of _Inis an Duin_; the Short Book of St. Buithe's Monastery (or
Monasterboice); the Books of Flann of the same Monastery; the Book
of Flann of _Dungeimhin_ (Dungiven, co. Derry); the Book of _Dun da
Leth Ghlas_ (or Downpatrick); the Book of _Doiré_ (Derry); the Book
of _Sabhall Phatraic_ (or Saull, co. Down); the Book of the
_Uachongbhail_ (Navan, probably); the _Leabhar dubh Molaga_, or
Black Book of St. Molaga; the _Leabhar buidhe Moling_, or Yellow
Book of St. Moling; the _Leabhar buidhe Mhic Murchadha_, or Yellow
Book of Mac Murrach; the _Leabhar Arda Macha_, or Book of Armagh
(quoted by Keating); the _Leabhar ruadh Mhic Aedhagain_, or Red
Book of Mac Aegan; the _Leabhar breac Mhic Aedhagain_, or Speckled
Book of Mac Aegan; the _Leabhar fada Leithghlinne_, or Long Book of
Leithghlinn, or Leithlin; the Books of O'Scoba of _Cluain Mic Nois_
(or Clonmacnois); the _Duil Droma Ceata_, or Book of Drom Ceat; and
the Book of Clonsost (in Leix, in the Queen's County)."

[Illustration: (A) MS. in the "_Domhnach Airgid,_" [R.I.A.] (temp. St.
Patrick, circa A.D. 430.)]

[Illustration: (B) MS. in the "_Cathach_," (6th century MS attributed to
St. Colum Cillé)]

Happily, however, a valuable collection of ancient MSS. are still
preserved, despite the "drowning" of the Danes, and the "burning" of the
Saxon. The researches of continental scholars are adding daily to our
store; and the hundreds of Celtic MSS., so long entombed in the
libraries of Belgium and Italy, will, when published, throw additional
light upon the brightness of the past, and, it may be, enhance the
glories of the future, which we must believe are still in reserve for
the island of saints and sages.[11]