vol. 1, p. 5

Quod antiquissimus [Patrius] Poeta expressius raro adm[ ] sed vero quod
[sterpum?] aspersit elogio, comprobavit
[o dongailo
?]
Itaque equidem res erat dum pro Nobilissima oNelliorum domo Religionem et [ ]
Re[gnum] contra impios invasores propugnante, maiores tui ipsi congeneres, ferro [ ]
flammis et fluctibus se velut hostiam et holocaustum offerre non dubitaverunt gra ]
tius ducentes pro iis a quibus acceperant sanguinem effundere, quam eos fusos vide[re]
[illamque?] conservare, gloriosiusque prius quam religionem aut rempubl. in extermin[um]
venire, se extinctus videre. Verum in Te miles strenuissime, [ ]
Deo ita ordinante [ ] vigoris et gentiliter nobilitatis semen
vigeat, ad quem cum sanguine preclara haec maior[um] et alia [pluri-]
[ma] naturae dona migra[ti s]unt, his maioribus [ ] laude [& ]
nihil n[on] prestas quo Te dignissimus prebeas.
Et genus et proavos et quae n[on] feceris ipse
Vix tua putans. quin imo erubesces alien[a] fam[a]
incumbere cum tua Te virtute posses involvere. Hanc a [teneris]
annis naturae [dona] [ ] virtutis accumulasti pat[ ]tam
colens Philosophiam et bellicam maxime praeferens vit[aru]m quam tam studioque in Patra 1m exerc[ ]
ut illa tecum incredibiliter [adoleverit?] et ipsis premi[ ]
rudimentis inclaruent atque quod earum est cum illa, caeteras
quae nobilem ornent virtutes. Extorris postea pro fide factus, a
30 iam et amplius annis, tanta fide et animi constantia ac robo[r]
sub Catholico Rege meres, ut quasi verecundata virtus cui null[ ]
via invia, Te, invita fortuna, premium ad vexilliferi dein Prefecti
Regis atque demum maiorem quo cum laude fingeris 2 a Tribuno honore
extulerit, non cessa[s?]ura ut aut[em] don[ec] id [ ] quod imperator[i ]
tuam personam virtutemque decet, summum [sel? miliae] quem meruisti gradus. Ut enim corporis [p ]
e celeris eminentior et incomparabile quadam animi fortitudine valentior prestas lepore p[aci ]
[ ] ac venustate affluens, rotundoque ore quemcunque quo cum Europeo conversatus
ita a cunctis Te et supra plerosque co[ ]litones aestimari ac enim tanta tua pe[tr ]
rnamenta et postulant merita. Quae ego ne laus in cognato [ ]
ore cum tacitus preterire cogar unum tantum Te rogabo, ut qui bellicae tuae [ ]
tis cunctos in Belgico hoc Theatro spectatores habes et testes

Which the most ancient native poet more clearly [because he sprinkled ?? with rare but true praise] attested:
O dongail[ ]
[ ?]
So indeed the matter stood while for the noble house of the ONeills in its fight for religion and rule against impious invaders, your forebears, themselves kinsmen, by steel, [ ], flames and floods did not hesitate to offer themselves like a sacrifice and burnt offering, deeming it more pleasing to spill blood for those from whom they had received it than to see them routed and preserve it, more glorious ere religion and state come to extermination rather to see themselves killed.
Truly in you, most diligent soldier, God ordaining it so, let the seed of [ ] vigour and, in the way of your race, of nobility flourish, you to whom with famous blood these gifts of your ancestors and many others of nature have passed down, and to these ancestors [ ] in praise [ ] you deliver everything without exception by which you may show yourself worthy.
And 'race and forebears and whatever you did not do yourself scarce thinking your own,' [Ovid Metamorphoses XIII 140] you blush to lean on the fame of others when you could wrap yourself in your own virtue.

Quod antiquissimus [Patrius] Poeta expressius raro adm[ ] sed vero quod
[sterpum?] aspersit elogio, comprobavit
[o dongailo
?]
Itaque equidem res erat dum pro Nobilissima oNelliorum domo Religionem et [ ]
Re[gnum] contra impios invasores propugnante, maiores tui ipsi congeneres, ferro [ ]
flammis et fluctibus se velut hostiam et holocaustum offerre non dubitaverunt gra ]
tius ducentes pro iis a quibus acceperant sanguinem effundere, quam eos fusos vide[re]
[illamque?] conservare, gloriosiusque prius quam religionem aut rempubl. in extermin[um]
venire, se extinctus videre. Verum in Te miles strenuissime, [ ]
Deo ita ordinante [ ] vigoris et gentiliter nobilitatis semen
vigeat, ad quem cum sanguine preclara haec maior[um] et alia [pluri-]
[ma] naturae dona migra[ti s]unt, his maioribus [ ] laude [& ]
nihil n[on] prestas quo Te dignissimus prebeas.
Et genus et proavos et quae n[on] feceris ipse
Vix tua putans. quin imo erubesces alien[a] fam[a]
incumbere cum tua Te virtute posses involvere. Hanc a [teneris]
annis naturae [dona] [ ] virtutis accumulasti pat[ ]tam
colens Philosophiam et bellicam maxime praeferens vit[aru]m quam tam studioque in Patra 1m exerc[ ]
ut illa tecum incredibiliter [adoleverit?] et ipsis premi[ ]
rudimentis inclaruent atque quod earum est cum illa, caeteras
quae nobilem ornent virtutes. Extorris postea pro fide factus, a
30 iam et amplius annis, tanta fide et animi constantia ac robo[r]
sub Catholico Rege meres, ut quasi verecundata virtus cui null[ ]
via invia, Te, invita fortuna, premium ad vexilliferi dein Prefecti
Regis atque demum maiorem quo cum laude fingeris 2 a Tribuno honore
extulerit, non cessa[s?]ura ut aut[em] don[ec] id [ ] quod imperator[i ]
tuam personam virtutemque decet, summum [sel? miliae] quem meruisti gradus. Ut enim corporis [p ]
e celeris eminentior et incomparabile quadam animi fortitudine valentior prestas lepore p[aci ]
[ ] ac venustate affluens, rotundoque ore quemcunque quo cum Europeo conversatus
ita a cunctis Te et supra plerosque co[ ]litones aestimari ac enim tanta tua pe[tr ]
rnamenta et postulant merita. Quae ego ne laus in cognato [ ]
ore cum tacitus preterire cogar unum tantum Te rogabo, ut qui bellicae tuae [ ]
tis cunctos in Belgico hoc Theatro spectatores habes et testes

Which the most ancient native poet more clearly [because he sprinkled ?? with rare but true praise] attested:
O dongail[ ]
[ ?]
So indeed the matter stood while for the noble house of the ONeills in its fight for religion and rule against impious invaders, your forebears, themselves kinsmen, by steel, [ ], flames and floods did not hesitate to offer themselves like a sacrifice and burnt offering, deeming it more pleasing to spill blood for those from whom they had received it than to see them routed and preserve it, more glorious ere religion and state come to extermination rather to see themselves killed.
Truly in you, most diligent soldier, God ordaining it so, let the seed of [ ] vigour and, in the way of your race, of nobility flourish, you to whom with famous blood these gifts of your ancestors and many others of nature have passed down, and to these ancestors [ ] in praise [ ] you deliver everything without exception by which you may show yourself worthy.