Geneville, and some other English nobles.  They marched into Offaly, where the Irish had just seized the Castle of Leix.  Here they had a brief triumph, and seized upon a great prey of cows; but the native forces rallied immediately, and, with the aid of Carbry O’Melaghlin, routed the enemy completely.  Theobald de Verdun lost both his men and his horses, and Gerald FitzMaurice was taken prisoner the day after the battle, it is said through the treachery of his own followers.  The Four Masters do not mention this event, but it is recorded at length in the Annals of Clonmacnois.  They add:  “There was a great snow this year, which from Christmas to St. Brigid’s day continued.”

The two great families of De Burgo and Geraldine demand a special mention.  The former, who were now represented by Richard de Burgo (the Red Earl), had become so powerful, that they took precedence even of the Lord Justice in official documents.  In 1286 the Earl led a great army into Connaught, destroying the monasteries and churches, and “obtaining sway in everyplace through which he passed.”  This nobleman was the direct descendant of FitzAldelm de Burgo, who had married Isabella, a natural daughter of Richard Coeur de Lion, and widow of Llewellyn, Prince of Wales.  Walter de Burgo became Earl of Ulster in right of his wife, Maud, daughter of the younger Hugh de Lacy.  The Red Earl’s grandson, William, who was murdered, in 1333, by the English of Ulster, and whose death was most cruelly revenged, was the third and last of the De Burgo Earls of Ulster.  The Burkes of Connaught are descended from William, the younger brother of Walter, the first Earl.

John FitzThomas FitzGerald, Baron of Offaly, was the common ancestor of the two great branches of the Geraldines, whose history is an object of such peculiar interest to the Irish historian.  One of his sons, John, was created Earl of Kildare; the other, Maurice, Earl of Desmond.

In 1286 De Burgo laid claim to that portion of Meath which Theobald de Verdun held in right of his mother, the daughter of Walter de Lacy.  He besieged De Verdun in his Castle of Athlone, A.D. 1288, but the result has not been recorded.  De Toleburne, Justiciary of Ireland, died this year; the King seized on all his property, to pay debts which he owed to the crown.  It appears he was possessed of a considerable number of horses.[339]

Jean de Samford, Archbishop of Dublin, administered the affairs of the colony until 1290, when he was succeeded by Sir William de Vesci, a Yorkshire man, and a royal favourite.

In 1289 Carbry O’Melaghlin possessed a considerable amount of power in Meath, and was therefore extremely obnoxious to the English settlers.  An army was collected to overthrow his government, headed by Richard Tuite (the Great Baron), and assisted by O’Connor, King of Connaught.  They were defeated, and “Tuite, with his kinsmen, and Siccus O’Kelly, were slain.”