Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in Royal Irish Academy
1134
23 E 29
BOOK OF FERMOY
Mainly 15th cent. Vellum. Present size of leaves, with mounting, 11 3/10 × 9 3/10 (without mounting the original leaves measured about 7½ × 10, with variation). The ms. consists of 238 pp. These have been numbered recently (since Todd's 1873 catalogue) in ink, the numbers being enclosed in square brackets. The bracketed ink numeration is here given first, without brackets : older numerations, where visible, are given after it in brackets. The older numeration for pp. 1–16 is a comparatively modern one : the numbers are red and now faded. From p. 17-p. 206 the older numeration, where visible, is in the upper margin, and dates from the 17th or 18th cent. (cf. catalogue entry for item beg. p. 202): it has sometimes been cut away. Pp. 207-216 have been foliated by E. O'Curry (ff. 123-129, the number 127 inadvertently omitted : cf. Todd, pp. 51, 52). Pp. 217-230 are foliated as E 1-E 6 in the lower margin (E 5 and E 6 also in the upper margin). Pp. 229-238 bear no traces of an older numeration.
Dr. J. H. Todd in his Descriptive Cat. of . . . the Bk. of Fer., R.I.A. Ir. MSS. Ser., I, 1873, p. 5 sq., has distinguished the main divisions of the ms. and the various staves (i.e., original gatherings) of leaves of which those divisions are composed. A reference to the relevant page of Dr. Todd's catalogue has been given in the margin of the present catalogue at the beginning of each stave distinguished by him. The original gatherings, owing to the mounting of each page before binding, are no longer distinguishable. That Dr. Todd should occasionally have made a mistake (e.g., in not noticing that p. 157 was misplaced) hardly throws doubt on the general accuracy of his distinguishing of the original staves.
"The Book of Fermoy might," says Dr. Todd (p. 4), "with equal propriety, be called the Book of Roche. It is a loose collection of miscellaneous documents, written at different times, and in very different hands; a great part of it relates to the family history of the Roche family of Fermoy." Dr. Todd believed that pp. 17-216 constituted the true Book of Fermoy (Todd, p. 7).
Three main types of handwriting appear in the ms.
The first type, pp. 1-16 (strong vellum), is a large coarse book-hand, perhaps of the 14th century. This hand is the hand of the scribe of D iii 1, f. 7 sq.; D iii 1 and pp. 1-16 of the Bk. of Fer., must have originally belonged to the same ms. (see first item catalogued infra).
The second type, pp. 17-216 (mainly weaker vellums), appears in various styles, all, except the very distinct small, neat upright hand of most of pp. 147-151, and the more irregular hands which follow it on pp. 151 i-154 (cf. also 165-166), having a general resemblance. Among these styles of the second type special attention may be drawn to that on pp. 25, col. 2-26 (more ornamental than usual, resembling that on pp. 159, col. 2-164, 167, 1. 10 sq.), and to that on pp. 45-54 (more sloping than usual, tending towards a cursive style on p. 52; replaced by an unusually careful upright style at the beginning of "Psaltair na Muic[e]," p. 54). Sometimes when the general effect differs from the ordinary, it may be due to extraneous causes (e.g., on pp. 57-62, the different effect is perhaps; due to closer writing). On p. 115 two quite different styles appear on one page. The text on pp. 157, 181-188 is written by a hand whose letters are less well formed than usual. The same item is continued and concluded on pp. 189-192 (in a different recension which contains more poetry) by a different hand. A note on different hands in the Gearóid Iarla series of poems will be found infra at the end of the catalogue entry for the item beginning on p. 166.
The third type of handwriting, pp. 217-224 (vellums resembling pp. 17-216), is more cursive. Three hands may be distinguished: 1°, pp. 217-224; 2° (very neat), pp. 225-228; 3° pp. 229-232. These three hands are the hands of medical scribes, perhaps of the 15th cent.
P. 233, the recto of a fragmentary leaf, is in a neat 15th (?) cent. hand. The writing on the back of it (p. 234) may be in the same hand.
The stained leaves that follow (pp. 235-238) seem to be in styles of the second type.
The following date occurs on a page on which the second type of handwriting appears: 22 [No]vember 1457 (p. 55, col. 2 : see catalogue entry for item beg. on p. 45). The scribe, Domhnall Ó L(e)[ighin], whose name appears at the end of the item beg. on p. 146, lived about the same period, as his connection with a document written in 1461 shows (infra entry for item beg. p. 153). The small neat hand (147-151) and the irregular hands (151-154, 165-166) mentioned a few lines higher up belong apparently to the 16th century (cf. entries for pp. 147 and 153).
The following names of scribes of the second type occur: Domhnall Ó L(e)[ighin] (see entry for p. 146); DáibIth Ó Du(ib . . .) (see no. 30 in entry for Gearóid Iarla series, beg. p. 159). One of the scribes classified among the later irregular hands in the paragraph on dates supra was Torna (mac) Torna Uí M[h]aoil Chonaire (entry for p. 153).
The patron of the main group of these scribes of the second type would seem to have been David [Mór] son of Maurice son of John Roche (see colophon on p. 55 cited infra in the entry for p. 45, and entry for p. 153). The poem on p. 81 appears to have been composed in his honour, and doubtless other mentions of David Roche "An Róitseach," etc., in other bardic poems in the ms., refer to him; but, as so many Davids son of Maurice Roche exist, it would be rash for one not an expert in Roche history to decide definitely at what dates, and for whom, many of these poems were written. Torna mac Torna Uí Mhaoil Chonaire (see paragraph on scribes' names), and doubtless also the other writers of the pages assigned to the 16th century (see supra paragraph on dates), wrote for a David son of Maurice Roche (entry for p. 153; poems on p. 147 sq.), great-great-grandson of the David Mór son of Maurice Roche, for whom the main portion of the ms. seems to have been written. Diarmaid Ua Leighin, who was ollamh to this 16th-century David Roche (entry for p. 153), was probably a descendant of the Domhnall Ua L(e)[ighin] who wrote for David Mór in the 15th century (supra, paragraph on dates, and paragraph on names of scribes).
It may be assumed that the ms. was all written in the Roches country in or around Fermoy. The 16th-century scribe, Torna mac Torna Uí Mhaoil Chonaire, is the only scribe, however, who mentions a definite place of writing, "Baile an Caislein an Roitsigh" (entry for p. 153) [= Castletownroche, Barony of Fermoy, Co. Cork].
Extraneous scribblings are noted infra in the entries for pp. 38, 67, 85, 113, 148, 150, 158, 172, and in the last paragraph of the entry for the series beginning on p. 159. The signature "Uilliam ua hEaghra, 1805" (p. 97, inner margin : cf. p. 109, lower margin), is perhaps that of a former owner. [The same O'Hara had access to the late 15th century B.M. MS. Eg. 1781 about the same time: cf. R. Flower, Gat. of Ir. MSS. in the B.M., II, 526.] Here and there a former reader has made pencil-marks on the vellum leaves to guide him in referring to the text (e.g., p. 108, in the blank space dividing the columns). Here and there signs of re-inking may be found (e.g., p. 178).
The pages are normally written in two columns, but pp. 81-82, 117-122, 143, 147-154, 165-168, 205-206 are in single columns (of the single-column pages mentioned, p. 143 and part of pp. 167-168 are in continuation of double-column pages).
The vellum of p. 111 was mutilated before being written on, as is shown by the fact that no text has been lost in spite of the mutilation. Page 1 is largely illegible owing to rubbing and staining. This is true of the margins of almost all pages from p. 17 on. Indeed hardly any page of the manuscript from p. 17 on is wholly legible, and some pages are almost wholly illegible. In the catalogue entries infra, words or letters which are almost illegible in the ms. have been printed in round brackets ( ). Chasms occur after pp. 16, 44, 88, 154, 158, before p. 207, after pp. 210, 212, 216, before pp. 219, 225, 229, 231, 233. The chasm after p. 210 is completely filled by Brit. Mus. MS. Eg. 92, f. 24; and that after p. 212 is partially filled by Eg. 92. Page 157 is misplaced, as also certain pages after p. 217 (correct order 217-218, 221-222, 219-220, 223-224).
The first item in the ms. contains some simply decorated capitals. Spaces for decorated capitals which were never inserted have been left on certain pages (e.g., 177, 193, 194, 197, 199, 201, 202). Such capitals have been inserted where necessary in square brackets, without note, in the catalogue entries infra.
The ms. may once have been in the possession of the O'Hickeys, "who were hereditary physicians" (Todd, pp. 5, 53): the name of the scribe of the item beginning on p. 45, and the jotting on p. 204, lend colour to this belief, suggested to Dr. Todd by the medical nature of the last section, concerning which "we may fairly conjecture that this is a fragment of one of their professional MSS. which has got mixed up with the Book of Fermoy" (Todd, p. 53). Its history before its possession by William Monck Mason in the early 19th century is uncertain (Todd, pp. 3-4). It may, as has been already said, have belonged to William O'Hara about 1805. It was purchased in 1858 at the sale of William Monck Mason's books by Dr. Todd, Lord Talbot de Malahide, Gen. Sir Thomas A. Larcom, and Charles Haliday, with a view to have it "deposited in the Library of the Academy" (Todd, p. 4).
The ms. is now bd. in simply tooled black leather, preserved in a loose black leather cover, both loose cover and true binding being lettered in gold on the back: "Book of Fermoy. MS. Royal Irish Academy." This binding would seem to be posterior to the publication of Todd's Catalogue in 1873 (cf. remark on gatherings supra). The box in which the ms. was contained in 1873 (Todd, pp. 3-4) and the accompanying list of contents, "apparently in the handwriting of Edward O'Reilly," are not now traceable. One vellum flyleaf has been inserted by the binder before p. 1, and another after p. 238.
For the close connection between the Book of Fermoy and Brit. Mus. MS. Eg. 92 see infra entries for pp. 113, 207, 213, and Dr. R. Flower's remarks in his Cat. of Ir. MSS. in the Brit. Mus., II, p. 505 sq. Eg. 92, fí. 18-25 (see infra entries for pp. 207, 213 of Bk. of Fermoy) clearly when first written formed part of the section of the Bk. of Fermoy which they complete. Eg. 92, ff. 12-17, bear a date 1453, not far distant from the date 1457, already mentioned as occurring on p. 55 of the Bk. of Fermoy. The remaining 18 folios of Eg. 92 resemble the Book of Fermoy in containing religious texts, texts relating to Fermoy, medical texts, and an Ó Leighin signature. The fact that the item beg. on p. 71 of the Bk. of Fermoy is almost identical with that on f. 30 of Eg. 92 would tend to show, however, that at least pp. 71-80 of the Bk. of Fermoy and f. 30, and the accompanying leaves, of Eg. 92 were not originally written to form part of the same ms. (see also entry infra for p. 83, col. 1, 1. 1). On the other hand, Dr. Flower's suggestion (l.c., p. 506) that the Bk. of Fermoy is to be looked upon as a "collection of MSS." rather than as a single ms. enables us to look on the whole of Eg. 92 as once belonging to the library collection to which the various sections of the Bk. of Fermoy also belonged.
The facsimile of f. 140, etc., of the Book of Lismore, published by the Rev. P. Power in his Crichad an Chaoilli, Cork, 1932, p. 37 sq., shows that the 15th century scribe of that ms. wrote a hand very similar to that of the scribe of many pages of the Book of Fermoy (e.g., pp. 41, 141).
67 (f. 49a). Tochmurc Treblainni ~ a hOídedh (see last words : cf. similar title inserted by a later hand above the first line). Beg. Froech mac Fidhaigh fholtruaigh o Sidh Fhidaigh o Loch Fhidhaigh o Dún Coistinne o Ínís Enarus. The words In nomine Patris Filii ~ Spiritus Sancti, which Todd (Cat., p. 22) read at the beginning, in the upper margin of p. 67, are now indecipherable.
71 (f. 51a), col. 2, 1. 10. Story of St. Ciarán of Clonmacnoise and Cairbre Crom, king of Hy Many. Beg, Buí Cóirpre Crom mac Feradhaigh . . . Do-gní Cairpre ulca iumda fri cach. Almost identical with the version in Eg. 92 (ef. Flower, Catalogue, II, p. 517).
72 (f. 51b)m, An account of the Events leading up to the Expulsion of the Déisi (cf. supra 90, 213). Beg. Righ uasul oirmhidnech oireda do ghabh flaithemhnus Fodla fecht n-aill .i. Cond Cédcathach mac Feidhlimigh Rechtmhair. The tract includes the poems : (p. 72, col. 2, l. 11) Bronan fola, feís troghaín, 5 qq. (P. 74, col. 2, l. 6) Fuíl Chuínd do-chuaigh fo thalmain, 11 qq. (P. 75, l. 5) Trí slúaidhigh gach enbliadna, 9 qq. (P. 75, col. 2, l. 9) Tigidh, a mhna, ím colainn Chuínd, 9 qq. (P. 76, l. 32) [T](ri) (m)eic Fheidhlímígh amra, 9 qq. Ends imperfect, doubtless owing to a chasm in the ms., at the foot of p. 80, with the words cona srianaibh sreath-mhaiseach(.).
81 (f. 56a), 1. 1. Last quatrain of a poem to An Rōitseach ending ni chuala fher fam anoir. There must be a chasm in the ms. before this page.
81 (f. 56a), 1. 2. Donnchadh mac Taidhg Í Dhálaigh [and his brother : see qq. 20 and 21, and ascription after q. 57]. Dleag(h)ar cundradh do chomhall. 55 + 2 + 1 qq. For David son of Maurice Roche [cf. supra colophon on p. 55, quoted in the catalogue entry for the item beg. on p. 45?], giving a list of his victories (caithréim). Of the extra qq. two are for Siuán, daughter of Aibhilín and Cormac [MacCarthy? see item beg. on p. 27, catalogued supra, and items beg. on pp. 165, 166, catalogued infra] [mother of David Roche? See q. 8, and p. 82, 11. 7, 20, of present poem, and cf. item beg. on p. 194 catalogued infra]. The last q. is for the Blessed Virgin. The poets (see q. 14) were connected with the Dalcassians (Co. Clare). [A son of Donnchadh mac Taidhg í Dhálaigh of Corcomruadh, Co. Clare, died in 1514 (F.M.).] The lower portion of p. 82 is blank.
p.
Todd p. 5
1 . Fragment of Leabhar Gabhála. Beg. (In principio). Though the first page has recently been cleaned, much of it is still faint or illegible. The text is like the A version (represented by LL) with borrowings from the B version (represented by D v 1) : see Thurneysen in ZCP, X, 394, 1. 30 sq.
The sections are as follows : (i) Biblical Preface and Introduction on the Gaedil; (ii) (p. 7, 1. 3) Cesair; (iii) (p. 10, 1. 16) Parthalón; (iv) (p. 14, 1. 10) Nemed. The text in the present volume ends imperfectly (p. 16, col. 2, last line), at q. 28 of the poem beg. Ériu oll oirnid Gaedil (— LL facs., p. 7, col. 1, 1. 41). The poem is continued without break, however, in D iii 1, f. 7a, by the same scribe, on vellum similar to that on which the portion of the text here catalogued is written. [Concerning the identity of scribe, vellum, etc., see Dr. R. A. S. Macalister's note, Ériu, XI, 172-173.]
The poems included in the Bk. of Fermoy fragment are as follows : (p. 2, col. 2, 1. 8) Magoth macan Iafeth, 6 qq. (P. 3, col. 2, 1. 13) Berla in domain dechaid lib, 6 qq. (P. 5, col. 2, 1. 14) "Gilla Caemain," Gaedil Glass o tait Gaedil, 41 qq. (P. 7, col. 2, 1. 13) "Fintan." Eri ce iarfaigter dim, 11 qq. (P. 8, 1. 30) Capa) is Laigni is Luasad, 6 qq. (P. 8, col. 2, 1. 31) Ceassair can as tainic si, 5 qq. (P. 9, 1. 25) Cetracha trath don tri dind [sic], 13qq. (P. 9, col. 2, 1. 30) "Fintan." Cain raind do-rindsamar edraind, 4 stt, of Séadna. [In the lower margin of p. 10 is a line of Ogham which is largely illegible owing to staining.] (P. 11, 1. 17) A caemain chlair Chu[i]nd caemfind, 25 qq. [P. 11, col. 2, 11. 17-18, some words have been inserted in the text by a modern hand.] (P. 12, col. 2, 1. 14) Robo maith in muinter mor, 11' qq. (P. 13, 1. 13) Parthalan can as tainic, 20 qq. (P. 15, col. 2, 1. 12) Eriu oll oirnid Gaedil, ending here imperfect at the 28th q. The remaining pages of this text (bound as D iii 1) have been catalogued supra, 671.
Todd p. 7
17 [f. 23a]. Aided Cuanach meic Ailchin (see colophon, p. 18, col. 2, 1. 34), being the story of Mór of Munster, etc. Beg. [A]ed Ben(. .) ri Irlochra da mac (d)ec lais.
19 [f. 24a]. [áirne Fínghin: see 476, 27.] Beg. Bai Fingen mac Lucta aidchi Samna i nDruim Fingin.
21 (f. 25a), col. 2. [C]ia so agras coir um Cru(. . .) [ = Cruachain]. 35 qq. For Muircheartach son of Seaán Ó Néill, whose mother was Úna daughter of Aedh son of Féilimidh son of Cathal Croibhdhearg Ó Conchabhair.
23 (f. 26a). (M)or loites lucht an indluig. 58 qq. For David son of Thomas O'Keefe; introducing the story of the Siege of Druim Damhghaire. (The initial 'M' has been roughly inserted later in the space left for an ornamented capital.)
25 (f. 27a) i. [B]aile suthach Sith Emhna. 44 qq. For "Reginald, son of Godred, Norwegian King of Man and the Isles from 1188 to 1226" (see W. M. Hennessy's ed., in W. F. Skene's Celt. Scotl., III, 426, note 2), praising his house, which is called, or likened to (?), Eamhain Abhlach.
27 (f. 28a). Gerr o dob inghill mna Mumhan. c. 38 qq. + 4 qq. (margins obscured by staining; first letter inserted by a later hand; first words supplied here mainly from the repetition at the end of the poem). On the death of (Si)uān(?) (cf. q. 7), daughter of Cormac MacCarthy. Extra verses : (1) partly illegible owing to staining; (2) for a "Conn mac Aed[h]a"; (3) for "San Froinseis"; (4) for the B.V.M. ' The poet (p. 28, 1. 12) claims to be a Fermoy poet. Something is scribbled in the stained upper margin of p. 27. Todd (p. 12 of his catalogue) believes it to be " Tadg McDomnuill Og. c.c.," but this is very doubtful. The greater part of col. 2 of p. 28, at the end of the poem, is blank.
Todd p. 12
29 (f. 29a). "Incipit Cath Crinda." Beg. Bai ri amra for hErinn .i. Cormac mac Airt mac Cuinn Cetchathaigh. Similar to the Book of Lismore version (see supra 477, 87), but with considerable differences, e.g., the insertion of some poems and omission of others.
35 (f. 32a) m. "Bruíden Meic Da Reo annso sísana." Beg. Buí fodhord mor ic athechtuathaibh Eirenn a n-aimsir tri rígh Erenn .i. Fiacho Findolaigh Feic mac Fídheic Caich ~ Bres mac Fírb. This is a copy of what Thurneysen, ZCP, XI, 59, calls Redaction II of the prose-story of Cairpre Cind Chait and the revolt of the Aithech-thuatha. It omits the genealogical, racial and topographical lists of Redaction I, is more copious in wording than Redaction I, and adds a paragraph (p. 37m.) on the Idh Mhorainn and the flight of Tuathal after the 11 quatrains which it preserves of "Saerchlanna Erenn uíle," the poem upon which Thurneysen believes all three prose-redactions to be based.
37 (f. 33a) i. "Aní dia roibe in Ces for Ultaibh só sis." Beg. C(i)dh dia ruibhe an ces for Ultaibh? Ní hansa. Bói áitheách (. .)(m)a [= somha] do Ultaibh a mbennaibh sliabh ~ díthrubh .i. (Cruin)cíu mac Aghnomain a ainm, sein. The name is spelt variously Cruincíu, Crumdcíu, and Crunncíu, with a genitive Crunchon (37, col. 2, 1. 11). The names of the twins are omitted at the end. Otherwise the text agrees with Thurneysen's description of Ces Ulad B, Version I (Heldensage, 360 sq.). The simple word ces is used throughout with addition of neither noiden nor noinden.
38 (f. 33b), col. 2. "Cinēd Ua Artagāin cecinit" (written in small letters in the upper margin). Do-luidh Aillill isin caillid. 12 qq. On the seven sons of [Aodh Sláine] and the races descended from them.
38 (f. 33b), col. 2 i. "Fothad na Canōini cecinit." Cert cech rígh co réill. 60 qq. Advice to Aodh [Oirdnighe]. On the upper margin of p. 40 "Uilliam Ua hEagra, 1805" is scribbled in a hand later than that of the text.
40 (f. 34b), col. 2. "Indarba Mo Chuda a rRaithin." Beg. Mo Chutta mac Finaill, do Ciaraighi Luachra a chenel .i. de Uíb Ferba an tanrudh. Ends imperfect, owing to loss of a leaf, at the end of p. 44 (f. 36b) with the words co Lis (M . .) (= go Les Mor of Plummer's ed., B.N.E., § 27, p. 307, 1. 1).
Todd p. 20
45 (f. 38a). Betha Sain Seoirsí [see colophon] ("Recension B," according to Plummer, Misc. Hagiogr. Hib., p. 259. But Plummer does not give sufficient information about the difference between B and C to make it possible to confirm his statement without collating the present text with the Eg. and Paris mss.). The first words are illegible. The present version agrees with Lib. Flav. Ferg, (supra 476, II, 44; called Recension C by Plummer) in first relating the incidents related in older and less copious wording in the LB Passions, ed. Atkinson, 11. 1110-c. 1120. Then both the present version and Lib. Flav. mention the city of Silena (Fermoy, 1. 30) (Lib. Flav., 1. 28). Both then tell a shortened form of the dragon story told in Jacobus de Voragine's Legenda Aurea. This story is not told in LB. Then Fer. and Lib. Flavus return to the Roman persecution (Fer., p. 46, col. 1, l. 25) (Lib. Flav., f. 44, recto, col. 2, about line 40), and once more agree roughly with LB, Atkinson's ed., 1125 sq. The first wholly legible sentence in the present text occurs seventeen lines further on (p. 46, col. 2, 1. 6) : Iar sin do-cualaid in t-impir in comradh ~ dob fergach leis he ~ ised adubairt: ni duine amain do-rinne tu aindlighidh acht dona dainibh [sic] do-beir grasa dona dainibh ~cothaighis\ in\ talmain~ fhollamnaighis na huile shaeghal (slightly different wording in Lib. Flav., 44 verso, col. 1, 1. 5) (very different wording LB, ed. Atk., 1133). There is a chasm after p. 50 towards the end of the story of the woman's dead ox (= Lib. Flavus, f. 45, verso, col. 2, 1. 5) (this incident not in LB : the context is that of 1. 1273 of Atk.'s ed.). The next page after the chasm (p. 51) beg. Is ann sin do cuaidh S.G. sa palas, ~ do budh trath Esbarta ann in tan sin ( = Lib. Flav., 46 verso, col. 2, 1. 35). (This is the beginning of a conversation with queen "Alexandria" not given in LB : the context is that of line 1349 of Atk.'s ed.) The text ends imperfect in the Book of Fermoy, p. 51, col. 2, 1. 20, with the words i ngach ndeacair da mbiam. Is ann sin adubairt S. G. as fir in flaith (= Lib. Flav., 47 recto, col. 2, l. 11, slightly different wording) (this passage not included in LB : the context is that of l. 1380 of Atk.'s ed.).
The scribe seems to have left 1/3 of a column, followed by 3 1/3 columns, blank for the end of the Life of St. George. This blank space has subsequently been used for writing the next item. The colophon which the scribe wished to appear at the end of the Life of St. George appears, therefore, in the middle of the next item on the lower 2/3 of p. 55, col. 2. [The scribe of the Life perhaps intended p. 55 to be bound as p. 56, i.e., as a verso, not as a recto.] The colophon begins as follows : Oráid laiss in mBetuidh so sain Seóirsi o Uilliam Ó Ííceadha do Daibith mac Muiris meic hSeáin Do Róitsi, ~ dob íad bliadhna ín Tigerna an tan do sgribad ann so hi .i. mile bliadhain ~ceitri\ .c.\ bliadhan~ secht mbliadhna deg ~da fhichit [= 1457],~ in dara la fithid do mi uembr. [sic] do crichnaighedh ann so hi." The astronomical characteristics of the time of writing are then given, followed by "four lines of consonant and coll Ogham, in which the two modes of writing are mixed up together in a way which renders it very difficult to read them; and the difficulty is greatly increased by the injury sustained by the lower corner of the ms., which renders one-third of each line illegible" (Todd's cat., p. 21). [Todd, ibidem, has misread the Golden Number of the year as 15. The scribe gives it as 14.]
54 (f. 42b), col. 2 i. Story about Caenchomhrac headed "Scēl Saltrach na Muic' ann so." Beg. Espuc amrai boi hi Cluain (. . . . .). Coenchomrac Indsi Endoim a (. . . . .). Cf. supra 478, 185 v° a m., 726, 318 m. The story is interrupted on p. 55, col. 2 m., by the colophon of the preceding item. It is continued on p. 56. The greater part of col. 2 of p. 56 is blank.
Todd p. 22
57 (f. 44a). The Destruction of Jerusalem. [Cf. LB, facs., 150b 54, where the text is headed Dīgal Fola Críst]. Beg. (D)a bliadain ceathrachad badar na hUidaidhi [sic] ar forbairt cruidh clainne oir airgit innmais, i ngach mor--maitheas archeana, iar cheasadh Críst. (Initial D inserted by a later hand in space left blank for an ornamental capital.) The LB tract with some slight verbal alterations. The present copy ends complete about the end of p. 65, col. 2, with the words, cach duine d'iarraidh néamh ar thus di(.) (. . . . . ) itche ~ a saeradh asi (. . . . .) ánd s(i)ghdéin. F(i . . .) (. . . . .). This corresponds to LB, facs., p. 157, col. 1, 1. 35. LB has, however, 60 additional lines telling the story of the Christian immured by the Jews at the time of Christ's death, This story does not appear in the Fermoy version. [A fragment of a version of this tract, differing slightly in wording from the present text, occurs at the end of the item beg. on p. 95 of the present ms. : see catalogue entry infra.]
66 (f. 48b). A poem which is indecipherable owing to staining.
Todd p. 28
83 (f. 57a), col. 1, l. 1. David and the Beggar. Beg. Aroile duine truagh bocht ~ moírsheisir cloínde aigi taíníc cúm Dábíth do chuíncidh almsaíne fair. Same version as supra 475, 65 v° m., with slightly different and more modern wording. Very different from version in Eg. 92, f. 26 (Grosjean, Ir. Texts, IV, 118). For mention of versions closer to that of the Bk. of Fermoy, see Dr. E. Flower, Cat. of Ir. MSS. in the Brit. Mus., p. 542 (Eg. 1781, f. 150).
83 (f. 57a), col. 1, l. 20. Concerning "Finntan," "Feiren," "Fors," and "Annóid," the four custodians of knowledge in the four quarters of the world. Beg. Ceitre hairdi an domain .i. toír ~tíar\ tes~ túaigh, Buí tra cetrar índtibh sin .i. fer gacha hairdi díbh. Similar to LU, 120b, 27-45, but closer still to the version in Liber Flavus (supra 476, II, 52 r°b).
83 (f. 57a), col. 2, l. 1. A partly illegible story concerning Absalom, a battle in which he was defeated, and how he brought news of his defeat to David. Beg. Dá mhac amhra (la David?) (. . . . . .)tí vero Absalon. Ends (incomplete ?) Olc sin, ar Dauid, ~ do chonnarc scél(. . . . . .).
83 (f. 57a), col, 2, l. 18. Life of St. Juliana. Beg. Bo bí aroile urraíghi darbo comainn (. . . . . .) acair [sic] Nícom.(e)dia a n-aimsir Maix(i . . . . . .). As in Lib. Flav. (cf. supra 476, 9), but in closer verbal agreement with Paris ms. (ed. RC xxxiii, 311 sq.).
85 (f. 58a), col. 1, 1. 34. Tuaruscbáil Iudáis Scairioth. Beg. (Doc)uadar ann la aile foran muir .i. Brenaimi. A shorter version of the incidents told in § § iv-v of " Eine Variante der Brendan-Legende " (ed. Thurneysen, ZCP, x, 412-415) (= Plummer, BNE, pp. 98-102, §§ 8-15). The text ends abruptly four lines before the end of the page in the middle of q. 4 of the poem beg. Iud(á)s Scairíoth mhe aníu. A later hand has written "Finet" followed by the beginning of Amen in the blank space at the end.
86 (f. 58b). (Mea)r(ugud) (Clé)ireach Coluim Cille, title in the upper margin in a hand later than that of the text. Beg. (O) thainic deireagh righe ~ flaithemhnus Domnaill meic Aedha mic Ainm[i]rech do roine a righi da roínd (. . .) a da mac. Close to the version of B.M. Addit. MS., 30, 512 (see Ó Máille in Misc. presented to K. Meyer, 311, 320, etc).
88 (f. 59b), col. 1 i. " (Be)atha Bairre Corcuídhe ann so sís." Beg. Mo Bhairre dano, do Chonnactaibh do iar cin(. .) (. . . . . .). Two short fragments. First breaks off at the foot of p. 88, col. 2 (= § 7 of Plummer's ed., BNE, I, p. 12, 1. 14), with the words Adubairt Amhairghein masa mhai(.) (. . .). Then there must be a chasm in the ms. The second fragment beg. at the top of p. 89 (= BNE, I, p. 21, 1. 22, § 48) with the words Ro ghabh iarum Bairre sacarbaicc ann sin do laim Fhiama, and continues to the end.
89 (f. 60a), col. 1 m. Title in a bad modern hand, "Beata Mo Laga." Beg. Mo Laga didhiu d'feraibh Muíghi Fene a chenela. Ends imperfect, without any defect in the ms., in the middle of a line at the foot of p. 92, col. 1, with the words ~ tancatur Fir Muíghi (.ile) (ana) comdháil do Túlaigh Mhin ~ gabhsat do laim (. . . .) (.)o gheallsat. [O'Keeffe's ed., Ir. Texts, III, p. 22, from the Brussels ms., with variants from this ms. and from A iv 1, has 17 words more.]
92 (f. 61b), col. 2. "Ectra Cormaic mic Airt." Beg. Fechtus do bi Cormac hu Cuinn a Liairuim co fhaccaidh aenoclach furusta fínnlíath cuigti ar faighthi in dúin. The same matter as Fagháil Chraoibhe Chormaic (Oss. Soc, III, 212 sq.), and as § 25, 1. 3-§ 54, 1.1, of the Irish Ordeals (Stokes, Ir. Texte, III, pp. 193-198), but differing from both in wording and details.
94 (f. 62b). "Ac so an t-adhbar fa n-abar Domnach Crom Dubh" (called Sgel ar Cainnech Naomh, supra 477, 46, etc). Beg. L(a) (. . . . . .)be Caindeach Naemh a n-oilen Rosa (. . . . . .) (fh)acaidh sluagh adbal deaman ag im(. . . . . .)eir os a chind. Half of col. 2 has been left blank at the end of this tract.
Todd p. 31
95 (f. 63a). Portion of the Gospel History of which there is a version in LB facs., 132-145, 152-154 (cf. also fragmentary text supra 475, 23 r°). Beg. Ochtefin Uguist ba hairdri an domain and rogeinir Crist. The present text often shows slight verbal variation from LB, and occasionally material variation, e.g., at the end of the 11th wonder on the night of Christ's birth (Fermoy, p. 95, col. 2, 1. 38; LB, 133a 21) the present text goes on immediately to the [16th] wonder of LB (LB 133b 2); the present text (p. 104, col. 1, top) omits the lament of the last mother in the Slaughter of the Innocents, and tells the story of Christ becoming wheat on his Mother's back in a different way from LB, 141a, 2nd division. At p. 108, col. 2, l. 9, there is a small lacuna in the present text (LB, 145a 1-145a 12 omitted). At p. 109, col. 1, 1. 14, there is a huge lacuna in the present text (LB, 145b 9-152a 45 omitted, i.e., from the end of the calling of the Apostle Thomas to a place towards the end of the first sign that preceded the Destruction of Jerusalem : cf. item beg. on p. 57 catalogued supra). At p. 113, 1. 10, the present text ends incomplete with the words "fa measa fa deoigh amail ro himreadh orra. Finit" (= LB, 154b 3, seven columns before the end of the tract). [P. 109, col. 1, 1. 14, to the end of the present text, corresponds to p. 58, col. 2, 1. 19-p. 61, col. 1, 1. 35, of the item beg. in the present ms. on p. 57, catalogued supra. For a discussion of the sources of this Gospel History see R. Flower, Cat. of Ir. MSS. in the Brit. Mus., II, 534 sq.]
113 (f. 72a), col. 1, l. 11. Story of the man who became a woman. Aroile oglach do bí i n-abdaine Drumanaigh. For relation of texts to one another see R. Flower, Cat. of Ir. MSS. in the Brit. Mus., II, 542. In the middle of the upper margin of p. 113 (see also infra entries for pp. 150 and 169) the word "Emanuel" is written. This word is also written in the same position in Brit. Mus. MS. Eg. 92, f. 19a (as is evident from a photostat of that folio kindly lent me by Miss E. Knott): cf. supra the general description of the Bk. of Fermoy and infra the catalogue entry for p. 212.
114 (f. 72b). Da brón flatha nimhe, cidh ar a n-appar. Legendary history of Elias and Enoch (cf. RC, xxi, 349 sq.).
Todd p. 32
115 (numbered f. 73a by a fairly modern hand; older numeration 79a ?), col. 2, l. 11. Twenty-five lines of extracts from Ambrose, Chrysostom, Jerome, Bernard, Gregory, and John [the Evangelist], on the religious efficacy of tears. Beg. Briathur ann so ó Ambrosíus .i. Do leghus \< dera Peadair ar se ~ nir legus> a leorghnima. Bracketed words inserted later. The last 4 lines have suffered owing to staining. The writing is different from that of the surrounding items.
116 This page is blank.
117 (numbered f. 74a by O'Curry; older numeration 80a). Gabum dechmadh ar ndána, 40 qq. Ending imperfect with q. 45 of Rev. L. McKenna's ed., Dán Dé, p. 49, and omitting qq. 8, 28, 29, 32, 41. There is probably a chasm in the ms. after this page.
119 (f. 75a, O'C.; older 81a). [Garbh éirghidh idhan bhrátha : cf. D iv 2, f. 90a ; cf. also supra 502, 35 m.] Beg. here, owing to a chasm in the ms., with the 1st line of q. 15, (S)an deachmadh lá, légthar de : 26 qq. are here preserved.
119 (f. 75a, O'C.; older 81a), l. 27. [A] (Mh)uire a mathair ar n-athar, 83 qq. At q. 58, the direct invocations of the B.V. Mary cease and Jesus is invoked, then a number of saints.
122 (f. 76b, O'C; older 82b) m. Mian Cormaic tighi Temra, 12 qq. Headed : "Mianna Cormaic mic Airt ann so siis."
122 (f. 76b, O'C; older 82b) i. "Gearóid Iarla (do) c[h]um na Fuatha beaga so siis." Fuaith li[om] (sa) [fuat] (h)a Cormaic (1st word re-inked). The end of the page is so stained that it is impossible to discover whether the poem is complete (cf. supra 487, 173).
Todd p. 34
123 [f. 77a, O'C; older 74a; neither number now visible]. [Ó] (mna)ibh ainmnigh(thear) Eri. c 42 qq. + 2 qq. Internal evidence shows that the subject of this, and the next two poems, was a Mór, daughter of Mathghamhain Ó Briain and of his wife, another Mór (see infra catalogue entry for item beg. on p. 165?); she was apparently the wife of a son of Maurice Roche.
124 . (see preceding item for older numbering). Eogan mac Conchubair hÍ Dalaig. [N]i fa hindmhe is measta Mor, c. 42 qq. + 2 qq. On the same. A story of Fionn's wooing of Ailbhe is told in qq. 20-30 (faded).
125 (f. 78a, O'C.; older 74a), col. 1 í. Cearbhall mac Conchubhair 1 Dhálaigh. [Olc an] [c] (u)mthach an chuma, 44 qq. On the death of the same Mór. There is a blank half-column at the end of this poem, p. 126, col. 2.
127 (f. 79a, O'C, now illegible; older numbering 75a still legible). [A tegh] (bheg) tiaghar a tegh mhor. (For illegible words cf. supra 626, 619.) c. 56 qq.? For Diarmaid Ó Briain, son of Sadhbh.
128 (for older numbering cf. preceding item), col. 2. "Cath Alm(hain)e so." Beg. Boi cocad mor etir Cathal mac F(ind)guine ri Leithe Moda ~ Ferghal mac Maeile Dui(n) ri Leithe Cuind ri ré cian. The last legible phrase (p. 130, col. 2, l. 3) is do atlaghadh na hairmiten sin do (.)ad do [= Stokes's ed., fr. YBL and this MS., RC, xxiv, 64, 1. 16, sixteen lines before the end]. After this line, 10 illegible lines occur in the present ms., but the words do not seem to agree with any words in Stokes' ed. of Cath Almhaine. They may be the remains of a separate item.
130 (f. 80b, O'C, now illegible; older number 76 still legible on recto). Story of Lon Garad of Sliab Mairge and his books. Beg. Lon Garad Coisfhind a Muig Tuatha(. . ) a tuaiscert Osraighi. Longer than the version in LL 371c 57, which omits the references to Colum Cille contained in this version.
131 (f. 85a). The Birth of Mongán and his love for Dubh Lacha (ed. by Meyer, Voy. of Bran, I, 58 sq.). Beg. Feacht n-aen da ndeachaid Fiachna Find (. .) (. .)aedain meic Muirchertaigh meic Muiredhaigh (. .) (E)ogain mheic Neill a hEirínd amach (co) minic a Lochla(n)daibh. Omitting poems, etc., of later version (ZCP, xvii, 347 sq.).
139 (f. 89a). [Eachtra Airt Meic Cuind ocus Tochmarc Delbchaíme Ingine Morgain: cf. Ériu, III, 150 sq. ] Beg. Feacht n-aen da roibhe Conn Cedcathach mac Feidhlimígh Rechtmair . . . a Teamraigh na rígh a sosadh ordraic óiregda na hEireann.
146 (f. 92b). Mael Muire Mag Raith. Misi, (a) (Aimi) ar h'inc(h)aib fein. 38 qq. For "Aimi" daughter of the [1st] Earl of Desmond, grand-daughter of the Earl of Ulster. After the repetition of the first words at the end of the poem, the scribe has written "Misi Domhnall O L(e. . . .)." Todd, p. 39 of his catalogue, reads ig after the e and conjectures Ó Leighin "now Lyons." For the scribe Domhnall Ó Leighin, see infra catalogue entry for item beg. on p. 153.
Todd p. 39
147 (f. 93a). Here begin, in beautifully regular handwriting, a series of poems for David, son of Maurice Roche and of his wife Gráinne, usually with extra quatrains for [David's wife] "Oilén" (i.e., Ellen), daughter of James [Butler]. [For further information about these two persons see infra catalogue entry for item beg. on p. 153.] 1 First line illegible. Last line of extra quatrains cor testa ga maoine as [mó]. 35 + 3 qq. 2 (same page, 1. 40) Tomás mac Ruaidhrí mheic Diarmada, Mhec Raith. Teid o(ir)bert a n-inmhe righ. 31 + 3 qq. 4 (p. 148 \< f. 93b >, l. 31). 29 + 4 qq.: first and last words illegible. At the foot of p. 148 is a stained line, apparently a jotting by "Aodh Mac Aodhagain . . . a nt-ailt Tomais R. m(eic) (an) (Iar)la." 5 (p. 149 \<f. 94a >, l. 20). [Gearr] go laibeoraidh an Lia Fail. 31 qq. 6 (p. 150 \<f. 94b >, 1. 8). [Geall] (. . . . . . . .) Frangcaigh. 28 + 3 qq. In the upper margin of p. 150 "Mac (Ma)ria Emanuel," and some illegible words, are written. 7 (p. 150 \< f. 94b >, l. 36). "Donncha(dh) mac E(oghain) [Í] D(á)laigh cecinit." (Derg) ? (. . . . l) imrid Fran(gc . .). 33 + 4 qq. No quatrain fully legible, most quatrains almost wholly illegible owing to unusually dark staining on the first half of p 151. 8 (p. 151 \<f. 95a >, 1. 28) (by a different, less regular hand). Da fhidh (. .) sheolta ar shen nGall. 34 qq. At the end of this poem the lower half of p. 152 is blank.
153 (f. 96a). List of Roche lands. Beg. Is (. . .) followed by some almost wholly illegible lines. In 1. 2 " [Dom] nall h. Leighin" is mentioned. The margins of almost all lines are illegible. At 1. 29 the following statement occurs:—re lind Daibith Moir meic Muiris Do Roidsigh do scrioph Domnall .h. Leighin sin ar tus, ~ misi Torna (mac) Torna .h. Maoil Chonaire do scribh an cairt so do Dáibíth mac Muiris meic Dáibíth meic Muiris meic Daibith Moir ~ d'Oilen ingen Semuis meic Semuis meic Emain Meig Piarois a mBaile an Caislein an Roitsigh a longpurt ughdur ollamhan deoradh damhsgol Eirenn o nach dechaidh aon gan bheith buidech do reir Laoich Liathmuine don lanmoin sin .i. an Roidsech ~ ingen (Meig) Piarois. Among those present at the writing of the document was "Diarmaid .h. Leighin .i. ollam, an Roidsig" (2nd line from end). On the last line in a brighter ink, and perhaps by a different hand, is the date "Ando Domini 1461 ais an Tigerna in tan sin" [date wrongly given as 1561 in Todd's catalogue, p. 42]. [Mac Piarais doubtless means Mac Piarais Buitilér, as in FM, 1508, p. 1298.] The date must refer to the first writing in the time of Dáibhíoth Mór (cf. p. 55).
154 (f. 96b). On certain rights of the Roches. Sixteen lines of prose, badly stained, of which the first words are illegible. Followed, lower down on the page, by another stained line (a probatio pennae?). There are also some illegible words in the upper margin. The greater part of the page is blank.
Todd p. 42
155 (f. 98a ; f. 97 wanting). [Scél Tuain meic Cairill do Fhinnén Maige Bile: cf. LU 15a 34.] Beg. imperfect here owing to a chasm in the ms. First legible words : ar mile. Iar sin rosgabh Partalon (. . . . . . o) luídh for loingius ceteora lanamh . . . (Meyer, Voyage of Bran, II, p. 286, 1. 14). Version as in Rawl., B 512 and H 3. 18 (i.e., poems of LU, Hand H, omitted : cf. Best & Bergin's ed. of LU, p. xxix).
156 (f. 98b), col. 1, l. 24. Bliadhain don cuaille co cert. 10 qq. A versification of the prose note on the comparative ages of things catalogued supra 478, 193 v° b m (cf. Folklore, 1932, p. 376 sq.).
157 (f. 99a). This page continues the text of p. 188, and will be noticed infra in the catalogue entry of the item beg. on p. 181.
158 (f. 99b). [Fintan and the Hawk of Achill.] Arsaid sin, a eoin Éacla, 35 qq. (breaking off imperfect, owing to a chasm in the ms., at the end of q. 37 of Meyer's ed., Anecdota, I, p. 29 sq.; omitting qq. 4 and 9). There are three lines of scribbling by another hand in the lower margin. They are largely indecipherable. What is easily legible of similar scribbling in the upper margin is a variant version of 1. 10 of the text.
159 (f. 100a), col. 1, l. 1. Here beg. acephalous, owing to a chasm in the ms., a series of short poems, all built on, the same plan, the 2nd last quatrain almost always containing a reference to Diarmaid Ó Duibhne, the last quatrain being equally regularly for the B.V. Mary. Some of the poems (e.g., 1, 7, 25) speak of Diarmaid son of Cormac MacCarthy, the poet's dearest friend (cf. 28), as a living person; others (e.g., 27-30) speak of him as dead. The author of poem 5 had unwillingly fought for the King of England [Edward III] against his Irish friends. The author of poems 7 and 20 is held prisoner by [Brian] O'Brien. The author of poem 20 calls himself " in t-iarla og." The author of poem 9 calls himself "mac cobhnaig Cloinde Gearailt." The scribe (see colophon) has called the whole series "Duanaire Gearoit Iarla." Gerald FitzGerald, 3d (commonly called 4th) earl of Desmond, was taken prisoner by Brian O'Brien in 1369 (A. of Loch Cé). He was famous for his skill in. poetry (A. of Clonm., 1398). He is therefore to be regarded as the author of the whole series. He died in 1398 (various Annals). The MacCarthys mentioned may be identified as Cormac (see C vi 2, p. 359, col. 4, Geinealach Tighearna Músgraighe), son of Diarmaid (+ 1381, A. U. [not 1368, as sometimes stated], founder of the Muskerry branch of the MacCarthys: cf. genealogy already cited [The Diarmaid MacCarthy slain in 1368 was son of Cormac Donn, a Carbery MacCarthy (A. IL and A. of Clonm., 1366, 1368) : his genealogy therefore does not suit the Diarmaid of these poems, who moreover was still living in 1369, as the mention of him as a living person in poem 7 shows], son of Cormac (King of Desmond, t 1359, various Annals), son of Domhnall Óg (King of Desmond : see Jnl. R. Soc. Ant. Irel., p. 48, etc.; Ir. Monthly, 1919, p. 401, q. 38) [only once referred to in this series, poem 9, where he is called "Domnaldan" (= Domhnallán)]. Poem 21 (and probably poem 30) are on the death of the poet's wife Eilionór Butler, + 1392: see Ir. Monthly, 1919, p. 563]
1, The acephalous poem, with which, owing to a chasm in the ms., the series now begins, ends, p. 159 (f. 100a), col. 1, l. 14, with the following repetition of the first words:—Ní b. m. d. Cmc. [= Ní buidhech mé do Chormac (?)]. 2, p. 159, col. 1, 1. 15, Guin dilfus Cormac ma dhán? 12 qq. 3, p. 159, col. 2, 1. 1, Ní buideach mé dom Íde, 8 qq. On St. Íde (M'Íde). 4, p. 159, col. 2, 1. 17, Ni millend cluithe crabad, 6 qq. 5, p. 159, col. 2, l. 29, Anois trath in caradraigh, 13 qq. 6, p. 160, col. 1, l. 17, A caillea(ch) na foraire, 14 qq. 7, p. 160, col. 2, l. 7, Ga lá fhuicfed Ínnsi in Laeid, 11 qq. 8, p. 160, col. 2, 1. 28, Inmuín lim aibne Eirend, 9 qq. 9, p. 161 (f. 101a), col. 1, l. 9, Ort do congal, a Cormaic, 10 qq. 10, p. 161, col. 1, l. 29, As adbhul ín amhnaire, 7 qq. 11, p. 161, col. 2, l. 9, Berradh geóin, 6 qq. 12, p. 161, col. 2, l. 21, Do dlighfind druím rissin ndán, 9 qq. 13, p. 162, col. 1, 1. 5, (Ataim, ac dul) risin tuaith, 6 qq. (mutilated first words supplied from repetition). 14, p. 162, col. 1, l. 17, Do connaic mé aislingthi, 9 qq. 15, p. 162, col. 2, l. 6, Ni hail leam ach sét co rinn, 6 qq. 16, p. 162, col. 2, l. 18, A inmuin, do sechnaissi, 6 qq. 17, p. 163 (f. 102a), col. 1, l. 1, Ba mheithi cum losgadsa, 6 qq., love-poem. 18, p. 163, col. 1, l. 13, Ni thuigim, dail Diarmada, 6 qq. 19, p. 163, col. 1, 1. 25, A Mure, ac so mé chucat, prayer, 12 qq. 20, p. 163, col. 2, l. 14, Mot eadar anocht 's aréir, 6 qq. 21, p. 163, col. 2, l. 25, Aislingthi do-connacsa, 8 qq. 22, p. 164, col. 1, l. 7, (Do-chuala scél) o Dír Bháil, 7 1/2 qq.: the first words of many lines are badly mutilated. (The first words of the whole poem have been supplied here from the refrain.) 23, p. 164, col. 1, l. 22, Ach, a Daeíl, 6 qq., naming rivers and places in Desmond. 24, p. 164, col. 2, l. 1, Ní buidheach mé do Ma Craith, 4 qq. [For buidheach ms. has bhiu, followed by dech inserted above the line] : on a poet named "Mág Craith" (q. 3); last quatrain for an Ó Cuill. 25, p. 164, col. 2, l. 9, Beir in beatha slaintiso, 10 qq.: greetings to be carried by a messenger from the "Déisi" [in Co. Limerick] to a woman in Ballintemple, Co. Kerry, and to Diarmaid [Mac Carthy]. 26, p. 164, col. 2, 1. 29, A Mair Greg cuimnid ar nghael, 4 qq., asking "Mair Gréag" to intercede for him, both he and she being of O'Brien descent: the fourth quatrain (to the B.V.M.) is in the lower margin of p. 164 : it is followed by a scribal note, of which the following words are legible when the vellum is held so that the light shines through it: ". . . (taeibh) ele (so) don duilleóic romhum in . . ele . . ." This note doubtless refers to the interruption of the Gearóid Iarla series of poems by the item written by a different hand, catalogued infra, beginning on p. 165. The scribe of the Gearóid Iarla series then continues as follows with no. 27 of the series, p. 167 (f. 104a), 1. 10, (A) leine meic Diarmada, 7 qq. 28, p. 167, 1. 17, A crich Chéir meic Feargusa, 7 qq.: the poet prefers Connello (Co. Limerick) to Kerry. 29, p. 167, l. 24, (Imidh) uaim a thechtaire, 12 qq., including a list of stories. 30, p. 168, 1. 4, Inmuin athinmuin, 6 qq. Followed by the colophon Duanaire Gearoit Iarla co n-ice sin is garb clumach in meamram a fuil se. Oroid do Daibith O Du(ib . . .). [For a note on the scribes of the Gearóid Iarla series of poems, see infra catalogue entry for item beg. on p. 166.]
On pp. 161, 163 a numeration still older than O'Curry's folio-numeration appears in the upper right-hand margin [20 (.), 20 (3)?]. The corresponding number on p. 159, hesitatingly read by Todd (Catalogue, p. 44), as 2012, is no longer visible.
In the lower margin of p. 159 an extraneous hand has scribbled a quatrain which perhaps began [Moille 's] is m{o)ille mo chéim (beginning and end of quatrain lost in stained corners).
Todd p. 44
165 (f. 103a). Muirc[h]ertach O Floinn. (Teach (d)a righan ráith Caisil (for 1st word see repetition at end). c. 35 + 2 qq. For two daughters of Cormac (p. 165, 1. 8, 1. 25) son of Eoghan (p. 166, l. 9), and of his wife "Aibilín" (p. 166, l. 9). Their names were "Sibán" and "Mór" (p. 165, 11. 10, 34; p. 166, ll. 1, 5, 8). They seem to have been descendants of Aenghus son of Nad Fraeich (p. 165, l. 16 sq.), which probably means that they were MacCarthys (cf. item beg. on p. 81). [Is the Mór here in question mother of the Mór who is the subject of the poems beg. on pp. 123, 124, catalogued supra?] The extra quatrains are for two kings, one son of a David [Roche? See infra item beg. on p. 202?], the other son of a Maurice [Roche? See item beg. on p. 81?]. Cf. next item.
166 [f. 103b], l.14. " Eoghan mac Aenguis Í D[h]álaigh." Nel righna os raith Íughaine. 32 + 2 qq. For a Sibhán (p. 166, l. 25), daughter of Cormac (l. 24) and of Aibhilín (ll. 30, 31). Probably a MacCarthy (cf. preceding item). The extra quatrains are for Dáb[h]áth [Roche? Cf. item beg. on p. 81?]. There is a scribal jotting in the lower margin of p. 166, now largely illegible. The poem itself ends on p. 167, where it is followed by nos. 27, etc., of the Gearóid Iarla series of poems beg. on p. 159, catalogued supra. [The two bardic items on pp. 165-166 which interrupt the Gearóid Iarla series are written by an unskilful scribe, whose pages compare unfavourably with the boldly executed pages of the scribe of the greater part of the Gearóid Iarla series. Two-thirds of the first column of the Gearóid Iarla series are by yet another scribe, who writes a good, clear, but undistinguished hand.]
168 [f. 104b], l. 11. Note on three Manannáns [as in Tochmarc Luaine, RC, xxiv, § 6, l. l-§ 9, l. 4]. Beg. Dia ndechaid Mananman mac Athghno rí Mhanann ~ Indsi Gald morloing(es) (do) (ind)rad Ulad do dighail mac Uisnech fortha. Uair isse in Manannan sin ba cara do(. . . . .) Uisnech uair isse ro-n-oilestar clainn .ccccccccc. ~Deirdrinne .i. Gaiiar~ A(. . . . . .). Ends airet no biad in tsoin(enn) no in doinenn. Fin(. .). The Latin sentences which follow in the printed text, as also the account of the fourth Manannán, seem to have been purposely omitted by the scribe, for he had plenty of room for them on the lower third of p. 168, which he has left blank after his "Finit." The whole of p. 168 is very stained and hard to read.
169 (f. 105a). Imrumh curaig hua Corro (see colophon, p. 178). Beg. Flathbhrughaidh cétach comrumach rochineastar do cuigiud Connacht .i. Conall Dercc ua Corra Fhind. The first page of the text (as Stokes has pointed out in his ed., RC, xiv, p. 22) is illegible in many places. On p. 172, comeas re fearna and Emanuel (cf. supra entry for p. 113) have been scribbled by a modern hand in the upper margin.
178 [f. 109b] [verso of f. 158 according to a still older numeration, earlier numbers of which appear on pp. 171, 173, 175], col. 1 m. Ríghadh Nell Noígiallaig ós Clainn Echach annso. Boi Eochaid Muigmedoin ri Erenn ina dhun i ccrich Connacht i comfhoccus do Lochuibh Erne. Short prose tract relating the incidents told in verse, Ériu, IV, p. 100 sq., qq. 29-66; and in prose, RC, xxiv, p. 196, 1. 6-p. 203; S. H. O'Grady, Silva Gad., I, p. 328, l. 10-p. 330; Leabh. CI. Aodha Buidhe, ed. T. Ó Donnchadha, p. 3, l. 19-p. 4, l. 25. The present tract, however, agrees closely with none of the versions mentioned.
179 (f. 110a) (still older numeration f. 159), col. 2. Proverbial sayings in the form of question and answer, headed "Cesta garga and so." Ca ni is duibhi ina in fiach? Ni ansa: ainim an aínfh(irein). [Todd's expansion of the second word in the heading as "Grega" hardly satisfies the laws of grammar. The sayings do not agree with the Proverbia Graecorum of Sedulius (ed. S. Hellman, Sedulius Scottus, 121 sq.), which Todd perhaps had in mind. Todd's expansion has been accepted by W. Stokes, Celt. Rev., I, 132.] The text on p. 180 is so faded that it is difficult to decide whether the. lower half of the second column continues the Cesta or begins a new item.
181 (f. 111). "Altramh Tighi da Medar" (for title, cf. p. 191, col. 2, l. 24 = printed ed., Ériu, XI, 203, 1. 17). Beg. Ardríg(h) chrodha cosgrach clann(linmar) gusmar g(ar.)beodha (. . s)mar gruadco(r)cra graineamail rog (ab) (ardrighi) (nE.) (. . g . .) uille gan easbaid (g.n) (im . . si.) ~ is e (do.) (. . nm) do(n) airdrig (.) sin .i. Erimon mor. The text is by two scribes, of whom the first (pp. 181-188, p. 157) writes a clear but unformed hand, with from 32-35 lines to the page, and the second (pp. 189-192) a bolder hand, with about 40 lines to the page. The second scribe, as distinguished from the first, includes many poems in his portion of the text; and that this is not accidental is shown by the fact that the text of a misplaced page (157), written by the first scribe, is given also by the second scribe (p. 189), who includes in his text the poem "A Churchóg . . ." not included by the first scribe. Only a few scattered quatrains appear in the pages written by the first scribe. The following poems occur in the pages written by the second scribe:—p. 189 (f. 115a), col. 1, 1. 25, A Churchog in chrotha glain, 3 qq.; p. 190, col. 1, l. 7, Dena damh a cana fen, 3 qq.; p. 190, col. 2, l. 24, Inmuin lem in marcshluaghsa, 9 qq.; p. 191, col. 1, l. 28, (D)enum impodh imshnimhuch, 6 qq.; p. 191, col. 2, l. 14, Goirid mhe, a mhuinnter nimhe, 6 qq.; p. 192, col. 1, l. 4, Claittir libh fert fiailEthne, 13 qq. [This poem when it appears separately as a prayer in modern mss. or oral tradition is known as "Marbhna Eithne," "Marbhna Phádraig," etc, (Cf. Ériu, XI, 185 sq.; Béaloideas, IV, 264 sq.; Ir. Bk. Lover, xxii, 89 sq).]
192 [f. 116b], col. 1, 1. 32. "(. . . . n) Mor Ua Dálaig." Teagaisg misi, a Mh(u)iri. 20 qq. Religious.
Todd p. 49
193 (f. 117a), col. 1. Eiseirgi do eirigh Dia. 37 qq. The Harrowing of Hell. "Iesus Maria" is written on the upper margin of p. 193.
194 [f. 117b], col. 2, l. 20. Brian Ó hUiginn. Cindus icthar sed suirghi. 60 + 2 qq. For David Roche, son of Maurice, and of Siuán [MacCarthy?] (cf. item beg. on p. 81 catalogued supra), recounting his victories. The extra verses are for Caitilín daughter of Tadhg of the race of "Éimhear Fionn" [i.e., a MacCarthy? Cf. item beg. p. 201]. The poet himself was a Connachtman (q. 21). [A Brian O hUiginn died 1476 : cf. ITS, XXIII 307.]
197 (f. 119a), col. 2, l. 1. Seaán Óg Mag Rait(h). Gach fonn gu Feruibh Muighe. 33 + 2 + 1 qq. For David Roche and for Siuán (cf. preceding item), with an extra concluding quatrain, apparently addressed to the listeners. [Are the David and Siobhán here mentioned those of the item beg. 194, col. 2, or of the item beg. 202?]
199 (f. 120a), col. 1, l. 10. Ó Maothagán. (F)ada is mna maithi mná Muman ('F' inserted later, by E. O'Curry [?], in space left blank for ornamented capital). 12 + 1 syllabic stanzas. For Caitilin, daughter of Tadhg, and for David, son of Maurice Roche, see item beg. on p. 194 catalogued supra.
201 (f. 121a), col. 1, l. 1. "Corm[ac] m[ac] Eog[ain] (Í) Dalaig" (letters in square brackets, apparently shaved away by a binder). Dlighim íc as mferacht graidh. 37 + 2 qq. For Caitilín daughter of Tadhg [MacCarthy? cf. q. 26], and for David son of Maurice Roche, recounting (qq. 10-16) the journey of "Bricne," "ollamh Fherghais," to "Dún Átha Fén" and thence to the place where "Flidhais," "ben Oilill," was. [For these incidents see the tale discussed by R. Thurneysen, Heldensage, 334, under the title "Táin Bó Flidaise II," as in the ed. in Celt. Rev., I, 300-312, and Ériu, VIII, 135.]
202 [f. 121b], col. 1, l. 34. "Ua Maethagan cecinit .i. Seaan." (F)ormad ag cach re clu Muiris (bracketed letter inserted later, by E. O'Curry [?], in space left blank for ornamented capital). 21 qq. For Maurice son of David son of Maurice [Roche] (qq. 17, 20). His mother's name was Siuán (q. 20). The last quatrain is for Nuala (?) daughter of Tadhg Ó Briain. At the end of this poem, in a space originally left blank, an 18th (?) cent. hand, apparently that which wrote the old folio-numeration, has written : "The former pages of this Book from the beginning to this page was 288."
204 [f. 122b]. This page was originally blank. Among late scribblings in Irish and English (some illegible) are—(1) Tabhair beanacht ar anam Phroinsías Uí ÍocidJie ár son Dé 's na ccarrad (18th cent.?); (2) Do bhi an leabar so, ar n-a athscribad le Uilliam Ua hEagra, anno Domini 1805, a mBaile Atha Cliath; (3) a signature by the same Uilliam Ua hEaghra dated Jan 29. 1806; (4) Eugene O'Curry's signature, "Eóghan Ó Comhraidhe. MDCCCLVIII."
205 (f. 123a). Diles gach enduine a eidricht. qq. 46 + 2 + 3 + 1. On a Caitilin, daughter of Tadhg, who was descended from Diarmaid Mór [MacCarthy?]. Of the extra quatrains the first two are for David Roche, son of Maurice and Siubhán. The next three (partly illegible) are for a Roche. The last (partly illegible) is religious.
206 [f. 123b], l. 19. "Maithias (M)o(r) O Cillin cecinit." The majority of the lines, including the first, of the poem which follows this heading are illegible. After the heading, in a slightly different ink but similar handwriting, are the obscure words, uile chríoch or fhas.
Todd p. 51
207 (numbered f. 124 by E. O'Curry; older numbering lost; on p. 209, O'Curry's 125, a trace of the older numbering, by Todd believed to be 77, is still to be seen; on p. 211, O'Curry's 126, the older numbering seems to be 95, but even this is doubtful, and Todd reads it as 94). Two fragments of [Tochmarc Emire la Coin Culainn : Version III of the three versions distinguished by Dr. R. Thurneysen, Heldensage, 378]. The true beginning is lost owing to a chasm in the ms. The opening lines of the first fragment are illegible owing to staining. The first words readily identifiable occur p. 207, col. 1, l. 10, ata Tem[air] (= Meyer's printed ed. from Harl. 5280, ZCP, III, 234, 1. 14). From p. 207, col. 1, l. 16, Tethrai tethrai da lua luachair nadumdecthar .i. ar a coime ( = ZCP, III, 234, 1. 18), the first fragment is almost all legible as far as the last line of p. 210, where it breaks off (owing to a chasm in the ms.) with the words, In Oillbine airn isi ailbine an (= ZCP, III, 243, 1. 17). This first fragment is continued immediately by the fragment of B.M. MS., Eg. 92, f. 24 (Dr. R. Flower, Cat. of Ir. MSS. in the Brit. Mus., II, 514), which in its turn is continued immediately by second fragment here, which beg., p. 211, araili f(e)r amra bui la Murmain .i. Lug mac Núis meic Alamaic, ind ri sainemuil, coiccheiliu C.C. .i. a comaltai (= ZCP, III, 252, l. 13). Much of this and the next page (212) is illegible. At the end of p. 212 this second fragment breaks off (owing to a chasm in the ms.) with the words Bo dechait .Cu. C. iar sin ina lunga (= ZCP, III, 258, l. 11). [From the facts noted in this entry, and in the entry immediately following, it is evident that pp. 207-216 of the Bk. of Fermoy and ff. 18-25 of B.M. MS., Eg. 92, originally formed part of the same ms.]
213 (numbered 128 by E. O'Curry, probably by mistake for 127: cf. Todd's Catalogue, p. 52. The older numbering, 78[?], is still visible on this page, but no such older numbering is visible on the following pp.). A fragment of [Togail Bruidne Dá Derga] continuing immediately, in the same handwriting, with no break in the text, the second fragment in B.M. ms. Eg. 92, as is evident from photostats kindly lent the present cataloguer by Miss E. Knott (cf. Dr. R. Flower, Cat. of Ir. MSS. in the Brit. Mus., II, 514; cf. also supra entry for item beg. p. 207). The fragment beg. here [R] (o) (bui) iarum inna codluth in moetoiclach (= Miss E. Knott's ed., § 101, 1. 1045). Ends imperfect, owing to a chasm in the ms., at the foot of p. 216, with the words co n-oensuil lais oencoss uenlam ~ mucc (= Miss E. Knott's ed., § 136, 1. 1351).
Todd p. 52
217 (older foliation in lower margin, E 1). Here, imperfect, beg. a medical fragment on diet with the words (.)la dfas, ibtur e maille (. .) (tri) (pf)ola(. . .) [f written over p], (. . .) ata bainne bo ~bainne caerach~ go (bair), gebe ibheas bainne d'innfuarad an teasa d'athnuagíugad na n-aé bointear a cúíd íme de ~ cabar e maille a caisi rena meadhg. The first complete paragraph beg. 1. 10 with the words Item foillsighthear gu foghailtear a thighi ~ a tanacht an bainne a .ii. modháib. On p. 217 the uses of meadhg (whey) are discussed, milks are classified, and the milk of various animals fitted into those classes. On p. 218 there is a further classification of milks according to the foods on which animals feed. On p. 218, col. 2, the changes are discussed which the seasons, etc., make in milk. After p. 218 the text is continued without break on p. 221. On p. 221, col, 1, infra, there is a further division of milk into old and new, followed by a discussion of cáise (cheese). On p. 222 the effects of different sorts of cheese are discussed. At the foot of p. 222, col. 2, after some lines which are illegible owing to wear and staining, the text ends imperfect owing to a chasm in the ms. The last easily legible sentence is on p. 222, col. 2, ll. 28-31. Da reir sin deichfirghidh Iprocáid e a tri (modaib) (.i.) a cruas () a (r)eimi a tirmdacht in uair is urusa pudur do denam de (. . . air) bis se cuasach trena tirmacht as ann is measa e (oir) is (ur . . . a) a brisead do reir digbala a flichideachta. ~ olardacht a folaid arna chaitheamh. In subject-matter this fragment resembles 24 P 26, pp. 398-400 (catalogued supra 474, 353), but its diffuseness and verbosity are in marked opposition to the concision of that tract.
On pp. 219, 220, 223, 224 is found what appears to be a second fragment of this treatise on diet. Its method of exposition is the same as that of the fragment just catalogued in so far as both introduce new subjects by the words "Labrum anois do . . ." and further developments of a subject by "Item." Thus both these fragments differ from the regular form of the two items which follow : for those two items proceed by means of a paragraph beg. Fiar-faighthear followed often by paragraphs beg. Item followed by a paragraph beg. Teagur ana aighidh so, followed often by other paragraphs beg. Item, followed by a paragraph beg. "Freagarthar." The first fairly long phrase which is wholly legible on p. 219 is (col. 1, 11. 6-8) ~ an uair freagras an bainne gu maith na cichghi tig sgur ar an fhuil mista ann sin. The first complete paragraph beg. (p. 219, col. 1, l. 12) Item foillsighthear gurub fearr bainne na mban ndub d'aileamhain na leanamh na bainne na mban finn do reir Isodoros, noc adeir moran da leithidibh so do cuinngillaib, an tan fa luaiginn do cuinngillaib na haileamhna. The fragment then treats of various properties of milk, of the physiological effects of those properties of milk on the drinker, and of the different degrees in which human milk and animal milks (camel, etc.) possess those properties. On p. 220, after camels' milk, cows' milk and goats' milk are discussed. The text of p. 220 is continued without break on p. 223, where there are paragraphs on asses', horses', pigs', and pregnant animals' milk, followed by paragraphs on whey, butter, and (p. 224, col. 2, 1. 4) cheese. The fragment ends incomplete at the foot of p. 224, col. 2, with the words: da roibh se inmeodonach maille salann is fearr dileghus is lugha d'urcoid do-ni na do-ní an caisi noch bis gan tsalann oir is urusa.
Todd p. 53
225 (E 5). [A jotting in the upper margin is now illegible.] On this page a fragment of a physiological tract, treating here of the principal members (boill oireaghdha), beg. imperfect with the words (. . .) calmaigtear an puls. Item fos adeir Hailí a nGl-tegní na daine aitrebus a tir te flich bid buan fadshaeglach ~ da reir sin bid an puls laidir is in tir sin. Tegur (cf. T.C.D. MS., H. 2. 8, p. 5, l. 29) 'na aigid sin a hugdarras Ipocráid a nAmporsimis, oir adeir co calmaigenn an gaeth atuaigh noc ata fuar tirim, an brigh: da reir sin calmaighidh an fonn fuar tirim an brigh ~ medaighi an puls. Item adeir Auicenna an fonn te fliuch disgailidh anbaindighi an brigh da reir sin anmbaindigi in puls oír ís do reir anbainde na brige anbaínnídhtear an puls. Item adeir Galen co mbid na daine aitrebus a tir te flich gearrsaeghlach meta ~ da reir sin is follus gach uair bis metacht ar nech bí an puls anbann bi laidir a n-aímsir na beogachta. Fregurtar cum na cesta sin adermaid gurab laidiri an brigh ~ in puls isin fonn te flich na i ngach fonn ele. Then (1. 12) beg. the first complete paragraph with the words: Fiarfaighthear ann so in comthrom bís an puls isin laim deis ~ isin laim clí (=H.2.8, p. 5, l. 45).
This fragment agrees fairly closely on p. 225 with T.C.D. MS., H.2. 8, pp. 5-6, though there is difference in detail and in the order of the paragraphs. [This part of the almost identical texts preserved in H. 2. 8 and 23 H 19 is missing in 23 H 19 owing to a chasm : cf. remark on disagreement and on chasm in square brackets in next catalogue entry.] The agreement ceases at the foot of p. 225. Again, at p. 226, col. 1, 1. 44, this fragment begins to agree with H. 2. 8, p. 11, col. 1, 1. 49, and also with R.I.A. ms. 23 H 19 (no. 446 supra), p. 13, col. 1, l. 26; but the agreement is only occasional, and the order of paragraphs is not the same. The Book of Fermoy fragment under consideration, therefore, would seem to represent a different working up of the basic texts which underlie the relevant portion of the H. 2. 8 and 23 H 19 tract. The texts preserved in the relevant parts of H. 2. 8 and 23 H 19, on the other hand, are almost identical with one another. They form portion of the tract described in the next entry in this catalogue. As the present fragment, then, differs from the H. 2. 8 and 23 H 19 texts, it cannot be looked upon as belonging originally to the item catalogued in the next entry. This conclusion is borne out by the fact that the scribe of this fragment is different from the scribe of the next item.
The fragment then discusses the strength of the pulse : in youths; in sleeping persons; in those who take a bath of "sweet water" (usci milis); in pregnant women. This then leads (p. 225, col. 2, i., where agreement with H. 2.8 ceases) to a description of eight kinds of pulse with their Latin names (. . . ramosus [p. 226, col. 1, l. 9] . . . fluctuans . . . tremalus [sic], etc.). On p. 226, col. 1, 1. 44 (cf. 23 H 19, p. 13, col. 1, l. 26; H. 2. 8, p. 11, col. 1, 1. 49), a new section of the tract beg. with a Latin heading: De Epate et de eíus uaretate complexiones loquamur etc. .i. o da labramur don chraide co n-uigi sin labram anois dona haeib. After about twenty lines of direct exposition questions begin on the ruling complex in the liver (23 H 19, p. 13, col. 1, l. 44; H. 2. 8, p. 11, col. 2, l. 18); the arrangement of veins in the liver; the effect of dryness on the blood and urine; the heart and liver as principles for the blood; the lack of cavities in the liver (cf. 23 H 19, p. 15, col. 1, l. 28; H. 2. 8, p. 14, col. 1, l. 40); the possibility of any humour becoming the melancholic humour (cf. 23 H 19, p. 13, col. 2, l. 8; H. 2. 8, p. 11, col. 2, l. 48); the complex that most of all preserves life; the contrariety of the principal members; the possibility of a dry liver receiving moistness from the heart (cf. H. 2. 8, p. 9, col. 1, l. 31); and the effect of the heart and liver on ethical disposition (cf. H. 2. 8, p. 9, col. 2, l. 4). The whole of p. 228 (where the question on ethical disposition is concluded) is difficult to read owing to staining. This would suggest that it was once an outside leaf. At line 24, in the middle of col. 1, a new section of the tract beg. with a Latin heading : De membrorum, generativorum (. . .)cionibus (et eorum) qualitatibus. (loq)uamur (etc.) o da labrumur (. . . . . .). After about twenty lines of direct exposition questions begin on : the right of the testicles to be considered principal members; the communication of heat from one member to another (difficult to read); the cause of coldness in the body (difficult to read). In the stained and mutilated lower margin, p. 228, col. 2, the fragment breaks off apparently while still treating of the question of coldness in the body.
Todd p. 53
229 (no older paging). Here begins, acephalous owing to a chasm, a fragment of the physiological treatise contained in T.C.D. MS., H. 2. 8, pp. 1-25 (Abbott & Gwynn, Catalogue, no. 1299), of which fragments are also to be found in R.I.A. MS., 23 H 19 (supra 446, 7, etc), as indicated in the present entry. The fragment treats of the brain, and beg. in the middle of a sentence thus (— H. 2. 8, p. 2, col. 2, l. 7): an duibhe an losgadh; mased os o dathadhaibh loisgi do-níthear an folt as dath d. dligius do bíth air. Tegur 'na aigid so do reir Is(a)c a Libro Urínarum oir adeir a comartaibh gach uile coimplexa gurab e an dath ínmedonach as mo moltar air, ~ ís e sin dath citírínus .i. dath buidhe no fobhuidhe. Mased is e ín dath so dligius an folt do beith air. Galen, Hailí and Aristotle are then quoted as contradicting this statement and the contradiction is solved by distinguishing meanings.
The first complete paragraph beg. (Fermoy, p. 229, col. 1, l. 16 = H. 2. 8, p. 2, col. 2, l. 21) Fiarfaigtear ann so an on incinn tíc cedfad an taghaill no an on craidhe. Galen is cited in favour of the brain as source, Aristotle in favour of the heart. The apparent contradiction is solved by distinguishing thus : the brain is the source as regards material substance (do reir su[b]stainti adhbardha), the heart from the point of view of power of action (do leith na brigi). The solution is introduced by the formula : Freagurtar cuigi sin ~ adermaid. The form of this paragraph is typical for this and the preceding tract (cf. entry for item beg. on p. 217).
The fragment then discusses the existence of a special seat for the mind; the relative merits of a dry or moist brain for the mind; the ruling complexion in the eye; the fittingness of the principal members (baill oiregda) being four; whether the nails are part of the body; whether the hot brain is more apt to take rheum (rema) than the cold; the shape of the brain, including notes on the face, ears (headed in Latin De Auribus), and eyes (De Oculos [sic]), ending with the words ~ is i is laicrimaile bec ann .i. deorachtach bis do leith an gruaidhe ~. Here, at the foot of p. 230, the fragment ends imperfect owing to a chasm.
The agreements with H. 2. 8 are constant up to and including the last paragraph ("De Oculo," H. 2.8, p. 4, col. 1, l. 12). There is a chasm in 23 H 19 before p. 11, then Fermoy, p. 229, col. 2, 1. 8, agrees with 23 H 19, p. 11, col. 1, l. 1, and Fermoy, p. 230 i., with 23 H 19, p. 11, col. 2, 1. 51. [On p. 12, col. 2, 1. 33, 23 H 19 begins to disagree with H. 2. 8, p. 5, col. 1, 1. 26. How far this disagreement is serious is not ascertainable, as after p. 12 there is a chasm in 23 H 19.]
After a chasm the same hand continues with the words (Fermoy, p. 231 = H. 2.8, p. 17, l. 29): (a n-in)arbtar na himarcracha adbar an galair (. .) (o)b(ann) is fearr bis an t-othur, is i sin an aimser (contra)rdaigius dan easlamte—da reir sin is ínti (. .) fearr bis an t-othur. Freagurmaid cuigi ~ adermaid co tuictear sdaid na haimsire o da modaibh. This is followed by a paragraph beg. Fiarfaigtear ann so an fedtur ball imarcrach do tuismadh ar in corp (Auicenna, and Galen are cited).
At the end of this paragraph, on the possibility of a superfluous member, a new section of the tract begins with a Latin heading (Fermoy, p. 231, col. 1, l. 41 = H. 2. 8, p. 17, col. 2, l. 13): Virtues naturalis est in epate que cum per venas [sic] ad membra ín tres díuítitur uírtutes ~c. .i. o do labhrumur don leith tuas dinn dona haeib da cestaibh nadurdha labrum anois dana brigaaibh ar tus don brig nadurdha; ~ fodailtear an brig nadurdha a tri brigib .i. in chedbrig dib re n-abur generatiua .i. brig geneamhnach . . . The other two natural forces are distinguished as nutritíua (oilemnach) and pasitiua (sastach). After further description and classification the tract returns to the scholastic method of exposition already exemplified, i.e., question, followed by answers supported by authority, followed by the true answer. The questions begin (Fermoy, p. 232, col. 1, l. 19 = H. 2. 8, p. 18, col. 1, l. 41) thus : Fiarfaidhi ann so ca brig is mo gortaightear isin easlainte (Galen cited). The next question is An trit an mbrig cumachtaigh [= "virtus potensialis"] oibrigius an leighius no an trit an mbrig ngnimaigh [= "virtus actualis"]. After the answer (p. 232, col. 2, l. 33) the questions cease, and there are ten lines of direct exposition on other powers ("conprehenciva," the five senses, "sensus comonis," "fantaisia")? ending, imperfect owing to a chasm in the ms., with the words : ~ ised is fantasia ann .i. brig noch comdaighius ~ taisgius gach (=H.2.8, p. 19, col. 1, l. 12). [There is a chasm in 23 H 19 before p. 7. Then Fermoy, p. 231, col. 1, l. 16, agrees with 23 H 19, p. 7, col. 1, l. 1; and the last line of the Fermoy fragment (end of p. 232) agrees with 23 H 19, p. 8, col. 1, 1. 18.]
Todd p. 54
233 (fragment of vellum measuring 4⅕ × 5 ins., bearing no old numbering). Written by a 15th (?) cent, hand, the concluding portion of a dialogue between [Spiritus Guidonis & Ioannes Gobi] ; begins here acephalous with the words (. .)thain Ifeirn. Da reir sin, a Prioir, ní ma(ith) (adeiri)si nach dearna Dia (mirb)-aile a n-agaid an chruthaighthi nadurda. Ends: Guidh orum anois, a Prioir, co dúthrachtach, ór is éigín dam dul uait cum an tshentruim .i. cum na purgadóiri coitcinni, ~ ní fhaicfim a chéile co bráth arís. Finit. [= Lia Fáil, 151, 1. 42-p. 152. Cf. supra 476, 13.] On the verso (p. 234) is a greeting (or dedication?) (in a 17th cent. hand?) of which all that is legible is A n-ainm Dia do . . . (five or six words illegible) Toirdelbaigh. Ui Do(mnaill) maill(e) le sén (m)aith ~ le fort . . . (about five words illegible).
omitted by Todd
236 (no older numbering visible). Contains traces of a text which is no longer legible. The preceding page (235) seems to have been left blank by the original scribe : only traces of what seem to be later scribblings are now faintly visible on it.
omitted by Todd
237 (no older numbering visible). This page is very faded and partly illegible. It contains the poem on the Ogham alphabet, beg. Beith ina haenur don leith deis. c. 6 qq., followed by faded Ogham alphabets, etc. Much of the page was originally left blank, and later (17th? 18th? cent.) scribblers have added 3 names (Misi Eoghan MacCrosain), jottings, such as Amen dico vobis . . ., and some unintelligible jottings.
omitted by Todd
238 (no older numbering visible). The text, a poem (?), written in a large hand is no longer legible.