Hibernia anglicana, or, The history of Ireland, from the conquest thereof by the English, to this present time with an introductory discourse touching the ancient state of that kingdom and a new and exact map of the same / by Richard Cox ...

THE REIGN OF John Earl of Moreton, LORD of IRELAND, Afterwards King of England, Duke of Normandy, &c. (Book John)

RICHARD I,* 1.1 (for his Valour Sirnamed, Ceur de Lyon) by unquestionable Right, Suc∣ceeded his Father on the Throne of England, and was crowned at Westminster, the third Day of September, 1189; but his Style was no more than,* 1.2 Rex Anglor. dux Normannor. & Acquitan. & comes Andegavor. For,

John Earl of Moreton, youngest Son of the deceased King, by virtue of the aforesaid Donation, at the Parliament at Oxford, anno 1177, succeeded his Father in the Sovereignty of Ireland: And therefore we find the Pope's Legate had Com∣mission to exercise Jurisdiction in Anglia,* 1.3 Wallia, & illis Hi∣berniae partibus, in quibus Johanes Comes Moretonii potestatem habet, & dominium.

For tho' it be a Fundamental Maxim of State, That Ire∣land must not be separated from the Crown of England: And tho' it be also an undoubted Maxim of Law, That the King cannot alien any part of his Dominions; yet neither of these were thought to be transgressed by the aforesaid Donation,

because it was made to the King's Son; whose Interest and Expectations in England, were thought to be sufficient Secu∣rity for his Good Behaviour.

What Controulment Earl John might have met with, in the Soveraignty of Ireland, if the King (Richard) had been at Leisure to inspect that Matter, is incertain: But it is ma∣nifest, That the King was so taken up with his Voyage to the Holy Land, and so embarassed by the unfortunate Consequen∣ces of it, that he never did take any notice of Ireland; and therefore we take no further notice of him, than to give this brief Account of the Reason of our Silence in that Parti∣cular.

Hugh de Lacy was made Lord Justice of Ireland, as afore∣said: And as soon as he arrived, he sent Imperious Letters to Courcy, to discharge him of his Command; and behaved himself so insolently, that all was in Disorder: Which the Irish perceiving, and also that the King of England was pre∣paring for a Voyage to the Holy Land, they thought this an happy Opportunity to extirpate the English; to which End they had a General Meeting, and resolved unanimously to fall upon them;* 1.4 and in order to it they entred into a League or Association, and solemnly swore; First, To be true to one another, and to the common Cause. Secondly, Never to yield any Obedience to the English again.* 1.5 And to begin the Business, they fell upon Roger Poer, Governour of Leigh∣lin, and barbarously murdered him and most of the Gar∣rison.

Cormock O Connor (Son of Rotherick) King of Connaught, commonly called Crove Darig (because his Hand was red) was the chief of the Conspirators; he was an Active Vali∣ant Gentleman, and of so great Reputation, that he was able to assemble twenty thousand Men of his own and the Confederates; with which Army he designed, first to clear Connaught, then Ʋlster, and afterwards the whole King∣dom.

In the mean Time Courcy Lord of Connaught and Earl of Ʋlster, considering that he should have no Aid nor Help from the Lord Justice, endeavoured to strengthen himself the best he could; and to that End sent for his Brother, S. Lawrence▪ who made more Haste than good Speed, for he came away with thirty Horse and two hundred Foot, and at Knockmoy, in the County of Galway, fell into an Ambush, the King of Connaught had laid for him; and tho' they fought so valiantly, that they killed one thousand Irish Men, yet the Issue was, That this small Army was totally destroyed, not one escaping.

And tho' O Connor, in Remembrance and Ostentation of this Victory, did there build the Abbey de Colle Victoriae; yet when he had well considered the prodigious Valour of that Handful of Men, and his own Loss, he thought himself ne∣cessitated to sue to Lacy for Peace; which he soon obtained, upon reasonable Conditions.

About this Time Robin Hood and Litle John were Famous Robbers in England; but their Company being dispersed, and Robin Hood taken, Litle John fled to Dublin, and shot an Arrow from Dublin-Bridge to the litle Hill in Oxman-Town, thence called Litle John's Shot. He was called Litle John Ironically, for he was not less than fourteen Foot long (believe it who will). Hector Boetius affirms, The Hole of his Huckle Bone was so big, that he could thrust his Hand through it. He fled from Dublin to Scotland, where he dyed.

This Year Isabel,* 1.6 only Daughter of Strongbow, by Eva Prencess of Leinster, was married to William Lord Maxfield, Earl Marshal of England: He was a great Favourite to King Richard; and at his Coronation carried the Regal Scepter, whereon was a Cross of Gold. He was afterward by King John,* 1.7 created Earl of Pembrook; and had five Sons who were successively Earls, and all died without Issue; and he had five Daughters, among whom his Estate was divided, (viz.) to Joan the County of Waxford, to Matilda the County of Caterlough, to Isabel the County of Kilkenny, to Sybilla the County of Kildare, and to Eva the Mannor of Downmass in Leix (now the Queen's County); in all which they exer∣cised Palatine Jurisdiction.

Of this Family, Thomas Mills, in his Catalogue of Honour, gives this Account; That Richard Earl of Chepstow was nick∣named Strongbow because of his exceeding Strength, so that he drew an traordinary Srong Bow; his Arms were so long that he could stand upright, and with the Palms of his Hands touch his Knees; That his Daughter Isabel was fourteen Years a Ward to Henry II; That her Husband William, Earl Marshal, was created Earl of Pembrook, 27 May, 1199; and that she dyed anno 1221, and was buried at Tintern Abbey; and that he dyed 16 March, 1219. They had five Sons and five Daughters; William married Elianor, Sister of Henry III, and died the sixth of April 1231. Richard died the sixteenth of April 1234. Gilbert married Margaret, Daughter of William King of Scotland 1235, and died by a fall from his Horse the twenty eighth of May 1242. Walter died 1245 in Wales; and Anselm died the same Month, viz, the twenty first of December: Maud successively married Hugh Earl of Norfolk, William Earl of Warren, and Walier Lord

Dunstanvil; Joan married Warren Lord Montchensy, the richest Baron in England; Isabel married Gilbert Earl of Glocester, and afterwards Richard Earl of Cornwal, King of the Romans; Sybil married William Earl of Ferrers and Dar∣by; and Eve married William de Brees, Lord of Brecknock; and Partition was made between these Noble Coparceners at Woodstock,* 1.8 May 3. 31 Hen. 3.

About this Time,* 1.9 viz. Anno 1190, the City of Dublin was burnt by Accident,* 1.10 so that it was almost totally destroyed; and the Kingdom was governed by William Petit,* 1.11 who held it a very short Time before.

William Earl of Pembrook, and Earl Marshal of England, came over Lord Justice or Governour of Ireland; he was the third of the Temporal Assistants, King Richard had left to the Bishop of Ely, for the Government of England; he was a Valiant Man, and had a great Estate in Ireland;* 1.12 and there∣fore was thought the fittest Governour for that Country, in this Critical Time, whilst King Richard was Prisoner in Au∣stria, and Earl John was engaged in Troublesome and Ambi∣tious Designs in England.

In the Year 1194. the Reliques of S. Malachy, Bishop of Clareval,* 1.13 were brought into Ireland, and with great Reve∣rence and Devotion deposited in the Abby of Mellifont, and other the Monasteries of the Cistersian Order.

It seems the Reputation or Power of this Noble Governour was sufficient to keep Ireland quiet;* 1.14 for we read of little or no Disturbance there, during his Time, which was about six Years: And then he resign'd to

Hanno de valois, a Gentleman of Suffolk, Lord Justice of Ireland, who continued in that Government until the Death of King Richard; which happened at Chalons in France, on the sixth Day of April, anno 1199.

John Earl of Moreton and Lord of Ireland, did on the Death of King Richard, without Title, ascend the Throne of Eng∣land: Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury was a great assistant to this Usurpation; he told the People, That John had the Crown by Election; which the King did not then gain-say, it being no fit Time to dispute the MANNER, so he had the THING he aimed at; but the Right was in his Ne∣phew Arthur, whom he afterwards got into his Hands, and caused him him to be murdered (as was at that Time gene∣rally reported and believed);* 1.15 he was crowned on Ascension-Day, by the said Archbishop,* 1.16 at Westminster, with great Solemnity; and not long after he was girt with the Ducal Sword of Normandy, by William Archbishop of Roan.

Hanno de Valois, Lord Justice, continued so the first Year of King John; but then he fell into such Disgrace, that he was not only remov'd from his Government,* 1.17 but also was obliged to give the King a thousand Marks,* 1.18 for his Favour, and for a Discharge of his Accounts about Ireland: And, Meyler Fitz-Henry,* 1.19 Natural Son of King Henry I, by Nesta, Mother of Maurice Fitz-Gerald,* 1.20 was made Lord Justice; in whose Time (May 4. 1202.) King John granted (that is confirmed) the Archbishoprick of Armagh to Humphry de Tickhul; but Ralph le Petit Archdeacon of Meath, pretend∣ed that the Election fell on him, and resolved to contest it with Tickhul.* 1.21 In the mean Time the Pope appointed one Owen mac Gillevider; but the King was so angry with him, that he prohibited all the Clergy from owning him as Archbi∣shop: And to prevent him, the King (on the Death of Tickhul,* 1.22 anno 1203.) confirmed Ralph le Petit in the Archbi∣shoprick: Nevertheless Owen so managed the Matter, that he enjoyed the Archbishoprick, and was restored to the King's Favour: He had the Character of an Honest and Worthy Prelate; and was present at the Lateran Council, in Quality of Primate of all Ireland.

The King had given to William de Braos and his Heirs, the Honour of Limerick, with the Appurtenances, as Henry II, gave it to Philip, Unkle of William, except the City of Limerick, and the Donation of Abbies and Bishopricks, the Cantred of the Oastmens, and the Holy Island, and the Servi∣ces of William de Burgo; which the King retained to be held by sixty Knights Fees.

But I do not find that William de Braosa had any great Be∣nefit of this Grant; for being a bold and a generous Man, and abhorring the Murder of Duke Arthur, the King's Ne∣phew; which he verily believed was done by the King's Com∣mand, as did likewise John de Courcy; they both spoke more than came to their Share: And thereupon Braosa fled into Ireland, with his Wife and Children; from whence he afterwards removed to the Isle of Man, and thence to France, where he dyed; but she and her Son were taken in a Castle in Meath;* 1.23 and tho' she sent the Queen a strange Present of four hundred Cows and a Bull, all White but their Ears, which were Red; yet that could not make her Peace, but that she and her Son were sent Prisoners to Windsor, where they were starv'd to Death, as was said.

And as for Courcy, the King, to mortifie him, appointed his Inveterate Enemy and Competitor, Hugh de Lacy,* 1.24 Lord Justice of Ireland, and gave him Order to arrest Courcy, and send him Prisoner to England: But Courcy had some Intelligence, or at least Jealousie, of the De∣sign;

and therefore kept upon his Guard so cautiously, that Lacy could not surprize him; Wherefore he levied an Army and invaded Ʋlster; at Down both Parties met, and the Va∣liant Courcy sent Lacy back with Blows and Shame enough.

After this Bloody Victory, Courcy offered the Combat, which the Lord Justice (in his Politick Capacity) refused to undergo against a Subject and a Traytor; wherefore he took a wiser Course, and by his Proclamation offered a large Reward to him that should bring in Courcy alive or dead: But this not taking effect, he dealt with some of Courcy's Servants, to seize their Master on Good-Friday, whilst unarm∣ed, he should be doing Penance, and walking Bare-foot a∣bout the Church-Yard of Down, as he was wont to do every Year. They undertook the Matter, and effected it, with the Slaughter of two of the S. Lawrences, who attended their Unkle Courcy that Day: But the Traytors paid dear for their Perfidiousness; for Courcy, with a Wooden Cross, which he got in the Church-Yard, killed thirteen of them; and the rest were sent by the Lord Justice into England, with this Pasport (which they were obliged not to open, till they were in Necessity of it.)

I Hugh de Lacy, Lord Justice of Ireland, Servant to my dread Sovereign Lord King John; To all them that shall read these few Lines, greet:

Know ye, That these Men, whose Names are underwritten, sometimes served Sir John de Courcy, late Earl of Ulster, but now in Durance, in the Tower of London, and for a Sum of Mony betraied their own Master into my Hands, I deem them no better than Judas the Traytor: How hardly soever I have conceived of Courcy, I hold them to be a thousand times more damnable Traytors. Wherefore let no Subject in the King's Do∣minions, give them any Entertainment; but spit in their Faces, and suffer them to rogue and wander about as Jews.

The Lord Justice provided a Barque and Victuals for them, but denyed them Pilots or Seamen; so that being sufficiently tossed at Sea, they were driven into Cork, and were there ta∣ken, and afterward hanged, by Order of Lacy; who shew∣ed himself Generous in this one thing, That though he loved the Treason, he hated the Traytor.

And thus was the Valiant Courcy condemned to perpetual Imprisonment in the Tower of London, and that Lacy might personally solicit a Reward for this great Service, he had leave to come to Court: And,

Myler Fitz-Henry was again made Lord Justice:* 1.25 The Historians of that Age make honourable Mention of him; He died Anno 1220. and was buried in the Abby of Conal, which himself had founded; and on his Tomb was this bald Epitaph,

Conduntur Tumulo Meyleri Nobilis ossa, Indomitus Domitor totius Gentis Hibernae.

But Hugh de Lacy's Services were so well accepted in Eng∣land,* 1.26 that the King gave him the Earldom of Ʋlster, as fully as Courcy held it the day he was taken, except the Do∣nation of Bishopricks and Abbies; and because the King had occasion of Lacy's personal Attendance in England, therefore he gave Charge to the Lord Justice, to defend and preserve Lacy's Lands, as he would the Demesnes of the Crown.

On the 30th. of August,* 1.27 A Writ was sent to the Lord Justice, commanding him to build a strong Castle at Dub∣lin to defend that City, and to preserve the King's Treasure; and the Second of November following, the King by Writ commanded Walter de Lacy to put Limerick into the Lord Ju∣stice's hands, because, without it, he could neither keep the Peace in Cork nor Connaught.

The same Year the King of Connaught releas'd two Parts of that Country,* 1.28 retaining the Third at the yearly Rent of an hundred Marks; and the next Year offered to continue Tenant to the same Third part, at the aforesaid Rent of one hundred Marks per Annum, to be held per Baroniam, and to pay a yearly Tribute of three hundred Marks per Annum for the other two parts, saving and reserving to the King two Cantreds with the Inhabitants, and liberty of building Ca∣stles therein.

The King liked the Proposal well enough, and communi∣cated it to the Lord Justice, and referr'd it to him; adding, That it would do well, if the Lord Justice could squeeze a Fine of four hundred Marks from the King of Connaught, to∣gether with a yearly Tribute of Cows,* 1.29 to supply such Ca∣stles as should be built in those Cantreds.

Hugh de Lacy was made Lord Deputy, upon the Lord Ju∣stice his going to England; and soon after, viz. the Eighth of November, the King (by Patent Dated at Woodstock, where∣unto Meyler Fitz-Henry Lord Justice is Witness) did con∣firm to William Fitz Philip Barry the three Cantreds of Ole∣than, Muskry Dunegan, and Killedy, which Fitz Stephens had given his Father in the Kingdom of Cork,* 1.30 to be held of the King by Ten Knights Fees;* 1.31 and he also granted to Willi∣am

Marshal, the Marshalship of Ireland in Fee, as also the Cantred of Kilkenny.

About this time Jeofry Morison (or Mac Moris) was troublesome in Munster; wherefore the Lord Deputy inva∣ded Typerary,* 1.32 and took Thurles; he also took Castlemeyler, and demolished it; but the Irish say, he lost more men in this Expedition than he brought back.

And now the King finding many Complaints of Thieves, Tories and Robbers, which were become a Nusance in Ire∣land, sent the following Writ for their expulsion:

REX Meyler,* 1.33 fil. Henr. Justic. Hiberniae, &c. & omni∣bus aliis Baron. & fidelibus suis Hibern. &c. Sciatis quod ad voluntatem & consilium dilectorum & fidelium nostro∣rum Com. W. Maresc. & Walteri de Lacy, & aliorum Baro∣num nostrorum Hibern. qui nobiscum fuerunt in Angl. & per consilium fidelium nostror. Angl. volumus & statuimus quod La∣trones Hibern. expellantur de Terra nostra Hibern. & quod ipsi & receptores eorum deducantur secundum Legem Angl. & ideo vobis mandamus, quod ita fieri faciatis; & in hujus rei testimo∣nium has Literas nostras Patent. vobis mittimus, Teste Meipso apud Southhampt. 23 Die Martii.

But Lacy was so elevated with the aforesaid Victories; (how dear soever they were bought) that he look'd on all below him with Contempt, and became so impatient of Competition, that he was outragious against all his Enemies, and particularly against John de Courcy, Lord of Raheny, and Kilbarrock (Natural Son of the great John de Courcy) whom the Lacies basely and barbarously caused to be murdered; whereupon great Stirs and Dissatisfactions arose in Ireland, even among the British,* 1.34 whereof the Irish made their advan∣tage;* 1.35 and under pretence of being burdened with Taxes, there was a general Defection throughout all the Realm.

Dublin was inhabited mostly by a Colony of Bristol Men,* 1.36 and it was customary with them for love of Sport and Air, to walk abroad toward Cullenwood every Easter-Monday; but now being unarmed, they were surprized by the Mounta∣neers of Wicklow (the Birnes and Tooles, &c.) who murdered three hundred of the Citizens; wherefore that Day is ever since called Black Monday; and for a long time after, was so∣lemnly observed by the Mayor, Sheriffs and Citizens of Dublin, in a brave and splendid manner; and to supply this Loss, the City of Bristol sent a new Colony to replenish Dublin.

But the King, as well to secure his goverment from the ambi∣tion of Lacy (whereof he grew exceeding jealous) as also to sup∣press

the Rebellion of the Irish, found it necessary to make a Voyage to that Countrey; and therefore with a considerable Army he sailed thither, and on the Eighth Day of June land∣ed at Waterford,* 1.37 where O Neal, and above Twenty other Irish Potentates came and made their humble Submissions, and did Homage and Fealty unto him.

The Lacies conscious of their Demerits, durst not abide the Arrival of the King, but secretly fled into France, where (in Disguise) they served the Abbot of St. Taurin, in the quality of Gardeners, till their unskilfulness manifested they were not educated in that way, which gave the Abbot some suspicion of them; and that led him into so strict an Enqui∣ry, that to satisfie the Abbot, they were obliged to discover the Truth:* 1.38 The good man did so sympathize with their Misfortunes, and pitied their Distress, that he effectually interceded with the King for their Pardon, which at length he obtain'd; Walter paying for Meath 2500, and Hugh for Ʋlster 4000 Marks. Cattalus (or rather Carolus) O Conner alias Crovederg, the Valiant and Active King of Connaught, was the only Man of Note that opposed King John; but he was an unequal Match for the King of England,* 1.39 and there∣fore was easily subdued, and taken Prisoner.

Wherefore the King having no more of Military Matters to execute in Ireland, seriously set himself to mend the Civil State of that unfortunate Country; and first he caused Mo∣ney to be Coyned ad Pondus Nummi Angliae, and made it cur∣rant in both Kingdoms by his Proclamation; which was the first Sterling Money that was Coyned in Ireland;* 1.40 and this done, he set himself to establish the English Laws in that Kingdom.

For though King Henry had done as much to introduce the English Laws there, as that Season and other Circumstances would permit; yet partly for want of Sheriffs, and the Di∣stribution of the Kingdom into Counties; but chiefly be∣cause of the unsetledness of the Country, and the rebelli∣ous humour of the Irish, it could not at that time be fully effected: Wherefore King John, to supply those Defects as far as he was able, divided Leinster and Munster (the only part he had in quiet and actual possession) into the Coun∣ties of Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Ʋriel, Caterlogh, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Typerary and Kerry, and appointed Sheriffs and other Officers for them after the manner of England: He also caused an Abstract of the En∣glish Laws and Customs to be drawn in writing;* 1.41 whereunto he affixed his Seal, and left it in the Exchequer in Dublin, and by general consent in Parliament, and at the instance of the Irish, he ordained, that the English Laws and Customs

should thenceforward be observed in Ireland;* 1.42 and in order to it he erected Courts of Judicature at Dublin.

But the Brehon Law, and the other Irish Customs, in∣dulged more to the Tyrannie of the great Men, and yet did not hold the Commons to a strict and regular Discipline, as the Laws of England did; and therefore the very English were so corrupted by ill Example, that the English Laws were not regarded nor had in Estimation, as they ought, but were look'd upon both by the Irish and degenerate Eng∣lish,* 1.43 as a Yoke of Bondage, so that Henry III was necessi∣tated oftentimes to enjoyn the Observation of them: In the first and third Year of his Reign he did confirm them; and in the eleventh Year he sent the following Writ; which I re∣cite at large, because I find it curtail'd both in Calvin's Case, and my Lord Cooks first Institutes, 141. b. And what else King Henry did in this Matter, shall be mentioned in the Ac∣count of his Reign.

REX,* 1.44 &c. Baronibus militibus, & aliis libere tenentibus Lageniae, salutem, &c. Satis ut credimus vestra audivit discretio, quod cum bonae Memoriae Johannes, quondam Rex Ang∣liae pater noster venit in Hiberniam, ipse duxit secum viros dis∣cretos & legis peritos, quorum communi consilio, & ad instantiam Hibernensium, statuit & praecepit Leges Anglicanas teneri in Hi∣bernia, ita quod leges easdem in scriptis redactas reliquit sub Si∣gillo suo, ad Scaccar. Dublin. Cum igitur Consuetudo & Lex Angliae fuerit, quod si aliquis desponsaverit aliquam mulierem, sive viduam, sive aliam, haereditatem habentem, & ipse postmo∣dum ex ea prolem suscitaverit, cujus clamor auditus fuerit infra quatuor parietes, idem vir si supervixerit ipsam Vxorem suam habebit tota vita sua custodiam Haereditatis Vxoris suae licet ea forte habuerit Haeredem de primo viro suo qui fuerit plenae aetatis: vobis mandamus injungentes quatenus in loquela quae est in Cur. Wilm. Com. Maresc. inter Mauritium Fitz-Gerrald petent. & Galfridum de Marisco Justiciarium nostrum Hiberniae tenentem, vel in alia loquela quae fuerit in casu praedicto, nullo modo justi∣tiam in contrar. facere presumatis.

Teste Rege apud W. decim. Decemb.

And thus King John having exceeding well acquitted himself in Ireland, and thereby, in a great measure, atton∣ed for Miscarriages of his former Voyage, he departed thence on the thirtieth Day of August,* 1.45 having first ap∣pointed John Gray Bishop of Norwich Lord Justice, who kept the Kingdom in so good Order, that he was able to spare three hundred Foot besides Horse,* 1.46 to aid the King in France; where

they did good Service, and yet most of them safely return∣ed to Ireland.

About this Time happened the famous Story of John de Courcy,* 1.47 which I will give you in the very Words of Hanmer, because he expresses it much better than it is in Cambden's Annals.

Not long after,* 1.48 there fell some Difference between John King of England and Philip King of France, for the Right of some Fort in Normandy; who to avoid the shedding of Christian Blood, agreed of each Side, to put it to a Com∣bat: Of King Philip's part there was a French-man in Readiness; King John, upon the sudden, wist not what to do for a Champion to encounter with him; at length one attending upon his Person, enformed him, That there was one Courcy in the Tower of London, the only Man in his Dominions (if he would undertake it) to answer the Challenge. King John joyful of this, sent the first, yea the second and third Time, promising large Rewards and rich Gifts; and that it stood him upon, as far as the Honour of his Crown and Kingdom did reach, to make good the Combat. Courcy answered very frowardly, (the which was taken in good Part, in regard of the urgent Necessity) That he would never fight for him, neither for any such as he was: That he was not worthy to have one Drop of Blood spilt for him: That he was not able to re∣quite him the Wrongs he had done him; neither to re∣store him the Hearts-Ease he had bereav'd him of: Yet not∣withstanding all the Premises, he was willing, and would with all Expedition be ready to venture his Life in Defence of the Crown and his Country. Whereupon it was agreed, He should be dyeted, apparelled and armed to his Content; and that his own Sword should be brought him out of Ire∣land. The Day came, the Place appointed, the Lists pro∣vided, the Scaffolds set up, the Princes with their Nobility of each Side, with thousands in Expectation; forth comes the French Champion, gave a turn, and rests him in his Tent: They sent for Courcy, who all this while was trus∣sing of himself about with strong Points; and answered the Messengers, That if any of their Company were to go to such a Banquet, he would make no great haste: How∣ever, forth he comes, gave a Turn, and went into his Tent.

When the Trumpets sounded to Battle, forth came the Combitants, and viewed each other: Courcy beheld him with a wonderful stern Countenance, and passed by: The French-man not liking his grim Look, the strong Proportion and Feature of his Person, stalked still along; and when the

Trumpets sounded the last Charge, Courcy drew out his Sword, and the French-man ran away, and conveyed him∣self to Spain. Whereupon they sounded Victory, the Peo∣ple clapt their Hands and cast up their Caps. King Philip desired King John, That Courcy might be called before them, to shew some Part of his Strength and Manhood, by a Blow upon a Helmet; it was agreed, a Stake was set in the Ground, and a Shirt of Male, and a Helmet thereon; Courcy drew his Sword, looked wonderful sternly upon the Princes, cleft the Helmet, Shirt of Mail, and the Stake so far in, that none could pull it out but himself. Then the Princes demanded of him, What he meant to look so sowerly upon them? His answer was, If he had missed his Blow upon the Block, he would have cut off both the Kings Heads. All that he said was taken in good Part; and King John discharged him of all his Troubles, gave him great Gifts, and restored him to his former Possessions in Ireland.

It is written further, That hereupon he sailed into Eng∣land, came to Westchester, offered himself to the Sea, and was put back again fifteen times, by contrary Winds, which rose upon a sudden to the English Shore.

And in the Book of Houth it is delivered, That upon every Repulse, the Night following, he was admonished in a Vision, Not to attempt the Seas, for to sail into Ireland; and that he should never set Foot upon any Land there; and withal, that the Reason was yielded thus; Courcy thou hast done very ill, for thou hast pulled down the Master, and set up the Servant (for he had translated the Cathedral Church, and the Pre∣bendaries of the Blessed Trinity in Dune, into an Abbey of Black Monks, brought thither from Chester, and consecrated the same to the Honour of S. Patrick). Whereupon remem∣bring himself, That he had done very ill, in taking the Name from God, and giving it to a Creature, he gave Sen∣tence upon himself, That he was worthily punished; and immediately he altered his Course, went into France, and there died.

But 'tis Time to return to our Lord Justice who was sent for into England; and ordered to leave the Government in the Hands of Henry de Londres Archbishop of Dublin, Lord Justice,* 1.49 he had publickly opposed the King's Alienation or Resignation of his Dominions to the Pope:* 1.50 He governed the Kingdom very well; but at the end of two Years he went to Rome, either to solicit Aid for the King against the Barons, or to be present at a General Council. He left

Geofry de Marisco,* 1.51 Lord Keeper of Ireland; to whom, ne∣vertheless, Sir Edmond Butler was Assistant or Coadjutor. It was about this Time the Citizens of Dublin obtained a Li∣cence to build a Bridge over the Liffy, where they pleased: And not long after, they also got a Fee-Farm of the City of Dublin, from the King, at a certain Rent: (but I take that to have been anno 1217. and if so, the King here meant, must be Henry III.)

It seems these Times were very Quiet; for I find no men∣tion of any War or Rebellion, except some small Stirs in Connaught; which were not so Great or Considerable, as that the Particulars should be transmitted to posterity.

In the mean Time William, Earl Marshal (who came to Ireland anno 1207.) was employed in building his Castle of Kilkenny, and the Abbey of Black-Fryers there: He also in∣corporated that Town, by the Name of Sovereign Burgesses and Communalty; and granted them a Privilege, to be quit of Toll, Lastage and Pontage, and all other Customs through∣out Leinster, and afterwards went to England. And thus stood the Government of Ireland during the Life of King John; who died at Newark the nineteenth Day of October 1216.* 1.52

Notes

• * 1.1

  1189.
• * 1.2

  Speed. 482.
• * 1.3

  Davis, 19.
• * 1.4

  Hanmer, 169.
• * 1.5

  Ibid, 162.
• * 1.6

  1189.
• * 1.7

  Hanmer, 177.
• * 1.8

  Lib. G.
• * 1.9

  1190.
• * 1.10

  1191.
• * 1.11

  Burlace, 11.
• * 1.12

  1191.
• * 1.13

  Cambden, 151.
• * 1.14

  1197.
• * 1.15

  Camden's An∣nals
• * 1.16

  1199.
• * 1.17

  Libb. GGG.
• * 1.18

  Lamberh.
• * 1.19

  1200.
• * 1.20

  1202.
• * 1.21

  1203.
• * 1.22

  Ware de Presul. 17.
• * 1.23

  Speed, 508.
• * 1.24

  1203.
• * 1.25

  April. 3. 1205.
• * 1.26

  May 2. 1205.
• * 1.27

  Lib. GGG 6.
• * 1.28

  1206.
• * 1.29

  1208.
• * 1.30

  4 Inst. 359.
• * 1.31

  Lib. GGG.
• * 1.32

  Hanmer, 186.
• * 1.33

  Prin, 250.
• * 1.34

  Temple 6.
• * 1.35

  Hanmer 187.
• * 1.36

  1209.
• * 1.37

  1210.
• * 1.38

  Speed 508.
• * 1.39

  Cambden 152.
• * 1.40

  Lib. M. 25.
• * 1.41

  Inst. 141. b. 4 Inst. 349.
• * 1.42

  Temple, 6.
• * 1.43

  Davis, 90. lib. M.
• * 1.44

  Lib. GGG.
• * 1.45

  1210.
• * 1.46

  1211.
• * 1.47

  1212.
• * 1.48

  Hanmer, 184.
• * 1.49

  July 23.
• * 1.50

  1213.
• * 1.51

  1215.
• * 1.52

  1216.