Page:Life and death of the Irish parliament.djvu/21

21 grossness and to remedy this fault of nature, he did as it were keep a continual war with himself. He was learned, affable, gentle, courteous, besides so pitiful, that when he had overcome his enemy, yet would he be overcome with pity" (p. 10). Who would not fall in love with such a character? But we know that Gerald Barry could speak different language when Henry was dead. ' Many of us wish to flatter the powers that be. Now what does another writer, Peter of Blois, say of him?—"Henry was like a lion when angry, and chewed the straw like a madman. He scarcely ever forgave those he hated". And let me turn to the same man from. whom Mr. Whiteside pretends to give a likeness of Henry:—"He disregarded the obligation of an oath, plundered churches, and persecuted her ministers". Mr. Whiteside, instead of painting him in these dark colours, represents him in the brightest light. To give these partial views, half truth, may suit a pleader, but is quite unworthy the impartiality of an historian.. It is more unmanly, more dangerous, because sometimes. difficult of detection, than gross, unmixed falsehood. This same Henry, while he came to take care of Ireland in 1161, kept on his hands, for his own benefit, one archbishopric, five bishoprics, and three abbeys. How reconcile with his forgiving disposition and courtesy the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who stood up for the independence. of the: Church, and whom he pretended to have been reconciled with by honouring him. before the nobility? How reconcile the unrevengeful spirit, a stranger to anger, attributed to him by Mr. Whiteside, with the ungenerous persecution of St.. Laurence O'Toole? St. Laurence did what man could do to avert calamity from his country, and when he could not prevent, he broke the fall of the nation. He went to stipulate for the making or fulfilment of favourable terms for the