Adamnan, I l 5. Cf.
Petrie, Round Towers, 336-7. But the late Dr. Whitley Stokes
makes polaire or polire, or the corruption folaire, derive from
pugillares = writing tablets.--Stokes (W.), T. L., cliii. and
655. This interpretation of the word gives us the much more
likely reading that Columba made tablets, and satchels for books.
[2] Stokes (M.), 50.
[3] Curzon, Monasteries of the Levant, 66.
The second special feature of Irish book-economy
was the preservation of manuscripts in cumdachs or rectangular
boxes, made just large enough for the books they
were intended to enshrine. As in the case of the wallet,
the cumdach was not peculiar to Ireland, although the
finest examples which have come down to us were made
in that country.[1] They are referred to several times in
early Irish annals. Bishop Assicus is said to have made
quadrangular book-covers in honour of Patrick.[2] In the
Annals of the Four Masters is recorded, under the year 937,
a reference to the cumdach of the Book of Armagh, or the
Canon of Patrick. "Canoin Phadraig was covered by
Donchadh, son of Flann, king of Ireland." In 1006 the
Annals note that the Book of Kells--"the Great Gospel of
Columb Cille was stolen at night from the western erdomh
of the Great Church of Ceannanus.
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