12.2. The ouerthrow giuen by the Irish|men against the souldiers which came from Dublin; and what the Osto|men were, of whom mention is made here and elsewhere. Chap. 2.

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The ouerthrow giuen by the Irish|men against the souldiers which came from Dublin; and what the Osto|men were, of whom mention is made here and elsewhere. Chap. 2.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 WHen these things were thus done, & the souldiers well refreshed by the booties and preies taken vpon the water and the land, Reimond being aduertised that his father William Fitzgerald was dead, he tooke shipping and passed ouer into Wales, there to take seisen, and to enter into the land descended vnto him. And in his absence Heruie was againe made lieutenant of the armie: who in the absence of Reimond, thinking to doo some seruice and notable exploit, bringeth the earle vnto Cashill; and for their better strength and further helpe, sent his commandement vnto Dub|lin, that the souldiers there should come and méet them; who according came foorth: and in the iourneie they passed thorough Ossorie, where on a certeine night they lodged themselues. Donald then prince of Limerike, a man verie wise in his nation, hauing vnderstanding by his priuie espials of their cõming, suddenlie and vnwares verie earlie in the morning with a great force and companie stale vpon them, and slue of them foure gentlemen which were cap|teins, and foure hundred (1) Ostomen in this sore dis|comfiture.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The earle as soone as he heard hereof, with great sorrow & heauinesse returned vnto Waterford. By means of this mishap, the Irishmen in euerie place tooke such a heart and comfort, that the whole nation with one consent and agréement rose vp against the Englishmen, and the earle as it were a man besie|ged, kept himselfe within the wals and citie of Wa|terford, and from whence he mooued not. But Rotho|rike Oconor prince of Connagh, comming and pas|sing ouer the riuer of Shenin, thinking now to reco|uer all Meth, inuadeth the same with sword and fire, and spoileth, burneth, and destroieth the same, & all the whole countrie euen to the hard walles of Dublin, leauing no castell standing or vndestroied.

(1) These Ostomen were not Irishmen, but yet of long continuance in Ireland. Some saie they came first out of Norwaie, and were called Osto|men, that is to saie Easterlings, or Easterne men, bicause that countrie lieth East in respect of Eng|land and Ireland. Some thinke they were Saxons and Normans; but whatsoeuer they were, they were merchants and vsed the trade of merchandize, and in peaceable maner they came into Ireland; and there being landed they found such fauour with the Irish|rie, that they licenced them to build hauen townes wherein they might dwell & vse their traffike. These men builded the ancientest and most part of the ci|ties and towns vpon or néere the sea side within that land; as namelie Dublin, Waterford, Corke, Lime|rike, and others. And albeit they in processe of time grew to be mightie and strong, and for their safetie did build townes and castels: yet they durst not to dwell among the Irish people, but still continued and kept themselues within their owne townes and forts, and thereof they are and were called since townesmen. And of them were these, being the inhabitants of Dublin, which came to méet the earle, and were thus slaine.

12.3. The returning of Reimond into Ire|land, and how he maried Basilia the sister vnto the earle. Chap. 3.

The returning of Reimond into Ire|land, and how he maried Basilia the sister vnto the earle. Chap. 3.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 THe earle then seeing himselfe to be now in great distresse, and in a narrow streict, taketh aduise with his fréends and councel|lors what were best to be doone. At length, as vnto his last refuge, he sendeth his letters to Rei|mond being yet in Wales, to this effect.

As soone as you haue read these our letters, make all the hast you can to come awaie, and bring with you all the helpe and force that you can make: and then according to your owne will and desire, you shall assuredlie and immediatlie vpon your comming haue and marrie my sister Basilia.

Reimond; as soone as he had readthese letters, he was forthwith in hast to be gone, and thought it long yer he could be gone; not onlie in re|spect of the faire ladie, whom he had long wooed, lo|ued, and desired; but also that he might helpe and suc|cour his lord and maister in this distresse and neces|sitie. Wherefore he maketh preparation accordinglie, and by means of friendship and otherwise, he had gotten thirtie lustie yoong gentlemen of his owne coosins and kindred, and one hundred horssemen; as also thrée hundred footmen and bowmen of the best and chosen men in all Wales: all which were in a readinesse to go with him. And as soone as the ship|ping for them was readie, and the wind seruing, he and his coosin Meilerius, with all the said companie tooke the seas, and shortlie after arriued in twentie barks vnto (1) Waterford.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 At the verie same time the townesmen of Wa|terford, being in a verie great rage and furie against the Englishmen there, were fullie minded and deter|mined to haue killed them all wheresoeuer they could find them. But when they saw these barks comming in with their flags, hanging to their top masts, which to them were vnknowne, they were astonied at their so sudden comming, and their deuises were dashed. Reimond foorthwith entered the towne with all his companie; and when all things were quieted and ap|peased, he & the earle went from thense vnto Wex|ford, with all their force and strength, leauing behind one (2) Precell or Purcell his lieutenant at Water|ford. But he verie shortlie minding to follow after the earle, tooke a boat, and as he passed ouer the riuer of the Sure, the maister of the boat and his compa|nie which were townesmen of Waterford, slue this Purcell, and those few whom he had then attending vpon him. Which murther when they had thus doone, they returned to the citie, and there without all pitie or mercie, spared neither man, nor woman, nor child; but slue as manie as they could find in the streets, houses, or anie other places. Howbeit the citie it selfe was safelie kept by such as were then in Reinolds tower, who draue the traitors out of the citie, as also in the end compelled them to yéeld and submit them|selues, and to intreat for peace, which they hardlie ob|teined, both with an euill credit and harder condi|tions.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 But Reimond still mindfull of the promise made vnto him, and he languishing vntill the same were performed, would not depart from out of Wexford, vntill messengers were sent to (3) Dublin to fetch and bring his louer Basilia to (4) Wexford to be ma|ried vnto him. Which being doone, and he maried, they spent all that daie and night in feastings & pastimes. And as they were in their most iollitie, newes was brought vnto them, how that Rothorike prince of Connagh had destroied, wasted, & spoiled all Meth, and was entred into the borders of Dublin. Where|vpon EEBO page image 35 Reimond on the next morrow, setting apart and giuing ouer all wedding pastimes, mustereth all his souldiors, and without anie delaiengs mar|cheth towards the enimies. But Rothorike who had before tried his valiantnesse, and experimented his force, hearing of his comming, and not minding to trie or abide the same, retireth backe, and getteth him to his owne home and countrie. Then Reimond re|couereth againe all those countries, and foorthwith causeth all the forts and castels then before pulled downe and defaced, to be now reedified and repared, as also the castels of Trim, and of Dunlences in Meth, of which Hugh Tirell was before the cone|stable, and for want of rescue and helpe compelled to leaue and forsake them. And thus by the means of Reimond, all things being recouered and restored to their former and pristine estate, the whole land for feare of him continued a good time in peace and rest.

(1) There is great varietie in such bookes and ex|amples as I haue, and which I doo follow in this point: some writing that Reimond did not land at Waterford, but at Wexford; and the tumult there being appeased, he went from thense vnto Water|ford, and brought the earle vnto Wexford. Some write againe (as is aforesaid) that he landed at Wa|terford, and not at Wexford: but hauing saluted the earle, appeased the tumult, and set all things in or|der, he conducted the earle and the whole armie ouer land vnto Wexford. Although there be some vari|ance in the exemplars, yet concerning the substance of the historie it is not materiall.

(2) There is also a varietie in the exemplars of this name; some write Fricellus, and some write Pricellus, and some Pircellus, or Purcell; it is like to be Purcell, for they of that name were seruitors in this conquest, and for their good seruice they were rewarded with lands and territories, and who are yet remaining about or néere the citie, and in the countie of Waterford.

(3) It is certeine that this Basilia abode at Du|blin, but whether she were there married or at Wex|ford it is doubted. Some hold opinion, that Reimond after that he had met and also saluted the erle, they foorthwith hearing the countries in Leinster, and es|peciallie about Dublin to be in an vprore, marched thither straitwaie without anie staie. And there Rei|mond as a lustie soldior in his armor married the la|die Basilia, and they issued with aduantage vpon the enimie. But the writer of best credit saith that the marriage was at Wexford.

12.4. The secret practise of Herueie a|gainst Reimond. Chap. 4.

The secret practise of Herueie a|gainst Reimond. Chap. 4.

BUt Herueie seeing the honor and credit of Reimond dailie to increase more & more, and he much gréeued therewith, deuiseth all the means he can how to stop and hinder the same: and forsomuch as he could not compasse the same by anie open attempt, he practiseth it secretlie, and by secret deuises. Wherfore he is now a suter to marrie the ladie N [...]sta, daughter to Maurice Fitz|gerald, and cousine germane to Reimond; that vn|der the colour of this new affinitie, aliance, and vn|fained fréendship he might take Reimond in a trip. Well, his secret deuises being to himselfe, and no such thing suspected nor mistrusted as he meant; he by his earnest sute obteineth this gentlewoman, and marrieth hir. And Reimond also to make freendship on all sides to be the more firme, procured that Aline the earls daughter was maried to William eldest son of William Fitzgerald. And to Maurice Fitz|gerald himselfe, who was latlie come out of Wales, there was giuen the halfe cantred of Ophelan, which he had before of the kings gift, as also the castell of Guindoloke: and Meilerius bicause he was the bet|ter marcher had the other halfe cantred. But the can|tred of land which was neerest towards Dublin, and which the king had once giuen vnto Fitzstephans, was now bestowed vpon the two Herfords.