Above: The Expedition of Thurot

Above: War of the Roses

Henry V, who ascended the throne in 1413, was so engrossed with France that he gave hardly any attention to Ireland ; so that there was little or no change in Irish affairs during his reign; and there was strife everywhere. Matters at last looked so serious that in 1414 the king sent over an able and active military man as lord lieutenant, Sir John Talbot Lord Furnival, subse- quently earl of Shrewsbury, who became greatly dis- tinguished in the French wars. He made a vigorous circuit round the Pale, and reduced O’Moore, Mac Mahon, O’Hanlon, and O’Neill. But this brought the Palesmen more evil than good ; for the relief was only temporary; and when the brilliant exploits were all over he subjected them, in violation of the Statute of Kil- kenny, to coyne and livery, having no other way of paying his soldiers. No sooner had he left than the Irish resumed then- attacks, and for years incessantly harried and worried the miserable Palesmen, except indeed when kept quiet in some small degree by the payment of black rent.