The firste [laste] volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande conteyning the description and chronicles of England, from the first inhabiting vnto the conquest : the description and chronicles of Scotland, from the first original of the Scottes nation till the yeare of our Lorde 1571 : the description and chronicles of Yrelande, likewise from the first originall of that nation untill the yeare 1571 / faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed.

❧The seconde Booke of the Histories of Irelande, in which the conquest made by Henry the second of that name, King of Englande, is comprehended.

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[ 10]

DErmucius or Dermote [ 20] Macmurche Kyng of Leynister, and gouer∣nor of the fifte parte of Irelande, possessed all y^e East partes of the Isle alōgst by y^e Sea coast, an oppressor of the no∣bilitie, vsing much crueltie towardes the Lords and great men of his countrey. To serue his le∣cherous [ 30] lust, hee secretely made sute in dishonest wise vnto the Queene of Meth, the daughter of Amalachelmus, and wife vnto Morice King of Meth, which Morice going vpon a iourney into farre parts foorth of his countrey, left his Queene in a certayne ile in Meth, but before his returne, shee condiscending vnto Dermotes desire, was voluntarily stolne away by the same Dermuci∣us. King Morice of Meth hir husband sore mo∣ued heerewith, determineth to bee reuenged, and [ 40] the better to bring his purpose to passe, he maketh complaynte of the whole iniurie vnto Rotherick Ochonor King of Connagh, that was in those dayes Monarke of Ireland, beseeching him of as∣sistance in that enterprise, which he meant to take in hand against that vile adulterer Kyng Der∣mote. The people of Leynister detesting the quarrell, and hauing long agoe conceyued no smal hatred against theyr K. for his outragious-crueltie vsed against his subiects, forsooke hym in [ 50] his greatest necessitie, so that hee being left deso∣late of all comforte, with muche difficultie gote a vessell, and fledde for succour vnto Henry the se∣cond King of Englande then remayning in A∣quitayne, where hee was occupied in warres a∣gainst the Frenchmen.

Somewhat before this presente season it chaunced, that Adrian, the fourth of that name, then Pope of Rome, an Englishman borne, in the towne of Saint Albous, who before time had bin sente into Norway, to instruct that lande in the Christian religion, where he learned perfectly the state of Ireland, & how that although Christ was there taught and beleeued, yet the multitude being a furious and sauage generation, were gro∣wen to suche a licentious and shamefull kinde of libertie, making no accounte of the necessarie pointes of doctrine, more than serued their sensu∣all and wilfull lustes, that it was greatly to bee doubted, least they would at length vtterly aban∣don Christianitie, and giue themselues ouer to a beastly order of liuing, nothing agreeable with the lawes and rites of other people that professed Christes Religion.

Hereto Henry the second, presuming vpon the Popes fauour, that was his borne subiect in the very first yeere of his raigne, had sente Ambassa∣dors to Rome for licence, to attempt the conquest of Irelande. Pope Adrian wishing that a refor∣mation of the abuses in that people might be had, granted his Bull for proofe of his consent to king Henries request, which Alexander that succeeded him confirmed and ratifyed with like conditions as his predecessor Adrian had giuē forth y^e same.

Now when Dermote was come in the nicke to further by occasion this enterprise thus preten∣ded by Henry aforehand, hee presented his com∣plaint, profering the interest of his Crowne, with condition hee mighte be restored to some parte of his lands.

This matter beeyng thus broched, although King Henry had his handes full of warres with the Frenchmen, yet hee receyued Dermote into his protectiō, taking of him both his bond of sub∣iection and othe of fidelitie: and where the Kyng coulde not then attende to goe with hym ouer into Irelande, yet, bycause of the earnest suite that Dermote made, for speede of assistaunce hee sente him into Englande, honorably attended and furnished with hys letters patents, the tenor whereof ensueth.

Henry King of Englande, Duke of Nor∣mandy, and Aquitaine, and Earle of Anion,

to all our faithfull subiects Englishmen, Normās, Welchmen, and Scottes, and to all other nati∣ons whatsoeuer subiecte to our Dominion, sen∣deth greeting.

When these letters shall come to your handes

know ye that we haue receyued Dermot, Prince of Leynister, into y^e bosome of our grace and be∣neuolence. Wherefore, whiche of you soeuer oure louing subiects within the limits of our domini∣ons, will imploy your aids to help him foreward, and restore him as our liege man and faithfull subiect, be you assured by these presentes, to haue not only in that behalfe our licence, but also fa∣uour and thankes at our handes.

With these let∣ters [ 10] and many further promises, hee arriued at Bristow, where he remayned for a time, that by suche as came forthe of Irelande by Sea and landed there, hee mighte learne and vnder∣stande in what state thyngs stoode in hys coun∣trey.

While he continued thus at Bristowe, pro∣curing by all meanes to get some ayde, it chan∣ced, that vppon conference hadde with Richarde Strangbowe Earle of Penbroke, sonne to Gil∣bert Earle of Penbroke, to whome he couenan∣ted [ 20] to giue to him his daughter and heire in ma∣riage, vppon promise, that the nexte Spring hee shoulde helpe to bring hym home into his coun∣trey, and place hym agayne in hys King∣dome, whyche in remaynder was, to distend vn∣to the sayde Earle, by the marriage promised to him of Dermots daughter.

When all the couenauntes and agreementes were concluded vpon in order, whyche were ne∣cessary to passe betwixte them, Dermote depar∣ted [ 30] from Bristowe, and wente into the parties of South Wales towardes Sainte Dauies, that hee myght bee the neerer vnto hys Coun∣trey.

The same tyme, there were planted in Wales two Gentlemen, the one named Roberte Fitz Stephens, and Maurice Fitz Geralde, brethren of one Mother, alied to Rise ap Griffin then Prince of Wales, whose Grandfather was sur∣named Rise the greate, whose daughter named [ 40] Vesta, was Mother to the sayd Fitz Stephans, and Fitz Gerald.

Fitz Stephās dwelled at Aberteiui in South∣wales, and had bin high Connestable there vnder the King of England, and for his rigorous dea∣ling against the Prince of Wales his seruantes, hee was layde for, and through treason of hys owne menne taken, and kepte in prison three yeeres by the Prince, and woulde neyther raun∣some [ 50] nor accept libertie promised him, but with suche conditions as stoode with his honor, and so as his loyaltie to the Crowne myghte in each behalfe remayne vnspotted. At length, by the me∣diation of Dauid Bishop of Sainte Dauid (that was brother vnto the said Fitz Stephans) and of his other brother Fitz Gerald, and also at the in∣stante suite of Dermote (whome the Prince of Wales fauored in his enterprise for recouerie of his Kingdome,) Fitz Stephans was conditio∣nally deliuered, that hee and his brother Maurice should the next Spring (while the Earle of Pen∣broke prouided his army) assist Dermote to make entrie into his countrey, who in consideration thereof, assured them of an estate for euer in the towne of Wexforde, with two cantredes adioy∣ning. Thus muche firmely concluded on eache side, King Dormote came to the towne of Saint Dauid about the Kalendes of August, and wat∣ching till a fauorable winde blewe, when the same came once about, hee stale ouer into Ire∣lande and at Fernes wintered in secrete wise a∣mongst the Cleargie there, that receyued hym with as muche fauour as coulde bee deuised, kee∣ping hym close withoute making any greate bruite of his there being, till the next spring, that Robert Fitz Stephans with thirtie Knightes of his bloud, threescore Esquires or men at armes (as wee may tearme them) and three hundred archers footemen, according to couenaunte, em∣barqued in three Shippes, passed ouer, and lan∣ded at Banman aboute the kalendes of May.

The morrowe after their arriuall, a righte valiaunte Captayne, one Maurice de Prendel∣gast, following Fitz Stephans to the ayde of King Dermote, landed there also with a tenne Knightes, and a good bande of Archers, whome hee hadde Shipped at Milleforde Hauen in Wales in two vessels prouided for that purpose.

Dermote aduertised of their landing, forth∣with sente one of his base sonnes named Dun∣walde with fiue hundred menne to ayde them, wherevpon they marched forth toward the town of Werforde.

The Townesmen vnderstanding that they were comming towardes them, issued forthe a∣gainst them: but after they were aware of suche a power of armed menne, set in order of battell, di∣uersly arrayed and weaponed, with barded Hor∣ses, and all other furniture of warre necessarie, they began to shrinke, and losing courage, retired backe to their Towne, brenning the Villages rounde aboute them, and all the prouision of vi∣tayles which they could not conuey with them, they made themselues within so strong as they coulde deuise, and stoode manfully at defence of theyr gates and walles agaynste theyr eni∣mies.

They were sharply assayled for the spare of three dayes togither.

On the fourth day, by mediation of a certaine Bishop that lay in that Towne, the Townes∣men were perswaded to yeeld themselues to their King, so that they rendred the Towne into hys handes.

King Dermote hauing seene the proofe of the Welchmens prowes, meante not to deale

with them otherwise than promise, and therefore deliuered forthwith the possession of the towne of Wexforde, with the appurtenances, vnto Fitz Stephan and to hys brother Maurice Fitz Geralde.

To Heruie de Monte Maurisco, he gaue two Canthredes that lie betwixt y^e townes of Wex∣ford and Waterfourde, alongst by the Sea side, to hold the same in fee.

After this, they gote togither to the number of [ 10] three thousand mē, with the supply of y^e townes∣men of Wexforde, and marched foorth towardes the vpper Ossorie, to be reuenged of the Lordes there, that had shewed themselues most cruell and spitefull of all other towards the king in time of his troubles and banishment.

The chiefe gouernour of that quarter named Duneuald, gathering togither the people to de∣fende their countrey, was trayned foorth into the playnes and harde grounde, where with a violent charge of the horsemen, his army was easily dis∣comfited and broken in peeces, so that the Irishe

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footemen following, and comming in among them, slew those that they found borne downe by the horsemen, and brought two hundred of theyr heads whiche they had cut off, and threw them downe at Dermote his foote. The valiancie of two yong Gentlemen appeared greatly in thys exployt, the one called Robert de Barre, and the other Meiller, both Nephewes to Fitz Stephan, the one by hys brother, and the other by hys [ 40] sister.

To be shorte, those Lordes of vpper Ossorie, were cōpelled to returne to their olde subiection, & sweare fealtie. Roderike the Monarke appalled with the brute hereof, reysed all the vnder Kings to defend the land from this inuasiō of strangers, fearing least all woulde goe to naughte, if timely prouision were not had. But yet first they sent to Fitz Stephan certaine personages of credite, with courteous wordes and riche presentes, requiring [ 50] him to depart the land quietly, and not to molest them by warre without cause. His answer was, that he maruelled much at y^e follie of those Prin∣ces, who to satisfie their displeasure and malice, had opened such a gappe to their owne destructiō, not considering howe the subiectes whome they had schooled to breake their allegaunce aneynst theyr naturall Prince the King of Leynister, would not be as ready to rebell against the King of Connagh. But for his owne parte, althoughe hee myghte with better reason inuade straun∣gers, than they mighte expell theyr neyghbours, and one that was their paire, yet if they would suffer the Kyng of Leynister to reposseed and en∣ioy hys righte, they shoulde not fynde hym vnreasonable. Otherwise, they shoulde well perceyue, that the Welchmen wanted ney∣ther habilitie nor faithe to mayneteyne theyr worde.

Rodericke perceyuing it was no boote to striue againste the streame, resolued to growe vnto some agreemente, whiche at length was concluded, with these conditions. Firste, that Dermote Macmourche, receyuing a newe othe of allegeance to the Monarchie, should qui∣etly repossesse those partes of the Kingdome of Leynister, whyche Rodericke withhelde by sus∣pension.

Secondly, that for assuraunce thereof, hee shoulde pledge hys deerest base begotten sonne Conthurus, to whome Rodericke promised hys daughter if this peace continued effectuall.

Thirdlye, that beeyng established in hys Kingdome, hee shoulde discharge the Welchs Armye, and from thencefoorthe, shoulde at

no time call them ouer againe in his defence. A∣bout the same time, the King of Arglas founded the Abbey of Mellesunt, the eldest that is recor∣ded since the arriuall of the Danes, excepte Sainte Mary Abbey besyde Dublin erected. Anno .948.

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In this meane while, there landed at Wex∣ford, Maurice Fitzgerald, with .x. knightes .xxx. Esquires, and an hundred good bowmen. Here∣vpon K. Dermote greatly encouraged, purposed with all speede to seeke his reuenge againste them of Dublin, that had shewed themselues great e∣nimies diuers wayes, both to him and his father. He assembled therefore his power togither, and [ 30] marched toward Dublin, whilest Fitz Stephen remayned two miles from Wexforde, where on the height of a Rocke called Karreck, hee built a Castell. But Fitzgerald with the English army went foorth with King Dermote againste Du∣blin, hauing the chiefe conduct of all the whole enterprise. They so besturred them, that all the territorie about the Citie, and the countreys ad∣ioyning, were in manner brought to vtter ruine, with spoyle, slaughter, and fire, in somuche, that [ 40] the townesmen of Dublin, perceyuing in what daunger they stoode, submitted them selues, and put in good suretie for their loyall demeanor in time to come.

When Dublin and the Countrey about were thus recouered and reduced to their former sub∣iection, there fell out variance betwixt Rodorike the Monarke, and Dunenald King of Limerik. To whose ayde his father in lawe Dermote sent Fitz Stephans with his power, by whose [ 50] high prowes, Roderike in diuers conflictes was put to the worst, and forced to withdrawe home into his countrey with dishonor.

Nowe was Dermote growen into some fa∣uor and liking of his people, insomuche that hee began to fancie a further conquest, hauing alrea∣dy recouered his whole kingdome of Leymster. And bycause he knewe it shoulde be to small pur∣pose to attempt any such thing, without the help of his English confederates, hee consulted with the two brethren Fitzstephans, and Fitzgerald, about the inuading of Connagh, for hee meante to giue a push for the obteining of that countrey, with the whole monarchie of Ireland, and for as much as hee founde them ready to further him in that enterprise, he wrote ouer into England vn∣to y^e Erle of Penbroke, requiring his assistāce, in renuing y^e former couenants passed betwixt thē.

This Erles ancestors came into this Realme of Englād with Wi•…•…llam Conqueror, but now eyther through riotous prodigalitie, or disfauor of the Kings, they were runne farre behinde hand with the world, and therefore this man gaue the more willing eare vnto Dermotz letters, & there∣vpon passed ouer to the King, beseeching him ey∣ther to restore him to such landes as he withhelde

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o•…•… his, or else ••••••ece him in forraigne parts to seke his fortune. The King as one y^t spake in skorne,

bade him go forward in the name of God so farre as his fette woulde beare him.

The Earle dissembling to vnderstand the hol∣lownesse of the Kings heart and good will to∣wardes his preferment, first furnished forth hys cousin Reymond le Grace, nephew by an elder brother vnto Fitz Stephans, and Fitz Geralde, with .x. knightes and .lxx. Archars about the Ka∣lendes of May, appoynting him to passe ouer be∣fore him into Irelande. Who landing neare to a [ 10] rocke by the Sea side called Dundenolfe (foure myles from Waterforde, towarde Wexforde by south) began there on the sayde rocke to buylde a Fort of earth and fagots. The Citizins of Wa∣terforde, and with them Machlachelin Ophelan hauing in a iealousie the neighborhood of straun∣gers, assembled togither three thousand men and passed ouer the ryuer that deuideth the Countrey of Desmound from Leynister vnder their towne walles towardes the East, and deuiding themsel∣selues [ 20] into three battails marched forth, and vali∣antly approched to the ditches where Reymonde with his companie was intrenched. Reymonde perceyuing them thus to approche, boldly issued forth agaynst them with such small companie as he had there with him. Howbeit not able to make his partie good, he was forced to retyre vnto hys strength, but beyng pursued vnto the very gates by the Irishe, thinking to enter with the Eng∣lishe men, Reymond at the very entring of the gate turned backe vppon them, and thrust his sworde through the first of his enimies that pres∣sed next to follow him at the heeles, and calling to his people to turne vpon the aduersarie, he so encouraged his companye, and stroke suche a feare into the Irish mens heartes, that they tooke themselues to flight, and were so egrely followed of their aduersaries, that aboue fiue hundred of thē were slaine, beside a great number that were dry∣uē to take the sea, where they were lost & drowned

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The valiancie of one William Ferrando a [ 40] knight was much noted in this conflict. Seuenty townesmen of Waterford were taken, and after∣wardes (contrarie to the minde of Raymond) cast into the sea and drowned, through the perswasion of Heruie de Monte Maurisco, in which doing the English men did great hurt to themselues, for the aduauncement of their proceedings in Ire∣land. In the meane time the Erle of Pembrooke hauing made all his prouision readie, tooke the sea in Mylforde hauen with two hundred knightes, [ 50] and a thousand other men of warre, and arriued at Waterforde on Bartholmewe euen, and the morow after Bartholmew day, being Tuesday, they assaulted the Citie, and were twise repulsed, but yet at length breaking downe an house that ioyned to the wall, they entred by force, and slea∣ing the Citizins, obteyned a bloudie victorie.

Shortly after came king Dermote thither with Fitz Stephans and Reymonde, and there according to couenant, gaue vnto Erle Strang∣bow, his daughter Eue in mariage, with the suc∣cession of his kingdome. When Waterford was thus gotten, and Leynister pacified, and the prin∣ces of Ossorie tamed, and a chosen power of men of warre placed in garison, King Dermote was become so terrible that none durst styrre agaynst him.

Dermote not yet satisfyed in his moode agaynst them of Dublin, got his army on foote, and drew towardes that Citie by the bending coastes of the Mountaynes of Glindelachan, auoyding the wayes that lay through the wooddes, bycause hee knew y^e same to be beset with his enimies. Ther∣fore hauing still in remembrance the iniurie done to his father, kept him out of the woods, hating the Citizins of Dublin chiefely bycause they had trayterously slaine his father in tyme past, in the

middest of a great house, whither they were wont to repayre as to a place where causes were vsual∣ly heard: and to adde a reproche to their cruell murthering of their Prince, they buried him togi∣ther with a dog. At the kings approch to the city, whilest Ambassadors were sent, and that by me∣diation of the Archbishoppe of that Citie named Laurence, a treatie of peace was in hande, while Reymond on the one side, and Myles Cogan a right valiant knight on the other, with their com∣panies [ 10] of yong lustie soldiers assaulting y^e walles forthwith obteined the victorie, not without great slaughter of the Citizens, the better part of them yet with Captaine Hastulf got them to shipboord with their best goods, & hasted thēce vnto y^e north Iles. Dermote hauing thus wonne the Citie of Dublyn, & set things in order there, he left Miles Cogan to gouern the same, & marched forth togi∣ther with the Erle of Pēbroke, & the rest of the ar∣my into Methe, & entred into the confines of that [ 20] countrey, wasted & spoiled with fire & sworde the whole region of Methe. Rotherike king of Con∣nagh sent vnto Dermote to put him in remem∣brance of the couenant passed betwixt them, & spe∣cially to restraine the excursions of the strangers, that were in his companie, for else he would not faile to put to death his sonne whom he had with him as a pledge. Which to do, when Dermote did not onely refuse, but also declared plainly that he would not stay from pursuing his purpose, till he [ 30] had subdued al Cōnagh, & obteyned the Monar∣chie of y^e whole Ile apperteining to him by right discēded frē his ancesters: Roderik taking indig∣natiō hereat, caused his sōnes head to be strikē off.

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[ 40] [ 50]

The Irish Clergie perceyuing in what danger the countrey stood, assembled thēselues togither at Ardmagh, and with one accord protested, that for their sinnes, & specially for their barbarous kind of tyrannie which they vsed in buying and selling, and vilely abusing such English captiues as they bought, aswel of Merchants as Pirates, the land was now like to be translated to that nation whō they had so cruelly intreated. Therfore to appease the wrath of God, they decreed that all the Eng∣lish people wheresoeuer any of them remayned in seruitude within the Ile, shoulde forthwith be re∣leased, and if it pleased God to lay his scourge vp∣pon them, they determined to suffer the same pa∣ciently, as a punishment a great way beneath the fulnesse of their desertes.

King Henry although he was well contented to forbeare the presence of the Erle of Pembroke, yet he liked nothing at all to see him thus aduan∣ced in Irelande, sith he might in time atteyne to such power there, that the same adioyned to hys faction in Wales, he should be able to coūtenance the Crowne of Englande. An Edict therefore was made and published, charging all subiects to returne home into Englande before Easter next, vpon perill to forfeyt landes and goodes, and to be banished the Realme for euer. Also that none shoulde presume to passe into Irelande from any of the Kings dominions by shippe, to conuey a∣ny wares or prouisions thither. Wherevppon Reymond was sent ouer to speake with the king, remayning as then in France. Whilest he follo∣wed the Court, and the king lingring time to de∣spatch him with answere, Thomas Archebishop of Canterburie was dispatched out of life, as in the English Historie is mentioned.

Thus had the Irishe a breathing space, and so continued all the Winter without any greate troubles, which season being past, King Der∣mote Mac Mourche departed this life at Fernes, about the Kalendes of May, being a man well striken in yeares.

The same time, that is, about Whitsuntide, Hastulfus that in times past had beene gouernor of Dublyn. with .lx. sayle fraught with Norwe∣gians and Iland men, arriued neare to Dublin, and landing his people vnder the gouernment of one that had the leding of thē, named Iohn Hen∣uode, a forwarde man of warre, they prepared themselues to assault the Citie. They were well appoynted for the warre, clad in long habergeons or plate cotes cunningly wrought, with rounde targettes coloured redde, and bound about with a ring of yron, so that both themselues and theyr weapons were couered with yron. They assaul∣ted the Citie at the East gate, but Miles Cogan then captain of that Citie manfully made a sally forth vpon the enimies, but not able to abyde the impression of suche an huge multitude, hauing lost part of his small number, he was constrayned to retyre backe into the Citie, till his brother Ri∣chard Cogā issuing forth w^t a few at the posterne of the southside, set vpō the enimies behind, raising such a noise & hobub, y^e striken vpon a sodain with a maruellous feare, they toke themselues to f•…•…ight, so that being fiercely pursued, y^e most part of them

were slaine togither with Iohn Henuode theyr Captaine.

Hasthulf also as he woulde haue fledde to the ships, was ouertaken by one Manne Glisi, and brought prisoner into the Citie. He was at the first courteously vsed, but when he began arro∣gantly to forget himselfe, vttering certaine pre∣sumptuous speeches, saying, well, we came now but with a small power to trie what might bee done, this is but a beginning of a proufe made, [ 10] for if God spare me life, greater attemptes shall follow. These wordes comming to the know∣ledge of Myles Cogan, hee commaunded that he should forthwith be brought to a blocke, where he was pusht downe and had his head swapped off: and so for his vntemperate tongue hee lost his life, that otherwise with great curtesie had bin preserued.

After this the Irishmen assembled theyr po∣wers togyther on eche hande, so that with an in∣finit number of men they came and besieged Du∣blin, at the procuring of Laurence Archbishop of that Citie, who vpon a zeale to his Countreymē trauayled earnestly therein.

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Gothredus king of Man being writtē vnto, as well by the Archbishop, as by Rotherike king of Connagh, came to further this enterprise with [ 30] other Iland men embarked in .xxx. ships fraught full of warlike people, and aryuing in the hauen of Hauenliph, came forwarde to close vp the ha∣uen of Dublin.

After that the Earle of Pembrooke being shut vp within the walles of Dublin, had abyd the siege for the space of two Monethes togither, and coulde recouer no vytayles for the reliefe of hys people, so that famine began sore to annoy them within: The malice of theyr enimies was not [ 40] thus contented to molest the English men with keping them besieged within Dublin, but Dune∣ualde, Mac Dermicius or Dermote, also com∣ming forth of the confines of Kencelie, got togi∣ther an armie (what of suche as he brought with him forth of Kencelie, and of the townesmen of Wexford) in all to the number of three thousand, with which power hee enuironed Fitz Stephan that with a few lay within his Castel of Karrec, and constrayned him so sore, that he wrote vnto [ 50] the Earle, aduertising him, that if he were not re∣scued within three dayes, all succour would come to late. There were besieged within Dublyn in company of the Erle Maurice, Fitz Geralde and Reymonde that was lately returned from King Henrie: the one brother, and the other nephew to Fitz Stephan: wherevpon when aduertisement was come in what daunger he stood, being so be∣set of enimies that he might by no meanes escape without present rescue, they vsed such perswasion with the Earle, that it was resolutely determi∣ned to make a sally forth vpon the enimies, and to trie the hazarde of battaile, so to delyuer them∣selues and other from instant perill: eyther with victorie or death, sithe otherwise they knewe not howe to prouide remedie in such desperate state of things.

Herevpon they chose forth a conuenient num∣ber to leaue behinde them in the Citie for the ga•…•…d thereof, and with the residue marched forth, deui∣ded into three troupes, the first being 〈…〉〈…〉 Rey∣monde accompanied with .xx. knightes. The se∣conde was gouerned by Myles, who ha•…•… wyth him .xxx. knightes: and lastly in the r•…•…rewarde went the Erle himselfe, and Fitz Geralde, hauing with them .xl. knightes beside other horsmen, and a fewe Citizens that were ioyned with them in eche of those three wardes some: with so small a cōpanie they manfully set vpon the whole campe of theyr enimies, being fewe lesse than .xxx. thou∣sand, and •…•…o bestyrred themselues, that with great slaughter they obteyned a glorious victorie, •…•…ha∣sing their enimies, and sleaing them as they o∣uertooke them, till the euening came vpon them, and caused them to returne into the Citie wyth such vytayles and other spoyles as they founde in the enimies campe. Rotherike being in his bane when the fight first began, got away as well as he might, and so escaped.

The English men hauing thus got the victory and deliuered the citie quite from the siege on eche side, the next day leauing a competent garison within Dublin, they marched forth with theyr victorious ensignes towards Wexford to the suc∣cor of Fitz Stephan, but before their comming he had yelded himself to the enimies: for causing him to beleeue by the assured report of the Bishops of Wexford and Kildare, that Dublin was taken, & all the English men put to the sworde, they per∣swaded [ 10] with him to yeelde before that the armies of Connagh and Leynister came, promising that if he would commit himself vnto their fayth, they would see that he shoulde be safely conueyed ouer into Wales, and so escape the daunger of al other his enimies. But after he had yeelded himself di∣uerse of his people being slaine, the residue were beaten and maymed, and thrust into prison.

After this, the Irish hearing that the Englishe men were comming as victorers to the rescue of [ 20] their friends, they burnt their citie and fled to the Ile that lieth in the mouth of the hauen there cal∣led holy Iland, with al their riches, goodes, & cap∣tiues. In the meane time the Erle of Pembroke passing forth towards Wexford, was encountred at the pase of Odrone by the army of Lymrike y^t was got thither before him to defende the passage there against him. But such was the force of the English power (though but a handfull in cōpari∣son to the number of their aduersaries, that with [ 30] slaughter of a great number of the Irish, they got through into the plaines without any losse at all, except of one yong gentleman. In this cōflict the accustomed prowes of Meiller was sufficiently apparāt. The Englishmē then drawing towards Wexford, & bearing what had chaūced vnto Fitz Stephans, they were highly displeased & troubled in mind, and forthwith turning on the right hand toward Waterford, where they foūd Heruey that was come from the king of Englād, to whom he had bin sent, and now vpon his returne, brought letters, by the tenor wherof he was authorised to perswade the Erle to returne home into Englād, who not only shewed the letters, but also in speech vsed what perswasions he might to induce y^e Erle to accomplish the kings pleasure. The Erle per∣ceyuing the kings iealousie still to continue, & a∣gain (how no smal part of his army was decayed through sicknes, & in defēce of diuerse good towns which king Roderik had assaulted,) he determined to returne into Englande, & to seeke to pacifie the kings minde, so as he might purchase some assy∣stance to go through with that he had begon tou∣ching the conquest of Ireland, and so hauing ta∣ken order for y^e defence of those places which were in his possession, he passeth the sea, and came to the king whom he found at Miweham, not farre from Glocester redy there with an army to passe forward towards Ireland. Here after much talke and reasoning of matters, by the mediation & in∣tercession of Heruey, the Earle was reconciled to the kings fauor, yeelding to the king the chiefest parcels of all his winnings, as Dublyn with the Canthredes adioyning, & all the townes & castels alongst by the sea side, and for the residue which it pleased the king to permit him to inioy, he coue∣nanted to acknowledge that he helde the same of the king & his heyres for euer. These things thus accorded, the K. toke his iourney directly towards Milford hauen, where he rigged a goodly nauy of shippes. About this time the Abbay de castro dei was founded. In the meane time Ororike sur∣named Monoculus, that is with the one eie, King of Methe, taking occasion by the absence of the Erle & also of Reymond that remained as yet at Waterforde about the kalendes of September, came to Dublin with a great multitude of men, and finding in the Citie but a few to defende it a∣gaynst

[illustration]

him with great noyse and violence assay∣led the walles and rampyres, in hope to haue en∣tred by fine force at the first assault: but Myles Cogan gouernour of the Citie, although he had no great number to make account of about him at that present, yet knowing that those few which he had, were men of approued manhoode, sallyed forth, and setting vpon the enimies on the sodain, made such slaughter amongst thē, that the whole number beeing vtterly discomfited, he returned [ 10] backe into the Citie with a glorious victorie. A∣mong other of the Irish that were slaine, a sonne of king Morice a iolly lustie yong Gentleman was one.

Whilest these things were a doing in Ireland king Henrie was busie to prouide all things rea∣die to passe ouer, and so taking the Sea, landed at Waterford about Saint Lukes day, with fiue hundred knightes, beside other horsemen, and a great number of Archers. This was in the .xvij. [ 20] yeare of his raigne. and .xlj. of his age. Whilest he remayned for a fewe dayes space in Waterford, thither came vnto him the townesmen of Wex∣ford to make their way for pardon and fauour at his handes, and for a policie to nourish the suspi∣tion which was entred the kings minde against those gentlemen that first had attempted the in∣uasion of Irelande, they presented vnto him Fitz Stephans in Irons, as it were to gratifie him, for that contrarie to his assent he had bene the first [ 30] that came thither, and occasioned al the other that after followed to do the like.

The king for that cause seeming highly of∣fended agaynst him at the first, dealt verie straitly with him, and sent him back togither with one of his fellowes to be kept bounde and chained in fet∣ters within Reighnaldes tower.

Immediatly hereupon, Dermote or Dermu∣cius king of Corke, came to the king of England, and submitting himselfe to his obeysance, made his othe of fidelitie, and deliuering pledges for fur∣ther assurance thereof, couenanted to pay a cer∣taine yearely tribute.

The king of England departing from Wa∣terford, went to Lismore, and stayed there but two dayes, and frō thence went to Cassill where Doualde the Prince of Limerike the morrow af∣ter came to him at the Water of Suir, and coue∣nanting for a tribute to holde his landes of king Henrie, became his liegeman, vpon good assurance by solemne oth, and deliuering sufficient pledges. These and other the Princes of the South partes of Ireland, as Doualde, and Omalaghlen, right puissant Lordes, and as they were termed kings of Ossorie, hauing submitted themselues to king Henrie, and eche of thē being sent home into their countreys with honourable giftes and good enter∣teynment, he returned to Waterford, causing Fitz Stephan to be brought vnto him, and cōsidering the high manhood of that noble Gentleman, and what daungers he had passed in aduenturing a∣bout the conquest of that Countrey, he restored him to libertie, and through the earnest fuyte of diuerse noble men, receyued him into fauor, con∣firmed the grauntes made to him by king Der∣mote, of Wexforde and the Canthredes adioy∣ning, taking from him onely the towne of Wa∣terford, and the appurtenances.

The king leauing in Waterford Robert Fitz Bernard for the safe keeping of that towne, de∣parted from thence towardes Dublyn through Ossorie, and comming thither, remayned there for a time, during the whiche, all the Princes of those parties, came in and humbly submitting thē selues to his obeysaunce besought him to graunt them peace, and to receyue them into his protecti∣on, as Machelan, Ophelan, Omachcalewy, O∣thuetheli, Gillemeholmoch, Otadhesi, Ocaruell

[illustration]

of Vriell, and Ororick of Methe.

Roderike king of Connagh, mette the kings Ambassadours, Hugh Lacie, and William Fitz Aldelme at the water of Shenyn, which deuideth Meth & Connagh asunder: where the sayde Ro∣derike obteyning likewise the kings peace and ap∣pointing what tribute he should pay, assured hys fidelitie with firme bounds of subiection.

Thus all the Princes of the whole Iland, and specially this Roderike King of Connagh that [ 10] was reputed Monarke of Irelande for himselfe and al other, acknowledged king Henrie for the supreme Lorde and soueraigne Prince of all the Ilande, so that there was not one of any name or accompt within the boundes thereof (those of Vlster onely excepted) that refused to exhibite due reuerence vnto hys royall Maiestie. And so was the prophecie of Merlyn fulfilled (as some tooke it.)

The sixt shall ouerthrow the Walles of Ire∣lande, [ 20] and againe fiue portions shall be brought into one.

This sixt they construed now to be this king Henrie in whome the fiue vnderkingdomes were vnited.

Of the same conquest prophecied their foure notable Saints, Patrike, Brachan, Colme, and Moling.

In Christmasse hee called all these Princes that were thus become his subiects vnto Dublyn where he made them a royall dinner. Here they began first to feed on Cranes flesh, a foule til that season vtterly abhorred of the Irish. The sump∣tuous seruice, and noble traine of those that way∣ted at this feast, was marueylous in the eyes of those coūtrimē that had neuer sene the like before.

King Henrie not vnmyndfull of his charge enioyned him by the Popes Adrian and Alexan∣der, for a reformation to bee had in matters of the Irish Churche, called a Synode of all the Irishe Clergie at Cashell, whither came as chiefe the bi∣shop of Lismore. Legate of the sea of Rome, Do∣nate of Casshell, Laurence of Dublyn, & Catho∣licus of Thomond, Archbishops with their Suf∣fraganes & felow Bishops, Abbots Archdeacons, Priors, Deanes, and other prelates of the land.

[illustration]

There were also sent thither from king Hen∣rie, Raufe Abbot of Buldewis, Raufe Archedea∣con of Landaffe, and one of his Chapleynes na∣med Nicholas, with other Chapleynes & Coun∣sellors of the same king.

In which Synode the enormious abuses of y^e Irish Church being proponed and put in wry∣ting vnder the Legats seale, they fel in conference [ 50] for the reforming thereof, and in the ende they concluded vpon the same, which were registred in eight articles.

Fyrst, that they shoulde not contract any vn∣lawfull mariages with their cousins or neare al∣lyes, but in the same obserue the rules of the Canons.

Secondly, that their Infants should be Ca∣techised at the church doores by the priests, & after baptized in the Fontes of their Churches.

Thirdely, that all those that tooke themsel∣ues for Christian men shoulde duelye pay their Tythes of corne and Catell, and other increasing things.

Fourthly, that the landes and possessions be∣longing to the Church, shoulde be enfranchised of all secular exactions, and specially that neyther the Kinges nor Erles, nor anye other Lordes of Irelande nor theyr sonnes, with theyr fami∣lyes shoulde demaunde nor presume to exact vio∣lently from thence forth any meate or drinke, or harborrow within the Church possessions, as they had beene vsed, and that the dyet which had beene exacted foure tymes in the yeare of Churche

mennes fermes should not any more be demaun∣ded nor answered.

Fiftly, that for murthers committed when the offender compoūded with the kinsmen of the par∣tie dead, Churchmen that were cousins to the of∣fender should not be forced to beare any part of the fine, except they were accessaries to the offence.

Sixtly, that the sicke should cause his testamēt to bee made and read in presence of credible per∣sons, and if they had wyues, theyr debts and ser∣uantes [ 10] wages deducted, the residue of theyr goods should be deuided into three parts, whereof y^e wife was to haue one, the children another, and the thirde to be employed about his funerals, and o∣therwise as he should appoynt. If he had no law∣full issue, then his goodes to bee deuided betwixt him and his wife, and if he had children and hys wife deceassed, then the same to bee deuided be∣twixt him and his children.

Seuenthly, that the funerals of the dead be de∣uoutly [ 20] and solemnly kept and executed.

Eightly, for as much as it had pleased God to deliuer them vniuersally into the gouernment of the Englishe Nation, it was decreed that in all poyntes, rytes and ceremonies, they should agree in forme with the Church of England.

Thus where in many things before the king of Englands comming into Irelande, many inor∣dinate and heynous customes were crept into the gouernment, as well ecclesiasticall as ciuil, by his [ 30] good diligence and politike meanes, the same were in part reformed, so that what good orders either for maintenance of peace or increace of religion, remayned afterwardes among them, was to bee ascribed to him.

The Articles before rehearsed were established and confyrmed with consent of all the Synode.

Galas the Primate of Ardmagh was not there by reason of infirmitie and great age, but yet he came afterwardes to the King at Dublyn, and [ 40] gaue his consent in all things, fauoring the kings order and disposition herein. He dyed two yeares after, so aged a man, that his onely sustenaunce was the mylke of a white Cowe, which he tooke with him whither soeuer he trauayled. The win∣ter was so tempestuous, that vneth any ship durst venter to passe either to or fro betwixt Englande and Irelande, so that aduertisements were verye geason both with the king in Irelande, and with his counsell at home here in Englande, not hea∣ring [ 50] (but very seldom) they frō him, or he frō them. Thus whilest he lay for the most part of y^e winter season in Waterford, longing dayly to here forth of Englād, he practised to procure certain knights that serued vnder the Erle of Pembrook, as Rey∣mond, Miles Cogan, Williā Maskarel, & others being mē of right approued valiancie & experience in warlike exploytes to forsake the Erles seruice, & to serue him, taking it to be no smal policie so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make his part the strōger, & the Erles the weaker, for he had the Erle stil in a iealousie, & mistrusted least his puissance might in time breed danger to his estate. After midlent ships arriued there both forth of England and A••••••taine, by who it was signified that there were come into Normandie two Cardinals frō Pope Alexander the third, me∣nacing to put the K. & his whole dominions vn∣der the sentence of interditing, if he came not the sooner to meete them, & to excuse himself of things they had to charge him with touching 〈…〉〈…〉 of the Archbishop Thomas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 herevnto another mischief appeared, for it was informed him y^t hys sonne Henry whō his father had for good purpose crowned king, was through euil aduice so misled▪ that he ment to thrust himself into the actuall pos∣session of the •…•…eason, in his fathers lifetime. These newes sore troubled the king, bycause he must ne∣des returne home & leaue Irelande for that time, where he ment to haue remayned til in that som∣mer following, he might aswell with building ca∣stels & fortresses haue made himself strong, as also established the cuntry in perfect peace, whiche be much desired. But sith there was no helpe but y^e vrgent occasiō of businesse (as ye haue heard) cal∣led him thence, he took order for the safe keeping of the cuntry in his absence, & appoynted captaines with cōpetent numbers of men of warre to lie in garison within sundrie townes where he thought necessarie. In Dublin he left Hugh Lacy (to whō he had giuen the cuntry of Meth to hold of him in fee) & with him .xx. knights: Robert Fitz Stephā, and Maurice Fitz Gerald with .xx. other knights were also appoynted to the gard of the same citie. Humfrey de Bohun, Robert Fitzbernard, & Hugh de Gundeuile with .xl. knights were left in Wa∣terford. Williā Fitz Aldelme, Philip de Hastings & Philip de Brewse w^t .xx. knights had the charge of Wexford cōmitted to them. The king hauing thus prouided for the safe keeping of these townes & other places, & leauing order for the gouernmēt of the cuntry in the best wise he might, he toke the sea at Wexford on Easter Monday in the mor∣ning, & with prosperous wind and weather passed the seas, & landed in Southwales in an hauē there not past .xij. miles distāt frō Hauerford west, & so hasted forward, not staying much till he got ouer into Normandy, where he met the Cardinals at Constance (as in the English hystorie you may read more at large.) After that the king was thus departed forth of Ireland, Ororick king of Meth surnamed Monoculus, that is, with the one eye, made suite to come to a Parley with Hugh de Lacie, but Ororick had deuysed to murther the sayde Lacie, and had brought hys purpose to passe, if a Knight that was Nephewe to Mau∣rice Fitz Geralde named Griffyne admonished

by a dreame had not deliuered him from that daunger.

This Griffin (gessing by interpretation of his dreame, that some such thing would come to passe as followed in deede) in tyme of the parley with seuen knightes of his lynage, whom he had chosen forth of purpose to that effect, withdrewe a part to the backe side of the hill (on the whiche they were appoynted to meete and talke togy∣ther) were furnished with shieldes and speares, [ 10] the said Griffyn and his mates mounted on hors∣backe, exercised themselues in running and tur∣neying, after the maner of Fraunce, in whiche meane while Ororike (after they could not agree in talke, but that they grewe to open defiance,) he gaue signe to such as he had layde in ambush for that purpose, to come forth and help to worke the feate which he had determined before hande to ac∣complish. And he himselfe being withdrawen by a certaine space from the ground where they had [ 20] talked, after his companie was once come forth vnto him, he with his Axe maketh againe to∣wardes the place where Hugh Lacie stoode, and had slaine him vpon the sodaine, if Maurice Fitz Gerald drawing forth his sworde had not war∣ned him to take heede and to looke about him: and yet such was the violent rage of the traytor, that stryking at Lacie, he cut off the arme of one that was interpretour betwixt them, who faythfully thrust himselfe betwixt Lacie and the blow. Be∣side [ 30] this, so fierce were the Irish vpon Hugh La∣cie, that twice by reason of hast in stepping backe he fell, and vneth escaped by the helpe of Fitz Ge∣rald, who manfully layde about him to beate back the enimies. Herewith no small number of those that brake out of the Ambushe came with an hi∣deous noise, running to the place, that they might make an ende of Lacie and Fitz Geralde, which vndoubtedly they had easily done (for by appoint∣ment they came to the grounde where they thus talked but with a fewe about them and those vn∣armed) [ 40] if Griffyn with his companions hearing the noyse and clamour, had not come to the ayde of theyr friendes. But they perceyuing how the game went, came gallopping in vpon the spurres with such violēce that they dispersed the enimies, and Griffyn with his speare running at Ororike as he was about to haue mounted on horsebacke, stroke through both horse and man, and so the dis∣loyall wretch ended his life. Three of his ser∣uants [ 50] also that brought him his horse, were there slaine. The residue of the Irishe were slaine, as they coulde bee ouertaken, being followed by the English men euen vnto the entrie of the Woods, to the which (being a good way of) they fled so fast as their feéte might beare them.

The head of the king of Methe was sent o∣uer into Englande vnto king Henrie, for a wit∣nesse of that which had chaunced.

Among other, deseruing great commendation for their manhoode shewed in this bickering, one of Fitz Stephans sonnes named Raufe, was highly commended.

The English men perceyuing such disloyall practises to bee dayly attempted agaynst them, tooke from the Irish (as farre as they might) all trust of gouernment, fenced themselues with ga∣risons, placed Captaynes, Gouernours, and Co∣nestables euerie where within the compasse of theyr conquestes.

But king Henrie was troubled with the re∣bellion of his sonnes, which brake forth in Aprill next after his returne forth of Ireland, that he had no leysure to attend greatly to the doings in Ire∣lande. But still yet his iealousie increased to∣wardes Earle Strangbow, whom he mistrusted as one easie to be caried away by any light occa∣sion of chaunge of fortune.

The Earle was a man of great byrth, but (as ye haue partly heard) as well by his auncesters disfauour with their Princes, as his owne, and likewise his ryotous expences in his youth, hee bare no great name, till the good happe of his ma∣riage had aduaunced him, and euen after also knowing himselfe neyther brooked in sight, nor trusted in absence, kept still one rate in all his do∣ings, bare a low saile, fed no quarels, and shunned all suspitious conference.

Thus whilest the king was disquieted at home, and doubting of the state of Ireland, bycause let∣ters came dayly ouer, how faintly the Princes in Ireland performed their obedience, for (except in Leynister, all other partes reteyned theyr aunci∣ent kinde of gouernment, and onely acknowled∣ged a tribute) it was thought expedient by king Henries Counsell, to ease his mynde of that care, and seeing there was businesse more than ynough on all sides, and that it was harde to prouide re∣medie eche way forth at once, they determined to venter the keeping of Irelande to the fidelitie of Strangbow, who was like for his owne wealth and assuraunce to procure all possible meanes to brydle and keepe vnder the Irish, with a kinde of some constrayned obedience, for otherwise it woulde not be.

The Erle therfore being about the same time come ouer to the king into Normandie, who re∣mayned as then in the Citie of Rouen, he was made gouernor, (or Lorde Deputie as we call him) of Ireland, hauing Reymond le Grace ioy∣ned with him in commission, for otherwise the Erle refused to take the charge vpon him.

The King also the same time gaue to the Earle the Citie of Wexforde, with the Castell of Guikalone.

The Earle thus with his commission retur∣ning

into Irelande appointed Lord Lieutenant, found the countrey farre out of order, for in ma∣ner all the princes were become rebelles, so that within short time hee had spent all the treasure which he brought ouer with him, and nowe that he wanted to pay his men of warre their wages, they began to mutine, finding themselues grieued against Heruey, that in Reymonds place had ta∣ken vpon him as quarter master to lead them: and bycause also they were now kept short, so as they [ 10] profited not by gayning of booties as they were wont to do, they came to the Earle and told him statly, that if Reymonde were not appointed to lead them againe, they would surely forsake him, and eyther returne into Englande, or else with∣drawe to the aduersaryes, and serue amongest thē. Herevpon Reymond being appoynted to go∣uerne them, forth they went agaynst certaine re∣belles, and wanne great plentie of booties to re∣fresh their wantes, and furnished themselues with [ 20] horse and armor.

The citie and prouince of Lismore, they spoy∣led, and meaning to returne vnto Waterforde by water, they fraught with spoyle .xiij. shippes, of the which some they founde there in the hauen, and the residue were come thither from Water∣forde. Whilest they stayed for a prosperous wind, there came .xxxij. shippes, which they of Corke had made forth, well appoynted and throughly manned, the which assayled the English men in their ships with great fury, so that the battail was right dangerous, whilest the one part with stones and Axes, and the other with arrowes and other weapons, enforced to bring eche other to destruc∣tion. At lēgth yet the Irish were vanquished, and their captain slain, so that the English men with their captaine Adam de Hereforde, hauing en∣creased the number of their ships with those which they toke from their enimies, returned with honor vnto Waterford. Reymond that was aduertised of this victory, marching thitherwards alōgst the shore with .xx. knights, & .lx. other horsmen, met with Dermote K. of Desmond cōming towards Lismore with a great power to ayd thē of Corke, but Reymōd putting him to flight, got & brought w^t him to Waterf. a booty of .4000. head of cattel.

[illustration]

About the same time, William Fitz Geralde, father to Reymond, departed this life, and there∣fore Reymond returned home into Wales, & in the meane time Heruey eftsoones tooke vpon him to gouerne the men of warre, & brought the Erle with his houshold vnto Casshell. The Citizens of Dublin by appoyntment comming to theyr ayde, and lodging one night in Ossorie, Donald [ 50] of Lymerike a prince in that nation not improui∣dent about his businesse, early in the morning as∣sayling them that thus were come from Dublyn in their lodging, tooke them so at vnwares, that he slue foure hundred of them, togither wyth foure knights that had the leading of them. By reason of this chance, the residue of the Irish princes toke such courage and boldnesse, that vp they start in euery corner, tagge and ragge, in purpose to ex∣pell the Englishmen out of the whole Countrey, so that the Erle being returned vnto Wa•…•…e•…•…ford, was kept so short, that he durst vneth peepe out. Rotherike king of Connagh passing ouer the ry∣uer of Sheynyn, with a mightie power inuaded Meth, and finding the castels in that Countrey voyde without garde, he brought into ashes and layd flat with the ground all that he met with by the way, euen hard to the walles of Dublyn.

The Erle remēbring how Reymond had bin an earnest sufer to his sister Basill, to haue hir in mariage, & that there was no stay but the graunt of his good will, to bring him ouer againe wyth more speede to his ayde, he wrote to him louing letters, with promise that if hee woulde make

hast to come, and bring with him some power to strengthen his parte agaynst the Rebelles, hee shoulde haue hys syster and all things at hys pleasure.

Reymonde vnderstanding in what distresse the Earle and other his friendes stoode in Ire∣lande, and desirous withall to enioy the Ladie Basill whome he entirely loued, hee communed with his cousin Meiller, and other worthie Gen∣tlemen of his lynage, whome he perswaded easi∣ly [ 10] to goe ouer with hym: so that hauing as∣sembled thirtie lustie Knightes, with an hundred other horsemen, and three hundred Archers foote∣men, chosen forth of the Welche Nation, he em∣barked them in .xv. shippes, passed ouer with them and landed at Waterford, where the Citizens the same time raysing a tumult, were about to haue slain the English men, but by the arriual of Rey∣mond which chaunced so in the nicke, the vprore was pacified, and all things brought to quiet. This done, Reymōd brought the Erle to Wex∣ford, and as Frecell gouernor of Waterford was about to follow the Erle in a vessell by the water of Suire, he with diuerse of his companie were slaine by those mariners that vndertooke to passe him ouer, which murther committed, the murthe∣rers returning to the Citie, slue all such Englishe people as they mette with, either in the streetes or houses, not sparing either sexe or age. But they missed yet of winning the full possessiō of the city. For an English gētleman y^t remayned in charge with keeping it, so handled y^e matter, that the trai∣tors were subdued and brought to quiet, with worse opinion and state than they were in before.

Reymond not forgetting the Earles promise conteined in his letters, would not depart forth of Wexford, till the Ladie Basill was fetched from Dublyn, and coupled with him in mariage. The

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solemnization whereof being finished, vnderstan∣ding that Roderike king of Connagh, hauing vt∣terly [ 40] destroyed the Countrey of Meth, had nowe inuaded the confines about Dublin, the morrow after his maryage feast, Reymonde with his bandes of men of warre, issued forth and marched towardes those parties, wherof Roderike hauing knowledge, withdrew backe into his Countrey.

Those parties then once reformed, and the ca∣stels of Trim, and Du•…•…els being eft soones re∣payred, that had beene forsaken of Hugh Tirell theyr keeper and destroyed, the whole Ile for a [ 50] time rested in meetly good quiet. So that the Englishe Nobilitie that lay there, had tyme the better to settle themselues, and for more increase of stedfast amity, to match themselues in mariage according to their degrees. Heruey maried Rey∣monds sisters daughter, whiche Ladie was the daughter of Maurice Fitz Geralde, and by pro∣curement of Reymond, the Erle gaue his daugh∣ter Alma in mariage vnto Williā the eldest son of Maurice Fitz Gerald, to which Maurice (be∣ing sente for forth of Wales) the Earle gaue the middle Candred of Ophelan (which he had posses∣sed before by the kings assignment) togither with the castel of Guikinlon, to holde the same in fee.

Ye must here note, that the king of Englād to assure his title to Ireland with a color of further right, procured of Pope Adriā that was an Eng∣lish man borne (as before ye haue heard) bulles of confirmation, to the ende (as the tenor of those bulles signified) that he should root out such abu∣ses & euill customes as were commonly practised there among the people, cōtrarie to the order of all Christianitie. And so in reforming the state of re∣ligion, and reducing the people to liue within the compasse of honest lawes & more ciuill ordinan∣ces, he graunted to him the supreme dominion of that land, commanding all the inhabitants therof to receiue him for their souerain lord & gouernor.

The Clergie therfore now of late hauing per∣vsed those Bulles, and perceyuing that vnder streight paynes they were commaunded to owe their allegiance vnto the king of Englande, they busily did their diligence to represse the furie of their Countrey men, and by authoritie aswell of the Bulles of Pope Adrian, as Pope Alexander, which had beene publikely read in the Counsel at Casshell, they denounced all those accursed that maliciously shoulde withstande or seeke to make [ 10] frustrat the same. By such meanes y^e land resting from any great troublesome rebelliōs for a while, the first that began to styrre, was Donalde king of Lymerike, who leaping out, renounced his al∣legiance to the king of Englād, whervpon Rey∣mond assembling togither an army of .C. and .xx knights w^t .CCC. other horsmē, & .CCCC. ar∣chers on foot, about the Kalends of October mar∣ched boldly towards Lymerike, & cōming to the water that runneth round about that towne, pas∣seth the same, notwithstanding the aduersaryes were readie there to keepe him off. One of Rey∣monds nephews, a yong stripling called Dauid, and surnamed Welch, bycause he was borne in Wales, though not of the Welch linage, was the first that lept into the riuer, & led the way to giue example to others. The second (saue one knight that was drowned) was Meiller, and Reymond the third that entred the water. When the whole army was once got ouer, with y^e losse only of that one knight that hight Guy, & two other horsmen, they folowed their enimies, and making of them great slaughter, ceassed not til they brake into the citie, and wan the same with great riches which

[illustration]

they •…•…ounde within it. Here is to be noted, that Lymerik was taken vpon a Tuesday, and Wa∣terford likewise was taken vpon a Tuesday, and also Dublyn. Neither came this to passe of any [ 40] purpose, but f•…•…ll out euen so as chaunce gaue it.

Reymond disposing things in order for the sure gard of that citie, caused vitails from ech side to be brought into it, and leauing there .l. knights two hundred horsmen, and .CC. archers, vnder the gouernment of Miles of S. Dauid hys cou∣sin that was appoynted captaine of that citie, he returned and drew into Leynister with the resi∣due of his people in safetie, hauing thus obteyned a notable victorie. But as enuie is euer a com∣panion [ 50] to well doing, though not to further, but readie still to hinder the same, so Heruie bearing a continuall secrete grudge agaynst Reymondes glorie, that neyther respect of affinitie, nor other reasonable consideration coulde cause him to forget it, sticked not to sende Messengers to the King, with sinister informations agaynst Rey∣monde, wrongly interpreting all hys doings, in so muche that he put into the kings head, how he went about as one fully determined thervpon, not onely to vsurpe to hymselfe and his, the Ci∣tie of Lymerike, but also all Irelande, greatly a∣gaynst the kings honour and his owne promised fidelitie.

The king crediting such reports, sent ouer foure commissioners into Ireland to examine the mat∣ter, & to make a true certificat of the state of that land. The names of those commissioners were these, Robert Poer, Osbert de Herloter, Adam de Gernemuth, and William de Bendenges. Two of them he appoynted to returne backe, & to bring Reymonde with them: the other two hee com∣maunded to remaine there with the Erle.

As Reymond then was readie to passe the sea to come ouer, staying only for a prosperous wind, there came messengers from them that lay in Ly∣merike, bringing word y^t Donald prince of Tho∣mond had besieged thē with an infinit multitude of people, and bycause they had spent all their pro∣uisiō of vitails, there was no remedie but to succor

them with speed, for otherwise they could not en∣dure agaynst the force of their aduersaies.

The Earle carefull to send ayde to relieue his men thus brought into that extremitie, vpon mo∣uing the matter to his men of warre, whome he ment to sent forward about that enterprise, hee found them so dismayd for the departing of Rey∣monde, that with one generall voyce they flatly denied to go on that iourney without him.

The Erle conferring vpon this refusall of his [ 10] men of warre with the Commissioners, it was a∣greed by their consents, that Reymonde shoulde haue the leading of the army vnto Lymerike, and so setting forward with .lxxx. knightes, two .C. other horsemen, and three hundred archers, beside such Irishe men as he tooke with him, vnder the conduct of Murchard Kenceili, & Dunald of Os∣sorie, with this power he went first vnto Cas∣shell, hearing by the way that the enimies hauing left the siege of Lymerike, were layde in the pase [ 20] of Casshell, which being of it selfe a very comber∣som strayt, & hard to get through by nature of the place, they had made it much more noysome to those that should attēpt to passe that way, in lay∣ing trees ouerthwart and casting ditches a tra∣uerse, which they fēced with hedges plashed aloft vpon the rampire.

The Englishmē deuided their army into three wards, the vantgard being led by Meiller, rushed forth to the hedge with such violēce, that they bare [ 30] down & tore the same in peeces, as it had bin some strange tempest of wind, & with their swords they made way & opened y^e passage, not without great slaughter of them that stood there at defence a∣gaynst them.

The passage being thus wonne, and the eni∣mies put to flight on Easter euē, vpon the Tues∣day in Easter weeke they came through like vic∣torers vnto Lymerike, and as it was wonne vpō a Tuesday (as before ye haue heard) so nowe it [ 40] was likewise rescued vpon a Tuesday.

After this, the king of Connagh, and the king of Thomond came to a parley with Reymonde about .xvj. myles distant from Lymerike beyond Kelleleonyne in one selfe day, though not togy∣ther, nor in one selfe place. They grew in both the places to this effect in their talk, that either prince deliuering hostages, renued their othes of fidelitie vnto the king of Englande, and so in louing wife they departed eche from other. [ 50]

The same time Dermote or Dermucius Ma∣charthy, prince of Desmond, was by his eldest son Kormac Oletham in maner expulsed out of his countrey, wherevpon he sued vnto Reymond for ayde against his vnnaturall son. Reymond mo∣ued aswel at the ernest prayer, as promise of large entertainment, toke vpon him that enterprise, and turning his victorious ensignes towards Cork, he so vsed the matter that his armye was in short space greatly enriched, what with spoile & wages, & plenty of vitailes, which they recouered in those parties, in such wise that they sent great abūdance vnto Limerik, for Dermote Macharthy by y^e help of Reymond restored now wholy again vnto his dominion, sought to pleasure him and his cōpany in all things he might. But yet Kormac vnder colour of peace, led forth his father Dermote craf∣tily with fayre wordes, till he got him into his hands, & committed him to prison, but within a while after, the father recōpensing his sonne with like curtesie, practised his sonnes death, whilest he so remayned in prison, and bringing his purpose to passe, was so deliuered.

About the kalends of Iune, Richard Strang∣bow Erle of Pembrooke departed this life, wherof Reymond aduertised, consulting with his trustie friends, betaketh Lymerike to the keeping of Do∣nald prince of Thomonde, as to one of the kings faythfull Barons, receyuing of him both pledges, and swearing him also to preserue that Citie frō hurt, and to restore it to the king of Englands vse whensoeuer he was thervnto required. This done, he with the army departed towards Leynister, to defend that countrie and the hauen townes there, for the more suretie of the English possessions in Ireland. But he was no sooner come to the fur∣ther end of the bridge, but the other end next to the Citie was broken downe, and the English men might behold fire set in foure corners of the Citie, to their great grief, which was done by treason of Donald, shewing a tast what credit was to be gi∣uen vnto the people of that nation by that his dis∣loyall periurie and breach of othe so lately taken, without all feare of Gods vengeance to folow, or shame of the world that might be imputed to him amongst men of honest respect.

At Reymonds comming to Dublin, the bo∣die of the Earle was buried in Christes Church within that Citie, the Archebishop Laurence do∣ing the office of the funerals. For the Earle in his life time had commaunded that his bodie shoulde be kept aboue grounde till Reymond were come, and till his comming the Earles death in deede was kept secrete, so that few vnderstood thereof.

This Earle was of colour ruddye and freck∣led, with great eyes, of a feminine vysage, small voyce, shorte necke, of stature tall, and a good∣ly personage, lyberall and curteous, and where substaunce wanted to shewe his franke heart, hee supplyed it with gentle wordes, more readie to o∣bey than to commaunde. At home more lyke a Souldier than a Captayne, but abrode in the warres he shewed himselfe a Captayne, and not a Souldier. Although he neuer would enterprise any exployt of himselfe without the aduice of o∣ther, being once ioyned in fight with his enimies,

he stoode as an assured standard for his people to haue recourse to, for their safetie. And howsoeuer the chance of battail turned he was euer constant and stable, neyther drowping as one in dispayre whē fortune seemed to frown, nor too ioyful whē she was disposed to fawne. He left no issue behind him in life but one daughter named Isabell, ma∣ried after .xiiij. yeares to William Earle Mar∣shall.

After this, the king of Englands Commissio∣ners [ 10] perceyuing what estimation and opinion the souldiers & men of warre had conceyued of Rey∣monde, they authorised him lieutenaunt, tyll the kings pleasure therein might be further knowne: and herewith they returned into Englande to in∣forme him of the chaunge of things in Irelande by the Earles death. The king throughly infor∣med how things stoode, sent William Fitz Al∣delme, one of his trustie seruants as his lieutenāt into Ireland with .xx. knights, ioyning with him [ 20] in commission Iohn de Curey, with other tenne knights, also Fitz Stephans & Miles Cogā, with xx. knights, which two last remembred captaines had serued the king right valiauntly in those late ciuil warres, which his sonnes had reysed against him. Reymond vnderstāding that they were ar∣riued, met them with a braue number of knights, in the borders of Wexford, deliuering all the Ci∣ties, townes, & castels togither with such hostages as he had into Aldelmes hands as the kings lieu∣tenant [ 30] of that kingdome. Fitz Aldelme moued with enuie, to see Reymond furnished with such a traine of lustie youthes, he threatned to abate such pride, and to make a scatter of those shieldes. Frō that time forth, aswell he as other lieutenāts of Irelād that succeeded him, ceased not (as it had bene by some purposed conspiracie) to hinder the good fortune of Reymond, Meiller, Fitz Morice, Fitz Gerald, Fitz Stephans, & all that whole ge∣neration, although no cankred enuy was able to [ 40] roote out the plants of so plentifull an ofspring.

Now forasmuch as we haue to make so often mention of Reymond, Meiller, Heruie, Fitz Al∣delme, & Fitz Stephans, being chiefe doers in the reducing of Irelād vnder the English subiection, we haue thought it not impertinent to shew what maner of men in personages and qualities they were, as Giraldus Cambrensis doth describe thē.

Reymond therefore was of a large & mightie stature, with yellow heares a little curling, great [ 50] eies, gray and round, his nose somewhat in height raysed, well coloured of visage, with a pleasant & me•…•…rie countenance. And although he was verie corpulent, yet with a liuelinesse of spirit he recom∣penced the vnweldinesse of his fleshe, and so ouer∣matched the grossenes of his bodie with the ver∣tue of his mind. He would passe the nights with∣out sleep, to see to the safetie of his army, and as a surueyer of the watch, he would go vp and down about the campe with marueylous care and dili∣gence, so that suche bandes as were vnder hys charge, seldome or neuer attempted anye thing rashly, or through negligēce came to hinderance, neither delicate in his feeding, nor fine in his ap∣parell. He would endure both heate and cold alike, yeelding to neither of them both, able to brydle wrath, & to abide al maner of painful trauails. He seemed rather to profite than to rule ouer thē that were vnder his gouernment, rather as a seruant than a maister: and to conclude, he was boun∣tifull, curteous, and wise. And although he was right vertuous, and readie to bidde battaill, yet he excelled moste in prudent policie and prouident foresight, so as he iustly deserued to be cōmended, both for a valiant souldiour, and a circumspect Captaine. Thus much for Reymond.

Meiller was browne of colour, with black eies, and of countenaunce grim and sterne, of stature somewhat lesse than the common sort, but yet of passing strēgth for the quantitie of his body, with a brode breast, and slender wast, his armes and o∣ther limmes being greater of bone and sinewes than filled with flesh, a right hardy knight & ready to attēpt any enterprice y^t was to be atchieued ei∣ther alone or accōpanied: the first to giue the onset in euery battel, & the last y^t should depart forth of y^e field, & nothing in him might be dispraised, but y^t he was giuen ouer much to spilling of bloud, and so desirous of praise, that he esteemed honor more than life. This with more doth Giraldus Cam∣brensis report of the foresayd Meiller.

Now as cōcerning Heruey, he was of person beautiful, with gray eies, & somwhat stāding out∣ward, or (as we terme it) bol eied, a round vpright neck, crump shoulders, with lōg armes & handes, brode brested, but in y^e wast slēder with due pro∣portiō, thighes, legs, & feet answerable to y^e same, in height not much exceeding the cōmon stature. But as nature had garnished the outward partes of the man with sundry graces, so had she disgra∣ced the inner parts with sundry vices, for euen frō his youth he was giuē to sensuall lust, not caring with what womā he delt, so he might satisfie hys liking, not sparing kinswoman nor other. Beside this, he was enuious, slanderous, a sower of sini∣ster reports, & double in all his dealings, crafty, fair spokē, & deceitful: in incōstancy only cōstant, som∣time set aloft through fortunes fauor, & after cast downe without hope of recouery. In the French warres he had shewed good prouf of his valiancy, but after his cōming into Ireland, his praise wō∣derfully decayed. As by Giral. Cam. it should ap∣pere. At length he becam a Monk at Canterbury, as in another place is specified.

Now as cōcerning Fitz Aldelm, he was of sta∣ture somwhat bigger thā y^e mean sort, of hādsom

proportion, a man liberall and pleasant, but sub∣till and deceytfull ynough, in outwarde counte∣naunce curteous, friendly, and gentle, but in∣wardly conteyning more gall than honie, hys wordes were as soft as Oyle, but they proued pearcing Dartes: whom this day he honoured, to morow he would spoyle, oppressing the weake and bearing with the rebell: harde to those that were ouercome, and easie to them that helde good agaynst him, giuen to wine and women, and as [ 10] he was Courtly, so was he couetous.

Fitz Stephans was a man of a large and sound body, of a right seemely countenance, of stature somwhat exceeding the common sort, bountifull, liberall, and pleasant, but giuen to wine and wo∣men aboue all measure.

Thus much of these gentlemen, being accoun∣ted among the chiefe of those Captaynes that cō∣quered Ireland. Of Earle Strangbow hath bene sayde before, of Curcy and Lacie ye shall [ 20] heare partly hereafter.

But now to returne where we left: The first attempt that Fitz Aldelme made to the hynde∣rance of that progenie, was agaynst the sonnes of Maurice Fitz Gerald, taking occasion by the de∣ceasse of the same Maurice, who departed this life about the Calendes of September.

After whose death Fitz Aldelme tooke from his sonnes the Castelles of Guikinlo by a craft, assigning to them as it were by exchaunge, the [ 30] towne of Ferue, where although it stoode in the myddest of the enimies Countrey, they had buylded a strong Castell.

Walter Almain also Aldelmes nephew tooke from Reymond such lands as he was seysed of in Dublin dale, and aboute Wexford.

Moreouer, where Aldelme had in commaun∣dement from the king, to restore vnto Fitz Ste∣phans the Canthred of Ophelan, being brybed to the contrarie, he did not as he was commaunded, [ 40] but still remoued those captaines y^t were knowne to be of any approued valiancie into places farre within the Countrey, and where most daunger was suspected: specially he sought by all wayes & meanes to keepe vnder those of the lynage of Fitz Gerald, deuising how to bring them out of credit, and to depriue them of such liuings, rowmthes, and offices as they helde, and had bene gyuen to them in recompence of their good seruice.

But whilest Fitz Aldelme went about only to [ 50] establish himselfe and his friendes in the best and most quiet partes of Irelande, his associate that valiant knight Iohn de Curcy victoriously con∣quered the countrey of Vlster, which hitherto had not bene subiect to the king of England.

We reade in Giraldus Cambrensis, that he fought fiue times with the enimies before he could establish his conquest there in any suretie, twise at Doune, as first shortly after Candlemasse, se∣condly about Mydsommer, where with a small power of men he discomfited .xv. thousand of his enimies.

The third conflict chaunced at Ferly in taking a bootie, where by reason of the straytes & narrow passages, his people were put to the worse, some slaine, and some scattered and dispersed here and there among the Wooddes, so that he had vneth xj. knightes left with him, and yet through hys high valiancie and manhood, with those few he re∣tyred stll in keeping off the enimies, passing by the space of .xxx. myles a foote (for they had lost theyr horses) and at length got home to his castell, after he had bene pursued by his enimies for the space of two dayes and two nightes, not once suffred to rest, nor to take any refection in all that time. A thing straunge and worthy to be had in memory.

The fourth battayle which he fought wyth his aduersaryes, was at Vrcell, where also hee lost many of his men, and the residue were put to flight.

The fifth encounter was at the bridge of I∣uory, vpon his returne forth of England, in which place he went away with the victorie. And thus in three battayles he had the vpper hande, and in two tasted the chaungeable fortune of warre, al∣though with no lesse domage redounding to the enimie than to him selfe at both those times when he was so foyled at their handes.

To establish the conquest of Vlster, and other the parties of Irelande before enioyed, Alexander the thirde of that name Bishop of Rome, sent a Cardinall named Viuianus to signifie the tytle that king Henrie had to the soueraigne gouerne∣ment of that lande, with a reseruation of Peter pens to be payde to the Church of Rome, and be∣side to denounce them accursed that woulde not yeeld and submit themselues vnto the sayd king, but shew themselues rebels contrarie to their du∣tifull allegiance, who bring as they were despisers and breakers of the ecclesiasticall Canons, yet for a colour to mainteine their vnruly misdemeanors they had deuised to make Churches their barnes, filling the same full of their corne & graynes, that the vitaylers and •…•…urueyours of the kings campe should not in any wise meddle with the same, for feare to run into the offence of sacrilege. Therfore he licenced the kings officers in this behalf, in cur∣teous wise & discretly to cōmune with such persōs as made the Church a sanctuarie for their graine, and in time of neede to take thereof at reasonable pryces. Little good did Fitz Aldelme, and lesse was he like to do, bycause he went about to crosse his Peeres, and was therewith crossed agayne in his course of gouernment, wherevpon Hugh La∣cie was made generall lieutenant ouer the whole Ile, vnder whō Miles Cogan, Philip de Brewse

Fitz Stephans, Power and diuers other were ap∣pointed to the rule of diuerse countreys seuerally & apart by themselues. Lacy builded diuerse castels and fortresses through the coūtreys of Leynister & Meth. The same yeare Miles Cogan & his sonne in law Rauf Fitz Stephans, the sonne of Robert Fitz Stephans, were slaine betwixt Waterforde and Lismore by a traytor named Machtire, as they sa•…•… abrode in the fieldes togither, staying for the men of Waterforde, with whom they shoulde [ 10] haue talked: but the traytor with other in his cō∣panie came behinde them, & with their Axes slue them out of hand. They were appoynted to haue lodged with the sayde Machtire the night follo∣wing, as with him whome they tooke to be theyr assured friend. And immediately hereupon, al the countreys of Desmond and other there about, be∣ganne to reuolte from the Englishe obedience after that the same had continued in meetely good quiet vnder the gouernment of Robert Fitz Ste∣phans, [ 20] and Miles Cogan, for the space of .v. yeres but togither nowe the rebels starting vp in euery corner, set all in a broyle, and droue Fitz Ste∣phans to that extremitie, that he was glad to kepe him within the Citie of Corg, beset on eche side by his enimies that lay rounde about him, till hys cousin Reymond came by water from Wexford with .xx. knightes, and diuers other men of armes and archers to his ayde, by whose assystance the enimies were in sundrie conflictes ouerthrowne, [ 30] and partly driuen out of the Countrey, and part∣ly reduced to their former obedience: and so that tempestuous storme within a while was well calmed, and all things brought into quiet: for shortly after, Richard Cogan, brother to Miles Cogan, was sent from the king of Englande to succeede in rule of the Countrey in his brothers place. And shortly after there arriued Philip de Barre, the nephew of Fitz Stephans, aswell to ayde his vncle as to defende his possessions of O∣lethan giuen to him by Fitz Stephans, and after iniuriously taken frō Raufe the son of Fitz Ste∣phans. The same time Giraldus Cambrensis, brother to the same Philip de Barre, and Ne∣phewe likewyse to Fitz Stephan, came ouer in companie with his brother to suruey the Coun∣trey, the description whereof, with the Historie, he afterwardes wrote, out of whom we haue gathe∣red the most part of that whiche we haue written here in the beginning of this Irishe historie, the whiche for want of getting sight of his booke in time, we haue bene constrayned to insert consu∣sedly, for y^e leysure hath not serued vs to write out the copy again after we had first writtē it, as first we found it briefly cōpiled by Campion, who ga∣thering forth brief notes, hath handsomely ioyned them togither, but omitted many things likewise for hast, where otherwise that which he hath done in this behalf, deserueth vndoubtedly singular cō∣mendation. But now to the matter. In this sea∣son diuers castels, abbeys, & bridges were erected, & builded in Ireland. For the English & Welch nobilitie now setled there, studied both to reduce y^e people to ciuilitie, & likewise to beautify the cūtry w^t buildings, seruing both for defēce & cōmoditie.

The Abbey of Rosglas was founded about the

[illustration]

same time. And the Welchman Heruey, one of the speciall conquerors of Irelande, founded the Abbey of Donbrothy. And afterwards about this season, to wit, in the yeare .1179. he renounced the world, & became a Monke in Trinity Abbey at Canterbury. In this meane while, Hugh Lacie had fenced the countreys of Meth & Leynister w^t diuers castelles & fortresses which he had built, the better to bridle the Irish from their rebellious at∣tempts, and with such politike gouernment as he vsed to bring the people in loue with lawes, and to like of rest and quietnesse. The state of those

Countreyes whereof he had the rule, was in short time brought to a perfite frame of a well ordered Prouince, for he behaued himselfe so courteously among them that shewed themselues duetifull, and hampered the other that woulde abyde no order, so as he was both greatly loued and fea∣red, insomuche at length some suspition grewe, least hee woulde haue vsurped a Kingdome to himselfe, wherevppon Iohn Lacie the Cone∣stable of Chester, and Rycharde de Peche were [ 10] sent ouer into Irelande from king Henrie to take vppon them the gouernment in Hugh Lacyes rowmth, who was commaunded to returne into England to the king.

They arryued in Irelande aboute the latter ende of Aprill, remayning there all the Sommer following: diuerse Castelles were by them buil∣ded with the aduise of Hugh Lacie before he de∣parted homewardes, as at Fothred, Oualan, at Tresteldermot, at Collacht, and sundrye o∣ther. [ 20]

Where as Meiller enioyed the Countrey of Kildare giuen to him by Earle Srangbow, they remoued him from thence into the Countrey of Leys, exchaunging with him in the Kings be∣halfe to haue the one for the other. And this was done of purpose, that he being a warrelyke perso∣nage, shoulde possesse a Countrey wylde and full of enimies, whereby to bring the rebels into some conformitie by force, sith otherwise they were not [ 30] to be tamed.

In the Winter following, the Conestable of Chester and his associate returned into England, and Hugh Lacie was againe appoynted Lorde Lieutenant of Irelande, hauing one of the kings Chaplaynes ioyned with him, named Robert de Shrewresburie, to be as it were an assystaunt to him, and a witnesse of all his dealings. Who vpon his returne nowe into Irelande, fell in hand to buylde more Castelles in places where he sawe it expedient, so to restrayne the attemptes of vn∣ruly [ 40] persons, and to defende others from sustey∣ning iniurie.

This Hugh Lacie was a man right diligent in his businesse, and carefull, and as he was an expert warriour, so yet was he not verie fortunate in iourneys nowe and then which he made vpon the enimyes. He was of vysage browne, blacke eyed and hollowe, flat nosed, with his cheeke on the right syde disfigured, by reason hee had beene [ 50] burnt by chaunce in his youth, short necked, his bodie hearie, but strong sinewed. And to conclude, of stature small, and of shape deformed.

After the deceasse of his wife, he was noted to be verie dissolute of lyfe, vsing the companie not of one but of manye Concubines, couetous to heape vppe ryches, and ambicious beyonde measure.

But nowe to the Hystorie. In the yeare last past, to witte, 1182. (or as others haue) in the yeare .1180. dyed Laurence Archbishop of Dub∣lyn, after whō succeeded Iohn Cumyn an Eng∣lish man, that was brought vp in the Abbey of Euesham founder of Saint Patrikes in Dub∣lyn, which before that time was a parish Church, and by him conuerted into a Colledge, with suffi∣cient reuenues assigned for the maintenaunce of parsons, vicars, clearkes and choristers.

There hath risen great contention betwixt this and christs Church for antiquitie, wherin doubt∣lesse (sayth our Author) Saint Patrike ought to giue place. They are in deed both written cathe∣drall Churches, and both reputed the Bishops Chapiter, in whose electiō they ought to come to∣gither in the Church of the Trinitie, commonly called Christs Church, which in all recordes hath the preeminēce of place. The party disturbing this order of election, forfeyteth to the Archebishop of Dublyn .200. lb The foundation of S. Patrikes was greatly aduaunced by king Iohn.

In the yeare .1183. died king Henrie the sonne reconciled to his father, but preparing a new war agaynst his brother Richard Duke of Aquitaine. And shortly after died another of king Henries sonnes named Geffrey Erle of Brytaine. And so were left Richard, and Iohn that was after Erle of Gloucester, surnamed without land, to whome the father conueyed all his interest and Lordeship of Irelande, and sent him thither honourably ac∣companied, being then but .xij. yeares olde, & with him in especial trust Geraldus Cambrensis a ler∣ned man, and a diligent searcher of antiquities.

About this yong gentleman were placed ser∣uants & Counsellers of three sundry sortes, fyrst Normās great quaffers, slouthful persōs, prowd, gluttons, trayned vp in extorcions & briberie, to whom he most leaned. Secondly English men, that went ouer with him, bad ynough and vn∣skilfull. Thirdly the Englishe men whiche hee founde in the land, whom being best worthy and moste forwarde in all good seruice, hee least re∣garded.

Hereof sprung factions and disdaine, so that the knightes whiche were moste valiant and rea∣diest to doe their duetyes, were greatly discoura∣ged, and the enimies in hope highly recomforted.

With the bruite of his arriual at Waterforde, the kings of Thomond, Desmōd, and Connagh, put themselues in order after the brauest maner they could to meete him, and to submitte theyr Countreys to his grace. Before they came the Irish franklins with rich presents (and as they are verie kynde hearted where they are willing to shew obedience) made vnto the childe their soue∣raine Lorde, the most ioy and gladnesse that might bee, and though rudely, yet louingly, and

after the vsage of their countrey offered to kisse him after such a friendly familiaritie as they were accustomed to shewe towardes their Princes at home. Two Normans that were of the garde pikethankes, and disdaynefull clawbackes shooke and put backe the Clownes very roughly, tea∣ring them by their clibbe heads and beardes chur∣lishly and vnmannerly, thrusting them out of presence, whome they shoulde rather haue borne with, and curteously instructed. The Irishmen [ 10] thus misused, went against the forenamed kings, shewed the rebukes and villanies done to them in recompence of their humblenesse and meeke de∣meanor, declaring playnely, that their Lorde to whome they were going to do honor, was but a boy, peeuish and insolente, gouerned by a sorte of yong flattering bribers, that sith to them whyche were buxome and tractable, such despite and dis∣honor (for that tearme they vsed, hauing borro∣wed it of the Spanyardes) little good mighte the [ 20] states of Irelande looke for in continuance, when the English once had yoked thē and pawed them in their clouches. This reporte lightly alienated the mindes of those princes, not yet very resolute, and turned them with greate othes and leagues concluded among them selues, and caused also the mightiest Captaynes elsewhere to sticke to∣gither, couenanting not to giue ouer whilest their liues lasted for any manner earthly thing, but manfully to stande in defence of their aunciente liberties. Immediately herevpō, seditious sturres, mutinies, and commotions were reysed in sun∣dry partes, so that the yong gentleman and hys company were glad to referre the quieting of such broyles vnto Lacie, Brews, Curcy, Fitz Gerald and others, he himselfe returned backe into Eng∣land the same yeere he came, leauing the Realme by a great deale in worse plight than he found it. Thus farre Cambrensis, and now for that which followeth: Our Authour (as he himselfe writeth) vsed suche notes as were written by one Philip Flatsburie, out of a certayne namelesse authour, from this place vnto the yerre .1370. and wee ha∣uing none other helpe beside (except only Henry of Marlebourrow,) do set downe that whiche wee finde in our oftmentioned authour, and in y^e same Marleburgh in all the whole discourse that fol∣loweth, excepte in some certayne particuler pla∣ces, where we shew from whence we haue drawē that whiche we write as occasion serueth. To proceede then with the matter where we left, La∣cie the rather to meete with suche hurlyburlies as were like to put the state of the countrey in dan∣ger if the same were not the sooner broughte to quiet, erected and built a number of Castels in places conuenient, well and sufficiently garni∣shed with men munitions and vitayles, as one at Derwath, where diuers of the Irish prayed to be

[illustration]

set a worke for wages.

Lacie came sundry tymes thither to further [ 50] the worke, full glad to see them fall in vre with any such exercise wherein might they once begin to haue a delight, and tast the sweetenesse of a true mans life, he thought it no small token of re∣formation: for whiche cause hee visited them the oftner, and merily would commaund his gentle∣men (to giue the labourers example) to take theyr tooles in hande, and to worke a season, whyle the poore soules looking on might rest them. But this pastime grewe to a tragicall end: for on a time as each man was busily occupied, some lading, some heauing, some plastring, some grauing, the gene∣rall also himselfe digging with a pickare, a despe∣rate villayne among them, whose toole the noble man vsed, espying both his hands occupyed, and his body enclining downewards, still as he stroke watched when hee so stouped, and with an axe cleft his head in sunder, little esteeming the tor∣ments

that for this trayterous acte ensued. This Lacie was reputed to be the conqueror of Meth, for that hee was the firste that broughte it to any due order of obedience to the Englishe power. His body the two Archbishops, Iohn of Dublin, and Mathew of Casseill buried in the Monaste∣rie of Bectie, and his head in Sainte Thomas Abbey at Dublin.

By occasion of this murder committed on the person of Hugh Lacie, Iohn Curcy and Hugh [ 10] Lacie the yōger, with their assistants, did straight execution vpon the Rebels, and preuenting eue∣ry mischiefe ere it fell, stayed the Realm from vp∣rores. Thus they knitting themselues togither in friendship, continued in wealth and honor vntill the first yeere of King Iohns raigne, who succee∣ding his brother King Richard, tooke his nephew Arthur, sonne to his brother Geffrey Earle of Britaine, and dispatched him, some sayde with his owne handes, bycause he knew what clayme [ 20] he made to the Crowne, as discended of the elder brother, and therefore not only the French King, but also certayne Lordes of Englande and Ire∣land fauored his title, and when they vnderstoode that he was made away, they tooke it in maruel∣lous euil part. And Curcy either of zeale to the truth, or parcialitie, abhorring such barbarous cru¦eltie, whereof al mens eares were full, spake blou∣dy words against K. Iohn, whiche his lurking aduersaries (y^t lay ready to vndermine him) caught by y^e end, & vsed y^e same as a mean to lift him out of credit, which they did not only bring to passe, but also procured a commission to attach his bo∣dy, & to send him ouer into England. Erle Curcy mistrusting his part, & by like getting some inck∣ling of their drift, kepte himselfe aloofe, till Hugh Lacy lorde Iustice was fayne to leuie an army & to inuade Vlster, from whence he was oftētimes put backe: wherevpō he proclaimed Curcy tray∣tor & hired sundry gētlemē with promise of great recōpence, to bring him in, eyther quicke or dead. They fought once at Doune, in whiche battell,

[illustration]

there dyed no small number on both partes, but Curcy gote the vpper hand, and so was the Lord Iustice foyled at Curcies hands, but yet so long hee continued in practising to haue him, that at length Curcies owne Captaynes were in••••y∣ghed to betray their maister, insomuche, y^t vppon good Friday, whilest the Earle out of his armour visited darefooted certayne Religious houses for deuotion sake, they leyde for him, tooke him as a Rebell, and shipped him ouer into Englande [ 50] the next way, where hee was adiudged to perpe∣tuall prison. One Saintleger addeth in his col∣lections, as Campion saith, that Lacie payed the traytors their money, and forthwith there vppon hanged them.

This Curcy translated the Church and Pre∣bendaries of the Trinitie in Doune, to an Abbey of blacke Monkes brought thither from Chester, & caused the same to be consecrated vnto S. Pa∣trick: for which alteration, taking the name from God to a creature, he deemed himselfe worthily punished. Not long after (as say the Irish) certain French knightes came to king Iohns court, and one among them required the combate for triall of the right to the Duchie of Normandy. It was not thought expedient to ieoperd the title vpō one mans lucke, yet the chalenge they determined to answer. Some friende put them in minde of the Erle imprisoned, a warriour of notable courage, and in pitch of body like a Giant. K. Iohn demā∣ded Curcy, whether he could be content to fighte in his quarrel, not for thee said y^e Erle, whose per∣son I esteme vnworthy y^e aduēture of my bloud, but for y^e crowne and dignitie of the Realme, in which many a good man liueth against thy will, I shall be content to hazard my life.

These words were not construed in the worst part as proceeding from an offended mind of him that was therein esteemed, more playne thā wise. Therefore being cherished and muche made of, he was fedde so wōderfully (nowe he came to large allowaunce in dyet after harde keeping) that the Frenche chalenger tooke him for a Monster, and fearing to deale with him, priuily stale away into Spayne. It is further reported, that the French King, being desirous to see Curcy, requested K. [ 10] Iohn that he might come before them, and shewe of what strength hee was by striking a blowe at an helmet. Herevpon forth he was broughte, and presented before the Kings, where was an Hel∣met set vpon a blocke. Curcy taking a swoorde in his hande, and with a sterne frowning counte∣nance cast vpon the Kings, gaue such a stroke to the helmet, that cleauing it in sunder, the swoorde sticked so fast in the logge, that no mā there was able to plucke it foorthe, excepte Curcy him selfe. [ 20] When he therefore had plucked foorth the sword, the Kings asked him what he meant to looke vp∣pon them with such a grimme and froward coū∣tenance before he gaue the blowe to the helmet, he aunswered, that if he had missed in his stroke, he would haue killed all the whole company, as well the Kings as other. Then was he released of bondes, and crossing the Seas towards Ire∣land whether he was boune, was fifteene times beaten backe agayne to the Englishe shore: and [ 30] going into France to change the coast dyed there. This Curcy was whyte of colour, mightie of limmes, with large bones and strong of synews, tall and broade in proportion of body, so as hys strength was thought to exceede, of boldnesse in∣comparable, and a warriour euen from his youth, the formost in the front of euery battell where hee came, and euer ready to hazard himselfe in place of most daunger, so foreward in fight, that often∣times forgetting the office of a Captaine, he toke [ 40] in hande the part of a Souldiour, pressing foorthe with the formost, so that with his ouer rash vio∣lence, and desire of victory, he might seeme to put all in daunger. But although he was thus hastie and hote in the field against his enimies, yet was hee in conuersation modest and sober, and very religious, hauing Churchmen in great reuerence, ascribing all to the goodnesse of God, when he had atchieued any prayseworthy enterprise, yeelding thankes to his diuine Maiestie accordingly. But [ 50] as seldome times any one man is founde perfecte in all things, so these vertues were spotted with some vices, namely too much nigardnesse in spa∣ring, and inconstancie. He maried the daughter of Godred King of Man, and after many conflicts and battayles had against the Irishe, he conque∣red (as before ye haue heard) the countrey of Vl∣ster, and building diuers strong Castels therein, he established the same vnder his quiet rule, and gouernement, till he and Lacy fell out as before is expressed.

After Curcies decesse, bicause he left no heires, the Earledome of Vlster was giuen vnto Hugh Lacie, in recompence of his good seruice. There was one of the Curcies remayning in Irelande, that was Lorde of Rathermy and Kilbarrocke, whome (as an espiall of all their practises, and in∣former thereof to the Kyng Walter and Hugh, the sonnes of Hugh Lacy slew, by reason wherof, great trouble and disquietnesse ensued, those La∣cies bearing themselues (nowe after the decesse of their father) for gouernors out of checke. To set the Realme in quiet, King Iohn was fayne to passe thither himselfe in person with a mayne ar∣my, banished the Lacies, subdued the residue of the countrey, yet not conquered, tooke pledges, pu∣nished malefactors, established the execution of English lawes, coyned money of like valew cur∣rant sterling in both Realmes.

[illustration]

The two Lacies repenting their misdemea∣nors, fledde into Fraunce disguised in poore ap∣parell, and serued there in an Abbey as gardi∣ners, vntill the Abbot by their countenaunce and behauiour began to gesse their estates, and appo∣sed them so farre, that they disclosed what they were, beseeching the Abbot to keepe their coun∣sels, who commending their repentant humble∣nesse, aduised thē yet to make sute for their prin∣ces fauor, if it mighte be hadde, promising to doe what he could in the matter, and so tooke vppon him to bee a sutor for them vnto the King, that was his godcept and well acquainted with him. He trauelled so earnestly herein, that at length he obteyned their pardons. But yet they were fined, Walter at four thousand, and Hugh at fiue and twentie hundred markes, and herevpon, Walter was restored vnto y^e Lordship of Meth, & Hugh, to the Earledome of Vlster.

King Iohn appoynted his Lieutenauntes in Ireland, and returning home, subdued y^e Welch∣men,

and soone after, with Pandulfus the Le∣gate of Pope Innocentius the thirde, who came to releasse hym of the censure, wherein hee stoode excommunicate, to whome as to the Popes Le∣gate he made a personal surrēder of both Realms in way of submission, and after hee was once as∣soyled, he receyued them againe. Some adde, that he gaue away his kingdomes to y^e Sea of Rome for him and his successors, recognising to holde the same of the Popes in fee, paying yeerely there∣fore [ 10] one thousand markes, as seuen hundred for England, and three hundred for Ireland. Blon∣dus saith Centum pro vtroque auri marchias. Sir Thomas More (as Campion saith) a man both in calling and office, likely to sound the matter to the depth writeth precisely, that neither such wri∣ting the Pope can shew, neyther were it effectuall if he could. How farre forth, and with what limi∣tation a Prince maye, or maye not addict hys realm feodarie to an other. Iohn Maior a Scot∣tish [ 20] Chronicler, and a Sorbonist, not vnlearned, partly scanneth, who thinketh .300. markes for Ireland no very hard penyworth? The instru∣mēt (as Campion thinketh,) which our Englishe writers rehearse, might haply bee mocioned and drawen, and yet not confirmed with any seale nor ratifyed: but though the copie of this writing remayne in record, yet certaine it is, King Iohns successors neuer payed it. After Iohn Comin Archbishop of Dublin, & founder of S. Patricks []

[illustration]

Church, succe∣ded Hēry Loū∣doris in y^e See, who builded y^e Kings Castell there, being lord chiefe Iustice of Ireland, him they niknamed (as the Irishe [ 40] doe commonly giue additions to their gouer∣nors in respecte of some fact or quality) Scorch Willein, that is, burne bill, bycause hee required to peruse the writings of his tenantes, colorably pretending to learne the kinde of eache mans se∣uerall tenure, and brent the same before their fa∣ces, [ 50] causing them eyther to renue their takings, or to hold at will.

In the yeere .1216. King Iohn departed thys life. In his dayes, diuers monasteries were builte in Ireland as (beside those that before are menti∣oned) in the fourth yeere of his raigne, the Abbey of Dowish was founded, in the sixt the Abbey of Wetherham in y^e countie of Limerike, by Theo∣bald le Butler Lorde of Caeracky, and in the twelfth yeere, Richard Oute builded the Mona∣sterie of Grenard. In the dayes of Henry y^e thirde that succeeded his father K. Iohn, great warres were reysed in Ireland betwixt Hugh Lacy and William Marshal, so that the countrey of Meth was greeuously afflicted.

In the yeere .1228. after the death of Loundo∣ris Archbishop of Dublin, that was Lord chiefe Iustice, King Henry the third vnderstanding the good seruice done by the Giraldines euer sith their first comming into Irelande, though by wrong reportes the same had bin to their preiudice for a time sinisterly misconstrued, so as the Gentlemē had still bin kept backe, and not rewarded accor∣ding to their good desertes: The King nowe en∣formed of the troth, made Morice Fitz Geralde, the sonne of Morice aforesaid, Lord chiefe iustice of Ireland. Lucas succeeded Loundoris in the Archbishops See, and was cōsecrated in the yere 1230.

Richarde Marshall was taken prisoner in battell at Kildare. Some write, y^t he was woun∣ded there, and within fewe dayes after died of the hurt at Kilkenny, and was buried there in the quier of the Churche of the Friars Preachers, neere to the place where his brother William was enterred, who departed this life in the yeere 1231.

In the yeere .1241. Walter Lacy Lorde of Meth departed this life in Englande, he left two daughters behinde hym that were hys heires, Margaret maried to the Lord Verdon, and Ma∣thild wife to Geffrey Genneuille. King Henry in the .xxxvj. yeere of his raigne, gaue to Edward his eldest sonne, Gascoigne, Irelande, and the county of Chester.

In the yeere following, Hugh Lacy Earle of Vlster departed this life, & was buried at Crag∣fergus, in the Church of the Friers Minors, lea∣uing a daughter behind him, that was his heire, whome Walter de Burgh or Bourke married, and in right of hir, was created Earle of Vlster, as after shall appeare.

Morice Fitz Gerald Lord Iustice of Ireland, being requested by this Prince to come and assist him with a power of men againste the Welche Rebels, left a sufficiente garrison of menne in the Castell of Scligath, which he had lately builded, and then came ouer with Phelin Ochonher, and a lusty bande of Souldiers, and meeting the Prince at Chepstow, behaued themselues so va∣liantly, that returning with victory, they great∣ly encreased the fauoure of the Kyng and Prince towardes them: and vppon theyr returne in∣to Irelande, they ioyned with Cormacke Mack Dermote Mack Rori, and made a notable iour∣ney againste Odonil the Irishe enimie, that

when Lacie was once dead, inuaded and sore a∣noyed the Kings subiectes of Vlster. Odonil be∣ing vanquished, the Lord Iustice forced pledges and tribute of Oneale to keepe the Kings peace, and diuers other exploytes prayseworthy dyd he, during the time of his gouernement, as Flatsbe∣rie hath gathered in his notes, for the Lorde Ge∣rald, Fitz Gerald, Earle of Kildare in the yeere 1517. After Morice, Fitz Gerald succeeded in of∣fice [ 10] of Lord Iustice, Iohn Fitz Geffrey Knight, and after him Alayne de la Zouch, whome •…•…he Earle of Surrey Fitz Warren slew. And after de la Zouch, in the yeere .1258. being the .42. of Henry the third his raigne, was Stephan de lōg Espee sent to supply that roome, who slew Oneil with .352. of his men in the streetes of Do••••ne, & shortly after departed this life, then Williā Dene was made Lorde Iustice, & Greene Castell was destroyed. Also Mac Carey played the Deuill in Desmonde. [ 20]

In the yeere .1261. Sir William Dene Lord Iustice of Irelande deceassed, and Sir Richarde Rochell (or Capell as some copies haue) was sent to be Lord Iustice after him, who greatly enuy∣ed the familie of the Giraldines, during his go∣uernemente, the Lorde Iohn Fitz Thomas, and the Lord Morice his sonne were slayne.

In the yere .1264. Walter de burgh was made Earle of Vlster, and Morice Fitz Morice tooke y^e Lord Iustice of Irelād togither with Theobald [ 30] Butler, Miles Cogan, and diuers other greate Lordes at Tristildermot, on S. Nicholas day. And so was Irelande full of warres, betwixt the Burghes and Giraldines.

In the yeere .1266. there chanced an Earth∣quake in Ireland.

In the yeere following, King Henry tooke vp the variance that was in Ireland betwixt y^e par∣ties, and discharging Dene, appoynted Dauid Barry Lord Iustice in his place, who tamed the [ 40] insolent dealings of Morice Fitz Morice, cousin Germane to Fitz Gerald.

In the yeere .1268. Conhur Obren was slaine by Dermote Mack Monerd, and Morice Fitz Gerald Earle of Desmond, was drowned in the Sea, betwixt Wales and Ireland. And Roberte Vffort was sente ouer to remayne Lord Iustice of Ireland, and Barry was discharged, who cō∣tinued till the yeere .1269. and then was Richarde [ 50] de Exceter made Lord Iustice. And in the yeere following, was the Lorde Iames Audley made Lord Iustice. Richard Verdon, and Iohn Ver∣don were slayne, and Fulke Archbishop of Du∣blin deceassed. Also the Castels of Aldleck, Ro∣scoman, and Scheligagh, were destroyed. The same yeere was a greate dearth and mortalitie in Irelande.

In the yere .1272. the Lorde Iames Audley was slayne by a fal from his horse in Thomoūd, and then was Morice Fitz Morice made Lorde Iustice of Irelande, and the Castell of Randon was destroyed.

In the yeere .1272. King Henry the thirde de∣parted this life, and the Lorde Walter. Genuille lately returned home from his iourney into the holy land, was sent into Ireland, and made Lord Iustice there.

In the yeere .1275. the Castell of Roscoman was eftsoones repaired and fortifyed.

In the yeere .1276. there was an ouerthrowe giuen at Glenbury, where William Fitz Roger, Prior of the Knightes Hospitallers, & many o∣ther with him, were taken prisoners, and a greate number of other were slayne.

The same yere, Iohn de Verdon departed this world, and Thomas de Clare, married y^e daugh∣ter of Morice Fitz Morice.

In the yeere following, Robert Vffort was appointed to supply y^e roomth of Genuille, being called home, and so was this Vffort the seconde time ordeyned Lord Iustice of Irelande. He ha∣•…•…ing occasion to passe into Englande, made hys substitute Fulborne Bishop of Waterford til his returne, and then resumed the gouernemente into his owne handes agayne.

In the yeere .1277. Thomas de Clare slewe Obrencoth King of Tholethmo••••, and yet af∣ter this, the Irish closed him vp in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wha•••••• to∣gither with Maurice Fitz Maurice, so that they g••••e hostages to escape, and the Castell of Ro∣scoman was wonne.

In the yeere next ensuing, was Iohn de •…•…er∣lington cō••••crated Archbishop of Dublin. •…•…here was also a Councell holden at Grenok, & Macke Dermot slewe Cathgu•…•… O Conthir King of Connagh.

In the yeere .1279. Robert Vffort vpon oc•…•…a∣sion of businesse, came ouer into Englande, and left Friar Fulborne Bishoppe o•…•… Waterforde to supply his roomth, and Raufe Piphard, and O Haulen chased On••••l in a battell.

In the yeere .128•…•…. Roberte Vffort came the third time to occupie the roomth of Lorde chiefe Iustice in Irelande, resuming that roomth into his hands againe.

In the yeere following, the Bishop of Wa∣terford was established by the King of England Lord Iustice of Irelande. Adam Cusack y^e yon∣ger slewe William Barret, and many other in Connagh. And in the nexte yeere to witte .1282. P•…•…uqueit slew Murertagh, and his brother Arte Mac Murch at Athlone. Also the Lorde Iames de Brimmingham, and Peers de Euyt departed this life. Also the Archbishop Derlington deceas∣sed. And about the same time, the Citie of Du∣blin was defaced by fire, & the Steeple of Christs

Church vtterly destroyed. The Citizens before they wente about to repaire their owne priuate buildings, agreed togither to make a collection, for repayring the ruines of that auntient building first begun by the Danes, and continued by Ci∣trius Prince of Dublin at the instaunce of Do∣nate sometime Bishop of that Citie, and dedica∣ted to the blessed Trinitie. At length Strangbow Erle of Pembroke, Fitz Stephans, and Laurēce, that for his vertue was called S. Laurēce Arch∣bishop [ 10] of Dublin, and his foure successors, Iohn of Euesham, Henry Scorchbill, and Lucas, and last of all, Iohn de Saint Paule finished it. This notable building, sith the time that it was thus defaced by fire, hath bin beautifyed in diuers sorts by many zealous Citizens. Strangbowes tombe defaced, by the fall of the roofe of the Church, Sir Henry Sidney, when he was Lord Deputy, re∣stored, and likewise did cost vpon the Earle of Kildares Chappell for an ornament to the quier, ouer the which he left also a monumente of Cap∣tayne Randolfe, late Coronell of the Englishe bandes of footemen in Vlster that dyed there va∣liantly, fighting in his Princes seruice as after shall appeare.

In the yeere .1283. Furmund, Chancellor of Ireland, and Richarde Tute departed this life, and Friar Stephan Fulborne was made Lorde Iustice of Irelande.

In the yeere .1285. the Lorde Theobald butler fled from Dublin, and died shortly after, and the lord Theobald Verdon lost his men and Hors∣ses

[illustration]

as he went towards Ofali, and the next daye Gerald Fitz Maurice was taken, and Iohn Sā∣ford was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin.

Moreouer at Rathode, the Lord Geffrey Gē∣uille fled, and sir Gerard Doget, and Raufe Pe∣ti•…•… [ 40] were slayne, with a great number of other.

The Norwagh & Ardscoll with other townes and villages were brente by Philip Stanton the xvj. day of Nouember, in the yeere .1286. Also Calwagh was taken at Kildare.

In the yeere .1287. diuers nobles in Irelande deceassed, as Richard Deceter, Gerald Fitz Mo∣rice, Thomas de Clare, Richard Taffy, and Ni∣colas Teling Knightes.

The yeere next ensuing, deceassed Friar Ful∣borne [ 50] Lord Iustice of Ireland, and Iohn Sā∣fort Archbishop of Dublin, was aduaunced to y^e roomth of Lorde Iustice. Also Richard Burgh Erle of Vlster besieged Theobald Verdon in the Castell of Athlone, and came with a great power vnto Trim, by the working of Walter Lacie.

In the yeere .1290. was the chase or discomfi∣ture of Offali, and diuers Englishmen slayne.

Also Mack Coghlan slewe O Molaghelin King of Meth, and William Burgh was discō∣fited at Deluin by Mac Coghlan.

The same yeere .1290. William Vescy was made Lord Iustice of Irelande, and entred into that office on Saint Martins daye. Vnto thys Iustice, Edward Ballioll King of Scotland did homage for an Erledome which he helde in Ire∣land, in like manner as he did to king Edwarde for the Crowne of Scotland.

In the yere .1292. a fiftenth was graunted to the King of all the temporall goodes in Ireland, whilest Vescy was as yet Lord Iustice.

This Vescy was a sterne manne and full of courage, he called Iohn Earle of Kildare before him, charging him with riots foule & misdemea∣nors, for that he ranged abroade, and soughte re∣uenge vpon priuate displeasures out of all order, and not for any aduauncemente of the publike wealth or seruice of his soueraigne.

The Earle as impaciente to heare himselfe touched as the Iustice to suffer euill doing, aun∣swered thus, By your honor and mine my Lord,

and by King Edwardes hand (for that was ac∣compted no small oth in those dayes among the Irish) you would if you durst appech me in plain tearmes of treason or felonie: for where I haue the title, & you the fleece of Kildare, I wote well how great an eye sore I am in your sight, so that if I might be handsomly trussed vp for a fellone, then mighte my master youre sonne become a Gentleman: a Gentlemā quoth the Iustice, thou proude Erle, I tell thee, the Vescies were Gētle∣men [ 10] before Kildare was an Earledome, & before that Welch bākrupt thy cousin, fethered hys uest in Leynister. But seeing thou darest me, I will surely breake thy hart, and therewith he called the Earle a notorious theefe and a murderer. Then followed facing and bracing among the Soul∣diers, with high words, and terrible swearing on both sides, vntil either parte appeased his owne. The Lord Iustice shortly after, leauing his de∣putie William Hay, tooke the sea, and hasted o∣uer to y^e King. The Earle immediatly followed, and as heynously as the Lorde Iustice accused him of felony, Kildare no lesse appealed hym of treason. For triall hereof, y^e Erle asked y^e cōbate, & Vescy refused not: but yet when the listes were prouided, Vescy was slipt away into Fraunce, & so disenherited of all his lāds in y^e countie of Kil∣dare, which wer bestowed vpō y^e Erle & his heires for euer. The Erle waxing loftie of mind in such prosperous successe, squared with diuers nobles, English & Irish of y^e land. The same yeere dyed Iohn Samford Archb. of Dublin, & Iohn Fitz Thomas Earle of Kildare, & Iohn de la Mare toke prisoners, Richard Burgh Erle of Vlster, & William Burgh within y^e countrey of Meth, & the Castell of Kildare was taken, and all y^e coū∣trey

[illustration]

wasted by the English on the one side, and the Irish on the other, and Calwagh brent al the Rolles and tailes concerning the recordes and accomptes of that countie. Greate dearth and death raigned in Ireland this yeerz, and the two yeeres nexte ensuing. The Earle of Kildare de∣teyned [ 40] the Earle of Vlster prisoner, vntill by au∣thoritie of a Parliamente holden at Kilkenny, he was deliuered out of the Castell of Ley, for hys two sonnes, and for the inuasion which the Erle of Kildare had made into Meth, and other hys vnruly and misordred partes was disseysed of the Castell of Sligagh, and of all his lands in Con∣nagh.

William Dodingsels being this yere made Lord Iustice of Irelande, after Vescy dyed, in [ 50] the yeere next following, that is .1295. and .23. of King Edwarde the firste. After hym succeeded in that roomth the Lorde Thomas Fitz Mau∣rice. In the yeere .1296. Friar William de Bothum was consecrated Archbishop of Du∣blin.

In the yeere .1298. and .xxvj. of Edwarde the first, the Lorde Thomas Fitz Maurice departed this life, and an agreement was made, betwixte the Earle of Vlster, and the Lorde Iohn Fitz Thomas, Earle of Kildare, by Iohn Wogan that was ordeyned Lorde Iustice of Ire∣lande.

In the yeere .1299. William Archbishop of Dublin departed thys life, and Richarde de Frin∣gis was consecrated Archbishop in hys place. The King wente vnto Iohn Wogan Lorde Iustice, commaunding hym to gyue somm•…•…∣naunce vnto the nobles of Irelande, to prepare themselues with Horse and armour to come in theyr best aray, for the warre, to serue hym a∣gainste the Scottes: and withall, wrote vnto the same Nobles, as to Richarde de Burgh Earle of Vlster, Geffrey de Genuill, Iohn Fitz Thomas, Thomas Fitz Maurice, Theobalde Lorde Butler, Theobalde Lorde Verdon, Piers Lorde Brimingham of Thetemoy, E•…•…∣stace Lorde Power, Hugh Lorde Purcel, Iohn de Cogan, Iohn de Barry, William de Barry, Walter de Lastice, Richarde de Exeter, Iohn Pipurd, Walter Lenfante, Iohn of Oxforde, Adam de Stantoun, Symon de

Pheybe, William Cadell, Iohn de Vale, Mau∣rice de Carre, George de la Roche, Maurice de Rochford, and Maurice Fitz Thomas de Kerto, commaunding them to bee with him at With∣welaun the first of March. Such a precept I re∣member I haue redde, registred in a close rolle a∣mong y^e recordes of the Tower, but where Mar∣leburrow sayeth, that the sayde Iohn Wegan Lord Iustice of Irelād, and the Lord Iohn Fitz Thomas, with many other, came to King Ed∣ward [ 10] into Scotland in the .xxix. yeare of Kyng Edwards raigne, Campion noteth it to be in the yeare .1299. which fell in the .xxvij. of the raigne of King Edward, and if my remembrance fayle me not, the close rolle aforementioned beareth date of the .xxiiij. yere of King Edwards raygne: all which notes may bee true, for it is very lyke, that in those warres against the Scottes, y^e King sent diuers times to the Irish Lordes to come to serue him, as it behoued them to do by theyr te∣nures: [ 20] and not only he sent into Ireland to haue the seruices of men, but also for prouision of vit∣tayles, as in close rolles I remember I haue al∣so seene recorded of the .xxvij. and .xxx. yeere of y^e sayd King Edward the first his raigne. For this we finde in a certaine abstract of the Irish Chro∣nicles, whiche shoulde seeme to be collected out of Flatsburie, whome Campion so much followed, that in the yeere .1301. the Lorde Iohn Wogan Lorde Iustice, Iohn Fitz Thomas, Peter Ber∣mingham, and diuers other went into Scotland in ayde of King Edward, in whiche yeere also a great part of y^e Citie of Dublin, with the Church of Saint Werburgh was brente in the nighte of the frast daye of Sainte Colme. Also the Lorde Genuille married the daughter of Iohn de Mōt∣fert, and the Lorde Iohn Mortimer married the daughter and heire of Peter Genuille, also the Lord Theobald de Verdon, married the daugh∣ter of the Lorde Roger Mortimer. The same yeere in the winter season, the Irishe of Leyni∣ster reysed warre against y^e townes of Wicklow, and Rathdon, doing muche hurte by brenning in the countrey all about, but they were chastised for their wickednesse, losing the most part of their prouision and Cattell, and in the Lent season the more parte of them had bin vtterly destroyed, if discorde and variance had not risen among the Englishmen to the impeachmente of their pur∣posed enterprises.

In haruest, there were three hundred theeues slayne by the Phelanes.

Also Walter Powir wasted a greate parte of Monster, brenning many fermes and places in

[illustration]

that countrey.

In the yeere .1302. Pope Boniface demaunded a tenth of all the spirituall liuings in Englande and Ireland, for the space of three yeres, to main∣taine [ 50] warres in defence of the Church of Rome, against the King of Arragone.

In the yeere .1303. the Earle of Vlster, and Ri∣chard Burgh, and sir Eustace le Power, with a puissant Army entred Scotlād. The Earle made xxxiij. knightes at Dublin, before he set forward. The same yeere Geralde, sonne and heire to the Lord Iohn Fitz Thomas, departed this life, and likewise the countesse of Vlster. William de Wellisley, and Sir Roberte de Perciuall were slayne the .xxij. of October.

In the yeere .1304. a great parte of the Citie of Dublin was brent by casuall fire.

In the yeere next ensuing, Iordayne Comin with his complices, slew Maritagh Oconghuir King of Offalie, and his brother Calwagh, with diuers other within the Courte of Peeres de Birmingham at Carrick in Carbrie. Also, Sir Gilberte Sutton, Stewarde of Wexfforde, was slayne by the Irishmen, neere to the Ferme of

Haymond de Grace, which Haymond bare him∣selfe right valiantly in that fight, and in the ende through his great manhoode escaped.

In the yeere .1306. a great slaughter was made in Offalie neere to the Cas•…•…ell of Geschil, the thirteenth day of Aprill vpon Oconchur and his friends by the ••••empeirs, in whiche place were slayne a great number of men. Also Obren king of Thomond was slayne. Moreouer, Donalde Og•…•… Maccarthy slewe Donald Ruffe King of [ 10] De••••emond, and vpon the twelfth of May in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Meth, a great ouerthrow chanced to y^e side of the Lord Peers Butler, and Balymore in Leynister was brent by the Irish, where Hen∣ry Calfe was slayne at that present time.

Hereof folowed great warres betwixt y^e Eng∣lish and Irish in Leynister, so that a great army was called togither forth of diuers partes of Ire∣land, to restrayne the malice of the Irish in Ley∣nister, in which iourney, Sir Thomas Mande∣uill Knight entred into a conflict with the Irish neere to Glenfell, in the whiche he bare hymselfe right manfully, till his Horse was slayne vnder him, and yet then to his greate prayse and hyghe

[illustration]

commendation, he saued both himselfe and many of his company

The Lord Chancellor of Irelande, Thomas Caucocke, was consecrated Bishop of Imaley, within the Trinitie Churche at Dublin, and kept such a feast, as the like had not lightly bene seene, nor heard of before that time in Ireland, [ 30] first to the Rich, and after to the poore.

Richarde Flerings Archbishop of Dublin de∣ceassed on the euen of Saint Luke the Euange∣list, to whom succeeded Richard de Hauerings, who after he had continued in that Sea about a fiue yeeres resigned it ouer by dispensation obtei∣ned from Rome, and then his Nephewe Iohn Leech was admitted Archbishop there.

In the yeere .1307. the first of Aprill Murc•••• Ballagh was beheaded neere to Merton by Sir Dauid Caunton Knight, and shortly after was

[illustration]

Adam Daun slaine.

Also, a greate discomfiture and slaughter fell vpon y^e Englishmen in Connagh by y^e Oscheles the first day of May, and the robbers that dwelfe in y^e parties of Offaili, rased y^e Castel of Geisc∣hell, and in the vigil of the translatiō of Thomas Becket, being y^e sixth of Iuly, they brent y^e towne of Ley, and besieged the Castell: but they were constreyned to depart from thēce shortly after, by Iohn Fitz Thomas & Edmond Butler y^t came to remoue that siege. In the yere .1308. King Ed∣ward y^e first departed this life the seuēth of Iuly.

¶ Edwarde the seconde.

RIchard Archbishop of Dublin, after he hadde gouerned that Sea the space of fiue yeeres, by reason of a vision that he sawe in his sleepe, fee∣ling himselfe troubled in conscience, with consi∣deration of that dreame, resigned the nexte mor∣row al his title to the Archbishops dignitie (as be∣fore ye haue hearde) and contented himselfe with other ecclesiasticall benefices, as seemed conueni∣ent to his estate. This yeere by vertue of letters [ 10] directed from the Pope to the K. of England; hee caused al the templers as wel in Englād as Ire∣land, to be apprehended, & committed to safekee∣ping. The profession of these templers beganne at Ierusalem, by certayn Gentlemen y^t remained in an Hostell neere to the Temple, who til y^e coun∣sel of Trois in France, were not increased aboue the number of .9. but frō that time foorth, in little more than fiftie yeeres, by the zealous contributiō of al Christian Realmes, they had houses erected [ 20] euery where, with liuings bountifully assigned to y^e same for their maintenance, in so much, as they were augmented vnto the number of three hun∣dred, that were Knightes of that order, beside in∣feriour brethrē innumerable: but now with welth they so forgot themselues, that they nothing lesse regarded, than the purpose of their foundatiō: and withal being accused of horrible heresies (whether in all things iustly or otherwise the Lorde kno∣weth) they were in the counsel at Lions in Frāce [ 30] condemned, and their liuings transposed to the knights Hospitalers, otherwise called y^e Knights of the Rodes, and nowe of Malta. The manner of their apprehension and committing was sud∣dayne, and so generally in all places vppon one day, that they had no time to shift for thēselues. For first, the King sente forth a precept to euery Sherife within the Realme of Englande, com∣maunding them within each of their roomths to cause a prescribed number of Knightes, or rather [ 40] such men of credite, on whose fidelities he mighte assure himselfe, to assemble at a certayne towne, named in the same writte, the Sunday next af∣ter the Epiphany, and that each of the same She∣rifes failed not to bee there the same day to exe∣cute all that shoulde be enioyned them by any o∣ther writte, then and there to be deliuered. The Sherife of Yorke was commaunded to gyue sommonance to .24. such Knightes, or other suf∣ficient men, to meete him at Yorke. The Sherife [ 50] of Norfolke and Suffolke, was appoynted to sommone twentie to meete him at Thetford, the other Sherifes were appoynted to call to them some tenne, some twelue, or some fourteene, to meete them at such Townes as in their writtes were named. The date of this writte was, from Westminster the fifteenth of December, in the firste yeere of thys King Edwarde the secondes raigne: the other writte was sent by a Chapleyne authorized both to deliuer the same writte, and to take an othe of the Sherife, that he should not disclose the contentes, till he had put the same in execution, which was, to attache by assistance of those aforementioned Knightes, or as many of them as he thought expedient to vse, al the temp∣lers within the precinct of hys roomth, and to seaze all their landes, goodes, and Cattells, into the Kings handes, and to cause an Iunentarie of the same indented be made in presence of the Warden of the place, whether he were Knighte of the order, or any other, and in presence of other honest men neyghbours thereaboutes, keepyng the one counterpane with himselfe, sealed with hys seale that made the seazure, and leauing the other in the hands of the sayde Warden: and further to see the same goodes and Cattels to bee put in safekeeping, and to prouide that the quicke goodes mighte be well kept and looked vnto, and the groundes manured to the most profit, and to cause the bodies of the templers attached, to be so deteyned in al safetie, as that they be not yet cō∣mitted to Irons nor to streyght prison, but to re∣mayne in some conuenient place other than their owne houses, and to be found of the goods so sea∣zed, accordingly as falleth for their estates, till he haue otherwise in commaundemente from the King: and what is done herein, to certifie into the Escheker the morrowe after the Purification. The date of this seconde writte was, from Bi∣flet the twentith of December. There was lyke∣wise a writte directed to Iohn Wogan, Lorde Iustice of Irelande, signifying vnto him what should be done in England, touching the appre∣hēsion of the Templers, and seazure of their lāds and goodes, commaunding him to proceede in Temblable manner against them in Irelande: but the day and place when the Sherifes should there assemble, was lefte to the discretion of the sayde Iustice and Treasorer of the Escheker there, but so as the same might be done, before any rumour of this thing coulde be brought ouer out of Eng∣land thither. Also a like commaundemente was sent vnto Iohn de Britaigne Erle of Richmōd, Lorde Warden of Scotlande, and to Eustace Cotesbache Chamberlayne of Scotland: Also to Walter de Pederton Lorde Iustice of West Wales, to Hugh Aldigheleygh, Alias Auderley Lord Iustice of North Wales, and to Roberte Holland Lord Iustice of Chester. Thus muche for the Templers. But now to other doings in Irelande. In the yeere .1308. the .xij. of April, deceassed Peter de Birmingham a noble warri∣our, and one that had bin no small scourge to the Irish. The eleuenth of May, the Castell of Kennun was brente, and dyuers of them that hadde it in keeping were slayne by William

Macbalther, and other of the Irishe, and like∣wise the towne of Courcouly was brente by the same malefactors. And the sixth of Iune, Iohn Lorde Wogan Lorde Iustice was discomfited neere to Glindelorie, where Iohn de Saint Ho∣gelin, Iohn Norton, Iohn Breton, and many other were slayne.

The sixteenth of Iune, Dunlouan, Tobir, and many other Townes were brent by the I∣rish Rebels. [ 10]

About thys season, Iohn Decer Maior of Dublin builded the highe Pipe there, and the bridge ouer the Liffie towardes Saint Vlstons, and a Chappell of our Ladie at the Friers Mi∣nors, where he was buried, repaired the Churche of the Friers Preachers, and euery Friday tabled the Friers at his owne coastes.

Iohn Wogan hauing occasion to passe into England, William Burgh supplied his roomth, vnto whome Kyng Edwarde recommended [ 20] Peers de Gaueston, when contrary to the kings minde he was banished by the Lordes of Eng∣lande, and about the Natiuitie of oure Lady, hee came ouer into Irelande, beeyng sente thyther by the King with many Iewels, and beside the let∣ters which he brought of recommendation from the King, he had assigned to him the commodi∣ties royall of that Realme, whiche bredde some trouble and bickerings there, betwixte Richarde Burgh Earle of Vlster, and the sayd Gaueston, who notwithstanding bought the good willes of the Souldiers with his liberalitie, slew Dermot Odempcy, subdued Obren, edifyed sundry Ca∣stels, Causeys, and bridges, but the next yeere, he was reuoked home by the King, as in the histo∣ry of England it may appeare.

In the vigill of Simon and Iude, the Lorde Roger Mortimer landed in Irelande with hys wife, righte heire to the Seigneurie of Meth, as daughter to Piers Genuille, that was sonne vnto the Lord Geffrey Genuille, whiche Geffrey became a Frier at Trym of the order of y^e Prea∣chers: by reason whereof, the Lorde Mortimer and his wife entred into possession of the landes of Meth. In the yeere .1309. on Candlemas day, the Lorde Iohn Bonneuill was slayne neere to the towne of Ardscoll, by the Lorde Arnold Po∣wer, and his complices, his body was buried at Athy in the Church of the Friers Preachers. In the yeere following, at a Parliamente holden at Kildare, the Lord Arnold Power was acquit of that slaughter, for that it was prooued it was done in his owne defence.

In the yeere .1311. or (as some bookes haue) the yeere .1309. Iohn Wogan Lord Iustice summo∣ned a Parliamente at Kilkenny, where dyuers

[illustration]

wholesome lawes were ordeyned, but neuer exe∣cuted. There fell the Bishops in contention a∣bout their iurisdictions, namely, the Bishop of [ 50] Dublin forbade the Primate of Ardmagh to reyse his croisier within the prouince of Leyni∣ster.

Shortly after, Rowland Ioice the Primate stale by night in his Pontificals, from Howthe, to the Priory of Grace dieu, where the Bishops seruants met him, and with force chased him out of the diocesse. This Bishop was named Iohn a Leekes, and was consecrated not long before hee kept this sturre.

Richard Earle of Vlster with a greate armie came to Bonrath in Thothmond, where Sir Roberte or rather sir Richard de Clare discomfi∣ted his power, tooke Sir William de Burgh pri∣soner, or (as some bookes haue) the Earle hym∣selfe. Iohn Lacie the sonne of Walter Lacie, & diuers other were slayne. The .xij. of Nouēber this yere Richard de Clare slewe .600. of the Ga∣lagheghas, & Iohn Margoghedan was slaine by

Omolmoy. Also Donat Obrene was murthe∣red by his owne men in Tothemonde.

The one and twentie of Februarie, beganne a riot in Vrgile, by Roberte Verdon, for the ap∣peasing whereof, an Army was ledde thither by Iohn Wogan Lord chiefe Iustice, in the begin∣ning of Iuly, but the same was discomfited, and diuers men of accompt slayne, as Sir Nicholas Auenell, Patricke de Roch, and other. At length, yet the sayde Roberte Verdon, and many of hys [ 10] complices came, and submitted themselues to prison, within the Castell of Dublin, abidyng there the Kings mercie.

The Lord Edmond Butler was made depu∣tie Iustice vnder the Lorde Iohn Wogan, who in the lent next ensuing, besieged the Obrenes in Glindelowe, and compelled them to yeelde them∣selues to the Kings peace.

Also in the yeere abouesayde .1312. Maurice Fitz Thomas married the Ladye Katherine, daughter to the Earle of Vlster, at Greene Ca∣stell, and Thomas Fitz Iohn married an other of the sayd Earles daughters in the same place, but not on the same day: for the first of those two marriages was celebrated the morrow after S. Dominikes day, and this seconde marriage was kept the morrow after the feast of the assumption of our Lady.

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Also Robert de Bruce ouerthrew the Castell of Man, and tooke the Lorde Donegan Odowil on Saint Barnabies day.

In the yeere .1313. Iohn a Leekes Archbishop of Dublin departed this life. After whose decease were elected in scisme and deuision of sides two Successors, Walter Thorneburie Lord Chan∣cellor, [ 40] and Alexander Bignor Tresurer of Ire∣land. The Chancellor to strengthen his election, hastily went to sea, and togither with .156. other persons perished by Shipwracke.

The other submitting his cause to the proces of lawe, tarried at home and spedde.

Moreouer, the Lorde Iohn de Burgh, sonne and heire vnto the Earle of Vlster, deceassed at Galby on the feast day of Sainte Marcell and Marcellian. [ 50]

Also the Lord Edmond Butler created .xxx. Knightes in the Castell of Dublin, on Sainte Michaels day, being Sunday. The Knightes Hospitallers or of Sainte Iohns as they were called, were inuested in the lāds of the Templers in Ireland.

The same yeere was the Lorde Theobalde Verdon sent Lord Iustice into Irelande.

In the ninth yeere of King Edwards raigne, Edward Bruce, brother to Robert Bruce King of Scottes, entred the Northe part of Irelande with sixe thousand men. There were with hym diuers Captaynes of high renowne among the Scottishe Nation, of whome the chiefe were these, the Earles of Murrey and Menteth, the Lord Iohn Stewarde, the Lord Iohn Cambell, the Lorde Thomas Randolfe, Fergus de An∣dressan, Iohn Wood, and Iohn Bisset. They landed neere to Crag Fergus in Vlster the fiue and twentith of May, and ioyning with the I∣rish, conquered the Earledome of Vlster, and gaue y^e English there diuers great ouerthrowes, tooke the towne of Dundalke, spoyled and brente it, with a greate parte of Vrgile: they brente Churches and Abbeyes, with the people whome they founde in the same, sparing neyther manne, woman nor childe. Then was the Lord Ed∣monde Butler chosen Lorde Iustice, who made the Earle of Vlster and y^e Giraldines friends, and reconciled himselfe with Sir Iohn Mande∣uill, thus seeking to preserue the residue of the Realme which Edwarde Bruce meant wholly to conquere hauing caused himselfe to be crow∣ned

K. of Ireland. The Lord Iustice assembled a great power out of Mounster and Leynister, and other parties thereaboutes, and the Earle of Vl∣ster with an other armie came vnto him neere vnto Dundalke, where they consulted togyther how to deale in defending the countrey agaynste the enimies: but hearing the Scottes were with∣drawen backe, the Erle of Vlster followed them, and fighting with them at Coyners, hee lost the fielde.

There were many slayne on both partes, and William de Burgh the Earles brother, Sir Iohn Mandeuill, and Sir Alane Fitz Alane were taken prisoners. Heerewith the Irishe of Connagh and Meth began forthwith to rebell against the Englishmen, and brente the Castell

[illustration]

of Athlon and Randon. And the Bruce com∣ming forwarde, brente Kenlis in Meth, and [ 30] Granard, also Finnagh and New Castell, and kept his Christmas at Loghsudy. From thence he went through the Countrey vnto Rathyme∣gan and Kildare, to the parties about Tristelder∣mot and Athie, then to Raban and Sketlier nere to Ardscoll in Leynister, where the Lord Iustice Butler, the Lord Iohn Fitz Thomas, the Lorde Arnold Power and other the Lords and Gentle∣men of Leynister and Mounster came to encoū∣ter the Bruce: but through discorde that rose a∣mong [ 40] them, they left the field vnto the enimies, Sir William Prendergast Knighte, and Hay∣mond le Grace a righte valiaunte Esquire were slayne there. And on the Scottishe side, Sir Fer∣gus Andressan, and Sir Walter Morrey, with diuers other that were buried in the Churche of the Friers Preachers at Athy. After this, the Bruce in his returne towardes Meth, brente the Castell of Ley, and so passed foorthe till hee came to Kenlys in Meth. In which meane time, Ro∣ger [ 50] Lorde Mortimer, trusting to winne hym∣self fame if he might ouerthrow the enimies, cal∣led foorthe fifteene M. men, and vnderstanding y^e the Scottes were come to Kenlys, made thy∣therwards, and there encountring with them, was put to the worse, his men (as was supposed) wilfully shrinking from him, as those that bare him hollow hartes. With the newes of this ouer∣throwe, vpstart the Irish of Monster, the Otoo∣lies, Obrienes, Omores, and with fire & sworde wasted all from Arclowe to Leix. With them coped the Lorde Iustice, and made of them a great slaughter .80. of their heades were sente to the Castell of Dublin.

In time of these troubles and warres in Ire∣lande by the inuasion thus of the Scottes, cer∣tayne Irishe Lordes, faithfull men and true sub∣iects to the King of England, did not only pro∣mise to continue in their loyall obeysance to∣wards him, beeing their soueraigne Prince, but also for more assurance, deliuered hostages to bee kept within the Castell of Dublin. The names of whiche Lordes that were so contented to as∣sure their allegiance were these, Iohn Fitz Tho∣mas Lord of Offalie, Richard de Clare, Morice Fitz Thomas, Thomas Fitz Iohn le Power Baron of Donoille, Arnolde le Power, Morice de Rochfort, Dauid de la Roche, and Miles de la Roche. These and dyuers other resisted with all their might and mayne the iniurious at∣tempts of the Scottes, although the Scots had drawen to their side, the most parte of the wilde Irish, and no small number also of the Englishe Irishe, as well Lordes, as other of meaner cal∣ling, so that the countrey was miserably affli∣cted, what by the Scottes on the one parte, and the Irish Rebels on the other, which Rebels not∣withstandyng were ouerthrowen in diuers par∣ticuler

conflicts. But yet to the further scatte∣ring of the English forces in Irelande, there rose foure Princes of Connagh, but the Burghes and Birminghams discomfyted them, and slewe ele∣uen

[illustration]

M. of thē beside Athenri. Amōgst other were slayne in this battell Fedelmicus, Oconghur King of Connagh, Okelly, & diuers other greate Lordes and Captaynes of Connagh and Meth. The Lord Richarde Birmingham had an Es∣quire that belonged to him called Iohn Husey, whome by commaundemente of his maister, [ 20] went foorthe to take view of the dead bodies, and to bring him worde, whether Okelli his mortall foe were slayne among the residue. Hussey com∣ming into the fielde with one man to turne vp and suruey the dead carcasses, was straight espy∣ed by Okelli, that lay lurking in a brake bushe thereby, who hauing had good proofe of Hussey his valiancie afore that time, lōged sore to traine him from his Captayne, and presuming nowe vpon this good oportunitie, discouered hymselfe, [ 03] not doubting, but eyther to winne him with cur∣teous perswasions, or by force to worke hys will of hym, and so comming to him, sayde: Hussey, thou seest I am at all poyntes armed, and haue my Squire here likewise furnished with Armour and weapon, ready at myne elbow, thou arte na∣ked with thy Page, a yongling, and not to bee accōpted of, so that if I loued not thee, and ment to spare thee for thyne owne sake, I might nowe do with thee what I would, and slea thee for thy [ 40] masters sake, but come and serue me vpon thys request heere made to thee, and I promise thee by Sainte Patricks staffe, to make thee a Lorde in Connagh of more possessions, than thy mai∣ster hath in Irelande. When these words mighte nothing way him, his owne man (a great stoute lubber) beganne to reproone hym of tollie, for not consenting to so large an offer, which was assu∣red with an oth, wherevpon he durst guage hys soule for performance. Now had Hussey three e∣nimies, [ 50] and first therefore turning to his knaue, he dispatched him, next he raught vnto Okellyes Esquire such a knocke vnder the pitte of the eare, that downe he came to the grounde, and there hee laye. Thirdly he layd so about hym, that ere any help coulde be looked for, he had also slaine Okel∣ly, and perceyuing the Esquire to be but astoni∣ed he recouered him, and h•…•…lp him vp againe, and after he was somewhat come to hymselfe, he for∣ced hym vpō a troncheō, to beare his Lords head into the high towne before him, who did so, and Hussey presented it to Brimingham, who after the circumstaunces declared, hee dubbed Hussey Knight, aduauncing him to many preferments. The successors of that familie afterwardes were Barons of Galtrim. Sir Thomas Mandeuill and other in this meane while made oftentymes enterprises against the Scottes, and slew diuers of them in sundry conflictes. But howsoeuer it chanced, wee fynde recorded by Henry Marle∣bugh, that eyther the sayd Sir Thomas Mande∣uill (that thus valiantly behaued hymselfe against the Scottes) or some other bearing the same name, and his brother also called Iohn Man∣deuill were both slayne shortly after at Downe vppon their comming foorthe of Englande, by the Scottes that were readye there to assayle them.

Thus may wee see, that those Lordes and Knightes, whiche had giuen pledges for theyr loyaltie to the King of Englande, sought by all wayes and meanes howe to beate backe the eni∣mies, whiche they mighte haue done with more ease, if the Irish had not assisted the Scottes, and presuming of theyr ayde, rebelled in sundry parts of the countrey, who neuerthelesse, were often∣times well chastised for their disloyall dealings, as partly we haue touched, although wee omitte diuers small ouerthrowes and other particuler matters, sith otherwise wee should encrease thys Booke further than our firste purposed intente woulde permitte.

Whilest the Scottes were thus holden vp in Irelande that they could not in all things worke theyr willes, Roberte le Brews King of Scots came ouer himselfe, landed at Cragfergus to the ayde of his brother, whose Souldiers most wic∣kedly entred into Churches, spoyling and de∣facing the same of all suche tombes, monu∣mentes, plate, Copes, and other ornamentes whiche they founde, and myghte lay handes vppon.

The Castell of Cragfergus, after it had bene

straightly beseeged a long time, was surrendred to the Scottes, by them that had kept it, till they for want of other vittayles were driuen to eate lether, and eyght Scottes (as some write) whiche they had taken prisoners.

The Lorde Thomas, sonne to the Earle of Vlster departed this life.

And on the Sunday next after y^e Natiuitie of our Lady, y^e Lord Iohn Fitz Thomas deceassed at Laragh Brine neere to Maynoth, & was bu∣ried [ 10] at Kildare, in the Church of y^e Friers Prea∣chers. This Iohn Fitz Thomas, a little before his deathe, was created Earle of Kildare, after whome succeeded his sonne Thomas Fitz Iohn a right wise and prudent personage.

The fourteenth of September, Conhor Mac∣kele, and fiue hundred Irishmen were slayne by the Lord William de Burgh, and Lord Richard Birmingham in Connagh. Also on y^e Monday after the feast of all Saintes, Iohn Loggan and [ 20] Sir Hugh Bisset slewe a great nūber of Scots, among the whiche were .100. with double ar∣mours, and .200. with single armours: so that of their men of armes, there dyed three hundred be∣side footemen.

The fifteenth of Nouember chanced a migh∣ty tempest of wynde and rayne, whiche threwe downe many houses, with the Steeple of the Trinitie Church in Dublin, and did much other hurt both by land and water. [ 30]

The fifth of December, Sir Alane Stewarde that had bin taken prisoner in Vlster by Iohn Loggan, and Sir Iohn Sandale, was brought to the Castell of Dublin.

After Candlemas, the Lacies came to Du∣blin, and procured an inquest to be impanelled to inquire of their demeanor, for that they were ac∣cused to haue procured the Scottes to come into Irelande: but by that inquest they were dischar∣ged, and therewith tooke an oth to keepe the kings [ 40] peace, and to destroy the Scots to the vttermost of theyr power.

In the beginning of Lent, the Scottes came in secret wise vnto Slane, with twētie thousand armed mē: and with them came the army of Vl∣ster, destroying all the countrey before them.

Moreouer, on Monday before the Feast of S. Mathias the Apostle, the Earle of Vlster lying in the Abbey of Sainte Mary neere to Dublin, Robert Notingham Maire of that Citie, with [ 50] the communaltie of the same went thither, tooke the Earle, and put him in prison within the Ca∣stell of Dublin, slew .vij. of his men, and spoyled the Abbey.

The same weeke, Edwarde Bruce marched towardes Dublin, but heerewith, turning to the Castell of Cnocke, he entred the same, and tooke Hugh Tyrrell the Lorde thereof, togither with his wife, and raunsommed them for a summe of money. The Citizens of Dublin brent all theyr suburbes for feare of a siege, and made the best purueyance they coulde to defende their Citie, if the Bruce had come to haue besieged them: but he turning another way, went vnto the towne of Naas, and was guided thither by the Lacies, cō∣trary to their othe.

From thence, he passed vnto Tristeldermot, and so to Baliganam, and to Callan, at length he came to Lymerike, and there remayned till after Easter.

They of Vlster sent to the Lorde Iustice la∣mentable informations of suche crueltie as the e∣nimies practised in those partes, besieching hym to take some order for their reliefe in that theyr so miserable estate. The Lorde Iustice deliuered to them the Kings power with his standerd, where∣with vnder pretence to expell the Scottes, they gote vp in armour, and raunging through the countrey, did more vexe and molest the subiectes, than did the strangers. The Scots proceeded and spoyled Casshels, and wheresoeuer they lyghte vpon the Butlers lands, they brente and spoyled them vnmercifully.

In this meane while, had the Lord Iustice, and Thomas Fitz Iohn Earle of Kildare, Ri∣chard de Clare, and Arnold le Power, Baron of Donnoill, leuied an armie of thirtie thousande men, readie to goe againste the enimies, and to giue them battayle, but no good was done, for about the same time, the Lord Roger Mortimer was sent into Irelande as Lord Iustice, and lā∣ding at Yoghall, wrote his letters vnto the Lord Butler, and to the other Captaynes, willing thē not to fighte, till he came with such power as he had brought ouer with him. Whereof the Bruce being warned, retired first towardes Kildare: but yet after this he came w^tin four miles of Trym, where he lay in a wood, and lost many of his men through famine, and so at length, about the be∣ginning of May, he returned into Vlster.

The Lorde Edmonde Butler made greate slaughter of the Irishe neere to Tristledermot, and likewise at Balitehan, hee hadde a good hande of Omorche, and slewe manye of hys men. The Lorde Mortimer pacifyed the dis∣pleasure and variance betwixt Richarde Earle of Vlster, and the Nobles that had put the sayde Earle vnder safekeping within y^e Castell of Du∣blin, accusing him of certaine riots committed to the preiudice and losse of the Kings subiectes, whereby the Scottes increased in strength and courage, whose spoyling of the countrey caused such horrible scarcitie in Vlster, that the Souldi∣ers which the yeere before abused the Kings au∣thoritie to puruay themselues of ouer fine diet, surfetted with fleshe and Aqua vite all the Lente

long, prolled & pilled insatiably, wheresoeuer they came without neede, and withoute regarde of the poore people, whose onely prouision they deuou∣red.

These people nowe liuing in slauerie vnder the Bruce, s•…•…erued for hunger, hauing fyrst expe∣rienced many lamentable shiftes, euen to the ea∣ting of dead carcasses.

The Earle of Vlster was deliuered by maine price, and vpon his oth, by the whiche hee vnder∣tooke [ 10] neuer to seeke reuenge of hys apprehension otherwise, than by order of lawe, and so had daye giuen him vnto the feast of Natiuitie of Sainte Iohn Baptist, but he kept not his day, whether for that hee mistrusted to stande in triall of hys cause, or through some other reasonable let, I can not tell.

A great dearth this yeere afflicted the Irishe people, for a measure of Wheate called a chro∣necke [ 20] was sold at foure and twentie Shillings, and a cronecke of otes at sixteene Shillings, and all other vittayles likewise were solde, accordyng to the same rate, for all the whole countrey was sore wasted by the Scottes and them of Vlster, in so muche that no small number of people peri∣shed through famine.

About the feast of Pentecost, the Lord Iustice Mortimer tooke his iourney towards Droghda, and sent to the Lacies, commaunding them to come vnto him: but they refused so to do: where∣vppon he sente Sir Hugh Croftes vnto them to talke with them about some agreement of peace, but they slew the messenger, for whome greate lamentation was made, for that he was reputed and knowne to be a right worthy knighte.

The Lord Iustice sore offended herewith, ga∣thereth an army, and goeth againste the Lacies, whome he chased out of Connagh, so that Hugh Lacie, withdrewe into Vlster, and there ioyned himselfe with Edward Bruce. Wherevpon, on the Thursday nexte before the feast of Sainte Margaret, the said Hugh Lacie, and also Wal∣ter Lacie, were proclaymed Traytours.

This yeere passed very troublesome vnto the whole Realm of Irelād, as wel through slaugh∣ter betwixt the parties enimies one to another, as by dearth and other misfortunes.

Hugh Cannon the Kyngs Iustice of hys bench was slayne by Andrew Bermingham, be∣twixt the towne of Naas and Castell Marten.

Also in the feast of the purification, the Popes Bulles were published, wherby Alexander Big∣nore was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin. A∣bout the same time was great slaughter made of Irishmen, through a quarrell betwixt two greate Lordes in Connagh, so that there dyed in fighte

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to the number of foure thousande men on bothe [ 40] parties.

After Easter, Walter Islep Treasurer of Ire∣land, was sent ouer into y^e Realme, who brought letters to the Lorde Mortimer, commaundyng hym to returne into England vnto y^e king: which he dyd, and departing forth of Ireland, remayned indebted to y^e Citizens of Dublin for his prouisiō of vittayl•…•…s, in the summe of a thousand pounds, wherof he payde not one farthing, so that many a bitter curse he carried with him to the sea leauing [ 50] William Archbishop of Casshell Lord Chancel∣lor, gouernor of the lande in his place: & so by this meane was the sayd Archbishop both Chancellor and Iustice, and so continued till the feast of S. Michael, at what time Alexander Bignor Arch∣bishop of Dublin arriued at Yoghall, beeing con∣stituted Lorde Iustice, and came to Dublin on Saint Dionise day, being y^e seuenth of October.

But here is to be remembred, y^t a little before the departure of the Lord Mortimer forth of Ire∣land, to witte the fifth of May, the Lord Richard de Clare with foure Knightes, sir Henry Capell, Sir Thomas de Naas, Sir Iames Caunton, and Sir Iohn Caunton.

Also Adam Apilgard and other, to the num∣ber of fourescore persons, were slayne by Obrene and Maccarthy.

It was sayde, that the enimies in despite, caused the Lorde Richardes bodie to bee cut in peeces, so to satisfye their malicious stomackes: but the same peeces were yet afterwardes buried in the Churche of the Friers Minors at Lime∣rike.

Also before the Lorde Mortimers returne into Englande, Iohn Lacye was hadde foorthe of the Castell of Dublin, and carryed to Trim, where hee was arreygned and ad∣iudged

to be pressed to death, and so he died in pri∣son.

But now to returne vnto the doings in time of Bignors gouernment. Immediatly vpon his arriuall the Lorde Iohn Birmingham being ge∣nerall of the fielde, and hauing with him diuerse Captaines of worthie fame, namely sir Richarde Tute, sir Miles Verdon, sir Hugh Trippetton, sir Herbert Sutton, sir Iohn Cusacke, sir Ed∣mōd Birmingham, sir William Birmingham, [ 10] Walter Birmingham the primate of Ardmagh, sir Walter de la Pulle, and Iohn Maupas, ledde forth the kings power to the number of .1324. able men against Edward Bruce, who being accom∣panied with the Lord Philip Mowbray, the lord Walter de Soules, the Lorde Alaine Stewarde, with his three brethren, sir Walter, and sir Hugh, sir Robert, and sir Aymerie Lacies, and others, was encamped not past two miles from Dun∣dalke with three thousande men there abyding the Englishmen, to fight with them if they came forward, which they did with all cōuenient speed, being as desirous to giue battaile as the Scottes were to receyue it.

The Primate of Ardmagh personally accom∣panying the English power, and blessing their enterprise, gaue them such comfortable exhorta∣tion as he thought serued the time, ere they began to encounter. And herewith buckling togither, at length the Scots fully and wholy were van∣quished,

[illustration]

and two thousande of them •…•…laine, togi∣ther with their captaine Edward Bruce. Maw∣pas that pressed into the throng to encoūter with Bruce hande to hande, was founde in the searche deade aloft vpon the slaine bodie of Bruce.

The victorie thus obteyned vpon Saint Ca∣lixtus day, made an end of the Scottish kingdom in Irelande, and Lorde Birmingham sending the head of Bruce into Englande, or as Marle∣burgh [ 40] hath, being the messenger himselfe, presen∣ted it to king Edwarde, who in recompence gaue to him and his heyres Males, the Earledome of Louth, and the Baronie of Ardich and Athenrie to him and his heyres generall for euer.

Shortly after sir Richard de Clare with foure other knightes of name, and many other men of warre were slaine in Thomond, the Lord Roger Mortimer came againe into Ireland to gouerne as Lorde iustice there nowe the second time, and [ 50] the townes of Athessell and Plebs were brent by the Lorde Fitz Thomas, brother to the Lorde Maurice Fitz Thomas. And about this season the bridge of Kilcolyn was buylded by Maurice Iakis.

In the yeare following, to wit .1320. which was the .xiiij. of king Edwards raigne, Thomas Fitz Iohn Erle of Kildare was made Lord Iu∣stice of Irelande.

Here is to be remembred, that about this time also, Alexander Bignore Archbishop of Dublyn, sent to Pope Iohn the .xxij. for a priuiledge to institute an Vniuersitie within the citie of Dub∣lyn, and his suite tooke effect. And the first three Doctors of Diuinitie did the sayde Archbishop himselfe create, William Hardity a Frier prea∣cher, Henrie Cogie a Frier minor, and Frier Edmond Bernerden: and beside these one Doc∣tor of Canon, to wit, Richard Archdeacon of S. Patrikes, that was Chauncellor of the same V∣niuersitie, who kept their termes and Cōmence∣ments solemnly: neyther was this vniuersitie at any time since disfranchised, but onely through chaunge of tymes discontinued, and now since the dissoluing of Monasteries vtterly decayed.

A motion was made (as Campion hath no∣ted) in a Parliament holden there whilest sir Henrie Sidney was the Queenes Lieutenant to haue it againe erected, by way of contributions to be layd togyther, the sayde sir Henry offring .xx. pounde landes, and an hundred pound in money: Other there were also, that according to their a∣bilities, and deuotions followed with their of∣fers. The name was deuised, A worthie Planta∣tion of Plantagenet and Bulleigne But while

they disputed of a cōuenient place for it, & of other circumstances, they let fall the principall.

In the yeare .1321. there was a great slaughter made of the Oconhurs at Balibagan, by y^e Eng∣lish of Leynister & Meth. And Iohn Birminghā Earle of Louth was made L. iustice of Irelande. Vnto this man whilest he was Lord iustice, the king wrote, cōmaunding him to be with him at Carleil in the Octaues of the Trinitie, in the .xv. yeare of his raigne, with .three. C. men of armes, [ 10] one .M. hobellares, and sixe .M. footemen, eche of them armed with an aketon, a sallet, and gloues of Male, which number was to be leuied in that land, beside three .C. mē of armes which the Erle of Vlster was appoynted to serue with in that iourney, which the king at that time intended to make against the Scottes. The date of the letter was the third of Aprill.

In the yere .1322. diuerse nobles in Ireland de∣parted this life, as the Lord Richard Birminghā, [ 20] the Lord Edmond Butler, & the Lorde Thomas Perceuale. Moreouer the L. Andrew Birming∣hā, & sir Richard de la Lōd were slain by Onolā.

In the .xviij. yeare of King Edward y^e second his raigne, the L. Iohn Darcie came into Irelād to be L. Iustice, and the kings lieutenant there.

In these dayes liued in the Dioces of Ossorie the Ladie Alice Ketell, whom the Bishop ascited to purge hirselfe of the fame of inchantment and witchcraft imposed vnto hir, & to one Petronille [ 30] and Basill hir complices. She was charged to haue nightly cōference with a spirit called Robin Artisson, to whō she sacrificed in the high way .ix. red cockes, & .ix. peacocks eies. Also that she swept the streetes of Kilkenny betwene Cōpleine & twi∣light, raking al the filth towardes the doores of hir son William Outlaw, murmuring these words:

To the house of VVilliam my sonne, Hie all the wealth of Kilkenny towne.

At the first conuiction they abiured and did pe∣nance, [ 40] but shorly after they were found in relapse, and then was Petronille burnt at Kilkenny, the other twaine might not be heard of.

She at the houre of hir death accused the sayd William as priuie to their sorceries, whome the Bishop helde in duraunce .ix. weekes, forbidding his keepers to eate or to drinke with him, or to speake to him more than once in the day. But at length through the suite and instance of Arnold le Poer then Seneshall of Kilkenny, he was dely∣uered, [ 50] and after corrupted with brybes the Sene∣shal to persecute the Bishop, so that he thrust him into prison for three Monethes. In rifeling the closet of the ladie, they found a Wafer of sacra∣mentall bread, hauing the diuels name stamped thereon in stead of Iesus Christ, and a Pipe of oyntment, wherewith she greased a staffe, vpō the which she ambled and galloped through thick and thin, when and in what maner she listed.

This businesse about these witches troubled al the state of Ireland, the more, for that the Ladie was supported by certaine of the nobilitie, & lastly conueyed ouer into England, since which time it could neuer be vnderstood what became of hir.

In the yeare .1326. and last of king Ed∣warde the secondes raigne, Richard Burgh Erle of Vlster departed this life.

Edward the third.

VNneth was the businesse about the Witches at an ende, when it was signified that a gen∣tleman of the familie of the Otoolies in Leynister named Adam Duffe, possessed by some wicked spirit of error, denyed obstinately the incarnation of our sauiour, the trinitie of persons in the vnitie of the Godhead, & the resurrectiō of the flesh: as for the holy scripture, he sayde it was but a fable: the virgin Marie he affyrmed to be a womā of disso∣lute life: y^e Apostolike sea erronious. For such kind of assertions, he was burnt in Hogging grene be∣side

[illustration]

Dublin. About the same time, Fitz ark Mac∣morch, & sir Henry Trahern were takē prisoners.

In the yeare folowing, the lord Thomas Fitz Iohn Earle of Kildare, and the Lorde Arnolde Poer, and William Erle of Vlster, wer sent ouer into Ireland, and Roger Outlaw prior of saint Iohns of Ierusalem in Ireland, commonly cal∣led the prior of Kilmaynam, was made Lorde Iustice. This man by reason of variaunce that chaunced to rise betwixt the Giraldines, the But∣lers, and Birminghams, on the one side, and the Poers and Burghes on the other, for terming the Earle of Kildare a rimor, to pacifie the parties called a Parliament, wherin he himselfe was fain to make his purgation of a slaunder imposed to him, as suspected of Heresie.

The Bishop of Ossorie had giuen an informa∣tion agaynste Arnalde le Poer conuented and conuicted in his Consistorie of certaine hereticall opinions, but bycause the beginning of Poers accusation concerned the Iustices kinsman, and

the Bishop was mistrusted to prosecute his own wrong, and the person of the man rather than the fault: a day was limitted for the iustifying of the byll, the partie being apprehended and re∣spited therevnto.

This dealing the Bishop (who durst not styrre out of Kilkenny to prosecute his accusation) was reputed partiall, and when by meanes hereof the matter hanged in suspence, he infamed the sayde Prior as an abettor and fauourer of Arnolds he∣resie. [ 10] The Prior submitted himselfe to the tryal, and thervpon were seueral Proclamations made in Court, that it shoulde bee lawfull to any man to come into the Court, and to inferre, accuse, and declare what euidence he coulde, agaynst the Lorde Iustice, but none came. Then passed a decree by the Counsaile, commaunding all Bi∣shops, Abbots, Priors, & the Maiors of Dublyn Corke, Lymerike, Waterford, and Droghdagh, the Shirifes, Knightes, and Seneshals of euerie [ 20] shire, to appeare at Dublin. From amongst all these, they appointed .vj. inquisitors, which exa∣mining the bishops & other persons aforesayd sin∣gularly one by one, found that with an vniuersal cōsent they deposed for the Prior, affyrming that to their iudgments he was a zealous and a faith∣full childe of the Catholike Church. In the meane time, Arnold le Poer the prisoner deceased in the Castel, and bycause he stoode vnpurged, long hee lay vnburied.

In the yeare .1329. Iohn de Birmingham Erle of Louth, and his brother Peter, with many other of that surname, and Richard Talbot of Mala∣hide were slain on Whitson euen at Balibragan by men of the Countrey. Also the Lord Thomas Butler, and diuerse other noble men were slaine by Mac Gogoghdan and other Irish mē neare to Molinger, for the Irish aswell in Leynister as in Meth, made insurrections in that season, and so likewise did they in Moūster vnder the leading of Obren, whom William Erle of Vlster, and Ia∣mes Erle of Ormond vanquished. So outragi∣ous were the Leynister Irish, that in one Church they brunt foure score innocent soules, asking no more but the life of their priest thē at Masse, whō they notwithstāding sticked with their Iauelins, spurned the host, & wasted al with fire, neither for∣ced they of y^e Popes interdictiō, nor any ecclesiasti∣call censures denoūced against thē (matters of no smal cōsideratiō amōg thē namely in those days) but maliciously perseuered in y^e course of their fu∣rious rage, till the citizens of Wexford somwhat tamed thē, & slue .400. of thē in one skirmish, y^e rest fleeing were all drenched in the water of Slane.

[illustration]

In the yeare .1330. the Earle of Vlster with a great army made a iourney agaynst Obren, and the prior of Kilmaynā Lord iustice put Maurice Fitz Thomas Erle of Desmond in prison in the [ 50] Marshalsee, out of the which he freely escaped, and the Lord Hugh Lacie returned into Ireland, and obteyned the kings peace and fauour.

In the yeare .1331. the Earle of Vlster pas∣sed ouer into Englande, and great slaughter was made vpon the Irish in Okensly. Also the castell of Arclo was taken by the Irish men, and great slaughter made of the Englishe in the Cowlagh by Otothell and other.

Also the Lorde Anthonie Lucie was sent ouer Lorde Iustice into Irelande, and great slaugh∣ter was made of the Irish at Thurlis by the knightes of the Countrey, and at Finnath in Meth, there were manye of them slaine by the English, but yet was the Castell of Fernis ta∣ken and burnt by the Irish.

On the feast day of the Assumption of our La∣die, which falleth on the .xv. of August, Maurice Fitz Thomas Erle of Desmond was apprehen∣ded at Limerike by the Lorde Iustice, and sent

vnto the Castell of Dublyn.

Moreouer the Lord Iustice tooke sir William Birmingham at Clomell by a wile, whilest hee was sicke in his bed, and sent him togither with his sonne Walter Birmingham vnto the Castel of Dublyn, the .xxx. of Aprill.

In the yeare .1332. the sayde sir William was hanged at Dublin, but Walter was deliuered by reason he was within orders.

Campion following suche notes as he hath [ 10] seene, writeth that the death of this William Birmingham chaunced in time of the gouern∣ment of William Outlaw Prior of Kilmaynā, being lieutenant vnto Iohn Lorde Darcie, that was made Lorde Iustice (as the sayd Campion hath noted) in the yeare .1329. Although Marle∣burgh affyrmeth that hee came thither to beare that office, in the yeare .1332. after the Lord Lu∣cie was discharged, as hereafter shall be recyted. But whensoeuer, or vnder whom soeuer Bir∣mingham was executed, hee was accounted an odde Knight, and suche one as for his valiancie, hys matche was not lyghtly to bee any where founde.

The Castell of Clonmore was taken the same yeare by the Englishmen, and the castell of

[illustration]

Bonrate was destroyed by the Irish of Thomōd.

Also Henry de Mandeuile was taken and sent prisoner to be safely kept in Dublyn.

Likewise Walter Burgh with two of hys brethren were taken in Connagh by the Earle of Vlster, and sent to the Castell of Norburgh.

This yeare the Lord Antonie Lucie was dis∣charged of his rowmth by the king, and so retur∣ned [ 40] with his wife and children into Englande, and the Lorde Iohn Darcie was sent ouer Lord Iustice in Lucies place, and great slaughter was made vpon Bren Obren, and Mac Carthi, in Mounster, by the English of that Countrey.

This Iohn Darcie (as shoulde appeare by gyftes bestowed vpon him by the King) was in singular fauour wyth him. Amongest other things which hee had of the kings gyft, we fynde that hee had the Manours of Louth, and Ba∣liogarie, [ 50] and other landes in Irelande which be∣longed to the Earle of Ew, and for that the sayd Earle was a French man, and tooke part wyth Philip de Valois the kings enimie, they were seysed into the kings hande.

The Earle of Desmonde vpon sureties was set at libertie, and by the Parliament holden at Dublyn in this yeare .1333. was sent ouer in∣to Englande vnto the King, and William Earle of Vlster a yong Gentleman of twentie yeares of age, in goyng towardes Knocfergus the .vij. of Iune, was slaine neare to the fourdes in Vlster, by his owne people: but hys wyfe and daughter escaped into Englande: and the daughter was after maryed vnto the Lorde Lio∣nell the kings sonne. She deceassed afterwards at Dublyn, and left a daughter behind hir that was hir heyre, maryed to Roger Mortimer Earle of March, and Lorde of Trym.

This murther was procured by Robert Fitz Martine Mandeuile, who was the first that pre∣sumed to giue to the Earle any wounde.

To reuenge the death of this Erle of Vlster (slaine as ye haue heard beside Knocfergus) the Lorde Iustice Darcie with a great power went into Vlster, to pursue those that through Man∣deuiles seditious tumultes had so trayterously murthered their Lord. At his setting forward, the saide Iustice Darcie appoynted sir Tho. Burgh Treasurer, to gouerne as lieutenant to him in his absence. When the Lorde Iustice had puni∣shed the trayters in Vlster, hee passed ouer into Scotlande, there to make warre agaynste the Scottes that were enimies at that present to the

king of England, and on the feast day of Saint Margaret, greate slaughter was made of the Scots by the Irish men, and so what by the king in one part, and the Lorde Iustice of Irelande in another, Scotland was in maner wholy conque∣red, and Edwarde Ballioll was established king of Scotland. The Lord Iustice might haue pos∣sessed the Iles if they had bene worth the keeping, into the which Iles, except the sayd Darcy & the Earle of Sussex late Lieutenant of Irelande, no [ 10] gouernor at any time yet aduentured.

At Darcyes comming backe into Irelande, and exercising the office of Lorde Iustice, he deli∣uered Walter Birmingham out of the Castell of Dublin.

In the yeare .1336. and tenth of Edward the thirdes raigne, on Saint Laurence day, the Irish of Connagh were discomfited and put to flight by the English men of the Countrey there, with the losse of one English man, and ten thousande

[illustration]

of the enimies. The Lord Iohn Charleton barō came into Irelande to be Lord Iustice, and with [ 30] him his brother Thomas Bishop of Hereforde Lord Chancelor, & Iohn Rice Lorde Treasorer, and two hundred Welchmen souldiers. The Bi∣shop was ordeyned afterward Lorde Iustice, in whose time all the Irish of Ireland were at defi∣ance with the English, & shortly brought againe into quiet by the Erles of Kildare and Desmond. The Lorde Iohn Darcy by the kings letters pa∣tents, was during life ordeyned Lorde Iustice of Irelande, in the .xiiij. yeare of king Edwarde the [ 40] thirds raigne, which king abused by euill counsell and sinister informers, called in vnder his signet royall, the franchises, liberties and grants what∣soeuer had bin deuised, made & ratified to y^e realm of Ireland, and to euery eche person thereof. This reuoking of liberties was displeasantly takē. The English of byrth, and the English of bloud fal∣ling at wordes, were deuided into factions about it, for which contention the Irish still wayted, so as the realme was euen vpon the point to giue o∣uer [ 50] all and to rebel. For redresse whereof the lorde Iustice called a Parliament at Dublin, to the which the nobles refused to come, & in quiet wise assembled thēselues togither at Kilkenny, where they with the commons agreed vpon certain que∣stions to be demaūded of the king by way of sup∣plication, signifying in the same partlye their griefs. Which questiōs were in effect as foloweth.

Howe a Realme of warre might bee gouerned by one both vnskilfull and vnable in all warlike seruice.

How an officer vnder the king that entred very poore, might in one yeare grow to more excessiue wealth, than men of great patrimonie and liue∣lode in many yeares.

Howe it chaunced, that sithe they were all called Lordes of theyr owne, that the soue∣raigne Lord of them all, was not a pennie the ry∣cher for them.

The chiefe of them that thus seemed to re∣pine with the present gouernment, was Tho∣mas Fitz Maurice Erle of Desmonde, through whose maintenance and bearing out of the mat∣ter, the Countrey was in great trouble, so as it had not lightly beene seene, that suche contra∣rietie in myndes and dislyking had appeared a∣mongest those of the English race in that realme at any time before.

Herewith Raufe Vffort was sent ouer Lord Iustice, who bringing hys wyfe wyth him, the Countesse of Vlster arryued about the .xiij. of Iulie.

Thys man was verye rygorous, and through perswasion (as was sayde) of his wyfe, he was more extreeme and couetous than otherwyse hee woulde haue beene, a matter not to bee forgot∣ten: for if thys Ladie had beene as readie to moue hir husbande to haue shewed hymselfe

gentle and mylde in his gouernment, as she was bent to pricke him forwarde vnto sharpe dealing and rygorous proceedings, shee had beene nowe aswell reported of, as shee is infamed by theyr pennes that haue regystred the doyngs of those tymes.

But to y^e purpose. This Vffort Lord iustice in paine of forfeyture of all his lands commaunded the Erle of Desmonde to make his personall ap∣pearance at a Parliament which he called to bee holden at Dublin, there to begin the .vij. of Iune, and bycause the Erle refused to come (according to the summonance, he raysed the kings Stan∣dard, and with an army marched into Mounster,

[illustration]

and there seysed the Earles possessions into the kings handes, letting them foorth to ferme for an annuall rent vnto other persons.

And whilest hee yet remayned in Mounster, [ 30] he deuised wayes how to haue the Earle of Des∣monde apprehended, whiche being brought to passe, hee afterwarde deliuered him vpon main∣prise of these sureties whose names ensue: Wil∣liam de Burgh Earle of Vlster, Iames Butler Earle of Ormonde, Rycharde Tuyt, Nicho∣las Verdon, Maurice Rochefort, Eustace le Power, Geralde de Rochefort, Iohn Fitz Ro∣bert Power, Robert Barry, Maurice Fitz Gi∣rald, Iohn Wellesley, Walter le Fant, Richard [ 40] Rokelley, Henrie Traherne, Roger Power, Iohn Lenfaunt, Roger Power, Mathew Fitz Henrie, Richarde Walleys, Edmonde Burgh sonne to the Earle of Vlster, knightes: Dauid Barry, William Fitz Gerald, Foulke de Fraxi∣nus, Robert Fitz Maurice, Henry Fitz Berkley, Iohn Fitz George de Roche, Thomas de Lees de Burgh.

These (as ye haue heard) were bounde for the Earle, and bycause hee made default, the Lorde [ 50] Iustice verily tooke the aduauntage of the bonde agaynst the mainpernours, foure of them onely excepted, the two Earles, and two knightes.

The lord Iustice is charged with strayte dea∣ling by wryters in this behalfe, for that the same persons had assisted him in his warres agaynste Desmond: but truly if we shal consider the mat∣ter with indifferencie, he did no more than law & reason required. For if euery surety vpō forfeyture of his bonde shoulde be forborne, that otherwyse doth his duetie, what care woulde men haue ey∣ther to procure sureties, or to become suretyes themselues?

But such is the affection of wryters, speci∣cially when they haue conceyued any mislyking towardes those of whome they take occasion to speake, so as many a worthie man hath bene de∣famed, and with slaunder greatly defaced in things wherein he rather hath deserued singular commendation. But howsoeuer this matter was handled touching the Earle of Desmonde, vpon the death of the Lord Iustice, whiche en∣sued the nexte yeare, Bonfyres were made, and greate ioye shewed through all the Realme of Irelande.

His Ladie verily (as shoulde appeare) was but a miserable woman, procuring him to ex∣tortion and bryberie. Much he abridged the pre∣rogatiues of the Churche, and was so hated, that euen in the sight of the Countrey he was robbed without rescue by Mac Cartie, notwithstan∣ding he gathered power, and dispersed those Re∣bels of Vlster.

Robert Darcy was ordeyned Iustice by the Counsell, till the kings letters came to sir Iohn Fitz Morice, who released Fitz Thomas Earle of Kildare left in durance by Vfford at his death.

Fitz Morice continued not long, but was discharged, and the Lorde Walter Birmingham elect to succeede in that rowmth, who procured

a safeconduct for Desmonde to pleade his cause before the King, by whome he was liberally en∣treated, and allowed towarde his expences there twentie shillings a day at the Princes charge, in consideration of whiche curtesie shewed to hys Kinnesman, the Earle of Kildare, accompanied with dyuerse Lordes, Knightes, and chosen Horsemen, serued the King at Calyce, a towne thought impregnable, and returned after the win∣ning thereof in greate pompe and ioylitie. [ 10]

Wee finde that Thomas Lorde Berkeley, and Reignalde Lord C•…•…bham, and Sir Morice Berckley became main•…•…ernours for the sayde Earle of Desmonde, that hee shoulde come into England and abide such tryall as the law would awarde.

Iohn Archer Prior of Kylmaynam was substituted Lieutenaunt to the Lorde Iustice. To whome succeeded Baron Carew, and af∣ter Carewe followed Sir Thomas Rokesbye [ 20] Knight, vnto whome was assigned aboue his ordinarie retinew of twentie men of armes, a supplie of tenne men of armes, and twentie. Ar∣chers on Horsebacke, so long as it should bee thought needfull.

Greate mortalitie chaunced this yeare, as in other partes of the worlde, so especially in places aboute the Sea coastes of Englande and Ire∣lande.

In the yeare following, departed this life A∣lexander [ 30] Bignor Archbishop of Dublin. And the same yeare was Iohn de Saint Paule con∣secrated Archbishop of that sea.

This yeare deceased Kemwryke Shereman sometime Maior of Dublin, a great benefactor to euery Churche and religious house within .xx. myles rounde aboute the Citie. His legacies to the poore and other, besides his liberalitie shewed in his lyfe tyme, amounted to three thousande Markes. [ 40]

In this season dwelled in Vlster a wealthie knight, one sir Robert Sauage, who the rather to preserue his owne, began to wall and fortifie his Manor houses with Castelles and pyles against the Irish enimie, exhorting his heyre Henrie Sa∣uage to applie that worke so beneficiall for him∣selfe and his posteritie.

Father (quoth yong Sa∣uage) I remember the prouerbe, Better a Castell of bones than of stones: where strēgth & courage of valiant men are prest to helpe vs, neuer will I [ 50] (by the grace of God) comber my selfe with dead walles. My fort shall bee where soeuer yong blouds be styrring, and where I finde rowmth to fight.

The father in a fume let 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the buylding, and forsware to goe any further forwarde in it. But yet the want therof and such like, hath beene the decay as well of the Sauages, as of all the Eng∣lishe Gentlemen in Vlster: •••• the lacke also of walled Townes is one of the principall occasi∣ons of the rude wildenesse in other partes of Ire∣lande.

This Sauage hauing prepared 〈◊〉〈◊〉 armie a∣gaynst the Irishe, allowed to euerie Souldier be∣fore they should buckle with the enimie, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 draught of Aqua vite, Wine, or olde Ale, and killed in prouision for their returne, Bi••••e, Vr••••∣son, and fowle, great plentie: which doing diuers of his captaines misliked, bycause they considered the successe of warre to be vncertaine, and there∣fore esteemed it better policie to poyson the cates, or to do them away, than to keepe the same, and happely to feed a sort of rogues with such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 foode, if ought shoulde happen to themselues, in this aduenture of so fewe agaynste so manye. Hereat smyled the Gentleman and sayde, 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ ye are too full of enuie: This worlde is but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Anne, to the which ye haue no speciall interest, but are onely tenants at will of the Lorde. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 please him to commaunde vs from it, as it were from our lodging, and to set other good fellowes in our rowmthes, what hurt shall it be for vs to leaue them some meate for their suppers, let them hardly winne it and weare it. If they enter our dwellings, good maner woulde no lesse but to welcome them with such fare as the Countrey breedeth, and with all my heart much good may it do them. Notwithstanding I presume so farre vpō your noble corages, that verily my mind gi∣ueth me we shal returne at night, & bāket our sel∣ues with our owne store, and so they did, hauing slain three .M. Irishmen.

In the yere .1355. deceased Maurice Fitz Tho∣mas Erle of Desmond L. iustice of Ireland, that had that office of the kings grant for terme of life.

After him succeeded in y^e rowmth Thomas de Rokesby, a knight sincere & vpright of conscience, who being cōtrolled for suffring himself to be ser∣ued in treen cups, answered: those homely cups & dishes pay truly for that they cōtein: I had rather drinke out of treen cups, & pay gold & siluer, than drink out of golde and make woodden payment.

This yeare began great controuersie betwixt Richard Raufe Primate of Ardmagh, and the foure orders of begging Friers, which ended at length by the deaths of the sayd Richarde Raufe, and Richarde Kilminton, in the yeare .1266. Raufe deceassing in the Popes Court, and Kil∣minton in England.

Almerike de Saint Amand, Iohn, or as other haue Iames Butler Erle of Ormōd. and Mau∣rice Fitz Thomas Erle of Kildare, were appoin∣ted Lord Iustices of Ireland by tur•…•…es.

In Ormonds time, and in the .xxxiij. yere of king Edward the thirds raigne, order was taken that the Irish Lordes should remaine & dwell in

their houses vpon the marches to defend the sub∣iects from inuasions of enimies. And further, pro∣clamation went forth, that no mere. Irish borne should be made Maior, Bailife, porter, officer or minister, in any towne or place within the Eng∣lish dominiōs: nor that any Archbishop, Bishop, Abbot, prior or any other being of the kings alle∣giance, vpon forfeyture of al that he might forfeit, should aduance any that was mere Irish borne to the rowmth of a Canon, or to haue any other ec∣clesiasticall [ 10] benefice that lay among the Englishe subiects.

To Maurice Thomas Erle of Kildare, when he was ordeyned Lord Iustice, the kings letters assigned in yearely fee for his office fiue hundred poundes, with condition that the sayde gouernor should find .xx. great horses to serue in the field he himself to be the twentith man in going agaynst the enimie: whiche alowance and conditions in those dayes (so farre as I can gesse) should seeme [ 20] to be ordinarie to the office.

Lionell Duke of Clarence, sonne to king Ed∣ward the third came ouer into Ireland to be lord Iustice there. He was in right of his wife Erle of Vlster. He published an inhibition to all of the I∣rish birth, not once to approch his army, nor to be in any wise imployed in seruice of the warres. He vanquished Obren, but yet sodenly no man vn∣derstāding how, an hundred of his souldiers were wanting, as they lay in garison, the losse of whō [ 30] was thought to be occasioned by that displeasant decree afore rehearsed: wherevpon he tooke better aduise, and receiued the Irish into like fauor as o∣ther lieutenants had them in before that present, shewing a tender loue towards them all, & so euer after prospered in his affayres. He created diuerse knights, as Preston, now knowne by the name of the familie of Gormaunston, Holywood, Talbot, E•…•…sar, De la Hide, Patrike, Robert and Iohn de Fraxinis. All these being Gentlemen of worthie [ 40] fame in chiualrie.

The Eschequer he remoued to Catherlagh, & bestowed in furnishing that towne .v. C. pounds.

In the yeare .1362. Iohn de Saint Paul Arch∣bishop of Dublin departed this life the fifth Ides of September. And in the yeare following was Tho. Minot consecrated Archbishop of y^t place.

Gerald Fitz Maurice Erle of Desmond was appoynted Lord iustice, vntil the comming of the Lord William Winsore, the first lieutenant in [ 50] Ireland, who came ouer in the yeare .1369.

This Winsore called a Parliament at Kil∣kenny, in the which was graunted to the king a subsedie of three thousand poundes to be leuyed of the people, subiects to the king in that land: and in an other Parliament holden by him at Balydoill they graunted two thousande poundes to be like∣wise leuyed. Which sayde summes were graun∣ted of the mere and free good willes of the No∣bles and Communaltie of the lande, towardes the maintenaunce of the Kings expences in his warres. Yet the King in the .xliij. yeare of hys raigne, directing his letters vnto the sayde Lorde Wynsore, commaunded him to succease from leuying the foresayde money, although after∣wardes he commaunded againe that the arrera∣ges should be leuyed and payde to his lieutenant the sayde Winsore.

The third pestilence in Ireland made away a great number of people in the yeare .1370.

The Lord Gerald Fitz Morice Earle of Des∣mond, and the Lord Iohn Fitz Richard, and the Lorde Iohn Fitz Iohn, and many other noble men, were slaine by Obren, and Mac Conm••••d of Thomond in the moneth of Iuly.

In the yeare .1372. sir Richarde Ashton was sent ouer to be Lorde Iustice in Irelande.

In the yeare following great warre was rey∣sed betwixt the English of Meth, and Offerolle, in the whiche manye vppon both sydes were slaine.

In May, the Lorde Iohn H•…•…lsey Baron of Galtrim, Iohn Fitz Richarde Sherife of Meth, and William Dallo•…•… were slain in Kynaleigh.

In the yeare .1375. Thomas Archbishop of Dublyn departed this life, and the same yere was Robert de Wikeforde consecrated Archebyshop there.

¶ Richard the seconde.

EDmonde Mortimer Earle of Marche and Vlster was made the Kings Lieutenaunt in Irelande.

In the yeare .1383. a greate mortalitie raig∣ned in that countrey. This was called the fourth pestilence.

In the yeare .1385. Dublyn bridge fell. Be∣side Edmond Mortimer Erle of Mar•…•…h, Cam∣pion affyrmeth, that in this Richard the seconds dayes, there are Iustices and lieutenants of Ire∣lande specially recorded, Roger Mortimer sonne to the sayd Edmond, Philip Courtney the kings cousin, Iames Earle of Ormonde, and Robert Vere Erle of Oxford, Marques of Dublyn lorde Chamberlaine, who was also created Duke of Irelande by Parliament, and was credited with the whole Dominion of the Realme by graunt for r••••rme of life, withoute paying anye thing therefore, passing all writtes, and placing all of∣ficers as Chauncellor, Treasurer, chiefe Iustice, admirall, his owne Lieutenant and other inferi∣our charges vnder his owne t•…•…ste.

In the yeare .1390. Robert de Wikeforde Archebishoppe of Dublyn departed thys lyfe, and the same yeare was Robert Waldeby trans∣lated vnto the Archebyshop of Dublyn, an Au∣gustine Frier.

In the yere .1294. K. Richard sore afflicted and troubled in minde with sorrow, for the decease of his wife Queene Anne that departed this life at Whitsuntide last past, not able without teares to beholde his Palaces and Chambers of estate, that represented vnto him the solace past, and doubled his sorrow, sought some occasion of businesse: and now about Michaelmasse passed ouer into Ire∣lande, where dyuerse Lordes and Princes of Vl∣ster renued theyr homages, and placing Roger [ 10] Mortimer Erle of March his Lieutenant, retur∣ned about Shrouetide.

In the yeare .1397. Richarde de Norshalis Archebishop of Dublyn departed this life, that was the same yeare from an other Sea remoued thither. He was a Frier of the order of the of the Carmelites.

The same yeare Thomas de Crauly was cho∣sen & consecrated Archbishop of Dublyn. Also sir Thomas de Burgh, & sir Walter de Birming∣ham slue .vj. C. Irish men, ••••th their Captaine Macdoun. Moreouer, Edmond Erle of March Lorde Deputie of Irelande, with the ayde of the Erle of Ormond, wasted the countrey of an I∣rish

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Lord called Obren, and at the winning of his chiefe house he made .vij. knightes, to wit, sir Christofer Preston, sir Iohn Bedlew, sir Edmōd Loundris, sir Iohn Loundris, sir William Nu∣gent, Walter de la Hide, and Robert Cadel. But after this it chaunced, that on the Ascention day, certaine Irish men slue .xl. English men, and a∣mong them these were accounted as principall, Iohn Fitz William, Thomas Talbot, & Tho∣mas [ 40] Cambry. But shortly after Roger Morti∣mer Erle of March and Vlster the kings Lieute∣nant was slain with diuerse other, by Obren and other Irishmen of Leynister at Kenlis. Then was Roger Gray elected Lorde Iustice of Ire∣land. The same yere on the feast day of S. Marke the Pope, the duke of Surrey landed in Ireland, & with him came sir Thomas Crauly the Arch∣bishop of Dublin. King Richard informed of the vnruly parts and rebellious sturres of the Irish∣men, [ 50] minded to appease the same, and specially to reuenge the death of the Erle of March: wherevp∣pon with a name of two hundred sayles he pas∣sed ouer into Irelande, and landed at Waterford on a Sunday being the morrow after S. Petro∣nilla the virgins day.

The Fryday after his arriuall at Forde in Kenlis, within the Countie of Kildare, there were slaine two. E. Irishmen, by Ienicho de Artois a Eascoigne, and such Englishmen as he had with him: and the morrow after, the Citizens of Du•…•…∣ling brake into the countrey of Obren, slue .xxxiij of the enimies, & tooke .lxxx. men with children.

The .iiij. Kalends of Iuly, king Richard came to Dublin and remayned there for a time, during the which diuerse Lordes and Princes of the coū∣trey came in and submitted themselues vnto him, by whom they were curteously vsed, and trayned to honourable demeanor and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as much as the shortnesse of time would permit, as in y^e Eng∣lish historie you may find set forth more at large.

Whilest king Richard thus say in Dublin to reduce Ireland vnto due subiection, he was ad∣uertised that Henry duke of Lancaster, that lately before had bene banished, was returned, and ment to bereaue him of the crown. The sonne of which Duke, togyther with the Duke of Gloucesters sonne, the King shutte vp wythin the Castell of Trim, and then taking the Seas, he returned and landed in Wales, where he founde hys de∣fence so weake and vnsure, that finally he came into his aduersaries handes, and was deposed by authoritie of Parliament, and then was the sayd Duke of Lancaster admytted to raigne in hys place.

¶ Henrie the fourth.

AT Whisuntide in the yeare .1400. whiche was the first yeare of the raigne of Henry the fourth, the Conestable of Dublin Castell, and diuerse other, at Stranford in Vlster fought by Sea with Scottes, where many English men were slaine and drowned.

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In the second yeare of king Henrie the fourth, sir Iohn Stanley the kings lieutenant in Ire∣lande returned into Englande, leauing his vnder lieuetenant there sir William Stanley.

The same yeare on Bartholmew euen, sir Stephen Scrope, deputie vnto the lord Thomas of Lancaster the kings brother, and Lorde lieute∣nant of Irelande, arriued there to supplie the [ 30] rowmth of Alexander Bishop of Meth, that ex∣ercised the same office vnder the sayd Lord Tho∣mas of Lancaster, before the comming of this sir Stephen Scrope, which sir Stephen for his vio∣lence and extortion before time vsed in the same office vnder king Richard, was sore cried out vpō by the voyces of the poore people, insomuch that the Ladie his wife hearing of such exclamations, would in no wise continue with him there, except he would receiue a solemne othe on the Bible, that [ 40] wittingly he shoulde wrong no Christian crea∣ture in that lande, that truely and duly he shoulde see payment made for all expenses, and hereof (shee sayd) shee had made a vow to Christ so determi∣nately, that onlesse it were on his part firmly pro∣mised, she could not without peril of soul go with him. Hir husband assented, and accōplished hir re∣quest effectually, recouered a good opinion for his vpright dealing, reformed his caters & purueyers, enriched the coūtry, mainteined a plentiful house, [ 50] remission of great offences, remedies for persons endaungered to the prince, pardons of landes and liues he graunted so charitably, and so discreetly, that his name was neuer recited amōg thē with∣out many blessings and prayers, and so cheerfully they were redy to serue him against the Irish vpō all necessarie occasions. The Lord Thomas of Lancaster the kings sonne and Lorde lieutenant of Ireland, arriued the same yeare at Dublin, vp∣on Saint Brices day.

The Maior of Dublin Iohn Drake, with a band of his Citizens neare to Bre, slue foure M. of the Irish Outlawes (as Campion noteth out of the records of Christes Church:) But Marlb. speaketh onely of .493. And these being all men of warre.

The verie same day that this victorie was at∣chieued, to wit, the .xj. day of Iulie, the Church of the Friers Preachers in Dublin was dedicate by the Archbishop of that Citie.

The same yeare in September, a Parlia∣ment was holden at Dublin, during the whiche in Vrgile Sir Bartholmew Verdon Knight, Iames White, Stephen Gernon, and other theyr complices, slue the Shirife of Louth Iohn Dowdall.

In the yeare .1403. in May, sir Walter Be∣terley Stewarde of Vlster, a right valiant knight was slaine, and to the number of .xxx. other with him. The same yeare aboute the feast of Saint Martin, the L. Thomas of Lancaster the kings sonne returned into England, leauing the Lorde Stephen Scrope his Deputie there: who also in the beginning of Lent sayled ouer into England, and then the Lordes of the land chose the Earle of Ormond to be Lord Iustice.

In the fift yeare of Henrie the fourth, Iohn Colton Archbishop of Ardmagh, the .xxvij. of A∣prill departed this life, vnto whome Nicholas Stoning succeeded.

The same yeare on the day of Saint Vitale the martir, the parliamēt of Dublin began before the Erle of Ormond then lord Iustice of Irelād, where the statutes of Kilkenny and Dublin were

confirmed, and likewise the charter of Ireland.

In the sixt yeare of Henry the fourth, in the Month of May, three Scottish barks were takē, two at greene castell, and one at Alkey, with cap∣taine Macgolagh.

The same yeare the Marchants of Drodagh entred Scotland, and tooke prayes and pledges.

Also on the euen of the feast day of the .vij. bre∣thren, Oghgard was burnt by the Irish.

And in Iune Syr Stephen Scrope that [ 10] was come again into Ireland, returned eftsoones into Englande, leauing the Earle of Ormonde Lorde Iustice of Irelande.

About the same time they of Dublin entred Scotland at Saint Ninian, and valiantly beha∣ued themselues agaynste the enimies, and after crossing the Seas, directed theyr course into Wales, and did muche hurt to the Welchmen, bringing from thence the shrine of Saint Cu∣bins, and placed it in the Churche of the Tri∣nitie in Dublin. Iames Butler Earle of Or∣monde dyed at Baligam, whilest he was Lorde Iustice, vnto whome succeeded Geralde Earle of Kildare.

In the .vij. yeare of king Henrie, on Corpus Christi day, the Citizens of Dublin with the Countrey people about them, manfully vanqui∣shed the Irish enimies, and slue diuerse of them,

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and tooke two ensignes or Standards, bringing with them to Dublyn the heades of those which they had slaine.

The same yeare the Prior of Conall, in the plaine of Kildare, fought manfully with the I∣rish, and vanquished two hundred that were wel armed, sleaing part of them, and chasing the resi∣due [ 40] out of the field, and the Prior had not wyth him past the number of .xx. English men, but god (as saith mine Author) assisted those that put their trust in him.

The same yeare after Michaelmas, Stephen Scrope Deputie Iustice, to the Lorde Thomas of Lancaster the kings sonne, and his lieutenant of Ireland, came againe ouer into Irelande, and in the feast of Saint Hillarie was a Parliament holden at Dublyn, which in Lent after was en∣ded [ 50] at Trim. And Meiller de Brimmingham slue Cathole Oconhur aboute the ende of Fe∣bruarie.

In the yere .1407. a certain false and heathnish wretch, an Irish man, named Mac Adam Mac Gilmore, that had caused .xl. Churches to be de∣stroyed, as be that was neuer christened, and ther∣fore called Corbi, chaunced to take prisoner one Patrike Sauage, and receyued for his raunsome two. M. Markes, though afterwardes hee slue him togither with his brother Richard.

The same yere in the feast of the exaltation of the Crosse, Stephen Scrope deputie to the Lorde Thomas of Lancaster, with the Earles of Or∣monde and Desmond, and the Prior of Kilmay∣nam, and diuerse other captaynes and men of warre of Meith, set from Dublin, and inuaded the lande of Mac Murche, where the Irish came into the field and skirmished with them, so as in the former part of the day, they put the Eng∣lish power to the worse, but at length the Irishe were vanquished & chased, so that Onolan with his sonne and diuerse other were taken prisoners. But the English captaines aduertised here y^t the Burkeyns, & Okerol in the countie of Kilkenny, had for the space of two days togither done much mischief, they rode with al speed vnto the town of Callā, & there encountring with the aduersaries, manfully put thē to flight, slue Okerol, & .viij. C. others. There went a tale and belieued of many, that the Sunne stood stil for a space that day, tyll the Englishmen had ridden sixe myles, so muche was it thoughte that GOD fauoured

the Englishe part in this enterprise, if wee shall beleeue it.

The same yeare the Lorde Stephan Scrope passed once againe ouer into Englande, and Ia∣mes Butler Erle of Ormonde was elected by the countrey Lord Iustice of Ireland.

In the dayes of this king Henry the fourth, the Inhabitants of Corke beeing sore afflicted with perpetual oppressions of their Irish neighbors, cō∣plained themselues in a generall writing directed [ 10] to the lord of Rutland & Corke, the kings deputie there, & to the counsell of the realme then assem∣bled at Dublin: which letter bycause it openeth a window to behold the state of those parties, and of the whole realme of Ireland in those dayes, we haue thought good to set down here as it hath bin entred by Campion, according to the copie deli∣uered to him by Francis Agard Esquire, one of y^e Queenes Maiesties priuie counsell in Ireland.

IT may please your wisedomes to haue pity [ 20] on vs the kings poore subiects within y^e coū∣tie of Cork, or else we are cast away for euer. For where there are in this coūty these lords by name, beside knights, esquiers, gentlemen & yeomen, to a great number that might dispend yerely .viij. C. poundes .vj. C. poundes .iiij. C. poundes, two .C. an hundred pounds, an hundred Marks, twentie pounds .xx. marks, ten pounds, some more, some lesse, to a great number beside these Lordes.

First the Lorde Marques Caro, his yearely [ 30] reuenues was besyde Dorzey hauen and other creekes, two .M. two .C. pounds sterling.

The Lord Barneuale of Beerhauen his yere∣ly reuenues was beside Bodre hauen and other creekes .M. vj. C. pounds sterling.

The Lorde Vggan of the great Castell hys yearely reuenue beside his hauens and creekes, xiij. thousand poundes.

The Lord Balram of Enfort, his yearely re∣uenues beside hauens and creekes .M. CCC. pound sterling. [ 40]

The Lorde Curcy of Kelbretton, his yearely reuenues beside hauens and creekes, a thousande two hundred pound sterling.

The Lorde Mandeuile of Barenstelly, his yearely reuenues beside hauens and creekes, M. two hundred pound sterling.

The Lorde Arundell of the Strand, his yeare∣ly reuenues beside hauēs and creekes, a thousand, fiue hundred pounds sterling. [ 50]

The Lord Barod of the gard his yearely reue∣nue beside hauēs & creekes .M. C. poūds sterling.

The Lord Steyney of Baltmore, his yearely reuenue besides hauens & creekes .viij. C. lb sterl.

The Lord Roch of Poole castell, his yearly re∣uenues besyde hau•…•…ns and creekes, ten thousande poundes sterling.

The kings Maiestie hath the landes of the late yong Barry by forfeyture, the yearely reuenue wherof, beside two riuers and creekes, and al other casualties, is .M. viij. C. pound sterling.

And that at the ende of this Parliament, your Lordship with the kings most noble coūsell may come to Corke, & call before you al these Lords, & other Irish men, and bind them in pain of losse of life, lands & goods, that neuer one of them do make warre vpon an other, withoute licence or com∣maundement of you, my lord deputie, & the kings counsel: for the vtter destruction of these partes, is that only cause. And once all the Irish men, & the kings enimies were driuē into a great valley cal∣led Clane onighte betwixt two great mountains called Maccort, or the leprous Iland: and there they liued lōg & many yeres w^t their white meat, till at the last these English lords fell at variance among thēselues, & thē the weakest part tooke cer∣tain Irish men to take their part, & so vanquished their enimies. And thus fell the English lordes at warre among themselues, till the Irish men were stronger than they, & draue thē away, & now haue the cuntry whole vnder thē, but y^t the lord Roch, the lord Barry, & the lord Curcy only remaine w^t the least part of their ancesters possessions, & yong Barry is there vpō the kings portion, paying his grace neuer a penny rent: wherfore we the kings poore subiects of the Citie of Corke, Kinsale, and Yoghal, desire your Lordship to sende hither two good Iustices to see this matter ordred, and some English captains with .xx. Englishmē that may be captains ouer vs all, and we will rise with thē to redresse these enormities all at our own costes. And if you will not come nor send, we will sende ouer to our liege lorde the king and complaine on you all. Thus farre that letter.

And as saith Campion, at this day the citie of Cork is so encombred with vnquiet neighbors of great power, y^t they are forced to gard their gates continually, & to kepe thē shut at seruice times, at meales, & from sunne setting to sunne rising, not suffring any stranger to enter the towne with his weapō, but to leaue y^e same at a lodge appointed. They dare vneth at any time walke abrode farre from the towne for their recreation, except at seasons, and then with strength of men furnished with armour and weapon for their safegarde. They match in wedlocke among themselues, so that well neare the whole Citie is allied and ioy∣ned togither in consanguinitie.

But nowe to returne vnto the doings of the Erle of Ormonde that was placed Lord Iustice in Scropes rowmth. We find y^t in the yere .1408. he called a Parliament at Dublin, in which the statutes of Kilkenny and Dublin were eftsoones reuiued, and certain ordinances established vnder the great seale of England against purueyors.

The same yeare, the morrow after Lammas

day, the Lorde Thomas of Lancaster sonne to king Henry the fourth, Lorde Lieuetenaunt of Irelande, landed at Carlingforde, and in the

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[ 10] weeke following, he came to Dublin, and put the [ 20] Erle of Kildare vnder arrest, cōming to him with three of his family. He lost all his goodes being spoyled and rifeled by the Lorde Lieutenants ser∣uants, and himselfe deteyned still in prison in the Castell of Dublin, till hee had payde three hun∣dred markes for a fine.

On the day of S. Marcel the Martyr, de∣ceassed y^e lord Stephā Scrope at Tristeldermot.

The same yeare also was the Lord Thomas of Lancaster at Kilmaynam wounded (I knowe [ 30] not howe,) and vneth escaped with life, and after caused sommonance to be giuē by proclamation, that all such as ought by their tenures to serue the king, should assemble at Rosse. And after the feast of S. Hillarie, he helde a Parliament at Kilken∣ny for a tallage to be graunted. And after the .xiij. of March, he returned into England, leauing the Prior of Kylmaynam for his Deputie in Ire∣lande.

This yere also Hugh Macgilmore was slaine [ 40] in Cragfergus within the Church of the Friers Minors, which Church hee had before destroyed and broken downe the glasse Windowes to haue the Iron barres, through which his enimies the Sauages entred vpon him.

This yeare, beeing in the tenth of Henrie the fourth, in Iune Ianico de Artoys with the Eng∣lish men slue .80. of the Irish in Vlster.

This yere king Henrie gaue the sword to the citie of Dublin, which citie was first gouerned as [ 50] appeareth by their ancient seale called Signū prae∣positurae, by a Prouost. And in the .xiij. of Henrie the thirde by a Maior and two Baylifes, whiche Baylifes were chaunged into Shrifes, by Char∣ter graunted by Edward the sixt .1547.

This Maioralitie, both for state and charge of office, and for bountifull hospitalitie, exceedeth any citi in England, London excepted.

In the yeare following, the .xxj. day of May, a Parliament beganne at Dublin, whiche lasted three weekes, the Prior of Kilmaynam sitting as Lorde Iustice.

The same yeare, the .xxij. day of Iune, the same Iustice tooke the Castels of Mibraclide, O∣ferol, and de la Mare.

Irelande this yeare was sore afflicted for want of corne.

The Lorde Iustice entred into the lande of Obren with .1500. Kernes, of which number .800 reuolted to the Irish, so that if the power of Dub∣lyn had not beene there, it had gone euill with the Lorde Iustice, and yet he escaped not without losse, for Iohn Derpatrike was slaine there.

In the yeare .1411. before Shroue Sunday, mariages were celebrated among the nobilitie in Irelande. William Preston maryed the daugh∣ter of Edwarde Paris, and Iohn Wogan mat∣ched with the eldest daughter of Christofer Pre∣ston, and Walter de la Hide, with the seconde daughter of the same Christofer.

In the yeare .1412. about the feast of Tiburtius and Valerianus, which falleth on the .x. of April Oconthir did much mischiefe in Meth, and tooke 160. English men.

The same yeare Odoles a knight, & Thomas Fitz Morice fought togither, & either slue other.

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The .xxiiij. of May, Robert Mountain Bi∣shop of Meth departed this life, to whom succeded Edwarde de Audisey sometime Archdeacon of Cornewall. This yeare on Saint Cutberts day king Henry the fourth departed this life.

¶ Henrie the fift.

IN the firste yere of this king, the .xxv. of Sept. landed in Irelād at Clawcarf, Iohn Stanley the kings lieutenant of that lande. He departed this life the .xviij. of Ianuarie next ensuing, at Athirde in Latine called Atrium de•…•…. After his de∣cease, Thomas Crauley Archbishop of Dublin was chosen L. iustice of Ireland. Ianico de Ar∣toys ledde forth a power agaynste Magynors,

a great Lord of Ireland, but neare to a place cal∣led Inor many Englishmen were slaine.

The morrow after S. Mathias day, a Par∣liament began againe at Dublin, which conti∣nued for the space of .xv. dayes, in which meane tyme the Irishe did muche hurt by inuasions made into the English pale, and burning vp all the houses afore them that stoode in theyr way, as their vsuall custome was in tymes of other Par∣liaments, wherevpon a tallage was demaunded, [ 10] but not graunted.

In the yeare .1414. the English men fought with the Irish neare to Kilka, and slue an hun∣dred of the enimies, whilest the Archbishop being Lord Iustice in Tristel Dermote, went in pro∣cession with his Cleargie, praying for the good speede of his men and other of the Countrey, that were gone forth to fight with the aduersaries.

In the feast of S. Gordian and Epimachus, to wit, the .x. of May, were the English of Meth discomfited by Oconther & his Irish, where they slue Thomas Maureuar baron of Serin, & there were taken prisoners, Christofer Fleming, Iohn Dardis, & diuers other, beside many y^t were slain.

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On Saint Martins euen, sir Iohn Talbot of Holomshire, Lorde Furniuale, landed at Dal∣key, the kings lieutenaunt in Irelande, a man of great honour.

In the yeare .1415. in Nouēber, Robert Tal∣bot a right noble man, that walled the Suburbs of Kilkenny, departed this life. Also Patrike Ba∣ret [ 30] Bishop of Fernis deceased, and was buried a∣mong the Canons at Kenlis.

This yeare in the feast day of Geruasius and Prothasius which falleth on the .xix. of Iune, the Lord lieutenants wife, the Ladie Furniuall was brought to bed at Finglasse of a sonne named Thomas. About the same time also, Stephen Fleming Archbishop of Ardmach departed thys life, after whō succeded Iohn Suanig. On y^e day of S. Laurence, the Lord Furniuals sonne Tho. [ 40] Talbot that was borne at Finglasse in Nouēber last past, departed this life, and was buried in the Quier of the frier preachers church in Dublyn.

About the same time the Irish fel vpō y^e Eng∣lishmen, and slue many of them, among other Thomas Balimore of Baliquelan was one.

The Parliament which the last yeare had bene called and holden at Dublyn, was this yeare re∣moued to Trim, and there began the .xj. of May, where it continued for the space of xj. dayes, in [ 50] the which was graunted to the lord lieutenant, a subsidie in monie.

In the yeare following, the Archebishop of Dublyn passed ouer into England, and deceassed at Faringdon, but his bodie was buried in the new Colledge at Oxforde. This man is greatly praysed for his liberalitie, hee was a good almes man, a great Clearke, a Doctor of Diuinitie, an excellent preacher, a great buylder, beautifull, tall of stature, and sanguine of complexion. He was lxxx. yeares of age when he died, and had gouer∣ned the Church of Dublyn in good quiet by the space of twentie yeares.

This yeare, shortly after Easter, the Lord de∣putie spoyled the tenants of Henrie Crus, and Henrie Bethat.

Also at Olane on the feast day of Saint Iohn and Saint Paule, the Erle of Kildare, six Chri∣stofer Preston, and sir Iohn Bedlow were arre∣sted and committed to warde within the Castell of Trim, bycause they sought to commune wyth the Prior of Kilmaynam.

The xxix. of Iuly, Mathew Husee Baron of Galtrim deceased, and was buried at the Friers preachers of Trim.

In the yeare .1419. a counsell royall was hol∣den at Naas, where was graunted to the Lorde Lieutenant a subsedie in money.

The same yeare vpon Cene Thursday, O∣thoel tooke .400. kine y^t belonged vnto Balimore, so breaking the peace contrarie to his othe.

The fourth Ides of May, Mac Mourch, chief captain of his nation, and of all the Irish in Ley∣nister, was taken prisoner, and the same day was sir Hugh Cokesey made knight.

The last of May, the Lord lieutenant, and the Archebishop of Dublin with the Maior, razed the Castel of Kenini. The morow after the feast day of Processus and Martinianus, that is the .xx. of Iune, the lord William de Burgh, & other Eng∣lishmen, slue .v. C. Irish men, and tooke Okelly.

On the feast of Marie Magdalene, the Lorde lieutenāt Talbot returned into Englād, leauing

his deputie there the Archbishop of Dublin.

This yeare about Saint Laurence day, dy∣uerse went forth of Irelande to serue the king in his warres of Normandie, as Thomas Butler that was Prior of Kilmaynam, and many other. Iohn Fitz Henry succeded the said Butler in go∣uernment of the Priorie of Kilmaynam.

The Archbishop of Dublin that remayned as Lorde Deputie, fiue .xxx. Irish men neare vnto Rodiston. Also the .xiij. of Februarie, Iohn Fitz [ 10] Henry Prior of Kilmaynam departed this life, & Williā Fitz Thomas was chosen to succeede in his place, and was confirmed the morrow after Saint Valentines day.

Iames Butler Erle of Ormond, appointed the kings lieutenant in Ireland in place of Iohn L. Talbot, & Furniual, landed at Waterford about the .iiij Ides of Aprill, and shortly after his com∣ming ouer, caused a combat to be fought betwixt two of his cousins, of whō the one was slain in y^e place, and the other caried away sore wounded.

On Saint Georges day, he held a counsell in Dublin, and summoned a Parliament to begin there the .vij. of Iune. In the meane while he fet∣ched great booties out of the Countreys of the I∣rish Lordes Oraly, Mac Mahun, & Magynoys. But first ere we go further to shew what Marlb. hath noted of the doings whilest this Erle of Or∣mond gouerned as the kings lieutenant in Ire∣lande, we haue thought good to set downe what Campion also writeth thereof, as thus:

In the red Moore of Athie (the Sunne almost lodged in the west, & miraculously standing still in his epicicle by the space of three houres till the feat was accomplished, and no hole nor quakmire in all that bog annoying either horse or mā of his part) he vanquished Omore and his terrible army with a few of his owne meiny, & with the like nū∣ber

[illustration]

he ouercame Arthur Mac Murrow, at whose might & puissance al Leynister trēbled. To the in∣struction [ 40] of this mans worthinesse, the cōpiler of certaine precepts touching the rule of a common welth exciteth his lord the said erle in diuerse pla∣ces of that work incidently, eftsoones putting him in mind that the Irish are false by kind, y^t it were expedient and a worke of charitie to execute vpon them wilfull & malicious transgressors, the kings lawes somwhat sharply, y^t Odempsi being win∣ked at awhile, abused that small time of suffrance to the iniurie of the erle of Kildare, intruding vn∣iustly [ 50] vpō the castel of Ley, frō whence y^e said de∣putie had iustly expelled him, & put the erle in pos∣session therof, that notwithstanding their othes & pledges, they are yet no longer true than they feel themselues the weaker. This Deputie tamed the Brenes, the Burghs, Mac Banons, Oghaghu∣raght, Mores Mac Mahun, all the captaines of Thomōd, & all this he did in three Moneths, the Clergie of Dublin twise euery weeke in solemne Procession praying for his good successe agaynst those disordred persons, which now in euery part of Ireland degenerated from the English ciuility to their old trade of life vsed in that coūtrey, repy∣ned at the English maner of gouernment. Thus far Cāpion. Diuers parliamēts vpō prorogatiōs were holdē in time y^t this erle of Ormōd was go∣uernor. The first began at Dublin y^e .vij. of Iune in this yere .1420. which cōtinued about .xvj. days At this parliament was granted to the L. lieute∣nant a subsidie of .vij. C. Marks. At the .xvj. days end, this Parliamēt was adiourned til the Mon∣day after Saint Andrews day. In y^e same par∣liament the debts of the L. Iohn Talbot which were due to certain persons for vitailes and other things takē vp whilest he was L. lieutenāt there, were reconed vp, which L. Talbot verily for that he saw not y^e creditors satisfied before his cōming away, was partly euil spoken of in the Countrey.

The morrow after the feast of Simon and Iude, the Castell of Colmolyn was taken by Thomas Fitz Geralde. And on Saint Kathe∣rins euen, the sonne and heyre of the Erle of Or∣mond Lord Lieutenant was borne, for the which there was great reioysing,

In the Parliament begon againe at Dublin the Monday after Saint Andrews day, an other subsidie of .CCC. markes was graunted vnto the Lord Lieutenant. And after they had sit .xiij. [ 10] dayes, it was eftsoones adiourned till the Mon∣day after Saint Ambrose day. Then rumors were spred abrode, that Thomas Fitz Iohn Erle of Desmond was departed this life at Paris vp∣pon Saint Laurence day, after whome succeded his vncle Iames Fitz Gerald, whom he had three seueral times renoūced, as one that was a waster of his patrimonie, both in England and Ireland, and not like to come to any good proufe.

In the yeare .1421. the Parliament began a∣gaine [ 20] vpon the last prorogation the Monday af∣ter Saint Ambrose day, in which Parliament it was ordeyned that certaine persons should be sent to the king, to sue that a reformation might bee had in matters touching the state of the land. The chiefe of those that were thus sent, were the Archbishop of Ardmagh, & sir Christopher Pre∣ston knight. Moreouer, Richard Ohedian bishop of Casshell, was accused by Iohn Gese Bishop of Lismore and Waterford, who layd .xxx. Articles [ 30] to his charge. Amongst other, one was for that he loued none of the English nation, and that he be∣stowed not one benefice vpon any English man, and counselled other bishops that they should not bestow any within their Dioces vpon any Eng∣lish man. Moreouer, an other Article was for counterfeyting the kings seale, and an other for that he went about to make himself K. of Moū∣ster, and had taken a ring from the Image of S. Patrike (which the Erle of Desmond had offred) and giuen it to his lemman. Many other crymes were layd to him, by the sayd Bishop of Lismore and Waterford, which he exhibited in writing.

Also in the same Parliament, there rose cōten∣tion betwixt Adam Pain bishop of Clone, & an o∣ther prelate whose church he would haue annexed vnto his see. At length after the Parliament had continued for the space of xviij. days, it brake vp. Herewith came newes of y^e slaughter of the Lord Tho. of Lācaster duke of Clarence, y^t had bin L. lieutenant of Ireland, & vpō the .vij. of May, cer∣taine of the Erle of Ormondes men were ouer∣thrown by the Irish, nere to the Abbey of Leys, & xxvij. Englishmen were slain there, of whom the chief were two gētlemē, the one named Purcel, & the other Grant. Also .x. were takē prisoners, and two .C. escaped to the foresayde Abbey, so sauing themselues. About the same time, Mac Mahun an Irish lord, did much hurt within the coūtry of Vrgile, by burning and wasting all afore him.

[illustration]

Also vpon the morrow after Midsommer day, [ 50] the Erle of Ormond Lord lieutenant entred in∣to the Countrey about Leys vpon Omordris, & for the space of foure dayes togither did muche hurt in sleaing and spoyling the people, till the I∣rish were glad to sue for peace.

¶ Henrie the sixt.

LIeutenants to Henrie the sixt ouer the realme of Irelande were these, Edmonde Earle of March, and Iames Erle of Ormond his deputy. Iohn Sutton Lord Dudley, & sir Tho. Strange knight his deputie. Sir Thomas Stanley, and sir Christofer Plunket his deputie. [Thys sir Thomas Stanley, on Michaelmasse day, in the twelfth yeare of King Henrye the sixth, wyth all the Knightes of Methe and Irrell, fought agaynste the Irishe, slue a greate number, and tooke Neill Odonell prisoner.]

Lion Lord Welles, & the Earle of Ormonde his deputie. Iames Earle of Ormonde by hym selfe, Iohn Erle of Shrewesburie, and the Arch∣bishop of Dublin Lorde Iustice in his absence. Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke, father to King Edwarde the fourth and Earle of Vlster, had the office of Lieutenaunte by the Kings let∣ters patents, during the tearme of tenne yeeres, who appoynted to rule vnder him as his deputies at sundry times, the Baron of Deluin, Richarde [ 10] Fitz Eustace Knight, Iames Earle of Ormōd, and Thomas Fitz Morice Erle of Kildare. To this Richard Duke of Yorke and Vlster then re∣sident in Dublin, was borne within the Castell there his secōd sonne the Lord George, that was after Duke of Clarence: his Godfathers at the fontestone were the Erles of Ormond and Dis∣monde. Whether the commotion of Iacke Cade an Irishman borne, naming himself Mortimer, and so pretending cosinage to diuers noble hou∣ses [ 20] in this land, proceeded from some intelligēce, with the Dukes friends here in Ireland, it is vn∣certayne: but surely the Duke was vehemently suspected, and immediately after began the trou∣bles whiche through him were reysed. Whyche broyles being couched for a time, the Duke helde himselfe in Ireland, being lately by Parliamente ordeyned protector of the Realme of Englande: he left his agent in the Court, his brother y^e Erle of Salisburie, Lord Chancellor, to whom he de∣clared [ 30] the troth of the troubles then towarde in Ireland: which letter exemplyfyed by Sir Hen∣ry Sidney Lorde Deputie, a greate searcher and preseruer of antiquities, as it came to Campions hands, and by hym set downe, we haue thoughte good likewise to present it here to your viewe.

To the right worshipfull, and with all mine hart, intierly beloued brother, the Earle of Salisburie. [ 40]

RIght Worshipfull, and with all my harte, intierly beloued brother, I recommende me vnto you as hartily as I can.

And like it you to witte, sith I wrote last vnto the King our So∣ueraigne Lorde his highnesse, the Irish enemie, y^t is to say Magoghigam, and with him three or foure Irishe Captaynes, associate with a greate felowship of English Rebells, notwithstandyng that they were within the King our Soueraygne [ 50] Lord his peace of greate malice, and againste all truth haue maligned against their legiance, and vengeably haue brent a great towne of myne in∣heritance in Meth, called Ramore, and other vil∣lages thereaboutes, and murthered and brēt both men, womē and children, withouten mercy: the whiche enimies be yet assembled in Woods and fortes, aweighting to do the hurt and greeuance to the Kings subiects, that they can thinke or i∣magine. For whiche cause, I write at this tyme vnto the Kings highnesse, and beseeche his good Grace for to hasten my payment for this lande, ••••rding vnto his letters of warrant nowe late directed vnto the Treasorer of Englande, to the intente I may wage men in sufficiente number, for to resist the malice of the same enimies, and punish them in such wise, that other which wolde do the same for lacke of resistance, in time maye take example. For doubtlesse, but if my paymente be had in all hast, for to haue men of warre in de∣fence and safegard of this land, my power cānot stretch to keepe it in the •…•…ings obeysance, and ve∣ry necessitie will compell me to come into Eng∣land to liue there vpon my poore liuelyhood: for I had leuer be dead than any inconuenience ••••oulde fall therevnto in my default: for it shall neuer bee chronicled nor remayne in Scripture by y^e grace of God, that Ireland was lost by my negligēce. And therefore I beseeche you right Worshipfull brother, that you will holde to your handes in∣stantly, that my paymente may bee had at thys time in eschewing all inconueniences. For I haue example in other places, (more pitie it is) for to dread shame, and for to acquit my troth vnto the Kings highnesse as my duetie is. And thys I pray and exhort you good brother, to shewe vnto his good grace, and that you will be so good, that this language may bee enacted at this presente Parliamēt for mine excuse in time to come, and that you will be good to my seruant Roger Roe the bearer of these, and to my other seruaunts, in such things as they shall pursew vnto the kings highnesse, and to giue full faith and credence vnto the report of the said Roger, touching the sayde matters. Right worshipful, and with all my hart intierly beloued brother, our blessed Lorde God preserue and keepe you in all honor, prosperous estate, and felicitie, and graunte you righte good life & long.

Writtē at Dublin y^e .15. day of Iune.

Your faithfull true brother Richarde Yorke.

Of suche power was Magoghigam in those dayes, who as he wan and kept it by the sworde, so nowe his successors in that state liue but as meane Captaines, yeelding their win••••••gs to y^e stronger. This is the miserie of lawlesse people, resembling the rudenesse of the rude world, wher∣in euery mā was richer and poorer than other, as he was in might & violence more or lesse enabled. Here began factions of the nobilitie in Irelande, fauoring diuers sides that stroue for the Crowne of England. For the Duke of Yorke in those ten yeeres of his gouernemente, exceedingly wanne the hartes of the noblemen and Gentlemen of that land, of the whiche diuers were slayne with

him at Wakefielde, as the contrary part was the next yeere by his sonne Edward Erle of Marche at Mortimers Crosse in Wales. In which mean time the Irishe grewe hardy, and vsurped the Englishe countreys insufficiently defended, as they had done by like oportunitie in the latter end of Richard the second. These two seasons set thē so a flote, y^t hēceforward they could neuer be cast out from their forcible possessions, holding by playne wrong all Vlster, and by certayne Irishe [ 10] tenures no small portions of Monster and Con∣nagh, least in Meth and Leynister, where the ci∣uill subiects of the Englishe bloud did euer most preuayle.

Edwarde the fourth, And Edward the fifth.

THomas Fitz Morice Earle of Kildare, Lord Iustice vntill the thirde yeere of Edward the fourth, after whiche time the Duke of Clarence, brother to the King, had the office of Lieutenant [ 20] while he liued, and made his deputies by sundry turnes, Thomas Erle of Desmond, Iohn Tip∣toft Erle of Wurcetor the Kings cousin, Tho∣mas Earle of Kildare, and Henry Lord Grey of Ruthin. Great was the credit of the Giraldines euer whē the house of Yorke prospered, and like∣wise the Butlers thriued vnder the bloud of the Lancasters: for whiche cause the Earle of Des∣mond remayned many yeres Deputie to George Duke of Clarence his good brother: but when he [ 30] had spoken certayne disdaynefull words againste the late marriage of king Edward with the La∣dy Elizabeth Gray, the sayd Lady beeing nowe Queene, caused his trade of life after the Irishe manner, contrary to sundry olde statutes enacted in that behalfe, to be sifted and examined by Iohn Earle of Wurcetor his successor, so that hee was atteynted of treason, cōdemned, and forthe same beheaded at Droghedagh.

[illustration]

[ 40] [ 50]

Iames the father of this Thomas Earle of Desmond, being suffered and not controlled, du∣ring the gouernemēt of Richard Duke of Yorke his godcept, and of Thomas Erle of Kildare his kinsman, put vpon the Kings subiects within the countries of Waterford, Corke, Keary, and Li∣mirike, the Irish impositions of Quinio and Li∣uery, Cartings, Cariages, lodings, Cocherings, Bonnaght and such like, which customes are the very breeders, maynteyners and vpholders of all Irishe enormities, wringing from the poore te∣nantes euerlasting ceasse, allowāce of meate and money, whereby their bodies and goodes were brought in seruice and thraldome, so that the mē of warre, Horses, and their Galloglaghes lye stil vpon the fermors, eate them out, begger the coū∣trey, foster a sort of Idle vagabonds, ready to re∣bell if their Lord commaund them, euer non sled in stelth and robberies. These euill presidents gi∣uen by the father, the sonne did exercise, being L. Deputie, to whome the reformation of that dis∣order specially belonged. Notwithstanding the same faulte beeing winked at in other, and with such rigor auenged in him, was manifestly taken for a quarrell sought and procured. Two yeeres after, the sayd Earle of Wurcetor lost his head, while Henry the sixt takē out of the Tower was set vp againe, & king Edward proclaymed vsur∣per, and then was Kildare enlarged, whom like∣wise atteynted, they thought also to haue rydde, and shortly both the Earles of Kildare and Des∣mond were restored to their bloud by Parliamēt. Sir Rouland Eustace, sometime Treasorer and Lord Chancellor, was lastly also Lord Deputie of Ireland. He founded S. Francis Abbey beside Kilcollen bridge. King Edwarde a yeere before his death, honored his yonger son Richard Duke of Yorke, with the title of Lieutenant ouer thys lande, which he enioyed til his vnnaturall Vncle bereft both him and his brother King Edwarde the fifth of their naturall liues.

¶ Richard the third.

WHen this Monster of nature and cruell Tyrant Richard the third had murthered his two yong Nephewes, and taken vpon hym the Crowne and gouernement of England, hee preferred his owne sonne Edward to the dignitie of Lorde Lieutenante of Ireland, whose deputie was Geralde Earle of Kildare that bare that of∣fice all the reigne of King Richard, and a while in Henry the seuenth his dayes.

¶ Henry the seuenth.

TO the which Earle came the wilie Priest, sir Richard Simond, bringing with him a lad that was his Scholer, named Lambert, whome hee feygned to bee the sonne of George Earle of Clarence, lately escaped foorth of the Tower of London. And the boy could reckon vp his pede∣gree so redily, and had learned of the Priest suche Princely behauiour, that hee lightly moued the sayde Earle, and many other y^e nobles of Ireland

(tendering as well the lignage royal of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke, and hys sonne George their Countreymā borne, as also ma∣ligning the aduancement of the house of Lan∣caster in Henry the seuenth) eyther to thinke or to faine, y^t the world might beleeue they thought verily this child to be Edward Earle of War∣wike, the Duke of Clarence his lawfull sonne.

And although King Henry more than halfe marred their sporte, in shewing the right Earle [ 10] through all the streetes of London, yet the Lady Margaret, Duches of Burgongne, sister to Edwarde the fourth, hyr Nephewe Iohn de la Poole, y^e Lord Louell, Sir Thomas Brough∣ton Knighte, and dyuers other Captaynes of this conspiracy, deuised to abuse the coloure of this yong Earles name, for preferring their pur∣pose: which if it came to good, they agreed to de∣pose Lamberte, and to erect the very Earle in∣deede, nowe prisoner in the Tower, for whose [ 20] quarrell, had they pretended to fight, they dee∣med it likely hee shoulde haue bin made away. Wherefore it was blazed in Irelande, that the King to mocke hys subiectes, had scholed a boy, to take vppon hym the Earle of Warwikes name, and hadde shewed him about London, to blinde the eyes of the simple folke, and to defeate the lawfull inheritour of the good Duke of Cla∣rence theyr countreyman and protector duryng his life, vnto whose lignage, they also deriued [ 30] title in right to the Crowne.

In all hast, they assembled at Dublin, and there in Christs Churche, they Crowned thys Idoll, honoring him with titles imperiall, fea∣sting and triumphing, reysing myghtie shoutes and cryes, carrying him from thence to the Ca∣stell vpon tall mens shoulders, that hee myghte bee seene and noted, as hee was sure an hono∣rable childe to looke vpon.

Heerewith, assembling their forces togither, [ 40] they prouided themselues of Shippes, and em∣barquing therein, they tooke the Sea, and lan∣ding in Lancashire, passed forwarde, till they came to Newarke vpon Trent: therevpon en∣sued the battell of Stoke, commonly called Martin Swartes field, wherein Lambert and hys maister were taken, but yet pardoned of life, and were not executed.

The Earle of Lincolne, the Lorde Louell, Martin Swart, the Almayne Captayne, and [ 50] Maurice Fitz Thomas, Captayne of the Irish, were slayne, and all their power discomfited, as in the Englishe history it may further appeare.

Iasper Duke of Bedford, and Erle of Pem∣broke Lieutenant, and Walter Archbyshop of Dublin his Deputie.

In this time, befell another like Irishe illusi∣on, procured by the Duches aforesayd, and cer∣tayne nobles in England, whereby was exalted as rightfull King of Englande, and vndoubted Earle of Vlster, the counterfeyte Richarde Duke of Yorke, preserued from kyng Richards crueltie (as the adherentes faced the matter downe) and with thys Maygame Lorde, na∣med indeede Peter (in scorne Perkin) War∣becke, they flattered themselues manye yeares after.

Then was Sir Edward Poynings Knight sente ouer Lorde Deputie, with commission to apprehende Warbeckes principall partners in Irelande: amongst whome, was named Gi∣ralde Fitz Girald Earle of Kildare, whose pur∣gation the Kyng (notwithstandyng dyuers furmising and auouching the contrarye) dyd accept.

After muche adoe, Perkin beeing taken, con∣fessed by hys owne writing the course of hys whole life, and al his proceedings in thys enter∣prise, whereof in the Englishe historie, as wee haue borowed the same forthe of Halles Chro∣nicles, yee may reade more, and therefore heere we haue omitted to speake further of that mat∣ter.

In the yeare .1501. King Henrye made Lieutenant of Ireland his second sonne Henry, as then Duke of Yorke, who after reigned by the name of Henry the eyght.

To him was appoynted Deputie, the fore∣sayd Giralde Earle of Kildare, who accompa∣nyed with Iohn Blake Maior of Dublin, warred vpon William le Burgh, Obrene, and Mack Nemarre, Ocarroul, and foughte wyth the greatest power of Irishmen that hadde bin togither since the Conquest, vnder the hyll of Knocktowe, in Englishe, the hyll of the Axes, sixe miles from Galoway, and two myles from Belliclare Burghes manour Towne: Mack William and his complices were there taken, hys Souldyers that escaped the sworde were pursued fleeing, for the space of fyue myles, great slaughter was made of them, and many Captaynes caughte, without the losse of one Englishman.

The Earle of Kildare at hys returne, was made Knighte of the noble order of the Garter, and lyued in worthy estimation all hys lyfe long, as well for thys seruice, as diuers other his famous exploytes.

Notes

• Anno. 1167.

  Dermote Macmurche.
• Amalachel∣nus Morice •…•… of Meth.
• Dermote a∣buseth the wife of King Morice.
• Rotherick Ochonor Mo∣narke of Ire∣lande.
• Dermucius •…•…eeth out of Irelande. He commeth to the King of Englande Henry the •…•…conde.
• Adrian the fourth Bishop of Rome an Englishman borne.
• Henry the se∣cond of that name King of England.
• The offer of Dermucius to king Henry
• See more here in England.
• The tenor of King Henries letters with the whiche Dermote re∣turneth into England.
• He commeth to Bristowe.
• Richard Strangbowe Earle of Pen∣broke.

  Dermucius or Dermotes co∣uenants with him.
• • Robert Fitz Stephans and
  • Maurice Fitz Geralde.
  • Rice ap Grif∣fin Prince of Wales.
  • The Lady Ve∣sta mother to Fitz Stephans and Fitz Ge∣ralde.
  • Aberteiui.
• Fitz Stephans taken and committed to prison
• Fitz Stephans deliuered.
• Promise of reward to Fitz Stephans and Fitz Geralde.
• Fitz Stephans passeth ouer into Irelande.
• 1169

  Maurice de Prendelgast.
• Dunwald ba∣stard sonne to Dermote.
• Wexforde yeelded.
• It is giuen to Fitz Stephan.
• Heruie de Monte Mau∣risco.
• Duneuald a prince of the vpper Ossorie.
• The valiancie of Robert de Barre, and Meller, Ne∣phewes to Fitz Stephan.
• The Lords of vpper Ossorie reduced to subiection. Rodericke the Monarke.
• Messengers sent to Fitz Stephans.
• Fitz Stephans answere.
• Welchmen.
• The agree∣mente betwixt Roderike and Dermote.
• Maurice Fitz Gerald landed at Wexforde.
• Dublin sub∣dued.
• Variance be∣twixt the Mo∣nark and the king of Ly∣merike.
• Dermucius sendeth to the Earle of Penbroke.
• Reymond le Grace is sent ouer from the Erle of Pem∣broke into Irelande.

  1170
• The Citizins •••• Waterford take to resist Reymond.
• The Irish men discomfited.
• William Fer∣rando.
• The Earle of Pembroke passeth into Irelande.
• Dublin taken.
• Miles Cogan left in Dublyn to keepe the Citie.
• Rotherike sendeth mes∣sengers to Dermote.
• Roderike cau∣seth the heade of Dermot his sonne to be striken off.
• King Henrie mistrusteth the increasing state of the Erle of Pem∣broke.
• An Edict set forth to re∣uoke the Eng∣lishmen forth of Irelande.
• Reymond is sent to king Henrie.
• 1171
• The decease of Dermote Mac Mourchie.
• Hastulfus.
• Iohannes Iusanus.
• The Norwe∣gians assault Dublin.
• They are dis∣confited.
• Iohannes In∣ianus.
• Hastulf taken prisoner.
• His intempe∣rate talke cost him his life.
• Dublin be∣sieged.
• Gothred king of Man.
• Duneualde Mac Dermi∣tius.
• The besieged determin to sally forth vp their enimies
• A notable vic∣torie gotten by a fewe a∣gaynst a great number.
• Fitz Stephan yeeldeth him∣selfe to the enimies.
• Meiller.
• Heruie retur∣neth from the king of Eng∣lande.
• The Earle of Pembroke re∣ceyued into the kings fa∣uor againe.
• 1171

  Ororike king of Meth com∣meth to assaile Dublin.
• Miles Cogan discomfiteth the enimies.
• The arriual king Henrie in Ireland.
• 1172
• Fitz Stephans presented to the king of England by his takers.
• The king de∣parteth from Waterford. Donald prince of Limerike submitteth
• The kings of Ossorie sub∣mit them∣selues.
• King Henrie returneth to Waterford.
• Fitz Stephans restored to libertie.
• Robert Fitz B•…•…rnard. The king go∣eth to Dublin.
• Princes that submitted thē∣selues to the king of Eng∣lande.
• Roderik king of Connagh the Monark of of Ireland sub∣mitted himself
• King Henrie acknowledged to be supreme Prince of all Irelande.
• The Prophecy of Merlin.
• King Henry feasted the I∣rish Princes. Cranes flesh not in vse in Ireland till the comming of the English.
• A Sinode or Counsell of the Cleargie holden at Casshill.
• Articles a∣greed vpon in this counsell.
• Mariages.
• Infantes bap∣tised.
• Tythes to be payed.
• Liberties of the Church.
• Murthers.
• Testaments how they shoulde be made.
• Funerals.
• Vniformitie in Church ser∣uice with the English church.
• Galas Primate of Ardmagh.
• A tempestuous winter.
• Cardinals sent to the king.
• Hugh Lacie.
• The king re∣turneth forth of Irelande.
• Ororick king of Meth.
• Maurice Fitz Geralde.
• A trayterous practise.
• Ororike slain.
• Ororikes head sent to king Henrie.
• King Henries iealousie to∣wardes Earle Strangbow.
• Earle Strang∣bow his wise dealing.
• Earle Strang∣bow made the kings lieute∣nant in Ireland hauing Rey∣mond le Grace ioyned with him.
• Heruey taketh vpon him to lead the soul∣diers.
• They require to be led by Reymond.
• Lismore spoyled.
• Adam de Hereforde.
• Reymonde discomfiteth the king of Desmond.
• William Fitz Gerald father of Reymond departeth this life.
• Donald of Ly∣merike dis∣cōfiteth foure hundred men of Dublyn.
• Rotherike king of Con∣nagh.
• Earle Strang∣bow sendeth for Reymond promising him his sister in mariage.
• Reymond 〈…〉〈…〉 at Waterford.
• Frecell gouer∣nor of Water∣ford slaine by the Mariners that vndertook to conuey him ouer the water there.
• Reymonde marieth the Ladie Basill, sister to Erle Strangbow.
• The Castels of Trim and Du∣•…•…els.
• Mariages.
• Wicklowe.
• Cursing.
• Reymonde marcheth to∣ward Limerik.
• They passe the riuer.
• Limerike wonne.
• Tuesday for∣••••••ate to the Conquerors of Ireland.
• Miles of Saint ••••uid.
• Heruey enuy∣•••• Reymonds 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Foure Com∣missioners sent into Ire∣lād to enquire of Reymondes demeanor.
• Donald Prince of Thomond.
• The loue which the sol∣diers bare to Reymond.
• Murcharde Kenceili.
• 1••••5
• The kings of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 come to a par∣ley with Rey∣mond.
• Dermucius Marcharthy prince of Des∣mond vexed by his sonne Kormac Ole∣tham.
• The crafty dis∣simulation of the sonne to intrappe the father.
• To what ende it came.
• 1177
• The treason of Donalde.
• Earle Strang∣bow buried.
• William Mar∣shall marieth the daughter of Erle Strang∣bow.
• Reymond cō∣•…•…ituted the kings lieute∣nat.
• W•…•…lliam Fitz Aldelme lieu∣tenant of Ire∣lande.

  Iohn Curcy. Williā Cogan
• The kinred of Reymond en∣•…•…yed.
• The discrip∣tion of Rey∣mond.
• The descriptiō of Meiller.
• The discriptiō of Heruey.
• Giral. seemeth to speake en∣uiously of this man.
• The discrip∣tion of Fitz Aldelme.
• Maurice Fitz Gerald depar∣teth this life.

  1177
• Walter Al∣maine.
• Iohn de Curcy conquereth Vlster.
• Peter pens.
• Churches made Barnes.
• Hugh Lacie made lieute∣nant of Ireland
• He buyldeth fortresses.
• Miles Cogan and Raufe Fitz Stephans slayne.
• Richard Cogā.
• Philip de Barre.
• Giraldus cam∣brensis goeth into Ireland.
• 1179

  Heruey be∣cometh a Monke.
• 1182
• The descripti∣tion of Hugh Lacie.
• Contention betwixt Chur∣ches for pree∣minence of antiquitie.
• 1183

  The death of king Henrie the sonne.
• Ireland giuen to Iohn the sonne of king Henrie.

  1185
• Counsellers about the lord Iohn the kings sonne.
• The lacke of discretion in two of his garde.
• Commotions reysed.
• The Lorde Iohn retur∣neth into Englande.
• Giraldus Cambrensis endeth his Chronicle.
• A Castel built at Derwath.
• 1186

  Lacy is tray∣terously slayne
• Curcy and Hugh Lacy the yonger keepe the Realme in quiet.

  1199
• King Iohn slayeth his ne∣phew Arthur.
• Curcy vttreth displeasant words against King Iohn.
• He is accused.
• He is proclay∣med traytor.
• He is taken.
• Translation of Prebenda∣ries to Mōks.
• A chalenge for a combat•…•… made by cer∣tayne French Knightes.
• Curcies an∣swer to king Iohn.
• He taketh vpon him to defende the chalenge.
• Curcy depar∣teth this life. The descrip∣tion of Curcy.
• king Iohn wēt into Ireland.
• See more here of in England.
• They fled into Fraunce.
• They are par∣doned and put to their fynes.
• An hundred markes of gold. Blondus.
• Iohn Bale in his Apologie against vowes.
• Henry the third. Warres be∣twixt Lacy and Marshall.
• 1228
• The Geral∣dines.
• Morice Fitz Geralde.
• Lucas Arch∣bishop.
• 1230
• 1234
• 1241
• The Lorde Verdon. Geffrey Gēne∣uille.
• 1252
• 1253
• The Castell of Scligath.
• Odonil.
• Iohn Fitz Geffrey Lorde Iustice. Alayne de la Z•…•…uch Lorde Iustice. Stephan de long Espee.
• William Dene Lord Iustice. Greene Castel destroyed. Mac Carey.

  1261

  Sir Richarde Capell Lorde iustice.
• Lord Iohn Fitz Thomas slayne.
• The Lorde iustice taken.
• 1266
• 1267
• Dauid Barry Lord iustice.
• 1268
• Robert Vffert
• Richard de Exceter.

  1270

  1271
• The Lord Audley.
• Randon.
• The decesse of king Hen∣ry the thirde.
• 1272

  Walter Gen∣•…•…ille.
• 1275
• 1276

  An ouerthrow at Glenburry.
• 1277
• 1278
• 1281
• Christ Church repaired.
• Dona•…•… Bishop of Dublin.
• Strangbowes tombe resto∣red by Henry Sidney.
• Captayne Randol.
• 1285
• Iohn Samford consecrated Archbishop of Dublin. An ouerthrow at Rothode. Norwagh and Ardscol brent.

  1286
• 1288

  Samfort Arch∣bishop of Du∣blin Lorde Iustice.
• 1290
• William Ve∣scy Lorde Iustice.
• 1294
• The Earle of Kildare.
• 1294

  The death of the Archbi∣shop Samford. The Earle of Vlster taken prisoner.
• ••••eat dearth •…•…nd death.
• William Do∣d••••gsels Lord Iustice.
• 1295
• Thomas Fitz Morice Lorde Iustice.
• 1296
• 1298
• Record Tur∣ris.
• 1299
• Chr. Pembrig.
• 1•…•…01
• Irishmen in∣uade Scotland
• Walter Power.
• 1302
• 1303

  The Erle of Vlster.
• 1304
• 1306

  A discōfiture at Ofalie.
• Balimore brent.
• Warres in Leynister.
• The Lorde Chancellor consecrated Bishop of Imaley.
• The Archbi∣shop of Du∣blin deceassed
• 1307
• A discomfi∣ture in Con∣nagh.
• 1308
• 1308

  The order of the Templers suppressed.
• 1308
• This Mac∣balther was after hanged at Dublin. The Lord Iustice dis∣comfited.

  1308
• Iohn Decer Maior of Dublin.
• Burgh.
• Piers Gaue∣ston sent into Irelande.
• Lord Roger Mortimer.
• 1309

  Lord Iohn Bonneuille slayne.
• 1310
• 1311

  A Parliament at Kelkenny.
• Campion.
• Sir Richarde de Clare.
• Iohn Lacy slayne.
• 1312

  Robert Verdō reyseth a rio∣tous tumulte. Iohn Wogan Lord iustice.
• 1313

  Campion.
• The Earle of Vlsters sonne and heire de∣ceasseth.
• 1314
• 1315

  Edward Bruce inuadeth Ire∣lande.
• Captaynes of name with Bruce.
• Dundalke ta∣ken and brent
• Edmonde Butler Lord iustice.
• The Lorde •…•…lu••••imer discomfited by the Scots.
• Assurance gi∣uen by the Lords of Ire∣lande for their loyaltie.
• A great ouer∣throwe.
• The King of Connagh slayne.
• Okelly slaine.
• Sir Thomas Mandeuill slayne.
• Campion.

  1316
• The King of Scottes in Irelande.
• Cragfergus deliuered vp to the Scottes.
• Men e•…•…ten.
• Iohn Fitz Thomas the first, Earle of Kildare de∣ceasseth.
• Scottes ouer∣throwen.
• A great tēpest.
• 1317
• The Earle of Vlster appre∣hended.
• Hugh Tyrrell taken by the Scottes.
• The Kings standerd deli∣uered to them of Vlster.
• Roger Morti∣mer iustice of Irelande.
• Slaughter of Irishmen.
• 1317
• The Earle of Vlster deliue∣red out of prison.
• Scarcitie of vittayles in Vlster.
• The Earle of Vlster deli∣uered.
• Great dearth.
• Sir Hugh Crofts slayne.
• The Lacyes reuolt to the Scottes.
• 1318
• Bignore con∣secrated Arch∣bishop of Du∣blin.
• Walter Islep tre•…•…sorer of Irelande.
• The Lord Ri∣chard de Clare slayne.
• The Lord Bir∣mingham and other captaines agaynst the Scottes.
• The Primate of Ardmagh.
• The battaile of Ardmagh. The Scottes vanquished.
• Edward Bruce slaine.
• Birmingham made Erle of Louth.
• Sir Richard de Clare slaine.

  1319
• 1320

  The Earle of Kildare Lord Iustice.
• An Vniuersitie erected at Dublyn.
• 1321
• Rec. Turris.
• 1322
• 1323

  Iohn Darcie Lord iustice.
• The Ladie A∣lice Kettle ac∣cused of sor∣cerie.
• 1326
• 1327
• Adam Duffe an heretike.
• The Prior of Kilmaynam Lord iustice.
• Arnald Poer accused of heresie.
• 1329 The Earle of Louth slaine.
• The Lorde Butler slaine.
• 1330
• The Prior of Kilmaynam Lord Iustice.
• 1331
• Anthony Lucy Lord Iustice.
• The Earle of Desmond ap∣prehended.
• 1332

  William Bir∣mingham exe∣cuted.
• Campion.
• The Lorde Darcie iustice.
• The Earle of Ew.
• 1333

  A Parliament.
• The Earle of Vlster slaine.
• Sir Thomas Burgh.
• The Lorde Iustice inua∣deth Scotland.
• 1336
• 1337

  Sir Iohn Charleton Iustice.
• 1338

  The Bishop of Hereford lorde Iustice.
• 1340

  Iohn Darcie Lorde iustice during life.
• Calling in of liberties.
• Articles or questions.
• 1343

  Raufe Vffort Lord iustice.
• The Countesse of Vlster.
• The Earle of Desmonde.
• Sureties for the Earle of Desmonde.
• Vffort euill spoken of.
• Ioy conceyued for the death of the lord Iu∣stice Vffort.
• 1346

  Robert Darcie Lord iustice.
• Iohn Fitz Mo∣rice Iustice.
• Lord Birming¦ham Iustice.
• 1347

  •…•…ecord Tur.
• 1348

  The Prior of Kilmaynam. Baron Carew Iustice.

  Sir Thomas Rokesby Iustice. Record Tur.
• 1349
• Iohn de Saint Paule Archbi∣shop of Dub∣lin.
• 1350

  Kenwrike Shereman.
• Sir Robert Sauage.
• 1355

  The Earle of Desmond lord iustice de∣ceasseth.
• Thomas Ro∣kesby Lorde iustice. His saying.
• 1357

  Dissention be∣twixt the Pri∣mate of Ard∣magh, and the foure orders of Friers.
• Three Lorde Iustices.
• Record Tur.
• The Earle of Kildare Lorde iustice.
• Lionell Duke of Clarence.
• 1362
• 1367

  The Lorde Winforde lieutenant.
• 1369

  Record Turris A Parliament. A Subsidie.
• Mortalitie of people.

  1370
• Conhur.
• 1372

  Sir Richarde Ashton lorde iustice.
• 1373
• Slaughter.
• 1375
• 1381

  The Earle of Marche the kings lieu∣tenant.
• 1383
• 1385
• 1390
• 1394

  King Richard goeth ouer in∣•…•…o Irelande.
• Roger Morti∣mer lord lieu∣tenant. Thom. Wals.
• 1397
• Six hundred Irish mē slain.
• Roger Gray lord Iustice of Ireland.
• 1398

  King Richard passeth the se∣cōd time ouer into Irelande.
• The King commeth to Dublyn.
• See more hereof in England.
• 1400
• 1401

  Sir Iohn Stan∣ley lord lieu∣tenant.
• Sir Stephen Scrope.
• The Irish o∣uerthrowne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Maior of Dublin.
• Stephen Scrope.
• The Erle of Ormond Lo•…•… iustice.
• 1404

  The Archbi∣shop of Ard∣magh de∣ceassed.
• 1405
• The Citizens of Dublin in∣uade Scotland.
• They inuade Wales.
• The Erle of Ormond de∣ceaseth.
• H. Marl.
• A Parliament at Dublin.
• 1407
• Corbi what it is signifieth.
• Okeroll sla••••
• A letter from Corke out of an old recorde that beareth no da•…•…e.
• •…•…hinke rather greene castell.
• The Citie of Corke.
• 1408

  A Parliament at Dublin.
• The lord Tho. of Lancaster commeth ouer into Irelande.
• The Lorde Scrope de∣ceaseth.
• The lorde Thomas re∣turneth into England.
• 1409

  Iames de Artoys.
• The sworde giuen to the citie of Dub∣lin.
• Baylifes chan∣ged into Shirifes.
• 1410
• A iourney made by the lorde iustice.
• 1411

  Mariages.
• 1412

  Oconthir.
• The Bishop o•…•… Meth decea∣seth
• The death o•…•… king Henrie the fourth.
• 1413

  Iohn Stanley the kings lie••••tenant in Ire∣lande.
• Tho. Craule Archbishop Dublin.
• A Parliament.
• 1414
• English men slaine.
• Iohn Lorde Talbot of Sherfield.
• 1415

  Robert Tal∣bot deceaseth.
• 1416
• The Archbi∣shop of Ard∣magh decea∣•…•…eth.
• •…•…he Parlia∣•…•…ent remoued 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Trim.
• subsedie.
• 1417

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Archbi∣••••••p of Dublin ••••••eased.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prayse.
• 1418
• 1419 A counsell or Parliament holden.
• Mac Murche taken prisoner
• Okelly taken.
• The Prior of Kilmaynam went to serue the king 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Fraunce.
• 1420

  Iames Butler Earle of Or∣mond Lorde Lieutenant.
• A Parliament sommoned.
• Iames Yong an Author al∣ledged by Campion. The Sunne stayeth his course.
• 1420

  The Parliamēt began.
• The Castell of Colmolin.
• The Earle of Ormondes son and heyre borne.
• 1421

  A Parliament.
• The Bishop of Casshell ac∣cused.
• The Duke of Clarence slaine in Fraunce.
• Mac Mahun.
• Henry. Marle•…•…
• Here endeth Marleburgh, and all that fo∣loweth is ta∣ken out of Campion.
• Campion out of the Records of Christs Church. George Duke of Clarence borne at Du∣blin. Iacke Cade.
• The copie of a letter.
• Roger Roe.
• Magoghigam his power.
• Lieutenaunts and Deputies in king Ed∣ward the fourth his dayes.
• The Butlers.
• The Erle of Wurceter.
• 1467
• Campion out of Saint leger in his collec∣tions.
• Irish imposi∣tions.
• 1469
• Restitution to bloud.
• 1470

  Fiatsbery.
• Richard the third.
• Henry the seuenth. Sir Richard Simōd Priest. Lambert coū∣terfeyt to be the Erle of Warwicke.
• The Lorde Louell. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Thomas Broughton.
• ••••mberte ••••••ned.
• 1460
• Iasper Duke of Bedford Lieu∣tenant.
• Perkin War∣becke.
• 1494

  Sir Edward Poynings L. Deputy.
• Perkin War∣becke taken.
• 1501
• Henry Duke of Yorke, after King Henry the eyght, L. Lieutenaunt.
• The fielde of Knocktowe.
• The Earle of Kildare, knight of the Garter.