[321] Except so far as to show that neither of the two existing MSS. was used by Colgan. The text is based on Rawlinson B. 512, but it is not explained why this was chosen as the basis in preference to Egerton 93 (which—I speak under correction—does not seem inferior). [322] _Ann. Ult. s.a._ [323] _Ib._ [324] _The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick_, in _Trans. of R.I.A._, xxix. Pt. vi. 1889. [325] A scribe of Armagh, _ob._ 725 (_Ann. Ult._). [326] _Ann. Ult. s.a._ [327] The narrative here (c. 14) is very confused, and perhaps there is interpolation. [328] I observe that Lanigan wished to derive _Hermon_ from _her_, “great,” and _maen_, “rock.”—Todd, _St. Patrick_, 337 note. [329] The literature which I have used in working through the Nennian problem is as follows:—Zimmer, _Nennius Vindicatus_, a brilliant and indispensable book, but too ingenious, and full of wiredrawn arguments; many of the conclusions have been upset by the Chartres text (Mommsen’s Z) which Zimmer left out of consideration. This text was published by Duchesne, _Nennius retractatus_, in _Revue celtique_, xv. 173 _sqq._; and was used by Mommsen for his authoritative edition of the work in _Chronica Minora_, vol. iii. (it is much to be regretted that he did not devote a separate column to printing the text of Z in full). New light was then thrown on the problem by Thurneysen, _Ztsch. f. deutsche Philologie_, xxviii. 80 _sqq._ His interpretation of _exberta_ in the title in the Chartres MS. as a mistake for _excerpta_ (_Incipiunt excerpta filii Urbagen_) seems probable (Dr. Traube’s emendation _experta_ has not convinced me); his identification of this son of Urbagen with Run map Urbgen, who baptized the Northumbrians in 627 (_Hist. Britt._ c. 63), though plausible, cannot be considered certain. Duchesne, in a judicious and instructive criticism with reference to Mommsen’s edition and Thurneysen’s article, has summed up the conclusions which may safely be drawn from the data: _Revue celtique_, xvii. 1 _sqq._ Mr. E. W. B. Nicholson, who had reached several of Professor Thurneysen’s conclusions independently, published his views in _Ztsch. f. celtische Philologie_, iii. 104 _sqq._ The most important point in this paper is that the true reading of the important words in the title of the Chartres MS. is: _exberta fili vrba gen_. See also L. Traube in _Neues Archiv_, xxiv. 721 _sqq._ [330] Nennius, _Preface_, ed. Momms., p. 143; Elbodug died A.D. 809, Zimmer, _Nenn. Vind._ 51.