Falkiner — Ti)e Hoqntal of Sf. John of Jerusakm. 303 



his offences, this lawless prior was one of the foremost to promote, 

 in the language of yet another Statute, " the great and damnable 

 abusion and error that was of late had in the crowning of the 

 lad," Lambert Simnel. It is scarcely to be wondered at that 

 Sir Eichard Edgecomb, who was sent to Ireland by Henry VII, armed 

 with full powers to deal with the disorderly factions by wliich the 

 country, or more correctly the Pale, was then torn, should have 

 turned a deaf ear to the persuasions of the Earl of Kildare and 

 others who sought to procure a pardon for Keating. So far was he 



your most Excellent Grace to have the knowledge how that after it Hked the Lord 

 Master of Rhodes to have proceeded according with the staplements of the Order of the 

 Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem against one Frere James Ketynge, late Prior of the 

 same Hospital, in this the land of Ireland for his demerits, rebellions and inobedience 

 done unto the aforesaid Lord ]\raster in order to his utter deprivation of the said 

 Priory, and all other offices and conimanderies which the said Frere James Ketyng 

 have occupied until that time within the said land of Ireland, and upon the same 

 deprivation so once to have graunted and given unto my right simpleness, not 

 worthy thereto, the aforesaid Priory, and to have provided me of the same by 

 his Letters Patent, and so have pleased our most Holy Father the Pope to have 

 confirmed the aforesaid deprivation, graunt, leave and permission like as is above 

 rehearsed : as may more plainly appear by our said most Holy Father his bulls 

 thereupon directed : and inasmuch as I by special commandment of the said 

 Lord Master taking on me the charge of the foresaid Priory with letters 

 evidences and writings as well of the said Master as of our foresaid most IIolj' 

 Father necessary in that behalf, when I arrived at a village called Clontarfe 

 two miles asunder from the City of Dublin, there the said Frere James set on 

 me with a number of people, a horseback and a foote, and there violently 

 putting hand upon me took me thither as pleased him and kept me like a 

 prisoner, until the time that by compulsion of dread of my life I must have 

 delivered there as it pleased him all manner evidences, writings, bulls and 

 letters, which I brought with me in that behalf into Ireland ; saying and protest- 

 ing openly that notwithstanding that I suffer the said Frere James by compulsion 

 before rehearsed to occupy foresaid Priory, mine intent is in no manner of wise to 

 renounce my title in the foresaid Priory ; and so from thence I being in a strange 

 country was so adread of my bodily death by the strength and inordinate dis- 

 position of the said Frere James, durst not certify our said Holy Father, your 

 Highness, neither the foresaid Lord Master of the premises until this time that I 

 have obtained the favour of gentyles and certain port towns within your said 

 land of Ireland. A\"herefore I most humbly beseech your most affluent Grace to 

 provide of a due remedy in that behalf according to the pleasure of your most 

 noble Majesty. And most High and Mighty Prince, and my most redoubted 

 Sovereign Liege Lord, The Blessed Trinity preserve always your most Royal 

 Estate in continual prosperity, and grant you the victory of your enemies bodily 

 and ghostly."— Harris's Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, vol. xiv., pp. 230, 231. 



