SOCIETY, GRADES OF GAELIC
grade of independent poet were three subdivisions of
apprentice poets, still dependent on their masters.)
The Church
Like the poets, those in holy orders followed a seven-
fold grade structure. This structure is typically given
as bishop, priest, deacon, subdeacon, lector, exorcist,
and usher. (Beneath these came three subdivisions of
novice; young trainees not yet of independent status.)
Like the master poet, the bishop had an honor price
equal to that of the king. Unlike the poets, each of the
other Church grades also claimed an honor price equal
to one of the other grades of lord. This claim was hard
to accommodate to the original structure of five grades
of lords in all. It may well explain the subsequent split-
ting of the aire forgaill grade into three subdivisions.
There was a separate grade structure for those not
in orders but trained in Christian learning (the gráda
ecnai). The highest grade, often called the fer léigind
(man of learning) or suí (sage), again had an honor
price equal to that of the king.
The Professions
According to Uraicecht Becc, some craftsmen had an
honor price equal to that of the lowest rank of lord
(i.e., equal to that of the aire désa). This was true of
the blacksmith (who worked in iron), the metal-wright
(who worked in copper, bronze, and precious metals),
and of physicians. It was also the case for a wood-
wright proficient in the construction of mills, churches,
or boats, and the wood-wright who produced cups and
bowls of yew wood. A wood-wright who combined all
four of these skills could rise in status as high as the
aire tuíse. Indeed, if he added yet other professions to
this, he could rise as high as the aire ard.
The calculation of the fees appropriate to these pro-
fessions was set out in specific law texts. A judge (or
“brehon”) who was competent to sit in judgment on
each of these professions likewise had an honor price
equal to that of their exponents (i.e., equal to the aire
désa). A judge proficient in all areas of Brehon Law
rose to an honor price equal to that of the aire tuíse.
One who was expert not only in Brehon Law but also
in the rights and obligations of poets and in canon law,
reached the honor price of the aire ard.
Among musicians, only the harpist (who accompa-
nied recitations of poetry) had free status on account
of his craft. He ranked with the highest of the com-
moners (the bóaire).
Mere carpenters (such as the builder of carts or the
maker of shields) had a modest status equal to that of
the mid-ranking commoner (the ócaire). This was also
true of decorative craftsmen such as relief-carvers and
cloth figurers.
Lesser craftsmen ranked only with the lowest grade
of freemen (the fer midboth). This was true of fisher-
men, leather-workers, and comb-makers.
Other occupations had no status at all. Their expo-
nents were semi-free, rating merely as the dependents
of those for whom they worked. This was true of
musicians (other than the harpist previously mentioned),
jesters, and chariot drivers.Movement Between Classes
A person could advance within his own class by
increasing his property or skill. However, movement
between classes was not as straightforward. Full mem-
bership of a particular class was usually restricted to
those whose father and grandfather had been members
of it.
So, for example, a common freeman might become
so prosperous that he was able to acquire clients. This
did not, however, entitle him to the rank of a lord.
Instead, he became a member of a transitional class.
He required twice as many clients as the aire désa
before he could claim the same honor price.
Among the semi-free, those who had remained so
for a number of generations lost all hope of inheriting
sufficient land to regain their independence. As a
result, they were locked into servitude. They were no
longer able to legally separate from the freemen on
whom they had become dependent.
Professions, including that of the poet, were also
usually hereditary.Necessity to Make Productive Use
of Wealth or Skills
Legal independence went hand in hand with economic
independence. It was not enough to possess the prop-
erty or acquire the learning appropriate to a particular
grade. It was necessary to put that land or learning to
productive use. A person who did not work their land,
or a professional who turned away work from members
of the public, had no claim to the honor price that they
might otherwise have deserved.Worthy Behavior
A person’s status was also dependent on their good
name. In effect, a person who had the property or
learning necessary for a particular grade lost half their
honor price if they behaved unworthily. This was true,
for example, of those who failed three times to prop-
erly fulfill their obligations as a surety. Half of a per-
son’s honor price was also lost if they were guilty of