his province, or to encamp for more than a week in certain
districts; but he was "privileged" to feast on the fruits
of Almain, to drink the ale of Cullen, and to preside
over the games of Carman, (Wexford.) His colleague of
Munster was "prohibited" from encamping a whole week at
Killarney or on the Suir, and from mustering a martial
host on the Leinster border at Gowran; he was "privileged"
to pass the six weeks of Lent at Cashel (in free quarters),
to use fire and force in compelling tribute from north
Leinster; and to obtain a supply of cattle from Connaught,
at the time "of the singing of the cuckoo." The Connaught
King had five other singular "prohibitions" imposed on
him--evidently with reference to some old Pagan rites--and
his "prerogatives" were hostages from Galway, the monopoly
of the chase in Mayo, free quarters in Murrisk, in the
same neighbourhood, and to marshal his border-host at
Athlone to confer with the tribes of Meath. The ruler
of Ulster was also forbidden to indulge in such
superstitious practices as observing omens of birds, or
drinking of a certain fountain "between two darknesses;"
his prerogatives were presiding at the games of Cooley,
"with the assembly of the fleet;" the right of mustering
his border army in the plains of Louth; free quarters in
Armagh for three nights for his troops before setting
out on an expedition; and to confine his hostages in
Dunseverick, a strong fortress near the Giant's Causeway.
Such were the principal checks imposed upon the individual
caprice of Monarchs and Princes; the plain inference from
all which is, that under the Constitution of Patrick, a
Prince who clung to any remnant of ancient Paganism,