An diofar eadar na mùthaidhean a rinneadh air "Leabhar Dhèir"

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’S e leabhar shoisgeul sa Laidinn bho 10mh Linn a tha sa '''''Leabhar Dhèir''''' (Leabharlann Oilthigh Chambridge, MS. Ii.6.32) a chaidh a chur ris anns an 12mh Linn ann an Ladainn, Seann-Ghaeilge agus Gàidhlig na h-Albann. Tha e ainmeil air sgàth ’s gur e sin an sgrìobhadh as sinne ann an Gàidhlig bho Albainn.

 

 

 

The Latin text contains the complete text of the ''[[Gospel of John]]'', portions of the Gospels of ''[[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]]'', ''[[Gospel of Mark|Mark]]'' and ''[[Gospel of Luke|Luke]]'', a portion of an [[Celtic_Rite#Visitation.2C_unction.2C_and_communion_of_the_sick|Office for the Visitation of the Sick]], and the ''[[Apostles' Creed]]''. It ends with a [[colophon (publishing)|colophon]] in [[Old Irish]]. The Gospel texts are based on the ''[[Vulgate]]'' but contain some peculiarities unique to [[Irish language|Irish]] Gospel books. The texts are written in an Irish [[Minuscule cursive|minuscule]] text, apparently by a single [[scribe]]. Although the text and the script of the manuscript place it squarely in the tradition of the Irish Pocket Gospel, scholars have argued that the manuscript was produced in Scotland.

 

 

There are seven [[Scottish Gaelic]] texts written in blank spaces surrounding the main items. These [[marginalia]] include an account of the founding of the [[monastery]] at Deer by St [[Columba]] and St [[Drostan]], records of five land grants to the monastery, and a record of an immunity from payment of certain dues granted to the monastery. There is also a copy of a Latin deed granted to the monastery by [[David I of Scotland]] protecting the monastery from "all lay service and improper exaction." The Gaelic texts were written by as many as five different hands. These represent the earliest surviving use of Gaelic in Scotland and are important for the light they shed on the development of Gaelic in Scotland.

 

The manuscript is illuminated. It has a complete and well thought out illumination programme. There are four full page [[Evangelist portrait]]s. Each portrait faces a page of text surrounded by a border of [[interlace (visual arts)|interlace]]. Each of these text pages has a large decorated initial. The book opens with a full page miniature of the four evangelists and closes with two facing pages each also with a full page miniature of the evangelists. The final text of ''John'' ends with a half page miniature of two men. There are small decorated initial letters throughout the text. There are also ten pages, all in the final half of the book, with marginal drawings of men, animals, or simple doodles.

 

The manuscript derives its name from the monastery of Deer, mentioned in the Gaelic texts and the Latin Charter of King David I. Unfortunately, the foundation at Deer has left no other trace of its existence, although a [[Cistercian]] monastery, founded nearby in 1219, owned some of the lands mentioned in the Gaelic texts. The manuscript came to Cambridge University Library in 1715 when the collection of [[John Moore (Bishop of Ely)|John Moore]], Bishop of [[Diocese of Ely|Ely]], was purchased by King [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] and presented to the University. Prior to this is it is likely that the book was in the possession of [[Thomas Gale]], the headmaster of [[St Paul's School (London)|St Paul's School]], [[London]].<ref name="bookofdeer.co.uk"/> It is not known how the manuscript came to be in the library of Bishop Moore, but some suspect it may have been looted during the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]] in the late 13th century to early 14th century.

 

*[[Alexander Macbain|MacBain, Alexander]] (ed. and tr.). "The Book of Deer." ''Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness'' 11 (1885): 137-166. [http://www.archive.org/details/transactions11gael Available from the Internet Archive]

*[[John Stuart (genealogist)|Stuart, John]] (ed.). ''The Book of Deer''. Edinburgh: [[Spalding Club]], 1869. Including translations by Whitley Stokes. [http://www.archive.org/details/bookofdeeredfors00spaluoft Available from the Internet Archive]

*[[Kenneth Hurlstone Jackson|Jackson, K.H.]] (ed. and tr.). ''The Gaelic Notes in the Book of Deer''. The Osborn Bergin Memorial Lecture 1970. Cambridge, 1972. [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G102007 Edition and translation (pp. 30-6) available from CELT]

 

*Forsythe, Katherine. ''Studies on the Book of Deer''. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-85182-569-1

 

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*[http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-II-00006-00032 Whole manuscript online, from Cambridge University Library]

*[http://www.bookofdeer.co.uk Book of Deer homepage]