Compare 1587 edition: 1 Tranſlation of Prebenda|ries to Mõks.This Curcy tranſlated the Church and Pre|bendaries of the Trinitie in Doune, to an Abbey of blacke Monkes brought thither from Cheſter, & cauſed the ſame to be conſecrated vnto S. Pa|trick: for which alteration, taking the name from God to a creature, he deemed himſelfe worthily puniſhed. Not long after (as ſay the Iriſh) certain French knightes came to king Iohns court,A chalenge for a combat [...] made by cer|tayne French Knightes. and one among them required the combate for triall of the right to the Duchie of Normandy. It was not thought expedient to ieoperd the title vpõ one mans lucke, yet the chalenge they determined to anſwer. Some friende put them in minde of the Erle impriſoned, a warriour of notable courage, and in pitch of body like a Giant. K. Iohn demã|ded Curcy,Curcies an|ſwer to king Iohn. whether he could be content to fighte in his quarrel, not for thee ſaid y^e Erle, whoſe per|ſon I eſteme vnworthy y^e aduẽture of my bloud, but for y^e crowne and dignitie of the Realme,He taketh vpon him to defende the chalenge. in which many a good man liueth againſt thy will, I ſhall be content to hazard my life.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 EEBO page image 43Theſe words were not conſtrued in the worſt part as proceeding from an offended mind of him that was therein eſteemed, more playne thã wiſe. Therefore being cheriſhed and muche made of, he was fedde ſo wõderfully (nowe he came to large allowaunce in dyet after harde keeping) that the Frenche chalenger tooke him for a Monſter, and fearing to deale with him, priuily ſtale away into Spayne. It is further reported, that the French King, being deſirous to ſee Curcy, requeſted K. Iohn that he might come before them, and ſhewe of what ſtrength hee was by ſtriking a blowe at an helmet. Herevpon forth he was broughte, and preſented before the Kings, where was an Hel|met ſet vpon a blocke. Curcy taking a ſwoorde in his hande, and with a ſterne frowning counte|nance caſt vpon the Kings, gaue ſuch a ſtroke to the helmet, that cleauing it in ſunder, the ſwoorde ſticked ſo faſt in the logge, that no mã there was able to plucke it foorthe, excepte Curcy him ſelfe. When he therefore had plucked foorth the ſword, the Kings aſked him what he meant to looke vp|pon them with ſuch a grimme and froward coũ|tenance before he gaue the blowe to the helmet, he aunſwered, that if he had miſſed in his ſtroke, he would haue killed all the whole company, as well the Kings as other. Then was he releaſed of bondes, and croſſing the Seas towards Ire|land whether he was boune,Curcy depar|teth this life. The deſcrip|tion of Curcy. was fifteene times beaten backe agayne to the Engliſhe ſhore: and going into France to change the coaſt dyed there. This Curcy was whyte of colour, mightie of limmes, with large bones and ſtrong of ſynews, tall and broade in proportion of body, ſo as hys ſtrength was thought to exceede, of boldneſſe in|comparable, and a warriour euen from his youth, the formoſt in the front of euery battell where hee came, and euer ready to hazard himſelfe in place of moſt daunger, ſo foreward in fight, that often|times forgetting the office of a Captaine, he toke in hande the part of a Souldiour, preſſing foorthe with the formoſt, ſo that with his ouer raſh vio|lence, and deſire of victory, he might ſeeme to put all in daunger. But although he was thus haſtie and hote in the field againſt his enimies, yet was hee in conuerſation modeſt and ſober, and very religious, hauing Churchmen in great reuerence, aſcribing all to the goodneſſe of God, when he had atchieued any prayſeworthy enterpriſe, yeelding thankes to his diuine Maieſtie accordingly. But as ſeldome times any one man is founde perfecte in all things, ſo theſe vertues were ſpotted with ſome vices, namely too much nigardneſſe in ſpa|ring, and inconſtancie. He maried the daughter of Godred King of Man, and after many conflicts and battayles had againſt the Iriſhe, he conque|red (as before ye haue heard) the countrey of Vl|ſter, and building diuers ſtrong Caſtels therein, he eſtabliſhed the ſame vnder his quiet rule, and gouernement, till he and Lacy fell out as before is expreſſed.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After Curcies deceſſe, bicauſe he left no heires, the Earledome of Vlſter was giuen vnto Hugh Lacie, in recompence of his good ſeruice. There was one of the Curcies remayning in Irelande, that was Lorde of Rathermy and Kilbarrocke, whome (as an eſpiall of all their practiſes, and in|former thereof to the Kyng Walter and Hugh, the ſonnes of Hugh Lacy ſlew, by reaſon wherof, great trouble and diſquietneſſe enſued, thoſe La|cies bearing themſelues (nowe after the deceſſe of their father) for gouernors out of checke. To ſet the Realme in quiet,king Iohn wẽt into Ireland. King Iohn was fayne to paſſe thither himſelfe in perſon with a mayne ar|my, baniſhed the Lacies, ſubdued the reſidue of the countrey, yet not conquered, tooke pledges, pu|niſhed malefactors,See more here of in England. eſtabliſhed the execution of Engliſh lawes, coyned money of like valew cur|rant ſterling in both Realmes.