Greek in the Irish tongue yet for their comming from Spaine which they so much urge Iohannes Major Scotus forsooth hath found one Spanish word bona dies in Irish vennoka die to which I answere una hirundo non facit ver but indifferently to examine the matter wee finde that diversity of times alteration of government invasion of strangers planting of new Colonies and conversing with forraigne nations doe alter languages The Hebrewes by reason of their peregrination and captivities do smach of the Chaldees Syriack and Arabick tongues The Slavonian tongue as Surius and others record without exception at this day is the most dispersed language upon the earth for the Muscovites Ruthenes Russians Dalmatians Bosnenses Croatians Istrians Carnians Carniolanians Carinthians Stirians Maesians Servians Bulgarians with other nations reaching to Constantinople as Bohemians Lusatians Silesians Moravians Polonians Circasians Quinquemontanians even unto Pontus and the remnant of Vandals beyond the river Albis through Germany into the North have the language and yet we have neither their characters nor ancient Annals extant Saint Ierome borne in Strido in the confines of Dalmatia and Pannonia is said to have translated the Bible into the Slavon tongue but whether it be in that language extant let him report that knoweth it Gothi Hypogothi Gepidi Vandali Hunni Alani though they vary in name yet they vse one language saith Paulus Diaconus The Italian Spanish and French tongues are compounded of the Latine The German high and low country Saxon Scottish and English have great affinity Northwales Southwales Cornwall and little Britaine in France as Cambrensis and Sir Io. Price have learnedly discoursed but the Irish excepting the Red shanks and the Scottish of the haye londe have affinity with no tongue as I can learne more then with the British language Many reasons there are gentle reader to induce thee to bee of that opinion first of all according unto the first command the Celticke tongue was of force in all these Northerne parts Bodinus writeth that the British and Celtick language was all one Pausanias the Grecian maketh mention how the Celts in their language called a horse Marc and three horses Trimarc the which the Welshman useth to this day with a gutturall alteration Margh and Treemargh Also Camden the learned Antiquary of this our age is of this opinion remembring the story of Gurguntius and the infinite number of British words in ure among the Irish the which he termeth infinitam vim Britannicarum dictionum that the Britaines first peopled this land And although of a long time by reason of troubles and alterations the speech grew wholly out of vse yet afterwards in successe of time it was revived Secondly the British and Irish oft matched together so that there grew among them great alliance and affinity to the furtherance of the language Mare King of Cornwall anno 459 married with Label Isode that built Isodes Chappell or Chappell-Isode and Isodes Tower in Dublin shee was the King of Irelands daughter Edwal ap Meiric Prince of Wales in the time of Edelred anno 992 married in Ireland Iago ap Edwal Prince of Wales in the time of Cnute anno 1031 married in Ireland In the time of Edward the Confessor Conan the sonne of Iago Prince of Wales married with Ranulph daughter of Alfred King of Dublin anno 1041. In the time of William Rufus Arnulph Earle of Pembroke married with the daughter of Marogh King of Ireland anno 1101 at the same time Magnus the sonne of Herald married with another daughter of the said King In the time of Henry the first and King Steuen lived Griffith ap Conan Prince of Wales that was wont to brag of three things that his mother was an Irishwoman his grandmother an Irishwoman and that hee himselfe was borne and of a child brought vp in Ireland In the time of Henry the second Biryd the sonne of Owen Gwyneth Prince of Wales being Lord of Cloghran in Ireland begat his sonne Howel upon an Irish Gentlewoman In the same Kings raigne Richard Strangbow Earle of Pembroke married with Eva the daughter of Dermotte Mac Morrogh King of Leinster Thirdly when there was any trouble in Ireland they fled to Wales when they had any warres or rebellion there they came for refuge and aide into Ireland hereof came the shaking of hands Brother Brannagh Brother Erinagh In the life of Henry the third it is written that when Othobon the Popes Legate came to Oxford and soiourned at Osney Abbey among other schollers some for one cause some for another that were there a poore Irish scholler Matthew Paris calleth him Capellanum Hibernensem drew neere unto the kitchin dresser and praid for some releefe the cook took a ladell full of hot liquor and threw it in his face a Welch scholler standing by tooke his bow and shot the cook through with an arrow Stow writeth that the cook was the Legates brother the hurly burly was great the schollers came together in armes and as it is said one Odo of Kilkenny was their ensigne bearer the Cardinals men were well beaten the Cardinall himselfe to save his life fled secretly at a posterne gate to the King made a grievous complaint and craved the aide of armed men to fetch off his men and thereof arose great troubles but to proceed Dermotte Mac Morogh King of Leinster being banished out of his country had aide out of Wales Conan the sonne of Iago Griffith ap Conan Rees ap Tewder Owen the sonne of Cadogan Kadwalader the sonne of Griffith ap Conan Marlgon ap David Princes of Wales Algar Earle of Chester Arnulph Earle of Pembroke Magnus the sonne of Herald William de Bruse Lord of Breknock with his wife and children in extremity tooke Ireland for their refuge where they found favor and kindnesse to their own hearts desire as in the British Chronicles published by Caradoc of Sancarban Cambrensis Humfrey Lloid and Doctor Powel doth more plainly appeare These two nations conversed much one with another Sir Tristram one of the Knights of the round Table came to Ireland Morogh brother to the King of Ireland whom Caxton calleth Morhaus was one of King Arthurs Knights Merlin the Welch Prophet came twice to Ireland and in Ofaby there is a Chappell bearing his name the occasion of his first comming was this There was a noble man of Ireland which had a suit unto the King of England with whom Merlin was great to whom he said Merlin if thou wilt effect my sute come to Ireland and I will give thee as much land as thou shalt see round about thee it was done after his arrivall Merlin demanded his promise the noble man put him into a cellar where was a grate and without a bawne with an high wall looke out saith the Irish man the Welch Prophet could not see a quoits cast from him and thus was he deceived having left his spirit of prophecy at home But to our purpose Fourthly
field and perswaded him to retraict saying further that there was no hope of good successe to bee obtained in this field This man being taken confessed the whole treason and for punishment was carried to the winde gates twelve miles from Dublin set alive standing in the ground with a great heape of stones about him as it pleased the Commanders to direct In Stanihurst I finde that the the chiefe Potentates of the Irish were Brian Borow Miagh Mac Brian whom formerly I termed Morogh Tady O Kelly Dolir Ahertegan and Gille Barramed and that they were buried at Kilmaniham over against the great Crosse. Anno 1031. as it is remembred by Caradoc in the British Chronicles there was great stirre and bloudshed in south-South-Wales by the meanes of Howell and Meredith the sonnes of Edwyn ap Evean ap Owen ap Howell Dha that made claime unto that country against Rytherch ap Iestyn Prince of south-South-Wales Howell and Meridith hired unto them a King of Ireland whose name is not set downe which brought with him a great armie of Irish-Scots the armies met the fight was cruell much bloud on both sides was shed in the end Rytherch the Prince was discomfited and slaine by which means they attained unto the governement of south-South-Wales the which they ioyntly ruled and bountifully rewarded the Irish King There is at Sauntrie some three miles from Dublin yeerely remembrance of Saint Pappan that was borne there Molanus calleth him Poppon He travailed into France builded there many Monasteries saith mine Author and preferred to governe them many men became an Abbot himselfe and departed this life Anno 1048. and lyeth buried at Stabuletum in France where hee governed Lastly mine Author noteth that he was a Saint but never canonized Conan the sonne of Iago Prince of north-North-Wales married Ranulph the daughter of Alfred King of Dublin who in the warres betweene Iago his father and Griffith the sonne of Lhewelyn ap Sitsylte sometimes King of Wales saith Caradoc was driven to flee into Ireland for safegard of his life This Conan Anno 1041. came with Alfred his father in law with great power out of Ireland to recover his country they shortly landed in Wales and by treason secretly tooke Griffith the King and carried him towards their ships but when it was knowne the country upon the sodaine rose armed themselves followed the Irish men made great slaughter of them rescued their Prince and drove Alfred and Conan with the rest of their forces to their shippes and so to Ireland Stow following Fabian writeth how that Anno 1049. certaine forces out of Ireland whom hee calleth Irish Pirates with 36. ships entred the mouth of Severne landed in a place called Westlapham and with the helpe of Griffith King of South-Wales spoyled along those coasts and did great mischiefe Afterwards Griffith and those Irish Pyrates ioyning their powers together passed over the river Wie and burnt Dumenham and slue man woman and childe leaving nothing behinde them but bloud and ashes Worcester Glocester and Herefordshire rose in Armes against them but many of them in cruell fight being slaine the rest put to flight the Irish returned home merrily loaden with spoyle Anno 1050. Conan gathered an armie of his friends in Ireland attempting the second time the recoverie of his inheritance he hoysed up saile towards Wales but on a sodaine there arose such a tempest upon the seas that scattered his Navie and drowned the most part of his ships so that he gave over the voyage for that time About this time wherein the English and British historiographers doe agree Robert Archbishop of Canterbury accused Earle Godwin and his five sonnes especially Swaine and Harold of treason and Queene Editha the daughter of Godwin of adulterie who being called before the King refused to appeare and therefore were banished the land and the Queene was put away from the King Godwin and Swaine fled to Flanders Harold and Leofwin Warwell saith Holinshead to Ireland and the Queene was sent with one Maid to the Monasterie of Wilton Immediately the King disposed of all their possessions It was not long after ere Godwin and Swaine got shippes men munition and all necessaries in Flanders the like did Harold and Leofwin in Ireland they all met upon the seas to wit the father the mother and the five sonnes they spoyled the I le of Wight Partland Peveneseny Romny-heath Folkeston Dover and Sandwich and entring the Thames destroyed Sheppey and burned the Kings houses at Mielton Then they met with the kings Fleet upon the seas and being ready to fight Bishop Stigand stept betweene them and reconciled both sides in such sort that the King restored them their lands and goods tooke home the Queene and banished Robert the Archbishop with all the French men which had put buzzes and suspitions into the Kings head Anno 1054. as Powell in his annotations upon Caradoc hath learnedly collected King Edward by evill counsell as it was thought banished Algar Earle of Chester which had treason laid to his charge whereupon Algar gate him into Ireland and there providing him eighteene shippes of warre well appointed and manned with stalworth men of Irish birth returned and joyned himselfe with Griffith King or Prince of Wales who both together invaded the country of Mercia about Hereford where Ranulph Earle of that country who was sonne to King Edwards sister named Goda by her first husband Walter de Manut came against them with a great armie and met them about two miles from Hereford where after a sore fight by the space of three houres Ranulph and his armie were discomfited and about 500. of them slaine and the rest put to flight whom Griffith and Algar pursued to Hereford and entring the towne set the Cathedrall Church on fire and slue the Bishop named Leogar with seven of the Canons and most lamentably as it falleth out in warres spoyled and burned the towne King Edward being advertised hereof gathered an armie and sent Harold the sonne of Earle Godwin against them who pursuing the enemies to North-Wales passed through Stradlewyde to Snowdon but Griffith and Algar being loath to meete Harold got them againe into South-Wales whereof Harold being advertised left one part of his armie in North-Wales to resist the enemy there and returning with the residue to Hereford caused a great trench to be cast round about the towne with a high rampire strongly fortifying the gates of the same After this by meanes of a parlee had with Griffith and Algar at a place called Biligellagh a peace was concluded whereupon Algar being pardoned by the King and restored againe to his Earledome returned home to Chester About two yeeres after Algar was accused againe of treason and the second time exiled the land fled into Ireland where he was most ioyously received of his old followers and offered more kindenesse then he requested for hee had most honourably dealt with the Merchants and owners of the former ships and most
brethren and the nephewes of the Apostles so he calleth them Towards his latter dayes hee sorrowed that Ireland had not the pall and as oft as he thought upon Innocentius 2. his promise he sighed who as formerly I have delivered had promised not performed when he heard that Eugenius his successor was come unto France he thought it a fit time to obtaine his purpose he tooke shipping for Scotland where King David received him as in times past and thence unto England where the jarre betweene the King of England and the Pope hindred his passage yet he got into France and straight to Clarevallis where hearing that Pope Eugenius was returned to Rome he rested himselfe fell sicke of an ague and there dyed being of the age of 54. yeeres Anno 1148. 4 Nonas Novembris so farre Bernard in substance yet Antonine saith hee dyed Anno 1140. In his time lived Conganus Abbot of Benchor who enformed Bernard of the whole life of Malachias and wrote at large thereof himselfe inserting many fabulous things and saith Nicholas Magwire he wrote not onely the life of Malachias but also the life of Bernard I finde him to be the Patron of Killaskin otherwise called Killeshin in Monte Margeo and the Barony of Marghagha in Leynster spoken of before In this time lived Tundalus Magus so surnamed because suspected for a Sorcerer borne and brought up in Mounster in Cashell saith Lepelo in the West of Ireland of Noble birth and by calling a Knight Antonius out of Vincentius reporteth that hee was fierce and cruell and in the end became a Carthusian Monke for that order beganne as we may reade in the life of Bruno the first founder thereof upon some great extremity whereof the Proverbe rose desperatio facit Monachum desperation maketh a Monke it seemeth that he had in his life time committed some hainous offences and was mightily tormented in conscience and fell into trances and extasies upon his recovery he delivered unto the world strange damnable untruths saith Bale of Heaven Hell Purgatory and I wot not what for a man distracted knoweth not what he saith Bale writeth talia ad terrorem fingebant scelestissimi Nebolones somewhat excusing him and extenuating his imbecillities and biddeth him farewell Clarint Stephano Rege in Anglia dominante satana apud Hybernos suas vires exercente hee flourished when Stephen raigned over England and the divell domineered over Ireland Hee wrote a booke of Revelations the which Melchior Canus Albertus Crantzius and Gobelenus have utterly condemned He wrote also the life of Vrsula and the 11000. Virgins printed at Cullen the which Zazarias Lepelo counteth for lyes and fables Anno 1142. the Abbey of Molyfont was founded by Donatus alias Donogh King of Louth alias Vriell some call him Donogh Ocarvell the first Abbot was Christianus who afterwards was Bishop of Lysmore and Legate of all Ireland Anno 1144. William Bishop of Winchester by authority of Pope Celestine 2. in a Councell held at London brought in the use of cursing with Bell Booke and Candle which liked the Irish Priests well to terrifie the Laytie for their Tithes Foxe Anno 1148. there fell great variance betweene Owen surnamed Gwyneth Prince of northâ—Northâ—Wales and Cadwallader his brother they were both the sonnes of Griffith ap Conan Prince of North Wales This Cadwallader fled into Ireland and hired to his aide Octer Mac Octer Curbell Mac Therulfe with a great number of Irish men and red shankes for 2000. markes and landed at Abermeany in Carnarvonshire against whom Prince Owen came with great power but before the Armies met there was a peace concluded betweene the brethren which when the Irish men understood they kept with them Cadwallader as prisoner for their pay formerly promised so that hee was faine to deliver 2000. heads of Cattell besides many prisoners and spoyles that were taken in the country but Prince Owen as soone as he knew his brother to be set at liberty set upon the Irish men his stomacke was full of revengement slue a great number of them and recovered all the Cattell with the prisoners and other spoyle so that in the end as many as escaped with life returned to Ireland with sorrow shame and losse and made no bost of their voyage so writeth Carodoc The same yeere Anno 1148. Iohn Papire a Priest Cardinall together with Christianus Bishop of Lismore the Popes Legate over the whole Land being sent by Eugenius came into Ireland And in Anno 1151. saith Mathew Paris but by the consent of most Writers Anno 1152. summoned a Councell where in the presence of the Bishops Abbots Kings Dukes the Antients of Ireland by the Apostolike authoritie Colledge of Cardinals consent of the Bishops Abbots others there present they ordained foure Archbishopricks in Ireland and gave them foure pales to wit Ardmach Dublin Cashell and Tuam In Ardmach then sate Gelasius in Dublin Gregory in Cashell Donatus in Tuam Edanus these were the first Archbishops of Ireland The records from that time to this day of the foure Provinces the foure Archbishoprickes with their Bishops and Suffragans in Latine and vulgar speech with their titles of Saints and Patrons together with the unions of them in processe of time following I finde thus Anno 1151. these Abbies were founded de Beatitudine de duillio de Magio de valle salutis and happily the Monasterie which Mathew Paris and Polychronicon spake of upon this occasion There was a Knight say they called Owin of Irish birth which had long served King Stephen in his warres got licence to repaire unto his native soile and to visit his friends when hee came to Ireland hearing the fame of the Purgatory of the second Patricke the Abbot and not the Bishop so I reade in Polychronicon it came in his minde to visit the same he being in the Cave and concavities under ground saw strange sights and making report thereof unto King Stephen obtained licence of him thenceforth to leade a religious and solitary life he obtained also of King Stephen so Mathew Paris writeth a parcell of ground in Ireland to build a Monasterie called Luden an Abbey of white Monkes where Gervasius became the first Abbot and where Gilbert a Monke trayned up Owen in the order thereof This Gilbert saith mine Author wrote as Owen told him all the reports that are now extant of that Purgatory so that it seemes to be no antient matter but a late device first found by this Owen in the late dayes of King Stephen Anno 1152. was the battaile of Monad more fought in Ireland betweene Leinster and Mounster men where saith Holinshed the flower and chiefest personages of Leinster and Mounster were slaine and saith Iohn Plunket Mounster lost the field Anno 1154. Terdielach King of Connaght dyed there succeeded him Rorie Oconochor Rowag commonly called Roderic who slue his owne brother that aspired to the kingdome of Connaght and in this successe attempted further and became
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-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
for the guard and safety of the City early in the morning when the enemy was unarmed out of order little thinking that so few within durst attempt to give the onset to so many without they fell upon them killed without mercy and the rere was so forward that they came with the Vanguard by wheeling about to the slaughter of the enemie Roderic all this while trusting to his troupes and multitude of people feared nothing he took his ease and pleasure and was bathing himself but when the larum was up that he saw his men on every side fall to the ground never tarried called for man nor Page to array him but tooke his mantle and ranne away all naked and hardly escaped with life The Britaines pursued after and had the killing of them all that day in the evening they returned into the Citie not onely with the honour of the field but rich booties and praies of victuals armour and other pillage as much as man and beast could cary Immediatly also the rumor hereof the other Campes were dispersed namely Laurence the Archbishop whom it had beseemed better to have beene at home with his porthouse then in Campe with rebels Mathelan Machalem Gillemehelmocus Otuetol Ororic Prince of Meath Ocarol alias Ocarvell Prince of Vriell Machfalin Ochadese with many other great Commanders where every man shifted for himselfe of Gotred alias Godfray King of Man that came by Sea I find nothing for upon this disaster he tooke him to the seas the next day without any further deliberation Miles Cogan is left to governe Dublin and the Earle with his Army marched towards Wexford to raise the siege at the Carreke to relieve Robert Fitz Stephens as he passed by Odrone the forces of Leinster by the conduct of Donole Obrene Prince of Limerik and Donald Prince Osery set upon him and fought a cruell fight but he went on with the losse of one man As he came to the borders of Wexford certaine messengers met and informed him of the mischance that happened to Robert Fitz Stephens and the firing of the Towne of Wexford adding moreover that the Wexfordians were fully determined if the Earle came any further towards them they would cut off all the heads of Fitz Stephens and all his company and send them unto him whereupon with heavy cheere and sorrowfull heart he changed his mind turned to Waterford But afore I proceede any further I am to deliver the manner of the treachery and villany shewed unto Robert Fitz Stephens Donold of Limric sonne in Law to Dermot Mac Morogh while his father lived he was one that favoured the Brittains and not without cause but now forgetting humanity returneth to his vomit bends his course towards Wexford and while other states of Ireland by East and by North with might maine practised the rooting out of the Brittains he flies to the South and raiseth Wexford Kensile to lay siege to the Carreke the fort of Robert Fitz Stephens First they begin with force and seeing that failed them they fall to guiles and subtilities under color of peace pretending nothing but pure love tender affection and safeguard of his person and all that were with him they bring with them two Bishops the one of Kildare the other of Fernes in their formall moods with other Religious persons O damned Prelats and they had with them the Masse Booke the host with certaine Reliques upon these they take corporall oathes and sweare with great solemnity and protestations as followeth For the good will and affection wee beare unto you whom we have alwaies found a curteous and bountifull Prince we are to signifie unto you this much how that Dublin is taken the Earle Strangbow Maurice Fitz Girald Reimond le Grosse Miles Cogan with all the English are put to the sword and now Roderic the Monarch with all the power of Conoght and Leinster posteth hither to rase even with the ground all the Forts Holds and Castles which the Englishmen have and especially to apprehend you Robert Fitz Stephens and Willam Not that were the forerunners into this Land of all this mischiefe wherefore take this for truth and be well advised what to doe if they take you there is no mercy if you will put your selfe with your company and goods into our hands in the faith of Christianity we sweare we will safely transport you and yours unto Wales so shall you not lose so much as a haire of your head wherefore the great Army being at hand yeeld come forth and shippe your selfe for Wals. Robert Fitz Stephens who would not in this case give credit yeelded himselfe into their hands immediatly more like Iewes then Christians they strippe them out of all that ever they have they hang one they throw another over a rocke they breake anothers necke one hath his eyes puld out another hath his tongue cut some they scourge with thongs other some they take and with sledges breake their Armes and thighes the greatest kindnesse they shew is iron and imprisonment the which Robert Fitz Stephens endured now leaving these bloody Massacers and themselves I will turne to Waterford after Earle Strangbow When Earle Strangbow came to Waterford he found there Hervie de Monte Marisco newly arrived out of England with letters from the King requiring him forthwith to repaire unto his Majesty Strangbow together with Hervy tooke the first wind and went for England and found the King at Newham not farre from Glocester where he was in readinesse with a great Army to saile out into Ireland whereafter sundry altercations passed betweene them at length as they say by meanes of Hervy the Kings displeasure was appeased and it was agreed that the Earle should sweare alleageance to the King and yeeld and surender unto him the City of Dublin with the Cantreds thereunto adjoining as also such Townes and Forts as were bordering upon the Sea side and as for the residue he should have and reteine to him and his heires holding the same of the King and his heires Strangbow was no sooner knowne to be in England and Reimond at Waterford but Ororic Monoculus the one eyed Prince of Meath mustred a great number of Souldiers and laid siege to the City of Dublin Miles Cogan the Governour withall his company while the enemy was carelesse upon a sudden issued out and fell upon them unawares and made a great slaughter of them among whom both Ororic and his sonne were slaine In the British Chronicles copied by Owen Cretten out of the Abbies of Conwey in north-North-wales and Stratflur in south-South-wales I find recorded that when King Henry the 2. made preparation for the conquest of Ireland Richard Strangbow Earle of Strigale Marshall of England being reconciled to the King had all his Lands in England and Normandy restored unto him againe and thereupon the King made him Seneschall Steward saith he of Ireland Then came Rees prince of south-South-wales and offred the King to further his
over Ireland And all the West of the world and there followed immediatly a continuall untemperature of the ayre with a filthy skurfe the Winter stormy cold and wet which continued untill the 11. of Iuly and put the Gardeners Fruterers and Husbandmen void of all hope in so much they complained that Winter was turned to Summer and Summer to Winter and that they were like to lose all and bee undone Anno 1252. saith Dowling and Grace and the English Anonimus but Clyn and Florilegus write that it was 1254. King Henry gave to Prince Edward his sonne Gascoigne Ireland Wales Bristow Stanford and Grantham and sent him to Alphonsus King of Spaine to take Ellionor his sister to wife where hee was by the said King Knighted and returned together with his wife into England with great riches Anno 1255. Alanus de la Zouch was made Lord Iustice so I finde in the Booke of Houth after his departure out of Ireland hee being a Lord Baron and chiefe Iustice in England Florilegus Humfrey Loid and Stow doe write the Story how hee came to his end great strife rose in England betweene certaine of the Nobility about territories lands and titles whereto each side made claime the matters in controversie by direction from the King were decided in Westminster Hall the first Controversie was betweene Iohn Earle of Surrey and Warren and Hugh de Lacy Earle of Lincolne which went upon Lacy his side The second was betweene this Earle Warren and Allan de la Zouch this Zouch being Chiefe Iustice asked Earle Warren how he held his land Earle Warran drew foorth his sword and said by this mine Ancestors held the same and by this I presently hold it and with that ranne the Chiefe Iustice through in Westminster Hall and in his flight wounded also his sonne thence hee fled to his Castle at Risgate whome Prince Edward the Kings eldest sonne pursued with an Army to whom the Earle submitted himselfe and afterwards with friends and what with money pacified all Anno 1256. in the warres of Lewelin Prince of Wales so I find in the records of Conway Stratflur Copied by Gettine Owen Edward Earle of Chester fell to outrage one while against the King another while against the Welshmen his Army was 1500. foot and 500. horse Henry the third together with Richard Earle of Cornewall and King of Almane wrote unto him gently wishing him to returne to his Country and keepe the peace and not to provoke the Welshmen to Armes the which he refused to doe but sent to the Irishmen for succour and supplies Prince Edward the Kings eldest sonne understanding thereof rigged a Navy met with the Irish fleet killed their men and sunck their ships few onely remaining to returne and to make report of this hard successe in Ireland In a while after the King raised warres against Lewellin Prince of Wales and the Welshmen saith Paris Causa autem eorum etiam hostibus eorum justa videbatur and was brought to a narrow straight so that he sent to Ireland and to Gascoigne for succour the Irishmen not forgetting their late overthrow were loath to come being of all sides driven to serve in the end came and joyned with their Kings forces where no memorable act was performed for God saith Paris defended the poore people that put their whole confidence in him About this time to wit Anno 1256. Florished Iohannes De Sacro Bosco Bale out of Leland will have him to be a Yorkeshire man and terme him Iohn Holyfaxe Stanihurst writeth he was borne in Ireland at Holy Wood in Fingall some 12. miles from Dublin and therefore called Iohannes De Sacro Bosco which carried great likly-hood with it untill they are reconciled which side prevaileth I waigh not greatly I thought good to insert him for so much as his great learning graced him unto the posterity In his springing yeeres hee suckt the sweet milk of good learning in the famous Vniversity of Oxford afterwards he went to Paris where he professed the learned Sciences with singular commendations and there slumbreth in the dust of the earth whose exequies and funerals were there with great lamentations solemnized first hee followed Aristotle afterwards gave himselfe to the Mathematikes and addicted himselfe so much thereto that none of the posterity as is thought could follow him hee wrote De Spaera Mundi lib. 1. Tractatum de spaera quatuor De Algorismo lib. 1. Omnia quae a primeva rerum orig De Anni Ratione lib. 1. Cmoputus scientiam considerans Breviarium Iuris lib. 1. Verborum superficie penitus Vpon his Tombe together with the Mathematicall Astrolabe was insculped as followeth M. Christi bis C. quarto deno quater anno De Sacro Bosco discrevit tempora ramus Gratia cui nomen dederat divina Iohannes Anno 1258. Stepham Espee alias De longa spatha that is Stepham with the long skeine or two handed sword Earle of Salibury as I suppose was made Lord Iustice of Ireland this Stepham gave battell unto Oneile and the rebels of Vlster and Conaght and slue of them together with Oneile saith Clinne in one day three hundred fifty and two and departed this life saith Florilegus 1260. Anno 1260. William Denne was made Lord Iustice in whose time Greene Castle Arx Viridis was destroyed and the Carties plaied the Divells in Desmond where they burned spoiled preyed and slue many an innocent they became so strong and prevailed so mightily that for the space so it is reported of twelue yeeres the Desmonds durst not put plow in ground in his owne Country at length through the operation of Satan a bane of discord was throwen betweene the Carties and the Odriscoles Odonovaies Mac Donoch Mac Mahonna Mac Swines and the inhabittants of Muscrie in so much that by their cruell dissention they weakened themselves of all sides that the Desmond in the end overcame and overtopped them all but in the beginning of these garboils I find that the Carties slue of the Desmonds Iohn Fitz Thomas founder of the Monastery and Covent of Trally together with Maurice his sonne eight Barons 15. Knights beside infinite others at a place called Callan where they were buried Mine Authors are Iohn Clinne onely and the Booke of Houth In the end of these tumults dyed Sir William Denny Lord Iustice Anno 1261. Richardus de Capella otherwise called Rochell Clinne calleth him La Rochell de Capella became Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1262. There rose in Dublin a great stirre betweene the Prior and Covent of the blessed Trinity now called Christ-Church and the Communalty of the City about the tithe fish of the Liffy Anno 1264. Walter Bourke commonly called Walterus de Burgo spoken of before was made Earle of Vlster hee had married the daughter and heire of Sir Hugh Delacy the younger and in her right enjoyed the Earledome The Booke of Houth layeth downe the descent that this Walter
kindely intreated and bounteously rewarded the Irish souldiers the which then in his second extremity was not forgotten With shippes men and munition out of Ireland he bent his course to Wales repaired to his old friend Griffith Prince of Wales where he was most welcome and shortly restored againe to his Earldome by the meanes and intreaty of certaine strangers which had lately there arrived out of Norway Camden writeth how that Anno 1066. Godred surnamed Cronan the sonne of Hiraldniger of Island invaded the I le of Man thence came into Ireland did the like unto Dublin and a great part of Leynster made great spoyle and went backe againe The British Chronicle reporteth of Dermot a King in Ireland that in Anno 1068. he was murthered but the manner hee sheweth not the commendation he giveth of him is this He was the worthiest and noblest Prince that ever ruled in Ireland Polychronicon reporteth how that Anno 1072. at Winsore before William the Conquerour and the Cleargie the controversie between the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke was heard at large and decided and that Bedaes historie was shewed where it appeared that from Austen the Monkes time till Bedaes death about 140. yeeres the Archbishop of Canterburie had primacie over all Great Britaine Ireland that he had held Councels by Yorke summoned Bishops of Yorke consecrated Bishops and punished Bishops of Yorke for their offences and iudicially removed them Philip Flatesburie a great Antiquarie whom Stanihurst followeth and Iames Grace of Kilkenny with Dowlinge his ioynt Collectour doe write how that Anno 1074. Patricke Bishop of Dublin was consecrated in Pauls Church in London by Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterburie upon commendatorie Letters of Teridionatus alias Terdilnacus Monarch of Ireland and Godericke King of Leinster and with teste of the Clergie and Laytie of that Diocesse of his lawfull and orderly election Further I finde recorded that it was the manner to consecrate Bishops in this sort and that the Monarch of Ireland in regard of his royall principalitie and title of honour with other priviledges belonging to his Monarchie had negative voyce in the nomination of Bishops throughout his Realme Secondly how the Archbishop of Canterbury took of him that was so consecrated a corporall oath of Canonicall obedience as his predecessours formerly used to him and his successors and lastly gave him letters testimoniall thereof to the Monarch and King of Leynster Cambrensis sheweth the reason of this consecration namely how that in Ireland as then there was no Archbishop but one Bishop consecrated another untill that Anno 1148. Iohannes Papiron a Priest Cardinall sent from Eugenius 3. together with Christian Bishop of Lismore Legate of all Ireland came to the land and brought with them foures Paales But of this more in another place The same Flattesburie writeth further how that the said Lanfranke in like sort consecrated Donatus Bishop of Dublin Anno 1085. About this time Godwin and Edmund sonnes to King Harold my Author is Thomas Walsingham Monke of Saint Albans which formerly had fled into Ireland for succour unto Dermotte Mac O Nell King of Ireland returned with 66. saile landed in Sommersetshire saith Stow where Brian the sonne of Eudo Duke of Brabant met them and gave them battaile wherein saith Stow the brethren gate the victory and the Irish men with many great preyes out of Cornewall and Devonshire returned into Ireland But Walsingham which seemeth more true writeth that it was a bloudie battaile wherein 1070. of the English and Normans with certaine of the Nobilitie of the land were slaine and the enemies with aide of their ships fled and brought heavy newes home to their deerest friends in Ireland It is very like that William the Conquerour immediately upon this sent great forces into Ireland to bee revenged of them for relieving or assisting his enemies for Stow writeth out of William of Malmsbury thus Lanfranck Archbishop of Canterbury being in such favour with King William that the said William thought not good to deny any thing that hee requested procured by his industrie that the said King left his ill custome of selling his prisoners which hee tooke in Ireland which was a thing hardly granted unto him and to Wolstan Bishop of Worcester the gaine that the King had by the sale of those Irish men was such The British Chronicle reporteth how that Anno 1087. and the last yeere of William Conquerour the sonnes of Blethlyn ap Convyn sometime King of Wales gathered their strength together against Rees ap â—yder who not being able to meete with them fled to Ireland and there he purchased to himselfe great friends and got an armie of Irish men and Scots to whom hee promised great rewards when he should obtaine his kingdome so landed in South-Wales with these strangers and when his friends heard thereof they drew unto him and the other came in all haste to vanquish him before hee had made a head and gathered forces together to bee short at Wechryd they gave battaile where they were discomfited and two of the brethren slaine to wit Madoc and Kirid and the other fled and forsooke the country As soone as Rees was in quiet possession of his country he sent away the Irish men with great rewards All the Lords of the Ilands sent messengers unto Murchard alias Moragh O Brien King of Ireland that it would please him to send them some worthy man of royall bloud to be their King during the nonage of Olanus the sonne sonne of Godred King of Man Whereupon he sent unto them one Dopnald Mac Tady whom hee deepely charged to governe that kingdome which of right appertained not to him with all kindenesse love and modesty but hee was no sooner warm in the kingdome but he forgot his instructions and the charge his Lord had given him he poled he pilled and practised all kinde of tyranny for the space of three yeers Then all the Lords of the Ilands rose in armes against him and banished him out of those parts so he fled into Ireland of whom they never heard any further newes Stanihurst findeth that Anno 1095. there came certaine Esterlings to the North side of Dublin adjoyning to the Liffie and seated themselves there so that of them to this day the place is called Ostomontowne and corruptly Oxmonton and the Parish Saint Michans of one Michanus a Dane and a Bishop which founded the Church unto whom Murchard or Moragh King of Leynster gave that parcell of land to that use The faire greene or Commune now called Ostmontowne-greene was all wood and hee that diggeth at this day to any depth shall finde the ground full of great rootes From thence Anno 1098. King William Rufus by licence of Murchard had that frame which made up the roofe of Westminster Hall where no English Spider webbeth or breedeth to this day Cambrensis in his Itinerarie of Cambria reporteth how that King William standing upon some high rocke in the
to apprehend such prollers wherein he also reproved his cowardize The Emperour when he understood that the birds were flowne away made search for the neast yet overtooke them in Italy where to be short hee imprisoned them their kindred and favourers rifled them of their money and sent them to Rome to sing for more money he that will reade the story more at large let him repaire to Mathew Paris The same yeere saith Mathew Paris Andelmus borne in Cullen a man highly commended for life and learning was by the Bishop of Worcester solemnly consecrated at Westminster Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland in the presence of the King the Legate and many reverend Prelates Anno 1242. Maurice Fitz Girald Lord Iustice of Ireland builded the Castle of Sligoe Anno 1243. Clun and Dowlinge write that Giraldus Fitz Maurice Richardus de Burgo and Hugh de Lacy Earle of Vlster in Ireland ended the way of all flesh and was buried at Carechfergus Mathew Paris giveth Lacy great commendations that he was a most renowned warriour and a valiant Conquerour of a great part of Ireland This Lacy left behinde him one daughter and heire whom Walter de Burgo married and in her right became Earle of Vlster of Richardus de Burgo Mathew Paris writeth he had great possessions and lands in Ireland by the conquest of his most Noble father Anno 1245. Florilegus Powell out of Gittin Owen and Holinshed doe write how that the Welch men rebelled against the King and his forces being foyled by David ap Llewelin Prince of Wales hee sent into Ireland to Maurice for ayde and was in winter time mightily distressed the which I finde by Powell recorded and written by a Noble man out of the campe unto his friends The King with his army lyeth at Gannocke fortifying of that strong Castle and we live in our Tents thereby watching fasting praying and freezing with cold wee watch for feare of the Welch men who are wont to invade and come upon us in the night time we fast for want of meate for the halfe penny loafe is worth five pence we pray to God to send us home speedily we starve for cold wanting our winter garments and having no more but a thinne linnen cloath betweene us and the winde there is an arme of the seas under the Castle where we lye whereto the tyde commeth and many shippes come up to the haven which bring victuals to the Campe from Ireland and Chester The King all this while expected the arrivall of Maurice Fitz Girald with his Irish forces mused with himselfe fretted with himselfe the winde serving and yet said nothing at length the Irish sayles are discryd a shore they came and Maurice Fitz Girald together with Phelina Oconor Oconoghor saith another in battaile array present themselves before the King at Chepstow say the Irish Chroniclers but the British Chroniclers coppied out of the Abbies of Conwey and Stratflur by Owen Gittine deliver they landed at the I le of Man or Anglesey the which in mine opinion seemeth to be most likely to be true For David ap Llewelin was Prince of north-North-Wales and there kept his forces Chepstow is in South-Wales and besides it is agreed upon of all sides that the Irish landing spoyled the I le of Anglesey laded themselves with spoyles and going to their ships were driven to runne and leave all behinde but to be short when all the forces joyned together the Welch men were overthrowne the King manned and victualled his Castles returned into England gave the Irish men leave to returne winking a while in policie at the tarriance and slow comming of Maurice Fitz Girald when Maurice Fitz Girald Lord Iustice arrived in Ireland he found O Donell the Irish enemy upon the death of Hugh Lacy in Armes invading and sore annoying the Kings subjects in Vlster and called unto him Cormake Mac Dermot Mac Dory with great forces and entred Tireconell preyed burned and spoyled and vanquished the enemy there he slue Moyleslaghlon O Donell called King of Keyvayle together with Gille Canvinelagh Obugill and Mac Surley called King of Oyrisgall with divers others gentlemen of those parts in like sort many English men were cast away in the river whose passage O Donell stopped and slue there William Butt high Sheriffe of Connaught together with a valiant young Gentleman his brother When the Lord Iustice had thus atchieved his purpose hee manned and victualled the Castle of Sligo tooke pledges of O Neale to keepe the Kings peace and left them in the said Castle gave Cormake Dermot Mac Dory that came to his aide the moytie of Connaught and returned with a great prey When this noble service was performed the King disgorged himselfe and what inwardly he had conceived and for a while conceived against the Lord Iustice he then in writing delivered and removed Maurice Fitz Girald out of his Iusticeship and placed in his roome Iohn Fitz Ieffery de Morisco the which the Irish Chroniclers have suppressed yet Florilegus and Holinshed doe write Mauritium Hiberniae Iustitiariū eo quod ficte tarde auxilium ab hibernia domino Regi duxerat periclitanti a Iustitiaria Deposuit This Maurice departed out of this world Anno Dom. 1256. was buried saith Clyn in the habit of the Fryers Minors at Yough-halle the which Morice had founded of whom Mathew Paris saith thus he was a valiant Knight a very pleasant man inferiour to none in Ireland who sometime swayed the land when hee had the sword of Iusticeship this man lived with commendations all the dayes of his life but peradventure falsly reported of and stained in the end with the death of Richard Earle Marshall Anno 1247. after that Henry the third and the Clergie of England and Ireland found themselves mightily grieved at the Popes exactions and intollerable extortions in England Wales and Ireland and had signified the same in writing to the Court of Rome whereupon saith Florilegus the Court of Rome fretted and sorrowed that their avarice was as well reproved as restrained Innocentius 4. devised in his conceit a milder course to be held that in stead of a greater summe they should give him at that time out of those dominions to supply his wants but eleven thousand markes Then saith Florilegus Master Iohannes Rusus was sent into Ireland furnished with authority diligently to collect the Popes money as a Legate yet not clad in scarlet lest the Pope should offend the King of England who hath this priviledge that no Legate set foot on his land unlesse hee be sent for or licenced but the said Iohn being a sophisticall Legate vigilantly plying the papall mandate and his owne private gaine extorted out of Ireland about sixe thousand markes the which by the conduite of the Clergie was transported and conveied to London about the Feast of Saint Michaell the Archangell The same yeere saith Florilegus there was a marveilouse and strange Earthquake over England but saith Felcon
of Antrim Cnockfergus called also Cragfergus This part is dissevered from Meath and Leinster by the river Boandus which breaketh out beside Logh-foyle a bogg betweene Ardmagh and S. Patrickes Purgatorie Cambrensis reputeth the bogge at 30. miles in length and halfe so much in breadth and the same once firme Land to have beene suddenly ouerflowen for the bestiall incest committed there unfit to be told In Mounster lye the counties of Waterford Limericke Cork counties Pallatine of Tipperary Kerry and exempt from priviledge the Crosse of Tipperarie Waterford hath Dongarvon and Waterford full of traffique with England France and Spaine by meanes of their excellent good Haven Limericke hath Kilmallocke lately sackt by Iames Fitz Morice and the Citie Limiricum coasting on the sea hard upon the river Shannon whereby are most notably severed Mounster and Connaght Corke hath Kinsale Yowghall and the Cittie Corke Tipperary hath Tipperary Clonmell Fidderstown Cassell Mounster was of old time devided into East-Mounster Ormond West-Mounster Desmond South-Monster Thomond Here dwell Obrenes Macnemarraes Mack-maâ—ownes and one sept of the Offlherties In these quarters lyeth the Countryes of O-Carroll O-Magher the white Knight Mac-Ibrine O-Gaunaghe Waterford contayneth the Powers and Deces Corke the Barries Lands Imokillie Carbarrie Maccarty-more Maccarty-reagh L. Roches lands Osulivan Muscry L. Courcy and diverse more some of Irish blood some degenerate and become Irish. Limericke hath in it the Knight of the valley VVilliam Burcke Mac-Ibrine Ara part of the white Knights Lands Cosmay Obrenes and upon the edge of Kerrie the greene knight alià s the knight of Kerrie Leinster butteth upon England Mounster and Connaght upon France and Spaine Vlster upon the Scottish Ilands which face with Hebrides scattered between both realmes wherein at this day the Irish Scot Successour of the old Scythian Pict or Redshancke dwelleth The spirituall Iurisdiction is ordered into 4. Provinces whereof the primacy was euer given in reverence toward Saint Patricke their Apostle to the Archbishoppe of Ardmagha now called Ardmagh which custome was since confirmed by Eugenius the 3. who sent withall 3. other prelates to be placed one at Dublin one at Cashell the last at Tuam To these are suffraganes in right 29. and all they inferiour to the Primate of Ardmaghe under his province are the Bishopprickes of Meath Derry Ardagh Kilmore Clogher Downe Coner Clonmacknoes Rapho and Dromore Vnder Dublin whereunto Innocentius 3. united Glandelagh are the Bishop of Elphine Kildare Ferneâ— Ossorie and Laighlein Vnder Cashell are B. of Waterford Lysmore Corke Clone Rosse Ardigh Limericke Emely Killalo Ardferte Vnder Tuam the B. of Kilmaco Olfine Anaghdoune Clonfert Mayo In this recount some diversities have happened by reason of personall and reall union of the Seas and for other alterations An old distinctioÌ„ there is of Ireland into Irish English pales for wheÌ„ the Irish had raised coÌ„tinual tumults against the English planted heere with the Conquest At last they coursed them into a narrow circuite of certaine shires in Leinster which the English did choose as the fattest soyle most defensible their proper right and most open to receive helpe from England Hereupon it was termed their pale as whereout they durst not peepe But now both within this pale uncivill Irish and some rebells doe dwell and without it Countreyes and cities English are well governed CAP. II. The temporall Nobility BY conference with certaine gentlemen attendants upon Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputie who excelleth in that knowledge I tooke notice of the most noble English families in Ireland which heere ensue with their surnames as they stand at this present Gerald Fitz Gerald Earle of Kildare this house was of the nobilitie of Florence came thence to Normandie and so with earle Strangbow his kinsman whose Armes hee giveth into Wales neere of bloud to Rice ap Griffin Prince of Wales by Vesta the mother of Morice Fitz Gerald and Robert Fitz Stephens with the said Earle it removed into Ireland one of the speciall conquerors thereof One record that I have seene nameth a Geraldine the first Earle of Kildare in anno 1289. But another saith there dyed a Geraldine the fourth Earle of Kildare in anno 1316. the family is touched in the sonnet of Surrey made upon Kildares sister now Lady Clinton From Tuscane came my Ladyes worthy race Faire Florence was sometime her ancient seate The westerne Isle whose pleasant shore doth face Wilde Cambres cliffes did give her lively heate His eldest sonne Lord Gerald Baron of Ophalye I reade the Geraldine Lord of Ophalye in anno 1270. Sir Thomas Butler Earle of Ormond and Ossorye the Butlers were ancient English Gentlemen preferred to the Earledome of Ormond in the first of Edward the 3. Anno 1327. which fell upon heires generall lastly upon Sir Thomas Butler Earle of Wilshire after whose disfavour it reversed to the name of Pierce Butler whom little before King H. 8. had created Earle of Ossorye Theo. Butler was Lord of the Carricke An. 1205. And Earle of Tipperarie 1300. or sooner the Latine History calleth him Dominum de Pincerna the English Le Bottiller whereby it appeareth that hee had some such honour about the Prince his very surname is Becket who was advanced by H. le 2. in recompence of the injurie done to Thomas of Canterburie their kinsman His eldest sonne Lord Butler Viscount Thurles Gerald Fitz Gerald Earle of Desmond Morice Fitz Thomas a Geraldine was created Earle of Desmond the same yeare soone after that the Butler became Earle of Ormond The Irish say that the elder house of the Geraldines was made Earle of Desmond though Kildare be the more ancient Earle His eldest sonne L. Fitz Gerald of Desmond Baron of Inshycoin Sir Richard Burcke Earle of Clanriccard a braunch of the English family de Burge Lord Burgh who were noble men before their arrivall into Ireland His eldest sonne Vlioke Burghe Baron of Donkeline Conegher Obrene Earle of Tumond the name of Earle given to Murroughe Obrene for terme of life and after to Donoghe Obrene An. 5. Edw. 6. now confirmed to the heires male His eldest sonne Lo. Obrene Baron of Ibrecane Mac Cartimore Earle of Clarcar created An. 1565. His eldest sonne Lo Baron of Valentia Viscount Barrie Viscount Roohe Preston Viscount of Gormanston whereunto is lately annexed the Barony of Lounders their auncestour Preston then cheife Baron of the Exchequer was made Knight in the field by Lionell Duke of Clarence Lieutenant of Ireland Eustace alias Powere Viscount of Baltinglasse Lord of Kilkullen to him and his heires male An. H. 8.33 Their ancestour Robert le Powere was sent into Ireland with commission and in his Off-spring hath rested heere since An. 1175. Powere alias Eustace is written Baron of Domvile An. 1317. Sir Richard Butler Viscount Mongaret to him and his heires males An. Edw. 6.5 Viscount Deces Lord Bermingham Baron of Athenrye now degenerate
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
Queene you my Lord discover it not I. Gormo dyed for sorrow and Thira lamented in one day the departure of her Lord and husband the King the death of her sonne and her owne dolefull widdowhood Anno 939. so writeth Caradoc Abloic a most worthy Prince and Monarch of Ireland deceased Anno 940. after the death of Athelstane his brother Edmund raigned over Britaine He subdued the Danes that remained in Northumberland together with others that came out of Ireland to invade the land with Anlaffe their Captaine saith Fabian he slue some and banished the rest so writeth Cooper Anno 948. the Abbey of the blessed Virgin Mary by Dublin was founded by the Danes Molanus writeth of one Columbanus an Abbot of Irish birth that became a recluse or an anachorist Anno 957. in the Church yard of the Monasterie of Gandavum where he kept the space of two yeeres and there ended his dayes This yeere saith Caradoc Congelach King of Ireland was slaine but he sheweth not where nor how Anno 959. Edgar the sonne of Edmund beganne his raigne over England he reduced all into one Monarchie Camden found in a Charter where Edgar delivered of himselfe that it pleased God of his mercy to grant unto him together with the command of England to subdue all the Ilandish kingdomes of the Ocean together with their fierce and mighty Kings as farre as Norwey and the greatest part of Ireland with Dublin the most noble Citie thereof unto the kingdome of England Anno 966. Rodericke the sonne of Edwall Voell Prince of Wales was slaine by Irish men that landed there for a prey spoyled the country and destroyed Aberfraw Caradoc so complaineth of them Molanus writeth of one Forananus a Bishop which flourished Anno 980. he termeth him Bishop of Domenormor and Metropolitane of Ireland and Scotland where he mightily erred in the name of the place of the person and his stile For hee was Bishop of Dromore in Ireland and no Metropolitane at all but to his purpose hee findeth him among his Saints of Flanders and saith that he was warned in a vision to travaile so that he with a company of Irish Priests arrived in France and came to Rome in the time of Benedict 7. from thence he came backe to the Monasterie of Walciodorum where hee and his Priests became professed Monkes of the order of Saint Benedict for the space of twelve yeeres and there ended their dayes The Monkes there saith he were wont among other Saints at Easter yeerely to call upon him Sancte Foranane ora pro nobis untill that the reformers of Bursfeld wiped him out of the Catalogue of Saints for that he was not canonized by the Church of Rome Anno 988. as I finde in the British Chronicle Elwmaen the sonne of Abloic King of Ireland was slaine and a great number of people dyed with famine that is alwaies the end of civill warres and rebellion in Ireland Anno 1004. the Scots I know not the cause entred Ireland and after their manner as also the Danes did then in England preyed burned and destroyed they tooke Gulfath and Vbiad Irish Lords and put out their eyes they ransacked also the Citie of Dublin Anno 1012. Grace and Dowlinge the Irish Antiquaries doe concurre the English Writers are silent and deliver how that Bernaidus commonly called Brian Bowrow Monarch of Ireland and his sonne Murcath alias Murchardus Mac Brian with other Kings of the land subiect unto him gathered great power and met at Clantarfe nigh Dublin and gave a sore battaile unto Sutraic alias Sutric the sonne of Abloic King of Dublin and unto Moilmordha King of Leinster This Sutric to withstand the Monarch had hired to his aide all manner of strangers he could get by sea or by land as Danes Norwegians Scots Britaines Pirates and sea rovers The fight was desperate the field all bloud a horse they say was sometime to his belly in bloud There were slaine that day of the one side Brian the Monarch and his sonne Murchard of the other side Moilmordha King of Leinster Rodericke the Arch-Pirate and Captaine of the strangers with others of both sides innumerable Sutrick was sore wounded was brought to Dublin and shortly after died of his wound I pray thee gentle Reader who got by the bargaine As farre as ever I could learne a woman set them together by the eares The Booke of Houth after the Irish observation delivereth the story thus There was a Merchant in Dublin commonly called the white Merchant a Dane the fourth sonne of the King of Denmarke who had a faire wife of Irish birth and he being full of iealousie and ready to travaile for merchandize into farre countries desired of Brian Borow Monarch of Ireland that his wife untill his returne might waite upon his Lady soiourne in his house for the safeguard of her person credit and honestie the which was granted and the King undertooke it This Merchant made as speedy a returne as he could and being landed early in a morning with a privy key entred the chamber where his wife lay and found Morogh Mac Brian the Kings sonne in bed with his wife hee wheeled about devising what was best to be done at length resolving himselfe to depart for that time tooke Moroghs sword and put it into his owne scabbard and his into Moroghs scabbard Hee went to the King and complained of the abuse here spoken of the King answered He is my sonne give thou iudgement upon him saith the Merchant let him keepe the whore still I will be revenged upon him and his partakers in the field as soone as possibly may be and I doubt not but all Ireland shall rue the day of this villanie Immediately he went to Denmarke brought over to his aide thirty thousand Danes and Norwegians landed at Clantarfe whereof the field was called the field of Clantarfe hee summoned Morogh and his favourites to fight and thought at the first to have taken Dublin Brian Borow fearing this made more haste then good speed tarried not for the forces of the land that were comming with his sonne Donogh to his aide but rashly with his sonne Morogh the Author of all this mischiefe gave them battaile The which battaile all the forenoone being cruelly fought seemed all to leane on the Irish side but in the afternoone the Danes that were in the rere and yet fresh for any fight they had were directed to wheele about and to take the voward unknowne unto the Irish which fiercely fought and encountred with the wearie and wounded Irish and wonne the field Here was Brian Borow and his sonne Morogh and eleven thousand of the Irish slaine One thing further gentle reader note there was a Priests sonne accounted a tall man of armes who in the beginning of the battaile fled away fearing the hardinesse of the Danes and Norwegians and went to Donogh Mac Brian the brother of Morogh who was comming with forces to the
farthest part of Wales beheld Ireland and said I will have the shippes of my kingdome brought hither wherewith I will make a bridge to invade this land Murchard King of Leynster heard thereof and after he had paused a while asked of the reporter hath the King in that his great threatning inserted these words if it please God No then said he seeing this King putteth his trust onely in man and not in God I feare not his comming Anno 1095. Murchard so writeth Holinshed alias Morogh King of Leynster with the Clergie and people of the Citie of Dublin elected one Samuel a Monke of Saint Albans an Irish man borne to the governement of the Church and Bishops See of Dublin and according to the antient custome presented him by sufficient letters of testimony unto Anselme Archbishop of Canterburie to be consecrated by him who according to their request did so and tooke of him an oath of Canonicall obedience after the usuall manner Anno 1097. the Citizens of Waterford perceiving that by reason of the great multitude of people in that citie it was necessarie for them to have a Bishop obtained licence of their King and Rulers to erect in their Citie a Bishops See and besought them to write to Anselme Archbishop of Canterburie to have his consent therein and permitted them to nominate a man meete for the place Hereupon Morogh King of Leynster wrote unto Anselme informing him of the whole matter wherein one Malchus was commended and presented unto him to be admitted and consecrated if he thought good these letters were subscribed by Murchard King of Leynster Dermotte his brother Bishop Dufnald Idiman Bishop of Meath Samuel Bishop of Dublin and Ferdomnachus a Bishop in Leynster Anselme considering their request to be honest and necessarie examined the man gave him the oath of Canonicall obedience and consecrated Malcus Bishop of Waterford About this time to wit Anno 1098. the Normans having slaine Rees ap Twyde Prince of south-South-Wales they bent their forces against Griffith ap Conan Prince of north-North-Wales by the conduct of Hugh de Montgomerie Earle of Saloppe and Arundell called of the Welchmen Hugh Gough and of Hugh Vras Earle of Chester Griffith the Prince fled to the mountaines and sent for aide into Ireland saith Caradoc where he received cold comfort then to avoid farther mischiefe and treason which hee suspected to have beene wrought against him fled into Ireland In the same season Magnus King of Norway so Stow calleth him the sonne of Olavus the sonne of Harold Harvager came with great forces and subdued the Iles of Orknay with the I le of Man entred into Anglesey incountred with Hugh Earle of Salop who withstood his landing in the which skirmish Hugh the Earle had an arrow shot in his face which pierced his braine of which he died whereupon the Normans retraited Magnus invadeth Ireland saith Saxo Grammaticus and Griffith the Prince of Wales returned to his country and made peace with the Normans and governed the same fiftie yeeres Many things worthy of memory are recorded of this Griffith ap Conan Powell writeth that hee was an Irish man by his mother daughter of the King of Dublin and also by his Grandmother and that hee was borne in Ireland and that he brought over with him out of that country into Wales divers cunning Musitians who devised in manner all the instrumentall musicke upon the Harpe and Crowth that is there used and made lawes of minstrelsee to retaine the Musitians in due order I have not yet done with Magnus the Norwegian of him Camden writeth a worthy storie Magnus saith he caused a fleete to bee in readinesse of an 160. saile and sailed into the Orkeneys the which he forthwith subdued he passed through all the Ilands made them subject unto him and arrived in the I le of Man when hee beheld how pleasant the Iland was he made choice thereof for habitation fortified therein which of him to this day beares his name Hee so hampered the inhabitants of Galloway in Scotland that hee made them bring him timber to his Port for the frame of his fortifications Afterward he sailed to Anglesey in Wales where he met with two Hughs both Earles the one he slue the other he put to flight and made the Iland subiect unto him The Welsh men gave him many gifts and rewards he bade them farewell and so returned to Man He sent to Murchard alias Morogh King of Ireland his shooes commanding him to hang them upon his shoulders upon Christmas day as he passed through his Hall in the sight of his Embassadors that thereby he might understand that he was subject to Magnus the king When the Irish men heard thereof they tooke it in ill part and chafed exceedingly but King Morogh a wise and a sage Prince smiling at the conceit with great modesty and discretion gave this answer I will not onely beare his shooes but I had rather eate them then that King Magnus should destroy any one Province in Ireland Whereupon he fulfilled his command honoured his Ambassadors sent many Presents unto King Magnus and concluded a league The Ambassadors upon their returne related all circumstances gave great report and commendation of the land delivered how pleasant and fruitfull the soile was the temperature of the ayre and how healthfull the dwelling was Magnus hearing this immediately it ranne in his head to conquer all Ireland he commanded a great fleet to be in a readinesse and he himselfe going before with sixteene saile privily to espie and search out the strength of the land and unadvisedly ranging from his shippes was upon a sodaine compassed and hemmed in by the Irishmen and slaine with all in a manner that were with him Thus Magnus is become Minimus in fine hee was buried in Saint Patrickes Church of Downe So farre Camden in substance The British Chronicle writeth how that before this insolent attempt he had procured for his sonne a daughter of King Morogh in marriage and that he made him King of Man but I doe not finde that he enjoyed it Carodoc writeth how that Anno 1101. Robert de Mountgomerie Earle of Salop and Arnulph his brother Earle of Pembroke rebelling against King Henry Robert sent for aide to Magnus but could get none Arnulph sent Gerald of Windesore his Steward to Murchard alias Morogh King of Ireland to desire his daughter in marriage the which hee obtained with promise of great succours which did encourage him the more against the King whereupon Arnulph went with all haste into Ireland for his wife and Irish forces Earle Robert seeing himselfe disappointed sent to the King desiring him that he might forsake the Realme which thing the King granted and he sailed into Normandie Arnulph received message from the King that either he should follow his brother and depart the land or yeeld himselfe to his mercie he chose to forsake the land and fled into Ireland Not long after Owen the sonne of
Cadogan after hee had done great mischiefe and spoile upon the English Normans Flemings and Welsh men fled into Ireland to King Morogh who joyfully received him for he had beene there before returned to Wales and fled thither the second time and in like sort the third time Anno 1113. or thereabout Griffith the sonne of Rees ap Twyder Prince of south-South-Wales who for feare of the King had beene of a childe brought up in Ireland came to Gerald Steward of Pembroke his brother in law and others of his friends to recover his country whom the King by secret policies and practises pursued so that hee was forced to flee againe In the time of King Henry the first I finde that there was great stirre betweene Murchard or Morogh King of Leynster and the Citizens of Dublin for it seemeth that hee used grievous exactions and tyrannies over them so that the Dublinians in revenge of him sent for Godred King of Man and the Ilands so writeth Camden and made him their King Morogh mustereth his country gathereth forces procureth aide marcheth against his enemies pitcheth his campe at the towne of Coridelis sent his brother by the mother side Osibell with three thousand horse well appointed to Dublin where hee was slaine by Godred and by the men of Dublin and the rest discomfited and put to flight Godred found himselfe well satisfied with spoiles and returned to Man they of Dublin likewise thought themselves in some sort reasonably well revenged of their King quitted themselves for a while and by mediation and intercession after many Presents and Gifts were reconciled There was great banquetting and feasting and ioy outward of all sides but inward lay venome and treason like sparkles of fire covered with ashes which broke forth not long after as I am readie to deliver Stanihurst Grace and Dowlinge doe write that the Councell of the Citie determining to establish and decree many good lawes and orders for the publike weale of the towne and commons of the same appointed a solemne day of meeting sent for Morogh their King humbly craving with all loyall circumstances his presence counsaile and assistance among them at the day appointed the which hee granted when the day came and that they had debated many matters the King as he sate merrily in his chaire sporting himselfe and reporting some pleasant historie one suddenly stept unto him and tooke away his weapon the rest came upon him and stabbed him to the death they were not content with this but they cast him into a base grave and in further contempt and dispute of his person they threw a dogge upon him and earth upon them both the which Dermotte his sonne revenged afterwards as shall appeare in processe of the historie About the yeere 1134. after Functius his computation one Harold borne in Ireland so writeth Saxo gathered forces and became the terrour of Norway affirming withall that he was the sonne of Magnus the Dane that invaded Ireland and for truth thereof he would declare it by fire When the time and place was appointed with his bare feet he trode upon a fierie plate and felt no hurt the Norwegians admired and would make him their King which was the roote of many mischiefes in Norway He was a man faire spoken strong hardy and swift of foot and it seemeth after the manner of Ireland that he went much bare so that the soles of his feet were as hard as horne and could not easily take harme by fire by which meanes he deceived the Norwegians Nicholaus King of Denmarke corrupted Magnus of Norway by secret meanes to cut him off Magnus practised with Ericus a Danish Captaine to dispatch him immediately after his Coronation To bee short Ericus came with great forces to Scypetors a Village where Herald was in the night time laid siege to his Pallace and by the breake of day pulled him and his sonnes forth by the head and shoulders and put them to death In the time of Henry 1. King of England flourished Celsus Bishop of Armagh and ended his dayes with the entrance of King Stephen to the Crowne He descended of Noble Parentage in Ireland whom Saint Bernard with others for divers rare and singular gifts highly commendeth he had beene brought up in the Vniversitie of Oxenford where in the liberall sciences and profound literature he excelled others of his time when he perceived by the infirmities of his body that age hastened to an end and that his naturall course was in short time to be finished he desired of them that were present their favours and prayed them to use meanes unto others that were absent and especially unto the two Kings of Mounster so Bernard writeth that Malachias might succeed him in the Bishopricke of Armagh He was a married man and died of great age and lyeth buried with his wife and children in the said Church Malachias in the time of King Stephen succeeded Celsus in the Bishopricke of Armagh whose life Saint Bernard Abbot of Clarevallis Capgrave and Conganus an Abbot of Ireland have written at large He was borne in Ireland amongst barbarous people saith Bernard yet in his birth and native soile hee sucked of them no more barbarousnesse then the Sea fish take of the salt water His Parents for wealth and might were in great account in those dayes he was brought up at Armagh under Imarius the Anachorite where Celsus made him both Deacon and Priest at the age of 25. yeeres from thence with licence of Imarius and of Celsus he went to Malchus Bishop of Lismore in Mounster a man of Irish birth that had beene a Monke sometimes in the Abbey of Winchester in England and from thence advanced to the Bishopricke of Lismore And to make the historie plaine there was at that time great warres betweene Cormacke King of Mounster and his brother for the Soveraignty the brother prevaileth Cormacke fleeth to the Bishop of Lismore and in his distressed estate tooke a Monkes Cell and led a private life Malachias was appointed his Tutor where Cormacke continued untill that a King there adjoyning pittying his miserie gathered forces and restored him to his kingdome Immediately after this Letters came for Malachias in most earnest sort that he should come to Armagh where not farre off an Vncle of his a man of great command a Lord of a country rich and potent that held in his hands all the wasted Monasterie of Benchâ—r alias Bengor dwelled of which Monasterie I have spoken before in the raigne of King Arthure Malachias upon his comming restored these possessions and reedifieth the old Monasterie and appointed one Malchus brother to Christianus Abbot of Melâ—efont governour of the place when Malachius was thirty yeeres of age he was made Bishop of Conor Conorets saith Bernard where hee met by his owne report more then I am willing to lay downe in writing so rude and barbarous a people as worse could not be found upon the face of the earth yet
so much as we have received him unto our protection grace and favour whosoever within our Realmes subiects unto our command will ayde and helpe him whom wee have embraced as our trustie friend for the recovery of his land let him be assured of our favour and licence in that behalfe Dermot returned ioyfully with these letters and came to Bristoll where at that time Richard surnamed Strangbow Eare oâ— Penbroke and Chepstow lay hee shewed his letters caused them at severall times publikely to be read conferred with Earle Richard and concluded to give the Earle his sole daughter and heire in marriage and his whole interest in the kingdome of Leinster after his decease Richard undertooke of the other side to effect all his desire As Dermot wayted for a winde it came in his minde for the shorter cut into Ireland to goe by land into Saint Davids where he was refreshed and greatly pittied by the Bishop there and concluded in like sort as with the Earle before with Robert fitz Stephens and Moris Fitz Gerald by the mediation of the good Bishop there to restore him unto his kingdome upon condition that hee should give them and theirs for ever the towne of Wexford and two cantreds of land next adjoyning upon this hee tooke shipping secretly came to Fernes and lived privately among the Clergie all that winter expecting performance of promises out of England Anno 1170. Abbatia de Castro Dei was founded in the same yeere and the first day of May so writeth Stow Robert Fitz Stephens with David Barrie and Hervie de Monte Mariscospie of Strangbow his nephew according to his promise with thirty Knights threescore Esquires well mounted and three hundred foot being Archers well appointed of his owne kindred and trayning up in feates of armes and the choice souldiers of all Wales landed at the Bann not farre from Wexford hereupon the rime runneth At the Creeke of Bagganbun Ireland was lost and wonne Here some allude unto the blinde Prophecie of Merlin that hee should meane this noble Warrior and worthy Knight where he saith A Knight biparted shall first enter with force of Armes and breake the bounds of Ireland this they would have understood of Robert Fitz Stephens an English man borne in Normandie and of Nesta his mother daughter to Râ—es ap Tuyder Prince of South Wales so I finde in Cambrensis but if Merlin had foresight in this I had rather take his Prophecie verified in respect of his Armes and Ensignes which were biparted being of two sundry changes namely party par pale gules and ermine a saltier counterchanged for commonly all Prophecies have their allusions unto Armes and by them they are discovered though at the first not so apparant before the event thereof take place The next day after in the same place landed Morice Prendergast whom Stanihurst calleth Prendelgast de Rofensi Walliae Demetiae Provinciâ as Cambrensis writeth the which I take to be about Milford in South-Wales accompanied with ten Knights and a great number of Archers in most gallant sort in two ships Immediately Robert Fitz Stephens directeth his letters to Dermot who could scarce reade them for joy of their arrivall and sent forthwith his base sonne Donald with five hundred men to salute them and hasteneth after himselfe with all speed off goeth his poore mantle wherein hee obscurely shrowded himselfe on goeth his princely attire the Irish men follow him the fame thereof is spread over the whole land such as before in his distressed state flatly forsooke him now runne and flatter and fawne upon him to be short they meete they confirme the former leagues with oathes and ioyne forces together and they march towards Wexford to lay siege to the towne the townesmen a fierce wilfull people to the number of 2000. sally forth with full purpose to give them battaile in the field but when they heard the Trumpets sound the horses neyghing and beheld their glittering Armes the ratling of their furniture horse and men in compleat Armes and all most comely in battaile array the like of them not formerly seene neither heard of they alter their mindes they retire into the towne they make fast their gates and fire the suburbs Fitz Stephens came to the wals filled the trenches with armed men and appointed his Archers to levell at the wals and turrets if occasion were offered the townesmen manfully defended themselves threw over the wals great stones and pieces of timber hurt many and made them voyd the place among whom a couragious Knight called David Barrye adventured to scale the walles but with a great stone which fell upon his head-piece he was cast downe to the ditch and carried away by his fellowes with safeguard of his life upon this they goe to the sea strand and fired all the ships and vessels which they found there The next day after upon better advice and deliberation they approach unto the wals and gave a new assault the townesmen within beganne to distrust their state being upon this sudden arrivall of the strangers not sufficiently provided of men munition and victuals to encounter with them and remembring againe how most unnaturally they had rebelled against their Prince and Soveraigne they sent messengers to Dermot to intreate for peace alas it was farre from the heart the which was granted and tooke of them pledges and hostages for the performance thereof Lastly Mac Moragh according to his former promise gratified these first adventures hee gave unto Robert Fitz Stephens and Morrice Fitz Gerrald who was as yet in England the towne of Wexford and the territories thereunto adioyning and unto Hervie de Monte Morisco two cantreds on the sea side betwixt Wexford and Waterford Dermot Mac Moroch and his company now take heart they encrease their Army with Wexford men and become 3000. strong The next iourney they bend their course towards Ossory where one Donald or Mac Donell was Prince whom Dermot hated deadly and for this cause Donald suspected Dermots sonne and heire to have much familiaritie with his wife and therefore in his jealous humour apprehended him imprisoned him and pulled out both his eyes but say they though sight failed him his feeling did not for she loved him the more in so much that she satisfied his lust and ranne away after him When Robert Fitz Stephens and the Gallants of Britaine entred the country they found neither dastards nor cowards but valiant men with horse and foot they found the country fast with woods bogges and paces trenched and plashed yet the valour of the adventurers was such presuming upon former fortunes to have the like future successes with loose wings drove them out of the woods and bogges into the plaine and champion land where the horsemen with their speares overthrew them and the foote finding them groveling runne them thorow and ended their dayes the Gallowglasses followed and cut off their heads And here Dermot Mac Morogh is mightily condemned he being originally for exaction
the same Sixtly that all and every good Christian being sicke and weake shall before the Priest and his neighbours make his last Will and Testament and his debts and servants wages being paid all his moveables to be divided if he have any children into three parts whereof one part to be to the Children another to his Wife and the third part to be for the performing of his Will and if so be that hee have no children then the goods to be divided into two parts whereof the one moytie to be to his Wife and the other to the performance of his Will and Testament And if he have no Wife but onely Children then likewise the goods to be divided into two parts whereof the one to himselfe and the other to his children Seventhly that every Christian dying in the Catholike faith shall be reverently brought to the Church and to bee buried as appertaineth Eightly and lastly that all the divine Service in the Church of Ireland shall be kept used and observed in the like order and manner as it is in the Church of England for it is meet and right that as by Gods providence and appointment Ireland is become now subject and under the King of England so the same should take from thence the order and rule and manner how to reforme themselves and to live in better sort Gelasius Primate of Armagh was not at this Synod but at his comming to Dublin hee concurred with his Collegues and confirmed the premises He was a man of great learning godly life and great age when by reason of age sight and strength and stomacke failed him as he travailed he had with him alwaies a white Cow that gave him milke and was his onely sustentation Gilbert succeeded this Gelasius in that See The Antiquaries of that time have recorded that the winter during the Kings abode in Ireland there rose such stormes and tempest by sea and by land that no newes could be heard either out of England or Normandie neither Shippe or Barke crosse the seas untill mid-Lent at what time with an easterly winde there came out of England and Aquitaine in France newes unto the King how that there came into Normandy in France two Cardinals from Alexander the third to wit Albertus and Theodinus to enquire of the death of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury Whereupon the King sent in post before him to signifie that he was returning with all speede and that he would conferre with them in Normandie And leaving Ireland hee was very sorry that time and leisure served not to lay things in better order for the stay of the land And also suspecting the greatnesse of Richard Earle Strangbow whom at that time he tooke with him into England hee appointed to governe Dublin Hugh de Lacy to whom he had given in Fee the territorie of Meth with twenty Gentlemen to his Guard Robert Fitz Stephens and Morice Fitz Girald with twenty others to attend their persons Likewise he left Governours over Waterford Humfrey de Bohune Robert Fitz Bernard and Hugh de Graunt devil with forty persons to their guard Lastly hee assigned over Wexford William Fitz Adelme Philip de Bruesa and Philip de Hastings with twenty to their guard and tooke shipping at Wexford Munday in Easter weeke by sixe a clocke in the morning with full saile and landed the same day about noone at Saint Davids in Wales so writeth Cambrensis in his vaticinall historie and in his Itinerarie of Cambria What time the King was in Ireland there fell a great plague in his army which was some cause of his departure from Dublin to Wexford Cambrensis out of the mouth of the common people attributeth it unto certaine Archers cessed at Finglas that cut downe the trees of the Church-yard and therefore were they iustly punished and left their bones there every one but the British Chronicle and Holinshed also more likely to be true affirmeth that there fell a plague among the Kings souldiers in Ireland by reason of the change of the ayre and victuals and concourse of people corrupting the same The names of the men of account orderly as they came to the conquest of Ireland Dermot Mac Morogh Prince of Leinster after his returne out of England wintred at Fernes expecting the comming of these Conquerours Robert Fitz Stephens the Kings Constable at Abertivy David Barry Hervie de Monte Marisco married Nesta daughter to Maurice Fitz Girald Williâ— Nott. Maurice Prendregast Meilerus Maurice Fitz Girald Reimond le Grosse nephew to Robert Fitz Stephens married with Basilia the sister of Earle Strangbow William Ferrand Richard Strangbow Earle of Penbroke Miles Cogan brethren nephewes to Robert Fitz Stephens and Maurice Fitz Girald Richard Cogan brethren nephewes to Robert Fitz Stephens and Maurice Fitz Girald Henry 2. King of England c. Hugh de Lacy. William Fitz Adelme Raffe Abbot of Bulldewa in Normandie Raffe Archdeacon of Landaff Nicholas the Kings Chaplaine Humphrey de Bohune Robert Fitz Bernard Hugh de Grandevilla Philip de Brensa Philip de Hastings Silvester Giraldus Barry Cambrensis Iohn Ridensford Girald the two sonnes of Maurice Fitz Girald Alexander the two sonnes of Maurice Fitz Girald William Makrell Philip Mercrâ—s William Morice Fitz Girald his eldest sonne married with Elen sister to Earle Strangbow Griffin the sonne of William Fitz Girald the elder brother Philip Welsh Adam Herford brethren ...... Herford brethren ...... Purcell Lievetenant of the Army slaine by the Waterfordians Nich. Wallingford a Prior afterwards Abbot of Malmesburie David Welsh nephew to Reimund Ieffrey Welsh Reimund of Kantan Reimund Fitz Hugh Milo of Saint David Robert Poer Osbert of Hertford Willin Bendâ—ger Adam of Gernemie Hugh Tirell Iohn de Courcey Hugh Cantwell Redmond Cantimore Alliance of the chiefe Conquerours of Ireland Nesta the daughter of Rees ap Tuyder Prince of south-South-Wales Loved Henry the first King of England father to Henry father to Henry Fitz Henry Meiler Fitz Henry Robert Fitz Henry was maried twice 1 Steven Custos castri Abertivi Robert Fitz SteveÌ„ Rafe Meredâ—calâ—as Meredith Milo 2 Gerald of Windsor WilliaÌ„ Fitz Girald who had issue Reimund le Grosse who married Basilia Strangbowes Sister Griffeth Maurice Fitz Girald William married Ellen Sister to Strangbow Camb. or by others Alma Daughter of Strangbow Girald Alexander Nesta married to Hervie de monte Marisco Milo or Miles David Bishop of Saint Davids Not long after the Kings departure out of Ireland Ororic of Meth craved a parlee with Hughe Delacy pretending reformation of abuses and establishing of perfect love and amity but meant nothing else saving falshood treason and villany the place being appointed Cambrensis calleth it Ororics Hill I take it to be the Hill of Taragh and oathes taken of each side with conditions that all armes should be laid aside and few persons approach to the place Ororic contrary to the covenants laid an ambush that upon a signe or token given by him they should forth
with issue out of the bushes and ditches and effect his traiterous devices The night before the parly Griffith the nephew of Robert and Morice being the sonne of William the elder brother dreamed in his sleepe that he saw a great heard of wild hogges rush upon Hugh Delacy and his uncle Maurice and that one of them being more furious and raging then the rest had rent them with his tuskes and tore them in pieces if he had not with his force rescued them and killed the Bore this dreame troubled him exceedingly wherewith he acquainted his company and made him and the rest be the more upon their keeping to prevent treachery The houre of parlee came they met and confered together Griffith not forgetting his dreame made choice of seven tall men of his owne kindred in whom he reposed great trust and confidence well mounted with swords sparthes and sheilds raunged the fields as nigh the Hill as they might and made sundry Carreers and brave Turnaments under pretence of recreation and pleasant pastime yet alwaies casting an eye to the Hill to see the end of this parlee Hughe Delacy and Ororic being somewhat long together Ororic to worke his treason stept aside faining to make water upon the signe he gave his men brought him his horse and sparth the which he taking upon his shoulder ment therewith to have cloven Hughe Delacy his head if the interpreter had not stept betweene whose arme was cleane cut off and himselfe wounded to the death Maurice Fitz Girald and Griffith his nephew rush in the traitours of the one side the true men of the other are together by the eares when Ororic the traitor tooke horse to runne away Griffith with his launce runne him through and killed him and his horse and three of his men cut off his head and sent it to the King of England this was the end of Orirics treason and the effect of Griffiths dreame Immediatly upon this Earle Richard being formerly upon reconciliation made with the King appointed Seneschall of Ireland is now sent out of Normandy by especially commission from the King with Reimondle grosse his brother in Law in joint commission to governe the whole land to be his Lieutenant in Ireland where he found the Irish saith Cambrensis constant in inconstancy firme in wavering and faithfull in untruthes he found emulation betweene Hervy and Reimond and the Army in a mutiny for lacke of pay at Herveies hands whereupon he made Reimond Lievetenant of the forces Reimond immediatly mustred his men drew them forth to the Decies among the Rebels where they preyed and spoiled Secondly they marched to Lismore where they did the like Lastly along the Sea cost they goe with their booties preyes and rich pillage towards Waterford and finding at Dunganan some thirteene botes out of Waterford and other places they lade them with their preys intending by water to saile for Waterford while they waited for wind Corke men envyed their successe prepared 32. Barks manned and furnished them out out of their Towne to overthrow Reimond and the English men and to recover the preyes they met they fought cruelly Corke men are overthrowne and their Captain Gilbert Mac Turger was slaine by a valiant Knight Philip Welsh and finally Adam Herford with all his charge safely arrived in Waterford Reimond was not at this skirmish but by the way he met with Dermot Mac Corty Prince of Desmond who with great power was come to the aid of the men of Corke They likewise skrimished and fell to a cruell fight where Dermot forsooke the field with small credit and Reimond went to Waterford with foure thousand head of cattell Immediatly upon this newes came out of England unto Reimond that William Fitz Girald his father was departed this life whereupon he sailed to Wales and Hervey De monte Marisco was appointed by the Earle Lieutenant of the forces This Hervey to advance his credit purposed to worke some exploits and drew out of Dublin the Earle to Cashil there also after consultation by mandat from the Earle he appointed the Souldiers that were at Dublin to meet him When they came as farre as Ossorie Donald Prince of Limirik having by his espials before hand intelligence thereof stole upon them in the morning slue of them foure Knights whereof O Grame an Irish man was one and foure hundred souldiers with this the Earle was discouraged and went to Waterford the Irish gathered heart and determined to roote out al the Englishmen So that Roderic Prince of Conoght tooke this opportunity passed the Shannan and wasted all to the walles of Dublin The Earle being in this perplexity wrote unto Reimond that was in Wales As soone as you have read those our letters make all the haste you can to come away and bring with you all the helpe and force you can make and then according to your own will and desire you shall assuredly enjoy that which you long looked for Immediatly he prepared himselfe together with his cousin Meilerius shipped 30. young Gentlemen of his own kindred 100. horsemen with 300. archers foot of the best chosen men of all Wales and in 20. Barkes arrived in Waterford It was at such time as the Waterford men had determined to kill every English man within the walles but when they saw the Barkes come in with flags and banners displaid they were astonied and staid their course Reimond entreth the towne of Wexford setteth all in order taketh the Earle with him and all their forces and went to Wexford hee had left behinde him one Purcell his Lievetenant to guard the town whom the Waterfordians slue and put to the sword of English birth man woman and childe but such as had fled to Reynolds towre plagued them sore afterwards drove them to intreate for peace the which they obtained with hard conditions And saith the booke of Houth the Waterfordians were ever after the lesse beleeved For all the troubles in England and Normandie and these treasons and rebellions in Ireland the King was not unmindefull to quiet the people and to establish himselfe and his heires in the kingdome first he sent Embassadors to Rome to cleere himselfe of the death of Thomas of Canterbury secondly he sent messengers thither concerning the state of Ireland whereunto Alexander the third answered as followeth Alexander the Bishop the servant of the servants of God to his dearely beloved sonne the Noble King of England greeting grace and Apostolike benediction Forasmuch as things given and granted upon good reason by our predecessors are to be well allowed of ratified and confirmed wee well considering and pondering the graunt and priviledge for and concerning the dominion of the land of Ireland to us appertaining and lately given by Adrian our predecessor we following his steps doe in like manner confirme ratifie and allow the same reserving and saving to Saint Peter and to the Church of Rome the yeerely pension of one penny out of every house