the Englishe Gentlemen in Vlster as the lacke of vvalled townes is also the principall occasion of the rudenesse and wildenesse in other partes of Ireland This Savage having prepared an army against the Irish allowed to every Souldiour before he buckled with the enemy a mighty draught of Aquavitae Wine or old Ale and killed in provision for their returne beeffes venison and foule great plenty which diverse of his Captains misliked considering the successe of warre to be uncertaine esteemed it better pollicy to poyson the cates or to doe them away then to cherish a sort of Catives with princely foode If ought should happen to themselves in this adventure of so few against so many Hereat smyled the Gentleman and said Tush yee are too full of envy this world is but an Inne whereunto you have no speciall interest but are onely tennants at the will of the Lord. If it please him to commaund us from it as it were from our lodging to set other good fellowes in our roomes what hurt shall it be for us to leave them some meate for their suppers let them hardly winne it and weare it If they enter our dwellings good manners would no lesse but to welcome them with such fare as the country breedeth and with all my heart much good may it doe them Notwithstanding I presume so farre upon your noble courage that verily my minde giveth me that wee shall returne at night and banquet our selves with our owne store and so they did having slaine 3000. Irishmen Morrice Fitz Thomas Earle of Desmond Lord Iustice during life whom followed Sir Thomas Rokesbye a knight sincere and upright of conscience who being controlled for suffering himselfe to be served in wooden Cuppes Answered these homely Cuppes and dishes pay truely for that they containe I had rather drinke out of wood and pay gold and silver then drinke out of gold and make wooden payment Almericus de Sancto Amando Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and Morrice Fitz Thomas Earle of Kildare Iustices of Ireland by turnes To this last the Kings letters appointed in yearely fee for his office 500. pounds with promise that the said governour should finde twenty great horse to the field and should bee the tvventieth man in going out against the enemy vvhich allovvance and conditions at these dayes I thinke vvere ordinary Leonell the third sonne of Edward the third Duke of Clarence and in the right of his wife Earle of Vlster Lord Lieutenant of Ireland He published an inhibition to all of Irish birth that none of them should approach his army nor be imployed in service of the warres Obrene he vanquished suddainely but no man wist how an hundred of his principall Souldiours in garrison were missed whose dispatch that seditious decree was thought to have procured wherefore hee advised himselfe and united the people shewing alike fatherly care towards them all and ever after prospered Knights he created these Gentlemen the worthiest then in Chivalry and at this day continuing in great worship Preston now the house of Gormanstowne Holywood Talbot Cusacke Delahide Patricke Robert and Iohn de Fraxinis The exchequer he removed to Catherlagh and bestowed in furnishing that towne 500. pounds Gerald Fitz Morice Earle of Desmond Lord Iustice untill the comming of VVilliam de VVindsore Lieutenant to the King then in the last yeare of Edward the third ruling the realme under the name of Lord Governour and keeper of Ireland ¶ At the yeare 1370. all the Notes written by Flatsbury doe end and from hence to this day nothing is extant orderly gathered the rest I have collected out of sundry monuments authorityes and pamphlets During the raigne of Richard the second Lieutenants and Iustices of Ireland are specially recorded the two Mortimers Edmund and Roger Earles of March Phillip Courtney the kings cousin Iames Earle of Ormond and Robert Vere Earle of Oxford Marquesse of Divelin and Lord Chamberlaine who was created Duke of Ireland by Parliament and was credited with the whole Dominion of the Realme by graunt for tearme of life nothing paying therefore passing all writs all offices as Chancellor Treasurer Chiefe Iustice Admirall his owne Lieutenant and other inferiour charges under his own Teste The meane while King Richard afflicted impatiently with the decease of Queene Anne his wife nor able without many teares to behold his pallaces and chambers of Estate which represented unto him the solace past and doubled his sorrow sought some occasion of businesse and visited Ireland where diverse Lords and Princes of Vlster renewed their homage and he placing Roger Mortimer his Lieutenant returned quietly but within foure yeares after informed of the trayterous death of Mortimer whom he loved entirely and being wonderfull eager in hastening the revenge thereof upon the Irish he journeyed thither the second time levied infinite subsidies of money by penall exactions and with his absence as also with those injuries fed the hatred and opportunity of conspiratours at home for Henry Duke of Lancaster intercepted the Kingdome whose sonne with the Duke of Glocesters sonne King Richard shut up in the Castle of Trim and then shipped course into England tooke land at Milford Haven found his defence so weake and unsure that to avoide further inconvenience and perill of himselfe and his friends he condiscended to resigne the Crowne CAP. VII The house of Lancaster Henry the fourth Henry the fift Henry the sixt ALexander Bishop of Meth Lieutenant of Ireland under Thomas Lancaster the Kings brother so was also the worshipfull Knight Sir Stephen Scroope whom for his violence and extortion before used in the same office under King Richard the common voyce and out-cry of poore people damned This report hearing the Lady his wife she would in no wise assent to live in his company there but if he sware a solemne oath on the Bible that wittingly he should wrong no Christian creature in the land that duely and truely he should see payment made for all expences and hereof she said she had made a vow to Christ so deliberately that unlesse it were on his part firmely promised she could not without perill of her soule goe with him her husband assented and accomplished her boone effectually recovered a good opinion schooled his Caters enriched the country continued a plentifull house remissions of great fines remedyes for persons endamaged to the Prince pardons of lands and lives he granted so charitably and discreetely that his name was never uttered among them without many blessings and prayers and so cheerefully they served him against the Irish that in one day he spoyled Arthur Mac Murrough brent his country restored O-Carrol to the towne of Callane with-held by VValter Burke slew a multitude of Kerneghes and quieted Leinster Not long before the Major of Divelin Iohn Drake with his band out of the Citty had slaine of the same Irish Outlawes 400. In this Kings raigne
the farthest part of Wales beheld Ireland and said I will have the shippes of my kingdome brought hither wherewith I will make a bridge to invade this land Murchard King of Leynster heard thereof and after he had paused a while asked of the reporter hath the King in that his great threatning inserted these words if it please God No then said he seeing this King putteth his trust onely in man and not in God I feare not his comming Anno 1095. Murchard so writeth Holinshed alias Morogh King of Leynster with the Clergie and people of the Citie of Dublin elected one Samuel a Monke of Saint Albans an Irish man borne to the governement of the Church and Bishops See of Dublin and according to the antient custome presented him by sufficient letters of testimony unto Anselme Archbishop of Canterburie to be consecrated by him who according to their request did so and tooke of him an oath of Canonicall obedience after the usuall manner Anno 1097. the Citizens of Waterford perceiving that by reason of the great multitude of people in that citie it was necessarie for them to have a Bishop obtained licence of their King and Rulers to erect in their Citie a Bishops See and besought them to write to Anselme Archbishop of Canterburie to have his consent therein and permitted them to nominate a man meete for the place Hereupon Morogh King of Leynster wrote unto Anselme informing him of the whole matter wherein one Malchus was commended and presented unto him to be admitted and consecrated if he thought good these letters were subscribed by Murchard King of Leynster Dermotte his brother Bishop Dufnald Idiman Bishop of Meath Samuel Bishop of Dublin and Ferdomnachus a Bishop in Leynster Anselme considering their request to be honest and necessarie examined the man gave him the oath of Canonicall obedience and consecrated Malcus Bishop of Waterford About this time to wit Anno 1098. the Normans having slaine Rees ap Twyde Prince of South-Wales they bent their forces against Griffith ap Conan Prince of North-Wales by the conduct of Hugh de Montgomerie Earle of Saloppe and Arundell called of the Welchmen Hugh Gough and of Hugh Vras Earle of Chester Griffith the Prince fled to the mountaines and sent for aide into Ireland saith Caradoc where he received cold comfort then to avoid farther mischiefe and treason which hee suspected to have beene wrought against him fled into Ireland In the same season Magnus King of Norway so Stow calleth him the sonne of Olavus the sonne of Harold Harvager came with great forces and subdued the Iles of Orknay with the I le of Man entred into Anglesey incountred with Hugh Earle of Salop who withstood his landing in the which skirmish Hugh the Earle had an arrow shot in his face which pierced his braine of which he died whereupon the Normans retraited Magnus invadeth Ireland saith Saxo Grammaticus and Griffith the Prince of Wales returned to his country and made peace with the Normans and governed the same fiftie yeeres Many things worthy of memory are recorded of this Griffith ap Conan Powell writeth that hee was an Irish man by his mother daughter of the King of Dublin and also by his Grandmother and that hee was borne in Ireland and that he brought over with him out of that country into Wales divers cunning Musitians who devised in manner all the instrumentall musicke upon the Harpe and Crowth that is there used and made lawes of minstrelsee to retaine the Musitians in due order I have not yet done with Magnus the Norwegian of him Camden writeth a worthy storie Magnus saith he caused a fleete to bee in readinesse of an 160. saile and sailed into the Orkeneys the which he forthwith subdued he passed through all the Ilands made them subject unto him and arrived in the I le of Man when hee beheld how pleasant the Iland was he made choice thereof for habitation fortified therein which of him to this day beares his name Hee so hampered the inhabitants of Galloway in Scotland that hee made them bring him timber to his Port for the frame of his fortifications Afterward he sailed to Anglesey in Wales where he met with two Hughs both Earles the one he slue the other he put to flight and made the Iland subiect unto him The Welsh men gave him many gifts and rewards he bade them farewell and so returned to Man He sent to Murchard alias Morogh King of Ireland his shooes commanding him to hang them upon his shoulders upon Christmas day as he passed through his Hall in the sight of his Embassadors that thereby he might understand that he was subject to Magnus the king When the Irish men heard thereof they tooke it in ill part and chafed exceedingly but King Morogh a wise and a sage Prince smiling at the conceit with great modesty and discretion gave this answer I will not onely beare his shooes but I had rather eate them then that King Magnus should destroy any one Province in Ireland Whereupon he fulfilled his command honoured his Ambassadors sent many Presents unto King Magnus and concluded a league The Ambassadors upon their returne related all circumstances gave great report and commendation of the land delivered how pleasant and fruitfull the soile was the temperature of the ayre and how healthfull the dwelling was Magnus hearing this immediately it ranne in his head to conquer all Ireland he commanded a great fleet to be in a readinesse and he himselfe going before with sixteene saile privily to espie and search out the strength of the land and unadvisedly ranging from his shippes was upon a sodaine compassed and hemmed in by the Irishmen and slaine with all in a manner that were with him Thus Magnus is become Minimus in fine hee was buried in Saint Patrickes Church of Downe So farre Camden in substance The British Chronicle writeth how that before this insolent attempt he had procured for his sonne a daughter of King Morogh in marriage and that he made him King of Man but I doe not finde that he enjoyed it Carodoc writeth how that Anno 1101. Robert de Mountgomerie Earle of Salop and Arnulph his brother Earle of Pembroke rebelling against King Henry Robert sent for aide to Magnus but could get none Arnulph sent Gerald of Windesore his Steward to Murchard alias Morogh King of Ireland to desire his daughter in marriage the which hee obtained with promise of great succours which did encourage him the more against the King whereupon Arnulph went with all haste into Ireland for his wife and Irish forces Earle Robert seeing himselfe disappointed sent to the King desiring him that he might forsake the Realme which thing the King granted and he sailed into Normandie Arnulph received message from the King that either he should follow his brother and depart the land or yeeld himselfe to his mercie he chose to forsake the land and fled into Ireland Not long after Owen the sonne of
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
kept in his court with diverse yongmen his schoole-fellowes openly adjured the King to suffer him and them to depart and serve God as they were accustomed which being now sundred and distrayned of libertie they had partly discontinued immediately they were dismissed he died Bishop of Fernes and laide the foundation of that Burrogh Molingus the successor of S. Madoc being Bishop tooke himselfe to voluntary labour with his owne hands drived a running spring to his Monastery enduring that travaile dayly after prayer and study eight yeares together Fintan the Abbot was had in such veneration that whereas Colm King of Leinster kept prisoner Cormak the Kings sonne of Kensill He went boldly with 12. of his Disciples through the presse of the Souldiours and in sight of the King rescued the young Prince for the Irish in no wayes are outragious against holy men I remember Cambrensis writeth himselfe merrily to have objected to Morris then Archbishop of Cashell that Ireland in so many hundred yeares had not brought forth one Martyr The Bishop answered pleasantly but alluding to the late murther of Thomas of Canterbury Our people quoth he notwithstanding their other enormities yet have ever more spared the bloode of Saints marry now we are delivered to such a nation that is well acquainted with making Martyrs henceforwards I trust this complaint shall cease Malachias was borne in Ardmagh of noble parents cherished in vertue by example of his Mother and trayned up in learning even yet a very babe he vvas oft-times espied to steale from his companions to pray in secret so grave modest that of himselfe he choosed alwayes the most severe and rigorous Schoolemasters and refused an excellent Clerke only because he saw him somewhat lightly demeaned at game In the beginning of his youth hee yeelded himselfe the Disciple of Imarius an old recluse whose austerity of conversation the whole towne admired There he became a Deacon and at twenty five yeares a Priest The Archbishop for the fame and opinion of his worthinesse made him his Coadjutor in the which office he reformed superstitions and revived the strength of religion specially the uniformitie of their Church service wherein before time they jarred The famous monastery of Banchor he reedified of the patrimony legacies by his Vncle left him The same Monastery was of old time first governed by Congellus and then proceeded Columbanus the father of many religious houses in France Banchor had beene so stored with Moncks that no houre of day nor night they ceased but some company or other was in continuall succession at divine service Of which brethren there were in one day murthred 900. and the place spoyled whose possessions conveyed to Malachias by his Vncle hee restored forthwith and bettered the foundation At the age of thirtie yeares he was by Canonicall election forced to accept the Bishopricke of Conereth a people of all the Irish then most savage and bestiall whom he with inestimable toyle reclaymed In the meane while died Celsus Archbishop of Ardmagh to whom succeeded Malachias at the age of thirty eight years But ere this wel-nigh the space of 200. yeares together a pestilent custome had crept into the country that the Metropolitanes See was inferred upon meere lay persons of the blood royall in manner by inheritance wherefore Nigellus the next of kindred animated by the partiality of some Princes getting into his custody the Bible and Staffe and other Ornaments of S. Patricke whereunto the eares of the common people tyed the prelacy came to the Pallace with a bande of Souldiours to have slaine the Bishop When all the people wept and howled for his perill he alone stepped into the bosome of his enemies demaunding their purpose The very Tyrants letting fall their weapons in stead of the murder conspired fell to reverence him and departed friends Three yeares he sate in the primacy rather to discontinue the horrible corruption before used then with intent to abide there and their error having disanulled the abuse he procured Gelasius to be his Successor and returned to his former Bishopricke of Downe For to Downe was then annexed Coner But Malachias understanding that in times past they were severall sundred them againe and preferred another to the Diocesse of Coner desirous rather to discharge his cure then to enlarge the fruites while he preached a woman fell at his feete and besought his prayer for that she had gone now with childe fifteene moneths and twenty dayes nor could by any meanes be delivered which done the newes of her delivery was reported before the assembly brake up Hee threatned vengance to a Captaine unlesse he would turne away the Concubine he kept the same being also his brothers Concubine The Captaine tooke it disdainefully and within one houre was slaine by a conspiracy of women whose Daughters and servants he had defiled There dwelt in Lismore a notable Clerke of conversation upright but corrupt in judgement of religion this fellow advancing his doctrine offered disputation to the Bishop before the multitude when he was forced to silence with the waight of truth yet he cavelled maliciously that not the cause nor learning but the countenance and credit of Malachias had wonne the victory To whom the Bishop answered our Lord compell thee even maugre thine owne willfullnesse to acknowledge thine errors At these words the Clerke and intending to fly the sight of men was prevented with a mortall infirmity and beseeching the Bishop of his peace and communion died immediatly reconciled to God and holy Church Being demaunded of his Brethren the Moncks of Banchor where and when hee would wish to dye and be buryed if it lay in his choyse hee answered If in Ireland beside the body of S. Patricke If beyond the seas at Clarivall where S. Bernard was then famous and in the feast of All Soules He cast in his minde within a few dayes to sue to Eugenius the third for the increase of the number of Metropolitanes which request was shortly after sped and in this voyage he rested at Clarivall and there diverse times openly foretold that his yeare of departing was come accordingly when he had taken leave of S. Bernard and the brethren descended from his chamber to Church and received the rites of a christian man he returned to his lodging and dyed on All Soules day in the yeare of his age fifty foure so mildely and peaceably that it seemed rather a sleepe then a death There his obsequies was solemnized and miracles wrought at his tombe and from thence his body was translated to Ardmagh in the yeare 1192. Malchus though borne Irish yet he spent most part of his time in the monastery of Winchester in England from thence assumpted Bishop of Lismore him also remembreth S. Bernard upon occasion A lunaticke childe he cured in Bishopping him This miracle was through the world seene and confessed of many hundreds There happened the same time a discord
Church a Sanctuary for their Corne and in neede to take thereof at reasonable prices Little good did Fitz Aldelin and lesse vvas like to doe because hee delighted to crosse his Peeres and vvas of them stopped in his course of government Hugh de Lacye vvas made Protector generall over the Land But Miles Cogan Philip de Bruise Fitz Stephens Power and diverse other more preferred to severall countreyes under him This Lacye builded a sort of castles and forts throughout all Leinster and Meth and the next sixe yeares continually devout gentlemen erected sundry Abbeyes as the Abbey of Roseglasse of Donbrothy by Hervy a Welchman one of the speciall conquerours of Ireland vvho himself after that entred into religion in Trinity Priory at Canterbury The Abbeyes of Geripont and Choro Benedicti the Abbey de lege Dei vvith repayring of many Chappels Chauncells Bell-houses High-vvayes and Bridges Then dyed Saint Laurence Archbishop of Divelin to vvhom succeeded Iohn Comyn an Englishman brought up in the Abbey of Evesham Founder of Saint Patrickes in Divelin vvhich vvas before that time a Parish Church novv by the said Archbishop endovved vvith Prebends Viccars Clearkes Chorists and many notable possessions for their maintenance vvhereout from time to time have proceeded Clergy-men of greatest learning reputation in the Diocese Divers contentions were raised betwixt Christs Church and it for antiquity wherein they of S. Patrickes are no doubt inferiour as shall appeare They are both written Cathedrall Churches and both are the Bishops Chapiter in vvhose election they both ought to convent within the Church of the blessed Trinity called Christs Church which in all records hath the preheminency of place The party that disturbeth this order of election forfeiteth by deede to th'Archbishop of Divelin 200. pounds This foundation was much enriched by King Iohn The same yeare died the yong King Henry reconciled to his father but preparing warre against his brother Richard Duke of Aquitain soon after also deceased Ieffry his other son Duke of Brittaine Thus were left Richard his inheritour and Iohn afterwards Earle of Glocester heretofore surnamed without land to whom the father conveyed all his interest and Lordship of Ireland sent him thither honourably accompanied being then but twelue yeares old and with him in speciall trust Giraldus Cambrensis Clerke a diligent searcher of the antiquities of Ireland surely well learned and in those dayes counted Eloquent About the young Earle were servants and counsellours three sorts first Normans great quaffers lourdens proud belly swaines fed with extortion and bribery to whom hee most relyed secondly the English brought with him meetly bold Thirdly the English found in the land whom being best worthy and most forward in all good services hee least regarded hereof sprang parties and disdaine and to the knights that hardiest were and readiest of courage no small discomfort to the enemies a spurre With the brute of his arrivall at Waterford the Kings of Thomond Desmond and Connaght put themselves in the bravest manner they could to meete him and to submit their countries to his Grace before them came the Irish Franklyns with rich presents and as they are very kind hearted where they list to shew obedience made unto the Childe their Lord the most joy and gladnesse that might be and though rudely yet lovingly and after the custome of their country offred to kisse him with such familiarity as they used towards their Princes at home Two of the Guard Normans pick-thankes shooke and tare the Clownes by the glibs beards unmannerly and churlishly thrust them out of the presence whom they should have instructed curteously born with The Irish thus rejected went against the fore-named Kings opened the rebukes and villanyes done to them for their meekenes that their Lord whom they thought to honour was but a Boy peevish and insolent governed by a sort of flatterers younglings and prowlers That sithence to them that buxome were and tractable such despite and dishonour that terme they have borrowed of the Spaniards was proffered so soone little good should the states of Ireland looke for in continuance when the English had once yoked and penned them in their clouches This report lightly alienated the mindes of those Princes not yet very resolute and turned them home with great oathes and leagues entred among themselves caused also the mightiest Captaines elsewhere to sticke together while their lives lasted and for no manner earthly thing to slacke the defence of their auncient liberties Immediately walked abroad mutinyes of broyle commotion so that the young Earle and his army were content to commit the tryall thereof to Lacy Bruise Courcy Fitz Gerald and the rest himselfe departing away the same yeare he came and leaving the Realme a great deale worse bestedde then he found it From the Conquest hitherto Giraldus Cambrensis and from hence to the yeare 1370. I am specially holpen by certaine briefe extracts whose author is namelesse and therefore I quote him by the name of Philip Flatsbury who wrote them and enriched them with collections of his owne for Gerald the father of the Earle of Kildare then being An. 1517. Lacy the rather for these whisperings did erect and edifie a number of Castles well and substantially provided in convenient places one at Derwath vvhere diverse Irish prayed to be set on worke for hyre Sundry times came Lacy to quicken his labourers full glad to see them fall in ure with any such exercise wherein might they once be grounded taste the svvetenesse of a true mans life he thought it no small token of reformation to be hoped for which cause he visited them often and merrily would command his Gentlemen to give the labourers example in taking paines to take their instruments in hand and to worke a season the poore soules looking on and resting But this game ended Tragically while each man was busie to try his cunning some lading some plaistering some heaving some carving the Generall also himselfe digging with a pykeaxe a desperate villaine of them he whose toole the Generall used espying both his hands occupied and his body with all force inclining to the blow watched his stoope and clove his head with an axe little esteeming the torments that ensued This Lacy was conquerour of Meth his body the two Archbishops Iohn of Divelin and Mathew of Cashell buryed in the monastery of of Becktye his head in S. Thomas abbey at Divelin The next yeare was builded the abbey of Ines in Vlster and soone after the abbeyes of Iugo Dei and of Comer and then the abbey of Knockmoy or de Colle victoriae by Cathel Cronderg King of Connaght CAP. II. The Titles of the Crowne of England to every part of Ireland and to the whole diverse wayes I Will begin with the pedigree of VVilliam Earle marshall for thereupon depend many recordes in Ireland and the Queenes
last a plotte defalked from these parts called Meth comprising as they are now called as well East-Meth as West-Meth in Latine Midia or Media in Irish Mhidhe And here must not bee forgotten that there hath beene in these kingdomes great change and alteration by usurping and compounding among themselves and by dividing of Countries as we finde Mounster was into two parts and since have beene there great Earles deriving their names of Mounster Ormond in Irish Oirther Mughane Desmond in Irish Deasmughain and Thomond in Irish Tuathmughain the which an Italian comming into Ireland meruailed at when he inquired what great men dwelled in the land for he understood Ormond to bee orbis mundi the round world Desmond decem mundi ten worlds Thomond duo mundi two worlds profecto said he Valdè gloriósi tituli assuredly these are very glorious titles So were there also in processe of time diuers other lesser kingdomes as by the processe of the historie will very well appeare And here for this time leaving to discourse farther of the Irish kingdomes I conclude with this one remembrance that from time to time there was one chosen to be chiefe soveraigne Monarch ouer them all and the number of Monarchs from Hermon to Laogirius the sonne of Nealus Magnus that is great Neale in whose time S. Patricke converted them to Christianitie amounteth to an hundred thirty and one And now backe againe to the historie where we left It is said that of Hiber or Hiberus who was slaine as hath aboue beene recorded Ireland was called Hibernia certaine it is with the concordance of most and the best antiquaries that the land was not called Hibernia neither right Spaniard arived here before the daies of Gurguntius Divers writers haue diversly delivered the originall name of the land some corruptly some poetically some etymologically Ierna Iuvernia Ibernia Overnia Vernia Iris of the Britaines Ywerdhon of the Irish themselues Erin and tooke that name of Fin Erin of whom at large in the booke of Houth of the Saxons and English it is called Ireland that is the land of Erin All these names originally grew of Hiberus the Spaniard or in remembrance of Iberus the second King of Spaine who was the sonne of Tuball the fift sonne of Iaphet Annius Viterbiensis writeth that of this King the river is called Iberus amnis Spaine Iberia and the inhabitants about the river Iberi This land of Ireland hath also beene called Scotia Major Scotland the greater after the birth of Christ but that came of corrupting the word Scytha as I said before Lastly it hath beene called Banno of the Poets or Bardes of the land Stanihurst thinketh it was so called of the Banne a river in the County of Weixford the place is now called Bagganbun where the Britaines vpon the conquest arived and thereof is the rime At the creeke of Bagganbun Ireland was ylost and wonne But for this ancient name Banno and other the like which the Poets of Ireland haue in use I referre the courteous reader to learned Camden in his treatise of Ireland about the beginning Lanquet in his collections of antiquities noteth that the Scottish historiographers about the yeere of the world 3652. beginne their histories at Fergus the sonne of Ferquhard King of Ireland that he should come with great power out of Ireland to their aide against the Pictes and that they fauoured him so much that they chose him King and that hee raigned ouer them in Scotland 25. yeeres and how that in his raigne he slue Coile King of Britaine at what time by generall consent there was no Scottish man then commanding in Albania no Pict at that time seene in Britaine or Ireland nor Coile King of Britaine in many yeares after I am of Lanquets opinion thus he writeth These histories of the Scots as they set them forth bee full of errors and agree with none other historians Notwithstanding this Item may not stoppe the course of the historie and therefore whether he came out of Ireland as we here take it or out of Denmarke as some haue thought well he might be King of Albania for so was it then called and not Scotland and so from him I will terme them Kings of Albania untill I finde the name Scoti knowne amongst forraigne writers This Fergus saith Buchanan hauing orderly disposed of his affaires in Albania went into Ireland to pacifie and quiet troubles there risen and hoising saile for his returne into Albania he and all his company were cast away in a tempest vpon the rockes at a place of him now called in the British and Irish tongues Karregfergus or Craigfregus corruptly in English Knockfergus It is written that he advanced in his banner a red Lyon Rampant with his taile folden toward his backe as it were moved with anger the which his successors since have used After this his infortunate decease there rose great strife about the succession his two sonnes Ferlegus and Mainus were young and many exceptions were made against them in the end the two sonnes were put beside and the eldest of the sept after the Irish Tanistrie tooke place which fell upon Feritharis an Irish man brother to Fergus And this Tanistrie continued saith Buchanan unto Kenathus 3. during the raigne of fourescore Kings But I must leave them and follow onely what concerneth Irish businesse About the yeere of the world saith Lanquet 3750. and odde not allowing as he protested before but following the Scottish histories one Reuthar commander of the invaders in Albania now called Scotland was vexed with civill warres and by the Britaines banished into Ireland where he lived twelve yeeres See more of him in Hector Boetius and Buchanan The 9. King Albaniensium Scotorum so Stanihurst calleth them was Iosina Thereus and is the next that seemeth to haue any right or interest in the Irish historie This man was bred and brought up in Ireland and favoured the nation saith Bale above all others he sought peace of all men honoured Chirurgions Physitians and Druydes of Ireland raigned 24. yeeres and so ended his dayes The next that concerneth our purpose is Gillus the usurper who through much treason and many murthers aspiring to the Crowne of Albania and deservedly falling into the hatred and mislike of all his subjects was at length forced by his Nobles who rose in Armes against him to take a fisher-boate and flee into Ireland where hee was promised aide but to prevent further mischiefe one Cadall is appointed generall of an Armie to pursue the tyrant into Ireland and meeting him in the field drove Gillus to flee When the Irish men had forsaken him he hid himselfe in a denne invironed with woods and bogs where shortly after an Irish Kerne for reward found him out cut off his head and brought it to Cadall after he had tyrannized three yeeres He was the thirteenth King of Albania In the
by Buchanan Scoti Albanenses and Scoti Hibernenses the first he challengeth for Scotland the second he referreth to Ireland and therefore I accept of him as granted He was a Kings sonne of Ireland excellently studied in Philosophie earnestly addicted to the ecclesiasticall course of life and to the end he might plant religion and spreade abroad christianitie enterprised a voyage farre from his native soile This holy man first of all taught here and there throughout France he came to Poitiers and became father of the Monkes of Saint Hilarie and with the aide of King Clodovarus erected a stately Monasterie the like he did at Mosella in Flanders upon the top of the mount Vosagius at Argentine Curia Rhetiorum and elsewhere throughout Burgundie Lastly he came to Angia Seckingensis upon the Rhene to the end he might there also build a Cell after many godly Sermons and learned Interpretations he is said to have written a Booke of exhortations unto the sacred Virgins He flourished in the yeere 495. and resteth in the Monasterie of Seckinge before spoken of Ireland remembreth the feast of Saint Fekin that hee was of the Kings bloud and an Abbot cured many of the flixe or fluxe and dyed thereof himselfe Many things are written of Saint Modwen whom the Britaines call Mawdwen the daughter of Naughtheus the Irish King who heard Saint Patricke preach and of her companions Orbila Luge Edith Athea Lazara Sith whom the Irish call Osith Osmanna and of Brigid spoken of before whereof some began with Patricke and ended with him some began with him and lived many yeeres after as Capgrave writeth in the life of Modwen to the time of the Bishop Collumkill otherwise called Colme and Columba and the Eremite Abbot or Bishop Kevin Saint Modwen was a Nunne lived 130. yeeres The Irish Scots and English in which countries she had travailed strove for her corps at length Columkill the Bishop gave sentence for England where shee resteth at Andreisey Bale writeth how that one Galfride Abbot of Burton upon Trent in the time of King Iohn wrote the life and memorable acts of this Irish Virgin Modwen unto the posterity with great applause Capgrave writeth the life of Saint Sith otherwise called Osith that was brought up under Modwen that she was a Kings daughter and borne in England Leppeloo the Carthusian and other forraigne Writers say little of her saving that the Danes being Heathens cut off her head and that shee tooke her head in her armes carried it uprightly three furlongs off knockt at the Church doore being lockt with her bloudy hands and there fell downe The Martyrologe of Sarum confoundeth Dorothy and Saint Sith thus the 15. of Ianuarie the feast of Saint Dorothie otherwise called Saint Sith is kept in Ireland who refused marriage fled into a Monasterie where the devill appeared unto her and there mine Author left her Of Osmanna the Virgin I finde little saving what Capgrave reporteth that she was of the bloud royall in Ireland and having infidels to her parents fled into France dwelled upon the banke of Loire the river of Lions and there in peace ended her dayes I read that about this time one Tathe the sonne of an Irish King forsooke his fathers possessions went to the Diocesse of Landaffe in Wales and became a Monke builded a Monasterie and there left his bones Gualterus Calenius Archdeacon of Oxford Caxton and others doe write that Aurelius Ambrosius after his valiant exploits and noble victories went to a Monasterie neere Cair-caredoch now called Salisburie where through the treason of Hengist which the Britaines call Toill y Killill Hirion the treason of the long knives the Nobles and Princes of Britaine were slaine and buried called his Councell and demanded what monument were meete to be made there in remembrance of so many Nobles of the land there resting in the dust of the earth Carpenters Masons Carvers Ingravers and Tombe-makers being out of all places sent for came thither delivered their opinions but concluded nothing Then stepped forth a Bishop which said O King if it may stand with your pleasure there is one Merlin of Worcester a Prophet a searcher of Antiquities a man of rare gifts I wish his opinion in the matter Merlin came and being advised said as followeth Most Noble King upon occasion offered I went lately into Ireland and having ended my businesse I was inquisitive of antiquities and sight of monuments where among other things being brought to a mountaine of Kildare I saw so rare a sight in so rude a country as might bee seene there was a round row of huge stones the which none of this age had so framed neither could be unlesse Art had mastered the common skill of man send for them and set them vp as they are there couched and they will bee a monument whilst the world standeth Hereat the King smiled and said how shall we convey so great stones into Britaine from so farre a countrey and to what end as though Britaine yeelded not as good stones to all purposes Merlin replied be not displeased O King there is a hid mystery in those stones they are medicinable and as I was given to understand in Ireland the Gyants of old dwelling in that land procured them from the farthest part of Affricke and pitched them there in them they bathed themselves and were rid of their infirmities The Britaines hearing this were perswaded to send for them the King appointed his brother Vter-Pendragon with Merlin and fifteene thousand men to effect the businesse In a short time they arrived in Ireland Gillomer King of Leinster raised an Armie to resist them and reviled the Britaines saying what fooles and asses are you are the Irish better then the British stones and turning himselfe to his Armie said come on quit your selves like men keepe your monuments and defend your country Vter-Pendragon seeing this animated his company they met and manfully encountred in the end Gillomer fled and the Irish were discomfited Vter-Pendragon marched on they came by Merlins direction to the place and beholding the hugenesse of the stones they wondred yet they joyed that they had found them To worke they went some with Ropes some with Wythes some with Ladders and carried them away brought them to Britaine and pitched them in the Plaine of Salisburie which place is now called Stonehenge Beside this there are divers monuments of Gyants in Ireland as at Dundalke Louth Ardee and on the hilles not farre from the Naas the like Saxo Grammaticus reporteth of the Danes a nation famous for Gyants and mighty men and this saith he the great and huge stones laid of old upon Caves and Tombes of the dead doe declare About this time Passent the sonne of Vortiger that fled into Germany for aide arrived in the North parts Aurelius Ambrosius met him and put him to flight Passent came into Ireland delivered his griefe unto Gillomer King
dayes Satan with all the internall spirits sent greeting with great thankes unto the Ecclesiasticall state upon earth in dreadfull characters For that they wanting no aide in their delights from hellish places sent such a number of damned soules into the sulphureall pits through their remisnesse in life and slacknesse in preaching as in former ages had not beene seene Whosoever devised the course it forceth not greatly the matter might seeme odious if it contained no truth Finnan in Wales as my Authors report called Gwyn was born at Ardez he travelled forraigne countries came to his native soile was Bishop of Farne saith Beda baptized Penda King of Mercia consecrated Cedd Bishop of East Saxons and lyeth buried at Cuningham in Scotland called of the Britaines Kilgwinin There was also one Finan an Abbot borne in Mounster sent by Saint Brendan to Smoir now called Mons Blandina to inhabite there who came afterwards to Corcodizbue where hee was borne builded Cels and Monasteries for religious men contended with Falbe Fland King of Mounster A third Finan there was who was master of Ruadanus a great learned man and dwelt at Cluayn jarhaird in Meath Colmannus whose life Bale writeth at large was a godly learned man borne in Ireland the sonne of one Fiachra of the bloud Royall and highly commended of Beda hee was brought up after the Apostolike rules of Congellus he succeeded Finan in the Bishopricke of Farne alias Linsey In his time there was great stirre about the observation of Easter when some alledged custome and some urged the authoritie of Rome he pleaded the Gospell both against this stir and the like trouble that rose about the shaving of Priests crownes the which he reiected saith Beda and seeing that he could not prevaile forsooke his Bishopricke and went with certaine Scots and Saxons into the Hebrydes where he ended his dayes Beda writeth how that in the yeere 664. there fell strange accidents upon the eclipse of the Sunne which was the third of May in England and Ireland and a great mortalitie in both lands in the time of Finan and Colman the godly Bishops Gentle reader thou shalt heare himselfe speake The plague pressed sore that Iland of Ireland no lesse then England there were then as that time many of noble parentage and likewise of the meane sort of English birth in the dayes of Finan and Colman the Bishops who leaving their native soile had repaired thither either for divine literature or for more continencie of life whereof some immediately gave themselves to monasticall conversation others frequenting the Cels gave diligent eare to the lectures of the readers All which the Scots he meaneth the Irish men with most willing minde daily relieved and that freely yeelding unto them bookes to reade and masterly care without hire Among these there were two young men of great towardnesse of the Nobles of England Edelthun and Egbert the first was brother to Edilhun a man beloved of God who formerly had visited Ireland for learnings sake and being well instructed returned into his country was made Bishop of Lindisfarne and for a long time governed the Church with great discretion These men being of the monasterie of Rathmelfig and all their fellowes by the mortalitie either cut off or dispersed abroad were both visited with the sicknesse and to make short that which mine Author layeth downe at large Edelthun died thereof and Egbert lived untill he was fourescore and tenne yeeres old So farre Beda There was another Colmannus otherwise called Colmanellus an Abbot of the sept of the Neilles borne in Hoichle in Meth what time the King of Leinster with an huge armie wasted the North he became first Abbot of Conor in Vlster where the godly Bishop Mac Cnessey resteth From thence he came to the place where he was born and there saith his Legend he met with Eadus the sonne of Aimireach a King of Ireland Edus Flan a Lord of that country of the sept of the Neills his kinsman Saint Columba Cylle and Saint Cannicus the Abbot who received him ioyfully Edus Flan gave him a parcell of land to build upon and to inhabit called Fyd Elo afterwards called Colmans Elo where hee founded a Monasterie and now resteth himselfe Carantocus in the martyrologe Cartak was the sonne of Keredicus a King of Ireland a good Preacher the Irish called him Ceruagh his mother was a Britaine and was delivered of him in Wales Hee travailed over Ireland and Britaine King Arthur is said to have honoured him greatly and gave him a parcell of land where he builded a Church In his latter dayes he came to Ireland and died in a towne called after his name Chervac So much Capgrave There was another of that name an Abbot in France of whom Ionas maketh mention in the life of Columbanus but not of Irish birth Now to intermit a while from speaking of these learned men I finde that Aurelius Conanus who slue Constantine that succeeded King Arthur and raigned in his stead thirty three yeeres valiantly by force of Armes brought under his command as Gualterus Oxoniensis writeth Norwey Denmarke Ireland Island Gothland the Orchades and Ocean Ilands I finde also that Malgo the nephew of this Conanus who as it is in the English history succeeded Vortipore vanquished the Irish Pictes or Scots which the Britaines called y Gwydhil Pictiard which had over-runne the Isle of Man of them called Tyr Mon and slue Serigi their King with his owne hand at Llany Gwydhil that is the Irish Church at Holy-head so write Sir Iohn Price Knight and Humfry Lloyd in the description of Cambria Florilegus saith that he subdued sixe Ilands of the Ocean adioyning unto him which Harding thus reckoneth And conquered wholy the Isle of Orkenay Ireland Denmarke Iselond and eke Norway And Gotland also obeyed his royaltie He was so wise full of fortunitie When Careticus was King of Britaine who began his raigne Anno Dom. 586. the Saxons intending to make a full conquest of the land called to their aide for a number of Pirates and sea rovers that were mighty and strong and scoured the Seas and the Ilands whose Captaine was Gurmundus one calleth him an African Fabian writeth that he had two names and was called Gurmundus and Africanus howsoever I finde that hee was the King of Norweys sonne and for his successe in England referre the reader to that historie and for his behaviour in Ireland I will acquaint the courteous reader with what I finde in which the Writers noâ— not agree Cambrensis and Polycronicon followed bad presidents and were deceived Stanihurst stammereth writing one thing in English another thing in Latine the best record I finde is in Thadie Dowlinge Chancellour of Leighlin and Iames Grace of Kilkenny They write that Gurmund was in Ireland but no King or Conquerour that with strong hand he entred Leinster like a raging
there one moneth from thence he went to Esca preached Christ and converted many there some hard-hearted people slue him when he was beheaded hee rose up tooke with him his owne head beleeve it who list and carried it to Houtthein where the Angels had made a sepulchre for him He is said saith Bale to have written a booke of Homilies and in the yeere 1007. to have beene translated to Saint Bavons Church in Gandavum There was another Livinus a French man a Fryer minorite and slaine as they say about the yeere 1345. and of fame at this day in Flanders Arbogastus borne in Ireland a godly Preacher and a great Writer was the second Bishop of Argentine Anno 646. who also for his great wisedome was taken by Dagobert King of France to be of his Councell He left behinde him for the good of the Church a booke of Homilies So much Bale out of Munster Molanus writeth that about the yeere 647. some of the familie of Pipinus the first Duke of Brabant father of Saint Gertrude sent for many Preachers out of Ireland and Scotland into Brabant and the bordering regions to plant the Christian religion among them Fortanus and Vltanus are there named Lippeloo saith that about the yeere 696. Egbertus Wicbertus and Willibrodus were famous learned men in Ireland continued there a long time afterwards dispersed themselves into farre countries and with happinesse ended their dayes Molanus hereof writeth farther thus In the imperiall towne called Werda the birth of Saint Switberd whom Beda calleth Suidbertus the Bishop and Confessor is solemnized who in the time of Pipinus the first Duke of Brabant together with Saint Willibrod preached soules health unto the nations thereabouts This man among other diseases was wont to cure the disease in the throate called of the Physitians the squinancie He is termed the second of those Apostolike men which came out of England and Ireland to preach the Gospell unto the Frisians Hollanders and the nations about them Among whom being as yet but a Priest he converted many chiefly the inhabitants of the great Village Duerstadt the which now is the towne of Wâ—ic He converted also the Citie Hagenstein which now is a village adioyning unto Viana And when as by the industrie of him and Willibrodus the number of the faithfull daily increased at the intreatie of the brethren in Trajectum and Friseland both of them consented he should be consecrated Bishop Whereupon Saint Switbert whom Beda saith to have beene modest of life and meeke in heart went into England and was consecrated by Saint Willfride Bishop of Mercia Kent saith Beda had then no Bishop in the yeere 695. But Saint Willibrode went unto Duke Pipinus and having gotten leave of him departed to Rome where the yeere following Pope Sergius consecrated him And although Switbert by reason of some small time had the start of Willibrode yet Willibrode went before him in dignitie for he was the first Archbishop of Trajectum and especially by Pope Sergius consecrated Archbishop of Frisia and directed to that people And saith Beda Sergius changed his name and called him Clement because saith Molanus hee consecrated him on Saint Clements Even And he also writeth that he was Archbishop of the nations now called Frisii Transiselani Trajectenses Hollandi and Zelandi whereas Switbert is not called Bishop of Trajectum but fellow Bishop with Saint Willibrode Yet he is by speciall name called the Apostle of Teisterbandia Westfalia and of the Boructuarians for Marcellinus writeth that hee converted the county of Teisterbandia and together with it in a manner all Batua and the greater part of the lower Friseland unto the faith He also exceedingly increased the number of the beleevers in the Church at Trajectum he founded many Churches and dedicated the temples of Idols unto the honour of God In the historie of Marcellinus certaine places by especiall words are named as in Zandwic in the I le of Tila which at this day cannot be found in Arkell and Hoernaer villages of the Lordship of Gorcomia in Schoenreford now called Schoenrewoert by Leerda in Authensden nigh Huesden in Wondrighen now called Worckum in Aelborch Giesen and Riiswijâ—ke between Worckum and Huesden in Almkerk which is the territorie of Altenae in Maelsem Erkum and Avesaede in the Lordship of Buria with many other places In these countries hee hallowed Churches continually praying with great devotion for the people which hee had converted and with wholesome admonitions drawing them to the heavenly dwellings He converted the Westfalians and Boructuarians which at this day are thought to bee the people Markenses Further the renowned Duke Pipinus gave him Werda upon the river of Rhene for his good and for the establishing of his principality which place is elsewhere called the Iland of Saint Switbert though now it be part of the continent or maine land Pipinus gave him also great store of treasure wherewith he builded there a Monasterie and replenished the same with a great company of the servants of Christ. In the end this Saint Switbert died in the yeere 717. and lyeth buried in the Monasterie of Werda-Caesaris which he had founded Beda writeth that Willibrode lived in his time and went on the thirtieth and sixt yeere of his consecration Archbishop of Friseland Molanus delivereth his end that namely he ended his dayes at Westervoert and was buried at Elste in Gelderland but of Egbert and Wigbert the Martyr before mentioned he reporteth out of Beda and Marcellinus that Wigbert was one of the companions of Egbert and for the space of many yeeres had led an Anchors life in Ireland that he sailed into Friseland and for the space of two whole yeeres preached unto that nation and to their King Radbodus and seeing that he could doe no good among them returned againe to Ireland And when as Egbertus the servant of God had sent the second time unto the Friselanders and Saxons famous men for life and learning Acca Willibaldus Winiboldus Lebuinus Werenfridus Marcellinus Adalbertus Ewaldus senior and junior together with Willibrode he sent the said Wigbert who no sooner landed but King Radâ—od caused him cruelly to be tormented to death in Fosetes-landâ— an Iland in the confines of Friseland and Denmarke for that the Christians of that place by his preaching of the Gospell had destroyed there the Idoll groves of Iupiter and Fosta There was a later Wigbertus Patron of Hersweldia remembred in the Martyrologe whom I would have the reader take notice of to avoid the confusion of times And last of all of Willibrode and Wilfram there is a storie how that Raboldus after long perswasion seemed willing to be baptized and having one foot in the water demanded where be the nobilitie of Frizeland my Father Grand-father and kindred Answer being made that they were in hell hee with-drew himselfe from baptisme saying I will goe after the greatest company take your heaven to your selfe Molanus when
kindely intreated and bounteously rewarded the Irish souldiers the which then in his second extremity was not forgotten With shippes men and munition out of Ireland he bent his course to Wales repaired to his old friend Griffith Prince of Wales where he was most welcome and shortly restored againe to his Earldome by the meanes and intreaty of certaine strangers which had lately there arrived out of Norway Camden writeth how that Anno 1066. Godred surnamed Cronan the sonne of Hiraldniger of Island invaded the I le of Man thence came into Ireland did the like unto Dublin and a great part of Leynster made great spoyle and went backe againe The British Chronicle reporteth of Dermot a King in Ireland that in Anno 1068. he was murthered but the manner hee sheweth not the commendation he giveth of him is this He was the worthiest and noblest Prince that ever ruled in Ireland Polychronicon reporteth how that Anno 1072. at Winsore before William the Conquerour and the Cleargie the controversie between the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke was heard at large and decided and that Bedaes historie was shewed where it appeared that from Austen the Monkes time till Bedaes death about 140. yeeres the Archbishop of Canterburie had primacie over all Great Britaine Ireland that he had held Councels by Yorke summoned Bishops of Yorke consecrated Bishops and punished Bishops of Yorke for their offences and iudicially removed them Philip Flatesburie a great Antiquarie whom Stanihurst followeth and Iames Grace of Kilkenny with Dowlinge his ioynt Collectour doe write how that Anno 1074. Patricke Bishop of Dublin was consecrated in Pauls Church in London by Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterburie upon commendatorie Letters of Teridionatus alias Terdilnacus Monarch of Ireland and Godericke King of Leinster and with teste of the Clergie and Laytie of that Diocesse of his lawfull and orderly election Further I finde recorded that it was the manner to consecrate Bishops in this sort and that the Monarch of Ireland in regard of his royall principalitie and title of honour with other priviledges belonging to his Monarchie had negative voyce in the nomination of Bishops throughout his Realme Secondly how the Archbishop of Canterbury took of him that was so consecrated a corporall oath of Canonicall obedience as his predecessours formerly used to him and his successors and lastly gave him letters testimoniall thereof to the Monarch and King of Leynster Cambrensis sheweth the reason of this consecration namely how that in Ireland as then there was no Archbishop but one Bishop consecrated another untill that Anno 1148. Iohannes Papiron a Priest Cardinall sent from Eugenius 3. together with Christian Bishop of Lismore Legate of all Ireland came to the land and brought with them foures Paales But of this more in another place The same Flattesburie writeth further how that the said Lanfranke in like sort consecrated Donatus Bishop of Dublin Anno 1085. About this time Godwin and Edmund sonnes to King Harold my Author is Thomas Walsingham Monke of Saint Albans which formerly had fled into Ireland for succour unto Dermotte Mac O Nell King of Ireland returned with 66. saile landed in Sommersetshire saith Stow where Brian the sonne of Eudo Duke of Brabant met them and gave them battaile wherein saith Stow the brethren gate the victory and the Irish men with many great preyes out of Cornewall and Devonshire returned into Ireland But Walsingham which seemeth more true writeth that it was a bloudie battaile wherein 1070. of the English and Normans with certaine of the Nobilitie of the land were slaine and the enemies with aide of their ships fled and brought heavy newes home to their deerest friends in Ireland It is very like that William the Conquerour immediately upon this sent great forces into Ireland to bee revenged of them for relieving or assisting his enemies for Stow writeth out of William of Malmsbury thus Lanfranck Archbishop of Canterbury being in such favour with King William that the said William thought not good to deny any thing that hee requested procured by his industrie that the said King left his ill custome of selling his prisoners which hee tooke in Ireland which was a thing hardly granted unto him and to Wolstan Bishop of Worcester the gaine that the King had by the sale of those Irish men was such The British Chronicle reporteth how that Anno 1087. and the last yeere of William Conquerour the sonnes of Blethlyn ap Convyn sometime King of Wales gathered their strength together against Rees ap â—yder who not being able to meete with them fled to Ireland and there he purchased to himselfe great friends and got an armie of Irish men and Scots to whom hee promised great rewards when he should obtaine his kingdome so landed in South-Wales with these strangers and when his friends heard thereof they drew unto him and the other came in all haste to vanquish him before hee had made a head and gathered forces together to bee short at Wechryd they gave battaile where they were discomfited and two of the brethren slaine to wit Madoc and Kirid and the other fled and forsooke the country As soone as Rees was in quiet possession of his country he sent away the Irish men with great rewards All the Lords of the Ilands sent messengers unto Murchard alias Moragh O Brien King of Ireland that it would please him to send them some worthy man of royall bloud to be their King during the nonage of Olanus the sonne sonne of Godred King of Man Whereupon he sent unto them one Dopnald Mac Tady whom hee deepely charged to governe that kingdome which of right appertained not to him with all kindenesse love and modesty but hee was no sooner warm in the kingdome but he forgot his instructions and the charge his Lord had given him he poled he pilled and practised all kinde of tyranny for the space of three yeers Then all the Lords of the Ilands rose in armes against him and banished him out of those parts so he fled into Ireland of whom they never heard any further newes Stanihurst findeth that Anno 1095. there came certaine Esterlings to the North side of Dublin adjoyning to the Liffie and seated themselves there so that of them to this day the place is called Ostomontowne and corruptly Oxmonton and the Parish Saint Michans of one Michanus a Dane and a Bishop which founded the Church unto whom Murchard or Moragh King of Leynster gave that parcell of land to that use The faire greene or Commune now called Ostmontowne-greene was all wood and hee that diggeth at this day to any depth shall finde the ground full of great rootes From thence Anno 1098. King William Rufus by licence of Murchard had that frame which made up the roofe of Westminster Hall where no English Spider webbeth or breedeth to this day Cambrensis in his Itinerarie of Cambria reporteth how that King William standing upon some high rocke in
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
circumstances the descents of nations can only be proved where other monuments of writings are not remayning Eudox. Then I pray you whensoever in your discourse you meet with them by the way doe not shun but boldly touch them for besides their great pleasure and delight for their antiquity they bring also great profit and helpe unto civility Iren. Then sith you will have it so I will heere take occasion since I lately spake of their manner of cryes in ioyning of battaile to speake also somewhat of the manner of their Armes and array in Battell with other customes perhappes worthy the noting And first of their Armes and Weapons amongst which their broad Swordes are proper Scythian for such the Scythes used commonly as you may read in Olaus Magnus And the same also the old Scots used as you may read in Buchanan and in Solinus where the pictures of them are in the same forme expressed Also their short Bowes and little Quivers with short bearded Arrowes are very Scythian as you may reade in the same Olaus And the same sort both of Bowes Quivers and Arrowes are at this day to bee seene commonly amongst the Northerne Irish-Scots whose Scottish Bowes are not past three quarters of a yard long with a string of wreathed hempe slackely bent and whose Arrowes are not much above halfe an ell long tipped with steele heads made like common broad Arrow heades but much more sharpe and slender that they enter into a man or horse most cruelly notwithstanding that they are shot foorth weakely Moreover their long broad Shields made but with wicker roddes which are commonly used amongst the said Northerne Irish but especially of the Scots are brought from the Scythians as you may read in Olaus Magnus Solinus others likwise their going to battle without armor on their bodies or heads but trusting to the thicknes of their glibbs the which they say will sometimes beare off a good stroke is meere Scythian as you may see in the said Images of the old Scythes or Scots set foorth by Herodianus and others Besides their confused kinde of march in heapes without any order or array their clashing of swords together their fierce running upon their enemies and their manner of fight resembleth altogether that which is read in histories to have beene used of the Scythians By which it may almost infallibly be gathered together with other circumstances that the Irish are very Scots or Scythes originally though sithence intermingled with many other Nations repairing and joyning unto them And to these I may also adde another strong conjecture which commeth to my mind that I have often observed there amongst them that is certain religious ceremonies which are very superstitiously yet used amongst them the which are also written by sundry authours to have bin observed amongst the Scythians by which it may very vehemently be presumed that the nations were anciently all one For Plutarch as I remember in his treatise of Homer indeavouring to search out the truth what countryman Homer was prooveth it most strongly as he thinketh that he was an Aeolian borne for that in describing a sacrifice of the Greekes he omitted the loyne the which all the other Grecians saving the Aeolians use to burne in their sacrifices also for that he makes the intralls to be rosted on five spits which was the proper manner of the Aeolians who onely of all the nations of Grecia used to sacrifize in that sort By which he inferreth necessarily that Homer was an Aeolian And by the same reason may I as reasonably conclude that the Irish are descended from the Scythians for that they use even to this day some of the same ceremonies which the Scythians anciently used As for example you may reade in Lucian in that sweet Dialogue which is intitled Toxaris or of friendship that the common oath of the Scythians was by the sword and by the fire for that they accounted those two speciall divine powers which should worke vengeance on the perjurers So doe the Irish at this day when they goe to battaile say certaine prayers or charmes to their swords making a crosse therewith upon the earth and thrusting the points of their blades into the ground thinking thereby to have the better successe in fight Also they use commonly to sweare by their swords Also the Scythians used when they would binde any solemne vow or combination amongst thē to drink a Bowle of blood together vowing therby to spend their last blood in that quarrell even so do the wild Scots as you may read in Buchanan and some of the Northerne Irish. Likewise at the kindling of the Fire and lighting of Candles they say certaine prayers use some other superstitious rites which shew that they honour the Fire and the light for all those Northerne Nations having beene used to be annoyed with much colde and darkenesse are wont therefore to have the Fire and the Sunne in great veneration like as contrarywise the Moores and Egyptians which are much offended and grieved with extreame heat of the Sunne doe every morning when the Sunne ariseth fall to cursing and banning of him as their plague You may also reade in the same booke in the tale of Arsacomas that it was the manner of the Scythians when any one of them was heavily wronged and would assemble unto him any forces of people to joyne with him in his revenge to sit in some publicke place for certaine dayes upon an Oxe hide to which there would resort all such persons as being disposed to take Armes would enter into his pay or joyne with him in his quarrell And the same you may likewise reade to have beene the ancient manner of the wilde Scotts which are indeed the very naturall Irish. Moreover the Scythians used to sweare by their Kings hand as Olaus sheweth And so do the Irish use now to sweare by their Lords hand and to forsweare it holde it more criminall then to sweare by God Also the Scythians said that they were once a yeare turned into Wolves and so is it written of the Irish Though Master Camden in a better sense doth suppose it was a disease called Lycanthropia so named of the Wolfe And yet some of the Irish doe use to make the Wolfe their Gossip The Scythians used also to see the the flesh in the hide so doe the Northerne Irish. The Scythians used to draw the blood of the beast living to make meat thereof so doe the Irish in the North still Many such customes I could recount unto you as of their old manner of marrying of burying of dancing of singing of feasting of cursing though Christians have wyped out the most part of them by resemblance whereof it might plainly appeare to you that the Nations are the same but that by the reckoning of these few which I have told unto you I finde my speech drawne out to a greater length then I purposed Thus much onely for this
of the Nobilitie of the Scotts resciant next them had with some difficultie received out of Greece a Molossian Hound which breede both in swiftnesse of foote and in svveetnesse of opening vvas reputed peerelesse This Hound a willfull Gentleman a Pict stole home and therewith gratified his Prince glad of the novelty and little thoughtfull of the displeasure Contrarywise the Irish wood for anger at this dishonour and injury assembled in poste haste under Eugenius their King and after brawling fell to spoyle and so to blowes whereof parts and stomackes being even the fortune was variable In this division they scambled out a few yeares untill the malice of Carassus a Brittaine forced a quietnesse betweene them to abuse their helpe against th' Empire But hee was shortly slaine by Alectus the Romane Captaine and hereupon the old sore waxed rawe To heape the mischiefe a Brittish Lord named Maximus aspiring to the kingdome sent an ambassadge to Ethodius king of Picts pleading with him a league of friendship utterly to expulse the Irish Scot conditioning withall their assistance to chase the Romanes out of Brittaine which was concluded and by this confederacie after many lamentable skirmishes the Irish were betrayed Eugenius the King Ethai his brother and Ericus his nephew and also the residue such as could escape the enemies sword fled thence some into Norway some into Ireland their first home Maximus watching his time despairing of the Brittish Kingdome and espying the Picts tyred vvith continuall vvarres turned his povver upon them and brought them to such an exigent that they had no readier shift then to crave helpe from Ireland and so by degrees vvhen some private persons nourishers of the quarrell vvere out-vvorne the matter of malice vvas qualified and the remnant of the Irish Scots vvith their friends and off-spring called home to their dvvelling after their first banishment 43. yeares expired From this time forvvard the amity vvaxed steddy and the Irish under Fergusius the second their King vvan such credit that finally the nation of Picts vvere afflicted by the Brittaines then the Scots incroched into the heart of the Realme and became the mightier and more populous of vvhom the Countrey vvas ever since under one Generall name called Scotland Thus you see the Scotts a lively stirring ancient victorious people are mixed first of Brittaines though the Chronicles dissemble it whom Brutus planted there with Albanactus Secondly of Picts Thirdly and chiefly of the Irish which after this time left the name of Scott for those in Brittaine and delighted rather to be called Irish. Then came up the distinction of Scotia major for Ireland and Scotia minor for the Scotts in Brittaine But most effectually as saith Cambrensis the Scotts prevayled under the guiding of six valiant Gentlemen Sonnes to Muridus King of Vlster who in the time that Neale the great enjoyed the monarchy of Ireland going to succour their countrymen there at last also tooke up for themselves no little portions of ground which their posterity kept in Cambrensis time the yeare of Christ 1200. who treateth their exploits more largely in his Topography of Ireland Ever since then they were utterly named and esteemed Scotts The nation of the Picts driven into corners albeit the most parts the out Isles retaine at this day a people mungrell betwixt both called Redshanks The Scotts write that their King Gregorius in an Dom. 875. invaded Ireland as his lawfull inheritance and the same conquered who lieth buried in one of their out-Iles called Iona beautified with the Sepultures of Scottish Kings where the Irish tongue is their native language therefore they call the submission of the Irish to Henry the 2. a defection from Scotland which neverthelesse they recke ne regard not but willfully did forgoe it as reaping lesse then they expended and unable to defray the growing charge which cost considered little better then nothing say they the King of England winneth by keeping of Ireland Yet in the late governement of S. Henry Sidney Vlster being conveyed by discent act of Parliament to the Crowne which Earledome was in the time of Edward the third reckoned at thirty one thousand markes yearely the same being but one fift part of Ireland It seemeth that if this right be well prosecuted that Ireland might pay it selfe of necessaries and yeeld sufficient benefit to the Princes Coffers CAP. XII The conversion of the Irish to Christianity ABout this time Holy Church being stayed in peace enriched with possessions supported with authority many noble Clearkes flourishing in diverse Realmes the Holy Doctor Augustine yet in life Theodosius the second suppressing Idols in all the Empyre Celestinus 1. Bishop of Rome conferred with his cleargy touching the instruction specially of the vvestern parts wherin the faith of Christ was hitherto either not planted or by persecution extinct or by corruption of Hereticks defaced of them all no country was more lamented then Ireland which partly for distance from the heart of Christendome partly for their infinite rudenesse had yet received no fruit of true Religion In that assembly was Palladius Arch-Deacon of Rome a good Priest and well learned who profered his charitable travaile towards the conversion of any those lands whither he should be by them directed and appointed The Pope knowing the sufficiency of the man did consecrate Palladius a Bishop authorized his journey furnished his wants associated to him diverse religious persons delivered him the Holy Bible with great solemnities and certaine monuments of Peter and Paul whereat diverse miracles had beene shewed He arryved in the North of Ireland whence he escaped hardly with his life into the Ilands adjoyning there preaching and converting many erecting monasteries and ensueing his vocation so painefully that the onely report of his holynesse and cunning excited the Scotts late christened but abiding in scisme and committing the function of Bishoppes to single Preists to call him thither whereunto he assented upon the Popes answere and leaving his Disciples in the Isle became the speciall apostle of Scotland where he spent the residue of his time with more fruite then among the Irish. Hereunto Celestinus condiscended the easier for that in the very point of Palladius his departure Patricius attended at Rome to bee sent with leave and benediction into Ireland In which attempt hee found such joyfull successe so farre different from their accustomed frowardnesse that a man would weene the Realme had beene reserved for him And because it pleased God to worke to the Land such an universall benefite by the meanes of this holy Patriarch I take it convenient to set downe briefly here his course of life after the most approoved Chronicles that I could finde Patricius was borne in the marches of England and Scotland in a sea towne called then Taburnia whose father Calphrune as writeth Ioseline was a Deacon and a Priests sonne his mother Conches was sister
to S. Martin the famous Bishoppe of Toures in France The childe was from his cradle brought up in the Faith and much given to devotion Novv vvere the Irish through the helpe of the Scots and Picts arch-pirats of the narrovv seas and used to sacke litle vveake villages scattered along the shore and for vvant of other prey to bring the Inhabitants home Captives vvith others also vvas taken this Patricius a ladde of sixteene yeares olde being then a student of secular learning and became the Villaine of an Irish Lord called Mackbiam from vvhom after sixe yeares hee redeemed himselfe vvith a peece of gold vvhich hee found in a clod of earth nevvly turned up by the svvyne hee kept the time of his Banishment as affliction commonly maketh men religious This vvith the regard of his former education printed in him such remorse and humility that being from thenceforth utterly vveaned from the vvorld hee betooke himselfe to contemplation ever lamenting the lacke of grace and truth in that Land vvherefore not despairing but that in continuance some good might bee vvrought upon them hee learned their tongue perfectly and alluring one companion vvith him for his exercises he departed thence into France ever casting backe his eye to the conversion of Ireland vvhose babes yet unborn seemed to him in his dream from out their mothers vvombes to call for Christendome In this purpose he sought out Martinus his Vncle by vvhose meanes the yong man entred under the government of Germanus then Bishop of Antisiodore vvhose scholler and familiar he vvas forty yeares bestovving all that time in prayer and study of eloquence and holy Scriptures Then at the age of threescore and two yeares being renowned through the Latine Church for his wisdome vertue and skill hee came home to Rome recommended with letters from the French Bishops to Pope Celestine to whom he uttered his full mind and the secret vow which long since he had conceived touching Ireland The Pope invested him Archbishop and Primate of the whole Iland blessed him commaunded publique prayer and fasting brought him and his disciples onward on the voyage Therefore in the tvventie third yeare of Theodosius the younger which was the yeare of our Lord 430. Patricke landed in Ireland and because he spake the tongue plentifully being a reverent personage he tooke holy Bible adding thereto diverse miracles in the Name vertue of IESUS whom he preached many listened unto him namely such as in the late entertainement of Palladius and Albius the Irish Bishops his Disciples had some little feeling in the Gospell In continuance hee wanne the better part of that Kingdome except Laigirus himselfe sonne of Neale the great Monarch who notvvithstanding hee relyed nothing to the Gospell yet because hee stopped not the course thereof nor forbid any that list to embrace it the Bishop denounced to him a curse from God accordingly tempered vvith mercy and judgement that during his life hee should bee victorious but after him neither the Kingdome should stand nor his linage inherite Thence hee journeyed vvith a great number of his Disciples and friends to Conill Lord of Connaght vvho honourably reputed him and vvith all his people vvas converted and then sent him to Logan his Brother King of Leinster vvhom hee likevvise persvvaded In Mounster he vvas highly honoured of the Earle of Daris vvho gave him a dwelling in the East angle of Ardmagh called Secta where hee erected many Celles and Monasteries replenished with votarious men and women Thirty yeares continually hee travailed in preaching through the Land ever leaving behinde him Bishops and Priests whose learning and holinesse by the speciall grace of God shortly repaired the faith so begunne other thirty yeares hee spent in his Province of Ardmagh among his ghostly brethren in visitation of those religious Houses which by his meanes were founded so hee lived in the whole one hundred twentie two yeares and lyeth buryed in Downe CAP. XIII Of Saint Patrickes Purgatory EVery History of Ireland that I have seene maketh one severall title De mirabilibus Hiberniae and therein with long processe treateth of severall Ilands some full of Angels some full of devils some for male only some for female some where poore may live some where none can dye finally such effects of waters stones trees and trinkets that a man would vveene them to be but heedlesse and uncertaine tales by their complexion Verily being inquisitive of these matters I could finde no one of them soothed by such persons upon whose relation I am disposed to venture Onely the place behinde Ardmagh called S. Patricks Purgatory because it is knovvne and confessed and because I vvould be discharged of my Readers expectation who perhaps vvith the name of S. Patricke looketh to bee informed thereof I can bee content to put so much in vvriting as Bookes and reports affirme vvith most likelyhood Tvvo things I muse at that neither the time nor the author of so strange erection was preserved Concerning the time one Record putteth it in Anno Domini 302. which is 128. yeares before S. Patricke converted Ireland and sixty sixe yeares before his birth Againe Cambrensis who maketh curious recitall of wonders in the land never uttereth word of this Purgatory though a negative authority be not invincible yet considering the propertie of that man and what a sort of trifles he taketh paine to justifie it may serve for a vehement suspition that the place was then either not found or not miraculous Concerning the Author very few there are that referre it to this Patricke their Apostle but rather to an Abbot of the same name whom I marvaile I finde not in the mighty bigge volume of their Saints Notwithstanding these Originalls might bee either lost or altered but the thing it selfe being extant must needes have had a beginning whereof possibly there are monuments in that Church or in the Irish tongue to me unwitting Therefore I hold him unwise that will utterly mistrust the principall because the circumstances vary or condemne the vvhole because he could not reach to the undoubted truth of some part If any man bee so delicate that not a jote thereof vvill sinke into his head vvho shall controule him neither hee nor vvee are bound to believe any story besides that vvhich is delivered us from the Scriptures and the consent of Gods Church Let the discreet Reader judge of it This I learne that the holy Abbot Patricius secundus not the Bishop their Apostle laboured the conversion of the people of Vlster vvhich being novv Christians could yet at no hand be vvonne to renounce their olde sensuality cruelty murthers extortion And vvhen he much inforced the life to come they replyed unto him vvith contempt that unlesse they savv proofes of these Ioyes and paines hee preached they vvould never leese possession of the pleasures in hand for hope or dread of things to come they vvist not vvhen At their importunacie hee
besought God vvere it his good pleasure to give out some evident token of the maters they required finally by the special direction of God he found in the north edge of Vlster a desolate angle hemmed in round in the mids thereof a pit where he reared a Church closed the same with a wall bestowed therein Canons regular at the East end of this Church yarde a doore leadeth into a closet of stone which they call the Purgatory because devout people have resorted thither for pennance and reported at their returne strange visions of paine and blisse appearing to them They used to continue therein foure twenty houres which doing one while with ghostly meditations and another while a dreadfull conscience of their deserts they saw as they say a plaine resembling of their owne faults and vertues with the horror and comfort thereto belonging that one so terrible the other so joyous that they verily deeme themselves for the time to have sight of heaven and hell The revelations of men that went in Saint Patricke yet living are kept vvritten vvithin the saide Abbey When any person is disposed to enter for the doore is ever sparred he repaireth first for advice to the Archbishop vvho casteth all perils and dissvvadeth him because they say diverse never came backe againe but if the party be resolute he recommendeth him to the Pryor vvho in like manner favourably exhorteth him not to hazard such a danger if notvvithstanding he finde the party fully bent he conducteth him to this Church enjoyneth him to begin vvith prayer fast and vigill oâ— 15. dayes so long together as in discretion can be endured This time expired if he yet persevere in his former purpose the vvhole Convent accompanieth him vvith solemne procession and benediction to the mouth of the cave vvhere they let him in so barre up the doore till the morrovv then vvith like ceremonies they avvaite his returne reduce him to the Church If he be seene no more they fast pray 15. dayes after Touching the credit of those matters I see no cause but a Christian man assuring himself that there is both hel heaven may vvithout vanity upon sufficient information be persuaded that it might please God at somtime for considerations to his infinit vvisdome knovvn to reveale by miracles the vision of Ioyes paines eternal but that altogether in such sort so ordinarily to such persons and by such meanes as the common fame some records therof doe utter I neither believe nor wish to be regarded It appeares by Trevisa in his additions to Polichronicon that a superstitious opinion of this Purgatory was then conceived which he disproveth And a man of indifferent judgement may soone suspect that in the drift and strength of Imagination a contemplative person would happely suppose the sight of many strange things which he never saw Since writing hereof I met with a Priest who told mee that he had gone the same pilgrimage and affirmed the order of the premisses But that he for his owne part saw no sight in the world save onely fearefull dreames when he chanced to nod and those he saith were exceeding horrible further he added that the faste is rated more or lesse according to the quality of the penitent and that the place seemed to him scarcely able to receive sixe persons CAP. XIIII The Irish Saints THough my search thereof in this my haste out of the land be very cumbersome yet being loath to neglect the memory of Gods friends more glorious to a Realme then all the victories and triumphs of the world I thinke it good to furnish out this chapter with some extracts touching the Saints of Ireland namely those that are most notable mentioned by authors of good credit Cambrensis telleth that in S. Patricks time flourished S. Bride the virgin and S. Columbe in Doune where their bodies soone after the conquest and also S. Patrickes body were found Sir Iohn Courcye being then President of Vlster In vievving of the sepulture hee testifieth to have seene three principall jevvells vvhich vvere then translated as honourable monuments vvorthie to be preserved Of S. Columbe it is doubted whether he lived in that age Brigide was base Daughter of Dubtachus a Captaine in Leinster who perceiving the Mother with child sold her secretly fearing the jealousy of his wife to a Irish Poet reserving to himselfe the fruite of her wombe she was there delivered of this Brigide whom the Poet trained up in letters and so conveyed her home to her father The Damosell was schooled in the faith by S. Patricke preaching then in those parts she became so religious and so ripe in judgement that not onely the multitude but a whole synode of Bishoppes assembled by Dublin used her advice in weighty causes and highly esteemed her One fact of hers being yet a childe made her famous The King of Leinster had given to Dubtachus in token of singular affection for his good service a rich sword Now it befell that the maiden visiting her sicke neighbours diversly distressed for hunger her father being a sterne man his Lady a shrewe she saw none other helpe to releive these wretched people but to part the Iewels of that idle sword among them This matter was haynously taken and came to the Kings eares who comming shortly after to a Banquet in her fathers house demaunded the Girle not yet nine yeares old how she durst presume to deface the gift of a King shee answered that it was bestowed upon a better King then hee was whom quoth she finding in such extremity I would have given all my father hath and all that thou hast yea your selves and all were yee in my power to give rather then Christ should starve At convenient age she professed virginity and allured other noble Virgins to her fellowship with whom she lived in her owne Monastery untill the yeare of our Lord 500. and was buried at Downe in the Tombe of S. Patricke what Cambrensis reporteth of his own knowledge and sight I will be bold to adde hereunto Among her reliques was found a concordance of the 4. Evangelists seeming to bee written with no mortall hand beautified with mysticall pictures in the margent whose colours and workemanship at the first blush were darke and unpleasant but in the view wonderful liuely and artificiall Senanus first a Souldiour succeeded S. Patricke in the See of Ardmagh when he had beene certaine yeares a minor and doctour to the Campe. Brendan Abbot at the age of ten yeares was of such incomparable holinesse and thereto so wise and lettered that his parents thinking themselves to have wonne the most notable fruite that could ensue their marriage by mutuall consent professed continencie Hee flourished in the time of S. Bride lived familiarly with Ercus the Bishop and Finan the Abbot Madoc alias Edan of noble parentage taken prisoner with the King of Temore and
betweene the King of Mounster and his Brother wherein the King was overmatched and fled into England visited Malchus in his Abbey and would at no hand be said nay but so long as it should please God to afflict him he would live there under his governement and ensue his conversation he contented himselfe with a poore Cell used dayly a cold bathe to represse the wantonnesse of his flesh dieted himselfe with none other fare then bread water and salt passed dayes and nights in sobbing and remorse of sinne At length the Kings and Nobles of Ireland began to stomacke the usurper vanquished him called home the good King to his right who with many perswasions of Malchus and Malachias could scarcely be gotten to forsake ghostly company trade of life CAP. XV. The most noble events in Ireland betweene the time of Saint Patricke and the conquest under Henry the 2. IN the yeare of Christ 586. the people of Norway were Lordes and victours of the Ilandes in the West Ocean called Orchades and great scowrers of the seas A nation desperate in attempting the conquest of other Realmes as being sure to finde warmer dwelling any where then at their owne home These fellowes lighted into Ireland by this meanes Careticus King of Brittaine odious to his subjects fell with them at civill warre Ioyfull was the newes hereof to the Saxons who then in the six severall kingdomes possessed the Iland sundry wayes so they laide together their force associated to them Gurmondus a Rover out of Norway who having a navy still in a readinesse and an army thereafter furnished holpe the Saxons to hunt the Brittaines into the marches of Wales builded the towne of Gormond-chester and then having holpen the Saxons made a voyage into Ireland where he sped but meanely and therefore the Irish account not this for any of their conquests as some of their antiquities have informed me The same Gurmondus finding hard successe did but build a few slight castles and trenches in the frontiers and then leaving the land got him home into France where he was finally slaine him our Chonicles name King of Ireland But the Irish affirme that before Turgesius no Easterlings obtained a Kingdome Here Cambrensis to salve the contradiction thinketh Gurmundus to have conquered the land by Turgesius his Deputy sent thither at his provision which answere breedeth a contrariety more incurable for himself numbreth betweene Laigirius King of Ireland in an 430. and â—edlemidius whom Turgesius vanquished Monarches 33. and yeares 400. so that Turgesius lived in an 830. and could not possibly deale with Gurmondus who joyned with the Saxons against Careticu in Anno 586. This knot might be untwyned with more facility Gurmondus made much of that little he caught and wrote himselfe King which Title our Histories doe allow him because he opened a gappe enjoyed it for a while and brake a way for his Countreymen Turgesius brought this attempt to perfection and in these respects each of them may be called first King and Conqueror Secondly therefore Turgesius with his Normans assaulted Ireland sustained losse and many overthrowes but in the end fastening his power to the sea coasts and receiving in his friends at will he subdued the land through and through ever as he went building up Castles and fortresses vvherevvith the Irish had not beene yet acquainted for hitherto they knevv no fence but vvoods or bogges or strokes Turgesius bridled the Kings and avved them so that vvithout interruption he raigned thirty yeares cryed havocke spoile vvhere any vvealth vvas heaped spared neither Lay nor Clergy nor Church nor Chappell but very insolently abused his victory O-malaghlien king of Meth vvas in some trust vvith the Tyrant his onely Daughter Turgesius craved for his concubine The father having a present vvitt and vvatching some subtle oportunities Saving your fancie my Lord quoth hee there are diverse Ladies of my bloud svveeter bed-fellovves for a king then that brovvne girle and then he began to count neeces and cousins a number forsooth endovved vvith angell-like beauties painted so lively vvith his Tale that the Tyrant doted already upon them ere hee savv them But ever he doubted lest O-malaghlien extolled them to exempt his ovvne and the vvise father cloaked his drift vvith modestie in ansvveres and lingering his graunt to enflame the leachers folly as hee that vvould any thing to bee suspected rather then his thought indeed And at the last vvhen the other tooke his delay somevvhat unkindely and bade his Queene speake to him If I said quoth hee that vvith my very goodvvill my sole daughter should bee sent to you to bee deflovvred your high vvisedome would guesse I did but faine and flatter and yet if ten daughters were deerer unto me then your good pleasure and contentation by whose bounty both she I and we all are supported I were unworthie the secret friendship wherein it lyeth in you to use mee As for the wench it will in part seeme honourable to bee asked to the bed of such a Prince seeing Queenes have not sticked to come from farre and prostrate their bodies to noble Conquerours in hope of issue by them and howsoever it bee taken time will redeeme it But such a friend as you are to mee and mine neither I nor mine shall live to see and I purpose not to offend your amity with saving a greater mater then twenty maiden-heads seeing fathers have not sticked to yeeld their owne wives to quench the loves and lustes of their sonnes Therefore I am thus agreed name you the day and place sever your selfe from the open eye of your Court conferre with those that have a curious insight and skill in beauties I will send you my daughter and with her the choice of twelve or sixteene gentlewomen the meanest whereof may bee an Empresse in comparison when all are before you make your game at will and then if my childe shall please your fancie shee is not too good to be at your commandement Onely my request is that if any other presume upon your leavings your Majestie will remember whose fathers childe shee is This liberall proffer was accepted of him whose desire was insatiable with many faire promises and thankes To bee short the same day O-malaghlien attired Prince-like his owne Daughter and with her sixteene beautifull striplings which presented to the King in his privy Chamber accompanied onely with certaine wantons of the Nobility drew foorth from under their woman-like garments their skeanes and valiantly bestirred themselves stabbing first the Tyrant next the youth present that prepared but small resistance surely sitt mates to supply the office they tooke in hand of Paris not of Hector Out flew the fame thereof into all quarters of Ireland and the Princes nothing dull to catche holde of such advantage vvith one assent rose ready to pursue their liberty All Meth and Leinster vvere soone gathered to O-malaghlien the father of this practise
assistance of Rodericke Oconor King of Connaght at that season the generall Monarch of all Ireland The subjects of Leinster detesting the quarrell and long ere this time hating their Prince left him desolate in his greatest neede so as with much difficulty he caught his boate and fled over for succour to Henry the 2. King of England then warring upon the Frenchmen within his Dukedome of Aquitaine Somewhat before this season sate in the See of Rome Adrianus 4. an English man borne who having in his youth taken a painefull pilgrimage into Norway and reduced the whole Iland unto Christianity learned distinctly the state of Ireland and how their countrymen which dayly repaired thither being themselves the most part infidels meeting with a people there wilde and furious were like very shortly but if God found remedy to deface religion for though Christ were beleeved and taught yet the multitude eft soone grew to a shamelesse kinde of liberty making no more of necessary points of Doctrine then served their loose humour Besides these occasions Henry the 2. builded upon the Popes favour his borne subject had sent Ambassadours to Rome in the first yeare of his raigne asking leaue to attempt the conquest of Ireland Adrian trusting and requiring a diligent reformation of the premisses graunted his Bull which Alexander his Successour confirmed and ratified upon the same conditions Now when Dermot was come in the very necke of these consultations and put up his complaint wherein he preferred the interest of his Crowne and craved a restitution of some peece of his lands the matter did seeme not all untowardly broached Henry having his hands full with the French because Mac Murrough urged all possible haste could not personaly intend that offer but sent him honourably garded into England with letters patents bearing this Tenour HENRY the second King of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine Earle of Angiow To all our true subjects English Normans Welchmen Scotts and to all nations within our Dominions whatsoever Greeting Witt yee that the Bearer hereof Dermot Mac Murrough King of Leinster we have received into the soveraigne protection of our Grace and bounty wherefore who so of you all our loving subjects will extend towards him your ayde for his restoring as to our trusty and welbeloved know yee that he is thereto authorized by these presents and shall deserve at our hands high favour in so doing With these letters and many gay additions of his owne he arrived at Bristow where he fell at conference with Richard Strongbow Earle of Pembroke with whom he covenanted the delivery of his onely daughter and heire unto marriage and so the remainder of his Kingdome If the said Earle would recover him his home That day were planted in Wales two gentlemen Robert Fitz Stephens and Maurice Fitz Gerald brethren of a Mother allyed to Rice ap Griffin then Prince of Wales whose Grand-father was surnamed Rice the great Fitz Stephens had beene high Constable there under the King and for executing rigour upon the Princes servants was with him detained prisoner three yeares ne would in any wise pay ransome or accept the liberty promised him but if the conditions were loyall to the Crowne and to his person no dis-worship Lastly by the mediation of David Bishop of S. Davids the third brother and of Fitz Gerald and at the instance of Mac Murrough whom the Prince entertained in that distresse Fitz Stephens was conditionaly delivered that he and his brother Maurice should the next spring while Strongbow provided his army assist the Irish out-cast who in consideration thereof assured them an estate for ever in the towne of Weixford and two Cantreds adjoyning Thus much firmely concluded on all sides the King stale secretly home and wintered closely among the Cleargie of Fernes According to covenant came Fitz Stephens with 30. Knights of his blood 60. Squiers 300. footemen Archers to whom at his landing Dermot sent in aid his base sonne Duvelnaldus and five hundred speares The towne and suburbes of Weixford marched forth against him But when they saw Souldiours in array diversly dighted and weaponed furnished with artillery barbed horses and harnesse they retyred to their walles and strengthned them burning the villages thereabouts and all the provision they could not carry The assault lasted 3. dayes in the 4. certaine Bishops resciant there tooke up the variance pacified the Townesmen to their King and procured the rendring of the Towne Dermot having tryed the valiantnes of the Welchmen immeadiately kept his touch and gave possession of Weixford with the appurtenances aforesaid to Fitz Stephens and his brother After successe of these matters they leavyed to the number of 3000. Souldiours and devised to vexe the Lords of Vpper Ossory who had beene to the King of all other most cruell and injurious Them they compelled to deliver Trewage and sweare fealty Rodericke the monarch appalled at these newes reared up all the Kings in defence of the land verily supposing that all would to wrecke were it not prevented And first they directed courteous messages and gifts to Fitz Stephens moving him to depart the land quietly and not to molest them without cause To whom he answered that much he wondred at the folly of those Princes who to satisfie their choller had opened such a gappe to their owne prejudice as though the subjects whom they had schooled to breake allyance towards the King of Leinster would not be as ready by this example to learne to withstand the King of Connaght for his owne part though hee might with better reason invade strangers then they could expell their neighbours and their peere yet would they suffer the King to reenter his right they should not finde him stiffe nor untractable otherwise they should well feele that the Bryttons wanted neither abilitie nor truth to maintaine their word Rodericke perceived it was no boote to spurne and therefore bethought himselfe of composition upon agreement they resolved thus Inprimis that Mac Murrough swearing afresh his obedience to the Monarch should quietly repossesse the parts of Leinster which Rodericke with-held by suspensation Secondly that for ensurance thereof he should pledge his dearest base sonne Cnothurn to whom Rodericke promised his daughter if this peace were found effectuall Thirdly that being rested in his kingdome he should discharge the Welch army nor should henceforwards call them over in defence About this time Donatus the good King of Ergall founded the Abbey of Mellyfont which is the eldest that I finde recorded since the Danes arrivall except S. Mary Abbey besides Divelin erected in an 948. The meane while was landed at Weixford Maurice Fitz Gerald with his provision ten Knights thirty Squiers and an hundred Bowmen hereupon Dermot and the two Brethren set their force against Divelin which being the cheife Citty of his Realme refused to yeeld when Divelin and the country about it vvas recover'd there befell hostility between Rodericke and
Duvenaldus Prince of Limericke vvhom Dermot his father holpe in field foyled the enemy and then vvithdrevv his obedience from the Monarch Shamefull was Roderickes flight and Dermot insinuated into the favour of his people began to recount the confederates of his first misfortune and consulted with the two Captaines for the invasion of Connaght finding them prest he wrote over to the Earle Strongbow renewed their covenants prayed his helpe Richard Earle Strongbow whose auncestors came in vvith the Conquest but commonly of the King and his successors disfavoured having read the letters he passed to King Henry besought him either to answere him his rightfull heritage vvhich other men occupied or to licence him else vvhere in uncouth lands to seeke his fortune The King halfe in derision bad him on in the name of God even as farre as his feete could beare him The Earle dissembling to perceive the hollovvnes of the king furnished his Cousin Reymond le Grose Nephevv to the brethren aforesaid vvith ten Knights and 70. Bovvmen himselfe ensued vvith about 200. Knights and 1000. lusty Welchmen tryed Souldiours shortly they vvanne the Citty of Waterford and then immediately Mac Murrough accomplished his convention gave to the Earle in marriage his daughter Eve with the succession of his Kingdome When Waterford was gotten and Leinster pacified and the Princes of Ossory tamed and a chosen band ever in garrison Mac Murrough became so terrible that none durst encounter him The Cleargy assembled themselves at Ardmagh and with one accord did protest that for all their sinnes and especially for the Turkish kinde of Tyrany which they used in buying and selling and with vile slaveries oppressing the bodies of the English whom their pyrats tooke their land was like to be translated to that nation whose captives they handled so cruelly To appease in part the indignation of God they decreed that all English wheresoever in hold within the realme should forthwith be loosed Further if it pleased God to scourge them it should be meekely suffered as farre beneath the debt of their deserts King Henry though he was well apayed that the Earle should be from him yet he liked no deale his growing in Ireland to such power as percase in time to come with his faction in Wales then living under a Prince of their owne he might be able to face the Crowne of England An edict was therefore drawne whereby all subjects were charged upon their perill to reverte into England by a day and a caveat annexed that upon paine of death none should presume to passe over without a nevv warrant nor ship over any wares money munition or victuals into Ireland Thus had the Irish a breathing space and would perhaps have picked greater benefits thereby had not the Normans beene in their top immediately after Great force they laide to Divelin but vvere valiantly repelled and their Captaine Hasculphus taken prisoner who being calmely intreated began to overview himselfe and to imagine that the Citizens durst not use him extreamely once in open audience brake forth his unseasonable courage in these wordes Take this quoth he but for hansell the game is to come which heard they delayed him no longer but pusht him downe on a blocke and swapped off his head Strongbow perceiving the Kings jealously not yet allayed having wel-nigh spent his army in defence of diverse good townes impugned by Rodericke and the Irish left sufficient warde till his returne and met the King at Gloucester To whom he writeth declaring the envy that lurked in his preferment yeelded the tittle of all his winnings craved good countenance with his grace contented himselfe with any portion whatsoever his Majesty should relinquish a finall quietnesse was driven betweene them Dublin with th' appurtenances and all port townes of Leinster all fortresses reserved to the King The Earle should enjoy with good leave whatsoever he had gotten beside This yeare dyed Mac Murrow and the Abbey de Castro Dei was founded Soone after the King with five hundred Knights with archers and horsemen many more tooke shore at Waterford and was such a terrour to the Irish that incontinently all Mounster submitted themselves to his peace There the men of Wexford to feede the surmises of Henry conceived against the gentlemen betrayed their Lord Fitz Stephens and him delivered to the King The King to gratifie them for a while tremely chained and hampered the prisoner quarrelling with him notwithstanding the inhibition he had proceeded in atchieving the conquest of Ireland but shortly hee enlarged him and ratified the grants of Wexford above-mentioned These Princes of the South sware fidelity and tribute to Henry Dermot Carâ—ye King of Corke Donald Obrene king of Limericke Donald and Omalaghlien puissant Lords of Ossory and in briefe all the states of Mounster from thence hee journeyed to Dublin where in like manner all the Captaines of Leinster and Ororicke king of Meth and Rodericke Oconor king of Connaght and of all Ireland for himselfe and the whole Iland humbly recognized his soveraignety finally no man there was of name in the land except them of Vlster but they to him bowed and sware obeysance All which he feasted royally with a dinner of Cranes flesh a fowle till then utterly abhorred of the Irish. Merlin had prophesied that five should meete and the sixt should scourge them This sixt they now construed to be Henry in whom the five pettie Kingdomes were united Of the same conquest prophesied their foure notable Saints Patricke Brachon Colme and Moling The King not unmindfull of his charge enjoyned by the Popes Adrian and Alexander entred into a reformation of the Church and mooved the famous Bishop of Lismore Saint Christian their Legate to call a Synode at Cashell wherein they defined Eight Articles 1. First that their people should abandon unlawfull contracts of their cousins and allyes and observe the Canons of Matrimonie 2. That their Infants should be primestened of the Priests hand at the Church dore and then baptized in the font of their mother Church 3. That all faithfull duely pay their Tithes 4. That holy Church be for ever quit of those cursed exactions of diet and harborow whereunto they had beene accustomably strayned foure seasons in the yeare and else against right 5. That the fine levyed for manslaughter be not borne by the Clearkes and kinsmen to the malefactour but if he were accessary or faulty to the deed doing 6. That the sicke doe his Testament to be made or read in the presence of credible persons 7. That the funerals of the dead be devoutly and solemnly kept 8. That forasmuch as GOD hath universally delivered them into the government of the English they should in all points rights and ceremonies accord with the Church of England To these things Gelasius Primate of Ardmagh because he was old and impotent gave his consent at Divelin in the presence of the King he died two yeares after
so aged that his sustenance was the milke of a white Cow which he carried with him wheresoever he travelled This yeere the Abbey de fonte vivo was founded While all went well in Ireland newes came that Henry the sonne whom his father had for good purpose crowned King of England was misledde to intrude upon the actuall possession of the Crowne in his fathers life-time which stirre to appease the King left the custody of Ireland with Hugh de Lacy to whom he gave Meth in fee with Fitz Stephens Fitz Gerald and Philip de Bruise and diverse others and sayled into England In absence of King Henry Ororick King of Meth surnamed Monoculus required conference and parley with Hugh de Lacy in which communication the King had trayterously murdered Lacy had not Fitz Gerald rescued him Then stept out an ambushment of the Irish but Griffin a Gentleman of the bloud royall in Wales flighted the Kyrneghes and slevv Ororick The English perceived such practices daylie sought and attempted tooke from the Irish as farre as they durst all trust of government fenced themselves vvith garrisons made Captaines Keepers and Constables vvheresoever they vvanne the better But King Henry vvas so affrighted vvith his sonnes rebellion and grevv into such envye both at home and abroad for the death of Thomas late Archbishop of Canterbury that he had no vvill to mind his proceedings in Ireland Ever his jealousie increased tovvardes the Earle Strongbow vvhom he supposed easie to bee carryed avvay vvith any light occasion of tumult The Earle vvas a man of great birth but not of great port until this good marriage befell him knovving himselfe neither to be brooked in sight nor trusted out of sight kept still one certaine rate in all his doings bare but lovve saile fed no quarrells shunned all suspicious conference While they stood thus in a mammaring and Letters ctme daylie over hovv faintly the States and Princes of Ireland performed obedience for except in Leinster all other parts retayned still their auncient kinde of government and did onely acknovvledge Tribute It vvas thought expedient by Henryes Counsellours to discharge his minde of that care and seeing there vvas trouble on all sides and all could not bee intended one vvay they determined to venture the custody of Ireland to Strongbow being likely for his ovvne vvealth and assurance to procure all possible meanes of bridling and annoying the Irish. No sooner vvas the Earle landed with his Commission Lord Warden of Ireland but Donald King of Limericke met him at the vantage and coursed him within the walls of Waterford whereof hearing the residue their mates were animated so that up they start in every corner tagge and ragge to expell the English It went hardly then the Earle remembred himselfe of his cousin Lord Reymond left behinde him in Wales a suitor to Basil his sister whose marriage nothing stopped but the Earles consent Now therefore hee writeth lovingly to the Wooer and upon condition that hee came speedily to succour him hee yeelded the Lady and all else at pleasure Reymond in his first entry brake into Divelin marryed his Wife in compleate Armour and the very next daye sprang foorth whipped the Rebells quieted Leinster Also the Cleargy having lately perused the Popes Bull wherein hee entitleth Henry Lord of Ireland and under straight paynes commaundeth alleagiance unto him busily repressed the fury of their Countreymen And forsomuch as immediatly after Christianity planted there the whole Iland had with one consent given themselves not only into the spirituall but also into the temporall jurisdiction of the See of Rome which temporall right the two Bishops Adrian and Alexander had freely derived into King Henry as by their publique instruments read in their counsell at Cashell appeareth they denounced curse and excommunication to any that would maliciously gainsay or frustrate the same When these bâ—oyles were rocked asleepe and husht for a time the familiars of Strongbow greatly fore-thought them of the credit and rule committed to Reymond whom in conclusion they procured home againe vvhen he had served their turne at neede The meane vvhile dyed Strongbow as some say betrayed and vvounded he lyeth buryed in the Body of Christ Church in Divelin leaving behinde him one onely daughter Isabel marryed after 14. yeares to VVilliam Earle marshall Closely they concealed Strongbowes death untill they had compassed from the King another Governour after their owne tooth For ever they dreaded that Reymond being in the Princes eye and friended in the Court would catch his oportunity and wynde himselfe might he get an inkling in time of the Earles death into the succession of his office which even then waxed sweet and savoury Coodgellors of this drift stopped messengers intercepted letters hasted on their own course Basil the wife of Reymond more dutiful to her husband then naturall to her brother continued still in Ireland sicke but having privy knowledge of those newes ere the breath was quite out of the Earles body payned her selfe to disturbe this whole array And whereas shee knew well her letters should bee searched and her owne servants stayed shee let it be delivered at all a very venture to one of the maryners and therein draweth a long processe of her affayres and houshold but in the middle shuffles in a few lines of her meaning under these tearmes To all my afflictions is added now lately the tooth-ake so that except that one master-tooth had fallen which I send you for a token I weene I were better out of my life Now was the tooth tipped with golde and burnished feately like a present which Reymond wist well to bee none of hers and therefore quickly smelled the construction lingred not for Letters Pattents but stept over presently and made his packe and was elected by the Kings Agents there Lord Protectour of Ireland till the Kings pleasure were further knowne During his authority flourished the Geraldines but shortly after they quayled againe under the government of VVilliam Fitz Aldelin with him was joyned in commission the valiant Knight Iohn de Courcy conquerour and Earle of Vlster which hitherto the King had not obtained That yeare was founded the Abbey of Crockesden by Bertramus de Verdon To establish the conquest of Vlster and other victories of the parts of Ireland before enjoyed Alexander the third sent his Cardinall Vivianus vvho declareth the Title that Henry held of the Pope the reservation of the Peter-pence the indignation of GOD and holy Church against the rebells who beeing themselves contemners and breakers of Canons Ecclesiasticall yet for maintenance of their unruly stomackes had found the meanes to make Churches their barnes bestowing therein both corne and pulse that the victuallers and purveyors of the Princes campe should not dare to require the sale thereof for perill of sacriledge Therefore hee licenseth Officers in this behalfe soberly and discreetely to convent such persons as made the
forced pledges and Trowages of Oneale to keepe the Kings peace and diverse other exploytes did hee during his time of government which in particular rehearseth Flatsbury in his notes collected for Gerald Fitz Gerald Earle of Kildare Anno 1517. To him succeeded in office Sir Iohn Fitz Geffrey knight Geffrey Allan de la Zowche whom Earle Warren slevv to Zowch Stephen de longa spata who slevv Oneale in the streets of Down and there dyed Him followed William Den in whose time Mac Cartye played the devill in Desmond and to Den Richard Capell who envyed the Geraldines and was of them taken prisoner together with Theobald le Butler and Miles Cogan The king tooke up the variance and discharged Den preferring David Barrye to his roome who tamed the insolencie of Morrice Fitz Morrice cousin germane to Fitz Gâ—rald upon Barrye came Vfford upon Vfford Iames Audeley who dyed of a fall from his horse in Thomond and then for the time Fitz Morrice governed till the king sent over Sir Ieffrey de Genevill newly returned in pilgrimage from the Holy Sepulture Him called home againe Edward the first in the fourth yeare of his raigne and sent in his stead Robert Vfford the second time who made his Vice-gerent Fryar Fulborne Bishop of Waterford and resumed his charge at his next arryvall into Ireland At this time the citty of Divelin was miserably wasted with fire and the Bell-house of Christs Church utterly defaced which the citizens before they repayred their private harmes jointly came to succor collections made to redresse the ruines of that ancient building first begun by the Danes as I finde in a monument of that foundation continued by Sitricus Prince of Divelin at the motion of Donate then Bishop dedicated to the Blessed Trinity finished by Richard Earle Strangbow Fitz Stephens and S. Laurence the Archbishop and his foure successors Iohn of Evesham Henry Scorchbill Lord Iustice Lucas and lastly by Iohn de S. Paul which worke at the decay by fire and since many devout citizens of Divelin have beautified The same Strongbowes Tombe spoyled by fall of the roofe Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy restoreth at this present who hath also given a sightly countenance to the Quire by doing cost upon the Earle of Kildares Chappell over against the which he hath left a monument of Captain Randolfe late Colonell of Vlster Valiantly dead in that service Iohn Samford Archbishop of Divelin Lord Iustice VVilliam Vescy Lord Iustice who pursued Omalaghliâ—n king of Meth that soone after was slaine The Souldan of Babylon determined to vexe the Christians cities of the East Tripolis Tyrus Berinthus Sidon Ptolemais now parts of Turky vvhom to redeeme vvith their helpes to get againe the Holy Land Edward the first had foure yeeres past obtained by licence of Marâ—in the fourth and by confirmation oâ— Honorius his successor the vvhole tenth of all ecclesiastical revenues in Ireland for 7. yeares vvhereafter follovved a fifteene of the Temporalty And the same yeere Iohn Baliol Earle of Galvvay founded Baliol Colledge in Oxford made his homage to King Edward for his Kingdome of Scotland and to the Lord Iustice for his Earledome of Ireland Vescey vvas a sterne man and full of courage but rashe and impudent of his tongue he convented before him Iohn Earle of Kildare charged him vvith riots vagaryes unseasonable for that he ranged vvith his men abroad preyed upon privat enemies inordinatly for malice grudge not for advancement of the publique vveale vvhom the Earle as impatient as the other ansvvered thus By your honour and mine my Lord by king Edwards hand you vvould if you durst appeach me in plaine tearmes of â—elony for vvhereas I have the title and you the fleece of Kildare I wot well how great an eye sore I am in your sight who if I could bee hansomely trussed up for a fellon then might my young Master your sonne become a Gentleman Iustice Gentleman quoth he thou proud Earle the Vescyes were gentlemen before Kildare was an Earledome and before the Welch bankrupt thy Cousin feathered his Nest in Leinster But seeing thou darest me I will surely breake thy heart and with that word he called the Earle a notorious theefe murderer Then followed clattering of swords by Souldiours on both parties untill either side appeased his owne and the Lord Iustice leaving his Lieutenant VVilliam Hay sped over to the King whom immediately followed the Earle as fast as Vescey charged Kildare with fellony no lesse did Kildare appeach the Iustice of high treason and in tryall thereof he asked the Combate But when the listes royall were provided Vescey was slipt away into France and so disherited of all his lands in the county of Kildare which were bestowed upon the Earle of Kildare and his heires for ever The Earle waxed insolent upon this successe and squared with diverse Nobles English and Irish of the Land hee took prisoner Richard Earle of Vlster and him detained untill the Parliament then assembled at Kilkenny commanded his delivery and for that unrulinesse disseised the Geraldines of the Castle of Sligagh and of all his lands in Connaght VVilliam Doddingâ—ale Lord Iustice. This yere for the defence of Wales and commodity of Passengers to and from Ireland the King did coast upon the Isle of Anglisey called the mother of Wales and builded there the castle de bello marisco or Bewmarishe Thomas Fitz Morice Lord Iustice. Iohn VVogan Lord Iustice pacified the former strife betweene Vlster and Kildare and all the Geraldines with their associats together with Theobald Lord Butler gathered strength of men and met the kings army before Edinburgh wan the Citty slew 25. thousand Scots hampred Iohn Baliol king of the Scots in such sort that glad and faine was he to renew his homage CAP. V. Edward the second THomas Fitz Morice Lord Iustice. I will begin this Chapter with the modestie of a good Clerke Richard Havering who five yeares by dispensation had received the fruites and revenues of the Bishopricke of Divelin and long might have done had he beene so disposed But now feeling in sleep a waight upon his stomacke heavyer to his weening then any masse of mettall whereof to be released he vowed in his dreame all that ever he could make in this world Suddainely the next morne resigned the custodium of the Bishopricke and contented himselfe with other ecclesiasticall cures incident to his vocation The same yeare was the bane of the Templers in Ireland to whom succeeded the Knights of the Rhodes This profession began at Ierusalem by certaine Gentlemen that kept their abode next to the Temple there who till the Councell of Creetz increased not above the number of nine But thenceforth in little more then fiftie yeares being enriched by contribution of all Christian Realmes every where their houses were erected and endowed bountifully
victory culled out fifteene thousand Souldiours and met the Scots at Kenles where he was shamefully foyled his men as folke supposed willfully forsaking him and bearing false hearts Vp start the Irish of Mounster at these newes the Ocooles Obrines and Omores and wasted with fire and sword from Arkloe to Leix with them coped the Lord Iustice and made a great slaughter fourescore of their heads were set upon Divelin Castle The meane while Edward Bruise raigned in Vlster held his courts pronounced his enemies traytors abandoned the English blood exhorted the Irish of Leinster to doe the like whereupon Donald the sonne of Arthur Mac Morrow a slip of the royall family displayed his banner within two miles of Divelin but him Traherone tooke prisoner sent him to the castle of Dublin whence he escaped slyding downe from the Turret by a cord that one Adam Maugle brought him The said Maugle was drawne and hanged Roger Mortimer Lord Iustice pacified the displeasure betweene Richard Earle of Vlster and the Nobles that had put the said Earle under surety misdeeming him of certaine riots cōmitted against the kings subjects wherby the Scots caught strength and courage whose ravening caused such horrible scarcity in Vlster that the Souldiours which in the yeare before abused the Kings authority to purvey themselves of wanton fare surfeited with flesh and aquavitae all the Lent long prolled and pilled insatiably without neede and without regard of poore people whose onely provision they devoured Those I say now living in slavery under Le Bruise starved for hunger when they had first experienced many lamentable shifts as in scratching the dead bodyes out of their graves in whose skulls they boyled the same flesh and fed thereof Mortymer went over to the King indebted to the Citizens of Divelin for his viands a thousand poundes whereof he payde not one smulkin and many a bitter curse carried with him to the sea VVilliam Archbishop of Cashell Lord Chancellor was left Lord Warden of Ireland in whose time Bermingham aforesaid being generall of the field and under him Captains Tute Verdon Tripton Sutton Cusacke and Manpas led forth the Kings power against Edward Bruise pitching by Dundalke the Primate of Ardmagh personally accompanying our souldiours blessing their enterprise and assoyling them all ere ever they began to encounter In this conflict the Scots were vanquished full whole 2000. slaine Manpas that pressed into the throng to meet with Bruise was found in the search dead covering the dead body of Bruise Thus dissolved the Scottish Kingdome in Ireland and Bermingham sending his head to the King received in recompence the Earledome of Lowth and to his heires for ever the Barony of Ardee and Athenry Alexander Bigmore Archbishop of Divelin sued to Pope Iohn the 21. so I reckon omitting the scismaticke and dame Ioane for priviledge of an Vniversitie to bee ordained in Divelin which tooke effect and the first three Doctors of Divinity the said Bishop did create VVilliam Hardit a Fryar preacher Henry Coggy a Fryar minor Fryar Edmund Kermerdin one Doctor of the Canon law VVilliam Rodiard Deane of S. Patricks Chancellour of the said Vniversity who kept their termes commencements solemnely neither was the same ever disfranchised but onely through variety of time discontinued and now since the subversion of monasteries utterly extinct vvherin the Divines vvere cherished and open exercise maintained A motion vvas made in this last Parliament to erect it againe contributions layde together Sir Henry Sidney then Lord Deputy proffered 20. pound lands one hundred pounds in money others follovved after their abilities devotions the name devised Master Acworth Plantolinum of Plantagenet and Bullyne But vvhile they disputed of a convenient place for it and of other circumstances they let fall the principall Thomas Fitz Iohn Earle of Kildare Lord Iustice to vvhom succeeded Bermingham Earle of Lourh and to him Sir Iohn Darcy At this time lived in the Diocesse of Ossorye the Lady Alice Kettle vvhom the Bishop ascited to purge the fame of inchaunting and Witch-craft objected to her and to Petronilla and Basill her complices They charged her mightily to have carnall conference vvith a spirit called Robin Artison to whom shee sacrifized in the high way nine redde Cockes and nine Peacockes eyes shee swept the streetes of Kilkenny betweene compleere and twilight raking all the filth towards the doores of her sonne VVilliam Outlawe murmuring these wordes To the house of VVilliam my sonne hye all the wealth of Kilkenny towne At the first conviction they abjured and accepted pennance but were very shortly found in relapse and then Petronilla was burned at Kilkenny the other twayne could not be had shee at the houre of her death accused the said VVilliam as privy to their sorceryes whom the Bishop helde in durance nine weekes forbidding his keepers to eate or drink with him or to speake with him more then once in the day by procurement of Arnold le Power then Senischall of Kilkenny hee was delivered corrupted the Senischall to vexe the Bishop which he did thrusting him into prison for three moneths In ryfling the closet of Alice they found a wafer of Sacramentall bread having the devils name stamped thereon in stead of IESUS and a pype of oyntment wherewith shee greased a staffe whereon shee ambled through thicke and thinne when and how shee listed This businesse troubled all the Cleargy of Ireland the rather for that the Lady was supported by Noble men and lastly conveyed into England since which time no man wotteth what became of her CAP. VI. Edward the third and Richard the second SCarcely vvas this businesse ended but another devill possessed another franticke gentleman of the nation of the O-tooles in Leinster named Adam Duffe vvho denyed obstinately the Incarnation of Christ the Trinity of persons in unity of the God-head the resurrection of the flesh Hee called the Holy Scripture a fable the blessed Virgin a vvhore the See Apostolick erroneous for vvhich assertions he was burned in Hogging greene besides Divelin Roger Outlaw Prior of S Iohns of Ierusalem at Kilmainam became Lord Iustice. Great variance arising betvveene the Geraldines Butlers and Berminghams on the one side and the Powers and Burkes on the other side for tearming the Earle of Kildare a Rymer The Lord Iustice summoned a Parliament to accord them wherein he himselfe was faine to cleare the slaunder of heresie fathered upon him by Richard Ledred Bishop of Ossory The Bishoppe had given a declaration against Arnold le Power convented and convict in his consistory of certaine hereticall opinions but because the beginning of Powers accusations concerned the Iustices kinsman and the Bishop was mistrusted to prosecute his owne wrong and the person of the man rather then the fault a day was limited for the justifying of the bill the party being apprehended and respited thereunto This dealing the Bishop who
durst not stirre out of Kilkenny to prosecute his accusation reputed partiall and when by meanes thereof the matter hanged in suspence hee infamed the said Prior as an abbettour and favourer of Arnolds heresie The Prior submitted himselfe to the tryall and three severall Proclamations were cryed in Court that any man might lawfully come in and indict accuse or say evidence against the Iustice none came then passed the Councell a decree commanding to appeare at Divelin all Bishops Abbots Pryors the Majors of Divelin Corke Limericke Waterford Droghedah the Sheriffes Knights and Senischalls of every shire Out of them all they sorted sixe Inquisitours which in secrecie examined the Bishoppes and persons aforesaid one by one who with universall consent deposed for the Pryor that to their judgements hee was a zealous and faithfull childe of the Catholique Church The meane while deceased le Power prisoner in the Castle and because he stood unpurged long he laye unburyed Sir Iohn Darcye Lord Iustice. The Irish of Leinster made insurrections so did Magoghigan in Meth and Obrien in Mounster whom VVilliam Earle of Vlster and Iames of Ormond vanquished In which sturre VVilliam Bermingham a warriour incomparable was found halting and was condemned to dye by Roger Outlawe Pryor of Kilmainam then Lieutenant to the Lord Iustice and so hanged was hee a Knight among thousands odde and singular So outragious were the Leinster Irish that in one Church they burned 80. innocent soules asking no more but the life of their Priest then at Masse whom they notwithstanding sticked with their savelins spurned the blessed Sacrament and wasted all with fire neither forced they the Popes interdiction nor any censures ecclesiasticall denounced against them But maliciously persevered in that fury till the Citizens of Weixford tamed them slevv foure hundred in one skirmish the rest flying vvere all drenched in the vvater of Slane Thomas Burgh Treasurer and Lieutenant of Ireland vvhile Darcy Lord Iustice pursued the murtherers of VVilliam Bourk Earle of Vlster a young gentleman of tvventy yeares olde vvhom the seditions of Maundevill murdered besides Cragfergus And vvhen hee had scourged those Traytours he entred Scotland vvith an army and might have possessed the Ilands besides had they bene vvorth the keeping into vvhich Ilands besides him and Sussex the late Lieutenant of Ireland no Governour ever yet adventured Sir Iohn Carleton Lord Iustice vvith vvhom came his brother Thomas Bishop of Hereford Lord Chauncellor and Iohn Rice Treasurer and tvvo hundred Welchmen souldiours The Bishop became Lord Iustice in vvhose time all the Irish of Ireland vvere at defiance vvith the English but vvere shortly calmed by the Earles of Kildare and Desmond Sir Iohn Darcy by the Kings Letters Patents Lord Iustice of Ireland during life in the fourteenth yeare of Edward the third vvhich king abused by some corrupt informers called in under his signet royall fraunchises and liberties and graunts vvhatsoever his predecessours had ratified to the Realme of Ireland and to every person thereof This revocation vvas taken very displeasantly The English of birth and the English of bloud falling to vvords and divided in factions about it The Irish laye wayting for the contention so as the Realme was even upon point to give over all and rebell For remedy the Iustice began a Parliament at Divelin whereto the nobles refused to make apparance assembled themselves quietly without disturbance at Kilkenny where they with the Commons agreed upon certaine questions to be demaunded of the King by way of supplication by which questions they partly signified their griefes Those in effect were 1. How a Realme of warre might be governed by one both unskilfull and unable in all warlike service 2. How an officer under the king that entred very poore might in one yeare grow to more excessive wealth then men of great patrimony in many yeares 3. How it happened seeing they all were called Lords of their owne that the Lord of them all was not a penny the richer for them The Prince of this repining was Morice Earle of Desmond whom Vfford the now Lord Iustice in paine of forfeiture of all his lands commaunded to the Parliament at Dublin and there put him under arrest delivered him by main prise of the tvvo Earles Vlster Ormond of 28. knights squiers All vvhich except the Earles tvvo knights lost their inheritāce by rigour of the said Vfford because Desmond had escaped Therefore at the decease of the Lord Iustice vvhich ensued the next yeare Bonfires and gavvdes vvere solemnized in all the Land his Lady vvas a miserable sott and led him to extortion and bribery much he clipped the prerogatives of the Church and vvas so hated that even in the sight of the country he vvas robbed vvithout rescue by MacCarty notvvithstanding he gathered povver and dispersed the rebellions of Vlster Robert Darcy Lord Iustice chosen by the Councell untill the Kings charter came to Sir Iohn Fitz Morrice vvho inlarged Fitz Thomas Earle of Kildare left in holde by Vfford Fitz Morrice vvas deposed and Sir VValter Bermingham elected who procured safe conduct for Desmond to pleade his right before the King where he was liberally intreated allowed towards his expences there twenty shillings a day at the Princes charge in consideration of which curtesie to his kinsman the Earle of Kildare accompanyed with diverse Lords Knights and chosen horsemen served the King at Callice a towne thought impregnable and returned after the winning thereof in great pompe and jollity Iohn Archer of Kilmainam Lieutenant to the Lord Iustice to whom succeeded Baron Carew after Carew followed Sir Thomas Rokesby knight This yeare dyed Kemvricke Shereman sometimes Major of Divelin a Benefactour to every Church and religious house twenty miles round about the citty his legacies to poore and others besides the liberality shewed in his life time amounted to 3000. marks with such plenty were our fathers blessed that cheerefully gave of their true winnings to needfull purposes whereas our time that gaineth excessively and whineth at every farthing to be spent on the poore is yet oppressed vvith scarcity and beggery The same time dvvelled in Vlster Sir Robert Savage a vvealthie Knight vvho the rather to preserve his ovvne beganne to vvall fortifie his Mannour houses vvith castles and pyles against the Irish enemy exhorting his heire Sir Henry Savage to intend that Worke so beneficiall for himselfe and his posterity Father quoth he I remember the Proverbe better a Castle of bones then of stones vvhere strength and courage of valiant men are to helpe us Never vvill I by the grace of God cumber my selfe vvith dead vvalls my fort shall be vvheresoever young blouds be stirring and vvhere I finde roome to fight The father in a fume let lye the building and forsvvore it But yet the vvant thereof and such like hath beene the decaye asvvell of the Savages as of all
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
Mahowne all the Captaines of Thomond and all this in three moneths The Cleargye of Divelin tvvice every vveeke in solemne procession praying for his good successe against these disordered persons vvhich novv in every quarter of Ireland had degenerated to their olde trade of life and repyned at the English Lieutenants to Henry the sixt over the Realme of Ireland were Edmund Earle of Marche and Iames Earle of Ormond his Deputy Iohn Sutton Knight Lord Dudley and Sir Thomas Strange his Deputy Sir Thomas Standley and Sir Christopher Plonket his Deputy Lyon Lord Welles and the Earle of Ormond his Deputy Iames Earle of Ormond the Kings Lieutenant by himselfe Iohn Earle of Shrewesbury and the Archbishop of Divelin Lord Iustice in his absence Richard Plantaginet Duke of Yorke father of Edward the fourth and Earle of Vlster had the office of Lieutenant by letters Patents during the space of ten yeares who deputed under him at severall times the Baron of Delvin Roland Fitz Eustace knight Iames Earle of Ormond and Thomas Fitz Morrice Earle of Kildare To this Richard then resciant in Divelin was borne within the castle there his second son George Duke of Clarence afterwards drowned in a butt of Malmsey his god fathers at the font were the Earles of Ormond and Desmond Whether the commotion of Iacke Cade an Irish-man borne naming himselfe Mortimer and so clayming cousinage to diverse noble houses proceeded from this crew it is uncertaine surely the Duke was thereof vehemently mistrusted immediatly began his tumults which because our English histories discourse at large I omit as impertinent Those broyles being couched for a time Richard held himselfe in Ireland being lately by Parliament ordained Protector of the Realme of England leaving his agent in the Court his brother the Earle of Salisbury Lord Chauncellour to whom he declared by letters the trouble then toward in Ireland which letter exemplified by Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy a great searcher and preserver of Antiquities as it came to my hands I thinke it convenient here to set downe To the right worshipfull and with all my heart entirely beloved brother the Earle of Shrewesbury RIght worshipfull and with all my heart entirely beloved Brother I commend mee unto you as heartily as I can And like it you to wit that sith I wrote last unto the King our soveraigne Lord his Highnes the Irish enemy that is to say Magoghigan and with him three or foure Irish Captaines associate with a great fellowship of English rebells notwithstanding that they were within the King our Soveraigne Lord his power of great malice and against all truth have maligned against their legiance and vengeably have brent a great towne of mine inheritance in Meth called Ramore and other villages thereabouts and murdered and brent both men women and children without mercy The which enemies be yet assembled in woods and forts wayting to doe the hurt and grievance to the Kings subjects that they can thinke or imagine for which cause I write at this time unto the Kings Highnes and beseech his good grace for to hasten my payment for this land according to his letters of vvarrant novv late directed unto the Treasurer of England to the intent I may vvage men in sufficient number for to resist the malice of the same enemyes and punish them in such vvyse that other vvhich vvould doe the same for lacke of resistance in time may take example for doubtlesse but if my payment bee had in all haste for to have men of vvarre in defence and safeguard of this Land my povver cannot stretch to keepe it in the Kings obeysance And very necessity vvill compell mee to come into England to live there upon my poore livelode for I had lever bee dead then any inconvenience should fall thereunto in my default for it shall never bee chronicled nor remaine in scripture by the grace of God that Ireland vvas lost by my negligence And therefore I beseech you right vvorshipfull brother that you will hold to your hands instantly that my payment may bee had at this time in eschuing all inconveniences for I have example in other places more pitty it is for to dread shame and for to acquite my truth unto the Kings Highnes as my dutie is And this I pray and exhort you good brother to shew unto his good grace and that you will be so good that this language may be enacted at this present Parliament for my excuse in time to come and that you will bee good to my servant Roger Roe the bearer hereof and to mine other servants in such things as they shall pursue unto the kings Highnes And to give full faith and credence unto the report of the said Roger touching the said maters Right worshipfull and with all my heart entirely beloved brother our blessed Lord God preserve and keepe you in all honour prosperous estate and felicity and graunt you right good life and long Written at Divelin the 15. of Iune Your faithfull true brother Richard Yorke Of such power was Magoghigan in those dayes who as he wan and kept it by the sword so now he liveth but a meane Captaine yeelding his winnings to the stronger This is the misery of lawlesse people resembling the wydenesse of the rude vvorld vvherein every man vvas richer or poorer then other as he vvas in might and violence more or lesse enabled Heere beganne factions of the nobility in Ireland favouring diverse sides that strived for the Crovvne of England for Richard in those tenne yeares of government exceedingly tyed unto him the hearts of the noblemen and gentlemen in this land vvhereof diverse vvere scattered and slaine vvith him at Waterford as the contrary part vvas also the next yeare by Edward Earle of Marche the Dukes brother at Mortimers crosse in Wales in vvhich meane time the Irish vvaxed hardye and usurped the English Countreyes insufficiently defended as they had done by like oportunity in the latter end of Richard the second These two seasons did set them so a-floate that henceforwards they could never be cast out from their forcible possessions holding by plaine wrong all Vlster and by certaine Irish Tenures no little portions of Mounster and Connaght left in Meth and Leinster where the civill subjects of English bloud did ever most prevaile CAP. VIII Edward the fourth and Edward his sonne Richard the third Henry the seventh THomas Fitz Morice Earle of Kildare Lord Iustice untill the third yeare of Edward the fourth since which time the Duke of Clarence aforesaid brother to the King had the office of Lieutenant while he lived and made his Deputies in sundry courses Thomas Earle of Desmond Iohn Tiptoft Earle of Worcester the Kings cozen Thomas Earle of Kildare Henry Lord Graye Great was the credit of the Geraldines ever when the house of Yorke prospered and likewise the Butlers thryved under the bloud of Lancaster for
which cause the Earle of Desmond remained many yeares Deputy to George Duke of Clarence his god-brother but when he had spoken certaine disdainfull words against the late marryage of King Edward with the Lady Elizabeth Gray the said Lady being now Queene caused his trade of life after the Irish manner contrary to sundry old statutes enacted in that behalfe to be sifted examined by Iohn Earle of Worcester his successour Of which treasons he was attaint and condemned and for the same beheaded at Droghedah Iames the father of this Thomas of Desmond being suffered and not controuled during the government of Richard Duke of Yorke his godsip and of Thomas Earle of Kildare his kinsman put upon the Kings subjects within the Countyes of Waterford Corke Kerry and Limericke the Irish impositions of Coyne and Lyverie Cartings carriages loadings cosherings bonnaght and such like which customes are the very nurse and teat of all Irish enormities and extort from the poore tennants everlasting Sesse allowance of meate and money their bodies and goods in service so that their horses and their Galloglashes lye still upon the Farmers eate them out begger the Countrey foster a sort of idle vagabonds ready to rebell if their Lord commaund them ever nusseled in stealth and robberyes These evill presidents given by the Father the sonne did exercise being Lord Deputy to whome the reformation of that disorder especially belonged notwithstanding the same fault being winked at in others and with such rigour avenged in him it was manifestly taken for a quarrell sought and picked Two yeares after the said Earle of Worcester lost his head while Henry the 6. taken out of the towre was set up againe and King Edward proclaymed Vsurper and then was Kildare enlarged whom being likewise attainte they thought also to have ridde and shortly both the Earles of Kildare and Desmond were restored to their bloud by Parliament Sir Rowland Eustace Knight sometimes Treasurer and Lord Chauncellour and lastly Lord Deputye of Ireland founded Saint Frauncis Abbey besides Kilkullen bridge Edward a yeare before his death honoured his yonger son Richard the infant Duke of Yorke with the title of Lieutenant over this Land But his unnaturall Vnkle Richard the Third when hee had murdered the childe and the elder brother called Edward the 5. He then preferred to that Office his ovvne sonne Edward vvhose Deputy was Gerald Earle of Kildare and bare that office a vvhile in Henry the 7. his dayes To whom came the vvylie Priest Sir Richard Symonds presented a lad his scholler named Lambert vvhom he fained to be the son of George Duke of Clarence lately escaped the tovvre of Londō And the child could his pedegree so readily and had learned of the Priest such princely behaviour that he lightly moved the said Earle and many Nobles of Ireland tendering the Seed Royall of Richard Plantagenet and George his sonne as also maligning the advancement of the house of Lancaster in Henry the seventh either to thinke or make the world weene they thought verily this childe to bee Edward Earle of Warwicke the Duke of Clarences lawfull Sonne And although King Henry more then halfe marred their sport in shewing the right Earle through all the streetes of London yet the Lady Margaret Dutchesse of Burgoine sister to Edward the fourth Iohn de la Poole her Nephew the Lord Lovel Sir Thomas Broughton Knight and diverse other Captaines of this conspiracy devised to abuse the colour of this young Earles name for preferring their purpose which if it came to good they agreed to depose Lambert and to erect the very Earle indeed now prisoner in the towre for whose quarrell had they pretended to fight they deemed it likely hee should have beene made away Wherefore it was blazed in Ireland that the King to mocke his subjects had schooled a Boy to take upon him the Earle of Warwickes name and had shewed him about London to blinde the eyes of simple folkes and to defeate the lawfull Inheritour of the good Duke of Clarence their countryman and Protectour during his life to whose linage they also derived a title of the Crowne In all haste they assembled at Divelin and there in Christ-Church they Crowned this Idoll honouring him with titles imperiall feasting and triumphing rearing mighty shoutes and cryes carrying him from thence to the Kings Castle upon tall mens shoulders that he might be seene and noted as he was surely an honourable Boy to looke upon Thereupon ensued the Battle of Stoke wherein Lambert and his Master were taken but never executed the Earle of Lincolne the Lord Lovel Martine Swarte the Almaigne Captaine and Morice Fitz Thomas Captaine of the Irish were slaine and all their power discomfited Iasper Duke of Bedford and Earle of Penbroke Lieutenant and VValter Archbishop of Divelin his Deputy In this time befell another like illusion of Ireland procured from the Dutchesse aforesaid and certaine Nobles of England whereby was exalted as rightfull King of England and undoubted Earle of Vlster the counterfeit Richard Duke of Yorke preserved from King Richards cruelty as his adherents faced the matter downe and with this maygame lord named indeede Peter in scorne Perkin VVarbecke flattered themselves many yeares Then was Sir Edward Poynings Knight sent over Lord Deputy with commission to apprehend his principall partners in Ireland amongst whom was named Gerald Fitz Gerald Earle of Kildare whose purgation the King notwithstanding diverse avouching the contrary did accept After much adoe Perkin taken confessed under his owne hand-writing the course of all his proceedings whereof so much as concerneth Ireland I have heere borrowed out of Halles Chronicles I being borne in Flaunders in the towne of Turney put my selfe in service with a Britton called Pregent Meno the which brought me with him into Ireland and when wee were there arrived in the towne of Corke they of the towne because I was arrayed with some cloathes of silke of my said Masters threeped upon me that I should be the Duke of Clarences sonne that was before time at Divelin and forasmuch as I denyed it there was brought unto me the Holy Evangelists and the Crosse by the Major of the towne called Iohn Lewellin and there I tooke my oath that I was not the said Dukes sonne nor none of his blood After this came to me an English man whose name was Stephen Poytowe vvith one Iohn VValter and svvare to me that they knevv well that I vvas King Richards Bastard sonne to whom I answered vvith like oathes that I vvas not And then they advised me not to be affraide but that I should take it upon me boldly And if I vvould so doe they vvould assist me with all their povver against the King of England and not onely they but they vvere assured that the Earles of Desmond and Kildare should doe the same for they passed not vvhat part they tooke so they might be avenged
I thinke some Princes Bastard no Butchers sonne exceeding wise faire spoken high minded full of revenge vicious of his body lofty to his enemies were they never so bigge to those that accepted and sought his friendship wonderfull courteous a ripe Schooleman thrall to affections brought a bed with flattery insatiable to get more princelike in bestowing as appeareth by his two Colledges at Ipswich and at Oxenford th' one suppressed with his fall th' other unfinished and yet as it lieth an house of Students considering all appurtenances incomparable through Christendome whereof Henry the eight is now called Founder because hee let it stand He held and enjoyed at once the Bishopricks of Yorke Durham and Winchester the dignities of Lord Cardinall Legate and Chancellour The Abbey of S. Albans diverse Prioryes sundry fat Benefices in Commendam A great preferrer of his servants advauncer of learning stoute in every quarrell never happy till his overthrow Therein he shewed such moderation and ended so patiently that the houre of his death did him more honour then all the pompe of life passed The Cardinall perceived that Kildare was no Babe and rose in a fume from the Councell table committed the Earle deferred the matter till more direct probations came out of Ireland After many meetinges and objections wittily refelled they pressed him sore with a trayterous errant sent by his daughter the Lady of Slane to all his brethren to Oneale Oconnor and their adherents wherein he exhorted them to warre upon the Earle of Ossory then Deputy which they accomplished making a wretched conspiracy against the English of Ireland and many a bloody skirmish Of this Treason he was found guilty and reprived in the Towre a long time the Gentleman betooke himselfe to God and the King was heartily loved of the Lieutenant pittied in all the Court and standing in so hard a case altered lâ—â—tle his accustomed hue comforted other Noblemen prisoners with him dissembling his owne sorrow One night when the Lieutenant and he for disport were playing at slide-groat suddainely commeth from the Cardinall a mandat to execute Kildare on the morrow The Earle marking the Lieutenants deepe sigh in reading the bill By Saint Bride quoth he there is some mad game in that scrolle but fall how it will this throw is for a huddle when the worst was told him now I pray thee quoth he doe no more but learne assuredly from the Kings owne mouth whether his Grace be witting thereto or not Sore doubted the Lieutenant to displease the Cardinall yet of very pure devotion to his friend he posteth to the King at midnight and said his errant for all houres of the day or night the Lieutenant hath accesse to the Prince upon occasions King Henry controwling the sawcynesse of the Priest those were his tearmes gave him his Signet in token of countermand which when the Cardinall had seene he begun to breake into unseasonable words with the Lieutenant which he was loath to heare and so he left him fretting Thus broke up the storme for a time and the next yeare VVolsey was cast out of favour within few yeares Sir VVilliam Skevington sent over Deputy who brought vvith him the Earle pardoned and rid from all his troubles Who vvould not thinke but these lessons should have schooled so vvise a man and vvarned him rather by experience of adversities past to cure old sores then for joy of this present fortune to minde seditious drifts to come The second yeare of Skevingtons governement there chaunced an uproare among the Merchants and their Apprentices in Divelin which hard and scant the Deputy and Major both could appease Then was also great stirre about the Kings divorce who hearing the frowardnes of Ireland under Skevington and thinking it expedient in so fickle a world to have a sure poste there made Kildare his Deputy the Primate of Ardmagh Lord Chancellor and Sir Iames Butler Lord Treasurer But Kildare reviving the old quarrels fell to prosecute the Earle of Ossory excited Oneale to invade his country his Broâ—her Iohn Fitz Gerald to spoyle the country of Vriell and Kilkenny being himselfe at the doing of part namely in robbing the towne and killing the Kings subjects The next yeare going against O-Carrol he was pittifull hurt with a Gun in the thigh so that he never after enjoyed his limmes nor delivered his wordes in good plight otherwise like enough to have beene longer forborne in consideration of his many noble qualities great good service and the state of those times Straight wayes complaints were addressed to the King of these enormities that in the most haynous manner could be devised whereupon he was againe commaunded by sharpe letters to repaire into EnglaÌ„d to leave such a substitute for whose govermeÌ„t he would undertake at his perill to answere He left his heire the Lord Thomas Fitz Gerald and ere he went furnished his owne pyles forts and castles with the Kings artillery munition taken forth of Divelin Being examined before the Councell he staggered in his answere either for conscience of the fact or for the infirmity of his late maâ—me Wherefore a false muttering flew abroad that his execution was intended That rumour helped forward Skevingtons friends and servants who sticked not to write into Ireland secret letters that the Earle their Masters enemy so they tooke him because he got the governement over his head was cut shorter and now they trusted to see their Master againe in his Lordship whereafter they sore longed as crowes doe for carryon Such a letter came to the hands of a simple Priest no perfect English man who for haste hurled it among other papers in the Chimneyes end of his chamber meaning to peruse it better at more leisure The same very night a Gentleman retaining to Lord Thomas then Lord Deputy under his father tooke up his lodging with the Priest and raught in the morning for some paper to drawe on his straite hosen and as the devill would he hit upon the letter bare it away in the heele of his his hose no earthly thing misdeeming at night againe he found the paper unfretted and musing thereof began to pore on the writing which notified the Earles death To horsbacke got he in all haste and spreading about the country these unthrifty tydings Lord Thomas the Deputy rash and youthfull immediately confedered himselfe with Oneale and O-Connor with his Vnkles and Fathers friends namely Iohn Oliver Edward Fitz Gerald Iames and Iohn Delahide VVelch parson of Loughseudy Burnel of Balgriffen Rorcks a pirat of the seas Bath of Dullardston Feild of Buske with others and their adherents guarded he rideth on S. Barnabyes day to S. Mary Abbey where the Councell sate and when they looked he should take his place and rose to give it him hee charged them to sit still and stood before them and then spake Howsoever injuriously we be handled and forced to defend our selves in armes when
in the yeere 432 and lyeth buried at Loghry in Ormund where there is a Church dedicated to his name and he is numbred among the Confessors of Ireland And to second this fable with two precedent lies the which I should haue begun withall in the front of this History as all Irish Antiquaries doe but that I would not abuse the reader being purposed beginning and ending to deliuer the truth I read as followeth Whereas in the yeere of the world 1525 Noah began to admonish the people of vengeance to come by a generall deluge for the wickednesse and detestable sinne of man and continued his admonition 120 yeeres building an Arke for the safegard of himselfe and his family one Cesara say they according vnto others Cesarea a Neece of Noah when others seemed to neglect this forewarning rigging a navy committed her selfe with her adherents to the seas to seeke adventures and to avoid the plagues that were to fall there arrived in Ireland with her three men Bithi Laigria and Fintan and fifty women within forty dayes after her arrivall the universall flood came upon them and those parts as well as upon the rest of the world and drowned them all in which perplexity of minde and imminent danger beholding the waves overwhelming all things before their eyes Fintan is said to have beene transformed into a Salmon and to have swoome all the time of the deluge about Vlster and after the fall of the water recovering his former shape to have lived longer then Adam and to have delivered strange things to the posterity so that of him the common speech riseth If I had lived Fintans yeeres I could say much But to let these fables passe The next plantation after Bartholanus as it is recorded amongst the collections of Irish antiquities is this in effect that Magog the sonne of Iaphet planted Colonies in Scythia neere the river of Tanais from whence about the yeere of the world two thousand three hundred and seventeene one Nemedus with his foure sonnes Starius Garbaneles Anvinus and Fergusius Captains over great companies of armed men were sent into this Island now called Ireland And passing by Graecia tooke with them such voluntaries as were willing to adventure with them they landed inhabited the Country and multiplied exceedingly although not without continuall warres which they held with the Giants of Chams posterity for the space of two hundred yeeres and odde In the end the Giants prevailing chased them out of the land so that they retired into Scythia and some to Greece This was about the yeere after the creation 2333 from which time the Giants kept possession of the land without forraigne invasion for many yeeres but yet in all that space their mindes not being set upon any goodnesse but altogether upon mischiefe they made no good lawes framed no common wealth they obeyed no Magistrate but fell at variance amongst themselues measuring all things by might and seditiously vexed each other In the yeere of the world 2416 and after the universall flood 750 yeeres as the Scottish History declareth one Gathelus the sonne of Nealus a Grecian upon displeasure for sundry rodes made into Macedonia and Achaia being exiled and banished his countrey with a great number of his adherents and complices went into Aegypt in the dayes of Moses where he found favour in the sight of King Pharaoh insomuch that he married with Scota his daughter continued there about 93 yeeres and multiplied exceedingly Iohannes Major Scotus calleth the verity of this History in question de hac prima profectione de Graecia Aegypto figmentum reor I am of opinion saith hee that this first going out of Greece and Aegypt is but fayned yet let us goe forward When Gathelus understood that the land was shortly for the wickednesse of the people to suffer great plagues he prepared a fleet shipped Grecians and Aegyptians hoised up saile and came upon the coast of Numidia now called Barbary thence they were put back to sea they went and came to the coast of Spaine now called Portingall as they say since that time of him called Port-gathell The inhabitants of the place resisted them gave them a sore battell and in the end after parlie Gathelus was intreated and by them directed to take his voyage into Galitia which eftsoones he did There in a short time they waxed so populous that the countrey could not sustaine them whereupon Gathelus called a Councell and being resolved what to doe tooke a great number of them with him to sea and arrived in Ireland and there grew into such estimation with the barbarous people that for knowledge especially in all languages having travelled many Countreys as is afore mentioned he was highly honoured For he not only enriched and beautified the Irish tongue but also as is said taught them letters sought up their antiquities and trained their youth in warlike exercises after the manner of the Grecians and Aegyptians from whence he descended Note here gentle reader before I wade further into this History three contrary opinions of this Gathelus the sonne of Nealus The Scottish Historiographers say it was 750 yeeres after the flood Thomas Walsingham Monke of S. Albons writeth it was 1000 yeeres and odde after the delivery of the children of Israel out of Aegypt which must be anno mundi 3455 to wit one 1000 yeeres after the former computation calling him a noble man of Scythia whom the Aegyptians banished out of Aegypt Iohn Harding a great Antiquary that knew best in his time the state of Scotland delivereth that Gathelus and Scota came to these parts after the birth of Christ in anno 75. This I give as a caveat referring unto the discreet reader the dissonance that I finde in the observation of times to bee considered of promising to lay downe faithfully euery thing as I finde the same as shall appeare in that which followeth And now to the history where we left It is said that this Gathelus of his wife Scota commanded that his followers Grecians and Aegyptians should be called Scoti that is Scottishmen And Hector Boëtius in the History of Scotland sticketh not to write that upon his marriage with Scota the foresaid commandement was published and that his followers in Aegypt Barbary Portingall Galitia and over Spaine were called Scoti But how true that is it may appeare by the Roman Histories which haue noted the accidents of those times in all which there is no mention of the Scots before the time of Constantius the Emperour which was about the yeere of Christ 310 who lyeth buried at York and was father to Constantine the great Paulus lovius writeth Scotland tooke that name upon the comming of a forraine and no great ancient nation No Latine writer before Marcellinus in Iulian the Emperours time which was about the yeere 362 remembreth the Scots neither doth it well appeare out of what Country the Scots first came into Albion when as by the Annals not only
time of Augustus Caesar a little before the birth of our Saviour Fridelenus King of Denmarke puffed vp with pride through some fortunate successes arrived in Ireland laid siege to the Citie of Dublin and finding it not so easie a matter to atchieue fell to policie he caught certaine Swallowes that bred in the Citie tyed fire to their wings who flying to their nests fired the houses while the Citizens endevoured to quence the fire the Danes entred the Citie and wâ—nne it The King of Leinster after this gathered forces and gave the Danes battaile in which many fell on both sides Fredelnus seeing the enemy increase and his armie decrease fled the land and retired into his country His sonne Frotho the third of that name King of Danes so Albertus Krantzius and Saxo Grammaticus record wantonly assailed the Britaines lustrans magis insulam quam subigens rather taking a view of the Iland then subduing it afterward relinquishing that course put foot in Ireland The historiographers of that side report hardly of the land and the inhabitants thereof and in fine they write when Cepo the Irish King was overthrowne and put to flight his brother Kervill saith Saxo I take it to be O Carroll offered tribute wherewith the Danes being pacified returned to their Country This Frotho peopled the Orchades with Danes and appointed Revillus their commander Whilst this Frotho King of Danes was Monarch of Ireland the light of the world the comfort of all Christians IESVS CHRIST the sonne of GOD was borne in the flesh About the 44. yeere after the incarnation of our Lord Claudius the Emperour having appeased the troubles of Britaine by the aide of Arviragus as Mathew Westmonasteriensis saith subdued Orchades Hebrides Thule and all the Ocean Ilands among the which Ireland is reckoned the which Beda and Eutropius haue likewise remembred But Fabian Grafton Holinshed and Ponticus Virunius say further that he sent certaine legions of Knights into Ireland to subdue the same what successe they had is not recorded a legion consisting of 6666. as ancient Writers record no doubt they performed some great exploit Learned Camden writeth of the Brigantes the inhabitants of Yorkeshire Lancashire the Bishopricke of Durham Westmerland and Cumberland were so called how that in the time of Claudius as I take it many of them went to end their dayes in Ireland and of old were called the Brigantes of Ireland His words are these Quod verò Florianus Del Campo Hispanus nostros Brigantes c. Whereas Florianus Del-Campo the Spaniard hath somewhat arrogantly derived our Brigantes from Spaine into Ireland and thence into Britaine being aided by no other conjecture but that he found in his Country of Spaine the Citie Brigantia I feare mee hee hath fouly deceived himselfe For if the like cause have not given ours and the Brigantes of Ireland the same name I had rather be of opinion with my most learned friend Thomas Savill namely that certaine Brigantes and other nations of Britaine also even from the comming of the Romans into Britaine departed into Ireland some for quietnesse sake and to liue at ease some for that their eyes should not be infected with the sight of the Roman dominion and last of all others lest in their latter age they should willingly seeme to lose the libertie which from nature they had received in their youth And that Claudius the Emperour first of any Romane tooke the Brigantes in hand and subjected them to his Empire and command Seneca sheweth in these his verses ........ Ille Britannos Vltra noli littora ponti caeruleos Scuta Brigantes dare Romulaeis colla catenis Iussit ......... The Britaines farre from knowne seas and Brigantes Bucklers blue The Roman Claude to Roman becke did bring and rebels slue Claudius hauing effected all his affaires as formerly hath been delivered returned to Rome then saith Gualter Oxon. Omnia regna Arvirago tradidit he delivered all these kingdomes to Arviragus He committed them al to his charge saith Ponticus Virunius In Matthew Westmonsteriensis I reade regimen insulare Arvirago cessit the command of the Ilands fell to Arviragus Harding hath delivered it in verse Orchades Isles in the meane time he conquered In which he infeoffed the King and him preferred About this time Frotho the fourth of that name King of Danes some 30. yeeres after the former invasion saith mine Author sent great power of Giants out of Denmarke under the leading of bloudy Haco and the great challenger and huge monster Starcuterus to invade Ireland The occasion was as followeth Starcuterus before mentioned being borne farre in the East by reason of shipwracke having lost both his ship and fellowes was cast upon the coast of Denmarke and hearing of the fame of Frotho came to his Court This Giant was greatly admired for stature and strength of body Frotho commanded a great navie to be in a readinesse with all manner of necessary provision made him an arch-pirate and turned him to the Sea to seeke adventures They touched many lands and fought with many Giants at length saith mine Author that no Country though never so remote should bee freed from the smart of Danish forces they arived in Ireland Huglet King of Ireland gave them battaile in the which Huglet was slaine and all the Irish put to flight And yet mine Author though a Dane highly commendeth two Irish Lords Segathus and Suibdanus the one wounded Haco the other gave Starcuterus such a blow that he stood a great while amazed and had beene slaine had he not beene rescued The battaile being ended the Danes tooke Dufflinian Dublin ransacked it and found great store of treasure and some of them remained in the land the rest returned to Denmarke Starcuterus went into forraigne countries to combat with Giants In the time of Arviragus before mentioned I finde the greatest probability of the first comming of the Pictes out of Scythia first into Ireland secondly into Albania now called Scotland and lastly into the North of England And whereas before page 3. I made mention of the arivall of Scythians Nemedus and his foure sonnes and after them of five brethren of their posteritie and the third time of another fleete of Scythians that arived in Ireland and that also by many antiquities it appeareth that the Scots be Scythians and came out of those parts whence these Pictes brake forth I purpose now to make a more full discourse of that businesse Camden modestly confesseth he knoweth not when they came first into these parts neither doe I mislike with his conjecture that they should be old Britaines who painted themselves to shew more terrible against the Romanes yet we must confesse that there are many nations of severall names in Scythia and Polychronicon together with Rastall saith that the Gothes and Pictes be one nation The etymologie I finde in the storie of the Gothes Scythia in the Gothicke tongue
signifieth a skilfull archer And these Pictes brought with them the use of darts which the Irish retaine to this day But I come to Beda who goeth plaine to worke When the Britaines saith hee had possessed the greatest part of the Isle beginning at the South it happened that a nation of Pictes out of Scythia with long shippes yet not many entred the Ocean the winde driving them about beyond all the coast of Brittaine they came into Ireland and arived in the North and finding there the nation of Scots desired of them to grant them a dwelling place amongst them but they could not obtaine it c. The Scots made answere that the Iland could not hold them both but wee can give you said they good counsaile what you may doe We know another Island not farre from ours reaching to the East the which we are wont oft to discerne in cleare dayes if you will goe thither you may make it your dwelling place or if any withstand you take vs for your aide And so the Pictes sayling into Britaine began to inhabite the North parts of the Iland for the Britaine 's held the South And when the Pictes had no wives and sought them of the Scots they were granted them onely upon this condition that when the title of Soveraigntie became doubtfull they should choose them a King rather of the Feminine bloud royall then of the Masculine the which unto this day is observed amongst the Pictes And in processe of time Britaine after the Britaines and Picts received that third nation of the Scots upon that part where the Pictes had their habitation who issuing out of Ireland with their Captaine Reuda either by loue or by the sword have wonne peculiarly unto themselves those seats which they hold unto this day and of this their captaine they are called Dalreudin for in their language Dal signifieth apart And here I cannot but meruaile at Hector Boetius and Buchanan what confusion they bring into the historie without regard of the truth they name Beda they call Reuda Reuther and say that he was the sixt King of Albania and that the Britaine 's made him flee into Ireland and that in the end he was restored to his kingdome againe which can no way agree with the words of reverend Beda whose credit we may not impeach for he saith they were Scythians and wanted a dwelling place and beganne to inhabit the North parts of the Iland If Reuda were King of Albania no thanke to the Irish men to direct him thither But let us goe on with the Pictes I finde in Lanquet that the Pictes were rebellious an 9 of Arviragus Anno. Domini 53. And Polycronicon affircteth as Beda wrote before that they came to the North of Ireland in Vespasians time Stow saith it was in Anno 73. Matthew the Monke of Westminster in Anno 75. and 76. Leslaeus and Bozius write that Reuda came about the yeere 360. which is very doubtfull and that then the Pictes wanting wives desired of the Britaines that they might march with their nation their suit being denied they went to the Irish who granted them wives upon the condition in Beda before rehearsed And farther Giraldus Cambrensis Polycronicon and Grafton concurring doe say that Scotland was first called Albania of Albanactus secondly Pictlandia of the Pictes thirdly Hibernia Ireland because of the alliance or affinitie in marriage betweene the Pictes and Irish last of all Scotland or Scythians land And hereof it commeth to passe that Ireland is called Scotland and Scotland Ireland the Irish Scots and the Scots Irish as one hath largely collected and the distinction of Scotia Major and Scotia Minor Harding hath an historie out of Mewinus a Brittish Chronicler Harding lived in the time of Henry the fift and sixt and in the daies of Edward the fourth which if it be true all that is formerly spoken of Gathelus and Scota his wife by the Scottish and Irish Chroniclers is of small credit namely how that Gathelus and Scota came into these North parts together with the Pictes Anno Domini 75. his words are these speaking of the King of Britaine Then to the Peights left alive he gave Catenesse To dwell upon and have in heritage Which wedded were with Irish as I gesse Of which after Scots came on that linage For Scots be to say their language A collection of many into one Of which the Scots were called so anone But Mewinus the Bryton Chronicler Saith in his Chronicle otherwise That Gadelus and Scota in the yeere Of Christ seventie and five by assise At Stone inhabite as might suffice And of her name the country round about Scotland she cald that time without doubt This Scota was as Mewin saith the sage Daughter and bastard of King Pharao that day Whom Gadele wedded and in his old age Vnto a land he went where he inhabited ay Which yet of his name is called Gadelway And with the Peights he came into Albanie The yeere of Christ aforesaid openlie c. Polycronicon and Cambrensis accord with Harding in this point that the King gave the Pictes a place to dwell in which is now called Galleway And saith Ponticus Virunius it was desert and waste where none dwelled in many dayes before The credit of Harding is great and he that list to know farther of him let him reade Bale Bishop of Ossorie who wrote his life I will now neither confirme nor confute but acquainte the reader with such antiquities as I finde and in a word to adde something unto that which went before of the time of the Pictes comming into these North and North-west parts Florilegus writeth it was Anno Domini 77. Functius and Polydore Anno Dom. 87. To reconcile the dissonance what every one saith may stand for truth for they came in severall companies and at severall times some into Ireland some into Albania and some into England I will from henceforward leave writing the kingdome of Albania and write the kingdome of Scotland Anno Dom. 73. began Marius the sonne of Arviragus to raigne in Britaine Humfrey Lloide calleth him Meurig who after his troublesome warres for nine yeeres space against the Picts and Scots ended with the helpe of Iulius Agricola is said to have aspired towards Ireland and to have placed garrisons on the coast and to the end he might performe some exploite there entertained an Irish Prince that was driven out of his country by civill dissention for his conductor I finde no issue recorded of this businesse In the 15. yeeres civill warres which ensued vpon the death of Lucius the sonne of Coile King of Britaine it is reported that Fulgenius called the Ilanders Albanians Pictes and Irish men to his aide against whom Severus the Emperour comming from Rome gave them battaile neere unto Yorke where Severus and a Prince of Ireland were slaine and Fulgenius deadly wounded the Emperour Severus
and the Irish Prince lye buried at Yorke In the antiquities of Ireland I finde that about the dayes of Constantine the great who beganne his raigne anno Dom. 310. one Realmond King of Vlster fell in love with a Lady of Leinster who had beene wife to the King of Connaught a woman they say of meane stature but of singular beautie when many Princes and Lords of Ireland laboured to winne her fauour her answer was that none should enjoy her loue but a Champion that by Marshall prowesse had prevailed in forraigne countries quitted himselfe like a man wonne the Garland and brought tribute with him to his native soile Realmond being overcome with the love of this Lady hoised up saile and went for France where he encounrted with a Champion and wonne a Garland called Civica Afterward comming to great Britain hee challenged the Duke of Cornewall and got of him a tribute thence he went into Scotland and encountred with Gyant Castreus and prevailed such was the manner of winning honour and dignity by marshall feates in those daies saith Saxo Grammaticus last of all he came backe to Ireland and acquainted his love the Lady he formerly sought for with his travaile his dangerous adventures and his good successe and now having prevailed abroad hee doubted not at home in regard of his kingdome his kindred and valour but to obtaine her fauour Shee being made throughly acquainted with his affaires abroad and at home gave many a sigh in his absence fearing some mischance might come to him and wishing she had not so peremptorily answered him but he no sooner came in place but she relented from her former hardnesse and with all speed the solemnity of marriage was performed But the match was disdained by others insomuch that he was hated of the Princes and Nobilitie of Ireland who had formerly affected the Lady whereof grew mutinies contentions and at last open warre and hee finding himselfe weake in comparison of his enemies was forced to flee into Denmarke where hee found favour and great aide of worthy Souldiers which came with him into Ireland where he and his generation together with the Danes and their posteritie effected many notable acts and continued many yeeres The Danes of the lyne of Fin Eryn that came out of Denmarke were these David the Kings sonne who had to his sonne borne in Ireland Deure Dove who had foure sonnes Covrry Boyskene Fyagh and Oghe Boyskene had a sonne called Garreneslo and Con-Caghmore was his sonne Con had a sonne named Ferrelogh and he had a sonne called Trenmore this Trenmore had to his sonne Coylle Negoe and he had a sonne called Fin-Fa alias Fin Mac Coylle and he had a sonne caled Oshen and he had a sonne called Osker This Oshen lived in Anno Dom. 432. in the dayes of Saint Patricke unto whom he made relation of many things before going and was by him baptized being of the age of seven score yeeres For proofe of this historie I finde in Saxo Grammaticus that wrote the historie of the Danes that Fin and Finni were a great sept there hardy stalworth men given to preying and burning of towne and country and happly the Irish conversing with them did learne those parts of them and that the name of Eric was of the royall bloud among them so Fin Erin turning c. into n. was a great commander there and conducted into Ireland many Danes And happly Ireland of old because of his great command and his posteritie might after him be called Erin this is but my conceit happly others can say more thereof These Danes increased and multiplied exceedingly and became great Commanders and Captaines over the whole land and tooke vpon them the defence thereof against all forraigne invasion In processe of time fell out the battaile of Fentra in Mounster valiantly fought by the Irish and Danes whereof the Irish Chroniclers make great accompt it was fought chiefly in Mounster by the Princes and power of Ireland with the aide of the Danes and generation of Fin Mac Coylle and Fin Eryn in which field they say all the forraigne enemies that came out of Scotland Cornewall Normandie Germany Spaine and Denmarke it selfe were overthrowne The occasion was as followeth Many Gyants and worthy Champions there were in those daies in Ireland of Irish and Danish birth hired by them for their defence these trauelling into forraine countries fought many combats and got yeerely tribute unto their country as the manner then was among such challengers For this they were generally envied and a day was appointed by the invaders to arrive together in Ireland to ouer-runne the country and roote out the whole nation The first company to the number of thirtie thousand landed at the Derrie where Conkedagh one of the Princes of the North being prepared for them by a sleight set their shipping on fire and met with them in a place where they were all overthrowne so that with their Armes those among the Irish that formerly wanted were furnished and made fit for the warres The second company of this combination came to Lambay landed their men at the Follesse of Skerries set their men in battaile array and marched to a place now called Cnoc-nagean that is the hill of dead mens heads where Dermotte Lamhdhearg King of Leinster met them fought a cruell battaile with equall fortune for the space of foure daies the Irish by reason of the spoile and victory got at the former battaile were mightily encouraged and also the milke and fresh meate which the country yeelded them and the strangers wanted made them the more able to fight to be short the strangers were overthrowne and thirty sixe thousand of them slaine whose Armes furnished Ireland throughly to encounter with the rest of the combination The third company came to Fentra in Mounster where the forces of Ireland being gathered together kept them from landing the space of seven dayes with the slaughter of many on both sides so that the sea-shore at sundry times was died redde with the bloud of the slaine karkasses untill that one Gillemore sonne to the King of Thomond being male-content for that he was remoued from the voward of the battaile to the rere revolted and by night stole to the enemie and directed them where they should safely land their men which accordingly came to passe so that the Irish knew it not untill the strangers had set their owne shippes on fire hee withall brought the invaders to such advantage of ground that they refreshed themselues for ten dayes without any annoyance from the Irish and afterward when they came to skirmish did himselfe divers times fight valiantly imbruing his hands in the bloud of his owne naturall countrimen At last it fell out after some bickering that hee called for water to wash his hands that were all full of the bloud of his countrymen which was left stand after he had therein washed and soone after
called Baragh-llys in Vlster he was a man in his prosperitie of great command in Ireland so that the Danes and Norweyans had through him great dealing and entercourse with Ireland and Ireland with them But yet as it sometime falleth out among the deerest friends many jarres and broiles and factions fell betweene them and especially betweene the sept of Klan ne Morne and Klan ne Boisken both which sides still relieved themselves out of Denmarke The King of Denmarke at last hearing of the same of Fin Mac Coile sent for him and tooke such a liking to him that he concluded to marry him unto his daughter Fin went thither with three thousand souldiers the King one day as they conversed together asked after the manner of the death of his three sonnes Comen Law-ne-Meyd and Feagh who formerly went into Ireland to maintaine one of the factions Dermot O Doyne one of Fins company answered trouble not thy selfe O King this is the hand that killed thy sonne Comen one Osker said this is the hand that killed thy sonne Law-ne-Meyd Keyn Mac Fin also said this is the hand that killed thy sonne Feagh Herewith the King was wroth and said Fin Mac Coile thou and thy men are my prisoners forthwith they drew their Skeynes the Kings guard for feare fled they tooke him prisoner carried him aboord their shippes hoised up saile and brought him to Ireland so as the marriage was dasht and the King driven to pay a ransome for his libertie before he could get from them This Fin Mac Coile also fought with a Gyant that landed at Houth and came to challenge combats for tribute and by policie not by strength overcame him his policie was this he caused him in the night for the space of three nights to be kept waking and in the day time to be fought withall and thereby weakened his strength and foiled the Gyant Toward his end one Gorre an old man after these former warres and troubles came to his house before spoken of and boasted unto the Gentlewomen then present of his feates in warre and the combats he had fought whereat they laughed he being offended with them sware in his anger that hee would burne them all got old timber and straw put it in the house fired it made fast the doores and compassed about the house with men that none might escape They cryed unto him out of their windowes to save their lives but he was inexorable and could not bee drawne to any compassion and when the house was readie to fall he fled into Mounster and there hid himselfe in a Cave Fin Mac Coile came home from hunting and beheld this wofull desolation how his Wife his Maides his old Souldiers his Horses his Greyhounds his Plate and houshold stuffe his Shields Iackes and Shirts of maile and his instruments of Musicke were consumed to ashes made after Gorre into Mounster where he found him and after some skirmish of both sides tooke him and brought him to the place where he had committed this villany Gorre when hee beheld the bones of them that were burned laughed and being asked why his answer was that hee laughed at them that formerly laughed at him This wilâ—e Gorre being kept that night from execution in the dead of the night stole away and was found in a Cave where by commandment of Fin Mac Coill Hugh Gorre his owne sonne killed his father and after became madde himselfe And the end of Fin Mac Coill was that he dyed a beggar and in great miserie So farre out of the booke of Houth Now to continue the storie It is written of Maximus who beganne his raigne in Britaine Anno Dom. 387 that he tooke great displeasure against the Scots and Irish for partaking with Conan and upholding the faction betweene him and Carodoch thus it is written Maximus drave the Scots out of Britaine and compelled them to get habitation in Ireland the out Iles and the North part of the maine and finally divided their region betweene the Britaines and the Pictes He denounced warre also against the Irish men for receiving them into their land but they craving peace yeelded to subscribe that from thenceforth they would not receive any Scot into their dominions Hector Boetius penneth this matter at large that all the Scots were banished and despersed themselves into the Hebrydes Orchades Norwey Denmarke and some into France and Italie And where Maximus somewhat tendred their utter ruine and overthrow and referred them to the Pictes for favour the Pictes most cruelly gave sentence that the Scots which fled not should eate the Pictes sword c And of Ireland he writeth Vpon the first comming of this newes all Ireland mourned and made great lamentation and when they had deliberately examined the exiles and understood all the accidents that befell them in Albion they appointed certaine dayes for a parley summoned from East to West all the Princes of the land to meete their Monarch at the certaine day and place prefixed to consult how and by what meanes the Roman forces might be resisted and the kingdome of Albion restored to their allies and cousins the Scots When they could devise no remedie for they feared the power of the Romanes they thought good to put up all iniuries and to intreate for peace To this purpose they sent Ambassadors to Maximus the Romane Captaine who at the first sharpely rebuked them for that they had sent aide into Albion against the Romanes their confederates and favourites and in especiall seeing that unto that day Ireland of all the kingdomes of the world felt little smart of the Romane sword In the end he received them into favour and granted them peace upon these conditions That they should thenceforth receive no enemies of the Romanes into the Realme of Ireland neither any that gave aide against the Romanes and that no rebell of the Irish under pretence of marchandize should thenceforth set foot in Albion These conditions of peace being concluded the Irish were quiet and trode not upon Scottish soile So farre Boetius Not long after this according to Ponticus Virunius Guanius King of Hunnes and Melga King of Pictes having long hulled here and there and roved upon the seas were by Gratianus after their invading of Britaine and Scotland in the absence of Maximus overthrowne and driven out of the kingdome and forced to flee for refuge into Ireland soule weather followed these two Kings and Ireland gave them hard entertainement at the first Notwithstanding I finde that this Guanius and Melga after the death of this Gratianus who usurped the kingdome of Britaine for the space of foure yeeres upon the death of Maximus who had slaine Gratianus the Emperour prepared againe for Britaine and brought with them the exiled Scots with Irish and Ilanders for their aide But to proceed Thomas Cooper who afterwards was Bishop of Winchester speaking of the returne of the Scots from exile
Nunne Segnith and her associates and in the North part of that country a Nunnery Ceall Abbain where he made an end of his course and slept with his fathers There was great strife for his corps betweene the North and the South the Lords of the country strove for it in Armes The North pleaded here hee first builded and made his abode the South answered with us was he borne with us hee most conversed and we will have his corps or else we will leave our carkasses in this place The body was laid in a Cart bruit beasts had the drawing of it when both sides were in Armes the silly beasts were frighted and ranne away with the dead and where he was buried I have not found as yet His Monkes howled and kept a lamentable stirre the record runneth thus Populus civitatis Magarnoid in Australibus Laginensibus sic dicebat Iste sanctus a Domino ad nos missus est per multos annos apud nos vixit monasteria multa et cellas in nostra regione edificavit et ipse est noster Sanctus et venerabilis Pater qui nostrā civitatem similiter construxit qui post multa miracula apud nos ad Dominum migravit et per eum semper a Domino adjuvari speramus et scitote quod nos morti omnes prius trademus antequam revertamini eo a nobis absente Ad hanc vocemira principum et militum utrorumque arsit surgentes in furorem magnum contendere et rixari conantes Tunc verò monachi clerici quibus non licebat bellare seorsum exierunt ululantes flentes fusis lachrymis dicentes heu heu Domine Deus cur concedis tam maximam caedem tantorū nobilium virorum circa corpus famulitui qui in sua vita multa bella prohibuit He had familiaritie with Saint Beartanus an Abbot Brendanus Molyng Flannanus Munnu Gobban and with Columba the reverend Priest Saint Patricke was sent into Ireland by Celestinus Bishop of Rome before named five yeeres after Palladius was sent into Scotland So writeth Iohannes Major Scotus and Functius therein followeth him but I thinke they are too forward in their computation for hee came into Ireland Anno 432. and for this beside Iohn Bale Bishop of Ossorie I have warrant from Iocelin the Monke of Furnese who wrote his life at the request of Thomas Primate of Ardmagh Malachias Bishop of Dune and Sir Iohn de Courcy Earle of Vlster and out of Sigebertus and Iohn Clyn Guardian of the Fryers Minors in Kilkenny in his collections of Irish antiquities who also saith that he was 16. yeeres old when the Pirates brought him out of Britaine into Ireland that he was sixe yeeres in servitude that he was eighteene yeeres under Saint Germane a Bishop in France that he spent thirty and five yeeres in converting Ireland and other Ilands to the faith that he bestowed thirty three yeeres in contemplation and that hee died anno aetatis one hundred twenty two Bale writeth his life Patricius surnamed Succetus Magonius of most writers called Magnus for his excellent vertues had in Britaine to his father one Calphurnius a Priest the sonne of Ponticus a Priest saith Iocelin and to his mother one Conche of Pannonia Concessa saith Probus sister to Saint Martin cosin saith Iocelin hee was brought up under godly tutors when Maximus reigned first under his uncle Martin afterward under Germanus Bishop of Auxerre in Burgoyne from thence he came to Italy and so to Rome where for his grave carriage and singular learning descending of noble race he got the name of a Senator Patricius His first name saith Florilegus was Nannus and in his consecration hee was called Patricius Sigebertus and Stanihurst write that in his baptisme hee was called Suchat or Suchar of Saint German Magonius and of Celestinus Patricius the like saith Beda in his Martyrologe Celestinus then Bishop of Rome sent him together with Segetius a Priest anno 432 after Palladius the Grecian unto the Scots and Irish to defend them from the Pelagian heresie he with a wonderfull fervency of spirit preached the Gospell unto the Irish nation travailing in the vineyard of the Lord the space of thirty nine yeeres converted them unto the Lord with his great learning and sanctity of life Whereupon among other miracles the which he is said to have wrought upon the top of an hill like a second Elias he prayed and fasted forty dayes and nights in a vision hee received of Christ the Gospell and a staffe an Hermit gave him the staffe saith Iocelin Hee destroyed the prophane temples of false gods hee erected monuments of piety builded Churches ordained Ministers releeued the poore redeemed captives healed the sick delivered the possessed raised sixty dead persons baptized twelve thousand if all be true which Vincentius Antonius and Capgrave report of him Out of the treasure of his pure heart many Authors affirme that he wrot in Latine these bookes De antiquitate Avalonica lib. 1 Itenerarium Confessionis lib. 1 Odoeporicon Hiberniae lib. 1 Historia Hiberniae ex Ruano lib 1 De tribus habitaculis lib. 1 De futura electorū vita lib. 1 Abiectoria quaedam 366 lib. 1 Sermones quoque lib. 1 Ad Cereticum tyrannum epist. 1 Ad Avaloniae incolas epist. 1 Ad Hibernenses Ecclesias epist. plur Ad suos Britannos epist. plur The manuscript Legend of Ireland reporteth that Saint Patrick in his Epistles wrote his owne life The Antiquaries report that in his conflicts with the sages of the Gentiles this Apostle of the Irish wrought no lesse miracles then of old Moses under Pharaoh or Peter under Nero and that he endured many dipleasures In the end after his death hee was buried neere the City of Dune but the yeere among the Historiographers is not agreed upon yet in remembrance of him this distichon was made Hi tres in Duno tumulo tumulantur in uno Brigida Patricius atque Columba pius Saint Patrick died first Brigida six yeeres after him and Columba many yeeres after her yet were all three buried in one grave What Bale hath formerly written I find he hath gathered out of Vincentius Antoninus Capgrave Leland Gildas Giraldus Cambrensis Bostonus Buriensis and Florilegus and all that Iocelin hath at large written and what Legenda Plumbea and the booke of Houth report to avoid prolixity and to shunne fabulous conceits I omit Now to the Irish Chroniclers They deliver that in his captivity in Ireland being sold to Milcho King of Vlster saith Iocelin to Milach saith Stanihurst to Cuulcu saith Florilegus to Macbuaine saith the Irish Anonymus and to reconcile them all I take it that Milcho was called Milcho Macbuaine he kept swine six yeeres no disgrace unto him for Marcellus Bishop of Rome he that will not beleeue other writers will credit the Martyrologe of Sarum by the commandement of Maximian the tyrant
kept swine many yeeres When Patricks six yeeres were expired one of the swine turned up a clod under the which lay so much mony as paid his ransome When he came the second time he landed at Carlingford and inquired after Milcho whose captive hee had beene who would not giue eare to his doctrine but immediately after his death his two daughters of one name Emeria were baptized Laigerius in Iocelin Leogarius Monarch of Ireland the son of Neale harkning unto Magicians and Sooth-sayers gave commandement together with his brother Corbre unto the Country for the banishing of Saint Patrick but Dichu and Rius two brethren and great Commanders under him received the faith and Conil brother to Laigerius who also himselfe shortly after grew indifferent winking at them that did receive it so that his Queene and his yonger brother received the faith and his two daughters And of Laigerius he thus prophecied because thou hast alwaies withstood my doctrine and ceased not above measure to persecute me and hast above all disdained to beleeve in him that made all things thou art the childe of death And whereas of right thou with the rest yea before all thy confederates oughtest presently to enter into everlasting torments yet insomuch as thou meekely commest unto me craving pardon and like King Achab humblest thy selfe before my God the Lord will not forthwith bring upon thee the evill which thou hast deserved notwithstanding there shall none of thy seed after thee sit upon thy seat but shall serve thy yonger brother that beleeveth in my God and his seed after him for ever As this holy man travailed in preaching the Gospell he met with a young man whose name was Mochaa or Mocho keeping swine in whose physiognomie hee perceived towardnesse and sparkles of grace he taught him baptized him trayned him up in holy Scripture made him Deacon Priest and Bishop of Dune where he lyeth buried Clonsillan and Kellestowne some five miles west of Dublin have him for their Patron where under an high rocke runneth a Spring called S. Mochon his Well Next he baptized one Benignus called also Stephanus so Probus writeth with his father mother familie who proved so good a member in the Church of God that he succeeded S. Patricke in Armagh this Benignus saith Capgrave lyeth buried in Glastenburie Saint Patricke also received into the faith one Erchas the sonne of Dega saith Iocelin whom he also made a Bishop The Martyrologe of Sarum calleth him Herkus At that time one Pheg a Poet and saith Probus Duptachus an Irish rymer or Poet in Lastgerius his Court desired baptisme and afterward all the dayes of his life converted his vaine rymes into Chrihian Poems and did much good thereby among the common people Saint Patricke had brought with him into Ireland out of Italie one Mac Cartyn of Irish birth so I reade in the martyrologe of Sarum and three sisters of his owne which proved very fruitfull Lupita who lived a Virgin and lyeth buried at Armagh Trigridia and Darercha Tigridia had seventeene sonnes and five daughters the men became Priests Monkes and Bishops the daughters were made Nunnes the Bishops were called Brochadius Brochanus Mogenochus and Lumianus Darerca the yongest sister had two Bishops to her sonnes Melrioch and Munis the martyrologe of Sarum reckoneth her children thus Mele Melk Muncse Bishops Riok Finian and Bolke Abbots Where I thinke there is some errour that Melrioch in Iocelin is Mele and Ryok in the maytyrologe Of Lumianus I reade that he baptized a Lord of the country called Fedlemus and his sonne Forkernus whose mother was a Britain his dwelling was at Ahtrum There Lumianus by their meanes builded a Church some twenty five yeeres before the founding of Armagh the which he tooke for his Bishops See and ordered Forkernus to succeed him there The possessions saith mine Author which were first given to this Church afterward by the donations of other Princes fell to belong to Armagh The holy man Patricke laboured still in the vineyard of the Lord he baptized Conallus alias Conill Lord of Connaught brother to Laigerius and his familie who gave Patricke a country called Dompnac Patricke and builded for himselfe a dwelling place called Raith-Artair After seven yeeres this Conill sent him to his brother Logan Cogan saith the Booke of Houth King of Leinster whom hee baptized together with Amolgath whom I take to be the ancestour of the house of O Malaghlin a great Lord of a country and his seven sonnes Florilegus saith they were seven Kings After this this holy man comming out of Meth and having passed over the water at Finglas went up to a hill some mile from the village Athcled now called Dublin When he had viewed the place and soile adjoyning he blessed the same and is said to have prophecied thus This village is now but small it will be great it will be inlarged with wealth and worship neither will it leave increasing untill it bee advanced to the seate of the Kingdome In a while after he came to the village where the inhabitants hearing of the wonders which the Lord wrought by his hands went out to meete him with much ioy and beleeved by his preaching and were baptized My Author addeth that upon complaint made unto him how that they were annoyed with brackish waters which of necessitie they were driven to use he walked about the village turned up cloddes digged the earth and found a Spring which is now called Saint Patrickes Well From this village Athcled hee went to Castleknok where one Murguus dwelled and commanded those places who hearing of Patricks comming refused to give him entertainement but sent him word that he was asleepe in which sleepe as the storie saith he died of which accident the common saying ariseth Thou sleepest Murguus sleepe applyed to those that sleepe heavily or are given to overmuch sleepe From Castleknok he bent his course towards Mounster and came to King Engus alias Oengus Mac Nafroic who received him ioyfully and brought him to his Palace at Cassill saith Iocelin where also one Daris a great Lord in that country shewed him much kindenesse When he had baptized the King and many thousands with him he came to Vrmiunnan now called Ormond where in like sort they received the faith and the inhabitants in remembrance of him builded a Church and dedicated the same to his name From Mounster where he preached seaven yeeres hee tooke his iourney backe to Vlster and came to King Eochu whom he baptized his daughter Cumia whom he made a Nunne and committed her to the charge of the Nunne Cecubris in the Nunnery of Drumdukain whom Patricke first vailed of all the women in Ireland Also he baptized Olcanus who went into France to studie and upon his returne â—rected schooles in Ireland and had many schollers whereof a great number were afterwards Bishops he himselfe towards his end
Barret Edmund Lane Who flourished in the yeere 1518. So farre Master Stanihurst Hector Boetius putteth us in remembrance of the honour given her by Scots Pictes Irish and English nations and how that many Churches beare her name The superstitious Irish in processe of time found out a Bell called Clogg Brietta Brigids Bell whereunto to deceive the simple people they attribute great vertue and holinesse the which together with other toyes they carried about not onely in Ireland but also in England and were by Act of Parliament in England banished the land in Henry the fifts time Cambrensis reporteth that the harmonie of the foure Evangelists the worke of Saint Ierome was caused by Brigid most of it to be written in letters of gold and was as curious a worke saith he as ever I saw and called Brigids Booke the which was kept as a monument saith Stanihurst at Kildare She deceased about the yeere 510. another saith anno 548. and about the yeere 524. she was translated from the Hebrides into Dune and resteth by Saint Patrickes side as formerly hath beene declared in his life Ireland hath given her this Epitaph Flos patriae pietatis amans virtutis alumna Sidus Hibernorum Brigida virgo fuit In her Legend I finde mention of Ercus a Bishop the disciple of Saint Patricke borne in Mounster also of Saint Ruanus a Bishop Saint Numidus Saint Praecipuus Saint Daria a Virgin Saint Darlugdach called a Virgin and yet had a daughter that was baptized in the presence of Brigide This Darlugdach was the second Nunne and succeeded Brigide in Kildare whose remembrance is celebrated the same day with her Illand King of Leinster gave Brigide great honour of him I read in her Legend that hee was a most worthy Prince and fortunate in all his affaires Illand Rex Lageniae qui triginta bella in Hibernia vicit octo certamina in Britannia occidit Engusium regem Momoniae cum Ethna uxore quos Patricius baptizavit Illand King of Leinster who wonne thirty battailes in Ireland and eight combats in Britaine slue Engusus King of Mounster and Ethna his wife whom Patricke had baptized About this time lived Caelius Sedulius whom Damianus à Goes a Knight of Portingall challenged for a Spaniard Bale writeth hee was a Scot and Stanihurst that he was borne in Ireland I will first lay downe what Bale hath next what Stanihurst reporteth Caelius Sedulius saith Bale by nation a Scot. by calling a Priest a man trayned up in learning from his youth cleaved as a diligent scholler unto Hildebert the most learned Archbishop of Scots as Tritemius delivereth After the decease of his master being desirous of farther knowledge he tooke a painefull voyage in hand travailed throughout Spain France Italie Greece and Asia last of all after he had read in Achaia most learned lectures to the great profit of many hee came backe to Rome where with great labour he distributed most abundantly in like sort the treasure of singular learning Hee was a man exercised in holy Scripture of a singular wit excellently well seene in all manner of secular literature passing both for verse and prose so that Gelasius Bishop of Rome in the decrees dist 15. calleth him reverend Sedulius and gave his workes no meane commendation Patâ—rius the disciple of Gregorius Magnus and Remigius Antisiodorensis in his commentary upon him of old have published his fame and renowne Sedulius both in verse and prose hath published many workes whereof in Boston of Burie and Tritemius I onely found these that follow Vnto Macedonius the Priest a singular worke which he intituled Carmen paschale lib. 4 Pascales quicunque dapes conviva requiris Elegia vel exhortatorium ad fideles lib. 1 Cantemus socij Dom. cantemus honorem De signis virtutibus lib. 1 Domino meo charissimo Gesta et miracula Christi lib. 4 Expulerat quondam c Superutroque testamento lib. 2  In Psalmos Dividicos lib. 1  Collectanea in Paulum lib. 14 Antequam Apostolica verba In Paulum ad Romanos lib. 1 Sciendum est quod hoc Ad Corinthios lib. 2 Quod nomen suum proponit Ad Galatas lib. 1 Hoc est non ab humana Ad Ephesios lib. 1 Refere scriptura testante Ad Philippenses lib. 1 Metropoli Macedoniae cum Ad Colossenses lib. 1 Hac vice Apostolatus autor Ad Thessalonicenses lib. 2 Quod non dicit Apostolus Ad Timotheum lib. 2 Non secundum praesumptionem Ad Titum Discipulum lib. 1 Hanc epistolam scribit de Ad Philemonem lib. 1 In carcere vel in catenis Ad Hebraeos lib. 1 Quoniam apud Haebraeorum De factis Christi prosaice lib. 2  Ad Caesarem TheodosiuÌ„ lib. 1 Romulidum ductor Clariss Epist. ad diversos lib. 1 Sedulius Scotigena dilect In editionem Donati lib. 1  In Prisciani volumen lib. 1  Carmina diversi generis lib. 1  He published also certaine Hymnes which the Church useth 1 A solis ortus cardine Ad usque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem c. Hostis Herodes impie Christum venisse quid times c. 2 A solis ortus cardine Ad usque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem c. Hostis Herodes impie Christum venisse quid times c. He flourished in the yeere after the Incarnation 450. under Theodosius Iunior the Emperour what time Fergusius the second raigned in Scotland after his miserable exile by the Romanes Of this Author Sigebertus and Bostonus write more So farre Bale Stanihurst pleadeth for Ireland and writeth Sedulius was not only of Irish birth but also the light of all Ireland neither will we suffer any longer so excellent a man out of his native soile contrary to all right to exile or wander but he is rather to be restored to his former inheritance as it were with a new solemnity of birth In another place hee seemeth to qualifie the matter having already chalenged Damianus a Goes of iniurie and to reconcile the dissonance of varying writers that the Scottish is taken for the Irish and the Irish for the Scottish and to satisfie the reader noteth the confusion how that all the commentaries of Sedulius upon the Epistles of Paul beginne Sedulij Scoti Hibernensis c. the Commentarie of Sedulius the Scot of Ireland And to shut up this challenge of all sides I finde that there was a second Sedulius a man of no lesse fame and learning and hee is said to bee a Scottish man therefore let Ireland being more antient then Scotland take the first and Scotland the last In the like sort excepting the challenge standeth Fridelinus Viator so called by reason of his great travaile his stile is Scotorum Hibernicorum regis olim filius the sonne sometime of the King of the Scots in Ireland whom I couch among them of Irish birth because of the ancient stile and distinction often used
of Leinster craved him to extend his Princely favour toward him Gillomer on the other side complained of the wrong done him by Vter-Pendragon and the Britaines namely how they had slaine his subiects wasted his country and carried away his rare monuments concluding that hee was willing of himselfe to be revenged of them much more finding this opportunitie Caxton saith he came with fifteene thousand Irish to aide Passent against the Britaines the Armie was great for with Passent came Germans Irish and Saxons and arrived at Menevia now called Saint Davids at which time Aurelius Ambrosius being sicke of poyson by the procurement of Passent of which he died Vter-Pendragon was appointed Generall of the field met with the invaders fought a bloudy battaile where many fell on both sides and in the end slue Passent and Gillomer and ouerthrew the Germans Irish and Saxons and was crowned King of England I doe finde in Antiquaries together with Florilegus Fabian Caxton Holinshed and Fleminge men of great iudgement that the Pictes and Scots in the dayes of King Arthur who succeeded his father Vter-Pendragon ioyned with the Saxons and drew to their aide Gillomer second of that name King of Ireland so that Arthur sent for Howell his sisters sonne King of little Britaine in France who came with fifteene thousand fighting men and ioyning forces with Arthur foyled the Pictes Scots and Saxons vanquished the Irish King and chaced him into Ireland and the yeere following viz. five hundred twenty and five in revenge of the former aide hee came into Ireland offered King Gillomer battaile hee then being Monarch of Ireland as Caxton and the book of Houth record assembled the Princes and Nobles of the land and it is said that King Anguish came to the field with five thousand horse but Arthur constrained them to yeeld and to acknowledge by doing their fealtie to hold the Realme of Ireland of him Whereof Harding saith The somner next Arthur went to Ireland With battaile sore forefoughten y conquered And of the King had homage of that land To hold of him so was he of him feared And also gate as Chronicles have us lered Denmarke Friseland Gâ—tland and Norwey Iseland Groenland the Isle of Man and Orkney The booke of Houth recordeth that anno Dom. 519. Arthur summoned to a speciall feast of solemnitie of the round Table Gillomer the Monarch of Ireland and King Anguish with the Princes and Nobles of the land where they continued during the whole time of the solemnitie In which triumph it is recorded that Garret King of Orkeney sonne to King Lotho and nephew to Arthur being one of King Arthurs Knights together with his two brethren performed most valiant exploits encountred with Anguish King of Ireland Goranus King of Scotland Cador Duke of Cornewall and with other Princes and wanne great honour This Anguish claimed tribute from Marke King of Cornewall that formerly was wonne by combate and sent Morogh whom Caxton calleth Marhaus the Queene of Leinsters brother who was also one of King Arthurs Knights to demand it he was a valiant Gentleman often tryed and ever quitted himselfe with honour The Frenchmen calleth him Le Morhoult d'Ireland and a Citizen of London thus blazoneth his Armes In silver shield on fesse of peeces five throughout the same He bare a Lyon Rampant red and arme greene whose name Might seeme to signifie in truth each mighty enterprise A prey most fit for his courage as is the Irish guise Marke King of Cornewall denieth the tribute offereth the combate and Sir Tristram undertaketh it for him Morogh for himselfe pleaded that he was to encounter with none unlesse he were a King or Queene a Prince or Princesse sonne the circumstances being considered and agreed upon the combatants meete and fiercly fight the battaile was a long time doubtfull in the end Sir Tristram gave Sir Morogh with his sword a sore blow that a piece of the edge stucke in his scull whereupon the combate ended Morogh returned into Ireland and shortly after died of the wound This doth Caxton and the booke of Houth deliver at large But I may not end thus with Sir Tristram he also was sore wounded with a Speare whose head was venomed and could not be cured untill that by counsaile he repaired to the country where the venome had beene confected Whereupon he came to Ireland and to King Anguish his Court and having great skill upon the Harpe he recreated himselfe delighted the house and fell in loue with La Bell Isod the Kings daughter and she with him In processe of time the Queene had learned that he had given her brother Morogh his deaths wound and comparing the piece of the swords edge which was taken out of the skull with his sword found them to agree and banished him the land Not long after upon conference had with Marke King of Cornewall of marriage and commending the beautie and vertues of La Bel Isod spoken of before hee commeth to Ireland to intreate of marriage betweene King Marke and her And having effected his purpose taketh her with him to Cornewall where Marke espoused her with great ioy and solemnity but the old secret love betweene Tristram and her had taken such impression in both and so inflamed their hearts that it could not easily be quenched so that in processe of time Marke espied it and in his furious jealousie slue him as he played upon the Harpe to recreate La Bel Isod and thus as his love began with the Harpe so it ended at the Harpe it is recorded that Isod came to his grave and swouned She was saith mine Author so faire a woman that hardly who so beheld her could not chuse but be enamoured with her In Dublin upon the wall of the Citie is a Castle called Isods towre and not farre from Dublin a Chappell with a Village named Chappell-Isod the originall cause of the name I doe not finde but it is coniectured that her father King Anguish that doted on her builded them in remembrance of her the one for her recreation and the other for the good of her soule About the time that King Arthur raigned lived many famous men of Irish birth renowned for their great learning and sanctitie and commended by divers Antiquaries both at home and abroad to the posteritie But before I come to speake of them I must first make mention of Congellus a Britaine by birth who builded the Monasterie of Bangor not farre from West-Chester which was called the Colledge of Christian Philosophers and became the first Abbot thereof himselfe in the dayes of King Arthur anno Dom. 530. I make mention of him because Bernard in the life of Malachias reporteth this Colledge or Abbey which he built to have beene the head or principall Abbey of all the Monasteries in Europe the seminarie or bee-hive of many thousands of Monkes after the Apostolike manner getting their living with the sweate of their
Pyrate prevailed for the time and that the Princes of the land not being able then to withstand his forces yeelded unto the iniquitie of the time and wincked at his rash enterprises And whereas he gave forth his stile King of England they laughed at it and he perceiving the wilinesse and ingeniositie of the people and having small stomacke to continue among them by reason of many mishaps which befell him left the land and went for France to seeke adventures where he ended his dayes Further they write that he had a sonne called Barchard alias Burchared Mac Gurmond whom his father made Duke of Leinster and Baron of Margee He was commonly called O Gormagheyn Hee builded Gurmund grange in Monte Margeo with other memorable things for him and his posterity hee is said to have beene the founder of the mother Church or priorie of old Leighlin but I rather beleeve hee was a Benefactor or endower thereof in the time of Saint Eubanus the originall Patron and that one Lazerianus a Bishop and Confessor Anno 651. procured the perfection of the whole as in the Leighlin records more at large doth appeare Againe it is recorded that Duke Burchard lyeth buried on the North side of the Chancell of that Cathedrall Church over against the Treasurers stall under a marble stone as it was found for certaine Anno 1589. by Thadie Dowlinge Chancellour and others with this Epitaph Hic jacet humatus Dux fundator Leniae i. Leighlenie En Gormondi Burchardus vir gratus Ecclesiae Here lyeth interred Duke Burchard the sonne of Gurmond founder of Leighlin and a gratefull man to the Church There are saith mine Author other remembrances of this in those parts as Gurmunds-grove and Gurmunds-foord the which I overpasse Mons Margeus in Irish Sliewe Marrig or Sliew Marighagha which is the mountaine reaching along by Leighlin to Butlers wood wherin as before I have touched Gurmunds-grange standeth was as I haue learned of old granted to one called de Sancto Leodegario by the name and honour of Baron de Marrighagha but time and place have brought the name to degenerate and turne from English to Irish. Of late yeeres a Gentleman of the name dwelling at Dunganstowne neere Catherlagh affirming himselfe to be lineally descended from Baron Sentleger made claime unto the same but the successe I hearken not after as impertinent to my purpose About the yeere 587. Athelfrid the Saxon King of Northumbers so tyrannized over the Britaines that they were faine to take Ireland for their refuge and Atdan King of Scots pittying their state raised forces to defend them but could not prevaile so great was the miserie of the Britaines Anno Dom. 635. was Cadwallin crowned King of Britaine Caxton and Florilegus write of cruell warres betweene Edwin sonne unto Athelfrid King of Northumbers and Cadwallin how that Edwin made him flee into Ireland destroyed his land cast downe his Castles burnt his Mannors and divided his land among his friends and lastly how that in a good while after Cadwallin came upon him with forces out of Ireland slue Edwin and recovered all his possessions In the dayes of this Cadwallin Kenevalcus otherwise called Cewalch King of West Saxons builded the Church of Winchester made it a Bishops See and the first Bishop he placed there was one Agilbertus who came out of Ireland who in a short time after was deposed say some Grafton with other writers record not the cause but Beda writeth that he was offended for that Kenelwalkus divided the Province into two that he left the See went into France became Bishop of Paris and there ended his dayes and how that Kenelwalkus sent for him againe and againe but his flat answer was for that he had dealt with him so unkindely he would never returne I must here insert that which Cambrensis writeth of the antiquities of Brechinia or Breknoke in this sort there was of old of that country which now is called Brecheinoc a governour that was a man both mighty and Noble whose name was Brachanus of whom the country of Brecheinoc Brecknokshire is so called of whom one thing came unto me worthy the noting the histories of Britaine doe testifie that he had foure and twenty daughters that were all from their childhood brought up in the service of God and happily ended their dayes in the holy purpose they tooke upon them Doctor Powell the great Antiquarie of Britaine in his learned annotations upon him explaineth the same thus This Brachanus saith he was the sonne of one Haulaph King of Ireland his mother was one Mercella the daughter of Theoderike the sonne of Tethphalt a petite King of Garthmarthrin to wit of the country which tooke the name of this Brachanus and at this day is called Brechonia or Brechinia in British Brechinoc in English Breknok This Brachanus had to his daughter one Tydvaell the wife of Congenus the sonne of Cadell a petit King of Powis and the mother of Brochmael surnamed Scithroc who slue Athelfred alias Ethelfred King of Northumberland at the river of Deva called of the Britaines Doverdwy and foyled his armie about the yeere of our Lord 603. Here Breknoktowne and Breknokshire have cause to glorie of Ireland that gave them the name and honour which they hold to this day and Ireland to glory of them that gave their Kings sonne Marcella their Lady and all that country in her right Also I cannot omit another thing of that age the which Grafton reporteth of the Clergie and I finde in Beda more reverently delivered for that I have formerly spoken much of them and shall have occasion to speake something hereafter especially seeing Bedaes words are generall to be understood as well of the one land as of the other if not rather of Ireland considering what hath beene delivered heretofore In those dayes saith Grafton the Monkes and Clergie set all their mindes to serve God and not the world and were wholly given to devotion and not to filling of the panch and pampering of the body wherefore they were then had in great reverence and honour so that they were then received with all worship And as they went by the streetes and wayes men that saw them would runne to them and desire their blessings and well was him then that might give unto them possessions and to build them houses and Churches But as they increased in riches of worldly treasure so they decreased in heauenly treasure as in the dayes of Aluredus some deale began and sithen that time hath sprung not all to the pleasure of God Then they applyed nothing that was worldly but gave themselves to preaching and teaching of the word of our Saviour Iesus Christ and followed in life the doctrine that they preached giving good example to all men And beside that they were utterly void of covetousnesse and received no possessions gladly but were enforced thereunto So farre Grafton Anno Dom.
hee had at large written the lives of the foresaid learned men that came out of Ireland he maketh in his Chronicle a recapitulation of them the which will helpe the memorie of the reader therefore I thought good to lay it down Egbert the second time essaied to convert Friseland and Saxonie gathered together twelve Apostolicke men Willibrode Switbert Acca Wigbert Wilibald Winibold Lebuinus Ewaldus surnamed the blacke in Irish Duffe Ewaldus the white Werenfridus Marcellinus and Adalbertus 1 Saint Willibrod and Saint Switbert by common consent of the brethren were elected and consecrated Bishops Saint Willibrode was made Archbishop of Friseland he received by the donation of Duke Pipinus the Citie of Traiectum with all thereunto appertaining He founded in the territorie of Saint Thomas a Colledge of regular Canons In the towne of Rhen he is said to have found the body of Cunera one of the eleven thousand Virgins He travailed in preaching without Friseland â—e had in Latharingia two women disciples Herlind and Relind Nunnes of Maeseike which now is of Leodium or Leege in Flanders He converted the Hulstenses Axellanos Hasuenses Birfletanos At Trevires in the Church of Saint Marie and Martyres hee founded a Monasterie of Monkes Benedictines At Epternacum among the Luxemburgs he founded a famous Monasterie wherein hee was buried Anno 736. 2 Saint Switbert was consecrated in England and converted many in Traiectum Holland Gelderland chiefely Wiic Hagelsteyn Alcmaria Waterlaâ—dia Gerconium Bomelia Tiela Huesda Bura Baâ—ua with other places Hee is called the Apostle of Teisterbandia Westfalia and of the Boructuarians He builded a Monasterie in Werda Caesaris where he ended his dayes Anno 710. 3 Acca went into England to the consecration of Saint Switbert and when Switbert returned he became Bishop of Lindisfarne Wigbert is said to be martyred in Fostilandia adjoyning upon Friseland by Radbodus King of Friseland who also slue Saint Egelmund the Martyr 5.6 Wilibaldus and Winiboldus being brethren went to Aistadium in Germanie 7 Lebuinus converted the Transiselanians and resteth among them in Daventria 8.9 The two Ewaldes went to Nabia preached Christ and were martyred by the old Saxons 10 Werenfridus converted many to the faith at Arnhemium in Westervaert and at Neomagum in Elst. 11 Marcellinus preached 65. yeeres chiefely in Trenta Twenta Oudenzeel and Daventria 12 Adelbertus was the first Archdeacon of Traiectum preached in Kenemaria together with Engelmund an Englishman before spoken of and lyeth buried at Velsen in Egmondan monasterie He writeth farther of Wiron and Plechelinus Bishops of Friseland who came thither together with Otgerus a Deacon out of these parts and were entertained by Pipinus Duke of Brabant Many things are written by Beda Capgrave Surius Baronius Molanus Lippeloo and others of Fursaeus Foilanus whom Beda calleth Fullanus and Vltanus They were three brethren and the base sonnes of a King of Leinster they flourished about the yeere sixe hundred fiftie and odde Fursaeus is said to have had many visions and dreadfull conflicts with divels and infernall spirits He preached unto the Irish Scots Britaines and Saxons hee went into France where he wrought many miracles saith Molanus and because of the fame that went abroad of him one Ercanaldus gave him at Latiniacum a parcell of land to build a Monasterie also hee gave him another piece of ground at Perona sometime a towne in Flanders but now of France and parcell of Gallia Comata where he builded another Monasterie and drew unto him saith mine Author germanos fratres Foilanus and Vltanus and there ended the way of all flesh They of Cambray doe honour him as a Bishop not that hee was a Bishop but an Apostle of certaine places The martyrologe of Sarum reporteth how that after his death the angels and the deuils strove for his soule how that the soule returned to the body againe and how that he lived afterwards Here the Author is deceived for it was a trance that he was in out of which after certaine conflicts he came to himselfe againe and finally in godly sort ended his dayes I finde in the life of Mocoeinoge that there was one Fursaeus a Bishop but more ancient then this With Fursaeus there were at one and the selfe same time many famous men of Irish birth renowned for learning and sanctitie which gave themselves to travaile and dispersed themselves to farre countries as Foilanus and Vltanus before mentioned also Mombolus Boetius Eloquius Adulgisius Columbanus Hetto Helanus Tresanus Germanus Veranus Gobanus Corbrican Dicull Fredegandus Colmanellus Madelgarius Algisius and others After they had visited Rome they came backe saith Molanus into France and Flanders Fursaeus and Adelgisius into Perona Foilanus and Vltanus into Possa Eloquius and Algisius into Theoras the reverend Priest Hetto unto the lake adioyning unto Corbriolum where he builded a Monasterie called domus Petri. Further saith Molanus in the confines of the Attrebates there is a Village called Buym which hath a Church called Saint Hetto whereupon is written In hoc loco Hetto Hiberniensium Episcopus mansionem habuit in another place of the Church Hic reposuit Hetto Hibernensis Episcopus reliquias de corpore sancti Clementis Papae Martyris In another place he writeth of Hetto Goban and Corbrican that they were three brethren and in their returne from Rome died at Walciodorum and lie buried at Fesca Beda left but a bare mention of Goban and Dicull onely this that they were companions of Foilanus Foilanus was slaine in a place in Flanders called Carboriar Saint Bernard writeth that in the place where he was slaine there is a Monasterie builded by the name of Saint Foilane ordinis praemonstratensis in the Diocesse of Cambray Fredegand preached in Antverp where now hee resteth and is greatly honoured Mombolus became an Abbot in the Monasterie of Fursaeus in France a perceiving a conspiracie of his covent against him forsook the place and withdrew himselfe together with a few of his company unto a place of old called Condrynus upon the river Isara where he led an hermites life and ended his dayes There was another of that name a Saint of Burdeux but not of Irish birth Eloquius preached most painefully throughout France and Saxonie and being seated at Latiniecum in the Monasterie which Fursaeus had founded perceived some treacherie practised against him withdrew himselfe as formerly Mombolus had done to a solitarie place called Grimacum upon the rivers of Some and Isara where he departed this life afterwards his body was translated to Walciodorum in Flanders and there he resteth About this time Saint Autbert borne in Ireland was Bishop of Cambray he converted Hannonia and is called the Apostle of Flanders of him Molanus writeth thus Autbertus had beene for certaine yeeres Hiberniae gubernator governour of Ireland the which I take to be some ecclesiasticall charge by which occasion many singular good Preachers heretofore
mentioned came the more willingly out of Ireland unto us Trithemius reporteth of this time in this sort There were many Monasteries of Irish men in Germanie Herbipolis and other places but when their zeale waxed cold and that they fell to remisse and dissolute life they were expulsed and their habitation became waste and desolate Saint Chilian otherwise written Kilian whom Bale calleth a Scot Surius Baronius and Lippeloo write that hee was an Irish man of Noble Parentage Molanus writeth in Hibernia regio sanguine procreatus that he was begotten in Ireland of royall bloud another saith he was a Kings base sonne This man became a Monke went to Rome together with Colman a Priest and Totnan a Deacon of the same country birth in the time of Conon Bishop of Rome about the yeere 687. to sue unto the Bishop there that Ireland might be released of the curse that was denounced against the land and the inhabitants thereof for the Pelagian heresie Molanus writeth that he served in Saint Peters Church in Rome eleven yeeres but he was directed another course for he was consecrated Bishop of Herbipolis in the East parts of France and together with his fellowes sent away There they converted Gosbert a French Duke which had married one Geila his brothers wife It is Iohn Baptists case he rebuked him for it and shee hearing thereof sent certaine lewd persons in the night which murthered them all three and privily buried them lest so horrible a fact should come to light but God that will have no such villany concealed brought it out the tormentors became madde and confessed the whole Beda in his Martyrologe reporteth how that at Wirciburge in Austria the birth day of Kilian the Martyr and his two companions is solemnly kept the eight of Iuly Molanus saith that in his travaile he met with Saint Fiacre sometime his fathers servant but he following carefully his direction staid not with him but passed on in his iourney This Saint Fiacre saith the Martyrologe was base sonne of some King in Ireland went into France and became an heremite there are small remembrances of him in Surius and Lippeloo saving that for a womans sake which called him a Witch Sorcerer and Inchanter hee commanded that no woman should put foot into his Cloister and if any should doe so he prayed that God would lay some plague upon her to try this a woman sent her maide to take the ayre of the Cloyster but she tooke no harme upon a second tryall a fairer then she presumed so farre that her shinne her knee and her thigh saith mine Author and some parts above tooke swelling and that went for a punishment In an antient manuscript Legend of the life of Congellus or Congallus I finde that Saint Fiacre returned into Ireland and became Abbot of Airard in Leinster upon the river of Berba now called the Barrow in the Barony of Odrone and that he went to the Abbey of Beanchor in Vlster to visite Congellus at whose hands Congellus received the Sacrament and gave up the Ghost There also it is further alledged that this Fiacre builded a Monasterie in Leinster in the honour of Saint Congellus The martyrologe aforesaid remembreth Saint Cataldus a Bishop Saint Finan an Abbot Saint Sacodine a Virgin who forsooke her husband and entred religion to have lived then and how that Indrake a King of Ireland forsooke his royaltie went to Rome with his sister Dominica led a private life and died beggers Capgrave calleth him Indraktus saying that he was a Kings sonne and tooke with him beside his sister nine persons more About this time saith Capgrave one Muriardachus Monarch of Ireland together with his wife Sabina lived in the true faith and feare of God who being mighty and wise commanded in good sort all the Princes of the land In this his good successe and peaceable governement he was envied so that a petite King his neighbour came upon him in the night murthered him with his Queene and all his familie excepting one daughter whose life hee saved for her beauties sake This cruell tyrant after assaulted this faire Gentlewoman to his filthy lust and when with faire perswasions he could not prevaile at length by force he oppressed her so that shee conceived and bare him a sonne called at the time of his baptisme Milluhoc but afterwards Cuthbert This Cuthbert being borne as my Author writeth at Kilmacrodrike some three miles from Dublin his mother tooke him to Scotland to her two brethren Meldan and Eatan that were Bishops From thence hee went into the North parts of England and was brought up among the holy Monkes of those dayes in the Monasterie of Mailros under the Abbot Boisilius whom he succeeded in the same Monasterie Anno 651. And Anno 676. he went to the I le Farne which was uninhabited and continued there nine yeeres building teaching and preaching and as Beda writing his life delivereth working in harvest time with his owne hands The fame of his vertues and holinesse went farre abroad so that Egfride King of the Northumbers made him Bishop of Lindesfarne to which dignitie hee was consecrated at Yorke by Theodorus the Archbishop Anno 685. In his time the aforesaid Egfride sent Brith with a great host into Ireland to be revenged of them for that he was given to understand they had aided his enemies against him these Saxons over-ranne the land killing burning and spoyling they spared neither Church nor Monasterie so writeth Beda Berthus vastavit miserè gentē innoxā nationi Anglorum semper amicissimam Berthus pittifully spoiled this harmelesse people who alwaies most kindely affected the English nation Cuthbert reproved him for it and the Ilanders cried unto the heavens and prayed God to avenge their cause Beda reporteth farther how that he bent his forces afterwards against the Pictes and Scots and would not be advised by Cuthbert and Egbert and that his bloudy course had no good successe and that then Egfride the glory of the Saxons began to decay the which Florilegus attributeth to the crie of the Irish and the courage of the Pictes and Scots and Britaines In his time saith Carodoc it rained bloud in Britaine and Ireland the Milke likewise and the Butter turned to the colour of bloud and the Moone appeared all bloudie Cuthbert when he had beene Bishop two yeeres forsooke his Bishopricke and went to the I le Farne where hee led an hermites life and left the world Anno Dom. 687. It is written of him that he forbade his Monkes and Priests the company of women and that they should not come within any Cloyster for that the devill appeared unto him in his Church in the shape of a woman most faire and beautifull Yet I finde that he conversed much with Ebba and Verca and with Elfleda King Egfrides sister and repaired oft to their Nunneries did eate and drinke with them and sent Elfleda a linnen
after Bishop of Iuvaviens the name of which Bishopricke hee procured to bee changed and called it the Bishops See of Salisburgh where he builded a sumptuous Cathedrall Church and was the first founder thereof In his time one Boniface an English man and the Popes Legate in Germany tooke upon him to rebaptize contrary to the Canons of the Church such as had beene as hee thought formerly not rightly baptized Virgilius having had conference with Sydonius Archbishop of Bavaria opposed himselfe against him The matter came to hearing before Pope Zacharie who gave sentence that Virgilius was in the right and Boniface his Legate for all his great authority in the wrong opinion Hee prudently governed his Church some thirty yeeres and gave place to nature So farre Bale out of Gaspar Bruschius Learned Camden alledgeth out of Rhegino that in the time of Carolus magnus which must needs bee about the yeere 767. certaine Norwegians or Normans entred Ireland and were repulsed and further of them I have not read but in the British Chronicle of Caradoc Llancarvan I finde that Anno 799. the Danes came into England and destroyed a great part of Lindsey and Northumberland over-ranne the most part of Ireland and destroyed Rechreyn The accidents of the eight hundreth yeere after Christ now follow And first of all Functius offereth occasion to write how that Anno 820. Regnerus King of Denmarke invaded Britaine and how that his prosperous successes in Britaine Scotland and the Orchades puffed him up and emboldned him so much that he passed into Ireland slue the King of the land tooke the Citie of Dublin where hee remained an whole yeere and then returned to Denmarke Next commeth Turgesius his time to bee examined who was of Norwey and came with great power of Esterlings into Ireland vanquished King Edlumding or Edlimidus or in Irish Felim Mac Edmund and raigned thirty yeeres Here gentle reader observe certain errours or escapes whether of ignorance wilfulnesse or negligence I know not the which I finde betweene Cambrensis Polychronicon Fabian and others touching Gurmund and Turgesius First that Gurmund and Turgesius should be one man the end of them both by a generall consent of Writers reproveth that for Gurmund dyed in France and Turgesius was slaine in Ireland Secondly whereat Giraldus marvaileth how that the Antiquaries of England make mention of Gurmund but nothing of Turgesius and that the Writers of Ireland speake of Turgesius but little or nothing of Gurmund so that Turgesius by reason of his raigne and continuance was knowne unto them and Gurmund if he were here made small abode as I have formerly written and therefore became a man unknowne Thirdly that Turgesius should be Gurmunds deputie in Ireland or his brother as I reade in Fabian cannot possibly stand with the truth for on all sides it is agreed that Gurmund came to Britaine and ioyned with the Saxons against Careticus who began his raigne in Britaine anno 586. but as saith Cambrensis Turgesius Captaine of the Norwegians Danes or Esterlings came to Ireland in the daies of Fedlimidius which was 400. yeeres from the comming of the first Patricke into the land in the which time there had raigned thirty three Kings or Monarchs then this knot with facilitie may be untied for Patricke came to Ireland as I have formerly delivered An. 432. adde 400. to it then Turgesius came to Ireland Anno 832. But forward with the history When these Norwegians or Esterlings had got footing in the land to their content and planted themselves the space of thirty yeeres they builded Castles Fortes and Wardes they cast up Trenches Bankes and Ditches for safegard and refuge Toward the end of the terme before mentioned Turgesius was enamoured on a faire Gentlewoman the onely daughter of Omalaghlin King of Meth and desired her for his Concubine he practised with the father for obtaining of his purpose the father not willing to yeeld nor daring to displease resolved him thus Appoint the day the houre and the place and sequester your selfe from your Court and retinue and I will send my daughter unto you with twelve or sixteene Gentlewomen of the choice and beautifullest maidens of my country and take your choice of them if my daughter please you best she is at your command When the time appointed came and the Lecher longed to satisfie his filthy lust Omalaghlin attired his daughter in princely sort and sent her to King Turgesius with sixteene young men in womens attire which had long Skeines under their Mantles These young springals were faire beautifull effeminate and amiable to look upon they were brought to his chamber and presented before him he taketh the Gentlewoman by the middle and kisseth her the Striplings out with their Skeines and stabbed him having the Lady in his armes whereof he presently dyed whilst they fell upon a few loose and dissolute persons that were about him whom they killed every one Omalaghlin that lay in ambush all this while with certaine horsemen expecting the end of this exploit reioyced greatly when hee saw his daughter and her company make so speedy a returne and understanding that his practise was effected as he desired sent Scoutes and Cursitors Messengers and horses over the whole land declaring what had happened Immediately Meth and all Leinster are in Armes the Princes and Lords from euery place throughout Ireland repaired to Omalaghlin and being glad of liberty reioyced with him at the destruction of Turgesius and his Guard To make the story short for they made short worke with it they set upon the Norwegians and Danes killed them every mothers sonne that escaped not by flight seized upon all their possessions so as together with their lives they lost all their lands and goods and saith the Irish Chronicle tunc cepit conquestus Hibernicorum Then the Irish began to conquer This Omalaghlin King of Meath being in great trust credite and favour with Turgesius no man greater at that time demanded of him concealing the plot that lay hidden in his heart against the Norwegians by what meanes certaine ravenous and pestiferous fowle hee meant the Norwegians lately brought into the land which greatly annoyed the country might be destroyed Turgesius answered if they breed destroy their egges birds and nests which answer the Irish made good upon the Norwegians Not long after saith Cambrensis and Polychronicon after what They meane after the murthering of Turgesius and rooting out of all the Norwegians and Esterlings there came againe out of Norway and the Northerne Ilands as remnants of the former nation and whether they knew of themselves or by relation of their Parents and Ancestours the land to be fruitfull commodious thither they came not in warlike sort but in peaceable manner to use the trade of merchandise when they had entred certaine Ports and Havens of Ireland with the licence of the Princes of the land they builded therein divers Cities For the Irish nation they
the field and perswaded him to retraict saying further that there was no hope of good successe to bee obtained in this field This man being taken confessed the whole treason and for punishment was carried to the winde gates twelve miles from Dublin set alive standing in the ground with a great heape of stones about him as it pleased the Commanders to direct In Stanihurst I finde that the the chiefe Potentates of the Irish were Brian Borow Miagh Mac Brian whom formerly I termed Morogh Tady O Kelly Dolir Ahertegan and Gille Barramed and that they were buried at Kilmaniham over against the great Crosse. Anno 1031. as it is remembred by Caradoc in the British Chronicles there was great stirre and bloudshed in South-Wales by the meanes of Howell and Meredith the sonnes of Edwyn ap Evean ap Owen ap Howell Dha that made claime unto that country against Rytherch ap Iestyn Prince of South-Wales Howell and Meridith hired unto them a King of Ireland whose name is not set downe which brought with him a great armie of Irish-Scots the armies met the fight was cruell much bloud on both sides was shed in the end Rytherch the Prince was discomfited and slaine by which means they attained unto the governement of South-Wales the which they ioyntly ruled and bountifully rewarded the Irish King There is at Sauntrie some three miles from Dublin yeerely remembrance of Saint Pappan that was borne there Molanus calleth him Poppon He travailed into France builded there many Monasteries saith mine Author and preferred to governe them many men became an Abbot himselfe and departed this life Anno 1048. and lyeth buried at Stabuletum in France where hee governed Lastly mine Author noteth that he was a Saint but never canonized Conan the sonne of Iago Prince of North-Wales married Ranulph the daughter of Alfred King of Dublin who in the warres betweene Iago his father and Griffith the sonne of Lhewelyn ap Sitsylte sometimes King of Wales saith Caradoc was driven to flee into Ireland for safegard of his life This Conan Anno 1041. came with Alfred his father in law with great power out of Ireland to recover his country they shortly landed in Wales and by treason secretly tooke Griffith the King and carried him towards their ships but when it was knowne the country upon the sodaine rose armed themselves followed the Irish men made great slaughter of them rescued their Prince and drove Alfred and Conan with the rest of their forces to their shippes and so to Ireland Stow following Fabian writeth how that Anno 1049. certaine forces out of Ireland whom hee calleth Irish Pirates with 36. ships entred the mouth of Severne landed in a place called Westlapham and with the helpe of Griffith King of South-Wales spoyled along those coasts and did great mischiefe Afterwards Griffith and those Irish Pyrates ioyning their powers together passed over the river Wie and burnt Dumenham and slue man woman and childe leaving nothing behinde them but bloud and ashes Worcester Glocester and Herefordshire rose in Armes against them but many of them in cruell fight being slaine the rest put to flight the Irish returned home merrily loaden with spoyle Anno 1050. Conan gathered an armie of his friends in Ireland attempting the second time the recoverie of his inheritance he hoysed up saile towards Wales but on a sodaine there arose such a tempest upon the seas that scattered his Navie and drowned the most part of his ships so that he gave over the voyage for that time About this time wherein the English and British historiographers doe agree Robert Archbishop of Canterbury accused Earle Godwin and his five sonnes especially Swaine and Harold of treason and Queene Editha the daughter of Godwin of adulterie who being called before the King refused to appeare and therefore were banished the land and the Queene was put away from the King Godwin and Swaine fled to Flanders Harold and Leofwin Warwell saith Holinshead to Ireland and the Queene was sent with one Maid to the Monasterie of Wilton Immediately the King disposed of all their possessions It was not long after ere Godwin and Swaine got shippes men munition and all necessaries in Flanders the like did Harold and Leofwin in Ireland they all met upon the seas to wit the father the mother and the five sonnes they spoyled the I le of Wight Partland Peveneseny Romny-heath Folkeston Dover and Sandwich and entring the Thames destroyed Sheppey and burned the Kings houses at Mielton Then they met with the kings Fleet upon the seas and being ready to fight Bishop Stigand stept betweene them and reconciled both sides in such sort that the King restored them their lands and goods tooke home the Queene and banished Robert the Archbishop with all the French men which had put buzzes and suspitions into the Kings head Anno 1054. as Powell in his annotations upon Caradoc hath learnedly collected King Edward by evill counsell as it was thought banished Algar Earle of Chester which had treason laid to his charge whereupon Algar gate him into Ireland and there providing him eighteene shippes of warre well appointed and manned with stalworth men of Irish birth returned and joyned himselfe with Griffith King or Prince of Wales who both together invaded the country of Mercia about Hereford where Ranulph Earle of that country who was sonne to King Edwards sister named Goda by her first husband Walter de Manut came against them with a great armie and met them about two miles from Hereford where after a sore fight by the space of three houres Ranulph and his armie were discomfited and about 500. of them slaine and the rest put to flight whom Griffith and Algar pursued to Hereford and entring the towne set the Cathedrall Church on fire and slue the Bishop named Leogar with seven of the Canons and most lamentably as it falleth out in warres spoyled and burned the towne King Edward being advertised hereof gathered an armie and sent Harold the sonne of Earle Godwin against them who pursuing the enemies to North-Wales passed through Stradlewyde to Snowdon but Griffith and Algar being loath to meete Harold got them againe into South-Wales whereof Harold being advertised left one part of his armie in North-Wales to resist the enemy there and returning with the residue to Hereford caused a great trench to be cast round about the towne with a high rampire strongly fortifying the gates of the same After this by meanes of a parlee had with Griffith and Algar at a place called Biligellagh a peace was concluded whereupon Algar being pardoned by the King and restored againe to his Earledome returned home to Chester About two yeeres after Algar was accused againe of treason and the second time exiled the land fled into Ireland where he was most ioyously received of his old followers and offered more kindenesse then he requested for hee had most honourably dealt with the Merchants and owners of the former ships and most
Cadogan after hee had done great mischiefe and spoile upon the English Normans Flemings and Welsh men fled into Ireland to King Morogh who joyfully received him for he had beene there before returned to Wales and fled thither the second time and in like sort the third time Anno 1113. or thereabout Griffith the sonne of Rees ap Twyder Prince of South-Wales who for feare of the King had beene of a childe brought up in Ireland came to Gerald Steward of Pembroke his brother in law and others of his friends to recover his country whom the King by secret policies and practises pursued so that hee was forced to flee againe In the time of King Henry the first I finde that there was great stirre betweene Murchard or Morogh King of Leynster and the Citizens of Dublin for it seemeth that hee used grievous exactions and tyrannies over them so that the Dublinians in revenge of him sent for Godred King of Man and the Ilands so writeth Camden and made him their King Morogh mustereth his country gathereth forces procureth aide marcheth against his enemies pitcheth his campe at the towne of Coridelis sent his brother by the mother side Osibell with three thousand horse well appointed to Dublin where hee was slaine by Godred and by the men of Dublin and the rest discomfited and put to flight Godred found himselfe well satisfied with spoiles and returned to Man they of Dublin likewise thought themselves in some sort reasonably well revenged of their King quitted themselves for a while and by mediation and intercession after many Presents and Gifts were reconciled There was great banquetting and feasting and ioy outward of all sides but inward lay venome and treason like sparkles of fire covered with ashes which broke forth not long after as I am readie to deliver Stanihurst Grace and Dowlinge doe write that the Councell of the Citie determining to establish and decree many good lawes and orders for the publike weale of the towne and commons of the same appointed a solemne day of meeting sent for Morogh their King humbly craving with all loyall circumstances his presence counsaile and assistance among them at the day appointed the which hee granted when the day came and that they had debated many matters the King as he sate merrily in his chaire sporting himselfe and reporting some pleasant historie one suddenly stept unto him and tooke away his weapon the rest came upon him and stabbed him to the death they were not content with this but they cast him into a base grave and in further contempt and dispute of his person they threw a dogge upon him and earth upon them both the which Dermotte his sonne revenged afterwards as shall appeare in processe of the historie About the yeere 1134. after Functius his computation one Harold borne in Ireland so writeth Saxo gathered forces and became the terrour of Norway affirming withall that he was the sonne of Magnus the Dane that invaded Ireland and for truth thereof he would declare it by fire When the time and place was appointed with his bare feet he trode upon a fierie plate and felt no hurt the Norwegians admired and would make him their King which was the roote of many mischiefes in Norway He was a man faire spoken strong hardy and swift of foot and it seemeth after the manner of Ireland that he went much bare so that the soles of his feet were as hard as horne and could not easily take harme by fire by which meanes he deceived the Norwegians Nicholaus King of Denmarke corrupted Magnus of Norway by secret meanes to cut him off Magnus practised with Ericus a Danish Captaine to dispatch him immediately after his Coronation To bee short Ericus came with great forces to Scypetors a Village where Herald was in the night time laid siege to his Pallace and by the breake of day pulled him and his sonnes forth by the head and shoulders and put them to death In the time of Henry 1. King of England flourished Celsus Bishop of Armagh and ended his dayes with the entrance of King Stephen to the Crowne He descended of Noble Parentage in Ireland whom Saint Bernard with others for divers rare and singular gifts highly commendeth he had beene brought up in the Vniversitie of Oxenford where in the liberall sciences and profound literature he excelled others of his time when he perceived by the infirmities of his body that age hastened to an end and that his naturall course was in short time to be finished he desired of them that were present their favours and prayed them to use meanes unto others that were absent and especially unto the two Kings of Mounster so Bernard writeth that Malachias might succeed him in the Bishopricke of Armagh He was a married man and died of great age and lyeth buried with his wife and children in the said Church Malachias in the time of King Stephen succeeded Celsus in the Bishopricke of Armagh whose life Saint Bernard Abbot of Clarevallis Capgrave and Conganus an Abbot of Ireland have written at large He was borne in Ireland amongst barbarous people saith Bernard yet in his birth and native soile hee sucked of them no more barbarousnesse then the Sea fish take of the salt water His Parents for wealth and might were in great account in those dayes he was brought up at Armagh under Imarius the Anachorite where Celsus made him both Deacon and Priest at the age of 25. yeeres from thence with licence of Imarius and of Celsus he went to Malchus Bishop of Lismore in Mounster a man of Irish birth that had beene a Monke sometimes in the Abbey of Winchester in England and from thence advanced to the Bishopricke of Lismore And to make the historie plaine there was at that time great warres betweene Cormacke King of Mounster and his brother for the Soveraignty the brother prevaileth Cormacke fleeth to the Bishop of Lismore and in his distressed estate tooke a Monkes Cell and led a private life Malachias was appointed his Tutor where Cormacke continued untill that a King there adjoyning pittying his miserie gathered forces and restored him to his kingdome Immediately after this Letters came for Malachias in most earnest sort that he should come to Armagh where not farre off an Vncle of his a man of great command a Lord of a country rich and potent that held in his hands all the wasted Monasterie of Benchâ—r alias Bengor dwelled of which Monasterie I have spoken before in the raigne of King Arthure Malachias upon his comming restored these possessions and reedifieth the old Monasterie and appointed one Malchus brother to Christianus Abbot of Melâ—efont governour of the place when Malachius was thirty yeeres of age he was made Bishop of Conor Conorets saith Bernard where hee met by his owne report more then I am willing to lay downe in writing so rude and barbarous a people as worse could not be found upon the face of the earth yet
the holy man ceased not to travaile among them by preaching and teaching and by all meanes possible to winne them not long after a certaine King of Vlster destroyed Conor and put the people to the sword burned and spoyled and made havocke of all whereupon Malachias with a hundred and twenty brethren fled to Mounster where King Cormake gave him great entertainement and ayded him greatly in the building of the Monastery of Ybrak By this time Celsus spoken of before fell sicke and dyed The rude people thrust in Mauritius that usurped the place some five yeeres then Malchus Bishop of Lismore and Gislebertus the first Legate that came to Ireland from the Pope called the Bishops and Princes of the land together appointed Malachias for the place And when death had swiftly cut off the intruder Mauritius that damnable nation thrust in Nigellus but he prospered not long so that Malachias enjoyed it quietly Of the injury done to that Church and the abuse of that time heare Bernard as he learned of Conganus and others report The see of Ardmach saith Bernard for the reverence and honour of Saint Patricke the Apostle of that nation which converted that whole land to the faith in the which See living he ruled and in which dying he rested is had of all men from the beginning in so great reverence that not onely the Bishops and Ministers of the Clergie but the Kings and Princes of that nation carry themselves in all obedience unto their Metropolitane so that he being one ruleth all but there crept in a most detestable custome through the divellish ambition of certaine mighty men that the holy See was obtained by inheritable succession neither were any suffered to enioy the Bishopricke but such as were of their tribe and familie neither did this execrable succession hold for a small time but for the space of fifteene generations now in this diabolicall malice elapsed And so farre this wicked and adulterous generation had confirmed to it selfe this lewd interest yea rather an injurie to be punished with all manner of death that if at any time there should want Clerks of that race yet never wanted Bishops To be short there were before Celsus eight Bishops married men besides himselfe without orders yet learned men from hence over all Ireland issued that dissolution of ecclesiastiall discipline which Malachias found in Conor the rooting out of godly censure and the abandoning of religion from hence every wherein stead of Christian meekenesse was brought in cruell barbarousnesse yea paganisme and infidelity under a Christian name for that which was not heard of from the originall of Christianitie without order without reason the Metropolitans at their pleasure changed and increased the number of Bishops so that one Bishopricke contented not it selfe with one Bishop and no marvaile for how could it fare well with the members of so diseased a head they possessed the Sanctuary of God in this sort the space well neere of two hundred yeeres hee meaneth unto the dayes of Celsus and Malachias Cambrensis in his itinerarie of Cambria had relation no doubt unto this where he with Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury in visitation about Wales came to the Church called lure padaen vacor that is the Church of great Paternus mis-stiled with the governement therof for thus he writeth This Church like as many more throughout Ireland and Wales hath a Laye man to their Abbot use hath prevailed and a lewd custome hath crept in that great and mighty men in Parishes have beene by the Clergie appointed Patrons and defendors afterwards have usurped unto themselves the right thereof Immediately hee reporteth of a travailer that came hither out of little Britaine in France that had for his further knowledge seene many countries and fashions of sundry nations and entring into the said Church on the Sabbath day wayted for divine Service they rung the Bell they tould they waited long at length came in the Abbot with some twenty after him in armes and wilde lookes every one having fon villuge so the Britaine 's termed it a forrest Bill on his shoulder the travailer asked which is the Abbot answer was made the formost with the greatest forrest Bill the travailer asked hath he any other ornament or doth he use any other weede answer being made no then said hee I have travailed farre enough I will see no more fashions whilst I live after that I have seene an Abbot carry a forrest Bill upon his backe Now to returne whence I have made this digression for the abuse of the Church causeth me to abuse the reader Malachias when he had peaceably enioyed Ardmagh some three yeeres with the consent of the three Bishops and Princes he resigned his place to Gelasius and returned to his former Bishopricke not of Conor but of Dune for he had placed one in Conor before to wit Oedanus his disciple here Bernard noteth that where Dune and Conor were before this time united through ambition and covetousnesse this man of devotion and conscience separated them againe dividing the Churches as they had beene of old for the good will he bare to Armagh he tooke his iourney towards Rome landed in Scotland came to Yorke sailed to France and lodged at Clarevallis hee came to Rome in the time of Innocentius 2. who made him his Legate of Ireland in the roomth of Gislebert the old man spoken of before which had made sute to be removed Boniface appointed Armagh to be a Metropolitane See but did not effect it and promised the pall which he did not performe Bernard maketh mention of two Metropolitan Sees one procured by Celsus the other by Malachias but where and how I finde no antient record Bale is of opinion they were in vocibus and not in rebus for lacke of money to pay for them Vpon his returne hee came to Clarevallis thence to England so to Scotland where King David most royally entertained him and lastly to his Abbey of Benchor in Vlster Of his conversation heare Bernard from the day of his birth to the day of his death hee lived sine proprio without claiming propertie in any thing he had neither men servants nor maid servants neither townes nor villages neither any reuenue ecclesiasticall or temporall in his Bishopricke for his provision ad mensam episcopalem hee had no certainty allotted him whereupon a Bishop might live hee had no certaine Monastery or dwelling place for hee daily went about all the Parishes preaching the Gospell and living by the Gospell as the Lord had ordained saying the labourer is worthy of his reward of his labours and such as travelled with him he carried about to relieve them all to be short Malachias neither in dyet or rayment was discerned from the rest of the brethren when he went a preaching with footmen he went on foot being a Bishop and a Legate and here Bernard exclaimeth when he entreth into the consideration of the difference betweene him and his
brethren and the nephewes of the Apostles so he calleth them Towards his latter dayes hee sorrowed that Ireland had not the pall and as oft as he thought upon Innocentius 2. his promise he sighed who as formerly I have delivered had promised not performed when he heard that Eugenius his successor was come unto France he thought it a fit time to obtaine his purpose he tooke shipping for Scotland where King David received him as in times past and thence unto England where the jarre betweene the King of England and the Pope hindred his passage yet he got into France and straight to Clarevallis where hearing that Pope Eugenius was returned to Rome he rested himselfe fell sicke of an ague and there dyed being of the age of 54. yeeres Anno 1148. 4 Nonas Novembris so farre Bernard in substance yet Antonine saith hee dyed Anno 1140. In his time lived Conganus Abbot of Benchor who enformed Bernard of the whole life of Malachias and wrote at large thereof himselfe inserting many fabulous things and saith Nicholas Magwire he wrote not onely the life of Malachias but also the life of Bernard I finde him to be the Patron of Killaskin otherwise called Killeshin in Monte Margeo and the Barony of Marghagha in Leynster spoken of before In this time lived Tundalus Magus so surnamed because suspected for a Sorcerer borne and brought up in Mounster in Cashell saith Lepelo in the West of Ireland of Noble birth and by calling a Knight Antonius out of Vincentius reporteth that hee was fierce and cruell and in the end became a Carthusian Monke for that order beganne as we may reade in the life of Bruno the first founder thereof upon some great extremity whereof the Proverbe rose desperatio facit Monachum desperation maketh a Monke it seemeth that he had in his life time committed some hainous offences and was mightily tormented in conscience and fell into trances and extasies upon his recovery he delivered unto the world strange damnable untruths saith Bale of Heaven Hell Purgatory and I wot not what for a man distracted knoweth not what he saith Bale writeth talia ad terrorem fingebant scelestissimi Nebolones somewhat excusing him and extenuating his imbecillities and biddeth him farewell Clarint Stephano Rege in Anglia dominante satana apud Hybernos suas vires exercente hee flourished when Stephen raigned over England and the divell domineered over Ireland Hee wrote a booke of Revelations the which Melchior Canus Albertus Crantzius and Gobelenus have utterly condemned He wrote also the life of Vrsula and the 11000. Virgins printed at Cullen the which Zazarias Lepelo counteth for lyes and fables Anno 1142. the Abbey of Molyfont was founded by Donatus alias Donogh King of Louth alias Vriell some call him Donogh Ocarvell the first Abbot was Christianus who afterwards was Bishop of Lysmore and Legate of all Ireland Anno 1144. William Bishop of Winchester by authority of Pope Celestine 2. in a Councell held at London brought in the use of cursing with Bell Booke and Candle which liked the Irish Priests well to terrifie the Laytie for their Tithes Foxe Anno 1148. there fell great variance betweene Owen surnamed Gwyneth Prince of Northâ—Wales and Cadwallader his brother they were both the sonnes of Griffith ap Conan Prince of North Wales This Cadwallader fled into Ireland and hired to his aide Octer Mac Octer Curbell Mac Therulfe with a great number of Irish men and red shankes for 2000. markes and landed at Abermeany in Carnarvonshire against whom Prince Owen came with great power but before the Armies met there was a peace concluded betweene the brethren which when the Irish men understood they kept with them Cadwallader as prisoner for their pay formerly promised so that hee was faine to deliver 2000. heads of Cattell besides many prisoners and spoyles that were taken in the country but Prince Owen as soone as he knew his brother to be set at liberty set upon the Irish men his stomacke was full of revengement slue a great number of them and recovered all the Cattell with the prisoners and other spoyle so that in the end as many as escaped with life returned to Ireland with sorrow shame and losse and made no bost of their voyage so writeth Carodoc The same yeere Anno 1148. Iohn Papire a Priest Cardinall together with Christianus Bishop of Lismore the Popes Legate over the whole Land being sent by Eugenius came into Ireland And in Anno 1151. saith Mathew Paris but by the consent of most Writers Anno 1152. summoned a Councell where in the presence of the Bishops Abbots Kings Dukes the Antients of Ireland by the Apostolike authoritie Colledge of Cardinals consent of the Bishops Abbots others there present they ordained foure Archbishopricks in Ireland and gave them foure pales to wit Ardmach Dublin Cashell and Tuam In Ardmach then sate Gelasius in Dublin Gregory in Cashell Donatus in Tuam Edanus these were the first Archbishops of Ireland The records from that time to this day of the foure Provinces the foure Archbishoprickes with their Bishops and Suffragans in Latine and vulgar speech with their titles of Saints and Patrons together with the unions of them in processe of time following I finde thus Anno 1151. these Abbies were founded de Beatitudine de duillio de Magio de valle salutis and happily the Monasterie which Mathew Paris and Polychronicon spake of upon this occasion There was a Knight say they called Owin of Irish birth which had long served King Stephen in his warres got licence to repaire unto his native soile and to visit his friends when hee came to Ireland hearing the fame of the Purgatory of the second Patricke the Abbot and not the Bishop so I reade in Polychronicon it came in his minde to visit the same he being in the Cave and concavities under ground saw strange sights and making report thereof unto King Stephen obtained licence of him thenceforth to leade a religious and solitary life he obtained also of King Stephen so Mathew Paris writeth a parcell of ground in Ireland to build a Monasterie called Luden an Abbey of white Monkes where Gervasius became the first Abbot and where Gilbert a Monke trayned up Owen in the order thereof This Gilbert saith mine Author wrote as Owen told him all the reports that are now extant of that Purgatory so that it seemes to be no antient matter but a late device first found by this Owen in the late dayes of King Stephen Anno 1152. was the battaile of Monad more fought in Ireland betweene Leinster and Mounster men where saith Holinshed the flower and chiefest personages of Leinster and Mounster were slaine and saith Iohn Plunket Mounster lost the field Anno 1154. Terdielach King of Connaght dyed there succeeded him Rorie Oconochor Rowag commonly called Roderic who slue his owne brother that aspired to the kingdome of Connaght and in this successe attempted further and
became Monarch of Ireland Henry 2 King of England the sonne of Mathilda the Empresse subdued Scotland Ireland Orchades and the furthest Ocean Ilands he was Protector of France and was offered the kingdome of Ierusalem this Noble Henry was crowned King of England Anno 1154. he married Elenor daughter and heire of William Duke of Aquitaine the which Elenor had been formerly married to Lewis King of France and upon dislike divorced under pretence that they were within the fourth degree of consanguinity he was knighted by David King of Scots and after many broyles much bloudshed adopted by King Stephen for his sonne and consequently proclaimed heire apparant to the Crowne of England and thereupon after the discease of Stephen crowned with great ioy and applause of the people Anno 1154. the same yeere that Henry the second was crowned the Abbey of Kyrie-eleeson was founded Anno 1155. saith Mathew Paris and Fabian and the first or second of Henry 2. raigne though Stow referre it to the 7. and Anno 1160 the King cast in his minde to conquer Ireland hee saw that it was commodious for him and considered that they were but a rude and savage people for so the historiographers doe write whereupon in his ambitious minde he sent unto Adrian Bishop of Rome one Iohn Salsbury who by the said Bishop afterwards was made Bishop of Carnolum in France with others delivering his sute to that effect Adrian being a man of English birth heard his Ambassadors the more willingly considered the matter advisedly together with his colledge of Cardinals and granted him his request as followeth Adrian the Bishop the servant of the servants of God to his most deer sonne in Christ the Noble King of England sendeth greeting and Apostolike benediction your magnificence hath beene very carefull and studious how you might enlarge the Church of God here in earth and increase the number of his Saints and elect in heaven in that as a good Catholike King you have and doe by all meanes labour and travell to enlarge and increase Gods Church by teaching the ignorant people the true and Christian religion and in abolishing and rooting up the weedes of sinne and wickednesse And wherein you have and doe crave for your better furtherance the helpe of the Apostolike See wherein more speedily and discreetly you proceed the better successe we hope God will send for all they which of a fervent zeale and love in religion doe begin and enterprise any such thing shall no doubt in the end have a good and prosperous successe And as for Ireland and all other Ilands where Christ is knowne and the Christian religion received it is out of all doubt and your excellencie well knoweth they doe all appertaine and belong to the right of Saint Peter and of the Church of Rome and we are so much the more ready desirous and willing to sow the acceptable seede of Gods word because we know the same in the latter day will be most severely required at our hands you have our welbeloved sonne in Christ advertised and signified unto us that you will enter into the Land and Realme of Ireland to the end to bring them to obedience unto Law and under your subjection and to root out from among them their foule sinnes and wickednesse as also to yeeld and pay yeerely out of every house a yeerely pension of one penny to Saint Peter and besides also will defend and keepe the rites of those Churches whole and inviolate We therefore well allowing and favouring this your godly disposition and commendable affection doe accept ratifie and assent unto this your petition and doe grant that you for the dilating of Gods Church the punishment of sinne the reforming of manners planting of vertue and the increasing of Christian religion doe enter to possesse that land and thereto execute according to your wisedome whatsoever shall be for the honour of God and the safety of the Realme and further also we doe strictly charge and require that all the people of that land doe with all humblenesse dutifulnesse and honour receive and accept you as their Liege Lord and Soveraigne reseruing and accepting the right of holy Church to be inviolably preserved as also the yeerely pension of Peter pence out of every house which we require to be truely answered to Saint Peter and to the Church of Rome If therefore you doe minde to bring your godly purpose to effect indevour to travell to reforme the people to some better order and trade of life and that also by your selfe and by such others as you shall thinke meet true and honest in their life manners and conversation to the end the Church of God may be beautified the true Christian religion sowed and planted and all other things done that by any meanes shall or may be to Gods honour and salvation of mens soules whereby you may in the end receive of Gods hands the reward of everlasting life and also in the meane time and in this life carry a glorious same and an honourable report among all nations The King upon the receit hereof was very glad and let it lye dorment by him untill better opportunity was offered as hereafter shall appeare Anno 1166. Moragh Mac Cocholan King of Ireland called a great Councell at Dublin gave battaile to the King of Leinster and killed him and shortly after was himselfe slaine by Ororic which succeeded in the soveraignty the same yeere saith Guttyn Owen in his British Chronicle Henry 2. being at Chester hired many shippes out of Ireland for his ayde against North-Wales but hee discharged them immediately for his purpose tooke no good effect in as much as the present troubles of Normandy called him away In this pastime so the old English delivereth or rather the hurly-burly of the world amids the warres of France Flanders and England Ireland was all in armes the occasion was as followeth Dermot Mac Moragh King of Leinster was a long time enamoured with the wife of Ororike King of Meth some call him Morice some other Mordich she was the daughter of Omalarghlun whom nature had made faire the world a Queene and lust a Harlot the booke of Howth reporteth at large how Ororic was old his Queene young and wanton and that in derision when he came from hunting and being an hungred she gave Apples to eate which had beene in some undecent place of her body to be spoken of so that the scent of them was strong whereat she smiled her Lord and husband having secretly learned her lewd practise tooke with him the day following two of her foster brothers a hunting gelded them baked their stones brought the Pie hot to his Lady and her Gentlewomen when hee had commended the rarenesse of the meat the fond wantons and giglets fell to it when they had satisfied themselves saith Ororic how like you this Pye excellent good meat say they it is saith hee the meat which you love raw and rosted what
and his whole practise came to nought Wherefore let us with one minde like those valiant Frenchmen in our rightfull cause in the defence of our country and safeguard of the lives of our wives and children couragiously give the onset upon our enemies And whiles these strangers are but few in number let us stoutly issue out upon them The fire while it is but in embers and sparkles may easily be covered with ashes but if it breake into flames it is hard to be quenched wherefore it is expedient we stoppe beginnings and prevent sicknesse when it creepeth least when it takes roote it will hardly be cured wherefore cheere my hearts wee fight for our country and liberty let us leave unto our posterity an immortall fame let us march on and lustily assault them that the overthrow of a few may be a terrour to many and that it may be a president unto all forraigne Potentates never to attempt the like againe Dermot Mac Morogh and his men receive intelligence of this march and the approach of the enemy and beholding his men somewhat dismaid turned him to them with loving countenance yee men of Leynster my naturall subjects of my flesh and bloud whom loyalty truth and kindred hath hitherto lincked together let us live together and dye together in the defence of our persons and country you see how that wicked and ambitious minded Rodericke the Author of many mischiefes not contented with his owne country and kingdome seeketh now the soveraignty and dominion over the whole land the which I hope God will not permit You see his glory his pride and audacious attempts how he lifteth up his head and looketh aloft he trusteth to his multitude doubt you not but that God is on our side and the rightfull cause ours though wee of country birth to you Leinster men I speake bee not so many as they are neither so well appointed it forceth not for victory is not measured by multitude but by valour and courage and oftentimes wee know that a few stout and hardy men have foiled troupes of sluggards dastards and white liverd Souldiers If you mistrust any defect in your selves behold a present supply at your back and elbow Doe not you see these Worthy Knights these Valiant Warriers these Noble gallants the flowre of Brittaine their valour in part you have sufficiently tryed their furniture excelleth their order and aray is most comely they have forsaken their native soyle their friends and kindred and all for our sakes will they fly no they have burned their Ships the Land will yeeld them neither succour nor refuge neither will the bloody tyrant Roderic shew any mercy wee are sworne the one to the other while breath lasteth and life endureth If the enemy pretend with the sword to chastise us for our sinnes as it appeareth by their slaunderous shamelesse reports alas what have you done God knoweth your consciences are cleare your cause honest to take Armes in defence of your Prince and Countrey Why doe they not behold the blemishes nay the hainous enormities and villanies that raigne among them Their carrows their kerne their theeves their murders their swearing their lying their drunkennesse their whordome and bloody minds who reformeth The Tyrant Roderic hath murdered his owne naturall brother hee hath three wives alive he hath eleven bastards by severall women O villaine to behold a mote in our eye and cannot see a beame in his owne If the tyrant make challenge and pretend title to Leinster because the same hath sometimes beene tributarie to some one King of Connoght by the same reason also may wee demand and challenge all Connoght for our ancestors have beene sole Governours of both and Monarchs of all Ireland The Lawes of all Nations doe permit and allow to resist and withstand force and injury with force and strength Let us be of good courage wee stand vpon a good ground our seat is naturally very strong of it selfe now by our industry made more defensive feare nothing quit your selves like men When Dermot had made an end of his Irish Oration Robert Fitz Stephens in the Brittish tongue turneth him to the Brittaines You my companions in martiall affaires you lusty young gallants that have endured with me many perils yet still retaine your noble and valiant courage consider whence wee came what wee are and the cause we have in hand we are lineally descended from Troy whose fame hath filled the whole earth and now lately some of us out of Normandy have seated our selves in Brittaine and have to our wives children and kindred of the ancient and noble Brittish race of the one we cary our valiant and noble mind of the other wee learned the experience in feates of Armes wee are not come hither as pirats and theeves to robbe and spoile as it is well knowne unto you wee had our native soile to inhabit wee had our kindred about us and the countenance of great persons wee came after the course of the World as Marshall men but in an honest cause to take our adventures Heere wee are our friends are with us our foes are in armes against us wee are well appointed the enemy is but a wilde naked rasâ—all and savage people feare nothing our cause is good Dermot sought us we sought not him hee loveth our nation and our friends in former times have found friendship in his Countrey hee is a Prince lately exiled whose fall is more to be pittied then envied we are to comfort him to aide him and to restore him to his Kingdome It is more honorable to make then to be a King and to restore then to exile he is a Prince of a bountifull mind hee hath promised large for us and our heires after us hee hath in part already most faithfully performed his yeeres are many and his daies are but few after him wee shall enjoie his and if we overcome the enemy wee shall possesse all feare not death it is but a short delay betweene transitory and eternall life it is but a short passage from vaine and temporall delights to certaine and perpetuall joies if we conquer here wee shall inherit here and purchase unto us immortall fame if we misse here we are sure of a Kingdome in another world Roderic considering with himselfe the events of warres how doubtfull and uncertaine they are wrought all meanes to intreat for peace being timerous to adventure battaile with strangers whose force hee mightily feared and whose puissance and valour being renowned he was loth to encounter withall he sent messengers unto Dermot Mac Morogh promising him that hee and his heires should in peace and quietnesse enjoy all Leinster and acknowledge him for his chiefe King and Monarch and to yeeld unto him the service and homage that to that belonged and that he should deliver him his sonne Cunthurus Cnothurinus saith Stanyhurst for pledge and hostage And if the peace were truly kept and performed Roderic promised to give him his
Conquest 300. Horses 400. Oxen and for performance of all services gave him 14. pledges when they were presented the King made choice of 30. principall Horses gave backe all the rest confessing himselfe greatly pleasured at his hands Anno 1172. upon Saint Lukes day the 18. of October Henry the 2. the 17. yeere of his raigne the 41. of his age entred the Haven of Waterford so writeth Cambrensis that lived then and being landed to the harty joy of the English and fained welcome of the Irishmen had by them of Wexford formerly spoken of Robert Fitz Stephens in irons presented before him whom the Wexfordians herein I commend Stanihursts indifferent dealing rather of malice cankard spight then for just cause did charge with many hainous crimes The King advisedly to pacifie the rage of furious people for for the present time committed him to prison whence shortly after he was with honour and credit discharged and advanced to his great preferment After that the King had a little rested himselfe and the messengers scattered themselves with newes over the land the Princes were amazed they knew the Kings greatnesse was such if faire meanes would not force should constraine them and therefore in policie resolved themselves to yeeld allegiance homage and fealtie Whereupon Dermot Mac Carty Prince of Corke began became tributarie sware faith truth and loyaltie to the King of England And the King thereupon gave the kingdome of Corke to Robert Fitz Stephens and Miles Cogan as hereafter more at large shall appeare From Waterford the King raised his army and marched towards Lismore where he tarryed two daies and from thence he marched to Cashill not farre from the Shure and thither came to him Donald O Bren Prince of Limric who submitted himselfe became tributarie and swore fealty whereupon the King as hee had formerly done with Corke appointed a Governour for Limric then also came in Donall Prince of Ossorie and Omelaghlen Ophelin Lord of the Decies with all the chieftaines of Mounster submitting themselves as others had formerly done surrendring unto the Kings hands their territories and holding them againe at his pleasure Thence the King returned to Waterford left there his houshold and Robert Fitz Barnard governour of the towne and marched with his army towards Dublin In his iourney there came unto him of the chiefest commanders of the land Omathelan Machelan Ophelan O Mac Chelweie Gille Mac Holemoc O tuell helly Ocathdhessy O Caraell of Vriell and Roric the sonne of Monoculus of Meth. But Roderic the Monarch came no neerer then the Shanon where Hugh de lacy and William Fitz Aldelme by the Kings command met him and hee desiring peace submitted himselfe swore allegiance became tributarie and did put in as all others had done hostages and pledges for the performance of the same Thus was all Ireland saving Vlster brought in subjection and every Prince of the other parties in his owne person saving Roderic King of Connaght submitted himselfe but he subtilly alledged that he submitted Connaght but not the command of all Ireland the which he reserved for the Monarch and his successors but of this hereafter if God permit Christmas drew on which the King kept at Dublin where hee feasted all the Princes of the land and gave them rich and beautifull gifts they repaired thither out of all parts of the land and wonderfull it was to the rude people to behold the Majestie of so puissant a Prince the pastime the sport and the mirth and the continuall musicke the masking mumming and strange shewes the gold the silver and plate the precious ornaments the dainty dishes furnished with all sorts of fish and flesh the wines the spices the delicate and sumptuous banquets the orderly service the comely march and seemly array of all officers the Gentlemen the Esquires the Knights and Lords in their rich attire such as rugged Mantles and Irish Troosses were never acquainted withall the running at Tilte in compleat harnesse with barb'd horses where the staves shivered and flew in splinters safer to sit then upon an Irish Pillion that playeth crosse and pile with the rider the plaine honest people admired and no mervaile but now to more serious matters Henry 2. having thus conquered Ireland with the envy of the French and forraigne Princes without one drop of sweat without drawing of sword or shedding of one drop of English bloud as it became his Princely calling turned himselfe to reforme the state Ecclesiasticall and the misdemeanours of holy Church whereof Cambrensis writeth In the yeere of Christs incarnation 1172. and in the first yeere when Henry the most Noble King conquered Ireland Christianus Bishop of Lismore and Legate of the Apostolike See Donatus Archbishop of Cashill Laureance Archbishop of Dublin and Catholiâ—us Archbishop of Tuemond with their Suffragans and fellow Bishops Abbots Priors Deanes and Archdeacons and many other Prelates of the Church of Ireland by the commandment of the King did assemble themselves and kept a Synod at Cashill and there debating many things concerning the wealth estate and reformation of the Church of Ireland did provide remedies for the same At this Councell in behalfe of the King whom he had sent thither there were Raffe Abbot of Buldeway Raffe Archdeacon of Landaffe Nicholas the Kings Chaplaine with divers other Clerkes sundry good statutes and wholesome lawes were there devised which were after subscribed and confirmed by the King himselfe and under his authority which were these that follow First it is decreed that all good and faithfull Christian people throughout Ireland shall refraine and forbeare to marry with their neere kins folkes and cousins and match with such as lawfully they might doe Secondly that children shall be catechized without the Church door and baptized in the Font appointed in the Church for the same purpose Thirdly that every Christian doe truely and faithfully pay yeerely the tithes of his Cattell Corne and all other his increase and profits to the Church or Parish where he is a parishioner Fourthly that all the Church lands and possessions throughout all Ireland shall be free from all secular exactions and impositions and especially that no Lords Earles or Noble men nor their children nor family shall extort or take any cony and livery cosheries or cuddies or any other like custome from thence forth in or upon any of the Church land and territories and likewise that neither they nor any other person doe thenceforth exact out of the said Church lands old wicked and detestable customes of cony and livery the which they were wont to extort upon such townes and villages of the Churches as were neere and next bordering upon them Fiftly when carik or composition is made among the laye people for any murther that no person of the Clergie though he be a kinne to any of the parties shall contribute any thing thereunto but as they bee guiltlesse of the murther so shall they be free from paying of money for any such release
house as well in England as in Ireland provided also that the barbarous people of Ireland by your meanes be reformed and recovered from that filthy life and abhominable conversation that as in name so in life and manners they may be Christians and that as that rude and disordered Church being by you reformed the whole nation may also with the profession of the name be in acts and deeds followers of the same And saith the booke of Houth Alexander the third besought the devill to take them all that gainesayed this Kings title Amen Henry 2. sent this priviledge to Ireland by Nicholas Wallingford a Prior afterwards Abbot of Malmesbury and William Fitz Adelme And then being at Waterford they caused an assembly and a Synod of the Bishops and Clergie within the land to be gathered together where in open audience this priviledge of Alexander and the other of Adrian formerly spoken of were read and published and ratified Reimond having setled his affaires at Wexford marched towards Dublin the noyse of his comming drave Roderic the rebell of Connaght away he was no sooner come to Dublin but the newes of the rebellion of Limric followed after where Donald O bren having sworne faith and fealty unto Henry 2. is now revolted and turned to his vomit Reymond maketh preparation mustereth his men chose out 26. gallants 300. horsemen and 300. Archers and foote and commeth to Lymeric where he found the Bridges drawn the river swift and impassable the townesmen upon the walls with all manner of defence for their safeguard David Welsh a lusty Gentleman maketh no more adoe but putteth spurres to his horse and with good guiding thereof crosseth the river and got to land immediately he calleth to his company come I have found a Ford yet for all that none would follow but Ieffery Welsh and Meilerius Fitz Henry Then Reimond turneth him to the army with these words You worthy men who of nature are valiant and whose Prowesse we have well tryed come away the way heretofore not knowne and the river hitherto thought not passable by our adventures a foord is now found therein let us therefore follow him that is gone before and helpe him being now in distresse let us not suffer nor see so worthy a Gentleman thus for our common cause and honour oppressed to perish and to be cast away before our eyes and in our sight for want of our help and by meanes of our dastard cowardize It is no time to use many words the shortnesse of the time the present necessitie of this Noble Gentleman and the state of our own honour urgeth expedition and requireth haste And even with the words he put spurres to his horse and adventureth the river after whom followed the whole company every one striving who might be formost And as God would they passed all over safe saving two souldiers and one Gwydo a Gentleman when they had recovered land the enemy fled whom they pursued and in the chase slue a number of them they entred the towne got great spoyles and riches but greater honour and fame When all was quiet Reimond left there a strong Garrison and Miles of Saint Davids Lievetenant over them and returned to the borders of Leinster Envy hardly sleepeth but is still devising of mischiefe Hervie de monte Marisco though now by marriage allyed unto Reymond yet by malice worketh his overthrow enuying his honour and prosperous successe sendeth secret letters to the King against him which are not worthy to be recorded being but the sinke of secret malice The King as the nature of Princes is to be jealous and suspitious of any greatnesse is easily brought to credit Hervie and thereupon sendeth foure of his servants to Ireland Robert Poer Osbert of Herlotte or Hereford William Bendeger and Adam of Gernemie two of them to stay with Earle Richard and the other two to bring Reimond away with them as Reymond was ready to goe for England newes came that Donald Prince of Lymeric had besieged the towne and that the garrison was greatly distressed and in want of victuals the Earle with Reimond and the foure Gentlemen fell to consultation what course to hold they found in the army a secret mutiny where the souldiers said flatly they would not serve that way unlesse Reimond were their Captaine to be short it was concluded that Reimond should undertake the service when he had mustered and made choice of horse and foot he marched towards Lymeric Donald Prince of Ossory who bore private grudge to Donald of Lymeric Morogh of Kencile with other Irish men then served and attended upon Reimond By the way a Post came and certified Reimond that Donald of Lymeric had raised his siege and was come to the pace of Cashill to give him battaile this pace of it selfe was naturally very strong but by trenching and hedging and plashing of trees it seemed invincible When of each side they were ready to joyne battaile Donald Prince of Ossory being desirous to see his enemy of Lymeric and Thomond overthrowne turneth him to the English men with these words You worthy Noble and valiant Conquerours of this land you are this day valiantly to give the onset upon your enemies which if you doe after your old and accustomed manner no doubt the victory will be yours for we with our sparthes and you with your swords will sharpely pursue them as they shall very hardly escape our hands avoid our force but if it so fall out which God forbid that you be overthrowne and hove the worse side be you assured that wee will leave you and turne to our enemies and take part with them Wherefore be of good courage and looke well to your selves and consider that you are now farre from any Fort or place of refuge and therefore if you should be driven to flye the same will be long and dangerous unto you As for us ye may not trust to us for we determine to sticke to them who shall have the victory and will pursue and be on the jackes of them who shall flye and runne away and therefore be no longer assured of us then whilst yee be Conquerours Meilerius who had the foreward being somewhat moved and warmed with those words suddenly like a blast of winde entred the Passe pulled away the bushes brake downe the hedges the Pioners filled the trenches and speedily made plaine the way with no small slaughter of the enemies and so they marched without any great perill to Lymeric where they releeved the army and set things in order and rested a short time Roderic of Connaght and Donald of Thomond finding themselves weake craved a parlee it was granted them Roderic would needs keepe on the water and Donald kept the wood Who would trust them that would trust no other Reimond chose the midst betweene them both to be short a peace was concluded they both submitted themselves gave hostages made fealtie and swore to be true thenceforth for ever to the King of
testium super miraculis captorum nobis cum sigillis propriis transmiserunt Colligimus vero ex earum serie litterarum quod saepe dictus vir Regis Reginae Hiberniae filius extitit ab infantia Sacris Litteris eruditus senilem gessit in juventute gravitatem mundanarum illecebras vanitatum à se ultra quam aetas illa solebat abdicavit Deinde in Archepiscopum Dublinensem assumptus sic de virtute in virtutem profecerit ut in oratione assiduus austerus in maceratione proprii corporis ac in Eleemosinarum largitione profusus se totaliter Domino dedicarit Per depositìonem verò testium predictor constitit evidenter sanctam vitam ejusdem esse tot sequentibus miraculis comprobatam quae non parvā texerent historiam si quis vellet ea singula scribere seriatim sed ut non praeter mittamus claudi gressum caeci visum surdi auditum muti loquelam leprosi mundationem varijs afflicti languoribus sanitatem ad invocationem ejus nominis ea sola quae inter caetera emicuerunt miracula breviter perstringamus Nam idem sanctus imo Deus ob ipsius merita gloriosa septem mortuos quorum quatuor triduani erant mirificè suscitavit De ipsius sanctitate tantis certificati miraculis divinumque secuti judicium quod eius glorificatio nobis tam evidentibus innotuit argumentis eundem sanctiss Catalogo sanctorum adscripsimus annumerandum decrevimus sanctorum Collegio Confessorum ac inter eos Christi fidelibus venerandum statuentes ut ejus veneranda festivitas de cetero annis singulis decimo octavo Kalendas Decembris solemniter celebretur Monemus igitur universitatem vestram hortamur in Domino quatenus Deum devotis mentibus collaudantes studentes proficere tantae virtutis exemplo ejusdem gloriosissimi Confessoris apud Deum suffragia humiliter imploret Nos autem de Dei omnipotentis misericordia beatorum Petri Pauli authoritate confisi omnibus vere penitentibus confessis qui ad prefatam Ecclesiam in die solemnitatis ejusdem gloriosissimi confessoris vel infra Octabis cum devotione accesserint ejus orationum suffragia petituri 20. dies de iniunctis sibi penitentijs miserecorditer relaxamus Dat. 3. Idus Decembris pontifitatus nostri anno decimo Molanus writeth of this Laurence that he favoured Monkes greatly and hearing of the fame of the 28. Monasteries of Aroatia in the confines of Atrebatum in the low Countries made the secular Priests called Cannons in Dublin become regular cannons according unto the order of Aroatia After his discease Iohn Comin an English man a Monke of Evesham an Abbey in England by the Kings direction was made Archbishop of Dublin confirmed by Pope Lucius at Viterbium and also made a Cardinall so writeth Cambrensis Anno 1148. the Monasterie legis dei that is of Leix was founded Anno 1185. Iohn the fift sonne of Henry 2. of the age of twelve yeeres landed at Waterford in the Realme of Ireland from the first arrivall of his father thirteene yeeres from the first landing of Earle Strangbow fourteene yeeres and from the first entrance of Robert Fitz Stephens fifteene yeeres In the Chronicles of England I finde that Anno 1177. in a Parliament held at Oxford Henry 2. created his sonne Iohn King of Ireland In Anno 1185. he dubbed his sonne Iohn Knight and set him in a readinesse for Ireland sending the new Bishop Iohn of Dublin as his precurser thither for all things necessarie Item the same yeere he obtained of Pope Vrban 3. a licence to crowne which hee would of his sonnes King of Ireland and for reformation thereof sent him a crowne of Peacocks tayles I would say feathers after a feat manner woven in with gold lastly how that Vrban 3. sent two Legates Octavianus a subdeacon Cardinall and Hugh de Novant from the Court of Rome to crowne Iohn King of Ireland but Henry 2. delayed it so that it was not effected hereof as I suppose it riseth that oftentimes we finde him called King Iohn afore he was crowned but to the Irish history At the first landing and entring of the Kings sonne at Waterford a great many of the chiefest commanders in those parts who since their first submission unto King Henry continued faithfull and true being advertised of this his arrivall came and resorted unto him in peaceable manner after their best manner to salute him and congragulate his comming one made curtesie another kneeled some tooke him by the hand other some offer to kisse him The new gallants and Normans such as had not beene before acquainted with the country neither the homelinesse of the people set them at nought laughed at their Mantles and Troosses derided their glibbes and long beards one takes a sticke and pats the Irish man on the pate another halls the mantle and pricks him behinde with a pinne some have their glibbes and long beards pulled and departing have flappes on the lippes thumpes in their neckes and the doores clapt on their heeles with diuers other abuses and undiscreet entertainement These men not without cause being mightily displeased shifted themselves out of the towne and in all haste got them home And from thence saith Cambrensis with their wives children and houshold departed and went some to the Prince of Lymeric some to the Prince of Corke some to Roderic Prince of Connaght and so some to one Lord and some to another and to these they declared orderly how they had beene at Waterford and what they had seene there and how they were evill intreated and that a yong man was come thither guarded with beardlesse boyes and guided by the councels of young men in whom there was no stay no sobriety no stedfastnesse no assurednesse whereby they and their country might be secured of any safety These Princes and namely they three of Connaght Corke and Lymeric who were the chiefest and who were then preparing themselves in a readinesse to have come and salute the Kings Sonne and to have yeelded unto him their dutifull obeysance as faithfull subiects when they had heard these newes they began forthwith to bethinke themselves that of such evill beginning a worse ending would ensue wherefore with one consent they concluded to stand and ioyne together against the English nation and to their uttermost power to adventure their lives and to stand to the defence of their country and liberties and for the performance thereof they enter into a new league among themselves and swore each to other and by that meanes enemies before are now become friends and reconciled as of old Ephraim against Manasses and Manasses against Ephraim and both against the Tribe of Iuda Herod against Pilate and Pilate against Herod both become friends to crucifie Christ. To be short there followed a generall revolt and rebellion over all Ireland Cambrensis alledgeth a second cause of this revolt How that when Robert Fitz Setphens first entred
to bee true one to another throughout that whole rancke of rebels as farre as life lands and goods would reach to effect this enterprise Secondly they swoare never to yeeld obedience to the English nation againe Oconor King of Conaght becomes the mouth of the Irish perswades to his liking disswades where fancy pleaseth not and gathered together in short time an Army as mine Author saith of 20000. fighting men his policy was first to cleare Conoght and afterwards all Vlster and so by degrees the whole land the which he doubted not of as he delivered to his followers Sir Iohn de Courcy understanding this and doubting what hee should finde at Sir Hugh Delacies hands sent letters in post to his brother Sir Amorick Saint Laurence who shortly to his ayd marched towards the North with 30. Knights and 200. foot Oconor hearing this lyeth in ambush in most secret wise and sendeth scouts of horse and foot before him to apprehend and cut off all espials which might bewray his ambush and give intelligence to Sir Amorick to prevent the danger Sir Amorick boldly marcheth on misdoubting nothing for that he understandeth by his espials nothing to the contrary till he came to the Divels mouth where upon a sudden beholding Oconor and his huge Army peeping out of their ambush was amazed made a stand and consulting with his company wist not what to doe there was no flying there was no fighting one to a hundred was no equal match a horseman whose name was Mountgomery in a few words said this Let us fly and save our lives as for the foot company wee can doe them no good by figting by flying and saving our owne lives we may succour their wives children and kindred By that time Sir Amorick his brother leader of the foot company came to the consultation and said I see by all circumstances that you meane to flie and you Sir Amorick my noble brother what meane you to give eare to these cowardly horsemen will you leave us here as sheepe in the mouths of this mercilesse people and ravening wolfes ready to rent us in peeces Have you forgotten the bloody battels we followed you in and do you not see that we have left our Country our wives our children and dearest friends and now stand at deaths doore to be forsaken of you whom wee never left so disolate and distressed if you weigh not our lamentable estate regard your owne honour and the house you are descended of Will you lose in an houre the honour you wanne in many yeeres Call to remembrance most worthy Knight how that in Vriell in manner in the like distresse you dismounted your selfe slew your horse led the foot animated the company recovered your selfe and ended with honour Wee are your flesh and your blood wee come hither to fight to live and to dye together I know the worst I am resolved if we fight we dye if we fly we are slaine is it not better for us to dye in fight like men and so winne honour then to bee slaine in flight like beasts and gaine shame for ever With this Sir Amorick turned him to the foot company and hardly gathering breath with the sorrow of his heart resolved himselfe thus I have no power to fly and leave my frinds my flesh and blood in this extreme distresse I will live with them who for my sake came hither if it so please God and I will dye with them if it bee his pleasure that ending here wee shall meet againe bodies and soules at the last day God and the World beare witnesse that wee doe as Christian Knights ought to doe I yeeld my soule into Gods hands my body to returne whence it came my service to my naturall Prince my heart to my wife and brother Sir Iohn de Courcy my might my force and bloody sweat to the ayd of you all that are in the field He lighted kneeled upon his knees kissed the crosse of his sword ranne his horse through saying thou shalt never serve against mee that so worthily hast served with mee The like did all the rest then looking about with a chearefull countenance as if he had not beene the man that was formerly dismaid charged two young Gentlemen of the company to get them to the top of an Hill hard by adjoyning and beholding the battell upon their returne homwards make true report to his brother Courcy and others of that daies service Immediatly they prepared to battaile the enemies marvailed seeing them approch that they durst being so few abide the field they made likewise a stand and cast doubts whether the Englishmen in this attempt had not some great supply rescues are maine battaile following after they would not give the on-set before they had certain knowledge thereof by scoutes and espials to be short they joyne the battaile where to deliver the whole in few words Sir Amorick was slaine and all his company It was a bloody day when all the one side and a 1000. of the other side fell to ground Oconor and his company seing the end of this field durst never againe give battell unto the English but sued to Sir Hugh Delacy then Lord Iustice for peace which he obtained vowing as he had many a time before faith truth and perfect subjection This Oconor after his reconciliation made report unto Sir Hugh Delacy of that daies work that he thought verily there was never the like seen upon the earth how that the Englishmen not being able to stand in fight turned backe to backe with sparthes and two handed swords untill the last man was slaine The lamentation that Sir Iohn de Courcy made when this was bruted abroad I will not stand to rehearse I am now to end with King Henry the second a most worthy Prince whose troubles every way troubled not him so much as the unnaturall rebellion of his sonnes and the Iealousie of his Queene he raigned 34. yeeres 9. months and two dayes his Epitaph in Mathew Paris and in others I find thus Rex Henricus eram mihi plurima regna subegi Multiplicique modo Duxque Comesque fui c Of late King Henry was my name Which Conquered many a Land And divers Dukdomes did possesse And Earldomes held in hand And yet while all the earth could scarce My greedy mind suffice Eight foot within the ground now serves Wherein my Carcas lyes Now thou that readest this note well My force with force of Death And let that serve to shew the state Of all that yeeldeth breath Do good then here fore slow no time Cast off all worldly cares For brittel world full soone doth faile And death doth strike unwares Richard the first the third sonne of Henry 2. began his raigne over England the 6. of Iuly Anno 1189. For his valence he was called Coeur de Lyon the Lyons heart he was affianced but never married to Adela or Alice daughter to the French King and in his iourney to the holy
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
in their hands comming to the Court were not suffered to enter within the gates but were kept backe by the Porters and others of which injury when hee complained the King made him an overthwart answer Whereupon the Earle not well pleased therewith estranged himselfe from the Court and went into the North country so that thenceforth he and his brother Walter gave small attendance upon the King and to end with this Earle Gilbert it fell out on a time in a Turnay which hee had attempted without the Citie of Hereford contrary to the Kings pleasure that his unruly horse cast him so that of the hurt which he tooke with the fall he shortly after departed this life in the yeere 1241. and was buried in the new temple Church at London hee had married the Lady Margaret the sister of Alexander King of Scots who by her had no issue she also dyed Anno 1245. Walter Marshall succeeded Gilbert in all the former honours and possessions both in England and Ireland who because he had procured the turnament wherein his brother was slaine hardly obtained of the king the same He departed this life at Godrike Castle by Monmouth and was buried at Tintern Anno 1245. leaving no issue behind him Anselme Marshall the fift sonne of William Earle Marshall succeded Walter hee was the last of the Maxfields and died without issue Hee had married Mathildis or Mawd daughter of the Earle of Hereford anc because hee had entred without doing of homage unto the King his wife after his decease could have no dowry wherof among the statutes of England I find the cause by especial words thus overruled· When any dyeth and his heire entreth into the Land that his Ancesters held of the King the day that he died before he hath done homage to the King and received seisin of the King hee shall give no free hold thereby and if hee dyed seised during that time his wife shall not be indowed of the same land as came late in urc by Mawd the daughter of the Earle of Hereford wife of Anselme the Marshal Who after the death of Walter Marshall of England his brother tooke his seisin of the Castle and mannor of Strogill and died in the same Castle before hee had entred by the King and before hee had done homage unto him whereupon it was agreed that his wife should not be indowed because that her husband had not entred by the King but rather by trusion This Anselme died in England and was buried at Tinterne After the death of these five brethren Florilegus writeth thus All the sonnes of William the great Marshall it is not knowne what sinne required the same according to the Prophecy of the Countesse their mother without issue left behind them as shadowes departed out of this world yet all successively became Earles even as their mother by a Propheticall spirit foreshewed and so the Noble sheild or buckler of the Marshalls dreadful to so many and so great enemies of England vanished away Mathew Paris wrote the story at large The aforesaid William as Warlike and stout called Marshall as if hee had beene Mars his Seneschall while in Ireland hee gave himselfe to slaughter and burning and got to himselfe large possessions he tooke away by strong hand and injuriously from an holy Bishop two mannors or Lordships belonging to his Church and presumptuously usurped them as though he might by just title possesse them as if he had wonne them with the sword The Bishop after many admonitions and receiving many froward answers thundred against him and not without cause the sentence of Excommunication the which the Earle despised and pleaded for excuse the warlike season keeping injuries upon injuries Whereupon not without advisement one Maister Gervasius de Melckeria framed of him this distinction and shrowded himselfe in his person Sum quem Saturnum sibi sensit Hibernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normania Gallia Martem Iam whom Ireland Saturne hight and England Sol me cals Amids the Normans Mercury and Mars among the Gauls The meaning in a word is how that he in his time had tamed the wild Irish and had beene the shining beame of honour unto the English as an Ambassadour to pacifie the Normans and an invincible Knight among the French nation but forwards with Paris the aforesaid Earle held those mannors all his life time and annexed them unto his dominions Within a few yeeres after the Earle ended the way of all flesh and was buried in the new Temple at London the Bishop hearing of this for he was the Bishop of Fernes a Cistertian Monke by birth Irish and famous for Sanctity not without great paine in travaile he went unto the King who then was in London exhibited a grievous complaint of the injury done unto him and how that hee had justly excommunicated the Earle and humbly besought the King that by his soveraigne authority and Princely mandat and also for the good of the said Earle Williams soule he would see his mannors restored unto him that in so doing though he were dead yet might reape the benefit of absolution The King with this was moved and willed the Bishop to repaire to the Earles grave and absolve him and he would diligently labour for his satisfaction the Bishop together with the King went to his Tombe and in the hearing of al that were present as if they had been both alive said O William that here lyest interred and wrapped in the bonds of Excommunication if the thing which thou hast injuriously taken away from my Church bee restored by the king or by thine heire or by some one of thy kindred or friends with competent satisfaction I absolve thee o her wise I doe ratifie the said sentence that thou being ever wrapped in thy sinnes maiest remaine damned in hell The King hearing this was moved and sharply rebuked the immoderat rigour of the Pontificall Prelate To whom the Bishop replied my Lord ann dread soveraigne marvaile not though I be out of patience for he hath spoiled my Church to his great commoditie The King then secretly conferring with William the eldest sonne of this Earle and heire to the whole and now invested in the inheritance and Earledome and certaine others his brethren besought them by the restoring the mannors unjustly taken away mercifully to deliver their fathers soule To whom William the heir made answer I doe not beleeve neither is to be credited that my father tooke them injuriously for that which is gotten by the sword may lawfully be enjoyed for if that old and doting Bishop hath given a wrong sentence let the curse light upon his owne pate I will not weaken my estate nor diminish the inheritance wherein I am invested my father dyed seized thereof and I have rightly entred Vnto these words all the brethren yeelded their consents The King being then of tender yeeres and under Tutor would not give cause of heavinesse unto so great and Noble a personage when the Bishop
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
Monastery of Grenard was founded by Richard Tute who shortly after miscarried at Athlone by the fall of a Turret and was buried in the same Monastery About the same time in the yeere 1209. the Monastery of Forte was founded by Walter Lacy Lord of Meth. Anno 1210. and the twelfth yeere of his raigne King Iohn came into Ireland and landed at Waterford with an huge army marvellous well appointed to pacifie that rebellious people that were universally revolted burning spoyling preying and massacring the English Fabian and Graffton alleage the cause that moved the Irishmen to this rebellion to have been for that the King endevord to lay grievous taxes upon them towards his aide in the warres against the French King which they could not brooke and therefore rose in armes against their Soveraigne When hee came to Dublin the whole Countrey fearing his puissance craved peace and flocked unto him along the sea cost the Champian Countries and remote places receiving an oath to bee true and faithfull unto him There were 20. Reguli of the chiefest rulers within Ireland which came to the King to Dublin and there did him homage and fealty as appertained Harding nameth them Lord O Neale and many more Walsingham remembreth Catelus King of Conaght it forceth it not though they misse the right names of place and person it is a fault in manner common to all foraigne writers After this hee marched forwards into the land and tooke into his hands divers Fortresses and strong Holds of his enemies that fled before him for feare to be apprehended as William le Bruse Mathilda his wife William their sonne with their traine of whom I spake before also Walter de Lacy Lord of Meath and Hugh de Lacy Earle of Vlster and Lord Iustice of Ireland fearing his presence fled into France their exaction oppression and tyranny was intolerable Likewise they doubted how to answer the death of Sir Iohn de Courcy Lord of Ratheny and Kilbarrock within 5. miles of Dublin whom they had murthered of especiall malice and deadly hatred First for that he was of the house of Sir Iohn de Courcy Earle of Vlster whom the Lacies alwaies maligned Secondly for that he had made grievous complaints of them in England to King Iohn the tryall whereof they could not abide Vpon the sight of the Lacies King Iohn made Iohn Gray Bishop of Norwich his deputy Of these Lacies it is further remembred in the Booke of Houth and other antiquities how that in France they obscured themselves in the Abbey of S. Taurin and gave themselves to manuall labour as digging delving gardening planting and greffing for daily wages the space of 2. or 3. yeares the Abbot was well pleased with their service and upon a day whether it were by reason of some inkling or secret intelligence given him or otherwise demaunded of them of what birth and parentage they were and what Country they came from when they had acquainted him with the whole hee bemoned their case and undertooke to become a suiter unto the King for them in a word hee obtained the Kings favour for them thus farre that they were put to their fyne and restored to their fromer possessions so that Walter de Lacy paid for the Lordship of Meath 2500. Markes and Hugh his brother for Vlster and Conaght a greater summe Hugh de Lacy in remembrance of this kindnesse which the Abbot shewed them tooke his nephew his brothers sonne with them into Ireland one Alured whom he Knighted and made Lord of the Dengle The Monkes also which out of that Monastery hee had brought with him into Ireland hee honoured greatly and gave them entertainment in Four the which Walter De Lacy had formerly builded King Iohn having pacified the land ordained that the English Lawes should bee used in Ireland appointed 12. English shires with Sheriffes and other Officers to rule the same according unto the English Ordinances hee reformed the Coine and made it uniforme some say it was Gray his Deputy of like weight and finenes and made it currant as well in England as in Ireland When hee had disposed of his affaires and ordred all things at his pleasure he tooke the sea againe with much triumph and landed in England the 30. day of August Anno 1213. When the French King by instigation of Innocentius 3. Bishop of Rome prepared to invade England King Iohn eftsoone understanding thereof made provision accordingly to answer his enterprise and among others the cause why the story is here inserted Holinshed writeth how that to his aid the Bishop of Norwich the Kings Deputy of Ireland levied an Army of 300. foot well appointed beside horsemen which arrived in England to the encouragement of the whole Campe. And as the French was frustrate of his purpose so they shortly returned with great joy to their native Country In the same yeere Viz. 1213. Iohn Comin Archbishop of Dublin departed this life and was buried in the Quire of Christ-Church whom Henry Loudres succeeded in the dayes of this King Iohn This Henry builded the Castle of Dublin and was made Lord Iustice of Ireland His tenants nic-named him Schorchbill or Schorcvillen upon this occasion Hee being peaceably stalled in his Bishopprike summoned all his tennants and farmers at a certain day appointed to make their personall appearance before him and to bring with them such evidences and writings as they enjoyed their holds by the tenants of the day appointed appeared shewed their evidences to their Landlord mistrusting nothing hee had no sooner received them but afore their faces upon a suddain cast them all into a fire secretly provided for the purpose this fact amazed some that they became silent moved others to a stirring choller and furious rage that they regarded neither place nor person but brake into irreverent speeches Thou an Archbishop nay thou art a Schorcvillen an other drew his weapon and said as good for me kill as be killed for when my evidences are burned and my living taken away from me I am killed The Bishop being thus tumult and the imminent danger whipt out at a backe doore His Chaplains Registers and Summoners were well knockt and some of them left for dead They threatned to fire the house over the Bishops head some meane was made for the present time to pacifie their outrage with faire promises that all hereafter should be to their owne content upon this they departed the intent of the promises I cannot learne othersome inveigh against it but in fine complaint thereof being made to Henry 3. the King thought so hardly of the course that he removed him from his Iusticeship and placed in his roome Maurice Fitz Girald of whom hereafter This Loudreds was buried in Christ Church In the same yeere also King Iohn being mightily distressed through the practises of hir Archbishops Bishops Abbots Monkes Priests of his dominions and the Barons of his Kingdome revolting and the inward hatred of the
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
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
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
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
give lands unto the Monastery of Saint Iames of Keynisham Anno 1421. Our Lady day fell out to be upon Munday in Easter weeke Also the Parliament began the third time at Dublin the Munday after Saint Ambroses day and there it was ordained that agents should be sent over unto the King for reformation of matters touching the state of the land namely the Archbishop of Armagh and Sir Christopher Preston Knight At the same time Richard Ottdian Bishop of Casshell was accused of Iohn Gese Bishop of Lismore and Waterford upon thirty articles among other one was that he made very much of the Irish and that he loved none of the English nation and that he bestowed no Benefice upon any English man and that he counselled other Bishops not to give the least Benefice to any of them that he counterfeited the Kings Seale and letters Patents that he went about to make himselfe King of Munster and that hee had taken a Ring from the image of Saint Patricke which the Earle of Desmond had offered and bestowed it upon his Concubine And he exhibited many other enormious matters against him in writing by whom the Lords and Commons were troubled Also in the same Parliament there arose a contention betwixt Adam Payn Bishop of Clone because the said Adam would have united unto his See the Church of another Prelate and the other would not give way unto it and so they were dismissed unto the Court of Rome the Parliament continued eighteene dayes Then newes were stirring that the Lord Thomas of Lancaster Duke of Clarence was slaine in France and many other with him Vpon the seventh of May there was slaughter made upon the Earle of Ormonds the Lord Lievetenants men by Omordris neere unto the Monastery of Leys and there were seaven and twenty English men slaine the chiefe whereof were Purcell and Grant tenne Noble men were taken prisoners and two hundred fled unto the said Abbey and so saved themselves About the Ides of May dyed Sir Iohn Bedloe knight and Ieffery Galon sometime Maior of Dublin who was buried in the house of the Fryers Preachers of the same City About the same time Mac Mahon an Irish Lord did much hurt in Vrgile by wasting and burning all before him Vpon the seaventh of Iune the Lord Lievetenant entred into the Country about Leys upon Omordris leading a very great army and for the space of foure dayes together slaying the people till the Irish were glad to sue for peace On the feast of Saint Michael the Arch-angell Thomas Stanley with all the Knights and Esquires of Meath and Irel tooke Neyle O Donnell prisoner and slue the rest in the fourteenth yeere of the raigne of King Henry the sixt Here endeth the Chronicle of Henry Marleburrough FINIS A VIEW OF THE STATE OF IRELAND Written dialogue-wise betweene Eudoxus and Irenaeus By EDMUND SPENSER Esq. in the yeare 1596. VVhereunto is added the History of IRELAND By EDMUND CAMPION sometime fellow of St Iohn's Colledge in Oxford Published by Sir IAMES WARE Knight DUBLIN Printed by the Society of Stationers M.DC.XXXIII TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS LO VISCOVNT WENTWORTH LO DEPVTY GENERALL OF IRELAND LO PRESIDENT OF HIS MAIESTIES COVNCELL ESTABLISHED IN THE NORTH PARTS OF ENGLAND AND ONE OF HIS MAIESTIES MOST HONORABLE PRIVIE COVNCELL RIGHT HONORABLE THE sence of that happy peace which by the divine providence this Kingdome hath enjoyed since the beginning of the raigne of his late Majestie of ever sacred memory doth then take the deeper impression when these our halcyon dayes are compared with the former turbulent and tempestuous times and with the miseries of severall kindes incident unto them Those calamities are fully set out and to the life by Mr Spenser with a discovery of their causes and remedies being for the most part excellent grounds of reformation And so much may be justly expected from him in regard of his long abode and experience of this Kingdome In these respects and for other good uses which the collections now communicated doe afford for matter of history and policy I am incouraged to dedicate them to your Lordship and humbly to desire your favourable acceptance of them and of Your Lordships ever humbly devoted IAMES WARE THE PREFACE HOw far these collections may conduce to the knowledge of the antiquities and state of this Land let the fit reader judge yet something I may not passe by touching Mr Edmund Spenser the worke it selfe lest I should seeme to offer injury to his worth by others so much celebrated Hee was borne in London of an ancient and noble family and brought up in the Vniversitie of Cambridge where as the fruites of his after labours doe manifest he mispent not his time After this he became Secretary to Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton Lord Deputy of Ireland a valiant and worthy Governour and shortly after for his services to the Crowne he had bestowed upon him by Queene Elizabeth 3000. acres of land in the Countie of Corke There hee finished the later part of that excellent poem of his Faery Queene which was soone after unfortunately lost by the disorder and abuse of his servant whom he had sent before him into England being then a rebellibus as Camdens words are è laribus ejectus bonis spoliatus He deceased at Westminster in the yeare 1599. others have it wrongly 1598. soone after his returne into England and was buried according to his owne desire in the collegiat Church there neere unto Chaucer whom he worthily imitated at the costes of Robert Earle of Essex wherupon this Epitaph was framed Hîc prope Chaucerum situs est Spenserius illi proximus ingenio proximus ut tumulo Hîc prope Chaucerum Spensere poeta poetam conderis versu quà m tumulo propior Anglica te vivo vixit plausitque poesis nunc moritura timet te moriente mori As for his worke now published although it sufficiently testifieth his learning and deepe judgement yet we may wish that in some passages it had bin tempered with more moderation The troubles and miseries of the time when he wrote it doe partly excuse him And surely wee may conceive that if hee had lived to see these times and the good effects which the last 30. yeares peace have produced in this land both for obedience to the lawes as also in traffique husbandry civility learning he would have omitted those passages which may seeme to lay either any particular aspersion upon some families or generall upon the Nation For now we may truly say jam cuncti gens una sumus and that upon just cause those ancient statutes wherein the natives of Irish descent were held to be and named Irish enemies and wherein those of English bloud were forbidden to marry and commerce with them were repealed by act of Parlament in the raigne of our late Soveraigne King IAMES of ever blessed memory His proofes although most of them conjecturall concerning the
of the Lord deceased but the next to him of blood that is the eldest worthiest as commonly the next brother unto him if he have any or the next cousin or so forth as any is elder in that kinred or sept and then next to him doe they choose the next of the blood to be Tanist who shall next succeed him in the said Captainry if he live therunto Eudox. Doe they not use any ceremony in this election for all barbarous nations are commonly great observers of ceremonies and superstitious rites Iren. They vse to place him that shal be their Captaine upon a stone alwayes reserved for that purpose placed commonly upon a hill In some of which I have seen formed ingraven a foot which they say was the measure of their first Captaines foot whereon hee standing receive an oath to preserve all the auncient former customes of the Countrey inviolable and to deliver up the succession peaceably to his Tanist and then hath a wand delivered unto him by some whose proper office that is after which descending from the stone he turneth himselfe round thrice forward thrice backward Eudox. But how is the Tanist chosen Iren. They say he setteth but one foot upon the stone and receiveth the like oath that the Captaine did Eudox. Have you ever heard what was the occasion and first beginning of this custome for it is good to know the same and may perhaps discover some secret meaning and intent therein very materiall to the state of that government Iren. I have heard that the beginning cause of this ordinance amongst the Irish was specially for the defence and maintenance of their Lands in their posteritie and for excluding all innovation or alienation thereof unto strangers and specially to the English For when their Captaine dieth if the Signiorie should descend to his child he perhaps an Infant another peradventure step in between or thrust him out by strong hand being then unable to defend his right or to withstand the force of a forreiner and therfore they doe appoint the eldest of the kinne to have the Signiorie for that he commonly is a man of stronger yeares and better experience to maintain the inheritance and to defend the Countrey either against the next bordering Lords which use commonly to incroach one upon another as each one is stronger or against the English which they thinke lye still in waite to wype them out of their Lands and Territoryes And to this end the Tanist is alwayes ready knowne if it should happen the Captaine suddenly to dye or to be slaine in battell or to be out of the Countrey to defend and keepe it from all such doubts and dangers For which cause the Tanist hath also a share of the Country allotted unto him and certaine cuttings and spendings upon all the inhabitants under the Lord. Eudox. When I heard this word Tanist it bringeth to my remembrance what I have read of Tania that it should signifie a Province or Seigniorie as Aquitania Lusitania and Britania the which some thinke to be derived of Dania that is from the Danes but I thinke amisse But sure it seemeth that it came anciently from those barbarous nations that over-ranne the world which possessed those Dominions whereof they are now so called And so it may well be that from thence the first originall of this word Tanist and Tanistry came and the custome thereof hath sithence as many others els beene continued But to that generall subjection of the Land whereof wee formerly spake me seemes that this custome or tenure can be no barre nor impeachment seeing that in open Parliament by their said acknowledgment they waved the benefite thereof and submitted themselves to the benefite of their new Soveraigne Iren. Yea but they say as I earst tolde you that they reserved their titles tenures and Seigniories whole and sound to themselves and for proofe alledge that they have ever sithence remained to them untouched so as now to alter them should say they be a great wrong Eudox. What remedie is there then or meanes to avoide this inconvenience for without first cutting of this dangerous custome it seemeth hard to plant any sound ordenance or reduce them to a civill government since all their ill customes are permitted unto them Iren. Surely nothing hard for by this Act of Parliament whereof wee speake nothing was given to K. Henry which he had not before from his Auncestors but onely the bare name of a King for all other absolute power of principality he had in himselfe before derived from many former Kings his famous Progenitours and worthy Conquerors of that Land The which sithence they first conquered and by force subdued unto them what needed afterwards to enter into any such idle termes with them to be called their King when it is in the power of the Conqueror to take upon himself what title he will over his Dominions conquered For all is the Conquerours as Tully to Brutus faith Therefore me seemes instead of so great and meritorious a service as they boast they performed to the King in bringing all the Irish to acknowledge him for their Liege they did great hurt unto his Title and have left a perpetuall gall in the minde of the people who before being absolutely bound to his obedience are now tyed but with termes whereas else both their lives their lands and their liberties were in his free power to appoint what tenures what lawes what conditions hee would over them which were all his against which there could be no rightfull resistance or if there were he might when he would establish them with a stronger hand Eudox. Yea but perhaps it seemed better unto that noble King to bring them by their owne accord to his obedience and to plant a peaceable government amongst them then by such violent means to pluck them under Neither yet hath he therby lost any thing that he formerly had for having all before absolutely in his owne power it remaineth so still unto him he having thereby neither forgiven nor forgone any thing thereby unto them but having received somthing from them that is a more voluntary and loyall subjection So as her Majesty may yet when it shall please her alter any thing of those former ordinances or appoint other lawes that may be more both for her owne behoofe and for the good of that people Iren. Not so for it is not so easie now that things are growne unto an habit and have their certaine course to change the channell turne their streames another way for they may have now a colorable pretence to withstand such innovations having accepted of other lawes and rules already Eudox. But you say they do not accept of them but delight rather to leane to their old customes Brehon lawes though they be more unjust and also more inconvenient for the common people as by your late relation of them I have gathered As for the lawes of England
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
Berosus of the later Vincentius Aeneas Sylvius Luidus Buchanan for that hee himselfe being an Irish Scot or Pict by nation and being very excellently learned and industrious to seeke out the truth of all things concerning the originall of his owne people hath both set downe the testimony of the auncients truely and his owne opinion together withall very reasonably though in some things he doth somewhat flatter Besides the Bardes and Irish Chroniclers themselves though through desire of pleasing perhappes too much and ignorances of Arts and purer learning they have clauded the truth of those lines yet there appeares among them some reliques of the true antiquitie though disguised which a well eyed man may happily discover and finde out Eudox. How can there be any truth in them at all since the ancient nations which first inhabited Ireland were altogether destitute of letters much more of learning by which they might leave the verity of things written And those Bardes comming also so many hundred yeares after could not know what was done in former ages nor deliver certainty of any thing but what they fayned out of their unlearned heads Iren. Those Bardes indeed Caesar writeth delivered no certaine truth of any thing neither is there any certaine hold to be taken of any antiquity which is received by tradition since all men be lyars many lye when they wil yet for the antiquities of the written Chronicles of Ireland give me leave to say something not to justifie them but to shew that some of them might say truth For where you say the Irish have alwayes bin without letters you are therein much deceived for it is certaine that Ireland hath had the use of letters very anciently and long before England Eudox. Is it possible how comes it then that they are so unlearned still being so old schollers For learning as the Poet saith Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros whence then I pray you could they have those letters Iren. It is hard to say for whether they at their first comming into the Land or afterwards by trading with other nations which had letters learned them of them or devised them amongst themselves is very doubtfull but that they had letters aunciently is nothing doubtfull for the Saxons of England are said to have their letters learning and learned men from the Irish and that also appeareth by the likenesse of the Character for the Saxons Character is the same with the Irish. Now the Scythians never as I can reade of old had letters amongst them therfore it seemeth that they had them from the nation which came out of Spaine for in Spaine there was as Strabo writeth letters anciently used whether brought unto them by the Phenicians or the Persians which as it appeareth by him had some footing there or from Marsellis which is said to have bin inhabited by the Greekes from them to have had the Greeke Character of which Marsilians it is said that the Gaules learned them first used them only for the furtherance of their trades privat busines for the Gaules as is strongly to be proved by many ancient authenticall writers did first inhabite all the sea coast of Spaine even unto Cales the mouth of the straights peopled also a great part of Italy which appeareth by sundry havens cities in Spaine called from them as Portugallia Gallecia Galdunum also by sundry nations therin dwelling which yet have received their own names of the Gaules as the Rhegni Presamarei Tamari Cineri and divers others All which Pomponius Mela being himselfe a Spaniard yet saith to have descended from the Celts of France whereby it is to be gathered that that Nation which came out of Spaine into Ireland were anciently Gaules and that they brought with them those letters which they had anciently learned in Spaine first into Ireland which some also say doe much resemble the olde Phenician Character being likewise distinguished with pricke and accent as theirs aunciently but the further enquirie hereof needeth a place of longer discourse then this our short conference Eudox. Surely you have shewed a great probability of that which I had thought impossible to have bin proved but that which you now say that Ireland should have bin peopled with the Gaules seemeth much more strange for all the Chronicles doe say that the West South was possessed inhabited of Spaniards and Cornelius Tacitus doth also strongly affirme the same all which you must overthrow and falsifie or else renounce your opinion Iren. Neither so nor so for the Irish Chronicles as I shewed you being made by unlearned men writing things according to the appearance of the truth which they conceived doe erre in the circumstances not in the matter For all that came out of Spaine they being no diligent searchers into the differences of the nations supposed to be Spaniards so called them but the ground-work therof is neverthelesse true certain however they through ignorance disguise the same or through vanity whilst they would not seem to be ignorant doe thereupon build enlarge many forged Histories of their owne antiquity which they deliver to fooles and make them believe for true as for example That first of one Gathelus the sonne of Cecrops or Argos who having married the King of Egypt his daughter thence sailed with her into Spaine there inhabited Then that of Nemedus and his sonnes who comming out of Scythia peopled Ireland and inhabited it with his sonnes 250. yeares until he was over-come of the Giants dwelling then in Ireland and at the last quite banished and rooted out after whom 200. yeares the sonnes of one Dela being Scythians arrived there againe and possessed the whole land of which the youngest called Slanius in the end made himselfe Monarch Lastly of the 4. sonnes of Milesius King of Spaine which conquered the land from the Scythians and inhabited it with Spaniards and called it of the name of the yongest Hiberus Hibernia All which are in truth fables and very Milesian lyes as the later proverbe is for never was there such a King of Spaine called Milesius nor any such Colonie seated with his sonnes as they faine that can ever be proved but yet under these tales you may in a manner see the truth lurke For Scythians here inhabiting they name and put Spaniards whereby appeareth that both these nations here inhabited but whether very Spaniards as the Irish greatly affect is no wayes to be proved Eudox. Whence commeth it then that the Irish doe so greatly covet to fetch themselves from the Spaniards since the old Gaules are a more auncient and much more honorable nation Iren. Even of a very desire of new fanglenes and vanity for they derive themselves from the Spaniards as seeing them to bee a very honourable people and neere bordering unto them but all that is most vaine for from the Spaniards that now are or that people that now inhabite Spaine they
simul ac prosperis praelijs domuit eamque partem Britanniae quae Hiberniam aspicit copijs instruxit in spem magis quam ob formidinem Siquidem Hibernia medio inter Britanniam atque Hispaniam sita Gallico quoque mari opportuna valentissimam imperij partem magnis invicem usibus miscuerit Spatium ejus si Britanniae comparetur angustius nostri maris insulas superat Solum coelumque ingenia cultusque hominum haut multùm à Britannia differunt meliùs aditus portusque per commercia negotiatores cogniti Agricola expulsum seditione domesticâ unum ex regulis gentis exceperat ac specie amicitiae in occasionem retinebat Saepè ex eo audivi Legione unâ modicis auxilijs debellari obtinerÃque Hiberniam posse idque adversùs Britanniam profuturum si Romana ubique arma velut è conspectu libertas tolleretur Pag. 31. lin 4. Slanius in the end made himselfe Monarch The Irish stories have a continued succession of the Kings of Ireland from this Slanius untill the conquest by King Henry the second but very uncertaine especially untill the planting of Religion by S. Patrick at which time Loegarius or Lagirius was Monarch Pag. 33. lin 35. Ireland is by Diodorus Siculus and by Strabo called Britannia Iris is by Diodorus called a part of Brittaine but Ireland by neither of them Britannia Pag. 33. lin 38. King Arthur and before him Gurgunt Concerning King Arthur's conquest of Ireland see Geffry of Monmuth and Matthew of Westminster at the yeare 525. where he is said to have landed in Ireland with a great army and in a battle to have taken King Gilla-mury prisoner and forced the other Princes to subjection In our Annals it appeares that Moriertach the sonne of Erca was at that time King of Ireland of which name some reliques seeme to be in Gilla-Mury Gilla being but an addition used with many names as Gilla-Patrick c. But in the Country writers which I have seene I find not the least touch of this conquest Pag. 34. lin 23. amongst whom he distributed the land King Henry the 2. gave to Richard Strong-bow Earle of Striguil or Penbroke all Leinster excepting the citty of Dublin and the Cantreds adjoyning with the maritime townes and castles Vnto Robert fitz Stephen and Miles de Cogan he granted the Kingdome of Corke excepting the Citty of Corke and the Ostmans Cantred And unto Philip de Bruse the Kingdome of Limericke But in a confirmation of King Iohn to William de Bruse or Braos Nephew to this Philip wee finde that hee gave to him onely honorem de Limerick retentis in dominico nostro as the words of the Charter are civitate de Limerick donationibus episcopatuum abbatiarum retentis in manu nostrâ cantredo Ostmannorum S. insulâ Among other large graunts remembred by Hoveden which this King Henry gave to the first adventurers that of Meth to Sr Hugh de Lacy is of speciall note The grant was in these words HEnricus Dei gratiâ Rex Angliae Dux Normanniae Aquitaniae Comes Andegauiae Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Comitibus Baronibus Iustitiarijs omnibus ministris fidelibus suis Francis Anglis Hiberniensibus totius terrae suae Salutem Sciatis me dedisse concessisse praesenti chartâ meâ confirmâsse Hugoni de Lacy pro servitio suo terram de Midiâ cum omnibus pertinentijs suis per servitium quinquaginta militum sibi haeredibus suis tenenduÌ„ habenduÌ„ à me haeredibus meis sicut Murchardus Hu-melathlin eam tenuit vel aliquis alius ante illum vel posteà Et de incremento illi dono omnia feoda quae praebuit vel quae praebebit circa Dâ—veliniam dum Balivus meus est ad faciendum mihi servitium apud civitatem meam Duveliniae Quare volo firmiter praecipio ut ipse Hugo haeredes sui post eum praedictam terram habeant teneant omnes libertates liberas consuetudines qu sibi habeo vel habere possum per praenominatum servitium à me haeredibus meis benè in pace liberè quietè honorificè in bosco plano in pratis pascuis in aquis moleÌ„dinis in vivarijs stagnis piscationibus venationibus in vijs semitis portubus maris in omnibus alijs locis alijs rebus ad eam pertinentibus cum omnibus libertatibus quas ibi habeo vel illi dare possum hâc meâ chartâ confirmare Test. comite Richardo filio Gilberti VVillielmo de Braosa c. Apud VVeisford But above all other graunts made by K. Henry the 2. that to his sonne Iohn is most memorable Deinde saith Hoveden venit rex Oxenford in generali concilio ibidem celebrato constituit Iohannem filium suum Regem in Hiberniâ concessione confirmatione Alexandri summi Pontificis By vertue of this graunt both in the life time of his father and in the raigne of his brother king Richard he was stiled in all his charters Dominus Hiberniae and directed them thus Ioannes Dominus Hiberniae comes Morton Archiepiscopis episcopis comitibus baronibus Iustitiarijs vicecomitibus constabularijs omnibus ballivis ministris suis totius Hiberniae salutem Thus we have it frequently although sometimes with a little variation in the Registers of Saint Mary Abbey and Thomascourt by Dublin How the Earle in Leinster and Lacy in Meth distributed their lands besides what they retained in their owne hands is delivered by Maurice Regan interpreter to Dermot Mac Murrough King of Leinster who wrote the Historie of those times in French verse The booke was translated into English by Sir George Carew Lo. President of Mounster afterwards earle of Totnes and communicated to me by our most reverend and excellently learned Primate There wee finde that the Earle gave to Reymond le Grose in marriage with his sister Fotherd Odrone and Glascarrig unto Hervy de Mount-marish hee gave Obarthy unto Maurice de Prindergast Fernegenall which was afterwards conferred upon Robert fitz Godobert but by what meanes he obtained it saith Regan I know not Vnto Meiler Fitz Henry he gave Carbry unto Maurice Fitz Gerald the Naas Ofelin which had beene possessed by Mackelan and Wickloe unto Walter de Ridelesford he gave the lands of Omorthy unto Iohn de Clahul the marshalship of Leinster and the land betweene Aghabo and Leghlin unto Robert de Birmingham Ofaly and unto Adam de Hereford large possessions What these possessions were are thus noted in the Register of Thomascourt abbey where speaking of the Earle Posteà Lageniâ perquisitâ erat quidam juvenis cum eo quem multûm dilexit dedit eidem pro servitio suo terras tenementa subscripta viz. tenementum de saltu Salmonis Cloncoury Kill Houterard tenementum de Donning cum omnibus