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* ance; and, in criminal cases, the Brehon had an eleventh part of 
“ all the fines.” Other authors have also asserted, that the Judge 
received the eleventh part of all fines imposed by his decisions. 
But upon the most diligent search, which the author of this Essay 
could make, through the ancient laws of his country, he has not 
been able to discover any thing that justifies the assertion. On the 
contrary, he has reason to think, that the Judge did not receive any 
part of the fines imposed, as every care was taken to make him an 
independant and disinterested agent. In the Seanchas bheg, which 
particularly provides for the entertainment and rewards, and defines 
the rights and privileges of various ranks in the state, no mention is 
made of fines to be paid to the Brehons or judges, although in that 
treatise we find established the following provision for the support 
of those officers:—“ Brethemh Berla Fene acas Filedheachta X. 
« Seoit ina dire acas turtugad cuigti acas trica bairgin do.” 
« The Breiheav (Judge) of the Bearla Fene (i. e. of the common 
« law, and of the poetic law, his dire (dues) are ten Seoids (Cows) 
« and full entertainment of meat, &c. for five days, and thirty 
“ cakes daily.”—“ Breithem tri mberla comdire do fri hoire tuist.” 
The Breiheav (Judge) of three* Bearla (laws) his dire (dues) 
are equal to those of an “ Aire + Tuisi.” 
To secure the impartial administration of justice, the law declares, 
that the rank of Brehon should not be given to any, who had not 
AA 2 
*« Three Bearla.” The commentator explains this by “ Fenechas, Filidheacht acas 
“« Leighinn.” The common law, the poetic law, and ithe written law. 
+ By the Treatise here quoted, it appears that the Aire wisi was the lowest but two in the 
degrees of Princes or Flaiths called Airechs, the Aire echda and Aire desa only being inferior 
to him. His Diré was fifteen séds (cows) ; his full entertainment of meat, &c. was for ten days, 
and forty cakes daily. The commentator describes the quality of the cakes which each person 
was to receive. 
