| Reference Number | 152 |
| Title | Leabhar na h’Urnuigh Choitchionn, agus Frithealadh nan Sacramainte, agus Riaghailte agus Deasghnatha eile na h’Eaglais: do reir Gnathachadh na h’ Eaglais Shasgonaich: maille ris an t Saltair no Sailm Dhaibhidh. Air am Poncadh mar Sheinnear no Theirear iad san Teampull. (The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the Use of the Church of England; together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, Pointed as they are to be Sung or Said in Churches.) |
| Author | N/A (Translated work) |
| Editor | N/A |
| Date Of Edition | 1794 |
| Date Of Language | mid to late 18c |
| Date Of Language Ed | 18th c. |
| DateMacro | Late 18th c. |
| Date Of Language Notes | |
| Publisher | John Moir |
| Place Published | Edinburgh |
| Volume | N/A |
| Location | National and academic libraries |
| Geographical Origins | Unknown |
| Geographical Origins Ed | Unknown |
| GeoMacro | Unknown |
| GeoX | |
| GeoY | |
| Geographical Origins Notes | |
| Register | Instruction, Prose (Religious) |
| Register Ed | Religion, Prose |
| Genre | Information |
| Medium | Prose |
| Rating | B This text contains prayers, blessings, readings, orders and instructions of service, and general information relating to Church of England administrative arrangements. This text contains a wide variety of prayers, some to be said on particular days or at particular times of the year, and others for particular occasions. The text also contains instructions for conducting general and specific prayers and services. The text includes all of the psalms, along with the catechism to be learnt before confirmation. Lexical items of interest includes the terms used to denote the months of the year and the names of saints and feast days. |
| Alternative Author Name | N/A |
| Manuscript Or Edition | Ed. |
| Size And Condition | 20cm x 13cm |
| Short Title | Leabhar na h’Urnuigh Choitchionn |
| Reference Details | NLS: Blair.133 |
| Number Of Pages | 3 + [xxiv] + 471 |
| Gaelic Text By | Patrick Stewart and Unknown |
| Illustrator | N/A |
| Social Context | This work is a translation into Gaelic of the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, which was introduced during the Reformation. It was first published in 1549. It was substantially revised in 1552 and further significant changes were made in the 1559 and 1662 editions. The first page of this volume contains a Note to the Public, which states that ‘Mr Patrick Stewart, the Translator of this valuable book, did not live to see it published; nor was the work quite completed when he died. Assistance was procured, however, from other quarters, and the Translation is now offered to the Public’. It has not proved possible to find any information on Patrick Stewart. The Note also advises that although ‘the utmost care’ was taken to prevent printing errors, some errors may exist as the printer had no Gaelic. |
| Contents | The table of contents lists 27 sections in this book, three of which (24-26) do not appear to be included in the text. The first 22 pages are not numbered. The contents are listed as follows: 1. An Riaghail ann sam bheil Leabhar nan Salm air ordughadh gu bhi air an leughadh (p. [iii]); 2. An Riaghail ann sam bheil a chuid eile do’n Scriobtuir naomha air ordughadh gu bhi air a leughadh (p. [iv]); 3. Clar Leasoin agus Sailm sonruighte (pp. [v-vii]); 4. An Callandar maille ri Clar nan Leason (pp. [viii-xix]); 5. Cloir agus Riaghailte air son na Laith feiste agus trosgadh feadh na Bhliadhna (pp. [xx-xxiv]); 6. Ordugh Urnuigh Mhaidne (pp. 1-12); 7. Ordugh Urnuigh Fheascair (pp. 13-21); 8. Creid N. Athanasius (pp. 21-23); 9. An Liodan (pp. 24-29); 10. Urnuighean agus Breith Bhuidheachas air Fatha eagsamhail (pp. 30-36); 11. Na H’urnuigh, na Litrichibh agus na Soisgeil r’an gnathach aig Frithealadh a Chomanach Noamh feadh na Bliadhna (pp. 37-194); 12. Ordugh Frithealadh a’ Chomanach Noamh (pp. 195-218); 13. Ordugh Baiste folasach agus Uaigneach (pp. 218-26); 14. Ordugh Baiste na Muintir a thig gu’ Aois (pp. 226-41); 15. Na Ceistin (242-48); 16. Ordugh air son Daingneachadh Leanabh (pp. 248-51); 17. Foirm a Phosaidh (pp. 252-61); 18. Sealltuin Dhaoinne tinne agus Comanach nan Daoinne tinne (pp. 262-73); 19. Ordugh Adhlacadh na Marbh (pp. 274-81); 20. Tabhairt Bhuidheachais air son Bhan a’n deigh Cloin-Bhreith (pp. 282-84); 21. Co’ Bhagradh no Foillsechadh Corruich agus Breitheamhnais Dhe an aghaidh Pheacairean (pp. 285-91); 22. An Saltair (pp. 292-446); 23. Foirm Urnuigh air Muir (pp. 447-57); 24. Foirm Urnuigh air son an cuigeadh La do’n Noaidh mhios (---); 25. Foirm Urnuigh air son an deichamh La ’ar ichiod do’n Ginmhair (---); 26. Foirm Urnuigh air son an naoidheamh La ’ar ichiod do’n Mhaidh (---); 27. Na 39 Airtiogal do’n Chreidimh (pp. 458-71). |
| Sources | |
| Language | This text contains prayers, blessings, readings, orders of service and accompanying instructions, and general information relating to the practices of the Church of England. The tables at the beginning of the book contain information on feast days and saints’ days, and on what readings to use on what days of the year. Of particular interest in this section, are the terms used to describe the months of the year. These are given as follows, beginning with January: Ann an Ginmhair, Ann an Feabhra Fhaoillidh, Ann an Mairt, Ann an Aobrain, Ann a Madh no Bheltinn, Ann an Giuin, Ann an Buidhe Mhi, Ann an Ogust, Ann an Seach Mhi, Ann an Tochd Mhios, Ann an Naoimhi, and Ann an Deichmhi. Throughout the text, we find the names of saints and feast days, such as Diahaoine na Ceusa (p. 98), An Ceud La do’n charmhas, d’ an goirrear gu coitcheann Diceudain-an-luaithreadh (p. 68), La ’n Deasghabhail (p. 117), Dòmhnach na Trionaid (p. 125), Iompochadh N. Phoil an Diaghair (p. 169), and Taisbeanadh Chriosd ann san Teampul, d’ an goirear gu coitchion, Glanadh na h-Oigh Muirre (p. 171). This text contains a wide variety of prayers, some to be said on particular days or at particular times of the year, and others for particular occasions, such as Aig iarruidh Uisge (p. 3), Aig iarruigh aimsir thirim (p. 30), an àm cogaidh agus tuasaid (p. 31), and Urnuigh air son àrd chùirt na Parliament, gu leughadh an t-àm a bhios iad na ’n suidhe (p. 32). Pp. 37-194 contain prayers and readings for each Sunday, and for each Saint’s or Feast Day throughout the year, with most days comprising An Urnuigh, An Litir, and An Soisgeul. In this section the Gospel readings are printed in full. Pp. 195-291 contain prayers and readings for specific occasions, such as communion (195-218), baptisms (pp. 218-41), confirmations (pp. 248-51), weddings (pp. 252-61), visiting the sick (pp. 262-73), funerals (pp. 274-81), and thanksgiving after childbirth (pp. 282-84). In the section on Baiste na Muintir a thig gu’ Aois, the prayer takes the following form: ‘A Dhe uile chumhachdaich agus mhairtheanaich, comhnadh gach neach ata am feum, fear cuidicheadh gach neach a theicheas do t-ionsuidh air son cobhair, beatha gach uile neach a chreideas, agus ais-eirigh nam marbh; tha sinn a’ gairm or air son an dream so, chum air teachd dhoibh dh’ ionnsuidh do bhaiste naomh sa, gu ’m faigh siad maitheanas ann a pheacaidh tre aith-ghinmhuin spioradail’ (p. 234). As part of Foirm a Phosaidh, the prayer takes the following form: ‘O Dhe Abraham, a Dhe Isaic, agus a Dhe Jacob, beannuich iad so do sheirbheisich, agus cuir siol na beatha shìoruidh ’nan cridheachaibh, chum ciod air bith nì ann a t fhocal naomh a dh’ fhoghlumas iad gu tarbhach, gu ’n coi’lion iad a nì sin do rìreadh’ (p. 258). A blessing on entering the house of an invalid begins Gu rabh siothchaimh do ’n tigh so, agus do gach neach ata gabhail comhnuidh ann (p. 262). Of particular interest are the prayers found in Foirm Urnuigh air Muir, e.g. Laoidh mholadh agus breith bhuidheachais ann diaigh doinion gharbh, which runs as follows: ‘Cha mhor nach do chomhduich uisgeachan na fairge sinn; char mhor nach deach na huisgeachan uabhasaich thair ar n anma. \ Bheuchd an fhairge; agus thog a ghaoth dh’oinionach suas a tonna mar an ceudna. \ Bha sinn air ar giulan suas mar gu m’ b’ann gu neamh, agus sios aris do ’n doimhne; leagh air n’anam ann taobh a stigh dhinn, do bhri ar trioblaid; \ Ann sin ghlaodh sinn ruitse, O Thighearna; agus shaor thu sinn as ar teinn’ (p. 456). Many prayers are led by the minister with responses from the congregation. For example, An Tabhairt Bhuidheachais Bhan an deigh Cloin-Bhreith ris an abrar gu coitchionn, Coisrigeadh nam Ban includes the following sequence: ‘M[inistear:] O Thighearna sabhail a bhean so do sheirbheiseach; \ F[reagairt:] Tha cuir a dochais annad. \ M[inistear:] Bi thusa a d’ chaisteal laidir dh’ ì, \ F[reagairt:] O aghaidh a namhad. \ M[inistear:] O Thighearna eisd r’ ar n-urnuigh. \ F[reagairt:] Agus thigeadh ar glaodh do t’ ionsuidh’ (p. 284). Section 15 contains Na Ceistin, the catechism to be learned before confirmation (pp. 242-48), and section 21 contains Co’ Bhagradh no Foillsechadh Corruich agus Breitheamhnais Dhe … an aghaidh pheacairean (pp. 285-95). This work also includes instructions for conducting general and specific prayers and services. For example, after the first prayer in the section on An Ceud Domhnach do ’n Aidmheint (p. 37) it is stated that Tha ’n urnuigh so ri radh gach la maille ris na h urnuighean eile s ànn aidmheint, gu oidhche nodhlaic (p. 37). The instruction for conducting Holy Communion is as follows: ‘An am frithealadh a chomanaich, air bhi do ’n luchd comanaich air an suidheachadh gu h-iomchuidh chum an t-Sacramaint naomh do ghabhail, their an Sagairt an earail so.’ (p. 206) The form of the earail (‘caution’) itself is then specified: ‘A Mhuintir ionmhuin ann s an Tighearna, sibhse air a bheil a mhiann teachd a dh’ionsuidh comanach naomh cuirp agus feola ar Slanui’fhear Criosd, feumaidh sibh thoirt fai’near cionnas ata a Naomh Pòl aig earlachadh air gach uile neach iad fein a rannsachadh agus a cheasnuchadh gu dùrachdach, mu ’n gabh iad do dhanadas itheadh do ’n arran sin, agus òl do ’n chupan sin …’ (ibid.). Pp. 292-446 contain the full text of the 150 Psalms. The text of Psalm CVIII begins as follows: ‘[1] O Dhe, tha mo chridhe gleast’, tha mo chridhe gleast’; ni mi ceol agus bheir mi mola leis a bhall a ’s fhear a th’ agam. \ 2 Mosguil thus a chruit agus a chlarsaich; ’s mosgluidh mi fein gu fior mhoch. \ 3 Bheir mi dhuit buidheachas, O Thighearna, ’measg an pobull; seinnidh mi mola’ dhuit ameasg nan cinneach’ (p. 405). The last section of this work contains the Thirty-nine Articles of Faith. Article XXVIII, Mu Shuipeir an Tighearn, begins as follows: ‘Cha ’n e mhain gu bheil Suipeir an Tighearna na comhar air a ghradh bu choir do Chriosduiean a bhi aca da cheile, ach s’mo’ na Shacramaint d’ar saorsa tre bas Chriosd; ionnas da mheud sa ghabhas e gu ceart, gu hiomchuidh, agus le creidimh, tha’n taran a tha sinne a briseach, na cho-pairt air corp Chriosd; agus mar an ceudna tha an cupan a tha sinne a beannach na cho-pairt air fuil Chriosd’ (p. 467). |
| Orthography | The parts of this text which are freshly translated from English into Gaelic show a thorough familiarity with the high-register Gaelic of the Bible, as cited in the Gospel readings, Psalms and other Biblical quotations. They also display intelligent and consistent handling of Gaelic, both in regard to accuracy and idiom and in dealing with complex phrases and sentences. The orthography bears comparison with that of other religious works of the mid to late eighteenth century. There are a number of spelling inconsistencies and printer’s errors. |
| Edition | First edition. Several subsequent editions were published; see Maclean’s Typographia, pp. 24-27. |
| Other Sources | |
| Further Reading | Maclean, Donald, Typographia Scoto-Gadelica (Edinburgh, 1915: J. Grant). |
| Credits | |
| Link Label | Digital version created by National Library of Scotland |
| Link | http://digital.nls.uk/early-gaelic-book-collections/pageturner.cfm?id=80041890 |
| Download File | 152.pdf |
| NumWords | 160576 |
