Earl of Chepstow to appear instantly before him. Strongbow obeyed ; and, leaving Miles de Cogan as his representative in Dublin, and his faithful friend Raymond as Governor of the City of Waterford, he embarked and met the king at Newnham, near Gloucester, where his reconciliation was speedily effected. We pass over the royal progress in Ireland, as we gave some account of it in the memoir of Strongbow. It was, on the whole, highly advantageous to the country. It gave the inhabitants better laws; it delivered them, in some measure, from the (aprice of their own feudal chiefs ; and laid the foundation of their social advancement, by establishing an intercommunion with a wealthier and more civilized people. But after a few months' stay, Henry was called away by the revolt of his sons in Brittany, from his sagacious scieme of improving the country; and his own necessities at hoine, and on the continent, obliged himn soon after to withdraw the flower of his forces from the garrisons in Ireland. The army that was left was entrusted to the command of Hervey de Montmorres, Strongbow's uncle, under whom, Raymond served, second in authority. But the general was unpopular in the same degree as his subordinate was beloved by the soldiery. The characters of the two leaders are thus contrasted by the historian Leland, and his statement sufficiently gives the cause. “Hervey,” he writes, “was proud, impatient of a rival, and jealous of his influence, rigid and severe in bis discipline, he restrained the soldiers from plundering-a liberty which they claimed as in some sort necessary to supply the deficiencies of their pay. Raymond, of more conciliating manners, was more indulgent to the pas. sions and necessities of the soldiery, for whose welfare and security he appeared eminently solicitous; gentle to their faults, and affecting rather to appear their companion than their commander ; neither delicate in his fare, nor curious in bis apparel, cheerfully sharing all the hardships of a military life. He was of consequence more beloved ; and the envy of Montmorres was inflamed by his popularity.” A spirit of rivalry subsisted between the twain which might have led to disastrous issues, were it not that the very greatness of the public danger compelled them to act together in outward unison ; and Raymond was too much the soldier, not to yield at all times a deferential submission to his superior's official commands. When Strongbow, about this time, received intimation from his royal master that the conduct of Irish affairs were to be entrusted to his sole directions, he expressed his utinost desire that some one might be associated with him in the government, and pointed to Raymond le Gros as the idol of the army whose fidelity and loyalty had been often proved. Henry gave the Earl his sanction to employ our hero in any capacity he pleased, but refused to unite him in the commission as a colleague. On Strongbow's arrival in Dublin with viceregal powers,* be found the army discontented and mutinous. They bitterly inveighed against their commander, Montmorres ; and impetuously demanded that Raymond should be appointed over them in his stead. Strongbow was constrained to yield-in all probability without much resistance on his part--and the new general, without delay, led the forces into the revolted district of Ophuly, that he might quell their refractoriness by active service. He extended his ravages into the territory of the Decies [Waterford), He had repaired to Norinandy to the assistance of the king. a and passing through the ancient city of Lismore extorted a heavy black mail from the bishop and inhabitants, by threatening to set fire to their venerated cathedral. At Dungarvan he found some ships lying at anchor, which he laded with his spoils to convey them to Waterford, and entrusted them to the care of Adam de Hereford. The vessels had scarcely cleared the harbour, when they were furiously attacked by a Danish fleet of thirty-five sail, under Gilbert, son of Turgesius, the Ostman lord of Cork. * The engagement continued for some time with great bravery on both sides, until David Walsh, a valiant English knight, with his own hand slew the Danish admiral; and victory declared itself for the English, who continued their voyage triumphantly, bringing with them eight ships captured from the enemy's Hotilla. Macarty, lord of Desmond, having assembled his forces, was hastening by land to the assistance of the Ostmen, when he fell in with Raymond bimself, who had pushed forward at the head of a small party of twenty knights and sixty horsemen, to the support of his party. Some trivial skirmishing ensued, in which the English had again the advantage, and Raymond entered Waterford with the pomp of a victor, leading in a prey of 4,000 cattle. With their successes, the minds of the soldiery grew light and cheerful; and from being insubordinate and turbulent, were soon brought to the highest state of effective discipline. Raymond found Strongbow at Waterford; and to him he now declared his long standing passion for Basilia, the Earl of Chepstow's beauteous sister, deeming that his present high services would ensure his acceptance. But his solicitations met a peremptory refusal; and mortified beyond measure, he retired abruptly to Wales, under pretence of receiving possession of lands, which the decease of his father, WILLIAM DE Carew, had brought him. Strongbow, equally haughty, suffered him to depart without remonstrance; and the command of the army once more devolved on Hervey de Montmorres. Hervey, sensible of the mode by which bis rival had so successfully controlled the army, desired to eclipse his fame by some equally distinguished actions of his own. He proposed to Strongbow, . that they should chastise the disaffected inhabitants of Munster by leading the troops into their districts, and that, for the purpose of striking them with greater awe, a portion of the Danish mercenaries of Dublin should be ordered to effect a junction with them at Cashel. Strong bow unhappily consented, and the orders were issued in conformity. But the detachment of Danes were surprized by Donald O'Brien and the native army at Thurles, and four hundred of the number, together with their four chief captains, were slain in the field. Strongbow, alarmed at this untoward disaster, retreated on Waterford; and the fame spread abroad that the English, having been utterly routed, had fled to the sea for the purpose of embarking finally for their own country.t See Wares's Annals, and Cox, vol. iii. p. 27. The English had withdrawn their garrison from Cork, and the inhabitants, despite of their oaths of allegiance, immediately revolted to the other side. They then undertook this expedition to show their zeal for Macarty, the native prince of Desmond. + To show the national feeling on this temporary reverse of the English arms, wo quote the registry of the event in the Annals of the Four Masters : "1174. The Earl Strongbow marched his forces to plunder Munster; and Roderic O'Conor, king of Connaught, hastened to make resistance. When the English had intelligence of Nor was it alone the universal disaffection of the Irish, which Strongbow had now to fear, but the revival of dissatisfaction among his own soldiers -a far more formidable danger. He indulged in no delays, but despatched a trusty messenger to Wales, imploring Raymond to come to his help with such forces as he could gather, promising him a full compliance with all his recent demands, and a restoration to his post at the head of the army. Here was a salve indeed for Raymond's wounded pride. The very man, who had so recently scorned his alliance, was now constrained to court his aid. The plans emanating from his rival, had all resulted in compassion; and he himself was the acknowledged deliverer, to whom the whole body of countrymen were now looking for their preservation. He collected instantly thirty knights of his own kin, and with them, one hundred horsemen, and three hundred archers, embarked for Waterford. Nor did he come too soon; for we learn from Giraldus, that on the very day Raymond's fleet appeared in the river, a general massacre of the English was to have taken place, which the arrival of these seasonable succours alone prevented. Raymond and Strongbow proceeded in a few days to Wexford, and left a strong garrison in Waterford; when the rebellious townspeople, no longer over-awed by their presence, hastened to accomplish their murderous design. The commander of the detachment, unsuspicious of treachery, was with a few attendants sailing on the Suir in a small pleasure-boat, and the mariners suddenly rose on the heedless crew, and slew them to a man. The signal was straightway given; and all the unarmed English, without distinction of age or sex, who were encountered in the streets, or whose houses could be broken into, were massacred. A few of the garrison fought their way bravely to Reginald's Tower, which served for a citadel, and thence after a while sallying forth, drove their assailants from the town, and regained possession. Severe conditions were made with the natives; but they were constrained to accept them, and give up their rebellious leaders. At Wexford, Raymond was wedded to the Lady Basilia with great pomp. With his bride he received an extensive district of Leinster as dowry, and was at the same time invested with the office of constable and standard-bearer of Leinster. But the nuptial rites were yet proceeding, when a weary messenger burst into the cathedral with tidings that Roderic, King of Connaught, at the head of a large army, had marched eastward from his own territory, and entering Meath, had everywhere destroyed the English settlements, burning their houses and dismantling their fortifications. Dublin was reported to be threatened, and the danger so pressing as to admit of no delay. The next morning saw the bridegroom on his war-horse again; and soon the Irish league crumbled to pieces before his vigorous attacks. He led the troops to the relief of the metropolis; and thence passing on to meet the King of Connaught, he drove him once more across the Shannon to his own inaccessible dominions. The settlements in Meath were restored, and the forts re-constructed, and the spirit of disaffection among the natives was for a time efficiently repressed. Roderic's approach, they invited the foreigners of Dublin to their assistance, who with all possible speed marched to Thurles, where they were met by Donall O'Brien at the head of the Dalcassians, by a battalion from West Connaught, and by a numerous and select army of the Clan-murry under Roderic. A furious engagement ensued, in which the English were at last defeated. In this battle seventeen hundred (!) of the English were left dead on the plain, and only a few of them survived, who fled with the Earl to his house in Waterford." The important city of Limerick had been seized by O'Brien, prince of Thomond; and at Strongbow's desire, Raymond now proceeded to its reduction. He arrived without molestation at the opposite shores of the Shannon, but here found the bridges broken and every species of boat removed. Two of his companions discovered a fordable place in the river, but on their return to conduct their fellow-countrymen, one of them was drowned. A third crossed over safely, when he was surrounded by the enemy, and would have perished, had not Raymond himself gallantly spurred through the river, calling on his soldiers to follow him. Astonished at this intrepidity, the enemy paused, and the English gained the opposite bank with the loss of only two of their body. The city made no attempt at resistance, and Raymond found in it abundant stores of provisions and arms. These rapid successes had their proportionate effect on the King of Connaught's mind. Hitherto, he had gallantly fought the invaders step by step, according to the best of his powers; but henceforth he seems to have been convinced of the futility of his opposition, and to desire an accommodation. He sent three deputies to King Henry at Windsor, who in his name tendered his submission to the English crown. A treaty was subscribed by them, on his behalf, in which Henry's sovereignty over the whole island was recognized, and homage and tribute were promised as outward indications. The tribute to be every tenth merchantable hide, which was to be paid by every part of the kingdom (Connaught included), excepting the districts directly held by the King of England and his barons. Henry's hold on Ireland was now established; while abroad and at home, the difficulties with which he had been surrounded, had vanished away before the vigour of his administration. The rebellion of his sons had been put down; the king of Scots had been his prisoner, and had purchased his liberty by sacrificing the independence of his country; peace was re-established in England, and now his sovereignty was acknowledged by the only vigorous opponent his arms had met with in the neighbouring country. But the jealousy of his own barons in Ireland, obstructed in a great measure, the advancement of good measures for that kingdom; and often proved more dangerous, by creating internal dissensions in the army, than all the outward force of the Irish could have effected. The triumphs of Raymond were wormwood to his rival, Hervey de Montmorres; and the latter resolved no longer to attack him openlya mode which had always produced his own defeat-but secretly to undermine his fame. Hervey had married the daughter of Maurice FitzGerald, and Raymond's cousin-germain ;* but even this nearness of connexion brought no more friendly feelings with it. His emissaries poisoned the royal ear by assurances that Raymond had tampered with the fidelity of the army, who were declared to be no longer obedient to the King of England, but to the will of their own general. Limerick, and other cities, were declared to be wholly devoted to Raymond's interest; and his loyalty was, they said, more than questionable, for he was now preparing means to set up an independent kingdom. Henry's worst weakness was absurd jealousy. Credulous to a fault, whenever charges of ambition were brought against any of his lords, he listened with complaisant attention to these misrepresentations, and despatched The table in the next page will explain at a glance, the relationship subsisting between these most distinguished Anglo-Norman chiefs: to Dublin four commissioners,* two of whom were to watch the conduct of the Earl of Chepstow, and the other two to conduct Raymond without delay to the court at Windsor. Raymond without difficulty, surmised the source of these calumnies; and receiving the commissioners with the respect due to him, whose representatives they were, he professed his readiness to obey without a murmur the royal command, and to set sail for England in their company. But contrary winds delayed their departure; and while they were detained on the sea-coast, the flame of Irish insurrection again blazed forth. O'Brien of Thomond, laid siege to Limerick, and when Strongbow prepared to march to the relief of the city, the army refused to obey orders, unless their favourite general accompanied. The royal commissioners were consulted, and they consented to delay their departure; but Raymond would not undertake the expedition, until earnestly urged to it by the commissioners themselves, who virtually by so doing, pronounced his acquittal. His wonted success attended Raymond's movements; the siege of Limerick was raised; and O'Brien gave hostages for his future good conduct, on the same day that Roderic, King of Connaught, took the oaths of fealty to his liege, the King of England, as prescribed by the late treaty. Raymond was engaged in these operations, when he received application from Macarty, Prince of Desmond, for aid against his son Cormac, who had not only rebelled, but having taken his father prisoner, had cruelly imprisoned him. Raymond reinstated the deposed king, and delivered up to him his unnatural son, who was soon after put to death. For this service he received from Macarty a large territory in Kerry, which his descendants enjoy, in part at least, to the present day. It was at this period, while staying at Limerick, he received from Basilia the enigmatical letter, in which she informed him that her great tooth, which had ached so long, had fallen out; and she intreated him in consequence to return to Dublin with all speed. Raymond well understood the purport of this communication; and consulted with some chosen friends the measures now rendered necessary by Strongbow's death. It was decided that 1st Husband. Stephen, constable-Nesta, dau. of Gruffydh ap Rhys, King of Robert Fitz-Stephen, the first of the band of Anglo-Norman Adventurers at the Conquest of Ireland, d. 1182. Odo Fitz-William de Carew, Lord of Carew and Moulsford, ances Henry. Catherine dau. Raymond, surnamed tor of the CAREW family. and FITZ-MAURICE. 2nd Husband. Gerald Fitz-Walter de Windsor, castellan of Windsor and Pembroke, d. 1135. Maurice Fit-Gerald, Basilia de Clare, David, Bishop of St. David's d. 1176. William Fitz-William Fitz-Gerald, ancestor of the family of GERald. The commissioners were, Robert de la Poer, Osbert de Hereford, William Bendeger, and Adam Germain. This district Raymond settled on his second son, MAURICE (from whom it was called the Barony of Clan-Maurice), who m. Catherine, dau. of Miles de Cogan, and was ancestor of the Earls of Kerry.-(See MARQUIS of LANSDOWNE in BURKE's Peerage.) |