Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 512

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Rawlinson B. 512 is an Irish vellum manuscript in quarto, numbering 154 folios and written in double columns by multiple scribes in the course of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The compilation presents a diverse range of medieval texts in verse and in prose, some of which are in Latin, while the vast majority is written in the Irish language. It is a composite manuscript, consisting of five portions which were originally distinct volumes: I (fos. 101-22, 1-36, 45-52), II (fos. 53-75), III (fos. 75B-100, 37-44), IV (fos. 123-44) and V (fos. 145-54).[1]

Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 512
Bodleian Library
Also known asAncient Irish Deeds and Writings, Chiefly Relating to Landed Property, from the Twelfth to the Seventeenth Century, with Translations, Notes, and a Preliminary Essay
Date15th — 16th century AD
Place of originIreland
Language(s)Early Modern Irish
Materialvellum

Contents

I-b (fos. 1-36)
folios Description
1a Conclusion of Gein Branduib maic Echach ocus Áedáin maic Gabráin ("The Birth of Brandub son of Eochu and of Aedán son of Gabrán")
1a Poem Kailleoracht. Tonfeid, a Christ, conic muir.
1a-2a Ferchuitred Medba ("Medb's husband allowance")
2b [blank]
3a-b Poem (37 stanzas) on the Kings of Ireland from Loegaire to Brian Boru.
3b Gilla Cómáin mac Gilla Samthainde, poem beginning A andáladh anall uile (imperfect copy)
4b- Poem "Tadg og oDa […] cecinit", much faded.
5a-30a Tripartite Life of St. Patrick (Beatha Padraic), with marginalia
30a Topographical verses, beginning Crioch Midhi inn[e]osad duibh ocus crioch Breadh mborrfadach.
30a Prose notes, Torannacht ocus criocharacht na Midi ("The measurement and mering of Meath")
30a Latin notes about Risterdus Nugent (ob. 1591) and Katherine Nugent (ob. 1604)
30b English notes, much faded
31a Irish Life of St. Brigit (beginning lost)
35b-36a Accounts of six miracles attributed to St. Brigit
36a Two late stanzas, beginning Tlachtga ingen Mhodh[a] Ruith ramhaigh
36b Poem beginning Domun duthain a loinde, and note in prose.
III-b (fos. 37-44)
folios Description
37a-39a Apgitir Chrábaid ("The Alphabet of Piety")
39a Teist Choemáin Chlúana maic Treoin for scoil oc Sinchill Chille Ached ("Coeman of Cluain mace Treoin's testimony as to the young school of Sinchell of Cell Ached").
39a-40b Irish treatise on eight deadly sins and eight chief virtues
40b-41a Regula Coluim Cille ("Rule of St. Columba")
41a Three-line paragraph, beginning Cosc mo Colmaócc maic uBéonna dond óclaicg.
41a Irish Legend of St. Gregory the Great
41b-42a Invocation of Christ, prayers to Mary, John the Child and John the Baptist
42a-42b Mugrón comarba Coluim cille ("Mugrón, a successor of St. Columba")
42b-44a Na Arrada ("The Remissions").
44a-44b Irish Vision of Laisrén of Cluain (Connaught)
44b Note on Churches of Munster
I-c (fos. 45-52)
folios Description
45a-47b Treatise on the Psalter, with Irish note (f. 45a) dated October 1731.
48a-51b Cáin Adomnáin ("The Law of Adomnán")
51b Irish poem on the Maledictive Psalms (13 stanzas), beginning Sreth a salmaib suad slan / feib rohorddaig Adamnan.
51b Immathcor nAilella ocus Airt ("The Mutual Restoration of Ailill and Art")
51b-52a Fragment, beginning muintire. Olldam dicit.
52a Poem on ecclesiastical seasons and days, beginning A Loingsig a hEs mac nEirc.
52a-52b Fil and grian glindi hái, poem ascribed to the briugu Dá Choca, with prose preface and glosses.
52b Seven-line note, Tomus cuirp Crist arna gabail Chonsantin impir ("The measure of Christ's body when found by Emperor Constantine")
II (fos. 53-75)
folios Description
53a-64a Félire Óengusso, preface, part of prologue, epilogue (with notes).
56b Poem (5 stanzas) in rinnard metre, beginning Bendacht indrig [for ríg] donélaib.
64a Poem (2 stanzas) in rinnard metre, beginning Cach noem robói [for bói], fil, bias.
64a Quatrain beginning Cech noeb, cech noebuag, cech mairtir, with scribal note
64b Legend of St. Moling
64b Legend of St. Moling and the Devil
64b Scribal note
65a-71a Irish homily on the Nativity
71a Two poems, beginning: (1) Buadacht uaim dom compan an tí as iomlan a threghib (ascribed to Rod Ó Cor(n)in); (2) Ag scoith na bPluingeadach (ascribed to Brian mac Dergan).
71a-75b Irish homily on the Passion
73a Note by scribe identifying himself as Dubthach Ó Duibgennan writing for Conchobor Ó Maelchonairi.
III-a (f. 75b-100)
folios Description
76a-97b Lebor Gabála Érenn ("Book of the Takings of Ireland"), including Flathiusa hErend.
97b Note on Ireland's resemblance to Paradise, beginning Inis hErenn, tra, ro-suidigad isin fuined.
97b Triad on first three judgment in Ireland
97b-98b Scéla Túain maic Cairill do Fhinnén Maige Bile ("The Story of Tuan mac Cairill by Finnian of Mag Bile")
97b Poem (7 stanzas) about Tuan mac Cairill
97b Quatrain, beginning Dia rorannta cóicid Erenn.
97b 4 quatrains about Beltaine, Lugnasad, Samain and Imbolc
99a-100b Scéla Alexandir maic Pilip, episodes from the Irish Alexander saga.
100b Compert Conchobuir, story of Ness daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide
100b Out of place scribal note to Lebor Gabála Érenn
I-a (fos. 101-122)
folios Description
101a-105b Baile in Scáil ("The Phantom's Frenzy")
105b-108a Scéla mucce maic Dathó ("The Story of Mac Dá Thó's Pig")
108a Legend of St Patrick, Enna son of King Loegaire, and Michael the Archangel
108b Senchus muici fhéili Martain ("The tradition of the St Martinmas pig")
109a-114b Airec Menman Uraird maic Coisse The Stratagem of Urard (Irard) mac Coisse."[2]
114b-115b Erchoitmed ingine Gulidi ("The Excuse of Gulide's daughter")
115b-116a Orgain / Aided trí mac nDiarmata mac Cerrbeóil ("The Destruction / Death of the Three Sons of Diarmait mac Cerbbeóil/Cerbaill")
116a-116b Aided Maelodráin mic Dímma Chróin ("The death of Maelodrán mac Dímma Chróin")
116b Agallamh Cormaic 7 Fithil ("The Dialogue between King Cormac and Fíthel (Féigbriathrach)")
[Two leaves lost]
117a-118a Tochmarc Emire ("The Wooing of Emer"), beginning missing
117b-118b Verba Scáthaige ("The Words of Scáthach")
117b-118b Forfess Fer Fálgae ("The Siege of the Men of Fálga")
119a-120b Immram Bráin maic Febail ("The Voyage of Bran mac Febail")
120b Echtrae Connlai ("The Otherworldly Adventure of Connla the Red"), fragment
121a Poem A reilec laech Leithe Cuinn (The Graves of the Kings at Clonmacnois)
121b Poem, dialogue between Findchú and Sétna
121b-122a Note on the Besom out of Fánait
122a-122b Esnada tige Buchet ("The Songs of Buchet's House")
122b Scél Baile Bindbérlaig ("The Story of Baile the Sweet-voiced"), fragment.
IV (fos. 123-44)
folios Description
123a-139b Lorgaireacht an tSoidhigh Naomhtha ("The Quest for the Holy Grail"), Early Modern Irish Arthurian tale, fragment.
126a Poem ascribed to St. Columba, beginning Aibhinn bith ar B[i]nn Etair.
126a Oghum consonant sísana [...].
140a Story about Diarmait mac Cerbaill and St. Ciarán at the assembly of Tailtiu
140a Story about abbot of Drimnagh
140b Foscél ar Bannscail, story about the temptation of a confessor by a woman
140b Story of two fellow clerical students
141a Story of Columba
141a Story of King Gúaire
141a Story of the ghost of Mac Craith mac mic in-Lomanaigh
141b Story about daughter of the son of Tadg úa Cellaigh Maine
141b Two Legends about St. Moling of Luachair
141b Story of St. Comgall of Bangor
142a Story of Brenainnmoccu-Alta
142a Story of Baithín and St. Columba.
142a Story of Mochuta and the Devil
142b Story of David, Solomon and Absalom
142b Story of Mochuta
142b Irish Legend of Job
143a Scribal note dedicated to John Punket and the daughter of the Baron of Galtrim.
143a Prophetic note
143a Irish Legend of St. Patrick, King Loegaire's son and Michael the Archangel
143b Note on tidings, arguments and history: Foilsigter na focail ar tri coraib .i. scél ocus arrumainte ocus (s)tair
143b Note on a land east of Asia
143b Comrac Conculaind re Senbecc ("The Combat of Cú Chulainn and Senbecc")
143b Religious note on repentance
143b Triad Tri h-inganta Temrach ("The three wonders of Tara")
143b Irish Legend of Gregory and the widow who laughed at mass
144a Conclusion to Legend of Solomon
144a Legend of David and Solomon
144a Note on a Greek king
144a Note on pilgrimage of four Irish clerics to Rome
144b Legend of Emperor Constantine
144b Note on three gods of Danu.
144b Beginning of Esnada tige Buchet ("The Songs of Buchet's House"). Cf: f. 122a.
V (fos. 145-154)
folios Description
145a-146b Note on Virgin Mary
147a-154b Irish translation of De miseria humanae conditionis by Pope Innocent (fragment).

Sources

  1. MsOmit.
  2. Kuno Meyer, "Zwiegespräch zwischen Mac Liac und Irard Mac Coisse." ZCP 8: 218-22, 559-60.

Secondary sources

  • Stokes, Whitley. The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick. London, 1887.

Further reading

  • Best, R.I. "Notes on Rawlinson B. 512." ZCP 17 (1928): 389-402.
  • Meyer, Kuno (ed.). Hibernica Minora. Anecdota Oxoniensia. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1894. Supplement (pp. ) to Stokes' description.
  • Ó Cuív, Brian. Catalogue of Irish Language Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford and Oxford College Libraries. Part I. Dublin, 2001. No. 38, pp. 223–54.
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