The Irish president Mary McAleese presented Queen Elizabeth with a copy of a 500-year-old manual on how to 'speake Iryshe' just a few short hours before the English monarch used an Irish phrase to open her speech at Dublin Castle.
The so called Irish Primer, which is stored in the library of the State guest house at Farmleigh (the official guest house for visiting heads of State) was written by an Irish baron, Christopher Nugent and presented in 1564 to Elizabeth I after she requested help with the language to assist her efforts to spread the Protestant Reformation in Ireland.
According to a report in the Irish Times this week the book passed into private ownership but survived through five centuries. It was finally bought at a Christie’s auction in London in 1980 by the third earl of Iveagh, Benjamin Guinness, who was a collector of rare books until his death in 1992.
The remarkable 18-page book begins with a formal address to Queen Elizabeth I, wwith the author praising her desire to 'understande the language of your people there' (in Ireland) which, rather optimistically as it turned out, he hoped would 'no doubt would greatlye increase their love and obedyence.'
The book includes Irish and Latin translations of phrases Like 'Cann you speake Iryshe?' and - again optimistically - 'God save the Queene off Englande.'
Wisely, Nugent suggested Queen Elizabeth 1 would have no problem learning Irish, given her 'depth of wisedom' and 'quycknes off conceipte.'
9 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.antoman | Jun 02, 2011, 10:26 AM EDT
I warned them and told them to hide the silver ware.If One likes One's 18th century oak bureau.Then One should take it to One's rollsroyce,and place it in the boot for transport to One's residence in London.
Sparklet | Jun 01, 2011, 05:09 PM EDT
Portia and anyone else who is rooted in the past, why not go right the way back - the Irish invaded Wales and the GB mainland first. That's from an Irish historian btw. And that's how they got St. Patrick - he was taken into slavery by the Irish. According to you, the Welsh should be very anti-Irish. But let's all live in the past and not move forward at all. Maybe progress can't be in giant leaps, but as the past can't be changed, all people can do is make amends. The perpetrators of the past are dead, gone. And the Romans enslaved Britain as well you know. But in all honesty, talking of the Queen (Protestant) doing the bidding of the Pope is laughable and possibly the most ridiculous thing I've ever read on here, and there's been plenty of competition.
Towngate | Jun 01, 2011, 04:48 PM EDT
Encouraged by GeorgeDillons opinion of me ~ I live in fear that one day this pestilent poster will agree with me!! ~ @Portia: Firstly the place wasn't "Eire" intil the twentieth century, the Pope, in granting Ireland to King Henry, instructed him to bring the 'unruly' people there closer to the Christian Faith, not 'slavery' as you imply. I must admit I am increasingly mystified by the Queens Visit - I expected a major announcement - not the ritual humiliation she was subjected to - but if you think she was there at the behest of the Pope ... sorry, but you couldn't be more wrong. Btw: The official name of the country is simply 'Ireland' when using the English language and only 'Eire' when using Irish. Ok? "Sweet portia: Adieu!" ~ Back to the Caskets!
GeorgeDillon | Jun 01, 2011, 01:06 PM EDT
Portia--Maybe that nitwit Towngate will read your post and understand the evil of Imperialism. This fool believes that theft of property gives a right to that property.
Portia777 | Jun 01, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT
When Rome signed Eire and her people as slaves to the British, of course our language had to be destroyed because of its advanced energy.Perhaps the people of Eire ought to look deeper to see what the Queen of England was really doing on Irish soil, and yes the Roman Pope is coming after her to make sure she has obeyed his command.
Sparklet | Jun 01, 2011, 11:36 AM EDT
People who are so rooted in the past can't be enjoying the present at all. When they find the way to undo all the wrongs in history I hope they'll share it with the rest of us.
Towngate | Jun 01, 2011, 10:57 AM EDT
How can the books be stolen when Britain not only owned them ~ but the whole country too! Woundedknee, if you are is such favour of giving things back ~ are you working on giving North America back to the native Indian Tribes?
WoundedKnee | Jun 01, 2011, 10:12 AM EDT
Springfield: Stupid remark. The British Museum holds countless Irish manuscripts. They were stolen--they should be given back.
Springfield9 | Jun 01, 2011, 09:59 AM EDT
Bess is smiling because she knew there was a book missing from the Brit library.