GIRALDUS CAMBRENSIS.

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restored, in consequence of his prompt obedience and a satisfactory explanation of his conduct.

The excellent Archbishop O'Toole died in 1180, while passing through France. Thoroughly patriotic, yet was he in great favour and esteem with Henry, for his piety and virtues. He was succeeded by John Cuming, an Englishman, appointed by Henry.

About this time Milo de Cogan was treacherously murdered by a chief. The moment this news reached Munster, its chiefs threw off the mask, and revolted. M'Carthy, king of Desmond, laid siege to Cork. The arrival of Raymond from Wexford, who brought a small force by sea, enabled Fitzstephen, the governor, to compel the assailants to retire. Milo's place was supplied by his brother, Richard, whom the king had associated with Fitzstephen in the government of Cork. The garrison was also strengthened by the arrival, with a considerable reinforcement from Wales, of Fitzstephen's nephew, Philip Barry, who was accompanied by his brother Gerald, commonly called Cambrensis, a priest, the celebrated slanderer of everything Irish.

In 1182 Roderic retired to the monastery of Cong, to escape from his family broils. Upon his accession to the throne of Tara, Roderic, according to usage, should have resigned Connaught to one of his sons; but shrewdly foreseeing that Tara would be an uncertain possession, he retained his hereditary territory. This possession his eldest son, Connor, disputed.

CHAPTER VI.

FROM THE ABDICATION OF RODERIC, 1182, TO THE DEATH OF HENRY III. OF ENGLAND, 1272.

IN 1185, Henry sent over his son, John, as governor of Ireland. This governor was but twelve years old, but his father appointed him wise and prudent counsellors.

The transfer of the sovereignty to this prince was sanctioned also by a papal Bull: though the title of king had been conferred on him, in council, some time before, he used only that of "Lord of Ireland." Previously to his coming, Philip of Worcester had been sent in the room of De Lacy, whom Henry had summoned to England. Philip's administration created general dissatisfaction. De Lacy had distributed among his friends the demesne lands of the crown,-these the new deputy resumed for the use of the king's household. Philip had also interfered with De Courcy's doings in Ulster, where he had no other business but plunder or extortion. Philip had just returned from his Ulster campaign, when John landed at Waterford. There the great officers of state, and other English lords, waited on him. Several of the Leinster chiefs, who had adhered to their first submission, also appeared before him to testify their loyalty. Their peculiar manners and costume became subjects of derision for John and the young Norman nobles by whom he was surrounded. The insulted chieftains took their departure, to kindle in their countrymen those indignant and revengeful feelings which wounded pride and unmerited injury had engendered in themselves. The wanton insolence and indignity with which they had been treated, excited a general sympathy, and the chieftains on all sides vowed a sanguinary chastisement.

While the malcontents were actively preparing for a combined attack, John and his court passed their time in recklessness or dissipation. Neither vigilance nor vigour was displayed by the government. Their precautionary measures had extended only to the erection of three castles when the storm burst. Their strongholds were taken, their armies swept away, their leaders slain. They were successful only in Cork and in Meath. In Cork, Theobald Walter, ancestor of the earls of Ormond, on whom Henry, in 1170, had bestowed the high office of king's butler, foiled the attempt made on the city by the king of Desmond, who was slain with all his party. In Meath, William Petit routed the invading septs.

DONALD O'BRIEN'S VICTORY AT THURLES.

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These were, however, only partial successes; the wide and furious rising nearly annihilated John's entire forces. The prince was hastily recalled, and the reins put in the hands of De Lacy. John complained that De Lacy had thwarted his administration. Other charges were heaped upon him; he was accused of having assumed the title of king among his own retainers, of receiving tribute in that quality, and of causing a crown to be made for himself. The death of this great baron, by the hands of some obscure assassin, forestalled proceedings against him.

The deadly feuds amongst the dynasts of the North left them an easy prey to De Courcy, who soon found himself in a condition to try his prowess in Connaught, whither he had been invited by a native chieftain to help in dethroning Roderic's son. But the terrible battle-axe of Donald was still raised for independence. He came to the aid of O'Connor, and drove De Courcy from the province. O'Connor was murdered next year (1189), some of his own party having joined his rival in a conspiracy against him. The same year Henry II. died at Chinon, and was succeeded by his son Richard I.

On Richard's succession John removed De Courcy, and substituted the son of the late Hugh de Lacy. De Courcy withdrew to his northern possessions with no submissive or peaceable intentions. Richard's crusade also fanned the hopes of the Irish chieftains; a truce to internal discord and a combined rising were agreed on. The principal success obtained was by O'Brien, who destroyed the English army at Thurles. Feuds again broke out, with the perfidy and treachery which too often accompanied them. Wile and falsehood were marked features of these times throughout Europe; in Ireland they often wore the worst complexion. The kings of Thomond and Desmond had entered into a league, defensive and offensive, against the English. Donald violated its terms by allowing the English, after their defeat at Thurles, to build a fort within his territories for the harassing of his ally M'Carthy. Treachery and defection found disciples also

among the English, who were often seen opposed to each other in the Irish ranks.

Donald O'Brien died in 1194, and was succeeded by his son Murty, who also had practice with the English, having been the first to introduce them into Munster, 1177, to aid him against the Eugenians. Bloody strife having arisen amongst Donald's sons, the youngest, Carbry, was set on the throne by the English.

The prince of Desmond, and O'Connor of the Bloody Hand, so called from the number of battles he fought, reduced several garrisons in Munster, and recovered Cork after a siege. Marshall, second earl of Pembroke, in consequence of these disasters, relinquished the deputyship to Hamon de Valois, who was soon after recalled for plundering the Church to recruit the royal treasury and his own coffers.

In the deputyship of his successor, Meyler, died Roderic O'Connor (1198), at the advanced age of 82, after a seclusion of sixteen years, during which period he was a melancholy witness of the deadly quarrels of his clan, the distraction and ruin of his country, and the rapine and tyranny of the Anglo-Norman adventurers. It is difficult to speak harshly of this unfortunate monarch. His sufferings almost blot out his errors, as, it is to be hoped, his repentance did his crimes. In civil and military affairs his abilities were barely above mediocrity. He was not without courage, but he wanted daring; his presence did not, like Donald's, awaken enthusiasm in his troops. There is no wiping away the disgrace of his submissions and of his treaty with Henry; the monarch who strives to secure his crown by his own vassalage, is a traitor to his people. Always satisfied with gaining a slight advantage, he never followed up his success; nay, he seemed to care little about it except as his own interests were concerned. Narrow and selfish views, combined with a want of perseverance and a vacillating disposition, ruined himself, and ruined his country. Such rulers usually involve their people in their own fall; and as the fallen are more frequently despised than

pitied, such too would be Roderic's fate, had he not been so long a melancholy spectator of his country's calamities, and so long an opponent of her foes. Weighing together his derelictions and misdeeds, his overwhelming sorrows and many struggles, in dearth of better men we are content to hear him praised as one of our heroes.

Roderic's brother Croivdeargh, and grandson Carrach,* disputed the succession to his throne; the latter supported by William de Burgh, of the Fitzaldelm family, the former by De Courcy and Walter de Lacy. De Burgh having been won over to the opposite side by large inducements, Croivdeargh succeeded; and his rival was slain. Croivdeargh voluntarily ceded two-thirds of his possessions to John, who was now king (1201), hoping thereby to enjoy the remainder in security, paying, as the sign of his vassalage, 100 marks annually.

On the subject of John's accession and the murder of his nephew, De Courcy spoke with such little reserve as to fall under the jealous king's displeasure. He was ordered to be seized and sent to England. Both of those commissions were executed with great satisfaction by his rival, Hugh de Lacy, the lord justice. Many romantic stories have been invented for De Courcy as their hero, but with little or no foundation in fact; his real fate is uncertain. On his decease, his title and property, as earl of Ulster, were bestowed on De Lacy.

In 1210 John landed in Ireland with a numerous army, and during his stay introduced many useful laws and regulations; among others, the division into counties or shires. Upon his arrival some of the powerful barons absconded, impelled perhaps by a dread of John's spirit of retribution, or the opportunity which their ra

* In the first edition there was an error in this place. The correction "Roderic's brother Croivdeargh, and grandson Carrach," was made by my dear friend, the late Professor O'Curry, who had the kindness to read every sheet of these "Outlines." I need scarely say that a great deal of their minute accuracy is due to his friendly assistance. All the Irish names were corrected by him; and the English pronunciation at the end is by his own hand.