582 



O'Concennan were put under arrest by Turlogh O'Conor, 

 though under the protection of the coarb of St. Jarlath (i. e., 

 the archbishop ofTuam),and of O'DufFy, and of the Bachall 

 Buee, or the yellow staff.' 



" The relic here called the yellow staff I am inclined to 

 believe was the shrine now before us, and so called popularly 

 from its golden appearance. 



" Again, in Mac Geoghegan, at the year 1139 : 

 " ' King Terlaugh took his own son prisoner. After that 

 he gave him before upon these oaths and securities following, 

 viz. (his own name was Rory O'Connor, that was afterwards 

 king of Ireland), Moriegh O'DufBe, archbishop, with all 

 the laymen and clergy of Connaught ; Teige O'Brien, king 

 of Thomond; Tiernan O'Roirke, king of the Brenie ; and 

 Murrough Mac Gille ne-newe O'Fergall, chieftain of Annalie. 

 They all, both clergy and laymen, fasted at Rathbrendan, to 

 get the young prince out of the king's hands, and could not. 

 Also King Terlaugh took Murrough O'Melaghlen, king of 

 Meath, prisoner, after he had agreed with him that each of 

 them would be true to one another, and seek no advantage or 

 hindrance of each other. These were the oaths and sureties 

 that were between them of either side for performance of said 

 agreement, viz. : — The altar of St. Ciaran's shrine; relics No- 

 rannagh; two prelates of every severall houses; together with 

 Morrough O'Duffie, archbishop of Connaught; primate of 

 Ardmach ; the staff of Jesus, which St. Patrick brought into 

 this kingdom; the cowarb of St. Fecliin's bell, and the boban 

 of St. Kevin ; by all which sureties and oaths they were bound 

 to each other not to seek advantage either by captivity, bynd- 

 ing, or encroaching upon each other's land, until apparent occa- 

 sion had appeared to the sureties; and notwithstanding all 

 which Murrough was taken prisoner by K. Turlough, and 

 kept for the space of a month, without any breach of his side, 

 until at last he was enlarged at the intercession of the said 

 prelates and noblemen that were sureties for him, whom they 

 sent with safe conduct to Munster.' 



