On the whole, Protestant writers speak and write approvingly of him. In that year (1152), a Synod was held at Mell, which, according to Ussher, is identical with Mellifont, though now a suburb of Drogheda is known by that name. Other Irish writers say that this Synod was held at Kells. At it Christian, then Bishop of Lismore and Legate of the Holy See, presided. In the _Annals of the Four Masters_ it is related, that a "Synod was convened at Drogheda, by the bishops of Ireland, with the successor of Patrick, and the Cardinal, John Paparo," etc. O'Donovan, quoting Colgan, tells us that Mellifont was known as the "Monastery at Drogheda." In this same year occurred the elopement of Dervorgilla, wife of Tiernan O'Rourke, Prince of Brefny, with Dermod M'Murchad, King of Leinster. She is styled the Helen of Erin, as it is commonly supposed that her flight with Dermod occasioned the English Invasion. When O'Rourke heard of her departure, he was "marvellously troubled and in great choler, but more grieved for the shame of the fact than for sorrow or hurt, and, therefore, was fully determined to be avenged." It is mentioned in the _Annals of Clonmacnois_ that O'Rourke had treated her harshly some time previous, and that her brother M'Laughlin connived at her conduct. Dervorgilla (which means in Irish, The True Pledge), was forty-four years of age at the time, whilst O'Rourke (who was blind of one eye) and M'Murchad, were each of them sixty-two years old. O'Rourke was the most strenuous opponent of the English at the Invasion, and was treacherously slain by a nephew of Maurice Fitzgerald at the Hill of Ward, near Athboy, in 1172. He was decapitated, and his head hung over the gates of Dublin for some time. It was afterwards sent to King Henry, in England.