12.14. The oration of Donold to his soldiers, the recouerie of the citie of Limerike. Chap. 14.

The oration of Donold to his soldiers, the recouerie of the citie of Limerike. Chap. 14.

[1] [2] [3] REimond being now almost come to the place where his enemies late, diuided his hoast or armie into thrée parts or compa|nies, and determined to giue the onset or aduenture. Wherevpon Donold prince of Ossorie, who was a mortall enimie to the prince of Thomond, and now verie desirous that some good exploit shuld be doone; and beholding the Englishmen now also set in good araie, for though they were but few in number in respect of the others, yet they were p [...]ked men, valiant and couragions: he also to incourage them, to shew themselues like valiant men, vseth and maketh these spéeches vnto them. Yee worthie, noble, and valiant conquerors of this land, you are this daie valiantlie to giue the onset vpon your eni|mies, which if you doo after your old and accustomed maner, no doubt the victorie will be yours; for ws with our spars, and you with your swords, will so sharplie them pursue, as they shall verie hardlie es|cape our hands, and auoid our force. But if it so fall out, which God forbid, that you be ouerthrowne and haue the woorsse side: be you assured that we will leaue you and turne to our enimies, and take part with them. Wherefore be of good courages, and looke well to your selues, and consider that you are now far from anie fort or place of refuge, and therefore if you should be driuen to flee, the same will be long and dangerous to you: as for vs yée may not trust vnto vs, for we are determined to sticke to them who shall haue the victorie, and will pursue and be on the tacks of them who shall flée and run awaie; and ther|fore be no longer assured of vs than whilest yee be conquerors. Meilerius who had the fore ward, hea|ring these words, being warmed with the same, sud|denlie like a hurling and a blustering wind entered into the passe, pulled downe the fastnesse, and brake downe the hedges, and so made waie, with no small slaughter of the enimies, whereby the passe was re|couered and the enimies ouercome. And they then marched without perill vnto Limerike, where they entered the third daie in the Easter wéeke, being on tuesdaie. And as the first conquest of Limerike was vpon a tuesdaie, so was the second also, where for a time they staied, and restored all things by the eni|mies before spoiled, & set the same in good order. The enimies finding themselues to be too weake, and that it was better to bow than to breake, practise to haue a parlée and a communication with Reimond: & in the end the messengers of Rothorike king of Con|nagh, and of Donold of Thomond, did obteine the same; and a parlée was appointed for them both, which was in one daie, but not in one place; for Rothorike of Connagh came by boates vpon the riuer of She|nin, as far as the great logh of Dirigid, & there stai|ed. And Donold not far from thense kept himselfe and his companie in a certeine wood. But Reimond chose a place not far from [...]illaloo, which is about sea|uentéene miles from Limerike, and in the midle be|twéene them both. The parlée betweene these conti|nued a pretie while, but in the end both kings submit|ted & yéelded themselues, gaue hostages, made s [...]al|tie, and were sworne to be true from thensefoorth for euer, to the king of England and to his heires.

[1] These things thus doone and concluded, Reimond returneth in great triumph and iolitie vnto Lime|rike. And by and by there came messengers vnto him from Dermon Mac Artie prince of Desmond, praieng and requesting him to aid and helpe him, [page 40] being the king of Englands faithfull and leige man against his eldest sonne Cormon Olechan, who went about to driue and expell him out of his land and dominion: & promised him good interteinment both for himselfe and for his souldiors for the same. Reimond nothing refusing the offer, and verie desi|rous of honor, taketh aduise of his fréends and com|panions; and by all their consents, the iorneie to|wards Corke was liked. Wherevpon Reimond dis|plaieth his banner, and marcheth thitherwards, and taketh by the waie great preies and booties of neat, cattell, and other things: of the cattels he sent a good portion backe vnto Limerike for vittelling of that citie; & in the end he conquered the whole countrie, subdued the rebellious sonne, and restored Dermon the prince to his estate and right. And thus by reason of Reimond Mac Artie, he was restored and recoue|red, who otherwise had beene in vtter despaire, and out of all remedie. And now to recompense his son Rormach, who before this, by waie of a peace and an intreatie, both vniustlie & guilefullie had taken and imprisoned him, he to acquite guile with guile, and the like with the like, tooke his sonne and cast him in|to prison, and not long after smote off his head.