fr

SUBSÏDTA HAGIOGRAPHICA i:

MISCELLANEA

HAGIOGRAPHICA

HIBERNICA

VITAE ADHUC INEDITAE SANCTORUM MAC CREICHE NAILE CRANAT

AD FIDEM CODICUM MANU SCRIPTORUM RECOGNOVIT PROLEGOMENIS NOTIS INDICIBUS INSTRUXIT

Carolus PLUMMER A. M.

COLI-EGII CORPORIS CHRISTI APUD OXONIENSES SOCIUS ET CAPELLANUSnbsp;APUD DUNELMENSES IN SACRA THEOLOGIAnbsp;APUD DUBLINIENSES IN LITTERIS HONORIS CAUSA DOCTORnbsp;ACADEMIAE BRITANNICAE SOCIUS

ACCKDlT ‘

CATALOGUS HAGIOGRAPHICUS HIBERNIAE AB EODEM PRO TEMPORE INFORMATUS

BRUXELLES nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;lt;

SOCIÉTÉ DES BOLLANDïSTES

BOULEVARD SAINT-MICHEL, 24

1925

VAN HAMEL

377

E DONATIONE

A. G. van HAMEL

PROFESSORIS ORDINARII INnbsp;ACADEMIAnbsp;RHENO-TRAIECTINAnbsp;1923-1946

MISCELLANEA

HAGIOGRAPHICA

HIBERNICA

a.

SUBSIDIA HAGIOGRAPHICA 15

MISCELLANEA

HAGIOGRAPHICA

HIBERNICA

VITAE ADHUC INEDITAE SANCTORUM MAC CREICHE NAILE CRANAT

AD FIDEM CODICUM MANU SCRIPTORUM RECOGNOVIT PROLEGOMENIS NOTIS INDICIBUS INSTRUXIT

Carolus PLUMMER A, M.

COLLEGII CORPORIS CHRISTI APUD OXONIENSES SOCIUS ET CAPELLANUSnbsp;APUD DUNELMENSES IN SACRA THEOLOGIAnbsp;APUD DUBLINIENSES IN LITTERIS HONORIS CAUSA DOCTORnbsp;ACADEMIAE BRITANNICAE SOCIUS

Acc%mr

CATALOGUS HAGIOGRAPHICUS HIBERNIAE AB EODEM PRO TEMPORE INFORMATUS

BRUXELLES

SOCIÉTÉ DES BOLLANDISTES

BOULEVARD SAINT-MICHEL, 24

1925

PIAE MEMORIAE lOHANNIS COLGANI

EIVSQVE SOCIORVM EX ORDINE SANCTI FRANCISCI IMPRIMIS MICHAELIS o’cLERYnbsp;QVI INTER PERSECVTIONIS PROCETLASnbsp;INTER BELLA TAM CIVILIA QVAM EXTERNAnbsp;IN EXSILIO ET EGESTATE

MONVMENTIS PATRIAE LINGVAE ET HISTORIAE SERVANDIS CONSTANTEM OPERAM NAVAVERVNTnbsp;HOS MEOS QVALESCVMQVE LABORESnbsp;D^D. D.

PREFACE

This volume, as its name implies, is made up of various elements. The character and contents of the different parts of which itnbsp;is composed are sufficiently explained in the separate Introductions prefixed to each of them; in which I have also recordednbsp;the valuable help which I have received from several learnednbsp;friends. Here I would add that my friend and pupil the Rev. Paulnbsp;Grosjean, S.J., has placed me under great obligations by collating afresh with the originals my transcripts of the Lives of Macnbsp;Creiche, Naile and Cranait, which were made many years ago,nbsp;without any immediate idea of publication, and by the immensenbsp;pains which he has bestowed on the correction of the proof sheets.

I would also once more record my gratitude for unfailing courtesy and help to the authorities of the various Libraries which I have visited in the course of my studies ; at Brussels, the Bi-bliothèque Royale; at Dublin, the Franciscan Convent, thenbsp;King’s Inns Library, Primate Marsh’s Library, the Royal Irishnbsp;Academy, and Trinity College; at Maynooth, St. Patrick’s College;nbsp;in London, the department of MSS., British Museum; at Oxford,nbsp;the Bodleian Library.

Lastly I would add my thanks to the Society of Bollandists for undertaking the publication of a volume which I fear willnbsp;appeal only to a very limited public.

CHARLES PLUMMER.

Corpus Christi College, Oxford, July i8th 1924.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

INTRODUCTION

This Life is here printed from the only existing MS., Brussels, Royal Library, Nos. 2324-40, ff. 87 r^ - 98 r^. This is one of the 0’Clerynbsp;MSS., and is described in Bethada Ndem nÉrenn, 1.1, pp. xii ff. In thenbsp;colophon attached to the Life Michael 0’Clery tells us that he transcribed it in the year 1634, from a copy made by Melaghlin 0’Callannannbsp;in 1528, for the ‘ coarb ’, or successor, of Mac Creiche at Cell Maelodrainnbsp;(Killoran, barony Owney and Arra, Co. Tipperary).

With the exception of a few lines cited by O’Curry in his Manuscript Materials, pp. 630-2, and another short passage cited by Professor Mac-alister in his monograph on Inis Celtra \ p. 135, the Life has not beennbsp;previously printed.

It cannot be said that it is a favourable specimen of Irish Hagiography. In the first place, the text is in places obviously corrupt, especially in thenbsp;metrical portions; and, as no other MS. is known,the only remedy available is conjecture; and the translation is in several passages only tentative.nbsp;In revising the translation I have had the valuable assistance of Missnbsp;Maud Joynt, whose Irish scholarship is as accurate as it is extensive;nbsp;she has read the whole of the translation in manuscript, and made manynbsp;valuable suggestions and corrections, as well as several excellent emendations of the text^. But there still remain passages which have resistednbsp;our combined efforts.

But, apart from textual corruption, the narrative is often confused and the sequence of events obscure. For example, at the end of § 17,nbsp;it looks as if a shorter version of the same incident had been conflatednbsp;with the fuller account which precedes. In § i the saint is made son ofnbsp;Pesslan (an obviously non-Irish name), and in § 10 is said to have been anbsp;fosterling of St. Ailbe; but in § 46 adfinem he seems to be made an actualnbsp;son of an Ailbe, who is called the war dog of Sliab Crot. In § 48 a

^ On this, see below. ^ Notes to text and translation which are due to Miss Joynt are marked with the initial J; but these represent only a smallnbsp;fraction of her labours.

ö nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Story seems implied which is not given in the prose narrative; but the translation is not quite certain.

Like some other Irish Lives, this Life is overloaded with dreary and prolix poems. I do not however think that the whole Life was originally metrical. The poems seem based on the prose narrative, notnbsp;vice versa.

On the other hand the writer has local knowledge; the details in §§2, 15, 16, 18, seem to suggest an eye witness.

The Life is utterly unhistorical, and the very existence of the hero of it extremely shadowy. This is indicated by the fact that we arenbsp;never once told his real name. Mac Creiche, Son of plunder, is a merenbsp;nickname, derived from his alleged rescue of the prey taken from thenbsp;Ciarraige by a plundering expedition of their neighbours the Eogan-acht of Killarney. His previous name, we are told on this occasion,nbsp;was Mac Oroide Ailbe or Mac Ochta Ailbe, i.e. Son of Ailbe’s heart ornbsp;bosom; but this again is a mere nickname due to the tradition of hisnbsp;having been a favourite pupil of that saint. This relationship is mentioned also in the Life of Ailbe, most clearly in the recension of the Codexnbsp;Salmanticensis, § 37 : ‘ Alio tempore exiit Albeus ad ciuitatem Ultani,nbsp;ut ibi uisitaret alumpnum suum, scilicet Maccreky ’

Unfortunately, the Life of the master is itself so shadowy that it cannot confer any historical reality on the pupil. I have discussed the characternbsp;of that Life in the Introduction to Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae, t. I,nbsp;pp. xxviii-xxxi, CLXxxiii. The view there advocated, that Ailbe is anbsp;saint of the fifth and sixth centuries, is consistent with the fact tliatnbsp;Aed, son of Eochaid Tirmcharna, King of Connaught, one of the fewnbsp;historical characters occurring in the Life of Mac Creiche, was killednbsp;in 576 according to the Annals of Ulster (= 577).

Another mention of Mac Creiche is found in the most apocryphal part of the Life of St. Enda of Aranmore, where he is one of a deputation of three sent from Aran to Rome to obtain a decision as to the abbacynbsp;of the island : ‘ Unanimi igitur consensu... missi sunt tres uiri fide digni,nbsp;scilicet Finnianus iunior, et Mac Crichi nomine, et Erlatheus ’ Andnbsp;here also, as in our Life, he is associated with Ailbe, and with Arannbsp;Enda also is probably a saint of the fifth and sixth centuries. On thisnbsp;view, association with Brendan of Clonfert ^ (ob. 577 or 583) is also possible. But indeed the length of life attributed to Mac Creiche, as to

' Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae ex Codice Salmanticensi, col. 251; cf. V. S. H. i. 5S; by the ‘ ciuitas Ultani ’, Ardbrackan is probably meant. ^ V. S. H. i. 71.

’ Ib. 69; cf. ib. LXii ff. * Infra §§ 47, 48.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;9

many other Irish saints, would suffice to cover a multitude of chronological sins.

But perhaps the most interesting mention of Mac Creiche is in the Life of St. Columba of Terryglass in Codex Salmanticensis, § 15 : ‘ Post hecnbsp;exiit Columba in fines Connactorum... tenuitque alia loca circa stagnumnbsp;nomine Dercderc... Apparuit ei angelus Domini dicens ei: Surge adnbsp;insulam Keltra. Inuenit ibi quendam uirum senem nomine Maccriche.nbsp;Cui angelus dixit: Hanc insulam relinque sancto Columbe, et perge adnbsp;alium locum et esto monachus ei (? ibi) ’ We may notice in passingnbsp;that this passage agrees with our Life in representing the saint as a verynbsp;aged man. But a yet more interesting fact is that, as Professor Mac-alister has shown in his Monograph on the History and Antiquities of Inisnbsp;Celtra ^ (in Lough Derg), pp. 132-6, there exists on that island a cellnbsp;which answers almost exactly to the description of the hermitage givennbsp;at the beginning of our Life, to which the Saint retired for his lentennbsp;penances. This hermitage and these ascetic practices of the Saint arenbsp;alluded to in a passage which probably contains the earliest mentionnbsp;of him, the twenty-seventh stanza of Cuimmin of Connor’s poem onnbsp;the Saints of Ireland. It is there said :

Carais Mac Reithe an chrabaid Carcair cruaidh is i idan;

Ó initt CO caisc gan cain.

Acht mad pain ocus biror

That is :

Mac Reithe of the (ascetic) devotion loved A hard but pure prison;

From Shrove-tide to Easter without tribute. Except bread and cress.

A note appended to the poem identifies the author with Cuimine, bishop of Nendrum, whose death is placed both by the Four Masters and bynbsp;the Annals of Ulster in 658 (= 659). But the author himself in the lastnbsp;verse gives his name as Cuimmin of Connor, and it is possible that thenbsp;identification of him with Cuimine of Nendrum may be due to a con-

^ Cod. Sal. u. s., col. 453. My attention was recalled to this passage by Professor Macalister’s monograph mentioned below; when I originally read the passage many years ago, I had no special interest in Mac Creiche. ^ Proc. Royal Irishnbsp;Academy, vol. xxxiii, section C, No. 6 (1916).nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;^ Zeitsch. Celt. Phil. i. 64.

Mac Reithe is probably only bad writing for Mac Creiche. If it were genuine, it would mean Son of a Ram.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

fusion; for the entry in the Annals of Ulster runs thus ; Dimma niger epscop Condire, 7 Cummeni epscop Naendroma... mortui sunt; i.e,nbsp;Dimma Dub, bishop of Connor, and Cuimine, bishop of Nendrum,nbsp;died. But however this may be, the poem cannot possibly be as early asnbsp;the seventh century; Dr. Stokes, the editor, would place it in thenbsp;eleventhor twelfth.

As regards other characters mentioned in the Life; of Cremthann or Crimthann, son of Cobthach, the plundering chief of the Eoganacht,nbsp;with his numerous progeny, I can find no trace in the Annals, with thenbsp;possible exception, pointed out to me by Miss Joynt, of Aed Bennain.nbsp;In the Chron. Scotorum, s. a. 619, we have the death of ‘ Aed Bendan,nbsp;airdri Muman, dond Eoganacht ’ 1. That he is called over-king ofnbsp;Munster might be regarded as a fulfilment of Mac Creiche’s propheciesnbsp;about him in § 25.

The least historical of all these characters is the alleged king of Cor-cumruad, Baeth-bronach (i.e. the foolishly sorrowful) who had never smiled or laughed. Evidently he has been transplanted bodily fromnbsp;some folk-tale of a king who never smiled. We should have expectednbsp;the saint to work some miracle which would rouse the melancholy monarch to merriment; but instead of this we have only the common-placenbsp;issue of grants of land.

This shadowy character of Mac Creiche is further illustrated by the fact that, though Michael O’Clery copied his Life at great length, henbsp;and his associates found no place for him in their Martyrology of Donegal;nbsp;though they cite this Life as an authority for Luchtigern at April 28th.nbsp;Evidently they did not even know the date of his festival

Mac Creiche is a very local saint; through his mother he is said to be connected with the Ciarraige (Kerry), but his father belongs to Cor-cumruad (in the wider sense); and the only mark, as far as I know, whichnbsp;Mac Creiche has left on the topography of Ireland, is the parish of Kil-macrehy in the barony of Corcumroe, Co. Clare; O’Clery however,nbsp;in his colophon, speaks of a ‘ coarb ’, or successor, of Macrehy at Cell

^ Cf. also the Annals from the Book of Leinster, in Vita Tripartita, p. 516; and Four Masters, V. 1792-3.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;^ Miss lojmt points out that other names

compounded with bdeth, foolish, occur; and suggests that such uncomplimentary names may have been given in order to avert the evil eye. If Baeth-bronachnbsp;vrere a genuine name of this kind, then the story that he had never laughed ornbsp;smiled might be a later invention to account for the name. “ Nevertheless innbsp;Colgan’s draft scheme (V. S. H.t. I, p. x), the name Maccretii occurs at Aug. ii.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

Maelodrain (Killoran, bar. Owney and Arra, Co. Tipperary), so that we may say perhaps that he belongs to the diocese of Killaloe.

Such interest as the Life has belongs to folk-lore, and not to history or hagiography. In the notes to the translation I have callednbsp;attention to some points which are interesting from this point ofnbsp;view; and the story of the king who never smiled has been commentednbsp;on above.

One other point deserves notice : the curious idea that the pestilences which ravaged Ireland were embodied in various deadlynbsp;monsters, which laid waste the land and were slain by the Saint’snbsp;power.

The destruction of two of these is described in the Life, the Crom Conaill and the Broicsech, the latter at great length. O’Curry ^ translates ‘ broicsech’ by Badger-monster, from brocc, a badger; and Mr.nbsp;Westropp, cited by Professor Macalister shows that this conception ofnbsp;the monster still survives in local tradition, aided perhaps by a folk-etymology which analyses ‘ broicsige ’, the genitive of ‘ broicsech ’, intonbsp;‘ broic-sidhe ’, a broc-shee, or fairy badger (cf. banshee).

The hard bargains driven by the Saint with his admirers in return for his miraculous aid, is an unpleasant feature which this Life sharesnbsp;with other Lives of Irish Saints, notably that of St. Caillin in the Book ofnbsp;Fenagh. The statement in § 42 that Mac Creiche was ‘ without love ofnbsp;gold or silver ’, is by no means borne out by the conduct of the Saint;nbsp;while, if a suggestion which I have m.ade for emending a corrupt passagenbsp;in § 32 of the Life is correct, we should find the Saint making the extremely business-like offer to return one per cent of his tribute in consideration of prompt payments. Miss Joynt indeed suggests that thenbsp;Saint’s name ‘ Son of plunder ’ may have originated in this unlovelynbsp;characteristic, and that the story of the raid may have been inventednbsp;to conceal the real origin of the name.

I am inclined to hazard a yet bolder suggestion. It may have been noticed that in the passages cited from the Lives of St. Enda and St.nbsp;Columba of Terryglas, the name is written Mac Criche not Mac Creiche.nbsp;Mac Criche would mean Son of the Border; and if his original settlement was at Inis Celtra, we can well understand the reason of the name.

^ Manners and Customs, iii. 332. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;^ u. s. pp. 97-8. I owe my knowledge of

this interesting Monograph to Miss Joynt. * The mis-spelling Mac Chire, V. S. H. i. 58, points the same way.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

So much is that island a border country, that in the last century it was twice transferred, first from Co. Clare to Co. Galway in 1849, andnbsp;fifty years later, in 1899, from Galway back to Clare

I have printed the Life in much the same way as other texts which I have edited. Expansions of contractions in the MS. are representednbsp;by italics; woi'ds or letters enclosed in ‘ soufflets ’ lt; gt; are supplied bynbsp;the Editor. The divisions of chapters are those of the MS., but fornbsp;convenience of reference I have broken up the text into shorter sections,nbsp;the numbering of which runs continuously.

^ Macalister, u. s. pp. 93-4. We may compare such names as Dub-cia-Crich, Black man of the two borders, Fer-da-crich, Man of the two borders, etc.

BETHA MEIC CREICHE

I. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(i) Inciplt;igt;unt pauca de mirabilibus Mheic Creche .i.nbsp;Mac Creche mac Pesslain meic Erce o Chorcumruadh Ninoisnbsp;a chenél. Naoi fichit hliadhan a aés o laithe a ghene co laithenbsp;a ecca. Ba he tosach a ratha co ndeachafrf i nditreibh fil eternbsp;Formdoil (.i. ainw ionaid 7 an Eidhneach (.i. abhanw i). Cliiainnbsp;hi ainm in bhaile i raibe siumh acc tathuighi a ernafg/tte.

(2) Isi métt in indelbh, ceitheora cloch .i. cloch rena druim, cloch ceclt;hgt;tar a dha taobh, 7 cloch ara aghafJ. Is anwsinnbsp;do thionwsccaiw Mac Creiche in corgwr do dhenamh ar uamhannbsp;7 ar eccla ifrinw. Ocus ni rucc leis isin ditreibh do bhiadh achtnbsp;mad aen bhairghen nama, 7 ceithre gassa bioruir; 7 ni thoimhleJ/^nbsp;nach nf diobh ^ acht dia domhnazg nama. Ocus 'ar ttafrccsinnbsp;an charguis leis, nir caith do biadh acht aran 7 anghlas domhnachnbsp;cascc. Is anwsin fuaratar a coibhnesta isin dithreibh é da éisinbsp;sin; 7 tnccadh isteach é; 7 dobi coimhétt air go fada iarsin.

II. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(3) Docuaidh Amo fecht ele isiw ditreibh cetna, 7 do annbsp;innte fri ré cethrachat oidhce ele ce« biadh, cen digh, acht madnbsp;énni, no aithighedh elit chuicce, 7 do thailedh a hass ^ ’na hóenarnbsp;i mballan nó i bpoll cloiche do bi i nursaiw in ditreibh ina raibhenbsp;seision; amhail derbha^ an ranw so ata hi ccethnait Mhefc Creiche :

'R.ann. No aithighedh an eilit Isin nindelbh cloiche.

Do thailedh ’sa bhallan A hass do Mhac Creche.

Balldn cloiche leisiow ’San ditlt;hgt;rib co demhin,

Dow clénuch fhial fhailidh.

Air do thdiledh an eilit.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Ocus do imthigeJ/i an eilit roimpe fona coilltibh asa haithle sin, co ttigedh doridhisi.

Islll. (4) La da raibhe an cleirech ag gabhail a psalm isin ditreibh, dochonwairc an tócclach ag faiccsin an duine naoimh;nbsp;dó bedgais, 7 ni' ro labhair. Ocus do ihiariaigh an clènech denbsp;cuich é. ‘ Becedhan m’ainm, ’ ar sé, ‘ 7 ag feghain m’ ferainnnbsp;ataim; 7 naisccim mo chodach fortsa. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Na len dim tra, ’ ar

in cXtxech, ‘ 7 beir hennachtain-, 7 nacham lt;fhgt;orgaire do neocli ele. ’ Ocus do ghabh soisce/a 7 urnar^Athe.

(5) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Imtighis an tócclach, 7 mar do bi anw, dochon«airc ^nbsp;in diberg chuicce, tri nonbhair doibh. Ocus do ïlnariaigh dhiobhnbsp;can asa ttangattór. ‘ Tangamar o Ghlionw Geimhin, 7 na Gla-sanaigh ar nawman/za. ’ Dorala cuca in tócclach, 7 ba sé a ainwznbsp;side .i. Bécedan. Ocus do bhadöir ’ga ghuin 7 ’ga oirleach conbsp;fada; 7 dar leo do bhensat a chenw de ’ar na ghuiw doibh uile.

I f. 87 I Ro shaer Dia 7 urnaighthe an cleirtgh naoimh e; 7 ba sop sescca bai i nait chinn an ócclaigh acasomh. Imtighisnbsp;an tócclach slan üatha.

(6) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fiarfaighit na dihérccaigh : ‘ Cid rod ainic, a ócclaigh ? ’

‘ Rom ainic, ’ ar se, ‘ cele Dé, dorad soiscelu rium ó cianaibh re ccomrac ribhsi damh. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Cait i ffuil an clerech naomh sin ? ’

ar an dibeircc. ‘ Cidh rob ail libhsi uadh ? ’ ar Becedhan. ‘ Rop ail linw a riaruccadh, 7 tiar Dé üadhasan ó so co brath,nbsp;ar dhaigh an anacail 7 na miorbhuiled doroine fortsa. ’

(7) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Doniad sidh re ’roile .i. na dihérccaigh 7 Béicedan. ‘ Asnbsp;maith tarla daoibhsi dhe, ’ ar in tócclach, ‘ doghebhtaoi sidhnbsp;Dé co brath don sccel sin. ’ Téid an tócclacA gusan indeilbhnbsp;i raibhe in clerech ógh ainglidhi acc psalm-ghabhail a psalm.nbsp;Bendachais an tócclach 7 an dibeircc dó; 7 sléchtuid uile dó.nbsp;‘ Do riar féin deit, a chlerigh, ’ ar siatt. ‘ Gabhaim uaibh, ’nbsp;ar Mac Creiche. Cuirit uatha a nairm uile; 7 edhbrait a cemrpnbsp;7 a nanmanwa do Dia 7 do Mhac Creiche. Edbraidh tra Bécedannbsp;a tir 7 a talamh do Mhalt;cgt; Creichi .i. Cill M«c Creiche nanbsp;coilledh ; 7 is ar feran« an ócclaigh sin ro suidhighedh Ceallnbsp;tSenbotha aniu.

IV. (8) lomtwra na nGlasanach, dorónad laighedha 7 fiodh-

^ airc written above the line.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

bhadha doibhsein da nörmaibh féin; 7 docmtedh cresa iarainw a ccomai-da cimidheachta 7 crahaidh impa; 7 gabhait acc réidh-ïVLCcadh na coiWedh, 7 doronsat cluaiw mór an« imedhon na coill-edh .i. na d^hexccaigh 7 Béicedan; 7 Ceall tSenbotha ainw annbsp;bhaile sin go brath. Ocus as lad na Aihtxgaigh (.i. na Glasanaigh)nbsp;7 Becedan céd-manaigh domixedh fa üir na cille, mar ata isinnbsp;cethnait Mhefc Creiche :

'Rann. Do shaoilsiot gur marbhsat

An fer maoidhmeach mbresta;

A chenn — clü gan imnedh —

Fa fhód simhneach sescca.

Sléclt;hgt;taid do Mhac Creche In dibeircc co diamhafr,

For gach sét gan rassa^/h *

Dona cresaibh iarnaibh.

V. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(9) Is annsin Aochuaid Mac Creiche 7 Mainchin siarnbsp;co hinis Locha Ratha Maigi, fobith fa mac dó Mainchin, 7 ba hénbsp;ro baist é, 7 ba leis do légh, 7 ba he dob anwcara dó. Dochuatarnbsp;tra siar co hinis Fidhe; 7 forfhorcongair Mac Creiche for Mainchin glas do chor fora chosaibh; 7 dochuir Mainchin^ glas air,nbsp;mar ]f. 88^1 adubhairt ris. ‘ Tabhafr an eochafr dam anois, ’nbsp;ar Mac Creiche. Tucc Maiwcin an eochair dó. Tucc Macnbsp;Creiche urchor don eochair i mbel na fairrgi, 7 tucc a bhreithirnbsp;nach füicfedh an inis co ttiosadh an eochair cetxxz d’foslaccadhnbsp;an ghlais baoi fair.

VI. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(ro) Is annsin tainic Ailbhe o IxxAiuch lubhair do dholnbsp;i nArainn; 7 tainicc co Fid-inis, ait i raibhe Mac Creiche. Ocusnbsp;nirb ésin a ched-ainnr, acht Mac Croidhe Ailbhe; Mac Creichenbsp;dano a ainwz an tan tucc aisecc na creiche a tiiaidh ó Aódh macnbsp;Eachach. Ciodh tra acht do iarr Ailbhe ar Mhac Creiche techtnbsp;lais dochum nAirne; 7 do innis Mac Creiche d’Ailbhe amhailnbsp;do bi an glas air, 7 an leth Aocnixedh an eochair.

(ii) Ro ansat in oidhce sin maraon Ie Mac Creiche; 7 tucc

' Corrupt; perhaps read sossadh (J). Wrongly.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Dia a ccuid leth ar leth doibh. Ocus Aochuaidh Ailbhe an oidhce örna marach ar cenn uisccegwran tioprait isin aill ata leth tuaidnbsp;don inis, co Sacaidh an téiccne ’san tiopraitt Tucc leis é donnbsp;tigh, 7 ro gherr 7 ro chosgaiV é; 7 frith an eochafr imedhón annbsp;bhradain. SlécA^ais Mac Creiche do Ailbhe imon firt sin do dhe-namhfaiV; 7 oscclais Ailbhe do Mhac Creiche, 7 téid Mac Creichenbsp;lais dochum n^iVne.

VIL (12) Tuccadh tra Fidh-inis ó Mhac Creiche do Mhain-chin, fobith ba derbh-dalta do Mhac Creiche Mainchin; 7 ba mac raith é; 7 as leis dochiiatd go Roimh an toiscc da ttuccatarnbsp;an Finn-faoideach d’altoir moir na Roma leo. Ocus ni'rbh ailnbsp;do Mhainchin anadh da néis ’san mbaile, acht munbadh frithinbsp;Yamp;cht Ie Mac Creichi é.

VIII. (13) Is aniisin dociiadar na clerigh si'ar co Clüain Di'rair .i. co longport Baoth-bronaigh .i. ri Corcumhruadh an tan sin;nbsp;fer na ro thibh gen gaire riamh eisidhe. ‘ In lór teighim si libh ? ’nbsp;ar Maincin. ‘ As lór, ’ ar Mac Creiche. ‘ In bhadh nar diiinwnbsp;athcomharc t ’ ar Maincin. ‘ Cred an tathcomharc ? ’ ar Macnbsp;Creche. ‘ Niw.?a. lomafre arbha da bhar noirchill si. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ As

eed limsa amh, ’ ar Mac Creiche. Deisid Mac Creiche hi ccionw na faithee, 7 dochuatd Mainchin isin diin anonn do agallaiwhnbsp;Baoth-brónaigh, do chuinghidh iomafre arbha afr do oirchill arnbsp;Mhac Creiche 7 ar Ailbe ag toidheacAt doibh ar ccül a hAraind.nbsp;‘ Rod bia iomaire uaimsi duit, ’ ar Baoth-bronach.

(14) |f. 88 'quot;l Is anwsin do batar meithel Bhaoth-bronaigh ag büain ghuirt arbha do bi i ndora^ an dunaidh. Gamp;baidhnbsp;da.no Maincin ag büain a iomafre, 7 Mac Creiche ’na suidhe anbsp;ccionw an iomafre. Tainic glés mór fleachafj 7 gaoithe chuca,nbsp;go rucc arbhar Bhaoth-bronaigh ’chum an mhara uile, ar mhédnbsp;na doininwe. Tiaghait an meithel uile don dun acht na cMirighnbsp;naraa. Ro bai Mainchin ag büain a iomafre, 7 na cleirigh ’nanbsp;suidhe ’ga fheghadh; 7 nir flechadh ball da nédac^ na da ccorp-aibh, acht asi an ghrian alainw etrocht as mó ro chuir orra, amhailnbsp;adeir an ranw so ata a ccetlt;hgt;nait Mheic Creiche :

* The words : isin aill... tiopraitt, are inserted on the margin with marks of reference (homoioteleuton).

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

Ran«. Ba fleochad gan meabhail

Do meithil Bhaoith-bronaigh,

Rosfucc leth a «rbha Dochum romra ^ ronaigh.

Ra«M. Ba grian gletech grethlach Doradadh — ni clethe —

Ba hedrocht, ba hadbhar ^

Air arbhar Mheic Creiche.

(51) Is anwsin tra ro tdhhair Baoth-bronach é féin 7 a chlanw 7 a dhun, 7 a tfr do Mhac Creiche 7 do Ailbhe, gan neach da cloinwnbsp;no da shMocht do breith dochum eccailsi ele co brath, amhailnbsp;ata ’sa rann :

Rann. Do edhbatV Baoth-bronach An edhba/rt nach clethe,

Cluain Dira/r, tailc fotha,

Co brath do Mhac Creche.

Isi an ceall aniu ait a raibhe an dun; isi an reilecc dit ® a rabh-atar na cléirigh ’na suidhe; is é an tioma/re ait forsaté an chros mor eter an chill 7 an muir 7 tracht Ailbhe.

(16) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is anwsin dorad Mac Creiche Sliabh Gainimh othanbsp;Fothribhe Senain aniar co Fertais Muine Muirpighi soir, eternbsp;an chill 7 muir, com targa muir fo thi'r anasin go brath, 7 co wachnbsp;roibh omhan no grain mara ar nech da méra ^ inwte co brath.nbsp;As asan bport sin dochuaidh Ailbhe do Thir Thairng^re i ndailnbsp;an moirsheisir ro fhaidh da mhuinntir isiw ffa?rrge sfar. As accnbsp;Suidhe Ailbhe do bi Mac Creche 7 Ailbhe on trath gó chéle arnbsp;ciwd na tuinwe; 7 ni thainic an tonn seach an ionad a rabhatar,nbsp;7 ni tharga go brath. Is anwsin forfaccaibh Ailbhe .i. na muirternbsp;do mhuir an cill isiw part sin co brath.

(17) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is anw dawo forfaccaibh Ailbhe briathra 7 faccbala donbsp;chomharba Mheic Creiche .i. na raghadh do rinwghona comharbanbsp;Mheic Creiche gen bhes Ailbhe for nimh. ‘ Momiar tra, ’ arnbsp;Mac Creiche re hAilbhe, ‘ as dursan sccaradh do bheith ettrainanbsp;ar talmaiw. | f. 89 ^ | O ro chaithes lt;sgt;a mh’ óicci it choimhittecht,

^ romra .i. romhara, marginal gloss. ® Sic MS.; probably read . cdbal. ait ait, MS. * The reading of this word is doubtful.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

CO ros caithinw mo shendacht. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Rod bia sae logh do coimhitt-

echt, ’ ar Ailbe, ‘ acht as aonta ar talmatn duin, 7 btdh aonta ar nimh duin». Roichedh tri itche uait resiu sccöram; cretnbsp;as ail duit} ’ ar Ailbhe. ‘ As ail damh, ’ ar Mac Creiche, ‘ uairnbsp;am aosmhar, 7 am crion, 7 co ttardar dos dom chomharbaibhnbsp;im dhi'aidh da gach aon da ndingne mo reir dhiobh. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Guidhfet

sa mo Thigerna, ’ ar Ailbhe, ‘ 7 da flFaghbhör sa sin, rod bia sae. ’ Is annsin do ghuid Ailbhe a Thigerna, 7 füaiV a itche. Ocus donbsp;raidh Ailbhe re Mac Creiche : ‘ Fuarus lt;sgt;a itche om Thigerna,nbsp;7 rot bia uaimsi. ’ Is anwsin ro ghuidh Mac Creiche an itche conbsp;hAilbhe, co ttorda dos da comharhaïhh. ’na dhi'aidh. Is annsinnbsp;forfaccaib Ailbhe do chomharbaibh Mheic Creiche nemh 7 dois.

(18) Is anwsin fos forfdccaibh Ailbhe gach itche fire guidhfes nech isin pwrt sin ag tracht Ailbhe, 7 gwrab acc ulaid Ailbhe nónbsp;Mheic Creiche guidhes, doberthör dó a itche. Is ass Aano raghassnbsp;moirseiser do mhuinttr Ailbhe 7 Meic Creiche do Thir Thairngfre.nbsp;Is anw Aano raghw^ Ailbhe cona mhancaibh dochum Tire 'Yairr-ngfre dia laithe bratha. Mór tra a ruithen 7 a mhiorbhuile innbsp;tsuidhe sin fil isin tracht. BennachaA tra Ailbhe redes 7 tem-pwZ nuaidhe an bhaile sin; ar ba he aird-easpocc Mumaw an tannbsp;sin é, 7 ba hepscop Mac Creiche fós.

IX. (19) Ceilebrait da cele ainwside .i. Ailbhe 7 Mac Creiche; 7 téid Ailbhe i nArainw da oilithre; 7 anaiss Mac Creiche ag tór-rumha a reicles, ar ba nüa-ghabhail dó é. Is ^ anwsin tangaternbsp;techta ó Chiariaighe ar cend Mheic Creiche, co ndechsadh donbsp;dhiongmhdil plaighi diobh, ar bd diobh a mhathafr. Ocusnbsp;ba hi an phldigh ishin .i. an Chrom Chonwaill ro bhdi ag forbhaisinbsp;forra Téid Mac Creiche amach ar bhdidh; 7 ro bdtar Ciarr-aight uile hi Maigh \J\adh ara chin«. Eirghit uile roimhenbsp;7 cufrit fior-chaoin failte fris. Gabhthör Mac Creiche asa charpat,nbsp;7 do ghabh soisccVa 7 urnaigAthe impa, 7 doroine procept breithrenbsp;Dé doibh, 7 do troiscceter uile .i. Mac Creiche 7 Ciarraighe innbsp;oidhce siw, 7 Aorónadh urd aifrinn doibh «rabharach.

^ From this point to the end of the chapter is printed by O’CuRHV, MS. Materials, pp. 630-1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;^ The words : hi Maigh Uladh, are wrongly inserted

here, but marked for deletion.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

(20) Is annsin tangatar tri meic Cuilcinn .i. tri meic bra-tlt;hgt;ar mathar Mheic Creiche ro bai thoir acc Raith Muine. Ag techt anoir doibh rucc an Crom Connuill orra, 7 do |f. 89 'quot;Inbsp;thuitsettar le a ttriiir brath^r. Tuarccaibh Mac Cmchlt;egt; annbsp;Finwfaidec/i a nairde acc faiccsiw a bhraithrech marhh.. Ni'rnbsp;ci'an doibh amp;nn co wacatar saighnew tenedh do nimh chucunbsp;7 tuitidh arm cCruim cCuinrall go ndmia min 7 luaith di arnbsp;belaib an X.s\uaigh. Slechtaitt uile tresan iirt sin do Mhac Creiche.nbsp;Comd desin ata Fert Cloinwe Cuilcinrae 7 na Cruime Conwaillnbsp;ar Moigh \J\adh.

X. (21) Is anwsin tra dolotter tri meic Cremhthain« meic Cobh-thaigh andes ar creich co Rinw Ruis Altraighe Chi«d Bera, 7 go ruccsat duine-ghabhail do dhaoinibh 7 do cetlt;hgt;raibh im trinbsp;macaibh Meallai« meic Maoiledoid meic Scellain d’Alltraighenbsp;Chind Bhera. Docuas o Chizn-aighe a ndiaigh na creiche, 7nbsp;rvLccadh soiscéla Mheic Creiche 7 in Fi«dfaidecA ami, diis gomadhnbsp;feirde an uradhall. Ocus ni frith uradhall maith anw on righnbsp;gusa rangus hudhdhes. lompaid na techta andes, 7 ni fhuaratornbsp;fregra maith. ‘ Cidh tucc sibh libh do lesaib ? ’ ar Mac Creiche.nbsp;‘ Ni thuccsam limi acht roinw ar ninmle arar mbelaibh, 7 cuibh-rech ar ndaoine. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ In tucc sibh derbh naithiscc libh ’ ar

Mac Creiche. ‘ Tuccsaw, ’ ar na teachta. ‘ Madh ail fuas-ccladh na ffer ruccadh hudhdes, ise aithesc deidhenacA tuccsawi linw, bo gacha scciatraighi hi cCiarraighe, 7 uinge gacha mna,nbsp;7 bith-ghiall coimhidec/iia dogrés. ’

(22) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is an«sin doloter Ciarraighe i niomaccallaimh, 7 asedhnbsp;tuccsat asa niomaccallam/i, a mbennachta do thabhairt foranbsp;ngar-mac .i. for Mhac Creiche, uair ba he a mac gar é. Ocusnbsp;dano ro bai imadhall dó ann .i. an trath tainicc in crech, ba hand ronbsp;bói siumh ara cind is Tir da Madh Neimhedh. ‘ Raghar ® arnbsp;bhar mbennachtam si anw, ’ ar Mac Creiche, ‘ gibé ni chinnesnbsp;Dia dhe. ’ Luidh Mac Creiche a ndiaidh na creiche co hAicednbsp;nAiscinn, 7 co Lios nAirthir; 7 ro bhatar Foganacht uile aranbsp;china and im Criomtlt;hgt;anM mac Cobhthaigh cona macaibh.

(23) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Luidh Mac Creiche ina chairrine co lar an oirechtais, 7

' chucu written above the line. = The scribe originally wrote : ccroim ccoinnill. ® Probably read ragat (J).

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

ben«aighis dona hogaibh, 7 iomchomhmVcis doibh an fath fa ttainicc. ‘ Créd an fath ? ’ ar i'adsa?i. ‘ Tanacc sa a ndiaidhnbsp;na gabhala 7 na creiche, 7 d’iarmhoirecht mh’imdercctha 7 monbsp;naire chugaib, 7 is am amhlobar ^ 7 is am truagh; 7 bidh ferrnbsp;daoibhsi mo bhennachtaiw d’faghbail, ina an chaingen chuingimnbsp;do chongmhail accaibh. ’ Ocus ba fir dósowïh sin, uair nnoinbsp;fichit hUadhan a aois an tan dochuaidh dochum nimhe; 7 ba taichilnbsp;mi-lethair do chongbhalt;/^ a charpai iochterach o’raile,an tan nonbsp;biodh ag ceileabhralt;//i, no ag agallaimh dhuine. Secht fichitnbsp;hliadhan immorro ba slan dó, an tan doiuidh d’accallaimh Criotwh-taiw meic Cobhthaigh .i. ri EoghanacAia Locha Lein.

(24) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ociis do raidh Mac Creiche : ‘ Masa maith let, a Criomh-

taiw, as mith.igh aithescc do thabafrt dhriinn im^raon ni ’ma ttan-gamar. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ As mor mo dhoimhenma |f. 90 ’’[ friot, a cleirigh, ’

ar Criomhtanw, ‘ .i. athchuinghidh form in aésa élódha ro bhatör ag foghail ar mferanw. ’ Asbert an cXarech : ‘ Ni mor, Mair as arnbsp;Dhia condeghar. ’ Ba hanw asbert Aodh Damhaiw : ‘ Ni banbsp;becc lasna hogaibh enfher don ghabhail duitsi ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Cia asbert

so ? ’ ol Mac Creiche. ‘ Aodh Damhain, ’ ar Alainchin. Asbert Mac Creiche : ‘ Asedh on rod bia somh o Dia, an ni ro miodairnbsp;dhamhsa .i. enfher. ’ Ro fergaighedh Aodh Damhain lasodhaiw,nbsp;7 ro ladh a socht.

(25) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ba han« asbert Aodh Furarain : ‘ Ni furail don clcriuch

leth na gabhala, oir as ar Dhia chuinges. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Cia asbert so ? ’

ol Mac Creiche. ‘ Aodh Fururaiw, ’ for a dhalta. ‘ Rom ^ bia somh uaimsi dano 7 o Dhia leth feibhe 7 airmide na tire si,nbsp;7 na tuaithe, gidh imresnae/z doib. ’ Is airesiw immorro ro cheisnbsp;menma Criomhthain« do Aodh Bennain, ar ba dili lais na gachnbsp;mac ele. Atracht Aodh Benwain ’na shesamh, 7 asbert : ‘ Madhnbsp;CO réir in cléirigh, a ócca, ’ ar se, ‘ tabhraidh dó in ghabhail uilenbsp;full accaibh. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Cia asbert so ? ’ ar Mac Creiche. ‘ Aodh

Bennaiw, ’ ar Alainchin. ‘ As cian co tainic an mac sin, ’ ar Mac Creiche. ‘ Ron bia somh uaimsi 7 o Dhia lan-fhebhmnbsp;7 airmhittin in tire si, 7 na tuaithe dogres, 7 da mhac 7 da lia. ’

(26) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is anwsin dochuaidh Criomthann mac Cobhthaigh 7

’ Read adlobar, cf. § 34. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;“ Probably here should be inserted the words :

cibe bus maith dibh rot saorfa, from § 33, where they are obviously out of place, and make no sense. ’ Sic MS.; read : ron.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

a mheic i niomaccallaimh .i. gan neach do ghfliVm chuca da ttairi-sibh. ‘ Cidh doghentaoi, a ócca, ’ bhar Crioxnhxhann, ‘ frisan sruith-shenoir si tainic chuccaibh ? Acht ni thainic 7 ni thiocfanbsp;fer a chomhaosa do chuinghi chaingne for nech. Is «iVdhala donbsp;neoch frisa cimitnn aidaigh a aoisi nama. Tténaidh comhatVle, ’nbsp;ar Ci'iomtanw, ‘ 7 tahhraidh an to\xamp;acht idle chuccaibh, ’ ol sé.nbsp;Tnccadh chuca an toirecht idle.

(27) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Da nderntaoi oriwsa, ’ ar Aodh Benwain, ‘ nair nachnbsp;tosach flaithemhnais, 7 nach deiredh, diumw^a, ni fhetfea ^ vmWachtnbsp;an tsrotha-shenorach ud libh, ardhaigh na gabhala full accaibhnbsp;sunw, uaigt; mamdh, 7 icaidh fech, 7 iiczhaidh bennac/iiain; 7 ninbsp;fhuil muir ettrainw 7 an bade asa ttuccadh an ghabhail si; 7 danbsp;ffesmais,ni ricfeamais in mbaile i iTaibhe,daigh ba sruith-neimhedhnbsp;gibe hionadh i mbeith; 7 da.no tangattar a scce'/a asin tir i I'aibhenbsp;resiu tainicc chuccain». Bermaid fein immorro breath forainw, ’nbsp;for Aodh Benwain, ‘ 7 mas do mhuinwtir Dé dó, as lan-im-derccadh don chleinwc/j a ruccsam chuicce; nair ro fhedamornbsp;isin tir a ndechamar a beith arar cinw anw. Ocus cidh a leithnbsp;daomiachta no beith, atad tri braithre a mathar aguibh sunn anbsp;ccimidhecht, CO na ffuil do maith ar |f. 90'quot;! talmarn aca. Ocusnbsp;dénaidh si comnrVle maith a fecht so,’ ar Aodh Bennain.

(28) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Dogenmais, ’ ar CriomhtAnnn, ‘ muna beith do bron

Aodha Damhain. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ As ole mo mhenma, ’ ar Aodh Damhain.

‘ Ocus tabhraidh si reir nDé, 7 mo réir si, ’ ar Mac Creiche, ‘ 7 rod biad ® som maith doridhisi. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ As becc leis an taon-chomh-

arha do thairngiVi si dó. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ In edhón doghni diomdhach

acuinn de ? ’ ar Mac Creche. ‘ Isedh, ’ ar Criomhtan. ‘ Rom * biad sa lana, ’ ar Mac Creiche, ‘ foighéonaigh il-mhile dononbsp;accan aon-chom.harba sin, 7 co mbia format caich fris. ’ Isnbsp;annsin immorro doradadh do Mnc Creiche in ghabhail, eter dhuinenbsp;7 ceithre, go naisiocc iomlan, 7 cona bith-réir féin dó go brath.

(29) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is annsin ro ainmnighestnfr Criomhtan cona macaibhnbsp;lógh a imdhergtha 7 a bhennachtnn don cloinuch .i. do Macnbsp;Creiche i. gach ni do oirdeochn^f féin forra. ‘ Berat amh, ’ fornbsp;Mac Creiche. ‘ Caocca ionnr lachtna, 7 caocca ore méith,

^ The MS. adds : 7 nl thainic, but deletes the superfluous words. fethfed; but the whole sentence is obscure, and possibly corrupt,nbsp;rod bia (]).nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;^ Read ron.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

7 caocca samhascc fria bi'ath; 7 etghadh na sruithi gach ionbhaidh rachtflzV om chom^arba sa got comharba sa. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Rot bia sa sin,

7 cidh ni hudh mo do Wrtha ina siw do ghebhtha é, 7 inni do iarrais, do ghebhaiV th’oi'ghn'ar uainwe uimi co brath, ’ ar Cviomh.thannbsp;com macaibh. ‘ Rot bia sa da«o cot macaibh mo théora benn-achtan sa .i. benwachta flaithemhnais gan dibhe; 7 hennachtnbsp;im ^ gan urdiobhadh; 7 hennacht eccna co nairmittin. Rotnbsp;bia sa na teora hennachtz sin tar cend beith do ixir mo comharba sa tar m’éisi. ’

(30) Tuccadh 6 Aodh Benaain mac Criomhtaia in ngabhail. 'Tnccadh 6 Maolduin mac Aodha Bennaiw inn gabhail so. Tuccadhnbsp;Ó Fhoircheallac/ï mac Aodha Foirinn in gabhail so fós. Tuccadhnbsp;Ó Chuimine mac Aodha Bennain in ngabhaV/ si. Tuccadh onbsp;Chonghal mac Maoileduin meic Aodha Bennain fós. Tuccadhnbsp;Ó Chairpre mac Condinisc meic Foircheallaz’g/j meic Aodha innbsp;ghabhail so. Tuccadh o Aodh mac Conning meic Cuimine innbsp;ghabhail so. Tuccadh o Aodh Allain mac Cafrpre do shiolnbsp;Aodha Farinn in ngabaV/ so fós. Tuccadh ó Maohnfaidh macnbsp;Cuimine in gabhail si. Tuccadh o Choin Fhoinghealta macnbsp;Cairpre do shiol Aodha Fnrinn in gabdii so. Tuccadh o Maol-ddin mac Aodha meic Conaing in chain cédna sa fós. Da righnbsp;décc a hEoghanac/tt Locha Léin sin.

XI. (31) Is annsin tainic Mac Creiche andes 7 tri braithre a mathar lais, gusan uile ionnmw^ ruccadh leo barf/zdes. Ocusnbsp;dorinne fiort amhra ag techt andes dia mbatar braithre a matharnbsp;go hiothmar ^ anffann a haithle a ccuibhrfgh, |f. 91 r| 7 donbsp;ghabh iota mór iad ag dol o Raith Muighi siar. Do thórainnnbsp;Mac Creiche in talamh co ttainfc uiscce anios ass; 7 do dhiolsatnbsp;a uiotaidh uile de. Ocus doronsat caisiol imon topar, 7 atanbsp;in topar sin ar Maigh \]\adh\ 7 icaidh gach ngalar 7 gach urchoidnbsp;giisa ttabharthar a uiscce.

(32) Do battar imnzorro C-ian'aighc a ccomhdhail a Aluigh \}\adh ara chind, 7 tuccsat bennac/zta dó arin fcrt dorighne doibhnbsp;.i. an Chrom Chonnuill do diongbail dibh ag dul bwif.^dhes; 7 anbsp;creach 7 fuaslaccaz/A na ccimedh doibh asin cacht irrabatar, gurnbsp;thoirbhir doibh i naen-dail uile iad. Is annsin, dorattsat Ciarr-

1 Corrupt; perhaps read mme.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

aighi a mbewnacAfa uile dó i nén-dail, \iair ba saor gar in mac doibh é, 7 dorinwe deigh-les doibh im gach nf mar ghuidhettarnbsp;é. Doratt somh h^rmacht doibhsiumh dawo, 7 dorad doibhnbsp;cocain a chille, cetmad uadh doibh hudhdém an céin nach beith ^nbsp;aga tairbert badeisin. Atracht somh dia maithribh ara ghairenbsp;doibh.

(33) Is annsin dochuatar Ciarrai^/ie i niomaccallaimh for \eth seach in clerech, da^ ciodh doghendais fris. As iair deisidnbsp;ag Ciarraighe. im edbafrt dia coibhdelaigh .i. do Mhac Creiche,nbsp;oir ba sodhaltach friu, 7 ba duthrachtach doibh, i ndiaighnbsp;dorat cocain a cille 7 a bennac^ian dia maithribh re taobhnbsp;sochar doibh hudhdém, cibe ba^ maith dibh rot saorfa Isenbsp;foircend doradatar for Mhac Creiche asa naon-dail .i. tri fichitnbsp;bo somhaoineach uatha gacha tres hliadhna, no, dawadh roghanbsp;leo, screpall gacha deisi uatha gacha tres hXizdhna. Facchaidhnbsp;Mac Creiche na faccbhala so do Chiarraï^Ae .i. nert ina feraibh,nbsp;7 buaidh ccomraic 7 gzmccidh orra, 7 buaidh ana 7 bleachta inanbsp;fond.

XII. (34) Ceilebraidh Mac Creche doibh, 7 ikcchaidh a bith-hennacht suthain diles marsiw ag muinter a mathar; 7 issedh docuaidh Mac Creiche ass sin go himleach lubhafr dochumnbsp;Ailbhe, ar ba he mac cridhe Ailbi e. Ocus ni cian do bai an«,nbsp;CO Szcaidh aigi techtz a Tuadh-Mumam 7 a Corcumvuadh arnbsp;CO xtiosadh da naccallaimh co Cam Mcfc Tail; 7 xuccadhnbsp;dzno htznnachtzin d’Ailbhe ar impide fafr imthecht anw. ‘ Asnbsp;lescc lem si«, ’ ar Mac Creiche, ‘ 7 gidh lescc, raghat. ’ Banbsp;hadhlobhar 7 ba trogh, 7 ba cn'on annsin e, ardaigh a aoisi im-morro. Gidhedh tanfc Mac Creiche 7 Mainchin rompa amuighnbsp;o Imleach lubhafr go rangatar Inis Toma Fionnlocha co Ltich-thigern, 7 znaidh annsin ó shatharn co mafrt.

(35) Ocus atcuaid Mac Creiche do Luchthighern in ni ima lt;agt;tracht; |f. 91 'quot;| 7 ro fhorcongair Mac Creiche for Luch-tigern techt frisan les cetnz .i. do guidhe na cairde; 7 do raidhnbsp;nar bo córa dósomh les Tuadh-Muman do denaw/f ina do Luch-

^ 1 can make nothing of this clause as it stands ; read no beitis for nach beith) this is adopted in the translation; a tradesmanlike arrangement, very worthy ofnbsp;Mac Creiche. * The words : cibe... saorfa, make no sense here, and havenbsp;been transferred conjecturally to § 24, q. v.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

tigern. ‘ As fi'r sin, ’ ar Luchtigern, ‘ 7 rachat sa let. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Ca

lion tiucfae ? ’ ar Mac Creiche. ‘ Ni thiucfae lim acht en-fher. ’ ‘ Cidh on} ’ ar Mac Creiche. ‘ Kmain, ' ar Luchtigern, ‘ cidhnbsp;seanadh mór dobertha sa let, dobhérainw si senadh mor ele lim.nbsp;Ocus osa en-fer tugais si let, berat sa fer ele lim. ’ Do ghluaisetcrnbsp;a ccetrar rompa go rangattar Cam Mem Tail, 7 doberar Tuadh-Muma 7 Corcuraruad ara cinw an taw sin, 7 twesat a mbennacAtnbsp;uile dona cleircibh ar thecht do ghuidhe caVrde doibh imon mbo-romha ar Aodh mac EachdacA .i. ar righ Connacht.

(36) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘In rachaim ne rompa.?’ ar Luchtigern. ‘ Ni ra-

cham, ’ ar Mac Creiche, ‘ co raibhe in gabhail i nurlaimhe cu-gainw. ’ Is annsin ron geis doibhsin dul hudhtuziAh. gwnn mbo-roimhe uile. ‘ Da ccxeididh sibh uaimsi, ’ bhar Mac Creiche, ‘ as decair damh imthecht; is am adhlobhar, 7 is am crion in méitinbsp;is um sruithiu dhe. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Do bhennacAt dobhera iurtacht ^ dona

hoccaibh, ’ ar each. ‘ As fir siw, ’ ar Mac Creiche. ‘ Rachat sa cibe ni dobéra ^ Dia dhamh and. In mair an cairrine, a Mhaiit-chin .? ’ ar Mac Creiche. ‘ Mairidh amh, ’ ar Mainchin. ‘ Nowj-berar asso, ’ ar Mac Creiche, ‘ cowam raltair im chairrin. Ocusnbsp;berar dawo, ’ ar sé, ‘ in gabaV/ eter ceitriu, 7 edacA, 7 duine, conbsp;ttaisbentar anw uile in gahdil. Maith tra, a Chorcumruadh, innbsp;fuil i nEirinw fer sheacht m-bliadAaw ar ocht fichtibh forsa tartanbsp;imthecht, acht meisi am aénar nama ? ’

(37) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is anwsin ro ladh in carpat riasna ceithribh. ‘ Suidhigh-

idh tra, a Chorcumruadh, bar mbu cowa mbradaibh tairsiu, 7 dosléieeiifA im ^ deadhafJ, 7 tzhraidh soiscce'/a imaibh; 7 tiuefamnbsp;uile dibhlinazM isin maighin cédna gaw ttamp;haidh duibhsi, 7 annbsp;chain d’aisecc duinwe. ’ Ro gabh an carpat riasna ceithribhnbsp;Ota sin co Magh n-Aoi; 7 ni Aenchaidh bo diobh don chonair,nbsp;anonw nach anall, acht i ndeadhaft/ an charpait uile doibh, 7 ninbsp;ro la hh.rad asin tsuidiugio/A doradadh forra fon ceduafr. Innbsp;trath no bidis na clerigh ag ceilebhrad'^, no andais na ceithre inanbsp;tost; in trath no imtighdis lt;na clerigh, no imtighdis na cethra;nbsp;in bhail i nandais na’cleir^^A fri hoidhee, no ticcedh Mainchinnbsp;[f. 92nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;7 in Fiwd-faidec^ ^{1 2} Mheic Creiche fora mhuin, 7 bachall

1

* The words : furtacht... cibe ni dobhera, are erroneously repeated in the MS. “ In, MS. ® Supplied by conj.cture, but necessary for the sense.

2

.i. clocc (interlinear gloss).

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

Luichtighern ina laimh timcell na ccetlt;hgt;ra. No luighdis na cethra ’na naen^r co madain, 7 no ghealtatais go trath teirtnbsp;arzbbdrach, cen no bidis na c\mgh ag ceilebrat/A aifrinn. Innbsp;tan no tbeigbedh Mac Creiche ina char^at i ccenw na conairt, donbsp;ergittis na cethra uile ina lorcc line i ndeadhazlt;f in charpaitt.

(38) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Isi sin abairt doghnittis go rangatar Magh n-Aoi hudhnbsp;tuaidh. Mor tra do fertoibh doronsat co rangatar co crich Maighenbsp;hAói. Is anwsin ro batar draoithe Aodha meic EachdacA aranbsp;cmn do fromadh anfis na cclerec/z; 7 doratsat na draoithe snechtanbsp;dona cleircibh, co nar fhetsat imthecht an?z. ‘ Diongbö^V^Anbsp;sud, ’ ar na cleirigh. ‘ Ni dhingébham, ’ ar na draoithe. Ronbsp;hsénsat na clcuigh é, co nderna grian ailghen doibh. Imtigitnbsp;na clerigh an Ia sin coidhce. Doratsat dano na draoithe ceonbsp;taran tir on trath go aroile, co «a cuimhgedh nech dibh imthechtnbsp;anw idir. Tallsat na cleirigh an céo doridhisi. Is an7isin asbcr-tatar na clerigh frisna druidibh : ‘ Ciodh nach dionghbhaithinbsp;an snechtz üt, 7 in céo, amhail tuccsab^ïV iatt ? ’ ‘ Ni chuirfem, ’nbsp;ar iadsomh. ‘ Gurabtolc daoibh bhar ndraoidhecht oniu co brath, ’nbsp;ar Alac Creiche.

(39) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is anwsi^z do fhagsöt in bhraitt ar Maigh Ai, 7 docuatar

féin d’accallaimh in righ. Nir lélccedh isiw dun i'ad, 7 ni ihuantar freccra maith amach. lompaid na clerigh dochum a muintirenbsp;8ris, 7 faoisiot in oidhce siw arm moigh, gan digh, gan biadh.nbsp;Gzhaidh tart mor Mac Creiche. ‘ Alasa maith Ie Dia, ’ ar sé,nbsp;‘ gidh 'lorrrdha deoch an righ, rxa rab mó mo thart sa ina a thartnbsp;resiu ti la. ’ Ro bas acc ól 7 acc aoibhnes agan righ co t?'athnbsp;luighe. Ocus dochiiater da leaptoibh asa haithle. Muscclaissnbsp;an ri asa chodladh, 7 geïhidh tart 7 tiormach mor é; 7 ni frith diolnbsp;a iotadh ^ dó i rRaith Cruach«M. Ticc an la faoisi«. Gabhtarnbsp;a ezchradh don righ, 7 teid do riaruccadh na ccleirech. Benn-achais doibh. ‘ As benwaighthe thusa, ’ ar Alac Creiche,nbsp;‘ acht co ttuccair düinwe gach caingen chuinghemaid. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Tabhair

deoch damh, a clérigh, ’ ar sé. Do thórain« Mac Creche in talcmh, 7 ro mhuidh sruaimh uiscce ass; 7 as tiopra Mhec Creche a hainmnbsp;fos ar Muigh Crüachaw. Liontör cüach Aodha meic Ezchdachnbsp;de, 7 coisccidh a iotu.

(40) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sléchtaidh Aodh dó ainnséin, 7 do raidh : ‘'Dobhcirim

^ diol aptad, MS.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

si duit, ’ ar se, ‘ gach ni chuinghe don cur slt;ingt;. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Gabaim, ’

ar Mac Creiche, ‘ acht nach iarrth«r an chain cédna co brath. ’ ‘ Ni hizriiaidhex co brath, ’ |f. 92''! ar an ri. ^nccadh isinnbsp;dun iad iörsin. Ocus ro bdi aen mac agan righ, 7 nir labhüitV senbsp;riamh o xuccadh é; 7 xnar doconnaixc se Mac Creiche, do éixighnbsp;’na shesamh, 7 do fher fior-caoin failte fris. Bennachais Macnbsp;Creiche é, 7 dorad soisc^Za uime; 7 ni raibhe i xiExinn duinenbsp;hudh ferr inwsccne inds; 7 ba he a ainw ; Üada Balbh. Ba iioWidhnbsp;cdch uile ’ma a urlabhra do bheith acc mac an righ. Is anwsinnbsp;do edbflZr Aodh mac Each£ZacZi uaidh féin co«a mhac, 7 ó gachnbsp;aon ghebhar righi Comxacht co brath, sezcht ccumhala uatha,nbsp;screpall gach aoin o Shiol Muiredhaigh 7 cloinwe Taidhg. Donbsp;fhaccaibh Mac Creiche doibhsiumh da chionw sin ordan, gal,nbsp;eneach 7 borrfa^ZZt ina rioghaibh, 7 lacht ina mbuaibh, 7 ithnbsp;ina ffonn. Ocus gach uair nach coimhéltar an chdin si do Mhacnbsp;Creiche, do fhaccaibh doibh a fforba ’na dillechtaigh, 7 iad feinnbsp;’na loingseachaibh.

XIII. (41) CeileabratVZA doibh, 7 tucc cuach Aodha xneic Eachach leis a tuaidh, 7 izcchaidh bennacZiiain aca. Ocus ata isnanbsp;ranwaibh so sios dcxhhadh an sccéoil 7 na ngniomh.

Cain shil MuircfhaZg' 7 cloinae Taidg in chain si.

’Arsi« tanicc cuca

Aod Flt;oirinn for eneach,

Ba fó ïczcht adrala ;

Do hith-xadh na ccXcirech.

Ann raidhis Mac Creiche.

Breithir fri mac nEachach :

‘ Row bit uait — is sochlach —

CaZrde cen nach sechnadh. ’

‘ Tucc digh damh, a cleirigh, ’

Ar an righ co mbuadhaibh;

‘ Law aw chuachaiw chais-ghil Is aisgtlt;Z/( a cCrüachaZw. ’

* A space left in the MS.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

Dororainw Mac Creiche An talamh co bruach,

Co ro mhuidh sruaimh gnoach Dar ba Ian an cuach.

Is tiopra Meic Creiche A hainm cain etch tratha,

For Moigh Cruachan canaiV Maraidh co dé mbratha.

Adrobaid ri Cmachan A digh — radh nach clethe —nbsp;Adregh co nirt flathanbsp;SlecAfais do Mhac Creiche.

‘ Dam beir si don? reir si, ’

Ar Mac Creiche creisin,

‘ Tabar co leir liamhain Gach iztvaidh ros feisir. ’

‘ Rod bia sa gan meabatV, ’

Ar in ri saer sobhail,

‘ Ber let dot chill credhail An mboronj/«a bladhaigh. ’

‘ Berthar, ’ ar Mac Creiche,

‘ Madh co mbriatraibh fatha.

Acht CO maitter tfamhsa Do chis CO la bratha. ’

‘ Edhberat sa duitsi Om chloinn — clu go mbuadhaibhnbsp;Gach ri raghus reomhaibhnbsp;Stcht cuwAala ^ uadhaibh. ’

‘ Dober sa dot cloinn si Muna tisat friomsa,

Ordan 7 galn^

Cen mams in lin sa.

Cumal .i. aoin bo 7 fiche, marginal note.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

Dailis breithir mbuadhaigh Dia maithibh — miadh sobhail —nbsp;‘ Meraid/i — bidh fert deimhiw —nbsp;lt;Forgt; nert co diaid domhain. ’

Dobert doibh iar suidhe Sochla set adnaiscer,

Buaidh comraic fri gala Ana ocm gaisccedh.

Do iodbratóJquot; ^ a niodbazVt:

Dia ngairmter garm chialldu,

Tri ficAtt bo mbiiadha Uatha gach^i bliadhna;

No madh rogha leosomh (UajV as togha almsan),

Sgreapall gan coll geisi Gachs. deisi dosan.

Gabtha la hAodh mBennain Ocus la hAodh Fwraiw,

Tri braithre a mathar A slabhradh \ar fhodhail.

Docomhlai cm thurbaidh Mac Creiche go nglan-bailnbsp;D’fuascclad/z gan urbhaidhnbsp;An tn'r asia tslabhrad/ï.

FofuatV failte an cXcrech La hAodh mBennaiw mbuidhnec/inbsp;Im tri braitribh a matharnbsp;Gabsatlt;argt; i ccuibhnwcA.

Maithis dó Aodh Benwain Leth an trir fri thorainwnbsp;Ro sae mo drecc ^ ferainwnbsp;Ro la a ordail Aodh Foirin??.

^ Tills and the three next verses have the marginal title ; Cain Ciarraighe do Mac Creiche. ^ Reading and meaning are alike uncertain here.

MISCELLANEA IIAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

For Aodh mBenwain mbuadhach ; Dobbert hennacht foibhind;

Dorairngert gan dibhe Righe a Aodh Fhoiriond.

Ann dobert Mac Creiche A rrighi — caiw comaigh —

Do shiol Aodha Ben«ain ;

Ba haithescc saor sobhail.

Ceachaing an ri ruanaidh In rith — réim co «déini —

Aodh Foirinw fiadh fianaibh Do riarad in clerigh.

Forosslicc Mac Creche In triar, fer fial fosaidlr,

Meni saitir nip e sil ^

An glais iama dia ccosaibh.

Slec/ilais ^ do Mac Creiche In ri ruanaidh roisgneach,

Do Aodh Furinn ro coatadh Ana ocus gaisccedh.

And ro guidh Aodh Forinw,

Ar nach tazVledh osnadh,

Co talta ® ara dine A rrighe cith cosnamh.

Leo fa saint a iodba/rt An dfas aurtaig uaile,

Tri caeccat ¦— cem ciallda —

Gacha hUadhna buaiwe.

Caecca ¹ ionar lachtna,

Caecca lend fijid fuidre,

Cdecca samharc samhraidh,

As amhXaidh adruidhle.

1

Very corrupt. ¹ MS. clechtais, ® Read tallad. ¹ These verses are headed in the margin : Cain Eoganachta I/Ocha Léin inso.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;3I

Na tri cdeccait a ^ séd sa Twrnectdar gan iuirechnbsp;Don cléirech caidh corach,

Conid nderna buidheach.

Dorighne firt amra I n^gt;-d Brasg i Certain,nbsp;ïar mbaithins co mbalc-boilnbsp;Loichini meic 'Nechtain.

Do dhermait Mac Creche A chuachan gan aithis,

Ait i mbdi ara bélaibh Acc denamh in bhaithis.

Ba hann badid cuman In cuachlt;angt; mban netrocht,nbsp;Nad bi ann, cidh alicc,

Tan tanicc Cltiaïn Dirair.

O doluidh fo a bharainn In cuach fa turuindnbsp;Tairnic torcbail ngrénenbsp;lath Léime Concvdainn.

Co ttainic Cluain Dirair Ard-neimhedh nad mer on,

Ba tnrim ina deghón ^

Cacha mbai ina medhon.

Dorighne Mac Creiche Mor d’fertaibh — cain comhalnbsp;Dosgéna bidh adhasnbsp;Cen mharns in domhan.

Ba troiscctecA, ba credhnach.

Ba credhlac/i, ro-nairlecA,

Ba diulsadach ®, ba tuidhlec/i. Ba huiblecA, ba haingkcA.

Read : deghaid. ’ The metre requires a dissyllable, perhaps

MISCELLANEA HAGÏOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Is oïïéïyidhe an czxhair,

Cluaiw 'Dirair, is toirthecA,

Is dilgidach is duineach,

Is muinech, is mainbhthech.

Dun toicthech co toraibh, Saire na cech diiine;

Is anw ata an bade For \dr Arda Ruide.

Ro ghabh Cowall cednaigh Mac Creiche dia nadram;nbsp;Conairge da urgnaighnbsp;Fri nemh ocus talmain.

Taithmeach an Righ uasuw,

As uasal a adhradh,

For bith cé bia cuim/inecb,

Taot aiiuw nDe form labhradh.

Taod ainm nDe form labradh, Is adha nach cletlie,

Co ndernar in bedach Cetal do Mhac Creche

Acta Meic Creiche agia Adiuuent nos egregia;nbsp;Simus ® post exilianbsp;In eterna mernoria.

‘ Is fir CO rum corns lt;sgt;a * Mo chis is mo chain;

Mo ri féin ’gum toghw sa ’Gum breith as bhor laimh.

Me Mac Creiche cornramhach, Isedh raiter riuwz,

1 Here also a dissyllable is required; perhaps dligthech, with same meaning (J). ^ Here the MS. inserts by anticipation the quatrain which follows the Latinnbsp;verse in a slightly different form : Is fir co rum carus lt;sgt;a, Mo chios is monbsp;chain; Mure few’com toghw sa, Is’com breith as bar laimh. ^ egregiassimus,nbsp;MS. * Or perhaps ; co rum chara sa (J).

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

’Ar ndol don bith oll-bhladach Ni lemtar mo mhind.

Da ccongbhat cain comramhaigh Gach nech darab dual,

Coingebat co holl-bhladacA lad arin mbioth mbuaw.

Bud/t mé an uil-pheist led«rtach Da ccloiser an gleo,

Bed sa riu co irtccartach.

Da millit mo scéo;

Da millit mo chana sa Fermhachaigh na ttreabh,

Rac/iat sa fi a ndrus san,

Is gerrfad a seal.

As diiin ticc a moradh san,

Da mbett rim co hal.

Da mbett riw co tenw ^

Ni hudh tenw a ndal.

As mé Mac Creiche caidh Ase m’ainwt tre coir;

Gabaiw dom Ri gaw dalbh Caocca psalm gach noin.

Me mac ochta Ailbhe,

Luaidhith mé gach noin.

Goirit leis ’gum iomxddh Ina lebhran coir.

Fa he sin mo degh-athaw-Archu Ó Sleibh Grot,

Fa mac é dom shen-atha/r,

Do righ ’ga mbiodh mor bport.

Broindgheal ocus Brig Ocus Mainesc uaiw.

^ This line is defective.

34 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Tri hinghena righ Is Fiachra go mbrigh mbuaiw;

Tri romheic in righ,

Roth, is Eogaw dn,

Ocus Aongus oil.

Do mhdoid tonw is tragh.

Clanwa na ttri mban Do mhaoidhes ar miair,

Mac meisi do Brigh dibh Is Ailbhe din ar sluaigh.

Mac do Mainesc bhain Cainweach, dan dual damh;

MathatV Brenainn muaidh Broinngheal an tsuain tsaimh.

(48) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Brenainn dorad lt;Inmh

Ar Cizimighe cain,

Céd-ldogh gacha bo,

Ruisne ro on crain.

Fermacaidh ’com réir Oniu CO ti mbrath;

Me do choisc in phéist Doibh fa réidh an dail.

Baothan as gach tred Gach caorach, ’s gach bo.

Is Ó gach cadhia in chain Is Ó gach crain, ni gó.

Do dligh Brenainn ban Do ChonnacAfaibh coirnbsp;Da ceallaiM co tennnbsp;Is do chenn an tsloigh.

Tegmaid cuiccer naomh Leis ’sa tir hudh tuaidh.

Do bhdmar laimh ris In gach lis ar nuatV,

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

KAhbal duinwe an«

In dun in ghil ghaircc,

Ticc sUagh Mhurchaic/ buirb Fuinw fa Thulchoibh Taidg.

Dob adhbal in creach,

EallacA cloinwe Taidg, Doradsat leo ar liubhra,

Fir fa hiomdha maircc.

Albert Brenainn ban ;

“ A mhefc ochta caidh,

Cidh ma léicci ar ccreich Do breith asar laimh ? ”

Eirghim si anwsiw suas Is tóccbaiff! mo Idimh,nbsp;fslighim sil Murchaid,

Fir na nurcar naigh,

Donim liga doch Da feraibh co léir,

Is impaidim in creich Ina ndreich hudhééin.

Ot connairc an slogh Meisi ar cclodh na laoch,nbsp;Edhbrait damh a ttir,

Eter min is frdoch.

Doraidhsiot clanw Taidg Aithesc rim ba hois :

“ Ge mac ochta breti Tu as Mac Creiche anois.

Beir let uainne cdin,

A cléïrigh cdidh cdimh,

Beth fa chios do mhinw As maith linw, a naoimh. ”

* Read asbreth (I).

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HiBERNICA

A nairgït ’sa nionnmwï,

A séoda os gach dinw,

'Lwcht Aar chong nir ^ chóir,

Is é ór mo mhinji.

Doradsat damh chain,

Siol 'Mxaredaigh mir,

Caocca uinge d’ór Ona slogh rom dligh. ”

XIV. (49) Firta amhra oirdherca dotonadh la Mac Creiche .i. da ttangatar tedmanna mora i riErinn uile, 7 tangatar hi cCaoillenbsp;in Chosnamha, re nabwr Tuadh-Mumha, seach gach tir .i. annbsp;ghribh ingnech, 7 an bhuidhe Con«uill, 7 in bolccsighi, 7 in geiT-ghör, 7 in broicseach Locha Broicsighi la cenél Fermaic .i.nbsp;isi déni, osi nertmar, naimhdighi, neimh-meirtnech com brath ^nbsp;hiiLStaidhe fuirre; 7 ro la ara móra forsan tir a ccomhcoit-cinne, 7 an nair do ehgedh ion tir fon samhla sin, ba samhalta renbsp;caecca each acc torann-bhualad/f tragha a torann-cles fon tir; 7 banbsp;hedh doghnidh si; a craos ciocrach coniadhach for comhoamp;\accadhnbsp;araail choin cuthaigh, 7 Aoloigedh buinne lethan lan-aidbsecAnbsp;d’andil ghairbh gamp;ïnntMdhi tar compnr a craois, 7 a carpait arnbsp;comhlasadh; 7 gach uile duine re mbenadh in anal neimhe sin,nbsp;7 gach ainmidhe, dothéighdis d’écc anabaidh obann uile, eter crodhnbsp;7 duine, gur dilaithrigh an tir uile acht madh began da maithibh,nbsp;7 do fhaccbatar an tir uile a hurmhor dhilt;bhgt; asa haithle; 7 banbsp;he me't a nesbadh .i. sescca eter fhior 7 mhnaoi gach laoi.

(50) Ocus ’arsin tnceadh a nerlamha düthcüe cuca .i. Maol-dala, 7 Mac Aiblen, 7 Blathmac, 7 naoimh an tir uile, 7 tri nonbair do sruithibh 7 do shenoiribh ar aon la gach fer dhibhsin, 7 donbsp;bhatar an tir uile i naoin-ionad ar cionn na naemh-erlamh. Ocusnbsp;acca ffaicsin do chach do thóccbatar gaire truagha troim-neimh-elacha, 7 do gabhatar ag guidhe 7 ag gruaidh-imderccaif/ï nanbsp;naoimh-erlamh uasal. Ocus assedh asbert Blathmac : ‘ Asnbsp;truaigh na trom-ghaire mora so. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ As fir ón, ’ ol na cleirigh.

Is annsin dorala don peist beith i ndeiredh na nimirgedh acc imirt a fcrcce forra. Gabhais eccla 7 uathbas mor na cleirigh.

* The reading of the MS. is uncertain; perhaps read ; chongnam (J). bruth\ cf. § 60.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;37

7 disedh doronsat, a ccluicc 7 a cceolana do bhuaiw, 7 tnairgnech mór da minnaibh 7 da mbachlaibh, 7 doghairsiot an tir led,nbsp;feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh; 7 ba loinmtte an peist sin, 7 banbsp;hadhnair leisna cleircibh ettualang na criche.

(51) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus isedh asbert Blathmac : ‘ Dénam trosccadh uilenbsp;re Dia, ’ ar se, ‘ ar co ffoillsiged/i duinn cia dfa fFuil a ndan arnbsp;ffmtacht 7 ar ft'oiridhin. ’ Ba hamlatdh sin doronsat, eter fhirnbsp;7 mnaoi .i. trosccadh i ndoigh a fFnrtachta leisna cleircibh. Ocusnbsp;do ghabhsat na clexigh ag binn-gabhail a psalm, 7 ag edarguidhenbsp;losa ima aisnéis doibh cia da ttmciadh a hiurtacht 7 a ffoiridhin.nbsp;Ocus ruccsat as co ndamp;ch.aid da ttrian na hoidhce tharsa; 7 donbsp;batar na sluaigh co himsniomac/i ar eccla in lai le huathbas nanbsp;piasta, oir as zmhlaidh ^ do ticcedli an phéist sin asin loch lanbsp;breic-néll na | f. 94'' | maidne; 7 do ghabhadh ’ga ndiothlait-rmcch.adh go ttèïgedh a buidhe taran ngréin, 7 Aotéïgedh isinnbsp;loch cetoa doridhisi isin trian deidhenöc/z don lo.

(52) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Doronsat na cleirigh a niörmeirghe, 7 do codlatar nanbsp;clamp;xigh a haithle a niarmeirghe. Ocus tainic Victor aingel conbsp;Blathmac ina (no trena codladh, 7 asedh lt;asgt;bert : Paxnbsp;uobis .i. sidh Dé amaille fribh; 7 do tadhbas do Blathmac in tdrc-aingel nasal, 7 do fhiarfaig^ sccela de. Isedh asbert fris : ‘ Innbsp;ffiiil a ndan diiinn fuxtacht na foirithin d’faghbail co brath} ’

‘ Ata, ’ ol in tainge/, ‘ .i. éirgidh go mac ochta Ailbhe; 7 as dó do dheonaigh Dia bhar ffurtacht 7 bhar ffoiridhin. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Gait ina

bfuil an mac diongmhala Dé sin ? ’ ol Blathmac. ‘ Acc bruach Locha Léin, ’ ol in taingeal. ‘ Cidh as coimet don cn'ch, ’ olnbsp;Blathmac, ‘ co toire in teccnaidhe ? ’ ‘ Nin^a, ’ ol in taingel. ‘ Can-fad sa siansan ina cluais; eontuilfe ina suan ré téora la 7 teoranbsp;noidhce. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Ni hedh amain, ’ ol Blathmac, ‘ acht co toire tar

sruth Sionna anall nama. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Biaidh, ’ ol an tainge/, ‘ amhail as

dech lat. ’ Ocus fogm an tainge/ ama// asbert o tus co deixedh\ co ros tafainn roimhe in mbroicsigh gndn loch, gur chan claiscetalnbsp;ainglecdha, go ro la an phéist ina suan. Ocus ro ela an tainge/nbsp;uaithe asa haithle.

(53) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus muscclais Blathmac asa haithle, 7 do tixigh an la.nbsp;Ocus otconncatar each an la com lan-soillsi, teccait an tuath gama

' The words ; oir as amlaidh, are written twice, arc an alternative reading interlined.

38 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;•nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

cleircibh ar coimhtheichei/ la huamaw na piasta. Ocus ticc Blath-mac go forbhaililt;/A re ccach; 7 fiarfaigit scela dhe; 7 mmsedh doibh o Xus go Aeiredh, 7 atbert na briatlt;hgt;ra sa anw :

Do tadbas damh aingeZ losa Osna dronga;

Aingil in righ as daingen an ^

Gniomh saor sochla.

Victor aingeal, hé domfdnaicc Co tlacht nemhdha,

Hésin do dhéoin Dé gan óiomdha Diocras deamhna.

Albert frimsa aingeZ fosa Dail CO ndeimhne,

Dol lt;damhgt; go mac sochla saidbre Ochta Ailbhe.

‘ Eirghidh co Mac Creiche craibhdee^, ’

01 in taingeZ,

‘ Le gloine a run, ase bhar ndun,

Is bhar ndaingen. ’

Do gheall go ccoiscciedh an piasta,

Gidh dail dodhaing,

Co tiosadh Mac Creiche caraiw Tar an Sionainn.

Tainicc d’ar ffurtacht, 6 losa,

Ar gach nard-chas,

Victor aingel, lt;damhgt; gan dioblas É do tadbas.

Do.

(54) Asa haithle sin atbert Blathmac fri each : ‘ Eirghidh, a mhuinttr ionmhuiw go Mac Creiche, oir as dó do dheonaighnbsp;Dia bhar hiurta£ht 7 bhar flbiridhin, 7 ni duinne. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Cion?iMr

rachmait ne annsin ? ’ for na maithe. ‘ Eirghedh bar nuaisle

* Read : aingel in righ as daingenam.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

7 hhar nard-mhaithe ann, ’ hh.ar Blathmac; ‘ 7 eirgidh fa dhaoir-chios fhoghnamha dó féin 7 da mhanchaibh tarn éis, ar hh.ar saoradh on péist, 7 tahhraidh cain dó gacha tres hliadhna, feraibh,nbsp;macaibh, mnaibh. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ In ttiucfai si lin« ? ’ ol na flaithe. ‘ Rachat

amh, ’ ar Blathmac.

XV. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(55) Ocus asa haithle sin do gahadh a neich ana osccardhanbsp;dóibh, 7 do gliluaisettor da chéd décc lion a ccuidecton; 7 Blathmac cona tri caectaibh do shruithibh 7 do shenoiribh, maraonnbsp;ris. Ocus do faccbatar Maoldala 7 Mac Mhlen 7 na naoimhnbsp;ar cena ac coimhét an tire. Ocus ’arsin do ghluaisetör an dirimnbsp;degh-sluagh co trie tinweasnach do tharröcfeain a ttire gan milledhnbsp;neithe hudh mo; 7 rangator tar sruth Sionwa anonn, 7 hi ccrichnbsp;Ciarraighe Luachra, 7 assin [f. 95’'| go bruach Locha Léin.nbsp;Ocus toirlinge^?/; Blathmac asa carpat acc faiccsiw Meic Creiche,nbsp;7 toirlingit each uile ar chena, 7 imtighit an magh ara ngluinibhnbsp;i ndocuw an cleirigh; 7 ferais Mac Creiche failte re Blathmac,nbsp;7 fóchtais Mac Creiche scéla dhe; 7 inwisidh dó gurah dianbsp;laxxaidh siomh taime fein, 7 na maithe si?i, dia aaoradh on eiccendailnbsp;i rrabatar, 7 dia ffurtacht.

(56) Ocus ba hamklaidh baoi siumh an tan sin ’ar ccur na criche uile fa dhaoir-chios dur-fhognamha ^ dó féin 7 da mhan-caibh CO brath; 7 adubratar each uile amail adubafrt Blathmac.nbsp;Ocus as amhlaiVf/j bai Mac Creiche; ni bai ina iYiaxxadh acht Main-chin nama, 7 an Finwfaidech. Ocus do ghabhsat ag caoines iomacc-allmha, 7 acc gtaWadh maoine 7 mór mhaithesa dó ara ffurtac/it.nbsp;‘ Cidh as ratha damhsa risan ngtaWadh sin ? ’ ar Mac Creiche.nbsp;‘ An tuath forsan ecclais, 7 an ecclas foran tuaith, ’ ar Blathmac,nbsp;‘ 7 each uile ’gut bith-réir; 7 do chain do chomhallat/A duit gachanbsp;tres hliadhna, 7 da screpall béo bith-beo for gach teallac/i, 7 ciosnbsp;do cluicc gacha hliadhna. '

XVI. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(57) Ocus tiomairccit an tir iarsin ina ttimcell, 7 ceileabh-rais Mac Creiche don tir; 7 beirid bennacAtain uatha, 7 iacchaidhnbsp;bennachtaiw aca; 7 gluaisit a ffrithing na conairt cedna tara nais,nbsp;go riachtatar bruach na Sionwa sriobh-aille, 7 tangatar tar sruthnbsp;anall. Ocus ó tangatar, muscclais an pheist, 7 léiccis fon tir i

' The prefix diir has been erased.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

asa haithle. Ocus teichit an tir iiile reimpe co riachtatar co coraidh Cille Subhulaigh, 7 tiagart uile tar in ccoraidh anonw. Ocusnbsp;rainicc Mac Creiche chuca isin tres lo; 7 ase uair 7 aimser sin, 7nbsp;an peist ina ndeiredh aga nathcuma, 7 gaire troma truag-neimh-eleacha agna sluaghaibh reimpe, 7 in -aair ha troma na trom-ghairthe, atchiad an tsochraitte sloigh da monnamp;aigedh .i. Macnbsp;Creiche craibhdec/i, 7 sléc/ïiuit uile dó, feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh;nbsp;7 imtiaghait an magh ara ngluinibh i ndocum Mhec Creiche,nbsp;7 tiomnaid iad féin dó, i ndaoir-ci'os foghnamha, 7 da mhancaibhnbsp;thöra éis.

(58) Ocus ni cian do hatar ann go fFacater aeghairedha na neide 7 na ninwile chuca, 7 in peist ina ndiaidh, 7 teichit eachnbsp;uile ar ciilaibh an c\èrigh\ 7 ticc an peist isiw ccoraidh co ffeirccnbsp;móir 7 CO luinne; 7 do theilcced/i caora teinedh tara craos ciocrach,nbsp;cowfadhach, gur gabh omhan mor an c\crech, 7 bai Mainchin inanbsp;dhiaigh, 7 in Finwfaidhech aicce. Ocus adubnirt an cleirec^ :nbsp;‘ Atroich mo chlocc damh, a Mhanchin, ’ ar Mac Creiche; 7nbsp;cuirit na sluaigh cechtardha a ngniisi fri lar, 7 atbert Mac Creichenbsp;na briathra sa :

Do neimli ar ccul go ccuire Crist, A fuil fat run gurah é nos ic;

Do neimh ar ciil co ccuire Dia,

Nar lei'cce form do neimh ni as sia.

A bhroicseach borb, na druid anios. Anal mo chluicc im cend do crais;

A bhroicsech balbh, gidh garbh an dail, Meisi dod choscc, a hucht Criost caidh.

Moirsheiser archaingel Asin catlt;hgt;raigh cairnnbsp;Do dheoin Dé an duilemhaiwnbsp;Dod dhiochur dim.

Cetrar saor suisccélaid Turnfaid sin do thréoir,

Matha is MaiVc ’na mbuidhin tréin, Lucas ocus Loin.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

Aitcim si na naowiAa Aitci/w na hogha,

Aitcim lt;sigt; na huile Gjirlt;bgt;at cuire cródha.

Aitchim si dom ihnrtacht NaoiwA in bhetha buaiw,nbsp;Combet sin lem guidhenbsp;Uile thes is tuaidh.

Aitchim si dom fwrtacht Crist, cathbarr caich,

Ri an richid, Ri nimhe, Rin??-bhile os raith.

Dia mor diochra diolgadhach Mac Muire, na ceil,nbsp;larraiwt, ailim, athchuinghiffznbsp;Co ccoisgi do nimh.

(59) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Asa haithle siw aithiarrais Mac Creiche in clocc, 7 tuccnbsp;Mainchin dó é, 7 benais an clocc co lonn, gur bedhg an pheist,nbsp;7 gur tirigh for a cosaibh damp;iridh, gur bo mo na dois-bhile baiVr-leabMr buadha, no cloictheach ar cnoc hi; gur bo hurgrain mor anbsp;hiomat griobh 7 ingen eiste, 7 gabhais omhan mor an cléirec/t accnbsp;faiccsin na péiste. Et orauit secundo ad Deum, eleuatis ^ manibusnbsp;et flexis genibus, dicens : ‘ Deus pius. Pater omnipotens, authornbsp;misericors, Deus uerus, unus, solus et trinus, miserere m.ei,nbsp;Domine, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam, quia Tu esnbsp;Pater meus potentisimus, et Deus meus pius, Tu ^ es uictoria meanbsp;magna. Tibi comendo me totum, et libera mé, Dominé, ab istanbsp;uerme mortifera et a uénéno brócside quia Te adoralt;bogt;. Tenbsp;laudabo,ad Te uadam et in Te requiescam., qui uiuis et regnasnbsp;in scecula sceculorum. Amen. ’

(60) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus alt;sagt; haithle na hedarguidhe siw don clcuechnbsp;is amhlaidh do bi an pheist ina sesamh an fedh do bai Mac Creichenbsp;ag denamh na horaitte. Ocus ïéiccidh isin ccoraidh i asa haithlenbsp;go fFeircc aduathmair urgranwa ioggnathat]§'/(, gur bo comhmornbsp;do thdlccedh a caora toinedh tara craos ciocrach conididach, 7 tör

MS. cleuatus. MS. thu.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

toWaibh a s/'ona; 7 do thoccaibh a bruth piastü:i(//ïe fuirre, gur bho fordhercc a driuch, go mbaoi fordhrucht fola fordeircce for gachnbsp;naen ruainwe ina CMrp ota a ho gó a herball. Uch tra, as raairccnbsp;do Mhac Creiche do bai aramp; cionw isin choraidh, muna beith innbsp;fir Dia iorovdha trena chumerA^aibh da coscc. Ocus ’arsin edar-ghuidhis Mac Creiche an Tigerna go tintiesnach ima thes«rccai«nbsp;ar neimh an ainmidhe urbhadhaigh, 7 2isedh asbert : ‘ A chinwnbsp;mo chomairle, a Choimdhe cumhac/iteigh, a triath, a tigerna,nbsp;a oide, a anwcara, a mheic na mór-óighe, diongaibh diomh annbsp;onchoin si, amhail as dech liom, a Ri 7 a Ruiri, co nach cuiri sinbsp;im cend. ’

(61) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Asa haithle sin tuairgis Mac Creiche in clocc fecht fonbsp;tri, 7 an peist ag siub«/ ’na coraidh go céim dhioghain/?, 7 a craosnbsp;ar comhlosccadh, |f. 96^'! 7 an treas (echt do sceinw caornbsp;theinedh asin cclocc hi ccraos na péisti, 7 lasaidh a craos forannbsp;bpéist. Ó do mothaigh ^ in pheist a compwr ar comhlas«lt;//j,nbsp;do ionwtó isiw ccoraidh go sgredghail 7 go sgréchöc/ adhuathmair,nbsp;7 do eirghettar na sluaigh cechtardha, 7 do toccbatar gdire comh-mora coitcionwa cathaiseacha coOT/miaidhme. Ocus do len Macnbsp;Creiche in phest, 7 a trosdan cam cos-caol ina laimh, 7 gabhaisnbsp;for tiomaiw na piasta dia trostin, 7 ticc Mac Creiche a ndiaidh nanbsp;piasta, 7 Maoldala, 7 Mac Aiblen, 7 Blathmac, 7 naoimh an tirenbsp;archena i ndiaidh Mheic Creiche; 7 an tir uile «rcena, feraibh,nbsp;macaib, mnaibh, i ndiaidh na cclerech; 7 il-ghrctha 7 iol-g«frenbsp;mora agna sluaghaibh i ndiaidh na péiste. Ocus do ghabhatarnbsp;rompa fon lonnus sin, go riachtatar an loch; 7 rucc léim isiw loch,nbsp;7 doohuaid fho domhain an locha. Do thoccbater na sluaighnbsp;7 na cleiricch comhghaire mora ag altach«lt;^ bith-buidhechaisnbsp;do Dhia, mör do coisccedh diobh an pheist.

(62) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus ni cian do battar anw, co facatar in loch ag maidwznbsp;ina bhuinweadhaibh borb-ruadha tar bordaibh in locha; 7 asanbsp;haithle siw eirghis an pheist ar Idr in locha ara cosaibh a ccert-airde fó« chéd-ionMM5. Asa haithle si« toccbaitt na sluaigh gairenbsp;mora ag aithceodh 7 ag imdherccarfA an cleirigh; 7 gabhais adh-naire mor Mac Creiche imon péist d’aitheirge, 7 bedhgais a croidhenbsp;ina cliabh, 7 fechais aran firmamint, 7 edarghuidhis ina inntinwnbsp;losa, 7 fechais ina thimcell fecht naill, 7 ni fhuafr ni da ttuaircc-

* Mothaigh written above the line in MS.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

iedh no da tteWgiedh an phéist acht enni; ni bai nech ina coinh-foccM^ in tan sin acht Mainchin amhain. Ocus scöiVtis Mainchin for Mhac Creiche, o’tconnairc na sluaigh CQchXardha ’ar tteichelt;/.nbsp;Is annsin tucc Mac Creiche a lamh for cen^i-cumhdach a choroinenbsp;.i. cumdflc/i éÓLüigh lachtna bai occa amhail barrain, 7 twc urchornbsp;ar nmmus na piasta gwr gabh cumhdach coroine in chriostaidhenbsp;ar coimhlethadh, 7 an barrain ag bioth-tromuglt;2lt;fA foran bpeist,nbsp;CO ro taidbredh doibh uile hé ina cochall iarainw aithleghtha agnbsp;coinahlethadh iman bpéist, go ft'acatar each a ccoitcinne an pheistnbsp;ag cromadh ina cam-lubaibh fon mberrain, co rucc leis co fudhomh-ain an locha, gan aitheirge go bruinwe bratha 7 betharf.

(63) Ocus tócebhait na ^Xuaigh ctchtardha iol-ghatVthe móra ag taböfrt tesmolta for Mhac Creiche, feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh;nbsp;7 leiccit na clerigh a ngluiwe fri Idr, 7 doronsat a ccodach 7 a naen-taidh re Mac Creiche, 7 tuccatar iad féin i ndaoir-chios foghnamhanbsp;dó féin, 7 da mhanchoibh. Ocus asa haithle sin doni Macnbsp;Creiche altachlt;n/ buidhe do Dhi'a imna miorbuilibh mora si«nbsp;¦i. an broicsech do hadudh, 7 atbert :

Atlochar sa dojn Ri rxianaidh,

A flaith neimh-ialt;igt;th nellaigh,

Mar do lais — loisgeadh ^ go mbuadaibh —

An bhroicseach fa mhelaibh.

Atlochar sa don flaith cedna,

Oir as raith a riina ^;

Co Itoire in loch a lera,

Ni léiccfe i for ccüla.

A sliabh dercc-oir uas alia,

A shenmoir glan gan guai

Atlochar doK Ri adrala Nacam frith rem tubha.

XVII. (64) |f. 96''! Asa haithle sin tangatar an ti'r uile ar druim uas ur an locha don dara leth, 7 na clérigh don leithnbsp;araill. Ocus benwachais Mac Creiche iarsin an tir, feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh, 7 tiowiafrccther a crudh 7 a cana as gach aird da

' The leading here is uncertain, - This word is blotted and uncertain. ’ This distich is defective; perhaps read: uas glan-alla, A senmoir gan gubha (J).

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

ion«saigilt;/A; 7 an fer diolmhain ag na biodh acht a arm, do htiredh dosomh a bhreth féin de; 7 teccar ^ each 7 erredh a ccind chom-öiVle .i. a ttmth 7 a ttigema chuicce, maille le each. ‘ Faccaibhnbsp;fagbala forsan dr, ’ ar Blathmac, 7 ar na maithe. ‘ Cidh domnbsp;fia sa asa los ? ’ ar Mac Creiche. ‘ Do chain do comhzWnadhnbsp;frit mhancaibh 7 fnot féin, 7 tiomthaemung tigerna, eter eachnbsp;7 trredh, feibh atchi anois, ’ ol na maithe. ‘ Facebhaim si buaidhnbsp;taoisigh forsan tir, ’ ol Mac Creiche, ' 7 alladh riogh 7 buaidhnbsp;rioghna 7 recAfaire, 7 buaidh ccleirigh. ’

(65) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Yaccaibh tmWedh, ’ ol na maithe. ‘ Cidh doghebh sa

ar a shon sin ? ’ ol Mac Creiche. ‘ Doghebafr ceid-ghein gacha heallafg/i. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Facebhaim ioth 7 bliocht in hhar ttir, 7 mes for

bhar ccoilltibh, 7 toradh in bhar ttzlmain. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Faccaibh tmWedh, ’

ol na maithe. ‘ Cidh bhias damhsa ar a son si« ? ’ ar Mac Creiche. ‘ Biaidh, ’ ol na maithe, ‘ cios do cluic gacha hliadhm.. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Facc-

baim si buaidh ngaiscctV//! for bhör laochatM, 7 iomaroraidh gacha tire accaibh. Facebhaim gach teidhm trom-ghala/r thioefwinbsp;in bhar ttir, di'neach mo cluicc 7 urnai^^te mo mhaor da di'ochurnbsp;eiste; 7 an triath no an tanaiste bhes an«, a mheth no a ecc, munanbsp;eirghitt riasan cclocc sa, 7 a meth no a ecc gibe nech don tir chuirfesnbsp;tar a glun suas le gó no le héitheach é go brath.

(66) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus facebhaim daoibh ’na ingaidh sin gan beith ninbsp;bi« uaite ina an lion tangabhöfr im dhochom sa madh dia ccomh-aillti na cana so. ’ Ocus atbert:

Tri cét fo tri thangabhafr,

D’feraibh arwi-ghlana uaille;

Cén comhailltl mo chana,

Ni bheithi ni blnis uaite.

‘ Facebaim ni ele daoibh, an tesXlach forsa mbia mo screaptt//, ga?i teidhm trom-ghalm'r do thecht chuca go brath, 7 gan marbnbsp;anabaidh do breith asan tegh i mbia mo sgreapall. Facebaimnbsp;daoibh an \iair nach comhaillffi/ie mo chana, 7 nach riarfiY/tenbsp;mo mionwa, na huile tedhmanna 7 galra agh dail foraibh dogres,nbsp;7 demhan misccnecA mioriinach ettraibh do gnath, go madhnbsp;icaWtach fionghalae^ each uaibh ’ma cele; 7 gach uair atchifidhe

* Here and elsewhere teccar etc. are equivalent to tuccar etc.; cf. Z. C. P. xii, 436.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;“ The scribe at first wrote riogna.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;45

mo clocc sa, gomadh oil, 7 gomadh athais da bhur ffine a fhaicsin gan a chain do chomall fris. Faccbaim ni ele fos, tri faoidhenbsp;mo cluicc romhaibh a ccath, 7 bidh maidw romhaibh ar gachnbsp;leth, da ccomhaillti mo chana. ’

XVIII. (67) Do mholatar each a ccoitcinwe gur maith gach ni da ndubafrt an ttccnaidhe. Ocus athert Blathmac gur mornbsp;na miorbuile 7 na ferta doronadh anwsin. ‘ As fir éiccin, ’ olnbsp;Mac Creiche, ‘ nair bidh Druim na fFcrta ainm an droma sanbsp;oniu go brath, 7 bidh é Loch mBroicsidhe in loch sa thios gonbsp;brath. ’ Ocus doronsat na cleirigh a ccodach 7 a naontaidhnbsp;re ’roile; 7 doroine Mac Creiche ulaidh 7 adradh, 7 tuccadh anbsp;chana 7 a chumhala go | f. 97 gt;' [ Mac Creiche; 7 do gabh accnbsp;ceilebrad/r don tir, 7 acc techt tar a chanaibh; 7 isedh asbert :nbsp;‘ Maith an turus tangamör dow tir si da cahair\ 7 bidh maithnbsp;doibhsiumh é, dia ccoimhlit mo chana sa rim fein, 7 rém comh-«rbaibh tar éis a chele go brath, 7 bidh ole muna coimhlit. ’

(68) Ocus atbert an laoidh ann ;

Maith an turwi tangamar Do dhéoin coimsigh caimh.

Do chobafr shluaigh Fhermhacach As gach tir do thir.

Broicseach aga sluccadA san Uille na gach ole,

Uil-peist uathmar anaithnidh Nir Utadh a coscc.

Maoldala is Mac Aiblen Is Blatmac as edidh corp,

Ocus nioimh in tire lt;sogt;

Nir fhetsat dibhsi ^ a coscc.

Do raidhset na naoimh

A naithesc go grod :

‘ Facchaidh uile an tir;

Ni thicc dhinn a coscc. ’

‘ Omit (metri gratia) J.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

¥\ariaighit flaithe Fermacach Do Bhlathmac blaith-ban :

‘ Re iurtacht in mbia ar siiil No an ffuil duin a ndan ? ’

‘ Eirgidh co mac ochta Ailbhe, ’

Ar Blathmac co mbrigh,

‘ As esin gan breicc Diongbhni an plaigh dibh.

As dó do Atonaigh Dia Do ched choimsigh caimh,

Gach teidhm is gach tres Do chor as bhar ttir. ’

Tiacchait flaithe Fermacach Dom mxxaidh hudhAhtamp;,

Da Wuriacht da ffoiridin;

Tunis dob é ar les.

Funratm- me ar clar-mhaghaibh Ar brii Locha Léin;

Damhsa, mar htidh lan-mhanaigh,

Do shlecAfeat go léir.

Adubhratar uile An sluagh féta Ann :

‘ Do breth dheit, a naoiwA-cleirt^/i,

Tar is cabair sinn. ’

Do ghellsat damh uile,

Feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh,

Sgreapall gacka duine,

Is beith uile fam’ cain.

Teccar ^ damh Dia a rathachiw,

Orra as fir an fath,

Imon mbreith neoch ® do fhaccbus lt;sgt;a Do comhaW go brath.

¦' This line is defective; read pet haps ; frim uile. Omit (metri gratia) J.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

Ticcim si leo anall Tar Sionainw na sreabh,

Teccait — óir as fir —

’Sa tir leth ar leth.

Teccait uile an ti'r CugainK mar ndail,

Ocus sleclt;hgt;tait Azmh,

Feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh.

Ticc an peist ’na ndiaid ’Sa choraidh gan cosg,

Ticcit ar mo chul,

Is geibhim mo clocc.

Aitcim losa oil Go ro coiscc an peist,

Ticc caor asi« clocc Go ndeachöid ’na craos.

Lasaidh a bru bade,

Ar ba glan in riin,

Gan bréicc, is na ceil,

Téid a neimh ar cül.

Tionntaidh tar a hais Gusan loch hudhdeinnbsp;Mar rainic a bruach,

Beiridh ’na lar leim.

Téid faw loch hudhdéin,

Tic cathiV ’na sproc,

Donit an sluagh uile Akuccadh buidhe ^ a colt;igt;scc.

Ticc ’sa loch aris ’Na sesamh, fa grain,

Eighit uile an sluagh;

Uch, fa truagh an ghdir.

Omit (metri gratia) (J).

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

An fad do bi an peist ’Na sesamh mar sin ^,

Fa furtacht domria Aitchim Dia do nimh.

Ticcim ^ urcor dhi,

Oir fa luinne lem,

Do chunahdflcA mo choróine ^

Cuiridh é fa a cend.

Gabhais fos ’ga hiombathadh Mo bharrain — réim raith —

Ba reil do chach uile ’Na choire mhor maith.

Dingis ina cam-lubaibh Isiw loch CO léir,

Gan eirghe fa each Go tti brdth don peist.

Slechtait damh na sluaigh,

Feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh;

Teccait ^ damh co léir Mo breath féin do chain.

Teccar ^ damh annsin On tsluag feta fhinnnbsp;Cain gacha treas hliadhnanbsp;Ar riaradh mo mhinn.

A each is a erxedh Ro dam fia sa on flaith;

Rot fia sa ón anos Asa los gach maith.

Mo screapa// bee bith-beo Damh do dhéonaigh Dia,nbsp;Ni berar marbh anahaidhnbsp;Asin tigh i mbia.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;51

Ger bó hédach lachtna Mo bharrain — réim raith —

Ata ’mu« peist gan bron ’Na choire mór maith.

Gach aon don tir toccbw^

Mo clocc CO reim raith Osa gltln le gónbsp;Faccbhaim si dó meth.

Mo secht fichit hliadhan Co feil cainwel raith,

Atlochar do Dhfa Gach ar fiad sa maith

Maith.

(72) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cowidh betha Mete Creiche cowuiccesin, 'arna scriob-adh lasan mbrathötV vdbocht Michel o Clérigh i cconuent bratharnbsp;Duin na nGall, ii Maij 1635, asan ccoip ^ do senobh an hrdthairnbsp;cédna i cconueint Inwsi i tTuadh-Mumöm a mi Iult;igt;n nanbsp;bliadna sa 1634, asan leabwr do sccriobh Maoilechlainw o Call-an«din hi cCill Maoilodhrain do chomarba Mhetc Creiche, annbsp;tan rob aois do Chriost 1528.

lt;SCÉL ELE AR MAC CREICHE ANNSOgt;

(73) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ro bai araile fer i ttreabhlaid móir go hainmesardhanbsp;on mbolgaigh, Tómas ó Godain a ainm, 7 ro htnadh a urlabhranbsp;7 a aithne de, 7 ni raibhe acht beccan dia anmain anw; 7 marnbsp;dorinnedh dmeach dó le maic-cleirecA Mhetc Creiche; 7 ’arnanbsp;tabafrt don maic-cleirecA cetna lena hól don easlan asan ccloccnbsp;siw Mhctc Creiche, tainicc a urlabhra 7 a aithne do fócetóir;nbsp;7 ro maoidhedh le each na miorbhuile siw. Conidh. iarsin dorinttenbsp;Tomas o Godain .i. fer na holccaighe in laid:

Mor na ferta sa dar lem Doroine in terlamh oxam,

Mac Creiche darab buan bloidh Tucc mé o bhas go bethafd.

' This line is corrupt. ® After ccóip, the words : do ccóip, are added in the MS., but marked for deletion.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Creidim do« mionn sa rem tdoibh Tainicc a hncht an fhior-naoim/i;

Nf thicc cxedh daoine asteach Ina mbértha/quot; a dhineach.

Tucc ds.mhs.2i comaiVce raith Mac Creiche na mionn mór-maith;nbsp;Dlighim iognamh dó seach eachnbsp;Ó nar dermait a ócclach.

A cluicc ’sa bachia cama Arar hamp;ccxadh óir lecca,

Cóir do chdeh uile, fir dsmh,

A miorbuile do mhaoidhemh.

A chdin ar fheraibh Muman ’S ar Chonnactaibh do hnxiadh,nbsp;Termonn do chléirchibh a ceallnbsp;Dlegar o fheraibh Erenn.

A miorbhuile gus aniugh Do hudh decafr a nafnomh,

Ata riamh le next gan clodh Ag dtnamh na bfert ffir-mór.

In laidh si le creidemh cóir Gibe gebw ’na onóir,

Doghebha itche gan logh 'Qéxaidh leis gach buaidh Idn-mor.

Mor.

Asan leabwr cedns do sccriohadh.

TRANSLATION

I. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(i) Incipiunt pauca de mirahilihus Mheic Creche; to wit,nbsp;Mac Creiche, son of Pesslan, son of Erce; of Corcumruad Ninoisnbsp;was his race. Nine score years was the length of his age fromnbsp;the day of his birth to the day of his death. This was the beginningnbsp;of his grace, that he went into the hermitage which is betweennbsp;Formael (a place name), and the Eidnech (a river). Cluain hinbsp;was the name of the place in which he was pursuing his devotions.

(2) This was the size of the structure, viz. four stones; to wit, a stone at the back, a stone at either side, and a stone in frontnbsp;There Mac Creiche began to keep Lent, for the fear and dreadnbsp;of hell. And he took no food with him into the hermitage, exceptnbsp;one single loaf and four sprigs of cress; and of them he ate nothingnbsp;except on Sunday only. And when Lent was over, he took nonbsp;food on Easter Sunday, except bread and thin drink. Therenbsp;his relatives found him afterwards in the hermitage; and henbsp;was taken home, and ward was kept on him for some timenbsp;afterwards.

II. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(3) Another time he went into the same hermitage, andnbsp;remained there for another space of forty nights without anynbsp;food or drink beyond this, that a doe used to come to him and ofnbsp;her own accord drop her milk into a stone bowl or hollow whichnbsp;was at the door-post of the hermitage in which he was; as isnbsp;shown by the following verse from the poem on Mac Creiche :

The doe would come To the stone chamber;

She would drop into the bowl Her milk for Mac Creiche.

A bowl of stone he had In the hermitage assuredly;

In it for the modest cheerful clerk The doe would drop her milk.

54 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

And after this the doe would proceed to the woods, and would come again.

III. (4) One day, as the clerk was reciting his psalms in the hermitage, he saw a youth looking at the holy man. He started,nbsp;but did not speak. The clerk asked who he was. ‘ My namenbsp;is Becedan, ’ said he. ‘ I am looking at my land; and I bindnbsp;my covenant on thee. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Do not cleave to me however, ’ said

the clerk, ‘ but take my blessing, and do not make me known to any one else. ’ And he recited gospels and prayers.

(5) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The young man turned away, and as he was there, henbsp;saw a robber-band coming towards him, seven and twenty innbsp;number. And he asked them whence they came. ‘ We arenbsp;come, ’ lt;said they,gt; ‘from Glenn Geimin, and we are callednbsp;the Glasanaig. ’ The youth named Becedén fell into their hands,nbsp;and they were hacking and hewing him for a long time. Andnbsp;after that they had all hacked at him, they fancied that they hadnbsp;cut off his head. But God and the prayer of the holy clerk deliverednbsp;him; and it was (really) a wisp of sedge instead of the head of thenbsp;youth that they held. And he escaped from them safe and sound.

(6) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The robbers asked ; ‘ Who saved thee, O youth ’ ‘A

servant of God saved me, ’ said he, ‘ who put gospels round me a while ago, before I met with you. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Where is that holy

clerk ? ’ said the robbers. ‘ What would ye of him ? ’ said Becedan. ‘ We would submit to him, ’ lt;said they,gt; ‘ and learn the will of God at his hands, henceforth and for ever, becausenbsp;of the wonderful deliverance which he hath wrought on thee. ’

(7) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;They make peace together, to wit, the robbers and Becedan. ‘ Well has it turned out for you, ’ said the youth. ‘ Yenbsp;shall receive the peace of God for ever owing to this affair. ’nbsp;The youth went to the chamber where the chaste angelic clerknbsp;was chanting his psalms. The youth and the robbers salutednbsp;him, and all knelt to him. ‘ Thine own will to thee, O clerk, ’nbsp;said they. ‘ I accept it of you, ’ said Mac Creiche. They allnbsp;lay aside their arms, and offer themselves, body and soul, tonbsp;God and to Mac Creiche. Becedan then offers his land andnbsp;estate to Mac Creiche, that is Cell Meic Creiche of the woods;nbsp;and it is on the estate of this youth was founded the church stillnbsp;called Cell Senbotha.

LIFE OF MAC CKEICHE

IV. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(8) As to the Glasanaig, spades and bill-hooks werenbsp;made for them out of their own arms, and iron girdles were putnbsp;around them, in token of their bondage and devotion; and thenbsp;robbers and Becedan made a great clearing in the midst of thenbsp;woods; and Cell Senbotha is the name of the place till doom.nbsp;And the robbers, that is the Glasanaig, and Beceddn were thenbsp;first monks that were buried under the soil of the church; asnbsp;it is said in the poem on Mac Creiche :

They thought that they had killed The boasting lively man;

His head — fame without suffering —

Was a rushy sod of sedge.

They bend to Mac Creiche The robbers secretly.

On every path without respite From the iron girdles.

V. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(9) Then Mac Creiche and Mainchin went west to Inisnbsp;Locha Ratha Maigi, because Mainchin was his (spiritual) son,nbsp;and it was he who had baptized him, and had taught him, andnbsp;was his confessor. They went then westwards to Ihis Fide;nbsp;and Mac Creiche bade Mainchin to place a fetter on his feet;nbsp;and Mainchin put a fetter on him, as he told him. ‘ Give menbsp;the key now, ’ said Mac Creiche. Mainchin gave him the key;nbsp;and Mac Creiche hurled it into the mouth of the sea, and vowednbsp;that he would never leave the island, till the same key shouldnbsp;come to loose the fetter that was on him.

VI. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(10) Then came Ailbe from Imlech lubair on his waynbsp;to Aran; and he came to Fidinis, where Mac Creiche was. (Andnbsp;this was not his first name, but Mac croide Ailbe, i.e. son of Ailbe’snbsp;heart; and the name Mac Creiche was given him, when he obtained the restitution of the northern prey [crecA] from Aednbsp;son of Eochaid). So then Ailbe begged Mac Creiche to gonbsp;with him to Aran. And Mac Creiche told him how he had anbsp;fetter on him, and whither he had thrown the key.

(ii) They remained that night with Mac Creiche; and God sent them each their portion. The following night Ailbe

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

went to fetch water from a spring in a cliff on the north side of the island. He saw a salmon in the spring, and broughtnbsp;it home with him, and cut it up, and dressed it. And the keynbsp;was found inside the salmon. Mac Creiche knelt to Ailbe fornbsp;working this miracle for him. And Ailbe released Mac Creiche;nbsp;and Mac Creiche went with him to Aran.

VII. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(12) Fidinis was then bestowed on Mainchin by Macnbsp;Creiche, because he was his true foster-son, and he was a sonnbsp;of grace; and he had gone with him to Rome on the occasionnbsp;when they brought the Finnfaidech (i.e. the Melodious, name ofnbsp;a bell) with them from the high altar of Rome. And Main-chin did not wish to remain behind them in the place, providednbsp;it did not vex Mac Creiche.

VIII. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(13) Then the clerks went westward to Cluain Dirair,nbsp;to the town of Baethbronach (i.e. the foolishly sorrowful), whonbsp;was king of Corcumruad at that time, a man who had nevernbsp;smiled or laughed at any time. ‘ Are you content that I shouldnbsp;come with you} ’ said Mainchin. ‘ I am content, ’ said Macnbsp;Creiche. ‘ Would it be unbecoming for us to make a request’nbsp;said Mainchin. ‘What is the request.?’ said Mac Creiche.nbsp;‘ Why this, ’ lt;said he,gt; ‘for a ridge of corn for your provision. ’nbsp;‘ I am willing, ’ said Mac Creiche. Mac Creiche sat downnbsp;on the edge of the lawn; and Mainchin went into Baethbronach’snbsp;fort, to ask him for a ridge of corn as provision for Mac Creichenbsp;and Ailbe on their return from Aran. ‘ Thou shalt have a ridgenbsp;of me, ’ said Baethbronach.

(14) Baethbronach’s reapers were at that time reaping a field of corn in front of the fort. Mainchin begins to reap hisnbsp;ridge, while Mac Creiche sat at the end of the ridge. A greatnbsp;storm of wind and wet came upon them, and all Baethbronach’snbsp;wheat was carried into the sea owing to the force of the tempest.nbsp;All the reapers retired to the fort except the clerks. Mainchinnbsp;continued to reap his ridge, while the clerks sat and watchednbsp;him; and not a spot of their raiment or of their persons was wetted,nbsp;but the fairest and most brilliant sunshine poured down uponnbsp;them; as appears from the following stave from the poem onnbsp;Mac Creiche ;

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;57

There was a shower without shame On Baethbronach’s reapers;

It carried half his corn Into the seal-haunted sea.

There was sun unsullied in contests given,

It is not concealed,

Brilliant and wondrous On the corn of Mac Creiche.

(15) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then Baethbronach offered himself and his childrennbsp;and his fort and his land to Mac Creiche and to Ailbe, and (promised) that none of his children or descendants should be carriednbsp;to any other church (for burial) for ever; as the stave runs :

Baethbronach offered An offering not concealed,

Cluain Dirair, a strong foundation.

To Mac Creiche for ever.

And the church now stands on the site of the fort, and the cemetery is on the spot where the clerks sat, and the ridge is thenbsp;place on which the great cross stands between the church andnbsp;the sea and Ailbe’s Strand.

(16) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then Mac Creiche granted Sliab Gainim, from Foth-ribe Senain on the west to Fertas Muine Muirbigi on the east,nbsp;between the church and the sea, that the sea should never comenbsp;over the land till doom; and that no one who should dwell thereinnbsp;should have fear or dread of the sea for ever. It was from thisnbsp;place that Ailbe went to the Land of Promise, to meet the sevennbsp;of his (monastic) household whom he had sent westwards intonbsp;the ocean. And Mac Creiche and Ailbe were sitting from onenbsp;day to another at Ailbe’s Seat waiting for the wave; and the wavenbsp;never passed the place where they were, nor will it pass it tillnbsp;doom. Then Ailbe left (as a bequest) that the church in thatnbsp;fort should never be overwhelmed by the sea till doom.

(17) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then Ailbe left promises and bequests to the successornbsp;of Mac Creiche : that no successor of Mac Creiche should dienbsp;a violent death, while Ailbe is in heaven. ‘ Alas then, ’ saidnbsp;Mac Creiche to Ailbe, ‘ it is sad that we should part on earth.nbsp;As I spent my youth in thy company, so would I spend my old

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

age. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Thou shalt have a reward for thy company, ’ said Ailbe,

‘ and as we are united on earth, so shall we be united in heaven. Let thy request reach me before we part; what dost thou wish} ’nbsp;‘ I wish, ’ said Mac Creiche, ‘ that as I am old and aged myself,nbsp;long life may be granted to all my successors after me who donbsp;according to my will. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ I will entreat my Lord, ’ said Ailbe,

‘ and if I obtain it, it shall be to thee. ’ Then Ailbe entreated his Lord, and obtained his request. And Ailbe said to Macnbsp;Creiche : ‘ I have obtained the request from my Lord; and thounbsp;shalt have it from me. ’ Then Mac Creiche entreated Ailbenbsp;that he would grant long life to his successors; then Ailbe bequeathed to Mac Creiche’s successors heaven and long life.

(i8) Then Ailbe left as a further bequest that every true prayer which anyone offers in that place on Ailbe’s Strand, provided it be offered at Ailbe’s monument, or at that of Mac Creiche,nbsp;shall be granted him. From thence also will go seven of thenbsp;(monastic) family of Ailbe and Mac Creiche to the Land of Promise. Thence too will Ailbe go with his monks to the Landnbsp;of Promise on the Day of Doom. Great then is the splendournbsp;and the wonder-working power of the seat on that strand. Thennbsp;Ailbe blessed the new cell and temple of that spot; for he wasnbsp;high-bishop of Munster at that time, and Mac Creiche likewise was a bishop.

IX. (19) Then they bade each other fare-well, Ailbe and Mac Creiche; and Ailbe proceeded to Aran on his pilgrimage;nbsp;and Mac Creiche remained, serving his cell, for it was a newnbsp;foundation to him. Then came messengers from the Ciarraigenbsp;to seek Mac Creiche, that he might go with them to ward offnbsp;the plague from them, for his mother was of their race. Andnbsp;the plague was the Crom Chonnaill which was attacking them.nbsp;Mac Creiche set forth out of affection (for them); and all thenbsp;Ciarraige were assembled on Magh Ulad to meet him. Theynbsp;all rose up before him, and gave him a right fair welcome. Macnbsp;Creiche was taken from his chariot, and he recited the gospelsnbsp;with prayer on their behalf, and preached the word of God tonbsp;them; and they all fasted that night, Mac Creiche and the Ciarraige; and the next morning Mass was celebrated for them.

(20) Then came three sons of Cuilcenn, that is three sons of

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

the brother of Mac Creiche’s mother, who lived to the east at Rath Muine. As they were coming from the east the Cromnbsp;Chonnaill overtook them, and the three brothers were slainnbsp;by it. Mac Creiche raised the Finnfaidech aloft on seeing hisnbsp;kinsmen dead. Nor had they long to wait before they saw anbsp;flash of lightning coming from heaven towards them, whichnbsp;fell on the Crom Chonnaill, and reduced it to dust and ashesnbsp;before the eyes of the multitude. At this wondrous work (fert)nbsp;they all bent to Mac Creiche; and from this is named Fert of thenbsp;Children of Cuilcenn and of the Crom Chonnaill on Magh Ulad.

X. (21) Then there came three sons of Crimthann, son of Cobthach, from the south on a plundering expedition to Rinnnbsp;Ruis in Altraige Cind Bera; and carried off a prey of men andnbsp;cattle, including three sons of Mellan son of Maeldoid, son ofnbsp;Scellan of the Altraige Cind Bera. Envoys were sent from thenbsp;Ciarraige after the prey, and they took with them the gospelsnbsp;of Mac Creiche and the Finnfaidech in the hopes of a betternbsp;decision. But no favourable decision was obtained from thenbsp;king on their southward journey. The messengers returnednbsp;north with no good answer. ‘ What profit have you broughtnbsp;with you? ’ said Mac Creiche. ‘ None, ’ lt;said they,gt; ‘ exceptnbsp;our cattle being divided before our very eyes, and our men innbsp;fetters. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Have you brought a definite answer with you ? ’

said Mac Creiche. ‘ We have, ’ said they. ‘ If you wish for the release of the men who were carried south, this is the final answernbsp;we have brought. (You must pay as tribute) a cow for everynbsp;shield-strap (i.e. for every warrior) in Ciarraige, and an ouncenbsp;(of silver) for every woman, and to give a hostage to attend innbsp;perpetuity. ’

(22) Then the Ciarraige went into council, and what they resolved was to send their blessing to their dutiful son, to Macnbsp;Creiche, for he was their dutiful son. And moreover he wasnbsp;travelling there at the time; for when the plundering party camenbsp;he met them in Tir da Magh Nemed. ‘ I will go on your blessing there, ’ said Mac Creiche, ‘ whatever God may will to comenbsp;of it. ’ Mac Creiche went after the prey to Aiced Aiscinn andnbsp;to Lis Airthir; and found all the Eoganacht assembled there,nbsp;including Crimthann, son of Cobthach, and his sons.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

(23) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mac Creiche went in his little car to the middle of thenbsp;assembly, and greeted the young men, and discussed with themnbsp;the cause of his coming. ‘ What is the cause} ’ said they. ‘ Inbsp;am come, ’ lt;said he,gt; ‘ after the capture and the prey; and tonbsp;complain to you of my outrage (lit. reddening) and shame; andnbsp;I am feeble and fey; and it will be better for you to receive mynbsp;blessing, than to keep in your possession the matter which I asknbsp;for. ’ And this was true of him, for nine score years was hisnbsp;age when he went to heaven; and a strip of poor leather used tonbsp;support his lower jaw against the other, when he recited his hours,nbsp;or when he conversed with any one. He had however completednbsp;seven score years, when he came to negotiate with Crimthann,nbsp;son of Cobthach, King of the Eoghanacht of Loch Lein.

(24) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;And Mac Creiche said : ‘ If it were thy pleasure, Crim

thann, it were time that thou shouldst give an answer to us in the matter for which we have come. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Great is my (cause of)

indignation against thee, O clerk, ’ said Crimthann, ‘ for asking of me the vagabonds who were trespassing on my land. ’ ‘Nonbsp;great cause, ’ said the clerk, ‘ because it is for God’s sake thatnbsp;the request is made. ’ Then said Aed Damain : ‘ The youngnbsp;men will think it a great matter to give thee (even) a single mannbsp;of the captives. lt; I will release to thee whichever of themnbsp;thou prefei'rest. gt; ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Who said that ? ’ asked Mac Creiche.

‘ Aed Damain, ’ replied Mainchin. Mac Creiche said : ‘ This is what he shall have of God, viz. that which he adjudged to me,nbsp;a single man. ’ Aed Damain was wroth thereat, and held hisnbsp;peace.

(25) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then said Aed Furarain : ‘ It were not too much tonbsp;(give to) the clerk half the capture, since he asks it in God’s name. ’

‘ W’ho said that.? ’ asked Mac Creiche. ‘ Aed Furarain, ’ said his foster-son. ‘ He shall have then, ’ lt;said Mac Creiche,gt;

‘ from me and from God half the honour and dignity of this land and people, though it cause divisions among them. ’ Nownbsp;Aed Bennain was Crimthann’s favourite of all his sons, and therefore he was uneasy in his mind about him. Aed Bennain stoodnbsp;up and said : ‘ If it be the clerk’s will, O young men, ’ said he,nbsp;‘ give him the whole of your capture. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Who said that ? ’ asked

Mac Creiche. ‘ Aed Bennain, ’ said Mainchin. ‘ That son has been long in coming, ’ said Mac Creiche. ‘ He shall have from

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

me and from God the full honour and dignity of this land and people for himself, and for his son and grandson in perpetuity. ’

(26) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then Crimthann and his sons consulted together, without summoning any of their counsellors. ‘ What shall be done,nbsp;O young men, ’ said Crimthann, ‘ to this reverend senior who hasnbsp;come to you ? And surely there never came, nor ever will come,nbsp;a man of his age to make request of any one. He is worthynbsp;of any man whom he may meet merely on the ground of his age.nbsp;‘ Hold council, ’ said Crimthann, ‘ and summon to you all thenbsp;assembly, ’ said he. The whole assembly was summoned tonbsp;them.

(27) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ If my advice were acted on, ’ said Aed Bennain, ‘ atnbsp;a time when there is neither beginning of sovereignty nor end ofnbsp;pride, ye would not await the curse of yonder reverend senior fornbsp;the sake of the capture ye have made; for he lives, and pays debtsnbsp;(i.e. requites injuries), and bequeaths blessing. And there isnbsp;no sea between us and the place from which this prey was taken;nbsp;and had we known, we would not have approached the place innbsp;which he was, for any place in which he might be was a reverendnbsp;sanctuary; and moreover his fame had come from the land innbsp;which he was, before he came to us. We will however pronounce judgement on ourselves, ’ said Aed Bennain, ‘ and ifnbsp;he be of the household of God, it is a burning shame that wenbsp;have inflicted on the clerk; for we knew that he was there beforenbsp;us in the land which we invaded, and, were it only on the groundnbsp;of humanity, (consider that) there are three kinsmen of his mothernbsp;with you here in captivity, deprived of every earthly good. Andnbsp;take good counsel now, ’ said Aed Bennain.

(28) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ We would do so, ’ said Crimthann, ‘ were it not for

the grief of Aed Damain. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ I am sorry, ’ said Aed Damain.

‘ Grant ye the will of God, and my will, ’ said Mac Creiche, ‘ and it will be well with him again. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ The one heir of thy

promise seems little to him, ’ lt;said Crimthann.gt; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Is it this

which causes the grudge against us in the matter ? ’ said Mac Creiche. ‘ It is, ’ answered Crimthann. ‘ He shall have fullness, ’nbsp;said Mac Creiche; ‘ many a thousand shall serve the one heir,nbsp;and he shall be the envy of all men.’ Then was the whole capturenbsp;delivered to Mac Creiche both men and cattle with full restitution,nbsp;and with his own will to him in perpetuity till doom.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

(29) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then Crimthann and his sons named the price to be

paid to the clerk, i.e. to Mac Creiche, for the outrage done to him, and for his blessing, viz. every thing that he himself shouldnbsp;impose upon them. ‘ I will decree then, ’ said Mac Creiche,nbsp;‘ fifty grey tunics; and fifty fat hogs, and fifty heifers for refection;nbsp;and clothing for the seniors whenever it be sent for by thine heirnbsp;to my heir. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ That shall be to thee, and whatever more beyond

this be asked, thou shalt receive of us, even thy whole will till doom, ’ said Crimthann and his sons. ‘ Thou then with thynbsp;sons, ’ lt;said Mac Creiche,gt; ‘shalt have my three blessings; tonbsp;wit, blessing of sovereignty without denial; blessing of dignity (.?)nbsp;without extinction; blessing of wisdom with honour. Thesenbsp;three blessings shall be thine, on condition of obedience to mynbsp;heir after me. ’

(30) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Aed Bennain, son of Crimthann, surrendered the spoil.nbsp;Maelduin, son of Aed Bennain, surrendered this spoil. For-chellach, son of Aed Foirinn, also surrendered this spoil. Cui-mine, son of Aed Bennain, surrendered this spoil. Congal, sonnbsp;of Maelduin, son of Aed Bennain, also surrendered lt;this spoilgt;.nbsp;Cairbre,son of Cudinisc.sonof Forchellach,son of Aed lt;Foirinngt;,nbsp;surrendered this spoil. Aed, son of Conang, son of Cuimine,nbsp;surrendered this spoil. Aed Allain, son of Cairbre, of the seednbsp;of Aed Foirinn, also surrendered this spoil. Maelanfaid, sonnbsp;of Cuimine, surrendered this spoil. Cufhoingelt, son of Cairbre,nbsp;of the seed of Aed Foirinn, surrendered this spoil. Maelduin,nbsp;son of Aed, son of Conang, also surrendered the like contribution.nbsp;These were twelve chiefs of the Eoganacht of Loch Lein.

XL (31) Then came Mac Creiche from the south, bringing with him the three brothers of his mother, and all the wealthnbsp;which had been carried off to the south. And he worked a wondrous miracle as he came from the south, when his mother’s brethrennbsp;were faint and thirsty after their imprisonment, and great thirstnbsp;seized them as they journeyed westward from Raith Maige.nbsp;Mac Creiche marked the ground, and water came up out of it,nbsp;and they all quenched their thirst thereat. And they made anbsp;stone enclosure round the fount; and the fount still remainsnbsp;on Magh Ulad, and it heals every sickness and every hurt tonbsp;which the water of it is applied.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

(32) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Now the Ciarraige were assembled together on Maghnbsp;Ulad to meet him, and gave him their blessing because of thenbsp;wonder which he had wrought for them, viz. repelling the Cromnbsp;Chonnaill from them as he went south; and (recovering) theirnbsp;spoil, and releasing their prisoners from the captivity in whichnbsp;they were, and restoring them to them in their entirety. Thennbsp;the Ciarraige all gave their blessing to him with one accord,nbsp;for he was a noble pious son to them, and did them muchnbsp;good in every matter for which they entreated him. He onnbsp;his part gave them his blessing, and he gave them a share innbsp;the tribute of his church, viz. a hundredth part from him tonbsp;themselves, as long as they paid it willingly (lit. of themselves).nbsp;He then arose to go to his mother’s kinsmen to be cared fornbsp;by them.

(33) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then the Ciarraige went into council apart from thenbsp;clerk, to consider what they should do to him. This is whatnbsp;the Ciarraige agreed to offer to their kinsman, i.e. to Mac Creiche,nbsp;for he acted the part of a good foster-child to them, and was beloved of them since he had granted the joint tribute of his churchnbsp;and his blessing to his mother’s kin, together with profits to themselves (the Ciarraige). Finally there was granted to Macnbsp;Creiche unanimously three score productive cows every thirdnbsp;year, or, if they preferred, a scruple from every two men of themnbsp;every third year. Mac Creiche bequeathed these legacies to thenbsp;Ciarraige, strength in their men and pre-eminence in battle andnbsp;valour to belong to them, and pre-eminence in riches and in milknbsp;in their land.

XII. (34) Mac Creiche bade them farewell, and left his special lasting blessing with his mother’s household; and thennbsp;set out thence for Imlech lubair to Ailbe, for he was the sonnbsp;of Ailbe’s heart. And he had not long been there when he sawnbsp;(standing) before him messengers from Tuath Mumu (Thomond)nbsp;and Corcumruad, (to ask him) to go to Cam Meic Tail to confernbsp;with them; and also greeting was brought to Ailbe that he mightnbsp;entreat Mac Creiche to go to them. ‘ I am loath to do this, ’nbsp;said Mac Creiche, ‘ but, though loath, I will go. ’ He was feeble,nbsp;and fey, and decrepit at that time, merely from old age. However Mac Creiche and Mainchin set out from Imlech lubair

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

and came to Inis Tóma Finnlocha to Luchtigern, and he remains there from Saturday till Tuesday.

(35) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mac Creiche related to Luchtigern the errand on which

lie had set out; and bade him come on the same business, viz. to ask for a respite; and said that it was no less incumbent onnbsp;Luchtigei'n than on himself, to work for the good of Tuathnbsp;Mumu. ‘ That is true, ’ said Luchtigern, ‘ and I will come withnbsp;thee. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ With what number wilt thou come ’ said Mac Creiche.

‘ There shall not come with me save a single man, ’ lt;replied Luchtigern.gt; ‘Why so?’ said Mac Creiche. ‘Only (this),’nbsp;said Luchtigern, ‘ if thou hadst brought a great company withnbsp;thee, I would take another great company with me; and as thounbsp;hast brought (only) a single man with thee, I will take one othernbsp;man with me. ’ The four of them proceeded till they came tonbsp;Cam Meic Tail, where Tuath Mumu and Corcumruad metnbsp;them; and they all gave their blessing to the clerks for comingnbsp;to entreat for them a respite in the matter of the ‘ boroma ’ fromnbsp;Aed, son of Eochaid, the King of Connaught.

(36) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘Shall we go in front?’ said Luchtigern. ‘Not so,’

said Mac Creiche, ‘ till all the stock be ready to come to us. ’ Then (when this was done) he bade them go northwards withnbsp;all the ‘ boroma ’.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ If ye will believe my words, ’ said Mac

Creiche, ‘ it is difficult for me to proceed, for I am feeble and decrepit, though I may be wiser in proportion. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Thy blessing

will give aid to the young men, ’ said they all. ‘ That is true, ’ said Mac Creiche, ‘ and I will go, whatever God may give me fornbsp;it. Is the little car still here, O Mainchin ? ’ said Mac Creiche.nbsp;‘ It is indeed, ’ said Mainchin. ‘ Let me be carried hence, ’nbsp;said Mac Creiche, ‘ and be placed in my little car. And further,nbsp;let all the stock be brought, ’ said he, ‘ cattle, clothing, andnbsp;men, that it may all be mustered. Well then, O men of Corcumruad, is there in Ireland a single man of eight score yearsnbsp;and seven, on whom such a journey is imposed besides myself? ’

(37) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then was the chariot driven in front of the cattle.nbsp;‘ Arrange then, O men of Corcumroe, ’ lt;said Mac Creiche, gt;nbsp;‘ your kine with their cloths over them, and let them go behindnbsp;me; and carry the gospels round them; and we shall all arrivenbsp;together at the same place without your losing anything, andnbsp;the tribute to be restored to us. ’ The chariot set out in front

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

of the cattle from there to Magh Ai; and not a single cow strayed from the road to one side or the other, but all followed behindnbsp;the chariot, and not a cloth was displaced from the positionnbsp;in which it had been arranged at first. While the clerks werenbsp;saying their hours, the cattle would remain motionless; whennbsp;they (the clerks) moved on, the cattle would move also; where-ever the clerks halted for the night, Mainchin would come withnbsp;Mac Creiche’s Finnfaidech, the bell, on his back, and thenbsp;pastoral staff of Luchtigern in his hand, (and go) round about thenbsp;cattle. The cattle would lie down of their own accord, andnbsp;would graze till the hour of tierce on the morrow, while the clerksnbsp;were celebrating Mass. When Mac Creiche set out on the roadnbsp;in his chariot, all the cattle would get up in their order of marchnbsp;behind the chariot.

(38) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;This was the order they kept till they reached Magh Ai

northwards; and many were the miracles which they wrought till they reached the border of Magh Ai. There they found thenbsp;druids of Aed, son of Eochaid, assembled to test the ignorancenbsp;of the clerks; and the druids caused snow to descend on thenbsp;clerks, so that they could not proceed. ‘ Take that away, ’nbsp;said the clerks. ‘ We will not, ’ said the druids. The clerksnbsp;sained it, and a pleasant sun shone on them. The clerks continued their journey that day till nightfall. Then the druidsnbsp;brought a mist over the land from one hour to the same hournbsp;on the next day, so that none of them could proceed in it. Thenbsp;clerks took the mist away again. Then said the clerks to thenbsp;druids : ‘ Why did ye not take away yon snow and the mist,nbsp;even as ye brought them ? ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ We will not remove them, ’

said they. ‘ 111 fare for you your druidism henceforth till doom, ’ said Mac Creiche.

(39) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then they left the spoil on Magh Ai, and went themselves to address the king. They were not admitted into thenbsp;fort, and they received no good answer from within. Thenbsp;clerks returned to their company, and slept that night on thenbsp;plain without drink or food. A great thirst seized Mac Creiche.nbsp;‘ If it be God’s good pleasure, ’ said he, ‘ though abundant benbsp;the king’s drink, may his thirst not be less than mine beforenbsp;the day shall come. ’ They were drinking and making merrynbsp;in the king’s house till bed-time; and then they went to their

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

beds. The king waked from his sleep, and great thirst and drouth seized him; nor could there be found in Raith Cruachannbsp;enough to stanch his thirst. Thereupon day broke. Thenbsp;king’s horses were brought, and he went to submit to the clerks.nbsp;He blessed them. ‘ Blessed art thou, ’ said Mac Creiche, ‘ provided that thou grantest to us every matter that we shall ask. ’

‘ Give me a drink, O clerks, ’ said he. Mac Creiche marked the ground, and a stream of water broke forth; and it is called to thisnbsp;day Mac Creiche’s fount on Magh Cruachan. The cup of Aednbsp;son of Eochaid was filled therefrom, and it quenched his thirst.

(40) Aed bowed to him then, and said : ‘ I give to thee, ’ said he, ‘ whatever thou askest on this occasion. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ I accept

it, ’ said Mac Creiche, ‘ provided that the same tribute be never again demanded till doom. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ It shall not be demanded till

doom, ’ said the king. They were then conducted into the fort. Now the king had an only son, who had never spoken fromnbsp;the day of his birth; and as soon as he saw Mac Creiche, he stoodnbsp;up and give him a right fair greeting. Mac Creiche blessednbsp;him, and carried the gospels round him; and (thereafter) therenbsp;was not a man in Ireland more eloquent than he; and his namenbsp;was Uada Balb (i.e. the mute). Every one rejoiced that thenbsp;king’s son had acquired the faculty of speech. Then Aed sonnbsp;of Eochaid offered from himself and from his son, and fromnbsp;every one who should succeed to the kingdom of Connaughtnbsp;till doom seven ‘ cumals ’, and a scruple from every one of Silnbsp;Muiredaig and Clann Taidg. Mac Creiche on his side bequeathed to them honour, valour, hospitality, and high spiritnbsp;in their kings, milk in their kine, and corn in their soil. Andnbsp;if at any time this tribute should not be paid to Mac Creiche,nbsp;he bequeathed to them that their land should be derelict, andnbsp;themselves exiles.

XIII. (41) He bade them farewell, and took the cup of Aed son of Eochaid with him to the south, and left a blessing withnbsp;them. And in the following verses is proof of the story and ofnbsp;the actions.

This tribute is the tribute of Sil Muiredaig and Clan 7'aidg.

After this came to them

Aed Flt;oirinngt; honourably.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

(It was a good journey that he went)

To hold long converse with the clerks.

Then spake Mac Creiche A word to the son of Eochaid :

‘ Let us have from thee ( ’tis famous)

A respite without evasion. ’

‘ Give me a drink, O clerks, ’

Said the gifted king;

‘ The full of the white twisted cup Is a boon in Cruachan. ’

Mac Creiche marked out The ground to the border;

There burst forth a beauteous stream From which the cup was filled.

The fountain of Mac Creiche,

This is its name continually,

On Magh Cruachan it is celebrated,

It remains till the day of doom.

The king of Cruachan proclaimed

His drink, a word which was not concealed;

He rose with a prince’s might,

He bowed to Mac Creiche.

‘ If thou be at my will, ’

Said pious Mac Creiche,

‘ Grant diligently and fairly Every request which thou mayest know.

‘ It shall be to thee without shame, ’ Said the good noble king;

‘ Take with thee to thy pious church The famous boroma. ’

‘ It shall be taken, ’ said Mac Creiche,

‘ If it be with prophetic words,

Provided there be remitted to me Thy tribute till doomsday. ’

68

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA ‘ I will offer to thee

From my children (a victorious fame), Every king who succeeds,

Seven ‘ cumals ’ from them. ’

‘ I will give to thy children Unless they oppose me,

Honour and valour

As long as this line remains. ’

Mac Creiche set out Without love of gold or silver ;

He accepted from the good king Two horses for his chariot.

Then was remission granted To the saint of the fertile kine ;

And he took the raiment

And the cup of Aed son of Eochaid.

There was remitted to Mac Creiche At the time when he took the cup,nbsp;Thence to the living doomnbsp;The tribute of Corcumruad.

‘ If thy children oppose My blameless community.

Their land will be deserted And they exiles with sorry plight.

If they render as due honour (?)

My dues without forgetting.

They shall have their oar-plied kingship. As long as I am in heavenly heaven. ’

Then said the wise Aed To the lean noble drowsy one :

‘ Thy will without noisy deed I will render till victorious doom. ’

Thereafter proceeded The famous happy jewel,

Mac Creiche, our constant renown,

To his mother’s kin in Magh Ulad.

(43)

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

It was there he wrought The miracle before that people,

He slew the Crom Chonnaill Which was devouring that host.

He distributed a victorious word To his nobles (a happy honour):

‘ It will remain (a sure miracle)

Your force to the world’s end. ’

He gave to them thereafter (Famous the jewel which is pledged),nbsp;Victory of contest against valour.

Riches and prowess.

The tribute of Ciarraige to Mac Creiche.

They offered as their offering Which is caused by a wise title,

Three score excellent kine To be paid by them every year.

Or, if they preferred it (For there is choice of alms),

A scruple (without violation of command) To him from every two (of them).

There had been captured by Aed Bennain And by Aed Furainnbsp;Three kinsmen of his mothernbsp;In chains after a raid.

He set out without delay,

Mac Creiche with fair success,

To release without injury His kinsmen from their chain.

The clerk found welcome From Aed Bennain of the troops,nbsp;Concerning the three kinsmen of his mothernbsp;Whom they kept in durance.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Aed Bennain released to him

Half of the three.....

He turned .... of the land ;

Aed Foirinn caused the delay of it.

On eminent Aed Bennain He pronounced a melodious blessing ;

He promised (him) without diminution The kingship (away) from Aed Foirinn.

Then Mac Creiche conferred The kingdom, a fair boon,

On the seed of Aed Bennain;

It was a noble happy answer.

The valiant king pursued The rapid course with swiftness,

Aed Foirinn in the presence of the warriors To submit to the clerk.

Mac Creiche released

The three, a modest steadfast man.

The iron fetters from their feet.

He bowed to Mac Creiche,

The valiant keen-sighted king ;

On Aed Furinn was lavished Riches and prowess.

Then entreated Aed Foirinn,

In order that sighing might not befall him.

That his race might hold

The kingship, though with contention.

They were zealous for his offering.

The two of the proud festival;

Three fifties, a wise proceeding.

Every lasting year.

This is the tribute of the Eoganacht of Loch Lein.

Fifty grey tunics.

Fifty white and dun shirts,

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

Fifty summer heifers,

Thus may he claim it.

These thrice fifty treasures Came without delaynbsp;To the venerable loyal clerk,

So that he was content.

He wrought a wondrous miracle At Ard Braisg in Certhain,

After the baptism with strong success Of Loichine, son of Nechtan.

Mac Creiche forgot His little blameless cup,

(Leaving it) where it had been before him While he performed the baptism.

There he remembered The white shining cup.

Which was not there, though wanted, When he came to Cluain Dirair.

When it went ......

The cup ....

Sunrise had reached

The mead of Leim Conchulainn.

When he reached Cluain Dirair,

The high dignitary who was not mad. There was a numbering afterwardsnbsp;Of all that was in the midst.

Mac Creiche performed Many miracles, a fair assembly.

It is fit that he shall do them While the world endures.

He was abstinent and believing (?), Religious, very modest;

He was liberal (?), he was shining.

Was sparkling and angelic.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Illustrious is the city,

Cluain Dirair, it is fertile,

It is law-abiding, is populous.

Is treasurous, is wealthy.

Fortunate fort with towers,

More privileged than any man ;

It is there that the place is.

In the centre of Ard Ruide.

Conall took ....

Mac Creiche whom we revere

To heaven and earth.

The solution of the King above us. Lofty is His worship.

For ever shall it be remembered.

May the name of God come on my lips.

May the name of God come on my lips. It is right that it be not concealed.

That I may make, though sinful,

A poem for Mac Creiche.

Acta Meic Creiche agia Adiuuent nos egregia;

Simus post exilia In eterna memoria.

“ It is right that He love me. My tribute and my tax;

My own King choosing me And taking me from your hand.

I am the victorious Mac Creiche,

That is what men call me ;

After my going from the renowned world, My relic shall not be assailed.

If they uphold the victorious tribute.

All those of whom it is due.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

I will uphold them renownedly Throughout the lasting world.

(But) I will be a mangling dragon,

If I hear the contest ;

I will be opposed to them,

If they destroy my increase.

If they spoil my tributes.

The Fermacaig of the tribes,

I will attack their abode And will cut short their time.

It is to us it belongs to honour them. If they are submissive towards me ;

If they are strong against me.

Their lot will not be strong.

I am the reverend Mac Creiche,

That is my name rightly ;

I recite to my King without hypocrisy. Fifty psalms each none.

I am Ailbe’s bosom child.

He mentions me every none.

It is a pleasure to him to tell of me In his just book.

He was my father,

The war-dog of Sliab Crot;

He was son of my grandfather.

The king who had many a harbour.

Broindgel and Brig And Mainesc of the foam.

Three daughters of a king.

And Fiachra of lasting strength.

Three great sons of a king,

Roth, and glorious Eogan,

And mighty Aengus,

Whom wave and strand glorified.

(47)

74 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

The children of the three women, Whom in due time I glorified,

I myself am son of Brig

And Ailbe the protection of our host.

The son of fair Mainesc Is Cainnech, to whom a company is duenbsp;The mother of noble Brendannbsp;Is Broingel of the pleasant calm.

(48) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Brendan gave to me

Tribute from the Ciarraige,

The first calf of every cow,

A great piglet (?) from (each) sow.

The Fermacaig (shall be) at my will From now till doom shall come;

I subdued the monster.

To them the matter was easy.

A youngling from each herd Of every sheep and cow.

From every goat is the tribute And from every sow in sooth.

Fair Brendan claims Justice of the Connaught mennbsp;For his churches strenuouslynbsp;And of the head of the host.

We go, five saints together.

With him into the land northwards;

We were near to him In every fort in turn.

Wondrous to us then The fortress of the white fierce one;nbsp;The army of rough Murchadnbsp;Attacked us at Tulcha Taidg.

Huge was the spoil.

The herds of Clann Taidg,

They took with them our book?.

In sooth there was much woe.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

attacked especially Caoille in Chosnama, which is called Tuath Mumu; viz. the long-clawed griffin, the ‘buide Connuillnbsp;the ‘ bolg-sighi and the ‘ gerr-gar and the ‘ broicsech ’ ofnbsp;Loch Broicsige in Cenel Fermaic; a monster most vehement,nbsp;strong, malignant, unwearied, with its bestial rage upon it; andnbsp;it wreaked great slaughters throughout the land generally; andnbsp;when it assailed the land on this wise, its thunderous race throughnbsp;the land was like the thunderbeat of fifty horses on the strand.nbsp;And this is what it would do; it would open its ravenous ragingnbsp;maw like a mad dog, with its jaws all on fire, and emit a broadnbsp;terrifying stream of harsh magical {lit. pagan) breath through thenbsp;passage of its maw, and every man whom that poisonous breathnbsp;touched and every animal, died a premature and sudden death,nbsp;both cattle and men; so that it stripped almost the whole landnbsp;of its good men, and a great number of them left it altogether;nbsp;and this was the extent of their losses, to wit, men and womennbsp;to the number of sixty every day.

(50) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;And after this their native patron saints were summonednbsp;to them, namely Maeldala, and Mac Aiblen, and Blathmac, andnbsp;all the saints of the land, and thrice nine sages and seniors to meetnbsp;all of them on the same day. And all the people were assemblednbsp;together to receive the holy patrons. And when they saw them,nbsp;they raised piteous and pathetic cries, intreating and upbraidingnbsp;{lit. cheek-reddening) the high holy patrons. ‘ Piteous are thesenbsp;great heavy cries, ’ said Blathmac. ‘ That is true, ’ said thenbsp;clerks. It happened that the monster was at that very timenbsp;in the rear of the crowds, wreaking his wrath upon them. Greatnbsp;fear and terror seized the clerks; and this is what they did, theynbsp;rang their bells and handbells, and smote their relics and pastoral staffs together, and all the people shouted, men, children,nbsp;and women. But the monster was (only) the more fierce; andnbsp;the clerks were sore abashed at the helpless distress of the country.

(51) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then said Blathmac : ‘ Let us all fast to God, ’ said he,nbsp;‘ that He would reveal to us to whom it is destined to help andnbsp;relieve us. ’ And thus they did, both men and women, fastingnbsp;in hope of their help by the clerks. And the clerks proceedednbsp;to sing sweetly their psalms, and to entreat Jesus to tell them fromnbsp;whom should come their help and relief. And they prolongednbsp;this till two thirds of the night had passed; and the multitudes

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

were sore harassed, dreading the day for the terror of the monster; for this was its wont, it would come out of the lochnbsp;with the dappled clouds of dawn, and begin ravaging them till itsnbsp;yellow hue extended over the sun; and would return to the samenbsp;loch in the last third of the day.

(52) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The clerks said their mattins; and after mattins they

slept. The angel Victor came to Blathmac in his sleep, and said : ‘ Pax uobis, ’ that is, God’s peace be with you. And thenbsp;lofty archangel appeared to Blathmac; and Blathmac enquirednbsp;of him, and said : ‘ Are we destined ever to receive help andnbsp;relief.? ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ You are, ’ said the angel. ‘ Go to Ailbe’s bosom

son, and it is to him that God has granted to help and relieve you. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Where is that worthy son of God ? ’ said Blathmac.

‘ On the brink of Loch Lein, ’ said the angel. ‘ How is the country to be protected till the sage come ? ’ said Blathmac.nbsp;‘ That is easy, ’ said the angel; ‘ I will sing a lullaby in its ear,nbsp;and it will sleep soundly for three days and three nights. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Not

that only, ’ said Blathmac, ‘ but until he (i.e. Mac Creiche) come across from the other side of the Shannon. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ It shall

be, ’ said the angel, ‘ as thou deemest best. ’ And the angel did as he said from first to last; he drove the ‘ broicsech ’nbsp;before him to the loch, and sang an angelic chant which laid thenbsp;monster asleep. And the angel departed from it then.

(53) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Thereupon Blathmac awoke, and the day arose. Andnbsp;when they saw the day with its full brilliance, all the peoplenbsp;came to the clerks, fleeing all together for fear of the monster.nbsp;Then Blathmac came joyfully to them, and they asked news ofnbsp;him; and he told them everything from first to last, and saidnbsp;these words :

There appeared to me the angel of Jesus Above the hosts;

Angel of the King who is surest,

A noble deed renowned.

78 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

The angel of Jesus said to me,

A certain converse,

That I should go to the famed and gifted son Of Ailbe’s bosom.

‘ Go to pious Mac Creiche, ’

Said the angel,

‘ With the purity of his thoughts he is your fortress, He is your stronghold. ’

He promised that he would curb the monster.

Though a hard encounter.

Till Mac Creiche whom I love should come Across the Shannon.

He came to me to help us from Jesus Against all adversity,

Victor, the angel, without panic.

It is he who appeared.

There appeared.

(54) After this Blathmac said to them all : ‘ Go, my beloved comrades, to Mac Creiche, for it is to him that God has grantednbsp;to help and relieve you, and not to us. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ How shall we go

there’ said the good men. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Let your nobles and your chief

men go, ’ said Blathmac, ‘ and go under servile rent of service to him and to his monks after him, to free you from the monster;nbsp;and offer a tribute to him dvery third year, men, children, andnbsp;women.’ ‘Wilt thou come with us.?’ said the chiefs. ‘Inbsp;will indeed, ’ said Blathmac.

XV. (55) After this their sprightly driving horses were brought to them, and they set out, twelve hundred in number was theirnbsp;company, and Blathmac with thrice fifty sages and seniors together with them. And they left Maeldala and Mac Aiblennbsp;and the rest of the saints to protect the land. After this thenbsp;well-marshalled band set out quickly and eagerly to preventnbsp;their land from being further ravaged; and they crossed thenbsp;stream of the Shannon from this side into the territory of thenbsp;Ciarraige Luachra, and thence to the brink of Loch Lein. Andnbsp;Blathmac alighted from his chariot when he saw Mac Creiche,

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

and so did they all; and traversed the plain towards the clerk on their knees; and Mac Creiche welcomed Blathmac, and askednbsp;him his news; and Blathmac told him that it was to seek him theynbsp;had come, he and the nobles together, that he might free themnbsp;from the distress in which they were, and help them.

(56) And this is how Mac Creiche was at that time, viz. putting the whole territory under a servile rent of hard servicenbsp;to himself and to his monks for ever; and they all said as Blathmac had told them. And Mac Creiche had no one with him butnbsp;Mainchin only, and the Finnfaidech. And they began to confernbsp;amicably; and treasures and much good were promised to himnbsp;for his help. ‘ What sureties shall I have for this promise ? ’nbsp;said Mac Creiche. ‘ The tribe (as surety) for the church, andnbsp;the church for the tribe, ’ said Blathmac, ‘ and every one to benbsp;at thy will for ever; and thy tribute to be fulfilled to thee everynbsp;third year, and two scruples for ever and ever from every hearth,nbsp;and the tax of thy bell every year. ’

XVI. (57) And after this the people of the land gathered round them, and Mac Creiche bade them farewell, and tooknbsp;a blessing from them, and left a blessing with them. And theynbsp;set out on the return journey by the same way that they hadnbsp;come, till they reached the brink of the fair-streamed Shannon,nbsp;and they crossed the river from the far side. And when theynbsp;had crossed, the monster awoke, and hurled itself on the landnbsp;forthwith. And all the people of the land fled before it till theynbsp;reached the weir of Cell Subulaig, and they crossed the weir.nbsp;And Mac Creiche came to them on the third day; and it wasnbsp;at the time and hour when the monster was pursuing the peoplenbsp;and mangling them; and heavy piteous cries rose from the crowdsnbsp;before it; and when the cries were loudest, a numerous hostnbsp;was seen coming towards them, viz. pious Mac Creiche. Andnbsp;they all bowed to him, men, children, and women, and traversednbsp;the plain towards him on their knees; and commended themselves to him in servile rent of service, and to his monks afternbsp;him.

(58) And they had not been long there, when they saw the shepherds' of the flocks and herds coming towards them, andnbsp;the monster behind them. And they all fly (for refuge) behind

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

the clerk. And the monster came to the weir with great wrath and fury; and it kept discharging balls of fire through its ravenousnbsp;raging maw, and great fear seized the clerk; and Mainchin wasnbsp;behind him with the Finnfaidech. And the clerk said : ‘ Reachnbsp;me my bell, O Mainchin, ’ said Mac Creiche. And both companies laid their faces to the ground; and Mac Creiche spokenbsp;these words ;

May Christ repel thy venom;

What thou hast in mind, may He cure it.

May God repel thy venom;

May He not suffer it to reach me any more.

O savage ‘ broicsech press not upwards;

The breath of my bell round the top of thy maw;

O dumb ‘ broicsech ’, though rough the encounter,

I am to subdue thee, trusting in holy Christ.

The seven archangels from the fair city,

God the Creator has ordained them to repel thee from me;

The four noble evangelists shall lower thy strength,

Matthew and Mark in their mighty host, Luke and John.

I entreat the Saints, I entreat the Virgins,

I entreat them all, that they may be a strong band;

I entreat them to help me, all the Saints of the lasting world,

That all of them, north and south, will assist my prayer.

I entreat to my help Christ, the helmet of each.

King of the heavenly kingdom, tapering tree over fort;

Great fervent forgiving God, Mary’s Son, conceal it not;

I beseech, I implore, I request, that He quell thy venom.

May Christ.

(59) After this, Mac Creiche asked again for the bell, and Mainchin gave it to him; and he struck the bell fiercely, so thatnbsp;the monster started, and reared itself on its hind legs, so thatnbsp;it was higher than a bushy tail-topped eminent tree, or a bell-tower set on a hill; and the numerous claws and talons growingnbsp;out of it were horrible, and great fear seized the clerk at seeingnbsp;the monster. Et orauit sectmdo ad Deum, etc.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

(60) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;And after this intercession by the clerk, the monsternbsp;stood erect while Mac Creiche was making his prayer; and thennbsp;hurled itself on to the weir with dreadful, horrible, unnaturalnbsp;fury; and with such fury did it discharge its balls of fire throughnbsp;its ravening raging maw, and through its nostrils, and raise itsnbsp;bestial wrath upon it, that its bristles could be seen standingnbsp;on end, with a dew drop of red blood on every single hair of itsnbsp;body from ear to tail. Alas, woe for Mac Creiche awaitingnbsp;it at the weir, but for the presence of the true glorious God tonbsp;subdue it by His power. And after this Mac Creiche entreatednbsp;the Lord earnestly to rescue him from the venom of the deadlynbsp;beast, and spoke as follows : ‘ O head of my counsel, O Lordnbsp;of might, O prince, O chief, O foster-father, O confessor, Onbsp;Son of the great Virgin, repel from me this wild beast, accordingnbsp;to my wish, O King and Monarch, that it may not spring on mynbsp;head.’

(61) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;After this Mac Creiche smote the bell twice (lit. oncenbsp;less than thrice) while the monster was traversing the weir withnbsp;enormous strides, and his maw all aflame, and at the third strokenbsp;a ball of fire shot from the bell into the monster’s maw, and itsnbsp;maw caught fire. And when the monster perceived that itsnbsp;gullet was on fire, it turned back on the weir with a horrible screamnbsp;and screech, and both hosts arose, and set up great universalnbsp;clamorous cries of triumph. And Mac Creiche pursued the monsternbsp;with his crooked slender-footed staff in his hand; and begannbsp;driving the monster with his staff, he being behind the monster,nbsp;while Maeldala and Mac Aiblen and Blathmac and the othernbsp;saints of the land were behind Mac Creiche, and all the peoplenbsp;of the land, men, children, and women, behind the clerks; andnbsp;the hosts raised continuous shouts and cries as they pursuednbsp;the monster. And they went forward on this wise till theynbsp;reached the loch, when it took a spring into the loch, and divednbsp;into the depths of the loch. The hosts and the clerks raisednbsp;great shouts, giving eternal thanks to God for having repulsednbsp;the monster from them.

(62) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;But they had not been long there, when they saw the lochnbsp;breaking in fierce red streams over the banks of the loch; andnbsp;then the monster rose to the surface of the loch, and stood boltnbsp;upright on its feet as before. And then the hosts raised great

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

shouts reproaching and insulting the clerk; and great shame seized Mac Creiche at the re-appearance of the monster, and hisnbsp;heart bounded in his breast and he looked up to the firmament,nbsp;and prayed mentally to Jesus ; and looked around him a secondnbsp;time, and found nothing wherewith to smite or shoot the monsternbsp;save only one thing. No one was near him at the time exceptnbsp;Mainchin; and Mainchin shouted at Mac Creiche, when he sawnbsp;both the hosts in flight. It was then that Mac Creiche laid hisnbsp;hand on the head-covering of his tonsure, that is a coveringnbsp;of grey cloth like a skull-cap (?) which he had, and flung it againstnbsp;the monster; and the tonsure-covering of the Christian extendednbsp;itself, and the skull-cap kept pressing on the monster, so thatnbsp;it appeared to them all like a cowl of smelted iron envelopingnbsp;the monster; and they saw the monster curling itself in twistednbsp;coils under the skull-cap, and carried it with it to the bottomnbsp;of the loch, not to rise again till the brink of doom and life.

(63) And both hosts raised many great shouts giving witness to Mac Creiche, men, children and women, and the clerks bentnbsp;their knees to the ground, and made their treaty and union withnbsp;Mac Creiche, and offered themselves in servile labour rent tonbsp;him and to his monks. And then Mac Creiche gave thanksnbsp;to God for these great miracles, to wit, the destruction of thenbsp;‘ broicsech ’, and said :

I thank my mighty King,

O Lord of the heavenly cloud-land.

That Thou didst put (a noble burning)

The ‘ broicsech ’ to shame.

I thank the same Lord,

For prosperous are His secrets ;

Till the loch shall reach the seas.

He will not allow it (the monster) to return.

O mountain of red gold over fair cliffs,

O discourse without mourning,

I thank the King who repulsed it.

So that I was not discomfited.

XVII. (64) After this all the people of the land came on to a ridge above the bank of the loch on one side, and the clerks

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

on the other side. And Mac Creiche afterwards blessed the people, men, children and women; and all their stock and tributesnbsp;were driven together from every quarter towards him; and thenbsp;freeman who had nothing but his arms, placed himself at his (Macnbsp;Creiche’s) disposal. And there were brought to him the horsenbsp;and armour of their chief of counsel, that is their ruler and lord,nbsp;with all the rest. ‘ Leave bequests to the land, ’ said Blathmacnbsp;and the nobles. ‘ What shall I have therefore } ’ said Mac Creiche.nbsp;‘ Thy tribute to be fully paid to thy monks, and to thyself, andnbsp;the equipment of a lord, both horse and armour, as thou seestnbsp;them now, ’ said the nobles. ‘ I leave pre-eminence of chiefnbsp;to the land, ’ said Mac Creiche, ‘ and renown of king, and preeminence of queen, and of steward, and of clerk. ’

(65) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Leave something more, ’ said the nobles. ‘ Whatnbsp;shall I have for it ? ’ said Mac Creiche. ‘ Thou shalt receivenbsp;the firstling of every flock, ’ lt;said they.gt; ‘ I leave corn and milknbsp;in your land, and mast in your woods, and increase in your soil, ’nbsp;lt;said he.gt; ‘ Leave something more, ’ said the nobles. ‘ Whatnbsp;shall I have for it ? ’ said Mac Creiche. ‘ Thou shalt have, ’nbsp;said the nobles, ‘ the rent of thy bell every year. ’ ‘ I leave, ’nbsp;lt;said he,gt; ‘ pre-eminence of valour on your heroes, and superiority over every land to yourselves. I leave, that if any pestilencenbsp;of sore disease shall visit your land, the water in which my bellnbsp;has been washed, and the prayer of my steward shall repel it;nbsp;and if there be there any prince or tanist, he shall fail or die, unless they rise up before my bell; and any one till doom shallnbsp;fade or die who passes it up across his knee with falsehood ornbsp;perjury.

(66) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;And on the other hand I leave to you never to be fewernbsp;than the number with which ye have come to me, if ye fullynbsp;pay these tributes. ’ And he said :

With thrice three hundred ye came.

Proud men with gleaming arms;

As long as ye fully pay my tribute.

Ye shall be no fewer.

‘ I leave something more to you : the hearth on which there is my (tax of a) scruple, no pestilence of sore disease shall visitnbsp;it for ever, and no untimely corpse shall ever be carried from

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

the house on which is my scruple. But whenever ye shall not fully pay my tribute, and not submit to my relics, I leave to younbsp;all the pestilences and diseases to be distributed among younbsp;for ever; and a hateful malignant demon to dwell among younbsp;continually, so that every one of you shall be -treacherous andnbsp;parricidal towards his fellow; and whenever ye shall see my bell,nbsp;it shall be a shame and reproach to your tribe to see it withoutnbsp;fully paying its tribute to it. Something more too I leave :nbsp;three sounds of my bell before you in battle, and ye shall benbsp;victorious on every side, if ye fully pay my tributes. ’

XVIII. (67) They all in general approved as good every thing that the wise man spake; and Blathmac said that great werenbsp;the miracles and mighty works which had been done there.nbsp;‘ That is true indeed, ’ said Mac Creiche, ‘ and that shall be thenbsp;name of this ridge till doom, Druim na Ferta (i.e. ridge of thenbsp;mighty works) ; and this loch below shall be Loch Broicsigenbsp;(i.e. loch of the ‘ broicsech ’) till doom. ’ And the clerks madenbsp;their alliance and union together, and Mac Creiche made anbsp;monument and place of worship there, and his tributes andnbsp;‘ cumals ’ were brought to him; and he began to bid farewellnbsp;to the land, and to enumerate his tributes; and this is what he said :nbsp;‘ Good is the journey we have come to this land to help it; andnbsp;well will it be for them, if they fully pay my tributes to myselfnbsp;and to my successors afterwards in turn till doom, and ill if theynbsp;do not do so. ’

(68) And he spoke this lay :

Good is the journey on which we have come By the will of the fair Ruler,

To help the host of the Fermacaig From land to land.

The ‘ broicsech ’ was devouring them Greater than any ill ;

A huge strange dreadful monster.

It could not be repelled.

Maeldala and Mac Aiblen And Blathmac of the holy body,

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

And the saints of the land Could not repel it from them.

The saints pronounced

Their answer hastily:

‘ Forsake ye all the land

We cannot repel it. ’

The chiefs of the Fermacaig asked Of soft white Blathmac :

‘ Shall our hope be on help,

And is it destined for us ? ’

‘ Go to Ailbe’s bosom son, ’

Said Blathmac forcibly ;

‘ It is he without deceit Repulses the plague from you.

It is to him God has granted,

The fair Ruler permitted it,

Every pestilence and conflict To expel from your land. ’

The chiefs of the Fermacaig set out Southwards to seek me.

To help and relieve them ;

This journey was profitable.

They found me on the level plains On the brink of Loch Lein;

As if they had been my own monks. They bowed to me devoutly.

They all said lt;to megt;.

The fair comely host:

‘ Give thine own judgment, O holy clerk. Come and help us. ’

They all promised to me.

Men, children, women,

A scruple from every man.

And all to be under my tribute.

86 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

They gave me God as surety for them,

True is the cause,

To fulfil till doom The judgment I gave.

(69) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I come with them thence

Across the streamy Shannon;

They enter, true it is.

Into the land side by side.

All the people of the land Come to us to meet us.

And bow down to me.

Men, children, women.

The monster came behind them Onto the weir unhindered.

They go behind my back And I take my bell.

I entreat great Jesus,

And He checked the monster ;

A ball came out of the bell.

And entered its maw.

Its strong belly burned.

Fair was the mystery ;

Without deceit, conceal it not,

Its venom went back.

Backwards it turned To the very loch ;

When it reached the brink.

It leapt into the middle of it.

It plunged beneath the loch.

The city (i.e. the citizens) had come dejectedly. (Then) all the host offernbsp;Thanksgiving for its defeat.

It came onto the loch again Standing erect, it was a horror.

All the host cried out ;

Alas, their cry was sad.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

While the monster was Thus standing erect,

I entreat the God of heaven,

That help may come to me.

I hurl a cast at it.

Because I was furious.

With the covering of my tonsure ; It settled on its head.

It began to drown it.

My skull-cap, a course of grace ; It was plain to every onenbsp;Like a great fair cauldron.

It crushed it in its twisted coils Into the loch relentlessly,nbsp;Without the monster risingnbsp;Against any one till doom.

The hosts bow down to me.

Men, children, women.

They grant to me diligently My own judgment as to tribute.

There is given to me then From the fair comely hostnbsp;Tribute every third year.

As homage to my relic.

His horse and his armour Shall come to me from the chief;nbsp;There shall be to thee henceforthnbsp;Every good in return for it.

My little perpetual scruple To me God has granted.

No untimely corpse shall be borne From the house on which it is.

A penny is the tax of my bell Which I brought from Rome ;

It is to be paid according to rule Every year by them.

MISCELLANEA HAGXOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

I leave pre-eminence of chief On the land itself,

Pre-eminence of king and steward,

While they are at my will.

Pre-eminence of queen and steward. Pre-eminence of clerk in his church.

Pre-eminence of beauty and horsemanship. Pre-eminence in drink at all times.

I bequeath corn and milk In the land where I stand;

I bequeath mast and heavy crops.

While they pay my tribute.

I bequeath pre-eminence of valour To their loyal warriors ;

While they pay my tribute.

Their pledge shall not be taken.

The prayer of my steward.

The water from my holy bell.

It is they which at every gap

Repel from them pestilence and plague.

Three sounds of my bell Before you in hard battle;

If ye but perform its command.

Ye shall carry with it every victory.

The first calf, the first lamb, the first kid, The first piglet of a sow in sty,

I claim of the host of the Fermacaig;

I say what is not false.

I leave to their king To rise up before my bell ;

He shall fade in weakness.

Unless he rise up quickly.

Every plague and every sickness.

And every dread fiery pestilence.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

I will repel from their cattle,

While they pay my tribute.

From their men and their women,

From their very posterity I will repel these plagues.

While they are at my will.

Every one of them who obeys me Shall be at the right hand of the living God;nbsp;They shall all go to heaven.

Both men and women.

If they maintain the valiant tribute.

Each one of whom it is due,

I will maintain them renownedly On the lasting world.

I will be a mangling monster.

If they play me false;

I will be opposedly against them.

If they spoil my increase.

I give thanks to God ;

The monster, a cruel mystery.

To me was granted That it should never return.

I give thanks to God

(Because of) my skull-cap for ever.

How it was cast over the monster.

So that it did not attack any one.

Though it was (only) grey cloth.

My skull-cap, a course of grace.

Joyfully enfolds the monster Like a fair great cauldron.

Every one of the land who raises My bell of the gracious coursenbsp;Over his knee with falsehood,

I bequeath to him that he shall decay.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

My years are seven score years To the gracious feast of candles;

I give thanks to God

For what I shall receive of good.

Good.

(COLOPHON)

(72) So that this is the Life of Mac Creiche up to this point, copied by the poor friar Michael 0’Clery in the convent of thenbsp;friars of Donegal, May ii, 1635, from the copy which the samenbsp;friar wrote in the convent of Ennis in Thomond in June 1634,nbsp;from a book which Melaghlin 0’Callannan wrote at Cell Mael-odrain for the coarb of Mac Creiche in the year of Christ 1524.

lt;HERE IS ANOTHER STORY ABOUT MAC CREICHEgt;

(73) There was a man named Thomas O Godain in great and extraordinary suffering owing to the plague of boils ; andnbsp;he lost the faculty of speech and memory, and was almost unconscious; and after a washing (of the bell) had been made fornbsp;him by a young clerk of Mac Creiche, and (the water) carriednbsp;by the same young clerk, and drunk by the sick man from thenbsp;bell, his speech and memory returned to him at once; and thisnbsp;miracle was noised abroad by every one. And afterwards Thomasnbsp;O Godain, the sufferer from the boils, made this lay :

Great the mighty works, methinks.

Which the patron saint wrought on me;

Mac Creiche, to whom be lasting fame Brought me from death to life.

I trust in the relic by my side

Which came from the breast of the true saint.

No clay (i.e. corpse) ever comes from a house Into which its washings shall be borne.

He gave to me gracious protection,

Mac Creiche of the excellent relics ;

I owe service to him above all For he did not forget his servant.

NOTES

§ 3. On does giving milk, see Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae (V. S. H.), t. I, p. CXLIV.

§ 5. On the magical use of Christian objects and formulae, cf. ib., pp.xcili, CLXXIV-CLXXXI; on ‘ sight-shifting ’, or glamour, ib., pp. cxLiv,nbsp;note 3, CLix, CLXix f., CLxxvm f.

§ 8. 1. 7 of the poem, reading sossadh, as suggested by Miss Joynt.

§ II. On lost objects found inside fishes, cf. ib., p. CLXXXV; it is a well known incident in folk tales.

§ 12. On bells and their names, cf. ib., pp. cv, clxxvi f.

§ 13. On the name Baethbronach, see Introduction, supra p. 10.

§ 14. On this form of miracle, cf. V. S. H., p. cxxxviii.

§ 15. On this obligation of being buried in a saint’s cemetery, cf. ib., p. CXII.

On forts surrendered by a chief to a saint, cf. ib., p. xcvni.

§ 16. On the different forms of the Legend of Ailbe’s voyage to the Land of Promise, cf. ib., p. CLXXxni.

Waiting for the wave, i.e. they waited twenty-four hours to see if the tide would pass the appointed boundary, and it did not (J).

§ 17. On these bequests (Ir. facbala), cf. V. 3. H., pp. xcn, civ, CLXXIV.

§ 19. Crom Chonnaill, so called also by Keating, III, 56; elsewhere cron, i.e. yellow; cf. Ann. Ult., a.D. 555 : magna mortalitas .i. in chronnbsp;chonaill .i. in buide chonaill; Tut crom in the parallel passage, Chron.nbsp;Scot., A.D. 551. It was probably typhus.

§ 20. Fert here probably means ‘ mound ’ and not ‘ miracle ’.

§ 21. On hostages, cf. V. S. H., t. I, pp. civ f.

§ 23. Greeted the young men, i.e. warriors (J).

§ 24. I will release to thee, etc. Transferred from § 33, where it makes no sense.

§ 27. Yonder reverend senior, etc. The reading and meaning here are very uncertain.

§ 28. The one heir, the envy of all men, i.e. the one ruler descended from Aed Damain would be a very powerful one (J).

§ 30. Surrendered the spoil. Possibly in the original document a full catalogue of the spoil was inserted here.

Twelve chiefs. Only eleven are enumerated; perhaps Crimthann himself is included as the twelfth.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

§ 31. On sacred wells, cf. V. S. H., 1.1, pp. cxlix ff.

§ 32. They paid it willingly. See note on the text at this point. The meaning is that he offered to return one per cent of the tribute innbsp;consideration of prompt payments; a tradesmanlike offer worthy ofnbsp;this saint.

§ 33- With profits to themselves. Here in the MS. come in the words which have been transferred to § 24.

§ 35. Bo-rime, bóraime, bóroma ; lit. cow-counting ; a tribute payable in cattle; most commonly applied to the famous tribute imposednbsp;on Leinster by the over-kings of Ireland.

§ 37. Here again note the magical use of Christian objects.

§ 38. On druids, cf. V. S. H., t. II, 373, and the references there given. This conflict is a rather feeble specimen of a common type.

§ 39. On the curses of Irish Saints, cf. V. S. H., 1.1, pp. lxvii, cxxxv, CLXxiii. I do not remember any parallel to this particular miracle.nbsp;It may have been suggested by the name of the king’s father, Eochaidnbsp;Tirmcharna, i.e. Eochaid Dry-flesh; cf. the story of Columba and Scann-lan, Revue Celtique, XX, 46-50; but there the thirst was perfectly natural.

§ 43. The tribute of Ciarraige to Mac Creiche. This heading is added on the margin.

§ 44. Stanza 4. I can make nothing of this stanza.

Stanza 8, 1. 3. This line is also hopeless.

This is the tribute, etc. This heading is added on the margin.

§ 45. Stanzas 4 and 10. I can make nothing of these lines.

Stanza 8, the city i.e. monastery.

§ 46. Stanza i, 1. 3. Or, according to the other version of this quatrain : ‘ Mary herself choosing me. ’

§ 48. Stanza 10, 1. i. If this translation is right,Jt seems to imply some story, not recounted in the prose Life, of Mac Creiche turningnbsp;his enemies into stone.

§ 49. Bolg sidhe means bellows; and P. O’Connell gives bolg-saeth, lit. bellows-disease, as meaning asthma. But probably some diseasenbsp;marked by unnatural swelling is indicated, perhaps dropsy. In thenbsp;Irish Life of Senan a monster is described who had : midbolg cosmuilnbsp;re bolg-sidhe; i.e. a belly like bellows. Lismore Lives of Saints, 1. 2223.

Gerr and gar both mean short.

On the ‘ broicsech ’, see Introduction, supra, p. ii.

§ 52. On sleep magically induced by music, cf. V. S. H., t. I, pp. CLXXII f.

§ 56. So St. Caillin’s bell had a special tribute. Book of Fenagh, pp. 234, 248.

§ 65. On the hereditary stewards, tnaeir, who had the custody of various relics, see V. S. H., 1.1, p. cxxix.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

On the use of relics for the administration of oaths, cf. ib., pp. cv, CXXIX, CLXXVI f.

§ 66. On the use of relics in battle, cf. ib., p. CLXxv.

§ 73. The plague of boils. In modern Irish bolgach means smallpox.

INDEX OF PLACES

Abbreviations used : par. = parish ; bar. = barony ; Co. = County. References are to sections.

LIFE OF MAC CREICHE

INDEX OF PERSONS

Abbreviations used ; k. = king of ; d. = daughter of ; f. = father of ; m. = mother of; s. = son of; w. = wife of.

References are to sections.

The Life of Naile, like the preceding Life of Mac Creiche, is found only in a single MS., Brussels 4190-4200, ff. 129-142. The preservationnbsp;of both is due to the untiring industry of ‘ the poor friar Michael O’Clerynbsp;And of this, as of the other, it must, I fear, be said, that it is not a favourable specimen of Irish hagiology, whether considered from the literary, historical, or spiritual point of view. In style it combines povertynbsp;with turgidity. As to the former point the mechanical repetition ofnbsp;certain phrases may be noted. The author’s usual way of beginningnbsp;a prose paragraph is cid tra acht = so then, however. This occursnbsp;no less than fifteen times, §§ 5, 6, 11-13, 16, 17, 28-30, 41, 60 {bis), 62nbsp;{bis). Another favourite phrase is gan conntabairt, or its equivalentnbsp;gan amarus = without doubt, unquestionably, §§ 6 {bis), 13, 23, 35 ;nbsp;while in § 29 all three phrases occur in the same sentence.

In the poems, the ‘ chevilles ’, which the intricacy of the laws of Irish versification rendered almost a necessity, are unusually wooden andnbsp;tasteless; while the poverty of the poet’s invention is proved by the repetition of the same line, in whole or in part, within the compass of anbsp;single section, §§ 4, 20, 48, 49.

The turgidity is shown by the way in which, as in much degenerate Irish Prose epithets are piled one upon another, for no reason exceptnbsp;that they all begin with the same letter. Thus, to take a single example,nbsp;adjectives compounded with the word buan, ‘ lasting ’, occur twelvenbsp;times, §§ 17, 18, 19, 24, 32-3, 34 {ter), 38, 41-2; not because the epithetnbsp;‘ lasting ’ is appropriate (it may be, or it may not), but merely that itnbsp;may alliterate with some substantive beginning with b. Often indeednbsp;the epithets thus heaped up are ludicrously inappropriate to the context. Thus in § 23 where the saint embarks on a cursing match with anbsp;rival saint who had offended him, his words are described as nem-goirt,nbsp;‘ not bitter ’, because that word alliterates with Naile, while his opponentnbsp;is made to address him as diada, dércach, deg-bertach, ‘ pious, charitable.

^ See, for instance. The Battle of Magh Rath, ed. O’Donovan (1842), and The Battle of Magh Lena, ed. O’Curry (1855).

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

of good behaviour, ’ epithets which, in this connexion, have the sole merit of beginning with the same letter. The same thing may be notednbsp;in § 6i, the third epithet there being damnachtach, ‘ humane Thisnbsp;irritable and maledictory character of the saint is one of the unedifyingnbsp;points in his biography. Another is the way in which enormous privilegesnbsp;and tributes are claimed, and the most awful punishments, temporalnbsp;and eternal, are threatened for the slightest infringement of them,nbsp;§§ 27, 36, 39, 40, 47, $0, 53-59. These however are defects which itnbsp;shares with other compositions of the same class, (V. S. H., pp. xciii,nbsp;CXXXV, CLXXIIl).

The value of the historical framework of the Life may be judged from the following facts. Naile is made the son of Aengus son of Nad-fraech, king of Munster, who died in 490 or 491, while Luan, whosenbsp;baptism by Naile is made the ground of the enormous grants alleged tonbsp;have been made to the saint, is made sixth in descent from Cairbrenbsp;Damairgit, § 31, who died in 513. Making the usual allowance ofnbsp;thirty years to a generation this would make Luan’s date somewherenbsp;in the neighbourhood of 690. After this it is a small matter that henbsp;is made a contemporary of Columba, f 597 and successor for ninenbsp;years ^ of Molaisse of Devenish who died in 564 or 571, and that henbsp;continued his predecessor’s alliance with Maedoc, f 626.

But if the alleged connexion with Maedoc is chronologically dubious, from the literary point of view it is of some interest. For the Maedoc ofnbsp;this Life is not the purely southern saint, the founder of Ferns, as in thenbsp;ordinary Lives of Maedoc, both Latin and Irish; he is the northernnbsp;saint, the patron of Breifne, §§ 24, 54, 55. Now this view is only foundnbsp;in the second Irish Life of Maedoc, printed in Bethada Ndem tiÉrenn,nbsp;i. 190-290, in which it is conflated with the southern sources, ib.,nbsp;pp. xxxiii-xxxvii. The dependence of our Life on Maedoc II seemsnbsp;therefore clear. But the matter is clinched when we notice that sixnbsp;stanzas in one of the poems in our Life, §§ 58, 59, are borrowed bodilynbsp;from a poem in Maedoc II, §§ 272-3, with only such slight changes asnbsp;were necessary to fit them into their new context. Our Life is thereforenbsp;later than Maedoc II. On the other hand, as pointed out in the notes,nbsp;it is one of the sources of Manus O’Donnell’s Life of St. Columba,nbsp;compiled early in the sixteenth century, to which it has supplied twonbsp;incidents ®. Naile, like the two saints with whom he is associated innbsp;this volume, is not mentioned in any of the chronicles, but, like them.

1 Even Colgan is struck by this. ® This is the only chronological datum in the whole Life, § 15.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;® See notes to §§ i, 41.

LIFE OF NAILE

he has left his mark on local traditions And if his position in time is problematical, his local associations are clear. With the exception ofnbsp;the preliminary settlement at Inver, the whole scene is laid in the districtnbsp;of Lough Erne, and all the saints associated with Naile come from thenbsp;same region (see especially § 29).

The story of his birth is inserted by the O’Clerys from this Life in the Martyrology of Donegal at Jan. 27th, the day of his festival. Thenbsp;Life is obviously incomplete, and Michael O’Clery in his colophonnbsp;speaks of it as a fragment. He also complains that the MS. fromnbsp;which he copied it was ‘ unclear ’, and it is evident that in one or twonbsp;places he could not read his exemplar. This belonged to Niall Meirgechnbsp;Mac Sweeny Banagh, who is probably the Niall whose slaying on Der-ryness, off the Coast of Donegal, is mentioned by the Four Mastersnbsp;under 1588. Colgan at Jan. 27th gives some notes on Naile, but makesnbsp;little use of this Life which he speaks of as ‘ quaedam mutila et apocrypha ’.

In editing this Life I have once more had the assistance of the accurate scholarship and wide reading of Miss Maud Joynt, who has made manynbsp;useful suggestions and corrections by which I have profited largely.

See note to § 16. In the notes attention is called to some points of interest to the hagiological folklorist. To these may be added the curious story hownbsp;Naile, emerging from the wave of baptism, held ‘ a crimson-spotted salmon ’,nbsp;in each of his two hands and feet, §§ 53, 48. A somewhat similar, but lessnbsp;extraordinary miracle in the Life of St. Ciaran of Saigir, V. S. H. i. 229; B. N. E.nbsp;i. no, 122.

I, (i) Ri ro gabhastair flaithes 7 forlamhwi for da coiccedh Mumaw fecht naill ,i. AongMs mac Nadfraich, mic Cuirc, micnbsp;Luighdec^, mfc Oile/la FlanKbicc, m/c FiachacA Muillethaiw,nbsp;mjc Eogam móir, mic Oile/la Oluim. Ocus ro gabhastair annbsp;tAongwJ sin lain-righe Leithe moir Mogha, 7 ro baoi ceithrenbsp;bliadna triochat i rrighe uaistibh. Ocus asi fa bain-ceile donnbsp;degh-n'gh sin .i. Eithne, ingen Chriomtainw chosccaraigh; 7 asinbsp;rucc an clanw oirderc don righ siw .i. Eochailt;/ mac Aengwra robnbsp;aird-ri a haithle a athar.

IL (2) Is dow Eitne sin tarfas an aisling inggnathach iongan-tach .i. toirrces do theccmail di, 7 a follamhnuccat^A go lan-urlamh, 7 cuilén feidhm-ncrtmhar fer-chon do breith don toirrces si«,nbsp;7 a ioXrzccadh a lemhlacAf gur bo Ian d’as 7 d’fir-lemlacAt, gachnbsp;aird 7 gach ucA^ach i nEirinn da éis. Ocus bedhgais an riogannbsp;asa codladh re hionganta2]g'/!e na haislinge, 7 ro duisigh si annbsp;ri go ro-urlamh, 7 doronsat na roinw si :

‘ Aisling atcownarc gan col,

A Aongais na nech nathlamh,

A ri Cliach, as rioghdha an goil, Tucc imsniomh mor im menmaj'n.

Atcownarc ben torrach trom,

A Aongais na roscc romall,

A ri Muman, as mor cairt,

Re hedh naoi mios gan malairt.

Ro lamnadh me da eis soin,

A meic Nadfraoich feidm-nertmair, Assedh ruccw5, a ded geal,

Cuilén feramhail fer-chon.

III. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(5) Ciod tra acht do chaithsett gan imsniomh gan uires-haidh a righe go ro-chonaigh, gar toirrcedh an rfogare, 7 ruccnbsp;gein mór oirdeirc meic don toirrces sin. Ocus an nair dob ailnbsp;a breith da baistatfA, tainic an taingel ar beind na haltora a bfiadh-lt;ngt;Mie caich go coitcheanw, 7 do raidh riu do glór glan-fhollw^ :nbsp;‘ TabajVter Naile d’ainm aran óicc-lenamh, doigh amh hud naom-tha an or-coinwel, 7 creidfft/ each uile don chaoimh-erlam. ’

IV. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(6) Cid tra acht ro hoiledh an toic-lenamh iarsin, 7 banbsp;Ian do rath on righ-aingeal gach briat/tar da ccanadh gan conwta-hairt. Ocus bd doctiiir an dluith-erlamh a ccionw a seacht mblia-dhan gan connXahairt anwsna seac/zf nealadnachazi saeora ^ lf.130 ^ |nbsp;re a sir-iomrddh. Is anzzsin do oxdaigh an taingeal dozz troim-chlerzwcA tocht go Colum cille go nordaicchedh anzzóid gan

* The MS. repeats sdera, but underdots this second form for deletion.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

uiVesbhaidh don oicc-lenamh, 7 éit a ndingnerf/z sé comhna^lt;//^e lena cléir 7 lena cloicc-mionnaibh.

V. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(7) Ocus ro gluaiserfA le Naile don naom-thoiscc siw {nonbsp;naowz-theccMfcc guna coimiti clerccA rea cois. Ise ait a raibhenbsp;Coluim cille mac FeidhlimiWA, m?c Fergwia Cennfada, mic ConuiWnbsp;Gulban, mic Neill Naoighiallai^g'A, ag Inbcr nua-chrothacA Nailenbsp;ag salm-gabhail a shalm, 7 ag binw-gabhail a biaide, 7 ag moladAnbsp;an Duilemaiw go diochra, 7 clein^A Leithe Cuin« ina coimhittecAï,nbsp;go ffacatar an bhuidhen céim-lescc clocc-naomhtha da nionn-saighi, 7 óig-bile nua nérach a cceirt-medhón na ccleirecA danbsp;ccoimh-theccMicc, 7 mile aingeal oirmidnecA aga tathat]g'e gannbsp;tuiseal.

(8) Ocus an uaiV do fhéchwrtair Coluim cille cona cléircibh ar Naile cowa nós-buidhin, ro leiccettar ara ngliiinibh dó iatt. Ocusnbsp;ó'Uonnairc Nailean onoir sin agin priomaidh penw-chorcra paid^-bhinw aga tabhairt dó hüddéin, ro léiccestazV a gluine go talmamnbsp;go tinnesnacA d’umhla don uasal erlamh. Ocus tuccattar téoranbsp;pócc d’araile go tinweasnacA .i. Colum cille 7 Naile, 7 do fheratarnbsp;na cléirj^gA comh-failte fris archena; 7 atbcrt Colum cille nanbsp;briathra sa :1

VI. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(9)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Mochen do theacht bd^fdhes

A Naile, d’ar nua-les.

Do gebha, a naoimh as binn glor,

Ar naoibh ocus ar nonoir. ’ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1130 ''i

‘ Do raidh rim aingel do nimh,

A Choluim chille craibhuj'A,

D’iarratrfA mennait ortsa sin A mbiadh mo cluicc’s mo cleii7§'A. ’

Do raidh Colum cille caidh :

‘ ^ennaigh an baile si attam,

Dena redes griobhdAa glan Ann, a mheic righ móir Muma». ’

' An alternative reading interlined. ® Sic MS. But we must read andes; Naile, coming from Munster to Inver, was not coming ‘ southwards butnbsp;‘ from the south ’.

VII. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(ii) Cid tra acht ro caithestair Naile go iextach fial-nairecA,nbsp;7 go craibhtec/i coisreccta biadh da reimhes a nlnber Naile, 7nbsp;ro delbadh leis and reiclés saothrach, 7 dt/rtheach dur-crdibhtechnbsp;do shaer-ghabhail a shalm-léighin«, 7 do tién-moladh a Thicc-erna, gur bo sccrios do mhór-peacadh 7 do micreidemh nanbsp;hdrd-Ércn« ferta an naoimh ’ga ninwisin.

VIII. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(12) Cid tra acht asi sin uair 7 aimser |f. 131 '1 tarlanbsp;Molaisi Daimh-inwsi ina öVrd-legaid oireghrfAa, 7 da ndomhnbsp;deg da muinntir a nionad na napstol ina timcell. ’Arsin ro gabhnbsp;galar gaibhtec/i grod-urlamh Molaisi arin lathatV, 7 do bi aganbsp;thiomna do Dhia 7 dona degh-naomhaibh gan tuisel. Ocusnbsp;atbertatör na c\érig : ‘ Cia ’ga bfagba hionadh, a aird-erlaimh ?

^ MS. cnedh, which would mean ‘ wounds ’.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

no cia hüs mac diadha d’ar ndegh-munalt;//f, do sccrios ar bpeactacA, 7 do dhi'orgalt;^A ar ndiadhacbta ? ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Cia amh aga ffuicfinn ? ’ ar

Molaisi, ‘ acht agan eo fhosaightccA ullamA-ghlic, 7 agan coinnill diadha degh-craibhü]§'A .i. ’gum dalta, 7 ’gum degh-bratharV .i.nbsp;ag Naile nosmhar-ghlic ? 7 muna chreitilt;dhgt; si an cleirech donbsp;chaomh-togha damhsa 7 do Dhia, an clocc céoil-bhinw corp-slan sa fam cionw sa lingfiWA ar ucht anti ddrab diongmala znnbsp;deigh-ionad. ’

(13) Cid tra acht a haithle na hiomaccallma sin do sccar a anam rea cholainw, go ruccadh a anam gan amhan« do coimhlionalt;/Anbsp;na naoi nord naingh'lt;^M. Ocus mar do bhattar aga coisreccat//?,nbsp;7 na naoimh aga niamh-torramha, as anw tainic Naile da lonadhnbsp;’si« airm irraibhe; mar do battar an«, gur ling an clocc ceoil-bhind caoimh-fertach ó chionw Molaisi a bfiadnwre na ccléivech,nbsp;gur thoirnestair ar ucht an naoiw/it-chléir/]§'A, gur canztar na cleinghnbsp;ag fertain failte :

IX. (14) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Mall th’imtecht ’ar tteacht ar séd,

A Naile, ni himarbhrecc,

Ni ruccais ’na hhethatd bi Ar Molaisi Daimh-innsi. ’nbsp;‘ O thesi^a m’oide diadha,nbsp;Molaisi, fa reidh riagla,nbsp;Cenn crabaidh Erenn uile.nbsp;Fa diadha, fa degh-duine. ’nbsp;‘ Tucc comhartha duinwe re neccnbsp;Molaisi nach cawadh brecc.

Anti ara ttoirnfedh clocc cain, Btidh é ar ttigerna ar talmafn.

Ar ccenlt;ngt; duit, a naoimh nombdha, A Naile nua-dealb(//ta,

Gabh tigernus oirn ré seal.

Go raibh go coir ar ccreidemh. ’

A nDaiwA-inis na cclocc mbin«

Do bi Naile, is derbh linw,

Ticc re hedh naoi mbinw mbliadhna Do coruccadh ar ccaoimA-riaghla.

(15)

LIFE OF NAILE

Fa mór a crdhudh ’sa chert,

Fa diadha, fa dluith a ttcht,

Fa naom/jtha, fa maith a cH Eter chléircibh DaimA-inwsi.

Fa buideel nzoimh Leithe Cuina, Is namp;obnh Leithe Mogha moill,nbsp;Do Naile ndr char ba,

’S da briatraibh mine malla.

Mall.

X. (16) Cid tra acht 0’ tcuala Maedhocc ferta iomdha iolardha an naoim sin, .i. Naile, 7 gur uo naemh di'les degh-ionnraic anbsp;nionad Molaisi hé, do chutV teachta chuicce do dhaingniuccatf/inbsp;an diuth-chadaigh, 7 do certuccat/A a caoimA-creidimh amhailnbsp;ro baoi eter Molaisi 7 Maedhocc, 7 isé ionadh urmaisnec^ ihidhenbsp;do gabhadh agna glain-érlamhaibh .i. Diseart turcharthachnbsp;taitnemh-glan na tTopar, frisa rditer Ceall nóis-bhrethach Nailenbsp;aniu;7 ddrbho comhainm Cluain camp;omh gaw eonntabafrt, no gurnbsp;gabhMjtair Dathernocc an tn'ath-bhaile.

(17) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cid tra acht immorro tainic Naile conz. mhóir-chleirnbsp;7 Méedhocc conz mhancaibh a ccoinwe na comhdala sin gwrinnbsp;caoimh'cill chloicc-iertaigh, 7 ro suidh Naile conz mhór-cléir arnbsp;mullöeAna mór-thulcha, 7 a |f. 132 *¦! druim risan ccairthe os eindnbsp;an bhaile. Ocus do ghabh lota adhbhal é arin lathair sin; 7 donbsp;ghairestair Flanwan mac Fiachna, mfe Fergwra, chuicce, 7 do raidhnbsp;ris dol go Tizomaibh an bhaile gan büaw-toirmescc d’ larxaidhnbsp;dighe go deiffrech. Ocus do imtigh Flanda« leisna tosccaibhnbsp;sin, 7 do iarr deoch ar Daternóc da tigerna; 7 dó ér 7 do eitighnbsp;Daternóc na toscca sin, 7 isedh asbert ; ‘ Amhail dorin«elt;sgt;nbsp;sa uiscee Ie mo miorbuilibh féin 7 lém fertaibh, Aénaidh annbsp;cenn sin creidimh 7 crzhaidh Leithe Cuinn a cheirt-leithéitt. ’

(18) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus do imtigh Flanwan go füasaidecA frisna freccar-thaibh sin, 7 do inwis da oide sgéla. Ocus do lonnzigedh Nailenbsp;go neimhneeA dona comhraitibh sin, 7 is zmlaidh ro baoi, 7 anbsp;bhachall bhüain-fhertach go direch ina dhes-laimh, 7 tucustair Mxcarnbsp;tarsna na ^ tri lan-afr don bhachaill blaith-greanta, go xiéezchaidnbsp;fo büain-lecaibh na talmaw go tinweasnacA; 7 do raidh Naile go

^ na under-dotted for deletion (recte).

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

neimhnecA : ‘ Len, a Fhlanwain, mo bhachall, 7 beir let mo cüach cloch-dercc cruith-niamhd^a, 7 gibe ionadh a ttiucfa a talmoiwnbsp;an bhachall, iarr uiscce dar nerlamhaibh anw, ’

(19) Ocus do edtigh FlanMan leisan aithescc sin, 7 do gabh an cüach gaw conntamp;hairt, 7 ise ionadh a binair an bhachall blaith-ghrenta, trésan ccarraicc ndoibhriste ndilenw, 7 ro mozhaidh ^nbsp;a sreph glan-fhüar gom-uisge |f. 132''! ina deghazlt;/ go luath-athlamh, 7 do chromastair an chüach fon caoiwA-uisge, 7 donbsp;thoccaibh an mbachaill asan mbuan-talmaj», 7 ro gluais go Nailenbsp;go neimh-meirtnec/j, 7 do inms na miorbuile dona cleircibh,nbsp;7 tucc deoch ^ don degh-uiscce do Naile. Cowadh an« adubmVtnbsp;Flanwan :

‘ A Naile, suairc an sed Da bfuarais, ni hiomatVbhrécc,nbsp;Topar grianach as derbh leninbsp;Tre carraicc diamaïV dileann.

Do theilccis do bhachaill ban A bun an chartha gan cradhnbsp;Tarsna tri lin-air ’nar ndail,

Fo talmam di gan tóccbhail.

Is anw do thoccaibh a ceand Tre charraic diamhair dilenw,

Go ffuil uiscce grianach glan Ina hionad go hurlamh. ’

‘ Fagbaim buadha ’gum topar, Indisefi?/( each don pop«/,nbsp;Coimhdes d’ionwladh as d’ibhenbsp;Mo topar co ccaoiw/i-ghile.

Buadha ele fagbhaim air, ’

Ar Naile, ba réidh stair,

‘ Slaineochat*/ galarV garbha A uiscce gan fresabhra.

londlad go moch ’gom thopar Mh’aircinweach büs reidh sochair.

^ ro meabaidh, man. sec. above the line; so deoch, ann below.

LIFE OF NAILE

XI, (23) Cid tra acht, o doconnairc Datcrnog na troim-ferta si?i, 7 Naile go neimhnccZi ’ga indeachaif, ro imthigh an terlamhnbsp;ara ghlmnibh on gn'an-topör irraibhe gusan tnlaigh irraibhenbsp;Naile cona cleircibh, 7 issedh aduhairt fris : ‘ A éo diadha dércachnbsp;deig-bertach, 7 a coin;?el chobhsaidh craibhtheach for comh-lasadh, 7 a naoimA riogln/Aa rathmair, na ben nemh dim tridnbsp;mlt;órgt;-femibh. ’ Do fhreccflfr Naile go nemh-ghofrt na briathranbsp;si« uadha, 7 asbert : ‘ Ni bhenuim nemh dit, a naoimh-chleirigh,nbsp;7 benfatt an baile idr büain-érais ar nérlamha fa fhuar-uiscce dit.nbsp;Ocus faccbhaim duit gibé crioch ina ccomhghluaisfe, 7 gibenbsp;ionad i ngébha ecclas gan amharwi, go mba hé a sagart ag sen-móir, 7 a deigh-clein^A re dlüth-guidhe Dé ann .i. coin allta agnbsp;tochailt do reilcce, 7 sionnaigh aga sniibh-iarratV/A. ’

(24) Ocus do fhreccair Daternócc na troim-aithescca sin, 7 asedk asbert : ‘ Fagbhaim si gan caoirigh it chdoimh-cill si. ’nbsp;Ocus do Ireccair Naile é, go ndubafrt; ‘ Fégbhaim si tnuth lochtanbsp;na ccaorach rena ccaoiwA-édaighibh. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Fdgbhaim, ’ ar Da-

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

thernóc, ‘ dergnaide aga hh.ar nüalot, |f. 133 ''| 7 lochait ’ga bhar lüath-milledh. ’ Do ir^ccair Naile é go ndubhajVt :nbsp;‘ Cuirim si na dergnaitte ’sna dlüith-chuirrcibh, 7 na loch^anbsp;anwsna lethan-choilltibh. ’ Ocus do labhajV Daternócc go ndubh-ain ‘ Fagbaim si maisi aon oidhce ar bhar luachazr. ’ Ocusnbsp;asbert Naile : ‘ Fagbaiwi si luachair go hursannaibh isin aVd-bhaile, 7 faccbaiw büadha ’san mblaith-cill .i. comba hi an tresnbsp;deatach bw^ deigh-ena^¦g'/ie foghnamh a crich maoith-fertachnbsp;mBreifne .i. detach mo naoim/i-chilli si, 7 detach móir-fhertöc/inbsp;Mdedocc, 7 detach buan-rathmar Bricin. ’

(25) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus asbertsat na naoimh na runwa sa :

‘ A Ternócc émgh ar fecht,

Face an baile damh tre rezeht,

Imtigh on chili as glan li,

Ni hüdh duit a somhaini. ’

‘ A Naile as binw labhra,

Do naemh ni fhuil do shamhla,

A neccóir indarbthar thoir Mé om cill diles Authaigh. ’

‘ A Ternócc ata ’gun ccrois,

Ni diadhacht duit a ndernois,

Diultad/t re duine fa digh Fa thoradA talman tréudai^A. ’

‘ Fagbaim, ’ ar Ternócc na ttres,

‘ Diombuaidh caorach ann buddes. ’

‘ Ced lem, ’ ar Naile, ‘ o nimh,

Buaidh édaigh ann is oinigh. ’

(26) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ lomad dergnad ann is lochat, ’

Ar Ternóg ann tre dochar.

Ar Naile ; ‘ Sgriosfad sin lad a ccuirrcibh ’sa ccoilltiph. ’

‘ Fagbai»? ann, ’ ar Ternóe cain,

‘ Maisi oidhce ’ga luachair. ’

‘ Biaidh, ’ ar Naile, ‘ as derbh soin, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;[f. 134 r]

A luacha/gt; go hursannaiph.

LIFE OF NAILE nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;IO9

‘ Baistfe mé do bhaile blaith,

Cluain ciomh ba ced-ainm don raith,

Disert Topaigt;, as reidh rod,

A ainw? re linw Daternóg;

Ceall Naile, fir an fdth,

Budh é a hainm go thi an brath,

Budh lemsa an bade glan Re crihudh’s re ceileabhrarfA.

(27) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘¦'amp;udh 1 so an tres detach glan

Neoch bwi deig-enaighe foghna»i/i,

Dethach Naile, is glan-fot.

Detach Bhricin is Maedhóg.

‘ Btlt;(fA oirdeirc mo bade binn,

Btódh iomdha cleireach im chill,

^Mh iomdha damha im dun glan,

Ocus hüdh cruaidh a crabhadh.

‘ Maircc nech tiucfa^ rem tsaoire,

Matrg nech cutrfhes mo ddoire,

Maircc mhesus mé, ger mo ghae,

Maircc ara mbia m’fala sa.

‘ Maircc comharsain tiucfa im port,

Maircc mhillfes m’fér’s mo ghort,

Ifern iter shen is ócc.

Is gairde saoghail, a Ternog. ’

A Ternoc.

XII. (28) Cid tra acht ’ar ccomhdaingniuccai//i a chadaigh do Maedócc milis-raitech, 7 do Naile nua-dhelbhda, 7 ’ar nim-tedicht do Dathernocc go tinwesnach, do anastair Naile ag cóiuccadhnbsp;na caoim-chille, 7 ag reidhiucclt;adhgt; a reilcce, 7 ag daingniu-gadh a Amrtech, 7 ag liaisliucchai^ a haltórach, 7 ag uWmwgadhnbsp;a huladh, 7 ag cowidhluthucchöi^ a cros, 7 acc taobh-glanai/^ anbsp;topar, gur bo cill amp;ing\ech or-chloccach, nemdha, nósmar, nzomh-maiseach, diadha, dér each |f. 134'’] cvaihtech, ceillidhe,nbsp;coisrectha asa haithle hi.

1 Written dércachhh, to fill up the line.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

lt;XIII.gt; (29) Cidh tra. acht ro comMhuaccrad/i comhluadör coinne 7 comddla ag cléircibh na criche gan conntahairt, 7 ag ard-naomhaibh Locha Éirne gan amharus. Ocus tainic da hionw-%aigh\ séin ^ Tigernach trdth-urlamh taobh-faid-gheal, 7 Ronannbsp;radh-urmaisnec/i rathmhöir-ghlic, 7 Sinell sIec/?lt;-urlamh, snuaidh-miolla, 7 Senach sochraidh sdoir-cherdach, 7 Fergw^ féichemantanbsp;follas-bhrethach, 7 Comhgall céiWidhi clocc-ndomhtha, 7 naoiiwAnbsp;imdha ele ’saw comhdhdil choitchinw sin.

(30) Ocus isé ionad a raibhe coinwe na ccaoïmh-cXéirech agan ¹ caraidk chomhurdraic, dit a bfuil lec Naile, 7 ’ga ndeinadh annbsp;haistedh gan hréccnuccadh. Cidh tra acht ro hullmaigcdA le Nailenbsp;naoiiw/ï-cleirec^, 7 dochuaid i nacchaid na naomh go neimh-lesccnbsp;gMian ccaraid ccoiwAramhaigh ccedna, 7 do feradh failte ag nanbsp;hard-naomaibh re Naile cowa cleir. Ocus do moladh leo fertanbsp;7 mi'orbuile 7 mor-crahadh an naoimh-cXcarigh.

XIV. (31) Ocus amhail do bhattar anw ® ag comccadh a cca-daigh, 7 ag daingniucca^/A a ndeigh-riaghla, 7 ag moscclflrf/i dd moir-fhertaibh, is ¹ anw atconncatar an mbuidhin ccrodha ccos-ccvaigh, 7 ÓCC macamh di'les deigh-dhealbhd/ia a ttw na tréun-bhuidhne sin, 7 ro honnaighedh leo go cohaaidh ceill-feichemhantanbsp;dowa cleircibh; 7 do htccvadh acasomh sin go blasta binw-briath-rach, 7 ro dariaighttar na cleirigh a naoin-feacA^ cuich 1' an occ-shlat ® il-delbach anaithm'dA ut. Ocus ro freccradh na haithesccanbsp;sin acasan, 7 adubhratar gur mhac |f. 135^1 d’Irghalach, macnbsp;Eignigh, mic Fergwsa, m/c Aodha, mrc Corbmaic, mzc Coirbrenbsp;an Daimh-airgitt, mic Féicc, mic Deghadh Duirn, mic Rochada,nbsp;mic Colla Focrich, mic EachacA Doimhlein, mic Ca/rpri Life-chaiV, ro bui ann.

(32) Ocus do fiarfai’g’Aettar na cleirigh a naoin-fecAf: ‘ Cred adhbar angluasacAfa go grod-urlamh, 7 a ttoscca go tinwesnacA ’nbsp;Ocus ro fhreccaiV an macaomh go milis-briathracA an comhrddhnbsp;sin, 7 iaedh adubaiVt : ‘ Ar hh.ar ccomairco si damh, ’ ar sé, ‘ 7 anwnbsp;bar ccoinwe do ghluaises, 7 is slan mo se blzadwa déc rea ndegh-airemh, 7 nir baistcdA lt;mégt; o mbreith gusan mbiian-dois a

1

Altered from sim. “ The scribe at first wrote Uit, anticipating the next clause. “ The words ann and sMat are interlined. ¹ The MS. makes thenbsp;chapter begin here, in the middle of a sentence.

LIFE OF NAILE III

bfuilim aniu. Ocus isedh is ail damh, mo hhaistedh on bhoirb-diabhal, 7 togha chum na Trinoide. ’

(33) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus do raidsettflr na cléirigh, as cuhaidh an comhaiVle,nbsp;7 as aithesc riogh-damna, 7 do fhiariaighettar na cléirigh donbsp;Shinell shoigniomhach cia do dhénadh an baistedh gan bhrécc-nuccadh, óir is é ^ ba heapscop arna huasal-naomuibh, 7 fa shinenbsp;dona saoir-cléirchibh. Ocus do freccaiV Sinell sochar-mór 7nbsp;adubhairt gurb é Naile hud cora da dhénamh, uair ni raibhenbsp;benefis ^ a mbuan-talmcw ina pinginw agan bprimh-cleirec/inbsp;acht daingen a Ahiadhachta aga dlüth-coimhétt. Ocus do freccairnbsp;Naile an naoimh-epscop 7 aduba/rt gwrab dó féin do chedaighnbsp;an taóin ®-Dia a dhluth-bhaistteJ/i.

(34) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus do gabh tnuth 7 trom-format na cléirigh fan | f. 135 ^ |nbsp;mbaisttedh do chettuccaif/i do Ndile nairech-binw, 7 asa haithlenbsp;si« tnccadh a ghlain-leabhar biiain-fhertacA baistte go Naile, 7nbsp;do chanMrtair a bhuain-leighion« bnoghmöF baistthe os cionwnbsp;an macaoimh a bfiadhnaisi na naird-cleircc/i. Ocus taxxaidhnbsp;a lamh-clocc, 7 tucc a tri Ian do ghlan-uiscce an grian-locha fanbsp;cenn an macdoimh ’gd mór-bhaistedh, gur bo he an clocc cruth-fhalldin sin rob athair, 7 ro ba topar buan-oirderc baistte donbsp;Liidn ’ga leasuccai^^ï.

(35) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus asa haithle sin do ghabhwrtair Naile an macdemhnbsp;ina Vicht, no idir a da laimh, ’ga leasuccaifA, gur cuir fon uiscce,nbsp;7 is axxdaidh tainic an macdomh anios, 7 braddn ball-chorcra inbsp;ngach ladhair leis, 7 do xógustair an ndomh ar leic nosmaiV Nailenbsp;é. Ocus atconxiairc Flanwan, mac Fiachna, mic ¥ergusa, 7 nanbsp;cléirich ar chena na ferta siw, 7 atbcrt Flanwdn go fuasdideach :nbsp;‘ Is luthamail, nó is ionlogha tainic an ghein ghruadh-chorcranbsp;ghnuis-naVach gorm-rosccach ó ghlan-baistedh. ’ Ocus do fhrecc-air Naile co nós-oirrdheirc na haithescca sin, 7 laedh adubaiVt :nbsp;‘ As buadhach ro bhaistes ¹ an bhldth-choindeal, oir hudh Ludnnbsp;a ainw gan axviharus on luth do rinwe an macaomh ’ga bhaistci/A. ’

XV. (36) Cowadh an« asbert Naile :

1

The scribe, again anticipating, inserts ba sine here, but deletes it. “ Fis interlined. ® an tóoinn, MS. ¹ Sic MS. but we should probably read :nbsp;ro bhaistis, which is translated; if ro bhaistes is retained, translate : I baptised.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Luan os ^ gach Man Go brath, cidh innsa,

G«rab ri os cineadh na cclanw sa No go tti tu rimsa.

Amhail atbert :

Tiodlaicim rath a righe Is tigernwr a ^ thirenbsp;Duit, a Ludin, ó so amachnbsp;No CO tis rim ar taithlech

Ocus do himderccadh fan macamh uime sin 7 asedh adubaiVt : ‘ Cred fa ttiucfainw friot, a naoiwzA-cleirigh ? ’ ‘Fa hhemadhnbsp;mo pinginwe baiste fam naoim-chléircibh duit féin 7 dot aicmedh-aibh at diaigh. ’ Ocus do rdidhestatV Luan go luath-ghdirect :nbsp;‘ Sloinw si féin go friochnamhacA gach ni asdu fa dhegh-bhaistedh,nbsp;go mba cuir, 7 go mba fiadhaiw na naoimh-cleirigh arin cios-cainnbsp;sin oniu go tti an brath gan hréccxyngadh.

(37) Ocus do raidh Naile na briathra sa ag ainmniuccacft na cios-chana :

Acc SO luach do lesaighte A Ludin óicc, arm-corcra;

Ar do bhreith o bhoirb-dhiabhal Gwan Trinoid tóccaidhe,

’S ar righe do troim-chinidh,

Ar criochaibh na cudin-Eirne;

Duit féin is dod cinedhaibh Dligidh niamh-clocc Nailenbsp;A tt/ii gacha trom-cathanbsp;Romaibh féin gó firinnech;

Ni brister ó bhar mbiodhbhadhaibh Oraibh cath no cosgar-troid,

Da mbhe lt;oraibhgt; gan imresain Dinech mo chluicc comhramaigh;

^ s added above the line man. sec. “ Over la is written the meaningless alternative : no gach. “ These verses are written as prose in the MS.; and sonbsp;is the whole of the following poem, §§ 37-39.

114 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Nó a sé d’airccett aithlegtha;

Screpall buadhaclt;hgt; bainwsidhe Dual damh ó gach degh-bhanaisnbsp;O shiol Luain luaith-creachö?^/(.

(39) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dligim caiscc go comhramacA

O gach taoisecA trén nonbha/r Dot siol, a óicc airm-neimhru^A;

Meth no duthain droch-saoghail,

Da nobaitt an naom-caiscc sin.

Cu/nm Criost a ccoraighecAl Orm, a Luain \\ia.t\i-armaigh,

Duit’s dod chloinM at ceirt-deaghajrf.

Go ma moide har mór-conach Do biadh is do blaith-édach,

D’eallach ocus d’ionwmasaibh,

Mo Cain gan a disliuccadh.

Adeirim ina deghö«lt;^ sein,

Da millti an mór-cain si,

Dobéra me mitreisi

Dirbh fa criochaib comhaj'san;

Dob^r gorta gér-ghaibtec^

Ocm dith ar deigh-eallacA,

Is gerr-shaoghal guasac/zfach nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;|f. 137 quot;'I

Do mnaibh is do macaomaibh,

Muna ccongbha an chaomh-cain si,

Dlighes me ód móir-chinedh.

A Luain mfc Iorgala«]g'/!,

Ag so luach do lesaighthe.

XVI. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(40) ’Arsin ro ghabh Naile slénta Tigernat^A 7 Shinillnbsp;7 Ronain, 7 gach naoimh da raibhe ’sa ccomdail, fan clos donbsp;chongmail; 7 muna twcddois, a coimheirghe 7 a ccongnamh lenbsp;Naile cum na hesccaine, lt;7gt; a ndicur on degh-righe.

XVII. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(41) Cid tra acht asi sin nair 7 aimscf docuaidh Columnbsp;crdiihtech-nair cille i niath noirer-min nAlban da bhennuccatfli,,

LIFE OF NAILE

7 da buan-leasuccöti?/f; 7 a haithle a coisercctha ^ na caom-AlböB do s,éo\adh a cnxach go colcc-direcA le Colum cille; 7 ni ci'an donbsp;baoi aran aibhéis niongantacA, an tan atconnairc peist fraochlt;//iönbsp;ro-grüamlt;//jö uathmhar-ard ucAt-lethan colgach cenn-mór craos-lethan. Ocus do gabusta/V eccla adhbhal-mor mac fial-bhrethachnbsp;Feidhlimjfi?/[ aga faicsin; 7 tuccwrtajV a haghazdk ar ard Choluim,nbsp;\xair dob ail le sluccadh sair-diochra ara curach, 7 ar Choluimnbsp;cona chleircibh.

(42) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus do guidhestair Colum cille go dutlt;hgt;rflc/ifachnbsp;Senach sen-gobha, nair ba mac mathar dó Colum cille; 7 is amhl-aidh ro bhaoi an Senach sire, 7 caor crithreach comhluaimncc/inbsp;a ttren-bél a thencaire ’ga tocchdil. Ocus tainic mana ina edannbsp;fon am siw, 7 tadhbas dó mac a mathar do bheith isin moir-eccennbsp;si«; 7 tMCMitair urchar a ccoinwe Choluim cille ó Dhoire buan-rathmhar Broscca gwran aiccen fhuineta eter |f. 137''! Erm« 7nbsp;Albain. Ocus ise ionadh a ttarla an caor comramaeA sin, a mbéolnbsp;na piasta, gur marhustatr d’aon urchar hi.

(43) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus do guidhestair Coluim cille Dia, amhail ro lenastairnbsp;an peist béo iatt, go lenadh ’arna marhadh go hard-phort nanbsp;hEreww; 7 an uair ro gahhadh cuan ag Coluim cona cleircibh,nbsp;tainic an pheist a ttir a naoin-feacAt friu. Ocus do cosccradknbsp;hi acc na cleircibh, 7 do benadh an chaor a ccédoir eiste. Ocusnbsp;ruccadh an chaor dochum Senaigh, go a cerdcha, 7 doróine trinbsp;mionwa miorbhuilecha mor-cumachtacha dhi .i. an glunan Senaigh,nbsp;7 an gerr cnraigh, 7 clocc niam-grenta Naile, óir as é an Senachnbsp;saothar-mór ^ tuccwrtair do TigernacA taobh-faid-geal an tuasalnbsp;clog, óir as dó ba hainm an glasan Tigcrnaigh. Ocus tucc Ticc-exnach do Molaisi an lethan-clocc go mbiodh i ccuchtair Molaisinbsp;aran leic, ’go bfaghtaoi proin« cét ’na onóir ’sa cuchtair; 7 garabnbsp;é fa clocc udhachta 7 adhairt ag Molaisi a nam a écca; oir isénbsp;rob én ordain 7 togha do Naile a nionad Molaisi hi ffiadhnuisinbsp;naom/i-locha hEirne tre briathraibh Dé 7 Molaisi; gwrab é asnbsp;naom/i-chlog do Naile osin alle, amhail ro raidhedh ag foillsiugae?^nbsp;a mhiorbhuile :

Clocc Naile, mór a neimh,

Sloinufet a fherta a ttalmuiw,

Eisttid limsa cdch uile

Ag móradh a miorbuile. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;| f. 138 ¦'1

ar added above the line 7nan, see.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Imdha mainces ’ga mhancaibh Eter nemh is talmain,

Imdha sochar ’gun clocc cóir,

Imdha uaisle is onoir.

Imdha a duthcas ’sa dlighedh,

Mor a chain o gach cinedh,

O dorinne Senach soin Ro-mhor ^ a ferta a ttalmam.

Senach do teilcc an chaor tenn A ccoinne Coluim na ccell,

Gur marbh peist granwa gailbec/i, Chos-lom, chenn-mór, corp-aiMmheach.

Lenaid an peist iad dow cuan Colum ’sa muinter rea luadh,

Ticc marb da ^ nes amuich A haithle urcatr Shenaigh.

Do cosccradh ann Ie Coluiw An peist ba granwa coluinw,

Go ttucc chum Senaigh alle An caor a cliabh na peiste.

Doni tri mionwa miolla Senach dow caóir, ba gnobhdAa,

In glunan Senaich cétt-clanw,

Is an gerr curaigh coimhteann.

An clocc sa clocc Naile móir.

An tres mionn diobh, mar as doigh;

Ag sin, mar as derb duibh,

Mionwa as neimhm^/je ar talmaiw.

Do Tigernach dorad Senach An clocc, dorad asin belach,

Giasan Tighernatj'/i go tenn A ainwt ag each go coitcenw.

* Altered from do.

Il8 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Tttcc Naile leis alle

An clocc sin do déoin Molaisi,

’S do faccaibh Molaisi don clocc Ti« onora ’na «rd-port.

Do bi ag Naile niamhda An clocc sin do réir riaghla,

Gur baisttedh leis Luan lan,

Mac lorgalai^A iomnar.

An clocc rob athair baistiï//?

Do Ludn triath an gaiscctó,

Agan caraidh, mor medhrach,

Sinell octis Tigernacli.

(48) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tainic Luan se fir décc

D’iariaidh a bhaiste, ’s ni brecc, Fionnackta as Mnrchad amuigh,

O bfuilit clann mher Murcha/lt;/.

Do baistedh na sé fir décc Le Naile, is ni brécc,

Do ched Tigernaigh on tsail Is Sinill ocus Ronain.

Doni Luan luth buadha Oirdeirc la each atcuala,

Bradan gacha ladhra lais,

Eter cois is laimh leabhaw'.

Do raid Flannan ba geal cnes,

Mac Logha ; ‘ Dorinnis des. ’

‘ Biaidh air, ’ ar Naile nar,

‘ Ó so amach go brath Luan. ’

On luth an sin dorinde Adbar baisttzif/j, an gille “,

Coimhdhes dó muir is talman.

' MS. on Ual; but the rhyme shows that we must read as above. * A line left vacant in MS.; evidently O’Clery could not read his exemplar; he saysnbsp;himself that it was ‘ unclear ’.

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

Da nesccaine mo clocc cruaidh An lanamhaiw tre diowbüaidh,

Do ghebhaitt a ndis gan fheall GöjVde saoghail is ifreann.

Toirrces gach céud lara lem Dligim od shiol, as reim tenw,

Bidh lem od cinedh coidhce Cétt laogh gach bó benn-bdoithe

Céd-arc gach muice as dlecht damh O shiol Ludin na ccomhrzmh,

Céd-uan gach cioiach go ccdil Ód shiol as lemsa, a Ludin.

Ced punwan gach arbha üir Damsa re ndol anwsa ccüil,

Uaim don arhhar da chionn soiw Sonus a ccrüaich ’s a caictair.

Mesccdn as gach maistreadh uaibh Dligim dom chios-cdin o buaibh,

Do gebhthar uaim da cinn soin Buaidh blecA/a is buaidh toraidh.

Agh tri nglac as gach creich cniaidh, Dligim gidh sin da hhar sïüagh,

Du damh go dües an dail,

Gidh xxzXhad bhios ’gd gabhdil.

Buaidh cosccair uaim da cionw sin Dow tslüagh do beir an mboiw siw,

Uaim d’feraibh Locha hÉirne Buaidh catha, buaidh coimAéirge.

Ni léigeabh a nguiw Ie gdibh,

An ccein congbaid a cdin,

^ Sic MS.; read: Céud-toirrces each lara lem. “ Sic MS., literally ‘ horn-foolish ’; but perhaps we should read benn-bldithi, smoothe-horned; cf.nbsp;§ 38.

LIFE OF NAILE

Gamp;\nïidh mac uait, a fheil fhinw,

A Luain uasail airm-ghrinw,

Cernach a ain?« ar cul crech SeacAlt; meic agan cCernach.

Dogéna bladh dibh mo reir,

Clanna Cernaigh, bwj rioghdha réim, Brisfirffer leo an cain cruaidhnbsp;Le bloidh don cloinw cloidemh-rtóaiy/i.

Stefdn, Dalach, buan a rath,

Firgil is Odhar uallach,

An cethrur laoch as mor gail,

Congbad siw mo cain chuba*d/i.

Maolduin is Caomhdn calma Brisfitt mo chain athartdha,

Do ghebait liaim resan dail Diombiiatlt;7/! cloinwi ocus cowaigh.

Esccainim oniu go brath Siol Maolduin, ba fir an fdth,

Nar geine uadha, as réim cert,

Nech dan dii iath no oireacht.

Doghenaid siol Camain cais ^liWedh mo chdna go crois;

O Muigh Lemhna cm'rfett soin latt tre esccaine i Mumhain.

Biaidh mac ag Cernach go beacht, Biaidh ri é gan fresabhra,

Bidh Odhar a ainm ’ga thoigh O ngeinfitt aicme Uidhir.

Gebaidh a shiol righe tenn, Coingebhatt mo chdin le treall;

Benfad diobh righe don dail D’eis mo chana gan congmdil.

An uair brister mo cain cruaidh, Tionoltar uile mo shluaigh,

Teccaitt lem mar sgeith oa ttoigh, \j\icht congmala mo chadaigh.

(58)

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBEBNICA

Bentar mo cluicc si lt;mar sgiath Ar shiol Luain, borb a liach,

Ocus cluicc Shinill sheabhrai^A,

Is cluicc taoibh-gil Thigernaigh.

Bentar cluicc ^ Molaisi anw,

Is Ronain, is Fuince feidhm-teanw,

Ar siol Ludin go mbrighe,

Da ndiocur on deigh-righe.

Ni suidhfit ’san righe reil Clanna Luain, ger bhéodha a réim,

Ni ghebhait da éis go cert Righe ar iath no ar oireacht.

Btdh me in nathair ag dith sluagh,

As me an teine as cro-derg gudl,

As me an leomaw ag dith cruid,

As me an mathgamain ar mhenmuin.

Me an bheithir as réim rioghdha,

Me Naile mor maordha,

Biaidh ’gum fogh\adh, as reim tenn, Giorra saoghail is ifrenn.

Me mac righ Mumaw moire,

Mé cisde na cdnóine,

Mé as neimhnt^/ie peall is port.

Mé naemh is üaisle aVd-chlog. ’

XVIII. (6o) Cid tra öcAt’ar sgaoilclt;//! na coinwe clocc-naomAtha, 7 ’ar ngluasacht dowa cleircibh on comhdail sin, tarla fledh urlamhnbsp;ionchaithme ag Ronaw di'adha degh-timpirech do Thigernachnbsp;uasal-craibhtecA mac Cairpre |f.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;141''!nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;7 dona cleircibh

arcena. Ocus do gluaisettar na cléirigh do chaithemh na fleidhe, 7 do cuiredh i ttighibh loghmara leaptha na cleirech. Ocus is énbsp;fa ronwaire arin ruithen-fleidh, Murcadh malach-dhubh, ó ffuilitnbsp;aicme MurchatVf. Cidh tra acht do roinwedh an fhledh sin lanbsp;Murchadh arna cleircibh.

Vacant space in MS.

LIFE OF NAILE

(61) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus tarla Naile com coimite c\éïrech gaw cuimhniuccat//!.nbsp;Ocus do chuimhnicccrfA Naile com cleir ag Luan 7 ag Murchalt;/nbsp;do dhermat go xnithzpaidh. Ocus o ’tcxxamp;laidh Naile a dermatnbsp;imon deigh-fleidh sin, do ferccaiccct/A 7 do lonwaighedh an teonbsp;iosadh feithmecA iir-éo\ach fir-bhrethach, 7 an SpzVat diadhanbsp;d^cach Azonnachtzch., óir nir saoil go ccoingebhtaoi a bhecc danbsp;CIOS no da cain da cloccaibh no da cléircibh ’na ccrt-dheghairf,nbsp;Ó do milledh a mucha sin hi.

(62) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cidh tra acht do éirgettar na cleirigh a nkoin-iecht,nbsp;7 ro ghluaisestair Luan da luath-ionMsa«]^/ie, 7 do batar go homh-Tvach imeaglach, millti, micóirï^Athi, eter cleirecA 7 chosccar-laoch, espoc 7 uasal-naomh, shaccart 7 shalm-cetlailt;/A, macaomhnbsp;7 mhór-ingin ar eccla na luath-easccaine. Cidh tra acht ro im-ghestair Luan go luath ara ghluinibh go Naile, 7 do ghabhwitairnbsp;Tigernach ag isliucchelt;/ mór-fheircce an naoimh-cleirigh, 7 ’ganbsp;innisin narh é Luan hudh lain-ciontach, acht Murcharf da mhór-dhermat.

(63) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ocus do raidhestair Naile go neimh-lescc : ‘ Esccainimnbsp;si an Murchöé/ sin com maicnedhaibh, dimbuaidh ronna aranbsp;roinw, 7 |f. 142 ¹'1 air féin, 7 ara aicmedhaibh ^ ’na dheghflid.’nbsp;Ocus do raid Luan go lain-ésccöZé//!: ‘ Do gébthar radh Tigher-naigh go Xiim-esccaidh uaim féin 7 om aicme dom éis. ’ Ocusnbsp;do raidh Naile go ngehadh breath TigernajgA don toiscc siw.nbsp;Ocus asi breth rucc Tigernach do Naile fan ccuis siw ; dtchmadhnbsp;na fleidhe, 7 dech.xnadh gacha haoidhigeacAfa alia amuigh danbsp;ard-phort féin uadha féin 7 ona aicme da eis do Naile, 7 da aird-mhionwaibh tara éisi. Ocus as dowa comhtaibh cédna comafrcenbsp;laimhe deircce da thermonn 7 da cloicc-mionwaibh

(64) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I ttigh na mbratlt;hgt;ar ag Drobaois do scrioba^/ annbsp;chuid siw do hethaid Naile ar slicht sein-leabhaiV nemh-gloinnbsp;le Niall MeirgecA, mac mhfc Suibne Bhoghainz^A, 29 lanuarij 1629.nbsp;An hvathair hocht Michél ro scriobh.

1

MS. ara a aicmedhaibh. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Here ends the Life, obviously incomplete,

and the colophon expressly describes it as a fragment. Half a page is left blank in the MS., perhaps in the hope that some fuller copy might be found.

TRANSLATION

I. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(x) Once upon a time, a king succeeded to the rule andnbsp;authority over the two provinces of Munster, to wit, Aengus,nbsp;son of Nadfraech, son of Core, son of Lugaid, son of Oilill Flann-bec, son of Fiacha Muillethan (thick-neck), son of Eogan Mornbsp;(the great), son of Oilill Ólom (crop-ear). And this Aengusnbsp;succeeded to the full sovereignty of the whole of Leth Moghanbsp;(Mogh’s half, i.e. Southern Ireland), and reigned over themnbsp;for thirty-four years. And the consort of this good king wasnbsp;Eithne, daughter of Crimthann the victorious; and it was shenbsp;who bore to the king the noble offspring, to wit, Eochaid, sonnbsp;of Aengus, who was high king after his father.

II. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(2) Now to this Eithne appeared a strange and wondrousnbsp;vision. (She dreamed) that she was pregnant, and her deliverynbsp;imminent, and that of this pregnancy a sturdy dog-whelp wasnbsp;born, which was washed in milk, so that therefrom every quarternbsp;and nook in Ireland was filled with milk and lactage.

And the queen started from her sleep at the strangeness of the vision, and roused the king promptly, and they made thesenbsp;stanzas :

(3) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ A vision I saw without guilt,

O Aengus of the sprightly horses;

O king of Cliu, whose valour is royal.

It caused great trouble in my mind.

I saw as a woman heavily pregnant,

O Aengus of the steady eyes,

O king of Munster, ’tis a great charter.

Without change for the space of nine months.

After this I was delivered,

O sturdy son of Nadfraech;

And this is what I bore, O white tooth,

A lusty dog-whelp.

LIFE OF NAILE

It is washed in milk in full measure,

The whelp with its little swimming;

So that it filled every region with its liquor Of milk throughout all Ireland. ’

(4) Said Aengus of the fair skin :

‘ Thou shalt bear a son, this will be thy fortune,

He will fill Ireland without deceit With his (ascetic) piety and fair learning.

Patrick conferred a lasting blessing On thee and me in strong Cashel,

When we conveyed the sweet-voiced place To great Patrick, son of Calpurn.

He said to thee that thou shouldest bear a son To me, O lady of the fair hands.

That the mouths of all the men of Erin should be full Of his piety and fair learning.

O daughter of Crimthann of the tall horses.

Be joyful, O white and fierce;

Here is for thee, though fair thy hue.

The ready interpretation of the vision. ’

A vision.

III. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(5) So then they passed the time of their reign rightnbsp;prosperously, without trouble or lack; and the queen becamenbsp;pregnant, and of her pregnancy was born a notable birth of anbsp;son. And when they were minded to take him to be baptised,nbsp;an angel appeared on the horn of the altar in the presence of themnbsp;all, and said to them in a loud clear voice : ‘ Let the name of Nailenbsp;be given to the young child; for verily this golden candle shallnbsp;be holy, and every one will believe on the fair patron saint.

IV. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(6) So then the young child was nurtured after this, andnbsp;assuredly every word he uttered was full of grace from the royalnbsp;angel. And at the end of his seven years the steadfast patronnbsp;saint was assuredly a doctor in the seven liberal sciences owingnbsp;to his persevering study. And then the angel ordered the weightynbsp;clerk to go to Colum cille in order that a mother church com-

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

plete might be consecrated for the young child, and a place in which he might make his abode with his clergy and with his sacrednbsp;bells.

V. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(7) And Naile set out on this holy errand (or holy instruction) with his retinue of clerks in attendance. Now Columnbsp;cille, son of Feidlimid, son of Fergus Cennfada (long-head), sonnbsp;of Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the nine hostages, was thennbsp;at fresh-featured Inber Naile, reciting his psalms, and chantingnbsp;his ‘ Beati ’, and devoutly praising the Creator, with the clerksnbsp;of Leth Cuinn (Conn’s half, i.e. Northern Ireland) about him,nbsp;when they saw the slow-stepping bell-hallowed troop approachingnbsp;them, and a young fresh modest tree in the centre of the clerksnbsp;to instruct them fairly, and a thousand reverend angels hauntingnbsp;them unfailingly.

(8) And when Colum cille and his clerks looked on Naile with his noble troop, they fell on their knees before him. Andnbsp;when Naile saw this honour paid to him by the crimson-pennednbsp;primate of the sweet pater-nosters, he hastily sank on his kneesnbsp;to the ground out of reverence to the lofty patron saint. Andnbsp;they eagerly kissed each other three times, to wit, Colum cillenbsp;and Naile; and the clerks also joined in welcoming him; andnbsp;Colum cille spake these words :

VI. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(9)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Welcome thy coming from the south,

O Naile, to our added profit;

Thou shalt receive, O sweet-voiced saint.

Our pleasure and our honour. ’

lt;Naile answered :gt;

‘ An angel from heaven enjoined me,

O devout Colum cille.

To beg this abode of thee.

Wherein my bells and clerks may abide. ’

The venerable Colum cille said ;

‘ Bless the place in which we are.

Make a fair pleasant church

In it, O son of the great king of Munster. ’

129

LIFE OF NAILE Bright Naile arose

And Colum cille, ’t was a rule-right word, And by them the fair place was blessed,

Both by the youth and the patron saint.

Naile lifted up his hands.

And prayed to God right boldly.

That he might receive food and pleasant drink For Colum cille and his clerks.

Full of fish was the whole strand (Mighty was the miracle).

Full too of red wheat

The strand; ’twas a cause of great praise.

All the clerks genuflected At the sight of the miracle.

The greatness of his wonders side by side,

And the youth of the boy.

Inber Naile of the ford

Is its name till the day of doom.

‘ I give it, ’ said Colum of the sighs,

‘ To thee, O Naile, and welcome. ’

Welcome.

VII. (n) So then Naile spent part of his life in Inber Naile modestly, piously, devotedly, in mighty works, and he fashionednbsp;there a church for labour, and an oratory for hard devotion,nbsp;wherein to nobly recite his psalm-reading, and to mightily praisenbsp;his Lord; so that the relation of the mighty works of the saintnbsp;was a destruction to the great sin and to the misbelief of high Erin.

VIII. (12) So then it was at this time and hour that Molaise of Devenish came as venerable high legate, with twelve saintsnbsp;of his household round about him in place of the apostles. Thereupon a dangerous sudden illness seized Molaise on the spot, andnbsp;he was commending himself to God and the good saints withoutnbsp;ceasing. And the clerks said : ‘ To whom dost thou leave thynbsp;place, O great patron saint ? or who will act as a divine son tonbsp;instruct us duly, to blot out our sins, and direct our theology ? ’

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

‘ To whom in sooth should I leave it ? ’ said Molaise, ‘ save to the steadfast ready-witted tree, and the godly devout candle, evennbsp;to my disciple and good brother, to wit, Naile the nobly intelligent;nbsp;and if ye believe not that the clerk has been duly chosen by menbsp;and by God, this sweet-voiced intact bell which is under mynbsp;head will leap into the bosom of the man for whom the placenbsp;is fitting. ’

(13) So then after this mutual discourse, his soul departed from his body, and his soul was carried without doubt to fillnbsp;up the nine orders of angels. And as they were preparing hisnbsp;funeral rites, and the saints were in bright attendance on him,nbsp;then came Naile to the place where he (Molaise) was. Andnbsp;while they were there, the sweet-voiced fair wonder-workingnbsp;bell leaped from (under) the head of Molaise in presence of thenbsp;clerks, and settled on the breast of the holy clerk; and the clerksnbsp;in greeting him sang :

IX. (14) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ Slow is thy coming after starting on the way,

O Naile, it is no deceit;

Thou didst not find in life Molaise of Devenish. ’

lt;Naile :gt;

‘ Since my divine master is gone, Molaise, who was gentle of rule.nbsp;The head of all Erin’s devotion.nbsp;Who was godly, a right good man. ’

lt;The clerks :gt;

‘ He gave a sign to us before his death, Molaise, who ne’er spoke false;

The one on whom his fair bell should light Should be our lord on earth.

Our headship to thee, O heavenly saint,

O Naile of the fresh form;

Take the lordship over us for a time.

That our faith may be well-ordered. ’

(15) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In Devenish of the sweet bells

Was Naile, as we know right well.

LIFE OF NAILE

He came for the space of nine sweet years, To order our rule aright.

Great was his devotion and his right,

His law was divine and consistent;

His body was sanctified and good.

Among the clerks of Devenish.

Thankful were the clerks of Leth Cuinn, And the saints of slow Leth Mogha,

For Naile who loved not riches {lit. kine). And for his words gentle and slow.

Slow.

X. (i6) Now when Maedoc heard of the many and various miracles of this saint, Naile, and that he was a proper worthynbsp;saint in the place of Molaise, he sent messengers to him to confirm the close compact, and to establish the fair faith which hadnbsp;been between Molaise and Maedoc. And this was the definitenbsp;special place agreed on by the pure patron saints, to wit, the richnbsp;bright-gleaming Disert na Topar (Hermitage of the Springs),nbsp;which is now called Cell Naile (Naile’s Church) of the noble judgements, and which had assuredly a further name, Cluain Caemnbsp;(the Fair Mead) till Dathernoc (Ternoc) occupied the princelynbsp;place.

(17) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;So then Naile came with his numerous clergy, and Maedocnbsp;with his monks to keep this tryst to the fair church with itsnbsp;wonder-working bell. And Naile took his seat with his numerous clergy on the summit of the high hill, with his back againstnbsp;a pillar-stone above the place. And a mighty thirst seized himnbsp;on the spot; and he called Flannan, son of Fiachna, son ofnbsp;Fergus, to him, and bade him to go without long delay to asknbsp;speedily for a drink. And Flannan went on this errand, andnbsp;asked a drink of Ternoc for his lord. And Ternoc refusednbsp;and denied the request, and spoke to this effect : ‘ As I havenbsp;produced water by my miracles and mighty works, so the headnbsp;of the faith and devotion of Leth Cuinn shall do the like. ’

(18) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;And Flannan departed in great perturbation at thisnbsp;answer, and made his report to his master. And Naile wasnbsp;furiously angry at this response, and this is how he was, with

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

his ever-wonder-working staff erect in his right hand; and he hurled the finely carved Stas’ across three full ploughlands (?),nbsp;so that it went speedily under the fixed stones of the land. Andnbsp;Naile said furiously : ‘ Follow my staff, O Flannan, and takenbsp;with thee my stone-red cup of polished form, and wherevernbsp;the staff shall enter the ground seek there for water for our patronnbsp;saints. ’

(19) And Flannan set out on this commission, and unhesitatingly took the cup; and this is how he found the staff, stuck in a huge infrangible rock, and a pure-cold stream of blue waternbsp;burst forth instantly and spontaneously after it. And he dippednbsp;the cup into the fair water, and lifted the staff out of the solidnbsp;earth, and proceeded untiringly to Naile, and related the miraclesnbsp;to the clerks and gave a drink of the good water to Naile. Andnbsp;then Flannan said :

‘ O Naile, pleasant is the treasure When thou didst find, it is no lie,

A sunny fountain, as I am sure,

(Bursting) through a hidden great rock.

Thou didst throw thy fair staff

From the foot of the pillar stone without anguish

Across the three full ploughlands beside us ;

Into the earth it went, and remained fixed.

There it raised its head From the hidden great rock.

And the pure sunny water arose In its place speedily. ’

(21) lt;Naile :gt;

‘ I leave excellences on my fountain.

Let each one relate it to the people.

(It is) equally good for washing and for drinking. My fountain with its fair whiteness.

Other excellences I leave on it, ’

Said Naile, ’twas a smoothe story,

‘ Fell diseases shall be healed By its water irresistibly.

LIFE OF NAILE

Let him wash early at my fountain,

My erenagh who is affluent of riches;

A sufficiency of food for hospitality in his time He shall receive in his guest-house.

After speedily washing

Recite a ‘ pater ’ no less speedily.

My far-famed service will free From devils and heinous sins.

Woe to him who outrages my venerable church, Woe to any against whom they cry out.

Woe to him against whom my bells are rung Every morning and every evening.

Woe to the man who trespasses on my asylum. Woe to him who outrages my temple;

He shall receive here for a time Shortness of life, and hell (hereafter).

I am the fire fiercely burning,

I am the serpent cruelly restraining;

Sharper than wounding spear would be My clerks and my relics. ’

O Naile.

XI. (23) So then when Ternoc saw these weighty miracles, and Naile furiously punishing him, the patron saint proceedednbsp;on his knees from the sunny fountain where he was, to the hillnbsp;where Naile was with his clerks, and thus addressed him : ‘ Onbsp;divine loving tree of fair behaviour, O steadfast pious blazingnbsp;candle, O royal gracious saint, do not deprive me of heaven throughnbsp;thy great miracles. ’ Naile answered without bitterness innbsp;these words and said : ‘ I do not deprive thee of heaven, O holynbsp;clerk; but I will deprive thee of this place, where thou didstnbsp;obstinately refuse to us patron-saints (a drink of) cold water.nbsp;And I leave to thee that to whatever district thou shalt move,nbsp;and in whatever place thou shalt occupy a church, where itsnbsp;priest shall be preaching, and its good clerks continually praying to God, wolves will be burrowing in thy cemetery, and foxesnbsp;routing in it with their snouts. ’

MISCELLANEA HAGIOGRAPHICA HIBERNICA

(24) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;And Ternoc answered these heavy sayings, and spake

thus : ‘ I leave (to thee) to have no sheep in thy fair church. ’ Naile replied and said : ‘ I leave thee jealousy of the keepers ofnbsp;the sheep for their fair fleeces. ’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;‘ I leave, ’ said Ternoc, ‘ fleas

to plague you afresh, and mice to ravage you speedily. ’

Naile answered and said : ‘ I relegate the fleas to the dense fens, and the mice to the wide woods. ’ And Ternoc spakenbsp;and said ; ‘ I leave the bloom of (only) one night on your rushes. ’nbsp;And Naile said ; ‘ I leave rushes up to the door-posts in the highnbsp;place; and I leave excellences in the smoothe church, to wit,nbsp;to be one of the three hearths of most hospitable service in thenbsp;land of mild miracles, Breifne; to wit, the hearth of my holynbsp;church, the great wonder-working hearth of Maedoc, and the evernbsp;grace-endowed hearth of Bricin. ’

(25) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;And the saints spoke these stanzas :

‘ 0 Ternoc, arise and go.

Leave the place rightfully to me; Depart from the pure-hued church.nbsp;Its riches shall not be for thee. ’

lt;Ternoc :gt; ‘ O Naile of the melodious speech.

No saint is thy peer;

Unjustly am I being driven eastwards From my own proper church. ’

‘ O Ternoc, who art at the cross.

No piety was it that thou didst.

To refuse a man in respect of a drink.

Of the produce of the earth with its flocks. ’ ‘ I leave, ’ said contentious Ternoc,

‘ Defect of sheep here in the south. ’

‘ You may, ’ said Naile, ‘ from heaven

Excellence of clothing and hospitality (will be mine).

‘ Abundance of fleas there, and mice, ’ Said Ternoc then maliciously.

Said Naile : ‘ I will destroy them In bogs and woods. ’

LIFE OF NAILE

‘ I leave there, ’ said fair Ternoc,

‘ Bloom of a night on its rushes. ’

‘ There shall be, ’ said Naile, ‘ and this is sure, Rushes in it up to the door-posts.

I will christen thy smoothe place,

Cluain Caem was the fort’s first name,

Disert Topair, an easy road,

Was its name in the time of Ternoc.

Cell Naile, true the cause.