G-RAVES — On the " Lignum Contensionis.'^ 23 



standing for the laculus, virga, fustis, staff, rod, wand, verge, mace, 

 baton, truncheon, -which, was the symbol of supreme power and 

 jurisdiction possessed by rulers and judges, and was borne in their 

 own hand, or by the officers who represented and acted for them. 



Persons preferring petitions, making vows, or taking oaths, 

 touched the haculus. Accused persons purged themselves with an 

 oath taken upon the staff carried by the officer who was sent by their 

 superior. On this subject see Du Cange on the words haculus, virga, 

 juramentum, and Grimm, Deutsche RechtsaUerthiimer, under the 

 headings Stab and IJid. It is deserving of notice that in a passage 

 adduced by Grimm the staff used in investiture is called lignum. 



I believe that the members of the Academy will agree with me 

 in thinking that light is thrown upon this obscure passage in one 

 of the Patrician documents by comparing it, on the one hand, with 

 the Icelandic sagas and laws, and, on the other, with the text of the 

 Senchas Mor which, though it may not have been compiled in the 

 time of St. Patrick, undoubtedly contains elements of a remote pagan 

 antiquity. 



