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MS D i 2 (The Rule of St. Clare)

Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in the Royal Irish Academy

1221

RULE OF SAINT CLARE

17th cent. Paper. 3 × 3⅞. Pp. 356 (including flyleaves of original MS.), paginated recently, on recto only (inferior margin), in pencil, i- [xviii], the rest of MS. bearing old foliation 1-159. The last ten pp. of the MS. bear no numeration and the two pp. (verso and recto) left blank after ff. 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, and apparently at one time sealed together (they are now separated), have been skipped by the foliator. In addition to these 10 blank pp., the pp. [ii], iii, [vi], xiii-[xvi], [xviii], and four end flyleaves are blank. The MS. is a composite one. The section from fo. 33 on, though obviously modelled on the first section, had to be drastically cut down to be bound with the first. Scribes: Michél Ó Cleirigh, O.F.M., October, 1636 (see p. xvii, ff. 31v., 32v): p. v.-fo. 32v; An Dubhaltach Mac Firbhisigh, December, 1647, i cColáisde na Gaillimhe (see ff. 46v., [161]v. i.): ff. 33 seqq. The MS. is in good condition, but the ink has run through the paper from fo. 113 on, and there are some inkstains (and fingerprints). Margin of fo. 140 is torn. The ruling is in dry point to fo. 32, and from fo. 33 on in pencil and dry point (see fo. 47). There are some corrections in a smaller hand in the latter half of the MS. Bd. in cloth, gilt-lettered on spine: “Stowe Ms. D. i. 2. Royal Irish Academy.” Press no. I. LX (acc. to O'Conor, Bibl. MSS. Stowensis, p. 190). The MS. was presented to Charles O'Conor in 1746 (see p. [iv]).

p.

i . Note in O'Conor's hand (acc. to Purton, Acad. Obs. 163): “No. 60. This is the only copy extant and never was the Irish Language of the 16th and 17th centuries more correctly or grammatically written. This may be considered as a model & standard for the translation of the Bible.”

(ii), iii, blank.

(iv) . “For ye use of ye Poore Clares of Gallway, 1647.” The original inscription has been retraced. In a later, rather clumsy, hand is added: “To Charls O'Connor Esqr 1746.”

v . Title page, in Michél Ó Cléirigh's hand: “Riaghall ar máthar náomhtha .S. Clara. Arna tionntúdh i nGaoidhlicc as Bérla le toil an uachtarán, 1636.”

(vi), blank.

vii . “Daingniucchadh Apstolacdha na Riaghla tucc ar n-athair naomhtha S. Fronsías dar mathair bheannaighthe .S. Clara.” Beg. Innocent easpucc , searbhonta do shearbhóntaighibh Dé dar ndeirbhseathraibh grádhacha i nIosa Criost, Clara banab, et dár ndeirbhseathraibh oile i Mainistir San Damian i nAssis slainte ⁊ beannuccadh apstalacdha. A previous confirmation by Ugolin, Bishop of Ostia, is quoted in full (p. [x]). Continued on fo. 32

viii-(xvi), blank.

xvii . “Ar gradh Iosa et A Naomhmathar millsi an ógh naomhMuire ar grádh San Fronseis, et S. Clara sa Riaghail tionnsccaintear annso, biodh cuimhne accaibh, a dheirbhsetra, in bhar n-ernaighe go laitheamhail ar bhar ndearbhrathair bocht, Michel Ó Cleirigh, a lógaidheacht a shaothair.”

[xviii], blank.

fo.

1 . Irish version of the Rule of Saint Clare, translated from English into Irish by an tAthair Aodh Ó Raghailligh and an tAthair Sémus Ó Siaghail. Headed here: “I nAinm Ar tTiccearna. Amen. Biodh mar sin. Tionnsccaintear Riaghail ⁊ Foirm Bheathadh Uird na nDeirbhsheathrach mBocht arna tabhairt ;e .S.Fr.” Beg. An Chéd Chaibidil. Ag so Riaghail ⁊ Foirm Bheathadh. Text falls into twelve chapters with subsections numbered. Ends fo. 31r. The colophon is appended (fo. 31v): “An tAthair Aodh O Raghailligh ⁊ an tAthair Séamus O Siaghail do chuir a nGaoidhilcc as Berla an Riaghail si ⁊ do sccriobhadh í sunna leis an mbrathair mbocht Míchel Ó Clerigh don chonueint si Uird Sancta Clára a mBetelem a ngioll ar a nguidhe do shíór et da ffagha bás ar phorsiún deirbhseathar do rádho gach deirbhsiair le na ghrásaibh, .19. October. 1636.

32 . Here text of Papal Bull beg. p. vii, supra, is continued. Colophon follows: “Ar grádh na druinge sin adubhramar, a sheirbhsheathra grádhacha, guidhim siph tre charthanacht cuimhne do bheith accaibh in bhar nguidhe ar bhar ndearbhrathair bocht ⁊ smuaineadh do ffúair cáil éiccin shaothair ag sccriobhadh na Riaghla so dáoibhsu go coitceann ⁊ go háiridhe don chuid accaibh léighgeas no eistfeas í a mBetelem, .21. Octob. 1636.”

The handwriting changes with fo. 33 (see Description). Dubhaltach Mac Firbhisigh is both transcriber and translator of the following texts (see fo. [161]v i.)

33 . “Tionnsgantar annso Tiomna ar mathar naomtha .S. Clára etc. Beg. Edir gach iolmhaitheas ele dar ghlacamar. At end (fo. 46v) is a scribal colophon: “Oráit úaibh don D F. 1647.”

47 . “Annso tionnsgantar Bendachadh ar máthar náomtha .S. Clára ara seathrachuib atáid ⁊ tiucfaid,” etc. Beg. A mo sheathracha dísle deighrádhacha, go ttuga Ar tTigearna A bheandacht naomhta dháoibh.

49v . “Bulla an ceathramhadh Innocent Papa do sholáthar ar máthar naomhtha .S. Clára do dheónughadh an tabhartais dorad an nómhadh Grioghóir Pápa.” Beg. Nach ccoimhégnighthear lucht riaghla do ghlacadh cíosa na sealbha. Innocent easpug, foghantaigh do fhoghantaighibh Dé , dar n-ingheanaibh ionmhuine dísle. Running title reads here: “Riaghuil S. Clara.”

53 . “Mínighthe et Ordaighthe do rineadh ar Riaghail ar mathar naomhtha .S. Clara d'áonta na n-uachtarán, 1622.” Beg. (fo. 60) Ar tús as édirdona hingheanaibh ⁊ dona seathrachuibh i cCriost gibé dhíobh lenab áil a chur i ccesd . Preceded by lengthy introductory notes and a summary of two letters authorizing the text (one addressed to Sisiter Collet and the other to the sisters generally), “arna sgriobhadh ⁊ arna ccur úadha don athair firéunta (i n-Ar tTigearna) an (corr. to don) bráthair Uilliam Cassall, Mindisdir Generalta na mBráthair Mionúr.” The first of these letters is dated “A Genebha, anno Domini 1454, .28. la do Sheptember” (fo. 55v). It is stated (fo. 60) that these “sdatúide” and “ordaighthe” were certified “lesna tighearnaibh cairdionala na Croiche Naoimh ⁊ .S. Angeall, léugáide apsdolda ba fiadhain a ndenmha ag Comhairle bheandaighthe Bhaisill ⁊ le hiomad ele do dhochtúiribh díadhachta [etc.].” Cf. fo. 137, where the colophon (dated “i nGenebha i bProibhinsi na Burguindi, Aois an Tighearna, 1434 an .28. September”) is followed by the words : “Aríss atád arna n-athúadhughadh ⁊ ar na n-ughdarásughadh les an Athaid fhiréunta na Brathair Benignus ó Ghenua, generall Uird ar n-athar naomhtha .S. Froinsías uile, isin mbliadhain di Ar tTighearna 1622 (see fo. 145).

138 . “Teasgosg dearbhta les an Athair fhíréunta an brathair Benignus ó Ghenua [etc.”]. Beg. A cháirde ionmhuine i n-Ar tTighearna Íosa. Dated Paris, 22nd January, 1622 (see fo. 145).

145v . “Cor no Oibliogaid Riagla ar mathar naomhtha .S. Clara fo phén peacaidh marbhta.” Beg. Foillsighidh an ceathramhadh Eoghan (.i. Euginius) papa nach ffuil aonaithne isin Riaghail si.

149 . Here occur other matters “Moladh na Ríaghla” (fo. 149 m.) ; privileges granted by God to St. Francis and his Order (fo. 149v m.); Indulgences granted to all regulars of the Franciscan Order (fo. 151 i.); an Examination of Conscience for Religious (fo. 154 i.); twelve evil consequences of Sin (fo. 156m.); nine ways of helping Sinners (fo. 157 m.); twelve good counsels (fo. 158 i.), the Curse of Saint Francis (fo. 159v m.).

[160] . “Clar na bponge ataid i n-ar Riaghail beanduigthe.”

[160v] . Clár chaibidleach ar Riaghla Beanduighthe.”

[161] m. “Clár chibidleach Minighthe na Ruaghla.” Ends fo. [161]v m.

[161]v i. “Oráoid don Dubhaltac Mac Fhirbhisigh do chuir in nGaoidhelg ⁊ do sgriobh annso an mhed bheanas do Riaghuil .S. Clara sonna ó thosach a Tiomanta go deridh na Mínighthedh ⁊ na n-Ordaighthedh ⁊ na cClár sa fa dheóigh, bhail ina tugtha don léghthóir dha ní da aire .i. Nuimhir chaibidledh ⁊ dhuilleóg an leabhair chló i ndeireadh líneadh na cClar so, ⁊ nuimhir leathanac no duilleóg na litre láimhi si i ttús na lineadh ccéudna. Da ttugadh an treas dí da aire mar atá simplidheacht no bacuighe an Gaoidhelge do chuireas orra so, ní tre ghainne na Gaoidhelge tig sin, acht tre easbaidh a heoluis ar chách, ionnus gurob usa leó focail choimhigtheacha do thuigsin ináid focail fhíre na Gaoidhelge. Ar an adhbair sin áilim beandacht ⁊ mo lethsgél on leughthóir don DF. I cColaisde na Gaillimhe . Die octauo .x. bris 1647.”