by the wives throughout the world besides."[10] The SALTAIR OF CASHEL was compiled by Cormac Mac Cullinan King of Munster, and Archbishop of Cashel.  He was killed in the year 903.  This loss of the work is most painful to the student of the early history of Erinn.  It is believed that the ancient compilation known as Cormac’s Glossary, was compiled from the interlined gloss to the Saltair; and the references therein to our ancient history, laws, mythology, and social customs, are such as to indicate the richness of the mine of ancient lore.  A copy was in existence in 1454, as there is in the Bodleian Library in Oxford (Laud, 610) a copy of such portions as could be deciphered at the time.  This copy was made by Shane O’Clery for Mac Richard Butler.

The subjoined list of the lost books is taken from O’Curry’s MS. Materials, page 20.  It may be useful to the philologist and interesting to our own people, as a proof of the devotion to learning so early manifested in Erinn:—­

“In the first place must be enumerated again the Cuilmenn; the Saltair of Tara; the Cin Droma Snechta; the Book of St. Mochta; the Book of Cuana; the Book of Dubhdaleithe; and the Saltair of Cashel.  Besides these we find mention of the Leabhar buidhe Slaine or Yellow Book of Slane; the original Leabhar na h-Uidhre; the Books of Eochaidh O’Flannagain; a certain book known as the Book eaten by the poor people in the desert; the Book of Inis an Duin; the Short Book of St. Buithe’s Monastery (or Monasterboice); the Books of Flann of the same Monastery; the Book of Flann of Dungeimhin (Dungiven, co.  Derry); the Book of Dun da Leth Ghlas (or Downpatrick); the Book of Doire (Derry); the Book of Sabhall Phatraic (or Saull, co.  Down); the Book of the Uachongbhail (Navan, probably); the Leabhar dubh Molaga, or Black Book of St. Molaga; the Leabhar buidhe Moling, or Yellow Book of St. Moling; the Leabhar buidhe Mhic Murchadha, or Yellow Book of Mac Murrach; the Leabhar Arda Macha, or Book of Armagh (quoted by Keating); the Leabhar ruadh Mhic Aedhagain, or Red Book of Mac Aegan; the Leabhar breac Mhic Aedhagain, or Speckled Book of Mac Aegan; the Leabhar fada Leithghlinne, or Long Book of Leithghlinn, or Leithlin; the Books of O’Scoba of Cluain Mic Nois (or Clonmacnois); the Duil Droma Ceata, or Book of Drom Ceat; and the Book of Clonsost (in Leix, in the Queen’s County).”

[Illustration:  (A) MS. in the “Domhnach Airgid,” [R.I.A.] (temp.  St. Patrick, circa A.D. 430.)]

[Illustration:  (B) MS. in the “Cathach,” (6th century MS attributed to St. Colum Cille)]

Happily, however, a valuable collection of ancient MSS. are still preserved, despite the “drowning” of the Danes, and the “burning” of the Saxon.  The researches of continental scholars are adding daily to our store; and the hundreds of Celtic MSS., so long entombed in the libraries of Belgium and Italy, will, when published, throw additional light upon the brightness of the past, and, it may be, enhance the glories of the future, which we must believe are still in reserve for the island of saints and sages.[11]