to promote the welfare of the nation.  After an appeal in person to King Richard and Prince John, he was placed in confinement in Normandy, and was only released by the interference of the Holy See; Innocent III., who had probably by this time discovered that the English monarchs were not exactly the persons to reform the Irish nation, having addressed a letter from Perugia to the Earl of Montague (Prince John), reprimanding him for detaining “his venerable brother, the Archbishop of Dublin,” in exile, and requiring him to repair the injuries done by his Viceroy, Hamon de Valois, on the clergy of Leighlin.  The said Hamon appears to have meddled with other property besides that belonging to the Church—­a more unpardonable offence, it is to be feared, in the eyes of his master.  On returning from office after two years viceroyalty, he was obliged to pay a thousand marks to obtain an acquittance from his accounts.[316]

John ascended the English throne in 1199.  He appointed Meiller FitzHenri[317] Governor of Ireland.  It has been conjectured that if John had not obtained the sovereignty, he and his descendants might have claimed the “Lordship of Ireland.”  There can be no doubt that he and they might have claimed it; but whether they could have held it is quite another consideration.  It is generally worse than useless to speculate on what might have been.  In this case, however, we may decide with positive certainty, that no such condition of things could have continued long.  The English kings would have looked with jealousy even on the descendants of their ancestors, if they kept possession of the island; and the descendants would have become, as invariably happened, Hibernicis ipsis Hibernior, and therefore would have shared the fate of the “common enemy.”

Meanwhile the O’Connors were fighting in Kerry.  Cathal Carragh obtained the services of FitzAldelm, and expelled Cathal Crovderg.  He, in his turn, sought the assistance of Hugh O’Neill, who had been distinguishing himself by his valour against De Courcy and the English.  They marched into Connaught, but were obliged to retreat with great loss.  The exiled Prince now sought English assistance, and easily prevailed on De Courcy and young De Lacy to help him.  But misfortune still followed him.  His army was again defeated; and as they fled to the peninsula of Rindown, on Lough Ree, they were so closely hemmed in, that no way of escape remained, except to cross the lake in boats.  In attempting to do this a great number were drowned.  The Annals of Kilronan and Clonmacnois enter these events under the year 1200; the Four Masters under the year 1199.  The former state that “Cahall Carragh was taken deceitfully by the English of Meath,” and imprisoned until he paid a ransom; and that De Courcy, “after slaying of his people,” returned to Ulster.