the death of his brother Richard in 1199, directed his particular attention towards the state of Ireland. He appointed the celebrated Meyler Fitz-Henry to the chief government; and perceiving the great importance of fixing the English power in Munster on a solid basis, he renewed his grant of the lands of Thomond to Philip de Braosa and William his son, excepting the city of Limerick, which, with certain lands formerly granted in Connaught, he committed to the custody of William de Bourgo, who, marching into Munster at the head of a formidable army, proceeded with such vigour that he soon got possession of Limerick, and formed a settlement which from that period defied all the power of the Irish.The Kings of Thomond after this appear to have enjoyed but a nominal sovereignty, and being no longer permitted to reside in the city, they fixed their residence at Cluainramhad, near Ennis, in the county of Clare. To conciliate the affections of the inhabitants, King John granted a Charter to the City of Limerick, which is recited in that conferred by Queen Elizabeth, and he rewarded De Bourgo by a gift of five knights' fees, called a tothe, among which was situated Castle-Connell, on condition that he would fortify the castle, and when demanded, restore it to the King, on receiving a fair exchange.

Having made this important conquest, De Bourgo became anxious to assert his claims in the province

of Connaught. A favourable opportunity presented itself in the dissensions which prevailed between Cathal, the reigning prince, and his relative Carragh, who made a secret treaty with De Bourgo, engaging to invest him with those lands which John had granted to him, provided he assisted him in wresting the sovereignty from Cathal. These terms being accepted, the confederates suddenly attacked the reigning prince, and forced him to fly with precipitation into Ulster, where he made such a pathetic representation of his wrongs, that not only O'Niall of Tir-Owen, but the English leaders, De Courcy and De Lacy, united in his behalf, and raised a powerful army. But the usurper and his ally attacked them with such vigour, that they were completely routed, and pursued into Ulster with great slaughter. Elated by his success, De Bourgo forgot his allegiance to the crown, and making Limerick the seat of his power, made peace and war at pleasure.

Entering Thomond, he seized and imprisoned Connor-Ruadh, one of the claimants of that principality, and afterwards made a hostile incursion into Desmond; and as Carragh, whom he had reinstated in the government of Connaught, had failed in the fulfilment of the promises by which he had purchased his assistance, he now united with Cathal, whom he had so lately deposed, to effect the overthrow of his rival. Carragh, though surprised, de

fended himself with vigour; and disdaining to survive the loss of royalty, he fell bravely in the field. Cathal, when restored to power, being as little inclined to fulfil the promises made in his distress as Carragh had been, De Bourgo plotted with the O'Flaherties to put him to death. The Connaught prince not only escaped, but succeeded in cutting off seven hundred of the Munster troops, and the remainder were forced to retreat precipitately to Limerick. Having, however, speedily recruited his army, De Bourgo resolved to be revenged on Cathal for what he considered the basest perfidy. He again entered Connaught, and spread slaughter and devastation far and wide: he ravaged the lands of the monks of St. Brandon, pillaged the town and cathedral of Clonfert, plundered the abbeys of Cong, Clonmacnoise, and Knockmoy, and put to death two youths of the royal house of O'Connor, whom he found at a school in Mayo, which was said to have existed there for some centuries. He then placed garrisons in several places, and erected the castle of Mileck; but he was aroused from his dream of conquest by the approach of a more formidable enemy than any whom he had yet encountered.

The Lord Justice, Meyler Fitz-Henry, alarmed at the proceedings of this ambitious chieftain, and conceiving it to be his first duty to support the authority of his sovereign against his revolted English subjects, proceeded with a considerable force towards

Limerick.

Cathal and the Prince of Thomond offered their assistance against the common enemy; and an English Governor was now for the first time seen marching at the head of the native Irish against his own countrymen. Fitz-Henry soon invested Limerick with an army which De Bourgo was unable to resist, and the latter was soon forced to capitulate and return to his allegiance. The Chief Governor seized this opportunity of entering into a regular treaty with his Irish confederates, who, wearied by the distractions of civil warfare, seemed desirous of the protection of the English government. O'Brien made large concessions, and gave hostages for the fulfilment of his stipulations; while Cathal consented to surrender two parts of Connaught to King John, and pay one hundred marks annually for the third, as the King's vassal.

Through the wise and vigorous administration of Meyler Fitz-Henry, Ireland now began to experience a greater degree of tranquillity than it had enjoyed since the invasion of the English. The Sovereigns of Thomond and Connaught had become, at least, their professed allies; Mac Arthy, the warlike Prince of Desmond, was removed by the hand of death, and his city of Cork again garrisoned by the English; while John De Courcy, who for some years had maintained an independent port in Ulster, had been given up by some of his faithless followers, and committed a prisoner to the Tower of London.

The English interest might now have been effectually secured in this country, had not the weak. ness of the government, occasioned by the unpopu larity of the King, and his disputes with the See of Rome and his turbulent Barons, prevented the accomplishment of this important object. As John at this time stood in need of the assistance of his most trusty lords, Meyler Fitz-Henry was recalled from the chief-government of Ireland, which was conferred on Walter de Lacy till his return in 1208.

The independence which the Kings of Thomond had hitherto maintained, and the obstinacy with which they had resisted every encroachment upon it, prevented the first English adventurers from attempting to establish themselves in the neighbourhood of Limerick; but the power of the native princes was now so much reduced, that they ventured to enter upon the possession of those territories granted to them by the Crown of England.Braosa or Bruce, Lord of Brecknock, did not long enjoy the extensive domains assigned to him in Thomond. Having been suspected by his jealous Sovereign of being concerned in a conspiracy against him, he was required to give hostages for his loyalty, but his wife passionately replied to the King's messengers, that her children should never be entrusted to the man who had murdered his own nephew. Vengeance was immediately denounced against the unfortunate nobleman; orders were is