286 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



taking an inheritance (of land), too, until old age, his oath still does not go 

 beyond a,fcr midboth. His purchase as client is five chattels. A wether with 

 its accompaniment is his house-custom. That is the custom of a single-kin 

 a man who cultivates neither possession nor land for himself. The accompani- 

 ment of the wether : twelve cakes, butter, nern heoil, a bunch of leeks with 

 heads, a drinking-vessel of milk three palms (high), cream and new milk and 

 draumce, or buttermilk. 



74. Xo one is entitled to invite to his house as long as he is a minor, until 

 he is capable of husbandry apart and of taking property ; a fcr midloth (is not 

 so entitled) as long as he is single-kin, unless he be bound to it by (his) lord, 

 so as he sustain no custom beyond a wether with its accompaniment. 



V 304. — 75. If the means of his house increase so that he is of the means 

 of a bdaire, or something higher, the ordering of his client-purchase increases 

 for him accordingly. He likewise increases his render iintil his house-custom 

 therein is according to his dignity, unless some other lord make a further 

 contract with him. A half-share in a cornfield (is due) from him on the third 

 day after notice. (He owes) to (his) lord a third of his doim and of his inebriety 

 and of his sloth and of his payment.' 



76. 'Ocaii-e,his position as aire is higher. Why is he called ocaire, " young 

 noble"? For the juniority of his noble grade. [Xay, but because he is 

 younger (than airir/ in general) when he begins husbandry], 



77. "What is his property ? He has sevenwise means : seven cows with 

 their bull ; seven pigs with a brood sow ; seven sheep ; a horse both for 

 working and for riding. He has land of thrice seven cumals. That is a "cow's 

 laud" in the tradition of the Feni, it sustains seven cows for a year; that is 

 (when it is let for grazing}, seven cows are put into it, (and the grazier) 

 leaves one of the seven cows at the year's end for the rent of the land.' 



'• To the rule that a minor could not entertain guests, there is the exception that he 

 could entertain his lord, having bound himself thereto, provided that he is subject to no 

 more than his proper house-custom. If he makes a contract of clientship with a second 

 lord, he must give notice to his first lord and forfeit the produce of a piece of cornland. 

 He owes his (first ?) lord certain reliefs, when the lord incurs certain liabilities. 'Eraicc, 

 '■ payment," probably refers to liability for homicide or violence. Lesca, "sloth," may 

 have reference to remissness in suit of court, hostings, etc. Donn appears to mean theft 

 or similar wrong committed by one guest against another and involving the host in 

 liability. 



- This is one of the rare statements that help towards an understanding of the ancient 

 Irish notion and manner of valuing land. Accorduig to this passage, 21 cumals of land 

 had an annual letting value of one cow. This must be ordinary pasture land, not 

 mountain grazing. The cninal of land measured six forradis in breadth and twelve 

 forrachs in length (V 276, y z). The forrach was twelve times the fertach of 12 feet : 

 144 feet. This gives an area of about 34-i English acres for the t'lr cumaile or cumal of 

 land. It is, however, wholly incredible that twenty-one times this area, or about 



