The king also after he had remained about seuen daies at Waterford,
marched from thence towards Kilkennie, and comming thither, staied
thereabout fourteene daies, looking for the duke of Aumarle that was
appointed to haue met him, but he failed and came not, where vpon the
king on Midsummer euen set forward againe, marching streight towards
the countrie of Macmur the principall rebell in that season within
Ireland, who |851| kéeping himselfe among woods with three thousand
right hardie men, seemed to passe little for any power that might be
brought against him. Yet the king approching to the skirts of the
woods, commanded his soldiers to fier the houses and villages: which
was executed with great forwardnesse of the men of war. And here for
some valiant act that he did, or some other fauourable respect, which
the king bare to the lord Henrie sonne to the duke of Hereford, he made
him knight. ¶ This Henrie was after king of England, succeeding his
father, and called by the name of Henrie the fift. There were nine or
ten others made knights also at the same time.
[Sidenote: Pioners set a worke to cut downe woods.]
Moreouer, there were two thousand & fiue hundred pioners set a worke
to cut downe the woods, and to make passages through, and so then
the Englishmen entred, and by force got through: for the Irishmen
sore feared the English bowes, but yet now and then they espieng
their aduantage, assailed oftentimes Englishmen with their darts,
and slue diuerse that went abroad to fetch in forrage. The vncle of
Macmur hauing a withie or with about his necke, came in and submitted
himselfe, and likewise manie other naked and bare legged; so that
the king seeming to pitie their miserable state, pardoned them, and
afterward he also sent vnto Macmur, promising that if he would come
in and require pardon as his vncle had doone, he would receiue him to
mercie: but Macmur vnderstanding that for want of vittels, the king
must néeds retire within a short time, he refused the kings offer. The
king with his armie remaining in those parts eleuen daies, was in the
end constreined to come backe, when all their vittels were spent: for
more than they brought with them they could not get. They lost manie
horsses in this iournie for want of prouision and forrage.
[Sidenote: Macmur sendeth to the K. offering a parlee.