A
** This treatise was among the first printed
*'" works, and known as the Legenda Aurea.
** This treatise was among the first printed
*'" works, and known as the Legenda Aurea.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
"**
In Mason's catalogue, this manuscript is said to have been finished a. d.
i458. *s A calendar is prefixed to this missal. *^ One folio, containing the
months of January and February, is wanting. Many leaves are torn and in
part defaced, while several are altogether wanting. Some fragmentary folios
of an "
Antiphonarium"
are inserted at the end. This is un- manuscript
*^The publication of these MSS. , or of
any particular one among them, and col- lated with the others, should throw much light on the liturgical observances of our early Irish Church, at divers periods pre- ceding the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. In the hands of a judi- cious and competent editor, having a know- ledge of Church music and rubrics, it might be rendered a most interesting publication.
'9 All I could meet with in it, regarding
"
=^
Theyarewrittenin25columns. Among
Irish saint history, is
Epis. et Confes. ," at the i6th of the April
phetise diversse de Sexto Hibemiaj,'qui vo- catur Dominus. " They are in Latin prose and verse. These are followed by other vi- sions and prophecies attributed to Thomas of Canterbury, Merlin, &c.
»3 To him this MS. belonged, after it had been procured from St. Peter's Church, Westminster.
^-^ It contains many curious obits of the O'Molloys, &c. , with other marginal writ-
"
Miscellany of the Irish Archaeological Society," vol. i. , Art. vi. , pp. 99 to 106. This account is accompa- nied by suitable notes and historic illustra-
tions.
^s \ have been unable to find that record
in the codex,
** It contains the festivals and names of
some Irish saints,
Vita S. Patricii, kalends. This life occupies 40 cols, of the
MS. There is likewise a
gatorio Hibemiae," comprising 24 cols. , with
one leaf, or perhaps more folios, missing at the end.
^°
Although the remaining folios are ge- nerally in a fine state of preservation ; yet there is a partial mutilation on one of the leaves, where the life of St. Gudlac, con- fessor, commences.
*'
Only a few of these saints had con- nexion with Ireland.
tract,
ing.
Todd, in his edited
" De Pur-
An account of these is Dr. given by
these last-mentioned fragments, I find the
curious — are following prophecies. They
thus noticed in Mason's Catalogue
'' :
Pro-
civ INTRODUCTION.
paged, and it is written in double columns, throughout elegantly traced, with
several curiously-coloured and ornamented capital letters. IX. B. 3, 5.
"Ceremoniale Romanum," &c. This manusucript belongs to the fifteenth
century, and it contains a varied collection of tracts. "' The whole of it is
very elegantly written, but for the most part in very minute characters. Many
ofitscapitallettersarehandsomelycolouredandornamented. "^ X. B. 3,8.
"
Juliani Epis. Toletani (qui floruit 450) Liber de origine mortis humanse," &c. This manuscript contains a number of tracts, on different subjects, and apparently transcribed by various writers. '? The several tracts it con- tains appear to have been WTitten in the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth centuries. However, this codex is imperfect. It comprises constitutions and rules of religious orders, together with an abbreviation of Venerable Bede'sMartyrology. 3° Thereisacalendar,containingtheinsertionofsome
"
Irish saints' festivals. XI. B. 3, 9.
manuscript contains Dominical and festival offices, with an order for reading them, as also different Masses for the feasts of saints, and a calendars' This is a beautiful quarto vellum codex, written about the fourteenth century, and illuminated. XII. B. 3, 10. " Iterum. " This manuscript contains " Officia Dominicalia totius anni, cum Kalendario, Psalterium Latinum, cum Lectionibus e Vitis Sanctorum Quorumdam precipue Hibemiorum. "3» Ac- cording to a notice affixed to the first folio of this breviary, it was written A. D. 1489, at that time a war took place about a right to the principality of Ely. 33 This codex was written by Malachy O'Lachnayn, a cleric of Killaloe diocese. 34 It is a vellum folio, beautifully traced in double columns, the capital letters being variously figured and coloured. It is in a fine state of preservation, as a curious and valuable memorial of our Irish Church liturgy, during the middle ages, and as particularly relating to Killaloe diocese. XIII. B. 3, 12. "Psalterium Romanum, cum Officiis persolvendis in Diebus Festis Sanctorum, a mense Junio usque ad mensem Novembris exclusive, cumKalendario,"&C. 35 Itisimperfecttowardstheend,anditcontainsan
^^ First in order among these is found a "Calendar," containing notices of Irish saints. It wants, however, the four last
months of the year. It contains, also,
tyrology, should doubtless reward the labour of a competent editor, and become a source of interest to the learned in such matters,
3i This contains notices of Irish saints, their festivals and offices,
3' Irish saints' names, festivals, and of- fices are here noted. The arrangement of the lessons differs, however, from the Ro- man Breviary, at present in use.
33 The disputants were Tatheu or Thad- deus and William O'Keruayle.
34 He concludes the insertion of this no- tice, by requesting the reader of his book to offer up the Lord's Prayer for his soul's salvation.
35 This quarto vellum manuscript for- merly belonged to the Blessed Virgin Mary's
Usuard's
rules, epistles, &c.
"
Martyrology," with monastic
^^ This codex formerly belonged to the Abbey of St. Thomas, near Dublin. It is
a vellum folio, and paged in comparatively recent characters.
=5 It is a vellum quarto, with ornamental
capitals.
'^ As the Martyrology of Bede is already
printed, I thought it unnecessary to extract several notices of Irish saints contained in this version. Yet, a publication, or a com- parison of this latter, with the printed Mar-
and coloured
Breviarium Romanum," &c. This
3, 13,
INTRODUCTION. cv
entry of several obits in the calendar. 3^ This codex is beautifully written, in double columns, with coloured capitals and gold illuminations. XIV.
" Breviarium Romanum cum Psalterio Latino. " This is a vellum
B.
octavo manuscript, written about the fifteenth century, and it contains also
a calendar, 37 This codex is greatly effaced towards the close, through the
effects of
damp
or of some other
injury.
XV. B. " Psalterium Ro- 3, 14.
manumcumOfficiisB. Mariseetmortuorum,"&c. Tothispsalter,anim-
perfect calendar is prefixed. 3^ It wants the months of May, June, July and
August. The remaining months only give a small diurnal proportion of
saints, for there are no entries at many of the days. However, on certain
blank spaces within this calendar, several curious figures illuminated, and illustrating the various menstrual employments, as also astronomical repre- sentations for the sun's entrance into the twelve zodiacal signs, may be seen. 39 This is a vellum octavo, and it was probably written during the thirteenth century. XVI. B. 3, 15. "Iterum, cum aliis Canticis," &c. This is an octavo vellum codex, beautifully illuminated throughout, with gold and colours. The capital letters are elegantly designed. We find a calendar prefixed, and the names of saints there are written in French. *"* This manuscript probably belongs to the fourteenth century. XVII. B. 3,
" Breviarium secundum usum & ii. In the second Sarum," pars. i.
18, 19.
part of this breviary there is a calendar of saints, including some that are
Irish. Although classed among the manuscripts of Trinity College, this is a printed book. *' It contains, however, manuscript comments and insertions throughout, while some of these are traced in the Irish language. XVIII.
"
B. 4, 4.
tiali)," &:c. This is a quarto paper manuscript, transcribed in 1637. Pro- perlyspeaking,itcontainsnothingonthesubjectofIrishhagiology; but, as regarding the British Churches of the seventh century, many curious ac- counts of discipline and regulations may be seen. *^ These matters serve incidentally to throw light on the contemporaneous practices of our Irish
Monastery at Trim, and it was written about the fifteenth century.
3* This contains the names, festivals and office lessons of various Irish saints.
Theodorus Archiep. Cantuariensis de Ecclesia (ex ejus Peneten-
Church. 43 XIX. C. " 4, 3.
seu de SanctorumseuDictionariumdeVitisSanctorum. " Thisisaquartovellum
Januensis
Voragine (Jacobi) Legenda
37 Notices of Irish saints, their festivals
and office lessons, are contained in it. But Paris, at St. German de Pratis, by Peter
the leaves are so much injured, where the lessons of saints' offices are to be found, as to render a correct examination of their contents, not only a matter of difficulty, but, in some passages, an utter impossibi- lity.
3^ Only a few Irish saints and their festi- vals are found in it.
*' Gold and colours are employed in the
Lever, living at the sign of the Golden Cross, a. d. 1494. It is issued in iSmosize, and in contracted Latin, on vellum,
''^ There is an article, "De Communione Scotorum et Britonum, qui in Pascha et Ton- sura Catholica non sunt.
^ It also contains a treatise of Joannes
Scotus, seu Erigena. He flourished about a. d. 800,
curiously-traced capital letters and illumina. tions.
<° A few Irish saints and their festivals are
given.
"*' It was published in the suburbs of
cvl INTROBUCTION.
—or rather a large octavo—manuscript, written throughout in double co- lumns, about the fifteenth century. ** It is imperfect towards the end. XX.
"
C. 4, 7.
Lives of Saints. " This quarto vellum manuscript was written
in old English, about the fifteenth century. 45 It is imperfect, both at the
beginning and at the end, while many of its leaves are decayed. XXI.
seu Inventarium omnium Librorum ad pertinentium
D. "
I, 17.
Commune Armorialum Domus Eboraci ordinis Heremitarum S. Augustini ;
Catalogus
factum in presentia Joh. de Ergun, Joh. Ketiswell, Ric. de Thorpe, Joh. de Apilby, A. D. 1372, festo Nativitatis Virginis Gloriosse. Fratre Will, de Staynlon tunc existente Priore. " This is a folio vellum manuscript, having apparently one or two leaves missing. *'' In this codex, we find an inte- resting list of hermeneutical, patristic, theological, historical, grammatical, rhetorical, geometrical, philosophical, classical, and hagiographical works. *? XXII. D. I, 19. "Catalogus Vetus MSS, Cujusdam Bibliothecse Monasterii S. August. Cantuar. in Tempore Edwd. IV. " This is a foUo paper ma- nuscript of 132 pages; for the most part written about the year 1470, and in double columns. *^ XXIII. D. 3, i to 23. The various manuscripts, here included, were written by Archbishop Ussher. In these, there are se- veral scattered notices, regarding Irish saints and Irish ecclesiastical history ; but, it will be unnecessary to particularize the value of those documents, since all have obtained publicity in the late edition*9 of Ussher's works, prepared for press by the late Rev. Charles Elrington, of Trinity College, Dublin. XXIV. E. i, 35. "Walsingham (Thomas) Pars ejus Historiae Brevis," &c. This is a paper folio manuscript of the fifteenth or sixteenth century. There is in it a Latin version of Nennius' History of the Britons, 5° and some passages referring to the Irish saints. s' XXV. E. 2, 14.
A
** This treatise was among the first printed
*'" works, and known as the Legenda Aurea.
It contains legends of St. Patrick and St.
Fursey.
^s Among these lives, none have reference
would undertake its publication and exposi- tion.
48 Remarks referring to the former MS. would also apply to the present one. The Council of the Camden Society seems to have entertained the idea of their publica- tion ; but, this intention has not yet been re- alized.
«Published by Messrs. Hodges and Smith, Dublin, in xvii. Volumes 8vo.
to Irish hagiology, unless perhaps an ac-
count of the Eleven Thousand Virgins.
There are only three leaves on this subject,
at the end of the manuscript ; and these, in
a great measure, are illegible. The re- maining part of those acts is wanting. so
««
Nennii Britonum Historiographi, mo-
** It is a curious and an instructive re-
cord of valuable contents in the aforesaid
library, as it existed over 500 years ago. *'That it contained allusions to Irish
saints, in the latter department, can scarcely be questioned. I am unable to say, how- ever, if any of those MSS. be yet extant, nor can I even conjecture to what extent they might serve for illustrating Irish hagi- ology. It is much to be desired, that this MS. might find a competent editor, who
nachi Banchorensis, qui claruit A. D. 620, Eulogium Insulre Britannia; : cum Historia
Britonum, et Mirabilium Britanniae, Mouk, et Hibemise. " This tract ^vas compared by
Archbishop Ussher with old copies. It contains more matter than is found in Thomas Gale's published edition of Nen- nius.
s« Jhe Irish version of Nennius' *' Historia Britonum" has been printed by the Irish Archseological Society, for the year 1848.
It has been edited, with a translation and notes, by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, M. R. I. A. , with an introduction and addi- tional notes, by the Hon. Algernon Herbert.
s* It contains 176 leaves: the first 174 are numbered.
S3 It shows the baronies, parish churches, gentlemen's names and their castles.
5* In addition, there are vast materials for illustrating the civil history and state of the country, since the English invasion.
ss Preserved among the Archives of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
"Ex
done Joh: Lyon, A. M. " In the same
handwriting are various emendations, with
entered on the catalogue as a glossary of the Irish language. He tells us, moreover,
it contains apart of the l,eAbA|^ S^b^lA, or BookofConquestsofIreland; andbesides two fragments of the Brehon Laws—one old as the Seanchus Mor, established by St. Patrick—the other written at the Academy of Tara, about the tenth or eleventh cen- tury. Under these remarks there is a note
"
Tara and its academies were abandoned and de- molished four hundred years before this period. " (Scilicet, the tenth and eleventh
s^ It has written within the cover,
centuries. )
great CacaI
two written leaves at the close.
57 It consists only of 45 leaves :
but it
is
imperfect.
58 On the fly-leaf of this codex, Charles
Vallancey has remarked that this MS. is
This codex contains most
INTRODUCTION. evil
Catalogue of all the manuscripts contained in the Library at Lambeth, chiefly relating to the affairs of Ireland. This a folio paper manuscript. s^ It was written about the year 1700, by three different hands. Four of the books mentioned formerly belonged to Sir George Carew, and these chiefly relate to Irish history. Among many others, those tracts were given to the Bodleian Library, by Archbishop Laud, in 1636. The last tract, contained in two large folded leaves, gives an exceedingly curious and an interesting chroro- graphical account of ancient Thomond, just at the time of its transmutation into a county. 53 Among the Lambeth Manuscripts appear notices of works, referringtoIrishhagiology,andtoearlyecclesiasticalhistory. 54 XXVI. E. 3,
I. " Alan DubHn Rotula Nova seu Alani,seu, (Joh:) Archiepiscopi : Reper-
torium Viride, tractans de Omnibus Ecclesiis infra Diocesin Dublin : scilicet de Nominibus, jure Patronatus et Statu Earundem, a. d. 1531. " This is a
large paper folio manuscript, transcribed from the original one of Alan,5s and about A. D. i6oo. s^ Although this codex especially relates to the state of
churches, within the diocese of Dublin, as found at an early part of the six-
teenth century, it is of value and interest to the Irish Church historian and
hagiologist,whoseresearchesrelateeventoamoreremoteperiod. XXVII.
"
E. 3,5.
JuraAntiquaHibernicaGentis,"&c. Thisisalargevellumfolio
manuscript, and written in the Irish language. 57 It is traced in three dis-
tinct hands. ss The manuscript is of very great antiquity. XXVIII. E. 3, 8.
"MiscellaneadeRebuspotissimumHibernicis,"&c. Thisisapaperfolio manuscript,bydifferentwriters,producedabouta. d. 1600. 59 Severalmatters
contained in this codex, are in Archbishop Ussher's handwriting, together with notes and emendations throughout, by the same writer. ^° XXIX. E. 3,
10. This is a very interesting paper folio manuscript, containing 82 leaves, some of which are numbered, but irregularly. It was written by various
in Professor O'Curry's handwriting :
" So much for the
Vallancey's knowledge of Irish history. "
eoJAn O c6m]\Ai'6e.
59 it includes 144 leaves ; yet, only some
of these are numbered.
*°
interesting tracts, relating to Irish hagiology and eccle*
siastical history.
cvm INTRonUCTION.
hands, in the seventeenth century. ^* For the most part, its writing is very close. ^^ XXX. E, 3, ii. This is a most valuable parchment and hagio-
graphical manuscript, in large quarto shape. ^3 It was written by three
differenthands,duringthefourteenthorfifteenthcenturies. Itisimperfect,
as would appear from the numbering and heading of some folios. ^^ XXXI.
E. 3, 13. This is a paper folio manuscript,^s with four leaves of vellum, and
written by various hands,°^ about the commencement of the seventeenth
century. ^7 XXXII. E. 3, 16. This is a paper folio manuscript, traced by
different hands, in the seventeenth century. '^^ It contains 85 leaves in
manuscript ; ^ together with a folded and printed broad-sheet, intituled,
"
Catalogus Prsecipuorum Sanctorum Ibemise," by Father Henry Fitz Simon, the Jesuit. XXXIII. E. 3, \ 7. This is a paper folio manuscript,7° written by differenthands,aboutthesixteenthcentury. ^* XXXIV,E. 3,20. Thisisa paper folio manuscript, 7* written by different scribes, about the sixteenth cen- tury. 73 The nature of its contents renders it extremely valuable to the student of Irish civil and ecclesiastical history. XXXV. E. 3, 22. This is a paper folio, 74 written by different hands, about the year 1600 or earlier. 7s XXXVI.
*' Among the pages, we have traces of
Ussher's handwriting.
*" With matters referring to the civil his-
tory of the country, extracted from monastic
registers, annals and other sources, some incidental allusions to Irish saints and curious ecclesiastical illustrations are found, in a small tract, relating to Ardsratha.
*3 Among other extraneous matters, it contains the lives of several Irish saints, in contracted Latin. Many deficiences are met with throughout.
'* For the most part, it is arranged in
double columns, and it comprises 93 written folios.
*s It consists of 134 leaves.
7' In this volume will be found a few
pages, containing the names and positions of some episcopal sees, founded by St. Patrick.
7' It consists of 35 1 leaves.
73 Among the most valuable ecclesiastical
fragments is a catalogue of the Bishops of Clogher, with some Irish extracts from the
register of Clogher, composed by Brother Caljm Augustieil Epo. Clochoren, and Ruarico O'Cassyde, archidiacono. The
annals of Thady Dowling and James Grace, w^hich have been published by the Irish
Archaeological Society are included. There are extracts from the Annals of Boyle ; from
a book of the port of St. Mary's Monastery ; from the Red Book, the White Book, the Black Book, &c. These contain notices regarding St. Patrick's purgatory, Irish annalistic notes, churches and their founders,
**
Many leaves are in Ussher's handwrit-
ing.
*7 Some curious papers on the controversy
for precedence between the Churches of together with names of the Archbishops
Armagh and of Dublin are found ; also an
Irish extract from S. Benignus, regarding
the inhabitants of Dublin, taken from the
old Books of Sligo and Ballymote, with a
Latin version, by John Kelly of Trinity Archaeological Society—there is a Latin College, Dublin ; likewise, disquisitions on Life of Gildas, with extracts referring to Herenach lands, taxations of churches in
various dioceses, lists of bishops and incum- bents in some of the Irish dioceses, &c. , &c.
Ireland and Britain.
7< It contains 104 leaves.
'5 It comprises Annals of Ireland from
^
it contains much Irish historical matter.
Besides notices of various Irish saints,
1162 to 1579, as printed at the end of Camden's Britannia ; names of the Bishops of Kildare—twenty-three in number—from the time of St. Brigid to a. d. 1518; note*
** They are chiefly written by Ussher. 7° It contains 64 leaves.
and Bishops of Dublin. There are extracts from Clyn's Annals and from the Annals of
" tonum"—already published by the Irish
Ulster. Besides Gildas'
Historia Bri-
INTROD UCTION.
E. 3, 28. This is a paper folio, 7^ written by several hands, about the com- mencement of the seventeenth century. 77 XXXVII. E, 4, 2. This is an old vellum folio. 78 This manuscript? ? has been analysed by Edward O'Reilly, in Monk Mason's Catalogue ; while there are additional annotations and corrections,byDr. Todd. ^° O'Reillyconsidersthismanuscriptmoreancient than the eleventh or twelfth centuries. It is usually known as the " Liber Hymnorum. " The hymns or poems are mostly in the Latin language, but some are in the Irish. ^^ In part, they have been published,^^ by the Irish Archaeological Society. XXXVIII. E. 4, 3. This is a vellum folio, con- taining the " Books of Obits and Martyrology of Christ Church, Dublin. "^^ It comprises 159 leaves, perfectly legible throughout, illustrated, and written in the fifteenth or sixteenth centuries. Many festivals of Irish saints are interspersed through the Martyrology. XXXIX. E. 4, 6. This is a folio,
'*
Annales Rerum Hibernicarum. "^s XL. E. 4, 10. This is a quarto paper manuscript, writtenbyatleasttwo"differenthands,andintheseventeenthcentury. ^^ It contains " Vita et Legenda S. Brigidse Virginis. ''^? XLI. E. 5, 23. This is an old and a beautiful octavo manuscript of the 12th or 13th century, and
"
partly vellum and partly paper. ^'^ It includes Pembridge's
written on vellum. It is lettered on the back,
Florentii Opera Historica. "^^
onIrishsaints AnnalsofIrelandfromA. D. ;
^'ThisMS. hasbeen forthe published
Irish Archaeological Society, and the matter it contains, therefore, is accessible to the general reader. It has been edited by John Clarke Crosthwaite, A. M. , while an intro-
947 to the death of Gerald, Count of Kil-
dare, A. D. 1513, written by Phil. Fflatis-
bury of Johnyston, near Naas, in 1577. On
the first page of the MS. , containing the
foregoing subjects, we find written : "To duction by Dr. Todd accompanies this pub-
my very loving friend Mr. Thos. Messingham, President of Boncourt College at Paris," to
whom this MS. formerly belonged.
7* It consists of 70 leaves.
In Mason's catalogue, this manuscript is said to have been finished a. d.
i458. *s A calendar is prefixed to this missal. *^ One folio, containing the
months of January and February, is wanting. Many leaves are torn and in
part defaced, while several are altogether wanting. Some fragmentary folios
of an "
Antiphonarium"
are inserted at the end. This is un- manuscript
*^The publication of these MSS. , or of
any particular one among them, and col- lated with the others, should throw much light on the liturgical observances of our early Irish Church, at divers periods pre- ceding the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. In the hands of a judi- cious and competent editor, having a know- ledge of Church music and rubrics, it might be rendered a most interesting publication.
'9 All I could meet with in it, regarding
"
=^
Theyarewrittenin25columns. Among
Irish saint history, is
Epis. et Confes. ," at the i6th of the April
phetise diversse de Sexto Hibemiaj,'qui vo- catur Dominus. " They are in Latin prose and verse. These are followed by other vi- sions and prophecies attributed to Thomas of Canterbury, Merlin, &c.
»3 To him this MS. belonged, after it had been procured from St. Peter's Church, Westminster.
^-^ It contains many curious obits of the O'Molloys, &c. , with other marginal writ-
"
Miscellany of the Irish Archaeological Society," vol. i. , Art. vi. , pp. 99 to 106. This account is accompa- nied by suitable notes and historic illustra-
tions.
^s \ have been unable to find that record
in the codex,
** It contains the festivals and names of
some Irish saints,
Vita S. Patricii, kalends. This life occupies 40 cols, of the
MS. There is likewise a
gatorio Hibemiae," comprising 24 cols. , with
one leaf, or perhaps more folios, missing at the end.
^°
Although the remaining folios are ge- nerally in a fine state of preservation ; yet there is a partial mutilation on one of the leaves, where the life of St. Gudlac, con- fessor, commences.
*'
Only a few of these saints had con- nexion with Ireland.
tract,
ing.
Todd, in his edited
" De Pur-
An account of these is Dr. given by
these last-mentioned fragments, I find the
curious — are following prophecies. They
thus noticed in Mason's Catalogue
'' :
Pro-
civ INTRODUCTION.
paged, and it is written in double columns, throughout elegantly traced, with
several curiously-coloured and ornamented capital letters. IX. B. 3, 5.
"Ceremoniale Romanum," &c. This manusucript belongs to the fifteenth
century, and it contains a varied collection of tracts. "' The whole of it is
very elegantly written, but for the most part in very minute characters. Many
ofitscapitallettersarehandsomelycolouredandornamented. "^ X. B. 3,8.
"
Juliani Epis. Toletani (qui floruit 450) Liber de origine mortis humanse," &c. This manuscript contains a number of tracts, on different subjects, and apparently transcribed by various writers. '? The several tracts it con- tains appear to have been WTitten in the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth centuries. However, this codex is imperfect. It comprises constitutions and rules of religious orders, together with an abbreviation of Venerable Bede'sMartyrology. 3° Thereisacalendar,containingtheinsertionofsome
"
Irish saints' festivals. XI. B. 3, 9.
manuscript contains Dominical and festival offices, with an order for reading them, as also different Masses for the feasts of saints, and a calendars' This is a beautiful quarto vellum codex, written about the fourteenth century, and illuminated. XII. B. 3, 10. " Iterum. " This manuscript contains " Officia Dominicalia totius anni, cum Kalendario, Psalterium Latinum, cum Lectionibus e Vitis Sanctorum Quorumdam precipue Hibemiorum. "3» Ac- cording to a notice affixed to the first folio of this breviary, it was written A. D. 1489, at that time a war took place about a right to the principality of Ely. 33 This codex was written by Malachy O'Lachnayn, a cleric of Killaloe diocese. 34 It is a vellum folio, beautifully traced in double columns, the capital letters being variously figured and coloured. It is in a fine state of preservation, as a curious and valuable memorial of our Irish Church liturgy, during the middle ages, and as particularly relating to Killaloe diocese. XIII. B. 3, 12. "Psalterium Romanum, cum Officiis persolvendis in Diebus Festis Sanctorum, a mense Junio usque ad mensem Novembris exclusive, cumKalendario,"&C. 35 Itisimperfecttowardstheend,anditcontainsan
^^ First in order among these is found a "Calendar," containing notices of Irish saints. It wants, however, the four last
months of the year. It contains, also,
tyrology, should doubtless reward the labour of a competent editor, and become a source of interest to the learned in such matters,
3i This contains notices of Irish saints, their festivals and offices,
3' Irish saints' names, festivals, and of- fices are here noted. The arrangement of the lessons differs, however, from the Ro- man Breviary, at present in use.
33 The disputants were Tatheu or Thad- deus and William O'Keruayle.
34 He concludes the insertion of this no- tice, by requesting the reader of his book to offer up the Lord's Prayer for his soul's salvation.
35 This quarto vellum manuscript for- merly belonged to the Blessed Virgin Mary's
Usuard's
rules, epistles, &c.
"
Martyrology," with monastic
^^ This codex formerly belonged to the Abbey of St. Thomas, near Dublin. It is
a vellum folio, and paged in comparatively recent characters.
=5 It is a vellum quarto, with ornamental
capitals.
'^ As the Martyrology of Bede is already
printed, I thought it unnecessary to extract several notices of Irish saints contained in this version. Yet, a publication, or a com- parison of this latter, with the printed Mar-
and coloured
Breviarium Romanum," &c. This
3, 13,
INTRODUCTION. cv
entry of several obits in the calendar. 3^ This codex is beautifully written, in double columns, with coloured capitals and gold illuminations. XIV.
" Breviarium Romanum cum Psalterio Latino. " This is a vellum
B.
octavo manuscript, written about the fifteenth century, and it contains also
a calendar, 37 This codex is greatly effaced towards the close, through the
effects of
damp
or of some other
injury.
XV. B. " Psalterium Ro- 3, 14.
manumcumOfficiisB. Mariseetmortuorum,"&c. Tothispsalter,anim-
perfect calendar is prefixed. 3^ It wants the months of May, June, July and
August. The remaining months only give a small diurnal proportion of
saints, for there are no entries at many of the days. However, on certain
blank spaces within this calendar, several curious figures illuminated, and illustrating the various menstrual employments, as also astronomical repre- sentations for the sun's entrance into the twelve zodiacal signs, may be seen. 39 This is a vellum octavo, and it was probably written during the thirteenth century. XVI. B. 3, 15. "Iterum, cum aliis Canticis," &c. This is an octavo vellum codex, beautifully illuminated throughout, with gold and colours. The capital letters are elegantly designed. We find a calendar prefixed, and the names of saints there are written in French. *"* This manuscript probably belongs to the fourteenth century. XVII. B. 3,
" Breviarium secundum usum & ii. In the second Sarum," pars. i.
18, 19.
part of this breviary there is a calendar of saints, including some that are
Irish. Although classed among the manuscripts of Trinity College, this is a printed book. *' It contains, however, manuscript comments and insertions throughout, while some of these are traced in the Irish language. XVIII.
"
B. 4, 4.
tiali)," &:c. This is a quarto paper manuscript, transcribed in 1637. Pro- perlyspeaking,itcontainsnothingonthesubjectofIrishhagiology; but, as regarding the British Churches of the seventh century, many curious ac- counts of discipline and regulations may be seen. *^ These matters serve incidentally to throw light on the contemporaneous practices of our Irish
Monastery at Trim, and it was written about the fifteenth century.
3* This contains the names, festivals and office lessons of various Irish saints.
Theodorus Archiep. Cantuariensis de Ecclesia (ex ejus Peneten-
Church. 43 XIX. C. " 4, 3.
seu de SanctorumseuDictionariumdeVitisSanctorum. " Thisisaquartovellum
Januensis
Voragine (Jacobi) Legenda
37 Notices of Irish saints, their festivals
and office lessons, are contained in it. But Paris, at St. German de Pratis, by Peter
the leaves are so much injured, where the lessons of saints' offices are to be found, as to render a correct examination of their contents, not only a matter of difficulty, but, in some passages, an utter impossibi- lity.
3^ Only a few Irish saints and their festi- vals are found in it.
*' Gold and colours are employed in the
Lever, living at the sign of the Golden Cross, a. d. 1494. It is issued in iSmosize, and in contracted Latin, on vellum,
''^ There is an article, "De Communione Scotorum et Britonum, qui in Pascha et Ton- sura Catholica non sunt.
^ It also contains a treatise of Joannes
Scotus, seu Erigena. He flourished about a. d. 800,
curiously-traced capital letters and illumina. tions.
<° A few Irish saints and their festivals are
given.
"*' It was published in the suburbs of
cvl INTROBUCTION.
—or rather a large octavo—manuscript, written throughout in double co- lumns, about the fifteenth century. ** It is imperfect towards the end. XX.
"
C. 4, 7.
Lives of Saints. " This quarto vellum manuscript was written
in old English, about the fifteenth century. 45 It is imperfect, both at the
beginning and at the end, while many of its leaves are decayed. XXI.
seu Inventarium omnium Librorum ad pertinentium
D. "
I, 17.
Commune Armorialum Domus Eboraci ordinis Heremitarum S. Augustini ;
Catalogus
factum in presentia Joh. de Ergun, Joh. Ketiswell, Ric. de Thorpe, Joh. de Apilby, A. D. 1372, festo Nativitatis Virginis Gloriosse. Fratre Will, de Staynlon tunc existente Priore. " This is a folio vellum manuscript, having apparently one or two leaves missing. *'' In this codex, we find an inte- resting list of hermeneutical, patristic, theological, historical, grammatical, rhetorical, geometrical, philosophical, classical, and hagiographical works. *? XXII. D. I, 19. "Catalogus Vetus MSS, Cujusdam Bibliothecse Monasterii S. August. Cantuar. in Tempore Edwd. IV. " This is a foUo paper ma- nuscript of 132 pages; for the most part written about the year 1470, and in double columns. *^ XXIII. D. 3, i to 23. The various manuscripts, here included, were written by Archbishop Ussher. In these, there are se- veral scattered notices, regarding Irish saints and Irish ecclesiastical history ; but, it will be unnecessary to particularize the value of those documents, since all have obtained publicity in the late edition*9 of Ussher's works, prepared for press by the late Rev. Charles Elrington, of Trinity College, Dublin. XXIV. E. i, 35. "Walsingham (Thomas) Pars ejus Historiae Brevis," &c. This is a paper folio manuscript of the fifteenth or sixteenth century. There is in it a Latin version of Nennius' History of the Britons, 5° and some passages referring to the Irish saints. s' XXV. E. 2, 14.
A
** This treatise was among the first printed
*'" works, and known as the Legenda Aurea.
It contains legends of St. Patrick and St.
Fursey.
^s Among these lives, none have reference
would undertake its publication and exposi- tion.
48 Remarks referring to the former MS. would also apply to the present one. The Council of the Camden Society seems to have entertained the idea of their publica- tion ; but, this intention has not yet been re- alized.
«Published by Messrs. Hodges and Smith, Dublin, in xvii. Volumes 8vo.
to Irish hagiology, unless perhaps an ac-
count of the Eleven Thousand Virgins.
There are only three leaves on this subject,
at the end of the manuscript ; and these, in
a great measure, are illegible. The re- maining part of those acts is wanting. so
««
Nennii Britonum Historiographi, mo-
** It is a curious and an instructive re-
cord of valuable contents in the aforesaid
library, as it existed over 500 years ago. *'That it contained allusions to Irish
saints, in the latter department, can scarcely be questioned. I am unable to say, how- ever, if any of those MSS. be yet extant, nor can I even conjecture to what extent they might serve for illustrating Irish hagi- ology. It is much to be desired, that this MS. might find a competent editor, who
nachi Banchorensis, qui claruit A. D. 620, Eulogium Insulre Britannia; : cum Historia
Britonum, et Mirabilium Britanniae, Mouk, et Hibemise. " This tract ^vas compared by
Archbishop Ussher with old copies. It contains more matter than is found in Thomas Gale's published edition of Nen- nius.
s« Jhe Irish version of Nennius' *' Historia Britonum" has been printed by the Irish Archseological Society, for the year 1848.
It has been edited, with a translation and notes, by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, M. R. I. A. , with an introduction and addi- tional notes, by the Hon. Algernon Herbert.
s* It contains 176 leaves: the first 174 are numbered.
S3 It shows the baronies, parish churches, gentlemen's names and their castles.
5* In addition, there are vast materials for illustrating the civil history and state of the country, since the English invasion.
ss Preserved among the Archives of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
"Ex
done Joh: Lyon, A. M. " In the same
handwriting are various emendations, with
entered on the catalogue as a glossary of the Irish language. He tells us, moreover,
it contains apart of the l,eAbA|^ S^b^lA, or BookofConquestsofIreland; andbesides two fragments of the Brehon Laws—one old as the Seanchus Mor, established by St. Patrick—the other written at the Academy of Tara, about the tenth or eleventh cen- tury. Under these remarks there is a note
"
Tara and its academies were abandoned and de- molished four hundred years before this period. " (Scilicet, the tenth and eleventh
s^ It has written within the cover,
centuries. )
great CacaI
two written leaves at the close.
57 It consists only of 45 leaves :
but it
is
imperfect.
58 On the fly-leaf of this codex, Charles
Vallancey has remarked that this MS. is
This codex contains most
INTRODUCTION. evil
Catalogue of all the manuscripts contained in the Library at Lambeth, chiefly relating to the affairs of Ireland. This a folio paper manuscript. s^ It was written about the year 1700, by three different hands. Four of the books mentioned formerly belonged to Sir George Carew, and these chiefly relate to Irish history. Among many others, those tracts were given to the Bodleian Library, by Archbishop Laud, in 1636. The last tract, contained in two large folded leaves, gives an exceedingly curious and an interesting chroro- graphical account of ancient Thomond, just at the time of its transmutation into a county. 53 Among the Lambeth Manuscripts appear notices of works, referringtoIrishhagiology,andtoearlyecclesiasticalhistory. 54 XXVI. E. 3,
I. " Alan DubHn Rotula Nova seu Alani,seu, (Joh:) Archiepiscopi : Reper-
torium Viride, tractans de Omnibus Ecclesiis infra Diocesin Dublin : scilicet de Nominibus, jure Patronatus et Statu Earundem, a. d. 1531. " This is a
large paper folio manuscript, transcribed from the original one of Alan,5s and about A. D. i6oo. s^ Although this codex especially relates to the state of
churches, within the diocese of Dublin, as found at an early part of the six-
teenth century, it is of value and interest to the Irish Church historian and
hagiologist,whoseresearchesrelateeventoamoreremoteperiod. XXVII.
"
E. 3,5.
JuraAntiquaHibernicaGentis,"&c. Thisisalargevellumfolio
manuscript, and written in the Irish language. 57 It is traced in three dis-
tinct hands. ss The manuscript is of very great antiquity. XXVIII. E. 3, 8.
"MiscellaneadeRebuspotissimumHibernicis,"&c. Thisisapaperfolio manuscript,bydifferentwriters,producedabouta. d. 1600. 59 Severalmatters
contained in this codex, are in Archbishop Ussher's handwriting, together with notes and emendations throughout, by the same writer. ^° XXIX. E. 3,
10. This is a very interesting paper folio manuscript, containing 82 leaves, some of which are numbered, but irregularly. It was written by various
in Professor O'Curry's handwriting :
" So much for the
Vallancey's knowledge of Irish history. "
eoJAn O c6m]\Ai'6e.
59 it includes 144 leaves ; yet, only some
of these are numbered.
*°
interesting tracts, relating to Irish hagiology and eccle*
siastical history.
cvm INTRonUCTION.
hands, in the seventeenth century. ^* For the most part, its writing is very close. ^^ XXX. E, 3, ii. This is a most valuable parchment and hagio-
graphical manuscript, in large quarto shape. ^3 It was written by three
differenthands,duringthefourteenthorfifteenthcenturies. Itisimperfect,
as would appear from the numbering and heading of some folios. ^^ XXXI.
E. 3, 13. This is a paper folio manuscript,^s with four leaves of vellum, and
written by various hands,°^ about the commencement of the seventeenth
century. ^7 XXXII. E. 3, 16. This is a paper folio manuscript, traced by
different hands, in the seventeenth century. '^^ It contains 85 leaves in
manuscript ; ^ together with a folded and printed broad-sheet, intituled,
"
Catalogus Prsecipuorum Sanctorum Ibemise," by Father Henry Fitz Simon, the Jesuit. XXXIII. E. 3, \ 7. This is a paper folio manuscript,7° written by differenthands,aboutthesixteenthcentury. ^* XXXIV,E. 3,20. Thisisa paper folio manuscript, 7* written by different scribes, about the sixteenth cen- tury. 73 The nature of its contents renders it extremely valuable to the student of Irish civil and ecclesiastical history. XXXV. E. 3, 22. This is a paper folio, 74 written by different hands, about the year 1600 or earlier. 7s XXXVI.
*' Among the pages, we have traces of
Ussher's handwriting.
*" With matters referring to the civil his-
tory of the country, extracted from monastic
registers, annals and other sources, some incidental allusions to Irish saints and curious ecclesiastical illustrations are found, in a small tract, relating to Ardsratha.
*3 Among other extraneous matters, it contains the lives of several Irish saints, in contracted Latin. Many deficiences are met with throughout.
'* For the most part, it is arranged in
double columns, and it comprises 93 written folios.
*s It consists of 134 leaves.
7' In this volume will be found a few
pages, containing the names and positions of some episcopal sees, founded by St. Patrick.
7' It consists of 35 1 leaves.
73 Among the most valuable ecclesiastical
fragments is a catalogue of the Bishops of Clogher, with some Irish extracts from the
register of Clogher, composed by Brother Caljm Augustieil Epo. Clochoren, and Ruarico O'Cassyde, archidiacono. The
annals of Thady Dowling and James Grace, w^hich have been published by the Irish
Archaeological Society are included. There are extracts from the Annals of Boyle ; from
a book of the port of St. Mary's Monastery ; from the Red Book, the White Book, the Black Book, &c. These contain notices regarding St. Patrick's purgatory, Irish annalistic notes, churches and their founders,
**
Many leaves are in Ussher's handwrit-
ing.
*7 Some curious papers on the controversy
for precedence between the Churches of together with names of the Archbishops
Armagh and of Dublin are found ; also an
Irish extract from S. Benignus, regarding
the inhabitants of Dublin, taken from the
old Books of Sligo and Ballymote, with a
Latin version, by John Kelly of Trinity Archaeological Society—there is a Latin College, Dublin ; likewise, disquisitions on Life of Gildas, with extracts referring to Herenach lands, taxations of churches in
various dioceses, lists of bishops and incum- bents in some of the Irish dioceses, &c. , &c.
Ireland and Britain.
7< It contains 104 leaves.
'5 It comprises Annals of Ireland from
^
it contains much Irish historical matter.
Besides notices of various Irish saints,
1162 to 1579, as printed at the end of Camden's Britannia ; names of the Bishops of Kildare—twenty-three in number—from the time of St. Brigid to a. d. 1518; note*
** They are chiefly written by Ussher. 7° It contains 64 leaves.
and Bishops of Dublin. There are extracts from Clyn's Annals and from the Annals of
" tonum"—already published by the Irish
Ulster. Besides Gildas'
Historia Bri-
INTROD UCTION.
E. 3, 28. This is a paper folio, 7^ written by several hands, about the com- mencement of the seventeenth century. 77 XXXVII. E, 4, 2. This is an old vellum folio. 78 This manuscript? ? has been analysed by Edward O'Reilly, in Monk Mason's Catalogue ; while there are additional annotations and corrections,byDr. Todd. ^° O'Reillyconsidersthismanuscriptmoreancient than the eleventh or twelfth centuries. It is usually known as the " Liber Hymnorum. " The hymns or poems are mostly in the Latin language, but some are in the Irish. ^^ In part, they have been published,^^ by the Irish Archaeological Society. XXXVIII. E. 4, 3. This is a vellum folio, con- taining the " Books of Obits and Martyrology of Christ Church, Dublin. "^^ It comprises 159 leaves, perfectly legible throughout, illustrated, and written in the fifteenth or sixteenth centuries. Many festivals of Irish saints are interspersed through the Martyrology. XXXIX. E. 4, 6. This is a folio,
'*
Annales Rerum Hibernicarum. "^s XL. E. 4, 10. This is a quarto paper manuscript, writtenbyatleasttwo"differenthands,andintheseventeenthcentury. ^^ It contains " Vita et Legenda S. Brigidse Virginis. ''^? XLI. E. 5, 23. This is an old and a beautiful octavo manuscript of the 12th or 13th century, and
"
partly vellum and partly paper. ^'^ It includes Pembridge's
written on vellum. It is lettered on the back,
Florentii Opera Historica. "^^
onIrishsaints AnnalsofIrelandfromA. D. ;
^'ThisMS. hasbeen forthe published
Irish Archaeological Society, and the matter it contains, therefore, is accessible to the general reader. It has been edited by John Clarke Crosthwaite, A. M. , while an intro-
947 to the death of Gerald, Count of Kil-
dare, A. D. 1513, written by Phil. Fflatis-
bury of Johnyston, near Naas, in 1577. On
the first page of the MS. , containing the
foregoing subjects, we find written : "To duction by Dr. Todd accompanies this pub-
my very loving friend Mr. Thos. Messingham, President of Boncourt College at Paris," to
whom this MS. formerly belonged.
7* It consists of 70 leaves.
