Manuscript containing a medical compendium, in Gaelic, assembled by the Mull Beatons
Scope and Contents
A medical compendium assembled by the Mull Beatons, from materials originating with themselves, with Irish physicians and with Ó Conchubhairs, consisting of thirteen disparate sections of manuscript, recently bound individually in limp vellum. The medical theory represented may be described as practical by medieval standards. There is a preponderance of specific treatments, and later hands in particular have added many charms and prayers. There is little metaphysics except in sections 2, 4 and 12. There is, however, a high proportion of material from other fields ancillary to medicine: astrology and astronomy (ff. 1r1, 12v29, 16v1, 42v–43v, 48r7, 100r9), the calendar (20r–26r, 130), botany (129v22), and the brehon law on sick-maintenance (107r–111v6). There is also some unrelated matter: ‘Tecosca Cormaic’ (66r1), annals (79, 88), a snatch of ‘An Cath Cathardha’ (115r1), and a note on indulgences (117v1). Verses of various kinds appear at ff. 17v, 26v4, 32v z, 65r1, 66r, 79r, 86r, 86v, 92v5, 114r8, 125v–128r, and 138v. Part at least of section 10 is cut from a service book. There are numerous marginalia.
The hands are as follows:
1 Text, ff. 1r–3v. A bold, clear hand. Hand 5 of Adv. MS 72.1.4. Also in Rylands MS Ir. 35, ff. 1r–60r, 61r–66v, 112v, 124rv. Ornamental initial; illustrations.
2 Text, ff. 4r–12v, 14r–17r, 19rv. Clear average hand, ink tending to light brown. Much use of red colouring, especially f. 6r. Variant, f. 10v. Some decorative initials; zoomorphic tailpiece, 10v; drawing of a fish, 19r. Part of f. 16v is reproduced in John D. Comrie, History of Scottish Medicine 1 (2nd edn, London, 1932), p. 96, and CMJ (New Ser.) 6, following p. 40.
3 Ff. 4v, 16v (see references above).
4 Ff. 8v, 10v, 17v (‘amen’, etc.).
5 Ff. 9v, 10v, 14v (unintelligible).
6 Text, ff. 13rv, 18r1–v7. Varied in size, slightly angular.
7 Text, f. 17v.
8 Text, f. 18v; notes, ff. 3v, 18v, ?71r, 130v.
9 Fol. 18v. Hand 8 using different point and ink?
10 Text, ff. 20r–26r. Basic style is very large, formal, decreasing in size at 25r4 and again at 26r3. See Innes Review 21 (plates).
11 Text, f. 26v. Like hand 10, mainly large, formal. See Innes Review 21 (plates).
12 Text, f. 27rv. Roman hand. Fergus Beaton, fl. 1657–74: son of Donald, son of Malcolm, hand 25. Cf. Edinburgh University Library MS Laing III 21, ff. 94v, 95r, 110v, 111r; British Library MS Add. 15,582, f. 69v. His signature appears in all three manuscripts.
13 Text, ff. 28rv, 48r7–23, 50r10–v24. Neil Beaton (Adv. MS 72.1.33, hand D; NLS MS 2076, f. 201 etc.). Varies in style through the same wide range as in Adv.MS.72.1.33. Many notes in Gaelic, Latin and Scots (including italic and roman scripts), ff. 57v, 59rv, 65r–66r, 69r, 70r, ?79r, are probably also to be attributed to him: cf. ‘As me feinn Niall Mac in Ollaimh’, 65v. Bears comparison with hand of Angus Beaton, Adv. MS 72.2.10. Neil’s work at f. 50 clearly post-dates that of hand 14; this may apply also at f. 28, as although he there begins a text continued at f. 29 by hand 14, his paper is distinct from what follows. It is unwatermarked.
14 Text, ff. 29r–48r6, 49r1–50r9, 51r–58r (relieved occasionally by hands 18, 20), 113r–115v. A good, clear hand varying in size from average to large. Eoin mac Domhnaill, writing at one point ‘far from my homeland’ at baili thighirna Bheinne Eadair, i.e. Howth, co. Dublin (42v6). He is probably to be identified with Eoin son of Domhnall son of Donnchadh, father of Donnchadh Albannach Ó Conchubhair (Adv. MS 72.2.10, p. 126). Donnchadh Albannach (1571–1647) appears to have divided his time between Lorne and Ossory (see Adv. MS 73.1.22); his father would have done the same, with Howth a likely port of transit. Twice (32v, 114r) he completes a page with a little verse; that at 114r is a cri de coeur on leaving Ireland. Watermark where identifiable is consistent with mid-16th cent. dating.
15 Textual emendations, ff. 44r19, 46r2, 112v9. James Beaton: hand 6 of Adv. MS 72.1.3.
16 Ff.45v, 49r, 56v, 57v, ?112r, 113v. Hand 5 of Adv. MS 72.1.27.
17 Fol. 48r (unintelligible).
18 Additions and corrections to text, ff. 51rv, 53v, 54rv.
19 Text, f. 51r19–25. Very small (1 mm. high).
20 Text, ff. 51v18–28, 52v14–20, 53r20–23, 54v9–24, 55r12–15.
21 Ff. 44v, 58v.
22 Text, ff. 59r–64v, 66r–70v. Two very different styles merge at f. 66r in such a way as to suggest that they belong to the same hand. Tadhg (68v), writing for Gilla-Pádraig (69v z). A Tadhg is mentioned twice by Donnchadh Albannach in Ossory, 1596; Gilla-Pádraig Ó Conchubhair, son of Ollamh Osraige, was with them too (Adv. MS.73.1.22, ff. 185v, 275v). In its formal variety the hand resembles that of British Library MS Egerton 159, ff. 1–2, a manuscript otherwise written by (among others) Cathal Ó Duinnshléibhe and Tadhg Mac Caisín, Ossory, 1592. The watermark suggests dating in second half of the 16th century
23 Fol. 64v.
24 Text, f. 65r; note(s), f. 65v. Cf. hand R of Adv.MS.72.1.33.
25 Ff. 65v, 130r. Malcolm Beaton, fl. 1582–1603: son of Andrew, son of Donald. Also at Adv. MSS.72.1.13, f. 12r, 72.1.33, p. 84, 73.1.22 f. 257v, and Edinburgh University Library MS Laing III 21, f. 85r. Distinctive tall ‘s’. See Scottish Gaelic Studies 13:1 (1978), pp. 57, 59.
26 Fol. 66r. Donnchadh Ó Conchubhair? Not, however, the hand of Donnchadh Albannach, Adv.MS.73.1.22.
27 Text, ff. 71r–72vb20. Smudged.
28 Text, ff. 72vb21–78v. Very like hand 3 of Adv.MS.72.1.3 (Giolla-Coluim), sharing also Giolla-Coluim’s interest in the use of simples.
29 Text, ff. 79rv, 88rv. Possibly an Ó Siaghail (79r). Similar to Edinburgh University Library MS Mackinnon 1, ff. 7r marg. sup. and 8v1–12, and to John Rylands MS Ir. 35, f. 67v1–17.
30 Fol. 79r.
31 Fol. 79r. Cf. hand 5 of Adv. MS 72.1.40.
32 Fol. 79v. A rough hand, possibly two, 1589.
33 Text, ff. 80r–87v. Rather small. Typical medical hand. Hands 35 and 47 supply the names Dolbh and Eoghan, each in a comórtus, but neither seems very likely to be that of the scribe. Traces of rubrication in red and yellow.
34 Ff. 80v, 81r.
35 Fol. 81r.
36 Fol. 81r.
37 Ff. 81v, 82r. The scribe writes in the house of Ó Deóráin. The Ó Deóráins were lawyers in Connacht, cf. Royal Irish Academy MS 23 Q 6 (1243).
38. Fol. 82r.
39 Ff. 82v–83v, 85v, 86r, 87r. More than one hand?
40 Fol. 84r.
41 Fol. 84r.
42 Ff. 84r, 85v.
43 Ff. 84v, 85r.
44 Fol. 85v.
45 Fol. 85v.
46 Fol. 86r.
47 Ff. 86v, 104r. For another trial of writing with Eoghan in similar hand see Adv.MS.72.1.19, f. 5v.
48 Text, ff. 89rv, 93r1–v28, 94r1–13, 94v, 95r1–12. Small; angular appearance.
49 Text, ff. 90r–92r28. Larger, also angular.
50 Text, f. 92r29–35.
51 Text, f. 92v1–4. Crude imitation of hand 54?
52 Text, f. 92v5–32; notes, ff. 112v, 141v, 145v, 147rv. Rev. John Beaton.
53 Text, ff. 93v28–40, 94r14–37, 95r13–95v.
54 Text, ff. 96r–97r, 98r7–10, 98r22–25, 99r28–29, 100r15–17, 101r1–4, 101r27–29, 101v1–3, 102r1, 102r7–10, 102v, 107r–111v6, ?112r1–7, 112v, 116r–119v, 121r18–123v, 130r, 130v i; notes, ff. 18v, 101r. ?Conchubhar (109v). Angular tendency; hunched ‘g’, generally open ‘a’. Adv.MS.72.1.33, hand N; Adv.MS.72.2.10, p. 293 (part). For illustration of f. 130v see Innes Review 19, plate 8.
55 Text, ff. 97v1–98r7, 98r16–17, 98r26–29, 98v8–13, 99r9–17, 99v1–100r8, 101v22–36, 102r2–7, 102r11–33, 130v; notes, ff. 96v–97r, 98r z. See Innes Review 19, plate 8.
56 Text, ff. 98r10–16, 98r18–22, 98r29–32, 98v1–8, 98v13–23, 98v25–99r8, 99r29–36, 100r9–14, 100r18–100v, 101r4–27, 101r29–36.
57 Text, f. 98v23–25.
58 Text, f. 99r17–27.
59 Text, f. 101v4–21.
60 Text, ff. 103r–106r19. A spiky, rather ugly hand with long serifs. Pádraig Ó Hiceadha? (103r).
61 Ff. 103v, 104r, 105v.
62 Text, f. 106r19–106v. Crude, unruled.
63 Text, f. 111v7–10, 130v m. Crude. See Innes Review 19, plate 8.
64 Text, f. 112r8–12. Oxidised.
65 Fol. 113v. Oxidised.
66 Text, ff. 120r–121r17. Cf. hand of Edinburgh University Library MS Mackinnon 2.
67 Text, ff. 124r–129v. Small, precise. Some rubrication in yellow.
68 Fol. 124r. John Beaton, hand H of Adv.MS.72.1.29? Cf. hand 76.
69 Fol. 124r: ‘amen’ (in red).
70 Ff. 124v–128r, 129v. Coinneach mac Eoin (Uí Chonchubhair?), 124v. Possibly identifiable with ‘Kenneth Leich’, with the father of Domhnall mac Coinnigh (Adv.MS.72.1.3, hand 4) and the son of John McConchra of Stronecormick, chirurgeon, 1530 (D. Mackinnon, 'Descriptive catalogue of manuscripts in the Advocates Library, Edinburgh, and elsewhere in Scotland', p. 63). Cf. Adv.MS.72.1.37, p. 84.
71 Fol. 125r.
72 Ff. 128v–129r, 133v.
73 Fol. 128v.
74 Text, ff. 131r–133r19, 140r20, 147v7–148v. Spiky, seriffed. Capitals coloured red.
75 Text, ff. 133r20–v26, 134r–147v7. Of same general type as hands of Adv.MS.72.1.10 and British Library MSS Add. 15,403 and Add. 19,995. Capitals coloured red.
76 Ff. 133r–146v (passim). Cf. hand 68.
77 Ff. 133v, 134r, 135v, 136r, 137v, 138rv, 141v, 142r, 143rv, 145r. Scythe-shaped ‘s’; frequent distinctive ‘g’, for which see hand R of Adv.MS.72.1.33. A very distinctive ‘a’ develops when written without care.
78 Text, f. 133v27–39. Crude. Post-dates hand 72.
79 Ff. 134v, 135r, 139v–140r, 141v–142r.
80 Ff. 134v, 139rv.
81 Ff. ?137r, 139r.
Dates
- Creation: 16th century-17th century.
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
148 Leaves ; Quarto and under.
Language of Materials
Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic
Arrangement
148 folios.
The manuscript consists of thirteen more or less disparate sections of manuscript bound together.
The manuscript is written in single columns except where stated.
For binding purposes each vellum layer was marked with a letter and each diploma with a number. The numbers are of help in determining the make-up of the volume, especially the tightly-bound paper section. The absence of letter A and of numbers 1, 12 and 77 indicate the loss of a folio at the beginning and possibly also elsewhere. There is clearly confusion in the order of folios 4-19. Folios 71-78 should precede folio 27. And whereas folios 33-58 and 103-106 all have to be read upside-down, and have therefore now been refoliated in reverse, it would appear that only in the case of folios 103-106 is this an error of binding. Part of 39 verso (52 recto) and most of 58 verso (33 recto) are in fact the right way up, so it seems as if the inversion must be the fault of the original scribe, Eoin mac Domhnaill (hand 14). The revised foliation was anticipated by Shaw in his article ‘Medieval medico-philosophical treatises in the Irish language’, but was not used by John Mackechnie. William Skene’s description of the manuscript in F.R.192 allows confirmation that its arrangement has not been altered since 1861.
Folios 1-3 (first section): folios 1 and 2 are stitched together with a thong; a fragment bearing traces of script intervenes.
Folios 4-19 (second section): two gatherings of bifolia (folios 4-11, 12-19). As indicated by binder’s marks (see below) the correct order of folios is 6, 7, 5, 4, 11, 10, 8, 9; 14, 15, 12, 19, 16, 17; 13, 18 – i.e., two gatherings and an isolated bifolium.
Folios 20-26 (third section): a gathering; folio 20 lacks conjunct.
Folios 27-70 (fourth section): Make-up of gatherings appears to be complex, and cannot at present be determined. Folios 33-58 have to be read upside-down, and have therefore now been refoliated in reverse; the previous foliation is scored through on the manuscript, but is added in the description below in brackets for reference.
Folios 71-78 (fifth section): A gathering. All except folios 73 recto and 78 verso, last line, in single columns.
Folios 79-88 (sixth section): A gathering. The outer bifolium, folios 79/88, is quite distinct from the rest and served merely as a cover; it is inside-out, so its text, which is continuous, reads from 88 recto to 79 verso. The inner bifolia have become partly unbound.
Folios 80-87 are in double columns.
Folios 89-95 (seventh section): Apparently a gathering with one single folio.
Folios 96-102, 130 (eighth section): A gathering; the ninth-twelfth sections have been bound in before the last leaf, folio 130.
Folios 103-106 (ninth section): A gathering, bound in upside-down. Slit at folio 105 repaired by thread prior to writing. Now foliated in reverse; the previous foliation is scored through on the manuscript, but is added here in brackets for reference.
Folios 107-117 (tenth section): Folios 107-111 form a gathering of which folio 109, which is loose, is the centre leaf. The remaining leaves are unlayered. Folios 112 and 113 are single, while folios 114-115 and 116-117 are conjugate.
Folios 118-123 (eleventh section): A gathering.
Folios 124-129 (twelfth section): A gathering.
Folios 131-148 (thirteenth section): Three unequal gatherings: folios 131-138, 139-142, 143-148. The leaves are not however in their correct order, and it is clear that there were originally three equal gatherings of three bifolia arranged as follows: folios 131-133, 136-138; 134, 139-142, 135; 143-148. This is the order in which the material is catalogued in the scope and content note.
Custodial History
Formerly Gaelic MS II. The work of bringing the pieces together seems to have been done by the industrious Malcolm Beaton (hand 25), while the end of the natural process of transmission was reached, as in the case of many other items, in the person of his grandson, the Reverend John Beaton (hand 52). The latter died circa 1715. The next we hear of the manuscript is in the description of Adv. MS. 72.1.33 in the Ossian report (1805), Appendix, page 294: ‘On the last page of this MS. volume is written ‘Leabhar Giollacholuim Meigbeathadh’ in the very form and hand in which the same words appear on a paper manuscript which is bound up with a number of others written upon vellum, in a volume that was presented to the valuable Library of the Faculty of Advocates by the Reverend Donald Mac Queen, late minister of Kilmuir in Skye. In the latter, ‘Liber Malcolmi Bethune’ is written immediately before the words just quoted’. See folio 65 verso. MacQueen was a student at Aberdeen 1731-1734, i.e. around the time the Reverend John Beaton’s manuscripts were appearing on the market, and he may simply have bought Adv. MS. 72.1.2 from some such dealer as Freebairn. See Adv. MSS. 18.2.11 and 72.1.1. He also obtained National Library of Scotland MS.2076, probably from his predecessor at Kilmuir; this he presented to the Society of Antiquaries in 1784, the year before his death, and we may perhaps take it that his gift to the Advocates’ Library was made about the same time. ‘Lib. Bib. Fac. Iurid. Edin.’ is inscribed at folios 1 recto and 79 verso. Folios 124-129 (twelfth section), once the property of a John Beaton (folio 124 recto).
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.
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
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Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
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