The rents and stipends of Connacht: the great rent of Connacht first of all in maintenance and attendance at Cruachain. From Umall the rents of Connacht are paid to Cruachain first: a hundred cows and a hundred boars and a hundred mantles, that is from Umall. A hundred oxen and a hundred milch cows and sixty swine and sixty cloaks, that is from the Crecraige. Two hundred and forty cloaks and two hundred cows and one hundred and twenty swine, that is from Conmaicne. A hundred cows and a hundred oxen, that is from the Ciarraige. Sixty crimson cloaks and sixty boars, that is also from the Ciarraige. Seven times fifty milch cows, a hundred and fifty boars and a hundred and fifty cloaks from the Luigne every
- Hear a tradition that is not lowly
of the high king of Connacht whose sword is powerful,
what he is entitled to in that country
of his for his honour, for his honour-price.- The great rent of Connacht to Cruachain
without disrespect from the goodly tribes,
everyone from whom he is entitled,
appropriate rule, to maintenance and attendance.- A hundred cows of lasting fame,
a hundred fat boars, a hundred mantles,
splendid gift,
from Umall to the king of Connacht.- I shall tell the high rent
of the Crecraige to the king of Connacht,
for I know it, a hundred oxen of good colour
to the king of Connacht and Cruachain.
- Sixty swine, it is a great stipulation,
and sixty royal cloaks,
a hundred milch cows hither from
the Crecraige of the pleasant woods.- Twelve score good cloaks,
two hundred cows without error,
six score swine, a firm demand,
are due from the Conmaicne.- A hundred cows of great fame,
a hundred oxen, from the Ciarraige,
a hard stipulation, to be given
to the king of Connacht.- Sixty pure red cloaks, sixty long boars
from the Ciarraige,
a hard judgement,
assembled in one place.- There are due from the Luigne
without fault to be brought to the camp
three hundred and fifty milch cows hither,
to be rendered each Beltaine.- A hundred and fifty boars, it is profit,
to reach him every Samain,
a hundred and fifty rich cloaks to
the king of Connacht and Cruachain.- Of the same tribute, it is handed down,
without injustice or oppression,
a hundred and fifty oxen are brought hither
one day to supply the husbandry.- Though the Luigne bring hither
their tribute for their land,
it is not the Luigne who are subject to it,
but the grass and the land.
- The rent of the Corcraige without hardship
to be given each time to the king of Mag nAí
of the horses is seven score cows,
no unjust judgement.- Three hundred and fifty ingots of iron,
three hundred and fifty noisy swine,
three hundred and fifty oxen, appropriate rule,
are given to the king of Connacht.- A hundred and fifty purple cloaks,
it has been heard, without untruth or error,
that amount is due from the Delbna
to the king of Connacht in Cruachain.- A hundred and fifty boars without default,
a hundred and fifty oxen of good colour,
from the Delbna alone, it is no lie;
their tribute must be maintÁined.- It is not on account of inferior status
of the people, were it not for the grass-rich land:
they would not bring tribute hither
except on account of their country.- The great tribute of the Uí Máine
to the Plain is remembered by every senchaid:
seventy cloaks, it is no lie,
seventy boars, a numerous flock.- Though the fair tribute is brought
from Uí Máine to the great Plain,
it is on account of their land yonder
that the tribute must be rendered.- The free tribes of Connacht
of the clans owe no service in battle:
Uí Briúin in their ships across the sea,
Síl Muiredaig of the households;
- Uí Fiachrach of the great plain,
Cenél nAeda, it is no wrong,
they owe neither tribute nor tax
to be given to the king of Connacht.- Those tribes that owe no fitting tribute,
if one should wish to tell their privilege,
it is a like inheritance for them all,
whichever of them it be to whom the kingship may fall.- If any of them go into battle
with the king of Connacht and Cruachain,
and he be killed by spears in the fight,
payment of his eric is due.- For none of them is obliged
to go into battle or conflict
with the king of Connacht of handsome wealth,
unless it be for payment.- When the kingship is not north with Síl nAeda,
or the tribe of glorious Guaire,
they are entitled, no mean hospitality,
to sit beside the high king of Connacht.- If it should happen to one of them
to leave his country through injustice,
each one of their kings is entitled
to a place beside each fair provincial king.- Well did Benén find
this exact knowledge, it is correct.
I shall tell how all that is.
O noble people, listen!
Here are the stipends of the tribes of Connacht from the high-king of Cruachu. For it is on account of land and stipend that they pay the rent, and not on account of lowliness of race, for their freemen on both sides are akin in this case. And it is for that reason
that sovereignty and kingship pass from one branch to the other unless an impediment of kin-slaughter or oppression (?) of saints or denial of baptism (apostasy) prevents it, and sovereignty thus passes away from them; and then they are under service of rent and accept a stipend from the household which does not renounce or reject God.
The prince of Síl Muiredaig is entitled to the bracelet and battledress of the king of Connacht, and his shield and his sword and his coat of mail. Five horses and five swords and five ships and five coats of mail to the king of Umall. Six shields, six swords, six horses, six tunics, and six horns to the king of [Delbna. Six weapons, six tunics, six slaves, six women, and six coats of mail to the king of] Crecraige. Two bracelets, two chess-games, ten horns, and ten horses to the king of Conmaicne. Seven cloaks, seven tunics, seven horses, and seven hounds to the king of Uí Maine. Ten horses, ten cloaks, ten horns, and ten hounds to the king of Luigne. Five horses, five mantles, five swords, ten horns, ten slaves, and ten chess-games to the king of Uí Briúin. Five horses, five mantles, five swords, and five coats of mail to the king of the Cuirc. Three horns, three swords, three horses, ten bracelets, and ten chess-games to the king of the northern Uí Fhiachrach. Seven slaves, seven bondwomen, seven horns, three swords, and three dogs to the king of Cenél nAeda. Three tunics, three horns, and three horses to the king of Partraige. Thus are estimated the benefits of the tribal kings of Connacht, and of them Benén sang this:
- The stipends of the kings of Connacht
I saw in a handsome book, what the king of Connacht,
leader of the great host,
gives to his tribes in the north.- The best man of Síl Muredaig is entitled
to receive from the king bracelet,
battle-dress, horse, shield, sword,
and coat of mail.
- The king of Umall is entitled
without condition to five speedy horses
in his country, five pointed swords of battle,
five ships, five coats of mail.- The king of Delbna from Druim Léith
is entitled to six swords, six shields,
six horses, six tunics embroidered with gold,
and six drinking horns.- The king of fair Crecraige is entitled
to six weapons, six tunics,
six slaves, six bond-women,
and six coats of mail.- The righteous king of Conmaicne
is entitled to ten horns on entering
his drinking chamber, ten swift horses to mount,
two bracelets, and two sets of chess.- The famous king of Uí Maine
is entitled to seven cloaks,
seven horses to cross the glen,
seven hunting' dogs, and seven scarlet tunics.- The king of Luigne of the warriors
is entitled to ten horses, ten cloaks
—no idle talk—ten horns for drinking mead,
ten fair glossy hounds.- The renowned king of Uí Briúin is entitled
to five horses, five mantles, five swords,
ten curved horns, ten slaves,
and ten chess-games.- The king of the Cuirc from the forest
is entitled to five horses, five mantles,
five swords that have not bent against a bone,
five coats of mail to ward off spears.
- The king of Partraige, the stronghold,
is entitled to three horns,
three swords as his share (?), three tunics,
and three horses from the king of Cruachu without concealment.- Three cups to the king of Uí Fhiachrach,
three swords for victory in a skirmish,
three horses in Aidne of the ale-feasts,
ten bracelets, and ten sets of chess.- The king of Cenél nAeda is entitled
to seven slaves, seven bond-women,
three horns, three swords,
and three dogs for his hunting-mound in the forest.- Those are the stipends of the tribes
of Connacht and Cruachu
from the king of Mag nAi of the oxen,
such as are entitled to a stipend.