King whom the said Peeres met at Rotcotebridge and slue Thomas Molleners and spoyled the rest neverthelesse the Duke of Ireland escaped But in the same yeere on the morrow after Candlemas day a Parliament beganne at London in which were adjudged the Archbishop of Yorke the Duke of Ireland the Earle of Suffolke c. Anno 1388. foure Lord Iustices of England were banished into Ireland by a decree of the Parliament and it was not lawfull for them either to make lawes or to give counsell upon paine of the sentence of death Anno 1390. Robert de Wikeford Archbishop of Dublin departed this life and the same yeere was Robert Waldebie translated unto the Archbishopricke of Dublin being an Augustine Fryer Anno 1394. and in the seaventeenth yeere of King Richard the second died Anne Queene of England and the same yeere about Michaelmas the King crossed the seas over into Ireland and landed at Waterford the second day of the moneth of October and went back about Shrovetide Anno 1397. Fryer Richard de Northalis of the order of the Carmelites was translated to the Archbishopricke of Dublin and died the same yeere Also the same yeere Thomas de Craulie was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin And Sir Thomas Burgh and Sir Walter Birningham slue sixe hundred Irish men with their Captaine Macdowne Moreover Edmund Earle of March Lord lievetenant of Ireland with the aide of the Earle of Ormond wasted Obren's country and at the winning of his chiefe house hee made seaven Knights to wit Sir Christopher Preston Sir Iohn Bedlow Sir Edmund Loundres Sir Iohn Loundres Sir William Nugent Walter de la Hide and Robert Cadell Anno 1398. and in the two and twentieth of King Richard the second on Ascention day the Tothillis slue forty English men Among whom these were accounted as principall Iohn Fitz Williams Thomas Talbot and Thomas Comyn The same yeere upon Saint Margarets day Edmund Earle of March the Kings lievetenant was slaine with divers other by Obren and other Irishmen of Leinster at Kenlis in Leinster Then was Roger Greye elected Lord Iustice of Ireland The same yeere on the feast day of Saint Marke the Pope and Confessor came to Dublin the Noble Duke of Surrey the Kings lievetenant in Ireland and with him came Thomas Crauly Archbishop of Dublin Anno 1399. and of King Richard the three and twentieth on Sunday being the morrow after Saint Petronilla the Virgins day the illustrious King Richard landed at Waterford with two hundred shippes and the Friday after at Ford in Kenlis in the Countie of Kildare there were slaine two hundred Irish men by Ienicho and other English men and the morrow after the Citizens of Dublin brake into Obrens country slue three and thirty of the Irish and tooke fourescore men women and children The same yeere King Richard came to Dublin upon the fourth Kalends of Iuly where hee was advertized of the comming of Henry Duke of Lancaster into England whereupon he also speedily went over into England and a little while after the same King was taken prisoner by the said Henry and brought to London and there a Parliament was holden the morrow after Michaelmas day in which King Richard was deposed from his kingdome and the said Henry Duke of Lancaster was crowned King of England on the feast day of Saint Edward the Confessor Anno 1400. and in the first yeere of the raigne of King Henry the fourth at Whitsontide the Constable of Dublin Castle and divers others at Stranford in Vlster fought at Sea with the Scots where many Englishmen were slaine and drowned The same yeere on the feast of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary King Henry with a great army entred Scotland and there he was advertized that Owen Glendor with the Welsh men had taken armes against him for which cause he hastened his iourney into Wales Anno 1401. in the second yeere of King Henry the fourth Sir Iohn Stanley the kings Lievetenant in the moneth of May went over into England leaving in his roome Sir William Stanley The same yeere on Bartholomew Eeven arrived in Ireland Stephen Scroope Lievetenant unto the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the kings Lievetenant of Ireland The same yeere on Saint Brices day the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the kings Sonne and Lord Lievetenant of Ireland arrived at Dublin Anno 1402. on the fift Ides of Iuly was the dedication of the Church of the Fryers Preachers in Dublin by the Archbishop of Dublin And the same day the Maior of Dublin namely Iohn Drake with the citizens and townesmen neere to Bre slue of the Irish foure hundred ninety three being all men of warre The same yeere in September a Parliament was held at Dublin during the which in Vrgile Sir Bartholomew Verdon knight Iames White Stephen Gernond and their complies slue Iohn Dowdall Sheriffe of Lowth Anno 1403. in the fourth yeere of king Henry in the moneth of May Sir Walter Betterley Steward of Vlster a right valiant knight was slaine and to the number of thirty other with him The same yeere on Saint Maâ—dlins Eeven neere unto Shrewesbury a battell was fought betweene king Henry and Henry Percy and Thomas Percy then Earle of Worcester which Percyes were slaine and on both sides there were sixe thousand and more slaine in the battaile The same yeere about Martlemas the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the kings Sonne went over into England leaving Stephen Scroope his Deputy there who also in the beginning of Lent sayled over into England and then the Lords of the land chose the Earle of Ormond to be Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1404. in the fift yeere of king Henry Iohn Colton Archbishop of Armagh departed this life upon the fift of May unto whom Nicholas Flemming succeeded The same yeere on the day of Saint Vitall the Martyr the Parliament began at Dublin before the Earle of Ormond then Lord Iustice of Ireland where the Statutes of Kilkenny and Dublin were confirmed and likewise the Charter of Ireland The same yeere Patricke Savage was treacherously slaine in Vlster by Mac Kilmori and his brother Richard was given for a pledge who was murthered in the prison after hee had paid two thousand markes The same yeere upon Martilmas day deceased Nicholas Houth Lord of Houth a man of singular honesty Anno 1405. in the sixt yeere of King Henry in the moneth of May three Scottish Barkes were taken two at Greenecastle and one at Dalkay with Captaine Thomas Macgolagh The same yeere the Merchants of Droghedah entred Scotland and tooke pledges and preyes The same yeere on the Eeven of the feast day of the seaven brethren Oghgard was burnt by the Irish. The same yeere in the moneth of Iune Stephen Scroope crossed the seas over into England leaving the Earle of Ormond Lord Iustice of Ireland The same yeere in the moneth of Iune they of Dublin entred Scotland at Saint Ninian and valiantly behaved themselves and afterward they entred Wales and there did much
hurt to the Welch men and brought away the shrine of Saint Cubius and placed it in the Church of the holy Trinitie in Dublin The same yeere on the Eeven of the feast of the blessed Virgin Iames Butler Earle of Ormond dyed at Raligauran whose death was much lamented whilest hee was Lord Iustice of Ireland unto whom succeeded Girald Earle of Kildare Anno 1406. in the seaventh yeere of King Henry on Corpus Christi day the citizens of Dublin with the country people about them manfully vanquished the Irish enemies and slue divers of them and tooke two Ensignes bringing with them to Dublin the heads of those whom they had slaine The same yeere the Prior of Conall in the Plaine of Kildare fought valiantly and vanquished two hundred of the Irish that were well armed slaying some of them and chasing others and the Pryor had not with him but twenty English men and thus God assisteth those that put their trust in him The same yeere after Michaelmas came into Ireland Scroope Deputie Iustice to the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the Kings Sonne Lord Lievetenant of Ireland The same yeere dyed Innocent the seaventh to whom succeeded Gregorie in the Popedome The same yeere a Parliament was holden at Dublin on the feast of Saint Hillary which in Lent after was ended at Trym and Meiler Birmingham slue Cathole O Conghir in the end of Frebruary and there dyed Sir Ieffery Vaulx a Noble Knight in the Countie of Carlogh Anno 1407. a certaine most false fellow an Irish man named Mac Adam Mac Gilmori that had caused forty Churches to be destroyed who was never baptized and therefore hee was called Corbi tooke prisoner Patricke Savage and received for his ransome two thousand markes and afterwards slue him together with his Brother Richard The same yeere in the feast of the exaltation of the holy Crosse Stephen Scroope Deputy to the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the Kings sonne Lord Lievtenant of Ireland with the Earles of Ormond and Desmond and the Prior of Kilmainan and divers other Captaines and men of warre of Meath set from Dublin and invaded the land of Mac Murch where the Irish had the better part of the field for the former part of the day but afterwards they were valiantly rescued by the said Captaines so that Onolad with his sonne and divers others were taken prisoners But then and there being advertised that the Burkens and Okeroll in the County of Kilkenny had for the space of two dayes together done much mischiefe they rode with all speed unto the Towne of Callan and there encountring with the adversasaries manfully put them to flight slue Okeroll and eight hundred others and it was averred by many that the Sunne stoodstill for a space that day till the Englishmen had ridden 6. miles which was much to be wondred at The same yeere Stephen Scrope went over into England and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond was elected by the Country L. I. of Ireland The same yeere in England neere unto Yorke was slaine Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolf and the Bishop of Bangor were taken prisoners Anno 1408. The said Lord Iustice held a Parliament at Dublin in which the Statutes of Kilkenny and Dublin were established and the Charter granted under the grear Seale of England against Purveiors The same yeere the morrow after Lammas day the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the Kings sonne Lord Lievtenant of Ireland landed at Carlingford and in the weeke following he came unto Dublin and arrested the Earle of Kildare comming to him with three of his familie hee lost all his goods being spoiled and rifled by the Lord Lievtenant his servants and himselfe kept still in the Castle of Dublin till he had paid three hundred markes fine The same yeere on the day of Saint Marcell the Martyr the L. Stephen Scrope died at Tristledermot The same yeere the said L. Thomas of Lancaster at Kilmainan was wounded and hardly escaped death and after caused summons to be given by Proclamation that all such as ought by their tenures to serve the King should assemble at Rosse and after the Feast of Saint Hillary he held a Parliament at Kilkenny for a tallage to be granted and after the 13. of March he went over into England leaving the Prior of Kilmainan his Deputy in Ireland This yeere Hugh Mac Gilmore was slaine in Cragfergus within the Church of the Fryers Minors which Church hee had before destroyed and broken downe the Glasse-windowes to have the Iron barres through which his enemies the Savages entred upon him Anno 1409. Of King Henry the fourth in Iune Ianico de Artois with the Englishmen slue fourescore of the Irish in Vlster The same yeere on the day of Saint Iohn and Paul Alexander the fifth of the Order of Fryers Minors was consecrated Pope and Pope Gregory and Antipope Clemens were condēned for heretickes and by these meanes unity was made in the Church The same yeere a heretick or Lollard of London was burned because he did not beleeve in the sacrament of the altar Anno 1410. Pope Alexander died on the day of the Apostles Philippe and Iacob at Bononia to whom succeeded Iohn the XXIII Anno 1411. On Thursday before Septuagesima marriage was celebrated betwixt William Preston and the daughter of Edward Paris and on Saint Valentines even and day marriages were celebrated between Iohn Wogan and the daughter of Christopher Preston and Walter de la Hide and the second daughter of the same Christopher with a great deale of charges Anno 1412. About the feast of Tiburtius and Valerianus Oconthird did much mischiefe in Meath and tooke a hundred and three score Englishmen The same yeere Odoles a Knight and Thomas Fitz Maurice Sherife of Limerick slue each other The same yeere on the nineth Kalends of Iune there died Robert Mountaine Bishop of Meath to whom succeeded Edward Dandisey sometimes Archdeacon of Cornward The same yeere in Harvest the Lord Thomas of Lancester Duke of Clarence went over into France and with him went the Duke of Yorke the Earle of Ormond and Green-Cornwall with many others The same yeere on Saint Cutberts day King Henry the fourth departed this life To whom succeeded Henry the fifth his eldest sonne Anno 1413. On the fifth Ides of Aprill namely the first Sunday of the Passion of our Lord A. being the Dominicall letter Henry the fifth was crowned King of England at Westminster The same yeere on the first of October there landed in Ireland at Clontarf Iohn Stanley the Kings Lievtenant in Ireland he departed this life the 18. of Ianuary The same yeere after the death of Iohn Stanly Lievtenant Thomas Crawly Archbishop of Dublin was chosen Lord Iustice of Ireland on the 11. Kalends of February the morrow after Saint Mathias day a Parliament began at Dublin and continued for the space of 15. daies In which time the Irish burned all that stood in their way as their usuall custome was in times
calmenesse Anno 1327. Donald sonne to Art Mac Morch and Sir Henry Traharne were taken prisoners Anno 1328. Deceased the Lord Thomas Fitz Iohn Earle of Kildare and the Lord Arnold Power and William Earle of Vlster came into Ireland Anno 1329. Iohn Brimingham Earle of Lowth and Peter his brother with many other were slaine on Whitsun even at Balibragan by the men of the Country Also the Lord Thomas Butler and divers other Noble men were slaine by Macgohegan and other Irishmen neere to Molingar Anno 1330. There died Sir Richard Deicetir Also the Earle of Vlster went with a great Army into Mounster upon Obren Also the Prior of the Hospitall then Lord Iustice put the Lord Maurice Fitz Thomas Earle of Desmond into the custody of the Marshall out of the which hee freely escaped And Sir Hugh de Lacy returned into Ireland and obteined peace of the King Anno 1331. The Earle of Vlster went into England and great slaugher was made upon the Irish in O kenslie also the Castle of Arclow was taken by the Irish and great slaughter made of the English ni the Cowlagh by Otothell where Sir Philip Bryt and many others were slaine and the Lord Anthony Lacy came over Lord Iustice of Ireland and great slaugter was made of the Irish at Thurles by the men of the Country and at Finnath in Meath there were many of them slaine by the English also the Castle of Fernis was taken and burned by the Irish also Maurice Fitz Thomas Earle of Desmond was apprehended at Limerick by the Lord Iustice upon the day of the Assumption and sent unto the Castle of Dublin Moreover the Lord Iustice tooke Sir William Birmingham and Walter his sonne at Clomell by a wile whilest hee was sick in his bed and sent them likewise unto the Castle of Dublin on the 19. day of Aprill Anno 1332. Sir William Birmingham was hanged at Dublin but Walter his sonne was delivered by reason hee was within orders Also the Castle of Clonmore was taken by the English and the Castle of Bonrath was destroyed by the Irish of Thomond also Henry Mandevill was sent prisoner to Dublin likewise Walter Burgh with two of his brethren were taken in Conaght by the Earle of Vlster and sent to the Castle of Norburgh also the said Lord Iustice was deposed by the King and went into England with his wife and children and Iohn Darcy was made Lord Iustice and great slaughter was made upon Bren Obren and Mac Carthy in Munster by the English of that Country Anno 1333. The Earle of Desmond by the Parliament held at Dublin was sent over into England unto the King and VVilliam Earle of Vlster in going toward Knock fergus upon the seventh day of Iune was treacherously slaine neere to the foords in Vlster by his owne people but his wife with his daughter and heire escaped into England which daughter was married unto the Lord Lionell the Kings sonne and afterward died at Dublin and had a daughter and heire which was afterward married unto Roger Mortimer Earle of March and Lord of Trim And to revenge the death of the said Earle the Lord Iustice of Ireland with a great Army went into Vlster But before that hee came thither the men of that Country had done the revenge and the Lord Iustice with his Army went into Scotland to the King of England because at that time hee was there in warre and hee left the Lord Thomas Burgh his Lievtenant in Ireland also on Saint Margarets Eve great slaughter was made in Scotland by the Irish and so what by the King in one part and the Lord Iustice in another Scotland was Conquered and Edward Balioll was established King of Scotland and Iohn Darcy came back Lord Iustice of Ireland and delivered VValter Birmingham out of the Castle of Dublin Anno 1336. On Saint Laurence day the Irish of Conaght were discomfited and put to flight by the English of the Country there and there were slaine tenne thousand and one Englishman Anno 1342. And in the sixteenth of King Edward the 3. Pope Benedict deceased Clement the sixth succeeded a man truly of great learning but exceeding prodigall so that hee would bestow upon his Cardinals Church livings in England when they were vacant and would goe about to impose new titles for them For which cause the King of England about the yeere 1344. disannulled the provisions so made by the Pope interdicting upon paine of imprisonment and death that none should bring any of them Anno 1348. There was great mortality in all places especially in and about the Court of Rome Avinion and about the sea coastes of England and Ireland Anno 1349. Deceased Alexander Bignor upon the foureteenth day of Iuly and the same yeere was Iohn de Saint Paul consecrated Archbishop of Dublin Anno 1355. Died Maurice Fitz Thomas Earle of Desmond L. Iustice of Ireland Anno 1356. Deceased the Lord Thomas de Rokesbie L. Iustice of Ireland Anno 1357. Began great variance betwixt Master Richard Fitz Ralphe Primat of Ardmagh and the foure Orders of begging Fryers Anno 1360. Deceaded Richard Archbishop of Ardmagh upon the seventeenth day of the Kalends of December in the Popes Court and Richard Kilminton dyed in England therefore the controversie ceased betwixt the Clergie and the orders of begging Fryers Anno 1361 and in the thirty fourth yeere of K. Edward the third about Easter began a great mortalitie of men consuming many men but few women in England and Ireland Also the same yeere the Lord Lionell Sonne to King Edward the third Duke of Clarence came over the Kings lievetenant into Ireland Anno 1362. deceased Iohn de Saint Paule Archbishop of Dublin on the fift day before the Ides of September Anno 1363. Thomas Minot was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin Anno 1369. the Lord William Windsor came over the Kings Lievetenant in Ireland Anno 1370. there was a third great Pestilence in Ireland And the Lord Gerald Fitz Maurice Earle of Desmond and the Lord Iohn Fitz Richard and the Lord Iohn Fitz Iohn and many other Noble men were taken prisoners and many others were slaine by Obren and Maccoinnard of Thomond in the moneth of Iuly Anno 1372 Sir Robert Asheton came over Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1373. there was great warre betwixt the English of Meth and Offerolle in which warre many upon both sides were slaine Anno 1375. Thomas Archbishop of Dublin departed this life and the same yeere was Richard de Wikeford consecrated Archbishop there Anno 1381 Edmund Mortimer the Kings Lievetenant in Ireland Earle of March and Vlster dyet at Coâ—ke Anno 1383. the fourth great Pestilence was in Ireland Anno 1385. Dublin Bridge fell Anno 1387. about Martilmas the Peeres of England rose against those that were of the side of King Richard the second but Robert Veer Duke of Ireland came over to Chester and got together many men and put them in array to march backe toward the
of other Parliaments whereuppon a tallage was demaunded but not granted Anno 1414. The English slue of the Irish of the Omordris and Odemsis neer to Kilka Thomas Crawly Archbishop of Dublin then Lord Iustice of Ireland in Tristledermot praying in Procession with his Clergy and his men with the helpe of those of the Country slue one hundred of the Irish enemies In the feast of Saint Gordian and Epimachus the English of Meath were discomfited and there Thomas Manrevard Baron of Skrine was slaine and Christopher Flemnig and Iohn Dardis taken prisoners and many others were slaine by Oconthir and the Irish. On Saint Martins Eve Sir Iohn Talbot Lord Furnivall the Kings Lievtenant in Ireland landed at Dalkey Anno 1415 In the moneth of November a right noble man that walled the suburbs of Kilkenny departed this life and after Hallonide Fryer Patricke Baret Bishop of Fernes a Canon of Kenlis dyed and was buried there Anno 1416. On the feast day of Saint Gervasius and Prothasius the Lord Furnivall Lord Iustice of Ireland had a sonne borne at Finglasse about this time Stephen Flemming Archbishop of Armagh a venerable man died after whom succeeded Iohn Suaing And the same time dyed the Lord and Fryer Adam Leins of the Order of the Preaching Fryers Bishop of Ardmagh On the day of Saint Laurence the Martyr the Lord Furnivals sonne Thomas Talbot that was borne at Finglasse departed this life and was buried in the Quire of the Fryers Preachers Church in Dublin About the same time the Irish fell upon the Englishmen and slue many of them among whom Thomas Balimore of Baliquelan was one The Parliament which the last yeere had beene called and holden at Dublin was this yeere removed to Trim and there began the 11. of May where it continued for the space of 11. dayes in the which was granted unto the L.L. a subsidy of foure hundred markes Anno 1417. Vpon May Eve Thomas Granly Archbishop of Dublin went over into England and deceased at Faringdon but his body was buried in the New Colledge at Oxford This man is greatly praised for his liberality he was a good almes-man a great Clerk a Doctor of Divinity an excellent Preacher a great builder beautifull courteous of a sanguine complexion and of a tall stature in somuch as in his time it might be said unto him Thou art fairer then the sons of men grace and eloquence proceeded from thy lips He was 80. yeeres of age when he died and had governed the Church of Dublin almost 20. yeeres in great quiet Anno 1418. The Annunciation of our Lady was in Easter weeke and shortly after the Lord Deputy spoiled the tenants of Henry Crus and Henry Bethat also at Slane upon the feast day of S. Iohn and S. Paul the Earle of Kildare Sir Christopher Preston and Sir Iohn Bedlow were arrested and committed to ward within the Castle of Trim because they sought to commune with the Prior of Kilmaynan Vpon the 29. of Iune Mathew Husseil Baron of Galtrim deceased and was buried in the Covent of the Fryers Preachers of Trim. Anno 1419. upon the eleventh of May dayed Edmund Brel sometime Major of Dublin and was buried at the Fryers Preachers of the same City A Royall Councell was holden at the Naas where were granted unto the Lord Lievtenant 300. markes At the same time died Sir Iohn Loundres Knight The same yeere upon Cene thursday Othoill tooke fowre hundred Cowes belonging unto Balimore breaking the peace contrary to his oath The fourth Ides of May Mac Morthe chiefe Captaine of his Nation and of all the Irish in Leinster was taken prisoner And the same day was Sir Hugh Cokesey made Knight The last of May the Lord Lievtenant and the Archbishop of Dublin with the Major rased the Castle of Kenini The morrow after the feast of Processus and Martinianus the Lord William de Burgh and other Englishmen slue five hundred of the Irish and tooke Okelly On the feast day of Mary Magdalen the Lord Lievtenant Iohn Talbot went over into England leaving his Deputy there the Archbishop of Dublin carying along with him the curses of many because hee being runne much in debt for victuall and divers other things would pay little or nothing at all About Saint Laurence day divers dyed in Normandy as Fryer Thomas Butler that was Prior of Kilmainan and many others Whom Fryer Iohn Fitz Henry succeeded in the Priory The Archbishop of Dublin being Lord Deputy made an assault upon Scohies and slue thirtie of the Irish neere unto Rodiston Also the thirteenth of February Iohn Fitz Henry Prior of Kilmainan departed this life and William Fitz Thomas was chosen to succeed in his place was confirmed the morrow after Saint Velentines day Also the morrow after the Lord Iohn Talbot Lord Furnivall delivered up his place into the hands of the Lord Richard Talbot Archbishop of Dublin who was afterward chosen to be Lord Iustice of Ireland Anno 1420. about the fourth des of Aprill Iames Butler Earle of Ormond Lord Lievetenant of Ireland landed at Waterford and shortly after he caused a combat to be fought betwixt two of his cousins of whom one was slaine in the place and the other was carried away sore wounded unto Kilkenny On Saint Georges day the same Lord Lievetenant held a Councell at Dublin and there summoned a Parliament and after the midst thereof he made great preyes upon O Rely Mac Mahon Mac Gynoys And the seventh of Iune the Parliament began at Dublin and there were granted to the Lord Lievetenant seaven hundred markes And that Parliament continued for sixteene dayes and was adjourned againe to Dublin untill Munday after Saint Andrewes day And in the said Parliament were reckoned up the debts of the Lord Iohn Talbot late Lord Lievetenant which amounted to a great summe Also on the morrow after Michaelmas day Michael Bodley departed this life Vpon Saint Francis Eeve dyed Fryer Nicholas Talbot Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Thomas the Martyr at Dublin whom Fryer Iohn Whiting succeeded The morrow after the feast day of the Apostles Simon and Iude the Castle of Colmolin was taken by Thomas Fitz Girald And on Saint Katherines Eeven Buttler Sonne and heire unto the Earle of Ormond was borne and the Munday after Saint Andrewes day the Parliament was begun at Dublin and continued for thirteene dayes and there were granted unto the Lord Lievetenant three hundred markes and then againe the Parliament was adjourned untill Munday after Saint Ambrose day Then rumours were spread abroad that the Lord Thomas Fitz Iohn Earle of Desmond was departed this life at Paris upon Saint Laurence day and that he was buried in the Covent of the Fryers Preachers there the King of England being there present After whom succeeded his Vncle Iames Fitz Girald whom he had three severall times renounced alledging that he was an unthrift and had wasted his Patrimony both in Ireland and England and that hee gave or would give
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
and the Irish Prince lye buried at Yorke In the antiquities of Ireland I finde that about the dayes of Constantine the great who beganne his raigne anno Dom. 310. one Realmond King of Vlster fell in love with a Lady of Leinster who had beene wife to the King of Connaught a woman they say of meane stature but of singular beautie when many Princes and Lords of Ireland laboured to winne her fauour her answer was that none should enjoy her loue but a Champion that by Marshall prowesse had prevailed in forraigne countries quitted himselfe like a man wonne the Garland and brought tribute with him to his native soile Realmond being overcome with the love of this Lady hoised up saile and went for France where he encounrted with a Champion and wonne a Garland called Civica Afterward comming to great Britain hee challenged the Duke of Cornewall and got of him a tribute thence he went into Scotland and encountred with Gyant Castreus and prevailed such was the manner of winning honour and dignity by marshall feates in those daies saith Saxo Grammaticus last of all he came backe to Ireland and acquainted his love the Lady he formerly sought for with his travaile his dangerous adventures and his good successe and now having prevailed abroad hee doubted not at home in regard of his kingdome his kindred and valour but to obtaine her fauour Shee being made throughly acquainted with his affaires abroad and at home gave many a sigh in his absence fearing some mischance might come to him and wishing she had not so peremptorily answered him but he no sooner came in place but she relented from her former hardnesse and with all speed the solemnity of marriage was performed But the match was disdained by others insomuch that he was hated of the Princes and Nobilitie of Ireland who had formerly affected the Lady whereof grew mutinies contentions and at last open warre and hee finding himselfe weake in comparison of his enemies was forced to flee into Denmarke where hee found favour and great aide of worthy Souldiers which came with him into Ireland where he and his generation together with the Danes and their posteritie effected many notable acts and continued many yeeres The Danes of the lyne of Fin Eryn that came out of Denmarke were these David the Kings sonne who had to his sonne borne in Ireland Deure Dove who had foure sonnes Covrry Boyskene Fyagh and Oghe Boyskene had a sonne called Garreneslo and Con-Caghmore was his sonne Con had a sonne named Ferrelogh and he had a sonne called Trenmore this Trenmore had to his sonne Coylle Negoe and he had a sonne called Fin-Fa alias Fin Mac Coylle and he had a sonne caled Oshen and he had a sonne called Osker This Oshen lived in Anno Dom. 432. in the dayes of Saint Patricke unto whom he made relation of many things before going and was by him baptized being of the age of seven score yeeres For proofe of this historie I finde in Saxo Grammaticus that wrote the historie of the Danes that Fin and Finni were a great sept there hardy stalworth men given to preying and burning of towne and country and happly the Irish conversing with them did learne those parts of them and that the name of Eric was of the royall bloud among them so Fin Erin turning c. into n. was a great commander there and conducted into Ireland many Danes And happly Ireland of old because of his great command and his posteritie might after him be called Erin this is but my conceit happly others can say more thereof These Danes increased and multiplied exceedingly and became great Commanders and Captaines over the whole land and tooke vpon them the defence thereof against all forraigne invasion In processe of time fell out the battaile of Fentra in Mounster valiantly fought by the Irish and Danes whereof the Irish Chroniclers make great accompt it was fought chiefly in Mounster by the Princes and power of Ireland with the aide of the Danes and generation of Fin Mac Coylle and Fin Eryn in which field they say all the forraigne enemies that came out of Scotland Cornewall Normandie Germany Spaine and Denmarke it selfe were overthrowne The occasion was as followeth Many Gyants and worthy Champions there were in those daies in Ireland of Irish and Danish birth hired by them for their defence these trauelling into forraine countries fought many combats and got yeerely tribute unto their country as the manner then was among such challengers For this they were generally envied and a day was appointed by the invaders to arrive together in Ireland to ouer-runne the country and roote out the whole nation The first company to the number of thirtie thousand landed at the Derrie where Conkedagh one of the Princes of the North being prepared for them by a sleight set their shipping on fire and met with them in a place where they were all overthrowne so that with their Armes those among the Irish that formerly wanted were furnished and made fit for the warres The second company of this combination came to Lambay landed their men at the Follesse of Skerries set their men in battaile array and marched to a place now called Cnoc-nagean that is the hill of dead mens heads where Dermotte Lamhdhearg King of Leinster met them fought a cruell battaile with equall fortune for the space of foure daies the Irish by reason of the spoile and victory got at the former battaile were mightily encouraged and also the milke and fresh meate which the country yeelded them and the strangers wanted made them the more able to fight to be short the strangers were overthrowne and thirty sixe thousand of them slaine whose Armes furnished Ireland throughly to encounter with the rest of the combination The third company came to Fentra in Mounster where the forces of Ireland being gathered together kept them from landing the space of seven dayes with the slaughter of many on both sides so that the sea-shore at sundry times was died redde with the bloud of the slaine karkasses untill that one Gillemore sonne to the King of Thomond being male-content for that he was remoued from the voward of the battaile to the rere revolted and by night stole to the enemie and directed them where they should safely land their men which accordingly came to passe so that the Irish knew it not untill the strangers had set their owne shippes on fire hee withall brought the invaders to such advantage of ground that they refreshed themselues for ten dayes without any annoyance from the Irish and afterward when they came to skirmish did himselfe divers times fight valiantly imbruing his hands in the bloud of his owne naturall countrimen At last it fell out after some bickering that hee called for water to wash his hands that were all full of the bloud of his countrymen which was left stand after he had therein washed and soone after
downe for dead King Engus lamented greatly the death of seven Nobles of Mounster that were pledges with him at Cassill and miscarried in this mortalitie Not long after Declanus ended the way of all flesh and lyeth buried at Ardmore Albaeus as his owne Legend delivereth the second Patrone of Mounster after Patricke the generall Patrone of Ireland was borne in Elyach now called Ely O Caroll His fathers name was Olâ—nais his mothers Sandith a maid servant in the house of King Cronanus the Lord of Eliach was then called a King Cronanus in his rage bid his servants hang the whoore and kill the childe the servants loath to dispatch an innocent tooke him out of his Pallace and laid him under the side of a rocke One Lochanus the sonne of Lugyr passing by pittied the childe tooke him to his horse and set him to nurse among certaine Britaines in the East part of Elyach Palladius saith the story passing from Rome toward Scotland and travelling through Ireland baptized him The Britaines sent him into France where hee was trayned up in Christian schooles and brought up under Bishop Hilarius who sent him to Rome where he was consecrated Bishop and remained one whole yeere and fiftie dayes preaching and expounding holy Scripture with great admiration And saith the Legend there came unto him out of Ireland fiftie grave and reverend men of which number there were 12 Colmans 12 Coenigeni and 12 Fintans the Bishop of Rome sent them backe into Ireland they came to Dolomoir where Sampson Bishop of that See gave them entertainement There he baptized saith the storie King Fintan After he had baptized and converted many unto the faith and builded many Churches and founded many Hospitals for lazers he came to Ymleach now called Emley a Bishopricke and in the Legend termed his owne Citie fell sicke and there left his bones He conversed with Biga whom learned Camden calleth Bega Bretach Nunnes and with Nessanus a great Antiquarie saith mine Author whose antiquities I never saw Kyaranus or Keran alias Piran another of the foure Bishops that lived in Ireland before Saint Patricke commeth next to be spoken of Of him Capgrave and the Martyrologe thus write that hee was a Bishop and Confessour and termed Sanctorum Hiberniae primogenitus And yet I finde in Molanus that one Saint Mansuetus Bishop of Tullum now called Tullense oppiduÌ„ a towne in Flanders was of Irish birth fellow Disciple with Saint Clement under Saint Peter the blessed Apostle not trayned up in Ireland in the Christian faith but in forraigne countries where he was both baptized instructed and made Bishop and where he now resteth But to returne to Keran he was borne in Ossorie having to his father Domnell saith another Lugnaeus whereby I gather there were two of that name to his mother Wingella famous for life learning and sanctitie in the dayes of Saint Patricke He lived in the I le of Cleere some 30 yeeres from thence he went to Rome where hee met Saint Patricke who came to Ireland 30. yeeres after Pyranus was of note in Rome hee continued 15. yeeres expounding holy Scripture with great admiration as another saith 20. yeeres there the Bishop of Rome consecrated him Bishop He came to Ireland and was the first Bishop of Ossorie having his See at Keran in Elie O Carroll Hee refreshed saith mine Author Saint Patricke and tenne Irish Kings for the space of three dayes he confirmed Rhodanus in the faith visited the Virgin Cota with her Priest Geranus whose cell was a rocke of the â—eas not farre from the Citie of Cluan in Mounster He was a man of an austere life never ware woollen garment but the fell of Wolves and wilde beasts As he came to his lodging in time of Lent and having inquired what provision they had answere being made that they had but a pestle of Porke he commanded it to be laid on the table one scornefully refused the dyet he misliking with him threatned him an ill end which accordingly came to passe When by the course of nature he saw his end approach he called his friends unto him and said My welbeloved children and friends God hath disposed that I should trauaile out of Ireland into Cornewall and there expect the end of my dayes I cannot withstand the will of God I doe admonish you brethren to uphold the place with good workes and examples of life for there shall come children of perdition and death among you ye shall have mortalitie and warres the Churches shall become waste and desolate and the truth shall be turned into iniquitie faith shall not shine with good workes the Pastors will looke to themselves more then to their flocke feeding themselves more then their sheepe last of all I beseech you brethren pray for me that my iourney may be prosperous and that after my decease I finde not my King and my God angry but gentle and appeased when I shall appeare before him He tooke leave came to Cornewall and resteth some fifteene miles from Petrok-stow 25. miles from Mousehole where he is remembred for their Patron Cambrâ—nsis writeth that in Caerdise in Wales there is a Chappell called Saint Perans Chappell where King Henry the second in his returne from Ireland repaired to heare divine service as he hath remembred it in his Booke intituled Itinerarium Cambriae And thus much of Saint Keran or Saint Peran Of Ybarus the fourth Bishop before Saint Patricke I finde some discourse in the Legend of Abbanus the Abbot how hee baptized him and brought him up in learning and how they went together to Rome and after their returne conversed in Ireland with Saint Patricke as formerly in part hath beene delivered in the life of Declanus This Abbanus is renowned in Ireland for building of Celles and religious houses besides three Monasteries in Connaght he built in Mounster Ceall Achard Conchun alias Kill Achard where Saint Finan whom he baptized after his death was Abbot In the borders of Muskerry he builded the Nunnery of Husneach and left it to Saint Gobnaid and her Virgins another Monasterie also by Kilcullen In Nandesi as I take it now called the Decies by the towne of Briogoban he founded Kill-na-Marban and at the foot of the mountaine Crotte in Muskerie the famous Monasterie called Cluain-Airdmobecoc where Saint Becanus was Abbot the which afterward because of Becanus his lamentation in devout sort as it is written for his sinnes was called Ceall Nander Cella lachrymarum the cell of teares He founded also Cluain Findglaise Cluain Conbrum and went into Ely where he baptized and converted unto the faith thousands as the Legend reporteth in a place afterward called Rath-Becain in Latine Atrium Becani where Abbanus is recounted Patron He builded a Monasterie upon the river Berba called Ross-Mac-Treoin where the Abbot Saint Emenus resteth also in Meath Ceall-Ailbe and committed the charge thereof to the holy
swine many yeeres When Patricks six yeeres were expired one of the swine turned up a clod under the which lay so much mony as paid his ransome When he came the second time he landed at Carlingford and inquired after Milcho whose captive hee had beene who would not giue eare to his doctrine but immediately after his death his two daughters of one name Emeria were baptized Laigerius in Iocelin Leogarius Monarch of Ireland the son of Neale harkning unto Magicians and Sooth-sayers gave commandement together with his brother Corbre unto the Country for the banishing of Saint Patrick but Dichu and Rius two brethren and great Commanders under him received the faith and Conil brother to Laigerius who also himselfe shortly after grew indifferent winking at them that did receive it so that his Queene and his yonger brother received the faith and his two daughters And of Laigerius he thus prophecied because thou hast alwaies withstood my doctrine and ceased not above measure to persecute me and hast above all disdained to beleeve in him that made all things thou art the childe of death And whereas of right thou with the rest yea before all thy confederates oughtest presently to enter into everlasting torments yet insomuch as thou meekely commest unto me craving pardon and like King Achab humblest thy selfe before my God the Lord will not forthwith bring upon thee the evill which thou hast deserved notwithstanding there shall none of thy seed after thee sit upon thy seat but shall serve thy yonger brother that beleeveth in my God and his seed after him for ever As this holy man travailed in preaching the Gospell he met with a young man whose name was Mochaa or Mocho keeping swine in whose physiognomie hee perceived towardnesse and sparkles of grace he taught him baptized him trayned him up in holy Scripture made him Deacon Priest and Bishop of Dune where he lyeth buried Clonsillan and Kellestowne some five miles west of Dublin have him for their Patron where under an high rocke runneth a Spring called S. Mochon his Well Next he baptized one Benignus called also Stephanus so Probus writeth with his father mother familie who proved so good a member in the Church of God that he succeeded S. Patricke in Armagh this Benignus saith Capgrave lyeth buried in Glastenburie Saint Patricke also received into the faith one Erchas the sonne of Dega saith Iocelin whom he also made a Bishop The Martyrologe of Sarum calleth him Herkus At that time one Pheg a Poet and saith Probus Duptachus an Irish rymer or Poet in Lastgerius his Court desired baptisme and afterward all the dayes of his life converted his vaine rymes into Chrihian Poems and did much good thereby among the common people Saint Patricke had brought with him into Ireland out of Italie one Mac Cartyn of Irish birth so I reade in the martyrologe of Sarum and three sisters of his owne which proved very fruitfull Lupita who lived a Virgin and lyeth buried at Armagh Trigridia and Darercha Tigridia had seventeene sonnes and five daughters the men became Priests Monkes and Bishops the daughters were made Nunnes the Bishops were called Brochadius Brochanus Mogenochus and Lumianus Darerca the yongest sister had two Bishops to her sonnes Melrioch and Munis the martyrologe of Sarum reckoneth her children thus Mele Melk Muncse Bishops Riok Finian and Bolke Abbots Where I thinke there is some errour that Melrioch in Iocelin is Mele and Ryok in the maytyrologe Of Lumianus I reade that he baptized a Lord of the country called Fedlemus and his sonne Forkernus whose mother was a Britain his dwelling was at Ahtrum There Lumianus by their meanes builded a Church some twenty five yeeres before the founding of Armagh the which he tooke for his Bishops See and ordered Forkernus to succeed him there The possessions saith mine Author which were first given to this Church afterward by the donations of other Princes fell to belong to Armagh The holy man Patricke laboured still in the vineyard of the Lord he baptized Conallus alias Conill Lord of Connaught brother to Laigerius and his familie who gave Patricke a country called Dompnac Patricke and builded for himselfe a dwelling place called Raith-Artair After seven yeeres this Conill sent him to his brother Logan Cogan saith the Booke of Houth King of Leinster whom hee baptized together with Amolgath whom I take to be the ancestour of the house of O Malaghlin a great Lord of a country and his seven sonnes Florilegus saith they were seven Kings After this this holy man comming out of Meth and having passed over the water at Finglas went up to a hill some mile from the village Athcled now called Dublin When he had viewed the place and soile adjoyning he blessed the same and is said to have prophecied thus This village is now but small it will be great it will be inlarged with wealth and worship neither will it leave increasing untill it bee advanced to the seate of the Kingdome In a while after he came to the village where the inhabitants hearing of the wonders which the Lord wrought by his hands went out to meete him with much ioy and beleeved by his preaching and were baptized My Author addeth that upon complaint made unto him how that they were annoyed with brackish waters which of necessitie they were driven to use he walked about the village turned up cloddes digged the earth and found a Spring which is now called Saint Patrickes Well From this village Athcled hee went to Castleknok where one Murguus dwelled and commanded those places who hearing of Patricks comming refused to give him entertainement but sent him word that he was asleepe in which sleepe as the storie saith he died of which accident the common saying ariseth Thou sleepest Murguus sleepe applyed to those that sleepe heavily or are given to overmuch sleepe From Castleknok he bent his course towards Mounster and came to King Engus alias Oengus Mac Nafroic who received him ioyfully and brought him to his Palace at Cassill saith Iocelin where also one Daris a great Lord in that country shewed him much kindenesse When he had baptized the King and many thousands with him he came to Vrmiunnan now called Ormond where in like sort they received the faith and the inhabitants in remembrance of him builded a Church and dedicated the same to his name From Mounster where he preached seaven yeeres hee tooke his iourney backe to Vlster and came to King Eochu whom he baptized his daughter Cumia whom he made a Nunne and committed her to the charge of the Nunne Cecubris in the Nunnery of Drumdukain whom Patricke first vailed of all the women in Ireland Also he baptized Olcanus who went into France to studie and upon his returne â—rected schooles in Ireland and had many schollers whereof a great number were afterwards Bishops he himselfe towards his end
became a Bishop and ended his dayes in sanctitie When Saint Patricke had baptized a second Conallus a petite King and his brother Fergus he prophecied of Fedlemus the sonne of Fergus and of Columba the sonne of Fedlemus what a holy man hee should prove as after hee did and was the founder of an hundred Monasteries Saint Patricke for all this travaile sailed into Britaine for coadiutors and fellow-labourers in this worke where he opposed himselfe both in publike and private against the Pelagians and other heretickes which disturbed the peace of the Church and brought with him thirty learned men whom afterward he consecrated Bishops So that to this day in Britaine as in Anglesey Bristoll Exeter and other places there are Churches built in remembrance of him He also converted the Isle of Man to the faith and there is a Church which also beareth his name and left them one Germanus to bee their Bishop after whose death hee ordained for that place Conidrius Ronillus and Machaldus Vpon his returne into Ireland hee met with sixe of his Disciples of Irish birth that had beene Students beyond Seas whom in the end he made Bishops Lugacius Columbanus Meldanus Lugadius Cassanus and Cheranus Then he made saith Iocelin a second iourney unto Athcled now called Dublin upon his comming which was about twentie yeeres after their conversion and found them all given to idolatrie and withall one Alpinus a King with his Queene and his retinue lamenting the death of Eocchiad their sonne heire and the drowning of their sole daughter Dublinia Patricke preached the people beleeved the King hearing of him hoped to reape some comfort to bee short saith mine Author the dead are raised to life and Athcled ever after in remembrance of the Kings daughter Dublinia was called Dublin Saint Patrickes manner was first to Catechize secondly to Baptize lastly to minister the Sacrament of the Lords Supper When with the aide of the country he builded Churches hee would not name them after any Saints name but Domnach the Church of the Lord. And when he had procured a Church to be builded in a place called Achad Fobuit and consecrated his Disciple Sennachus alias Seachuallus Bishop there the humble sute of Senachus unto him was that the Church should not be called after him as the manner was saith mine Author in many places among the Irish people The onely doctrine Patricke read and expounded unto the people was the foure Evangelists conferred with the old Testament Hee is reported to have given many blessings and to have denounced many curses He had many Disciples Kertennus Winnocus Winwallocus likewise saith Molanus Elberus Ibarus Connedus Secundinus Asicus Fiechus Sennachus Olcanus with many others which he made Bishops I finde mention also of Riochus that kept his Bookes and Papers and of Rodanus that kept his Cattell that hee made them Bishops and the world made them Saints Ireland is greatly beholding unto him for it is recorded that hee went up to the top of the Mount Hely I take it to be a hill in Ely O Carrols country where he made three petitions unto Almighty God for the people of Ireland that had received the faith First that every one might have grace to repent though it were at the last houre Secondly that they might not be utterly destroyed by Infidels Lastly that no Irish man should live till the day of Iudgement Quia delebitur per orationem sancti Patricij septem annis ante judicium for it shall be destroyed by meanes of Saint Patrickes prayers seaven yeeres before the comming of Christ to iudgement Probus maketh mention of other Petitions which for that I hold them fabulous I will not rehearse He procured as it is written of him seaven hundred Churches to bee builded in Ireland ordained five thousand Ministers consecrated three hundred and fifty Bishops successively understand in his time Darius the Booke of Houth calleth him Dares in Probus Dair a Noble man affecting Patricke and seeing him beare low saile and shrowding himselfe with all humilitie in Vlster drew him to dwell at Drumsailech now called Armagh and having used meanes there for the building of a Church Patricke went to Rome procured all confirmations necessary to his purpose arrived againe in Ireland and being of the age of 122. yeeres ended his life in the time that Aurelius Ambrosius raigned in Britaine and Forthkerrus was Monarch of Ireland Brigida and Ethembria who then were accounted two holy women shrowded him to his grave when Thassach a Bishop had ministred the Sacrament Probus writeth that the Britaine 's came with great forces attempting at severall times to fetch away his corps and that the men of Vlster did withstand them As for the purgatorie that is fathered upon him I must referre the reader to the yeere of grace 850. where he shall finde a second Patricke founder thereof In our Patricks time flourished many good Christians renowned at this day and as an Antiquarie and collector of antiquities I desire the christian reader to accept of them as I finde them And I will beginne with Brigida that gave Saint Patricke his winding sheete shee was borne as Iohn Clyn writeth anno 439. in Fochart not farre from Dondalke as Bernard deliuereth she was the base daughter of one Duptacus haply Laigerius his rymer before spoken of a Noble man saith Bale of the North parts a Captaine of Leinster saith the Book of Houth Capgrave writeth that her mother in wantonnesse having conceived and her belly being espied to be up Duptacus his wife caused her to be turned out of doores Duptacus to avoid the iâ—alousie and disquietnesse of his wife delivered her to a Poet or Bard a Magician saith Bale who kept both Mother and Daughter and trayned her up in such learning as he had skill in Shee proved so singularly learned and was in such account among all men that a Synode of Bishops assembled by Dublin used her advice in weightie causes as I reade in the Booke of Houth She became a Nunne and wrought but one miracle saith Bale that is shee used meanes to purge a Bishop one Bronus or Bruno from fornication when the fact was manifestly proved against him In the authenticke manuscript Legend of Ireland I finde that she kept most in Leinster and builded a Cell for her abode under a goodly faire Oke which afterwards grew to be a Monasterie of Virgins called Cyll-dara in Latine Cella Quercus the Cell of the Oke now Kildare and saith mine Author ibique maxima civitas postea in honore beatissimae Brigidaecrevit quae est hodie metropolis Laginensium The first Bishop by her meanes was Conlianus alias Conlaidus Stanihurst reckoneth the succession of the See in this sort Lony Ivor Conlie Donatus David Magnus Richard Iohn Symon Nicolas Walter Richard Thomas Robart Boniface Madogg William Galfride Richard Iames. Wale
browes and the labour of their owne hands And the rather for that he had to his Disciples of Irish birth Columbanus that travailed France Germanie and Italie Breudan that furnished Ireland and Scotland with holy men with Luanus and others of whom I shall have occasion to speak in their places This Congellus also Bernard is mine Author founded the Abbey of Benchor alias Bangor here in Vlster where many singular learned men of Irish birth were trayned up yea Britaines Saxons and Scots also and dispersed themselves farre and nigh as hereafter shall more plainely appeare into forraigne countries converted and confirmed thousands in the true faith The which Abbey of Benchor was afterward destroyed by Pyrates and nine hundred Monks slaine in one day and so continued waste unto the time of Malachias Bishop of Armach whereof I will speake hereafter Yet in an ancient manuscript Legend of Ireland I finde that this Congellus the Abbot was borne in Dail Naraid in Vlster of honourable Parents and upon some displeasure conceived forsooke his native soile came to Mounster to Saint Fintan Abbot of Cluoyn Ednech at the foote of Mons Blandina where he was ioyfully received who after long instruction through the counsaile of Fintan returned to his native soile and entred the Monasterie of Saint Kiaran in Cluayn Mac Noyse where Bishop Lugidus gave him orders and that in a while after he founded the famous Abbey of Benchor in Vlster in the country called Altitudo ultorum to the East sea as I reade in the life Mocoemog containing three thousand Monkes and that seven yeeres after hee went into Britaine and founded there a Monasterie that swarmed with Monkes as formerly in part is delivered whither out of all places by sea and land they flocked unto him for the same of learning which there was professed He when hee had setled his affaires there returned into Ireland and now resteth at his monasterie of Benchor The fame of both Monasteries or Colledges of Christian Philosophers and famous men thither frequenting and entercouâ—sing with domesticall and forraigne students mee thinkes should reconcile Britaine and Ireland now being in one and breed an agreement among Antiquaries Brendan among others was famous at this time borne in Connaght brought up under Hercus a Bishop and directed by Barintus a Monke he was excellently seene in the liberall sciences and travailed into Britaine to the Abbey of Bangor where hee learned the monasticall rules of Congellus from thence he went to Llancarvan and builded a Monasterie became the father of three thousand Monkes that got their living with the labour of their hands and sweate of their browes left to oversee them Machutus and Molochus travailed over Ireland and Scotland with other countries after seven yeeres peregrination he returned to Ireland and became Bishop of Kerry of old called Kiaragi but now Ardfertensis where he ended his dayes and lyeth buried at Cluenarca otherwise called Luarcha Yet in the life of Ruadanus I finde hee was buried at Cluanferta Other things that Capgrave the martyrologe and Bale have I omit When Saint Brendan was olde Saint Fynbarry was a childe hee is now the Patrone of the Cathedrall Church of Corke his Legend runneth thus There was a certaine King in Ireland called Tegernatus who had to his handmaid a very beautifull Damosell this King gave charge throughout his dominion that none should be so bold as to touch her for it was supposed he kept her for his owne tooth Yet saith the Legend one of his souldiers whose name was Amorgen a blacke Smith got her with childe the which being brought to light and the time of her travaile nigh approaching Tegernatus commanded that Amorgen the father the faire harlot the mother with her great bellie should bee cast into the fire and burned to ashes But saith the Legend they were all miraculously deliuered and the childe safely brought into the world At his baptisme he was named Loanus but in a while after three religious men that had the charge of him by reason of the beautie of his white lockes and gratious aspect called him in Irish Fuenbarrah whom now wee call Fynbarry He was brought up under Bishop Torpereus the disciple of Gregorie Bishop of Rome and was conversant with Faâ—turus another Legend calleth him Fyachna a King in Ireland who did alot him a certaine portion of land in his country Bishop Torpereus gave him orders after which he went saith the Legend into Albania now called Scotland did much good there and went from thence to Rome and was consecrated Bishop in the time of Gregorie the first then he returned to Ireland landed on the South side of the river Lee where one Edo a Noble man gave him a parcell of ground where with the aide of many good men he built the old Citie of Corke and the Cathedrall Church annexing thereto a faire Church yard wherein now standeth a watch Towre builded by the Danes The Legend speaketh of a priviledge granted to that Church-yard which I take to have beene brought in through the covetousnesse of the Priests That what faithfull soever being penitent shall bee buried there shall not after this life feele the torments of hell as if every faithfull penitent Christian were not freed from hell wheresoever he be buried But let us proceed Torpereus Bishop of Cloan his Schoolemaster was the first man that was buried in that Church-yard After this Finbarry went to Calangus a reverend man then Abbot of Cloane and concluded betweene themselves that in the feare of God they would both be buried in one place and so indeed it fell out for there Finbarry fell sicke received the Sacrament at the hands of Calangus ended his dayes and was brought to the Church-yard of old Corke and there interred shortly after followed Calangus and there Bishop Torperus the first Bishop of Cloane Finbarry the first Bishop of Corke and Calangus the first Abbot of Cloane keepe together in the dust of the earth waiting for the resurrection at the last day The fabulous circumstances of the Legend I leave to old Wives and long winters nights yet to satisfie the reader that I met with the Originall I will lay down part of the Latine rithmes sung yeerely on his day being the 25. of September not worthy of translation into English and here they follow Infantis clari matremque patremque ligatum Ambo Rex quondam flammis praeceperat uri Interea mirum bellum gessere elementa Ignis edax stupuit non audens mandere ligna Hic nondum genitus jam matris ventre moratus O nova res miris cepit clamare loquelis Obstupuit rex c. Ad Christi verbum ducentes tres seniores Infantem secum nitidum vultuque decorum Dogmata ut sacra cunabulo disceret evo Contigit ut nimio solis fervore sitiret Tunc senibus quidam praeceperat ire ministrum Vt potum puero cerva deduceret almo Statim
cerva petens vitulum lac fudit abundè Et potum c. Rex quondam retinens plenam turpedine prolem Luminis expertem natum mutamque puellam Praeclarum Christi famulum iam rogitavit Vt natos miseros ditaret munere caro Illico respexit caecus muta locuta Ad natum regis caecum mutamque puellam Fynbarry precibus salvavit conditor almus Sanctus Fynbarrus quondam cum rege sedebat Cumque salutabant laeti sese vice versa Audierant fletum tristem magnumque lamentum At rex confestim turbatus heu mea dixit Regalis conjux nunc mortem gustat amaram Tunc dixit Christi famulus depone merorem Namque potest dominus vitam donare defunctis Fynbarry precibus tunc foemina viva resurgit Fynbarrus residens Rex atque sub arboris umbra Tunc placuit Regi miracula cernere quaedam Auxiliante Deo Fynbarrus quae faciebat Interea corylus gignebat tempore veris Maturos fructus valdè largèque cadebant Miratur corylum vernalem gignere fructum With many such strange things with which I will no longer trouble the reader nor keepe him from that which followeth Now commeth in the confused name of Colme Columba Columbanus Columkillus and Colmannus who all lived at one time about the dayes of King Arthure and were all of Irish birth but are greatly mistaken by the Antiquaries The first called Columbanus by Adamannus and Capgrave in the life of Columba was as they write Episcopus Laginensis a Bishop of Leinster but the Diocesse of which he was Bishop I finde not named The second by Beda whom for authority and antiquitie I reverence is called Columbanus presbiter Abbas Priest and Abbot whom Capgraue calleth Columba borne of Noble Parentage in Ireland Adamannus who wrote his life saith his father hight Feidlimyd the sonne of Fergus his mother Ethnea and that the second yeere after the bloudie battaile of Cule-Dreibne he came to Britaine in the time of Gildas sapiens and converted the Pictes But before his departure out of Ireland he founded a Monasterie saith Beda à copia roborum in the Scottish tongue called Dearmagh Capgrave termeth it Roboretum the grove of Okes. In Britaine saith Beda he builded a Monasterie in the Iland called Hu Capgrave calleth it Iona where he lyeth buried ending his dayes at the age of 77. yeeres whose death Aidanus King of Scots greatly lamented Beda reporteth that some wrote of him which work came not to his hands and that in the observation of Easter he followed no other direction then hee found in holy Scripture Here gentle reader two scruples are to be removed from among our Irish Antiquaries the first Beda dissolveth namely that of him the name of Columkilli came in Columba now a dayes saith he of some men compounding Cella and Columba is called Columcelli and in Capgrave we reade Columkillius The second scruple is where Beda writeth that he was buried in the Isle Hu the Antiquaries of Ireland record his funerall to have beene at Downe as formerly I have written in one Tombe with Patricke and Brigide I hold both may be true namely that he was buried in the Isle before spoken of and being thence translated into Downe in Ireland as Brigide was before now resteth therein one grave with Patricke and her The third Columbanus otherwise called Columba of Irish birth was a most famous man of that time for learning and vertue eternized in writing by Ionas an Abbot his disciple also by Capgrave Bale Surius Baronius Lippeloo and Stanihurst In his youth he was mightily tempted with the feminine sex nihil tam sanctum religione saith mine Author â—amque custodia clausum quod penetrare libido nequeat He forsooke his native soile went to Congellus Abbot of Bangor continued there many yeeres and having formerly taken with him twelve of his country men called twelve followers hee went into France and made them Cabanes after the Irish manner in stead of Monasteries Many fabulous things are reported of Wolves Beares and Fowles of the ayre that they had no power over him When he had continued together with his followers twenty yeeres in one place he was banished thence and being desirous to returne to Ireland Clotarius sonne to Chilpericke staid him yet he tooke his course into Italie where Agilulphus King of Lombardie received him most honourably and in Italie hee died saith Beda in his Martyrologe though Capgrave write it was in Almaine whose report of him I may not omit He builded saith he certaine famous Monasteries in Almaine into the which as it is said they admit onely Irish men unto this day He wrote saith Lippeloo a booke against the Arians Bale reckoneth his other workes that he published In psalterium commentar lib. 1. Collationes ad Monachos lib. 1 De moribus monachorum metrice lib. 1. Haec praecepta legat Epistolas ad Commilitones lib. 1. Monasteriorum methodos lib. 1. Adversus Theodoricum regem adulterum lib. 1 This Columbanus had many learned men of Irish birth brought up under him The Martyrologe of Sarum remembreth one Deicolus an Abbot Capgrave and Walafridus Strabo commend one Gallus whom Columbanus left behinde him in Almaine And when Gunzo Duke of Suevia would have made him Bishop of Constance he preferred one Iohn his Deacon and disciple to the roomth and kept the desert himselfe Surius writeth Italie glorieth of Columbanus Almaine of Gallus and Flanders of Kilianus Hee wrote as Bale remembreth In electione Iohannis Orat. 1. Sempiternus inaestimabilis Deus Gubernandae ecclesiae formam lib. 1 Ionas likewise his disciple is by Tritemius commended and reckoned among the great learned men of Ireland who at the request of certaine brethren penned for the good of posteritie Vitam Abbatis Columbani lib. 1 All are found among Beda his workes Vitam Attalae Monachi lib. 1 All are found among Beda his workes Vitam Eustachij Abbatis lib. 1 All are found among Beda his workes Vitam Bertolfi Abbatis All are found among Beda his workes There was a fourth Columbanus a Monke in Luxonium countriman and kinsman to Columbanus going before who dyed in his presence so much I finde of him in Capgrave and no more of him either there or in any other Colmannus I must referre to his place and Colme I must leave to the vulgar and corrupted speech yet in one Author I finde that Colme is buried with Patricke and Brigide which must be understood to be Columbanus spoken of before About the latter dayes of Saint Martin Bishop of Toures in France Ninianus a Britaine whom Beda worthily commendeth comming from Rome was made Bishop of Lyndsey Lindesfernensis whom Aidus otherwise called Aidanus and Aedanus Finanus and Colmannus all three of Irish birth orderly succeeded in the dayes of King Arthur About this time Carthagus commonly called Mocudu Mochudu and Mocodi was the first Bishop of Lismore he descended
of the sept of Fergusius the most potent Prince of Vlster whose of-spring were dispersed over Ireland his father matched with the royall bloud of Mounster he had to his Schoolemaster one Carthagus a Bishop It is alledged in his Legend penes authorem sit fides that it was prophecied he should become a great man and build two cities the first Raithe or Raichen in Feraceall the second Lismore This diversitie of names comming upon accidents is known unto them that have skill in the old Irish. It is remembred in his life that in his youth 30. Virgins were in love with him and that hee prayed unto God to turne their carnall into spirituall love which was granted yet saith mine Author to requite their former love he builded them all Cells and they dwelled in his parish and conversed with him all the dayes of their lives He had disciples that proved rare men Mochue Mocoemoge Gobbanus Sraphanus Lazreaanus Molva Aidanus Fiachus Findeling with others He was compelled to forsake Raithen and travailed west-ward untill he came to the river Nem now called Band more falling from the mountaine Chua and running into the sea whereupon Lismore is builded and given to Saint Mocodi For the Lord of that country Nandeisi Melochtrig the son of Cokthacg before witnesse granted him that seate to build both Church and Citie where he resteth and whom one Molcolmog succeeded Machutus otherwise called Maclovius though Bale and Capgrave call him a Britaine yet I finde that he was borne in Ireland and that he was the sonne of one Lovi and therefore called Maclovy Molanus writeth that he crossing the seas and having good successe led an Eremites life in Britaine and was the disciple of Saint Brendan of Ireland He accompanied with one Aaron and kept with him in an Island of his name saith Molanus called Aaron but now I finde it in the North-west parts of Ireland belonging to the Earle of Ormond called the Isles of Aran. Lastly he was made Bishop of Aletha and is honoured at Gemblacum in Flanders where the Church say they is patronized by Saint Machutus alias Maclovius hee lived saith Bale about the yeere 540. what time Arthur commanded Britaine Kentegernus then also lived and now is remembred in Ireland and in Wales the Martyrologe of Sarum reporteth that his Mother wist not how when nor by whom he was gotten yet was shee an holy woman saith mine Author and much loved our Lady She was cast downe headlong from a rocke saith mine Author into the sea and tooke no hurt then put into a Boate alone without Sayle or Oare came into Ireland and presently travailed with child He became an Abbot of 965. Monkes kept company with Saint David and in the end was a Bishop Ruadanus borne in Ireland of Noble Parentage his father hight Byrra of the of-spring of Dnach but inhabited the West part of Leinster of olde called Osraigie but now Ossorie whose sept is called Dnachs in those parts unto this day He left Ossorie and hearing of the fame of Saint Fynnan a wise and a learned man dwelling in his owne towne so saith mine Author commonly called Clonard of Cluayn jarhaird in Meath and confines of Leinster resorted to him who for the space of certaine yeeres brought him up in sacred letters gave him orders and sent him to Muscraytrie in Mounster where he was borne where also he builded a Monasterie which standeth to this day and is maintained by the Lords of the soile From thence he went to a place called Lothra where he builded another Monasterie and lyeth there wayting the generall resurrection Saint Brendan at the same time builded a Cell not farre from that place called Tulach Brenayd that is saith mine Author Collis Brendani left Ruadan the charge thereof tooke his blessing and begun his travaile as the Legends at large doe write Ruadanus is said to have written these bookes in the Latine tongue De miraculosa arbore lib. 1 De mirabili fontium in Hibernia natura lib. 1 Contra Diarmoyd regem lib. 1 Saint Faghua lived in the time of Finbarry and founded a Monasterie upon the sea in the south part of Ireland where he became Abbot the which seat grew to be a Citie wherein a Cathedrall Church was builded and patronized by Faghua This towne of olde called Rossai Lithry but now Roskarbry hath beene walled about by a Lady of that country but now according to the fruits of warre among the Carties O Driscales and other septs scarce can the old foundation be seene There hath beene there of old saith mine Author magnum studium scholarium a great Vniversitie whereto resorted all the South-west parts of Ireland for learnings sake Saint Brendan Bishop of Kery read publikely the liberall sciences in that schoole Farther of Faghua or Faghuanus mine Author recordeth that he being sapiens probus a wise and a good man by mishap fell blinde and with many prayers and salt teares desired of God restitution of his sight for the good of his Covent and the Students brought up under him a voyce he heard saith mine Author goe get some of the breast milke of Broanus the artificers wife wash thine eyes therewith and thou shalt see He went to a Prophetesse called Yta or Ytha to learne how to come by this woman and it fell out that this woman was her sister hee found her out washed his eyes and recovered his sight whether it be true or no I know not I report it as I finde it This Saint Yta was an Abbatesse whose originall was of Meth but she was borne in Mounster Vpon the storie of Faghua dependeth the Legend of Mocoeinoge interpreted in Latine meus pulcher iuvenis my beautifull young man who proved learned an Abbot and a Bishop being the childe of those breasts that washed Faghua his eyes many admirable things are reported of him wherewith I will not trouble the reader He conversed with Coemanus or Chemanus Cannicus Finianus Abbas Colman a Bishop Daganus Abbot of Inbyr-dayle in Leinster Mocobe his owne disciple Illepius the disciple of Mocobe Molna Mofecta Cunminus longus the sonne of Fiachua and Cronanne who lyeth buried at Rosscre Luctichernus and Lazerianus with Yta Patronesse of Huae Conaill her Abbot of Cluayn Mac Noys Abbot Engus Abbot Congallus of Vlster Mocoeinoge resteth in the county of Typperary by a long foord in the way from Kilkenny to the Holy Crosse as they cal it where sometime was a Citie a Monasterie called Liath but now a Village bearing his name Liath Mocoeinoge He had in his life time much adoe with Coemanus Bledin Ronanus Foelanus Diarmoda Sugbue Lords of Ely now called Ely O Carroll and with Falke Fland King of Mounster whose chiefe Pallace was in Cashell Saint Coeingenus shall next be spoken of in Latine as much to say as pulchrogenitus he was ordered by Bishop Lugidus led
an heremeticall life in a Cell in a place of old called Cluayn Duach where he was borne and brought up Now the place is called Gleand-daloch saith mine Author Vallis duorum stagnorum a valley of two pooles or standing waters where one Dymnach a Lord of the soile founded a Cathedrall Church in the honour of Saint Coeingenus ioyned therunto a faire Church-yard with other edifices and divers buildings the which in mine Author legenda sancti Coeingeni is termed civitas de Glandelogh In the life of Saint Patricke I finde that hee prophecied of two rare men Albanus and Coeingenus and that this should be a Bishop and that one Molingus should succeed him I finde this true in the See of Glandelogh Coeingenus was a great learned man and wrote these bookes De Britannorum origine lib. 1 Bryto sive Brutus De Hibero Hermone lib. 1 Hyber Hermon Molva before mentioned in the life of Mocoeinoge of his mother called Lugidus but of his master Congallus was a great learned man borne in Mounster in Huafi of the sept of Corcach His father hight Carthach alias Coche his mother Sochla that is Large hee was brought up under Congallus in Vlster in his Abbey of Benchor where he received orders and was sent into his native soile of Mounster for the good of his country Hee came to the schoole of Saint Finnian in the confines of Leinster and profited there very much from thence he went to mount Luacha in the South-west part of the river Synna together with his disciples and craved of Foelanus Lord of that soile license there to inhabite who refused him so that he went to his kindred in Osraigi now called Ossorie who received him ioyfully In a while after he went to mount Smoil now called moâ—s Blandina where he cast his staffe and builded a Monasterie in a place called Rosse Bualead by licence of Berachus Lord of that soile in Latine Dux Laigy where he decreed saith the Legend ut nulla mulier ibi semper intraret that no woman should alwaies enter into it which was and may well be observed to this day yea while the world endureth In the same place was afterwards a famous citie builded called Cluayn ferta Molua in Latine latibulum mirabile sancti Molvae the secret habitation of Saint Molva He conversed with Saint Flannanus Molayssi alias Molassus Sethua Bishop of Saigir or Sagri where it lyeth I finde not but by all likelyhood it should not be farre from Cluayn Ferta with Moedog Archbishop of Leinster Einenus Abbot of Rosse Mac Treoin in Kenselach upon the river Berua founded by the olde Saint Abbanus with Daganus Abbot of Ardgabraine in Nandesi called Achad Dagani Saint Cronan in insula Cree Stellanus his disciple Manchenus and Munnu Abbot of Techmunnu in Kenselach in the South part of Leinster Hee ended the way of all flesh and resteth in the Monasterie of Cluayn Ferta where one Lachtanus succeeded him He is said to have wrought many wonders and if the reader laugh not I will penne him one Molva in an evening walking among the cattell of his monasterie heard a company of Wolves howling for their prey hee was moved with pitty called them to him washed their feet made them a feast and gave them lodging The Legend faith further that they thenceforth familiarly conversed with the Heard keepers and chased away other Wolves and theeves He wrote Regulas Monachorum confirmed by Greg. 1. Munnu spoken of in the former Legend came of good parentage of the house of Neill his father was Tulchanus his mother Fedelyr he was brought up under Silell a learned man in the North of Ireland Hee proved a singular learned man and wrote a booke de pascate which was in his time in question he outlived Congallus and Columba and conversed with Baithenus and Lazerianus Abbot of Leighlin he dwelt a while in Ely from thence hee went to Athcayn in Kinselach and in Achad Liaâ—htrom he builded a monasterie called Teach-Munnu alias Thech-Munnu where hee gave up the ghost 12. of the Kalends of November and yet the Martyrologes place him the sixt Kalend of the same moneth In his storie I finde mention of a controversie betweene him and Lazerianus who builded a Monasterie In stagno Hiberniae Dai ynis in Latine bovis insula in the North part of Ireland so it is written in the life of Aedanus afterwards he came to the river Berba now called the Barrow and there became Abbot of fifteene hundred Monkes In their time the old controversie about the observation of Easter was vehemently urged of all sides a great disputation and parlie was appointed in Campo Albo saith mine Author upon the Barrow Munnu held the old the other the new observation To be short Munnu gave this offer brother Lazerianus saith he let us not spend time neither trouble this people with this tedious question choose for the tryall of the truth one of these three things take two bookes one of the old the other of the new Easter cast them into the fire looke which the fire saveth let the truth rest there or take two Monkes one of thy side another of mine and cast them both into an house set on fire he that commeth forth safe let him carry the truth Or let us goe to the grave of some holy Monke and raise the dead and stand to his sentence when we shall keepe Easter this yeere Lazerianus refused his offers and said I will no longer contend with thee brother Munnu for I know thy worthinesse and sanctitie is such that if thou command the mount Margee over against us to remove to this Campus albus and this ground to remove thither I am of opinion it will bee so thus they broke up and did nothing Cannicus or Kennicus was borne in the North of Ireland in Connaught as I gather his father was called Lugaid Lechteag a Poet his mother hight Maula or Mella hee was trayned up in Britaine in the christian schoole of Docus thence he went to Rome and took orders in Italie returned into Ireland preached the Gospell most zealously and saith his Legend wrought many miracles He conversed with great learned men namely Eugenius Bishop of Ardratha Baithenus and others Adamannus in the life of Columba formerly spoken of and the second of the name writeth wherby I gather the time of the learned men of that age how that at one time Cannicus Congallus Brendanus Cormacus and Fynbarry visited Columba and were all present when he celebrated the divine mysterie Colmanus the sonne of Feraid Lord of Osraide or Ossragy now called Ossorie was Kannicus his deare friend who after he had received the faith gave him many villages where he builded Cels and Monasteries but chiefely at Achadbo where he resteth When the time of his departure out of this sinfull world drew nigh he sent
there one moneth from thence he went to Esca preached Christ and converted many there some hard-hearted people slue him when he was beheaded hee rose up tooke with him his owne head beleeve it who list and carried it to Houtthein where the Angels had made a sepulchre for him He is said saith Bale to have written a booke of Homilies and in the yeere 1007. to have beene translated to Saint Bavons Church in Gandavum There was another Livinus a French man a Fryer minorite and slaine as they say about the yeere 1345. and of fame at this day in Flanders Arbogastus borne in Ireland a godly Preacher and a great Writer was the second Bishop of Argentine Anno 646. who also for his great wisedome was taken by Dagobert King of France to be of his Councell He left behinde him for the good of the Church a booke of Homilies So much Bale out of Munster Molanus writeth that about the yeere 647. some of the familie of Pipinus the first Duke of Brabant father of Saint Gertrude sent for many Preachers out of Ireland and Scotland into Brabant and the bordering regions to plant the Christian religion among them Fortanus and Vltanus are there named Lippeloo saith that about the yeere 696. Egbertus Wicbertus and Willibrodus were famous learned men in Ireland continued there a long time afterwards dispersed themselves into farre countries and with happinesse ended their dayes Molanus hereof writeth farther thus In the imperiall towne called Werda the birth of Saint Switberd whom Beda calleth Suidbertus the Bishop and Confessor is solemnized who in the time of Pipinus the first Duke of Brabant together with Saint Willibrod preached soules health unto the nations thereabouts This man among other diseases was wont to cure the disease in the throate called of the Physitians the squinancie He is termed the second of those Apostolike men which came out of England and Ireland to preach the Gospell unto the Frisians Hollanders and the nations about them Among whom being as yet but a Priest he converted many chiefly the inhabitants of the great Village Duerstadt the which now is the towne of Wâ—ic He converted also the Citie Hagenstein which now is a village adioyning unto Viana And when as by the industrie of him and Willibrodus the number of the faithfull daily increased at the intreatie of the brethren in Trajectum and Friseland both of them consented he should be consecrated Bishop Whereupon Saint Switbert whom Beda saith to have beene modest of life and meeke in heart went into England and was consecrated by Saint Willfride Bishop of Mercia Kent saith Beda had then no Bishop in the yeere 695. But Saint Willibrode went unto Duke Pipinus and having gotten leave of him departed to Rome where the yeere following Pope Sergius consecrated him And although Switbert by reason of some small time had the start of Willibrode yet Willibrode went before him in dignitie for he was the first Archbishop of Trajectum and especially by Pope Sergius consecrated Archbishop of Frisia and directed to that people And saith Beda Sergius changed his name and called him Clement because saith Molanus hee consecrated him on Saint Clements Even And he also writeth that he was Archbishop of the nations now called Frisii Transiselani Trajectenses Hollandi and Zelandi whereas Switbert is not called Bishop of Trajectum but fellow Bishop with Saint Willibrode Yet he is by speciall name called the Apostle of Teisterbandia Westfalia and of the Boructuarians for Marcellinus writeth that hee converted the county of Teisterbandia and together with it in a manner all Batua and the greater part of the lower Friseland unto the faith He also exceedingly increased the number of the beleevers in the Church at Trajectum he founded many Churches and dedicated the temples of Idols unto the honour of God In the historie of Marcellinus certaine places by especiall words are named as in Zandwic in the I le of Tila which at this day cannot be found in Arkell and Hoernaer villages of the Lordship of Gorcomia in Schoenreford now called Schoenrewoert by Leerda in Authensden nigh Huesden in Wondrighen now called Worckum in Aelborch Giesen and Riiswijâ—ke between Worckum and Huesden in Almkerk which is the territorie of Altenae in Maelsem Erkum and Avesaede in the Lordship of Buria with many other places In these countries hee hallowed Churches continually praying with great devotion for the people which hee had converted and with wholesome admonitions drawing them to the heavenly dwellings He converted the Westfalians and Boructuarians which at this day are thought to bee the people Markenses Further the renowned Duke Pipinus gave him Werda upon the river of Rhene for his good and for the establishing of his principality which place is elsewhere called the Iland of Saint Switbert though now it be part of the continent or maine land Pipinus gave him also great store of treasure wherewith he builded there a Monasterie and replenished the same with a great company of the servants of Christ. In the end this Saint Switbert died in the yeere 717. and lyeth buried in the Monasterie of Werda-Caesaris which he had founded Beda writeth that Willibrode lived in his time and went on the thirtieth and sixt yeere of his consecration Archbishop of Friseland Molanus delivereth his end that namely he ended his dayes at Westervoert and was buried at Elste in Gelderland but of Egbert and Wigbert the Martyr before mentioned he reporteth out of Beda and Marcellinus that Wigbert was one of the companions of Egbert and for the space of many yeeres had led an Anchors life in Ireland that he sailed into Friseland and for the space of two whole yeeres preached unto that nation and to their King Radbodus and seeing that he could doe no good among them returned againe to Ireland And when as Egbertus the servant of God had sent the second time unto the Friselanders and Saxons famous men for life and learning Acca Willibaldus Winiboldus Lebuinus Werenfridus Marcellinus Adalbertus Ewaldus senior and junior together with Willibrode he sent the said Wigbert who no sooner landed but King Radâ—od caused him cruelly to be tormented to death in Fosetes-landâ— an Iland in the confines of Friseland and Denmarke for that the Christians of that place by his preaching of the Gospell had destroyed there the Idoll groves of Iupiter and Fosta There was a later Wigbertus Patron of Hersweldia remembred in the Martyrologe whom I would have the reader take notice of to avoid the confusion of times And last of all of Willibrode and Wilfram there is a storie how that Raboldus after long perswasion seemed willing to be baptized and having one foot in the water demanded where be the nobilitie of Frizeland my Father Grand-father and kindred Answer being made that they were in hell hee with-drew himselfe from baptisme saying I will goe after the greatest company take your heaven to your selfe Molanus when
hee had at large written the lives of the foresaid learned men that came out of Ireland he maketh in his Chronicle a recapitulation of them the which will helpe the memorie of the reader therefore I thought good to lay it down Egbert the second time essaied to convert Friseland and Saxonie gathered together twelve Apostolicke men Willibrode Switbert Acca Wigbert Wilibald Winibold Lebuinus Ewaldus surnamed the blacke in Irish Duffe Ewaldus the white Werenfridus Marcellinus and Adalbertus 1 Saint Willibrod and Saint Switbert by common consent of the brethren were elected and consecrated Bishops Saint Willibrode was made Archbishop of Friseland he received by the donation of Duke Pipinus the Citie of Traiectum with all thereunto appertaining He founded in the territorie of Saint Thomas a Colledge of regular Canons In the towne of Rhen he is said to have found the body of Cunera one of the eleven thousand Virgins He travailed in preaching without Friseland â—e had in Latharingia two women disciples Herlind and Relind Nunnes of Maeseike which now is of Leodium or Leege in Flanders He converted the Hulstenses Axellanos Hasuenses Birfletanos At Trevires in the Church of Saint Marie and Martyres hee founded a Monasterie of Monkes Benedictines At Epternacum among the Luxemburgs he founded a famous Monasterie wherein hee was buried Anno 736. 2 Saint Switbert was consecrated in England and converted many in Traiectum Holland Gelderland chiefely Wiic Hagelsteyn Alcmaria Waterlaâ—dia Gerconium Bomelia Tiela Huesda Bura Baâ—ua with other places Hee is called the Apostle of Teisterbandia Westfalia and of the Boructuarians He builded a Monasterie in Werda Caesaris where he ended his dayes Anno 710. 3 Acca went into England to the consecration of Saint Switbert and when Switbert returned he became Bishop of Lindisfarne Wigbert is said to be martyred in Fostilandia adjoyning upon Friseland by Radbodus King of Friseland who also slue Saint Egelmund the Martyr 5.6 Wilibaldus and Winiboldus being brethren went to Aistadium in Germanie 7 Lebuinus converted the Transiselanians and resteth among them in Daventria 8.9 The two Ewaldes went to Nabia preached Christ and were martyred by the old Saxons 10 Werenfridus converted many to the faith at Arnhemium in Westervaert and at Neomagum in Elst. 11 Marcellinus preached 65. yeeres chiefely in Trenta Twenta Oudenzeel and Daventria 12 Adelbertus was the first Archdeacon of Traiectum preached in Kenemaria together with Engelmund an Englishman before spoken of and lyeth buried at Velsen in Egmondan monasterie He writeth farther of Wiron and Plechelinus Bishops of Friseland who came thither together with Otgerus a Deacon out of these parts and were entertained by Pipinus Duke of Brabant Many things are written by Beda Capgrave Surius Baronius Molanus Lippeloo and others of Fursaeus Foilanus whom Beda calleth Fullanus and Vltanus They were three brethren and the base sonnes of a King of Leinster they flourished about the yeere sixe hundred fiftie and odde Fursaeus is said to have had many visions and dreadfull conflicts with divels and infernall spirits He preached unto the Irish Scots Britaines and Saxons hee went into France where he wrought many miracles saith Molanus and because of the fame that went abroad of him one Ercanaldus gave him at Latiniacum a parcell of land to build a Monasterie also hee gave him another piece of ground at Perona sometime a towne in Flanders but now of France and parcell of Gallia Comata where he builded another Monasterie and drew unto him saith mine Author germanos fratres Foilanus and Vltanus and there ended the way of all flesh They of Cambray doe honour him as a Bishop not that hee was a Bishop but an Apostle of certaine places The martyrologe of Sarum reporteth how that after his death the angels and the deuils strove for his soule how that the soule returned to the body againe and how that he lived afterwards Here the Author is deceived for it was a trance that he was in out of which after certaine conflicts he came to himselfe againe and finally in godly sort ended his dayes I finde in the life of Mocoeinoge that there was one Fursaeus a Bishop but more ancient then this With Fursaeus there were at one and the selfe same time many famous men of Irish birth renowned for learning and sanctitie which gave themselves to travaile and dispersed themselves to farre countries as Foilanus and Vltanus before mentioned also Mombolus Boetius Eloquius Adulgisius Columbanus Hetto Helanus Tresanus Germanus Veranus Gobanus Corbrican Dicull Fredegandus Colmanellus Madelgarius Algisius and others After they had visited Rome they came backe saith Molanus into France and Flanders Fursaeus and Adelgisius into Perona Foilanus and Vltanus into Possa Eloquius and Algisius into Theoras the reverend Priest Hetto unto the lake adioyning unto Corbriolum where he builded a Monasterie called domus Petri. Further saith Molanus in the confines of the Attrebates there is a Village called Buym which hath a Church called Saint Hetto whereupon is written In hoc loco Hetto Hiberniensium Episcopus mansionem habuit in another place of the Church Hic reposuit Hetto Hibernensis Episcopus reliquias de corpore sancti Clementis Papae Martyris In another place he writeth of Hetto Goban and Corbrican that they were three brethren and in their returne from Rome died at Walciodorum and lie buried at Fesca Beda left but a bare mention of Goban and Dicull onely this that they were companions of Foilanus Foilanus was slaine in a place in Flanders called Carboriar Saint Bernard writeth that in the place where he was slaine there is a Monasterie builded by the name of Saint Foilane ordinis praemonstratensis in the Diocesse of Cambray Fredegand preached in Antverp where now hee resteth and is greatly honoured Mombolus became an Abbot in the Monasterie of Fursaeus in France a perceiving a conspiracie of his covent against him forsook the place and withdrew himselfe together with a few of his company unto a place of old called Condrynus upon the river Isara where he led an hermites life and ended his dayes There was another of that name a Saint of Burdeux but not of Irish birth Eloquius preached most painefully throughout France and Saxonie and being seated at Latiniecum in the Monasterie which Fursaeus had founded perceived some treacherie practised against him withdrew himselfe as formerly Mombolus had done to a solitarie place called Grimacum upon the rivers of Some and Isara where he departed this life afterwards his body was translated to Walciodorum in Flanders and there he resteth About this time Saint Autbert borne in Ireland was Bishop of Cambray he converted Hannonia and is called the Apostle of Flanders of him Molanus writeth thus Autbertus had beene for certaine yeeres Hiberniae gubernator governour of Ireland the which I take to be some ecclesiasticall charge by which occasion many singular good Preachers heretofore
mentioned came the more willingly out of Ireland unto us Trithemius reporteth of this time in this sort There were many Monasteries of Irish men in Germanie Herbipolis and other places but when their zeale waxed cold and that they fell to remisse and dissolute life they were expulsed and their habitation became waste and desolate Saint Chilian otherwise written Kilian whom Bale calleth a Scot Surius Baronius and Lippeloo write that hee was an Irish man of Noble Parentage Molanus writeth in Hibernia regio sanguine procreatus that he was begotten in Ireland of royall bloud another saith he was a Kings base sonne This man became a Monke went to Rome together with Colman a Priest and Totnan a Deacon of the same country birth in the time of Conon Bishop of Rome about the yeere 687. to sue unto the Bishop there that Ireland might be released of the curse that was denounced against the land and the inhabitants thereof for the Pelagian heresie Molanus writeth that he served in Saint Peters Church in Rome eleven yeeres but he was directed another course for he was consecrated Bishop of Herbipolis in the East parts of France and together with his fellowes sent away There they converted Gosbert a French Duke which had married one Geila his brothers wife It is Iohn Baptists case he rebuked him for it and shee hearing thereof sent certaine lewd persons in the night which murthered them all three and privily buried them lest so horrible a fact should come to light but God that will have no such villany concealed brought it out the tormentors became madde and confessed the whole Beda in his Martyrologe reporteth how that at Wirciburge in Austria the birth day of Kilian the Martyr and his two companions is solemnly kept the eight of Iuly Molanus saith that in his travaile he met with Saint Fiacre sometime his fathers servant but he following carefully his direction staid not with him but passed on in his iourney This Saint Fiacre saith the Martyrologe was base sonne of some King in Ireland went into France and became an heremite there are small remembrances of him in Surius and Lippeloo saving that for a womans sake which called him a Witch Sorcerer and Inchanter hee commanded that no woman should put foot into his Cloister and if any should doe so he prayed that God would lay some plague upon her to try this a woman sent her maide to take the ayre of the Cloyster but she tooke no harme upon a second tryall a fairer then she presumed so farre that her shinne her knee and her thigh saith mine Author and some parts above tooke swelling and that went for a punishment In an antient manuscript Legend of the life of Congellus or Congallus I finde that Saint Fiacre returned into Ireland and became Abbot of Airard in Leinster upon the river of Berba now called the Barrow in the Barony of Odrone and that he went to the Abbey of Beanchor in Vlster to visite Congellus at whose hands Congellus received the Sacrament and gave up the Ghost There also it is further alledged that this Fiacre builded a Monasterie in Leinster in the honour of Saint Congellus The martyrologe aforesaid remembreth Saint Cataldus a Bishop Saint Finan an Abbot Saint Sacodine a Virgin who forsooke her husband and entred religion to have lived then and how that Indrake a King of Ireland forsooke his royaltie went to Rome with his sister Dominica led a private life and died beggers Capgrave calleth him Indraktus saying that he was a Kings sonne and tooke with him beside his sister nine persons more About this time saith Capgrave one Muriardachus Monarch of Ireland together with his wife Sabina lived in the true faith and feare of God who being mighty and wise commanded in good sort all the Princes of the land In this his good successe and peaceable governement he was envied so that a petite King his neighbour came upon him in the night murthered him with his Queene and all his familie excepting one daughter whose life hee saved for her beauties sake This cruell tyrant after assaulted this faire Gentlewoman to his filthy lust and when with faire perswasions he could not prevaile at length by force he oppressed her so that shee conceived and bare him a sonne called at the time of his baptisme Milluhoc but afterwards Cuthbert This Cuthbert being borne as my Author writeth at Kilmacrodrike some three miles from Dublin his mother tooke him to Scotland to her two brethren Meldan and Eatan that were Bishops From thence hee went into the North parts of England and was brought up among the holy Monkes of those dayes in the Monasterie of Mailros under the Abbot Boisilius whom he succeeded in the same Monasterie Anno 651. And Anno 676. he went to the I le Farne which was uninhabited and continued there nine yeeres building teaching and preaching and as Beda writing his life delivereth working in harvest time with his owne hands The fame of his vertues and holinesse went farre abroad so that Egfride King of the Northumbers made him Bishop of Lindesfarne to which dignitie hee was consecrated at Yorke by Theodorus the Archbishop Anno 685. In his time the aforesaid Egfride sent Brith with a great host into Ireland to be revenged of them for that he was given to understand they had aided his enemies against him these Saxons over-ranne the land killing burning and spoyling they spared neither Church nor Monasterie so writeth Beda Berthus vastavit miserè gentē innoxā nationi Anglorum semper amicissimam Berthus pittifully spoiled this harmelesse people who alwaies most kindely affected the English nation Cuthbert reproved him for it and the Ilanders cried unto the heavens and prayed God to avenge their cause Beda reporteth farther how that he bent his forces afterwards against the Pictes and Scots and would not be advised by Cuthbert and Egbert and that his bloudy course had no good successe and that then Egfride the glory of the Saxons began to decay the which Florilegus attributeth to the crie of the Irish and the courage of the Pictes and Scots and Britaines In his time saith Carodoc it rained bloud in Britaine and Ireland the Milke likewise and the Butter turned to the colour of bloud and the Moone appeared all bloudie Cuthbert when he had beene Bishop two yeeres forsooke his Bishopricke and went to the I le Farne where hee led an hermites life and left the world Anno Dom. 687. It is written of him that he forbade his Monkes and Priests the company of women and that they should not come within any Cloyster for that the devill appeared unto him in his Church in the shape of a woman most faire and beautifull Yet I finde that he conversed much with Ebba and Verca and with Elfleda King Egfrides sister and repaired oft to their Nunneries did eate and drinke with them and sent Elfleda a linnen
speake of that time naturally given to idlenesse would not sulcate the seas neither give themselves to merchandise so that by one consent of the whole land it was thought good that some certaine nation by whose industrie the commodities of other regions wanting in Ireland might be hither transported should be suffered to dwell in some parts of the land Their Leaders and Captaines were three brethren Amelanus Sitaracus and Ivorus when they had first builded three Cities Dublin Waterford and Limericke the command of Dublin fell to Amelanus Waterford to Sitaracus Lymericke to Ivorus and from these by degrees in processe of time they gave themselves to build other Cities in Ireland This nation quae nunc Oasâ—mannica gens vocatur which now is called the Esterling nation or East men at their first comming demeaned themselves toward the Kings of the land in a most royall and peaceable mander but when the number multiplied of their owne kinne and they had fortified their Cities with wals and trenches they began to revive the old hatred that was hid in their hearts and obstinately to rebell They were called Oostmanni of their corrupt Saxon tongue as men of the East Of these and the former Norwegians the Irish tooke the use of the Sparthes now called Galloglas axes So farre Cambrensis verbatim and Polychron in substance Divers have diversly delivered their opinion and misreckoned themselves in their computation of yeeres when these Cities before spoken of were builded Stanihurst in his description of Ireland referreth it to the yeere 155. and that they were builded by Amelanus in another place he alledgeth it was after Gurmundus his dayes done in like sort by Amelanus It is such an errour as I cannot well impute it to the Printer Cambrensis and Polychronicon doe not lay down the yeere but the time about the yeere what beside is added is but fancie and conjecture for their testimony is the ground of all For where they write that these brethren came to Ireland after the death of Turgesius then it was after the yeere 862 wherein hee died but how soone or how long after there is no certaintie That they builded these Cities I doe not beleeve I had rather say with Stanihurst that they reedified them for those places were after a sort builded and inhabited many yeeres before their arrivall I take it that as Merchants they builded themselves dwelling houses walled the townes and made keyes to moore their shippes neither doe I hold it that every one severally builded a Citie but all three together with the aide of their country Merchants upon their arrivall in their safe Ports builded and planted their country people and rested not long for the Irish fell upon them and banished them out of the land for their riches pride and rebellion In the yeere 850. lived Patricke the Abbot of Ireland Abbot and Confessor For there were two Patrickes the first a very learned and godly man the second a Abbot and given to superstition and founder of the fabulous Purgatorie which goeth in Ireland under the name of Saint Patrickes Purgatorie so write Ranulphus Monke of Chester and Bale Bishop of Ossory though Stanihurst allow not of it but attribute it to the first Patricke and that without warrant In his time there rose a great rebellion in Ireland so that hee fled into Britaine and lyeth buried in Glastenbury The Martyrologe of Sarum reporteth that in Ireland they keepe the feast of Patricke the Abbot the 24. of August Stanihurst to further his credite delivereth that he wrote a booke of Homilies and certaine Epistles directed to the Irish. The sounder opinion is the which Stanihurst at unawares remembred out of Claudianus that the place there was in like sort as it is now in the time of Paganisme and was long before Saint Patrickes dayes And it seemeth to be after the manner of concavities in the bowels of the earth where the ayre entring naturally to avoid Vacuum and the winde following whisteleth and crieth like dolefull ghosts the silly ignorant and simple people being deceived through perswasion of covetous Priests that some soules and spirits doe penance there for their sinnes call it a Purgatorie And further we see by reason and daily experience in Miners that if any be much under grownd the dampnesse of the earth takes away their lively colour and makes them looke ghastly and if they continue any long while there the vitall spirits being barred of their usuall course they are mightily tormented cast into trances and distracted and being once delivered from the place report things at randon of heaven and earth beleeve them who list Albertus Krantz reckoning up reports given forth out of severall countries touching visions apparitions voyces illusions inserteth among them Patrickes Purgatorie in Ireland and concludeth that they are to be accounted among old Wives fables Antoninus alledgeth Vincentius for his Author how that in those dayes the historie de fossae sancti Patricij of Saint Patrickes pit or ditch was not of many allowed the reason is alledged for that it is there avouched that the soules in that Purgatorie goe not straight to heaven but into some terrestriall Paradice whereas the received opinion is saith he that there is no middle place betweene Purgatorie and the celestiall Paradice In the time of Alphred alias Alured King of West Saxons anno 872. as Fabian and Cooper have noted there was a grievous maladie raigning among the people called the euill ficus which also tooke the King so that say mine Authors an Irish maid came out of Ireland called Modwen whose Monasterie in time of rebellion was destroyed and cured the King In recompence whereof she had land given her in the North whereon two Monasteries were founded and now she resteth at Aundersey by Burloa Polychronicon and Holinshead report the historie as if Alphred had gone into Ireland unto her I alledge this historie to put the reader in minde how that formerly I have written of one Modwen who lived immediately after Saint Patricke and was of Irish birth about 400. yeeres agoe Were it not for the time by many circumstances they both should be one but to remove all doubts and to uphold the credite of antiquaries I will say they were two of one country birth and now rest in one place There was great amitie betweene Alphred or Alured before mentioned and Gregory King of Scots in whose time Anno 877. Grafton Cooper and Buchanan are mine Authors great troubles and misery fell upon Ireland the circumstances in briefe were these The Citizens of Dublin found themselves grieved and mightily wronged by the Scots of Galloway that whereas certaine tall ships of theirs were wind-driven thither the Scots fell upon them rifled them and thereof made a prey In revenge whereof the people of Dublin gathered Irish forces arrived there and preyed the country Gregory the King having intelligence thereof hastened with his forces to
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
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
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-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
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—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
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-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
English men had the vantage of a great hedge and ditch of the one hand and a bogge on the other to gall the enemies horses where no horse could enter within them Odonell seeing the Horsmen to be but a few commanded his foot and maine battaile to make a stand untill hee sent them word to march on meaning to make short worke with the Horsemen and so to breake the necke of the strength of the battaile the Horsemen joyne battaile the Archers gall Odonels horses with arrowes whom the English launce slew not the horse unsadled and when the English quiver was empty the archer with his sword haught the horses and dispatched the men that were unhorsed and cast to the ground Odonels horsemen being somewhat discomfited retired Sir Amoricus cals upon Courcy and Poer to bring on the foote who metting with the foote and maine battaile of the Irish that expected newes from Odonell fought most fiercely No instrument of Warre could be heard the cry of both sides pierced the clouds the gald horses grievously complained the maimed souldiers groueling on the ground and gasping for breath gave pittifull groanes the Irish flang darts and stones the English shoote arrowes the Irish with sparthes and galloglasse axes the English with speares and swords encounter on both sides most valiantly the splints of brokē staves fly about their eares and eyes sparkles of fire from their swords and targets and the blowes upon their helmets yeelded the sound of hammers working upon anviles both sides deserved honor and singular commendations the slaughter was great on both sides and continued long many of the English were slaine and a number of the Irish were left alive they determined to make an end of the English that day the rere of the Irish march couragiously the English had the bog of the one side and the ditch of the other and the entrance to them was ful of heads legs and armes dead corps armor and horses dead and lying a long striving with death that they could not approch whereupon they broke their battaile aray dispersed themselves and from the paces entred the plaines Sir Amoric watching his opportunity called Ieffrey Montgomery his sisters sonne and standard bearer and said Have not we quitted our selves like men this day and shall wee dishonour the field so much as to suffer yonder company to escape our hands come advance your Standard let us wheele about and give the on-set Montgomery replied it seemes strange unto mee to see your stomach passe your strength we have wonne honour advisedly and shall we now rashly lose it of seven score we have but forty horses left the rest are wounded tired and not fit for service then said Amorich give me the Standard I will beare it my selfe if that be your pleasure saith Mountgomery you shall not heareafter charge me with cowardise under this Standard have I got honour and under this Standard if God so so please I will dye With this they wheeled about and overtooke the foot of the Irish being loden with armes and wearied with fight with their launces they strooke them to the ground they gave the on-set a fresh upon the horsemen which were about 200. and had Connor O Laghlin to their leader who retreated in battaile array ready to answer the fight Sir Amoricus in that skirmish was twice vnhorsed and by his men lift up againe afterwards in a filthy foord he was unhorsed againe and his horse slaine under him whereupon some of his troope lighted stood very stoutly by him tooke weapons out of the dead mens hands that lay along the way kept the Foord from horse and man untill Sir Iohn de Courcy came to the rescue at which time many of the Irish were slaine and the rest fled away thus in the end God gave the victory unto the English men after the losse of many a brave man and especially Lyonell Saint Laurence nephew to Amoricus whose death was greatly lamented When they had buried their dead and gathered their armes they returned to Dune The Midsummer following Courcy fought the second battaile nigh the walles of Dune saith Stanihurst and overthrew fifteene thousand men in Vlster And saith the booke of Houth after that field Vlster men had small stomacke to give any onset upon the English men yet I finde the field to have beene bloudy of both sides and that Sir Amoricus was sore wounded laid under a hedge eating hony suckles for his reliefe where he left much bloud and was carried away betweene foure men his wounds were so many and so dangerous that no Physitian or Surgeon could promise life the space of nine dayes yet in the end recovered Next unto him was his sonne Sir Nicholas Saint Laurence a most valiant Knight so sore wounded in nine severall places that he was once left for dead but at length recovered to the great comfort of his friends The third battaile that Sir Iohn de Courcy fought was in Ferng against eleaven thousand Irish men the occasion was thus Courcy had builded many Castles throughout Vlster and especially in Fern where Mac Mahon dwelled this Mac Mahon with solemne protestations vowed to become a true and faithfull subiect gave Courcy many gifts and made him his Goship which is a league of amitie highly esteemed in Ireland Whereupon Courcy gave him two Castles with their demeanes to hold of him Within one moneth after this Mac Mahon returning to his vomit brake downe the Castles and made them even with the ground Sir Iohn de Courcy sent unto him to know the cause that moved him to fall to this villanie his answer was that he promised not to hold stones of him but the land and that it was contrary to his nature to couch himselfe within cold stones the woods being so nigh where he might better warme himselfe with other slender and scornefull answers Courcy to be revenged of him saw no better course then to prey his country mustred his men entred the land and swept all the cattell before him The prey was so great that it could not be driven unlesse it were devided into three parts and to that end this company in like sort was proportioned betweene the foremost of the voward and the last of the rereward there was three miles distance the paces were narrow the way miry and boggy with thicke bushes on either side the Irish being as I said before eleven thousand in number stood upon all advantages had their espials upon them divided themselves likewise and stept in betweene every of the English companies and upon a sudden made such a cry and gave such a shout that the woods rang thereof and the Cowes ranne like divels upon the drivers and overthrew horse and man so that there were more slaine and trode under foot in the mire and dirt of the English men by the Cowes then by the sword of the rebels Vpon this cry all the Cowes were lost and the men fell to blowes where the Irish being
lands unto the Monastery of Saint Iames of Keynisham Anno 1421. Our Lady day fell out to be upon Munday in Easter weeke Also the Parliament began the third time at Dublin the Munday after Saint Ambroses day and there it was ordained that agents should be sent over unto the King for reformation of matters touching the state of the land namely the Archbishop of Armagh and Sir Christopher Preston Knight At the same time Richard Ottdian Bishop of Casshell was accused of Iohn Gese Bishop of Lismore and Waterford upon thirty articles among other one was that he made very much of the Irish and that he loved none of the English nation and that he bestowed no Benefice upon any English man and that he counselled other Bishops not to give the least Benefice to any of them that he counterfeited the Kings Seale and letters Patents that he went about to make himselfe King of Munster and that hee had taken a Ring from the image of Saint Patricke which the Earle of Desmond had offered and bestowed it upon his Concubine And he exhibited many other enormious matters against him in writing by whom the Lords and Commons were troubled Also in the same Parliament there arose a contention betwixt Adam Payn Bishop of Clone because the said Adam would have united unto his See the Church of another Prelate and the other would not give way unto it and so they were dismissed unto the Court of Rome the Parliament continued eighteene dayes Then newes were stirring that the Lord Thomas of Lancaster Duke of Clarence was slaine in France and many other with him Vpon the seventh of May there was slaughter made upon the Earle of Ormonds the Lord Lievetenants men by Omordris neere unto the Monastery of Leys and there were seaven and twenty English men slaine the chiefe whereof were Purcell and Grant tenne Noble men were taken prisoners and two hundred fled unto the said Abbey and so saved themselves About the Ides of May dyed Sir Iohn Bedloe knight and Ieffery Galon sometime Maior of Dublin who was buried in the house of the Fryers Preachers of the same City About the same time Mac Mahon an Irish Lord did much hurt in Vrgile by wasting and burning all before him Vpon the seaventh of Iune the Lord Lievetenant entred into the Country about Leys upon Omordris leading a very great army and for the space of foure dayes together slaying the people till the Irish were glad to sue for peace On the feast of Saint Michael the Arch-angell Thomas Stanley with all the Knights and Esquires of Meath and Irel tooke Neyle O Donnell prisoner and slue the rest in the fourteenth yeere of the raigne of King Henry the sixt Here endeth the Chronicle of Henry Marleburrough FINIS A VIEW OF THE STATE OF IRELAND Written dialogue-wise betweene Eudoxus and Irenaeus By EDMUND SPENSER Esq. in the yeare 1596. VVhereunto is added the History of IRELAND By EDMUND CAMPION sometime fellow of St Iohn's Colledge in Oxford Published by Sir IAMES WARE Knight DUBLIN Printed by the Society of Stationers M.DC.XXXIII TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS LO VISCOVNT WENTWORTH LO DEPVTY GENERALL OF IRELAND LO PRESIDENT OF HIS MAIESTIES COVNCELL ESTABLISHED IN THE NORTH PARTS OF ENGLAND AND ONE OF HIS MAIESTIES MOST HONORABLE PRIVIE COVNCELL RIGHT HONORABLE THE sence of that happy peace which by the divine providence this Kingdome hath enjoyed since the beginning of the raigne of his late Majestie of ever sacred memory doth then take the deeper impression when these our halcyon dayes are compared with the former turbulent and tempestuous times and with the miseries of severall kindes incident unto them Those calamities are fully set out and to the life by Mr Spenser with a discovery of their causes and remedies being for the most part excellent grounds of reformation And so much may be justly expected from him in regard of his long abode and experience of this Kingdome In these respects and for other good uses which the collections now communicated doe afford for matter of history and policy I am incouraged to dedicate them to your Lordship and humbly to desire your favourable acceptance of them and of Your Lordships ever humbly devoted IAMES WARE THE PREFACE HOw far these collections may conduce to the knowledge of the antiquities and state of this Land let the fit reader judge yet something I may not passe by touching Mr Edmund Spenser the worke it selfe lest I should seeme to offer injury to his worth by others so much celebrated Hee was borne in London of an ancient and noble family and brought up in the Vniversitie of Cambridge where as the fruites of his after labours doe manifest he mispent not his time After this he became Secretary to Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton Lord Deputy of Ireland a valiant and worthy Governour and shortly after for his services to the Crowne he had bestowed upon him by Queene Elizabeth 3000. acres of land in the Countie of Corke There hee finished the later part of that excellent poem of his Faery Queene which was soone after unfortunately lost by the disorder and abuse of his servant whom he had sent before him into England being then a rebellibus as Camdens words are è laribus ejectus bonis spoliatus He deceased at Westminster in the yeare 1599. others have it wrongly 1598. soone after his returne into England and was buried according to his owne desire in the collegiat Church there neere unto Chaucer whom he worthily imitated at the costes of Robert Earle of Essex wherupon this Epitaph was framed Hîc prope Chaucerum situs est Spenserius illi proximus ingenio proximus ut tumulo Hîc prope Chaucerum Spensere poeta poetam conderis versu quà m tumulo propior Anglica te vivo vixit plausitque poesis nunc moritura timet te moriente mori As for his worke now published although it sufficiently testifieth his learning and deepe judgement yet we may wish that in some passages it had bin tempered with more moderation The troubles and miseries of the time when he wrote it doe partly excuse him And surely wee may conceive that if hee had lived to see these times and the good effects which the last 30. yeares peace have produced in this land both for obedience to the lawes as also in traffique husbandry civility learning he would have omitted those passages which may seeme to lay either any particular aspersion upon some families or generall upon the Nation For now we may truly say jam cuncti gens una sumus and that upon just cause those ancient statutes wherein the natives of Irish descent were held to be and named Irish enemies and wherein those of English bloud were forbidden to marry and commerce with them were repealed by act of Parlament in the raigne of our late Soveraigne King IAMES of ever blessed memory His proofes although most of them conjecturall concerning the
Ireland into Britaine Hect. Boet. Scot. hist. lib. 4. Anno Dom. 53. Polychron lib 1. cap. 1. cap. 37. Io. Harding Chronig Mewinus Flor. hist. Mewinus was also called Melkinus Io. Bale cent 1 cap. 57. wrote his life The stone Regall of Scotland Pol. lib. 1. cap. 58 Ponticus Virunius Io. Bale Script Brytan centur 8 Scotland for Albania from hence forward Anno Dom. 73. Galf. Mon. Booke of Houth Anno Dom. 310 The history of Realmond King of Vlster Duke of Cornewall Castreus the Gyant Sax. Gram. hist. Dan. lib. 7. The Danes come to Ireland The genealogie of Fin Erin or Fin Mac Coyll Eric or Erin what it signifieth Erin or Ireland of whom so called Occasions of the battaile of Fentra Strangers intend the utter subversion of the Irish nation A strange battaile if it be true Gillemore of Thomond revolteth Gillemore returneth The battaile of Fentra The severall garrisons of the Danes Beacons appointed in Ireland by Fin Mac Koill Karbre Lifeacher Monarch of Ireland The insolent devices of the Danes Forces of the Irish and Danes Garrestowne The marshalling of the Danes at the battaile of Ardkath Hol-trase Order of the Kings of Ireland at the field of Ardkath Dermot Lamhdhearg King of Leinster The King of Leinsters speech Osker Mac Oshen his speech Fabian part 6. cap. 198. writeth that the Danes did the like in England The battaile of Ardkath The King of Leinster slaieth the King of Denmarke his sonne The Danes overcome Ferreis a Dane fell madde Fin Mac Coile The Danes disagree in Ireland Fin Mac Coile taketh the King of Denmarke prisoner Overcommeth a Gyant Gorre burneth Fin Mac Coiles house He is killed by his own sonne The end of Fin Mac Coill W. Harrison in the description of Brit. Georg. Buchan veg Scot. lib. 4. H. Boet. Scot. hist. lib. 6. Irish consult how to helpe the Scots against the Romans Conditions of peace between the Romans and Irish. Ponticus Virunius lib. 4. Tho. Cooper Rerum Scot. lib. 5. Cambrensis Stan. in appendice Anno Dom. 430. Prosper in Chro. Palladius Geo. Buchanan â—ey Scot. lib. 5. Iocelin in vita Sancti Patricij cap. 24. Christian faith in Ireland Colmannus and Dymna The life of Saint Declanus Familie of the Decies Engus King of Mounster Ard-naciored i. Altitudo ovium now Ardmore Albaeus Declanus Ybarus Keran Emulation Cassill Church is built and made mother-Church of Mounster A Parliament A great pestilence in Mounster The life of Saint Albaeus King Cronanus of Eliach King Fintan baptized Ymleach or Emley Biga and Bretach Nunnes Nessanus the Antiquarie The life of Saint Kyaranus or Keran Keran the first Bishop of Ossorie Itinerarium Cambriae The life of Saint Ybarus The life of Abbanus the Abbot Saint Finan Saint Becanus Emenus the Abbot Civitas Magarnoid The life of Saint Patricke Anno Christi 422. Iocel in praef ad vitam Patric Sigeb ad an 432. Iohannes Clyn Antiq. Hiber Iohn Bale Scrip. Britt cent 1. 14. Segetius sent with Saint Patrick Saint Patricks works * * Probus lib. 2. of his life mentioneth it S. Patrick buried in Downe Authors that wrote of Saint Pacrick Ioc. in vita Patricis cap. 12. Milcho his daughters are babtized Laigerius Monarch of Ireland withstandeth S. Patr. Saint Pat. prophecie of the Monarch Mocho Bishop of Dune Benignus or Stephanus successour to Saint Patricke A Nunne saith Iocelin was in love with him sent for him to her bed but the signe of the Crosse made all well Erchus or Herkus a Bishop Ioc. cap. 49.51.53.68.69 seq Mac Carly Saint Paâ— sisters Lumianus Bishop of Ahtrum Conallus Lord of Connaght Saint Patricks prophecie of Dublin Dublin beleeveth and is baptized Saint Patricks Well Morguus of Castleknoke Engus and Daris receive Saint Pat. Vrmiunnan or Ormond King Eochu and his daughter baptized Cecubris the first Nunne in Ireland King Conallus and Fergus baptized Saint Pat. in Britaine Pelagians Isle of Man Eocchiad and Dublinia raised from death Dublin whence so called Saint Pat. manner of teaching Iocelin c. 1â—2 Saint Patricks three petitions for Ireland Flor. histor Anton Chron. part 2. tit 11. cap. 18. Saint Patricks workes and labour in Ireland Iocelin cap. 187. Ioc. cap. 164. and 198. Strife for Saint Patricks body The life of Saint Brigide Bernard in vita Malachiae A Synode by Dublin Kildare Bishops of Kildare Scot. hist. lib. 9 Brigides death Saint Darludach Illand King of Leinster The life of Caelius Sedulius Iohannes Bale Script Brit. cent 14. The workes of Caelius Sedulius R. Stan. prefaâ— ad lib. 1. de râ—b Hib. Append. ad cap. 17· The life of Fridelinus Viator Io. Bale script Britanic cent 14. Saint Fekin The life of Saint Modwen Saint Sith the Virgin The reader is not bound to beleeve this Osmanna the Virgin Tathe the Monkeâ— The stones of Salisbury sent for into Ireland Gillomer King of Leinster Stonehenge In praefatione ad hist. Danâ— Io. Harding Gillomer King of Leinster slaine at Saint Davids in Wales Anno Dom. â—25 Homage for Ireland Marogh one of K. Arthurs Knights Rich. Robinson in his bookes of Armes and Archerie Caxton and the booke of Houth Sir Tristram La Bell Isod Marke King of Cornewall married La Bell Isod Iealousie The life of Congellus a Britaine Bangor in Vlster Congellus supposed to be Irish. Altitudo Vltorum now called the Ardeâ—â— Brendans life Saint Fynbarry Lee â—lu Ex officio Sancti Finbarri Columbanus Columba Battaile of Cule-Dreibne Beda Ang hist. lib. 5. cap. 10. 3 Columba Io. Capgrave Columbanus his Irish disciples Deicolus Gallus Ionas a Monke 4 Columb Colmannus and Colme Saint Mochudu The life of Saint Machutus or Maclovius Iles of Aron Io. Bale cent 1. Saint Kentegernus Ruadanus his life Saint Faghua his life Saint Yta the Abbatesse Saint Mocoeinoge Divers learned men Saint Coeingenus Gleand-daloch Dymnach Saint Molva his life Saint Finnian his schoole Luacha mons Synna flu Mount Smoill Divers Bishops and learned men Berua fl The life of Saint Munnu Lazerianus If they were as faâ— in those daies as most of them proved after there would have beene old frying Mount Margee Saint Kenny his life Learned men Kilkenny Saint Kennies Church Saint Maula and her plague Aedanus his life Anmyre King of Connaght Edus or Edanus King of Connaght Brandub King of Leinster Monarch of Ireland Fernes Ferneâ— the Metropolitan See of Leinster King Brandubs death Ferne the buriall place of the Kings of Leinster Warres against Leinster An Epistle from the Divell Bishop Finan Capgrave Martyrologe Abbot Finan Finan of Cluayn jarhaird Colmannus Beda Edelthun and Egbert Colmannus or Colmanellus Eadus the sonne of King Aimireach Carantocus or Cervagh Ireland subiect to the King of England I le of Man Anno Dom. 586 Gurmundâ—â— Dowlinge and Grace Duke of Leinster and Baron of Margee Baron of Sliew Marrig Anno 587. Ireland helpeth the Britaines Ireland helpeth Cadwallin Agilbertus of Ireland the first Bishop of Winchester