le! 
“ with rebellions, and the rebels not only idle themfelves, but 
“ in natural malice deftroying the labours of other men, and 
* cutting up the very trees of fruits for the fame caufe, or 
* elfe to burne them. For thefe reafons (he-continues) the inha- 
‘ * bitants take leffe pleafure to till their grounds, or plant trees, 
“ content to live for the day in continual fear of like mifchief *.” 
Nay, even the cattle of the chieftains, as they ranged his paf- 
tures, were in danger of moleftation ; and the office of the gentle 
herdfman was fupplied by a vigilant guard of armed men, who, 
at the approach of night, drove their charge into the bawn of 
the caftle . 
Unper fuch circumftances it was impoffible that the art of 
gardening could make any confiderable advances in Ireland. 
The hand of rapine reftrained it; and the church, whofe fanc- 
tity alone could proteé it, took little pains to facilitate its pro- 
grefs. “We are, therefore, naturally furprifed to find the Brehons 
promulgating laws to protect ornamental as well as ufeful trees. 
As thefe laws are extremely curious, and ferve to afcertain the 
feveral kinds of trees cultivated by the early Irifh, I fhall make 
no apology for tranfcribing them here. 
—_—— eo —"S 
“ Wuar are the timber trefpafles? Cutting down trees and. 
“ taking them away ; as airigh timber, athar timber, fogla tim-- 
e “© ber, and lofa timber.” 
¥ “ ATRIGH 
* SItiner. Part iii. p. 159. 
i. ' + The manner of enclofing the bawn was prefcribed by the Brehons. See Colle@. de Reb. 
Beir | Hib. vol. tii. p. 72. ‘The paflage deferves to be confulted, as it fhews the nature of the fence 
; in ufe amongft the Irifh in the primitive ages. 
i 
