Hiberniae. 14 Hen. III. (Blackstone’s Commentaries continued) And yet, even in the reign of queen Elizabeth, the wild natives still kept and preserved their Brehon law; which is described to have been ‘a rule of right, unwritten, but delivered by tradition from one to another, in which oftentimes there appeared great shew of equity in determining the right between parties, but in many things repugnant quite both to God’s law and man’s.’ The latter part of which character is alone allowed it under Edward the first and his grandson. Mara borrowed four books from Lawyer Bodkin’s scanty library and she and her scholars spent the afternoon going through them in a small back parlour which Jane Bodkin made available to her, placing on the large table a tray of quills and ink jars, as well as refreshing drinks and small cakes, and giving orders for a large bucket of coal to be brought up before withdrawing respectfully. There was no doubt that the good manners of the scholars, well schooled by Mara, had made a big impression on Jane and there probably would be little difficulty if they prolonged their stay.
