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HAVING, in the third volume, under the title of Windsor, Earl of Plymouth, treated of the original of the family of Fitz-Gerald; and therein shewn the pedigree of MAURICE Fitz-Gerald, a ancestor to the present Duke of Leinster, Viscount Leinster, &c. I shall now observe that the said Maurice Fitz-Gerald (who besides the town of Wexford, had also the barony of Offaley and Wykenlooe, now Wicklow, and was one of the governors of Ireland in 1172, in which year he slew O'Rourk, Prince of Meath, then in rebellion against the English government,) died full of honour, b at Wexford, on the kalends (i. e. the 1st) of September, 1177, and was buried under a monument in the monastery of the Grey Friars, without the walls of that town; greatly regretted by his friends for his many excellent qualities, and his death esteemed a real loss to the English interest in that country. A truer man, or steadfaster, for fidelity and love, there was not in Ireland, as says Giraldus Cambrensis (his cotemporary and relation) who wrote the conquest of Ireland, which he dedicated to King John.

In the Windsor pedigree it is asserted, that Maurice was younger brother of William, ancestor to the Carews and Gerards. But it is contended by Lodge and Archdall, that he was elder brother. They were sons of Gerard, surnamed Fitz-Walter, one of the sons of Walter Fitz-Other.

bEx Evident. Famil.

c For Giraldus Cambrensis, see Tanner's Bibl. p. 323. He was born 1146, and dying at upwards of seventy years of age, was buried in the cathedral of St. David's, of which he was bishop. See also Sir Richard Hoare's late Translation of Geraldus's Itinerary in Wales, with a life of the bishop prefixed. He must not be confounded with his predecessor, David FitzGerald, of this family, bishop also of this see, 1147: for whose descent, ses

And therein he gives this further character of him: "He was a man of much nobility and worship, of a good countenance, of stature indifferent, but seemingly and well compact; in body and mind of the like composition, being not too great in the one, nor proud in the other of nature he was very courteous and gentle, and desired rather to be so indeed, than to be thought and reputed so to be. He kept such a measure and a moderation in all his doings, that in his days he was a pattern of all sobriety and good behaviour: a man of few words, but his sentences full of wit and reason and, whensoever any matter was to be debated, he took leisure in thinking of it, and spoke very wisely and prudently. In martial affairs he was very bold, stout, and valiant; but not rash in any adventure. He was sober, modest, chaste, constant, trusty, and faithful; not altogether without fault, and yet not spotted with any notorious crime, or irregularity."

His issue were four sons; and one daughter, Nesta, married, anno 1175, at Wexford, to Harvey Mount-Maurice, one of the adventurers under, and nephew to Richard de Clare, (called Strongbow) Earl of Pembroke.

The sons were,

First, Gerald, who succeeded in the lands, and was Lord Offaley.

Second, William Fitz Maurice, to whom King Henry II. gave the barony of Naas, in the county of Kildare, but his issue male is extinct.

Third, Alexander; and

Fourth, Maurice, who both died issueless.

GERALD, the eldest son, with his brother Alexander, were with their father in that memorable salley out of Dublin, anno 1173, when it was besieged by O'Connor, King of Connaught, and an army of 30,000 men, over whom they gained a complete victory; and though these valiant brothers were in the rear, yet were they so vigorous in the pursuit, as to be with the foremost, and overthrew and killed many of their enemies. In 1205, he was made Baron of Offaley; and is said to have been chief justice of Ireland.

Windsor, Earl of Plymouth, in vol iii. Ankoret, mother of Giraldus Cambrensis, was sister to Maurice Fitz-Gerald, and wife of William de Barri ̧ brother of Robert, ancestor to the Earls of Barrymore.

d

• Vide his conquest of Ireland in Hollinshed's Chronicle, vol i. p. 28.

e Ex Stemmate.

f He married Helen, sister of Richard Earl of Pembroke. Archdall.
Ex Evident. hujus Fam.

h

1

He deceased at Sligo, in 1205, the 7th of King John; and by Catharine, his wife, daughter of Hamo de Valoins, lord justice of Ireland in 1197, left issue two sons, Maurice, his successor, and Gerald, who left no issue.

MAURICE was ordered by the mandatory letter of King Henry III. dated November 26th, 1216, to be put in possession of Manooth, and all the other lands of which his father died seized in Ireland; whereby, it is presumed, he then attained his full age. In an ancient manuscript, he is said to be the first who brought the orders of Friars minors, and Preachers, into Ireland, the former whereof was confirmed in 1215, and the latter the year following. In 1229, or (according to Hollinshed; the year before, the King, understanding the good services of this family, ever since their first arrival in Ireland, constituted him lord justice of the kingdom. In that year, during his administration, happened the great cause of Coparceners, for the decision whereof the King sent a writ, which in the printed statutes is called Statutum Hiberniæ. He afterwards went to the aid of the King with great power, and returning to Ireland on September 2d, 1232, resumed the sword as lord justice.

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On the defection of Richard Marshal, Earl of Pembroke," 17 Henry III. this Maurice Fitz Gerald, then justice of Ireland, received a letter from Peter de Rupibus, bishop of Winchester, that the said Earl was, for treason, banished the realm of England, and requiring him, and Walter de Lacy, to take him, living or dead (if he came into Ireland) in reward whereof the King would bestow all the Earl's lands in that realm upon them: also, on an assurance that they were resolved to effect his desires, the bishop sent them over a patent to that purpose. Whereupon, they immediately entered on the Earl of Pembroke's lands and castles with a military power. This drew the Earl into Ireland, who raised what forces he could, and laid siege to Limerick, which was yielded to him at the end of four days. Thereupon, this Maurice Fitz-Gerald sent to him, that they could not suffer his proceeding in that manner, without being branded with the ignominy of traitors, and desired a truce for so long time as they might send into England, to know whether the King would defend the realm or not. This drew on conferences in a certain meadow for

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that purpose, when Geffery de Marisco upbraided the Earl with cowardice for consenting to it, and that, if he acceded thereto, he would forsake him. But, the next morning, Maurice Fitz-Gerald demanded the truce, P telling him plainly, that, in case he would not agree thereto, he would adventure battle with him. Whereupon the Earl, putting his men in order, exhorted them to go on with courage, and afterwards boldly charging into the midst of his enemies, was there slain. Yet notwithstanding what Matthew Paris has asserted, relating to the bishop of Winchester's grant of the Earl of Pembroke's lands in Ireland to the said Maurice FitzGerald, it appears by record, in 1234, 18 Hen. III. that Gilbert Earl of Pembroke was restored to the lands of his brother's inheritance, both in England and Ireland.

The lord justice, in 19 Henry III. was so much in favour, that he obtained a free commerce between both kingdoms, the King sending over to him the following writ:

Rex, dilecto et fideli suo Mauritio filio Giraldi, Justiciario suo Hiberniæ, salutem: Vestra non ignorare debet discretio, quod dignum est, et id volumus, quod terra nostra Angliæ, et terra nostra Hiberniæ, communes sint ad invicem, et quod homines nostri Angliæ et Hiberniæ hinc inde negotiari possunt, ad commodum et emendationem terrarum prædictarum: et ideo vobis mandamus, quod homines de terra Hiberniæ volentes emere blada in Hibernia ducendena, in Angliam, in nulla impediatis vel impediri permittatis; quin libere et sine impedimento id facere possunt. Teste Rege apud Westm. 2 die Jun. &c.

Et vide ibidem de Galeis (i. e. gallies or ships) de Hibernia in Angliam mittendis, to aid the King.

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About this time, (as related by M. Paris, &c.) he was sent for into England, to satisfy the King concerning the death of Richard Earl of Pembroke, killed as before recited: and conceiving Gilbert Earl of Pembroke to be disaffected to him on that account, though he knew himself to be innocent thereof (as my author has observed) offered to put himself on his trial. Nevertheless, for the love of peace, and to stand upon terms of amity with him, he told the King he would found a noble monastery for the health

P Matt. Paris, p. 399.
Hist. p. 432, &C.

Pryn in Hen. III. p. 253.
s Cox, p. 61.

t

t M Paris, 432, &c.

of the soul of the said Earl Richard: with which the King was so well satisfied, that calling the Earl of Pembroke before him, he offered his mediation for this reconciliation, affirming, at the same time, that, if he refused it, he should be unworthy of his grace and favour; whereupon a fair accord between them was made.

During his absence from Ireland, there was some disorder, and Dr. Hanmer writes, that they rebelled; " but his speedy return gave a check to their intentions. Also, whilst he was in England, the King of Connaught exhibited a complaint against John de Burgh (son of Hubert, Earl of Kent) for invading and wasting his country with fire and sword, and desired the King would rid him of that base upstart, or newcomer, who sought to disinherit him. Whereupon the King immediately ordered the lord justice to pluck up by the root the fruitless plant, that it might bud no more. And this, it is probable, occasioned the disorder, which Dr. Hanmer calls a rebellion.

X

In 1235, he opposed Cormac Mac Art O'Melaghlin, then in rebellion, and took him prisoner in Athlone; and the next year built the castle of Ardmagh, and founded a Dominican convent in the friary at Sligo. In 1242, he erected the castle of Sligo, placing in it able warders. In 1244, King Henry lying at Ganock in Wales, and sending to him for aid against the Welch, he conducted the forces over himself, landed in the Isle of Anglesey, and joined the King's army at Chepstow, whereby the Welch were defeated, and the King, victualling and manning his castles, returned crowned with victory, and the lord justice into Ireland, with great honour.

In 1245, he found Ulster, on the death of Hugh Lacy, Earl of that province, overrun by O'Donnel; to restrain whose proceedings he marched into those parts, and by the assistance of Cormac Mac Dermoid Mac Rory, who joined him with a considerable party, invaded Tyrconnel, O'Donnel's territory, where he routed the Irish, and slew many of their chiefs, among whom was Moyleslaghlon O'Donnel, called King of Keyvale: after several expeditions into that country, he fortified and manned his castle of Sligo, forced O'Neile to give hostages, to keep the King's peace, and left him secured in the said castle. He gave

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