G 288

English Translation of Foras Feasa ar Éirinn

18th cent. Paper. 29 × 18.5 cms. 712 pp. (scribal [i-ii], Book I 1-420, Book II 1-287, [288-90]). Scribe unidentified, date of writing 1718 (see ends of Bks I II). A later hand wrote the item on p. [289]. One-time owners of the manuscript were: `Thos Rochfort his Book August 16 1828' (and pencil drawing of a man), Bk II pp. 98, 213, and `Nicholas Rochfort, Baymore near Drogheda', Bk II p. 99 (signature also on Bk 1 p. 375). Jottings include `May God Bless us all and may the ....' and the date `1814', Bk II p. 14. Other dates (in pencil and in different hands) are: `1857' at end of Bk I and `Tuesday II November 1861' (very faded) on Bk II p. 288.

Bound in three-quarter leather cover now loose, and `Keating's History of Ireland' gilt-lettered on spine; `MSS of Keatings History of Ireland / very rare / about 1600 [cancelled and 1718 written underneath]' and other notes now faded, on verso of front endpaper, and `£7/10/' on the last page. `Presented by O. Grattan Esmonde T.D. October 1932' inside front cover.

Page

1 Title-page: `The true History of Ireland / the first Booke ...'. P. ii blank. P. 1 Introduction headed `A Defence of the true History of Ireland'. Beg. Hee that intends to write of any country or people. P. 53 `The true History of Ireland / The first Book.' Beg. Of the Antiguity of Ireland and its Pedegree. Ends (p. 420) with `Finis Libri Primi / Anno Domini 1718'. Book II, p. 1 `The Second Booke of the History of Ireland ....' Ends (p. 287) with `Finis Libri Secundi / anoqus 1718'. P. 288 blank except for scribbles.

This appears to be the translator's autograph manuscript of Foras Feasa ar Éirinn. The verse is not, however, included in the translation.

289 `Leigh en Dergh. La ga ro mer Began[...] wanie mar vi regmar[...] e Ceil Croker vac Crev[...] do vi refer far loan huc[...]. 32 lines written as prose in roman script.