ROGEI: OF WENDOVF.lt. [Λ . η. 1·230. on account of tlio king's youtli and inexperience, managed all the business of the kingdom, refused to listen to them, for this reason they, the nobles aforesaid, had withdrawn from their allegiance to the king and queen, and had disturbed the kingdom by war ; (or they scorned to have such a mistress as the queen to rule over them, who, as was said, had been defiled, not only by the said count but also by the Roman legate. Of the slaughter amongst the Irish, and the capture of one of their kings. In the same year, in the month of July, a certain petty king of Connaught in Ireland, when he learned that the king of Kngland and William Marshall were engaged in war upon the continent, and that the kingdom of Ireland was as it were entirely free from military force, collected a large army from all parts of the country, in hopes to expel all of English race from the Irish boundaries ; he therefore invaded the territories of the English king, spreading fire and destruction, and indulging in rapine and pillage. News of this incursion was at length brought to Geoffrey de March, who performed the functions of justiciary under the king in those parts, on which he sent for Walter de Lacy and Richard de Burgh to join him. and with them and a strong force he boldly proceeded against the enemy ; his army he divided into three bodies, giving the command of two of these to the said Walter do Lacy and Richard de lìurgh, and retaining the command of the third himself; the two companies commanded by the said Walter and Richard he hid in the woods by which the enemy would pass, and thus laid an ambuscade for them ; and the third, which he himself commanded, he drew up to meet the enemy face to face, and provoke them to a battle. The Irish at length approached them, and seeing only one battalion of the English, rushed on them, as if certain of obtaining victory ; the English then feigned flight, and were pursued by the Irish till they had entered the placo of ambuscade. Those in ambush then rushed forth from their concealment, and rending the air with their shouts attacked the enemy in flank and rear; the first body too, which had fled before them, now turned on the Irish, and a dreadlul slaughter ensued ; for of the Irish soldiers there were said to have been twenty thousand slain, and their king was taken and imprisoned. About the same time Kulke l'aisnel, a noble of Normandy, ami William his brother, abandoned their castles and territory, and came to Brittany, where they did homage and swore fealty to the king of England. With them also came sixty bold and powerful knights, and they all advised the king to invade Normand), telling him he would be sure to subdue that province ; the king willingly acquiesced in their plans, but Hubert de Burgh would not allow them to be carried into elfect, saying that it would be beyond measure dangerous to attempt it. The knights hearing this, then