Eugene O'Curry had been em-
Grafton-slreet, and before the Institution had been transferred to its present site in Dawson-street, Dublin.
Grafton-slreet, and before the Institution had been transferred to its present site in Dawson-street, Dublin.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
d.
1557.
The fifth volume contains 441 folios, chiefly written on both pages, and its notices are principally of a civil cha- racter, although some have references to ecclesiastical matters, from a.
d.
1559 to A.
D.
1602.
The sixth volume comprises 230 folios, with nearly double that number of written pages, illustrating Irish civil history, more especially Irom A.
D.
1602 to 1633.
The seventh volume contains 431 foHos, nearly all of which are written on both sides.
They contain matters, chiefly of a civil character, from a.
d.
1633 to a.
d.
1640.
The eighth volume contains 369 folios, nearly all of which are written on both sides.
They are chiefly of a civil complexion, and extending from a.
d.
1641 to a.
d.
1645.
The
'**
It eminently deserves attention, and the services of a competent editor should
be secured to bring it out, under supers'ision
of the Master of the Rolls. Numberless documents here serve to illustrate English history as much as Irish.
h
cxvi INTRODUCTION.
ninth volume contains 336 folios, chiefly written on both sides. The matter principally relates to civil history, from a. d. 1645 to 1680. The tenth volume contains 319 folios, nearly altogether written on both sides. The
matter is chiefly civil, from a. d. 1685 to 1711.
Besides the foregoing, there
is a folio large
manuscript
of
179
written
This is
"
Chartarum et Litterarum Patentium de Rebus Hibernicis Ordine Chrono-
logico digestus collected from Rymer's Faedera, Doctor Wilkins's Councils,
Bullarum Romanum, Birmingham Tower Records, &c. , &c. , intended as a
subsidiaadRemHistoricamHibernicam,"byWalterHarris,Esq. Another
interesting large folio manuscript of 206 numbered pages, with nine addi- tional, and all closely written, belonged to Walter Harris. The matters of chiefecclesiasticalandrecordimportanceare:—i. CodicesMSS. inBiblio- theca Lambethiana, ad res Hibernicas pertinentes. '^' 2. Codices MSS. in Bibliotheca Bodleiana de Rebus Hibernicis. '^* 3. A Topographical Divi- sion of ye County of Clare. '^^ 4. Codices MSS. in Bibliotheca Ducis de Chandois, a Jacobo Warseo olim collecti. '^* Another large folio, containing 227 numbered pages, written, however, only on one side, belongs to the
" Harris collection. It is intituled :
Syllabus Chartarum et Literanmi Pa-
tentium de Rebus Hibernicis Ordine Chronologico digestus. "'^s There is
another folio manuscript, which undoubtedly belonged to Walter Harris, but which has now no title, except an illegible one, traced on the back of its cover. It has 374 numbered pages, and it seems to have been destined for entries of notes to illustrate the reigns of English monarchs, from Henry II. to Charles I. Yet, only from Henry Eighth's reign, a. d. 1399, to the 27th or 28th of Queen Elizabeth's, do we find any recorded events. These are chiefly of a civil nature. There is another large folio manu- script of Harris, containing 405 written pages of extracts, relating to Ireland's civil and ecclesiastical history. It bears no title, but it has a table of con- tents preceding. There is another manuscript of Harris' collection, and it contains 493 most legibly-written pages. It has no title, but it has a table of contents preceding. The tracts in this manuscript chiefly illustrate Irish civil history during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They are mostly
copies from the manuscripts of Rt. Rev. John Sterne, Protestant Bishop of Clogher. The foregoing eighteen folio volumes seem to comprize this valu- able collection of the Harris Manuscripts. '^^ The King Manuscripts, in
"
Collectanea de Rebus Hi- bernicis. " Whatmaybedesignatedthefirst volume'^7—althoughnodistinc- tion is marked—contains 420 numbered pages, with several additional ones
two closely-written folio volumes, are intituled,
»*» From p. 1 to p. 93.
»'•' From to loi. p. 94 p.
»'3 From p. loi to p. 106.
"*< From 106 to 120. p. p.
a's These documents range from a. d.
nuscripts ; nor aie they even classed as yet I»6 Yet, it is probable, Harris was aUo in an intelligible order.
1155 to A. D. 1633.
pages.
intituled,
Syllabus
the possessor of the King Collection, which is next to be described.
*? It is to be regretted, that no attempt
has been hitherto made to a com- present
plete epitome of the Dublin Society's Ma-
INTRODUCTION. CXVll
unmarked. ^^^ What may be described as the second volume—owing to the
want of notation^^9—comprises 427 closely-written pages. These are fol- lowed by a very complete index^7o to the whole of the preceding pages. Again, we find the sources —whence the manuscripts were drawn—indicated,
with letters and diagrams or symbols,^7i showing the several authorities, in a very satisfactory manner. As an appendix to this latter volume, we find two other historical papers of considerable interest, and added, apparently, at some after period, before the volumes had been bound. '^^ In addition
to the foregoing, there is a modern paper manuscript copy of the " Foras Feassa ar Eirion," or Keating's History of Ireland, in the Irish character. '73 Other manuscripts kept there have no interest for the student of Irish history.
It is very certain, that one of the finest and most extensive collections of manuscripts in the world, for the illustration or compiling of our national Saints' Acts, is that contained in the Royal Irish Academy's Library, Dublin. Comparatively recent as has been the formation of this institution,'74 its
''^
This includes a very choice collection, Londin. 14. Repertorium Clochorens. in whole or in part, of extracts taken from 15. Codex Status Fratrum Minorum. 16. various Irish annals, inquisitions, deeds, Status Cisterc. 17. Annates Pembrokian. charters, manuscripts and printed books, 18. Chart£e Jacobi Ducis Ormond. 19.
specially referring to Irish history. This is aninvaluableandawell-indexedmanuscript,
of very great importance for the study of an Irish hagiographist or ecclesiologist. The
antiquary, topographer and chronographer will find, likewise, abundant matter in it of the highest interest.
'*5 On a previous blank page is written, " Collectanea Rev. admodum viri Gulielmi
King, nuper Arpi Dublin de Hospitalibus potissimum, Coenobiis, et Monasteriis Hi- bemicis ; varia etiam alia de Rebus Hi-
bemicis, tam Ecclesiasticis, quam Civilibus complectentia MS. "
''''It is headed, "Index Rerum Memo- rabilium quae in hoc Libro continentur
Bermingham Turris. 20. Ware, de Prossu- libus. " After this, wefind a Latin note, that in the year 1732, Walter Harris had caused all the included papers or extracts in those two manuscript volumes to be tran- scribed from a manuscript codex, belonging to the Rt. Rev. William King, lately Arch- bishop of Dublin. Afterwards, five pages follow, and these refer to the foundations and charters of Irish religious houses. Then a short column succeeds, with paginal re- ferences to religious houses almost un- known, and here mentioned in this volume.
'7^ There are headed, " An Abstract of the Grand Inquisition of the County of Down, Anno 1621," in 48 closely-written
summa industria
contains 37 closely- written pages. It is followed by eight additional pages, which
"
areheaded TabulaeinquaNominaHospit.
Ccenobiorum, Monasteriorum, &c. , in hoc Libro occurrentium Ordine Alphabetico de- scribuntur. "
'7» These sources are thus noted in order :
—"I. Chartse Civit. Dublin. 2. Rotul. Rem.
3. Repertorium Arpi Dublin. 4. Antiqui- tates Hiberniae. 5. Officium Rotul. 6. Repertorium Civitatis Dublin. 7. Sacca- rium. 8. Rotul. Pipoe. 9. Communia Placita. 10. Rotul. Coglei. 11. Calendar Fratrum Prsdicatorum Limer. 12. An- nates Loughkeensis. 13. Rotuli in Turri
a " De Concilio Hi- heading,
congestus. "
This index
pages ; again
berniae per Magnates totius illius Insulce," taken from the "Liber Niger," in Trinity
f. 6 a. This latter docu- ment is thought to date A. D. 1295, and it takes up six pages and a half page. Other documents are, A Grant of Freedoms to the City of Dublin, by King Henry II. , with
supplementary Charters, and a Charter, granting Meath to Hugh de Lacy. A short and an unimportant index closes thisMS. volume.
'" It comprises 140 folios, well and legibly
traced on both sides, although on poor
paper.
'? » The Royal Irish Academy, for pro-
moting the study of Science, Polite Litera-
College, Dublin,
CXVUl INTRODUCTION.
members have already acquired, by donation or purchase, most invaluable historical, poetical, and topographical tracts, especially in the native lan-
guage. Besides many old and original manuscripts, generally in a fine state of preservation, more modern copies, from older sources, have been
procured. It will only be necessary to mention here, the O'Longan family collection, Edward O'Reilly's, Sir William Betham's, the Messrs. Hodges and Smith's, James Hardiman's, John Windale's, Du Noyefs Antiquarian Drawings, with some less extensive additions.
Not to speak of the Ordnance Survey collection and sketches, these MSS. are the gradual acquisition of less than a century, while the stock promises a continuance of increase. Much progress has been already made with the task of preparing suitable catalogues,'' 75 by order of the council. '^^ Messrs. Owen Connellan and Eugene O'Curry'77 have partially described the contents of Irish Manuscripts. ' 78 Since their death, this work has been resumed by Messrs. O'Longan and Br)'an O'Looney, M. R. I. A. Other competent and zealous Irish scholars have likewise contributed to extend a knowledge of matters contained in this department of literature. '79 De- scriptions are to be found in printed volumes, regarding some of the most importantamongthosemanuscriptsandtheircontents. '^ Thewriterhas
ture, and Antiquities, was incorporated by the Irish Parliament, a d. 1786.
'75 As yet, these are in manuscript, with
the exception of Sir William R. Wilde's
Irish scholar and scribe compiled six large folio volumes of Catalogues, containing a
description of all the manuscripts preserved in the Royal Irish Academy's collection, to that period, when his labours terminated.
learned and scientifically designed " Cata-
logue of the Antiquities of Materials in the
Museum of the Royal Irish Academy. " described according to the classification Dublin, 1857, et seq. In three parts, pro- adopted in the old Academy House in
fusely illustrated. The remaining parts are yet to be published.
'7' And under the able direction of John
T. Gilbert, Esq. , M. R. I. A. , Librarian.
'77 Mr.
Eugene O'Curry had been em-
Grafton-slreet, and before the Institution had been transferred to its present site in Dawson-street, Dublin.
'79 Denis H. Kelly, Esq. , M. R. I. A. , has compiled, in two folio volumes, an Alpha- betical Index of subjects to five of Eugene
ployed to give a complete Catalogue Rai-
sonni of all materials—especially Irish— O'Curry's Catalogue volumes. This valu-
able personal compilation was presented by Mr. Kelly to the Academy in 1861. These Indices are most creditable to this gentle- man's industry, learning, method, judgment and public spirit.
'*° The reader is
Eugene O'Curry's
volumes, describing the Betham collection " of the Proceedings
contained in the manuscript department. This task was commenced in 1842. He
soon compiled a large folio volume, thus described by himself, and in his own hand-
writing, on the fly-leaf: "A Catalogue of the Number and Contents of Messrs.
referred to "Lecturesonthe Manu- script Materials of Ancient Irish History ;" as also to a work, by the same author, " On the Manners and Customs of the An- writing, prefixed to the first volume, he cient Irish. " A Series of Lectures. Edited, commenced the compilation of a Catalogue, with an Introduction, Appendices, etc. , by comprised in three large folio volumes. W. K. Sullivan, Ph. D. Likewise,see "Trans- Besides these, he compiled two more actions of the Royal Irish Academy," and
and Smith's Collection of Irish Manuscripts," by Eugene Curry, Dublin, 1843. In the year 1842, as is apparent from a note in Eugene O'Curry's own hand-
Hodges
Irish of Irish Manuscripts. In all, this learned from the first to the latest volumes.
»7^ It must be understood, that these are
specially
Royal
Academy,"
INTRODUCTION. CXIX
frequently, and for many years past, consulted the manuscripts and books belonging to this noble institution,'^' while he has drawn from them some of the most valuable illustrative matter, contained in succeeding pages of this work.
Permission being accorded, by the Superior-General of the Franciscans, at Rome, to remove the valuable collection of Irish MSS. , kept at St.
Isidore's Convent,'^* to Dublin, together with several rare works, relating to our national history,*^3 about the beginning of 1872, these treasures were
safely transferred to the Franciscan Convent, on Merchant's-quay. '^'* Some of these MSS. , having been removed from Louvain originally, are in Colgan's
beautifully minute, yet legible hand-writing. Many of them had been used during the compilation of his hagiographical works. Besides what have
been already partially described, a good sized folio paper MS. of Irish Saint's Lives, written in Latin, is remarkable. Most legibly and elegantly
transcribed or compiled'^5 for the purpose of publication, it includes 304 very closely-written pages. The Acts of St. Attracta, which precede the
and
''' Long before he had the honour of
being elected a Member of the Royal Irish
Academy, the writer enjoyed the privilege mentioned ; and, during the whole period, since his first introduction as a reader, he has received the most unremitting kindness and attention from the Librarian, John T. Gilbert, Esq. ; from the Clerk of the Aca-
demy, Edward Clibbom, Esq. ; from the Resident Curator, Robert M'Eniry, Esq. ; and from the Assistant Clerks, Messrs. J. J. MacSweeney and R. F. O'Mulrennan.
'^^ The Irish Manuscripts preserved at St. Isidore's, Rome, had been described in letters from Charles MacDonnell, Esq. , and read before the Royal Irish Academy on
"
June I2th, 1854. See
Royal Irish Academy," vol. vi. , pp. 95 to 112.
*^5 This happy incident, and an admirable
poetic description of the recovered national
treasures, are most spiritedly and feelingly recorded in a poem, intituled, "The St.
Isidore Manuscripts, now in St. Francis', Dublin. " It was written by John Francis
O'Donnell, and published in "The Nation" of 30th March, 1872. The following is its
opening stanza : —
are not
nal notes. '^^ Nor can I discover that these Acts except very few had been published by Colgan in their present form •^'^^ although it seems evident
index,
numbered,
throughout
this there are various MS. , — —
Proceedings of the
"
In troublous days these treasures came— St. Gerald, at the 13th of March. These
From Ireland of the four bright seas.
'^7 Among the exceptions are the Acts of
m
Through clouds—through fires—through darknesses—
To Rome of immemorial- name—
Rome of immeasurable fame.
The reddened hands of foes would rive
Each lovely growth of cloister—crypt—
Dim folio, yellow manuscript— Where yet the glowing pigments live ; But a clear voice cried from Louvain :
'
Give them to me, for they are mine ! ' And so they sped across the main—
The Saints their guard, the ship their shrine. "
'^^ The task of selection, supervision, and direction, was left to the learned Father Theobald Carey, O. S. F. To him, the writer feels deeply indebted, as custodian of these treasures, for every facility afforded to peruse and copy them. Father Carey has most kindly supplied many extracts of great value, during the progress of this work, and which greatly enhance the value of its con- tents.
'85ByFatherJohnGolde,O. S. F. The
title of this MS. , already alluded to, is
"Vitffi Sanctorum ex Codice Inisensi. "
'^*
All apparently in Colgan's hand- writing.
argi-
cxx INTROr>UCTION.
he had intended them for publication. Again, there are three large Fas- ciculi, in folio, including some hundreds of closely-written pages, for the
most part—indeed nearly altogether—in Colgan's hand-wTiting. These are loosely placed within vellum covers. They seem to have been a first draft
of Lives, Appendices, and Notes, which Colgan afterwards printed, but in amoreenlargedandfinishedway,inhis"TriasThaumaturga. "'^^ Inone case, over thirteen pages of St. Columban's Life are found ;'^9 these, how- ever, are not in Colgan's hand.
begrimed and worn, as to become illegible in various places. This valuable record was frequently consulted by Colgan. '9- Some of its initial
letters are very curiously traced. Although there is a very general unifor- mityofIrishwriting; yet,hereandthere,canbedetectedtheintroduction of notes, and in different styles of Irish character. These are presumably
"" modern, as compared with the original text. Besides the Feilire of
. ^ngus, and the Scholia affixed, this Codex has other Irish poems and com- ments interlined, both at the beginning and end. The " Liber Hymnorum," a vellum MS. of the ninth or tenth century, it is presumed, and in twenty- three folia,'93 is very much stained and worn, so as to be illegible in various places. *9* This differs in many respects from the MS. " Liber Hym-
norum," preserved in Trinity College Library. Besides the foregoing, there is a beautifully and legibly transcribed copy '9s in parchment of Manus
Within a on which is inscribed " parchment cover,
Martyrologium Cathaldi Maguir, sive ^ngussius Auctus," and " 8 Ccnt. ,"'9° there are forty-nine folios in vellum. '9' This codex is of the largest folio size, but several of the pages—especially towards the beginning and end—are so
are printed verbatim from Colgan's copy of the " Book of the Island. The Acts of St. Fechin, at the 20th of January ; the Life of St. Berach, at the 15th of February ; tlie Acts of St. David, at the ist of March ; and the Acts of St. Endeus, imperfect : these are all taken from that " Book of the Island. "
'^ In one instance, I find a leaf, which
contains the concluding portion of St. Seizin's Acts, and a part of the first note to
them, as published by Colgan in " Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," vi. Martii, p. 47S. This was not written by Colgan.
'^ His feast occurs on the 21st of Novem- ber. The life does not end in a complete manner.
'9" This indicates how that copy of the " Feilire" belongs to the eighth century. From another annotation, within the Codex, we learn, that it was one of those MSS.
belonging to the Convent of Donegal.
'»' Besides these, there is an additional
slip of small size.
'»* He often quotes it under either of the
aforesaid titles.
'^ In 410 size.
'»* In the poem of John Francis O'Don-
nell—to which allusion has lieen already
made—the following stanza thus faithfully describes—and yet with some poetic li-
cense—this venerable manuscript : —
*^
Liber Hymnorum ! Beauteous book,
Gray with the glory born of time, Dim leaves which the Francisc—an took,
At dewy eve, at early prime
Even at midnight's measured chime—
And on them wrote, with pen devout,
'
The cries in which the Saints of God
Adored the blessed path He trod, When sorrows ringed Him round about. Stand firm, dear Book, that all may see
That in the years which have no name,
Our country had a history,
And Europe echoed back her fame. "
"''^
In large 410 sliapc.
'9® It contains 132 pages, written in
double columns, besides a quarter page, which concludes this work.
hundred years before Manus O'Donnell wrote this life.
J99 By Bryan MacNally, whose name is giveninLatin,onthelastpage.
200
Throughout are various marginal an- notations of Colgan ; and, from this copy, he probably prepared his Latin translation, abbreviated for insertion and printed in
'"* William M. Hennessy, M. R. LA. , de-
scribes the following tracts. At page 16,
and col. 3, there is a list of f—oreign saints,
withsomeoftheIrishSaints resembling
them in manner—compared. It is headed
'97 One of the comments there found are
the " Trias
With fairy fancies— birds and flowers— Roses of everlasting blow,
"
'°' Extracted from the Book of Leinster.
And
blooms of bowers — never-fading
Thaumaturga.
"
moris. " It has been published by Dr.
Blue lakes, green isles, and mystic towers !
O blessed be the monkish hands
Which filled each page with such sweet
gi-ace.
When earth for Learning found no
place,
And war streamed red across the lands.
Fade never, but be monument
Of what the brave Franciscans did,
Wlien battle shook the Continent,
And half the world in gloom lay hid.
XIII.
Ireland shall treasure book and scroll ;
Andfromtheirsacredleavesmayrise
Hie incipiunt Sancti qui erant unius
Todd, in his
"
Martyrology of Donegal. "
Besides other treatises, composed by Irish
Saints, or relating to them, we find at page
20, and col. 3, a poem of ten stanzas, as-
cribed to St. Ciaran. The last composition
on this same page, and in the tenth folium,
is a of twelve stanzas,
poem
enumerating twiceasmanysaints, whoseintercessionin
INTRODUCTION. CXXl
O'Donnell's Irish Life of St. Columkille. '? ^ The subject matter of this Treatise is perfect throughout, but it wants a title. On the last page, John O'Neill, the name of its scribe, is to be found ; and, on the original blank side, a few irrelevant entries are to be seen. '97 The leaves are inserted within a much older embossed leather cover, of an exceedingly ingenious pattern, and reticulated, in the Irish style of art. '9^ Evidently the cover was not made for the present Codex, for it is somewhat smaller in size. There is another paper copy of this work in MS. , but greatly damaged on many of the pages. It is under a very worn parchment cover, and there are included ii8 pages, closely written in Irish. '9^ Other leaves—in the beginning and end—contain a few irrelevant entries. '°°
Besides those tracts, attributed to St. -^ngus the Culdee, as author, and contained in the ten vellum /<7//a,'°^ various other fragments of an interesting historical character are found. ^°" Hardly less valuable—although not per-
taining specially to the subject of Irish hagiology—are many highly important papers,^°3 which preserve the arcana of Ireland's ecclesiastical and civil affairs, during the troubled period of the seventeenth century. '"> Reference is specially made to the papers of Father Luke Wadding.
heaven and whose prayers on earth were the
same or of equal efficacy.
*°3 For a very detailed and interesting
account of the Manuscripts belonging to these words in Colgan's hand-writing, the former College of the Irish Franciscans, "Sancte Columba ora pro me peccatore. " Ivouvain, that account of J. T. Gilbert may '9^ The Rev. Dr. Reeves is of opinion, be consulted in "Fourth Report of the Royal that the cover had be'en prepared many Commission on Historical Manuscripts,"
part i. , pp. 599 to 613.
^°^ John Francis O'Donnell thus concludes
those glowing stanzas, to which attention has beenalreadydrawn: -
XII.
" Rare psalters, whose initals glow
' *
cxxii INTRODUCTION.
Some few of our Irish Catholic Colleges'°s and religious houses,"^* as likewise private collectors, have obtained very useful records, which help to solve many difficulties, in relation to our theme. The Irish Catholic
University Library, Stephen's Green, Dublin, has already secured several valuable Irish MSS. , collected or transcribed by a former eminent Gaelic
scholar, Professor Eugene O'Curry. Copies of the Brehon Laws,^°7 have also been added. These manuscript contents may be conveniently clas- sified, under the following heads : —I. Historic Literature. II. Heroic Tales. III. Lives of Saints. IV. Glossaries. V. Laws. I. In the de- partment of Historic Literature, there is a choice collection of Historic Tales, Annals, and Genealogical works, with a rare collection of poems and prose pieces of great value. II. Of heroic and legendary pieces, there is a large selection, taken from poems and tracts, found among the oldest and best Irish manuscripts extant. '°^ III. In the Ecclesiastical department, there is a very large collection of the Lives of Irish Saints, Calendars, Homilies, Festilogies, &c. , collected from the Libraries of Oxford, and of the British Museum, as likewise from those of the Royal Irish Academy andofTrinityCollege,Dublin. Tothosetractsisaddedthatuniquecollection containing the Lives of Irish Saints, made by the indefatigable Michael O'Cleary, and by his brother scribes, known as the Four Masters. Those im-
portant works, in the original, are now preserved in the Burgundian Library, at Brussels. From this collection, O'Curry selected copies of such biogra-
A newer and a mightier soul,
To raise her nearer to the skies, And win her grander destinies.
And Ireland never can forget
one for the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, and another for that of the Catholic University. He got a conditional undertaking, on behalf of the Brehon Law
The — men who loving
Commission,
that those sets should be made
through long Sad centuries of silent tears—
complete. Thislatter"^promisehasnotyet been fulfilled.
'°* The value of this class of literature is shown, by the important use made of them
years
Their seal these treasures upon
set, Guarding them for the brighter day Which, be it far or close at hand,
Must pour inevitable ray
On this unconquerable land. "
»°s Among these, Maynooth contains some valuable Irish Historical Tracts.
»"* The Franciscan Convent, Wexford, has probably a large collection of such do- cuments.
">' These are distinguished from the rest, by the title, "Smyth Collection," because they were secured for the Catholic Univer- sity, owing to the exertions of Mr.
'**
It eminently deserves attention, and the services of a competent editor should
be secured to bring it out, under supers'ision
of the Master of the Rolls. Numberless documents here serve to illustrate English history as much as Irish.
h
cxvi INTRODUCTION.
ninth volume contains 336 folios, chiefly written on both sides. The matter principally relates to civil history, from a. d. 1645 to 1680. The tenth volume contains 319 folios, nearly altogether written on both sides. The
matter is chiefly civil, from a. d. 1685 to 1711.
Besides the foregoing, there
is a folio large
manuscript
of
179
written
This is
"
Chartarum et Litterarum Patentium de Rebus Hibernicis Ordine Chrono-
logico digestus collected from Rymer's Faedera, Doctor Wilkins's Councils,
Bullarum Romanum, Birmingham Tower Records, &c. , &c. , intended as a
subsidiaadRemHistoricamHibernicam,"byWalterHarris,Esq. Another
interesting large folio manuscript of 206 numbered pages, with nine addi- tional, and all closely written, belonged to Walter Harris. The matters of chiefecclesiasticalandrecordimportanceare:—i. CodicesMSS. inBiblio- theca Lambethiana, ad res Hibernicas pertinentes. '^' 2. Codices MSS. in Bibliotheca Bodleiana de Rebus Hibernicis. '^* 3. A Topographical Divi- sion of ye County of Clare. '^^ 4. Codices MSS. in Bibliotheca Ducis de Chandois, a Jacobo Warseo olim collecti. '^* Another large folio, containing 227 numbered pages, written, however, only on one side, belongs to the
" Harris collection. It is intituled :
Syllabus Chartarum et Literanmi Pa-
tentium de Rebus Hibernicis Ordine Chronologico digestus. "'^s There is
another folio manuscript, which undoubtedly belonged to Walter Harris, but which has now no title, except an illegible one, traced on the back of its cover. It has 374 numbered pages, and it seems to have been destined for entries of notes to illustrate the reigns of English monarchs, from Henry II. to Charles I. Yet, only from Henry Eighth's reign, a. d. 1399, to the 27th or 28th of Queen Elizabeth's, do we find any recorded events. These are chiefly of a civil nature. There is another large folio manu- script of Harris, containing 405 written pages of extracts, relating to Ireland's civil and ecclesiastical history. It bears no title, but it has a table of con- tents preceding. There is another manuscript of Harris' collection, and it contains 493 most legibly-written pages. It has no title, but it has a table of contents preceding. The tracts in this manuscript chiefly illustrate Irish civil history during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They are mostly
copies from the manuscripts of Rt. Rev. John Sterne, Protestant Bishop of Clogher. The foregoing eighteen folio volumes seem to comprize this valu- able collection of the Harris Manuscripts. '^^ The King Manuscripts, in
"
Collectanea de Rebus Hi- bernicis. " Whatmaybedesignatedthefirst volume'^7—althoughnodistinc- tion is marked—contains 420 numbered pages, with several additional ones
two closely-written folio volumes, are intituled,
»*» From p. 1 to p. 93.
»'•' From to loi. p. 94 p.
»'3 From p. loi to p. 106.
"*< From 106 to 120. p. p.
a's These documents range from a. d.
nuscripts ; nor aie they even classed as yet I»6 Yet, it is probable, Harris was aUo in an intelligible order.
1155 to A. D. 1633.
pages.
intituled,
Syllabus
the possessor of the King Collection, which is next to be described.
*? It is to be regretted, that no attempt
has been hitherto made to a com- present
plete epitome of the Dublin Society's Ma-
INTRODUCTION. CXVll
unmarked. ^^^ What may be described as the second volume—owing to the
want of notation^^9—comprises 427 closely-written pages. These are fol- lowed by a very complete index^7o to the whole of the preceding pages. Again, we find the sources —whence the manuscripts were drawn—indicated,
with letters and diagrams or symbols,^7i showing the several authorities, in a very satisfactory manner. As an appendix to this latter volume, we find two other historical papers of considerable interest, and added, apparently, at some after period, before the volumes had been bound. '^^ In addition
to the foregoing, there is a modern paper manuscript copy of the " Foras Feassa ar Eirion," or Keating's History of Ireland, in the Irish character. '73 Other manuscripts kept there have no interest for the student of Irish history.
It is very certain, that one of the finest and most extensive collections of manuscripts in the world, for the illustration or compiling of our national Saints' Acts, is that contained in the Royal Irish Academy's Library, Dublin. Comparatively recent as has been the formation of this institution,'74 its
''^
This includes a very choice collection, Londin. 14. Repertorium Clochorens. in whole or in part, of extracts taken from 15. Codex Status Fratrum Minorum. 16. various Irish annals, inquisitions, deeds, Status Cisterc. 17. Annates Pembrokian. charters, manuscripts and printed books, 18. Chart£e Jacobi Ducis Ormond. 19.
specially referring to Irish history. This is aninvaluableandawell-indexedmanuscript,
of very great importance for the study of an Irish hagiographist or ecclesiologist. The
antiquary, topographer and chronographer will find, likewise, abundant matter in it of the highest interest.
'*5 On a previous blank page is written, " Collectanea Rev. admodum viri Gulielmi
King, nuper Arpi Dublin de Hospitalibus potissimum, Coenobiis, et Monasteriis Hi- bemicis ; varia etiam alia de Rebus Hi-
bemicis, tam Ecclesiasticis, quam Civilibus complectentia MS. "
''''It is headed, "Index Rerum Memo- rabilium quae in hoc Libro continentur
Bermingham Turris. 20. Ware, de Prossu- libus. " After this, wefind a Latin note, that in the year 1732, Walter Harris had caused all the included papers or extracts in those two manuscript volumes to be tran- scribed from a manuscript codex, belonging to the Rt. Rev. William King, lately Arch- bishop of Dublin. Afterwards, five pages follow, and these refer to the foundations and charters of Irish religious houses. Then a short column succeeds, with paginal re- ferences to religious houses almost un- known, and here mentioned in this volume.
'7^ There are headed, " An Abstract of the Grand Inquisition of the County of Down, Anno 1621," in 48 closely-written
summa industria
contains 37 closely- written pages. It is followed by eight additional pages, which
"
areheaded TabulaeinquaNominaHospit.
Ccenobiorum, Monasteriorum, &c. , in hoc Libro occurrentium Ordine Alphabetico de- scribuntur. "
'7» These sources are thus noted in order :
—"I. Chartse Civit. Dublin. 2. Rotul. Rem.
3. Repertorium Arpi Dublin. 4. Antiqui- tates Hiberniae. 5. Officium Rotul. 6. Repertorium Civitatis Dublin. 7. Sacca- rium. 8. Rotul. Pipoe. 9. Communia Placita. 10. Rotul. Coglei. 11. Calendar Fratrum Prsdicatorum Limer. 12. An- nates Loughkeensis. 13. Rotuli in Turri
a " De Concilio Hi- heading,
congestus. "
This index
pages ; again
berniae per Magnates totius illius Insulce," taken from the "Liber Niger," in Trinity
f. 6 a. This latter docu- ment is thought to date A. D. 1295, and it takes up six pages and a half page. Other documents are, A Grant of Freedoms to the City of Dublin, by King Henry II. , with
supplementary Charters, and a Charter, granting Meath to Hugh de Lacy. A short and an unimportant index closes thisMS. volume.
'" It comprises 140 folios, well and legibly
traced on both sides, although on poor
paper.
'? » The Royal Irish Academy, for pro-
moting the study of Science, Polite Litera-
College, Dublin,
CXVUl INTRODUCTION.
members have already acquired, by donation or purchase, most invaluable historical, poetical, and topographical tracts, especially in the native lan-
guage. Besides many old and original manuscripts, generally in a fine state of preservation, more modern copies, from older sources, have been
procured. It will only be necessary to mention here, the O'Longan family collection, Edward O'Reilly's, Sir William Betham's, the Messrs. Hodges and Smith's, James Hardiman's, John Windale's, Du Noyefs Antiquarian Drawings, with some less extensive additions.
Not to speak of the Ordnance Survey collection and sketches, these MSS. are the gradual acquisition of less than a century, while the stock promises a continuance of increase. Much progress has been already made with the task of preparing suitable catalogues,'' 75 by order of the council. '^^ Messrs. Owen Connellan and Eugene O'Curry'77 have partially described the contents of Irish Manuscripts. ' 78 Since their death, this work has been resumed by Messrs. O'Longan and Br)'an O'Looney, M. R. I. A. Other competent and zealous Irish scholars have likewise contributed to extend a knowledge of matters contained in this department of literature. '79 De- scriptions are to be found in printed volumes, regarding some of the most importantamongthosemanuscriptsandtheircontents. '^ Thewriterhas
ture, and Antiquities, was incorporated by the Irish Parliament, a d. 1786.
'75 As yet, these are in manuscript, with
the exception of Sir William R. Wilde's
Irish scholar and scribe compiled six large folio volumes of Catalogues, containing a
description of all the manuscripts preserved in the Royal Irish Academy's collection, to that period, when his labours terminated.
learned and scientifically designed " Cata-
logue of the Antiquities of Materials in the
Museum of the Royal Irish Academy. " described according to the classification Dublin, 1857, et seq. In three parts, pro- adopted in the old Academy House in
fusely illustrated. The remaining parts are yet to be published.
'7' And under the able direction of John
T. Gilbert, Esq. , M. R. I. A. , Librarian.
'77 Mr.
Eugene O'Curry had been em-
Grafton-slreet, and before the Institution had been transferred to its present site in Dawson-street, Dublin.
'79 Denis H. Kelly, Esq. , M. R. I. A. , has compiled, in two folio volumes, an Alpha- betical Index of subjects to five of Eugene
ployed to give a complete Catalogue Rai-
sonni of all materials—especially Irish— O'Curry's Catalogue volumes. This valu-
able personal compilation was presented by Mr. Kelly to the Academy in 1861. These Indices are most creditable to this gentle- man's industry, learning, method, judgment and public spirit.
'*° The reader is
Eugene O'Curry's
volumes, describing the Betham collection " of the Proceedings
contained in the manuscript department. This task was commenced in 1842. He
soon compiled a large folio volume, thus described by himself, and in his own hand-
writing, on the fly-leaf: "A Catalogue of the Number and Contents of Messrs.
referred to "Lecturesonthe Manu- script Materials of Ancient Irish History ;" as also to a work, by the same author, " On the Manners and Customs of the An- writing, prefixed to the first volume, he cient Irish. " A Series of Lectures. Edited, commenced the compilation of a Catalogue, with an Introduction, Appendices, etc. , by comprised in three large folio volumes. W. K. Sullivan, Ph. D. Likewise,see "Trans- Besides these, he compiled two more actions of the Royal Irish Academy," and
and Smith's Collection of Irish Manuscripts," by Eugene Curry, Dublin, 1843. In the year 1842, as is apparent from a note in Eugene O'Curry's own hand-
Hodges
Irish of Irish Manuscripts. In all, this learned from the first to the latest volumes.
»7^ It must be understood, that these are
specially
Royal
Academy,"
INTRODUCTION. CXIX
frequently, and for many years past, consulted the manuscripts and books belonging to this noble institution,'^' while he has drawn from them some of the most valuable illustrative matter, contained in succeeding pages of this work.
Permission being accorded, by the Superior-General of the Franciscans, at Rome, to remove the valuable collection of Irish MSS. , kept at St.
Isidore's Convent,'^* to Dublin, together with several rare works, relating to our national history,*^3 about the beginning of 1872, these treasures were
safely transferred to the Franciscan Convent, on Merchant's-quay. '^'* Some of these MSS. , having been removed from Louvain originally, are in Colgan's
beautifully minute, yet legible hand-writing. Many of them had been used during the compilation of his hagiographical works. Besides what have
been already partially described, a good sized folio paper MS. of Irish Saint's Lives, written in Latin, is remarkable. Most legibly and elegantly
transcribed or compiled'^5 for the purpose of publication, it includes 304 very closely-written pages. The Acts of St. Attracta, which precede the
and
''' Long before he had the honour of
being elected a Member of the Royal Irish
Academy, the writer enjoyed the privilege mentioned ; and, during the whole period, since his first introduction as a reader, he has received the most unremitting kindness and attention from the Librarian, John T. Gilbert, Esq. ; from the Clerk of the Aca-
demy, Edward Clibbom, Esq. ; from the Resident Curator, Robert M'Eniry, Esq. ; and from the Assistant Clerks, Messrs. J. J. MacSweeney and R. F. O'Mulrennan.
'^^ The Irish Manuscripts preserved at St. Isidore's, Rome, had been described in letters from Charles MacDonnell, Esq. , and read before the Royal Irish Academy on
"
June I2th, 1854. See
Royal Irish Academy," vol. vi. , pp. 95 to 112.
*^5 This happy incident, and an admirable
poetic description of the recovered national
treasures, are most spiritedly and feelingly recorded in a poem, intituled, "The St.
Isidore Manuscripts, now in St. Francis', Dublin. " It was written by John Francis
O'Donnell, and published in "The Nation" of 30th March, 1872. The following is its
opening stanza : —
are not
nal notes. '^^ Nor can I discover that these Acts except very few had been published by Colgan in their present form •^'^^ although it seems evident
index,
numbered,
throughout
this there are various MS. , — —
Proceedings of the
"
In troublous days these treasures came— St. Gerald, at the 13th of March. These
From Ireland of the four bright seas.
'^7 Among the exceptions are the Acts of
m
Through clouds—through fires—through darknesses—
To Rome of immemorial- name—
Rome of immeasurable fame.
The reddened hands of foes would rive
Each lovely growth of cloister—crypt—
Dim folio, yellow manuscript— Where yet the glowing pigments live ; But a clear voice cried from Louvain :
'
Give them to me, for they are mine ! ' And so they sped across the main—
The Saints their guard, the ship their shrine. "
'^^ The task of selection, supervision, and direction, was left to the learned Father Theobald Carey, O. S. F. To him, the writer feels deeply indebted, as custodian of these treasures, for every facility afforded to peruse and copy them. Father Carey has most kindly supplied many extracts of great value, during the progress of this work, and which greatly enhance the value of its con- tents.
'85ByFatherJohnGolde,O. S. F. The
title of this MS. , already alluded to, is
"Vitffi Sanctorum ex Codice Inisensi. "
'^*
All apparently in Colgan's hand- writing.
argi-
cxx INTROr>UCTION.
he had intended them for publication. Again, there are three large Fas- ciculi, in folio, including some hundreds of closely-written pages, for the
most part—indeed nearly altogether—in Colgan's hand-wTiting. These are loosely placed within vellum covers. They seem to have been a first draft
of Lives, Appendices, and Notes, which Colgan afterwards printed, but in amoreenlargedandfinishedway,inhis"TriasThaumaturga. "'^^ Inone case, over thirteen pages of St. Columban's Life are found ;'^9 these, how- ever, are not in Colgan's hand.
begrimed and worn, as to become illegible in various places. This valuable record was frequently consulted by Colgan. '9- Some of its initial
letters are very curiously traced. Although there is a very general unifor- mityofIrishwriting; yet,hereandthere,canbedetectedtheintroduction of notes, and in different styles of Irish character. These are presumably
"" modern, as compared with the original text. Besides the Feilire of
. ^ngus, and the Scholia affixed, this Codex has other Irish poems and com- ments interlined, both at the beginning and end. The " Liber Hymnorum," a vellum MS. of the ninth or tenth century, it is presumed, and in twenty- three folia,'93 is very much stained and worn, so as to be illegible in various places. *9* This differs in many respects from the MS. " Liber Hym-
norum," preserved in Trinity College Library. Besides the foregoing, there is a beautifully and legibly transcribed copy '9s in parchment of Manus
Within a on which is inscribed " parchment cover,
Martyrologium Cathaldi Maguir, sive ^ngussius Auctus," and " 8 Ccnt. ,"'9° there are forty-nine folios in vellum. '9' This codex is of the largest folio size, but several of the pages—especially towards the beginning and end—are so
are printed verbatim from Colgan's copy of the " Book of the Island. The Acts of St. Fechin, at the 20th of January ; the Life of St. Berach, at the 15th of February ; tlie Acts of St. David, at the ist of March ; and the Acts of St. Endeus, imperfect : these are all taken from that " Book of the Island. "
'^ In one instance, I find a leaf, which
contains the concluding portion of St. Seizin's Acts, and a part of the first note to
them, as published by Colgan in " Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," vi. Martii, p. 47S. This was not written by Colgan.
'^ His feast occurs on the 21st of Novem- ber. The life does not end in a complete manner.
'9" This indicates how that copy of the " Feilire" belongs to the eighth century. From another annotation, within the Codex, we learn, that it was one of those MSS.
belonging to the Convent of Donegal.
'»' Besides these, there is an additional
slip of small size.
'»* He often quotes it under either of the
aforesaid titles.
'^ In 410 size.
'»* In the poem of John Francis O'Don-
nell—to which allusion has lieen already
made—the following stanza thus faithfully describes—and yet with some poetic li-
cense—this venerable manuscript : —
*^
Liber Hymnorum ! Beauteous book,
Gray with the glory born of time, Dim leaves which the Francisc—an took,
At dewy eve, at early prime
Even at midnight's measured chime—
And on them wrote, with pen devout,
'
The cries in which the Saints of God
Adored the blessed path He trod, When sorrows ringed Him round about. Stand firm, dear Book, that all may see
That in the years which have no name,
Our country had a history,
And Europe echoed back her fame. "
"''^
In large 410 sliapc.
'9® It contains 132 pages, written in
double columns, besides a quarter page, which concludes this work.
hundred years before Manus O'Donnell wrote this life.
J99 By Bryan MacNally, whose name is giveninLatin,onthelastpage.
200
Throughout are various marginal an- notations of Colgan ; and, from this copy, he probably prepared his Latin translation, abbreviated for insertion and printed in
'"* William M. Hennessy, M. R. LA. , de-
scribes the following tracts. At page 16,
and col. 3, there is a list of f—oreign saints,
withsomeoftheIrishSaints resembling
them in manner—compared. It is headed
'97 One of the comments there found are
the " Trias
With fairy fancies— birds and flowers— Roses of everlasting blow,
"
'°' Extracted from the Book of Leinster.
And
blooms of bowers — never-fading
Thaumaturga.
"
moris. " It has been published by Dr.
Blue lakes, green isles, and mystic towers !
O blessed be the monkish hands
Which filled each page with such sweet
gi-ace.
When earth for Learning found no
place,
And war streamed red across the lands.
Fade never, but be monument
Of what the brave Franciscans did,
Wlien battle shook the Continent,
And half the world in gloom lay hid.
XIII.
Ireland shall treasure book and scroll ;
Andfromtheirsacredleavesmayrise
Hie incipiunt Sancti qui erant unius
Todd, in his
"
Martyrology of Donegal. "
Besides other treatises, composed by Irish
Saints, or relating to them, we find at page
20, and col. 3, a poem of ten stanzas, as-
cribed to St. Ciaran. The last composition
on this same page, and in the tenth folium,
is a of twelve stanzas,
poem
enumerating twiceasmanysaints, whoseintercessionin
INTRODUCTION. CXXl
O'Donnell's Irish Life of St. Columkille. '? ^ The subject matter of this Treatise is perfect throughout, but it wants a title. On the last page, John O'Neill, the name of its scribe, is to be found ; and, on the original blank side, a few irrelevant entries are to be seen. '97 The leaves are inserted within a much older embossed leather cover, of an exceedingly ingenious pattern, and reticulated, in the Irish style of art. '9^ Evidently the cover was not made for the present Codex, for it is somewhat smaller in size. There is another paper copy of this work in MS. , but greatly damaged on many of the pages. It is under a very worn parchment cover, and there are included ii8 pages, closely written in Irish. '9^ Other leaves—in the beginning and end—contain a few irrelevant entries. '°°
Besides those tracts, attributed to St. -^ngus the Culdee, as author, and contained in the ten vellum /<7//a,'°^ various other fragments of an interesting historical character are found. ^°" Hardly less valuable—although not per-
taining specially to the subject of Irish hagiology—are many highly important papers,^°3 which preserve the arcana of Ireland's ecclesiastical and civil affairs, during the troubled period of the seventeenth century. '"> Reference is specially made to the papers of Father Luke Wadding.
heaven and whose prayers on earth were the
same or of equal efficacy.
*°3 For a very detailed and interesting
account of the Manuscripts belonging to these words in Colgan's hand-writing, the former College of the Irish Franciscans, "Sancte Columba ora pro me peccatore. " Ivouvain, that account of J. T. Gilbert may '9^ The Rev. Dr. Reeves is of opinion, be consulted in "Fourth Report of the Royal that the cover had be'en prepared many Commission on Historical Manuscripts,"
part i. , pp. 599 to 613.
^°^ John Francis O'Donnell thus concludes
those glowing stanzas, to which attention has beenalreadydrawn: -
XII.
" Rare psalters, whose initals glow
' *
cxxii INTRODUCTION.
Some few of our Irish Catholic Colleges'°s and religious houses,"^* as likewise private collectors, have obtained very useful records, which help to solve many difficulties, in relation to our theme. The Irish Catholic
University Library, Stephen's Green, Dublin, has already secured several valuable Irish MSS. , collected or transcribed by a former eminent Gaelic
scholar, Professor Eugene O'Curry. Copies of the Brehon Laws,^°7 have also been added. These manuscript contents may be conveniently clas- sified, under the following heads : —I. Historic Literature. II. Heroic Tales. III. Lives of Saints. IV. Glossaries. V. Laws. I. In the de- partment of Historic Literature, there is a choice collection of Historic Tales, Annals, and Genealogical works, with a rare collection of poems and prose pieces of great value. II. Of heroic and legendary pieces, there is a large selection, taken from poems and tracts, found among the oldest and best Irish manuscripts extant. '°^ III. In the Ecclesiastical department, there is a very large collection of the Lives of Irish Saints, Calendars, Homilies, Festilogies, &c. , collected from the Libraries of Oxford, and of the British Museum, as likewise from those of the Royal Irish Academy andofTrinityCollege,Dublin. Tothosetractsisaddedthatuniquecollection containing the Lives of Irish Saints, made by the indefatigable Michael O'Cleary, and by his brother scribes, known as the Four Masters. Those im-
portant works, in the original, are now preserved in the Burgundian Library, at Brussels. From this collection, O'Curry selected copies of such biogra-
A newer and a mightier soul,
To raise her nearer to the skies, And win her grander destinies.
And Ireland never can forget
one for the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, and another for that of the Catholic University. He got a conditional undertaking, on behalf of the Brehon Law
The — men who loving
Commission,
that those sets should be made
through long Sad centuries of silent tears—
complete. Thislatter"^promisehasnotyet been fulfilled.
'°* The value of this class of literature is shown, by the important use made of them
years
Their seal these treasures upon
set, Guarding them for the brighter day Which, be it far or close at hand,
Must pour inevitable ray
On this unconquerable land. "
»°s Among these, Maynooth contains some valuable Irish Historical Tracts.
»"* The Franciscan Convent, Wexford, has probably a large collection of such do- cuments.
">' These are distinguished from the rest, by the title, "Smyth Collection," because they were secured for the Catholic Univer- sity, owing to the exertions of Mr.
