Above: King of England (Edward III)
The English Government quickly realised its weakness in the establishment of these almost sovereign princes, and attempted spasmodically to correct its mistake. But its efforts to curb the power of the nobles were lacking in both strength andconsistency.
Above: Map of Munster
One of the earliest results of the creation of the Palatine Earls was the introduction of a new burden upon the unfortunate settlers. This was the impost which figures largely in later history as ” coyne and livery.”
Richard’s fleet had scarcely left the Irish coast when the hollow nature of the submissions was displayed. An act of treachery caused another rising when the English endeavoured to capture Mac Murrough while their own guest at a banquet; an attempt from which he escaped by the ingenious warning of his bard.
The O’Tooles defeated the English near Dublin ; while Art himself surpassed his capture of New Ross by taking the strong town and castle of Carlow (1397). This was the greatest advance he had yet made, for it gave him the control of all the fords of the Barrow, broke in two the English line in Leinster, and brought Mac Murrough into touch with the O’Moores of Laoighis.
His forces now freely roamed as far west as the River Nore and beyond it. Meanwhile the midland clans were also active, and Calvagh O’Connor, the heroic son of the chief of Ul Failghe, defeated the English, and took the Earl of Kildare prisoner (1398).
The Irish were now to strike a blow which proved, indirectly, to be the most disastrous that they had ever dealt to Sir John Davits.
England. Richard had left as his viceroy the young Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, who was the recognised heir to the throne of England. In this prince was united some of the most famous blood of both England and Ireland, including that of the Mac Murroughs themselves.