IRELAND PREVIOUS TO THE INVASION BY THE ENGLISH. 10! 



history : as the Kings of Breffny of Ossory, the Princes of Orgial, Des- 

 mond, Thomond, Decies, &c. &c. 



With respect to the election of this monarch, it should be remarked, 

 that of the royal Milesian line, he that was most distinguished for his 

 valour, enterprise, or martial skill, was selected for the dignity. 



The Irish monarch's revenue was paid him, occasionally in the form 

 of a settled stipend, occasionally in presents given in kind. And, to 

 assist him in any exigency, taxes were levied by the heads of the assem- 

 bly just described. 



The form of ancient Irish judicature also deserves notice at this place. 



Of the Pentarchy, every king had under him a chief, as the represen- 

 tative of his family, each of whom had the administration of justice 

 among his own tribe. As an indispensable part of the chief's establish- 

 ment, a judge was kept, called in those times a Brehon ; and from 

 whose judgments, delivered in the open air, and in the presence of the 

 whole tribe, there was no appeal. It is uncertain to say how long this 

 form of judicature had lasted ; an act of King John, however, confirmed 

 its abolition. 



INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY. 



In the midst of these scenes of aggression and slaughter, a new era 

 commenced in Irish history, not distinguished, indeed, for any immediate 

 good effects attendant on it, but which is no less than the succession of 

 the Christian religion to Paganism ; which, up to the middle of the fifth 

 century, prevailed there. 



It was in the riegn of Lagoar\', of the Milesian line, that Patrick — or 

 St. Patrick^— animated with the zeal common to the primitive Chris- 

 tians, arrived in Ireland, and made the first effectual stand, by the in- 

 troduction of the pure precepts of his religion, against the Druidical 

 forms and institutions which prevailed throughout the island. Notwith- 

 standing the testimony of early writers respecting the exemplary piety, 

 the unwearied zeal, and the astonishing influence which this philanthro- 

 pist possessed, and continued to exercise, in humanizing the natives of 

 this country, the Irish character seems to have been divested, after all 

 his benevolent efforts, of very little of its former habits, as subsequent 

 to his death, to the very extinction of the Milesian line of monarchs, 

 the same depositions, aggressions, ravages, and assassinations, continued 

 in successive record, and in instances of unmitigated violence. 



DRUIDS OR BARDS. 



Previous to the introduction of Christianity into Ireland, the rcligioE 



