right to Leinster VValter Fitz Richard who came from Normandy with VVilliam Conquerour died Lord Strongbow of Strigule alias Chepstow without issue to whom succeeded his sisters sonne Gilbert who was created the first Earle of Pembroke had issue Richard the inheritour of Leinster by a covenant marriage of Eva the sole daughter of Mac Murrough King of Leinster This Richard conveyed to Henry the second all his title and held of him the Lordship of Leinster in foure counties Weixford Catherlagh Ossory and Kildare Richard left issue a daughter Isabel married to VVilliam Earle marshall of England now Earle of Pembroke Lord Strongbow and Lord of Leinster VVilliam had issue five sonnes who died without issue when every of them except the youngest had successively possessed their fathers lands and five daughters Maude â—oane Isabel Sibil and Eve among whom the patrimony was parted in an 31. H. 3. Of these daughters bestowed in marriage are descended many noble houses as the Mortimers Bruises Clares c. borne subjects to the Crowne of England paying ever to the King his dutyes reserved Hugh de Lacy Conquerour of Meth had issue VValter de Lacy who held the same of King Iohn paying a fine of foure thousand marks sterling and hence beganne all the severall claimes there at this day with allegiance sworne and done by their auncestours At the very first arrivall of Henry the second the Princes of Mounster came universally and did homage voluntarily and acknowledged to him and his heires duties and payes for ever Iohn de Courcy Conquerour and Earle of Vlster dyed without issue King Iohn Lord of Ireland gave the Earledome to Hugh de Lacy who had issue VValter and Hugh dead without issue and one daughter married to Reymond Burke Conquerour and Lord of Connaght Connaght descended to diverse heires owing service to the Prince but Vlster is returned by devolution to the speciall inheritance and revenues of the Crowne of England in this manner The said De Burgo had issue Richard who had issue Iohn who had issue VVilliam who was slaine without issue and a Daughter Elizabeth intytled to thirty thousand marks yearely by the Earledome of Vlster whom Edward the 3. gave in marriage to Leonel his second sonne Duke of Clarence who had issue a daughter Philippe marryed to Edmund Mortymer who had issue Edmund Anne Elinor Edmund and Elinor died without issue Anne was married to Richard Earle of Cambridge sonne to Edmund of Laugley Duke of Yorke fift sonne to Edward the third which said Richard had issue Richard Plantagenet father to Edward the fourth father to Elizabeth wife to Henry the seventh and mother to Henry the eight father to Mary Edward the sixt and Elizabeth Severall claimes to the Land of Ireland 1. First that the Irish for of the rest there is no question were subjects to the the Crowne of Brittaine before they set foote in Ireland Thus it appeareth They dwelt on that side of Spaine whereof Bayon was then cheife imperiall Citie and the same then in possession and obedience to Gurguntius 376. yeares ere Christ was borne as it was to his successours many a day after namely to Henry the which as I finde noted in certaine precepts of governement dedicated by Iames Young to Iames Butler Earle of Ormond then Lieutenant of Ireland an 1416. From this coast and Citty now part of Gascoigne came the fleete of those Iberians who in 60. ships met Gurguntius on the sea returning from the conquest of Denmarke to whom they yeelded oath and service sued for dwelling were by him conducted and planted in Ireland and became his leige people 2. Mac Gil-murrow King of Ireland with all his petty Princes Lordes and Captaines summoned to King Arthurs court held in Carlion an 519. did accordingly their homage and attended all the while his great feast and assembly lasted 3. The Monarch of Ireland and all other both reges and reguli for them and for theirs for ever betooke themselves to Henry the second in an Dom. 1172. namely those of the south whiles he lay at Waterford Dermot King of Corke which is the nation of Mac Cartyes at Cashell Donald King of Limricke which is the nation of the Obrenes Donald King of Ossory Mac Shaghlen King of Ophaly at Divelin did the like Okeruell King of Vriell Ororicke king of Meth Rodericke King of all Ireland and of Connaght This did they with consents and shoutes of their people and king Henry returned without any Battle given Onely Vlster remained which Iohn de Courcy soone after conquered and Oneale Captaine of all the Irish there came to Dublin to Richard the 2. in an 1399. And freely bound himselfe by oath and great summes of money to be true to the crowne of England 4. The same time Obrene of Thomond Oconor of Connaght Arthur Mac Murrow of Leinster and all the Irish Lords which had beene somewhat disordered renewed their obedience 5. When Ireland first received Christendome they gave themselves into the jurisdiction both spirituall temporall of the See of Rome The temporall Lordship Pope Adrian conferred upon Henry the second and hee gave the same to Iohn his younger sonne afterwards King of England and so it returned home to the Crowne 6. Alexander the 3. confirmed the gift of Adrian as in both their Charters is expressed at large 7. Vivian the legate on the Popes behalfe doth accurse and excommunicate all those that flitte from the obeysance of the Kings of England 8. The cleargy twice assembled once at Cashell secondly at Ardmagh plainely determined the conquest to be lawfull and threatned all people under paine of Gods and holy Churches indignation to accept the English kings for their Lords from time to time 9. It would aske a volume to recite the names of such Irish Princes who since the conquest have continually upon occasions revolts or petitions sworne truth and faith to the kings of England from time to time received honours wages fees pardons and petitions And thus I thinke no reasonable man will doubt of a right so old so continued so ratified so many wayes confessed CAP. III. Richard the first and King Iohn BY occasion of Lacyes mishap Iohn Courcye and Hugh de Lacye the younger with all their assistants did streight execution upon the Rebells and preventing every mischiefe ere it fell stayed the Realme from uproares Thus they continued lovingly and lived in wealth and honour all the dayes of Richard the first untill the first yeare of King Iohns raigne Henry the second had issue male VVilliam Henry Richard Ieffrey and Iohn VVilliam Henry and Richard dyed without issue Ieffrey Earle of Brittaine dyed before his father and left issue two daughters and an after-borne son called Arthur whose title to the Crowne as being the undoubted lyne of the elder brother Philip King of France and certaine Lords of England and Ireland stoutly justified Him had King Iohn taken prisoner in Normandy and
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
other contained thirty and two or else for that it lieth in the midst of the land These encrochments Slanius annexed to his inheritance and Monarchy which Monarchy continued thus the space of thirty yeeres and then Slanius departed this life and was buried in a mountaine of Meth that beareth hitherto the name after him After his decease the Princes that before were subiect unto him began to gather heart stomached the matter and denied their obedience to his successour whereupon ensued continuall warre amongst them and especially about the land of Meth which strife of long time could not bee appeased yet in the space of thirty yeeres aforesaid of these brethren and their successors there were nine Kings In the neck of all these mischiefes and hurly burlies say the Irish antiquities there came a fleet of Scythians upon the coast landed their men in Ireland made claime to the land by a title of right which they pretended from their forefather Nemedus of whom mention is made before so that by partaking with the one side and the other all was in an uproare havock was made on each side with fire and sword in most miserable manner They spent themselves in pursuing one another with such outrage that they cared not what nation or what souldier they received to their aid to hold up or beat downe a side Both the one and the other sent for aid into the Ilands now called England and Scotland Orchades Hebrides c. and acquainted forrainers with their state so farre that they could never after be rid of them to wit the Britaines till in the end they yeelded unto them the upper hand as by conquests in processe of the history shall appeare Note gentle reader how that hitherto that is the yeere of the world 2828 and before the birth of Christ 1142 these North parts of the world as England Scotland Ireland with other Iles were possessed commanded and inhabited by the posterity of Iaphet and Cham the sonnes of Noah without any speciall name given to the lands or to the Commanders of them otherwise then Samothei Celtae Oceanes Neptunists and Albions although I have hitherto used the names now in ure for the plainer delivery of the history as if they had beene knowne before neither were any called Scots as Hector Boëtius would have it After the times of the former troubles which happened in Ireland upon the landing of the Scythians I finde nothing of Ireland till the dayes of Gurguntius the sonne of Belinus who began his raine according to the ordinary account anno mundi 3580 and reigned 19 yeeres over Britaine This King after his victory atchieved in Denmark for his tribute which they there had refused to pay him returning back toward Britaine met by the Iles of Orkeney with a navy of thirthy ships Stanyhurst saith 60 with men and women whose Generall was called Bartholin or Partholin in Ponticus Virunius Partolom in Flores Historiarum Partholaim in Gualter Oxoniensis Bartholome in Fabian Harding Grafton and Caxton Irlamal of whom they thinke the country to be called Ireland Gurguntius demanded of them what they were and the occasion of their travell their answer was they were Spaniards and had long beene on the seas seeking to finde some favourable Prince to assigne them a place of habitation for that their country was so populous that it could not containe them others write that for some disordered parts they were banished their country and where they found favour they would become subiects and hold of him as their soveraigne Lord. In this fleet with the Governor of Baion their Generall before named there were foure brethren of noble birth the sonnes of Milesius others say Miletus and others Milo the two chiefe of which were called Hiberus and Hermon And beside the former differences in the parents name Dowling writeth in his Irish collections that they were the sonnes of Iubal Hector Boëtius avoucheth they were the sonnes of Gathelus and Scota Stanihurst affirmeth that Scota was great or old grand-dame to Hiber and Hermon others write they were of the posteritie of Gathelus and Scota whereas Gathelus if there were any such was a Grecian and Scota an Egyptian Hiber and Hermon Spaniards see gentle Reader how these reports hang together Gurguntius being aduised by his Councell pittying their necessitie and wandring estate granted them the Iland now called Ireland to inhabite and that they should become tributaries to him and his successors the Kings of Britaine for ever For hee called to minde that the inhabitants were an unruly people and thought by this meanes to subdue them and quietly to enioy his tribute for it seemeth that the Britaine 's made claime to Ireland to which effect I reade in the Booke of Houth that Gurguntius came into Ireland and that the land many a yeare paid him truage and to other Kings of Britaine after him but as oft as they put foote in the land they got more knocks then pence saith an Irish Chronicler The King of Britaine hastening homeward gave them Pilots and safe conductors for their arivall and possession of the land Hiberus and Hermon after their arivall by the assent of all their associates divided the land betweene them the North to Hiber and the South to Hermon But ambition the mother of mischiefe would not long suffer them to enioy peace but rent their hearts with fierie dissention inflamed their mindes to desire one Soueraigne and absolute commander over the whole land they gather forces they muster their men they put on Armes and to battaile they goe in which field Hiberus was slaine though Hector Boetius write that he went into Spaine to succeed his father and Hermon became Monarch of all Ireland Hermon being thus sole ruler and governour to avoid the murmure of his people and the euill opinion in a manner of all men conceiued against him and peaceably to governe the land fell to purge himselfe and caused the occasion of the warres to be proclaimed that he bore armes against his naturall brother not of malice or desire of soveraigntie but in defence of his owne person and safety of his people and for proofe that his heart was farre from desire to rule alone he appointed certaine Captaines as Kings to command under him certaine Countries reserving unto himselfe one fourth part and the Country of Meth annexed to the Monarchie for the better maintenance of his princely estate By this meanes this Realme of Ireland in processe of time grew to five kingdomes the first Leinster on the East side or quarter called in Latine Lagenia and in Irish Cuige-Laghen The second Conaght on the west side of the kingdome called in Latine Connacia and in Irish Cuige-Chonoght The third Vlster which is the North part of Ireland named in Latine Vltonia and in Irish Cuigh-Vlladh The fourth Mounster South and South-west in Latine Momonia and in the country speech Cuige Mughan The fift and
calling for a cup of wine was answered that there stood a bowle of wine upon the table he forgetting that he had formerly washed therein dranke it up insomuch that the standers by said What fellow is this more like a brute beast then a man that drinketh his owne bloud and eateth his owne flesh Gillemore hearing this tooke it to heart notwithstanding dissembling his griefe and anger the next night conveyed himselfe away and submitting himselfe to his father delivered unto him the state of the strangers which turned to their great disadvantage and hinderance Shortly after the day of battaile was appointed where the strangers were overthrowne and as they say seven score thousand men slaine The Irish had supplies and extraordinary meanes at home the strangers could not come by it the Irish plaid with them at all advantages the woods and the bogs defended them as occasion served This battaile with the preambles and circumstances continued one whole yeere the strangers had no shipping to flee unto for succour the ground was unknowne unto them their lodging and fare was cold hard and scant so as their hardinesse could not hold out their end was lamentable and the honour was bequeathed to the Irish nation The Princes of Ireland having thus with great successe foiled their enemies delivered their people from utter overthrow and quieted the land rested themselves a while Afterward partly for recompence of good service and partly for safegard of the land appointed the Danes whom they had formerly hired who also unto that time had served them truely over the whole land to prevent forraigne invasion forewarned by the field of Fentra and the former attempts these Commanders with their particular places of command I thought good to impart to the courteous reader Osker Mac Oshen Mac Fin with his Souldiers kept the haven of Dublin Fian Mac Fenrasse kept the Winde-gates Wony Etagh Mac Cas Foule kept Wicklo Creyon Mac Wony kept Arcklow Eye Onagh Mac Kellenkas kept Weixford Dono Mac Kayder kept Rosse Fellum Mac Eye Keyge kept Dungarvan Bresell Mac Eydow kept O Keylle Gaero Mac Doheyere kept Corke Ollen Aye Nyarg Mac Bressell kept Kynsale Collo Mac Keilt kept Dingle Koysse Con Keor Mac Bren Mac Foyll kept Fentra Osker Mac Cromkeyn kept Trallie Don Dowe Mac Reymowre being a King over the sept of Fin Mac Koyle kept Lymnagh that is Limericke Eye Boge Mac Fin kept Inyskagh Coll Kroytt kept Corke Vaysken Eye Mac Sroy kept Canborne Eye clone Drylinge kept Donrys Oveyragh Bressell Mac Eye Begge kept Galloway Deyre Dovenagh Magher Morne kept Inysbresyn Eye O row Mac Fin kept Kleere Collow Daver kept small Iland Enos Dayrk kept Koymaghtbe Enos Maygh Ercoipie kept Galley Feartagh Mac Ferolagh kept Moyc Low Magh Mac Karbren kept Sligo Smerger Drought kept Bondroys Keyll Croagh Kede Gonagh O Navnyd Assero Brasell Mac Doyer kept Donagall Mogh Small Mac Smoyll kept Fanyd Eey Mac Kehow kept Loughfoyle Darawryd Rowrer kept Bonban Sperenagh Claw kept Knockfergus Magh love kept Ardolloe Donogh Mac Dermotte Evne kept Ardglas Art Oge Mac Morne kept Dondorme Eye Mac Carra Meyke Morne kept Carlingford Flaas Fere Leyfroke Greffey Fin Mac Koyll kept Don dalke Rey ne Roysklaygh Mac Fin Mac Koyll kept Drogheda Shealvagh Mac Dermotte Doyn kept Gormanston Covuloe Mac Wowdyrge kept Irelands eye Derlleys Mac Dovgar kept Howth These were the chiefe Commanders by direction from Fin Mac Koyll who tooke farther order that Beacons should be set up in sundry places of the land where in time of danger they might have direction for reliefe and draw to a head for their defence which order continued unto the field of Kaghcaro otherwise called Ardkagh or Ardkath the occasion whereof was as followeth In the time of Karbre Lifeacher Monarch of Ireland the Danish Captaines with their bands and garrisons waxed insolent and outragious they weighed not what Prince or people said they grew strong and rich not caring what they did they brought vp fond customes of their owne devising oppressing the people and disdaining the gentle admonitions of the Kings and Nobilitie of the land Among themselves they decreed that no Maid should marry without their license that none should hunt the Hare Otter Foxe Wolfe Marterne or Deare but should pay them what they pleased to rate it at and that none should use any other pastime without their privitie The Kings and Nobilitie of the land called a Parliament endevouring to reforme these abuses charging them to surcease from their outrages or to leave the land The Danes answered that they came in with the sword held by the sword and with the sword they would be driven away The day of battaile was appointed to be fought at Amaghery Ongallin now called Margallin in Westmeath though the field be called Ardkagh which is by interpretation a set field The Danes sent to Denmarke intimating their griefe and lamentable estate craving aide of the King and that he would be pleased to send his sonne to be their Generall who according to their request shortly after landed with tenne thousand stalworth souldiers so the old phrase runneth and they comming together made up twenty and eight thousand and seven hundred The Kings of Ireland with their forces were threescore and five thousand The Danes or Norwegians being valiant and venterous hastened to the battaile at the day appointed The Kings in like sort with their forces hearing that their enemies approched set themselves in battaile array and came to a place where they all kissed the ground readie to dye one with another and gave after their manner such a crie as if heauen and earth met together and therewith somewhat amazed their enemies so that the place to this day is called Balle-Nangartha in English Garrestowne The strangers placed themselves on the South-west side of the hill that the forces of the Kings being on the other side somewhat beneath them might not easilie discrie their Armie they appointed their worst men for their Rereward that seeing the Voward valiantly encountring and prevailing they might thereby be the more encouraged They placed their rascals on their jades nagges and labouring garrons on the top of an hill where at this day is a little Mote in remembrance thereof giuing them in charge that when the forces of the land espied them and drew neere they should retire to the maine battaile for refuge and succour they hoped by these meanes that the Kings when they saw so great a company flee would breake their order and array to pursue them and so lay themselves open to utter ouerthrow and then was their intent to have made the King of Denmarkes sonne King of the land and to have enioyed the Realme to them and their posteritie for euer The Kings of Ireland being seven in number tracing a while on the top of an hill which therefore was called after that the hill of Trase now Hol-trase divided themselves into two battailes
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
men and companie and began to travaile from place to place In March about the middle of Lent he came to Armagh where he extorted and perforce exacted from the Clergie there a great masse of money and treasure and from thence he went to Dune and from Dune to Dublin laden with gold silver money and monies worth the which he extorted in every place where he came and other good did he none Hugh Tirell his fellow scraper tooke from the poore Priests at Armagh a great brasse panne or brewing fornace which served the whole house see the iust iudgment of God the which then was so constraced as Cambrensis hath delivered in his Vaticinall history and likewise in his topagraphie Philip at the townes end of Armagh was taken with a sudden pang and the same so vehement that it was supposed hee should never have recovered it When he came to himselfe a poore man standing by said Let him alone he must have breath till he come to the divell and then the divell will have him and all that he extorted from us Hugh Tirell that carried the panne as farre as Dune and the Priests curse withall in night time had his lodging set on fire where house and houshold-stuffe and all that he had there was consumed to ashes together with the horses that drew the same and so no thankes to him he left it behinde him for lacke of carriage The Castles which Lacie builded for the good of the Land were these First Laghlen of old called the Blacke Castle upon the Barrow betweene Ossory and Idrone of which Castle by Henry 2. commandment Robert Poer had the charge untill in cowardize sort he gave over the same and forsooke it whereupon Cambrensis then living maketh this invective O what worthy Champions and fit men for martiall feates were this Poer and Fitz Adelme to inhabit and command such a nation as is destitute of noble and valiant mindes but a man may espie the variable sleight of fortune disposed to smile at foolery how from the base dunghill hee advanceth to high dignities for why they two had more pleasure in chambering wantonnesse playing with young girles and on the Harpe then in bearing of shield or wearing of Armour but in sooth it is to bee admired that so Noble a Prince as Henry 2. is would send such cowards to command or to direct in place of service But to the history This blacke Castle now called New Leighlin for difference of Old Leighlin which is the Bishops seate standeth in the Barony of Ydrone which was the antient inheritance of the Carews who being Barons of Carew in Wales so farre as I can learne one of them married the daughter and heire of the Barron of Ydrone and so the Carewes became and were for the terme of many yeeres Barons of Ydrone untill the troublesome time of Richard 2. when the Carewes with all the English of Ireland in manner were driven to forsake the land He builded in Leix for Meilerius Tachmeho alias Cachmehe and as for Kildare with the country adjoyning the which as Cambrensis writeth was by Earle Strangbow given him the Governours in Hugh de Lacy his absence subtilly tooke it away from him under colour of exchange and gave him Leix a wilde savage country with woods paces bogges and rebels farre from succour or rescue In Meth he builded Clanarec Dunach killar alias Killairie the Castle of Adam de Ieypon alias sureport and Gilbert de Nugents of Delvyn In Fotheret of Onolan alias Fethred Onolan in Latin Rotheric he builded a Castle for Reimond and another for Griffin his brother the sonnes of William Fitz Girald for Walter of Ridensford he builded in Omorchu alias Moroghs country Trisseldermot otherwise called Trisdeldermot about five miles from Caterlogh and likewise Kilka in the country of Kildare For Iohn de Hereford he builded a Castle in Collach otherwise called Tulacfelmeth for Iohn declawsa alias Clavill he builded a Castle upon the Barrow not farre from Leighlin now supposed to be Carlogh though some attribute it to Eva Earle Strangbow his wife yet it is evident next after the Danes that the English men builded all the Castles of Ireland He builded also neere Aboy a Castle that he gave to Robert Bigaret another not farre from thence which he gave to Thomas Fleminge another at the Narach on the Barrow for Robert Fitz Richard lastly he builded the Castle of Derwath where he made a tragicall end for on a time when each man was busily occupied some lading some heaving some playstering some engraving the Generall also himselfe digging with a Pick-axe a desperate villaine among them whose toole the Lord Lievetenant used espying both his hands occupied and his body bent downewards with an axe cleft his head in sunder his body the two Archbishops Iohn of Dublin and Mathew of Cashill buried in the Monasterie of the Bectie that is in Monasterio Beatitudinis and his head in Saint Thomas Abbey at Dublin whose death I read in Holinshed the King was not sorry of for he was alwayes jealous of his greatnesse Vpon the death of Lacy Sir Roger le Poer a most worthy Knight who served valiantly in Vlster in company with Sir Iohn de Courcy being made Governour of the country about Leighlen in Ossorie was in most lamentable sort traiterously slaine and upon that occasion there was saith Cambrensis a privy conspiracy over all Ireland against English men But gentle Reader I must backe a little to bring on the yeeres to concurre with the history Anno 1180. The Monastery De Choro Benedicti and of Ieripont was founded The same yeere dyed Laurence Archbishop of Dublin whose life foraine Writers as Surius Baronius Molanus and Leppelo with others have written his father hight Maurice his mother Iniabre Principis filia a great Commander in Leinster the Martyrologe of Sarum saith he was bastard This Maurice being at continuall warres with Dermot Mac Morogh King of Leinster upon a league of amity concluded betweene them delivered unto him for pledge his youngest sonne Laurence Dermot sent him to a desert solitary place and barren soile to be kept where he was like to perish with famine Maurice hearing thereof tooke 12. of Dermots principall followers clapt them in prison and sent Dermot word that hee would cut off their heads unlesse he would release and send him his sonne out of that slavish and miserable servitude Dermot released the youth and delivered him not to his father but to the Bishop of Glandelogh and the Bishop charged his Chaplen with his bringing up the Chaplen trained him up so vertuously that in a short time after he was made Abbot of Glandelogh shortly after that againe upon the death of Gregory Archbishop of Dublin he was chosen to suceed him So holy a man was he as some of mine Authors doe write that he caused one of his men to whippe him twice a day belike he had deserved it in his youth His
to apprehend such prollers wherein he also reproved his cowardize The Emperour when he understood that the birds were flowne away made search for the neast yet overtooke them in Italy where to be short hee imprisoned them their kindred and favourers rifled them of their money and sent them to Rome to sing for more money he that will reade the story more at large let him repaire to Mathew Paris The same yeere saith Mathew Paris Andelmus borne in Cullen a man highly commended for life and learning was by the Bishop of Worcester solemnly consecrated at Westminster Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland in the presence of the King the Legate and many reverend Prelates Anno 1242. Maurice Fitz Girald Lord Iustice of Ireland builded the Castle of Sligoe Anno 1243. Clun and Dowlinge write that Giraldus Fitz Maurice Richardus de Burgo and Hugh de Lacy Earle of Vlster in Ireland ended the way of all flesh and was buried at Carechfergus Mathew Paris giveth Lacy great commendations that he was a most renowned warriour and a valiant Conquerour of a great part of Ireland This Lacy left behinde him one daughter and heire whom Walter de Burgo married and in her right became Earle of Vlster of Richardus de Burgo Mathew Paris writeth he had great possessions and lands in Ireland by the conquest of his most Noble father Anno 1245. Florilegus Powell out of Gittin Owen and Holinshed doe write how that the Welch men rebelled against the King and his forces being foyled by David ap Llewelin Prince of Wales hee sent into Ireland to Maurice for ayde and was in winter time mightily distressed the which I finde by Powell recorded and written by a Noble man out of the campe unto his friends The King with his army lyeth at Gannocke fortifying of that strong Castle and we live in our Tents thereby watching fasting praying and freezing with cold wee watch for feare of the Welch men who are wont to invade and come upon us in the night time we fast for want of meate for the halfe penny loafe is worth five pence we pray to God to send us home speedily we starve for cold wanting our winter garments and having no more but a thinne linnen cloath betweene us and the winde there is an arme of the seas under the Castle where we lye whereto the tyde commeth and many shippes come up to the haven which bring victuals to the Campe from Ireland and Chester The King all this while expected the arrivall of Maurice Fitz Girald with his Irish forces mused with himselfe fretted with himselfe the winde serving and yet said nothing at length the Irish sayles are discryd a shore they came and Maurice Fitz Girald together with Phelina Oconor Oconoghor saith another in battaile array present themselves before the King at Chepstow say the Irish Chroniclers but the British Chroniclers coppied out of the Abbies of Conwey and Stratflur by Owen Gittine deliver they landed at the I le of Man or Anglesey the which in mine opinion seemeth to be most likely to be true For David ap Llewelin was Prince of North-Wales and there kept his forces Chepstow is in South-Wales and besides it is agreed upon of all sides that the Irish landing spoyled the I le of Anglesey laded themselves with spoyles and going to their ships were driven to runne and leave all behinde but to be short when all the forces joyned together the Welch men were overthrowne the King manned and victualled his Castles returned into England gave the Irish men leave to returne winking a while in policie at the tarriance and slow comming of Maurice Fitz Girald when Maurice Fitz Girald Lord Iustice arrived in Ireland he found O Donell the Irish enemy upon the death of Hugh Lacy in Armes invading and sore annoying the Kings subjects in Vlster and called unto him Cormake Mac Dermot Mac Dory with great forces and entred Tireconell preyed burned and spoyled and vanquished the enemy there he slue Moyleslaghlon O Donell called King of Keyvayle together with Gille Canvinelagh Obugill and Mac Surley called King of Oyrisgall with divers others gentlemen of those parts in like sort many English men were cast away in the river whose passage O Donell stopped and slue there William Butt high Sheriffe of Connaught together with a valiant young Gentleman his brother When the Lord Iustice had thus atchieved his purpose hee manned and victualled the Castle of Sligo tooke pledges of O Neale to keepe the Kings peace and left them in the said Castle gave Cormake Dermot Mac Dory that came to his aide the moytie of Connaught and returned with a great prey When this noble service was performed the King disgorged himselfe and what inwardly he had conceived and for a while conceived against the Lord Iustice he then in writing delivered and removed Maurice Fitz Girald out of his Iusticeship and placed in his roome Iohn Fitz Ieffery de Morisco the which the Irish Chroniclers have suppressed yet Florilegus and Holinshed doe write Mauritium Hiberniae Iustitiariū eo quod ficte tarde auxilium ab hibernia domino Regi duxerat periclitanti a Iustitiaria Deposuit This Maurice departed out of this world Anno Dom. 1256. was buried saith Clyn in the habit of the Fryers Minors at Yough-halle the which Morice had founded of whom Mathew Paris saith thus he was a valiant Knight a very pleasant man inferiour to none in Ireland who sometime swayed the land when hee had the sword of Iusticeship this man lived with commendations all the dayes of his life but peradventure falsly reported of and stained in the end with the death of Richard Earle Marshall Anno 1247. after that Henry the third and the Clergie of England and Ireland found themselves mightily grieved at the Popes exactions and intollerable extortions in England Wales and Ireland and had signified the same in writing to the Court of Rome whereupon saith Florilegus the Court of Rome fretted and sorrowed that their avarice was as well reproved as restrained Innocentius 4. devised in his conceit a milder course to be held that in stead of a greater summe they should give him at that time out of those dominions to supply his wants but eleven thousand markes Then saith Florilegus Master Iohannes Rusus was sent into Ireland furnished with authority diligently to collect the Popes money as a Legate yet not clad in scarlet lest the Pope should offend the King of England who hath this priviledge that no Legate set foot on his land unlesse hee be sent for or licenced but the said Iohn being a sophisticall Legate vigilantly plying the papall mandate and his owne private gaine extorted out of Ireland about sixe thousand markes the which by the conduite of the Clergie was transported and conveied to London about the Feast of Saint Michaell the Archangell The same yeere saith Florilegus there was a marveilouse and strange Earthquake over England but saith Felcon
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
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