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.

12.5. The obteining of the priuilege at Rome. Chap. 5.

The obteining of the priuilege at Rome. Chap. 5.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 IN this meane time the king, though he were in great troubles, & much vnquieted with the wars, yet was he not vnmindfull of his realme of Ireland, as also of the orders made and deuised at the councell of Cashill, for the redresse and reformation of the filthie and loose life of the Irishrie. And therevpon sent his ambassadors vnto Rome to pope Alexander the third, of and from whom he obteined certeine priuileges, and vnder his authoritie; namelie, that he should be lord ouer all the realme of Ireland; and by his power and autho|ritie they to be reduced and brought to the christian faith, after the maner and order of the church of En|gland. This priuilege the king sent ouer into Ire|land by one Nicholas Wallingford then prior, but afterwards abbat of Malmesburie, and William Fitzaldelme. And then being at Waterford, they caused an assemblie and a synod to be had of all the bishops and clergie within that land; and then in the open audience of them, the said grant and priuilege was openlie read and published: as also one other priuilege before giuen and granted by pope Adrian an Englishman borne, at the sute of one Iohn of Salisburie, who was made bishop of Karnoceus at Rome. And by this man also he sent vnto the king for a token, and in signe of a possession thereof, one gold ring, which togither with the priuilege was laid vp in the kings treasurie at Winchester. The tenure of both which priuileges it shall not be amisse here to insert. And concerning the first, these are the words thereof.

Adrian the bishop, the seruant of the seruants of God, to his most déere sonne in Christ the noble king Two priuile|ges sent from Rome to the king of Eng|land. of England sendeth gréeting, and the apostolike be|nediction. Your excellencie hath béene verie care|full and studious how you might inlarge the church of God here in earth, and increase the number of his saints and elects in heauen: in that as a good catho|like king, you haue and doo by all meanes labor and trauell to inlarge and increase Gods church, by teach|ing the ignorant people the true and christian religi|on, and in abolishing and rooting vp the weeds of sin and wickednesse: and wherin you haue and doo craue for your better aid and furtherance the helpe of the a|postolike sée, wherein the more spéedilie and discreet|lie you doo procéed, the better successe we hope God will send. For all they which of a feruent zeale, and loue in religion, doo begin and enterprise anie such thing, shall no doubt in the end haue a good and pros|perous successe. And as for Ireland and all other I|lands where Christ is knowen, and the christian reli|gion receiued, it is out of all doubt, and your excel|lencie well knoweth, they doo all apperteine and be|long to the right of saint Peter, and of the church of Rome. And we are so much the more redie, desirous, & willing to sow the acceptable séed of Gods word, because we know the same in the latter daie will be most seuerelie required at our hands. You haue (our welbeloued in Christ) aduertised and signified EEBO page image 36 vnto vs, that you will enter into the land and realme of Ireland, to the end to bring them obedient vnto law, and vnder your subiection, and to root out from among them their foule sins and wickednesse, as also to yéeld and paie yéerelie out of euerie house a yeare|lie pension of one penie vnto saint Peter: and be|sides also will defend & kéepe the rites of those chur|ches whole and inuiolate. We therefore well allow|ing and fauouring this your godlie disposition & com|mendable affection, doo accept, ratifie, and assent vn|to this your petition: and doo grant that you for the dilating of Gods church, the punishment of sin, the reforming of maners, planting of vertue, and the increasing of christian religion, you doo enter to pos|sesse that land, and there to execute according to your wisedome whatsoeuer shall be for the honor of God, and the safetie of the realme. And further also we doo strictlie charge and require that all the people of that land doo with all humblenesse, dutifulnesse, and honor receiue and accept you as their liege lord and soue|reigne, reseruing and excepting the right of the holie church, which we will be inuiolably preserued; as also the yeerelie pension of the Peter pence out of eue|rie Peter pence. house, which we require to be trulie answered to saint Peter, and to the church of Rome. If therfore you doo mind to bring your godlie purpose to effect, indeuor to trauell to reforme the people to some bet|ter order and trade of life: and that also by your selfe, and by such others as you shall thinke meet, true, and honest, in their life, maners and conuersation, the church of God may be beautified, the true christian religion sowed and planted, and all other things to be doone, that by anie meanes shall or may be to Gods honor, and the saluation of mens soules: whereby you may in the end receiue at Gods hands the re|ward of an euerlasting life, as also in the meane time, and in this life carrie a glorious fame, and an honorable report among all nations. The tenure and effect of the second priuilege is thus.

Alexander the bishop, the seruant of the seruants The second priuilege. of God, to his déerelie beloued son the noble king of England sendeth gréeting, grace, and the apostolike benediction. Forsomuch as things giuen and gran|ted vpon good reasons by our predecessors, are to be well allowed of, ratified, and confirmed; we well considering and pondering the grant and priuilege, for and concerning the dominion of the land of Ire|land to vs apperteining, and latelie giuen by Adrian our predecessor; we following his steps doo in like maner confirme, ratifie, and allow the same: reser|uing and sauing to saint Peter and to the church of Rome the yéerelie pension of one penie out of euerie house as well in England as in Ireland. Prouided also, that the barbarous people of Ireland by your meanes be reformed and recouered from their filthie life and abhominable conuersation; that as in name so in maners and conuersation they may be christi|ans: that as that rude and disordered church by you being reformed, the whole nation also may with the profession of the name be in acts and life followers of the same.