Wars of the Irish Kings (31 page)

T
HE WORDS THAT USUALLY FOLLOW
the name John de Courcy (died c. 1219) are “conqueror of Ulster.” Gerald of Wales describes him this way:

De Courcy landed at Wexford in 1176. After the conquest, he moved north with the troops to Dublin, where, according to most reports, he was so disgusted by the corrupt practices of the occupation government that he picked out a small but elite force and headed north into Ulaid, where he defeated the last of the ancient Ulster kings, Mac Duinn Suibne. As conqueror, he had the reputation of being far more interested in the native culture than most of the invaders. He was especially fascinated by the local saints, St. Patrick in particular, and Gerald of Wales even reports that John carried with him a book of prophecies written in Irish that he seemed to be able to read.

Often using the title
princeps
(prince), he ruled Ulster as a semi
independent state until 1244, enjoying more support from the Irish than was usual for an Englishman. And when he was overthrown, it was not by the Irish but by a rival Norman, a member of the de Lacy family, who coveted his lands.

In the entry from
The Book of Howth
that follows, readers may find English being used in a most unfamiliar way. The grammar may seem strange, and the spelling of proper names is inconsistent even within paragraphs. But the account has the raw power of folk art with sentences such as: “Both through the battle of Irishmen he went and returned again and again, making lanes through them so many that his few men that he had might easily pass through and through.”

JOHN DE COURCY
… took with him of the men of Dublin a few, but they were good and manfully, hardy through all thing[s], so that he had two and twenty knights, fifty squires, and footmen as might be three hundred, and went into Ulester, where no Englishman went before him that was ever seen. Then was fulfilled a prophecy of Marlen, that thus he said: “A white knight sitting on a white horse, bearing fowls in his shield, shall foremost assay Ulester.” This John was a man white, and rode then upon a white horse, and bare in his shield i-painted three herons. He went through Mithth and Eriell in three days going, and the fourth day came early to Doune [Down] without any let of any of his foemen, unknown to any man but his own. The King [of Ulster] was sore afraid, notwithstanding, sped him out of the town; and his men they were misfeysed, and very hungry; where they had at their coming meat and drink enough,
and spoil of gold and silver, and clothes, wherewith they were well arrayed, and their hearts well comforted.

Into the town was there come a Legate of Rome, [called] Vivien, and was come out of Scotland. This Legate was about peace to make between O’Donyll the King and John. Much he spake, and much he proferred to him, and promised him to bear every year a certain [reward] to the Englishmen, if they had left the land and turn again. But yet he [John] would not; till he had lost his life, he would not have left the land. Although the Legate spake as much as he could of fair speech, yet he could not speed. The King sent anon after his people. Within eight days he gathered together a host of 10,000 fighting men, and manfully came on towards the city of Doune, where Sir John was. The northern men [being] sturdier and stronger to fight than others.

Sir John saw the hosts coming to Doune. He was but 700 men; nevertheless they were full hardy and manfully of kind. He chose sooner to assay the adventure of battle in the field, rather than he would be kept in a cave within, like a bird in a cage. He came out of the town, and did put his men in good order, and divided them in three companies. He put his brother Sir Amorey de Sancto Laurensino with the horsemen, which was 140, and every horseman had a bowman behind him. Those was set on the left hand the battle. Roger de Power was put with a certain of footmen on the right hand, where as then a marsh ground was. Sir John led the third and last company, though they was but few in number.

The King, perceiving the horsemen but a few, thought to end with them ere that he would join his main battle. The ground was but narrow, where they should encounter, toward a great ditch and hedge, where no horseman could come within. Sir Amorey caused his footmen to be put within that hedge or ditch, and as the King did charge upon Sir Hamore, the shot of arrows came on so fast that their horses were so galled that the horses began to shrink back. Sir Amorey, with his few horsemen, did so fiercely set on that they never suffered the King’s horsemen once to look back for their fellows, as their main battle of footmen, till the King was droven beyond a narrow pass.

Then Sir Amorey called to his few footmen that then was with him, and willed them so to keep the pass that no horsemen should return till they had finished the battle, and retired back, and sent to Sir John, and bade that he should come on and set on the King’s footmen that stood in a great trench waiting the coming of their horsemen which was chased beyond the pass. Sir John did as his brother willed him.

There began such a cry on both sides that no instrument of the wars could be heard of neither side, with the wounded horses that galled
was with spears and arrows, the wounded and pale-faced soldiers, which there was grovelling on the ground gaping with their mouths open for want of wind, which were galled and hurt with arrows and spears. The noise of weapon[s] upon helmets was as a hundreds of forges with their smiths and others with hammers and sledges beating upon anvils of steel. And also there was lighting of fire, spears brust [points], and arrows flying in the air. That noise and fight was like heaven and earth were at a combat together.

Who had seen these worthy knights and soldiers in that battle, strange it was to behold. Who had seen Sir John Curcy his brother and Roger Pouer, that was a great man in Ossery, must have said and report[ed] that in all the world there could be none better than they three found. There was none that day that Sir John strack but died with that stroke, beside others that was wounded, but like a wolf amongst a herd of lambs, so did he use himself. Both through the battle of Irishmen he went and returned again and again, making lanes through them so many that his few men that he had might easily pass through and through.

Roger Pouer on the right side with his company so well did that there was none that could pass on his side to take succour of the marsh ground that was nigh the battle on his side but died; that between him and the main battle there was no way but upon dead corpses, or harness, legs and heads, that lay on the ground, or such weapons that they had that was slain, for no man could tread on the ground or grass by reason of the premises, for the King’s footmen, I mean the Irish, always they looked for the King and the aid of their horsemen, amongst whom were all their gentlemen [officers], in whom the footmen had all their trust. And perceiving the furious and terrible onset of the English, that so stalworthy did use themselves in their first charge on them, and no succour maintenance they could find, they as long as they might fought more out of order than it became such that so great a charge had to enterprise, always looking more for the comfort and aid of their leaders, captains, and gentlemen than they were willing to do that of themselves. And they perceiving all their fastness[es], as the moor, was taken from them, and that could be no succour for them by reason of the great slaughter that Roger Pouer did on that side, they with so much power as they had left made to the plain where as Sir Amore was with a few horsemen, thinking that the English soldiers was so tired with the great fight and sad harness [heavy armor], they [the Irish] being naked, was not able to travail nor follow them in the plain, being lighter and lustier than they in travail and footmanship.

As they came ahead in the plain, Sir Amore met them, running without order, and set upon them with his horsemen that few stop or could save himself, but he that was able to overrun a horse by speed.
There was of this number a two hundred or thereabouts of the Irish, with their leader Rory A’Hanlane, that always kept together, and was like to take the plain. Sir Amore called to his banner or standard bearer, called Geffrey Moungomrey, and said, “It is not time for thee to stay back for this small company that so well hath done all this day, and if we should suffer those to escape it would be said that that goodness that we hath done were lost. I pray thee, Mongomry, let us give the setting on.” “Nay,” said Mongomry, “we are but forty horsemen able to fight; the rest are tired and wounded, and you will never give over your stout stomach till you win more dispraise than ever you won of commendation.” “Well,” said Sir Amore, “I never heard out of thee so uncourteous an answer. Is it dishonour to die manfully in battle? Can we win ever more commendation? Give me my standard in mine own hand, for we will end that that we hath well began.” “Nay,” said Mongomry, “with this standard I hath won my living, and with this standard I will end my life. Now come on, in the name of God and Saint Patrick.”

Great work there was this time with these few horsemen, for Sir Amore was put twice on foot, and was helpen up to horse again, till the third time, being beyond a ford as the foremost passed through, was unhorsed, and his horse slain. But, as God would, three of his men lighted a-foot by him, which took four spears which they took of dead men that there was, and kept that ford upon the footmen till Sir John Coursey came to that rescusse, for his horsemen knew not where he be gone. Who that might behold that battle, first and last, would a-counted Sir Amorey worthy of high praise and commendation, were it not that he had been at the first onset upon these footmen wounded above the forehead, and the blood disturbed him much. His praise would have been as much as might be given to any knight or horsemen then alive.

During this sport few or none escaped; at which time this hundred men, that was left to keep the pass, was inforced to cut [down the trees in] the pass, and [lay] it over with wood, for the horsemen often charged upon them, thinking to come to rescue their fellows that was in the battle, where as in that pass was slain Lyonell Saint Larans, Sir Amore’s nephew, and two gentlemen more, which over all other there did best; and if those horsemen and the King had not by such fortune be separate from the footmen, it had not be like the fortune of battle to turn on Sir John Coursey’s side. They were of the Irish side ten thousand; of the English, seven hundred horsemen and footmen. You may see that policy helpeth good fortune, for this field was won by the help of God, to Sir John’s great honour and worthy commendation.