THE GERALDINES DEFEATED IN THOMOND. 205

long-disused title of Monarch of Ireland was conferred on O'Neill by some of the Irish kings. After a conference at Caol Uisge, O'Neill and O'Connor turned their forces against the English, and a battle was fought near Downpatrick, where the Irish were defeated. O'Neill was killed, with fifteen of the O'Kanes and many other chieftains, A.D. 1260. The English were commanded by the then viceroy, Stephen Longespé, who was murdered soon after by his own people. In the south the English suffered a severe reverse. The Geraldines were defeated by Connor O'Brien in Thomond, and again at Kilgarvan, near Kenmare, by Fineen MacCarthy. The Annals of Innisfallen give long details of this engagement, the site of which is still pointed out by the country people. John Fitz Thomas, the founder of the Dominican monastery at Tralee, was killed. The MacCarthys immediately proceeded to level all the castles which had been erected by the English; they were very numerous in that district. Soon after the hero of the fight was killed himself by the De Courcys.

After the defeat narrated above, Hanmer says, 'the Geraldines dared not put a plough into the ground in Desmond.' The next year, 1262, Mac William Burke marched with a great army as far as Elphin. He was joined by the lord justice and John de Verdun. They marked out a place for a castle at Roscommon, and plundered all that remained after Hugh O'Connor in Connaught. He, in his turn, counterburned and plundered so successfully, that the English were glad to ask for peace. The result was a conference at the ford of Doire-Chuire. A peace was concluded, after which Hugh O'Connor and Mac William Burke slept together in the one bed, cheerfully and happily; and the English left the country on the next day, after bidding farewell to O'Connor.

After this fraternal demonstration, Burke led an army into Desmond, and an engagement took place with MacCarthy on the side of Mangerton mountain, where both English and Irish suffered great losses. Gerald Roche, who was said to be the third best knight of his time in Ireland, was slain by MacCarthy. Burke was soon after created earl of Ulster. He and FitzGerald waged war

against each other in 1264, and desolated the country with their raids. The lord justice sided with FitzGerald, who succeeded in taking all Burke's castles in Connaught.

The quarrels of the invaders now became so general that even the lord justice was seized at a conference by FitzMaurice FitzGerald, and was detained prisoner, with several other nobles, for some time. During the wars between De Burgo (or Burke) and FitzGerald, the good people of Ross threatened to defend their town from all invaders; and to effect this purpose the council commanded all the citizens to assist in erecting the necessary fortifications. Even the ladies and clergy took part in the works, which were soon and successfully completed.

An Anglo-Norman poet commemorated this event in verse, and celebrates the fame of Rose, a lady who contributed largely to the undertaking, both by her presence and her liberal donations. He informs us first of the reason for this undertaking. It was those two troublesome knights, 'sire Morice e sire Wauter,' who would not permit the world to be at peace. He assures us that the citizens of New Ross were most anxious for peace, because they were merchants, and had an extensive trade, which was quite true ; but he adds that they were determined to defend their rights if attacked, which was also true.

Felim O'Connor died in 1265. The Four Masters give his obituary thus: 'Felim, son of Cathal Crovderg O'Connor, the defender and supporter of his own province, and of his friends on every side, the expeller and plunderer of his foes; a man full of hospitality, prowess, and renown; the exalter of the clerical orders and men of science; a worthy materies [sic] of a king of Ireland for his nobility, personal shape, heroism, wisdom, clemency, and truth; died, after the victory of unction and penance, in the monastery of the Dominican friars at Roscommon, which he had himself granted to God and that order.'

He was succeeded by his son, Hugh, 'who committed his regal depredation in Offaly.' It appears to have been considered a customary thing for a new sovereign to signalise himself, as soon as possible, by some display of this description. He succeeded so well in this same depredation,

DEATH OF DE BURGO IN GALWAY.

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that the lord justice was alarmed, and came to assist De Burgo. The latter proposed a conference at Carrick-onShannon; but Hugh O'Connor suspected treachery, and contrived to get the earl's brother, William Oge, into his hands before the conference commenced. The earl' passed the night in sadness and sorrow.' At daybreak a fierce conflict ensued. Turlough O'Brien, who was coming to assist the Connacians, was met on his way, and slain in single combat by De Burgo. But his death was fearfully avenged; great numbers of the English were slain, and immense spoils were taken from them. De Burgo died the following year, in Galway castle, after a short illness, A.D. 1271.

CHAPTER XIV.

A.D. 1271 TO A.D. 1367.

THE BURKES AND THE GERALDINES.-BRUCE INVADES IRELAND. THE STATUTE OF KILKENNY AND ITS EFFECTS.

CONTEMPORARY EVENTS: Rodolph of Hapsburg Emperor of GermanyThe Sicilian Vespers-Wales annexed to England-Robert Bruce crowned King of Scotland-Knights Templars established-Murder of Edward II.-Benedict XII. Pope-Edward III. invades FranceBattles of Crecy and Poictiers-Wickliffe preaches in England.

THE

SECTION 1. The Burkes and the Geraldines.

ПHE Anglo-Normans had now held possession of a small portion of Ireland for nearly a century. But their rule had not been beneficial either to themselves or to the Irish. The latter, already but too willing to engage in petty wars with each other, had a new opportunity of exercising this propensity. The former never made themselves sufficiently popular to secure the affections of the people, and hence were obliged to suffer all the disadvantages of living in a continual state of apprehension.

Henry III. died in 1272, after a reign of fifty-six years. He was succeeded by his son, Edward I., who was in the Holy Land at the time of his father's death. In 1257 his father had made him a grant of Ireland, with the express condition that it should not be separated from England. It would appear as if there had been some apprehensions of such an event since the time of prince John. The English monarchs apparently wished the benefit of English laws to be extended to the native population, but their desire was

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invariably frustrated by such of their nobles as had obtained grants of land in Ireland, and whose object appears to have been the extermination, or, if this was not possible, the depression of the Irish race.

Ireland was at this time convulsed by domestic dissensions. Sir Robert D'Ufford, the justiciary, was accused of fomenting the discord; but he appears to have considered that he only did his duty to his royal master. When sent for into England, to account for his conduct, he 'satisfied the king that all was not true that he was charged withal; and · for further contentment yielded this reason, that in policy he thought it expedient to wink at one knave cutting off another, and that would save the king's coffers, and purchase peace to the land. Whereat the king smiled, and bid him return to Ireland.' The saving was questionable; for to prevent an insurrection by timely concession, is incomparably less expensive than to suppress it when it has arisen. The purchase of peace' was equally visionary; for the Irish never appear to have been able to sit down quietly under unjust oppression, however hopeless resistance might be.

As the viceroys were allowed a handsome income, they were naturally anxious to keep their post. The first mention of salary is that granted to Geoffrey de Marisco. By letters patent, dated at Westminster, July 4th, 1226, he was allowed an annual stipend of 5801. This was a considerable sum for times when wheat was only 2s. a quarter, fat hogs 2s. each, and French wine 2s. a gallon.

Hugh O'Connor renewed hostilities in 1272, by destroying the English castle of Roscommon. He died soon after, and his successor had but brief enjoyment of his dignity. In 1277 a horrible act of treachery took place, which the unfortunate Irish specially mention in their remonstrance to Pope John XXII., as a striking instance of the doubledealing of the English and the descendants of the AngloNormans then in Ireland. Thomas de Clare obtained a grant of Thomond from Edward I. It had already been secured to its rightful owners, the O'Briens, who probably paid, as was usual, an immense fine for liberty to keep their own property. The English earl knew he could only ob

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