Show The Ancltnt laws nf Ireland The ancient laws of Ireland compiled I about Ibo tlmo of the conversion otjbe Island by Bt Patrick and known In their completed form al Cain Pttralc after tho mlsilonary were curlooi In many ways There Is no trace ol lie mall law about this old Ilrehoa code which modified by St Patrick lasted as the law ot Ibo Irish quite down to Queen Kllzabetba time Ills like Ills old German codes In thai It makes everything a matter of fine When a judge on circuit alter Ibo English fashion la to bo appointed by one of Henry VIIIs tlcerojs to a new district dis-trict the chiefs beg to know what li his eric In order that they may pay for him In case their people put him out of tho way And so It was lathe filth century St Patrick found a l law ot compensation existing and he did not succeed In altering It He attempted to do so tor ho got sentence ol dutb passed on tho man who soon after his landing throw a lance and slew his charioteer The man was put to death for his crime but Patrick obtained ob-tained heaven for him Therefore quaintly adds thus old commentator as no ono now has the power ol bestowing be-stowing heaven as Patrick had that clAY no ono Is put to death nowadays but has to pay his I erlc The basis then of Irish law was compensation If any wrong Is done and not atoned for the sufferer or his tribe has a right of distress against the criminal or his tribe The stliure whatever It was was lodged In Ibo public pound and both parties went oft to the brehon Judge to get Ibo case nottled by him The Judge heard the witnesses and gave judgment which was usually religiously respected A commoner had to KITe n chieftain notice no-tice by fasting before his door for a given time after which a selturo could be made Undutlful children were forbidden for-bidden to Inherit property for leaving a mad woman at large there won a cite often cows and for Idiots not danger oils of five cows a kinsmans crime could be visited on his fathers mothers i moth-ers or foster father tribes There was a certain exemption from seliure No man could be deprived ot his harp his chess board his raiment his wlfni lap dogs or his childrens plaything |