abbot Saint Ciaran, in the place
where the church of Clonmacnois now stands, who was but newly come
thither to live or dwell from Inis Aingin, and having no house or
place to reside or dwell in, the said Diarmait gave him his assistance
to make a house there, and in thrusting down in the earth one of the
pieces of the timber or wattles of the house, the said Diarmait took
Saint Ciaran's hand and did put it over his own head or hand in sign
of reverence to the saint: whereupon the saint humbly besought God of
His great goodness that by that time to-morrow ensuing that [_sic_]
the hands of Diarmait might have superiority over all Ireland.
Which fell out as the saint requested, for Mael-Moire o hArgata,
foster-brother of Diarmait, seeing in what perplexity the nobleman
was in [_sic_], besought him that he might be pleased to lend him his
black horse, and that he would make his repair to Greallach da Phuill,
where he heard King Tuathal to have a meeting with some of his nobles;
and there would present him with a whelp's heart on a spear's head,
instead of Diarmait's heart, and so by that means get access to the
king, whom he would kill out of hand and by the help and swiftness
of the horse save his own life whether they would or no. Diarmait,
listing to the words of his foster-brother was amongst two
extremities, loath to refuse him and far more loath to lend it him,
fearing he should miscarry and be killed, but between both, he granted
him his request; whereupon he prepared himself, and went as he was
resolved, mounted on the said black horse, a heart besprinkled with
blood on his spear, to the place where he heard the king to be; the
king and his people seeing him come in that manner, supposed that it
was Diarmait's heart that was to be presented by the man that rode in
post-haste; the whole multitude gave him way to that king, and when he
came within reach to the king as though to tender him the heart, he
gave the king such a deadly blow of his spear that the king instantly
fell down dead in the midst of his people, whereupon the man was beset
on all sides and at last taken and killed, so as speedy news came to
Diarmait, who incontinently went to Tara, and there was crowned king
as Saint Ciaran prayed and prophesied before.... Diarmait was not
above seven months king, when Saint Ciaran died in Clonmacnois, where
he dwelt therein but seven months before, in the thirty-third year of
his age, on the 9th of September."

_Th