Columbia ®nitJtrj^ftp LIBRARY ancient 3Iti0!) ftiistorfes. HISTORIE OF IRELAND, Written in the Yeare 1571. BY EDMUND CAMPION, SOMETIME FELLOW OF ST. JOHn's COLLEDGE, IN OXFOKD. IDublint Printed by the Society of Stationers, M.DCXXXIII. REPRINTED AT THE HIBERNIA PRESS, FOR THE PROrRIETORS, By John Morrisson. 1809. DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. The Works to he Bound in the following Order VOL. I. 1. General Title. 2. Subscribers' Names. 3. Vignette. 4. Dedication to the Dablin Society. 5. Title to Spencer. 6. Ware's Dedicatory- Epistle. 7- P*reface. 8. Spencer's View of Ireland. 9. Title of Campion's Histoiy. 10. Ware's Epistle Dedicatory. " 11. Preface, in Italic. 12. Campion's Epistle Dedicatory. K"'"' *^' ^*^ ^"°^^^^' 13. " To the loving Reader." J 14. Campion's History to follow, instead of Hanmer's Chronicle. VOL ir. 1. General Title. 2. Hanmer's Title. 3. Hanmer's Chronicle, beginning with the last Leaf of Signature 2 B. in the 5th Number. 4. Marlebvrrovgh's Title. ft. Marlebvrrovgh's Chronicle. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS LO: VISCOVNT VVENTVVORTH, LO: DEPVTY GENERALL OF IRELAND. JL HESE two Bookes (right Honorable) now pub- lished for the common benefit, I doe here humbly ofFer to your Lordships view, as containing Annales and other worthy memorialls of this Kingdome, whereof it hath pleased his most Excellent Majesty to constitute you the Governor. And hovv-ever it cannot be denyed, that the judicious eye may dis- cerne, especially in Campion, many slips, through want of necessai*y instructions, yet in regard of the great light which els -where these Histories doe af- foord to the knowledge of former times, and the good use which may be made of them by any who have leisure, desire, and ability to erect and polish <5 B iR'?t94 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. lasting structure of our Irish alFalres, 1 am em- bouldned to present them to your Lordships pa- tronage, whose government I beseech the Al- mighty so to blesse ; that it may bee long a hap- pines to this land. You7' ZfOrdships ever humhli/ at commandemenf, JAMES WARE. THE PREFACE SVBSEQVENT HISTORIES. kVHAT varietie of cJioyse matter the affaires of this Kingdome doe affoord to an Historian, espe* daily since the middle of the raigne of King Henry the VIII. any one that is hut meanely versed in oui Histories can testifie : But if we consider how little hath hetherto bin published, ivee cannot but blame the sloivnes of our learned men, who have (for by -re- spects J forborne to take paines in so worthy a sub- ject. England hath had the happines that some parts of her Historic have bin lately excellently pei formed, by the right honorable Francis late Viscount St. Alban, the right Reverend Francis Xo; Bishop of Hereford, the most learned William Camden and others. Some will hereafter, I hope, doe the like for Jreland : In the meane ivhile we are to accept of these tastes, the one left unto us by Edmund Cam- b2 THE PREFACE. pion, and the other hy Doctor Hanmer, ivho died Cof the plague in Dublin in they ear e M.DC. IIII.J before he had finished his intended worke: out of whose collections, what now beareth his name hath bin preserved hy our most Reverend and excellently learned Primate. Other helpes (7o j9fl55e by those which are already divulged^ may be jylentifully had by him luho ivill undertake this taske, out of the aun- cient and moderne recordes, both in this King dome and in England, as also out of diverse manuscript Annalcs and Chartularies, which are yet extant among us, besides those authors of English birth, as John VValllngford a Monke of St. Alban, Thomas VVike a Canon of Osney, and others, (which I have scene) in that excellent library and treasury of AISS. antiquities, gathered by Sir Robert Cotton hiight a,nd JBaronett deceased, who doe onely obiter touch npon our affaires. An intention there ivas not long sijice by Sir James Ley knight then Lord Chief e Jus- tice of the Kings J3e7ich in t/reland, (^afterivards Lord High Treasurer of England and Earle of MarlehurghJ to have published some of our country ivriters in this kiride, for luhich end hee caused to be transcrihed and made fit for the Presse, the Annales of John Clynne a Friar minor of Kilkenny, (who THE PREFACE. lived in the. lime of King Edw. tJie 3.) the Annala^ of the Priory of S. John the Evangelist of Kil- kenny, and the Annales of Multifernan, Rosse and Clonmell, §'c. JBut his iveighty occasions did nfler- ivards divert his purpose. The copies arc yet pre- se7'ved, and J hope ere long with other Annales and fragments of the same nature will he divulged, ff^ee come noiv to the Authors in hand. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT DUDLEY, BARON OF DENBIGH, jEJABLE of LEICESTER, KNIGHT OF THE NOBLE OEPEE, OF THE GARTER, AND S. MICHAELS, MASTER OF THE QUEENES MAJESTIES HORSE, AND ONE OF HER PRIVY COUNCELL, HIGH CHAUN- CELLOUR OF THE VNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. My singular good Lord, 1 HAT my travalle into Ireland, might seeme nei- ther causlesse, nor fruitlesse, I have thought it ex- pedient, being one member of your Lordships ho-> norable charge to yeeld you this poore book, as an ac» compt of my poore voyage, happily not the last, nor the most beautifull present that is intended to youi Honour by me, but surely more full of unsavoury toyle for the time, then any plot of worke that ever I ^ attempted,- which I v* rite, not of vanity to commend my diligence, but of necessitie to excuse mine imper- THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. fection. For whereas it is well knowne to the learned in this land, how late it was ere I could meet with Gerald of Wales, the onely Author that ministreth some indifferent furniture to this Chronicle, and with what search I have been driven to piece out the rest by helpe of forreine Writers (incidently touching this Real me) by a number of briefe extracts of rolles, records and scattered papers. These things (I say) considered, 1 trust this little volume shall seeme great enough in such barren shift, & my defect in penning the same shalbe imputed partly to my haste, Avho must needs have ended all before I should leave the land, and am now even upon point of my departure. So as to handle and lay these things together, I had not in all the space of ten weekes. Such as it is, I addresse and bequeath it to your good Lordship, for two causes. First that by the patron- age of this Booke you may be induced to weigh the estate and become a patron to this noble Realme, which claimeth kindred of your eldest auncestors, and ioveth entirely your noble virtues : The fame whereof is now carried by those strangers that have felt them into many forraine countryes that never saw your person. Secondly because there is none that knoweth mee fa- miliarly, but he knoweth withall how many vvayes I THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. have been beholding to your Lordship. The regard of your deserts and of my duty hath easily wonne at my hands this testimony of a thankefuU minde. I miffht be thouo-ht ambitious, if I should recount in particular the times & places of your severall cour- tesies to mee. How often at Oxford, how often at the Court, how at Rycot, how at Windsore, how by letters, how by reportes, you have not ceased to fur- ther with advice and to countenance with authority, the hope and expectation of mee a single Student. Therefore in summe it shall suffice mee to acknow- ledge the generall heape of your bounties, and for them all to serve your honour frankely, at least wise with a true heart: Let eveiy man esteeme in your state and fortune, the thing that best contenteth and feedeth his admiration; But surely to a judgement setled and rectified, these outward felicities which the world gazeth on, are there, and therefore to be denied, praiseable when they lodge those inward qua- lities of the minde, which (saving for suspition of flattery) I was about to say are planted in your breasts Tliirteene yeares to have lived in the eye aild speciall n credit of a Prince, yet never during all that space to t*^<^ have abused this ability to any mans harme, to be enriched with no mans overthrow, to be kindled THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. neither with grudge nor emulation, to benefit an in-- finite resort of dayly sutors, to let downe your calling to the neede of meane subjects, to retaine so lowly a stomacke, such a facility, so mllde a nature in so high a vocation, to undertake the tuition of learning and learned men. These are indeede the kirnels for the which the shell of your nobilitie seemeth faire and sightly; This is the sap, for whose preservation the barke of your noble tree is tendered. This is the substance which maketh you worthy of these Orna- ments wherewith you are attyred, and in respect of these good gifts as I for my part have ever bin de- sirous to discover an officious and dutifull minde to- wards your Lordship, so will I never cease to betake the uttermost of my power and skill to your service, nor to begge of Almighty God your plentifuU in- crease in godlines, wisdome and prosperity. Fare you well: From Dublin 2/ May, 1571. Your Lordships humbly to commaund. EDIMUND CAMPION. TO THE LOVING READER. ^T my times of leisure from ordinary studies, I have since my first arj'ivall hither, enquired out an- tiquityes of the land, wherein being holpen by diverse friendly Gentlemen, I have given tJi adventure to frame a Story, which I bring from the very first originall untill tU end of this last year e 1570. I fol- low these Authors, Giraldus Cambrensis, who de- videth his worke into two parts, frorn the first (ivhich is stuffed with much impertinent matter J I borrow so much as serveth the turne directly, the second which containeth tivo hookes, and discourseth the conquest of Henry Fitz Empresse, / abridge into one Chap- ter: where Cambrensis endeth, there beginneth a nameles Author, ivho in certaine shor't notes containeth a Chronologic until the yeare of Christ 1370. From thence to Henry the Eight, because nothing is extant orderly written, and the same is time beyond any mans memory, I scamble forward with such records as could he sought up, and am enforced to he the TO THE READER. brief ei\ From Henry tJi eight hitherto ^ I tooke in- structions by mouth, whomsoever I bring besides these helpes, either mine own observation hath found it, or S07ne friend hath e) formed me, or cojimon opinion hath 7'eceived it, or I reade it in a pamphlet, or f the Author be worthy the naming I quote him in the margent. Scottish Histories I used these twaine, famous in their times, John Major, aiid Hector Boe- thius. For English, ivJierein the state of Ireland is oft implyed, because I am not in j)l(ice to examine the auncient, I have credited these late writei^s, Fabian, Polidore, Cooper, Hall, Grafton, and Stowe: dili- gent and thaakesworthy collectors. Touching the rest of all sorts, from ivhose bookes I jncke matter to my purpose, they are mentioned as they fall in lire, which here I list not to reckon, being loath to fill the page with a ranke of empty names. Irish Chronicles, although they be i^eported to be full fraught of lewde examples, idle tales, and genealo- gies: Et quicquid Graecia mendax audet in historia, yet concerriing the state of that ivilde people specified before the conquest. I am persivaded that with choice and fiulgment, I rnight have sucked thence some better store of matter, and gladly ivould have sought them, had I found an interpreter, or understood their TO THE READEK. tongue, til one so rare, that scarcely five in five' hundred can skill thereof, tK other so hard, that it aslceth continuance in the Land, of more yeares then I had moneths to spare about this husines, my speciall meaning luas to gather so much as I thought the civill subjects could bee content to reade, and withall to give a light to the learned ulntiquaries of this Countrey birth, who may hereafter at good leisure supply the IV ant of this foundation, and pollish the stone rouQ-h hewed to their hand. JVotivithstandinsr as naked and simple as it is, it could never have growne to any proportio7i in such post-haste, except I had eyitered into such familiar societie, and daylie table talke luith the ivorshipfidl Esquii^e lames Stanlhursty Recorder of Dublin. Who beside all curtesie of Hospitality, and a thousand loving turmes not here to be recited, both by ivord and written monuments, and by the benefit of his owne Library, nourished 7nost effectually mine endeavour. It remaineth that I request my countrymen to bend their good liking to my goodwill, and the English of Ireland to fa- vour the memory of their noble aunccstors, bolli twaine to deliver me from all undue and ivrong suspitions, howsoever the priviledge of an history hath tempered mine inke ivith sweet or sowre i/igrr- TO THE READER. dients. Verily as touching the affaires and j^ersons heere deciphered, how little cause I have with any Mind and corrupt affection, either wayes to he Tniscarryed, thernselves Icnoiu best that heere he noted yet living, and other hy enquiring may conjecture. Fareivell. From Dvoghedah the 9. of June. 1571. CAMPION'S HISTORIE OF IRELAND. THE FIRST BOOKE CAP. I. The Site and speciall jmrts of Jreland. Ireland lleth a-loofe in the West Ocean, and is deemed by the later Survey, to be in length well-nigh three hundred miles north & south : broad from East to West one hundred and twentie. In proportion it resembleth an ^gg^, blunt and plaine on the sides, not reaching forth to Sea, in nookes and elbowes of Land, as Brittaine doth. Long since, it was devided into foure regions, Leins- ter East, Connaght West, Vlster North, Mounster South, and into a lift plot defalked from every fourth part, lying together in the heart of the Realme, called thereof Media, Meath. B 2 campion's historie Each of these five (where they are framahle to civi- htv, and answere the writts of the Crowne,) be sundred into shires and counties, after this manner. In Leinster lye the counties of Dubhn, Kildare, Weixford, Caterlagh, Kilkenny, King & Queenes counties, these two lately so named by Parliament in the raignes of PJdlip and, Mary, having Shire-townes accordant, Phillpstown and Marryborrow. Septes, Irish of name planted in these quarters, they reckon, the IMi'nes, Tooles, Cauanaghes , which is the nation of Macmurroiv^ Omores^ Oconnores, Odemj7si/es, Oduiu Citties of best account, Dyvelin: the beauty and eye of Ireland, fast by a goodly river, which Camhrensis calleth Avenlifius. Ptolomi/ Libnius, they call the Lyffie. The seat hereof is in many respects comfort- able, but less frequented of marehant strangers, be- cause of the bard haven. Kildare hath Kildare and the Naass. Weixford hath Weixford and Ross. Kil- kennv hath Kilkenny the best dry towne in Ireland on the Soutbside of the river Suirus, also Callan and "Thomas towne. Meath is devided into East and West Meath, and the comities of Longford. Here dwelleth ancient Irish families (sometime Princes & Potentates) Oma- highlen, Mac-Coghlan Obrien, Omulloi/, Omadden, OF IRELAND. Macgoghigan, the Fox. This whole part, and the veyne of Finegale in Leinster, are best imployed with husbandry, and taken to be the richest soyles in Ireland. Connaght hath as yet but the county Clare, the town of Athenry : & Galway, a proper neat city at the sea side. Herein Turlogh More Oconrier was a peere, & parted the whole betwixt his two Sonnes, Ca/ial, and JB?ye)i Oconnor. In it are now cheife Irish, Breni Oreli, JBreni Oruarhe, Ocoimo?' Sl/go, Odoude, Oliara Macphilipjnn, 3Iac-dermot, Oconnor donn, Oconiior- Hoe, the O-kellies, Mac-glomore, of Langues, L. Bermingham, Omalij, Mac-william Muter ^ Oflaherty, Clanricarde. Vlster wherein Oneale & Odonil are cheife Irish, contayneth the counties, Louth, Down, Antrim, one moity of Droghdah (for the rest is in Meath) cheife town of Louth Dundalk, of Down, Down, & Carling- ford, of Droghdagh, Droghdaghe, of Antrim, Cnock- fergus, called also Cragfergus. This part is dissevered from Meath and Leinster by the river Boandus, which breaketh out beside Lo^h- foyle, a bogg betweene Ardmagh, and S. Patrlckeis Purgatorie. Camhrensis reputeth the bogge af 30. miles in length, and halfe so much in breadth, and the same once firme Land, to have beene suddenly ouer- flowen, for the bestiall incest committed there, unfit to be told. 4 CAMPION S HISTORIE In Mounster lye the counties of Waterford, Lime- ricke, Cork, counties Pallatine of Tipperary, Kerry, and exempt from priviledge the Crosse of Tipperarie. Waterford hath Dongarvon, and Waterford full of traffique with England, France, and Spaine, by meanes of their excellent good Haven. Limericke hath Kilmallocke lately sackt by lames Fitz Moince^ and the Citie Limiricum, coasting on the sea, hard upon the river Shannon, whereby are most notably severed Mounster and Connaght. Corke hath Kinsale, Yowghall, and the Cittie Corke, Tipperary hath Tipperary, Clonmell, Fidderstown, Cassell. Mounster was of old time devided into East- Mounster, Ormond, West-Mounster, Desmond, South- Mounster, Thomond. Here dwell Obrenes, Macnemar- raes, Mack-mahownes, and one sept of the Offlherties. In these quarters lyeth the Countryes of O-CaV' roll, 0-Magher, the white Knight, Mac-Ibrine, 0-Gaunaghe. Waterford contayneth the Powers, and Deces. Corke the Barries Lands, Imokillie, Carbarrie, Maccarty-more, Maccarty-reagh, L. Roches lands, Osulivan, Muscry, L. Courci/, and diverse more, some of Irish blood, some degenerate and become Irish. OF IRELAND. 5 Limericke hath in it the Knight of the valley, TVil- Iiam3u7^cke, Mac-Ibrine Ara, part of the white Knights Lands, Cosmay, Oh'enes, and upon the edge of Kerrie the greene Knight, alias the knight of Kerrie. Leinster butteth upon England, Mounsterand Con- naght upon France and Spaine, Vlster upon the Scottish Hands (which face with Hebrides) scattered between both realmes ; wherein at this day, the Irish Scot Suc- cessour of the old Scythian Pict or Redshancke dwell eth. The spirituall Jurisdiction ^ is ordered into 4. Pro- vinces whereof the primacy was euer given (in reve- rence toward Saint Patricke their Apostle) to the Archbishoppe of Ardmagha, now called Ardmagh, which custome was since confirmed hjEugenius the 3. who sent withall 3. other prelates to be placed, one at Dublin, one at Cashell, & the last at Tuam. To these are suffraganes in right 29, and all they inferiour to the Primate of Ardmaghe : under his province are the Bishopprickes of Meath, Derry, Ardagh, Kilmore, Clogher, Downe, Coner, Clonmacknoes, Rapho, and Dromore. Vnder Dublin ^ (whereunto Innocentiiis 3. united Glandelagh) are the Bishop of Elphine, Kildarc, Femes, Ossorie and Laighlein. ' Bishops in Ireland. Bern, in vita Malach. An. 114S. " Dublin, an. 1212, S. Pat. booke of Recordes. 6 campion's historie Vnder Cashell are B. of Waterford, Lysmore, Corke, & Clone, Rosse, Ardigh, Llmericke, Emely, Killalo, Ardferte. Vnder Tuam the B. of Kilmaco, Olfine, Anagh- doune, Clonfert, Mayo. In this recount some diver- sities have happened by reason of personall and reall Union of the Seas and for other alterations. An old distinction there is of Ireland into Irish & English pales, for when the Irish had raised continual tumults against the English planted heere with the Conquest. At last they coursed them into a narrow circuite of certaine shires in Leinster, which the "English did choose, as the fattest soyle, most defen- sible, their proper right, and most open to receive helpe from England. Hereupon it was termed their pale, as whereout they durst not peepe. But now both within this pale, uncivill Irish and some rebells doe dwell, and without it, Countreyes and cities English are well governed. CAP. II. The temporall Nohility. By conference with certaine gentlemen, attendants upon Sir Hanry Sidney, Lord Depiitie, (who excel- leth in that knowledge) I tooke notice of the most OP IRELAND. 7 noble English families in Ireland, which heere ensue with their surnames as they stand at this present. Gerald Fitz Gerald Earle of Kildare, this house was of the nobilitie of Florence, came thence to Nor- mandie, and so with earle Stranghow his kinsman, (whose Armes hee giveth) into Wales, neere of hloud to Rice ap Griffin Prince of Wales, by Festa the mother of Morice Fitz Gerald, and Robert Fitz Ste- pJiens: with the said Earle it removed into Ireland, one of the speciall conquerours thereof. One record that I have scene, nameth a Geraldine the first Earle of Kildare, in anno 1289. But another saith, there dyed a Geraldine the fourth Earle of Kildare in anno 1316. the family is touched in the sonnet of Surrey, made upon Kildares sister, now Lady Clinton. From Tnscane came my Ladyes worthy race, Faire Florence was sometime her ancient seate, The ivestern Isle whose pleasant shore doth face, JVilde Cambres cliffes did give her lively heate. His eldest sonne Lord Gerald, Baron of Ophalye, I reade the Geraldine Lord of Ophalye, in anno 12/0. Sir Thomas Butler, Earle of Ormond and Ossor^-e : the Rutlers were ancient English Gentlemen, preferred to the Earldome of Ormond in the first of Edward the 3. Anno 1327. which fell upon heires generall, lastly upon Sir Thomas Butler Earle of Wilshire, after 8 ^ campion's historie whose disfavour it reversed to the name of Pierce JButler, whom httle before King H. 8. had created Earle of Ossorye. Theo. Butler was Lord of the Car- ricke. An. 1205. And Earle of Tipperarie 1300. or sooner : The Latine History calleth him Dominum de Pmcerna, the Enghsh Le JBottille)% whereby it ap- peareth that bee had some such honour about the Prince, his very surname is JBecket, who was advanced by H. le 2. in recompence of the injurie done to TAo- mas of Canterburie their kinsman. His eldest sonne Lord Butler, Viscount Thurles. Gerald Fitz Gerald, Earle of Desmond, Morice Fitz Thomas, a Geraldine, was created Earle of Des- mond the same yeare : soone after that the Butler he- came Earle of Ormond. The Irish say, that the elder house of the Geraldines was made Earle of Desmond, though Kildare be the more ancient Earle. His eldest sonne L. Fitz Go'ald of Desmond, Ba- ron of Inshycoin. Sir Richard Bur eke, Earle of Clanriccard, a braunch of the English family, de Burge Lord Burgh, who were noble men before their arrivall into Ireland. His eldest sonne J^lioke Burge Baron of Donkeline. Conegher Ohrene, Earle of Tumond : the name of Earle given to Murroughe Obrene for terme of life, and OF IRELAND. 9 after to Donoghe Obrene, An. 5. Ediu. 6. now con- firmed to the heires male. His eldest Sonne Xo. Obrene, Baron of Ibrecane. Mac Cartimore, Earle of Clarcar, created An. 1565. His eldest sonne Lo: Baron of Valentia, Viscount Barrie. Viscount Roche. Preston, Viscount of Gormanston, whereunto is lately annexed the Barony of Lounders, their aunces- tour Preston, then cheife Baron of the Exchequer, was made Knight in the field by Lionell Duke of Cla- rence, Lieutenant of Ireland. Eustace alias Poivere, Viscount of Baltinglasse, Lord of KilkuUen, to him and his heires male An. H. 8. 33. Their ancestour Robert le Poivere '^as sent into Ireland with commission, and in his OfF-spring hath rested heere since An. 1175. Power e alias Eustace is written Baron of Domvile An. 1317. Sir Richard Butler, Viscount Mongaret, to him and his heires males An. Edw. 6, 5. Viscount Deces. Lord Bernningham, Baron of Athenrye, now dege- nerate and become meere Irish, against whom his aun- cestors served valiantly in An. 1300. c 10 - CAMPION S HISTORIE Sir JRichard JBermingham was Lord of Athenrye. 1316. lohn JBermingham Baron de Atrio del, Anno 1318. Mac Morice alias Fit% Gerald, Baron of Kerye. Lord Courcye a poore man, not very Irish, the aun- cient descent of the Qoinxijes planted in Ireland with the Conquest, Lord Flemmynge Baron of Slane, Simon Flemmynge was Baron of Slane in Anno 1 370. Plonket, Baron of Killyne: this family came in with the Danes, whereof they have as yet speciall monu- pients. Ni(ge7iti Baron of Delvin. Saint Laurence, Baron of Hothe. Plonket, Baron of Doonesawny, Barnewally Baron of Trimleston : they came from little Brittaine, where they are at this day a great sur- name, upon their first arrivall they wonne great poS't sessions at Beirnhaven, where at length by conspiracie of the Irish, they were all slaine, except one yong man, %vho then studied the common Lawes in England, who returning, dwelt at Dromnaghe beside Divelin, and his heires are there at this day : from thence a second brother remooved to Sirestone, and so to Trimlestone, OF IRELAND. 11 and married the Lady Bruns, who caused him to be made Baron. This writeth the Lord of Donsany. JEdwar'd Butler, Baron of Donboyne, given to Ed* mond Bidler esquire, and his heires males, An. 33. H. 8. Fitz Patricke, Baron of upper Ossory, given to JBar- nahie Mac Gilpair'icke, and his heires males, An. 33. H. 8. Donnate Clonnaghe Mac Gilpatricke, was a peere- lesse warriour in Anno 1219. Phuket Baron of Loutlie, to Sir Chynstopher Phuket and his heires males, An. 33. H. 8. This Barony was an Earldome in An. 1316. appertaining to Ber- 7ningliam. Oueale, Baron of Dongannon, to whom the Earle- 4ome of Terone was entayled by gift of H. 8. Poiuerej Baron of Curraghmore. Mac Swetau Lord Deseret, whom Sir Henry Sidney called lordau de Exetei\ This was Lord in the time of /y20?ze// Duke of Clarence, An. 1361. now very wilde Irish. 12 campion's hktorie Murroghe Ohrene, Baron of Insickeyhe, to him and his heires males, An. 35. H. 8. Mac Costilaghe^ L. Nangle, whom Sir Henri/ Sid- ney called de Angulo, now very Irish. Mac TVilliam Burche, Lord of eighter Connaght, now very Irish, Baronets. Seintleger^ Baronet of Slemarge, meere Irish. Den, Baronet of Por man ston, waxing Irish. Fit% Gei^ald, Baronet of Burnchurch. Welleslye, Baronet of Narraghe. Husee, Baronei^of Gal trim. S. Michell, Baronet of Reban. Mariuarde, Baronet of Scryne. JSfangle, Baronet of the Navan. English gentlemen of longest continuance in Ire- land are the race of those which at this day, either in great povertie, or perill, doe keepe the properties of their auncestors lands in Vlster, being then compa- nions to Coiircy the conquerour and Earle of that part. These are the Savages, lordanes, Fit% Si/- monds, Chamberlaines, Mussels, Bensons^ Audleyes, Jf^hites, Fitz Vrsidyes, now degenerate, & called in Irish, Mac Mahon the Beares sonne. OF IRELAND. 13 CAP. III. Nature of the soyle, and other incidents. The soyle is low and wateiish, & includeth diverse little Hands, invironed with bogges and marishes : Highest hilles have standing pooles in their toppe, Inhabitants (especially new come) are subiect to dis- tillations, rhumes and flixes, for remedy whereof they use an ordinary drinke of Aquavitse, so qualified in the making, that it dryeth more, and inflameth lesse, then other bote confections. The aire is wholsome, not altogether so cleare and subtle as ours of Eng- land. Of Bees good store, no vineyards, contrary to the opinion of some writers, who both in this and other errours touching the land, may easily be ex- cused, as those that wTote of hearesay. Camhrensis in his time, complaineth that Ireland had excesse of wood, and very little champaigne ground, but now the English pale is too naked : TurflPe and Sea-coales is their most fuell : it is stored of kyne, of excellent horses, & hawkes, of fish and fowle. They are not without wolves, and grey- hounds to hunt them, bigger of bone and limme then a colt. Their kyne, as also their cattle, and com- monly what els soever the Countrey ingendreth (ex- cept man) is much lesse in quantity then ours of Eng- land. Sheepe few and those bearing course fleeces, 14 campion's historie whereof they spinne notable rugge mantle. The country is very fruitefull both of corne and grasse, the grasse for defavilt of Husbandrie (not for the cause alleage(f in Polyckronicon,^ groweth so ranke in the north parts, that oft times it rotteth their Kyne. Eagles are well knowne to breed heere, but neither so bigge nor so many as Bookes tell. Cam- hrensis reporteth of his owne knowledge, and 1 heare it averred by credible persons, that Barnacles, thou- sands at once, are noted along the shoares to hang by the beakes, about the edges of putrified timber, shippes, oares, anchor-holdes, and such like : which in processe taking lively heate of the Sunne, become water-foules, and at their time of ripenesse either fall into the sea, or fly abroad into the ayre. JEneas Sylvius (that after was Pope Pius the second) writeth himselfe, to have perceaved the like experiment in Scotland, where he learned the truth hereof, to be found in the Hands Orchades. Horses they have of pace easie, in running wonderfull swift. Therefore they make of them great store, as wherein at times of need they repose a great peice of safetie. This broode, Raphael Volateranus saith, to have come at first from Arturia the country of Spaine, betweene Gallicea and Portugall, whereof they were called As- turcones a name now properly applyed to the Spanish lennet. I heard it verified by Honourable to Honourable, that a Nobleman (offered and was refused) for one OF IRELAND. 15 such horse, an hundred kyne, five pound Lands, & an Aii*y of Hawks yearely during seven yeares. In the plaine of Kildare stood that monstrous heape of stones brought thither by Gyants from x\fFrique and removed tlience to the plaine of Sarisbury at the in- stance of Aurel. jlmbrose King of Brittaine. No venemous creping beast is brought forth or nourished, or can hve here, being sent in, and therefore the spider of Ireland is well knowne, not to be ve- nemous. Onely because a frogge was found living, in the Meadowes of Waterford, somewhat before the con- quest, they construed it to import their overthrowe. S. Sede writeth that Serpents conveyed hither did presently die being touched with smell of the land ; and that whatsoever came hence was then of Sove- raigne vertue against poyson. He exemplifieth in certaine men stung with Adders, who dranke in w^ater the scrapings of Bookes that had beene of Ireland, and w^ere cured. Generally it is observed, ^:he further West the lesse annoyance of pestilent creatures. The want whereof is to Ireland so peculiar, that whereas it lay long in question, to whether Realme, (Brittaine or Ireland) the He of Man should pertaine, the said controversie was decided, that forsomuch as venemous beasts w^ere knowne to breed therein, it could not be counted a paturall peice of Ireland. 16^ campion's HISTORIE ' Neither is this propertie to he ascribed to S. Pa- tricJces blessing (as they commonly hold) but to the originall blessing of God who gave such nature to the situation and soyle from the beginning. And though I doubt not, but it fared the better in many respects for that holy mans prayer, yet had it this condition notified hundred of yeares ere he was borne. CAP. nil. Of the Jrish tongue and the name Hibernia, Jrelamd. X FINDE it solemnely avouched in some of their pamphlets, that GatheluSy and after him Simon JBrecke, di vised their language out of all other tongues then extant in the world. But considering the course of enterchanging and blending speeches together, not by invention of Arte, but by use of talke, I am rather led to beleeve (seeing Ireland was inhabited within one yeare after the devision of the tongues) that JBastolenus a braunch of lapheth who first seased upon Ireland, brought hither the same kinde of Speech, some one of the seventie two Lan- guages, that to his family befell at the dissolution of Babell, unto whom succeeded the Scithians, Gre- cians, ^Egyptians, Spaniards, Danes : of all which tliis tongue must needes have borrowed part, but specially retaining the steps of Spanish then spoken OF IRELAND. IjT in Granado, as from their mightiest auncestors. ^ Since then to Henry Fltz Emjwesse the Conquerour, no such invasion happened them, as whereby they might be driven to infect their native language, untouched in manner for the space of 1 700. yeares after the ar- rivall of Hiberius. The tongue is sharpe and sen- tentious, ofFereth great occasion to quicke apothegmes and proper allusions, wherefore their common les- ters, Bards, and Rymers, are said to delight pas- singly those that conceive the grace and propriety of the tongue. But the true Irish indeede difFereth soit much from that they commonly speake, that scarce one among five score, can either write, read, or un* derstand it. Therefore it is prescribed among certaine their Poets, and other Students of Antiquitie. Touching the name Ibernia, the learned are npt yet agreed. Some write it Hihermia, and suppose that the strangers finding it in an odde end of the world, wet and fjrosty, tooke it at the first for a very cold coun- try, and accordingly named it, as to say, the winter land : Another bringeth a guesse of Irlamal, d of whom because I read nothing, I neither build upon that conjecture, nor controll it. Thirdly, they fetch it from Hiberus the Spaniard. Most credibly it is held that the Spaniards their founders for devotion toward Spaine, called then Iberia, and the rather for that * Munst. 1 2. * Irlamale Fab, part 2, cap, 32. D 18 campion's historije themselves had dwelled besides the famous river Iberus, named this land Iberia, (for so lohn Leland, and many forraine Chroniclers write it,) or Ibernia, adding the letter n. for difference sake, there being a rich Citty which Ptolome recounteth called then Ibernis, ^ & from Ibernia proceedeth Iberland or luer- land, from luerland by contraction Ireland, for so much as in corruption of common talke, wee finde that V, with his vowell, are easily lost and suppressed. So wee say ere for ever, ore for over, ene for even, nere for never, shoole for shovell, dile for divell. At the same time it was also named Scotia in reverence of Scota, the wife of Gathelus, auncient Capitaine of those Iberians, that flitted from Spaine into Ire- land. And the said Scota was olde grandame to Hiherus and Hirimon, after the Scottish Chronicles, ^ who in any wise will have their Countrymen derived from the Irish, and not from the Brittaines. CAP. V. Dispositions of the People, jL HE People are thus inclined ; religious, franke, amorous, irefull, sufferable, of paines infinite, very glorious, many sorcerers, excellent horsemen, de- • Pliny wTiteth it luuernia. Ibernis. luerland. Imland, 'lo. Ma. Sco. 1. I.e. 9. OF IRELAND. 19 lighted mth Warres, great almes-givers, passing in hospitalitie : the lewder sort both Clarkes and Lay- men, are sensuall and loose to leachery above mea- sure. The same being vertuously bred up or reformed, are such mirrours of holinesse and austeritie, that other Nations retaine but a shevve or shadow of de- votion in comparison of them. As for abstinence and fasting which these dayes make so dangerous, this is to them a familiar kinde of chastisement : In which vertue and diverse other, how farre the best excell, so farre in gluttonie and other hatefuU crimes the vi- tious they are worse then too badde. They follow the dead corpes to the grave with bowlings and barbarous out-cryes, pittyfull in apparance, whereof grew (as I suppose) the Proverbe, to weepe Irisli. The up- landish are lightly abused to believe and avouche idle miracles and revelations vaine and childish, greedy of prayse they bee, and fearefuU of dishonour. And to this end they esteeme their Poets who write Irish learnedly, and penne their sonnetts heroicall, for the which they are bountifully rewarded. But if they send out libells in dlsprayse, thereof the Gentlemen, especially the meere Irish, stand in great awe. They love tenderly their foster children, and bequeathe to them a childes portion, whereby they nourish sure friendshippe, so beneficiall every way, that commonly five hundredth kyne and better are given in reward to. winne a noble mans childe to foster. They are sharpe- witted, lovers of learning, capable of any studie 20 CAMPION^S HISTORIC wliereunto they bend themselves, constant in travaile, adventerous, intractable, kinde-hearted, secretin dis- pleasure. Hithet-to the Irish of both sortes meere, atid Eng- lish, are affected much indifferently, saving that in these, by good order, and breaking the same, vertues are farre more pregnant* In those others, by Hcen- tlous and evill custome, the same faults are more extreame and odious, I say, by licentious and evill custome, for that there is day lie tryall of good na- tures among them. How soone they bee reclaymed, and to what rare gifts of grace and wisedome, they doe and have aspired* Agalne, tlie very English of birth, conversant with the brutish sort of that people, become degenerate in sliort space, and are quite al- tered into the worst ranke of Irish Rogues, such a force hath education to make or maiTe. It is further to bee knowne, that the simple Irish are utterly an- other people then our Engllshe In Ireland, whome they call despitefully hoddai Sassonts, and hoddai Glialt, that is, English and Saxon churles, because of their Enghsli auncestors planted heere with the Conquest, and sithence with descent hath lasted now 400. yeares. Of this people tlierefore severally by themselves I must intreate. Yet none otherwise then as they stand un- filed, and serve their accustomed humours, with whom I joyne all such as either by living neere them, or by likn)g their trade are transformed into them. OP IRELAND- 2^1 CAP. VI. Of the meere Jrish, X OUCHING the meere Irish, I am to advertise my Reader, that hee impute not to them the faults of their Auncestors, which heere I have noted for two causes. First, that when the same are reade in C«m- brensis, Solinus, or others, he confounds not the times, but may he able distinctly to consider their manners, then different from these dayes. Secondly, that it may appeare how much Ireland is beholding to God for suffering them to be conquered, whereby many of these enormities were cured, and more might be, would themselves be plyable. In some corners of the land they used a damnable superstition, leaving the right armes of their Infants males unchristened (as they tearmed it) to the intent it might give a more ungracious and deadly blow. I found a fragment of an Epistle, wherein a ver- tuous Monke declareth, that to him (travailing in Vlster) came a grave Gentleman about Easter, de- sirous to be confessed and howseled, who in all his life time had never yet received the blessed Sacrament. When he had said his minde, the Priest demaunded him, whether he were faultlesse in the sinne of Ho- micide ? Hee answered, that hee never wist the mat- ter to bee haynous before, but being instructed there- 22 CAMPION*S HISTORIE of, hee confessed the murther of five, the rest hee left wounded, so as he knew not whether they lived or no. Then was he taught that both the one, and the other were execrable, and verie meekelie hum- bled himselfe to repentance. SoUnics write th that they woonted (because they would seeme Terrible and Martiall,) to embrue their faces in the bloude of their Enemyes slaine. Straho the famous Geographer, who flourished under Au- gustus and Tiberius Ccesar, more then fifteene hun- dred yeares agoe, telletli (without asseveration) that the Irish were great Gluttons, eaters of mans flesh : and counted it Honourable for Parents deceased, to bee eaten up of their Children, and that in open sight they medled with their Wiues, Mothers, and Daughters : which is the lesse incredible, considering what Saint Hiero7ne avoucheth of the Scots their Of- spring and Allies, and what all Histories doe wit- nesse of the Scithians their auncient founders. See Straho lib. 4. Geograph. Although since the time of Saint Patricke, Chris- tianitie was never extinct in Ireland, yet the governe- ment being hayled into conti'arie factions, the No- bilitie lawlesse, the multitude willfull, it came to passe that Religion waxed with the temporall common sort cold and feeble, untill the Conquest did settle it, especiallie in cases of restrainte and Discipline. The Honourable state of Marriage they much abused. OP IRELAND. 23 either in contracts, unlawfull meetings, the Leviti- call and Canonicall degrees of prohibition, or in di- vorcementes at pleasure, or in ommitting Sacramen- tall solemnities, or in retayning either Concubines or Harlots for Wiues. Yea even at this day, where the Cleargie is fainte, they can bee content to Marrie for a yeare and a day of probation, and at the yeares end, to retume her home uppon any light quarrells, if the Gentlewomans friendes bee weake and unable to avenge the injurie. Never heard I of so many dis- pensations for Marriage, as those men shewe, I pray God graunt they bee all authentique and buylded uppon sufficient warrant. Covenant and Indent with them never so warilie, never so preciselie, yet they have beene founde faith- lesse and periured. Where they are joyned in colour of surest Amitie, there they intended to kill. This ceremonie reporteth Camhrensis. The parties to bee coupled in League, meete at Church, become God- septes, or Allies, beare each other on his backe cer- taine paces in a Ring, kisse together holy reliquees, take blessing of the Bishoppe, offer each to other a droppe of his owne bloude, and drinke it up betweene them : Even in the doing hereof, they practise mu- tuall destruction. They have beene used in solemne controversies, to protest and sweare by Saint Patrickes Staffe, called Bachal esu, which oath, because upon breach thereof 24 €ampion's historie heavy plagues ensued them, they feared more to breake, then if they had sworne by the holy Evan- gelist. In Vlster thus they used to Crowne their King, a white cow was brought forth, which the King must kill, and seeth in water whole, and bathe himselfe therein starke naked, then sitting in the same Cal- dron, his people about him, together with them, he must eat the flesh, and drinke the broath, wherein he sitteth, without cuppe or dish or use of his hand. So much of their old Customes. Now a few wprds of their trade at this present. Cleare men they are of Skinne and hue, but of themselves carelesse and bestiall. Their Women are well fauoured, cleare coloured, faire handed, bigge and large, suffered from their infancie to grow at will, nothing curious of their feature and proportion of body. Their infants of the meaner sort, are neither swad- led, nor lapped in Linnen, but foulded up starke naked into a Blankett till they can goe, and then if they get a piece of rugge to cover them, they are well sped. Linnen shirts the rich doe weare for vvanton- nes and bravery, with wide hanging sleeves play ted, thirtie yards are little enough for one of them. They have now left their Saffron, and learne to wash their shirts, foure or five times in a yeare» Proud they are OF IRELAND. 25 of long crisped glibbes, and doe nourish the same with all their cunning : to crop the front thereof they take it for a notable peece of villany. Shamrotes, Water- cresses, Rootes, and other hearbes they feede upon : Oatemale and Butter they cramme together. They drinke Whey, Milke, and Beefe broth, Flesh they devoure without bread, corne such as they have they keepe for their horses. In haste and hunger they squese out the blood of raw flesh, and aske no more dressing thereto, the rest boyleth in their sto- mackes with Aquavit*, u hich they swill in after such a surfeite, by quarts & pottles. Their kyne they let blood which growen to a jelly they bake and over- spread with Butter, and so eate it in lumpes. One office in the house of great men is a tale- teller, who bringeth his Lord on sleepe, with tales valne and frivolous, whereunto the num])er give sooth and credence. So light they are in beleeving what- soever is with any countenance of gravitie affirmed by their Superiours, whom they esteeme and honour, that a lewd Prelate within these few yeares needy of money, was able to perswade his parish : That S. Patricke in striving with S. Peter to let an Irish Galloglass into Heaven, had his head broken with the keyes, for whose releife he obtained a Collation. Without either precepts or observation of congruity they speake Latine like a vulgar language, learned in their common Schooles of Leach-craft and Law, £ 26 campion's historie whereat they begin Children, and hold on sixteene or twentie yeares conning by roate the Aphorismes of Hyj)Ocrates, and the Civill Institutions, and a few other parings of those two faculties. I have scene them where they kept Schoole, ten in some one Chamber, groveling upon couches of straw, their Bookes at their noses, themselves lying flatte pros- tate, and so to chaunte out their lessons by peece- meale, being the most part lustie fellowes of twenty five yeares and upwards. Other Lawyers they have, liable to certain e fami- lies which after the custome of the country determine and judge causes. These consider of wrongs offered and received among their neighbours, be it murder, or fellony, or trespasse, all is redeemed by composi- tion, (except the grudge of parties seeke revenge :) and the time they have to spare from spoyling and proyning, they lightly bestow in parling about such matters. The Breighoon (so they call this kind of Lawyer) sitteth him downe on a banke, the Lords and Gentlemen at variance round about him, and then they proceede. - They honour devoute Fryars and Pilgrimes, suffer them to passe quietly, spare them and their mansions, whatsoever outrage they shew to the country besides them. To robbe and prey their enemies, they deeme it none offence, nor seeke any meanes to recover their losse, but even to watch them the like turne. But if OF IRELAND. 2^ neighbours and friends send their Cators to purloyne one another, such Actions are judged by the Breigh- oones aforesaid. Toward the living they are noysome and malicious, the same being dead they labour to avenge eagerly and fiercelv. They love and trust their Foster Breth- ren more then their owne. Turlogh Leinagh Oneale that now usurpeth, is said to repose in them his greatest surety. Strumpets are there too vile and abominable to WTite of, which not onely \\athout feare, but also without remorse doe advance themselves in numbring what noblemen have had liking to their bodies. Hee that can bring most of his name into the field, base or other, triumpheth exceedingly. For increase of which name, they allow themselves not onely whoores, but also choise & store of whoores. One I heard named which hath (as he calleth them) more then ten wiues, in twentie places. There is among them a brother-hood of Carrowes that professe to play at Cards all the yeare long, and make it their onely occupation. They play away Mantle and all to the bare skinne, and then trusse themselves in strawe or in leaves, they waite for pas- sengers in the high way, invite them to a game upon the greene, and aske no more but companions to hold them sport, for default of other stuiFe they pawne 28 CAMPION S HISTORIE portions of their glibbe, the nailes of their fingers and toes, their privie members ; which they lose or redeeme at the curtesie of the winner. Where they fancie and favour, they are wonderful! kinde, they exchange by commutation of wares for the most part, and have utterly no coyne stining in any great Lords houses. Some of them be richly plated : their Ladies are trimmed rather with massie Jewels, then with garish apparell, it is counted a beautic in them to be tall, round and fat. The inheritance descendeth not to the Sonne, but to^the Brother, Nephew, or Cousin germaine eldest and most valiant : for the Childe being oftentimes left m nonage or otherwise young and unskillfull, were never able to defend his patrimonie, being his no longer then he can hold it by force of araies. But by that time he grow to a competent age, and have buryed an Vncle or two, he also taketh his turne, and leaveth it in like order to his Posterity. This custome breedeth among them continuall Wan'es and treasons. CAP. VIL The most aimcient Inhabitants of Jreland. jLHE honourable Historian Titus Livius, yeeldetli eertaine priviledge to antiquitie, and will have it OP IRELAND. 29 held excused, if percase for advancement of their Citties, they straine a point of truth, and derive a first foundation from one or other, of their sup- posed Gods : wherefore though I can no lesse doe then reject a fable concerning the arrivall of JVoes Neece into this Island, yet this kinde of forgery being somewhat universall, seeing every Chronicler paineth himselfe, to fetch his reckoning with the farthest let him hardly be pardoned, who led by relation of his elders, committed first to writing so dull a tale. As for the multitude of writers that agree thereon, they are in effect but one writer, seeing the latest ever borrowed of the former, and they all of Camhrensis , who aflirm- eth it not, but onely alleadgeth the received opinion of Irish Histories, yea rather in the foote of that Chap- ter, he seemeth to mistrust it, and posteth it over to the credit of his authors: so then if the greatest weight hereof doe consist in Irish antiquitiss, which the learned here confesse to be stuffed with such im- plements, notoriously felt to be vaine and frivolous, I trust I shall not seeme contentious, nor singular in damning such a fable, not onely false, but also impos- sible. Thus they say, In the yeare of the world, 1536. The Patriarch iVbe began to preach vengeance upon the people for their accursed lives, to builde his Arke, to enforme his kindred and speciall friends seve- rally, that within few yeares the earth should be sunke in waters, if they amended not. This did he before the generall flood one hundred and twentie yeares, when every man foreslept the monition, onely a Neece 30 campion's historie of liis named Cesar^a misdoubting the worst, and hear- ing her Vncle prophesie that all should be drowned for sinne, determined with her adherents, to seeke adven- tures into some forraine Island, perswaded that if shee might happely finde a Countrie never yet inhabited, and so with sinne undefiled, the generall sentence of Gods anger should there take no place. Whereupon she furnished a navy, and fled into Ireland, with three men yJBit hi, LaigriUf Fintan, and fifty women, left unto her after many shipwrackes. The shore where she landed, & where she lyeth entombed, is at this day called Navicular'um littus. The very stones wherein the memorie hereof hath beene preserved from the violence of waters, were said to be scene of some. Within forty dayes after her footing in Ireland, the deluge prevailed universally, and all this coast was cast away. S Now to ommit that part of this device, which is too flat, and ridiculous, if we consider that before the flood, no part of the Earth was knowen, nor touched beside Syria, ^ where the first age dwelled, that sailing was then utterly unheard of in the world, the first vessell being by Gods owne direction \wought, that she might have sped at home, would she repent with more ease and surety, that lajiheth with the Hebrewes, and lason with the Greekes, were the first pilots : that the Records hereof graven in stone, is but a borrowed invention from losephus. These things I say consi- e An. Dom. 1656. ^ Rab. laaac. in Gen. 5. OF IRELAND. 31 dered, it wllbe no hard matter to descry the falshood, wherin I would be more ex((ulsite, were it worth my labour. We need not so ambitiously runne to Cesara, to begge a forged evidence, seeing without her helpe, Ireland must be confessed to have been knowne and peopled with the same kinred, even with the first Hands of the world. For within three hundred yeares after the generall Floud, immediately after the con- fusion of tongues, when lapheth and his posterity, imboldened by the example of JVoe, adventured by ship into divers West Hands, i there was in his retinew one of his progeny, I^astolenns, who conceiving sto- mack and courage at the late successe of JVemj'odus, ^iniis his kinsman (then newly intruded upon the Mo- narch of Assyria) & wandred so farre West, intending to rule without compeeres, till Fortune cast him and his people upon the coast of Ireland. ^ There he settled with his three sonnes, Languinus, Salanus, RuthurguSy active and stout gentlemen, who searching the Land through & through, left their owne names by three notable places, Languini stagnum, mons Salangiy since named S. Dominicks hill, midRuthurgi stagnum. Of Bastolenus is little remembred, save that in short space with many hands working at once, he plained a great part of the Country, then overgrown with woods and thickets. This posterity kept the Land under the ' Anno mundi 1957. after the best authors, which make 300. yeares, and pot 100. between Noes floud and Babell. ''- Bastolenus. Clem, recogn. 1. 4. 32 campion's historie government of these three sonnes & their off- spring, about 300. yeares. Together with JBastolenus, arrived in Ireland certaine godlesse people of the stocke of Nemrod, worthily tearmed a gyant, as one that in bo- dily shape exceeded proportion, & used his strength to winne soveraigntie, & to oppresse the weake with ra- pine and violence: That linage (CAa/rt5 breed) grew to great numbers, & alway bethought them of getting mastery, wheresoever they tarryed. One cause was their bodily force answerable to their hugenesse of quantity : 1 another the example of Cham Zoroastes, that magitlan, and NemroduSy Ninus his Nephew, which two in themselves and their progenies, were re- nowned throughout the world, as victorious Princes over two mighty Kingdomes iEgypt and Assyria. Thirdly they maligned the blessings bestowed upon Sem and Iaj)heth, counting it necessary for themselves, to stirre, and prevent Dominions, lest the curse of slavery prophesied by i\^oe should light upon them, as notwithstanding it did at last. Thus irked, they began to kicke at their Governours, and taking head, set up a King of their owne faction, nourishing the same, and annoying the Subjects inces*^ santlie, the successe on both sides was variable, quar^ rels increased, the enemie caught handfast, & every day bred a new skirmish. It seemed intolerable, & very necessity compelled them to try their whole force ' Clem, recognit. 1, 4. OF IRELAND 33 m one Battle, either utterly to weede out the Gyants, or to (lie free. Peace therefore concluded among them- selves, for any private grudge hitherto malntayned, all sorts brake truce and amity with the Gyants, and straited them up so, that from all corners of the land, they must needes assemble into one field and fight for the better, maynelle they tugged certaine houres, but in conclusion the lawfuU Kings prevayled, the mis- creants done to death. See now the mockery of For- tune, Victors they were, and promised themselves a security. Anger & insolencie over-turned all, for what with spoiling the dead carcases, what \a 1th murthering the remaynder of that generation, man, woman, and chllde^ in all parts of the Realme, vouchsafing them no buryall, but casting them out like a sort of dead dogges, ^ there ensued through the stench of those car- ryons such a mortall pestilence, infecting not onely the places where they lay, but the ayre round about by contagion, that beside those few which by sea returned homeward, few escaped alive, and heereby hangeth a tale. From this plague (say the Irish) \^as preserved Ruanus the Gyant, who from time to time kept true record of their histories, else utterly done away by sun- dry casualties of death, warre, spoyle, fire, forraine victories, and he (forsooth) continued till the yeare of Christ 430. and told S. Patrick all the newes of the country requiring of him to l)ee baptized, and so died, when he had lived no more but t\^ o thousand and forty "' Anno niundi 2257. F 34 campion's historie one yeares : which is above twice the age of Methu- salem. Had it beene my chaunce in Ireland, to meete & conferre with this noble Antiquarie, hee might have eased me of much travell. These things I note for no Other purpose, but that the simple stumbling upon such blinde legends should be warned to esteeme them as they are, idle fantasies, wheremth some of their Poets, dallyed at the first, and after through error and rudenes it was taken up for a sad matter. CAP. VIII. The severallJnhahitants of Jreland from Sastoleniis. Of an infinite number of Gyants slaine, certaine hid families lurked and escaped the common mischiefe, whom at length penuiy constrayned to forsake their dennes, and to pilfer for meate, when they perceived the murraine of men and beasts, and that none gave them resistance, they waxed hardie, & searching the land, found it wel-nigh desolate, wherefore they har- boured themselves in the clearest coast : and easily sub- duing the poore soules remaining, revived their blood, and became Lords of the whole Hand 60. yeares. Among the Sonnes of lapheth, Genesis recounteth Magog who had now planted his people in Scithia within Tanaris, from whom at this day the Turkes are descended. They hearing the hard happe of their or IRELAND. 35 fathers lyrie, cast out by the coUaterall braunches of Cham, the late King of the Bactrians, ^^ their odious neighbours, sent into Ireland Nemodus with his foure sonnes, Stariiis, Gerhavel, j^mimus, Fergusius, cap- taines over a faire company, who passing by Greece and there taking up such as would seeke fortunes, finally landed here, held the country, multiplyed, but not without continuall warre upon the Gyants aforesaid, who in th'end vanquished and chased them thence againe into Greece, after 216. yeares, from Anno mundi 2533. from which time untill the comming; of Dela his sonnes, the Gyants possessed it peaceably without forreine invasion. But themselves being; disordered, and measuring all things by might, seditiously vexed each other, nor were they ever able to frame a common- wealth. That espyed five brethren, sonnes to Dela the Gre- cian, o notorious Pilots, named Gaudius, Genandius, Sagandius, Rutheragius, Slanms, the posterity of Nemodus expulsed successors, who fortified their na- vyes, and finding the Countrey but weake, wanne it entirely, rooted out the old enemy, divided the Hand into five parts, & in each of them severally raigned, for better contentation of all sides, they agreed to fixe a meare stone in the middle point of Ireland, to which stone every of their Kingdomes should extend, and, be •Anno Mundi 2317. • Ann. mvmdi 1714. 36 campion's HISTORIE partakers of the commodities then chiefly found in that soile. These are also supposed to have invented the distribution of shires into Cantredes, every Cantrede or Barony, conteining an hundred Tovvneships, where- with the name and use of hundreds, well knowne in England, might seeme to accord. Variance for the chiefty set the foure brethren at a lovve ebbe, and then Slcmius perched over them all-^ encroached every \\ay round about the middle stone certainc miles for provision and furniture of his owne houshold, which plot in time obtained the name of one generall j)aii:, and now maketh up the fift, Media. Meth it was called eltlier for moytie of Cantredes, heing but sixteene, whereas the rest comprised thirty two apeece, or for the site thereof in the navell of Ire- land. This hee assigned to the Monarch a surplus over and above his Inheritange, which notwithstanding grew to a severall Kingdome, and allowed thereof cer- taine parts by composition. Not long after dyed Sla- nms, & was buried in a mountaine of Meth that car- rieth his name. Thirty yeares the Monarchy vvas pos- sessed in this order, but shortly the Princes owing fealty, beganne to stomack the Intrusion of Slanius, & when he was once rid, they disdained his successour, whereupon ensued everlasting Battels. The Monarchy was laide downe, then fell they at debate for the land of Meth, which strife could never be appeased. In the necke of those troubles came over a new army of Scithian :•, who claymed also from Nemodus their fore- OF IRELAND. 37 father, and they tooke parts, and made parts, set all in uproare with sword, and havocke. P To be short, tliey spent themselves one upon another so fiercely and fu- riously, that now they reckoned not what nation or what souldiour they received in, to keepe up or beate downe a side. By which occasion the Britaines also put in a foot, who discovering the state of the land to their Princes, opened a gappe for Srennus the brother of Belinus, to direct his course thither with the same Navy which he had furnished to serve Signimius then King of Lyons amid the Galles in France. But JBren- mis took small effect. Before him also divers Kings of Brittaine had scope in Ireland. Insomuch that Gurgiintius the sonne of JBelme, reputed the same by lineall descent among his o vvne Dominions. Notwith- standing they never injoyed it longer then they could keepe possession perforce, and often were they repelled and wearyed with seeking after it, as wherein they found small fruite, and blovves enough. Lastly cama the Spaniards from Biscaye, conducted by foure Cap- taines, of whose arryvall before I speake, I must re- peate their originall somewhat farther, and so give a light to the assoyling of a controversie, that is, whe- ther the Irish came from ^gypt, or from Spaine. It shall appeare they came from both. p .\nn. muudi 2800. 38 CAMPION S HISTORIE CAP. IX. The arrivall of the Spaniards, then called Jbenans, into Ireland. AN the yeare of the World 2436. q after the univer- sall floud 780. while the children of Israeli served in JEgypt, Gathelus the sonne of Neale, a great Lord In Greece, was upon disfavour exiled the Country with a number of his faction, adherents, and friends. The young Greeke being very wise, valiant and well Spoken, J" got honourable entertainement with Pharao surnamed Amcenophis king of iEgypt, and in short space reached to such a credit that he espoused the Kings base Daughter Scota, whereof the Scotts are thought to be named. This match bred to the King some tumult, and to the young Gentle-man much envy, wherefore assoone as the foresaid Amcenophis^ was drowned in the Red Sea, the Princes of iEgypt so vexed Gathelus and his wife, that they were faine to buske them, withall their traine into Europe, and came first to Lusitania, where diverse of his people tyred with travaile, would needs abide, he builded there the city of Brigantia, called afterwards Novium, " Hoctor Boeth. 1. 1. Hist. Scot, 'loh. Major, de gestis Scot. lib. I. cap. 9. ^Exocl. 14. OF IRELAND 39 now Compostella. t The remnant passed with him into Ireland, where the Barbarians highly honoured him, for his cunning in all languages, who also greatly perfected and beautified the Irish tongue, taught them letters, sought up their antiquities, practised their youth in martiall feates, after his Greeke and Egyp- tian manner. Finally so well he pleased them that to gratifie such a Benefactour, they were content to name the Hand after him Gathelia, and after his wife Scotia. Truely that Scotia is the auncient appellation of Ireland, all Chroniclers agree, as it shalbe more plaine, when wee touch the Scottish pedigree. A brute there is in Ireland but uncertainelie fathered, that in remembrance of Pharao, their good lord, the Kerne pitching his Dart, cryeth of courage faro, faro ; but the learned thinke that to bee taken from the Spaniard, who in his loco dicano exclaymeth faho, fabo. The people left in the coast of Spaine, founded the city of Bay on, now part of Gascoigne, and reple- nished all the shore towards Africk, ^ and the edges of Portugall, Castile, Galaecia, towardes the sea Can- tabricum, well nigh 200. yeares, after which time some of them began to minde another travaile, be- cause they were pestered with Inhabitants, and whe- ther they ever sped to Ireland, it is unknowne, at the ' Hector. Boeth. lib. 1. " Ann. mundi 2(542. 40 campion's historie leastwise in the raigiie of Gurguntius the Brittaine, then chlefe Lord of Bayon, foure brethren Spaniards, whereof two are noted, Hiberus and Hirimon^ not the sonnes of Gathelus (as writeth Boethius) but his off-spring, understanding that divers Western Hands were empty, desirous to Hve in ease and elbow-room, sayled Westward with a great retinue of men, ^ wo- men and babes, hovering long about the Hands Or- chades In 60. great ships, untill by good hap they met with Gurguntius, then returning from the con- quest of Denmarke, ^^ who had refused to pay him the tribute, which Belinus his father wan, him they be- sought^ (considering their want of victuals, unable any longer to dwell in their ships, accumbred with carriage of women & children) to direct & further them to some place of habitation, proffering to be- come his liege people to hold the same of him & his heires for ever. The King advising hlmselfe, remem- bred with what difficultie he kept the Irish in sub- jection, & conceived hope that these strangers would endeavor either to stub out that unruly generation, or to nurture them, & so taking their oathes and hos- tages, y he mann'd their ships, stored them with vlc- tuall & munition, & seated them in Ireland. Thus * Tlie head Captaine was Bartholomew, as many Authors affirme, " Fab. part. 1. " Grafton, p. 60. ^' Ann. mundi 3592. i^^ OF IRELAND. 41 had the Brittalnes an elder right to the Realme of Ireland, then by the conquest of Henry the 2. which title they never surceased to claime, & somtimes pre- vailed, as in the dayes of King Arthur, to whom the Irish Princes agnized their tribute and apparance, made at his Parliament in in^he Legionum, which I take to be Westchester, called of old Carleon, as divers other citties were, wherein the Romanes placed the legions. Again the Kings of Britain were then Lords of the place whence this people came, so as their winnings must have beene the Kings Do minion. To all this when their owne free assent, the dedition of other Princes, lawfuU conquest and prescription is adjoyned, it forceth an invincible title. But to pro- secute our purpose. Those Iberians being substantially ayded of Gurguntins, enjoyed the Lands, bestowed themselves foure brethren into foure parts thereof, un- tlll their pride and ambition armed two against other two, Hiberus and his brother against Hirimon and his. In this conflict Hirimon slew Hiberus, and raigned quietly. At this time the countrey was first named Iberjiia, as I have declared in the third Chap- ter. The King to avoyde obloquie and slaunder, purged himselfe to his subjects, that neither mahci- ously nor contentlously, but for his necessary defence and safeguard he had borne armes against his brother. And to witnesse how farre he was from desire to rule alone, he nominated speciall Captaines to be King? G 42 campion's historie under him of their severall Countryes, reserving to himselfe but one fourth part, and the portion of Meth allotted to the Monarchie for the better maintenance of his part. These afterward clambered into five Kingdomes in- compatible, Leinster, Connaght, Vlster, Mounster in two portions, and sometimes to more by usurpa- tions and compositions, but ever one was elected the Monarch over all. An hundred and thirtie chiefe Kinor-s are reckoned of this Nation from Hirimon to JLaig-irus the sonne of Nealus magiws, in whose time the blessed Bishop Patricius converted them to Christianity. CAP. X. Tlie commhig of the Picts into Ireland. ^ J\ OW lived the Irish in tollerable order under their sundiy Kings, ^ and applyed themselves to peace and gathering of wealth, when suddainely JRodericJce a E.ed-shank of Scythia fled thither with a small com- pany of Galleyes, and winde-driven in compassing round about the British coast, were happely blowne " All. Dom. 120. •Bed. 1; 1. o. 1. QF IRELAND. 43 ashore into Ireland. These are the Picts, a people from their cradle dissentious, land-leapers, mercilesse, sov^Te and hardy, being presented to the King, they craved Interpreters, ^ which granted, Roderick their Chieftaine uttered for him and his, the request in this manner. Not as degenerate from the courage of our aun- cestors, but inchning our selves to the bent and swaye of fortune, we are become suppliants to Ireland, that never before have humbled our selves to anv, Looke Sir King, eve us well. It is not light prowesse that hath caused these valiant; bodies to stoop. Scithians we are, and the Picts of Scithla, gi'eat substance of glory lodgeth in these two names, what shall I tell of the clvill Tumult that hath made us leave our home ? or rippe up old Historyes to make strangers bemoane us ? Let our vassailes and children discourse it at large and levsure, if perhaps vou vouchsafe us any leysure in the Land : To which effect and purpose vour infi- nite necessities pray your favours. A King of a King, Men of Men, Princes can consider how neere it con- cerneth their honour and suret%' to proppe up the state of a King defaced by Treason, and men will remem- ber nothing better beseemeth the natiu"e of man, then to feele bv compassion the griefes of men. Admit we beseech you these scattered reliques of Scithla, If your Realmes bee narrow, we are not many. If the '' loh. Maior. de gest. Scot. 1. 1. c. 10. 44 campion's historie soyle be barren, we are born to hardnesse. If you live in peace, we are your su])jects. If you warre, we arc your Souldiours. We aske no kingdome, no wealth, no triumph in Ireland. We have brought our selves, and left these casualtyes with the enemie. Howsoever it like you to esteeme of us, we shall easily learne to like it, when we call to minde, not what we have beene, but what we are. Great consultations was had upon this request, and many things debated too and fro. In the end they were answered, that their antiquities layde forcible arguments, wherefore it could not be expedient to ac- cept the Scithians into Ireland, that mingling of na- tions in a Realme breedeth quarrels remedilesse, that Ireland finding scarcity rather of roome then of people, that those few inferred amongst a many might quickly disturbe and put the whole out of joynt. But quoth they, though wee may not dwell together yet shall you finde us your very good neighbours and friends. Not farre hence lyeth the Hand of Brittaine, in the north thereof: your manhood and polycies shall winne you scope enough, our Capitaines shall conduct you the way, our strength shall helpe to settle you, addresse your shippes and bye you thither.^ With this perswa- sion they shaped course towards the north of Brittaine, now called Scotland, where contrary to all expectation Marius the King awayted their comming, and gave f lohn Stow. OF IRELAND. 45 them there a sharpe battle, wherein Roclericke was slaine, with diverse of his band. Them which remained and appealed to mercy, he licensed to inhabite the ut- termost borders of Scotland : Wives they wanted to encrease their Issue, and because the Brittaine^ scorned to match their daughters with such a froward and beg- gerly people, the Picts continued their first acquaint- ance with the Irish and by entreaty obtained wives from them, conditionally that if the Crowne should happe to fall in question they should then yeeld thus much prerogative to the woman as of the female blood royall, rather then of the male to choose their Prince, which Covenant, saith S. Bede, "^ the Picts are well knowne to keepe at this dav. But long afore this time the Scottish Chronicles mention the arrivall of Almaine Picts into the marches now of England and Scotland, with whom certaine Irish called then also Scotts joyned against the Brit- taines, ^ devising to erect a kingdome there, aswell to fortify themselves, as to gratifie the Irish, who detract- ing their obedience lately promised to Gurguntiiis, practised all they might to abridge the kingdome of the Brittaines. First therefore came from Ireland, Fer^ gusius the sonne of Ferchardus, a man very famous for his skill in blasoning of armes. ^ Himselfe bare the '' Bede lived an. Dom. 730. * Anno Mundi 5757. ante Chiistum 330. 'loh. Major, lib. % rap. 1. 46 campion's historijg Red Lyon rampant in a golden field. There was in Ireland a monument of Marble fashioned like a Throne, which Simon Brecke a companion to Hiherus and his brethren found in the journey, & because he deemed the finding thereof to be ominous to some Kingdome, he brought it along with him, and layde it up in the country for a lewell. This marble Fergusius obtained towards the prospering of his voyage, and in Scotland he left it, which they used many yeares after in Coro- nation of their King at Scona. But Fergusius though he be scored in the row of Kings, for one, and the first, yet he held himselfe there obscurely, sundry times beat backe into Ireland, where he was finallie drowned by misfortune within the Creeke of Knock- fergus. That Fergusius encountred with Coilus the Brittaine and slew him, as writeth the Scotts, it is impossible except they mistake the name of Coilus for CaliuSy with whom indeede the age of Fergusius might well meete, and the rather for that in the first yeare of his raigne, the Picts entred, and then Fergusius immediately after them, 330. yeares ere Christ was borne. Now Coilus raigned in the yeare of our Lord, 124. about which time befell the second arrivall of the Picts in Brittaine, so it seemeth they mistake by a slight error, Coilus for Calius, and the second arrivall of the Picts, for the former. This confusion of His- tories is learnedly noted by Cooper in his generall col- lection of Chronicles. OF IRELAND. 4? ■^ ■ '- ■ CAP. XI. Hoio the Jrish setled themselves in Scotland* JKETURNE wee now to the course of our Historle, while the Plcts were bestowed in the north of Brittaine and waxed populous, S the Irish made sundry arrands over to visite their Daughters, Nephewes, and kindred. In often comming and going, they noted waste places, and little Hands not replenished, but rather neglected and suffered to grow wilde. Hereof in Ireland they advertised their Prince, namely Reuther or Bheuda, who being the Issue of Fergusius, bethought himselfe of his interest to certaine peeces of land beside the na- tion of the Picts. Hee therefore well appointed, partly by composition, and some deale perforce stepped into those hamlets which no man occupied, & proceeded handsomely to reare his kingdome. By little and little he edged forward, and got betweene the Picts and Brittaines on this side the Scottish banke, which he possessed but a season. The place was thereof named Rheudisdale, now Riddesdale, (asmuch to say, as the part of Rheuda) for dahal in their language, sig- nifieth part. In those quarters after sundry conflicts with the borderers, hee was by thein slaine, but the kingdome lasted in his successours still, and the two nations the Picts and the Irish lovingly suiFered each other to thrive. The Scotts caught up the Islands & « An. Dom. 160. loh. Major. 1. 1. cap. 11. Bed. 1. 1. c. 1. 48 campion's historie the Frontiers. The Picts dwelt in the Tniddle : Soone after the peace hetweene them, went suspitions & the diversities of people, place, custome, language, with the memorie of old grudges stirred up such inward jealousies and hate, that it seemed they were easie to kindle, & as in such factions, there never wanted drifte to drive a tumult, so it happened that certaine of the Nobilitie of the Scotts resciant next them had with some difficultle, received out of Greece a Molossian Hound, h which breede both in swiftnesse of foote, and and in sweetnesse of opening, was reputed peerelesse. This Hound, a willfull Gentleman, a Pict, stole home, and therewith gratified his Prince, glad of the novelty, and little thoughtfull of the displeasure. ^ Contrai'ywise the Irish, wood for anger at this disho- nour, and injury, assembled in poste haste under Eugenius their King, and after brawling, fell to spoyle, and so to blowes ; whereof parts and stomackes being even, the fortune was variable ^ In this division they scambled out a few yeares, untill the malice of Carassus a Brittaine forced a quietnesse betweene them to abuse their helpe against th' Empire. But heq was shortly slaine by Alectus the Romane Captaine, and hereupon the old sore waxed rawe : To heape the mischiefe, a Brittlsh Lord named Maccimus^ aspiring ** loh. Major, de gest. Scot. 1. 5. c. 15. " Lucan. li. 5. " All. Dom. 21?. OP IRELAND. 49 to the kingdome, sent an ambassadge to Ethodius king of Plots, pleading with him a league of friendship, utterly to expulse the Irish Scot: conditioning withall their assistance to chase the Romanes out of Brittaine, which was concluded, and by this confederacie, after many lamentable skirmishes, the Irish were betrayed, Eugenius the King, Ethai his brother, and Ericus his nephew, and also the residue, such as could escape the enemies sword, fled thence, some into Norway, some into Ireland their first home. Maximus^ watching his time, despairing of the Brittish Kingdome, and espying the Picts tyred with continuall vvarres, turned his power upon them, and brought them to such an exigent, that they had no readier shift then to crave helpe frdm Ireland, ^^ and so by degrees when some private persons, nourishers of the quarrell, were out-worne, the matter of malice was qualified, and the remnant of the Irish Scots, with their friends and off-spring called home to their dwel- ling, after their first banishment, 43. yeares expired. From this time^^ forward the amity w^axed steddy, and the Irish under Fergnsius the second their King wan such credit, that finally the nation of Picts were afflicted by the Brittaines, then the Scots incroched ' An. Dom. 353. ° lo. Maior. li. 2. c. 3. " An. Dom. 398. H 50 campion's historie into the heart of the Real me, and became the mightier and more populous, of whom the Countrey was ever since under one Generall name called Scotland. Thus you see the Scotts a livelv, stirring, ancient, & victorious people,*^ are mixed first of Brittainesy (though the Chronicles dissemble it) whom J3rutus planted there with yllhanactus : Secondly, of Picts : Thirdly and chkfiy, of the Irish, which after this time left the name of Scott, for those in Brittaine, and delighted rather to be called Irish. Then came up the distinc- tion of Scotia major for Ireland, and Scotia minor for the Scotts in Brittaine. But most effectually (as saith Cambrensis) the Scotts prevayled under the guiding of six valiant Gentlemen, Sonnes to JMuridiis King of Vlster, who in the time that locale the great enjoyed the monarchy of Ireland, going to succour their countrymen there, at last also tooke up for themselves no little portions of ground, which their posterity kept in Camhrensis time, the yeare of Christ 1200. who treateth their exploits more largely in his Topograjjhy of Ireland. Ever since then, they were utterly named and esteemed Scotts : P The nation of the Picts driven into corners, albeit the most parts & the out Isles retaine at this day a people CAP. XIIL Of Saint Patrickes Purgatory. Every History of Ireland that I have scene, maketh one severall title De mirabilihus Hihernia, and tberein with long processe treateth of severall Hands, some » An. Dom. 492. OF IRELAND. 5/ full of Angels, some full of devils, some for male only, some for female, some where poore may live, some where none can dye: finally such effects of waters, stones, trees, and trinkets, that a man would vveene them to be but heedlesse and uncertaine tales by their complexion. Verily, being inquisitive of these matters, I could finde no one of them soothed by such persons upon whose relation I am disposed to venture. Onely the place behinde Ardmagh called S. Patricks Purgatory, because it is knovvne and confessed, and because 1 would be discharged of my Readers expectation, who perhaps with the name of S. Patricke looketh to bee informed thereof, I can bee content to put so much in writing, as Bookes and reports affirme with most like- lyhood. Two things I muse at, that neither the time nor the author of so strange erection was preserved. Concern- ing the time one Record putteth it in Anno Domini 302. which is 1 28. yeares before S. Patricke converted Ireland, and sixty sixe yeares before his birth. Againe Camhrensis who maketh curious recitall of wonders in the land, never uttereth word of this Purgatory; & though a negative authority be not invincible, yet considering the propertle of that man, and what a sort of trifles he taketh paine to justifie, it may serve for a vehement suspition, that the place was then either not found, or not miraculous. Concerning the Author, I 58 campion's historie verv few tliere are that referre it to this PatricTce their Apostle, but rather to an Abbot of the same name, whom I marvaile I finde not in the mighty bigge vo- lume of their Saints : Notwithstanding these Orlginalls might bee either lost or altered, but the thing it selfe being extant, must needes have had a beginning, whereof possibly there are monuments in that Church, or in the Irish tongue to me unwitting. Therefore I hold him unwise that will utterly mis- trust the princlpall, because the circumstances vary; or condemne the whole, because he could not reach to the undoubted truth of some part. If any man bee so delicate, that not a jote thereof will sinke into his head, who shall controule him ? neither hee nor wee are bound to believe any story besides that which is delivered us from the Scriptures, and the consent of Gods Church. Let the discreet Reader judge of it. This I learne, that the holy Abbot Patricius secun- dus, not the Bishop their Apostle, laboured the con- version of the people of Vlster, which being now Christians, could yet at no hand be wonne to renounce their olde sensuahty, cruelty, murthers, extortion. ^ And when he much inforced the life to come, they replyed unto him with contempt, that unlesse they saw proofes of these loyes and paines hee preached, they would never leese possession of the pleasures in hand, for hope or dread of things to come they wist '" PoKchro, 1. 1. ca. 35. OF IRELAND. 59 not when. At their importunacie hee hesought God, were it his good pleasure to give out some evident token of the maters they required : finally by the spe- cial direction of God he found in the north edge of Vlster a desolate angle hemmed in round, & in the mids thereof a pit, where he reared a Church, closed the same with a wall, bestowed therein Canons regular, at the East end of this Church yarde, a doore leadeth into a closet of stone, which they call the Purgatoiy, because devout people have resorted thither for pen- nance, and reported at their returne, strange visions of paine and blisse appearing to them. They used to continue therein foure & twenty houres, which doing one while with ghostly meditations, and another while a dreadfull conscience of their deserts, they saw as they say, a plaine resembling of their owne faults and vertues, with the horror and comfort thereto belonging, that one so terrible, the other so joyous, that they ve- rily deeme themselves for the time to have sight of heaven and hell. The revelations of men that went in (Saint Patricke yet living) are kept written within the saide Abbey. When any person is disposed to enter (for the doore is ever sparred) he repaireth first for advice to the Archbishop, who casteth.all perils, and disswadeth him, because they say diverse never came backe againe, but if the party be resolute, he recommendeth him to the Pryor, who in like manner favourably exhorteth him not to hazard such a danger, if notwithstanding he finde the party fully bent, he conducteth him to this Church, enjoyned him to begin 60 CAMPION S HISTORIE with prayer, fast and viglll of 15. dayes, so long toge- ther as in discretion can be endured. This time expir- ed, if he yet persevere in his former purpose, the whole Convent accompanieth him with solemne procession and benediction to the mouth of the cave, where they let him in, & so barre up thedoore till the morrow, & then with like ceremonies they awaite his returne, & reduce him to the Church. If he be scene no more, they fast & pray 15. dayes after. Touching the credit of those matters, I see no cause but a Christian man assuring himself that there is both hel & heaven, may without vanity upon sufficient information, be per- suaded that it might please God at somtime for consi- derations to his infinit wisdome known to reveal e by miracles the vision of loyes & paines eternal, but that altogether in such sort, & so ordinarily, & to such persons, and by such meanes as the common fame & \ some records therof doe utter, I neither believe, nor Avish to be regarded. It appeares by Trevisa in his additions to Polichronicon, that a superstitious opinion of this Purgatory was then conceived, which he dis- proveth. And a man of indifferent judgement may soone suspect that in the drift and strength of Imagi- nation, a contemplative person would happely suppose the sight of many strange things which he never saw. Since writing hereof I met with a Priest, who told mee that he had gone the same pilgrimage, and affirmed the order of the premisses : But that he for his owne part saw no sight in the world, save onely fearefull dreames when he chanced to nod, and those he saith OF IRELAND. 61 were exceeding horrible: further he added, that the fa&te is rated more or lesse, according to the quahty of the penitent, and that the place seemed to him scarcely able to receive sixe persons. CAP. XIIII. The Jrish Saints X HOUGH my search thereof in this my haste out of the land be very cumbersome, yet being loath to neglect the memory of Gods friends, more glorious to a Realme then all the victories and triumphs of the world, I thinke it good to furnish out this chapter with some extracts touching the Saints of Ireland, namely those that are most notable, mentioned by authors of good credit. Camhrensis telleth, that in S. Patricks time flourished S. Bride the virgin, and S. Columhe in Doune, where their bodies soone after the conquest, and also S. Patrickes body were found, Sir loJm Courcye being then President of Vlster. In viewing of the sepulture hee testifieth to have seene three principall Jewells, which were then translated as honourable monuments vvorthie to be preserved. Of S. Columhe^ it is doubted, whether he lived in that age. JBrigide was base Daughter of Duhtachus ' Ex Vitis samtomm Hiberniae. 62 campion's historie a Captaine in Leinster, who perceiving the Mother with child, sold her secretly, fearing the jealousy of his wife, to a Irish Poet, reserving to himselfe, the fruite of her wombe, she was there delivered of this JBrigide, whom the Poet trained up in letters, and so conveyed her home to her father. ^ The Damosell was schooled in the faith by S. Patricke, preaching then in those parts, she became so religious, and so ripe in judgement, that not onely the multitude, but a whole svnode of Bishoppes assembled by Dublin, <^ used her advice in weighty causes, and highly esteemed her. One fact of hers being yet a childe, made her famous. The King of Leinster had given to Duhtachus in token of singular affection, for his good service, a rich sword. Now it befell, that the maiden visiting her sicke neighbours, diversly distressed for hunger, (her father being a sterne man, his Lady a shrevve) she saw none other helpe to releive these wretched people, but to part the Jewels of that idle sword among them. This matter was haynously taken, and came to the Kings eares, who (comming shortly after to a Banquet in her fathers house) demaunded the Girle, not yet nine yeares old, how she durst presume to deface the gift of a King, shee answered, that it was bestowed upon a better King, then bee was, whom (quoth she) finding in such extremity, I would have given all my father hath, and all that thou hast, yea your selves and ' An. Dom. 439. ' An. Dom. 448. OF IRELAND. 63 all, were yee in my power to give, rather then Christ should starve. At convenient age she professed virginity, and al- lured other noble Virgins to her fellowship, with whom she lived in her owne Monastery, untill the yeare of cur Lord 500. and was biiried at Oowne, in the Tombe of S. Patricke, what Camhreinsis reporteth of his own knowledge and sight, I will be bold to add hereunto. Among her reliques, was found a concordance of the 4. Evangelists, seeming to bee written with no mortall hand, beautified with mystlcall pictures in the mar- gent, whose colours and workemanship, at the first blush were darke and unpleasant, but in the view won- derful liuely and artlficiall. Senanus first a Souldlour, succeeded S. Patricke^ in the See of Ardmagh, when he had beene certalne yeares a minor and doctour to the Campe. JBrendan Abbot at the age of ten yeares, was of such incomparable hollnesse, and thereto so wise and lettered, that his parents thinking themselves to have wonne the most notable fruite, that could ensue their marriage, by mutuall consent professed continencie. Hee flourished in the time of S. Bride ^ lived familiarly with Ercus the Bishop, and Finan the Abbot. Madoc alias Edan of noble parentage, taken prl- ' An. Dom. 493. 64 campion's historie soner with the King of Temore, S and kept in his court with diverse yong-men his schoole-fellowes, openly adjured tlie King to suffer him and them to depart and serve God as they were accustomed, which being now sundred and dlstrayned of Ubertie they had partly discontinued, immediately they were dismissed: he died Bishop of Femes, and laide the foundation of that Burrogh. Molingiis the successor of S. Madoc being Bishop tooke himselfe to voluntary labour, & with his owne hands, drived a running spring to his Monastery, enduring that travaile dayly after prayer and study, eight yeares together. Fintan the Abbot was had in such veneration, that whereas Colrn King of Leinster, kept prisoner Cormah the Kings sonne of Kensill: He went boldly with 12. of his Disciples through the presse of the Souldlours, and in sight of the King, rescued the young Prince, for the Irish in no wayes are outragious against holy men. I re- member, Camhrensis writcth himselfe, merrily to have objected to Morris then Archbishop of Cashell, that Ireland in so many hundred yeares had not brought forth one Martyr. The Bishop answered pleasantly, (but alluding to the late murther of Tliomas of Can- terbury,) Our people (quoth he) notwithstanding their other enormities yet have ever more spared the bloode of Saints, marry now we are delivered to such a na- tion, that is well acquainted with making Martyrs, henceforwards I trust this complaint shall cease. « An. Dom. 496. OF IRELAND. G5 Malacliias was borne In Ardmagh of noble parents,'' cherisbed in vertue by example of bis Motlier, and trayned up in learninSi7rt77*CM.v, Limericke ; /nor«.9, Dublin, more at leisure by others. Then were repaired by helpe and counsell of these men, castles, forts, steeples, and Churches every-where. Thus are the Irish blended also in the blood of the Normans, who from thence- forth continually flocked hither, did the Inhabitants great pleasure, lived obediently, till wealth made them 76 CAMPION S HISTORIE wanton and rebellious* But they could not possibly have held out, had not the conquest ensuing determined both their contentions. The meane while they waxed Lords of Havens and Bur-Townes, housed their soul- diours, and oftentimes skirmished tooke their fortune, crept no higher, onely a memory is left of their field m Clantarfe, ^ where diverse noble Irish men were slayne, that lye buryed before the Crosse of Kil- maynam. And it is to be noted, that these are the Danes, which people (then Pagans) wasted England, and after that, France. From whence they came againe into England with William the Conquerour. » So that Ostomani, Aormans, Easterlings, Danes, and Norway-men are in effect the same, and as it appeareth by conference of times and Chronicles, much about one time or season, vexed the French men, subdued the Enghsh, and mul- tiplyed in Ireland, o But in the yeare of Christ 1095. perceiving great envy to lurke in the distinction of Easterlings and Irishe utterly west, and because they were simply Northerne, notEasterne, and because they magnified themselves in the late conquest of their Countreymen, who from Normandy flourished now in the Realme of England, they would in any wise bee called and counted Normans. "• 1050, al. 1014. ' Guil de Nangiac. Polid 1. 8. Angl. hist. " An. Dom. 900. OF IRELAND. 77 Long before this time, P as ye have heard, Ireland was bestowed into two principall Kingdomes, and sometime into more, whereof one was ever elected Mo- narch, whom they tearme in their Histories, maximum regemy or without addition, regem Hibernics. The rest were written Reguli or Reges by limitation, as the King of Leinster, of Connaght, of Vlster, of Moun- ster, of Meth. To the Monarch besides his allowance of ground, and titles of Honours, and other j3riviledges in Jurisdiction, was graunted a negative in the nomi- nation of Bishops at every vacation. The Cleargy and Laity of the Diocesse, recommended him to their King, the King to their Monarch, the Monarch to the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, for that as yet the Metropolitanes of Ireland had not receaved their palles : In this sort was nominated to the Bishopricke of Divelin, then voide Anno 1074. (at the petition of Godericus King of Leinster, by sufferance of the cleargy & people there, with the consent of Terdilvachus the Monarch) a learned prelate called Patricius : who the blessed arch- bishop Lanfranciis consecrated at S. Paids Church in London, & swore him to the obedience after the maner of his antecessors. ^. Christian Bishop of Lismore Legate to Eiigenius 3. summoned a Provinciall Coun- cell in Ireland, wherein were authorized foure Metro- politan Sees, Ardmagh, Dublin, Cashell, & Tuam: Bishops thereof being Gelasitis, Gi'egorious, DonatuSy p An. Dom. 948. 78 CA3iPI0N's HISTORIE Edanus ; for hitherto, though they yeelded a primacy to the Bishop of Ardmagh, in reverence of Saint Pa^ triche, yet was it partly voluntary, and ratified rather by custome, then by sufficient decree : neither did that Arch-Bishop take upon him to invest other Bishops, but sent them to Canterbury- (as 1 said before) which henceforth thev did not. Namelv the next Bishop of S. Laurence, sometimes Abbot of S. Kevvnes in Glan- dilagh, *■ was ordered and installed at liome by Gelasius Primate of Ardmagh. '1162, THE SECOND BOOKE OP CAMPION'S HISTORY OF IRELAND. CAP. I. The conquest of Jreland hy Henry the second, King of England, commonly calledHenry Fitz Empresse, DeRMOT MACl^IURROUGH,^ KlngofLeln- ster, halt and leacherous, vowed dishonestly to serve his lust on the beautifull Queene of Meath, and in the absence of her husband, allured the woman so farre, that she con- discended to be stolne away. This dishonourable wrong to avenge, O-JRoricA: the King her husband, besought assistance of Rodeticke Oconor, King of Connaght, at that season the generall Monarch of all Ireland. The subjects of Leinster detesting the quarrell, and long ere this time hating their Prince, left him desolate • 1167. This Chapter concludeth the 1. and 2. booke Cambrens de con- quest Hibeniiae : delivered unto me by Francis Agard. 80 campion's historic in his greatest neede, so as with much difficulty he caught his boate, and fled over for succour to Henry the 2. King of England, then warring upon theFrench men, within his Dukedome of Aquitaine. Somewhat before this season sate in the See of Rome, yidrianus * 4. an English man borne, who having in his youth taken a painefull pilgrimage into Norway, and reduced the whole Hand unto Christianity, learned distinctly the state of Ireland, and how their countrymen which dayly repaired thither, being themselves the most part infidels, meeting with a people there, wilde and furious, were like very shortly (but if God found remedy) to deface reli«:ion : for thoua:h Christ were beleeved and taught, yet the multitude eft soone, grew to a shame- lesse kinde of liberty, making no more of necessary points of Doctrine, then served their loose humour. Besides these occasions Henry the 2. builded upon the Popes favour, his borne subject, had sent Ambassadours to Rome, in the first yeare of his raigne, asking leaue to attempt the conquest of Ireland. Adrian trusting and requiring a diligent reformation of the premisses, graunted his Bull, which Alexander his Successour confirmed, and ratified upon the same conditions. Now when Derinot was come in the very necke of these con- sultations, and put up his complaint, wherein he pre- ferred the interest of his Crowne, and craved a restitu- tion of some peece of his lands, the matter did seeme not all untowardly broached, Henry having his hands full with the French, because Mac Murrough urged ' Policluon. Plat, in Adr, 4. lo. Stell. inChr. OF IRELAND. 81 all possible haste, could not personally Intend that offer, but sent him honourably garded into England, with letters patents bearing this Tenour. Henry the second. King of England, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, Earle of Angiow. To all our true subjects, English, Normans, Welchmen, Scotts, and to all nations within our Dominions what- soever. Greeting. Witt yee that the Bearer hereof, Dermot Mac Murrough King of Leinster, we have received into the soveraigne protection of our Grace and bounty, wherefore who so of you all our loving subjects will extend towards him, your ayde for his re- storing, as to our trusty and welbeloved, know yee that he is thereto authorized by these presents, and shall deserve at our hands high favour in so doing. With these letters and many gay additions of his owne, he arrived at Bristow, where he fell at confe- rence with Hichm'd Str-oiighoiv, Earle of Pembroke, with whom he covenanted, the delivery of his onely daughter and heire unto marriage, and so the re- mainder of his Kino-dome : If the said Earle would recover him his home. That day were planted in Wales two gentlemen, Hohert Fit% Stephens and Maurice Fitz Gerald, bretliren of a Mother, allyed to Rice ap Griffin, then Prince of Wales, whose Grand-father was surnamed Rice the great. Fitz Stephens had bcene high Constable there under the King, and for executing rigour upon the Princes servants, was with M 82 campion's historie him detained prisoner three yeares, ne would in any wise pay ransome or accept the liberty promised him, but if the conditions were loyall to the Crowne, and to his person no dis-worship. Lastly by the mediation of DamV/ Bishop of S. Davids, the third brother; and of Fit% Ger^ald, and at the instance of Mac Murrough whom the Prince entertained in that distresse, Fit% Stephens was conditionaly delivered, that he and his brother Maurice, should the next spring, while Strojigbow provided his army, assist the Irish out-cast, who in consideration thereof assured them an estate for ever in the towns of Weixford, and two Cantreds adjoyning. Thus much firmely concluded on all sides, the King stale secretly home, and wintered closely among the Cleargie of Femes. According to covenant came Fitz Stej)hens, with 30. Knights of his blood, 60. Squiers, & 300. footemen Archers, to whom at his landing, Dermot sent in aid his base sonne Duvelnaldus, and five hundred speares. The towne and suburbes of Weixford marched forth against him : But when they saw Souldiours in array, diversly dighted and weaponed, furnished with artil- lery, barbed horses and harnesse, they retyred to their walles and strengthned them, burning the villages thereabouts, and all the provision they could not carry. The assault lasted 3. dayes, in the 4. certaine Bishops resciant there, tooke up the variance, pacified the OF IRELAND. 83 Townesmen to their King, and procured the rendring of the Towne. Dermot having tryed the vahantnes of the Welchmen, immediately kept his touch, and gave possession of Weixford with the appurtenances aforesaid, to Fitz Stephens and his brother. After suc- cesse of these matters, they leavyed to the number of 3000. Souldiours, and devised to vexe the Lords of Vpper Ossory, who had beene to the King of all other most cruell and Injurious. Them they compelled to deliver Trewage and sweare fealty. Rodeiicke the monarch appalled at these newes, reared up all the Kings, in defence of the land, verily supposing that all would to wrecke, were it not pre- vented. And first they directed courteous messages and gifts to Fitz Stephens, moving him to depart the land quietly, and not to molest them without cause. To whom he answered, that much he wondred at the folly of those Princes, who to satisfie their choller had opened such a gappe to their owne prejudice, as though the subjects whom they had schooled, to breake allyance towards the King of Leinster, would not be as ready by this example to learne to withstand the King of Connaght, for his owne part, though hee might with better reason invade strangers, then they could expell their neighbours and their peere, yet would they suffer the King to reenter his right, they should not finde him stifFe, nor untractable, otherwise they should well feele that the Bryttons wanted neither abihtie, nor truth, to maintaine their word. 84 campion's historie Rodericke perceived it was no boote to spurne, and therefore bethought himselfe of composition upon agreement, they resolved thus. Inprimis, that Mac Murrough swearing afresh his obedience to the Monarch, should quietly, repossesse the parts of Leinster, which Hodericke with-held by suspensatlon. ^ Secondly, that for ensurance thereof, he should pledge his dearest base sonne Cnothani, to whom Rodericke promised his daughter, if this peace were found eftectuall. Thlrdlv, that belnji: rested in his kliio^dome, he should discharge the Welch army, nor should hence- forwards call tbem over in defence. About this time, Donatus the good King of Ergall, founded the Abbey of Mellyfont, which is the eldest that I finde recorded since the Danes anivall, except S. Mmy Abbey, besides Divelin, erected In an. 948. The meane while was landed at Weixford, Maurice Fiiz Gerald with his provision, ten Knights, thirty Squlers, and an hundred Bow^men, hereupon Dermot and the two Brethren, set their force against Divelin, which being the cheife CItty of his Realme, refused to yeeld, when Divelin and the country about it was recover'd, there befell hostility betw^een Rodeiicke, OF IRELAND. 85 and Diwenaldus Prince of Llmeiicke, whom Dermot his father holpe in field, foyled the enemy, and then withdrew his obedience from the Monarch. Shame- full was Roderickes flight, and Dermot insinuated into the favour of his people, began to recount the confederates of his first misfortune, and consulted with the two Captaines for the invasion of Connaght, find- ing them prest, he wrote over to the Earle Strongbow, renewed their covenants, prayed his helpe. Richard Earle Stronghoiu (whose auncestors came in with the Conquest, but commonly of the King and his succes- sors disfavoured) having read the letters, he passed to King Henry, besought him either to answere him his rightfuU heritage, which other men occupied, or to licence him else where in uncouth lands, to seeke his fortune. The King halfe in derision bad him on in the name of God, even as farre as his feete could beare him. The Earle dissembling to perceive the hoUovv- nes of the king, furnished his Cousin Reymond le G?'05e, , Nephew to the brethren aforesaid, ™th ten Knights, and 7^- Bowmen, himselfe ensued with about 200. Knights, and 1000. lusty Welchmen, tryed Souldiours, shortly they wanne the Citty of Water- ford, and then immediately Mac Muri^ougli accom- plished his convention, gave to the Earle in marriage his daughter Eve, with the succession of his King- dome. When Waterford was gotten, and Leinster pacified, and the Princes of Ossory tamed, and a chosen band ever in garrison, Mac Muri'ough became SQ terrible, that none durst encounter him. The 86 campion's historie Cleargy assembled themselves at Ardmagh, and with one accord did protest that for all their sinnes, and especially for the Turkish kinde of Tyrany which they used in buying and selling, and with vile slaveries oppressing the bodies of the English, (whom their pyrats tooke) their land was like to be translated to that nation, whose captives they handled so cruelly. To appease in part, the indignation of God, they de- creed, that all English, wheresoever in hold within the realme, should forthwith be loosed, Further, if it pleased God to scourge them, it should be meekely suffered, as farre beneath the debt of their deserts. King Henry ^ though he was well apayed that the Earle should be from him, yet he liked no deale, his growing in Ireland to such power, as percase in time to come, with his faction in Wales, then living under a Prince of their owne, he might be able to face the Crowne of England. An edict was therefore drawne, whereby all subjects w^ere charged upon their perill, to reverte into Ensiland by a dav, and a caveat annexed, that upon palne of death, none should presume to passe over without a new ^^ arrant, nor ship over any wares, money, munition, or victuals into Ireland. Thus had the Irish a breathing space, and would perhaps have picked greater benefits thereby, had not the Normans beene in their top immediately after. " Great force thev laide to Divelin, but were valiantly repelled, and their Captaine liascidphus taken pri~ "1170W OF IRELAND. 8? soner, who being calmely intreated, began to overview himselfe, and to imagine that the Citizens durst not use him extreamely, & once in open audience brake forth his unseasonable courage, in these wordes. Take this (quoth he) but for hansell, the game is to come : which heard they delayed him no longer, but pusht him downe on a blocke, and swapped off his head. Stronghoiu perceiving the Kings jealously not yet allayed, having wel-nigh spent his army in defence of diverse good townes, impugned by Rodericlce and the Irish, left sufficient vvarde till his returne : and met the King at Gloucester. ^ To whom he writeth, declaring the envy that lurked in his preferment, yeelded the tittle of all his winning, craved good countenance with his grace, contented himselfe with any portion whatsoever his Majesty should relinquish : a finall quietnesse was driven betweene them, Dublin with th' appurtenances, and all port townes of Leinster, & all fortresses reserved to the King. The Earle should enjoy with good leave whatsoever he had gotten beside. This yeare dyed Mac Mw'7'oiu, and the Abbey de Castro Dei was founded. Soone after the King with five hundred Knights with archers and horsemen many more tooke shore at Waterfordj^v and was such a terrour to the Irish, that M171. " 1172. Regni sui 17- iEtatis 41. 88 campion's historie ir continently all Mounster submitted themselves to his peace. There the men of Wexford to feede the surmises of Henry conceived against the gentlemen, betrayed their Lord Fitz Stephen^, and him delivered to the King. The King to gratifie them, for a while tremely chained and hampered the prisoner, quarrel- ling with him, notwithstanding the inhibition he had proceeded in atchieving the conquest of Ireland, but shortly bee enlarged him, and ratified the grants of Wexford above-mentioned. These Princes of the South sware fidelity and tribute to Henry. Uermot Cartye King of Corke, Donald Ohrene king of Limericke, Donald and Omalaghliejif puissant Lords of Ossory, and in briefe, all the states of Mounster, from thence bee journeyed to Dublin, where in like mannei' all the Captaines of Leinster, and Oroiicke king of Meth, and Rodericke Oconor, king of Connaght, and of all Ireland for himselfe, and the whole Hand, humbly recognized his sove- raignety : finally, no man there was of name in the land (except them of Vlster) but they to him bowed and sware obeysance. All which he feasted royally with a dinner of Cranes flesh, a fowle till then utterly abhorred of the Irish. Merlin had prophesied, that five should meete, and the sixt should scourge them. This sixt they now construed to be Henry, in whom the five pettie King- domes were united. Of the same conquest prophesied OF IRELAND. 89 tlieir foure notable Saints, Patricke, Brachon, Colme, and Moling.^ The King not unraindfull of his charge, enjoyned by the Popes Adrian and Alejcander, entred into a re- formation of the Church : and mooved the famous Bishop of Lismore, Saint Christian, their Legate, to call a Synode at Cashell, wherein they defined Eight Articles, y 1. First, that their people should abandon unlawfull contracts of their cousins and allyes, and observe the Canons of Matrimonie. 2. That their Infants should be primestened of the Priests hand at the Church dore, and then baptized in the font of their mother Church. 3. That all faithfull duely pay their Tithes. 4. That holy Church be for ever quit of those cursed exactions of diet and harborow whereunto they had beene accustomably strayned foure seasons in the yeare, and else against right. 5. That the fine levyed for manslaughter, be not borne bv the Clearkes, and kinsmen to the malefac- / '' Fab. pars. 7- c. 137. 5 Pol. Virg. lib. 13. Angl. Hist. N 90 campion's historie tour, but if he were accessary or faulty to the deed doing. 6. That the sicke doe his Testament to be made or read in the presence of credible persons. 7. That the funerals of the dead be devoutly and solemnly kept. 8. That forasmuch as GOD hath universally deli- vered them into the government of the English, tliey should in all points, rights, and ceremonies, accord with the Church of England. To these things Gelasius Primate of Ardmagh, be- cause he was old and impotent, gave his consent at Divelin in the presence of the King, he died two yeares after, so aged, that his sustenance was the milke of a white Cow, which he carried with him wheresoever he travelled. This yeere the Abbey defonte vivo was founded. While all went well in Ireland, newes came that Henry the sonne (whom his father had for good purpose crowned King of England) \A^as misledde to in- trude upon the actuall possession of the Crowne in his fathers life-time, which stirre to appease, the King left the custody of Ireland with Hugh de Lacy, to whom he gave Meth in fee, with Fit% Stephens, Fit% Ge- rald, and Philip de Bi'uise, and diverse others, and sayled into England. OF IRELAND. 91 In absence of King Henry ^ Oforick King of Meth, surnamed Monoculus, required conference and parley with Hugh de Lfacy, in which communication the King had trayterously murdered Lacy, had not Fltz Gerald rescued him. Then stept out an ambushment of the Irish, but Gj'iffin a Gentleman of the bloud royall in Wales, flighted the Kyrneghes, and slew Oj'oricJc. The English perceived such practices daylie sought and attempted, tooke from the Irish as farre as they durst, all trust of government, fenced themselves with garrisons, made Captaines, Keepers and Constables, wheresoever they wanne the better. But King Henri/ was so affrighted with his sonnes rebellion, and grew into such envye both at home and abroad for the death of Thomas late Archbishop of Canterbury, that he had no will to mind his proceedings in Ireland. Ever his jealousie increased towardes the Earle Stronghow, whom he supposed easie to bee carryed away with any light occasion of tumult. The Earle v\as a man of great birth, but not of great port until this good marriage befell him, & knowing himselfe neither to be brooked in sight, nor trusted out of sight, kept still one certaine rate in all his doings, bare but lovve saile, fed no quarrells, shunned all suspicious con- ference. While they stood thus In a mammaring, and Letters came daylie over, how faintly the States and Princes 92 campion's historie of Ireland performed obedience; for except inLelnster, all other parts retayned still their auncient kinde of government, and did onely acknowledge Tribute. It was thought expedient by Hcnri/es Counsellours, to discharge his minde of that care, and seeing there was trouble on all sides, and all could not bee intended one way, they determined to venture the custody of Ireland to Stronghoiv, being likely for his owne wealth and assurance, to procure all possible meanes of bridling and annoying the Irish. No sooner was the Earle landed with his Commis- sion Lord ^Varden of Ireland, but Donald King of Limericke met him at the vantage, and coursed him within the walls of Waterford, thereof bearinii; the residue their mates were animated, so that up they start in every corner, tagge and ragge to expellthe English. It went hardly, tlicn the Earle remembrcd himselfe of his cousin Lord Rej/mond, left behinde him in Wales a suitor to Basil his sister, whose marriage nothing stop- ped but the Earles consent. Now therefore bee wri- teth lovingly to the Wooer, and upon condition that hee came speedily to succour him, bee yelded the Lady and all else at pleasure. JReymond in bis first entry brake into Divelin, niarryed his Wife in compleate Ar- mour, and the very next daye sprang foorth, whipped the Rebells, quieted Leinster. Also the Cleargy having lately perused the Popes OF IRELAND. 93 Bull, z wherein hee entitleth Henri/ Lord of Ireland, and under straij^ht paynes commaiindeth alleagiance unto him, busily repressed the fury of their Countrey- men. And forsomuch as immediately eifter Christianity planted there, the whole Hand had with one consent given themselves not only into the spirituall, hut also into the temporall jurisdiction of the See of Rome, which temporall right the two Bishops Adrian and Alexander had freely derived into King Henry, as by their pu1)lique instruments read in their counsell at Cashell appeareth, they denounced curse and excom- munication to any that would maliciously gainsay or frustrate the same. When these broyles were rocked asleepe and hushl for a time, the familiars of Sfronghoiv greatly fore- thought them of the credit and rule committed to Bei/- mondy whom in conclusion they procured home againe when he had served their turne at neede. The meane \^hile dyed Stronghow , as some say, ^ betrayed and wounded, he lyeth buried in the Body of Christ Church in Divelin, leaving behimle him one onely daughter Isahely marry ed after 14. yeares to I'ViUiam Earle marshall. Closely they concealed Sironghoives death, untill they had compassed from the King another Go- vernour after their owne tooth . For ever they dreaded, that lieymond being in the Princes eye, and friended '- Pol. Virg-. lib. 13 Anyl. Hist. •1175. , 94 campion's historie in the Court, would catch his opportunity, and wynde himselfe (might he get an inkhng in time of the Earles death) into the succession of his office, which even then waxed sweet and savoui'y. Coodgellers of this drift, stopped messengers, intercepted letters, hasted on their owne course. JBasil the wife of Reymond, more dutiful to her husband, then naturall to her bro- ' ther, continued still in Ireland sicke, hut having privy 1 knowledge of those newes, ere the breath was quite out of the Earles body, payned her selfe to disturbe this whole array. And whereas shee knew well her letters should bee searched, and her owne servants stayed, shee let it be delivered at all a very venture to one of the maryners, and therein draweth a long processe of her affayres and household, but in the middle shuffles in a few lines of her meaning, under these tearmes : To all my afflictions is added now lately the tooth-ake, so that except that one master-tooth had fallen (which I send you for a token) I weene I were better out of my life. Now was the tooth tipped with golde, and bur- nished feately like a present, which Reymond wist well to bee none of hers, and therefore quickly smelled the construction, lingred not for Letters Pattents, but stept over presently, and made his packe, and was elected by the Kings Agents there, Lord Protectour of L'eland, till the Kings pleasure were further knowne : During his authority flourished the Gei^aldlncs, but shortly after they quay led again e, vmder the government of William. Mtz Aldelin, w'lih liirn was joyned in commission the valiant Knight lohii dc Coiwcy, conquerour, and OF IRELAND. 95 Earle of Vlster, which hitherto the King had not obtained. That yeare ^ was founded the Abbey of Crockesden* by JBa'tramus de Ver'don. To estabUsh the conquest of Vlster, and other vic- tories of the parts of Ireland before enjoyed, ^ udlex- ander the third sent his Cardinal! Vwianus, who de- clareth the Title that Henry held of the Pope, the re- servation of the JPe^e7'-pence, the indignation of GOD and holy Church against the rebells, who beeing them- selves contemners and breakers of Canons Ecclesiasti- call, yet for maintenance of their unruly stomackes, had found the meanes to make Churches their barnes, be- stowing therein both corne and pulse, that the victual- lers and purveyors of the Princes campe should not dare to require the sale thereof for perill of sacriledge. Therefore bee licenseth Officers in this behalfe soberly and discreetely to convent such persons, as made the Church a Sanctuary for their Corne, and in neede to take thereof at reasonable prices. Little good did Fit% Aldelin, and lesse was like to doe, because bee delighted to crosse his Peeres, and was of them stopped in his course of government. Hugh de Lacye was made Protector generall over '' 117G. '1177. 96 campion's historie the Land. But 3files Cogan, Philip cle Bruise, Fitz Stephens, P^wer, and diverse other more preferred to several! countreyes under him. ThisXacv/e hulldcd asort of castles and forts through- out all Leinster and Meth, and the next sixe yeares conthiually devout gentlemen erected sundry Abbeyes, as the Abbey of Roscglasse, '^ of Donbrothy by Ilervy a Welch-man, ^ one of the speciall conquerours of Ire- land, who himself after that, entred into religion in Trinity Priory at Canterbury, * The Abbeyes of Geri- pont, and Choro Benedicti, the Abbey de lege JDei, with repayring of many Chappels, Chauncells, Bell- houses, High-wayes, and Bridges. ^ Then dyed Saint J^aurence Archbishop of Divelin, to whom succeeded lohn Comyn an Englishman, brought up in the Abbey of Evesham, Founder of Saint Patrickes in Divelin, which was before that time a Parish Church, & now by the said Archbishop endowed with Prebends, Vic- cars, Clearkes, Chorists, and many notable possessions for their maintenance, whereout from time to time have proceeded Clergy-men of greatest learning & re- putation in the Diocese Divers contentions were raised betwixt Christs Church and it, for antiquity, wherein they of S. Patrickes, are (no doubt) inferiour, as shall " 1170, ' 1179. '"1180. eil82. OF IRELAND. 9/ appeare. ^^ They are both written Cathedrall Churches, and both are the Bishops Chapiter, in whose election they both ought to convent within the Church of the blessed Trinity, called Christs Church, which in all re- cords hath the preheminency of place. The party that disturbeth this order of election, forfeiteth by deede to th' Archbishop of Divelin, 200. pounds. This foun- dation was much enriched by King lohn. The same yeare died the yong King Henry, recon- ciled to his father, but preparing wane against his bro- ther Richard Duke of Acpiitain : soon after also de- ceased laffri/ his otlier son, Dvike of Brittaine. Thus were left Richard, his inheritour, and loJin afterwards Earle of Glocester, heretofore surnamed without land, to whom the father conveyed all his interest and Lord- ship of Ireland, sent him thither honourably accompa- nied, being then but twelue yeares old, and with him in speciall trust, Giraldus Camhrensis Clerke, a diligent searcher of the antiquities of Ireland, surely well learned, and in those dayes counted Eloquent. About the young Earle were servants and counsel- lours, three sorts, first Normans, great quaifers, lour- dens, proud, belly swaines, fed with extortion and bri- bery ; to whom bee most relyed : secondly, the English brought with him, meetly bold : Thirdly, the English found in the land, whom being best worthy and most forward in all good services, bee least regarded, hereof '* Infi'a cap. 48. O 98 campion's hstorie sprang parties and disdalne, and to the knights that hardiest were and readiest of courage no small discom- fort, to the enemies a spurre. With the brute of his aiTivall at Waterford, the Kings of Thomond, Desmond and Connaght, put themselves in the bravest manner they could, to meete him and to submit their countries to his Grace, before them came the Irish Franklyns with rich presents, (and as they are very kind hearted where they list to shew obedience,) made unto the Childe, their Lord, the most joy and gladnesse that might be, and though rudely, yet lovingly, and after the custome of their countr^^, offred to kisse him, with such familiarity as they used towards their Princes at home. Two of the Guard, Normans, pickthankes, shooke and tare the Clownes by the glibs & beards unmannerly, and churlishly thrust them out of the presence, whom they should have instructed curteously, & born \vith. The Irish thus rejected, went against the fore-named Kings, opened the rebukes and villanyes done to them, for their meekenes, that their Lord whom they thought to honour, was but a Boy, peevish and insolent, governed by a sort of flatterers, younglings and prowlers : That sithence to them that buxome were and tractable, such despite and dishonour (that terme they have borrowed of the Spaniards) was proifered so soone, little good should the states of Ireland looke for in continuance, when the English had once yoked and penned them in their douches. OF IRELAND. 99 This report lightly alienated the mindes of those Princes, not yet very resolute, and turned them home with great oathes and leagues, entred among them- selves, caused also the mightiest Captaines elsewhere to sticke together, while their lives lasted, and for no manner earthly thing to slacke the defence of their auncient liberties. Immediately walked abroad mutinyes of broyle & commotion, so that the young Earle and his army, were content to commit the tryall thereof, to Lacy^ Uruise^ Courcy, Fitz Gerald, and the rest, himselfe departing away the same yeare he came, and leaving the Realme a great deale worse bestedde then he found it. From the Conquest hitherto Giraldus Cambrensis, and from hence to the yeare IS^O. I am specially holpen by certaine briefe extracts, i whose author is namelesse, and therefore I quote him by the name of Philip Flatsbury who wrote them, and enriched them with collections of his ow^ne, for Gerald the father of the Earle of Kildare then being. An. 1517- Lacy the rather for these whisperings, did erect and edifie a number of Castles, well and substantially, pro- vided in convenient places, one at Derwath, where di- verse Irish prayed to be set on worke, for hyre. Sundry ' In these notes I used the conference of 3. coppies, iwuch different, sent me, the one by my Lord of Trimlestone, anotlier fi*om M. Ao-ard, the third from M. Stanyhurst. ' 100 campion's historie times came JLav.i) to quicken his labom'ers, full glad to see them fall in me with any such exercise, wherein, might they once be gromided & taste the svveetenesse of a true mans life, he thought it no small token of reformation to be hoped, for which cause he visited them often, and merrily Avould command liis Gentlemen to give the labourers example in taking paines, to take their instruments in hand, and to worke a season, the poore soules looking on and resting. But this game ended Tragically, while each man was busie to try his cunning: some lading, some plaistering, some heaving, some carving ; the Generall also himselfe, digging with a pvkeaxe, a desperate villaine of them, he whose toole the Generall used, espying both his hands occupied and his body, with all force inclining to the blow, watched his stoope, and clove his head with an axe, little es- teeming the torments that ensued. ^ This Lacy was conquerour of Meth, his body the two Archbishops, lolin of Divelin and Matheiv of €ashell, buryed in the monastery of Becktye, his head in S. Thomas abbey at Divelin. ^ The next yeare, was bullded the abbey of Ines in Vlster, "^ and soone after, the abbey es of lugo Dei, and of Comer, " and then the abbey of Knock - moY, or de Colle victorise, by » Catliel Cronderg King of Connaght. " 1189. ' 1187. "'1198; • 1199. " 1200; OF IRELAND. CAP. II. 101 The Titles of the Crowne of England to evei'y part of Jrelandj and to the luhole diverse ivayes^ I WILL begin with the pedigree of William Earle marshall, for thereupon depend many recordes in Ire- land, and the Queenes right to Leinster. Walter Fit% Richard, \\\\o came from Normandy, with Wil- Ham Conquerour, died Lord Strongbow of Strigule alias Chepstow without issue, to whom succeeded his sisters sonne Gilbert, who was created the first Earle of Pembroke, & had issue Richard the inheritour of Leinster, by a covenant and marriage of JEva the sole daughter of J[Iac Murrough King of Leinster. This Richard conveyed to Henry the second all his title, and held of him the Lordship of Leinster in foure counties, Weixford, Catherlagh, Ossory, and Kildare. JR/fAa^Y/left issue, a daughter /5«Z»e/, married to J^T^il- liam Earle marsliall of England, now Earle of Pem- broke, Lord Strongbow, and Lord of Leinster. Wil- liam had issue five sonnes, who died without issue, when every of them, except the youngest, had succes- sively possessed their fathers lands, and five daughters, Maude, loane^ Isabel, Sibil, and Eve, among \\ horn the patrimony was parted in an. 31. H. 3. Of these daughters bestowed in marriage, are descended many noble houses, as the Mo7'timers, JBruises, Clares, &c. 102 campion's HISTOllIE borne subjects to the Crowne of England, paying ever to the King his diityes reserved. Hugh cle Lacy Conquerour of Meth, had issue Walter de Lacy, who held the same of King lohn, paying a fine of foure thousand marks sterling, and hence beganne all the severall claimes there at this day, with allegiance sworne and done by their aunces- tours. At the very first arrlvall of Henry the second, the Princes of Mounster came universally, and did homage voluntarily, and acknowledged to him and his heires, duties and payes for ever. lohn de Courcy Conquerour and Earle of Vlster, dyed without issue, King lohn Lord of Ireland, gave the Earledome to Hugh deLacy, who had issue, Wal^ ter and Hugh, dead without issue, and one daughter married to Reyniond Burke Conquerour and Lord of Connaght. Connaght descended to diverse heires, owing service to the Prince, hut Vlster is returned by devolution to the special! inheritance and revenues of the Crowne of England, in this manner The said 2>e Burgo, had issue, Bichard, who had issue lohn, who had issue William, who was slalne without issue, and a Daugh- ter, Elizabeth Intytled to thirty thousand marks yearely, by the Earledome of Vlster, whom Edward OF IRELAND. 103 the 3. gave in marriage to Leonel his second sonne, Duke of Clarence, who had issue a daughter Philippe^ maiTyed to Edmund Mortymer, who had issue Ed- mund^ Anne, Elinor. Edmund and Elinor died without issue, Anne was married to Richard^ Earle of Cambridge, sonne to Edmund oi Laugley Duke of Yorke, fift sonne to Edward the third, which said RicJiard had issue Richard Plantagenet, father to Edward the fourth, father to Elizabeth w ife to Henry the seventh, and mother to Henry the eight, father to Mary, Edward the sixt, and Elizabeth, Severall claimes to the Land of Ireland. 1. First that the Irish (for of the rest there is no question) were subjects to the Crowne of Brittaine, before they set foote in Ireland. Thus it appeareth. They dwelt on that side of Spaine, whereof Bayon was then cheife imperiall Citie, and the same then in posses- sion and obedience to Gnrguntius 37^. yeares ere Christ was borne, as it was to his successours many a day after, namely to Henry ^ the which as I finde noted in certaine precepts of governement, dedicated to lames Young, to lames Butler Earle of Ormond, then Lieu- tenant of Ireland an. 1416. From this coast and Citty, now part of Gascoigne came the fleete of those Iberians, who in 60. ships met Gurguntius on the sea, returning from the con- quest of Denmarke, to \\ horn they yeelded oath and 104 campion's historie service, sued for dwelling, were by him conducted and planted in Ireland, and became his leige people. 2. Mac Gil-murrow King of Ireland, with all his petty Princes, Lordes, and Captaines, summoned to King Arthurs court held in Carlion, an. 519. did accordingly their homage, and attended all the while his great feast and assembly lasted. 3. The Monarch of Ireland and all other, both Testes and rescuU for them and for theirs for ever, betooke themelves to Henry the second in an. Dom. 1172. namely those of the south, whiles he lay at Waterford, Dermot King of Corke, which is the nation of ]\[ac Cai^tj/es, at Cashell, Donald King of Limericke, which is the nation of the Ohrenes, Donald King of Ossory, Mac Slmglden King of Ophaly, at Divelin did the like, Okeruell king of Vriell, Ororicke king of Meth, Rodericke King of all Ireland, and of Connaght. This did they with consents and shoutes of their people : and king Henri/ returned without any Battle given. Only Vlster re- mained which lokn de Convey soone after conquered, and Oneale Captaine of all the Irish there, came to Dublin to Richard the 2. in an. 1399. And freely bound himselfe by oath and great summes of money, to be true to the crowne of England. 4. The same time Ohrene of Thomond, Oconor of Connaght, Arthur Mac Murroxu of Leinster, and OP IRELAND. ' 105 all the Irish Lords which had been somewhat disor- dered, renewed their obedience. 5. When Ireland first received Christendome they gave themselves into the jurisdiction both spirituall & temporall, of the See of Rome. The temporall Lord- ship, Pope Adrian conferred upon Henry the second, and hee gave the same to lohn his younger sonne, afterwards King of England, and so it returned home to the Crowne. 6. Alexander the 3. confirmed the gift of Adrian as in both their Charters is expressed at large. 7. Vivian the legate on the Popes behalfe doth ac- curse and excommunicate all those that flitte from the obeysance of the Kings of England. 8. The cleargy twice assembled, once at Cashell, secondly at Ardmagh, plainely determined the con- quest to be lawfuU, and threatned all people, under paine of Gods, and holy Churches indignation, to ac- cept the English kings for their Lords, from time to time. 9. It would aske a volume to recite the names of such Irish Princes, who since the conquest have con- tinually occasions, revolts or petitions, sworne tmth and faith to the kings of England, from time to time, received honours, wages, fees, pardons, and petitions, p 106 campion's historie And thus I thinke no reasonable man will doubt of a right so old, so continued, so ratified, so many wayes confessed. CAR III. Richard the first, and King John. xSY occasion of Lacyes mishap, lohn Courcye, and Hugh de Lacije tlie younger, with all their assistants, did streight execution upon the Rebells, and prevent- ing every mischiefe ere it fell, stayed the Realme from uproares. P Thus they continued lovingly, and lived in wealth and honour all the dayes of liichard the first, untill the first yeare of King Johns raigne. Henry the second had Issue male, TVilliam, Henry, liichard, Jeffrey, and/oA?i. 4 IVilliam, Henry, and Richard dyed without issue. Jeffrey Earle of Brittaine dyed before his father, and left issue two daughters, and an after-borne son called Arthur, whose title to the Crowne, as being the undoubted lyne of the elder brother, P/ulip King of France, and certaine Lords of England and Ireland stoutly justified: Him had King John taken prisoner in Normandy, and dispatched, if ••1189. OF IRELAND. 10/ the fame be true, with his owne hands at Roane. Of this barbarous cruelty all mens eares were full, and Courcye either of zeale or partiality, spake bloudy words against it, which meane his undermyners caught, and did not onely heave him out of credit, but also got commission to attach his body, and to send him into England. The Earle mistrusted his part, and kept aloofe, till Hugh de Lacye Lord Justice, was faine to levye men in armes, and to invade Vlster. ^ Thence bee was often put to flight, whereupon bee proclaymed Courcye Traytour, and byred sundry gentlemen with rewards, to bring him in quicke or dead, so long bee wooed the matter, that Courcyes owne Captaines were inveygled to betray their Lord. Therefore upon good Friday, when the Earle did off his armour, and in secret meditations visited religious places bare-footed, they layde for him, tooke him as a rcbell, and shipped him into England the next way, where he was adjudged to perpetuall prison. ^ Sentleg-er addeth in his collec- tions that Ijacy payd the Traytors their money, and then immediatlv hanaied them. This Courcye translated the Church and Preben- daryes of the Trinity in Downe, to an Abbey of black Monks brought thither from Chester, and the 1202. 1204. 108 campion's historie same did hallow to S. Patricke, for which alteration of the name of God to his servant, hee deemed him- selfe justly punished. Not long after (as say the Irish) certaine French knights came to King lohns Court, and one of them asked the combat for tryal of the Dutchy of Nor- mandy. It was not thought expedient to jeopard the title upon one mans lucke, yet the challenge they de- termined to answere : some friend put them in minde of the Earle imprisoned, a Warriour of noble courage, and in pitch of body like a gyant. King lohn de- maunded Courcye whether hee would bee content to fight in his quarrell : Not for thee (said the Earle) whose person I esteeme not worthy the adventure of my bloud, but for the Crowne and dignity of the Realme, wherein many a good man liveth against thy will. The words were haply taken without dudgen, as proceeding from stomack, and from one counted more plaine then ^^^se. Courcye therefore being cherished to the field, and refreshed with dyet, fed so wonderfully after his hard keeping, that the French Challenger tooke him for a monster, and privily stale into Spaine. Then was the Earle inlarged, and crossed the seas toward es Ireland, fifteene times, evermore beaten back to the shoare, went thence into France to chan2:e the coast, and there dyed: after whose decease with- out heires of his body, the Earldome of Vlster was OF IRELAND. 109 entirely bestowed upon Hugh cle Lacye for his good service. In Ireland remained one of the Courcyes, Lord of Rathenny and Kilbarrock, whom as a spye of all thei? practises, and an informer thereof to the King, Walter and Hugh the sonnes of Hugh had slaine, and great seditions raysed, bearing themselves after the decease of their father for Governours out of checke. To settle the Realme of Ireland, King lohn brought thither a maine Armye, banished the Lacyes, subdued the remanents, tooke pledges, punished malefactours, established the execution of English Lawes, coyned money of like value currant sterling in both Realmes. t The two Lacyes repentant of their follyes and tyran- nies, fled into France, dispoyled of sumptuous appa- rell, and unknowne, meekely they served in Saint Taurines Abbey, as gardners, untill the Abbot by their countenance and behaviour, beganne to smell their estates, and pressed them so farre, that they de- tected their offences, and the due desert of much harder chastisement, eft-soone beseeching the Abbot to keepe their counsells, who commending their humilities, yet advising them to laye holde upon their Princes favour, if it might be had, laboured the King his familiar and godsip earnestly for their pardons and obtained it. Each of them were fined, Walter at 4000. and Hugh at 2500. markes, and restored him to the Lord- ' Anno I'i'lO. Stow. 110 campion's III9TORIE ship of Mcth, this to the Earldome of Vlster : King lo/in made his Vice-gereiit, and returned liome, suhdued the Wclchmen, met witli Pandidphus the Legate of hmocentius the third, who came to release him of the sentence wherein he stood excommunicate for his spoyle and extortion of Clmrch goods, to whom heing the Popes Atturney, hee made a personal! sur- render of hoth his Rcalmes in way of suhmission, and after his assoylcment, received them againc: some adde that he gave away his Kingdomc to the See of Rome, for him and his successours, recognizing, to holde the same of the Popes in fee, paying yearely therefore one thousand markes, and in them three hundred for Ire- land. '• JBlundus sayth, Cenlum pro utroq; aiiri mar- chas. Sir Thomas Mooi'e, a man in that calling & office likely to sound the matter to the depth, writeth precisely, that neither any such writing the Pope can shew, nor were it cffectuall if he could. How farre foorth, and with what limitation a Prince may or may not addict his Real me feodary to another, lohn I\Inior a Scottish Chronicler, and a Sorhonist, not unlearned, partly scanneth, wlio thinketh 300. marks for Ireland a very hard pennyworth. The instrument which our English Chronicle V rehearseth, might haplv he mo- tioned and drawnc, and then dye uiu'atified, although the copy of that record continue: But certaine it is, that his successours never ])ayde it, and thereto assenteth lohn Hale in his Apology against vowes. " Polid. lib. 15. " Fiibian. OF IRELAND. Ill ^ To lohn Comin Founder of S. Patrickes Church, succeeded Henry lAnindcrs in the Arch])ishops See of DlveluijW who hulkled the khigs Castle there, heing Lord Chlefe lustice of Irehmd, him they nicknamed (as the Irish doe commonly give additions to tlieir Governours in respect of some fact or qualitie) Scorc/i- vUlaine, and J3icrnehill, hecause hee recjuired to peruse the writings of his Tenants, colourahly pretending to learne the kinde of each mans several 1 tenure, and burned the same before their faces, causing them either to renew their estates, or to holde at will. In the fourth yearc of King lolms raigne, was founded the Abhey of Dowske, in the sixt, the Abhey of Wethny in tlie Countie of Limericke, by Theobald le liutlei'. Lord of the Carricke, and in the twefth, lilchard Tide builded the Monastery of Granard. CAP. nil. Henri/ the third, and Edward the first. xjLFTER the death of L,oivnderSy^ Henry the third (informed of the Truth and good service done by the Geraldines ever since their first arryvall in the Coun- trey) made Morrice Fitz Gerald the sonne of Mor- rice aforesaid Lord lustice. " 1212. » 1228. 112 Campion's historie To him sent Edtvard the Prince, surnamed Long' shanke, for assistance and power of men against the Welch Rebells, who leaving Warders in the Castle of Sligaghe, by him lately founded, together ^\ith Phelim Oconnor, and a lusty band of souldiours met the king at Chepstow, returned victoriously, and by this meanes increased favour, & streightway they two joyning with Cormaclc 7nac Dermot, Mac Ro7y, made a noble hosting upon Odonill the Irish enemy that invaded and grieved the Kings subjects of Vlster, when Lacy was once dead. Odonill being vanquished, the Lord Justice forced pledges and Trowages of Oneale, to keepe the Kings peace, and diverse other exploytes did hee during his time of government, which in particular rehearseth Flatshwy in his notes collected for Gerald Fitz Gerald y Earle of Kildare, Anno 1517. To him succeeded in office Sir lohn Fitz Geffrey knight, y Geffrey Allan de la Zoivche, ^ whom Earle Warren slew, » to Zoiuchy Stephen de longa spata, who slew Oneale in the streets of Down, ^ and there dyed. Him followed TVilliam Den, in whose time Mac Cartye played the devill in Desmond, and to Den, Richard Capell, who envyed the Geraldines, and was of them taken prisoner, together with Theobald le 7 1248. * 1^59. • 1260. M261. OF IRELAND. ^^ Butler, ^ndMiles Cogan,^ Theking tooke up the va- riance, and discharged Den, d preferring David Barry e to his roome, who tamed the insolence of Morrice Fitz Monice,^ cousin germane to Fitz Gerald: upon Barrye came Vfford, upon Vfford, lames Audeley who dyed of a fall from his horse in Thomond: and then for the time Fitz Morrice governed, till the kmg sent over Sir Jeffrey de Genevill, newly returned m pilgrimage from the Holy Sepulture : Him called home affaine Edward the first, in the fourth yeare of his raigne, and sent in his stead Robert Ffford the second time, who made his Vicegerent, Fryar Fidborne, Bishop of Waterford, and resumed his charge at his next arryvall into Ireland. At this time f the citty of Divelin was miserably wasted with fire, and the Bell-house of Christs Church utterly defaced, which the citizens before they repayred their private harmes jointly came to succor, & collec- tions made to redresse the ruines of that ancient building first begun by the Danes, as I finde in a monument of that foundation, continued by Sitricus ; Prince of Dive- lin, at the motion of i)07ia^e, then Bishop, & dedicated to the Blessed Trinity, finished by Bichard Earle Strangbow, Fitz Stephens, mAS. Laurence the Arch- bishop, and his foure successors, lohn of Evesham, Henry Scorchbill, Lord lustice, & Lucas, and lastly by John de S. Paul, wliich worke at the decay by fire, c 1267. ' 12^S. , 1270. ' 1280. Q 114 campion's historie atid since, manv devout citizens of Divelin have beautified.S The same Stronghowes Tombe spoyled by fall of the roofFe, Sir Henry Siclnei/ Lord Deputy, restoreth at this present, who hath also given a sightly countenance to the Quire, by doing cost upon theEarle oi Kildares Chappell, over against the which he liath left a monu- ment of Captain Randolfe, late Colonell of Vlster, Vallantlv dead in that service, lohn Saniford Arch- bishop of Divelin Lord Justice, William Vescy Lord Justice, who pursued Omalaghlien king of Meth, that soone after was slaine. The Souldan of Babylonia determined to vexe the Christians cities of the East. Trlpolis, Tynis, Berin- thus, SIdon, Ptolemais, now parts of Turky, whom to redeeme, & with their helpes to get againe the Holy Land, Edivard the first had foure yeeres past obtained by licence of Martin the fourth, ^ and by confirmation of Honorius, his successor, the v\'hole tenth of all ecclesiastical revenues in Ireland for 7- yeares, where- after followed a fifteene of the Temporal ty : And the same yeere lohn Baliol Earle of Galvvay, founded Baliol Colledge in Oxford, made his homage to King Edwa7'd for his Klngdome of Scotland, and to the Lord Justice for his Earledome of Jreland. * It was first a Priory and Canon?, now Deane and Chapiter. " i2sr. ' Blundus lib. 3. OF IRELAND. 115 Vescey was a sterne man, and full of courage, but rashe and impudent of his tongue : lie con\ ented before him, k John Earle of Kildare, & charged him with riots & vagaryes unseasonable, for that he ranged with his men abroad, & preyed upon privat enemies inordinatly, for malice & grudge, not for advancement of the pub- lique weale: whom the Earle as impatient as the other, answered thus : 1 By your honour and mine, my Lord, & by king Edwards hand, you would if you durst, appeach me in plaine tearmes of felony: for whereas I have the title, and you the fleece of Kildare, I wot well how great an eye sore I am in your sight, who if I could })ee handsomely trussed up for a felon, then might my young Master your sonne, become a Gentleman : Justice, Gentleman (quoth he) thou proud Earle, the Vescyes were gentlemen, before Kildare was an Earldome, and before the Welch bankrupt thy Cousin feathered his Nest in Leinster. But seeing thou darest me, I will surely breake thy heart, and with that word he called the Earle a notorious theefe & mur- derer. Then followed clattering of swords by Soul- diours on both parties, untill either side appeased his owne, and the Lord Justice leaving his Lieutenant William Hay, sped over the King, whom immedi- ately followed the Earle, & as fast as Vescey charged Kildare with fellony, no lesse did Kildare appeach the Justice of high treason, and in tryall thereof he asked the Combate. But when the listes royall were pro- Ided, Vescey v»as slipt away into France, and so dis- Vl( 116 CAMPION*S HISTORIE herited of all his lands in the county of Kildare, which were bestowed upon the Earle of Kildare and his heires for ever. The Earle waxed insolent upon this successe, and squared with diverse Nobles English and Irish of the Land, hee took prisoner, Richard Earle of Vlster, and him detained untill the Parliament then assembled at Kilkenny, commanded his delivery, and forthat unruli- nesse, disseised the Geraldines of the Castle of Sli- gagh, and of all his lands in Connaght. VP^ilUam Doddingsale Lord lustice. "^ This yere for the defence of Wales, and commodity of Passen- gers, to and from Ireland, the King did coast upon the Isle of Anglisey, called the mother of Wales, and builded there the castle de hello 'inarisco, or Bewma- rishe. Thomas Fitz Mo7'ice Lord lustice. lohn Wogan Lord lustice pacified the former strife, n betweene Vlster and Kildare, and all the Ge- raldines, with their associats, together with Theobald Lord Sutle7\ gathered strength of men, and met the kings army before Edinburgh, wan the Citty, « slew 25. thousand Scots, hampred lohn JBaliol king of the Scots, in such sort, that glad and faine was he to re- new his homage. ■" 1294. » 1296; " 1«99, OF IRELAND. 117 CAP. V. Edward the second. Thomas fitz morice Lord lustice. p I will begin tliis Chapter with the modestie of a good Clerke, Richard Havering who five yeares by dispensation had received the fruites and revenues of the Bishopricke of Divelin, and long might have done, had he beene so disposed. But now feeling in sleep a waight upon his stomacke, heavyer to his weening then any masse of mettall, whereof to be released he vowed in his dreame, all that ever he could make in this world : Suddainely the next morne, resigned the custo- dium of the Bishopricke, and contented himselfe with other ecclesiasticall cures incident to his vocation. The same yeare was the bane of the Templers in Ireland, to whom succeeded the Knights of the Rhodes. This profession began at Jerusalem, by certaine Gentlemen that kept their abode next to the Temple there, who till the Councell of Creetz increased not above the number of nine, q But thenceforth in little more then fiftie yeares, being enriched by contribution of all Christian Reahnes, every where their houses were erected and endowed bountifully: they grew to 300. Knights of the order and into inferiour brethren in- numerable. But with ease and wealth they declined p 1307. 1 Tvr. 1. VI. c, 7. 118 campion's historie now to such intollerable deformities of life and other superstitious errors, nothing lesse regarding then the purpose of this their foundation, that the generall Councell assembled at Vienna, disannulled the same for ever. And thereupon as in other countries so in Ireland, they confessed the publicke fame of their enormities, and themselves culpable, their persons they yeelded to perpetuall pennance, their lands were 2;iven (though with some difficulty) to the Knights of S. lohns hospitall at Jerusalem, who since then for recovering the Hand of Rhodes from the Saracens, became famous, and multiplied much more honouraby then did the Tcmplers. Of this latter foundation was the priory of S. lohns at Kilmaynam besides Divelin, r lohn Decer Major of Divelin builded tlie high Pype there, and the Bridge over the Liffy, toward S. Wolstans, and a chapel 1 of our Lady at the Fryar minors, where he lyeth buried, repaired the Church of the Fryars preachers, and every friday tabled the Fryars at his owne costs. In absence of Wogan^ Sir William I^urcke was Lord Warden of Ireland, to whom King Kdward recommended Pierce of Gavestone the disquieter of all the nobility in England, a companion to the King in vice, bolstered up by the King so peremptorily against the will of his Councell, that whereas the said Pierce " 1309. OF IRELAND. \19 was by them exiled, JEdwaj'd sent him now into Ireland with much honour and many Jewels, assigning him the commmodities royall of that Realme, which bred some bickering betweene the Earle of Vlster Sir Richard JBurke, and Gavestone, who notwithstanding bought the hearts of the Souldiours with his libe- rality, subdued Obrene, edified sundry Castles, caws- wayes, and bridges, but within three yeares he retyred from Flaunders, into England, where the nobles besieged him at Scarborough and smit oiF his head. lohn J^Vogan Lord lustice, s summoned a Parlia- me4it at Kilkenny, where wholesome lawes were ordained, but never executed: There fell the Bishops in argument about their Jurisdictions and in espe- ciall the Archbishop of Divelin forbad the Primate of Ardmagh to lift up his crosyer within the province of Leinster. In ratifying of which priviledge I have scene the coppy of Pope Honorius Bull exemplified among the recordes of S. Patr'icks Church, shortly after Roivland loyce, then Primate, stale by night in his pontificals from Howth to the priory of Grace- dieu, where the Archbishops servants met him, and violently chased him out of all the diocesse. This Archbishop was named lohn ylleeke, after whose death were elected in scisme & division of sides, two successours, Thoriiehurgh Lord Chancellor, and JBignore Treasurer of Ireland. The Chancellor to strengthen his election, hastily went to sea, and • 131L 120 campion's historie perished by shipwracke, the other submitthig his cause to the processe of law tarryed at home, and sped. Theobald de Verdoii Lord Justice. SIxe thousand Scots fighting men, under the conduct of Edward JBruise ^ brotlier to Robert King of Scotland, also the Earle Murray, lohn Menteith, lokn Steiuard, and others landed in the north of Ireland, ^ ioyned with the Irish, and conquered Vlster, gave the Englishmen three notahle overthrowes, crowned the said Bruise King of Ireland, burned Churches and Abbeyes, with all the people found therein, men, women, and children. Then was Sir Edmund Butler chosen Lord lustice, ^ who combined the Earle of Vlster, and the Geraldines in friendship, himselfe with Sir lohn Mandevill, and preserved the rest of the Realme. In the necke of these troubles, arose foure Princes of Connaght, to impaire and scatter the English force. But then the Burckes and the Berninghams discomfited and slew the number of eleaven thousand besides Athenry. To Sir Richard Berningham be- longed a lusty voung swayne, lohu Hussee, whom his Lord commanded to take a view of the dead carcasses about tlie walles, and bring him word whether Okelly his mortall foe were slaine among them. Hussee passed forth with one man to turne up and peruse the bodies. All this marked Okelh/, who lurking in a * 1313. • 1314. * 1315. OP IRELAND. 121 bush thereby, being of old time well acquainted with the vallantnes & truth of Hussee, sore longed to traine him from his Captaine, and presuming now upon this opportunity, disclosed himself & said. ' Hussee, thou ' seest I am at all points armed, and have my Esquire, * a manly man, besides me, thou art thin and thy ' page a youngling so that if I loved not thee for ' thine owne sake, I might betray thee for thy Mas- ' ters. But come and serve me at my request, & I ^ promise thee by S. Patrickes staffe, to make thee a ' Lord in Connaght, of more ground, then thy Master ' hath in Ireland.* When these wordes waiffhed him nothing, his owne man (a stout lubber) began to re- prove him, for not relenting to so rich a proffer, assured him with an oath, whereupon bee proffered to gage his soule for performance. ^ Now had Hiissee three enemies, and first he turned to his owne knave, and him he slew, next bee raught to Okellyes Squire a great rappe under the pit of his eare, which over- threw him: Thirdly he bestirred himselfe so nimbly that ere any helpe could be hoped for, he had also slaine Okelli/, and perceiving breath in the Squire, he drawed him up againe, & forced him, upon a truncheon to beare his Lords head into the high towne, which presented to JBermingham, and the circumstances declared, he dubbed Hitssee Knight and him advanced to many preferments, whose family became afterwards Barons of Galtrime. While the Scots were thus matched, llohert de JBruise King of Scots, tooke shore at Cragj-ferirus, to assist his brother, whose Soul- R 122 campion's HISTOllIE diours committed sacriledge and impiety, against Mo- nasteries, Tombes, Altars, Virgins, robbed Churches of all their plate and ornaments. They of Vlster, sent to the Lord Justice pittifull supplication, for aide in this miserv, who delivered them the Kings power and standard, wherewith under pretence to expell the Scots, they raunged through the country with more grievance and vexation to the subjects, then did the strangers. Le bruise proceeded and spoyled Cashell, and ^vheresoever he lighted upon the Butlers lands, those hee burned and destroyed unmercifully. By this time ^^' had the Lord lustice, and Thomas Fltz lohn Earle of Kildare, Illchard de Clare ^ and jlrnold de Powere^ Baron of Donoile, furnished and armed thirty thousand men ready to set forward. Then came newes that William de Bur go the Earles brother was taken by the Scots, whereof the Irish of Vlster imboldened with the presence of the Scotish Anny, and with the late discomfiture which Earle Hichard JBurcke sus- tained at Coynes, denyed their alleagance openly, and conspired in the behalfe of Edwai'd le Bruise, whom they proclaimed King. The Lord lustice had assem- bled such force against them, under the leading of the Geraldines and Poweres, that each of them was thought suificient, by himself, to winne the field. But suddainely the tv/o Captaines, and their adherents squared, so as no good conclusion might be inferred : Boger Mortimer, trusting by their discention to im- beazell a victory, culled out fifteene thousand Soul- " 1317. OF IRELAND. 123 diours, and met the Scots at Kenles, where he was shamefully foyled, his men (as folke supposed) M'ilfully forsaking hhn, and bearing false hearts. Vp start the Irish of Mounster at these newes, the Ocooles, Ohrines, and Omores, and wasted with fire and sword from Arkloe to Lelx; with them coped the Lord Justice and made a great slaughter, fourescore of their heads were set upon Divelin Castle. The mean while Edward Bruise raigned in Vlster, held his courts, pronounced his enemies traytors, abandoned the English blood, exhorted the Irish of Leinster to doe the like, whereupon Donald the sonne of Ai-thur Mac Morrow, a slip of the royall family, displayed his banner within two miles of Divelin, but him Trailer one tooke prisoner, sent him to the castle of Dublin, whence he escaped, slyding downe from the Turret, bv a cord that one Adam Maimle brought him. The said Mangle was drawne and hanged. Roger 3Iorthner^ Lord lustice pacified the displea- sure, betweene Ilichard Earle of Vlster, and the No- bles that had put the said Earle under surety, mis- deeming him of certalne riots committed against the kings subjects, wherby the Scots c^aught strength and courage, whose ravening, caused such horrible scarcity in Vlster, that the Souldiours which in the yeare before abused the Kings authority, to purvey themselves of wanton fare, surfeited with fiesh and aquavitse all the 13 1: 124 CAMPION S HISTORIE Lent long, prolled and pilled insatiably without neede, and without regard of poore people, whose onely pro- vision they devoured : Those (I say) now living in slavery under Le Bruise, starved for hunger, when they had first experienced many lamentable shifts, as in scratching the dead bodyes out of their graves, in whose skulls they boyled the same flesh, and fed thereof. Mortymei' went over to the King Indebted to the Citizens of Dlvelln for his viands, a thousand poundes, whereof he payde not one smulkln, and many a bitter curse carried with him to the sea. WiUlam Archbishop of Cashell Lord Chancellor was left Lord Warden of Ireland, in whose timeX JBer- mingham aforesaid being generall of the field, and under him Captains, 2ute, T^erdon, Tripton, Siitton, CusacJce and Manpas, led forth the Kings power against Edward Bruise, pitching by Dundalke, the Primate of Ardmagh personally accompanying our souldiours, blessing their enterprise, and assoyling them all, ere ever they began to encounter. In this conflict the Scots were vanquished full & whole, 2000. slaine, tk Manpas that pressed into the throng to meet with Bruise, was found in the search, dead, covering the dead body of Bruise. Thus dissolved the Scottish Kingdome in Ireland, and Bermingham sending his head to the King, received in recompence the Earle- dome of Lowth, and to his helres for ever the Barony of Ardee and Athenry. >1318. OF IRELAND. 125 Alexander Bigmore, ^ Archbishop of Dlvelln, sued to Pope lohii the 21. (so 1 reckon, omitting the scis- maticke and dame loane^ for priviledge of an Vniver- sitie to bee ordained in Divehn, which tooke effect, and the first three Doctors of Divinity the said Bishop did create, J^T^illiam Hardit a Fryar preacher, Henry Coggy a Fryar minor, Fryar Edmund Kermei'dhif & one Doctor of the Canon law, William JRodiard Deane of S. Patricks^ Chancellour of the said Vni- versity, who kept their termes & commencements solemnely, neither was the same ever disfranchised, but onely through variety of time discontinued, and now since the subversion of monasteries utterly extinct, wherein the Divines were cherished, and open exer- cise maintained. A motion was made in this last Par- liament to erect it againe, contributions layde together. Sir Henry Sidney then Lord Deputy, proffered 20. pound lands, & one hundred pounds in money, others follo\"ved after their abilities & devotions, the name devised Master Acivorth, Plantolium of Plantaganet and Bidlyne. But while they disputed of a convenient place for it, and of other circumstances, they let fall the principall. Thomas Fitz lohn, Earle of Kildare, Lord Justice, to whom succeeded Berminii'ham Earle of Louth, and to him Sir lohn Darcy. At this time^ lived in the Diocesse of Ossorye, the Lady Alice Kettle, whom the Bishop ascited to purge the same of inchaunting 'An. 13';:o. '1321. 126 campion's historie and Witch-craft objected to her, and to Petronilla, and JSasill her compHces. They charged her mightily to have carnall conference with a spirit called Robin Artison, to whom shee sacrifized in the high way nine redde Cockes, and nine Peacockes eyes, shee sw ept the streetes of Kilkenny hetw^eene compleere and twilight, raking all the filth towards the doores of her sonne P^f^illiam Outlawe, murmuring these wordes, To the house of William my sonne, hye pXl the wealth of Kilkenny towne. At the first conviction they ahjured and accepted pennance, hut were very shortly found in relapse, and then Petronilla was burned at Kilkenny, the other twayne could not be had : shee at the houre of her death, accused the said J^T^illiam as privy to their sorceyres, wdiom the Bishop helde in durance nine weekes, forbidding his keepers to eate or drink with him, or to speake with him more then once in the day, by procurement of Arnold le Power, then Senischall of Kilkenny hee was delivered, & corrupted the Senis- chall to vexe the Bishop, which he did, thrusting him into prison for three moneths. In ryfling the closet of Alice, they found a ^^'afer of Sacramentall bread, hav- ing the devils name stamped thereon, instead of Iesus, and a pype of oyntment, wherewith shee greased a stafFe, whereon shee ambled through thicke and thinne, when and how^ shee listed. This businesse troubled all the Cleargy of Ireland, the rather for that tlie Lady was supported ])y Noblemen: and lastly, conveyed into England, since which time no man wotteth what be- came of her. OF IRELAND. 12^ CAP. VI. Edward the tMrd, and Richard the second. Scarcely was this buslnesse ended, ^but another devill possessed another frantlcke gentleman of the na- tion of the 0-tooles in Leinster, named Adam Duffe^ who denyed obstinately the Incarnation of Christ, the Trinity of persons in unity of the God-head, the re- surrection of the flesh. Hee called the Holy Scrip- ture, a fable; the blessed Virgin, a whore; the See Apostolick, erroneous ; for which assertions hee was burned in Hogging greene besides Divelin. Roger Outlaw, Prior of S. lohns of lerusalem at Kilmainham, ^ became Lord lustice. Great variance arising betweene the Ger'aldines, Rutlei's, and JBer- minghams on the one side, and the JPozifer* ^\\A JBui'Tces on the other side, for tearming the Earle of Kildare a Rymer. The Lord lustice summoned a Parliament to accord them, wherein he himselfe was faine to cleare the slaunder of heresie fathered upon him by Richard J^edred, Bishop of Ossory. The Bishoppe had given a declaration against Arnold le Power, convented and convict in his consistory of certaine hereticall opinions ; but because the beginning of JPoivers accusations con- cerned the Justices kinsman, and the Bishop was mis- trusted to prosecute his owne wrong, and the person " 1327. • VSIS. 128 campion's historie of the man, rather then the fault, a day was limited for the justifying of the hill, the party helng appre- hended and respited thereunto. This dealing, the Bishop (who durst not stirre out of Kilkenny, to pro- secute his accusation) reputed partiall; and when hy meanes thereof the matter hanged in suspence, hee infamed the said Prior, as an abbettour and favourer of jlrnolds heresie. The Prior submitted himselfe to the tryall, and three several Proclamations were cryed in Court, that any man might lawfully come in and in- dict, accuse or say evidence against the Justice : none came: then passed the Councell a decree, commanding to appeare atDivelin, all Bishops, Abbots, Pryors, the Majors of Divelin, Corke, Limericke, Waterford, Droghedah, the Sheriffes, Knights, and Senischalls of every shire. Out of them all they sorted sixe Inqui- sltours, which in secrecie examined the Bishoppes and persons aforesaid one by one, who with universall con- sent deposed for thePryor, that to their judgements hee was a zealous and faithfull childe of the Catholique Church. The meane while deceased le Power prisoner in the Castle, and because he stood unpurged, long he laye unburyed. Sir lolin Darcye Lord Justice. ^ The Irish of Leinster made insurrections, so did -/!/«- goghigan in Meth, and Obrlen in Mounster, whom William Earle of Vlster, and lames of Ormond vun- OF IRELAND. 129 quished. In which sturre, William Bermingham, a warrlour incomparable, was found halting, and was condemned to dye by Roger Outlawe, Pryor of Kil- mainam, then Lieutenant to the Lord Justice, and so hanged was hee, a Knight among thousands odde and singular. So outragious were the Leinster Irish that in one Church they burned 80. innocent soules, asking no more but the life of their Priest then at Masse, whom they notwithstanding sticked with their lavelinsy spurned the blessed Sacrament, and wasted all with fire, neither forced they the Popes interdiction, nor any censures ecclesiasticall denounced against them: But maliciously persevered in that fury, till the Citizens of Weixford tamed them, slew foure hundred in one skirmish, the rest flying, were all drenched in the water of Slane. Thomas Burg'h ^ Treasurer and Lieutenant of Ire- land, while Darci/ Lord lustice pursued the murtherers of William Boiwlc Earle of Vlster, a young gentleman of twenty yeares olde, whom the seditions of Mawi' devill murdered besides Cragfergus. And when hee had scourged those Traytours, he entred Scotland with an army and might have possessed the Hands besides, had they bene worth the keeping, into which Hands besides him and Sussex the late Lieutenant of Ireland no Governour ever yet adventured. Sir lohn Carlelon Lord lustice, i" with whom came ' 1335. ^ 1337. 130 campion's historie his brother Thomas Bishop of Hereford, Lord Chaun- cellor, and lohn Mice Treasurer, and two hundred Welchmen souldiours. The Bishop became Lord Jus- tice, in whose time S all the Irish of Ireland were at defiance with the English, but were shortly calmed by the Earles of Kildare and Desmond. Sir John Darxi/ by the Kings Letters Patents Lord lustice of Ireland dm'ing life, in the fourteenth yeare of JEdivard the third, which king abused by some cor- rupt informers, h called in under his signet royall , fraun- chises, and liberties, and graunts whatsoever his pre- decessours had ratified to the Bealme of Ireland, and to every person thereof. This revocation was taken very displeasantly. The English of birth, and the English of bloud falling to words, and divided in factions about it. The Irish lave wayting for the contention , so as the Realme was even upon point to give over all and rebell. For remedy the lustice began a Parliament at Divelin, whereto the nobles refused to make apparance, & as- sembled themselves quietly without disturbance at Kil- kenny, where they with the Commons agreed upon certaine questions to be demaunded of the King by way of supplication, by which questions they partly signified their griefes : Those in effect were, 1. How a Realme of warre might be governed ' 1338. " 1340. O or IRELAND. 131 by one, both unskilfull and unable in all warlike ser- vices. 2. How an officer under the king that entred very poore, might in one yeare grow to more excessive wealth, then men of great patrimony in many yeares. 3. How it happened seeing they all were called Lords of their owne, that the Lord of them all was not a penny the richer for them. The Prince of this repining was Morice Earle of Desmond, ^ whom T^oi'd the now Lord lustice in paine of forfeiture of all his lands commaunded to the Par- liament at Dublin, and there put him under arrest, de- livered him by main prise of the tvvoEarles T^lstei' & Ormond^ & of 28. knights & squiers : All which, ex- cept the Earles & two knights, lost their inheritance by rigour of the said T^'ord^ because Desmond had escaped. Therefore at the decease of the Lords lustice, which ensued the next yeare. Bonfires and gavvdes were so- lemnized in all the Land : his Lady was a miserable sott, and led him to extortion and bribery, much he clipped the prerogatives of the Church, and was so hated, that even in the sight of the country, he was robbed without rescue, by Mac Carty^ notwithstanding * 1345- 132 CAMPION^S HISTORIE lie gatliered power, and dispersed the rebellions of Vlsttr. Bohert Daraj Lord Iiistice, ^ chosen by the Coun- cell, luitlU the Kings charter came to Sir lokn Fitz Aforrice, who inlarged Fitz Thomas^Sirle of Kildare, left in holde by FJff'ord, Fitz Morrice was deposed, and Sir Jf^altci' Beriningham elected, who procured safe conduct for Desmond to pleade his right before the King, where he was liberally intreated & allowed to- wards his expences there twenty shillings a day at the Princes charge, in consideration of which curtesle to his kinsman, the Earle of Kildare, accompanyed \\'\i\\ diverse Lords, Knights, and chosen horsemen, served the King at Callice, a towne thought Impregnable, and returned after the winning thereof in great pompe and jollity. lolin Archer of Kilmalnam, Lieutenant to the Lord Justice, ^ to whom succeeded Baron Carew, after Careiu followed Sir Thomas Rokesbi/ knight. This veare ^ dyed Kemvricke Shei^eman, sometimes Major of Divelln, a Benefactour to every Church and religious house twenty miles round about the citty : his legacies to poore and others, besides the liberality shewed in his life time, amounted to 3000. marks : with such plenty were our fathers blessed, that cheerefully " 1346. ' 134S. «' 1350. OP IRELAND 133 gave of their true winnings to needfiiU purposes, whereas our time that gaineth excessively, and whineth at every farthing to he spent on the poore, is yet op- pressed with scarcity and beggery. The same time dwelled in Vlster Sir Robert Savage, a wealthie Knight, who the rather to preserve his owne, beganneto vvall& fortifie hisMannour houses, with castles and plyes against the Irish enemy, ex- horting his heire Sir Henry Savage, to intend that Worke so beneficiall for himselfe and his posterity. Father (quoth he) I remember the Proverbe, better a Castle of bones, then of stones, where strength and courage of valiant men are to helpe us. Never will I, by the grace of God, cumber my selfe with dead walls, my fort shall be wheresoever young blouds be stirring, and where I finde roome to fight. The father in a fume let lye the building, and forswore it. But yet the want thereof, and such like, hath beene the decaye aswell of the Savages, as of all the Englishe Gentle- men in Vlster, as the lacke of walled townes is also the principall occasion of the rudenesse and wildenesse in other partes of Ireland. This Savage having pre- pared an army against the Irish, allowed to every Soul- diour before he buckled with the enemy, a mighty draught of Aquavitse, Wine, or old Ale, and killed in provision for their returne, beeffes, venison, and foule great plenty, which diverse of his Captains misliked, & considering the successe of warre to be uncertaine, esteemed it better pollicy to poyson the cates or to doe 134 campion's historie them away, then to cherish a sort of Catives with princely foode : If ought should happen to themselves in this adventure of so few, against so many. Hereat smyled the Gentleman and said ; Tush yee are too full of envy, this world is but an Inne whereunto you have no speciall interest, but are onely tennants at the will of the Lord. If it please him to commaund us from it, as it were from our lodging, & to set other good fel- lowes in our roomes, what hurt shall it be for us to leave them some meate for their suppers, let them hardly winne it, and weare it. If they enter our dwel- lings, good manners would no lesse but to welcome them, with such fare as the country breedeth, and with all my heart much good may it doe them : Notwith- standing I presume so farre upon your noble courage, that verily my minde giveth me, that wee shall returne at night, and banquet our selves with our owne store, and so they did, having slaine 3000. Irishmen. Morrice Fitz Thomas Earle of Desmond, "^ Lord lustice during life, whom followed Sir Thomas Hokesbye a knight, sincere and upright of conscience, who being controlled for suffering himselfe to be served in wooden Cuppes ; Answered, these homely Cuppes and dishes pay truely for what they containe, I had rather drinke out of wood, and pay gold and silver, then drinke out of gold, and make wooden payment. Ahnericus de Sancto Amandoy lames JBidler Earle • 1356. OF IRELAND. 135 of Ormond, « and MoiTice Fitz Thomas Earle of Kil- dare, P Justices of Ireland by turnes. 4 To this last, the Kings letters appointed in yearely fee, for his office 500. pounds, with promise that the said go- vernour should finde twenty great horse to the field, and should bee the twentieth man in going out against the enemy, which allowance and con- ditions at these days, I thinke were ordinary. Leonell the third sonne of Edward the third Duke of Clarence, ^ and in the right of his wife, Earle of Vlster, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He published an inhibition, to all of Irish birth, that none of them should approach his army, nor be imployed in service of the warres. Ohrene he vanquished sud- dainely, but no man wist how, an hundred of his prin- cipall Souldiours in garrison were missed, whose dis- patch, that seditious decree was thought to have pro- cured, wherefore hee advised himselfe and united the people, shewing alike fatherly care towards them all, and ever after prospered, Knights he created these Gentlemen, the worthiest then in Chivalry, and at this day continuing in great worship, JPreston, now the house of Gormanstowne, Holijivood, Talbot, Cu" sacTce, Delahide, Patricke, Rohert and lohn de Fraxinis. The exchequer he removed to Catherlagh, and bestowed in furnisliing that towne 500. pounds. Gerald Fitz Morrice Earle of Desmond, Lord • 1357. »• 1359. ■i 1360. ' 1361, 136 campion's HISTORIE Justice, s until! the comming of William de VVind- sorey ^ Lieutenant to the King, then in the last yeare of Edward the third ^ ruling the realme, under the name of Lord Governour, and keeper of Ireland. ^ At the yeare 1370. all the Notes written hy Flatsbury doe end, and from hence to this day, nothing is extant orderly gathered, the rest I have collected out of sundry momunents^ autho- rity es, and pamphlets. During the raigne of Richard^ the second. Lieute- nants and Justices of Ireland, are specially recorded, the two Moi'timers, Edmund and Roger Earles of March, Phillip Courtney the kings cousin, lames Earle of Ormond, and Robert Vere Earle of Oxford, Marquesse of Divelin, and Lord Chamberlaine, who was created Duke of Ireland by Parliament, and was credited with the whole Dominion of the Realme ^ by graunt for tearme of life, nothing paying therefore, passing all writs, all offices, as Chancellor, Treasurer, Chiefe lustice, Admirall, his owne Lieutenant, and other inferiour charges under his own Teste. The mean while King Richard^ afflicted impa- tiently with the decease of Queene Anne his wife, » 1367. * 1369. " 1377. ' Recordes of tli' exchequer sought up by M. lohn Thomas remembrancer, lohn Stow. Records of excheq. an. 9. Rich. 1. * 13S5. '^ 1394. OF IRELAND. ISJ^ nor able without many teares to behold his pallaces, and chambers of Estate, which represented unto him the solace past, and doubled his sorrow, sought some occasion of businesse and visited Ireland, where di- verse Lords and Princes of Vlster renewed their homage, and he placing Roger Mortimer his Lieute- nant, returned quietly, but within foure yeares after, informed of the trayterous death of Mortimer, whom he loved entirely, and being wonderfull eager in hastening the revenge thereof upon the Irish, he journeyed thither the second time, y levied infinite sub- sidies of money, by penall exactions, and with his absence as also with those injuries, fed the hatred and opportunity of the conspira tours at home, for Henry Duke of Lancaster, intercepted the Kingdome, whose Sonne with the Duke of Glocesters sonne, King jRichard shut up in the Castle of Trim, and then shipped course into England, tooke land at Milford Haven, found his defence so weake and un- sure, tlmt to avoide further inconvenience and perill of himselfe and his friends, he condiscended to resigne the Crowne? ' 1399- 138 campion's historie CAP, VII. The House of Lancaster, Henry the Fourth, Henry the Jift, Henry the sixt. Alexander Bishop of Meth, ^ Lieutenant of Ireland, under Thomas Lancaster the King's brother, so was also the worshipfull Knight Sir Stephen Scu^oojie, whom for his violence and extortion before used, in the same office under King Richard, the common voyce and out-cry of poore people damned. ^ This report hearing the Lady his wife, she would in no wise assent to live in his company there, but if he sware a solemne oath on the Bible, that wittingly he should wrong no Christian creature in the land, that duely and truely he should see payment made for all expences, and hereof, she said, she had made a vow to Christ so deliberately, that unlesse it were on his part firmly promised, she could not without perill of her soule goe with him : her husband as- sented, and accomplished her boone effectually, re- covered a good opinion, schooled his Caters, enriched the coimtry, continued a plentifull house, remissions of great fines, remedyes for persons endamaged to the Prince, pardons of lands and lives he granted so charitably and discreetely, that his name was never * 1329. * lames Young in j)recepts of govemement to the Earle of Ormond cap. 5. OF IRELAND. 139 uttered among them, without many blessings and prayers, and so cheerefully they served him against the Irish, that in one day he spoyled Jlrthiir Mac Murrough, brent his country, restored O-Carrol to the towne of Callane, with-held by Walter Burkes slew a multitude of Kerneghes, and quieted Leinster. Not long before, the Major of DiveHn lohn Drake, ^ with his band out of the Citty, had slaine of the same Irish Outlawes 400. In this Kings raigne the inhabitants of the county and towne of Corke, c being tyred with perpetuall oppressions of their Irish borderers, complained them- selves in a generall writing, directed to the Lord of Rutheland and Corke, the Kings Deputy, and to the Councell of the Realme, then assembled atDlvelin, which Letter because it openeth the decay of those partes, and the state of the Realme in times past, I have thought good to enter here as it was delivered me, by Francis j4gard Esquire, one of her Majesties privy Councell in Ireland. It may please your wisedomes, ^ to have pittie of us the Kings poore subjects, within the county of Corke, or else we be cast away for ever, for where there was in this countle these Lords by name, besides Knights, ^ 1402. " Records of Christ Church in Divelin. '^ A letter from Corke coppied out of an old Record bearing no date. 140 campion's historie Esquiers, Gentlemen, and Yeoman, to a great num- ber, that might dispend yearelie 800. pounds, 600. pounds, 400. pounds, 200. pounds, 100. pounds, 100. markes, 20. pounds, 20. markes, 10. pounds, some more, some lesse, to a great number, besides these Lords following. First the Lord Marquesse Caro his yearely revenues was, besides Dorzey Hauen and other Creekes, 2200. pounds sterling. The Lord JBarnevale of Bearehaven, his yearely revenues was, beside Bearehaven and other Creekes, 1600. pounds sterling. The Lord Vggan of the great Castle, his yearely revenues was, besides havens and creekes, 1300. pounds sterlins:. The Lord JBalram of Emforte, his yearly revenues was, besides havens and creekes, 1300. pounds sterling. The Lord Courcy of Kilbretton his yearely re- venues, besides havens and creekes, 1500. pounds sterling. The Lord Mandevil of Barrenstelly his yearely revenues, besides havens and creekes, 1500. pounds sterling. OF IRELAND. I4l The Lord Arundell of the strand his yearely revenues, besides havens and creekes, 1500. pound* sterHng. The Lord Baron of the Guard his yearely re- venues, besides havens and creekes, 1100. pounds sterhng. The Lord Sleynie of Baltimore his yearely revenue, besides havens and creeks, 800. pounds sterling. The Lord Roche of Poole-castle his yearely revenue, besides havens and creekes, 1000. pounds sterling. The Kings Majesty hath the Lands of the late young Barry by forfeiture, the yearely revenue whereof, be- sides two rivers and creekes, and all other casualties is, 1800. pounds sterling. And at the end of this Parliament Your Lordship with the Kings most noble Councell may come to Corke, and call before you all these Lords and other Irish men, and binde them in paine of losse of life, lands and goods, that never any of them doe make warre upon another, without licence or commandement of you my Lord Deputy, & the Kings Councell, for the utter destruction of these parts, is that onely cause, and once all the Irish men, and the King's enemies were driven into a great valley, called Glanehought, betvaxt two great mountaines, called Maccorte or the 142 campion's hstorie leprous Hand, and their they lived long and many yeares, with their white meat till at the last these English Lords fell at variance among them- selves, and then the weakest part tooke certaine Irish men to take his part, and so vanquished his enemy, and thus fell the EngHsh Lords at variance among themselves, till the Irish men were stronger then they, and drave them away and now have the whole country under them, but that the Lord Roche, the Lord Courcy^ and the Lord JBarry onely remaine, with the least part of their auncestors possessions, and young Barry is there upon the Kings portion, paying his Grace never a penny Rent. Wherefore we the Kings poore subjects, of the Citty of Corke, Kinsale, andYowghall, desire your Lordship to send hither two good lustices, to see this matter ordered, and some English Captaines, with twenty English men that may be Captaines over us all, and we will rise with them to redresse those enormities, all at our ovvne costs. And if you doe not, we be all cast away, and then farewell Mounster for ever. And if you will not come nor send, we will send over to our Liege Lord, the King, and complaine on you all. Thus farre the letter. And at this day the Citty of Corke is so encumbred with unquiet neighbours of great power, that they are forced to watch their gates continually, to keepe them shut at service times, at meales, from sunne set, to sunne arisins:; nor suffer any stranger to enter there OF IRELAND. 143 ^th his weapon, but to leave the same at a lodge ap- pointed. They walke out for recreation at seasons, with strength of men furnished, they match in wed- locke among themselves, so that welnigh the whole citty is allyed together. It is to be hoped that the late sent over Lord President of Mounster, Sir lohn Parrot, who hath chosen the same place to abide in, as having greatest neede of a Governour resident, would ease the inhabitants of this feare, and scourge the Irish Outlawes that annoy the whole region of Mounster. Henry the 4. ^ in the 10. yeare of his raigne, gave the Sword to the Citty of Divelin, which Citty was first governed, as appeareth by their auncient scale, called, Signum propositurce, by a Provost, and in the 14. yeare of H. the 3. by a Major, & two BaylifFes, which BaylifFes were changed into SherifFes, by Char- ter of Edward the 6. an. 1547. This mayorality both for state and charge of that office, and for the bountifull hospitality exceedeth any Citty in England, except London. While Henry the 5. reigned, I finde lieutenants and deputyes of Ireland specially remembred, lohn Talhott of HoUamshire Lord of Furnyvall. Thomas de Lancaster, Senischa of England, and Stephen le Scroope his Deputy, lohn Duke of Bedford then also Lord KeeperofEngland, and the nobleEarleofOrmond. * An. 1408. 144 campion's historic , Sir lames Butler,^ whose grandsire was lames sur- named the chast, for that of all vices hee most abhorred the sinne of the flesh, and in subduing of the same gave notable example. In the red Moore of Athye (the sun almost lodged in the West, and miraculously standing still in his epicycle the space of three houres till the feat was accomplished, and no pit in that bogge annoying either horse or man on his part) he van- quished Omore and his terrible Army with a few of his owne, and with the like number Arthur Mac Mur- rough, at whose might and puissance, all Leinster trembled. g To the imitation of this mans worthinesse, the compiler of certaine precepts touching the rule of a Common-wealth, exciteth his Lord the said Earle in diverse places of that Worke^ incidently, eftsoones putting him in minde that the Irish beene false by kinde, that it were expedient, and a worke of Charity to execute upon them (willful! and malicious transgres- sours) the Kings Lawes somewhat sharpely, ^That Ode^npsye being winked at a while, abused that small time of sufferance, to the injury of the Earle of Kil- dare, intruding unjustly upon the Castle of Ley, from whence the said Deputy had justly expelled him, and put the Earle in possession thereof, that notwithstand- ing their oathes and pledges, yet they are no longer true then they feele themselves the weaker. This Deputye tamed the Obriens,^ the JBurcJces, ^1421. « In the translation -of Cambrensis c. 57. •» Prec. of government, c. 27. ' ca. 28. '' ca. 43. OF IRELAND. 145 Macbanons, Ogaghnraghte, Manns Mac Maliowney all the Captaines of Thomond, and all this in three moneths. The Cleargye of Divelin twice every vveeke in solemne procession praying for his good successe against these disordered persons, which now in every quarter of Ireland, had degenerated to their oide trade of life, and repyned at the English. Lieutenants to Henry the sixt over the Realme of Ireland were Edmund^ Earle of Marche, and lames Earle of Ormond his Deputy "^ lohn Sutton Knight, Lord Dudley f and Sir Thomas Strange, his Deputy "^ Sir Thomas Standley, and Sir Christopher Plonket his Deputy o Lyon Lord Welles, and the Earle of Or- mond his Deputy, P lames Earle of Ormond, the Kings Lieutenant by himselfe, lohn Earle of Shreweshury, and the Archbishop of Divelin, Lord lustice in his absence. Richard Plantaginet,^ Duke of Yorke, father of Edward the fourth, and Earle of Vlster, had the office of Lieutenant by letters Patents, during the space of ten yeares, who deputed under him at severall times, the Baron of Delvin, Roland Fitz Eustace knight, lames Earle of Ormond, and Thomas Fitz Alorrice Earle of Kildare. To this Richard then resciant in Divelin, was borne within the castle there, his second ' An. 7. »" An. 12. " An. 10. ' An, 22- p An. 2«. U ^ An, 27. 146 campion's historie son George, Duke of Clarence, afterwards drowned in a butt of Malmsey : his god fathers at the front were the Earles of Ormond and Desmond, r Whether the commotion of lacke Cade an Irish- man borne, naming himselfe J/or/iWie7', and so clayming cousinage to diverse noble houses, proceeded from this crew, it is uncertaine : ^ surely the Duke was thereof vehemently mistrusted, & immediately began his tu- mults, which because our English histories discourse at large, I omit as impertinent. Those broyles being couched for a time, Richard held hlmselfe in Ireland, being lately by Parliament ordained Protector of the Realme of England, leaving his airent in the Court his brother the Earle of Salis- buryt Lord Chauncellour, to whom he declared by letters, the trouble then toward in Ireland, which letter exemplified by Sir Henry Sidney^ Lord Deputy, a great searcher and preserver of Antiquities, as it came to my hands, I thinke it convenient here to set downe. To the right ivorshipfull andivith all my heart entirely beloved brother, the Earle of Shrewesbury , Right worshipfull and with all my heart entirely beloved Brother, I commend mee unto you as heartily as I can. ' Records of Christ church. * 1450. lo. Ma. I. 6. c. 16, '1458, OF IRELAND. 14/ And like it you to wit, that sith I wrote last unto the King our soveraigne Lord his Highnes, the Irish enemy, that is to say, Magoghigan, and with him three or foure Irish Captaines, associate with a great fellowship of English rebells, notwithstanding, that they were within the King our Soveraigne I^ord his power, of great malice, and against all truth, have maligned against their legiance, and vengeably have brent a great towne of mine inheritance, in Meth, called Ramore, and other villages thereabouts, and murdered and brent both men, women, and children, without mercv. The which enemies be yet assembled in woods and forts, wayting to doe the hurt and grievance to the Kings subjects that they can thinke or imagine, for which cause I write at this time unto the Kings Highnes, and beseech his good grace for to hasten my payment for this land, according to his let- ters of warrant, now late directed unto the Treasurer of England, to the intent I may wage men in sufficient number, for to resist the malice of the same enemyes, and punish them in such wyse, that other which would doe the same, for lacke of resistance in time, may take example; for doubtlesse, but if my payment bee had in all haste, for to have men of vvarre in de- fence and safe-guard of this Land, my power cannot stretch to keepe it in the Kings obeysance. And very necessity will compell mee to come into England to live there, upon my poore livelode, for I had lever bee dead, then any inconvenience should fall thereunto in my default; for it shall never bee chronicled, nor re- 148 campion's historie malne in scripture, by the grace of God, that Ireland was lost by my negligence. And therefore I beseech you right worshipfull brother, that you will hold to your hands instantly, that my payment may bee had at this time, in eschuing all inconveniences, for I have example in other places, more pi^ty it is for to dread shame ; and for to acquite my truth unto the Kings Highnes, as my dutie is. And this I pray and exhort you good brother, to shew unto his good grace, and that you willbe so good, that this language may be enacted at this present Parliament for my excuse in time to come, and that you will bee good to my servant Hoger Roe the bearer hereof, and to mine other ser- vants in such things as they shall pursue unto the liings Highnes : And to give full faith and credence unto the report of the said Boger, touching the said maters Right worshipfull, and with all my heart entirely beloved brother, our blessed Lord God pre- serve and keepe you in all honour, prosperous estate and felicity, and graiint you right good life and long. Written at Divelin the 15. of lune. Your faithfuU true brother, Richard Yorke. Of such power was Magoghigan in those dayes, who as he wan and kept it by the sword, so now he liveth but a meane Captahie, yeelding his winnings to the stronger. This is the misery of lawlesse people, resembling the wydenesse of the rude world, wherein OF IRELAND. 149 every man was richer or poorer then other, as he was in might and violence more or lesse enabled. Heere beganne factions of the nobility in Ireland, favouring diverse sides that strived for the Crovvne of England, for Richard in those tenne yeares of govern- ment, exceedingly tyed unto him the hearts of the noblemen and gentlemen in this land, whereof diverse were scattered and slaine with him at Waterford,^ as the contrary part was also the next yeare by Edivard Earle of Marche, the Dukes brother, at Mortimers crosse in Wales, in which meane time the Irish waxed hardye, ^ and usurped the English Countreyes insuffi- ciently defended, as they had done by like opportunity in the latter end of Richard the second. These two seasons did set them so a-floate, that henceforvvards they could never be cast out from their forcible posses- sions, holding by plaine wrong all Vlster, and by cer- taine Irish Tenures, no little portions of Mounster and Connaght, left in Meth and Leinster, where the civill subjects of English bloud did ever most prevaile " 1459. " 1460. 150 campion's historie CAP. VIII. Edward the fourth^ and Edward his sonne. JRichard the thirdy §• Henri/ the seventh.^"* Thomas FITZ MORICE Earle of Kildare,'^ Lord Justice untill the third yeare of Edward the fourth, since which time the Duke of Clarence afore- said, brother to the King, had the office of Lieute- nant, while he lived, and made his Deputies in sundry courses, Gliomas Earle of Desmond, y lohn Tiptoft, Earle of Worcester ^ the Kings cozen, Thomas Earle of Kildare, ^ Henry Lord Graye. ^ Great was the credit of the Geraldines, ever when the house of Yorke prospered, and likewise the Eiitlers thryved under the bloud of Lancaster, for which cause the Earle of Desmond remained many yeares Deputy to George Duke of Clarence his god-brother, but when he had spoken certaine disdainfull words against the late marryage of King Edwao'd with the Lady Elizabeth Gray, the said Lady being now Queene, caused his trade of life, (after the Irish manner, contrary to sundry old statutes enacted in that behalfe) to be sifted and examined by Ioh7i Earle of Worcester his suc- cessour. Of which treasons he was attaint and con- * Ann. Reg. 1; " Ann. D. 1460. '^ An Reg 3. " An. Reg. 7- • An 10. " An. IS. OF IRELAND. 151 demned, and for the same beheaded at Droghedah. c lames the father of this Thomas of Desmond, being suffered and not controuled, during the government oi Richard Duke of Yorkehls godsip : and of Thomas Earle of Kildare his kinsman put upon the Kings subjects within the Countyes of Waterford, Corke, Kerry, and Limericke, the Irish impositions of Coyne and Liverie, Cartings, carriages, loadings, cosherings, bonnaght, and such hke, which customes are the very nurse and teat of all Irish enormities, and extort from the poore tennants everlasting Sesse, allowance of meate and money, their bodies and goods in service, so that their horses and their Galloglashes lye still upon the Farmers, eate them out, begger the Countrey, foster a sort of idle vagabonds, ready to rebell if their Lord commaund them, ever nusseled in stealth and robberyes. These evill presidents given by the Father, the sonne did exercise being Lord Deputy, to whome the re- formation of that disorder especially belonged, not- withstanding the same fault being winked at in others, and with such rigour avenged in him, it was manifestly taken for a quarrell sought and picked. Two yeares after, the said Earle of Worcester d lost liis head, while Henry the 6. taken out of the towre, was set up againe, and King Edward proclaymed Vsurper, and then was Kildare enlarged, whom being likewise attainte, they thought also to have ridde, and ' 1467. "* 1469. 152 campion's historic shortly both the Earles of Kildare and Desmond were- restored to their bloud by Parliament. Sir Roivland Eustace, ^ Knight, sometimes Trea- surer, and Lord Chauncellour, and lastly, Lord Deputye of Ireland, founded Saint Frauncis Abbey besides Kii- cullen bridge. Edward, ^ a yeare before his death, honoured his younger son Richard the infant, Duke of Yorke, with the title of Lieutenant over this Land. But his un- natural Vncle Richard the Third, when he had mur- dered the childe, and the elder brother called Edward the 5. He then preferred to that Office his ovvne Sonne Edward, whose Deputy was Gerald Earle of Kildare, and bare that office a while in Henri/ the 7- his dayes. To whom came the wylie Priest, Sir Richard Si/monds, & presented a lad his scholler, named Lambert, whom he fained to be the son of Geoi'ge Duke of Clarence, lately escaped the towre of London. And the child could his pedegree so rea- dily, and had learned of the Priest such princely behaviour, that he lightly moved the said Earle, and many Nobles of Ireland tendering the Seed Royall of Richard Plantagenet, and George his sonne, as also malitrning the advancement of the house of Lan- caster, in Henry the seventh, either to thinke or make the world weene, they thought verily this childe to bee « 14701 * 1481. OF IRELAND. 153 Edtvard Earle of Warwicke, the Duke of Clarences lawful! Sonne. And although King Henry more then halfe marred their sport, in shewing the right Earle through ail the streetes of London, yet the Lady Margaret Duchesse of Burgoine, sister to Edivard the fourth, lohn de la Poole her Nephew, the Lord Lovely Sir Thomas Broughton Knight, and diverse other Captaines of this conspiracy devised to abuse the colour of this young Earles name, for preferring their purpose, which if it came to good, they agreed to depose Lambert, and to erect the very Earle indeed now prisoner in the towre, for whose quarrell had they pretended to fight, they deemed it hkely hee should have beene made away : Wherefore it was blazed in Ireland, that the King to mocke his subjects, had schooled a Boy to take upon him the Earle of Warwickes name, and had shewed him about London to blinde the eyes of simple folkes, and to defeate the law full Inheritour of the good Duke of Clarence, their countryman and Protectour during his life, to whose linage they also derived a title of the Crowne. Li all haste they assembled at Divelin, and there in Christ-Church they Crowned this Idoll, ho- nouring him with titles imperiall, feasting and tri- umphing, rearing mighty shoutes and cryes, cariying him from thence, to the Kings Castle upon tall mens shoulders, that he might be scene and noted, as he was surely an honourable Boy to looke upon. Thereupon ensued the Battle of Stoke, wherein Lambert and his X 154 CAMPION S HISTORIE Master were taken, but never executed, the Earle of Lincolne^ the Lord Lovel, Marline Sivarte, the Al- maigne Captanie, and Mortice Fitz Thomas Captaine of the Irish, were slaine, and all their power discomfited. lasper Duke of Bedford and Earle of Penbroke, S Lieutenant, and VValtei' Archbishop of Divelin his Deputy. In this time befell another like illusion of Ireland, procured from the Dutchesse aforesaid, and certaine Nobles of England, whereby was exalted as rightfull King of England, and undoubted Earle of Vlster, the counterfeit liichard Duke of Yorke preser- ved from King JRichards cruelty, as his adherents faced the matter do\Ane, and with this maygame lord, named indeede Pe/er (in scorne PerH?i) Warhecke, flattered themselves many yeares. Then was Sir Edward Poj/nings ^^ Knight, sent over Lord Deputy, with commission to apprehend his prin- cipall partners in Ireland, amongst whom was named Gerald Fitz Gerald Earle of Kildare, whose purgation the King (notwithstanding diverse avouching the con- trary) did accept. After much adoe Perkin taken, confessed under his owne hand-writing the course of all his proceedings, whereof so much as concerneth Ireland, ^ I have heere borrowed out of Halles Chro- nicles. I being borne in Flaunders, in the towne of Turney, • liyo. •• 1494. ' an. Hen. 7- 14. OF IRELAND. 155 put my selfe in service with a Britton, called Pregenf Meno, the which brought me with him into Ireland, and when wee were there arrived in the towne of Corke, they of the towne (because I was arrayed with some cloathes of silke of my said Masters) threeped upon me, that I should be the Duke of Clarences sonne, that was before time at Divelin, and forasmuch as I denyed it, there was brought unto me the Holy Evan- gelists and the Crosse, by the Major of the towne, cal- led lohn Leivellin^ and there I tooke my oath that I was not the said Dukes sonne, nor none of his blood. After this came to me an English man whose name was Stephen Poytowe, with one lohn VValtei', and sware to me, that they knew well that I was King Richards Bastard sonne, to whom I answered with like oathes that I was not. And then they advised me not to be alFraide, but that I should take it upon me boldly : And if I would so doe, they would assist me with all their power, against the King of England, and not onely they, but they were assured that the Earles of Desmond and Kildare, should doe the same, for they passed not what part they tooke, so they might be avenged upon the King of England. And so against my will they made me tolearne English, and taught me what I should doe and say : and after this, they called me Richard Duke of Yorke, second sonne to Edivard the fourth, because King Richards Bastard sonne was in the hands of the King of England: And upon this, the said lohn Walter, and Stephen Poy- towcy lohn Tyler, Huhhert Burgh, with many others, 156 campion's historie as the foresaid Earles, entred into this false quarrell, and within short time after the French King sent am- bassadours into Ireland, whose names were Lyoty Lucas, and Stephen Frayn, and thence I went into Fraunce, and from thence into Flanders, and from Flan- ders againe into Ireland, and from Ireland into Scot- land, and so into England. Thus was Perkins ^ bragge twighted, from a mllpost to a pudding pricke, and hanged was he the next yeare after. Then in the yeare 1501. King Henry made Lieu- tenant of Ireland, his second sonne Henry as then Duke of Yorke, who afterwards, raigned. To him was appointed Deputy, the aforesaid Ger«/c/ Earle of Kil- dare, ^ A\'ho accompanied with lohn JBlacke Major of Divelln, warred upon T^J^illiam de JBurgOy 0-JBr'ien, and 3Iac Nemarra, Ocarroll, and the greatest power of Irish men, that had beene scene together since the conquest, under the hill of Knoctoe, in English the hill of Axes, sixe miles from Galway, and two miles from Ballinclare, de Burgoes mannor towne. Mac William ELud his Complices were there taken, his Soul- diours that escaped the sword were pursued, flying five miles, great slaughter done, and many Captaines got- ten, not one English man killed. The Earle at his returne was created knight of the Noble Order, and ^ 1499. ' Recordes of Chiist-Cliurch 1504 OF IRELAND. 157 flourished all his life long, of whom I shall hee occa- sioned to say somewhat in the next Chapter. CAP. IX. Henry the eight. Gerald FITZ GERALD^^ Earle of Kildare a mighty made man, full of honour and courage, who had beene Lord Deputy and Lord Justice of Ireland thirtie foure yeares, deceased the third of September, and lyeth buried in Christs Church in Divelin. Be- tweene him and lames Butler Earle of Ormond, their owne jealousies fed with envy and ambition, kindled with certaine lewd factions, abbettors of either side: ever since the ninth yeare of Henry the seventh, when lames of Ormond with a great army of Irish men, camping in S. Thoinas Court at Divelin, " seemed to face the countenance and power of the Deputy: these occasions I say fostered a malHce betwixt them and their posterityes, many yeares after incurable, causes of much ruffle and unquietnes in the Realme, untlll the confu- sion of the one house, and nonage of the other, dis- continued their quarrels, which except their Inheritours liave the grace to put up, and to love unfainedly, as " 1513. From henceforward I have followed the relation of the wisest and most indifferent i>ersons that I could acquaint myselfe witliall in Ireland. Campion. ' Register of Majors. 158 campion's historie Gei^ald and Thomas doe now, may hap to turne their countryes to little good, and themselves to lesse. Ormond was nothing inferiour to the other in sto- macke, and in reach of pollicy farre beyond him ; Kil- dare was in governement a milde man, to his enemies intractable, to the Irish such a scourge, that rather for despite of him then for favour of any part, they relyed upon the Butlers, came in under his protection, served at his call, performed by starts, as their manner is, the duty of good subjects. Ormond was secret and drifty, of much moderation in speech, dangerous of every little \\Tinkle that touched his reputation. Kildare was open and passionable, in his moode desperate, both of word and deede, of the English welbeloved, a good lusticier, a warriour in- comparable, towards the Nobles that he favoured not somewhat headlong and unrulie, being charged before Henri/ the seventh, for burning the Church atCashell, and many witnesses prepared to avouch against him, the truth of that article, he suddainly confessed the fact, to the great wondering and detestation of the Councell, when it \\as looked howhe would justifie the matter. By lesus (quoth he) I would never have done it, had it not beene told me that the Archbishop was within. And because the Archbishop was one of his busiest accusers there present, merrily laught the King at the plainenesse of the man, to see him alleadge that intent for excuse, which most of all did aggravate his OF IRELAND. 159 fault. The last article against him they conceived in these tearmes, finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earle : No (quoth the King) then in good faith shall this Earle rule all Ireland. Thus was the accusation turned to a jest, the Earle returned Lord Deputy, shortly after created Knight of the Garter and so died. Marvell not if this successe were a corrosive to the ad- verse party, which the longer it held aloofe and bit the bridle, the more eagerly it followed his course, having once the sway and roome at will, as you may perceive hereafter. Gerald Fitz Gerald sonne of the aforesaid Earle of Kildare, and Lord Deputy, who chased the nation of the Tooles, battered Ocarrolls^ Castles, awed all the Irish of the land more & more, A Gentleman valiant and well spoken, yet in his latter time overtaken with vehement suspltlon of sundry Treasons. He of good meaning to unite the families, matched his Sister Mar- garet Fitz Gerald, with Pierce Butler Earle of Os- sory, whom he also holpe to recover the Earledome of Ormond, whereinto after the decease of lames, a Bas- tard brother had intruded. Seven yeares together Kildare kept in credit and authority, notwithstanding the pushes given against him by secret heavers, enviers of his fortune, and nou- rlshers of the old grudge, who sett him up to the Court of England by comjnlsslon, and caused him there to be 100 campion's historie opposed with diverse interrogatories, touching the Earle of Desmond his Cousin, a notorious tray tor, as they said. He left in his roome Morice Fitz Thomas Lord Justice. After whom came over Lord Lieutenant, TJiomas Howard? Earle of Surrey, Grandfather to this Duke of Norfolke, accompanied with 200. of the Kings guarde. While he sate at Dinner in the Castle of Divelin, hee heard newes that Oneale with a mighty army was even in the mouth of the borders, ready to invade : Immediately men were levyed by the Major, and the next morrow joyning them to his band, the Lieutenant marched as farre as the water of Slane, where having intelligence of Oneales recoyle, hee dis- missed the footemen, and pursued Omore with his horse- men, which Omore was said to lurke within certaine miles That espied a Gunner of Omore, and watching by a wood side discharged his peece at the very face of the Deputy, strake the visard of hishelmet, and pierced no further (as God would.) This did he in manner recklesse what became of himselfe, so he might amaze them for a time, breake the swlftnesse of their follow- ing, and advantage the flight of his Captaine, wliich thing he wanne with the price of his owne blood, for the Souldiours would no further, till they had searched all the corners of that wood, verily suspecting some ambush thereabout, and in severall knots ferretted out this Gunner, whom Fitz J^Villiams and JBedloive of the Roche were faine to mangle and he we in peeces; be- cause the wretch would never yeeld. ^ 1531. OF IRELAND. 161 In the meane while defiance proclaimed with Fraunce & Scotland both at once, moved the King to returne Siu^rei/ ^o\xt of Ireland, that he might employ him in those services, his prowesse, integrity, good nature and course of governement, the country much commendeth, and honoureth the name and family to this day. Piet'ce Butler ^ Earle of Ossory Lord Deputy, Kil- dare attending the Kings pleasure for his dispatch, re- covered favour at the instance of the Duke of SufFolke whose daughter. Dame Elizabeth Graye he espoused royally, and so departed home. Now there was a great partaker of all the Deputies Councell, one Ilohert Talbot of Belgard whom the Geraldines hated deadly, him they surmized to keepe a Kalender of all their doings and to stirre the coales that incensed brother against brother. In which fury, lames Fitz Gerald meeting the said Gentleman besides Ballimore, slew him even there, journeying to keepe his Christmasse with the Deputy. With this despitefull murder both sides brake out into open rage, and especially the Coun- tesse of Ossory, Kildares sister, a rare woman, and able for wisedome to rule a Realme, had not her sto- macke over-rul'd her selfe. Heere beganne intimation of new Treasons passing to and fro, with complaints and replyes. But Suffolke had wrought the canvas so fast in his sonne in lawesbehalfe, that hee was suffered to rest at home, and onely Commissioners directed thi- ther \';ith Authority to examine the roote of their " 15*23. ' 1511. 162 Campion's historie griefes, wherein if they found Kildm^e but even tolle- rably purged, their instructions was to depose the plain- tiiFe, and to sweare the other Lord Deputy. The Commissioners were, Sir JRaphe Egerton, a Cheshire Knight, Anthony Fitzherhert, second Justice of the Common-pleas, and lames Denton, Deane of Lich- field, who huddeled up those accusations as they thought good, and suddenly tooke the sword from the Earle of Ossory, s\^are the Gey^aldine Lord Deputy, beforie whom Con Oneale bare the sword that day. Con- cerning the murtherer whom they might have hanged, they brought him prisoner into England, presented him to Cardlnall VVohey, who was said to hate Kildares bloud : And the Cardinall intending his execution with more dishonour to the name , caused him to be ledde about London streetes manacled and haltered, which asked so long time, that the Deane of Lichfield step- ped to the King, and got the Gentleman his pardon. This untimely shift inflamed the Cardinall, and ripened the mahce hitherto not so ranke, and there- fore hereafter Ossory brought evident proofes of the Deputies disorder, that liee willfully winked at the Earle of Desmond, whom bee should have attached by the Kings letters, that he curryed acquaintance and friendship with meere Irish enemyes, that he had armed them against him being the Kings Deputy, that he hanged and hewed rashly good subiects, whom bee mistrusted to leane to the Butlers friendship. Yet againe therefore was Kildare commanded to appeare. OF IRELAND. 163 which he did, leaving in his roome Fitz Gerald of Leixlipi s whom they shortly deprived, and chose the Baron of Delvin, whom O-Connor tooke prisoner, and there the Earle of Ossory to shew his ability of service, brought to Divelin an army of Irish-men, having Captaines over them Oconnor^ Omore and O-Carroll, and at S. Mary Abbey, was chosen Deputie by the Kings Councell. In which office (being himselfe, save onely in feates of Armes, a simple gentleman) he bare out his honour, and the charge ofgovernement, very worthily, through the singidar wisedome of his Countesse, a Lady of such port, that all Estates of the Realme couched unto her, so politique, that nothing was thought substantially debated without her advice, manlike and tall of stature, very rich and bountifull, a bitter enemy, the onely meane at those dayes whereby her Husbands Countrey was reclaymed from the sluttish and uncleane Irish custome to the English habite, bedding, house-keep- ing, and civility. But to those vertues was yoked such a selfe-liking, and such a Majesty above the tenure of a subiect, that for insurance thereof shee sticked not to abuse her husbands honour against her brothers foUye. Not- withstanding I learne not that shee practised his un- doing, (which ensued, and was to her undoubtedly, great heavinesse, as upon whom both the blemish ' 1527. 164 CAMPION *S HISTORIE thereof, and the sustenance of that whole family depended after,) but that shee by Indirect meanes wrought her Brother out of credlte to advance her husband, the common voyce, and the thing it selfe speaketh. All this while abode the Earle of KUdare at the Court, and with much adoe found shift to be called before the Lords, to answere solemnly. They sate upon him diversely affectloned, and especially the Cardinall, Lord Chauncellour, disliked his cause, comforted his accusers, and enforced the Articles ob- iected, and what else soever could be gathered there- of In these words, I wot well, my Lord, that I am not the meetest man at this Board to charge you with these treasons, because it hath pleased some of your pevv-fellowes to report, that I am a professed enemie to all Nobilltle, and namely to the Gei^aldines, but seeing every curst boy can say asmuch when he is controled, and seeing these points are so welghtle, that they should not be dis- sembled of us, and so apparent, that they cannot be denyed of you, I must have leave, notwithstanding your stale slaunder, to be the mouth of these honor- able persons at this time, and to trumpe your Treasons in your way, howsoever you take me. First, vou remember how the lewde Earle vour kinsman, who passeth not whom he serve, might he OF IRELAND. 165 change his Master, sent his confederates with letters of credence to Fr^auncis the French King, and having but cold comfort there, to Charles the Emperour, prof- fering the helpe of Mounster and Connaght towards the conquest of Ireland, if either of them would helpe to wine it from our King. How many letters ? what precepts ? what messages ? what threats have been sent you to apprehend him ? and yet not done : why so ? forsooth I could not catch him : Nay nay, Earle, forsooth you would not nighly watch liim. If he be justly suspected, why are you partiall in so great a charge ? If not, why are you fearefull to have him tryed ? Yea Sir, it wil be sworne & deposed to your face, that for feare of meeting him, you have winked, wilfully shunned his sight, altered your course, warned his friends, stopped both eyes and cares against his detectors, and when soever you tooke upon you to hunt him out, then was he sure before-hand to bee out of your vvalke : surely this juggling and false-play, little became either an honest man, called to such honour, or a Nobleman put in such trust. Had you lost but a Cow, or a Garron of your owne, two hundred Kyrneghes would have come at your whistle, to rescue the prey from the uttermost edge of Vlster : All the Irish in Ireland must have given you the way. But in pursuing so weigh tie a matter as this, mercifuU God, how nice, how dan- gerous, how wayward have you bin ? One while he is from home, another while he keepeth home, some- times fled, sometimes in the borders where you dare 166 campion's HISTORIEe not yenture : I vAsh, my Lord, there be shrevvde bugges in the borders for the Earle of Kildare to feare : The Earle, nay, the King of Kildare, for when you are disposed, you reigne more like then rule the Land : where you are malicious, the truest subjects stand for Irish enemies ; where you are pleased, the Irish enemie stands for a dutifull subject : hearts and hands, lives and lands are all at your courtesie, who fawneth not thereon, bee cannot rest within your smell, and your smell is so ranke, that you track e them out at pleasure. Whilest the Cardinall was speaking, the Earle chafed and changed colour, & sundry proffers made to answer every sentence as it came, at last he broke out, and interrupted them thus. My Lord Chancellour, I beseech you pardon me I am short witted, and you I perceive intend a long tale. If you proceede in this order, halfe my pur- gation wil be lost for lacke of carryage : I have no schoole trickes, nor art of memory, except you heare me while I remember your words, your second processe will hammer out the former. The Lords associate, who for the most part ten- derly loved him, and knew the Cardinals manner of termes so lothsome, as wherewith they were tyred many yeares agoe, humbly besought his grace to charge him directly with particulars, and to dwell OF IRELAND. I6f m some one matter, till It \'vere examined through. That granted. It is good reason (quoth the Earle) that your Grace beare the mouth of this chamber. But my Lord, those mouthes that put this tale into your mouth, are very wide mouths, such indeed as have gaped long for my wreck, & now at length for want of better stuif, are fain to fill their mouths with smoak. What my cousin Desmond hath compassed, as I know not, so 1 beshrew his naked heart for hold- ing out so long. If bee can bee taken by my agent* that presently wayte for him, then have my adver- saryes betrayed their malice, and this heape of haynous wordes shall resemble a man of stravve, that seemeth at a blush to carry some proportion, but when it is felt and poysed, discovereth a vanity, serving onely to fray crowes, and I trust your Honours will see the proofe hereof and mine innocencie testified in this behalfe by the thing it selfe within these few dayes. But goe to, suppose bee never bee had, what is Kildare to blame for it, more then my good brother of Os- fiory, notwithstanding his high promises, having also the Kings power, is glad to take egges for his money, and bring him in at leysure. Cannot the Earle of Desmond shift, but I must be of counsell ? cannot bed bee hid, except I winke ? If bee bee close, am I his mate ? If he be friended, am I a Traytour ? This is a doughty kinde of accusation, which they urge against mee, wherein they are stabled and myred at my first 168 campion's historie deny all ; You would not see him, say they, who made them so familiar with mine eye-sight ? or when was the Earle within my Equinas ? or who stood by when I let him slip, or where are the tokens of my willfuU hood-winking ? Oh, but you sent him word to bewarre of you ; Who was the messenger ? where are the letters ? convince my negative : See how loosely this idle reason hangeth, Desmond is not taken, vsell, we are in fault : why? because you are : who proves it ? no body. What conjectures ? so it seemeth. To whom ? to your enemies who tolde it them ? What other ground ? none. Will they sweare it ? they will sweare it. My Lords, then belike they know it, if they know it, either they have my hand to shew, or can bring forth the messenger, or were present at a conference, or privy to Desmond, or some body bewrayed it to them, or themselves were my carry ers or vice-gerents therein, which of these parts will they choose, I know them too well to reckon my selfe convict by their bare words or headlesse heare- sayes, or franticke oathes, my letter were soone read. Were any such writing extant, my servaunts and friends are ready to bee sifted. Of my cousm Desmond they may lye lewdlv, since no man can heere well tell the contrary. Touching my selfe, I never noted in them either so much wit, or so much faith, that I could have gaged upon their silence the life of a good hound, much lesse mine owne, I doubt not may it please your Honours to oppose them, how they came to knowledge of these matters which they are so ready OF IRELAND. 169 to depose, but you shall finde their tongues chayned to another mans trencher, and as it were, Knights of the Post, suborned to say, sweare and stare the ut- termost they can, as those that passe not what they say, nor with what face they say it, so they say no truth. But of another thing it grieveth me, that your good grace, whom I take to bee wise and sharp e, and who of your owne blessed disposition wish me well, should bee so farre gone in crediting those corrupt informers, that abuse the ignorance of their state and countrey to my penll. Little know you my Lord, how necessary it is not onely for the go- vemour, but also for every Nobleman in Ireland, to hamper his vincible neighbors at discretion, wherein if the vvayted for processe of Law, and had not these lives and lands you speake of within their reach, they might hap to loose their owne lives and lands with- out Law. You heare of a case as it were in a dreame, and feele not the smart that vexeth us. In England there is not a meane subject that dare extend his hand to fillip a Peere of the Realme. In Ireland, except the Lord have cunning to his strength, and strength to save his owne, and sufficient authoritie to racke theeves and varletts when they stirre, bee shall finde them swarme so fast, that it will bee too late to call for lustice. If you will have our service take effect, you must not tye us alwayes to the ludicial proceedings, wherewith your Realme, thanked bee God, is inured. As touching my Kingdome (my Lord) I would z 170 campion's historie you and I had exchanged Klngdomes hut for one moneth, I would trust to gather up more crummes in that space, then twice the revenues of my poore Earledome ; but you are well and vvarme, and so hold you, and upbraide not me witli such an odious storme, 1 sleepe on a cabbin, when you lye soft in your bed of downe, I serve under the cope of heaven, when you are served under a Canopy, I drinke water out of a skull, when you drinke out of golden Cuppes; my courser is trained to the field, wlien your lennet is taught to amble, when you are begracedand belorded, and crowched and kneeled unto, then I iinde small grace uith our Irish borderers, except I cut them off by the knees. At these ffirds the Councell would have smiled if they durst, but each man bitt his lippe, and held his countenance, for howsoever some of them inclined to the Butler, they all hated the Cardinall : A man undoubtedly borne to honour, I thinke some Princes Bastard, no Butchers sonne, exceeding wise, faire spoken, high minded, full of revenge, vicious of his body, lofty to his enemies, were they never so bigge, to those that accepted and sought his friend- ship wonderfull courteous, a ripe Schooleman, thrall to affections, brought a bed with flattery, insatiable to get, & more princelike in bestowing : as appeareth by his t\\o Colledges at Ipswich, and at Oxenford, th* one suppressed with his fall, th' other unfinished and J et as it lieth an house of Students (considering all OF IRELAND. l/l appurtenances) incomparable, through Chrlstendome, whereof Henry the eight is now called Founder, be- cause bee let it stand. He held and enjoyed at once the Bishopricks of Yorke, Durham, and Winchester, the dignities of Lord Cardinall, Legate, and Chan- cellour : the Abbey of S. Albans, diverse Prioryes, sundry fat Benefices in Conimendarn : A great preferrer of his servants, advauncer of learning, stoute in every quarrell, never happy till his overthrow. Therein he shewed such moderation, and ended so patiently, that the houre of his death did him more honour then all the pompe of life passed. The Cardinall perceived that Kildare was no Babe, and rose in a fume from the Councell table, com- mitted the Earle, deferred the matter till more direct probations came out of Ireland, After many meetinges and objections Avittily refelled, they pressed him sore with a trayterous errant, sent by his daughter the Lady of Slane, to all his brethren, to Oneale, Oconnor, and their adherents, wherein he exhorted them to warre upon the Earle of Ossory then Deputy, which they accomplished, making a wretched conspiracy against the English of Ireland, and many a bloody skirmish. Of this Treason he was found guilty, and reprived in the Towre a long time, the Gentleman betooke himselfe to God and the King, was heartily loved of 172 CAMPION S HISTORIE the Lieutenant, pittied in all the Court, and standing m so hard a case altered little his accustomed hue, comforted other noblemen, prisoners with him, dis- sembling his owne sorrow. One night when the Lieutenant and he, for disport were playing at slide- groat, suddainely commeth from the Cardinall a mandat to execute Kildare on the morrow. The Earle marking the Lieutenants deepe sigh, in reading the bill ; By Saint JBride, quoth he, there is some mad game in that scrolle, but fall how it will, this throw is for a huddle; when the worst was told him, now I pray thee, quoth he, doe no more but learne assuredly from the Kings owne mouth, whether his Grace be witting thereto or not. Sore doubted the Lieutenant to displease the Car- dinall, yet of very pure devotion to his friend, he posteth to the King at midnight, and said his errant, (for all houres of the day or night, the Lieutenant hath accesse to the Prince upon occasions.) King Henry controwling the sawcynesse of the Priest, those were his tearmes, gave him his Signet in token of counter- mand, which when the Cardinall had scene, he begun to breake into unseasonable words with the Lieutenant, which he was loath to heare, and so he left him fret- ting : Thus broke up the storme for a time, and the next yeare t Wolsey was cast out of favour, & within few yeares Sir William Skevington^ sent over De- puty, who brought with him the Earle pardoned, and rid from all his troubles. Who would not thinke but these lessons should have schooled so wise a man. 1528. " 1530. OF IRELAND. l?^ and warned him rather hy experience of adversities past, to cure old sores, then for joy of this present for- tue, to minde seditious drifts to come. The second yeare of Skevingtons governement, there chaunced an uproare among the Merchants and their Apprentices, in Dlvehn, which hard and scant the Deputy and Major both, could appease. ^ Then was also great stirre about the Kings divorce, who hearing the frow- ardnes of Ireland under Skevington, and thinking it expedient in so fickle a world to have a sure poste there, made Kildare his Deputy, ^ the Primate of Ardmagh Lord Chancellor, and Sir lames Butler Lord Treasurer. But Kildare reviving the old quarrels, fell to prosecute the Earle of Ossory, excited Oneale to invade his country, his brother lohn Fitz Gerald to spoyle the country of Vriell and Kilkenny, being himselfe at the doing of part, namely in robbing the towne, and killing the Kings subjects. The next yeare ^ going against O-Carrol he was pittlfull hurt with a Gun in the thigh, so that he never after enjoyed his limmes, nor delivered his wordes in good plight, otherwise like enough to have beene longer forborne, in conside- ration of his many noble qualities, great good service, and the state of those times. Straight wayes com- plaints were addressed to the King of these enormities, & that in the most haynous manner could be devised, whereupon hewasagalnecommuandedbysharpe letters to repalre into England, y & to leave such a substitute, " 1532. ' 1533. ' 1534. y 1535 174 campion's historie for whose goverment he Mould undertake at his perill to answere : He left his heire the Lord Thomas Fitz Gerald, and ere he went, furnished his owne pyles, forts, and castles, with the Kings artillery and munition, taken forth of Divelin. Being ex- amined hefore the Councell, he staggered in his answer, either for conscience of the fact, or for the infirmity of his late mayme : Wherefore a false mut- tering; flew abroad that his execution was intended. That rumour helped forward Skevingtons friends and servants, who sticked not to write into Ireland secret letters, that the Earle their Masters enemy (so they tooke him, because he got the governement over his head,) was cut shorter, and now they trusted to see their Master againe in his Lordship, whereafter they sore longed as crowes doe for carryon. Such a letter came to the hands of a simple Priest, no perfect English man, who for haste hurled it among other papers in the Chimneyes end of his chamber, mean- ing to peruse it better at more leisure. ' The same very night a Gentleman retaining to Lord Thomas (then Lord Deputy under his father) tooke up his lodging, with the Priest, and raught in the morning for some paper to drawe on his straite hosen, and as the devill would he hit upon the letter, hare it away in the heele of his hose, no earthly thing misdeeming, at nio-ht againe he found the paper unfretted, and musing thereof began to pore on the writing, which notified the Earles death. To horsbacke got he in all haste, and spreading about the country these un- OF IRELAND. 175 thrifty tydings, Lord Thomas the Deputy rash and youthfull, immediately confedered himselfe with Oneale, and O- Connor, with his Vnkles and Fathers friends, namely, John, Oliver, Edward Fitz Gerald^ lames and lohn Delahide, Welch parson of Lough- seudy, Buriiel of BalgrifFen, Rorcks a pi rat of the seas, Bath of Dullardston, Field of Buske, with others, and their adherents guarded, he rideth on S. Barnahyes day to S. Mary Abbey where the Councell sate, and when they looked he should take his place, and rose to give it him, hee charged them to sit still, and stood before them and then spake. Howsoever injuriously we be handled and forced to defend our selves in armes, when neither our service nor our good meaning towards our Princes crowne availeth, yet say not hereafter but in this open hostility, which wee professe heere and proclaime, we have shewed our selves no villaines nor churles, but war- riours and Gentlemen. This Sword of estate is yours and not mine, 1 received it with an oath, and have used it to your benefit, I should offend mine honour, if I turned the same to your annoyance, now have I neede of mine owne sword, which I dare trust, as for this common sword, it flattereth me with a golden scabberd, but hath in it a pestilent edge, already bathed in the Geraldines blood, and whetted it selfe in hope of a destruction : save your selves from us, as from your open enemies. I am none oi Henry es De- puty, I am his foe, I have more minde to conquere^. 176 campion's historie then to governe, to meetehim in the field, then to serve him in office, If all the hearts of England and Ireland that have cause thereto, would joyne in this quarrell (as I trust they will) then should he be a by-word (as I trust he shall) for his heresie, lechery, and tyranny, wherein the age to come may skore him among the auncient Princes, of most abhominable and hatefull memorie. With that he rendred up the sword, and flang away like a Bedlam, adding to his shamefull Oration many other slanderous and foule termes, which for regard of the Kings posteritie, I have no minde to utter They concluded, first to murther all of the English Hbirth in Ireland, and sent an ambassador to Paulus the 3, called Mac Granell, archdeacon of Kelles, and rejected thence to Charles the fift, whose Aunt Queene Katherine the King had lately cast off, with much indignation of all the Spaniards, him bee thought eith to be kindled, and craved assistance to conquer the land, which he promised to hold under him, & his heires for ever. The meane while he forced an oath upon Gentlemen of every shire to ayde him, camped within the pale, reared a great army of English, Irish, and Scots, invaded the Earle of Ossory, and lames his sonne Lord Sutler y who having intelli- gence thereof, prevented his fury and kept those parts in order. When the Butlers had stopped his rage in Moun- OP IRELAND. 177 ster, he fell to parlyes and treatyes with them, sent them diverse messengers and letters, whereby he co- venanted to devide with them halfe the Khigdome, would they assist his enterprise, lames Lord Treasurer, in whom for their youth and acquaintance he most affied, and often accumbred with such temptations, finally returned his brokers with letters. Taking pen in hand to write you my resolute an- swere, I muse in the very first line, by what name to call you, my Lord, or my Cousin, seeing your notorious treason hath distayned your honour, and your desperate lewdnes shamed your kindred, you are so liberall in parting stakes with mee, that a man would weene you had no right to the game, so importunate in craving my company, as if you would persvvade me to hang with you for good fellowship. And thinke you that lames is so mad to gape for gudgens, or so ungratious to sell his truth for a peece of Ireland, were it so, (as it cannot be) that the Chickens you reckon were both hatched and feathered, yet be thou sure I had rather in this quarrell die thine enemy, then live thy partner: for the kindnes you proffer mee, and good love in the end of your letter, the best way I can I purpose to re- quite, that is, in advising you though you have fetched your feaze, yet to looke well ere you leape over. Ig- norance and error, and a certaine opinion of duty hath carried you unawares to this folly, not yet so ranke, but it may be cured. The King is a vessell of bounty and 2 A 178 campion's historic mercy, your words against his Majesty shall not bee counted malicious, but rather balked out for heat and impotency, except your selfe by heaping offences, discover a mischievous and willfull meaning Farewell. Nettled with this round ans^^ere, forth he passed to increase his power, offered violence to very fev»', ex- cept that one despitous murther at Tartaine, the twenty five of luly, where in a morning earely he caused to be brought before him, the honourable Pre- late Doctour Allen, Archbishop of Divelin, and Lord Chancellor, who being a reverent personage, feeble for age and sicknesse, kneeling at his feete in his shirte and mantle, bequeathing his soule to God, his body to the Traytors mercy, the \\ retched young man commaunded there to be brained like an oxe. The place is ever since hedged in, overgrowne and unfre- quented, in detestation of the fact. The people have observed that all the accessaries thereof, being after pardoned for rebellion, ended miserably. Allen had beene in service with Cardinall VT^olsey, of deepe judge- ment ; in the Cannon law, the onely match of Stephen Gardener another of J^Volsei/es Chaplaines, for avoyd- ing of which emulation he was preferred in Ireland, rough and rigorous in iustice, hated of the Geraldines for his Masters sake, & his owne, as that he crossed them diverse times, and much troubled both the father and Sonne in their governements, nor unlike to have promoted their accusations. OF IRELAND. 17^ All this while the Kings army was looked for, and no succour came to the rebels, which greatly quayled them, being of themselves, though stored with soul- diours, yet unfurnished with any sufficient munition to stand in a maine battell. Moreover the number of wise Gentlemen did not greatly incline to his purpose. And therefore when he besieged the City of Divelin, the most part of those arrowes which were shot over the walles, were unheaded, and little or nothing af- frayed them. That espied the citizens, and gathering the faintnes of his souldiours thereby, blazed abroad upon the walles triumphant newes, that the King's Army was arryved, and as it had beene so indeed, sud- denly rushed out of their gates upon the Rebels, who at the first sight of armed men, weening no lesse but the truth was so, otherwise assured that the Citty would never dare to encounter them, gave ground, forsooke their Captaines, dispersed and scattered into diverse corners, and never after met together. A little before this time dyed the Earle of Kildare in the towre of London for thought and paine. ^ Sir T^Villiam Skevington (whom the Irish men call the gunner, because bee w^as preferred from that office of the Kings Master-gunner to governe them, and that they can full evill hrooke to be ruled of any that is but meanely borne) brought over an Army, and with him Leonard Gray, a younger sonne to the Marquesse * John Stow. 180 campion's historie Dorset, Lord Marshall. To whom Fitz Gerald yeelded, and was sent into England, where hee with his Vncles, and other principalis of the conspiracy, were afterwards drawne, hanged and quartered at Tiburne. Soone after \'vas the house of the Geraldines attaynted by Parhament, and all of the name busily trayned out for feare of new commotions. But Thomas Leurus, late Bishop of Kildare, schoole-master to a younger brother, Gerald Fitz Gerald, the Earle that now liveth, secretly stale away with the childe, first into Scotland, then into France, and misdoubting the French, into Italy, where Cardinall Pole his neere kinsman preserved him, till the raigne of Edward the sixt, with whom hee entred into high favour, and obtayned of him his olde inheritance of Meinothe. Lastly, by meavies of the said Cardinall, and Sir Jlnthomj Browne, Lord Mountague, whose sister hee marryed (a woman worthy of such a brother) Queene Mary (Founder and restorer of many noble houses) repealed his attainder, and set him in his fathers Earledome, wherein since that time he hath shewed himselfe sundry wayes officious and serviceable towards his Common-wealth, and the Crowne of England, beside other good qualities of honour and curtesie, they repute him heere for the best horseman in these parts of Christendome. With this escape of yon a* Fitz Gerald, the Lord Leonard Gray his Vncle on the mothers side was held suspect, & the same was OF IRELAND. 181 one special! article urged against Uim when hee lost his head, Anno. 1542. ^ Sir T^Villiam Skevington, a worthy Governour, and among all vertues very just of his word, deceased Lord Deputy at Kilmaynam, and the Lord Leonard Gray succeeded him. b Oneale and Odonill colourably required a parley with the Deput, but in the way as they rode, they burned the Navan, and the towne of Ardee. Wherefore the Deputy with the helpe of the Maior of Divelin lames Fitz Si/monds, and the Maior of Droghedagh, and the English pale met them, flighted them, slew 400. of their trayne, and there the Maior of Divelin for notable service in that journey, was knighted. Sir Anthony Seintleger Knight of the Garter, Lord Deputy. He summoned a Parliament, wherein the Geraldines were attainted, Abbeyes suppressed, the King named supreme head and King of Ireland, be- cause he recoo-nized no lon«;er to hold it of the Pope, c At this Parliament appeared Irish Lords Mac Giljmtricke, Lord Barry ^ Mac Cariimore, O-hrene, and diverse more, whom followed Con Oneale, sub- mitting himselfe to the Kings Deputy, and after to the King himselfe, who returned him richly plated, created him Earle of Tyrone, his base sonne Matthew Oneale Baron of Donganon. As for Shane Oneale •Hall. An. H. 3.32 & 34. ^ 1547. '1548. 182 campion's historie the onely sonne of his body mulier begotten, hee was then little esteemed and of no proofe. The same time lames Earle of Desmond came to the King, and was of him both Princely entertained and rewarded. CAP. X Edward the 6. Mary, and Elizabeth. Before the decease of Henry the 8. Seintleger was twice in England, leaving at both times Sir Wil- liam JBrahason Lord Justice. In his second returne An. 1 546. Sir Edward SelUngham, Captaine generall, landed at Waterford, and skowred the coast, where Omore and Ocomore used to prey. This yeared the city of Divelin obtained a Charter for two Sheriffes in stead of BaylifFes. The Geraldines Out-lawes were taken and executed, Bellingham appointed Lord Deputye, erected a Mint within the Castle of Divelin, which quickely wearyed them for want of fuell. Andrew Brereton with 300. horsemen, and 40. footemen, inhabited the North as farre as Lecale, where hee with 35. horsemen gave the charge upon 240. Scotts, that from the out Islandes came to succour the Irish, and wasted the Countrey. * 1548. OF IRELAND 383 In one yeare hee cleered those quarters, that the Kings subiects might passe in peace. Sir Frauncis Bryan the Kings Mynion was left Lord Justice, while JBellinohain repayred into England, where he dyed a man made up by service in the w^arres, by continuall toyle therein diseased and feebled, but of courage a lyon to his dying day, true as Steele, as farre from flattery as from hearing flatterers, an ex- ceeding fervent Protestant, very zealous and carefuU in tendring the wealth of Ireland, wherein the countrey giveth him the praise over all his predecessours and successours within memory, he spent his whole allowance in hospitality, calling the same, his deare Masters meate, none of his ovviie cost. Letters com- mendatory off^ered him by the Councell, when Brian had wrought his trouble before the Nobility of Eng- land hee rejected as valne and superfluous, professing, that if of his owne innocencie he could not uphold him, hee would never seeke other shift, then Credo resur- rectionem mortuorum, for (quoth he) well they may kill mee, but they shall never conquer mee. Sowre he was, and thundering in words, indeed very tempe- rate, applyed himselfe altogether to severity, Lordli- nesse, and terrour, Brian dyed within sixe weekes, and Brahason became Lord Justice, till Saintleger the fourth time was sent over Deputye. To him crept Mac Cartye^ that had lately roved and denyed his obedience, with an halter about his necke, and got his pardon. 184 campion's historie Vpon Saintleger came Sir lames Croftes, of whose bounty and honourable deaUng towards them, they yeeld at this day a generall good report. Crofts tar- ryed in office two yeares, and left Sir Thomas Ciisack (who dyed five houres before the writing heereof,) and Gerald Kilmer, while they both were coursing Oneale from Dundalke. Queene Mary established in her Crowne, committed her government once more to Saintleger^ whom sundry Noblemen pelted and lifted at, till they shouldered him quite out of all credite. ^ He to be counted forward and plyable to the taste of King Edward the sixt his raigne, rymed against the Reall Presence for his pas- time, and let the papers fall where Courtiers might light thereon, who greatly magnified the pith and conveyance of that noble sonnet. But the originall of his own hand-v\Titing, had the same firmely (though contrary to his ovvne Judgement) wandering in so many hands, that his adversary caught it, and tripped it in his way : the spot whereof he could never wipe out. Thus was he removed, a discreete Gentleman, very studious of the State of Ireland, enriched, stout enough, without gall. While the Deputy staggered uncertaine of conti- nuance, the Tooles, and the Cavenaghes waxed cockish in the Countie of Divelin, rangeing in flockes of seven or eight score, on whom set forth the Marshall and « 1553. OF IRELAND. 185 the SherliFes of Dlvelin, JBucMey and Gygen^ with the citties helpe, and over-layde them hi sudden skir- mishes, of which, threescore were executed for example. Thomas Earle of Sussex, Lord Deputy, with whom came his Brother in law Sir Henry Sldneu, Trea- surer.^ This Deputy, to the inestimable benefite of the Realme, brought under obedience the disordered countreyes of Leix, Slewmarge, Ofalie, Irrye, and Glinmalire, then late possessed by the Ocoiinores, Omores, Odemjjsyes, and other Irish rebells. Hee molested lames Mac Conell the Scottish Islander, that in those dayes joyned with the Irish, and disquieted Vlster. In which voyage Divelin assisted the Gover- nour with a faire company, conducted by lohn Tosher Sheriffe, and Patrick JBuckley. He held a Parlia- ment, wherein it was made high Treason to retaine Scots for souldiours, and fellony to contract with them matrimony. At his returne from England S (in which time Sir Henry Sidney was Lord lustice) hee pursued the Scots to their Hands, and there entred, did them much skathe, wanne himselfe full great commenda- tion of hardinesse, sayled backe with the glory of that adventure, wherein (I trow) two more of his matches are not remembred, nor read. With the newes of Maryes death, hee crossed the seas againe into Eng- land, leaving Sir Henry Sidney, Lord lustice, and vet againe the next yeare leaving Sir William Fitz- willia/ms Lord lustice, then returned he Lord Lieute- ^ 1554. « 1557. *2B 186 campion's historie nant of Ireland, by Proclamation reformed and abated tbelr base Coyne, being as yet perfect in all the pro- portions, measures, allayes and values thereof, as by mlntanor, tooke with him souldiours out of Dlvelin, victualled for sixe weekes at that citties charge, under the leading of Petahoghe Sheriffe, and joyning him to his power, went upon Shane Oneale, the Irish enemy of greatest force then living.^ Thereupon Shane hyed him into England, the Lieutenant after him, Fitz T^Villiams Lord lustice, till Sussex sped his businesse, and came backe the next and last time of his departure. Sir Nicholas Arnold directed thither with Commission, tarry ed behinde him Lord lustice, and too short a while as the country speaketh, who testifieth his upright and reasonable provision of house- hold cates, the abuses whereof with sesse and soul- diours, doe so impoverish and alienate the needie Far- mors from us, that they say they might as easily beare the Irish oppressions of Coines & Cuddies, from which we pretend to deliver them. Arnold for his better successe in government, linked himselfe entirely with Gerald Earle of Kildare, who likewise endeavoured to support the same with all dili- gence, being authorized to straine the rebells at his discretion, wherefore bee disposed himselfe to serve, and presented the Governour many times with a num- ber of principal 1 Out-lawes heades. * 1560. OF IRELAND. 187 In tlie meane while Sussex became Lord President of the North of England, a spare man of body, but sound & healthfull, brought up with Stephen Gardmer', passing valiant, a deep reacher, very zealous in friend- ship, quicke in resolution of extremities in the field, wonderfuU patient, able to tyi'e ten souldiours, learned and languaged, ever doing with his penne, of utterance sharpe and sententious, wary, busie, painefull, and speedie, meeter to rule, then to be over-ruled. Sir Hemy Sidney, Knight of the Garter, Lord Pre- sident of Wales, and Lord Deputie of Ireland. Hee found theRealme distempered with Oneales rebeUion, and the same did extinguish, whereof before I speake, I must looke backe a little into certaine yeares past, and lay together the circumstance of this lamentable tumult. Of all the Irish Princes, though none was then com- parable to Oyieale for antiquity and noblenesse of bloud, yet had the same endured sundry varieties and vexa- tions, untill the division began in England of the two royall families, Yorke and Lancaster, at which time the Enghsh Lords of Ireland, either for zeale, or for kinred and affection transporting their force thither to vphold a side, the meere Irish waxed insolent, and chiefly Oneale incroched upon the full possession of Vlster, abiding so uncontrolled, till Shane Oneale fearing the puissance of Henry 8. exhibited to him a voluntary submission, surrendred all titles of honour. 188 campion's historie received at his hands the Earledome of Ter-ovven, commonly called Tirone, to be held of the King of English forme and tenure : Armes he gave the bloody hand a terrible cognizance. This Oneale had two sonnes, Matthew a bastard, and Shane legitimate, but because Matthew was a lusty horseman, welbeloved, and a tryed Souldiour, Shane but a Boy, and not of much hope, the father obtained the Barony of Don- ganon, and the remainder of his Earledome to 3Iat~ thew. When Shane and his foster brethren grew to yeares, they considered of the injury and tyranny, done by policie of the base Oneale^ & with rearing hue and cry at the side of a Castle where he lay that night, when the Gentleman ran suddainely forth to answere the cry, as the custome is, they betrayed and murdered him. The father not utterly discontent with his dis- patch, when he saw the proofe of his lawfull sonne and heire, thenceforward fancied Shane Oneale, put him in trust with all, himselfe being but a Cripple, notwith- standing that Matthew left issue male which liveth, to whom the inheritance appertained, yet after his fathers decease, Shane was reputed for the rightfuU Oneale, tooke it, kept it, challenged superiority over the Irish Lords of Vlster, warred also upon the English part, subdued Oreylij , imprisoned Odonil, his wife, and his ttonne, enriched himselfe with all Odonih forts, cas- tles, and plate, by way of ransome, detained pledges of obedience, the wife (whom he carnally abused) and tile Childe, fortified a strong Hand in Tyrone, which he named spitefully, Foogh-ni-Gall, that is, the hate OF IRELAND. 18i^ of English men, whom he so detested, that he hanged a Souldlour for eating EngUsh bisket, another by the feete mistrusted for a spy, another Captaine of the Galloglaghes he slew with torture. After this usur- pation and tyrannyj hee was yet persvvaded by Melchior Husse sent unto him from Geiald Earle of Kildare, to reconcile himselfe to good order, and to remember the honourable estate wherein King Henri) placed his fa- ther, which monition he accepted, besought his pro- tection, and made a voyage into England, where the Courtiers noting his haugh tines and barbarity, devised his stile thus. Oneale the great. Cousin to S. Pa- trickcy friend to the Queene of England, enemy to all the world besides. Thence he sped home againe, gra- tiously dealt with, vised Civility, expelled the Scots out of all Vlster, where they intended a conquest, wounded and tooke prisoner, Captaine laines Mac Conill their Chleftaine, whereof the said lames deceased: ordered the North so properly, that if any subject could approve the losse of money or goods within his precinct, he would assuredly either force the robber to restitution, or of his ovvne cost redeeme the harme to the loosers contentation. Sitting at meate, before he put one mor- sell into his mouth, he used to slice a portion above the dayly almes, and send it namely to some begger at his gate, saying, it was meete to serve Christ first : But the Lords of Vlster, and elsewhere, whom he yoked and spoiled at pleasure, abhorring his pride and extortion, craved assistance of the Deputy, for re- dresse thereof: Oneale advertised, increaseth his rage, 190 campion's historie disturbeth and driveth out Mac Givire, the plaintiffe, burneth the Metropolitane Church of Ardmagh, be- cause no EngUsh army might lodge therein, for which sacriledge the Primate accursed him, besiegeth Dun- dalke J practiseth to call strangers into the land for ayde, as appeareth by those letters which Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy intercepted, occupieth all the North of Ireland, being 100. myles broad, 120. long. Then ad- dressed he plausible letters to the Potentates of Moun- ster, exhorting them to rebell, that the force of Eng- land at once might bee dismembred. This message the Deputy prevented, stayed the country, abridged him of that hope, and then proclaimed him Traytor. An Irish lester standing by, and hearing Oneale de- nounced with addition of a new name, traytor; Except (quoth he) traytor be a more honourable title then Oneale, he shall never take it upon him, by my consent. While the Deputy was absent in England, the towne of Droghedagh was in hazard to be taken by the Rebels, which to preserve, at the motion of the Lady Sidney, then abiding in Droghedagh, came Master Sarsfield then Major of Divelin, with a chosen band of goodly young men Citizens, and brake the rage of the ene- mies. ^ The Deputy returning made him Knight, and finding it now high time utterly to weedeand roote out the Traytor, he furnished a substantiall army, and with the readines thereof hartened the Irish, whom Oneale had impoverished, cut off his adherents, and all accesse ' 1566. OP IRELAND. 191 of succour, chased him and his into corners, spent him, cast him into such despaire, that he consulted with his Secretary Neale Mac Connor, to present himselfe un- know ne and disguised to the Deputy, with an halter about his necke, begging his pardon. Ere you doe so (quoth his Clarke) let us prove an extreame shift, and there he perswaded him to joynewith the Scots, whom he had lately banished : of whom, should he be refused or finde inconvenience, at any time, submission to the Deputy might then be used, when all faileth. Shane knew himselfe odious to the Scots, especially to them whom he thought to llncke with the brother and kin- dred of lames Mac Conill, yet in those hard oddes bee devised rather to assay their friendship, then to grate upon mercy, which so oft and so IntoUerably he had abused. Mac Conill whom Shane overthrew left two brethren, and a Sister, whereof one Suarly Torwy remained with Oneale, entertayned after his brothers death. The other was Alexander Oge, who with 600. Scots in- camped now in Claneboy. The woman was Agnes Ilye, whose husband Shane slew in the said discomfi- ture, Agnes had a sonne Mac GilJye Aspucke, who betrayed Oneale to avenge his Fathers and Vncles quar- rell. At the first meeting, (for thither he came accom- panied with Torwy and his Secretary, and 50. horse- men) the Captaines made him great cheere, and fell to quaffing, but Aspucke minding to enter into his pur- pose, there openly challenged his Secretary, as the 192 campion's historie Author of a dishonourable report, that Mac Conils wife did offer to forsake her country and friends, and to marry with Shane Oneale her husbands destruction ; Mary (quoth the Secretary) if thine Aunt were Queen of Scotland, it might beseeme her full well, to seeke such a marriage. To this brawl e Oneale gave eare, upheld his man, advaunced his owne degree : The com- parison bred a fray betweene their Souldiours; Out sprang AspucTce, and beat Oneales man, and then sud- dainely brought his band upon them in the tent, where the Souldiours with their slaughter-knives, killed the Secretary and Shane Oneale, mangled him cruelly, lapped him in an old Irish shirte, and tumbled him into a pit, within an old Chappell hard by : whose head foure dayes after, Captaine Pierce cut off and met therewith the Deputy, who sent it before him staked on a pole, to the Castle of Divelin, where it now standeth. It is thought that Tiidngh who now usurpeth the name of Oneale, practised this devise with Agnes, Aleoc^ ander, and Torwy, when he perceived Shane discou- raged, and not able to hold out. Thus the wretched man ended, who might have lived like a Prince, had he not quenched the sparkes of grace that appeared in him, with arrogancy and contempt against his Prince. The next Tumult in Ireland proceeded of the folly, especially of Sir Edmund Butler, Pierce and Edtvar-d his Brethren, who being unable in law, to maintaine OF IRELAND. 193 his title to certaine landes, whereof he held possession, vvhereunto Sir Peter Carew laide very direct and mani- fest claime, (for Carew is an ancient Barons house in Ireland) confedered with lames Fitz Morrice of the south, and others, began commotion, more dangerous to the Realme then the late stirre of Oneale, such was their opportunity of place, the rebels so friended, their number so furnished, that the Deputy passing forth against them in haste, requisite with such shift as the suddaine mischiefe asked, was thought to have put his person in great adventure, but in conclusion he wanne by that journey, great martiall honour, started them from hole to hole, and ransackt every veine of the land, so as the Butlers craving protection, shortly recoyled, and stand now at the Queenes mercy. To appease the country, & reforme the lewdnes of his Brethren, Thomas Earle of Ormond came from the Court of Eng- land home, and in quieting the said broyles, shewed also for his part, a right good peece of service, worthy to be remembred. After this ensued a Parliament, the particulars whereof, are expressed in the acts lately drawne, to be published in Print, somewhat before the last session, a seditious libell intituled, Tom T'roth, (let fall in the streetes of Divelin) nipped by name di- verse honourable and worshipiull of tlie Realme, & certaine officers of the Deputyes houshold, for greeving the land with impositions of Cesse, whereupon followed a proclamation, bearing date tlie twenty-eight of Ja- nuary, which if it may bee executed in all points, would cut off many such murmures, and leave a blessed 9. C 194 CAMPION S HISTORIE memory of the Governour that devised it. The day of prorogation ^ when the Knights and Burgesses of the Cominalty resorted to the Lordes of the upper house, much good matter was there uttered betweene the De- puty and the Speaker, whereof comming home to my lodoino; I tooke notes, and here I will deliver them, as neere as I can call them to minde, in the same words and sentences, that I heard them. First the Speaker lames Stanihurst iin 'Esquire of worship, Recorder of Divelin, and for the Citty Burgesse at that present, beo'an thus. o Rather of custome and dutyfull humility, then for doubt of your honourable disposition, (so well knowne to us all, and to every of us in private, that it little needeth my praise) we are to request your Lordship in the behalfe of our selves, and our countryes, whom we represent in this Parliament, to accept our service and endeavour in driving these conclusions, where by to the uttermost of our skill we have intended without injury, the Crowne to enrich, treasons to chastise, to better the state, traffique to further, learning to cherish, and in briefe, to maintaine with our best advice those benefits, which the Prince hath inferred upon this Realme by you, and you with your sword and wisedome have performed. An ordinary suite it is, in the end of such assemblies to crave executions of law, for it sufficeth not, to keepe a statute tanquam in- clusiim in tahulis, as a thing shut up in parchment •■ 12. Decembris 15/0. OF IRELAND. 195 rolles, but law must speake and walke abroad, to the comfort and behoofe of good subjects : Otherwise, we shall resemble the folly of him, that once in every houre saluted his gold, never using it, but onely bad it lye still and couch. Of the necessity thereof, I cannot say so much as your Lordship conceive th, and I desire not to discourse a matter generally felt and confessed. In particular the zeale which I have to the reformation of this Realme, and to breede in the rudest of our people, resolute English hearts, moveth me to pray your Lordships helping hand for the practice, namely of one statute which is for the erecting of Grammer Schooles, within every diocesse, the stipends to be levied in such proportion, as in the late act hath beene devised, whereunto the royall assent is already granted, and yet the point in no forwardnes, nor in none is like to be, except by some good meanes, the onset be given & freshly followed, surely might one generation sippe a little of this liquor, and so bee in- duced to long for more, both our countrymen that live obeysant, would ensue with a courage the fruites of peace, whereby good learning is supported, and our unquiet neighbours would finde such sweetnesse in the taste thereof, as it should bee a ready way to reclaim them. In mine experience, who have not yet scene much more then forty yeares, I am able to say that our Realme is at this day an halfe deale more civill tlien it was, since noble men and worshipfull, with others of ability, have used to send their sonnes into England to the Law^ to Vniversities, or to Schooles. Now when 196 campion's historie the same Schooles shall bee brought home to their doores, that all that will may repaire unto them, I doubt not, considering the numbers brought up beyond the Seas, and the good already done in those few places, where learning is professed, but this addition discreetly made, will foster a young frye, likely to prove good members of this common wealth, and desirous to traine their children the same way. Neither were it a ismall helpe to the assurance of the Crowne of Eng- land, when Babes from their Craddles should be inured luider learned Schoole-masters, with a pure English tongue, habite, fashion, discipline; and in time utterly forget the affinity of their unbroken borderers, who possibly might be wonne by this example, or at the least wise loose the opportunity, which nov-v they have, to infect others : And seeing our hap is not yet, to plant an Vniversity here at home, which attempt can never bee remembred without many thankes to your good Lordship for your bountlfull offer, me seemeth it is the more expedient to enter so farre forth as our commission reacheth and to hope for the rest : I have said enough, especially to a learned governour, to whom an inckllng were sufficient in such a plausible and needfull motion. It resteth tliat wee pray your Lordsliip to folde up whatsoever squarings or diversi- ties of ludgements, wise men have heere uttered in our often meetings, and by the sequeleof all our doings to measure the good meaning of every severall person. When the Speaker had done, the Deputy having a OF IRELAND. 19/ rich and plentlfull klnde of utterance, meere naturall, but not without judgement, answered at length, as he that knew no end of his good, the points whereof, as I can remember, were these. In good faith, M. Speaker, I cannot lesse doe, but recorde and testifie the readines, travaile and good ser- vice of you all, and namely of your selfe, who in the whole course of this Parliament, & now lastly in this charitable request for trayning your youth, have con- firmed the opinion which my selfe and the generall voyce long since retained of your rare vertues, devotion, wisedome, learning, and modestie, so as the case can- not be misdoubted that is preferred by such a Proctor^ the substance whereof toucheth you my Lords spirituall and temporall, & you the knights and worshipfuU of every Shire, to you belongeth the quickening of this godly statute, which heere againe I recommend unto you, & will not let to enquire after your diligence therein from time to time, & the most efFectuall order that may be for this purpose, shall assuredly be taken in place convenient. Shew your selves forward and franke in advancing the honour, wealth, ease and credit of your countryes, envy not to your posterity the same path that your selves have troden, and namely you that flourish at this day in the light & eye of your common-wealth. Had your opinions matched with mine, concerning the Vniversity which M. Speaker remembreth, no doubt the name and reputation thereof would have bin a spurre to these erections, as nurses 198 campion's historie for babes to suck in, till they might repaire thither to be wained : But I trust your consents therein are only suspended for a time, and that so much good labour shall not be utterly lost and frustrate : What though certaine imperfections cannot as yet be salved ? What though the summe arise not to make a muster of Col- ledges at the first day? What though the place be not also commodious ? What though other circumstances inferre a feeble and rawe foundation ? These are in- deede objections of the multitude, whose backeward- nesse breedeth an unnecessary stoppe in this our pur- pose. But your wisedomes can easily consider that time must ripen a weake beginning, that other Vni- versities began with lesse, that all experience telleth us so, shall wee be so curious or so testy that nothing will please us, but all in all, all absolute, all excel- lent, all furnished, all beautified, all fortified in the prime and infancie thereof. I remember a tale of j^puleius asse, who being indifferently placed betweene two bottles of haye, because he could not reach them both at once, forbare them both. Let us not so doe, but content our selves by little and little to bee fedde as the case requireth. The rest of your Bills debated and passed by your wisedomes in this Parliament, I must confesse, they are as you say, beneficiall to the Queene my Mistris, and to her Crowne, but how? Verily as the Husband-man soweth his seede, and reapeth much more then he layde downe, so whatsoi- ever this benefite amounteth unto, it returneth to your selves in a circle, heere it groweth, heere it is eaten. OF IRELAND. 199 heere it multiplyetli, heere It is spent, they have their due, the Prince is bettered, you are quieted, Justice executed, malefactours terrifyed. Were they never so deare collopps of your owne flesh and bloud, I see not how you could either have coloured their offence, ot qualifyed their punishment, the one so notorious, that it cannot he dissembled, the other so ordinary, that course of law prescribeth it. Therefore as you have well done, so you have done but your duties, allowed an inch to receive an ell, abridged your owne foes, avenged your own injuryes, condemned your owne oppressors. And yet this duty being on your parts, so cheerefully and painfully, so lovingly and advisedly performed, deserveth great thankes, and shall finde it too. If 1 bee the man, either in office able to consider you, or out of office in place to friend you. I am to depart into England shortly, lay your heads together, and article the points, whereby this Realme may be furthered, use mee either as a mouth to speake for you, or an eye to direct you, or as a hand to under-prop you, aiit consilio, ant auxilio. Besides, the generall which I ought to have for you all, as your governour, and yoked together under one obedience, English blouds, and English hearts, I am linked to you as to my continuall acquaintance these many yeares, hither I came in my spring, heere I have spent my summer, I returne in the fall of the leafe, now is the time, in- timate your defects in demaunds, or what else soever may content you, and see whether I will tender your common-wealth. I meane not the pretended common- 200 campion's historie wealth, seditiously promoted in Tom Loodles ryme, but some good and substantial! matter worth the hearing, which upright and equall men will indeede esteeme. As for his complaint of Cesse and Imposi- tion, it favoureth either hatefull malice, or childish folly, malice if he would decay the garrison that pre- serveth the Realme, folly if he thinke the Realme can be preserved without a garrison, vvherin I will shew you my fancie by the way, perhaps out of all order, but I pray beare with mee, I take matters as they come next to hand, I can not skill of written tales. Many a good-fellow talkes of jRobin Hooded that never drew in his Bow, and many an idle head is full of Proclamations, and concelveth certaine farre fetches, able in his weening to v\ield a Realme. But let me see which of them all can justifie, that Ireland may spare the Army they kicke so much against. Are your enemyes more tractable then they have beene ? Are they fewer? Are you by your selves of force to match them ? If you bee, then were England starke madde, to disburse twentie or thirtie thousand pounds a yeare, for none other purpose but to vexe and grieve you : that were like the husband who gelded himselfe to anger his wife. You must not thinke wee love you so evill, nay rather thinke truely wee tender your quietnesse and preservation, as a nation derived from our auncestours, ingraifed and incorporate into one body with us, disturbed with a sort of barbarous people, odious to God and man, that lappe your bloud as greedily as ours. The abuse of souldiours, their OF IRELAND. 201 horse, boyes, and harlots, the Legerdemanie of Cap- taines, chequerelles, the purloynmg of Cessors & Con- stables, the number of freedomes holding onely by concordatum, the annoyance and hurt which the poore farmer endureth, as I know them to be intollerable, so I know them to be redressed with the first detection, whose complaint hath not been heard ? whose enormity winked at ? what can you aske more ? would you have souldiours nothing insolent, nothing sensuall, nothing greedy, no quarrellers ? so wish I, but scarce hope for it, would you hazard a misery certaine, extreame, and incurable, to avoyde a trouble casuall, transitory, and remedilesse ? so would not I, if you can prove a gar- rison needlesse, I undertake to ease you thereof. If you neede it, they must bee fedde, finde another way then this, to provide for them victuall, that carryeth asmuch readinesse to service, and more contentation to your selves, and I assure you mine assistance to set it for- ward. But the Brokers of this libell are wont to reason. Why should not wee live without an Army as well as in England ? Why cannot our Noble-men of might in every border, our tenants and servaunts with- stand the Irish next them, as well as the Northerne Lordes and Inhabitants of Riddesdale and Tiddesdale, and those about the Scottish banke resist the Scotts, facing and pilfering as fast as our enemyes. Very good, what saye they then to Fraunce, which is no worser governed then England, and hath an Armye. Italy notwithstanding as well ordered as Fraunce without an Army ? Spaine asvvell as either of them 2 D 202 campion's historie both, and continually keepes an Armye ? I tell you, these are daungerous and hollovve kindes of Argu- ments, which are deduced ah eocemplo, by example of other Realmes. Many subtile diversities, many va- rieties of circumstance, many exceptions alter the case, and make it utterly desperate. Touching Scot- land it is well knowne, they were never the men whom England neede to feare : They are but a corner cut out, and easily tamed when they waxe outragious. Your foes lie in the bosome of your Countryes; more in number, richer of ground, desperate theeves, ever at an inch, unpossible to be severed from you without any fence, beside your owne valiantnes, and the helpe of ovir Souldiours. England is quiet within it selfe, thoroughly peopled on that side of Scotland, which most requireth it, guarded with an army, otherwise the Lords and Gentlemen, and lusty Yeoman, that dwell on a row are ready to maister their private vaga- ries. From all forraine invasions walled with the wide Ocean. Were there such a Sea betwixt you and the Irish, or were they shut up in an odde end of the land, 6t had they no such opportunityes of bogges and woods as they have, or were they Lords of the lesser part of Ireland, or were they severed into handfuls, not able to annoy whole towneships and Baronies as they doe, the comparison were somewhat like, but alacke it fareth not so with you, you are beset round, your townes be feeble, the land empty, the commons bare, every county by it selfe cannot save it selfe. Take away the terrour and feare of our Bande, which in- OF IRELAND. 203 creaseth your strength, many an Irish Lord would be set agog that now is full lowly, and holdeth in his homes, and the open enemy would scow^re your quar- ters that now dares not venture lest he pay for his passage. Consider me the effect of an Army wrought in these few yeares, for doubt whereof you are nothing so oft nor so lamentably pelted at, as your auncestors were, which of them durst be stored with coyne, knowing the rebells teeth watered thereat, and himselfe not able to hold him out? which of them had leisure to build, to lye soft and warme, to take his ease in his owne home ? which of them were plated, or jewelled, or attyred themselves, their vivves and children sumptuously, after their calling, as you doe now ? If your bagges bee full where theirs were lancke, if you dwell neatly where they dwelled homely, if you sleep on featherbeds where they slept on couches, if you be sumptuous where they were skant, you have the more cause to honour that Scepter, that so directeth you, and to love the warrant that pro- cureth you this quietnes, the mother of all your wealth and prosperity. Therefore to conclude where I began, weigh well the sicke aiid wounded parts of your common wealth, cure the roote, regard the foundation, the principall pillars, the summer posts, the stone walles, as for the roofe and the tyles, if yee repaire them onelv, and suffer the ground worke to perish, a tempest of wea- ther, a flowe will shake your building. Of some such good and substantiall reformation I would advise vou 204 campion's historie, See. friendly to consult, and you shall finde me as willing' to preferre the generall welfare of you all, as I have beene desirous to benefit every singular person of you, that hath in any lawfuU suite attempted me. ^ These last words gave Sidney/ to the Realme, as it were for a farewell, and then cef or wards looked for Sir William Fitz Williams his brother in law, a politlcke and stout gentleman, now Lord Justice, and for Sir lohn Perrot Lord president of Mounster, to be settled there, before his departure. He was honored at the point of his going, with such recourse, pompe^ musicke, shewes & enterludes, as no man remembreth the like. He tooke ship towards England at the key of Divelln, in Lent following,^ accompanied to sea with the Estates & Worshipfull of Ireland, with in- numerable harty prayers, & with that wish of his returne, whereof but few Governours in these last 60. yeares, have held possession. The man was sm'ely much loved of them, from his first office of Treasurer in the 2. yeare of Queen Mary^ stately without dis- daine, familiar without contempt, very continent & chast of body, no more then enough llberall, learned in many languages, & a great lover of learning perfect in blazoning of armes, skilfull of antiquities, of wit fresh and lively, in consultations very Temperate, in ut- terance happy, which his experience and wisedome hath made artificlall, a preferrer of many, a father to his ser- vants, both in warre and peace of commendable courage »55. Mar. 1571. FINIS, ERRATA In the ORIGINAL teoct of Campion. Page 30, in the marginal note, read An. Mitndi 1656. Page 43, line 19, read our instead of your. Page 67, line 24, after Gierke, read astonished. Page 88, line 6, read extreamely. Page 94, line 4, read coadiutors, instead of coodgellers. Page 123, line 4, read Leinstek, instead of Monnster. Page 132, line \7, after Archer, read Ptiot. Page 138, in the notes, read 1399. Page 143, line 15, prcepositura. Page 201, line 2, read cheque rolles. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY This book is due on the date indicated below, or at the expiration of a definite period after the date of borrowing, as provided by the rules of the Library or by special ar- rangement with the Librarian in charge. DATE BORROWED '''llff DATE BORROWED DATE DUE '/ 3 \^%m rj 18 195 t ^ . H'o ^^- Ar'^ - - a'% ^t!0?k^' w w^ 1 -,(• cv'X xWV^^'- J03 4^ \ \\\ 29ZU1 il C28(239)M100 M Ul S < . « a j m r^ m 3 LT) ui >• <0 ru M C 8 ru > rcn or z 5 ru 3 ■ r-^ < s s CS == * ^ i2. 9^\,5" REPLACEMENT ORDERED