Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Lebor na Cert (Author: unknown)

section 3

These are the rents of the king of Ailech and his stipend: his rents from the tribes, and the stipend he bestows upon them.

1

A hundred sheep, a hundred cloaks, a hundred cows, and a hundred boars to him from the Cuilennraige. Thirty boars, thirty cows, and thirty wethers from Tuath Rátha. Three hundred boars, three hundred cows, three hundred wethers from Fir Luirg. Three hundred cows, three hundred beeves, a hundred flitches from the king of Uí Fhiachrach. A hundred beeves, a hundred cows, a hundred boars, and fifty cloaks from Uí Meic Caírthainn. Three hundred boars, three hundred cows, three hundred beeves from the Ciannachta of Glenn Gemin. A thousand milch cows, a hundred beeves, fifty oxen, fifty boars from Fir Lí. A hundred milch cows, fifty boars, fifty cloaks from Uí Thuirtri. A hundred beeves, a hundred


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milch cows, fifty cloaks from Fir Maige Ítha. The free tribes of Ailech are Tulach Óg, Craeb, Mag nÍtha, Inis Eógain and Cenél Conaill. And of them the sage, Benén mac Sescnéin, sang:

    1. Listen to the rights of the king of Ailech
      amidst his proud forests:
      he is entitled to cattle, a handsome rent,
      from both free families and vassal-tribes.
    2. A hundred sheep, a hundred cloaks,
      a hundred cows, and a hundred boars
      is his tribute from warlike Cuilennraige—
      to the king of Ailech by their labour (?).
    3. Thirty boars from Tuath Rátha,
      thirty cows with rich milk, thirty wethers
      in the yellow month the king of Ailech
      is entitled to all of them.
    4. Three hundred boars from Fir Luirc,
      three hundred cows, no small feat,
      three hundred live wethers to the king
      of Ailech of the spacious house.
    5. From the king of Uí Fhiachrach he is entitled
      to three hundred cows, no wordy boast,
      a hundred beeves, and a hundred heavy flitches
      to the king of Febal of the level ships.
    6. A hundred beeves from Uí Meic Caírthainn
      and a hundred boars—it is not trifling—
      fifty cows, a lawful measure,
      fifty cloaks with white borders.
    7. Three hundred boars ...,
      three hundred cows to feed an army,
      three hundred beeves, the spoil of war,
      from the pros-perous Ciannachta.

    8. p.65

    9. A thousand milch cows from Fir Lí,
      a hundred beeves, true judgement,
      fifty oxen,
      and fifty heavy boars.
    10. A hundred milch cows from the Uí Thuirtre,
      fifty flitches, fifty boars,
      and fifty coloured cloaks
      from Dún na Huidre on one day.
    11. A hundred beeves from Fir Muige,
      a hundred tawny milch cows,
      fifty cloaks is the rent assigned
      to the bold king of Ailech.
    12. No tax is due from Tulach Óg
      to the king of Febal of the swards,
      for kingship over the Men of Ireland
      may come from their strong country.
    13. No rent is due from An Chraeb
      to the gracious king of Ailech;
      no tax or thrall is due from
      Mag nÍtha for their fair lands.
    14. No rent which is not gratuitous is due
      from Inis Eógain to the high-king;
      Cland Chonaill owes no rent
      nor service nor wool.
    15. Those are the taxes of the king of Ailech.
      He is no sage who is not aware of them.
      The king who will not maintain his right
      is entitled neither to kingship nor to rule.

2

These are the payments and stipends from the king of Ailech to his tribes and kindreds for refection and escort. The king of Ailech, when he is not king of Ireland, is himself entitled to sit beside the king of Ireland at a drinking-bout and at an assembly and to precede the king of Ireland at transactions, councils, and petitions. He is


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entitled to fifty swords, fifty shields, fifty slaves, fifty suits of armour, and fifty horses. That is for the king of Ailech.

He distributes his stipend thus: five shields, five swords, five horns, five women, five slaves, and five horses to the king of Cairpre Droma Cliab. Five shields, five slaves, five women, and five swords to the king of Cenél nAeda Easa Ruaid. Six horses, six shields, six swords, six horns, six blue cloaks, and six green cloaks to the king of Cenél mBógaine. Five horses, five shields, five swords, five cloaks, and five coats of mail to the king of Cenél nÉnda. Seven women, seven slaves, seven horses, and seven swords to the king of Cenél Lugdach. Seven slaves, seven women, seven swords, and seven horns to the king of Inis Eógain. Six horses, six horns, six swords, six shields, and six hounds to the king of Mag nÍtha. Three horses, three shields, three swords, three horns to the king of Uí Fhiachrach Arda Sratha. Three horses, three shields, three swords, and three horns to the king of Fir Luirg. Three horses, three shields, three swords, and three green cloaks to the king of Aín Chraeb. Three women, three mantles, and three tunics to the king of Uí Meic Caírthinn. Three horses, three shields, three horns, and three swords to the king of Ciannachta Glenna Gemin. Six slaves, six horses, and six shields to the king of Fir Lí. Three women, three slaves, and three horses to the king of Uí Thuirtre. Fifty slaves, fifty suits of armour, fifty cloaks, and fifty coats of mail to the king of Tulach Óg. And of that distribution and division Benén sang:

    1. O Man, if you were to travel north
      across Mag nÍtha of the firm borders,
      tell the stipend of each one from the king
      of Ailech of the gentle brow.
    2. When he is not king of noble Ireland,
      the king of Ailech, rich in tribute,
      is entitled to sit by the faultless side
      of the king of Ireland of the hills.
    3. Fifty swords, fifty shields,
      fifty slaves—a heavy debt—fifty suits
      of armour, fifty horses to the king
      of Ailech of high judgement.

    4. p.69

    5. His prosperous kings are entitled
      to stipends and gifts
      from the warlike king of Ailech
      after the toil of a hard journey.
    6. Five shields, five swords, five horns,
      five horses, and five women of high spirit
      to the king of Cairpre Droma Cliab
      from the king of Ailech of the gold bridles.
    7. The king of Cenél nAeda is entitled
      to five shields, five slender swords,
      five slaves from beyond the sea,
      and five fair women.
    8. The king of Cenél mBógaine is entitled
      to six cavalry horses, six shields,
      six swords, six horns, six green cloaks,
      and six blue cloaks.
    9. The king of Cenél nÉnna is entitled
      to five fine strong horses, five shields,
      five swords for battle, five mantles,
      and five coats of mail.
    10. The king of Cenél Lugdach is entitled
      to seven swords for hard smiting, seven women,
      seven slaves right soon,
      seven noble horses for the champion.
    11. The king of Inis Eógain is entitled
      to seven slaves—no great bounty—seven horses,
      seven women from over the great sea,
      seven fair horns for the drinking feast.
    12. The king of Mag nÍtha is entitled
      to six fine horses from abroad, six horns,
      six swords, six hounds, six white shields
      to hang on his walls (?).

    13. p.71

    14. The king of fair Uí Fhiachrach is entitled
      to three fine horses at his goodly pool,
      three shields, three horns,
      and three swords from the martial king of Ailech.
    15. The warrior king of Fir Luirg is entitled
      to three fine horses across the heather,
      three shields, three pointed swords,
      and three brown horns.
    16. The king of An Chraeb is entitled
      to wealth, three sound horses are his payment,
      with three shields, three swords for battle,
      and three green cloaks.
    17. The king of Uí Meic Caírthinn is entitled
      to three tunics with gold borders,
      three fine mantles as payment,
      three worthy slave-women.
    18. The king of Glenn Gemin is entitled,
      in sooth, to three brown horses,
      three shields, three horns,
      and three swords every year from the king of Ailech.
    19. The king of Fir Lí of the lake
      is entitled to six shields, six swords for battle,
      six horses, proud and slender,
      and six hard-working slaves.
    20. The king of Uí Thuirtre in the north
      is entitled to three spirited cavalry horses,
      three graceful women,
      and three slaves.
    21. The strong king of Tulach Óc
      is entitled to fifty prosperous slaves
      on the highway, fifty swords, fifty horses,
      fifty mantles, and fifty coats of mail.

    22. p.73

    23. Here is the tradition of Síl Néill.
      I record it plainly in a book.
      The hand of Benén with due regard
      wrote it, O man!