"brehon" laws

writ in 7th century by lawyers or berhons

Every third year roads must be cleared of brambles, weeds and water to prepare for the great assembly.

The harpist is the only musician who is of noble standing. Flute-players, trumpeters and timpanists, as well as jugglers, conjurers and equestrians who stand on the back of horses have no status of their own in the community, only that the noble chieftain to whom they were attached.

For the best arable land the price is twenty-four cows. The price for dry, coarse land is twelve dry cows.

For stripping the bark of an oak tree, enough to tan the leather for a pair of woman's shoes, the fine is one cow-hide. The defendant must cover the bruised portion with a mixture of wet clay, new milk and cow dung.

If a man takes a woman off on a horse, into the woods or onto a sea-going ship, and if members of the woman's tribe are present, they must object within twenty-four hours or they may not demand payment of the fine.

The husband-to-be shall pay a bride-price of land, cattle, horses, gold or silver to the father of the bride. Husband and wife retain individual rights to all the land, flocks and household goods each brings to the marriage.

Children shall be sent at an early age to distant members of the tribe to be reared in the hereditary professions of law, medicine, poetic composition or war, or of tilling the soil and wifeliness. Foster children shall be returned to their parents at the marriage age : fourteen for girls and seventeen for boys.

Whoever comes to your door, you must feed him or care for him, with no questions asked.

If your neighbour does not repay the debt he owes you, you may prevent him from going about his daily business. A white-tie ( for all see) goes on the blacksmith's anvil, the carpenter's axe or the tree-feller's hatchet. He is on his honour to do no work until he has righted the wrong.

February first is the day on which husband or wife may decide to walk away from the marriage.

When you become old your family must provide you one oatcake, plus a container of sour milk. They must bathe you every twentieth night and wash your head Saturday. Seventeen sticks of firewood is the allotment for keeping you warm.