¹²⁸Cusak, Margaret A. An Illustrated History of Ireland: From the Earliest Period. London: Longmans, Green, and Company, 1868.

The author relates the tale thusly: "[Cormac Mac Airt] appeared unexpectedly at Tara, and happened to arrive when the monarch [Mac Con] was giving judgment in an important case, which is thus related: Some sheep, the property of a widow, residing at Tara, had strayed into the queen's private lawn, and eaten the grass. They were captured, and the case was brought before the king. He decided that the [sheep] should be forfeited; but Cormac exclaimed that his sentence was unjust, and declared that as the sheep had only eaten the fleece of the land, they should only forfeit their own fleece. The vox populi applauded the decision. Mac Con started from his seat, and exclaimed: 'That is the judgment of a king.' At the same moment he recognized the prince, and commanded that he should be seized; but he had already escaped. The people now recognized their rightful king, and revolted against the usurper, who was driven into Munster. Cormac assumed the reins of government at Tara, and thus entered upon his brilliant and important career, A.D. 227."