3fi6 Proceedings of the Royal Irhh Academy. 



Dundubhain (the Tower of Hook), they made that point the end of the east 

 coast, brinsing Bannow, Fethard, and Tuskar into its line. The scales, we 

 saw, are not applicable to Ireland ; even proportion is not attempted. Perhaps 

 the long distances between the fewer chief points on the west coast 

 " balanced " the numerous short ones on the east. If we compare a portolan 

 with a modem map, we find some curious " equations." A reach of 15 mUes 

 equals 100 ; a distance of 60 actual miles equals 80, 90, or 100 in the 1.339 map ; 

 40, 90, and 140 are equal in that of 1384 ; 40, 70, 80, and 105 are equal in 

 the 1 450 portolan. This compels one to neglect any reference to scales in the 

 identifications. This early type continued to be reeopied, with added eiTors, 

 but few additions of fact, down to 1600 : we have even Arabic portolans of 

 the lat«r date, similar in outline to those of Carignano and Dulcert. 



A second type arose about 1430, perhaps originating from the brilliant 

 brief reign of Henry V. It shows that it comes from an independent source. 

 " Guinsala " I'Kinsale) now replaces Andelforda, and " Langra," or Larne, 

 Ullerfori Gkdway, Erris, the Stags, Sligo, TeeUn (if not the comkiteln of 

 the early school), Iniskea, "Anfrona," Black Head, Ventry, The Bull, 

 Baltimore, Corcala, the Seven Castles, Dalkey, Howth, and Ardglas now 

 appear ; while the once important Bannow, Arklow, Timoleague, and Knock- 

 fergus are ignored. I give as examples the Upsal map, not later than 1450 : 

 De la Cosa, 1500, and Agnesi, 1544 ; but the type is widespread. The west 

 coast is now fairly accurate as a sketch-map ; but this superficial accuracy was 

 far more dangerous than the erudeness of the fii^st type. It was the second 

 type of map, for example, that, f ailing to show the bold projection of 

 Connacht, led Medina-Sidonia to lay down a line of retreat for the Armada in 

 1588 so close to the coast that many of the huge ships got embayed from 

 Sligo to Cape Clear.' 



From about 1480 onward a disturbing element is felt, indicating inter- 

 ference of the learned classes, and the revival of the Ptolemaic geography.' 

 " Ptolemy, pure and simple," was hardly known ; names fi-om his maps got 

 into the sea-maps, while many names (even the mythic Brasil) are seen on the 

 supposed Ptolemy maps of the sixteenth century — maps with such titles as 



• Seethe appalling accounts of the English officials in Connacht, and of Captain Cuellar. Fenton 

 teUs of 1100 dead bodies on one beach ; and the peasantry said the like was to be seen in other 

 places. The sandhills are full of human remains. 



'Of course Ptolemy was "remembered at intcrrals" down the ages. A fine copy of the 

 twelfth century (for example) was preserred in the Monasterv of Tatopedi in Athos, but Ireland is 

 not mapped {."GUgraphie di PUlemif;- Paris. 1867, Victor Langlois, also "Science and Art in the 

 Maddle Ages," p. 269). Has popularity dates from the translated edition of his boot into Latin 

 about UIO. After that numerous manuscript conies were made, though it was not printed till 

 after 14,2 ; but the earliest edition (possibly by accident) is dated mcccbrii. 



