[1] WHilest these things were thus adooing in Desmond, there came a messenger in all hast from Dublin, with letters to Rei|mond from his wife Basilia, the effect whereof the messenger knew not. These letters Rei|mond foorthwith deliuered to a familiar fréend of his to read them vnto him secretlie, and apart from all others, the tenure of them was as followeth. To Reimond hir most louing lord and husband, his The ladie Basilias let|ter to hir hus|band Rei|mond. owne Basilia wisheth health as to hir selfe. Know yee my déere lord that my great cheeketooth, which was woont to ake so much, is now fallen out; where|fore if yée haue anie care or regard of me, or of your selfe, come awaie with all spéed. Reimond hauing considered of this letter, did by the falling of the tooth fullie coniecture the death of the earle, for he laie ve|rie sicke at Dublin before his comming awaie from thense. But he being thus deceased, which was about the kalends of Iune, they at Dublin did what they could to kéepe the same secret, for feare and in doubt of the Irishmen, vntill that Reimond were come with his band of souldiers vnto them. Reimond himselfe foorthwith returned vnto Lime|rike: and notwithstanding he were verie sorrie and much gréeued with this newes, yet dissembling the same, and bearing it out with a good countenance, would not nor did vtter or disclose it to anie bodie, sauing to a few wise and discréet men of his famili|ars and trustie councellors. And then vpon good ad|uise and deliberation had among them, it was con|cluded and agréed vpon, that forsomuch as the earle was dead, and that Reimond also was to depart a|waie ouer into England; that the citie of Lime|rike which was so farre remoted and in the middle of manie enimies, should for the time be left, and the garrison to be conducted and brought from thense in|to Leinster, for the defense and safe keeping of the townes and forts vpon the sea coasts. There Rei|mond full much against his will yéelded to this their aduise and counsell, being much gréeued that ha|uing taken paines to recouer the citie of Limerike, he was now neither able to kéepe it himselfe, nor yet had any to leaue behind him, who would take charge vpon him. But at length he sent for Donald prince of Thomond, being the kings baron & sworne sub|iect, and vnto him he committed the custodie and charge of the citie: who foorthwith pretending all truth and fidelitie was contented therewith; and did not onelie put in hostages, but also tooke a corpo|rall oth, and was solemnlie sworne for the safe kee|ping and the restitution of the same at the kings will and pleasure, as also in the meane time to kéepe the peace.
[1] [2] Then Reimond and all his companie departed and went awaie: but they had not so soone passed o|uer the one end of the bridge, but that the other end was forthwith broken downe, euen at their heeles; and the citie which was well walled, defended and vittelled, was set on fire in foure sundrie parts, which they saw and beheld with no small greefe of mind. The false traitor then openlie shewing and teaching what credit was to be giuen thenseforth to the Irish nation, who so wickedlie, impudentlie, and perfidi|ouslie did periure themselues. The king of England not long after, being aduertised héereof, is said to haue thus said: Noble was the enterprise in the gi|uing of the first aduenture vpon the citie, but grea|ter was the rescuing and recouering thereof a|gaine: but it was onelie wisedome, when they left and forsooke it. Reimond then returned vnto Du|blin with his whole garrison in safetie, and then the erle, whose corps by his commandement was reser|ued vntill Reimonds comming, was buried in the church of the Trinitie at Dublin, before the rood there, by the appointment of Laurence the archbi|shop, who did execute all the funerall seruices and obsequies.