76 



nobles began to devote themselves to sciences hitherto confined to the 

 Magi and Philosophers,* and to compile that too slandered code, the 

 Brehon Laws. 



It would appear from the annals of the country, and the pas- 

 sage cited from Tacitus,-)- that the tribes of Ireland were at this 

 time governed by their several little kings "reguli;" while the esta- 

 blished observance of ages confirms what the annalists say, as to the 

 right of succession to such honours being regulated during all this 

 interval, by what was called the Law of Tanistry; by virtue of which, 

 as by Alexander's will, the inheritance passed to the strongest. Who- 

 ever of the sept or kin of the propositus was most powerful in personal 

 qualifications or in followers and dependants, succeeded to the de- 

 ceased dynast ; and such person, most commonly the brother, eldest 

 son, or next cousin of him in possession, being in the life-time of his 

 predecessor elected to succeed, took upon him the title of Tanist ;:J: 

 nor does the succession to other dignities, or to such real property as 

 was " virtu te officii" annexed to dignities, appear to have been diffe- 

 rently regulated. § 



The descent of such other landed property, as was not so mixed 

 with royalty or chieftainry was undoubtedly even at this early period 

 regulated by the very primitive custom of Gavelkind. In the Book 

 of Lecan, now in the possession of the Royal Irish Academy, a very 

 particular instance of Gavel is recorded, as made by the before-men- 

 tioned Nial of the nine hostages. From which instance, as well as 

 -such others, as can now be shewn, it appears. — 1st. That the fathers 

 or seniors of families, exercised the right of gavelling amongst the 



* Warner's Hist. vol. 1. p. 72. f Anle, p. 51. 



+ Vide Ware's Antiquities, c. 1 1, and Camden's Britannia, vol. 3. p. 479. 

 § Hence it is, that the genealogies of every Irish famUy of rank, were preserved with such 

 fidelity. 



