In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

The calendared edition of Howth’s collection contains a variety of errors that compromise the clarity of the text. A selection of these errors has been grouped into two categories below. The third section below contains marginalia that were lost when the folios in Howth’s manuscript were cut for binding, reconstructed here from recently identified copies of Howth’s work. Readings clarified by reference either to these copies or to the source from which Howth copied are noted as such. I. Mistranscriptions Calendar, p. 10 ‘and so one after other did come that the giant and he bound them both and after did agree with them that they should be put at liberty’ should read ‘and so one after other did come but the giant he bound them both and after did agree with them that they should be put at liberty’ (f. A9 and see Lambeth MS 248) Calendar, p. 19 ‘septs, Irish of name, planted in these quarters, they reckon the Byrnes, Tolles, Conanaghtes which is the one of McMorowes, O’Mores, O’Conors, O’Demseys, O’Dune’ should read ‘septs Irish of name planted in these quarters they reckon the Byrnes, Tooles, Cavanaghs which is the ne [sic for nation] of McMorowes, O’Mores, O’Connors, O’Dempseys, O’Dune’ (f. A15r and see Campion, p. 7) Calendar, p. 19 ‘a noble river which Camerans called Denelifinus Ptoleme ly biu mu’ should read ‘a noble river which Camerans called Denelifius Ptoleme ly bin um’ (f. A15v and see Campion, p. 7) Calendar, pp. 20–1 ‘Under Dublin whereto I mounto, 3,– Unild, Glandelaghe, the bishoprics of Elphine, Kyldar, . . .’ The editors suggest an alternate reading of ‘Under Dublin I-moverto 3 Unild, Glandelaghe’, etc.; however, it should read ‘Under Dublin whereto Innocentius 3 united Glendalough, the bishoprics of Elphin, Kildare,’ etc. (f. A16v and see Campion, p. 10) Calendar, p. 22 ‘McMoryshe alias FytzGerrald Baron of Kerry, now L.Courcey, not very Irish, of kin to Sir John Courcey’ should read: 137 Appendix C: Select emendations to the Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts edition of The Book of Howth 138 Appendix C McMaurice alias Fitzgerald Baron of Kerry now Lord Courcey not very Irishe of kin to Sir John Courcey (The editors have run together into one paragraph what the Howth scribe entered as two separate entries for McMaurice and Lord Courcey. Either text was lost when this folio was cut for binding or Howth’s scribe altered the description of McMaurice as he copied from Campion where this entry reads ‘McMaurice alias Fitzgerald Baron of Kerry now mere Irish’; f. A17v and see Campion, p. 13.) Calendar, p. 23 ‘Plunket, Baron of Lowth, to Sir Olifer Plunket and his heirs males . . . this is the 2 brother of Beovley O’Neyll, Baron of Donganon’ should read Plunkett, Baron of Lowth, to Sir Oliver Plunkett and his heirs males . . . this is the 2 brother of Beouley (Beaulieu) O’Neill, Baron of Dungannon (Here again the editors combined two separate entries on the Baron of Lowth and the Baron of Dungannon, implying incorrectly that they were brothers; f. A18r and see Campion, pp. 13–14. Howth added the biographical information regarding his father-in-law, John Plunket of Beaulieu, to his copy of Campion’s entry on Lowth.) Calendar, p. 23 ‘These are the savages: – Jordans, FytzSymondes, Chamberlains, Russells . . .’ should read ‘These are the Savages, Jordans, Fitzsimons, Chamberlains, Russells’ etc. (f. A18r and see Campion, p. 14) Calendar, p. 71 ‘in the manner of England; that privilege forth with another that rather was purchased of the Pope, a dream that was before. Alexander he sent over into England . . .’ should read ‘in the manner of England that privilege forthwith another that rather was purchased of the Pope Adrian that was before Alexander he sent over in to England.’ (In addition to mistranscribing ‘Pope Adrian’ as the ‘pope a dream’ the editors’ punctuation has also garbled the passage’s meaning; it is Adrian’s papal notice that is sent to England, not Alexander who sends to England; f. 27r.) Calendar, p. 80 ‘and he never sent till that he had taken of him the castle of Wicklow’ should read ‘and he never stint till that he had taken of him the castle of Wicklow’ (f. 33r) Calendar, p. 80 ‘all it was in spring felony; and the cheer that he ever gave after was much to be doubted’ should read ‘all it was in spying, felony, and the cheer that he...

Share