Communications HEBREW INSCRIPTION IN GLASGOW CATHEDRAL. In the crypt or lower church of Glasgow Cathedral there is an inscription in Hebrew characters, of which no account seems ever to have been published, although its existence has been known for well on to fifty years at least. Two distinguished students of Semitic Languages in the University, Mr. Louis C. Phillips, M.A., and Mr. Alexander S. Fulton, made an examination of the inscription lately, and the following are the facts regarding it. It will be found on the south side of the crypt, on the third pillar counting from the west, and on the east face of the pillar, about four feet from the ground. The surface of the single stone upon which it is cut is 14 inches high by 9 inches broad. The words form a somewhat quaint and primitive hymn containing eight lines, each line consisting of no more than two words or three words, and each couplet rhyming. Owing partly to a defect in the stone and partly to the author's composition having overrun his space, the last two lines are not altogether decipherable. At the end of the last line, but beyond the angle and on the adjacent surface of the stone, is a solitary letter standing by itself, or it may be two letters, being apparently the end of the last line. The letters, which are about one inch in height and well, some even elegantly, formed, run as follows: יהוה לי עלני מי נפשי שמים עם עלם חיים יביא מתבל כי יהיה הבל חש (?) הודו מה ידי כחו ח (3) 'Jehovah is for me. | Against me who is? | My life is in heaven | with those who live for ever. He will bring me from the world, | for it is vanity. Hasten (?) His majesty. | How is His strength.'| How -מה ידי (?) כבודו line should probably read If the solitary letter or pair of letters belong to the inscription, the last is His glory.' Lines 1 and 2 contain an obvious reference to the epistle to the Romans viii. 31, and line 3 is a reminiscence of Philippians iii. 20. Although the writer's meaning is obvious enough, the language is quite ungrammatical, and it has been suggested that we have here the work of a junior student of Hebrew in the Old College. As far as the character of the writing goes it is impossible to say how old it is, as the present Hebrew script has not altered for centuries, but that it is not very ancient would appear from the fact that the letters, which have been made by filing the stone with some blunt instrument, such as an iron nail, are still fairly fresh. That it was written in haste may be inferred from the writer not having allowed for the in the top line, the head of which consequently passes across the seam into the stone above. On the adjacent surface of the stone to the left of the inscription there is cut in small letters the name 'A. Kinloch' (?), and below the inscription are scratched two letters-D.M.,—which appear to be quite recent. T. H. WEIR. SAINT MAOLRUBHA (S.H.R. vi. 260). Having read the interesting article by Mr. Archibald Scott on Saint Maolrubha, I would like to point out that there is another important church in the Diocese of Argyll, dedicated to him and of which he was no doubt the primitive founder, viz. the Parish Church of Melfort. When Origines Parochiales was published this had not been discovered, but in vol. vii. of the Papal Registers recently published by our government, p. 268, is the following entry: 13th Kalends April 1423 being the 6th year of the Pontificate of Martin V. To Celestine son of Celestine called Macgillemichael rector of St Molrwas de Molferth, in the diocese of Argyll. Reserving for collation to him who is a priest and who lately received papal dispensation, as the son of a priest and an unmarried woman to be promoted and to hold St Molrwas, provision of which was ordered to be made to him, and any other compatible benefices with or without cure, and to resign all (for exchange or otherwise as often as he pleased, of the perpetual vicarage of S Finans in Kerwe in the diocese of Argyll, value not exceeding 25 mks of old sterlings, which is shortly to become void under the terms of the Popes recent mandate to make provision for Nigel (sic for Niall) son of Colin Cambell of the rectory of St Columbas in Glasrod in the same diocese; notwithstanding that he holds the said rectory of St Molrwas value not exceeding £11 sterling with which he is hereby dispensed to hold the said vicarage for three years. These Registers are full of entries throwing light on the early history of the Celtic Dioceses, and should be more referred to by future historians. It is interesting to notice that this entry likewise restores the long-lost dedication of the ancient Parish Church of Glasrie or Killenure, near Ford, at the southern end of Lochaw. There is constant mention of this church as S. Columba's of Killenewre, and S. Columba's of Glasrich, Glasrod, etc., in the Argyll and Glassary Inventories and Charters, as well as in the Papal Registers. Eventually Kilmichael in Glassary, owing to some change in the population, became the chief Parish Church of that vast lordship, as it is to this day. The chancel of S. Columba's, Killenure, bears every mark of a hoary antiquity, whilst the nave is not as old; both have long been roofless, and the site probably marks a hitherto unidentified visit of S. Columba himself. The dedications of those churches which do not in their name enshrine the memory of their original patron have had a tendency to drop out of sight. In this case, for instance, Killenewr means simply the Church of the Yews, of which tree tradition dimly remembers a number in the old burial-yard. The church of 'S. Finans' in Kerry-Cowall, mentioned in the above Papal Letter, is of course the well-known Killfinan, Kerry being the old name of that part of Cowall. The writer of this note having recently recovered from old documents the dedications of many other of the old Celtic Parish Churches in the Diocese of Argyll hitherto deemed as unknown, hopes to be shortly able to contribute a further and longer article on the subject, as it is important that the ancient patrons of what are amongst the oldest of Scotland's holy sites should be restored to the buildings they were anciently attached to, and were in many cases the actual founders of. He may mention that he has lately found incontestable proof of the dedications of Inverchaolain in Cowall to S. Bridget; Dunoon to the B.V.M.; Kilmore, near Oban, to S. Bean; Kilberry to S. Berchan (not, as has been supposed, to S. Finbar of Cork, or to S. Mary or to S. Berach); Lochgoilhead to the Three Brethren'; Kilmorich to S. Mordach or Morich; Inishaall to S. Fyndoca; and many others nearly all to purely Celtic saints. In the paragraph about St. Maolrubha in modern times Mr. Scott might well have recorded the restoration of his Name, Festival, and Special Office to its appointed place in the 'Proper' of the Diocese, issued by Alexander, late Bishop of Argyll, for use in his Diocese, in which work a great number of the ancient Celtic festivals have most patriotically been restored. But no church built in modern times has as yet been dedicated to this illustrious Gael by either of the communities who still honour him. It may be further noted that the late Pope Leo XIII., after centuries of omission, in 1898 restored S. Maolrubha's office for such as follow the Latin Rite, as well as those of seventeen other Celtic saints, as being of those who had been the objects of an immemorial veneration in Scotland (vide Dublin Review, 1899). These two actions are signs of what the Celtic race movement has accomplished in restoring the apostles of Gaeldom to their rightful place. NIALL D. Campbell. 28, Clarges Street, London, W. HOW HE WAS OUTWITTED Kintail had been for years DOMHNULL CAM MACCUMHAIL. BY 'BIG GRAHAME' AND THE BREVE.' intriguing to get possession of the Lews. Hitherto he had met with little success. His kinswoman had been the first wife of the Lord of Lewis; but her husband had doubted, and with justice, her fidelity, 1 The Editor is indebted to Mr. Kenneth Macleod for the following tale, which he has translated from Gaelic as told by Donald Maclean, carpenter, Duncarloway, Lewis. and so had bundled her off to her kinsfolk with her infant son. This son was the famous Torquil Conaldach or Conanach, and it was by fathering this lad's claim that Mackenzie hoped eventually to succeed to the patrimony of the Macleods. Dissension was rife in the Macleod family. The many sons of Old Ruairidh, legitimate and illegitimate, seemed to have conspired to make the last years of the rule of their race the bloodiest in the history of their family. But the more virile of them were as resolute in resisting the encroachments of an alien race as they were troublesome to their legitimate rulers. To Torquil Oighre, the second son of the old chief, they were unanimously loyal; but this pattern of chieftainship was unfortunately lost in a storm in the Minch. A third son remained, Torquil Og (the Torquil Dubh of history), and Torquil Og, though not the last of his race, was the last legitimate claimant that Mackenzie had to fear. The Judge of the Lewis, Morrison of Ness, had been a notable character at that time. He it was that was held by the commons to have been the father of Torquil Conanach. Certain it is that he was in very bad odour with the Macleod family; and just as he had become the partisan of Mackenzie in secret, so had his great rival, Domhnull Càm MacCumhail of Uig, espoused openly the cause of his rightful lord. Mackenzie and Morrison felt that guile would have to effect what force could not accomplish, and their first move was to win over to their counsels Greumach Mor Bharbhais.'1 In A great storm suddenly arose, and when it abated it was found that a great ship had been forced by the gale into Shawbost Loch. Big Grahame, the chieftain of the district, being informed of this, at once conceived a plan by which he hoped not only to reap immediate profit, but also to score a success against Macleod and his adherents. the dead of night he boarded the great ship of Lochlann, and slew all who resisted his will. The remainder he removed to the dungeons of 'Borve Dun,' the ruins of which are seen to this day. Next morning he hastened to the Breve's place in Ness, and, after consultation, it was decided to send an express to Torquil Og, to inform him that a great ship full of gold had been driven ashore, and to invite him to come and share in the spoil as high chief of the land. And what do you think,' quoth the Breve; capture Torquil Og if Domhnull Càm is at large? at once for him.' will it profit you to Eventually the messenger reached Domhnull Càm, who summoned his clansmen to meet him at 'Traigh Mhor.' There were many voices against going. Trust not the word of a Morrison or of a Nessman,' quoth Donald's wife. He had been silent, but now his dreadful fury burst forth. "I am going,' he said, 'and with Alasdair an gobha (the smith) alone. Tend the herds till we return, and be ready then to give me a reckoning.' The two men marched. They passed Ceann Thulivig; they reached the Dune at Carloway; henceforth they were in territories from which 1 Big Grahame of Barvas. a Macaulay had seldom returned 'unless it were on his own two hands.'1 They arrived at Loch Shawbost, and were taken on board the ship by Big Grahame. Here they found a large company, and conspicuous among them was Torquil Og. Hearty was his greeting of his stark retainer of Uig, and hearty was the response of Domhnull Càm. He almost forgot his suspicions. Suddenly Grahame invited them 'down below' to partake of a repast, preparatory to discussing the question of the gold. They went down, and all soon became uproariously happy. Strong drink was there in plenty, and the heroes' partook of it not sparingly. The behaviour of certain of the Ness men attracted Donald's attention, and, ever suspicious, he resolved to keep his wits about him. He made pretence of drinking the liquor with which he was assiduously plied, but he poured most of it down his 'sark of mail.' Suddenly the revellers felt themselves lurching heavily against one another; there was a cry that the ship was under sail, and all made for the deck who were not already in a drunken stupor. With a wild oath Donald leaped up the steps, but when his head appeared above the deck a noose was thrown round him, and he was perforce lashed to the mast. The rest made little resistance. Bitter was the mind of Donald Càm, but for many a long hour he bore without complaint his hard fortune. At length realizing that his only hope lay in speaking his foes fair, he addressed 'Greumach Mòr.' My fetters are biting into my flesh, O Graham,' he said. "The gibbet of Kintail will soon relieve you,' was the grim answer, and Donald Cam was silent. Once again he tried to talk his foe over, only to meet with a crueller response; and at that his ill-repressed rage broke forth. Thou son of a dog,' quoth he, 'a short time and the crows will be picking out thine eyes, or there won't be a Macaulay in Uig.' 2 No more words passed the lips of the Macaulay till he reached Kintail. Here he was thrown into a dungeon together with his armourer Alastair. His chief, Torquil Og, never saw again his home at Eye, and a similar fate was evidently intended for the men of Uig. Donald Cam's fetters 3 have passed into a byeword. A ring of iron was round his ankle, a chain round his waist, and suspended to the chain was a heavy bar of iron which he was compelled to support in making the least movement; and, to crown all, his henchman Alastair was linked to him by a chain which terminated in an iron ring-this ring was round Alastair's ankle. But despite it all Donald's indomitable spirit refused to acknowledge defeat. 'He had made a plan.' 4 Some one came and asked what he would eat. 1' Mur a robh e air a dha laimh fein,' meaning 'If he were not strong enough to force a passage.' 2A Mhic a choin! Uin ghearr 's bheir na staragan na suilean asd', mu bhitheas MacCumhail an Uig.' 8' Geámhal Dhomhnuill Chaim 'The fetters of Donald Cam. 4 Bha e air "planna" dheanamh.' |