130S.

Gavaston

sent to lieland.

proscribe him the kingdom; and on his death-bed solemnly enjoined his son never to recall him. Scarcely however had the breath left his father's body, when Gavaston was recalled and welcomed with the investiture of the Duchy of Cornwall, which had lately escheated to the crown, by the death of Edmond, the son of Richard, who had been elected king of the Romans; and he was married to Henry's niece, a sister of the Earl of Gloucester. The royal favor and the personal accomplishments of Gavaston raised against him an host of enemies, from amongst the English nobility; to whom Gavaston behaved with insolent disdain, Edward left Gavaston protector of the kingdom with extraordinary powers, when he went to France to be married to the princess Isabella. She being of an intriguing disposition, (what lady of the French court is not so?) became soon jealous of his influence upon the mind of her husband, and joined the Earl of Lancaster, and several bishops and barons, in imperiously insisting upon the banishment of the favorite. They extorted an oath from him, that he would never return and enforced it by a conditional excommunication from the bishops, in case he should infringe it. The interference of parliament intimidated the king into compliance: he reJuctantly submitted to the commands of the overbearing barons, but previously invested Gavaston with fresh grants of lands in England and Gascony.

Instead of dismissing Gavaston to the continent, Edward contrived to dignify his exile, by appointing him his vicegerent in Ireland, and had the indiscre

tion to accompany him in great pomp as far as Bristol. 1309. In a country, where he had made no personal enemies, his attractive qualities, his magnificent retinue, and above all his bold spirit of enterprize, at first endeared him to the Irish and English settlers. He at once marched out against the turbulent Septs, and quickly subdu d them. O'Dempsey met him in the field, and was totally defeated. Having tranquillized Leinster, he pierced into Thomond; and there defeated O'Bryen, who had lately inade vigorous resistance to the English arms. He erected some castles, and opened communications throughout the English territory. Gavaston soon provoked the envy of the great lords of Ireland to whom a government of such weight and splendor could not long remain indifferent. Richard Earl of Ulster at this time the most powerful chieftain in all Ireland affected in pride and state to vie with the governor, and is said to have threatened Gavaston with hostilities; but before their jealousies had produced any open violence, Gavaston was recalled, and the kingdom quickly relapsed into the double calamity of a weak government and a turbulent aristocracy.

Irish Earl of Ultheir potentiary

ster pleni

to treat

bert Bruce.

Nothing could mark the imbecility of the government more, than the frequent change of governors, of whom during a reign of 19 years there were with Roseventeen. The Earl of Ulster, though never intrusted with that situation, was appointed plenipotentiary, to conclude a treaty with Robert Bruce, the Scotch monarch and the Scottish deputies attended him in Ireland. He was so elevated with this mark of distinction, that he afterwards affected independent sovereignty,

1315. and with an armed force, marched into Thomond, in support of some private pretensions, where he was defeated by the Geraldines under Richard De Clare. He was made prisoner, and obliged to submit to the terms of the conqueror. An accommodation followed, and was cemented by the marriage of Maurice, and Thomas Fitz John, (afterwards the heads of the houses of Desmond and Kildare,) with the two daughters of the earl of Ulster: the union of which families seemed to promise lasting tranquillity to Ireland, when new enmities and new disorders broke out.

The Irish

offer the so

of their

The treaty, which Edward II. had concluded with vereignty the Scots, having been transacted in Ireland, may, country to from intercourse with the Scotch Commissioners, have monarch. increased the Irish hatred of the English government.

a Scotch

Robert Bruce soon violated the terms; war recommenced; and the gallant Bruce turned the scale by the memorable victory he obtained over a more numerous army of the English at Bannockburn. This sharpened the impatience of the Irish and the chieftains of Ulster, to take advantage of the distressful state of Britain: they addressed themselves to Robert Bruce, and pathetically entreated his assistance, to enable them as brethren and kinsmen, to avenge themselves upon the common enemy. They offered to receive a sovereign from Scotland, to rescue and preserve them from the oppression of the English. Edward, the brother of Robert Bruce, was named and accepted by the chieftains of Ulster, who were assured, that he should speedily be sent to their

deliverance, with a formidable force. The intelli- 1315. gence was spread through their province with joy, and extensive preparations were made to insure suc

cess.

Bruce lands

In May 1315, Edward Bruce landed about 6000 Edward men in Ulster, to assert his new claim to the sove- in Ireland. reignty of Ireland. The Irish lords of Ulster and many others flocked to his standard. The English settlers of the north were butchered without mercy, their castles levelled, and their towns set on fire. Almost all Ireland in a short time declared for the Scot. Some battles were fought, and vast desolation, both from the sword and famine, spread through the land. Edward Bruce was solemnly crowned at Dundalk, and his brother Robert landed in Ireland with a powerful army. The general dearth obliged Robert almost immediately to return with a part of his army; yet the forces, which he left behind were instantly increased by a conflux of the discontented Irish, and numbers of degenerate English, and amongst the others, by the De Lacys and their numerous adherents.

lish rally

themselves.

War,' pestilence, and famine united to complete The Engthe calamities of that unfortunate country, when amongst the English lords, expecting no vigor from their own government in England, determined to rally amongst themselves, and entered into an association to support the interests of Edward II. with their lives and fortunes. In order to give countenance to their zeal and loyalty, the royal favor was extended to the most distinguished among them. John Fitz Thomas Baron of Ophaly was created Earl of Kildare; Lord Ed

1315. mond Butler received the title of Earl of Carrick, Desmond and Kildare eminently exerted themselves in resisting the general insurrection.

Battle of Athunree.

The English at length marched with a considerable force into Connaught, with a particular view to subdue Fedlim O'Connor, who had most perfidiously joined the Scotch invader. His forces were collected, and the contending parties met near the town of Athunree, where a desperate engagement at length terminated in favor of the English army. This disaster had little influence on Edward Bruce; he continued his destructive progress without molestation to the very walls of Dublin. Thither the earl of Ulster had retired; and his sister being married to Robert King of Scotland, raised so much suspicion of his secret disloyalty, that the chief magistrate of the city imprisoned him; nor could all the authority of the

:

*This effort to regain the kingdom of Ireland, by young Fedlim O'Connor, was defeated in the loss of this battle. It was the most bloody contest, that had ever taken place between the two nations; it happened on the 10th of August, and continued from the rising to the setting sun. The Irish attacked with the most ferocious impetuosity; but they were neither armed nor disciplined they were rather headed than commanded by their young warlike chieftain. Such was the enthusiasm of his army, that above 10000 of them fell in the field; amongst which were twenty-nine subaltern chiefs of Connaught. Tradition states, that after this decisive battle, the O'Connor family, like the Fabian, was so nearly exterminated, that throughout all Connaught not one of the name remained (except Fedlim's brother) who was capable of bearing arms.