Dr. Keating wrote from books existing in his time. He says, quoting from the "Leabhar-na-h-Ua Chongbhala," or "Book of Navan":—
"The Monarch of Erinn (Cormac MacAirt) appointed an army over the men of Erinn. and over it he appointed three times fifty royal Feinian officers, and he gave the command of the whole and the High Stewardship of Erinn to Finn Ua Baiscne."
The Fianna had a fixed stipend; but from May to November they had to support themselves by hunting. Their life was one of extreme abstinence and exercise. Their duty in peace times was that of a national police: "to check thieves, to enforce the payment of taxes, to check outlaws, and all other evils which may affect the country."
After a long chase, before eating, they invariably bathed, "and then began to supply their sinews and thews (by gentle exercise), until they had in this manner put off from them their fatigue, after which they ate their meal."
There were several conditions which every man who was received into the Fianna was obliged to fulfill:—
"The first condition was, that he should not accept any fortune with a wife, but select her for her moral conduct and her accomplishments.
"The second was, that he should not insult any woman.
"The third was, that he should not refuse any person asking for food.