Seymour — The Signs of Doomsda/j in the Saltair na Rann. 161 



have, as a rule, only one event occurring on each day. Thus it would seem to 

 me that the origin of all the groups of fifteen signs may be referred, not so 

 much to the Augustinian acrostic poem as to the obscure Apocnli/pse of 

 TJiomas. Our Irish list of signs in the additional cantos of the Saltair na 

 Rann is of peculiar interest, in that it seems to serve as a connecting link in 

 subject, and perhaps in time also, between the seven-sign and the fifteen-sign 

 groups. And at this stage I must leave the problem for others to elucidate. 



For completeness' sake I may add the following. The fifteen signs were 

 well known in Ireland, as one would only expect. Miss Byrne has translated 

 one for me from the Liber Flavus Fergudorum, i, 12''. This follows Comestor. 

 Another list is embodied in the modern recension of the Ever-New Tongue 

 {Revue Celtigiie, xxviii, pp. 304-5). This follows Bede. A third has been 

 published by Dr. Whitley Stokes {Revue Celtique, xxviii, pp. 308-323). 

 This seems to follow Aquinas, with many items from the Old French. But 

 it is of interest, in that it has also made use of the signs in the Saltair na 

 Rann. Its ninth day before Doom is clearly based on SI; in its seventh 

 day before Doom it mentions " the streams of fire from the flanks of the 

 earth," as in S 3 ; it gives the list of the various resurrections, and mentions 

 the Seven Heavens, and the cross on Christ's shoulder, as in S, Canto OLX. 

 Another dociiment in Liber Flavus, ii, 32 [42] v, commences with eight 

 quatrains on the Day of Judgment, in which the description of the battle on 

 the Monday of Doom between the angels and demons is almost word for word 

 with the matter in Canto CLXii of S. 



A list of signs is to be found in the Lismore version of the Ever-New 

 TongiK, published by Dr. Whitley Stokes in 'Erlu, vol. ii. From the style of 

 the language its editor thinks that it may be ascribed to the tenth or 

 eleventh century. If so, it is even earlier tlian S. The signs occur on pp. 137 

 and 139. The writer of them is not concerned to give a formal list of the 

 same, in consequence of which he makes no mention of definite days, while 

 he interpolates matter not altogether relevant (sects. 127, 134). I give the 

 signs here briefly in sections as in the original : — 



122 Tlie bursting of 365 fiery mountain-ranges (S 7). 



123 The tottering and crashing of the five heavens at bowing them to earth (S 4). 



124 The rising and roar of the seven fiery winds out of the poles of heaven 



at the noise and approach of thimder and lightning (S 1). 



125 The falling of 3,375 stars (S 5). 



126 :?%£ mooK turns to blood. The sun's light fails {S 5). 

 (127 Only God can reckon the host of heaven at Doom.) 



128 Forests and mountains levelled by a fiery tempest (S 4). 



Jt.I.A. PROC, VOL. XXXVI, SECT. C. [18] 



