part of the expences, for the fuftenation of our faid war, and for the falvation of our aforefaid land; and if the faidPrelates, Nobles, and Commons, fhould refuse to take on themselves any reasonable part of the expence for the fuftenation of the war there, and falvation of the aforefaid land, then our faid Nuncio on our part fhall inform them, that every Bishop fhall have fufficient power for himself and the clergy of his diocefe, by letters of procuration from the Bishop and clergy themselves, to tranfmit two ecclefiaftical perfons to us and our council in England, to treat, confult, and determine with us, as well for the aid and government of our faid land, as the fuftenation of our war there. And the Commons of every county of the aforefaid land, shall have fufficient power for themselves, as the Nobles of faid county, to fend two lay perfons for the fame purpose, and the citizens and burgeffes of every city and borough, two citizens, and two burgeffes, &c. And although our fame Nuncio, premifed all and figular thefe things to our Prelates, Nobles, and Commons in our parliament at Kilkenny, in the eighth of St. Michael next paft, fummoned and held for the premifed caufes, nevertheless they excufed themselves through infufficiency, and at prefent deny to fupport any part of the costs and the expences of faid war to be maintained in our faid land there, on account of which, and for the causes abovesaid, we will, that fuch perfons aforefaid, in the form aforefaid, be tranfmitted to us into England. And we command you that you convocate yourselves before the clergy of your diocefe, chufing for yourselves and your clergy, two ecclefiaftical perfons, to be elected by the affent of the fame clergy, and before us, and our faid council of England, at your cofts, to appear, and your faid clergy within the fifth of the purification of the bleffed Virgin next coming wherefoever we fhall then be in England, to treat, confult, and agree, as is above faid, that ye caufe to be tranfmitted for us to our Chancellor of Ireland, the names of the aforefaid two perfons, by you thus chofen, within the fealt of the Holy Virgin St. Kathrine, whenfoever it fhall then be, certified under your feal, under the penalty of one hundred pounds from you, and your faid clergy, to be levied for our ufe, on every fuch omiffion, &c.

Witnefs, William de Wyndefore, governor and keeper of our faid land of Ireland, at Kilkenny, the 25th day of October, in the year of our reign of England forty-nine, but in our reign of France, thirty-fix.

We

We have the answers of the Archbishop of Armagh, and of the county of Dublin, to this fummons, diftinctly recorded We are not bound," faid the Prelate, "agreeably to the liberties, privileges, rights, laws and customs of the church and land of Ireland, to elect any of our clergy, and to fend them to any part of England, for the purpose of holding parliaments or councils in England. Yet, on account of our reverence to our Lord the King of England, and the now imminent neceflity of the land aforefaid, faving to us and to the Lords and Commons of the faid land, all rights, privileges, liberties, laws, and customs before mentioned, we "have elected reprefentatives to repair to the King in Eng"land, to treat and confult with him and his Council.

Ex

"cept, however, that we do by no means grant to our faid "reprefentatives any power of affenting to any burdens or "fubfidies to be impofed on us or our clergy, to which we cannot yield by reafon of our poverty and daily expence in "defending the land against the Irish enemy."

In like manner we find the county of Dublin at first electing their reprefentatives without power or authority to confent to the impofition of any burdens; the Nobles and Commons "unanimously with one voice declaring, that accord❝ing to the rights, privileges, liberties, laws and customs of

the land of Ireland, enjoyed from the time of the conqueft "of faid land, they are not bound o fend any perfons from "the land of Ireland to the parliament or council of our "Lord the King in England, to treat, confult, or agree "with our Lord the King in England, as the writ re

quires. Notwithstanding, on account of their reverence, "and the neceffity and prefent diftrefs of the faid land, they "have elected reprefentatives to repair to the King, and to "treat and confult with him and his Council; referving to "themselves the power of yielding or agreeing to any fub"fidies." At the fame time protesting," that their prefent "compliance is not hereafter to be taken in prejudice to the " rights, privileges, laws, and cuftoms, which the Lords "and Commons, from the time of the conquest of the land "of Ireland, have enjoyed, in confideration of the various "burdens which the faid Lords and Commons have borne, " and still do bear, and which for the future they cannot fup" port-nifi Dominus Rex manum fuam melius apponeré voluerit.”

MS. Rawlinfon.

In

In 13 year of King Edward I. the statutes of Westminster I anno 3 of Gloucester, an. 6 and of merchants, and Weftmainfter 2. an. 13 of his reign, were by his command sent to his chief justice in Ireland, to be there proclaimed and obferved, as this one memorandum in the clause roll of that year affures us.

Memorandum, quod die Veneris in fefto exaltacionis fanctæ crucis, anno, &c. 13 apud Wynton. liberata fuerunt Rogero Bretun Clerico venerabilis patris W. Waterfordenfes epifcopi tunc Juftic. Hibern. quædam ftatuta per regem et confilium fuum edita et provifa, viz. statuta * Westm. statim poft coronationem edita, et ftatuta Glouc. et ftatuta pro mercatoribus facta, ac ftatuta Westm. † in Parliamento regis Pasch. anno prædicto provifa et facta, in Heibern. deferenda, et ibidem proclamanda et obfervanda.

Cl. 13. Ed. 1. dorfo m. 5. De Statutis leboratis. Writs for free commerce between England and Ireland, as common one to another, 253. Raym. 4 Inftit.

Richard II. made a voyage to this kingdom, the particulars of which Howe, the English hiftorian thus relates.

Now fomewhat of the former voyage of King Richard into Ireland, as the fame was reported to Sir John Froifart, by an Efquire of England, named Henry Chriftall. Sir John (quoth he) it is not in memory, that ever any King of England made fuch provifion for any journey into Ireland, nor fuch a number of men of armes nor archers. The King was a nine moneths in the marfhes of Ireland to his great coft, and charge to the realme, for they bare all his expences: and the marchant-cities, and good townes of the realm thought it well bestowed, when they faw the King returne home againe with honour. The number that hee had thither, were foure thousand men of armes, and thirty thousand archers, well payed weekly. But to fhew the truth, Ireland is one of the euill countries of the world to make warre upon or to bring under fubiection, for it is clofed ftrongly and wildly with high forrests, and great waters and marifhes. It is hard to enter to doe any of the country any damage: nor yee fhall find no towne, nor person to speak withall. For the men draw to the woods, and dwell in caues or small cottages, under trees and among bushes, like wild and fauage beafts: and when they know that any man maketh warre against them, being Weftm. 1. 3. Ed. 1. + Weftm. 2.

entered

entred into their countries, then they draw together to the ftraits and paffages to defend them, fo that no man can enter into them. And when they fee their time they will foone take their advantage on their enemies, for they know the country, and are light people. For a man of armes, being neuer fo well horfed, and runne he neuer fo faft, the Irishmen will run on foote as fast as hee, and ouertake him, yea, and leape up upon his horse behinde him, and throw him from his horse; for they are strong men in their armes, and haue fharpe weapons with large blades, two edged, wherewith they will flay their enemie, whom they neuer repute to be dead till they haue cut his throat, and opened his belly, and taken out his heart, which they carry away with them, fome fay they eate it, and haue great delight therein: they take no man to ranfome. And when they fee that they be ouer-matched, then they will depart and hide themelues in bushes, woods, and caues, fo that no man fhall finde them: Sir William Windfore, who had moft vfed the warres in thofe parts of any other Englishman, could neuer learne the manner of the countrey. They be hard people, and of rude wit: and they fet nothing by iollity, nor fresh apparell, nor by nobleffe, for though their country be foueraignly governed by Kings, whereof they haue many, yet will they abide and continue in their rudenesse.

Truth it is, that 4 of the principall Kings, and most puiffant after the manner of the countrey, are come to the obeyfance of the king of England, by loue and faire meanes, and` not by battell, or constraint. The Earl of Ormond, who marcheth upon them, hath taken great paine, and hath fo intreated them, that they came to Dubline, to the King, and fubmitted them to him, to be under the obeyfance of the crowne of England, wherefore the King and all the realme reputeth this for a great and honourable act. For King Edward did never so much upon them, as King Richard did in his voyage. The honour is great, but the profite is but fmall, &c. The names of the foure Kings were these, first, the greate Oneale King of Meth, the fecond Otrine of Thomond, King of Thomond, the third Arthur of Mackquemur King of Leinster, the fourth Ocomor King of Theuenes and Drape, they were made Knights by King Richard in the cathedral church of Dubline: thefe foure Kings watched all the night before in the church, and the next day at high maffe time, were made Knights, and with them Sir Thomas Orphew, Sir Iames Pado, and Sir Iohn Pado, his coufin.

Thefe

Thefe Kings fate that day at the table with King Richard, they were regarded of many people, because their behauiour was ftrenge to the manor of England.

When Sir Iohn Froifart detired to know how it came to paffe, that foure Kings of Ireland were fo foone brought to the obeyfance of King Richard, when King Edward the King's grand-father, who was fo valient a Prince, could neuer fubdue them: Sir Henry Christall anfwered, he could not tell, but as men faid, the great puiflance that the King had over with him, and remaining there nine moneths, abashed the Irifhmen. Alfo the fea was clofed from them on all parts, whereby their marchandises might not enter into their countries, though they that dwell farre within the realme cared little for it, yet fuch as live on the marches of England and by the fea coaft, vse feare of merchandise.

King Edward in his time, had to anfwere fo many warres in France, Britaine, Gafcoigne, and Scotland, that his people were divided in divers places, wherefore he could not fend any great number into Ireland. But when the Irishmen faw the great number of men of warre that King Richard had in this laft iourney, they aduised themselues, and came to obeyfance.

In thes Articles folowing been comprised the Kyng's Will, Determination, Commandement, and Plefures, upon the Parliaments holdyn late at the Naase and Drogheda; and upon the Parliament that shall be now next holdyn within his lands of Irland. Anno 1418, 19 Ed. IV. Rot. clauf.

WHERE as have been gret variences of late in our faid

land of Irland upon two parliaments ther laft holdyn; the oen at the Naafe, the other at Drogheda, whether of theym should be of auctorite; we have thereupon taken fuche directions as folowith:

Furft, We confider that in the faid two parliaments were communed and concludet principaly two acts, the oen touchyng the grauntes of certayn fubfidies for the wele and defence of our faid land, the fecund concerned refumptions afwell of offices as of our revenue.

As touching the fubfidies graunted in our parliament holdyn at Drogheda, for as moche as we understand, that it was graunted, and alfo in gret part, as we ben enformed,

leveed