This presents us with a graphic enough account of the state of the Irish tribe as it existed at the time Sir John Davis wrote; and we may supplement what he says as to the position of the _Termon_ or Church lands, and their freedom from the burdens to which the other lands were subject, by two charters preserved in the Book of Kells. The first is a grant by Conchobhar O’Maelsechlann, king of Meath, in the eleventh century, by which he gave Kildelga with its territory and lands to God and to Columkille for ever, free of all claim for _Cis_ or rent, _Cobach_ or tribute, _Fecht_ and _Sluaged_ or expedition and hosting, and _Coinnim_ from king or _Toiseach_, and the precise signification of _Coinnim_ appears from the second charter granted in the succeeding century, by which the freedom of Ardbreacain was granted by Muirchertach O’Lochlainn, king of Ireland, Diarmaid O’Maelsechlann, king of Meath, and Aedh Mac Cu-Uladh, king of Laeghaire. The people of Laeghaire had a certain tribute on the Church, viz., one night’s _Coinnmeda_ every quarter of a year. O’Lochlain, king of Ireland, and O’Maelsechlann, king of Meath, induced the king of Laeghaire to sell this night’s _Coinnmeda_ for three ounces of gold. The Church, therefore, with its territory and lands, is free for two reasons, viz., on account of the general freedom of all churches, and on account of this purchase.’[192] We thus see that the leading features of the Irish tribes, as we have gathered them in the ancient laws, can to a great extent be recognised in the state of the native population of the country, as we find it presented to us at a later period in four of her great provinces. CHAPTER V. THE FINÉ OR SEPT IN IRELAND, AND THE TRIBE IN WALES. [Sidenote: Origin of the _Finé_ or Sept.] Among the changes produced in the social organisation of the tribe by external influence and internal progress, not the least striking was the gradual development within it of the _Finé_ or septs. Though the word _Finé_ is undoubtedly used for the whole confraternity of the members of the tribe, viewed as a community united together by a supposed common origin, yet, in its strict technical sense, it was applied to those divisions of the tribe which may be called septs or clans. As soon as the superior advance of some members of the tribe over the others in wealth and importance produced a relation of superior and dependant by the latter becoming _Ceile_ or tenants of the former, while their possessions became hereditary in their families, the germ of the _Finé_ or sept was formed. When the _Boaire_, or cow-lord, was led by wealth in cattle to give over the excess of his stock to other members of the tribe, who became his _Ceile_ or dependants, a _Finé_ in its most restricted sense was formed, and the _Aire Coisring_, as he was called, became also the _Aire Finé_, or head of an inferior sept.[193] [Sidenote: The _Ciné_ or kinsfolk.]