184 
was the first who described the Irish as a lawless race. For a com- 
plete exposure of the falsehoods, misrepresentations, and malice of 
this notoriously fabulous writer, the reader is referred to the Cam- 
brensis Eversus of the learned Doctor * John Lynch, Roman Catho- 
lic Archdeacon of Tuam. In that valuable work, the author has 
shewn, that the slanders of Cambrensis were wilful falsehoods, in- 
vented by him, who had the means of knowing the truth, having 
had the perusal of a great number of the old Trish annals, which 
he maliciously destroyed. 
Edmund Spenser, who, in 1596, published “ A View of the State 
of Ireland,” says the Brehon Law “ is a rule of right unwritten, 
« but delivered by tradition from one to another, in which often- 
“ times there appeareth great share of equity, in determining the 
“ right between party and party, but in many things repugning 
“* quite both to God’s law and man’s: as, for example, in the case 
“ of murder, the Brehon, that is, their Judge, will compound be- 
“* tween the murderer and the friends of the party murdered, which 
“ prosecute the action, that the malefactor shall give unto them, or 
“ to the childe, or wife of him that is slaine, a recompense, which 
« they call an Eriach; by which vilde law of theirs, many mur- 
«« ders amongst them are made up and smothered. And this judge 
“ being, as he is called, the Lord’s Brehon, adjudgeth for the most 
« part a better share unto his Lord, that is the Lord of the soyle, or 
« head of the sept, and also unto himselfe for his judgement, a 
“ greater portion, then unto the plaintiffes or parties grieved.” Had 
* Doctor Nicholson, Bishop of Derry, calls this gentleman “ the judicious Mr. John Lynch,” 
and gives him the following character: “ The collector was a person of that accuracy of skill, 
“ (and niceness of taste) in the histories of Ireland, that the reader may rest assured, that his 
“ calculations are exact ; and that no matters of any great moment have escaped his notice.” 
Trish Hist. Lib. App. p. 244. 
