letters to her Majesty and the Lords of her Highness' most honourable Privy Council, with intent and meaning only to crave redress and ease for their said heavy burdens; who travaili[ng] according the said trust reposed in them, and your Honours finding some matters in the copy of our said letters sent to your Honours which seemed to your Lordships to have touched her Majesty's prerogative, by occasion thereof committed your suppliants to the Castle of Doublinge, who can be but hearty sorry if any occasion of displeasure they have ministered, protesting that their meaning never was nor is to derogate from her Highness any part of her Majesty's royal prerogative, nor any way to impugn this same, but always willing with their land[s], live[s], and good[s] to maintain, defend, and acknowledge this same to the uttermost of their powers, whereof the manifold services done by them and their ancestors at their own proper costs and charges sithens their coming hither first with her Majesty's most noble progenitor King* H. the Second, and their continuance sithens in good, loyal, and dutiful mind to the Crown of England, may be sufficient testimony.

And therefore they do now, as always they have been willing, acknowledge that her Majesty make take up according to her prerogative necessary victuals for her army and garrison at reasonable prices, and that also her L. Deputy for like causes may take victuals, with consent of the nobility and Council of this realm, in cases† of urgent necessity, as far forth any way as her Highness' prerogative extendeth unto, and to bear, yield, and pay according her Highness' prerogative, as far forth every way as the same extendeth unto. And if they have any way either by word or writing impugn[ed] this same, they are most heartily sorry for it, most humbly beseeching your Honours that you will be means to amove from them her Highness' displeasure conceived against them, which proceeding of their misfortune they cannot choose but lament and bewail; and to be means of a reformation to be had of their poor miserable and decayed commonwealth; and finally to have consideration of their liberty, and that this their long imprisonment, with other divers losses which by means of this same they have sustained, be taken as sufficient punishment for the displeasure conceived against them. And they shall pray, etc.

Ro. Baltyngglas, C. Delwyn, C. Howthe, D. Tremletyston, Sarssewell, Chevers, Talbot, Thomas Nugent, J. Netterfeld, P. Bermygcham, Ramore, Messet, Edward Plunket, Plunket, Berle (?), Lavalen, Nugent, James Nugent, Baron Novan.

beyng,"
"MS.

† "caussis," MS.

f. 136.

The description of the Earl of Kildare.

f. 1366.

1577, died Mr. Agart, one of the Privy Council, a very wise man; and at his death repented most that ever he did put his hand to cesse the English Pale, as divers times then he declared.

Before this time the Earl of Clanryckyrd and his youngest son was taken and kept in close prison for having confederacy with his two eldest sons, as Hoyllycke and John Bourke. And John A'Desmond was taken and put in close prison, and his brother the Earl of Desmond did not trust to come in, this while that his brother was committed, to the President of Mounster nor to the President of Connaght.

This time one Harry Heryngton, nephew to Sir Henry Sydney, was made Lieutenant of the forts of Leyxe and Afalle, and had the charge of 7 hundred kerne, and by ill fortune was taken prisoner and one Cosbey his son, and required to be paid for his ransom, as they said, Rory Oge, his taker, and all his kerne their pardons, and a great deal of land in Leyxe to be given to the said Rory and to his heirs for ever.

Before this time, a year or more, the Earl of Kyldare was taken by Sir William FitzWilliams, L. Deputy, and put in close prison in the Castle of Doublinge, and after sent to England like a traitor, and there was tried, a true and faithful subject. His Lordship's accusers was Robert Dyllon, by Taract, Richard otherways called Dick Gerot, and Allen of Saint Wolston's. His Lordship's sons was also taken, and all his Lordship's lands and goods; which proceeded of malice more than any truth, as evidently it was proved, to the slander of his Lordship's accusers and great infamy, and his Lordship restored to all that was taken from him, to his glory and honour, and the rejoice of his friends. This Lord was a perfect horseman and valiant of courage, small of stature, and slender of person, a very courteous gentleman, a right courtier. All that belonged to a gentleman was in him, saving he was hard and angry in times. He was a great gatherer* of money, and would play much.

Another Submission to the Right Honorable the L. Deputy and Coun[cil].

In most humble manner showeth unto your Honour[s], the Lords Knights, and Gentlemen here remaining prisoners since the sixth of February last to this 28th of June, for the matters of cesse, in prosecuting whereof it was alleged that we did impugn her Majesty's prerogative, wherein we take God to witness our meaning was only to seek ease of our charges and heavy burdens laid upon us, without any intent to gainsay any

* 66 gethery," MS.

137.

part of her Highness' royal prerogative. In which proceedings, or anything wherein we have offended before your Honours from the beginning at this time, we are heartily sorry, and beseech your Honour[s] to be good unto us.

And for our full and plain declaration of our minds touching the same, we acknowledge and confess that the Queen's most excellent Majesty, by her royal prerogative, may by her Governor, with the assent of her nobility and Council here, in times of great necessity, lay charge upon her subjects here as fully as her Highness doth or may by force of her prerogative in England, which we acknowledge most humbly, dutifully, and willingly to be as lords* in all respects in Ireland as in England, and to the same do submit us; the whole effect whereof we have by sundry other submissions, heretofore exhibited to your Honours, acknowledged in the plainest manner that we could devise, and shall evermore during our lives dutifully not only confess but will defend the same with our life and living to the uttermost.

Wherefore we humbly beseech your Honours that it may please you to have consideration of this our long and chargeable restraint of liberty, and to take some good order for our discharges of fines and imprisonment, and also to reduce the charges of diet and fees of this her Majesty's Castle, which of late is out of measure increased and enhanced since the time of the Right Honourable the Earl of Sussex's government, to the great annoyance of the subjects, to the old rates then used and accustomed, whereby we may find some ease. And we shall pray for your honourable estates long to continue.

The Baron of Houthe com[mitted] 5 of February. His cont 408.; his diet for 28 days 14l. 138.; by composition at 22d. ster. per diem, 127. 128. ster.

After Sir William Drure was made L. Justice, which agreed that the composition should hold, and the cesse should be given over. And about the first of August 1579, James FyzMoreyshe, a rebel of the Gerottynges of Mounster, came from beyond the seas, and was proclaimed traitor; and so was Sir John A'Dessmond and his brother Sir James, brethren to the Earl of Dessmond, after they had murdered and killed Harry Davels and a number of Englishmen.†

* Sic.

† From here to f. 146 the leaves of the chronicle, though numbered, are left blank.

f. 1466.

f. 147.

§

Of Giants.*

I did read and hear of many giants and great men of noble race in Ireland and other wheres, as in Greece,† Hercules and Authens. In England, Eormes and Gomagot. Moses declareth that before the flood there were giants. A city was builded by Cham, called Henock, wherein dwelled giants. Uge was the last of the giants. In the time of the last of the children of Israel, 9 cubits in length and 4 in breadth, Galiath. The width of his jeacke was 312; his spear was like a weaver's beam; his spear head was weighed 37 pound of iron, and was 6 cubits and a half broad high§. There were giants 4 that had 24 toes and fingers. This was after the flood 2800. Saint Augustine saith he saw a tooth of a giant that would have made a hundred of his own teeth. Bockes saith there was three teeth of a man found that weighed 8lb. and 4 ounces. Pallas's corpse was 20 foot in length, and was companion with Enyas. There was found in England a carcass 50 foot in compass, and was found in Wales 14 foot in length, and another was found in Scotland named Little John, that was 12 (?) foot in length. One Talliola, daughter to Ciceyo,‡ was higher by many feet than the common sort of jury.‡

Now of days a carcass was found beside Paris that was 20 foot long, beside the neck and head, which then was not found. A carcass was found in England almost 14 foot in length. Another was found in Scotland; of incredible bigness was his bones. Another that had a shin bone six foot long, and his skull would contain 5 pecks wheat; so he was thought to be in height 28 foot. The body of King Arthur was longer by two foot than any man. The carcass of William Conqueror,‡ the body of Arthur the giant aforesaid. Another was found whose corpse was 50 cubits long. Another giant was 30 cubits in length. The body of Exioe was found, and was 46 cubits long. One Macres wys's body was found to be 10 cubits long.

Another giant's body was found to be 20 foot in length, and having a double row of teeth. A rib of a giant was found to be 16 ells long, and his body was judged to be 64. Parris of Find (?), and those of that country, which was in King Alexander's days, was 5 cubits in height. A corpse was found that in his head was teeth that contained 12 inches in compass, one of them. Ternus threw a stone at Enyas that 12 men could not move it. This much of these giants I find written in a

credible

**

f. 149.

The genealogy of
Stranbow.

Earl Marshal's

sons and daughters.

A fragment of the History of Ireland.*

The land of Ireland of old time had five Kings, which divided all the land in five portions; that is to say, Leynester, containing five counties, as the county of Dublin, Kildare, Caterlaghe, Wexforth, and Killkeney. Item, Towe-Mounisters, of which the three parts lieth be-south the river of Shenen from Waterforde to Limericke, containing five counties; that is to say, the county of Waterforde, Corke, Kyery, Tipperare, and Lymeryke; and Ormonde, being by east the said river, the fourth part. Item, the other portion of Mounister is by west the river of Shenen, called Tomon. Item, another portion, Connaght, containing divers counties. Item, another portion, Ulster, containing divers counties.

Item, the chief of the five Kings, called Monarca, kept the county of Methe with himself ad mensam, &c.

Item, the most part of Leynister, South Mounister, Connaght, Methe, and Ulster, was conquered by King Henry Fitz Empress, and by such lords and gentlemen that came into Ireland by his licence and commandment.

Item, the chief of the gentlemen and conqueringt of Leynister under King Henry FitzEmpress, was Richard Earl of Strangbowe, who married McMorghoe's daughter, with whom as well by the said McMorghowe's gift, as by conquest, he had all Leynister, and reduced it to good order and obedience of the King's laws, and enjoyed it eight years during the said McMorghowe's life, and six years after during his own life.

Item, the said Earl died 14 years after the conquest, and had issue but one daughter, whom King Henry FitzEmpress took into England and married her unto William Earl Marshal, which Earl Marshal came into Ireland, and enjoyed all Leynister in peace 60 years after the conquest, and left all the same obedient to the King's laws at his death, except certain of the blood and name of McMorghowe, which by sufferance of the foresaid Earl, for alliance of their wives, were dwelling under tribute in the county of Catherlaghe, in a place, as it were a barony, called Yepin.

Item, the said Earl Marshal had issue by th' Earl Strangbowe's daughter, five sons and five daughters, and died.

Item, the said five sons were Earls and Lords of Leynister every of them after other, and ruled all Leynister in peace and prosperity, obedient to the King's laws, during all their lives, which continued to King Edward the First's days, and died all without issue of their bodies lawfully begotten.

This heading is in Carew's handwriting. Ff.149-151 are written by a hand which does not seem to occur elsewhere in the Book. See a similar "History in Vol. I. of this Calendar, No. 1, said to be written by Patrick Finglas. † Sic.