of English but of Scottish Antiquities varying among themselues great obscurity is brought among doubtfull things Some bring their originall from Ireland others from Dania Cimbrica Chersonesus and the Ilands of Gothland and Norwey neither wanted there some which were of opinion they came from Spaine deriving the name of Scottishmen from Moses himselfe and the Aegyptians as Hector Boëtius the Scottish Chronicler yet Hector himselfe preventing as it were the like objection confesseth that in the third yeere of Adrian the Emperor which was after the birth of Christ about 122 yeeres the name of Scots was not knowne unto the Romans In short time after the retinue of Gathelus searched the North-east and North-west Ilands and entred the Land which now is called Scotland so also called as the Scotish will have it of Scota But many grave writers have stumbled at the certainty of this story yet I finde for certaine that Ireland was called Scotia maior and the other Scotia minor and oftentimes confusedly the one taken for the other and the words to be of no great antiquity Capgrave in the life of Saint Columbanus saith Ireland of old was called Scotland from whence the Scottish nation inhabiting Albania next vnto great Britaine now called Scotland tooke their originall Fiacrius an Hermite being asked of a Bishop in France what hee was among other things answered Ireland the Iland of Scots is the native soile of mee and my parents It also appeareth by Orosius Claudian Isidore Hubaldus Beda the English Legend the Martyrologe secundum usum Sarum Marianus Ionas in vita Sancti Columbani Aimoinus Caesarius c. that Ireland and Scotland were usually taken one for the other But before I goe any further I thinke it not amisse to say som what to this word Scotus or Scottus the which Hector Boëtius carrieth away as derived of Scota and as thing granted There came to this Countrey of Ireland at three severall times before Gathelus great Commanders of Scythia as I have said before of the posterity of Iaphet planted themselues divided the land with great troubles and when they were at the worst alwayes they left a remnant of their nation behinde them Beda every where calleth them not Scotos but Scottos so that I finde in the word a double alteration y turned into o and th into tt Also in low Germany they call the Scythians and Scottish Schotten Nennius the Britain writeth Scythae Hiberniam obtinuerunt the Scythians gat Ireland King Alfredus translating the history of Orosius into the Saxon tongue termeth the Scots Scyttan The borderers upon Scotland cal them to this day Skyttes and Skets Walsingham writeth Of the country called Sicia alias Scythia wee haue Scita Sciticus Scoticus Scotus and Scotia Ranulphus Monke of Chester writeth as Sir Iohn Trevisa the Priest in old English laid it downe Scotts bene called as it were Scytes for they came out of Scytia Matthew Monk of Westminster saith Ex Pictis Hibernensibus Scoti originem habuerunt quasi ex diversis nationibus compacti Scot enim illud dicitur quòd ex diversis rebus in unum acervum congregatur deinde verò terra illa quae prius Albania dicebatur à Scotis Scotia nuncupatur anno gratiae 77. Of Pictes and Irish the Scots had their originall as it were compacted of divers nations for that is called Scot which of divers things is gathered into one heap afterwards that Land which was first called Albania of the Scots is called Scotia And Beda writeth that the Country now called Scotland was inhabited by Pictes that were Scythians againe In processe of time saith he Britaine besides Britaines and Pictes receiued a third nation that is of Scots upon the side of the Pictes Of the same opinion is Volateran and Iohannes Major Scotus although Hector Boëtius dissemble it Richard Stanihurst the great Philosopher and Antiquary of Ireland writeth A quo primum initio Scotiae nomen fit tractum nondum plane perspectum video c. Of what first originall the word Scotia is drawne I haue not yet found out And touching the truth of the History of Gathelus and Scota hee saith To the end the worthinesse of so great a mariage delivered unto the posterity should florish all these Grecians call themselues Scots and Ireland where they first seated themselues Scotiam But all this as a vaine fable George Buchanan and before him Humfrey Lloide have quite reiected and if Hector Boëtius bee not the chiefe forger of this history or rather vaine fable yet he hath besprinckled after his manner the whole discourse with lies With great ambition hath that silly writer labored to advance the glory of his nation in the which endeauour hee hath little regarded the honour of his Country and his owne credit For he hath purchased this amongst the learned that where as he would seeme to write all for the loue of the truth they will beleeue in a manner nothing to be true which he wrote For to what purpose should he commend to the posterity the acts of his ancestors with such maiesty of words that they have quailed the Spaniard vanquished the Irish with their only austere countenance triumphed as often as pleased themselves over the bordering Britaines where they pitched foot subiected all as furious victors that thou maist think the Scottish not so much to have invaded forraigne Countryes as to have removed to their proper possessions These fabulous dreames happely may move admiration to some old wives applause to some Abderas and laughter to the discreete reader The Scotish had as other nations tofore though now famous base beginning dusked and obscured with some barbarous rudenesse and this had beene more discretion to confesse then to vaunt or crake among the ignorant with boast of their fained doings Thus farre Stanihurst And now with Hector Boëtius his leave as the followers of Gathelus and his wife Scota in Egypt Greece Barbary Portugall Galitia and over all Spaine were not called Scoti as before is remembred no more were they termed in Ireland and Scotland but corruptly of Scytae Scoti comming originlly out of Scythia And it were more honour in mine opinion for these nations to derive their originall from Scythia then from Egypt for two causes first for that the Scythians are more ancient then the Egyptians as Trogus Volateran and Marianus Scotus do write secondly for that the Scythians come of Iaphet that was blessed and the Egyptians of Cham that was accursed but in this case leaving every man to his owne choice I will returne the History In the antiquities of Ireland it is generally receiued that Gathelus of whom I spake before gave the Irishmen the language which of him they call Gaodhealgh in British Gwidhealaec that is a language compounded of many tongues and so it may well be for by reason of his great trauell he had skill in many tongues Although as they say he were a Grecian borne yet I finde no
signifieth a skilfull archer And these Pictes brought with them the use of darts which the Irish retaine to this day But I come to Beda who goeth plaine to worke When the Britaines saith hee had possessed the greatest part of the Isle beginning at the South it happened that a nation of Pictes out of Scythia with long shippes yet not many entred the Ocean the winde driving them about beyond all the coast of Brittaine they came into Ireland and arived in the North and finding there the nation of Scots desired of them to grant them a dwelling place amongst them but they could not obtaine it c. The Scots made answere that the Iland could not hold them both but wee can give you said they good counsaile what you may doe We know another Island not farre from ours reaching to the East the which we are wont oft to discerne in cleare dayes if you will goe thither you may make it your dwelling place or if any withstand you take vs for your aide And so the Pictes sayling into Britaine began to inhabite the North parts of the Iland for the Britaine 's held the South And when the Pictes had no wives and sought them of the Scots they were granted them onely upon this condition that when the title of Soveraigntie became doubtfull they should choose them a King rather of the Feminine bloud royall then of the Masculine the which unto this day is observed amongst the Pictes And in processe of time Britaine after the Britaines and Picts received that third nation of the Scots upon that part where the Pictes had their habitation who issuing out of Ireland with their Captaine Reuda either by loue or by the sword have wonne peculiarly unto themselves those seats which they hold unto this day and of this their captaine they are called Dalreudin for in their language Dal signifieth apart And here I cannot but meruaile at Hector Boetius and Buchanan what confusion they bring into the historie without regard of the truth they name Beda they call Reuda Reuther and say that he was the sixt King of Albania and that the Britaine 's made him flee into Ireland and that in the end he was restored to his kingdome againe which can no way agree with the words of reverend Beda whose credit we may not impeach for he saith they were Scythians and wanted a dwelling place and beganne to inhabit the North parts of the Iland If Reuda were King of Albania no thanke to the Irish men to direct him thither But let us goe on with the Pictes I finde in Lanquet that the Pictes were rebellious an 9 of Arviragus Anno. Domini 53. And Polycronicon affircteth as Beda wrote before that they came to the North of Ireland in Vespasians time Stow saith it was in Anno 73. Matthew the Monke of Westminster in Anno 75. and 76. Leslaeus and Bozius write that Reuda came about the yeere 360. which is very doubtfull and that then the Pictes wanting wives desired of the Britaines that they might march with their nation their suit being denied they went to the Irish who granted them wives upon the condition in Beda before rehearsed And farther Giraldus Cambrensis Polycronicon and Grafton concurring doe say that Scotland was first called Albania of Albanactus secondly Pictlandia of the Pictes thirdly Hibernia Ireland because of the alliance or affinitie in marriage betweene the Pictes and Irish last of all Scotland or Scythians land And hereof it commeth to passe that Ireland is called Scotland and Scotland Ireland the Irish Scots and the Scots Irish as one hath largely collected and the distinction of Scotia Major and Scotia Minor Harding hath an historie out of Mewinus a Brittish Chronicler Harding lived in the time of Henry the fift and sixt and in the daies of Edward the fourth which if it be true all that is formerly spoken of Gathelus and Scota his wife by the Scottish and Irish Chroniclers is of small credit namely how that Gathelus and Scota came into these North parts together with the Pictes Anno Domini 75. his words are these speaking of the King of Britaine Then to the Peights left alive he gave Catenesse To dwell upon and have in heritage Which wedded were with Irish as I gesse Of which after Scots came on that linage For Scots be to say their language A collection of many into one Of which the Scots were called so anone But Mewinus the Bryton Chronicler Saith in his Chronicle otherwise That Gadelus and Scota in the yeere Of Christ seventie and five by assise At Stone inhabite as might suffice And of her name the country round about Scotland she cald that time without doubt This Scota was as Mewin saith the sage Daughter and bastard of King Pharao that day Whom Gadele wedded and in his old age Vnto a land he went where he inhabited ay Which yet of his name is called Gadelway And with the Peights he came into Albanie The yeere of Christ aforesaid openlie c. Polycronicon and Cambrensis accord with Harding in this point that the King gave the Pictes a place to dwell in which is now called Galleway And saith Ponticus Virunius it was desert and waste where none dwelled in many dayes before The credit of Harding is great and he that list to know farther of him let him reade Bale Bishop of Ossorie who wrote his life I will now neither confirme nor confute but acquainte the reader with such antiquities as I finde and in a word to adde something unto that which went before of the time of the Pictes comming into these North and North-west parts Florilegus writeth it was Anno Domini 77. Functius and Polydore Anno Dom. 87. To reconcile the dissonance what every one saith may stand for truth for they came in severall companies and at severall times some into Ireland some into Albania and some into England I will from henceforward leave writing the kingdome of Albania and write the kingdome of Scotland Anno Dom. 73. began Marius the sonne of Arviragus to raigne in Britaine Humfrey Lloide calleth him Meurig who after his troublesome warres for nine yeeres space against the Picts and Scots ended with the helpe of Iulius Agricola is said to have aspired towards Ireland and to have placed garrisons on the coast and to the end he might performe some exploite there entertained an Irish Prince that was driven out of his country by civill dissention for his conductor I finde no issue recorded of this businesse In the 15. yeeres civill warres which ensued vpon the death of Lucius the sonne of Coile King of Britaine it is reported that Fulgenius called the Ilanders Albanians Pictes and Irish men to his aide against whom Severus the Emperour comming from Rome gave them battaile neere unto Yorke where Severus and a Prince of Ireland were slaine and Fulgenius deadly wounded the Emperour Severus
they grew to 300. Knights of the order and into inferiour brethren innumerable But with ease and wealth they declined now to such intollerable deformities of life and other superstitious errors nothing lesse regarding then the purpose of this their foundation that the generall Councell assembled at Vienna disanulled the same for ever And thereupon as in other countries so in Ireland they confessed the publicke fame of their enormities and themselves culpable their persons they yeelded to perpetuall pennance their lands were given though with some difficulty to the Knights of S. Iohns hospitall at Ierusalem who since then for recovering the Iland of Rhodes from the Saracens became famous and multiplied much more honourably then did the Templers Of this latter foundation was the priory of S. Iohns at Kilmaynam besides Divelin Iohn Decer Major of Divelin builded the high Pype there and the Bridge over the Liffy toward S. Wolstans and a chapell of our Lady at the Fryar minors where he lyeth buried repaired the Church of the Fryars preachers and every friday tabled the Fryars at his owne costs In absence of VVogan Sr VVilliam Burcke was Lord Warden of Ireland to whom King Edward recōmended Pierce of Gavestone the disquieter of all the nobility in England a companion to the King in vice bolstered up by the King so peremptorily against the will of his Councell that whereas the said Pierce was by them exiled Edward sent him now into Ireland with much honour and many Iewels assigning him the commodities royall of that Realme which bred some bickering betweene the Earle of Vlster Sir Richard Burke and Gavestone who notwithstanding bought the hearts of the Souldiours with his liberality subdued Obrene edified sundry Castles cawswayes and bridges but within three yeares he retyred from Flaunders into England where the nobles besieged him at Scarborough and smit off his head Iohn VVogan Lord Iustice summoned a Parliament at Kilkenny where wholesome lawes were ordained but never executed There fell the Bishops in argument about their Iurisdictions and in especiall the Archbishop of Divelin forbad the Primate of Ardmagh to lift up his crosyer within the province of Leinster In ratifying of which priviledge I have seene the coppy of Pope Honorius Bull exemplified among the recordes of S. Patricks Church shortly after Rowland Ioyce then Primate stale by night in his pontificals from Howth to the priory of Gracedieu where the Archbishops servants met him and violently chased him out of all the diocesse This Archbishop was named Iohn Aleeke after whose death were elected in scisme division of sides two successours Thorneburgh Lord Chancellor and Bignore Treasurer of Ireland The Chancellor to strengthen his election hastily went to sea and perished by shipwracke the other submitting his cause to the processe of law tarryed at home and sped Theobald de Verdon Lord Iustice. Sixe thousand Scots fighting men under the conduct of Edward Bruise brother to Robert King of Scotland also the Earle Murray Iohn Menteith Iohn Steward and others landed in the north of Ireland ioyned with the Irish and conquered Vlster gave the Englishmen three notable overthrowes crowned the said Bruise King of Ireland burned Churches and Abbeyes with all the people found therein men women and children Then was Sir Edmund Butler chosen Lord Iustice who combined the Earle of Vlster and the Geraldines in friendship himselfe with Sir Iohn Mandevill and preserved the rest of the Realme In the necke of these troubles arose foure Princes of Connaght to impaire and scatter the English force But then the Burckes and the Berninghams discomfited and slew the number of eleaven thousand besides Athenry To Sir Richard Berningham belonged a lusty young swayne Iohn Hussee whom his Lord commanded to take a view of the dead carcasses about the walles and bring him word whether Okelly his mortall foe were slaine among them Hussee passed forth with one man to turne up and peruse the bodies All this marked Okelly who lurking in a bush thereby being of old time well acquainted with the valiantnes truth of Hussee sore longed to traine him from his Captaine and presuming now upon this opportunity disclosed himself said Hussee thou seest I am at all points armed and have my Esquire a manly man besides me thou art thin and thy page a youngling so that if I loved not thee for thine owne sake I might betray thee for thy Masters But come and serve me at my request I promise thee by S. Patrickes staffe to make thee a Lord in Connaght of more ground then thy Master hath in Ireland When these wordes waighed him nothing his owne man a stout lubber began to reprove him for not relenting to so rich a proffer assured him with an oath whereupon hee proffered to gage his soule for performance Now had Hussee three enemies and first he turned to his owne knave and him he slew next hee raught to Okellyes Squire a great rappe under the pit of his eare which overthrew him Thirdly he bestirred himselfe so nimbly that ere any helpe could be hoped for he had also slaine Okelly and perceiving breath in the Squire he drawed him up againe forced him upon a truncheon to beare his Lords head into the high towne which presented to Bermingham and the circumstances declared he dubbed Hussee Knight and him advaunced to many preferments whose family became afterwards Barons of Galtrime While the Scots were thus matched Robert de Bruise King of Scots tooke shore at Cragsergus to assist his brother whose Souldiours committed sacriledge and impiety against Monasteries Tombes Altars Virgins robbed Churches of all their plate and ornaments They of Vlster sent to the Lord Iustice pittifull supplication for aide in this misery who delivered them the Kings power and standerd wherewith under pretence to expell the Scots they raunged through the country with more grievance and vexation to the subjects then did the strangers Le Bruise proceeded and spoyled Cashell and wheresoever he lighted upon the Butlers lands those hee burned and destroyed unmercifully By this time had the Lord Iustice and Thomas Fitz Iohn Earle of Kildare Richard de Clare and Arnold de Powere Baron of Donoile furnished and armed thirty thousand men ready to set forward Then came newes that VVilliam de Burgo the Earles brother was taken by the Scots whereof the Irish of Vlster imboldened with the presence of the Scotish Army and with the late discomfiture which Earle Richard Burcke sustained at Coynes denyed their alleagiance openly and conspired in the behalfe of Edward le Bruise whom they proclaimed King The Lord Iustice had assembled such force against them under the leading of the Geraldines and Poweres that each of them was thought sufficient by himselfe to winne the field But suddainely the two Captaines and their adherents squared so as no good conclusion might be inferred Roger Mortimer trusting by their discention to imbeazell a
upon the King of England And so against my will they made me to learne English and taught me what I should doe and say and after this they called me Richard Duke of Yorke second sonne to Edward the fourth because King Richards Bastard sonne was in the hands of the King of England And upon this the said Iohn VValter and Stephen Poytowe Iohn Tyler Hubbert Burgh with many others as the foresaid Earles entred into this false quarrell and within short time after the French King sent ambassadours into Ireland whose names were Lyot Lucas and Stephen Frayn and thence I went into Fraunce and from thence into Flanders and from Flanders againe into Ireland and from Ireland into Scotland and so into England Thus was Perkins bragge twighted from a milpost to a pudding pricke and hanged was he the next yeare after Then in the yeare 1501. King Henry made Lieutenant of Ireland his second sonne Henry as then Duke of Yorke who afterwards raigned To him was appointed Deputy the aforesaid Gerald Earle of Kildare who accompanied with Iohn Blacke Major of Divelin warred upon VVilliam de Burgo O-Brien and Mac Nemarra Occarrol and the greatest power of Irish men that had beene seene together since the conquest under the hill of Knoctoe in English the hill of Axes sixe miles from Galway and two miles from Ballinclare de Burgoes mannor towne Mac VVilliam and his Complices were there taken his Souldiours that escaped the sword were pursued flying five miles great slaughter done and many Captaines gotten not one English man killed The Earle at his returne was created knight of the Noble Order and flourished all his life long of whom I shall bee occasioned to say somewhat in the next Chapter CAP. IX Henry the eight GErald Fitz Gerald Earle of Kildare a mighty made man full of honour and courage who had beene Lord Deputy and Lord Iustice of Ireland thirtie foure yeares deceased the third of September and lyeth buried in Christs Church in Divelin Betweene him and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond their owne jealousies fed with envy and ambition kindled with certaine lewd factions abbettors of either side ever since the ninth yeare of Henry the seventh when Iames of Ormond with a great army of Irish men camping in S. Thomas Court at Divelin seemed to face the countenance and power of the Deputy these occasions I say fostered a mallice betwixt them and their posterityes many yeares after incurable causes of much ruffle and unquietnes in the Realme untill the confusion of the one house and nonage of the other discontinued their quarrels which except their Inheritours have the grace to put up and to love unfainedly as Gerald and Thomas doe now may hap to turne their countryes to little good and themselves to lesse Ormond was nothing inferiour to the other in stomacke and in reach of pollicy farre beyond him Kildare was in governement a milde man to his enemies intractable to the Irish such a scourge that rather for despite of him then for favour of any part they relyed upon the Butlers came in under his protection served at his call performed by starts as their manner is the duty of good subjects Ormond was secret and drifty of much moderation in speech dangerous of every little wrinkle that touched his reputation Kildare was open and passionable in his moode desperate both of word and deede of the English welbeloved a good lusticier a warriour incomparable towards the Nobles that he favoured not somewhat headlong and unrulie being charged before Henry the seventh for burning the Church at Cashell and many witnesses prepared to avouch against him the truth of that article he suddainely confessed the fact to the great wondering and detestation of the Councell when it was looked how he would justifie the matter By Iesus quoth he I would never have done it had it not beene told me that the Archbishop was within And because the Archbishop was one of his busiest accusers there present merrily laught the King at the plainenesse of the man to see him alleadge that intent for excuse which most of all did aggravate his fault The last article against him they conceived in these tearmes finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earle No quoth the King then in good faith shall this Earle rule all Ireland Thus was the accusation turned to a jest the Earle returned Lord Deputy shortly after created Knight of the Garter and so died Marvell not if this successe were a corrosive to the adverse party which the longer it held aloofe and bit the bridle the more eagerly it followed his course having once the sway and roome at will as you may perceive hereafter Gerald Fitz Gerald sonne of the aforesaid Earle of Kildare and Lord Deputy who chased the nation of the Tooles battered Ocarrols Castles awed all the Irish of the land more more A Gentleman valiant and well spoken yet in his latter time overtaken with vehement suspition of sundry Treasons He of good meaning to unite the families matched his Sister Margaret Fitz Gerald with Pierce Butler Earle of Ossory whom he also holpe to recover the Earledome of Ormond whereinto after the decease of Iames a Bastard brother had intruded Seven yeares together Kildare kept in credit and authority notwithstanding the pushes given against him by secret heavers enviers of his fortune and nourishers of the old grudge who fett him up to the Court of England by commission and caused him there to be opposed with diverse interrogatories touching the Earle of Desmond his Cousin a notorious traytor as they said He left in his roome Morice Fitz Thomas Lord Iustice. After whom came over Lord Lieutenant Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey Grandfather to this Duke of Norfolke accompanied with 200. of the Kings guarde While he sate at Dinner in the Castle of Divelin hee heard newes that Oneale with a mighty army was even in the mouth of the borders ready to invade Immediately men were levyed by the Major and the next morrow joyning them to his band the Lieutenant marched as farre as the water of Slane where having intelligence of Oneales recoyle hee dismissed the footemen and pursued Omore with his horsemen which Omore was said to lurke within certaine miles That espied a Gunner of Omore and watching by a wood side discharged his peece at the very face of the Deputy strake the visard of his helmet and pierced no further as God would This did he in manner recklesse what became of himselfe so he might amaze them for a time breake the swiftnesse of their following and advantage the flight of his Captaine which thing he wanne with the price of his owne blood for the Souldiours would no further till they had searched all the corners of that wood verily suspecting some ambush thereabout and in severall knots ferretted out this Gunner whom Fitz VVilliams and Bedlowe of the Roche were faine to mangle and hewe in peeces because
of antiquities from whence it seemeth that the customes of that nation proceeded Iren. Indeede Eudox. you say very true for all the customes of the Irish which I have often noted and compared with that I have read would minister occasion of a most ample discourse of the originall of them and the antiquity of that people which in truth I thinke to bee more auncient then most that I know in this end of the world so as if it were in the handling of some man of sound judgement and plentifull reading it would bee most pleasant and profitable But it may bee wee may at some other time of meeting take occasion to treate thereof more at large Heere onely it shall suffise to touch such customes of the Irish as seeme offensive and repugnant to the good government of that Realme Eudox. Follow then your owne course for I shall the better content my selfe to forbeare my desire now in hope that you will as you say some other time more aboundantly satisfie it Iren. Before we enter into the treatie of their customes it is first needfull to consider from whence they first sprung for from the sundry manners of the nations from whence that people which now is called Irish were derived some of the customes which now remain amongst them have beene first fetcht and sithence there continued amongst them for not of one nation was it peopled as it is but of sundry people of different conditions and manners But the chiefest which have first possessed and inhabited it I suppose to bee Scythians Eudox. How commeth it then to passe that the Irish doe derive themselves from Gathelus the Spaniard Iren. They doe indeed but I conceive without any good ground For if there were any such notable transmission of a Colony hether out of Spaine or any such famous conquest of this Kingdome by Gathelus a Spaniard as they would faine believe it is not unlikely but that the very Chronicles of Spaine had Spaine then beene in so high regard as they now have it would not have omitted so memorable a thing as the subduing of so noble a Realme to the Spaniard no more then they doe now neglect to memorize their conquest of the Indians specially in those times in which the same was supposed being nearer unto the flourishing age of learning and Writers under the Romanes But the Irish doe heerein no otherwise then our vaine Englishmen doe in the Tale of Brutus whom they devise to have first conquered and inhabited this Land it being as impossible to proove that there was ever any such Brutus of England as it is that there was any such Gathelus of Spaine But surely the Scythians of whom I earst spoke at such time as the Northerne nations over-flowed all Christendome came downe to the sea-coast where inquiring for other Countries abroad getting intelligence of this countrey of Ireland finding shipping convenient passed thither and arrived in the North part thereof which is now called Vlster which first inhabiting and afterwards stretching themselves forth into the Land as their numbers increased named it all of themselves Scuttenland which more briefly is called Scutland or Scotland Eudox. I wonder Irenaeus whether you runne so farre astray for whilest wee talke of Ireland mee thinkes you rippe up the originall of Scotland but what is that to this Iren. Surely very much for Scotland and Ireland are all one and the same Eudox. That seemeth more strange for we all know right well that they are distinguished with a great Sea running between them or else there are two Scotlands Iren. Never the more are there two Scotlands but two kindes of Scots were indeed as you may gather out of Buchanan the one Irin or Irish Scots the other Albin-Scots for those Scots are Scythians arrived as I said in the North parts of Ireland where some of them after passed into the next coast of Albine now called Scotland which after much trouble they possessed of themselves named Scotland but in processe of time as it is commonly seene the dominion of the part prevaileth in the whole for the Irish Scots putting away the name of Scots were called onely Irish the Albine Scots leaving the name of Albine were called only Scots Therefore it commeth thence that of some writers Ireland is called Scotia maior and that which now is called Scotland Scotia minor Eudox. I doe now well understand your distinguishing of the two sorts of Scots two Scotlands how that this which now is called Ireland was anciently called Erin and afterwards of some written Scotland that which now is called Scotland was formerly called Albin before the comming of the Scythes thither but what other nation inhabited the other parts of Ireland Iren. After this people thus planted in the North or before for the certaintie of times in things so farre from all knowledge cannot be justly avouched another nation comming out of Spaine arrived in the West part of Ireland finding it waste or weakely inhabited possessed it who whether they were native Spaniards or Gaules or Africans or Gothes or some other of those Northerne nations which did over-spread all Christendome it is impossible to affirme only some naked conjectures may be gathered but that out of Spaine certainely they came that doe all the Irish Chronicles agree Eudox. You doe very boldly Iren. adventure upon the Histories of auncient times and leane too confidently on those Irish Chronicles which are most fabulous and forged in that out of them you dare take in hand to lay open the originall of such a nation so antique as that no monument remaines of her beginning and first inhabiting especially having bin in those times without letters but only bare traditions of times remembrances of Bardes which use to forge and falsifie every thing as they list to please or displease any man Iren. Truly I must confesse I doe so but yet not so absolutely as you suppose I do herein relye upon those Bardâ—s or Irish Chroniclers though the Irish themselves through their ignorance in matters of learning and deepe judgement doe most constantly beleeve and avouch them but unto them besides I adde mine owne reading and out of theÌ„ both together with comparison of times likewise of manners customes affinity of words and names properties of natures uses resemblances of rites ceremonies monuments of Churches and Tombes and many other like circumstances I doe gather a likelyhood of truth not certainely affirming any thing but by conferring of times language monuments and such like I doe hunt out a probability of things which I leave to your judgement to believe or refuse Neverthelesse there be some very auncient Authors that make mention of these things and some moderne which by comparing them with present times experience and their owne reason doe open a window of great light unto the rest that is yet unseene as namely of the elder times Caesar Strabo Tacitus Ptolomie Pliny Pomponius Mela and
be some of the abuses for which I would thinke it meet to forbid all Mantles Eudox. O evill minded man that having reckoned up so many uses of a Mantle will yet wish it to be abandoned Sure I thinke Diogenes dish did never serve his Master for more turnes notwithstanding that he made it his Dish his Cup his Cap his Measure his Water-pot then a Mantle doth an Irish man But I see they be most to bad intents therefore I will joyne with you in abolishing it But what blame lay you to the glibbe take heed I pray you that you be not too busie therewith for feare of your owne blame seeing our Englishmen take it up in such a generall fashion to weare their haire so immeasurably long that some of them exceed the longest Irish glibs Iren. I feare not the blame of any undeserved dislikes but for the Irish glibbes they are as fit maskes as a mantle is for a thiefe For whensoever he hath run himselfe into that perill of Law that he will not be knowne he either cutteth off his glibbe quite by which he becommeth nothing like himselfe or pulleth it so low downe over his eyes that it is very hard to discerne his theevish countenance And therefore fit to be trussed up with the Mantle Eudox. Truly these three Scythian abuses I hold most fit to bee taken away with sharpe penalties and sure I wonder how they have beene kept thus long notwithstanding so many good provisions and orders as have beene devised for that people Iren. The cause thereof shall appeare to you hereafter but let us now go forward with our Scythian customes Of which the next that I have to treat of is the manner of raising the cry in their conflicts at other troublesome times of uproare the which is very natural Scythian as you may read in Diodorus Siculus in Herodotus describing the maner of the Scythians Parthians comming to give the charge at battles at which it is said that they came running with a terrible yell as if heaven earth would have gone together which is the very Image of the Irish Hubub which their Kerne use at their first encounter Besides the same Herodotus writeth that they used in their battles to call upon the names of their Captains or Generals somtimes upon their greatest Kings deceased as in that battle of Thomyris against Cyrus which custome to this day manifestly appeareth amongst the Irish For at their joyning of Battle they likewise call upon their Captaines name or the word of his Auncestours As they under Oneale cry Laundarg-abo that is the bloody hand which is Oneales badge They under O Brien call Laun-laider that is the strong hand And to their ensample the old English also which there remayneth have gotten up their cryes Scythian-like as Crom-abo and Butler-abo And here also lyeth open an other manifest proofe that the Irish bee Scythes or Scots for in all their incounters they use one very common word crying Ferragh Ferragh which is a Scottish word to wit the name of one of the first Kings of Scotland called Feragus or Fergus which fought against the Pictes as you may reade in Buchanan de rebus Scoticis but as others write it was long before that the name of their chiefe Captaine under whom they fought against the Africans the which was then so fortunate unto them that ever sithence they have used to call upon his name in their battailes Eudox. Believe me this observation of yours Irenaeus is very good and delightfull far beyond the blinde conceipt of some who I remember have upon the same word Ferragh made a very blunt conjecture as namely M. Stanihurst who thogh he be the same countreyman borne that should search more neerely into the secret of these things yet hath strayed from the truth all the heavens wyde as they say for he thereupon groundeth a very grosse imagination that the Irish should descend from the Egyptians which came into that Island first under the leading of one Scota the daughter of Pharaoh whereupon they use saith he in all their battailes to call upon the name of Pharaoh crying Ferragh Ferragh Surely he shootes wyde on the Bow hand very far from the marke For I would first know of him what auncient ground of authority he hath for such a senselesse fable if he have any of the rude Irish bookes as it may be hee hath yet me seemes that a man of his learning should not so lightly have bin carried away with old wives tales from approvance of his owne reason for whether it be a smack of any learned iudgment to say that Scota is like an Egyptian word let the learned iudge But his Scota rather comes of the Greeke σκότοσ that is darknes which hath not let him see the light of the truth Iren. You know not Eudoxus how well M. Stan. could see in the darke perhaps he hath Owles or Cats eyes but well I wot he seeth not well the very light in matters of more weight But as for Ferragh I have told my coniecture only and yet thus much I have more to prove a likelyhood that there be yet at this day in Ireland many Irish men chiefly in the Northerne parts called by the name of Ferragh But let that now be this only for this place suffiseth that it is a word used in their cōmon hububs the which with all the rest is to be abolished for that it discovereth an affectatiō to Irish captainry which in this platform I indevour specially to beat down There be other sorts of cryes also used among the Irish which savour greatly of the Scythian barbarisme as their lamentations at their buryals with dispairfull out-cryes and immoderate waylings the which Master Stanihurst might also have used for an Argument to proove them Egyptians For so in Scripture it is mentioned that the Egyptians lamented for the death of Ioseph Others thinke this custome to come from the Spaniards for that they doe immeasurably likewise bewayle their dead But the same is not proper Spanish but altogether Heathenish brought in thither first either by the Scythians or the Moores that were Africans and long possessed that Countrey For it is the manner of all Pagans and Infidels to be intemperate in their waylings of their dead for that they had no faith nor hope of salvation And this ill custome also is specially noted by Diodorus Siculus to have beene in the Scythians and is yet amongst the Northerne Scots at this day as you may reade in their Chronicles Eudox. This is sure an ill custome also but yet doth not so much concerne civill reformation as abuse in Religion Iren. I did not rehearse it as one of the abuses which I thought most worthie of reformation but having made mention of Irish cryes I thought this manner of lewd crying and howling not impertinent to be noted as uncivill and Scythian-like for by these old customes and other like coniecturall
enterprise Eudox. You have very well me thinkes Irenaeus plotted a course for the atcheiving of those warres now in Ireland which seemes to aske no long time nor great charge so as the effecting thereof bee committed to men of sure trust and sound experience aswell in that Country as in the manner of those services for if it bee left in the hands of such rawe Captaines as are usually sent out of England being thereunto onely preferred by friendship and not chosen by sufficiency it will soone fall to the ground Iren. Therefore it were meete me thinkes that such Captaines onely were thereunto employed as have formerly served in that Country and been at least Leivtenants unto other Captaines there For otherwise being brought and transferred from other services abroad as in France in Spaine and in the Low-Countryes though they be of good experience in those and have never so well deserved yet in these they will be new to seeke and before they have gathered experience they shall buy it with great losse to her Majesty either by hazarding of their companies through ignorance of the places and manner of the Irish services or by loosing a great part of the time which is required hereunto being but short in which it might be finished almost before they have taken out a new lesson or can tell what is to be done Eudox. You are no good friend to new Captaines It seemes Iren. that you barre them from the credit of this service but to say truth me thinkes it were meete that any one before he came to bee a Captaine should have beene a Souldiour for parere qui nescit nescit imperare And besides there is great wrong done to the old Souldiour from whom all meanes of advancement which is due unto him is cut off by shuffling in these new cutting Captaines into the place for which he hath long served and perhaps better deserved But now that you have thus as I suppose finished all the warre and brought all things to that lowe ebbe which you speake of what course will you take for the bringing in of that reformation which you intend and recovering all things from this desolate estate in which mee thinkes I behold them now left unto that perfect establishment and new common-wealth which you have conceived of by which so great good may redound unto her Majesty and an assured peace bee confirmed for that is it whereunto wee are now to looke and doe greatly long for being long sithence made weary with the huge charge which you have laide upon us and with the strong indurance of so many complaints so many delayes so many doubts and dangers as will hereof I know well arise unto the which before wee come it were meete me thinkes that you should take some order for the Souldiour which is now first to bee discharged and disposed of some way the which if you doe not well fore-see may growe to as great inconvenience as all this that I suppose you have quit us from by the loose leaving of so many thousand Souldiours which from thence forth will be unfit for any labour or other trade but must either seeke service and imployment abroad which may be dangerous or else perhaps imploy themselves heere at home as may bee discommodious Iren. You say very true and it is a thing much mislyked in this our Common-wealth that no better course is taken for such as have beene imployed in service but that returning whether maymed and so unable to labour or otherwise whole and sound yet afterwards unwilling to worke or rather willing to set the hang-man on worke But that needeth another consideration but to this which wee have now in hand it is farre from my meaning to leave the Souldier so at randome or to leave that waste Realme so weake and destitute of strength which may both defend it against others that might seeke then to set upon it and also to keepe it from that relapse which I before did fore-cast For it is one speciall good of this plot which I would devise that 6000. Souldiers of these whom I have now imployed in this service and made thoroughly acquainted both with the state of the Countrey and manners of the people should henceforth bee still continued and for ever maintayned of the Countrey without any charge to her Majestie and the rest that either are olde and unable to serve any longer or willing to fall to thrift as I have seene many Souldiers after the service to prove very good husbands should bee placed in part of the landes by them wonne at such rate or rather better then others to whom the same shall be set out Eudox. Is it possible Irenaeus can there be any such meanes devised that so many men should be kept still in her Majesties service without any charge to her at all Surely this were an exceeding great good both to her Highnes to have so many olde Souldiers alwayes ready at call to what purpose soever she list to imploy them and also to have that land thereby so strengthened that it shall neither feare any forraine Invasion nor practise which the Irish shall ever attempt but shall keepe them under in continuall awe and firme obedience Iren. It is so indeed And yet this truely I doe not take to be any matter of great difficultie as I thinke it will also soone appeare unto you And first we will speake of the North part for that the same is of more weight and importance So soone as it shall appeare that the Enemy is brought downe and the stout Rebell either cut off or driven to that wretchednesse that hee is no longer able to holde up his head but will come in to any conditions which I assure my selfe will bee before the end of the second Winter I wish that there bee a generall Proclamation made that whatsoever Out-lawes will freely come in and submit themselves to her Majesties mercy shall have liberty so to doe where they shall either finde that grace they desire or have leave to returne againe in safety upon which it is likely that so many as survive will come in to sue for grace of which who so are thought meet for subjection and fit to be brought to good may be received or else all of them for I thinke that all wil be but a very few upon condition and assurance that they will submit themselves absolutely to her Maiesties ordinance for them by which they shall be assured of life and libertie and be onely tyed to such conditions as shall bee thought by her meet for containing them ever after in due obedience To the which conditions I nothing doubt but that they will all most readily and upon their knees submit themselves by the proofe of that which I have seene in Mounster For upon the like Proclamation there they all came in both tagg and ragg and when as afterwardes many of them were denyed to be received they bade them doe