''The Image of Irelande, with a Discoverie of Woodkarne'' is a 1581 book by John Derricke. The book is dedicated to

Philip Sidney Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philip ...

. It praises the deputyship of Philip's father

Henry Sidney Sir Henry Sidney (20 July 1529 – 5 May 1586), Lord Deputy of Ireland, was the eldest son of Sir William Sidney of Penshurst, a prominent politician and courtier during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, from both of whom he received ...

and English victories over the Irish. The work opens with a poetic history of Ireland and its conflicts with the English, presenting reasons for English rule. This proceeds to a set of twelve woodcut illustrations interspersed with verse narration, describing Henry Sidney's victories of Irish rebels and denigrating Irish culture. The book ends with the surrender of

Turlough Luineach Ó Neill Sir Turlough Lynagh O'Neill (Irish: ''Sir Toirdhealbhach Luineach mac Néill Chonnalaigh Ó Néill''; 1532 – September, 1595) was an Irish Gaelic lord of Tír Eoghain in early modern Ireland. He was inaugurated upon Shane O’Neill’s death, ...

, king of Tyrone, in 1578. Critics, such as James A. Knapp, have deemed the illustrations to be of far greater interest than the unremarkable verse. There is only one complete version extant, at the

Edinburgh University Library Edinburgh University Library is the main library of the University of Edinburgh and one of the most important libraries of Scotland. The University Library was moved in 1827 to William Playfair's Upper Library in the Old College building. The ...

. A copy was produced and edited by the university librarian in 1883. File:The Image of Irelande - title.jpg, ''The Image of Irelande'': title page showing the inscription of donation. File:The Image of Irelande - plate01.jpg, Plate 1. A soldier holding a battle-axe hands a spear to an Irish chieftain in full dress, with a page holding the chieftain's horse. File:The Image of Irelande - plate02.jpg, Plate 2. An armed company of the kerne, carrying halberds and pikes and led by a piper, attack and burn a farmhouse and drive off the horses and cattle. File:The Image of Irelande - plate03.jpg, Plate 3. The most famous plate of the set shows the chief of the Mac Sweynes seated at an informal picnic while booleying, and being entertained by a bard and a harper. File:The Image of Irelande - plate04.jpg, Plate 4. The Irish chieftain receives the priest's blessing before departing to fight the English, who are shown in full armour. File:The Image of Irelande - plate05.jpg, Plate 5. The English soldiers return in triumph, carrying severed Irish heads (the one on the right said to be Maighréad Maol O'Byrne, wife of Rory Óg O'More) and leading a captive by a halter. File:The Image of Irelande - plate06.jpg, Plate 6. Sir Henry Sidney, Lord-Deputy, accompanied by an armed force, sets out from Dublin Castle for a progress through Ireland. File:The Image of Irelande - plate07.jpg, Plate 7. The English army is drawn up for battle, while Sidney himself parleys with a messenger from the Irish. File:The Image of Irelande - plate08.jpg, Plate 8. Sidney and the English army on the march with standards and trumpets. File:The Image of Irelande - plate09.jpg, Plate 9. The English army puts the Irish army to flight. The piper is cut down with his pipes beside him. File:The Image of Irelande - plate10.jpg, Plate 10. Sir Henry Sidney returns in triumph to Dublin Castle and is received by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen. File:The Image of Irelande - plate11.jpg, Plate 11. Ruaidhrí Óg Ó Mórdha wearing the traditional Irish mantle in the forest, with his hunting dog. File:The Image of Irelande - plate12.jpg, Plate 12. Turlough Lynagh O'Neil and another kneel to Sidney in submission. In the background Sidney seems to be embracing O'Neill as a noble friend.

Footnotes

References

* Andrew Hadfield
"Derricke, John (fl. 1578–1581)"
''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', online edn, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004, accessed 27 July 2010 * James A. Knapp
"'That moste barbarous Nacion': John Derricke's ''Image of Ireland'' and the 'delight of the well disposed reader'"
findarticles.com, 2000 * Anthony M. McCormack and Terry Clavin, "Derricke, John", ''Dictionary of Irish Biography'', (Eds.) James Mcguire and James Quinn, Cambridge University Press, 2009.

External links

Woodcuts from ''The Image of Irelande''
Edinburgh University Library
''The Image of Irelande''
1883 reprint with introduction and notes, downloadable in multiple formats from Archive.org

{{DEFAULTSORT:Image of Irelande, with a Discoverie of Woodkarne, The History books about Ireland History books about England 1581 in England English non-fiction books 1581 books