contention between the neighbouring Chieftains, and pillaged and burned so often by foreigners. THE fucceeding Princes of the race of BRIEN BORU, were ufually called Kings of Limerick or north Munster, their reigns were conftantly difturbed with inteftine divifions, which greatly leffened their power, untill the year 1164, when Donald O'Brien, firnamed the great, took on him the reigns of government. His whole reign was aufpicious, he was fuccefsful in war, remarkable for his courage and piety, of which he left behind him feveral lafting monuments. He built a church on the rock of Cafhell; he founded and endowed many monafteries and nunneries in the Counties of Clare, Tipperary, and Limerick. He beftowed his palace in Limerick to the church, which is now one of the beft gothic ftructures in the kingdom. To this cathedral heannexed rich and extenfive livings, in the grant of which he ftiles himself Donald King of Lumneach, by which it seems the name of Limerick was given to it by the Englifh. And although the city was fubject to BRIEN BORU's family for many years, and their regal feat, from whence they derived their title, yet the Danes were very powerful there, and fucceeded fo far as to procure four Danish Bishops in fucceffion, who were no way fubordinate to the Archbishop of Cathell, but were confecrated by the Archbishops of Canterbury, and promifed fubmiffion to them.

PART

* See the Hiftory of St. Mary's Church, part 3.

Thy race OBRIEN! who fhall strive to trace,
Or who through ages past thy fires can tell?.

As the tall oak, torn from its native place,,
They grew, they flourish'd, and in thee they fell!

From the landing of HENRY II. to the year 1600.

A

DAY now approached which deprived the Kings and Princes of Ireland of all their power; brought them to acknowledge the King of England for their fovereign, and eftablished the laws of England here. Henry H. embarked at Milford with a fleet of 240 fhips, and about 4000 foldiers, and landed at Waterford on the 18th of October 1172. Such a formidable army conquered every remains of pride in the Irish Chieftains. Dermod Macarthy, Prince of Def mond, was the firft who fubmitted, and ack+ nowledged the fovereignty of Henry. † O'Brien of Thomond thought it dangerous to delay, he met Henry on the banks of the Suir, near Cafhell, furrendered the city of Limerick, and did homage for the reft of his territory, which was confirmed to him, and he was admitted to the dignity of a Baron. ‡

HENRY leaving his Generals in poffeffion of Ireland, returned to England, but the bold im patient fpirit of the Irifh could ill brook a ftate of fubjection. Difputes daily arofe between them and the English, untill Hervey of Mount morres reprefented to Earl Strongbow, the ne ceffity of crushing this spirit of revolt, In 1174, he invaded the territory of Donald, who conceived the defign of cutting off Hervey's forces as the fureft means of difpiriting the enemy. He suffered them to advance as far as Thurles and there to encamp in a state of carelefs fecu rity,

+Giraldus Cambrenfis. Leland, vol. p. 83,

rity, when falling fuddenly on them, he flaughtered on the field four hundred of the detachment, with four of their principal commander's, and to complete the triumph of Donald, the English in general fled precipitately and threw themfelves into Waterford for safety.

THE Valiant Donald now bid defiance to the English, and fecured himself in Limerick, the fiege of which was undertaken by Raymond le Grofs, in 1175, affifted by the Offorians. With a chofen body of fix hundred men, they arrived without oppofition on the banks of the Shannon, in the beginning of October, but the bridges being broken and the ftream rapid, their progrefs was ftopped. Two of their boldest Knights ventured to ford the River and fucceeded; but returning to conduct their affociates, one of them was drowned...

MILER Fitz Henry encouraged by thefe examples, threw himself boldly into the river and fwam across, when a great fhout was raised on both fides. Raymond now seeing the danger his nephew was expofed to, harangued his men, and reprefented the difgrace of letting their companion perish for want of affiftance. To encourage them he advanced from the rere, and led his troops into the river, where lighting on a ford or bank, he cried out St. David; Raymond now advanced from the rere, and rode boldly acrofs, his forces thus encouraged, followed their leader, and gained the oppofite fide, with the lofs of only two men. The Irith, who were pouring down to oppose them, were aftonished at their intrepidity; and fled without ftriking a blow. They were purfued with confiderable flaughter, and the English thus became mafters of the city. COMPLAINTS

COMPLAINTS were now fent to England that Raymond afpired at too much power, that he had fecured Limerick and other cities, with garrifons devoted to his fervice and four commifGoners were dispatched to Dublin to bring him before the King; * before the wind would permit them to fail for England, intelligence arrived that Donald, the ftrong and formidable enemy of the English had laid fiege to Limerick; that the troops ftationed there, under the command of Miler of St. Davids, had exhausted their provifions, were cut off from all fupplies, and muft inevitably perish by famine, or the fword of an implacable enemy, if not imme diately relieved. This news was highly diftref fing to Strongbow, who laboured under great bodily infirmity, and was to be deprived of a commander, on whom he had great reliance. However he muftered his forces, and prepared for the relief of Limerick, when the foldiers clamoured for Raymond. and infolently refused to march against Donald, unless their favorite General was to command. t.

THE Commiffioners were now confulted; they readily agreed to delay their departure, that Raymond should undertake the command. The utmoft reluctance was affected on his part; he was folicited and entreated by the commiffioners, and at length yielded, with confcious triumph over his malignant enemy. His forces were compofed of eighty Knights, two hundred cavalry, and three hundred archers, with the Irifh auxiliaries of Kinfelah and Offory, who profeffed a violent hatred to Donald. As Raymond

Giraldus Cambrenfis, Leland, vol. 1. p. 108, ↑ Giraldus Cambrenfis.

1

Raymond advanced he was informed that Donald had abandoned the fiege of Limerick, and had ftrongly entrenched himself in a defile near Cafhell, through which the English were to pafs, where he waited for them. Raymond was foon witnefs of their ftrong fituation, with a confiderable army pofted to advantage behind their works. He difpofed his troops in order of battle, but the Prince of Offory, ftruck with the appearance of the enemy, fufpected the refolution of the English, who prepared for action, not with the noife and tumult of the Irifh, but with the calmnefs of determined valour. Of fory thought it incumbent on him to remonftrate with the English; he bluntly told them, they must exert themselves, and conquer or be deftroyed; that if they offered to retreat, he and his men would inftantly join the enemy The only anfwer to this harangue, was a bold and vigorons onfet, which was oppofed with great fpirit, But was finally fuccefsful. Donald's troops were driven from their entrenchments, with great flaughter. and their flight fpread terror through Munfter. Donald was tired out with an unfuccefsful conteft, fued for peace, and propofed an interview with Raymend. At the fame time Roderic King of Connaught fubmitted, he and Donald renewed their engagements with the King of England, and took the oaths of fealty, fo that in one day, in the year 1176, Raymond had the honor of receiving hoftages from both Princes, and fecurity for their future allegiance.

RAYMOND was now called into Kerry, to fettle an unnatural quarrel between Macarthy. and his eldest fon Cormac. He punished the

Son's