AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 145 



ceased,) and Charles Duke of Lorraine whose immediate 

 descendant, Robert de Courcy, was Lord of Courcy, in 

 Normandy, in 1006,* and was succeeded by his eldest 

 son Richard de Courcy, who accompanied his sovereign 

 William into England, and distinguished himself at the 

 battle of Hastings, participated largely in the Conqueror's 

 .spoil, having been allotted numerous lordships, amongst 

 which was that of Stoke, County Somerset, and thence 

 denominated Stoke Courcy." (Passing over four descents, 

 we reach the name of) " Sir John Courcy, who having 

 distinguished himself temp. Henry II., in that monarch's 

 wars in England and Gascony, was sent into Ireland, in the 

 year 1177, as an assistant to William Fitz-Adelm, in the 

 government of that kingdom. Sir John having prevailed 

 upon some of the veteran soldiery to accompany him, 

 invaded the province of Ulster with twenty-two knights, 

 fifty esquires, and about three hundred foot soldiers; and 

 after many hard-fought battles, succeeded in attaching that 

 quarter of the kingdom to the English monarchy — for 

 which important service he was created, in 1181 (being 

 the first Englishman dignified with an Irish title of honour), 

 Earl of Ulster. His lordship continued in high favour 

 during the remainder of the reign of his royal master, and 

 performed prodigies of valour in Ireland; but upon the 

 accession of King John, his splendour and rank having 

 excited the envy of Hugh de Lacie, appointed Governor of 

 Ireland by that monarch, the Earl of Ulster was treacherously 



* About midway between Amiens and Laon in France, stands Courcy 

 castle, a great object of attraction to visitors, and among the finest of the 

 kind in France or Western Europe. The most conspicuous remains are one 

 entire wing, with great corner towers, and, rising above all, the massive 

 circular keep, a solid machicolatcd pile, 190 feet "high, and 30 to 32 feet 

 thick." 



