Manuscript of Foras Feasa Ar Éirinn, written by Geoffrey Keating.
Scope and Contents
The manuscript contains a ‘Sword’ watermark. (Heawood 3911, dated 1647) with letters G R B. The text is in fact dated 1647 (folio 9 recto). The Scribe is as that of Adv.MS.72.1.38, pages 29-30, 193; Adv.MS.72.1.42, folio 26; Adv.MS.72.1.49; Adv.MS.72.2.1; and Adv.MS.72.2.2, folio 46. Adv.MS.72.2.1 is simply the concluding portion of the present manuscript. Also Royal Irish Academy MS D i 1 (1237) section VI.
The contents are as follows.
(i) Brief description of text by the Reverend Donald Mackintosh. (Folio 1 recto; folio 1 verso blank.)
(ii) Keating’s Foras Feasa Ar Éirinn: “Díonbhrollach” (folios 2 verso-8 recto; folio 8 blank) and Lib. 1 (folio 9 recto-folio 16 recto; folio 16 verso blank). Ends “deisiol Eorpa go hEsbán” (‘Irish Text Society’, volume II, line 589). Continuesing at Adv.MS.72.2.1, folio 1 recto.
Dates
- Creation: 1647.
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
40 Leaves ; 16½ x 13½ centimetres.
Language of Materials
Irish
Arrangement
40 folios.
There is a scribal pagination commencing at lib. 1. Foliation pencilled at foot of page.
Custodial History
Formerly Gaelic MS.XLIII.
The manuscript evidently entered the possession of James Macpherson, becoming number 7 of the 19 items sent to the Highland Society of Scotland on 6th January 1803 by Macpherson’s literary executor, John Mackenzie, Secretary of the Highland Society of London. ‘No.VII.’ appears on folio 1 recto and “London, 5th January 1803 / John Mackenzie” on folio 3.
Folio 1 recto was initialled by John Campbell, Donald Mackintosh and Donald Smith (members of the ‘Ossian Committee’ of the Highland Society of Scotland) and by Lewis Gordon (Depute Secretary of the Highland Society of Scotland) when the manuscripts were inspected on arrival in Edinburgh on 10th January 1803. In 1822 there were added the initials of James McHardy, Advocate, Aberdeen, and ‘No 4’.—a reference to the inventory, now Ingliston MS. A.iv.13, made by McHardy for the Highland Society of Scotland of papers left by Ewen MacLachlan on his death in that year.
The manuscript was deposited with Advocates collection in 1850.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.
Bibliography
Physical Description
Paper.
The manuscript is stained but otherwise in an excellent condition, there being virtually no loss of text.
Bound 1914.
Genre / Form
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
- Description rules
- International Standard for Archival Description - General
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk