57 And this Rory his succâ—ssor practising new treason against King James his advancer upon the terrour of a guilty conscience fled the Realm in the year 1607 and died at Rome The Scots The antient inhabitants of this Ulster as likewise of all other parts of the Kingdom went formerly by the name of Scots and from hence they brought that name into the Northern part of Britain For as Giraldus says the six sons of Mured King of Ulster possest themselves of the North of Britain about 400 years after Christ from which time it has been called by the name of Scotia Yet the Annals of that Kingdom shew us that it has had this name much earlier And moreover Fergus the second who re-established the Kingdom of the Scots in Britain came from hence Patrick â—xâ—ife of â— Patrick having foretold That though he seemed mean and contemptible to his brethren at that time it would shortly came to pass thas he should be Prince and Lord over them all To make this the more probable the same writer adds farther That not long after Fergus according to the prediction of this holy man obtained the soveraignty in these parts and that his posterity continued in the throne for many generations From him was descended the most valiant King Edan son of Gabrain who conquer'd Scotland called Albania where his offspring reign to this day 58 Sir John John Curcy in the reign of Henry the second was the first Englishman that attempted the conquest of this County who having taken Down and Armagh made himself master of the whole Province either by force or surrender and was the first that had the title of Earl of Ulster â—'s of â—â—er At last his success and fortune made him so envied that for his own worth and the unworthiness of others he was banish'd and by King John's appointment succeeded by Hugh de Lacy second son of Hugh Lacy Lord of Meth who was made Earl of Ulster by a sword with orders to carry on a war against him Yet he was deprived of this honour by the same King 〈◊〉 â—o upon his insolence and popular practices but received again into favour In confirmation of this I will here give you word for word what I find in the Records of Ireland Hugh de Lacy formerly Earl of Ulster held all Ulster exempt and separate from any other County whatsoever in capite of the Kings of England by the service of three Knights when ever the Royal service was ordered by proclamation And he migâ—â— try in his own Court all pleas whatsoever belonging to the Sheriff and the Chief Justice and held a Court of Chancery c. After this all Ulster was forfeited to our Lord King John from the said Hugh who had it afterwards granted him for term of life by King Henry the third After Hugh's decease Walter de Burgo did these services to our Lord Edward King Henry's son Lord of Ireland before he was King This same Lord Edward infeoff'd the aforesaid Walter with the lands of Ulster to have and to hold to him and his heirs by the service aforesaid as well and freely as the said Hugh de Lacy did excepting the advowsons of the Cathedral Churches and the demesns of the same as also the Pleas of the Crown Rapes Forstalls Arsonyes and Treasure-trouves which our soveraign Lord King Edward retaineth to himself and his heirs This Walter de Burgo who was Lord of Conaught and Earl of Ulster had by the only daughter of Hugh de Lacy Richard Earl of Ulster who put an end to an uneasie life in the year 1326. This Richard had a son John de Burgo who died in his life time after he had had a son William by his wife Elizabeth the sister and co-heir of Gilbert Clare Earl of Gloucester who succeeded his Grandfather William was murder'd by his own men in his youth leaving a little daughter Elizabeth See Raâ—norshire and Yorkshire north-riding afterwards married to Leonel Duke of Clarence by whom she had likewise an only daughter married to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March and by her the Earldom of Ulster and Seigniory of Conaught came to the Mortimers from whom together with the Kingdom of England it fell to the house of York and then by King Edward the fourth was annexed to the Crown or the King 's demesn lands as they express it A civil war breaking out at that time and the Nation falling into faction and parties so that these English then in Ulster were induced to return into England to support their several sides and parties these Countreys were seiz'd upon by O-Neal and others of the Irish so that the Province grew as wild and barbarous as could be and whereas it formerly yielded a considerable revenue to the Earl in money it has hardly since that time paid any to the Kings of England And if I may be allowed to make remarks of this nature the piety and wisdom of the Kings of England has been more defective in no one thing than in the due administration of this Province and all Ireland either in respect of propagating Religion modelling the State or civilizing the Inhabitants Whether this neglect is to be imputed to a careless oversight or a design of parsimony and unseasonable providence I am not able to determine But one would think an Island so great and so near us where there 's so much good soil and rich pasture so many woods so much good mettal for digging up so many fine rivers and commodious harbours on all sides convenient for navigation into the richest parts of the world upon which account great imposts might be probably expected and lastly an Island so very fruitful of inhabitants and the people both in respect of minds and bodies capable of all the employments of peace or war should of right challenge and deserve our care for the future 59 If they were wrought and conform'd to orderly civility I Did but just now intimate That I would give some account of these O-Neals who pretend to be Lords of Ulster and therefore I promised to an excellent friend of mine the history of the Rebellions they rais'd this last age Though that Gentleman is now happy in a better world yet I had so much esteem for him that I cannot now but perform my promise to his very memory Thus much I thought necessary to premise As for the following History the materials are not drawn from uncertain reports or other weak authorities but from those very authâ—ntick papers that came from the Generals themselves or such as were eye-witnesses and had a share in the transactions and that so sincerely that I cannot but flatter my self with hopes of favour from the Reader if he desires a true information or would understand the late affairs in Ireland which are so much a secret to most of us and also of escaping all manner of reprehension except from such as are conscious and gall'd
Ulster came Lord Chief Justice of Ireland upon whose coming the fair Weather suddenly turned foul and there was nothing but rainy and tempestuous Weather whilst he liv'd None of his Predecessors were comparable to him for he oppress'd the Irish and robbed both Clergy and Laity of their Goods neither did he spare the Poor more than the Rich under a colour of doing good he defrauded many He observed neither the Ecclesiastical nor Civil Laws He was injurious to the natural Irish and did Justice to few if any wholly distrusting all the Inhabitants except some few And being mis-led by his Wife's Counsel these things were his daily Attempts and Practices Item In March as he was going into Ulster through a Pass call'd Emerdullan he was there set upon by one Maccartan who robb'd him of his Mony Cloaths Goods Plate and Horses and kill'd some of his men But at last the chief Justice with the Ergalians got the Victory and made his way into Ulster MCCCXLV The seventh of June there was a Parliament held at Dublin where the Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond was not present Item D. Ralph Ufford the Chief Justice of Ireland after S. John Baptist's day without the consent of the Irish Nobility set up the King's Standard against D. Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond and marched into Munster where he seized on the Earl's Estate and farmed it out to others for a certain yearly Rent to be paid the King Item Whilst he was in Munster he gave Sir William Burton two Writs who was to give one of them to D. Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare The Contents of which were That under the forfeiture of his whole Estate he forthwith repair unto him with a considerable force to assist the King and him The other was an Order to Sir William Burton to apprehend the Earl of Kildare and imprison him which he finding impracticable persuaded the Earl who was preparing himself with his Army and levying forces to assist the Chief Justice that he should first go to the King's Council at Dublin and act in concert with them that in his Absence his Land might be kept safe and if any harm should come it shou'd be through the default of the Kings Council and not in him Upon this the Earl not distrusting Sir William nor any Plot that was against him prepar'd to go for Dublin where when he came altogether ignorant of the Treachery as he was consulting with the K.'s Council in the Exchequer on a sudden Sir William arrested him and he was taken and carried to the Castle Item The Chief Justice marched with his Army to O-Comill in Munster and to Kering where by treachery he took two Castles of the Earl of Desmond viz. the Castle of Ynyskysty and the Island-castle in which were Sir Eustace Poer Sir William Graunt and Sir John Cottrell who were first drawn and then in October hang'd Item The Chief Justice banished the Earl of Desmond with some other of his Knights After that in November he return'd with his Forces out of Munster to see his Wife then big with Child at Kylmainan near Dublin Besides what he had done to the Laity in indicting imprisoning and in robbing them of their Goods he had also plagued the Ecclesiastical Men as well Priests as Clerks by Arrests and Imprisonment to the end he might fleece them Item He revoked the Grants and Demises of their Lands bestowing them upon other Tenants as also the Writings concerning those Grants notwithstanding they were signed by him and sealed with the King's Seal Item The Earl of Desmond's 26 Mainprisers as well Earls as Barons Knights and others viz. William Lord Burke Earl of Ulster James Lord Botiller Earl of Ormond Sir Richard Tuit Sir Eustace Poer Sir Gerald de Rochfort Sir John Fitz Robert Poer Sir Robert Barry Sir Moris Fitz-Gerald Sir John Wellesly Sir Walter Lenfaunt Sir Roger de la Rokell Sir Henry Traharn Sir Roger Poer Sir John Lenfaunt Sir Roger Poer Sir Matthew Fitz-Henry Sir Richard Wallis Sir Edward Burk son to the Earl of Ulster David Barry William Fitz-Gerald Fulk Ash Robert Fitz-Moris Henry Barkley John Fitz-George Roch and Thomas de Lees de Burgh who notwithstanding some of them had been at great Expences in the War with the Chief Justice and in pursuing of the Earls of Desmond yet he depriv'd them of their Estates and disinherited them and sent them all to Prison during the King's pleasure except four viz. William Burg Earl of Ulster James Botiller Earl of Ormond c. MCCCXLVI On Palm-sunday which was on the 9th of April D. Ralph Ufford the Lord Chief Justice died whose death was very much lamented by his Wife and Family but the loyal Subjects of Ireland rejoyced at it and both the Clergy and Laity out of joy did on purpose celebrate a solemn Feast at Easter Upon his death the Floods ceased and the Air again grew wholesome and the common sort of People thanked God for it Being laid in a strong sheet of Lead his Countess very sorrowfully conveyed his bowels with his Treasure not worthy to be bestowed among such holy Relicks into England where he was Interr d. And at last on the second of May a Prodigy which without doubt was the effect of divine Providence this fine Lady who came so gloriously into Dublin with the King's Ensigns and a great number of Soldiers attending her through the Streets where she lived a short time like a Queen of Ireland went out privily at a back Gate in the Castle to avoid the Peoples Clamors for their just Debts and in her disgraceful return home was attended with the Symptoms of death sorrow and heaviness Item After the death of the said Chief Justice Robert Lord Darcy by the consent of the King's Ministers and others was chosen to supply the office of Chief Justice for the time being Item The Castles of Ley and Kylmehede were taken and burnt by the Irish in April Item John Lord Moris being made Chief Justice of Ireland arrived here the 15th of May. The Irish of Ulster gave a great defeat to the English of Urgale in June three hundred at least of them were cut off Item Moris Chief Justice of Ireland was turn'd out of that office by the King and Walter Lord Bermingham put in who came into Ireland with his commission in June sometime after the great slaughter but now mention'd Item The care and preservation of the peace was committed by the King for some time to Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond Having receiv'd this order on the eve of the exaltation of the holy Cross he embark'd immediately thereupon with his Wife and two Sons at Yoghil and arriv'd in England where he pressed hard in a suiâ— at law to have justice against Ralph Ufford the late Lord Chief Justice for the wrongs he had done him Item by the King's order the Earl was to be allow'd twenty shillings a day from the time of his first arrival during
his abodâ— there Item In November Walter L. Bermingham Chief Justice of Ireland and Moris Lord Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare took up arms againsâ— O Morda and his Accomplices who had burnt the castle of Ley and Kilmehed and invaded them so fiercely with fire sword and rapin that altho' their number amounted to many thousands and they made a resolute defence yet at last after much blood and many wounds they were forc'd to yield and so they submitted to the King's mercy and the discretion of the Earl MCCCXLVII The Earl of Kildare with his Knights and Barons set out in May to join the King of England who was then at thâ— siege of Caleys which the Inhabitants surrendred to the King oâ— England the 4th of June Item Walter Bonevile William Calf William Welesly and many other brave English Welch aad Irish Gentlemen died of thâ— Distemper which then rag'd at Caleys Item Mac-Murgh viz. Donald Mac-Murgh son to Donald Artâ— Mac-Murgh King of Leinster was most perfidiously killed by hiâ— own men on the 5th of June Item The King knighted Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare who married the daughter of Barth de Burgwashe Item On S. Stephen the Martyr's day the Irish burnt Monaghan and ruined the Country about it Item D. Joan Fitz-Leones formerly wife to Simon Lord Genevilâ— died and on the second of April was buried in the Convent-churcâ— of the Friers-Predicants at Trym MCCCXLVIII The 22d year of Edward III. a great Pestilence which had been before in other Countries got into Ireland and rag'd exceedingly Item This year Walter Lord Bermingham Chief Justice of Ireland went into England and left John Archer Prior of Kylmainan to officiate for him The same year he return'd again and had the Barony of Kenlys which lies in Ossory conferr'd upon him by the King to requite his great service in leading an Army againsâ— the Earl of Desmond with Raulf Ufford as before 't was said this Barony belong'd formerly to Eustace Lord Poer who was convicted and hang'd at the castle of the Isle MCCCXLIX Walter Lord Bermingham the best accomplish'd Justiciary that ever was in Ireland surrender'd his office and was succeeded in the same by Carew Knight and Baron MCCCL. In the 25th year of his Reign Sir Thomas Rokesby Knight was made Lord Chief Justice of Ireland Item This year on S. Margaret the Virgin 's Eve Sir Walteâ— Bermingham Knight for some time an excellent and worthy Justiciary of this Kingdom died in England MCCCLI Died Kenwrick Sherman sometimes Mayor of the City of Dublin and was buried under the Belfrey of the Friers-Predicants which he himself had built as he had likewise glaz'd the great window at the head of the Quire and roof'd the Church among many other pious Works He died in the same convenâ— on the 6th of March and leaving an Estate to the value of three thousand marks he bequeath'd great Legacies to all the Clergy both religious and secular for within twenty miles round MCCCLII Sir Robert Savage Knight began to build several Castles in many places of Ulster and particularly in his own Mannors telling his son and heir apparent Sir Henry Savage That they would thus fortifie themselves lest the Irish should hereafter break in upon them to the utter ruin of their estate and family and to the dishonour of their name among other Nations His son answer'd That where-ever there were valiant men there were forts and castles according to that saying Filii castrametati sunt the sons are encamp'd i.e. brave men are design'd for War and that for this reason he would take care to be among such which would prove the same in effect as if he liv'd in a castle adding That he took a castle of Bones to be much better than a castle of Stones Upon this Reply his Father gave over in great vexation and swore he would never more build with stone and mortar but keep a good house and great retinue about him foretelling however That his Posterity would repent it as indeed they did for the Irish destroy'd the whole Country for want of castles to defend it MCCCLV In the 30th of the same Reign Sir Thomas Rokesby Knight gave up his office of Chief Justice on the 26th of July the succession whereof was given to Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond in which he continued till his death Item On the conversion of S. Paul the said Moris Lord Fitz-Thomas departed this life in the castle of Dublin to the great grief of his Friends and Kindred and all others that were peaceably inclin'd First he was buried in the Quire of the Friers-Predicants of Dublin and afterward in the Covent of the Friers-Predicants of Traly As to his character he was certainly a just Judge and stuck not at condemning even those of his own blood or family more than perfect Strangers for Theft Rapin and other Misdemeanors the Irish stood in great awe of him MCCCLVI In the 31st year of this Reign Sir Thomas Rokesby was the second time made Chief Justice of Ireland who kept the Irish in good order and paid well for the Provisions of his House saying I will eat and drink out of Wood-Vessels and yet pay both gold and silver for my food and cloths nay and for my Pensioners about me This same year the said Sir Thomas Lord Chief Justice of Ireland died in the castle of Kylka MCCCLVII In the 32d of this King's reign Sir Almarick de Saint Armund was made Chief Justice of Ireland and enter'd upon his office About this time arose a great dispute between the Lord Archbishop of Armagh Richard Fitz-Ralfe and the four orders of Friers-mendicants in conclusion the Archbishop was worsted and quieted by the Pope's authority MCCCLVIII In the 33d year of the same reign Sir Almarick Saint Amuad Chief Justice of the Kingdom went over into England MCCCLIX In the 34th year of this King's reign James Botiller Earl of Ormond was made Chief Justice of Ireland Item On S. Gregory's day this year died Joan Burk Countess of Kildare and was buried in the church of the Friers-minors in Kildare by her Husband Thomas Lord fitz-Fitz-John Earl of Kildare MCCCLX In the 35th year of this same reign died Richard Fitz-Raulf Archbishop in Hanault on the 16th of December His bones were convey'd into Ireland by the reverend Father in God Stephen Bishop of Meth and buried in S. Nicholas's church at Dundalk where he was born yet it is a question whether these were his very bones or the reliques of some one else Item This year died Sir Robert Savage of Ulster a valiant Knight who near Antrim slew in one day 3000 Irish with a small Party of English but it ought to be observ'd that before the Engagement he took care to give his men a good dose of Ale or Wine whereof it seems he had good store and reserv'd some for his Friends likewise Besides this he order'd That Sheep Oxen Venison and Fowl both wild and tame should be kill'd
and after all kill'd both him and his brother Richard The same year on the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross Stephen Scroop deputy Lieutenant to the King's son Thomas accompanied with the Earls of Ormond and Desmond the Prior of Kilmainan and many others out of Meth march'd out of Dublin and invaded the territories of Mac Murgh upon engaging the Irish had at first the better but they were at last beat back by the bravery of these commanders O Nolam with his son and others were taken prisoners But upon the sudden news that the Bourkeins and O Kerol had continued for two days together doing mischief in the County of Kilkenny they went immediately in all haste to the village of Callan surpriz'd them and put them to flight O Kerol and 800 more were cut off in this action Stephen Scroop went into England this year and James Botiller Earl of Ormond was by the Country elected Chief Justice MCCCCVIII The said Chief Justice held a Parliament at Dublin which confirm'd the Statutes of Kilkenny and Dublin and a Charter was granted under the great seal of England against Purveyors The very day after the feast of S. Peter ad vincula this year Thomas Lord of Lancaster the King's son arriv'd as Lieutenant Deputy at Carlingford in Ireland from whence he came next week to Dublin As the Earl of Kildare went to welcom him he was arrested with three more of his retinue His Goods were all sharped away by the Lord Deputy's servants and he himself imprison'd till he paid a fine of 300 marks On S. Marcellus's day the same year died Stephen Lord Scroop at Tristeldermot Thomas of Lancaster was this year wounded at Kilmainan and that so very ill that he almost died After his recovery he made Proclamation That all that were inbebted to the King upon the account of Tenure should make their appearance at Rosse After S. Hilary he call'd a Parliament at Kilkenny for having Tallage granted him On the third before the Ides of March he went into England leaving the Prior of Kilmainon to officiate in his absence This year Hugh Mac-Gilmory was slain at Cragfergus in the church of the Friers-minors which he had formerly destroyd and broke the Windows thereof for the sake purely of the Iron-bars which happen'd to give his Enemies viz. the Savages admittance MCCCCIX In the 10th year of the reign of King Henry 80 of the Irish were in June cut off by the English under the conduct of Janico of Artoys in Ulster MCCCCX On the 13th of June a Parliament was held at Dublin which continued sitting for three Weeks the Prior of Kilmainan being Deputy for the Chief Justice The same year on the 10th of July the said Justice began to build Mibrackly-castle de O Feroll and built De la Mare also There was great scarcity of corn this year The same year the Chief Justice invaded the Territory of O-Brin at the head of fifteen hundred Kerns of whom eight hundred deserted and went over to the Irish so that if the People of Dublin had not been there there would have been much more woe and misery however John Derpatrick lost his life MCCCCXII About the feast of Tiburce and Valerian O-Conghir did much harm to the Irish in Meth and took above 160 Prisoners The same year O-Doles a Knight and Thomas son of Moris Sheriff of Limerick kill'd each other On the 9th of June this year died Robert Monteyn Bishop of Meth succeeded by Edward Dandisey formerly Arch-deacon of Cornwall MCCCCXIII On the 7th of October John Stanley the King's Lieutenant in Ireland arriv'd at Cloucarfe and on the 6th of January died at Aterith The same year after the death of John Stanley Lord Lieutenant Thomas Cranley Archbishop of Dublin was elected Chief Justice of Ireland on the 11th of February Another Parliament was held at Dublin on the morrow of S. Matthias the Apostle which continued sitting for 15 days during which time the Irish set many Towns on fire as they us'd to do in Parliament-times upon which a Tallage was demanded but not granted MCCCCXIV The O-Mordries and O-Dempsies Irish were cut off by the English near Kilda as the Chief Justice Archbishop of Dublin went in Procession at Tristildermot praying with his Clerks at which time 100 Irish were likewise routed by his Servants and others their Country-men Upon the feast of S. Gordian and Epimachus the English of Meth were defeated Thomas Maurevard Baron of Scrin and many others were slain and Christopher Fleming and John Dardis were taken Prisoners by O-Conghir and the Irish On S. Martin's-eve John Talbot Lord Furnival being made Lieutenant of Ireland arriv'd at Dalkay MCCCCXV Robert Talbot a Nobleman who wall'd the Suburbs of Kilkenny died in November this year Item After All Saints died Frier Patrick Baret Bishop of Ferne and Canon of Kenly where he was buried MCCCCXVI On the Feast-day of Gervasius and Prothasius the L. Furnival had a son born at Finglas About this time the reverend Stephen Fleming Archbishop of Armagh departed this life and was succeeded by John Suanig At the same time the Bishop of Ardachad died likewise viz. Frier Adam Lyns of the order of Friers-predicants Item On S. Laurence-day died Thomas Talbot son of the Lord Furnival lately born at Finglas and was buried in the Quire of the Friers-Predicants at Dublin within the Convent A Parliament was held at Dublin during which the Irish fell upon the English and slew many of them and among the rest Thomas Balimore of Baliquelan This Session continued here for six Weeks and then adjourned till the 11th of May at Trym where it sate for eleven days and granted a Subsidy of four hundred Marks to the Lieutenant MCCCCXVII On the eve of Philip and Jacob Thomas Cranley Archbishop of Dublin went over into England and died at Farindon and was buried in New-colledge in Oxford a Person very liberal and charitable a great Clerk Doctor of Divinity an excellent Preacher a great Builder Beautiful and of a fair Complexion but withal sanguine and tall so that it might be well said of him Fair art thou and good-like above the sons of Men Grace and Eloquence are seated in thy Lips He was eighty years old and govern'd the See of Dublin peaceably for almost 20 years together MCCCCXVIII The feast of the Annunciation happen'd this year on Good Friday immediately after Easter the Tenants of Henry Crus and Henry Bethat were plunder'd by the Lord Deputy Item On S. John and S. Paul's day the Earl of Kildare Sir Christopher Preston and Sir John Bedleu were taken at Slane and committed to Trym-castle who had a mind to talk with the Prior of Kilmainan On the 4th of August died Sir Matthew Husee Baron of Galtrim and was buried in the Convent of the Friers-predicants at Trym MCCCCXIX On the 11th of May died Edmund Brel formerly Mayor of Dublin and was buried in the Convent of the Friers-predicants in the same
Karneu with the addition of the English termination don signifying Mountain or Hill as in Snowdon Huntingdon c. which conjecture is much confirm'd when we consider there are many hills in Wales denominated from such heaps of stones as Karn Lhechart in Glamorganshire Karnedh Dhavidh Karnedh Higin and Karnedh Lhewelyn in Caernarvonshire with many more in other Counties d Tralhwn from Tre'r Lhyn is an Etymology â—â—ymology 〈◊〉 the word â—â—alhwn agreeable enough with the situation of this place otherwise I should be apt to suspect the word Tralhwn might be the name of a place near this pool before the town was built and that the town afterwards took its name from it For in some parts of Wales 't is a common appellative for such soft places on the Roads or elsewhere as travellers may be apt to sink into as I have observ'd particularly in the Mountains of Glamorganshire And that a great deal of the ground near this place is such is also very well known As for the Etymon of the appellative Tralhwn I suppose it only an abbreviation of Traeth lyn i.e. a Quagmire e Concerning the situation of the old Mediolanum â—edâ—olaâ—â—m our Author seems to discourse with that judgment and modesty as becomes the character he justly bears in the world and since his time I cannot learn that any Roman Monuments have been discover'd at either of the places he mentions that might remove his scruples and fully determine the position of that City His arguments for the agreeableness of the names of Mediolanum and Mylhin though he writes it Methlin are so valid that I know not what can be objected to them However it seems observable that we do not find it was customary among the Britains to prefix the word Lhan i.e. Church to the name of Roman Cities but if any word was prefixt 't was generally Kaer i.e. a Fort or Fence as Caer Lheion Kaer Went Kaer Vyrdhin c. And tho' we should allow the invalidity of this objection and suppose the word Lhan might be introduced in latter times yet considering that a learned and inquisitive Gentleman of this Town who amongst his other studies has always had a particular regard to the Antiquities of his Country has not in the space of forty years met with any Coyns here or other tokens of a place inhabited by the Romans nor yet discover'd the least signs that this town was anciently of any considerable note I think we cannot safely barely on account of its name and vicinity to the situation requir'd conclude it the old Mediolanum Therefore it seems convenient to have recourse to the situation assign'd this City by Dr. Powel before our Author writ his Britannia who in his learned Annotations on Giraldus's Itinerary * ‖ L 2. c. 4. assures us 't was not only the opinion of some Antiquaries that the ancient Mediolanum was seated where the village of Meivod stands at present but also that the same village and places adjoyning afforded in his time several such remarkable Monuments as made it evident there had been formerly a considerable town at that place This Meivod is seated about a mile below Mathraval on the North-side of the river Myrnwy and three miles Southward of Lhan Vylhin at the situation our Author requires At present there remains only a Church and a small village but several yet living have seen there the ruins of two other Churches I am inform'd that about a mile from the Church there 's a place call'd Erw'r Porth i.e. the Gate-acre which is supposed to have taken its name from one of the Gates of the old City and that in the grounds adjoyning to this village Cawsways Foundations of Buildings Floors and Harths are often discover'd by Labourers but whether any such Monuments as we may safely conclude Roman as Coyns Urns Inscriptions c. are found at this place I must leave to farther enquiry Meivod as Bishop Usher supposes is call'd by Nennius Cair Meguid and in other copies Cair Metguod but what the word Meguid or Metguod or yet Meivod or Mediolanum might signifie is hardly intelligible at present at leastwise I cannot discern that the modern British affords us any information concerning the origin of these names Mathraval mention'd here as formerly the seat of the Princes of Powys shews at present no remains of its ancient splendour there being only a small Farm-house where the Castle stood Lhan Vylhin is a market-town of considerable note first incorporated by Lhewelyn ap Grufydh Lord of Mechain and Mochnant in the time of Edward the second It 's govern'd by two Bailiffs chosen annually who besides other Privileges granted to the town by King Charles the second bearing date March 28. Anno Reg. 25. were made Justices of the Peace within the Corporation during the time of their being Bailiffs f The Lordship of Powys was afterwards purchased by Sir Edward Herbert second son of William Earl of Penbroke to whom succeeded his eldest son Sir William Herbert created Lord Powys by King James the first whom his son Percy succeeded in the same title But his son William was first made Earl of Powys by King Charles the second and afterwards Marquiss of Powys by King James Since Philip Herbert second son of Henry Earl of Penbroke was created Earl of Montgomery Earls of Montgomery 3 Jac. 1. May 4 the same persons have enjoy'd the titles of Penbroke and Montgomery and at present both are joyn'd in the right honourable Thomas Baron Herbert of Cardiff c. MEIRIONYDHSHIRE BEyond the County of Montgomery lies Meirionydhshire which the Britains call Sîr Veirionydh in Latin Mervinia and by Giraldus Terra filiorum Conani It reaches to the crooked bay I mention'd and is wash'd by the main Ocean on the west-side with such violence that it may be thought to have carried off some part of it On the south for some miles 't is divided from Cardiganshire by the river Dyvy and on the north borders on Caernarvon and Denbighshire Mountains exâ—eeding high This County hath such heaps of mountains that as Giraldus observes 't is the roughest and most unpleasant County of all Wales 1 And Wales For the hills are extraordinary high and yet very narrow and terminating in sharp peaks nor are they thin scatter'd but placed very close and so eaven in height that the shepherds frequently converse from the tops of them who yet in case they should wrangle and appoint a meeting can scarce come together from morning till night a Innumerable flocks of sheep graze on these mountains nor are they in any danger of Wolves Wolves in England destroy'd which are thought to have been then destroy'd throughout all England when King Edgar impos'd a yearly tribute of three hundred wolves skins on †No Prince of this name in Wales An leg Idwal See Derbyshire and Yorkshire Ludwal Prince of these Countries For as we find in William of Malmesbury When he had
in a winding chanel sometimes broad and sometimes narrow runs through many Counties as we have already observed The chief families are the O Rorcks O Murreies Mac Lochleims Mac Glanchies and Mac Granells all pure Irish John de Burgo the son of Richard Earl of Clan-Ricard who was made Baron Letrim Baron Letrim by Queen Elizabeth and soon after slain by some malicious rivals took his title as some say from another place and not from this Letrim and I have not certainly discovered the truth of that matter The County of ROSCOMAN BElow Letrim to the south lyes the County of Roscoman first made by Henry Sidney Lord Deputy of great length but very narrow bounded on the west by the river Suc on the east by the Shanon and on the north by the Curlew mountains Curlew-â—ountains This is for the most part a Champian country fertile well stock'd with cattle and ever plentiful in its corn-harvests if assisted with a little good husbandry and tillage Towards the north are the Curlew-mountains steep and unpassable till with much pains and difficulty a way was cut through them by George Bingham and famous for the slaughter of 35 Sir Coniers Clifford Coniers Clifford Governor of Conaught and other brave old soldiers cut off there not very long since by his negligence There are four Baronies in this County first the Barony of Boile Barony of Boile under the Curlew-mountains upon the Shanon where formerly stood a famous monastery founded in the year 1152 together with the Abbey of Beatitude * Mac-Dermot quasi rerum potitur Balin Tober This is the Seigniory of Mac Dermot Next the Barony of Balin Tobar upon the Suc where O Conor Dun has the chief power and interest neighbouring upon the Bishoprick of Elphin Lower down lyes Roscoman Roscoman the Barony of O Conor Roo that is Conor the red wherein stands the head town of this County fortified with a castle built by Robert Ufford Lord Chief Justice of Ireland the houses of the town are all thatch'd More southward lyes Athlone Athlone the Barony of the O-Kellies so called from the principal town in it which has a castle a garison and a fair stone bridge built within the memory of this age by Henry Sidney Lord Deputy at the command of Queen Elizabeth who designed to make this the seat of the Lord Deputy as most convenient to suppress insurrections The Lords of CONAGHT IT appears by the Irish Histories that Turlogh O Mor O Conor formerly reigned over this Country and divided it between his two sons Cahel and Brien But when the English invaded Ireland it was governed by Rotheric under the title of Monarch of Ireland who was so apprehensive of the English power that he submitted himself to King Henry the second without the hazard of a battle Soon after he revolted and thereupon Conaght was first invaded by Milo-Cogan an English man but without success However the King of Conaght was reduced to such straits that he was fain to acknowledge himself a liege-man of the King of England's Rog. Hove ac 1175. p. 312. Claus 7. Joâ—nnis so as to serve him faithfully as his man and pay him yearly for every ten head of cattle one hide vendible c. Yet by the grant of King John he was to have and to hold the third part of Conaght to him and his heirs for 100 marks However this County was first subdued and civilized by William Fitz-Adelme whose posterity is the De Burgo's in Latin or as the Irish call them the Burks and Bourks Robert Muscogros Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester and William de Bermingham William de Burgo or Bourks and his posterity under the title of Lords of Conaght governed this and the County of Ulster for a long time in great peace and enjoyed considerable revenues from them But at last it went out of the family by the only daughter of William de Burgo sole heir to Conaght and Ulster who was married to Leonel Duke of Clarence son to King Edward the third He generally residing in England as well as his successors the Mortimers this estate in Ireland was neglected so that the Bourks The Bourks their relations and stewards here finding their Lords absent and England embroiled at that time confederated with the Irish by leagues and marriages seized upon almost all Conaght as their own and by little and little degenerated into the Irish barbarity Those of them descended from Richard de Burgo are called Clan Ricard others Mac William Oughter i.e. Higher others Mac William Eughter i.e. Lower So those of greatest interest in the County of Maio were simply called Mac William assumed as a title of much honour and authority as descended from William de Burgo already mentiond 36 Under countenance of which name they for a long time tyranniz'd over the poor Inhabitants with most grievous exactions ULSTER ALL that part of the Country beyond the mouth of the river Boyn the County of Meath and Longford and the mouth of the river Ravie on the North make up the fifth part of Ireland called in Latin Ultonia and Ulidia in English Ulster in Irish Cui Guilly i.e. Province of Guilly and in Welsh Ultw In Ptolemy's time it was wholly peopl'd by the Voluntii Darni Robogdii and the Erdini This is a large Province water'd with many considerable loughs shelter'd with huge woods fruitful in some places and barren in others yet very green and sightly in all parts and well stock'd with Cattle But as the soil for want of culture is rough and barren so the Inhabitants for want of education and discipline a This is to be understood of the Irish Inhabitants who are now so routed out and destroyed by their many Rebellions and by the accession of Scots who for the most part inhabit this Province that there are not supposed to be left 10000 Irish able and sit to bear Arms in all Ulster are very wild and barbarous Yet to keep them in subjection and order for neither the bonds of justice modesty nor other duty could restrain them this hither part was formerly divided into three Counties Louth Down and Antrimme and now the rest is divided into these seven Counties Cavon Fermanagh Monaghan Armagh Colran Tir Oen and Donegall or Tirconell by the provident care of 37 Sir John John Perott Lord Deputy Jo. Perot Lord Deputy 1585. a man truly great and famous and thoroughly acquanted with the temper of this Province For being sensible that nothing would more effectually appease the tumults of Ireland than a regulation and settlement of these parts of Ulster he went himself in person thither in that troublesome and dangerous time when the Spanish descent was so much expected there and in England and by his gravity and authority while he took care to punish injurious actions which are ever the great causes of dissention and War gain'd so much respect among
killed with a stone and buried in Iona. 1230. Olave came with Godred Don and the Norwegians to Man and they divided the Kingdom Olave was to have Man Godred being gone to the Isles was slain in Lodhus So Olave came to be sole King of the Isles 1237. On the twelfth of the Calends of June died Olave the son of Godred King of Man in St. Patrick's Isle and was buried in the Abbey of Russin He reigned eleven years two in the life time of his brother and nine after His son Harald then fourteen years old succeeded him and reigned twelve years In the first year of his reign he went to the Isles and made Loglen his Kinsman Keeper of Man In the autumn following Harald sent three sons of Nell viz. Dufgald Thorquel and Molmore and his friend Joseph to Man to consider of affairs Accordingly on the twenty fifth day they met at Tingala where upon a quarrel that then happened between the sons of Nell and Loglen there arose a sore fight on both sides in which Dufgald Mormor and the said Joseph lost their lives In the spring following King Harald came to the Isle of Man and Loglen who fled into Wales with Godred the son of Olave his pupil was cast away with about forty others 1238. Gospatrick and Gillescrist the son of Mac-Kerthac came from the King of Norway into Man and kept out Harald converting the tributes of the Country to the service of the King of Norway because he had refused to appear in person at the Court of that King 1240. Gospatric died and was buried in the Abbey of Russin 1239. Harald went to the King of Norway who after two years confirmed to him his heirs and successors under his Seal all the Islands that his Predecessors had enjoyed 1242. Harald returned out of Norway to Man was honourably received by the Inhabitants and made peace with the Kings of England and Scotland 1247. Harald as his father had been before him was Knighted by the King of England and returned home with many presents The same year the King of Norway sent for him and a match was made between Harald and his daughter In the year 1249 as he was on his voyage home with with her accompanied with Laurence the elect King of Man and many of the Nobility and Gentry he was cast away by a sudden storm near the coasts of Radland 1249. Reginald the son of Olave and brother to Harald began his reign the day before the Nones of May and on the thirtieth day thereof was slain by one Yvar a Knight and his accomplices in a meadow near Trinity Church on the south side His Corps were buried in the Church of S. Mary of Russin Alexander King of Scots prepared a great fleet about this time intending to conquer the Isles but a feavor seized him in the Isle of Kerwaray whereof he died Harald the son of Godred Don assumed the title of King of the Islands banished all the Noblemen that Harald King Olave's son had preferred and instead of them recalled such as were fled from him 1250. Harald the son of Godred Don upon letters mandatory from the King of Norway went to him and was imprisoned for his unjust usurpation The same year Magnus son of Olave and John the son of Dugald who named himself King arrived at Roghalwaht but the people of Man taking it ill that Magnus had not that title beat them off their coast and many of them were cast away 1252. Magnus the son of Olave came to Man and was made King The next year after he went and took a voyage to the Court of Norway and tarried there a year 1254. Haco King of Norway made Magnus the son of Olave King of the Isles confirming them to him and his heirs and expresly to his brother Harald 1256. Magnus King of Man went into England and there was Knighted by the King 1257. The Church of S. Mary of Russin was consecrated by Richard of Sodore 1260. Haco King of Norway came to Scotland and without effecting any thing died in his return to Orkneys at Kirwas and was buried at Bergh 1265. This year died Magnus the son of Olave King of Man and of the Islands at Russin castle and was buried in S. Mary's Church there 1266. The Kingdom of the Isles was translated by means of Alexander King of Scots What follows was written in a different and later Character 1270. On the seventh of October Alexander the King of Scots's navy arrived at Roghalwath and before sun-rise next morning a battle was fought between the Inhabitants of Man and the Scots who slew five hundred thirty five of the former whence that of a certain Poet L. decies X. ter penta duo cecidere Mannica gens de te damna futura cave 1313. Robert King of Scots besieged the castle of Russin which was defended by Dingawy Dowyll and at last took it 1316. Upon Ascension-day Richard de Mandevile and his brothers with others of the Irish Nobility arrived at Ramaldwath desiring a supply of money and victuals being stript of all by continual depredations When the Commonalty denied it they took the field in two bodies against those of Man advancing still till they came to the side of Warthfell-hill in a field where John Mandevile was posted Upon engaging they carried the victory spoiled the Isle and the Abbey of Russin Thus far out of that ancient Book and after a whole months ravagement they returned home full fraught with pillage The end of the Chronicle of the Kings of Man A Continuation of the foregoing History collected out of other Authors ALexander the third King of Scots having made himself master of the Western Islands partly by his sword and partly by purchase from the King of Norway at last invaded Man also as one of that number and by the valiant conduct of Alexander Steward entirely subdued it and set a King over the Isle upon this condition that he should be ready to assist him with ten ships in any of his wars by Sea when ever he demanded them However Mary the daughter of Reginald King of Man who was the Liege-man of John K. of England address'd her self to the King of England for justice in this case Answer was made That the King of Scots was then possess'd of the Island and she ought to apply her self to him Lords of Man Her grandchild by a son John Waldebeof for Mary married into this family notwithstanding this sued again for his right in Parliament held the 33d of Edw. the first urging it there before the King of England as Lord Paramount of Scotland Yet all the answer he could have was as it is in the very Record That he might prosecute his title before the Justices of the King's Bench let it be heard there and let justice be done But what he could not effect by law his kinsmanâ— 1 Sir William Hol. William Montacute for he was of the royal
Trinity appear'd to him saying Why hast thou cast me out of my own Seat and out of the Church of Doun and plac'd there my S. Patrick the Patron of Ireland For John Curcy had expell'd the Secular Canons out of the Cathedral Church of Doun and introduc'd the black Monks of Chester in their room And the Holy Trinity stood there upon a stately Shrine and John himself took it down out of the Church and order'd a Chappel to be built for it setting up the Image of S. Patrick in the great Church which displeas'd the most-high God Wherefore he bid him assure himself he should never set foot in his Seignory again However in regard of other good Deeds he should be deliver'd out of Prison with Honour which happen'd accordingly For a Controversy arising between John King of England and the King of France about a Lordship and certain Castles the King of France offer'd by a Champion to try his Right Upon this the King call'd to mind his valiant Knight John Curcy whom he cast in Prison upon the information of others so he sent for him and ask'd him if he were able to serve him in this Combat John answer'd He would not fight for him but for the Right of the Kingdom with all his Heart which he undertook to do afterwards And so refresh'd himself with Meat Drink and Bathing in the mean while and recover'd his Strength Whereupon a day was appointed for the Engagement of those Champions namely John Curcy and the other But as soon as the Champion of France heard of his great Stomach and mighty Valour he refus'd the Combat and the said Seignory was given to the King of England The King of France then desired to see a Blow of the said Curcy Whereupon he set a strong Helmet * Plenan loricis full of Mail upon a large Block and with his Sword after he had look'd about him in a grim manner struck the Helmet through from the very Crest into the Block so very fast that no one therâ— was able to pull it out till he himself at the request of the twâ— Kings did it easily Then they ask'd him Why he look'd so gruâ— behind him before he struck So he told them If he had fail'd iâ— giving it he would have certainly cut them all off as well Kingâ— as others The Kings made him large Presents and the King of Englanâ— restor'd him also to his Seigniory viz. Ulster John Curcy attempteâ— 15 several times to sail over into Ireland but was always in danger and the Wind cross'd him so he waited awhile among the Monk of Chester and at last sail'd into France and there died MCCV. The Abby of Wetheny in the County of Limerick was founded by Theobald the Son of Walter Butler Lord oâ— Carryk MCCVI. The Order of Friars Minors was begun near the Ciâ—â— Assisa by S. Francis MCCVIII William de Brewes was banish'd out of England anâ— came into Ireland England was interdicted for the Tyranny 〈◊〉 King John A great defeat and slaughter was given at Thurles iâ— Munster by Sir Geffery Mareys to the Lord Chief Justice of Inland's Men. MCCX John King of England came to Ireland with a greâ—â— Fleet and a strong Army and the Sons of Hugh Lacy viz. thâ— Lord Walter Lord of Meth and Hugh his Brother for their Tâ—ranny but particularly for the Murder of Sir John Courson Loâ—â— of Rathenny and Kilbarrock for they had heard that the saâ—â— John accus'd them to the King were driven out of the Nation So they fled into France and serv'd in the Monasteries of S. Taurâ—â— unknown being employ'd in Clay or Brick-work and sometimâ—â— in Gardens as Gardeners But at length they were discover'd bâ— the Abbot who intreated the King on their behalf for he haâ— baptiz'd their Sons and had been as a Father to them in manâ— things So Walter Lacy paid two thousand fâ—ve hundred Markâ— and Hugh Lacy a great Sum of Mony likewise for their Ransom and they were restor'd again to their former Degree and Lordshiâ— by the Abbot's Intercession Walter Lacy brought with him Johâ— the son of Alured i.e. Fitz-Acory Son to the aforesaid Abboâ— whole Brother and Knighted him giving him the Seignory 〈◊〉 Dengle and many others Moreover he brought Monks with hiâ— out of the said Monastery and bestow'd many Farms upon theâ— with the Cell call'd Foury for their Charity Liberality and gooâ— Counsel Hugh Lacy Earl of Ulster built a Cell also for tâ—â— Monks in Ulster and endow'd it in a place call'd John King 〈◊〉 England having taken many Hostages as well of the English as 〈◊〉 the Irish and hang'd a number of Malefactors upon Gibbets aâ—â— setled Affairs return'd into England the same Year MCCXI. Sir Richard Tuyt was crush'd to death by the fall of Tower at Alone He founded the Monastery de Grenard MCCXII The Abby of Grenard was founded This saâ—â— year died John Comyn Archbishop of Dublin and was burieâ— within the Quire of Trinity Church he built S. Patrick's Churâ—â— at Dublin Henry Londres succeeded him sirnam'd Scorch-Villeyâ— from an Action of his For having call'd in his Tenants one daâ— to know by what Tenure they held of him they show'd him the Deeds and Charters to satisfie him whereupon he order'd them to be burnt and hence got the name of Scorch-Villeyn given him by his Tenants This Henry Archbishop of Dublin was Justiciary of Ireland and built Dublin-castle MCCXIII William Petit and Peter Messet departed this life Peter Messet was Baron of Luyn hard by Trim but dying without Heir-male the Inheritance fell to the three Daughters of whom the Lord Vernail married the eldest Talbot the second and Loundres the third who by this means shar'd the Inheritance among them MCCXIX The City of Damieta was miraculously won on the Nones of September about Midnight without the loss of one Christian The same year died William Marshall the Elder Earl Marshal and Earl of Pembrock * The Genealogy â—f the Earl Marshall who by his Wife the Daughter of Richard Strongbow Earl of Strogul had five Sons The eldest was call'd William the second Walter the third Gilbert the fourth Anselm and the fifth Richard who lost his Life in â—he War of Kildare every one of them successively enjoy'd the â—nheritance of their Father and died all without Issue So the Inâ—eritance devolv'd upon the Sisters namely the Daughters of their Father who were Maud Marshall the Eldest Isabel Clare the seâ—ond Eva Breous the third Joan Mount Chensey the fourth and Sibill Countess of Firrars the fifth Maud Marshall was married to Hugh Bigod Earl of Norfolk who was Earl Marshal of England â—n right of his Wife By whom he had Ralph Bigod Father of John Bigod the Son of the Lady Bertha Furnival and * The Widow of Gilbert Lacy. Isabel Lacy Wife to John Lord Fitz-Geffery by whom after the death of Hugh de Bigod Earl of Norfolk she had John de Guaren Earl of Surry
were put to flight The third was at Sketheris hard by Arstol the day after S. Paul's conversion the English fled and were routed by the Scots Whereupon Edward Brus after the feast of Philip and James got himself crown'd King of Ireland Having taken Green Castle they posted themselves in it but the citizens of Dublin soon remov'd them and recover'd it for the King and finding Sir Robert Coultagh the governour of the Castle there they brought him to Dublin where he was imprison'd and being kept to hard diet died Item Upon S. Peter and Paul's day the Scots invested Dondalk took it plunder'd it and then burnt it after they had kill'd all such as had oppos'd them A great part of Urgale was likewise burnt by them as also the Church of the blessed Virgin Mary in Atterith full of men women and children with the assistance of the Irish This same year the Lord Edmund Botiller Justiciary of Ireland about the feast of S. Mary Magdalen drew considerable forces out of Munster Leinster and other parts to joyn the Earl of Ulster at Dondalk who had drawn a mighty great army out of Connaght and those parts and was marching thither There they concerted what measures they should take to destroy the Scots What their resolutions were is not known but the Scots fled and if they had not they had as 't is hop'd been taken Prisoners After this the Earl of Ulster and the said Justiciary with the rest of the Nobility resolv'd as soon as they had cut off the Scots to bring the Lord Edmund Brus dead or alive to Dublin Accordingly the Earl pursued them as far as Branne and then retir'd towards Coyners Brus perceiving this pass'd the River privately follow'd him and put him to flight with some others of the Earl's side having wounded George Roch and slain Sir John Stanton Roger Holiwood and others Many were likewise kill'd on Brus's side and on the 10th of September the Lord William Burk was taken Prisoner and the Earl was defeated near Coyners whereupon an Insurrection of the Irish in Conaught and Meth follow'd against the King and the Earl of Ulster who burnt the Castles of Atholon Raudon and others The Baron of Donull was very eminent for his great Valour but he suffer'd very much in his Goods and the Scots drove them stoutly as far as Cragfergus where those of the Earl's party fled and they some of them enter'd the Castle and defended it with great valour Afterwards certain Seamen came suddenly from the Port-towns and Havens of England surpris'd the Scots and kill'd forty of them carrying their Tents c. off with them The day after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross the Earl of Morreff went over with four Pirate-ships laden with Irish Commodities into Scotland accompanied with the Lord William Brus intending there to pick up a supply for his Army One of the Ships was cast away All this while the aforesaid Brus was carrying on the Siege of Cragfergus-castle At the same time Cathil Roge demolish'd three Castles of the Earl of Ulster's in Connaught where he likewise burnt and plunder'd many Towns Now also the English Mariners above-mentioned went to the said Castle and the Lords there skirmish'd with one another and kill'd many of the Scots Richard Lande O-Ferivil was slain also about this time by an Irish man Item Afterwards upon S. Nicholas day Brus left Cragfergus and was join'd by the Earl of Morreff with 500 Men so they march'd together towards Dundalk Many flock'd into them and gave them their assistance From these they pass'd on to Nobee where they left many of their Men about the feast of S. Andrew Brus himself burnt Kenley's in Meth and Grenard Abby which he rifled and spoil'd He also burnt Finnagh and Newcastle and all that Country and after they had kept their Christmas at Loghsudy they burnt it likewise At last they march'd forward by Totmoy to Rathymegan and Kildare and the Country about Tristeldermot Athy and Reban in which Expedition they lost some Soldiers After this Brus advanc'd to Skethy near Arscoll in Leinster where he was engag'd by the Lord Edmund Botiller Justiciary of Ireland Sir John Fitz-Thomas Thomas Arnald Power and other Noblemen of Leinster and Munster so strong that any single Lord of them might have been an overmatch for Brus and his whole Party But a difference arising they left the Field in great disorder and confusion to him according to the truth of that Every Kingdom divided against it self shall become desolate Haymund le Grace a noble ' Squire and particularly loyal to his King and Country and Sir William Prendregest were both slain The Scots lost Sir Fergus Andrissan Sir Walter Morrey and many others who were buried at Athy in the Convent of the Friers Predicants Afterwards Brus in his return towards Meth burnt Loy-castle and so the Scots march'd from Kenlis into Meth where the Lord Mortimer took the field against them with a numerous Army amounting to near 15000 but hardly unanimous and true to one another as it was believ'd For tho' this Body was all under the said Mortimer yet they went off about three a Clock and deserted him particularly the Lacies so that the Lord Mortimer was oblig'd to retreat to Dublin with a small Party and the Lord Walter Cusake to the Castle of Trym leaving the Country and the Town of Kenlis to the mercy of the Scots Item At the same time all the South-part of the Country was burnt by the Irish of those parts viz. Arclo Newcastle Bree and all the adjacent Villages under the conduct of the Otothiles and the O Brynnes The Omorghes also burnt and wasted part of Leys in Leinster but most of them were cut off by the Lord Edmund Botiller Chief Justice of Ireland and about eight hundred of their Heads carried to Dublin-castle Item This year about the feast of the purification of the blessed Virgin some of the Irish Nobility and the Lord Fitz-Thomas Richard Lord Clare John Lord le Pover and Arnold Lord Pover came to the Lord John de Hotham who was appointed by the King for that end to establish a Peace for their after-quiet and safety so they took their Oaths to stand by the King of England with their lives and fortunes to do their best to preserve the peace and to kill the Scots For performance whereof they gave Pledges before God and so return'd All the rest of the Irish Nobility that refus'd to follow the same course were to be look'd upon as Enemies to the King Item The Lord John Bysset departed this life and the Church of the new Village of Leys with the Belfrey was burnt by the Scots The Castle of Northburg in Ulster was also taken by them Item Fidelmicus O Conghyr King of Connaught kill'd Rorick the son of Cathol O Conghyr Item This year died the Lord William Maundevil and the Bishop of Coner fled to the Castle of Cragfergus and the Bishoprick was laid under
And on Sunday following being the next after the Nativity oâ— the blessed Virgin the Lord John Fitz-Thomas died at Laraghbrinâ— near Maynoth and was buried among the Friers-minors at Kildarâ— He is said to have been made Earl of Kildare a little befoâ—â— his death His son and heir Thomas Fitz-John a very prudeâ—â— Man succeeded him After this we had News that the Castle of Cragfergus was surrender'd to the Scots upon condition the lives of the Garrison-Soldiers should be saved On the day of the exaltation of the holy Cross Conghor was stain together with Mac-keley and fifty Irish by William Lord Burk and Richard Bermingham in Conaught Item On the Monday before All-Souls-day many of the Scots were slain in Ulster by John Loggan Hugh Lord Bisset namely about 100 with double Arms and 200 with single Arms. The slain in all amounted to 300 besides the foot Afterward on the Eve of the Royal S. Edmund there hapned such a Storm of Wind and Rain as threw down many Houses beat down the Bell of Trinity-church in Dublin and did much mischief both by Sea and Land Item On the Eve of S. Nicholas the Lord Alan Stewart who was taken Prisoner in Ulster by John Loggan and the Lord John Sandale was carried to Dublin-castle This same year there came News from England of a dissention between the King and the Earl of Lancaster That they were for taking one another Prisoners and that the whole Kingdom was embroil'd about it This year also about the feast of Andrew the Apostle the Lord Hugh le Despencer and the Lord Bartholomew de Baldesmere Wigorniensis the Bishop of Worcester and the Bishop of Ely were sent to Rome to negotiate some important Business of the King 's for Scotland who return'd again into England about the feast of the purification of the blessed Mary Item The Lacies came to Dublin after the same feast and shew'd by an Inquisition that the Scots were not brought into Ireland by their means whereupon they were acquitted and had the King's Charter for protection and safety upon taking their Oaths to keep â—he Peace and do their utmost to destroy the Scots Item This year after the feast of Carnis privium the Scots â—arch'd privately as far as Slain with 20000 arm'd Men and raâ—ag'd the Country though the Army of Ulster lay just before â—â—em Afterwards on the Monday before the feast of S. Matthias the â—postle the Earl of Ulster was apprehended in S. Marie's Abby â—y the Mayor of Dublin viz. Robert Notyngham and carried to â—ublin-castle where he was long imprison'd and the Chamber whereâ—â— he was kept burnt and seven of the Earl's Attendants â—ain The same week in the Vigil of S. Matthias Brus took his â—arch towards Dublin at the head of his Army and hearing of the â—arl's Imprisonment turn'd off towards Cnok-castle which he enâ—â—r'd and therein took the Lord Hugh Tirell with his Wife who â—as Baron of it and they were afterwards ransom'd That Night it was agreed by common consent among the Citiâ—ens of Dublin That S. Thomas's-street should be burnt down for â—ear of the Scots the flames whereof got hold of S. John's-church â—nd burnt it down likewise with Magdalen-chappel all the Suâ—urbs of the City and S. Mary's-monastery The Church of S. Paâ—rick was spoil'd by the said Villans Item Our Saviour's Church which belongs to the Friers-preâ—icants was destroy'd by the Mayor and his Citizens and the â—â—ones were converted to the building of a City wall which was â—ade of greater compass in the north part of the City above the â—ey for formerly the Walls ran just by the Church of S. Owen â—here we see a Tower beyond the Gate also another Gate in that â—treet where the Taverns are however the Mayor and Citizens â—ere afterwards commanded by the King of England to make anoâ—her Convent as formerly After the feast of S. Matthias Le Brus â—â—derstanding that the City was fortified to receive him he march'd â—â—wards Salmons-leap where Robert le Brus King of Scotland â—ith Edward le Brus the Earl of Morrey John Meneteth the â—ord John Stewart the Lord Philip Mountbray encamp'd themâ—elves and continued for four days during which they burnt part â—f the Village broke open the Church and rifled it and then â—arch'd towards Le Naas The Lacies notwithstanding their Oaths advis'd and conducted them and Hugh Lord Canon made â—adin White his Wife's Brother guide them through the Country â—o they came to Le Naas plunder'd the Village broke the Churches â—â—d open'd the Graves in the Church-yard for hidden Treasure â—â—d did many other Mischiefs during the two days they stay'd â—â—ere After this they took their march towards Tristildermote â—â—e second week in Lent and destroy'd the Friers-minors takâ—â—g away their Books Vestments and other Ornaments from â—ence they return'd to Baligaveran and so to Callan about the â—east of Pope Gregory without regarding the Village of Kilâ—enny At the same time Letters were brought by the Lord Edmund â—otiller Chief Justice of Ireland at that time and by the Lord Thomas fitz-Fitz-John Earl of Kildare the Lord Richard Clare the Lord Arnold le Pover and the Lord Maurice Fitz-Thomas to â—â—ffer the Earl of Ulster to be mainpriz'd and set at liberty by the King 's writ but nothing was done at present in this Business The People of Ulster came afterwards in a great Body amountâ—ng to 800 and desir'd assistance from the King against the Scots Upon which the King's Banner was deliver'd to them But as soon as they got it they did more mischief than the Scots themselves they eat Flesh all the Lent and almost wasted the whole Country for which they were accurs'd both by God and Man Edmund * Pincerna Butler gave the Irish a great defeat near Trestildermot Item The same Edmund being now Chief Justice of Ireland defeated O Morghe at Balilethan The Scots under le Brus were now got as far as Limerick But the English in Ireland being drawn together in great Bodies to receive them at Ledyn they retreated privately in the night from Conninger Castle About Palm-sunday News came to Dublin That the Scots were at Kenlys in Ossory and that the Irish Nobility were at Kilkenny and had drawn a great Army together there to engage Le Brus. On the Monday following the King sent an Order to the People of Ulster to advance against the Scots under the command and conduct of Thomas Fitz-John Earl of Kildare whereupon they march'd forward Le Brus being then at Cashell from whence he mov'd to Nanath where he stay'd some time and burnt and wasted all the Possessions of the Lord Pincern MCCCXVII On Maundy Thursday the Lord Edmund Botiller Justiciary of Ireland the Lord Thomas Fitz-John Earl of Kildare for the King had conferr'd the jurisdiction and privileges of the Earldom of Kildare upon him Richard Clare with the Ulster-Army Arnold Pover Baron of Donnoyll Maurice Rochfort Thomas Fitz-Maurice and the Cauntons and their
Followers met together to concert what measures were to be taken against the Scots this Debate continued for a whole week and at last they came to no Resolution tho' their Army amounted to 30000 armed Men or thereabouts On Thursday in Easter-week Roger Mortimer arriv'd at Yoghall with the King's Commission for he was Chief Justice at that time and on the Monday following went in great haste to the Army having sent his Letters to Edmund Botiller who as it has been said was formerly Chief Justice to enterprise nothing before his Arrival against the Scots but before Mortimer got to the Camp he admonish'd Brus to retreat so in the Night Brus march'd towards Kildare and in the week after the English return'd home to their several Countries and the Ulster-Army came to Naas At the same time two Messengers were sent from Dublin to the King of England to give him an account of the state of Ireland and the delivery of Ulster and to take his Majesty's advice upon the whole At the same time likewise Roger Lord Mortimer Justiciary of Ireland and the Irish Nobility were met together at Kilkenny to consider how they might most conveniently proceed against Brus but came to no Resolution About a month after Easter Brus came with an Army within four Leagues or thereabouts of Trym under the covert of a certain Wood and there continu'd for about a week or more to refresh his Men who were almost undone with fatigue and hunger which occasion'd a great mortality among them Afterwards on S. Philip and James's-day the said Brus began his march towards Ulster and after the said feast Roger Lord Mortimer Chief Justice of Ireland came to Dublin with John Lord Wogan Sir Fulk Warin and thirty other Knights with their Retinue who held a Parliament with all the Nobility of the Kingdom at Kylmainan but came to no conclusion but about the delivery of the Earl of Ulster On the Sunday before the Ascension they held another Parliament at Dublin and there thc Earl of Ulster was deliver'd upon Mainprise Hostages and Oath which were That he should never by himself nor any of his Friends and Followers do or procure any mischief to the Citizens of Dublin for his apprehension save only what the Law allow'd him in those Cases against such Offenders whereupon he had till the Nativity of S. John allow'd him for that benefit but he came not Item This year Corn and other Victuals were exceeding dear Wheat was sold at three and twenty Shillings the Cranock and Wine for eight pence and the whole Country was in a manner laid waste by the Scots and those of Ulster Many House-keepers and such as were formerly able to relieve others were now reduc'd to Beggary themselves and great numbers famish'd The dearth and mortality was so severe that many of the Poor died At the same time Messengers arriv d at Dublin from England with Pardons to make use of as they should see fit but the Earl was deliver'd before they came And at the feast of Pentecost Mortimer Lord Chief Justice set forward for Drogheda from whence he went to Trym sending his Letters to the Lacies to repair to him but they refus'd the Summons with contempt Afterwards Sir Hugh Crofts Knight was sent to treat of a Peace with the Lacies but was unworthily slain by them After that the Lord Mortimer drew an Army together against the Lacies by which means their Goods Cattle and Treasures were all seiz'd many of their Followers cut off and they themselves drove into Conaught and ruin'd It was reported That Sir Walter Lacy went out as far as Ulster to seek Brus. Item About the feast of Pentecost the Lord Aumar Valence and his son were taken Prisoners in S. Cinere a Town in Flanders and convey'd from thence into Almain The same year on the Monday after the Nativity of S. John the Baptist a Parliament of the Nobility was held at Dublin by which the Earl of Ulster was acquitted who found Security and took his Oath to answer the King's writs and to fight against the King's Enemies both Scots and Irish Item On the feast of S. Process and Martinian Thomas Dover a resolute Pyrate was taken in a Sea-engagement by Sir John Athy and forty of his Men or thereabouts cut off his Head was brought by him to Dublin Item On the day of S. Thomas's Translation Sir Nicholas Balscot brought word from England That two Cardinals were come from the Court of Rome to conclude a Peace and that they had a Bull for excommunicating all such as should disturb or break the King's Peace Item On the Thursday next before the feast of S. Margaret Hugh and Walter Lacy were proclaim'd Felons and Traytors to their King for breaking out into war against his Majesty Item On the Sunday following Roger Lord Mortimer Chief Justice of Ireland march'd with his whole Army towards Drogheda At the same time the Ulster-men took a good Booty near Drogheda but the Inhabitants sallied out and retook it in this action Miles Cogan and his Brother were both slain and six other great Lords of Ulster were taken Prisoners and brought to the Castle of Dublin Afterwards Mortimer the Lord Chief Justice led his Army against O Fervill and commanded the Malpass to be cut down and all his Houses to be spoil d After this O Fervill submitted and gave Hostages Item Roger Lord Mortimer Chief Justice march'd towards Clony and empannell'd a Jury upon Sir John Blunt viz. White of Rathregan by this he was found guilty and was fin'd two hundred marks On Sunday after the feast of the Nativity of the blessed Marie Mortimer march'd with a great Army against the Irish of O Mayl and came to Glinsely where in a sharp Encounter many were slain on both sides but the Irish had the worst Soon after O Brynne came and submitted Whereupon Roger Mortimer return'd with his Men to Dublin-castle On S. Simon and Jude's-day the Archeboldes were permitted to enjoy the King's Peace upon the Mainprise of the Earl of Kildare At the feast of S. Hilary following a Parliament was held at Lincoln to conclude a Peace between the King the Earl of Lancaster and the Scots The Scots continued peaceable and quiet and the Archbishop of Dublin and the Earl of Ulster stay'd in England by the King's Order to attend that Parliament About the feast of Epiphany News came to Dublin That Hugh Canon Lord Chief Justice of the King's-bench was slain between Naas and Castle-Martin by Andrew Bermingham Item At the feast of the Purification of the blessed Virgin Mary came the Pope's Bulls whereupon Alexander Bicknor was confirm'd and consecrated Archbishop of Dublin and the Bulls were read and publish'd in Trinity-church Another Bull was read at the same time for establishing a Peace for two years between the King of England and Robert Brus King of Scotland But Brus refus'd to comply with it These things were thus transacted about the feast of
S. Valentine Item The Sunday following Roger Lord Mortimer came to Dublin and knighted John Mortimer and four of his Followers The same day he kept a great feast in the castle of Dublin Item Many Irish were slain in Conaght about this time by reason of a Quarrel between two of their great Lords The number of the slain amounted to about 4000 men on both sides After this a severe Vengeance fell upon the Ulster-men who had done great mischief during the depredations of the Scots here and eat Flesh in Lent without any manner of necessity for which sins they were at last reduc'd to such want that they eat one another so that of 10000 there remain'd but about 300 By which this does plainly appear to be God's vengeance upon them Item It was reported That some of the said Profligates were so pinch'd with Famine that they dug up Graves in Church-yards and after they had boil'd the Flesh in the Skull of the dead Body eat it up nay that some Women eat up their own Children to satisfie their craving Appetites MCCCXVIII On the 15. of Easter there came News from England That the Town of Berwick was betray'd and taken by the Scots Afterwards this same year Walter Islep the King's Treasurer in Ireland arriv'd here and brought Letters to Roger Lord Mortimer to attend the King Accordingly he did so substituting the Lord William Archbishop of Cashil Keeper of Ireland so that at one and the same time he was Chief Justice of Ireland Lord Chancellor and Archbishop Three weeks after Easter news came to Dublin That Richard Lord Clare and four Knights viz. Sir Henry Capell Sir Thomas Naas Sir James Caunton and Sir John Caunton as also Adam Apilgard with 80 Men more were all slain by O Brone and Mac-Carthy on the feast of S. Gordian and Epimachus The Lord Clare's Body was reported to be hewn in pieces out of pure malice But his Relicks were interr'd among the Friers-minors in Limerick Item On Sunday in Easter-month John Lacy was remov'd from Dublin-castle to Trym for his Trial His sentence was to be pinch'd in Diet and so he died in Prison Item On the Sunday before the Ascension Roger Lord Mortimer set sail for England but paid nothing for his Provisions having taken up in the City of Dublin and elsewhere as much as amounted to 1000 l. Item This year about the feast of S. John Baptist that Wheat which before was sold for 16 s. by the great mercy of God went now for 7. Oats sold for 5 s. and there was also great plenty of Wine Salt and Fish Nay about the feast of S. James there was Bread of new Corn a thing seldom or perhaps never before known in Ireland This was an instance of God's mercy and was owing to the prayers of the Poor and other faithful People Item On the Sunday after the feast of S. Michael news came to Dublin That Alexander Lord Bykenore Chief Justice of Ireland and Archbishop of Dublin was arriv'd at Yoghill On S. Denis's day he came to Dublin and was receiv'd by the Religious and Clergy as well as the Laity who went out in Processions to meet him Item On Saturday which happen'd to be the feast of Pope Calixtus a Battle was fought between the Scots and English of Ireland two leagues from Dundalk on the Scotch-side there were Edward Lord Brus who nam'd himself King of Ireland Philip Lord Moubray Walter Lord Sules Alan Lord Stewart with his three Brethren as also Sir Walter Lacy and Sir Robert and Aumar Lacy John Kermerdyne and Walter White with about 3000 others Against whom on the English-side there were the Lord John Bermingham Sir Richard Tuit Sir Miles Verdon Sir Hugh Tripton Sir Herbert Sutton Sir John Cusak Sir Edward and Sir William Bermingham and the Primate of Armagh who gave them Absolution besides Sir Walter Larpulk and John Maupas with about twenty more choice Soldiers and well arm'd who came from Drogheda The English gave the onset and broke into the Van of the Enemy with great vigour And in this Encounter the said John Maupas kill'd Edward Lord Brus valiantly and was afterwards found slain upon the Body of his Enemy The slain on the Scots side amounted to 2000 or thereabouts so thaâ— few of them escap'd besides Philip Lord Moubray who was also mortally wounded and Sir Hugh Lacy Sir Walter Lacy and some few more with them who with much ado got off Thiâ— Engagement was fought between Dundalk and Faghird Brus'â— Head was brought by the said John Lord Bermingham to thâ— K. of England who conferred the Earldom of Louth upon him and his Heirs male and gave him the Barony of Aterith One of hiâ— Quarters together with the Hands and Heart were carried tâ— Dublin and the other Quarters sent to other places MCCCXIX Roger Lord Mortimer return'd out of England and became Chief Justice of Ireland The same year on the feaâ—â— of All Saints came the Pope's Bull for excommunicating Roberâ— Brus King of Scotland The Town of Athisell and 〈◊〉 considerable part of the Country was burnt and wasted by John Lord Fitz-Thomas whole Brother to Moris Lord Fitz-Thomas John Bermingham aforesaid was this year created Earl of Louth Item The Stone-bridge of Kit-colyn was built by Master Moriâ— Jak Canon of the Cathedral Church of Kildare MCCCXX In the time of John XXII Pope and of Edward son to King Edward who was the 25 King from the coming oâ— S. Austin into England Alexander Bicknore being then Archbishop of Dublin was founded the University of Dublin Williaâ— Hardite a Frier-predicant was the first that took the degree oâ— Master Who also commenced Doctor of Divinity under thâ— same Archbishop Henry Cogry of the order of Friers minors was the second Master the third was William Rodyarâ— Dean of S. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin who afteâ— commenc'd Doctor of the Canon law and was made the firâ—â— Chancellor of this University The fourth Person that went ouâ— Master in Divinity was Frier Edmund Kermerdyn Item Rogeâ— Mortimer the Chief Justice of Ireland went into England leavinâ— the Lord Thomas fitz-Fitz-John then Earl of Kildare his Deputy Item Edmund Lord Botiller went into England and so camâ— to S. James's Item Leghelyn-bridge was then built by Master Moris Jaâ— Canon of the Cathedral Church of Kildare MCCCXXI The O Conghors were sadly defeated at Balibogan on the Ninth of May by the People of Leinster and Meth Item Edmund Lord Botiller died in London and was burieâ— at Balygaveran in Ireland John Bermingham Earl of Lowth waâ— made Justiciary of Ireland John Wogan died also this year MCCCXXII Andrew Bermingham and Nicholas de la Lonâ— Knight were slain with many others by O Nalan on S. Michael's day MCCCXXIII A Truce was made between the King of Englanâ— and Robert Brus King of Scots for fourteen years Item Johâ— Darcy came Lord Chief Justice into Ireland Item Johâ— eldest son of Thomas Fitz-John Earl of Kildare died in the 9tâ—
were above 500 this happened about the evening near Connyng and the water call'd Dodyz in Dublin-haven The Lord Anthony Lucy with his own Servants and some of the Citizens of Dublin among whom was Philip Cradoc kill'd above 200 of them and gave leave to any body to fetch away what they would The Lord Anthony Lucy Chief Justice of Ireland appointed a common Parliament to be held at Dublin on the Octaves of S. John Baptist whither some of the best of the Irish Nobility came not However he remov'd to Kilkenny and prorogued the Parliament to S. Peter's feast Ad vincula hither came the Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas and many more Noblemen who were not there before and submitted to the King's mercy And the King for his part very graciously forgave them whatever they had done against him under a certain form In August the Irish by treachery took the Castle of Firnis which they burnt The Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas of Desmond by an order of Council was taken the day after the Assumption of our blessed Virgin at Limerick by the Chief Justice and by him brought to the Castle of Dublin the 7th of October In September Henry Mandevill by vertue of a Warrant from Simon Fitz-Richard Justice in the King's-bench was taken and brought to the Castle of Dublin In November Walter Burck and his two Brothers were taken in Connaught by the Earl of Ulster and in February were by him brought to the Castle of Northburg In February the Lord William Bermingham and his son Lord Bermingham were taken at Clomel by the said Justice notwithstanding he had before granted them his Majesty's Pardon and the 19th of April were conducted to Dublin-castle The Irish of Leinster plunder'd the English and burnt their Churches and in the Church of Freineston burnt about eighty Men and Women and a certain Chaplain of that Church whom with their Javelins they hinder'd from coming out tho' in his holy Vestments and with the Lord's body in his hand burning him with the rest in the Church The news of it came to the Pope who sert his Bull to the Archbishop of Dublin commanding him to excommunicate those Irish and all their adherents and retinue and to interdict their Lands Now the Archbishop fulfill'd the Pope's commands but the Irish despised the bull excommunication interdiction and the Church's chastisement and continuing in their wickedness did again make a body and invaded the county of Weisford as far as Carcarn and plundred the whole country Richard White and Richard Fitz-Henry with the Burghers of Weisford and other English made head against them and kill'd about 400 of the Irish besides a great many more were in the pursuit drown d in the river Slane MCCCXXXII The eleventh of July William Bermingham by my Lord Chief Justice's order was put to death and hanged at Dublin but his son Walter was set at liberty Sir William was a noble Knight and very much renown'd for his warlike exploits alas what pity it was for who can commemorate his death without tears He was afterwards buried at Dublin among the Predicant Friers The Castle of Bonraty was taken and in July was rased to the ground by the Irish of Totomon Also the Castle of Arclo was taken from the Irish by the Lord Chief Justice and the citizens of Dublin with the help of the English of that Country and was the 8th of August a rebuilding in the King's Hands The Lord Anthony Lucy Chief Justice of Ireland was put out of his place and in November returned into England with his wife and children The Lord John Darcy succeeded him and came into Ireland the 13th of February There was about this time a great slaughter of the Irish in Munster made by the English inhabitants of that Country and Briens O-Brene with Mac-Karthy was beaten Item John Decer a citizen of Dublin died and was buried in the Church of the Minor Friers he was a man who did a great deal of good Also a disease called Mauses reigned very much all over Ireland and infected all sorts of People as well old as young The hostages who were kept in the Castle of Limeric kill'd the Constable and took the Castle but upon the citizens regaining of 〈◊〉 they were put to the sword The Hostages also took the Castle â—f Nenagh but part of it being burnt it was again recover'd â—nd the Hostages restored A of wheat about Christmas â—as sold for 22 shillings and soon after Easter very common for 〈◊〉 pence The Town of New-Castle of Lions was burnt and plunâ—ered by the O-Tothiles MCCCXXXIII John Lord Darcy the new Chief Justice of â—reland arrived at Dublin The Berminghams of Carbery got a great booty of above 2000 Cows from the O-Conghirs The Lord John Darcy ordered the â—ass at Ethrgovil in Offaly to be cut down that he might stop O-Conghir The Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond after he had â—een imprison'd a year and an half in Dublin was let out having â—ot some of the best of the Irish Nobility as mainprizes to be bound â—or him under penalty of their lives and estates if the said Lord â—hould attempt any thing against the King or did not appear and â—â—and trial Item William Burk Earl of Ulster on the 6th of June between New-Town and Cragfergus in Ulster was most treacherously kill'd â—y his own company in the twentieth year of his age Robert son â—o Mauriton Maundevile gave him the first blow As soon as his â—ife heard of it who was then in that part of Ulster she prudently â—mbark'd with her son and daughter and went for England The Lord John Darcy to revenge his murder by the advice of the Parliament then assembled shipp'd his Army with which the first of â—uly he arriv'd at Cragfergus The people of that Country were â—o glad at his arrival that they took courage and unanimously reâ—olv'd to revenge the Earl's death and in a pitch'd battle got a â—ictory some of them they took others they put to the sword When this was over the Lord Chief Justice went with his Army â—nto Scotland leaving M. Thomas Burgh then Treasurer to supply â—is place Item Many of the Irish Nobility and the Earl of Ormond with â—heir retinue assembled on the 11th of June at the house of the Carmelite Friers in Dublin during this Parliament as they were going out of the Court-yard of the Friers House Murcardus or Moris Nicholas O-Tothil's son was in the croud suddenly murder'd â—pon which the Nobility supposing there was treason in it were very much affrighted but the Murtherer made his escape without being known so much as by name Item The Lord John Darcy return'd Chief Justice of Ireâ—and Item In February the Lord Walter Bermingham son to the Lord William was let out of Dublin Castle Item The Lord Moris Son of Thomas Earl of Desmond by a â—all off his horse broke his leg Item It happen'd to be so dry a Summer that at the feast of S. Peter ad
vincula there was bread made of new wheat and wheat was sold in Dublin for 6 pence a peck Item D. Reimund Archedekin Kt. with many others of his family were kill'd in Leinster MCCCXXXVII On the eve of S. Kalixtus the Pope seven partridges leaving the fields God knows why came directly to Dublin where flying very swiftly over the Market-Place they settled on the â—op of a brew-house which belonged to the Canons of S. Trinity in Dublin Some of the Citizens came running to this sight wondring very much at so strange a thing the Town-boyes caught two of them alive a third they kill'd at which the rest being frightned-mounted in the air by a swift flight and escap'd into the opposite Fields Now what this should portend a thing unheard of before I shall leave to the judgment of the more skilful Item Sir John Charleton Knight and Baron came with his wife children and family Lord Chief Justice of Ireland at the feast of S. Kalixtus the Pope and some of his sons and family died Item The same day came into Dublin haven D. Thomas Charleton Bishop of Hereford Justice of Ireland with the Chief Justice his Brother Chancellor of Ireland and with them M. John Rees Treasurer of Ireland Mr. in the Decretals besides 200 Welshmen Item Whilst D. John Charleton was Lord Chief Justice and held a Parliament at Dublin Mr. David O Hirraghcy Archbishop of Armagh being called to the Parliament laid in his provisions in the Monastry of S. Mary near Dublin but the Archbishop and his Clerks would not let him keep house there because he would have had his Crosier carried before him Item The same year died David Archbishop of Armagh to whom succeeded an ingenious man M. Richard Fitz-Ralph Dean of Litchfield who was born in Dundalk Item James Botiller the first Earl of Ormond died the 6th of January and was buried at Balygaveran MCCCXXXVIII The Lord John Charleton at the instigation of his Brother the Bishop of Hereford was by the King turn'd out of his place upon which he came back with his whole family into England and the Bishop of Hereford was made Lord Keeper and Chief Justice of Ireland Item Sir Eustace Pover and Sir John Pover his Uncle were by the Justice's order brought up from Munster to Dublin where the third of February they were imprison'd in the Castle Item In some parts of Ireland they had so great a frost that the river Aven-liffie on which the City of Dublin stands was frozen hard enough for them to dance run or play at foot-ball upon and they made wood and turfe fires upon it to broil Herrings The Ice lasted a great while I shall say nothing of the great snow which fell during this frost since the greatness of the depth has made it so remarkable This Frost continued from the second of December till the 10th of February such a season as was never known in Ireland MCCCXXXIX All Ireland was up in Arms. The Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond with the Geraldines who live about Kernige made a great slaughter of the Irish besides 1200 of them who were drown'd in the retreat Item The Lord Moris Fitz-Nicholas Lord of Kernige was by the Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond apprehended and put in prison where he died for want of meat and drink for his allowance was but very little because he had rebell'd with the Irish against the King and the Earl Item A great number of the O Dympcies and other Irish were by the English and the vigorous pursuit of the Earl of Kildare kill'd and drowned in the Barrow Item the latter end of February Thomas Bishop of Hereford and Chief Justice of Ireland with the help of the English of that Country took from the Irish about Odrone such a great booty of all sorts of cattle as has not been seen in Leinster MCCCXL The Bishop of Hereford Justice of Ireland being commanded home by his Majesty return'd into England the 10th of April leaving Frier Roger Outlaw Prior of Kilmainan in his place who died the 13th of February Item The King of England made John Darcy Lord Chief Justice of Ireland for life MCCCXLI In May Sir John Moris came Lord Chief Justice of Ireland as Deputy to John Darcy Item In the County of Leinster there happen'd such a strange prodigy as has not been heard of A person travelling along the road found a pair of gloves fit for his hands as he thought but when he put them on he he lost his speech immediately and could do nothing but bark like a dog nay from that moment the men and women throughout the whole County fell into the same condition and the children waughed up and down like whelps This plague continued with some 18 days with others a month and with some for two years and like a contagious distemper at last infected the neighbouring Counties and set them a barking too Item The King of England revok'd all those grants that either he or his Ancestors had made to any in Ireland whether of liberties lands or goods which occasion a general murmur and discontent insomuch that the whole Kingdom grew inclin'd to a revolt Item A Parliament was called by the King's Council to sit in October Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond absented Before this there never was seen so much rancor and division between the English of both Kingdoms at last without asking Counsel of the Lord Chief Justice or any other of the King's Ministers the Mayors of the King's Cities together with the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom resolv d among other things to hold another Parliament at Kilkenny in November in order to treat of such matters as concern'd the King and Kingdom Neither the Lord Chief Justice nor any other of the King's Ministers durst repair thither It was concluded in this Parliament by the Nobility and the Mayors aforesaid to dispatch away an ambassadour to the King of England to intercede for Relief and represent the unjust administration of the great Officers in Ireland and declare they could no longer endure their oppression They were particularly instructed in their complaints of the said Ministers to ask How a Land so full of wars and trouble could be govern'd by a Person that was wholly a Stranger to warlike Affairs Secondly How a Minister of the Kings could be imagin'd to grow so rich in a short time And thirdly What was the reason that the King of England was never the richer for Ireland MCCCXLII On the 11th of October and the 11th of the Moon two several Moons were seen by many about Dublin in the morning before day Theone was bright and according to its natural course in the West the other of the bigness of a round loaf stood in the East but not so bright as the former MCCCXLIII S. Thomas's-street in Dublin was accidentally burnt on S. Valentine the Martyr's-day Item The 13th of July D. Ralph Ufford with his Wife the Countess of
and made ready to entertain the Conquerors whosoever they should be usually saying upon this occasion That it would be a shame if such Guests should come and find him unprovided It pleasing God to bless them with the Victory he invited them all to Supper to rejoice with him giving God the thanks for his success telling them He thought the things look'd as well upon his Table as running in his Fields notwithstanding some advis'd him to be saving He was buried in the Convent-church of the Friers-predicants of Coulrath near the river Banne Item The Earl of Ormond Chief Justice of Ireland went into England and Moris Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare was made Chief Justice of Ireland by a charter or commission after this manner Omnibus c. To all whom these Presents shall come greeting Know ye that we have committed to our faithful and loving Subject Moris Earl of Kildare the office of Chief Justice of our Kingdom of Ireland together with the Nation it self and the Castles and other Appurtenances thereunto belonging to keep and govern during our will and pleasure commanding that while he remains in the said office he shall receive the sum of five hundred pounds yearly cut of our Exchequer at Dublin Vpon which consideration he shall perform the said office and take care of the Kingdom and maintain twenty Men and Horse in arms constantly whereof himself shall be one during the enjoyment of the said commission In witness whereof c. Given at Dublin by the hands of our beloved in Christ Frier Thomas Burgey Prior of the Hospital of S. John of Jerusalem in Ireland our Chancellor of that Kingdom on the 30th of March being the 35th year of our reign Item James Botiller Earl of Ormond return'd to Ireland being made Lord Chief Justice as before whereupon the Earl of Kildare resign'd to him MCCCLXI Leonel son to the King of England and Earl of Ulster in right of his Wife came as the King's Lieutenant into Ireland and on the 8th of September being the Nativity of the blessed Virgin arriv'd at Dublin with his Wife Elizabeth the Daughter and Heir of William Lord Burk Earl of Ulster Another Pestilence happen'd this year There died in England Henry Duke of Lancaster the Earl of March and the Earl of Northampton Item On the 6th of January Moris Doncref a Citizen of Dublin was buried in the Church-yard of the Friers-predicants in this City having contributed 40 l. towards glazing the Church of that Convent Item There died this year Joan Fleming wife to Geffery Lord Trevers and Margaret Bermingham wife to Robert Lord Preston on S. Margaret's eve and were buried in the Church of the Friers-predicants of Tredagh Item Walter Lord Bermingham the younger died on S. Lawrence-day who left his Estate to be divided among his Sisters one of whose Shares came to the aforesaid Preston Item Leonel having arriv'd in Ireland and refresh'd himself for some few days enter'd into a War with O Brynne and made Proclamation in his Army That no Irish should be suffer'd to come near his Army One hundred of his own Pensioners were slain Leonel hereupon drew up both the English and the Irish into one body went on successfully and by God's mercy and this means grew victorious in all places against the Irish Among many both English and Irish whom he knighted were these Robert Preston Robert Holiwood Thomas Talbot Walter Cusacke James de la Hide John Ash and Patrick and Robert Ash Item He remov'd the Exchequer from Dublin to Carlagh and gave 500 l. towards walling the Town Item On the feast of S. Maur Abbot there happen'd a violent Wind that shook or blew down the Pinnacles Battlements Chimnies and such other Buildings as overtop'd the rest to be particular it blew down very many Trees and some Steeples for instance the Steeple of the Friers-predicants MCCCLXII In the 36th year of this King's reign and on the 8th of April S. Patrick's church in Dublin was burnt down through negligence MCCCLXIV In the 38th year of this reign Leonel Earl of Ulster arriv'd on the 22d of April in England leaving the Earl of Ormond to administer as his Deputy On the 8th of December following he return'd again MCCCLXV In the 39th of this reign Leonel Duke of Clarence went again into England leaving Sir Thomas Dale Knight Deputy-keeper and Chief Justice in his absencc MCCCLXVII A great feud arose between the Berminghams of Carbry and the People of Meth occasion'd by the depredations they had made in that Country Sir Robert Preston Knight Chief Baron of the Exchequer put a good Garrison into Carbry-castle and laid out a great deal of mony against the King's Enemies that he might be able to defend what he held in his Wife 's right Item Gerald Fitz-Moris Earl of Desmond was made Chief Justice of Ireland MCCCLXVIII In the 42d year of the same reign after a Parliament of the English and Irish Frier Thomas Burley Prior of Kylmaynon the King's Chancellor in Ireland John Fitz-Reicher Sheriff of Meth Sir Robert Tirill Baron of Castle-knoke and many more were taken Prisoners at Carbry by the Berminghams and others of that Town James Bermingham who was then kept in Irons as a Traytor in the castle of Trim was set at liberty in exchange for the Chancellor the rest were forc'd to ransom themselves Item The Church of S. Maries in Trim was burnt down by the negligent keeping of the fire in the monastery Item On the vigil of S. Luke the Evangelist Leonel Duke of Clarence died at Albe in Pyemont He was first buried in the city Papy near S. Augustin and afterwards in the Convent-church of the Austin Fryers at Clare in England MCCCLXIX In the 43d year cf this reign Sir Willium Windefore Knight a Person of great valour and courage being made the King's Deputy came into Ireland on the 12th of July to whom Gerald Fitz-Moris Earl of Desmond resign'd the office of Chief Justice MCCCLXX In the 44th year of this reign a Pestilence rag'd in Ireland more violent than either of the former two many of the Nobility and Gentry as also Citizens and Children innumerable died of it The same year Gerald Fitz-Maurice Earl of Desmond John Lord Nicholas Thomas Lord fitz-Fitz-John and many others of the Nobility were taken Prisoners on the 6th of July near the Monastery of Magie in the County of Limerick by O-Breen and Mac Comar of Thomond many were slain in the Fray Whereupon the Lieutenant went over to Limerick in order to defend Mounster leaving the War against the O-Tothiles and the rest in Leinster till some other opportunity This year died Robert Lord Terell Baron of Castle Knock together with his son and heir and his Wife Scolastica Houth so that the Inheritance was shared between Joan and Maud the sisters of the said Robert Terell Item Simon Lord Fleming Baron of Slane John Lord Cusak Baron of Colmolyn and John Taylor late mayor of Dublin a very
rich man died this year This Continuation following is took from a Manuscript Chronicle in the Hands of Henry Marleburgh MCCCLXXII SIr Robert Ashton being made Chief Justice came into Ireland MCCCLXXIII A great war between the English of Meth and O-Feroll with much slaughter on both sides Item John Lord Husse Baron of Galtrim John Fitz Richard Sheriff of Meth and William Dalton were in May kill'd by the Irish in Kynaleagh MCCCLXXV Died Thomas Archbishop of Dublin the same year Robert of Wickford was consecrated Archbishop of this see MCCCLXXXI Edmund Mortimer the King's Lieutenant in Ireland Earl of March and Ulster died at Cork MCCCLXXXIII A raging pestilence in Ireland MCCCLXXXV Dublin bridge fell down MCCCXC Died Robert Wikford Archbishop of Dublin Robeâ—t Waldebey Archbishop of Dublin of the order of the Austin Friers was translated also this year MCCCXCVII Died Frier Richard Northalis Archbishop of Dublin of the order of the Carmelites This year Thomas Crauley was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin Thomas Lord Burk and Walter Lord Bermingham cut off 600 of the Irish and Mac Con their Captain * Read Roger. Edmund Earl of March Lieutenant of Ireland with the assistance of the Earl of Ormond wasted the Country of O Bryn and knighted Christopher Preston John Bedeleu Edmund Loundris John Loundry William Nugent Walter de la Hide and Rober Cadel at the storming of a strong mannor-house of the said O Bryn MCCCXCVIII Forty English among whom were John Fitz Williams Thomas Talbot and Thomas Comyn were unfortunately cut off on the Ascension day by the Tothils On S. Margaret's day this year Roger Earl of March the King's Lieutenant was slain with many others by O Bryn and other Irish of Leinster at Kenlys in that province Roger Grey was appointed to succeed him in the office of Chief Justice On the Feast of S. Mark Pope and Confessor the noble Duke of Sutherey came into Ireland being made the King's Deputy Lieutenant thereof accompanied with the Archbishop of Dublin Thomas Crawley MCCCXCIX In the 23d year of King Richard being Sunday the very morrow after S. Petronil or Pernil the Virgin 's day King Richard arriv'd at Waterford with 200 sail At Ford in Kenlys within Kildare on the 6th day of this week two hundred of the Irish were slain by Jenicho and others of the English the next day the people of Dublin made an inroad into the Country of O Bryn cut off 33 of the Irish and took to the number of 80 men and women with their children prisoners The King came to Dublin this year on the fourth before the kalends of July and embark'd in great haste for England upon a report of Henry duke of Lancaster's being arriv'd there MCCCC At Whitsontide in the first year of King Henry IV. the Constable of Dublin-castle and several others engag'd the Scots at Stranford in Ulster which prov'd unfortunate to the English many of them being cut off and drown'd in that encounter MCCCCI In the second year of this reign Sir John Stanley the King's Lieutenant went over into England in May leaving Sir William Stanley to supply his office On Bartholomew-eve this year Stephen Scrope came into Ireland as Deputy to the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the King's Lieutenant The same year on the feast of S. Brice Bishop and Confessor Thomas Lord Lancaster the King's son being Viceroy of Ireland arriv'd at Dublin MCCCCII The Church of the Friers Predicants at Dublin was consecrated on the 5th of July by the Archbishop of this City The same day 493 Irish were slain by John Drake Mayor of Dublin assisted with the Citizens and the Country people near Bree where they gain'd a considerable victory In September this year a Parliament was held at Dublin Sir Bartholomew Verdon James White Stephen Gernon and their accomplices kill'd John Dowdal Sheriff of Louith in Urgal during this session MCCCCIII In the fourth year of King Henry IV. Sir Walter Beterley a valiant Knight then steward there with thirty more was kill'd in May. About the feast of S. Martin this year the King's Son Thomas went over into Enlgand leaving Stephen Scroop to officiate as his Deputy who return'd also on the first day of Lent into England after which the Lords of the Kingdom chose the Earl of Ormond Lord Chief Justice of Ireland MCCCCIV In the 5th Year of King Henry's reign died John Cowlton Archbishop of Armagh on the 5th of May and was succeeded by Nicholas Fleming The same year on S. Vitali's day a Parliament was held at Dublin by the Earl of Ormond at that time Chief Justice of the Kingdom where the Statutes of Kilkenny and Dublin and the Charter of Ireland was confirm'd Patrick Savage was this year treacherously slain in Ulster by Mac Kilmori his brother Richard being also given in hostage was murder'd in prison after he had paid a ransom of 200 marks MCCCCV In the 6th year of King Henry three Scotch Galleys two at Green Castle and one at Dalkey were taken in May with the Captain Thomas Mac Golagh The merchants of Tredagh entred Scotland this year and took hostages and booty The same year Stephen Scroop went into England leaving the Earl of Ormond to officiate as Justice during his absence In June this year the people of Dublin invaded Scotland entering it at S. Ninians where they gallantly behav'd themselves after which they made a descent upon Wales and did great hurt among the Welsh in this expedition they carried the shrine of S. Cubie to the Church of the Holy Trinity in Dublin Item This year on the vigil of the blessed Virgin died James Botiller Earl of Ormond at Baligauran during his office he was much lamented and succeeded by Gerald Earl of Kildare MCCCCVI In the seventh year of King Richard the Dublinians on Corpus Christi day with the assistance of the country people overcame the Irish and kill'd some of them they took three ensigns and carried off several of their heads to Dublin The same year the Prior of Conal in a battle with 200 well-arm'd Irish on the Plain of Kildare vanquish'd them by his great valour killing some and putting the rest to flight The Prior and his party were not above twenty such is the regard of Providence to those that trust in it The same year after the feast of S. Michael Scroop Deputy Justice to Thomas the King's son Viceroy of Ireland arriv'd here The same year died Innocentius VII succeeded in the chair by Gregory The same year on S. Hilaries-day a Parliament was held at Dublin which broke up in Lent at Trym Meiler Bermingham slew Cathol O Conghir in the latter end of February about the same time died Sir Geffery Vaux a valiant Knight of the County of Carlagh MCCCCVII A perfidious base Irishman call'd Mac Adam Mac Gilmori never christen'd and therefore call'd Morbi nay one that had been the ruin of forty Churches took Patrick Savage prisoner forc'd him to pay 2000 marks for ransom
be Bernwaled unknown to me who he was So is also that of the fifteenth only it was an eminent name amongst them as was also Aethelstan on the sixteenth That upon the seventeenth is likely to be of that valiant and noble Viceroy of Mercia married to the King's daughter Ethelfleda a woman of admirable wisdom courage and zeal in sum a daughter worthy of such a father The eighteenth is of Edward Senior that victorious and glorious son and successor of King Aelfred equal to his father in valour and military skill but inferiour to him in learning and knowledge His actions are sufficient for a volume On his head is a close or imperial crown born by few if any other besides the Kings of England The reverse is Leofwine or Lincoln The twenty third Beornwald I rather read it Deorwald i.e. Deirorum sylva York-woulds the chief Town whereof was Beverly And the rather because of the twenty fourth Diora Moneta which seems to be the money of the Deiri or Yorkshire-men The rest of the Coins of this Prince are easily understood The names upon the reverses seem to have been Noblemen or Governors The twenty fifth is remarkable for the spelling Jedword the reverse is Arnerin on Eoferwic i.e. York The twenty sixth hath the reverse Othlric on Ring which might be Ringhornan in Lancashire a large Town one of the eight built by his sister Ethelflede Of the twenty seventh I do not understand the reverse The twenty eighth is of that most famous and worthy King Aethelstan the true progeny of such a father and grandfather In his youth his grandfather King Aelfred saw such a spirit and indoles in him that he foretold if it should please God that he came to the Crown he would perform very great actions for the good of his country and he made him also I think the first that we read to have received that honour in this nation a Knight and gave him ornaments accordingly the more likely because Aelfred also order'd the robes and ceremonies of the Coronation This Prince extended his Victories Northward even into Scotland Which countreys till his time were never peaceably settled because the two nations Saxons and Danes mingled together in their habitations and yet having several Kings and Laws could never be long in quiet Upon the borders of Scotland he fought one of the most terrible battles that ever was in England against Anlaf King of Ireland Constantine King of Scotland and a very mighty and numerous Army Wherein were said to be slain five Kings seven Earls or chief Commanders besides vast numbers of inferior Officers and Soldiers Authors say that King Aethelstan's valiant Chancellor and General Turketill with wonderful courage and strength broke through the enemies ranks till he met with King Constantine and slew him with his own hand Others say that Constantine was not slain but his son Turketill after all his wars and greatness resigning his estates and wealth repaired to the Monastery of Croyland and lived in it himself till his death The reverse is Biorneard moneta Londonensis civitas or Holond ci The former reading is the true The twenty ninth is King Edmund Brother and not inferior either in valour or counsel to Aethelstan He pursued the design of reducing all his subjects to perfect unity and peace by extirpating those rebellious irreconcileable enemies the Danes In the beginning of his Reign he cleared Mercia of them For King Edward seeing the Kingdom so much depopulated by those destructive wars ever since the entrance of the Danes upon promise and oath of fealty and obedience as his father also had done amongst the East-Angles permitted these Danes to live amongst his natural Subjects and chiefly in the great Towns thinking because of their profession of arms and soldiery they would better defend them than the Saxons more industrious and skilful in labour and husbandry The Danes also having been themselves beaten and conquered by him were very ready to engage to obedience peace and loyalty But the Saxons by their labours growing rich and the Danes retaining their former tyrannical and lazy dispositions began to oppress and dominere over the natives Edmund therefore after Mercia began to reduce Northumberland where remained the greatest number of them for Edward himself had suppressed those in East-Anglia and to reduce those Northern counties into the form of Provinces and committed Cumberland as a Feud to Malcolme King of Scotland His zeal for justice cost this heroical Prince his life For celebrating the festival of St. Austin and giving thanks for the Conversion of the nation he spied amongst the Guests one Leof a notable thief whom he had before banished The King's spirit was so moved against him that rising from the Table he seized upon him threw him to the ground and was about to do some violence unto him The Thief fearing what he had deserved with a short dagger which he concealed wounded the King mortally who died in a short time to the very great grief and affliction of his people The reverse is very imperfect but it may perhaps be Edward Moneta Theodford or rather Eadmund Martyr to whose Church he gave the Town called St. Edmund's-bury The thirtieth is Eadred who degenerated not in the least from his father King Edward or his brethren the precedent Kings He compleated the reduction and settlement of the North making Osulf the first Earl of it The Scots voluntarily submitted and swore Allegiance to him An. 955. in the fifth year of his reign and flower of his youth he sickned died and was exceedingly lamented of his subjects The thirty first is Eadwig son of K. Edmund who being come to age received the Kingdom so lovely a person that he was named the fair His actions are variously reported by Historians generally they accuse him of voluptuousness and neglect of his affairs insomuch that a great part of the North applied themselves to his Brother Edgar and set him up against Edwy who as is thought with sorrow sickned and died An. 958. Heriger on the reverse seems to have been Mint-master Tabula VII Nummi saxonici Page cxlvi The thirty third Eadgar son of King Edmund peaceably enjoyed the fruits of the labours and dangers of his predecessors A man admired by all both foreigners and natives for his great piety justice prudence and industry in governing the Kingdom Sine praelio omnia gubernavit prout ipse voluit The reverse is Leofsig Moneta Hamptonensis The thirty fourth is of Eadward son of King Edgar by Ethelfleda the fair called also Eneda Daughter of Duke Ordmear He is much commended for a virtuous well-disposed and hopeful Prince and such the small remainders of his History do truly represent him But by order of his Stepmother Alfritha to whom he was too obedient he was murthered to empty the Throne for her son Aethelred Edward was accounted a Saint and Martyr because of the many miracles said to be done at his Tomb which occasioned the
this name of Esquire which in ancient times was a name of charge and office only crept first in among the titles of honour as far as I can find in the reign of Richard the second Gentlemen Gentlemen are either the common sort of nobility who are descended of good families or those who by their virtue and fortune have made themselves eminent Citizens Citizens or Burgesses are such as are in publick offices in any City or elected to sit in Parliament The common people or Yeomen are such as some call ingenui the Law homines legales i.e. freeholders Yeomâ— Gemâ—◠〈◊〉 Saxo◠〈◊〉 common people those who can spend at least forty shillings of their own yearly Labourers are such as labour for wages sit to their work are Mechanicks Artizans Smiths Carpenters c. term'd capite censi and Proletarii by the Romans The Law-Courts of ENGLAND AS for the Tribunals or Courts of Justice in England there are three several sorts of them some Spiritual others Temporal and one mixt or complicate of both which is the greatest and by far the most honourable call'd the Parliament Parliament a French word of no great antiquity The Saxons our fore-fathers nam'd it a Witenâ— gemot â—s the true Saxon word Ç·ittenagemot that is an assembly of wise-men and Geraedniss or Council and Micil Synod from the greek word Synod signifying a great meeting The Latin writers of that and the next age call it Commune Concilium Curia altissima Generale Placitum Curia Magna Magnatum Conventus Praesentia Rogis Praelatorum Procerumque collectorum Commune totius regni concilium c. And as Livy calls the general Council of Aetolia Panetolium so this of ours may be term'd very properly Pananglium For it consists of the King the Clergy the Barons and those Knights and Burgesses elected or to express my self more plainly in Law-language the King the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons who there represent the body of the Nation This Court is not held at certain set times but is call'd at the King's pleasure when things of great difficulty and importance are to be consider'd in order to prevent any danger that may happen to the State and then again is dissolv'd when-ever he alone pleases Now this Court has the sovereign power and an inviolable authority in making confirming repealing and explaining laws reversing Attainders determining causes of more than ordinary difficulty between private persons and to be short in all things which concern the State in general or any particular Subject â—he Kings â—â—urt The next Court to this immediately after the coming in of the Normans and for some time before was the King's Court which was held in the King's Palace and follow'd the King where-ever he went For in the King's Palace there was a peculiar place for the Chancellor and Clerks who had the issuing out of Writs and the management of the great Seal and likewise for Judges who had not only power to hear pleas of the Crown but any cause whatsoever between private persons There was also an Exchequer for the Treasurer and his Receivers who had charge of the King's revenues These each of them were counted members of the King's family and had their meat and cloaths of the King Hence Gotzelin in the life of S. Edward calls them Palatii Causidici and Joannes Sarisburiensis Curiales But besides these and above them likewise â—â—e Chief â—â—â—tice was the Justitia Angliae and Justitiarius Angliae Capitalis i.e. the Lord Chief Justice who was constituted with a yearly stipend of 1000 marks by a Patent after this form The King to all the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Counts Barons Viscounts Foresters and all other his faithful subjects of England greeting Whereas for our own preservation and the tranquillity of our Kingdom and for the administration of justice to all and singular of this our Realm we have ordain'd our beloved and trusty Philip Basset Chief Justice of England during our will and pleasure we do require you by the faith and allegiance due to us strictly enjoyning that in all things relating to the said office and the preservation of our peace and Kingdom you shall be fully obedient to him so long as he shall continue in the said Office Witness the King c. But in the reign of Henry the third it was enacted that the Common Pleas should not follow the King's Court but be held in some certain place and awhile after the Chancery the Pleas of the Crown and the Exchequer also were remov'd from the King's Court and establisht apart in certain set places as some how truly I know not have told us Having premis'd thus much I will now add somewhat concerning these Courts and others that sprung from them as they are at this day And seeing some of them have cognizance of â—uris Law namely the King's Bench Common Pleas Exchequer Assizes Star-Chamber Court of Wards and the Court of Admiralty others of Equity as the Chancery the Court of Requests the Councils in the Marches of Wales and in the North I will here insert what I have learnt from others of each of them in their proper places The King's Bench â—â—e Kings â—â—â—ch so call'd because the Kings themselves were wont to preside in that Court takes cognizance of all pleas of the Crown and many other matters relating to the King and the well-being of the publick it has power to examine and correct the errors of the Common-pleas The Judges there besides the King himself when he is pleas'd to be present are the Lord Chief Justice of England and four others or more as the King pleases â—â—mmon â—â—â—as The Common-Pleas has this name because the common pleas between subject and subject is by our law which is call'd the Common law there triable The Judges here are the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and four others or more to assist him Officers belonging to this Court are the Custos Brevium three Prothonotaries and many others of inferior rank â—â—â—hequer The Exchequer deriv'd that name from a table at which they sat For so Gervasius Tilburiensis writes who liv'd in the year 1160. The Exchequer is a squarâ— table about ten foot long and five broad contriv'd likâ— a table to sit round On every side it has a ledge of four fingers breadth Upon it is spread a cloath of black colour with stripes distant about a foot or spanâ— it bought in Easter term A little after This Court 〈◊〉 report has been from the very Conquest of the Realm by King William the design and model of it being taken â—â—m the Exchequer beyond Sea Here all matters belongiâ—â—â— to the King's revenues are decided The Judges of it are the Lord Treasurer of England the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Chief Baron and three or four other Barons The Officers of this Court are the King's Remembrancer the Treasurer's Remembrancer the Clerk
of the Pipe the Comptroler of the Pipe the five Auditors of the old Revenues the Foreign Opposer Clerk of the Estreats Clerk of the Pleas the Marshal the Clerk of the Summons the Deputy-Chamberlains two Secondaries in the office of the King's Remembrancer two Deputies in the office of the Treasurer's Remembrancer two Secondaries of the Pipe four the other Clerks in several Offices c. In the other part of the Exchequer call'd * Recepta the Receiving-Office two Chamberlains a Vice-treasurer Clerk of the Tallies Clerk of the Pells four Tellers two Joyners of the Tallies two Deputy-Chamberlains the Clerk for Tallies the Keeper of the Treasury four Pursevants ordinary two Scribes c. The Officers likewise of the Tenths and First-fruits belong to this Court. For when the Pope's authority was rejected and an Act pass'd that all Tithes and First-fruits should be paid to the King these Officers were Instituted Besides these three Royal Courts of Judicature Justices Itinerant for the speedy execution of Justice and to ease the subject of much labour and expence Henry the second sent some of these Judges and others every year into each County who were call'd Justices Itinerant or Justices in Eyre These had jurisdiction as well in Pleas of the Crown as in common causes within the Counties to which they were sent For that King as Matthew Paris says by the advice of his son and the Bishops appointed Justices over six parts of the Kingdom to every part three who took an oath to do every man right and justice This institution expir'd at length in Edward the third's time but was in some measure reviv'd by an Act of Parliament soon after For the Counties being divided into so many Circuits two of the King's Justices are to go those Circuits twice every year for the trial of prisoners and Gaol-delivery Hence in Law-latin they are call'd Justiciarii Gaolae deliberandae They are likewise to take cognizance of all Assizes of novel disseisin and some others from which they are call'd Justices of Assize and also to try all issues between party and party in any of the King 's three great Courts by Recognitors of the same Peerage as the custom is Hence they are call'd Justices of Nisi prius from the Writs directed to the Sheriff for these tryals which have the words Nisi prius in them The b This Court is since Mr. Camden's time taken away Star-Chamber The Star-Chamber or rather the Court of the King's Council takes cognizance of all matters criminal perjuries Impostures Cheats Excesses c. This Court if we consider it in respect of standing and dignity is ancient and honourable above all others For it seems to be as early as Appeals from the Subjects to their Sovereign and the very birth and rise of the King's Council The Judges of it are men of the greatest honour and eminence being those of the King 's Privy Council It has had the name of the Star-Chamber ever since this Court was held in the Star-Chamber in Westminster which has now been a long time set a part to that use For in an Act of Parliament in Edward the third's time we find Conseil en le Chambre des Estoielles pres de la receipte al Westminster i.e. The Council in the Star-Chamber near the Receipt at Westminster The authority and jurisdiction of this Court was enlarg'd and confirm'd by an Act of Parliament procur'd by that wise Prince Henry the 7th so that some have falsly ascribed the institution of it to him The Judges of this Court are the Lord Chancellor of England the Lord Treasurer of England the Lord President of the King's Council the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and all those of the King's Council whether persons spiritual or temporal also sâ—n of the Barons of the Realm as the King will â—ppoint with the two Chief Justices or two othâ—â— Judges in their absence The Officers are tâ—â— Clerk of the Council the Clerk of the Writs and â—f the process in the Star-Chamber c. Causes of tâ—â—s Court are not try'd per Pares according to the Common-Law but after the method of the Civil-Law Thâ—â—â—urt oâ— Wards The Court of c The Court of Wards is now taken away Wards and Liveries which is so call'd from Minors whose causes are here try'd was instituted by Henry the 8. whereas before all business of this nature was determined in the Courts of Chancery and Exchequer For by an old Custom derived from Normandy and not as some write instituted by Henry the third when any one dies holding lands of the King in capite by Knight's service both the heir and the whole estate with the revenues of it are in Ward to the King till he has compleated the age of one and twenty and then he may sue out his livery The judge in this Court is the Master-General under him a Supervisor of the Liveries an Attorney-General a Receiver-General an Auditor a Clerk of the Liveries a Clerk of the Court forty Feudaries and a Messenger In after-ages were institued two other Courts for correcting of errors the one for those of the Excheqeur the other for those of the King's Bench. The Judges of the first were the Chancellor and the Treasurer of England taking such of the Judges to their assistance as they should think fit those of the latter were the Judges of the Common Pleas and the Barons of the Exchequer The Court of Admiralty has jurisdiction in marine affairs The Court of Admiralty and is administred by the Admiral of England his * Locum-tenens Lieutenant a Judge two Clerks a Serjeant of the Court and the Vice-Admirals Now for the Courts of Equity The Court of Chancery The Chancery takes its name from the Chancellor a title of no great honour under the old Roman Emperors as may be learnt from Vopiscus At present it is a name of the greatest dignity and the Chancellors are raised to the highest honours in the State Cassiodorus derives the word it self a cancellis i.e. rails or Balisters because they examine matters †Intra sâ—creta Cancellorum Epist 6. Lib. 11. in a private apartment enclos'd with rails such as the Latins call'd Cancelli Consider says he by what name you are call'd What you do within the rails cannot be a secret your doors are transparent your cloysters lye open and your gates are all windows Hence it plainly appears that the Chancellor sat expos'd to every one 's within the rails or cancels so that his name seems to be deriv'd from them Now it being the business of that Minister who is as it were the mouth the eyes and ears of the Prince to strike or dash out with cross lines * Cancellation lattice-like such writs or judgments as are against law or prejudicial to the state not improperly call'd Cancelling some think the word Chancellor to be deduc'd from it And thus we find it in a
modern Glossary A Chancellor is he whose office is to inspect the writings and answer of the Emperor to cancell those that are wrong and sign those that are right Nor is that of Polidore Virgil true namely that William the Conqueror instituted a College of Scribes to write letters-patents and nam'd the head of that society a CHANCELLOR for it is evident that Chancellors were in England before the Conquest How great the honour and authority of Chancellor is at this day is so very well known that I need not enlarge upon it yet it will not be improper to subjoyn a word or two from an old Author to shew of what note it was formerly Robert Fi z-Stephens who liv'd under Hen. 2. The dignity of the Chancellor of England is this he is reputed the second person in the Kingdom and next unto the King with the King's seal whereof he has the keeping he may seal his own injunctions to dispose of the King's Chapel as he pleases to receive and have the custody of all Archbishopricks Bishopricks Abbies and Baronies vacant and fallen into the King's hands to be present at the King's Counsels and repair thither without summons to seal all things by the hand of his Clerk who carries the King's seal and that all things be disposed of by his advice Also * Ut jâ—â—â— gaâ—â—â—â— eâ— per 〈◊〉 graâ—â—â—â— vita â—â—ritis â—morâ—â—â—â— nisi â—chiâ—â—â— scepâ—◠〈◊〉 vâ—â—uâ—â—â— that by the grace of God leading a just and upright Life he may if he will himself die Archbishop Whereupon it it is that the CHANCELLORSHIP is not to be bought The manner of creating a Chancellor for that I have a mind to take notice of in King Henry the second 's time was by hanging the Great Seal about the neck of the person chosen for that office Yet in Henry the sixth's reign the method was thus Guâ—â— Mâ—â— as it appears from the Records Upon the death of the Chancellor of England the three great Seals one of gold and the other two of silver which were kept by the Chancellor are immediately after his decease shut up in a wooden chest fast lock'd and seal'd by the Lords there present and so convey'd into the Treasury From thence they are brought to the King who in the presence of many of the Nobility delivers the same into the hands of him that is to be the succeeding Chancellor and undertakes the Charge of that office having first took an oath before him that he will duly administer the same First then he delivers up the great silver seal next that of gold and lastly the other of silver in the presence of great numbers of the Nobility After he has thus receiv'd them he puts them into the chest again and so sends them seal'd home where before certain of the Nobility he causes the King's writs and briefs to be seal'd with them When a Chancellor is displac'd he delivers up those three seals into the King's hands in the presence of many of the Nobility first the seal of Gold then the broad seal of silver and next the other of a less size At this day only one seal is delivered to the Chancellor nor is there any mention to be found of these three seals but in the reign of Henry the sixth In process of time much honour and authority was added to this office of Chancellor by Act of Parliament especially since so much niceness and subtilty has crept in among the Lawyers who have made their pleadings so difficult and ensnaring that a Court of Equity was found necessary which was committed to the Chancellors that he might judge according to the rules of right and equity and moderate the rigour of exact justice which is often down-right injustice and oppression There preside in this Court the Lord Chancellor of England and twelve Masters of Chancery as Assessors to him the chief where of is the Keeper of the Rolls belonging to that Court and thence call'd Magister Rotulorum or Master of the Rolls There are also many other Officers belonging to this Court some of them concern'd about the King's Seal namely the Clerk of the Crown the Clerk of the Hamper A Sealer A Chauff-wax A Comptroller of the Hamper twenty four Cursitors and a Clerk for the Sub-poena-writs Others concerned in the Bills there exhibited are a Prothonotary the Six Clerks or Attorneys of the Court and a Register There are also the three Clerks of the petit bag a Clerk of the Presentations a Clerk of the Faculties a Clerk for examining Letters-Patents a Clerk for Dimissions c. There is another Court also arising from the King 's Privy Council call'd the Court of Requests The Câ—â— of Requests from the addresses of Petitioners deliver'd there where private causes are heard as in Chancery if first presented to the King or his privy Council though sometimes otherwise In this Court business is manag'd by the Masters of the Requests and a Clerk or Register with two or three Attorneys As for those Councils held in the Marches of Wales and in the North I will treat of them God willing in another place The Chief Spiritual Courts Spiâ—â—â—â— Coâ—â—â— are the Synod which is call'd the Convocation and is always held at the same time that a Parliament is and the Provincial Synods in both Provinces After these are the Courts of the Achbishop of Canterbury namely the Court of Arches The Câ—â—â— of Aâ—â—â—â— the judge of which is the Dean of the †He is called DEAN for that he hath jurisdiction in 13 Parishes of London exempt from the Bishop of London which number maketh a DEANERIE Hol. Arches so call'd from St. Mary's Church in London famous for its arch'd steeple All Appeals within the province of Canterbury are made to him There are in this Court 16 Advocates or more as the Archbishop shall think fit all of them Doctors of Law two Registers and ten Proctors Court â—udiâ— The Court of Audience where all complaints causes and appeals in this Province are receiv'd Court â—eroâ—e The Court of Prerogative where the Commissary judges of inheritances whether descended without will or devis'd The Court of Faculties manag'd by a * Câ—urt â—culâ— â—fâ—ctus President who takes cognizance of all grievances represented to him by such as desire that the rigour and severity of the Canon-law may be moderated and a Register to record such dispensations as are granted Court â—eculâ—â— The Court of Peculiars which has jurisdiction in certain parishes exempt from the Bishop of the Diocese where they lye and those Peculiars that belong to the Archbishop with other things of less note I willingly omit For I must confess it was imprudent in me to dip at all in a subject of this nature however Guicciardin encouraged me to it by his example in his description of the Netherlands I intended here to have inserted some few things and those chiefly concerning the antiquity
the celebrated Organ at Ulme This city gave birth to Henrietta Maria youngest daughter to K. Charles 1. to William Petre â—ho was Secretary and Privy-Counsellor to K. Henry 8. Edward 6. Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth and seven times Embassadour in foreign parts and lastly to Sir Thomas Bodley employ'd by Queen Elizabeth to several foreign Courts but especially famous for his founding the Publick Library in the University of Oxford call'd after his own name nn Thomas the last Earl of Exeter mention'd by our Author was succeeded by William his son and heir who dying without issue-male The Eaâ—â—s continu'd left that honour to David Cecil Son of Sir Richard Cecil who was second son to Thomas Earl of Exeter This David was succeeded by John his son and heir and he by his son of the same name o At the confluence of Ex and Clist is Topesham Topheshaâ— an ancient town that hath flourish'd much by the obstructions of the river Ex. Several attempts have been made to remove these dammes but none so effectual as the new works in the time of King Charles 2. at the vast expence indeed of the City of Exeter but to such advantage that Lighters of the greatest burden come up to the city-key On the east of Exeter is a parish call'd Heavy-tree Heavy-tâ—â—â— memorable for the birth of Hooker the judicious Author of the Ecclesiastical Polity and of that great Civilian Dr. Arthur Duck. The next parish is Pinhoe Pinhoe remarkable for bringing forth the two Rainolds John and William brothers zealous maintainers both of the Reform'd and the Popish Religion in their turns Not far from hence is Stoke-Canon Stoke-Câ—non given by K. Canute to the Church of Exeter a representation of which gift was to be seen not long ago in a window of the Parish-Church there viz. a King with a triple Crown and this Inscription Canutus Rex donat hoc Manerium Eccles Exon. Four miles east of Exon we pass the river Clyst near which upon Clyst-heath Clyst-heath the Cornish rebels were totally defeated An. 1549. by John Lord Russel afterwards Earl of Bedford p Next is Honnyton Honnyâ—â—â— where the market was anciently kept on Sundays as it was also in Exeter Launceston and divers other places till in the reign of K. John they were alter'd to other days Over the river Ottery is Vennyton bridge Vennytâ—â—-bridge at which in the time of Edw. 6. a battle was fought against the Cornish rebels q And upon the same river stands Budley Budley famous for being the birth-place of that great Statesman and Historian Sir Walter Rawleigh r From whence to the north east is Sidmouth Sidmouâ—â— now one of the chiefest fisher-towns of those parts s And Seaton Seaton where the inhabitants formerly endeavour'd to cut out a haven and procur'd a Collection under the Great Seal for that purpose but now there remain no footsteps of that work t The river Ax passeth by Ford Ford. to which Abbey the Courtneys were great benefactours it is now in the hands of Edmund Prideaux Esq Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of K. Richard 1. was first Monk and then Abbot here Ax empties it self into the sea at Axmouth Axmoâ—â—â— formerly a good harbour for ships Several attempts have been made to repair this decay'd haven by the family of the Earles but all in vain u Crossing the country to the north-west we meet with Hartland Hartâ—â—â—â— the possessions of which Monastery were confirm'd by Richard 1. with the grant of great immunities particularly of a Court holding plea of all matters saving life and member arising in their own lands In the time of Q. Elizabeth a Bill was preferr'd in the house of Commons for finishing that port Not far from this is Clovelly-harbour Cloâ—â—â—â—â— secur'd by a Piere erected at great charges by the Carys who have had their seats here from the time of Richard 2. 'T is now the most noted place in those parts for herring-fishing At a little distance lies Hole or South-hold Sâ—â—th-hold the native place of Dr. John Moreman Vicar of Maynhennet in Cornwall towards the latter end of Henry 8. memorable upon this account that he was the first who taught his Parishioners the Lord's Prayer Creed and ten Commandments in the English tongue By which we learn in how short a time that language has entirely prevail'd against the native Cornish w Upon the river Ock is Okehampton â—kehampton which as it had formerly 92 Knights fees belonging to it so it is at present a good market town incorporated by K. James 1. sends Burgesses to Parliament and gives the title of Baron to the family of the Mohuns More to the north lies Stamford-Courtney Stamford-Courtney where began a great insurrection in the time of K. Edward 6. by two of the inhabitans one of whom would have no Gentlemen the other no Justices of Peace x At a little distance is North-Tawton North-Tawton where there is a pit of large circumference 10 foot deep out of which sometimes springs up a little brook or bourn and so continues for many days 'T is taken by the common people as a fore-runner of publick sorrow as that Bourn in Hertfordshire call'd Woobournmore Directly towards the north upon the river Moule lieth South-moulton â—outh-â—oulton an ancient town incorporate formerly call'd Snow-moulton when it was held by the Martyns by Sergeanty to find a man with a bow and three arrows to attend the Earl of Gloucester when he should hunt thereabouts x From hence to the south-west is Torrington â—â—rrington call'd in old Records Chepan-Torrington an ancient Borough which sent Burgesses to Parliament But that privilege hath been long discontinu'd both here and in other places in this County It was incorporated by Queen Mary by the name of Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses and hath yielded the title of Earl to George Duke of Albemarle the great Restorer of K. Charles 2. as after him to Christopher his only son and since to Arthur Herbert the present Earl late Lord Admiral y The river goes next to Bediford â—ediford mention'd by our Author for it's bridge It is so high that a ship of 50 or 60 tunn may sail under it For which and for number of arches it equals if not exceeds all others in England 'T was begun by Sir Theobald Granvill and for the finishing of it the Bishop of the Diocese granted out Indulgences to move the people to more liberal contributions and accordingly great sums of money were collected This place hath been in the possession of the Granvills ever since the Conquest a family famous particularly for Sir Richard Granvill's behaviour in Glamorganshire in the reign of W. Rufus and another of the same name under Q. Elizabeth who with one ship maintain'd a sea-fight for 24 hours against 50 of the Spanish Galeons and at last yielded upon
Montacute in Domesday Montagud it salutes Montacute so call'd by the Earl of Moriton brother by the mother's side to William 1. †If Leland be Mr. Camden's authority for this he freely declares he had it only by hear-say who built a castle at the very top of the hill and a Religious house at the bottom of it because it rises by degrees into a sharp point whereas before that it was nam'd * In the Copy of Leland which I had it is Logaresburch and 't is probable Mr. Camden had it from him Logoresburg and Bischopeston Annals of Glassenbury But the castle has been quite destroy'd these many years and the stones carry'd off to build the Religious house and other things Afterwards on the very top of the hill was a Chappel made and consecrated to S. Michael the arch and roof curiously built of hard stone and the ascent to it is round the mountain up stone-stairs for near half a mile Now the Monastery and Chappel are both demolish'd and the greatest ornament it has is a delicate house which the worthy c His grandson Sir Edward Philips is still living Sir Edward Philips Knight Serjeant at Law lately built at the foot of the mountain Lords of Montacute This place gave name to the honourable family of the Montacutes descended from Drogo * Juvene the Young Of this family there were four Earls of Salisbury the last left issue one only daughter which had by Richard Nevil the famous Richard Earl of Warwick that * turbâ—â—â—â— Whirlwind of England and John Marquess of Montacute both kill'd in the battle of Barnet in the year 1472. But the title of Baron Montacute was conferr'd upon Henry Poole Son of Margaret daughter of George Duke of Clarence descended from a daughter of that Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick by King Henry 8. who presently after beheaded him Queen Mary bestow'd the title and honour of Viscount Montacute upon Anthony Brown whose grandmother was daughter of John Nevil Marquess of Montacute d It still continues in the same family and the honour is at present enjoy'd by Francis Viscount Mountague and his grandchild by a son now enjoys it 9 And here I must not forget Preston sometime the seat of John Sturton younger son to the first Lord Struton one of whose heirs was marry'd to Sidenham of Brimston thereby Next to this is Odcombe Odcomâ—â— which tho' but a very small town must not yet be omitted because it has had it's Baron Barons William de Briewer Bâ—iewâ—r for so his father was call'd as being born * In eâ—â—â— in a heath who 10 Who being taken up in the New-Forest by K. Henry the sâ—cond in a hunting journey prov'd 〈◊〉 great man having great interest at Court being also an entire Favourite of Richard 1. was respected and caressed by all and so got a very large estate 11 Marry'd Beatrix of Vannes Widow to Reginald Earl of Cornwall with which by the marriage of his daughters for his son dy'd without issue he made a great accession to the estates of the Brees Wakes Mohuns La-ferts and Pereys Below this at a little distance is Stoke under Hamden where the Gornays had their castle and built a College This family surnam'd de Gornaico and commonly Gornay was very ancient and illustrious descended from the same stock with the Warrens Earls of Surrey and the Mortimers But in the last age it was extinct and part of that estate came by the Hamptons to the Knightly family of the Newtons Newtoâ—â— who freely own themselves to be of Welsh extraction and not long ago to have been call'd Caradocks Nor must we forget to mention that Matthew Gornay was bury'd here a stout souldier in the time of Edward 3. and dy'd in the 96th year of his age after he had been dd The Inscription was in French and is set down at large by Leland where 't is express'd that he dy'd Sept. 26. An. 1406. as the Inscription witnesseth at the siege of D'algizer against the Saracens at the battles of Benamazin Sclusa Cressia Ingines Poictiers and Nazaran in Spain Next the Parret waters Martock a little market-town which formerly William of Bologne son to king Stephen gave to Faramusius of Bologne Farâ—moâ—â— of Bâ—loâ— Fieâ—es whose only daughter and heir Sibill was marry'd to Ingelram de Fienes and from them are descended the Fienes Barons of Dacre and the Barons of Say and Zele From hence the Parret cuts it's way into the north through a muddy plain by Langport a market-town pretty well frequented and by Aulre Aulre a little village of a few small hurts which yet seems once to have been a town of better note For when Alfred had so shatter'd the Danes and by a siege forc'd them to surrender that they took an Oath to depart out of his dominions with all expedition and e I think most of our Historians call it Godrun the Saxon Annals constantly mention it under that name Godrus their King as Asser tells us promis'd to embrace Christianity then Alfred in this place took him out of the sacred font of Regeneration with great pomp The Parret running from hence receives the river Thone which rising at a great distance in the western part of the County next Devonshire passes through delicate fields 12 Near Wivelscomb assign'd anciently to the Bishop of Bath to Wellington Wellinâ— which in the time of Edward the Elder was the ground of six Mansion-houses at what time he gave this along with Lediard Lediaâ—â— which was of twelve Mansion-houses to the Bishop of Shirbourn It is now a little market-town receiving it's greatest glory from an honourable Inhabitant for persons eminent for virtue and their good services to their country deserve always to be mention'd 13 Sir John Popham John Popham J. Pophâ— memorable as for the antiquity of his noble descent so for his strict justice and singular industry This man now Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench administers Justice with so much evenness and such a temper'd severity that England has for this long time been mostly indebted to him for it's domestick peace and security Going from hence with a gentle and easie course the Thone washes Thonton or Taunton 〈…〉 and gives it that name It is a neat town delicately seated and in short one of the eyes of this County Here Ina King of the West-Saxons built a castle which Desburgia his wife levell'd with the ground after she had driven Eadbricth King of the East-Saxons out of it who had got possession and us'd it as a curb to a conquer'd nation In the reign of Edward the Confessor it gelded so it is in Domesday-book for 54 hides had 63 Burgers and was held by the Bishop of Winchester whose Pleadings were here kept thrice a year Those Customs belong to Taunton Burgheriste robbers breach of the
houses eight were destroy'd for the Castle It was formerly walled about and as may be seen by the tract was a c The ditch of the town says Leland and the creast whereon the wall stood are yet manifestly perceiv'd and begin from the Castle going in compass a good mile or more mile in compass it hath a castle seated upon the river very large and so well fortify'd in former times that the hopes of it's being impregnable hath made some persons over-resolute For when the flames of Civil War had as it were set all England on fire we read that King Stephen ever now and then attempted it by siege but still in vain We much wonder'd at it's greatness and magnificence when we were boys and retir'd thither from Oxford for it is now a retiring place for the Students of Christ-Church at Oxford it being double wall'd and surrounded with d Leland says it has 3 dikes large and deep and well water'd two ditches In the middle stands a tower rais'd upon a very high mount in the steep ascent whereof which you climb by stairs I saw a well of an exceeding depth The Inhabitants believe it was built by the Danes but I should rather judge that something was here erected by the Romans and afterwards demolish'd by the Saxons and Danes when Sueno the Dane harrass'd the Country up and down in these parts At length it recover'd it self under William 1. as plainly appears by Domesday Book where it makes mention of eight ‖ Hagaâ— Houses being pull'd down for the Castle as I observ'd but now Yet William Gemeticensis takes no notice of this Castle when he writes that William the Norman after Harold's defeat immediately led his army to this city for so he terms it and passing the Thames at the ford encamp'd here before he march'd to London Lords of Wallingford At which time Wigod an Englishman was Lord of Wallingford who had one only daughter given in marriage to Robert D'Oily by whom he had Maud his sole heir married first to Miles Crispin and after his death by the favour of K. Henry 1. to Brient †Fillo Comitis Fitz-Count and he being bred a soldier and taking part with Maud the Empress stoutly defended the Castle against King Stephen who had rais'd a Fort over against it at Craumesh till the peace so much wish'd for by England in general was concluded in this place and that terrible quarrel between King Stephen and K. Henry 2. was ended And then the love of God did so prevail upon Brient and his wife that quitting the transitory vanities of this world they wholly devoted themselves to Christ by which means this Honour of Wallingford fell to the Crown Which appears by these words taken out of an old Inquisition in the Exchequer To his well beloved Lords Of the Honour of Wallingford in Tâ—â—â— de Nâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Exchequer our Lord the King's Justices and the Barons of the Exchequer the Constable of Wallingford Greeting Know ye that I have made diligent Inquisition by the Knights of my Bailywick in pursuance of my Lord the King's precept directed to me by the Sheriff and this is the summe of the inquisition thus taken Wigod of Wallingford held the honour of Wallingford in K. Harold's time and afterwards in the reign of K. William 1. and had by his Wife a certain Daughter whom he gave in marriage to Robert D'Oily This Robert had by her a Daughter named Maud which was his heir Miles Crispin espous'd her and had with her the aforesaid honour of Wallingford After Miles ' s decease our Lord K. Henry 1. bestow'd the aforesaid Maud upon Brient Fitz-Count c. Yet afterwards in the reign of Henry 3. it belong'd to the Earls of Chester and then to Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall who repaired it and to his son Edmond who founded a Collegiate Chapel within the inner Court but he dying issueless it fell again to the Crown and was annexed to the Dukedom of Cornwall since when it hath fallen much to decay More especially about the time when that plague and mortality which follow'd the conjunction of Saturn and Mars in Capricorn A terrible â—â—ague reign'd so hotly through all Europe in the year of our Lord 1343. Then this Wallingford by that great mortality was so exhausted that whereas before it was very well inhabited and had 12 Churches in it now it can shew but one or two But the inhabitants rather lay the cause of this their town's decay upon the bridges built at Abingdon and Dorchester e Just so Wilton the once chief town of Wiltshire began to decay when the road was turn'd through Salisbury and the bridge was built there by which means the High-road is turn'd from thence g From hence Southward the Thames gently glides between very fruitful fields on both sides of it by Moulesford Moulesford which K. Henry 1. gave to Girald Fitz-Walter from whom the noble Family of the Carews are descended A family that hath receiv'd the addition of much honour by it's matches with the noble families of Mohun and Dinham and others in Ireland as well as England Not far from hence is Aldworth where there are certain tombs and statues upon them larger than ordinary much wonder'd at by the common people as if they were the pourtraictures of Giants when indeed they are only those of certain Knights of the family of De la Beche which had a Castle here and is suppos'd to have been extinct for want of male-issue in the reign of Edward 3. And now at length the Thames meets with the Kenet The river â—enet which as I said before watering the south-side of this County at it's first entry after it has left Wiltshire runs beneath Hungerford â—ungerâ—â—rd call'd in ancient times Ingleford Charnam-street a mean town and seated in a moist place which yet gives both name and title to the honourable family of the Barons of Hungerford first advanc'd to it's greatness by f He was son of that Sir Thomas Hungerford who was Speaker to the House of Commons 51 Edw. 3. which was the first Parliament wherein that House had a Speaker Walter Hungerford who was Steward of the King's Houshold under King Henry 5. and had conferr'd upon by that Prince's bounty in consideration of his eminent services in the wars the Castle and Barony of Homet in Normandy to hold to him and his heirs males by homage and service to find the King and his heirs at the Castle of Roan one Lance with a Fox's tail hanging to it â—â—ima pars â—pl Paâ—â— Norâ—n 6 H. 5. which pleasant tenure I thought not amiss to insert here among serious matters The same Walter in the reign of Henry 6. was Lord High Treasurer of England â—rons â—ngerford and created Baron Hungerford and what by his prudent management and his matching with Catherine Peverell descended from the
entertain'd a design to depose him For which after he was dead he was attainted of High Treason by Act of Parliament He being thus taken off the same King gave the title of Earl of Glocester to Thomas De-Spencer 38 In the right of his great Grandmother who a little while after met with no better fate than his great Grandfather 39 Sir Hugh Hugh had before him for he was prosecuted by Henry 4 and ignominiously degraded and beheaded at Bristol 40 By the Peoples fury Henry 5. created his brother Humphry the second Duke of Glocester who us'd to stile himself 41 In the first year of King Henry 6. as I have seen in an Instrument of his Humphrey by the Grace of God Son Brother and Uncie to Kings Luke of Glocester Earl of Hainault Holland Zeeland and Pembroke Lord of Friseland Great Chamberlain of the Kingdom of England Protector and Defender of the same Kingdom and Church of England Son Brother and Uncle of Kings Duke of Glocester Earl of Pembroke and Lord high Chamberlain of England He was a great Friend and Patron both of his Country and Learning but by the contrivance 42 Of a Woman of a woman he was taken off at St. Edmunds-Bury The third and last Duke was Richard the third brother to King Edward 4. who having inhumanly murther'd his Nephews usurp'd the Throne which within the space of two years he lost with his life in a pitcht battle and found by sad experience That an unsurped power unjustly gain'd is never lasting Richard 3. Concerning this last Duke of Glocester and his first entrance upon the Crown give me leave to act the part of an Historian for a while which I shall presently lay aside again as not being sufficiently qualify'd for such an undertaking When he was declared Protector of the Kingdom and had his two young nephews Edward 5. King of England and Richard Duke of York in his power he began to aim at the Crown and by a profuse liberality great gravity mixed with singular affability deep wisdom impartial Justice to all people joyned with other subtle devices he procured the affections of all and particularly gained the Lawyers on his side and so managed the matter that there was an humble Petition in the name of the Estates of the realm offer'd him in which they earnestly pray'd him That for the publick good of the Kingdom and safety of the People he would accept the Crown and thereby support his tottering Country and not suffer it to fall into utter ruin which without respect to the laws of Nature and those of the establish'd Government had been harrassed and perplexed with civil wars rapines murders and all other sorts of miseries ever since Edward 4. his brother being enchanted with love potions had contracted that unhappy march with Elizabeth Grey widow without the consent of Nobles or publication of Banns in a clandestine manner and not in the face of the Congregation contrary to the laudable custom of the Church of England And what was worse when he had pre-contracted himself to the Lady Eleanor Butler daughter to the Earl of Shrewsbury from whence it was apparent that his marriage was undoubtedly unlawful and that the issue proceeding thence must be illegitimate and not capable of inheriting the Crown Moreover since George Duke of Clarence second brother of Edward 4. was by Act of Parliament attainted of High Treason and his children excluded from all right of succession none could be ignorant that Richard remained the sole and undoubted heir of the kingdom who being born in England they well knew would seriously consult the good of his native Country and of whose birth and legitimacy there was not the least question or dispute whose wisdom also justice gallantry of mind and warlike exploits valiantly performed for the good of the Nation and the splendor of his noble extract as descended from the royal race of England France and Spain they were very well acquainted with and fully understood Wherefore having seriously considered again and again of these and many other reasons they did freely and voluntarily with an unanimous consent according to their Petition elect him to be their King and with prayers and tears out of the great confidence they had in him humbly besought him to accept of the Kingdom of England France and Ireland which were doubly his both by right of inheritance and election and that for the love which he bore to his native Country he would stretch forth his helping hand to save and protect it from impendent ruin Which if he performed they largely promis'd him all faith duty and allegiance otherwise they were resolv'd to endure the utmost extremity rather than suffer themselves to be brought into the bonds of a disgraceful slavery from which at present they were freed This humble Petition was presented to him before he accepted the Crown afterwards it was also offered in the great Council of the Nation and approved of and by their authority it was enacted and declared in a heap of words as the custom is That by the Laws of God Nature and of England and by a most laudable Custom Richard after a lawful Election Inauguration and Coronation was and is the true and undoubted King of England c. and that the inheritance of these Kingdoms rightfully belongs to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and to use the very words as they are penned in the original Records It was enacted decreed and declar'd by authority of Parliament that all and singular the Contents in the aforesaid Bill are true and undoubted and that the same our Lord the King with the assent of the three Estates of the Realm and the authority aforesaid doth pronounce decree and declare the same to be true and undoubted I have more largely explained these matters that it may be understood how far the power of a Prince pretended godliness subtle arguings of Lawyers flattering hope cowardly fear desire of new changes and specious pretences may prevail against all right and justice even upon the great and wise assembly of the Nation But the same cannot be said of this Richard as was of Galba That he had been thought fit for Empire had he not reigned for he seated in the Empire deceived all mens expectations but this had been most worthy of a Kingdom had he not aspired thereunto by wicked ways and means so that in the opinion of the wise he is to be reckon'd in the number of bad men but of good Princes But I must not forget that I am a Chorographer and so must lay aside the Historian There are in this County 280 Parishes ADDITIONS to GLOCESTERSHIRE a GLocestershire in Saxon Gleaƿceastre-scyre and Gleaƿcestre-scyre is said to be in length 60 miles in breadth 26 and in circumference 190. The Vineyards mention'd by our Author have nothing left in this County but the places nam'd from them one near Tewkesbury at present
Dukes of Somerset hath lately built a very noble and extraordinary pleasant Seat Within the town it self there is nothing worth seeing except a School founded there by J. Incent Dean of St. Pauls in London who was a native of this town More to the South lyeth Kings-Langley Kings-Langley heretofore a Seat of the Kings where Edmund of Langley son to Edward the third Duke of York was born and thence also named Here was a small Cell of Friers Praedicants in which that unhappy Prince Richard the second was first buried who was barbarously depriv'd both of his Kingdom and his Life but not long after his body was remov'd to Westminster and had a monument of brass bestow'd upon it to make amends for his Kingdom Just almost over-against this there lyeth also another Langley which because it did belong to the Abbots of St. Albans is call'd Abbots-Langley Abbots-Langley the place where Nicholas Breakspeare was born afterwards Pope by the name of Hadrian Pope Hadrian 4. the fourth who first preach'd the Christian faith to the people of Norway and quieted the tumults of the people of Rome at that time endeavouring to recover their ancient liberties Frederic the first Emperour of the Romans held this Pope's stirrup as he alighted from his horse and at last he lost his life by a fly that flew into his mouth and choaked him Lower I saw Watford Watford and Rickemanesworth Rickmansworth two Market-towns touching which we have no account until we find that King Offa bestowed them upon St. Alban as also he did Caishobery Caishobory that lyes next to Watford Watford At which place a house was begun by Sir Richard Morison a man of great learning and employed by Henry the 8th and Edward the 6th in several Embassies to the greatest Princes in Europe but he left it to his son 21 Sir Charles Charles to finish who made it a neat and curious Seat More toward the east the Roman military way pass'd in a direct line from London to Verulam over Hamsted-heath and so by Edgworth and Ellestre near which place at the very same distance that Antoninus in his Itinerary placeth the Sulloniacae Sulloniacae to wit twelve miles from London and nine from Verulam there remain yet some marks of an ancient station and there is much rubbish digg'd up upon a hill which is now call'd Brockley-hill o But when the Roman Empire in this land expir'd and barbarism by degrees got ground whilst the Saxon wars put all things in a perpetual hurry this great road as all other things lay quite neglected for a long time until a a little before the Norman Conquest Leofstan Abbot of St. Albans repaired and restor'd it For he as we read in his life caused the great woods all along from the edge of the †Ciltria Chiltern as far as London to be cut down especially upon the King's high-way commonly call'd Watlingstreet all high and broken grounds to be levell'd bridges to be built and the ways made even for the convenience of passengers But above 300 years ago this road was again in part deserted by reason that another road was laid open thro' Highgate and Barnet by licence from the Bishop of London Barnet begins now a-days to be an eminent market for cattel but was much more so for a great battel fought there in those furious wars between the two houses of York and Lancaster in which wars England suffer'd whatever aspiring Treachery durst attempt For at d This Gledsmore is in the County of Middlesex tho' Barnet it self be in this and the battel from it commonly call'd Barnet-field Gledsmore hard by the two parties upon an Easter-day had a sharp encounter anâ— for a long time by reason of a thick Fog fought with dubious success But at last King Edw. 4. happily gained the Victory and Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick was there slain a man whom as the smiles of Fortune had render'd strangely insolent and a particular enemy to crown'd heads so by his death he freed England from those apprehensions of continu'd civil wars they had long labour'd under p 22 Barnet hath for his neighbours Mimmes a seat of the worshipful family of the Coningsbies descended to them by Frowick from the Knolles ancient possessors thereof and North-hall where Ambrose Dudley last Earl of Warwick rais'd a stately house from the Foundations Earls of Hertford This County of Hertford had Earls that were of the family of Clare and therefore more commonly were call'd Earls of Clare from Clare their principal seat in the County of Suffolk The first that I have met with was Gilbert who writes himself Earl of Hertford as a witness to a Charter of King Stephen Likewise Roger de Clare in the Red-book in the Exchequer bears the title of Earl of Hertford in the reign of Henry 2. as also his successors See the E◠〈…〉 G◠〈…〉 and iâ— Sâ—folk whom you may see in their proper places But when this family by right of inheritance as well as by their Prince's favour came to be also Earls of Glocester they bore joyntly the two titles and were summoned to Parliament by the name of Earls of Glocester and Hertford And accordingly Richard de Clare who died An. Dom. 1262. is by Matthew of Westminster expresly called Earl of Glocester and Hertford upon the recital of this his Epitaph Hic pudor Hippoliti Paridis gena sensus Ulyssis Aeneae pietas Hectoris ira jacet Here Hector 's rage Ulysses wisdom lays Hippolitus his blush and Paris face But within the memory of our fathers K. Hen. 8. honoured 23 Sir Edward Edward de St. Maur or Seymor with the title of Earl of Hertford who was afterward created also Duke of Somerset 24 By King Edward 6. to whom succeeded in this Earldom his son of the same name a person of great honour and a true friend to learning This County hath in it 120 Parishes ADDITIONS to HERTFORDSHIRE THE County of Hertford as to Vicountile Jurisdiction both before and long after the time of Edward 3. was annex'd to Essex and one Sheriff supply'd both Counties as did also one Escheator * Nord p. 5. The Justices for the greater ease both of themselves and the common people have by consent divided the whole Shire into three parts or divisions and accordingly have three several Courts for determination of lesser matters the more considerable being referr'd to the general meeting at Hertford a Notwithstanding what our Author has affirm'd of it's corn-ground pastures and meadows those who have made particular enquiries into the affairs of this County rather refer it's flourishing condition partly to the many thorow-fares to and from London which has been the cause of the improvement of their towns and partly to the healthfulness of the air which has induc'd several of the Gentry to settle in this County and given occasion to this saying
as one expresses it will make you split your sides with laughing I know not whether I should here take notice into what vain groundless hopes of finding gold at Norton Norton hard by King Henry the eighth was drawn by an itching credulous Avarice But the diggings speak for me Between the Gipping and Wulpett upon a high hill are the remains of an old Castle call'd Hawghlee in compass about two acres Some will have this to have been call'd Hagoneth-Castle Hâ—gâ—â—eâ—h which belong'd to Ralph de Broc and was in the year 1173. taken and demolisht by Robert Earl of Leicester 13 During the intestine war between King Henry 2. and his disloyal son Upon the same river are seen Stow and Needham small Market-towns and not far from the bank Hemingston wherein Baldwin le Pettour observe the name held Lands by Serjeanty thus an ancient Book expresses it for which he was oblig'd every Christmas-day to perform before our Lord the King of England A merry Tenure one Saltus one Suffletus and one Bumbulus or as 't is read in another place he held it by a Saltus a Sufflus and Pettus that is if I apprehend it aright he was to dance make a noise with his cheeks puff'd out and to let a fart Such was the plain jolly mirth of those times 'T is also observ'd that the Manour of Langhall belong'd to this Fee Nearer the mouth I saw Ipswich Ipswâ—â— formerly Gippewich a little City lowly seated and as it were the eye of this County It has a pretty commodious harbour has been fortify'd with a ditch and rampire has a great trade and is very populous being adorn'd with fourteen Churches and large stately private buildings g I pass by the four Religious Houses now demolisht and the magnificent College begun by Cardinal Wolsey a butcher's son and born in this place whose vast thoughts were always took up with extravagant projects The Body Politick of it as I have been told consists of 12 Burgesses whom they call Portmen and out of them two Bailiffs are annually chosen for their chief Magistrates and as many Justices out of 24 more As to its Antiquity so far as my observation has carry'd me we hear nothing of its name before the Danish Invasion which it felt sufficiently In the year of our Lord 991. the Danes plunder'd this place and all along the sea-coast with so much cruelty and barbarity that Siricius Archbishop of Canterbury and the Nobility of England thought it most advisable to purchase a Peace of them for ten thousand pound But for all that before nine years were at an end they plunder'd this town a second time whereupon the English presently engaged them with a great deal of resolution but as Henry of Huntingdon has it by the cowardly fear of one single man Turkil our men were put to flight and the victory as it were dropt out of our hands Thus small accidents give a strange turn in the affairs of war In Edward the Confessor's reign as we find it in Domesday-book Queen Edeva had two parts of this town and Earl Guert a third and there were in it 800 Burgesses that paid Custom to the King But when the Normans had possess'd themselves of England they built here a Castle which Hugh Bigod held for some time against Stephen the usurping King of England but at last surrender'd it Now 't is so entirely gone to decay that there is not so much as the rubbish left Some are of opinion that it stood in the adjoyning parish of Westfeld where appear the remains â—f a Castle and tell you that was the site of old Gippwic I fancy it was demolisht when Henry the second levell'd Waleton Waletâ—â— a neighbouring Castle with the ground For this was a harbour for the Rebels and here the three thousand Flemings landed who were invited over by the Nobility to assist them against him when he had fell upon that unlucky design of making his son Henry an equal sharer with him in the Government and when the young man who knew not how to stay at the top without running headlong out of a mad restless desire of reigning declar'd a most unnatural war against his own father Though these Castles are now quite gone yet the shore is very well defended by a vast ridge they call it Langerston Langerston which for about two miles as one observes lays all along out of the Sea not without great danger and terrour to Mariners 'T is however of use to the Fishermen for drying of their fish and does in a manner fence the spacious harbour Orwell And thus much of the south part of this County From hence a crooked shore for all this Eastern part lyes upon the Sea running northward presently opens it self to the little river * Oâ—hers calâ— it â—â—â—aâ—â—â—g Deben It rises near Mendlesham to which the Lord of the place H. Fitz-Otho or the son of Otho †â—â—lpâ—oi◠〈◊〉 the Mint-master procur'd the privilege of a Market and Fair of Edward the first By his heirs a considerable estate came to the Boutetorts Bâ—utâ—tort Lords of Wily in Worcestershire and from them afterwards in the reign of Richard the scond to Frevil 14 Barkley of Stoke Burnel and others From hence the river Deben continues its course and gives name to Debenham a small Market-town which others will have call'd more rightly Depenham because the soil being moist and clayie the roads all round about it are deep and troublesome From thence it runs by Ufford formerly the seat of Robert de Ufford Earl of Suffolk and on the opposite bank is Rendilis-ham Rendilis-ham i.e. as Bede interprets it the home or mansion of Rendilus where Redwald King of the East-Angles commonly kept his Court. He was the first of all that People that was baptiz'd and receiv'd Christianity but afterwards seduc'd by his wife he had as Bede expresses it in the self same Church one Altar for the Religion of Christ and another for the Sacrifices to Devils Suidhelmus also King of the East-Angles was afterwards baptiz'd in this place by Cedda the Bishop From hence the river Deben runs on to Woodbridge a little town beautify'd with neat buildings where at certain set times is the Meeting for the Liberty of S. Etheldred and after the course of a few miles is receiv'd by the Sea at Bawdsey-haven Then the shore steals on by little and little towards the East By others câ—â—â—'d Wincâ—â—â—â— to the mouth of the river Ore which runs by Framlingham Fâ—amlingham formerly a Castle of the Bigods 15 Through the bounty of King Henry 1. and presently upon the west side of it spreads it self into a sort of Lake This is a very beautiful Castle fortify'd with a rampire a ditch and a wall of great thickness with thirteen towers within it has very convenient Lodgings From this place it was that in the year of our Lord
house but Hugh Hare brother to Nicholas was he who so much improv'd the estate and dying without marriage left above 40000 pound between 2 nephews Not far from hence lies West-Dereham West-Dâ—â—eham famous for the birth of Hubert Walter who being bred up under the famous Lord Chief Justice Glanville became Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Chancellour under K. Rich. 1. Legate to Pope Celestine 4. and Lord Chief Justice of all England The respect he had for the place oblig'd him to build a Religious-house there wherein as a piece of gratitude for the many favours he had receiv'd he order'd that they should constantly pray for the soul of his great patron Ralph de Glanvilla CAMBRIDGE SHIRE At a little more distance from the sea is Congham Congham honour'd with the birth of Sir Henry Spelman that great Oracle of Law Patron of the Church and glory of England More inwards is Rougham Rougham the seat of the Yelvertons of whom William under Hen. 6. Christopher under Qu. Elizabeth and Henry under K. Charles 1. were Lord Chief Justices of England Next is Babbingley Babbingley whither Felix the Apostle of the East-Angles coming about the year 630. converted the inhabitants to Christianity and built the first Church in those parts whereof succeeding ages made S. Felix the patron Some remains of this passage are still found in the adjoyning mountains call'd Christian-hills and in Flitcham Fâ—itâ—ham a neighbouring place which imports as much as the village or dwelling-place of Felix bb Removing from the sea-coast towards the south-east Narburgh Narburgh lies in our way the termination whereof seems to suggest something of Antiquity and the place it self answers the name For there is an old Fortification and from hence to Oxburgh has been a military foss tho' it be now levell'd in some places But what puts it beyond dispute is that Sir Clement Spelman contriving an Orchard at the foot of the hill digg'd up the bones of men in great abundance and likewise old pieces of armour cc Upon the north-side of the Hier stands Elmham Eâ—â—ham which till within these two ages was never under the jurisdiction of any secular Lord. For under the Heathens 't is said to have been the habitation of a Flamin and after their conversion to Christianity by Felix it came into the possession of the Bishops The See was first at Dunwich but when it was thought too great for the management of one it was divided into two Dioceses the one to reside at Dunwich for Suffolk and the other at Elmham for Norfolk dd Directly south is East-Dereham East Dereham call'd also Market-Dereham which having been almost all burnt to the ground is now rebuilt into a fair town and Hingham another market town not far from it hath had both the same disease and cure ee About 4 miles from Ic-burrough lies Weeting Weeting near Brandon-ferry wherein is an old wasted castle moated about and at a mile's distance eastward is a hill with certain small trenches or ancient fortifications call'd Gimes-graves of which name the inhabitants can give no account On the west-side of this place from the edge of the Fen arises a bank and ditch which running on for some miles parts that bound of Weeting from Wilton and Feltwell and is call'd the Foss In the fields of Weeting is a fine green way call'd Walsingham-way being the road for the pilgrims to the Lady of Walsingham And about a mile from the town north is another like it from Hockwold and Wilton upon which are two stump crosses of stone supposed to be set there for direction to the pilgrims Continuation of the EARLS and DUKES By the Attainder of the last Thomas the title of Duke of Norfolk being taken away Philip his eldest son was call'd only Earl of Arundel by descent from his mother and he being attainted of High-Treason for favouring the Popish party had the sentence of death pass'd upon him but his execution being forborn he dy'd in the Tower An. 1595. His son and only child Thomas was created Earl of Norfolk Jun. 6. 20 Car. 1. and dy'd at Padua An. 1646. leaving two sons Henry and Thomas whereof Henry succeeded his father and he likewise was succeeded by Thomas his eldest son in his Titles of Earls of Arundel Surrey and Norfolk who at the humble petition of several of the Nobility was May 8. 13 Car. 2. restor'd to the title of Duke of Norfolk Which is now among others enjoy'd by Henry Howard Earl Marshal of England More rare Plants growing wild in Norfokl Atriplex maritima nostras Ocimi minoris folio Sea-Orrache with small Basil leaves Found by Dr. Plukenet near Kings-Lynne Acorus verus sive Calamus Officinarum Park The sweet-smelling Flag or Calamus Observed by Sir Thomas Brown in the river Y are near Norwich See the Synonymes in Surrey Lychnis viscosa flore muscoso C. B. Sesamoides Salamanticum magnum Ger. Muscipula Salamantica major Park Muscipula muscoso flore seu Ocymoides Belliforme J. B. Spanish Catchfly By the way-sides all along as you travel from Barton mills to Thetford plentifully Spongia ramosa fluviatilis Branched river-sponge In the river Y are near Norwich Turritis Ger. vulgatior J. B. Park Brassica sylvestris foliis integris hispidis C. B. Tower-mustard In the hedges about the mid-way between Norwich and Yarmouth Verbascum pulverulentum flore luteo parvo J. B. an mas foliis angustioribus floribus pallidis C. B. Hoary Mullein About the walls of Norwich Vermicularis frutex minor Ger. Shrub Stonecrop This was shew'd us by Sir Thomas Brown of Norwich who had it from the sea-coast of Norfolk See the Synonymes in Glocestershire Urtica Romana Ger. Park Roman Nettle At Yarmouth by the lanes sides not far from the Key N. Travelling from Lynne to Norwich I observed by the way side not far from Norwich the Medica sylvestris J. B. which is usually with a yellow flower and therefore called by Clusius Medica frutescens flavo flore to vary in the colour of the flower and to become purplish like the Burgundy Trefoil or Sainct-foin CAMBRIDGESHIRE MORE into the Country lies the County of Cambridge by the Saxons call'd a Grantâ—bryegscyr Grentbrigg-scyre and by the common people Cambridge-shire stretch'd lengthways to the north It borders upon Norfolk and Suffolk on the east Essex and Hertfordshire on the south Bedford and Huntingdon Shires on the west and Lincolnshire on the north the river Ouse running from west to east crosses and divides it into two parts The south and lower part is more improv'd better planted and consequently more rich and fertil sufficiently plain but not quite level chiefly or indeed wholly setting aside that part which plentifully produces Saffron consisting of Corn-fields abundantly stor'd with the best Barley of which they make great quantities of Byne or Malt Byne Malt. by steeping it till it sprout again then drying it over a Kiln
Grey afterwards Marquess of Dorset held this honour a little while It is evident from the Records that William Herbert Earl of Pembroke again brought in the Charter of Creation whereby his father was made Earl of Pembroke into the Chancery to be cancelled and that Edward the fourth created him Earl of Huntingdon in the seventeenth year of his reign But in the memory of our fathers Henry the eighth settled this honour upon George Lord Hastings But Francis Lord Hastings his son dying in his life-time this honour descended to Henry his son a truly honourable person both for Nobility and Piety he dying without heirs his brother George succeeded him whose grandchild by a son Henry enjoys the honour at this day This little Shire contains 78 Parishes ADDITIONS to HVNTINGDONSHIRE a HUntingdonshire call'd in * Annal. p. â—â—1 l. 1. p. 147. l 36. Saxon huntandunescyre and by later Writers Huntedunescire and Huntyngdonschyre is of very small extent scarce stretching out it self 20 miles tho' measur'd to the best advantage †â—â—eeâ— fâ—â—m â—ir R b. Cottâ—n It has been an observation upon this County that the families of it have been so worn out that tho' it has been very rich in Gentry yet but few Sirnames of any note are remaining which can be drawn down beyond the reign of the last Henry The cause of such decay in places nearer London is plain enough viz. the many temptations to luxury and high living and the great wealth of Merchants always ready to supply their extravagance with money till the whole be run out But this cannot hold here so that we must see whether a reason brought by a later Author will not solve it viz. That most of the County being Abby-land upon the Dissolution many new Purchasers planted themselves herein and perhaps their new possessions might have the same fate that Church-revenues have had in other places where they fell into Lay-hands b Our Author observes that it was all Forest till the time of Henry the second But if we may believe Sir Robert Cotton who sent the account to Speed and had himself design'd a History of the County this was never fully effected till the time of Edward 1. For Henry 2. did pretend to enfranchise his subjects of this Shire from servitude of his beasts except Wabridge Saple and Herthy his own Demains But such were the encroachments of the succeeding Reigns that the poor inhabitants were forc'd to petition for redress which was granted them by the great Charter of Henry 3. Only his son resum'd the fruits of his father's kindness till in the 29th year of his reign he confirm'd the former Charter and left no more of this shire Forest than what was his own ground The government of the County is very peculiar Cambridgeshire in the Civil administration being joyn'd to it so that there is but one High-sheriff for both Shires He is one year chosen out of Cambridgeshire out of the Isle of Ely a second and a third out of this Shire In the Isle of Ely he is one time chosen out of the north part and out of the south another c It 's chief town is Huntingdon Huntingdon in Saxon huntandune huntendune huntenduneport which appears formerly to have been a flourishing town reckoning no less than 15 Churches tho' in our Author's time they were reduc'd to four and of these the zeal of the late times only left two The cause of this decay seems to have been the ‖ Cotton in Speed alteration made in the river by Grey a Minion of the time as my Author calls him who procur'd the passage of it to be stop'd whereas before to the great advantage of the Inhabitants it was navigable as far as this town King John granted it by Charter a peculiar Coroner profit by Toll and Custom a Recorder Town-Clerk and two Bailiffs but at present it is incorporated by the name of a Mayor twelve Aldermen and Burgesses d Its neighbour Goodmanchester Goodmanchester probably by the methods our Author mentions grew so wealthy and considerable that in the reign of King James 1. it was incorporated by the name of two Bailiffs twelve Assistants and commonalty of the Burrough of Goodmanchester e Lower down upon the river is St. Ives St. Ives which a late Writer calls a fair large and ancient town with a fine Stone-bridge over the Ouse But within these three or four years it was a great part of it burnt down and whether it have so far recover'd it self as to merit that character at present I know not f Between Ramsey and Peterborrow our Author observes that King Canutus made a large Cawsey call'd by our Historians Kingsdelfe Kingsdelf But whatever way our Authors mark out by that name 't is certain they cannot mean Canutus's road for the name Kingsdelf or Cingesdaelf in those parts appears upon Record before Canutus's time I mean in the reign of King Edgar who in his Charter to the Church of Peterburrow * Chron. Sax. p. 119. lin 18. makes this Cingesdaelf one of the bounds of his Donation Besides the daelf will not answer a via constrata lapidibus or pav'd way but seems rather to mark out to us some ditch drawn at first for the draining those fenny grounds and reducing the waters into one chanel g On the west side of this County is Kimbolton Kimbolton which our Author says in his time was the seat of the Wingfields It has since pass'd from them by sale to the Mountagues and Henry Earl of Manchester of that name very much improv'd the Castle sparing no cost that might add to its beauty †Lel. Itin. MS. vol. 1. It was Sir Richard Wingfield who built new Lodgings and Galleries upon the old foundations of this Castle which was double ditch'd and the building of it very strong Here is at present a pretty fair town seated in a bottom which gives the title of Baron to the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester h Leighton Leighton mention'd by our Author to be the seat of the Cliftons is now the Lady Butler's daughter and heir to the late Richard Earl of Arran who had it in marriage with the sole daughter of James Duke of Richmond as this Duke had by the Lord Clifton's Continuation of the EARLS Henry the last Earl mention'd by our Author had by Elizabeth daughter and coheir to Ferdinando Earl of Derby Ferdinando Earl of Huntingdon father to Theophilus the seventh Earl of that name who was Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners Privy-Councellor to King Charles 2. and King James by whom he was made chief Justice in Eyre of all the Forests south of Trent as also Lieutenant of the Counties of Leicester and Derby His son and heir apparent is George Lord Hastings I have not as yet observed any Plants peculiar to this County the more rare being common to it with Cambridgeshire NORTHAMPTON SHIRE by Rob t
as his right in Parliament against Henry the sixth Rolls â— 6. as being son of Ann Mortimer sister and heir to Edmund Earl of March descended in a right line from Philippa the daughter and sole heir of Leonel Duke of Clarence third son of King Edward the third and therefore in all justice to be preferred in the succession to the Crown before the children of John of Gaunt the fourth son of the said Edward the third When it was answer'd him That the Barons of the Kingdom and the Duke himself had sworn Allegiance to the King that the Kingdom by Act of Parliament was conferr'd and entail'd upon Henry the fourth and his heirs that the Duke deriving his title from the Duke of Clarence never took the Arms of the said Duke and that Henry the fourth was possess'd of the Crown by the right he had from Henry the third All this he easily evaded by replying that the said Oath sworn to the King being barely a human Constitution was not binding because it was inconsistent with truth and justice which are of Divine appointment That there had been no need of an Act of Parliament to settle the Kingdom in the line of Lancaster neither would they have desired it if they could have rely'd upon any just title and as for the Arms of the Duke of Clarence which in right belonged to him he had in prudence declin'd the using them as he had done challenging the Kingdom till that moment and that the title derived from Henry the third was a ridiculous pretext to cloak the injustice and exploded by every body Tho' these things pleaded in favour of the Duke of York shew'd his title to be clear and evident yet by a wise foresight to prevent the dangers that might ensue upon it the matter was so adjusted That Henry the sixth should possess and enjoy the Kingdom for life and that Richard Duke of York should be appointed his heir and successor in the Kingdom 10 He and his heirs to succeed after him with this proviso that neither of them should contrive any thing to the prejudice of the other However this heady Duke was quickly so far transported with ambition that by endeavouring to anticipate his hopes he raised that pernicious war between the Houses of York and Lancaster Wars between the House of York and Lancaster or between the Red-rose and the white distinguish'd by the white and the red Roses Which in a short time prov'd fatal to himself at Wakefield King Henry the sixth was four times taken prisoner and at last deprived of his Kingdom and his Life Edward Earl of March son of Richard then obtain'd the Crown and tho' he was deposed yet he recover'd it thus Fortune inconstant and freakish made her sport with the rise and fall of Princes many of the Blood-royal and of the greatest of the Nobility being cut off those hereditary and rich Provinces of the Kings of England in France being lost Ireland neglected and relapsed to their old wildness the wealth of the Nation wasted and the harass'd people oppress'd with all sorts of misery Edward being now settled in his Throne the fourth King of that name bestow'd the title of Duke of York upon Richard his second son who with the King his brother was destroy'd very young by that Tyrant Richard their Uncle Next Henry the seventh conferr'd it upon his younger son who was afterwards by the name of Henry the eighth crown'd King of England And now very lately King James invested his second son Charles whom he had before in Scotland made Duke of Albany Marquis of Ormond Earl of Ross and Baron Ardmanoch 11 A little child not full four years of age tho' but a child Duke of York by girding him with a Sword to use the words of the form putting a Cap and Coronet of Gold upon his head and by delivering him a Verge of Gold after he had the day before according to the usual manner created both him and eleven others of noble families Knights of the Bath There are in this County 459 Parishes with very many Chapels under them which for number of Inhabitants are comparable to great Parishes RICHMONDSHIRE THE rest of this County which lyes towards the North-west and is of large extent is call'd Richmondshire or Richmountshire The name is taken from a Castle built by Alan Earl of Bretagne in Armorica to whom William the Norman Conquerour gave this shire which belong'd to Edwin an English-man by this short Charter I William sirnam'd Bastard King of England do give and grant to you my Nephew Alan Earl of Bretagne and to your heirs for ever all the villages and lands which of late belong'd to Earl Eadwin in Yorkshire with the Knights-fees and other Liberties and Customs as freely and honourably as the same Eadwin held them Dated from our Siege before York With craggy Rocks and vast Mountains this shire lyes almost all high the sides of them here and there yield pretty rank grass the bottoms and valleys are not altogether unfruitful The hills afford great store of Lead Pit-Coal and also Brass Brass Lead and Pit-coal In a Charter of Edward the fourth's there is mention'd a Mineral or Mine of Coper near the very City of Richmond But covetousness which carries men even to Hell has not induced them to sink into these Mountains diverted perhaps by the difficulties of carriage On the tops of these Mountains Stone-cockles as likewise in other places there have sometimes been found stones resembling Sea cokcles and other Water-animals which if they are not the Miracles of Nature I cannot but think with Orosius a Christian Historian tâ—at they are the certain signs of an universal deluge in the times of Noah The Sea as he says being in Noah's time spread over all the earth and a deluge pour'd forth upon it so that this whole world was overfloated and the Sea as heaven surrounded the earth all mankind was destroyed but only those few saved in the ark for their faith to propagate posterity as is evidently taught by the most faithful Writers That this was so they have also been witnesses who knowing neither past times nor the Author of them yet from the signs and import of those stones which we often find on mountains distant from the sea but overspread with cockles and oysters yea oftentimes hollow'd by the water have learn'd it by conjecture and inference k Where this Shire touches upon the County of Lancaster the prospect among the hills is so wild solitary so unsightly and all things so still that the borderers have call'd some brooks that run here Hell becks Hell beâ—ks that is to say Hell or Stygian rivulets especially that at the head of the river Ure which with a bridge over it of one entire stone falls so deep that it strikes a horror upon one to look down to it Here is safe living in this tract for goats deer and stags which
Gareock and Strath-Bogie-Land A small part of Buchan Strathdovern Boyn Einzie Strath Awin and Balvenie The East part of Murray The West part of Murray Badenoch Lochabir and the south part of Ross A small part of Ross lying on the south side of Cromartie-Frith The rest of Ross with the Isles of Sky Lewis and Herris Sutherland and Strathnavern Cathness Beside the Stewartries mentioned by our Author there is that of Orkney which contains all the Isles of Orkney and Zetland The Constabularie of Hadington contains East-Lothian To pursue Mr. Camden's method in his general Description of England it will be necessary to give a scheme of the bounds and extent of the several Dioceses of this kingdom Diocese of St. Andrews Glasgow Edinburgh Dunkeld Aberdeen Murray Brichin Dumblam Ross Cathness Orkney Galloway Argile The Isles Contains Part of Perthshire and part of Angus and Mernes The shires of Dunbarton Ranfrew Air Lanerick part of the shires of Roxburgh Dumfreis Peebles and Selkirk The shires of Edinburgh Linlithgow part of Strivelingshire Berwick-shire the Constabularie of Hadington and Bailery of Lauderdale The most part of Perthshire part of Angus and part of West-Lothian Most part of Bams-shire and part of Mernis The shires of Elgin Nairn and part of Inverness and Bamf-shire Part of Angus and Mernis Part of Perth and Striveling-shires The shire of Tain Cromertie and the greatest part of Inverness-shire Cathness and Sutherland All the Northern Isles of Orkney and Zetland The shire of Wigton the Stewartrie of Kircudbright the Regality of Glentrurie and part of Dumfries-shire Argile Lorn Kintyre and Lohaber with some of the West Isles Most of the west Isles Under this Constitution the Government was thus 1. In every Parish the cognizance of some scandals belong'd to the Session a Judicature compos'd of the greatest and worthiest persons in each parish where the Minister presided ex officio 2. But if the Case prov'd too intricate it was referred to the Presbyterie a superior Judicature consisting of a certain number of Ministers between 12 and 20 who met almost every fortnight The Moderator herein was nam'd by the Bishop and besides the censures they inflicted 't was by them that such as enter'd into Orders were solemnly examined The Presbyteries are these that follow Dunce Chernside Kelso Ersilton Jedburgh Melross Dumbar Hadington Dalkeith Edinburgh Peebles Linlithgow Perth Dunkeld Auchterarder Striveling Dumblane Dumfreis Penpont Lochmabane Midlebie Wigton Kircudbright Stranraver Aire Irwing Paselay Dumbarton Glasgow Hamilton Lanerick Biggar Dunnune Kinloch Inerary Kilmore Sky St. Andrews Kirkaldy Cowper Dumfermelin Meegle Dundee Arbroth Forfar Brichen Mernis Aberdeen Kinkardin Alfoord Gareoch Deir Turref Fordyce Ellon Strathbogie Abernethie Elgin Forres Aberlower Chanrie Tayn Dingwell Dornoch Week Thurso Kirkwal Scaloway Colmkill 3. Above this was the Provincial-Synod who met twice a year in every Diocese and had the examination of such cases as were referred to them by the Presbyteries here the Bishop presided ex officio 4. Above all was the Convocation when the King pleas'd to call it wherein the Archbishop of St. Andrews presided And besides these every Bishop for the cases of Testaments c. had his Official or Commissary who was judge of that Court within the Diocese Of these Edenburgh had four the rest one But since Presbyterie has been introduced the Church-government stands thus 1. They also have their Parochial Sessions but with this difference that though the Minister presides yet a Lay-man a Bailie ordinarily assists 2. In their Presbyteries they chose their own Moderator to preside 3. They have their Synod or Provincial Assembly but without a constant head for every time they meet they make choice of a new Moderator 4. Their General Assembly this consists of two members from every Presbytery and one Commissioner from each University The King too has his Commissioner there without whose consent no Act can pass and before they be in force they must be also ratify'd by the King Thus much of the several Divisions of Scotland As to the Orders and Degrees of this Kingdom there appears no alteration in them since our Author's time and if any one desires to have a more particular information in their Courts of Justice and Methods of Proceeding a separate Treatise upon this subject written by the Learned Sir George Makenzy late Lord Advocate of Scotland will give him ample satisfaction The Degrees of SCOTLAND THE Government of the Scots as that of the English consists of a King Nobility and Commonalty The King to use the words of their own Records is directus totius Dominii Dominus direct Lord of the whole Dominion or Domain and hath Royal Authority and Jurisdiction over all the States of his Kingdom as well Ecclesiastick as Laick Next to the King is his Eldest Son who is stiled Prince of Scotland and by a peculiar right is Duke of Rothsay and Steward of Scotland But the rest of the King's Children are called simply Princes Amongst the Nobles the greatest and most honorable were in old times the Thanes Thanes that is if I have any judgment those who were ennobled only by the office which they bore for the word in the antient Saxon signifies The King's Minister Of these they of the higher rank were called Ab-thanes of the lower Under-Thanes But these Names by little and little grew out of use ever since King Malcolm the 3. conferred the Titles of Earls and Barons borrow'd out of England from the Normans upon such Noblemen as had deserv'd them Since when in process of time new Titles of Honour have been much taken up and Scotland as well as England hath Dukes Marquisses Earls Viscounts and Barons Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscoun◠Barons As for the title of Duke the first that brought it into Scotland was Robert the Third about the year of our Lord 1400 as the honourable titles of Marquiss and Viscount were lately brought in by our most gracious Sovereign King James the sixth These are accounted Nobles of a higher degree and have both place and voice in Parliaments and by a special name together with the Bishops are called Lords Amongst the Nobles of a lower degree in the first place are Knights Knight◠who are certainly made with greater solemnity than any where else in Europe by taking of an Oath and being proclaim'd publickly by the Heralds In the second are those who are called Lairds Lairds and commonly without any addition Barons amongst whom none were antiently reckoned but such as held immediately from the King Lands in Capite and had the * Powe◠hang 〈◊〉 Jus Furcarum In the third place are such as being descended of Honourable Families and dignify'd with no certain title are term'd Gentlemen Gentlemen All the rest as Citizens Merchants Artificers c. are reckoned among the Commons The COURTS of JUSTICE THE supream Court as well in dignity as authority is accounted the Assembly of the States of the Kingdom which is called a
which they still keep of which leader they are to this day called Dalreudini Dalreudini for in their language Dal Dal. signifies a part And a little after Ireland says he is the proper Country of the Scots for being departed out of it they added unto the Britons and Picts a 3d Nation in Britain And there is a very good Arm of the sea or a bay that antiently divided the Nation of the Britons from the Picts which from the West breaketh a great way into the Land and there to this day standeth the strongest City of the Britons call'd Alcluith In the Northern part of which bay the Scots whom I now mentioned when they came got themselves room to settle in Of that name Dalreudin there are now extant no remains that I know of nor any mention of it in Writers unless it be the same with Dalrieta Dalrieâ—â— For in an old little book of the Division of Albany we read of one Kinnadius who 't is certain was a King of Scotland and subdu'd the Picts in these very words Kinnadius two years before he came into Pictavia so it calls the country of the Picts enter'd upon the government of Dalrieta Also there is mention made in a more modern History of Dalrea Dalrea hereabouts where King Robert Brus fought a battle with ill success K. James the 4. with consent of the States of the Kingdom enacted that Justice should be administred to this province by the Justices Itinerant at Perth whensoever the King should think convenient But the Earls themselves have in some cases their Jura Regalia who are persons of very great authority and of a mighty interest deriving their pedigree from the antient petty Kings of Argile through an infinite series of Ancestors and taking their sirname from their Castle Cambel But they are oblig'd to King James the 2. for the honour and title of Earl who as it is recorded created Colin Lord Cambel Earl of Argile Earls oâ— Argile in regard to his own virtue and the dignity of his Family Whose Posterity by the favour of their Kings have been a good while General Justices of the Kingdom of Scotland or according to their way of expressing it Justices generally constitute and Great Masters of the King's Houshold e CANTIRE LOgh-Finn Logh-Finn a Lake that in the season produces incredible sholes of herrings divides Argile from a Promontory which for about 30 miles together growing by little and little into a sharp point thrusts it self with such a seeming earnestness towards Ireland separated from it by a narrow streight of scarce 13 miles as if it would call it over to it Ptolemy names this the Promontory of the Epidii Epidium between which name and the Islands Ebudae opposite to it methinks there is some affinity It is now called in Irish which language they use in all this Tract Can-tyre that is the Land's head 'T is inhabited by the family of Mac-Conell very powerful here but yet at the command of the Earl of Argile they sometimes in their Vessels make excursions for booty into Ireland and have possessed themselves of those little Provinces they call Glines and Rowte This Promontory lieth close to Knapdale by so small a neck of land being scarce a mile over and sandy too that the Sea-men by a short cut as it were transport their vessels over land from the Ocean to Logh-Finn Which a man would sooner beelieve than that the Argonautes laid their Argos upon their shoulders and carried it along with them 500 miles 10 From Aemonia to the shores of Thessalia f LORN SOmewhat higher lies Lorn towards the North a Country producing the best Barley divided by Logh-Leave a vast Lake upon which stands Berogomum Beâ—ogoâ—um a Castle wherein the Courts of Justice were antiently kept and not far from it Dunstafag that is Stephen's Mount antiently a seat of the Kings above which is Logh-Aber â—â—gh-â—â—â—r a Lake insinuating it self so far into the land out of the Western sea that it would meet the Lake of Ness which empties it self into the Eastern Ocean did not the hills which lie between separate them by a very narrow neck The chiefest place in this tract is Tarbar in Logh-Kinkeran where K. James 4. by authority of Parliament constituted a Justice and Sheriff to administer justice to the inhabitants of the Southern Isles These Countrys and these beyond them were in the year of Our Lord 605. held by those Picts which Bede calls the Northern Picts where he tells us that in the said Year Columbanus a Priest and Abbot Lib. 3. ca. 4. famous for the profession of Monkery came out of Ireland into Britain to instruct those in the Christian Religion that by the high and fearful ridges of mountains were sequester'd from the Southern Countrys of the Picts and that they in requital granted him m It does not appear that the Western-Isles belong'd to the Picts at that time so that they could not dispose of any part of them 'T is more probable that it was Hoia one of the Orkney-Isles the Island Hii lying over against them now call'd I-comb-kill of which in its proper place Its Stewards in the last Age were the Lords of Lorn but now by a female heir it is come to the Earls of Argile who always use this among their other titles of honour BRAID ALBIN MORE inwardly amongst the high and craggy ridges of the mountain Grampius where they begin a little to slope and settle downwards lies Braid-Albin n Now an Earldom in the family of the Campbels that is the highest part of Scotland For they that are the true and genuine Scots call Scotland in their Mother-Tongue Albin as that part where it rises up highest Drum-Albin that is the Ridge of Scotland But in a certain old Book it is read Brun-Albin where we find it thus written Fergus the son of Eric was the first of the seed of Chonare that enter'd upon the Kingdom of Albany from Brun-Albain to the Irish-sea and Inch-Gall And after him the Kings of the race of Fergus reigned in Brun-Albain or Brunhere unto Alpinus the son of Eochal But this Albany is better known for its Dukes than the fruits of its ground The first Duke of Albany that I read of 〈◊〉 of â—â—â—â—ny was Robert Earl of Fife advanced to that honour by his Brother K. Robert the 3. of that name yet he spurr'd on by ambition most ungratefully starved to death David this very brother's son and next heir to the Crown But the punishment due to this wicked fact which himself by the forbearance of God felt not came heavy upon his son Mordac or Murdo second Duke of Albany who was condemned for treason and beheaded after he had seen his two sons executed in like manner the day before The third Duke of Albany was Alexander 2. son of King James 2. who being Regent of the Kingdom Earl of
from the Church as a Feudatory and Vicegerent and obliged his Successors to pay three hundred Marks to the Bishop of that See Yet the most eminent 1 Sir Thomas Hol. Thomas Moor who sacrificed his life to the Pope's Prerogative denies this to be true For he says the Romanists can shew no grant and that they have never demanded the said money nor the Kings of England acknowledged it However with submission to this great man the thing is really otherwise as most clearly appears from the Parliament-Rolls which are evidence incontestable For in a Parliament in Edward the third's Reign the Chancellor of England informs the House That the Pope intended to cite the King of England to a tryal at Rome as well for homage as for the tribute due and payable from England and Ireland and to which King John had bound both himself and his Successors and desired their opinion in it The Bishops required a day to consider of this matter apart as likewise did the Lords and Commons The next day they met again and unanimously voted and declared that forasmuch as neither King John nor any other King whatsoever could put the Kingdom under such a servitude but by the consent and agreement of a Parliament which was never had and farther that since whatsoever he had done in that kind was directly contrary to the Oath which he solemnly took before God at his Coronation if the Pope would insist upon it they were resolved to oppose him with their lives and fortunes to the very utmost of their power Such also as were learned in the law made the Charter of King John to be void and insignificant by that clause of reservation in the end saving to us and our heirs all our rights liberties and regalities But this is out of my road From King John's time the Kings of England were stiled Lords of Ireland till within the memory of our fathers Henry the eighth was declared King of Ireland by the States of that Realm assembled in Parliament the title of Lord seeming not so sacred and venerable to some seditious persons as that of King In the year 1555 when Queen Mary offered the subjection of the Kingdom of England by the hands of her Ambassadors to Pope Paul the fourth this name and title of Kingdom of Ireland was confirmed by the Pope in these word To the praise and glory of Almighty God and his most glorious mother the Virgin Mary to the honour of the whole Court of Heaven and the exaltation of the Catholick Faith We at the humble request of King Philip and Queen Mary made unto us by the advice of our brethren and by virtue of our full Apostolical authority do erect the Kingdom of Ireland and do for ever dignifie and exalt it with the title honours powers rights ensigns prerogatives preferments Royal praeeminencies and such like privileges as other Christian Realms have use and enjoy or may have use and enjoy hereafter Having accidentally found a Catalogue of those English Noble men who went in the first invasion of Ireland and with great valor subdued it to the Crown of England lest I should seem to envy them and their posterity the glory of this atchievment I will here give you them from the Chancery of Ireland for so 't is entitled The Names of such as came with Dermic Mac Morrog into Ireland Richard Strongbow Earl of Pembroke who by Eve the daughter of Morrog the Irish petty King aforesaid had an only daughter who brought to William Mareschall the title of Earl of Pembroke with a fair estate in Ireland and had issue five sons who in order succeeded one another all childless and as many daughters who enriched their husbands Hugh Bigod Earl of Norfolk Guarin Montchensey Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester William Ferrars Earl of Derby and William Breose with children honours and possessions Robert Fitz-Stephens Harvey de Mont Marish Maurice Prendergest Robert Barr. Meiler Meilerine Maurice Fitz-Girald Redmund nephew to Stephen William Ferrand Miles de Cogan Richard de Cogan Gualter de Ridensford Gualter sons of Maurice Girald Alexander sons of Maurice Girald William Notte Robert Fitz-Bernard Hugh de Lacy. William Fitz-Aldelm William Macarell Hunfrey Bohun Hugh de Gundevill Philip de Hasting Hugh Tirell David Walsh Robert Poer Osbert de Harloter William de Bendenge Adam de Gernez Philip de Breos Griffin Nephew of Stephen Ralph Fitz-Stephen Walter de Barry Philip Walsh Adam de Hereford To whom out of Giraldus Cambrensis may be added John de Curcy Hugh Contilon Redmond Cantimore Edmond Fitz-Hugh Miles of St. Davids and others The Government of the Kingdom of IRELAND SInce Ireland has been subject to the Crown of England the Kings of this Realm have ever sent their Vice-Roys to manage the publick affairs there who at first in their Letters Patents or Commissions Loâ—d Depâ—â—ies of â—â—â—â—and were stilled Keepers of Ireland after that Justices of Ireland or at pleasure Lieutenants and Deputies Their jurisdiction and authority is really large and Royal they make war and peace have power to fill all Magistracies and other Offices except some very few to pardon all crimes but those of high treason and to confer Knighthood c. These Letters Patents when any one enters upon this honourable office are publickly read and after the new Deputy has took a solemn oath of a certain set form for that purpose before the Chancellor the sword which is to be carried before him is delivered into his hands and he is seated in a Chair of state attended by the Chancellor of the Realm the Members of the Privy-Council the Peers and Nobles of the Kingdom the King at Arms a Serjeant at Arms and other Officers of State So that whether we consider his jurisdiction and authority or his train attendance and splendor there is certainly no Vice-roy in Christendom that comes nearer the grandeur and majesty of a King His Council are the Chancellor of the Realm the Treasurer and such others of the Earls Barons and Judges as are of the Privy-Council Orders or degrees iâ— Ireland For Ireland has the same orders and degrees of honour that England has Earls Barons Knights Esquires c. The Courts or Tribunals of IRELAND THE supream Court in Ireland is the Parliament which Parliament at the pleasure of the King of England is either called or dissolved by his Deputy â—as an 〈◊〉 12. and yet in Edward the second 's time it was enacted That Parliaments should be held in Ireland every year 2 Which seemeth yet not to have been effected Here are likewise observed foure Law-terms in the year as in England and five Courts of Justice held 〈◊〉 the a The Court was called The Court of Castle-chamber because it was usually kept in the Castle of Dublin but has never been held since the Court of Star-Chamber was supprest in England Star-Chamber the Chancery King's-Bench Common Pleas and the Exchequer Here are
and his Sister Isabel de Albeny Countess of Arundel Isabel the second Sister was married to Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester she had Richard de Clare Earl of Glocester and the Lady Anise Countess of * Perhaps â—evonia Averna â—â—â—e uxoris who was Mother of Isabel the †Mother of the Lord Robert Brus Earl of Carrick in Scotland afterwards King of that Nation â—is place 〈◊〉 corrupâ—â—d From Eva Brus the third Sister descended Maud the Mother of the Lord Edmund Mortimer Mother of the Lady Eva de Cauntelow Mother of the Lady Milsoud de Mohun who was Moâ—â—er to Dame Eleanor Mother to the Earl of Hereford Joan â—arshall the fourth Sister was married to the Lord Guarin of Mount â—hinsey and had Issue Joan de Valens Sybil Countess of Ferâ—â—s the fifth Sister had Issue seven Daughters the eldest call'd â—â—gnes Vescie Mother of the Lord John and the Lord William Vesâ—â—e the second Isabel Basset the third Joan Bohun Wife to the â—ord John Mohun Son of the Lord Reginald the fourth Sibyl â—ohun Wife to the Lord Francis Bohun Lord of Midhurst the fifth Eleanor Vaus Wife to the Earl of Winchester the sixth * Agatha Agas Mortimer Wife to the Lord Hugh Mortimer â—â—e seventh Maud Kyme Lady of Karbry These are all both â—ales and Females the Posterity of the said William Earl Marshal MCCXX. The Translation of S. Thomas of Canterbury The â—â—me year died the Lord Meiler Fitz-Henry founder of Connal â—nd was buried in the Chapter-House of the said Foundation MCCXXIV The Castle of Bedford was besieg'd and the Castle â—f Trim in Ireland MCCXXV Died Roger Pippard and in the year MCCXXVIII â—â—ed William Pippard formerly Lord of the Salmon-leap This â—ear died likewise Henry Londres alias Scorch-Villeyn Archbishop â—f Dublin and was buried in Trinity-church there MCCXXX Henry King of England gave Hubert Burk â—â—e Justiceship and the Third Penny of Kent and â—ade him also Earl of Kent Afterward the same Hubert was â—â—prison'd and great Troubles arose between the King and his â—â—bjects because he adher'd to Strangers more than to his own naâ—â—ral Subjects MCCXXXI William Mareschall the younger Earl Marshal and â—arl of Pembrock departed this life and was buried in the Quire â—f the Friers Predicants in Kilkenny MCCXXXIV Richard Earl Mareschall Earl of Pembrock and â—rogull was wounded in a Battel in the Plain of Kildare on the â—â—st day before the Ides of April and some few days after died in Kilkeny and there was buried hard by his * Girmanum natural Brother viz. William in the Quire of the Friers Predicants Of whom this was written Cujus sub fossa Kilkennia continet ossa MCCXL Walter Lacy Lord of Meth died this year in Engâ—â—nd leaving two Daughters to inherit his Estate of whom the â—â—rst was married to Sir Theobald Verdon and the second to Gefâ—ery de Genevile MCCXLIII This year died Hugh Lacy Earl of Ulster and â—as buried in Cragsergus in the Convent of the Friers Minors â—eaving a Daughter who was married to Walter Burk Earl of Ulster The same year died Lord Gerald Fitz-Maurice and Lord â—ichard de Burgo MCCXLVI An Earthquake about nine of the Clock over all â—he West MCCXLVIII Sir John Fitz-Geffery came Lord Justiciary into â—reland MCCL. Lewis King of France and William Long-Espee were â—aken Prisoners with many others by the Saracens In Ireland Maccanewey a Son of Belial was slain in Leys as he deserv'd In the year MCCLI. The Lord Henry Lacy was born Upon Christmas-day likewise Alexander King of Scots in the 11th year of his Age was then contracted with Margaret the daughter of the King of England at York MCCLV Alan de la Zouch was made and came Justiciary into Ireland MCCLVII This year died the Lord Maurice Fitz-Gerald MCCLIX Stephen Long-Espee came Justiciary into Ireland The green Castle in Ulster was demolish'd William Dene was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXI The Lord John Fitz-Thomas and the Lord Maurice his Son were slain in Desmond by Mac Karthy Item William Dene Justiciary dy'd and Sir Richard Capel put in his room the same year MCCLXII Richard Clare Earl of Glocester died this year as also Martin de Maundevile on the morrow of S. Bennet's day MCCLXIV Maurice Fitz-Gerald and Maurice Fitz-Maurice took Prisoners Richard Capel the Lord Theobald Botiller and the Lord John Cogan at Tristel-Dermot MCCLXVII David de Barry was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXVIII Comin Maurice Fitz-Maurice was drown'd The Lord Robert Ufford was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXIX The Castle of Roscoman was begun this year Richard of Exeter was made Justiciary MCCLXX The Lord James de Audley came Justiciary into Ireland MCCLXXI Henry the son of the King of Almain was slain in the Court of Rome Plague Famine and Sword rag'd this year particularly in Meth. Nicholas de Verdon and his Brother John were slain Walter de Burgo Earl of Ulster died MCCLXXII The Lord James Audley Justiciary of England was kill'd by a fall from his Horse in Tothomon and was succeeded in this Office by the Lord Maurice Fitz-Maurice MCCLXXIII The Lord Geffery Genevile return'd from the Holy Land and was made Justiciary of Ireland MCCLXXIV Edward the son of King Henry was anointed and crown'd King of England by Robert Kilwarby a Frier-Predicant Archbishop of Canterbury upon S. Magnus the Martyr's day in the Church of Westminster in the presence of all the Nobility and Gentry His Protestation and Oath was in this form I Edward son and heir of King Henry do profess protest and promise before God and his holy Angels from this time forward to maintain without partiality the Law Justice and Peace of the Church of God and the People subject unto me so far as we can devise by the counsel of our liege and legal Ministers as also to exhibit due and canonical Honour to the Bishops of God's Church to preserve unto them inviolably whatsoever has been granted by former Emperors and Kings to the Church of God and to pay due Honour to the Abbots and the Lord's Ministers according to the advice of our Lieges c. so help me God and the holy Gospels of the Lord. This year died the Lord John Verdon and the Lord Thomas de Clare came into Ireland And William Fitz-Roger Prior of the Hospitallers was taken Prisoner at Glyndelory with many others and more slain MCCLXXV The Castle of Roscoman was built again The same year Modagh was taken Prisoner at Norragh by Sir Walter le Faunte MCCLXXVI Robert Ufford was made Justiciary of Ireland upon the surrender of Geffery de Genevill MCCLXXVII O Brene slain MCCLXXVIII The Lord David Barry died this year as also the Lord John Cogan MCCLXXIX The Lord Robert d'Ufford went into England and appointed Frier Robert de Fulborne Bishop of Waterford to supply his place In whose time the Mony was chang'd A Round Table was also held at Kenylworth by Roger Lord Mortimer MCCLXXX Robert d'Ufford return'd from England
year of his Age. MCCCXXIV Nicholas Genevile son and heir to the Lorâ— Simon Genevile died this year and was buried in the Church oâ— the Friers-predicants at Trym Item there happen'd a very higâ— wind on the 12th day at night Item There was a general murrain of Oxen and Kine in Irâ—land MCCCXXV Richard Lederede Bishop of Ossory cited Damâ— Alice Ketyll to answer for her heretical and perverse Opinions and forc'd her to appear in Person before him And being examâ—ned for Sorcery it was found that she had us'd it among others this was discover'd That a certain Spirit call'd Robin Artyssoâ— lay with her and that she offer'd him nine red Cocks at 〈◊〉 Stone-bridge where the High-way branches out into four severaâ— Parts Item That she swept the streets of Kilkenny with Beesoms between Complin and Courefew and in sweeping the Filth towards the house of William Utlaw her son by way of conjuring wish'd that all the wealth of Kilkenny might flow thither The accomplices of this Alice in these devilish practices were Pernil of Meth and Basilia the daughter of this Pernil Alice being found guilty was fined by the Bishop and forc'd to abjure her sorcery and witchcraft But being again convicted of the same practice she made her escape with Basilia and was never found But Pernil was burnt at Kilkenny and before her death declar'd That William above-said deserv'd punishment as well as she and that for a year and a day he wore the Devil's girdle about his bare body Hereupon the Bishop order'd the said William to be apprehended and imprison'd in the castle of Kilkenny for eight or nine weeks and gave orders that two men should attend him but that they should not eat or drink with him and that they should not speak to him above once a day At length he was set at large by the help of Arnold Lord Poer Seneschal of the County of Kilkenny whereupon he gave a great sum of mony to the said Arnold to imprison the Bishop likewise Accordingly he kept the Bishop himself in Prison for three months Among the goods of Alice they found a holy wafer with the Devil's name upon it and a Box with Ointment with which she us'd to daub a certain piece of wood call'd a Cowltre after which she and her accomplices could ride and gallop it wheresoever they pleas'd let the roads be good or bad without either hurt or hindrance These things being so notorious and crying Alice was cited again to appear at Dublin before the Dean of S. Patrick's Church having some hopes of greater favor given her She made her appearance and crav'd a day to answer having given sufficient bail as it was thought However she was not to be found for by the counsel of her son and others unknown she hid her self in a certain village till the wind would serve for England and then she sail'd over but it could never be known where she went William Utlaw being found by the trial and confession of Pernel who was condemn'd to be burnt to have been consenting to his mother in her sorcery and witchcraft the Bishop caus'd him to be arrested by the King 's writ and put in prison yet he was set at liberty again by the intercession of some great Lords upon condition that he should cover S. Mary's Church in Kilkenny with lead and do other acts of charity within a certain day and that if he did not perform them punctually he should be in the same state as he was when first taken by the King 's writ MCCCXXVI At Whitsontide a Parliament was held in Kilkenny where was present Richard Lord Burk Earl of Ulster though somewhat weak and out of order and all the Lords and great men of Ireland who with the people were all nobly feasted by the Earl Afterwards the Earl taking his leave of the Lords and Nobles went to Athisel and there died A little before the feast of John the Baptist he was there interr'd William Lord Burk was his heir MCCCXXVII There happen'd an out-fal between Moris Lord Fitz Thomas and Arnold Lord Pouer. The Lord Moris was seconded by the Lord Botiller and William Lord Bermingham and the Lord Arnold with the Bourkeyns many of whom were â—ain in this fray by the Lord Moris Fitz Thomas and some driven iâ—to Conaught The same year after Michaelmas the Lord Arnold came to assist the Bourkeins and upon the Lord Arnold's calling him Rymour and affronting him with some uncivil terms the Lord Maurice raised an Army and together with Botiller and the said William Bermingham burnt and wasted the lands and territories of the Lord Arnold in Ofath Bermingham burnt also the lands and mannor-houses which belong'd to him in Mounster and burnt Kenlys in Ossory So that the Lord Arnold was forc'd to fly with the Baron of Donnoyl to Waterford where they remain'd a month and then the Earl of Kildare Chief Justice of Ireland and others of the King's Counsel order'd them to parlee However the Lord Arnold would not observe it but came to Dublin and about the feast of the Purification embark'd for England Upon this Moris Botiller and William Lord Bermingham came with a great army and burnt and wasted his lands the King's Counsel began to dread this powerful army and the mischiefs they had done so much that they strengthned their city-guards lest they themselves might be surpriz'd The Lord Moris Lord Botiller and Bermingham hearing of this provision against them sent to the King's Counsel that they would come to Kilkenny and there clear themselves to satisfie them they had no design upon the lands of their Sovereign Lord the King but only intended to be reveng'd of their enemies The Earl of Kildare Chief Justice of Ireland the Prior of Kilmaynon namely Roger Outlaw Chancellour of Ireland Nicholas Fastal Justiciary in Banco and others of the King's Council came accordingly to this Parliament the Lord Moris and Bermingham demanded the King's Charter of peace in the first-place But they of the King's Counsel warily desir'd that they might have till a month after Easter to consider of it Before Lent this year the Irish of Leinster assembled and set up Donald the son of Arte Mac Murgh for their King Whereupon he took a resolution to set up his Banner within two miles of Dublin and march from thence into all parts of Ireland But God seeing his pride and malicious designs suffer'd him to fall into the hands of Henry Lord Traharn who brought him to the Salmon's-leap and had 200 l. of him to save his life from thence he carried him to Dublin to stay in the castle till the King's Council should give farther Orders After this the Irish in Leinster underwent many misfortunes David O Thohil was taken prisoner by John Lord Wellesley and many of them were cut off The same year Adam Duff the son of Walter Duff of Leinster who was related to the O Tothiles was convicted for denying the incarnation of Christ
it The same year on S. Laurence's-eve Thomas Lord Botiller marched with a great army into the Country of Ardnorwith where he fought with the Lord Thomas William Macgoghgan and was there kill'd to the great loss of Ireland and with him John Lord Ledewich Roger and Thomas Ledewich John Nangle Meiler and Simon Petitt David Nangle Sir John Waringer James Terel Nicholas White William Freynes Peter Kent and John White besides 140. whose names we know not The Tuesday before the feast of S. Bartholomew the said Lord Thomas's body was convey'd to Dublin and laid in the house of the predicant Friers unburied till the sunday after the feast of the beheading of S. John Baptist when he was very honourably carried through the City and interr'd in the Church of the predicant Friers which very day his wife gave a great entertainment The same year John Lord Darcy came a second time Justice of Ireland who at Maynoth on the third of July espoused the Lady Joan Burg Countess of Kildare Item Philip Staunton was slain and Henry Lord Traharn was treacherously taken in his own house at Kilbego by Richard son to Philip Onolan James Lord Botiller Earl of Ormond burnt Foghird in revenge to Onolan for his brother Henry's sake The same year the Wednesday after the feast of the Ascension of the blessed Virgin John Lord Darcy Justice of Ireland went towards the Country of New-castle of Mackingham and of Wikelow against the O Brynns and the Monday following some of the Lawles were killed and more wounded and Robert Locam was wounded and of the Irish the better sort were slain many wounded and the rest ran away But Murkad O Brynne with his son uncle and uncle's son yielded themselves hostages and were carried to the Castle of Dublin But were afterwards in exchange of Hostages who were of the best of their Kindred set at liberty The same year John Lord Darcy Chief Justice and the King's Council in Ireland about the feast of our Lord's Circumcision commanded Moris Lord Fitz Thomas of Desmond to march with his Army against his Majesties enemies for to subdue them And that the King would take care to defray the Charge he should be at both for himself and his Army so the Lord Fitz-Thomas accompanied by Briene O-Brene came with an Army of ten thousand Men with which he march'd against the O-nolanes and conquer'd them having got a considerable Booty and wasted their Country by fire the O-nolanes fled but afterwards deliver'd Hostages who were sent to the Castle of Dublin Hence he march'd against the O-Morches who gave Hostages with a promise of living quietly The same time the Castle of Ley which O-Dympcy had taken and kept was surrender'd to him This year after the Epiphany Donald arte Mac-Murgh made his escape out of the Castle of Dublin by a Cord which one Adam Nangle had bought him who for his pains was drawn and hang'd MCCCXXX About the feast of S. Catherine S. Nicholas and the Nativity of our Lord the winds were in several places very high so that on S. Nicholas-eve they blew down part of the wall of a certain House which in the falling kill'd Sir Miles Verdon's wife and daughter there was never yet known such winds in Ireland There was such an overflowing of the River Boyn this year as was never seen before which flung down all the Bridges upon this River both Wood and Stone except Babe-bridge The violence also of the water carried away several Mills and did very much damage to the Friers-minors of Trym and Drogheda by breaking down their Houses The same year about S. John Baptist's-day there was a great dearth of Corn in Ireland which lasted till Michaelmas A cranoc of Wheat was sold for 20 Shillings a cranoc of Oats Pease Beans and Barly for 8 Shillings This dearth was occasion'd by the great Rains so that a great deal of the standing Corn could not be cut before Michaelmas The same year about Lent the English in Meth killed some of the Irish viz. the Mac-goghiganes near Loghynerthy which did so incense Mac-goghigan that he burnt and sack'd in those Parts 15 small Villages which the English seeing gathered together in a Body against him and kill'd 110 of his men among whom were three Irish Kings sons Item The Lord William Burgh Earl of Ulster march'd with his Army out of Ulster against Briene O Brene in Munster Also the Lady Joan Countess of Kildare was at Maynoth brought to Bed of William her first Son which the Lord John Darcy had by her who was then in England Item Reymund Lawles was treacherously kill'd at Wickelow This year Frier Roger Utlaw Prior of Kylmainan then Deputy to the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland held a Parliament at Kilkenny where were present Alexander Archbishop of Dublin William Earl of Ulster James Earl of Ormond William Lord Bermingham Walter Burg of Conaught who all went with a considerable force to drive Briene O-Brene out of Urkyst near Cashill Item Walter Burg with the Forces he rais'd in Conaught plunder'd the Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas's lands and brought away with him the Booty to Urkyff Also the Earl of Ulster and the Earl of Desmond viz. the Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas for I never yet call'd him Earl by Frier Roger Utlaws order then Justice of Ireland were committed to the custody of the Marshal at Limerick But the Earl of Desmond very cunningly made his escape MCCCXXXI The Lord Hugh Lacy having got the King's Pardon came into Ireland And the Earl of Ulster came into England The 19th of April the English beat the Irish in O-Kenseley and the one and twentieth of April the Irish perfidiously took the Castle of Arclo The same day on S. Mark the Evangelist's-eve the O-Totheles came to Tanelagh and forced away from Alexander Archbishop of Dublin 300 Sheep and killed Richard White with many other Gentlemen of his Company There were divers Reports at Dublin about this Plunder and Slaughter and Sir Philip Bryt Frier Moris Fitz-Gerald Knight of the Order of the Hospitalers Hammund Lord Archdekyn John Chamberlaine Robert Tyrell and Reginald Bernewall's two Sons besides many others but especially of the Archbishop of Dublin's Retinue were kill'd by David O-Tothill in an Ambuscade in Culiagh The Lord William Bermingham march'd with a great Army against the foresaid Irish to whom he did much harm and had not the Irish made some false Promises would have done them much more The Third of June the Lord Anthony Lucy came Chief Justice of Ireland This year also the English who inhabit about Thurles in the month of May gave the Irish under the command of Briene O-Brene a great overthrow and upon the 11th of June gave them another at Finnagh in Meth. The 27th of June when there was so great a Famine in Ireland through God's mercy there came a-shoar such a vast number of great Sea-fish called Thurlhedis as had not been seen in many Ages for according to the common estimate there
City A Council was held at Naas and a Subsidy of three hundred Marks therein granted to the Lord Deputy At the same time died Sir John Loundres in the fifth day of this Week which fell out to be in Coena Domini O-Thoil took four hundred Head of Cattle that belong'd to Balimer by which Action he broke his own Oath and the publick Peace On the fourth of May Mac Morthe the chief Captain of that Sept and of all the Irish in Leinster was taken Prisoner Hugh Cokesey was knighted on the same day On the last of May the Lieutenant the Archbishop of Dublin and the Mayor made the Castle of Kenini be demolish'd The day after Processus and Martinian William Lord Burgh with others of the English slew five hundred Irish and took O-Kelly prisoner On the feast of S. Mary Magdalen the Lieutenant John Talbot went into England leaving the Archbishop of Dublin to administer in his absence carrying the Curses of his Creditors along with him for he paid little or nothing for his Victuals and was indebted to many About the feast of S. Laurence several died in Normandy viz. Frier Thomas Botiller Prior of Kilmainan with many others Frier John Fitz-Henry succeeded him in the Priory The Archbishop being left Deputy fell upon the Scohies and cut off 30 Irish near the River Rodiston Item On the Ides of February died Frier John Fitz-Henry Prior of Kilmainan and was afterwards succeeded by Frier William Fitz-Thomas elected and confirm'd the morrow after S. Valentin's day Item The day after the feast of S. Peter in Cathedra John Talbot Lord Furnival surrender'd his place to Richard Lord Talbot Archbishop of Dublin who was after chosen Chief Justice of Ireland MCCCCXX On the fourth of April James Lord Botiller Earl of Ormond arriv'd at Waterford being made Lieutenant of Ireland and soon after permitted a Combat between his two Cousins of whom the one died in the Field and the other was carry'd off sore wounded to Kilkenny On S. George's day the said Lieutenant held a Council at Dublin and gave order for a Parliament therein In the mean time he took good Booty from O-Raly Mac-Mahon and Mac-Guyer On the 8th of June the Parliament met at Dublin and seven hundred Marks were therein granted to the Lord Deputy This Parliament continued sixteen days and at last was prorogued till the Monday after S. Andrews The Debts of the late Lord Talbot were computed in this Parliament which amounted to a great sum Item On the morrow after S. Michael's day Michael Bodley departed this life Item On S. Francis's eve died Frier Nicholas Talbot Abbot of S. Thomas the Martyr in Dublin succeeded by Frier John Whiting The morrow after S. Simon and Jude's day the castle of Colmolin was taken by Thomas Fitz-Geffery On S. Katherin the Virgin 's eve was born Botiller son and heir to the Earl of Ormond Item On monday after the feast of S. Andrew the foresaid Parliament met at Dublin and sate 13 days The Lieutenant had three hundred Marks granted him herein and it was at last adjourn'd till the monday after S. Ambrose A general Report was at this time That Thomas Fitz-John Earl of Desmond died on S. Laurence-day at Paris and was buried in the Convent of the Friers-predicants there the King being present at his Funeral James Fitz-Gerald his Uncle by the Father's side succeeded to the Seigniory who had thrice dispossess'd him of his Estate and accus'd him of prodigality and waste both in Ireland and England and that he had already given or intended to give Lands to the Abbey of S. James at Keynisham MCCCCXXI The Parliament sat the third time at Dublin the monday after S. Ambrose and therein it was resolv'd That the Archbishop of Armagh and Sir Christopher Preston should be sent to the King for redress of Grievances At the same time Richard O-Hedian Bishop of Cassel was accused by John Gese Bishop of Lismore and Waterford upon 30 distinct Articles and after all That he favour'd the Irish and was averse to the English That he presented none of the English to any Benefices and had given order to other Bishops that they should not preferr them to any Living That he counterfeited the King's Seal and the King's Letters-patents and that he had attempted to make himself King of Mounster That he took a Ring away from the Image of S. Patrick which the Earl of Desmond had offer'd and given it to a Whore of his with several other Crimes all exhibited in Writing against him which created a great deal of vexatious trouble to the Lords and Commons In this Parliament there was also a Debate between Adam Pay Bishop of Clon and another Prelate for the Bishop of Clon was for annexing the other's Church to his See and the other oppos'd it so they were sent to Rome and their difference referr'd to the Pope This Session continued for 18 days In the nones of May a great Slaughter was made among the retinue of the Earl of Ormond Lord Deputy near the Monastery of Leys by O-Mordris 27 of the English were cut off The Principals were Purcel and Grant Ten Persons of Quality were taken Prisoners and 200 fled and were sav'd in the said Monastery On the Ides of May died Sir John Bedley Knight and Jeffery Galon formerly Mayor of Dublin who was buried in the Convent of the Friers-predicants of that City About this time Mac Mahon did great mischief in Urgal burning and wasting where-ever he came On the 7th of June the Lieutenant went into Leys against O-Moodris with a mighty Army which kill'd all they met with for four days together till the Irish at length promised peace and submission On S. Michael's day Thomas Stanley with all the Knights and ' Squires of Meth and Irel took Moyl O-Downyl prisoner and kill'd several in the 14th year of King Henry VI. No farther go any of the Annals of Ireland which I could meet with These I have inserted here to gratify such as delight in Antiquity As for those nice delicate Readers that would try all by the Writings of Augustus 's Age I am very sensible they will not relish them upon the score of a rough insipid dry Stile such as was common in the Age wherein these were writ However let them take this Consideration along with them That History bears and requires Authors of all sorts and that they must look for bare Matter in some Writers as well as fine Words in others FINIS INDEX A. AAron see Julius and Aaron Ab-Adams 68 238. ABALLABA 806. Abberbury-castle 544. Sir Rich. de 142. Abbot Geo. A. B. of Cant. 161. Rob. B. of Salisb. ibid. Sir Maurice L. Mayor of London ib. Abbots 132. Parliamentary Barons clxxxvii Abbotston 132. Aber what 662 739 939. Aber-Aaron 613. Aberbroth 613. Aber-Chienaug Castle 675. Aber-Conwy 666 671. Abercorn-castle 906. Aber-dau-Gledhau 630. Aberdeen New and Old 940. Aberford 712. Aber-Fraw 676. Abergavenni 598. Abergavenny Lords of 193
century and tithing or if he could not should expect the severity of the laws But if any one standing thus accused should make his escape either before or after the bail was given that whole Hundred and Tithing was liable to be fined by the King By this project he settled peace in the Kingdom so that even upon the high-roads where four ways met he commanded golden bracelets to be hung up which might expose the avarice of travellers whil'st there was none durst venture to take them away Wappentacks Tithings and Laths These Centuries are in some parts of the Kingdom called Wappentaches if you desire to know the reason I will give it you out of Edward the Confessor's Laws When any one received the government of a Wappentach on a set day and in the place where the meeting used to be held all the elder sort met him and when he was got off his horse rose up to him Then he held up his spear and took security of all there according to custom for whoever came touched his spear with theirs and this touching of armour confirmed them in one common interest and was a publick league In English arms are called wepun and taccare is to confirm as if this were a confirmation of weapons or to speak more agreeably to the English tongue b See Sir Henry Spelman's Glossary under the word Wapentachium Wepentac is a touching of armour for wepun signifies armour and tac is touching There were also other Jurisdictions above those of Wapentaches which they called Ãrihingas including the third part of the Province and those who were Lords over them were termed Ãrihingerefas To these were appeals made in such causes as could not be determined in the Wapentaches So that what the English named a Hundred these called a Wapentach and what was in English three or four hundreds they called c Of which the Ridings in Yorkshire are a corruption Ãrihinge But in some Provinces what they called Trihing was in English term'd Lew and what could not be determined in the Ãrihinge was carried into the Shire These Counties which if you would express in proper Latin Shirâ— may be term'd either Conventus or Pagi we call by the peculiar name of Shyres from the Saxon word Scyre signifying to branch and divide By the first division there were only 32. for in the year 1016. in the Reign of Aethelred Malmsbury assures us there were no more In the life of Aethelred he writes thus At this time the Danes invaded 16 Counties whereas there are but 32 in all England And in those days these Counties were divided according to the variety of the laws Div'faâ— Englaâ—â— acc râ—â—â— to Laâ— For the Laws of England were threefold those of the West-Saxons called West-saxenlage those of the Danes called Denelage and those of the Mercians called Merchenlage Under the West-Saxon-Law were comprehended nine Counties Kent Sussex Surrey Berkshire Hamshire Wiltshire Somersetshire Dorsetshire and Devâ—â—shire To the Dane-Laws belonged fifteen Counties Yorkshire Derbyshire Nottinghamshire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire Hertfordshire Essex Middlesex Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire Huntingdonshire The other eight were judged after the Mercian-Law Lib. â— S. Eâ—â— di those were Glocestershire Worcestershire Herefordshire Warwickshire Oxfordshire Cheshire Shropshire and Staffordshire But when William the first made his Survey of this Kingdom Domâ— book there were reckoned 36 Counties as the Polychronicon tells us But the publick records wherein he registred that Survey reckon up no more than 34. For Durham Lancashire Northumberland Westmorland and Cumberland did not come into the number the three last as some wouâ—d have it being then under the Scots and the other two either exempt from taxes or included under Yorkshire But all these being afterwards added to the number made it as it is to this day 39. Besides which there are 13 moâ—e in Wales d But thâ— Statute of 34 and 35 of Hen. 8. Cap. 26. tells us That eight Shires were of ancient and long time to wit those of Glemorgaâ— Caeâ—mâ— then Pembroke Cardigan Flint Caernarvon Anglesey and Merioneth and other foâ—r were made by the Statute of 27 Hen 8. Cap. 26. beâ—des Monmouthshire namely Radnor Brecknock Montgomery and Denbigh So that in Edward's time there seem to have been eight whereof six were in Edward the first 's time Wal◠〈…〉 Câ—â—â— the rest Henry the eighth settled by Act of Parliament In each of these Counties in troublesome times especially there is appointed a Deputy under the King by the name of Lieutenant who is to take care that the State suffer no damage The first institution hereof seems to be fetch'd from King Alfred who settled in every County the Custodes regni or keepers of the kingdom These afterward were restored by Henry the third under the title of Capitanei For in the fiftieth year of his Reign he as John of London has it held a Parliament wherein this wholsome Law was enacted That in every County there should be one Capâ—nâ—â—â— Captain maintained by the King who by the assistance of the Sheriff should restrain the insolence of robbers Upon which many were so affrighted that they left that trade and the Royal power began to revive This was wisely enough ordered but whether Canutus the Dane when he made a Tetrarchy in a Monarchy 89 〈◊〉 Wâ—â— did not act more prudently let our Politicians determine For he as Hermand the Archdeacon says being an exceeding sagacious man so contriv'd the government of the Kingdom He 〈…〉 that it should fall under Tetrarchs such as he had found faithful to him The government of the West-Saxons which was the greatest he took to himself â—rcha Mercia the second part he committed to one Edrick the third called Northumbre to Yrtus and Earl Turkille had the fourth i.e. East Anglia a very plentiful country This account I owe to the diligence of Fr. Thinne who hath prosecuted this study of Antiquities with great honour and particularly communicated this to me 〈◊〉 of Shire But every year some one inhabitant of the Lesser Nobility is set over the County and stil'd Vice-Comes i.e. a deputy of the Comes or Earl and in our language he is called Shiriff i.e. one set over the County and may very well be term'd the Quaestor of the County or Province For 't is his business to get up the publick revenues of the County to gather into the Exchequer all Fines even by destraining to attend the Judges and to execute their orders to empannel twelve men â—â—elve 〈◊〉 who are to judge of matters of fact and bring in their Verdict to the Judges who are with us only Judges of law and not of fact to take care that such as are condemned be duly executed and to give judgment in petty causes There are also in every County certain Eirenarchae or Justices of the Peace settled by King Edward III. and those
take cognizance of murders felonies trespasses for so they term them and many other misdemeanors Besides the King sends every year into each County two of the Justices of England to give sentence upon Prisoners â—es of â—e and to use the law-term in that cause to make a Gaol-delivery But of these more hereafter when we come to the Courts As to the Ecclesiastical Government after the Bishops of Rome had assigned to each Presbyter his Church and divided the parishes among them Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury â—â—â—â—and â—ed inâ—â—â—â—rishes about the year of our Lord 636. first began to divide England into Parishes as we read in the History of Canterbury Now England has two Provinces and two Archbishops Canterbury Primate of all England and Metropolitan and York Under these are 25 Bishops 22 under Canterbury and the rest under York What these Bishopricks are with their Counties or Dioceses which they now contain â—ops are shown us in those words of that excellent person the most reverend Father in God Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury a Patron of Learning and a great Judge of Antiquities In the Province of Canterbury THE Bishoprick of Canterbury along with Rochester contains the County of Kent London has under it Essex Middlesex and part of Hertfordshire Chichester has Sussex Winchester has Hamshire Surrey Isle of Wight with Gernsey and Jersey Islands lying upon the Coast of Normandy Salisbury contains Wiltshire and Berkshire Exeter includes Devonshire and Cornwal Bathe and Wells joyntly have Somersetshire and Glocester Glocestershire Worcester Worcestershire and part of Warwickshire Hereford Herefordshire and part of Shropshire Coventry and Lichfield joyned together Staffordshire Derbyshire and the other part of Warwickshire as also that part of Shropshire which borders upon the River Repil Next Lincoln the largest contains six Counties Lincolnshire Liecestershire Huntingdonshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire and the other part of Hertfordshire Ely Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely Norwich Norfolk and Suffolk Oxford Oxfordshire Peterburrow Northamptonshire and Rutlandshire Bristol Dorsetshire To which 18 Dioceses in England must be added those of Wales or Cambria which are both deprived of an Archbishop of their own and also made fewer seven hardly coming entire into four These are â—eâ—e â—sis St. Davids whose seat is at St. Davids Landaff Banchor and Asaph or Elwensis In the Province of York YOrk it self comprehends Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire Chester Cheshire Richmondshire Lancashire with part of Cumberland Flintshire and Denbighshire Durham the Bishoprick of Durham and Northumberland Carlisle part of Cumberland and Westmerland To these may be added the Bishoprick of Sodor in Mona commonly called the Isle of Man Amongst those the Archbishop of Canterbury takes the first place the Archbishop of York the second the Bishop of London the third the Bishop of Durham the fourth and the Bishop of Winchester the fifth The rest take place according to the time of their Consecration But if any of the other Bishops happen to be Secretary to the King he claims the fifth place There are besides in England 26 Deaneries 13 whereof were made in the larger Churches by King Henry VIII upon expulsion of the Monks The Archdeaconries are sixty and the Dignities and Prebends make 544. There are also 9284 Parish-churches under the Bishops of which 3845 are appropriate as is plain from the Catalogue exhibited to King James which I have here subjoyned Now appropriate Churches are such as by the authority of the Pope and the consent of the King and Bishop of the Diocess are upon certain conditions settled upon those Monasteries Bishopricks Colleges and Hospitals whose revenues are but small either because they were built upon their ground or granted by the Lords of the Mannour Such a Settlement is expressed in form of law by being united annext and incorporated for ever But these upon the subversion of the Monasteries were to the great damage of the Church made Feuda Laicalia Lay-fees In the Province of Canterbury Dioceses Parish-Churches Churches appropriate Canterbury 257 140 London 623 189 Winchester 362 131 Coventry and Lichfield 557 250 Salisbury 248 109 Bath and Wells 388 160 Lincoln 1255 577 Peterburrow 293 91 Exeter 604 239 Glocester 267 125 Hereford 313 166 Norwich 1121 385 Ely 141 75 Rochester 98 36 Chichester 250 112 Oxford 195 88 Worcester 241 76 Bristol 236 64 S. Davids 308 120 Bangor 107 36 Llandaff 177 98 S. Asaph 121 19 Peculiars in the Province of Canterbury 57 14 The whole number in the Province of Canterbury 8219 3303 In the Province of York York 581 336 Durham 135 87 Chester 256 101 Carlisle 93 18 The whole number in York 1065 592 The whole number in both Provinces 9284 3845 But in the Book of Thomas Wolsey Cardinal written in the year 1520. there are reckoned in all the Counties 9407 Churches I know not how this difference should happen unless it be that some were demolished in the last age and Chapels which are Parochial be omitted others which are barely Chapels being reckoned up amongst the Parish-churches However I have set down the number of Churches at the end of each County out of this Book of Wolsey's There were also in the Reign of King Henry VIII if it be not a crime to mention them monuments of the piety of our fore-fathers Monasteries built to the honour of God the propagation of the Christian faith and good learning and for the support of the poor Of Religious houses i.e. Monasteries or Abbies and Priories to the number of 645. whereof when 40 had been suppressed by a Grant from Pope Clement the seventh Hen. 5. had before that dissolved 100 Pâ—iories of Monks Aliens obtained by Cardinal Wolsey who had then laid the foundation of two Colleges one at Oxford and another at Ipswich presently about the 36th of Henry VIII a torrent as it were that has thrown down the banks broke in upon the ecclesiastical state of England and to the great surprize of the whole world and oppression of this nation at once threw down the greatest part of the Religious with their curious structures For what the Pope granted to the Cardinal the King took himself by consent of Parliament Whereupon in the year 1536. all religious houses with their revenues which had 200 l. yearly or under that were granted to the King in number 376. And the next year under a specious pretence of rooting out superstition the rest along with the Colleges Chauntries and Hospitals were given up to the King's disposal At which time there were valued or taxed 605 religious houses remaining Colleges besides those in the Universities 96. Hospitals 110. Chauntries and Free-chapels 2374. Most of which in a short time were every where pulled down their revenues squander'd away and the riches which had been consecrated to God by the pious munificence of the English from the time they received Christianity were as it were in a moment dispersed and if I may use the
Parliament The Parliament by the same name as it is in England and hath the same absolute Authority It consists of three States of the Lords Spiritual that is the Bishops Abbots and Priors of the Lords Temporal viz. Dukes Marquisses Earls Viscounts and Barons and the Commissioners for the Cities and Buroughs To whom were joyned not long since for every County also two * Delegati Commissioners It is called by the King at pleasure allowing a certain time for notice before it is to sit When they are convened and the causes of their meeting are declared by the King and the Chancellour the Lords Spiritual retire apart and choose eight of the Lords Temporal the Lords Temporal likewise as many out of the Lords Spiritual Then all these together nominate eight of the Knights of the Shires and as many of the Burgesses which all together make 32. and are called Lords of the Articles and with the Chancellor Treasurer Privy-Seal the King's Secretary c. admit or reject all matters that are propos'd to the States after they have been first communicated to the King After they are approved by the whole Assembly of the States they are throughly examined and such as pass by a majority of Votes are presented to the King who by touching them with his Scepter signifies the confirming or vacating of them But if the King dislikes any thing it is first razed out Next to the Parliament is the College of Justice The College of Justice or as they call it the Session which King James 5. instituted An. 1532. after the manner of the Parliament at Paris consisting of a President fourteen Senators seven of the Clergy and as many of the Laity to whom was afterwards added the Chancellor who takes place first and five other Senators three principal Clerks and as many Advocates as the Senators shall think convenient These are to administer justice not according to the rigour of the Law but with reason and equity every day except Sunday and Monday from the first of November to the fifteenth of March and from Trinity Sunday to the first of August All the space between as being the times of sowing and harvest is Vacation and intermission from Suits and matters of Law They give judgment according to Acts of Parliament and where they are defective according to the Civil Law There are besides in every County inferiour Civil Courts wherein the Sheriff or his deputy decides controversies amongst the inhabitants about ejections intrusions damages debts c. from whom upon suspicion of partiality or alliance they appeal sometimes to the Session These Sheriffs are all for the most part hereditary For the Kings of Scotland as well as of England to oblige the better sort of Gentlemen more closely to them by their favours in old time made these Sheriffs hereditary and perpetual But the English Kings soon perceiving the inconveniencies happening thereupon purposely changed them into annual There are Civil Courts held also in the Fiefs of the Crown by their respective Bailiffs to whom the King hath graciously granted Royal privileges as also in free Boroughs and Cities by their Magistrates There are likewise Courts called The Commissariat the highest of which is kept at Edenborough wherein before four Judges actions are pleaded concerning matters relating to Wills the right of Ecclesiastical Benefices Tythes Divorces c. and Ecclesiastical Causes of like nature But in almost all the other parts of the Kingdom there sits but one Judge on these Causes In criminal Causes the King 's Chief Justice holds his Courts generally at Edenborough which Office hath for some time been executed by the Earls of Argyle who depute two or three Counsellors to take cognizance of actions of life and death loss of limbs or of goods and chattels In this Court likewise the Defendant is permitted even in case of High Treason to retain an Advocate to plead for him Moreover in criminal matters Justices are sometimes appointed by the King's Commission for deciding this or that particular cause Also the Sheriffs in their territories and Magistrates in some Boroughs may sit in judgment of Manslaughter in case the Manslayer be apprehended in the space of 24 hours and having found him guilty by a Jury may put him to death But if that time be once overpast the cause is referred to the King's Justice or his Deputies The same privilege also some of the Nobility and Gentry enjoy against Thieves taken within their own Jurisdictions There are likewise who have such Royalties that in criminal causes they may exercise a jurisdiction within their own limits and in some cases recall those that dwell within their own liberties from the King's Justice provided they judge according to Law These matters as having had but a transient view of them I have lightly touched upon What manner of Country Scotland is and what men it breeds Pomponius Mela. as of old that excellent Geographer writ of Britain will in a little time more certainly and evidently be shown since the greatest of Princes hath opened a passage to it which was so long shut up In the Interim I will proceed to the Places which is a subject I am more immediately concern'd in GADENI or LADENI UPon the Ottadini or Northumberland bordered the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gadeni who by the turning of one letter upside down are called in some Copies of Ptolemy Ladeni seated in that Country lying between the mouth of the River Tweed and Edenborough-Frith Joh. Skene de Verborum significatione which is now cantoned into many petty Countries The principal of them are Teifidale Twedale Merch and Lothien in Latin Lodeneium under which general name the Writers of the middle age comprised them all a TEIFIDALE TEifidale that is to say the Valley or Dale by the River d This river divideth that part of the shire properly called Teviotdale into that which lyeth on the South and that which lyeth on the North. Tefy or Teviot lying next to England amongst cliffs of craggy hills and rocks is inhabited by a warlike people who by reason of so frequent encounters between the Scots and English in former ages are always very ready for service and sudden invasions The first place we meet with amongst these is Jedburg a Borough well frequented standing near the confluence of the Tefy and Jed from whence it takes its name and Mailros â—â—â—â—ross a very ancient Monastery wherein in the Church's infancy were Monks of that antient instituion that gave themselves to prayer and with the labour of their hands earn'd their living And more Eastward where the Twede and the Tefy joyn in one stream â—â—â—oâ—â—â—h e The Royalty of this place was transmitted to the town of Iedburgh the chief burgh-royal of the shire Rosburg called also Roxburgh and in antient times Marchidun from its being seated in the Marches where stands a Castle that by its natural situation and tow'red fortifications
this Island they had no use of money till the late troubles of England during which Their current coin many loyalists flying thither for shelter so plentifully supplied them with it that many of the tenants were enabled to pay their rents in money which formerly they paid in sheep hogs c. The current coin of this Island is the Scotch English and Irish they neither have nor ever had any proper coine of their own Mr. Camden in the account he gives of this Island Mâ— Camden misinformed as to some cu toms of this Island has been mis-informed as to some custom He says that the women of the Island of Man going abroad do gird themselves about with their winding-sheet that they purpose to be buried in to shew themselves mindful of their mortality It is indeed customary here for the women that live in the Country when they walk abroad to wrap themselves up in a blanket but without any other design than to defend themselves from the cold as they tell every one that asks them a reason Besides these blankets which they wear are quite of a different sort from winding-sheets the blankets being generally made of woollen whereas all shrowds are of linnen These blankets are only worn by the Country-women who generally have a better sort of blanket for Sundays and another for working days but in towns they are hardly wore by any women whether poor or rich But further that this wearing of blankets was never designed by them for a Memento Mori is evident from an old customary law among them by which it is ordained that the Sunday-blankets viz. those of the better sort be given to the next child and those of the worse sort which they wear upon workdays be given for Corbes that is be sold with the other goods of the deceased to pay debts which is by no means consistent with their using them as winding-sheets to be buried in It is at this day a common custom in many places of Scotland for the country women to wear these kind of blankets when they go abroad but they are of no other use than to shelter them from the cold and are of a quite different nature from what they use for winding-sheets So that it is probable this custom of wearing blankets among the women of the Isle of Man is of the same nature and design with that of Scotland and has been introduced into the Isle by its first inhabitants who as I have already said came probably from the western parts of Scotland where this custom is among the country women generally practiced even to this very day Another mistake there is in the account which Mr. Camden had from Bishop Merrick of this Island That the Isle of Man is free from Thieves and Beggars As for Theft there is no robbing in the high-ways but you may travel there securely in any part of the Island but the poorer fort of this Isle even of both sexes are very much given to pilfering which appears from the severe laws made against stealing of ling hay hens c. And as for Beggars there are divers of them in the Island both of natives and Irish The Irish are more clamorous than the natives the natives never cry and beg at the doors but without knocking open the latch of the door and entering in take a stool and sit down by the fire and then ask an alms The Laws Their Laws and Statutes of this Island are such as the * Co k's Instit Part. 4. p. 284. Lord Cook saith the like of them are not to be found in any other place But notwithstanding this Island has continued a Kingdom for many hundreds of years yet there never was nor is there at this day extant any treatise to inform us of their Laws Customs and Jurisdictions In former times they were governed by a Jus non scriptum which was committed to the fidelity of their Deemsters as a thing holy and sacred and by them delivered to posterity by oral tradition only so that whatever they pronounced was to be held for law This custom it is probable they received from the Druides who as Caesar * Commen lib. 6. saith would not by writing prostitute any thing to the vulgar And therefore from all antiquity and even at this day the Manksmen do call their Laws Breast-laws as being deposited and locked up in the breasts of their Deemsters and Keys only Thus was this Island governed from the beginning till it was given to Sir John Stanley and his Heirs by King Henry the fourth He at his coming hither brought over with him one Michael Blondel a very wise understanding Gentleman of Lancashire whom he made Governor of the Island and he observing the inconvenience of these Breast-laws ordered that for the future all Law-cases decided in their Courts or by their Deemsters should be written down by the Clerk of the Rolls and kept as a Register of Precedents when the same or the like cases should chance to fall out again These books of precedents none are admitted to peruse but the Lord's officers only and of them no one can have access to them alone They are deposited in the Treasury and there locked up with three keys which are kept by the Governor the Receiver General and Comptroller of the Island These Laws are acknowledged to be very just and equitable and are executed with the greatest mildness the most of them are very ancient even above a thousand years In former times the voice of the whole people was necessary to the making a new Law but now this custom is abrogated and whatever is agreed upon by the Lord of the Island the Governor the two Deemsters and twenty four Keys obtains the force of a law Their new laws or statutes are always proclaimed in that Court which the Manksmen call a Tinwald The solemni y of a Tinwald It is publickly kept sub dio upon a little hill adjoyning to a little Chapel dedicated to St. John Baptist two miles from Peel-town The ancient manner of holding this Court was this The Lord of the Island was to sit here in a chair of state with a royal cloth or canopy over his his head with his face to the East and his sword before him holden with the point upward His Barons viz. the Bishops and Abbots with the rest in their degrees sat beside him his beneficed men or fee'd Council and Deemsters sat before him his Gentry and Yeomanry in the third degree and the twenty four Keys in their order and the Commons stood without the circle with three Clerks in their surplices Their Courts of Justice All possible care is taken in this Island for the speedy execution of justice For although the Sheeding-courts which are as it were their Terms do meet but twice a year yet for the quicker dispatch of justice there is erected a Court of Chancery wherein the Governor sitteth sole judge as
Chancellor representing the Lord's person and this Court the Governor may keep every week as occasion shall require Besides the customary Laws do so impower the Governor or any of the two Deemsters as that in effect they are Courts of Record in themselves If either of these be but riding or walking in the high-way and if any person have cause of complaint against another for debt or any extraordinary business he may procure a Token from the Governor or Deemster to bring the party before him And if the party do either confess the debt or matter or it appear by the testimony of two witnesses upon their oaths that such a debt is due either of the said officers may give their Token for execution to the Coroner or to his Lockman And this is as good and valid as if the matter had in Court received trial by verdict of the Jury or by a Decree in Chancery The Citations in the Courts of this Island are not in the form of a Writing but after this manner The Plaintiff cometh to the Comptroller and entereth his Complaint and taking a Copy thereof he sheweth it to the Governour or Deemster Either of them takes up a piece of blew slate which is common enough in any part of the Island and upon that slate scrapes what mark he pleases This stone so marked is called a Token which being given to the Plaintiff he delivereth it to the Crowner of the place where the Defendant resides and the Defendant having received it is bound to appear and answer It has been an antient custom in that Island that if the Plaintiff find his Adversary present in the Court while the Court is sitting he may take him by the arm and bring him before the Governour and set his foot upon his Adversary's foot and there plead his Cause against him without the formality of summoning him with a Token In these Courts each Party pleads his own Cause vivâ voce so that they have no occasion for any Lawyers Proctors or Attorneys which Custom obtains but in few places of Europe as in Sweden and Denmark From these Courts there lies an Appeal to the Lord of the Island and from him to the King of England but it seldom happens that they have any Appeals All Causes both in spiritual and temporal Courts are prosecuted and ended without one penny of charges They had here an old custom concerning Debts which is now abolished When the Debtor died An antrenâ— custom foâ— the recovery of Debts and was buried and there remained no Writings to prove the Debt the Creditor came to the Grave of the deceased and laid himself all along with his back upon the grave with his face towards Heaven and a Bible on his breast and there he protested before God that is above him and by the contents of the Bible on his breast that the deceased there buried under him did owe him so much money and then the Executors were bound to pay him But in the year 1609 this custom was abolished and such Controversies order'd to be tried according to the form of Law by Witnesses or otherwise In this Island there are several of those round hills The manner of uâ—ns fouâ— in this Isâ— which in the plains of Wiltshire are very frequent and by the Inhabitants termed Barrowes In the midland parts of England they are called Lowes and are commonly held to be places of Sepulture * Descr the Isle oâ— Man p 1â— Mr. James Chaloner during his abode in the Isle caused one of these to be opened in which were found 14 rotten Urns or earthen Pots placed with their mouths downwards and one more neatly than the rest in a bed of fine white sand containing nothing but a few brittle bones as having passed the fire but no ashes left discernible Some of these are environed with great stones pitched end-ways in the earth and some of the Urns found enclosed in Coffins of stone one Coffin containing divers of them The Isle of Man hath ever since its first plantation The Lorâ— of Man been reputed a Monarchical State and whoever is of right Lord of it may not only use the title of King but may cause himself to be crowned with a Crown of Gold * Walsiâ—â— Hypodigâ— Neustriâ— p. 546. though it is not improbable that in their first and original Installations they made use of a Crown of Iron as has been heretofore done by the Kings of England and as Charles the fourth Emperour of Germany was crowned at Milan An. 1334. The Kings of Man have now of a long time waved their title of King and instead thereof assumed the title of Lord but they still retain almost all the Jura Regalia they enjoyed heretofore They have still power of life and death to banish or condemn to perpetual Imprisonment to raise men and money to place or displace any officer in the Island at their own pleasure and all fines and forfeitures in cases of Treason Felony and Felo de se do belong to them The greatest difference betwixt a King and Lord of Man is That the Kings were crowned whereas the Lords now are only publickly proclaimed and installed The Kings created Barons made Knights and Esquires but the Lords never confer any titles of honour The Kings of Man in old times according to the Manks tradition claim'd the whole Island and all the Revenues thereof as belonging to the Crown The Inhabitants had no right to any Inheritance in the Island but were only Tenants at will and held their Lands of the King for the performance of certain duties and and services And this tenure they called The holding by the straw which was first changed into Leases for three Lives during the late Civil Wars thereby to augment the Lord's Revenues the Tenants being then obliged to pay yearly a quit-rent and a fine at renewing The Kings of this Island have at different times been tributaries both to the Kings of England Scotland and Norway and were obliged in token of their subjection to these States to pay a certain Homage at the Coronation of any of the Princes of these Kingdoms They have made many wars in attempts to enlarge their Dominions beyond the Confines of this little Island not only in Venedotia against the King of North-wales especially in Anglesey but also in Ireland where Godred Cron. of Man An. â—147 son to Olave King of Man was crowned King of Dublin and subdued a great part of Leinster but left it not to his successors Likewise for some years by the favour and aid of Magnus King of Norway they had under their subjection some if not all the Islands on the West part of Scotland Hollinsh â— 293. which are called Hebrides and upon this account stiled themselves Kings of Man and of the Islands But Alexander King of Scotland An. 1266. not only recovered these Islands but reduced the Isle of Man it self to his subjection and placed