G 58

Theobald Stapleton's Catechism; Devotional

18th cent. Paper. 14.7 × 9.5 cms. Pp. 296. Scribe: Seádhan Ó Héidéin (scribal signatures pp. 1, 284) an associate of Tadhg Ó Neachtain and the subject of the stanza which was added by a later hand to Ó Neachtain's poem on Irish Scholars in Dublin in the early 18th cent. (ed. O'Rahilly, Gadelica, i p.161). See also Flower's note on the scribe in B.M. ii, pp. 41-42. In the scribal colophon on p. 284 infra the year of writing is given as 1730. This ms., and two other mss. (B.M. Eg. 197 written 1737-40 and R.I.A. 23 A 22 written 1735) by the same scribe, derive from a ms., B.M. Eg. 198, by Ó Neachtain, written 1717, resembling though not identical with it (see B.M. ii, pp. 42, 576, 582 and R.I.A. Cat. Ir. Mss. p. 403). Most of the prayers contained in the present ms. are also in 23 A 22 and they are adapted from Gearnon's Parrthas an Anma.

The scribal pagination in the ms. is as follows: Preface to the Catechism, pp. i-xxii, Catechism and table of Contents pp. 1-232, followed by prayers on pp. 233-44; the opening pages of the ms., which consist of litanies followed by five blank pages, are unnumbered by the scribe. A modern pencilled pagination which covers the whole ms. has been adopted in the present catalogue. It would seem that the margins at the top of the ms. were trimmed during the binding because the running title and scribal numbering have been cropped in some places (pp. 156-172).

The ms. is bound in full leather (the front cover is now detached) and Phillipps no. 10285 pasted on spine. On the top inner margin of page 3 is the number 39 which was the number of the ms. when it was in Edward O'Reilly's possession and catalogued by him in his ms. catalogue, now R.I.A. 23 H. 1.

Page

1 Quatrain in Latin, English adn Irish beg.:

Tempus erit quo parve liber tua carmina cerneris.

O Little book the time will come.

Trúagh sin a leabhráin bheig bháin.

This is followed by scribal signature and Agus veannacht air amamuin. Amen.

2 Blank.

3 Liottáin Iosa. Beg. A Thighearna déin trócaire orainn followed by an additional prayer.

8 Liottáin Mhuire. Beg. A Thighearna déin trócaire orainn followed by an additional prayer.

13 Liottáin na Naomh do reir Pharrthais an Anma. Beg. A Thighearna déin trócaire oruinn followed by Psalm 69 (beg. p. 22 Cláon dom chabhrughadh a Dhé) with versicles and responses.

24-28 Blank.

29 Theobald Stapleton. Cathechismus. Title-page, p. 29. Oraid don leaghthoir pp. 31-52. Text pp. 53-282. Table of Contents pp. 283-4. A complete copy of Theobald Stapleton's Cathechismus, Brussels, 1639.

284 Scribal colophon: Go gcongbha an coimdhe sláinte anama agus chuirp do gach áon do leighfe an leabhránso, ┐ ghuídhefeas go dúthrachtach ar an tí do thionsgnamh hé: Agus ar an tí do sgribh he. Amen. Seadhan Ó Hédéin. scripsit August 21, 1730.

285 Graces to be said before and after meat. Headed Beannughadh an Bhúird. A suighe aig an bhórd and (p. 286) Altúghadh iar gcaitheamh bídh .i. an benedicamus.

287 Blank.

288 An tsailm Deprofundes. Beg. Ós na doibhnimh deás chugad a Thighearna followed by prayer (Orrtha).

290 Blank.

291 The Angelus. Headed Ag clos chloig na fáilte aingleachda, san maidin, a meadhon laoi agus trathnóna.

292 Pope Alexander the 6th granted to those that recited this following prayer to the Blessed Virgin and to Saint Ann her mother 36000 Years Indulgence. Beg. Hail Mary full of grace our Lord is with thee, thy grace with me.

293 Morning devotions. Ag eirge ar maidin. Beg. A mo shlanaightheoir a Iosa Críosd do cheannaigh me ar tfuil.

294 Evening devotions. Urnaighthe ria ndul a chodhla followed (p. 295) by Hiomain ria loighe. Beg. A Dhé do dhealbhuidh gach ní, 3 qq. (version of the hymn "Te lucis ante terminum"), followed by versicle and prayer.

296 Prayer on leaving the house. A fagbháil an tíghe. Beg. A Thighearna taisbeáin do shlighe féin dhamh.