[1] [2] MAc Morogh, being by meanes of his good successe well quieted and satisfied, be|thinketh himselfe now of greater mat|ters, and deuiseth how and by what means he might recouer his old and ancient rights; as also purchase all Connagh to his subiection. And herein he vsed a secret conference with Fitzstephans and Fitzgerald, vnto whome he vttereth and discouereth all his whole mind and intent: who foorthwith gaue his answer that his deuise was verie easilie to be compassed, if he could get a greater supplie and aid of Englishmen. Wherevpon he made most earnest requests vnto them, both for the procuring of their kinsmen and countriemen, as also for the furthering to effect his purpose and deuise. And that he might the better persuade them herevnto, he offereth to ei|ther one of them his daughter and heire in mariage with the inheritance of his kingdome: but they both being alreadie married, refused the offer. And at length after much talke they thus concluded, that he should with all spéed send his messengers with his letters vnto the earle Richard, of whome we spake before, and vnto whome he the said Mac Morogh at his being at or about Bristow, had promised his daughter to wife, which letters were as followeth. Dermon Mac Morogh prince of Leinster, to Ri|chard earle of Chepstone, and sonne of Gilbert the Mac Mo|roghs letter to earle Ri|chard. earle sendeth gréeting.
If you doo well consider and marke the time as we doo which are in distresse, then we doo not complaine without cause nor out of time: for we haue alreadie seene the (1) storkes and swal|lows, as also the summer birds are come, and with the westerlie winds are gone againe; we haue long looked and wished for your comming, and albeit the winds haue béene at east and easterlie, yet hitherto you are not come vnto vs: wherefore now linger no longer, but hasten your selfe hither with spéed, that it may thereby appeare not want of good will, nor for|getfulnesse of promise, but the iniurie of time hath béene hitherto the cause of your long staie. All Lein|ster is alreadie wholie yéelded vnto vs: and if you will speedilie come away with some strong compa|nie and force, we doubt not but that the other foure portions will be recouered and adioined to this the fist portion. Your comming therefore the more spée|die it is, the more gratefull; the more hastie, the more ioifull; and the sooner, the better welcome: and then our mislike of your long lingering shall be recom|pensed by your soone comming, for fréendship & good will is recouered and nourished by mutuall offices, and by benefits it groweth to a more assurednesse.When earle Richard had read these letters, he ta|keth aduise with his fréends, and taking some com|fort and stomach of the good successe of Fitzstephans, whereof he was at the first both fearefull and doubt|full, fullie determineth to bend his whole force and power to follow this seruice and hostings. This earle was a man of a verie noble parentage, and descen|ded of verie honorable ancestors; but yet more fa|mous in name, than rich in pursse; more noble in blood, than endowed with wit; and greater in hope of succession, than rich in possessions. Well, he thought long yer he could wend himselfe ouer into Ire|land, and therefore to compasse the same to good ef|fect, maketh his repaire to king Henrie the second, and most humblie praieth and beséecheth him that he will either restore him to such possessions, as by inhe|ritance did apperteine vnto him; or else to grant him the libertie to trie and séeke fortune in some other forren countrie and nation.
(1) The storke and the swallow are named A|ues semestres, or the halfe yeares birds: for they come at the spring, and depart againe awaie at the au|tumne or fall of the leafe, for in the winter they are not séene. And by this Mac Morogh alludeth and meaneth that he hath awaited that whole halfe yeare for the earles comming: whose promise was, that in the spring of the yeare past he would haue come.