These were ground down by high rents and the exorbitant exactions of the dominant race, _in order to support their unbounded hospitality_ and defray the expenses of costly assemblies; but this oppression must have caused perpetual discontent, and the hard-working plebeians, as they were called, easily perceived that their masters were running headlong to destruction, and that it only required a bold effort to shake off their yoke.' Then follows an account of a civil war, one of the leaders of the revolution being elected king at its termination.

Carbry reigned five years, during which time there was no rule or order, and the country was a prey to every misfortune.

'Evil was the state of Ireland during his reign; fruitless her corn, for there used to be but one grain on the stalk; and fruitless her rivers; her cattle without milk; her fruit without plenty, for there used to be but one acorn on the oak.' Dr.Lynch, author of _Cambrensis Eversus_, expresses his astonishment at the great number of ancient Irish kings, most of whom were cut off by a violent death, each hewing his way to the throne over the body of his predecessor.

But upon applying his mind to the more profound consideration of the matter, he found nothing more wonderful in the phenomenon 'than that the human family should proceed from one man--the overflowing harvest from a few grains of seed, &c.' His learned translator, the Rev.Matthew Kelly, of Maynooth, sees proof of amendment in the fact that between 722 and 1022 twelve Irish kings died a natural death.

This candid and judicious writer observes in a note--'It appears from the Irish and English annals that there was perpetual war in Ireland during more than 400 years after the invasion.