ABSTRACT
One wonders if William did not bend the king's ear about what he considered his own claims on the return trip. Howden records that William was invested earl under the name of Striguil, but he was wrong. William did not receive Pembroke immediately, for John was at this time engaged in hostilities with Maelgwyn and Gruffudd, sons of the late Prince of Deheubarth, the great Rhys ap Gruffudd. But in April 1200, John had released some lands in west Wales to Earl William, the territories of Efelffre and Ystlwyf east of the lordship of Pembroke itself, until he should deliver to William his land of Emlyn. The writ tells us the king had found William a shaken man. William and Countess Isabel made a great progress across Leinster, holding courts and issuing solemn charters to the tenants who appeared before them. William and his council were not entirely happy with what they had found in Ireland.
