the kings Lievetenant of Ireland The same yeere on Saint Brices day the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the kings Sonne and Lord Lievetenant of Ireland arrived at Dublin Anno 1402. on the fift Ides of Iuly was the dedication of the Church of the Fryers Preachers in Dublin by the Archbishop of Dublin And the same day the Maior of Dublin namely Iohn Drake with the citizens and townesmen neere to Bre slue of the Irish foure hundred ninety three being all men of warre The same yeere in September a Parliament was held at Dublin during the which in Vrgile Sir Bartholomew Verdon knight Iames White Stephen Gernond and their complies slue Iohn Dowdall Sheriffe of Lowth Anno 1403. in the fourth yeere of king Henry in the moneth of May Sir Walter Betterley Steward of Vlster a right valiant knight was slaine and to the number of thirty other with him The same yeere on Saint Maâ—dlins Eeven neere unto Shrewesbury a battell was fought betweene king Henry and Henry Percy and Thomas Percy then Earle of Worcester which Percyes were slaine and on both sides there were sixe thousand and more slaine in the battaile The same yeere about Martlemas the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the kings Sonne went over into England leaving Stephen Scroope his Deputy there who also in the beginning of Lent sayled over into England and then the Lords of the land chose the Earle of Ormond to be Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1404. in the fift yeere of king Henry Iohn Colton Archbishop of Armagh departed this life upon the fift of May unto whom Nicholas Flemming succeeded The same yeere on the day of Saint Vitall the Martyr the Parliament began at Dublin before the Earle of Ormond then Lord Iustice of Ireland where the Statutes of Kilkenny and Dublin were confirmed and likewise the Charter of Ireland The same yeere Patricke Savage was treacherously slaine in Vlster by Mac Kilmori and his brother Richard was given for a pledge who was murthered in the prison after hee had paid two thousand markes The same yeere upon Martilmas day deceased Nicholas Houth Lord of Houth a man of singular honesty Anno 1405. in the sixt yeere of King Henry in the moneth of May three Scottish Barkes were taken two at Greenecastle and one at Dalkay with Captaine Thomas Macgolagh The same yeere the Merchants of Droghedah entred Scotland and tooke pledges and preyes The same yeere on the Eeven of the feast day of the seaven brethren Oghgard was burnt by the Irish. The same yeere in the moneth of Iune Stephen Scroope crossed the seas over into England leaving the Earle of Ormond Lord Iustice of Ireland The same yeere in the moneth of Iune they of Dublin entred Scotland at Saint Ninian and valiantly behaved themselves and afterward they entred Wales and there did
much hurt to the Welch men and brought away the shrine of Saint Cubius and placed it in the Church of the holy Trinitie in Dublin The same yeere on the Eeven of the feast of the blessed Virgin Iames Butler Earle of Ormond dyed at Raligauran whose death was much lamented whilest hee was Lord Iustice of Ireland unto whom succeeded Girald Earle of Kildare Anno 1406. in the seaventh yeere of King Henry on Corpus Christi day the citizens of Dublin with the country people about them manfully vanquished the Irish enemies and slue divers of them and tooke two Ensignes bringing with them to Dublin the heads of those whom they had slaine The same yeere the Prior of Conall in the Plaine of Kildare fought valiantly and vanquished two hundred of the Irish that were well armed slaying some of them and chasing others and the Pryor had not with him but twenty English men and thus God assisteth those that put their trust in him The same yeere after Michaelmas came into Ireland Scroope Deputie Iustice to the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the Kings Sonne Lord Lievetenant of Ireland The same yeere dyed Innocent the seaventh to whom succeeded Gregorie in the Popedome The same yeere a Parliament was holden at Dublin on the feast of Saint Hillary which in Lent after was ended at Trym and Meiler Birmingham slue Cathole O Conghir in the end of Frebruary and there dyed Sir Ieffery Vaulx a Noble Knight in the Countie of Carlogh Anno 1407. a certaine most false fellow an Irish man named Mac Adam Mac Gilmori that had caused forty Churches to be destroyed who was never baptized and therefore hee was called Corbi tooke prisoner Patricke Savage and received for his ransome two thousand markes and afterwards slue him together with his Brother Richard The same yeere in the feast of the exaltation of the holy Crosse Stephen Scroope Deputy to the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the Kings sonne Lord Lievtenant of Ireland with the Earles of Ormond and Desmond and the Prior of Kilmainan and divers other Captaines and men of warre of Meath set from Dublin and invaded the land of Mac Murch where the Irish had the better part of the field for the former part of the day but afterwards they were valiantly rescued by the said Captaines so that Onolad with his sonne and divers others were taken prisoners But then and there being advertised that the Burkens and Okeroll in the County of Kilkenny had for the space of two dayes together done much mischiefe they rode with all speed unto the Towne of Callan and there encountring with the adversasaries manfully put them to flight slue Okeroll and eight hundred others and it was averred by many that the Sunne stoodstill for a space that day till the Englishmen had ridden 6. miles which was much to be wondred at The same yeere Stephen Scrope went over into England and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond was elected by the Country L. I. of Ireland The same yeere in England neere unto Yorke was slaine Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolf and the Bishop of Bangor were taken prisoners Anno 1408. The said Lord Iustice held a Parliament at Dublin in which the Statutes of Kilkenny and Dublin were established and the Charter granted under the grear Seale of England against Purveiors The same yeere the morrow after Lammas day the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the Kings sonne Lord Lievtenant of Ireland landed at Carlingford and in the weeke following he came unto Dublin and arrested the Earle of Kildare comming to him with three of his familie hee lost all his goods being spoiled and rifled by the Lord Lievtenant his servants and himselfe kept still in the Castle of Dublin till he had paid three hundred markes fine The same yeere on the day of Saint Marcell the Martyr the L. Stephen Scrope died at Tristledermot The same yeere the said L. Thomas of Lancaster at Kilmainan was wounded and hardly escaped death and after caused summons to be given by Proclamation that all such as ought by their tenures to serve the King should assemble at Rosse and after the Feast of Saint Hillary he held a Parliament at Kilkenny for a tallage to be granted and after the 13. of March he went over into England leaving the Prior of Kilmainan his Deputy in Ireland This yeere Hugh Mac Gilmore was slaine in Cragfergus within the Church of the Fryers Minors which Church hee had before destroyed and broken downe the Glasse-windowes to have the Iron barres through which his enemies the Savages entred upon him Anno 1409. Of King Henry the fourth in Iune Ianico de Artois with the Englishmen slue fourescore of the Irish in Vlster The same yeere on the day of Saint Iohn and Paul Alexander the fifth of the Order of Fryers Minors was consecrated Pope and Pope Gregory and Antipope Clemens were condēned for heretickes and by these meanes unity was made in the Church The same yeere a heretick or Lollard of London was burned because he did not beleeve in the sacrament of the altar Anno 1410. Pope Alexander died on the day of the Apostles Philippe and Iacob at Bononia to whom succeeded Iohn the XXIII Anno 1411. On Thursday before Septuagesima marriage was celebrated betwixt William Preston and the daughter of Edward Paris and on Saint Valentines even and day marriages were celebrated between Iohn Wogan and the daughter of Christopher Preston and Walter de la Hide and the second daughter of the same Christopher with a great deale of charges Anno 1412. About the feast of Tiburtius and Valerianus Oconthird did much mischiefe in Meath and tooke a hundred and three score Englishmen The same yeere Odoles a Knight and Thomas Fitz Maurice Sherife of Limerick slue each other The same yeere on the nineth Kalends of Iune there died Robert Mountaine Bishop of Meath to whom succeeded Edward Dandisey sometimes Archdeacon of Cornward The same yeere in Harvest the Lord Thomas of Lancester Duke of Clarence went over into France and with him went the Duke of Yorke the Earle of Ormond and Green-Cornwall with many others The same yeere on Saint Cutberts day King Henry the fourth departed this life To whom succeeded Henry the fifth his eldest sonne Anno 1413. On the fifth Ides of Aprill namely the first Sunday of the Passion of our Lord A. being the Dominicall letter Henry the fifth was crowned King of England at Westminster The same yeere on the first of October there landed in Ireland at Clontarf Iohn Stanley the Kings Lievtenant in Ireland he departed this life the 18. of Ianuary The same yeere after the death of Iohn Stanly Lievtenant Thomas Crawly Archbishop of Dublin was chosen Lord Iustice of Ireland on the 11. Kalends of February the morrow after Saint Mathias day a Parliament began at Dublin and continued for the space of 15. daies In which time the Irish burned all that stood in their way as their usuall custome was in
times of other Parliaments whereuppon a tallage was demaunded but not granted Anno 1414. The English slue of the Irish of the Omordris and Odemsis neer to Kilka Thomas Crawly Archbishop of Dublin then Lord Iustice of Ireland in Tristledermot praying in Procession with his Clergy and his men with the helpe of those of the Country slue one hundred of the Irish enemies In the feast of Saint Gordian and Epimachus the English of Meath were discomfited and there Thomas Manrevard Baron of Skrine was slaine and Christopher Flemnig and Iohn Dardis taken prisoners and many others were slaine by Oconthir and the Irish. On Saint Martins Eve Sir Iohn Talbot Lord Furnivall the Kings Lievtenant in Ireland landed at Dalkey Anno 1415 In the moneth of November a right noble man that walled the suburbs of Kilkenny departed this life and after Hallonide Fryer Patricke Baret Bishop of Fernes a Canon of Kenlis dyed and was buried there Anno 1416. On the feast day of Saint Gervasius and Prothasius the Lord Furnivall Lord Iustice of Ireland had a sonne borne at Finglasse about this time Stephen Flemming Archbishop of Armagh a venerable man died after whom succeeded Iohn Suaing And the same time dyed the Lord and Fryer Adam Leins of the Order of the Preaching Fryers Bishop of Ardmagh On the day of Saint Laurence the Martyr the Lord Furnivals sonne Thomas Talbot that was borne at Finglasse departed this life and was buried in the Quire of the Fryers Preachers Church in Dublin About the same time the Irish fell upon the Englishmen and slue many of them among whom Thomas Balimore of Baliquelan was one The Parliament which the last yeere had beene called and holden at Dublin was this yeere removed to Trim and there began the 11. of May where it continued for the space of 11. dayes in the which was granted unto the L.L. a subsidy of foure hundred markes Anno 1417. Vpon May Eve Thomas Granly Archbishop of Dublin went over into England and deceased at Faringdon but his body was buried in the New Colledge at Oxford This man is greatly praised for his liberality he was a good almes-man a great Clerk a Doctor of Divinity an excellent Preacher a great builder beautifull courteous of a sanguine complexion and of a tall stature in somuch as in his time it might be said unto him Thou art fairer then the sons of men grace and eloquence proceeded from thy lips He was 80. yeeres of age when he died and had governed the Church of Dublin almost 20. yeeres in great quiet Anno 1418. The Annunciation of our Lady was in Easter weeke and shortly after the Lord Deputy spoiled the tenants of Henry Crus and Henry Bethat also at Slane upon the feast day of S. Iohn and S. Paul the Earle of Kildare Sir Christopher Preston and Sir Iohn Bedlow were arrested and committed to ward within the Castle of Trim because they sought to commune with the Prior of Kilmaynan Vpon the 29. of Iune Mathew Husseil Baron of Galtrim deceased and was buried in the Covent of the Fryers Preachers of Trim. Anno 1419. upon the eleventh of May dayed Edmund Brel sometime Major of Dublin and was buried at the Fryers Preachers of the same City A Royall Councell was holden at the Naas where were granted unto the Lord Lievtenant 300. markes At the same time died Sir Iohn Loundres Knight The same yeere upon Cene thursday Othoill tooke fowre hundred Cowes belonging unto Balimore breaking the peace contrary to his oath The fourth Ides of May Mac Morthe chiefe Captaine of his Nation and of all the Irish in Leinster was taken prisoner And the same day was Sir Hugh Cokesey made Knight The last of May the Lord Lievtenant and the Archbishop of Dublin with the Major rased the Castle of Kenini The morrow after the feast of Processus and Martinianus the Lord William de Burgh and other Englishmen slue five hundred of the Irish and tooke Okelly On the feast day of Mary Magdalen the Lord Lievtenant Iohn Talbot went over into England leaving his Deputy there the Archbishop of Dublin carying along with him the curses of many because hee being runne much in debt for victuall and divers other things would pay little or nothing at all About Saint Laurence day divers dyed in Normandy as Fryer Thomas Butler that was Prior of Kilmainan and many others Whom Fryer Iohn Fitz Henry succeeded in the Priory The Archbishop of Dublin being Lord Deputy made an assault upon Scohies and slue thirtie of the Irish neere unto Rodiston Also the thirteenth of February Iohn Fitz Henry Prior of Kilmainan departed this life and William Fitz Thomas was chosen to succeed in his place was confirmed the morrow after Saint Velentines day Also the morrow after the Lord Iohn Talbot Lord Furnivall delivered up his place into the hands of the Lord Richard Talbot Archbishop of Dublin who was afterward chosen to be Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1420. about the fourth des of Aprill Iames Butler Earle of Ormond Lord Lievetenant of Ireland landed at Waterford and shortly after he caused a combat to be fought betwixt two of his cousins of whom one was slaine in the place and the other was carried away sore wounded unto Kilkenny On Saint Georges day the same Lord Lievetenant held a Councell at Dublin and there summoned a Parliament and after the midst thereof he made great preyes upon O Rely Mac Mahon Mac Gynoys And the seventh of Iune the Parliament began at Dublin and there were granted to the Lord Lievetenant seaven hundred markes And that Parliament continued for sixteene dayes and was adjourned againe to Dublin untill Munday after Saint Andrewes day And in the said Parliament were reckoned up the debts of the Lord Iohn Talbot late Lord Lievetenant which amounted to a great summe Also on the morrow after Michaelmas day Michael Bodley departed this life Vpon Saint Francis Eeve dyed Fryer Nicholas Talbot Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Thomas the Martyr at Dublin whom Fryer Iohn Whiting succeeded The morrow after the feast day of the Apostles Simon and Iude the Castle of Colmolin was taken by Thomas Fitz Girald And on Saint Katherines Eeven Buttler Sonne and heire unto the Earle of Ormond was borne and the Munday after Saint Andrewes day the Parliament was begun at Dublin and continued for thirteene dayes and there were granted unto the Lord Lievetenant three hundred markes and then againe the Parliament was adjourned untill Munday after Saint Ambrose day Then rumours were spread abroad that the Lord Thomas Fitz Iohn Earle of Desmond was departed this life at Paris upon Saint Laurence day and that he was buried in the Covent of the Fryers Preachers there the King of England being there present After whom succeeded his Vncle Iames Fitz Girald whom he had three severall times renounced alledging that he was an unthrift and had wasted his Patrimony both in Ireland and England and that hee gave or would
sithence either disanulled or quite prevaricated thorough change and alteration of times yet are they good still in themselves but in that commō-wealth which is ruled by them they worke not that good which they should and sometimes also that evill which they would not Eudox. Whether doe you meane this by the Common-Lawes of that Realme or by the Statute Lawes and Acts of Parliaments Iren. Surely by them both for even the Common law being that which William of Normandy brought in with his conquest and laid upon the neck of England though perhaps it fitted well with the state of England then being and was readily obeyed thorough the power of the Commander which had before subdued the people unto him made easie way to the setling of his will yet with the state of Ireland peradventure it doth not so well agree being a people very stubborne and untamed or if it were ever tamed yet now lately having quite shooken off their yoake broken the bonds of their obedience For England before the entrance of the Conqueror was a peaceable Kingdome and but lately inured to the milde and goodly government of Edward surnamed the Confessor besides now lately growne into a loathing and detestation of the unjust and tyrannous rule of Harold an usurper which made them the more willing to accept of any reasonable conditiōs order of the new victor thinking surely that it could be no worse then the latter and hoping well it would be as good as the former yet what the proofe of first bringing in establishing of those lawes was was to many full bitterly made knowne But with Ireland it is farre otherwise for it is a Nation ever acquainted with warres though but amongst themselves in their owne kinde of military discipline trayned up ever from their youthes which they have never yet beene taught to lay aside nor made to learne obedience unto Lawes scarcely to know the name of Law but in stead thereof have alwayes preserved and kept their owne Law which is the Brehon Law Eudox. What is that which you call the Brehon law it is a word unto us altogether unknowne Iren. It is a rule of right unwritten but delivered by tradition from one to another in which oftentimes there appeareth great shew of equity in determining the right betweene party and party but in many things repugning quite both to Gods Law and mans As for example in the case of murder the Brehon that is their judge will compound betweene the murderer and the friends of the party murdered which prosecute the action that the malefactor shall give unto them or to the child or wife of him that is slain a recompence which they call an Eriach By which vilde law of theirs many murders amongst them are made up and smothered And this Iudge being as hee is called the Lords Brehon adjudgeth for the most part a better share unto his Lord that is the Lord of the soyle or the head of that Sept and also unto himselfe for his judgement a greater portion then unto the Plantiffes or parties greived Eudox. This is a most wicked law indeed But I trust it is not now used in Ireland since the Kings of England have had the absolute dominion thereof and established their owne Lawes there Iren. Yes truly for there be many wide countries in Ireland which the lawes of England were never established in nor any acknowledgment of subjection made also even in those which are subdued seeme to acknowledge subjection yet the same Brehon law is practised among themselues by reason that dwelling as they doe whole nations and septs of the Irish together without any Englishman amongst them they may doe what they list and compound or altogether conceale amongst themselves their owne crimes of which no notice can be had by them which would and might amend the same by the rule of the Lawes of England Eudox. What is this which you say And is there any part of that Realme or any Nation therein which have not yet beene subdued to the Crowne of England Did not the whole Realme universally accept and acknowledge our late Prince of famous memory Henry the Viiith for their onely King and Leige Lord Iren. Yes verily in a Parliament holden in the time of Sir Anthony Saint-Leger then Lord Deputy all the Irish Lords and principall men came in and being by faire meanes wrought thereunto acknowledged King Henry for their Soveraigne Lord reserving yet as some say unto themselves all their owne former priviledges and Seignories inviolate Eudox. Then by that acceptance of his Soveraignty they also accepted of his lawes Why then should any other lawes be now used amongst them Iren. True it is that thereby they bound themselves to his lawes obedience and in case it had beene followed upon them as it should have beene and a government thereupon setled among them agreeable thereunto they should have beene reduced to perpetuall civilitie and contained in continuall dutie But what bootes it to breake a Colte and to let him straight runne loose at randome So were these people at first well handled and wisely brought to acknowledge allegiance to the Kings of England but being straight left unto themselves and their owne inordinate life and manners they eftsoones forgot what before they were taught and so soone as they were out of sight by themselves shooke off their bridles and beganne to colte anew more licentiously then before Eudox. It is a great pittie that so good an oportunity was omitted and so happie an occasion fore-slacked that might have beene the eternall good of the Land But doe they not still acknowledge that submission Iren. No they doe not for now the heires and posterity of them which yeelded the same are as they say either ignorant thereof or doe wilfully deny or stedfastly disavow it Eudox. How can they so doe justly Doth not the act of the Parent in any lawfull graunt or conveyance bind their heires for ever thereunto Sith then the Auncestors of those that now live yeelded themselves then subjects and Liegemen shall it not tye their Children to the same subiection Iren. They say no for their Auncestours had no estate in any their Lands Seigniories or Hereditaments longer then during their own lifes as they alledge for all the Irish doe hold their Land by Tanistrie which is say they no more but a personall estate for his life time that is Tanist by reason that he is admitted thereunto by election of the Countrey Eudox. What is this which you call Tanist and Tanistry They be names and termes never heard of nor knowne to us Iren. It is a custome amongst all the Irish that presently after the death of any of their chiefe Lords or Captaines they doe presently assemble themselves to a place generally appointed knowne unto them to choose another in his steed where they doe nominate and elect for the most part not the eldest sonne nor any of the children
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
Lordships to Feoffees in trust wherby he reserveth to himselfe but a state for terme of life which being determined either by the sword or by the halter their lands straight commeth to their heire and the Queen is defrauded of the intent of the Law which laide that grievous punishment upon Traytors to forfeite all their lands to the Prince to the end that men might the rather be terrified from committing treasons for many which would little esteeme of their owne lives yet for remorse of their wives and children would bee with-held from that haynous crime This appeared plainely in the late Earle of Desmond For before his breaking forth into open Rebellion hee had conveyed secretly all his lands to Feoffees of trust in hope to have cut off her Maiestie from the escheate of his Lands Eudox. Yea but that was well enough avoided for the Act of Parliament which gave all his lands to the Queene did as I have heard cut off and frustrate all such conveyances as had at any time by the space of twelve yeares before his rebellion beene made within the compasse whereof the fraudulent Feoffement and many the like of others his accomplices and fellow-traytors were contained Iren. Very true but how hardly that Act of Parliament was wrought out of them I can witnesse and were it to be passed againe I dare undertake it would never be compassed But were it also that such Acts might be easily brought to passe against Traytors and Fellons yet were it not an endlesse trouble that no Traitour or Fellon should be attainted but a Parliament must be called for bringing of his Lands to the Queene which the Common-Law giveth her Eudox. Then this is no fault of the Common Law but of the persons which worke this fraud to her Majestie Iren. Yes marry for the Common-Law hath left them this benefite whereof they make advantage and wrest it to their bad purposes So as thereby they are the bolder to enter into evill actions knowing that if the worst befall them they shall lose nothing but themselves whereof they seeme surely very carelesse Eudox. But what meant you of Fugitives herein Or how doth this concerne them Iren Yes very greatly for you shall understand that there bee many ill disposed and undutifull persons of that Realme like as in this point there are also in this Realme of England too many which being men of good inheritance are for dislike of Religion or danger of the law into which they are run or discontent of the present government fled beyond the seas where they live under Princes which are her M ties professed enemies converse are confederat with other traitors fugitives which are there abiding The which neverthelesse have the benefits profits of their lands here by pretence of such colourable conveyances thereof formerly made by them unto their privie Friends heere in trust who privily doe send over unto them the said Revenues wherwith they are there maintained and enabled against her Majestie Eudox. I doe not thinke that there be any such fugitives which are relieved by the profite of their Lands in England for there is a straighter order taken And if there bee any such in Ireland it were good it were likewise looked unto for this evill may easily be remedied But proceede Iren. It is also inconvenient in the Realme of Ireland that the Wards and Marriages of Gentlemens children should be in the disposition of any of those Irish Lords as now they are by reason that their Lands bee held by Knights service of those Lords By which means it comes to passe that those Gentlemen being thus in the ward of those Lords are not onely thereby brought up lewdly and Irish-like but also for ever after so bound to their services they will runne with them into any disloyall action Eudox. This greivance Iren. is also complained of in England but how can it be remedied since the service must follow the tenure of the lands and the lands were given away by the Kings of England to those Lords when they first conquered that Realme and to say troth this also would be some prejudice to the Prince in her wardshipps Iren. I doe not meane this by the Princes wards but by such as fall into the hands of Irish Lords for I could wish and this I could enforce that all those wardships were in the Princes disposition for then it might be hoped that she for the universall reformation of that Realme would take better order for bringing up those wards in good nurture and not suffer them to come into so bad hands And although these things bee already passed away by her Progenitours former grants unto those said Lords yet I could finde a way to remedie a great part thereof as hereafter when fit time serves shall appeare And since we are entred into speech of such graunts of former Princes to sundry persons of this Realme of Ireland I will mention unto you some other of like nature to this and of like inconvenience by which the former Kings of England passed unto them a great part of their prerogatives which though then it was well intended and perhaps well deserved of them which received the same yet now such a gapp of mischeife lyes open thereby that I could wish it were well stopped Of this sort are the graunts of Counties palatines in Ireland which though at first were granted upon good consideration when they were first conquered for that those lands lay then as a very border to the wild Irish subject to continuall invasion so as it was needfull to give them great priviledges for the defence of the Inhabitants thereof yet now that it is no more a border nor frontired with enemies why should such priviledges bee any more continued Eudox. I would gladly know what you call a County palatine and whence it so called Iren. It was I suppose first named palatine of a pale as it were a pale and defense to their inward lands so as it is called the English Pale and therefore is a Palsgrave named an Earle Palatine Others thinke of the Latine palare that is to forrage or out-run because those marchers and borderers use commonly so to doe So as to have a county palatine is in effect to have a priviledge to spoyle the enemies borders adjoyning And surely so it is used at this day as a priviledged place of spoiles and stealthes for the county of Tipperary which is now the onely countie palatine in Ireland is by abuse of some bad ones made a receptacle to rob the rest of the Counties about it by meanes of whose priviledges none will follow their stealthes so as it being situate in the very lap of all the land is made now a border which how inconvenient it is let every man judge And though that right noble man that is the Lord of the liberty do paine himselfe all he may to yeeld equall Iustice unto all yet can there not but great abuses
house to take victuall by the way notwithstanding that there is no other meanes for him to have lodging nor horse meate nor mans meate there being no Innes nor none otherwise to bee bought for money but that he is endangered by that Statute for treason whensoever he shall happen to fall out with his Tennant or that his said hoste list to complaine of greivance as oftentimes I have seene them very malitiously doe thorough the least provocation Eudox. I doe not well know but by ghesse what you doe meane by these termes of Coigny and Livery therefore I pray you explaine them Iren. I know not whether the words bee English or Irish but I suppose them to bee rather auncient English for the Irish men can make no derivation of them What Livery is wee by common use in England know well enough namely that it is allowance of horse-meate as they commonly use the word in stabling as to keepe horses at Livery the which word I guesse is derived of livering or delivering forth their nightly foode So in great houses the livery is said to be served up for all night that is their evenings allowance for drinke And livery is also called the upper weede which a serving man weareth so called as I suppose for that it was delivered and taken from him at pleasure So it is apparant that by the word Livery is there meant horse meate like as by the word Coigny is understood mans meate But whence the word is derived is hard to tell Some say of Coine for that they used commonly in their Coignies not onely to take meate but coine also and that taking of money was speciallie meant to be prohibited by that Statute but I thinke rather this word Coigny is derived of the Irish. The which is a common use amongst Land lords of the Irish to have a common spending upon their Tennants for all their Tennants being commonly but Tennants at will they use to take of them what victuals they list For of victuals they were wont to make small reckoning neither in this was the Tennant wronged for it was an ordinary and knowne custome and his Lord commonly used so to covenant with him which if at any time the tenant disliked hee might freely depart at his pleasure But now by this Statute the said Irish Lord is wronged for that hee is cut off from his customary services of the which this was one besides many other of the like as Cuddy Coshery Bonnaght Shrah Sorehin and such others the which I thinke were customes at first brought in by the English upon the Irish for they were never wont and yet are loath to yeeld any certaine Rent but only such spendings for their common saying is Spend me and defend me Eudox. Surely I take it as you say that therein the Irish Lord hath wrong since it was an auncient custome and nothing contrary to Law for to the willing there is no wrong done And this right well I wot that even heere in England there are in many places as large customes as that of Coignie and Livery But I suppose by your speach that it was the first meaning of the statute to forbid the violent taking of victualls upon other mens Tenants against their wills which surely is a great out-rage and yet not so great mee seemes as that it should be made treason for considering that the nature of treason is concerning the Royall estate or Person of the Prince or practizing with his enemies to the derogation and danger of his Crowne and dignitie it is hardly wrested to make this treason But as you earst said Better a mischiefe then an inconvenience Iren. Another Statute I remember which having beene an auncient Irish Custome is now upon advisement made a Law and that is called the Custome of Kin-cogish which is that every head of every Sept and every chiefe of every kinred or family should bee answerable and bound to bring foorth every one of that sept and kinred under it at all times to be iustified when hee should be required or charged with any treason felony or other haynous crime Eudox. Why surely this seemes a very necessary Law For considering that many of them bee such Losells and scatterlings as that they cannot easily by any Sheriffe Constable Bayliffe or other ordinary Officer bee gotten when they are challenged for any such fact this is a very good meanes to get them to bee brought in by him that is the head of that sept or chiefe of that house wherfore I wonder what just exception you can make against the same Iren. Truely Eudoxus in the pretence of the good of this Stature you have nothing erred for it seemeth very expedient and necessary but the hurt which commeth thereby is greater then the good For whilest every chiefe of a sept standeth so bound to the Law for every man of his blood or sept that is under him and hee made great by the commaunding of them all For if hee may not commaund them then that Law doth wrong that bindeth him to bring them foorth to bee iustified And if hee may commaund them then hee may commaund them aswell to ill as to good Heereby the Lords and Captaines of Countreyes the principall and heades of septs are made stronger whome it should bee a most speciall care in policie to weaken and to set up and strengthen diverse of his underlings against him which whensoever hee shall offer to swarve from duty may bee able to beard him for it is very dangerous to leave the commaund of so many as some septs are being five or sixe thousand persons to the will of one man who may leade them to what he will as he himselfe shall be inclined Eudox. In very deede Iren. it is very dangerous seeing the disposition of those people is not alwayes inclineable to the best And therefore I holde it no wisedome to leave unto them too much commaund over their kinred but rather to with-drawe their followers from them asmuch as may bee and to gather them under the commaund of Law by some better meane then this custome of Kin-cogish The which word I would bee glad to know what it namely signifieth for the meaning thereof I seeme to understand reasonably well Iren. It is a word mingled of English and Irish together so as I am partly ledde to thinke that the custome thereof was first English and afterwardes made Irish for such an other Law they had heere in England as I remember made by King Alured that every Gentleman should bring foorth his kinred and followers to the Law So Kin is English and Congish Affinitie in Irish. Eudox. Sith then wee that have thus reasonably handled the inconveniences in the Lawes let us now passe unto the second part which was I remember of the abuses of customes in which mee seemes you have a faire champian layde open unto you in which you may at large stretch out your discourse into many sweete remembrances
very broken of all the Lords and best Gentle-men of Fealtie to the Kings which now is no lesse needfull because many of them are suspected to have taken an other Oath privily to some bad purposes and thereupon to have received the Sacrament and beene sworne to a Priest which they thinke bindeth them more then their alleagiance to their Prince or love of their Countrey Eudox. This tything to the Common people and taking sureties of Lords and Gentlemen I like very well but that it wil be very troublesome should it not be as well for to have them all booked and the Lords Gentle-men to take all the meaner sort upon themselves for they are best able to bring them in whensoever any of them starteth out Iren. This indeed Eudoxus hath beene hitherto and yet is a common order amongst them to have all the people booked by the Lords and Gentlemen but yet the worst order that ever was devised for by this booking of men all the inferiour sort are brought under the command of their Lords and forced to follow them into any action whatsoever Now this you are to understand that all the Rebellions which you see from time to time happen in Ireland are not begun by the common people but by the Lords and Captaines of Countries upon pride or willfull obstinacy against the government which whensoever they will enter into they drawe with them all their people and followers which thinke themselves bound to goe with them because they have booked them and undertaken for them and this is the reason that in England you have few such bad occasions by reason that the noble men how ever they should happen to be evill disposed have no commaund at all over the Communalty though dwelling under them because that every man standeth upon himselfe and buildeth his fortunes upon his owne faith and firme assurance The which this manner of tything the poles will worke also in Ireland For by this the people are broken into many small parts like little streames that they cannot easily come together into one head which is the principall regard that is to be had in Ireland to keepe them from growing unto such a head and adhering unto great men Eudox. But yet I cannot see how this can bee well brought without doing great wrong unto the noble men there for at the first conquest of that Realme those great Seigniories and Lordships were given them by the king that they should bee the stronger against the Irish by the multitudes of followers and tennants under them All which hold their tenements of them by fealty and such services whereby they are by the first graunt of the King made bounden unto them and tyed to rise out with them into all occasions of service And this I have often heard that when the Lord Deputy hath raised any generall hostings the Noble men have claimed the leading of them by graunt from the Kings of England under the great Seale exhibited so as the Deputies could not refuse them to have the leading of them or if they did they would so worke as none of their followers should rise forth to the hostage Iren. You say very true but will you see the fruite of those grants I have knowne when those Lords have had the leading of their owne followers under them to the generall hostings that they have for the same cut upon every plowland within their country 40. shil or more whereby some of them have gathered above seven or eight hundred pounds and others much more into their purse in lieu whereof they have gathered unto themselves a number of loose Kearne out of all parts which they have carried forth with them to whom they never gave any penny of entertainement allowed by the Countrey or forced by them but let them feede upon the Countryes and extort upon all men where they come for that people will never aske better entertainement then to have a colour of service or imployment given them by which they will pole and spoyle so outragiously as the very enemy cannot doe much worse And they also sometimes turne to the enemy Eudox. It seemes the first intent of those graunts was against the Irish which now some of them use against the Queene her selfe But now what remedy is there for this or how can those graunts of the Kings be avoyded without wronging of those Lords which had those lands and Lordships given them Iren. Surely they may be well enough for most of those Lords since their first graunts from the Kings by which those lands were given them have sithence bestowed the most part of them amongst their Kinsfolke as every Lord perhaps hath given in his time one another of his principall Castles to his younger Sonne and other to others as largely and as amply as they were given to him and others they have sold and others they have bought which were not in their first graunt which now neverthelesse they bring within the compasse thereof and take and exact upon them as upon their first demeasnes all those kinde of services yea and the very wilde exactions Coignie Livery Sorehon and such like by which they pole and utterly undoe the poore Tennants and Free-houlders under them which either thorough ignorance know not their tenures or through greatnes of their new Lords dare not challenge them yea and some Lords of countryes also as great ones as themselves are now by strong hand brought under them and made their Vassalls As for example Arundell of the Stronde in the county of Corke who was aunciently a great Lord and was able to spend 3500. pounds by the yeare as appeareth by good Recordes is now become the Lord Barries man and doth to him all those services which are due unto her Majesty For reformation of all which I wish that there were a commission graunted forth under the great Seale as I have seene one recorded in the old Councell Booke of Mounster that was sent forth in the time of Sir William Drurie unto persons of speciall trust and judgement to inquire thoroughout all Ireland beginning with one county first and so resting a while till the same were settled by the verdict of a sound and substantiall Iury how every man houldeth his land of whom and by what tenure so that every one should be admitted to shew and exhibite what right he hath and by what services hee houldeth his land whether in cheife or in soccage or by Knights service or how else soever Thereupon would appeare first how all those great English Lords doe claime those great services what Seigniories they usurpe what wardships they take from the Queene what lands of hers they conceale and then how those Irish Captaines of Countryes have incroached upon the Queenes Free-holders and Tennants how they have translated the tenures of them from English houlding unto Irish Tanistry and defeated her Majesty of all her rights and dutyes which are to acrew to her thereout as wardships
Liveries marriages fines of alienations and many other Commodities which now are kept and concealed from her Majesty to the value of 40000. pounds per annum I dare undertake in all Ireland by that which I know in one county Eudox. This Irenaeus would seeme a dangerous commission and ready to stirre up all the Irish in Rebellion who knowing that they have nothing to shew for all those lands which they hould but their Swords would rather drawe them then suffer the lands to bee thus drawne away from them Iren. Neither should their lands be taken away from them nor the utmost advantages inforced against them But this by discretion of the Commissioners should be made knowne unto them that it is not her Majesties meaning to use any such extreamity but onely to reduce things into order of English Law and make them hould their lands of her and to restore to her her due services which they detaine out of those lands which were aunciently held of her And that they should not onely not be thrust out but also have estates and grants of their lands new made to them from her Majesty so as they should thence-forth hould them rightfully which they now usurpe wrongfully and yet withall I would wish that in all those Irish countryes there were some land reserved to her Majesties free disposition for the better containing of the rest and intermingling them with English inhabitants and customes that knowledge might still be had of them and of all their doings so as no manner of practise or conspiracy should be had in hand amongst them but notice should bee given thereof by one meanes or another and their practises prevented Eudox. Truely neither can the Irish nor yet the English Lords thinke themselves wronged nor hardly dealt withall herein to have that which is indeede none of their owne at all but her Majesties absolutely given to them with such equall conditions as that both they may be assured thereof better then they are and also her Majesty not defrauded of her rightly utterly for it is a great grace in a Prince to take that with conditions which is absolutely her owne Thus shall the Irish be well satisfied and as for the great men which had such graunts made to them at first by the Kings of England it was in regard that they should keepe forth the Irish and defend the Kings right and his Subjects but now seeing that in stead of defending them they robbe and spoyle them and in stead of keeping out the Irish they doe not onely make the Irish their tennants in those lands and thrust out the English but also some of themselves become meere Irish with marrying with them with fostering with them and combyning with them against the Queene What reason is there but that those graunts and priviledges should bee either revoked or at least reduced to the first intention for which they were graunted for sure in mine opinion they are more sharpely to bee chastised and reformed then the rude Irish which being very wilde at the first are now become more civill when as these from civillity are growne to be wilde and meere Irish. Iren. Indeede as you say Eudoxus these doe neede a sharper reformation then the Irish for they are more stubborne and disobedient to law and governement then the Irish be Eudox. In truth Irenaeus this is more then ever I heard that any English there should bee worse then the Irish Lord how quickely doth that Countrey alter mens natures It is not for nothing I perceive which I have heard that the Councell of England thinke it no good policie to have that Realme reformed or planted with English least they should grow so undutifull as the Irish and become much more dangerous As appeareth by the ensamples of the Lacies in the time of Edward the Second which you spake of that shooke off their allegiance to their naturall Prince and turned to Edward le Bruce to make him King of Ireland Iren. No times have bene without bad men but as for that purpose of the Councell of England which you spake of that they should keepe that Realme from reformation I thinke they are most lewdly abused for their great carefulnesse and earnest endeavours doe witnesse the contrary Neither is it the nature of the Countrey to alter mens manners but the bad mindes of the men who having beene brought up at home under a straight rule of duty and obedience being alwayes restrayned by sharpe penalties from lewde behaviour so soone as they come thither where they see lawes more slackely tended and the hard restraint which they were used unto now slacked they grow more loose and carelesse of their duty and as it is the nature of all men to love liberty so they become flat libertines and fall to all licentiousnes more boldly daring to disobey the Law thorough the presumption of favour and friendship then any Irish dareth Eudox. Then if that be so me thinkes your late advisement was very evill whereby you wished the Irish to be sowed and sprinckled with English and in all the Irish Countryes to have English planted amongst them for to bring them to English fashions since the English sooner drawe to the Irish then the Irish to the English for as you said before if they must runne with the streame the greater number will carry away the lesse Therefore me thinkes by this reason it should bee better to part the Irish and English then to mingle them together Iren. Not so Eudoxus but where there is no good stay of Government and strong ordinances to hould them there indeede the fewer will follow the more but where there is due order of discipline and good rule there the better shall goe foremost and the worst shall follow And therefore now since Ireland is full of her owne nation that ought not to be rooted out and somewhat stored with English already and more to be I thinke it best by an union of manners and conformity of mindes to bring them to be one people and to put away the dislikefull conceipt both of the one and the other which will be by no meanes better then by this intermingling of them For neither all the Irish may dwell together nor all the English but by translating of them and scattering them amongst the English not onely to bring them by dayly conversation unto better liking of each other but also to make both of them lesse able to hurt And therefore when I come to the tything of them I will tithe them one with another for the most part will make an Irish man the tythingman whereby he shall take the lesse exception to partiality and yet be the more tyed thereby But when I come to the Head Borough which is the head of the Lathe him will I make an English man or an Irish man of speciall assurance As also when I come to appoint the Alderman that is the head of the Hundreth him will I surely
person with such an unknowne marke Eudox. Surely these ordinances seeme very expedient but specially that of free townes of which I wonder there is so small store in Ireland and that in the first peopling and planting thereof they were neglected and omitted Iren. They were not omitted for there were through all places of the Country convenient many good townes seated which thorough that inundation of the Irish which I first told you of were utterly wasted and defaced of which the ruines are yet in many places to be seene and of some no signe at all remaining save onely their bare names but their seates are not to be found Eudox. But how then commeth it to passe that they have never since beene recovered nor their habitations reedified as of the rest which have beene no lesse spoyled and wasted Iren. The cause thereof was for that after their desolation they were begged by Gentlemen of the Kings under colour to repaire them and gather the poore reliques of the people againe together of whom having obtained them they were so farre from reedifying of them as that by all meanes they have endeavoured to keepe them waste least that being repaired their Charters might be renewed and their Burgesses restored to their lands which they had now in their possession much like as in those old monuments of Abbeyes and religious houses we see them likewise use to doe For which cause it is judged that King Henry the eight bestowed them upon them conceiving that thereby they should never bee able to rise againe And even so doe these Lords in these poore old corporate townes of which I could name divers but for kindling of displeasure Therefore as I wished many corporate townes to be erected so would I againe wish them to be free not depending upon the service nor under the commaund of any but the Governour And being so they will both strengthen all the Country round about them which by their meanes will be the better replenished and enriched and also be as continuall houldes for her Majesty if the people should revolt or breake out againe for without such it is easie to forrage and over-run the whole land Let be for ensample all those Free-boroughes in the Low-Countryes which are now all the strength thereof These and other like ordinances might be delivered for the good establishment of the Realme after it is once subdued and reformed in which it might afterwards be very easily kept and maintained with small caâ—e of the Governours and Councell there appointed so as it should in short space yeeld a plentifull revenue to the Crowne of England which now doth but sucke consume the treasure thereof through those unsound plots and changefull orders which are dayly devised for her good yet never effectually prosecuted or performed Eudox. But in all this your discourse I have not marked any thing by you spoken touching the appointment of the principall Officer to whom you wish the charge and performance of all this to be committed Onely I observed some fowle abuses by you noted in some of the late Governours the reformation whereof you left of for this present place Iren. I delight not to lay open the blames of great Magistrates to the rebuke of the world and therefore their reformation I will not meddle with but leave unto the wisedome of greater heads to be considered only thus much I will speake generally thereof to satisfie your desire that the government and cheife Magistracy I wish to continue as it doth to wit that it be ruled by a Lord Deputy or Iustice for that it is a very safe kinde of rule but there withall I wish that over him there were placed also a Lord Lieutenant of some of the greatest personages in England such a one I could name upon whom the eye of all England is fixed and our last hopes now rest who being intituled with that dignity and being here alwayes resident may backe and defend the good course of that government against all maligners which else will through their cunning working under hand deprave and pull backe what ever thing shall be begun or intended there as we commonly see by experience at this day to the utter ruine and desolation of that poore Realme and this Leiutenancie should be no discountenancing of the Lord Deputy but rather a strengthning of all his doings for now the cheife evill in that government is that no Governour is suffered to goe on with any one course but upon the least information here of this or that hee is either stopped and crossed or other courses appointed him from hence which he shall run which how inconvenient it is is at this houre too well felt And therefore this should be one principall in the appointing of the Lord Deputies authority that it should bee more ample and absolute then it is and that he should have uncontrouled power to doe any thing that he with the advisement of the Councell should thinke meete to be done For it is not possible for the Councell here to direct a Governour there who shall be forced oftentimes to follow the necessitie of present actions and to take the suddaine advantage of time which being once lost will not bee recovered whilst through expecting direction from hence the delayes whereof are oftentimes through other greater affaires most irkesome the oportunityes there in the meane time passe away and great danger often groweth which by such timely prevention might easily bee stopped And this I remember is worthily observed by Machiavel in his discourses upon Livie where he commendeth the manner of the Romans government in giving absolute power to all their Councellors and Governours which if they abused they should afterwards dearely answere And the contrary thereof he reprehendeth in the States of Venice of Florence and many other principalityes of Italy who use to limit their cheife Officers so strictly as that thereby they have oftentimes lost such happy occasions as they could never come unto againe The like whereof who so hath beene conversant in that government of Ireland hath too often seene to their great hinderance and hurt Therefore this I could wish to be redressed and yet not so but that in particular things he should be restrained though not in the generall government as namely in this that no offices should bee sould by the Lord Deputy for money nor no pardons nor no protections bought for reward nor no beoves taken for Captainries of Countryes nor no shares of Bishopricks for nominating of Bishops nor no forfeytures nor dispensations with poenall Statutes given to their servants or friends nor no selling of licences for transportation of prohibited wares and specially of corne and flesh with many the like which neede some manner of restrainte or else very great trust in the honorable disposition of the Lord Deputy Thus I have Eudoxus as briefly as I could and as my memorie would serve me run through the state of that whole Country both
Brachanus sonne of Haulaph King of Ireland Beda eccles hist. lib. 3. cap. 26. Grafton Priests of former ages Saint Dympna the Virgin Saint Bertwin Hub Tho Comment de Tungris Eburonibus Livinus Molanus nat Sanctori Belgij Chron lib. 13. Arbogastus Anno 646. Fortanus Vltanus Egbertus Wicbertus Willibrodus Saint Switberd Werda given to Saint Switbert Beda lib. 5. cap. 10. Willibrode Switbert Fursaeus Foilanus Vltanus Many other learned men of Irish birth contemporane with Fursaeus Foilanus Fredegand Mombolus Eloquius Saint Autbert Saint Chilian Saint Fiacre Saint Cataldus Saint Finan Saint Sacodine King Indrake Dominica Muriardachus Monarch of Ireland Saint Cuthbert Meldan and Eatan Bishops sonnes to the Monarch of Ireland Anno 684. Saxons in Ireland Beda eccles hist. lib. 4. cap 26. Anno 701. Adamannus his life Gualafer Bishop Saint Rumold Zachar. Lip de vitis Sanct. tom 3. Io. Molanus nat Scotorum Belgiâ— ex Martyrologo Mechlin Virgilius solivagus· Invasions of Norwegianâ— and Danes Anno 799. Turgesius came to Ireland Anno 832. Turgesius slaine Iacob Grace Thad Douling Amelanus Sitaracus and Ivorus Patricke the Abbot Saint Patricks Purgatory Albertus Krantz Dan. lib. 2. Ant. chron p 2. tit 11. cap. 1â— Evill Ficus Modwen Anno 877. Brian and Cornelius Scots at the Band overthrow the Irish. Dublin receive the Scots Cormack Bishop of Dublin Anno 899. Strange wormes Anno Dom. 900. Danes in Ireland Anglesey spoyled by them of Dublin Hawlaffe King of Ireland Bromford saith Grafton Saint Maries Abbey founded by Dublin Forananus his life Scots in Ireland Battaile of Clantarfe Briâ—n Boroave The cause of the field of Clantarfe out of the booke of Houth Saint Pappan Or Midleton Or Llechryd Saint Michan lived Anno 1095. Samuel Bishop of Dublin Malchus first Bishop of Waterford Celsus Bishop of Armagh Malachias Bishop of Armagh The battaile of Monad more Henry 2 was crowned King of England 1154. Anno 1170. Anno 1172. A Charter of agreement betweene Henry 2. Kâ—ng of England and Roderic King of Connoght Castles builded by Sir H de Lacy. Sir H de Lacy. the yonger L. Iustice of lie Oconnor K. of Conaght with 20000. men The conceit is that Chalus was casus lucis A rebellion in Thurles Blacke Monday King Iohn in Ireland Iohn Graye B. of Norwich L. Deputy Castle of Dublin buildeth Schorchbill Maurice Fitz Girald Lord Iustice. Petrus de Supino Petrus Rubeus Pope Gregories agents in Ireland and Scotland were rifled of all they had by the Emperour Andelmus Primate of Armagh The Castle of Sligoe builded Girald Fitz Maurice Ricardus de Burgo in Gascoigne Iohn Fitz Ieffery Lord Iustice Anno 1245. A great Earthquake The Irish comming to aid Ed. Earle of Chester were slaine and their ships suncke The life of Ioannes de Sacro Bosco The Epitaph of Iohannes de Sacro Bosco Stepham Espee Lord Iustice of Ireland The battell of Downe S. Willi. Denne Lord Iustice Anno 1260. Richardus de Chappella Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1261. David Barry Lord Iustice Anno 1207. The Fryers Preachers and Minors came to Ireland Maurice Fitz Girald Earle of Desmond drowned Robert Vfford Lord Iustice Anno 1268. The Castle of Roscommon Ric. de Exester Lord Iustice Anno 1269. Othobone the Popes Legat. Iames L. Audley Lord Iustice Anno 1270. The Irish rebels Maurice Fitz Maurice Lord Iustice Anno 1272. called Rochfallath Walter Lord Genevill Lord Iustice Anno 1273. Robert Vfford Lord Iustice Anno 1277. Robert Vfford going into England substituted Fulborne Bishop of Waterford The groats pence halfe pence and farthings were made Waterford burned Robert Fulborne Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1281. Dublin burned Galfridus de sancto Leodegario a a Annal. râ—r Anglic. Hibern pag. 729 edit 1625. b b Ex Bibliothecâ Remi in Christo patris D. Iacobi Vsserij Archiep Armachani c c Vid. lib. Status Hiborn edit Dubl an 1621. pag. 427. d d Floruit subinitium reg Edw. 4 e e Floruit sub Hen. 8. * * The originall of the very name of Scythians seemeth to come from shooting vide Selden annot in Poly. olb ex Gorop Becan â—eccesel et Aluvedi lâ—g pag. 122. * * Not he but Herodotus in the life of Homer ** ** These families of Mac-mahones and Mac-swines are by others held to be of the ancient Irish. * * vide annoâ— pag. praeced * * Others hould that he was beheaded at Tredagh 15. Febr. 146â— by the command of Iohn Tipâ—ofâ— Earle of Worcester then Lo Deputy of Ireland for exacting of Coyne and Livery vid. Caâ—den Britan. pag. 738 edit 〈◊〉 an 1607 * * The like reason may be given for the making of such Rathes in Ireland by the Danes or Norwegians vid. Gir. Cambr. topâ—g Hâ—b distinct 3. cap. 37. * * Trinity Colledge by Dublin which was founded by Queene Eliz 3 Martij 159â— The 13. of the same moneth its first stone was laide by Thomas Smyth then Mayor of Dublin and the 9. of Ian 1593. it first admitted Students * * Consulat sâ— placeâ— Camden annal rerum Anglic Hiber ad an 1520. * * The causes of these feares have been amputated since the happy union of England and Scotland established by his late Majesty * * vide â—ed Eccles Hist. lib. 1. cap. 1. * * In Richard Creagh's booke de lingua Hibernica there is a very plentifull collection of Irish words derived from the Brittish or Welch tongue which doth much strengthen the Authors opinion in houlding that the Bâ—rnes Tooles and Cavenaghs with other the ancient inhabitants of the easterne parts were originally Brittish Colonyes vid pag. 32 33. * * Dermot Mac Murrogh King of Leinster who was surnamed also ni-Gall as being a friend to the English and a cheife instrument in inciting them to the conquest of Ireland oâ— O-Birnâ— * * vide Camdeni annales sub senem anni 1594. * * This carrieth no fit proportion for the transplantation intended by the Author considering the large extent of Vlster and the narrow bounds heere limited * * This is now part of the Countie of London-derry * * The County of Clare was anciently accounted part of the Province of Mounster whence it hath the name of Tuadmuan or Thomond which signifieth north Mounster and hath at this day its peculiar Governour as being exempted from the Presidencies of Mounster and Connaght * * This is part of the county of Wexford * * De bis qui plura scire avet consulat D. Hen Spelmanni eq aur Archaeologum in Borsholder Hundred * * Livie speaking of Romulus hath it thus PopuluÌ„ in curias 30. divisit c. Eodem tempore centuriae tres equitum conscriptae sunt And so we have it in Sextus Aurel. Victor's booke de viris illustribus urbis Romae Tres equitum centurias instituit saith he Plebem in triginta curias distribuit * * Richard â—he 2. * * This