liei in endeavouring to recover what was his own, and in weakening the power of tlie king and his counsellors by every means in bi power. Of lh" trea 'heron* counsel cf Geoffrey Marsh. When the Irish nobles beard the marshal's reply from the templars, they were well pleased with the proposal to come to a conference, for they knew that they bad a larger foree than the marshal ; and they determined not to return without coming to a battle. The marshal in the meantime asked the advice of bis knights on the above matter, and said, "It seems to me that 1 ought to grant these nobles the truce demanded by them, for their demand seems to me to be just and reasonable ; and 1 fear if 1 were to deny to them what is just, something worse would befal inc." Geoffrey de Marisco, bis pretended adherent, who was aware of, and a confederate in, the premeditated treachery, broke forth in words of blasphemy against him, and speaking as if in kindness, said that he was not the son of that great AVilliam Marshal, who surpassed all the knights of the western empire in wisdom and prudence, as well as in courage and daring. " And timid man that you are become," said he, "yon now in your slothfulness reject the chance of obtaining possession of the sovereignty of Ireland which it is now in your power to subdue ; the truce indeed which your enemies demand is only to deceive you, in order that they may obstruct your progress, lint you may rest well assured that all your enemies, when they see you armed and ready for battle though with only a few followers will turn their backs and take to flight." There were there about eighty other knights or more, who held lands in Ireland from the marshal, and who had all been bribed by his enemies ; and they advised the same plan of proceeding, treacherously endeavouring to deceive him. Of the conference held between the Irish rrdjes and Ihe earl marshal. \\ ben the morning came, Maurice the justiciary, Hugh dc Lacy, and Kichard de ISurgh came to the conference in the field pointed out to them, attended by a hundred and forty strong and daring knights, whom they bad been picking out throughout all Ireland ever since they had commenced their treacherous designs for the purpose of slaying the marshal, and whom they bad brought over to their purposes by large gifts and promises, and they ali desired a battle rather than a conference. The marshal too came with his armed knights who, with the exception o f lifteen o f bis own particular retinue whom he had with him, only pretended to bo bis adherents, and took up his station about a mile distant from bis enemies. They then, by means of the templars, wdio carried the messages from either party, began to treat about a peace. T o lie brief however, the Irish nobles, when they learned that the marshal had come there with only a few attendants, told him plainly that it was their fixed determinati m, uni »s he granted