Translation of Folio 4b.

This folio depicts St Matthew. It has Gaelic writing in the margins, in a hand much later than the original scribe of the Gospel book. In the Gaelic it reads:

"ACUSBENNACT INCHOMDED ARCECMORMAR ACUSARCECTOSECH CHOMALLFAS ACUSDANSIL DANEIS."

Donachd mac mec bead mec hídid dorat acchad madchór docrist acusdodrostan acusdocholuimcille insóre gobrád malechí acuscómgell acusgillecrist mac fingúni innáienasi intestes acus malcoluim mac moliní. Cormac mac cennedig dorat gonige scáli merlec. Comgell mac cáennaig táesec clande canan dórat docrist acusdodrostán acusdócholuim cille gonige ingort lie mór igginn infíus isnesu daldín alenn ódubúci gólurchárí etarsliab acusachad. * issaeri othesseach cubráth acusabennacht arcachhén chomallfas araer cubrath acusamallact arachén ticfa ris; *

which in translation gives:

"AND THE LORD'S BLESSING ON EVERY MORMAER AND ON EVERY TOISECH WHO SHALL FULFIL (THIS) AND TO THEIR SEED AFTER THEM."

Donachad son of Mac Bethad son of Ided gave Achad Madchor to Christ and to Drostán and to Columcille in freedom for ever: Malechi and Comgell and Gille-Christ son of Fingune in witness whereof in testimony, and Maelcoluim son of Molíne. Cormac son of Cennedig gave as far as Scale Merlech. Comgell son of Caennech, chief of Clan Canan, gave to Christ and to Drostán and to Columcille as far as the Gort-lie-Mór at (the) hither(?) End which is nearest to Aldin Alenn from Dobaci to Luchari both mountain and field * in freedom from chief for ever; and his blessing on every one who shall fulfil (this) and his curse on every one who shall go against it." *

 

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A number of portions of land are mentioned in the text:

1. Achad Madchor is Auchmachar lying about three miles north-west from the monastery of Deer {NGR: NJ 947500}. Just to the north-east of Auchmachar lies Knapperty Hill {NGR NJ 947503} where there is a collection of pre-historic remains - two cairns and a stone circle.
2. Scale Merlech is known now as Skillymarno, a farm about a mile to the north of Auchmachar {NGR: NJ 958526}.
3. Aldin Alenn or Aden (of old, Alneden), lands which lie along the River Ugie east of the monastery. Aden House {NGR: NJ 980478} lies just over the river from the church of Old Deer and its policies run eastwards towards Mintlaw. However, from the additional description, "both mountain and field", it may be inferred that these lands must have included part of the high ground at Pitfour {NGR: NJ 978491} the adjoing estate to the north-west of Aden.
4. Gort-lie-Mór (Gort-Liath-Mór) "the great grey field."¹ There are many places which would correspond to this name but the text suggests that this piece of land was marked out by the 'great grey field' that lay at the nearest[?] end closest to Aldin Alenn, and from Dobaci [at the northern extremity?] to Luchari [at the southern extremity?] and including both 'mountain and field'. This last phrase implies that the tract of land being referred to consisted of both hill-land and flatter arable-land.

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References.

 

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