In the Lindisfarne
Gospels (698-721) gold is used. In the Psalter of Ricemarchus, now in
Trinity College, Dublin, are traces of silver. It is in connection with
these Irish MSS. that decorated and jewelled cases, called _cumdachs_,
make their appearance, such as the one attached to the Gospels of St.
Moling in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin. These book-shrines are
almost exclusively an Irish production. In other countries the idea was
to adorn the volume itself with a splendid and costly binding, perhaps
including gold, silver, and gems. In Ireland the idea of sacredness was
carried out in another way. Instead of decorating the covers of the book
itself, it was held, as in such a MS., for instance, as the Book of
Durrow, to be too venerable a relic to be meddled with, and a box or
case was made for it, on which they spent all their artistic skill.
Generally the case is known as a _cumdach_; but one kind, called the
_cathach_, was so closed that the book was completely concealed, and it
was superstitiously believed that if it were opened some terrible
calamity would overtake its possessors. Such was the _cathach_ of
Tyrconnell. We must remember, however, that in this instance the keepers
were not men of book-learning, but hardy warriors who carried the
_cathach_ into battle as a charm and an incitement to victory.
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