Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/170

 Mrs. Fitzharris to give up her husband's letters under promise of a pension; 'but so many had seen them before that, that this base practice turned much to the reproach of all their proceedings' (, ut supra). In 1689 Sir John Hawles, solicitor-general to William III, published some 'Remarks' on Fitzharris's trial, which he condemns as being as illegal as it was odious. During the same year the commons recommended Mrs. Fitzharris and her three children to the bountiful consideration of the king (Commons' Journals, 15 June 1689).



FITZHENRY, MEILER (d. 1220), Justiciar of Ireland, was the son of Henry, the bastard son of King Henry I, by Nesta, the wife of Gerald of Windsor, and the daughter of Rhys ab Tewdwr, king of South Wales (, Itinerarium Kambriae, in Opera, vi. 130, Rolls Ser.; cf. Annales Cambriæ, p. 47, and Brut y Tywysogion, p. 189). He was thus the first cousin of Henry II, and related to the noblest Norman and native families of South Wales. [q.v.], (d. 1176) [q.v.], and  [q.v.], bishop of St. David's, were his half-brothers. Raymond le Gros [see ] and Giraldus Cambrensis were among his cousins.

In 1157 his father Henry was slain during Henry II's campaign in Wales, when Robert Fitzstephen so narrowly escaped (, Opera, vi. 130). Meiler, then quite young, now succeeded to his father's possessions of Narberth and Pebidiog, the central and north-eastern (ib. i. 59) parts of the modern Pembrokeshire. In 1169 he accompanied his uncle Fitzstephen on his first expedition to Ireland. He first distinguished himself in the invasion of Ossory along with his cousin Robert de Barry, brother of Giraldus (, Expugnatio Hibernica, in Opera, v. 234-5). The French poet (, p. 37) fully corroborates as regards Meiler. If the partial testimony of their kinsman is to be credited, Robert and Meiler were always first in every daring exploit.

In 1173 the return of Strongbow to England threw all Ireland into revolt. Meiler was then in garrison at Waterford, and made a rash sortie against the Irish. He pursued them into their impenetrable woods anc was surrounded. But he cut a way through them with his sword, and arrived safely at Waterford with three Irish axes in his horse and two on his shield (ib. pp. 309-10). In 1174 ie returned with Raymond to Wales, but when Strongbow brought Raymond back Meiler came with him and received as a reward the 'more distant cantred' of Offaly (Carbury barony, Co. Kildare) (ib. p. 314, and Mr. Dimock's note). In October 1175 he accompanied Raymond in his expedition against Limerick, was second to swim over the Shannon, and with his cousin David stood the attack of the whole Irish host until the rest of the army had crossed over (cf. Exp. Hib. and, p. 162 sq.)

He was one of the brilliant band of Geraldines who under Raymond met the new governor, [q.v.] at Waterford, and at once incurred his jealous hatred (Exp. Hib. p. 335). Hugh de Lacy, the next Justiciar, took away Meiler's Kildare estate, but gave him Leix in exchange. This was in a still wilder, and therefore, as Giraldus thought, a more appropriate district than even the march of Offaly for so thorough border chieftain (ib. pp. 355-6). In 1182 Lacy again became Justiciar and built a castle on Meiler's Leix estate at 'Tahmeho' (Timahoe) and gave him his niece as a wife. It seems probable that Meiler had already been married, but he hitherto had no legitimate children (ib. p. 345). This childlessness was, in Giraldus's opinion, God's punishment to him for the want of respect to the church.

Giraldus gives us a vivid picture of his cousin in his youth. He was a dark man with black, stern eyes and keen face. In stature he was somewhat short, but he was very strong, with a square chest, thin flanks, bony arms and legs, and a sinewy, rather than fleshy body. He was high-spirited, proud, and brave to rashness. He was always anxious to excel, but more anxious to seem brave than really to be so. His only serious defect was his want of reverence to the church (ib. pp. 235, 324-5).

In June 1200 Meiler was in attendance on King John in Normandy (Chart. 2 John, m. 29, summarised in, Cal. Doc. Ireland, 1171-1251, No. 122), and on 28 Oct. of that year received a grant of two cantreds in Kerry, and one in Cork (Chart. 2 John, m. 22, Cal. No. 124). About the same time he was appointed to 'the care and custody of all Ireland' as Chief Justiciar, the King reserving to himself pleas touching the crown, the mint, and the exchange (Chart. 2 John, m. 28 dors., Cal. No. 133). During his six years' government Meiler had to contend against very great difficulties, including the factiousness of the Norman nobles. [q. v.], the conqueror of Ulster, was a constant source of