The English monarch, however, could assume an appearance of most profound humility and the deepest piety, when it suited his convenience.  He excelled himself in this department by his submission to the Holy See, when he found that submission alone could save his crown.

The Lord of Breffni had been one of Henry’s favourite guests at his Christmas festivities.  He possessed the territory of East Meath, and this territory Henry had coolly bestowed on Hugh de Lacy.[296] The rightful owner was not quite so dazzled by the sunshine of royal favour, as to be willing to resign his property without a struggle.  The Irish chieftain, whose name was Tiernan O’Rourke, was persuaded to hold a conference with the English usurper at the Hill of Tara, near Athboy.  Both parties were attended by armed men.  A dispute ensued.  The interpreter was killed by a blow aimed at De Lacy, who fled precipitately; O’Rourke was killed by a spear-thrust as he mounted his horse, and vengeance was wreaked on his dead body, for the crime of wishing to maintain his rights, by subjecting it to decapitation.  His head was impaled over the gate of Dublin Castle, and afterwards sent as a present to Henry II.  His body was gibbeted, with the feet upwards, on the northern side of the same building.[297] The Four Masters say that O’Rourke was treacherously slain.  From the account given by Cambrensis, it would appear that there was a plot to destroy the aged chieftain, but for want of clearer evidence we may give his enemies the benefit of the doubt.

Strongbow was now employing himself by depredating the territories which had been conferred on him.  He took an army of 1,000 horse and foot into Offaly, to lay waste O’Dempsey’s territory, that prince having also committed the crime of wishing to keep his ancestral estates.  He met with no opposition until he was about to return with the spoils; then, as he passed through a defile, the chieftain set upon him in the rear, and slew several of his knights, carrying off the Norman standard.  Robert de Quincey, who had just married a daughter of Strongbow’s by a former marriage, was amongst the slain.  The Earl had bestowed a large territory in Wexford on him.

Henry was at that time suffering from domestic troubles in Normandy; he therefore summoned De Clare to attend him there.  It would appear that he performed good service for his royal master, for he received further grants of lands and castles, both in Normandy and in Ireland.  On his return to the latter country, he found that the spoilers had quarrelled over the spoil.  Raymond le Gros contrived to ingratiate himself with the soldiers, and they demanded that the command should be transferred from Hervey de Montmarisco, Strongbow’s uncle, to the object of their predilection.  The Earl was obliged to comply.  Their object was simply to plunder.  The new general gratified them; and after a raid on the unfortunate inhabitants of Offaly and Munster, they collected their booty at Lismore, intending to convey it by water to Waterford.