victory culled out fifteene thousand Souldiours and met the Scots at Kenles where he was shamefully foyled his men as folke supposed willfully forsaking him and bearing false hearts Vp start the Irish of Mounster at these newes the Ocooles Obrines and Omores and wasted with fire and sword from Arkloe to Leix with them coped the Lord Iustice and made a great slaughter fourescore of their heads were set upon Divelin Castle The meane while Edward Bruise raigned in Vlster held his courts pronounced his enemies traytors abandoned the English blood exhorted the Irish of Leinster to doe the like whereupon Donald the sonne of Arthur Mac Morrow a slip of the royall family displayed his banner within two miles of Divelin but him Traherone tooke prisoner sent him to the castle of Dublin whence he escaped slyding downe from the Turret by a cord that one Adam Maugle brought him The said Maugle was drawne and hanged Roger Mortimer Lord Iustice pacified the displeasure betweene Richard Earle of Vlster and the Nobles that had put the said Earle under surety misdeeming him of certaine riots cōmitted against the kings subjects wherby the Scots caught strength and courage whose ravening caused such horrible scarcity in Vlster that the Souldiours which in the yeare before abused the Kings authority to purvey themselves of wanton fare surfeited with flesh and aquavitae all the Lent long prolled and pilled insatiably without neede and without regard of poore people whose onely provision they devoured Those I say now living in slavery under Le Bruise starved for hunger when they had first experienced many lamentable shifts as in scratching the dead bodyes out of their graves in whose skulls they boyled the same flesh and fed thereof Mortymer went over to the King indebted to the Citizens of Divelin for his viands a thousand poundes whereof he payde not one smulkin and many a bitter curse carried with him to the sea VVilliam Archbishop of Cashell Lord Chancellor was left Lord Warden of Ireland in whose time Bermingham aforesaid being generall of the field and under him Captains Tute Verdon Tripton Sutton Cusacke and Manpas led forth the Kings power against Edward Bruise pitching by Dundalke the Primate of Ardmagh personally accompanying our souldiours blessing their enterprise and assoyling them all ere ever they began to encounter In this conflict the Scots were vanquished full whole 2000. slaine Manpas that pressed into the throng to meet with Bruise was found in the search dead covering the dead body of Bruise Thus dissolved the Scottish Kingdome in Ireland and Bermingham sending his head to the King received in recompence the Earledome of Lowth and to his heires for ever the Barony of Ardee and Athenry Alexander Bigmore Archbishop of Divelin sued to Pope Iohn the 21. so I reckon omitting the scismaticke and dame Ioane for priviledge of an Vniversitie to bee ordained in Divelin which tooke effect and the first three Doctors of Divinity the said Bishop did create VVilliam Hardit a Fryar preacher Henry Coggy a Fryar minor Fryar Edmund Kermerdin one Doctor of the Canon law VVilliam Rodiard Deane of S. Patricks Chancellour of the said Vniversity who kept their termes commencements solemnely neither was the same ever disfranchised but onely through variety of time discontinued and now since the subversion of monasteries utterly extinct vvherin the Divines vvere cherished and open exercise maintained A motion vvas made in this last Parliament to erect it againe contributions layde together Sir Henry Sidney then Lord Deputy proffered 20. pound lands one hundred pounds in money others follovved after their abilities devotions the name devised Master Acworth Plantolinum of Plantagenet and Bullyne But vvhile they disputed of a convenient place for it and of other circumstances they let fall the principall Thomas Fitz Iohn Earle of Kildare Lord Iustice to vvhom succeeded Bermingham Earle of Lourh and to him Sir Iohn Darcy At this time lived in the Diocesse of Ossorye the Lady Alice Kettle vvhom the Bishop ascited to purge the fame of inchaunting and Witch-craft objected to her and to Petronilla and Basill her complices They charged her mightily to have carnall conference vvith a spirit called Robin Artison to whom shee sacrifized in the high way nine redde Cockes and nine Peacockes eyes shee swept the streetes of Kilkenny betweene compleere and twilight raking all the filth towards the doores of her sonne VVilliam Outlawe murmuring these wordes To the house of VVilliam my sonne hye all the wealth of Kilkenny towne At the first conviction they abjured and accepted pennance but were very shortly found in relapse and then Petronilla was burned at Kilkenny the other twayne could not be had shee at the houre of her death accused the said VVilliam as privy to their sorceryes whom the Bishop helde in durance nine weekes forbidding his keepers to eate or drink with him or to speake with him more then once in the day by procurement of Arnold le Power then Senischall of Kilkenny hee was delivered corrupted the Senischall to vexe the Bishop which he did thrusting him into prison for three moneths In ryfling the closet of Alice they found a wafer of Sacramentall bread having the devils name stamped thereon in stead of IESUS and a pype of oyntment wherewith shee greased a staffe whereon shee ambled through thicke and thinne when and how shee listed This businesse troubled all the Cleargy of Ireland the rather for that the Lady was supported by Noble men and lastly conveyed into England since which time no man wotteth what became of her CAP. VI. Edward the third and Richard the second SCarcely vvas this businesse ended but another devill possessed another franticke gentleman of the nation of the O-tooles in Leinster named Adam Duffe vvho denyed obstinately the Incarnation of Christ the Trinity of persons in unity of the God-head the resurrection of the flesh Hee called the Holy Scripture a fable the blessed Virgin a vvhore the See Apostolick erroneous for vvhich assertions he was burned in Hogging greene besides Divelin Roger Outlaw Prior of S Iohns of Ierusalem at Kilmainam became Lord Iustice. Great variance arising betvveene the Geraldines Butlers and Berminghams on the one side and the Powers and Burkes on the other side for tearming the Earle of Kildare a Rymer The Lord Iustice summoned a Parliament to accord them wherein he himselfe was faine to cleare the slaunder of heresie fathered upon him by Richard Ledred Bishop of Ossory The Bishoppe had given a declaration against Arnold le Power convented and convict in his consistory of certaine hereticall opinions but because the beginning of Powers accusations concerned the Iustices kinsman and the Bishop was mistrusted to prosecute his owne wrong and the person of the man rather then the fault a day was limited for the justifying of the bill the party being apprehended and respited thereunto This dealing the Bishop who
to S. Martin the famous Bishoppe of Toures in France The childe was from his cradle brought up in the Faith and much given to devotion Novv vvere the Irish through the helpe of the Scots and Picts arch-pirats of the narrovv seas and used to sacke litle vveake villages scattered along the shore and for vvant of other prey to bring the Inhabitants home Captives vvith others also vvas taken this Patricius a ladde of sixteene yeares olde being then a student of secular learning and became the Villaine of an Irish Lord called Mackbiam from vvhom after sixe yeares hee redeemed himselfe vvith a peece of gold vvhich hee found in a clod of earth nevvly turned up by the svvyne hee kept the time of his Banishment as affliction commonly maketh men religious This vvith the regard of his former education printed in him such remorse and humility that being from thenceforth utterly vveaned from the vvorld hee betooke himselfe to contemplation ever lamenting the lacke of grace and truth in that Land vvherefore not despairing but that in continuance some good might bee vvrought upon them hee learned their tongue perfectly and alluring one companion vvith him for his exercises he departed thence into France ever casting backe his eye to the conversion of Ireland vvhose babes yet unborn seemed to him in his dream from out their mothers vvombes to call for Christendome In this purpose he sought out Martinus his Vncle by vvhose meanes the yong man entred under the government of Germanus then Bishop of Antisiodore vvhose scholler and familiar he vvas forty yeares bestovving all that time in prayer and study of eloquence and holy Scriptures Then at the age of threescore and two yeares being renowned through the Latine Church for his wisdome vertue and skill hee came home to Rome recommended with letters from the French Bishops to Pope Celestine to whom he uttered his full mind and the secret vow which long since he had conceived touching Ireland The Pope invested him Archbishop and Primate of the whole Iland blessed him commaunded publique prayer and fasting brought him and his disciples onward on the voyage Therefore in the tvventie third yeare of Theodosius the younger which was the yeare of our Lord 430. Patricke landed in Ireland and because he spake the tongue plentifully being a reverent personage he tooke holy Bible adding thereto diverse miracles in the Name vertue of IESUS whom he preached many listened unto him namely such as in the late entertainement of Palladius and Albius the Irish Bishops his Disciples had some little feeling in the Gospell In continuance hee wanne the better part of that Kingdome except Laigirus himselfe sonne of Neale the great Monarch who notvvithstanding hee relyed nothing to the Gospell yet because hee stopped not the course thereof nor forbid any that list to embrace it the Bishop denounced to him a curse from God accordingly tempered vvith mercy and judgement that during his life hee should bee victorious but after him neither the Kingdome should stand nor his linage inherite Thence hee journeyed vvith a great number of his Disciples and friends to Conill Lord of Connaght vvho honourably reputed him and vvith all his people vvas converted and then sent him to Logan his Brother King of Leinster vvhom hee likevvise persvvaded In Mounster he vvas highly honoured of the Earle of Daris vvho gave him a dwelling in the East angle of Ardmagh called Secta where hee erected many Celles and Monasteries replenished with votarious men and women Thirty yeares continually hee travailed in preaching through the Land ever leaving behinde him Bishops and Priests whose learning and holinesse by the speciall grace of God shortly repaired the faith so begunne other thirty yeares hee spent in his Province of Ardmagh among his ghostly brethren in visitation of those religious Houses which by his meanes were founded so hee lived in the whole one hundred twentie two yeares and lyeth buryed in Downe CAP. XIII Of Saint Patrickes Purgatory EVery History of Ireland that I have seene maketh one severall title De mirabilibus Hiberniae and therein with long processe treateth of severall Ilands some full of Angels some full of devils some for male only some for female some where poore may live some where none can dye finally such effects of waters stones trees and trinkets that a man would vveene them to be but heedlesse and uncertaine tales by their complexion Verily being inquisitive of these matters I could finde no one of them soothed by such persons upon whose relation I am disposed to venture Onely the place behinde Ardmagh called S. Patricks Purgatory because it is knovvne and confessed and because I vvould be discharged of my Readers expectation who perhaps vvith the name of S. Patricke looketh to bee informed thereof I can bee content to put so much in vvriting as Bookes and reports affirme vvith most likelyhood Tvvo things I muse at that neither the time nor the author of so strange erection was preserved Concerning the time one Record putteth it in Anno Domini 302. which is 128. yeares before S. Patricke converted Ireland and sixty sixe yeares before his birth Againe Cambrensis who maketh curious recitall of wonders in the land never uttereth word of this Purgatory though a negative authority be not invincible yet considering the propertie of that man and what a sort of trifles he taketh paine to justifie it may serve for a vehement suspition that the place was then either not found or not miraculous Concerning the Author very few there are that referre it to this Patricke their Apostle but rather to an Abbot of the same name whom I marvaile I finde not in the mighty bigge volume of their Saints Notwithstanding these Originalls might bee either lost or altered but the thing it selfe being extant must needes have had a beginning whereof possibly there are monuments in that Church or in the Irish tongue to me unwitting Therefore I hold him unwise that will utterly mistrust the principall because the circumstances vary or condemne the vvhole because he could not reach to the undoubted truth of some part If any man bee so delicate that not a jote thereof vvill sinke into his head vvho shall controule him neither hee nor vvee are bound to believe any story besides that vvhich is delivered us from the Scriptures and the consent of Gods Church Let the discreet Reader judge of it This I learne that the holy Abbot Patricius secundus not the Bishop their Apostle laboured the conversion of the people of Vlster vvhich being novv Christians could yet at no hand be vvonne to renounce their olde sensuality cruelty murthers extortion And vvhen he much inforced the life to come they replyed unto him vvith contempt that unlesse they savv proofes of these Ioyes and paines hee preached they vvould never leese possession of the pleasures in hand for hope or dread of things to come they vvist not vvhen At their importunacie hee
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
kept swine many yeeres When Patricks six yeeres were expired one of the swine turned up a clod under the which lay so much mony as paid his ransome When he came the second time he landed at Carlingford and inquired after Milcho whose captive hee had beene who would not giue eare to his doctrine but immediately after his death his two daughters of one name Emeria were baptized Laigerius in Iocelin Leogarius Monarch of Ireland the son of Neale harkning unto Magicians and Sooth-sayers gave commandement together with his brother Corbre unto the Country for the banishing of Saint Patrick but Dichu and Rius two brethren and great Commanders under him received the faith and Conil brother to Laigerius who also himselfe shortly after grew indifferent winking at them that did receive it so that his Queene and his yonger brother received the faith and his two daughters And of Laigerius he thus prophecied because thou hast alwaies withstood my doctrine and ceased not above measure to persecute me and hast above all disdained to beleeve in him that made all things thou art the childe of death And whereas of right thou with the rest yea before all thy confederates oughtest presently to enter into everlasting torments yet insomuch as thou meekely commest unto me craving pardon and like King Achab humblest thy selfe before my God the Lord will not forthwith bring upon thee the evill which thou hast deserved notwithstanding there shall none of thy seed after thee sit upon thy seat but shall serve thy yonger brother that beleeveth in my God and his seed after him for ever As this holy man travailed in preaching the Gospell he met with a young man whose name was Mochaa or Mocho keeping swine in whose physiognomie hee perceived towardnesse and sparkles of grace he taught him baptized him trayned him up in holy Scripture made him Deacon Priest and Bishop of Dune where he lyeth buried Clonsillan and Kellestowne some five miles west of Dublin have him for their Patron where under an high rocke runneth a Spring called S. Mochon his Well Next he baptized one Benignus called also Stephanus so Probus writeth with his father mother familie who proved so good a member in the Church of God that he succeeded S. Patricke in Armagh this Benignus saith Capgrave lyeth buried in Glastenburie Saint Patricke also received into the faith one Erchas the sonne of Dega saith Iocelin whom he also made a Bishop The Martyrologe of Sarum calleth him Herkus At that time one Pheg a Poet and saith Probus Duptachus an Irish rymer or Poet in Lastgerius his Court desired baptisme and afterward all the dayes of his life converted his vaine rymes into Chrihian Poems and did much good thereby among the common people Saint Patricke had brought with him into Ireland out of Italie one Mac Cartyn of Irish birth so I reade in the martyrologe of Sarum and three sisters of his owne which proved very fruitfull Lupita who lived a Virgin and lyeth buried at Armagh Trigridia and Darercha Tigridia had seventeene sonnes and five daughters the men became Priests Monkes and Bishops the daughters were made Nunnes the Bishops were called Brochadius Brochanus Mogenochus and Lumianus Darerca the yongest sister had two Bishops to her sonnes Melrioch and Munis the martyrologe of Sarum reckoneth her children thus Mele Melk Muncse Bishops Riok Finian and Bolke Abbots Where I thinke there is some errour that Melrioch in Iocelin is Mele and Ryok in the maytyrologe Of Lumianus I reade that he baptized a Lord of the country called Fedlemus and his sonne Forkernus whose mother was a Britain his dwelling was at Ahtrum There Lumianus by their meanes builded a Church some twenty five yeeres before the founding of Armagh the which he tooke for his Bishops See and ordered Forkernus to succeed him there The possessions saith mine Author which were first given to this Church afterward by the donations of other Princes fell to belong to Armagh The holy man Patricke laboured still in the vineyard of the Lord he baptized Conallus alias Conill Lord of Connaught brother to Laigerius and his familie who gave Patricke a country called Dompnac Patricke and builded for himselfe a dwelling place called Raith-Artair After seven yeeres this Conill sent him to his brother Logan Cogan saith the Booke of Houth King of Leinster whom hee baptized together with Amolgath whom I take to be the ancestour of the house of O Malaghlin a great Lord of a country and his seven sonnes Florilegus saith they were seven Kings After this this holy man comming out of Meth and having passed over the water at Finglas went up to a hill some mile from the village Athcled now called Dublin When he had viewed the place and soile adjoyning he blessed the same and is said to have prophecied thus This village is now but small it will be great it will be inlarged with wealth and worship neither will it leave increasing untill it bee advanced to the seate of the Kingdome In a while after he came to the village where the inhabitants hearing of the wonders which the Lord wrought by his hands went out to meete him with much ioy and beleeved by his preaching and were baptized My Author addeth that upon complaint made unto him how that they were annoyed with brackish waters which of necessitie they were driven to use he walked about the village turned up cloddes digged the earth and found a Spring which is now called Saint Patrickes Well From this village Athcled hee went to Castleknok where one Murguus dwelled and commanded those places who hearing of Patricks comming refused to give him entertainement but sent him word that he was asleepe in which sleepe as the storie saith he died of which accident the common saying ariseth Thou sleepest Murguus sleepe applyed to those that sleepe heavily or are given to overmuch sleepe From Castleknok he bent his course towards Mounster and came to King Engus alias Oengus Mac Nafroic who received him ioyfully and brought him to his Palace at Cassill saith Iocelin where also one Daris a great Lord in that country shewed him much kindenesse When he had baptized the King and many thousands with him he came to Vrmiunnan now called Ormond where in like sort they received the faith and the inhabitants in remembrance of him builded a Church and dedicated the same to his name From Mounster where he preached seaven yeeres hee tooke his iourney backe to Vlster and came to King Eochu whom he baptized his daughter Cumia whom he made a Nunne and committed her to the charge of the Nunne Cecubris in the Nunnery of Drumdukain whom Patricke first vailed of all the women in Ireland Also he baptized Olcanus who went into France to studie and upon his returne â—rected schooles in Ireland and had many schollers whereof a great number were afterwards Bishops he himselfe towards his end
Barret Edmund Lane Who flourished in the yeere 1518. So farre Master Stanihurst Hector Boetius putteth us in remembrance of the honour given her by Scots Pictes Irish and English nations and how that many Churches beare her name The superstitious Irish in processe of time found out a Bell called Clogg Brietta Brigids Bell whereunto to deceive the simple people they attribute great vertue and holinesse the which together with other toyes they carried about not onely in Ireland but also in England and were by Act of Parliament in England banished the land in Henry the fifts time Cambrensis reporteth that the harmonie of the foure Evangelists the worke of Saint Ierome was caused by Brigid most of it to be written in letters of gold and was as curious a worke saith he as ever I saw and called Brigids Booke the which was kept as a monument saith Stanihurst at Kildare She deceased about the yeere 510. another saith anno 548. and about the yeere 524. she was translated from the Hebrides into Dune and resteth by Saint Patrickes side as formerly hath beene declared in his life Ireland hath given her this Epitaph Flos patriae pietatis amans virtutis alumna Sidus Hibernorum Brigida virgo fuit In her Legend I finde mention of Ercus a Bishop the disciple of Saint Patricke borne in Mounster also of Saint Ruanus a Bishop Saint Numidus Saint Praecipuus Saint Daria a Virgin Saint Darlugdach called a Virgin and yet had a daughter that was baptized in the presence of Brigide This Darlugdach was the second Nunne and succeeded Brigide in Kildare whose remembrance is celebrated the same day with her Illand King of Leinster gave Brigide great honour of him I read in her Legend that hee was a most worthy Prince and fortunate in all his affaires Illand Rex Lageniae qui triginta bella in Hibernia vicit octo certamina in Britannia occidit Engusium regem Momoniae cum Ethna uxore quos Patricius baptizavit Illand King of Leinster who wonne thirty battailes in Ireland and eight combats in Britaine slue Engusus King of Mounster and Ethna his wife whom Patricke had baptized About this time lived Caelius Sedulius whom Damianus à Goes a Knight of Portingall challenged for a Spaniard Bale writeth hee was a Scot and Stanihurst that he was borne in Ireland I will first lay downe what Bale hath next what Stanihurst reporteth Caelius Sedulius saith Bale by nation a Scot. by calling a Priest a man trayned up in learning from his youth cleaved as a diligent scholler unto Hildebert the most learned Archbishop of Scots as Tritemius delivereth After the decease of his master being desirous of farther knowledge he tooke a painefull voyage in hand travailed throughout Spain France Italie Greece and Asia last of all after he had read in Achaia most learned lectures to the great profit of many hee came backe to Rome where with great labour he distributed most abundantly in like sort the treasure of singular learning Hee was a man exercised in holy Scripture of a singular wit excellently well seene in all manner of secular literature passing both for verse and prose so that Gelasius Bishop of Rome in the decrees dist 15. calleth him reverend Sedulius and gave his workes no meane commendation Patâ—rius the disciple of Gregorius Magnus and Remigius Antisiodorensis in his commentary upon him of old have published his fame and renowne Sedulius both in verse and prose hath published many workes whereof in Boston of Burie and Tritemius I onely found these that follow Vnto Macedonius the Priest a singular worke which he intituled Carmen paschale lib. 4 Pascales quicunque dapes conviva requiris Elegia vel exhortatorium ad fideles lib. 1 Cantemus socij Dom. cantemus honorem De signis virtutibus lib. 1 Domino meo charissimo Gesta et miracula Christi lib. 4 Expulerat quondam c Superutroque testamento lib. 2  In Psalmos Dividicos lib. 1  Collectanea in Paulum lib. 14 Antequam Apostolica verba In Paulum ad Romanos lib. 1 Sciendum est quod hoc Ad Corinthios lib. 2 Quod nomen suum proponit Ad Galatas lib. 1 Hoc est non ab humana Ad Ephesios lib. 1 Refere scriptura testante Ad Philippenses lib. 1 Metropoli Macedoniae cum Ad Colossenses lib. 1 Hac vice Apostolatus autor Ad Thessalonicenses lib. 2 Quod non dicit Apostolus Ad Timotheum lib. 2 Non secundum praesumptionem Ad Titum Discipulum lib. 1 Hanc epistolam scribit de Ad Philemonem lib. 1 In carcere vel in catenis Ad Hebraeos lib. 1 Quoniam apud Haebraeorum De factis Christi prosaice lib. 2  Ad Caesarem TheodosiuÌ„ lib. 1 Romulidum ductor Clariss Epist. ad diversos lib. 1 Sedulius Scotigena dilect In editionem Donati lib. 1  In Prisciani volumen lib. 1  Carmina diversi generis lib. 1  He published also certaine Hymnes which the Church useth 1 A solis ortus cardine Ad usque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem c. Hostis Herodes impie Christum venisse quid times c. 2 A solis ortus cardine Ad usque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem c. Hostis Herodes impie Christum venisse quid times c. He flourished in the yeere after the Incarnation 450. under Theodosius Iunior the Emperour what time Fergusius the second raigned in Scotland after his miserable exile by the Romanes Of this Author Sigebertus and Bostonus write more So farre Bale Stanihurst pleadeth for Ireland and writeth Sedulius was not only of Irish birth but also the light of all Ireland neither will we suffer any longer so excellent a man out of his native soile contrary to all right to exile or wander but he is rather to be restored to his former inheritance as it were with a new solemnity of birth In another place hee seemeth to qualifie the matter having already chalenged Damianus a Goes of iniurie and to reconcile the dissonance of varying writers that the Scottish is taken for the Irish and the Irish for the Scottish and to satisfie the reader noteth the confusion how that all the commentaries of Sedulius upon the Epistles of Paul beginne Sedulij Scoti Hibernensis c. the Commentarie of Sedulius the Scot of Ireland And to shut up this challenge of all sides I finde that there was a second Sedulius a man of no lesse fame and learning and hee is said to bee a Scottish man therefore let Ireland being more antient then Scotland take the first and Scotland the last In the like sort excepting the challenge standeth Fridelinus Viator so called by reason of his great travaile his stile is Scotorum Hibernicorum regis olim filius the sonne sometime of the King of the Scots in Ireland whom I couch among them of Irish birth because of the ancient stile and distinction often used
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
or threed Girdle for a token which tooke away a swelling and crampe that troubled her and that he was shrouded in the winding sheete which the Nunne Verca had sent him Anno 875. Ardulphus Bishop of Lindisfarne fearing the incursion of the Danes who destroyed Churches and defaced Tombes tooke the corps of Cuthbert and attempted the transporting of it into Ireland but the winde was against them and compelled them to land in England then they brought it to Cuncacester some sixe miles from Durham where it rested some yeeres Anno 925. though Stow referre it to the yeere 995. Aldunus who was the first Bishop of Durham preventing as formerly Ardulphus did the invasion of barbarcus people removed it to a place full of bushes and thornes now called Durham and with the aide of Earle Vthred builded a Church over it where now at length it resteth Edmund the second Bishop of Durham enlarged the Church and beautified the place of his buriall and long after were brought thither the bodies of Balther and Bilfride that had beene Anchors Acca and Alkmundus that had beene Bishops Ebba the Nunne and familiar of Cuthbert Boisilus the Abbot his master King Oswine and the bones of Beda that rested at Girwin so writeth Capgrave He that will see farther of Cuthbert and his patrimonie so called in the Bishopricke of Durham of the endowments and grants given by Christian Princes and of the reverend opinion held of the place because of the sanctitie of Irish Cuthbert let him repaire to learned Camdens Brigantes the which for that they concerne the antiquities of England more then Ireland I omit Now to come to the 700. yeere of Christ. I will beginne with Adamannus who flourished Anno 701. as Florilegus writeth in the time of Alfred King of Northumbers whom Beda highly commendeth and as it may be gathered and borrowed out of his workes many things to furnish his historie of England I finde of divers reported that he was in Ireland and did much good I take it he was of Irish birth for I cannot finde the contrary Bale summarily out of Beda and others writeth in his life as followeth Adamannus Coludius by profession a Monke not vowed but of the Apostolike order and governour of that famous Monasterie which of old Columbanus the disciple of Congellus had founded in the I le Hu made himselfe a patterne of vertue to be followed of many hee was a man studious and singularly well seene in holy Scripture as Tritemius witnesseth neither ignorant of prophane literature wise and faire spoken hee was for his life and conversation renowned and for opinion of sanctitie recounted the father of many Monkes so that hee travailed in a manner all the North regions of Britaine he was a notable Preacher instructing with heavenly admonitions Irish Scots Pictes and Anglosaxons Hee willingly gave eare to all such as made report of any memorable acts of Palestina by their travaile and of other places of the holy Land with the site thereof trusting thereby to attaine unto a better sight in the holy Scripture Then it fell out say the Chronographers that one Arnulphus a Bishop of France comming from Ierusalem and being winde-driven to that place arrived there and throughly enformed Adamannus the which he shortly after committed to writing and dedicated unto Alfred King of Northumbers with these titles De locis terrae sanctae lib. 1. De situ Ierusalem lib. 1. De paschate legitimo lib. 1. With certaine Epistles So farre Bale I have seene beside these a Manuscript worke of his of the life of Saint Columba in three bookes About the yeere 740. saith Lippeloo Gualafer Bishop of Dublin was famous who by his prayers obtained that Cecilia wife to David King of Scots and daughter to the King of Sicilia being barren did conceive beare a sonne called Rumoldus who after the decease of Gualafer was made Bishop of that See and consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury and two other Prelates He went into England afterwards to France and came to Rome Anno 752. in the time of Stephen 2. he resigned his Bishopricke from thence hee went into Brabant and by his prayers saith mine Author got one Eliza wife to Earle Ado of the age of 66. yeeres to conceive In the end he went to repaire an old Church agreed with workemen wrangled with them so that they for one quarrell and other and especially for that they held him to be rich hoping to get some part of his wealth knockt him in the head with a hatchet and there lay Saint Rumolde Molanus in discreet sort examineth this historie and delivereth that this Rumoldus tooke with him beyond the seas one Saint Himelin now Patron of Fenacum the place in Dutch is Sijnte Himelijns Vissenaken some said he was of his bloud others some that he was of his bloud and bone His words are these Some suppose that Saint Rumold was the sonne of Erfinus King of Scots after whom succeeded in the kingdome the third and fourth sonne Fergusius and Achaius but the names of the first and second sonne are not extant They adde happely unto the rest that because he was the King of Scots his sonne it stood him upon to forsake the Bishopricke of Dublin when Solvathius that raigned betweene Fergusius and Achaius warred against the Irish and upon this occasion he tooke his iourney to Rome and at his returne preached the Gospell at Mechlin All which by conferring the times would have some great probabilitie unlesse the antient Monuments and Records of Mechlin had avouched him to have beene the sonne of one David a King and to have beene brought forth into the world by the intercession and devout prayers of Gualafer Bishop of Dublin and of him baptized whereby I gather that he was the sonne of some King of Ireland Neither is it any mervaile though we reade not of this David when as Saint Bernard witnesseth that Ireland was not governed by one King but by many the orderly succession of which Kings I suppose for the most part is now perished If you urge that hee came of the Scottish bloud royall I admit it for it is so sung every where throughout the Diocesse of Mechlin but that of old the Irish men were understood and comprehended under the name of Scots by the life of Saint Patricke and elsewhere is very manifest To this purpose is that which Beda affirmeth that Ireland is properly the country of the Scots and Ionas also writeth in the entrance to Columbanus his life how that the Scottish nation inhabit the Iland of the Irish. This Rumoldus died Anno 775. and is honoured in Mechlin for their Patron Virgilius Solivagus borne in Ireland and descended of noble Parentage in his yeeres of discretion forsooke his native soile and together with certaine companions of the same countrey birth went into Germanie where Anno 754. hee was made Abbot of Salisburge by Odilo Duke of Bavaria and shortly
being that now are continually filched and stolne Iren. You have Eudoxus well accompted the commodities of this one good ordinance amongst which this that you named last is not the least for all the other being most beneficiall to the Land-lord and Tennant This cheifly redoundeth to the good of the Common-wealth to have the land thus inclosed and well fenced For it is both a principall barre and impeachment unto theeves from stealing of cattle in the night and also a gaule against all Rebels and Outlawes that shall rise up in any numbers against the governement for the theife thereby shall have much adoe first to bring forth and afterwards to drive away his stolne prey but thorough the common high wayes where he shall soone bee descryed and met withall And the Rebell or open enemy if any such shall happen either at home or from abroad shall easily be found when he commeth forth and also be well incountred withall by a few in so straight passages and strong inclosures This therefore when wee come to the reforming of all those evill customes before mentioned is needefull to be remembred but now by this time me thinkes that I have well run thorough the evill uses which I have observed in Ireland Neverthelesse I well note that there be many more and infinitely many more in the private abuses of men But these that are most generall and tending to the hurt of the Common-weale as they have come to my remembrance I have as breifly as I could rehearsed unto you And therefore now I thinke best that we passe unto our third part in which we noted inconveniences that are in Religion Eudox. Surely you have very well handled these two former and if yee shall as well goe thorough the third likewise you shall merit a very good meed Iren. Little have I to say of Religion both because the parts thereof be not many it selfe being but one and my selfe have not much beene conversant in that calling but as lightly passing by I have seene or heard Therefore the fault which I finde in Religion is but one but the same is universall thoroughout all that country that is that they be all Papists by their profession but in the same so blindly and brutishly informed for the most part that not one amongst a hundred knoweth any ground of Religion or any Article of his faith but can perhaps say his Pater noster or his Ave Maria without any knowledge or understanding what one word thereof meaneth Eudox. Is it not then a little blot to them that now hold the place of government that they which now are in the light themselves suffer a people under their charge to wallow in such deadly darkenesse Iren. That which you blame Eudox. is not I suppose any fault of will in those godly fathers which have charge thereof but the inconvenience of the time and troublous occasions wherewith that wretched Realme hath continually beene turmoyled For instruction in Religion needeth quiet times and ere we seeke to settle a sound discipline in the Clergy we must purchase peace unto the Laity for it is ill time to preach among swords and most hard or rather impossible it is to settle a good opinion in the mindes of men for matters of Religion doubtfull which have doubtlesse an evill opinion of us For ere a new be brought in the old must be removed Eudox. Then belike it is meete that some fitter time be attended that God send peace and quietnesse there in civill matters before it be attempted in Ecclesiasticall I would rather have thought that as it is said correction must first begin at the house of God and that the care of the Soule should have beene preferred before the care of the Body Iren. Most true Eudoxus the care of the soule and soule matters is to be preferred before the care of the body in consideration of the worthynesse thereof but not till the time of reformation for if you should know a wicked person dangerously sicke having now both soule and body greatly diseased yet both recoverable would you not thinke it evill advertizement to bring the Preacher before the Phisitian for if his body were neglected it is like that his languishing soule being disquieted by his diseasefull body would utterly refuse and loath all spirituall comfort but if his body were first recured broght to good frame should there not then be found best time to recover the soule also So it is in the state of a Realme Therefore as I said it is expedient first to settle such a course of government there as thereby both civill disorders and ecclesiasticall abuses may be reformed and amended whereto needeth not any such great distance of times as you suppose I require but one joynt resolution for both that each might second and confirme the other Eudox. That we shall see when we come thereunto in the meane time I conceive thus much as you have delivered touching the generall fault which you suppose in Religion to wit that it is Popish but doe you finde no particular abuses therein nor in the ministers thereof Iren Yes verily for what ever disorders you see in the Church of England yee may finde there and many more Namely grosse Symony greedy covetousnesse fleshly incontinency carelesse sloath and generally all disordered life in the common Clergy men And besides all these they have their particular enormityes For all Irish Priests which now injoy the Church livings they are in a manner meere lay men saving that they have taken holy orders but otherwise they doe goe and live like lay men follow all kinde of husbandry and other worldly affaires as other Irish men doe They neither read Scriptures nor preach to the people nor administer the Communion but Baptisme they doe for they Christen yet after the Popish fashion onely they take the tithes and offerings and gather what fruite else they may of their livings the which they convert as badly and some of them they say pay as due tributes and shares of their livings to their Bishops I speake of those which are Irish as they receive them duely Eudox. But is that suffered amongst them It is wonder but that the Governours doe redresse such shamefull abuses Iren. How can they since they know them not for the Irish Bishops have their Clergy in such awe and subjection under them that they dare not complaine of them so as they may doe to them what they please for they knowing their owne unworthynesse and incapacity and that they are therefore still removeable at their Bishops will yeeld what pleaseth him and he taketh what he listeth yea and some of them whose Diocesses are in remote parts somewhat out of the worlds eye doe not at all bestow the Benefices which are in their owne donation upon any but keepe them in their owne hands and set their owne servants and horse-boyes to take up the Tithes and fruites of them with the which some of