The Campaign against the Scots in Munster, 1317
Irish Historical Studies: v. 24 (1984-85)
Abstract
The document printed below has been preserved, somewhat unexpectedly, among the series of Ministers’ Accounts in the Public Record Office, London. it is the account (or, more strictly, a record belonging to the process of auditing the account) of John Patrickschurch, clerk of wages on the expedition of Edmund Butler, the justicar of Ireland, led in Munster between February and April 1317 against Robert and Edward Bruce and their Scottish army. The broad course of events during that critical period is well known. Th Scots came south during february, approached Dublin, but, lacking the capacity to take it, continued south and west, ravaging the famine-stricken countryside.
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They eventually arrived at Castleconnell, by the Shannon just north of Limerick, apparently in the hope of benefiting from the alliance with the O’Briens of Thomond, one faction among whom had been in touch with them in Ulster. The justicar had moved south before the Bruces reached Dublin. He raised an army in Munster and proceeded to follow the Scots closely as they progresses through Tipperary. The royal army eventually encamped at Ludden, just south of Limerick. For some days the two forces confronted each other. Then Robert rand Edward retreated.
