ever. The tribute was, at this period, enormous; 15,000
head of cattle annually. The decision must have been made
about the time that Abbot Adamnan was in Ireland, (A.D.
684,) and that illustrious personage is said to have been
opposed to the abolition. Abolished it was, and though
its re-enactment was often attempted, the authority of
Saint Moling's solemn settlement, prevented it from being
re-enforced for any length of time, except as a political
or military infliction.

Finnacta fell in battle in the 20th year of his long and
glorious reign; and is commemorated as a saint in the
Irish calendar. St. Moling survived him three years, and
St. Adamnan, so intimately connected with his reign, ten
years. The latter revisited Ireland in 697, under the
short reign of Loingsech, and concerned himself chiefly
in endeavouring to induce his countrymen to adopt the
Roman rule, as to the tonsure, and the celebration of
Easter. On this occasion there was an important Synod of
the Clergy, under the presidency of Flan, Archbishop of
Armagh, held at Tara. Nothing could be more natural than
such an assembly in such a place, at such a period. In
every recorded instance the power of the clergy had been
omnipotent in politics for above a century. St. Patrick
had expurgated the old constitution; St. Ruadan's curse
drove the kings from Tara; St. Columbkill had established
the independence of Alba, and preserved the Bardic Order;
St. Moling had abolished the Leinster tribute. If their
power was irresistible in the sixth and especially in
the seventh centuries, we must do these celebrated Abbots