Here Articulately ensueth as well the Begynnyng of the Voyage of Sir Richard Edgecombe, Kt. send by the King's Grace into Irelaund, and of souche Communications, and Conclusions, as the seyd Sir Richard haith made an takin there, as also of his retorn agen into Englaund.
Imprimis, June 23rd, 1488. Anno Tertio Henry VII.
The seyde Sir Richard took Shipping at Mountsbay in Cornwall, in a Skipp callid the Anne of Fowey; and there were three othir Skips 1 of Fowey aforesaid, with five Hundryth Men in theym all attending upon him, i.e. the Rebel of Dene, a Skip of Robert Strete, a Barque of Sir John Treffy, Kt. and a Barque of William Brewert; and that Daye he sailed to the Land's End, and there rod at Anchor that Night, because the Wind was contrary.
{year A.D.1488}24. Item, The seyd Sir Richard, hearing that Harletson, and other Rovers, were before the Isle of Silly, made sail, and erly in the Morning came to the said Isle; from which Isle the said Herletson departyd two Days befor; and ther lay at Anchor all that Daye, the Wind being still contrary as aforesaid.
25. Item, The seyd Sir Richard hearing , that a great Fleming Ship of Warr lay in the Severne, daily taking and spoiling the King's Subgets, made Sail, and with all the seyd Ships came in to the Severne, to th'intent to have mett wyth the said Fleming and other Rovers with hym; whych Fleming and Rovers wer warnid by divers of the King's Subgets of the comyng of the said Sir Richard to the Sea, and absented them, and fled theme thence.
26., 27.. Item, The Wind being alway contraryous, the seyd Sir Richard, for the hasty Spede of his Journay, with all the said Ships made travers in the Sea toward the Coast of Irlaund, and with gret Labour and Pain the said 27th Day arrived in the Port of Kinsale in Irlaund, and ther made search for Con Eop 2 a Rover upon the Sea, which had done, and daily doth, gret Harm and Nuisance to the King's Subgets and Frends upon the Coasts of Irlaund; which Eop, as the said Sir Richard was there en- formed, was departid more Eastward; whom the seyd Sir Richard hoped to speak wyth in his way towards Dublyn. And he so being at Kinsale took Others, Ligeance and Fealty of the Lorde Thomas of Barry.
28. Item, At th'especialle Desire and Request of the Lord Courcey, and of the Portreffe and Comminality of Kinsale, the said Sir Richard went to Lond, and upon his Comyng to Lond the seyd Lord Courcey, Portreffe, and Comminalty met him, and ther deliverid unto hym in the Kyng's Name the Keys of the Town, and he in the Kyng's Name deliverid the same agen unto theme, and incontinent they went altoogethir to the chef Church of the Town, and ther in the Chauncell of the fame took as well to the Ooth of Ligeance of the seyd Lord Courcey, as his fealty for his Barony of Kinsale, and that done, the said Portreffe and all the Substance of the seyd Town were solempnly sworn untoo the Kyng; and for the good continuance
30. Item, the seyd Sir Richard arrived in the Port of Waterford about nine of the Clock in the Mornyng; and the same Day at Afternoon, two Boats came from the Citty of Waterford, and brought the seyd Sir Richard to the Citty, and ther the Mayor and Worshipful Men of the same honourably receaved hym, and the Mayor lodgid the seyd Sir Richard in his own House, and made him right herty cheer.
July 1. Item, The Mayor had the seyd Sir Richard about the Citty, and shewid unto hym the Walls and Reparations of the same; and, that done, brought hym into the Guild-Hall of the seyd Citty, and the Councill of the same ther assemblid, the Mayor shewid unto the seyd Sir Richard the state of the seyd Citty, and the Disposition of divers gret Men, and of the common People of the Londs; among whych he shewid, that they understood that the seyd Sir Richard had brought wyth hym the King's Pardon for the Erle of Kildare, whych haith always bene, and is, an utter Enemy to the seyd Citty, and especially for their approved Loyalty towards the Kyng's Grace, as they say; and that when he were Sworn, and become the Kyng's Subget, tho' he were not made Deputy of that Lond, yet for the atchieving of his purposed Malice agenst the seyd Citty, they knew well, that he wuld make such means, that he shuld be made Justice of that Lond, and thereby he shulde have souch Authority, that he wuld find the means by him and his Frends utterly to undoe the seyd
3. Item, In likewise the seyd Sir Richard traversed in the Sea, and a great contraryous Wind and Tempest fell upon hym, and that Day wyth gret pain and peril fetched one Island called, Lambay, upon the Coast of Dublyn, and ther came to Anchor, and sent a Man untoo the Lond to go to Dublyn to inquire for the Bushopp of Clocornon 3 or Thomas Dartas, or Richard the Kyng's Porter, to th' intent that they or one of them shuld shew the comyng of the seyd Sir Richard, and to have Knowledge from theme of the Disposition of the Country, and of his sure coming to Lond.
4. Item, Thomas Dartas came to the seyd Sir Richard, lying at Anchor befor the seyd Island, and shewid that
5. Item, The seyd Sir Richard landid at Malahide, and ther a Gentilwoman callid Talbot receaved, and made hym right good cheer; and the same Day at Aftirnoon, the Bushopp of Meath,4 John Streete, and othirs came to Malahide aforsaid well accompanied, and fetched the said Sir Richard to Dublyn, and at his comyng thither the Mayor and Substance of the Citty receaved him at the Black Fryers Gate; at whych Black Fryers the seyd Sir Richard was lodgid.5
6. Item, the seyd Sir Richard lay still in the seyd Black Fryers, abydyng the coming of the Erle of Kildare, and othir Lordes of Irlaund.
7. 8. Item, Likewyse the seyd Sir Richard lay still in the said Fryers, preparing his Matters that he had to declare to the Lordes there; and the said eighth Day the Archbushopp of Dublyn6 came to the seyd Sir Richard to his lodging.
9. Item, The seyd Sir Richard lay still in the Black Fryers, abyding the comyng of the seyd Erle of Kildare; and that Day the Busshopp of Clocornen and the Threasorer of Irelaund 7 came and spake with the seyd Sir Richard in his lodgings.
10. Item, The seyd Sir Richard in likewise lay still within the seyd Black Fryers abyding the comying of the seyd Erle of Kildare.
11. Item, The seyd Sir Richard in likewise lay still in the seyd Fryers, abyding the comyng of the seyd Erle, to the gret costs and chargis of the same Sir Richard.
12. Item, the Erle of Kildare came to a Place of Canons without the Walls of Dublyn called St. Thomas Court, with the Nomber of two hundrid Horses, and incontinent upon hys comyng he sent the Busshopp of Meath, the Baron of Slane, with dyvers othirs in ther Company to the seyd Sir Richard Edgecomb, and from his Lodging conveyed hym wher the seyd Erle lay, and in a gret Chamber the seyd Erle receaved and welcomed the seyd Sir Richard. Howbeit the same Sir Richard made not Reverence and courtesy to hym, nor to the Lordes ther assemblid, and ther openly deliverid to the seyd Erle the Kyng's Letters, the which by hym read and seen, both the seyd Erle, and the seyd Sir Richard, with all the Lordes went into a privy Chambir, and ther the seyd Sir Richard opened and declarid unto theme his Message that he had unto theme from the Kyng's Grace, and the cause of his comying. And because that dyverse Lordes of the Councill of the Lond were not ther present, nor come nigh to these Parts, they took respite for five Days to give answer therunto; and that Night the seyd Erle departid to a Place of his called Maynoth, ten Miles from Dublyn, and the seyd Sir Richard went to his Lodgings.
13. Item, Sonday the seyd Sir Richard went to the high Church of Dublyn, callid Christ's Church, and causid the Busshopp of Meath ther to declare as well the Pope's Bull of accursing, and the Absolution for the same, as the Grace whych the Kyng had sent by hym to Pardon every Man, that wuld do his Duty unto the King's Hyghness. And that Day of the Archbusshopp of Dublyn, the Busshopp of Meath, and dyverse other gret Men dined with the seyd Sir Richard in his Lodging.
14. Item, Monday Sir Richard Edgecomb, at the especiale intreaty of the Erle of Kildare came to Maynoth, where the said Erle lay, and there had right good Cheer. At whych Place the seyd Erler made promise, that he wuld conform him in all things to the Kyng's Pleasur, in such wise, that the Mynd of the said Sir Richard shuld be contentid; and that was the especiale cause, that the seyd Sir Richard went thither.
15. Item, Tuesday the seyd Sir Richard lay still at Maynoth, and had gret Cheer of the Erle; and that Day came thither the chef Lords, and othirs of the Concill of that
16. Item, Wednesday, The seyd Sir Richard always looking that the seyd Erle wuld have done as was agreed over Night, yet notwithstanding the same Erle and his councill made and fayned unreasonable delays, so that Nothing that the seyd Sir Richard came for was done; wherwith the seyd Sir Richard was gretly displeasid, and told theme righte plainly and sharply of their unfitting demeaning. And that Day both the Erle, and the Lordes of the Councill, and the seyd Sir Richard came agen to Dublyn.
17. Item, The Erle of Kildare and othir Lordes of Irlaund kept gret Councill at St. Thomas Court without the Citty of Dublyn; at whych Councill the said Erle and Lordes agreed well to become the Kyng's true Subgets, as they seyd, and for their good abearing herafter offered to be bound, and make as good Suretys as culd be devised by the Kyng's Laws: But in no wise they wuld agree or assent to the bond of Misi 8; and for this bond certen of the seyd Councill came three or four Tymes that Day to the seyd Sir Richard Edgecomb in his Lodging, and requyred hym to leave off calling for the seyd Bond, whych he wuld in no wise do, but gave short Answears, with right fell and angry Words; and that Day no Conclusion was takin. Also the same Day the Lord of Gormanstown dined with the seyd Sir Richard in his Lodging.
18. Item, The seyd Erle and Councill assemblid again at the seyd Place; and that Day at Afternoon gave unto the said Sir Richard plain Answear, that they wuld in no wise be bound in the seyd bond of Misi, and rather than they wuld do it, they wuld become Irish every of them. The seyd Sir Richard hearing, that the common Voice was in the Citty of Dublyn, and all the Country ther abouts, that the Kyng of Scotts was Dead, and thereby callid
19. Item, The seyd Sir Richard sent to the seyd Erle and Councill the Ooth was him devised; wherupon the seyd Erle and Councill made many grete Questions and and Doubtes, and at Aftirnoon the seyd Sir Richard went in Person to the seyd Erle and Council, and had Communication with them upon the same, and that Day souche grete delays wer made by the seyd Erle and his Councill, that they wer not fully at a Point of Conclusion upon the said Ooth, and such Bonds as shuld be made in that behaulf.
20. Item, Sunday, the seyd Erle and Council agreed to be Sworne upon the holy Sacrament to be the King's true liege Men from thence forth, after the Tenour of souch Ooth as was agreed betwene the seyd Sir Richard and the seyd Erle and Lordes; whych Ooth the same Erle and Lordes graunted to certifie unto the King's Grace under ther Seals, and offerid then to have be Sworn that Day at Aftirnoon; wherunto the seyd Sir Richard wuld in no wise agree for many causes, but wuld have theme to be Sworn on the Forenoon; and that a Chaplain of his own shuld Consecrate the same Host, on whych the seyd Erle and Lordes shuld be Sworn; and so diferred the taking of their Ooths unto the next Daye; and this Day at Night the Threasorer of Irlaund, and the Lord of Gormanstown supped with Sir Richard Edgecomb.
21. Item, The seyd Sir Richard at the Desire of the seyd Erle went to the Monastry of St. Thomas the Martyr, where the Lords and Councill were assemblid, and ther in a great Chambir callid the King's Chambir, the seyd Sir Richard took Homage, first of the seyd Erle, and aftir that of othir Lordes, whose Names be written herafter in the Boke; and this done, the seyd Erle went into a Chambir, wher the seyd Sir Richard's Chaplain was at Masse; and in the Masse Time the said Erle was Shriven
22. Item, The seyd Sir Richard went about nine of the Bell in the Morning to the Guild Hall within the City of Dublyn, wher the Mayor, Baylifs, and Comminalty of the same were assemblid; and ther the seyd Sir Richard made them to be Sworn unto the Kyngs Grace upon the holy Evangelist, according to souche form as they have certified unto the Kyngs seyd Grace, undir ther common Seal.
23. Item, The seyd Sir Richard about eight of the Bell went to the Erle of Kildare to a Place of Canons callid All-Hallows without Dublyn, and ther had long Communication with him and his Councill; and that Day at aftir Dinner, the seyd Sir Richard Rode to Droghedah twenty-four Miles thense.
24. Item, The seyd Sir Richard took fealty of the Mayor, and all the Town of Droghedah in the Guild Hall of the same, and tooke of theme sureties for their good abearing towards the Kyngs Grace and his Heirs; and that done he deliverid to theme the Kings Lettres of
25. Item, The seyd Sir Richard Rode to Trim to Dinner, and ther at aftir Noon tooke fealty of the Portrefe, Burgesses, and comminalty of the seyd Town, and alsoo did take that same Day both Homage and fealty of divers, as it appearith heraftir in this Boke.
26. Item, The seyd Sir Richard came agen to Dublyn to his lodging in the Black Fryers.
27. Item, Sunday, the seyd Sir Richard Dined with the Recorder of Dublyn, and had a gret Diner, with gret Cheer, and there Dined also the Arch Bushopp of Dublyn.
28. Item, The seyd Sir Richard lay still at Dublyn, abiding the coming of the Erle of Kildare, and of the Lordes, to have their Lettres and report unto the King's Grace, and also to receave of the said Erle his Certificate unto the King's Grace upon his Ooth, and the Obligation of him and his sureties; for the said Sir Richard wuld in no Wise deliver to the Erle his Pardon, untill the time he had deliverid the forsaid Certificate and Obligation.
29. Item, The seyd Erle of Kildare, and the Lordes Spiritual and Temporal came to a Priory without Dublyn, callid All-Hallows; to whom the seyd Sir Richard came, and had with theme long Comunication; and the seyd Sir Richard understandyng, that certen Persons, which were Noted to be the chief Causes of the gret Rebellion late committed in Irlaund, because the Kings Grace had sent thither ther Pardons, sett little by their heinous offences, and therfor the seyd Sir Richard hitherto refused for that Cause to take either Homage or fealty of Justice Plunket, and of the Prior of Kilmainham, who were specially noted amongst all others chef causes of the seyd Rebellion; and gret instaunce was made by the seyd Erle and Lordes, that the seyd Sir Richard shuld accept theme unto the King's Grace, whych in no wise he wuld graunt unto; and that Day both the Erle and the seyd Sir Richard, with many othir Lordes and Gentilmen Dined with Walter Yvers, and had a gret Dinner; and the seyd Day at Aftirnoon, both the seyd Erle, and the seyd Sir Richard, with Dyvers Lordes Spiritual, and Temporal, met togither at St. Mary's Abby without Dublyn; and ther the seyd Sir Richard took fealty and Homage for the
30. Item, Both the Erle and the seyd Sir Richard, and the Lordes Spiritual and Temporal met at a Church called our Lady of the Dames in Dublyn; and ther great instaunce was made agen to the seyd Sir Richard to accept and take the said Justice Plunket, and the said Prior of Kilmainham to the Kings Grace, and that they mought have their Pardons in likewise as othir had, forasmooch as the Kyng had grantid Pardon generally to every Man. The said Sir Richard answerid unto theme with right sharp words, and said, that he knew better what the Kings Grace had commaunded him to do, and what his instructions were, than any of theme did; and gave with a Manfull Spirit unto the seyd Justice Plunket, and Prior, fearful and Terrible words, insoemuch that both the seyd Erle and Lordes wuld give no answear therunto, but kept their Peace; and aftir the great Ire passid, the Erle and Lordes laboured with souch fair means, and made such profers, that the seyd Sir Richard was agreed to take the seyd Justice Plunket to the Kyngs Grace; and soe he did, and took his Homage and fealty upon the Sacrament; but in no wise he wuld axcept or take the seyd Prior of Kilmainham to the Kyng's Grace, and ere that he departid unto his Lodging, he took with hym divers Judges and othir Noblemen, and went into the Castle of Dublyn, and there put in Possession Richard Archiboll, the King's Servaunt, into the Office of the Constable of the seyd Castle, which the Kings Grace had given unto him by his Lettres Patent; from the which Office the said Prior of Kilmainham had wrongfully kept the said Richard by the space of two Yeres and more, and ere then he departid out of the seyd Church of Dames, the seyd Erle of Kildare deliverid to the seyd Sir Richard both his Certificate upon his Ooth undir the Seal of his Arms, as the Obligation of his sureties; and ther the seyd Sir Richard in the presense of all the Lordes deliverid unto him the Kings Pardon under his Gret Seal in the presence of all the Lordes, and ther tooke his leave of the seyd Erle and Lordes Spiritual and Temporall; and that Day after Dinner the
31. Item, The skips were gotten out of the seyd Road, and because the Wind was contraryous he culd make no Sail, and that Night he lay beside a place called Houth.
Aug.1 . Item, The Wind being still contraryous the seyd Sir Richard causid the Master and Mariners to take Sayle, and traversed in the Sea till it was about four of the Clock in the Aftirnoon, and the wind began to rise, being still contraryous; so that he was fayne to retorn agen to a Road callid Lambay, about tan Island ten Miles from Dub- lyn, and there lay all Night.
2. Item, Such an huge and gret Tempest rose that Day no Sayle might be made the Wind being still contraryous.
3. Item, The aforesaid Tempest dured still, and at aftirnoon that Day the Wind began to come large; but it Blew so much, and the Coasts were so Jeopardous of Sands and Rocks, that that Night the Mariners durst not Jeoparde to take the Sea, but lay still at Anchor about the seyd Isle, and ther he and his company vowed gret Pilgrimages that God wuld cease the Tempest, and send a fair and large wind.
5. Item, Tuesday the seyd Sir Richard made a Sail, and sailed a Kennyng 9 more into the Sea, and the Wind began to come so contraryous, and so many gret dangers were on every side, and he was fayne to go agen to the seyd Isle of Lambay; and that Day at Aftirnoon the Wind began to come large, and incontinent the seyd Sir Richard caused Sail to be made, and all that aftirnoon sailed in his way, and at Night the Wind calmed, and came agen contraryous, therefore came to an Anchor in the open Sea, and there lay all Night.
6. Item, The Wind being contraryous, Sir Richard causid the Master and Marriners to Traverse in the Sea Homeward; and with great Pain that Day came against a Rock called Tulskerd, and there lay at Anchor all that Night in the open Sea, and the Wind Blew right sore, and was right troublous Weather.
7. Item, The Wind came reasonably large; and that day the seyd Sir Richard sayled until he came open uppon St. Ives in Cornwall; and because the Wind fell open, the Master and Marriners durst not adventure to pass by the gret and perillous Jopardies at the Lands end; and therfore all that Night they traversed in the Sea, and that Night many sudden showers and Winds fell.
8. Item, The Wind and the Sea being troublous, Sir Richard and his Skips came into the haven of Fowey, and there he Landid, and went on Pilgrimage to a chappell of St. Saviour; and that Night all his company Landid.