10.9. The oration of Robert Fitzstephans [...] his companions and souldiers. Chap. 9.

The oration of Robert Fitzstephans [...] his companions and souldiers. Chap. 9.

WHen Dermon Mac Morogh had en|ded his speech, Robert Fitzstephans calleth has companie togither, & thus he speaketh vnto them. Ye lustie yoong men and my companions in waares, w [...]tch haue abiden with me in manie perils; & yet still of noble minds & valiant courages: if we would now consider with our sel|ues, what we are, vnder what capteine, and where|fore we doo aduenture and attempt these great en|terp [...]ses, no doubt we shall excell in our wanted va|liantnesse, and good [...]une shall be on our side. We first came and descended from the (1) Troians, and since are of the French bloud and race: of the one we haue these our noble and valiant minds, and of the other the vse and experience in fears of armes: wher|fore being thus descended of noble progenie by t [...]s maner of wares and in two respects; as we be new well armed and appointed so let vs also be of valiant minds and lustie courages: and then no doubt this rascall and naked people shall neuer be able to resist nor withstand vs.

Besides you see and know how that at home, partlie by the subtill and craftie dealings of our owne cousines and kinsmen, and partlie by the secret malice and deuises of our familiars and acquaintances, we are beereft & spoiled both of our countrie and patrimonie. And now we are come hither, not as greedie crauers for large stipends, nor yet as couetous prollers for gaine and lucre: but onlie in respect and consideration to have and inioie the lands & townes to vs, and to our heires after vs, offered and promised. We are not come hither like pirats or theeues to rob and spoile, but as faithfull friends, to recouer and to restore this noble and liberall gentleman to that his patrimonie, wherof he is spoiled and dispossessed. He it is that hath allured and flocked vs hither; he it is that loueth our nation: and he it is who purposeth to plant and settle vs and our heires in this Ile. And peraduenture by these meanes the whole land, which is now diuided into fiue prouinces or portions, maie be deduced and brought into one, and the same in time be wholie vnto vs and our heires: if that by our valiantnesse and prowesse the victorie be gotten, and Mac Morogh by our seruice, meanes, and industrie be restored, and then the whole dominion to vs and to our heires for euer to be reserued.

O how great were then our honor & glorie! yea so great, that with the perils of our bodies, losse of our liues, and the dangers of death, it is to be wished for, sought, & aduentured. For why should we be affraid? and what is death I praie you? Is it anie other than a short delaie or distance of time, & as it were a short sléepe betwéene this transitorie life and the life eter|nall to cou [...]e? What is death (I saie) but a short pas|sage from vaine and transitorie things to perpetuall and euerlasting ioies? And certeine it is we must all once die: for it is that ineuitable destinie, which is common to all men, and can be eschewed of no man: for be we idle, and doo nothing worthie of perpetuall fame and memorie; or be we well occupied, whereof insueth praise and honor: yet die shall we. Then the matter being so, let them be affraied of death, who when they die, all things die with them: but let not them shrinke nor be dismaied, whose vertue and fame shall neuer die but liue for euer. Wherefore ye worthie men, who are enoblished for your valiantnes and famous for your vertues, let vs with bold minds and good courages giue the onset vpon our enimies, that in vs our noble race & progenie be not stained, but that either by a glorious victorie, or a famous death, we doo atchiue to perpetuall fame and honor.

10.10. How Rothorike intreateth for peace and obteineth the same. Chap. 10.

How Rothorike intreateth for peace and obteineth the same. Chap. 10.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Rothorike, when he had well considered with himselfe how the euents of wars are doubtfull and vncerteine, & that as the wiseman saith; A man of wisedome and vnderstanding is to trie all manner of waies rather than the warres: and also being somewhat timorous to aduenture the battell with strangers, sendeth his messengers by all the waies they best might, to intreat for peace: who at length through their industrie, and by the mediation of good men, and by Gods goodnesse who prospered the same, obteined the same, and which was concluded in this order. That Dermon Mac Morogh should haue and enioy all Leinster in peace and quietnesse, to him and to his heires, ackowledging all Ireland, and yeelding vnto him that seruice and dutie as vnto him therein apperteined. And for the performance hereof, he deliuered his sonne Cunthurus in pledge and for an hostage. To whome Rothorike then promised, vpon condition, that the peace and certeine other points obserued, he would giue his daughter vnto him in marriage. These things being openlie published, each partie swore the one to the other, for the performance and keeping of the same. And yet whatsoeuer the vtter shew, it was secretlie agreed betweene them, that Dermon Mac Morogh, when and assoone as he had quietlie setled Leinster in good order, he should returne and send home all the English people, as also in the meane time should not procure anie more to come ouer.

10.11. Of the comming of Maurice Fitzgerald into Ireland: of the yeelding vp of Dublin to Dermon Mac Morogh; and of the warres betweene the two princes of Conagh and Limereke. Chap. 11.

Of the comming of Maurice Fitzgerald into Ireland: of the yeelding vp of Dublin to Dermon Mac Morogh; and of the warres betweene the two princes of Conagh and Limereke. Chap. 11.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 These things thus doone & performed, and fortune seeming with a more fauourable countenance to smile vpon them, behold Maurice Fitzgerald, of whom we spake before, who was the halfe brother by the mothers side to Robert Fitzstephans, arriued at Wexford in two ships, hauing in his companie (which he brought) ten gentlemen of seruice, thirtie horssemen, and of archers and footmen about one hundred. A man EEBO page image 11 he was both honest and wise, and for his truth and valiantnesse verie noble and famous. He was a man of his word, and constant of mind, and there|withall adorned with a certeine kind of womanlie shamefastnesse. Mac Morogh being verie glad of this new repaire, as also much animated and incou|raged therewith, beginneth to thinke vpon old sores, and to call to remembrance the great iniuries and wrongs which the citizens of Dublin had in times past doone both vnto his father and to himselfe; and minding to be reuenged thereof, bendeth his force, and marcheth with his whole armie to besiege the ci|tie, but left Fitzsterphans behind, who was then buil|ding a hold or castell vpon a certeine rockie hill cal|led the (1) Caricke, about two miles from Wexford, which place although it were verie strong of it selfe, yet by industrie and labour it was made much stron|ger. Morice Fitzgerald, with all the force and com|panie of the Englishmen, accompanied and atten|ded Mac Morogh, who was his guide, and conducted him vnto Dublin. Assoone as they were entred with|in the borders and confines of the territorie of Du|blin, they foorthwith burned, spoiled, and wasted the same, and the whole countrie thereto adioining. The citizens of Dublin séeing and considering the same, began to quaile, and their hearts fainted, and doo seeke and intreat for peace; and hauing obteined the same, did sweare fealtie, and gaue in hostages for the true and firme kéeping of the same. In this meane time there fell a great enimitie and quarell betweene Rothorike of Connagh and Donald prince of Lime|reke. And assoone as Rothorike was with all his force entered into the countrie of Limereke, Der|mon Mac Morogh sent foorthwith Robert Fitzste|phans with all his power, to aid and helpe the said Donald: for he was Dermons sonne in law, by whose means he gat the victorie, and Rothorike with shame was driuen to retire out of the countrie, and to returne to his owne home: and left the chefferie which he demanded. In these and all other like serui|ces, Robert Barrie and Meilerius carried the best praise and commendations. At this time was séene a woman who had a great beard, and a man vpon hir backe, as a horsse; of whom I haue alreadie spo|ken in my topographie.

(1) The said Caricke (as is written) is distant from the towne of Wexford about two English miles, and standeth vpon a high rocke, and is inuiro|ned on two sides with the riuer which floweth to Wexford towne, and it is verie déepe and nauiga|ble: the other two sides are vpon the maine land, which is a verie fertile soile, and in height almost equall with the castell. It was at the first made but of rods and turffes, according to the maner in those daies; but since builded with stone, and was the strongest fort then in those parts of the land: but be|ing a place not altogither sufficient for a prince, and yet it was thought too good and strong for a subiect, it was pulled downe, defaced and raced, and so dooth still remaine.