of success. Its resistance, and enforcement, especially
by the kings of Munster, will be found a constant cause
of civil war, even in Christian times.

The sceptre of Ireland, from her conversion to the time
of Brian, was almost solely in the hands of the northern
Hy-Nial, the same family as the O'Neills. All the kings
of the sixth and seventh centuries were of that line. In
the eighth century (from 709 to 742), the southern
annalists style Cathal, King of Munster, Ard-Righ; in
the ninth century (840 to 847), they give the same high
title to Felim, King of Munster; and in the eleventh
century Brian possessed that dignity for the twelve last
years of his life, (1002 to 1014). With these exceptions,
the northern Hy-Nial, and their co-relatives of Meath,
called the southern Hy-Nial, seem to have retained the
sceptre exclusively in their own hands, during the five
first Christian centuries. Yet on every occasion, the
ancient forms of election, (or procuring the adhesion of
the Princes), had to be gone through. Perfect unanimity,
however, was not required; a majority equal to two-thirds
seems to have sufficed. If the candidate had the North
in his favour, and one Province of the South, he was
considered entitled to take possession of Tara; if he
were a Southern, he should be seconded either by Connaught
or Ulster, before he could lawfully possess himself of
the supreme power. The benediction of the Archbishop of
Armagh, seems to have been necessary to confirm the choice
of the Provincials. The monarchs, like the petty kings,
were crowned or "made" on the summit of some lofty mound