191 



is grounded ; and what is this work proved to be ?* It is a MS. on 

 vellum, fairly written in the Irish character mixed with Greek capi- 

 tals, formerly covered with crimson and subsequently with black 

 leather ; was once in the custody of the Mac-Mayres, by one of 

 whom, although he held lands on the tenure of its safe keepingj-f- 

 it was pawned at the close of the seventeenth century for five pounds, 

 after which it came to the hands of Arthur Brownlow, esq., (it is not 

 said when,) who compounded, arranged, and collaied it, (Researches, 

 p. 256,) and is now in the possession of Sir WiUiam, (it is not said 

 how.) It is a MS. which that gentleman supposes to have been 

 written early in the seventh century, yet professes itself to be partly 

 written by Saint Patrick himself, and so Lhuid and Ware considered, 

 (Researches, pp. 253-4.) It contains an entry purporting to be made 

 by Calvus Perennis, in the presence of Brian Boroimhe, Emperor of 

 the Scots, and stated to be sealed with his seal of wax, (Researches 

 pp. 393-4,) which of course is conceded to be written at the close 

 of the tenth century, and while it presents at page 19» a discus- 

 sion on the privileges of Armagh, her right to the supremacy and 

 ultimate jurisdiction, (a very suspicious controversy to be referred 

 even to the seventh century,) it also furnishes sentences destructive 

 of its own antiquity, which have not escaped its present advocate, 

 but which, with due consistence, he declares to be interpolations, 

 (Researches, pp. 423, 431, &c.,) and last of all, it affords fragments of 

 Lives of Saint Patrick, written by divers authors, for the most part 

 anonymous. 



And on the authority of such a MS. as this, which both Ware, 

 Lhuid, and Usher inspected,:]: without seeing any grounds to assail 



* Researches, p. 250, &c. f Researches, p. 253. 



I Researches, pp. 247, 257. ^ 



