Page 141
THIS Countrey, the Natives call Leighnigh,* 1.1 the Britaines Lein; in Latine Lagenia; in the ancient lives of the Saints, Lagen; and in English, Leinster. It lyeth East∣ward along Hibernicunt Sea: on Connaught-side West-ward it is bounded with the River Shanon; the North with the Territorie of Louth, and the South with part of the Province of Munster. This Countie butteth upon England, as Mounster and Connaught doe upon Spaine.
* 1.2(2) The forme thereof is triangle, and sides not much unequall, from her South-East unto the West-point about eightie miles, from thence to her North-West about seven∣tie miles, and her East-Coast along the Irish Sea-shore, eightie: the circumference upon two hundred and seventie miles.
* 1.3(3) The Ayre is cleere and gentle, mixt with a temperate disposition, yeelding neither extremitie of heat or cold, ac∣cording to the seasonable times of the yeere, and the natu∣rall condition of the Continent. The Soile is generally fruit∣full, plentifull both in Fish and Flesh,* 1.4 and in other victuals, as Butter, Cheese, and Milke. It is fertile in Corne, Cattle, and pasture grounds, and would be much more, if the hus∣bandman did but apply his industrie, to which he is invited by the commodiousnesse of the Countrey. It is well watered with Rivers, and for the most part well wooded, except the Countie of Divelin,* 1.5 which complaines much of that want, being so destitute of wood, that they are compelled to use a clammy kinde of fat turfe for their fuell, or Sea-coale brought out of England.
(4) The Inhabitants of these parts in Ptolemies dayes were the Brigantes,* 1.6 Menapii, Cauci, and Blani; from which Blani may seeme to be derived and contracted the latter and mo∣derne names of this Country, Lein, Leighnigh, and Leinster, The Menapii (as the name doth after a sort imply) came from the Menapians, a Nation in Low Germany, that dwelt by the Sea-Coasts. These Brigantes, called also Brigantes, Florianus del Campo (a Spaniard) labours to fetch from the Brigants of his owne Country, of whom an ancient Citie in Spaine (called Brigantia) tooke the name. But they may seeme ra∣ther to derive their denomination from the River Birgus, a∣bout which they inhabited; for to this the very name is al∣most sufficient to perswade us.
* 1.7(5) The Commodities of this Countrey do chiefly con∣sist in Cattle, Sea-fowle, and Fish. It breeds many excellent good horses, called Irish Hobbies, which have not the same pace that other horses have in their course, but a soft and round amble, setting very easily.
(6) This Country hath in it three Rivers of note, ter∣med in old time the three Sisters,* 1.8 Shour, Neor, and Barraeo, which issue out of the huge Mountaine (called by Giraldus, Bladinae Montes) as out of their mothers wombe, and from their rising tops descending with a down-fall into severall Channels, before they empty themselves into the Ocean, joyn hand in hand all together in a mutual league and combi∣nation.
* 1.9(7) Places very dangerous for shipping, are certaine slats and shallowes in the Sea, that lye over against Holy-point, which the Mariners call the Grounds. Also the shelves of sand that lye a great way in length opposite to Newcastle, which overlooketh them into the Sea from the top of an high hill adjoyning.
(8) In this Province are placed many faire and wealthy Townes,* 1.10 as Kilkenny, which for a Burrough Towne excels all the midland Burroughs in this Iland▪ Kildare,* 1.11 which is adorned with an Episcopall See, and much graced in the first infancie of the Irish Church, by reason of Saint Bridgid a venerable Virgin, had in great account and estimation for her virginitie and devotion, as who was the Disciple of Saint Patricke of so great fame, renowne, and antiquitie: also Weis∣ford (a name given unto it by these Germans,* 1.12 whom the I∣rish terme Oustmans) a towne though inferiour to some, yet as memorable as any, for that it became the first Colony of the English, and did first submit it selfe unto their protection, being assaulted by Fitz-Stephen, a Captaine worthily made famous for his valour and magnanimitie.
* 1.13(9) But the Citie which fame may justly celebrate alone, beyond all the Cities or Townes in Ireland, is that which we call Divelin, Ptolemie Eblana, the Latinists Dublinium, and Dublinia; the West-Britaines, Dinas Dulin; the English-Saxons in times past. Duplin; and the Irish, Balacleigh, that is, the Towne upon hurdles: for it is reported that the place being fennish and moorish, when it first began to be builded, the foundation was laid upon hurdles.
* 1.14(10) That it is ancient, is perswaded by the authoritie of Ptolemie. That it was grievously rent and dismembred in the tumultuous warres of the Danes, and brought afterwards under the subjection of Eadgar King of England, (which his Charter also confirmeth, wherein he calleth it the noble Citie of Ireland) is written by Saxo Grammaticus.* 1.15 That it was built by Harold of Norway, which may seeme to be Harold Harfager, when he had brought the greatest part of Ireland into an awfull obedience unto him, we reade in the life of Griffeth ap Sinan Prince of Wales. At length it yeelded unto the valour and protection of the English, at their first arrivall into Ireland, by whom it was manfully defended from the fierce assaults as well of Auscoulph Prince of the Dublinians, as afterwards of Gottard King of the Isles: since which time it hath still augmented her flourishing estate, and given approved testimony of her faith and loyaltie to the Crowne of England, in the times of any tumultu∣ous straights and commotions.
(11) This is the royall seat of Ireland,* 1.16 strong in her mu∣nition, beautifull in her buildings, and (for the quantitie) matchable to many other Cities, frequent for traffique and intercourse of Merchants. In the East Suburbs, Henry the second,* 1.17 King of England (as Hoveden reporteth) caused a royall Palace to be erected: and Henry Loundres, Archbishop of Divelin,* 1.18 built a store-house about the yeer of Christ 1220. Not farre from it is the beautifull Colledge consecrated un∣to the name of the holy Trinitie, which Queene Elizabeth of famous memorie, dignified with the priviledges of an V∣niversitie. The Church of S. Patricke being much enlarged by King Iohn,* 1.19 was by Iohn Comin Arch-bishop of Dubline, borne at Euesham in England, first ordained to be a Church of Prebends in the yeere 1191. It doth at this day maintaine a Deane, a Chanter, a Chancellor, a Treasurer, two Arch-Deacons, and twenty-two Prebendaries.
This Citie in times past, for the due administration of Civill Government, had a Provost for the chiefe Magistrate. But in the yeer of mans Redemption 1409.* 1.20 King Henry the fourth granted them libertie to choose every yeere a Maior and two Bailiffes,* 1.21 and that the Maior should have a guilt sword carried before him for ever. And King Edward the sixt (to heape more honour upon this place) changed the two Bailiffes afterwards into Sheriffes: so that there is not any thing here wanting that may serve to make the estate of a Citie most flourishing.
(12) As the people of this Countie doe about the neigh∣bouring parts of Divelin come neerest unto the civill condi∣tions and orderly subjection of the English:* 1.22 so in places far∣ther off they are more tumultuous, being at deadly feuds a∣mongst themselves, committing oft-times Man-slaughters one upon another, and working their owne mischiefes by mutuall wrongs:* 1.23 for so the Irish of Leinster wasted Leinster with many Townes in the same Province in the yeere 1294. And in the yeere 1301. the men of Leinster in like manner raised a warre in the winter season, setting on fire the Town of Wykinlo, Rathdon, and others, working their owne plague and punishment by burning up their sustenance,* 1.24 and losing their Castle by depredation.
(13) Matter of observation, and no lesse admiration a∣mong them,* 1.25 is the Giants dance, commonly so called, and so much talked of, which Merlin is said by Art Magick to have translated out of this. Territory unto Salisburie Plain: which how true it is, I leave to the vaine beleevers of miracles, and to the credulous observers of antiquitie.
(14) In this County have beene erected many famous Monasteries,* 1.26 Abbies, and religious houses, consecrated to de∣vout and holy purposes: as the Monasterie of Saint Maries of Oustmanby, founded for preaching Friers, unto which of late dayes the Iudiciall Courts of the Kingdome have beene translated: also the magnificent Abbey called S. Thomas Court at Dublin, builded and endowed in times past with many large priviledges and revenewes of King Henry the second, in expiation of the murther of Thomas Archbishop of Can∣terburie. Likewise Tinteru Monastery, or the notable Abbey which William Marshall Earle of Pembroke founded and cal∣led De voto, for that he had vowed to God (being tossed at Sea with many a fore and dangerous tempest) to erect an Abbey wheresoever he came to land, and being (after ship∣wrack) cast upon land in this place, he made performance of his vow accordingly.
This Province containeth the Counties of Kilkenny, Cater∣loge, Queens County, Kings County, Kildare, East Meath, West Meath, Weisford, and Dublin (to say nothing of Wicklo and Fernes, which either be already, or else are to be annexed unto it) and subdivided into fifteene Market-Towns.* 1.27 It hath beene fortified with the strength of many Castles against the power of enemies, and is thus divided:
| Counties, | East Meath. | Caterlough. | Kildare. |
| West Meath. | Queenes County. | Weisford. | |
| Kilkenny. | Kings County. | Dublin. |