take any notice of Ireland and therefore we take no further notice of him than to give this brief Account of the Reason of our Silence in that Particular Hugh de Lacy was made Lord Justice of Ireland as aforesaid And as soon as he arrived he sent Imperious Letters to Courcy to discharge him of his Command and behaved himself so insolently that all was in Disorder Which the Irish perceiving and also that the King of England was preparing for a Voyage to the Holy Land they thought this an happy Opportunity to extirpate the English to which End they had a General Meeting and resolved unanimously to fall upon them Hanmer 169. and in order to it they entred into a League or Association and solemnly swore First To be true to one another and to the common Cause Secondly Never to yield any Obedience to the English again Ibid 162. And to begin the Business they fell upon Roger Poer Governour of Leighlin and barbarously murdered him and most of the Garrison Cormock O Connor Son of Rotherick King of Connaught commonly called Crove Darig because his Hand was red was the chief of the Conspirators he was an Active Valiant Gentleman and of so great Reputation that he was able to assemble twenty thousand Men of his own and the Confederates with which Army he designed first to clear Connaught then Vlster and afterwards the whole Kingdom In the mean Time Courcy Lord of Connaught and Earl of Vlster considering that he should have no Aid nor Help from the Lord Justice endeavoured to strengthen himself the best he could and to that End sent for his Brother S. Lawrence who made more Haste than good Speed for he came away with thirty Horse and two hundred Foot and at Knockmoy in the County of Galway fell into an Ambush the King of Connaught had laid for him and tho' they fought so valiantly that they killed one thousand Irish Men yet the Issue was That this small Army was totally destroyed not one escaping And tho' O Connor in Remembrance and Ostentation of this Victory did there build the Abbey de Colle Victoriae yet when he had well considered the prodigious Valour of that Handful of Men and his own Loss he thought himself necessitated to sue to Lacy for Peace which he soon obtained upon reasonable Conditions About this Time Robin Hood and Litle John were Famous Robbers in England but their Company being dispersed and Robin Hood taken Litle John fled to Dublin and shot an Arrow from Dublin-Bridge to the litle Hill in Oxman-Town thence called Litle John's Shot He was called Litle John Ironically for he was not less than fourteen Foot long believe it who will Hector Boetius affirms The Hole of his Huckle Bone was so big that he could thrust his Hand through it He fled from Dublin to Scotland where he dyed This Year Isabel 1189. only Daughter of Strongbow by Eva Prencess of Leinster was married to William Lord Maxfield Earl Marshal of England He was a great Favourite to King Richard and at his Coronation carried the Regal Scepter whereon was a Cross of Gold He was afterward by King John Hanmer 177. created Earl of Pembrook and had five Sons who were successively Earls and all died without Issue and he had five Daughters among whom his Estate was divided viz. to Joan the County of Waxford to Matilda the County of Caterlough to Isabel the County of Kilkenny to Sybilla the County of Kildare and to Eva the Mannor of Downmass in Leix now the Queen's County in all which they exercised Palatine Jurisdiction Of this Family Thomas Mills in his Catalogue of Honour gives this Account That Richard Earl of Chepstow was nick-named Strongbow because of his exceeding Strength so that he drew an traordinary Srong Bow his Arms were so long that he could stand upright and with the Palms of his Hands touch his Knees That his Daughter Isabel was fourteen Years a Ward to Henry II That her Husband William Earl Marshal was created Earl of Pembrook 27 May 1199 and that she dyed anno 1221 and was buried at Tintern Abbey and that he dyed 16 March 1219. They had five Sons and five Daughters William married Elianor Sister of Henry III and died the sixth of April 1231. Richard died the sixteenth of April 1234. Gilbert married Margaret Daughter of William King of Scotland 1235 and died by a fall from his Horse the twenty eighth of May 1242. Walter died 1245 in Wales and Anselm died the same Month viz the twenty first of December Maud successively married Hugh Earl of Norfolk William Earl of Warren and Walier Lord Dunstanvil Joan married Warren Lord Montchensy the richest Baron in England Isabel married Gilbert Earl of Glocester and afterwards Richard Earl of Cornwal King of the Romans Sybil married William Earl of Ferrers and Darby and Eve married William de Brees Lord of Brecknock and Partition was made between these Noble Coparceners at Woodstock Lib. G. May 3. 31 Hen. 3. About this Time 1190. viz. Anno 1190 the City of Dublin was burnt by Accident 1191. so that it was almost totally destroyed and the Kingdom was governed by William Petit Burlace 11. who held it a very short Time before William Earl of Pembrook and Earl Marshal of England came over Lord Justice or Governour of Ireland he was the third of the Temporal Assistants King Richard had left to the Bishop of Ely for the Government of England he was a Valiant Man and had a great Estate in Ireland 1191. and therefore was thought the fittest Governour for that Country in this Critical Time whilst King Richard was Prisoner in Austria and Earl John was engaged in Troublesome and Ambitious Designs in England In the Year 1194. the Reliques of S. Malachy Bishop of Clareval Cambden 151. were brought into Ireland and with great Reverence and Devotion deposited in the Abby of Mellifont and other the Monasteries of the Cistersian Order It seems the Reputation or Power of this Noble Governour was sufficient to keep Ireland quiet 1197. for we read of little or no Disturbance there during his Time which was about six Years And then he resign'd to Hanno de valois a Gentleman of Suffolk Lord Justice of Ireland who continued in that Government until the Death of King Richard which happened at Chalons in France on the sixth Day of April anno 1199. John Earl of Moreton and Lord of Ireland did on the Death of King Richard without Title ascend the Throne of England Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury was a great assistant to this Usurpation he told the People That John had the Crown by Election which the King did not then gain-say it being no fit Time to dispute the MANNER so he had the THING he aimed at but the Right was in his Nephew Arthur whom he afterwards got into his Hands and caused him him to be murdered as was at that Time generally reported
went into England to give his Majesty a full account of his happy and successful Administration of the Government for I find he was created Lord Baron of Belfast on the 23th of February 1615 and perhaps then made Lord High Treasurer THOMAS JONES Archbishop of Dublin Lord Chancellor Sir JOHN DENHAM Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench were Sworn Lords Justices on the 11th of February 1615. The Archbishop was the worthy Ancestor of the Lords of Ranelagh And Sir John Denham was the first that raised any Profit to the Crown from the Customs in Ireland which were Lett for Five hundred Pounds the first Year and before his Death which happened the 6th of January 1638 they were improved to that degree that they were farmed at Fifty Four thousand Pounds per Annum But the Papists beginning again to grow very insolent it was necessary to hasten the new Lord-Deputy thither and therefore on the 30th of August 1616. Sir OLIVER SAINT JOHN afterwards Viscount Grandison 1616. was sworn Lord-Deputy he behaved himself briskly against the Papists who were at that time very high in Ireland Mr. Sullivan says He was a Bloody Man and that he swore he would in two Years banish all the Priests and that he levied 600000◠from the Papists for Fines and Forfeitures for not going to Church and that in Dublin only he imprisoned Ninety Citizens for denying the King's Supremacy all which is notoriously 〈◊〉 And about the same time a most Scandalous lying Book was published Entituled Annalecta Hiberniae written by David Rooth Vicar Apostolick at the Instigation and Charge of the Lord M And stuffed with innumerable Lyes and malicious Accusations of the King's Government in Ireland and yet dedicated to the Prince of Wales which is a high strain of Impudence and Folly to dedicate to the Son Reflections and Scandals upon the Father and as if that Author intended to mock the Son as well as to abuse the Father and that his Dedication to him should pass for nothing he has added another Dedication by way of Appeal to all Foreign Emperors Kings and Princes wherein he avers That the Irish look for nothing but that the King would use them like a King i. e. not like a Tyrant and when I have added that he compares the King to Julian the Apostate and Cajus Caligula and the English-men to Dogs and Wild-Beasts I have said enough of the Spirit and design of that malicious Author The Exorbitances of the Papists did indeed at this time oblige the Government to keep a stricter hand over them than hitherto they had done and two things were resolved on to humble them one was to banish all their Regulars which did in great numbers swarm almost every where in that Kingdom And the other was to suffer no Magistrates or Officers but what should take the Oath of Supremacy according to Law and in order thereunto there did issue a Proclamation against the Popish Clergy on the 13th of October 1617. Anno Dom. 1617. And afterwards on the 5th of March 1617 Donogh Earl of Twomond Lord President of Munster and Sir William Jones Lord Chief Justice of Ireland did by Virtue of a Commission under the Great Seal bearing date the 23d of January 1617 seize on the Liberties of Waterford and all their Rent Rolls Ensigns of Authority and their publick Revenues which amounted to Three Hundred and Four Pounds Ten Shillings per Annum and kept Assizes in the City for the County of Waterford The cause of this Seizure was because Nicholas White who from Michalmas 1615. to the 20th of October then next following did exercise the Office of Mayor of Waterford did on the 20th day of October 1615. refuse the Oath of Supremacy being then tendered to him by the Lord President by Virtue of a special Commission to that purpose and that upon his refusal the City Elected John Skiddy who Acted as Mayor till the 1st of May 1616. and then refused the same Oath being tendred to him by the Lord President whereupon the City chose Alexander Cuffe and swore him Mayor on the 27th of May who likewise on the 8th of July refused the aforesaid Oath of Supremacy before the Lords Justices whereupon he forbore to Act any farther in the Mayoralty and so it stood till the 1st of April 1617. at which time Walter Cleer was sworn Mayor and so continued Moreover the City had no Recorder since the Death of Nicholas Walsh Anno 1615 and yet in January 1616 there was a Goal Delivery held before the said John Skiddy without any Recorder and one William Person was then Condemned before him and afterwards by his Order executed for Felony And it appeared that the Statute of Elizabeth of Uniformity had not been given in Charge in their Sessions at Waterford for Two years past and all this was found by Inquisition taken the 5th day of September 1617. In the mean time there were sharp Contests between several great Families in Ireland about their Inheritance Lib. F. F. F. 199. the one was between Katherine Lady Power who was Heir General to the Deceased Lord Barry and the then Lord Barry Viscount Buttivant and that was happily Compos'd by the Kings Mediation and the Marriage of the Lord Barry with the Lady Power 's Daughter and the other was between Walter Earl of Ormond and the Lady Dingwell Heir General of Thomas Duff Earl of Ormond who died Anno 1614. Their Case is to be found the very last Case in my Lord Hobert's Reports and was refer'd to the King who Anno 1618. made his Award and divided the Estate between the contending Parties but the Earl of Ormond thought that Distribution so unequal that he refused to submit to it and therefore endured a long Imprisonment and many other Hardships from the Court but after his Death that Controversie was also happily Compos'd by the Marriage of his Grandson the young Earl of Ormond with the sole Daughter and Heir of the Lady Dingwell and that happy Couple improved that divided and shattered Estate to be the greatest and best belonging to any Subject in the Kings Dominions and are well known to the World by the Names of the first Duke and Dutchess of Ormond In the Year 1620. 1620. The famous Doctor Usher was made Bishop of Meath and not long after there arose a Dispute between the Archbishop of Armagh and the Bishop Elect of Clogher about the Exercise of Jurisdiction before Consecration but after some Expostulations the Controversie was peaceably Compos'd The Year 1621. 1621. was famous for the Congregation de Propaganda fide then Erected at Rome the influence whereof the Subjects of Great Britain and Ireland have felt to the purpose and in the same Year Thomas Viscount Thurles Father of the first Duke of Ormond was drowned It was in this Year that the King to mortifie some of the most active Members of the House of Commons that had fallen under his
the Observation of the English Laws in Ireland which I have already recited in the Reign of King John Hubert de Burgo or Burgh Chief Justice of England and Earl of Kent Splem Gloss 340. was made Earl of Connaught and Lord Justice of Ireland during Life and because he could not personally attend he deputed Richard de Burgo Lord Justice or Deputy to whom the King sent the following Writ March 10. 1227. for establishing the English Laws in Ireland REX dilecto sideli suo Ricardo de Burgo Justiciario suo Hiberniae Prin. 252. salutem Mandamus vobis firmiter praecipientes quatenus certo die loco faciatis venire coram vobis Archiepiscopos Episcopos Abbates Priores Comites Barones Milites libere tenentes Balivos singulorum Comitatuum coram eis publice legi faciatis Cartam Domini J. Regis Patris nostri cui Sigillum suum appensum est quam fieri fecit jurari à Magnatibus Hiberniae de Legibus Consuetudinibus Anglorum observandis in Hibernia praecipiatis eis ex parte nostra quod Leges illas ad Consuetudines in Carta praedict ' contentas de cetero firmiter teneant observent Et hoc idem per singulos Comitatus Hiberniae clamari faciatis teneri prohibentes firmiter ex parte nostra Forisfacturam nostram ne quis contra hoc Mandatum nostrum venire praesumat ' Eo excepto quod nec de Morte nec de Catallis Hibernensium occisorum nihil statuatur ex parte nostra citra quindecem dies à die Sancti Michaelis anno regni nostri duodecimo super quo respectum dedimus Magnatibus nostris Hibern ' usque ad terminum praedict Teste meipso apud Westmonast oct die Maii anno regni nostri duodecimo And at the same Time he received two Writs about the Debts due from the King to the late Lord Justice Archbishop Londres Burlace 20 21. and a third Writ to pay him an hundred Pound per annum out of the Rent of the City of Limerick and fifty Pound per ann out of the Rent of Dublin But this Justice did not continue long in the Government for his Patron Hubert de Burgh falling into the King's Displeasure both the one and the other were remov'd And Maurice Fitz-Gerald was made Lord Justice 1229. In whose Time viz. 14 Hen. 3. happened the great Case of Coparceners to decide which the King sent over by way of Writ what in the printed Statues is called Statutum Hiberniae And tho' the Lord Justice is there named Girald yet it is by Mistake for Girald Fitz-Maurice who was the Lord Justice's Father died anno 1205. And there is another Mistake in that Statute for it is said to be made 24 Regis whereas the Year 1229. could be but the fourteenth Year of his Reign Now came over Stephen the Pope's Chaplain to demand the Tenths of all Moveables to support the Holy See against the Efforts of Frederick the Emperour Hanmer 191. It was so hard a Tax in Ireland that they were fain to part with not only their Cadows and Aquavitae but also with their Chalices and Altar-Cloaths Not long after died William Earl Marshal Prince or Lord of Leinster 1231. who anno 1223 gave a new Charter to his Town of Kilkenny he was buried in the Choire of the Friers Preachers at Kilkenny and was succeeded in his Estates and Titles by his Brother Richard On the second Day of September 1232. the Lord Justice returned out of England but when he went thither or who was Deputy in his Absence non constat On the seventh of April 1233 Holingshead 27. say some but I think 1234 the English and the O Connors c. had a Battle on the Curragh of Kildare 1234. wherein Richard Earl Marshal Prince of Leinster had very foul Play from those of his own Side so that he was there mortally wounded and died in five Days after To atone for this the Lord Justice who went into England to satisfie the King in that Matter offered to build a Monastery and endow it liberally to pray for the Soul of Earl Richard Hanmer 195. And so at length by the intercession of the King and the importunate Entreaties of the Nobility Gilbert Earl Marshal and the Lord Justice were reconciled 1235. It seems the Alarm was very great on Earl Richard's Death for the King to Comfort and Quiet the Citizens of Dublin assured them by his Writ That he summon'd the Great Men of England Pryn 253. to consult about the Safety of England and Ireland and that their Determinations should be speedily communicated to them at Dublin From whence Mr. Pryn observes That the Laws and Ordinances of the King and Parliament of England did bind Ireland in those Days But it seems that about this Time the Spiritual Courts did encroach too much on the Temporal Jurisdiction 1233. and therefore the King sent over the following Writ REX Co. Lit. 141. Comitibus Baronibus Militibus liberis Hominibus omnibus aliis de Terra Hibern ' salutem Quia manifeste esse dignoscitur contra Coronam Dignitatem nostram Consuetudines Leges Regni nostri Angl ' quas bonae memoriae Dominis Johannes Rex Pater noster de communi omnium de Hibern ' consensu teneri statuit in Terra illa quod placita teneantur in curia Christianitatis de advocationibus Ecclesiarum Capellarum vel de laico feodo vel de catallis quae non sunt de Testamento vel Matrimonio vobis mandamus prohibentes quatenus hujusmodi placita in curia Christianitatis nullatenus sequi presumatis in manifestum Dignitatis Coronae nostrae prejudicium scituri pro certo quod si feceritis dedimus in Mandatis Justiciario nostro Hiberniae statutae curiae nostra in Anglia contra transgressiones hujus Mandati nostri cum justicia procedat quod nostrum est exsequatur Teste Rege 28 Octobr. Decimo oct Regni nostri c. mandatum est Justiciario Hibern per literas clausas quod predictas Literas Patentes publice legi teneri faciat In the Year 1234 died Walter Lacy Lord of Meath without Issue Male so that his great Estate was divided between his two Daughters viz. Margaret married to the Lord Theobald Verdon and Matilda married to Geofry Geneville Whilst the Lord Justice was in England the King of Connaught exhibited a grievous Complaint against John de Burgo That he had entred his Country with Forces Hanmer 195. and wasted the same with Fire and Sword humbly beseeching his Majesty to do him Justice and to bridle such rash Attempts Alledging That he was a loyal Subject and payed for his Kingdom an annual Pension Davis 123. amounting in all from his first Subjection to five thousand Marks and desired the King That he would rid him of that base
Popes Familiar and Kinsman and both Bastards saith Bale fill'd in like sort his Fardles in Scotland These Nuncio's were so crafty that they needed no Brokers they secretly understood by Posts and Cursitors the State of the Court of Rome which quailed them full sore that the Pope was either gone or panted for Life secretly by the conduct of the Monks of Canterbury they were conveyed to Dover where they took Shipping and crost the Seas The Emperor Frederick against whom this Provision was made having intelligence thereof and secretly acquainted with the Popes state wrote to the King of England to apprehend such Prollers wherein he also reprov'd his Cowardize The Emperor when he understood that the Birds were flown away made search for the Nest yet overtook them in Italy where to be short he imprison'd them their Kindred and Favourites rifled them of their Money and sent them to Rome to sing for more He that will read the Story more at large let him repair to Matthew Paris In the Year 1242 1242. the Lord Justice built the Castle of Sligo in Connaught and plac'd in it able Warders and the next Year died Richard de Burgo and the famous Hugh de Lacy Earl of Vlster 1243. whose Daughter and Heir was married to Walter de Burgo in her Right Earl of Vlster The King sent to the Lord Justice for Aid against the Welsh 1244. which it seems was long a coming but at length it did come under the Conduct of the Lord Justice and Phelim O Connor they Landed in the Isle of Anglesey and pillaged the Island and were hastning to the Ships with their Prey but it seems the Welshmen overtook them and forced them to leave their Burdens behind However they afterwards joyn'd the Kings Army and did the Work they came for for the King discomfited the Welsh victualled his Castles and victoriously returned into England The Lord Justice being come back to Ireland 1245. found Vlster over-run by O Donel who took advantage of the Death of Lacy and the absence of the Lord Justice but by the assistance of Cormock mac Dermond ma◠Rory the Lord Justice invaded Tirconnel routed the Irish and slew many of the chief of them on the English side was lost William But by Cambden and others call'd Sheriff of Connaught and his Brother Cambden does also mention several Expeditions but the Issue of them all was this That the Lord Justice Manned his Castle of Sligo forced O Neal to give Hostages and then gave half Tyrconnel to the said Cormock ma◠Dermond and return'd with great Booty But the King was displeased with the Lord Justice for his slowness and delay in bringing Aid to him in Wales and therefore remov'd him from the Government Novemb. 4. 1245. and appointed Sir John Fitz Geofry de Marisco I suppose Lord Justice who receiv'd a Writ that the Executors of the Bishop of Ossory should be suffered to administer and dispose of the Testators Goods and Chattels the Debts due to the King being first Levied thereout and in September 1247. Prin H. 3. 107. the King directed a Writ to the Arch-Bishops and others in Ireland That the Laws of England should be strictly observed there as his Father King John had formerly commanded QVia pro communi utilitate Terrae Hiberniae Prin 254. unitate Terrarum Regis Rex vult de communi Concilio Regis provisum est quod omnes Leges Consuetudines quae in Regno Angliae tenentur in Hibernia teneantur eadem Terra eisdem Legibus subjaceat per easdem regatur sicut Dominus Johannes Rex cum ultimo esset in Hibernia statuit fieri mandavit Quia etiam Rex vult quod omnia Brevia de communi jure quae currunt in Anglia similiter currant in Hibernia sub novo Sigillo Regis Mandatum est Archiepiscopis c. quod pro pace tranquilitate ejusdem Terrae per easdem Leges eosdem regi deduci permittant eas in omnibus sequantur in cujus c. Teste Rege apud Wodestoke nono die Septembris anno Regni 30. Which Writ is imperfectly cited 1 Inst 141 b. Theobald Butler 1247. Lord of Carrick and John Cogan Lords Justices in whose Time the Popes Agent Johannes Refus was sent into Ireland clothed with Authority to collect the Popes Money Hanmer 198. my Author says that though he was not clad in Scarlet for fear of giving Offence yet he was such a Sophistical Legate and plied his business with that diligence that he extorted Six thousand Marks out of Ireland and by help of the Clergy transported it safely to London John Fitz Geofry was again Lord Justice 1248. in his time the King sent the following Writ Lib. P. Lambeth REX Justiciario Hibern Salutem Monstravit nobis Mamorch Offerthierun Rothericus Frater ejus quod antecessores sui ipsi licet Hibernenses semper tamen firmiter fuerunt ad fidem servitium nostram Prin 255. predecessorum nostrum it should be Nostrorum Regum Angl. 1253. ad conquestum una cum Anglicis faciendum super Hibernenses ideo vobis mandamus quod si ita est tunc non permittas ipsos M. R. repelli quin possint terras vindicare in quibus jus habent sicut quilibet Anglicus quia si ipsi antecessores sui sic se habuerunt cum Anglicis quamvis Hibernenses injustum esset licet Hibernenses sint quod exceptione qua repelluntur Hibernenses à vindicatione terrarum aliis repellantur c. By which Writ it appears that the King did design that all the Irish who would live as Subjects should have the benefit of the English Laws but that such of the Irish as were Enemies or Rebels and would not be Amesnable to Law should not have any Advantage by the Law But now the King to qualifie his Son for a Marriage with the Infanta of Spain Davis 22. amongst other things gave the Kingdom of Ireland to Prince Edward and his Heirs Lib. G. Lambeth in as ample manner as himself enjoyed it except the Cities of Dublin and Limrick nevertheless with this express Condition in the Patent 1254. Ita quod non separetur à Corona Angliae Whereupon Ireland was called the Land of the Lord Edward and the Officers there were stiled the Officers of Edward Lord of Ireland and the Writs did also run in the Name of the Prince In the same Year but I suppose before the Donation to the Prince the King sent a Writ to the Nobility of Ireland Prin 255. most earnestly desiring their Assistance with Men and Ships for his Wars in Gascony But the Prince had issued a Writ of Entry out of the Chancery of Ireland against the Bishop of Lismore which was illusory to the Laws of England established by the King and King John and therefore upon Complaint the King sent
under the Notion of Thieves or Tories Neither was Munster free from the like Calamity for it felt the heavy hand of Walter le Poer who burnt and wasted great part of it Davis 93. Nevertheless the Justices in Eyre sate this Year at Tredagh And it seems that in those days as well Common Pleas as those of the Crown were tried before the chief Governor for I find this Entry 32 Ed. 1. A die S. Martini in quindecim dies de Commun Placit apud Dublin coram Johanne Wogan Justiciar Lib. G. Lambeth Hiberniae and sometimes they did it by Commissioners as 6 Ed. 2. Coram Waltero de Thornbury Cancellario Willielmo Alexander assignatis loco Edmondi le Butler Custode Terrae Hiberniae alibi in remotis agendis John Wogan Lord Justice 1302. being return'd call'd a Parliament the Effects whereof I find not but on the 17th of January issued a Commission to Richard Earl of Vlster the Lord Justice and Tho. Cantock Lord Chancellor to ask a Subsidy from the Clergy pro salvatione Coronae suae c. And the King wrote particular Letters to them but all to no purpose Nevertheless Pope Boniface would not be so served for he obtain'd or exacted from them a three years Disme to aid the Church against the King of Aragon The Lord Edmond Butler recovered the Mannor of Holywood in Fingal from the Archbishop of Dublin by Fine or Concord between them in the Kings Bench says Cambden and the same Archbishop took great pains to reconcile the two Churches of St. Patrick's and Christ-Church in Dublin Ware de Presul 110. and made Articles between them which were not observed in the mean time Says an 1300. Hugh de Lacy preyed the Estate of Hugh Verneil I suppose for some private Injuries Richard Burk 1303. Earl of Vlster accompanied with Eustace le Poer and a good Army went to aid the King in Scotland and the Earl made thirty three Knights in the Castle of Dublin before he set out and it is observable that in all Commissions and even in the Parliament-Rolls this Earl is always named before the Lord Justice This Year died Gerald 1304. eldest Son of the Lord John Fitz-Thomas as also the Countess of Vlster and William de Wellesby and Sir Robert Percival were slain in October also an Order issued to pardon Maurice de Carew Four hundred pound Arrearages he owed the King for his Lands in Desmond Lib. F. Lambeth because he was serving the King in Scotland and now again was a great part of Dublin accidentally burnt The next Year produced abundance of Villany 1305. for Jordan Comin with his Complices murdered Mortagh O Connor King of Ophaly and Calwagh his Brother and some others at Pirece Brimingham's House in Carbry in the County of Kildare and some Irish-men did the like by Sir Gilber Sutton Seneschal of Wexford at the House of Heymond le Grace and Heymond himself had much ado to escape and this year there was an Inquest of Trailbaston It seems the Mayor of Dublin had made some Complaints to the Irish Parliament against the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer 4 Inst 350. which was adjourned or transmitted to England and the Mayor was committed to the Tower and fined because he could not make out his Acusation The Year 1306. 1306. was not less bloody than the former for on the 13th of April the O Dempsyes made great Slaughter of the O Connors near Geashil in Ophaly and O Dempsy Captain of the Regans was there slain Soon after which O Bryan King of Thomond was murdered and Daniel Oge Mac Carthy did as much for his Father Donald Roe King of Desmond to which we may add that Pierce Brimingham was defeated in Meath May 12 and Ballymore was burnt by the Irish and Henry Celse was there kill'd Hereupon great Wars ensued and the English were summoned out of other Provinces to the Relief of Leinster they had a notable Battel at Clenfel where Sir Thomas Mandeville fought valiantly till his Horse was kill'd under him but what the Event of the Battel was is not recorded About this time Thomas Cantock Chancellor being consecrated Bishop of Emly made the greatest Feast for poor and rich that ever was seen in Ireland to that day This Year Murchod Ballagh was beheaded near to Merton 1307. by Sir David Canton or Condon who was afterwards hang'd for it in Dublin anno 1309. And on the first of May the Oscheles perhaps O Kellyes in Connaught routed and slew many Englishmen and the Tories of Ophaly razed the Castle of Geashil and on the 6th of July burnt the Town of Ley and besieged the Castle but at length they were dispersed by John Fitz-Thomas and his Son-in-Law Edmond le Butler In the mean time on the 7th of July this Noble and Victorious King died of a Dysentery at Barough upon the Sand in the five and thirthieth year of his Reign and of his Age the sixty eighth THE REIGN OF EDWARD II. King of England c. And LORD of IRELAND EDWARD the Second stiled of Carnarvan 1307. the Place of his Birth began his Reign on the seventh Day of July 1307. with great Applause both of Nobility and People but he soon disappointed their good Expectations and not only recalled Gaveston contrary to his Fathers Express and Last Commands but also gave him the thirty two thousand Pound which his Father had specially appointed for the Holy War Baker 109. moreover he went to Bulloign and married Isabel Daughter of Philip the Fair King of France on the twenty second Day of January 1307 without any Portion in Mony And on the twenty fourth Day of February both he and she were crowned at Westminster by Henry Bishop of Winchester with exceeding Pomp. As to the Affairs of Ireland they were little regarded at this time so that there were small or no Alterations in that Government and Sir John Wogan still continued Lord Justice and in Decem. received an Order to suppress the Knights Templars which was effectually executed here on the third Day of February as it had been in England the seventeenth Day of January before Cambden 165. so that the King got four hundred Pounds Worth of their Goods which it seems was a great Sum in those Days This Year proved very unfortunate as well by the Death of the famous Peter de Breminghan on the twelfth of April as by the Rebellious Disturbances of the Irish amongst whom William mac Balthar was most active for he and his Complices burnt the Castle of Kenun on the eleventh of May and slew most of the Ward they also burnt the Town of Courcowly and on the sixth of June discomfited the Lord Justice near Glandelory where John de S. Hogeline John Norton and John Breton were slain and being elevated with this Success on the sixteenth of June they burnt Tobir Danlavan and many other Villages But the Lord
Andrew Birmingham Nicholas de London and many others were slain and though the Lord Justice lost his Son Richard Lord of Athenry who died about this time yet all this did not hinder him from attending the King but he left in his place Ralph de Gorges Lord Deputy or Governor who continued so until the Second Day of February 1323. and then he was superseded by Sir John Darcy 1323. Lord Justice in whose time Philip Talon and his Son Fragm 7. and eight and twenty others were kill'd by Edmond Butler Rector of Tillagh and amongst the Records in the Tower of London Anno 15. E. 2. This notable Memorandum is to be found viz. In Abbathia Melifontis talis inolevit Error Lib. GGG quod nullus ibi admittatur in domum praedictam nisi primitus facta fide quod Non sit de genere Anglorum About this time Sir Henry Traherne took Mac Morough and kill'd O Nolan and four and twenty of his Followers It seems the King was muâ—h in the Favour of Pope John the twenty second for besides the aforesaid Release of the Peter-Pence the Pope did this Year 16 Edw. 2. impose a Disme on the Irish Clergy for two Years Lib. GGG payable to the King and commanded the Dean and Chapter of Dublin to levy it but the Prelates and Clergy refused to pay it to them unless they would shew the Original Bull. But on the the twenty fourth of November Vide postea ad annum 1344. at Notingham the King by assent of his Council made and published most excellent Ordinances for the Reformation of Ireland Pryn. 264. which are to be found at large in Mr. Pryns Animadversions on the fourth Institutes and are to this effect I. That no Officer of the Kings in Ireland whilst in Office shall purchase Lands or Tenements within their Jurisdiction on Pain of forfeiting the same II. That no Man by colour of his Office take Victuals or any other thing without the consent of the Party unless in case of Necessity for the Publick and then he must have the Advice of the greatest of the Council and a Writ out of the Chancery or unless he have the King's Letters or an Order from the Chancery of England III. That the Exportation of Corn to England or Wales be not hindered the Party paying the usual Customs be he Native or Stranger and giving Security not to carry it to our Enemies IV. That the Lord Justice take but four Pence for the Seal and two Pence for the writing of a Bill of Grace and that the Marshal take but four Pence for a Commitment V. No Protections or Pardons to be granted to Felons without special Order under one of the Seals of England VI. No Writs to be obeyed except such as are under the great Seal or the Seal of the Exchequer if the matter concerns that Court Lastly That the Lord Justice shall not adjourn Assizes before him unless he be present in the same County nor for any longer time than he continues there And at the same time a Writ issued to the Chancellor of Ireland Ibid. 26â— to Publish Enrol and Observe the aforesaid Ordinances and to send the Exemplifications of them to the rest of the Courts By reason of the fourteen Years Truce the King had made with the Scots 1325. there was not much other Disturbance in Ireland than what was occasioned by private Murders Walter de Valle and his Son were slain near Nenagh and the Lord John Barry of Hely a very stout Man was murthered by the O Kerals and therefore to fill up this Space I will insert the Famous or rather foolish Story of Alice Kettle in the Words of my Author In those Days lived in the Diocess of Ossory Holingshead 69. the Lady Alice Kettle whom the Bishop ascited to purge her self of the Fame of Inchantments and Witchcraft imposed unto her and to one Petronil and Basil her Complices She was charged to have nightly Conference with a Spirit called Robin Artisson to whom she sacrificed in the High-way nine red Cocks and nine Peacocks Eyes Also that she swept the Streets of Kilkenny between Complin and Twilight raking all the Filth towards the Doors of her Son William Outlaw murmuring and muttering secretly with her self these Words To the House of William my Son Hie all the Wealth of Kilkenny Town At the first Conviction they abjured and did Penance but shortly after they were found in Relapse and then was Petronil burnt at Kilkenny the other twain might not be heard of she at the Hour of her Death accused the said William as privy to their Sorceries whom the Bishop held in Durance nine Weeks forbidding his Keepers to eat or drink with him or to speak to him more than once in the Day but at length through the Suit and Instance of Arnold le Powre then Seneschal of Kilkenny he was delivered and afterwards he corrupted with Bribes the Seneschal to persecute the Bishop so that he thrust him into Prison for three Months In rifling the Closet of the Lady they found a Wafer of Sacramental Bread having the Devil's Name stamped thereon And a Pipe of Oyntment wherewith she greased a Staff upon which she ambled and galloped through thick and thin when and in what manner she listed This Business about these Witches troubled all the State of Ireland the more for that the Lady was supported by certain of the Nobility and lastly conveyed into England since which Time it could never be understood what became of her At Whitsontide 1326. the Parliament met at Kilkenny and thither the Earl of Vlster and most of the Nobility came what they did does not appear Lib. GGG saving that five thousand Quarters of Corn were sent out of Ireland to Aquitain for the King's use about this time and it is probable they raised Mony to pay for it Cambden tells us That the Earl of Vlster made a great Feast at this Parliament and that not long after he died But we must make a step to England before we can come to an end of this Unfortunate Reign and there we shall find the King for his Male administration in Disgrace with his People and which was worse reduced under the Power and Scorn of an Adulterous Wife the consequence of these things was That he was first imprisoned and afterwards murthered in Berkly Castle In this King's Reign flourished the famous Irish Philopher Johannes Dunus Scotus commonly stiled Doctor subtilis And it was in the same Reign that the Lord Mortimer Owner to Proprietor of Leix now Queens County being obliged by his Inclination or Business to reside in England did entrust one of the Omores with the management of his Estate but in process of time the Irishman sets up for himself and for a long time enjoyed that Country and still pretends a Right to it although his Claim is built on this perfidious and ungrateful Foundation Davis 198
Elizabeth the Seventh Daughter of K. Edw. the First and was at the Parliament at Northampton Created Earl of Ormond And yet I have seen a Patent Dated 6 Edw. 3. Lib. G. Lambeth and exemplified 38 Edw. 3. Whereby James Butler is Created Earl of Ormond and Ten Pound per annum out of the Fee-Farm of Waterford granted to him for Creation-Money And now the Lord William Burk and Arnold Poer returned into Ireland and a Parliament was call'd at Dublin to compleat the Reconciliation between them on the one side and the Butlers Geraldines and Birminghams on the other which it seems was begun at the aforesaid Parliament at Northampton and now effected at this Parliament in Ireland Whereupon the Earl of Vlster made a great Feast in the Castle of Dublin and the next day after the Lord Maurice Fitz-Thomas did the like at St. Patricks-Church although it was in the time of Lent But a strange Accident fell out at this Parliament for the Lord Justice was forc'd to purge himself of Heresie Camb. 182. which the Bishop of Ossory laid to his Charge because he had abetted one Sir Arnold Poer whom the Bishop had condemned of certain Heretical Opinions But the Lord Justice made appear that the Bishops Proceedings were partial and unjust in favour of a Kinsman of the Bishops who began the Quarrel with Poer and that therefore he the Justice supported the Cause of the Oppressed and so after a very solemn Purgation the Lord Justice was acquitted and declared a true Son of the Church whereupon he made a great Feast for all Comers Nevertheless the unfortunate Poer who had been taken by the Kings Writ De Excommunicato capiendo grounded on the Bishops Certificate died in Prison before this Matter was fully adjusted and his Carcass was a long time kept above ground and unburied because he died unassoiled Sir John Darcy 1329. Lord Justice in whose time Macoghegan of Meath and other Irishmen of Leinster O Bryan of Thomond and his Confederates in Munster broke out into Rebellion and yet this common Calamity could not unite the English although their own Experience had taught them and frequent Instances have convinced the succeeding Ages since that the English never suffered any great Loss or Calamity in Ireland but by Civil Dissentions and Disagreement amongst themselves June 10. 1329. when the Earl of Louth and many other of the Birminghams Talbot of Malahide and an hundred and sixty Englishmen were murdered by the Treachery of their own Countreymen the Savages Davis 135. Gernons c. at Balibragan in Vrgile and when the Barryes and Roches in Munster did as much for James Fitz-Robert Keating the Lord Philip Hodnet Fragm 10. and Hugh Condon with an hundred and forty of their Followers what wonder is it if Macoghegan defeated the Lord Thomas Butler and others August 8. near Molingar to their loss of an hundred and forty of their Men Or if Sir Simon Genevil lost seventy six of his Soldiers in Carbry in the County of Kildare or if Brian O Bryan ravaged over all the Country and burnt the Towns of Athessel and Typerary However Holingsh 70. the Irish grew so Insolent and Outragious upon these small Victories that they shewed but little regard to God or Man In the Church of Freinston they found about fourscore People at their Devotions Cambden ad annum it seems the miserable Wretches well acquainted with the cruelty of these ungovernable Soldiers did not expect to escape their Fury 1331. and therefore made it their only Petition to save the Life of the Priest Lib. P. Lamb. but these Ruffians were deaf to all Supplications for Mercy the Priest was the first Man they wounded and after they had spurned the Host with their Feet they compleated their Sacrilege by burning the Church Priest People and all Nor did they regard the Ecclesiastical Censures nor the Pope's Interdict which afterwards issued against them on the contrary in all their Actions they manifested an entire contempt both of Ethicks and Christianity so that one would think the Poet prophesied of these Men when he said Nulla fides pietasve viris qui castra sequuntur But Pride will have a fall and Providence will certainly triumph over the Wickedness of Men in a proper Season and commonly Methods unexpected whereof this unruly Multitude is one Instance For the Men of Wexford by their imminent Ruine rendred desperat entertain'd a Skirmish with this formidable Rabble Cambd. 185. and had the good Luck to kill four hundred of them and the rest surprized with a pannick Fear on this unexpected Defeat ran away in such a confused and hudling manner that most of them were drowned in the River Slane and have left a just Occasion for this true Remark That huffing and insolent Men are always Cowards and if this be true any where in the World it is true in Ireland Camb. 183. Sir Philip Stanton had the ill Luck to be slain by the Irish and Sir Henry Traherne by the Means of Onolan was surprized in his own House at Kilbeg But in Revenge of it the Earl of Ormond burnt Foghird in Onolan's Country and the Lord Justice prosecuted the O Birnes so effectually that after the Slaughter of some of the best of them they were forced to submit But the Lord Justice finding himself too weak to deal with such a vast number of Rebels as were now in Arms in all parts of the Kingdom he invited Maurice afterwards Earl of Desmond to take the Field and promised him the King's Pay January 1329 Maurice came accordingly with a very considerable Army Fragment 9. and advanced against the Onolans he routed them and burnt their Country so that they were forced to submit and give Hostages He did the like to the O Morroughs and took the Castle of Ley from the O Dempsâ—es But the Lord Justice was not ablâ— to pay so great an Army being near ten thousand Men 〈◊〉 therefore he was fain to connive at their extorting Coyn anâ— Livery which now was first practised by the English But the Irish had used that barbarous Oppression long before and perhaps from the beginning as appears by the fourth Constitution of the Synod of Cashel Ante pag. 23. I have seen the Copy of a Patent Lib. CCC dated March 1. 3. Edw. 3. Lambeth constituting the Earl of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland but I find nothing more of it any where else But the same Year Typerary was made a Palatinate The Irish had again petitioned the King for a general Liberty to use the English Laws Davis 103. whereupon the King sent a Writ to the Lord Justice 22 Aug. to consult the Parliament in Ireland 2 Edw. 3. and to advise him of their Opinions in that Matter And by another Writ of the same Date the King orders the Justice and the Chancellor to supervise the Exchequer twice every
England There was also another Petition for a free intercourse of Trade between Ireland and Portugal Ibid. whereunto the King gave a Gracious Answer And it seems that the State of England was intent upon the Recovery and Improvement of Ireland for Sir Nicholas Dagworth was sent thither to survey the Possessions of the Crown Davis 201 and to call the Officers of the Irish Revenue to account and the more to humour the Irish who thiink themselves disgraced when ignoble Men are put in the highest Authority over them Edmond Mortimer Earl of March and Vlster Jan. 24. 1380. was sent over Lord Lieutenant Sometime before he came viz. in Jun. 1380. the French and Spanish Gallies which did much Mischief on the Coasts of Ireland were by the English Fleet forced to retire into the Harbour of Kinsale where they were assailed and vanquished by the English and Irish so that their Chief Captains were taken Paâ—ata Hiberniae 360. and four hundred of the Enemies slain there were also taken four of their Barges and one Ballenget and one and twenty English Prizes were recovered I cannot find but that Ireland was pretty quiet during the Government of this Lord Lieutenant which did not continue very long for he died at St. Dominicks Abby near Cork on the 26th of December 1381. and the next day John Cotton then Dean of St. Patricks Ware de Praesulibus 28. and Lord Chancellor afterwards Achbishop of Armagh was chosen and sworn Sord Justice 1381 in the Convent of Preaching Friars at Cork Pryn 309. but it seems he did not long exercise that Office for in Mr. Prins Animadversions on the 4th Institut we find a Writ Dated the 29th Day of March anno 1382. viz. 5 R. 2. Directed to Roger Mortimer Earl of March Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whereby he is directed to call a Parliament there for the good Government of that Country and the support of the Kings great Charge and Expence but it is probable that this young Lord could not manage that unruly Kingdom and therefore Philip de Courtny the Kings Cousin was sent over Lord Lieutenant 1383. he had a great Estate in Ireland and therefore was the fitter for that Government He came over on good terms for he had a Patent to hold that Office for ten years nevertheless he behaved himself so ill Lib. M. Lamb. that he was not only superseded but also was arrested whilst he was Lord Lieutenant and afterwards grievously punished for the wrongs and oppressions he had done in Ireland Davis 201. In his time hapned a great Mortality called the Fourth Pestilence and upon the removal of him the Government of Ireland was given to the great Favourite of that Age Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford afterwards Marquess of Dublin Decemb. 1384. and Duke of Ireland Lord Lieutenant The English Parliament to get rid of him gave him a Debt of thirty thousand Marks due from the French King upon condition that after Easter he should pass into Ireland to recover the Lands the King had given him there he had five hundred Men at Arms at twelve pence per diem and a thousand Archers at six pence apiece a day appointed him for two years super conquestum illius Terrae He was trusted with the whole Dominion of the Realm during his Life without paying any thing therefore or making any Account for it He had Power to pass all Writs under his own Test and to place and displace all Officers how great soever even the Chancellor Treasurer Admiral c. and to name his own Deputy and all other Ministers And it seems that he had afterwards a larger Patent 4th Instit 357 9 Rich. 2. whereby the King granted him Totam Terram Dominium Hiberniae Insulas eidem Terrae adjacentes ac omnia Castra Comitatus Burgos Villas Portus Maris c. una cum Homagiis Obedientiis Vassallis Servitiis Recognitionibus Praelatorum Comitum Baronum c. cum Regaliis Regalitatibus Libertatibus c. omnibus aliis qnae ad Regaliam Nostram pertinent cum Mero Mixto Imperio adeo plene integre perfecte sicut Nos ea tenuimus habuimus tenuerunt habuerunt Progenitorum nostrorum aliqui ullis unquam temporibus retroactis Tenendum per Homagium Ligeum tantum c. But that which is most strange is That those illegal Letters Patents should be authorized by Parliament Assensâ— Praelatorum Ducum aliorum Procerum Communitatis nostri Angliae in Parliamento but nullum violentum est perpetuum novus iste insolitus umbratilis honor cito evanuit But it is time to return to the great Minion the Earl of Oxford who came as far as Wales and the King with him but they could not be perswaded to part and therefore this Lord Lieutenant never went to Ireland but deputed Sir John Stanly 1385. Lord Deputy in whose time the Bridge of Dublin fell and at the Parliament held at Westminster Roger Mortimer Earl of March Son of Philippa Daughter of Lionel Duke of Clarence Third Son of Edward the Third was established and soon after proclaimed Heir Apparent to the Crown and yet he was but Heir Presumptive but this Lord Justice was sent for and Alexander de Balscot April 26. alias Petit 1387. Bishop of Meath who had been Treasurer and Chancellor did execute the Office of Lord Justice until the return of Sir John Stanly 1389. Lord Deputy to the aforesaid Earl of Oxford Lib. D. Lambeth to him O Neal and his Sons made an humble Submission in Writing wherein they renounced the Bonaught of Vlster they also promised Allegiance and gave Oaths and Hostages for the performance thereof And it is to be noted 1390. That almost in every Parliament of this Reign held in England the King did desire Aid from them for the carrying on the War in Ireland But at length the English Parliament did so vigorously prosecute the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland that he was forced to fly beyond Seas and not long after died miserably at Brussels and thereupon James Earl of Ormond July 25. was made Lord Justice and the Archbishop of Dublin was constituted Lord Chancellor 1392. This Lord Justice beat the Mac Moyns at Tascoffin in the County of Kilkenny and slew six hundred of them And now the State of England began to think seriously of the Recovery of Ireland and finding that that Country was poor and almost depopulated by the mighty Concourse of Irish into England whereby the Kings Revenue was decayed and the Power of the Irish Rebels increased it was thought fit to revive the Law against Absentees and to issue a Proclamation requiring all those whose Habitations were in that Kingdom to repair home Also some Recruits of Men and Money were sent to Ireland and the King had by Indenture agreed with Thomas Duke of Glocester to be Lord Lieutenant of
BROTHERHOOD of St. George But to proceed William Sherwood 1475. Bishop of Meath was Lord Deputy to the Duke of Clarence he held a Parliament at Dublin Friday after the Feast of St. Margaret which makes it Treason to bring Bulls or Apostiles from Rome and orders the Lords of Parliament to wear Robes on pain of one hundred Shillings and enjoyns the Barons of the Exchequer to wear their Habits in Term-time and Enacts That if any Englishman be damnified by an Irishman not amesnable to Law he may reprize himself upon the whole Sept or Nation And that it shall be Felony to take a Distress contrary to Common Law which was a very necessary Act in those Times and is the only Act of this Parliament that is printed and though it be an English Case yet it may be useful in other Countries and therefore we will mention That George Nevil Duke of Bedford was this Year degraded 4th Instit. 355. because he had not any Estate left to support the Dignity Henry 1478. Lord Grey of Ruthen Lord Deputy held a Parliament a Drogheda which repeal'd all the Acts of the aforesaid Parliament of 12 Edw. 4. and then he resigned to Sir Robert Preston Lib. G. Lord Deputy who on the 7th of August was created Viscount Gormanston but he held the Government but a little time before he surrendred to Girald Earl of Kildare Lord Deputy he held a Parliament at Naas Friday after the Feast of St. Petronilla which Enacted 1478. 1. That Distresses taken for Rent might be sold And 2. That Non-Residents might be chosen Parliament-men 1480. but on the twelfth of August the Earl of Kildare was made Deputy to the Kings Son Richard Duke of York for four years from the fifth of May following Lib. M. by the Dukes Patent under the Kings Privy Seal quod nota and the Earl by Indenture with the King did Covenant to keep the Realm surely and safely to his power and was to have eighty Archers on Horse-back and forty other Horsemen called Spears and six hundred pound per annum to maintain them and if the Irish Revenue cannot pay it it shall be sent out of England This Lord Deputy held another Parliament on Monday after the Translation of St. Thomas at which it was Ordained 1. That no Hawks should be carried out of the Kingdom without great Custom And 2. That the Pale should have no correspondence with the Irish and it seems this Parliament Naturaliz'd Con O Neal Davis 93â— who had married the Lord Deputy's Daughter What the incomparable Spencer in his View of Ireland relates of the Duke of Clarence and Moroughen Ranagh O Brian is not to be placed in the Reign of Edward the Fourth because George Duke of Clarence was never actually in Ireland whilst he was Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom but always managed that Province by Deputies and therefore I suppose that what Spencer has related will better suit with the Government of Lionel Duke of Clarence in the Reign of Edward the Third who did indeed marry the Heiress of Vlster and performed the other Atchievements Mr. Spencer writes of It was in this Kings Reign that the Jubile which before was every Fiftieth Year was by Pope Sixtus the Fourth brought to be every five and twentieth year and that the Primacy of Scotland was setled upon the Archbishop of St. Andrews And thus stood the Government of Ireland during the Reign of King Edward the Fourth who between the French King the troublesome Earl of Warwick the discontented Lords and the Attempts of the Wife and Friends of Henry the Sixth found so much work at home that Ireland was in a manner neglected and left to the Protection of the Fraternity of St. George when on the ninth Day of April 1483 the King died in the two and fortieth Year of his Age and of his Reign the three and twentieth THE REIGN OF RICHARD III. King of England c. And LORD of IRELAND UPon the Death of King Edward his Son the Prince of Wales being then at Ludlow was Proclaimed King by the Name of Edward the Fifth and in his way to London was perswaded by the means of his Unkle the Duke of Glocester to dismiss great part of his Guards as well to save the Charge as to avoid giving Cause of Suspicion and Reasons of Jealousie to such as doubted that so numerous an Attendance was entertain'd upon Designs prejudicial to them And so having luckily mounted this first step to the Throne the Duke of Glocester proceeded to confederate with the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Hastings and by their assistance he first seized on the Earl Rivers and others of the Kings Relations and Friends and then got the King himself into his power and brought him to London using a thousand Artifices to make the People believe that the Queen-Mothers Kindred designed the extirpation of the Ancient Nobility the Slavery of the People and the Ruine of the Kingdom This Duke of Glocester wheedled or bribed to that degree that he was chosen Protector by the unanimous Consent of the Council and afterwards got the Kings Brother out of Sanctuary at Westminster and under specious Pretences of their Security both the Princes were conveyed to the Tower of London in a most pompous and splendid manner and there they were afterwards murdered by the Appointment if not by the Hands of their Unkle King Richard took upon him the Regal Office on the 18th day of June 1483. and before the Murder of his Nephews and he was Crowned together with his Queen on the 6th day of July 1483. and being very busie in England to establish the Crown he had usurped he did not think it advisable to make any Alterations in Ireland but continued in that Government Gerald Earl of Kildare Lord Deputy to Edward the Kings Son who held a Parliament at Dublin wherein it was Enacted That the Mayor and Bayliffs of Waterford might go in Pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella in Spain leaving sufficient Deputies to govern that City in their absence 2. That the Corporation of Ross might reprize themselves against Robbers and that no Persons should alien their Free-hold in Ross to a Foreigner without the Licence of the Portriff and Council of that Town but these being private Acts are not Printed It seems that the next Year the Earl of Kildare as Deputy to the Earl of Lincoln 1484. Lord Lieutenant did hold another Parliament at Dublin wherein six private Acts only were made and not long after conven'd another Parliament at Trim which either did nothing at all or nothing worth mentioning but a subsequent Parliament at Dublin gave a Subsidy of Thirteen shillings and four pence out of every Plow-Land to the Deputy towards his Charges in the Service he did against the Irish wherein O Connor it seems was a Partner or Co-adjutor for he also had ten Groats out of every Plow-Land in Meath for
bind themselves to Allegiance by Oath and Recognizance and when he returned to Dublin on the 26th Octavianus Archbishop of Armagh Philip Birmingham Chief Justice of the Kings Bench and Thomas Dowdal Master of the Rolls followed the same Example There was great intercession made for Prior Keating and Thomas Plunket Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and at length Plunket was pardon'd but Keating was not only left unpardoned but was also removed from the Command of the Castle of Dublin whereof it seems he was Governour or Constable and Richard Archbold whom he had formerly ejected was now restored and perhaps Keating had been used worse if his Habit and Order had not protected him for the King hated him more than all the rest being as it seems one of the most violent and most powerful Abettors of the Impostor Symnel and so Sir Richard Edgecomb having faithfully executed his Commission embarked at Dalky the 29th of July and arrived in Cornwal on the 8th of August Soon after this the Lord Deputy and Council sent over the Bishop of Meath to obviate the Designs of their Enemies and to thank the King for his Favours and to assure him of their future Allegiance and he managed his Negotiation so successfully that although the Archbishop of Armagh who was of the Kings side and a Favourite did use his utmost Endeavours to get the Chancellorship yet he could not obtain it lest thereby Kildare and his Party might be disobliged and the Kingdom just now appeased and growing towards a Settlement might again be disturbed by new Jealousies and Commotions And now the Lord Deputy is at leisure to call Macgeoghan to account for all his Depredations in the Pale 1489. he invaded his Country and took the Castle of Bileragh and preyed and wasted the whole Territory of Moycassel and being loaden with Booty he returned to Dublin But the King being still jealous of the Nobility of Ireland whom he knew to be exceedingly addicted to the House of York sent for most of them to come over to him into England and thither went the Earl of Kildare the Viscounts Buttevant and Fermoy and the Lords of Athenry Kingsale Gormanstown Delvin Hoath Slane Killeen Trimleston and Dunsany They waited on the King at Greenwich where Lambert Symnel served as Butler purposely to ridicule and expose their Folly who would Crown such a Fellow for their King but after some sharp Reproofs they were all taken into Favour and graciously dismiss'd I suppose not without some Presents though only that of three hundred Pieces of Gold to the Lord of Hoath be mentioned But whilst these things were doing in England Maurice Buckagh Earl of Desmond obtained two Victories in Ireland the one against Morough O Carol who was slain in the Battel together with his Brother Moyl Murry and the other against Dermond Mac Teige Carty whom he also killed On the 6th of July a Provincial Synod was held at Athird Ware 24. by Octavianus Archbishop of Armagh at which were present the Bishops of Meath Clogher Ardagh Dromore Kildare Raphoe and Cluanmacnoise There was a great Contest at this Synod between Thomas Brady and one Cormock about the Bishoprick of Kilmore it was by common consent refer'd to the determination of the Bishops of Meath Clogher and Ardagh and what End they made of it non constat but six years after both of them were called Bishops of Kilmore and as such both of them were permitted to sit in the Synod of Drogheda The Summer and Harvest were so wet in Ireland 1491. that the Corn could not be saved and therefore a great Dearth ensued which was accompanied with a Disease called the Sweating Sickness which now came to be first felt and known in Ireland And it seems that a Parliament was held at Trim on Friday after Epiphany but none of their Acts are extant But in March a Proclamation issued against bad Money and Nicholas Flyn was made Supervisor of the Mints at Waterford and Dublin It was about this time that O Neal wrote this short and famous Letter to Hugh Roe O Donel from whom he demanded Chief-Rent which the other denied and refused to pay Cur hoom mi Keesh no monna Curhir i.e. Send me my Rent or if you don't as much as to say he would force him to it But O Donel replied Neel Reesh a gut urm agus dabeh i.e. I owe you no Rent and if I did meaning that he would not pay it so to Blows they go and after some Bickerings and Losses on both sides they agreed to refer all their Differences to the Lord Deputy but in vain for all that he could do could not reconcile them So to Blows they fall again and came to a bloody Battel wherein the Loss was almost equal but if there were any disadvantage in that Point it was of O Donel's side but that was more than balanced by the Death of O Neal who in January 1492 was Murdered by his Brother Henry so that Tyrone became divided between Henry and Daniel O Neal betwixt whom there was continual Wars until the year 1497. and then upon the Resignation of Daniel Henry became sole Proprietor and the same year of 1497 O Donel likewise being superannuated and decrepit gave up his Principality of Tirconnel to his Son Con. But the King finding that the Duchess of Burgundy was again busie at work about setting up another Impostor thought it necessary to put the Government of Ireland in the hands of such as he might confide in and therefore he removed the Earl of Kildare and Walter Fitz-Symons 1492. Archbishop of Dublin was made Lord Deputy to Jasper Dukâ— of Bedford and Sir James Ormond Natural Son to John Earl of Ormond was made Lord Treasurer in the room of Eustace Lord of Portlester who had enjoyed that Office eight and thirty years This new Lord Treasurer came to Ireland in June with a small Band of Souldiers and it so hapned that upon some Quarrel between him and the Earl of Kildare near Dublin there was a Skirmish which proved very prejudicial to both the Families of Butlers and Giraldines and the more because the Irish took advantage thereby to infest the Pale and to disturb the English Borders However in September following more Alterations were made in the great Offices of State Alexander Plunket was made Lord Chancelor Thomas Butler Master of the Rolls and Nicholas Turner was constituted Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in August before and the Earl of Ormond and the Prior of Canterbury were sent Ambassadors to the French King This Summer was so dry that abundance of Cattel perished for want of Water and the Air grew so Pestilential that a multitude of People and particularly the Lord of Slane died of the Plague But a greater Mischief than this hapned to the unfortunate Kingdom of Ireland by the Arrival of Perkin Warbeck who to supply the Defects of the former Imposture did pretend to be Richard Duke of
secret and of great forecast very staid in Speech dangerous of every Trifle that touched his Reputation Kildare was open and plain hardly able to rule himself when he was moved to Anger not so sharp as short being easily displeased and sooner appeased being in a Rage with certain of his Servants for Faults they committed one of his Horsemen offered Master Boice a Gentleman that retained to him an Irish Hobby on condition That he would pluck an Hair from the Earl his Beard Boice taking the Profer at rebound stept to the Earl with whose good Nature he was throughly acquainted parching in the Heat of his Choler and said So it is and if it like your good Lordship one of your Horsemen promised me a choice Horse if I snip one Hair from your Beard Well quoth the Earl I agree thereto but if thou pluck any more than one I promise thee to bring my Fist from thine Ear. But after all this simple Story is founded on a Mistake for the Earl of Ormond whose Name was Thomas lived in England in great Repute all the Reign of Henry the Seventh and afterwards until his Death anno 1515 and therefore the Person intended by the Story must by Sir James Ormond formerly Lord High Treasurer whom I have often mentioned in the Reign of the last King But this digression has been too long 1513. let us therefore return to the Lord Deputy whom we shall find animated with the last Years Success and resolved to invade Ely O Carol early in the Summer but his Preparations being great took up more time than he thought they would require but at last they were got ready and he began his March in August but at Athy he fell sick and from thence was removed to Kildare where on the third Day of September he died and was buried in Christ Church in Dublin to which he had been a liberal Benefactor And thus were the great Designs of this mighty Lord defeated even in the midst of his Career and at the very time when he promised himself most Glory and Success Gerald Earl of Kildare Son of the deceased Earl and Lord Treasurer was by virtue of the Act of Parliament formerly mentioned anno 10 Hen. 7. and by reason of his Place of Treasurer Spelm. Glos 334. made Lord Justice by assent of the Council But it seems that afterwards viz. 32 Hen. 8. there was a Statute made intituled An Act for the electing of the Lord Justice which restrained the Council from electing any body but an Englishman born and not in Orders The Lord of Slane was made Lord High Treasurer and Sir William Crompton Lord Chancellor and all other publick Matters were ordered as well and expeditiously as they could nevertheless so much time was taken up in these Alterations and in the Formalities of State that the Season was too far spent for any military Action this Year so that Daniel Mac william met with little Interruption in taking the Castle of Dunluce nor did the rest of the Irish find any Opposition this Winter but ravaged over the Country as they pleased However they paid dearly for it the next Spring For the valiant Earl of Kildare 1514. who was Heir to his Fathers Courage as well as to his Honour grew impatient at the Insolencies of O More and O Reyly and therefore resolved to attack them successively He began with O More and invaded the county of Leix and beat that Rebel and his Party into the Woods which being done he turned aside into the Brenny and took the Castle of Cavan and having slain Hugh O Reyly and many of his Followers he chased the rest into their inaccessible Fastnesses and then burnt and destroyed the Country and returned loaden with Booty William Viscount Gormanstown was the thirteenth of June made Lord Justice 1515. probably in the Absence of the Earl of Kildare who might then go to England to confer with the King about the Parliament designed to be holden in the Spring But however that be it is certain That Girald Earl of Kildare was by the King made Lord Deputy and on the twenty fifth Day of February held a Parliament at Dublin which by several Prorogations continued until the Thursday after Michaelmas 1517. Ware 92. This Parliament gave the King a Subsidy and made one good Act for those times viz. That no Man shall be compelled by Privy Seal to answer any Complaint in England until the Accuser enters into Recognizance in the Chancery of Ireland to pay the Defendant his Costs and Damages if he be acquit which very much abated that vexatious Course of Proceeding so that it is now obsolete and quite out of use On the third Day of August Ware 93. died Thomas Earl of Ormond at London he had been Embassador into France Privy-Counsellor in England and had Place in the English Parliament above all the Barons He was the richest Subject the King had and left forty thousand Pound in Money besides Jewels and as much Land to his two Daughters in England as at this Day would yield thirty thousand Pound per annum but he left no Issue Male to enjoy his Irish Estate which therefore descended to his Kinsman Sir Pierce Butler Earl of Ormond The Lord Deputy to repress the Incursions of the bordering Irish 1516. and to shew himself as fit for War as Peace invaded Imaly and slew Shane O Toole in Battle and sent his Head to the Mayor of Dublin Thence he marched into Ely O Carol where he was joyned by several Noblemen of Munster and Leinster of English Extraction and particularly by Pierce Earl of Ormond and James eldest Son of the Earl of Desmond and being strengthned with this Supply he undertook the Seige of Lemevan-Castle which the Garrison defended for a Week and then by Night deserted and left it to be demolished as it was by the Lord Deputy With this good Success he was encouraged to attempt the Town of Clonmel which he did with so much celerity that the Townsmen being surprized immediately surrendred upon Conditions And so the Deputy ended this Campeign and returned loaden with Hostages Prey and Glory It is worthy observation That the Irish had great Expectations of Advantage this Year by reason of a blind Prophecy generally believed among them Ware 95. That the poorest and weakest Sept in Ireland should this Year prove the most Powerful and Warlike It is probable that they were encouraged thereby to provoke the Lord Deputy to the aforesaid Expedition But however that be this is certain That Superstition hath been often fatal to the Irish Nation But Kildare finding it necessary to advance his Victorious Arms in Vlster 1517. reinforced his Troops and marched into Lecale where he took the Castle of Dundrum which had been very offensive to the neighbouring English thence he marched against Fylemy Macgenis whom he easily conquered and took Prisoner with the Slaughter of many of his Followers
those in Authority there was so great scarcity of Victuals that a halfpeny Loaf was worth a Shilling And within four or five days the strong Castle of Carrigonel was lost by treachery but it was presently retaken with the Slaughter of sixty Rebels however the Wants of the Army occasioned a Mutiny so that the Soldiers refused to march for want of Pay and the Garrison of Loghguir deserted and a thousand other Inconveniences hapned On the twenty third of April 1537. the Lord Deputy began his Expedition into Offaly against O Connor to revenge the Insolencies of the last year but he was hindred by the abundance of Rain that fell at that time from doing the Execution he design'd Ware 147. so that he was fain to end this Quarrel by a dishonourable sort of Arbitration for although the Damages which O Connor had done were estimated at five thousand Marks yet the Lord Deputy compounded for eight hundred Beeves or six shillings and eight pence apiece in lieu of them but not long after he attack'd the Cavenaghs and O Carol with better Success and forced them to submit and give Hostages It seems that the Lord Deputy had new Instructions to oblige all the Irish by Indenture to own the King's Supremacy and to renounce the Popes Usurpations and to contribute something towards the support of the Government and to send a Quota of Men to every Hosting and to effect this the Lord Deputy marched to Offaly the seventeenth of June and on the eighteenth encamped in O Mulmoyes Country and took the Castle of Eglis on the nineteenth he took Bi r and Modrimye in O Carols Country on the twenty fourth O Kenedy submitted to him in Ormond and the twenty fifth Mac Brian Arra likewise submitted On the twenty sixth the Lord Deputy came to Abby Owny where O Mulrian Vlick Burk of Clanrickard and Tybot Burk Mac William made their Submissions and so on the twenty eighth he came to Limerick where the Mayor and Aldermen took the Oath of Supremacy and swore to renounce the Bishop of Rome's usurped Authority and the Bishop of Limerick did the like without scruple or hesitation and Order was left for the Clergy and Commonalty of that City to follow that Example and that Certificates of their performance be returned into Chancery And it is observable that here one of the O Bryans made Peace for a year and promised to do Service against his Brother Mortagh On the fourth of July the Army came to Bryans-Bridge and had a Skirmish with the Rebels without any Loss and on the sixth demolished the Castles and Bridge and on the eighth the Lord Deputy marched into Thomond and took the Castles of Clare and Ballycolome and on the ninth he came into Clanrickard and took the Castle of Ballyclare and delivered it to Vlick Burk and on the eleventh he came to Galway where the Corporation treated the Lord Deputy and all the English Soldiers gratis for seven days and Vlick Burk did the like to the Irish and the Mayor and Aldermen followed the example of Limerick and took the Oath of the King's Supremacy and renounced the Pope's usurped Authority And here O Flaherty O Maddin and Mac Yoris made their Submissions On the twenty first the Lord Deputy removed to O Kelly's Country where O Connor Mac Henry submitted and thence he went to Mac Coughlan's Country where he took a Castle because Mac Coughlan had not kept his Word with him and so on the twenty fifth he returned to Minooth And it is to be noted That all those that submitted were bound by Indenture as well as Oath to own the King's Supremacy and to renounce the Popes Usurpations but when the King had an Account of what was done be answered by his Letter to the Lord Deputy That their Oaths Submissions and Indentures were not worth a Farthing since they did not give Hostages and so it afterward proved The Earl of Desmond mollified by the Misfortunes of the last Year Ware 147. and fearing the Power of the Lord Deputy who was in the Field with his Army as I have already related sent Letters to the Deputy with Offers of Submission upon Terms but the Expostulations about it were so tedious that the Army for want of Provisions was forced to return however Commissioners were employed to continue the Treaty and conclude an Agreement if they could and in order to it they went to Clonmel but the Earl of Desmond refused to come into a walled Town insisting upon a Fantastical Priviledge which he claimed and thereupon the Commissioners forgetting the Dignity of their Character and the Royal Person they represented dishonourably condescended to go to Desmond's Camp and there they took his Oath of Fidelity and received his Bastard Son Thomas Roe as a Hostage for his performanoe But now the Jealousies between the Lord Deputy and the Earl of Ossory broke out into open Hostility and the Deputy was so extravagantly transported that he sent part of the Army to spoil the Territories of the Butlers he also quarrelled with Archbishop Brown and Allen Master of the Rolls and although Lib. D. by the King's Order their Complaints were heard before the Council of Ireland and the new Commissioners hereafter named and a Reconciliation made between them at least in appearance yet some of them stuck so close to him that at length they procured his Ruine But it should have been remembred that on the first of May Fylemy Roe submitted and on the twelfth of May Cavenagh alias Mac Murrough did the like but O Neal was so far from it that despising the Agreement he had not long before made with the Lord Deputy he undertook to reduce Arglass and in order to it sent an Army under his Son to attack that Town and Castle but assoon as he understood the Lord Deputy was ready to take the Field he immediately proposed a Treaty and on the fifteenth of June he made an Agreement with the Lord Chancellor the Bishop of Meath and Chief Justice Ailmer Commissioners appointed for that purpose and he swore to fight for the King contra omnes homines Mundi Ibid. and not long after died Sir Hugh O Donel Lord of Tyrconnel and was succeeded by his Son Manus who was according to Custom inaugurated on the Rock near Kilmacronan Church But in September there came over four Commissioners viz. Sir Anthony Saintleger Sir George Pawlet Sir Thomas Moyle and Sir William Barnes their business was to enquire into the Abettors of the late Rebellion and afterwards to give a General Pardon And though they were very moderate yet it fell heavy on many of the Pale who were compelled to joyn with the Rebels they had also Authority to assist the Lord Deputy and Council in setling the Revenue and to set the Crown Lands for one and twenty Years for a yearly Rent It was to these Commissioners that Bernard Fitz Patrick made his Submission October 8. and they
Month. But the Lord Deputy was again allarm'd with a new Invasion of the Scotish Islanders and therefore Turlogh Lynogh being old the Baron of Dungannon was encouraged to oppose them but lest he should grow too popular by that Authority the Deputy thought it necessary to march into the North with such Forces as he had ready he left Dublin the 26th of June and passed speedily to Dungannon where most of the Irish Gentlemen of Vlster except James Carow came to him and submitted to his Lordship's command Hence the Deputy sent Captain Dawtry to the King of Scotland to pray restitution of the Irish Ships and Goods taken by his Subjects and that he would stop the Islanders from destroying Ireland to which he received a kind and favourable Answer dated at Saint Andrews the fourth of August 1585. but it came too late Four hundred Islanders arrived in Vlster and were joined by as many more under the Conduct of Con Mac Neal Oge's Son Hugh Mac Felim's Son O Kelly Mac Cartane c. and on the 28th of July were encountred by Captain Strafford and 170 Soldiers and a few Kernes who continued the Fight from Morning to four in the Afternoon still gaining Ground of the Enemy of whom 24 were slain and 40 wounded and of the English but 8 killed and 12 wounded and here my Authour truly observes that the Irish never gave the English a defeat but upon shrinking from them The Enemy passed the River Ban and went into Tyrone but were so pursued by the Baron of Dungannon and Captain Strafford that they were forced to repass the Ban and to retire toward Dunluce and finding no quiet there they went to Inisowen and designed to surprise Strabane but Hugh Duffe O Donell gave notice hereof to Captain Merriman and offered his assistance and so Merriman with 160 Soldiers and O Donell with a few of his fâ—llowers marcht all night to surprise the Scots But 〈◊〉 their great amazement they found the Scots in a readinesâ—â—nd above 600 strong so that they were able to divide 〈◊〉 Army into three divisions so to assail the Royalists threâ— several ways whilst the English being so few were forced to keep in one entire Body Alexander Mac Surly who commanded the Scots challeng'd Merriman to a Combate and a lusty Gallowglasse being by said he was the Captain and so to the Duel they go the Gallowglasse stund the Scot at the first blow but he recovering himself kill'd the Gallowglasse and thereupon Merriman stept out and fought Alexander a good while with Sword and Target and so wounded him in the Leg that he was forced to retreat and thereupon his Army being discouraged were totally routed and Alexander being hid under a Turf in Cabbin was discovered and his Head cut off and set on a Pole in Dublin But how fortunate soever the Summer Progress was yet the Deputy's Enemies complain'd against it as chargeable and unnecessary so that he was forced to return to Dublin the 16th of August where old Surlyboy came and submitted unto him The chief Articles against the Deputy were That he was severe and forc'd the People to the Oath of Allegiance and pryed into men's Patents and endeavour'd to promote Laws against Recusants and to repeal Poyning's Act and this Impeachment was abetted by the Chancellour whom being also Archbishop of Dublin the Deputy had disoblig'd by endeavouring to appropriate the Revenues of St. Patrick's Church to the new design'd University and by carrying himself too Magisterially in the Government with the Chancellour Sir Henry Bagnal Secretary Fenton and others of the Council sided so that it grew into a powerfull Faction by which the Deputy was often thwarted at Council Board and else where The Lord Treasurer of England was a fast Friend to the Arch-bishop so that by his means the appropriating of the Livings of St. Patrick's Church was stopt and other Affronts were put upon the Deputy which so enraged him that he spoke some passionate words of the Queen which were the cause of his Ruine afterwards and particularly having received some kind Letters from the Queen after some ill usage that he resented Look ye says he to the standers by now the Queen is ready to bepiss her self for fear of the Spaniard I am become her white Boy again This Deputy was supposed to be the Son of Henry the Eighth and had much of his towring Spirit in him When he was Condemn'd he ask'd the Lieutenant of the Tower whether the Queen would sacrifice her Brother to his frisking Adversaries meaning the Lord Chancellour Hatton who he said came into Court by the Galliard He was condemn'd on the Preists forged Letter and dyed suddenly in the Tower and his Son Sir Thomas Perot was restor'd to his Estate Nor did these his open Enemies only impeach him themselves but they also instigated the Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale as was believed to complain by their Letter of the 15th of July 1585. that besides the 2100 l. which they had consented should be levyed in lieu of the Cess the Lord Deputy design'd to impose a second Charge of 1500 l. per annum upon them thereby to make Her Majesty's Government intolerable to them but some of these Lords and Gentlemen being afterwards undeceiv'd generously wrote their Retractation of their former mistake to the Lords of the Council of England Nevertheless the Deputy proceeded in his duty and issued a Commission to two and twenty Gentlemen whereof Sir Richard Bingham Lib. L. 15th July 1585. White and Waterhouse were of the Quorum Authorizing them to compound between the Queen and the Subject and between the Lord and the Tenant for Cess Cuttings and other incertain Exactions and to bring the Inhabitants of Connaugh and Twomond to a composition of paying ten Shillings per annum for every quarter of Land containing 120 Acres besides a certain number of Soldiers amongst them on every rising out they proceeded by Inquisition by a Jury to find out the number of Plow-lands and the County of Mayo was found to contain 1448 quarters of Land whereof 248 might be exempted and paid 600 l. per annum and contributed 200 Foot and 40 Horse at their own charge when required and 50 Foot and 15 Horse in such manner as the Peers and English Bishops ought to do Sept. 1585. and this was done by Indenture whereby they voluntarily renounced the Irish Captainships Styles and Titles and abolish'd the Irish Gavelkind and Tanistry and agreed to hold their Lands by Patent according to Law and the like was done in the rest of Connaugh and the whole Province was found to contain 8169 quarters of Land whereof 2339 being exempted there remain'd 6836 liable to an annual Rent of 3418. 5. 8. and to contribute 1054 Foot and 224 Horse to the General Hostings in Connaugh and 332 Foot and 88 Horse at any time for Forty days any where in Ireland And Twomond for 1259 Plow'd Land agreed to pay 543 10 0
the preposterous Courses they took For they were taught That the Pope was by Divine Right Universal Monarch and Governor of the World P. W. Remonstrance in Preface 6 7. and had Independent Sovereign Authority over Kings and Subjects in Temporal as well as Spiritual Concerns That he might Deprive and Dethrone Kings and had Power of both Swords to which every Soul upon pain of eternal Damnation was bound to give Obedience That he had power to absolve from all Oaths and that those who are slain in the Quarrel of the Church against an Excommunicated Prince die true Martyrs of Christ and their Souls fly to Heaven immediately So that it is no wonder that a People for the most part abounding in Ignorance and Bigotry tempted by the Hopes of Profit in the Plunders and Success of the War and stimulated by a National Malice against the British should be guilty of all that Cruelty and Treachery which they thought Meritorious and was in their Opinion conducive to their main Design of Extirpating the Protestants This tedious and bloody War which was at first begun by the Papists against the Protestants to support the King's Prerogative and suppress the Puritans as they pretended met with such prodigious Turns and Vicissitudes in the Progress of it that the most virulent Faction of the Papists joyn'd with the Puritans and fought for them against the King and against one another and all the Parties in the Kingdom which were * King Ormond Parliament Cooâ— Covenanters Lord of Ardes Supreme Couucil Preston Nuncio Owen Roe Five did one time or other in the War fight against the Faction it had formerly sided with But because this War was on the King's part managed by the Marquis since Duke of Ormond first in the Quality of Lieutenant General and afterwards as Lord Lieutenant it is necessary that according to my former Method I give some Account of Him which perhaps cannot be better done than from a MS. I accidentally met with wherein there are some short memorable Strokes of Him and his Family not unfit to be communicated to the Reader and therefore I have transcribed it as followeth 1. He was born at Clerkenwell in London on the Ninteenth of October 1610. and died at Kingstonhall in Dorset-shire on the 21th of July 1688. This was the 78th Year of his Age in which time he had seen Four Kings and served Three of them for 57 Years with an unshaken Zeal to the Crown 2. That he had seen Three Generations above him as maâ—â—ely his Father Thomas Viscount Thurles his Grandfather Walter Earl of Ormond and his great great Uncle Thomas Earl of Ormond who being a Black Man was commonly called by the Irish Thomas Duff This Thomas who was also Earl of Ossory was a Man of high Courage and Endowments and much favoured by Queen Elizabeth as being also Kinsman to her Mother He was Knight of the Garter Lord Treasurer of Ireland and General of the Army there He lived to the Age of Eighty seven Years and in the Reigns of Five Kings and Queens and died in 1614. So also had his Grace seen Three Generations below him as namely his Son Thomas the Renowned Earl of Ossory his Grandson James the present Duke and his great Grandson Thomas who was playing in the Room before him but a few Hours before his Death 3. That he had for some Years sat with Two of his Sons the said Thomas Earl of Ossory and Richard Earl of Arran in the House of Peers in England and his eldest Son was Knight of the Garter at the same time with Himself 4. That if the Siding and Partaking with the House of Lancaster in the Ancient Quarrels with the House of York which divided and at one time or other involved the whole Nation may pass for nothing it will not appear in all the Records that any Staln of Disloyalty was ever imputed to any that were the Chief Branch of this Family for Five hundred Years 5. That his Grace not to count what Titles they had before was the Twelfth Earl of Ormond and the Seventh of that Name of James He who was the Second James and styl'd The Noble Earl as being by his Mother de Bohun Great Grandson to King Edw. I. was thrice Lord Justice of Ireland And the Fifth James being by Hen. VI. made also Earl of Wiltshire Knight of the Garter and Lord Treasurer of England was Five times made Lord Deputy and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and had a Patent of it for Twelve Years His late Grace the Seventh James was Lord Lieutenant Four times which in all took in about Twenty four Years And if we shall reckon how many of this Family and how often they have been concern'd in that Government it thus appears That from the 31 Hen. 3. 1247. when Theobald Butler Lord of Carrick was made one of the Lords Justices to 1 Jac. 2. 1684. that his Grace was dismist from being Lord Lieutenant there have in the space of Four hundred thirty seven Years been Ten of this Family who have Seven and twenty times been either Lords Justices Lords Deputies or Lords Lieutenants of that Kingdom These Instances are perhaps sufficient to give the Reader some farther Curiosity to know by what Steps this Great Man grew up into the World who had a various and difficult Part in those Revolutions that befel Three Kingdome and the Monarchs thereof And inasmuch as they seem to reflect some Light on part of the following Story I will venture to add what I also found in the same Manuscript as followeth That the said Thomas Duff having no other Issue than his Daughter the Lady Elizabeth he first married her to his Nephew Theobald Viscount Tullough who was a Protestant as well as himself But he soon dying Childless and the young Widow being made very considerable in her Fortune by the Father's Indulgence there came Sir Richard Preston a Scotchman who being much favoured by King James and fortified by His Credentials he obtain'd the Lady and was made thereupon Lord Dingwell in Scotland and Earl of Desmond in Ireland This Earl soon began to stretch and enlarge his Pretensions to the Estate But Earl Walter the Heir at Law opposed him King James was pleased to take upon Him the Arbitration between them but did it with such partiality as Earl Walter thought that he chose rather to be thrown into the Fleet as for Contempt than to submit There he lay a Prisoner for Eight years together his whole Estate Sequestred and Extended his County Palatine of Tipperary which had been Three or Four hundred years in the Family seised by Quo Warranto into the King's Hands and he reduced to a shameful Want The Duke of Buckingham was active in this Oppression but the Cry of it grew so lowd at last that the King relented for what he had done In these Troubles it was that his Grace's Father Thomas Viscount Thurles coming over to prosecute in
preserve the Bulk of that People and make them serviceable to the Government which will not be practicable unless first the Raporees are severely corrected for their past Enormities and afterwards strictly kept in Obedience And perhaps it may be very useful both to the Reduction and Settlement of Ireland to make a Difference between those Papists that are of English Extraction those that are not for although at this Day they would laugh at the Distinction yet upon the first considerable Baffle they meet with they will certainly leap at the Qualification In the mean time it may be demanded How it comes to pass that the Papists in three Years have more weakned the Protestants of Ireland in Quantity Quality and Estate in a time of Peace and the Law on their side than the Protestants could weaken them in forty times that space But the Answer is easie That the Protestants are obliged to Rules of Charity and Forms of Justice which whether others observe or not will be manifest by what they have done for whereas it is most consonant to Reason Law and the Polity of that Kingdom that the small Colony of British in a conquered Country should be protected against the numerous Natives by an Army of their own Nation and Religion and so has it been practised for five hundred Years and ought rather to be now because a Protestant Parliament gave a great yearly Revenue to that very End most part of which was also paid by Protestants Yet have we seen all this Reason Law and Polity subverted and that Army disbanded with Circumstances as bad as the Fact and Enemies introduced to guard us against themselves and Mountaneers garrisoned within those Walls that were purposely built to keep them out And whereas the Force of the Common Law is resolved into Tryals by Jury was it not a subversion of the Common Law in a Country where Perjury is so frequent that Irish Evidence is become proverbially scandalous to make Judge Sheriff Jury Witnesses and Party all of a sort what Justice a Protestant could expect in such a Case may appear by those notorious Murders and other great Crimes that have passed unpunished And by those many hundreds of Protestants who without Colour or Circumstance of Truth have been impeached for Treason Seditious Words Night-walking or Vnlawful Assemblies c. And as if all this was not enough unless they entailed these Miseries upon the Protestants and even legitimated them by Act of Parliament they have in order to that seized upon all Corporations and dissolved them on forged or frivolous Pretences in so precipitate a manner that they did not allow competent time to draw much less to review the Pleadings they reversed the Outlaries of the Popish Lords and projected to call their eldest Sons by Writ and so made themselves sure of both Houses of an Irish Parliament But alass these Complaints are drowned in greater and the Insolence and Barbarity of the Raporees is not to be expressed it was tolerable whilst the Protestants suffered under Pretence or Forms of Law but when these Wolves were let loose the English were plundered of all they had at Noon Day in the face of the Sun in Times of Peace and without Provocation and which was a greater Aggravation of this Crime it was done in many Places by the Servants and Tenants they had kept from starving and the Neighbours they had most obliged so that the Protestants of Ireland are entirely ruined by an ungrateful People themselves had cherished and supported But to proceed I have been curious to give the Vice-Roys of Ireland their proper Titles and yet I am not sure that I am always exact nor is it of any great Importance whether I am or no since their Power is measured by their Commission and not by their Denomination And although I have gathered many Materials towards a Second Part yet it will be some time before I can publish it because I shall expect that those generous Persons that have collected any curious Observations of the Later Times will either communicate them to me or command mine which I will readily part with to any Body that will undertake that Province it being indifferent to me so the thing be done whether it be performed by mending mine or beginning a new Work AN APPARATUS OR Introductory Discourse TO THE HISTORY of IRELAND CONCERNING The State of that Kingdom before the Conquest thereof by the English IRELAND is an Island seated in the Vergivian Sea on the western Side of Great Britain next to which it is the biggest Island in Europe it extends from North to South about three hundred English Miles in length and it is one hundred and eighty of the same Miles broad from East to West in some Places more in some less it contains above ten Millions and a half of Plantation which is near seventeen Millions of English Acres of Land so that it is four time as big as Palestine and holds Proportion with England and Wales as 17 to 30. The Country is not at all inferior to England for Number or Goodness of Harbours Fertility of Soyl Plenty of Fish both in the Fresh and Salt Water Fowle Wild and Tame and all Sorts of Flesh Corn and Grain and every thing else necessary for the Life of Man saving that in some of these England has got an Advantage by Improvement and good Husbandry The Irish Rivers are both more numerous and more Clear the Shenin is bigber than the Thames and might be made Navigable almost two hundred Miles the Air indeed of England is more serene and consequently more hot in Summer and more cold in Winter nevertheless that Ireland is the healthier Country may be argued from hence That seldom any Pestilential Disease rages there and no part of that Kingdom is so unhealthy as the Fenns of Huntington Lincoln and Cambridge Shires the Hundreds of Essex or the Wild of Kent and it may be expected That as the Bogs are drained and the Country grows Populous the Irish Air will meliorate since it is already brought to that Pass That Fluxes and Dissenteries which are the Country Diseases are neither so riâ—e nor so mortal as they have been heretofore Things most observable of that Country are That nothing venomous will live in it there are Spiders but not poysonous Ireland breeds the largest Grey-hound in the World they are called Wolf-Dogs and will dwindle and grow much smaller in two or three Generations in any other Country The Irish Hawk is reputed the best in Europe and the Irish Hobbies or ambling Nags can hardly be matched nor do any Seas abound with Pilchards more than the Southern Irish Sea it is very rare to have an Earthquake in Ireland and when it happens it is portentuous there are a thousand Lies reported of wonderful things in Ireland but the only extraordinary thing I can aver true is the strange Quality of Logh neâ—gh that turns Wood into Stone and I
and Knowledge and when the Doctors of other Nations had Liberty to return home Ireland soon returned to its former Ignorance so that long before the English Conquest there were hardly any Footsteps of Learning left in that Kingdom and to this Day very few of the Irish aim at any more than a little Latin which every Cow-Boy pretends to and a smattering in Logick which very few of them know the use of As for the Riches of the Irish Nation before the Conquest certainly they were very inconsiderable for tho Sir James Ware mentions That they had a Crown of Gold and Jewels and Gold Rings which may be True though I doubt it because the Irish Kings were never crowned but however that be it is certain their Wealth consisted in Cattle and those none of the best insomuch that even since the Conquest they paid the King's Revenue in Cows for want of Money and yet it may be true that they might have some Money tho' very little brought in by the Oestmen but it is certain they never coyned any themselves And indeed it is impossible they should be Rich since they had little or no Traffick with any other Nation neither had they any Artificers at home that could support a Trade abroad Perhaps they had but few other Kinds of Mechanicks except Weavers Cotners Taylors Broge-makers and Smiths Hats and Sadles came into use but of late and the Irish Carpenters and Masons must not be mentioned Davys 155. since Sir John Davys assures us That the Irish never did so good a thing as to build a City and indeed it is manifest That all the considerable Towns and Piles in the Kingdom were built by Ware 110. others and not by the Irish Dublin Coâ—â— Limerick Wexford and Waterford were built by the Oestmen and Galway was built by the English and is inhabited by Englishmen only to this Day viz. the Burks Frenches Bodkins Lynches Kerevans c. the Castles of Ardfinin Nenagh Lismore Tybrack and Limerick were built by King John Castledermood Castlederwagh Kilkea and Leighlin by the Lacyes Ferns Sligo Traly Geshil Adare Askeaton by the Fitz-Giralds the Grey-Friers at Leighlin Ballymarter Ardtully Lixnaw and Macrome by the Carews Philipstown and Mariburgh by Bellingham Athenry by Birmingham Green-castle Castle carbry Athassel Carlingford Castleconnel Loghreagh and Portumny by the Burks Kilkenny by Ranulph Earl of Chester Castle of Kilkenny by the Earl of Ormond Thomastown by Thomas Fitz-Antony Ross and Caterlogh by Isabel Daughter of Strongbow Carrigfergus was walled by Sir Henry Sydny Lord Deputy Castle Island in Kerry was built by Geofry de Marisco as Tymoleague Castle was by Barret and Trim by William Peppard the Town and Castle of Roscomon and the Towns of Clonmel Youghal Bandon Londonderry Colerâ—in Kingsale Carrik Athy c. were likewise built by the English and so were most of the Abbies and Cathedral Churches as you may read at large in Sir James Ware 's most excellent Treatise de antiquitatibus Hibernia The first Pile of Lime and Stone that ever was in Ireland was the Castle of Tuam built anno 1161 by Rotherick O Connor the Monarch and for the rarity called Castrum Mirificum for when O Morgaire Archbishop of Armagh began to build a Church of Stone such as he had seen beyond Sea the Irish upbraided his Pride and despised the Novelty and laught at his Folly to undertake a Work so much beyond his Ability unde tibi pauperi sumptus ad perficiendum say they but what need more be offered in this Matter than that Taragh was the Seat of the Monarch and the old Head of Kinsale was the Residence of Sovercy King of half Ireland but neither Place has the Ruines of any thing like a Palace nor is the old Head a situation fit for a private Gentleman much less for a Prince Their Building in those Days even of their Castles was no other than Turf or Watles plaistered over Cambrensis c. 11. Nor did Henry II find any thing better in Ireland nor Artificers that could make better As for the Christian Religion it was introduced into Ireland very early and the Testimony of Prosper That Paladius being ordained by Pope Celestine was sent to the Scots believing in Christ does manifest That the Scots i. e. Irish did believe in Christ before Paladius came Bishop of S. Asaph 84 85. And accordingly the Irish Tradition runs That they had Churches formed under Bishops Kiaranus Ailbeus c. before Paladius or S. Patrick and that they founded Bishopricks too at Ossory Lismore Ardmore and Beckerin however it must be allowed Ibid. 51. That S. Patrick who succeeded Palladius was the Person that had the good Fortune to convert the Body of that Nation to Christianity but he was so far from bringing them to Popery that they owned no Jurisdiction the Pope had over them but differed from the usage at Rome both in Tonsure and in celebrating the Feast of Easter and were therefore counted Schismaticks by the Romanists and although at this Day their Religion as my Lord of Orrery words it is something that pins them upon the Pope's Sleve Lord Orrery's answer to P. W. yet in the beginning it was not so but their Religion was pure and Orthodox And the Learned Primate Vsher has sufficiently proved Vsher's Religion of the ancient Irish That for Substance it was the same which the Protestants now proâ—â—â—ss and first he cites Sedulius and Claudius both Irishmen affirming in effect That Scripture is the Rule of Faith and he instances in the Successors of Columkille and in Bishop Aidan That they and their Company spent their time in searching the Scriptures he quotes the Testimony of S. Chrisostome and Bede That they had the Scripture in their Mother-Tongue and he gives you the Opinion of S. Patrick That continual Meditation of Scripture adds Vigour and Vegetation to the Soul and the Saying of Columbus sint tibi divitiae divinae dogmata legis by the Example of Furseus Kilianus and Bitihildis he proves That Children and Women did study the Scriptures and he produces many Instances wherein Sedulius and S. Patrick differed from the Rhemish Translation and the Vulgar Latin and shews That all preferred the Original before any Translation whatsoever As for Apocrypha though it was often cited by them with Reverence and Respect such as was given to the Writings of the Fathers and other good Men yet since they also cited the fourth Book of Esdras in the same manner which the Romanists deny to be Canonical it will follow that this Argument proves nothing or proves too much But to make the Matter more clear he cites Marianus Scotus born in Ireland 1028. and the Author of the Book de Mirabilibus Scripturae who was also an Irishman and they do expresly exclude out of the Canon of Scripture those Books we call Apocrypha In the next Chapter the Primate quotes Sedulius and Claudius for the
if valid are a good Title against Mr. Sullevan and his Abettors I will therefore endeavour to Rescue them from his Objections And as to the first though misinformation or false Suggestion may avoid the Grant of a Prince to his Subjects yet that Rule does not hold between Princes else all Contracts Leagues and Treaties in the World would be avoided on slight Pretences of being misinformed in one Point or other Besides the Pope Alexander III. after some Years Experience and full information of the English Conduct and Proceedings in Ireland gave a new Bull of Confirmation as aforesaid Hanmer 141. And says the Book of Houth he besought the Devil to take all those that gainsaid the Kings Title to Ireland but after all the Suggestions were no other but that the Country was Barbarous and needed Reformation which was so true that the Irish Historians themselves do frequently confess it As to the Second the very Bull mentions That the King shall be their Liege Lord and Sovereign And Henry II was accordingly received as King by the Clergy Nobility and People and both he and his Successors had always the Title of Sovereign Lords and did continually exercise and enjoy Monarchical Authority and Royal Jurisdiction in Ireland Daviâ— 2. 4 Inst 357. under the Name and Stile of Lords And Vrban III granted Power to the King to appoint which of his Sons he pleased King of Ireland Moreover Henry VIII by all the Kingdom in Parliament was acknowledged and declared King of Ireland Which Pope Paul IV considering he officiously erected Ireland into a Kingdom Council of Trent 367. and granted it to Queen Mary that so it might seem as if she derived that Title from him or his Authority which she had before by a better Right As to the Third The Peter-Pence which are but a sort of Proxies propter Beati Petri visitationem and must of Necessity determine with the Jurisdiction of the Visitor which is long since banished out of his Majesties Dominions are mentioned by way of Reservation and not by way of Condition and are to be paid by the People and not by the King And the Reformation of the Irish is proposed by way of Direction and Advice and doth not make the Bull Conditional Besides Conversion is the effect of Grace and the Act of God for which no Man can undertake and therefore such a Condition would be Impossible and Void However the English have heartily endeavoured to Reform that People and to bring that Noble Country into a general Practice of True Religion and Civility and though we do not boast much of our Success hitherto yet now that it is likely better and more effectual Methods will be used than heretofore we do not doubt but that they will produce suitable Effects But I have spent too much time about these paltry Bulls and therefore I will leave them and proceed to the solid and legal Titles which the Crown of England hath to the Kingdom of Ireland and the first is that of Descent from Eva Daughter of Dermond Mac Morough who was actually King of Leinster and whose Ancestors were Monarchs of Ireland The second is by lawful Conquest in a just War The third is by many solemn Oaths Compacts and Submissions of the Princes Nobility Gentry and People of Ireland The fourth is by several Statutes and Acts of Recognition And the last which alone were sufficient is by above five hundred years Prescription But two Things are to be wondred at Isti Reges non fuerunt ordinati solemnitate alicujus Ordinis nec Vnctionis Sacramento nec jure haereditario vel aliqua propâ—ietatis successione sed vi armis quilibet regnum suum obtinuit Davis 16. First That the Irish who never observed the Right of Succession but dethroned and succeeded one another by force as they were able sometimes the Posterity of Hiber sometimes of Herimon and sometimes the Issue of Ithy getting into the Monarchy should yet complain of Force in others or that Rotherick O Connor who drove Dermond out of Leinster should think it unreasonable that Dermond should drive him out of Connaugh assoon as he could The Second is That any body in Ireland should dispute the English Title to that Island after they and their Ancestors for above five hundred years have been born and bred under the Allegiance of the Kings of England But that which is most strange is Burks Butlers Breminghams Barryes Roch Condon Power Fitzgirald c. That four parts in five of the Inhabitants in Ireland are of English Extraction and have setled there since the Conquest and by vertue of it and yet many of them are so blinded with an ignorant Zeal for Popery that they have endeavoured to cut the Bough they stand on and have Associated with Mr. Sullevan and his Complices to destroy the English Government of Ireland and have been frequently in Rebellions to that purpose not without expressing Inveteracy against the English Name and Nation and all for want of duly considering that thereby they made way for their own Extirpation since the old Irish who say the Country was given them by God would if they had power no more endure the first Conquerors than the last Settlement Sale of Ireland nor allow the Title of the Fitzgiralds the Butlers and the Burks any more than that of the Boyles the Coots or the Clotworthyes I must yet continue this Digression to give an Account of the Complaints that are made against the English Government of Ireland and they are these First That the English profan'd the Churches and Sacred Places and instances Philip of Worcester and Hugh Tyrrel who took a Brass Pan from the Priests of Down and Gerald Earl of Kildare who burnt the Church of Cashel and put it off with a Jest That he would not have done it but that he thought the Archbishop was in it Secondly That Offices of Profit and Places of Trust were mostly given to Englishmen Thirdly That they suffer none of the Potentates to sit in Parliament but such as are qualified by the English Law and therefore the Parliaments are void Vnde deducitur omnia Parliamenta Regum Britannorum authoritate coacta in Hibernia deincepsque more pristino celebranda prorsus inita infirma injusta violenta esse says my Author Fourthly That Benefit of Law is not given but to the Quinque Sanguines so that the Irish are as it were Outlaws in their own Countrey and may be slain as Enemies Lastly The Irish were perswaded to surrender their Estates on promise to re-grant them in a better and more legal Form whereas really they were cheated and the King reserved a Tenure to himself and gave the Irishman only the Possessions and Profits And for these and other Injuries says Mr. Sullevan pag. 61. the English Kings could never enjoy Ireland quietly but were disturbed with many and almost continual Rebellions Little did this Objector think that his
and His would cut their Throats for he was resolved to be of the strongest Side and though he would help them whilst they sought he would certainly turn against them if they fled But the English Valour needed not such a Whet for according to their Custom they fell upon and routed the Enemy and marched to Limrick and relieved the Garrison which produced a Parley Easter-Tuesday and that a new Submission and Hostages as well from Daniel Prince of Limrick as from Rotherick late Monarch of Ireland who sent his Son over to the King as Hostage of the Peace 1177. and afterwards by his Agents the Archbishop of Tuam the Abbot of S. Brendam and Laurence his Chaplain entred into the following Agreement Hic est finis Concordia quae facta fuit apud Windesore Hanmer 144. in octabis Sancti Michaelis anno gratiae 1177. inter Dominum Regem Angliae Henricum secundum Rodericum Regem Conaciae per Catholicum Tuamensem Archiepiscopum Abbatem C. Sancti Brandani Magistrum Laurentium Cancellarium Regis Conaciae I. QVod Rex Angliae concedit praedicto Roderico Ligeo homini suo Regnum Conaciae quamdiu ei fideliter serviet ut sit Rex sub eo paratus ad servitium suum sicut homo suus ut teneat terram suam ita bene in pace sicut tenuit antequam Dominus Rex Angliae intravit Hiberniam reddendo ei tributum totam illam terram habitatores terrae habeat sub se Justitiae ut tributum Regi Angliae integre persolvant per manum ejus sua jura sibi conservent illi qui modo tenent teneant in pace quamdiu mansuerint in fidelitate Regis Angliae fideliter integre persolverint tributum alia jura sua quae ei debent per manum Regis Conaciae salvo in omnibus jure honore Domini Regis Angliae suo II. Et siqui ex eis Regi Angliae ei Rebelles fuerint tributum alia jura Regis Angliae per manum ejus solvere noluerint à fidelitate Regis Angliae recesserint ipse eos justitiet amoveat si eos per se justitiare non poterit Constabularius Regis Angliae familia sua de terra illa juvabunt cum ad hoc faciendum cum ab ipo fuerint requisiti ipsi viderint quod necesse fuerit propter hunc finem reddet proedictus Rex Conaciae Domino Regi Angliae tributum singulis annis scilicet de singulis decem animalibus unum Corium placabile mercatoribus tam de tota terra sua quam de aliena III. Excepto quod de terris illis quas Dominus Rex Angliae retinuit in Dominio suo in Dominio Baronum suorum nihil se intromittet Scilicet Durelina cum pertinentiis suis Media cum omnibus pertinentiis suis sicut unquam Murchait Wamai Leth-Lachlin eam melius plenius tenuit aut aliqui qui eam de eo tenuerint Et excepta Wexfordia cum omnibus pertinentiis suis scilicet cum tota Lagenia excepta Waterfordia cum tota terra illa quae est à Waterfordia usque ad Dungarvan ita ut Dungarvan sit cum omnibus pertinentis suis infra terram illam IV. Et si Hibernenses illi qui aufugerint redire voluerint ad terram Baronum Regis Angliae redeant in pace reddendo tributum praedictum quod alii reddunt vel faciendo antiqua servitia quae facere solebant pro terris suis hoc sit in arbitrio Dominorum suorum si aliqui eorum redire noluerint Domini eorum Rex Conaciae accipiat obsides omnibus quos ei commisit Dominus Rex Angliae ad voluntatem Domini Regis suam ipse dabit Obsides ad voluntatem Domini Regis Angliae illos vel alios ipsi servient Domino de Canibus Avibus suis singulis annis de pertinentiis suis nullum omnino de quacunque terra Regis sit retinebunt contra voluntatem Domini Regis His testibus Richardo Episcopo Wintoniae Gaufrido Episcopo Eliensi Laurentio Duveliensi Archiepiscopo Gaufrido Nicholao Rogero Capelanis Regis Gulielmo Comite Essexii aliis multis Whilst Reymond staid at Limrick there came to him Dermond Mac Carthy King of Cork craving Aid against his Son Cormock Lehanagh who had imprisoned him and used him barbarously Reymond assents upon the Terms agreed between them conquers where he goes subdues the Rebellious Son and delivers him Prisoner to his Father who unnaturally smote off his Head and not long after says Cambrensis the Men of Cork at a Parlee not far from the Town slew their Prince the aforesaid Dermond mac Carthy and most of his Company It seems that Dermond mac Carthy King of Cork gave unto Reymond for this Expedition a large Tract of Land in the County of Kerry then reckoned part of the Kingdom of Cork there Reymond setled his Son Maurice who married Catherine Daughter of Miles Cogan and grew so Great and Powerful that he gave Name both to his Country and his Family this being called Fitz-Morris and that Clan-Morris and both the one and the other are enjoyed to this Day by his Lineal Heir Male the Right Honourable William Lord Baron of Kerry Whilst Reymond was in the County of Cork he received a Letter from his Wife in these Words KNow my dear Lord That my great Cheek Tooth which was wont to ake so much is now fallen out wherefore if you have any Care or Regard of me or of your self come away with all speed By this Reymond knew that Strongbow was dead 27 May 1177. but he wisely concealed it and immediately returned to Limerick And because he wanted the Soldiers to garrison the Towns near the Sea he delivered the City to Donald Prince of Thomond the King's Subject upon a new Oath and Hostages but he as soon as the Garrison was out perfidiously set Fire to the City in four Places that it might be no more a Nest for English Men. Thence Reymond marched to Dublin and the Funerals of the Earl were there solemnized by the Archbishop of Dublin The King's Messengers returned to England with an account of the State of Affairs leaving with the Consent of the Council the chief Government with Reymond who soon after surrendred to William Fitz-Adelm Ancestor of the Burks or Burghs the King's Sewer or Taster with whom were sent Courcy Fitz-Stephens and Cogan as Counsellors and Assistants He was allowed twenty Gentlemen and they ten a piece He landed at Wexford whither Reymond marched to meet him he viewed the Sea-Coasts and took Care of the Towns and Castles that way but did not much mind the Frontiers against the Irish This William Fitz-Adelm was related to the Crown for Arlotte Mother of William the Conqueror was married to Harlowen de Bourgo by whom she had Robert
Ophaly till he made him consent to accept of worse situated Land in lieu of it He made his Nephew Walter Almain a corrupt beggarly Fellow says Cambrensis Seneschal of Wexford and Waterford who received Bribes from Mac Morough of Kensile to prejudice the Fitz-Geralds and so Mercenary was Fitz-Adelm himself that the Irish flock'd unto him as to a Fair to buy their Demands At last having neither done Honour to the King nor Good to the Country he was revok'd and in his Room the King appointed Hugh de Lacy 1179. Lord Justice of Ireland to whom Robert le Poer the King's Marshal Governour of Waterford and Wexford was made Coadjutor Counsellor or assistant The King Lib. G. Lamb. at a Parliament held at Oxford anno 1177 had given the Kingdom of Cork The Patent from the River next Lismore running between that and Cork i.e. the River Bride to Knock-Brandon near the Shenin and so to the Sea unto Cogan and Fitz-Stephens Tenendum of him and his Son John per sexaginta feoda militaria except the City of Cork and the Cantred adjoyning which was the Eastmens He also gave the Kingdom of Limerick to the Brothers and Nephew of Richard Earl of Cornwal but they finding they could not get Possession in a little Time surrendred their unprofitable Grant Whereupon the King bestowed it upon Philip de Broase to be held of the King and his Son John by sixty Knights Fees and the City and a Cantred adjoyning were likewise excepted out of this Grant These three Adventurers joyned their Forces together and came to Waterford in November and so coasted it to Cork where they were kindly received by Richard de Londres the Governour Cogan and Fitz-Stephens agreed with Mac Carthy and the Irish Gentry That they should hold four and twenty Cantreds paying a small yearly Rent and of the seven Cantreds near Cork Cogan had the four Southern and Fitz-Stephens the three that were on the East-side of the City The Kingdom of Cork being thus setled they marched with Broase to Limerick with sixty Gentlemen one hundred and fifty Horse and a smart Party of Foot As soon as the Citizens perceived them they set the Town on Fire at which desperate Barbarity Broase was so offended that he could not be prevailed upon by any Arguments to settle there or to have any thing to do with such Rash and Heathenish People and therefore they returned to Cork which for some Time after Cogan and Fitz-Stephens joyntly and happily governed This Kingdom of Cork descended to Daughters Hooker 46. Hanmer 158. Brady 369. and so came by Marriage to Robert de Carew and Patrick de Courcy about the twentieth Year of the Reign of Henry III. Courcy's part of it was afterwards subdvided among many Daughters who were Heirs General of that Family so that a very small Proportion of it remains with the Heir-Male of that Name who was anciently Baron of Ringrone but now has the Title of Lord Baron of Kingsale As for the Carews they were Marquesses of Cork and built the Castles of Ardtully Dunkeran and Down Marque but they removed out of Ireland in the Time of the Civil Wars between York and Lancaster and others intruded into their Possessions and Estate and keep them to this Day except what they have sold or forfeited About this Time Sir Thomas de Clare obtained a Grant of Thomond Davis 122. as Otho de Grandison did of Typerary and Robert le Poer of Waterford and William Fitz-Adelm also got a large Proportion of Connaugh But it is time to return to the valiant John de Courcy Brady 368. who was engaged in Vriel on this Occasion he had sent into England for Victuals Ammunition and other Necessaries the Ship by Stress of Weather was driven into a Creek called Torshead O Hanlon and his Followers immediately came on Board the Vessel and murdered all that were in it and seized on the Cargo As soon as Courcy had Notice of this Misfortune he drew his Men together being above a thousand and marched towards the Newry on the Way he received Advice That the Irish were encamped near Dundalk in a great Body to the Number of seven thousand Courcy sent a Fryer to them and instructed him to tell them That there were great Forces arrived at Drogheda from England and that they were very near them and to justifie this Story the English did march with the greatest Shew and Appearance they could make and made a great Shout wherewith the Enemy was so daunted that they fled towards the River in great Confusion but the Tide being in many were drowned and more were slain However O Hanlon and the greatest part of his Army got over the River but the Frier guided the English over a Ford so that they came to a second Encounter wherein the Irish were so desperate That the English Foot were forced to retire but the Valiant Sir Armorick came in seasonably to their Rescue and persuaded them to rally and to make another Charge which they performed so briskly that the Irish were obliged to withdraw to the Fews as the English also did to Dundalk neither Party much boasting of the Victory because the Slaughter was great on both sides About this time two Cardinals come to England to invite the English and Irish Bishops to the Council of Lateran There went from hence Lawrence Archbishop of Dublin Catholicus Archbishop of Tuam and others but all of them first swore Not to procure any Damage to the King or his Dominions Sullevan Which Oath Lawrence did not very religiously observe for he not only spoke vehemently in the Council against the King's Administration of Affairs in Ireland but as the Irish say he obtained a Bull of Revocation from the Pope annulling the former Bulls granted to the King But this is not probable because no such Bull is extant and if there were it would be void but it is certain he was an inveterate Enemy to the English and gave them all the Opposition and Disquiet he could However he was reputed a very Holy Man being zealously addicted to the Superstitious Devotion Hanmer 163. so that he was canonized by Pope Honorius III. This is recorded of him That he was so grateful to the See of Rome for his Pall or so great an abhorrer of Immodesty that he refused to absolve the Priests convicted of that Sin insomuch that he sent one hundred and forty of them to Rome to pay for their Absolution there But it is time to return to the Lord Justice Lacy who govern'd very well and built many Castles in convenient Places and particularly Castle-Dermond Leighlin Leix Delvin 1180. Carlow Tullaghphelim and Kilka and Courcy was no less diligent in raising that kind of Fortification in Vlster However Lacy had given just Cause of Jealousie by marrying the Daughter of Rotherick King of Connaught whereupon his Enemis impeached him suggesting that he confederated with the Irish
Annum for the other two parts saving and reserving to the King two Cantreds with the Inhabitants and liberty of building Castles therein The King liked the Proposal well enough and communicated it to the Lord Justice and referr'd it to him adding That it would do well if the Lord Justice could squeeze a Fine of four hundred Marks from the King of Connaught together with a yearly Tribute of Cows 1208. to supply such Castles as should be built in those Cantreds Hugh de Lacy was made Lord Deputy upon the Lord Justice his going to England and soon after viz. the Eighth of November the King by Patent Dated at Woodstock whereunto Meyler Fitz-Henry Lord Justice is Witness did confirm to William Fitz Philip Barry the three Cantreds of Olethan Muskry Dunegan and Killedy which Fitz Stephens had given his Father in the Kingdom of Cork 4 Inst 359. to be held of the King by Ten Knights Fees Lib. GGG and he also granted to William Marshal the Marshalship of Ireland in Fee as also the Cantred of Kilkenny About this time Jeofry Morison or Mac Moris was troublesome in Munster wherefore the Lord Deputy invaded Typerary Hanmer 186. and took Thurles he also took Castlemeyler and demolished it but the Irish say he lost more men in this Expedition than he brought back And now the King finding many Complaints of Thieves Tories and Robbers which were become a Nusance in Ireland sent the following Writ for their expulsion REX Meyler Prin 250. fil Henr. Justic Hiberniae c. omnibus aliis Baron fidelibus suis Hibern c. Sciatis quod ad voluntatem consilium dilectorum fidelium nostrorum Com. W. Maresc Walteri de Lacy aliorum Baronum nostrorum Hibern qui nobiscum fuerunt in Angl. per consilium fidelium nostror Angl. volumus statuimus quod Latrones Hibern expellantur de Terra nostra Hibern quod ipsi receptores eorum deducantur secundum Legem Angl. ideo vobis mandamus quod ita fieri faciatis in hujus rei testimonium has Literas nostras Patent vobis mittimus Teste Meipso apud Southhampt 23 Die Martii But Lacy was so elevated with the aforesaid Victories how dear soever they were bought that he look'd on all below him with Contempt and became so impatient of Competition that he was outragious against all his Enemies and particularly against John de Courcy Lord of Raheny and Kilbarrock Natural Son of the great John de Courcy whom the Lacies basely and barbarously caused to be murdered whereupon great Stirs and Dissatisfactions arose in Ireland even among the British Temple 6. whereof the Irish made their advantage Hanmer 187. and under pretence of being burdened with Taxes there was a general Defection throughout all the Realm Dublin was inhabited mostly by a Colony of Bristol Men 1209. and it was customary with them for love of Sport and Air to walk abroad toward Cullenwood every Easter-Monday but now being unarmed they were surprized by the Mountaneers of Wicklow the Birnes and Tooles c. who murdered three hundred of the Citizens wherefore that Day is ever since called Black Monday and for a long time after was solemnly observed by the Mayor Sheriffs and Citizens of Dublin in a brave and splendid manner and to supply this Loss the City of Bristol sent a new Colony to replenish Dublin But the King as well to secure his goverment from the ambition of Lacy whereof he grew exceeding jealous as also to suppress the Rebellion of the Irish found it necessary to make a Voyage to that Countrey and therefore with a considerable Army he sailed thither and on the Eighth Day of June landed at Waterford 1210. where O Neal and above Twenty other Irish Potentates came and made their humble Submissions and did Homage and Fealty unto him The Lacies conscious of their Demerits durst not abide the Arrival of the King but secretly fled into France where in Disguise they served the Abbot of St. Taurin in the quality of Gardeners till their unskilfulness manifested they were not educated in that way which gave the Abbot some suspicion of them and that led him into so strict an Enquiry that to satisfie the Abbot they were obliged to discover the Truth Speed 508. The good man did so sympathize with their Misfortunes and pitied their Distress that he effectually interceded with the King for their Pardon which at length he obtain'd Walter paying for Meath 2500 and Hugh for Vlster 4000 Marks Cattalus or rather Carolus O Conner alias Crovederg the Valiant and Active King of Connaught was the only Man of Note that opposed King John but he was an unequal Match for the King of England Cambden 152. and therefore was easily subdued and taken Prisoner Wherefore the King having no more of Military Matters to execute in Ireland seriously set himself to mend the Civil State of that unfortunate Country and first he caused Money to be Coyned ad Pondus Nummi Angliae and made it currant in both Kingdoms by his Proclamation which was the first Sterling Money that was Coyned in Ireland Lib. M. 25. and this done he set himself to establish the English Laws in that Kingdom For though King Henry had done as much to introduce the English Laws there as that Season and other Circumstances would permit yet partly for want of Sheriffs and the Distribution of the Kingdom into Counties but chiefly because of the unsetledness of the Country and the rebellious humour of the Irish it could not at that time be fully effected Wherefore King John to supply those Defects as far as he was able divided Leinster and Munster the only part he had in quiet and actual possession into the Counties of Dublin Kildare Meath Vriel Caterlogh Kilkenny Wexford Waterford Cork Limerick Typerary and Kerry and appointed Sheriffs and other Officers for them after the manner of England He also caused an Abstract of the English Laws and Customs to be drawn in writing Inst 141. b. 4 Inst 349. whereunto he affixed his Seal and left it in the Exchequer in Dublin and by general consent in Parliament and at the instance of the Irish he ordained that the English Laws and Customs should thenceforward be observed in Ireland Temple 6. and in order to it he erected Courts of Judicature at Dublin But the Brehon Law and the other Irish Customs indulged more to the Tyrannie of the great Men and yet did not hold the Commons to a strict and regular Discipline as the Laws of England did and therefore the very English were so corrupted by ill Example that the English Laws were not regarded nor had in Estimation as they ought but were look'd upon both by the Irish and degenerate English Davis 90. lib. M. as a Yoke of Bondage so that Henry III was necessitated oftentimes to enjoyn the Observation of them In
the following Order to stop any farther Proceedings upon the aforesaid illegal Writ which I do the rather recite at large because it justifies my Assertion that Ireland is inseparable from the Crown of England since we find the King effectually interpose to rectifie Miscarriages there notwithstanding the aforesaid Donation to the Prince which was as full as it could be worded REX Thesaurario Baronibus de Scaccario Dublin Ibid. 255. Salutem Quia de assensu voluntate Praelatorum Magnatum Terrae Hiberniae dudum fuit provisum concessum quod eisdem Legibus tenerentur in Terra illa quibus homines Regni nostri utuntur in Regno nostro Angliae quod eadem Brevia quoad terras tenementa recuperanda teneant in terra illa quae tenentur in regno praedicto sicut justa Et dicta provisio concessio omnibus retroactis temporibus fuerunt obtenta approbata miramur quamplurimum quod sicut ex insinuatione venerabilis patris Thomae Lismorensis Episcopi accepimus emanare permisistis ex Cancellaria Edwardi filii nostri in Hibernia contra consuetudinem obtentam formam Brevium in regno nostro usitatam Breve infra-scriptum contra praefatum Episcopum in haec verba EDwardus Illustris Regis Angliae primogenitus ad Vic. Waterford Salutem Praecipe Thomae Lismorensi Episcopo quod juste sine dilatione reddat Waltero Episcopo Waterford Maneria de Archmurdeglan Kilmurdri Motha cum pertinentiis quae clamat esse jus Ecclesiae suae in quae idem Episcopus non habet ingressum nisi per Alanum quondam Lismorensem Episcopum cui Griffinus quondam Lismorensis Episcopus qui inde injuste sine judicio disseisivit Robertum quondam Waterford Episcopum predecessorem Episcopi post ultimum reditum c. QUia vero dictum Breve tam dissonum est Stat. Marlbridge cap. 30. contra Leges Consuetudines in regno nostro tentas formas Brevium nostrorum ibidem approbatas praesertim cum Breve ingressus non transeat tertiam personam nec ratione intrationis in terram aliquam post mortem alicujus comperat actio alicui de terra illa nisi illi cui per mortem illam jus debetur in eadem Nec enim dicitur intrusio qui jure haereditario vel ratione Ecclesiae suae succedit Predecessori suo in hiis de quibus idem Predeces fuit seisitus in Dominico suo ut de feodo die quo obiit Vobis mandamus quod si dictum Breve a Cancellaria praedicta in forma praedicta emanaverit executionem ejusdem Brevis supersedeatis revocantes sine dilatione quicquid per idem Breve actum fuerit in Curia praedicti Filii nostri Teste apud Windsor 27 die Januar. Et eodem modo scribitur Adamo le Sole Justiciario Hiberniae intellige de Banco Regis Waleranno de Willesby Sociis suis Itinerantibus ut supra Alan de la Zouch 1255. who had been Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in England Hanmer 199. 34. Hen. 3. was now made Lord Justice of Ireland he had the Misfortune to be slain in Westminster-Hall by John Earl of Warren and Surrey half Brother to the King In his time some Rebel Irishmen were coming to aid the Earl of Chester against the King but Prince Edward with the English Navy had the good Fortune to meet with the Irish Fleet and to sink most of their Ships so that few of the Men were left alive to return Now flourished that famous Mathematician Johannes de Sacrobosco who was born at Holywood in Fingal not far from Dublin and thence had his Name de sacrobosco i.e. Holy wood It seems that the Prince 1258. by Virtue of the aforesaid Grant would have removed the Lord Justice and put another in his Room But the King by the Advice of the Barons of England wrote to the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Barons Brady 674. Knights c. That he heard his Son designed to make a new Justice in Ireland and to put his Castles into such Hands as it might be great Damage and not without fear of their disinheriting and therefore commands them not to obey such Justice Constables or Keepers of Castles made or appointed without his Letters Patents by Advice and Assent of his Council After the same manner he wrote to all the Mayors and Communities of Cities and Towns in Ireland and to the Constables of Castles and also commanded Alan de la Zouch his Justiciary not to obey or give up his Authority to any new Justiciary or Constable that should come without his Letters Patents But it seems this Matter was setled for the next Year we find Stephen de long Espee 1259. Lord Justice some call him Earl of Salisbury and Burlace stiles him Earl of Vlster but I think there is no Ground for either of the Titles he encountred O Neale and slew him and three hundred fifty two Irishmen in the Streets of Down 1260. but not long after the Lord Justice was betrayed and murdered by his own People And thereupon William Den was chosen Lord Justice In whose Time the Mac Carthyes plaid the Devil in Desmond they are the Words of my Author and by Ambuscade surprized and slew Thomas Fitz-Girald and John his Son 1261. at Calan in Desmond together with many Knights and Gentlemen of that Family whereupon the Carthyes grew so high that for the space of twelve Years the Giraldines durst not put a Plow in the Ground in Desmond Hanmer 201. until some Fewds arose between the Irish of Carby and Muskry and between the Carthyes Driscols Donovans Mahonyes and Swinyes so that they also weakned and destroyed one another and the Giraldines began to recover their Power and Authority again But the Lord Justice died this Year and Richard de Capella or Capel was made Lord Justice In his Time arose a great Contention between the Prior and Convent of Christ-Church and the Corporation of Dublin about the Tith-Fish of the River Liffy The Burks and the Geraldines quarrelled about some Lands in Connaught to that degree that they filled the whole Kingdom with War and Tumult and Maurice Fitz-Maurice Fitz-Girald not the Earl of Desmond but the same that afterwards anno 1272 was Lord Justice and John Fitz-Thomas afterwards Earl of Kildare at a Meeting at Castle-Dermond seized upon the Lord Justice and Richard Burk Heir apparent of Vlster afterwards called the Red Earl Theobald Butler 1264. Miles Cogan c. and imprisoned them in the Castle of Ley. But soon after a Parliament met at Kilkenny and ordered them all to be released which was done accordingly In the mean Time the King wrote to the Arcbishop of Dublin the Bishop of Meath his Treasurer Walter de Burg or Burk 1265. Maurice Fitz-Maurice Fitz-Girald That he heard there was like to be great Dissention between the great Men of Ireland and therefore ordered
them to secure the Peace of the Nation And sent them farther private Instructions by Robert Waspail who carried those Letters to whom he commanded them to give Credit And not long after the Lord Justice was removed and David Barry the worthy Ancestor of the Noble Family of Barrymore was made Lord Justice 1267. he so managed the Giraldines that he took from them the Castle of Sligo and all their Lands in Connaught and thereby put an End to those Wars and Differences that were between them and the Burks And in his Time the Friers Preachers were setled at Ross Kilkenny and Clonmel Sir Robert de Vfford was made Lord Justice of Ireland 1268. and began to build the Castle of Roscomon In his Time Cnoghor O Brian of Thomond was slain i.e. murdered by Dermònd mac Monard and Maurice Fitz-Girald not of Desmond as the Annals say but Son of Maurice Lord Justice anno 1272 was drowned between Ireland and Wales And about this Time came over a Writ from the King to levy Aurum Reginae for Elianor the Prince's Wife as was used in England which you may read at large 4 Inst 357. On which I will make but this one Remark That if the Sovereignty of Ireland were in the Prince how comes the King to send the Writ But it will evidently appear by the following Writ That the Prince had not the Sovereignty of that Kingdom CVm Rex per Cartam suam concessit Edvardo 52 Hen. 3. primogenito suo Terram suam Hiberniae cum pertinentiis Lib. GGG c. habendum sibi haeredibus suis Lambeth ita quod non separetur a Corona Angliae idem Edvardus sine Licentia Regis alienationes quorundam terrarum tenementorum spectantium ad Terram praedictam fecerit contra tenorem feofamenti Regis quod idem rex sustinere voluit ideo nunc dedit potestatem mandatum nepoti suo filio Regis Alemani the Son of Richard Earl of Cornwal King of the Romans revocandi omnia maneria terras tenementa quae dictus Edvardus filius Regis sic alienavit post feofamentum praedict c. Richard de Excester 1269. Lord Justice In whose time Othobon the Pope's Legate made excellent Constitutions at London He made a more firm Peace and Reconciliation between the Burks and Giraldines And not long after died and Sir James Audly 1270. or de Aldethel was made Lord Justice and had a very unfortunate Government of it for the Irish were every where troublesome Fragm M. S. Quasi omnes Hiberni guerraverunt omnes munitiones Fortifications in Ophaly praeter Castrum de Lega Ley destructi sunt Anglici inde expulsi magna strages utriusque nationis facta est in Connacia The Irish burn'd spoil'd destroyed and slew as well Magistrates as others and the King of Connaught in plain Field defeated Walter Burk Hanmer 202. Earl of Vlster and killed a great number of Nobles and Knights and particularly the Lords Richard and John Verdon and a great Famine and Pestilence the natural Consequences of War spread over all Ireland and sorely afflicted the whole Kingdom The Castles of Aldleck Roscomon and Scheligah perhaps Sligo were destroyed Nevertheless the Pope without Regard to these Universal Calamities required the Tiths of all Spiritual Promotions for three Years to maintain his Wars against a Christian King viz. of Arragon and tho' the People murmured and their Poverty and Misery pleaded loudly for them yet the rapacious Nuntio would not go empty away On the 23 of June 1272. the Lord Justice was killed by a fall from his Horse in Thomond and Maurice Fitz-Maurice Fitz-Girald was made Lord Justice 1272. and so continued till the sixteenth Day of November at which time the King died in Peace and full of Days in his Palace at London having reigned longer than any King since the Conquest viz. six and fifty Years c. THE REIGN OF EDWARD I. King of England c. And LORD of IRELAND EDWARD the First from the Talness of his Person Nicknamed Long-shanks succeeded his Deceased Father in all his Dominions on the 16th Day of November 1272 but he being at that time absent in the Holy Land the Nobility took care to keep all quiet until his Return and then on the 15th Day of August 1274. he was Crowned by Robert Archbishop of Canterbury Maurice Fitz-Maurice Fitz-Girald continued Lord Justice and to him Ware de pres 34. and to Hugh Bishop of Meath Lord Treasurer and to John de Sandford Escheator was a Writ sent December 7. 1272 Commissioning them to receive the Oaths of Fealty and Allegiance to the new King of all the Nobility Gentry and Commons of Ireland And the Lord Justice had another Writ of the same Date to proclaim the Kings Peace and to preserve it wherein 't is said That the King is willing and able by Gods Help to defend and do Justice to his People great and small And the Government of England being informed Prin. 256. That Avelina Countess of Vlster and Widow of Walter de Burgo had been endowed illegally both as to Quantity and Quality a Writ issued in the Kings Name to the Seneschal of Vlster to rectifie that Matter according to the Law and Usage of England In the mean time the Irish took advantage of the Kings absence from England and thought it an opportune Season to rebel 1273. they destroyed the Castle of Roscomon Aldleek Scheligath and Randon and found means to corrupt some of the Lord Justice Followers whereby he was betrayed into their hands in Ophaly and there taken and imprisoned whereupon Walter Genevil newly returned from the Holy Land was sent over Lord Justice Octob. 1273. to him a Writ was sent not to molest the Archbishop of Cashel for any Debts due from him to the King till his Majesties Return to England The Islanders and Red-shank Scots made a sudden incursion into Ireland and burnt several Towns and Villages killing Man 1274. Woman and Child most inhumanely and got away with vast Booty before the Country could get together or put themselves in a posture to prevent or resist this unexpected Torrent but not long after Richard de Burgo and Sir Eustace le Poer served them in their kind and entred the Islands and burnt their Cabbins and Cottages slew all they met with and smoakt out those that had hid themselves in Caves after the same manner that is used in smoaking a Fox out of his Earth Rosâ—omon-Castle was once again repaired 1275. or rather reedified and Mortagh a strong Tory being taken Prisoner by Sir Walter le Faunt was executed but the Lord Justice being recalled Sir Robert de Vfford was made Lord Justice 1276. in whose time Thomas de Clare Son of the Earl of Glocester came into Ireland and married Juliana Daughter of Maurice Fitz-Maurice Fitz-Girald though some say it was anno 1274. There is little
Flames but the Devout Citizens first made a Collection for the Repair of the Church and then set themselves to the re-edifying their own Houses And so we come to a Trial 1284. very unusual in Courts of Justice in Ireland tho' too frequent in the Field viz. that of Battle Ware presul 142. for Jeofry Saintleger Bishop of Ossory in a Writ of Right for the Mannor of Sirekeran in Ely O Carol recovered the same and the Trial was by Battle between the Bishops Champion and the Champion of his Adversary The Lords and Potentates of Ophaly were grown strong enough to take and burn the Castle of Ley 1285. and it seems Theobald Verdon going to revenge that Injury lost both his Men and his Horses which was followed with a greater Misfortune for the next Morning Girald Fitz-Maurice was betrayed by his Followers and taken Prisoner Nor had the English better Success at Rathdod for in an unfortunate Skirmish there Sir Gerard Doget Ralph Petit and many more were slain and the Lord Geofry Genevil had much ado to save himself by Flight Amidst these Disturbances Burlace 31. the Lord Justice obtained from the King a Pension of five hundred Pound per annum for his Expence and Charge in the Government to continue as long as his Justiceship but if any extraordinary Accident should require more Expence than the Writ prescribes That a Vice-Treasurer be appointed to receive and pay the Revenue as the Lord Justice and the Court of Exchequer shall think fit But the next Year was more favourable 1286. so that Philip Stanton in November burnt Norwagh and Ardscol and other Towns and the great Rebel Calwagh was taken at Kildare which superseded these Stirs for a Time Nevertheless this Year was fatal to many Noblemen viz. Maurice Fitz-Maurice who died at Rosse as Girald Fitz-Maurice Oge did at Rathmore and the Lord Thomas de Clare could not escape the Common Fate to which the Lord Justice himself was forced to submit So that John Sandford 1287. Archbishop of Dublin was chosen Lord Justice His Government was the more uneasie to him because Richard Burk 1288. Earl of Vlster and Walter Lacy Lord of Meath confederated against Theobald de Verdon and Besieged him in the Castle of Athloan and came with a great Army as far as Trim However this was in a great measure recompenced by the Plenty of the Year which was so great even in England that a Bushel of Wheat was sold for four Pence It was usual in this King's Reign To send the new English Statutes in some reasonable time after they were made to be proclaimed and observed in Ireland Thus in the thirteenth Year of his Reign he sent by Roger Bretun the Statutes of Westminster the first of Glocester of Merchants and of Westminster the second to the Lord Justice Fulborne to publish and notifie them to the People And this Year the like was done by the Statute called Ordinatio pro Statu Hiberniae which was enacted in England and sent to Ireland to be observed there and is to be seen in French in the second part of the Ancient Statutes printed at London 1532. And the Statutes of Lincoln and of York were also sent to Ireland Ex lib. Alb. Scac. Hib. to be enrolled in the Chancery and to be published and notified to the People 20 Novemb. 17 Edw. 1. And it is to be observed That after Parliaments were held in Ireland yet the English Statutes did extend to Ireland as the eleventh of Edward III Lib. M. Lamb. of Drapery and the twenty seventh of Edward III of the Staple and the fourth of Henry V cap. 6-touching the Promotion of Clerks of the Irish Nation and many more But it is time to return to the Lord Justice whose Service the King had occasion to make use of in England and in several Foreign Embassies in all which he behaved himself honourably He was succeeded in Ireland by William Vescy 15 Novemb. 1290. Lord Justice Whose Government was disturbed by O Hanlon in Vlster and O Mlaghlin in Meath who were again in Rebellion but Richard Earl of Vlster had the good Fortune to suppress O Hanlon with a few Blows and the Lord Justice did as much for O Mlaghlin and pursued him so close that at last he was taken and slain by Mac Coughlan who grew so proud upon that Service that he set up for himself and gave a great Defeat to William Burk at Delvin and to the English in Ophaly And tho' the King in the thirteenth Year of his Reign had a Grant from the Pope of the Tenth of all Ecclesiastical Revenues in Ireland for seven Years toward the Holy War which was followed with a Grant of a Fifteenth from the Temporality yet now upon the Expiration of that Grant he wrote to the Bishops and Clergy for a Dism of their Spiritualities to defray his Debts in redeeming his Nephew Charles But they unanimously answered Quod concessioni petitionis praefatae minime supercederent But Cambden assures us That the Temporality granted another Fifteenth To this Lord Justice Cambden 78. Baliol King of Scotland did Homage for some Lands he held in Ireland and about the same time it was ordered 4 Inst 356. That the Treasurer of Ireland should account yearly at the Exchequer of England 1293. And the same Year came over Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester whose Wife Joan of Acres was the King's Daughter But now there arose great Feuds between John Fitz-Thomas Fitz-Girald Lord of Ophaly and the Lord Justice whereupon the Lord Justice did underhand encourage the Irish to do all the Prejudice they could to Fitz-Girald and his Partisans hence arose mutual Complaints and reciprocal Impeachments so that both of them went or were fent for into England But it will not be unpleasant to the Reader to have the Particulars of this famous Controversie in the Words of Holingshead The Lord Justice hearing many Complaints of the Oppressions the Country daily received Holingshead 35 which he thought reflected on him and insinuated his male Administration therefore to disburthen and excuse himself he began in misty Speeches to lay the Fault on the Lord John Fitz-Giralds Shoulders saying in parable wise That he was a great occasion of these Disorders in that he bare himself in Private Quarrels as fierce as a Lyon but in these Publick Injuries as meek as a Lamb. The Baron of Ophaly spelling and putting these Syllables together spake after this Manner My Lord I Am heartily sorry that among all this Noble Asembly you make me your only Butt whereat you shoot your Bolt and truly were my Deserts so hainous as I suppose you would wish them to be you would not labour to cloud your Talk with such dark Riddles as at this present you have done but with plain and flat English your Lordship would not stick to impeach me of Felony or Treason for as mine Ancestors with
the King appointed no small Provision was made for so eager a Combat as that was presupposed to have been But when the prefixed Day approached near Vescie turning his great Boast to small Roast began to cry Creak and secretly sailed into France King Edward thereof advertised bestowed Vescies Lordships of Kildare and Rathingan on the Baron of Ophaly saying That albeit Vescie conveyed his Person into France yet he left his Lands behind him in Ireland Mr. Pryn makes an Observation on this Case Pryn 259. as if an Appeal between Vescie and Fitz-Girald in Ireland had been adjourned to England But to make the Remark useful it is necessary not only to consider what he says but also to consult the Records which he cites William Hay 1294. Lord Deputy to whom a Writ was sent to admit Thomas Saintleger Bishop of Meath to be of the Privy Council And not long after John Fitz-Thomas return'd to Ireland big with Glory and Success which transported him to a Contempt of all his Opposers he began with Richard Burk Cambdens Ann. Earl of Vlster whom together with William Burk he took Prisoners in Meath by the assistance of John Delamere and confined them to the Castle of Ley. But he had not so good luck in Kildare which was made the Seat of the War so that between the English and Irish it was entirely wasted the Castle of Kildare was also taken and the Records of that County burnt by Calwagh Brother to the King of Ophaly And these Misfortunes were accompanied with great Dearth and Pestilence William Dodingzel Lord Justice found Work enough to struggle with these Difficulties and the rather because John Fitz-Thomas appeared again with a great Army in Meath But the Parliament soon after met at Kilkenny 1294. and obliged him to release the Earl of Vlster taking his two Sons Hostages for him And it seems that this did not satisfie the Complainants but that they impeached him at the Parliament in England Lib. GGG 23 E. 1. for divers Offences and Felonies done in Ireland Lambeth He protested he could clear himself by Law but because he would not Prin 259. cum ipso Domino Rege placitare he submits himself wholly to the King's Favour 1295. into which he was received upon Pledges for his future demeanour and 't is probable he was also obliged to release his Claim to the Castle of Sligo and other his Lands in Connaught which was the Occasion of all this Stir About Easter the King built the Castle of Beaumorris in Wales 1295. for the better security of a Passage to and from Ireland And about the same time Bishop Vsher's life 34. the King required Aid to marry his Sister to the Emperour and such as did contribute thereunto are mentioned in the Pipe-Rolls of the Exchequer In the mean time on the third Day of April the Lord Justice died and during the Interval of Government the Irish made use of the Opportunity and wasted great part of Leinster burnt Newcastle and many other Towns But at length the Council chose Thomas Fitz-Maurice Fitz-Girald Lord Justice he was nicknamed Nappagh Simiacus or the Ape because when his Father and Grand-Father were murdered Frier Russel M. S. at Calan the Servants on the news of it run out of the House as if distracted and left this Thomas in the Cradle whereupon an Ape which was kept in the House took up the Child and carried him to the top of the Castle of Traly and brought him down Safe and laid him in the Cradle to the admiration of all the Beholders This Lord Justice was Father of the first Earl of Desmond and was so great a Man that he is often styled Prince and Ruler of Munster But it seems he supplyed the Place of Lord Justice but a very short time for John Wogan 1295. Lord Justice arrived from England on the eighteenth of October He made a Truce for two Years between the Burks and the Giraldines and received a Writ to take the Fealty of the Abbot of Owny in the County of Limerick and having called a Parliament which it seems setled Matters to his Mind he went with a smart Party to aid the King in Scotland His Majesty nobly feasted them at Roxborough Castle and they in requital did the King very good Service But that you may see what sort of Parliaments were in Ireland in those Days I will present the Reader with a List of this Parliament Richard de Burgo Earl ofVlster Geofry de Genevil John Fitz-Thomas afterwards Earl of Kildare Thomas Fitz-Maurice Nappagh Theobald le Butler Theobald de Verdun Peter de Brimingham of Athenry Peter de Brimingham of Thetmoy Eustace de Poer John de Poer Hugh de Purcel John de Cogan John de Barry William de Barry Walter de Lacy. Richard de Excester John Pipard Water L'enfant Jordan de Exon. Adam de Stanton Symon de Phipo William Cadel John en Val. Morris de Carew George de la Roch. Maurice de Rochfort Maurice Fitz-Thomas of Kerry William de Ross 1296. Prior of Kilmainham was left Lord Deputy to Wogan but either the Irish did not fear him being a Clergyman or they thought this a time of Advantage whilst the Lord Justice and many of the Nobility and best Soldiers were in Scotland and therefore to improve it as they were used to do they rose in Rebellion in several Places Those of Slewmargy burnt Leighlin and other Towns 1297. But O Hanlon and Mac Mahon met with more Opposition in Vrgile for they were both slain John Wogan 1298. Lord Justice returned again from Scotland in October and throughly reconciled the Burks and the Giraldines and kept every thing so quiet that we hear of no Trouble in a great while except some Disturbance the Irish gave to the Lord Theobald de Verdun in attacking his Castle of Roch. Pollard Mony was now decryed both in England and Ireland 1300. and the King did again enter Scotland and sent to Ireland for Aid and wrote not only to the Lord Justice but also sent particular Letters to every one of the Nobility to attend him Whereupon the Lord Justice accompanied by John Fitz-Thomas Peirce Brimingham and many others made a second Expedition into Scotland with good Success In the mean time part of the City of Dublin and particularly S. Warberg's Church was burnt on S. Colme's Eve and the Irish were again at their usual Pranks taking Advantage of the Lord Justices absence who I suppose did again depute William de Ross and in Winter assaulted and burnt Wicklow and Rathdan 1301. but they were well paid for their pains and in Lent had been ruin'd but for the Dissention and Discord of the English and in the Harvest before some of the Irish also had their share of Civil Discord for they fell out amongst themselves so that the O Phelims and O Tools slew three hundred of the Birns
Year And it seems there was also a Parliament at Dublin this Year Prin 266. wherein it was ordained That the King's Peace should be fully kept and that every Nobleman and Chieftain should keep in his own Sept. Retinue and Servants Roger Outlaw Prior of Kilmainham was made Lord Deputy 1330. and kept the Kingdom quiet ' all the Summer and the Winter was so stormy and wet that nothing could be done till January and then the Macoghegans began to be troublesome again in Meath but the Earls of Vlster and Ormond gave them a Defeat near Loghynerthy about Lent whereupon they were so enraged that they burnt fifteen Villages but they paid for it in another Skirmish wherein three Irish Lords Sons and one hundred of their Followers were slain This Year a Parliament was holden at Kilkenny Pryn 267. at which were present Alexander Archbishop of Dublin the Earls of Vlster and Ormond the Lord William Birmingham and the Lord Walter Burk of Connaught and each of these brought a considerable Power with him to pursue O Brian and expel him from Vrkiffe near Cashil It seems this great Army march'd to Limerick and that the Burks did prey some of the Giraldines Lands in their March whereupon such Fewds arose between those Families that the Lord Justice was necessitated to confine the Earl of Vlster and Maurice of Desmond to the Custody of the Marshal at Limerick but Maurice quickly found means to escape and thereupon 't is probable the Earl was also enâ—arged It seems that both of them went to England But what became of this mutinous Army Frag. 9. I find no mention save that an anonymous Author reports Quod nihil perfecerunt But the next Year was more propitious 1331. for on the twenty first of April the English gave the Irish an Overthrow in O Kensâ—le And in May the English at Thurles defeated O Brian and slew many of his Followers And about the same time O Tool came to Tullagh and robbed the Archbishop of Dublin took three hundred of his Sheep and killed some of his Servants Upon notice of it Sir Philip Britt and others sallied out of Dublin but they were too forward and careless so that they fell into an Ambush in Culiagh and were most of them slain whereupon the Irish were elevated to that degree Cambd. 184. that they attacked the Castle of Arklow and took it but the Lord Birmingham with a smart Party undertook them and mortified them to the lowest degree of Submission and might have ruined them if he had not trusted to their false Promises Sir Anthony Luey 3 June 1331. a Man of great Authority in England was sent over Lord Justice he brought with him the Lord Hugh de Lacy who was now pardoned and in some Favour He also brought the King's Letters to the Earl of Vlster and others of the Nobility to give their best assistance to him the Lord Justice The Lord Justice designed by a severe Government to correct and reform the Distempers of those Times but alass it was too great an Undertaking for one Man and required more time than he had to spend in Ireland However his Government was auspicated with a Victory which those of the English Pale on the eleventh of June obtained over the Irish at Finnagh in Meath And though there was a great Dearth and Scarcity still continuing yet it was somewhat moderated by the great Plenty of large Fishes called Thurlehides sent by Providence into the Bay of Dublin in a prodigious number for the relief of the Poor A Parliament was summoned to meet at Dublin at Mid-summer by which it is manifest that they did not hitherto practise the formality of forty Days Summons the Appearance was so thin that the Parliament was adjourned to Kilkenny to the seventh of July And thither came Thomas Earl of Kildare and others that were not at Dublin and were freely pardoned what was past being first sworn on the Holy Evangelists and the Reliques of the Saints to Allegiance and Preservation of the peace for the future But in August the Lord Justice received the bad News That the Irish had taken and burnt the Castle of Ferns Whereupon he grew jealous That some of those English Lords that absented themselves from the Parliament at Kilkenny did underhand abet the Irish or else they durst not so frequently rebel and therefore he resolved to apprehend as many of them as he could get And first Henry Mandevil was by Warrant from the Chief Justice taken in September and Maurice of Desmond being arrested in Limerick in the beginning of October was by warrant from the Lord Justice and Council brought to Dublin Walter Burk and his Brother were seised in November and William and Walter Birmingham were secured in Clonmel in February following and afterwards sent to Dublin It seems there was more than bare Suspicion in this Matter for the Lord William Birmingham who had often done good Service for his King and Country was nevertheless executed the eleventh of July 1332. and his Son Walter had not escaped but that he was in Orders and Maurice of Desmond was likewise kept in Prison a Year and a half and then discharg'd upon very great Bail and sent into England to the King But let us look back to the third of March 1331. at which time the King and Parliament of England made Ordinances and Articles for the Reformation and Tranquility of Ireland and sent them thither in haec verba REX Justic Pryn 267. Canc. Thes suis Hibern salutem Mandamus vobis quod articulos subscriptos quos pro emendatione status Terrae nostrae Hiberniae quiete tranquilitate populi nostri ibidem per advisamentum Concilii nostri in ultimo Parliamento nostro apud Westmon tento ordinavimus in dicta Terra Hiberniae quantum ad vos attinet teneatis observetis per alios fideles nostros dictae Terrae teneri observari faciatis Tenor autem articâ—â—â—orum praedictorum talis est Imprimis Justiciarius qui nunc est vel pro tempore fuerit non concedat Cartas Pardonationis de morte hominis nec roberiis incendiis aliquibus nisi de roberiis incendiis ante festum Paschae anno regni Domini Edwardi Regis Angliae tertii post Conquestum quinto perpetratis Et quod de caetero certificet Regem de nominibus hujusmodi Pardonationes petentium de avisamento suo quod Rex faciat inde voluntatem suam quod nullus in Terra Hiberniae ex nunc faciat tales Pardonationes infra libertatem extra sub gravi forisfactura Domini Regi Item Quod dictus Justic de caetero non concedat tuitionem pacis felonibus ad silvam existentibus Item Quod una eadem lex fiat tam Hibernicis quam Anglicis excepta servitute Betagiorum penes Dominos suos eodem modo quo usitatum est in Anglia de Villanis Item
Quod Justic nec aliquis alius Minister de caetero det alicui custodiam vel maritagium alicujus haeredis ad regem pertinentis nec pardonet debita Regis seu fines amerciamenta vel catalla forisfacta sed quod Justiciarii alii Ministri hujusmodi custodias maritagia vendant aliud comodum Regis inde fac juxta discretiones suas Item Quod Vic. Coronatores de caetero eligantur per Communitates Comit. non alio modo quod catalla forisfacta remaneant in custodia Villar Item Quod Justic seu aliquis alius Minister non recipiet aliquem magnatem in pleg vel manucaptor versus Dominum regem nisi quatenus pro commodo Regis viderint faciendum Item Quod Justic obsides pro conservatione pacis sive liberatos in carceris Domini Regis fac salvo custodire ad sumptus suos proprios quod si ipsi qui posuerunt hujusmodi obsides conditiones conventiones quas fecerunt non observent Justic faciant Judicium de hujusmodi obsidibus Item Quod Justic seu aliquis Magnus Hibern non concedat protectiones alicui contra pacem Regis existent Item Quod nullus Minister Regis de caetero recipiatur in pleg vel manucaptorem versus Dominum Regem Item Quod fines de vaccis de caetero pro redemptione non capiantur sed denarii Item Quod Treuga capta capienda inter Anglicos Hibernicos de caetero observetur quod neutra pars damnum alteri durante hujusmodi Treuga inferat si fecerit pro felone habeatur Item Quod nullus ut lagatus in Gildabili receptetur infra libertates nec e converso inde fiat Ordinatio per Justic alios Ministros Dominos libertatum Item Quod Vic. alii Ministri computent quolibet anno semel ad minus si comode fieri poterit Item Quod Seneschallus alicujus Domini in Hibern non ponatur in aliquo Officio Regis Item Quod Thes vel aliquis alius Minister Regis ubi ipse intendere non potest supervideat quolibet anno castra Regis statum eorundem quod emendare fac defectus eorundem Item Quod vic in Turnis quae faciunt de Brevibus Domini Regis ponant nomina sua ita quod quilibet Vic. de exitibus forisfacturis aliis proficuis quae requiruntur sub nomine Vic. oneretur ad Scac. pro tempore suo proprio Item Quod extranei non assignentur Collectores Custumorum Regis sed Burgenses Villarum ubi tales Custumae colligi debent assignentur ad eas colligendas hoc fiat de potentioribus discretiorbus Item Quod Justic fac inquirere quolibet anno de Ministris Domini Regis eorum factis quod puniat delinquentes pert concilium avisamentum Canc. Thes aliorum de concilio Regis amoveat insufficientes Item Quod nullus manuteneat neo ducat Kernes nec Gentes vocat Idle men nisi in Marchis suis propriis ad custus eorundem nec faciat prizas Item Quod omnes Ministri Regis qui tenentur ad computandum non habent Terras seu Tenementa sufficientia in Hibernia invenient manucaptionem in Hibern ad respondendum Regi de compotis suis ibidem Item Quod habentes Terras Tenementa in Hibernia tam religiosi quam alii praemuniantur quod resideant in iisdem si sint in Marchis vel alibi vel ponent sufficientem Custodiam pro conservatione pacis in iisdem citra Fest S. Petri ad vincula prox futur si non fecerint quod Rex in eorum defectum Terras Tenementa illa in manum suam capiet de sufficiente custodia eorundem ordinabit Item Quod nullus cujuscunque status seu conditionis manuteneaâ— foveat nec defendat Hibernicos seu alium quemcunque contra pacem Domini Regis insurgentem si aliquis sic fecerit inde convictus fuerit pro Felone habebitur c. And at the same time the King sent another Writ Prin 269. commanding them to observe the Law of England in case of wardships without regard to the Custom or Usage of Ireland In July the Irish razed the Castle of Bunratty to the ground but in lieu of that 1332. the English on the 8th of August took the Castle of Arcklow and re-edified it They had also the good fortune to defeat the O Bryans Mac Carthyes and other Irish in Munster and to kill a great many of their Men and they also took the Castle of Coolmore The Irish Hostages that were kept at Limerick and Nenagh made notable Attempts to surprize and seize both those Castles and they pursued the Project so far as to get both of them into their possession but the English were resolved to regain them which they perform'd in a very short time and the Hostages at Limerick were put to death for their Treachery and those at Nenagh were still kept in durance But the O Tools of Leinster made a more successful Attempt on the Town of Newcastle in the County of Wicklow for they not only took it but also burnt it In the mean time Cottons Rec. 9. at the English Parliament holden in September principally for the Affairs of Ireland and the Kings Expedition thither it was fully agreed that the King should pass to Ireland in person Ibid. 10. and that in the mean time a Power should be sent to that Country and Commandment was given that all such as have Lands there should repair thither for defence of that Kingdom and that all such Learned in the Law as shall be sent as Justices or otherwise to serve in Ireland shall have no Excuse and that Search be made amongst all the Kings Records to see what hath been done for the Amendment of the Irish Lib. Z Z. And soon after a Writ was sent to William de Burgo and others to attend the King to consult of his Voyage to Ireland but because the time of year did not serve for the Kings Voyage nothing more was done than that the Lord Justice was recalled in November and in February after came over Sir John Darcy Lord Justice to whom the King gave the Mannors of Louth and Ballyogany which Simon Earl of Eu had forfeited by adhering to the French King Soon after his coming the Birminghams took a Prey of two thousand Cows from the O Connors in the County of Sligo But this small Success was quickly over-ballanced by a great Misfortue 1333. for William Burk Earl of Vlster was on the 6th of June basely murdered by his own perfidious Servants at Carigfergus whereupon his Wife and only Daughter sailed to England the Daughter was afterwards Married to the Duke of Clarence and had one only Daughter who was Wife to Roger Mortimer Earl of March and Lord of Trim And from her the Earldom of Vlster and Lordship of Connaught came by descent to be
Deputy who held that Place and discharg'd it worthily until Sir Thomas Rokeby 1353. Lord Justice returned he brought with him ten men at Arms and twenty Archers which were allowed him by the King over and above the ordinary Retinue of twenty Men. About this time lived Sir Robert Savage a very considerable Gentleman in Vlster who began to fortifie his dwelling House with strong Walls and Bulwarks but his Son derided the Fathers Providence and Caution affirming that a Castle of Bones was better than a Castle of Stones and thereupon the old Gentleman put a stop to his Building It hapned that this brave Man with his Neighbors and Followers were to set out against a numerous Rabble of Irish that had made Incursions into their Territories And he gave Orders to provide plenty of good Cheer against his return but one of the Company reprov'd him for doing so alledging that he could not tell but the Enemy might eat what he should provide to whom the valiant old Gentleman replied That he hoped better from their Courage Camb. 193. but that if it should happen that his very Enemies should come to his House he should be asham'd if they should find it void of good Cheer The Event was suitable to the Bravery of the Undertaking Old Savage had the killing of three thousand of the Irish near Antrim and return'd joyfully home to Supper But let us return to the Lord Justice of whom it is recorded that he us'd to say That he would rather eat his Meat in wooden Dishes and pay Gold and Silver for it than to eat in Golden Dishes and make wooden Payment However on the 20th day of July 1355. he did resign to Maurice Fitz-Girald 1355. Earl of Desmond Lord Justice he obtained so much favour in England Lib. M. that he had this Office granted to him for Life which expired the 25th day of January he was so just a man that he spared not his very Relations when they were criminal And about this time the Barons of the Exchequer were reduced to Three Lib. CCC 10. 29 Ed. 3. and John de Pembrook Chancellor of the Exchequer was made the third Baron Sir Thomas Rokeby 1356. Lord Justice returned again to Ireland and held a Parliament at Kilkenny at which many good Laws were enacted In his time a Memorable Writ was sent to the Lord Justice and Chancellor reciting That whereas the Subject found great difficulty to get Restitution according to Law of such Lands as were at any time seized into the Kings Hands Prin. 286. 29 Ed. 3. And whereas they refused in Parliaments here to take cognizance of erronious Proceedings in the Kings Courts but put the Subject to the trouble and charge of prosecuting a Writ of Error in England the King orders amendment and Reformation in both those Cases And not long after this worthy Lord Justice died at the Castle of Kilkea and was succeeded by Almaricus de Sancto Amando 1337. Lord Justice in whose time a great Controversie happened between the Archbishop of Armagh and the Regulars but at length by the favour of the Pope the Friers got the better of the Bishop To this Lord Justice the King sent a Writ or Commission Prin 294. authorizing him with the Advice of the Chancellor and Treasurer to give a special Pardon to as many English or Irish as he shall think fit for all Crimes except Treason Moreover for the better instruction of the People and because of the Non-residence of their Pastors Ibid. the King by his Sovereign Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Authoriz'd and Licenc'd the Archbishop of Dublin to constitute perpetual Vicars in all Benefices and Prebendaries belonging to his Archbishoprick and of the Kings Patronage with certain proportions of greater and lesser Tithes and other Profits to those who should reside upon them But which was more than all this the King by advice of his Council made most excellent Ordinances in England for the better Government of the Church and State of Ireland and the maintenance of the good Laws and Statutes of England there established they are to be found at large in Prins Animadversions on the 4th Instit pag. 287. and therefore are omitted here being very long though also very good only this must be observed that the Clause formerly quoted ad annum 1344 out of the 4th Instit is by my Lord Cooke mistaken both as to Time and Form as to the Time it was not 17 Edw. 3. as he says but it was 31 Edw. 3. And as to the Form it is thus VOlumus praecipimus quod Nostra ipsius terrae Negotiâ—a praesertim majora ardua in Conciliis per peritos Conciliarios nostros ac Praelatos Magnates quosdam de discretioribus probioribus hominibus de partibus vicinis ubi ipsa Concilia teneri contigerit propter hoc evocandos In Parliamentis vero per ipsos Conciliarios nostros ac Praelatos Proceres aliosque de Terra praedict prout Mos exigit secundum Justitiam Legem Consuetudinem Rationem tractentur c. But to return James 1359. Earl of Ormond Lord Justice was commonly stiled The Noble Earl because he was of the Royal Blood being great Grand-son to King Edward the first In his time 34 Edw. 3. the King ordered Proclamation to be made in Ireland That no Meer Irishman should be Mayor Bayliff or Officer of any Town within the English Dominion i.e. the Pale nor be advanced to any Ecclesiasâ—â—cal Benefice or Promotion 35 Edw. 3. but the next Year the King by his Writ explains the former Proclamation Pryn 296. and orders that it shall not extend to any Irish Clerks who have done him Service or are Loyal to him But it seems that the Lord Justice was sent for into England and until his Return Maurice Fitz-Girald March 30. Earl of Kildare was constituted Lord Justice 1360. by Patent under the Great Seal of Ireland he was to have the usual Sallary of five hundred pound per annum maintaining thereout Ninteen Horsemen besides himself but he did not continue long in this Station before James Earl of Ormond March 15. Lord Justice return'd and the King intending to send his Son to Ireland 1357. with a good Force summoned the Duchess of Norfolk and all other Noble and Gentle Men and Women that held Lands in Ireland to appear in Person or by Proxy 4 Instit. Pryn 296. before him and his Council to advise concerning the Defence of Ireland and to repair to that Kingdom in Person with all the Forces they could raise by a certain Day or to send their sufficient Deputies to assist the Kings Son in Defence of the Country And the same Day issued a Writ or Proclamation prohibiting the transporting of any Corn or Victuals out of Ireland on pain of Forfeiture and another Proclamation or Writ to seize all the Lands or Tenements purchased
in Ireland by any of the Kings Officers without his special License contrary to the aforesaid Ordinance of Edw. 2. And so on the 8th day of September Lionel Duke of Clarenâ—e 1361. Earl of Vlster and Lord of Connaught came over Lord Lieutenant and brought with him an Army of fifteen hundred men by the Pole and his Entertainment was thirteen shillings and four pence per diem and two shillings apiece for eight Knights six pence apiece for three hundred and sixty Archers on Horseback out of Lancashire and two pence apiece for twenty three Archers out of Wales Under him was Ralph Earl of Stafford who had six shillings and eight pence per diem for himself four shillings for a Baneret two shillings apiece for seventeen Knights twelve pence apiece for seventy eight Esquires and six pence apiece for an hundred Archers on Horseback Davis 30 31. and four pence apiece for seventy Archers on foot And James Earl of Ormond had four shillings per diem and two shillings apiece for two Knights and twelve pence apiece for twenty seven Esquires six pence apiece for twenty Hoblers armed four pence apiece for twenty Hoblers unarm'd And Sir John Carew Baneret had four shillings per diem and two shillings for one Knight and twelve pence apiece for eight Esquires and six pence apiece for ten Archers on Horseback And Sir William Windsor had two shillings per diem and for two Knights two shillings each for forty nine Squires twelve pence apiece and for six Archers on Horseback sixpence apiece Upon his coming over Proclamation was made to remand out of England all Men that held Land in Ireland on pain of Forfeiture of their Land because he thought that by his Army 36 Edw. 3. m. 21. and the assistance of the English of Birth he should be able to do great Feats without the assistance of the old English and therefore he also proclaimed That none of the old English should joyn his Army or approach his Camp which gave great offence to those that were the Progeny of the first Conquerors and had hitherto preserved the Kingdom by their Valour However the Duke marched his Army against O Brian but not being acquainted with the Country nor the Manners of the Irish he soon lost an hundred of his Men and thereby found the want of the old experieneed English whom he at first rejected but he timely repair'd his Error by another Proclamation inviting and requiring them to come to him whereupon they united and the Affair proceeded prosperously so that O Bryan was subdued Hereupon the Duke made many Knights as well of Old as New English and some time after he removed the Exchequer to Caterlough and bestowed five hundred Pounds in walling that Town He did many other good Acts so much to the Satisfaction of the whole Kingdom that as well the Clergy as the Layity gave him two Years Profit of all their Lands and Tithes towards the maintenance of the War here He was the first that kept the Army under Discipline so that they were not grievous or burthensom to the Country as they used to be And so having behaved himself very well in Ireland he returned to England on the twenty second of April leaving James Butler 1364. Earl of Ormond Lord Deputy This Lord obtained a Licence from the King to purchase Lands to the value of sixty Pound per annum Lib. CCC non obstante the Statute or Ordinance That no Officer of the King's should purchase within his Jurisdiction But on the eighth Day of December Lionel Duke of Clarence Lord Lieutenant came over again but made a very short Stay before he left the Kingdom and deputed Sir Thomas Dale 1365. Lord Deputy in whose time great Contest arose between the Birminghams of Carbry and the Inhabitants of Meath for the very English were now grown so degenerate that they preyed and pillaged one another after the barbarous manner of the Irish so that Sir Robert Preston Chief Baron who had married one of the Daughters and Coheirs of Sir Walter Birmingham was forced to put a good Guard into his Castle of Carbry to secure his Estate against his seditious Neighbours Hereupon Lionel Duke of Clarente 1367. Lord Lieutenant came over again and held that renowned Parliament at Kilkenny which made that famous Act which is so often cited by the name of the Statute of Kilkenny The Bishops of Dublin Cashel Tuam Lissmore Waterford Killaloo Ossory Leighlin and Cloyne Lib. D. who were present at this Parliament did fulminate an Excommunication against the Transgressors of that Law The Lords and Commons sat together at the making of it and the Statute it self is in French and to be seen at large in the Library at Lambeth libro D. but the effect of it is That the Brehon Law is an evil Custom Davis 112 191. and that it be Treason to use it That Marriage Nursing and Gossiping with the Irish be Treason That the use of Irish Name Apparel or Language be punished with the loss of Lands or imprisonment until the Party give Security to conform That the English should not make War upon the Irish without Order of the State That the English should not permit the Irish to Creaght or graze upon their Land Nor present an Irishman to an Ecclesiastical Benefice Nor receive them into Monasteries or Religious Houses Nor entertain any of their Minstrels Rhimers or News-tellers Nor cess Horse or Foot upon the English Subject against his Will on Pain of Felony And that Sheriffs might enter any Liberty or Franchise to apprehend Felons or Traytors And that four Wardens of the Peace should be appointed in every County equally to assess every Man's Proportion of the publick Charge for Men and Armour But it seems this Statute did not affect the Irish because they were not amesnable to Law for notwithstanding this Act the Irish did always use their Brehon Law until the third Year of King James I. Nevertheless this Law Davis 193. together with the Presence of the King's Son and the Discipline he used did very much reform the degenerate English so that the Revenues certain and casual of Vlster and Connaught were thenceforward accounted for in the Exchequer and the King's Writ did run in both those Provinces and therefore this Statute was revived and confirmed by 10 Hen. 7. cap. 8. It is to be noted Lib. D. That at this time the Price of a Cow was but ten Groats and the Pay of a Foot-Soldier was but two Pence a Day whereof he paid a Penny for his Victuals Nor must it be forgot That about this time it was declared in England That the King could not by Law alienate his Dominions And that King John his Submission to the Pope being contrary to his Coronation Oath and to Law was utterly void But let us return to the Lord Lieutenant who having concluded this Parliament to his Mind went to
twenty pence or two shillings from every one that passed the Seas On the twenty fifth Day of March the King knighted four Irish Kings 1395. Selden tit hon 842. and some other great Lords whereof Mr Selden out of Froisart gives the following Account Four Kings of several Provinces in Ireland that submitted themselves to Richard II were put under the Care of Henry Castile an English Gentleman who spake Irish well in order to prepare them for Knighthood by the Kings Command he informed them of the English Manners in Diet Apparel and the like He asked them If they were willing to take the Order which the King of England would give them according to the Customs of England France and other Countries They answered They were Knights already and that the Order they had taken was enough for them and that they were made Knights in Ireland when they were seven Years Old and that every King makes his Son Knight and if the Father be dead the next of Kin does it and that the manner is thus The new Knight at his making runs with slender Lances against a Shield set upon a Stake in a Meadow and the more Lances he thus breaks the more Honour continues with his Dignity But Mr. Castile told them They should receive a Knighthood with more State in the Church and afterwards being perswaded and instructed especially by the Earl of Ormond they did receive Knighthood at Christ-Church Dublin after their Vigils performed in the same Church and a Mass heard and some others were knighted with them but the four Kings in Robes agreeable to their State sate that Day with King Richard at the Table And so Davit 202. when the King had supplied the Courts of Justice with able Men particularly with Sir William Hankford Chief Justice who was afterwards Chief Justice of England and done his Endeavor to establish a Civil Plantation in the Mountains of Wicklow he returned to England about Midsummer 1394. as I suppose for on the fourth of July 1394 Roger Mortimer Earl of March was sworn Lord Lieutenant Pryn. 294. And not long after the aforesaid excellent Ordinances of 31 Edw. 3. were ratified revived and exemplified and sent into Ireland to be more duly observed than hitherto they had been But the Scene was changed and the Irish despising the weak Forces the King had left behind him began to lay aside their Mask of Humility and to make Incursions into the Borders of the Pale Nevertheless the English were not daunted their Valour supplyed what was wanting in their Number Cambd. particularly Sir Thomas de Burgh and Walter de Birmingham with their Forces slew six hundred of the Irish and their Captain Mac Con and the Lord Lieutenant and the Earl of Ormond wasted the County of Wicklow and took O Birnes House whereupon the Lord Lieutenant made seven Knights But this Victory was much overballanced by the Loss of forty principal Englishmen slain by the O Tools on Ascension-day and not long after by the Death of the Lord Lieutenant himself who was slain at Kenlis in Ossory by the O Birnes on the twentieth of July 1398. And thereupon Roger Gray was chosen Lord Justice 1398. pro tempore until the King sent over his half Brother Thomas Holland Duke of Surry Lord Lieutenant 1398. who landed at Dublin the seventh of October 1398. but did not long continue in that Office before the King pretending a Resolution to revenge the Death of his Cousin and Heir the Earl of March who was slain by the Irish as aforesaid He left the Government of England in the Hands of his Vnkle the Duke of York And on the first Day of June Richard 1399. King of England landed at Waterford with a good Army which he marched to Dublin through the wast Countries of Murroughs Kinshelaghs Cavenaghs Birns and Tooles but the Army was much distressed for want of Victuals and Carriages in those Deserts so that he performed no memorable Exploit save that he cut and cleared the Paces in the Cavenaghs Country and knighted Henry the Duke of Lancaster's Son afterwards Henry V for his briskness against the Irish On the sixth of June being the Friday after the King's arrival Jenico de Artois his faithful Gascoign slew two hundred Irish at Ford in Kenlis in the County of Kildare And the next Day the Citizens of Dublin made Incursions into Wicklow and killed thirty three Irishmen and took eighty Prisoners And on the twenty sixth of June the King came to Dublin and received the Submission of many Irish Lords But whilst he was consulting how to proceed he received the unwelcome News of the Duke of Lancaster's Progress in England whereupon he imprisoned his and the Duke of Glocester's Sons in the Castle of Trym and though he sent the Earl of Salisbury before him to gather an Army in Wales yet the King followed after so slowly that the Army was disperst before he arrived in England with which Misfortune his Courage fell so that on Michaelmass day he tamely surrendred the Crown and gave a just occasion for this true Remark Baker 152. That never any Man who had used a Kingdom with such Violence gave it over with such Patience He was afterwards deposed by Parliament and several Articles exhibited against him one of which was That he forced divers Religious Persons in England to give Horses Arms and Carts towards the Irish Expedition And another was That he carryed into Ireland the Treasure Reliques and other Jewels of the Crown which were used to be kept in the King's Coffers from all Hazard The King created Edward Plantagenet Earl of Cork in the twentieth Year of his Reign And the same Year gave a Licence under the Privy Seal to William Lord Courcy to buy a Ship to pass and repass to and from England And in this Reign happened this famous Case One Thomas a Clerk in England obtained a Judgment at Westminster against Robert Wickford afterwards Archbishop of Dublin and upon Affidavit That the Defendant lived in Ireland and had Goods and Lands there and the Sheriffs Return That he had no Lands nor Goods in England the Plaintiff had a Writ against the said Archbishop in haec verba IDeo vobis mandamus quod de terris catallis ejusdem Roberti Lib. M. jam Archiepiscopi in Terra nostra Hiberniae fieri facias praedict decem libras illas habeatis coram c. This Archbishop died anno 1390 so that this Writ must issue before that time THE REIGN OF HENRY IV. King of England c. And LORD of IRELAND HENRY Duke of Lancaster eldest Son of the famous John of Gaunt fourth Son of King Edward the Third upon the Resignation of King Richard procured him to be deposed in Parliament and himself to be elected King and the Crown to be entailed on him and the Heirs of his Body His Claim was as Heir to Henry III but finding that
Pretence was Ridiculous because there were others of the same Lineage before him in the Pedigree and it was notorious That the Right of Succession was in Ann Daughter of Roger Mortimer Earl of March Son of Philippa Daughter of Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of King Edward III. and accordingly her Grand-son afterwards possest the Kingdoms by the Name of Edward IV. And also finding that it was more vain to claim by Conquest when there was no fighting he was at last forced to rely on the Consent and Election of the People which was the Title his Embassadors insisted upon in the Courts of Foreign Princes Thus was the Foundation laid of those tedious and bloody Wars that afterwards ensued between the Houses of York and Lancaster commonly distinguished by the Appellations of the Red-Rose and the White that being the cognizance of the House of Lancaster and this the Badge of the Family of York This King was crowned on the thirteenth Day of October anno Dom. 1399. 1399. and Ireland was committed to the Care of Sir John Stanly 1399. Lord Lieutenant who came over thither Cotton's Records 390. on the tenth Day of December In his time the King obtained a Subsidy in England for three Years to provide for the Affairs of Ireland c. And about Whitsontide the Constable of Dublin-Castle and others near Strangford in Vlster encountred the Scots at Sea 1400. but with very ill Success for many Englishmen were there slain and drowned About this time the Town of Kilkenny was walled by Robert Talbot 1401. And about May the Lord Lieutenant repaired to England leaving his Brother Sir William Stanly Lord Deputy who on the twenty third Day of August surrendred unto Stephen Scroop Lord Deputy to the King's Son Thomas Duke of Lancaster who it seems came over only to provide and prepare for the Reception of Thomas Duke of Lancaster Seneschal of England and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland who landed on S. Bines-Day And on the fifth of July John Drake Mayor of Dublin with a Band of Citizens encountred and defeated four thousand Irish Outlaws near Bray in the Borders of Wicklow and slew four hundred ninety three of their best Men. This Lord Lieutenant held a Parliament in Dublin 1402. in September during which Sir Bartholomew Verdon James White Christopher White and Stephen Gernon slew John Dowdal Sheriff of Louth in Vrgile and committed sundry other Felonies and Robberies for which they were Outlawed and their Estates disposed of by Custodiam Cotton's Records 431. but afterwards the King pardoned them their Lives and restored them their Estates during their respective Lives only In October Daniel O Birne Lib. D. for him and his Sept or Nation submitted to the Lord Lieutenant and promised Allegiance and good Behaviour and to manifest his Sincerity he granted to the King the Castle of Mackenigan with the Apurtenances And on the thirteenth of December the Lord Lieutenant by Indenture set the Ferny in the County of Louth except the King's Castle to Aghy mac Mahon for Life Davis 48 at the Rent of ten Pound per Annum and Mac Mahon covenanted to be a good Subject And in February following O Reyly covenanted with the Lord Lieutenant and also swore to perform to the King during the minority of Mortimer all the Covenants he was obliged to perform to Roger Mortimer Earl of March and Vlster In May Sir Walter Betterly Steward of Vlster 1403. and thirty English were all slain And on the eleventh of November following the Duke returned to England and left Sir Stephen Scroop Lord Deputy 1404. who on the twenty sixth Day of October resigned to James Earl of Ormond 1405. Lord Justice who in April 1405 held a Parliament at Dublin and there the Statutes of Dublin and Kilkenny were confirmed as also the Charter of Ireland And this good Act was followed by good Success for in May two Scotch Barks were taken near Greencastle and another near Dalkye with their Captain Macgolagh Moreover the Merchants of Droghedae made Incursion into Scotland and brought thence both Pledges and Preys And the Dublinians also entred Scotland at S. Ninian and behaved themselves valiantly They also did the Welsh much harm and brought from thence the Shrine of S. Cubins which they placed in Christ-Church Dublin However the Irish burnt Oghgard and on the sixth of September the Lord Justice died at Gauran and was succeeded by Girald Earl of Kildare 1406. who probably was chosen Lord Justice by the Council In his time the Dublinians and their Neighbours on Corpus Christi-Day vanquished the Irish Enemies and took three Ensigns and brought to Dublin the Heads of those they had slain And the Prior of Conal had as good Success in the Plains of Kildare for with twenty Englishmen he defeated two hundred Irish and killed many of them But after Michaelmas came over Sir Stephen Scroop Lord Deputy He held a Parliament at Dublin in January which in the Lent after ended at Trim And about the latter end of February Meyler Birmingham slew Cathol O Connor About May the Lord Deputy 1407. accompanied with the Earls of Ormond and Desmond the Prior of Kilmainham and other Captains and Gentlemen of Meath set out from Dublin and invaded the Territory of Mac Morough at first the Irish had the better but at length the Constancy and Resolution of the English prevailed and O Nolan and his Son and others were taken Prisoners and after this was done they marched speedily to Calan in the County of Kikenny upon some Intelligence they had of the Rebels being thereabout and they so surprized them that the whole Party was routed and O Carol and eight hundred Men slain upon the Place But in June the Lord Deputy went to England and the Nobility and Council elected James Earl of Ormond Lord Justice In whose time a barbarous Tory called Mac Gilmore who is reported to have destroyed forty Churches and was never Christened had taken Prisoner Patrick Savage a Gentleman of great Esteem in Vlster they agreed upon his Ransome to be two thousand Marks and his Brother Richard was to become Hostage for it But this Subtle Barbarian managed the matter so that he received the Ransome according to Agreement and afterwards he murdered both the Brethren This Lord Justice held a Parliament at Dublin 1408. which confirmed the Statutes of Dublin and Kilkenny and also the Statute against Purveyors And on the second of August Thomas Duke of Lancaster came over Lord Lieutenant It seems that the Terms on which he undertook the Government were these First Lib. G. He was to hold the Place for seven Years Secondly He was to have five hundred Men at Arms and one thousand Archers for three Years Thirdly To have a Years Pay in Hand and afterwards to be paid every half Year Fourthly One thousand Marks per annum for himself and to be paid the Charge of Transportation
to the Lord Justice 1422. whose Servants were on the Seventh of May attacked and defeated by the Irish Purcel Grant and five and twenty English more were slain and ten taken Prisoners and two hundred escaped to the Abby of Leix and to revenge this the Lord Justice invaded O Mores Country and defeated his terrible Army in the red Bog of Asby he relieved his own Men and burnt and preyed the Rebels Lands for four days until themselves came and sued for Peace And it seems O Dempsy notwithstanding his Oath of Obedience invaded the Pale and took the Castle of Ley from the Earl of Kildare which the Lord Justice had justly restored to the Earl whereupon Campion makes a severe Remark on the Irish That notwithstanding their Oaths and their Pledges they are no longer true than they feel themselves the weaker In the mean time Mac Mahon play'd the Devil in Vrgile and burnt and spoil'd all before him Camp 97. but the Lord Justice also revenged that Prank and forced Mac Mahon to submit and many other Noble Exploits did this good Governor for whose Success the Clergy of Dublin went twice every week in solemn Procession praying for his Victory over those disordered Persons which now in every Quarter of Ireland had apostatiz'd to their old Trade of Life and repined at the English And when I have mentioned a Deed made 9 Hen. 5. which is to be found Lib. GGG 24. at Lambeth whereby this Earl of Ormond constituted James Fitz-Girald Earl of Desmond his Seneschal of the Baronies or Signiories of Imokilly Inchicoin and the Town of Youghal during his Life I have no more to add but that this Victorious King after he had conquered France submitted to the common Fate on the last Day of August 1422 in the Flower of his Age and the Tenth Year of his Reign THE REIGN OF HENRY VI. King of England c. And LORD of IRELAND HENRY the Sixth was but nine Months old at the Death of his Illustrious Father 1422. and therefore the deceased King had by his last Will appointed John Duke of Bedford to be Regent of France Humphry Duke of Glocester to be Governour of England and Thomas Duke of Excester and Henry Bishop of Winchester to be Guardians of the Young King's Person All which was duly observed and the Infant King was proclaimed in Paris and the Nobility that were there swore Allegiance to him James Earl of Ormond continued Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and upon a Petition preferred by the House of Commons to the King about the manifold Murders Robberies Rapes Riots and other Misdemeanours committed by the Irish in England Lib. M. it was enacted there That all Persons born in Ireland should quit England within a time limited except Graduates in either University Clergymen beneficed those that have Land in England or are married there or those whose Parents are English and even such are to give Security of their good Behaviour And not long after came over Edmond Mortimer 1422. Earl of March and Vlster Lord Lieutenant He died afterwards of the Plague at the Castle of Trym which was his own Inheritance And in his stead came John Lord Talbot 1425. Lord Justice In whose time the Barretts a Family of good account near Cork did by Indenture covenant to be obedient to the Earl of Desmond who was exceeding Powerful and lorded it over great part of Munster with a high Hand This Governour resigned to James Earl of Ormond 1426. Lord Justice In whose time John Duke of Bedford 4 Instit 360. Regent of France obtained a Patent for all the Mines of Gold and Silver within England Ireland c. rendring to the Church the tenth Part to the King the fifteenth Part and to the Owner of the Soil the twentieth part And then Sir John de Gray 1427. Lord Lieutenant landed at Hoâ—th the thirty first of July and was sworn the next Day but no mention is made of any thing he did but that he went for England and left Edward Dantzy Bishop of Meath 1428. his Deputy He was for a time Treasurer of Ireland and dyed the fourth of January 1428. Upon Notice whereof Sir John Sutton Lord Dudly was sent over Lord Lieutenant He held a Parliament in Dublin Friday next after the Feast of All Saints 1429. at which it was enacted That the Sheriff upon Pain of Amercement should add to the Panel of Jurors the Place Estate and Mistery of every Juror And in the Preamble to this Act the Lord Lieutenant is Styled The Right Noble and Right Gracious Lord. And on the sixth of the same November the King was crowned at Westminster And soon after the Lord Lieutenant returned and left Sir Thomas Strange 1429. Lord Deputy in whose time the King was crowned at Paris 1431. and took the Oaths and Homage of the Nobility and People there And now happened the famous Case of the Prior of Lanthony which was That a Judgment in the Common Pleas being removed to the Irish Parliament was affirmed there Whereupon a Writ of Error was sent from England but the King's Bench in England would not take cognizance of a Judgment in the Parliament of Ireland to reverse it And therefore the Prior petitions the King That the Record may be transmitted to the House of Lords in England to be examined there Sir Thomas Stanly was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1432. and it seems that he called a Parliament which enacted two Statutes that were afterwards repealed by 11 Jac. 1 cap. 5. And then he went to England leaving Sir Christopher Plunket Lord Deputy 1432. he was afterwards Baron of Killine in Right of his Wife Heir of the Cusacks and his second Son became Baron of Dunsany But Sir Thomas Stanly 1435. Lord Lieutenant returned and gave a Check to the Irish who were insolent beyond Measure and incroaching everywhere on the Pale making the best Advantage of the King's Minority and the Absence of the Military Men in France but the Lord Lieutenant with the Power of Meath and Vriel took Moyle O Donel Prisoner and slew a great many of the Irish And afterwards about Michaelmas he went again to England and left Richard Talbot Archbishop of Dublin 1436. Brother to the Earl of Shrewsbury Lord Deputy he was sometime Lord Chancellor of Ireland and was elected Primate of Armagh but he refused to change his Bishoprick Lion Lord Wells 1438. Lord Lieutenant in whose time a second Law was made in England Lib. M. obliging the Irishmen to return into their Native Country And another Statute was made in Ireland to stop the Passage of any more into England And on the twelfth of June 17 Hen. 6. Robert Fitz-Geofry Cogan granted all his Lands in Ireland being half the Kingdom of Cork to James Earl of Desmond and gave a Letter of Attorney to put him in Possession of Kyrrygrohanmore Lib. G. Downdrinane
pain of loss of Life Lands and Goods that never any of them do make War upon another without Licence or Commandment of you my Lord Deputy and the Kings Council for the utter destruction of these parts is that only cause and once all the Irishmen and the Kings Enemies were driven into a great Vally called Glanehought betwixt two great Mountains called Maccorte or the Leprous Island and there they lived long and many years with their White-Meat till at the last these English Lords fell at variance among themselves and then the weakest part took certain Irishmen to take his part and so vanquished his Enemy and thus fell the English Lords at variance among themselves till the Irishmen were stronger than they and drave them away and now have the whole Country under them but that the Lord Roch the Lord Courcy and the Lord Barry only remain with the least part of their Ancestors Possessions and young Barry is there upon the Kings Portion paying his Grace never a penny of Rent wherefore We the Kings poor Subjects of the City of Cork Kinsale and Youghal desire your Lordship to send hither two good Justices to see this Matter ordered and some English Captains with twenty Englishmen that may be Captains over us all and we will rise with them to redress these Enormities all at our own Costs and if you do not we be all cast away and then farewel Munster for ever and if you will not come nor send we will send over to our Liege Lord the King and complain on you all However I will not pretend to be exact in the timing of this Letter This Lord Lieutenant had a Son born at Dublin well known afterwards by the Name of George Duke of Clarence to whom the Earls of Ormond and Desmond were Godfathers and thereupon Desmond grew so insolent and haughty that his Oppressions were the chief Cause of the aforesaid Letter from Cork but it is probable that the Lord Lieutenant return'd to England and left James Earl of Ormond afterward Earl of Wiltshire 1451. and Lord Treasurer of England Lord Deputy in whose time Sir John Talbot was made Lord Chancellor of Ireland and it seems Complaint was made against him because he put in a Deputy in his room absque Regis licentia Lib. CCC This Lord Deputy was made Lord Lieutenant and went for England leaving John Mey Archbishop of Armagh Lord Deputy 1453. wherewith the Government of England being dissatisfied a Writ was sent to the Earl of Ormond commanding him Quod circa praemissis intenderet I suppose the Reason might be because there was a Necessity for the Presence of a Military Governour of Power and Authority in that Kingdom to repel the daily Incursions of the Irish into the Pale and therefore Ormond not being willing to come over the Government was committed to Thomas Earl of Kildare 1454. Lord Deputy who held it only until the arrival of Sir Edward Fitz-Eustace Lord Deputy to the Duke of York Who held a Parliament in Dublin at which it was enacted I. That all Statutes against Provisors in England or Ireland should be held in Force II. That Inquests before Coroners shall be discharged after a second Verdict that they do not know the Felon III. That no Appeals shall be to England except for Treason against the King's Person and in all false Appeals the Plaintif shall pay Damages and twenty Pound and one hundred Shillings Fine In the mean time the Duke of York in England obtained a famous Victory over the King's Forces at S. Albans where the Duke of Somerset was slain and the King himself was wounded in the Neck and afterwards on the ninth of July he was made Protector of the King's Person by Parliament And in Ireland Thomas Earl of Kildare was Lord Deputy to the Duke of York 1455. and held a Parliament at Dublin wherein it was enacted I. That no Exigents nor Outlawries be made by Commissioners II. That the Recorder of Dublin and Drogheda shall have but two Pence for every Plaint III. That every Man shall answer for his Sons and waged Men. IV. An Act about Escheators V. That a Parliament should be held every Year And he held another Parliament at the Naas Lib. M. 48. Friday after All Saints which enacted I. That all Strangers pay forty Pence per Pound Custom for transporting Silver II. That every Man shall answer for his Sons except in Cases Capital III. That no Person not amesnable to Law shall distrain without Licence on pain of forfeiting his Title And he held another Parliament at Dublin Friday after the Purification at which it was established I. That Beneficed Persons should reside II. That the Inhabitants to enclose the Village might remove the High-way forty Perch Richard Duke of York 1459. upon the Revolt of Andrew Trollop and the Callicians broke up his Army and fled first to Wales and afterwards to Ireland where he was kindly received and by his Deputy the Earl of Kildare he held a Parliament at Dublin the third of February which enacted That Warrants to the Chancellor bear the Date of the Delivery and that the Patents be of the same Date or else be void And the same Day twelve month he held another Parliament at Drogheda 1460. wherein it was enacted That no Man should sue in the Exchequer but a Minister of that Court on pain of ten Pound This Duke and his Abettors were in a Parliament at Coventry declared Traytors and thereupon the Earl of March came to his Father into Ireland and soon after returned to Calice and thence invaded England at Sandwich and on the ninth of July he fought and defeated the King at Northampton and took him Prisoner whereupon the Duke of York went to England and called a Parliament in the King's Name and in that Parliament boldly claimed his Title and so it was enacted That King Henry should keep the Crown during his Life and the Duke should be declared Heir apparent and in case of Opposition or farther Bustle about it should have present Possession But not long after the Duke was defeated and slain at the Battle of Wakefield This Duke behaved himself exceeding well in Ireland he appeased the Tumults there and erected Castles on the Borders of Louth Meath and Kildare to stop the Irish Incursions and was so well esteemed in that Kingdom that Multitudes of the Irish Subjects attended him into England to pursue his Claim to the Crown Nevertheless the Publick Revenue was but very low because the whole Kingdom was in Possession of the Irish except the Pale and some few Places on the Sea-Coast in Vlster and even that was so far from being quiet that they were fain to buy their Peace by yearly Pensions to the Irish and to pay Tribute and Contributions to them for Protection which nevertheless was but very ill observed to the English It cannot be expected I should give the Reader an exact
List of all that did pay this scandalous Contribution Lib. P. 174. and yet I am not willing to conceal from him the Account I have met with which is as follows lib. The Barony of Lecale to O Neal of Clandeboy per annum 20 The County of Vriel to O Neal 40 The County of Meath to O Connor 60 The County of Kildare to O Connor 20 The King's Exchequer to Mac Morough 80 Marks The County of Wexford to Mac Morough 40 The Counties of Kilkenny and Typerary to O Carol 40 The County of Limerick to O Bâ—â—an 40 The County of Cork to Mac Carty of Muskry 40 And whilst the English were engaged in England the Irish advantaged themselves of the Opportunity and without Colour of Right usurped many considerable Estates as they had done before in the time of Richard II and these two Seasons set them so afloat that they could never since be cast out of their forceable Possessions holding by plain Wrong the most part of Vlster and upon very frivolous Pretences great Portions of Laâ—d in Munster and Connaugh And so we are come to the end of this unfortunate Reign which determined some Years before the King's Life for he did not dye until the twenty first Day of May 1472. And it must not be forgot That one of the Articles against this King was That by the Instigation of divers Lords about him he had wrote Letters to some of the Irish Enemy whereby they were encouraged to attempt the Conquest of the said Land of Ireland THE REIGN OF EDWARD IV. King of England c. And LORD of IRELAND EDWARD Earl of March 1460. Son and Heir of Richard Duke of York immediately after his Fathers Death at the Battle of Wakefield betook himself with all Diligence to gather an Army near Shrewsbury and having got twenty three thousand Men together on the second of February he defeated the Earls of Ormond and Pembrook near Mortimers-Cross and killed three thousand eight hundred of their Soldiers and although the Queen not long afterward defeated the Earl of Warwick at Bernard-Heath near S. Albans yet he wisely made slight of that Misfortune and without any Regard to it marched directly to London where on the fourth Day of March by vertue of the aforementioned Act of Parliament he was proclaimed King by the Name of Edward the Fourth He was as to his Person the goodliest Man of his Time and he was not less Valiant than beautiful On the twelfth of March he advanced against his Enemies and on Palm-Sunday with an Army of forty thousand and six hundred Men he encountred with sixty thousand and obtained so great a Victory that thirty six thousand seven hundred and seventy two of his Adversaries were slain And so being safe in his Throne 1461. he thought it time to put the Crown upon his Head which was solemnly performed on the twenty eighth Day of June In the mean time Thomas Earl of Kildare was on the thirtieth of April chosen Lord Justice by the Council of Ireland and continued so until Sir Rowland Fitz-Eusâ—ace 1462. Lord of Portlester and Treasurer was appointed Deputy to the Duke of Clarence He held a Parliament at Dublin Friday before S. Luke's Day which enacted That ten Pound per annum Davis 96. be received out of the Profits of the Courts to repair the Castle hall It seems that one William O Bolgir was made Denizen about this time Lib. G. and that on the fourth of May 1463. Robert Barnwal was made Baron of Trimlets-Town and it must not be forgot That the Earl of Ormond was beheaded at Newcastle and attainted by Parliament in Englaâ—d ◠〈◊〉 4. and that that noble Family was in Disgrace all this â—eâ—gn for their firm adhesion to the House of Lancaster This Lord Justice was long after this in a very old Age made Viscount Baltinglass by King Henry VIII and now was forced to resign to George Duke of Clarence the King's Brother who was made Lord Lieutenant for Life and deputed his Godfather Thomas Earl of Desmond Lib. M. Lord Deputy in whose time Mints were established at Dublin Trim Drogheda Waterford and Galway to coyn Groats two Penny pieces Pence Halfpence and Farthings And not long after it was ordered That English Mony should advance a fourth Part in Ireland viz. That an English Nine Pence should pass for a Shilling in Ireland and a Shilling for sixteen Pence and so proportionably And it seems the Gold Noble coyned in the time of Edward III. was inhanced higher than the rest for it was ordered to pass for ten Shillings And this was the first time any difference was made in the value of Mony between England and Ireland This Lord Justice held a Parliament at Weys Friday before S. Martin's Day 1463. which the Thursday after was adjourned to Waterford to be held the Monday following It was again on Saturday before the Feast of Edward the Confessor adjourned to Naas Irish Statutes 19. to be held Monday before S. Matthias Day and thence on the Friday after it met there it was adjourned to Dublin to be held Monday before S. David's Day and there on the Saturday after it was dissolved having first enacted I. That all Parliament Men should have Priviledge forty Days before and forty Days after every Sessions And II. That the Attorneys Fees be regulated And III. That clipped Mony should not be currant He held another Parliament at Trim 1465. on Wednesday after S. Lawrence his Day at which it was enacted I. That the like Challenge may be had against the Feofee as against cestuy que use II. That any Body may kill Thieves or Robbers Repealed 11 Car. 1 c. 6. or any Person going to rob or steal having no faithful Men of Good Name in English Apparel in their Company III. That the Irish within Pale shall wear English Habit take English Names and swear Allegiance upon pain of forfeiture of Goods IV. That English and Irish speaking English and living with the English shall have an English Bow and Arrows on pain of two Pence V. That there be a Constable and Butts in every Town And Lastly That no Foreign Vessels fish on the Rebels Coast on pain of Forfeiture And every one that fisheth on the Coast of the Pale to pay a Duty But this Lord Justice who was the greatest Man that ever was of his Family began now to decline in the King's Favour and was obliged to give place to John Lord Tiptoft 1467. Earl of Worcester Treasurer of England and Constable of England for Life Lord Deputy of Ireland he was one of the most learned and eloquent Men in Christendom and held a Parliament at Drogheda At which it was enacted I. That the Governour for the time being may pass into Islands II. That none shall purchase Bulls for Benefices from Rome under great Penalty III. That the King's Pardon to Provisors be void IV. That the
Resumption of all the Grants made by the Crown since the last day of the Reign of King Edward the Second Lib. G. except some Particulars mentioned in the Act and another Act Rot. Parl. c. 41. attaints the Earl of Kildare and his Brother James for High Treason for corresponding with O Hanlon and seizing the Castle of Caterlogh for extorting Coyn and Livery and for treating with the King of Scotland however he was afterward acquitted in England and received into favour and perhaps there was another Act to dissolve the Fraternity of S. George for it is certain that about this time that Brotherhood fell and so I have done with this Famous Parliament when I have told you that it is a Mistake in the Printed Statute-Book to place it anno 1495 because it is manifest That November 1494 was in the tenth Year of this King's Reign It is scarce worth mentioning Ware 43. That during this Parliament the Lord Deputy made another Expedition into Vlster because the Irish fled into their Fastnesses so that he reaped but small Fruit for his Journey In his Absence he left a Commission with the Chanchellor to continue adjourn prorogue or dissolve the Parliament as he saw cause About this time Cormock mac Teige mac Carthy of Muskry 1495. was basely murdered by his Brother Owen Ancestor of the Mac Carthyes of Cloghroe and was buried in the Abby of Kilcrea which he himself had founded But let us return to Perkin Werbeck who set sail from Flanders with about six hundred Men and arrived on the Coast of Kent but he found ill treatment there for one hundred and sixty of his Men were taken Prisoners and afterwards executed Thence he sailed to Ireland where he staid some time in Munster probably at Cork but finding the Irish unable to give him any considerable Assistance and fearing the Forces of the Lord Deputy he went thence into Scotland and by that King's Consent married the Earl of Huntly's Daughter who was nearly related to the Crown of Scotland The King of Scots did invade England in favour of Perkin but finding that none of the English came to assist the Impostor he wasted Northumberland and returned And thus Sir Edward Poynings drove Perkin out of Ireland and suppressed his Abettors and established many good Laws which though for the present they extended no further than the Pale yet their Effect and Influence increased and inlarged as fast as the King's Authority did so that those Statutes are at this day in full force over all the Kingdom And the King finding Ireland in so quiet a condition recalled the Lord Deputy and for his good Service made him Knight of the Garter And in his place appointed Henry Dean 1495. Bishop of Bangor Chancellor of Ireland and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury 1496. to be Lord Justice and on the twenty sixth of April William Ratcliff was made Vice-Treasurer and John Pimp Treasurer at War and on the twenty fifth of June the Lord Delvin was made General for defence of the Pale and in July Octavianus Archbishop of Armagh held a Synod at Droghedah the Acts whereof are not to be found and in August Hugh O Donel being returned out of Scotland encountred and defeated O Connor near Sligo Whereupon he besieged the Castle of Sligo but without Success for being frightned with the News of the Approach of the Burks of Clanrickard he raised the Siege and retired in hast towards Tyrconnel But Burk was not so satisfied but burnt and destroyed all the adjacent Territories that belonged to O Donel's Partisans But the Earl of Kildare was still kept in Prison in England for Grief whereof his Countess died The Earl was accused of burning the Church of Cashel and many Witnesses were ready to prove it when contrary to all their Expectations he readily confessed the Fact and swore by Jesus That he would never have done it but that he thought the Archbishop was in it Which being uttered with a bluntless peculiar to this Lord did exceedingly work upon the King for whilst the Earl did so earnestly urge that for his Excuse which was the greatest Aggravation of his Crime the King easily perceived That a Person of that Natural Simplicity and Plainness could not be guilty of those Finesses and Intrigues that were objected against him It is reported of this Earl That he desired the King to permit him to have Council to manage his Cause since he was altogether unqualified to deal with such cunning Knaves as his Adversaries The King told him He should have what Counsel he would choose and that it concerned him to get Counsel that were very good for that he doubted his Cause was very bad The Earl replied That he would pitch upon the best Counsel in England Who is that said the King Marry even your Majesty quoth the Earl Whereat the King laughed But nevertheless he so requited Kildare for his Complement that when the Adversary concluded his Oration That all Ireland could not govern this Man the King took that occasion to make reply That therefore he was the fittest Man to govern Ireland Ware 49. And so for his Jest-sake made him Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom by his Letters Patent of the sixth of August and restored him to his Honour and Estate Nevertheless the King kept the Earls eldest Son Girald as Hostage of the Father's Fidelity which proved to be a matter of Caution rather than of Necessity for no body could behave himself with more Loyalty to his Prince nor more Vigor against the Irish than the Earl of Kildare did from henceforward But to proceed Girald Earl of Kildare 1496. being made Lord Lieutenant in a short time after he had received the Sword marched towards Thomond against O Brian he went through the City of Limerick and took the Castle of Feyback from Finin Mac nâ—marra and afterwards took and rased the Castle of Ballyniti or Ballynice and so returned to Dublin and was reconciled to the Archbishop of Armagh to their mutual Ease and Quiet and to the great Advantage of Publick Affairs which often suffer especially in Ireland by the private Animosities of the Grandees But the Bishop of Bangor was recalled into England and Walter Archbishop of Dublin was made Lord Chancellor in his stead This good Archbishop in a Synod at Dublin anno 1492 procured a Pension for a Divinity-Reader there to be paid by him and his Suffragans and their Successors for ever And it is reported of him That being present when a famous Orator made a most eloquent Speech to the King his Majesty asked the Archbishop How he liked the Oration The good old Man replied That he saw no other Fault in it but Flattery As God shall love me quoth the King That is the very Fault I my self espied The King by advice of the Lord Lieutenant resolved to pardon those great Men that had been concerned with Perkin Warbeck lest Despair might induce
another Parliament at Dublin by the Title of Lord Deputy to Henry the King 's second Son who it seems was about this time made Lord Lieutenant but there is no Record remaining of what they did except some Amercements or Fines they imposed on some that were summoned to that Parliament and did not appear The Lord Deputy began the Year 1499 with an Expedition into Connaught 1499. where he took the Castles of Athleage Roscomon Tuilsk and Castlereagh and placed Garrisons in them And in the mean time Tirlagh O Brian who after the Death of Gil-duff was Chief or Lord of Thomond had great Contests with Sir Pierce Butler about Preys and Bounds of Land which according to the Custom of these Times centred in a Battle wherein the Butlers were defeated and the Sovereign of Kilkenny was slain It seems that there was another Parliament held at Castledermond which Town I suppose was then and still is belonging to the Earls of Kildare on the twenty sixth of August which gave the King and his Heirs an Impost of twelve Pence per Pound of all Merchandize imported to be sold here Irish Stat. 43. Wine and Oyl excepted And it is probable That there were some Orders if not Acts That the Nobility should ride on Saddles Ware 's An. 60. according to the English Custom and should wear their Robes in Parliament And both the Clergy and Laity gave the King a Subsidy The Printed Book of Statutes has only the first of these Acts and places the Parliament in anno 1500. which is undoubtedly a Mistake And Sir James Ware ascribes the aforesaid Act against Customers to this Parliament which is also a Mistake And both these Oversights will appear and 〈◊〉 rectified if you rightly consider the beginning of the King◠Reign the twenty second of August 1485. and that the Earl of Kildare was Lord Lieutenant 14 Hen. 7. when 〈…〉 Act was made and was Lord Deputy when the later 〈…〉 sate And that this change of his Title happened 〈…〉 later end of the Year 1498. It seems that the Male-contents in Ireland having los◠their beloved Idol Perkin Warbeck would not so give out but were active to set up the bastard-Bastard-Son of Richard the Third or some body that should personate him but it came to nothing And so we are come to the Year of Jubile 1500. which concludes the Fifteenth Century and brought with it large Indulgences from the Pope Alexander the Sixth to be distributed by his Agent Gasper Pow to all the King's Subjects who would contribute to the War against the Turks but if we may believe Polydor Virgil the Irish had the good Manners to thank the Pope for his Favour and the Wit to keep the Money in their Purses But the Lord Deputy made another Expedition into Vlster probably in favour of his Nephew Tyrlogh O Neal for as soon as he had taken the Castle of Kinard he made Tyrlogh Governor of it and returned On the First of August the Charter of Cork was restored and their Priviledges enlarged by a new Charter which was followed by a sad Accident for David Barry Arch-Deacon of Cork and Cloyne murdered his own Brother William Lord Barry and was himself serv'd in the same kind by Thomas Barry and his Body taken out of the Grave and burnt by Command of the Earl of Desmond And so we must close this Century with the accidental and unfortunate Conflagration of the Town of Galway which was first governed by a Provost then Sovereign and Bayliffs then Mayor and Bayliffs and now by Mayor and Sheriffs and with very wet and bad Weather which continued from the middle of September to the End of Winter Leinster and Munster were indifferent quiet all this Year 1501. but Vlster and Connaught were far otherwise one of the O Connors took the Castle of Sligo by Assault and many private Murders were committed in Vlster O Neal also and the Scots had some Bickerings near Armagh on the 17th of March to the Damage of the later who lost four Captains and sixty Souldiers and to this time we must refer these Bald Verses representing the miserable Estate of Armagh Civitas Armachana Civitas vana absque bonis moribus Mulieres nudae Carnes crudae Paupertas in Aedibus The next Year produced a General Murrain amongst the Cattel all over Ireland and many Murders in Vlster upon private and frivolous Quarrels But in the beginning of the Year 1503. 1503. the Lord Deputy went to England leaving Walter Fitz-Symons Archbishop of Dublin Lord Deputy but he staid not above three Months in England for having done his Business to his Mind he return'd in August with great Honour and new Instructions Girald Earl of Kildare Lord Deputy being returned did about the latter end of Autumn make another Expedition into Vlster where he took and destroyed the Castle of Belfast and placed one Stanton and a good Garrison in Carigfergus and then marched back to Dublin In the mean time Theobald Burk Proprietor of Muskry-Cuirk in Munster was slain in a Skirmish with Donough O Carol and Cornelius O Dwyer but another of the Burks had better Fortune in Connaught for he defeated Malachiah O Kelly and all his Party On the 18th of February Girald Fitz-Girald the Lord Deputy's Eldest Son was made Lord High Treasurer of Ireland of whom we shall read more hereafter But the Irish Lords finding themselves too weak separately to oppose Kildare as they used to do to other Governors many of them confederated together the Principal of them was Vlick Burk Chief of Clanricard commonly called Mac-William Tyrlogh O Brian Chief of Thomond Melrony O Carol c. and got together the greatest Army that had been in Ireland since the Conquest whereof the Lord Deputy having notice he also assembled his Forces and being accompanied by the Lords of Gormanstown Slane Delvin Killen Houth Trimletston and Dunsany John Blake Mayor of Dublin O Donel O Reyly Ware 71. the Bishop of Ardah the Gentlemen of Annaly now Longford and some Townsmen of Drogheda and some others from the North he marched into Connaught and on the 19th of August at Knocklow both Parties met and fought a bloody Battel 1504. which was for some hours very dubious but at last the Lord Deputy got the Victory with the Slaughter of four thousand of his Enemies nine thousand says the Book of Houth and he also took some Prisoners amongst whom the two Sons of Vlick Burk were the chiefest it is prodigious that not one Englishman should be so much as hurt in this mighty Battel and yet in the white Book of the Exchequer it is so recorded Holingshead 79 The Consequence of this great Victory was the Surrender of Gallaway and Athenry the Destruction of that whole Country and the overloading the Conquerors with Prey and Booty Kildare being returned bestowed thirty Tun of Wine upon his Souldiers and the King bestowed a Garter on him and made him a
Companion of The Order and though some say Davis 59. this War was commenced on private Distaste yet it is more certain that it determined to the Publick Advantage Walter Fitz-Symons Archbishop of Dublin was sent by the Lord Deputy and Council to give his Majesty an Account of this prodigious Success and to treat with his Majesty about other Matters of State He departed the 20th of September and performed what he had in Charge to the great satisfaction as well of the King as of those that sent him and in a little time return'd to Ireland with honour and applause In the mean time the King was importunate with Pope Julius the Second to Canonize his Predecessor King Henry the Sixth and in order to it he caused a Book to be written of his Virtues and Miracles and had it Printed And the Pope recommended the Examination of the Matter to the Bishops of Canterbury London Durham and Winchester by his Bull which the Curious may find at large in Sir James Ware 's Annals pag. 73. But it seems nothing farther was done in it and this is certain That those who say he was a Good Christian do nevertheless allow that he was a bad King for first he lost France from England and then he lost England from himself And now a Provincial was indicted to meet at Tredagh in July but the Pestilence raging almost every where in Ireland but especially in Vlster the Synod was therefore translated to Ardee in the County of Louth and there for the same reason was suddenly dissolved This Plague was followed with a Famine 1505. by reason of the Wetness both of Summer and Autumn and it was but small Relief the great Charities of Walter Archbishop of Dublin and John Allen Dean of St. Patricks could at that time administer in the noble Foundation of a Hospital at S. Kevins in Dublin to which the Archbishop gave Ground and the Dean gave considerable Revenues The next Year was also unfortunate 1506. not only by the Death of John Payne Bishop of Meath who was a very hospitable Man but also by the accidental Burning of great part of Trim they say by Lightning which was at that time the most considerable Town in Meath But the Lord Deputy summoned a Parliament to meet at Dublin in October 1508. 1508. which it accordingly did and both the Clergy and Laity gave the King a Subsidy of thirteen shillings and four pence out of every hundred and twenty Acres of Arable Land Ware 81. The Deputy once more invaded Vlster in favour of his Kinsmen the O Neals 1509. he design'd to recover the Castles of Dungannon and Owny which he effected for the Castle of Dungannon surrendred upon the first Summons and the other he took and demolished and set at liberty Art Mac Con O Neal who was Prisoner there and thus stood the Kingdom of Ireland which Kildare kept in a better condition than it had formerly been in for he awed the Rebels by his Reputation which was obtained partly by his courage and the fierceness of his Humour and partly by his great and frequent Success and he secured the Pale by Castles and Fortifications built on the Borders which kind of Defence former Ages had too much neglected And so on the 22th day of April the King died at his Palace of Richmond in the four and twentieth Year of his Reign and the three and fiftieth Year of his Age. THE REIGN OF HENRY VIII KING OF England and France Lord and afterward King of IRELAND HENRY the Eighth the only surviving Son of his Father succeeded peaceably to the Throne of his Ancestors April 22. 1509. in the eighteenth Year of his Age In him both Roses were united for by his Father he was Heir to the Lancastrian Line and by his Mother to the House of York and so being without Competitor was the more capable to effect those great Designs which he afterwards undertook He found in the Government of Ireland Gerald Earl of Kildare whom he continued Lord Justice and the Year following made him Lord Deputy and on good Reasons for though Kildare was counted Rash and Unpolitick yet he was a Man of great Interest and Courage and his Name was more terrible to the Irish than an Army And here let me observe once for all That no Nation in the Word is more governed by Reputation and Appearance than the Irish the Common People are dejected by a Trifle and elevated for less than nothing And this Observation is manifestly justified by their frequent Submissions and their as frequent Rebellions and if any object their continued Obstinacy to the Irish Interest and Popish Religion it is easily answered That as their Fears are without Cause so their Hopes are without Reason and that their Hope 's exceeded their Fears is partly to be attributed to the Nature of Man facile credimus quod volumus but chiefly to the Noblemen and Clergy whose Interest and Business it was to keep the Mobile always in Expectation and to make them believe That one Day or other the Popish Interest would prevail The King unwilling to disturb an infant Government by unnecessary and disobliging Changes did likewise continue all the Officers of State in their Dignities who together with the Deputy and the Mayor Aldermen and Citizens of Dublin immediately proclaimed him King of England and France and Lord of Ireland with as much Formality and State as the time could afford which was followed with the Shouts of the People ringing of Bells and Bonfires as is usual and the like was done in the other chief Cities and Towns After which on the twenty fourth Day of June the King and the Queen were crowned at Westminster by Warham Archbishop of Canterbury Kildare being now made Deputy designed an Expedition into Munster 1510. he levied an Army in the Counties of Dublin Louth Meath and Kildare and was also assisted by Hugh O Donel Lord of Tyrconnel they marched into Desmond without Opposition burning and spoiling all as they went and there they took some Castles but as they returned slowly being loaden with Prey at Monetrar in the County of Limerick Ware 's Annals 87. they met with a great number of their Enemies led by James eldest Son of the Earl of Desmond Tirlagh O Bryan Chief of Thomond and Mac William a Lord of the Burks both Sides were resolved to fight which they did desperately to the great loss of both Parties especially of the Royalists who were tired with long Marches and overburthened with too much Prey and perhaps it had been fatal to them if the Night had not ended the Conflict which gave Kildare the Opportunity to make a safe Retreat the next Day without further Damage This Year there were so great Floods and Inundations 1511. that Trees Houses and Bridges were overturned in several Places Cahir O Connor Prince of Offaly was murdered by his own Followers near the Abby called
the Irish are amesnable to Law and have the Benefit of it and not long after a Commission of Martial Law and of conferring Knighthood was sent to the Lord Lieutenant and he was ordered to Knight O Neal and other Irish Potentates and the King sent a Collar of Gold to O Neal and ordered the Lord Lieutenant to prevail with them if possible to visit the King and Court of England in hopes to inure him to Civility and a regular way of Living and the same Letter orders Surry to propose a Match between the Earl of Ormond's Son and Sir Thomas Bullen's Daughter In the mean time the Earl of Kildare was set at liberty on Bail his Adversaries not being able to prove any thing to the purpose against him and soon after he was received into Favour and attended the King into France and was present at the Interview of both Kings near Calice Maurice Fitz-Thomas of Lackagh was basely murdered by the O Moors in Leix and Maurice Earl of Desmond being dead his Son and Successor James soon after met the Lieutenant at Waterford where the Earls of Ormond and Desmond by his means were reconciled and mutually perfected Indentures of Agreement and gave Hostages for the performance of them The Earl of Surry was brisk upon the Birns 1521. and in October drove them from place to place into their Fastnesses and lurking holes which gave Quiet to the rest of the Pale and it had need of it for by the wetness of the Harvest Corn became very scarce This Lieutenant was resolved to make the Army serviceable and as an instance of his Discipline he disbanded Sir John Bulmer's Troop for their Inexperience or Cowardize Surry calls a Parliament which met at Dublin the fourth of June and Enacted many good Laws viz. 1. That wilful Burning of Houses or Reeks of Corn be Treason 2. That the Transporter of Wool or Flocks shall forfeit double Value 3. Because there are but few Free-holders in the four Shires where the King's Law is used therefore he that has ten Marks per annum may be Juror in Attaint This Parliament ended after several Prorogations the twenty first of May 1522 and not in March as it is in Sir James Ware 's Annals 102. Whilst Surry was at Dinner in the Castle of Dublin News was brought him that the O Mores who had confederated with the O Conners O Carol and other Irish against the English which they counted the common Enemy were on the Borders of the Pale wherefore as well to repel them as to revenge the aforesaid Murder of Maurice Fitz-Thomas the Lord Lieutenant accompanied with the Mayor of Dublin and a choice Band of Citizens and several of the Nobility and their Attendants invaded Leix which is a Country full of Woods and Bogs The Irish divided their Forces into several Parties and having Intelligence that the Carriages and Baggage of the Army was slenderly guarded they took their opportunity to attack that part and did it so briskly that several of the Lord Lieutenant's Soldiers fled but the Valour of Patrick Fitz-Simons is recorded by the Historian to have preserved that necessary Concern of the Army and to have cut off and brought to the Mayor's Tent two of the Rebels Heads Nor perhaps had so small a thing been known to the Lord Lieutenant or recorded in History but by the means of Fitz-Simons's his Enemies for the cowardly Soldiers that fled laid the blame on Fitz-Simons who to justifie himself produced the two Heads and retorted the Crime of Cowardise upon his Accusers and so obtained both Reward and Honour by a great but frequent Providence of Divine Justice that turns even the Malice of our Enemies to our Advantage It must be observed That in these Irish Wars it was harder to find the Enemy than conquer them O More 's Army that was just now in a Body formidable to the Pale is now divided into small Parties and those sculking in thick Woods and deep Bogs Whilst the Lord Lieutenant marched through these Wildernesses a Rebel that lay in Ambush on the side of a Wood shot at him and struck the Vizor off his Helmet but did not hurt him Much ado they had to find the stubborn Tory but at last they got him and Fitz-Williams and Bedlow were forced to hew him to piecs for he would not yield This Accident manifested the Danger of the March and turned their Arms into Offaly where they besieged Monaster-pheoris but after a Day or two the Garrison frightned with the great Guns ran a way by Night So Surry left a Garrison there and burnt the Country till the twenty third of July But O Conner had not only removed the Corn and Cattle beforehand to deprive the English of Sustenance and Prey but very wisely invaded Meath hoping by that Diversion to preserve his Country But whether Surry's Expedition and Intelligence occasioned it or that the Rebels designed to fight him it matters not since it is certain that they met Ware 's Annals 104. and that whatever they resolved or bragged of beforehand when it came to the Tryal their Hearts failed them and Surry got a Victory almost without Blow and made great Slaughter in the Pursuit his only Loss being the valiant Lord of Dunsany who probably was too eager in the the Chase of the Rebels O Carol pretended that the Earl of Kildare had instigated him to this Rebellion However as Surry phrases it in his Letter to the King he made Peace with the King and his Lieutenant and gave his Son and Brother Hostages for the performance of it In the mean time Cardinal Wolsy who was Legate de latere in England sent over Bulls and Dispensations into Ireland by his Factor and Register John Allen Lib. CCC but it seems they did not turn to account for Allen in his Letter to the Cardinal complains they went off but slowly because the Irish had so little sense of Religion that they married within the Levitical Degrees without Dispensations and also because they questioned his Grace's Authority in Ireland especially out of the Pale O Donel was lately returned from Rome and by Letters and Messages promised great Matters as well from his own People as the Scottish Islanders if he might be received into Favour Ibid. wherewith the Lord Lieutenant was so wheedled that he not only granted his Pardon but highly commended his Loyalty in a Letter to the King And in confidence of O Donel's Integrity the Lord Lieutenant accompanied by O Neal and four hundred Horse four hundred Gallowglasses and eight hundred Kerne undertook an Expedition into Maâ— Mlaghlins Country but O Donel most perfidiously took the Opportunity of O Neal's Absence to invade him and Mac Genis and burnt seventeen Villages in their Countries and took considerable Preys whereupon O Neal was forced to return and Surry's Expedition was Fruitless This Lord Lieutenant wrote a notable Letter to the King on the thirtieth of June Lib.
he substituted his Brother Thomas Fitz Girald of Leixlip Lord Deputy but he in a very little time was forced to quit the Sword to Richard Nugent 1527. Lord Baron of Delvin Lord Deputy who could the easier keep the Kingdom quiet because the great Enemies and Competitors the Earls of Kildare and Ormond were both in England and about this time it hapned that the Title of Ormond was taken from Sir Pierce Butler who in lieu thereof was with great Pomp created Earl of Ossory 1528. at Windsor the 23d of February And whoever is curious to see the Copy of the Patent Ware says 1527. and a large and full Account of the whole Solemnity may find it Lib. G. 121 Baker says 1529. in the Library at Lambeth and particularly that he gave the Trumpeters twenty Pounds whereas the great Earl of Tyrone gave them but forty Shillings About the same time Sir Thomas Bullen who had married one of the Daughters and Co-heirs of Thomas Earl of Ormond was as it were Selden's Tit. of Honour 840. in her Right Created Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond and though there is but one Patent for both Titles yet there are several Clauses of Investiture several Habendums and several Grants of Creation-Money It has been already observed That many Irish Potentates had received Pensions for many years on the account of giving Protection to the King's Subjects or at least of sparing them from Plunder and although this scandalous and dishonourable Tribute was duly paid yet the Irish did not perform their Engagements but made frequent Sallies and Incursions as they had opportunity and particularly this very Spring O Connor made an irruption into the Pale 1528. and carryed away much Prey and Plunder into Offaly it seems the L. Deputy was too weak to revenge this Outrage by force Ware 's Annals 121. all that he could do was to withold O Connor's Pension which he did Hereupon the Rebel complained as if he had received the greatest Injury and desired to have a Parly with the Lord Deputy about it on the 12th of May the Lord Deputy consented and came at the time appointed not doubting but that he should convince all the World and even O Connor himself of the unreasonableness of his Demand but alas he was mistaken O Connor did not intend to argue the Matter fairly but was resolved to help himself by a Stratagem as they call it for he perfidiously set upon the Deputy and took him Prisoner and killed and wounded many of his Attendants And thereupon the Council chose Pierce Earl of Ossory Lord Deputy who being returned from England came to Dublin accompanied with O More O Carol and one of the O Connors and a numerous Train The first thing he did was to send a Message to O Connor to enlarge the Lord Delvin but he received a flat Denial and therefore the Lord Deputy and Council did by Act of State suspend the aforesaid Pension and not long after all those Pensions and the like Irish Exactions were suppressed and for ever extinguished by Act of Parliament Ware 122. The Sweating Sickness called Sudor Anglicus was fatal to many of the Irish this Year amongst the rest the Lord Chancellor died of it and was succeeded by the aforesaid Alan a Creature of Wolsy's raised by him to this Office purposely to oppress the Earl of Kildare That unfortunate Earl continuing his Enmity against the Earl of Ossory sent his Daughter the Lady Slane from Newington into Ireland to excite his Brothers and Friends O Neal and O Connor and whomsoever else she could to oppose the Lord Deputy and she was unhappy in being successful in her Negotiation for she procured much Mischief to the Lord Deputy and great Devastations on his Lands which afterward occasion'd great Trouble and Danger to her Father as aforesaid The Famous Emperor Charles the Fifth sent his Ambassador Gonzagues to the Earl of Desmond to stir him to Rebellion The Emperor's Instructions bear Date at Tolâ—do Feb. 24. and are 1529. to treat with Illustrissime il Conde de Desmond c. But this Embassie was ineffectual because that Earl died at Dingle the eighteenth of June 1529. He left one only Daughter who was afterwards married to James the sixth of that Name Earl of Ormond so that he was succeeded in the Earldom of Desmond by his Unkle and Enemy Thomas Moyle And now was the King's Divorce publickly ventilated in England and the Pope revoked his Legates and resumed the Cause to himself which enraged the King and was the Ruine of Cardinal Wolsy In the mean time the King made his Natural Son Henry Fitz-Roy Duke of Richmond and Somerset Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and sent over Sir Willian Skeffington Lord Deputy he arrived in August with Mony and with two hundred Horse accompanied by the Earl of Kildare freed from all his Troubles and were received by the Citizens of Dublin with great Joy His Instructions were I. To preserve the Peace between the Earls of Kildare Desmond and Ossory that so they might be the better able to assist the Deputy and the common Cause II. To be on the Defence only III. To make no Hostings without Advice of Council IV. To assist the Earl of Kildare privately I suppose in his Designs against the Irish V. To moderate the Exactions of the Soldiers VI. To subject the Lands of the Clergy to their part of the Publick Charge VII To call a Parliament And Lastly which is the strangest of all to endeavour to get a Subsidy before the Parliament sit About the same time Edmond Butler Archbishop of Cashel indicted a Provincial Synod at Limerick at which were present Nicholas Bishop of Lismore and Waterford John Bishop of Limerick Ware 125. and James Bishop of Killaloo they gave Power to the Mayor of Limerick to imprison Ecclesiastical Debtors until they pay their Debts without incurring any Excommunication of which Constitution or Canon the inferior Clergy grievously complained alledging That it was a Breach of their Priviledge But let us return to the Lord Deputy who invaded the Territory of Leix 1530. to suppress the Insolencies of O More and O Connor and their Confederates he destroyed O More by slight but frequent Skirmishes And so having preyed the Country he returned with these happy First-Fruits of his Government In the mean time the great Minster of State Cardinal Wolsy came to Disgrace in England and died the last Day of November And about the same time great Jealousies and Misunderstandings began to arise in Ireland between the Lord Deputy and the Earl of Kildare Nevertheless The Lord Deputy took that Earl to his Assistance in his Expedition into Vlster and there they took the Castle of Kinard and returned loaden with Prey and Plunder according to the Custom of those Times And with this Atchievment Hugh O Donel was frighted into a Submission which being himself sick he performed by his Delegates Con O
our Service nor our good Meaning towards our Prince's Crown availeth yet say not hereafter but in this open Hostility which here we profess and proclaim we have shewed our selves no Villains nor Churls but Warriors and Gentlemen This Sword of Estate is yours and not mine I received it with an Oath and used it to your Benefit I should stain mine Honour if I turned the same to your Annoyance Now have I need of mine own Sword which I dare trust As for the common Sword it flattereth me with a painted Scabbard but hath indeed a pestilent Edge already bathed in the Giraldines Blood and now is newly whetted in hope of a farther destruction Therefore save your selves from us as from open Enemies I am none of Henry's Deputies I am his Foe I have more mind to Conquer than to Govern to meet him in the Field than to serve him in Office If all the Hearts of England and Ireland that have Cause thereto would joyn in this Quarrel as I hope they will then should he soon be made sensible as I trust he shall of his Tyranny and Cruelty for which the Age to come may lawfully score him up among the Ancient Tyrants of most abominable and hateful Memory Having added to this shameful Oration Ibid. many other slanderous and foul Terms which for divers respects I spare to mention he would have surrendred the Sword to the Lord Chancellor who being provided for the Lord Thomas his coming and also being loth that his Slackness should seem disloyal in refusing the Sword or his Frowardness over-cruel in snatching it upon the first Proffer took the Lord Thomas by the Wrist of the Hand and requested him for the Love of God the Tears trickling down his Cheeks to give him Audience for two or three Words which granted the Reverend Father spake as ensueth My Lord although Hatred be commonly the Handmaiden of Truth because we see him that plainly expresseth his Mind to be for the more part of most men disliked yet notwithstanding I am so well assured of your Lordship's good inclination towards me and your Lordship so certain of my entire Affection towards you as I am emboldned notwithstanding this Company of Armed Men freely and frankly to utter that which by me declared and by your Lordship followed will turn God willing to the Avail of you your Friends Allies and this Country I doubt not my Lord but you know that it is Wisdom for any man to look before he leap and to sound the Water before his Ship hull thereon and namely where the Matter is of weight there it behoveth to follow sound sage and mature Advice Wherefore my Lord sith it is no May-game for a Subject to levy an Army against his Prince it lieth your Lordship in hand to breath longer on the Matter as well by forecasting the hurt whereby you may fall as by revolving the hope by which you are fed What should move your Lordship to this sudden Attempt I know not If it be the Death of your Father it is as yet but secretly mutter'd not manifestly publish'd and if I should grant you that your Zeal in revenging your Father's Execution were in some respect to be recommended yet Reason would you should suspend the Revenge until the Certainty were known And were it that the Report were true yet it standeth with the Duty and Allegiance of a good Subject from whom I hope in God you mean not to dissever your self not to spurn and kick against his Prince but contrariwise if his Sovereign be mighty to fear him if he be profitable to his Subjects to honour him if he command to obey him if he be kind to love him if he be vicious to pity him if he be a Tyrant to bear with him considering that in such case it is better with patience to bow than with stubbornness to break For sacred is the Name of a King and odious is the Name of a Rebellion the one from Heaven derived and by God shielded the other in Hell forged and by the Devil executed And therefore whoso will observe Histories or weigh the Justice of God in punishing Malefactors shall easily see that albeit the Sun shineth for a time on them that are in Rebellion yet such sweet beginnings are at length clasped up with sharp and sour Ends. Now that it appeareth you ought not to bear Armour against your King it resteth to discuss whether you be able though you were willing to annoy your King For if among mean and private Foes it be reckoned for Folly in a secret Grudge to profess open Hatred and where he is not able to hinder there to shew a willing mind to hurt much more ought your Lordship in so general a Quarrel as this that concerneth the King that toucheth the Nobility that appertaineth to the whole Commonwealth to foresee the King's Power on the one side and your Force on the other and then to judge if you be able to cock with him and to put him beside the Cushion and not whilst you strive to sit in the Saddle to lose to your own undoing both the Horse and the Saddle King Henry is known to be in these our days so puissant a Prince and so victorious a Worthy that he is able to conquer Foreign Dominions and think you that he cannot defend his own He tameth Kings and judge you that he may not rule his own Subjects Suppose you conquer the Land do you imagine that he will not recover it Therefore my Lord flatter not your self overmuch repose not so great Affiance either in your Troop of Horsemen or in your Band of Footmen or in your multitude of your Partakers what Face soever they put now on the Matter or what Success soever for a season they have because it is easie for an Army to vanquish them that do not resist yet hereafter when the King shall send his Power into this Country you shall see your Adherents like slippery Changlings pluck in their Horns and such as were content to bear you up by the Chin as long as you could swim when they espy you sinking they will by little and little shrink from you and percase will duck you over head and ears As long as the Gale puffeth full in your Sails doubt not but divers will cleave unto you and feed on you as Crows on Carrion but if any Storm happen to bluster then will they be sure to leave you post alone sticking in the Mire or Sands having least help when you have most need And what will then ensue of this The Branches will be pardoned the Root apprehended your Honour distained your House attainted your Arms reversed your Mannors razed your Doings examined at which time God knoweth what an Heart-burning it will be when that with no colour may be denied which without shame cannot be confessed My Lord I pour not out Oracles as a Soothsayer for I am neither a Prophet nor Son of a Prophet
Kingdom and concludes with Commendations of the Lord Grey and desires he may be Lord Deputy and have Orders to call a Parliament What that Letter mentions of O Neal has reference to a Treaty between the Lord Deputy and him for when he understood that the Lord Deputy design'd an Expedition against him into the North to prevent it he desired a Parly and on the first of July by his Agent Gillaspick O Donel he concluded an Agreement with the Lord Deputy which afterwards was confirmed by Con O Neal himself at Drogheda on the twenty fifth of the same Month. In the mean time the Lord Deputy finding that Fitz-Girald had retired to Munster sent after him the Lord Grey Sir William Brereton and others who had several Skirmishes with his Party wherein nothing was got but Blows whereupon Brereton's Advice on the one side and Fitz Girald's Necessity on the other side produced a Parly the effect whereof was That Fitz-Girald surrendred to the Lord Grey and rode with him to Dubliu By the Lord Deputy's Letter to the King of August 24. he acquaints his Majesty That Fitz Girald and O Connor had submitted the former without any Condition or Promise of Life Lands or Goods and that he intends to send him over by the Lord Grey whilst himself in person goes to assist O Donel against his Son Manus But the Council by their Letter from the Camp to the King of the 27th of August inform his Majesty That O Connor an Abettor of Fitz-Girald's has given Hostages to abide the King's Pleasure and that Fitz-Firald submitted on the encouragements they gave him to expect Pardon for his Life That the Lord Grey is going with him leaving the Lord Butler in his room and they desire the King to thank the Lord Grey for his good Service Nevertheless others say That Fitz-Girald was by the Lord Grey absolutely promised his Pardon but if it was so it was more than he had Comission for and therefore no regard was given to that Pretence but the King being implacably enraged at this dangerous Rebellion caused Fitz-Girald to be arrested in the way to Windsor and afterwards viz. Febr. 3. 1537. he and five of his Unkles were executed at Tyburn although three of them had for a long time opposed their Nephews Extravagancies And thus ended a Rebellion Lib. CCC 85. which cost the King twenty thousand some say forty thousand Pound At which great Expence the King was so disturb'd that he called this Victory a new Conquest and put the Question to his Council how Ireland should be managed to bear the charge of its own Preservation and whether by Act of Parliament every mans Estate should not be made liable to contribute its proportion or whether by vertue of this Conquest the King might not seize on all the Estates in that Kingdom Temporal and Spiritual By a Letter from Stephen ap Harry who was afterward a great man with the Lord Grey of the sixth of October from Waterford directed to Mr. Thomas Cromwel Secretary of State he informs his Honour That the Lord Leonard Grey was gone to England with Fitz Girald and that the Lord James Butler marched to Clonmel where his Lordships Brother-in-Law Garret Mac Shane who could not speak one Word of English met him That thence they marched to Dungarvan which surrendred unto him and thence to Youghal where he had a Gallon of Gascoyn Wine for four pence and thence to Cork where the Lord Barry made great Complaints of Cormock Oge of Muskry and Mac Carty Riagh the former was willing to submit to the Award of the State but Mac Carty Riagh answered That what he got by the Sword he would keep by the Sword The like Controversie was between James Grandson of Thomas last Earl of Desmond and Sir John Brother of that Earl the young man offered to go to England and to submit to his Majesties Pleasure but Sir John said He scorned to contest with a Boy That they marched thence to Mallow and so to Kilmallock and thence to Lymerick where the Lord Butler's Brother-in-law O Brians Son desired Aid against his Father and Unkle and that the Lord Butler would besiege Carrigonel but he could not do it for want of Artillery and therefore marched to Cashel and thence to Clonmel having worthily behav'd himself all this Journey It seems the Lord Deputy had sollicited for the King's leave to return to England by reason of his Age and Infirmities but the King in his Answer thanked him for the taking Fitz-Girald but wished it had been done in another manner viz. by force and tells him That he must continue in the Government of Ireland notwithstanding his Age and Sickness and orders a Parliament to be called as â—â—on as conveniently might be but it is probable that soon after those Letters arrived the Lord Deputy died at Kilmainham in the latter end of December and was honourably buried in St. Patrick's Church And thereupon the Council chose Leonard Lord Grey 1535. Lord Deputy who was but newly returned from England and probably did not bring over so much Treasure as the Army both expected and needed and therefore the Souldiers mutined in January and thereupon the King by his Letter of the twenty fifth of February desires to know who were the Ringleaders of it and orders that as many of the Army as can be spared may be disbanded Lib. H. To which Letter the Lord Deputy and Council return'd for Answer That after the imprisonment of Fitz-Girald they had disbanded five hundred men but that his Unkles being at that time out and the Earl of Desmond O Brian and O Connor linked in a Confederacy it was no proper time then to dismiss any more but that they have now borrowed four hundred Pounds Irish and therewith have disbanded two hundred and fifty Foot and fifty Horse That the Revenue of the Kingdom was but five thousand Pounds per annum whereof a thousand Pound was then insolvent they advise the King to grant a Pardon to the County of Kildare to the end the People of that County may return to their Habitations and they advise That the Kings Lands may be set for a Term of one and twenty years and that a Mint may be erected in Ireland and none but Sterling Money be currant and thereby every Mark of the King's Revenue will be a Pound But I must interrupt the Series of this Discourse to give the Reader an Account of the miraculous preservation of one of the remaining Branches of the Noble Family of Kildare a Child of thirteen years old Brother of the Lord Thomas and Son of the deceased Earl who happened to be sick of the Small Pox at Donoare in the County of Kildare when his Unkles were apprehended whereupon his careful Tutor Thomas Leverouse afterwards Bishop of Kildare had the Child wrapt up warm and in a Cleef or Basket conveyed him into Offaly and after he was recovered he travelled into Thomond
the Regality of S. Peter I do Vow and Swear to Maintain Help and Assist the just Laws Liberties and Rights of the Mother Church of Rome I do likewise promise to confer defend and promote if not personally yet willingly as in Ability able either by Advice Skill Estate Mony or otherwise the Church of Rome and her Laws against all whatsoever resisting the same I further vow to oppugn all Hereticks either in making or setting forth Edicts or Commands contrary to the Mother Church of Rome and in case any such to be moved or composed to resist it to the uttermost of my Power with the first Convenience and Opportunity I can possible I count all Acts made or to be made by Heretical Powers of no force or to be practised or obeyed by my self or by any other Son of the Mother Church of Rome I do further declare him or her Father or Mother Brother or Sister Son or Daughter Husband or Wife Unkle or Ant Nephew or Neece Kinsman or Kinswoman Master or Mistriss and all others nearest or dearest Relations Friend or Acquaintance whatsoever accursed that either do or shall hold for time to come any Ecclesiastical or Civil above the Authority of the Mother Church or that do or shall obey for the time to come any of her the Mother Church's Opposers or Enemies or contrary to the same of which I have here sworn unto so God the Blessed Virgin S. Peter S. Paul and the Holy Evangelists help c. His Highness the Vice-roy of this Nation is of little or no Power with the Old Natives therefore your Lordship will expect of me no more than I am able This Nation is poor in Wealth and not sufficient now at present to oppose them It is observed That ever since his Highness ' s Ancestors had this Nation in Possession the Old Natives have been craving Foreign Powers to assist and rute them and now both English Race and Irish begin to oppose your Lordship's Orders and do lay aside their National old Quarrels which I fear will if any thing will cause a Foreigner to invade this Nation I pray God I may be a false Prophet yet your good Lordship must pardon mine Opinion for I write it to your Lordship as a warning And about Midsummer one Thady Birne a Franciscan Fryer was apprehended and was to be sent Prisoner into England to the Lord Privy Seal but the cowardly Sophister being told That he would certainly be hanged was seized with such a pannick Fear that he murdered himself in the Castle of Dublin on the twenty fourth Day of July and among other Papers the following Letter was found about him My Son O Neal THou and thy Fathers were all along faithful to the Mother Church of Rome Life of Bishop Brown 11. His Holiness Paul now Pope and the Council of the Holy Fathers there have lately found out a Prophecy there remaining of one S. Laserianus an Irish Bishop of Cashel Wherein he saith That the Mother Church of Rome falleth when in Ireland the Catholick Faith is overcome Therefore for the Glory of the Mother Church the Honour of S. Peter and your own Secureness suppress Heresie and his Holiness's Enemies for when the Roman Faith there perisheth the See of Rome falleth also Therefore the Council of Cardinals have thought fit to encourage your Country of Ireland as a Sacred Island being certified whilst the Mother Church hath a Son of Worth as your self and those that shall succour you and joyn therein that she will never fall but have more or less a holding in Britain in spite of Fate Thus having obeyed the Order of the most Sacred Council we recommend your Princely Person to the Holy Trinity of the Blessed Virgin of S. Peter S. Paul and all the Heavenly Host of Heaven Amen Episcopus Metensis And it is not to be doubted Ware 151. but the Irish had Solicitations from many others besides the Bishop of Mets for in the beginning of the following Year O Neal began to declare himself the Champion of the Papacy and having entred into a Confederacy with O Donel Macgenis Ocahane Mac William O Hanlon and others they joyntly invaded the Pale and marched to Navan burning that and Athirde and all the Country as they marched and thence they came to the Hill of Taragh where they mustered their Army with great Ostentation and so having taken a vast Prey and done abundance of Mischief they designed to return home But the Lord Deputy who foresaw this Storm 1539. had sent to England for Aid Holingsh 101. and Sir William Brereton who was newly returned to England was immediately sent back with two hundred and fifty Cheshire-Men It is reported of him That he broke his Thigh in two Places by a Fall from his Horse as he was exercising his Men and that nevertheless he was so Valiant and Zealous that he caused himself to be halled into the Ship by Pullies that the Succours might not be detained any longer In the mean time the Deputy Ibid. with the Forces of the Pale and the Mayors and Citizens of Dublin and Drogheda in May marched to Bellahoa where O Neal was encamped on the other side the River they marched all Night to surprize the Enemy and came to the River by break of Day The valiant Baron of Slane led the forlorn and having first substituted Robert Betoa his Standard-bearer instead of the cowardly Robert Halfpenny who declined the Adventure because of the Danger he rushed into the River and being well seconded by Mabe of Mabestown who was there slain though the Inconveniencies of passing the River were very great yet they at length got over routed the Gallowglasses slew Macgenis defeated O Neal and recovered all the Prey of the Pale and continued the Pursuit till Sunset The Deputy exceeded the rest as much in Courage as Authority and behaved himself exceeding bravely and after the Battle knighted Chief Justice Ailmer Talbot of Malahide Fitz-Simons Mayor of Dublin and Michael Cursy Mayor of Drogheda in the Field and well they deserved it for their good Service in obtaining so great a Victory which broke the Power of the North and quitted the Borders for some Years and yet there were not above four hundred of the Rebels slain But whilst the Deputy was in Vlster O Connor and O Toole made Incursions into the Pale and though they did much Mischief yet the Country suffered more by unseasonable Weather for the Summer was so hot that even some Rivers were almost dried up and the Autumn was very Sickly and Unwholesome and the Winter so excessive cold that multitudes of Cattle perished by reason thereof And now began the Abbots and Priors upon Assurance of Pensions Ware 152. during their respective Lives to surrender their Abbies and other Religious Houses to the King it would be too tedious to give a Catalogue of all that did so but these following should not be pretermitted because
they were Lords of Parliament The Abbot of Mellifont S. Thomas-Abby near Dublin S. Mary Abby near Dublin Baltinglass Jeripont Tintern in the County of Wexford Douske Tracton in the County of Cork Dunbrody Dunbrodiae Mage alias Nenai in the County of Limerick Wony alias Wethney in the County of Limerick Rosglass alias Monaster Evan Bectif Rathto in the County of Kerry The Priors of S. John of Jerusalem Christ-Church Dublin S. Peters near Trim Conal Kells in Ossory Kenlisae S. Patricks in Down All-Saints near Dublin Athassel Killagh S. Marys in Louth In the close of the last Year Ware 154 it happened that a Waterford-Ship loaden with one hundred Tun of Wine was in her return from Portugal put into Baltimore no sooner was it heard of but Finil O Driscol came on Board and very kindly invited the Merchant and Mariners on shoar to refresh themselves at his House after the Hardships they had suffered at Sea they readily accepted of his Invitation but met with another sort of entertainment than they expected for contrary to the Rules of Hospitality he most perfidiously kept them all Prisoners and distributed most part of the Cargo between himself and his Followers as he thought fit But as soon as the Citizens of Waterford were inform'd of this Treachery they mann'd two Sips and a long Boat and although Captain Dobins did easily recover the former Ship and all the Goods that were left which were about the fourth part of the whole and all the Prisoners yet the Citizens of Waterford were not contented with that but sayl'd to Inisherkin and took O Driscol's Castle there and razed it to the ground and destroyed the Island as much as they could and thence they went to Inchypyle which they served in the same manner and at length after they had destroyed Baltymore and the Country adjacent they carried away O Driscol's best Boat and abundance of Plunder and returned safely to Waterford In the mean time Ware 155. the King that he might not be thought to abandon the Religion of his Ancestors enacted in England the Bloody Law of the Six Articles and not long after revoked the Lord Deputy who left Ireland early in the Spring having first substituted Sir William Brereton 1540. Lord Justice in whose time the Irish Potentates began generally and publickly to own themselves Champions of the Papacy and to assume the specious Pretences of Liberty and Religion the better to cloak their Designs of Robbery and Rebellion Ware 156. for some of them being of a temper impatient to live as Subjects any longer than they are disabled to be Rebels were glad of any Pretence that might seem to justifie their illegal Proceedings and therefore many of them confederated together and especially O Neal O Bryan O Donel and O Carol and in the beginning of July appointed their Rendezvouz all four in West-Meath in order to invade and plunder the Pale but the Lord Justice got his small Army together and was joyned by two thousand of the Inhabitants of the Pale whereof many were Clergy-men who very well knew That whatever was pretended by the Irish yet Plunder and Depredation was meant and intended and therefore they were forward and active to defend their Country but as soon as the Rebels had notice of this Preparation which was counted great in those days those holy Champions dispersed their Forces into Woods and Fastnesses so that this terrible Bugbear vanished without Blows But the Lord Justice would not be so satisfied for he pursued O Connor into Ophaly and made several of the Fastnesses of that Country passable for Carriages and brought O Connor to that pass that he was forced to give his Son Cnoghor for a Hostage of his future Behaviour but not long after viz. on the 25th of the same Month of July Sir Anthony Saintleger Knight of the Garter Lord Deputy was sworn as was usual in Christ-Church Dublin and the Form of his Oath is to be found in Burlace's Reduction of Ireland pag. 106. and Ware 's Annals 157. This Lord Deputy by the help of Thomas Walsh one of the Barons of the Exchequer John Myn and William Cavendish two Auditors well vers'd in the Treasury did bring the publick Revenue into good Order and more to the King's advantage than ever it had been before But because some People have written extravagantly Present State of Ireland 12. That the Revenue in King Edward the Third's Days amounted unto thirty thousand pounds per annum and that the Earl of Desmond was able to expend ten thousand pounds per annum it will not be inconvenient to give the Reader an Account both of the publick Expence and Income for one Year during Saintleger's Government viz. for the Year 1543.  l. s. d. The King's Mannors and Lands per annum 6069 02 07 Customs of Dublin Droghedah Dundalk   and Trim 0319 13 04 The Fee Fee-Farms of Dublin and Droghedah 0200 00 00 Pâ—â—ty Farms Profits and Homages 0011 05 08 The twentieth part of the Spirituality 0287 02 01 ½ The King's Subsidy Spiritual and Temporal 0613 08 03  7500 11 11 ½    Irish Money Deduct 182 13 09 ½ for yearly Annuities and Proxies perpetual    and 1131 12 06 for Judges Clerks of Courts Customers Controllers Constables of the King's Castle of Dublin c. and Officers of the County and Liberty of Wexford and there remains 6186 05 08 Besides there were some Temporary Payments to be deducted viz. 500 l. per annum Pension to the late Prior of St John of Jerusalem and 759 l. 3 s. 4 d. per annum Pensions to the Religious Persons belonging to the suppressed Monasteries c. So that there remain'd clear to the King but 4927 l. 2 s. 4 d. For as on the one side there were some uncertain Profits that are not included in this Computation as Liveries Wardships First-Fruits the Profits of the Hanaper and the Tributes of Irishmen and likewise the Mannor of Dungarvan and some other small things not then setled are not in charge so on the other side there were some casual Expences for Buildings Reparations Concordatums Inquisitions Messengers c. that did more than tantamount the casual Branches of the Revenue The Charge of the Military List although the Army consisted of no more than three hundred seventy nine Horse and one hundred and fifty Foot amounted to almost eight thousaud Pounds besides Artillery and some other things that were constantly supplied from England that is to say The Lord Deputy's Retinue A Captain at four shillings a day a petit Captain at two shillings and an hundred Horsemen at ninepence apiece makes four pound twelve shillings per diem and that is an hundred and thirteen Pound eight shillings per mensem and per annum 1478 05 00. Mr. Robert Saintleger for the like Retinue for a year being thirteen months and one day 1478 05 00. Master of the Ordinance his Retinue a
grand Captain four shillings a petit Captain two shillings and an hundred Harquebusses I suppose on Horseback half at eight pence and the other half at nine pence a day makes three pound sixteen shillings and ten pence per diem and an hundred and seven pound eleven shillings and four pence per mensem and per annum 1402 04 02. Mr. Brereton's Retinue a grand Captain four shillings a Captain three shillings a petit Captain two shillings and an hundred and fifty Archers at six pence apiece is four pound four shillings per diem and one hundred and seventeen pound twelve shillings per mensem and per annum 1533 00 00. The Knight Marshal's Retinue a grand Captain four shillings and twenty nine Horsemen at nine pence a day is one Pound eight shilling per diem eleven Pound eighteen shillings per mensem and per annum 0511 00 00. Clerk of the Cheques Retinue ten Horsemen at nine pence and himself a shilling is eight shillings six pence per diem eleven Pounds eighteen shillings per mensem and per annum 0155 02 06 The Treasurers Retinue forty Horse at nine pence and himself at six shillings and eight pence per diem is per annum 0669 03 04 The Lord Deputy's Stipend is per annum 0666 13 04 Master of the Ordnance's Stipend per annum 0048 13 04 Charge of the Ordnance besides what comes out of England is per annum 0040 00 00 7982 06 08 It seems the reason why they had so little Foot was because the Lords and Gentlemen of the Country were bound by their Tenures to assist the King with a certain number of Men at every Hosting or rising out as they call it and as for the Artillery it was so contemptible that I find by one of the Letters from the Council at the Camp that the Army had but one broken Piece and therefore they desire another may be sent them But before we proceed farther in the Affairs of Ireland it will be fit to pay that respect to the Memory of the late Lord Deputy the Lord Grey as to give some Account of his Misfortunes and Destiny He had certainly performed considerable Atchievments in Ireland and great Commendations of him are contained in most of the Letters from the Council to the King and his Majesty did so well approve of his good Services that he Created him Viscount Grany and although the Earl of Ormond the Lord Chancellor Allen the Vice-Treasurer Brabazon and Sir John Travers went with him or immediately followed him into England to impeach him yet he was kindly received by the King and and carried the Sword before him on Whitsunday Nevertheless he was in a short time after imprisoned in the Tower and accused of very many Articles the principal of which are these First That O Connor feasted him and mended Toghercroghan for him and that in favour of O Molloy a Rebel he took a Castle from Dermond O Molloy whose Father-in-Law O Carol was a good Subject for which the Lord Grey had a Bribe and Stephen ap Harry had twenty Cows Secondly That he took the Castle of Bi r from a Loyal O Carol and gave it to a Rebel O Carol who married the Earl of Kildare's Daughter and also took Moderhern a Castle belonging to the Earl of Ormond and gave it to the Rebel O Carol and wasted the Earl of Ormond's Lands for which he had an hundred and forty Kine and Stephen ap Harry had forty and Girald Mac Gerrot had a black Hackny Thirdly That he took forty Kine from O Kenedy a Tenant of the Earl of Ormond's and his Son for Hostage Fourthly That he held secret and private familiar Correspondence with James of Desmond and went to visit him in his Tents in his Night-Gown and forced the Abbot of Owny to give him forty Pounds sterling to preserve that Abby from Ruine and O Brian to give him thirty Kine and Hostages Vlick Bourk a Bastard gave him 100 Marks to have Ballimacleere-Castle and to be made Mac William and that he carried the Artillery in a small Vessel to Galway and made the Town of Galway pay thirty four Pounds for that Carriage Fifthly That the Exploits at Bryans Bridge c. were in favour of O Bryan a Rebel Desmond's Son-in-Law and to the prejudice of Donough O Bryan a good Subject and that he took a Bribe of eighty Kine from Macnemarra Sixthly That trusting Desmond and O Bryan he hazarded the King's Army in a long and dangerous Journy wherein Desmond quarrelled and deserted him and O Bryan sent but one man with a Battle-Ax to guide him Seventhly That he rifled the Abby of Ballyclare and left neither Chalice Cross nor Bell in it Eighthly That he destroyed the Castles of Lecagh and Derriviclaghny in favour of Vlick Burk though the rightful Proprietor offered Submission and Rent to the King Ninthly That he had secret Conference with and received a Horse from O Connor Roe who was the chief Instrument in conveying away the young Fitz-Girald Tenthly That he took eighty Kine from O Maddin and forced O Mlaghlin's Son from Mr. Dillon whose lawful Prisoner he was for which he had seventy Kine And there was a Commission sent to Ireland to examine Witnesses and they say that these Articles were proved by the testimony of above seventy Persons whereof some were of Quality that is some of them swore to one Article and some to another so that the Lord Grey who was Son to the Marquess of Dorset and Viscount Grany in Ireland but no Peer in England being tried by a common Jury thought it his best way to confess the Indictment in hopes of the King's Grace and Pardon but in that he was mistaken and although his Services did infinitely over-balance his Faults yet he was publickly Executed on the twenty eighth day of July 1541. There are four other Articles mentioned by others Holingsh 102. to be laid to his Charge Ware 162. 1. His Partiality to his Nephew Fitz-Girald afterwards Earl of Kildare whom they say he might have taken 2. That his Servants pillaged the Gentlemen in Munster that entertained them 3. That he had inveigled Thomas Fitz Girald to submit by Promises which he had no Commission to perform and that he did it to destroy that Lord that his own Nephew might come to be Earl of Kildare as afterwards he did 4. His Sacrilege at Down But however that be it was not long after his Execution before a Commission was directed to Archbishop Brown and Cowly Master of the Rolls to make an Estimate or Survey of the Lord Grey's Estate in Ireland and to deliver it to the Lord Deputy Saintleger to be disposed of as the King shall direct Sir William Brereton 1540. Marshal of Ireland was sent by the Lord Deputy into Munster to take the Submission of James Fitz-John Earl of Desmond and to bring him to Dublin but the Marshal died at Kilkenny nevertheless the Earl on the
Carriages to a general Hosting did coss the Country or tax it to find so much Mony as would maintain a certain number of men three Months and accordingly in July this Year the Counties of Kilkenny Waterford Typerary and Wexford were ordered to levy Maintenance for two hundred and forty Kerns for three Months which came to no more than two hundred and four Pounds thirteen Shillings and four Pence whereby one may perceive that the Tax was easie enough but the Grievance was in the irregular Assessments and the oppressive manner of levying it The French King by his Ambassador Theobald de Boys tempted O Donel with Offers of Money and Arms to make an Insurrection but he could do little of himself and it was too soon to seduce others after such solemn and formal Submissions so lately made and so that Negotiation had little or no effect but in February the Lord Deputy was recalled to give the King an Account of his Administration of Affairs in Ireland and Sir William Brabazon was sworn Lord Justice in his stead Ware 168. his Patent bears date the twelfth of October 35 Hen. 8. To this Lord Justice new Seals were sent because of the Alteration of the King's Stile from LORD to KING of Ireland and the old Seals were sent back to England The Lord Justice 1544. by the King's Orders sent him seven hundred Men to Calice under the Command of the Captains Poer Finglass and Skurlock they were very serviceable to the King at Bulloign and did much Mischief to the French for being light of foot Holingshead 103. they would often range twenty or thirty Mile into the Country and as they returned would burn and spoil where-ever they came They had a pretty Trick to get a Prey which was to tie a Bull to a Stake and set fire about him and as the Fire scorched him the Bull would bellow and thereupon all the Cattel within hearing of him would flock that way and so were taken These Irishmen would never give Quarter and therefore whensoever the Frenchmen took any of them they gelded them and otherwise tormented them exceedingly After the Surrender of Bulloign a large Frenchman on the other side of the Haven braved and defied the English Army whereupon one Nicholas Walsh did swim over the River and cut off the Frenchmans Head and brought it back over the River in his Mouth for which bold Action he was bountifully rewarded Sir Anthony Saintleger June 11. 1544. being for his good Services made Knight of the Garter returned Lord Deputy and found the Kingdom quiet and he made it his Business to keep it so which he effectually accomplished by imprisoning two or three turbulent People and by taking Indentures and Hostages from those he suspected And this Lord Deputy knowing it was the only way to keep the Kingdom in peace Lib. D. made it his Business to break the Dependencies of the Irish and to that end upon all References to him he took care that the weaker Party might depend on the Government for Protection and that he should not rely upon nor be under the Subjection of any other and particularly on the fourteenth of July he made an Award or final Order between the Earl of Tyrone and O Donel whereby O Donel was freed from depending on O Neal any farther than that he still continued obliged to pay a yearly Rent of sixty Beeves to O Neal for the Island of Inisowen and it so hapned that the very next year O Neal invaded Tyrconel because that Rent was not paid whereupon there was another Reference to the Government and a new Peace was made between them Aug. 24 1546. In the mean time the Earl of Lenox 1545. who fled out of Scotland was kindly received by King Henry and married his Neece was by the King sent into Ireland to levy an Army to recover his Inheritance in Scotland he came to the Deputy at Kilmainham where he lived and being effectually recommended by the King he was so kindly received and his Business so heartily followed that by the middle of November he had raised fifteen hundred Men under the Command of Sir John Travers Master of the Ordnance to whom the Earl of Ormond joyned as many of his own Followers and was himself General of the Army They set Sail for Scotland in twenty eight Ships but the Levity of their Confederates in Scotland or the Power of Duke Hamilton disappointed this Design for not being able to gain Dunbritton-Castle which was promised to be delivered up to them and finding a potent Army ready to encounter them instead of Friends which they expected to embrace them and being shattered by a violent Storm the Irish were necessitated to return home re infecta In the mean time Lib. D. on the Nineteenth of October died Vlick Earl of Clanrickard whereupon a great Contest arose between his Sons about the Title and Inheritance because the Earl's first Wife Grany O Carol Mother of the Earl's Eldest Son Richard Burk had been formerly married to O Mlaghlin who was still living and undivorced as was alledged and she being still alive the Earl married Honora Burk and was afterwards divorced from her and married Mary Linch Mother of John Burk Grany the first Wife being still living But the Earl of Ormond and other Commissioners sent by the Lord Deputy and Council to settle this Affair soon determined the Matter and finding that the pretended Marriage with O Mlaghlin could not be proved they adjudged Grany to be the Earl's true Wife and placed her Son Richard Burk in the Earldom and Estate of his Father according to the Law of England and because he was under Age they made Vlick Burk Captain of the Country during his good Behaviour and the Minority of the Earl But now the Spirit of Rebellion had again seized the Irish Melvin's Memoirs 8 9. and O Neal O Donel O Dogharty and one Callock had made some Overtures to the French King about assistance to manage an Insurrection and they proposed to him to become his Subjects and to shake off the Yoke of England provided he would procure the Pope's Gift of Ireland and send two thousand Harquebusses two hundred Light Horsemen and four Canon to their assistance The French King thought the Offer so considerable that he sent over John de Monluck Bishop of Valence his Ambassador to Ireland to learn the Truth of their Circumstances and to certifie the King what probability there was of Success if he should engage in that Affair The Bishop arrived at Loghfoyle on Shrovetuesday and the next day was by O Dogharty carried to his House which was a great dark Tower there the Bishop found bad Entertainment and was forced to be contented with Herrings and Bisket and such like Lenten Fare which was the best the House afforded The Bishop had a Months Mind to O Dogharty's Daughter which two English Fryers observing to prevent any Abuse of the Damsel
they procur'd as good a Bed-fellow for the Ambassador though she was of meaner Quality this Liquorish Harlot unfortunately met with a small Bottle of choice Balm valued at two thousand Crowns which was given to the Bishop by Solyman the Magnificent when he was Ambassador in Turky she was invited by its Odour to try its Relish and it seems liked it so well that she licked it all out whereat the Bishop grew so outragious and loud that he discovered his Debauchery frightned the Woman away and made sport for the Irishmen and his own Servants After this the Bishop met with O Neal and the Titular Primate Robert Wachop in a secret place and heard the Overâ—ures of them and their Confederates and it is not to be doubted but they came to an Agreement because the Bishop soon after went to Rome but being unable to separate the Pope from the Interests of the Emperor this Negotiation had no effect In the mean time two of the Cavenaghs viz. Cahir Mac Art of Polmonty and Girald Mac Cahir of Garochil had fierce Contests about their Territory at length it came to a Battel as it were by consent and about an hundred on each side were slain but Cahir Mac Art had the better of it and finally obtain'd that Signiory But the Exchequer being empty the Lord Deputy designed to levy a Tax upon the People but the Earl of Ormond would by no means suffer that 〈…〉 whereupon the difference grew so high between him and the Lord Deputy that at last it came to mutual Impeachments whereupon both of them were sent for to England and by the King's Mediation were reconciled whilst the ambodexter Allen was imprison'd in the Fleet and deprived of the Great Seal and Sir Thomas Cusack was made Lord Keeper and not long after viz. about the twenty eighth day of October the Earl of Ormond and thirty five of his Servants were poyson'd at a Feast at Ely-House in Holborn so that he and sixteen of them died but whether this hapned by Accident or Mistake or were done designedly could not be discovered Sir William Brabazon was sworn Lord Justice on the first of April 1546. although his Patent bore Date the sixteenth of February Ware 174. In his time hapned a strange and unnatural Action for Bryan Lord of Upper Ossory sent his own Son Teige Prisoner to Dublin where he was executed and in July Patrick O More and Bryan O Connor with joint Forces invaded the County of Kildare and burnt Athy but the Lord Justice immediately pursued them and leaving a Garrison at Athy he marched into Offaly and made a Fort at Dingen now Philipstown and forced O Connor to fly into Connaught But the Necessities of the State obliged the King to Coyn Brass or mixt Moneys and to make it currant in Ireland by Proclamation to the great dissatisfaction of all the People especially the Soldiers and about the same time Edward Basnet Dean of St. Patrick's in Dublin and the Chapter after some Reluctancy surrendred their Possessions to the King Three Things are observable in the Letters during this King's Reign 1. None of them do mention either the Year of our Lord or the Year of the King's Reign though all of them do take notice of the Day of the Month whereby this Part of the History was so perplex'd and confus'd that I will not promise that I have always guess'd the time aright though I have used my utmost diligence and endeavours to do so 2. All the Letters of this Reign conclude thus So knoweth God to whom we pray for your Graccs Prosperity or to that effect but these Words So knoweth God are always in although in the subsequent Words there is some Variation according to the Fancy of the Writer 3. Most of the Letters from the great Irish Lords even some of English Extraction are subscribed with a Mark very few of thembeing able to write their Names Sir Anthony Saintleger Lord Deputy returned on the sixteenth day of December with Sir Richard Read who was made Lord Chancellor in the room of Cusack and Cusack was made Master of the Rolls And thus stood the Government of Ireland during the Reign of King Henry the Eighth who Died on the twenty eighth day of January in the thirty eighth Year of his Reign and of his Age the fifty sixth THE REIGN OF EDWARD VI. KING OF England France AND IRELAND EDWARD 1546. the Sixth of that Name since the Norman Conquest was born at Hampton Court on the twelfth Day of October 1537. and succeeded his Father in the tenth Year of his Age on the twenty eighth Day of January 1546. and on the first of February Edward Seymour who was the King's Unkle by the Mother was made Protector of the King and Kingdoms and was afterwards created Duke of Somerset and on the twentieth Day of February the King was crowned at Westminster with great Solemnity Sir Anthony Saintleger continued in the Government of Ireland Ware 177. at first by the name of Lord Justice and afterwards by the Title of Lord Deputy and he proclaimed the new King on the twenty sixth Day of February 1547. and not long after Sir Richard Read was made first Lord Keeper and afterwards Lord Chancellor and the Earl of Desmond was constituted Lord Treasurer of Ireland on the twenty ninth Day of March and on the seventh Day of April the Privy Council was sworn viz. Sir Richard Read Chancellor George Archbishop of Dublin Edward Bishop of Meath Sir William Brabazon Vice-Treasurer Sir Girald Ailmer Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench Sir Thomas Luttrel Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas James Bath Esq Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer Sir Thomas Cusack Master of the Rolls and Thomas Houth Esq one of the Judges of the King's Bench to whom afterwards others were added But the O Birnes took advantage of the Change of the Government and hoping that the Infancy of the King would occasion Disturbances in the State they began to be very unruly and troublesome insomuch that the Lord Deputy was necessitated to invade their Country he pursued them so close that he slew their Captain and drove themselves into the Woods and Fastnesses He also took two of the Fitz-Giralds who had formerly been Proscribed and now joyned with O Toole and he brought them and other Prisoners to Dublin where they were executed Nor were Patrick O More and Brian O Connor less forward than the rest but briskly invaded the County of Kildare and loaded themselves with Prey and Plunder but the Lord Deputy came seasonably to intercept them and having killed two hundred of the Rebels upon the Place the rest of them with their light-footed Captains fairly ran away But the Government of England wisely considering the fickle Inclinations of the Irish and the danger of a general Defection of that Nation from a Protestant King seasonably provided for that Kingdom so that Edward Bellingham with the
Title of Captain General brought over six hundred Horse and four hundred Foot whose Pay came to twelve hundred and twenty six Pound per Month viz seven hundred and seventy Pound for the Horse and four hundred fifty six Pound for the Foot and about Midsummer they landed at Waterford and being joyned by the Lord Deputy they invaded the Countries of Leix and Offaly and proclaimed O More and O Connor Traytors and having dispersed the Forces of the Rebels the Lord Deputy repaired the Fort of Dingen and built the Fort of Campaum alias Prolector now called Maryburgh whereupon O More and O connor were forced to submit and Bellingham was knighted and made Marshal of Ireland The Castle of Athloan was likewise repaired and garrisoned by Special Orders from England and the Vice-Treasurer Brabazon had the Care and management thereof and performed it effectually in spight of the great Opposition he met with from Dominick O Kelly and other Great Men of Connaught And this auspicious Year did also produce the mighty Victory which the English obtained over the Scots at Mussleburgh But as the Reformation proceeded in England 1538. so the Popish Zeal and Superstition increased in Ireland Ware 180. and the Pale it self began to be disturbed with it for Richard Fitz-Eustace and Alexander his Brother Sons of the Viscount Baltinglass were busie forming a Rebellion in the County of Kildare but the Presence of the Lord Deputy without Blows brought them to a Submissiom and stifled this Infant Conspiracy in the Cradle and it was well it did for this rebellious Distemper was very infectious and in a little time would have spread over the whole Kingdom the Lord of Baltinglass himself was a little tainted with it but by the means of Sir Edward Bellingham when Lord Deputy the Viscount was pardoned In the mean time the Lord Deputy Saintleger was sent for to England and carried with him O More and O Connor as Prisoners but upon their Submission they were received into Favour and honoured with a Pension of one hundred Pound per annum out of the Exchequer during their Lives which O More enjoyed not very long for he died within the Year suddainly at London Sir Edward Bellingham who had been sent into England with an Account of the Submission of the County of Kildare was now sent back Lord Deputy he landed at Dalkye on Whitson-Eve and two Days after he received the Sword at Christ-Church according to Custom He was a Zealous Protestant and a brave Soldier and by his means Sir John Allen was again made Lord Chancellor As soon as he was setled Davis 62. he marched into Leix and Offaly against Cahir O Connor and others that were brewing new Treasons there and forced them to submit and brought the Country to that degree of Subjection that he is said to be the first Man since Edward the third's time that enlarged the English Borders beyond the Pale and from Offaly the Lord Deputy marched to Delvin against Mac Coughlan whose Country he totally destroyed The Lord Deputy had express Orders to set up a Mint at Dublin which he did but it continued but a very little time for want of Bullion And this Year on the twenty second Day of April the City of Dublin which at first was governed by a Provost and by King Henry the Third subjected to a Mayor and Bayliffs and by Henry the Fourth was honoured with a Sword obtained their Bayliffs to be changed into Sheriffs and John Rians and Robert Eyons were the first two Sheriffs that were chosen or appointed for that City In the mean time Sir Francis Bryan who had married the Countess Dowager of Ormond and was made Marshal of Ireland and Governour of the Counties of Typerary and Kilkenny could by no means agree with the Lord Deputy their Differences grew at length to that height that Sir Francis impeached the Lord Deputy in England and prevailed to have him sent for to answer the Accusation But whilst that affair was transacting Ware 182. Teige O Carol plyed his own Business diligently and after a stout Defence he took and demolished the strong Castle of Nenagh and drove the English out of that Country In Vlster Manus O Donel quarrelled with his Son Calvagh and at length it came to Blows so that on the seventh Day of February Calvagh was routed and Manus Mac Donough O Cahan and many of his Followers were slain In the Lower Delvin Teige Mac Mlaghlin and Edmond Fahy with their united Forces did all the Mischief they could and almost totally destroyed that part of Mac Coughlans Country Nevertheless the Lord Deputy sent an Irish Brigade under the command of Donough O Conner accompanied with the Sons of Cahir O Connor to aid the King in his War against Scotland On the eighteenth of November Cormock Roe O Connor who was proclaimed Traytor came to Dublin and with Tears in his Eyes begged Pardon of the Lord Deputy and Council in Christ-Church and had it But being of a turbulent Spirit he soon after relapsed into Rebellion and being taken by the Earl of Clanrickard he was sent to Dublin and hanged so true is that Observation of Caesar Williamsons Nec gentem ullam reperies Cui peccare slere magis naturale est It is worthy Observation Holingsh 109. That though the Earl of Desmond for his Quality and vast Estate was made Lord High Treasurer yet he was not of the Privy Council nor indeed qualified to be so for he was Rude and Savage both in Apparel and Behaviour he had neither Learning nor Manners but lived after a barbarous fashion in the Country among the Wild-Irish and perhaps had not so much as a Glass-Window to his Houses and yet he was the best landed Subject in the King's Dominions About Christmas the Deputy sent for him to Dublin but he refusing the Lord Deputy himself with about twenty Horse made that haste to Munster that he took the Earl sitting by the Fire in his own House not at all suspecting that Expedition And it was well for him that he was so surprized for he was not only brought to Dublin and instructed in his Duty to his Prince and in good Manners and Civility towards his Fellow-Subjects but was also by the Lord Deputy's means pardoned and restored to the King's Favour so that he continued a good Subject ever afterwards during his Life and was so grateful to his Benefactor the Lord Deputy that he would pray for him constantly after every Meal And now it happened that the Earl of Tyrone Macguire Fylemy Roe O Neal 1549. and others referr'd all their Differences to the Lord Deputy and Council who on the twentieth day of June made their Decree wisely ordering Independency on O Neal. Therere are Copies of all these Decrees at Lambeth Lib. D. And they are to the same effect as that of Macguire's viz. Quod erit liber Ware 184. exemptus ab omni subjectione
aut servitio dicto Comiti Tyrone suisque Haeredibus impendendo ac immediate parebit obediet Domino Regi sub ejus pace defensione perpetuo remaenebit suaeque Celsitudini de tempore in tempus solvet Bonagium Bonnaught caetera omnia Debita quoties ad id per Dominum Deputatum Concilium requisitus rogatus fuerit c. And on the eighteenth of July the like Order was made between O Donel and his Sons and several Proprietors of Tyrconel and O Donel's Authority was limited and both Parties were obliged to obey the Order on pain of forfeiting all their Estate And about the same time Brian Mac Mahon and Hugh Oge made their Submissions at Kilmainham and were pardoned the five hundred Marks they had forfeited by breach of their former Articles Lib. D. In the mean time the Scotch Islanders sent some Forces to the assistance of the Irish in Vlster but Andrew Brereton with five and thirty Horse met with two hundred of them and defeated them with great slaughter and by his good Conduct quieted Vlster and was therefore made General or Governor thereof But the Lord Deputy being recall'd took Shipping at Houth on the 16th day of December and being offered Testimonials of his good Government from the Council he modestly refused saying That if his Innocence would not defend him he would use no other Remedy than his Belief of the Resurrection of the Dead He was certainly a brave Man and an excellent Governor and would have been sent back with Honour if his Infirmities whereof he died the next year had not prevented it Sir Francis Bryan 1549. Lord Justice was chosen by the Council on the twenty 7th day of Decemb and sworn at Christ-Church in Dublin on the 29th but he enjoyed this Honour but a little while for the County of Typerary being infested by O Carol the Lord Justice made a Journy thither in favour of the young Earl of Ormond who was but twelve years old to protect the Country and on the second of February died at Clonmel whereupon Sir William Brabazon Lord Justice was elected by the Council he committed the Government of the County of Typerary to Edmond Butler Archbishop of Cashel and made a Journy to Limerick where Teig O Carol submitted and entred into Covenants of paying a yearly Tribute into the Exchequer and of serving the King with a certain number of Horse and Foot at his own charge and of renouncing his Pretences to the Barony of Ormond and afterwards the same Teig O Carol surrendred to the King his Country of Ely O Carol containing ninety three Plow-Lands and a half and the King re-granted the same to him and Created him Baron of Ely and by O Carol's means Mac Morough O Kelly and O Mlaghlin were now taken into Protection and Pardoned and by the Lord Deputy's Mediation the Earls of Desmond and Thomond who were wrangling about Bounds and the protection of each others Tories or Out-laws were reconciled on the eleventh of March Lib. D. and about the same time Dermond O Sullevan a great man in the County of Cork was together with his Castle or dwelling-House accidentally blown up by Gunpowder and his Brother Amalfus who succeeded him was likewise not long after killed But Bulloign being restored to the French on the twenty-fifth day of April 1550. the King was thereby enabled to send eight thousand Pound of the Money received there and four hundred men of that Garrison into Ireland which he did And thereby the Lord Justice was put into a Condition of pursuing Charles Mac Art Cavenagh Ware 188. who was again in Rebellion and was proclaimed Traytor and the Lord Justice acquitted himself so well in that Matter August that he killed many of Cave-nagh's Followers and burnt the Country But the French King hearing that the English marched an Army into Scotland lookt upon that Assault of his Ally as a Breach of the Peace with him and therefore sent an hundred and sixty small Vessels with Ammunition and Corn to assist the Scots it hapned that sixteen of them were shipwrackt on the Coast of Ireland however the King of England to obviate any Designs the French might have against his Dominions set forth a Fleet of twenty Ships and Pinnaces under the Lord Cobham which guarded two Harbors on the South and one in the North toward Scotland On the twenty third of October Richard Butler second Son of Pierce Earl of Ormond was Created Viscount Mountgarret and a little before that viz. on the tenth of September Sir Anthony Saintleger Ware 190. Lord Deputy returned to Ireland and Sir Thomas Cusack was made Lord Chancellor To this Deputy Mac Carty submitted in humble Manner and was pardoned and it seems that this Lord Deputy had Orders to call a Parliament but I do not find that there was any in Ireland during this King's Reign On the fourth of November Charles Mac Art Cavenagh made his Submission to the Lord Deputy at Dublin in presence of the Earls of Desmond Thomond Clanrickard and Tyrone the Lords Mountgarret Dunboyn Cahir and Ibracan and renounced the Name of Mac Morough and parted with some of his usurped Jurisdiction and Estate But let us cast an eye on the Affairs of the Church and we shall find that the Reformation made but small progress in Ireland since the same year produced Bishops of each sort for on the tenth of May Arthur Macgenis was by provision of the Pope constituted Bishop of Dromore and confirmed therein by the King and Thomas Lancaster a Protestant was on the third day of September made Bishop of Kildare However Bish Brown's Life 13. on the sixth of February the King sent the following Order for the Liturgy of the Church of England to be read in Ireland in the English Tongue EDWARD by the Grace of God c. Whereas our Gracious Father King Henry the Eighth of happy Memory taking into consideration the bondage and heavy yoke that his true and faithful Subjects sustained under the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome as also the Ignorance the Commonalty were in how several fabulous Stories and lying Wonders misled our Subjects in both our Realms of England and Ireland grasping thereby the Means thereof into their hands also dispensing with the Sins of our Nations by their Indulgences and Pardons for Gain purposely to cherish all ill Vices as Robberies Rebellions Thefts Whoredoms Blasphemy Idolatry c. He our Gracious Father King Henry of happy Memory hereupon dissolved all Priories Monasteries Abbies and other pretended Religious Houses as being but Nurseries for Vice and Luxury more than for Sacred Learning Therefore that it might more plainly appear to the World that those Orders had kept the Light of the Gospel from his People he thought it most fit and convenient for the preservation of their Souls and Bodies that the Holy Scriptures should be Translated Printed and Placed in all Parish-Churches
this Journey the Deputy received the Submissions of some of the Irish and drove others of them into Fastnesses About this time the Name of the King at Arms who was formerly called Ireland was changed to that of Vlster and Nicholas Narbon Richmond Herald in England was the first King at Arms by the Name of Vlster Ware 192. and upon his Death Bartholomew Butler succeeded him June 21. anno 1552. But upon the Lord Deputy's Return to Dublin Matthew Baron of Dungannon complained to him against his Father the Earl of Tyrone whereupon that Earl was imprisoned which enraged his other Sons to that degree that they burnt and destroyed that part of the Country which belonged to Matthew On the other side the Baron being assisted by the English resolved to revenge that Injury and at length it came to a Battel which was doubtful for some time but ended in the Defeat of Matthew and the Slaughter of two hundred of his Soldiers English and Irish Nevertheless the Earl of Tyrone remain'd confin'd to stay within the Pale until at the end of three Months he gave Hostages in February and returned to Vlster And about the same time O Connor made his escape out of the Tower of London but was retaken and again imprisoned but Mac Coghlan being weary of wandring in the Woods made his Submission and was restored to his Territory of Delvin And the Publick Records were removed from Birmingham's Tower to S. Patrick's Library in Dublin The Year 1552 1552. was propitious to the Noble Family of the Giraldines for Girald Son of the last Earl of Kildare whose miraculous Preservation hath been already mention'd was now received into Favour and on the twenty fifth of April was restored to Minooth and good part of his Estate and about two years after in the Reign of Queen Mary viz. on the thirteenth of May 1554. he was Created Earl of Kildare Lib. G. and Baron of Ophaly at Westminster But Donough Earl of Thomond who had that Title confirmed to him and his Heirs Males in January last had great Contests with his Unkle Daniel who claimed the Estate by Tanistry but at length by the Mediation of the Lord Deputy they came to an Agreement which is mentioned in an Indenture Tripartite between the Deputy the Earl and Daniel O Bryan Dated May 9 1552. In the mean time Sir Nicholas Bagnal was sent against Hugh Mac Morough and they came to a Battel which was so well fought on both sides that the Loss as well as the Victory is uncertain But the Garrison of Athloan had better Success at Cluan macnoise where they robbed or destroyed all they met with not sparing even the Church-Books The Lord Depury marched to Vlster and repaired and garrison'd the Castle of Belfast but it seems he brought but a small Army in expectation that the Baron of Dungannon would joyn him with his Forces and indeed the Baron designed it and endeavoured it but his Brother Shane O Neal surprized his Camp by night and routed his Army with a great Slaughter Whereupon the Lord Deputy returned to Dublin and intended for England but he was stopped for a while by Sir Henry Knolls whom the King sent over with Intelligence that the Queen of Scots had sent O Connor's son to Ireland to raise new Commotions but as soon as it was understood that his Negotiation was ineffectal the Lord Deputy prosecuted his former Resolution and embarked at Houth on the fourth of December and pursuant to the King's Letter of the seventh of November Sir Thomas Cusack Lord Chancellor and Sir Girald Ailmer Lord Chief Justice were chosen Lords Justices on the sixth of December and soon after one of the O Neals was imprisoned in Dublin for spreading false News about the late Lord Deputy but he was on the thirtieth of December enlarged on Bail In the mean time on the twenty eighth of December Lib. D. Hugh Mac Neal Oge of Clandeboy made his Submission to the Lords Justices or rather to the King and swore Allegiance and Agreed and Covenanted by Indenture to forfeit all if he ever relapsed or apostatized again Whereupon the King granted to him the Abby of Carrigfergus and Liberty to keep three Secular Priests as also the Castle of Belfast But Ireland was unhappy not only by the Civil Dissentions in Vlster between the Earl of Tyrone and his Son Shane O Neal and by the Scarcity of Provisions insomuch that a Kilderkin of Wheat was sold for four and twenty shillings which in the following year was sold for five shillings but also by the Death of Sir William Brabazon who died in July and was one of the most faithful men to the English Interest that had appeared in Ireland from the Conquest to that day The King was advised to lower the Value of Brass Money and to make the Bell-Groat currant at two pence and no more and also to build a Castle at Baltimore to oblige the Fishermen to pay Tribute the former he performed but the later as unpracticable was neglected or postponed The Earl of Thomond and his Unkles Donald and Trelagh were again at open Wars notwithstanding the aforesaid Agreement made between them by the Government February They took the Town of Cluanroad but the Earl defended the Castle for a time but not long after he was murdered by his Unkle Donald and was succeeded by his Son Cnogher whose Mother was Helen April Daughter of Pierce Earl of Ormond 1553. About the same time Teig Roe O Mlaghlin murdered Neal Mac Fylemy of the same Family coming from Molingar but the Murtherer was not long after slain in Battel by the Baron of Delvin and the Garrison of Athloan and in Connaught Richard Burk was at variance with the Sons of Thomas Burk Buckagh the issue whereof was that Richard was taken Prisoner and an hundred and an fifty of his Men slain Nor were the Contests less between Richard Earl of Clanrickard and John Burk the Earl besieged John's Castle but Daniel O Bryan came to John's Relief and forced the Earl to raise the Siege But whilst these things were doing the King died at Greenwich on the sixth Day of July in the seventh Year of his Reign aud the sixteenth Year of his Age. THE REIGN OF MARY QUEEN OF England France AND IRELAND MARY 1553. eldest Sister of the deceased King notwithstanding King Edward's Will and all the Endeavours that were used against her did succeed her Brother in the Throne and although she was Kept out of Possession by the Lady Jane about twelve Days so that she was not proclaimed at London until the nineteenth Day of July Yet there being no Interregnum in England her Reign must be computed from the sixth of July being the Day of her Brother's Death It may seem strange That the Protestants did so easily submit to her or that the Kingdom of Ireland should at all own her for their Queen Because I. She was the Issue
incamped in Thomond and immediately sent the young Earl to take possession of the Country which he did and Daniel who was so brave a man that many of the old and new Irish courted him to be King of Ireland was forced to lie that tempestuous Night in a Cabbin but when according to the Irish fashion he thought to lead his Horse to stable in the same House with himself the proud Beast scorned to stoop until the Foot-boy whispered the Horse in the Ear and told him that his Master O Bryan would lodge that Night in that Cabbin Sullevan 80. and desired that he would lower his Crest and his Crupper and creep into the House to keep his Master company ut tu quoque equus suus capite dorso demisso inclinato Tygurium introeas and the Horse being well bred did very civilly comply in Matters of Ceremony but when he came to Supper he was at a loss for he was used to feed on Wheat and could not conform to Countryâ—entertainment until the Foot-boy whispered him once more that his Master O Bryan who fed on Oaten Cake did command Rosinante to be contented with the same Fare O Bryan Dominus tuus qui hac nocte Avenaceum panem comedit imperat ut tu quoque Avena vescaris and then he fell to it But to return Charles O Carol who had murdered Teig O Carol was himself murdered by William O Dar O Carol who thereupon took possession of that Signiory and held it for four years The Earl of Kildare and the Baron of Delvin at the request of Shane O Neal went into Vlster to aid him against Fylemy Roe O Neal they did no great Exploits but took a few Preys with the Loss of fifty of their own Men but a little after there was a smart Conflict between the Earl of Tyrone and Hugh Mac Neal of Clandeboy wherein the Earl was beaten and lost three hundred Men besides Prisoners In October Lib. CCC Sir William Fitz-Williams Sir John Allen and Valentine Brown were sent over Commissioners to assist the Lord Deputy in managing the Crown-Lands and afterwards in Queen Elizabeths Reign this Brown being a Protestant much employed by the Queen wrote a notable Tract for the Reformation of Ireland which I have seen and is to be found at Lambeth wherin there is nothing blame-worthy saving that he advises the extirpation of the Irish Papists and particularly of the Fitz-Giralds and therefore certainly did not foresee that his own Heir would degenerate into an Irish Papist and ungratefully oppose that English Interest upon which his own Estate is founded It is said That the Spaniards agreed to pay two thousand pound per annum for one and twenty years for leave to Fish on the Irish Coast but it seems there are no such Accounts in the Exchequer And now we are got there we ought to remember the Clerk of the Pipe Walter Hussy who died about this time at the Age of an hundred and seven years Bryan O Connor obtain'd so much Favour with the Queen that he had leave to come for Ireland Ware 211. and nevertheless to retain his Pension in England but he was not long at home before he was arrested upon Suspicion of new Combinations and imprisoned in the Castle of Dublin from whence he was not enlarged before he gave his Son Rotherick Hostage for his good Behaviour The Year 1555 1555. began with the Restoration of St. Patrick's Church in Dublin and Thomas Levereuse was made Dean thereof and held it in Commendam with the Bishoprick of Kildare And on the third of July Sir William Fitz-Williams was made Keeper of the Great Seal until the thirteenth of September Hugh Curvin who was Consecrated Archbishop of Dublin the Week before was made Lord Chancellor In Vlster the Scots Islanders besieged Carrigfergas in vain but Calvagh O Donel with another Party of Scots under Gilaspick Maccaline invaded Tirconel and took his own Father Prisoner at Rosragh and kept him in restraint till his Death he also took and demolished the new Castle of Inisowen and the Castle of Enagh and in the middle of May the next year he sent back his Auxiliary Scots Another Party of the Scots kill'd Hugh Mac Neal of Claneboy in a Skirmish whereupon that Territory was on the fifteenth of September divided by the Lord Deputy and Council between Fylemy Duff O Neal and the Sons of Fylemy Buckagh In May the Cavenaughs and their Complices invaded the North Part of the County of Dublin but the Citizens of Dublin with the Slaughter of many of the Rebels drove one hundred and forty to Powerscourt-Castle 1556. which they pretended to defend but upon the appearance of Sir George Stanly with Supplies they surrendred at Mercy and seventy four of them were hanged at Dublin and the rest were pardoned But the Lord Deputy's Enemies suggested at Court That he had formerly made some Rhymes ridiculing Transubstantiation and thereupon for that or for some other Reason he was soon after recalled and Thomas Ratcliff Lord Fitz-Walter Lord Deputy arrived on Whitsunday and on Tuesday after took the usual Oath at the Altar in Christ-Church on a Mass-book and Saintleger on his Knees surrendred the Sword and the Lord Deputy continued kneeling until Te Deum was sung He brought over with him Sir Henry Sydny Vice-Treasurer and twenty five thousand Pound in Money to provide against the Scots Islanders and the Irish Rebels The Instructions to the Lord Deputy and Council begin at the top Mary the Queen although she was married long before that to King Philip Lib. SSS 53. and the first Article is by their Example and all good means possible to advance the Honour of God and the Catholick Faith to set forth the Honour and Dignity of the Pope's Holiness and See Apostolick of Rome and from time to time to be ready with their Aid and Secular Force at the Request of all Spiritual Ministers and Ordinaries there to punish and repress all Hereticks and Lollards and their damnable Sects Opinions and Errors and to assist the Commissioners of the Legate Cardinal Poole which he designed to send into Ireland to visit the Clergy On the first Day of July the Lord Deputy marched to Vlster against the Scots Ware 216. and on the eighteenth of the same Month he defeated them with the slaughter of two hundred of them Sir Henry Sydny killed James Mac Connel with his own Hand and the Earl of Ormond and Sir John Stanly behaved themselves exceeding well and so the Lord Deputy having left Necessaries at Knockfergus and Stanly the Marshal Governour of Vlster returned to Dublin and not long after made a Journey to Munster where he received many English and Irish to Mercy Hereupon Shane O Neal came to the Lord Deputy to Kilmainham upon a Promise of Protection and made his humble Submission But since that time frequent Experience has convinced the Government That Protections have always
proved disadvantagious to the State and that lenity to the Irish Rebels has produced no other Effects than that it has encouraged them to relapse and others to follow their Example And of this Shane O Neal affords us one Instance for notwithstanding this Submission it was not long before he rebelled again and Rory O Connor and Donough O Connor followed the same Copy for though they submitted at Dingen and put in Hostages for their Loyalty yet they rebelled once more and therefore were on the twenty fifth Day of February proclaimed Traytors and at length were slain and their Country wasted 1557. In like manner William Odare O Carol was made Governour of Ely O Carol under certain Conditions one of which was To send a certain number of Soldiers to every Hosting but this Condescention and Kindness could not oblige him but that the ungrateful Traytor rebelled next Year and was routed and Thady O Carol was put in his Place And so we are come to the Parliament which began the nineteenth day of June and on the second day of July was adjourned to the tenth day of November to Limerick and then was adjourned to the first day of March to Drogheda but the Lord Deputy who by the Death of his Father was Earl of Sussex went to England on the fourth day of December and not returning before the first day of March the Parliament by his Absence became dissolved It seems that besides the Statutes that are in Print this Parliament enacted 1. That the Queen was Legitimate 2. That the Royal Power was vested in her 3. That her Issue should inherit the Crown and Kingdoms of England and Ireland 4. That Heresies should be punished and three Statutes to that effect were revived 5. That all Acts against the Pope made since 20 Hen. 8. be repealed 6. That the Grants made by Archbishop Brown be void and cap. 12. that First-Fruits be released But afterwards by the Act of the second of Elizabeth cap. 1. the Act of Repeal was repealed and the revived Statutes against Heresie were suppressed the Jurisdiction of the Pope was abolished and cap. 3. the First-Fruits and twentieth Part were restored to the Crown There was also an Act to give the Queen a Subsidy of thirteen Shillings and four Pence out of every Plow-land for ten Years And another to make it Treason to introduce or receive armed Scots into Ireland or to marry with a Scot without Licence under the great Seal The printed Acts of this Parliament are I. For the Disposition of Leix and Offaly II. For making the King's County and Queens County Shire-Ground and entituling their Majesties thereunto III. For making other Counties into Shire-Ground IV. To explain Poynings Act that new Bills whilst the Irish Parliament sits may be transmitted into England for Approbation as well as if they had been sent before the Parliament met V. That Labourers or Cottiers shall not buy Horses more than is absolutely necessary VI. That the Owners of stolen Goods using their best Endeavours to prosecute the Felon shall be reprized out of the Felons Goods if they cannot get their own again VII That no Body shall make Aquavitae without Licence under the great Seal except Noblemen Gentlemen and Freemen of Towns that send Members to Parliament And it is to be noted That this Act which was designed to spare Corn and prevent a Dearth was necessary at that time Yet now the Kingdom is better improved and consequently abounds in Corn this Act though not repealed is become obsolete and a quite contrary Act viz. To encourage the Making and Exportation of Aquavitae would tend very much to the Advantage of Ireland In July the Lord Deputy made an Expedition against the O Maddens whose Country called Silanchia now the Barony of Longford in the County of Galway was last Year on the Murder of John O Madden divided between Malachy Modhar and the Murderer Brasil Duff the Deputy sent a Summons to the Castle of Melik but the valiant Warders not only boasted how stoutly they would defend it but also believing that every Summons was an Affront and as it were a Suspicion of their Courage they assured the Herald That it should not be safe for him to come with any more such Messages to them It is hardly credible That after all this Ostentation these Men of War should desert the Castle the very next Night however they certainly did so and the Lord Deputy placed a Garrison in it and returned On the tenth of August the Lord Deputy advanced into Vlster Ware 220. being accompanied by the Lords of Kildare Ormond Baltinglass Delvin Dnnboyne and Dunsany his Design was against the Scots but they sheltered themselves in the Woods and Bogs so that he did them no other Mischief than that he took some Preys however some of them were thereby perswaded to submit and Daniel Mac Conel and Richard Mac Guilliam received the Honour of Knighthood On the twenty second Day of October the Lord Deputy made another Journey into Vlster And on the twenty fourth day he came to Dundalk and on the twenty fifth he took a Prey and came to Armagh the Rebels still flying before him on the twenty seventh he burnt Armagh except the Church and marched to Newry and so on the thirtieth day of the same Month returned to Dublin And being ordered to attend the Queen in England he first obliged O Carol O Molloy Macgehogan O Doyne Mac Coughlan the two O Maddens and Fylemy Duff to gives Hostages of their Good Behaviour And then on the fourth of December he set sail for England leaving Hugh Curvin 1557. Lord Chancellor and Sir Henry Sydny Treasurer at Wars Lords Justices by Patent dated at Westminster the twelfth of November after they were censed and sprinkled with Holy Water and Mass was celebrated they were sworn at Christ-Church on Sunday the fifth of December and received the Sword from Sir John Stanly the Marshal with whom it was left to that Purpose and they continued in their Office until Sir Henry Sydny Ware 222. Lord Justice was sworn on the sixth of February by the Queen's Command and by virtue of a Commission bearing date the eighteenth day of January he attacked Arthur O Molloy Chief of Fercalia who was brewing new Treasons and favoured and cherished those that were in Rebellion But the Lord Deputy did soon over-run his Country and made Theobald O Molloy Governour thereof and took his Son for a Hostage of the Father's Fidelity and then by Cess in the Pale the Deputy furnished the Forts of Maryburgh and Philipsburgh with Victuals and returned to Dublin where he made Proclamation That no Corn should be carried out of the Pale In the mean time Shane O Neal invaded Tyrconnel designing to reduce it to the former Tribute and Dependance it paid to his House Calvagh O Donel being too weak to resist by Force betook himself to his Politicks and made an Essay by Night on the
Enemy's Camp and it succeeded according to his Desire for O Neal's Army being over-confident of their Numbers and despising the Weakness of their Adversaries had made no preparation to resist an Assault which they did not suspect and wanting such Scouts Out-guards and Centinels as Martial Discipline required and as was usual in all well-governed Armies they were easily surprized and defeated and Shane O Neal himself was forced to make use of his Heels As to Ecclesiastical Affairs there was a Provincial Synod held at Dublin Anno 1555 which made some Constitutions about the Rites and Ceremonies to be used in the Church and afterwards the Church-Goods and Ornaments were restored and particularly those belonging to the Churches of Dublin and Drogheda and although many Gleabs continued Lay-Fees during all the Reign of Queen Mary yet at the Request of Cardinal Poole her Majesty restored the Possessions of the Priory of Kilmainham and Oswal Messemberg was confirmed Prior by Patent dated the eighth of March 1557. but afterwards he fled beyond Seas and the Possessions of that Priory and of that Order in Ireland were by Act of Parliament annexed to the Crown in Queen Elizabeth's Reign There was also a Provincial Synod held at Drogheda this Year by Archbishop Dowdal and therein Leave was given to Husbandmen to work certain Days in Harvest The Lord Justice having on the twenty fifth Day of April received the Submission of O Reyly and his Fealty or Oath of Allegiance 1558. did on the twenty seventh surrender the Sword to Thomas Earl of Sussex Lord Deputy who brought over with him five hundred Soldiers and an Order to coyne Brass-Money and to make it currant by Proclamation which he did On the fourteenth of June he began his March to Munster against Daniel O Brian he came to Limerick and advanced forwards into Thomond he scattered the Rebels and took the Castles of Bunratty and Clare and then restored the Country to the Earl of Thomond who together with the Freeholders of that Country did on Sunday the tenth day of July swear on the Sacrament Lib. NNN and by all the Relicks of the Church as Book Bell and Candelight they are the very Words of the Herald's Certificate to continue Loyal to the Queen and to perform their Agreements with the Lord Deputy On the twenty first of June the Earl of Desmond made his Submission to the Deputy at Limerick and on the twenty sixth the Lord Deputy was God-father to the Earl's Son whom he named James Sussex and gave the Child a Chain of Gold and gave another Chain and Pair of gilt Spurs to Dermond Mac Carthy of Muskry whom he also knighted The Lord Deputy caused a Soldier to be nailed to a Post for drawing his Sword in the Camp contrary to Proclamation and then marched to Galway where he was well received especially by the Archbishop of Tuam and the Bishops of Clonfert and Clonmacnoise who with the Clergy met him in Procession On the fifteenth day of September the Lord Deputy shipped his Army at Dalky and sailed to Raghline and though he lost one Ship in the Storm yet he pursued his Design and took the Island and placed a Colony and a small Garrison in it and thence he invaded and wasted Cantire in Scotland Nor did the Islands of Aran and Comber escape the like Desolation and he intended as much against the Island of Ila but he was by ill Weather forced to put in at Carigfergus and so having burnt many Villages which were possest by the Scots in Vlster he returned to Dublin on the eighth day of November Sir Henry Sydny was sworn Lord Justice on the eighteenth of September by virtue of a Patent dated at Richmond the fourth of August and now when the Earl of Sussex return'd he was sworn anew on the tenth of November and had a new Patent bearing date the seventeenth day of August 1558. The Lord Deputy had a new Great Seal sent him out of England and also new Seals to the other three Courts which he delivered to the Lord Chancellor Chief Justices and Chief Baron in the Council Chamber and about the same time a Party of the Islander Scots that came into Connaught to the Assistance of one of the Burks was defeated by the Earl of Clanrickard and most of them slain And because the Author quotes the Most Reverend and Learned Primate Vsher and the Memorials of the Most Noble and Industrious Richard Earl of Cork for the following Story I will insert it verbatim as it is already printed in the Life of Archbishop Brown Queen Mary having dealt severely with the Protestants in England about the latter end of her Reign signed a Commission for to take the same Course with them in Ireland and to execute the same with greater Force she nominates Dr. Cole one of the Commissioners Sending the Commission by this Doctor who in his Journey coming to Chester the Mayor of that City hearing that her Majesty was sending a Messenger into Ireland and he being a Church-Man waited on the Doctor who in discourse with the Mayor taketh out of a Cloak-Bag a Leather-Box saying unto him Here is a Commission that shall lash the Hereticks of Ireland calling the Protestants by that Title the good Woman of the House being well affected to the Protestant Religion and also having a Brother named John Edmunds of the same then a Citizen in Dublin was much troubled at the Doctor 's Words but watching her convenient time whilst the Mayor took his Leave and the Doctor complementing him down the Stairs she opens the Box and takes the Commission out placing in lieu thereof a Sheet of Paper with a Pack of Cards the Knave of Clubs faced uppermost wrap up The Doctor coming up to his Chamber suspecting nothing of what had been done put up the Box as formely The next day going to the Water-side Wind and Weather serving him he sails towards Ireland and landed on the seventh of October 1558. at Dublin then coming to the Castle the Lord Fitz-Walters being Lord Deputy sent for him to come before him and the Privy Council who coming in after he had made a Speech relating upon what account he came over he presents the Box unto the Lord Deputy who causing it to be opened that the Secretary might read the Commission there was nothing save a Pack of Cards with the Knave of Clubs uppermost which not only startled the Lord Deputy and Council but the Doctor who assured them He had a Commission but knew not how it was gone Then the Lord Deputy made answer Let us have another Commission and we will shuffle the Cards in the mean while The Doctor being troubled in Mind went his way and returned into England and coming to the Court obtained another Commission but staying for a Wind at the Water-side News came unto him That the Queen was dead And thus God preserved the Protestants in Ireland This Queen died on the seventeenth day of
Miles long and 48 Miles broad without the Loss of one Man in Battle The Army being dissolved at Athlone the Deputy took care to place Garrisons in the Frontiers of the Pale And it was well he did for soon after the Deputy's Return O Neal in ostentation of his Power invaded the Pale and wasted the Country with Fire and Sword and at length besieged Dundalk but was again repulsed with Shame and Loss In the mean time the Deputy had ruined O Neal without much fighting for he not only deprived him of the great Tract of Land aforesaid but also of many of his Dependences particularly of Macguire a great Man in that Country also Alexander xge and Mac Donel and the Scots offered their Service against him on the one side as O Donel did on the other Nor was Turlogh Lynagh less troublesome to him than the rest Besides there were four Regiments in the Frontiers that daily infested him and the Deputy who in Person made many Incursions into O Neal's Country and continued about the Borders of the Pale to that intent on the thirtieth day of December issued out of Tredagh Irish Stat. 235 and took a Prey of two thousand Cows and five hundred Garrons so that O Neal was distressed on every side and brought to so low a Condition that he once designed to come with a Halter about his Neck and submit to the Deputy But partly his Guilt and partly the Advice of his Friends and the Hopes he had to perswade the Scots to his Aid diverted him from that Resolution and engaged him in a Journey to Clandeboy where Alexander Oge and six hundred Scots lay encamped And the more to ingratiate himself with them he enlarged Surly Buy Alexander's Brother whom he had for some time kept Prisoner but the Scots were as fly as he and pretended very fair to him Cambd. 121. till they had got him and O Donel's Wife and their Attendants into their Power and then in Revenge of the Death of the aforesaid James Mac Conel and the Injuries he had done the Scots anno 1564. and in Expectation of a Reward from the State they fell upon and murdered Shane O Neal and all his Company on the twenty second of June 1567. and sent his Head to the Deputy 1567. pickled in a Pipkin and it was afterwards set upon a Pole on the Top of the Castle of Dublin This Shane O Neal was a cunning subtil Man in his way but he could not write or speak English but very Imperfectly Hooker 113. he was so great a Sot that he had at once two Hundred Tun of Wine in his Cellar at Dundrun whereof and of Vsquebagh he would drink to that excess that to cool him he would be put into a Pit Cambd. Eliz. 106. and the Earth cast round him up to his Chin and so he remain'd as it were buried alive till his Body were in better Temper This Shane O Neal is recorded to be the proudest Man upon Earth he pretended to be King of Vlster and had six hundred Armed Men for his Guard and had ready for the Field four thousand Foot and a thousand Horse he trained up his Tenants to the Use of Weapons and claimed a Superiority over all the Lords in Vlster But we must look back to the Year 1566 and we shall find That the Earl of Desmond notwithstanding the Defeat given him by the Earl of Ormond by Drumelin continued his Outrages so that about Christmas the L. Deputy received Orders from the Queen grounded upon the complaints of the E. of Ormond that he should immediately march into Munster and take some course with the Earl of Desmond and accordingly the Lord Deputy marched in January with some Troops for his Guard and staid three Months in Munster and having heard the Complaints made against the Earl of Desmond and his Defence he adjudged the Matter against that Earl and made an Order that Desmond should make amends for the Trespasses he had committed which Desmond refusing to do the Deputy had him apprehended and imprisoned at Kilmallock and by the help of three hundred Citizens from Limerick had him safely conveyed to that City where he was Indicted of High Treason for Levying War against the Queen and his Brother John was Knighted and made Seneschal of Desmond and for a while behaved himself so well that in three Months time he made reparation to the People his Brother the Earl had injured to the value of three thousand Pounds nevertheless the Earl of Ormond was not pleased with this Preferment of Sir John Desmond as one who plainly foresaw that he would in time prove as troublesom as his Brother But the Lord Deputy being tired with the Complaints of Oliver Sutton a Gentleman of the Pale against the Earl of Kildare and others and the Accusations preferred by the Lady of Dunboyn Mac Brian Ara Oliver Fitz Girald and others against Sir Edmond Butler and Pierce his Brother was an earnest Suitor That a Lord Chancellor fitly qualified might be sent over to determine some of those Differences and accordingly Dr. Weston Dean of the Arches was made Lord Chancellor and arrived at Dublin in July 1567. and executed that Office to the great ease of the Lord Deputy and to the satisfaction of the People He also brought Letters advising the Lord Deputy to take care that Shane O Neal's Son who was Hostage for his Father's Loyalty should be safely kept in the Castle of Dublin which now upon the Death of Shane was diligently observed The Lord Deputy sent a Messenger to the English Garrisons with the News of Shane O Neal's Death and immediately marched to Vlster and incamped in the Heart of the Country and there Turlogh Lynogh and the rest of the Competitors for the Captainry of Tirone came to him and made their Submissions and most of the Gentry of Vlster did the like And so the Deputy having setled that Province as well as was possible after many pithy Exhortations to Peace and Obedience and a Promise to send Commissioners amongst them to decide all Controversies except those relating to Homicide and Free-hold he returned to Dublin with the applause of the People and at Dublin he received the Submission of the O Reylyes by Indenture on the twenty eighth of November and about the same time beautified the Castle of Dublin with stately additional Buildings which yet remain But howsoever these good Services were relished in Ireland where the Fruits of them were felt and perceived yet in England they were so little regarded that no mention was made of them in any of the Publick Dispatches but on the contrary the Publick Letters to the Deputy were full of Reprimands and sharp Reflections because of the Insolencies of the Earl of Desmond and therefore the Lord Deputy did endeavour his own Revocation and at length prevailed to get Licence to go for England he carried with him the Earl of Desmond the Baron of
his Excommunication against Queen Elizabeth and as Mr. Sullevan says pag. 70. deservedly deprived her of her Kingdoms we must not expect any more quiet during her Reign but that the bigotted Rebels like Virginal Jacks will start up one after another to disturb the Government of the Heretick Queen and to rescue themselves from the English Laws and the Protestant Religion which are the two things they chiefly hated and abhorred In Munster they met with their Match Sir John Perrot the President was one that knew them well he had experienced that they were like nettles which stung most when they were gently handled and therefore he squeezed them to purpose and so haunted them from one fastness to another 1571. that he gave them no rest so that in a little time he brought James Fitz Maurice himself who was the most valiant and most zealous of all the Confederates to submit simply to Mercy without any Conditions and on his Knees at Kilmallock to confess and lament all his Disloyalties and the Lord President by keeping Itinerant Courts of Justice and using necessary Severity soon brought Munster to that pass that the white Sheep kept the black and the Traveller might safely keep his Road without Arms or Company he also forced the Irish to conform to English Habit and to leave off several of their barbarous Customs and Fashions and he also brought the Irish Lords to contribute to the charge of the War So that on the twenty sixth day of September 1571. Lib. L. The following Lords and Gentlemen Covenanted with him to supply their respective Quota's for six Months viz.  Hor. Shot Gallowgl Kern Mac Cartymore 6 24 126 100 The Lord Barry 6 10 030 020 Mac Carty riah 8 10 040 050 Sr. Donough Mac Teige of Muscry 6 10 020 040 The Lord Courcy 2 04 006 008 Mac Donough 4 08 020 030 And the Earl of Glencar was to command them and in his Absence the Lord Barry they were to divide what Preys they should get proportionably with respect to their Contribution and if there should be need of it they were obliged to encrease their Forces It happened once Hooker 134. that Captain George Bourchier third Son to the Earl of Bath who served under Sir John Perrot in Munster was invited to a Gentlemans Castle to Supper under pretence of Parly and to use Bourchier's Mediation for his Pardon The Captain not at all suspecting any Treachery went thither according to the Invitation but the Perfidious Host thinking that the President would give him better Conditions for Bourchier's Liberty than he would for his Intercession detained him Prisoner and hand-locked him for some time and probably until he obtained his Pardon and what else he desired The Lord-Deputy received Letters of the thirteenth of December giving him leave to return to England and ordering him to substitute in his Place his Brother-in-Law Sir William Fitz Williams and accordingly he did set Sail on the 24th day of March and left Sir William Fitz Williams Lord Justice who was Sworn in April 1572. in St. Patricks Church in Dublin and in January following had a new Commission to be Lord Deputy In his time Brian Mac Cahir Cavenagh was very unruly and under pretence of revenging some Injuries done him by Robert Brown of Malrenkam Hooker 135. he killed Brown and insulted over all his Neighbours but Sir Nicholas Devereux and the People of Wexford not enduring his Insolence resolved upon their own Defence and at length it came to a smart Skirmish wherein thirty Gentlemen of Devereux's side were slain but about two Years after Brian submitted to the Government and was Pardoned and became a follower to Sir Peter Carew and was not only Faithful to him but also loved him to that degree that on Sir Peter's Death Brian pined away and in a little time died also he was the honestest and bravest of all the Cavenaghs and was a younger Son of Cahir Mac Art who was made a Baron for Life by King Henry the Eighth Conaught was disordered by the troublesome Sons of the Earl of Clanrickard Hooker 135. who could by no means endure the severe Government of Sir Edward Fitton President of Conaught and therefore broke out into Rebellion and hired one Thousand Scots to their Assistance The Earl himself was then Prisoner in Dublin and desired Liberty to suppress his Sons and quiet the Country and by advice of the Council it was granted him but he did not perform what he had promised however the same thing was in a great measure effected by a stupendious Victory obtained by Captain Collier who with one Company of Foot defeated and killed most part of the thousand Auxiliary Scots Camb. Eâ—iz 502. The Earl of Kildare for a certain sum to be paid by the Queen had undertaken to prosecute the O Mores and to defend the Pale against them but he did not so effectually perform it but that the O Mores Cambd. Eliz. 201. assisted by the O Connors made several Incursions into the Pale and burnt Athloan and did abundance of Mischief and in Vlster Bryan Mac Fylemy took and burnt Carrigfergus and to these Misfortunes was added a greater than either of them by the Death of the Lord Chancellor Weston on the twentieth day of May 1573. 1573. On the ninth of July the Queen granted unto Walter Devereux who not long before was made Earl of Essex the Moyety of the Signiories of Clandeboy Ferny c. And the Earl was by Indenture obliged to go thither before Michaelmas with two hundred Horse and four hundred Foot and to maintain them for two years and afterwards he was to keep as many Soldiers as the Queen should keep for the Defence of her Moyety not exceeding six hundred and no more and it was agreed that for the first two years the Queen would likewise keep two hundred Horse and four hundred Foot under the Command of the Earl and that every Horse-man Voluntier that will serve gratis for two years shall have four hundred Acres of Land and a Foot-Soldier two hundred Acres at two pence an Acre Quit-Rent and if any of them die within two year the Heir may supply his room in six Months It was farther agreed between them That necessary Fortifications should be made at the equal Charge of the Queen and the Earl and afterwards division should be made by Commissioners and 〈◊〉 division each might for twenty years build on her or his respective share as they pleased And the Earl was to have Timber out of Killulta Woods and might for seven years transport the growth of the Country without paying Custom and for twelve years more should pay no more Custom than is paid in England and he had liberty to transport Arms Money and all Necessaries out of England Custom-free giving notice thereof to the Officers of the Ports Each might dispose of five thousand Acres as they please but more than that quantity
was not to be given to Irish or Scots The Earl was to be Captain-General for seven years and was to plant his Part as well as the Queen should hers until there should be a thousand English Inhabitants on each Moyety And so being made Earl-Marshal of Ireland he set about the necessary Preparations for his Irish Voyage and to that end borrowed ten thousand Pounds of the Queen on a Mortgage of his Lands in Essex But the Lord Deputy being unwilling to have any body independent on him in that Kingdom especially so great a man cloathed with such a large Authority and accompanied with such considerable Forces gave all the opposition he could to this Noble Undertaking of the Earls until at length this Medium was found out That the Earl of Essex should take a Commission from the Lord Deputy to be Governor of Vlster wherewith both Parties were satisfied or at least they acquiesced in the Expedient In the mean time Mr. Edward Tremain was sent over to the Lord Deputy 1. To know why he desired so earnestly to return to England Lib. c. 2. To enquire what was the yearly Charge of that Kingdom what number of Men in Pay and how disposed of when any were disbanded or dead and when their rooms supplied and how many more there be than was appointed in March was twelve-month 3. To know what has been received of the Impost of Wines since Michaelmas last and what is in Arrear and if he could not discover it then to move the Deputy to certifie the Quantum of each 4. To know of the Deputy and Lord President in what state Munster is and how to be preserv'd 5. To know what is done or intended to be done with Desmond and his Brother John and how their Creditors in England shall be paid 6. To enquire how Connaught stands and how the Castles of Athlone and Roscomon are and the condition of the Earl of Thomond and Clanrickard and his Sons 7. To enquire into the Outrage committed against Sir Barnaby Fitz Patrick and the taking away his Wife and Children and how the Offenders are punished and how the Birns and Cavenaghs stand affected 8. To tell the Deputy that the Earl of Essex with two thousand Men will in August next come to inhabit the forfeited Lands in the Glins Routs and Clandeboy that in the mean time the Deputy guard the Frontiers of the Pale that way and Publish that Essex comes to repel the Scots and not to hurt the Irish 9. To tell the Deputy not to raise more Forces but if his Ormond's and Kildare's Forces are not sufficient against the O Mores and Connors to borrow two or three hundred from Essex for that Expedition and pay them 10. To preserve the Corn c. in the Ardes till Essex comes 11. To know why he gave Commission to Sir John Perrot to sell Marul's Ship wherein was Goods of all Nations The English had a very hopeful Prospect of the Earl of Essex's undertaking in Vlster so that many Persons of Quality and abundance of Gentlemen concerned themselves in the Expedition The Lords Darcy and Rich Sir Henry Knowles and four of his Brothers Michael Carves and his Brother John and Henry William and John three Sons of the Lord Norris and many others accompanied the Earl in this Voyage and they Landed together at Carrigfergus in the latter end of August 1573 and assoon as they Landed Bryan Mac Phelimy waited on the Earl and in most submissive manner tendred his Duty to the Queen and his Service to Essex but assoon as he perceived that the Earl's Forces were not so considerable as was reported he presently apostatized and joyned in Rebellion with Turlogh Lynogh About the same time or rather a year sooner Sir Thomas Smith sent his Natural Son together with one Chatterton to make a Plantation in the Ardes Cambd. Eliz. 190. but young Smith was murdered by Neal Bryan Artho who was afterwards killed by Sir Nicholas Malby and so that Design became unsuccessful and the Earl did not speed much better for after the Expence of much Treasure and a years time he returned to England This year the Money sent by the Queen into Ireland Lib. H. since she came to the Crown was computed and it amounted to four hundred and ninety thousand seven hundred and seventy nine Pounds seven shillings and six pence halfpeny and the Revenue of Ireland in the same period of time came to no more than one hundred and twenty thousand Pounds It is reported of Bryan Mac Fylemy that he had thirty thousand Cows besides other Cattel and it is certain that the Lord Rich within a Month after he came to Ireland returned to England on his private Occasions and Henry Knolls was by Sickness forced to do the like and many others upon frivolous Pretences left the Earl of Essex and went back to England Cambd. Eliz. 202. besides his Soldiers were raw and it was late in the Year and his Commission was not yet sent him being purposely delayed by the Deputy so that all these and some other Difficulties concurr'd to make Essex's Expedition unfortunate Nevertheless he took the Castle of Liffer from Con O Doâ—el and in a Skirmish he killed two hundred Irish and took Bryan Mac Fylemy and his Wife and his Brother Rory Oge Prisoners In the mean time 1574. the Earl of Desmond notwithstanding his Oath to be a true Prisoners made his escape out of the Castle of Dublin whereupon the Deputy marched into Munster to prevent new Coâ—â—â—otions and ordered the Earl of Essex to guard the Borders of Vlster which very much hindred his Progress in building Fortifications in Clandeboy however he obeyed and at length the Earl of Desmond was prevailed upon to reconcile himself to the Government Sir Henry Sydny 1575. Lord Deputy arrived on the twelfth of September and was sworn on the eighteenth at Tredagh to which Place he went directly from the Skyrries because the Plague raged in Dublin It is observable of this great and good man that although he did most excellent Service in Ireland yet he was but ill rewarded for it in England and therefore he was with great difficulty prevailed with to accept the Government this seventh and last time for as he expressed himself in his Letter he cursed hated and detested Ireland above all other Countries not that he had any dislike of the Country but that it was most difficult to do any Service there where a Man must struggle with Famine and Fastnesses inaccessible Bogs and light-footed Tories and yet when these and all other Difficulties were surmounted no Service in the world was less reputed valued or requited than that and it is farther remarkable of him that though he was four times Lord Justice and three times Lord Deputy of Ireland yet he never purchased a Foot of Land in that Kingdom The Lord Deputy's Instructions were to find means to pay the Queens Debts if possible
and to grant Leix and Offaly to English Undertakers Lib. H. and the Queen promised him that besides the Irish Revenue twenty thousand Pounds per annum should be punctally remitted him out of England quarterly And Sydny undertook for that Sum to fortifie Carrigfergus and to build some Bridges and to keep the whole Kingdom in Subjection The Lord Deputy found Vlster in a Flame Surleboy had assaulted Carrigfergus and kill'd Captain Baker and forty Men and though by the Valour of the rest of the Garrison the Scots were repelled and the Prey rescued yet this small Victory gave the Rebels such Reputation that the Lord Deputy found it necessary to leave the Custody of the Pale with certain Gentlemen of Note and to march with his small Army of six hundred Men into Vlster he found all the Country ruined except the Newry where Marshal Bagnal dwelt and the Glins and Routs 〈…〉 which Surleboy and the Scots possest and some part of Killultagh but it happened luckily that Turlogh Lynogh and Surleboy could not agree so that they came to Blows with various and alternate Success Hereupon both Parties address'd themselves to the Lord Deputy who finding Turlogh to be more high and extravagant in his Demands than the other came to an Agreement with Surleboy which was followed by the Submission of Mac Mahon and one of the Macguires And O Donel and the Chief of the Macguires did also by their Letters offer to pay their Rents and Services due to the Queen by former Agreements provided they might be secured under the Queens Protection and be delivered from the Exactions of O Neal. By these Means and the diligent prosecution of the War against him Turlogh Lynogh was reduced to extremity so that first he sent his Wife a well bred Lady Aunt to the Earl of Argile to the Lord Deputy at Armagh who in her Husband's behalf Petitioned him that Turlogh might be Nobilitated and his Estate setled by Law that so for the future he might live in order in the sence of his Duty and Gratitude to her Majesty but whilst these things were under consideration Turlogh himself without any previous Provision for his Security came to the Lord Deputy and submitted simply without Capitulation or Conditions and so having staid two days he had liberty to return home Vlster being thus quieted the Lord Deputy Marched to Dublin and having setled things there he visited Leinster and found the County of Kildare almost waste and the King's County and Queens County groaned under the Tyranny of Rory Oge but by the perswasions of the Earl of Ormond Rory came to the Lord Deputy and publickly made his Submission in the Church of Kilkenny The Lord Deputy was very well received by the Townsmen of Kilkenny and nobly treated by the Earl of Ormond but while he staid there he received the unhappy News of Sir Peter Carew's Death to whose Burial at Waterford on the fifteenth of December the Lord Deputy was invited and went This Sir Peter Carew whose Ancestors had been Marquesses of Cork Lib. F. laid claim to a mighty Estate in Munster being half of the ancient Kingdom of Cork viz. Imokilly Trybarry Muskry Kinalea Trycoursy Carbry Kinalmeaky Collymore Collybeg Ivagh Synnagh O Donovan Wintervary Bantry Bear Clandonough Cleighboigh Iveragh Kirricurry Clanmorris Iraghticonnor Duhallow and Coshbride And he sent his Agent John Hooker to Cork Hooker 13â— where he had a solemn meeting with Mac Carty Riagh Cormock Mac Teige of Muskry Barry Oge O Mahon O Driscoll O Daly and others and they made this Proposal that they would advance three Thousand Kine with Sheep Hogs and Corn proportionable for the present and that if Sir Peter would live amongst them they would annually pay what should be reasonable and to his good liking whereupon Hooker did take a House for Sir Peter at Cork and another at Kingsale but as Sir Peter was going that way he died on his Journey at Ross in the County of Wexford the 27th day of November 1575. The Lord Deputy was magnificently received and treated at Waterford and from thence he marched to Dungarvan where the Earl of Desmond met him and so by easy Journeys they went together to Cork and there he stayed six Weeks during which time the Soldiers for half their Pay had Lodging Diet and Firing to their content and without the grumbling of the Citizens The Earls of Thomond and Glencar and the principal Gentry of the Province came to wait on the Lord Deputy at Cork and there they kept their Christmass and as soon as that was over the Lord Deputy began his Sessions and sat in Court almost every day from the seventh day of January to the one and thirtieth Condom and a younger Son of the Lord Roch were Condemned and though they were Reprieved yet there were twenty three other notorious Malefactors Executed and the better to discover Vagabonds and Tories every Gentlemen was commanded to give in a List of his Dependants and to answer for them and Proclamation was made That every Iâ—ler that was not named in one of those Lists should be punished as a Felon and a Vagabond to which the Irish Lords and Gentlemen gave their Consents with seeming Joy and every one of them gave in Pledges of his Loyalty to the Lord Deputy Whilst the Deputy was at Cork he had information of the Disloyalty of the Seneschal of Imokilly and of the Depredations and Violences he daily committed and thereupon being attended by two Hundred Citizens of Cork besides his own Forces the Deputy marched to Ballymarter and took that strong Castle and had taken Fitz Girald himself but that he narrowly escaped through a Hole in the dead of the Night There was abundance of Victuals found in the Castle besides other things of value but all the Spoil was given to the Soldiers and so a Garrison of twenty Men under Jasper Horsy being left in the Castle the Lord Deputy returned to Cork The Lord Deputy was so well pleased with Sir Cormack Mac Teige of Muscry that he gave him this Character in a Letter of his sent to England That for his Loyalty and Civil disposition he was the rarest Man that ever was born of the Irishy and in another Letter to the Lords of the Council he observes that the Lord Poer lived more plentifully than those that had far more Land and that his barren Land yielded more Rent than the richer soil of Kilkenny and Decyes and the reason was because he kept his Territory in order and free from Idlers and Vagabonds whereas on the contrary the Lord of Decyes was scarce able to subsist because his Country harboured more bad Men than it fed good Cattle From Cork the Deputy went to Limerick where he was entertained with more Pomp than any where else there he kept Sessions and observed the same Methods as he did at Cork and then he marched into Thomond which formerly belonged to the English Lords of Clare
Villages 1577. and yet by help of his Intelligence which was very good he made a shift to escape the diligent Pursuit that was made after him by 〈◊〉 Captains Harrington and Coâ—by One day a Parly being appointed between them on 〈◊〉 Oaths the perfidious Rebel seiz'd upon Harrington and Cosby handâ—asted them together and made them 〈◊〉 after him 〈◊〉 a couple of 〈◊〉 through Woods and Boggâ— in continual fear of Death at length an Agreement was almost concluded when Robert Harpool Constable of Carâ—â—â— accompanied by Lieuâ— Parker and fifty Men having good intelligence went to the Place where Rory Oge 〈◊〉 Rory surprized with the Noise and suspecting the worst went to his Prisoners Harrington and Cosby and gave them many Wounds and cut off Cosby's little â—inger but being in the dark and in haste it so hapned that none of the Wounds were mortal 〈…〉 English having entred the House I released Harrington and Cosby and killed all the rest◠〈◊〉 Rory Oge and one more escaped in the dark and could not be found Soon after Rory Oge assembled all his strength together and came to 〈◊〉 early in the Morning burnt some Houses and 〈…〉 him and killed seventeen of his best Men and Rory himself hardly escaped In the mean time the Lord Deputy 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 and thither came to him 〈…〉 and renewed his former Subâ—ission he brought with him to the Town four hundred Pound in Money and thought it much to his Glory that he and his Followers spent 〈…〉 three days time and so having received some small Presents from the Deputy he returned joyfully 〈◊〉 In December the Deputy 〈◊〉 into the Kingâ— County and took Pledge◠〈…〉 held Sessions at Kilkenny where several 〈…〉 the City and Country were discovered to be 〈…〉 Popish â—uries would not find the Indictments although the Parties confessed the 〈◊〉 some of them were bound by Recognizance to appear at the Castle Chamber in Dublin to answer that 〈◊〉 To Kilkenny came the 〈◊〉 President 〈◊〉 to complain 〈◊〉 Desmond kept 〈…〉 which oppressed the Country and 〈…〉 President The Deputy 〈◊〉 for Desmond and 〈◊〉 immediately came and excused his not coming to the President because he was his 〈◊〉 Enemy but the Lord Deputy so manag'd it that they were reconciled and the 〈◊〉 promised due Obedience And so cunningly did that 〈◊〉 dissemble that he sent the Lord President word of the Arrival of a 〈…〉 with many French and Irish Men 〈…〉 and Munster in 〈…〉 In the Month of December 〈…〉 Son whereupon great and cruel 〈…〉 ensue between 〈…〉 at length their Controversies were referr'd to the Deputy About the same time some of the 〈◊〉 Followers were suspected to be 〈…〉 sent for to be 〈…〉 to surrender them 〈…〉 to be tried but also joyned with the rest of the Lords and Free-holders of Connaughâ— to settle a certain annual Rent amounting to about eighteen hundred Pounds 〈◊〉 by way of Composition Morison 3. and in lieu of all other Services But we must return again to that indefatigable Rebel Rory Oge who sent a Spy to inâ—â—â— Fitz-Patrick Lord of Upper Ossory 1578. the Messenger personating a Friend told that Lord That Rory Oge had taken a Prey from the County of Kilkenny which might easily be recovered and Rory himself taken Fitz-Patrick prepares for the Enterprize but wisely suspecting the worst made his Party as strong as he could and being come to the Place he sent thirty Men into the Wood to search for the Tories and himself and the rest of his Party kept on the Plain Rory Oge with about thirty appeared leaving the rest in Ambush and being proud and conceited thought with his Presence to frightâ—n Fitz-Patrick's Keins but he found them more valiant for they fought stoutly and amongst the rest slew Rory-Oge himself on the last day of June 1578. And though the Deputy offered the valiant Baron the thousand Marks due by Proclamation for Rory's Head yet he would take but one hundred Pounds thereof to be divided amongst his Men. In the mean time Philip King of Spain being vexed at the Aid which Queen Elizabeth under-hand gave to the Hollanders Cambd. Eliz. 230. resolved to requite her with the like secret Assistance to the Irish and the holy Father Gregory the Thirteenth partly to propagate Religion and partly to obtain that Kingdom of Ireland for his Son James Buon Campagno whom he had made Marquess of Vinâ—ola was willing to contribute to the Charge of the Irish Rebellion Wherefore they confederated and agreed to joyn Forces and Councils and to send Aid to Ireland under the Command of Stukely an English Fugitive who by his extravagant Boasting had raised the Pope's expectation to the greatest height wherefore to qualifie him for so high a Command Stukely was made Marquess of Leinster Earl of Wexford and Catherlogh Viscount Murrough and Baron of Ross and furnished with eight hundred Soldiers with which he set Sail from Civita Vecchia and arrived in Portugal Sebastian King of Portugal was at that time intent on his Wars in Africk and promised Stukely that if he would attend him into Mauritania that then he would immediately after the Africk War accompany Stukely to Ireland The Irish General agrees and to Africk they go where they were killed in the famous Battel wherein three Kings are said to be slain The Viscount Baltinglass whose real trouble was Religion and the Cess pretends great Oppression from Marshal Malby and his Soldiers one Night they lay at Baltinglass when they went against Rory Oge the Viscount made a formal Complaint to the Deputy and did the like to the Queen by Letters sent to the Earl of Ormond and communicated to her Whereupon her Majesty gave strict Order to examine the Matter and it was sound that Malby at coming to Baltinglass had made Proclamation against Oppression and at parting thence made Proclamation for those to come in for reparation that had any cause 〈◊〉 Complaint and so this Matter ended to the Disgrace of the Viscount In Vister Mac Mahon had committed a barbarous Murder on the Son and Heir of Maâ—genis and therefore at Maâ—genis his Complaint and Request the Deputy marched into Mac Mahon's Country and burnt and destroyed it And so this good Lord Deputy having been eleven years and seven several times Chief Governor of Ireland leaves that unfortunate Country in greater Quiet than ever it had been in before having first caused the Irish Statutes to be Printed and the Records to be put in good Method and Order he beautified the Castle of Dublin anno 1571 repaired Aâ—henry built the Bridge of Athlona which opened a Passage into Connaught he began to wall Oarrig fâ—rgus he built a Gaol at Molingar and in his time the Revenue was increased eleven thousand Pounds but finding all these Services under valued he laboured to be 〈◊〉 and had Orders of the twentieth of March to return but they were superâ—eded by Letters of the nineteenth of
other that will covet the said Earl's Inheritance In witness whereof that this is our Counsel to the said Earl we have hereunto put our Hands the 18th of July 1578. Garret Desmond Thomas Lixnaw John Desmond John Fitz James Rory Mac Shehey Morrogh O Bryan Moriarta Mac Bryan of Loncorthe Fa K. E Fa D. K. B Theobald Burk Daniel O Brian Richard Burk John Brown Daniel Mac Canna of Dumbrain James Russell Richard Fitz Edmund Girald Vlick Mac Thomas of Ballincarrigy Vlick Burk John Fitz William of Karnederry Teig O Heyn of Chairely Nevertheless the Earl dissembled the Matter and temporized for a long time he was building a Castle when the news first came of James's Arrival and immediately he discharged the Workmen and pretending to oppose the Spaniards he sent to Mac Carthy More to summon him to assist him Mac Carthy came accordingly and shewed himself forward in the Matter but as soon as he discovered Desmond's Inclinations he took his leave and returned Nevertheless the Earl of Desmond at the perswasion of Captain Appesly was against his Will obliged to remove to Askeaton however he suffered and secretly encouraged many of his Followers to go over to the Spaniards but that did not satisfie them for when they found themselves disappointed of those great Aids that were promised them their Courage began to abate and they entertained Thoughts of returning home and undoubtedly they had done so but that James Fitz Maurice kept up their Spirits by large Promises of speedy Assistance and in order to procure it he undertook a Journey to Connaught but pretended only to go in Pilgrimage to pay his Devotions to the Holy Cross in Typerary he took with him four Horse and twelve Kerns and being come into Burk's Country in the County of Limerick Cambd. Eliz. 237. and wanting a Horse he ordered his Men to take the first they met with which they did out of a Plow of Burk's the Plowmen raise the Hue-and-Cry whereupon Sir William Burk's Sons pursued them and at length overtook them Headed by Fitz Morris with whom their Father had formerly joined in Rebellion Fitz Morris immediately calls out Coz Theodore Two Garons shall make no Breach between you and I I hope you will do as I do Burk replied He had too much of Rebellion already and had sworn the contrary and therefore would have his Horses Fitz Morris thought it dishonourable to part with what he had gotten and so to Skirmish they go which was brisk enough and ended in the slaughter of both of them Fitz Morris was quartered at Kilmallock and Sir William Burk was afterwards made Baron of Castleconnel with Joy whereof he died Upon notice that James Fitz Maurice and the Spaniards were arrived the Lord Deputy with the Army which was but four hundred Foot and two hundred Horse marched to Munster accompanied by the Marshal Bagnal Malby Wingfeild Waterhouse Fitton Masterson and others of that sort and by the Lords of Kildare Moungarret Upper Ossory and Dunboyn who brought two hundred Horse of their own besides Kern when they came to Kilmallock the Deputy sent Messengers for the Earl of Desmond and some others whom he suspected Desmond after much lingring and many vain excuses came to the Camp well attended but some of his tricks being discovered he was committed to Prison and thereupon being fearful lest all his secret Treasons and Combinations might be unravelled he so passionately humbled himself to the Deputy that upon the renewal of his oath of Allegiance he was set at Liberty In the mean time his Brother Sir John Desmond was at the head of the Rebels and encamped near Sleavelogher but the Deputy quickly feased them thence and having divided his small Army into three Parts he pursued the Irish so close that he often lay in the place where they had lain the night before nevertheless he could never overtake these light footed Enemies and therefore having destroyed the Forage he returned to Kilmallock and Encamped at Gibbings-Town and continued nine Weeks marching up and down thereabouts with very great toil but to no great purpose Only the Captains Herbert and Price being detached with two hundred Men did some Execution on the Rebels at a place called the Blackwood But in their return homeward they were surprized by an Ambush of Sir John Desmond's and themselves and most of their Company slain without any great dammage to the Irish saving that their Commander Sir John Desmond was wounded in the Nose But the Army being recruited by the arrival of the Captains 1579. Bourchier Carew and Dowdall with six hundred Men to Waterford and of Sir John Perrot with six Ships to Cork the Deputy made another incursion into Connilo but could not meet with the Rebels and so finding himself Sick he left the Army with Sir Nicholas Malby and retired to Waterford and having Knighted Bourchier Stanly Carew More Pelham Gorge Perrot and Walsh he died the last day of September 1579. The Earl of Desmond continued his Profession of Loyalty and pretended to act separately but would not by any means venture himself in the Camp or in any walled Town however he sent his only Son to be a hostage of his fidelity and the Countess brought the Child to the Deputy a little before his Death During the Interval between the Deputies sickness and the Election of a new one the Marshal Malby managed the Army which consisted of nine hundred Foot and an hundred and fifty Horse whereof he left fifty Horse and three hundred Foot with Captain Bourchier at Killmallock and marched with the rest to refresh them at Limerick After they had a little Rest the Marshal made an incursion into Connilo Cambd. Eliz. 338. and at Monaster Neva about nine Miles from Limerick he met with Sir John of Desmond and two Thousand Rebels and it came to a Battle wherein the Irish behaved themselves valiantly and with great resolution received the first and second Charge however they could not forget the known Maxim of some Men That if the Enemy wont run they will and therefore at the third Charge their Stomachs came down and their General Sir John was as nimble as any of them to shelter himself in a Bog however he left two hundred and sixty of his Myrmidons behind him who were killed upon the Spot and amongst them the famous Legat Doctor Allen. The Earl of Desmond and the Lord of Kerry from a little Hill hard by were the Melancholy Spectators of this Battle and although Desmond did the next day send a Messenger to Malby to congratulate his Victory and had put in his Son as a pledge for his Loyalty and although the Lord of Kerry's Son Patrick was a sworn Officer to the Queen in England and was now come over by her Majesties Leave only to see his Father and although all of them are of the noble Family of Fitz Girald and consequently of English Extraction yet they were so bigotted with sensless
their Bond men wherein we are to desire you to take part with us according at you are bound by Conscience and by Nature to defend your Country And if you be afraid we should shrink from you after you should enter this Cause you shall understand that we took this Matter in hand with great Authority both from the Popes Holiness and from King Philip who do undertake to further us in our Affairs as we shall need Wherefore you shall not need to fear to take one part of it and be assured we will never agree with none of your Adversaries without your Consent and this our Letter shall be a sufficient Warrant for the same Newcastle Novemb. 29. 1579. Besides the Nonsence and Illiterature appearing in this Letter is it not prodigious that Fitz-Girald an English Man should rail against his own Nation and think that to be the worst of Faults which was most inseparable from him the Foundation of his greatness viz. his extraction or that he who held his Estate by English Laws and Patents should so insist upon his Possession as to forget his Title and by a stupid Contradiction look upon the English as Usurpers whilst he himself had no other Right But he who could fancy that any Authority in Ireland could be derived from King Philip might swallow impossibilities and without fear or wit run into destruction as he did In the mean time the Lord General Ormond invaded Connilogh December to which Place Desmond was again returned but did not at all expect that Attack so that most of the Inhabitants were surprized and either killed or taken Prisoners and the Villages were either plundered or burnt the Earl was like to be surprized at Newcastle and very narrowly escaped And not long after Ormond had a Brush with the Seneschal of Connilogh and though Ormond got the better yet he lost many of his Soldiers and therefore in revenge he burnt all the Country about Lefinnen and then marched to Cork and in the way he took a Prey of fifteen hundred Cows and brought them thither At Cork Ormond disposed of his Army into Garrisons and then went to Cashel having by the way taken the Mayor of Youghal who had formerly refused a Garrison and undertook to defend the Town against the Rebels and yet when Desmond attacked it the Mayor delivered it up almost without Blows and therefore to appease the Queen who was mightily troubled at the scandalous Loss of Youghal the Mayor was deservedly executed before his own Door and it is observable that Youghal was wholly deserted so that there was not one Soul left in it except one Fryar who was spared for the Humanity he had shewed to the Corps of Henry Davels which he carefully buried but the old Inhabitants were by Proclamation of the first day of February invited to return and to encourage them thereunto a Garrison of three hundred Foot was left in the Town under the Command of the Captains Morgan and Pierce In the mean time Ibid. Ormond made great Preparations to recover the Castle of Sangically from the Spaniards from whom he expected stout and obstinate Resistance but on the contrary they deserted the Castle upon view of the Army and fled over the Water but were so hotly pursued that most of them were slain and a Garrison was put into the Castle Ormond's Head Quarters were at Adare and it being usual for the Soldiers to range abroad for Forage or Plunder Desmond placed an Ambush so luckily that it once intercepted them but being stout and well disciplin'd Men they made good their Retreat without any Disadvantage In the mean time the Lord Justice whom we left at Limerick marched into Thomond where the Earl and his Son and two Servants very ill mounted met his Lordship and waited on him to Galway and there the Lord Justice confirm'd the Priviledges of that Town 1579. and thence marched through Athenry Ballinislow and Athlone to Dublin and there he found William Norris and an hundred and fifty brave Horse all in a Livery of Red Coats and Yellow Lace newly arrived from England which were immediately sent to Quarter at the Newry where Norris died on Christmas Day Captain Casy's Company that was left in Galway was forced to hire a House for the Soldiers and the Queen paid the Rent of it and on the twenty eighth of November a Custodiam of the Bishoprick of Ross was granted to Robert Drury for three Years and on the 3d. of Dec. the L. Justice kept Sessions at Trim and caused 16 Malefactors to be executed and on the 10th of Dec. Sir Hugh O Reily made his Submission at Drogheda and the same day 5000 l. in Money arrived out of England On the eighteenth of January the Lord Justice left Dublin and came by the Sea-coast to Wexford where he kept Sessions and sate personally in the Court thence by Tintern he came to Waterford where he was nobly received and the Mayor carried the Sword before him The Earl of Ormond met him at Waterford and upon Advertisement that the Rebels drew near Dungarvan and Youghal Captain Zouch was sent with four hundred Foot and an hundred Horse to oppose them On the Eleventh of February a Commission of Martial Law was sent to Sir Warham Saint-Leger Hooker 166. and then the Lord Justice having stayed three Weeks at Waterford removed to Clonmel where Ormond met him again and thence he marched to Limerick and had his Baggage carried a great part of the way on Mens Shoulders for want of Carriage-Horses or because of the badness of the Way or both at Limerick the Chancellor of that Diocess was found guilty of Treason for corresponding with Desmond but he made Shift to get a Pardon whilst the Bishop of Limerick who was shrewdly suspected was confined to his House On the Tenth of March the Lord Justice and Ormond met at Rakele and the next day they passed over the Bridge of Adare and returned at Night and then they divided their Forces and invaded Conniloe burning and spoiling the Country and incamped within one Mile of Kilcolman where they had News that Lieutenant Parker five Horse and three Foot coming from Limerick were set upon by an hundred Rebels near Rakele but they so behaved themselves that they slew the Commander and five or six more of the Enemy and came off with small Loss the same day a Soldier of the Marshal's encountred two lusty Kerns and having slain one he compell'd the other to carry his Fellow's Head to the Camp where he was likewise slain On the twelfth of March the Army being divided Preyed and burnt the Country to Slevelogher as they did likewise the next day and slew above four hundred Men whereupon the Lord Lixnaw was humbled and made his Submission The Lord Justice having marched as far as Slewemiss beyond Traley and not being able to pass farther resolved to besiege Carrigifoyl which was Desmond's chief strength and it was Garrisoned
Barryescourt and the Seneschall of Imokelly placed an Ambush for him at Corabby which Captain Raleigh manfully Encountred and Defeated or at least broke through them so that he came safe to Corke On the 25th of July one Eve Published Seditious Letters at Waterford importing that the Pope and the King of Spain and Duke of Florence had made a League to assist the Irish with Ten thousand Foot and a thousand Horse of the Popes Fifteen thousand Foot and a thousand five hundred Horse of the Spaniards and Eight thousand Foot and an hundred Horse of the Florentines and that the Irish should Elect a King of their own Nation and reject Elizabeth as a Bastard and a Heretick and republish the Bulls of Pius Quintus against her c. And it was true that the Prince of Conde brought such a League to the Queen which he said was made at Rome the 20th of February 1580. About the same time the Lord Baltinglass wrote an Answer to the Earl of Ormond assuring his Lordship that he had but two Councellors one that said Fear not those that can kill the Body only c. and the other bids us obey the higher Power for he that resisteth it resisteth God seeing then the highest Power upon Earth Commands us to take the Sword and to Fight and Defend our selves against Traytors and Rebels which do seek only the Murdering of our Souls he is no Christian that will not obey Questionless it is a great want of Knowledge and more of Grace to believe that a Woman Incapax of Holy Orders should be the Supream Governour of Christ's Church a Term that Christ did not grant to his own Mother You should consider that if Thomas of Becket Bishop of Canterbury had never suffered Death in the defence of the Church tho Butler alias Becket had never been Earl of Ormond c. and about the same time he wrote to a Merchant of Waterford to provide him Ammunition and Arms for which he would pay him to content In the mean time Captain Zouch who lay at Dingle lost a great many of his Men by sickness nevertheless when he understood that the Earl of Desmond and David Barry had assembled three thousand Men near Ahado in Kerry he Marched with the Remainder of his small Brigade to Castlemange and upon a sudden surprized them so that the Earl was fain to fly in his Shirt and shift for himself as well as he could he fled to Herlow-wood a very great fastness but being Necessitated to pass near Killmallock the Garrison there under Bourcher Dowdall Macworth and Norris pursued them into the Wood and were like to take the Earl but did take a great Pery and some of his Carriages and killed a great many of his Followers About the same time Fitzgirald commonly called Seneschaâ— of Imokilly preyed the Country about Lissmore and slew twenty five of the Garrison that sallied to recover the Prey The Lord Deputy appointed Archbishop Loftus and the Earl of Kildare Governours of the Pale during his intended Progress and they had a General Rendevouz at the Hill of Taragh in July and then the Earl with two hundred Horse and seven hundred Foot by the order of the Council went to Parly with the Lord of Baltinglass but to no purpose and thereupon the Earl unadvisedly returned to Dublin and the Enemy taking advantage of his Retreat Burnt Newcastle in the County of Wicklow 1581. In the mean time the Lord Deputy Marched to Munster and made Captain Zouch Governour of that Province and then returned to Dublin by the way of Connaugh Zouch kept his head Quarters at Corke and had Intelligencil that there was a great Feud between David Barry and the Seneschall of Imokelly and that they both lay on Dunfrinâ—en side of the Blackwater and that the Earl of Desmond and his Brother John lay on the other side of the River in Condens Country and that they were very active by their Messengers to procure a Reconcillation between Barry and the Seneschall but were hindred by the great Floods from Negotiating it personally as they designed whereupon Captain Dowdall sent one Richard Mac-James to the Irish Camp as a Spy to whom one of the Desmonds Messengers not mistrusting him discovered that Sir John Desmond designed to come and reconcile the aforesaid Parties the next Morning but I know not by what Artifice the Spy perswaded the Messenger to go to Corke and tell his own Story but 't is certain thereupon Zouch and Dowdall leaving the Government of Corke to Captain Raleigh Marcht on Hooker 175 pretending for Lymerick and by break of Day they got to Castlelyons and so Marching forwards to an Wood and placing some Shot between the Wood and Sâ—â—anâ—cally adjacent Bogg they met two Gentlemen in the Wood who happened to be Sir John of Desmond and James Fitz John of 〈◊〉 both which they took and Executed and which is most strange as Mr. Sullivane tells the Story 〈◊〉 great Hero was so daunted at the sight of the English Sullivan 99 that he was not able to mount his Horse tho at other times he was an active man But Zouch not contented herewith but remembring that David Barry and Gorin Mac Swiny had lately prayed Carbery and passing by Bantry had encountred the Garrison which Sallyed and kill'd every one of them but one was now resolved to revenge it and therefore fell upon their Army and routed them and this Defeat reduced Barry to the necessity of begging pardon which at length he obtain'd And so Munster being pretty quiet and no news of the Earl of Desmond the Munster Forces were reduced to four hundred Foot and fifty Horse But the Lord of Lixnaw and his Son pretending injuries from the Governour took advantage of the reducement of the Army and boldly went into Rebellion again and his beginning was very successful for he slew Captain Achin and the Garrison of Adare except some few that saved themselves in the Abby and recovered that Fortress also he took the strong Castle of Lisconnell by Stratagem and threw the Garrison over the Walls and tho he fall'd in his cunning design on the Castle of Adnagh yet he ranged over the Countries of Ormond Tipperary and Waterford without resistance Wherefore Zouch not able to endure these affronts with his small Army of four hundred Men March'd into Kerry and came to Adare which the Lord Lixnaw had forsaken and thence he March'd to Lisconnell Wood where he met the Baron with about 700 Men who upon the first Charge â—led and left their Goods and Cattle behind them Thence the Army March'd to Glyn Castle where Sir Henry Wallopps and Captain Norris's Companies being 200 men came to them from the Lord Deputy hence the Governour went to Lymerick leaving Captain Powdall to pursue the Baron who soon met with him near Glanflisk and defeated his Forces again Hooker 177. killing â—n hundred and forty of them and taking a Prey of 800
out of every Plow-land only the twenty Plow-lands formerly held by Sorohen should pay but 15 s. a piece per annum and in case of Invasion so that of necessity the Soldiers must victual on the Country six shillings and eight pence per Plow-land shall be abated therefore and the Territories of Trachanckmy Corkaguiny and Offerbuy were to pay 02 13 04 out of every Knight's-Fee but that which was the best Article in the whole agreement was that the Country was to appoint their respective Collectours of the Composition-Money The year 1593 is memorable for the College of Dublin 1593. which was then finished and made an University whereof the Lord Burleigh was the first Chancellour and Vsher afterward the Learned Primate was the first Scholar that was entred there which proved a good Omen that that Noble foundation would produce many Good and Learned men for the Service of God and the King both in Church and State But the rebellious Spirit of the Irish could be no longer restrain'd Camb. Eliz. 478. but that it must have some vent O Connor was troublesome in Connaugh as O Donell was in Vlster and Macguire chief of Fermanagh alledging that he had paid 300 Bieves to the Deputy to excuse his Country from a Sheriff during his Government and that nevertheless one Captain Willis was appointed Sheriff and kept 200 followers Men Women and Boys who prey'd on the Country did rise up in Arms and drove them all to a Church where he would have murthered them but for Tyrone who got their lives spared on condition they should depart the Country Hereupon the Deputy invaded Fermanagh and proclaimed Macguire Traitor and took Eniskilling and they say he let drop some words reflecting on Tyrone which he afterwards said was the first cause of the jealousie he conceived of the English But Macguire not discouraged at this by the importunity of Gauran titular Primate of Ardmagh invades Connaugh intending to prey upon that Country but the valiant Bingham routed him and his Forces many of which were slain and particularly the Primate It is observable that in the Course of this War Tyrone served with Marshall Bagnall against Macguire and in a Recounter got a wound in his Thigh Nevertheless the Feuds betwixt Tyrone Lib. L. 1594. and the Marshal continued and the Marshal impeached the Earl of divers Treasons 1. That he entertained the aforesaid Primate being a Traitor 2. That he corresponded with O Donell and other Traitors but he so well acquitted himself before the Deputy and Council at Dundalk and by his Letters in England that in August 1594. the Council of England commended him for his Service against Macguire pronounced him innocent of the Crimes laid to his charge and chid the Marshal for his partiality Nevertheless it is plain that this cunning Earl at this very time plotted that formidable Rebellion which afterward broke out and in order to it he used two Strategems 1. Having six Companies under his Command at the Queen's pay he altered and changed the men so often that thereby his whole Country became disciplin'd Soldiers 2. He got a great quantity of Lead into his possession under pretence of building a stately House at Dungannon But in August the Lord Deputy was recalled and Sir William Russel youngest Son of Francis Earl of Bedford Lord Deputy landed at the head of Hoath 31st of July and the next day he went to Dublin but refused to accept of the Sword till the Council had first given him in writing under their hands an account of the State and Condition of the Kingdom which being done he was sworn on Sunday the 11th of August with great Solemnity The same day news were brougt that Cormock Mac Baron Tyrone's Brother who besieged Iniskelling had defeated the English being 46 Horse and 600 Foot under the Conduct of Sir Edward Herbert and Sir Henry Duke whereupon Sir Richard Bingham who was the sixth of August sent to relieve that place returned to Dublin 11 August Hereupon orders issued for a general Hosting and the next day there came news of 2500 Scots who had landed and done much mischief at Carigfergus On the 13th of August an Order of Council was made That the Lord Deputy leaving the Earl of Ormond to defend the Pale against Pheagh Mac Hugh and Walter Riagh should march to relieve Iniskelling and it was also ordered and agreed That the Council being divided viz. some to stay at Dublin and others to attend the Lord Deputy the Acts and Orders of either Party should be as effectual as if they were all together and should be esteemed and obeyed as the Act of the whole Council In the mean time Lib. M. Lambeth on the 15th of August Tyrone himself unexpectedly and to the amazement of all men came to the Council Board without previous Pass or Protection and on the 17th made his submission on his knees and in writing Lib. B. 2. Lambeth this wheedling Submission together with large offers and expressions of Loyalty he pretended all his distaste was at the former Deputy but that he reverenc'd this and was ready to doe any service he could for Her Majesty or his Lordship he confess'd that no Prince in the World was more Gracious to a Subject than Her Majesty had been to him that She had advanced him to a large Estate and high Title and called God to Witness that Her Majesty's Displeasure was his greatest grief and he renounced God if ever he would heave up his hand against Her Majesty thereafter He also promised to send his Son to be educated at Dublin and to deliver sufficient Pledges of his Loyalty whereupon by the opinion of the major part of the Council he was discharged Camd. Eliz. 493. the Marshall Bagnall in vain offering to prove several Treasons against him But as soon as the Queen was informed thereof she smartly reprimanded this fatal oversight of the Deputy and Council who might at least have made use of Tyrone to relieve Iniskelling The Deputy marched from Dublin the 19th August 1594. and came to Trim that night the 20th to Molingar and the next day to Athloan the 23d to Roscomon the 24th to Abby Boyle on the 26th he passed the Curlew Mountains and encamped at Drumdone and the next day passed the Bogs and marched eleven Miles to the Hill of Killargan on the 28th he went over other Bogs with great danger and came to Ballaghnimerla and on the 29th to Glacknemansha on the 30th his Lordship with great difficulty and some loss passed the River with 500 Men and entered the Castle of Iniskelling without opposition the Enemy being fled upon the news of his approach Iniskelling being thus relieved the Deputy returned by easie Marches and came safe to Dublin on Monday the 9th of September On the 16th of January the Deputy took a Hunting Journy to Ballynecor and drove Pheah Mac Hugh into the Glinnes and garison'd Captain Street's Company in
and O Crowlyes of Carbry submitted and came under protection but they relaps'd when the Spaniards landed at King-sale And on the 29. August Cahir Castle was surrendred voluntarily by James Galde by the means of his Brother the Lord of Cahir And about the same time Mac Donough Mac Auliff and O Keef likewise made their submissions The Sugan Earl and Peirce Lacy being enrag'd at the Knight of Kerry's submission invaded his Country but were forc'd by the Knight to return faster then they came two of their Captains and sixteen of their Men being slain And soon after Sir Charles Wilmet took Ardart Castle in Kerry after a good Defence made by the Ward Honora ni Brien Sister to the Earl of Thomond and Wife to the Lord of Kerry invited the famous Maurice Stack to Dine with her at Beauliew where she caus'd him to be barbarously murder'd and the next day her Lord also hang'd his Brother Thomas Stack who was his Prisoner However Wilmot so manag'd his Affairs that the Sugan Earl was forc'd to leave Kerry and in his passage to Arloghwoods was set upon by the Garrison of Kilmallock and 120 of his best Men slain and 80 wounded and 150 Arms and 40 Horses taken as also 300 Garrans loaden with Baggage and all their Cows and Sheep whereby the Earl was quite undone and his Forces scattered and himself forced to fly into Typerary and Ormond and his Brother and Piers Lacy retired into Vlster It is observable that the Irish were so blindly devoted to Popery Cambd. Eliz. 584. that many of those that had been Loyal sent to Rome for a pardon for their sin in not entring into Action and a Dispensation for the time to come from entring into open Rebellion In the mean time the Queen by the Advice of Sir Ro. Cecil and the Lord President sent over James only Son of Garret last Earl of Desmond attended and equipp'd according to his Quality in hopes he might regain the Followers of his Family and reduce them unto their Obedience and Duty His Patent was sent to the President to keep or give it as he should see cause and a Company of Foot was cashier'd for his maintenance which was to be in the President 's House for fear of the worst when he came to Cork the Inhabitants finding he was a Protestant refus'd to entertain him so that he was fain to obtrude himself upon the Mayor where he supp'd and after Supper he wrote a Letter of this usage to the Lords of the Council but the Mayor told him No Letters should go out of his House but what he saw However the Earl sent away his Letters Lib. D. D. D. and the Queen on Notice hereof ordered the Lords of the Council to reprimand the Mayor c. which they did to purpose by their Letter of 10. November 1600. Upon this Earls first coming to Kilmallock multitudes flocked thither to see him and pay their Duty to him but as soon as they saw him go to Church they all forsook him yea cursed him and spit upon him however he prevail'd with Thomas Oge Constable of Castlemayn 4. November to deliver that Castle and two of Peirce Lacy's Sons into his Custody which was all the Service he did or could do whilst he staid in Ireland But it is worth noting that Florence Mac Curty upon the President 's Word came to him to Mallow and assur'd him of his Loyalty by all the Oaths and Asseverations imaginable and yet whilst he was in the House he wrote Letters to Thomas Ogeâ— not to surrender Castlemayn and assured him of Reward and Relief so exceedingly falshearted was this mighty Hypocrite and these Letters were by the diligence of Mr. Boyle afterwards Earl of Cork intercepted However at length he submitted and put in two Pledges on the 29th of October In the mean time Wilmot had taken the Castle of Clancoyne by Sir Fra. Barkly and on Notice that the Lord of Kerry and Knight of the Glin were in the Woods with 80 Men he pursued them so close that he slew 60 of them and narrowly mist the two principals And on the Fifth of November he sat down before the Castle of Listoel and after a good Defence and ten days time it was surrender'd to him together with the Lord of Kerry's Son and all his Chattels About the same time Sir Richard Pearcy sent part of the Garrison of Kingsale to Carbry where near Kilco they took a Prey of 300 Cows and in November took another Prey of 200 Cows in Kinalmeky and now some difference arising between the Cartyes and Learyes about some stolen Cows they had a Battle at Ahakery where O Leary and ten of his men were slain The Lord of Muskry would have reveng'd the slaughter of his Followers but the President would not permit him lest thereby he should put the Country in confusion and make such a Flame as he could not quench In the mean time the Lord or Chief of Muskry was underhand dealing with O Neal whom he advis'd not to trust any of English Extraction and assur'd him he would dissemble with the President until Aid should come and Florence Mac Cartie levied 1000 Bonaughs in hopes of Recruits they daily expected from Connaugh and Vlster and indeed Forces were there assembled for their assistance and they would have Invaded Munster but that Redmond Burk expected great matters from the President and therefore would not disturb his Province and the Sugan Earl was jealous of the Bonaughs and every body was doubtful of Florence Mac Carthy and so this great cloud vanished and the Rebels dispersed into Ormond and Typerary Sir Charles Wilmot drew near to the Abby of Ratoo in Kerry whereupon the Rebels burnt it however he met 100 Bonaughs under Mortagh mac Shihy whereof he slew 40. Dermond O Connor whose Wife was Sister to the Queen's Earl of Desmond was so well pleas'd with the Honours the English did his Brother-in-Law that he resolv'd to come to him and to do some service acceptable to the State and accordingly he obtain'd Pasports but Tybot ni Long who had a Company in the Queens Pay pretending ignorance of his Pasport in favour of the Rebels fell upon him in Claâ—riccard and slew 40 of his men and took him Prisoner and the next day cut off his head whereupon the Queen took away Tybbott's Company from him On the 18th of November the President kept Sessions at Limerick and afterwards at Cashell and on the 28th of November at Clonmell where the Earl of Ormond met him and promis'd to expel the Rebels out of his Palatinate and in order to it in January his Forces assail'd the Rebels slew 40 of them and particularly Thomas Burk Brother of Redmond and took 30 Arms and forc'd Redmond and his Followers into the River Nore where 70 of them were drowned and many with their Baggage taken and particularly John Burk another Brother of Redmonds who was soon after executed at Kilkenny
more and on the 30th of July the Deputy march'd to the new Fort at Blackwater and beyond it and spent two days in cutting the Woods and clearing the Paces and whilst they were doing so on the first of August the Rebels made an Alarum whereat the English Horses were frightned broke their Headstals and ran away some to Armagh and some to Newry but the Troopers recovered them all again by the cowardize and negligence of the Irish Horse-men who might easily have pursued and taken them all On the second of August the Deputy return'd to Armagh and march three miles farther to Ralawtany and sent out Sir Henry Danvers with 300 Foot to burn about 20 Houses which he effected but in his return was assaulted by Tyrene's Army However being succour'd from the Camp he made a safe Retreat though the Rebels pursued him even so far as to pour a Volly of Shot into the Camp and by reason of the adjacent Wood they also got away safe The next day the Deputy marched North of Armagh for convenience of Forage and to secure the Convoys and the Rebels being numerous drew down thorough the Woods near the Army which by Poll was but 1728 foot and above half of them Irish The fourth of August the Deputy drew out some Companies to cut down the Woods and they were not interrupted all day but after they were return'd to the Camp in the Evening the Rebels appear'd in a Meadow below the Camp with Drums and Bagpipes and pretended to assault the Camp but the Lord Deputy plac'd 400 men in Ambush and order'd them not to fire till the Enemy was very near The Rebels were encourag'd by their not firing so that they poured 2 or 3000 Shot into the Camp but the Ambush finding their opportunity gave them such a Volley in their teeth that turn'd their Musick to Allogone and slew many of their best men and particularly Peirce Lacy of the Brough one of the greatest Rebels in Munster But because Tyrone who had 3640 Foot and 400 Horse was strengthned by the access of Maguire mac Mahon and Cormack mac Baron and their Followers and was also elevated with the expectation of Spanish Succours the Deputy sent for Sir John Barkly's Regiment from Annaly and spent two days in cutting the Paces and on the 7th march'd to Mount Norris where he staid the 8th 9th 10th 11th and 12th and on the 13th came within three mile of Armagh and on the 14th victualled the Abby of Armagh and the Fort of Blackwater and return'd to his Camp and on the 15th he march'd to Mount Norris and on the 16th to Carrickbane near the Newry and on the 24th his Lordship left the Field and came to the Newry having plac'd his Forces in Garrison  Foot Horse  Viz. at Carigfergus 850 125 Sir Arth. Chichester Lecale 300  Sir Rich. Morison Newry 450 50 Sir Fran. Stafford Mount Norris 600 50 Sir Sam. Bagnal Armagh 800 125 Sir Hen. Danvers Blackwater 350  Capt. Williams But let us return to the Lord President of Munster who was alarum'd from Conaugh for in the latter end of March Redmond Burk and Hugh Mostian with 800 Canaugh-men and Teig Bourk John Fitz Thomas Donough mac Cormock and Peirce Lacy with 700 Vlster-men design'd to invade Munster by the way of Conaugh and the Lord of Kerry Teig Reagh mac Mahon and others were providing a Bark to come by Sea Sir John Barkly Governour of Conaugh in absence of Sir Arthur Savage was too weak to resist this Force and therefore the President sent him 1000 Foot under Sergeant-Major Flower in hopes to interrupt their passage over the Shenin Flower assisted by the Lord Twomond's Foot-Company on the 29th of March came to Quin in Thomond and hearing the Rebels were not far off notwithstanding that Teig mac Tirlogh O Brian and Walter Burk Son of the blind Abbot had three days before joyn'd them he drew towards them and so valiantly manag'd the Encounter that Teig and Walter were both slain and their Forces totally routed The remainder of the Rebels finding that the President had taken care to stop their passage by Sea retir'd into Tough Kinalehim a strong Fastness betwixt Clanrickard and Thomond where they continued till the 13th of April then being half starved and dispairing of assistance from O Donnel who had promis'd it they stole away in the Night to O Maddins Country the English pursued them several Nights till they pass'd the River Suck wherein 200 Irish were drowned and the rest dispers'd in the mean time the President himself came to Lymerick to countenance and be ready to assist the English Forces he also order'd the chief Irish Subjects with their risings out to meet at Galbally in the County of Lymerick under the Lord Barry where 1300 Foot and 120 Horse of the County of Cork only appeared The Rebels thus scattered Captain Flower returned to Lymerick the 21st of April and on the 26th the President returned to Cork in order to use all possible means to secure the Sugan Earl and Florence Mac Carty which not long after he luckily effected for on the 29th of May the White Knight alias Fitz Gibbon took James the Sugan Earl of Desmond prisoner in a Cave in the Mountain of Slevegrot and sent him to the President at Cork for which good service he had 1000 l. This Earl was arraign'd and condemn'd at Cork and afterwards sent into England together with Florence Mac Carty whom the President caus'd to be arrested in Cork in the beginning of June upon notice of his manifold Treasons and Breaches of his Protection which may be found at large in Pacata Hiberniae p. 164. both of them afterwards died in the Tower of London One of these was the most potent of all the Earls of Desmond having at one time 8000 armed Men under his command And the other had been the most considerable of the Mac Carties since the Conquest The President Pa◠Hib. 17◠to farther the intended Plantation at Ballishanon sent Sir Francis Barkley and 1000 Foot and 50 Horse to Conaugh by the Deputy's order where they did very good service On the 28th of July the President held Sessions of Goal-delivery at Cork where all the Freeholders were summon'd to appear and then he intended to seize upon the most suspicious persons in hopes that the News thereof would prevent the Spanish Invasion and accordingly he caus'd to be arrested Mac Donogh alias Dermond Mac Owen Teig Mac Dermond Carty Brother of the Lord of Muskry and Moyle more O Mahon of Kinalmeaky all which were fully resolved to joyn with the Spaniards and had license from the Priests to temporize till their deliverance should come About this time the Earl of Ormond did good service in Kilkenny and Tipperary and slew several considerable Rebels and near 100 others of lesser note But let us return to the Lord Deputy 1601. whom we left at the Newry where he receiv'd News that
march'd to strengthen the Earl of Thomond's Quarter 4. Levison tow'd his Ships out of Kingsale Harbour 5. A Scotch Vessel having eighty Spaniards on board 6. put them into Vice-Admiral Preston's hands and the same day Levison destroy'd the Spanish Ships at Castlehaven Many of the Provincials of Munster revolted and joyn'd with the Spaniards as did also O Donell's Army and O Conner Kerry surpriz'd Carigfoyle A small Skirmish with the Spaniards 8. and Tyrone's Army discovered in view The Camp fortified 9. 10. 11. The Spaniards made a slight Sally 12. Bad Weather 13. 14. The Artillery plaid 15. 16. The Spaniards made a Sally 17. and broke down a Platform Bad Weather 18. 19. Artillery plaid 20. and the Camp was fortified Tyrone appear'd between the Camp and Cork 21. and the Spaniards sallied ineffectually The same was repeated 22. The Artillery plaid 23. On the 24th of December hapned the famous Battle between the Lord-Deputy on the one side and Tyrone and Odonell and their Irish and some Spaniards on the other which I forbear to describe because is is done at large Pacata Hibernia 233. It will be enough to say that it ended in a glorious Victory the Rebels being totally routed and 1200 of them slain upon the place and above 800 wounded without any loss at all on the English side except one Cornet and five or six Souldiers nor did those Rebels that fled escape scot-free for Tyrone lost many of his Men and Carriages in his hasty passage over the Blackwater and they which passed through Connilogh suffered as much by the River Mage and met with a severe rebuke at Abby-owny It is strange that this Battle being fought within a mile of Kingsale the Spaniards in the Town should know nothing of it and yet it is certain they made no Sally till the Battle was over and even then they sallied twice to little purpose On the 28th Syriago with more Spaniards arrived at Castlehaven but finding that the Irish Army was beaten he wisely return'd home and on the 31st Don John de Aguila offered a Parly which after several expostulations centered in a Peace upon honourable Conditions recited at large in Pac. Hib. 245. On the 9th of January the Camp was dissolved and Don John rode with the Lord-Deputy to Cork and the Deputy dispersed his Army into Garrisons in Munster for their refreshment and sent the Captains Harvy and Flower to receive the the Castles of Dunboy Castlehaven and Baltimore from the Spaniards pursuant to the Capitulations and accordingly they were all surrender'd except Dunboy which the Irish surprized and soon after Forts were erected at Halbowling and Castlenipark and the like was intended at Baltimore and Beer-haven The Corporation of Kingsale had their Charter restor'd upon their Petition on condition nevertheless that the Townsmen should repair their Walls at their own charge and 2000 of the Army in List were cashier'd to lessen her Majesties charge On the 20th of January the Cardinal of St. George wrote a Letter to Tyrone Lib. C. stufft with fulsom Commendations of him and with passionate Exhortations to persevere in the defence of Religion the Letter began Illustrissime Excellentissime Princeps c. Several petty Accidents happened in Munster as the taking of Capeclear-Castle by Captain Harvy who was Governor of Carbry from Ross to Bantry and the slaughter of 18 of Donough Moyle mac Carty's men by the Lord Barry the execution of William mac Hubbard and the submission of Sir Finin O Driscol and Sir Owen mac Carty's Sons But I am not willing to make this History more voluminous than needs must and therefore I pass by many trivial Matters especially such as are at large to be found elsewhere and particularly in Pacata Hibernia On the 28th day of March 1602. the Lord Deputy came to Dublin in a Horse-litter being very much indispos'd however he disposed of the Army which was in List 16950 Foot and 1487 Horse into Garisons convenient for the Summer-service and it must not be forgot that this victorious Army did out of their Pay give 1800 l. to buy Books for the Library of the Colledge of Dublin which was faithfully laid out by Dr. Challoner and Mr. Vsher The Lord-Deputy being pretty well recovered marched to Dundalke and in the beginning of June came to the passage over the Black-water five Miles eastward of the Fort and sent Sir Richard Morison's Regiment to the North-side of the River and then he built a Bridge over the River and a new Fort to guard it which he called Charlemont and having left Captain Cawfeild and 150 Men in Garison there he sent Sir Richard Morison's Regiment to possess Dunganon but on their approach the Town and Tyrone's great House were purposely set on fire however they went thither and were followed by the Deputy and the rest of the Army Sir Henry Dockwra who had lately planted a Garison at Ony came also to the Deputy at Dunganon whereupon Tyrone retired to the Castle Row upon the Ban and the English wasted the Country as far as Eniskilling and took the Island of Magherlowny which was Tyrone's Magazine and another Island wherein they recovered three Pieces of the Queens Artillery Sir Arthur Chichester also came with his Forces from Carrifergus by the way of Loghsydny and being joyned by Morison's Regiment they built the Fort of Montjoy which was left with 850 Foot and 100 Horse under the Command of Francis Row Deputy-Governor to Sir Benjamin Berry and so the Victuals being almost spent the Army was forced to divide and Sir Henry Dockwra had directions to prosecute Tyrone from Ony by the way of Dungeven in O Canes Country and Sir Arthur Chichester was to do the like by the way of Toome and the Deputy himself resolv'd to assault him by the way of Killetro and so he marched to Monaghan on the 19th of July and having setled a Garison there and destroyed the Country and placed Connor roe Macguire on the borders of Fermannah he came to the Newry About the 10th of August Sir Arthur Chichester from Masserine and Sir Henry Danvers from the Newry had orders to march and besiege the strong Fort of Enislaghlin wherein most of Tyrone's Plate and choice Goods were deposited and accordingly they did attack that Fort and had it surrendred to them in a day or two and on the 19th of August the Garison were brought Prisoners to the Newry On the 20th of August the Lord-Deputy took the Field and encamped between Newry and Armagh and understanding that Tyrone was in Fermanagh he marched over the Bridge near Fort-Mountjoy and placed a Ward near Dunganon and and staid five days near Talloghoge and broke the Chair of Stone wherein the Oneals used to be inaugurated and destroyed the Country Here Sir Henry Dockwra with some Horse came to the Deputy and brought O Cane who had lately submitted And about the same
in the Confession was Ecclesiastical Whereupon the Attorny General Learnedly descanted upon the words Ecclesiastical and Spiritual and exposed the Knavery and Silliness of the Prisoners Equivocation and then Mr. Justice Sarsfeild pronounced the Sentence of the Law against him which nevertheless was never Executed upon him that I can find However to attone for this seeming Severity and to quiet and oblige the Irish the King issued out a Commission of Great under the Great Seal of England to confirm the Possessors of Estates in Ireland against all Claims of the Crown by Granting new Patents to them But the Irish are a People that seldom beaâ— good Fortune with any Moderation or Temper and the King and Council of England were mightily deceived when they thought that Lenity and Commissions of Grace would oblige them to Loyalty and Obedience on the contrary it always makes them think the Government weak and never fails to put them upon Action So true is that of the Poet Unguentem pungit pungentem Hibernicus Ungit And just so it happened after this Commission of Grace for on the 7th of May a Letter directed to Sir William Usher Clerk of the Council was dropt in the Council Chamber Temple 2. which discovered a Conspiracy of the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel Macguire O Cahan the Lord of Delvin and almost all the Irish of Ulster to surprize the Castle of Dublin and Murder the Lord Deputy and Council and to set up for themselves Lib. C. They had sent a Baron to the Arch-Dukes to sollicite Assistance and probably had employed some Body else to Spain but as soon as they had Notice that their Plot was discovered the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel and the Lord Macguire fled beyond Seas to get Spanish Aid 1607. and the rest did shift for themselves as well as they could but some were taken and executed And not long after Justice Sibthorp and Baron Eliot attended by some of the Kings Council were sent into the Counties of Donegall and Tyrone with a Commission of Oyer and Terminer and so Indictments were found against these Conspirators and all those that fled were Out-law'd thereupon But because those Earls did alledge Lib. M. that they were persecuted for Religion and had been injuriously dealt with the King on the 15th of November 1607. published a Declaration wherein he affirms That they had not their Creations or Possessions by any Lineal or any lawful Descent from Ancestors of Blood or Virtue but were for Reasons of State preferred before others of better Quality and Birth in their Countrey and Protests they had not the least shadow of Molestation nor was there any purpose of proceeding against them in Matters of Religion their Condition being to think Murder no fault Marriage of no use nor any Man valiant that does not Glory in Rapine and Oppression and therefore 't were unreasonable to trouble them for Religion before it could be perceived by their Conversation they had any and that in all Matters of Controversie they were favoured except in such Cases where they design'd to Tyrannize over their fellow Subjects that they did stir up Sedition and intestine Rebellion in the Kingdom and sent their Instruments Priests and others to make Offers to Foreign States for their Assistance And that under the Condition of being made free from English Government they resolved also to comprehend the EXTIRPATION of all those Subjects now remaining alive within that Kingdom formerly descended of English Race In December 1607. The Lord Deputy and Council sent Sir Anthony Saintleger Master of the Rolls to the Lords of the Council in England to inform them that the Omores would by next May be transplanted from Leix into Munster and that it was fit the O Connors should be so too that the Lord Delvin must be severely persecuted because frequent Pardons do encourage Irish Rebellions that his Castle of Cloghouâ—er is taken and so is his Son and himself left as desolate as a Wood Keâ—n and to desire to be instructed what to do with those that refuse the Oath of Supremacy and to inform that they have stopt the Quo Warranto's because the Corporations will submit to the Customs if their Arrears be forgiven that there is a great Propensity in the Irish at this time to Rebel and that it were fit to send over Twenty thouthousand Pounds to lye dead for such an Accident and that the King would be pleas'd to decide the great Controversie between the Earl of Kildare and Sir Robert Digby which is now ready for Sentence in the Castle-Chamber and also to represent the State of that poor Kingdom c. But notwithstanding all the Care that was taken to keep the Kingdom quiet 1608. the Hopes and Expectations of Aid from Spain easily put the Rebellious Spirits in a ferment insomuch that Sir Cahir O Doharty Proprietor of Inisowen a Gentleman of great hopes but of few years not exceeding One and twenty was by Assurances from the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel of speedy and effectual Aid perswaded to begin the War his main Design was upon Derry which he surprized and burnt Sullevan 210. he also Murdered the Governor Sir George Pawlet and all the Protestants except the Bishops Wife that was ransomed he also surprized Culmore and the Magazine there Spretis centum argenti libris quibus pseudo Episcopus eos redinere Cupiebat and burnt Two thousand Heretical Books as he call'd them refusing to let them be redeem'd for an hundred pound And this Rebellion became the more formidable because it was fomented and encouraged by the Priests who affirm'd That all were Martyrs that died in the Service But for the better understanding of this matter it is necessary to inform the Reader that Queen Elizabeth finding it convenient to plant a Garison at Loghfoyle made several Attempts to that purpose but they all miscarried until Sir Henry Dockwra Landed at Kilmore or Culmore and erected a small Castle there and a Month after he took Derry without Resistance and built two Forts and a good House there but afterwards viz. Anno 1617. that place was built by the Londoners and became a fair and strong City well known by the Name of London-Derry This Sir Henry Dockwra also built the Castles of Dunalong and Lifford and afterwards assigned the Government of Derry to Sir George Pawlett a Hampshire Gentleman and the Command of Culmore to Captain Hart a Man of great Courage After Sir John O Dogharty's Death his Son Cahir shewing great Inclinations to the English and being a Youth of great hopes was not only Graced with Knighthood and made a Justice of Peace and a Commissioner in most of the Commissions that came to that Countrey but was also treated with all due Respect upon all occasions and he on the otherside contracted an intimate Friendship with the Chief of the English and particularly with Captain Hart Governour of Culmore to whose Son he was
Three pence per Pound for other Goods due by Common Law But the Irish were very uneasie at the Plantation of Ulster and therefore it was necessary to countenance and protect it with an extraordinary Militia in that Province to support the Charge of which the King 1611. on the 22th day of May instituted the Order of Baronets which was to be Hereditary and not to exceed the number of Two hundred and every of them upon passing the Patent was to pay into the Exchequer as much Money as would maintain Thirty Men in Ulster for Three Years at Eight pence a day But if the Reader desires to know more of this Order I must refer him to Selden's Titles of Honour pag 822. and 909. and The Present State of England pag. 289. and Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle ad Annum 1611. But there had not been a Parliament in Ireland for Seven and twenty Years past since the Twenty seventh Year of Queen Elizabeth's Reign so that it was high time to call one now and the Ministers of State were at work to manage that Matter to the advantage of his Majesty and the English Protestant Interest in that Kingdom which they foresaw would be oppos'd with might and main by all those of the Popish Party and therefore they propos'd that an Order should issue for every Parliament-man to take the Oath of Supremacy and that the Lords should declare their Suffrages openly Content or Not content as in England and not rise and whisper in the Lord Chancellor's Ear as was the Custom in Ireland and that the King should find some Pretence to send for some few of those Noblemen that would most briskly oppose his Intentions as Henry the Eighth had formerly done and particularly that the Lord Courcy might not be suffered to sit in the House because his Ancestors were called by Writ and so his Honour being in Fee-simple did descend to Daughters who were Heirs-general of his Family and that the Lord Shrewsbury's Titles of Honour in Ireland were not * Contra adjudg'd 4. Inst cap. Ireland forfeited by the Act of Absentees and therefore he might have a Voice in that Parliament or make his Proxy and that for the Credit of the Business the Lord Deputy might be Ennobled before the Parliament sat But some of these were not practicable and the rest not thought fit to be done at that time But I must not forget to take notice of a necessary Office in those days tho now it be obsolete viz. the Interpreter to the State which was enjoy'd by Thomas Cahill with an Annual Sallary of 26 l. 6 s. 8 d. In September the Lord Deputy published a Proclamation of the intended Parliament and thereby invited the Subjects to exhibit their Grievances and to consider of Proposals for the Publick Good to be past into Acts and he also signified his Majesty's gracious Intentions to erect some new Corporations for the better Encouragement of the Plantation of Ulster And it seems that the Government was thenceforward imploy'd about the Plantation of Ulster and the Preparation of Bills to be past in the approaching Parliament and in erecting of some new Corporations viz. Belfast Charlemont Aâ—trim Bandon Cloghnikilty Tallow Newry Lifford Donegall Ballyshanon Tâ—â—am Eniskilling Traly Athy Bi r Kilmallock c. The Bills that were design'd to be made Acts of Parliament were 1. An Act to cut Paces and mend High-ways 2. To extinguish Uses and suppress fraudulent Conveyances 3. That Sale in Market overt should not alter Property of Stolen Goods 4. For the Enrolment of Deeds of Bargains and Sale and for Conveyance of Land 5. To try Accessories in Foreign Counties 6. To reduce Peremptory Challenges to Twenty 7. To enable Tenant in Tail to make Leases 8. To deprive some Criminals of Benefit of Clargy as in England 9. For making Linen Cloth sowing Hemp and Flax. 10. For Trial of Pyrates 11. To Re-edifie Cathedral Churches and to remove some of them to Gallway Dingle Carigfergus Newry Wexfoâ—d Cavan c. 12. To restrain Ecclesiastical Persons from Alienating c. 13. Against Pluralities Non-residence or Simony 14. Against Receivers and Harbourers of Jesuits Serminary Priests c. 15. And sending Children beyond Seas 16. Against Idle Holy-days 17. To expeâ— Monks Friarâ— Nuns c. 18. To give the King all Chantries and other Superstitious Uses 19. To establish the Compositions 20. For the Attainder of the Earls of Tyrone Tytconel and others 21. To revive and perpetâ—ate the Impost of Wines 22. To Naturalize Manufactures 23. To resume all Immunities to Corporations from Customs 24. That those Attainded of Treason in England shall forfeit their Estates in Ireland 25. An Act of Recognition 26. To abolish the Brehon Law and Tanistry and Irish Exactions 27. Artificers Apprentices to be Free-men in any Corporation 28. Against Idlers and Vagabonds 29. The Barony to answer the Stealth unless they can track it farther 30. That Bastards take the Name of the Mother and that it be Felony to lay it to any Man 31. No Man to keep a Woman as a Wiâ—â— and turn her away at pleasure on pain of One Years Imprisonment And if any Authorized Priest do divorce it to be Felony 32. Against Usury above Ten per Cent. 33. To impower Judges of Assiâ—â— to raise Taxes for Court-houses and Goals But in November 1612 1612. the Popish Lords dissatisfied with these Proceedings wrote a joynt Letter to the King complaining that the Bills to be passed in the next Parliament were not Communicated to them they also complained of the new Corporations and that the Oath of Supremacy was tendered to Magistrates and they insinuated the Danger of a general Revolt and concluded that if the Laws about Religion were repeal'd a firm and faithful Subjection would be established in their Minds and on the 17 th of May 1613. the Popish Lords did Petition the Lord Deputy to the effect aforesaid adding nevertheless some stubborn and unseemly Expressions and questioning the Kings Prerogative in erecting new Corporations or calling by Writ new Lords to Parliament and they affirmed some of the new Burroughs were unfit to be incorporated and they excepted against the Castle of Dublin for the place of Session and the rather because the Ammunition being there they might be in Danger of being blown up and they were troubled at the Lord Deputies Guard as that which they said was design'd to keep them in Awe and terrifie them into Compliance But these were but vain Pretences Lib. C. for they well enough knew that the Guard was but 100 Men as was usual and Customary and that it was impossible to blow up the Papists but that the Protestants also and perhaps the City of Dublin must have likewise been destroy'd on the contrary the Papists were so far from being afraid that they were very tumultuous and came to Dublin in vast numbers to frighten the Government The Lord Gormanstowne was amongst the most Seditious and unruly
and attacked them so briskly that they quickly fled but by reason of the adjacent Bog and the harrass'd Condition of the English Horse there was not much Execution done the number of the Slain not exceeding Five hundred amongst which were the Lord Dunboyn's Brother the Lord Ikerin's Son and Colonel â—â—vâ—nagh and on the English side not above Twenty killed and Forty wounded However it was an entire Victory all their Powder and Amunition the Generals Waggon drawn with Eight Oxen his and the Lords of Ikerin's Sumptures and Twenty Colours being taken and for this great Service the Lieutenant General had a Letter of thanks from the Parliament of England and a Jewel worth 500 l. Soon after arrived at Dublin Philip Lord Lisle Lieutenant General of the Horse and his first Essay was to relieve the Castle of Geashill which with Three hundred Horse and One hundred and twenty Foot he easily effected he was accompanied by old Sir Charles Coot in this Action who at a Council of War told the rest that if they made haste they might easily pass the Defiles and Causeways before the Enemy could get together to oppose them whereto another reply'd that perhaps that might be so but when the Countrey was Alarm'd how should they get back I protest said Sir Charles Coot I never thought of that in my Life I always considered how to do my business and when that was done I got home again as well as I could and hitherto I have not mist of forcing my way and accordingly they went and their march was so swift that they came unexpectedly to Phillipstowne and took it and on their return they followed some of the Popish Lords of the Pale to Trim and forced that place likewise and by Coot's advice resolved to make it a Garison and therefore in order to settle this Affair with the Lords Justices the Lord Lisle guarded by some of the Horse went to Dublin but the next night after he was gone the Irish to the number of Three thousand came in the dead of the night to surprise Trim but the Centinel gave the Alarm and thereupon Sir Charles Coot with all the Horse he could get being not above Seventeen issued out of the Gate and was followed by others as fast as they could get ready The Success was answerable to so generous an Undertaking and the Irish were routed without any other considerable Loss on the English Side except that of Sir Charles Coot himself who was shot dead but whether by the Enemy or one of his own Troopers is variously reported Upon his Death the Government of Dublin was given to the Lord Lambert on the Twelfth of May and tho' in July Colonel Monk had it by the Lord Lieutenant's Order yet as soon as the King was informed that it had been predisposed to the Lord Lambert Monk was removed and the Lord Lambert was confirmed And on the Twenty third of May the Marquis of Ormond publish'd a Proclamation against the Exorbitances of the Soldiers and to supply their Necessities the Lords Justices gave them Custodiums on the Villages in the Irish Quarters which produced good Effects both in relieving the Soldiers and in annoying the Rebels On the first of June came over some Regiments under the Conduct of Sir Foulk Hunks and Lieutenant Colonel Kirke whereupon the Earl of Ormond with Four thousand five hundred Foot and Six hundred Horse marched to the Relief of Athlone and in his way took in the Castles of Knocklinch Trimletstown and Kinkelfe and beat Five hundred Rebels from Ballynecurr but upon his approach the Rebels burnt Molingar and Bullymore and Sir James Dillon and the Irish Army thought fit to withdraw so that the Lord President of Connaught with Fifty Horse and Two hundred Foot met the Marquis of Ormond Five Miles from Athlone and received from him Two Regiments of Foot and Two Troops of Horse and then both these Lords return'd the one to Athlone and the other to Dublin About the same time viz. in June Colonel Monk marching to reinforce the Lieutenant-General took Castleknock and killed Eighty Rebels besides some that he hanged and a while after he took the Castles of Rathroffy and Clongowswood in the County of Kildare and did good Execution upon the Enemy and of Seventy which he had taken Prisoners most of them being murdering Rebels were afterwards executed at Dublin And on the Twentieth of the same Month Colonel Gibson made a prosperous Incursion into Wicklow and killed many of the Confederates and brought home a considerable Prey But on the Twenty first of June the Irish Parliament sat according to the Prorogation and the Lower House voted That the Oath of Supremacy should be tendred to all their Members that so the Rotten ones may be cut off and new ones chosen in their room and to that purpose a Bill was prepar'd and sent into England and it seems that they did proceed to chuse new Members for the Corporations and Counties within their power in stead of those that were in actual Rebellion which was one of the Grievances the Confederates afterwards complain'd of And it is worthy Observation The Proclamation Burlace Append. p. 57. That the Lords Justices and Council finding the Rebellion to be so general that all Degrees and Conditions of the Irish had with hateful and bloody obstinacy either publickly or privately contributed to the Destruction and Extirpation of the Protestants and that those under Protection abused that Favour to murder and rob the English the more slily and securely they did by their Order of the Nineteenth of August revoke repeal and annul all Protections that had been given to any Rebel before that time which was one of the wisest Acts that was done in the whole War for nothing is more experimentally true than this That the English never or very seldom suffered by the Irish at open Defiance but have been often destroyed by their Perfidiousness and Treachery But to proceed In August the Lord Moor Sir John Burlace junior and Colonel Gibson with Fifteen hundred Men two Pieces of Battery and two Field-pieces marched into the Counties of Louth and Meath and took the strong Castle of Sedan with the Slaughter of Five hundred Rebels whereat the Lords Gormanstown and Nettervill were so frightned that the former quitted the Fort of Nabar and the other deserted the Castle of Newtown whereby those Counties of Louth and Meath were cleared of the Enemy And this good Success was followed by more of the same sort for the Captains Piggot and Grimâ—s defeated a Party of Eight hundred Rebels near Athy and killed Two hundred of them and the Lord Lisle in the midst of September marched without controul through West-Meath and Cavan and destroyed the Country burnt the Earl of Fingall's House and his Town of Virginia and at last sat down before Carrickmacross which after one days Battery was deserted by the Cowardly Ward But in October the Rebels to the number of Two
posted near Capoquin with a small Wood at their Backs and tho' he had but Sixty Horse and One hundred and forty Foot yet he boldly Charged them and killed two of their best Captains and Two hundred of their Soldiers with the loss of onely one English Man On the Ninth of August the Castle of Glin was taken by the Lord Forbes who came with his Fleet from before Gallway and Sailed up the River of Shanon and on the Twenty first the Lords Dungarvan and Broghill took the Castle of Ardmore with the Saughter of One hundred and forty of the Rebels But Provisions beginning to grow scant the Lord Insiquin drew out One thousand eight hundred Foot and Three hundred and sixty Horse and near Liscaroll met with the Irish Army under the Lord Mountgarret who was accompanied by the Lords Muskery Roch Ikerin Dunboin Castleconnel and Brittas and it came 〈◊〉 a smart Battel on the Third of September wherein the English were Victorious and killed Seven hundred of the Rebels and took Fifty â—sisoners and one piece of Cannon and two Field Pieces without any loss on the English side except that of the valiant Lord Viscount Kinalmeaky who was slain in the beginning of the Fight by a shot in his Neck and Sixteen private Soldiers In this Battel the noble Earl of Cork who never begrudged what he ventured for the Service of his King and Country had no less than four Sons viz. the Lords of Dungarvan Kinalmeky and Broghill and Mr. Francis Boyle since Viscount Shanon About the same time the Lord Forbes with his Regiment Landed at Kinsale and marched to Bandon and being joyned with Three Bandon Companies of Foot and some Horse they went to Rathbarry to relieve Captain Freak who had been besieged there since the Fourteenth of February but when they came to Cloghnikilty on the Eighteenth of October they thought fit to leave Two Scotch Companies and one Bandon Company there to secure that Town till their Return but it was not long after their Departure before a numerous Rabble of the Irish rushed upon them from all sides whereupon Groves who Commanded the Bandon Company advised to retreat towards their main Body which was not above four Miles from them but the Scots thought that dishonourable and refused and the Consequence was That the two Companies of Scots were cut in pieces but Groves valiantly made good his retreat a full Mile to an Old Danes Fort in the way to Ross which he justified manfully till the rest of the Forces came up to him and then they fell upon the Irish and forced them into the Island of 〈◊〉 and the Tide being in above Six hundred of them were killed and drowned whereupon the English marched to Cloghnikilty and relieved a great number of Men Women and Children which were imprison'd in the Market-house purposely to be burnt together â—ith the House to make a Bonâ—iâ—e for joy of the easie Victory they promised themselves over the rest of the Lord Forbes his Party After the Death of the Lord of Kinalmeaky Colonel Râ—â—land Saintleger was made Governour of Bandon in whose time it happened that the Troops of Bandon and Kingsale had appointed to meet at a day prefixed and to take a Prey but the Rebels who were at Kilcrea had notice of it and believing that the Troop had marched abroad according to the Appointment they boldly came to Bandon and took away the Cattel belonging to the Town but the Troop being by some Accident delayed in Town longer than they designed were just ready mounted when this Adventure happened so that they immediately issued out and recovered the Prey at Brinny Bridge and slew Fifty of the Tories in Killmore Bog without the loss of one Man But these small Victories were balanced by some considerable Successes of the Irish for the strong Castle of Limerick which had been besieged since the Fifteenth of January was surrendred to them on the Twenty third of June and the Castle of Askeaton submitted to the same Fate on the Fourteenth of August after nine Months Siege as Castlematrix likewise did not long after Neither was it a small Misfortune to the English that about this time both Dean Gray and Archdeacon Byss who were Commissioners to enquire into the English Losses in Munster met with their Destiny the former dying at Bandon and Byss the Survivor who had all the Papers and Examinations was murdered by the Rebels on the Way to Youghall ☜ and this is the true Reason why there is no particular full Account extant of the Murders and Losses in Munster And it is very observable that the Rebels took very few places by force but either want of Necessaries or Promise of good Conditions prevail'd with the English to surrender and it is no less wonder that the English would trust to any Articles from a perfidious People that had so often violated their Faith Nevertheless every day afforded Instances of their sâ—â—essful Treachery and besides what is already mentioned Gloghleigâ— and Cool are additional Examples in the former was a considerable Garison to whom Richard Condon promised Quarter and Convoy to Castlelyons whereupon they surrendred and for their Folly were every one murdered wounded or kept Prisoners And in Cool were 36 Troopers of the Earl of Barrimores to whom the same Condon promised the like Quarter Upon the Faith of a Soldier and a Christian but nevertheless murdered them all except one who had 36 Wounds and was left for dead And in Connaught the Town of Gallway did in the later end of April submit unto the Earl of Clanrickard who was Governor of that County and was by him taken into Protection until the Pleasure of his Majesty then expected over should be known but the Lords Justices did not approve of that Protection unless the Town would admit of an English Garison However Clanrickard made use of that Opportunity to relieve the Fort of Galway wherein the Archbishop of Tuam and 36 Ministers and many more English were in very great distress And about the middle of July the Lord President drew out his small Forces into the County of Mâ—yo Battle of Ballintobber where not far from Ballintobber they met with the Irish Army which was more than double their Number Nevertheless the English obtained an easie Victory over them and killed near 2000 of the Enemy and on the First day of the same Month Sir Frederick Hamilton took the Town of Sligo and slew 300 of the Rebels and afterwards routed Owen O Rourk who in his Absence had with 1000 Men besieged his Castle of Mannor Hamilton And about August the Lord Forbes came into the Bay of Gaâ—â—ay and landed some Guns and seized on the Abby and being joyn'd by the Lord President and the Earl of Clanrickard they pretended to besiege the Town but they wanted Necessaries and therefore the Lord Forbes compounded with the Town for a Sum of Money which was never paid and drew off from
Prisoners but he had not so good luck in his next attempt for a Party of his going to plunder the great Island were by Major Power who had not at first above 30 Horse but afterwards was reinforced by two Companies of Foot so handled that they left five hundred of their Companions dead upon the place however he afterwards took Castle-Lions Cony-Castle and Lismore which last place was bravely defended by the same Major Power and 100 of the Earl of Cork's Tenants to the Slaughter of 500 of the Besiegers until their Powder being spent they surrendred upon honourable Conditions After this Castleâ—aven went to besiege Youghall a weak and untenable place and lay before it many weeks and having received several considerable Baffles by the handful of Men that were within the Town he was at last forced to raise the Siege and close the Campagne with that misfortune And thus Matters stood in Munster till the latter end of the year at which time Inâ—iquin sent 500 Foot and 100 Troopers to seize upon the Castle of Bunratty which they performed and there found Horses enough to mount their Cavalry And as for Conaught it was under a Triumvirate of Presidents the Lord Dillon of Câ—stilo was the King's President and Sir Charles Coot was the Parliaments and the Titular Archbishop of Tuam was commissioned by the Confederates But Coot was too hard for both his Rivals and being united with the Lagan Forces under Sir Robert 〈◊〉 Colonel Awdly Mervin c. they made up in all 〈◊〉 Regiments with which they marched through Conaught and burnt the Country to within 6 miles of Galloway without meeting an Enemy in the Field they also took Sligo with the loss of Twenty of their own Men and the Slaughter of One hundred and twenty of the Rebels and Colonel Mervin being chosen by a Council of War to be Governour of Sligo as he well deserved was nevertheless by means of the Scots put by that Command which was given to Sir Robert Stewart whereupon Colonel Mervin came away discontented and notified to the Lord Lieutenant his Design of adhering to the King Hereupon the Confederates gave the Lord Taaf the Command of an Army to relieve Conaught and he issued forth a terrible Declaration That whoever did not submit to his Majesties Commission conferred on him within two days after Notice should be treated as an Enemy and on the 4th of August he summoned Castlecoot which returned this Answer That they neither broke the Cessation noâ— used Hostility at any time but when the Irish began That their misbehaviour forced them to correspond with the Scots whom they did not know or believe to be declared Enemies of the King That they would always submit to the Kings Pleasure but may not in any sort confide in such breach of Faith at they always find from the Irish Nation to their Party and instanced the burning of their Hay even then in the time of the Treaty and they desire a Copy of his Commission which his Lordship pretended was from the Lord Lieutenant And so his Lordship finding no good to be done upon Castlecoot at that time marched to Tulak which he took by Assault the 17th of August and having besieged Abby Boyle in vain after the Garison for their better defence were forced to burn the Town he agreed that upon an Oath of Fidelity and to observe the Cessation they should be no farther molested and the like Agreements were made with the Castles of Cambo and Lissidarne and it seems that afterwards the Irish Army returned to the Siege of Castlecoot and forced it to surrender about the 10th day of September In the mean time 1645. on the 16th of August the Bishop of Elphin and his Son Captain Tilson by Letter submitted to the Lord Dillon President of Conaught and on the 19th the Lord President at the Head of the Army came thither accompanied with the Lord Taaf and told the Bishop that Captain Tilson and his Foot Company must quit the Castle of Elphin within two hours and tho' they offered to take any Oath of Fidelity to His Majesties Service and the Bishop offered to stand obliged for the performance of what they should Promise or Swear yet all would not do but the Lord President and Lord Taaf having at length condescended to Sign some Articles for their Security they marcht out of the Castle into the Village and the Lord President and his Guard lodged in the Castle that Night and afterwards left it under the Command of Captain John Brown who admitted Boetius Egan the Titular Bishop of Elphin into the Castle on the 7th of September being accompanied with Sir Lucas Dillon and they made a Guard for the Bishop on the Knee from the Gate to the Church where the Bishop Rung one Bell and one of the Six Fryars accompanying him Rung another I suppose by way of Livery and Seizin they also burnt Incense and sprinkled Holy water and the next day being the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin they said several Masses in the Cathedral Church and the Bishop preached there and he was so vain and confident in his present Possession that he sent word to the Protestant Inhabitants That if they would continue his Tenants he would use them no worse than the former Bishop had done But that which the poor Bishop Tilson complained of in his Letter the 29th of December to the Lord Taaf is That none of the Conditions made with him and his Son were observed but that the Titular Bishop kept his Books and some of his Goods and turned out his Servant so that he was damnified to the value of Four hundred Pounds and it appears by another Letter of the Bishops that when the Titular Bishop was urged with the aforesaid Agreements and Articles He reply'd That that was past and out of date Upon complaint of these Matters to the Lord Lieutenant and that the Irish refused to permit the Clergy of the Diocess of Elphin to Levy any of their Dues alledging that the Bishop was outed by His Majesties Commission his Excellency did send positive Orders to restore the Bishop to the Castle of Elphin but in vain for the Lord President writes back That he had used his utmost indeavours with the Lord Taaf but could not prevail because of some Dangers he pretended from Sir Charles Coot and the Scots In the mean time the Titular Archbishop of Tuam was not idle but with Two thousand Foot and Three hundred Horse he surrounded and endeavoured to retake the Town of Sligo but there being about Two hundred Horse got into the Town under Captain Richard Coot and Captain Cole they Sallied out on the 17th of October and being well Seconded by Colonel Sanderson and a good Party of Foot they got a considerable Victory and by the help of Sir Francis Hamiltons Troop which came in the nick of time they did great Execution the Archbishop himself was slain and all the Baggage was taken
would send it we being fleshed in Blood one against the other But whilst the Treaty between Ormond and the Irish was in agitation a Letter of his to the Supreme Council was intercepted and brought to the Parliament and by them shewed to the King who was then in the Isle of Wight whereupon they obliged His Majesty to write to the Lord Lieutenant not to proceed any farther in the Treaty with the Irish but that Letter was interpreted to come from one in Duress and being contrary to express Orders given his Excellency Not to obey any Commands inconsistent with those then received unless they were manifestly for His Majesty's Advantage until His Majesty were at liberty to declare his Sentiments freely That Letter was not much regarded and so after twenty days spent in the Treaty at Carrick the Lord Lieutenant about the middle of November removed to his Castle at Kilkenny upon the Invitation of the Commissioners and to be nearer the General Assembly which was then Sitting in that City he was received with such profound Respect as is usually paid to the Sovereign Authority and had his own Guards with him However it was the middle of January before the Matters relating to the Peace could be adjusted and then they passed unanimously even by the Votes of the Popish Bishops and were on the 17th of January mutually Ratified and afterwards Proclaimed with great Joy and followed by the * * Appendix 44 Declarations of the Popish Clergy expressing their great Satisfaction at this Peace which consisted of the Articles mentioned Appendix 43 which King Charles the second in the Preamble of the Act of Settlement had good reason to call Difficult Conditions Upon this Peace Ormond proposed to get together so good an Army as might by Force or Treaty prevent the Impending Fate of his Royal Master for the undertaken Quota's were as followeth  Foot Horse Munster Irish 4000 800 Leinster 4000 800 Insiquin 3000 600 Conaught 4000 800 Owen Roe if he would come in had 5000 500  20000 3500 But he depended upon a broken Reed for besides that the Irish had delayed the conclusion of the Peace too long to render it serviceable to the King and had exacted such Conditions as would rather hasten than prevent His Majesty's Ruine the Lord Lieutenant was exceedingly disappointed in his Calculation for Owen Roe did not at all come in till it was too late and most of the rest were deficient in their promised Proportions of Men or Money so that he was forced to borrow 800 l. upon his own Credit to enable the Army to march But it must not be forgotten that the Confederates still lay upon the lurch and in order to keep up their Dominion and Power notwithstanding the Peace they did on the 12th of January 1648 make the following Order By the General Assembly WHEREAS the Declaration of the General Assembly of the Confederate Catholicks Ante pag. 152. 〈◊〉 bearing date the 28th day of August 1645 and the Explanation of the 〈◊〉 General Assembly thereupon dated the First of September 1645 did relate to a Settlement of a Peace to be grounded on any Authority from his Majesty as by the said Declaration and Explanation thereupon more at large may appear It is this day ordered and declared by this Assembly ☜ That the said Declaration and Explanation shall CONTINUE and REMAIN in full force and be renewed as of this time and have relation to all Articles for a Settlement agreed on as well by Authority from His Majesty as from his Highness the Prince of Wales or both as if the said Declaration and Explanation had been NOW MADE to all Intents Constructions and Purposes But the Peace being concluded the Irish became very troublesom by their Importunities for Offices and Places of Trust and Honour Sir Richard Blake the very next week after the Peace wrote to Secretary Lane to mind the Lord Lieutenant to make him a Baron and others were as careful of their own Advancement but above all others the Insolence of a Son of Hugh O Connour is remarkable for he on the 9th of March wrote to the Lord Lieutenant to give him a Troop and his Brother a Foot Company or else they would shift for themselves To whom the Lord Lieutenant made answer That whatever he did with great Rebels he would not capitulate with small ones And now how gladly would I draw a Curtain over that Dismal and Unhappy Thirtieth of January wherein the Royal Father of our Country suffered Martyrdom Oh! that I could say They were Irish Men that did that Abominable Fact or that I could justly lay it at the Door of the Papists But how much soever they might obliquely or designedly Contribute to it 't is certain it was actually done by others who ought to say with the Poet Pudet haec opprobria nobis Et dici potuisse non potuisse refelli THE REIGN OF Charles the Second KING OF England Scotland France and Ireland CHARLES Prince of WALES 1648. eldest Son of the deceased King succeeded his Father in the Right of All and in the Possession of some of his Dominions and was by the Lord-Lieutenant first at Youghall where he then hapned to be in his return from visiting Prince Rupert and afterwards at Carrick proclaimed King by the Name of Charles the Second And altho' the new King did soon after by his Letters confirm the Marquess of Ormond in the Government of Ireland and acquainted him That the Kirk of Scotland had caused his Majesty to be proclaimed King on the 16th of February yet he also sent him the bad News of that Kirk's Declaration of the 13th of February against the Peace his Excellency had made with the Irish But the Lord-Lieutenant was encouraged to struggle with that Misfortune by two Accidents that happened in his favour viz. the Arrival of Prince Rupert and the Departure of the Nuncio The Prince being by the mistake of his Pilot put into Crook-Haven did not come into Kinsale till the 10th of February tho' his Brother Prince Maurice arrived above a Fortnight before he brought with him sixteen Frigats and his design was to make way for the Prince of Wales and he thought it a happy Omen that the first News he met with was that of the Peace Wherefore upon Conference with the Lord-Lieutenant at Corke it was resolved to send Capt. Ulbert to the Prince to hasten him for Ireland which was accordingly done and then the News of the King's Martyrdom arrving Prince Rupert proclaimed the new King at Kinsale with all the Solemnity that place was capable of and put himself and all his Officers in Mourning and even the Ensigns Jacks and Streamers of all the Fleet were altered to a colour suitable to the black and dismal Occasion Whilest Prince Rupert staid at Kinsale his Frigats cruis'd abroad and brought in several considerable Prizes and particularly three Corn-Ships which were of great consequence because of
and Justice Cook Assistants and it sat in the same place where the Supream Council us'd to sit Anno 1642. Afterwards the like Court was held at Dublin before the Lord Chief Justice Lowther and others and there Sir Phelim O Neal was tryed condemned and executed and it is observable that being urged both at his Tryal and Execution to discover the Commission he had from the King for the Rebellion of 1641 and that he should be pardoned both for Life and Estate he confess'd in both places That he had no such Commission but that he took the Seal from a Patent he found at Charlemont and fixed it to a Commission he had caused to be written in the King's Name and that Michael Harrison then present in Court and confessing the same was the person that sticht the Cord or Label of the Seal with Silk of the same colour These Commissions issued in the Name of the Commissioners of the Commonwealth of England for the Affairs in Ireland and that for Conaught bore date the 17th day of December 1652 and was signed by Fleetwood Ludlow and Jones and was directed to Sir Charles Coot Peter Stubbers Humphry Hurd Francis Gore John Desborough Thomas Davis Robert Ormsby Robert Clerk Charles Holeroft John Eyre Alexder Staples and others but I mention these because they sat upon the Tryal of the Lord of Mayo which began the 30th of December and ended the 12th of January at which time he was condemned by the Vote of seven of the Commissioners Gore Davis Clerk and Holcroft dissenting and accordingly he was shot to Death on the 15th But his Case being variously reported it will be convenient to give a faithful account of it as it appeared upon the Tryal which was thus Upon the Surrender of Castlebar which was besieged by the old Lord of Mayo and the Prisoner then Sir Tibâ—â—t Burk it was agreed by Articles that the English should march away with their Arms and be safely convoyed to Galway and though they were deprived of their Arms contrary to the Articles yet the Lord of Mayo and his Son the Prisoner with their Followers conveyed them safely to Ballynecarrow and the next day to Ballinroab and the third day to The Neal where they left Sir Henry Bingham on pretence of his being sick but as was suspected to preserve him from the subsequent Massacre the fourth day they came to Kinlagh and the next day to Shrule which it seems was two Mile out of the Road to Galway there they lodged that night and the next morning on the 13th of February 1641 an Ambush was laid on the other side of the Bridge which as soon as the English got over the Bridge fell upon them and by the help of the Convoy murdered about fourscore of the English the Protestant Bishop of Kiâ—lalla and a few others only escaping This matter of fact was thus proved Four Witnesses swore that the Prisoner was present at this Massacre and did not oppose it and that the Convoy were the Murtherers and that the Lord Mayo's Fosterers Servants and Followers were of that number and it was proved that the Lord Mayo the Father engaged by Capitulation to Convey the English safe to Galway and that they were disarmed by his Command and some of them were Plundered and Stript by the way by the Convoy and could get no redress from the Prisoner or his Father that the Convoy pricked forward the English over the Bridge towards the Murderers and the old Lord Mayo went to a little Hill hard by to look on that the Prisoner was seen to come over the Bridge from the Murtherers after several English-men had been killed and had been actually amongst them with his Sword drawn that the Father refused to Convoy them any farther than Shrule and that the Prisoner was the first Man that entered Castlebar after the Capitulation And the substance of the Prisoner's Defence was That he had no Command of the Party but with two Servants only came to attend his Father that on the Outcry he went over the Bridge and drew his Sword with design to preserve the English but being shot at by one of the Murderers he got a Horse having lent his own to the Bishop of Killalla to make his escape and rode away before the Murther was commited and if he had not fled he had been killed himself and that he was kind to the English and preserved many of them both before and after and that the Protestant Bishop of Killalla had declared That he believed this Action was done in spight to the Prisoner and by Letter acknowleged his Civility to himself But to proceed the like High Courts of Justice were held at Cork Waterford c. but so many of the Murtherers had been destroyed by the Sword and the Pestilence that not above two hundred suffered by the hands of the common Executioner In the mean time on the 12th of August they passed in England an Act for the settling of Ireland wherein the Marquess of Ormond the Protestant Bishop of Derry the Earl of Roscomon and the Lord Insiquin were by name excepted from Pardon for Life or Estate equally with many others therein named that were guilty of the first Rebellion And so we are come to the Year 1653 wherein I cannot find any thing that looks like War and yet it was the 26th day of September before it was declared That the Rebels were subdued and the Rebellion appeased and ended Whereupon they immediately proceeded to the Distribution of Lands to the Souldiers for their Arrears and to the Adventurers for their Money And thus ended a REBELLION which began with TREACHERY and CRUELTY and continued with OBSTINACY against all the Tenders of MERCY and the utmost CONCESSIONS a Gracious King could make and was supported by an OATH of ASSOCIATION and Propositions annexed thereunto wherein there is not a word but breaths HIGHTREASON except a few of the first Lines which sets up the KING's NAME and AUTHORITY in PAGEANTRY and MOCKERY to be Crucified and Contradicted by all that follows FINIS A LETTER To the AUTHOR of the History of Ireland CONTAINING A Brief Account of the Transactions in that Kingdom since 1653. SIR I Do very well approve of your resolution to close the Second Part of your History of Ireland with the end of the Irish Rebellion for besides that it is impossible for you at this distance from the Records and Council-Books in Ireland to give so full and satisfactory an Account of that Kingdom from 1653 forwards as you have given of the time before it is certain that the Intrigues of the Acts of Settlement and Court of Claims the Transactions in the late Reign and the present stupendious Revolution will afford matter more than enough for another Volume nor indeed can your History be so compleat as I expect it will be if it were closed with any thing less than the Glorious Issue of the present War However I do not offer this
said Forces and hereby further requiring and authorizing you as Commander of them in chief to arm array divide distribute dispose conduct lead and govern in chief the said Forces according to your best Discretion and with the said Forces to resist pursue follow apprehend and put to death slay and kill as well by Battel as other ways all and singular the said Conspirators Traitors and their Adherents according to your Discretion and according to your Conscience and Discretion to proceed against them or any of them by Martial Law by hanging them or any of them till they be dead according as it hath been accustomed in Time of open Rebellion and also to take waste and spoil their or any of their Castles Holds Forts Houses Goods and Territories or otherwise to preserve the Lives of them or any of them and to receive them into his Majesties Favour and Mercy and to forbear the Devastation of their or any of their Castles Forts Holds Goods and Territories aforementioned according to your discretion Further hereby requiring and authorizing you to do execute and perform all and singular such other thing for Examination of Persons suspected discovery of Traitors and their Adherents parlying with and granting Protections to them or any of them taking up of Carts Carriages and other Conveniences sending and retaining Espials victualling the said Forces and other things whatsoever conducing to the purpose aforementioned as you in your discretion shall think fit and the Necessity of the Service require further hereby requiring and authorizing you as Commander in chief to constitute and appoint such Officers and Ministers respectively for the better performance and execution of all and singular the Premises as you in your discretion shall think fit And we do hereby require and command all and singular His Majesties Sheriffs Officers and Ministers and loving Subjects of and within the County of Meath and the Borders thereof upon their Faith and Allegiance to His Majesty and to his Crown to be aiding helping and assisting to you in the doing and executing of all and singular the Premises This our Commission to continue during our pleasure only and for the so doing this shall be your sufficient Warrant Given at His Majesties Castle of Dublin November 2 d. 1641. To our very good Lord Nicholas Viscount Gormanstown R. Dillon Jo. Temple Ja. Ware Rob. Meredith Appendix IX The Deposition of Henry Jones Doctor in Divinity and Dean of Kilmore I Henry Jones Doctor in Divinity in obedience to His Majesties Commission requiring an Account of the Losses of his Loyal Subjects wherein they suffered by the present Rebellion in Ireland Requiring also a Declaration of what traiterous Words Projects or Actions were done said or plotted by the Actors or Abetters in that Rebellion do make and give in this following Report of the Premises to the best of my knowledge As for the present Rebellion howsoever the breaking out of this Fire into a Flame began first on the 23 d. of October yet was it smoking as may well be conjectured for many years before God having given us many and apparent Grounds for the Discovery of it had they been duly considered or fully prosecuted to a discovery of which kind we find these following four particulars 1. The first that about three or four years since amongst many Books brought into Limeriek from foreign yarts and seized upon by the Reverend Bishop of that See as probibited being thereunto authorized by the State One had a written Addition to the first part which was printed the Manuscript containing a Discourse of the Fryers of the Augustine Order sometimes seated in the Town of Armagh in Vlster but by reason of the Times at that present resident as that writing imported in the City of Limerick in Munster that while it flourished at Armagh it was protected and largely provided for by the then Earl of Tyrone Since whose expulsion out of Ireland that Convent was also decayed and driven to those distresses it did for the present undergo but that within three years this is as I remember the time limitied Ireland should find that he had a Son inheriting his Fathers Vertues who should restore that Kingdom to its former Liberty and that Convent to its first Lustre or words to that effect This was related unto me by that zealous and learned Prelate Doctor Webb now Bishop of Limerick who saw and read the said passage purposing as his Lordship told me to send that Book to the Lord President of Munster to be taken into further consideration 2. Hereunto was added a second passage about the same time at Limeriek aforesaid where a Popish Priest gave out that within three years there should not be a Protestant in Ireland or words to that purpose with some other material Circumstances which I do not now remember yet all so concurring with the former or the first to this for which preceeded I know not both being about one time that it was thought fitting to be considered of the said Priest being sent unto the Lords Justices at Dublin and he committed to the Castle 3. The third did agree with the two former and fell out about the same time in the Country of Westmeath in the Province of Linster where Walter Nugent of Rathaspeck in the said County Eldest Son the Walter Nugent Esquire a Man of great Fortunes upbraiding an Irish Protestant who was the Parish Clark of Rathaspeck aforesaid with his Religion and both speaking Latin the said Newgent uttered these words Infratres Annos veniet tempus potentia in Hibernia quando tu longe likely meaning diu pendebis in cruce propter Diabolicam vestram Religionem The party to which this was spoken feared the power of the man and durst not speak of it only in private yet being called upon and examined juridically upon Oath he deposed these words And being demanded whether the words were in Hiberniam or Hibernia the first importing an Invasion the other an Insurrection at home he deposed the latter having time given him to consider of it These Examination were sent to Sir George Ratcliff Newgent was sent for and committed to the Castle of Dublin and remained in long durance but after was dismissed 4. Hereunto was added the fourth about the same time near the Nass about Twelve Miles from Dublin where a Popish Preist newly arrived out of Flanders did make his Address to the then Lord-Deputy and informed his Lordship of an intercourse of Letters between the Earl of Tyrone with others in Flanders and the Popish Primate of Armagh Rely concerning an Invasion within a short time intended upon Ireland the said Priest offering so his Person might be secured to direct such as should be thereunto appointed to the place where the said Letters were in the Custody of the said Rely Rely was thereupon sent for together with the Popish Vicar General of Armagh as I remember it both were committed to the said Castle of Dublin but soon after
conventionem dicti Reverendissimus D. Nicolaus D. Hugo Procuratores nostri aut quilibet illorum aget concludet aut determinabit virtute hujus nostrae Commissionis Dat. Galuiae quinto Octobris anno Domini 1650. Franciscus Aladensis Episcopus Procurator D. Joannis Archiepiscopi Tuamensis Fr. Thomas Archiep. Dublimensis Hiberniae Primas Joan. Rapotensis Episcopus Procurator Primatis Ardmachani Walterus Clonfertensis Episcopus Procurator Lacghiniensis Episcopi Fr. Antonius Episcopus Clanmacnosensis Fr. Arthurus Dunen Coneren The Commission to the Bishop of Fernes and Sir James Preston In Dei Nomine Amen MEmorandum quod anno Domini 1651. die vero mensis Aprilis septimo nos infra scripti tam nostro quam omnium fere Procerum Nobilium ac Popularium Catholicorum Regni Hiberniae Nominâ— nominibus quorum sensuum in hac parte consensuum certam exploratam notitiam habemus nominavimus constituimus elegimus deputamus omnibus quibus possumus modo via jure ac ratione Procuratores Agentes negotiorum nostrorum Gestores generales speciales ita ut specialitas generalitati non deroget aut è contra conjunctim etiam divisim si ita opus fuerit in casu mortis aut alterius inevitabilis necessitatis Reverendissimum in Christo Patrem ac Dominum D. Episcopum Fernensem clarissimum ac nâ—bilissimum D. D. Jacobum Prestonium Equitem Auratum ut supra ad agendum tractandum consulendum ac firmiter concludendum cum serenissimo Principe Carolo Duce Lotharingiae quem in Regium Protectorem Regni Hiberniae eligimus nostro omniumque praefarorum nominibus ad agendum cum praefata sua Celsitudine tam in super negotio principâ—li Protectionis memoratae quam in de aliis articulis propositionibus postulatis nostris conventis non conventis tale negotium quomodo concernentibus cum omnibus annexis connexis emergentibus dependentibus aliqua ratione concernentibus generaliter omnia alia in praemissis agendi faciendi ac si nos ipsi praesentes essemus Et quicquid in praedictis fecerint concluserint tractaverint consenserint convenerint cum praefato serenissimo Duce Lotharingiae seu cum ejus haeredibus aut assignatis suis seu cum ejus eorumque agentibus legatis procuratoribus seu aliis quibuscunque mandatum potestatem ad id specialem habentibus uno vel pluribus nos ratum gratum aeceptum habituros promittimus per presentes Et ad id nos ipsos Successores Haeredes nostros aliosque quos possumus in perpetuum obligamus Datum sub signis sigillis nostris anno dieque quibus supra in Praesentia testium infra scriptorum Galviae in Provincia Conaciae Regno Hiberniae praesentis mansionis nostrae seu refugii loco Fr. Thomas Archiepiscopus Dubliniensis Hiberniae Primas Robertus Corcagien Cloanen Episcopus Fr. Antonius Clunamacnosensis Episc Procurator Primatis Hiberniae Walterus Cluanfertensis Procurator Laghlinensis Franciscus Aladensis Episcopus Et nos major seu praetor Galuiensis confirmamus nostris Suffragriis ratificamus praedictum procuratorium et personas in eo nominatas nostros etiam procuratores ut supra constituimus die anno quibus supra cum infra scriptis de concilio nostro Append. XLVIII The Declaration and Excommunication of the Popish Clergy at Jamestown A DECLARATION of the Archbishops and other Prelates and Dignitaries of the Secular and Regular Clergy of the Kingdom of Ireland against the Continuance of his Majesty's Authority in the Person of the Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for the Misgovernment of the Subject the ill Conduct of his Majesty's Army and the Violation of the Articles of Peace Dated at Jamestown in the Convent of the Friars Minors August 12. 1650. THE Catholick People of Ireland in the Year 1641 forced to take up Arms for the Defence of Holy Religion their Lives and Liberties the Parliament of England having taken a Resolution to extinguish the Catholick Faith and pluck up the Nation root and branch a powerful Army being prepared and designed to execute their black rage and cruel Intention made a Peace and published the same the 17th of January 1648 with James Lord Marquess of Ormond Commissioner to that effect from his Majesty or from his Royal Queen and Son Prince of Wales now Charles II hereby manifesting their Loyal Thoughts to Royal Authority This Peace or Pacification being consented to by the Confederate Catholicks when his Majesty was in Restraint and neither He nor his Queen or Prince of Wales in condition to send any Supply or Relief to them when also the said Confederate Catholicks could have agreed with the Parliament of England upon as good or better Conditions for Religion and the Lives Liberties and Estates of the People than were obtained by the above Pacification and thereby freed themselves from the Danger of any Invasion or War to be made upon them by the Power or England where notwithstanding the Pacification with His Majesty they were to dispute and fight with their and his Enemies in the three Kingdoms Let the World judg if this be not an undeniable Argument of Loyalty This Peace being so concluded the Catholick Confederates ran sincerely and cheerfully under his Majesty's Authority in the Person of the said Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland plentifully providing vast Sums of Moneys well nigh half a Million of English Pounds besides several Magazines of Corn with a fair Train of Artillery great Quantity of Powder Match Amunition with other Materials for War After his Excellency the said Lord Lieutenant frustrating the Expectation the Nation had of his Fidelity Gallantry and Ability became the Author of almost losing the whole Kingdom to God King and Natives which he began by violating the Peace in many Parts thereof as may be clearly evidenced and made good to the World I. The foresaid Catholicks having furnished his Excellency with the aforesaid Sum of Mony which was sufficient to make up the Army of 15000 Foot and 2500 Horse agreed upon by the Peace for the preservation of the Catholick Religion our Sovereign's Interest and the Nation his Excellency gave Patents of Colonels and other Commanders over and above the Party under the Lord Baron of Inchiquin to Protestants and upon them consumed the Substance of the Kingdom who most of them afterwards betrayed or deserted us II. That the Holds and Ports of Munster as Cork Youghall Kingsale c. were put in the Hands of faithless Men of the Lord of Inchiquin's Party that betrayed the Places to the Enemy to the utter endangering of the King's Interest in the whole Kingdom This good Service they did his Majesty after soaking up the Sweat and Substance of his Catholick Subjects of Munster where it is remarkaable that upon making the Peace his Excellency would no way allow his Loyal Catholick Subjects of Cork Youghall Kingsale and other Garisons
to raise a Monarchy for himself Whereupon he was recalled and the Government committed unto John Constable of Cheshire May 1181. Baron of Halton-Castle and Richard de Peach Lord Bishop of Coventry Lords Justices of Ireland But they continued in that Dignity but three Months for Lacy behaved himself with that Discretion and Modesty and gave the King such Satisfaction in all Matters objected against him That Hugh de Lacy August 1181. Lord Justice was again sent over with Robert of Shrewsbury a Clergy-man his Assistant and about the same time the famous Courcy also returned being Dignified with the Titles of Lord of Connaught and Earl of Vlster and accompanied with his Brother S. Laurence There were some who reported That these two fought a successful Battle with the Irish Brady 367. at the Bridge of Ivora near the Hill of Hoath where the Valour of S. Laurence was so conspicuous that it got him both the Land and Title of Hoath which last continues to this Day in his Name and Family We left Cogan and Fitz-Stephens in the peaceable Enjoyment of their Kingdom of Cork but we shall not find them so for Cogan and young Fitz-Stephens at the Persuasion and Invitation of one Mac Tirid made a Journey to Lismore to treat with the Men of Waterford about some Controversies that were between them they were to lodge at Mac Tirid's House but he perfidiously took his Opportunity and unexpectedly fell upon them and murdered them and five of their Company Immediately the whole Country was up in Arms and conspired a general Rebellion Donald More in Curraugh Mac Carthy whom the Irish still called King of Cork got his Forces together and laid Siege to the City not doubting but that he had now a favourable Opportunity to expel the English thence The Poor Old Fitz-Stephens was in a sad Condition distressed by Enemies without and Suspicions of Traytors within he had no Hopes of Relief or Assistance saving only from Reymond le Gross who lay at Wexford to him a Messenger was sent and without Delay put to Sea with twenty Gentlemen and one hundred Archers and entred the River of Cork whereupon the Enemy dispersed and all was set at Rights again Nevertheless as soon as the King heard of the aforesaid Treachery he sent Richard Cogan Philip Barry Giraldus Cambrensis and a Good Party of Horse and Foot to help Fitz-Stephens by their Assistance the City and Kingdom of Cork were kept in Quiet for some Time but the Old Fitz-Stephens had but little Benefit of it for being much broken with Age and Misfortunes he first lost his Senses and not long afterwards his Life But Lacy the Lord Justice was again become suspected for as he grew Great his Enemies grew Envious and the King Jealous so that he was once more sent for and Philip of Worcester September 1184. Lord Justice or Governour of Ireland came over with a smart Party of Horse and Foot he also brought with him Hugh Tirrel a Man of ill Report He was not long in the Government before he seized on the Lands of O Cathesie to the King's Use though Lacy had formerly sold them He also went a Circuit to visit the Garisons and in March came to Armagh where he exacted from the Clergy a great Sum of Mony thence he went to Down and so to Dublin loaden both with Curses and Extortions Tirrel took a Brewing-Pan from the poor Priests at Armagh and carried it to Down but the House where he lay was burnt and so were also the Horses in the Stable so that he was fain to leave the Pan for want of Carriage and Philip had a severe fit of the Gripes like to cost him his Life both which Punishments they say were miraculously inflicted upon them for their Sacrilege In July came over John Comin Archbishop of Dublin to prepare for the King 's youngest Son John Earl of Moreton to whom the Kingdom of Ireland was assigned towards his Portion Brady 369. Some say that he was made King of Ireland at the Parliament held at Oxford 4 Inst 360. anno 1177. his Father having obtained Licence from the Pope to make which of his Sons he pleased King thereof saving to the See of Rome the Peter-pence and the rest of its Rights And it seems Pope Vrban the Third sent Cardinal Octavianus and Hugo de Nunant his Legates to crown John King of Ireland and by them sent him a Crown of Peacocks Feathers But King Henry better considered of that matter and either because he would not seem to derive his Son's Title from the Pope or because he was loath to trust his Son with that Royal Stile having already suffered by the like Indulgence to his eldest Son or because he saw it Inconvenient and Illegal to separate Ireland from the Crown of England It is certain he found means to carry the Legates with him into Normandy and thereby prevented that once designed Coronation So that the Impression of the Great Seal of Ireland was no more than this Johannes Filius Regis Angliae Speed 478. Domini Hiberniae Earl John was then about twelve Years old when on Wednesday in Easter-week 1185. anno 1185 with about four hundred Gentlemen most Normans some Clerks and particularly Giraldus Cambrensis and a great Company of others he took Shipping at Milford-Haven being accompanied to the very Ship by Randulph Glanvile principal Counseller of the King and Kingdom and Justiciary of England The Irish Potentates flock'd to their new Prince but their Trouses and Mantles their Glibbs and Behaviour were derided by the Normans who used them scurrilously one pats the Irish Prince on the Pate another pulls him by the Mantle a third pricks him in the Breech with a Pin a fourth shuts the Door upon his Heels every Body abuses them Wherefore away they get as fast as they can and every-where publish'd the Ill Usage they received at Court Rotherick O Conner Mac Carthy and O Bryan were then preparing for their Journey but upon this News they better considered it and confederated to raise a general Rebellion There were many Reasons why Earl John's Voyage to Ireland was not successful The Superstitious People observ'd That he had not pay'd his Devotions at S. Davids before he imbarqued and attributed it to that Others blamed him and his Followers more for their Rude and Ungenteel Abuse of the Irish Lords and Gentlemen Others imputed all to the Debauchery of the Soldiers who by the example of their Captains were grown Idle and Insolent Wherein they were the more indulged because they were ill paid To these may be added the Litigiousness of the Natives in Towns and Cities who were perpetually wrangling with and suing such new Inhabitants as came to settle among them But there was a greater Cause than all these which arose from the different Interests then in Ireland which inâ—luenced the Normans English Welch and the Natives The Normans were most in
York Second Son of Edward the Fourth to whom the Crown did really belong if he were living and this Perkin did personate him so well that there remains some doubt to this day whether he were an Impostor or not but supposing he was it was cunningly contrived to let him first appear in Portugal as a Child that had in a skulking manner fled from the Cruelty of his usurping Unkle besides Portugal was a Place with which the Duchess of Burgundy had not much Correspondence and therefore it could not be suspected that she had a hand in the Cheat but however that be young Perkin set Sail from Lisbon and arrived safely at Cork where he was kindly received by the Citizens and particularly by John Walters an eminent Merchant of Cork who probably was then Mayor and whose Apprentice Perkin had been as they say he wrote Letters to the Earls of Kildare and Desmond for their Assistance against King Henry but before he received their Answers he received Letters from the French King inviting him thither and so to France he went and was royally received and entertained until that King made Peace with King Henry and then Perkin made a seasonable Retreat into Flanders where he was exceeding welcome to his supposed Aunt the Duchess of Burgundy and there we will leave him for a while and return to our â—ord Deputy He held a Parliament at Dublin 1493. on Friday after Midsummer which it seems vacated some Indictments and Inquisitions that had formerly been made to the prejudice of this Lord Deputy by the Means of the Lord Portlester and now the Tables being turn'd and the Votaries of the House of Lancaster at Helm the Lord Portlester himself was questioned in the Exchequer for the miss-management of his Office of Treasurer This Parliament did also repeal a former Act made against the City of Waterford and restored that City to all its ancient Liberties and Priviledges and it is probable that there was also an Act of Parliament now made for the general Resumption of all the Crown Lands that were alienated or granted away since the first year of King Henry the Sixth but none of the Acts of this Parliament are Printed except one for the cleansing of the Water-Course in St. Patrick-street in Dublin and so this Parliament being dissolved in August the Lord Deputy on the sixth of September following resigned to Robert Preston Viscount Gormanstown Lord Deputy to the Duke of Bedford who it seems had not Commission to call a Parliament nevertheless he did call one which met at Drogheda and made several Statutes which were absolutely void for the Defect aforesaid however they were expresly repeal'd by 10 Hen. 7. cap. 23. And these farther Reasons were given for it 1. That the Lord Lieutenant had surrendred his Patent before the Summons And 2. Because the Parliamentary Summons did not issue to all the Shires but to four Shires only On the Twelfth of September this Lord Deputy called several of the Nobility to Trim where they subscribed Articles for the Peace of the Kingdom viz. That no man should make War without the Deputies Consent and that several Extortions and Tributes that were used and demanded should be abrogated and suppressed and that Murderers Thieves and Vagabonds should be punished c. There were present at this Assembly Alexander Plunket L. Chancellor Girald Earl of Kildare the Bishops of Meath Kildare the Lords of Slane Delvin Killeen Houth Trimletston and Dunsany c. And they gave Recognizanse and Hostages for the observation of those Articles and after this he called the Parliament aforesaid In October the late Lord Deputy Fitz-Symons went into England to give the King a full Account as well of his own Government as of the present State of the Kingdom of Ireland and not long after viz. in November following the Earl of Kildare hearing he was impeach'd in England went also thither to justifie himself before the King but the L. Deputy leaving the Government in the Hands of his Son followed the Earl to England and by the Assistance of Sir James Ormond Lord Treasurer of Ireland he so far prevailed that Kildare's Justification was rejected and himself sent over Prisoner to Ireland to the end the Matter might be more fully examined upon the place 1494. by Sir Edward Poynings Knight of the Garter Lord Deputy whose chief Errand was to suppress the Abettors of Perkin Warbeck he came over the thirteenth of September and immediately made great Alterations amongst the Ministers of State Henry Dean Bishop of Bangor he constituted Lord Chancellor Sir Hugh Conway was appointed Treasurer Thomas Bouring was made Chief Justice of the Kings Bench as John Topcliff was of the Common Pleas and Walter Ever was made Chief Baron of the Exchequer all which were Englishmen born and good Lawyers and were sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland This Deputy brought over with him about one thousand Souldiers and resolved to invade Vlster to pursue some of Perkins's Friends that fled thither it is strange he should use the Earl of Kildare's assistance in this Expedition however together they went accompanied with Sir James Ormond who had resigned the Office of High Treasurer they did great Execution on the Irish and harass'd the Territories of O Hanlon and Mac Genis and others It was suggested That Kildare did secretly treat and conspire with O Hanlon to destroy the Lord Deputy for which he was Attainted as shall be shewn hereafter but it seems he was innocent of that Matter not only because O Hanlon cleared him upon Oath two years after but also because he was acquitted in England upon full hearing before the King Nevertheless Kildare's Brother did at this time seize on the Castle of Caterlogh whereupon the Lord Deputy was necessitated to clap up a sort of a Peace with O Hanlon and Macgenis and so having taken their Oaths and Hostages he immediately marched to Caterlogh which after ten days Siege 1494. was surrendred unto him And so in November on Monday before the Feast of St. Andrew sate that famous Parliament at Drogheda which Enacted I. That the Treasurer might appoint his under-Officers here as is used in England and shall account once a year here before the Barons of the Exchequer and such of the Council as the Lord Deputy shall appoint and the same Accounts to be certified into England and finally determined and setled there II. That no Minister of Justice viz. The Chancellor Treasurer Judges Clerk or Master of the Rolls nor any Officer Accomptant shall have their Places but during the King's Pleasure III. An Act adnulling a Prescription which Traytors and Rebels claimed in Ireland The Reason of this Act was because Richard Duke of York at his last being in Ireland did Cause an Act to be made That Ireland should be a Sanctuary for Refugees and that it should be Treason to disturb any body there by any Writ Privy Seal or other Matter from England and