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1.6. The lords temporall, as well English as Irish, which inhabit the countrie of Ireland. The sixt chapter.

The lords temporall, as well English as Irish, which inhabit the countrie of Ireland. The sixt chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _GErald Fitzgerald, earle of Kildare. This house was of the nobilitie of Florence, came from thense into Nor|mandie, and so with the an|cient earle Strangbow his kinsman, whose armes he gi|ueth, into Wales, néere of bloud to Rice ap Griffin, prince of Wales by Nesta the moother of Maurice Fitzgerald & Robert Fitz|stephans, with the said earle Maurice Fitzgerald re|mooued into Ireland, in the yeare one thousand one hundred sixtie and nine. The familie is verie proper|lie 116 [...] toucht in a sonnet of Surreies, made vpon the earle of Kldares sister, now countesse of Lincolne.

From Tuscane came my ladies worthie race,
Faire Florence was sometime hir ancient seat:
The westerne Ile whose pleasant shore doth face
Wild Cambers cliffes, did giue hir liuelie heat,
Fostred she was with milke of Irish brest,
Hir fire an earle, hir dame of princes bloud,
From tender yeares in Britaine she dooth rest
With kings child, where she tasts costlie food.
Hunsdon did first present hir to mine eine,
Bright is hir hew, and Geraldine she hight,
Hampton me taught to wish hir first for mine:
And Windsor, alas, dooth chase me from hir sight,
Hir beautie of kind, hir vertues from aboue,
Happie is he, that can obteine hir loue.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The corrupt orthographie that diuerse vse in wri|ting this name, dooth incorporat it to houses there|to linked in no kinred, and consequentlie blemisheth diuerse worthie exploits atchiued as well in Eng|land and Ireland, as in forren countries and domi|nions. Some write Gerold, sundrie Gerald, diuerse verie corruptlie Gerrot, others Gerard. But the true orthographie is Girald, as maie appeare both by Giraldus Cambrensis, and the Italian authors that make mention of the familie. As for Gerrot it diffe|reth flat from Girald: yet there be some in Ireland, that name and write themselues Gerrots, notwith|standing they be Giraldins, whereof diuerse gentle|men are in Meeth. But there is a sept of the Gerrots in Ireland, and they séeme forsooth by threatning kindnesse and kindred of the true Giraldins, to fetch their petit degrees from their ancestors, but they are so néere of bloud one to the other, that two bushels of beanes would scantlie count their degrées. An other reason why diuerse estrange houses haue béene shuf|fled in among this familie, was, for that sundrie gen|tlemen at the christening of their children, would haue them named Giralds, and yet their surnames were of other houses, and if after it happened that Girald had issue Thomas, Iohn, Robert, or such like, then would they beare the surname of Girald, as Thomas Fitzgirald: and thus taking the name of their ancestors for their surname, within two or thrée descents they shooue themselues among the kindred of the Giraldins. This is a generall fault in Ireland and Wales, and a great confusion and extinguish|ment of houses.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This noble and ancient familie of the Giraldins, haue in sundrie ages florished in the most renowmed countries of Europe. Warring Fitzgirald was one Matth. Paris. in vita Ioh. pag. 316. vers. 4 [...]. in great credit with king Iohn. I find an other Gi|raldine EEBO page image 34 Archiepiscopus Burdegalensis, who flourished in 1234 king Henrie the third his time. There was an other Giraldine patriarch of Ierusalem, in the yéere one thousand two hundred twentie and nine, as witnes|seth Pag. 480. Matthaeus Parisiensis. There was one Girald of Berneill an excellent poet in the Italian toong: an other named Baptist Girald, was a famous citi|zen of Ferrara, an expert physician, and an exquisit philosopher, being publike professor of philosophie in the said citie, during the space of ten yeares. I haue seene a worke of one Gregorius Giraldus Ferrariensis de dijs gentium, dedicated to Hercules duke of Ferra|ra, a pithie booke and verie well penned. Also Sylue|ster Giraldus Cambrensis. Giraldus Cambrensis hath béene one of this fa|milie, néere of kin to sir Maurice Fitzgirald. This gentleman was borne in Wales, and thereof he is named Cambrensis, of the word Cambria, that in old time was adapted to that part of Britannia. He was verie inward with Henrie the second, conqueror of Ireland, being at that time the kings secretarie. And for that speciall affiance king Henrie reposed in him, he was appointed to accompanie prince Iohn the kings sonne into Ireland, as one of his chiefest and discréetest councellors.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This gentleman was verie well learned, a tol|lerable diuine, a commendable philosopher, not rude in physike, skilfull in cosmographie, a singular good antiquarie, an orator, in indeuor comparable to the best, in his stile not in those daies taken for the woorst, rather eschewing the name of a rude writer, than purchasing the fame of an eloquent chronicler. Among other his works, he wrote one booke of the description of Ireland, other two of the conquest Ioannes de lo|co [...]umenti part prima granarij. thereof. Iohn the abbat of saint Albons saith, that this clerke was somewhat spare in words, and libe|rall in sentences. What he meaneth by this verdict I know not, vnlesse he taketh the man to be ouerlauish of his pen in frumping of his aduersaries with quip|ping tawnts, which (as I gesse) flowed rather from a flanting ostentation of a roisting kind of rhetorike, than from anie great malice he bare anie one. How|beit, I maie not gaine saie, but as he was kind where he tooke, so he was somewhat biting where he disli|ked. But what his iudgement is of the Giraldins maie plainlie appeare in his chronicle, out of which I haue culled this praise worthie sentence insuing.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Hoc est huius generis omen & haec conditio. Semper in ar|mata militia chari, semper primi, semper rebus in Martijs ausu Cambrensis lib. 2 conqu. Hib. rub. 17. nobili praestantissimi. Cessante verò necessitatis articulo, statim exosi, statim vltimi, statim ad ima liuore depressi. Ver|untamen tantae generositatis syluam liuor ad plenum extir|pare non potuit. Vnde & vsque in hodiernum gens haec nouis plantularum succrementis vires in insula non modi|eas habet. Qui sunt, qui penetrant hostium penitralia? Giraldidae. Qui sunt, qui patriam conseruant? Giral|didae. Qui sunt, quos hostes formidant? Giraldidae. Qui sunt, quos liuor detractat? Giraldidae. Si principem tantae strenuita|tis merita dignè pensantem reperissent, quàm tranquillum, quàm pacificum olim Hiberniae statum reddidissent? Sed ho|rum sine causa semper est suspecta strenuitas. This hath béen continuallie, saith Cambrensis, a destinie or fatall propertie annexed to this house. In warre and mar|tiall broiles they are dandaled, they are colled, they are lulled, who but they? They rule the rost. But when these martiall garboiles are appeased, they are either through false informations wrongfullie behated, or else by enuious carpers sinisterlie suspec|ted. Howbeit, enuie with all hir malicious drifts, could neuer wholie supplant the fertill groue of this couragious & noble progenie. And maugre the heads of all malicious promoters, this sept, yea euen at this daie beareth, with the few slips there ingraffed, no small stroke in Ireland. Who are they that scale the enimies fort? The Giraldines; Who are they that defend their countrie? the Giraldines. Who are they that make the enimie quake in his skin? The Giraldines. And who are they whome enuie backbi|teth? The Giraldines. If it had stood with the good fortune of the Giraldines, that the king with equall balance would poise their valure, long yet this had all Ireland beene put in quiet and peaceable staie. But their valiantnesse and power hath beene from time to time without sufficient cause suspected. Hi|therto Cambrensis.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 And soothlie, as often as I call to mind the saieng of this historiographer, I may not but muse how iumpe he hitteth the naile on the head. And who so will conferre their continuall successe from the pen|ning of this sentence (which was written aboue 400 yeares and vpward) with this age of ours, shall soone perceiue, that these words were rather prophesies of future mishap, than complaints of former iniuries. At this daie let them behaue themselues valiantlie in warre, and loiallie in peace; yet notwithstanding, such slanders are raised, such rumors noised, such tales bruted, such fables twitled, such vntrue reports twatled, such malicious inuentions forged, that such as are in authoritie cannot but of force suspect them, vnlesse they were able, like gods, to prie in the bot|tome of each mans conscience. But who so wisheth anie goodnesse to that miserable countrie, and noble progenie, let him with all the veines of his heart be|séech God, first that the higher powers be slowe in beléeuing the despitefull reports of enuious back|biters. Secondlie, that the Giraldines beare them|selues in all their affaires so dutifullie, that these curious inserchers be not able to depaint their feig|ned gloses with anie probable colours. So shall suspicion be abandoned, so shall malicious slanders be squatted, so shall that noble house be trusted, and consequentlie the battered weale-publike of Ireland reedified. The familie is English, and it is well knowne that the Irish rather feare their force, than loue their persons. And reason good pardie. For the Irish bearing in mind, that the Gi|raldine being thereto deputed by the prince, hath in all ages conquered their lands, abated their coura|ges, discomfited their men, vanquished their armies, daunted their power, suppressed their force, and made them become true and tributarie subiects to the crowne of England: they haue good cause to beare that sept but holow hearts, what shew so euer they make in outward apperance. Thus much generallie of the Giraldines, now I purpose particularlie to treat of the house of Kildare.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 Maurice Fitzgirald, one of the earles progeni|tors, was lord iustice of Ireland in the yeare 1242, at which time he builded the castell of Sligagh. This The castell of Sligagh. Tireconille. Maurice was lord of Tireconille, and being entire|lie seized of the whole countrie, he gaue the one moie|tie thereof to Cormocke mac Dermot, mac Ro|rie. I read the Giraldine baron of Ophalie, in the yeare 1270. I haue séene it registred, that there died Baron of Ophalie. a Giraldine the fourth earle of Kildare, in the yeare 1287. But I take that kalendar to beare a false date. Wherefore the truth & certeintie is, that Iohn Fitz|girald, The first erle of Kildare. sonne to Thomas Fitzgirald, was the first earle of Kildare, and was created earle vpon this occasion.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In the yeare 1290, and in the eighteenth yeare of 1290 Uescie lord iustice. Edward the first, William Uescie was made lord iustice of Ireland. This man being either negligent or raw in the gouernment of the countrie, embolde|ned the Irish enimie to indamage the kings subiects more estsoones than they were accustomed to doo. These enormities being for the space of foure years tolerated, the subiects misliking of the flacknesse of their gouernour, gaue out such sinister spéeches of the EEBO page image 35 lord iustice, as he was glad to the hart root. Soone af|ter, as the nobles in open assemblie were ripping vp by péecemele the seuerall harms their tenants suffe|red, the lord iustice willing to disburden himselfe of the crime, began with mistie kind of speaches to laie the whole fault on the lord Iohn Fitzgiralds shoul|ders, saieng in parable wise, that he was a great oc|casion Uescie accu|seth the lord Fitzgirald. of these disorders, in that he bare himselfe in priuat quarrels as fierce as a lion, but in these pub|like iniuries he was as méeke as a lambe. The ba|ron of Ophalie spelling and putting these syllables together, spake in this wise.

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My lord, I am hartilie sorie that among all this The lord Gi|ralds answer. noble assemblie, you make me your onelie marke whereat to shoot your bolt. And trulie were my de|serts so heinous as I suppose you would wish them to be, you would not labour to cloud your talke with such darke ridles, as at this present you haue doone; but with plaine & flat English, your lordship would not sticke to impeach of fellonie or treason. For as mine ancestors with spending of their bloud in their souereignes quarell aspired to this type of honour, in which at this daie (God and my king be thanked) I stand: so your lordship taking the nigher waie to the wood, by charging me with treason, would gladlie trip so roundlie on my top, that by shedding of my bloud, and by catching my lands into your clouches, that butt so néere vpon your manors of Kildare and Rathimgan, as I dare saie they are an eie-sore vnto you, you might make my maister your sonne a pro|per gentleman.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 A gentleman? quoth the lord iustice: Thou bald baron, I tell thee the Uescies were gentlemen before The lord iu|stice replieth.

the Giraldines were barons of Ophalie, yea and be|fore that Welsh bankrupt thine ancestour (he meant sir Maurice Fitzgirald) fethered his nest in Lein|ster. And whereas thou takest the matter so farre in snuffe, I will teach thée thy lyrripups after an other fashion than to be thus malepertlie cocking and bil|ling with me that am thy gouernour. Wherefore, albeit thy taunts are such as they might force the pa|tientest philosopher that is, to be chokt with choler: yet I would haue thée ponder my spéeches, as though I deliuered th [...]m in my most sober and quiet mood. I saie to the face of thée, and I will anow what I say vnto thée, that thou art a supporter of theeues, a bolste|rer of the kings enimies, an vpholder of traitors, a murtherer of subiects, a firebrand of dissention, a ranke théefe, an arrant traitor: and before I eate these words, I will make thée eate a péece of my blade.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The baron brideling with might and maine his choler, bare himselfe as cold in countenance, as the lord iustice was hot in words, and replied in this wise.

My lord I am verie glad, that at length you vnwrapped your selfe out of that net, wherein all this while you masked. As for mine ancestor, whome you terme a bankerupt, how rich or how poore he was vpon his repaire to Ireland, I purpose not at this time to debate. Yet thus much I may boldlie saie, that he came hither as a bier, not as a begger. He bought the enimies land by spending his bloud: but you lurking like a spider in his copweb to intrap flies, endeuor to beg subiects liuings wrongfullie, by despoiling them of their innocent liues. And wheras you charge me with malepertnes, in that I presume to chop logike with you being gouernour, by answe|ring your snappish Quid, with a knappish Quo, I wold wish you to vnderstand, now, that you put me in mind of the distinction, that I as a subiect honour your roiall authoritie, but as a noble man I despise your dunghill gentilitie. Lastlie, whereas you charge me with the odious termes of traitor, murtherer, and the like, and there withall you wish me to resolue my selfe, that you rest vpon reason, not vpon rage: if these words procéed from your lordship, as from a magistrate, I am a subiect, to be tried by order of law, and am sorrie that the gouernour, who ought by vertue of his publike authoritie to be my iudge, is by reason of priuat malice become mine accuser.

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But if you vtter these spéeches as a priuat per|son, then I Iohn Fitzgirald, baron of Ophalie, doo tell thée William Uescie, a single sole gentleman, that I am no traitor, no felon; and that thou art the onelie buttresse, by which the kings enimies are sup|ported, the meane and instrument by which his maie|sties subiects are dailie spoiled. Therefore I as a loi|all subiect saie traitor to thy téeth, and that shalt thou well vnderstand when we both shall be brought to the rehersall of these matters before our betters. How|beit, during the time you beare office, I am resolued to giue you the mastrie in words, and to suffer you like a bralling cur to barke, but when I sée my time I will be sure to bite.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 These biting spéeches passing to and fro, great factions on both sides were raised, with high and The lord Gi|rald posteth into England mightie words, and deepe othes; till time either part appeased his owne. The baron of Ophalie not sleep|ing nor slacking his matter, squdded with all hast in|to England, where he was no sooner inshored, than Uescie, after he had substituted William Haie in Uescie fol|loweth. his roome, was imbarked, making as hot foot after the baron as he could. The king and his councell vn|derstanding the occasion of their sudden arriuals, to the end the truth should be brought to light, appoin|ted a set daie for the deciding of their controuersie, and that each of them should speake for himselfe what he could. Wherevpon Uescie being commanded to begin, spake to this effect.

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My dread souereigne, as I must acknowledge Uescies oration. my selfe somewhat agréeued, to be intangled in so in|tricate a matter, so I am as glad as hart can thinke that so weightie a controuersie is brought to the deci|ding of so vpright an vmpire. And whereas it stood with your maiesties pleasure, with the aduise of this your honourable councell, that I, as vnwoorthie, should haue the gouernment of your realme of Ire|land; and during my time, your maiesties subiects, haue béene, I may not denie it, diuerslie annoied, for my discharge, as I said in Ireland: so I auow héere in England, that he kneeleth héere before your high|nesse (pointing to the baron of Ophalie) that is the root and crop of all these enormities. For it is well knowne, that he beareth that stroke with the Irish, as if he once but frowne at them, they dare not be so hardie as once to peake out of their cabbins. And whereas his force dooth greatlie amaze them, thinke you but his countenance dooth woonderfullie incou|rage them? To the furtherance of which, it is appa|rantlie knowne, and it shall be prooued, that he hath not onelie in hucker mucker, by sundrie messages imboldened your maiesties enimies, to spoile your subiects, but also by his personall presence, in secret méetings, he gaue them such courage, as neither the roialtie of your highnesse, nor the authoritie of your deputie, neither the force of your lawes, nor the strength of your puissant armie, was able to quench the flame of these hurlie burlies, that through his traitorous drifts were inkindled. These and the like enormities through his priuie packing with rebels being dailie committed, to bring me your maiesties gouernour in the hatred of the people, his adherents both secretlie muttered, and openlie exclamed a|gainst me and my gouernment, as though the re|dresse of all these harmes had wholie lien in mine hands.

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Wherevpon being in conference with such as were the chiefteins of your realme of Ireland, al|beit EEBO page image 36 I tooke it to be expedient, to point with my fin|ger to the verie sinke or headspring of all the trea|sons, that by secret conspiracies were pretended and practised against your maiestie and your subiects, yet notwithstanding hauing more regard to mode|stie, than to the deserts of the baron of Ophalie, I did but glanse at his packing in such secret sort, as none or a verie few of the companie could gesse, whome with my mistre speaches I did touch. And as commonlie the gald horsse dooth soonest kicke, so this gentelman being prickt, as it should seeme with the sting of his giltie conscience, brake out on a sudden, and forgetting his allegiance to your highnesse, and his dutie to me your deputie, he tooke me vp so roughlie, as though I had béene rather his vnder|ling than his gouernour. The summe of which des|pitefull speaches I refer to the testimonie of the ho|norable audience where they were deliuered. As for his manifold treasons, I am ashamed to rehearse such things as he did not sticke to commit. And if it shall stand with your maiesties pleasure, to adiourne the triall for a few daies, I will charge him with such apparent Items, as were his face made of brasse, he shall not be able to denie anie one article that shall be booked against him. When Uescie had ended, the baron of Ophalie prest himselfe somewhat forward, and in this wise spake.

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Most puissant prince and my dread souereigne, The lord Gi|ralds oration. were maister Uescie his mouth so iust a measure, as what he spake, should be holden for gospell, this had béene no sit place for so arrant a traitor, as he with his feigned glosing would gladlie prooue me to be. But sith it pleased your maiestie, with so indifferent balance to ponder both our tales, I am throughlie persuaded, that my loiall innocencie shall be able, to ouerpoise his forged treacherie. Your maiestie hath heard manie words to small purpose. And as his complaint hitherto hath beene generallie hudled vp, so mine answer thereto may not particularlie be framed. Whereas therefore he termeth me a suppor|ter of théeues, a packer with rebels, a conspirator with traitors, if I should but with a bare word denie the premisses, all his gaie glose of glitring speaches would suddenlie fade awaie. Yea, but he craueth res|pit for the booking of his articles. Trulie so he hath need. For loitering and lingring is the onlie waie he may deuise to cloke his feigning and forging. Wher|in he sheweth himselfe as craftie, as the philosopher was accounted wise that promised a tyrant vpon menacing wordes, to schoole his asse in philosophie, so he had seuen yeares respit; bicause that in that space he was persuaded, that either the tyrant, the asse, or he would die. In likewise master Uescie, vp|on respit granted him, would hang in hope, that ei|ther the life of your maiestie (which God forbid) should be shortened; or that I, in tract of time, would be disfauoured; or that he by one subtill pranke or o|ther should be of this heauie load disburdened.

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But if I haue béene as manie yeares a malefac|tor as he aduoucheth, how happeneth it, that his toong was tied before this late dissention begun? Whie did he not from time to time aduertise the councell of my treasons? Whereas now it may be probablie coniectured, that he was egd to this seruice rather for the hatred he beareth me, than for anie loue h [...] oweth your roiall maiestie. Touching the words I spake in Ireland, I purpose not, for ought I heard as yet, to eat them in England. And when I shall be cald to testifie such speaches as I deliuered there, I will not be found so raw in my matter. as to lose my errant in the carriage, as master Uescie hath doone, or to craue further respit for the registring of his manifold treasons. As for my secret méetings with Irish rebels, where I persuaded master Uescie, that you were able to prooue them, I would be found willing to acknowledge them. For if my conscience were so deepelie stoong, as you pretend, I would take it for better policie, by acknowledging my trespasse, to appeale to my king his mercie, than by denieng my faults, to stand to the rigor of his iustice.

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And as for méetings, I had neuer so manie in woods with rebels, as you master Uescie, haue had in your chamber with cowes. For it hath beene ma|nifestlie apparented, that when the baron of Ophalie, and the best of the nobilitie of Ireland haue béene imbard from entring your chamber, an Irish cow should haue at all times accesse vnto you. No, ma|ster Uescie: a cow, an horsse, an hauke, and a siluer cup haue beene the occasion of your slacknesse. When the subiects were preided, you would be content to winke at their miserie, so that your mouth were stopt with briberie. And when you had gathered your crums sufficientlie togither, you held it for a pretie policie (and yet it was but a bare shift) to charge the nobilitie with such packing, as you dailie did prac|tise. But you must not thinke that we are babes, or that with anie such stale deuise, or grosse iuggling tricke, you may so easilie duske or dazell our eies. Can anie man that is but slenderlie witted, so far be caried, as to beleeue, that master Uescie, being the kings deputie in Ireland, hauing his maiesties trea|sure, hauing the nobilitie at his becke, the kings ar|mie at his commandement; but that, if he were dis|posed to besturre himselfe, he were able to ferret out such barebréech brats as swarme in the English pale? If he said he could not, we must smile at his simplicitie; if he could and would not, how may he colour his disloialtie?

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Yea, but I beare such stroke with the Irish, as that vpon anie priuat quarrell I am able to annoie them. What then? Bicause the baron of Ophalie can reuenge his priuat iniuries without the assi|stance of the deputie; therefore the deputie may not vanquish weake and naked rebels without the fur|therance of the baron of Ophalie: whereas the con|trarie ought to be inferd, that if a priuat person can tame the Irish, what may then the publike magi|strat doo, that hath the princes paie? But in déed it is hard to take hares with foxes. You must not thinke, master Uescie, that you were sent gouernour into Ireland to dandle your truls, to pen your selfe vp within a towne or citie to giue rebels the gaze, to pill the subiects, to animat tratiors, to fill your coffers, to make your selfe by marring true men, to gather the birds whilest other beat the bushes, and after to impeach the nobilitie of such treasons, as you onelie haue committed.

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But for so much as our mutuall complaints stand vpon the one his yea, and the other his naie, and that you would be taken for a champion, & I am knowne to be no coward: let vs, in Gods name, leaue lieng for varlets, berding for ruffians, facing for crakers, chatting for twatlers, scolding for callets, booking for scriueners, pleading for lawyers; and let vs trie with the dint of sword, as become martiall men to doo, our mutuall quarels. Wherefore to iustifie that I am a true subiect, and that thou Uescie art an arch|traitor to God & to my king, here in the presence of his highnesse, and in the hearing of this honorable The combat chalenged. assemblie, I chalenge the combat.
Whereat all the auditorie shouted.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Now in good faith, quoth Uescie, with a right good will. Wherevpon both the parties being dismist vn|till the kings pleasure were further knowne, it was agréed at length by the councell, that the fittest triall should haue béene by battell. Wherefore the parties being as well thereof aduertised, as the daie by the king appointed, no small prouision was made for so EEBO page image 37 eager a combat, as that was presupposed to haue beene. But when the prefixed daie approched néere, Uescie turning his great boast to small rost, began to crie creake, and secretlie sailed into France. King Uescie fled in|to France. Kildare be|stowed on the lard Girald. Edward thereof aduertised, bestowed Uescies lord|ships of Kildare and Rathingan on the baron of O|phalie, saieng that albeit Uescie conueied his person into France, yet he left his lands behind him in I|reland.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 The baron returned to Ireland with the gratula|tion of all his friends, and was created earle of Kil|dare, The first erle [...] Kildare [...]reated. in the ninth yeare of Edward the second his reigne, the foureteenth of Maie. He deceassed at La|raghbrine 1315 (a village néere to Mainooth) in the yeare 1316, and was buried at Kildare, so that he was earle but one yeare. The house of Kildare among diuerse gifts, wherewith God hath abundantlie in|dued The num|bers of the earles of Kildare. it, is for one singular point greatlie to be admi|red, that notwithstanding the seuerall assaults of di|uerse enimies in sundrie ages, yet this earle that now liueth is the tenth earle of Kildare, to whome from Iohn the first earle, there hath alwaies conti|nued a lineall descent from father to son: which tru|lie in mine opinion is a great blessing of God. And for as much as this earle now liuing as his ance|stors before him, haue beene shrewdlie shooued at by his euill willers, saieng that he is able, but not wil|ling to profit his countrie: the posie that is framed for him, signifieng his mind, runneth in this wise:

Quid possim, iactant: quid vellem, scire recusant:
Vtraque Reginae sint, rogo; nota meae.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 His eldest sonne is lord Girald, baron of Opha|lie, for whom these two verses following are made: Lord Girald.

Te pulchrum natura fecit, fortuna pote [...],
Tefaciat Christi [...]ma, Giralde, bo [...].

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 Sir Thomas Butler earle of Ormond and Os|serie. The Butlers were ancient English gentle|men, Earle of Or|mond. 1247 The But|lers (as I am informed) are found by an|cient records to haue béene earles of the Carrike. and worthie seruitors in all ages. Theobald Butler lord of Carrike and Iohn Cogan were lord iustices of Ireland. This Butler died in the castell of Ar [...]kelow, in the yeare 1285. This lord Theo|bald Butler the yoonger, and son to the elder Theo|bald, was sent for by Edward the first, to serue a|gainst the Scots. This noble man deceased at Tur|uie, and his bodie was conueighed to Weneie, a towne in the countie of Limerike. Sir Edmund 1299 Butler a wise and valiant noble man was dubbed knight at London by Edward the second. 1309

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This man being appointed lieutenant of Ire|land, vpon the repaire of Iohn Wogan (who before was lord iustice) to England, besieged the Obrenies 131 [...] in Glindalorie: and were it not that they submitted themselues to the king and the lieutenants mercie, they had not béene onelie for a season vanquished, but also vtterlie by him extirped. This noble man was in his gouernement such an incourager and furtherer of seruitors, as that he dubd on saint Mi|chaell the archangels daie thirtie knights in the ca|stell 1313 of Dublin. He was a scourge vnto the Scots that inuaded Ireland, when he was lieutenant. He discomfited Omo [...]rgh [...] rebell, neare a 1315 towne named Balie [...]an [...]ter diuerse victorious exploits by him atchiued, he sailed into England, and so to Hispaine in pilgrimage to saint Iames. 1316 Upon his returne to England, he deceased at Lon|don, and his bodie being conueied into Ireland was 1321 intoomed at Ba [...].

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 Iames Butler earle of Ormond was lord iu|stice of Ireland, in the yeare 1359. The lord Butler 1359 and vicount Thurles was dubd knight by Henrie the [...]rt in England, in the yeare 1425, at which tune 1425 sir Iames Butler, sir Iohn Butler, sir Rafe Butler, were in like maner knighted. Iames Butler, who [...] [...]rle of Ormond. maried the earle of Herefords daughter, was prefer|red to the earledome of Ormond in the first yeare of Edward the third, which fell vpon the heirs generall, lastlie vpon sir Thomas Butler earle of Wilshire, after whome it reuersed to Pierce Butler, whome a little before king Henrie the eight had created erle of Ossorie. I read Butler earle of Tipperarie in the yeare 1300. The Latine historie calleth him Domi|num Tipperarie. de pincerna, the English le Butler. Whereby it appeareth, he had some such honour about the prince. His verie name is Becket, who was aduanced by Henrie the seconds eldest sonne, lord Butler, in re|compense of the death of Thomas of Canturburie their kinsman. His eldest sonne is the lord Butler and vicount Thurles. For the earle now liuing these two verses (in the remembrance of him) are made:

Magnus auus, maiór pater, sed natus vtró
Corporis aut animi non bonitate minor.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Gerald fitz Gerald earle of Desmond. Maurice Desmond. fitz Thomas a Geraldine, was created earle of Des|mond the same yeare, soone after that Butler became earle of Ormond. His eldest sonne is lord fitz Ge|rald of Desmond. The erle now liuing, thus speaketh:

[...]tandem, iactatus fluctibus alti,
Et precor in portu sit mea tuta ratis.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Sir Richard Bourke earle of Clenrickard, a branch of the English familie de Burgo. The Clenrickard. Bourkes haue beene ancient noble men before their comming to Ireland: and in old time they haue beene earles of Ulster. His eldest sonne is lord Bourke baron of En [...]kelline. His verse is this:

Quam mihi maiorum fama bona gesta dederunt,
Hanc mihi natorum barbara facta negant.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Connogher Obren earle of Tomond: the name Tomond. of earle giuen to Murragh Obren for tearme of life, and after to Donogh Obren, in the fift yeare of the 1550 reigne of Edward the sixt, now confirmed to the heires males, his eldest sonne is baron of Ibracan. Upon the erle now liuing this fantasie was deuised:

Non decet externos, sine causa, quaerere reges,
Cum licet in tuta viuere pace domi.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 Mac Cartie More earle of Clencare, created in the Clencare. Barrie. Roch. Gormans|towne. yeare 1565. Uicount Barrie. Uicount Roch. Pre|ston Uicount of Gormanstowne: whervnto is late|lie annexed the baronie of Lawnedresse. One of their ancestors sir Robert Preston, then chiefe ba|ron of the excheker, was dubbed knight in the field, by Lionell duke of Clarence. This gentleman mat|ched in wedlocke with Margaret Birmingham la|die 1361 of Carbrie, who deceassed in the yeare 1361. After whose death sir Robert Preston was seized of 136 [...] the said lordship in the right of his wife, and being molested by rebels, placed a garison in the castell, whereby the subiects were greatlie eased, and she re|bels greatlie annoied.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 There hath béene another sir Robert Preston of this house, great grandfather to the vicount now 1476 liuing. This gentleman was deputie to Richard, se|cond son to Edward the fourth, in the sixtéenth yeare of the reigne of his father: and after likewise in the reigne of Henrie the seuenth, he was deputie to Ias|per 1492 duke of Bedford, erle of Penbroke, & lieutenant of Ireland: and at the same time was he appointed by the king generall receiuer of his reuenue in Ire|land. How wiselie this noble man behaued himselfe in peace, and how valiantlie he bequit himselfe in warre, sundrie of king Henrie the seuenth his let|ters to him being deputie, addressed, doo manifestlie witnesse. There was a parlement holden before him at Drogheda, which was repealed in the tenth yeare 1494 of Henrie the seuenth. Sir Christopher Preston was dubbed knight in the field by Edmund earle of March, lord deputie of Ireland. William Preston was lord [...]ce of Ireland in Henrie the eight his 1397 reigne. The house is ancient, planted in Lancashire, EEBO page image 38 and from thense departed into Ireland, being to this Preston came [...] Lan|cashire. daie seized of a manour in Lancashire, named of the house Preston. The vicount now liuing speaketh in this wise, as it were present in person, and saith:

Si quantum vellem, tantum me posse putarem,
Nota esset patriae mens meafirma meae.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Eustace aliâs Powar, vicount of Baltinglasse, lord of Kilcullen to him and his heires males, the Baltinglasse. foure and thirtith yeare of Henrie the eight. Their ancestor Robert de Powar was sent into Ireland with commission, and his of spring hath rested there 1542 since the yeare 1175. Powar aliâs Eustace is writ|ten baron of Do [...]uile in the yeare 1317. The vi|counts 1175 poesie now liuing is this that followeth:

Cùm bonus ipse manes, an non laus magna putatur,
Prudenter cuiuis posseplacere viro?

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sir Richard Butler vicount Mountgaret to him and his heires males in the fift yeare of Edward the Mountgaret. 1550 Déece. [...]enrie. sixt. Uicount Déece. Lord Bermingham baron of Athenrie, now degenerate and become méere Irish, against whome his ancestors serued valiantlie in the yeare 1300. Iohn Bermingham was lord of Athen|rie Anno 1316. Iohn Bermingham baron of Ar|digh, called in Latine de alrio Dei, in the yere 1318. [...]rdigh. kerie. Courcie. Mac Maurice, aliâs Fitzgerald, baron of Kerie. L. Courcie, not verie Irish; the ancient descent of the Courcies planted in Ireland with the conquest. Fle|ming baron of Slane. Simon Fleming was baron Slaine. of Slane, 1370. The L. now liuing thus speaketh:

Slanius inuictus princeps mihi nomen adaptat,
In bello clarum nomen & omen habens.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Plunket baron of Killine, his familie came in Killine. with the Danes, whereof they haue as yet speciall monuments. Sir Christopher Plunket lord of Kil|line, was lord lieutenant of Ireland, which title is to be seene at this day in Killine, grauen on his toome. The baron that now liueth, thus frameth his poesie:

Ornant viuentem maiorum gesta meorum,
Talia me nequeunt viua cadentemori.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Nugent baron of Deluen, an ancient house. Sir Gilbert de Nogent, or Nugent, cante into Ireland, Delui [...]. with sir Hugh de Lacie, one of the first and valiant conquerors of the countrie. This Gilbert matched with Rosa de Lacie, sister to Hugh de Lacie. He had giuen him vpon the conquest the baronies of foure, and of Deluine by the said sir Hugh, of whose brother Richard de Nogent, otherwise called Richardus de Capella, the house of Deluin is descended. In a con|ueiance past from sir Gilbert to his brother Richard, these words are inferted: Dedi & concessi fratri meo Ri|chardo de Capella totum conquestum melum in Hibernia, & terram quam dedit mihi dominus meus Hugo de Luci, qui vo|catur Deluin, & totam terram meam in Anglia. The ba|ron now liuing & louing his countrie thus speaketh:

In patria natus, patria prodesse laboro,
Viribus in castris, consilijs domi.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 S. Laurence, baron of Howth, signifieng the disposition of his mind, he speaketh in this wise: Howth.

Si redamas, redamo, si spernis, sperno. Duid ergo?
Non licet abs tuis viuere posse bo [...]?

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Plunket baron of Dunsanie. Upon the baron now liuing, this deuise was framed as you sée [...] Dunsanie.

Gratia quod dederat, si non fortuna negabit,
Dux tam praeclaro stemmate dignus eris.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Barnewall baron of Trimlestowne. They came from litle Britain, where they are at this day a great Trimle|stowne. surname. Upon their first arriuall, they wan great possessions at Beithauen, where at length by conspi|racie of the Irish they were all slaine, except one yoong man, who then studied the common lawes in England, who returning, dwelt at Drunnagh be|sides Drunnagh. Dublin, where his heires to this daie are setled. This house as well for antiquitie, as for the number of worshipfull gentlemen that be of the surname, beareth no small stroke in the English pale of Ire|land: howbeit of late it hath béene greatlie maimed thorough the decease of thrée woorthie and famous Barnewals. The first was Robert Barnewall L. of Robert Barnewall. Trimlestowne that last was, a rare noble man, and indued with sundrie good gifts, who hauing wholie wedded himselfe to the reformation of his miserable countrie, was resolued for the whetting of his wit, which nathelesse was pregnant and quicke, by a short trade and method he tooke in his studie, to haue sipt vp the verie sap of the common law, and vpon this determination sailing into England, sickened short|lie after at a worshipfull matrones house at Corn [...]|berie, named Margaret Tiler, where he was to the 157 [...] great gréefe of all his countrie pearsed with death, when the weale publike had most néed of his life. The second Barnewall that deceased was M. Mar|cus 1574 Marcus Barnewall. Barnewall of Donbroa, whose credit and au|thoritie had it béene correspondent to his valure and abilitie, he would (I doubt not) haue béene accoun|ted and knowne for as od a gentleman (none disprai|sed) as anie in the English pale of Ireland.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The third of the surname that departed this life, Sir Christo|pher Barn|wall a night. was sir Christopher Barnwall knight, the lanterne and light as well of his house, as of that part of Ire|land where he dwelt: who being sufficientlie furnisht as well with the knowlege of the Latine toong, as of the common lawes of England, was zealous [...]ie bent to the reformation of his countrie. A déepe and a wise gentleman, spare of spéech, and therewithall pithie, wholie addicted to grauitie, being in anie plea|sant conceipt rather giuen to simper than smile, ve|rie vpright in dealing, measuring all his affaires with the safetie of conscience, as true as stéele, close and secret, fast to his friend, stout in a good quarell, a great housholder, sparing without pinching, spen|ding without wasting, of nature mild, rather choosing to pleasure where he might harme, than willing to harme where he might pleasure. He sickened the thrée and twentith of Iulie of an hot burning ague, and ended his life at his house of Tur [...]ie the fift of 117 [...] August, to the great losse as well of his friends as of his countrie, vpon whose death a sonne in law of his framed this epitaph consisting of sixtéene verses.

Laeta tibi, sed moesta tuis mors accidit ista,
Regna dat alta tibt, damna dat ampla tuis.
Lae [...]s es in coelis vllo sine fine triumphans,
M [...]stus at in terris diues inópsque iacet.
Nam sapiente caret diues, qui parta gubernet,
Nec, qui det misero munera, pauper habet.
Te gener ipse caret, viduae, te rustica turba,
Atque vrbana cohors, te (sacer alme) caret.
Non est digna viro talis respublica tanto,
Nam sanctos sedes non nisi sancta decet.
Miraloquor, sed vera loquot, non ficta reuolua.
Si maiora loquar, nil nisi vera loquar.
M [...]es? Nobis hoc crimina nostra dede [...]nt.
Mortuus es? Virtus hoc tibi sacra dedit.
Viuus in coelo, dedit hoc tibi gratia Christi,
[...] vt in mundo sis, tibi fama dabit.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 For the lord of Trimlestownell now liuing, desi|ring a name of fame after death, this was deuised.

Quod mihi vita dedit, fratri Morssaeua nega [...]t,
Quod dedeat fratri, dei mihi fama precor.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Edward Butler baron of Donboin, giuen to Dunbo [...]. Edmund Butler esquier, and his heires males, in the thrée and thirtith yeare of king Henrie the eight. 1541 For the baron now liuing, these verses are made.

Dum sequitur natus summi vestigia patris,
Filius optato tramite cuncta geret.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Sir Barnabie Fitzpatrike baron of Upper Os|serie, Upper O [...]|rie. giuen to Barnabie Mac Gullopatrike and his heires males, in the thrée and thirtith yeare of Henrie the eight. Donat Clo [...]nagh Machgilpa|trike 1541 EEBO page image 39 was a péerelesse warriour in the yeare 1219. Sir Barnabie Fitzpatrike, now lord of vpper Os|serie, was knighted by the duke of Norffolke at the 1558 siege of Leith in Scotland: in the begining of Q. Elizabeths reigne, for whom these verses are made:

Principis in gremio summi nutritus & altus,
Hausit ab illustri regia dona schola.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Plunket, baron of Louth, to sir Christopher Louth. 1541 Plunket and his heires males, in the 33 yeare of K. Henrie the eight. This baronie was an erldome perteining to the Berminghams, in the yeare 1316, & sooner. For the baron now liuing, this was deuised:

Nobilis, ingenuus, firmis quoque firmus amicis,
Nubila seu coelum lúxue serena regat.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Oneile, baron of Dungauon, to whom the earle|dome of Tiron was intailed by gift of king Henrie the eight. Powar, baron of Curraghmore. Mac Dungauon. Surtan, lord Desert, his ancestors were lords in the Curragh|more. Desert. time of Lionell duke of Clarence, earle of Ulster, in the yeare 1360: now verie wild Irish. Mur|ragh Obrene, baron of Insirkoine, to him and his heires males, in the fiue and thirtith yeare of king Henrie the eight. There are besides these noble Insirkoin. 1543 men, certeine gentlemen of woorship, commonlie called baronets, whom the ruder sort dooth register a|mong the nobilitie, by terming them corruptlie ba|rons; Baronets. whereas in verie déed they are to be named neither barons, nor baronets, but banrets. He is properlie called a banret, whose father was no car|pet knight, but dubbed in the field vnder the banner Banret what it signifieth. or ensigne. And because it is not vsuall for anie to be a knight by birth, the eldest sonne of such a knight with his heires, is named a bannerret, or a banret. Such are they that here insue. Sentleger, ban|ret of Flemarge, méere Irish. Den, banret of Pormanstowne, waxing Irish. Fitzgirald, ban|ret of Burnechurch. Welleslie, banret of Nor|ragh, Huseie, banret of Galtrim. Saint Mig|hell, banret of Scrine. And Nangle, banret of the Nauan. English gentlemen of longest continu|ance in Ireland are those, which at this day either in great pouertie or perill doo keepe their properties of their ancestors lands in Ulster, being then compa|nions to Courcie, the conqueror and earle of that part. These are the Sauages, Iordans, Fitz Si|mons, Chamberleins, Russels, Bensons, Audleies, Whites, Fitz Ursulies, now degenerat and called in Irish Mac Mahon, the Beares sonne.

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