Historical account of the Macdonnells of Antrim

406 APPENDIX.
spare supplye at all times made to them by the Prince, who, at the firste inhabyting thereof, mynding more the Kyngdome
of Fraunce, and thinking all to little for that purposed conquest, neglected Ireland as a matter of small importance,
then worst looked to, when England itselfe was a prise or rewarde to them that best could besturre theselues of the
houses of Yorke and Lancaster; and if you wil marke the stories, you shal finde great reasons that have moved the
Prince to bee spare of charges in that Cuntrie, and a consequence of decay in that government.
About the time of the first entrie of the Englishe in Ireland made that they bega to settle, arose y Barons warre,
in England, that weakened and decayed all at home, Fraunce was chargeable too bee mainteyned with many garrisos
a great waster bothe of men and money, yet a thing whereto the Princes were more bent tha to Irelande, so that we
may early perceive and iudge, that the Irishe whiche yet remayned vnsubdued, taking adauntage of the time, whiles
the cheef that had authoritie there, were called over to upholde their factions here, possessed againe their land and
expelled the new inhabitants : found without bed and scarce yet wel settled which could not be recouered againe so soone
because suche as were rune ouer after they had wasted themselues in ciuile warres, and had in the meane time lost
their landes in Ireland lost also their credile with such as at the first adventured vnder them, by reason they had
forsaken, and lefte them open to the spoile ; nor the Princes being eaten out also with ciuile discord and with the
charges of France unto which they were more addicted, had the treasure to spare for the reformation thereof. Only
King Richard the second, in hyes owne person, attempting the same, was ouertaken with ciuile discension and deposed,
whiche hath ever since discouraged his successours personally to attept the like, Thus home warres still increasing, with
the Armies in Fraunce (a deuouring grave of this nation), and lastly the losse therof, so weakened and impouerished
the Crown of England, that both people and money wanted therein, much good land lying waste for lacke of inhabi-
taunts, that it was more time to recover by rest that which was wanting at home than to send abrode that could not
be spared. And the Princes contented theselues if they myght onely preserue a footyng or entrye into Ireland wyth
some small charge, whereby the gouernours were costreyned for wante of supply by protections and pardons to appease
every rebellion, which otherwise to represse and punish they were not sufficiently furnished. This perceived of the
Irish, made them that uppon euery light occasion they will Hie out, and, satisfied with bloud and burning, will not,
without protection and pardon, be brought in. The Englishe race overrunne and daily spoiled, seeing no punishment
of malefactors did buy their owne peace, alied and fostred themselves with the Irishe, and the lace so nourished in the
bosome of the Irishe, perceiving their immunitie from law and punishmente degenerated, choosing rather to maintain
themselves in the Irish mans beastly liberty tha to submit themselues and to lieue there alone, and not the Irish in the
goodly awe of the lawes of England, This degenerating and daily de:ay of the English manners by little and little in
the countrey, discorageth those that have not perfectly wayed all that is aforesaid, to attempt any new enterprise.
The Prince seeing no manne forwarde therein, is weryed with the continuaunce of the yerely great charge which her
majestie liberall aboue her predecessoures hath borne more willingly, and to this the first entering of the English, their
first inhabiting, the order and manner thereof, is almost worne out of memorie and forgotten, their decay and wasting
daily to be seene.
All these things when my frend being then in Ireland, had informed himselfe of, by diligent inquisition he fell to
consider what way were fittest for oure time to reforme the same, and if it were reformed, I meane the whole countrey
replenished with Englishe men, what profite that coulde be to the estate of Englande, hath sithens his returne tolde
me divers times, that he thought Irelande once inhabited with Englishe men, and polliced with Englishe lawes, would
be as great commoditie to the Prince as the realme of England, the yerely rent and charges saved, that is now laide
out to maintaine a garrison therein, for there cannot be (sayeth he) a more fertile soile thorowe out the worlde for that
climate than it is, a more pleasant, healthful, full of springs, rivers, great fresh lakes, fishe, and foule, and of moste
commodious herbers, England giveth nothing save fine woolle, that will not be had also moste abundantly there, it
lacketh only inhabitants, manurance, and pollicie.
As for the meanes how to subdue and replenishe the same (sayeth he), they were easie to be devised, if the Queenes
maiestie wold once take it upo hir, with army maintained at hir charges ; but sith hir highnesse is not bent thereto,
what other meanes is to be followed ; he hath heeretofore in his first offer to the Queenes maisties Counsell declared,
which is that which he nowe followeth, and so many that have not in them selves the will or grace to do so well, do
impigne, which I will heere defende and persuade you in as a thing moste reasonable, faisable, and commendable.
He hathe taken in hande withoute his Maiesties pay to win and replenish with Englishe inhabitantes the countrey
called the Ardes in the Northe of Irelande, and some partes thereto adioyning. Is there any think you, that heare
only thus much of the enterprise, and will not commend the manifest good disposition of his towardes his countrey and
his Princes service, Yes, and if he finde meanes to bring it to passe withoute the Queenes pay, his invention is the more