might lawfully be refused those rents and dues which
alone supported his dignity. In other words, disguised
as it may be to us under ancient forms, "the Book of
Rights" establishes Christianity as the law of the land.
All national usages and customs, not conflicting with
this supreme law, were recognized and sanctioned by it.
The internal revenues in each particular Province were
modelled upon the same general principle, with one
memorable exception--the special tribute which Leinster
paid to Munster--and which was the cause of more bloodshed
than all other sources of domestic quarrel combined. The
origin of this tax is surrounded with fable, but it
appears to have arisen out of the reaction which took
place, when Tuathal, "the Legitimate," was restored to
the throne of his ancestors, after the successful revolt
of the Belgic bondsmen. Leinster seems to have clung
longest to the Belgic revolution, and to have submitted
only after repeated defeats. Tuathal, therefore, imposed
on that Province this heavy and degrading tax, compelling
its Princes not only to render him and his successors
immense herds of cattle, but also 150 male and female
slaves, to do the menial offices about the palace of
Tara. With a refinement of policy, as far-seeing as it
was cruel, the proceeds of the tax were to be divided
one-third to Ulster, one-third to Connaught, and the
remainder between the Queen of the Monarch and the ruler
of Munster. In this way all the other Provinces became
interested in enforcing this invidious and oppressive
enactment upon Leinster which, of course, was withheld
whenever it could be refused with the smallest probability