most ancient are without dates or signatures, having been entered 

 into before it became customary in these islands to affix either to 

 written contracts. These belong to the 12th, 13th and 14th cen- 

 turies. The greater vmmber, however, are dated. The earliest of 

 the latter class occurs in the year 1419, and the latest in the year 

 1619, about which time the use of the Irish language in legal 

 writings was discontinued. The deed, No. II. which I conjecture 

 to be as early as the beginning of the 12th century, is a curious 

 specimen of its kind. Of it and No. XXIX. which is dated in 

 the year 1573, fac-si miles are given. The rudeness of the one, 

 and the comparative elegance of the other, will shew the improve- 

 ment which took place in the art of penmanship between both 

 periods. 



- Their contents are strikingly interesting at the present day, being 

 illustrative of manners and customs, which have long since disap- 

 peared and been forgotten. Like all collections, some of the pre- 

 sent articles, taken singly, may be esteemed of little or no value, 

 but combined, their utility becomes obvious and unquestionable. 

 They mutually serve to explain each other, and by so doing deve- 

 lope facts which, otherwise, might have remained buried in obli- 

 vion. To adduce a few instances. They evince the characteristic 

 piety of the people, who often commenced and concluded these 

 instruments with some word or expression of a pious tendency, and 

 consecrated their ordinary dealings with the solemnity of religion, by 

 frequently calling on God as a witness to their contracts.* They 

 also sliew the state of education, for I was not a little surprised to 

 find so few marksmen, as they are termed, among so many origi- 



• See Noa. XX — XXI. — In No. XXV. God with his angels are named as sureties, that 

 the rival chieilains O'Brien and Macnamara would not wage war against each other. 



