OF IRELAND. 149 every man was richer or poorer tlien other, as he was in might and violence more or lesse enabled. Heere heganne factions of the nobility in Ireland, favouring diverse sides that strived for the Crovvne of England, for Richard in those tenne yeares of govern- ment, exceedingly tyed unto him the hearts of the noblemen and gentlemen in this land, whereof diverse were scattered and slaine with him at Waterford, u as the contrary part was also the next yeare by Edward Earle of Marche, the Dukes brother, at Mortimers crosse in Wales, in which meane time the Irish waxed hardve, v and usurped the English Countreyes insuffi- ciently defended, as they had done by like opportunity in the latter end of Richard the second. These two seasons did set them so a-noate, that henceforvvards they could never be cast out from their forcible posses- sions, holding by plaine wrong all Vlster, and by cer- taine Irish Tenures, no little portions of Mounster and Connaght, left in Meth and Leinster, where the ei ill subjects of English bloud did ever most prevaile "1459. v 14C0.
