Wars of the Irish Kings (35 page)

The king who was so estimable, saw right many slain on the field. He saw one of those who was taken [prisoner] there and was decked out splendidly crying with great tenderness, and asked him why he made such a face. He said to [the king], “Sir, it’s not surprising that I’m crying. I see many here [who’ve] lost their life-blood, the flower of all northern Ireland, [men] who were stoutest of heart and deed, and most feared in a tight corner.” The king said, “You’re wrong,
perfay;
you’ve more reason to laugh, because you’ve escaped death.”

When bold Edward Bruce heard that the king had fought like that against so many men, and in his absence, you couldn’t see an angrier man. But the good king said then to him that it was his own folly, for he rode so carelessly so far in advance, with no vanguard made to the men behind; for, he said, anyone who wants to ride in the van in war, should never press far out of sight from his rearward, because great danger could arise therefrom. We shall speak no more about this battle.

The king and all those with him rode forwards in better order and closer together than they had done previously. They rode openly through
all the land, finding that no-one stood in their way. They even rode before and then before Dublin also, but they found no-one to give battle. Then they went southward in the land holding their way right to Limerick, which is the southernmost town to be found in Ireland. They lay there for two or three days, then prepared to travel again. And when they were all ready, the king heard a woman cry. He quickly asked what that was. “It’s a laundry-woman, Sir,” someone said, “who is taken in childbirth now, and will have to remain behind us here, so she’s making that awful noise.” The king said, “It would indeed be a pity to leave her at that crisis; for there is no man, I’m sure, who won’t have pity on a woman then.” He halted the whole army then, and soon had a tent pitched; [he] had her go in hastily and other women to be with her, [and] waited until she had been delivered, then rode forth on his way; and before ever he set forth, he gave orders how she was to be transported. It was a very great kindness that such a king, so mighty, had his men wait in this way, for a mere poor laundry-woman. They took their way northwards again, and thus passed through all Ireland, through Connaught right to Dublin, through all Meath, then Uriel, and Munster and Leinster then wholly through Ulster to Carrickfergus, without a battle, for there was no-one who dared attack them.

Then all the kings of the Irishry came to Sir Edward and did their homage to him, except for one or two. They came to Carrickfergus again—on all that way there was no battle unless there were any skirmishes not to be spoken of here. Then every one of the Irish kings went home to their own parts, undertaking to be obedient in all things to the bidding of Sir Edward, whom they called their king. He was well set now, [and] in a good way, to conquer the land altogether, for he had on his side the Irish and Ulster, and was so far on with his war that he had passed through all Ireland from end to end, by his own strength.

If he could have controlled himself by discretion, and not been too self-indulgent but governed his actions with moderation, it was doubtless very probable that he could have conquered the whole land of Ireland, every bit. But his excessive arrogance and stubbornness, which was more than hardy, distorted his resolve,
perfay
, as I shall tell you afterwards ….

But [Edward], always irritated by inaction, always wanting to be busy, a day before the arrival of those who had been sent him by the king, took
his way to go southwards, despite all those who were with him. For he had in that land no more than two thousand men, I believe, apart from the kings of the Irish who rode with him in great contingents. He took the way toward Dundalk, and when Richard Clare heard news that he was coming with so small a following, he gathered all the armed men from all Ireland that he could, so that he had there with him then twenty thousand horse with trappings, apart from those [men] who were on foot, and held northwards on his way. When Sir Edward heard tell that they had come near to him, he sent scouts to see him—they were Soulis, the Steward and also Sir Philip Mowbray. When they had seen them coming they went back to make their report, saying that they were indeed very numerous.

Quickly Sir Edward answered them saying that he would fight that day, [even] though they were treble or quadruple [the number]. Sir John Stewart said, “Now, I advise you, don’t fight in such a hurry. Men say my brother is coming nearby with fifteen thousand men; if they were combined with you, you could stay to fight more confidently.” Sir Edward glowered angrily and said swiftly to Soulis, “What do you say?” “Sir,” he said,
“perfay
, I agree with what my companion said.” Then he spoke to Sir Philip. “Sir,” said he, “as God sees me, I think it no folly to wait for your men, hurrying to ride [to us]. For we are few and our foes are many; God may deal our fates very well, but it would be remarkable if our force could overcome so many in battle.” Then with great anger, “Alas,” [Edward] said, “I never thought to hear that from you! Now let whoever wants to, help, but rest assured [that] I will fight, today, without more delay. Let no man say while I’m alive that superior numbers would make me flee! God forbid that anyone should blame us for defending our noble name.” “Well, let it be so,” said they. “We shall take whatever God sends.”

When the kings of the Irish heard it said, and knew for a fact, that their king meant to fight with so few against a force of such great power, they came to him very quickly and advised him gently to wait for his men, [while] they would keep their enemies busy all that day, and one the morrow also, with the raids they would make. But their advice had no effect; whatever came, he would have battle. When they saw he was so determined to fight, they said, “You may well go to fight with yon great company; but we discharge ourselves completely—none of us will stand to fight. So don’t rely on our strength, for our tactics are [those] of this land, to follow and to fight while fleeing, and not to stand in open encounter until one side is defeated.” He said, “Since that is your custom, I ask no more of you than this, that is, that you and your followers should be arrayed all together, standing a distance away, without leaving, and see our fight to the end.” They said that they would indeed do so, and then
went toward their men who numbered nearly forty thousand.

Edward, with those who were with him, who weren’t fully two thousand, drew themselves up to stand stalwartly against forty thousand and more. That day Sir Edward would not wear his coat of arms; but Gib Harper, whom men held also [to be] without an equal in his position, on that day wore all Sir Edward’s apparel. They waited for the fight in this way, their enemies came in great haste all ready to engage [them] and they met them boldly.

To tell the truth they were so few that they were pushed back by their enemies, [while] those who struggled most to stand [firm] were killed dead, and the remainder fled to the Irish for help. Sir Edward, [a man] of such courage, was dead, as were John Stewart and John Soules too, and others also of their company. They were so quickly defeated that few were killed in the field, for the rest took their ways to the Irish kings, who were there and hovering in one whole force. John Thomasson who was leader of [the men] of Carrick who were there when he saw the defeat, withdrew to an Irish king of his acquaintance, who received him in fidelity. When John had come to that king, he saw led from the fighting the brave Sir Philip Mowbray, who had been knocked senseless in the fight. He was led by the arms by two men, upon the causeway that was between them and the town, [and] stretched in a long straight line.

They held their way toward the town, and when they were half-way along the causeway, Sir Philip recovered from his dizziness and saw that he had been taken and was led by the two like that. He soon threw one away from himself, and then swiftly the other; then he drew his sword swiftly and took his way to the fight along the causeway, which was then filled in great numbers with men going to the town. On meeting them, he made them such payment where he went, that he caused a good hundred men [to] leave the causeway, despite their [companions]. As John Thomasson, who saw all his achievement, said truthfully, he went straight towards the battle.

John Thomasson, who well raised that they had been completely defeated, shouted to him as quickly as possible, and said, “Come here, none of them is alive, for they are all dead.” Then [Mowbray] stood still for a while and saw that they had all been deprived of life, then went close toward [Thomasson]. This John then behaved so sensibly that all those who then fled thither, although they lost [some] of their gear, came sound and safe to Carrickfergus. Those who were at the fighting looked for Sir Edward to get his head among the folk who lay there dead, and found Gib Harper in his gear; because his arms were so noble, they struck off his head, then had it salted in a box and sent it to England as a present to
King Edward. They believed that it was Sir Edward’s but they were deceived about the head by the armour, which was splendid, although Sir Edward died there.

This is how these noble men were lost there through stubbornness, a sin and a great sorrow.

IN THE NINTH YEARE OF KING EDWARDS
reigne [Edward II of England], Edward Bruce, brother to Robert Bruce king of Scots, entered the north part of Ireland with six thousand men. There were with him diverse capteins of high renowne among the Scotish nation of whome the chiefe were these: the earles of Murrie and Mentith, the lord John Steward, the lord John Campbell, the lord Thomas Randolfe, Fergus de Andressan, John Wood, and John Bisset. They landed near to Cragfergus in Ulster the five & twentieth of May, and joining with the Irish, conquered the earledome of Ulster, and gave the English there diverse great overthrowes, tooke
the towne of Dundalke, spoiled & burnt it, with a great part of Urgile: they burnt churches & abbeies, with the people whom they found in the same, sparing neither man, woman nor child. Then was the lord Edmund Butler chosen lord justice, who made the earle of Ulster and the Giraldines friends, and reconciled himselfe with sir John Mandevill, thus seeking to preserve the residue of the realme which Edward Bruce meant wholie to conquer, having caused himselfe to be crowned king of Ireland. The lord justice assembled a great power out of Mounster, and Leinster, and other parts thereabouts, and the earle of Ulster with another armie came unto him near unto Dundalke, where they consulted togither how to deale in defending the countrie against the enimies: but hearing the Scots were withdrawne backe, the earle of Ulster folowed them, and fighting with them at Coiners, he lost the field.

There were manie slaine on both parts, and William de Burgh the earls brother, sir John Mandevill, and sir Alane Fitzalane were taken prisoners. Herewith the Irish of Connagh and Meth began foorthwith to rebell against the Englishmen, and burnt the castell of Athlon and Randon. And the Bruce comming forward burnt Kenlis in Meth, and Granard, also Finnagh, and Newcastell, and kept his Christmas at Loghsudie, From thense he went through the countrie unto Rathimegan and Kildare, and to the parties about Tristeldermot and Athie, then to Raban, Sketlier, & near to Ardskoll in Leinster: where the lord justice Butler, the lord John Fitzthomas, the lord Arnold Powre, and other lords and gentlemen of Leinster and Mounster came to incounter the Bruce: but through discord that rose among them, they left the field unto the enimies, sir William Pendergast knight, and Heimond le Grace a right valiant esquier were slaine there. And on the Scotish side sir Fergus Andressan and sir Walter Murreie, with diverse other that were buried in the church of the friers preachers at Athie.