154 
« plied themselves very much to the study of the Pontifical law, and 
© were the best skilled in the Canon law.”—Not having Rosselli’s 
book at hand, the author of these pages cannot say from what au- 
thority he has made this assertion ; but that the Irish judges were of 
necessity good Canonists, may be inferred from the ancient Irish laws. 
For, in those it is declared that the Brehon, who is able by his know: 
ledge to decide causes in the three laws, viz. that of the Feneachus, or 
old law, of the Filidheacht (Fillee-aght) or Poetic law, and the 
Breithe Leighinn (Bre-he Lay-in) or Canon law, shall have more 
extensive privileges and more ample rewards, than if his practice 
were confined to one only of those branches.* 
In the latter end of the eighth, and to the commencement of the 
eleventh century, Ireland, in common with France and Britain, 
was exposed to, and severely suffered from, the predatory incur- 
sions of the Danes, and other Northern nations. This invasion of 
Ireland is, by some writers, represented as having brought about 
a total subjugation of the Irish people to those barbarians; as was 
the case in France and England. Hence it has been concluded, 
that the ancient customs and laws of the Irish were abolished, and 
in their stead those of the conquerors established. That this, how- 
ever, was not the case is evident from the fact, that Ireland never 
was, at any period, totally subjected to those foreigners. It is true, 
indeed, that they formed some settlements on the sea-coasts, and 
often made excursions into the interior of the island, where they 
burned many religious establishments, plundered and devastated 
extensive districts, and overthrew numerous armies of the inha- 
bitants. But the annals of the country bear unanimous testimony 
to the melancholy truth, that in these plundering expeditions they 
* See ancient Law-tract in the book of Ballimote, fol. 181. 
