The history of the invasion by Maurice Regan, with three other tracts almost equally valuable, was translated by Sir George Carew himself. The originals are said to have fallen into the hands of the Earl of Clarendon during the civil wars. From this family they were purchased by the Duke of Chandos; and they were again sold and dispersed; and have, perhaps, escaped from the eye of future inquirers for ever. Thus rendered doubly interesting by their translator, (like a relic in a precious shrine,) they recall two epochs most important to Ireland, the English invasion, when they were written, and the iron reign of Elizabeth, when they were translated. It commences as follows: "Dermond, kyng of Leinster, was a powerful prince: he invaded O'Neal and the Kyng of Meath, compelled theime to gyve hostages, and constrained O'Kerrall to send hym his son for a pledge into Leinster. At that tyme, O'Rory kyng of Lethevin,' whose country was woody and full of boggs, had to wyfe the daughter of M'Laghlin Mac Colman kyng of Meath, a fair and lovely lady, entirely beloved of Dermond kyng of Leinster, who also hated O'Rory for an affront which his man Min had received at Lethnuth in his country. Dermond, by letres and messingers, pursued her love with suche fervency, as in the end shee sent him word that shee was ready to obey and yeld to his will, appointed hym a tyme and place where he shuld find her; and prayeing him to come soe strongly, as that he mought by force take her away with him. Dermond presently assembled his forces, and marched into the countrey of Lethevin; at Tirmbruin he found this lady, tooke her awaye with him, spoiled the countrey, and returned with victory and content into Fernes. O'Rory, full of griefe and rage, addressed hymself unto the Kyng of Connaght, complaining of the wrong and scorne done unto hym by the Kyng of Leinster, and entreating his aid in the revenge of so grete an outrage. O'Conner kyng of Connaght, moved with honour and compassion, promised him succour; and presently he dispatched messingers to the King of Ossory,-unto M'Laghlin king of Meath,-to Hesculph Mac Turkill lord of Dublin,—and Murrough O'Birne: wyth whome he too muche prevailed, as they turned heads upon their lord king Dermond. The Kyng of Leinster, seeing hymself forsaken of his kinsmen, friends, servants, and principal followers, having sume more confidence in Murrough O'Birne than in the rest, tooke horse and rode to speak with hym. King Dermond being returned to Fernes, and lodged in the Abby of Fernes dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary, commanded the Abbot to write a letre whiche he subscribed, and to deliver it to one of his monks to carry it to Murrough O'Birne, hoping thereby to perswade him to a meeting. The monke being dispatched, dischargid the trust imposed upon him soe well, as that he deliveried the letre to O'Birne. The King followid the monke, and, at a wood-side, saw Murrough O'Birne; who, beholdinge the Kyng, menanced him presently to depart, or else he would repent it. The distressid Kyng, almost distracted with greife and anger, returned to Fernes; and, fearing to be betrayed there, and delivered by hys people unto the King of Connaght, resolved to abandon his countrey; and instantly, without delay, he went to Horkesun, where he imbarqued hymself for England, having in his company no other man of marke then Awliffe O'Kinade, and about sixty persons. With a prosperous gale he arrived at Bristoll, an was lodged, with all his companie, in the house of Robert Harding at St. Augustin's; where, after some staie, he addressed his journey towards France, to speake with Kyng Henry, who 1 Lethevin, better known by the name of Breifne. The details of this story, and some of the names of the parties, are differently given by Keating, who wrote after the lapse of some centuries. December, 1831.-VOL. II. NO. VIII. 2 D then had warr in that kingdom with the French Kyng. (A. D. 1168.) When he came to the presence of Kyng Henry, he related at large unto hym the cause of his comyng, telling hym that his vassals had forsaken him, that he was forced to runne into exile, and beseechinge hym to gyve him aide, whereby he mought be restorid to his inheritaunce; which, yf it shuld plese him in his goodness to graunt, he would acknowledge hym to be his lorde, and serve him faithfully during his life. This petifull relation of the distressed Kyng so much movid Kyng Henry to compassion, as that he promised him aid, and willed him to return to Bristoll, there to remayne untill he herd further from him; and withall he wrote to Robert Hardinge, requireing hym to receve Kyng Dermond and his followers into his house, and to intreat them with all the courtesie and humanatie he could; whereof Robert failed in nothing. Aftir that Kyng Dermond had remained more than a moneth in Bristoll, and seeing no hope of aide from Kyng Henry, weary of delaye and comfortless, he went to the Erle Richard, intreating succours from hym, and promising, that yf by his means he mought be re-established in his kyngdome, that he would gyve him his daughter to wife, and, with her, the whole kyngdome of Leinster for his inheritaunce. The Erle, tickled with so fair an offer, made answeare, that if he culd obteyne leeve of the Kyng his master, he would not fail to assiste him in his person, and bringe sufficiaunt aid; but, for the present, he desired to be excused; for, unless the Kyng would give his assent therunto, he durst not entertaine a business of that importance. This faire and discreet answear so well contentid the exiled Kyng, as he solemnly sware, that whensoever the Erle did bringe aide unto hym, he wuld gyve him his daughter in marriage, and, after his death, the kyngdome of Leinster. These conditions being agreed on either party, Dermond departid, and went to St. David's, where he staid untill shipping was provided to transport hym to Ireland. In the meane tyme, while the banished Kynge's shipping was in prepareing, he was advised to goe and visit a king in Wales, called Rice, to desyre hym to enlardge out of his prison a gentilman callid Robert Fitz-Stephen; but how the said Robert was taken, or for what offence imprisoned, I doe not understand; but that he was enlargid by King Rice at the request of the Kyng of Leinster, I am well assured. Having obteyned his request, he returned to St. David's, carrying no more Englishmen with him than one gentilman, called Richard Fitz-Godabert, who had many good parts in him, hut so slenderly attended, as they were of small use for King Dermond when he came into Ireland; wherefore he licenced them to depart home. The Kynge of Leinster, findinge it to be an impossibility for hym to recovir his kyngdome, and to prevaile in hys designs, without aid out of England, dispatched his trusty servaunt and interpreter Maurice Regan with letres into Wales, and with auctority in his name to promise all souche as would come to serve hym in his wars in Ireland, large recompence in landes of inheritaunce to souche as wuld staye in the country; and to those that wuld returne, he wuld gyve them good intertainment eyther in money or in cattle. As soone as these promises were divulged, men of all sortes, and from divers places, preparid themselves to go into Ireland: first, especially, Robert Fitz-Stephen, a man of good esteeme in Wales, who had lately been enlargid out of prison by the mediation of Dermond, undertooke the imployment; and, with hym, nine or ten knights of good account,-namely, Meiler FitzHenry; Meyler Fitz-David, son of the Bushoppe of St. David's; Maurice de Prindergast; Henry de Momorecy; and others whose names I do not know; being, in all, neere aboute the number of three hundreth horsemen. This little army, transported in three ships, landed at a place called Bann, not far from the town of Weixford, from whence they immediately dispatched messingers unto Kynge Dermond to give him notice of their arrivall; who, without delay, repaired unto theme, and imbrasing theme with much joye, and rendering theme thainkes for their travile they had taken. That night they encamped by the sea-side. The next daye, Dermond and the English marched directly to Weixford, and instantly gave an assault unto the toune, in the whiche eighteen Englishe were slain, and of the defaunts only three. Nevertheless, the tounsmen perceavinge themselves to be unable to make any long defence, demande parle; which being graunted, they offered hostages to the Kyng, and to sware, from thince forward, to be evermore his loyal vassalls. By the advice of the English, the conditions were accepted, and the town of Weixford rendered ytself unto Dermond; which done, he went to Fernes, as well to cure his hurt men as to feast the English, where they rested thre weeks. Then Dermond called to hym Robert Fitz-Stephen and Maurice de Prindergast, tellinge theme howe mouche they and their nation were feared by the Irish; wherefore, he had a purpose to invade the Kyng of Ossery his mortal enemy, and to chastise hym; but furste, he required their advise and consent: who answered, that they came to that lond to no othir end then to serve him in his warrs, and that they wuld not forsake him in any interprise whatsoever he would undertake. Dermond assembled with grete expedition all his forces, to the number of thre thousande, besides the thre hundreth English, and marched towards Ossery. When he was entred into the countrey, they found that Donald kyng of Ossery plashed a pace, made large and deep trenches in the same, wythe hedges upon thim, and manned with five thousande men, through which pace his enemies of necessitie must passe. Dermond's troops gave upon the trenches: the fight indured from morninge untill night, but at last, by the valour of the English, the trenches were forced, the enemie discomfitted, but with much slaughter on eyther side. Then Dermond's light men harissed and burnt all the country, and returnid with a huge prey. Dermond, knoweing the strenght of the countrie, and the danger they shulde meete with all upon ther retreit, called unto hym Robert Fitz-Stephen, Maurice de Prindergast, Henry de Momorecy, and all the English of qualitye, prayeinge theme to be well upon their gard; for, in their retreit, they were to pass a dangerause pace. Accordinge to his direction, the English prepared themselves to fight: the Kynge, for his safetye, put hymself into their battallion; his son Donnell Kevannagh he commanded, with forty-three Kinsellagh's men, to be in the forlorne hope the rest of his forces, which were seventeen hundreth, mingled not with the English; for they mistrusted suche as could runne like the winde. Donnell Kevenagh was no sooner entred the pace, but the enemye asseyled hym, and he was enforced to shelter himself undir the English. After the fight had continued three hours, Prince Donald's men (they of Ossorey) began to faint, gave ground, and roone awaye; nevertheless, in an instant they rallied againe, and made a newe head. In the interim, the English horse and foote were gotton into a lowe moorish ground, wherein Donald assured himselfe to have a faire day upon theme. Maurice de Prindergast, apprehending the danger they were in, with a lowde voice callid upon his companions:- Let us,' sayd he, withstand our enemies, and free ourselves out of this bottome. We are well armed, and they are naked. If we may recover hard ground, we shall be freed from perrill, and there is no doubt but they be ours; or, at the least, we shall die with honour.' Then he called upon one named Robert Smith;- Take,' said he, fifty soldiers, and lye in ambush in yonder thichett, and move not untill the Irishe be past: if they will charge youe, we will come to your succour:' which direction was immediately obeyed. Donald and his men, whiche were about two thousande, conceavinge that the English began to faint, came boldly on, passed the ambush, (who, being soe fewe, dirst not stir,) and gave a furious charge. Dermond, then fearing that all was lost, prayed Maurice to have a care to succor those whiche were left in ambush. 'Be not dismayed,' said Maurice; when it shall be needful, I will have care to relieve theme.' The Irish, with grete eagerness, continued the skirmish; continually chardged them upon thir retreit, untill they had recoverid hard grund. Then Maurice Prindergast, Robert Fitz-Stephen, Meyler Fitz-Henry, Miles Fitz-David, Henry Momorecey, with other English knights, turned upon the men of Ossery, and, in a moment, they were discomfited. All of them did admiredlye well, but Miles Fitz-Henry deserved the most honnor. When the Irishe that were with Dermond (who, all the time of the fight, for feare, had hydden themselves in the wood) sawe the enemy broken, they followed the chase, and fell to the executione of Donald's men. Two hundreth and twenty were slaine, whose heads were presented to Dermond; and manye also afterwards died of their hurts." The vicissitudes of a warfare so unequal, form the subject of the remainder of this veracious chronicle of the royal historiographer. The alternate victories of the traitor Dermod M’Murroch over his unfortunate countrymen by aid of foreign arms, the resistance of some of the bravest of the Irish chieftains, such as the O'Tooles and O'Biernes of the county of Wicklow, the base or politic submission of others, King Dermod's own insolence on his success, "being growne proud of his victories, and giving discontents to the English; in so much that Maurice de Prendergast, with two hundreth soldiers, went to Wexford, with a resolution there to embarque," all ended, less indeed in the defeat of the Irish party, than in their voluntary submission, given, like those of the Church, in sealed charters.* The English adventurers established themselves in the fairest territories of the beautiful province of Leinster, the only part of the island which England really possessed up to the time of Queen Elizabeth. Many owed their grants to Dermod himself, according to his secretary, who says, "King Dermod, in respect of good services done unto him by Robert Fitz-Stephen, gave him the town of Wexford; and the Čarig adjoining unto it he bestowed upon Maurice Fitz-Gerald." But the greater portion were made by 66 the Erle," who gave back to the family of Murroch some of their own territory; for Regan says, Liquens le ad tunc grante O Dermot Kavanach le fils Dermot. "The Erle, not being unmindful to reward those who deserved well,” gave to Moriaghoch (an Irish ally) the territory of the Kinshelaghs; and to Dermot Kavenagh, the son of the King, the plains of Leinster. To Maurice Fitzgerald he gave Naas and Philan, the territory of the Mac Kelas; while among the De Cogans, De Lacys, Le Gros, and the chief of his Norman captains, he divided the rest of the province. Of these, Cambrensis says, "they were presently called Kynges; the manner of Ireland being to call every lord of a countrie Kyng of the same, whereas in truth there be but six Kyngs; Meath, 1 Cambrensis relates, that King Dermond, searching among these heads for an enemy to whom he bore immortal hatred, found it; then, seizing it by the hair, he hit it with implacable vengeance. 2 See Molyneux, Case of Ireland. Leinster, Desmond, Munster, Connaught, and Ulster." The frequent recalls of the Norman adventurers to England, by the jealousy of Henry II., their frequent return to Ireland by the defection of the natives, filled up the first three years of this singular invasion, until the siege of Limerick in 1173, when," says Sir G. Carew, "ends the fragment;"-perhaps one of the most curious and best authenticated of any chronicle extant. 66 A FRIENDLY EPISTLE TO THE LORDS. I have for a long time past been looking about for some object on whom to bestow a little friendly advice, which I am extremely fond of giving, like most other people; and observing that you are now considered fair game for all those who have much amicable counsel to dispose of, but, unfortunately, no particular friend at hand to receive it, I have determined to vent some of mine also upon your Lordships. I think I see you, my Lords, in that state of trembling hesitation and perplexity, which affords so delightful an opening for admonition: -I think I see you running about from friend to friend inquiring what is best to be done at this critical juncture. To be sure you have not hitherto shown much want of decision; but a friendly anxiety to advise induces me to imagine that you are beginning to waver. A Philpotts is among you, and may infuse a portion of his ambidextrous spirit into your counsels. Let me conjure you, my Lords, to enact once again the part which you lately played so much to your own credit and the public good. By acting with promptitude and eschewing committees, you may secure for yourselves yet another fragment of the sporting season, and escape from a great and cruel bore to the pleasures of the battue and the chace. But why do I mention this to such excellent tacticians as your Lordships, who are equally well versed in the arts of unkennelling a fox and bagging a Reform Bill? In secret you take sweet counsel together, and the unwary Philistines are totally routed on a second reading. Having shown by a division that principle and detail are alike objects of your aversion, you fly to your respective country abodes, there to enjoy that calm and grateful acquiescence with which the people every where, as you predicted, receive your decision. Permit me, however, to dwell a little on the steps which are preliminary to so desirable a consummation. I am free to confess (to use a parliamentary phrase) that the question as to the manner in which your Lordships ought to receive the Bill, when it first makes its threatened re-appearance in your right honourable house, has very considerably perplexed me-Should your attitude be that of fierce defiance, or of respectful deprecation? This point is attended with so much difficulty, that I have even thought of altogether evading it: but clamorous, no doubt, would be your expostulations and reproaches at being left destitute of counsel on so vital a subject. Your situation might be compared to his, who, being dunned for a debt which he has no intention of paying, is |