Giraldus Cambrensis, The Conquest of Ireland

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series�of�revolts,�which,�with�short�intervals,�embittered�the�remainder�of�the�life�of�Henry�II.�See�Hoveden,�vol.�i.�pp.�367,�&c.
Antiq. Lib.
44 Giraldus Cambrensis
Chapter�XLIV:�The�victories�of�Henry�II,�king�of�England.
The�king�had�to�wage,�during�two�years,�worse�than�civil�wars,�both�in�England�and�Aquitaine,79�at
the�cost�of�so�many�hurried�expeditions,�such�watchings�and�careful�labours,�and�he�foiled�the�enterprises
of� his� many� powerful� enemies� with� so� much� vigour,� that� it� would� seem� he� had� more� than� human� aid,
divine�Providence�giving�him�success�over�the�unnatural�rebellion�of�his�sons.�But�as�a�man�s�household
are�his�worst�adversaries,�and�of�all�plagues,�internal�enemies�are�the�greatest,�he�was�almost�reduced�to
despair�by�the�conduct�of�the�gentlemen�of�his�privy�chamber,�a�chosen�band,�on�whose�fidelity�his�life�or
death� depended,� who� would� nearly� every� night� disloyally� go� over� to� his� sons,� and� when� their� services
were�wanted�in�the�morning,�could�not�be�found.�But�although�the�war�was�almost�hopeless�in�the�outset,
his� better� fortune� prevailed,� and� victory� crowning� him� in� the� end,� he� acquired� such� glory,� and� so
augmented�his�power,�that�while�at�first�all�men�thought�that�the�divine�indignation�had�suddenly�marked
him�out�for�vengeance,�so�at�last�he�seemed�to�be�mercifully�spared�through�that�goodness�which�rejoiceth
more� in� the� conversion� than� in� the� destruction� of� a� sinner.� After� deep� grief� at� the� capture� of� Dol,80� St.
Edmund�having�showered�his�favours�on�the�kingdom,�and�the�blessed�martyr�Thomas�being�appeased�by
the� tears� and� supplications� of� the� king,� who� went� in� pilgrimage� to� Canterbury,81� and� did� penance� in� the
night,�peace�and�a�long�season�of�prosperity�were�restored�to�England,�at�the�castle�of�Amboise,82�of�which
Ranulf�de�Glanville�was�governor,�an�upright�and�prudent�man,�who�had�been�faithful�under�all�changes�of
fortune.
In�these�wars�the�king�had�taken�prisoner�the�king�of�Scotland�and�the�earls�of�Chester�and�Leicester,
besides�so�many�nobles,�knights,�and�officers,�on�both�sides�of�the�French�sea,�that�they�could�hardly�find
fetters�and�dungeons�to�hold�them.�But�as�the�triumph�of�a�prince�over�his�enemies�is�little�worth�unless�he
triumphs� over� himself,� the� king,� after� the� many� victories� with� which� fortune� had� favoured� him,� set� the
example�of�ruling�himself,�and�subduing�his�own�spirit�and�indignation,�as�he�had�triumphed�over�others,
and�restored�their�lives�and�honours�to�his�vanquished�enemies.�And�such�was�his�rare�equanimity,�that�in
victory�he�did�not�forget�clemency,�nor�moderation�in�adversity.�Then,�after�all�the�trouble�and�weariness
of�this�two�years��war,�endured�to�no�purpose,�his�sons�submitted�and�came�back,�having�made�professions
of�amity,�which�turned�out�to�be�false.
Chapter�XLV:�A�description�of�Henry�II.,�king�of�England.
It� were� not� amiss� in� this� place� to� draw� the� portrait� of� the� king,� that� so� his� person� as� well� as� his
character� may� be� familiar� to� posterity;� and� those� who� in� future� ages� shall� hear� and� read� of� his� great
achievements,� may� be� able� to� picture� him� to� themselves� as� he� was.� For� the� history� on� which� I� am
employed�must�not�suffer�so�noble�an�ornament�of�our�times�to�pass�away�with�only�a�slight�notice.�But
herein�we�crave�pardon�for�speaking�the�exact�truth,�for�without�it,�history�not�only�loses�all�authority,�but
does�not�even�merit�the�name.�It�is�the�business�of�art�to�copy�nature,�and�the�painter�is�not�to�be�trusted
who�exaggerates�graces�and�conceals�blemishes.
No�man�in�deed�is�born�without�faults,�but�he�is�best�who�has�the�least;�and�the�wise�will�think�that
nothing� which� concerns� mankind� is� devoid� of� interest.� There� is� no� certainty� in� worldly� matters,� and� no
79
�See�full�details�of�this�campaign,�both�in�France�and�England,�in�Hoveden�s�History,�vol.�i.�pp.�368-390.
80
�Dol,�a�strong�castle�in�Britany,�was�taken�by�stratagem,�on�the�20th�September,�1173,�but�recovered�by�king�Henry�a�few
days�afterwards.
81
� St.� Edmund,� king� and� martyr,� was� highly� venerated� at� this� period,� and� his� shrine� at� Bury� visited� with� great� devotion.
Florence�of�Worcester�frequently�mentions�the�pilgrimages�made�to�it�by�Henry�III.�The�famous�pilgrimage�to�Canterbury�here
referred�to�by�Giraldus,�took�place�on�the�13th�June,�1174,�and�is�described�both�by�Hoveden�and�Wendover.
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