[1] GIrald fitz Girald, Erle of Kildare. This houſe was of the nobilitie of Florence, came from thence to Normandy, and ſo with Erle Strangbow his kinſmã, whoſe armes he giueth, into Wales, néere of bloud to Riſe ap Griffin, prince of Wales by Necta the mother of Maurice fitz Girald and Robart fitz ſtephannes, with the ſayd Earle Maurice fitz Girald remoued into Ireland, in ye yeare 1169. 1169. The family is very properly toucht in a Sonet of Surreys, made vpon the Erle of Kildares ſiſter, now Counteſſe of Lincolne.
[1]From Tuſca [...]e came my Ladies worthy race,Fayre Florence was ſometyme hir auncient ſeate:The Westerne Iſle, whoſe pleaſant ſhoare doth faceW [...]ylde Cambers cliffes, did gyue hir liuely heate.Fastred ſhe was with milke of Iriſh brest.Hir ſire an Earle, hir dome of princes bloũd,From tender yeares in Britayne ſhe doth restWith kinges childe, where ſhe tasteth costly foode.Hunſdon did first preſent hir to mine eyne,Bright is hir hew, and Giraldine ſhe hight,Hampton me taught, to wiſhẽ hir first for myne:And Wyndſor, alas, doth chaſe me from hir ſight.Hir beauty of kinde, hir vertues from aboue,Happy is he, that can obteyne hir loue.
[1] The corrupt Orthography that diuers vſe in writing this name, doth incorporate it to houſes thereto linked in no kinrede, and con|ſequẽtly blemiſheth diuers worthy exploites atchieued as well in England and Irelande, as in forreine countreis and dominiõs. Some write Gerolde, ſundry Geralde, diuers very corruptly Gerrot, others Gerarde. But the true Orthography is Giralde, as may ap|peare both by Giraldus Cambrienſe, and the Italian authors that make mention of the fa|mily. As for Gerrot, it differeth ſtatte from Giralde, yet there be ſome in Irelande, that name and write themſelues Gerrottes, not|withſtanding they be Giraldines, wherof di|uers gentlemen are in Méeth. But there is a ſept of the Gerrots in Irelãd, and they ſéeme forſooth by threatning kyndneſſe and kinrede of the true Giraldines to fetch their petit de|grees from their aunceſtours, but they are ſo néere of bloud one to the other, that two bu|ſhels of beanes woulde ſcantly counte theyr degrées.
[1] [2] [3] An other reaſon why diuers eſtrange hou|ſes haue bene ſhuffled in among this familie, was, for that ſundry gentlemẽ at the chriſte|nyng of their children, would haue them na|med Giraldes, and yet their ſurnames were of other houſes; and if after it happened that Girald had iſſue Thomas, Iohn, Robert, or ſuch lyke, then would they beare the ſurname of Girald, as Thomas fitz Girald, and thus takyng the name of their aunceſtors for their ſurname, within two or thrée diſcantes they ſhooue themſelues among the kinrede of the Giraldines. This is a generall faulte in Ire|land and Wales, and a great confuſion and extinguiſhment of houſes. This noble & aun|cient family of the Giraldines, haue in ſun|drye ages flouriſhed in the moſt renoumed countries of Europe. Warring fitz Giralde was one in great credite with king Iohn.Matth. pari. in vita Ioh. pag. 316. verl. 40. I finde an other Giraldine Archiepiſcopus Bur|degalenſis, who flouriſhed in king Henry the thirde his tyme. There was an other Gi|raldine Patriarch of Ieruſalem,1234. in the yeare 1229. as witneſſeth Mattheus Pariſiẽſis. There was one Girald of Berueyl an excellẽt Poet in the Italian tongue:pag. 480. an other named Bap|tiſt Girald, was a famous citizen of Ferra|ra, [page 20] [...] [page 593] [...] [page 21] [...] [page 594] [...] [page 22]
of the baron of Ophaly, whereas the contrary ought to be inferd, that if a pryuate perſon can tame the Iriſh, what may thẽ the publique Ma|giſtrate doe, that hath the Princes pay.
[1]
But in deede it is harde to take Hares with Foxes. You muſt not thinke, maſter Veſcy, that you were ſent gouernour into Ireland, to dan|dle your trulles, to penne your ſelfe vp within a towne or citie, to giue rebels the gaze, to pill the ſubiects, to animate traytors, to fil your cofers, to make your ſelfe by marring true men, to ga|ther the birdes whileſt other beate the buſhes, & after to impeach the nobilitie of ſuch treaſons, as you onely haue committed?
[1]
But for as much as our mutual complaints ſtande vpon the one his Yea, and the other hys Nay, and that you would be taken for a cham|pion, and I am knowen to be no cowarde: let vs, in Gods name, leaue lying for varlettes, berdyng for ruffians, facing for crakers, chat|ting for twatlers, ſcoldyng for callets, bookyng for ſcriueners, pleadyng for Lawyers, and lette vs try with the dynt of ſwoorde, as become mar|tiall men to doe, our mutuall quarrelles. Wher|fore to iuſtifie that I am a true ſubiect, and that thou. Veſcy, art an archetraytor to God and to my King, here in the preſence of hys highneſſe, and in the hearyng of this honourable aſſembly I challenge the combat.The combat chalenged.Whereat all the audi|tory ſhouted.
[1] Nowe in good fayth, quoth Veſcye, with a right good will. Wherevpon bothe the parties beyng diſmiſt vntill the Kings pleaſure were further knowne, it was agreed at length by the counſayle, that the fitteſt tryal ſhould haue bene by battayle. Wherefore the parties beyng as well thereof aduertiſed, as the day by the King appoynted, no ſmall prouiſion was made for ſo eager a combat, as that was preſuppoſed to haue bene. But when the prefixed day ap|proched neere, Veſcy, turnyng his great boaſte to ſmall roſt, beganne to crye creake, and ſecrete|ly ſayled into Fraunce. [...]eſcye fled| [...]ed France. [...]dare be|ſtowed on the Lord Gi| [...]d. King Edwarde, there|of aduertiſed, beſtowed Veſcyes Lordſhips of Kyldare and Rathymgan on the Baron of O|phaly, ſaying that albeit Veſcy conueyed hys perſon into Fraunce, yet he left his lands behind him in Ireland.
[1]
The firſte Earle of [...]dare cre| [...]ed. 1 [...]15.
[1] The nũbers [...] the Erles of kyldare.The houſe of Kildare among diuers giftes, wherewith God hath aboundauntly endued it, is for one ſinguler pointe greatly to bee admi|red, that notwithſtandyng the ſeuerall aſſaults of diuers enimies in ſundry ages, yet this Earle that now liueth, is the tenth Earle of Kildare, to whom from Iohn the firſt Earle, there hath alwayes continued a lineall deſcent from father to ſonne, which truely in mine opinion is a great bleſſing of God.
[1] And for as much as this Erle now liuyng, as his Aunceſters before him, haue bene ſhrewd|ly ſhooued at by his euill willers, ſaying that he is able, but not willyng to profite hys countrey: the Poeſie that is framed for him, runneth in this wiſe.
[1]Quid poſſim, iactant: quid vellem, ſcire recuſant:Vtraque Reginae ſint, rogo, nota meae.
[1] His eldeſt ſonne is Lorde Giralde,L. Girald. Baron of Ophaly, for whom theſe verſes are made.
[1]Te pulchrum natura facit, fortuna potentem,Te faciat Chriſti norma, Giralde, bonum.
[1] Syr Thomas Butler Erle of Ormond and Oſſery.Earle of Or|mond. The Butlers were auncient Engliſh gentlemen, and worthy ſeruitors in all ages.
[1] Theobald Butler Lorde of Carrick,
1247. The But|lers (as I am enfor|med) ar foũd by auncient recordes too
haue bene Earles of the Larrick. 1299.
[1] The Lord Theobald Butler the yonger, and Sonne to the elder Theobald, was ſente for by Edwarde the firſt, to ſerue againſt the Scots. This noble man deceaſed at Turny, and his bo|dy was conneighed to Wency, a towne in the countie of Lymmericke.
[1] Sir Edmund Butler a wiſe and valiaunt noble man,1309. was dubbed knight at London by Edward the ſecond.
[1] This man beyng appoynted lieuetenant of Irelande, vppon the repayre of Iohn Wogan, (who before was Lorde Iuſtice) to Englande,1312. beſieged the Obrenies in Glyndalory: and were it not that they ſubmitted themſelues to the Kyng and the Lieuetenantes mercy, they had not bene onely for a ſeaſon vanquiſſhed, but al|ſo vtterly by him extirped. This noble man was in his gouernment ſuche an encourager and furtherer of ſeruitors, as that hee dubd on Saint Michael the Archangels day: 30. 1313. knights in the caſtle of Dublin. Hee was a ſcourge to the Scottes that inuaded Ireland,1315. when he was Lieuetenant. He diſcomfiteth Omourgh a no|torious rebell, neare a towne named Baly le|than. After diuers victorious exploites by him atchieued, he ſayled into England,1316. and ſo to Hi|ſpayne in pilgrimage to S. Iames.1321. Vpon his returne to England, he deceaſed at London, and his body beyng conueyghed into Ireland, was entoombed at Ballygauran.
[1] Iames Butler Erle of Ormond, was Lord Iuſtice of Ireland, in the yeare, 1359. 1359.
[1] [page 595] The Lord Butler and Vicecount Thurles, was dubo knight by Henry the ſixte in Eng|lande, in the yeare 1425. at whiche tyme ſir Iames Butler,1425. ſir Iohn Butler, ſir Rafe But|ler, were in like maner knighted.
[1]
1327.
The firſte Earle of Or|mond.
[1]Magnus Auns, maiorque pater, ſed Natus vtroqueCorporis aut animi non bonitate minor.
[1] Deſmon.Girald fitz Girald Erle of Deſmond.
[1] Maurice fitz Thomas a Giraldine, was created Erle of Deſmond the ſame yeare, ſoone after that Butler became Erle of Ormonde. His eldeſt ſonne is Lord fitz Girald of Deſmõd. The Erle now liuyng, thus ſpeaketh.
[1]Euaſi tandem, iactatus fluctibus alti,Et precor, in portu ſit mea tuta ratis.
[1] Clenrichard.Sir Richard Bourke Erle of Clenrickard. A braunche of the Engliſhe family de Burgo. The Bourkes haue bene auncient noble menne before theyr commyng to Ireland: and in olde tyme they haue bene Erles of Vlſter. Hys el|deſt ſonne is Lorde Bourke Baron of Enykel|line. His verſe is this.
[1]Quam mihi maiorum famam bona geſta dederunt,Hanc mihi natorum barbara facta negant.
[1] Tomond.Connogher Obren Erle of Tomonde: the name of Erle giuen to Murragh Obrene for terme of lyfe,1550. and after to Donogh Obrene, in the fifte yeare of the raigne of Edwarde the ſixte nowe confirmed to the heyres males. Hys eldeſt ſonne is Baron of Ibracan. Vpon the Erle now liuyng, this fantaſie was deuiſed.
[1]Non decet externos, ſine eauſa quaerere reges,Cum licet in tuta viuere pace domi.
[1] Clencare.Mack Carty More Erle of Clencare, crea|ted in the yeare 1565.
[1] Barry. Roche, Gormanſ|towne.Vicecount Barry.
[1] Vicecount Roche.
[1] Preſton Vicecount of Gormanſtowne: where|to is lately annexed the Barony of Lawne|dreſſe. One of theyr aunceſtours Sir Robert Preſton,1361. then chiefe Baron of the Eſchequer was dubd knight in the field by Lionel Duke of Cla [...]nce. This gentleman matcht in wedlocke with Margaret Bermingham lady of Carbry, who deceaſed in the yeare 1361. After whoſe death ſir Robert Preſton was ſeyſed of the ſayd Lordſhip in the right of his wife,1367. and beyng mo|leſted by rebels, placed a garriſon in the caſtle, whereby the ſubiects were greatly eaſed, and the rebels dayly annoyed.
[1] There hath bene another ſir Robert Preſton of this houſe,1476. greate graundfather to the Vice|count now liuyng. This gentleman was de|putie to Richard, ſecond ſonne to Edward the fourth, in the xvj. yeare of the reygne of his fa|ther: and after likewyſe in the reigne of Henry the ſeuenth,1492 hee was deputie to Iaſper Duke of Bedford, Erle of Pembroke, and Lieuetenaunt of Ireland, & at the ſame time was he appointed by the King generall receyuer of his reuenue in Ireland. How wiſely this noble man behaued hymſelfe in peace, and how valiauntly he bequit himſelfe in warre, ſundry of King Henry the ſe|uenth his letters to him, beyng deputie, addreſ|ſed, do manifeſtly witneſſe. There was a parlia|ment holden before him at Drogheda, whiche was repealed in the x. yeare of Henry ye ſeuẽth.1494
[1] Sir Chriſtopher Preſton was dubd knight in the fielde by Edmund Erle of March,1397 Lorde deputie of Ireland. William Preſton was L. Iuſtice of Ireland in Henry the eyghts reigne. The houſe is auncient planted in Lankaſhyre,Preſton came from Lanckiſhire. and from thence departed into Ireland, beyng to this day ſeyſed of a manour in Lankaſhyre, named of the houſe Preſton. The Vicount now liuyng ſpeaketh in this wyſe.
[1]Si quantum vellem, tantum me poſſe putarem,Nota eſſet patriae mens mea firma meae.
[1] Euſtace aliâs Powar,Baltinglaſſe Vicounte of Baltin|glaſſe, Lord of Kyleullen to him and his heyres males, the 34. yeare of Henry the eight.1542 Theyr aunceſtor Robart le Pouar, was ſent into Ire|lande with commiſſion, and hys offpryng hath reſted there ſince the yeare 1175.
[1] Powar aliâs Euſtace is written Baron of Domuyle in the yeare 1317. 1175 The Vicountes poeſie now liuing, is this.
[1]Cum bonus ipſe manes, an non laus magna pu|tatur,Prudenter cuiuis poſſe placere viro?
[1] Moũtgaret.Sir Richard Butler Vicount Mountgaret to him and his heyres males in the fift yeare of Edward the ſixt.1550
[1] Vicount Deece.Deece.
[1] Lord Bermingham Baron of Athenry,Athenry. now degenerate and become meere Iriſhe, agaynſt whom his aunceſtors ſerued valiauntly in the yeare 1300.
[page 23] [...]
[1] [page 596]Regna dat alta tibi, damna dat ampl [...] tuis.Laetus es in coelis vllo ſine fine t [...]plians,Moeſtus at in terris diues mopſ moet.Nam ſapiente caret diues, qui parta gubernet,Nec, qui det miſero munera, pauper habet.Te gener ipſe caret, viduce, te ruſtica turba,At vrbana cohors, te (ſocer aline) caret.Non eſt digna viro talis reſpublica can [...],Nam ſanctos ſedes non niſi ſancta do [...].Mira loquor, ſed vera loquor, nõ ficta reuoluo,Si maiora loquar, nil niſi vera loquar.Mortuus es? nobis hoc crimina noſtra dedecrũt.Mortuus es? virtus hoc tibi ſacra dedit.Viuus es in coelo, dedit hoc tibi gratia ChriſtiViuus vt in mundo ſis, tibi fama dabit.
[1] For the L. of Trimleſtowne now liuing, this was deuiſed.
[1]Quod mihi vita dedit, fratri Mors ſeua negauitQuod dederat fratri, det mihi fama precor.
[1] Dunboyn.Edward Butler Baron of Donboyne, gi|uen to Edmund Butler Eſquier, & his heires males,1541. anno H. octaui .33. For the Baron now liuyng, theſe verſes are made.
[1]Dum ſequitur natus ſummi veſtigia patrisFilius optato tramite cuncta ger [...].
[1] Vpper Oſſery.Syr Barnaby fitz Patricke Baron of Vp|per Oſſery, giuen to Barnaby Mack gullo|patricke & his heyres males in the .xxxiij. yere of Henry the eight.1541. Donat Clo [...]agh mack|gylpatrike was a peereleſſe warriour in the yere 1219. Syr Barnaby fitz Patrike, now L. of Vpper Oſſery, was dubt knight by ye duke of Northfolke at the ſiege of Lieth at Scot|land:1558. for whom theſe verſes are made.
[1]Principis in gremio ſummi nutritus & altusHauſit ab illuſtri regia dona ſchola.
[1] Louth.Pluncket, Baron of Louth, to ſir Chriſto|fer Pluncket and his heyres males,1541. anno H. 8 33. This Barony was an Erledome pertey|nyng to the Berminghams, in the yere 1316. and ſooner. For the Baron now liuyng, this was deuiſed.
[1]Nobilis, ingenuus, firmis quo firmus amicis,Nubila ſeu coelum luxue ſerena regat.
[1] Dungauõ.Oneyle, Baron of Dongauon, to whom the Erledome of Tyrone was entayled by gifte of Henry the eight.
[1] Curragh|more. Deſert.Powar, Baron of Curraghmore.
[1] Mack Surtan, L. Deſert, hys aunceſtours were Lordes in the tyme of Lionel Duke of Clarence, Erle of Vlſter, in the yeare 1360. now very wyld Iriſh.
[1] Inſirkoin.Murragh Obrene, Baron of Inſirkoyne, to hym and his heyres males an H. 8.35. 1543.
[1] Baronets.There are beſides theſenoble men, certain gentlemen of worſhip, commonly called Ba|ronets, whom the ruder ſort doth regiſter a|mong the nobilitie, by termyng thẽ corruptly Barons, wheras in very déede they are to be [...]ed neyther Barons, nor Baronets, [...]ut Banrets. He is properly called a Banret,Banret what it ſignif [...] whoſe father was no carpet [...]ight, but [...] in the field vnder the hanner or enſigne. And becauſe it is not v [...] for any to be a [...]ight by birth, the eldeſt ſõne of ſuch a knight with his heyres, is [...] a Bannerr [...], or a Ban| [...]. Such are they that here enſue,
[1] Sentleger, Banret of Flemarge, [...]re I|riſhe.
[1] Don, Bãret of Pormanſt own, [...] Iriſh,
[1] Fitz Girald, Banret of Barnet [...]ch.
[1] We [...]eſly, Banret of the Noreagh.
[1] Huſey, Banret of Ealtrim.
[1] S. Mighel, Banret of Serme.
[1] Nangle, Banret of the Na [...].
[1] Engliſh gentlemen of longeſt con [...]aunce in Ireland, are thoſe which at this day eyther in great pouerty or perill do kepe theſe proper|ties of theyr aunceſtors landes in Vlſter, be|yng then companions to Courey, the conque|rour and Erle of that part. Theſe are the Sa|uages, Iordanes, fitz Symons, Chamber|laines, Ruſſels, Benſons, Andeleis, Whites, fitz Vrſulles, now degenerate, and called in Iriſh Mack Mahon, the Beares ſonne.