II. THE SOURCES OF THE ANNALS.
§ 6. The Annals of Ulster are compiled from various sources. The investigation of the sources is a difficult problem, and though a good deal of light can be thrown on the subject by a consideration of the language itself, still much remains that is not clear. The Annals, as we have them, were compiled by Cathal Mac Maghnusa Mheg Uidhir,[1] who died in 1498 at Senaid, L. Erne, and were taken from earlier compilations. After his death they were continued to 1504 in the MS. H 1. 8 and to 1588[2] in R 489. At 1498 they contain the entry of Mag Uidhir’s own death: “Mac Maghnusa Mheg Uidhir do ég in bliadhain-si idon Cathal og Mac Cathail . . . in nech robui lan do rath ⁊ do ecna in gach uile eladhain co haimsir a eitsechta eter dlighedh ⁊ diaghacht, fhisighecht ⁊ fhellsaime ⁊ ealadhain Gaedhilge airchena ⁊ nech ro chumdaigh ⁊ ro theglaim ⁊ ro thinol an leabhar-su a leabhraibh ilimdai ailibh. . . . Ocus tabrad gach nech dia leghfa ind lebur-sa ⁊ dia foighena a bennacht for an anmain sin mic Maghnusa.” “Mac Maghnusa Mag Uidhir died this year, that is Cathal Óg son of Cathal ... a man full of good qualities and knowledge in every science, both law and divinity, physic and philosophy, and a scientific knowledge of Irish besides, who planned out and compiled and collected this book from several other books. And let every one who will read this book and to whom it will be of service bestow a blessing on the soul of Mac Maghnusa.” This eulogy was certainly deserved, for Mag Uidhir succeeded remarkably well in an extremely difficult task and did his work in a scientific
- ↑ H 1. 8 from fol. 49 (a.d. 1115) onwards is written in a different hand to the earlier portion. From 1051 to 1115 some of the entries are either re-inked or written in different ink, which gives the appearance of a different hand. The earlier portion was presumably written by Mag Uidhir himself, who when he had got to the twelfth century probably considered the matter plain sailing and handed over the writing to some scribes.
- ↑ With several intermissions.
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