Giraldus Cambrensis, The Conquest of Ireland

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Cardiff,� Swansea,� and� Carmarthen,� subsequently� described� in� the� Itinerary� of� Giraldus.� He� constantly� calls� it� �the� coast-road
through�South�Wales;��and�it�is�still�described�as�such,�the�other�road�being�through�Abergavenny�and�Brecon.
40
�Reginald�s�Tower�stood�at�an�angle�of�the�old�city�walls�of�Waterford,�where�it�is�still�to�be�seen,�in�good�preservation.
The�tower�is�round,�and�of�rude�but�massive�construction,�and�a�curious�relic�of�the�architecture�of�the�Ostmen�or�Norwegians,�by
whom�it�was�built�to�defend�their�mercantile�colony�at�Waterford.�Reginald�(Regnald),�who�was�taken�prisoner�in�it,�was�the�chief
magistrate,� ruler,� or� king� of� that� people� in� Waterford.� The� two� Sytaracs� (Sihtricts� or� Sygtre)� appear� from� their� names� to� have
belonged�to�that�hardy�and�enterprising�race.�They�seem�to�have�held�out�to�the�last�in�the�tower,�their�principal�stronghold.
41
�It�is�scarcely�necessary�to�remark�that�the�marriage�of�the�earl�Strongbow�with�Eva�forms�one�of�the�subjects,�illustrative
of�the�national�history,�selected�for�fresco�paintings�on�the�walls�of�the�new�palace�at�Westminster.
42
� See� the� Topography,� Distinct.� ii.� c.� 28.� There� appears� to� have� been� good� strategical� reasons� for� approaching� Dublin
through�the�mountainous�districts�of�Wexford�and�Wicklow,�debouching�in�the�valley�of�Glendalough;�as�Dermot�thereby�not�only
kept�within�his�own�territories,�but�outflanked�the�hostile�septs�of�Ossory�and�Meath,�who,�combined�with�the�powerful�tribes�in
the�west�of�Ireland,�might�have�disputed�his�passage�through�the�country�of�woods�and�bogs�which�lay�in�his�direct�road.
43
� Laurence� O�Toole,� archbishop� of� Dublin,� 1162-1180,� was� son� of� Maurice� O�Toole,� petty� prince� of� Smaly.� He� was
educated� at� Glendalough,� which� lay� in� his� father�s� territories,� and� frequently� in� after-life� retired� to� its� sacred� recesses.� When
Dublin�was�first�threatened�by�foreign�invaders,�he��interposed�his�mediation�between�the�citizens�and�Dermot,�considering�him,
The Conquest of Ireland 27
during�which�the�terms�of�a�treaty�of�peace�might�be�settled.�Notwithstanding�this,�Raymond�on�one�side
of�the�city,�and�on�the�other�a�brave�soldier,�whose�name�was�Milo�de�Cogan,�(of�whom�we�shall�speak
further� in� the� 21st� chapter),� rushed� to� the� walls� with� bands� of� youths,� eager� for� the� fight,� and� greedy� of
plunder,�and�making�a�resolute�assault,�got�possession�of�the�place�after�a�great�slaughter�of�the�citizens.
The�better�part�of�them,�however,�under�their�king�Hasculf,44�embarked�in�ships�and�boats�with�their�most
valuable�effects,�and�sailed�to�the�northern�islands.45
On�the�same�day�two�great�miracles�occurred�in�the�city.�One�was�that�the�crucifix�which�the�citizens
struggled� hard� to� carry� away� with� them� to� the� islands� remained� immovably� fixed;� the� other,� that� of� the
penny�offered�before�it�having�twice�leapt�back;�both�of�which�are�related�in�my�Topography.46
The� earl� then,� having� spent� a� few� days� in� settling� order� in� the� city,� left� Milo� de� Cogan� there� as
constable,�and�at�the�instigation�of�Mac�Murchard,�who�had�not�forgotten�an�ancient�feud�with�O�Roric,
king� of� Meath,� made� a� hostile� irruption� into� the� territories� of� that� prince,� and� the� whole� of� Meath� was
plundered�and�laid�waste�with�fire�and�sword.
Roderic,�king�of�Connaught,�perceiving�that�he�was�in�jeopardy,��when�his�neighbour�s�house�was�on
fire,��sent�envoys�to�Dermitius,�with�this�message:��Contrary�to�the�conditions�of�our�treaty�of�peace,�you
have� invited� a� host� of� foreigners� into� this� island,� and� yet,� as� long� as� you� kept� within� the� bounds� of
Leinster,� we� bore� it� patiently.� But� now,� forasmuch� as,� regardless� of� your� solemn� oaths,� and� having� no
concern� for� the� fate� of� the� hostage� you� gave,� you� have� broken� the� bounds� agreed� on,� and� insolently
crossed�the�frontiers�of�your�own�territory;�either�restrain�in�future�the�irruptions�of�your�foreign�bands,�or
I�will�certainly�have�your�son�s�head�cut�off,�and�send�it�to�you.��Dermitius,�having�received�this�message,
made�an�arrogant�reply,�adding�also�that�he�would�not�desist�from�the�enterprise�he�had�undertaken,�until
he�had�reduced�Connaught�to�subjection,�which�he�claimed�as�his�ancient�inheritance,�and�obtained�with�it
the� monarchy� of� the� whole� of� Ireland.� Roderic� was� so� indignant� at� this� reply,� that� he� caused� the� son� of [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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