by which Edward the Third strove to check it in his Statute of Kilkenny.  The Statute forbade the adoption of the Irish language or name or dress by any man of English blood:  it enforced within the Pale the exclusive use of English law, and made the use of the native or Brehon law, which was gaining ground, an act of treason; it made treasonable any marriage of the Englishry with persons of Irish race, or any adoption of English children by Irish foster-fathers.

[Sidenote:  Richard in Ireland]

But stern as they were these provisions proved fruitless to check the fusion of the two races, while the growing independence of the Lords of the Pale threw off all but the semblance of obedience to the English government.  It was this which stirred Richard to a serious effort for the conquest and organization of the island.  In 1386 he granted the “entire dominion” of Ireland with the title of its Duke to Robert de Vere on condition of his carrying out its utter reduction.  But the troubles of the reign soon recalled De Vere, and it was not till the truce with France had freed his hands that the king again took up his projects of conquest.  In 1394 he landed with an army at Waterford, and received the general submission of the native chieftains.  But the Lords of the Pale held sullenly aloof; and Richard had no sooner quitted the island than the Irish in turn refused to carry out their promise of quitting Leinster, and engaged in a fresh contest with the Earl of March, whom the king had proclaimed as his heir and left behind him as his lieutenant in Ireland.  In the summer of 1398 March was beaten and slain in battle:  and Richard resolved to avenge his cousin’s death and complete the work he had begun by a fresh invasion.  He felt no apprehension of danger.  At home his triumph seemed complete.  The death of Norfolk, the exile of Henry of Lancaster, left the baronage without heads for any rising.  He ensured, as he believed, the loyalty of the great houses by the hostages of their blood whom he carried with him, at whose head was Henry of Lancaster’s son, the future Henry the Fifth.  The refusal of the Percies, the Earl of Northumberland and his son Henry Percy or Hotspur, to obey his summons might have warned him that danger was brewing in the north.  Richard however took little heed.  He banished the Percies, who withdrew into Scotland; and sailed for Ireland at the end of May, leaving his uncle the Duke of York regent in his stead.

[Sidenote:  Landing of Henry]

The opening of his campaign was indecisive, and it was not till fresh reinforcements arrived at Dublin that the king could prepare for a march into the heart of the island.  But while he planned the conquest of Ireland the news came that England was lost.  Little more than a month had passed after his departure when Henry of Lancaster entered the Humber and landed at Ravenspur.  He came, he said, to claim his heritage; and three of his Yorkshire castles at once threw open