t  South-east  part  of  the  modern  county  of  Cork.
X  Mentioned  above  in  this  chapter.
I08  ADMINISTRATION  OF  DE  LACI.  1177

nephew  of  Fitz-Stephen,  a  brother  of  Philip,  who  by
his  advice  gave  great  assistance  to  both  his  uncle  and
his  brother,  and  besides  was  at  great  pains  to  investi-
gate the  topography,  the  natural  history,  and  the  race-
lore  of  the  island.  For  he  was  a  diligent  student  of
letters,  and  his  name  stands  upon  the  title-page  of  this
book.*

It  was  about  this  time  that  Hervey  de  Montmaurice
retired  from  the  world  and  became  a  monk  in  the
famous  monastery  of  the  Holy  Trinity  at  Canterbury.
He  had  previously  endowed  that  house  with  the
churches  on  his  lands  along  the  coast  between  Water-
ford  and  Wexford.  Would  that  with  the  cowl  he  had
assumed  a  Christian  spirit !  Would  that  with  his
military  career  he  had  laid  aside  his  malice !


A.D.  1177. — How  peace  and  order  were  established
in  the  realm  of  Ireland  by  Hugh  de  Ijaci.
Girald,  Cambr.  Expug.  Hibern.  Lib.  Ii.  cap.  xxi.
To  return,  however :  while  these  things  were  going
on  in  Desmond,  Hugh  de  Laci,  who  was  a  man  of
great  activity,  integrity  and  discretion,  had  secured
Leinster  and  Meath  by  building  castles  in  situations
well  chosen  for  commanding  the  country.  Among
others  he  erected  in  a  position  naturally  strong  the
castle  of  Leighlin  overlooking  the  noble  river  Barrow,
on  the  Ossory  side  of  the  stream,  in  Odrone.f     This

♦  Giraldus  Cambrensis  himself.
t  Odrone  or  Idrone  was  a  district  in  the  modem  county  of
Carlow.
1 177  ADMINISTRATION  OF  DE  LA  CI.  I09

border  post  had  been  held  by  Robert  le  Poer,  but  he
was  withdrawn  by  the  king's  command.
