Catalogue of Gaelic Manuscripts in the National Library of Scotland
© Ronald Black, 2011
Adv. MS 72.1.5
(Gaelic MS V). SHORT TEXTS: RELIGIOUS, HISTORICAL, MYTHOLOGICAL
Mackinnon, pp. 79, 109, 129, 203; Mackechnie, p. 137.
?15th cent. Vellum. 11 ff. Quarto, 26 × 19.5 cms. and under. Written in two columns.
Hands:
1. Text and notes, ff.1v-10v. An insipid hand of a type more characteristic of medical manuscripts, cf. Adv.MS.72.1.12. Distinctive uncial “r” and “v”-shaped “u”. No decoration save some red on capitals, ff.5–10. From various additions in a similar hand, especially that at f.6v.b41, it appears as if the scribe returned to annotate his work at a later point in time. Possibly in fact more than one hand: there is considerable variation in style towards the end of the manuscript. In text beginning 7r.a16 he employs an ugly, florid form of cipher.
2. Text, f.4r.b43–45.
3. Text, f.10v.b34–45; notes, same page. Maintains uncial “r”.
4. Text, f.11. A slightly elliptical hand of some character.
5. Ff.3v, 4v, 8r, 9v. Rudhraidhe (9v) and probably also his son or grandson Fearghus Ó Fearghail. Identical with hand 10 of Adv.MS.72.1.1. A note at f.4v records the end of spring ploughing at Cill Patruic. Although not common in Scotland, there are two occurrences of this placename in Mull – one in the Ross, and the other, perhaps significantly, at Duart.
6. Ff.3v, 4r.
7. F.4r.
8. Ff.4v, 5r, 6r. Domhnall.
9. F.4v. Giolla-Míchíl. Adv.MS.72.1.1, hand 9.
10. F.5r. A crude hand.
11. Ff.1r, 3rv. Rev. John Beaton.
The manuscript may, like Adv.MS.72.1.1, have been brought to Mull by Fearghal Óg Mac an Bháird or one of the Ó Fearghails. Rev. John Beaton had it in 1701 (f.1r). Kilbride no.15 by Major MacLachlan’s enumeration (“15th Historical Religious Some Poetry”, U.V., f.1r). No.1 by Hugh Kerr’s. The latter’s hand appears only in “No.1. H. Kerr”, f.1r. Consists of: a normal gathering of four bifolia with thong binding (ff.2–9); a further bifolium created from two leaves stitched together by a thong (ff.1, 10); a concluding leaf (f.11). F.11 is loosely attached to ff.2–9 by a single thong, while ff.1 and 10 are disjoined from the rest. A portion of f.1 is almost separate, despite the adherence of some repair-threads. A gash at f.5r is sewn in green thread. There is considerable damp-staining. Ff.1r and 11v are badly rubbed. The most serious textual losses, however, are at the inside lower corner of ff.1–10 and the inside upper corner of f.11, all of which are severely perished and crumbled through the action of rodents. The manuscript in general is dog-eared. F.11 is probably merely a cover. Foliation modern; ff.5–10 numbered in ink, doubtless by Grosjean.
Previously catalogued: Mackinnon, Cat. 79–83, 109–110, 129–34, 203–4; Mackechnie, Cat. 137–141.
folio
1r Blank save for “Eóin Maigbhetha 1701 san 1 don Magh” (hand 11) and other inscriptions mentioned above.
1v.a1 CATH LEITREACH RUIDHE. Beg. acephalous le dub dib cunam lais ach a fuil do dibergachaib aigi fein = ed. Dobbs, RC 39, p.10.12. Present text fully discussed by van Hamel, RC 44, p.59.
2v.a21 Preface to AMRA COLUIM CILLE. Beg. (L)oc ⁊ aimsir ⁊ persa ⁊ tucait sgribind don ealadain so. 2v.a23 “Log”. 2v.a27 “In aimsir”. 2v.a30 Aed mac Ainmirech na n-all, 9 qq. 2v.b8 “Persa”. 2v.b38 “Causa dá scribinne”. 2v.b40 “Prima causa dó”. 3r.a2 “Secunda causa dó” (“2”, hand 11). 3r.a11 “Teircia causa dó” (“3”, hand 11). Consists principally of exposition of the three reasons for Colum Cille’s coming to Convention of Drumcet. Includes the following verses. 3r.b2 Tosach do Chonchubair chaidh, 2 qq. 3r.b15 Feacht do Meal-Caba na cliar, 3 qq. 3r.b27 Ceathrachat sagart a lin, 2 qq. 3r.b38 Fuil suil nglais, 1 q. 3r.b41 Ge tainic Colum Cille cain, 1 q. 3v.a31 Bebanna fo cerd guba, 1 q. 3v.a37 Asaid feirg don righain de, 4 qq. 3v.b16 Cormac cain buich neoit, ?3 qq. (glossed). 4r.b12 A cubus co n-ainim glan, 2 lines. 4r.b26 Sluaigedh la fonduibh do gres, 1 q. Catchwords are inserted below 3v.b by hand 11. Ends “⁊ tuc teistemhain a Baisil dia forcedul do Colum Cille”, cf. RC 20, p.42. This version of the preface is close to that in YBL, pp.71–3, but largely independent of the printed editions, i.e. J. O’B. Crowe, The Amra Choluim Chilli (1871), Bernard and Atkinson, The Irish Liber Hymnorum (1898) 1, p.162 and 2, p.53, and Stokes’ in RC 20 (1899), p.30. Below (4r.b43, hand 2) is Ait arsuid Colman sa cliar, 1 q.; the first few words of this are crudely copied by hand 7, and hand 1 adds “aniu: ri mor….” And farther illegible matter. Other marginalia are as follows. F.3v, hand 5: “Amen a Muir tabhair trocair”, Mairg do Dhia do dhealbh misi, 1 q. (cf. Adv.MS.72.1.1, f.25v.b32). F.3v, hand 6: Cinnus sin a pinn, 3 lines. F.4r, hand 6: A righansa na mbos mban, 3 lines.
4v Blank save for the following. “Dom doigh is maith in dub so” (hand 1). “Aradh”, “amen a Mhuire” (hand 5). “Fromadh pinn and so o Domnall et fecain duibh ⁊ dom athne is olc iat” (hand 8). “Misi Rud”; “comortu / misi ircoirdiam / comortus re fear an leabhuirsi” (hand 5). Fiodhbuidh choncnama mo cholla, 1 q. (hand 9). “Aniu an Chedaoine roimh Chingis dosguir treabhadh a cill Patruic ⁊ co tuca Dia buil maith fair”; Mairmg do Dhia do dhealbh misi, 1 q. (cf. f.3v), “mo bennacht féin ar an bhel do rinne an r(ann)”; Goirt anocht deiriudh mo sgél, 1 q.; On ló do chuadhais uaind soir, 3 lines. (All hand 5).
5r.a1 ANECDOTES OF ST. GREGORY. Beg. Dia mbui Grigoir Roma oc imtecht feruind na Poinnti feacht ann. Headed by hand 7 “d” imeacht Grigoir ann so. Dia mbui G”. Ed. Grosjean, RC 46, p.226. Marginalia: “fechain in glesa an so” (5r, hand 10); “fechadh” (6r, hand 8).
6r.b19 SENADH SAIGHRI. Beg. Sluagadh la Dondchadh mac Floinn mhic Mael-Sechlainn do denamh muir ⁊ cluidh i timcill Saighri Ciarain.
Approximates closely to version printed by Meyer, Gaelic Journal 4 (1891), p.106; cf. Mercier, Irish Comic Tradition, p.119.
6v.a23 PASSION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, short version. Beg. Bai Eoin Baisti i cuibrech la Hiruadh iarna aslach Terodiaitis fair. Cf. Adv.MS.72.1.1, f.7v.a1. Subscribed at 6v.b41 “a Muiri is maith na sgeal becau sa leabharan”.
6v.b42 Anecdote from PASSION OF ST. PAUL. Beg. Dia mbai Pol abs(dal i cuibrec)h oc Neir Cesair. Cf. Flower, Cat. of Ir. MSS. in BM 2, p.556. Marginalium, f.7r: “fechain glesa pinn ⁊ duibh” (hand 1?).
7r.a35 Episode concerning the satirist Cridenbél and the Dagda from the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh. Beg. Cetna ailges rogabadh a nEirinn, cuich he? Ni ansa. Crichinbel cainti Breasa mhic Eladhain. Cf. RC 12, p.64.
7r.a16 St. Patrick’s revival of Lughaidh, son of Laoghaire, the origin of “Michael’s bit”. Mostly in cipher, beg. (transliterated) Feacht n-oaen dia mbai Padraicc a d(T)emruigh ar amus na righna boi oc Loegaire mac Neill d’eorighin a mac imon aincis boi fair. Cf. Fraser, Grosjean, O’Keefe, Irish Texts 1, p.43; Adv.MS.72.1.26, f.2r.a24; NLI MS G 4, col.998. The damaged remains of a three-line text appear in the lower margin of f.7r, roughly as follows: “Ma….do ghuidhi fuil anmad ciste. Is ger aduprad ganimtad fuil gadhair on lan….dibhsi….a ceile. Anam gach fir on uair tét mar…..deaman ‘na dhail leabhair ‘na laim dar lorcuib….” (U.V.).
7v.a9 CORMAC AND THE GEILTI GLINNI. Beg. Dia mbui dano Cormac mac Airt mhic C.C.C. iar fuinigh greine i Temruigh. Ed. Smith in Fraser, Grosjean and O’Keeffe, Irish Texts 4, p.16; cf. Meyer’s edition in Gaelic Journal 4, p.69. Followed by several lines beg. Do-beirim briatthar, largely illegible, probably added later and erased.
7v.b1 AIDED CHONCHUBAIR. Beg. Bai meisgi mor for Ultuib fecht n-aill a nEamain Macha. Differs somewhat from version in Adv.MS.72.1.40, p.1.1 (q.v.); ends with Ba sgel gach muighi go muir, 1 q. F.8r, upper margin (hand 5): Ainnticroist chriche Banbha . Taghd tuathDhall Mac Mathdhamhna, 1 q.
8r.b13 Account of the four Manannáns from TOCHMARC LUAINE. Beg. Robadar cetrar do Manannanib and ⁊ ni ‘na n-oen aimsir robadar. Cf. Stokes, ‘The Wooing of Luaine and Death of Athirne” (RC 24) §§ 7–10. Ends “Tricha cét Liathmuine tucad do Ganar i n-eroic a athar .i. ferann Dubtaig Daeltengadh”, cf. art. cit. §12.
8v.a1 On Tórna Éiges “Ollamh Éirenn”. Beg. Conall Echluath ise tuc ferann do Torna Éiges. The scribe later filled out the last line thus: “do coimlinagh an linde so ⁊ ní d’adhbar”. Above he writes “amen dic”.
8v.a7 “Do geinilach Ocain, uirri Fir Muidhe Mene”. Beg. Domnall mac Airt mhic Conchubair.
8v.a12 On Fithil, Ollamh Éirenn. Beg. Fithil ⁊ Cithruadh da mac Fircaegad Fachtna. Ends with Mac Fircaegat Fithil fial, 1 q.
8v.a16 Three alternative genealogies of Fionn. Beg. Find mac Cumguill mhic Baisgne mhic Oichi do Corca Oichi.
8v.a31 The numbers of the Fíana and their battles. Beg. Tri caegat rifeindidh badur araen ra Find.
8v.a40 On Parthalon and the origin of the Scots. Beg. As airi tucad in tamleacht for muinntir Pairtholain.
8v.b7 Dindshenchas. “Dun Maic Nechtuin Sgeine, cid dia ta? Ni ansa”. Beg. Nechtuin ingen Sgeine do Corca Laidi. Cf. RC 16 p.83.
8v.b11 Dindshenchas, also concerning the son of Nechtan Sgéine. “Loch Eirne, cid dia ta? Ni ansa”. Beg. Fer Uillne mac Lugdech do Ernuib Mumun. Cf. Adv.MS.72.1.16, f.4v.a9.
8v.b22 On dispute between the bainfhéinidh Creidine and her father Conall Cosdamuil. Beg. Conoille Muirtheimne do cloind Conaill Cernaigh doib .i. Dal Runtar ⁊ Dal nImdha a Cuailcne. Cf. Meyer, Fianaigecht, p.xi.
8v.b40 Tri fotain nach sechuinter, 19 qq. F.8v, lower margin: Lonn gach rí díageis co thó, 2 qq.
9r.a34 Oillill bocht . ni fetar riamh gus anocht, 8 qq. Ascribed in q.8 to Mór Mumhan.
9r.b7 A maccu leiginn lidha, 8 qq.
9r.b23 Cidh do-den rim chnoim imhais, 8 + 4 qq.
9v.a4 Bé Boirche. Bec a Beind Boirchi na righ, 9qq. Headed “Be Boirche ingen Cinaet a crich Boirche .i. bean Beic isi rocan”. Subscribed by hand 5 “Comortus ann so ó Rudhruidhe re fear sgriobhtha an leabairsi”.
9v.a24 Labra cibe dia n-imdha, 5 qq.
9v.a34 Oclaech bis a n-ulcai naim, 20 qq.
9v.b32 [Colum Cille.] Laich tosaigh na h-aimsiri, 11 qq. Cf. Flower, Cat. of Ir. MSS. in BM 2, pp.479–80.
10r.a8 [Idem.] Meallach lem bith a n-ucht ailoin, 12 qq. Cf. ZCP 5, p.496; Skene, Celtic Scotland 2, p.92. Printed by Mackinnon, Cat., p.81.
10r.a30 Robad mian dom anmainsi, 8 qq. Ed., Meyer, Gaelic Journal 5, p.94. Subscribed “da fecuin in fuil gles ortt a phinn ⁊ ni lór a fheabus do gles”.
10r.b2 Tuagh Inbir alaind gaethghlas, 16 qq. Cf. Adv.MS.72.1.16, f. 4ra5. 4r.a5.
10r.b36 On Moses’ rescue of Gaoidheal Glas from snakebite. Beg. Ceitri h-inuda na fil aittreb nathrach isin domhan .i. Eriu ⁊ Aru ⁊ Manund ⁊ ni fuil i cind Sleibe Ripin tuaig i tuaisgirt in beatha. Cf. Adv.MS.72.1.1, f.8r.a36.
10v.a4 FULACHT NA MÓRRIGNA. Beg. Fulact na morrighna and so .i. crand a roth ⁊ crand a mol ettir teine ⁊ uisci. Ed. Mackinnon, Celt. Rev. 8, p.74, and Cat., p.133. Cf. Celt. Rev. 10, p.335.
10v.a37 Cetri srotha nIfirnn ain, 4 qq.
10v.b4 Ni cumuing nech mo dicell, 2 qq. Subscribed by hand 3 “ni maith a t-egis do rindi an lai sein s”.
10v.b9 Meisi Fuillechan feidil, 13 qq. Cf. Flower, Cat. op. cit., p.479.
10v.b33 (Hand 3). Homily, largely illegible and incomplete due to perished corner, beg. Do smuain an Diabhal, dia fabadh se. Headed “A Muire mor, a minn sochair”.
11r.a (Hand 4). From BIRTH AND LIFE OF ST. MOLING. Beg. acephalous ….in cleirech dibach d(iult)aghach…..’na tard (dui)nne co ndernaid f(ell).......mui(n)ter.....’na h-iarmoirecht, ol se. Breaks off incomplete 11v.a5 “Ro cuirsed na righa etir”. These words appear to be repeated by another hand, then rest of page blank. Cf. ed. Stokes, RC 27, pp.286. 4–292.2 (§§42–52). There is an illegible marginalium at f.11r (hand 1?).