But now to returne to king Richard, ye shall vnderstand, that when all
his prouision and roiall armie was readie, about Michaelmas, he tooke
the sea, and landed at Waterford the second of October, and so remained
in Ireland all that winter: his people were lodged abroad in the
countrie, and lay so warilie as they might. For although the Irishmen
durst not attempt anie exploit openlie against the Englishmen, after
the kings arriuall with so puissant an armie, yet they would steale
sometimes vpon them, where they espied anie aduantage, and disquiet
them in their lodgings. But when the English still preuailed, diuerse
of the greatest princes among them came in, and submitted themselues.
Amongst other, foure kings are mentioned, as the great Onell king
of Meth, Brine of Thomond king of Thomond, Arthur Macmur king of
Lineister, and Conhur king of Cheueno and Darpe: these kings were
courteouslie interteined and much made of by king Richard, who kept his
Christmas this yeare at Dubline. And after that feast was ended, he
held a parlement there, to the which all his subiects of Ireland, vnto
whom it apperteined, resorted, as well those that had continued vnder
the English gouernement aforetime, as those that were latelie yéelded.
[Sidenote: A parlement at Westminster, king Richard being in Ireland.]
Also at the same time, after the octaues of the Epiphanie, the duke
of Yorke, lord warden of England, now in the kings absence, caused a
parlement to be called at Westminster, to the which was sent foorth of
Ireland the duke of Glocester, that he might declare to the commons
the kings necessitie, to haue some grant of monie to supplie his want,
hauing spent no small quantitie of treasure in that iournie made into
Ireland. The dukes words were so well heard and beléeued, that a whole
tenth was granted by the clergie, and a fiftéenth by the laitie; but
not without protestation, that those paiements were granted of a
meere good will, for the loue they bare to the king, and to haue his
businesse go forwards, which bicause it required great expenses, both
for that his owne |825| roiall person was abiding in Ireland about
the subduing of the rebels, as also bicause his retinue and power
could not be mainteined without excessiue charges; they seemed to be
no lesse desirous to haue the same ended, than they which were dailie
agents in the same, not without feare of misfortune likelie to befall
them, hauing to deale with a people of such barbarous and rebellious
behauiour.
[Sidenote: The Wickleuists wrote against the cleargie.
The clergie complaine to the king of the Wickleuists, and their
fauorers.