Ancient Laws of Ireland - Volume 1: Senchus Mor

The series of objects concerning which these elaborate regulations are formulated begins with the needle, which is naturally regarded as a woman's pledge, and which has assigned to it a very small interest—namely, a dairt-heifer A heifer between one and two years old worth four screpalls An ancient coin unit. The amounts assigned for this implement and its more important congener, the embroidering needle—whose interest is one ounce of silver (i.e., a cow)—are very instructive as to the status of the needlewoman of the period. The alternative gloss on 383, 14 assigns to her the value of an ounce of silver for the needle with which she does her embroidery, and the ordinary needle-value for her common needles; but the value attached to artistic work is vividly set forth by the elevation of the embroideress in status even over a queen (383, 4). The next item, the reticule of a king's wife, is also very significant, for without its contents (veil, diadem, and thin plate of gold, etc., 383, 27), its interest is only the restitution of itself and one of equal value in addition, "the double" (383, 35). However, with the lady's paraphernalia as its contents, its interest runs up to three ounces, or three cows—the "six seds" A unit of value based on cattle of 383, 8, 28.

Similarly, in the case of any married woman, the interest of the pledge is "the double" (385, 16). But a very noteworthy detail is added by the assignment of the relative valuation of a man and his wife, namely, two-thirds of his interest being due for his wife's (385, 22; 387, 23). The Tract goes on with further details, which I have summarized in the Index, page 573. The importance of these details will appear more clearly upon a presentation of the general circumstances of the social life of early Ireland on a scale very much more extensive than could be attempted here.

IV. ON THE CONFIRMATION OF RIGHT AND LAW.

This Tract seems to have been either originally designed as, or subsequently elaborated into, a series of Triads Legal lists of three items; but the series is not continuously carried out.