46 
7 
which, though neither so ancient nor so brilliantly illuminated 
as some others of the Irish school, is yet of peculiar interest, 
on account of its exquisite penmanship, and the precision with 
which its date has been ascertained. It belongs to a period in 
Irish history of which there are scarcely any other biblical re- 
mains, and is further valuable in that it serves as an excellent 
standard of the handwriting which was practised in this coun- 
try in the early part of the twelfth century. It is in the 
Harleian collection, No. 1802, small quarto, consisting of 156 
folios, the page measuring 64 by 44 inches. It contains the 
Latin text of the four Gospels, agreeing very nearly with the 
Vulgate, accompanied by preliminary matter, and a running 
commentary in the form of marginal and interlinear scholia. 
Fol. 1 commences with the prologue of St. Jerom, be- 
ginning “‘ Novum opus facere me cogis.” At folio 3 follows 
the “ Argumentum Evangelii Matthei.” In a note on the 
upper margin the following scrap of etymology occurs: ‘ Ar- 
gumentum, argutum inventum ; argumentatio, argute mentis 
ratio.” 
Fol. 3 6. The genealogy of our Saviour, with notes. Upon 
which Wanley observes: ‘ This is written separately from the 
rest of the Gospel, and amongst other prefaces ; as being 
looked upon but as a preface. Ihave seen other ancient co- 
pies of the Evangelists, written in Ireland, or coming from 
books written by Irishmen, wherein, although the sacred ge- 
nealogy was not rejected or misplaced, there would neverthe- 
less appear a great distinction between it and what followed ; 
the words ‘Christi autem Generatio’ being illuminated again, 
as if the Gospel had begun there.”* 
Fol. 4 6. An interpretation of the Hebrew and Syriac 
names which occur in the Gospels, ‘‘ perhaps,” says Wanley, 
‘‘taken from St. Hierom.” 
* Catalogue of the manuscripts in the Harleian Collection, vol. y. pp. 180- 
207. MS. Brit. Mus. 
