ek, sanctified or consecrated to the service
of the Lord. It is also in that sense used for a house, church, or
chapel. Donayhmore means the great church or chapel dedicated to God.
This box, being holy, as containing the Gospels, and having the crucifix
thereon, was dedicated or consecrated to the service of God. Like the
Caah, the Meeshach, and Dhimma's box, it is of brass, covered with
plates of silver, and resembles the two former in having a box of yew
inside, which was the original case of the MS. and became venerated so
much, on that account, as to be deemed worthy of being inclosed with
it in the shrine made by permission of John O'Carberry, Abbot of
Clonmacnois, in the 14th century.

"The top of the Dona is divided by a cross, on the lower arm of which is
a figure of the Savior; over his head is a shield, divided _per pale_,
between two crystal settings; on the dexter is a hand holding a scourge
or whip of three thongs, and on a chief a ring; on the sinister, on
a chief the same charge and three crucifixion nails. In the first
compartment, or quarter of the cross, are representations of St.
Columbkill, St. Bridget, and St. Patrick. In the second, a bishop
pierced with two arrows, and two figures of St. Peter and St. Paul. In
the third, the Archangel Michael treading on the dragon, and the Virgin
Mary and the infant Jesus. In the fourth, St. Tigemach handing to his
successor, St. Sinellus, the Dona; and a female figure, perhaps Mary
Magdalen.

"The front of the Dona is ornamented with three crystal settings,
surmounted by grotesque figures of animals. Between these are four
horsemen with swords drawn, in full speed.

"The right hand end has a figure of St. Tigemach, and St. John the
Baptist. The left hand end a figure of St. Catherine with her wheel.

"The Dona is nine inches and a half long, seven wide, and not quite four
thick.

"So far I have been enabled to describe the Dona from the evidently
accurate and well executed drawings you were so good as to present to
me. Why the description is less particular than it should have been, I
shall take another opportunity of explaining to you.

"There are three inscriptions on the Dona: one on a scroll from the hand
of the figure of the Baptist, of ECCE AGNUS DEI. The two others are on
plates of silver, but their exact position on the box is not marked
in the drawing, but may be guessed by certain places which the plates
exactly fit. "The first is--

"JOHANNE