Glenmasan manuscript
Encyclopedia
The Glenmasan manuscript is a 15th-century Scottish vellum manuscript in the National Library of Scotland
, Edinburgh, where it is catalogued as Adv. MS 72.2.3. It was previously held in the Advocates Library, Edinburgh, where it was classified as MS 53. The compilation contains Scottish Gaelic literary texts dealing with matter of the Ulster Cycle
, such as the Táin Bó Flidhais
and Oided mac nUisnig (the latter a version of Longes mac n-Uislenn).
peninsula in the parish of Dunoon
, Argyll) in the year 1238. Based on the alternation of the spelling ao and ai for the same diphthong, Donald MacKinnon assigns a date no later than the end of the 15th century and suggests that the manuscript may well have been a first-hand copy of this early 13th-century exemplar. The presence of older linguistic features in the texts points to even earlier strata of writing. MacKinnon therefore proposes the scenario that an early Irish manuscript may have reached Argyll before c. 1238, that about this time, a reworked version was produced, and that the surviving manuscript represents a transcript of the latter made sometime before 1500. A late, anonymous hand on folio 19 wrote Leabhar Echdra ata ann so ar a scriobha le Eoin M'Tavis, "This is a book of adventures written by John M'Tavish", a name which recurs a few times elsewhere in the manuscript and fits the Argyll provenance of the text. He may have been the principal scribe, although there is no way of verifying this claim.
(Argyll) and a poet, who composed an ode to congratulate Edward Lhuyd
on his Archæologia Britannica (1707, printed there). William Campbell, Robert's probable great-nephew and minister of Kilchrenan
(since 1745) and Dalavich
, is named on folio 15 as having been the one-time owner of the book and so may have acquired it through his grand-uncle. Another explicitly named owner (before 1782) is James McIntyre of Glenoe
.
The manuscript appeared in a brighter light in the late 18th century, when the Committee of the Highland Society requested proof that the Ossian
published by James MacPherson
was a translation from genuinely ancient Scottish Gaelic poetry. Rev. John MacKinnon of Glendaruel
claimed to have received the manuscript from local countrymen, who told him that it was originally kept in the Kilbride
Collection. The lawyer Lord Bannatyne
acquired the MS from him and passed it on to the Highland Society. MacKinnon suggests that were it not for the controversy over MacPherson, the manuscript might never have come to light.
A transcript was first made by Ewen Maclachlan
(1773–1822) in his Leabhar Caol (“Narrow Book”). His work was superseded by Donald MacKinnon, who published a diplomatic edition with facing translation in the first four volumes of The Celtic Review (1904-1908).
format, including the two forming the cover. The pages are written in double columns of 38, sometimes 39 lines each. The binding is anomalous at the beginning: the folio which now comes 3rd should have been the 5th, while a gap exists between the 4th and 5th leaf, possibly between the 5th and 3rd and possibly also between the 3rd and 6th folios.
National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is one of the country's National Collections. It is based in a collection of buildings in Edinburgh city centre. The headquarters is on George IV Bridge, between the Old Town and the university quarter...
, Edinburgh, where it is catalogued as Adv. MS 72.2.3. It was previously held in the Advocates Library, Edinburgh, where it was classified as MS 53. The compilation contains Scottish Gaelic literary texts dealing with matter of the Ulster Cycle
Ulster Cycle
The Ulster Cycle , formerly known as the Red Branch Cycle, one of the four great cycles of Irish mythology, is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and sagas of the traditional heroes of the Ulaid in what is now eastern Ulster and northern Leinster, particularly counties Armagh, Down and...
, such as the Táin Bó Flidhais
Táin Bó Flidhais
Táin Bó Flidhais, also known as the Mayo Táin, is a tale from the Ulster Cycle of early Irish literature. It is one of a group of works known as Táin Bó, or "cattle raid" stories, the best known of which is Táin Bó Cúailnge...
and Oided mac nUisnig (the latter a version of Longes mac n-Uislenn).
Date and provenance
The manuscript takes its name from an entry on the front leaf, which appears to state that the original compilation was completed at Glenmasan (Glen Masáin, on the CowalCowal
thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
peninsula in the parish of Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
, Argyll) in the year 1238. Based on the alternation of the spelling ao and ai for the same diphthong, Donald MacKinnon assigns a date no later than the end of the 15th century and suggests that the manuscript may well have been a first-hand copy of this early 13th-century exemplar. The presence of older linguistic features in the texts points to even earlier strata of writing. MacKinnon therefore proposes the scenario that an early Irish manuscript may have reached Argyll before c. 1238, that about this time, a reworked version was produced, and that the surviving manuscript represents a transcript of the latter made sometime before 1500. A late, anonymous hand on folio 19 wrote Leabhar Echdra ata ann so ar a scriobha le Eoin M'Tavis, "This is a book of adventures written by John M'Tavish", a name which recurs a few times elsewhere in the manuscript and fits the Argyll provenance of the text. He may have been the principal scribe, although there is no way of verifying this claim.
History
The earliest history of the manuscript is unknown, although later evidence suggests that it may never have circulated outside of Argyll. Marginal notes rather than external documentation shed some light on its earliest known stages. At the bottom of folio 9 occurs the name of one 'Robert Campbell at Glensluan' (Argyll), who has been identified as a forester in CowalCowal
thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
(Argyll) and a poet, who composed an ode to congratulate Edward Lhuyd
Edward Lhuyd
Edward Lhuyd was a Welsh naturalist, botanist, linguist, geographer and antiquary. He is also known by the Latinized form of his name, Eduardus Luidius....
on his Archæologia Britannica (1707, printed there). William Campbell, Robert's probable great-nephew and minister of Kilchrenan
Kilchrenan
Kilchrenan is a small village in the Argyll and Bute area of Scotland.thumb|right|350px|Kilchrenan Inn dominates the heart of the villageKilchrenan is located near to the end of the B845 road, about a mile inland from Loch Awe. It forms part of the area of Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council.-...
(since 1745) and Dalavich
Dalavich
Dalavich is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the western bank of Loch Awe and has a population of around 70....
, is named on folio 15 as having been the one-time owner of the book and so may have acquired it through his grand-uncle. Another explicitly named owner (before 1782) is James McIntyre of Glenoe
Glenoe
Glenoe or Gleno is a hamlet in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is halfway between Larne and Carrickfergus. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 87 people. Glenoe is in the Larne Borough Council area.-Places of interest:...
.
The manuscript appeared in a brighter light in the late 18th century, when the Committee of the Highland Society requested proof that the Ossian
Ossian
Ossian is the narrator and supposed author of a cycle of poems which the Scottish poet James Macpherson claimed to have translated from ancient sources in the Scots Gaelic. He is based on Oisín, son of Finn or Fionn mac Cumhaill, anglicised to Finn McCool, a character from Irish mythology...
published by James MacPherson
James Macpherson
James Macpherson was a Scottish writer, poet, literary collector and politician, known as the "translator" of the Ossian cycle of poems.-Early life:...
was a translation from genuinely ancient Scottish Gaelic poetry. Rev. John MacKinnon of Glendaruel
Glendaruel
Glendaruel is a glen in the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland.The main village in Glendaruel is the Clachan of Glendaruel.-Features:The present Kilmodan Church was built in the Clachan of Glendaruel in 1610...
claimed to have received the manuscript from local countrymen, who told him that it was originally kept in the Kilbride
Kilbride
Kilbride could refer to:*Kilbride, St. John's, Canada*Kilbride, Ontario, Canada*Kilbride, County Antrim, a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
Collection. The lawyer Lord Bannatyne
William Bannatyne, Lord Bannatyne
Sir William Macleod Bannatyne was a distinguished Scottish lawyer and judge.-Biography:The son of Mr. Roderick Macleod, writer to the signet and Isabel , daughter of Hector Bannatyne of Kames. He received a liberal education, and was admitted advocate, January 22, 1765...
acquired the MS from him and passed it on to the Highland Society. MacKinnon suggests that were it not for the controversy over MacPherson, the manuscript might never have come to light.
A transcript was first made by Ewen Maclachlan
Ewen MacLachlan
Ewen MacLachlan was a Scottish scholar and poet. He is noted for his translations of ancient classical literature into Gaelic, for his own Gaelic verse, and for his contribution to Gaelic dictionaries....
(1773–1822) in his Leabhar Caol (“Narrow Book”). His work was superseded by Donald MacKinnon, who published a diplomatic edition with facing translation in the first four volumes of The Celtic Review (1904-1908).
Features
The manuscript contains 27 leaves in large quartoQuarto (text)
Quarto is a book or pamphlet produced from full 'blanksheets', each of which is printed with eight pages of text, four to a side, then folded two times to produce four leaves...
format, including the two forming the cover. The pages are written in double columns of 38, sometimes 39 lines each. The binding is anomalous at the beginning: the folio which now comes 3rd should have been the 5th, while a gap exists between the 4th and 5th leaf, possibly between the 5th and 3rd and possibly also between the 3rd and 6th folios.
Contents
Texts include:- Oided mac nUisnig "The deaths of the sons of Uisnech", a version of Longes mac n-Uislenn; Celtic Review 1 (1904-5): 12-7, 104-31 (diplomatic edition with translation); ed. and tr. A. Cameron, "DeirdreDeirdreDeirdre or Derdriu is the foremost tragic heroine in Irish mythology and probably its best-known figure in modern times. She is often called "Deirdre of the Sorrows." Her story is part of the Ulster Cycle, the best-known stories of pre-Christian Ireland.-Legendary Biography:Deirdre was the...
and the Sons of Uisneach." Reliquiae Celticae 2 (1894): 421-74 (based on Glenmasan MS and Edinburgh, Adv. MS 56). - Fochonn loingse Fergusa maic Roig "The cause of the exile of Fergus mac Roig". Celtic Review 1 (1904-5): 208-29. Cf: the Book of LeinsterBook of LeinsterThe Book of Leinster , is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled ca. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18...
version, ed. and tr. Vernam Hull, "The Cause of the Exile of Fergus Mac Roig - Fochond Loingse Fergusa meic Roig." ZCP 18 (1930): 293-8. - Toraigecht Tána Bó Flidaise (also Toruigheacht bó Flidais), a version of Táin Bó FlidhaisTáin Bó FlidhaisTáin Bó Flidhais, also known as the Mayo Táin, is a tale from the Ulster Cycle of early Irish literature. It is one of a group of works known as Táin Bó, or "cattle raid" stories, the best known of which is Táin Bó Cúailnge...
. Celtic Review 4 (1907-08): 104-21, 202-19.
Further reading
- Manuscript catalogues:
- Mackechnie, John. Catalogue of Gaelic Manuscripts in Selected Libraries in Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. I. Boston, 1973.
- Yeo, E.D. Summary Catalogue of the Advocates' Manuscripts. National Library of Scotland. Edinburgh, 1971.