The will of Cathire More
The History of Ireland, Ancient & Modern, taken from the most authentic records. Dedicated to the Irish brigade by the abbe’ Mac-Geoghegan. Translated from the French by Patrick O’Kelly, Esq. 1844. P.82
The will of Cathire More*, cited by O’Flaherty, who mentions to have seen it in writing, and to which Rossa Failge, his eldest son, was executor, is the only thing curious in the reign of this monarch. I merely introduce it here to show the singular taste of those ancient times: this will contains the different legacies he had left to his children, and the nobility of Leinster. To Breasal-Eineach-glass, his son, he left five ships of burden; fifty embossed bucklers, ornamented with a border of gold and silver; five swords with golden handles, and five chariots drawn by horses. To Fiacha-Baikeada, another son, he left fifty drinking- cups; fifty barrels made of yew-tree: fifty piebald horses, with the bits of the bridles made of brass. He left to Tuathal-Tigech, son of Main, his brother, ten chariots drawn by horses; five play tables; five chess boards; thirty bucklers, bordered with gold and silver, and fifty polished swords. To Daire-Barrach, another of his sons, he left one hundred and fifty pikes, the wood of which was covered with plates of silver; fifty swords of exquisite workmanship; five rings of pure gold; one hundred and fifty great- coats of fine texture, and seven military colours. To Crimothan he bequeathed fifty billiard-balls of brass, with the pools and cues of the same material, ten tric-tracs of exquisite workmanship; twelve chess boards with chess men. To Mogcorf, son of Laogare Birnbuadhach, he left a hundred cows spotted with white, with their calves, coupled together with yokes of brass; a hundred bucklers; a hundred red javelins; a hundred brilliant lances; fifty saffron- coloured great-coats; a hundred different coloured horses; a hundred drinking cups curiously wrought; »
* Cathire More was King of Ireland in 144 AD, died 148 AD.