books properly so called, the religious used waxed tablets
of wood, which were sometimes called books. St. Ciaran,
for example, wrote on staves, which are called in one place
his tablets, and in two other places the whole collection of
his staves is called a book.[1] Such tablets were indeed
books in which the fugitive pieces of the time were
written.[2] Considering all things, Bede was without doubt
quite correct in saying the Irish had enough books to lend
to foreign students.

[1] Joyce, i. 483

[2] At vero hoc audiens Colcius tempus et horan in tabula
describers.--Adamnan, 66. Columba is said to have blessed one
hundred polaires or tablets (Leabhar Breac, fo. 16-60; Stokes
(M.), 51). The boy Benen, who followed Patrick, bore tablets on
his back (folaire, corrupt for polaire).--Stokes (W.), T. L., 47.
Patrick gave to Fiacc a case containing a tablet. Ib. 344. An
example of a waxed tablet, with a case for it, is in the Museum
of the Royal Irish Academy. The case is a wooden cover, divided
into hollowed-out compartments for holding the styles. This
specimen dates from the thirteenth or fourteenth century. Slates
and pencils were also in use for temporary purposes.--Joyce, i.
483.



Section IV

Our account of the work accomplished by the Irish