[From ManxSoc vol 18]

SPEED’S HISTORY.

HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF MAN, BY JOHN SPEED.

Extracted from The Theatre of the Empire of Great Bntaine, 1627.

The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine ; as also, A Prospect of the most Famous Parts of the World. By John Speed. A briefe description of the Civill Warres, etc. The Invasions of England and Ireland, etc. The Theatre of Great Britain, etc. Are to be sold in Pope’s Head Alley by G. Humble. London, 1 627. Royal folio.

THIS appears to be the third edition, the first in 1611, and the second in 1614. This work contains numerous engraved plates of various dates. Man Island is in Book i. chap. 46, pp. 91-92 giving a description of it. A table of the Towns, Villages, Castles, Rivers, and Havens ; also, A Chronicle of the Kings of Man. On the back of pages 91 and 92 is a map, " Described by Tho. Durham, Ano. 1595, Performed by John Speed anno 1610." Durham’s map is the oldest of the island, and shows the existence of lakes in the northern district, of which Mirescogh was the most important. It formed one of the maps of Blaeu’s Atlas, published at Amsterdam in 1667, and was copied on a reduced scale by Daniel King, 1656, for Chaloner’s Short Treatise of the Island. A copy of this map is also given in the reprint of Chaloner’s Treatise, Manx Society, vol. x. 1863.

The account of the Isle of Man is an abridged one from Camden, to which is added a Table of the Towns, Villages, etc. The abridged Chronicle of the Kings of Man is also from Camden, with slight additions. The correct dates will be found in Oliver’s Monumenta, vol i., Manx Society, 1860.

MAN ILAND.

THE Ile of Man is termed by Ptolemy, Moneda ; by Pliny, Monabia ; by Orosius, Menania ; by Beda, Menania secunda, and by Gyldas, Eubonia, and Manaw. The Britaines name it Menow ; the Inhabitants Maninge ; and we Englishmen, The Ile of Man. It boundeth North-ward vpon Scotland, South-ward vpon the Ile of Anglesey, East-ward vpon part of Lancashire, and West-ward upon the Coast of Ireland.

( 2) The forme is long and narrow : for from Cranston to the Mull-hils, where it is longest, it onely stretcheth it selfe to twenty-nine miles ; but from the widest part, which is from Peele-Castle to Douglas-point, are scarce nine ; the whole compasse about is fourescore and two miles.

(3) The aire is cold and sharpe, being bordering vpon the Septentrionall parts, and for her shelter hauing but a wall of water. They haue few woods ; onely they light sometimes vpon subterranean trees buried under the ground, by digging vp the earth for a clammie kinde of turfe, which they vse for fuell.

(4) The soile is reasonable friutfull both for cattle, fish, and come ; yet it rather commendeth the paines of the people then the goodnes of the ground ; for by the industry of the Inhabitants it yeeldeth sufficiencie of euery thing for it selfe, and sendeth good store into other countries, It hath fields (by good manuring) plentious of barley and wheat, but especially of oats ; and from hence it comes that the people eate most of all oaten-bread. It beares abundance of henipe and flaxe, and is full of mighty flockes of sheepe and other cattle : yet are they smaller in body then wee haue in England, and are much like to the cattle in Ireland that are neighbouring vpon it.

(5) This commoditie makes this hand more happie then wee are here : for the people are there free from vnnecessary commencements of suites, from long and dilatory pleas, and from friuolous feeing of lawyers. No iudge or clerks of the court take there any penny for drawing instruments, or making of processes. All controuersies are there determined by certaine ludges, without writings or other charges, and them they call Deemsters, and chuse forth among themselues. If any complaint be made to the magistrate for wrongs eyther done or suifred, he presently taketh vp a stone, and fixeth his marke vpon it, and so deliuereth it vnto the party plaintiffe, by vertue of which he both cals his aduersary to appearance, and to produce his witnesses. If the case fall out to be more litigious, and of greater consequence then can easily be ended, it is then referred to twelue men, whom they terme The Keyes of the Iland. Another happinesse enrich-eth this Iland, namely the security and gouernment thereof, as being defended from neighbour enemies by souldiers that are prest and ready ; for on the south-side of the ile stands Bala-Curi (the Bishop’s chiefe place of residence) and the Pyle, and a block-house standing in a little iland, where there is a continuall garrison of souldiers. And it is so well managed for matter of rule and ciuill discipline, that euery man there possesseth his owne in peace and safetie. No man liues in dread or danger of losing what he hath. Men are not there inclined to robbing or theeuing, or licentious liuing.

(6) The inhabitants of this iland are for the most part religious, and louing to their pastors, to whom they do much reuerence and respect, frequenting duly to diuine seruice, without diuision in the church or innouation in the common-weale. The wealthier sort, and such as hold the fairest possessions, doe imitate the people of Lancashire, both in their honest carriage and good house-keeping. Howbeit the common sort of people, both in their language and manners, come nighest vnto the Irish, although they somewhat rellish and sauour of the qualities of the Norwegians.

(7) Things not worthy to be buryed in the graue of obliuion are, that this hand in the midst thereof riseth vp with hils, standing very thick ; amongst which the highest is called Sceafull, from whence vpon a deere and faire day, a man may easily see three kingdomes at once ; that is, Scotland, England and Ireland. This Tie prohibits the customary manner of begging from doore to doore, detesting the disorders, as well ciuill as ecclesiasticall of neighbour nations. And last, not least, that deserues to be committedto memory, is, that the women of this country, wheresoeuer they goe out of their doores, gird themselues about with the winding-sheete that they purpose to be buried in, to shewthemselues mindefull of their mortalitie : and such of them as are at any time condemned to dye, are sowed within a sacke, and flung from a rocke into the sea.

(8) The whole Ile is diuided into two parts, South and North, whereof the one resembleth the Scotish in speech, theother the Irish. It is defended by two castles, and hath seaventeene parishes, tue market townes, and many villages.

A TABLE OF THE TOWNES, VILLAGES, CASTLES, RIUERS, AND HAUENS WITHIN THE ILE OF MAN, ALPHABETICALLY GATHERED.

Kirk Andrew. I
Friry Bewmakan.
The point of Aire.
Kirk Bridge.
Kirk Brodon.

Baladoul.
Balalough.
Kirk Balalough.
Balicaken.
Balisaly Abbey.

Balisaly Towne.

Caltregh.
The Calfe of Man.
Castle Towne Bay. ~
Kirk Christ.

Kirk Christ.

Chappell.
Clarimoy flu. ~
Cobbe Borne.
Corte.
Cranston.

Dauby point.
Dauby Towne.
Douglas point.
DOVGLAS towne.
Douglas haueni.

Egnes.

Fleshik.

Glan-Brow.
Glan-Cam.

Kirk larman.
leorby point.
Saint Johns Chappell.

It is here very pertinent to the purpose, to insert a small history of this Iland, that the atchieuements heretofore had, may not be vtterly buryed, although they are waxen very old, and almost tome from remembrance by the teeth ofTime. It is confessed by all, that the Britaines held this Iland, as they did all Britaine. But when the nations from the North ouerflowed these South parts, like violent tempests, it became subiect to the Scots. Afterwards, the Norwegianswho did most hurt from the Northerne Sea by their manifold robberies, made this Iland and the Hebrides to be their haunt, and erected Lords and petty Kings in the same, as is expressed in this chronicle, written (as is reported) by the Monkes of the Abbey of Russin.

A CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF MAN.

Anno Dom. 1065. Edward, of blessed memory, King of England, departed this life, and Harald the son of Godwyn succeeded him in the kingdome ; against whom Harold Harfager (King of Norway) came into the field, and fought a battle at Stamford-bridge : but the English obtaining the victory, put them all to flight. Out of which chase Godred, surnamed Crovan, the sonne of Harald the Blacke of Iseland, came vnto Godred the sonne of Syrric, who raigned then in Man, and honourably receiued him.

(2) The same yeere William the Bastard conquered England, and Godred the son of Syrric died, his sonne Fingal succeeding him.

(3) An. 1066. Godred Crouan assembled a great fleet, and came to Man, and fought with the people of the land, but receiued the worst, and was ouercome.

The second time renewing his forces and his Fleet, he sailed into Man, and ioyned battle with the Manksmen, but was vanquished as before, and driuen out of the field. How-beit, what hee could not at first bring to passe with power in those two seuerall onsets, he afterward effected by policie. For the third time gathering a great multitude together, he arriued by night in the hauen called Ramsey, and hid three hundred men in a wood, which stood vpon the hanging hollow brow of an hill called SceafulL The sun being risen, the Manksmen put their people in order of battle, and with a violent charge encountered with Godred. The fight was hot for a time, and stood in a doubtfull suspence, till those three hundred men starting out of the ambush behinde their backes, began to foile the Manksmen, put them to the worst, and forced ~them to flue. Who seeing themselues thus disconifited, and finding no place of refuge left them to escape, with pittiful lamentation submitted themselues vnto Godred, and besought him not to put to the sword such poore remain-der of them as was left aliue. Godred having compassion on their calamities (for he had been nursed for a time and brought VP among them), sounded a retrait, and prohibited his host any longer pursuit. He being thus possessed of the Ile of Man, dyed in the Iland that is called Ile, when he had raigned sixteene yeeres. Hee left behinde him three sonnes, Lagman, Harald and Olaue.

(4) Lagman the eldest, taking vpon him the kingdome, raigned seauen yeeres. His brother Harald rebelled against him a great while ; but at length was taken prisoner by Lag-man, who caused his members of generation to be cut off, and his eyes to be put out of his head, which crueltie this Lagman afterwards repenting, gave ouer the kingdome of his owne accord, and wearing the badge of the Lord’s Crosse, tooke a iourney to Jerusalem, in which he dyed.

(5) An. 1075. All the Lords and nobles of the Ilands hearing of the death of Lagman, dispatched ambassadours to Murecard O-brien, King of Ireland, and requested that hee would send some worthy and industrious man of the bloud royall to be their King, till Olaue the son of Godred came to full age. The King yeelding to their request, sent one Dopnald the son of Tade, and charged him to gouerne the kingdome (which by right belonged to another), with lenitie and gentleness. But after he was come to the crowne, for-getting, or not weighing, the charge that his lord and master had giuen him, swayed his place with great tyrannie, committing many outrages and cruelties, and so raigned three yeeres : till all the princes of the Ilands agreeing to-gether, rose vp against hin1, and made him flue into Ireland.

(6) An. Do. 1111. Olaue, the son of Godred Crouan aforesaid, began his raigne, and raigned forty yeeres a peaceable prince. He took to wife Affrica, the daughter of Fergus of Galway, of whom he begat Godred. By his concubines he had Raignald, Lagman, and Harald, besides many daughters, whereof one was married to Summerled, Prince of Herer gaidel, who caused the ruine of the kings of the islands. On her he begat foure sons, Dulgal, Raignald, Engus, and Olaue.

(7) An. Dom. 1144. Godred, the son of Olaue, was created King of Man, and raigned thirty yeeres. In the third yeer of his raigne the people of Dublin sent for him, and made him their king, which Mure-card King of Ireland maligning, raised war, and sent Osibeley his halfe brother by the mother’s side with 3000 men at armes to Dublin, who by Godred and the Dublinians was slaine, and the rest all put to flight. These atchieuements made, Godred returned to Man, and began to vse tyranny, turning the noblemen out of their inheritances. Whereupon one called Thorfin (Otter’s sonne), being mightier then the rest, came to Summerled, and made Dulgal (Sum-merled’s son) king of the Ilands : wherof Godred, hauing inteffigence, prepared a nauy of 80 ships to meet Summerle& And in the yeer 1156 there was a battle fought at sea on Twelfth day at night, and many slain on both sides. But the next day they grew to a pacification, and diuided the king-dome of the Ilands among themselues. This was the cause of the ouerthrow of the kingdome of the Iles.

(8) Ann. 1158. Summerled came to Man, with a fleet of fifty-three saile, put Godred to flight, and wasted the Iland. Godred vpon this crossed ouer to Norway for aide against Summerled. But Summerled in the meane time arriuing at Rhinfrin, and hauing gathered together a fleet of 160 ships, coueting to subdue all Scotland, by the inst iudgement of God was vanquished by a few, and both himselfe and his sonne slaine, with an infinite number of people.

(9) The fourth day after, Raignald began to raigne, but Godred comming vpon him out of Norway with a great multitude of armed men, tooke his brother Raignald, and had Raignald, Lagman, and Harald, besides many daughters, whereof one was married to Summerled, Prince of Herer gaidel, who caused the ruine of the kings of the islands. On her he begat foure sons, Dulgal, Raignald, Engus, and Olaue.

(7) An. Dom. 1144. Godred, the son of Olaue, was created King of Man, and raigned thirty yeeres. In the third yeer of his raigne the people of Dublin sent for him, and made him their king, which Mure-card King of Ireland maligning, raised war, and sent Osibeley his halfe brother by the mother’s side with 3000 men at armes to Dublin, who by Godred and the Dublinians was slaine, and the rest all put to flight. These atchieuements made, Godred returned to Man, and began to vse tyranny, turning the noblemen out of their inheritances. Whereupon one called Thorfin (Otter’s sonne), being mightier then the rest, came to Summerled, and made Dulgal (Summerled’s son) king of the Ilands : wherof Godred, hauing intelligence, prepared a nauy of 80 ships to meet Summerled And in the yeer 1156 there was a battle fought at sea on Twelfth day at night, and many slain on both sides. But the next day they grew to a pacification, and diuided the king-dome of the Ilands among themselues. This was the cause of the ouerthrow of the kingdome of the Iles.

(8) Ann. 1158. Summerled came to Man, with a fleet of fifty-three saile, put Godred to flight, and wasted the Iland. Godred vpon this crossed ouer to Norway for aide against Summerled. But Summerled in the meane time arriuing at Rhinfrin, and hauing gathered together a fleet of 160 ships, coueting to subdue all Scotland, by the inst iudgement of God was vanquished by a few, and both himselfe and his sonne slaine, with an infinite number of people.

(9) The fourth day after, Raignald began to raigne, but Godred comming vpon him out of Norway with a great multitude of armed men, tooke his brother Raignald, and bereft him both of his ees and genitall members. On the

thereof was slaine by one Yuar a knight, in a meadow neer vrito the Holy Trinitie Church, and lyeth buryed in the church of S. Mary of Russin.

(14) Tn the yeere 1252, Magnus, the son of Olaue, came to Man and was made king. The next yeere following he went to the King of Norway, and stayed there a yeere.

(15) In the yeere 1265, Magnus (Olaue’s sonne), King of Man and of the hands, departed this life, at the Castle of Russin, and was buried in the Church of S. Mary of Russin.

(16) In the yeere 1266 the kingdome of the hands was translated, by reason of Alexander King of Scots, who had gotten into his hands the Westerne Ilands, and brought the Ile of Man vnder his dominion, as one of that number.

(17) An. 1340. William Montacute Earle of Salisbury wrested it from the Scotish by strong hand and force of armes: and in the yeere 1393 (as Thomas Walsingham saith) he sold Man and the crowne thereof vnto William Scroope for a great summe of money. But hee being beheaded for high treason, and his goods confiscate, it came into the hands of Henry the Fourth, King of England, who granted this hand vnto Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland. But Henry Percy entring into open rebellion the fift yeere following, the king sent Sir John Stanley and William Stanley to seize the Ile and Castle of Man, the inheritance whereof he granted afterwards to Sir John Stanley and his heires by letters patents, with the patronage of the bishopricke, etc. So that his heires and successours, who were honoured with the title of Earles of Darby, were commonly called Kings of Man.