assistance of Rodericke Oconor King of Connaght at that season the generall Monarch of all Ireland The subjects of Leinster detesting the quarrell and long ere this time hating their Prince left him desolate in his greatest neede so as with much difficulty he caught his boate and fled over for succour to Henry the 2. King of England then warring upon the Frenchmen within his Dukedome of Aquitaine Somewhat before this season sate in the See of Rome Adrianus 4. an English man borne who having in his youth taken a painefull pilgrimage into Norway and reduced the whole Iland unto Christianity learned distinctly the state of Ireland and how their countrymen which dayly repaired thither being themselves the most part infidels meeting with a people there wilde and furious were like very shortly but if God found remedy to deface religion for though Christ were beleeved and taught yet the multitude eft soone grew to a shamelesse kinde of liberty making no more of necessary points of Doctrine then served their loose humour Besides these occasions Henry the 2. builded upon the Popes favour his borne subject had sent Ambassadours to Rome in the first yeare of his raigne asking leaue to attempt the conquest of Ireland Adrian trusting and requiring a diligent reformation of the premisses graunted his Bull which Alexander his Successour confirmed and ratified upon the same conditions Now when Dermot was come in the very necke of these consultations and put up his complaint wherein he preferred the interest of his Crowne and craved a restitution of some peece of his lands the matter did seeme not all untowardly broached Henry having his hands full with the French because Mac Murrough urged all possible haste could not personaly intend that offer but sent him honourably garded into England with letters patents bearing this Tenour HENRY the second King of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine Earle of Angiow To all our true subjects English Normans Welchmen Scotts and to all nations within our Dominions whatsoever Greeting Witt yee that the Bearer hereof Dermot Mac Murrough King of Leinster we have received into the soveraigne protection of our Grace and bounty wherefore who so of you all our loving subjects will extend towards him your ayde for his restoring as to our trusty and welbeloved know yee that he is thereto authorized by these presents and shall deserve at our hands high favour in so doing With these letters and many gay additions of his owne he arrived at Bristow where he fell at conference with Richard Strongbow Earle of Pembroke with whom he covenanted the delivery of his onely daughter and heire unto marriage and so the remainder of his Kingdome If the said Earle would recover him his home That day were planted in Wales two gentlemen Robert Fitz Stephens and Maurice Fitz Gerald brethren of a Mother allyed to Rice ap Griffin then Prince of Wales whose Grand-father was surnamed Rice the great Fitz Stephens had beene high Constable there under the King and for executing rigour upon the Princes servants was with him detained prisoner three yeares ne would in any wise pay ransome or accept the liberty promised him but if the conditions were loyall to the Crowne and to his person no dis-worship Lastly by the mediation of David Bishop of S. Davids the third brother and of Fitz Gerald and at the instance of Mac Murrough whom the Prince entertained in that distresse Fitz Stephens was conditionaly delivered that he and his brother Maurice should the next spring while Strongbow provided his army assist the Irish out-cast who in consideration thereof assured them an estate for ever in the towne of Weixford and two Cantreds adjoyning Thus much firmely concluded on all sides the King stale secretly home and wintered closely among the Cleargie of Fernes According to covenant came Fitz Stephens with 30. Knights of his blood 60. Squiers 300. footemen Archers to whom at his landing Dermot sent in aid his base sonne Duvelnaldus and five hundred speares The towne and suburbes of Weixford marched forth against him But when they saw Souldiours in array diversly dighted and weaponed furnished with artillery barbed horses and harnesse they retyred to their walles and strengthned them burning the villages thereabouts and all the provision they could not carry The assault lasted 3. dayes in the 4. certaine Bishops resciant there tooke up the variance pacified the Townesmen to their King and procured the rendring of the Towne Dermot having tryed the valiantnes of the Welchmen immeadiately kept his touch and gave possession of Weixford with the appurtenances aforesaid to Fitz Stephens and his brother After successe of these matters they leavyed to the number of 3000. Souldiours and devised to vexe the Lords of Vpper Ossory who had beene to the King of all other most cruell and injurious Them they compelled to deliver Trewage and sweare fealty Rodericke the monarch appalled at these newes reared up all the Kings in defence of the land verily supposing that all would to wrecke were it not prevented And first they directed courteous messages and gifts to Fitz Stephens moving him to depart the land quietly and not to molest them without cause To whom he answered that much he wondred at the folly of those Princes who to satisfie their choller had opened such a gappe to their owne prejudice as though the subjects whom they had schooled to breake allyance towards the King of Leinster would not be as ready by this example to learne to withstand the King of Connaght for his owne part though hee might with better reason invade strangers then they could expell their neighbours and their peere yet would they suffer the King to reenter his right they should not finde him stiffe nor untractable otherwise they should well feele that the Bryttons wanted neither abilitie nor truth to maintaine their word Rodericke perceived it was no boote to spurne and therefore bethought himselfe of composition upon agreement they resolved thus Inprimis that Mac Murrough swearing afresh his obedience to the Monarch should quietly repossesse the parts of Leinster which Rodericke with-held by suspensation Secondly that for ensurance thereof he should pledge his dearest base sonne Cnothurn to whom Rodericke promised his daughter if this peace were found effectuall Thirdly that being rested in his kingdome he should discharge the Welch army nor should henceforwards call them over in defence About this time Donatus the good King of Ergall founded the Abbey of Mellyfont which is the eldest that I finde recorded since the Danes arrivall except S. Mary Abbey besides Divelin erected in an 948. The meane while was landed at Weixford Maurice Fitz Gerald with his provision ten Knights thirty Squiers and an hundred Bowmen hereupon Dermot and the two Brethren set their force against Divelin which being the cheife Citty of his Realme refused to yeeld when Divelin and the country about it vvas recover'd there befell hostility between Rodericke and
is that say they the stones of your two foster brethren with that she cast up a wilde look and never beheld him cheerefully againe Ororic her Lord and husband being in pursuit of kerne theeves and outlawes that had mightily annoyed his people in the furthest part of his country she with all celerity supposing it a fit time sent for her lover Dermotte the message was no sooner delivered but hee was a horse backe posting to the Harlot to be short he tooke her away with him at which time O false heart she strugled she cryed as though she were unwilling and that hee forced her Ororic immediately heard of it gathered his forces together mustred his people craved ayde and among others wrote unto Roderick Monarch of Ireland as followeth Though I am not ignorant most renowned Prince that humane causes are to be weighed in the balance of patience and that a man endued with vertue will not effeminate himselfe by reason of the unconstant and mutable minde of a Harlot yet in so much this horrible crime whereof I am fully perswaded came to your eares before my messenger could deliver his letters a thing heretofore not heard of as farre as I remember not practised against any King of Ireland severity causeth me to call for justice when charity admonisheth me not to seeke revengement If thou behold the shame I confesse it redoundeth to me alone if you weigh the cause it is common to us both what confidence shall we repose in our subjects that are bound unto us in regard of our Princely command if this effeminate adulterer or rather queller of chastity shall escape unpunished for so abhominable a fact for the unchastised offences of Princes notoriously committed in the sight of al men breed a most pernitious imitation as precedents unto the people in summe you have sufficient experience of my good will and affection towards you you see mee wounded with the cruell darts of fortune vexed with infinite discommodities and now extremely driven to my utter shifts It remaines seeing I am wholly yours that not onely with counsell being requested but with armes being urged you revenge my quarrell this when you will and as you will not onely I aske but require at your hands Farewell The Monarch for some former quarrell against Dermot was all on fire and joyning forces with Ororic entred Leinster with fire and sword the people cry woe and alacke O bone in Irish now are wee punished for the lewdnesse of our Prince Dermot lulling himselfe in his lovers armes heareth the newes starteth upon a sodaine beholdeth his Lady hath no power to speake runneth forth calleth his men cryeth for aid throughout his country none gave â—are unto him the country thought now whereas they could not that God will be revenged on him for his exactions cruelty tyranny and all other villanies practised upon his subjects and especially for deflouring another mans wife when he saw himselfe quite forsaken voyd and destitute of all ayde he betooke himselfe to the sea and fled for England but what became of the Harlot I cannot learne belike shee hanged her selfe when she had set all the country in uprore Anno 1169. Iohn Clin and Iohn Stow are mine Authors now that Dermot is fled I am to insert a story out of the British Chronicles of Conwey and Strotflur Abbeyes afore I discourse of him which was in the same yeere that he tooke the sea how that Owen Gwyneth Prince of North-Wales had a sonne called Ryryd who in the right of his wife as it seemeth was Lord of Clochran in Ireland and another sonne begotten vpon an Irish woman called Howell and a third sonne called Madoc This Madoc finding his country in great contention and his brethren at civill warres prepared certaine ships with men and munition out of Wales and Ireland and sought adventures by seas he sailed west from the coast of Ireland so farre north that hee came to a land unknowne where he saw many strange things This land in the opinion of Humphrey Lloyde the great Antiquary of Britaine must needs be some part of that country of which the Spaniards affirme themselves to be the first discoverers since Hannos time For by reason and order of cosmographie this land to the which Madoc came must needs be sonne part of Nova-hispania or Florida whereupon it is manifest that the same country was long before discovered by Britaines and Irish men afore either Columbus or Americus Vespatius led any Spaniards thither Of the voyage and returne of this Madoc there be many fables the which I will not report He prepared ships for a second voyage and tooke with him men and women to inhabit that land therefore it is to be presupposed that he and his people inhabited part of those countries for it appeareth by Francis Loves that in Acusanus and other places the people honoured the Crosse whereby it may be gathered that Christians had been there before the comming of the Spaniards but because this people were not many they followed the manners of the land and used their language I am of opinion with others that the land whereunto Madoc came was some part of Mexico first of all for that the inhabitants of that land report their Rulers to have descended from a strange nation that came from a far country which thing is confessed by Mutesuma King of that country in his orations made for quieting of his people at his submission to the King of Castile Hernando Curtecius being then present which is laid downe in the Spanish Chronicles of the conquest of the West-Indies secondly the british words and names of places used in that country to this day doe argue the same as when they talke together they say Gwrando which is hearken or listen in British Also if you peruse Sir Humphrey Gilberts discovery they have a Bird which they call Pengwin in Brittish and Cornish a white-head but the Iland of Corroeso the Cape of Britaine the river of Gwyndoor and the white rocke of Pengwyn be British or Welch words whereby it appeareth that it was that country which Madoc and his people inhabited now remembring my selfe that my pen hath not carryed me so far unto forraigne countries by sea but that I expect Dermots returne by sea and by land into Ireland Dermot Mac Morogh came to Henry 2. in Normandie made his moane as formerly in substance is delivered craved aide for his restitution into his country being a King exiled although distressed and void of comfort unlesse hee might obtaine it at his Majesties hands the Kings hands being full of warres he granted him his favourable letters as followeth Henry King of England Duke of Normandie and Aquitaine Earle of Anjow c. unto all his subiects English Normans Welch and Scots and to all nations and people being his subiects greeting whereas Dermot Prince of Leinster most wrongfully as he enformeth banished out of his owne country hath craved our ayde therefore for
of the Nobilitie of the Scotts resciant next them had with some difficultie received out of Greece a Molossian Hound which breede both in swiftnesse of foote and in svveetnesse of opening vvas reputed peerelesse This Hound a willfull Gentleman a Pict stole home and therewith gratified his Prince glad of the novelty and little thoughtfull of the displeasure Contrarywise the Irish wood for anger at this dishonour and injury assembled in poste haste under Eugenius their King and after brawling fell to spoyle and so to blowes whereof parts and stomackes being even the fortune was variable In this division they scambled out a few yeares untill the malice of Carassus a Brittaine forced a quietnesse betweene them to abuse their helpe against th' Empire But hee was shortly slaine by Alectus the Romane Captaine and hereupon the old sore waxed rawe To heape the mischiefe a Brittish Lord named Maximus aspiring to the kingdome sent an ambassadge to Ethodius king of Picts pleading with him a league of friendship utterly to expulse the Irish Scot conditioning withall their assistance to chase the Romanes out of Brittaine which was concluded and by this confederacie after many lamentable skirmishes the Irish were betrayed Eugenius the King Ethai his brother and Ericus his nephew and also the residue such as could escape the enemies sword fled thence some into Norway some into Ireland their first home Maximus watching his time despairing of the Brittish Kingdome and espying the Picts tyred vvith continuall vvarres turned his povver upon them and brought them to such an exigent that they had no readier shift then to crave helpe from Ireland and so by degrees vvhen some private persons nourishers of the quarrell vvere out-vvorne the matter of malice vvas qualified and the remnant of the Irish Scots vvith their friends and off-spring called home to their dvvelling after their first banishment 43. yeares expired From this time forvvard the amity vvaxed steddy and the Irish under Fergusius the second their King vvan such credit that finally the nation of Picts vvere afflicted by the Brittaines then the Scots incroched into the heart of the Realme and became the mightier and more populous of vvhom the Countrey vvas ever since under one Generall name called Scotland Thus you see the Scotts a lively stirring ancient victorious people are mixed first of Brittaines though the Chronicles dissemble it whom Brutus planted there with Albanactus Secondly of Picts Thirdly and chiefly of the Irish which after this time left the name of Scott for those in Brittaine and delighted rather to be called Irish. Then came up the distinction of Scotia major for Ireland and Scotia minor for the Scotts in Brittaine But most effectually as saith Cambrensis the Scotts prevayled under the guiding of six valiant Gentlemen Sonnes to Muridus King of Vlster who in the time that Neale the great enjoyed the monarchy of Ireland going to succour their countrymen there at last also tooke up for themselves no little portions of ground which their posterity kept in Cambrensis time the yeare of Christ 1200. who treateth their exploits more largely in his Topography of Ireland Ever since then they were utterly named and esteemed Scotts The nation of the Picts driven into corners albeit the most parts the out Isles retaine at this day a people mungrell betwixt both called Redshanks The Scotts write that their King Gregorius in an Dom. 875. invaded Ireland as his lawfull inheritance and the same conquered who lieth buried in one of their out-Iles called Iona beautified with the Sepultures of Scottish Kings where the Irish tongue is their native language therefore they call the submission of the Irish to Henry the 2. a defection from Scotland which neverthelesse they recke ne regard not but willfully did forgoe it as reaping lesse then they expended and unable to defray the growing charge which cost considered little better then nothing say they the King of England winneth by keeping of Ireland Yet in the late governement of S. Henry Sidney Vlster being conveyed by discent act of Parliament to the Crowne which Earledome was in the time of Edward the third reckoned at thirty one thousand markes yearely the same being but one fift part of Ireland It seemeth that if this right be well prosecuted that Ireland might pay it selfe of necessaries and yeeld sufficient benefit to the Princes Coffers CAP. XII The conversion of the Irish to Christianity ABout this time Holy Church being stayed in peace enriched with possessions supported with authority many noble Clearkes flourishing in diverse Realmes the Holy Doctor Augustine yet in life Theodosius the second suppressing Idols in all the Empyre Celestinus 1. Bishop of Rome conferred with his cleargy touching the instruction specially of the vvestern parts wherin the faith of Christ was hitherto either not planted or by persecution extinct or by corruption of Hereticks defaced of them all no country was more lamented then Ireland which partly for distance from the heart of Christendome partly for their infinite rudenesse had yet received no fruit of true Religion In that assembly was Palladius Arch-Deacon of Rome a good Priest and well learned who profered his charitable travaile towards the conversion of any those lands whither he should be by them directed and appointed The Pope knowing the sufficiency of the man did consecrate Palladius a Bishop authorized his journey furnished his wants associated to him diverse religious persons delivered him the Holy Bible with great solemnities and certaine monuments of Peter and Paul whereat diverse miracles had beene shewed He arryved in the North of Ireland whence he escaped hardly with his life into the Ilands adjoyning there preaching and converting many erecting monasteries and ensueing his vocation so painefully that the onely report of his holynesse and cunning excited the Scotts late christened but abiding in scisme and committing the function of Bishoppes to single Preists to call him thither whereunto he assented upon the Popes answere and leaving his Disciples in the Isle became the speciall apostle of Scotland where he spent the residue of his time with more fruite then among the Irish. Hereunto Celestinus condiscended the easier for that in the very point of Palladius his departure Patricius attended at Rome to bee sent with leave and benediction into Ireland In which attempt hee found such joyfull successe so farre different from their accustomed frowardnesse that a man would weene the Realme had beene reserved for him And because it pleased God to worke to the Land such an universall benefite by the meanes of this holy Patriarch I take it convenient to set downe briefly here his course of life after the most approoved Chronicles that I could finde Patricius was borne in the marches of England and Scotland in a sea towne called then Taburnia whose father Calphrune as writeth Ioseline was a Deacon and a Priests sonne his mother Conches was sister
Barret Edmund Lane Who flourished in the yeere 1518. So farre Master Stanihurst Hector Boetius putteth us in remembrance of the honour given her by Scots Pictes Irish and English nations and how that many Churches beare her name The superstitious Irish in processe of time found out a Bell called Clogg Brietta Brigids Bell whereunto to deceive the simple people they attribute great vertue and holinesse the which together with other toyes they carried about not onely in Ireland but also in England and were by Act of Parliament in England banished the land in Henry the fifts time Cambrensis reporteth that the harmonie of the foure Evangelists the worke of Saint Ierome was caused by Brigid most of it to be written in letters of gold and was as curious a worke saith he as ever I saw and called Brigids Booke the which was kept as a monument saith Stanihurst at Kildare She deceased about the yeere 510. another saith anno 548. and about the yeere 524. she was translated from the Hebrides into Dune and resteth by Saint Patrickes side as formerly hath beene declared in his life Ireland hath given her this Epitaph Flos patriae pietatis amans virtutis alumna Sidus Hibernorum Brigida virgo fuit In her Legend I finde mention of Ercus a Bishop the disciple of Saint Patricke borne in Mounster also of Saint Ruanus a Bishop Saint Numidus Saint Praecipuus Saint Daria a Virgin Saint Darlugdach called a Virgin and yet had a daughter that was baptized in the presence of Brigide This Darlugdach was the second Nunne and succeeded Brigide in Kildare whose remembrance is celebrated the same day with her Illand King of Leinster gave Brigide great honour of him I read in her Legend that hee was a most worthy Prince and fortunate in all his affaires Illand Rex Lageniae qui triginta bella in Hibernia vicit octo certamina in Britannia occidit Engusium regem Momoniae cum Ethna uxore quos Patricius baptizavit Illand King of Leinster who wonne thirty battailes in Ireland and eight combats in Britaine slue Engusus King of Mounster and Ethna his wife whom Patricke had baptized About this time lived Caelius Sedulius whom Damianus à Goes a Knight of Portingall challenged for a Spaniard Bale writeth hee was a Scot and Stanihurst that he was borne in Ireland I will first lay downe what Bale hath next what Stanihurst reporteth Caelius Sedulius saith Bale by nation a Scot. by calling a Priest a man trayned up in learning from his youth cleaved as a diligent scholler unto Hildebert the most learned Archbishop of Scots as Tritemius delivereth After the decease of his master being desirous of farther knowledge he tooke a painefull voyage in hand travailed throughout Spain France Italie Greece and Asia last of all after he had read in Achaia most learned lectures to the great profit of many hee came backe to Rome where with great labour he distributed most abundantly in like sort the treasure of singular learning Hee was a man exercised in holy Scripture of a singular wit excellently well seene in all manner of secular literature passing both for verse and prose so that Gelasius Bishop of Rome in the decrees dist 15. calleth him reverend Sedulius and gave his workes no meane commendation Patâ—rius the disciple of Gregorius Magnus and Remigius Antisiodorensis in his commentary upon him of old have published his fame and renowne Sedulius both in verse and prose hath published many workes whereof in Boston of Burie and Tritemius I onely found these that follow Vnto Macedonius the Priest a singular worke which he intituled Carmen paschale lib. 4 Pascales quicunque dapes conviva requiris Elegia vel exhortatorium ad fideles lib. 1 Cantemus socij Dom. cantemus honorem De signis virtutibus lib. 1 Domino meo charissimo Gesta et miracula Christi lib. 4 Expulerat quondam c Superutroque testamento lib. 2  In Psalmos Dividicos lib. 1  Collectanea in Paulum lib. 14 Antequam Apostolica verba In Paulum ad Romanos lib. 1 Sciendum est quod hoc Ad Corinthios lib. 2 Quod nomen suum proponit Ad Galatas lib. 1 Hoc est non ab humana Ad Ephesios lib. 1 Refere scriptura testante Ad Philippenses lib. 1 Metropoli Macedoniae cum Ad Colossenses lib. 1 Hac vice Apostolatus autor Ad Thessalonicenses lib. 2 Quod non dicit Apostolus Ad Timotheum lib. 2 Non secundum praesumptionem Ad Titum Discipulum lib. 1 Hanc epistolam scribit de Ad Philemonem lib. 1 In carcere vel in catenis Ad Hebraeos lib. 1 Quoniam apud Haebraeorum De factis Christi prosaice lib. 2  Ad Caesarem TheodosiuÌ„ lib. 1 Romulidum ductor Clariss Epist. ad diversos lib. 1 Sedulius Scotigena dilect In editionem Donati lib. 1  In Prisciani volumen lib. 1  Carmina diversi generis lib. 1  He published also certaine Hymnes which the Church useth 1 A solis ortus cardine Ad usque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem c. Hostis Herodes impie Christum venisse quid times c. 2 A solis ortus cardine Ad usque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem c. Hostis Herodes impie Christum venisse quid times c. He flourished in the yeere after the Incarnation 450. under Theodosius Iunior the Emperour what time Fergusius the second raigned in Scotland after his miserable exile by the Romanes Of this Author Sigebertus and Bostonus write more So farre Bale Stanihurst pleadeth for Ireland and writeth Sedulius was not only of Irish birth but also the light of all Ireland neither will we suffer any longer so excellent a man out of his native soile contrary to all right to exile or wander but he is rather to be restored to his former inheritance as it were with a new solemnity of birth In another place hee seemeth to qualifie the matter having already chalenged Damianus a Goes of iniurie and to reconcile the dissonance of varying writers that the Scottish is taken for the Irish and the Irish for the Scottish and to satisfie the reader noteth the confusion how that all the commentaries of Sedulius upon the Epistles of Paul beginne Sedulij Scoti Hibernensis c. the Commentarie of Sedulius the Scot of Ireland And to shut up this challenge of all sides I finde that there was a second Sedulius a man of no lesse fame and learning and hee is said to bee a Scottish man therefore let Ireland being more antient then Scotland take the first and Scotland the last In the like sort excepting the challenge standeth Fridelinus Viator so called by reason of his great travaile his stile is Scotorum Hibernicorum regis olim filius the sonne sometime of the King of the Scots in Ireland whom I couch among them of Irish birth because of the ancient stile and distinction often used
mentioned came the more willingly out of Ireland unto us Trithemius reporteth of this time in this sort There were many Monasteries of Irish men in Germanie Herbipolis and other places but when their zeale waxed cold and that they fell to remisse and dissolute life they were expulsed and their habitation became waste and desolate Saint Chilian otherwise written Kilian whom Bale calleth a Scot Surius Baronius and Lippeloo write that hee was an Irish man of Noble Parentage Molanus writeth in Hibernia regio sanguine procreatus that he was begotten in Ireland of royall bloud another saith he was a Kings base sonne This man became a Monke went to Rome together with Colman a Priest and Totnan a Deacon of the same country birth in the time of Conon Bishop of Rome about the yeere 687. to sue unto the Bishop there that Ireland might be released of the curse that was denounced against the land and the inhabitants thereof for the Pelagian heresie Molanus writeth that he served in Saint Peters Church in Rome eleven yeeres but he was directed another course for he was consecrated Bishop of Herbipolis in the East parts of France and together with his fellowes sent away There they converted Gosbert a French Duke which had married one Geila his brothers wife It is Iohn Baptists case he rebuked him for it and shee hearing thereof sent certaine lewd persons in the night which murthered them all three and privily buried them lest so horrible a fact should come to light but God that will have no such villany concealed brought it out the tormentors became madde and confessed the whole Beda in his Martyrologe reporteth how that at Wirciburge in Austria the birth day of Kilian the Martyr and his two companions is solemnly kept the eight of Iuly Molanus saith that in his travaile he met with Saint Fiacre sometime his fathers servant but he following carefully his direction staid not with him but passed on in his iourney This Saint Fiacre saith the Martyrologe was base sonne of some King in Ireland went into France and became an heremite there are small remembrances of him in Surius and Lippeloo saving that for a womans sake which called him a Witch Sorcerer and Inchanter hee commanded that no woman should put foot into his Cloister and if any should doe so he prayed that God would lay some plague upon her to try this a woman sent her maide to take the ayre of the Cloyster but she tooke no harme upon a second tryall a fairer then she presumed so farre that her shinne her knee and her thigh saith mine Author and some parts above tooke swelling and that went for a punishment In an antient manuscript Legend of the life of Congellus or Congallus I finde that Saint Fiacre returned into Ireland and became Abbot of Airard in Leinster upon the river of Berba now called the Barrow in the Barony of Odrone and that he went to the Abbey of Beanchor in Vlster to visite Congellus at whose hands Congellus received the Sacrament and gave up the Ghost There also it is further alledged that this Fiacre builded a Monasterie in Leinster in the honour of Saint Congellus The martyrologe aforesaid remembreth Saint Cataldus a Bishop Saint Finan an Abbot Saint Sacodine a Virgin who forsooke her husband and entred religion to have lived then and how that Indrake a King of Ireland forsooke his royaltie went to Rome with his sister Dominica led a private life and died beggers Capgrave calleth him Indraktus saying that he was a Kings sonne and tooke with him beside his sister nine persons more About this time saith Capgrave one Muriardachus Monarch of Ireland together with his wife Sabina lived in the true faith and feare of God who being mighty and wise commanded in good sort all the Princes of the land In this his good successe and peaceable governement he was envied so that a petite King his neighbour came upon him in the night murthered him with his Queene and all his familie excepting one daughter whose life hee saved for her beauties sake This cruell tyrant after assaulted this faire Gentlewoman to his filthy lust and when with faire perswasions he could not prevaile at length by force he oppressed her so that shee conceived and bare him a sonne called at the time of his baptisme Milluhoc but afterwards Cuthbert This Cuthbert being borne as my Author writeth at Kilmacrodrike some three miles from Dublin his mother tooke him to Scotland to her two brethren Meldan and Eatan that were Bishops From thence hee went into the North parts of England and was brought up among the holy Monkes of those dayes in the Monasterie of Mailros under the Abbot Boisilius whom he succeeded in the same Monasterie Anno 651. And Anno 676. he went to the I le Farne which was uninhabited and continued there nine yeeres building teaching and preaching and as Beda writing his life delivereth working in harvest time with his owne hands The fame of his vertues and holinesse went farre abroad so that Egfride King of the Northumbers made him Bishop of Lindesfarne to which dignitie hee was consecrated at Yorke by Theodorus the Archbishop Anno 685. In his time the aforesaid Egfride sent Brith with a great host into Ireland to be revenged of them for that he was given to understand they had aided his enemies against him these Saxons over-ranne the land killing burning and spoyling they spared neither Church nor Monasterie so writeth Beda Berthus vastavit miserè gentē innoxā nationi Anglorum semper amicissimam Berthus pittifully spoiled this harmelesse people who alwaies most kindely affected the English nation Cuthbert reproved him for it and the Ilanders cried unto the heavens and prayed God to avenge their cause Beda reporteth farther how that he bent his forces afterwards against the Pictes and Scots and would not be advised by Cuthbert and Egbert and that his bloudy course had no good successe and that then Egfride the glory of the Saxons began to decay the which Florilegus attributeth to the crie of the Irish and the courage of the Pictes and Scots and Britaines In his time saith Carodoc it rained bloud in Britaine and Ireland the Milke likewise and the Butter turned to the colour of bloud and the Moone appeared all bloudie Cuthbert when he had beene Bishop two yeeres forsooke his Bishopricke and went to the I le Farne where hee led an hermites life and left the world Anno Dom. 687. It is written of him that he forbade his Monkes and Priests the company of women and that they should not come within any Cloyster for that the devill appeared unto him in his Church in the shape of a woman most faire and beautifull Yet I finde that he conversed much with Ebba and Verca and with Elfleda King Egfrides sister and repaired oft to their Nunneries did eate and drinke with them and sent Elfleda a linnen
testium super miraculis captorum nobis cum sigillis propriis transmiserunt Colligimus vero ex earum serie litterarum quod saepe dictus vir Regis Reginae Hiberniae filius extitit ab infantia Sacris Litteris eruditus senilem gessit in juventute gravitatem mundanarum illecebras vanitatum à se ultra quam aetas illa solebat abdicavit Deinde in Archepiscopum Dublinensem assumptus sic de virtute in virtutem profecerit ut in oratione assiduus austerus in maceratione proprii corporis ac in Eleemosinarum largitione profusus se totaliter Domino dedicarit Per depositìonem verò testium predictor constitit evidenter sanctam vitam ejusdem esse tot sequentibus miraculis comprobatam quae non parvā texerent historiam si quis vellet ea singula scribere seriatim sed ut non praeter mittamus claudi gressum caeci visum surdi auditum muti loquelam leprosi mundationem varijs afflicti languoribus sanitatem ad invocationem ejus nominis ea sola quae inter caetera emicuerunt miracula breviter perstringamus Nam idem sanctus imo Deus ob ipsius merita gloriosa septem mortuos quorum quatuor triduani erant mirificè suscitavit De ipsius sanctitate tantis certificati miraculis divinumque secuti judicium quod eius glorificatio nobis tam evidentibus innotuit argumentis eundem sanctiss Catalogo sanctorum adscripsimus annumerandum decrevimus sanctorum Collegio Confessorum ac inter eos Christi fidelibus venerandum statuentes ut ejus veneranda festivitas de cetero annis singulis decimo octavo Kalendas Decembris solemniter celebretur Monemus igitur universitatem vestram hortamur in Domino quatenus Deum devotis mentibus collaudantes studentes proficere tantae virtutis exemplo ejusdem gloriosissimi Confessoris apud Deum suffragia humiliter imploret Nos autem de Dei omnipotentis misericordia beatorum Petri Pauli authoritate confisi omnibus vere penitentibus confessis qui ad prefatam Ecclesiam in die solemnitatis ejusdem gloriosissimi confessoris vel infra Octabis cum devotione accesserint ejus orationum suffragia petituri 20. dies de iniunctis sibi penitentijs miserecorditer relaxamus Dat. 3. Idus Decembris pontifitatus nostri anno decimo Molanus writeth of this Laurence that he favoured Monkes greatly and hearing of the fame of the 28. Monasteries of Aroatia in the confines of Atrebatum in the low Countries made the secular Priests called Cannons in Dublin become regular cannons according unto the order of Aroatia After his discease Iohn Comin an English man a Monke of Evesham an Abbey in England by the Kings direction was made Archbishop of Dublin confirmed by Pope Lucius at Viterbium and also made a Cardinall so writeth Cambrensis Anno 1148. the Monasterie legis dei that is of Leix was founded Anno 1185. Iohn the fift sonne of Henry 2. of the age of twelve yeeres landed at Waterford in the Realme of Ireland from the first arrivall of his father thirteene yeeres from the first landing of Earle Strangbow fourteene yeeres and from the first entrance of Robert Fitz Stephens fifteene yeeres In the Chronicles of England I finde that Anno 1177. in a Parliament held at Oxford Henry 2. created his sonne Iohn King of Ireland In Anno 1185. he dubbed his sonne Iohn Knight and set him in a readinesse for Ireland sending the new Bishop Iohn of Dublin as his precurser thither for all things necessarie Item the same yeere he obtained of Pope Vrban 3. a licence to crowne which hee would of his sonnes King of Ireland and for reformation thereof sent him a crowne of Peacocks tayles I would say feathers after a feat manner woven in with gold lastly how that Vrban 3. sent two Legates Octavianus a subdeacon Cardinall and Hugh de Novant from the Court of Rome to crowne Iohn King of Ireland but Henry 2. delayed it so that it was not effected hereof as I suppose it riseth that oftentimes we finde him called King Iohn afore he was crowned but to the Irish history At the first landing and entring of the Kings sonne at Waterford a great many of the chiefest commanders in those parts who since their first submission unto King Henry continued faithfull and true being advertised of this his arrivall came and resorted unto him in peaceable manner after their best manner to salute him and congragulate his comming one made curtesie another kneeled some tooke him by the hand other some offer to kisse him The new gallants and Normans such as had not beene before acquainted with the country neither the homelinesse of the people set them at nought laughed at their Mantles and Troosses derided their glibbes and long beards one takes a sticke and pats the Irish man on the pate another halls the mantle and pricks him behinde with a pinne some have their glibbes and long beards pulled and departing have flappes on the lippes thumpes in their neckes and the doores clapt on their heeles with diuers other abuses and undiscreet entertainement These men not without cause being mightily displeased shifted themselves out of the towne and in all haste got them home And from thence saith Cambrensis with their wives children and houshold departed and went some to the Prince of Lymeric some to the Prince of Corke some to Roderic Prince of Connaght and so some to one Lord and some to another and to these they declared orderly how they had beene at Waterford and what they had seene there and how they were evill intreated and that a yong man was come thither guarded with beardlesse boyes and guided by the councels of young men in whom there was no stay no sobriety no stedfastnesse no assurednesse whereby they and their country might be secured of any safety These Princes and namely they three of Connaght Corke and Lymeric who were the chiefest and who were then preparing themselves in a readinesse to have come and salute the Kings Sonne and to have yeelded unto him their dutifull obeysance as faithfull subiects when they had heard these newes they began forthwith to bethinke themselves that of such evill beginning a worse ending would ensue wherefore with one consent they concluded to stand and ioyne together against the English nation and to their uttermost power to adventure their lives and to stand to the defence of their country and liberties and for the performance thereof they enter into a new league among themselves and swore each to other and by that meanes enemies before are now become friends and reconciled as of old Ephraim against Manasses and Manasses against Ephraim and both against the Tribe of Iuda Herod against Pilate and Pilate against Herod both become friends to crucifie Christ. To be short there followed a generall revolt and rebellion over all Ireland Cambrensis alledgeth a second cause of this revolt How that when Robert Fitz Setphens first entred
give lands unto the Monastery of Saint Iames of Keynisham Anno 1421. Our Lady day fell out to be upon Munday in Easter weeke Also the Parliament began the third time at Dublin the Munday after Saint Ambroses day and there it was ordained that agents should be sent over unto the King for reformation of matters touching the state of the land namely the Archbishop of Armagh and Sir Christopher Preston Knight At the same time Richard Ottdian Bishop of Casshell was accused of Iohn Gese Bishop of Lismore and Waterford upon thirty articles among other one was that he made very much of the Irish and that he loved none of the English nation and that he bestowed no Benefice upon any English man and that he counselled other Bishops not to give the least Benefice to any of them that he counterfeited the Kings Seale and letters Patents that he went about to make himselfe King of Munster and that hee had taken a Ring from the image of Saint Patricke which the Earle of Desmond had offered and bestowed it upon his Concubine And he exhibited many other enormious matters against him in writing by whom the Lords and Commons were troubled Also in the same Parliament there arose a contention betwixt Adam Payn Bishop of Clone because the said Adam would have united unto his See the Church of another Prelate and the other would not give way unto it and so they were dismissed unto the Court of Rome the Parliament continued eighteene dayes Then newes were stirring that the Lord Thomas of Lancaster Duke of Clarence was slaine in France and many other with him Vpon the seventh of May there was slaughter made upon the Earle of Ormonds the Lord Lievetenants men by Omordris neere unto the Monastery of Leys and there were seaven and twenty English men slaine the chiefe whereof were Purcell and Grant tenne Noble men were taken prisoners and two hundred fled unto the said Abbey and so saved themselves About the Ides of May dyed Sir Iohn Bedloe knight and Ieffery Galon sometime Maior of Dublin who was buried in the house of the Fryers Preachers of the same City About the same time Mac Mahon an Irish Lord did much hurt in Vrgile by wasting and burning all before him Vpon the seaventh of Iune the Lord Lievetenant entred into the Country about Leys upon Omordris leading a very great army and for the space of foure dayes together slaying the people till the Irish were glad to sue for peace On the feast of Saint Michael the Arch-angell Thomas Stanley with all the Knights and Esquires of Meath and Irel tooke Neyle O Donnell prisoner and slue the rest in the fourteenth yeere of the raigne of King Henry the sixt Here endeth the Chronicle of Henry Marleburrough FINIS A VIEW OF THE STATE OF IRELAND Written dialogue-wise betweene Eudoxus and Irenaeus By EDMUND SPENSER Esq. in the yeare 1596. VVhereunto is added the History of IRELAND By EDMUND CAMPION sometime fellow of St Iohn's Colledge in Oxford Published by Sir IAMES WARE Knight DUBLIN Printed by the Society of Stationers M.DC.XXXIII TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS LO VISCOVNT WENTWORTH LO DEPVTY GENERALL OF IRELAND LO PRESIDENT OF HIS MAIESTIES COVNCELL ESTABLISHED IN THE NORTH PARTS OF ENGLAND AND ONE OF HIS MAIESTIES MOST HONORABLE PRIVIE COVNCELL RIGHT HONORABLE THE sence of that happy peace which by the divine providence this Kingdome hath enjoyed since the beginning of the raigne of his late Majestie of ever sacred memory doth then take the deeper impression when these our halcyon dayes are compared with the former turbulent and tempestuous times and with the miseries of severall kindes incident unto them Those calamities are fully set out and to the life by Mr Spenser with a discovery of their causes and remedies being for the most part excellent grounds of reformation And so much may be justly expected from him in regard of his long abode and experience of this Kingdome In these respects and for other good uses which the collections now communicated doe afford for matter of history and policy I am incouraged to dedicate them to your Lordship and humbly to desire your favourable acceptance of them and of Your Lordships ever humbly devoted IAMES WARE THE PREFACE HOw far these collections may conduce to the knowledge of the antiquities and state of this Land let the fit reader judge yet something I may not passe by touching Mr Edmund Spenser the worke it selfe lest I should seeme to offer injury to his worth by others so much celebrated Hee was borne in London of an ancient and noble family and brought up in the Vniversitie of Cambridge where as the fruites of his after labours doe manifest he mispent not his time After this he became Secretary to Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton Lord Deputy of Ireland a valiant and worthy Governour and shortly after for his services to the Crowne he had bestowed upon him by Queene Elizabeth 3000. acres of land in the Countie of Corke There hee finished the later part of that excellent poem of his Faery Queene which was soone after unfortunately lost by the disorder and abuse of his servant whom he had sent before him into England being then a rebellibus as Camdens words are è laribus ejectus bonis spoliatus He deceased at Westminster in the yeare 1599. others have it wrongly 1598. soone after his returne into England and was buried according to his owne desire in the collegiat Church there neere unto Chaucer whom he worthily imitated at the costes of Robert Earle of Essex wherupon this Epitaph was framed Hîc prope Chaucerum situs est Spenserius illi proximus ingenio proximus ut tumulo Hîc prope Chaucerum Spensere poeta poetam conderis versu quà m tumulo propior Anglica te vivo vixit plausitque poesis nunc moritura timet te moriente mori As for his worke now published although it sufficiently testifieth his learning and deepe judgement yet we may wish that in some passages it had bin tempered with more moderation The troubles and miseries of the time when he wrote it doe partly excuse him And surely wee may conceive that if hee had lived to see these times and the good effects which the last 30. yeares peace have produced in this land both for obedience to the lawes as also in traffique husbandry civility learning he would have omitted those passages which may seeme to lay either any particular aspersion upon some families or generall upon the Nation For now we may truly say jam cuncti gens una sumus and that upon just cause those ancient statutes wherein the natives of Irish descent were held to be and named Irish enemies and wherein those of English bloud were forbidden to marry and commerce with them were repealed by act of Parlament in the raigne of our late Soveraigne King IAMES of ever blessed memory His proofes although most of them conjecturall concerning the
King they craved Interpreters which granted Roderick their Chieftaine uttered for him and his the request in this manner Not as degenerate from the courage of our auncestors but inclining our selves to the bent and swaye of fortune we are become suppliants to Ireland that never before have humbled our selves to any Looke Sir King eye us well It is not light prowesse that hath caused these valiant bodies to stoop Scithians we are and the Picts of Scithia great substance of glory lodgeth in these two names what shall I tell of the civill Tumult that hath made us leave our home or rippe up old Historyes to make strangers bemoane us Let our vassailes and children discourse it at large and leysure if perhaps you vouchsafe us any leysure in the Land To which effect and purpose your infinite necessities pray your favours A King of a King Men of Men Princes can consider how neere it concerneth their honour and surety to proppe up the state of a King defaced by Treason and men will remember nothing better beseemeth the nature of man then to feele by compassion the griefes of men Admit we beseech you these scattered reliques of Scithia If your Realmes bee narrow we are not many If the soyle be barren we are born to hardnesse If you live in peace we are your subjects If you warre we are your Souldiours We aske no kingdome no wealth no triumph in Ireland We have brought our selves and left these casualtyes with the enemie Howsoever it like you to esteeme of us we shall easily learne to like it when we call to minde not what we have beene but what we are Great consultations was had upon this request and many things debated too and fro In the end they were answered that their antiquities layde forcible arguments wherefore it could not be expedient to accept the Scithians into Ireland that mingling of natiōs in a Realme breedeth quarrels remedilesse that Ireland finding scarcity rather of roome then of people that those few inferred amongst a many might quickly disturbe and put the whole out of joynt But quoth they though wee may not dwell together yet shall you finde us your very good neighbours and friends Not farre hence lyeth the Iland of Brittaine in the north thereof your manhood and polycies shall winne you scope enough our Capitaines shall conduct you the way our strength shall helpe to settle you addresse your shippes and hye you thither With this perswasion they shaped course towards the north of Brittaine now called Scotland where contrary to all expectation Marius the King awayted their comming and gave them there a sharpe battle wherein Rodericke was slaine with diverse of his band Them which remained and appealed to mercy he licensed to inhabite the uttermost borders of Scotland Wives they wanted to encrease their Issue and because the Brittaines scorned to match their daughters with such a froward and beggerly people the Picts continued their first acquaintance with the Irish and by entreaty obtained wives from them conditionally that if the Crowne should happe to fall in question they should then yeeld thus much prerogative to the woman as of the female blood royall rather then of the male to choose their Prince which Covenant saith S. Bede the Picts are well knowne to keepe at this day But long afore this time the Scottish Chronicles mention the arrivall of Almaine Picts into the marches now of England and Scotland vvith vvhom certaine Irish called then also Scotts joyned against the Brittaines devising to erect a kingdome there aswell to fortify themselves as to gratifie the Irish who detracting their obedience lately promised to Gurguntius practised all they might to abridge the kingdome of the Brittaines First therefore came from Ireland Fergusius the sonne of Ferchardus a man very famous for his skill in blasoning of armes Himselfe bare the Red Lyon rampant in a golden field There was in Ireland a monument of Marble fashioned like a Throne which Simon Brecke a companion to Hiberus and his brethren found in the journey because he deemed the finding thereof to be ominous to some Kingdome he brought it along with him and layde it up in the country for a Iewell This marble Fergusius obtained towards the prospering of his voyage and in Scotland he left it which they used many yeares after in Coronation of their King at Scona But Fergusius though he be scored in the row of Kings for one and the first yet he held himselfe there obscurely sundry times beat backe into Ireland where he was finallie drowned by misfortune within the Creeke of Knockfergus That Fergusius encountred with Coilus the Brittaine and slew him as writeth the Scotts it is impossible except they mistake the name of Coilus for Calius with whom indeede the age of Fergusius might well meete and the rather for that in the first yeare of his raigne the Picts entred and then Fergusius immediately after them 330. yeares ere Christ was borne Now Coilus raigned in the yeare of our Lord 124. about which time befell the second arrivall of the Picts in Brittaine so it seemeth they mistake by a slight error Coilus for Calius and the second arrivall of the Picts for the former This confusion of Histories is learnedly noted by Cooper in his generall collection of Chronicles CAP. XI How the Irish setled themselves in Scotland REturne wee now to the course of our Historie while the Picts were bestowed in the north of Brittaine and waxed populous the Irish made sundry arrands over to visite their Daughters Nephewes and kindred In often comming and going they noted waste places and little Ilands not replenished but rather neglected and suffered to grow wilde Hereof in Ireland they advertised their Prince namely Reuther or Rheuda who being the Issue of Fergusius bethought himselfe of his interest to certaine peeces of land beside the nation of the Picts Hee therefore well appointed partly by composition and some deale perforce stepped into those hamlets which no man occupied proceeded hansomely to reare his kingdome By little and little he edged forward and got betweene the Picts and Brittaines on this side the Scottish banke which he possessed but a season The place was thereof named Rheudisdale now Riddesdale asmuch to say as the part of Rheuda for dahal in their language signifieth part In those quarters after sundry conflicts with the borderers hee was by them slaine but the kingdome lasted in his successours still and the tvvo nations the Picts and the Irish lovingly suffered each other to thrive The Scotts caught up the Islands the Frontiers The Picts dwelt in the middle Soone after the peace betweene them vvent suspitions the diversities of people place custome language vvith the memorie of old grudges stirred up such inward jealousies and hate that it seemed they were easie to kindle as in such factions there never wanteth drifte to drive a tumult so it happened that certaine
Duvenaldus Prince of Limericke vvhom Dermot his father holpe in field foyled the enemy and then vvithdrevv his obedience from the Monarch Shamefull was Roderickes flight and Dermot insinuated into the favour of his people began to recount the confederates of his first misfortune and consulted with the two Captaines for the invasion of Connaght finding them prest he wrote over to the Earle Strongbow renewed their covenants prayed his helpe Richard Earle Strongbow whose auncestors came in vvith the Conquest but commonly of the King and his successors disfavoured having read the letters he passed to King Henry besought him either to answere him his rightfull heritage vvhich other men occupied or to licence him else vvhere in uncouth lands to seeke his fortune The King halfe in derision bad him on in the name of God even as farre as his feete could beare him The Earle dissembling to perceive the hollovvnes of the king furnished his Cousin Reymond le Grose Nephevv to the brethren aforesaid vvith ten Knights and 70. Bovvmen himselfe ensued vvith about 200. Knights and 1000. lusty Welchmen tryed Souldiours shortly they vvanne the Citty of Waterford and then immediately Mac Murrough accomplished his convention gave to the Earle in marriage his daughter Eve with the succession of his Kingdome When Waterford was gotten and Leinster pacified and the Princes of Ossory tamed and a chosen band ever in garrison Mac Murrough became so terrible that none durst encounter him The Cleargy assembled themselves at Ardmagh and with one accord did protest that for all their sinnes and especially for the Turkish kinde of Tyrany which they used in buying and selling and with vile slaveries oppressing the bodies of the English whom their pyrats tooke their land was like to be translated to that nation whose captives they handled so cruelly To appease in part the indignation of God they decreed that all English wheresoever in hold within the realme should forthwith be loosed Further if it pleased God to scourge them it should be meekely suffered as farre beneath the debt of their deserts King Henry though he was well apayed that the Earle should be from him yet he liked no deale his growing in Ireland to such power as percase in time to come with his faction in Wales then living under a Prince of their owne he might be able to face the Crowne of England An edict was therefore drawne whereby all subjects were charged upon their perill to reverte into England by a day and a caveat annexed that upon paine of death none should presume to passe over without a nevv warrant nor ship over any wares money munition or victuals into Ireland Thus had the Irish a breathing space and would perhaps have picked greater benefits thereby had not the Normans beene in their top immediately after Great force they laide to Divelin but vvere valiantly repelled and their Captaine Hasculphus taken prisoner who being calmely intreated began to overview himselfe and to imagine that the Citizens durst not use him extreamely once in open audience brake forth his unseasonable courage in these wordes Take this quoth he but for hansell the game is to come which heard they delayed him no longer but pusht him downe on a blocke and swapped off his head Strongbow perceiving the Kings jealously not yet allayed having wel-nigh spent his army in defence of diverse good townes impugned by Rodericke and the Irish left sufficient warde till his returne and met the King at Gloucester To whom he writeth declaring the envy that lurked in his preferment yeelded the tittle of all his winnings craved good countenance with his grace contented himselfe with any portion whatsoever his Majesty should relinquish a finall quietnesse was driven betweene them Dublin with th' appurtenances and all port townes of Leinster all fortresses reserved to the King The Earle should enjoy with good leave whatsoever he had gotten beside This yeare dyed Mac Murrow and the Abbey de Castro Dei was founded Soone after the King with five hundred Knights with archers and horsemen many more tooke shore at Waterford and was such a terrour to the Irish that incontinently all Mounster submitted themselves to his peace There the men of Wexford to feede the surmises of Henry conceived against the gentlemen betrayed their Lord Fitz Stephens and him delivered to the King The King to gratifie them for a while tremely chained and hampered the prisoner quarrelling with him notwithstanding the inhibition he had proceeded in atchieving the conquest of Ireland but shortly hee enlarged him and ratified the grants of Wexford above-mentioned These Princes of the South sware fidelity and tribute to Henry Dermot Carâ—ye King of Corke Donald Obrene king of Limericke Donald and Omalaghlien puissant Lords of Ossory and in briefe all the states of Mounster from thence hee journeyed to Dublin where in like manner all the Captaines of Leinster and Ororicke king of Meth and Rodericke Oconor king of Connaght and of all Ireland for himselfe and the whole Iland humbly recognized his soveraignety finally no man there was of name in the land except them of Vlster but they to him bowed and sware obeysance All which he feasted royally with a dinner of Cranes flesh a fowle till then utterly abhorred of the Irish. Merlin had prophesied that five should meete and the sixt should scourge them This sixt they now construed to be Henry in whom the five pettie Kingdomes were united Of the same conquest prophesied their foure notable Saints Patricke Brachon Colme and Moling The King not unmindfull of his charge enjoyned by the Popes Adrian and Alexander entred into a reformation of the Church and mooved the famous Bishop of Lismore Saint Christian their Legate to call a Synode at Cashell wherein they defined Eight Articles 1. First that their people should abandon unlawfull contracts of their cousins and allyes and observe the Canons of Matrimonie 2. That their Infants should be primestened of the Priests hand at the Church dore and then baptized in the font of their mother Church 3. That all faithfull duely pay their Tithes 4. That holy Church be for ever quit of those cursed exactions of diet and harborow whereunto they had beene accustomably strayned foure seasons in the yeare and else against right 5. That the fine levyed for manslaughter be not borne by the Clearkes and kinsmen to the malefactour but if he were accessary or faulty to the deed doing 6. That the sicke doe his Testament to be made or read in the presence of credible persons 7. That the funerals of the dead be devoutly and solemnly kept 8. That forasmuch as GOD hath universally delivered them into the government of the English they should in all points rights and ceremonies accord with the Church of England To these things Gelasius Primate of Ardmagh because he was old and impotent gave his consent at Divelin in the presence of the King he died two yeares after
in the yeere 432 and lyeth buried at Loghry in Ormund where there is a Church dedicated to his name and he is numbred among the Confessors of Ireland And to second this fable with two precedent lies the which I should haue begun withall in the front of this History as all Irish Antiquaries doe but that I would not abuse the reader being purposed beginning and ending to deliuer the truth I read as followeth Whereas in the yeere of the world 1525 Noah began to admonish the people of vengeance to come by a generall deluge for the wickednesse and detestable sinne of man and continued his admonition 120 yeeres building an Arke for the safegard of himselfe and his family one Cesara say they according vnto others Cesarea a Neece of Noah when others seemed to neglect this forewarning rigging a navy committed her selfe with her adherents to the seas to seeke adventures and to avoid the plagues that were to fall there arrived in Ireland with her three men Bithi Laigria and Fintan and fifty women within forty dayes after her arrivall the universall flood came upon them and those parts as well as upon the rest of the world and drowned them all in which perplexity of minde and imminent danger beholding the waves overwhelming all things before their eyes Fintan is said to have beene transformed into a Salmon and to have swoome all the time of the deluge about Vlster and after the fall of the water recovering his former shape to have lived longer then Adam and to have delivered strange things to the posterity so that of him the common speech riseth If I had lived Fintans yeeres I could say much But to let these fables passe The next plantation after Bartholanus as it is recorded amongst the collections of Irish antiquities is this in effect that Magog the sonne of Iaphet planted Colonies in Scythia neere the river of Tanais from whence about the yeere of the world two thousand three hundred and seventeene one Nemedus with his foure sonnes Starius Garbaneles Anvinus and Fergusius Captains over great companies of armed men were sent into this Island now called Ireland And passing by Graecia tooke with them such voluntaries as were willing to adventure with them they landed inhabited the Country and multiplied exceedingly although not without continuall warres which they held with the Giants of Chams posterity for the space of two hundred yeeres and odde In the end the Giants prevailing chased them out of the land so that they retired into Scythia and some to Greece This was about the yeere after the creation 2333 from which time the Giants kept possession of the land without forraigne invasion for many yeeres but yet in all that space their mindes not being set upon any goodnesse but altogether upon mischiefe they made no good lawes framed no common wealth they obeyed no Magistrate but fell at variance amongst themselues measuring all things by might and seditiously vexed each other In the yeere of the world 2416 and after the universall flood 750 yeeres as the Scottish History declareth one Gathelus the sonne of Nealus a Grecian upon displeasure for sundry rodes made into Macedonia and Achaia being exiled and banished his countrey with a great number of his adherents and complices went into Aegypt in the dayes of Moses where he found favour in the sight of King Pharaoh insomuch that he married with Scota his daughter continued there about 93 yeeres and multiplied exceedingly Iohannes Major Scotus calleth the verity of this History in question de hac prima profectione de Graecia Aegypto figmentum reor I am of opinion saith hee that this first going out of Greece and Aegypt is but fayned yet let us goe forward When Gathelus understood that the land was shortly for the wickednesse of the people to suffer great plagues he prepared a fleet shipped Grecians and Aegyptians hoised up saile and came upon the coast of Numidia now called Barbary thence they were put back to sea they went and came to the coast of Spaine now called Portingall as they say since that time of him called Port-gathell The inhabitants of the place resisted them gave them a sore battell and in the end after parlie Gathelus was intreated and by them directed to take his voyage into Galitia which eftsoones he did There in a short time they waxed so populous that the countrey could not sustaine them whereupon Gathelus called a Councell and being resolved what to doe tooke a great number of them with him to sea and arrived in Ireland and there grew into such estimation with the barbarous people that for knowledge especially in all languages having travelled many Countreys as is afore mentioned he was highly honoured For he not only enriched and beautified the Irish tongue but also as is said taught them letters sought up their antiquities and trained their youth in warlike exercises after the manner of the Grecians and Aegyptians from whence he descended Note here gentle reader before I wade further into this History three contrary opinions of this Gathelus the sonne of Nealus The Scottish Historiographers say it was 750 yeeres after the flood Thomas Walsingham Monke of S. Albons writeth it was 1000 yeeres and odde after the delivery of the children of Israel out of Aegypt which must be anno mundi 3455 to wit one 1000 yeeres after the former computation calling him a noble man of Scythia whom the Aegyptians banished out of Aegypt Iohn Harding a great Antiquary that knew best in his time the state of Scotland delivereth that Gathelus and Scota came to these parts after the birth of Christ in anno 75. This I give as a caveat referring unto the discreet reader the dissonance that I finde in the observation of times to bee considered of promising to lay downe faithfully euery thing as I finde the same as shall appeare in that which followeth And now to the history where we left It is said that this Gathelus of his wife Scota commanded that his followers Grecians and Aegyptians should be called Scoti that is Scottishmen And Hector Boëtius in the History of Scotland sticketh not to write that upon his marriage with Scota the foresaid commandement was published and that his followers in Aegypt Barbary Portingall Galitia and over Spaine were called Scoti But how true that is it may appeare by the Roman Histories which haue noted the accidents of those times in all which there is no mention of the Scots before the time of Constantius the Emperour which was about the yeere of Christ 310 who lyeth buried at York and was father to Constantine the great Paulus lovius writeth Scotland tooke that name upon the comming of a forraine and no great ancient nation No Latine writer before Marcellinus in Iulian the Emperours time which was about the yeere 362 remembreth the Scots neither doth it well appeare out of what Country the Scots first came into Albion when as by the Annals not only
of English but of Scottish Antiquities varying among themselues great obscurity is brought among doubtfull things Some bring their originall from Ireland others from Dania Cimbrica Chersonesus and the Ilands of Gothland and Norwey neither wanted there some which were of opinion they came from Spaine deriving the name of Scottishmen from Moses himselfe and the Aegyptians as Hector Boëtius the Scottish Chronicler yet Hector himselfe preventing as it were the like objection confesseth that in the third yeere of Adrian the Emperor which was after the birth of Christ about 122 yeeres the name of Scots was not knowne unto the Romans In short time after the retinue of Gathelus searched the North-east and North-west Ilands and entred the Land which now is called Scotland so also called as the Scotish will have it of Scota But many grave writers have stumbled at the certainty of this story yet I finde for certaine that Ireland was called Scotia maior and the other Scotia minor and oftentimes confusedly the one taken for the other and the words to be of no great antiquity Capgrave in the life of Saint Columbanus saith Ireland of old was called Scotland from whence the Scottish nation inhabiting Albania next vnto great Britaine now called Scotland tooke their originall Fiacrius an Hermite being asked of a Bishop in France what hee was among other things answered Ireland the Iland of Scots is the native soile of mee and my parents It also appeareth by Orosius Claudian Isidore Hubaldus Beda the English Legend the Martyrologe secundum usum Sarum Marianus Ionas in vita Sancti Columbani Aimoinus Caesarius c. that Ireland and Scotland were usually taken one for the other But before I goe any further I thinke it not amisse to say som what to this word Scotus or Scottus the which Hector Boëtius carrieth away as derived of Scota and as thing granted There came to this Countrey of Ireland at three severall times before Gathelus great Commanders of Scythia as I have said before of the posterity of Iaphet planted themselues divided the land with great troubles and when they were at the worst alwayes they left a remnant of their nation behinde them Beda every where calleth them not Scotos but Scottos so that I finde in the word a double alteration y turned into o and th into tt Also in low Germany they call the Scythians and Scottish Schotten Nennius the Britain writeth Scythae Hiberniam obtinuerunt the Scythians gat Ireland King Alfredus translating the history of Orosius into the Saxon tongue termeth the Scots Scyttan The borderers upon Scotland cal them to this day Skyttes and Skets Walsingham writeth Of the country called Sicia alias Scythia wee haue Scita Sciticus Scoticus Scotus and Scotia Ranulphus Monke of Chester writeth as Sir Iohn Trevisa the Priest in old English laid it downe Scotts bene called as it were Scytes for they came out of Scytia Matthew Monk of Westminster saith Ex Pictis Hibernensibus Scoti originem habuerunt quasi ex diversis nationibus compacti Scot enim illud dicitur quòd ex diversis rebus in unum acervum congregatur deinde verò terra illa quae prius Albania dicebatur à Scotis Scotia nuncupatur anno gratiae 77. Of Pictes and Irish the Scots had their originall as it were compacted of divers nations for that is called Scot which of divers things is gathered into one heap afterwards that Land which was first called Albania of the Scots is called Scotia And Beda writeth that the Country now called Scotland was inhabited by Pictes that were Scythians againe In processe of time saith he Britaine besides Britaines and Pictes receiued a third nation that is of Scots upon the side of the Pictes Of the same opinion is Volateran and Iohannes Major Scotus although Hector Boëtius dissemble it Richard Stanihurst the great Philosopher and Antiquary of Ireland writeth A quo primum initio Scotiae nomen fit tractum nondum plane perspectum video c. Of what first originall the word Scotia is drawne I haue not yet found out And touching the truth of the History of Gathelus and Scota hee saith To the end the worthinesse of so great a mariage delivered unto the posterity should florish all these Grecians call themselues Scots and Ireland where they first seated themselues Scotiam But all this as a vaine fable George Buchanan and before him Humfrey Lloide have quite reiected and if Hector Boëtius bee not the chiefe forger of this history or rather vaine fable yet he hath besprinckled after his manner the whole discourse with lies With great ambition hath that silly writer labored to advance the glory of his nation in the which endeauour hee hath little regarded the honour of his Country and his owne credit For he hath purchased this amongst the learned that where as he would seeme to write all for the loue of the truth they will beleeue in a manner nothing to be true which he wrote For to what purpose should he commend to the posterity the acts of his ancestors with such maiesty of words that they have quailed the Spaniard vanquished the Irish with their only austere countenance triumphed as often as pleased themselves over the bordering Britaines where they pitched foot subiected all as furious victors that thou maist think the Scottish not so much to have invaded forraigne Countryes as to have removed to their proper possessions These fabulous dreames happely may move admiration to some old wives applause to some Abderas and laughter to the discreete reader The Scotish had as other nations tofore though now famous base beginning dusked and obscured with some barbarous rudenesse and this had beene more discretion to confesse then to vaunt or crake among the ignorant with boast of their fained doings Thus farre Stanihurst And now with Hector Boëtius his leave as the followers of Gathelus and his wife Scota in Egypt Greece Barbary Portugall Galitia and over all Spaine were not called Scoti as before is remembred no more were they termed in Ireland and Scotland but corruptly of Scytae Scoti comming originlly out of Scythia And it were more honour in mine opinion for these nations to derive their originall from Scythia then from Egypt for two causes first for that the Scythians are more ancient then the Egyptians as Trogus Volateran and Marianus Scotus do write secondly for that the Scythians come of Iaphet that was blessed and the Egyptians of Cham that was accursed but in this case leaving every man to his owne choice I will returne the History In the antiquities of Ireland it is generally receiued that Gathelus of whom I spake before gave the Irishmen the language which of him they call Gaodhealgh in British Gwidhealaec that is a language compounded of many tongues and so it may well be for by reason of his great trauell he had skill in many tongues Although as they say he were a Grecian borne yet I finde no
signifieth a skilfull archer And these Pictes brought with them the use of darts which the Irish retaine to this day But I come to Beda who goeth plaine to worke When the Britaines saith hee had possessed the greatest part of the Isle beginning at the South it happened that a nation of Pictes out of Scythia with long shippes yet not many entred the Ocean the winde driving them about beyond all the coast of Brittaine they came into Ireland and arived in the North and finding there the nation of Scots desired of them to grant them a dwelling place amongst them but they could not obtaine it c. The Scots made answere that the Iland could not hold them both but wee can give you said they good counsaile what you may doe We know another Island not farre from ours reaching to the East the which we are wont oft to discerne in cleare dayes if you will goe thither you may make it your dwelling place or if any withstand you take vs for your aide And so the Pictes sayling into Britaine began to inhabite the North parts of the Iland for the Britaine 's held the South And when the Pictes had no wives and sought them of the Scots they were granted them onely upon this condition that when the title of Soveraigntie became doubtfull they should choose them a King rather of the Feminine bloud royall then of the Masculine the which unto this day is observed amongst the Pictes And in processe of time Britaine after the Britaines and Picts received that third nation of the Scots upon that part where the Pictes had their habitation who issuing out of Ireland with their Captaine Reuda either by loue or by the sword have wonne peculiarly unto themselves those seats which they hold unto this day and of this their captaine they are called Dalreudin for in their language Dal signifieth apart And here I cannot but meruaile at Hector Boetius and Buchanan what confusion they bring into the historie without regard of the truth they name Beda they call Reuda Reuther and say that he was the sixt King of Albania and that the Britaine 's made him flee into Ireland and that in the end he was restored to his kingdome againe which can no way agree with the words of reverend Beda whose credit we may not impeach for he saith they were Scythians and wanted a dwelling place and beganne to inhabit the North parts of the Iland If Reuda were King of Albania no thanke to the Irish men to direct him thither But let us goe on with the Pictes I finde in Lanquet that the Pictes were rebellious an 9 of Arviragus Anno. Domini 53. And Polycronicon affircteth as Beda wrote before that they came to the North of Ireland in Vespasians time Stow saith it was in Anno 73. Matthew the Monke of Westminster in Anno 75. and 76. Leslaeus and Bozius write that Reuda came about the yeere 360. which is very doubtfull and that then the Pictes wanting wives desired of the Britaines that they might march with their nation their suit being denied they went to the Irish who granted them wives upon the condition in Beda before rehearsed And farther Giraldus Cambrensis Polycronicon and Grafton concurring doe say that Scotland was first called Albania of Albanactus secondly Pictlandia of the Pictes thirdly Hibernia Ireland because of the alliance or affinitie in marriage betweene the Pictes and Irish last of all Scotland or Scythians land And hereof it commeth to passe that Ireland is called Scotland and Scotland Ireland the Irish Scots and the Scots Irish as one hath largely collected and the distinction of Scotia Major and Scotia Minor Harding hath an historie out of Mewinus a Brittish Chronicler Harding lived in the time of Henry the fift and sixt and in the daies of Edward the fourth which if it be true all that is formerly spoken of Gathelus and Scota his wife by the Scottish and Irish Chroniclers is of small credit namely how that Gathelus and Scota came into these North parts together with the Pictes Anno Domini 75. his words are these speaking of the King of Britaine Then to the Peights left alive he gave Catenesse To dwell upon and have in heritage Which wedded were with Irish as I gesse Of which after Scots came on that linage For Scots be to say their language A collection of many into one Of which the Scots were called so anone But Mewinus the Bryton Chronicler Saith in his Chronicle otherwise That Gadelus and Scota in the yeere Of Christ seventie and five by assise At Stone inhabite as might suffice And of her name the country round about Scotland she cald that time without doubt This Scota was as Mewin saith the sage Daughter and bastard of King Pharao that day Whom Gadele wedded and in his old age Vnto a land he went where he inhabited ay Which yet of his name is called Gadelway And with the Peights he came into Albanie The yeere of Christ aforesaid openlie c. Polycronicon and Cambrensis accord with Harding in this point that the King gave the Pictes a place to dwell in which is now called Galleway And saith Ponticus Virunius it was desert and waste where none dwelled in many dayes before The credit of Harding is great and he that list to know farther of him let him reade Bale Bishop of Ossorie who wrote his life I will now neither confirme nor confute but acquainte the reader with such antiquities as I finde and in a word to adde something unto that which went before of the time of the Pictes comming into these North and North-west parts Florilegus writeth it was Anno Domini 77. Functius and Polydore Anno Dom. 87. To reconcile the dissonance what every one saith may stand for truth for they came in severall companies and at severall times some into Ireland some into Albania and some into England I will from henceforward leave writing the kingdome of Albania and write the kingdome of Scotland Anno Dom. 73. began Marius the sonne of Arviragus to raigne in Britaine Humfrey Lloide calleth him Meurig who after his troublesome warres for nine yeeres space against the Picts and Scots ended with the helpe of Iulius Agricola is said to have aspired towards Ireland and to have placed garrisons on the coast and to the end he might performe some exploite there entertained an Irish Prince that was driven out of his country by civill dissention for his conductor I finde no issue recorded of this businesse In the 15. yeeres civill warres which ensued vpon the death of Lucius the sonne of Coile King of Britaine it is reported that Fulgenius called the Ilanders Albanians Pictes and Irish men to his aide against whom Severus the Emperour comming from Rome gave them battaile neere unto Yorke where Severus and a Prince of Ireland were slaine and Fulgenius deadly wounded the Emperour Severus
685. was Cadwallader crowned King of Britaines that Ireland was subiect unto him Harding testifieth his words are Cadwaladrus after him gan succeed Both young and faire in florishing invent That Cadwallader was called as I reade Who of Britaine had all the Soveraigntie Of English and Saxons in each country Of Pightes Irish and Scots his under regence As Soveraigne Lord and most of excellence For other things that concerne him I referre the reader to the historie of England He had two nephewes his daughters sonnes named Ivâ—r and Heuyr who fled into Ireland saith Powell and when they saw their time came with forces against the Saxons gave them three battailes with many skirmishes and inrodes yet in the end were foiled as in the proper historie more at large appeareth And here ended the rule of the Britaines which had long continued I must now acquaint the reader with such as for learning and sanctitie were of note during this age beginning at the yeere 600. Zacharias Lippeloo out of Petrus Cameracensis writeth that about this yeere 600. there was an heathenish and idolatrous King in Ireland who had one Dympna to his daughter who secretly was baptized by one Gerebernus a Priest that travailed the land for such purposes The daughter being sole heire and her mother being now dead the father was very carefull to see her well matched according to his degree and accordingly acquainted his dearest friends and counsellers with his intent and purpose who likewise travailed carefully in the cause but could not speed to the fathers contentment As shee grew in yeeres so she excelled in beautie and the father being as wicked as she was good and faire became enamoured of his owne daughter and importunately offered her marriage Shee at the first being amazed at the motion yet at length gathering spirit desired respite for forty dayes and withall desired that it would please him to adorne her with such attire jewels and ornaments as became a Kings daughter to weare all which being granted she privately sent for Gerebernus the Priest and acquainted him with all the circumstances The Priest advised her that the safest way for her to avoid the incestuous King was to avoid the land shee immediately with the Priest together with her fathers Iester and his wife tooke shipping and arrived at Antverp When they had rested there a while and recreated themselves they of devotion saith mine Author sought out among woods and desarts a solitarie place to remaine in this resolution they came to a poore village called Ghele Gela saith Molanus and from thence they went to a thicket called Zammale where they rid some small quantity of ground made a Caban to hold them all foure where they continued well some three moneths praying and fasting In the meane while the Irish King missing his daughter Dympna lamented greatly made great inquirie and offered great rewards to know what became of her and having gotten inkling of her course hoised up saile after her and landed at Antverp immediately hee made search and sent messengers with large offers about if haply they might heare of her At the length by the coyne which they offered for reward she was found out for they said there was a faire young woman remaining in a solitary place which had sent for reliefe for her selfe and three persons more with the like coyne The messengers were brought to the place who knowing her ranne forthwith with newes to the King and he with much ioy made haste to the Caban and when he saw her said O my onely daughter Dympna my love my delight and the ioy of my heart what constrained thee to despise a regall dignity to forsake thy native soile to forget the naturall affection of a Childe toward her Parent to flee from thy father a King and to follow as a childe this old decrepit bald Priest and so willingly to condescend to his unsavorie injunctions hearken to mine advice returne with me into Ireland yeeld to thy fathers desire and I will advance thee above all the Ladies in Ireland Gerebernus the Priest preventing the young Gentlewoman turned him to the Irish King and rebuked him sharpely denouncing him for a most wicked and abhominable person then he turned him to the Gentlewoman and charged her never to give eare to so lewd a man With this the King and his company being mightily moved commanded the Priest to be taken aside and his head to be taken off his shoulders Afterward the father turned him to his daughter O daughter saith he why sufferest thou mee thy father to bee thus vexed why contemnest thou my love towards thee yeeld and thou shalt want nothing Shee with a sterne countenance made answer Thou infortunate tyrant why goest thou about with deceitfull promises to withdraw me from my setled purpose of shamefastnesse I defie thee and all thine Thou cruell tyrant why hast thou slaine the Lords Priest shalt thou escape thinkest thou the iudgement of the Almighty what torture thou wilt lay upon me I weigh not with this the father being furiously moved commanded his souldiers to cut off her head and they being loath to doe it he tooke the sword that hung by his side and with his own hands strucke off her head and with expedition returned into Ireland Thus the Priest and Dympna died of the Iester and his wife I reade nothing belike they returned home againe Molanus writeth that many yeeres after the bodies of Dympna and Gerebernus were sought ouâ— taken up and solemnly enterred The Irish in the County of Louth doe honour her belike her father dwelt there Saint Bertwin an Irish man was brought up in the Monasterie of Othbell in England from thence he went to Rome where hee led a solitarie life the space of two yeeres in his returne he came to the Forrest of Marlignia in Flanders where he builded a Chappell lastly he was made Bishop of Molania where he ended his dayes Sigebert ad an 651. writeth Many out of Eng or Scot. he knew not well the countries as strangers travailing in France preached the word of God and did much good to wit Etto Bertwinus Eloquius This Bertwin lyeth buried nigh Namurcum saith Molanus of old called Namur novus murus but now Namurra so writeth Hubertus Thomas Leodius Livinus borne in Ireland and brought up in Scotland and England under Benignus the Priest and Augustine the first Bishop of the Saxons by whom he was made Archbishop saith Molanus of the Scots saith Christianus Massaeus of Ireland saith Bale Silvestris Scotiae of the Ilanders and Red-shanckes the which charge after certaine yeeres he committed to Sylvanus his Arch-deacon and gave himselfe to travaile and tooke with him his three disciples Saint Foillanus Helias and Kilian and came to Gandavum Of him Christianus Massaeus writeth thus In the yeere of our Lord 631. Saint Livinus by nation a Scot Archbishop of Ireland came to Gandavum with three disciples and remained
would forthwith take our own armour and weapons against us well well the Mouse is in the cubbord the Fire is in the lappe and the Serpent is in the bosome the enemie is at hand ready to oppresse his adversarie and the guest is in place with small curtesie to requite his host If our enemies when they come in good array and well appointed to give the onset and to wage battel against us if they should happen to have the victorie the vpperhand over us would they deale in pitty and mercy would they grant us our lives would they put us to ransome Tush what needs many words when the deeds are apparent our victory is to bee used that the destruction of these few may bee a terror to many whereby all others and this wild and rebellious nation may take example and bewar how they meddle and encounter with us of two things we are to make choice of one for either we must valiantly and couragiously stand to performe what we have taken in hand and all fond pitty set aside boldly and stoutly to overthrowe and vanquish this rebellious and stubborne people or if we shall after the mind and opinion of Reimond altogether be pittiful and full of mercy we must hoise up our sailes and returne home leaving both the Country and all that we have already gotten to this miserable and wretched people When Herveie had made an end of his speech they put it to voyces and the voyces went on Herveis side whereupon the Captaines as men condemned were brought to the Rockes and after their Limbs were broken they were cast head long into the Seas and drowned every mothers sonne Vpon the 23. of August being Saint Bartholomewes Eeve and yeere aforesaid to wit Anno 1170. Richard surnamed Strangbow Earle of Strigulia whose original and of-spring in another place herafter if God permit shall bee laid downe landed in the Haven of Waterford where Dermos Mac Morogh Robert Fitz Stephens and Maurice Fitz Gerauld and Reimond le Grosse met him and joyned their forces together Reimond le Grosse was made generall of the field they tooke small rest after their arrivall for upon Bartholomew day being tuesday with Banners displayed in good aray they assaulted the City by water and by land the townesmen manfully defended themselves and gave them two repulses Reimond having compassed the towne espied without adjoyning unto the towne wall where now standeth a strong Bulwarke an old Cabban propped with old timber and entred into the old wall the which proppes they sawed asunder then downe falleth the cabban and withall a great part of the wall the breach thus made the Brittains doe enter and in the streets kill man woman and child and there left them in heapes In Reignald tower upon the wall of the tower they found one Reignald I take it the tower beareth the name of him and Omalaghlin Ophelim Lord of the Decies whose lives Dermot Mac Morogh saved they found there other two whom they put to the sword they rifled the houses they ransacked the City they made havock of all lastly they left there a strong ward Then according to precedent covenants Dermot gave his daughter Eva in marriage to Richard Strangbow and after solemnity thereof they all marched with their forces towards Dublin For Dermot bare them a deadly hatred and hitherto winked at them untill further oportunity served for the villany and cruelty they shewed to his father the townsmen of Dublin foreseeing his revenging mind procured to their aid as many as they could throughout the land they trenched they plashed in paces streets and narrow places all the wayes along to Waterford to hinder their march Dermot was not ignorant thereof whereupon he led the army from out the common and beaten way through the Mountaines of Glandelogh and came safe to the walles of Dublin There the Citizens sent messengers to intreat for peace and amongst others Laurence O Toole Arcbishop of Dublin while they parled without for peace Sir Remond le grosse and Sir Miles Cogan scaled the wals for saith Cambrensis they were more desirous to fight under Mars in the field then in the Senate to sit with Iupiter in Councell they made a breach they enter the Citie they put all to the sword in the meane while Hastulphus the Commander of the City with a great many of the better sort with their Riches and Iewels escaped and fled by the Sea to the North Ilands When the Earle had spent a few daies in the towne he left Miles Cogan Governour therof and by the perswasion of Dermot Mac Morogh he drew his forces into Meth to be avenged of Ororicke whom some call Morice some Murdich who was the cause of his exile and whose wife Dermot had formerly taken away The Earle no sooner entred the Countrey but the Army was given wholly to the spoile they robbed they spoiled they burned and wasted all before them Roderic King of Conoght and Monarch of Ireland seeing his neighbours house set one fire thought it high time to looke to his owne and wrotte to Dermot Mac Morogh contrary to the order of Peace formerly concluded thou hast procured and allured a swarme and multitude of strangers to invade this land all the while thou didst containe thy selfe within compasse of thine owne territories we winked at thy proceedings but forasmuch as now thou not caring for thy oath nor regarding the safety of thy hostages hast so fondly and falsly passed thy bounds I require thee that thou wouldest retire and withdraw these excourses and inrodes of strangers or else to begin I will not faile to cut off thy sonnes head and send it to thee with speed Dermot despised the messenger and would scarce vouchsafe to reade his letter upon the messengers returne Roderic was mad and in his rage caused his pledges head the sonne of Dermot Mac Morogh to be cut off In this troublesome time the Primate of Armagh called the Prelates and Clergie to a Synod at Armagh assembled a Councell where according to their wisedomes they endeavoured to finde out the cause of these miseries that fell upon the land they inquired not whether the Bishops had bought their Bishoprickes for money whether their Parsons did pray whether their Ministers were lettered what whoredome symony or lechery with other enormities raigned among the Clergie but simply like themselves posted over all to the Laytie and concluded insipienter that the iust plague fell upon the people for merchandizing of the English nation for then they bought and sold of the English birth such as they found and made them bondslaves so they served Saint Patricke called the Apostle of Ireland who was a bondman sixe yeeres in Ireland but Patricke preached Christ and the English nation reformed the land Here the sacred letters reconcile all the stone which the builders refused is become the corner stone and why so the answer followeth it is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes
Lievetenant with the allowance of twenty Gentlemen of his houshold and joyned with him in commission Iohn de Courcy with the allowance of tenne men to attend his person Robert Fitz Stephens and Miles Cogan who had nobly served him in his wars two yeers with the allowance of twenty men to attend their persons at which time saith Holinshed the Irish men paid the King a tribute of twelve pence yeerely for every house or else for every yoke of Oxen alias plow which they had of their owne Richard surnamed Strangbow had to his father Gilbert likewise surnamed Strangbow for his valour strength this Gilbert was E. of Ogye in Normandie Lord of Totenhā Alverdiston Wolaston in England so created by Henry 1. William the son of Osbert a Norman E. of Ogie in Normandie had issue Richard E. of Ogie this Richard had issue Walter Gilbert aforesaid father to Richard E. Strangbow William Fitz Osbert came into England in the ayde of William the Conquerour And as far as I can learn Walter was the first Earle of Penbroke the Britaines call it Penbraich More the head of an arme of the sea whence both the Countie and the most noble Earldome have their denominations Arnulph de monte Gomerik the yonger sonne of Roger de montegomerik that was by William the Conquerour created Earle of Arundell and Shrewsbury builded the Castle of Penbroke where Henry the seventh was borne William the Conquerour gave him Divet and Cardigan hee was Earle of Ogie and the second Earle of Penbroke and married the daughter by the mediation of Girald de Windsore Constable of his Castle of Morogh King of Leinster in Ireland Gilbert surnamed Strangbow was created by King Stephen the third Earle of Penbroke hee was Earle of Ogie in Normandie Lord of Totenham Alverdiston Wolaston and Cardigan and in England succeeded Arnulph Henry the first made him Earle of Strigule now called Chepstow and gave him Cardigan this Gilbert builded Castrogie alias Castrum Ogie in Gwent and the Castle of Stratmirike Richard surnamed Strangbow succeeded his father Gilbert his stile as I take it is thus Richard surnamed Strangbow Lord of Totenham Alverdiston Wolaston and Cardigan in England Earle of Penbroke Earle of Strigule alias Domonius de Chepstow in England Earle of Ogie in Normandie Earle of Leicester Earle Marshall of England Vicegerent of Normandie Lord Lievetenant of Ireland and Prince of Leinster in the right of Eva his wife sole heire of Dermot Mac Morogh King of Leinster This Richard had issue by his first wife a sonne a fine youth and a gallant stripling who following his father with some charge in battaile array as he passed by Idrone in Leinster to relieve Robert Fitz Stephens in Wexford upon the sight and cry of the Irish men when his father was in cruell fight gave backe with his company to the great discouragement of the host yet the Earle got the victory and commanded with the teares in his cheekes that his sonne should be cut in the middle with a sword for his cowardize in battaile he was buried in the Church of the blessed Trinitie in Dublin where now his father resteth by his side and caused the cause of his death for an Epitaph to be set over him Nate ingrate mihi pugnanti terga dedisti Non mihi sed genti regno quoque terga dedisti My sonne unkinde didst flye the field the father fighting hard Nor me nor English birth didst weigh nor kingdome didst regard How the sonne pleaded with his father for the place of service and how the father answered Stanihurst hath many circumstances hereof and delivered that his owne father in his fury and in the face of the enemy cut him off and marvaileth that Cambrensis would conceale it and in the end taketh it as a matter of truth both by the testimony of the Tombe in Christ Church as also by the industry of Sir Henry Sidney Knight a great favourer of Antiquities in preserving the same to the knowledge of the posterity Richard Earle Strangbow by his second wife Eva the daughter of Dermot Mac Morogh had issue one daughter Isabell whom Richard the first gave in marriage to William Maxfield Lord Maxfield Earle Marshall of England of whom God willing I shall have occasion to speake further when I come to his time The same yeere that Strangbow dyed viz. 1177. so Holinshed writeth Iohn de Courcy entred Vlster discomfited the Irish and wanne the Citie of Dune where the body of Saint Patricke Saint Colme and Saint Brigide the Virgin rests whom Courcy calleth tria jocalia Hiberniae the three jewels of Ireland At the winning of Dune Roderic King of Connaght and Monarch of Ireland at severall times before sworne to the King raised a mighty army against Courcy where Roderic was overthrowne and the Bishop of Dune taken prisoner among other rebels the which Bishop at the request of Cardinall Vinian then present was set at liberty This Cardinall saith mine Author intitled Sancti Stephani de monte Celio was sent from Alexander 3. and comming into England without licence was pardoned by Henry 2. and permitted to goe into Scotland and the north parts where his commission directed him when he had ended his businesse in Scotland he passed over into Man where he held his Christmas with Gotred King of Man and after the Epiphanie sailed from thence into Ireland and came thither saith Newbrigiensis the same time that the English men invaded the country and was entertained by Roderic and the Bishop of Dune and others with great reverence The Irish men aske councell of Vivian the Legate what in that case he thought best to be done whether they should fight or yeeld unto the English nation he gave counsell forgetting what Adrian 4. and Alexander 3. had formerly granted and said fight in defence of your country This Legate craftily preventing all mishaps took the Church of Dune for his sanctuary and had in readinesse the Popes commission and the King of Englands Passe unto the Captaines of Ireland for his safe conduct From thence he went to Dublin called the Prelates held a councell and filled his bagges with the sinnes of the people the English Captaines understanding of it gave him in charge either to depart the land or to goe to the warres and serve for pay with them and no longer to receive money for nought In the booke of Howth it is further alledged how that this Legate in his Synod at Dublin whether it were to curry favour with the English men and to colour his other pranckes it forceth not greatly shewed and published openly the King of Englands right to Ireland with the Popes grant and confirmation and accursed all those that gainesaid the same Now to the true history of Sir Iohn de Courcy as worthy a Knight for martiall prowesse as ever trode upon Irish ground whom Cambrensis lightly overskipped partly upon private grudge for that Sir Iohn de Courcy allowed him
His Legend reporteth that in time of famine and scarcity in Ireland â—e releeved daily 500. persons at his doore for 3. yeres space Henry the 2. did not favour him for he had both in publicke and private at sundry times as formerly in part hath beene touched beene an instrument of rebellion and of many mischiefes against the English nation and at the Councell of Lateran contrary to his Oath inveighed bitterly against the King Stainhursh excuseth him saying that hee pleaded for the immunities of the Churches of Ireland somewhat prejudiciall to the Kings prerogative He came to the King at Canterbury where the Monkes received him with solemne Procession and hee gave himselfe one whole night to prayers before Saint Thomas his shrine for good successe in his affaires with the King A foole espied him in his Pontificall weed wholly devoted to Saint Thomas Becket And said I can doe no better deed then to make him equall with Saint Thomas with that tooke a club ranne through the throng and gave him such ablow upon the pat that the blood ran downe his eares the man was so sore wounded that it was thought hee would streighway yeeld up the Ghost the cry was up the foole runne away the Bishop taking breath called for water and in a short time after was healed his sute unto the King was as foraigne Writers deliver for Deronog King of Ireland but saith Holinshed which is likeliest to bee true it was in the behalf of Roderic King of Conoght which had often promised true subjection and fidelity unto the King but never performed he had brought with him Roderic his sonne as a pledge for performance of convenants formerly passed betweene them as the payment of tribute and such like but the King neither liked the one or the other but charged the Archbishop not to depart without his licence The King shortly after tooke shipping at Sandwich and sailed into Normandy The Archbishop followed him and there dyed of an Ague whereupon as Holinshed writeth the King sent Ieffray De Haile one of his Chaplens and a Chaplen also of Alexander the Popes Legat into Ireland to seize the Archbi see into his hands and further it is alleaged that being the Popes Legate of Ireland he abhorred incontinency so much that for augmentation of penance hee would absolve no dissolute Priest but sent them to Rome for absolution and proved in regard of former favours there Amicus Curiae so that he sent thither out of Ireland at one time 140. Priests saith the Legend De peccato Luxuriae convictos Romam misit absolvendos convicted of Lechery Behold gentle Reader the holy lives of the Priests of that age and the Sanctity of the Romane Sea in pardoning of them all propter quid alias propter quas Pope Honorius the 3. Anno Pontificatus 9. vel 10. Canonized this Laurence for a Saint who is Calendred the 14. of November or as the Bull of his Canonization hath the 18. of the Calends of December which is all one the which Bull followeth in these words Honorius Episcopus servus servorum Dei universis Christi fidelibus in Rothmugensi Provincia constitutis salutem Apostolicam benedictionem Ineffabilis providentia Dei congruentibus singulis quibusque temporibus ordinariè dispensans in splendoribus Sanctorum Ecclesiam suam quasi ex utero genuit Deum in exordio ipsius nascentis Ecclesiae crebro miraculorum fulgore abstupefaciens gentes ac prodestinatos in Fide generans Iesu Christi Cujus hoc fieri nomine virtute videbant ipsos filiorum adoptionis numero aggregavit Deinde crescrute numero multitudine populi vocati de tenebris ambulantes juxta Isaiae Vaticinium in lumine Domini Dei sui mirabilis dispensator in pluviam fulgura sua fecit dum signis suis miraculis quae non erant jam fidelibus necessaria intermissis super novos populos pastores qui eos pascerent scientia doctrina ...... sicut per os Ieremiae promiserat suscitavit Doctores Ecclesiae qui terram cordis fidelium imbre doctrinae complerent extirpatis sensibus vitiorum cum ad proferendum virtutum germen fructum boni operis foecundaret Caeterum quia Charitate frigescente ab exercitio boni operis torpet Catholicus errore devio abducente delirat haereticus cecidit velamine adhuc super cor permanente Iudaeus in tenebris ambulat fide lucis nondum sibi oriente Paganus Misericors Dominus qui neminem vult perire signa interdum innovat miseratus immutat ex numero illorum quos in Ecclesia triumphante glorificat aliquorum fidem et meritae in militante miraculis declarando ut per ea Catholici mentis ...... discusso ad boni operis excitentur instantiam haeretici errore dimisso ab isto reducantur ad viam veritatis et vitam Sanctae ergo memoriae Laurentio Dublinensi Archepiscopo apud Ecclesiam Sanctae Mariae de Ango Rathmagensis Diocesos ubi corpus ejus feliciter requiescit divino munere coruscante miraculis Venerabilis frater noster Archepiscopus et dilecti filij Capitulum Rathmagense una cum Abbate et Conventu Ecclesiae supradictae multisque alijs Archiepiscopis et Episcopis Abbatibus et Religiosis viris ejus venerabilis vitae insignia coruscantia miracula suis nobis literis intimantes humiliter supplicarunt ut ipsum Sanctorum Catalogo ascribere curaremus quatenus autoritate sicut convenit Apostolica dignus honor illi exhiberetur in terris qui sicut claris signis et evidentibus argumentis apparet honoratur in coelis Licet igitur quos divina honorat dignatio humana devotio prompto affectu debeat honorare volentes in hujusmodi negotio secundum consuetudinem Apostolicae sedis maturitate debita procedere praefato Archiepiscopo Decano Thesaurario Rathmagensi dedimus in mandatis ut superdicti viri vita miraculis inquirerent diligentissime veritateÌ„ eam nobis fideliter intimarent ut ea planè comperta pro supplicantiuÌ„ desiderio securius annisere valeremus Ipsi autem mandatum nostrum cum diligentia exequentes quod de prefati viri conversatione ac vita istis certificare nequibant eo quod per partes illas transjectus faciens in Ecclesia praedicta correptus infirmitatus decubuit infra octavum ab hac luce migravit diem scripserunt venerabili fratri nostro Archiepiscopo Dublinensi ut veritatem super hoc inquisitam iis per suas literas intimaret qui citra mare Hibernicum illustris Regis Anglorum negotiis occupatus volens id inquirere per se ipsum venerabili fratri nostro Darensi Episcopi suffragano suo ac Priori Sanctae Trinitatis Dublinensis commisit in hujusmodi negotio vices suas ac demum literas eorum sanctitatem vitae conversationis saepe dicti viri plenius continentes suo ipsorum sigillis munitas destinarunt eisdem quas una cum depositionibus
to bee true one to another throughout that whole rancke of rebels as farre as life lands and goods would reach to effect this enterprise Secondly they swoare never to yeeld obedience to the English nation againe Oconor King of Conaght becomes the mouth of the Irish perswades to his liking disswades where fancy pleaseth not and gathered together in short time an Army as mine Author saith of 20000. fighting men his policy was first to cleare Conoght and afterwards all Vlster and so by degrees the whole land the which he doubted not of as he delivered to his followers Sir Iohn de Courcy understanding this and doubting what hee should finde at Sir Hugh Delacies hands sent letters in post to his brother Sir Amorick Saint Laurence who shortly to his ayd marched towards the North with 30. Knights and 200. foot Oconor hearing this lyeth in ambush in most secret wise and sendeth scouts of horse and foot before him to apprehend and cut off all espials which might bewray his ambush and give intelligence to Sir Amorick to prevent the danger Sir Amorick boldly marcheth on misdoubting nothing for that he understandeth by his espials nothing to the contrary till he came to the Divels mouth where upon a sudden beholding Oconor and his huge Army peeping out of their ambush was amazed made a stand and consulting with his company wist not what to doe there was no flying there was no fighting one to a hundred was no equal match a horseman whose name was Mountgomery in a few words said this Let us fly and save our lives as for the foot company wee can doe them no good by figting by flying and saving our owne lives we may succour their wives children and kindred By that time Sir Amorick his brother leader of the foot company came to the consultation and said I see by all circumstances that you meane to flie and you Sir Amorick my noble brother what meane you to give eare to these cowardly horsemen will you leave us here as sheepe in the mouths of this mercilesse people and ravening wolfes ready to rent us in peeces Have you forgotten the bloody battels we followed you in and do you not see that we have left our Country our wives our children and dearest friends and now stand at deaths doore to be forsaken of you whom wee never left so disolate and distressed if you weigh not our lamentable estate regard your owne honour and the house you are descended of Will you lose in an houre the honour you wanne in many yeeres Call to remembrance most worthy Knight how that in Vriell in manner in the like distresse you dismounted your selfe slew your horse led the foot animated the company recovered your selfe and ended with honour Wee are your flesh and your blood wee come hither to fight to live and to dye together I know the worst I am resolved if we fight we dye if we fly we are slaine is it not better for us to dye in fight like men and so winne honour then to bee slaine in flight like beasts and gaine shame for ever With this Sir Amorick turned him to the foot company and hardly gathering breath with the sorrow of his heart resolved himselfe thus I have no power to fly and leave my frinds my flesh and blood in this extreme distresse I will live with them who for my sake came hither if it so please God and I will dye with them if it bee his pleasure that ending here wee shall meet againe bodies and soules at the last day God and the World beare witnesse that wee doe as Christian Knights ought to doe I yeeld my soule into Gods hands my body to returne whence it came my service to my naturall Prince my heart to my wife and brother Sir Iohn de Courcy my might my force and bloody sweat to the ayd of you all that are in the field He lighted kneeled upon his knees kissed the crosse of his sword ranne his horse through saying thou shalt never serve against mee that so worthily hast served with mee The like did all the rest then looking about with a chearefull countenance as if he had not beene the man that was formerly dismaid charged two young Gentlemen of the company to get them to the top of an Hill hard by adjoyning and beholding the battell upon their returne homwards make true report to his brother Courcy and others of that daies service Immediatly they prepared to battaile the enemies marvailed seeing them approch that they durst being so few abide the field they made likewise a stand and cast doubts whether the Englishmen in this attempt had not some great supply rescues are maine battaile following after they would not give the on-set before they had certain knowledge thereof by scoutes and espials to be short they joyne the battaile where to deliver the whole in few words Sir Amorick was slaine and all his company It was a bloody day when all the one side and a 1000. of the other side fell to ground Oconor and his company seing the end of this field durst never againe give battell unto the English but sued to Sir Hugh Delacy then Lord Iustice for peace which he obtained vowing as he had many a time before faith truth and perfect subjection This Oconor after his reconciliation made report unto Sir Hugh Delacy of that daies work that he thought verily there was never the like seen upon the earth how that the Englishmen not being able to stand in fight turned backe to backe with sparthes and two handed swords untill the last man was slaine The lamentation that Sir Iohn de Courcy made when this was bruted abroad I will not stand to rehearse I am now to end with King Henry the second a most worthy Prince whose troubles every way troubled not him so much as the unnaturall rebellion of his sonnes and the Iealousie of his Queene he raigned 34. yeeres 9. months and two dayes his Epitaph in Mathew Paris and in others I find thus Rex Henricus eram mihi plurima regna subegi Multiplicique modo Duxque Comesque fui c Of late King Henry was my name Which Conquered many a Land And divers Dukdomes did possesse And Earldomes held in hand And yet while all the earth could scarce My greedy mind suffice Eight foot within the ground now serves Wherein my Carcas lyes Now thou that readest this note well My force with force of Death And let that serve to shew the state Of all that yeeldeth breath Do good then here fore slow no time Cast off all worldly cares For brittel world full soone doth faile And death doth strike unwares Richard the first the third sonne of Henry 2. began his raigne over England the 6. of Iuly Anno 1189. For his valence he was called Coeur de Lyon the Lyons heart he was affianced but never married to Adela or Alice daughter to the French King and in his iourney to the holy
in their hands comming to the Court were not suffered to enter within the gates but were kept backe by the Porters and others of which injury when hee complained the King made him an overthwart answer Whereupon the Earle not well pleased therewith estranged himselfe from the Court and went into the North country so that thenceforth he and his brother Walter gave small attendance upon the King and to end with this Earle Gilbert it fell out on a time in a Turnay which hee had attempted without the Citie of Hereford contrary to the Kings pleasure that his unruly horse cast him so that of the hurt which he tooke with the fall he shortly after departed this life in the yeere 1241. and was buried in the new temple Church at London hee had married the Lady Margaret the sister of Alexander King of Scots who by her had no issue she also dyed Anno 1245. Walter Marshall succeeded Gilbert in all the former honours and possessions both in England and Ireland who because he had procured the turnament wherein his brother was slaine hardly obtained of the king the same He departed this life at Godrike Castle by Monmouth and was buried at Tintern Anno 1245. leaving no issue behind him Anselme Marshall the fift sonne of William Earle Marshall succeded Walter hee was the last of the Maxfields and died without issue Hee had married Mathildis or Mawd daughter of the Earle of Hereford anc because hee had entred without doing of homage unto the King his wife after his decease could have no dowry wherof among the statutes of England I find the cause by especial words thus overruled· When any dyeth and his heire entreth into the Land that his Ancesters held of the King the day that he died before he hath done homage to the King and received seisin of the King hee shall give no free hold thereby and if hee dyed seised during that time his wife shall not be indowed of the same land as came late in urc by Mawd the daughter of the Earle of Hereford wife of Anselme the Marshal Who after the death of Walter Marshall of England his brother tooke his seisin of the Castle and mannor of Strogill and died in the same Castle before hee had entred by the King and before hee had done homage unto him whereupon it was agreed that his wife should not be indowed because that her husband had not entred by the King but rather by trusion This Anselme died in England and was buried at Tinterne After the death of these five brethren Florilegus writeth thus All the sonnes of William the great Marshall it is not knowne what sinne required the same according to the Prophecy of the Countesse their mother without issue left behind them as shadowes departed out of this world yet all successively became Earles even as their mother by a Propheticall spirit foreshewed and so the Noble sheild or buckler of the Marshalls dreadful to so many and so great enemies of England vanished away Mathew Paris wrote the story at large The aforesaid William as Warlike and stout called Marshall as if hee had beene Mars his Seneschall while in Ireland hee gave himselfe to slaughter and burning and got to himselfe large possessions he tooke away by strong hand and injuriously from an holy Bishop two mannors or Lordships belonging to his Church and presumptuously usurped them as though he might by just title possesse them as if he had wonne them with the sword The Bishop after many admonitions and receiving many froward answers thundred against him and not without cause the sentence of Excommunication the which the Earle despised and pleaded for excuse the warlike season keeping injuries upon injuries Whereupon not without advisement one Maister Gervasius de Melckeria framed of him this distinction and shrowded himselfe in his person Sum quem Saturnum sibi sensit Hibernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normania Gallia Martem Iam whom Ireland Saturne hight and England Sol me cals Amids the Normans Mercury and Mars among the Gauls The meaning in a word is how that he in his time had tamed the wild Irish and had beene the shining beame of honour unto the English as an Ambassadour to pacifie the Normans and an invincible Knight among the French nation but forwards with Paris the aforesaid Earle held those mannors all his life time and annexed them unto his dominions Within a few yeeres after the Earle ended the way of all flesh and was buried in the new Temple at London the Bishop hearing of this for he was the Bishop of Fernes a Cistertian Monke by birth Irish and famous for Sanctity not without great paine in travaile he went unto the King who then was in London exhibited a grievous complaint of the injury done unto him and how that hee had justly excommunicated the Earle and humbly besought the King that by his soveraigne authority and Princely mandat and also for the good of the said Earle Williams soule he would see his mannors restored unto him that in so doing though he were dead yet might reape the benefit of absolution The King with this was moved and willed the Bishop to repaire to the Earles grave and absolve him and he would diligently labour for his satisfaction the Bishop together with the King went to his Tombe and in the hearing of al that were present as if they had been both alive said O William that here lyest interred and wrapped in the bonds of Excommunication if the thing which thou hast injuriously taken away from my Church bee restored by the king or by thine heire or by some one of thy kindred or friends with competent satisfaction I absolve thee o her wise I doe ratifie the said sentence that thou being ever wrapped in thy sinnes maiest remaine damned in hell The King hearing this was moved and sharply rebuked the immoderat rigour of the Pontificall Prelate To whom the Bishop replied my Lord ann dread soveraigne marvaile not though I be out of patience for he hath spoiled my Church to his great commoditie The King then secretly conferring with William the eldest sonne of this Earle and heire to the whole and now invested in the inheritance and Earledome and certaine others his brethren besought them by the restoring the mannors unjustly taken away mercifully to deliver their fathers soule To whom William the heir made answer I doe not beleeve neither is to be credited that my father tooke them injuriously for that which is gotten by the sword may lawfully be enjoyed for if that old and doting Bishop hath given a wrong sentence let the curse light upon his owne pate I will not weaken my estate nor diminish the inheritance wherein I am invested my father dyed seized thereof and I have rightly entred Vnto these words all the brethren yeelded their consents The King being then of tender yeeres and under Tutor would not give cause of heavinesse unto so great and Noble a personage when the Bishop
they are surely most just and most agreeable both with the government and with the nature of the people How falls it then that you seeme to dislike of them as not so meete for that Realme of Ireland and not onely the Common Law but also the Statutes and Actes of Parliament which were specially provided and intended for the onlie benefit thereof Iren. I was about to have told you my reason therein but that your selfe drewe me away with other questions for I was shewing you by what meanes and by what sort the Positive Lawes were first brought in and established by the Norman Conquerour which were not by him devised nor applyed unto the state of the Realme then being nor as yet might best be as should by Lawgivers principally be regarded but were indeed the very Lawes of his owne Countrey of Normandie The condition whereof how farre it differeth from this of England is apparant to every least judgement But to transferre the same lawes for the governing of the Realme of Ireland was much more inconvenient and unmeete for he found a better advantage of the time then was in the planting of them in Ireland and followed th' execution of them with more severity and was also present in person to overlooke the Magistrates and to over awe these subjects with the terrour of his Sword and countenance of his Majesty But not so in Ireland for they were otherwise affected and yet doe so remaine so as the same Lawes me seemes can ill fit with their disposition or worke that reformation that is wished For Lawes ought to be fashioned unto the manners conditions of the people to whom they are meant and not to be imposed upon them according to the simple rule of right for then as I said in stead of good they may worke ill and pervert Iustice to extreame injustice For hee that transferres the Lawes of the Lacedemonians to the people of Athens should finde a great absurditie and inconvenience For those Lawes of Lacedemon were devised by Licurgus as most proper and best agreeing with that people whom hee knew to be enclined altogether to warres and therefore wholly trained them up even from their Cradles in armes and military exercises cleane contrary to the institution of Solon who in his Lawes to the Athenians laboured by all meanes to temper their warlike courages with sweet delightes of learning and sciences so that asmuch as the one excelled in armes the other exceeded in knowledge The like regard moderation ought to be had in tempering and managing of this stubborne nation of the Irish to bring them from their delight of licentious barbarisme unto the love of goodnes and civilitie Eudox. I cannot see how that may better bee then by the Discipline of the Lawes of England for the English were at first as stoute and warlike a people as ever the Irish and yet you see are now brought unto that civillity that no nation in the world excelleth them in all goodly conversation and all the studies of knowledge and humanitie Iren. What they now be both you and I see very well but by how many thornie and hard wayes they are come thereunto by how many civill broiles by how many tumultuous rebellions that even hazzarded oftentimes the whole safety of the kingdome may easily be considered all which they neverthelesse fairely overcame by reason of the continuall presence of their King whose onely person is oftentimes in stead of an Army to containe the unrulie people from a thousand evill occasions which this wretched kingdome for want thereof is dayly carried into The which whensoever they make head no lawes no penalties can restraine but that they doe in the violence of that furie tread downe and trample under foote all both divine and humane things and the lawes themselues they doe specially rage at and rend in peeces as most repugnant to their libertie and naturall freedome which in their madnes they affect Eudox. It is then a very unseasonable time to plead law when Swords are in the hands of the vulgar or to thinke to retaine them with feare of punishments when they looke after liberty and shake off all governement Iren. Then so it is with Ireland continually Eudoxus for the sword was never yet out of their hand but when they are weary of warres and brought downe to extreame wretchednesse then they creepe a little perhaps and sue for grace till they have gotten new breath and recovered their strength againe So as it is in vaine to speake of planting lawes and plotting pollicie till they be altogether subdued Eudox. Were they not so at the first conquering of them by Strongbowe in the time of King Henry the second was there not a thorough way then made by the sword for the imposing of the lawes upon them and were they not then executed with such a mightie hand as you said was used by the Norman Conquerour What oddes is there then in this case why should not the same lawes take as good effect in that people as they did here being in like sort prepared by the sword and brought under by extreamity and why should they not continue in as good force and vigour for the containing of the people Iren. The case yet is not like but there appeareth great oddes betweene them for by the conquest of Henry the second true it is that the Irish were utterly vanquished and subdued so as no enemy was able to hold up head against his power in which their weakenes hee brought in his lawes and settled them as now they there remaine Like as William the Conquerour did so as in thus much they agree but in the rest that is the cheifest they varie for to whom did King Henry the second impose those lawes not to the Irish for the most part of them fled from his power into deserts and mountaines leaving the wyde countrey to the Conquerour who in their stead eftsoones placed English men who possessed all their lands and did quite shut out the Irish or the most part of them And to those new inhabitants and Colonies he gave his lawes to wit the same lawes under which they were borne and bred the which it was no difficultie to place amongst them being formerly well inured thereunto unto whom afterwards they repaired diverse of the poore distressed people of the Irish for succour and reliefe of whom such as they thought fit for labour and industriously disposed as the most part of their baser sort are they received unto them as their vassalls but scarcely vouchsafed to impart unto them the benefit of those lawes under which themselves lived but every one made his will and commandement a law unto his owne vassall Thus was not the Law of England ever properly applyed unto the Irish Nation as by a purposed plot of government but as they could insinuate and steale themselves under the same by their humble carriage and submission Eudox. How comes it then to passe
no wayes can prove themselves to descend neither should it be greatly glorious unto them for the Spaniard that now is is come from as rude and savage nations as they there being as there may be gathered by course of ages and view of their owne History though they therein labour much to enoble themselves scarce any drop of the old Spanish blood left in them for all Spaine was first conquered by the Romans and filled with colonies from them which were still increased and the native Spaniard still cut off Afterwards the Carthaginians in all the long Punick warres having spoiled all Spaine and in the end subdued it wholly unto themselves did as it is likely root out all that were affected to the Romans And lastly the Romans having againe recovered that countrey and beate out Hannibal did doubtlesse cut off all that favored the Carthaginians so that betwixt them both to and fro there was scarce a native Spaniard left but all inhabited of Romans All which tempests of troubles being over-blowne there long after arose a new storme more dreadfull then all the former which over-ran all Spaine and made an infinite confusion of all things that was the comming downe of the Gothes the Hunnes and the Vandals And lastly all the nations of Scythia which like a mountaine flood did over-flow all Spaine and quite drowned and washt away whatsoever reliques there was left of the land-bred people yea and of all the Romans too The which Northerne nations finding the nature of the soyle and the vehement heat thereof farre differing from their constitutions tooke no felicity in that Country but from thence passed over and did spread themselves into all Countryes of Christendome of all which there is none but hath some mixture or sprinckling if not throughly peopleing of them And yet after all these the Moores and the Barbarians breaking over out of Affrica did finally possesse all Spaine or the most part thereof and did tread under their heathenish feete what ever little they found yet there standing The which though after they were beaten out by Ferdinando of Arragon and Elizabeth his wife yet they were not so cleansed but that through the marriages which they had made and mixture with the people of the land during their long continuance there they had left no pure drop of Spanish blood no more then of Roman or of Scythian So that of all nations under heaven I suppose the Spaniard is the most mingled and most uncertaine wherefore most foolishly doe the Irish thinke to enoble themselves by wresting their Auncientry from the Spaniard who is unable to derive himselfe from any in certaine Eudox. You speake very sharpely Iren. in dispraise of the Spaniard whom some others boast to be the onely brave nation under the Skie Iren. So surely he is a very brave man neither is that any thing which I speake to his derogation for in that I said he is a mingled people it is no dispraise for I thinke there is no nation now in Christendome nor much further but is mingled and compounded with others for it was a singular providence of God and a most admirall purpose of his wisedome to draw those northerne heathen nations downe into those Christian parts where they might receive Christianity and to mingle nations so remote miraculously to make as it were one blood and kindred of all people and each to have knowledge of him Eudox. Neither have you sure any more dishonoured the Irish for you have brought them from very great and ancient nations as any were in the world how ever fondly they affect the Spanish For both Scythians and Gaules were two as mighty nations as ever the world brought forth But is there any token denomination or monument of the Gaules yet remaining in Ireland as there is of the Scythians Iren. Yea surely very many words of the Gaules remaining and yet dayly used in Common speech Eudox. What was the Gaulish speech is there any part of it still used among any nation Iren. The Gaulish speech is the very British the which was very generally used here in all Brittaine before the comming of the Saxons and yet is retained of the Welshmen Cornishmen and the Brittaines of France though time working the alterarion of all things and the trading and interdeale with other nations round about have changed and greatly altered the dialect thereof but yet the originall words appeare to be the same as who hath list to read in Camden and Buchanan may see at large Besides there be many places as havens hills townes and Castles which yet beare the names from the Gaules of the which Buchanan rehearseth above 500. in Scotland and I can I thinke recount neere as many in Ireland which retaine the old denomination of the Gaules as the Menapij Cauci Venti and others by all which and many other reasonable probabilities which this short course will not suffer to be laide forth it appeareth that the cheife Inhabitants in Ireland were Gaules comming thither first out of Spain and after from besides Tanais where the Gâ—thes the Hunnes and the Getes sate downe they also being as it is said of some ancient Gaules and lastly passing out of Gallia it selfe from all the Sea-coast of Belgia and Celtica into al the southerne coasts of Ireland which they possessed and inhabited whereupon it is at this day amongst the Irish a common use to call any stranger Inhabitant there amongst them Gald that is descended from the Gaules Eudox. This is very likely for even so did those Gaules anciently possesse all the southerne coasts of our Brittaine which yet retaine their old names as the Belga in Sommerset-shire Wilshire and part of Hamshire Attrebatij in Barkeshire Regni in Sussex and Surry and many others Now thus farre then I understand your opinion that the Scythians planted in the north part of Ireland the Spaniards for so we call them what ever they were that came from Spaine in the west the Gaules in the south so that there now remaineth the east parts towards England which I would be glad to understand from whence you doe thinke them to be peopled Iren. Mary I thinke of the Brittaines themselves of which though there be little footing now remaining by reason that the Saxons afterwards and lastly the English driving out the Inhabitants thereof did possesse and people it themselves Yet amongst the Tooles the Birns or Brins the Cavenaghes and other nations in Leinster there is some memory of the Britans remayning As the Tooles are called of the old British word Tol that is a hill Countrey the Brins of the British word Brin that is woods and the Cavenaghes of the word Caune that is strong so that in these three people the very denomination of the old Britons doe still remaine Besides when any flieth under the succour and protection of any against an enemie he cryeth unto him Comericke that is in the Brittish helpe for the Brittaine is called in their owne
language Comeroy Furthermore to prove the same Ireland is by Diodorus Siculus and by Strabo called Britannia and a part of great Brittaine Finally it appeareth by good record yet extant that King Arthur and after him Gurgunt had all that Iland under their alleagiance and subjection hereunto I could add many probabilities of the names of places persons and speeches as I did in the former but they should be too long for this and I reserve them for another And thus you have had my opinion how all that Realme of Ireland was first peopled and by what nations After all which the Saxons succeeding subdued it wholly to themselves For first Egfrid King of Northumberland did utterly waste and subdue it as appeareth out of Beda's complaint against him and after him King Edgar brought it under his obedience as appeareth by an auncient Record in which it is found written that he subdued all the Islands of the North even unto Norway and brought them into his subjection Eudox. This ripping of Auncestors is very pleasing unto me and indeede savoureth of good conceipt and some reading withall I see hereby how profitable travaile and experience of forraine nations is to him that will apply them to good purpose Neither indeed would I have thought that any such antiquities could have beene avouched for the Irish that maketh me the more to long to see some other of your observations which you have gathered out of that country and have earst halfe promised to put forth And sure in this mingling of Nations appeareth as you earst well noted a wonderfull providence and purpose of Almighty God that stirred up the people in the furthest parts of the world to seeke out their regions so remote from them and by that meanes both to restore their decayed habitations and to make himselfe knowne to the heathen But was there I pray you no more generall employing of that Iland then first by the Scythians which you say were the Scottes and afterward by the Spaniards besides the Gaules Brittaines and Saxons Iren. Yes there was another and that last and greatest which was by the English when the Earle Strangbowe having conquered that land delivered up the same into the hands of Henry the second then King who sent over thither great store of Gentlemen and other warlike people amongst whom he distributed the Land and setled such a strong Colonie therein as never since could with all the subtle practices of the Irish be rooted out but abide still a mighty people of so many as remaine English of them Eudox. What is this that you say of so many as remaine English of them Why are not they that were once English English still Iren. No for some of them are degenerated and growne almost meere Irish yea and more malitious to the English then the Irish themselves Eudox. What heare I And is it possible that an Englishman brought up in such sweet civility as England affords should find such liking in that barbarous rudenes that he should forget his owne nature and forgoe his owne nation how may this bee or what I pray you may be the cause thereof Iren. Surely nothing but the first evill ordinance and institution of that Common-wealth But thereof here is no fit place to speake least by the occasion thereof offering matter of a long discourse we might be drawne from this that we have in hand namely the handleing of abuses in the Customes of Ireland Eudox. In truth Iren. you doe well remember the plot of your first purpose but yet from that me seemes yee have much swarved in all this long discourse of the first inhabiting of Ireland for what is that to your purpose Iren. Truely very materiall for if you marked the course of all that speech well it was to shew by what meanes the customes that now are in Ireland being some of them indeede very strange and almost heathenish were first brought in and that was as I said by those Nations from whom that Countrey was first peopled for the difference in manners and customes doth follow the difference of nations and people The which I have declared to you to have beene three especially which seated themselves here to wit first the Scythian then the Gaules and lastly the English Notwithstanding that I am not ignorant that there were sundry Nations which goâ— footing in that land of the which there yet remaine divers great families and septs of whom I will also in their proper places make mention Eudox. You bring your selfe Iren. very well into the way againe notwithstanding that it seemeth that you were never out of the way but now that you have passed thorough those antiquities which I could have wished not so soone ended begin when you please to declare what customes and manners have beene derived from those nations to the Irish and which of them you finde fault withall Iren. I will begin then to count their customes in the same order that I counted their Nations and first with the Scythian or Scottish manners Of the which there is one use amongst them to keepe their cattle and to live themselves the most part of the yeare in Boolies pasturing upon the mountaine and waste wilde places and removing still to fresh land as they have depastured the former The which appeareth plaine to be the manner of the Scythians as you may read in Olaus Magnus and Io Bohemus and yet is used amongst all the Tartarians and the people about the Caspian Sea which are naturally Scythians to live in heards as they call them being the very same that the Irish Boolies are driving their cattle continually with them and feeding onely on their milke and white meates Eudox. What fault can you finde with this custome for though it be an old Scythian use yet is it very behoofefull in this Country of Ireland where there are great mountaines and waste deserts full of grasse that the same should be eaten downe and nourish many thousands of cattle for the good of the whole Realme which cannot me thinks well be any other way then by keeping those Boolies there as yee have shewed Iren But by this custome of Boolying there grow in the meane time many great enormityes unto that Common-wealth For first if there be any out-lawes or loose people as they are never without some which live upon stealthes and spoyles they are evermore succoured and finde releife only in these Boolies being upon the waste places whereas else they should be driven shortly to starve or to come downe to the townes to seeke releife where by one meanes or other they would soone be caught Besides such stealthes of cattle as they make they bring commonly to those Boolies being upon those waste places where they are readily received and the theife harboured from danger of law or such Officers as might light upon him Moreover the people that thus live in those Boolies grow thereby the more barbarous and live more licentiously then they could
time I hope shall suffise you to thinke that the Irish are anciently deduced from the Scythians Eudox. Surely Iren. I have heard in these few words that from you which I would have thought had bin impossible to have bin spoken of times so remote and customes so ancient with delight whereof I was all that while as it were intranced and carried so farre from my selfe as that I am now right sorry that you ended so soone But I marvaile much how it commeth to passe that in so long continuance of time and so many ages come betweene yet any jot of those olde rites and superstitious customes should remaine amongst them Iren. It is no cause of wonder at all for it is the maner of many Nations to be very superstitious and diligent observers of old customes antiquities which they receive by continuall tradition from their Parents by recording of their Bards and Chronicles in their songs and by daylie use and ensample of their elders Eudox. But have you I pray you observed any such customes amongst them brought likewise from the Spaniards or Gaules as these from the Scythians that may sure be very materiall to your first purpose Ien. Some perhaps I have who that will by this occasion more diligently marke and compare their customes shall find many more But there are fewer remayning of the Gaules or Spaniards then of the Scythians by reason that the partes which they then possessed lying upon the coast of the Westerne and Southerne Sea were sithence visited with strangers and forraine people repayring thither for trafficke and for fishing which is very plentifull upon those coasts for the trade and interdeale of Sea-coast Nations one with another worketh more civilitie and good fashions all Sea men being naturally desirous of new fashions then amongst the Inland folke which are seldome seene of forrainers yet some of such as I have noted I will recount unto you And first I will for the better credit of the rest shew you one out of their Statutes among which it is enacted that no man shall weare his beard onely on the upper lip shaving all his Chinne And this was the auncient manner of the Spaniards as yet it is of all the Mahometans to cut off all their beards close save onelie their Muschachios which they weare long And the cause of this use was for that they being bred in a hot countrey found much haire on their faces and other parts to be noyous unto them for which cause they did cut it most away like as contrarily all other nations brought up in cold countryes doe use to nourish their haire to keepe them the warmer which was the cause that the Scythians and Scottes wore Glibbes as I shewed you to keepe their heads warme and long beards to defend their face from cold From them also I thinke came saffron shirts and smocks which was devised by them in those hote Countryes where saffron is very common and rife for avoyding that evill which commeth by much sweating and long wearing of Linnen Also the Woemen amongst the old Spaniards had the charge of all houshold affaires both at home and abroad as Boemus writeth though now the Spaniards use it quite otherwise And so have the Irish weomen the trust and care of all things both at home and in the field Likewise round leather Targets is the Spanish fashion who used it for the most part painted which in Ireland they use also in many places coloured after their rude fashion Moreover the manner of their Woemens riding on the wrong side of the horse I meane with their faces towards the right side as the Irish use is as they say old Spanish and some say African for amongst them the woemen they say use so to ride Also the deepe smocke sleive which the Irish women use they say was old Spanish and is used yet in Barbary and yet that should seeme rather to be an old English fashion for in Armory the fashion of the Manche which is given in Armes by many being indeede nothing else but a sleive is fashioned much like to that sleive And that Knights in auncient times used to weare their Mistresses or Loves sleive upon their Armes as appeareth by that which is written of Sir Launcelot that he wore the sleive of the faire maide of Asteloth in a Tourney whereat Queene Gueneuer was much displeased Eudox. Your conceipt is good and well fitting for things so far growne from certainty of knowledge and learning onely upon likely-hoods and conjectures But have you any customes remaining from the Gaules or Brittaines Iren. I have observed a few of either and who will better search into them may finde more And first the profession of their Bardes was as Caesar writeth usuall amongst the Gaules and the same was also common amongst the Brittans and is not yet altogether left off with the Welsh which are their posterity For all the fashions of the Gaules and Brittaines as he testifieth were much like The long darts came also from the Gaules as you may read in the same Caesar and in Io Boemus Likewise the said Io Boemus writeth that the Gaules used Swords a handfull broad and so doe the Irish now Also they used long Wicker sheilds in Battaile that should cover their whole bodies and so doe the Northerne Irish. But I have not seene such fashioned Targets used in the Southerne parts but onely amongst the Northerne people and Irish-Scottes I doe thinke that they were brought in rather by the Scythians then by the Gaules Also the Gaules used to drinke their enemyes blood and painte themselves therewith So also they write that the old Irish were wont and so have I seene some of the Irish doe but not their enemyes but freinds blood As namely at the execution of a notable Traytor at Limericke called Murrogh O-Brien I saw an old woman which was his foster mother take up his head whilst he was quartered and sucked up all the blood that runne thereout saying that the Earth was not worthy to drinke it and therewith also steeped her face and breast and tore her haire crying out and shreeking most terribly Eudox. You have very well runne thorough such customes as the Irish have derived from the first old Nations which inhabited the land namely the Scythians the Spaniards the Gaules the Brittaines It now remaineth that you take in hand the customes of the old English which are amongst the Irish Of which I doe not thinke that you shall have much cause to finde fault with considering that by the English most of the old bad Irish customes were abolished and more civill fashions brought in their stead Iren. You thinke otherwise Eudox. then I doe for the cheifest abuses which are now in that Realme are growne from the English and some of them are now much more lawlesse and licentious then the very wilde Irish so that as much care as was then by them had to reforme the Irish so and
to let you see what it now is and also what it may bee by good care and amendment Not that I take upon me to change the policy of so great a kingdome or prescribe rules to such wise men as have the handling thereof but onely to shew you the evills which in my small experience I have observed to be the cheife hinderance of the reformation and by way of conference to declare my simple opinion for the redresse thereof and establishing a good course for government which I doe not deliver as a perfect plot of mine owne invention to be onely followed but as I have learned and understood the same by the consultations and actions of very wise Governours and Councellours whom I have sometimes heard treate hereof So have I thought good to set downe a remembrance of them for my owne good and your satisfaction that who so lift to overlooke them although perhaps much wiser then they which have thus advised of that State yet at lest by comparison hereof may perhaps better his owne judgment and by the light of others fore-going him may follow after with more ease and haply finde a fairer way thereunto then they which have gone before Eudox. I thanke you Irenaeus for this your gentle paines withall not forgetting now in the shutting up to put you in minde of that which you have formerly halfe promised that hereafter when wee shall meete againe upon the like good occasion you will declare unto us those your observations which you have gathered of the antiquities of Ireland The end Faults escaped PAg 25. lin 45. for and he read he is pag. 27. lin 28. in some copies for Albany read either Albion or England pag. 32. lin 22. for admirall read admirable pag. 33. lin 38. for afâ—er read before pag. 48 lin 14. for Termâ—ssa read Tecmessa pag. 54. lin 34. 46 for Talkmotâ—â— read Folkmoâ—es and in the Margent add vid. D. Hen. Spâ—lmanni Glossarium pag. 74 lin 44 for Sinerwicke read Swerwicke ANNOTATIONS VPon review of that part which was printed before I began to inserte any notes these few animadversions are added Pag. 6. lin 39. the first originall of this word Tanist and Tanistry came See whether it may not be more fitly derived from Thane which word was commonly used among the Danes and also among the Saxons in England for a noble man and a principall officer Pag. 11. lin 14. duke of Clarence who having married the heire of the Earle of Vlster c. It was not George Duke of Clarence here spoken of by the author but Lionell Duke of Clarence third sonne of King Edw. the 3. who married the Earle of Vlsters daughter and by her had the Earledome of Vlster and although Edw. the 4. made his brother the Duke of Clarence Lo. Lieutenant of Ireland yet the place was still executed by his Deputyes which were at severall times Thomas Earle of Desmond Iohn Earle of Worcester Tho. Earle of Kildare and William Shirwood Bishop of Meth the Duke himselfe never comming into Ireland to governe there in person Pag. 26. lin 26. Kin is English and Congish affinity in Irish. I conceive the word to be rather altogether Irish. Kin signifying in Irish the heads or chiefe of any septs Pag. 27. The discourse from the word Scythians in the 11. line unto the end of the parenthesis in the 30. line is wholly to be crossed out as being then agreeable to the best MS. Copie onely after Scythians add which Touching the Scythians or Scotts arrivall in Ireland see Nennius an ancient Brittish author who lived in the yeare of Christ 858. where among other things we have the time of their arrivall Brittones saith he venerunt in 3. aetate mundi in Britanniam Scythae autem in 4. obtinuerunt Hiberniam Pag. 28. lin 35. remembrances of Bards Of the ancient Bards or Poets Lucan makes this mention in the first booke of his Pharsalia Vos quoque qui fortes animas belloque peremptas Lauaibus in longum vates dimitâ—itis aevum Plurima securi fudistis carmina Bardi Concerning the Irish Bardes see pag. 51. The word signified among the Gaules a singer as it is noted by Mr Camden and Mr Selden out of Festus Pompeius and it had the same signification among the Brittish Sr Iohn Price in the description of Wales expounds it to bee one that had knowledge of things to come and so saith he it signifieth at this day taking his ground amisse out of Lucan's verses Doctor Powell in his notes upon Caradoc of Lhancarvan saith that in Wales they preserved Gentlemens armes and pedegrees At this time in Ireland the Bard by common acceptation is counted a rayling Rimer and distinguished from the Poet. Pag. 29. lin 10. an Irish Scot or Pict by nation Bede tells us that the Picts were a colony of Scythians who first comming into Ireland and being denyed residence there by the Scots were perswaded by them to inhabit the North parts of Britaine But Mr Camden out of Dio Herodian Tacitus c. and upon consideration of the customes name and language of the Picts conceives not improbably that they were naturall Britons although distinguished by name Pag. 29. lin 28. Those Bardes indeed Caesar writeth Concerning them I finde no mention in Caesar's commentaryes but much touching the Druides which were the Priests and Philosophers or Magi as Pliny calls them of the Gaules British Illi rebus divinis intersunt saith he sacrificia publica ac privata procurant religiones interpretantur Ad hos magnus adolescentium numerus disciplinae caussâ concurrit magnoque ij sunt apud eos honore c. The word Dr oi had anciently the same signification as I am informed among the Irish. Pag. 30. lin 30. and Cornelius Tacitus doth also strongly affirme the same Cornelius Tacitus in the life of Iulius Agricola saith thus Silurum colorati vultus torti plerumque crines positus contra Hispaniam Iberos veteres trajecisse easque sedes occupâsse fidem faciunt This he speaketh touching the Silures which inhabited that part of South-Wales which now we call Herefordshire Radnorshire Brecknockshire Monmouth shire and Glamorganshire And although the like reason may be given for that part of Ireland which lyeth next unto Spaine yet in Tacitus we find no such inference Buchanan indeed upon the conjecture of Tacitus hath these words Verisimile a. non est Hispanos relictâ à tergo Hiberniâ— terrâ propiore coeli soli mitioris in Albium primùm descendisse sed primùm in Hiberniam appulisse atque inde in BritanniaÌ„ colonos missos Which was observed unto me by the most learned Bishop of Meth Dr Anth. Martin upon conference with his Lordship about this point One passage in Tacitus touching Ireland in the same booke I may not heere omit although it be extra oleas Quinto expeditionum anno saith he nave primâ transgressus ignotas ad tempus gentes crebris
the land there were certaine Irish men which tooke part with him served faithfully and were as reason required rewarded for their service and had for recompence certaine lands given them which they quietly held and peaceably enioyed untill the comming of the Kings sonne then new commers wanting both living and governement had it given them to furnish them in their foolish prodigalitie so that these Irish men flying unto the enemies became not onely enemies but were espials upon the English and conductors of the enemy against them A third reason of ill successe Cambrensis urgeth against England first how that the Britaines or Cambrians so he termeth them entring this land and breaking the ice to the conquest of Ireland were afterwards by William Fitz Adelme and others envied and every way maligned secondly how that the English commanding the land were by the English disgraced and one often times articling accusing and disgracing one another thirdly how that the Normans comming in place overthrew all for the King being borne beyond the seas affected them most they were of his Councell at home in time of peace and made Commanders abroad in time of warres these comming with the Kings sonne into Ireland were fine in their apparrell delicate mouthed feeding upon dainties they could not disgest their meat without Spice and Wine at every meale they could not endure the service in the Marches and borders they would not remaine in remote places they brooked not the Forts Holds and Garrison places but liberty they liked of so it were in a walled town a warme chamber a Ladies lappe a soft bed a furre gowne and their Lords sides to guard and attend pleased them well they would talke and bragge of service sweare and stare at home stand upon the pantofles of their reputation disdaine others and especially the Irish and durst not shew their faces in the field These were they that gave themselves to command the Irish that would not be commanded by them they polled pilled extorted and what not In the space of eight moneths that Earle Iohn staied in Ireland I finde that he built three Castles Tibrach Lismoore and Archfinan alias Ardsivin at Ardsivin upon Midsummer day so Cambrensis reporteth the Prince of Lymeric bent and animated to rebellion slue foure Knights and the greater part of the Garrison there shortly after the same rebels of Lymric by a slight drew out the Garrison to seize upon a prey and lying in ambush killed many of them but these revolters escaped not scotfree in all the parts of the land for at this time when the Irish men of Kennally with great forces had entred Meth killing burning spoiling and preying the Country William le Petit Governour or Iusticer saith Cambrensis drew a head against them rescued the prey put them to flight made a great slaughter of them and sent a hundred heads of the principall of them to Dublin The Kings sonne hearing of these troubles hastned away unto England left the land tumultuous troublesome al upon an uprore committed the charge thereof saith Stanihurst Bruseo Courceo Giraldidis c. in primis Hugonis Lacaei virtuti where in truth I find no such matter for Cambrensis whom herein I must relie unto being then in Ireland with the Kings son reporteth how that Henry the second hearing of the course which these greene heads held in Ireland thought good to call them all unto England and send thither no more such young commanders and by the advice of his Councell committed the charge and absolute command thereof unto Sir Iohn de Courcy whom hee appointed Lord Lievtenant of Ireland the Booke of Houth also testifieth the same Earle Iohn immediatly gathered forces travailed over the whole land pacified for the time Corke Tumound and Conoght From the death of Hugh Delacy who was slaine Anno 1186. unto the time Hugh Delacy the yonger came to be Lord Iustice of whom hereafter more at large Here gentle Reader Cambrensis leaveth us who most faithfully continued the affaires of Ireland some 30. yeeres and odde he was by father a Barry by mother a Gerraldin nephew to Morice Fitz Gerald and Robert Fitz Stephens that first entred to the Conquest of Ireland hee was borne in Pembrok-shire and was Archdecon of Saint Davids and Brechnoc and diversly imployed by Henry the second in whose time among others the first Conquerors his kindred he came into Ireland againe and became Tutor unto Iohn the Kings sonne and accompanied him into Ireland he wrote many learned workes and among other the Conquest of Ireland the Topography of Ireland and Mirabilia Hiberniae Whereof hee dedicated one unto Richard Earle Strangbow and another unto Henry the second he was elected Archbishop of Saint Davids but at Rome he was out-bid by him that had more money and missed the Cushin hee departed this life when hee was about foure score yeeres old and resteth at Saint Davids Yet one thing further of him which he reporteth of himselfe how that he at the time of his being in Ireland had Conference with Mathew Archbishop of Cashill and he saying among other things You have many Saints in Ireland but I doe not find any martyr amonst you the Bishop taking it in ill part as spoken in derision of the Nation answered with great anger Sir it is so that our people is rude savage and barbarous yet there is none so brutish and bloudy as to lay violent hands upon a Priest now it fals out that wee are to be governed by such a Nation as is not guiltlesse of Prelats deaths and it is like if it stands with Gods pleasure that shortly we shall make up a number of Irish martyrs this he spitefully spake meaning the death of Thomas of Canterbury In a while after that Sir Iohn de Courcy had brought the whole land to a good passe and pacified the Irish tumults this I find in the Booke of Houth Sir Hugh Delacy the younger is sent over into Ireland as Lord Iustice to take the absolute Command of the Realme He had no sooner landed but he sent very imperious letters unto Sir Iohn de Courcy to discharge him and all that were authorized by him of their places and command and in like sort like the green heads spoken of a little before which landed with Earle Iohn they braved it out disdained old experimented souldiers and offered sundry disgraces unto the rest of the English so that thereof rose much heartburning division quarrels and bloody brawles The Irish seeing this sudden alteration this division among the English this undiscreet government thought now to find fit opportunity publikely to release themselves of that which they had oft secretly intended by their runnagades they summoned at a day a place all the Chieftaines of Irish birth to a parlee where after many doubts debated many griefes opened they concluded with full resolution to invade all the English and roote them wholly out of the land and first they swoare
originall of the language customes of the Nation and the first peopling of the severall parts of the Iland are full of good reading and doe shew a sound judgment They may be further confirmed by comparing them with Richard Creagh's Booke de linguâ Hibernicâ which is yet extant in the original manuscript althogh mixed with matter of story leaning too much to some fabulous traditiōs yet in other respects is worthy of light Touching the generall scope intended by the author for the reformation of abuses and ill customes This we may say that although very many have taken paines in the same subject during the raigne of Queene Elizabeth and some before as the author of the booke intituled Salus populi and after him Patrick Finglas cheife Baron of the Exchequer here and afterwardes cheife Iustice of the common pleas yet none came so neere to the best grounds for reformation a few passages excepted as Spenser hath done in this Some marginall notes I have added although not intending any untill the fourth part of the Booke was printed A VIEVV OF THE STATE OF IRELAND Written Dialogue-wise betweene Eudoxus and Irenaeus By Edmund Spenser Esq. in the yeare 1596. Eudox. BVT if that Countrey of Ireland whence you lately came bee of so goodly and commodious a soyle as you report I wonder that no course is taken for the turning thereof to good uses and reducing that nation to better government and civility Iren. Marry so there have bin divers good plottes devised wise Councels cast already about reformation of that Realme but they say it is the fatall destiny of that Land that no purposes whatsoever which are meant for her good wil prosper or take good effect which whether it proceed from the very Genius of the soyle or influence of the starres or that almighty God hath not yet appointed the time of her reformation or that hee reserveth her in this unquiet state still for some secret scourge which shall by her come unto England it is hard to be knowne but yet much to be feared Eudox. Surely I suppose this but a vaine conceipt of simple men which judge things by their effects and not by their causes for I would rather thinke the cause of this evill which hangeth upon that Countrey to proceed rather of the unsoundnes of the Councels and plots which you say have bin oftentimes laid for the reformation or of faintnes in following effecting the same then of any such fatall course appointed of God as you misdeeme but it is the manner of men that when they are fallen into any absurdity or their actions succeede not as they would they are alwayes readie to impute the blame thereof unto the Heavens so to excuse their owne follies and imperfections So have I heard it often wished also even of some whose great wisedomes in opinion should seeme to judge more soundly of so weighty a consideration that all that land were a Sea poole which kinde of speech is the manner rather of desperate men farre driven to wish the utter ruine of that which they cannot redress then of grave Councellors which ought to thinke nothing so hard but that thorough wisedome it may bee mastered and subdued since the Poet saith that the wiseman shall rule even over the Starres much more over the Earth for were it not the part of a desperate Phisitian to wish his diseased Patient dead rather then to apply the best indeavour of his skill for his recovery But since we are so farre entred let us I pray you a little devise of those evils by which that country is held in this wretched case that it cannot as you say be recured And if it be not painefull to you tell us what things during your late continuance there you observed to bee most offensive and greatest impeachment to the good rule and government thereof Iren. Surely Eudox. the evils which you desire to be recounted are very many almost countable with those which were hidden in the basket of Pandora But since you please I will out of that infinite number reckon but some that are most capitall commonly occurrant both in the life conditions of private men as also in the managing of publicke affaires and pollicy the which you shall understand to be of divers natures as I observed them For some of them are of verie great antiquity and continuance others more late and of lesse indurance others dayly growing and increasing continuallie by their evill occasions which are every day offered Eudox. Tell them then I pray you in the same order that you haue now rehearsed thē for there can be no better method then this which the very matter it selfe offereth And when you have reckoned all the evils let us heare your opinion for the redressing of thē After which there will perhaps of it selfe appeare some reasonable way to settle a sound and perfect rule of government by shunning the former evils and following the offered good The which method we may learne of the wise Phisitians which first require that the malady be knowne throughly and discovered Afterwards to teach how to cure and redresse it And lastly doe prescribe a dyet with straight rule and orders to be dayly observed for feare of relapse into the former disease or falling into some other more dangerous then it Iren I will then according to your advisement begin to declare the evils which seeme to me most hurtfull to the common-weale of that land And first those I say which were most auncient and long growne And they also are of three sorts The first in the Lawes the second in Customes and the last in Religion Eudox. Why Irenaus can there be any evill in the lawes can things which are ordained for the good and safety of all turne to the evill and hurt of them This well I wore both in that State and in all other that were they not contained in duty with feare of law which restraineth offences and inflicteth sharpe punishment to misdoers no man should enjoy any thing every mans hand would be against an other Therfore in finding fault with the Lawes I doubt me you shall much over-shoote your selfe and make me the more dislike your other dislikes of that government Iren. The Lawes Eudox. I doe not blame for themselves knowing right well that all Lawes are ordained for the good of the common-weale and for repressing of licentiousnesse and vice but it falleth out in Lawes no otherwise then it doth in Physick which was at first devised and is yet daylie ment and ministred for the health of the Patient But neverthelesse we often see that either thorough ignorance of the disease or thorough unseasonablenesse of the time or other accidents comming betweene in stead of good it worketh hurt and out of one evill throweth the Patient into many miseries So the Lawes were at first intended for the reformation of abuses and peaceable continuance of the Subiect but are