Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/392

 94 campion's historie in the Court, would catch his opportunity, and wynde himselfe (might he get an inkling in time of the Earles death) into the succession of his office, which even then waxed sweet and savoury. Coodgellers of this drift, stopped messengers, intercepted letters, hasted on their owne course. Basil the wife of Reymond, more dutiful to her husband, then naturall to her bro- ther, continued still in Ireland sicke, but having privy knowledge of those newes, ere the breath was quite out of the Earles body, payned her selfe to disturbe this whole array. And whereas shee knew well her letters should bee searched, and her owne servants stayed, shee let it be delivered at all a very venture to one of the maryners, and therein draweth a long processe of her affayres and household, but in the middle shuffles in a few lines of her meaning, under these tearmes : To all my afflictions is added now lately the tooth-ake, so that except that one master-tooth had fallen (which send you for a token) I weene I were better out of my life. Now was the tooth tipped with golde, and bur- nished feately like a present, which Reymond wist well to bee none of hers, and therefore quickly smelled the construction, lingred not for Letters Pattents, but stept over presently, and made his packe, and was elected by the Kings Agents there, Lord Protectour of Ireland, till the Kings pleasure were further knowne : During his authority flourished the Geraldines, but shortly after they qua vied againe, under the government of William Fitz Aldelin, with him was joyned in commission the valiant Knight John de Courcy, conquerour, and