^ v» ^samaMMMmmiMMumitiii mtm MMUMMHliilMMMaifki- THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY 0¥ CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES HOLINSHED'S CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND, IN SIX VOLUMES. VOL. VI. IRELAND. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON; F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON; T. PAYNEj WILKIE AND ROBINSON; LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME ; CADELL AND DAVIES; AND J. MAWMAN. 1808. 59G57 Printed by T. DAVISO.N, Wliitefrlira. 7^;.,. {Origmal Title.'] THE SECOND VOLUME OF CHRONICLES: CONTEINING THE DESCRIPTION, CONQUEST, INHABITATION, AND TROBLESOME ESTATE OF IRELAND; FIRST COLLECTED BY RAPHAELL HOLINSHED; AND NOW NEWLFE RECOGNISED, AUGMENTED, AND CONTINUED FROM THE DEATH OF KING HENRIE THE EIGHT VNTILL THIS PRESENT TIME OF SIR lOHN PEROT KNIGHT, LORD DEPUTIE: AS APPEARETH BY THE SUPPLIE BEGINNING IN PAG. 109, &c. BY lOHN HOOKER alias VOWELL gent. WHEREVNTO IS ANNEXED THE DESCRIPTION AND HISTORIE OF SCOTLAND, FIRST PUBLISHED BY THE SAID R. H. AND NOW NEWLIE REUISED, INLARGED, AND CONflNUED TO THIS PRESENT YEARE; AS APPEARETH IN PAG. 405: &c. By R T. WITH TWO TABLES SERUING BOTH COUNTRIES ADDED IN THE END OF THIS VOLUME. HISTORIffi PLACEANT NOSTRATES AC PEREGRIN*. 1586. TO THE RIGirr IIONORABI.K Sir HENRIE SIDNEIh Knight, LORU DEl'UTIE GENEKALL OF IRKLANP, LORD PRESIDENT OF WALES, KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOELE ORDER OF THE GARTER, AND ONE OF HIR MAJESTIES PRIL'lE COUNCELL WITHIN HIR REALME OF ENGLAND. X AKiNG in hand (right lionorablc) to gather the paiticnlav liistories of (iiuerse countries and nations, to ioii^e with a cosmographie, which One Reginald Wolfe late printer to the queenes maiestie meant to publish in our Eno-Jish toong : when I came to consider of the histories of Ireland, .1 found my self so vnprouided of helps, to set downe anie particular dis- course therof, that I was in despaire to enterprise to write anie thing at all concerning that realme, otherwise than incidentlie as fell to purpose to touch the same in the historic of England. At length yet as maister Wolfes vse was, to impart to me all such helps as he might at anie hand procure for my furtherance, in the collections of the other histories, wherewith 1 spe- ciallie dealt; his hap was to light also vpon a copie of two bookes of the Irish histories, compiled by one Edmund Campion, fellow sometime of S. lohn Baptists college in Oxford, verie well penned certeinlie, but so breefe, as it were to be wished, that occasion had serued him to haue vsed more leasure, and thereby to haue deliuered to vs a larger discourse of the same histories: for as he himselfe confesseth, he had not past ten weekes space to gather his matter: a verie short time doubtlesse for such a peece of worke. But how breefe so euer I found him, at the persuasion of maister Wolfe, vpon the hauing of that copie, I resolued to make shift to frame a speciall historic of Ireland, in like maner as I ha* doone of other regions, following Campions order, and setting downe his owne words, except in places where I had matter to inlarge that (out of other authors) which he had written in breefe. And this I liaue thought^good to signifie, the rather for that I esteeme it good dealing in no wise to defraud him of his due deserued praise. VOL. VI. b ^^^ THE EPISTLE. But now after I had continued the historic, and inlarged it out of Giral- (lus Cambrcnsis, Flatsburic, Ilenrie of Marleburgh, and other, till the jearc 1509, in which that famous prince Henrie the eight began his reigne; some of those that were to bestow the charges of the impression, procured a learned gentleman maister Richard Stanihurst, to continue it from thensc forward as he saw occasion, being furnished with matter to inlarge the worke, whereof for those latter times I found my selfe vtterlie void, more than that which Campion had deliuered. What I haue doone heerein, your honors discretion shall easilie conceiue. For the imperfection sith it is the first that hath beene set foorth in print, I crane most humblie pardon of your good lordship, beseeching you rather to respect my good will than the perfectnesse of the worke, which (the wants considered) for the orderlie furnishing thereof, is not to be looked for in the skilfull, much lesse in me the meanest of all, and least able to performe it. Hauing presented the rioht honourable the earle of Leicester with the historic of Scotland, to whom (as I haue heard) Campion made dedication of his booke, I could not remember me to whome I might more conuenientlie offer this my trauell in this historic of Ireland, than to your lordship, being hir maiesties lieute- nant in that real me. And therefore in most humble wise I exhibit the booke to your honour, beseeching the same to beare with my bold attempt therein, and to receiue it in good part from him that wished to haue more amplie sa- tisfied your good lordships expectation, if abilitie might haue answered good will. Thus I beseech the Lord to guide your heart in his holie waies, & to furnish you Avith politike prudence and skilfull knowledge to gouerne in your estate and office, so as your dooings may redound to his glorie, the suertie of hir maiesties dominion there, your owne aduancement in honour, and consequentlie to the sure support and peaceable quietnesse of the true and loiall subiects of that realme. Your honours most humble to command, Raphael Holinsiied. THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS FOLLOWING IN THE DESCRIPTION OF IRELAND, 1 The names of Ireland, with the com- passe of the same, also what shires or counties it conteineth, the diui- sioH or partition of the land, and of the language of the people. Chap. 1. 2 Of the nature of the soile and other incidents. Chap. 2. 3 The names of the ciuities, boroughs, and hauen towns in Ireland. Chap. 3. 4 Of the strange andwoonderfull places in Ireland, Chap. 4. 5 Of the lords spirituall of Ireland, their names and dignities. Chap. 5. 6 The lords tanporall, as well English as Irish, zvhich inhabit the countrie of Ireland. Chap. 6. 7 The names or surnames of the learned men and authors of Ire- land, and what bookes they wrote. Chap. 7. 8 The disposition and maners of the meere Irish, commotilie called the . wild Irish. Chap. S. bS THE AUTHORS OUT OF WHOM THIS HISTORIE OF IRELAND HATfl BEENE GATHERED. Giialtlus Cambrensis. Flatsburie. Henricus Marleburgensis, Saxo Grammaticus. Albertus Crantz. Rogerus Houeden. Guilielm. Paruus Nouoburgensis. Polychronicon, siue Ranulfus Higeden. lohannes Bale. Edmund Campion. Records and rolles diuers. TO TilE RIGHT HONORABLE Sir HENRIE SIDNEIE KnioJa, iORD DEPUTIE GENERALL OF IRELAND, LORD PRESIDENT OF WALES, KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER, AND ONE OF HIR MAIESTIES PRIUIE COUNCELL WITHIN HiR REALME OF ENGLAND, IMy verie good Lord, there haue beene diuerse of late, that with no small toile, and great commendation, haue throughlie impjoied them- selues, in culling and packing togither the scrapings and fragments of the historie of Ireland. Among which crue, my fast ihend, and inward com- panion, maister Edmund Campion did so learnedlie bequite himselfe, in tiie penning of certeine breefe notes, concerning that countrie, as certes it was greatlie to be lamented, tliat either his tlieame had not beene shorter, or else his leasure had not beene longer. For if Alexander were so rauisht with Homer his historie, that notwithstanding Thersites were a crabbed and a rugged dwarfe, being in outward feature so deformed, and in inward condi- tions so crooked, as he seemed to stand to no better steed, than to lead apes in hell : yet the valiant capteine, weighing how liuelie the golden poet hath set forth the ouglie dandeprat in his colours, did sooner wish to be Homer his Thersites, than to be the Alexander of that doltish rithmour, which vnder- tooke with his woodden verses to blase his famous and martiall exploits: how much more ought Ireland (being in sundrie ages seized of diuerse good and couragious Alexanders) sore to long and thu'st after so rare a clarke, as maister Campion, who was so vpright in conscience, so deepe in iudge- ment, so ripe in eloquence, as the countrie might haue beene well assured to haue had their historie truiie reported, pithilie handled, and brauelie polished. How belt. THE EPISTLE. Uowbcit, although the glose of his fine abbridgement, beingmatcht with other mens dooings, bare a surpassing kind of excellencie : yet it was so hudled vp in h'ast, as in respect of a Campion his absolute perfection, it seemed rather to be a woorke roughlie hewed, than smoothlie planed. \'pon which ground the gentleman being willing that his so tender a suckling, hauing as yet but greene bones, should haue beene swadled and rockt in a cradle, till in tract of time the ioints thereof were knit, and growen stronger: 3^et notwithstanding he was so crost in the nicke of this determination, that his historic in niitching wise wandred through sundrie hands, and being therewithal! in certeine places somewhat tickle toonged (for maister Campion did learne it to speake) and in other places ouer •spare, it twitled more tales out of schoole, and drowned weightier matters in silence, than the author (vpon better view and longer search) would haue permitted. Thus nmch being by the sager sort pondered, and the perfection of the historic earnestlie desired : I, as one of the most that could doo least, Avas fullie resolued to inrich maister Campion his chronicle, with further additions. But weighing on the other side, tliat my course pack- thrcd could not haue beene sutablie knit Avith his fine silke, and what a disgrace it were, bungerlie to botch vp a rich garment, by clouting it with patches of sundrie colours, I was forthwith reclaimed from my former resolu- tion, reckoning it for better, that my pen should walke in such wise in that craggie and balkish waie, as the truth of the matter being forprised, I would neither openlie borrow, nor priuilie imbezell ought to auie great purpose from his historic. But as I was hammering that worke by stealths on the anuill, I was giuen to vnderstand by some of mine acquaintance, that others had brought our raw historic to that ripenesse, as my paine therein would seeme but needlesse. Wherevpon being willing to be eased of the burden, and loath also in lurching wise to forstall anic man his trauell, I was contented to leaue them thumping in the forge, and quietUe to repaire to mine vsuall and pristinat studies, taking it not to stand with good maners, like a flittering flie to fall in an other man his dish. Howbeit the little paine 1 tooke therein was not so secretlie mewed within my closet, but it slipt out at one chinke or other, and romed so farre abroad, as it was whispered in their cares, who before were in the historic busied. The gentlemen con- ceiuing a greater opinion of me, than I was well able to vphold, dealt verie effectualiie with me, that as well at their instance, as for the affec- tion I bare my natiue countrie, I would put mine helping hand to the building THE EPISTLE. building and perfecting of so conuncndable a worke. HauiM"- l)teathed for a few daies on this motion, albeit J knew that my woike was plumed ■with downe, and at that time was not suificientlie leathered to flie: vet 1 was by them weied not to beare my selfe coy, by giuing my entier friends in so reasonable a request a sciuemish repulse. Wherefore, my simTular good lord, here is laid downe to your lordship his view a briefe discourse, with a iagged historic of a ragged wealepublike. Yet as naked as at the first blush it seenieth, if it shall stand with your honor his pleasure (whom I take to be an expert lapidarie) at vacant houres to insearcli it, you shall find therein stones of such estimation, as are worth to be coucht in rich and pretious collars. And in especiall your lordship, aboue all others, in that you haue the charge of that countrie, male here be schooled, by a right line to leuell your gouernement. For in perusing this historic, you shall find vice punished, vertue rewarded, rebellion suppressed, loiaitic exalted, haughtinesse disliked, courtesie beloued, briberie detested, iustice imbraced, polling officers to their perpetuall shame reprooued, and vpri<>ht gouernours to their eternall fame extolled. And trulie to my thinkino-, such magistrats as meane to haue a vigilant eie to their charge, can not bestow their time better, than when they sequester themselues from the affaires of the wealepublike, to recreat and quicken their spirits by read- ing the chronicles that decipher the gouernement of a wealepublike. For as it is no small commendation for one to beare the dooings of manie, so it breedeth great admiration, generallie to haue all those qualities in one man harboured, for which particularlie diuerse are eternised. And who so will be addicted to the reading of histories, shall readilie find diuerse euents worthie to be rexiiembred, and sundrie sound examples dailie to be followed. Vpon which ground the learned haue, not without cause, ad- iudged an historic to be the marrow of reason, the creame of experience, the sap of wisdome, the pith of iudgenient, the librarie of knowledge, the kernell of policie, the vnfoldresse of treacherie, the kalendar of time, the lanterne of truth, the life of niemorie, tiie doctae&se of behauiour, the register of antiquitie, the trumpet of ckiualrie. And tliat our Irish historie being diligentlie heeded, yeeldeth all these coDiinodities, I trust the indif- ferent reader, vpon the vntwining thereof, will not deaie. But if anie man his stomach shall be found so tenderlie niced, oi* so deintilie spiced, as that he male not, forsooth, digest the grosse draffe of so base a countrie, I doubt not, but your lordship, who is thoroughlie acquainted with the wQorthinesse THE EPISTLE^ woorthinesse of the Hand, will be soone persuaded to leaue such quaint and licourous vcpastours, to feed on their costlie and delicate woodcocks, & willinglie to accept the louing present of your heartie welwiller. The aift is small, the giuer his good will is great, I stand in good hope, that the greatnesse of the -one will counterpoise the smalnesse of the other. Where- Ibre that 1 maie the sooner vnbroid the pelfish trash that is wrapt within this treatise, I shall craue your lordship to lend me either your eares in hearing, or your cies in reading the tenor of the discourse following. Richard Stanihvrst. A TREATISE CONTEINING A PLAINE AND PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF IRELAND, With an Introduction to the better Vnderstandiiig of tlie Histories apperteining to that Hand : COMPILED BY RICHARD STANIIIURST. THE NAMES OF IRELAND, WITH THE COMPASSE OF THE SAME, ALSO WHAT SHIRES OR COUNTIES IT CONTEINETH, THE DIUISION OR PARTITION OF THE LAND, AND OF THE LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE. CHAPTER I. THE more part aswel of Cosmographers, as Chronographers, do with on accorde affirme, that the nation of Ireland (the vttermost weasterne He known) is lialfe as big as Britannia. Which I take to be true, if the word Britannia so fane displaie the signification, that it comprise England, Wales, and Scotland. 1 o The kn^th and which opinion ^Giraldiis Cambrensis relieth, saieng, that Britannia conteineth ]n \^'^fl;fj;^- length eight hundred miles, and two hundred in breadth. Ireland he taketh to be in cambrms.iib.t. length from the niounteins called Torrach (the author of Polychronicon termetli them ^'^f • '';;',^^-,, Brendane his hilles) to saint Columbe his Hand eight dales iourneie, rating ot long ,,6. i. .^p. jj. Irish miles fortie miles to the dale : and in breadth from Dublin to saint Patrike his hilles and the sea of Connaght foure dales iorneie, according to the tormer rate. So as by Cambrensis his surueie, who was a curious insearclier therot, Ireland is three hundred & twentie miles long of Irish miles, and one hundred and three score miles broad. And accounting thr^e hundred and twentie Irish miles to amount to foure hundred English miles, Vhich may well be reckoned according to their ludge- ments that haue trauelled in the Irish territories ; Ireland will be found halfe as big as Britannia: Avhich Girald. Cambrensis auoucheth, saieng, that Ireland is as big as Wales and Scotland. Ireland hath on the east, England, within one daies sailing; on the southeast it hath France; Hispaine on the south, distant three daies sailing ; on the west the maine ocean sea. Touching the name I hernia, historiographers are not yet agreed from whense ^tJV'^J^rr.c is deducted. Some write it Hibernia corruptlie, and suppose that the strangers „hense it pro. finding it in an od end of the world, foistie and moistie, tooke it at the first for a«='- verie cold countrie, and thereof named it Hibernia, as to saie, the Winter land. But this error being vpon short experience reformed, it could not be that the name should haue lined long, especiallie the first impositors suruiuing the triall, and able VOL. VI. B ^° cant. 2 THE DESCRIPTION OF IRELAND. irehi.d. to alter the first nomination, Others bring a ghesse, tliat it should be named of Irlamale. But because I read nothing of theniiin. anie. probable historic, I purpose not to huiltl vpon that coniecture. jMost crediblie it is holden, that tlie Hispaniards (the founders of the Irish) ibctus the His- for deuotion towards Hispaine, called then Iberia of Iberius the sonne of lubail, panishnucr. a,)(| {],£ nitlicr, lor that themseliies had dwelled beside the famous riuer Ibcriis, Leiand. in cyg. named tlic huid Iberia (for so Leland and nianie forren chroniclers write it) or Ibernia, adding the letter (n) for difference sake. And from Ibernia proc^edeth Iberland, or luerland ; from luerland, by contraction Ireland: forsomuch as in corruption of common talke v/e iind that (u) with his vocale is easilie lost and su])- pressed; so we sale ere for euer, nere for neuer, shoole for shooucll, ore for ouer, Scotu. e»e for euen, dile for diiiell. At tlie same time it was also named Scotia, in scotsch. reilerence of Scotach the wife of Gatlielus, ancient capteine of those Iberians that ^ flitted from Hispaine into Ireland: & the said Scotach was old grandame to Hiberus and Ilermon after the Scotish chronicles, who in anie wise will haue their iohai.mci9r. countrimcn deriued from the Irish, and not irom the Britons. The name Scotia Scot. lib. I. CO. jg Qf i^^Q yeares so vsuallie taken for that part of Britaine that compriseth Scotland, that diuerse ancient Irish authors are hnlden to be borne in Scotland, wheras in ichannes domi- verie dceci their natiue soile is Ireland. As tliC famous schooleman lohannes Duns in'Leknd!''""* Scotus, Otherwise named Doctor subtilis, for his subtill quiddities in scholasticall controuersies. was an Irish man borne, and yet is taken for a Scot. Some hold opinion that he was borne in Thathmon, a market towne fiue miles distant from Weisefcrd. Others auouch, and that more trulie, that he was borne in Dowre, an old ancient ciuitie in tlie north of Ireland, and thereof the}' ghesse Whyschooicmcn'iini to be named Dunensis, and by contraction Duns, which tearme is so triuiall a.e railed and commou in all schools, that whoso surpasseth others either in cauilling sophistrie, or subtill philosophic, is forthwith nickenamed a Duns. Wherefore as Scotia mtiior. Scotland is named Scotia minor, so Ireland is tearmed Scotia maior, as the head Scotia minor. fyQiy^ wheusc the name of Scotia minor tooke his ofspring. The Irish also were Gaudtiii. named of the foresaid Gathelus, or Gaudeilus, Gaudeili. In their Irish rithmes, Baano. they tearme Ireland verie often Banno. I cannot diuine what reason should lead their makers therto, vnlesse it be the riuer in the countie of Weiseford, named the Theriutr Baunc, M'hcrc the Britons vpon the conquest first arriued. The place otherwise is called Bagganbun, according to the old ancient rithme : At the creeke of Bagganbun, ^^«^"''""- Ireland was lost and wun. For the remembrance of which riuer so notoriouslie famosed, it carieth great likcli- liood, that the name should be to the whole realme generallie ascribed. Sundrie TnuerM. Latinc authors write Ireland Inuerna, others luerna, diuerse lierna. Claudius cTf.'-ih."" "'"nameth it Iberna. The diuersitie of which names grew, for that in their time the SoUni. xxwt and certeine name was not knowne, so that they were contented to take it as Ktrr-.oi Barb, tlicy fouud it, whicli matter is handled by llermolaus Barbarus. 'Pnn'c'aJi^y^' There are some of the ruder sort so quaint in seuering the name Irish and Ireland, The nnmc Irish as that they would be named Ireland men, but in no wise Irishmen. But certes, in ousiy seuered". " my fautasic such curious distinctors may be verie a|)tlic resembled to the foolish butcher, that ofl'red to haue sold his mutton for lift6ene grots, and yet woukl not take a crowne. Who so will grate vpon such nice diuersities, in respect that he is ashamed of his countrie ; trulie (in mine opinion) his countrie male be ashamed of 1. i-agenia. him. Ireland is diuided into foure regions, Leinster, east: Connaght, Mest : 3 nXmra'. Vlster, north: Mounster, south: and into a lift plot, defalked from eucrie fourth s' Media"'"" P^'"*^' '^'"' yet mearing on each part, called thereof Media, Meetli, comprising as West M.'eth well cast Ivl6eth, as west M^eth. Lcinsler butteth vpon Euirland, Ulster v])on the ^^^"^""'- ^ Scotish THE DESCRIPTION OF IKELAKD. d Scotish Islands: mIiIcIi face with Ilebriades scattered betweene botii the rcahns, Hcbiuics. wherin at this daic the Irish Scot, successor of the elder Scithiaii, Pict, or Red- shanke dwelleth. Ecli of tlicsc fuic, where they are framal)lc to ciuilitic, & answer the writs of the princes courts, be sundred into shires or counties in this manner. The simc^ind In Leinster lieth the counties of Dublin, Kildare, Weiseford,or (lueisford, Cather- irnd.""' " lach, Kilkennie, the counties of Leise & Ojihalie, called the kings and qut-enes counties : these two latelic so named by parlenient, in the reiji'nes of Philip and ]\larie, haning shire townes accordant, Philips towne, and Marie bourgh. Con- iiaght hath the countic Clare: Vlster the counties of Louth, Doune, Antrim, one iiioitie of the townc of Drogh.edagh (for the rest is in M6eth) and Carregfcrgus. In Mounster lie the counties of M'aterford, Limerike, Corkc, the countie palantiue of Tipperarie, Kerie, & the crosse of Tipperarie. Mounster was of old time diuidcd into east Mounster, Ormond, west Mounster, Desmond, south Mounster, Toon- mound. The occasion why Ireland was parted into these fine principail regions errew of this. There arriued in Ireland fine bretliren, that were valiant & martial M"' ''"'"•^^/^•, gentlemen; to wit, Ganduis, Ccnandms, Sagandus, otlicrwise named Cjangandus, vas termed the English pale: whicli in ancient time stretched fiom Dundalke to '& Catherlau'h or Kilkennie. But now what for the slacknesse of marchours and *t) incroching of the Irish enimie, the scope of the English pale is greatlic imj)aircd, ^ is cramperned and coucht into an od corner of the countrie named Eingail, with a parcell of the king his laud, Meeth, the countries, of Kildare and Louth, Avhich parts are applied chiedie with good husbandrie, and taken for the richest and B 9, cinilrst .1 THE DESCRIPTION OF IRELAND. Fingub excel- ciiulest sollcs ill Ireland. But Fingall especiallie from time to time liatli bin so bandne!""' addictcd to all the points of busbandiie, as that they are nickenamed by their CoUonncsof neiglibours, for tlicir continuall drud>>erie, Collonnes. of the Latine word Coloni, ciowie. -vvherevnto the dipt English word clowue secnieth to l)e answerable. Fingaii, why so Tlic word Flngall counteruaileth in English the race or sept of the English or named. cstrangcrs, for that they were solie seized of that part of the Hand, griping with tlicir talants so lirinelie that warme nest, tliat from the conquest to tliis daie the Irish enimie could ncuer rouse them from thense. Tlie inhabitants of the English ])ale haue bdene in old time so much addicted to their ciuilitie, and so farre seijucs- ^^ . .,. ■ - tered from barbarous saua<>enesse, as their onelie mother loong was Eugiish. And The cmilitie ol , ■ , ^ \ m i-i i i i ii'i i i.chiidinan- tiulie, SO long as these niipaled dwellers did sunder themselues as well in land as in cK-nttimc. laiio-iiage from the Irish: rudenesse was duie by daie in the countrie supplanted, ciuilitie ingratfcd, good lawes established, loialtie obserued, rebellion suppressed, and in fine the coine of a yoong England was like to shoot in Ireland. But when their posteritie became not altogither so warie in keeping, as their ancestors were valiant in conquering, the Irish language was fr^e dcnnized in the English pale: this canker tooke such deepe root, as the bodie that before was whole and sound, Avas by little and little festered, and in manner wholie putrified. And not onlie this parcell of Ireland grew to that 6iuilitie, but also \nster and the greater part of Mounster, as by the sequele of the Irish historie shall plainlie app^ere. But of all Wcisford wholie other places, Weisford with the territorie baied and perclosed within the riuer called TflfKii. ^^^^ P'll' ^^''^s so quite estranged from Irishrie, as if a traueller of the Irish, (which ■was rare in tliose dales) had'pitcht his foot within the Pill and spoken Irish, the Weisfordians would command him foorthwith to turne the other end of his toong- and speake English, or els bring his trouchman with him. But in our dales they haue so acquainted themselues with the Irish, as they haue made a mingle mangle or gallimaufreie of both the languages, and haue in such niedleie or chcckerwise so crabbedlie iumbled them both togither, as commoulie the inhabitants of the meaner sort speake neither good English nor good Irish. Thesaicngofa Tlicrc was of latc daics one of the p^eres of England sent to Weisford as comniis- rotchingthe- S'oner, to decide the controuersies of that countrie ; and hearing in affable wise English of weis'tJie rudc complaiuts of the countrie clowns, he conceiued here ik there some time a Avord, other M'liiles a sentence. The noble man being verie glad, that vpon his first comming to Ireland, he vnderstood so manie words, told one of his familiar friends, that he stood in verie great hope to become shortlie a well spoken man in the Irish, supposing that the blunt: people had pratled Irish, all the wiiile they ianglcd English. Ilowbeit to this daie, the dregs of the old ancient Chaucer English are Old English in kept US wcll there as in Eingali, as they terme a spider, an attercop, a wisp, a wad, Fb»'5r'* ""'' ^ Inmpe of bread, a pocket, or a [nicket, a silli'bucke, a copprous, a faggot, a blease, or a blaze, for the short burning of it (as I iutlge) a physician, a leach, a gap, a sliard, a base court or quadrangle, a bawen, or rather (as I doo suppose) a barton, the houshold or folks, me.>nie, sharpc, k6ene, estrange, vncouth, easie, ceth or 6cfc, Eater. a dungliiU, a mizen. As for the word bater, that in English ])urporteth a lane, bearing to an higb waie, Itake it for a inhere Irish word that crept vnwares intc> the English, through the dailie intercourse of the English and Irish inhabitants. And whereas connnonlie in all countries the women speake most ncatlie and perLlie, ■which Tullie in his third booke i-)e o/'awre, speaking in tlie person of Crassus seemed to haue observed : yet notwithstanding in Ireland it fdlelh out contrarie. Thepronuniia- for thc woiueu luiue ill tlicir EugUsh toong an harsh & brode kind olproiiuutiation, women. ' "^ 'witli vttcring their words so piJievishlie and faintlie, as though they were haltie siCke, and readie to call for a posset. And most commoulie in words of two syllables they giue the last the accent : as they sale, markeat, baskeat, gossoupe, pussoat, Ilobart, Niclase, TIIE DESCRIPTION OF IRELAND. 6 Niclase, &c : which doubtles dooth disljcautific their Enjihsli aboue measure. And if they could be weaned from that corrupt custome, there is none that couUl di.->hke of tlieir Ent^-hsh. Here percase some sna|)pisl] carj)cr will talvc me at rebound, and snuffiughc suib me for debasing the Irish Umguage : but trulic, whosoeuer shall be found so ouer- tliwartlie bent, he takes tlie matter farre awrie. For as my skill is verie simple tlierciu, so I would be lotli to disueile my rashnes, in giuing liglit verdict in anio thing to me vnknowen : ,but onclie rny short discourse tendeth to this drift, that it is not expedient that the Irish toong should be so vniuersallie gagled in the English I pale : because that by proofe and ex])erience we sde, that tlie pale M'as neucr in more florishing estate than when it was M'holie Englisb, and neuer in woorsse plight than since it hath infranchised the Irish. But some will saie, that I slievr my selfe herein as friuolous as some loosing gamsters seeme supeistitious, when The superstition they plaie themselues drie, they gogle with their eies hither and thithei', and if ofe^i^sters. they can prie out anie one that giueth them the gaze, they stand lumping and lowring, fretting and fuming, for that they imagine that all tlieir euill lucke pro- ceeded of him ; and yet if the stander by depart, the looser may he found as drie shauen as he was before. And euen so it fareth with you, because you s^e all things run to mine in the English pale, b}' reason of great enormities in the countrie, either openlie practised, or couertlie winked at; j'ou glanse your eie ou that which standeth next you, & by beating Jacke for Gill, you impute the fault to that which perliaps would little further the weale publike if it were exiled. Now trulie you shoot verie n6ere the marke. But if I may craue your patience till time you see me shoot my bolt, I hope you will not denie, but tliat as neere the pricke as 3'ou are, and as verie an hagler as I am, yet the scantling shall be mine. First therefore take this M'ith you, that a conquest draweth, or at the leastwise ought to draw to it three things, to wit, law, apparell, and language. For where the a conquest im- countrie is subdued, there the inhabitants ought to be ruled by the same law that p'^'h three the conqueror is gouerned, to weare the same fashion of attire wherwith the victor is vested, and speake the same language that the vanquisher parleth. And if anie of these three lacke, doubtlesse the conquest limpetli. Now whereas Ireland hath bin by iawfull conquest brought vnder the subiection of England, not onelie in king Henrie the second his reigne, but also as well before as after (as by the discourse of the Irish historic shall euidentlie be deciphered) and the conquest hath beene so absolute and perfect, that all Leinster, Meth, Vlster, the more part of Connagh and iMounster, all the ciuities and burroughs in Ireland haue beene wholie Englished, and with English conquerors inhabited, is it decent (thinke youj that their owne ancient natiue toong shall be shrowded in obliuion, and suffer the enimies language, as it were a tettar or ringworme, to harbor it selfe within the iawes of English conquerors? No tiulie. V And now that I haue fallen vnawares into this discourse, it Avill not be farre amisse to stand somewhat roundlie vpon this point. It is knowen, and by the historic you may in part perreiue, how brauelie Vlster whilom tlorished. The English families were there implanted, the Irish either vtterlie expelled or wholie subdued, the laws dulie executed, the reuenue, great, and onelie English spoken. But what brought it to this present ruine and decaie ? I doubt not but you gesse before I tell you. They were inuironed and compassed with euill neighboui-s. Neighbourhood bred acquaintance, acquaintance M'affed in the Irish toong, the Irish hooked with it attire, attire haled rudenesse, rudenesse ingendered ignorance, ignorance brought contempt of Iawes, the contempt of laM'es bred rebellion, rebel- lion raked thereto warres, and so consequentlie the vtter decaie and desolation of ; that worthie countrie. If these chinks, when lirst they began to chap, had beene diligentlie Ck. Hi. 2. Je frat. THE DESCRIPTION OF IRELAND. diligentlie by the dwellers stopped ; hir maiestle at this dale, to hir great charges, should not haue beene occasioned to dam vp with nianie thousand pounds, yea and with the Avorthie carcases of valiant souldiors, the gaps of that rebellious northerne countrie. Now put the case that the Irish toong were as sacred as the liebrue, as learned as the (iieeke, as fluent as the Latiue, as amarou''> as the Italian, as courteous as the Spanish, as courtlike as the French • yet trnlie (I know not vihich waie it falleth out) I s^e not but it may be verie well spared in the English pale. And if reason MJU not lead you to thinke it, trulie experience must force you to grant it. In old time, when the Romans were first accjuainted with the Greeke toong, as it is commonlie the nature of man to bo delighted with newfangle Avares : so he was accounted no gallant among the Romans, that could not pralle and chat Greeke. Marcus Cicero father to Tullie, being at that time stept in yeares, perceiuing his countrimen to become changehngs, in being bilwise and polmad, and to sucke with the Greeke the conditions of the Grecians, as to be in words talkatiue, in be- hauiour light, in conditions quaint, in manners hautie, in promises vnstedfast, iu otlis rasli, in bargains wauering (which were reckoned for Greekish properties in those dales) the old gentleman not so much respecting the neatnesse of the lan- guage, as the naughtie fruit it brought with it; said, that his countrimen the Romans resembled the bondslaues of Siria ; for the more perfect they were in the Greeke, the v»orse they were in their manners and life. If this gentleman had beene now lining, and had scene Mliat alteration hath happened in Ireland, through the intercourse of languages, he would (I dare sale) breake patience, and woukl demand whie the English pale is more giuen to Icarne tlie Irish, than the Irishman is willing to learne English: we must imbrace their language, and they detest ^"^.'l^'^i'f •** ours. One demanded merilie M'hie Oneile that last was would not frame himselfe v'ould not Jearne i i i \ * English. to speake English r What (quoth the other) m a rage, thinkest thou that it standeth with Oneile his honor to Maith his mouth in clattering English? and yet forsooth M'e must e'a<>- our iawes in pibbrishins' Irish.? But I dwell too lona: in so apparent a matter. As all the ciuities & towns in Ireland, with Fingall, the king his land, Meth, the countie of Kildare, Louth, Weisford, speake to this dale English (whereby the simplicitie of some is to be derided, that iudge the inhabitants of the English pale, vpon their first repaire into England, to learne their English in three or foure dales, as though they had bought at Chester a grotes worth of English, and so packt vp the rest to be carried after them to London) euen so iu all other places their natiue language is Irish. c^mh.nh.\. I find it solemnlie aduouched, aswell in some of the Irish pamphlets as in Girald. The fo.?nder"of Camb. that Gathelus or Gaidelus, & after him Simon Brecke, deuised the Irish the Irish Ian- janguaoe out of all other tooni"'\.-.ir.',H, verbum caro factum est." Naie by God his mcrcie man (quoth the other) I stand in doubt (I tell you) whether the apostles in their copious mart of languages at Jeru- salem could haue spoken Irish, if they were apposed : whereat the companie heartilic laughed. As fluent as the Irisli toong is, yet it lacketh diuerse words, and bor- roweth them verbatim of the English. As there is no vulgar Irish word (vnlesse there be some od terme that lurketh in anie obscure shrowds or other of their The want of the storehouse) for a cote, a gowne, a dublet, an hat, a drinking cup : but onelie they '"^''" vse the same words ^ith a little inflexion. They vse also the contracted English phrase, God morrow, that is to saie, God giue you a good morning. I haue apposed sundrie times theexpertest men that could be had in the countrie, and all they could neuer find out an equiualentlrish word for knaue. The Grecians No Irish word (according to Tullie liis iudgement) were in the same predicament as touching the "^ """'' terme Inept us : his Avoids are these. " Ego mehercule ex omnibus Latinis verbis, L;b.i.d,