465 
supposing the inscription to contain the date a.p. 503. The 
era of Anno Domini, as every chronologer knows, was not 
adopted at so early a period to define dates, and the character 
of the inscription would, of itself, even had there been no date, 
indicate the latter part of the fifteenth or beginning of the six- 
teenth century. The fact is, that the letter M, the first letter 
of the date, was mistaken by Sir William Betham for the 
words Anno Domini, in the contracted form, and the real date 
is MDXXXIII. or MDxxxu1111., for there is some doubt whether 
there were originally three or four units. 
This is not said with any intention of detracting from the 
honour which justly belongs to Sir William Betham of being 
among the first to bring this, and other interesting Irish relics, 
before the notice of antiquarians. His book, notwithstanding 
such mistakes as that just noticed, was greatly in advance of 
the time when it was published, and has done good service in 
directing public attention to our Irish historical antiquities and 
ancient manuscripts. 
The inscription contains a statement that the case or box 
now before us was ornamented by Brian, son of Brian O’Muir- 
guissan (or Moreesan), in the year 1533 or 1534. 
The inscription is as follows :— 
ban mac brian ua muiguippan vo cumoalg me a? m.cccce. 
xxx. 
“Brian mac Briain ua Muirguissan covered me, anno M.cccce. 
XXXII.” 
This Coniietts it at once with St. Columbkille’s country: 
for it appears by an inquisition taken at Lifford,* county of 
Donegal, quoted by Dr. Petrie in a letter containing an ac- 
count of this Miosach, and now in the possession of the Col- 
lege of S. Columba, that in the parish of Clonmanny, Donogh 
O’Morreesen held certain lands as herenach of the bishop of 
_ Derry, and coarb of the abbot of Derry, ‘‘ which were given 
* Inquis. Rot. Cancell. Hib., vol. ii. (Ultonia) Append. No. V, 
