Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 Ormond was nothing inferiour to the other in stomach, and in reach of policie far beyond him. Kil|dare The descrip|tion of Or|mond. The descrip|tion of Kil|dare. was in gouernement mild, to his enimies sterne, to the Irish such a scourge, that rather for de|spite of him than for fauor of anie part, they relied for a time to Ormond, came vnder his protection, serued at his call, performed by starts (as their man|ner is) the dutie of good subiects. Ormond was se|cret and of great forecast, verie staied in spéech, dan|gerous of euerie trifle that touched his reputation. Kildare was open and plaine, hardlie able to rule himselfe when he were moued to anger, not so sharpe as short, being easilie displeased and sooner appeased. Being in a rage with certeine of his seruants for faults they committed, one of his horssemen offered master Boice (a gentleman that reteined to him) an Irish hobbie, on condition, that he would plucke an Boice. haire from the earle his beard. Boice taking the proffer at rebound, stept to the earle (with whose good nature he was throughlie acquainted) parching in the heat of his choler, and said:
So it is, and if it like your good lordship, one of your horssemen promised me a choise horsse, if I snip one haire from your beard. Well quoth the earle, I agree thereto, but if thou plucke anie more than one, I promise thée to bring my fist from thine eare.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The branch of this good nature hath beene deriued from him to an earle of his posteritie, who being in a chafe for the wrong sawcing of a patridge, arose suddenlie from the table, meaning to haue reasoned the matter with his cooke. Hauing entred the kitch|en, drowning in obliuion his chalenge, he began to commend the building of the roome, wherein he was at no time before, & so leauing the cooke vncontrold, he returned to his ghests merilie. This old earle be|ing (as is aforesaid) soone hot and soone cold, was of the English well beloued, a good iusticier, a suppressor of the rebels, a warriour incomparable, towards the nobles that he fansied not somewhat headlong and vnrulie. Being charged before Henrie the seuenth, for burning the church of Cashell, and manie wit|nesses prepared to aduouch against him the truth of that article, he suddenlie confessed the fact, to the great woondering and detestation of the councell. When it was looked how he wold iustifie the matter; By Iesus (quoth he) I would neuer haue doone it, had it not béene told me that the archbishop was within. And bicause the same archbishop was one of his bu|siest accusers there present, the king merilie laughed at the plainnesse of the noble man, to sée him alledge that thing for excuse, which most of all did aggrauate his offense.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 The last article against him they conceiued in these tearmes; Finallie all Ireland can not rule this earle. No? quoth the king: then in good faith shall this earle rule all Ireland. Thus was that accusation [...] retur| [...] [...]. turned to a ieast. The earle returned to his countrie lord deputie, who (notwithstanding his simplicitie in peace) was of that valour and policie in war, as his name bred a greater terror to the Irish, than other mens armies. In his warres he vsed for policie a [...]ces poli| [...] [...]. retchlesse kind of diligence, or a headie carelesnesse, to the end his souldiors should not faint in their at|tempts, were th'enimie of neuer so great power. Be|ing generall in the field of Knocktow, where in effect all the Irish rebels of Ireland were gathered against the English pale, one of the earle his capteins pre|sented him a band of Kerns, euen as they were rea|die to ioine battell, and withall demanded of the erle in what seruice he would haue them imploied? Marie (quoth he) let them stand by and giue vs the gaze. Such was his courage, that notwithstanding his enimies were two to one: yet would he set so good a face on the matter, as his souldiors should not once suspect, that he either néeded, or longed for anie fur|ther helpe.