A. D. n65. 339 



immediately loft by the inordinate luft for dominion of Amalric king 

 of Jerufalem. [GuI. T'yr. LI. xix, xx.] 



Dermit king of Leinfter in Ireland, being driven out of his dominions 

 for his wickednefs and tyranny, implored the aid of Henry king of Eng- 

 land to reftore him to his kingdom, which he offered to hold of him as 

 his volTal. Henry, feeing fo favourable an opportunity of availing him- 

 felf of the pope's commillion for the conqueft of Ireland, which he had 

 hitherto allowed to lie dormant, very willingly received Dermit's oath 

 of fealty. But declining to take upon himfelf the trouble and expenfe 

 of the war, he put into Dermit's hands his letters patent, authorifmg his 

 fubjeds to allift in reftoring him as his valTal king of Leinfter, by means 

 of which, and the promife of great rewards, Dermit prevailed on the 

 earl of Pembroke and fome others to engage in his caufe. About the 

 beginning of May 1169 the firft detachment of the Englifti adventurers 

 landed in Ireland, and foon re-eftabUftied Dermit in his kingdom, a 

 large portion of which was immediately allotted to them for their good 

 fervices. In the following year Dermit, according to agreement, gave 

 his daughter in marriage, together with the right of fucceflion to his 

 kingdom, to the earl of Pembroke. 



The king of England, now finding that his fubjeds were making more 

 progrefs in the conqueft of Ireland than he expeded or wiftied, thought 

 it was time for him to interfere. He iftiied an edidl, prohibiting all 

 his fubjedls from failing, or carrying any thing whatever, to Ireland, 

 and ftridly enjoining all who were in that ifland to return before the 

 enfuing Eafter, under penalty of forfeiture. But being foothed by a 

 letter of the earl of Pembroke, fubmitting all his acquiiitions. as made 

 under the royal aufpices, to his pleafure, he allowed him and his aflb- 

 ciates to retain all the lands they had acquired in Ireland, except Dub- 

 lin and the other maritime towns, which he referved to be kept in his 

 own hands. 



1 171 — In order more fully to fecure to himfelf the advantages of the 

 conqueft, he went over to Ireland with a fufficient force ; and foon after 

 his arrival he received the homage of raoft of the inferior kings, and 

 alfo of Roderic, the fupreme king of Ireland. \Gtr. Cambr. Hib. exp. 

 L. i Annales Hib. ap. Camd Isc.^ 



Thus was that great and fertile ifland apparently fubjeded to the 

 crown of England. But it is eafier to effed a rapid conqueft of a coun- 

 try than to retain it. Henry's attention being immediately called to 

 his continental territories, and all the fucceeding kings of England be- 

 ing almoft conftantly engaged in foreign wars or civil commotions, the 

 ifland was fcarcely ever completely fubjeded to the Englifli power, till 

 the deliverance from continental dominions, and the union of the Britifti 

 crowns, enabled the government to ad with more vigour than before. 



During the invafion of Ireland many of the principal citizens of Dub- 



Uu 2 



