Page 169 - Demo

Chapter Six 169
In 1477, the eight Earl of Kiladre, Gearóid Mór Mac Gearailt- ‘Big Gerald Fitzgerald,’ known in history as an Iarla Mór –‘The Great Earl,’ became Viceroy, and so extensive was the Geraldine inluence in Ireland, that except for an interval of four years, Gerald retained the oice, until his death in 1513. It is set down in the annals, however, that King Henry V11 of England was constantly awaiting an excuse to dismiss Gerald, and by doing so, break the power of the great lords of the Sean-Ghaill, in a manner similar to what he had done in England. In 1494 he found the excuse when Gerald supported an imposter, Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be the rightful King of England: he had previously and publicly supported the pretender Lambert Simnel, believed by many to be the rightful claimant to the throne. Accordingly, Gerald was dismissed and replaced as Viceroy by an Englishman, Sir Edward Poynings.