Catalogue of Gaelic Manuscripts in the National Library of Scotland
© Ronald Black
Adv. MS 73.1.22
(Gaelic MS.CXVII). MEDICAL.
Mackinnon, p.273; Mackechnie, p.275.
Paper. 331 ff. Folio, 29 × 20 cms. “Pot” watermark. Written under MacDougall’s patronage in Lorne and Ossory, 1596-1600, by Donnchadh Ó Conchubhair (Duncan O’Conacher, 1571-1647) at the behest of Ollamh Osraige, Donnchadh Óg Ó Conchubhair, and with the help of Cathal mac Cuinn Uí Dhuinnshléibhe (the scribe of RIA 23 N 16), Giolla Pádraig mac Donnchaidh Óig Uí Chonchubhair, Niall Mac Iomhair, and others. When writing in Ireland Donnchadh uses the distinguishing epithet Albannach. His pedigree, Donnchadh mac Eoin mhic Domhnaill mhic Donnchaidh, is given by Angus Beaton at p. 126 of Adv.MS.72.2.10, a manuscript compiled with his active assistance. He died at Dunstaffnage, and the deaths of successive MacDougalls are recorded in the manuscript as well as his own (f. 257v). It passed through the hands of Eoin Ó Conchubhair and at least one other scribe (f. 257v) before entering the possession of the MacLachlans of Kilbride.
The manuscript is described by Donald Mackintosh, in his catalogue of the material remaining in Major MacLachlan’s possession after 1801, as “A thick folio paper MS. same character, medical, and written by Duncan Conacher at Dunollie, Argyleshire, 1511”. (Poems of Ossian in the original Gaelic, vol.3, p.571). The date 1511 is taken from a colophon at f. 224v, on which a chemical reagent has been used – presumably by Mackintosh himself, as subsequent cataloguers did not reproduce any part of it. The manuscript does not figure in any HSS inventory, yet all that remained of it in the Kilbride family’s possession in 1851 was sixteen leaves (Cf. Adv.MS.73.2.10, f. 200v). The rest was eventually found by Mackinnon at the bottom of box 2 of HSS papers, which had been transferred to the Advocates’ Library in 1850. No Kilbride manuscripts are likely to have been given to the HSS between 1801 and 1850. The explanation must therefore be somewhat as follows. There is evident confusion between Adv.MS.73.1.22 and Adv.MS.72.1.33; the paper section of the latter is partly written by Donnchadh Ó Conchubhair, and a leaf of it was present in Adv.MS.73.1.22 until replaced in 1974. Moreover, when drafting his Kilbride catalogue, Mackintosh placed his description of Adv.MS.73.1.22 first among the manuscripts retained by Major MacLachlan, immediately following his account of Adv.MS.72.1.32-6. (Adv.MS.73.2.12, f. 75v). So it seems possible that when Adv.MS.72.1.32-6 were brought to Edinburgh in 1801, Major MacLachlan inadvertently included the bulk of Adv.MS.73.1.22.
The sixteen separated leaves became Adv.MS.72.1.18 (q.v.). Of these, six were moved to Adv.MS.73.1.22 by Mackechnie and are now ff. 33-8. These bear Hugh Kerr’s initials.
Condition is poor, edges being badly perished at front and rear with resulting textual losses. Until 1977, when it was laminated, most of the manuscript was still held together by thread and four bindings thongs. No original cover is recorded. A pagination was added in places, very inaccurately, by the scribe.
The folio numbers given by Mackechnie are incorrect; no foliation was added to the manuscript until 1978.
In addition to a few marginalia, many notes of considerable interest were inserted to fill out lines in the text. These are given below. A hand resembling that of Niall Mac Iomhair annotates the text at ff. 4r, 62v, 67rv, 70r, 79v, 81r, 83r, 84v, 123r, and 187r. Mac Iomhair may have been of the mid-Argyll MacIvers; his hand is identified by an anonymous scribe who writes “Comortus riot a neill Mhic Iomhair” at f. 265r and the pen-tests “Sinn sin a cheoil binn chaoin”, “an fo an peand so an ainm Dia so 7 Muire na gras”, etc., at ff. 258r and 310r. Words of the text are crudely imitated at ff. 62r, 259r.
f.
1r Bernard of Gordon. LILIUM MEDICINAE. Begins acephalous in part 1, chapter 5, neithe contrardha do thabhairt gan fechui dona neithibh rannuighthi. For Latin text see Bernard of Gordon, Opus, Lilium Medicinae inscriptim, …. Una cum aliquot allis eius libellis (Lyons, 1574), p.28.33. Lacuna at ff. 31-2 is Adv.MS.72.1.18; 1 f. missing between ff. 62-3. Written in two columns by Donnchadh Albannach, Cathal Ó Duinnshléibhe, Giolla Pádraig mac Donnchaidh Óig and at least five other scribes. Donnchadh Albannach’s notes: 10v “slan chugad Eoin Ceir o Dhonnchadh O Conchubhair”; 18r “la feil Padraig”; 47v “an niudh dham a mBaile Cuad”; 78r “Mairgreg og inghen tShethain 7 Finnín mac Domnaill 7 Sili 7 an fer is aithnid dham fein”; 84v “anocht dham a mBaile Cuthad a bhfhocair Dhiarmuid an Bhealaigh an 12 la do mhi Iunius 7 is ann ata an baile sin eidir teora Mhuighneach & Laithneach anno domini 1596 misi Donchadh”; 96r “sin duit a ttoigh Mhic Murchodha”; 96v “tairnig ann sin an dara lebhar maille furtachd De & a mbaile Dhonnchaidh Oig I Conchubhair do sgribhadh é oir ise an Donnchadh Og sin tug an lebhar so rena sgribhadh do Dhonnchadh Albannac O Concubhair anno domini 1596 an la deidhinach do mi Iuin”; 108r “uch uch a Dhia”; 111r “uc uch a Dia”; 112r “uc uch”; 115r “ata mo bru folamh”; 150v “sin duit a Mhaire Builtear”; 155v “slan duit a Dhumollamh anocht”; 157r “an tú Una Bhuiltear?”; 162v “uch uch a Dia”; 179r “Dia le Donnchadh O Conchubhair”; 182v “ata fuacht orm anois”; 185v “Tarnig ann sin an 5 partigal maille grasaibh Dhé an ii la do mi November 7 an Achadh Mhic Artt tinnsgnuighe e 7 is ann do tarnig se 7 ise do sgrib an cuid so fuas de .i. Giolla Patrig mac Donnchaidh Oig I Concubair 7 do bhi Niall Mac Iomhur 7 Iollann 7 Tadhg 7 Domnall do lathair an uair sin 7 do bhi eagal orinn roimh cuid do chineadh Chaissin do bhi ar an gcetairne coille 7 ni bfhuil Cathall annsa mbaile an nocht anno domini 1596. Misi Donnchadh O Conchubhair”; 190v “Dia le Donnchadh O Concubhair”; 224r.a “sin duit”. Cathal’s notes: 89v “sin duit a Dhonnchaidh Albannaigh maille bennachtain”; 101r “sin duit a Dhonnchaidh maille bennachtain”; 107r “sin duit a Dhonnchaidh maille bennachtain”; 122r “Tairnig ann sin an 3 partigal don Lili le Donnchadh Albunach Ó Conchubhair maille furtach din tshlanaighteóra an 6 lá d’Augustus a nAchadh Mhic Airt a bfharradh Donnchaidh Oig I Conchubhair anno domini 1596. Sin duit a Dhonnchaidh maille bennacht 7 is Cuma leat cr(éad) air in bpic ponaire anois oir atai ag lionadh do bhrudh a gCill Coinnigh 7 ni mor in benn ata agad oruinni an méad i so d’fhágbas tar h’éis. Acht ni bec sin acht co ndenadh Dia trocairi oruinn an bhuidhen do bhi ann sin .i. Donnchadh Albunach 7 Iollann Maigbhetha 7 Fergach O Ferghusa 7 misi Cathal O Duinnshlebhe”; 130r “sin duit”; 149r “Tairnig ann sin an 4 lebhar do thoil Dé ro Donnchadh Ó Conchubhuir anno domini 1600 in 30 la do Maius. A gCulchoill Mic Gilla Padraig dhamh in tansa a bfhochuir Dhonnchaidh Oig hI Chonchubhair”; 155r “sin duit a Mhairsile maille croide …..”; 165r “sin duit a Mhairsile”; 222v “ag sin duit a Mhairsili inghen Mhic Cubhaill”. Notes by anon. hands: 172r “ag sin duit a Mhairsili ni Mhic Cumhaill”; 207v “gomadh slan duit a Dhonatus”; 210v “ag sin duit a Donnchaidh maille bennacht”.
224r .b (Donnachadh Albannach’s hand). “Tairnig ann sin an (7) particlum don Lili mailli re toil Dé an 10 la do mhi Februairies 7 a nAthchith Mhic Airt dham a faradh Dhonnchaidh Oig I Concubhar. Oir ise tuc dhamsa an leabhar so rena sgriobhadh 7 go roimhe maith ag gach aon duine da dtug cabhuir no conadh dham fan lebhar so 7 go h-airidhi ag Cathall mac Cuinn. Oir is mor do sgriobh se dham 7 fos is mor an cogadh ata a nErinn an tan so. Oir ata Fiactha mac Aodh 7 mac Ruthraigh Oig 7 Domnall Mac Uaidhne 7 clann tShethain mhic Giolla fPhatrig 7 moran eile do daoine uaisle mar riu sin ag denamh uilc 7 cogaidh a n-adhaigh na Bainrigain 7 clann Edmuinn an Chala a-muigh ar Iarla Urun”.
224r .b m (? Niall Mac Iomhair’s hand, Cf. f. 265). “& farior sgeula is measa leam nag ach sgeula 7 cogadh chionadh Chaisín le Donncadh O Concabhair fa olluntacht Osraige Mhic a Ghiolla Padruig 7 ata an eogair acsan go bfios duine air an abhar nach maith an t-aois ealadhan iad 7 nach coir ollamh do ghairm don duine bhios mar sin. 7 tuilleadh eile, sgeula (dhuibh) ar in ccogadh so .i. gurab e Ó Neill mar ata Aodh mac an Fhir Dorcha mhic Cuinn mhic mhic Cuinn mhic Enrí mhic Eoghain mhic Neill Óig mhic Neill Mhoir is ceannbhurt air an googadh so na hErend 7 go bfios damhsa ni cogadh gan cosnamh sin an fad bhairfis an t-uaithne catha 7 an t-airseoir iorghail 7 an lamh laidir 7 an cleith bearna (.i.) Aodh O Neill mac an Fhir Dhorcha 7 gur fada b(eo) an fer sin 7 misi fen maill fris. Anno domini 1596”.
224r .b i (Donnchadh Albannach’s hand). “Uch uch a Dia is fada leom ata me gan dul mar a bfuil Donnchadh oir ise Mac Dubhaill ata gom conmhail re mí 7 le toil Dia gearr go mbi me annsa chaoigeadh Laoithneach mar a bfuil G Grainne 7 Donnchadh 7 Fitnín 7 cach uile sin a mach. Finit”.
224v (Largely illegible, hand uncertain; much darkened by the use of a chemical reagent). “(Ag) so leabhar Donnchaidh 7 is se Donnchadh do sgriobh he o Dhonnchadh Og O Conchubhair aois an tighearna an tan so 1511 .i. 1603 …..” (?)
225r Bernard of Gordon. PROGNOSTICA. Beg. Senectus domina oblivionis est adhon is i an airsaigecht bantigherna an dermuid . Cf. RIA MS. 3 C 19, f. 241. For printed Latin text see Gordon,op. cit., p.993. Written in two columns by Donnchadh Albannach. His notes: 225r “An xxiiii la do mi Agustus tionnsgnadh so do sgribhadh 7 a mBaile Cuad dhom ag leighes cancer bolgaigh do bhi ar Finin mac Diarmuid an Bhealaigh”; 236v “is rofhada ata me gan d’fhaicsin a Marsili”; 247r “Dia liom”; 257v.a i “Tairnig and sin Prognostica Bernardus Gordonius an 9 la do mi Octoberis maille furdachd De a mBaile Cuthad dham 7 is iad so an drong do bhi ar lathair an crichnuighthi so .i. Fitnin mac Diarmuid 7 Grainne inghen Diarmuid 7 oglaoch o Laoighis 7 is iad so an drong nach fuil do lathair .i. Cathal O Concubhair 7 Iollinn 7 Domnall 7 Tadhg. Trocaire righ nimhi d’ughdar an leabhairsi .i. Bernardus Gordonius 7 d’fer a churtha a nGaoidhelg .i. Cormac O Duinnslebhi 7 d’fer a sgribhta ann so .i. Donnchadh Ua Concubhair. Ailim trocaire Dhe dom anmuin 7 a Dhe cuir me slan go Dún Ollamh mas toil let”.
257v .b (Eoin Ó Conchubhair’s hand). “Ase lion do duileogaibh at annsa leaphar so sgriobtha adhon 2 100 duileog 7 2 20 7 seacht nduileoga. Mise Eoin O Conchubhair”. Hand of Adv.MS.72.1.13, f. 12r, marg., adds “Maile 9 xx do chaidernaibh”.
257v .b5 (Donnchadh Albannach’s hand). “Aois an tigherna an uair do rugadh Donnchadh O Conchubhair .i. mili bliadhna 7cuig ced tri fithi 7 a haoin deg an 24 la do Iuni. Do rugadh fer Dhunachach cuig bliadhna na dhiagh sin. Aois an tigherna anois 1614 bliadhna deg. Misi Donchadh. Aois an tigherna an ta(n) fuair Donnchadh Mac Dubhghaill tigherna Dhunolamh bas annsa chodaltai bhreac an Dunollamh .i. mili 7 6 c. bliadhna 7 se bliadhna deag nisa mho, an la deighinach d’Agus(tus) 7 do hioghladh a gCilli Bhridi he annsa chisti chloidhe is neasa don dorus air taoibh cuil an teampaill & a Dhia athair cuir uair mhaith chugum go cass na dhiaigh maille trocaire dom anmuin. Misi Donnchadh O Concubhair do sgriobh so le droc penn. Uch a Dhia on uch a Dhia . is mairg ata anocht gan triath . ni fada bheris me bec . mo chraidhe da bhreo na dhiaig”.
257v .b27 (Anon. hand). “Aois an tigharna an uair fuair Donnchadh O Conchubair bas ann an Duindainis .i. mili agas séc ed da fhiced agas a seacht, an tres la deag do mi Februarie agas is an inn Caibel Mhic Aonguis do hioghladh e”. 257v.b34, “Aois an tigharna an uair fuair Eoin Mac Doubhgaill tigherna Dhunolamh bas ansa chodaltai bhreac .i. mili agus se c. thri fiched agus a naoi, an chethram la deag do Apryll.” 258r, “Aois an tigharna an nuair do mharbh tigharna L(och na) nElla an in Invir Aora mile agus se cead tri fi(ched) agus haon deag, an la deaghanac don Mhar(t)”.
259r Petrus de Argellata. DE CHIRURGIA. Beg. Cum humanae vitae brevitas teste Hypocrate. Cf. NLI MS. G 8, p.163. Written in single column by Donnchadh Albannach with a little help from Niall Mac Iomhair (f. 265) and an anon. scribe (ff. 303v-320r passim ). Lacuna between ff. 321-2. Donnchadh Albannach’s notes: 259r “An ainm an athor 7 an mhic 7 an spirut naoimh tinnsgnum an levorsa .i. Petrus de Ergelata ar Baille Mhic Cathail. Misi Donnchadh O Concubair do tinnsonus e an 14 la do mhi Januairius anno domini 1598”; 283r “uch a Dhia co bfhoireadh tu orm fein anois”; 287r “a Dhia cuimhnigh me 7 me a bfhad o Dhunollamh 7 om cairttuibh”; 304r “uch a Dhia a Mharsili is fada ata tu gan techt air cuairt chugam 7 gan agum acht me fein”; 308r “uch uch a Dhia foir orm aniugh 7 me a bfharraidhi inghine Bhriain Bhallaigh a nDaire Leac an Fiach”; 308v “An tu Catillin og 7 dar ndoigh ni tu. Misi Donnchadh O Concubair an c. la don Mhart”; 310r “bhdngbh bhcbhtngllngn bhn tft sngn” (A Dhia, a Chatillin, an tu sin?) “bhgfts ngs ddlnggh nbhc tft sngn” (Agus is doigh nach tu sin); 311r “uch a Dia”; 312v “misi Donnchadh O Concubair”; 316r “is olc do riaghail tu so a Chaitillín og inghen Briai(n ); 318r “slan cugat a B(riain?); 321v “uch uch”; 323r “an tu sin a bhenn ni ….” (pen-test); 324r “an tusa is ferr 7 ni maith tu fos” (pen-test); 327v “Uch a Dhia is mor ata Osraidh arna milleadh le Mac I Neill. Misi Donnchadh”; 329v “1599 an la roimh la Casga a mbaile Caitilin”. Anon. scribe’s note: 319v “lor sin is an la aniugh dar leam”.
330r Fragmentary calendar in Donnchadh Albannach’s hand.