1189. abbies, and pleas belonging to the crown. The deputics appointed to govern Ireland during the reign of

His power not over the

Richard were appointed by John.

Notwithstanding the

pompous

title of Lord of Irewhole king land; he did not even affect to extend his sovereignty

dom.

De Courcy

beyond the parts usually occupied or possessed by his father out of those his authority was not acknowledged even by foreigners. For when king Richard had prevailed on the Pope to send his legate throughout all his dominions, in order to solicit contributions for his expedition to the holy land, (the romantic and favourite object of that monarch's ambition,) this legate's commission and jurisdiction were expressly limited to England and Wales, and those parts of Ireland in which John Earl of Morton had power and dominion. John himself speaks in the same manner, for in his charter of franchises to the city of Dublin, he grants them immunities, not through all Ireland, where they could not be acknowledged or enjoyed, but as he expresses it, per totam terram et potestatem meam. Eva the daughter and the heiress of Dermod, who was married to Strongbow, speaks with still more precision. She still affecting sovereignty paramount in her domains, confirms the grants made to the see of Dublin by Earl John, and other good men of Leinster, which then was the proper and immediate seat of English power*.

On the accession of Richard, Hugh de Lacy the by Hugh de younger had so effectually recommended himself to

supplanted

Lady.

* E Registro vocato Crede Mihi, fol. 90.

Earl John, that he soon supplanted De Courcy, and obtained his government. De Courcy retired in disgust to Ulster, attending to his own immediate interests in the possessions, which he had acquired in that province, and by detaching himself from the new deputy, betrayed the weakness of the English government, which became daily more insecure, from the avowed animosity of the adherents to the house of Roderick O'Connor. Cathal his son, surnamed the Bloody-handed, was high in the esteem of his country men; and placing himself at the head of a powerful faction, declared himself resolved to assert the ancient honors of his family, his province and his country, by exterminating these invaders. A very inconsiderable body of English he entirely cut to pieces, after a most determined resistance: and afterwards founded an abbey upon the field of action, called De Colle Victoria: thus raising a trophy rather to the romantic valor of his enemies, than to his own glory.

1189.

lamiues.

The reports of this misfortune alarmed Earl John Internal ca for the security of his Irish government. The public confusion and distress of that kingdom were aggravated by the burning of the city of Dublin, and the neighbouring districts being infested by robbers, who annoyed the inhabitants without restraint or correction. This latter aggravation, Doctor Hanmer lays to the account of the famous Robin Hood, some of whose followers fled to Ireland as a place of disorder, and consequently well-fitted for their predatory system. His robberies at length became so notorious and provoking, that the natives compelled him to seek safety in Scotland,

1191:

Earl Mar

the

These public disorders cast such suspicion upon administration of De Lacy, that William Petit was sub

shal chief stituted in his place in 1191, as Lord Justice, but was

governor,

others in

rapid suc

eession.

and several in the same year succeeded by William Earl of Pembroke, Earl Marshal of England. This nobleman had married the daughter of Earl Strongbow, by the Princess of Leinster, and in right of his wife was entitled to large possessions in Ireland. The Earl of Pembroke, however, in the same year gave place to Peter Pipard, ås Lord Deputy, and he was replaced by Hamo de Valois, who continued at the head of the Irish government till the demise of King Richard in the year 1199. In the preceding year died Roderic O'Connor, last O'Connor. of the Irish monarchs, in extreme old age, in the monastery of Cong, where he passed his latter years in quiet, unnoticed by the contending factions of his province. He was unhappy in the domestic feuds of his own family, though he lived to see some part of the stain of his reign wiped away by the advantages latterly gained by Cathal his son, over the English, whom he always detested as his mortal and unprovoked enemies.

Death of

Roderic

CHAPTER III.

The Reign of King John.

THERE have been strong differences amongst 1199. historians, concerning the nature and effects of the grant of Henry II. to his son John.

Richard, as

Nature of Henry's grant to

we have observed, was too much engaged in other John. pursuits to question it. On his death, however, (we avoid the consideration of his nephew Arthur's pretensions to the crown,) and John's accession to the throne, all the rights which were in Henry, and might have been conveyed to his son, were now concentered in him either by virtue of the charter of donation, or by operation of law, as the inheritor of the crown. One of the first acts of John, upon his accession to the throne of England, was to remove with disgrace from the government of Ireland Hamo de Valois, who had from peculation both on the clergy and laity amass" ed an immense treasure, and whom he fined in a sum of money equal to 15,000l. according to the present value of money, as the price of his quietus.

Fitzhenry

Meilar Fitzhenry, natural son of Henry I. and Meilar one of the most distinguished barons, who had origi- Lord Jusnally adventured into Ireland, was appointed to succeed him as Lord Justice; but unassisted by the King,

tice.

1199. and ill-supported by the English Lords, who had received Irish grants, he was confined inactive to the seat of government, without any means of attempting measures either of aggression or defence. John de Courcy and Hugh de Lacy, two of the most powerful settlers in Ireland, had for some time affected a state of independence. The former was so far from acknowledging allegiance to King John, that he openly impeached his title to the crown; and seemed rather to assume the port of an Irish chieftain, than of an English Baron. Both De Courcy and De Lacy had united their forces in the cause of Cathal. John was particularly provoked at the revolt and conduct of De Courcy. He summoned him to repair to his presence, and do him homage. De Courcy treated his mandate with contempt. Meilar Fitzhenry marched in the mean time to reduce De Burgo, who had risen in arms; and De Lacy and his brother Walter being restored to favor, had a commission to seize and send De Courcy prisoner to the King.

De Courcy taken by

De Lacy penetrated into Ulster, and came to an area hely. engagement with De Courcy at Down, in which he was forced to retire with disgrace. Immediately after

this defeat, De Courcy offered the combat to Hugh de Lacy, which this Lord in respect of his commission from the king declined; but by proclamation, promised a large reward to those, who should seize and deliver him up, alive or dead. Having bribed some of the attend. ants of De Courcy, they treacherously assailed him, whilst in an act of devotion near the church of Down,