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Dublin to a colony of Bristol people, with De Lacy as governor, who is generally regarded as the first vice

roy of Ireland.* Having completed these A.D. 1172 arrangements, the king embarked at Wexford in April and returned to England. From the moment of his departure his arrangements were all disregarded; and his followers did just as they pleased, plundering and harassing the unfortunate natives without mercy and without restraint. But the natives were now beginning to profit by the skill of their adversaries, and often success

fully defended themselves. On

one occasion Strongbow, returning from a plundering raid through Offaly, was intercepted by its chief, O'Dempsey, and defeated, a great number of his

Figure in the illuminated MS. copy men, with his son-in-law De

of Giraldus Cambrensis mentioned

under Scribe at p. 87, showing costume and sparth or battle-axe of the

Quenci, being slain. As the dis

period (A.D. 1200). Olive-green turbances continued, the king

mantle; light-brown trousers; hair

Wilde's Catalogue.

and beard long; head bare. From appointed Strongbow viceroy in the following year-1173hoping that by increasing his authority he might be able to reduce the country to quietness.

* The governors of Ireland at that time, and for centuries after, were designated by various titles, such as viceroy, lieutenant, lord lieutenant, lord justice or justiciary, governor, etc. A person appointed to govern temporarily in place of an absent lord lieutenant or viceroy was designated deputy or lord deputy. The governor, by whatever name he was called, had a number of persons, called a Council, to assist him by their advice: a practice which has continued to the present day.

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Scu pture on Window: Cathedral Church, Glendalough: Beranger, 1779.
From Petrie's "Round Towers."

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OST of the adventurers who settled in Ireland in the time of Henry II. belonged to good families of ancient and honourable descent. But nearly all of them were men who had

run through their estates by extravagance; and being brave and daring as well as poor, they were ready to engage in any enterprise, however dangerous, that held out a hope of retrieving their fortunes. After they had settled down in Ireland in the districts granted them by the king, they became great and powerful, and from them the chief Anglo-Irish families were derived. Among these the most distinguished were the Geraldines (Fitzgeralds, Barrys, Cogans, Graces, and others); the Butlers; and the De Burgos (Burkes, Mac Williams, Mac Davids, &c.). Maurice Fitzgerald was the chief founder of the family of the Geraldines, of whom there were two main branches : one in Leinster, whose chiefs became, first, barons of Offaly, then earls of Kildare, and finally dukes of Leinster: the other in Munster, whose heads were earls of Desmond. The Butlers settled in Leinster, and their chiefs became earls, and finally dukes, of Ormond.

The family of De Burgo was founded by William de Burgo: they settled chiefly in Connaught, and were of two main branches as told at page 163.

It was related at the end of the last chapter how Strongbow had been appointed viceroy in 1173 by King Henry. No sooner had he entered on his new duties than troubles began to thicken round him. He found most of the Irish princes in revolt, notwithstanding their forced submission to the king; and the money he had brought was soon spent, so that he had no pay for his soldiers. This naturally made the men discontented; and another circumstance that greatly increased their ill humour was that a general whom they hated-Hervey Mountmaurice, Strongbow's uncle-had been placed over them, instead of their favourite leader Raymond le Gros. Raymond was their idol; for he was a brave and dashing officer, and in all his expeditions, had given them full license to plunder. Having now neither pay nor booty, nor any prospect of either, they presented themselves in a body before the viceroy, and threatened to return to England or join the Irish, unless Raymond was placed at their head. Strongbow was not pleased at this; but he had no choice, for the men seemed determined so he appointed Raymond to the chief command: on which the new general led the men south on a freebooting excursion, and ravaged Offaly and the country round Lismore. Loading a number of boats he had found near the mouth of the Blackwater, with part of the spoils, he sent them on towards Waterford, while he and his army set out in the same direction and marched along near the coast, driving before them 4000 cows, the property of the poor country people. The boats were attacked by a small fleet from Cork-half Irish, half Danish—and the land army was

intercepted by Dermot Mac Carthy prince of Desmond; but both attacks were repulsed; and Raymond and his companions got clear off and made their way with all the plunder to Waterford.

Soon after this, during Raymond's temporary absence in Wales, Strongbow led his army towards Limerick against Donall O'Brien king of Thomond, A.D. 1174 one of those who had submitted to

the king, but who had lately revolted. But O'Brien and King Roderick intercepted him at Thurles, defeated him, and killed 1700 of his men-the best part of his army. Strongbow fled to Waterford, and full of grief and rage, shut himself up there, but was besieged and in great danger, till Raymond returned and rescued him; on which he gave his sister Basilea in marriage to his rescuer, and made him constable or military commander of Leinster. Raymond

next made preparation to avenge on Donall A.D. 1175 O'Brien the defeat of Thurles. He led his troops to Limerick; and in the face of enormous difficulties he forded the deep and rapid river that flowed between him and the stronghold on the island, stormed the city, and gave it up to slaughter and plunder. Then leaving a sufficient garrison under the command of Miles de Cogan he returned to Dublin.

But now Raymond was exposed to a great danger; for his rival Mountmaurice secretly whispered to the king that he aimed at making himself king of Ireland; whereupon Henry ordered that he should be sent to England. But even while Raymond was preparing to obey the command, news came that Donall O'Brien had laid siege to Limerick; and when Strongbow ordered out the army for its relief, the men refused point blank to march under Mountmaurice. So Raymond had to be

replaced in command, and marching southwards he defeated O'Brien and relieved the city.

One day while he was in the south, a courier arrived post haste from Dublin with an odd message from his wife Basilea :- "Be it known to you that the great jaw-tooth which used to trouble me so much has fallen out. Wherefore return with all speed." She took this enigmatical way of telling him that her A.D. 1176 brother the earl was dead; for, knowing well the precarious position of the colony

in Dublin, and fearing the Irish might rise if they knew of his death, she determined to keep the matter secret till Raymond should be present. Raymond understood the meaning and returned; and the earl was interred with great pomp in Christchurch Cathedral, archbishop Laurence O'Toole conducting the ceremonies.

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Monument (lying flat of Strongbow and his wife Eva in Christchurch Cathedral, From Mrs. Hall's "Ireland."

Dublin.

As soon as the king heard of Strongbow's death, being still jealous of the brilliant. soldier Raymond, he appointed William de Burgo viceroy in this same year, with John de Courcy, Robert Fitzstephen, and Miles de Cogan to assist him. Raymond met them near Wexford, and having given them. a most respectful reception,

he delivered up all his authority to the new viceroy

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