as would be naturally expected for the improvement of any bar- 

 barous country."^- 



There were in Ireland, as in Britain, four orders of people be- 

 side the sovereign and petty kings or toparchs : viz. the knights, 

 tlie jear nasal, uclielwyr of the Britons, free tenants, and the slaves, 

 servi, who were either the captives of war, or persons procured 

 by money, or the exchange of goods. The last, denominated vil- 

 leins, were, in the barbarous Latin of those days, called Firmar 

 rii and Betagii, words coined in imitation of the Irish Firmeoirigh 

 and BiadhtJiahigh, farmers and victuallers. The duty of the Fir- 

 marii was to cultivate land for their lords in fee. The Betagii 

 seemed to have belonged to this class, and were called native vil- 

 leins. They were more particularly employed in the slaughter of 

 cattle, and in providing the king's household and army with pro- 

 vision. Both were considered the property of their masters, by 

 whom they were legally as disposable as cattle or corn. They 

 were required to perform the drudgery of husbandry, and to exe- 



. 7. Mart, or Boroimhe ; a yearly rent iu beef. 



8. Cot, and Scuit, a tax on extraordinary occasions, imposed by the Belgae or Nordraans. 



9. Duhh.ghiall, black rent ; a contribution for the keeping of dogs and huntsmen. 



10. Ceatharneach, a tax of 3s. ■Id. or 4 shillings the ploughland, to maintain the lord's 

 kerne. 



11. AfusfrujK, a charge of money and victuals for workmen, who built for the lord of 

 the soil. 



Beside othef taxes, mentioned by Sir R, Cox, which I do not Understand, I find two, which 

 come under the head of eruic ; a fine levyed for rape, felony, or murder, viz. 



1. Ca'in, the king's amercement. 



2. Gairtlghe, literally the lamentation or wo of the house. ' The fine paid to a sou for 

 the murder of his father was rated at 7 cumhals or 21 kine.' — Hist, of Irel. by Thos. Leland, 

 D. D. vol. l.p. 35. 



197- An act was passed in the 11th year of Charles I. against plowing by the tayle, and 

 pulling the wool o£F living sheep, instead of clipping or shearing them. 



