Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Voyage of Sir Richard Edgecomb into Ireland, in the Year 1488. (Author: Sir Richard Edgecombe?)

Part 3

I Gerald, Erle of Kildare, promit and oblige me, that from hensefourth I shall be true faithfull and obeysaunt Liegeman and Subget untoo the moost high and

p.75

moost mighty Christian Prynce, my natural and right wise Soveraigne Lord, Kyng Henry VIIth, and by the Grace of God, Kyng of Englaund and of Fraunce, and Lord of Irlaund, and to his Heirs of his Body comyng, Kyngs of Englaund.

Item, I shall nevir ayd, assist, or favour any of my seyd Soveraign Lord's Rebells or Traytors, or any that I may know of his Subgets doing contrary to their Allegiaunce, touching the King's Person or his Crown; nor shall I nevir assist ne Favour Privily ne apertly any thyng that may be contrary to the Weal, Honour, or Surety of my seyd Soverain Lord, or hys Heirs, Kyngs of Englaund, in things concernyng the Conservation of his moost noble Person, and Estate Royall. But yf it shall Fortune me at any tyme to know any thyng that may be to the Hurt, Dishonour, or Displeasur of his Highnes, or any of his seyd Heirs, Kyngs of Englaund contrary to mine Allegiaunce, I shall to the best and uttermoost of my Power resist and let it. And ovir that, I shall, as soon as I can or may shew, or doe the same to be shewed untoo his seyd Highness or his Heirs Kyngs of Englaund, or his or their Counsells.

Item, I shall serve my seyd Sovereign Lord, and all his seyd Heirs, Kyngs of Englaund, in all their Titles to the Crown of Englaund and Fraunce, and Lordship of Irlaund, and in all his and their Titles and Quarrells concerning the Crown live and die with hym and theme agenst all Earthly Creatures, and his and their lawful Commaundments truly and faithfully obey observe and accomplish, to the utmoost of my Power.

Item, If any Messingers or other Persons of what Estate, Degree or Condition they be, be sent from the Dutchesse of Bourgon, or from any oother with Letters or Messages to me, or to any othir that I may have Knowledge of to pervert me or theme from mine or their Allegiaunce, and Obeysaunce, or cause Commotion or Rebellion amoongst the King's Subgets to be renovelled, or if any Person inhabiting within Irlaund being the Kyng's Subget or Stranger resorting to the seyd Lond, use seditious or unfitting Language concerning the Kyng's Person or Honor, I shall, assoon as it shall come to my Knowledge, put me in full Devor to take, or do to be takin, that Person or Persons

p.76

so, as is abovesaid, bringing Letters of Messages exciting new Commnotion or Rebellion, or sowing seditious or unfitting Language, and as mouch as in me is, doe them to be punyshed aftir ther Demerits, accordyng to the Law, or else send him or theme with their Letters or Words untoo the Kyng's Grace.

Item, I shall not let, ne cause to be letted, from this Day forwards the Execution and Declaration of the great Censures of Holy Church to be done agenst any Person of what Estate, Degree, or Condition he be, by any Archbushopp, Bushopp, Prior, Parson, Vicar, or any othir Curate or Priest, in any open Place or Church within the King's Londe of Irlaund, gyven by the Authority of our Holy Father Pope Innocent the VIIIth, that now is, agenst all theme of the King's Subgets, that letten or trouble our seyd Sovereign Lord King Henry VIIth, in hys Title to the Crown of Englaund, and Lordshipp of Irlaund, or cause any Commotion or Rebellion agenst the same, or in any wise supported or comforted any Traytors or Rebells that intendid the Destruction of his moost noble Person, or Subversion of his seyd Realme of Englaund, and Lordshipp of Irelaund, but the same Execution and Declaration of the said Censures by my Power shall ayd and assist and cause to be done, as mouch as in me is, as often as I shall be on the behaulf of our seyd Sovereign Lord required; or otherwise I shall or may have sufficient Matter or Cause lawful. The same Execution to be done without Fraud or Mal-engine: So help me this holy Sacrament of God's Body, in form of Bread here present, to my Salvation or Damnation.

Ista Clausula pro Spiritualibus personis.

Item, I shall from this Day fourth, as oft as I shall be lawfully required on the behaulf of our seyd Sovereign Lord to execute the Censures of the Church, by the Authority of our Holy Fathir the Pope Innocent the VIIIth, that now is, and by his Bull given undir Lead, agenst all those of his Subgets, of what Dignity, Degree, State or Condition he be of, that letteth or troubleth our seyd Sovereigne Lord, or his Title of the Crown of Englaund, and Lordship of Irlaund, or causith Commotion or Rebellion agenst the same, or aydeth, supporteth or comforteth any of hys Traytors or Rebels, that intendeth the Destruction

p.77

of his moost noble Person or Subversion of his seyd Realm of Englaund, or Lordship of Irlaund, the same Sentence with all Solempnity therunto belonging within any Church of my Jurisdiction openly solempnly execute and declare the same Censures upon and agenst all transgressors of the same Bull, or cause to be executed and declarid; so that the Cause why be untoo me notarie, or othirwise lawfully in the behaulf of our seyd Sovereigne, or his Heirs, Kings of Englaund shewid and provid, not letting or sparing soe for to doo for Love, nor Dread, Hatred, Envy, or Enmity of Lordship, ne for any othir Cause. So help me this Holy Sacrament of God's Body in form of Bread here present to my Salvation or Damnation. Salvo ordine Episcopali.