PREFACE

N, that is 23. N. 10, a paper manuscript written in the year 1575,¹ pages 98–101. This is a complete copy; the gap between pages 100 and 106 is filled by pages 7a–10b of the vellum portion of the manuscript.

H', that is H. 1. 15, pages 946–957. This is a paper manuscript written by Tadhg Tiorthach O Neachtain in 1745. It is a complete copy, featuring extensive explanatory notes glosses in Modern Irish, the more important of which are printed below on pages 36–43. At the end, O Neachtain has added the following:

"Three divine virtues: faith, hope, and love. Three in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—to whom be glory, praise, and submission throughout eternity, who gave time to this poor wretch. Today, the 15th of May, 1745. Tadhg O Nechtuin, son of Sean, at the age of seventy-four years, wrote the things above." original: ‘Trí subhailce diadha : creidhemh, dothchus agus grádh. Trí a n-aon : athair, mac, spiorad naomh, da raibh gloir, mola[dh] 7 umhlacht tre bith sior tug ré don bhochtan bocht so. Aniu an 15 do bhealltuine 1745. Tadhg O Nechtuin mac Seain a n-aois ceithre bliadhna déag et trí fithchit roscriob na trithibh suas.’

These manuscripts have, on the whole, an identical text, though they all occasionally omit a triad or two; and the order of the single triads varies in all of them. They have all been used in constructing a critical text, with the most important variations being given in the footnotes. The order followed is mainly that of the Yellow Book of Lecan.

There are at least three other manuscripts containing copies of the Triads. I discovered one of them in the Stowe collection after the text had been printed off. It is a paper quarto now marked 23. N. 27, containing on folios 1a–7b a copy of the Triads, followed on folios 7b–19a by a copy of the Instructions of Cormac original: 'Tecosca Cormaic' with explanatory notes. It was written in 1714 by Domnall (or Daniel) O Duind, son of Eimunn. Its readings agree closely with those of N. In section 237, it alone, of all manuscripts, gives an intelligible reading of a corrupt passage. For "though he be cast into the sea, though he be taken" original: 'cia fochertar im-muir, cia berthair'

¹ As appears from the following concluding note colophon on page 101: "A prayer from me for your book, O Hugh, on the first Monday after the feast of John. Baile Tibhaird [Tiperttown] is the place of my writing-stead, near Sean O Maolconari. I (Dubthach) wrote that portion for my sister, etc. In the year of our Lord 1575. May you be well." original: ‘Oraoit uaim ar do lebor a hOedh in cédluan iar n-aurtach Johannes. Baile Tibhaird ar bla maige mo mendad scribne hi farrad Se(a)ain hi Maoilconari. Mese (Dubthach) do scrib in ball soin da derpiris 7 rlæ. Anno domini 1575. Guroiuh maith agat.’