SOME IRISH LAW DOCUMENTS

I.

1. Is é adhbhar an sgríbhinn se, d'á
fhoillsiughadh mar do réidhtighedh
an t-imreasán do bhí idir sliocht
Shéamuis na bhFiadh Uí Chinnéididh
ó Bhaile Locha Capaill.

2. Agus ag so an sliocht sain .i. Tadhg
Maol mac Mhathghamhna mhic Dhuinn-Chuan
mhic Shéamuis na bhFiadh, agus Pilip mac Dhuinn-
Chuan mhic Shéamuis na bhFiadh agus a dhias mhac
.i. Aodh agus Diarmaid. Ag sin do'n taoibh sin
iad ar son a chéile.

3. Agus ag so an drong eile do bhí i
n-imreasán riu (= leó) do'n taoibh eile .i.
clann Bhriain mhic Conchobhair mhic Eoghain
mhic Shéamuis na bhFiadh, mar atá Seaghán
agus Conbhobhar agus Domhnall agus Einrí, do bhí do
láthair an réidhtigh sin; agus do chuadar féin
i gcoraidheachd ar an gcuid nach raibhe
(raibh) do láthair d'á mbráithreacha.

4. Agus ag so an t-imreasán do éirigh
eatorra .i. clann Bhriain mhic Conchobhair
ar n-iarraidh ranna fearainn ar shliocht
Duinn-Chuan mhic Shéamuis na bhFiadh i
mBaile Locha Capaill; agus an sliocht sain
Duinn-Chuan d'á rádh nach tiubhradaois
roinn dóibh, agus gurbh' fhada ó do rinneadar
a n-aithreacha roinn, agus gur bhioth-roinn do
rinneadar re chéile fá'n am sain.

5. Do shéanadar clann Bhriain mhic Con-
chobhair sin, agus adubhradar go raibhe a
n-athair rómpa agus iad féin ina dhiaidh ag
iarraidh ranna fearainn i mBaile Locha
Capaill, agus go háirithe go raibhe a sean-
athair ina shuidhe ar a chuid féin i mBaile
Locha Capaill.

6. Agus de bhrígh go ndubhradar sliochd
Duinn-Chuain go ndearnadh bioth-roinn
roimhe sin, do moladh orra sin do shuidhiughadh
ar chloinn Bhriain mhic Conchobhair.

7. Agus is é so an chéad shuidhiughadh tuga-
dar sliocht Duinn-Chuan air sin i bhfiadh-
naise na forma .i. a rádh go raibhe an

tsealbh aca féin trí fichid nó ceathair
bliadhan. An dara suidhiughadh .i. udhacht
Mhathghamhna mhic Dhuinn-Chuan i bhfiadhnaise
fhiadhan agus shagairt na parráisde, go ndear-
nadh an bhioth-roinn. An treas suidhiughadh,
fiadhnaise Fhionnghuala inghine Mhurchadha
Mhic an Ghabhann mhaireas indiu, atá re trí
fichid bliadhan i mbaile Locha Capaill. An
ceathramhadh suidhiughadh, .i. Filib mac Dhuinn-
Chuan mhic Shéamuis na bhFiadh, atá i gcionn
a cheithre fichead bliadhan. An cúigeadh
suidhiughadh .i. Donnchadh Ó Deirbhreó, do bhí
'n-a sgolóig ionnraic agus 'n-a chléireach mhichil.
Agus ní hé sin amháin, acht dar leó féin
do bhí gach aon tsuidhiughadh aca.

8. Agus is mar so do chuir Seaghán mac
Bhriain i n-aghaidh na bhfiadhan sain. An
céad ní dhíobh .i. a rádh go raibhe an tsealbh
aca re ceithre fichid bliadhan: agus adubhairt
sé nachar dhaoiride é féin sin, 'ó's de shin-
sireachd ráinig sí dhóibh.

9. An dara ní, adeir sé re hudhacht
Mhathghamhna mhic Dhuinn-Chuan, dá ndearna
sé é, mar nach dearna, gur dearmad agus
doilgheas a thinnis do bhéaradh air a rádha;
agus go raibhe Brian mac Conchobhair a athair
féin do láthair udhachta Mhathghamhna, agus go
ndubhairt sé ris (leis) gan a rádh go
ndearnadh an bhioth-roinn; agus gur fhágaibh
Brian féin re hudhachd nach dearnadh an
bhioth-roinn riamh, i n-aimsir a bháis.

10. An treas ghné, a rádh go ndearna
Filip mac Dhuin-Chuan fínné 'n-a aghaidh:
agus adeir sé nach fínné Filip mac Dhuinn-
Chuan ag déanamh neith dhó féin agus d'á chloinn,
agus má dubhairt sé ní eile, atá a fhios
agaibh-se.

11. An ceathramhadh ní adubhradh ris, a
rádh go ndearna Fionnghuala inghean Mhur-
chadha mhic an Ghabhann fiadhnaise ina aghaidh:
adeir sé nach dearna, agus dá ndearnadh, nach
daoiride é féin é .i. bheith ag déanamh neith
d'á cloinn agus d'á cineál ina diaidh. Agus
Donnchadh Ó Deirbhreo, ní chuala sé go
ndearna aon ní do ghoillfeadh air, agus dá
ndearnadh, dob' urusa leis a chur dhe.

12. Agus ó nach suidhiughadh cóir aon
tsuidhiughadh d'á ndubhradh annsin, do shuidhigh
sé d'fhiadhnaisibh maithe, dar leis féin, go
raibhe Conchobhar mac Eoghain 'na shuidhe ar
a chuid ranna féin de Bhaile Locha Capaill
.i. sa' Gharbh-Chúlóig; agus ag so na fiadhna
atá air sin .i. Mairghréad inghean Donn-
chadha Uí Chearbhaill, agus Sadhbh inghean Chúgáin,
agus Diarmaid Mac an Ghabhann.

13. Agus tar gach easaonta agus gach im-
reasán d'á ndearnadar, do fhanadar ag
foirm cheathrair, agus is iad so an ceathrar ar
ar fhanadar .i. Ó Cinnéididh Fionn .i. Brian
mac Dhomhnaill ó Leacaoin, agus Maolruanadha
mac an Chalbhaigh mhic Dhonnchadha mhic Shea-
gháinín Uí Chearbhaill ó Chluain Leisg, agus
Uilliam mac Dhiarmada mhic Aodha mhic
Ruaidhrí Uí Chinnéididh ó'n chéadna, agus Cair-
bre mac an Chosnamhaigh mhic Dhomhnaill mhic
Giolla-na-Naomh mhic Aodhagáin.

14. Agus do fhéachadar an t-adhbhar eat-
orra agus a ndearbhtha ar gach taoibh, mar atá
- udhacht Mhathghamhna mhic Dhuinn-Chuan, an
chéad chuid de: agus is amhlaidh do bheanadar
as, do réir a réasúin féin, dá ndéantaoi
bioth-roinn an fhearainn, nach raibhe cuid ag
an gcaisleán ná ag an mbádhun de, acht a
mbeith ag sinsear sleachta Shéamuis na
bhFiadh.

15. Agus idir gach ní d'á ndubhradar an
mhuintir sin, agus do réir gach sgeóil agus gach
fínné d'á bhfuaradar, tángadar féin le
chéile; agus is amhlaidh so thángadar le chéile,
ar n-a bheith sgríobhtha ar an mbioth-roinn
d'eagla an dearmaid, agus ar an adhbhar gur
fearr litir 'ná cuimhne, mar adeirthear
“memoria uádit, litera custódit,” .i.
mairidh an litir agus imthighidh an chuimhne.

16. Agus ar an adhbhar sain, adubhradh riu
roinn chubhaidh chosmhail chombráithramhail
do dhéanamh re chéile de nós a sinsear; agus
do mholadar, do réir a réasúin féin, nach

bioth-roinn aon ní d'á ndubhradh nó d'á
ndearnadh ar an bhfearann go nuige so, agus
is amhlaidh do fhágadar sin .i. an caisleán
agus an bádhun beag ag an tsinnsear, agus an
bádhun mór fós acht mar so amháin, cion a
choda féin ar gach combráthair d'á mbeidh
ag íoc sa' mbaile, do chum foirgeanta do
chur air; agus an chuid nach cuirfidh foirgneamh
ann ar bhreith an tsinnsir do chum a chomhghair
féin do dhéanamh dhe; agus do fhágadar leath
caorach craoi agus gabhar d'fhuilliughadh ar gach
foirgeantaidhe ag an sinnsear; agus an
fuilliughadh go hiomlán ag an sinnsear;
agus gach combráthair bhias i n-íoc a choda féin
do'n bhaile, dá seachnadh sé an baile, do
fhágadar a chuid dá gach íoc d'á dtiocfadh
do'n bhaile air, acht munab ciontach an
sinsear féin ris; agus do fhágadar sé ba
saor ag an sinsear, a rogha aige féin, nó
leath-bhinne; agus do fhágadar lá oibre sa'
ráithe ar gach íocaidhe d'á mbeidh sa' mbádhun
i n-éagmais a mhuintire féin ag an sinsear;
agus ní eile, gibé de na combráithreachaibh do
bhéaradh easurraim nó masladh nó míochata
do'n tsinsear nó d'á mhnaoi, a bheith mar
adéara dligheadh eatorra; agus tuilleadh eile,
gibé de na combráithreachaibh do thogróchadh a
chuid ronna féin do thabhairt d'á chombráthair
re feadh a shaoghail féin, do fhágadar an
fhoirm sin ar a chur féin, agus ní fhuil a chumas
aige a chur tar fine amach.

17. Agus is amhlaidh fuaras sa'sgríbheann
rómham gurab é an t-ochtmhadh lá de mhí
October do sgríobhadh so ar dtús, agus dob'
í so aois an Tighearna an uair sin .i. 1584.

Mise Cairbre Mach Aodhagáin.
Mise Maolruanadha a Cearbhaill.
Mise Brian a Cinnéididh.

18. Ag seo fínné Dhinis Uí Árta agus Eoin
Uí Challanáin ar udhacht Uilliam mhic Dhiar-
mada Uí Chinnéididh i n-aimsir a bháis .i.
gur mhol Cairbre Mac Aodhagáin agus Ó Cin-
néididh Fionn .i. Brian mac Dhomhnaill Uí
Chinnéididh ó Leacaoin agus Maolruanadha mac
an Chalbhaigh Uí Chearbhaill caisleán agus bádhun
Baile Locha Capaill do shinsear shleachta
Shéamuis na bhFiadh, agus go bhfuair sé féin
punt do'n éilidheig.

Eoin Ó Callanáin.

NOTES.

1. Sgríbheann, a writing, a document, here masc., gen.
an sgríbhinn. Is also fem., gen. na sgríbhne. D'á
fhoillsiughadh : the object of the action implied by a verbal
noun may be connected with it in two ways, (1) preceding
it with do, as an chúis d' fhoillsiughadh, to manifest the
cause, or (2) following it in the genitive, as foillsiughadh
na cúise. When the object is a sentence, it must follow,
and as a sentence cannot be put in the genitive, the place
of the sentence is taken by a (= of it, its) before the
verbal noun, d'á fhoillsiughadh mar agus c., "to mainifest it
(viz.), how, etc." A similar usage is not unknown to
English, e.g., "to make it clear how the dispute was
settled." Sliocht, race, descendants. S. na bhf. = James
of the Deer. O Cinnéididh, O'Kennedy: note that an
epithet comes between the forename and surname. But
when the epithet belongs to the family, it follows the sur-
name e.g., Brian O Cinnéidididh Fionn. "From," con-
neeting the person's name with his place of abode, is ó
in Irish ó Bhaile Locha Capaill (English, Ballycapple,
parish of Modreeny, Co. Tipperary).

2. Agus would not be translated in English at the
beginning of a new paragraph. Donn-Cuan is an obsolete
forename. Pilip, better Filip. Dias, two persons, gen.
díse, dat. dís (fem.) Beirt is now nearly always used
instead. Ar son a chéile, on behalf of each other, i.e.,
suing in common.

3. Drong f. gen. druinge, dat. druing, "party."
Seaghán is written Seaan in the original; the spelling
Seaghán marks an intent to identify the imported name,
Jean, John, with an old Gaelic name, derived from seagh,
art, ingenuity, whence also O Seaghdha, O'Shea. Do bhí
do láthair an réidhtigh sin, who were present at that
settlement. Coraidheachd, security, bail, from cor, a con-
dition, a term. Note the nom. pl. d'á mbráithreacha, for
dative.

4. Ar n-iarraidh, having sought. Ranna, gen. of
roinn, partition, division. D'á rádh, see note on d'á
fhoillsiughadh, par. I. Nach tiubhradaois, that they would
not five: nach does not eclipse in Irish of that date, or
in contemporary Munster Iirsh, in which the form ná is
used before verbs. Bioth-roinn, a permanent division.
Re, ris, riu, etc. (for modern le, leis, leo, etc.), when
the action proceeds from one thing to the other, but le
when accompaniment is meant. This distinction is still
strictly observed in Sc. Gaelic. Labhair ris, caith cloch
ris, would have been said, but imthigh leis, beir leat é.
Fá'n am sain, at that time.

5. Séan, deny. Go háirithe, "especially:" now
common in the sense of "at all events," and in many
places pronounced go háirit (Gu hau'rit). Ina shuidhe,
seated, settled in possession.

6. Mol, "praise," means also "adgudge, award."
The word was used in this sense in the Oireachtas pro-
ceedings: moltóir, adjudicator. Do moladh orra sin
do shuidhiughadh, it was awarded on them to prove that,
i.e., they were called upon by the arbitrators to prove
that. Ar chloinn agus c. against the children, etc.

7. Suidhiughadh, a proof, also suidheamh. Foirm. f., gen.
forma, a bench or board (of judges, etc.). A rádh, to
assert it, see note on d'á fhoillsiughadh, par. I. Sealbh
possession, fem. Gen. seilbhe. The dative form seilbh
is now commonly used as nominative, and the genitive is
sometimes sealbha. Trí fichid nó ceathair bliadhan,
three score or four (score of) years. Udhacht, will or tes-
tament. Note that the letters cht, st. are also written
chd, sd. I bhfiadhnaise fiadhan, in presence of witnesses.
For witness the word fínné is also used. Mac an
Ghabhann, anglicised Magowan and Smith. Mhaireas
indiu, who still lives. Atá re agus c., who has been for 60
years, etc. Atá i gcionn agus c., who is 80 years old, an
idiom still in use. O Deirbhreo: this surname seems
to be extinct. Sgológ, a peasant, a husbandman: this
word is feminine, gen. -óige, dat. -óig. Ionnraic,
honest. Cléireach mhichil is translated "impartial clerk"
in the official translation. It seems to mean "a clerk of
Michael," whatever that may mean. Dar leó féín = as
they belirevd.

8. Chuir i n-aghaidh, opposed. Ní, a thing, often spelled
nídh to distinguish from ní, not. Machar dhaoiride é féin
sin, that he himself was in none the worse position (by
reason of) that; daoiride, second comparative (= daoire
de) of daor, meaning "condemned or made liable" in a
legal sense. O's de sh, since it is by ancestry or primo-
geniture it came to them. Ráinig, perfect of rigim, I
reach, is now rarely used. Sinsear, from sean, means
an ancestor, but also the first in descent in direct line
among the living members of a family, the senior:
sinsireachd, ancestry or seniority.

9. Dá ndearna sé é, if he had made it (mar nach
dearna, which he had not): the forms dearna, raibhe,
deachadih, etc., now only used as perfects, were formerly
used after dá, if. Do bhéaradh air a rádha, that would
cause him (lit. bring upon him) to say it; the form rádha
is found as well as rádh. Gan a rádh, not to say (it.)
Gur fhágaibh : fágaim, I leave, is a compound of gabhaim,
and is always written fágbhaim by Keating and his con-
temporaries, perfect d'fhágaibh; this perfect in the form
d'fhága' is still in use locally to some extent.

10. An treas ghné the third point or article; gné
taked the place of ní. Fínné, evidence; also a witness.
Ag déanamh neith dhó féin, in doing a thing for himself,
i.e., serving his own ends: neith genitive of ní or nídh,
plural, neithe.

11. Cinéal, race, kin. Do ghoillfeadh air, that would
inconvenience him: said of a shoe, etc., an ngoilleann
sí ort? Urusa, easy, now furusa, furusda, furuisde,
Munster = f'ruisde: compar. usa, fusa, easier. A chur
dhe, to put it from him, to refute it.

12. Suidhigh, prove. D'fhiadhnaisibh maithe (by means)
of good evidences. Garbh-chúlóg, a place-name; O'Reilly
gives cúlóg, turf, peat. Mairghréad, now pronounced
Muirréad, Margaret. O Cearbhaill, O'Carroll. Sadhbh
Ní Chúgáin = would now be said; O Cúgáin, Coogan,
Cogan.

13. Calbhach is still used as a forename.
Cluain Leisg, Clonlisk, King's County. Cairbre Mac
Aodhagáin was evidently the brehon of O'Kennedy:
Maca. = M'Keegan, Keegan, Egan; not to be con-
founded with Mac Eochagáin, M 'Geoghegan, Geoghegan.

14. D'fhéachadar, they examined, dearbhtha, pl. of
dearbhadh, testimony. An cheád chuid de, in the first place.
Bádhun, supposed to be ba-
dhún, cow-fort, a walled enclosure.

15. Sgeóil, old genitive for sgéil, Tángadar le
céile, they came to a unanimous decision on its being
written concerning the permanent division (i.e., that the
perm. div. be committed to writing) for fear of its being
forgotten.

16. Roinn chubhaidh chosmhail chombráithreamhail, a just,
similar, kinsmanlike division. De nós a sinsear, after
the custom of their ancestors. Gonuige so, hitherto,
heretofore. Acht mar so amháin, but with this condition.
Cion a choda féin, etc.

Cion, ration, proportion; cion duine, a man's share.
Combráthair, one living in partnership with his kinsmen.
Foirgneamh, a building, pl. foirgeanta Craoi, gen.
of cró, a sheepfold. Fuilliughadh or fuilleamh (akin to
tuilleadh, addition) increase, interest. Bhias = bheidheas,
bheas. Seachain, shun keep away from. Dá gach : do
and de often become dá before gach. Leath-bhinne: I do
not know the exact meaning, possibly the grazing of half
the lands in common with the other kinsmen. Tograim,
I agree; see ograim, notes to Fraincín Strae, last
month.

18. Dinis O hArta, Denis O'Harty; but Donnchadh is
the name usually Englished Denis. Punt do'n éilidheig,
a pound for the Brehon's fee; the spelling éilidheig looks
doubtful, and I do not find the word in dictioanries; but
it was evidently well known even to the English. See
finding of Waterford jury, in the introduction to this
paper.