There is also, at fo. 39a, a later grant from King David I., which I give here for the sake of the Celtic names which it contains:— Dauid. rex scottorum omnibus probis hominibus suis salutes. Sciatis quod clerici. dedér. sunt quieti et immunes abomni laicorum officio. et exactione indebita sicut inlibro eorum scribtum est. 1 et dirationauerunt apud bánb et iurauerunt apud abberdeon. quapropter firmiter precipio ut nullus eis. aut eorum catellis. aliquam iniuriam inferre presumat. Teste gregorio episcopo deduncallden. Teste andrea episcopo decatness. Teste samsone episcopo debrecin. Teste doncado comite defíb. et malmori dathótla et ggillebrite comite déngus 7 gillecomded mac ad 7 brocin 7 cormac de turbrud. 7 adam mac ferdomnac 7 gillendrias mac mátni (níatni?) apud abberdeon.

The philological value of the book lies in the six Gaelic entries which are found in fo. 2a to fo. 4a, and of which facsimiles are given in Dr. Stuart's excellent edition of the Book of Deir, Edinburgh, 1869. These I have distinguished by Roman numerals.

I. [fo. 2. a] Columcille 7 drostán mac cósgreg adálta tangator áhí marroalseg día dóib goníc abbordobóir 7 béde cruthnec robomormær búchan aragínn 7 essé rothídnaíg dóib ingathráig sáin insaere gobraíth ómórmáer 7 óthóséc.

tangator asááthle sen incathraig2 ele 7 doráten ricolumcille sí iarfallán [leg. air ba fallan ?] dóráth dé 7 dorodloeg arinmormær .i. bédé gondastabrád dó 7 níthárat. 7 rogáb mac dó galár iarnére3 naglérec 7 robomarb act mád bec iarsén dochúid inmormáer dattác naglerec góndéndæs ernacde lesinmac gondísad slánte dó 7 dórat inedbáirt dóib úacloic' intiprat goníce chloic pette meic garnaít doronsat innernacde 7 taníc slante dó; iarsén dorat collumcille dódrostán inchadraig sén 7 rosbenact 7 foracaib imbrether gebe tísad ris nabad blienec buadacc tangator déara drostán arscartháin fri collumcille rolaboir columcille bedéar áním [leg. a ainm] óhúnn ímacc9.

Translation.

Columcille and Drostán son of Cosgrach his pupil, came from Hí (Iona), as God had shewn to them, unto Aberdour, and Bede the Pict was Grand Steward of Buchan before them, and it was he that gave them that town in freedom for ever from Grand Steward and chieftain. They came after that to the other town, and it was pleasing to Columcille, because it was full of God's grace, and he asked of the Grand Steward, to wit Bede, that he should give it to him; and he did not give it, and a son of his took an illness after [or in consequence of] refusing the clerics, and he was nearly dead [lit. he was dead but if it were a little]. After this the Grand Steward went to entreat the clerics that they should make prayer for the son that health should come to him; and he (Bede) gave in offering to them from Cloch in tiprat to Cloch

1 This no doubt does, as Mr. Bradshaw suggests, refer to the Gaelic entries. It thus helps us to the meaning of dolodib.

6

2 accent over h. 3 accent over n. 4 accent over r. 5 accent over r.

8

accent over t. 7 accent over the first c. accent over first n. 9 accent over m and first c.

pette mic Garnait. They made the prayer, and health came to him. After that Columcille gave to Drostán that town and blessed it, and left as (his) word "whosoever should come against it let him not be manyyeared [or] victorious." Drostán's tears came on parting with Columcille. Said Columcille "Let Déar ("tear") be its name henceforward."

II. Comgeall mac éda dórat úaorti [go]nice fúrené docolumcille 7 dodrostán. Moridac mac morcunn dorat pett meic garnáit 7 áchád toche temní. 7 bahé robomormáir 7 robothosec. Matáin mac caerill dorat cuit mormoir inálteri 7 culíí mac batín dorat cúit tóiség. Domnall mac gíric 7 malbrigte mac chathail dorat pett inmulenn. do drostán. Cathal mac morcunt dorat áchád naglerec dodrostán. Domnall mac rúadri 7 malcolum mac culéon doratsat bidbín dó día 7 dó drostán. Malcoloum mac cinathá dorat cúit rííg íbbidbín 7 inpett meic gobróig 7 dá dabég uactaír rósábard. Malcolum mac moilbrigtæ dorat indelerc. Málsnecte mac lulóig dorat [fo. 3a] pett maldúib dó drostán; Domnall mac méic dubbacín robáith nahúle edbarta do drostán [Ms. rodrostán] arthabárt áhule dó. robáith cathál' árachoír chetna acuitid thoisíg 7 dorat phróinn2 chét cecnolloce 7 ceccasc dó día 7 dó drostán. Cainnech3 mac meic dobarchon 7 cathál doratsatar alterín alla úethé na camone(?) gonice inbéíth edarda álterin. Dorat domnall 7 cathál étdanin dó dia 7 dó drostán. Robaíth Cainnec 7 domnall 7 cathál nahúle edbarta ridía 7 rí drostan óthósach goderad issære omórmaer 7 othesech culaithi bratha.

Translation.

Comgeall, son of Aed, gave from Orte to Furene to Columcille and to Drostán. Moridach, son of Morcunn, gave Pett meic Garnait and Achad toche temni; and it was he that was Grand Steward and [it was Comgeall that] was chief. Matáin, son of Caerell, gave (the) Grand Steward's share in Altere, and Culi, son of Baten, gave (the) Chief's share. Domnall, son of Girec, and Maelbrigte, son of Cathal, gave Pett in mulenn to Drostán. Cathal, son of Morcunt, gave Achad naglérech (the clerics' field') to Drostán. Domnall, son of Ruadre, and Maelcoluim, son of Culéon, gave Bidbín to God and to Drostán. Maelcoluim, son of Cinaed, gave (the) King's share in Bidbín and in Pett meic Gobroig and two davochs of upper Rosabard. Maelcoluim, son of Maelbrigte, gave the Delerc. Maelsnechte, son ef Lúlóeg, gave Pett Maelduib to Drostán Domnall, son of Mac Dubbacín, immolated all the offerings to Drostán, giving the whole of it to him. Cathal immolated in (the) same way his Chief's share, and gave a dinner of a hundred every Christmas and every Easter to God and to Drostán. Cainnech, son of Mac Dobarcon, (Otter's son), gave Alterin alla bhethe (birch cliff) na camone as far as the birch tree between two Alterins. Domnall and Cathal gave Etdanín to God and to Drostán. Cainnech and Domnall and Cathal immolated all these offerings to God and to Drostán from beginning to end in freedom from Grand Steward and from Chief to (the) Day of Judgment.

1 accent over 1.

? accent over the second n, and a mark over thep which may be the sign of aspiration.

. accent over n.

III. Gartnait mac cannech 7 éte ingengillemíchel dóratsat pet mec cóbrig ricosecrad éclasi críst 7 petir abstoil 7 docolumcille 7 dodrostan sér ónáhulib dolodib cónánascad dócórmac éscob dunicallenn. ínócmad blíádin rígi dabid Testibus istis néctan escob abberdeon. 7 léot áb brecini 7 máledonn mac meic bead. 7 algune mac árcill. 7 rúadri mórmar márr 7 matadin bríthem 7 gillecríst mac córmaic. 7 malpetir mac domnaill. 7 domongart ferleginn turbruad. 7 gillecolaim mac muredig. 7 dubni mac málcolaim.

IV. Dorat gartnait 7 ingengillemicel ball dómin ipet ipáir docrist 7 docolimcilli 7 dodrostan Teste. gille calline sacart. 7 feradac mac málbhricin. 7 málgire mac tralin [fo. 3b. in marg.] 7 BENNACT INCHOMDED ARCECMORMAR 7 ARCECTOSECH CHOMALLFAS 7 DANSÍL

DANEIS.

Translation.

Gartnait, son of Cainnech, and Ete, daughter of Gille-Míchél, gave Pett mac Cobrig for (the) consecration of a church of Christ and Peter (the) Apostle both to Columcille and to Drostán free from all the exactions (?) with the gift (?) of them to Cormac, Bishop of Dunkeld in the eighth year of David's reign. Testibus istis Nectán, Bishop of Aberdeen and Leot, Abbot of Brechin, and Maledonn, son of Mac Be [th] ad, and Algune, son of Arcell, and Ruadri, Grand-Steward of Mar, and Matadín (the) Judge, and Gille Christ son of Cormac, and Maelpetir, son of Domnall, and Domongart, Reader of Turriff, and Gillecolaim, son of Muredach, and Dubni, son of Maelcolaim.

Gartnait and Gillemíchél's daughter gave Ball Domín in Pet Ipair to Christ and to Columcille and to Drostán. Teste Gillecallíne, Priest, and Feradach, son of Maelbhricín, and Maelgirc, son of Tralin.

AND THE LORD'S BLESSING ON EVERY GRAND-STEWARD AND ON EVERY CHIEFTAIN WHO SHALL FULFIL THIS, AND TO THEIR SEED AFTER THEM. V. Donchad mac mec bead mec hídid dorat acchad madchór1 docrist acus dodrostan do choluimchille insóre gobrád malechí 7 cómgell 7 gille crist mac fingúni innaíenasi intestus. 7 malcoluim mac molíní. Cormac mac cennedig dorat goníge scáli merlec. Comgell mac cáennaig táesec clande canan dórat docrist 7 dodrostán 7 dócholuim cille gonige ingort lie mór igginn infius işnesu daldín alenn ódabací gólurchárí etarsliab 7 achad. issaeri othesseach cubráth 7 abennacht arcachhén chomallfas araes cubrath 7 amallact arcachén ticfa ris;

Translation.

Donchad, son of Mac Bethad, son of Hided, gave Achad Madchor to Christ and to Drostán and to Columcille in freedom for ever: Malechi and Comgell and Gille-Christ son of Fingune in witness thereof, in testimony, and Maelcoluim son of Molíne. Cormac son of Cennedig gave as far as Scale Merlech. Comgell son of Caennech, chief of Clan Canan, gave to Christ and to Drostán and to Columcille as far as the Gort-lie-mór (Great Rock-field) at (the) hither (?) end which is nearest to Aldin Alenn from Dabaci to Lurchari, both mountain and field, in freedom from

1 The facsimile has niadchór.

The passage in italics is from the pen of Eugene Curry.

Chief for ever; and his blessing on every one who shall fulfil (this) after him, and his curse on every one who shall go against it.

VI. Robaid' colbain mormær búchan 7 eua ingen garnait abenphústa 7 donnachac mac sithig toesech clenni morgainn nahuli edbarta rí día 7 ridrostán 7 ria colum cilli 7 rí petar apstal onahulib dolaidib archuit cetri dabach do ni thíssad arardmandaidib alban cucotchenn 7 arahardchellaib. testibus his brocein 7 cormac abb turbrúaid 7 morgunn mac donnchaid 7 gilli petair mac donnchaid 7 malæchín 7 da mac matni 7 mathe buchan huli naíaidnaisse in helain :

Translation.

Colbáin, Grand Steward of Buchan, and Eva, daughter of Gartnat, his wedded wife, and Donnachac, son of Sithech, chief of Clann Morgainn, immolated all the offerings to God and to Drostán and to Columcille and to Peter the apostle from all the burthens for a share of four davochs of what would come on (the) chief residences of Scotland generally and on her chief churches, Testibus his Broccín and Cormac, abbot of Turriff, and Morgunn, son of Donchad, and Gille-Petair, son of Donchad, and Malaechín and Matne's two sons and (the) nobles of Buchan, all in witness hereof in Elan 2.

I will now make a few remarks on some of the grammatical forms exhibited by these Charters, and then add a glossary of all the words which they contain. First as to phonetics:

We find a interchanging with o in tangator, and changing by umlaut into ai (laithi, petair, colaim), oi (rolaboir, abbor-doboir, luloig), ui (coluim), e (cosgreg, brether, ele), or ei (meic), or i (muredig, petir): e changes to i in cille and o to oi in cloich, to oe in do-ro-d-loeg. The following instances of umlaut of dipthongs occur: ae into oi (moil-brigtae gen. s. of mael-brigte). But one of the most striking characteristics of the Gaelic in these charters is the absence of umlaut. Thus in marroalseg, mathe, doraten clande, eclasi, slánte, tánic, the vowel a, whether short or long, remains unaffected by the subsequent e or i. So in the case of o (tosech, dolodib, comgell, cotchenn, domin, brocín, cosecrad) and u (cruthnech, culeon, dúni, mulenn, hule).

The change of e, é into ea, éa, is beginning Comgeall, m (e) andaidib, déara).

In auslaut i and e are confused. Thus we find i, where in Old Irish we should have had e (laithi, eclasi, clenni, duni, mori, cilli, gilli), and e where in Old Irish we should have had i (nahule, cathraig, ele).

1 Perhaps Robhaid—there is a mark over the b.

Eugene Curry adds this note: "Colbain, Lord of Buchan, and his wife Eva mortmained all the foregoing offerings from every burden for ever, except as much as would fall on four dabachs (i. e. the pay by four dabachs only) of such burdens as came upon all the high monasteries and high churches of Scotland. According to this, all Drostán's lands were freed from coigny (coinnmedh) &c. excepting the proportion of four dabachs of a sort of quitrent. If you take mandaidib to be mennaitib 'chief residences' you will be right enough; but what was the custom ?"

As to the diphthongs, a is written for ae or ai in mór-mar, malcoluim, mal-bhricín, malgirc, and é is written for ae in éda, michel. So o is written for oe or oi in sore, tosec, and é is written for oe or oi in én ‘one.' Infected g, d, t, are dropped in bri(gh)te, blie(dh)nec, fie(dh)nasi, be(th)ad: n is lost before t in cét, tiprat, and before s in pústa, cosecrad, but kept in auslaut (in saere, igginn i. e. in-ginn, in pett, dan-sil, gon-disad): nn has become nd in mandaidib, and conversely nd has become nn in bennacht, clenni.

cc is oddly written for ch in buadacc, imacc (so in the Welsh laws): ach for ch in acchad. Ld, ln, tl have become ll in mallacht, chomallfas, nolloce. In gé, go, gon, (O. Ir. cia, co, con), we have instances in anlaut of the sinking of the tenuis which, in inlaut, is exemplified by gonige, abstoil, edar, déndas (O. Ir. conici, apstoil, etor, déntis) and, in auslaut, by escob and tidnaig. In ocmad (O. Ir. ochtmad) t is dropt between c and m: is dropt before sc in escob: c is lost before r in dér, but the vowel is lengthened in compensation.

p

Then as to infection of the initials. Of vocalic infection, or, as Irish grammarians call it, 'aspiration,' we find the following instances:

after the article: in the gen. sg. masc. (in chomded): in the acc. sg. fem. (in chadraig). The latter is inorganic.

in an adjective or participle agreeing with a fem. â-stem in the dat. or nom. sg. (coir chétna, ben phústa).

Where one substantive governs another in the genitive (mac mal bhricín, mac chathail, proinn chét, cuitid thoisig). Excepting the first, where mal stands for mail, *maili, *magli? these instances are all inorganic, for mac is a masc. o-stem in the nom. sg. which ended in s, and the governing words in the others are in the acc. sg. which ended in n. In do choluim-chille the aspiration of cille is organic, for the dative sg. colum ended in a vowel, as we judge from the assimilation and from Gaulish forms like Magalu, Alisanu, Anvalonnacu.

after the possessive pron. 3d sg. masc. ('na(f)iaidnaisse, inna(f)ienasi). after the verbal prefixes ro and do (mar-ro-(f)alseg, ro-thidnaig, ro-bhaid, do-chuid).

after a verb in the 3d sg. conj. act. (gon-ice chloic). After the verb in the 3d sg. pret. (dorat phroinn, ro-bo thosec).

after the prepositions ar, air, do, and ó (ar thabart, ar chuit, air choir, do choluimchille, ó thosec, ó thosach, ó thesech, ó thesseach, ó hunn). after the negative ní (ní tharat).

in compounds (ard-chellaib, dobar-chon).

in relative forms (do ní thíssad, ar cech thosech chomallfas, ar-cach hén chomallfas).

Of nasal infection of tenues, or, as Irish grammarians call it, eclipsis, we find the following instances:

after the article, in the acc. sg. f. (in gathraig), in the gen. plur. (na glérec).

after the possessive pronoun of the 3d plural (ar-a-ginn): after the conjunction gon, con, (gon dísad): after the prep. in (igginn i. e. in-ginn).