V.

manded in the country about Pembroke, had im- CHAP. prifoned Robert Fitzftephen, the governor of Cardigan, on the difcovery of his difinclination to co-operate in rebellion. Among the perfons in these parts, who from circumstances might be fuppofed the most willing to engage in revolt or other defperate enterprifes, was Richard, earl of Chepstow, then termed Strigul, furnamed Strongbow, fon of Gilbert Earl of Pembroke, of the illuftrious houfe of Clare, a valorous youth, of diffipated fortune, and deftitute of royal favour. To this young nobleman Dermod made earneft application; and, on the cold reception of his first overtures, he propofed to give him his daughter Eva in marriage, and with her the inheritance of the kingdom of Leinfter. This propofal was, according to the Irish laws, a nullity, fince hereditary fucceffion had no place in Ireland ; but he might reafonably fuppofe that the establishment of the claim would much more depend on the fuccefs of the enterprise than on the cuftoms of his country.

When Earl Strongbow, fo titled from his feats of archery, acceded to the propofals of the Irish prince, on condition of Henry's particular licence for the undertaking, Dermod found other adventurers, lefs powerful indeed, but more prompt for the hazardous "enterprife of the folicited expedition. By the mediation of the bishop of Saint-Davids, Fitzftephen was released by Griffith, on his propofal of engaging in the fervice of Dermod, that he might not be in a fituation to oppofe the projected revolt against Hen

ry,

V.

1167.

CHAP. ry, fince his confcience would not permit him to give aflistance in fuch a business. To Fitzstephen, and his maternal brother Maurice Fitzgerald, who, with other adventurous knights of Wales, enlifted in this new enterprife, the prince of Leinfter bound himself to give the entire dominion of the town of Wexford with a large portion of land adjoining, as foon as his re-establishment fhould enable him to make the donation. Dermod, having thus far fucceeded in his negociations, and having received folemn promises from Fitzftephen and Fitzgerald of their failing to his affiftance in the enfuing spring, embarked with his Irifh train, and a few adventurers from Wales, who agreed thus early to fhare his fortunes; and, landing privately on the Irish coaft in the winter of 1169, contrived to pass unobserved to a monaftery which he had founded at Ferns, where he remained fometime in concealment, awaiting the arrival of his tranfmarine allies.

His return feems to have been premature. As his emiffaries diffeminated the fame of the expected fuccours, in their endeavours to acquire friends to his caufe among the Irish, his arrival in the country could not long remain a fecret. Alarmed for his perfonal fafety, when he found that his defigns and place of refidence were publicly known, he dif patched into Britain, to haften the preparations of his allies, Maurice Regan, his friend and confidential fecretary, the faithful hiftorian of the AngloNorman exploits in Ireland at this period; and, affuming a bold countenance, as the fafer mode of

conduct.

V.

conduct in such a dilemma, he put himself at the CHAP. head of his adherents and feized a part of his former dominions, known, then by the name of Hy-Kenfelagh, extending to Wexford along the river Slaney. Thither marched haftily Roderic O'Connor, with a body of troops from Connaught, accompanied by O'Ruarc, the long attached friend of his family. Dermod, unable to cope with fuch a force, had recourse to the expedient ufual in fuch cafes. He retired with his followers into the faftneffes of woods, hoping to baffle by the nature of his poft the great fuperiority of the enemies' numbers.

In the attempts made by the troops of Connaught to force the post of Dermod, several skirmishes had place, in the first of which the affailants were, with lofs on Roderic's fide, repulfed. In another fell the tainift, or elected fucceffor, of O'Ruarc, and of Dermod's party a young chieftain of Wales, de fignated in the style of the Irish annalists as the fon of a king. Fruftrated in his hopes of a speedy decifion in his favour, and impatient to march elsewhere for the fuppreffion of revolts and local feuds, particularly in Meath and Thomond, in both which provinces the reigning princes under his protection had been murdered, Roderic liftened to the propofal of a treaty, which Dermod made only with temporizing views. He offered to pay a hundred ounces of gold to O'Ruarc as a purchase of his forgiveness; to make a formal renunciation of his claim to the kingdom of Leinfter, on being permitted to retain ten cantreds, or fmall territo

ries

CHAP. ries in vaffalage under the chief monarch; and

V.

to give feven hoftages for the fecurity of his obedience. Roderic accepted thefe conditions, and, haftening elsewhere for objects which he thought more momentous, left the depofed prince of Leinster to expect in filence his allies from South-Britain.

CHAP.

CHAP. VI.

Patronymics of the Normans, Welch, and Irish Arrival of Robert Fitzftephen. Attack of Wexford-Arms of the Oftmen and Irish-Of the AngloNormans-Donations of Dermod Attack of OfJory-Maurice Fitzgerald-Advance of Roderic -Fitzftephen's Magnanimity Treaty of Dermod and Roderic-Account of Dublin-Submiffion of this City-Defection of Thomond-Storming of Waterford-Marriage of Strongbow-Storming of Dublin-Council of Armagh-Slave Trade-Misfortunes of Strongbow-Affault of Dublin-Siege of Dublin Of Carrick-Horrible Perjury-Capture of Fitzftephen-March of Strongbow-Transactions-Summons from Henry.

VERY

mics.

VI.

ERY few of my readers can require to be in- CHAP. formed, that the fyllable Fitz, prefixed to the names of feveral South-British chieftains famous in PatronyIrish history, is a term of Norman French, corrupted from the Latin word filius, and fignifying fon, as Fitzftephen imports the fon of Stephen. Among the Welch the particle Ap, derived by the idiomatic pronunciation of that people from the Latin ab, has been applied to a fimilar use. Among the Irish Mac and O were the patronymic figns, the latter understood as originally belonging to the prin cipal family of the fept or clan.

Robert Fitzstephen, faithful to the engagement Fitzstephen with Dermod, fet fail from Wales with a fleet of

three