Texts

Bretha nemed toísech ‘The first Bretha nemed (‘Judgments concerning privileged persons’)’

Forannán • Máel Tuili • Báethgalach hua Búirecháin

Old Irish
prose
Early Irish law texts

Old Irish legal tract on the law of privileged persons (nemed), with particular attention being paid towards churchmen, poets and judges.

Title

Bretha nemed toísech

‘The first Bretha nemed (‘Judgments concerning privileged persons’)’

Although citations from this text often simply identify their source text as Bretha nemed (‘Judgments of privileged persons’), it would seem that this title was used to refer to “a whole series of tracts which were originally associated with a particular school”.⁽³⁾^{n. 3} D. A. Binchy, ‘Bretha Nemed’, Ériu 17 (1955): 4. Our text is also more specifically referred to as Bretha nemed toísech ("the first Bretha nemed"), distinguishing it from other parts of the series, such as the Bretha nemed dédenach ("the last Bretha nemed"). A shorthand for this title, with toísech abbreviated to t, occurs four times in the manuscripts.⁽⁴⁾^{n. 4} Liam Breatnach, ‘The first third of Bretha nemed toísech’, Ériu 40 (1989): 2. According to Liam Breatnach, the ‘first’ and ‘last’ Bretha nemed were so named by later medieval lawyers to situate them in a chronological framework.⁽⁵⁾^{n. 5} ibid.

Author

ForannánForannán

Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.

See more Máel TuiliMáel Tuili

Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.

See more Báethgalach hua BúirecháinBáethgalach hua Búirecháin

Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.

Three kinsmen: Forannán (a bishop), Máel Tuili (a poet) and Báethgalach hua Búirecháin (a judge), who flourished during the reign of Cathal mac Finguine.⁽⁶⁾^{n. 6} Liam Breatnach, ‘Canon law and secular law in early Ireland: the significance of Bretha Nemed’, Peritia 3 (1984). See Aimirgein Glúngel tuir tend.

Manuscripts

London, British Library, MS Cotton Nero A vii ff. 132-157 [1571]

ff. 132b–157a

Only complete copy, beginning Corus breatha neimead.⁽²⁾^{n. 2} Liam Breatnach, ‘The first third of Bretha nemed toísech’, Ériu 40 (1989): 3.

Numerous citations from this text are found in the manuscripts.

Language

Old Irish

Date

721 x 742 (Breatnach).⁽⁷⁾^{n. 7} Liam Breatnach, ‘Canon law and secular law in early Ireland: the significance of Bretha Nemed’, Peritia 3 (1984).

Provenance

Munster

Form

prose (primary)

Textual relationships

As possible sources for the present text, Breatnach mentions Collectio canonum Hibernensis, Ántéchtae and Críth gablach.⁽¹⁾^{n. 1} Liam Breatnach, Companion to CIH (2005): 190–191.

(Possible) sources: Collectio canonum HibernensisCollectio canonum HibernensisÁntéchtae brethÁntéchtae brethCríth gablachCríth gablach

Old Irish legal tract which offers a systematic examination of the principles of legal rank and status in early Irish society, focusing on the free and noble classes. Its composition has been dated to the first half of the eighth century.

Associated items

First third of Bretha nemed toísechFirst third of Bretha nemed toísechThe first third of Bretha nemed toísech, which introduces the text and proceeds with legal matter concerning the Church in Irish society.Middle third of Bretha nemed toísechMiddle third of Bretha nemed toísechThe middle third of Bretha nemed toísech, much of which is addressed to the legendary judge Morand. It is primarily concerned with poets.Final third of Bretha nemed toísechFinal third of Bretha nemed toísechThe final third of Bretha nemed toísech, much of which is presented as an address by the judge Morand to his pupil Neire. The text is primarily concerned with judges and judgments.

Classification

Early Irish law textsEarly Irish law texts
...

Contents

Work in progress

^[1] First third » entry

Description: The first third of Bretha nemed toísech, which introduces the text and proceeds with legal matter concerning the Church in Irish society.

^[2] Middle third » entry

^[3] Last third » entry

Nero A 7 CIH 2211-2232	Contents	Passages in Nero A 7 corresponding to citations	Citations (CIH)	Citations by title BN unless stated otherwise
Part I The Church (Nero A 7, CIH 2211.1-2213.29)
CIH 2211.1-2213.29	§ 1. Definition of the privileged classes (nemed), with its division into two tiers: noble nemed (sóernemed), i.e. the [ecclesiastical] scholar (ecnae), churchman (eclais), lord (flaith) and poet (file). base nemed (dóernemed), i.e. the craftsmen.		CIH 2100.11-15
	§ 2. Introduction to §§ 3-14		CIH 2100.16-17
	§ 3. On the "good qualifications ennobling a church", in part translated from the Collectio canonum Hibernensis		CIH 2100.17-24 & 1531.9 (O’Dav); 1305.38-40; 1531.11; 1562.18-19
	§ 4. On the privileges of a (qualified) church, e.g. that it cannot be held accountable for crimes or offences committed by others.		CIH 2100.25-26 1989.19-21; cp. 1421.17
	§ 5. The three things on account of which churches may pursue claims against other churches. This section concludes by citing Ántéchtae breth.		CIH 2100.27-29
	§ 6	CIH 2211.27	CIH CIH 2100.38-39; 978.29-33; 1099.24-28	CIH 978f [note with title]
	§ 7		CIH 1498.3-4 (O'Dav)
	§ 8		CIH 2100.33 1920.39 = 1148.16, 1310.19; CormY 1225
	§ 9		CIH 2100.34
	§ 10		CIH 2100.34
	§ 11		CIH 2100.35
	§ 12		CIH 2100.36
	§ 13		CIH 1478.39 (O'Dav 340) = 1480.42 (O'Dav 407)
	§ 14		CIH 1595.21 = 639.18, 2264.7, 686.37, 1233.2, 704.25 CIH 1528.16 (O'Dav 1529)
	§ 15		CIH 1473.29 (O'Dav 194)
	§ 16		CIH 1523.33 (O'Dav 1424)
	§ 17
	§ 18
	§ 19
	§ 20
	§ 21		CIH 1479.1 (O’Dav 341), 1528.18 (O’Dav 1530), 950.15
	§ 22		CIH 1498.5 (O'Dav 830); 1512.1 (O'Dav 1148); 1473.26 (O’Dav 192); 1528.21 (O'Dav 1531); 1519.33 (O'Dav 1334); Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 16, ff 146a28-37.
	§ 23		CIH 1473.28 (O’Dav 193)
	§ 24		CIH 1466.16 (O'Dav 5); 620.32; 1523.32 (O'Dav 1423)
Part II most of it addressed to Morand and concerned with poets (Nero A 7, CIH 2213.29-2221.7)
CIH 2213.29-2221.7	Reference (CIH 2213.30) to Críth gablach	CIH 2214.2,20		CormY 689
		CIH 2214.12		CIH 551.29
		CIH 2214.40		CIH 1535.4
		CIH 2215.3		CormY 676
		CIH 2215.11f		CIH 1964i [BN t.]
		CIH 2217.8		CormY 876
		CIH 2217.27,30		CormY 430
		CIH 2219.22		CIH 1562b
Part III half of it addressed to Neire; mostly about judges and judgments (Nero A 7, CIH 2221.8-2230.1; 2232.17-37; 2230.1-2232.17)
CIH 2221.8-2230.1		CIH 2222.26		CIH 1967g [BN t.]
		CIH 2223.19		CormY 143
		CIH 2223.21		CormY 142
		CIH 2223.22f		CIH 2004f [BN t.]
		CIH 2223.25		CormY 536
		CIH 2223.28		CormY 971
		CIH 2223.32		CormY 304
		CIH 2225.7		CIH 1920e [BN t.]
		CIH 2225.12 ff.		CIH 876.27 without citation
		CIH 2227.1		CIH 363.25 and 365.13 without citation.
		CIH 2228.10		CIH 963.27
CIH 2232.17-37

CIH 2230.1-2232.17
	[2230.6 ff clientship, lordship]
	Passage in CIH 2232.33-37 also occurs in Scéla Moṡauluim

Sources

Notes

^1.

Liam Breatnach, Companion to CIH (2005): 190–191.

^2.

Liam Breatnach, ‘The first third of Bretha nemed toísech’, Ériu 40 (1989): 3.

^3.

D. A. Binchy, ‘Bretha Nemed’, Ériu 17 (1955): 4.

^4.

Liam Breatnach, ‘The first third of Bretha nemed toísech’, Ériu 40 (1989): 2.

^5.

ibid.

^6.

Liam Breatnach, ‘Canon law and secular law in early Ireland: the significance of Bretha Nemed’, Peritia 3 (1984).

^7.

Liam Breatnach, ‘Canon law and secular law in early Ireland: the significance of Bretha Nemed’, Peritia 3 (1984).

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

[ed.] Binchy, D. A. [ed.], Corpus iuris Hibernici: ad fidem codicum manuscriptorum, 7 vols, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1978.

The standard diplomatic edition of early Irish law texts, undertaken by D. A. Binchy and published in 7 volumes.

Diplomatic edition

[dipl. ed.] Binchy, D. A. [ed.], Corpus iuris Hibernici, 7 vols, vol. 3, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1978.

Numbered pp. 745–1138; diplomatic edition of legal material from Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1337 (continued, pp. 745–1109); Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1317 (pp. 1111–1138).

1133.1–1138.37 TCD 1317

Edition wanted

A critical edition of the complete text, with translation and discussion, by Liam Breatnach is forthcoming.

[ed.] Breatnach, Liam [ed. and tr], “The first third of Bretha nemed toísech”, Ériu 40 (1989): 1–40.

Edition of the first third of the Nero A 7 text, "normalized to an eighth-century OIr. standard", with variant readings.

[ed.] [tr.] Breatnach, Liam [ed. and tr.], Uraicecht na ríar: the poetic grades in early Irish law, Early Irish Law Series, 2, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1987.

20–28 (I); 28–33 (II); 33–36 (III); 36–39 (IV); 39–41 (V); 41–42 (VI); 43–44 (VII); 44–45 (VIII); 45–46 (IX); 46–48 (X); 48–49 (XI); 49–50 (XII); 50–51 (XIII); 52–54 (XIV); 54–57 (XV); 57 (XVI).

Edition and translation of the parts of Bretha nemed corresponding to CIH 2213.34-2215.14 (I); CIH 2215.15-35 (II); CIH 2219.4-14 (III); CIH 2219.16-31 (IV); CIH 2220.17-25 (V); CIH 2220.26-29 (VI); CIH 1117.29-35 (VII); CIH 1119.35-39 (VIII); CIH 1124.20-24 (IX); CIH 1124.30-37 (X); CIH 1125.2-6 (XI); CIH 1125.8-14 (XII); CIH 1131.14-27 (XIII); CIH 1131.27-39 (XIV); Ériu 13: 43.6-21 (XV); ... (XVI).

[ed.] [tr.] Breatnach, Liam [ed. and tr.], “Canon law and secular law in early Ireland: the significance of Bretha Nemed”, Peritia 3 (1984): 439–459.

Part of the text edited and translated.

Secondary sources (select)

See Breatnach above

Breatnach, Liam, A companion to the Corpus iuris Hibernici, Early Irish Law Series, 5, Dublin: DIAS, 2005.

A companion to D. A. Binchy, CIH (1978). Review article: Neil McLeod, ‘Review,A true companion to the Corpus iuris Hibernici’, Peritia 19 (2005).

188–191.

Etchingham, Colmán, and Catherine Swift, “English and Pictish terms for brooch in an 8th-century Irish law-text”, Medieval Archaeology 48 (2004): 31–49.

Ads.ahds.ac.uk – eprint (PDF): <link>

Kelly, Fergus, A guide to early Irish law, Early Irish Law Series, 3, Dublin: DIAS, 1988.

Smith, Roland, “Morand and the Bretha Nemed”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 17 (1928): 407–411.

web page identifiers

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Contributors

C. A., Dennis Groenewegen

Page created

December 2010, last updated: January 2024