[1] [...]ames Fleming [...]aron of Slane.At which tyme Iames Flemming Baron of Slane (commonlye called blacke Iames) garded wyth a rounde companye, as well of horſmen as footmen, humbly beſought the De|putie, to graunt him that day the honour of the onſette. Whereto when the Lorde Gray had agreed, the Baron of Slane wyth cheerefull countenaunce,Robert Half|pennie. imparted the obteyning of hys ſuyte, as pleaſant tydings to Robert Halfe pe|nie, who wyth his aunceſtours was Standers bearer to the houſe of Slane. But Halfepennie ſeeing the further ſyde of the water ſo beſet with armed Galloglaſſes, as he tooke it, as likely an attempt to raze downe the ſtrongeſt Fort in Irelande wyth a fillippe, as to ruſhe through ſuche quicke Iron walles, flatlye aunſwered the Baron, that hee woulde rather diſclayme in his office, than there to gyue the onſette, where there reſted no hope of lyfe, but an aſſured cer|taintie of death. And therefore hee was not as yet ſo wearie of the worlde, as lyke an head|long hoteſpurre voluntarilye to runne to hys vtter and vndoubted deſtruction. Where|fore hee beſought his Lordſhip, to ſet his heart at reſt, and not to impute his denyall to baſe|neſſe of courage, but to waryneſſe of ſafetie, althoughe hee knewe none of anye ſtayed mynde, but woulde ſooner chooſe to ſleepe in an hole ſheepe hys pelte, than to walke in a torne Lyon hys ſkinne, namely when all hope of lyfe was abandoned, and the certaintie of death aſſuredly promiſed.