Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/143

Fitzgerald of Hamo deValois, lord justice of Ireland in 1197' (Earls of Kildare, p. 11;, i. 59). Though ordered seisin of his father's lands on 5 July 1215, he had not entered into full possession on 19 July 1215, by which time he was already a knight. In December 1226 he was engaged in a lawsuit with the Irish justiciar, Geoffry de Mariscis. In 1232 he was himself appointed to this office (2 Sept.), in succession to Richard Burke, the head of the great house, which for over a century was to be the most powerful rival of the Fitzgeralds (, Nos. 793, 1458, 1977). These were the days of popular discontent against Peter des Roches and the foreign favourites. Maurice, though a vassal of the great constitutional leader, Richard the Earl Marshal, laid waste the earl's Irish lands at the instigation of the king or his councillors. The earl crossed the Channel, induced, so ran the scandal of the day, by forged letters to which Maurice had attached the royal seal. The justiciar, at a conference held on the Curragh of Kildare, offered such terms that the earl preferred battle, though he had but fifteen knights against a hundred and fifty. A desperate attempt on the justiciar's life failed. Earl Richard was defeated, and carried to his own castle at Kildare, then in Maurice's hands (1 April 1234). He died a fortnight later of his wounds, aggravated, says Roger of Wendover, by a physician hired for this purpose by Maurice the justiciar, who was summoned to England to defend his honour. The Archbishop of Canterbury became surety for his safety (24 July), but a reconciliation at Marlborough (21 Sept. 1234) with the new Earl Gilbert was only apparent. Next year the feud was further embittered by the murder, attributed to Earl Gilbert, of Henry Clement, who represented the accused Irish nobles in London. The two barons were not reconciled till the summer of 1240, when Maurice Fitzgerald, hearing that the earl had made his peace with the king, came to London offering to prove his innocence by the judgment of his peers. At Henry's intercession, Gilbert Marshal reluctantly accepted this declaration. Maurice engaged to found a monastery for the soul of the dead man, and in acquittance of his vow is said to have founded the Dominican abbey at Sligo. Matthew Paris's words, when chronicling his death, show that his innocence was never believed (, iii. 265-6, 273-6, 327, iv. 56-7, v. 62 : Annals of the Four Masters, ii. 272-3; Loch Cé, p. 319;, i. 313, 317, 374; Earls of Kildare, p. 12; Oseney Annals, p. 78; , p. 78; Royal Letters, i. 448, 470, 480; cf. art. , d. 1243).

Roderic O'Conor (d. 1198), king of Connaught, had been succeeded by his brother, Catnap Crobdherg (d. 28 May 1224). On Cathal's death the succession was disputed between the sons of Roderic O'Conor, Turlough and Ædh, and those of Cathal, Ædh, and Felim. After various changes of fortune, in which Richard de Burgh, made justiciar of Ireland 13 Feb. 1228, played a great part, Ædh O'Conor was placed on the throne in 1232. Before the end of 1233 he was displaced by Felim, who destroyed the castles built by Richard de Burgh. In 1235 Maurice and Richard led an army to ravage Connaught, but turned aside to attack Donnchadh O'Briain, prince of Munster. Felim was driven off to O'Domhnaill, while Maurice the justiciar was mustering the spoil at Ardcarna, launching his fleet on the eastern Atlantic, and storming the rock of Loch Cé. The expedition closed when Felim made peace with the justiciar, and was granted the five 'king's cantreds.' Next year Maurice banished Felim again, and supplanted him by his cousin, Brian O'Conor. A great victory at Druimraithe restored Felim to the throne; he once more received the 'king's cantreds' (1237) (Loch Cé, pp. 203-347; Annals of Boyle, p. 44; Ann. Four Masters, sub an.) In 1238 Maurice was warring in Ulster. With Hugh de Lacy he deposed Domhnall MacLochlainn (d. 1241) from his lordship over the Cenel Eoghain, and Cenel-Conaill in favour of Brian, son of Ædh O'Neill. Domhnall recovered his office next year and maintained it, despite the justiciar's efforts, till his death in 1241. Meanwhile Felim, who had long been suffering from the depredations of the De Burghs, appealed to Henry III for protection. At London (1240) his request was granted, and he returned with orders that Maurice should see that he had justice. Next year Maurice and Felim forced Maelsechlainn O'Domhnaill and the Cenel-Conaill to give hostages. In 1246 he was again in Tir-Conaill, half of which he now gave to Cormac O'Conor. Maelsechlainn renewed his hostages for the other half, but on All Saints' day took his revenge by burning the town near Maurice's castle of Sligo. In 1247 he led an army as far as Sligo and Assaroe (on the Erne), and his retreat was cut off by Maelsechlainn with the Cenel-Conaill and Cenel-Eoghain (3 July). Maurice, by a skilful manoeuvre, won a great victory, in which Maelsechlainn was slain (Loch Cé; Ann. Four Masters). During the years of his office Maurice had been largely occupied in the attempt to supply Henry III with funds. His salary as justiciar was 500l. a year; but he seems to