Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 2.djvu/73

 12 S. II. JULY 22, 1916.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

67

Rawlinson, B. 506, in the Bodleian, " were written by O'Cianain in a fine clear hand, like that in the Book of Ballymote, but better." Mr. F. Madan, however, tells me that, in his opinion,

" the connexion of MS. Rawl. B. 506 with O'Cianain is a fanciful conjecture of Prof. O'Curry, who thought he recognized the handwriting, a very slippery form of judgment. There is no hint of the scribe's name, but the date would suit, being about A.D. 1400."

The editors of the above work further state that

"O'Rielly (' Irish Writers,' p. 102) says that he had in his possession two volumes in vellum, in the handwriting of this O'Keenan [tc],one of which was a copy of ancient laws " ;

but I have been unable to obtain any con- firmation of this statement. In all proba- bility this is about all we shall ever learn of this scribe's literary achievements.

2. Another scribe of no less diligence, "though more modern, is Joseph O'Longan, the copyist of our MS. for the O'Conor Don in 1869. Officially connected with the Royal Irish Academy's Department of Irish Manuscripts, he transcribed, also in 1869, the


 * Leabhar na H-Uiahri,' and, in 1872-6, the

by Sir J. T. Gilbert, who says in his Preface to the former work that it is
 * Leabhar Breac,' both edited and published

Jt the oldest volume known entirely in the Irish

language, and is regarded as the chief surviving

literary monument, not ecclesiastical, of ancient

Ireland."

I failed to discover any further reference to

either O'Rielly or O Longan in Webb's


 * Compendium ' or elsewhere.

3. Thomas MacSamhradhain, according to Dr. Quiggin, is recorded by the Four Masters as slain in 1343. But O'Donovan's edition of the FJVI. (1851) simply states that

" Thomas Magauran, Chief of Teallaoh Eachahach, <Jied [deecj."

' The Annals of Ulster ' (MacCarthy's edition. 1893) has :

" Thomas Mag-Samhradhain, unique choice of the Chiefs of Ireland, died."

' The Annals of Loch Ce ' (Hennessey's ed., 1871):

" Thomas MacSamhradhain, dux of Teallach Echach, quievit."

The last form of entry is interesting as a variant, and that preceding it as supplying a solitary scrap of biography, though the phrase (aen ragu taisec Erenn, mortuus eat) is obscure, possibly pointing to a ratification, under the laws of Tanistry, of the election of Thomas to the tribal chieftaincy.

J. B. McGovEBN.

JSt. Stephen's Rectory, C.-on-M., Manchester.

THE RECORDS OF THE CITY

LIVERY COMPANIES. (See 11 S. vi. 464; vii. 101, 403.)

THE following notes are supplementary to those contributed by me at the above references :

Basket Makers (US. vi. 464). The ac- count of this Company appearing in the issue of The Guild of Freemen Magazine for June, 1913, informs us precisely as follows : "The earliest Roll of Apprentices is dated June 1st, 1639, and the Quarter or Minute Book, September 8th, 1661. The earlier books and effects were destroyed in the Great Fire of London."

Brewers. Jupp's ' Account ' of the Car- penters' Company (first edition, 1848) cites, in a foot-note at p. 7, an entry from the " Brewers' Company's Court Minutes from 1418 to 1440." The non-publication of the slightest work on the extraordinarily in- teresting archives of this ancient company is much to be lamented.

Carpenters (US. vi. 464). It is stated in the introduction to Marsh's ' Records ' that " the Records of the Company are practically continuous from the year 1438." In his first (1913) volume Mr. Marsh transcribes the Register of Apprentices, 1654-94 ; while in his second (1914) the Masters for 1456- 1519, together with the Wardens from 1437 onwards, are listed in an appendix.

Coopers (11 S. vi. 465). From Jackson's ' Notes ' (1914) we gather that " the most valuable of the Company's possessions is a very fine collection of Minute and Account Books, dating from 1440." A list of tho original members of the Company at time of its inception in 1440 is printed at p. 6, from " the most ancient book."

Cutlers. MS. 660 in the Guildhall Library consists of sundry original papers relating to this Companv, including Accounts, 1672-1738; Minutes, 1687-90, 1712-19, and 1732. The manuscript, which i two parts, contains a list of the membership c. 1629-75.

Drapers (11 S. vi. 465). Herbert's brief and inaccurate reference is corrected in tl sumptuous work of Johnson, schedule of records given in the latter s (1914) volume (at pp. 173-82) we gather that the Wardens' Accounts open in 1413, tl being, however, a break 1442-75, from winch time they form a continuous series Renters' Accounts date from 1 81. the Repertories or Court Minutes from 1515, and the Freemen's Admission Registers i