the land there were certaine Irish men which tooke part with him served faithfully and were as reason required rewarded for their service and had for recompence certaine lands given them which they quietly held and peaceably enioyed untill the comming of the Kings sonne then new commers wanting both living and governement had it given them to furnish them in their foolish prodigalitie so that these Irish men flying unto the enemies became not onely enemies but were espials upon the English and conductors of the enemy against them A third reason of ill successe Cambrensis urgeth against England first how that the Britaines or Cambrians so he termeth them entring this land and breaking the ice to the conquest of Ireland were afterwards by William Fitz Adelme and others envied and every way maligned secondly how that the English commanding the land were by the English disgraced and one often times articling accusing and disgracing one another thirdly how that the Normans comming in place overthrew all for the King being borne beyond the seas affected them most they were of his Councell at home in time of peace and made Commanders abroad in time of warres these comming with the Kings sonne into Ireland were fine in their apparrell delicate mouthed feeding upon dainties they could not disgest their meat without Spice and Wine at every meale they could not endure the service in the Marches and borders they would not remaine in remote places they brooked not the Forts Holds and Garrison places but liberty they liked of so it were in a walled town a warme chamber a Ladies lappe a soft bed a furre gowne and their Lords sides to guard and attend pleased them well they would talke and bragge of service sweare and stare at home stand upon the pantofles of their reputation disdaine others and especially the Irish and durst not shew their faces in the field These were they that gave themselves to command the Irish that would not be commanded by them they polled pilled extorted and what not In the space of eight moneths that Earle Iohn staied in Ireland I finde that he built three Castles Tibrach Lismoore and Archfinan alias Ardsivin at Ardsivin upon Midsummer day so Cambrensis reporteth the Prince of Lymeric bent and animated to rebellion slue foure Knights and the greater part of the Garrison there shortly after the same rebels of Lymric by a slight drew out the Garrison to seize upon a prey and lying in ambush killed many of them but these revolters escaped not scotfree in all the parts of the land for at this time when the Irish men of Kennally with great forces had entred Meth killing burning spoiling and preying the Country William le Petit Governour or Iusticer saith Cambrensis drew a head against them rescued the prey put them to flight made a great slaughter of them and sent a hundred heads of the principall of them to Dublin The Kings sonne hearing of these troubles hastned away unto England left the land tumultuous troublesome al upon an uprore committed the charge thereof saith Stanihurst Bruseo Courceo Giraldidis c. in primis Hugonis Lacaei virtuti where in truth I find no such matter for Cambrensis whom herein I must relie unto being then in Ireland with the Kings son reporteth how that Henry the second hearing of the course which these greene heads held in Ireland thought good to call them all unto England and send thither no more such young commanders and by the advice of his Councell committed the charge and absolute command thereof unto Sir Iohn de Courcy whom hee appointed Lord Lievtenant of Ireland the Booke of Houth also testifieth the same Earle Iohn immediatly gathered forces travailed over the whole land pacified for the time Corke Tumound and Conoght From the death of Hugh Delacy who was slaine Anno 1186. unto the time Hugh Delacy the yonger came to be Lord Iustice of whom hereafter more at large Here gentle Reader Cambrensis leaveth us who most faithfully continued the affaires of Ireland some 30. yeeres and odde he was by father a Barry by mother a Gerraldin nephew to Morice Fitz Gerald and Robert Fitz Stephens that first entred to the Conquest of Ireland hee was borne in Pembrok-shire and was Archdecon of Saint Davids and Brechnoc and diversly imployed by Henry the second in whose time among others the first Conquerors his kindred he came into Ireland againe and became Tutor unto Iohn the Kings sonne and accompanied him into Ireland he wrote many learned workes and among other the Conquest of Ireland the Topography of Ireland and Mirabilia Hiberniae Whereof hee dedicated one unto Richard Earle Strangbow and another unto Henry the second he was elected Archbishop of Saint Davids but at Rome he was out-bid by him that had more money and missed the Cushin hee departed this life when hee was about foure score yeeres old and resteth at Saint Davids Yet one thing further of him which he reporteth of himselfe how that he at the time of his being in Ireland had Conference with Mathew Archbishop of Cashill and he saying among other things You have many Saints in Ireland but I doe not find any martyr amonst you the Bishop taking it in ill part as spoken in derision of the Nation answered with great anger Sir it is so that our people is rude savage and barbarous yet there is none so brutish and bloudy as to lay violent hands upon a Priest now it fals out that wee are to be governed by such a Nation as is not guiltlesse of Prelats deaths and it is like if it stands with Gods pleasure that shortly we shall make up a number of Irish martyrs this he spitefully spake meaning the death of Thomas of Canterbury In a while after that Sir Iohn de Courcy had brought the whole land to a good passe and pacified the Irish tumults this I find in the Booke of Houth Sir Hugh Delacy the younger is sent over into Ireland as Lord Iustice to take the absolute Command of the Realme He had no sooner landed but he sent very imperious letters unto Sir Iohn de Courcy to discharge him and all that were authorized by him of their places and command and in like sort like the green heads spoken of a little before which landed with Earle Iohn they braved it out disdained old experimented souldiers and offered sundry disgraces unto the rest of the English so that thereof rose much heartburning division quarrels and bloody brawles The Irish seeing this sudden alteration this division among the English this undiscreet government thought now to find fit opportunity publikely to release themselves of that which they had oft secretly intended by their runnagades they summoned at a day a place all the Chieftaines of Irish birth to a parlee where after many doubts debated many griefes opened they concluded with full resolution to invade all the English and roote them wholly out of the land and first they swoare to
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
upon the King of England And so against my will they made me to learne English and taught me what I should doe and say and after this they called me Richard Duke of Yorke second sonne to Edward the fourth because King Richards Bastard sonne was in the hands of the King of England And upon this the said Iohn VValter and Stephen Poytowe Iohn Tyler Hubbert Burgh with many others as the foresaid Earles entred into this false quarrell and within short time after the French King sent ambassadours into Ireland whose names were Lyot Lucas and Stephen Frayn and thence I went into Fraunce and from thence into Flanders and from Flanders againe into Ireland and from Ireland into Scotland and so into England Thus was Perkins bragge twighted from a milpost to a pudding pricke and hanged was he the next yeare after Then in the yeare 1501. King Henry made Lieutenant of Ireland his second sonne Henry as then Duke of Yorke who afterwards raigned To him was appointed Deputy the aforesaid Gerald Earle of Kildare who accompanied with Iohn Blacke Major of Divelin warred upon VVilliam de Burgo O-Brien and Mac Nemarra Occarrol and the greatest power of Irish men that had beene seene together since the conquest under the hill of Knoctoe in English the hill of Axes sixe miles from Galway and two miles from Ballinclare de Burgoes mannor towne Mac VVilliam and his Complices were there taken his Souldiours that escaped the sword were pursued flying five miles great slaughter done and many Captaines gotten not one English man killed The Earle at his returne was created knight of the Noble Order and flourished all his life long of whom I shall bee occasioned to say somewhat in the next Chapter CAP. IX Henry the eight GErald Fitz Gerald Earle of Kildare a mighty made man full of honour and courage who had beene Lord Deputy and Lord Iustice of Ireland thirtie foure yeares deceased the third of September and lyeth buried in Christs Church in Divelin Betweene him and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond their owne jealousies fed with envy and ambition kindled with certaine lewd factions abbettors of either side ever since the ninth yeare of Henry the seventh when Iames of Ormond with a great army of Irish men camping in S. Thomas Court at Divelin seemed to face the countenance and power of the Deputy these occasions I say fostered a mallice betwixt them and their posterityes many yeares after incurable causes of much ruffle and unquietnes in the Realme untill the confusion of the one house and nonage of the other discontinued their quarrels which except their Inheritours have the grace to put up and to love unfainedly as Gerald and Thomas doe now may hap to turne their countryes to little good and themselves to lesse Ormond was nothing inferiour to the other in stomacke and in reach of pollicy farre beyond him Kildare was in governement a milde man to his enemies intractable to the Irish such a scourge that rather for despite of him then for favour of any part they relyed upon the Butlers came in under his protection served at his call performed by starts as their manner is the duty of good subjects Ormond was secret and drifty of much moderation in speech dangerous of every little wrinkle that touched his reputation Kildare was open and passionable in his moode desperate both of word and deede of the English welbeloved a good lusticier a warriour incomparable towards the Nobles that he favoured not somewhat headlong and unrulie being charged before Henry the seventh for burning the Church at Cashell and many witnesses prepared to avouch against him the truth of that article he suddainely confessed the fact to the great wondering and detestation of the Councell when it was looked how he would justifie the matter By Iesus quoth he I would never have done it had it not beene told me that the Archbishop was within And because the Archbishop was one of his busiest accusers there present merrily laught the King at the plainenesse of the man to see him alleadge that intent for excuse which most of all did aggravate his fault The last article against him they conceived in these tearmes finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earle No quoth the King then in good faith shall this Earle rule all Ireland Thus was the accusation turned to a jest the Earle returned Lord Deputy shortly after created Knight of the Garter and so died Marvell not if this successe were a corrosive to the adverse party which the longer it held aloofe and bit the bridle the more eagerly it followed his course having once the sway and roome at will as you may perceive hereafter Gerald Fitz Gerald sonne of the aforesaid Earle of Kildare and Lord Deputy who chased the nation of the Tooles battered Ocarrols Castles awed all the Irish of the land more more A Gentleman valiant and well spoken yet in his latter time overtaken with vehement suspition of sundry Treasons He of good meaning to unite the families matched his Sister Margaret Fitz Gerald with Pierce Butler Earle of Ossory whom he also holpe to recover the Earledome of Ormond whereinto after the decease of Iames a Bastard brother had intruded Seven yeares together Kildare kept in credit and authority notwithstanding the pushes given against him by secret heavers enviers of his fortune and nourishers of the old grudge who fett him up to the Court of England by commission and caused him there to be opposed with diverse interrogatories touching the Earle of Desmond his Cousin a notorious traytor as they said He left in his roome Morice Fitz Thomas Lord Iustice. After whom came over Lord Lieutenant Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey Grandfather to this Duke of Norfolke accompanied with 200. of the Kings guarde While he sate at Dinner in the Castle of Divelin hee heard newes that Oneale with a mighty army was even in the mouth of the borders ready to invade Immediately men were levyed by the Major and the next morrow joyning them to his band the Lieutenant marched as farre as the water of Slane where having intelligence of Oneales recoyle hee dismissed the footemen and pursued Omore with his horsemen which Omore was said to lurke within certaine miles That espied a Gunner of Omore and watching by a wood side discharged his peece at the very face of the Deputy strake the visard of his helmet and pierced no further as God would This did he in manner recklesse what became of himselfe so he might amaze them for a time breake the swiftnesse of their following and advantage the flight of his Captaine which thing he wanne with the price of his owne blood for the Souldiours would no further till they had searched all the corners of that wood verily suspecting some ambush thereabout and in severall knots ferretted out this Gunner whom Fitz VVilliams and Bedlowe of the Roche were faine to mangle and hewe in peeces because
the wretch would never yeeld In the meane while defiance proclaimed with Fraunce Scotland both at once moved the King to returne Surrey out of Ireland that he might employ him in those services his prowesse integrity good nature and course of governement the country much commendeth and honoureth the name and family to this day Pierce Butler Earle of Ossory Lord Deputy Kildare attending the Kings pleasure for his dispatch recovered favour at the instance of the Duke of Suffolke whose daughter Dame Elizabeth Graye he espoused royally and so departed home Now there was a great partaker of all the Deputies Councell one Robert Talbot of Belgard whom the Geraldines hated deadly him they surmized to keepe a Kalender of all their doings and to stirre the coales that incensed brother against brother In which fury Iames Fitz Gerald meeting the said Gentleman besides Ballimore slew him even there journeying to keepe his Christmasse with the Deputy With this despitefull murder both sides brake out into open rage and especially the Countesse of Ossory Kildares sister a rare woman and able for wisedome to rule a Realme had not her stomacke over-rul'd her selfe Heere beganne intimation of new Treasons passing to and fro with complaints and replyes But Suffolke had wrought the canvas so fast in his sonne in lawes behalfe that hee was suffered to rest at home and onely Commissioners directed thither with Authority to examine the roote of their griefes wherein if they found Kildare but even tollerably purged their instructions was to depose the plaintiffe and to sweare the other Lord Deputy The Commissioners were Sir Raphe Egerton a Cheshire Knight Anthony Fitzherbert second Iustice of the Common-pleas and Iames Denton Deane of Lichfield who huddeled up those accusations as they thought good and suddenly tooke the sword from the Earle of Ossory sware the Geraldine Lord Deputy before whom Con Oneale bare the sword that day Concerning the murtherer whom they might have hanged they brought him prisoner into England presented him to Cardinall VVolsey who vvas said to hate Kildares bloud And the Cardinall intending his execution vvith more dishonour to the name caused him to be ledde about London streetes manacled and haltered vvhich asked so long time that the Deane of Lichfield stepped to the King and got the Gentleman his pardon This untimely shift inflamed the Cardinall and ripened the malice hitherto not so ranke and therefore hereafter Ossory brought evident proofes of the Deputies disorder that hee vvilfully vvinked at the Earle of Desmond vvhom hee should have attached by the Kings letters that he curryed acquaintance and friendship vvith meere Irish enemyes that he had armed them against him being the Kings Deputy that he hanged and hevved rashly good subiects vvhom hee mistrusted to leave to the Butlers friendship Yet againe therefore was Kildare commaunded to appeare which he did leaving in his roome Fitz Gerald of Leixlip whom they shortly deprived and chose the Baron of Delvin whom O-Connor tooke prisoner and there the Earle of Ossory to shew his ability of service brought to Divelin an army of Irish-men having Captaines over them Oconnor Omore and O-Carroll and at S. Mary Abbey was chosen Deputie by the Kings Councell In which office being himselfe save onely in feates of Armes a simple gentleman he bare out his honour and the charge of governement very worthily through the singular wisedome of his Countesse a Lady of such port that all Estates of the Realme couched unto her so politique that nothing was thought substantially debated without her advice manlike and tall of stature very rich and bountifull a bitter enemy the onely meane at those dayes whereby her Husbands Countrey was reclaymed from the sluttish and uncleane Irish custome to the English habite bedding house-keeping and civility But to those vertues vvas yoked such a selfe-liking and such a Majesty above the tenure of a subiect that for ensurance thereof shee sticked not to abuse her husbands honour against her brothers follye Notvvithstanding I learne not that shee practised his undoing vvhich ensued and vvas to her undoubtedly great heavinesse as upon vvhom both the blemish thereof and the sustenance of that vvhole family depended after but that shee by indirect meanes vvrought her Brother out of credite to advance her husband the common voyce and the thing it selfe speaketh All this vvhile abode the Earle of Kildare at the Court and vvith much adoe found shift to bee called before the Lords to ansvvere solemnely They sate upon him diversely affectioned and especially the Cardinall Lord Chauncellour disliked his cause comforted his accusers and enforced the Articles obiected and vvhat else soever could be gathered thereof in these words I wot well my Lord that I am not the meetest man at this Board to charge you with these treasons because it hath pleased some of your pew-fellowes to report that I am a professed enemie to all Nobilitie and namely to the Geraldines but seeing every curst boy can say asmuch when he is controlled and seeing these points are so vveightie that they should not be dissembled of us and so apparant that they cannot be denyed of you I must have leave notwithstanding your stale slaunder to be the mouth of these honorable persons at this time and to trumpe your Treasons in your way howsoever you take me First you remember how the lewde Earle your kinsman who passeth not whom he serve might he change his Master sent his confederates with letters of credence to Frauncis the French King and having but cold comfort there to Charles the Emperour proffering the helpe of Mounster and Connaght towards the conquest of Ireland if either of them vvould helpe to vvinne it from our King Hovv many letters vvhat precepts vvhat messages vvhat threats have been sent you to apprehend him and yet not done vvhy so forsooth I could not catch him Nay nay Earle forsooth you vvould not nighly vvatch him If he be justly suspected vvhy are you partiall in so great a charge If not vvhy are you fearefull to have him tryed Yea Sir it vvil be svvorne deposed to your face that for feare of meeting him you have vvinked vvilfully shunned his sight altered your course vvarned his friends stopped both eyes and eares against his detectors and vvhensoever you tooke upon you to hunt him out then vvas hee sure before-hand to bee out of your vvalke surely this juggling and false-play little became either an honest man called to such honour or a Nobleman put in such trust Had you lost but a Covv or a Garron of your ovvne tvvo hundred Kyrneghes vvould have come at your vvhistle to rescue the prey from the uttermost edge of Vlster All the Irish in Ireland must have given you the vvay But in pursuing so vveightie a mater as this mercifull God hovv nice how dangerous how wayward have you bin One while he is from home another while he keepeth home sometimes fled sometimes in the borders
neither our service nor our good meaning towards our Princes crowne availeth yet say not hereafter but in this open hostility which wee professe heere and proclaime we have shewed our selves no villaines nor churles but warriours and Gentlemen This Sword of estate is yours and not mine I received it with an oath and have used it to your benefit I should offend mine honour if I turned the same to your annoyance now have I neede of mine owne sword which I dare trust as for this common sword it flattereth me with a golden scabberd but hath in it a pestilent edge already bathed in the Geraldines blood and whetted it selfe in hope of a destruction save your selves from us as from your open enemies I am none of Henryes Deputy I am his foe I have more minde to conquere then to governe to meete him in the field then to serve him in office If all the hearts of England and Ireland that have cause thereto vvould joyne in this quarrell as I trust they will then should he be a by-word as I trust he shall for his heresie lechery and tyranny wherein the age to come may skore him among the auncient Princes of most abhominable and hatefull memorie With that he rendred up the sword and flang away like a Bedlam adding to his shamefull Oration many other slanderous and foule termes which for regard of the Kings posteritie I have no minde to utter They concluded first to murther all of the English birth in Ireland and sent an ambassador to Paulus the 3 called Mac Granell archdeacon of Kelles and rejected thence to Charles the fift whose Aunt Queene Katherine the King had lately cast off with much indignation of all the Spaniards him hee thought eith to be kindled and craved assistance to conquer the land which he promised to hold under him his heires for ever The meane while he forced an oath upon Gentlemen of every shire to ayde him camped within the pale reared a great army of English Irish and Scots invaded the Earle of Ossory and Iames his sonne Lord Butler who having intelligence thereof prevented his fury and kept those parts in order When the Butlers had stopped his rage in Mounster he fell to parlyes and treatyes with them sent them diverse messengers and letters whereby he covenanted to devide with them halfe the Kingdome would they assist his enterprise Iames Lord Treasurer in whom for their youth and acquaintance he most affied and often accumbred with such temptations finally returned his brokers with letters Taking pen in hand to write you my resolute answere I muse in the very first line by what name to call you my Lord or my Cousin seeing your notorious treason hath distayned your honour and your desperate lewdnes shamed your kindred your are so liberall in parting stakes with mee that a man would weene you had no right to the game so importunate in craving my company as if you would perswade me to hang with you for good fellowship And thinke you that Iames is so mad to gape for gudgens or so ungratious to sell his truth for a peece of Ireland were it so as it cannot be that the Chickens you reckon were both hatched and feathered yet be thou sure I had rather in this quarrell die thine enemy then live thy partner for the kindnes you proffer mee and good love in the end of your letter the best way I can I purpose to requite that is in advising you though you have fetched your feaze yet to looke well ere you leape over Ignorance and error and a certaine opinion of duty hath carried you unawares to this folly not yet so ranke but it may be cured The King is a vessell of bounty and mercy your words against his Majesty shall not bee counted malicious but rather balked out for heat and impotency except your selfe by heaping offences discover a mischievous and willfull meaning Farewell Nettled with this round answere forth he passed to increase his power offered violence to very few except that one despitous murther at Tartaine the twenty five of Iuly where in a morning earely he caused to be brought before him the honourable Prelate Doctour Allen Archbishop of Divelin and Lord Chancellor who being a reverent personage feeble for age and sicknesse kneeling at his feete in his shirte and mantle bequeathing his soule to God his body to the Traytors mercy the wretched young man commaunded there to be brained like an oxe The place is ever since hedged in overgrowne and unfrequented in detestation of the fact The people have observed that all the accessaries thereof being after pardoned for rebellion ended miserably Allen had beene in service with Cardinall VVolsey of deepe judgement in the Cannon law the onely match of Stephen Gardener another of VVolseyes Chaplaines for avoyding of which emulation he was preferred in Ireland rough and rigorous in Iustice hated of the Geraldines for his Masters sake his owne as he that crossed them diverse times and much troubled both the father and sonne in their governements nor unlike to have promoted their accusations All this while the Kings army was looked for and no succour came to the rebels which greatly quayled them being of themselves though stored with souldiours yet unfurnished with any sufficient munition to stand in a maine battell Moreover the number of wise Gentlemen did not greatly incline to his purpose And therefore when he besieged the City of Divelin the most part of those arrowes which were shot over the walles were unheaded and little or nothing affrayed them That espied the citizens and gathering the faintnes of his souldiours thereby blazed abroad upon the walles triumphant newes that the Kings Army was arryved and as it had beene so indeed suddenly rushed out of their gates uppon the Rebels who at the first sight of armed men weening no lesse but the truth was so otherwise assured that the Citty would never dare to incounter them gave ground forsooke their Captaines dispersed and scattered into diverse corners and never after met together A little before this time dyed the Earle of Kildare in the towre of London for thought and paine Sir VVilliam Skevington whom the Irish men call the gunner because hee was preferred from that office of the Kings Master-gunner to governe them and that they can full evill brooke to be ruled of any that is but meanely borne brought over an Army and with him Leonard Gray a younger sonne to the Marquesse Dorset Lord Marshall To whom Fitz Gerald yeelded and vvas sent into England vvhere hee vvith his Vncles and other principalls of the conspiracy vvere aftervvards dravvne hanged and quartered at Tiburne Soone after vvas the house of the Geraldines attaynted by Parliament and all of the name busily trayned out for feare of nevv commotions But Thomas Leurus late Bishop of Kildare schoole-master to a younger brother Gerald Fitz Gerald the Earle that novv liveth secretly stale avvay vvith
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
deliciously but to try fortune and to seeke adventures wee stood sometime upon the top of the wheele and the game went of our side now mee thinkes fortune wheeles about let us not be dismaid for that which is low now will be up againe and so we must tarry and take our time such is the mutability among the sonnes of men the fickle and uncertaine course of humane causes so that prosperitie and adversitie enterchangeably doe follow the one after the other After day commeth the night and when the night is passed the day dawneth againe the sunne riseth and spreads his beames over the face of the earth holdeth his course to his fall passeth the night season and riseth againe we who before this time have made great triumphs and had the wings of fortune to flye withall and are now clowded and inclosed by our enemies on every side our victuals are scant the King our Soveraigne Lord frowneth upon us we are barred of release by sea and by land our friends cannot helpe us our enemies are ready to devoure us plucke up your hearts if God be with us we care not who is against us but alas my brother Fitz Stephens whose valiantnesse and noble enterprise brake the yce and made way for us into this Iland is now shut up in a weake hold and feeble place with wife and children too weake and slender to keepe out so great a force O trayterous Donald of Limiric O trecherous and halfe-hearted people of Kensele and Wexford peace is war trust is trechery and truth is falshood among them why then doe we tarry why doe we linger is there any hope of reliefe from our native soile no no the matter is now otherwise and we our selves are presently in a worse case for as our nation at this present is odious and hatefull unto the Irish men so are we also mis-led with some disgrace in our country wherefore in so much as fortune favoureth the forward and couragious and discourageth the dastard and faint-hearted while our wits are fresh while our bodies are able while wee are all on heart let us give the on-set though we are not so many in number as they are our courage and valour is knowne to exceed theirs they are but naked wretches and unarmed people Reimonà Legrosse immediately breaketh out in these speeches My Vncle Maurice hath gravely delivered his minde he hath pithily advised us and prudently councelled us this is no time to sit in councell to spend time in speeches or to use delayes the danger is at hand the enemy is at the doore wee are compassed by sea and by land there is no flying we must fight it out our provision is spent England dares releeve us no more Ireland defieth us the Kings Maiestie I know dispraiseth not our activities and yet graceth not our successes he discommendeth not our valour yet envieth all our glory though in words he reporteth well of our service yet in deeds secretly hindereth the course thereof lastly he feareth that which we meant not and doubteth of that which we thinke not of wherefore all doubts and delaies set apart let us as becometh men of our sort try the course of fortune and proue the force of the enemy let that appeare unto them which is knowne unto us of what race we came and of what stock wee are discended Camber the first King of Cambria our native Country was our Ancestor and the sonne of that Noble Brutus the first and sole Monarch of Brittaine whose Ancestor was Troos the founder of that most antient City of Troy who descended from Dardanus the son of Iupiter from whom is derived unto us not onely the stemme of antient Nobility but also a certaine naturall inclination of valiant minds and couragious stomachs resolutely to follow all exploits of prowesse and chivalry and shall we now like sluggarts degenerate from so noble a race and like a sort of Cowards be afraid of these naked and unarmed Raskals in whom there is no valour by reason of knowledge or experience in Armes Shall such a rable of savages pinne us up within the wals of little Dublin When in times past all the Princes in Greece kept warres the space of ten yeeres and odde months against our Ancecestors in the famous City of Troy and could not preuaile against them untill they used treasons and practised treacheries which bred unto them a more infamous victory then a glorious Triumph Let it never be said that the blood of the Trojans shall be stained in our pusillanimity and receive reproach by our peevish dastardy Fortune though she be pourtraied to be blind as ever void of right judgement and to stand upon a rolling stone as being alwaies flitting and unconstant yet for the most part shee helpeth such as be of couragious minds valiant stomachs you wil say we are but a few and the enemy infinit in number what then Victory consisteth not in multitudes neither conquest in numbers Did not Thomiris the Scythian Queene with hundreds overthrow Cyrus with thousands and tooke him and slew him Did not Laomedes the Spartane encounter having but foure thousand Souldiers with mighty Xerxes who brought five hundred thousand to the field and overthrew him Did not Alexander with a few Macedonians ouerthrew Darius the great Monarch of Persia Did not he take him his wife and daughters prisoners and make a Conquest of Persia Have not wee in our persons all praise be given to God the giver of Victory even you right honorable Earle at Waterford my uncle Fitz Stephens at Wexford my selfe at Dondorogh with a few given many the foile what remains sith time shall sooner faile then matter want let us like men shew resolute minds in this service And to conclude my mind then and opinion is that we doe issue out upon them as secretly and as suddenly as we may and give the onset And for so much as Roderic of Conoght is the generall of the field in whom lyeth the chiefest force and on whom all the rest doe chiefly depend it shall be best to begin with him and if we can giue him the overthrow all the rest will flie and we shall obtaine a glorious victorie but if we shall fall into their hands and be slaine yet shall we leave an honorable report and an immortall fame to our posteritie He had no sooner ended his speech but every man armed himselfe to goe forth and give the onset They divided the Army in three battailes and although at the first they contended for the Vanguard yet quickly they were accorded and marched forward Reimond le Grosse resolutely given with twenty Knights and souldiers well appointed tooke the Vanguard Miles Cogan with thirty Knights and many a worthy warriour kept the maine battaile Earle Strangbow and Maurice Fitz Gerald with fourty Knights Gentlemen and common souldiers took the Rereward in every ward were placed some of the Citizens and other some with martiall men left at home
Lievetenant with the allowance of twenty Gentlemen of his houshold and joyned with him in commission Iohn de Courcy with the allowance of tenne men to attend his person Robert Fitz Stephens and Miles Cogan who had nobly served him in his wars two yeers with the allowance of twenty men to attend their persons at which time saith Holinshed the Irish men paid the King a tribute of twelve pence yeerely for every house or else for every yoke of Oxen alias plow which they had of their owne Richard surnamed Strangbow had to his father Gilbert likewise surnamed Strangbow for his valour strength this Gilbert was E. of Ogye in Normandie Lord of Totenhā Alverdiston Wolaston in England so created by Henry 1. William the son of Osbert a Norman E. of Ogie in Normandie had issue Richard E. of Ogie this Richard had issue Walter Gilbert aforesaid father to Richard E. Strangbow William Fitz Osbert came into England in the ayde of William the Conquerour And as far as I can learn Walter was the first Earle of Penbroke the Britaines call it Penbraich More the head of an arme of the sea whence both the Countie and the most noble Earldome have their denominations Arnulph de monte Gomerik the yonger sonne of Roger de montegomerik that was by William the Conquerour created Earle of Arundell and Shrewsbury builded the Castle of Penbroke where Henry the seventh was borne William the Conquerour gave him Divet and Cardigan hee was Earle of Ogie and the second Earle of Penbroke and married the daughter by the mediation of Girald de Windsore Constable of his Castle of Morogh King of Leinster in Ireland Gilbert surnamed Strangbow was created by King Stephen the third Earle of Penbroke hee was Earle of Ogie in Normandie Lord of Totenham Alverdiston Wolaston and Cardigan and in England succeeded Arnulph Henry the first made him Earle of Strigule now called Chepstow and gave him Cardigan this Gilbert builded Castrogie alias Castrum Ogie in Gwent and the Castle of Stratmirike Richard surnamed Strangbow succeeded his father Gilbert his stile as I take it is thus Richard surnamed Strangbow Lord of Totenham Alverdiston Wolaston and Cardigan in England Earle of Penbroke Earle of Strigule alias Domonius de Chepstow in England Earle of Ogie in Normandie Earle of Leicester Earle Marshall of England Vicegerent of Normandie Lord Lievetenant of Ireland and Prince of Leinster in the right of Eva his wife sole heire of Dermot Mac Morogh King of Leinster This Richard had issue by his first wife a sonne a fine youth and a gallant stripling who following his father with some charge in battaile array as he passed by Idrone in Leinster to relieve Robert Fitz Stephens in Wexford upon the sight and cry of the Irish men when his father was in cruell fight gave backe with his company to the great discouragement of the host yet the Earle got the victory and commanded with the teares in his cheekes that his sonne should be cut in the middle with a sword for his cowardize in battaile he was buried in the Church of the blessed Trinitie in Dublin where now his father resteth by his side and caused the cause of his death for an Epitaph to be set over him Nate ingrate mihi pugnanti terga dedisti Non mihi sed genti regno quoque terga dedisti My sonne unkinde didst flye the field the father fighting hard Nor me nor English birth didst weigh nor kingdome didst regard How the sonne pleaded with his father for the place of service and how the father answered Stanihurst hath many circumstances hereof and delivered that his owne father in his fury and in the face of the enemy cut him off and marvaileth that Cambrensis would conceale it and in the end taketh it as a matter of truth both by the testimony of the Tombe in Christ Church as also by the industry of Sir Henry Sidney Knight a great favourer of Antiquities in preserving the same to the knowledge of the posterity Richard Earle Strangbow by his second wife Eva the daughter of Dermot Mac Morogh had issue one daughter Isabell whom Richard the first gave in marriage to William Maxfield Lord Maxfield Earle Marshall of England of whom God willing I shall have occasion to speake further when I come to his time The same yeere that Strangbow dyed viz. 1177. so Holinshed writeth Iohn de Courcy entred Vlster discomfited the Irish and wanne the Citie of Dune where the body of Saint Patricke Saint Colme and Saint Brigide the Virgin rests whom Courcy calleth tria jocalia Hiberniae the three jewels of Ireland At the winning of Dune Roderic King of Connaght and Monarch of Ireland at severall times before sworne to the King raised a mighty army against Courcy where Roderic was overthrowne and the Bishop of Dune taken prisoner among other rebels the which Bishop at the request of Cardinall Vinian then present was set at liberty This Cardinall saith mine Author intitled Sancti Stephani de monte Celio was sent from Alexander 3. and comming into England without licence was pardoned by Henry 2. and permitted to goe into Scotland and the north parts where his commission directed him when he had ended his businesse in Scotland he passed over into Man where he held his Christmas with Gotred King of Man and after the Epiphanie sailed from thence into Ireland and came thither saith Newbrigiensis the same time that the English men invaded the country and was entertained by Roderic and the Bishop of Dune and others with great reverence The Irish men aske councell of Vivian the Legate what in that case he thought best to be done whether they should fight or yeeld unto the English nation he gave counsell forgetting what Adrian 4. and Alexander 3. had formerly granted and said fight in defence of your country This Legate craftily preventing all mishaps took the Church of Dune for his sanctuary and had in readinesse the Popes commission and the King of Englands Passe unto the Captaines of Ireland for his safe conduct From thence he went to Dublin called the Prelates held a councell and filled his bagges with the sinnes of the people the English Captaines understanding of it gave him in charge either to depart the land or to goe to the warres and serve for pay with them and no longer to receive money for nought In the booke of Howth it is further alledged how that this Legate in his Synod at Dublin whether it were to curry favour with the English men and to colour his other pranckes it forceth not greatly shewed and published openly the King of Englands right to Ireland with the Popes grant and confirmation and accursed all those that gainesaid the same Now to the true history of Sir Iohn de Courcy as worthy a Knight for martiall prowesse as ever trode upon Irish ground whom Cambrensis lightly overskipped partly upon private grudge for that Sir Iohn de Courcy allowed him
not for Vicar generall in Ireland and Secretary to the State partly in favour of Sir Hugh Delacy who maligned and envied the honor and renowne and prosperous successes of Courcy lastly for feare of King Iohn into whose displeasure Courcy fell through the false accusation of Lacy and his faction yet the certainty of his exploits hath beene preserved and in Latine committed to Paper by a Fryer in the North the which booke Oneil brought to Aâ—magh and was translated into English by ..... Dowdall Primate there Anno 1551. He was by father a Norman by mother a Cambrian or Britaine and married the daughter of Gotred King of Man he was a Gentleman descended as it seemeth by his coate of an antient house of whom the Irish men hold that Merlin prophecied where he wrote A white Knight sitting on a white horse bearing birds in his shield shall be the first which with force of Armes shall enter and subdue Vlster He served King Henry the second in all his warres and in France he met with a worthy Knight Sir Amoricus Tristeram who married Courcy his sister and whether it was derived of the Ladies name or for that they were married on Saint Laurence day ever after hee and his posterity after him was called Sir Amoricus de Sancto Laurentio whence the Noble house of Howth is lineally discended wherof hereafter in another place more at large These two Knights became sworne brethren in the Church of our Lady at Roane where solemnely they vowed to serve together to live and dye together and equally to devide betweene them what they wanne by the sword or should be given them in regard of their service Thus they continued in France Anjou Normandy and England and when Sir Iohn de Courcy was joyned in commission with William Burgh Fitz Adelme and others Sir Amoricus de Sancte Laurentia accompanied him into Ireland where Courcy receaved a graunt of the King by Patent for him and his heires or assignes after him to enjoy in that Land all that he could Conquer with the sword reserving to the King homage and fealty they landed at Houth and there fought a cruell fight by the side of a Bridge where Sir Iohn de Courcy being sickly taried abord the shippe Sir Amoricus being Chiftaine and Generall of the field by land behaved himselfe most worthily many were slaine on both sides but Sir Amoricus got the victory with the lose of seven of his owne blood sonnes uncles and nephewes wherupon for his singular valour and good service there performed that Lordship was allotted unto him for his part of the conquest with other things which Sir Iohn de Courcy gave him Immediatly Sir Iohn de Courcy Sir Amoricus de Saint Laurence and Sir Roger Hoer so well appointed as then contented them directed their course towards the North the principall cause that moved them besides their valour was the hard government of William Fitz Adelme Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whose conditions Cambrensis who then lived and was conversant with him delivereth in this sort He was covetous proud malicious envious a favorite of wine and women and good to none but to his back and belly and by his backe he understood his kindred and by his belly he ment his children for he opposed himselfe most enviously against the Garraldins Fitz Stephens and Barries the first most valiant Conquerors of the Land and against their posterity c. While Courcy is on his way give me leave gentle Reader to eternise the Memoriall of Maurice Fitz Gerald As he was of birth and parentage nobly and worshiply discended so was he in condition and for martiall prowesse every way renowned Cambrensis his kinsman commendeth him greatly and no lesse then he deserved He left this world to the great griefe of all the true harts in Ireland and lieth buried in the Monastery of grey Friers without the wales of Wexford his ..... sonnes whom William Fitz Adelme maligned builded the Castle of Fernes In his time saith Cambrensis at Wirlo where Maurice Fitz Girald dwelled there was a Monster begotten by a wicked man of that nation upon a Cow a vice saith he at that time too common among that nation It had the body of a man but all the hinder parts of an oxe from the anckles of the legges and the wrists of the armes he had the hoofes of an oxe his head was all bald saving a few small and thinne haires his eyes great round and blacke like an Oxe nose he had none but two holes speake hee could not but onely bellow like a Cow this Monster did daily resort to the house of Maurice Fitz Girald about dinner time and such meat as was given him he tooke it in his hoofes and put it to his mouth and so fed himselfe Diviners in those daies construed this of the government of Fitz Adelme the which in their opinion was monstrous but there I leave and returne to Courcy Iohn de Courcy after foure dayes some miles come to Daud without resistance and unlooked for contrary to all mens expectation the which in a word hath beene spoken of before strange it is to see what a sudden feare will worke Dunlenus whom I take to be O Donell no base nor meane Commander of that place fled away left armes men and munition behinde happy was hee in his owne opinion that he had escaped the hands he wist not of what enemy the trumpets sounded the armour ratled the women clapt their hands the children cryed the townesmen to goe the leaders entred the souldiers ryfled the towne upon a sodaine was ransacked doores windowes cupboards chests flew open the army after long march and sore travaile being in great want and weakenesse had their housing firing dyet and fare of the best bedding cloathing gold silver plate and rich booties without checke or controulement of any and respite for certaine daies to breath rest and recreate themselves In the necke of this out of Scotland the winde blew one Vinianus a Cardinall spoken of before which tooke upon him to intreate a peace betweene the two nations but could not prevaile After eight dayes Roderic the Monarch and O Donnell King of Duune had mustred their men gathered forces gotten great ayde and prepared an hoast of tenne thousand fighting men and came to besiege the City Sir Iohn de Courcy having but seven hundred thought best not to bee cooped within nor caged like a Bird prepared to give them battaile abroad marched forth and ordered his army as followeth he divided his men into three companies the horsemen being seven score were set in a winge on the left hand under the leading of Sir Amoricus de Saint Laurantio every horseman having a bowman behinde him On the right hand Sir Roger Poer who had married Sir Amoricus Neece led the foot company close by a bogge side in the midst came Sir Iohn de Courcy with his company the way was narrow where they should encounter and the
Countrey of warre as it is handled and allwayes full of Souldiours they which have the government whether they finde it the most ease to the Queenes purse or the most ready meanes at hand for victualing of the Souldiour or that necessity inforceth them thereunto doe scatter the Army abroad in the Countrey and place them in Villages to take their victuals of them at such vacant times as they lye not in Campe nor are otherwise imployed in service Another kinde of Cesse is the imposing of provision for the Governors house-keeping which though it be most necessary and be also for avoyding of all the evills formerly therein used lately brought to a composition yet it is not without great inconveniences no lesse then here in England or rather much more The like Cesse is also charged upon the Countrey sometimes for victualling of the Souldiours when they lye in Garrison at such times as there is none remayning in the Queenes store or that the same cannot be conveniently conveyed to their place of Garrison But these two are not easily to be redressed when necessity thereto compelleth but as for the former as it is not necessary so is it most hurtfull and offensive to the poore country and nothing convenient for the Souldiours themselves who during their lying at Cesse use all kinde of outragious disorder and villany both towards the poore men which victuall and lodge them as also to all the Country round about them whom they abuse oppresse spoyle afflict by all the meanes they can invent for they will not onely not content themselves with such victuals as their hostes nor yet as the place perhaps affords but they will have other meate provided for them and Aqua vitae sent for yea and money besides laide at their trenchers which if they want then about the house they walke with the wretched poore man and his silly wife who are glad to purchase their peace with any thing By which vile manner of abuse the countrey people yea and the very English which dwell abroad and see and sometimes feele this outrage growe into great detestation of the Souldiours and thereby into hatred of the very government which draweth upon them such evills And therefore this you may also ioyne unto the former evill customes which we have to reprove in Ireland Eudox. Truly this is one not the least and though the persons by whom it is used be of better note then the former roguish sort which you reckoned yet the fault me thinkes is no lesse worthy of a marshall Iren. That were a harder course Eudoxus to redresse every abuse by a marshall it would seeme to you very evill surgery to cut off every unsound or sicke part of the body which being by other due meanes recovered might afterwards doe very good service to the body againe and haply helpe to save the whole Therefore I thinke better that some good salve for the redresse of the evill bee sought forth then the least part suffered to perish but hereof wee have to speake in another place Now we will proceede to other like defects amongst which there is one generall inconvenience which raigneth almost throughout all Ireland that is the Lords of land and free-holders doe not there use to set out their land in farme or for tearme of yeares to their Tennants but onely from yeare to yeare and some during pleasure neither indeede will the Irish Tennant or husbandman otherwise take his land then so long as he list himselfe The reason hereof in the Tennant is for that the Land-lords there use most shamefully to racke their Tennants laying upon them Coigny and Livery at pleasure exacting of them besides his Covenants what he pleaseth So that the poore husbandman either dare not binde himselfe to him for longer tearme or thinketh by his continuall liberty of change to keepe his Land-lord the rather in awe from wronging of him And the reason why the Land-lord will no longer covenant with him is for that he dayly looketh after change and alteration and hovereth in expectation of new worlds Eudox. But what evill commeth hereby to the Common-wealth or what reason is it that any Land-lord should not set nor any Tennant take his land as himselfe list Iren. Marry the evils which commeth hereby is great for by this meanes both the Land-lord thinketh that he hath his Tennant more at commaund to follow him into what action soever hee shall enter and also the Tennant being left at his liberty is fit for every occasion of change that shall be offered by time and so much also the more ready and willing is he to runne into the same for that hee hath no such state in any his houlding no such building upon any farme no such coste imployed in fensing or husbanding the same as might with-hold him from any such willfull course as his Lords cause or his owne lewde disposition may carry him unto All which hee hath forborne and spared so much expence for that he had no firme estate in his Tenement but was onely a Tennant at will or little more and so at will may leave it And this inconvenience may be reason enough to ground any ordinance for the good of the Common-wealth against the private behoofe or will of any Landlord that shall refuse to graunt any such terme or estate unto his Tennant as may tende to the good of the whole Realme Eudox. Indeede me thinkes it is a great willfullnes in any such Land-lord to refuse to make any longer farmes unto their Tennants as may besides the generall good of the Realme be also greatly for their owne profit and availe For what reasonable man will not thinke that the Tenement shal be made much better for the Lords behoofe if the Tennant may by such good meanes bee drawne to build himselfe some handsome habitation thereon to ditch and inclose his ground to manure and husband it as good Farmours use For when his Tennants terme shal be expired it will yeeld him in the renewing his lease both a good fine and also a better rent And also it shall be for the good of the Tennant likewise who by such buildings and inclosures shall receive many benefits first by the handsomenesse of his house he shall take more comfort of his life more safe dwelling and a delight to keepe his said house neate and cleanely which now being as they commonly are rather swyne-styes then houses is the cheifest cause of his so beastly manner of life and savage condition lying and living together with his beast in one house in one roome in one bed that is cleane strawe or rather a foule dunghill And to all these other commodities hee shall in sort time finde a greater added that is his owne wealth and riches increased and wonderfully inlarged by keeping his Cattle in inclosures where they shall allwayes have fresh pasture that now is all trampled and over-runne warme covert that now lyeth open to all weather safe
person with such an unknowne marke Eudox. Surely these ordinances seeme very expedient but specially that of free townes of which I wonder there is so small store in Ireland and that in the first peopling and planting thereof they were neglected and omitted Iren. They were not omitted for there were through all places of the Country convenient many good townes seated which thorough that inundation of the Irish which I first told you of were utterly wasted and defaced of which the ruines are yet in many places to be seene and of some no signe at all remaining save onely their bare names but their seates are not to be found Eudox. But how then commeth it to passe that they have never since beene recovered nor their habitations reedified as of the rest which have beene no lesse spoyled and wasted Iren. The cause thereof was for that after their desolation they were begged by Gentlemen of the Kings under colour to repaire them and gather the poore reliques of the people againe together of whom having obtained them they were so farre from reedifying of them as that by all meanes they have endeavoured to keepe them waste least that being repaired their Charters might be renewed and their Burgesses restored to their lands which they had now in their possession much like as in those old monuments of Abbeyes and religious houses we see them likewise use to doe For which cause it is judged that King Henry the eight bestowed them upon them conceiving that thereby they should never bee able to rise againe And even so doe these Lords in these poore old corporate townes of which I could name divers but for kindling of displeasure Therefore as I wished many corporate townes to be erected so would I againe wish them to be free not depending upon the service nor under the commaund of any but the Governour And being so they will both strengthen all the Country round about them which by their meanes will be the better replenished and enriched and also be as continuall houldes for her Majesty if the people should revolt or breake out againe for without such it is easie to forrage and over-run the whole land Let be for ensample all those Free-boroughes in the Low-Countryes which are now all the strength thereof These and other like ordinances might be delivered for the good establishment of the Realme after it is once subdued and reformed in which it might afterwards be very easily kept and maintained with small caâ—e of the Governours and Councell there appointed so as it should in short space yeeld a plentifull revenue to the Crowne of England which now doth but sucke consume the treasure thereof through those unsound plots and changefull orders which are dayly devised for her good yet never effectually prosecuted or performed Eudox. But in all this your discourse I have not marked any thing by you spoken touching the appointment of the principall Officer to whom you wish the charge and performance of all this to be committed Onely I observed some fowle abuses by you noted in some of the late Governours the reformation whereof you left of for this present place Iren. I delight not to lay open the blames of great Magistrates to the rebuke of the world and therefore their reformation I will not meddle with but leave unto the wisedome of greater heads to be considered only thus much I will speake generally thereof to satisfie your desire that the government and cheife Magistracy I wish to continue as it doth to wit that it be ruled by a Lord Deputy or Iustice for that it is a very safe kinde of rule but there withall I wish that over him there were placed also a Lord Lieutenant of some of the greatest personages in England such a one I could name upon whom the eye of all England is fixed and our last hopes now rest who being intituled with that dignity and being here alwayes resident may backe and defend the good course of that government against all maligners which else will through their cunning working under hand deprave and pull backe what ever thing shall be begun or intended there as we commonly see by experience at this day to the utter ruine and desolation of that poore Realme and this Leiutenancie should be no discountenancing of the Lord Deputy but rather a strengthning of all his doings for now the cheife evill in that government is that no Governour is suffered to goe on with any one course but upon the least information here of this or that hee is either stopped and crossed or other courses appointed him from hence which he shall run which how inconvenient it is is at this houre too well felt And therefore this should be one principall in the appointing of the Lord Deputies authority that it should bee more ample and absolute then it is and that he should have uncontrouled power to doe any thing that he with the advisement of the Councell should thinke meete to be done For it is not possible for the Councell here to direct a Governour there who shall be forced oftentimes to follow the necessitie of present actions and to take the suddaine advantage of time which being once lost will not bee recovered whilst through expecting direction from hence the delayes whereof are oftentimes through other greater affaires most irkesome the oportunityes there in the meane time passe away and great danger often groweth which by such timely prevention might easily bee stopped And this I remember is worthily observed by Machiavel in his discourses upon Livie where he commendeth the manner of the Romans government in giving absolute power to all their Councellors and Governours which if they abused they should afterwards dearely answere And the contrary thereof he reprehendeth in the States of Venice of Florence and many other principalityes of Italy who use to limit their cheife Officers so strictly as that thereby they have oftentimes lost such happy occasions as they could never come unto againe The like whereof who so hath beene conversant in that government of Ireland hath too often seene to their great hinderance and hurt Therefore this I could wish to be redressed and yet not so but that in particular things he should be restrained though not in the generall government as namely in this that no offices should bee sould by the Lord Deputy for money nor no pardons nor no protections bought for reward nor no beoves taken for Captainries of Countryes nor no shares of Bishopricks for nominating of Bishops nor no forfeytures nor dispensations with poenall Statutes given to their servants or friends nor no selling of licences for transportation of prohibited wares and specially of corne and flesh with many the like which neede some manner of restrainte or else very great trust in the honorable disposition of the Lord Deputy Thus I have Eudoxus as briefly as I could and as my memorie would serve me run through the state of that whole Country both to