12.19. The commendation of Roger Power, and the victorie of Iohn de Courcie, and of the prophesies of Celodine. Chap. 19.

The commendation of Roger Power, and the victorie of Iohn de Courcie, and of the prophesies of Celodine. Chap. 19.

IN this fight there was manie a woor|thie man, which valiantlie acquited himselfe: but if it might be said without offense, there was no one man who did more valiant acts than (1) Roger le Power, who albeit he were but a yoong man and beardlesse, yet he shewed himselfe a lustie, valiant, & couragious gentleman; & who grew into such good credit, that afterwards he had the go|uernment of the countrie about Leighlin, as also in Ossorie. This fight was verie long & doubtfull, each partie manfullie defending themselues, and none yeelding the one to the other. But as the com|mon prouerbe is, be the daie neuer so long, yet at the length it ringeth at euensong: so likewise this fierce, long, and cruell fight had his end, and the vic|torie fell to Iohn de Courcie, and a great multitude of the enimies were slaine in the field, as also vpon the woars of the seas as they were fléeing and run|ning awaie. Then was fulfilled the old prophesie of Celodine the Irish prophet, who forespeaking of A prophesie of Celodine fulfilled. this battell said, that there should be such a great bloudshed therein of the Irish people, that the eni|mies perceiuing them should wade vp to the knees in bloud. Which thing came so to passe; for the Eng|lishmen perceiuing them and killing them vpon the woars, the same were so soft, that with the weight of their bodies they sunke downe vp to the hard knées or twisels, and so the bloud fléeting and lieng vpon the woars, they were said to be therein vp to the knées.

The same man also (as is said) did write that a poore stranger, and one come out from other coun|tries, should with a small power come to the citie of Downe, and against the will of the gouernor thereof should take the same. Manie other things also he wrote of sundrie battels to be waged, and of the euents thereof, which were all fulfilled in Iohn de Courcie. This booke the said Iohn had, and he so esteemed the same, that still he had it about him, and in his hands; and did manie times, yea and for the most part direct his dooings by the same. It was al|so written in the same booke, that a yoong man with force and armes should breake and enter in through the wals of Waterford, and conquer the same with the great slaughter of th [...] townsmen: moreouer, that the same man should come to Wexford, & from thense to Dublin, where he should enter in without anie great resistance; & all these things (as is appa|rant) were fulfilled in earle Richard. Likewise he wrote in the same booke, that the citie of Limerike should be twise left and forsaken by the English|men: but the third time it should be kept, which thing came so to passe. For first (as is before writ|ten) Reimond had it and gaue it ouer: the second was, when the king had giuen the same to Philip de Bruse, for he being brought thither by Fitzstephans, and Miles Cogan, to take and enter into the same, and being come to the riuer side of Shenin for the same purpose, was there vtterlie discoraged to pro|céed anie further, and so without anie thing doone, leaueth the same as he found it, and came backe a|gaine; as hereafter in his place it shall be shewed. And thus (according to this vaticine) twise it was left, but the third time it shall be kept.

But this is to be implied and meant of Hamon de Ualognses the iusticiarie there appointed; in whose time the said citie being vnder his gouern|ment, was by treacherie and treason destroied, and so forsaken and left; but afterwards recouered by Meilerius: euer since which time it hath remained and béene kept in the possession of the Englishmen. Well then to the battels of Iohn de Courcie, first he had the victorie in two notable battels or fights at Dublin; the one in Februarie, and the other in Iu|lie: in which he hauing but a small companie of men, fought against fifteene hundred of his enimies, of whome he slue and ouerthrew a great number, and had the victorie. The third was at Ferlie about the taking of a preie, where by reason of the streict & narrow passes, he was too much and euerie eft|soones ouerset by the enimies, and so had the woorse; some of his men being killed, and some scattered and dispersed abroad in the woods and fields, so that he had scant eleuen persons left with him. And notwithstanding that he had thus lost his men and horsses, yet was he of such a valiant mind and cou|rage, that with those few which were left, he went through his enimies, and in spite of them all tra|uelled two daies and two nights on foot in their ar|mour without meat or drinke thirtie long miles, vn|till he was past danger, & so came safelie vnto his owne castell againe. The fourth battell was at Uriell, where manie of his men were killed and ma|nie fled. The fist was at the bridge of Yuor, after and vpon his comming from out of England, and yet therein he had the victorie and conquest. So in three battels he had the victorie, but in two he recei|ued both the losse and hurt; and yet in them did more annoie the enimie, than was hurted himselfe.

(1) The race & issue of the Powers hath euer since and yet dooth remaine in Ireland, who nothing dege|nerating from this their ancestor, haue for their part shewed themselues valiant and men of good ser|uice, for which they haue béene honorablie rewarded, and are now barons and peeres of the realme. Their habitation and dwelling is in the prouince or coun|tie of Waterford, and not far from the citie of Wa|terford.

12.20. The description of Iohn de Courcie. Chap. 20.

The description of Iohn de Courcie. Chap. 20.

THis Iohn de Courcie was white and pale of colour, but verie fierce and arro|gant, he was sinowous and a verie strong made man, verie tall and mightie, and of a singular audacitie: and being from his verie youth EEBO page image 44 bent to the wars proued a verie valiant souldior. He would be the first in the field and formost in the fight; and so ambitious and desirous he was of ho|nor, that were the enterprise neuer so perillous, and the seruice neuer so dangerous, yet he would giue the aduenture. And albeit he were the generall or capteine, yet setting the prioritie thereof apart, he would be as a common souldior, and serue in the place of a priuat seruitor; and manie times being more rash than wise, and more hastie than circum|spect, he had the woorst side and lost the victorie. And although in seruice he were thus forward, earnest, and vehement; yet in time of peace and rest he was verie sober, modest, and altogither giuen and dis|posed to serue God, and hauing the victorie of his enimies and good successe in his affaires, he would ascribe the honor vnto God, and be thankefull for the same. But as Tullius writeth, nature neuer made anie thing perfect and absolute in all points. And so it appeared in this man; for through his too much pin|ching and sparing, and by reason he was verie vn|certeine and vnconstant, his vertues (otherwise great, and deseruing great praises and commenda|tions) verie much imperished and blemished. He maried the daughter of Gotred king of Maime. And after that he had waged manie battels, and fought sundrie times with his enimies, he at length had the masterie and conquest ouer them: and then hauing brought the whole countrie to a good peace and rest, he builded sundrie and diuerse castels throughout Ulster, in such méete and conuenient places as he thought best. And by the way this one The thrée chiefe posts of Ireland w [...]thout issue lawfull. thing me thinketh is verie strange, that these thrée notable & the chiefest posts of Ireland, namelie Her|ueie, Reimond, and this Iohn de Courcie, by Gods secret (but not vniust iudgement) neuer had anie lawfull issue. I might also say the like of Meilerius, who as yet hath no lawfull issue by his wife. Thus much hauing bréeflie and by the waie spoken of the noble acts of Iohn de Courcie, and leauing the same vnto others to be more at large set forth and de|scribed, we will now returne againe to Dublin.

12.21. The councell or synod kept at Dublin; of Viuian the popes legat, and of Miles Co|gans issuing into Connagh. Chap. 21.

The councell or synod kept at Dublin; of Viuian the popes legat, and of Miles Co|gans issuing into Connagh. Chap. 21.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 IN this meane time, Uiuianus the popes legat remained still in Ireland, and held a synod at Dublin of all the clergie, in which he openlie confirmed and published the right which the king of England hath to the realme of Ireland, as also the popes ratification and confir|mation of the same; commanding and charging e|uerie person, of what estate, degrée, or condition soe|ner he were, that vpon paine of excommunication he should not denie his loialtie, nor breake his alle|giance vnto him. And moreouer (1) forsomuch as the manner and custome was among the Irishrie, that whensoeuer anie goods, corne, or vittels, were put and kept in anie church, no man would medle or deale to carrie the same awaie; yet neuerthelesse, he gaue licence and libertie to all Englishmen, that whensoeuer they went, or were to go in anie ho|sting, and could not elsewhere be prouided of anie vittels, that they might lawfullie take what they found in anie church: so that they left with the church|wardens, or such as had the charge thereof, the true and iust value of so much as they tooke awale. These things thus doone, Miles of Cogan, who was lieute|nant of the bands of soldiors vnder William Fitzal|delme, as also conestable of the citie of Dublin, he with 40 gentlemen, whereof 20 were vnder the con|duct of Ralph the son of Fitzstephans, as also his lieu|tenant, and they hauing with them 200 horssemen & 300 footmen, passed ouer the riuer of Shenin, & in|naded Connagh, which hither to no Englishman had aduentured. The Connagh men foorthwith set on fire and burned all their townes, villages, and chur|ches, as also all such corne as they had in their hag|gards, and in their caues, and could not carrie with them. Likewise they tooke downe the images and crucifires, and hurled them abroad in the fields. Neuerthelesse, the Englishmen marched onwards, till they came to the towne of Thomond, where they staied eight daies togither; and finding the countrie forsaken of the people, and barren of vittels, they returned backe againe ouer the Shenin: and by the waie they met with Rothorike prince of Connagh, who laie in a wood neere the Shenin watching for them, and he had three great troops and companies with him of the best fighting men of Connagh. Be|twéene them there was a long and a cruell fight, in which Miles lost but thrée of his owne companie, but manie of his enimies were slaine. Which doone, he recouered ouer the riuer, & so came safelie to Dublin.

(1) This vsage and custome is yet at this present obserued, and euerie church in the countrie stuffed and filled with great chests full of corne, which the hus|bandmen doo for safetie kéepe therein: and this lieth safe at all times, euen in the verie warres among themselues: howbeit the same is not so religiouslie kept and obserued in these daies as in times past.