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Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Irish Language in the Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique / Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België

7 KBR MS 5095-96; Cat. No. 506

Martyrology of Donegal (Long Recension)

Summary particulars

17^th cent. Paper. Ff. i + 106 ff., 210 × 160 mm. (Inside front cover unnumbered; f. [iii] numbered olim ‘0’) + 105 + [106 r]. Bound in original vellum cover folded inwards at outer edges, and with inside covers at front and back formed by pasting a single leaf to the back of the vellum. The main text (ff. 5r-100v) is in the hand of Míchéal Ó Cléirigh (signature absent). A colophon included in his hand on f. 100v (which may have been inserted retrospectively, to judge from the fact that it appears to be written between entries in another hand) states that the MS was begun and completed at the Convent of the friars of Donegal in April 1630. (This date presumably refers only to the completion of the actual Calendar list of Irish saints which is written throughout in brown ink.) Two principal annotators apart from the main scribe are registered throughout the MS and can be identified by reference to signed material from other sources, viz. (1) Fr Hugh Ward d. 1635 (miscellaneous notes at ff. 1rv, 101rb8, 102rv, 104r-105vv, and copious annotations e.g. f. 13r right margin), and (2) Fr John Colgan d. 1658 (8r, 11v, 13v, 14r, 14v, 31r, etc.) (For identification of (1), see P. A. Breatnach, ‘An Irish Bollandus: Fr Hugh Ward and the Louvain hagiographical enterprise’, Éigse 31 (1999), 1-30 (27-30), and for (2), idem, ‘Scribal accretions in the Martyrology of Donegal (Long Recension)’, in Martyrologies in the Insular World, ed. N. Volmering ([2016] forthcoming Brepols 2020).

Previous description: J. van den Gheyn, Catalogue des manuscrits de la Bibliothèque royale de Belgique 7 vols. (Bruxelles 1901-07) I, pp. 318-19. The contents of the entire MS were edited by J. H. Todd and W. Reeves, The Martyrology of Donegal: A calendar of the saints of Ireland translated from the original Irish by the late John O’Donovan. Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society (Dublin 1864) [= MDon.].

Index of contents

Inside front cover. Miscellaneous Latin notes and notices, various hands (roman script). These together with similar notes and notices occurring at f. 1r and at the end of the volume, f. 102r-105v, were published en bloc in MDon. pp. xxiv-xlvii, ‘Appendix to the Introduction’, sections A and B, with continuous roman numbering assigned editorially to items within each section [referenced below where applicable in parentheses]. (i) Necrology (name of individual illegible) (4 ll.), ends sepultus Lovanij ad cornu Evangelii secus summum nostrae Ecclesiae altare, ubi ante pedes sunt corpora Nolæ et Margaritæ et Hugonis Odonellorum [MDon. App. to Introd., A no. I]. (ii) Necrology of Archduchess Isabella, Ann. D. 1633 ... Serenissima D. Isabella Clara Eugenia (2 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., no. II]. (iii) Necrology of Philip III of Spain, 31 Martij 1621 … etc. (1 l.) [MDon. App. to Introd., no. III]. (iv) Note on wife of Malachias rex [sc. Mael Seachlainn], mother of S. Colmanus of Austria (2 ll.), citing Bruodinus [MDon., App. to Introd., A no. IV]. (v) Title, ‘Martyrol. / Dungallense’ (2 ll.). (vi) Sanctus Mac-ceannaigh, patrunus de Glearma (?) et de Uaimh Mic-Ceannaigh, ibid. (sic) (2 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., A no. V].

[i]r . Modern leaf (unnumbered) with non-scribal heraldic drawing. Verso side blank.

[ii]r . Modern leaf (unnumbered) with transcription of foregoing notes signed by E. Curry. Printed matter on verso.

[iii] ('0') rv . Blank.

1r . Miscellaneous notes in Latin and Irish, various hands, mixed roman and Irish scripts [MDon. references given below as in preceding]. (i) (Top margin) jottings include name (a) Emmian (?), (b)Abbas in Yy kennsely … Lageniensium ... 30, © A. B. (large letters) (sc. A(odh) B(uidhe) (?), see below) (1 l.). (ii) Vide Gregorium Homilia etc., grammatical note concerning usage of innotescit (1 l.) [MDon., App. to Introd., A no.VI]. (iii)Ulltan Airde Breacain dochum in himuinn ‘Brigit be biothmait’ etc. (4 ll.), concerns compositions of St. Ultan [MDon., App. to Introd., A no. VII]. (iv) Apud Amazonas spatiosam in Indiis orientalibus continentem regionem etc., concerns longevity of men in east Indies (7 ll.) [MDon., App. to Introd., A no. VIII]. (v) Centered jottings in large letters (include ‘Amalgh’, ‘Amen dico vobis’, ‘Amen dísl’, ‘Anno domini’) (2 ll.). (vi) Vide stabilem Trist Gandavi etc. (illegible in part) (2 ll.) [MDon., App. to Introd., A no. IX]. (vii) ‘Amalgh’ (?). (viii) S. Comgellus obiit an. 600, etc. (2 ll.) [MDon., App. to Introd., A no. X]. (Items i, iv, vi, viii are in roman script.) (ix) (Bottom margin) Various scribblings written from outer edge inwards mainly in black ink, including (in brown) the words ‘Aodh bui (space) Anno dni 1631’, also ‘diomsuch Amo ol’ (?); ‘Aniectus / Amen’.

1v . Blank.

2r . Testimonial in Irish with signature, Flann Mac Aodhagain, ‘a mBaile Mhec Aedhaccáin, .i. Nouembris, 1636’ (12 ll.). (Text with translation, MDon., p. l.)

2v . Testimonial in Irish with signature, Conner Mac Brody da ngoirter Mac Bruaideadha, ‘i Cill chaoide .ii. Nouembris, 1636’ (12 ll.). (Text with translation, MDon. p. li.)

3r . Approbation in Latin with signature, Malachias Archiepiscopus Tuamensis, ‘datum Galviæ 15 Kalendas Decembris, .1636.’ (14 ll.). (Text in MDon., p. lii.)

3v . Approbation in Latin with signature, Frater Boetius Elphynii Episcopus, ‘datum Rosriela 27 Novembris 1636’ (7 ll.). (Text in MDon., p. liii.)

4r . Approbation in Latin with signature, Fr Thomas Fleming Archiepiscopus Dublinensis Hiberniæ Primas, ‘actum Kildariæ, 6. Februarii anno 1636’ (6 ll.). (Text in MDon., p. liv.)

4v . Approbation in Latin with signature, Fr Rochus Kildarensis, ‘datum in loco nostræ mansionis die 8 Januarii, anno Domini 1637’ (17 ll.). (Text in MDon., p. lv.)

5r . [MARTYROLOGY OF DONEGAL]. Calendar of Irish saints with copious marginal and interlineal annotations and additions entered by main scribe (e.g. f. 5r) and various others throughout. Headed Ianuarius. Begins A Kalendis Ianuarii 1 / Dabheocc Locha Geircc. Name-entries arranged according to days of month, with each allotted a separate line. Running titles with name of month. Ianuarius ends f. 11r;Februarius begins f. 11r 6; Martius begins f. 16r 5; Aprilis begins f. 21v i.; Maius begins f. 26r 7; Iunius begins f. 31r 6; Iulius begins f. 35v i.; Augustus begins f. 39v i.; September begins f. 44r 9; October begins f. 49r i.; November begins f. 53v i.; December begins f. 59r i. Ends f. 65r i. Lughna deocain. Subscribed ‘Finis’. (Edited, M. Don. 1 f.)

66r . CLÁR NA MARTARLOIGE. Index of foregoing calendar list (names and dates in separate columns), with annotations entered in margins and interlineally. Begins Abban mac ua Corbmaic abb 16 Mart. Ends f. 100v 8 (entry appended in later hand) Uilliam o tindsbidhe 23 Novembris. Subscribed ‘FINIS’, followed by colophon written in later: ‘don martarlaic .19. April .1630. i cconueint brathar Dúin na nGall ro tionnsgnadh ⁊ ro criocnaighedh’ (text in MDon. 354 f.). Note follows f. 100r m., begins ‘S. Cummianus, epistola xi. ad Segienum etc.’ (8 ll.) [text in MDon. App. to Introd., B no. I.; for source (sc. Ussher, Sylloge veterum epistolarum hibernicarum [1632]), cf. ibid. p. xxvi n. 3].

101r . Pairing of biblical apostles etc. with correlative Irish saints. Headed ‘Hi sunt sancti qui erant unius moris ⁊ uitæ ut dicunt’. In two columns, some annotation added. Begins Iohannes Baptiza. Epscop Ibhair. / Petrus apostolus. Patriciius [sic]. Ends col. b, ll. 6-7, Augustinus episcopus Angalorum Bairre episcopus Muman ⁊ Connacht. (Cf. A. O’Sullivan, The Book of Leinster VI (Dublin 1983), 1682-83; P. Ó Riain, Corpus genealogiarum sanctorum Hiberniae (Dublin 1985), 160-1.) (Another copy: 8, f. 181r.)

101rb8 . Note appended at end of foregoing list: ‘Hic ad summum fuit imitatio uirtutum aut forte tamen Norbertinus seruunt / Regulam Augustini iuxta normam Norberti, et cetera/ aut Cistersiensis vel Dominicani, uel/ Rumoldus & Iohannes baptista/ Patricius ⁊ Moyses (?)/ Foillanus ⁊ Elias propheta’ (6 ll.).

101v . Blank.

102r . Extract from [Mac Carthaigh’s Book]. Heading, ‘Don cavaldus dhéighenach as liuuar Meic Cartuich .i. Finghin do scrioph Diarmuid h. Suilleabhan. An[no] 1633 i Londoin’. Begins Isind aimsir sin tug Diarmuid mac Murchadha Rí Laighean Dearbhorguill inghean Murchadha meic Floinn ben Tigernain ui Ruairc Rígh Laighean ocus Midhe do reir coda dona leabhraibh ar éalódh ar scáth éigin leis. Ends f. 102v 8 Ragnall o Breislein taoiseach Fanad anno domini mclxxxiiii 1184. Corresponds to Miscellaneous Irish Annals, ed. Séamus Ó hInnse (Dublin 1947), Fragment I (Mac Carthaigh’s Book), 46 ff. (a. d. 1165 §§3-7, 1167 §§6, 1172 §§1-2, 1178 §2, 1183 §3 (with some departures and omissions). (Printed in MDon., App. to Introd. B II.) Remainder of f. 102v blank.

103r . Blank.

103v . Notes and extracts from Latin authors. (i) [beginning lost] (2 ll.); (ii) Basil. epistola ad Diodorum etc. (1½ ll.); (ii) Ambr[osiaster] in c. .1. ep. 1 ad Corinth. ... c. 14 in 2. ad Corinth. etc. (3 ll.); (iii) Aug[ustinus] [de] Trin[itate] c. 3 (3 ll.); (iv) Cicero Lib. de finibus [bonorum et malorum] (2 ll.). (v) Gloss: ‘misge’ .i. raptus aut extasis ab eo quod canit Eulª: laeti bibamus sobriam ebrietatem spiritus .i. ‘naoímhmisge’ (first and last words in Irish script) (1 l.). Remainder of page blank.

104r . Miscellaneous historical and topographical notes in Irish and Latin including occasional subject index in left margin. (i) Prophecy attributed to Berchán. ‘Vaticinium’ (marg.), Atá tairngire fada fhollas Bercáin etc. (3 ll. followed by two blank lines) [Printed in MDon. App. to Introd., B III]. (ii) Earl of Tyrone’s hands preserved seven years after death. ‘Manus Oneilli’ (marg.), In S. Petro montis aurei Romae etc. [MDon. App. to Introd., B IV] (3 ll.). (iii) Event during insurrection of O’Conor Faly, 1537. ‘Calamiter.../ buruntur Aug’ (?) (marg.), Anno 1537 O Conc hubhar Failge (mixed scripts) (5 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B V]. (iv) Note on extent of five provinces citing poem ‘Coig cóigibh Eirenn áine’ as source. ‘Limites pen .../’ (marg.), Coigeadh Meadhbha ó Luimneach go Drobaois etc. (3 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B VI]. (v) Testament of Cathaír mac Feidhlimidh. ‘Testam. Cathar[i]/ magni regis Hiberniae’ (marg.), Timna Cataoir meic Feidlimidh righ Erenn atbath la Conn cetcathach etc.’ (13 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B VII]. (All items other than (iii) in Irish script.)

104v . Miscellaneous notes continued. (vi) (Loss of text in first line) Prophecy of Finn with dates, includes quatrain beg. Siol cConuill, siol Eógain fhéil [MDon. App. to Introd., B VIII ] (2 ll.). (vii) i conconndæ (sic) Corcaighe ata na Desi Muman. [MDon. App. to Introd., B IX] (viii) Royal sites, As le leth Cuinn na riogpuirt oirecuis acht Caisiol nammá etc. (1 l.) [ibid.]. (ix) Races of kings. Reges Herimoni generis ante fidem etc. (3 ll.) [ibid.] (x) List of books. ‘Libri famosiores’ (marg.), Liupar gabaltus etc. (2 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XI] (xi) Ancestry of kings, names for Ireland, etc. Hugonio Magno iurato rege etc. (5 ll.) (mixed scripts) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XII]. (xii) In left margin An. 1601. táinig don / Seon del Aguila go / Cenn Sáile [MDon. App. to Introd., B XIII]. (xiii) List of names with ‘Cill’ prefixed. Cill Frasuigh etc. (2 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XIV]. (xiv) Note on name ‘Aodh’. ‘Ido Hugo’ (marg.),[Ehud] Hebræorum dux, qui et [Aod] etc. (2 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XV]. (xv) ‘Purgatorium S. P.’ (marg.), Ataid cúig leptha duirpennuide ann etc. (3 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XVI]. (xvi) Book of Durmhaigh. Ata leabar Coluim C. .i. leabar Durmhaighei nDurmhaigh ... go ccengal airgid acus gemmuibh (l l.) [MDon.App. to Introd., B XVII]. (xvii) House of Colum Cille in Kells. Ata teac Col>uim C. suas i cCennanus ... an leacsa ort a Ghormlaith. (3 ll.) [ibid.]. (xviii) Note on Aodh mac Bric. Aodh mac Bric meic Corbmaic etc. (4 ll.) (mixed scripts) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XVIII]. (xix) Tub of Berchán. Dobhach Bercháin do fríoth go nuaidhi etc. (2 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XIX]. (Items other than (xi), (xiv),(xviii) in Irish script.)

105r . Miscellaneous notes continued. (xx) Tradition concerning St Lomman.S. Lommani episcopi nepotis S. Patricii etc. (5 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XX]. (xxi) Extracts from work in English by Henry Harris. ‘Celestius, Jo. Scotus’ (marg.), Adeir Henri Harris in apolu. pag. 88 ‘The days were when Celestius, a man of this country’s birth, brought in Pilagianisme ...’ (17 ll.) [ MDon. App. to Introd., B XXI]. (xxii) Vide lect. 2 noct. Dom. 4 post Epiphaniam etc. (1 l.) [ibid.]. (xxiii) Short notes (a) Domhnach Caoide etc. [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXII] (1 l.); (b) Mobheocc etc. [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXIII] (1 l.); (c) Baile Ath in Urchair etc. [ MDon. App. to Introd., B XXIV] (3 ll.); (d) Lainn Ealo etc. [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXV] (1 l.). (e) ‘De longe/ aevis’ (marg.), Adeir an t[athair]. b[i]caire Uater Ualess co bfacaidh sé fein Concubar scológ in aice Atha Cliath ... qui obiit anno 1629 circiter (2 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXVI]. (For mention of Pr Walterus Walsh, see Louvain papers, ed. B. Jennings (Dublin 1968) pp. 98 (document dated 1632), 121 (see n. 1, date mentioned 1635.) (Items other than (xxi, l. 1), and (xxiii) are in roman script.)

105v . Miscellaneous notes continued (with text loss at edges). (i) On alternative names, Lasri propinquus etc. (2 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXVII]; Sedno etc. (1 l.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXVIII]. (ii) Gloriemur in Domino etc… Ambrosius Serm. in natali S. Laurentii (1½ l.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXIX]. (iii) Ciar acus Lasar virgines etc. (2 × ½ l.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXX]. (iv) Teampoll porraisde Tigi Saráin etc. (1 l.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXXI]. (v) Baile darab ainm Li Manchain etc. (mixed scripts) (1 l.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXXII]. (vi) Patron of fishermen. Donnchadh, 30 Octobris etc. (4 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXXIII]. (vii) Ó Ferghail arms. Leoman amháin... Fiafraidh do Murchadh an Captin (1 l.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXXIV]. (viii) ‘Meachuir .i. machare seu Meacharius’. In quadam oratione etc. (1½ l.) [MDon. App. to Introd., BXXXV]. (ix) Note on Aidan of Lindisfarne (gives Camden’s Britannia as source). Aodhan Innsi Miodcóit etc. (2 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXXVI]. (x) Anecdote. De S. Felimio Killmorensi 9 Augusti cum D. Brianus Orelly ex Breffnia in Montem Carbryum peregre cum subditis emigraret etc. (9 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXXVII]. (xi) Moral sayings, prayers....Væ qui prædaris etc. (5 ll., underlined) [ibid.]. (xii) In lower margin : ‘tan... do dhluigh no eolang’. (Items other than i, v, viii, x in Irish script.)

[106r.] Inside back cover. Single column (right hand side). List of saints’ names and dates. Begins Loichén 17 Aprilis. Ends l. 25 Comhghala 28 Iulij. (00 ll.) [MDon. App. to Introd., B XXXVIII]. Written vertically between column and left side of page is the note: ‘Atáim acc iarraid oraibh sib fein do leasuccadh’.