G 293

English Translation of Foras Feasa ar Éirinn

17th cent. Paper. 29 × 18 cms. 816 pp. (scribal 1-500, [4], 1-312). Scribe unidentified.

The following memorandum by Sir Robert Southwell, Secretary of State for Ireland, occurs on the 2nd flyleaf: `Md. This Booke was lent by Sir John Percivale to Mr. Cox. And returned to Sir R. Southwell in London March 1689/90'. Names on the 1st flyleaf (lower half of which is torn away) are: `James Dondland [repeated] his book', `Richard Power'; other jottings include `Know all men by' and arithmetical calculations. On the last flyleaf are `O Connor Genelogies of Ireland' and `of all consideration'.

Bound in leather with `A Defence of the true History of Ireland by Jefry Keating' labelled on spine; `No 82' `344' [Thorpe sale-cat. no.], `10240 Ph', Phillipps MS 10240' inside front cover; `Thorpe 1836' on verso of first flyleaf. Listed under `Ex Bibl. Incertes.' in Phillipps's Catalogus. Purchased by the National Library for £10 from Sotheby 10 February 1934.

Page

1 [Foras Feasa ar Éirinn in English.] Introduction. Beg. A defence of the true History of Ireland containing the summes of the transactions of Ireland. Ends (p. 66) with `your poore assured friend till death Jeffry Keatinge'. P. 67 `The true History of Ireland. The first Booke.' Ends (p. 499) with `finis Libri primi'. P. 500 blank followed by 4 unnumbered pages, three of which have cancelled writing (scribal). P. 1 `The true History of Ireland the second Booke, of the Kings of Ireland and their actions since the Christian faith was received there and their transactions untill the English Conquest.' Ends (p. 282) with `finis Libri secundi'. Followed (p. 283) by the genealogies headed `Of the spreading of the Branches of the seed of Miletius'. Ends p. 311. P. 312 blank.

The verse is not included in this translation.