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." *
This grant includes three portions of land. Achad Madchor is Auchmachar lying about three miles north-west from the church of Deer. Scale Merlech is that known now as Skillymarno, a farm about a mile beyond Auchmachar to the north. The third portion is the lands of Aldin Alenn or Aden (of old Alneden), which lie along the River Ugie eastwards from the church; but 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.
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