[1] THis Fitzaldelme was a grosse and cor|pulent man, as well in stature as in pro|portion, but of a reasonable height; he was verie liberall and courtlike. And albeit he were of great courtesie, and would giue to anie man much honour and reuerence, yet was the same alto|gither with wiles and guiles: for vnder honie he gaue venem, and his sugred words were mingled with poison. And as a venemous serpent couered with gréene leaues, he with an outward shew of courtesse couered his mindfull trecherie. For to the outward shew he was liberall and courteous, but in|wardlie full of rancor and malice. In countenance pleasant, but in a stinking breast was hid a stinking vapor: outwardlie as méeke as a lambe, but within as wilie as a fox: carieng vnder swéet honie most bitter venem. His words as smooth as oile, and yet indeed they were deadlie strokes: whome he honou|red and reuerenced this daie, he would either spoile or destroie the next daie. A cruell enimie against the weake and feeble, and a flatterer vnto the rebell and mightie: gentle to the wild and sauage, and courte|ous to the enimie; but extreame to the good subiect, and cruell to the humble; and by that means he was not fearefull to the one, nor trustie to the other. A man full of flatterie, and yet altogither craftie and deceitfull. He was also much giuen vnto wine and to women. He was a gréedie couetous man, and an ambitious flatterer, being altogither bent to the one and the other.
(1) This William was the sonne of Aldelme fa|ther to Burke erle of Kent (as some saie) and his son Richard was sent into Ireland, and there greatlie aduanced: and of him (being lord of Connagh) des|cended the burgesses called Clanuicards, who were the best blood of the foresaid Richard, and these doo yet remaine in Connagh, of whom is the earle of Clan|rike now liuing.