He bade them farewell, and took the cup of Aed son of Eochaid with him to the south, and left a blessing with them. And in the following verses is proof of the story and of the actions.This tribute is the tribute of Sil Muiredaig and Clan Taidg.
- After this came to them
Aed Foirinn honourably,
(It was a good journey that he went)
To hold long converse with the clerks.- Then spake Mac Creiche
A word to the son of Eochaid:
'Let us have from thee ('tis famous)
A respite without evasion.'- 'Give me a drink, O clerks,'
Said the gifted king;
The full of the white twisted cup
Is a boon in Cruachan.- Mac Creiche marked out
The ground to the border;
There burst forth a beauteous stream
From which the cup was filled.- The fountain of Mac Creiche,
{paragraph 42}
This is its name continually,
On Magh Cruachan it is celebrated,
It remains till the day of doom.- The king of Cruachan proclaimed
His drink, a word which was not concealed;
He rose with a prince's might,
He bowed to Mac Creiche.- 'If thou be at my will,'
Said pious Mac Creiche,
'Grant diligently and fairly
Every request which thou mayest know.'- 'It shall be to thee without shame,'
Said the good noble king;
'Take with thee to thy pious church
The famous boroma'.- 'It shall be taken,' said Mac Creiche.
'If it be with prophetic words,
Provided there be remitted to me
Thy tribute till doomsday.'
- 'I will offer to thee
From my children (a victorious fame)
Every king who succeeds,
Seven cumals from them.'- 'I will give to thy children
Unless they oppose me,
Honour and valour
As long as this line remains.'- Mac Creiche set out
Without love of gold or silver;
He accepted from the good king
Two horses for his chariot.- Then was remission granted
To the saint of the fertile kine;
And he took the raiment
And the cup of Aed son of Eochaid.- There was remitted to Mac Creiche
At the time when he took the cup,
Thence to the living doom
The tribute of Corcumruad.- 'If thy children oppose
My blameless community,
Their land will be deserted
And they exiles with sorry plight.'- If they render as due honour (?)
{paragraph 43}
My dues without forgetting,
They shall have their oar-plied kingship,
As long as I am in heavenly heaven.'- Then said the wise Aed
To the lean noble drowsy one:
'Thy will without noisy deed
I will render till victorious doom.'- Thereafter proceeded
The famous happy jewel,
Mac Creiche, our constant renown,
To his mother's kin in Magh Ulad.
- It was there he wrought
The miracle before that people,
He slew the Crom Chonnaill
Which was devouring that host.- He distributed a victorious word
To his nobles (a happy honour):
'It will remain (a sure miracle)
Your force to the world's end.'- He gave to them thereafter
(Famous the jewel which is pledged),
Victory of contest against valour,
Riches and prowess.
The tribute of Ciarraige to Mac Creiche.
- They offered as their offering
Which is caused by a wise title,
Three score excellent kine
To be paid by them every year.- Or, if they preferred it
{paragraph 44}
(For there is choice of alms),
A scruple (without violation of command)
To him from every two (of them).- There had been captured by Aed Bennain
And by Aed Furain
Three kinsmen of his mother
In chains after a raid.- He set out without delay,
Mac Creiche with fair success,
To release without injury
His kinsmen from their chain.- The clerk found welcome
From Aed Bennain of the troops,
Concerning the three kinsmen of his mother
Whom they kept in durance.
- Aed Bennain released to him
Half of the three ...
He turned ... of the land;
Aed Foirinn caused the delay of it.- On eminent Aed Bennain
He pronounced a melodious blessing;
He promised (him) without diminution
The kingship (away) from Aed Foirinn.- Then Mac Creiche conferred
The kingdom, a fair boon,
On the seed of Aed Bennain;
It was a noble happy answer.- The valiant king pursued
The rapid course with swiftness,
Aed Foirinn in the presence of the warriors
To submit to the clerk.- Mac Creiche released
The three, a modest steadfast man,
...
The iron fetters from their feet.- He bowed to Mac Creiche,
The valiant keen-sighted king;
On Aed Furinn was lavished
Riches and prowess.- Then entreated Aed Foirinn
In order that sighing might not befall him,
That his race might hold
The kingship, though with contention.- They were zealous for his offering,
The two of the proud festival;
Three fifties, a wise proceeding,
Every lasting year.
This is the tribute of the Eoganacht of Loch Lein.
- Fifty grey tunics,
Fifty white and dun shirts,
Fifty summer heifers,
Thus may he claim it.- These thrice fifty treasures
{paragraph 45}
Came without delay
To the venerable loyal clerk,
So that he was content.- He wrought a wondrous miracle
At Ard Braisg in Certhain,
After the baptism with strong success
Of Loichine, son of Nechtan.- Mac Creiche forgot
His little blameless cup,
(Leaving it) where it had been before him
While he performed the baptism.- There he remembered
The white shining cup,
Which was not there, though wanted,
When he came to Cluain Dirair.- When it went ...
The cup ...
Sunrise had reached
The mead of Leim Conchulainn.- When he reached Cluain Dirair
The high dignitary who was not mad,
There was a numbering afterwards
Of all that was in the midst.- Mac Creiche performed
Many miracles, a fair assembly,
It is fit that he shall do them
While the world endures.- He was abstinent and believing (?),
Religious, very modest;
He was liberal (?), he was shining,
Was sparkling and angelic.
- Illustrious is the city,
Cluain Dirair, it is fertile,
It is law-abiding, is populous,
Is treasurous, is wealthy.- Fortunate fort with towers,
More privileged than any man;
It is there that the place is,
In the centre of Ard Ruide.- Conall took ...
Mac Creiche whom we revere
...
To heaven and earth.- The solution of the King above us,
Lofty is His worship,
For ever shall it be remembered.
May the name of God come on my lips.- May the name of God come on my lips.
It is right that it be not concealed.
That I may make, though sinful,
A poem for Mac Creiche.- Acta Meic Creiche agia
{paragraph 46}
Adiuuent nos egregia;
Simus post exilia
In eterna memoria.- It is right that He love me,
My tribute and my tax;
My own King choosing me
And taking me from your hand.- I am the victorious Mac Creiche,
That is what men call me;
After my going from the renowned world,
My relic shall not be assailed.- If they uphold the victorious tribute,
All those of whom it is due,
I will uphold them renownedly
Throughout the lasting world.- (But) I will be a mangling dragon,
If I hear the contest;
I will be opposed to them,
If they destroy my increase.- If they spoil my tributes,
The Fermacaig of the tribes,
I will attack their abode
And will cut short their time.- It is to us it belongs to honour them,
If they are submissive towards me;
If they are strong against me,
Their lot will not be strong.- I am the reverend Mac Creiche
That is my name rightly;
I recite to my King without hypocrisy,
Fifty psalms each none.- I am Ailbe's bosom child,
He mentions me every none,
It is a pleasure to him to tell of me
In his just book.- He was my father,
{paragraph 47}
The war-dog of Slíab Crot;
He was son of my grandfather,
The king who had many a harbour.- Broindgel and Brig
And Mainesc of the foam,
Three daughters of a king,
And Fiachra of lasting strength.- Three great sons of a king,
Roth, and glorious Eogan,
And mighty Aengus,
Whom wave and strand glorified.
- The children of the three women,
Whom in due time I glorified,
I myself am son of Brig
And Ailbe the protection of our host.- The son of fair Mainesc
{paragraph 48}
Is Cainnech, to whom a company is due;
The mother of noble Brendan
Is Broingel of the pleasant calm.- Brendan gave to me
Tribute from the Ciarraige,
The first calf of every cow,
A great piglet (?) from (each) sow.- The Fermacaig (shall be) at my will
From now till doom shall come;
I subdued the monster,
To them the matter was easy.- A youngling from each herd
Of every sheep and cow,
From every goat is the tribute
And from every sow in sooth.- Fair Brendan claims
Justice of the Connaught men
For his churches strenuously
And of the head of the host.- We go, five saints together,
With him into the land northwards;
We were near to him
In every fort in turn.- Wondrous to us then
The fortress of the white fierce one;
The army of rough Murchad
Attacked us at Tulcha Taidg.- Huge was the spoil,
The herds of Clann Taidg,
They took with them our books,
In sooth there was much woe.
- Fair Brendan spake:
'O reverend bosom-child,
Why dost thou allow our spoil
To be snatched from our hands?'- Then I rise up
And elevate my hand,
I humble the seed of Murchad,
Men of the terrible shots.- I make rocky stones
Of their men diligently,
And I turn the spoil
Against their very faces.- When the host saw
That I had defeated the warriors,
They offer to me their land,
Both level (land) and heath.- Clann Taidg then said,
The answer to me was wild:
'Though thou wert called Mac Ochta (son of the bosom),
Thou art Mac Creiche (son of the spoil) now.'- 'Take with thee from us our tribute
O reverend fair clerk;
To be under toll to thy relic
We deem it good, O Saint.'- Their silver and their treasure
Their stock on every hill;
A folk whom justice helps,
It is gold my relic.- They gave a tribute to me,
The seed of rash Muiredach,
Fifty ounces of gold
From the host he claimed for me.'