1217.

Another confirmation of Magna Charta to the Irish.

Death of earl Pembroke.

them) to take them under his protection, and to secure their privileges. Pembroke, well knowing their situation, was convinced that no answer so satisfactory to their complaints could be procured, as a duplicate of this charter, wherein their rights, privileges, and immunities, were placed upon the very same foundation with those of the English. By this charter, which is still extant in the city of Dublin, all the civil and political institutions of England were equally secured to Ireland, as a free and independent nation.

In the next year, Pembroke, with a view to tran quillize the minds of the King's Irish subjects, procured for them another renovation and ratification of the great charter, which begins in the following words: "The king to the archbishops, abbots, earls, barons, knights, and free tenants, and to all his faithful subjects in Ireland. In proof of our approbation of your fidelity to our father, which he has experienced, and which we are likely to experience, we will, in consequence of your distinguished fidelity, that you and your heirs enjoy for ever out of our favor, and as a gift to your kingdom, the liberties granted you by our father and ourselves,"

During the beginning of this reign, Ireland enjoyed more than usual tranquillity, owing to the influence of Lord Pembroke, who acted as regent to the king. dom of England, and who was particularly connected with Ireland by the large possessions, which he held in the province of Leinster, from his intermarriage with Eva, Earl Strongbow's daughter. But unfortunately

1

for Ireland, Pembroke died in the year 1219, when 1219. Hugh de Lacy, aided by O'Nial, of Tyr Owen, made incursions into his estates in Meath. This brought over to Ireland William the young earl, who immediately commenced hostilities with De Lacy, which occasioned the devastation of Meath, and several adjoining districts. Whilst Pembroke, the protector, lived, the loyalty of the nobles was encouraged by the hopes of his favor, and their turbulence awed by his vigilance and abilities. But on the death of this great and virtuous nobleman, disorder among the native Irish recommenced, and continued through the whole of this and the four ensuing reigns.

go

of Dublin governor.

After the death of Pembroke the protector, the Archbishop archbishop of Dublin, was directed to resume the vernment of Ireland, which he administered till about the year 1224; and he was succeeded by William, the young carl of Pembroke, who governed the country for two years.

Burgo, the

admitted to

laws.

Hubert de Burgo, justiciary of England, being Under De then made deputy of Ireland, appointed as his substi- Irish first tute his kinsman Richard de Burgo, during whose English administration an order was transmitted from England, commanding him at a certain day and place to summon the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, knights, freeholders, and sheriffs, and in their presence to cause to be read publicly the charter of King John, and that in obedience to it they should swear to observe the English laws and Customs in Ireland, and that in behalf of the king he should command the laws and customs contained

127. in the said charter to be firmly observed in the several counties of Ireland, of which public proclamation should be made in each of them respectively, that none might presume to disobey his majesty's command. This was an admission to the English laws and liberties in their full extent, of all such Irishmen, as renounced their ancient form of polity, and consented to hold their lands by English tenure.

Character of Henry

III.

The reign of Henry III. was the longest, not the wisest of any of his predecessors. There was a native propensity in the character of that prince to give entire credit to the favourite of the day, who always possessed the ascendant over him. Such plea may excuse the man, not justify the king. He was as lavish of his favor, as of his treasure: prompt and fickle, both in love and hatred. It has been observed of him, that he never had a favourite, however great, whom he did not disgrace, nor an enemy, whom he took not into favor. With this disposition his coffers were ever empty: his barons from that spirit of independence and turbulence, which they had shewn to his father, were ready on all occasions to thwart his disposition to extravagance and despotism. They diffided in the king, and the king disliked them. This mutual diffidence broke out into that open warfare between them, which so much embittered the latter part of his reign. He was little likely with these dispositions to turn his thoughts to Ireland, further than to render it subservient to his own pecuniary pur poses, or accessary to the private intrigues of his favorites, who succeeded each other in very rapid suc

cession, and uniformly represented to the susceptible 1231. mind of the king, whatever their private or sinister interests suggested. Hence the almost unceasing distraction of Ireland during his reign.

dissentions,

The demands of De Burgo, who claimed a reversion- Internal ary grant of Connaught from Henry II. upon the death of the reigning prince Cathal, the opposition of several of the Irish as well as English lords, the various claims and cross claims of the Geraldines, M'Carthys, O'Bryens, O'Nials, and the earl of Pembroke, all tended to weaken the English interest in that country, and rendered it consequently less valuable to the lucrative views of the impoverished and harassed Henry. Of all the barons who had expressed their dissatisfaction with Henry's conduct, none spoke more openly than Richard Earl of Pembroke, who had succeeded to the title and estates of his elder brother William, in 1231. The king had marked him as an object of his vengeance, and numbers were not wanting about the court to second the vindictive wishes of their sovereign.

Earl of

an object

vengeance.

To avoid the consequence of Henry's resentment, Richard Richard with a number of his friends fled to Wales, Pembroke and thence to Ireland, where he possessed very con- of Henry's siderable property and extensive influence. Before he had reached Ireland, Maurice Fitzgerald, then lord deputy, Richard de Burgo, Fitz Morris or de Maurisco, with other barons, had received orders from Henry to secure him on his arrival in that kingdom. To engage them the more effectually in this service, the lands of the Earl Marshal in Ireland

1235.

Richard
Earl of

murdered.

were for his misconduct declared forfeited and granted to them and their heirs for ever. These ungenerous barons determined to execute the King's command by treachery. They spirited him up to take arms, helped him to obtain some successes, then pretended to treat with him on behalf of the King, and basely murdered him on the plains of Kildare.

When this transaction was known in England, the Pembroke people, with whom Pembroke was a favorite, and the discontented lords, who considered him as one of the most active and powerful defenders of their just and common cause, were exceedingly provoked. The King, dreading the effect of the general indignation which it had excited in England, and the resentment of the Irish, especially of the inhabitants of Lein ster, who were from other motives disposed to break out into open hostilities, put on the cloak of hypocrisy; pretended to be deeply affected by the death of Pembroke; denied that he had given the sanction of his authority to this act of the deputy and his accomplices; and vested Gilbert his next surviving brother with all the rights and possessions of his family. In 1229 Fitzgerald was appointed Lord Justice, and succecded by Fitzmorris; but was next year restored to the government, which he held till 1245, when Henry substituted in his place his brother Sir John Fitzmorris.

English laws again

In this disturbed state of Ireland, the King. who secured in already had three different times granted the English laws and constitution to his Irish subjects, now sent over to them a fourth grant of the laws and liberties.

Jicland.