394 
the Stowe MSS., and now the property of the Earl of 
Ashburnham. 
He showed that what is now the bottom of the box is 300 
years older than the top. The inscriptions on the bottom of 
the box were partially interpreted by Dr. O’Conor, but those 
on the top of the box were never read or explained before. 
The inscriptions on the bottom are as follows :— 
NO. I. 
benoacht 0e aR cech dn 
main as a haribliuch 
** The blessing of God on every 
soul who deserves it” 
—erroneously translated by Dr. O’Conor, “ The blessing of 
God on every soul who contributed to this work much or 
little.” 
NO. Ii. 
OR 00 DONOChadD macc 
ORIGIN 00 RIS hereno 
“« A prayer for Donchadh son of 
Brian, for the King of Erin.” 
This Donnchadh, or Donagh, was the son of the celebrated 
Brian Borumha, and was originally King of Munster, in con- 
junction with his brother Tadhg, whom he caused to be mur- 
dered A.D. 1023. He then became King of Ireland, but was 
expelled A.D. 1064, and went to Rome, where he died in 
penitence, in the monastery of St. Stephen, according to the 
contemporary Annals of Tighernach. 
Thus it appears that this part of the box must have been 
made between the years 1023 and 1064. 
