early years of, 44;
accompanies Germanus to Britain, 48;
visits the island of Lerins, 49;
sets out for the task of converting the Irish to Christianity, 50;
lights the Paschal fire, 50;
miraculous destruction of the chief Druids of Erin at the prayer of,
51;
reforms the Brehon Laws, 52;
convokes the men of Erin to a conference at Tara, 53;
selects a Commission of Nine to purify the pagan code of laws, 55;
establishes a Church organization, 55;
establishes a friendly alliance with Arch-Poet of Erin, 56;
commences to train up a native ministry, 58;
accompanied by bishops and priests on his Irish mission, 59;
ecclesiastical legislation of, 61, 62;
organizes a peripatetic school, 62, 63;
household of, 65;
_Confession_ of, 67-73;
motive of in writing this _Confession_, 69;
descent of, 70;
escapes from captivity, 71;
epistle to Coroticus, 73-75;
the _Lorica of_, 75-77;
specimen of hymn, translated, 76;
Sechnall's hymn of, 77-81;
is granted a site, and founds school of Armagh, 111, 112;
meeting with St. Benignus, 114;
baptizes the two sisters of Fochlut wood, 126;
kings' daughters come on a pilgrimage to, 126, 127.
Pelagius, of British birth, 40;
gives expression to his heretical views, 40, 41;
his meeting with Caelestius, 41.
Petroc, Saint, St. Kevin placed under care of, 415.
Pilgrimage, Irish, to Jerusalem, testimony of Dicuil the Geographer
regarding, 285, 286.
Poet, historic, chief duty of, 8.
_Preface to St. Jerome's Commentaries on Jeremias_, passage in,
misunderstood by some Irish scholars, 39.
Prosper of Aquitaine, cited, 40.
Prudentius, on the doctrine of Predestination, 581, 582.
_Psalter of Caiseal_, 612-614.
Psaltery, Gallic, brought from Rome by St. Finnian of Moville, 248, 249;
copy of, furtively made by St. Columba, 250, 310;
eventful history of this copy, 250-253;
now in Royal Irish Academy, in Dublin, 253;
inscription on casket which encloses it, 252, 349;
workmanship of casket, 253;
different custodians of, 252;
the casket opened in 1814, 252, 253.
Raban Maur, bishop, and the monk Gotteschalk, 580.
Rachau, See of, as mentioned in _Life of St. Carthach_, not determined,
462.
Rahan, monastery of, founded by St. Carthach, 449;
St. Carthach expelled from, 450.
Richards, Colonel Solomon, cited, 120.
Richenau, monastery of, 335.
"River of Trajan," testimony regarding existence of, 285.
Riverstown (Biorra), monastery of, founded by St. Brendan the Elder,
522.
Reeves, bishop, _Adamnan's Life of Columba_, quoted, 288, 291, 292.
Roscrea, monastery of, St. Carthach in, 451;
founded by St. Cronan 523.
Rosnat (Candida Casa), monastery of, place and time of its foundation,
166-168, 246, 247;
St. Enda goes to study at, 168;
is visited by several other saints, 167;
St. Finnian of Moville in, 247.
Rossa, member of Commission of Nine, 54.
Ruadhan of Lorrha, curses king of Tara and his palace, 218.
Rufinus of Aquileia (Grunnius), 39.
Rule of St. Carthach, 455-457.
Saigher, St. Carthach, at monastery of, 451.
Saints, first order of, 107;
second order of, 107, 108;
third order of, 108.
Saint Boniface, on baptism, 568;
brings four charges against St. Virgilius, 569-571.
_Saltair of Tara_, work, attributed to Cormac Mac Art, 23;
contents of, 23.
_Sancti Venite_, hymn, 80, 81.
Sayings of St. Patrick, 87;
his saying, "Deo gratias," 112.
Schools, Christian, sketch of, 188-193;
the first, 188;
developed and enlarged in the fifth century, 190;
in the West, 190, 191;
St. Patrick did not himself establish, 192, 193.
Schools, Organization of the Gaedhlic Professional, the learned
professions, 597-599;
Degrees in Poetry, in Law, in History, 600, 601.
School of Aran, St. Enda founds, 177;
saints who visited, 177-179.
School of Armagh, observations on, 110, 111;
founded by St. Patrick, 112;
other ecclesiastical buildings at Armagh, 113;
a great theological seminary, 117;
teachers of, 118-120;
burned and plundered, 120, 121;
rebuilt, 121;
the _Book of Armagh_, 122-124.
School of Bangor, St. Comgall of, 364-370;
founded, 367;
Saint Columba and his followers visit, 368;
the holiness and miracles of St. Comgall attract crowds to, 369;
kings give up their crowns and come to, 369, 370;
Saint Columbanus the great glory of, 370-381;
Dungal, after Columbanus, the greatest glory of, 381-393;
St. Malachy, abbot of, 393-397.
School of Clonard, founded by St. Finnian, 199, 200;
visited by all the distinguished saints of Erin, 201;
Oral Instruction in, 202;
the study of Sacred Scripture in, 202, 203;
relics of antiquity at Clonard, 205;
plundered by the Irish and Danes, 207;
refounded, 208;
St. Columba at, 295.
School of Clonenagh, St. Comgall in, 366, 402;
situation of, 398, 399;
St. Fintan of, 399-404;
founded by St. Fintan, 401;
rigorous discipline and fasting in, 366, 401, 402;
St. Ængus the most remarkable scholar of, 404-413.
School of Clonfert, founded by St. Brendan, 220, 221;
St. Moinenn and, 222-224;
St. Fintan and, 224, 225;
St. Cummian and, 228-231;
subsequent history of, 242 243;
old cathedral of, 243, 244.
School of Clonmacnoise, situation of, 258;
founded by St. Ciaran, 262;
ruined churches of, 266-269;
inscribed tombstones at, 269, 270;
grants made to, 271;
scholars of, 272-274;
the Danes and Irish plunder, 274, 275;
annalists of, 276-281;
Dicuil the Geographer likely trained at, 281;
Celtic Art at, 550-565.
School of Cork, situation of, 475, 476;
St. Finbarr of, 476-484;
founded by St. Finbarr, 480;
scholars of, 480;
exact site of, 480;
crowds of holy men come to, 483;
during the ninth century, 485, 486;
refounded by Cormac Mac Carthy, 486;
Giolla Aedh O'Muidhin, abbot and bishop of, 486, 487;
St. Colman of, 487-489.
School of Derry, St. Columcille founds, 298;
Columcille's original church, 298;
Columcille and twelve monks set sail from, 312;
famous scholars of, 352-364.
School of Durrow, situation of, 301;
founded by St. Columcille, 301;
interesting incidents having reference to, 302;
Cormac Ua Leathain, in charge of, 303;
copy of the Gospels (_Book of Durrow_), written at, 304, 305;
no trace at present of any of the ancient buildings of, 305;
desolated by Hugh de Lacy, 306.
School of Emly, founded, 131.
School of Glendalough, St. Kevin of, 414-422;
founded by St. Kevin, 420;
existing ruins in Glendalough, 422-425;
St. Moling of, 425-431;
the Danes ravage, 429;
the native Irish ravage, 430;
noble ladies go on a pilgrimage to, 430;
St. Laurence O'Toole, 432-446.
School of Iniscaltra, situation of, 512, 513;
St. Columba of Terryglass established at, 514;
St. Caimin of, 517, 518;
crowds of students come to, 518;
the ruined monuments still remaining at Iniscaltra, 519, 520;
sculptured stones at, 520, 521;
the Danes ravage, 521.
School of Innisfallen, by whom founded, 496-499;
Maelsuthain O'Cearbhail, a renowned professor of, 502;
_Annals of_, 503, 504;
poetry cultivated in, 504;
description of island of Innisfallen, 505.
School of Iona, the _Port a Churraich_, 314;
description of Iona, 315, 316;
founded by St. Columcille, 316;
no trace of the original buildings founded by Columcille at present,
317;
churches of a later date in Iona, 317;
scholars of, 331-334;
Adamnan, ninth abbot of, 334-347;
community of, get a free grant of Kells, 346;
pillaged and plundered, 346.
School of Kells, foundation of, 306, 307;
chief memorials of Columcille at Kells, 308, 309;
the _Book of_ 309, 310;
ravaged by the Danes, 348;
head of the Columbian houses, 348, 349.
School of Kildare, St. Brigid and, 125-130;
St. Brigid founds, 130, 131;
Kildare becomes a great city and a great school, 132;
description of church of, 133;
preserves a double line of succession--abbot-bishops and abbesses,
137;
ruins of, 138;
the perpetual fire of, 139, 140;
the art of illumination in, 140, 141.
School of Lismore, founded by St. Carthach, 453;
St. Carthach of, 447-457;
St. Cathaldus, the great glory of, 457-465;
St. Cuanna, abbot of, 466, 467;
St. Colman O'Leathain, abbot and bishop of, 467, 468;
the Danes ravage, 469;
princes retire to, 470;
plundered and burned in the twelfth century, 471;
situation of, 471;
inscribed stones at, 472;
the crozier of, 472, 473;
the _Book of_, 473, 474.
School of Louth, founded by St. Mochta, 147;
St. Patrick visits, 147;
burned and pillaged by the Danes, 149.
School of Mayo, founded by St. Colman, 530-532;
St. Colman of, 526-533;
St. Gerald of, 534-537;
St. Adamnan visits, 343, 537;
subsequent history of, 538-541.
School of Moville, situation of, 245;
founded by St. Finnian, 249;
St. Columcille, the most famous pupil of, 249, 294;
St. Columcille furtively copies the Psaltery of St. Finnian at, 250;
St. Colman, abbot of, 255;
produces a distinguished historian--Marianus Scotus, the Chronicler,
256, 257.
School of Mungret, founded by St. Patrick, 507;
deacon Nessan of, 507, 508;
St. Munchin of, 508, 509;
no trace of the ancient buildings now, 509;
ravaged by the Danes, 510;
plundered by Murtough O'Brien, 511;
"the learning of the Mungret women," 511, 512;
situation of, 512.
School of Noendrum, St. Mochae founds, 142;
St. Colman of Dromore at, 143, 144;
friendly relations existing between Rosnat (Candida Casa) in Galloway,
and, 144.
School of Ross, founded by St. Fachtna, 491;
other abbots and bishops of, 492, 493;
ravaged by the Danes, 493.
School of Tuaim Drecain, situation of, 602;
St. Bricin, founder of, 602, 603;
three schools at Tuaim Drecain, 603.
School of Tuam, founded, 541, 542;
situation of, 543;
attracts crowds of scholars, 543;
St. Brendan visits, 543, 544;
St. Jarlath of, 541-545.
Scotus Marianus, the Chronicler, date of his birth, 256;
spends his youth in school of Moville, 256;
ordained priest, 256;
writings of, 257;
death of, 257.
Scotus Marianus, Scribe and Commentator, birth and early youth of, 349;
leaves Ireland, 349;
and his two companions live as recluses in a cell, 350;
remarkable for the holiness of his life, 351;
his most famous work, 351, 352;
death of, 352.
Seanach Garbh, abbot, mentioned in _Ulster Annals_, 225.
Seanross, church of, founded by St. Cronan, 523.
Sechnall (Secundinus), Saint, accompanies St. Patrick to Ireland, 59,
80;
descent of, 77;
composes a hymn in honour of St. Patrick, 77, 78;
little is known of, 79.
Sedulius, poet, evidence that he was of Irish birth, 29-31;
mention made of, in ancient MSS., 31, 32;
travels of, 38;
his dedication of, the _Carmen Paschale_, 32, 33;
place and time of his death, 33;
the Pope approves of his writings, 35;
eulogism of, by critics, 35;
author's remarks on writings of, 36-38;
his claim to be venerated as a saint, 38;
at Achaia, 33;
reference in treatise of Dicuil the Geographer, which settles the
question of his nationality, 289, 290.
Sedulius, bishop of Britain, subscribed the Acts of the Council of
Rome, 30.
Sedulius, Commentator on Scripture, an Irishman, and a distinguished
scholar, 574;
other Irish scholars of name of, 574, 575;
writings of, 574, 575.
Sen, ancient judge, passes first judgment respecting Distress, 11.
Sencha, learned judge, mentioned in _Senchus Mor_, 11.
_Senchus Mor_, quoted, 6, 7, 8, 11, 53, _et seq._
Siadhal (Sedulius), bishop of Dublin, death of, 30.
Sigebert of Gembloux, cited, 38.
Sinell of Cell Dareis, bell ringer of St. Patrick, 65.
Sisters, the two--Fedelm and Ethne--receive the religious veil from St.
Patrick, 125.
Slainge, king of Firbolgs, the reputed founder of Tara, 19.
Slane, hill of, a historic site, 589;
Dagobert, a pupil in college of, 590.
Slieve Bloom mountains, monasteries founded round base of, 398.
Stones, inscribed, discovered in Ireland, 13;
in Great Britain, 13;
summary of Mr. Brash's conclusions on, 13, 14;
geographical distribution of, 14.
Strabo, Walafridus, abbot of Richenau, 335;
composes a poem in celebration of martyrdom of St. Blaithmac, 347.
Suibine, anchorite and scribe, 269;
learning and death of, 269, 274.
Suibhne, abbot of Iona, 334.
Synod, Nicene, intervenes regarding the celebration of the Pasch, 233.
Synod of Magh Lene, the Roman practice of celebrating the Pasch agreed
to at, 236.
---- Whitby, the Easter usage discussed at, 527-529.
---- Bri Mac Taidgh, 356, 357, 361, 362.
---- Holmpatrick, object of, 360.
---- Kells--four archbishops legally constituted in Ireland for the
first time, 361.
Synod of Mellifont, object of, 361.
Synod of Clane--professors required to graduate at school of Armagh,
362.
Synod of Athboy, main object for which convened, 362.
Tadhg, grandson of Ollioll Olum, rewarded for his military service by
Cormac MacArt, 18.
Tallaght, monastery of St. Ængus, conceals his own identity and enters
as a lay brother, 407, 408;
the _Martyrology_ of, 408, 409.
Tara, ruins at, 22.
Taranto, ancient city of, 463.
Tawnagh, church and convent founded at, 107.
_Teach Miodhchuarta_--Parliament house--erected at Tara by Cormac
MacArt, 20, 21;
present state of, 21.
_Teach Moling_, monastery, situation of, 426;
St. Moling's life in, 427.
_Teagusc na Riogh_, treatise ascribed to Cormac Mac Art, 23.
_Tempull-na-Skellig_, oratory of St. Kevin, 419.
Terryglass, body St. Columba Mac Crimthann transferred from Iniscaltra
to, 516.
Thierry, king of Austrasia, admonished by St. Columbanus for his sins,
375, 376;
expels Columbanus from his kingdom, 375, 376.
Theodoric, king, retires to monastery of Lismore, 407.
Tighernach, Boirceach, abbot of Moville, death of, 256.
Tighernach, annalist, personal history of _Annals of_, 277, 278.
Todd, writer, his _St. Patrick_ quoted, 73.
Tomrar, plunders monastery of Clonfert and kills some of the monks, 242,
243.
Torbach, primate of Armagh, got Book of Armagh transcribed, 103.
Torna Eigas, poet, poems attributed to, 28.
Torpeist, Senchan, chief bard, 616.
Tuam, cross of, description of, 554;
remains of church at, 557.
Tuathal Teachtmar, king, makes a mensal demesne for High King of Tara,
19.
Tuathal Maelgarbh, king, slain by Maelmor, 262.
Turcius Ruffus Asterius, name of two consuls of fifth century, one of
whom published _Carmen Paschale_, 34.
Turgesius, plunders and burns Clonfert, Clonmacnoise, &c., 242.
Ua Cobthaich, Muiredhach, bishop of Derry, death of recorded, 357.
Ua Liathain, Cormac, placed in charge of Durrow, 303;
leaves Durrow without Columcille's permission, 303;
founds a monastery in Tyrawley, 304.
Uisneach, (Usney), meeting of SS. Kevin, Comgall, and Canice, 421.
Ultan, Saint, collects materials for _Life of St. Brigid_, 134.
Virgilius, Saint, archbishop of Salzburg, born and educated in Ireland,
566, 567;
travels to France, 567;
goes to Bavaria, 567;
on the re-baptism of a catechumen, 568;
charges brought against by St. Boniface, 569-571;
on the doctrine of the Antipodes, 570;
becomes bishop of Salzburg, 572;
the apostle of Carinthia, 572;
rebuilds the monastery of St. Peter, 572;
death of, 573;
his tomb discovered, 573;
epitaph on his tomb, 574.
Wilfrid, archbishop of York, defeats St. Colman of Mayo at the Synod of
Whitby, on the Easter usage, 577-579.
[Illustration]
DUBLIN: PRINTED BY SEALY, BRYERS & WALKER, MIDDLE ABBEY STREET.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] "It would be futile," says O'Curry, "to attempt to give any close and
detailed account of the state of education in this country before the
Christian era."--_Lectures_, vol. ii., page 49.
[2] See Dr. O'Rorke's excellent _History of Sligo_, vol. ii., page 7.
[3] Cæsar, _De Bello Gallico_, Liber iv., c. 13 and 14.
[4] Illi rebus divinis intersunt, sacrificia publica et privata procurant,
religiones interpretantur.
[5] Vol. ii., page 222.
[6] See O'Curry's _Lectures_, vol. ii., p. 203.
[7] Folio 213_b_.
[8] "Idola et immunda."
[9] "On Ireland's folk lay darkness, the tribes worshipped fairies
(_side_)." Line 21.
[10] _Tripartite_, Stokes, p. 33.
[11] See O'Curry, vol. ii., p. 209.
[12] _Tripartite_, Stokes, p. 57.
[13] Cæsar, _De Bello Gallico_.
[14] _Tripartite_, p. 40.
[15] At Tulach-na-Druadh.
[16] See the account of the battle of Cuil-dreimhne.
[17] See Introduction to _Senchus Mor_, p. 18.
[18] _Senchus Mor_--Introduction. The ends of his fingers were probably
employed to count the syllables and feet.
[19] See Introduction to the _Senchus Mor_.
[20] in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
[21] Notably Ferguson and De Vere, with Mangan and T. D. M'Gee.
[22] Introduction to the _Senchus Mor_.
[23] And also in the _Book of Leinster_.
[24] "Ogham Inscribed Monuments."
[25] Page 373.
[26] The Scottish Ogham stones, or at least some of them, certainly bear
Christian symbols. See Anderson's _Lectures_, 2nd Series, Lecture V.
[27] Dr. Graves has proved that this score or key of the Ogham is correct
by _a priori_ reasoning, showing what ought to be the value of the symbols
from the frequency of the recurrence of the letters which they represent
in old Irish.
[28] So vivid is the local tradition that a poor woman came and showed me
the very spot on which the King was slain beside the well at which he
stopped his horse to snatch a drink.
[29] It was A.D. 218 according to Tighernach.
[30] See O'Curry's Lectures, vol. ii., page 14, and Keating, _Reign of
Tuathal Teachtmar_.
[31] See Petrie's _Antiquities of Tara Hill_, p. 129.
[32] _i.e._ _The Book of the Ua Chongabhail_. kept probably in ancient
times at Kildare.
[33] _Lays of the Western Gael._
[34] Apud Ciceronem Pro Domo Suâ, c. 3, and elsewhere.
[35] Sedulius Episcopus Britanniæ (Strathclyde ?) de genere Scotorum, huic
constituto vobis promulgato subscripsi. Apud Labbeum. Vol. iv.
[36] Dicuil, the Geographer, however, calls him 'noster Sedulius,' and he
wrote in A.D. 825. See page 289.
[37] His statement is worth quoting. "Sedulius presbyter natione Scotus,
Hildeborti Scotorum Archiepiscopi ab ineunte aetate discipulus, vir in
divinis scripturis exercitatus, et in saecularibus litteris eruditissimus,
carmine excellens et prosa, amore discendi Scotiam relinquens, venit in
Franciam, deinde Italiam perlustravit, et Asiam, postremo Achaiae finibus
excedens in urbe Roma mirabili doctrina clarus eluxit."
[38] See Migne's _Patrologia Lat._, vol. 19, page 440.
[39] Ad Scotos in Christo credentes. Prosper (p. 43).
[40] Sancto et Beatissimo patri Macedonio presbytero Sedulius in Christo
salutem.
[41] Jejuniis castigata, orationibus refecta, puritate mundissima.
[42] In most of the MSS. copies of his works we find the following
paragraph:--"Hoc opus Sedulius in certas chartulas dispersum reliquit,
quod recollectum, adunatum, atque ad omnem elegantiam divulgatum est a
Turcio Ruffo Asterio, viro claro, exconsule ordinario, atque patricio."
[43]
"Sume, sacer meritis, veracis dicta poetae,
Quae sine figmenti condita sunt vitio.
Quo caret alma fides, quo sancti gratia Christi
Per quam justus ait talia Sedulius."
Some critics suggest the reading:--
"Summe sacer meritis, veri accipe dicta poetae,"
which would leave no doubt that the epigram was addressed to Gelasius.
[44] Liber xxvii. De Inst. Div. Lit.
[45] L. 8. Carmen 9.
[46]
"Ambo pares lingua, florentes versibus ambo,
Fonte evangelico pocula larga ferunt,
Desine gentilibus ergo inseruisse poetis,
Dum bona tanta potes quid tibi Calliroem?"
[47] Guilielmus Eysengrein in Catalogo anno 412.
[48] Vol. xix.
[49] The construction is too artificial to please the critics of our time,
or to leave freedom of thought and language to the poet.
_Primus ad ima ruit_ magna de luce superbus;
Sic homo cum tumuit _primus ad ima ruit_.
[50] See Lib. ii., 1., 63 and 69. The whole passage, describing the
Saviour's miraculous birth, is very beautiful.
[51]
Haec tua perpetuae qui scripsi dogmata vitae
Corde, rogo, facias, Christe, manere meo;
Ut tibi quae placeant, tete faciente, requirens
Gaudia caelorum, te duce, Christe, metam.
[52] O'Hanlon, _Lives of the Irish Saints_, vol. ii., p. 487.
[53] Privata lectione evolvatur Sedulius antiquorum imitator, qui et verba
Publii Maronis et contexendi suavitatem a seculari ad sacrum argumentum,
tum scite tum pie accomodavit; indignum sane est christianos poetas adeo
negligi ut ne nomen quidem juventuti scholasticae sit cognitum. Walch,
_His. Crit._, cap. 10, n. 7.
[54] Ipse mutus latrat per Albinum (in some MSS. Alpinum) canem grandem et
corpulentum, et qui calcibus magis saevire possit quam dentibus; habet
enim progeniem Scotticae gentis de Brittanorum vicinia.--_Praef. in Lib._
iii., _Jeremiæ_.
[55] _Epist._ 185, No. 1.
[56] _Carmina._
[57] _Commonitorium._
[58] Propter acrimoniam et facundiam.
[59] "Omni Deum desideranti necessarias."
[60] Tacitus, _Agricola_, c. 24.
[61] It is clear from his own confession that _Britain_ (Brittaniae) was
his native country (_patria_); but Britain then included Scotland.
[62] He became familiar with the Irish language, but it was, as he himself
implies, at the expense of the vernacular, which in his case was the
provincial Latin, a corrupt dialect.
[63] _Legends of St. Patrick_, by Aubrey de Vere.
[64] This is manifest from the _Confession_--Et iterum post paucos annos
eram in Britannis cum parentibus meis.
[65] The _Tripartite_ says that "Caelestinus, Abbot of Rome, read Orders
over Patrick," and the Scholiast on Fiacc's Hymn, says that Germanus said,
"Go to Caelestinus that he may confer Orders upon thee, for he is proper
to confer them."--_Stoles' Edition_, vol. ii., 419.
[66] _Tripartite._
[67] What is naturally just comes from the Holy Ghost, as the author of
the Natural Law.
[68] Aubrey de Vere, _Legends of St. Patrick_.
[69] _The Legends of St. Patrick_, by Aubrey de Vere.
[70] Almost every member of a family could play on the harp. See Gerald
Barry's _Descriptio Kambriæ_, p. 183.
[71] _Book of Armagh._
[72] Tirechan's Collections--"Et secum fuit multitudo episcoporum
sanctorum, et presbiterorum, et diaconorum, ac exorcistarum, hostiarium,
lectorumque, necnon filiorum quos ordinavit."--_Book of Armagh_, fol. 9.
[73] See _Wasserschleben's_ great collection, published at Leipzig, 1885.
[74] See Todd's _St. Patrick_, p. 457.
[75] See _Wasserschleben_, page 61, Lib. xx., c. 5; _Haddan and Stubbs_,
vol. ii., Part ii., page 332.
[76] "Si vero in illa (Cathedra Patricii) cum suis sapientibus facile
sanari non poterit causa praedictae negotionis, ad sedem Apostolicam
decrevimus esse mittendam, id est, ad Petri Apostoli Cathedram,
auctoritatem Romæ Urbis habentem." "Hi sunt qui hoc decreverunt id est,
Auxilius, Patricius, Secundinus, Benignus."--See _Stokes_, p. 356, vol.
ii.
[77] See Stokes' _Tripartite_, Vol. ii., page 507.
[78] _Tripartite_, page 97.
[79] _Tripartite_, page 75.
[80] Scholiast on _Fiacc's Hymn_.
[81] _Trip._ p. 105, vol. i.
[82] "Libros legis, evangelii libros, et reliquit eos in locis novis."
_Book of Armagh_, f. 9.
[83] See "Tirechan's Collections," _Book of Armagh_, fol. 18, _a_2--"Ocus
dubbert Patrice cumtach du Fiacc, idon, clocc, ocus menstir, ocus bachall,
ocus poolire."
[84] _Trip._ vol. i., page 87.
[85] See Du Cange, _sub voce_.
[86] Benignus succeeded Sechnall as Coadjutor or Auxiliary Bishop.
[87] For instance the Cotton MS. Nero. E. 1, fol. 171; and two in the
Bodleian Fell. I., ff. 7_a_-11_b_ and Fell. III., fol. 158-164.
[88] "Nam sermo et loquela mea translata est in linguam alienam, sicut
facile potest probari ex saliva scripturae meae."--_Confession._
[89] Patrem habui Calpornum diaconum filium quendam Potiti filii Odissi
presbyteri.
[90] Deum verum ignorabam.
[91] The strange phrase--"Repuli sugere mammellas corum"--seems to signify
that he rejected the proferred intimate association with them. _Mammella_
was used metaphorically as a term endearment, in classical Latin.
[92] This is the opinion of Skene--_Celtic Scotland_, p 158. vol. i.
[93] See Todd's _St. Patrick_, p. 391.
[94] "Et devastaverunt servos et ancillas domûs patris mei."
[95] The Decurio was under the Empire an official somewhat like a Mayor or
Resident Magistrate.
[96] Irish Preface to the Hymn.
[97] It was first published in 1647 by Colgan from the Isidore MS., and
then by Ware in his _Opuscula S. Patritii_. It is also published in
Stoke's _Tripartite_ in the series of the Master of the Rolls.
[98] For instance:--
"Maximus namque in regno cœlorum vocabitur,
Qui quod verbis docet sacris factis adimplet bonis:
Bono procedit exemplo formamque fidelium,
Mundoque in corde habet ad Deum fiduciam."
[99] See _Krantz Danaiae_ Liber iv., c. 19.
[100] "Hymnus quando Communicarent Sacerdotes."
[101] _Tripartite Life._
[102] We know from St. Paul that no person who has been twice married can
be lawfully ordained.--1 Tim. iii. 2.
[103] See _Liber Hymnorum_, vol. ii., page 287.
[104] _Scela_ and _lini_.
[105] The entire passage is as follows:--"Timorem Dei habui ducem itineris
mei per Gallias atque Italiam, etiam in insulis quae sunt in mari
Tyrrheno--De Saeculo recessistis ad paradisum--Deo Gratias--Æcclesia
Scotorum, imo Romanorum, ut Christiani ita et Romani sitis--Ut decantetur
vobiscum oportet omni hora orationis vox illa laudabilis, Kyrie eleison,
Christe eleison--Omnis æcclesia, quae sequitur me cantet, 'Kyrie eleison,
Christe eleison, Deo gratias.'"
[106] In the early ages of the Church a bishop was placed over every town.
[107] "Acta S. Patricii partim Latino, partim Hibernico Sermone."
[108] He says that Colgan's argument furnishes a choice specimen of an
undistributed middle term.
[109] Strictly speaking, that building was a collection of cells, each of
which was tenanted by three monks.
[110] _Petrie_ p. 161.
[111] See _Life of St. Moling_, and of other saints.
[112] Additional Notes, page 336.
[113] _Vita Brendani_, cap. 14.
[114] Cap. II., De Silentio.
[115] "Cibus sit vilis et vespertinus."
[116] See _I. Eccles. Record_, Jan. 1865.
[117] Regula., cap. 3.
[118] "Votum Monasticum."--_Adamnan._
[119] St. Patrick had, we are told, three maidens who were constantly
employed on embroidery work for sacred purposes--one was his own sister,
Lupait, another is called Cruimtheris, and the third was King Daire's
royal daughter.
"Beneath a pine three vestals sat close veiled:
A song these childless sang of Bethlehem's child,
Low-toned, and worked their altar cloth, a Lamb,
All white, on golden blazon."
Columcille, too, had his own special embroideress for working his
vestments and altar cloths. She was called Coca, and has given her name to
the ancient church of Kilcock, in the County Kildare, which she
founded.[A] In the _Book of Kells_, too, we find examples of vestments in
the ornamentation portrayed in the richest and most vivid colouring.
[A] See O'Curry, _Manners and Customs_, vol. iii., p. 123.
[120] The Romans were those who enjoyed the rights of the Imperial
citizenship, which at this time had come to be in reality a badge of
slavery.
[121] See the _Salamanca MS._, p. 161.
[122] Benignus was, says the author of the _Tripartite Life_ of St.
Patrick, an "adolescens facie decorus, vultu modestus, moribus integer,
nomine uti et in re Benignus," and his voice "cunctos oblectans."
[123] The full title of the work is _De Excidio Britaniæ Liber Querulus_.
[124] "The penmanship is," says Bishop Reeves, "of extreme elegance, and
is admirable throughout for its distinctness and uniformity."
[125] "Ferdomnach hunc librum, dictante Torbach, herede Patricii
scripsit." The only word somewhat illegible is "Torbach."
[126] This is the only _complete_ copy of the Scriptures of the New
Testament, which has come down to our times from the Celtic Church of
Ireland. The rest were all destroyed by the Danes.
[127] The ornamentation is so minute and elaborate that Professor Westwood
declares that he counted in the small space of three quarters of an inch
long by less than half-an-inch in width, no fewer than 158 interlacements
of a slender ribbon pattern!--_Archæol. Journal_, vol. x. p. 278.
[128] If the nuns at Clonbroney, Co. Longford, were not before them.
[129] _Tripartite_, page 37.--"Patrick went to Inver Boinde. He found a
wizard in that place who mocked at Mary's virginity. Patrick sained the
earth, and it swallowed up the wizard."
[130] Aubrey de Vere, _Legends of St. Patrick_.
[131] See O'Hanlon's _Life of St. Brigid_.
[132] She was in an especial manner the patroness of the 'Sons of
Reading,' as students were then called; "and the Lord gives them, through
Brigid's prayer, every perfect good that they ask."--_Irish Life._
[133] See _Round Towers_, page 203.
[134] _Dictionary of Christian Antiquities_--'Lamps.'
[135] Dr. Todd was of opinion that the manuscript described by Gerald
Barry must have been the _Book of Kells_, which might have been removed at
that time to Kildare for safe custody. But there is no historical
foundation for this conjecture.
[136] _Tripartite_, p. 40.
[137] O'Clery's _Martyrology_.
[138] Du Cange. See Dr. M'Carthy's able Paper in the _Proceedings of the
R.I.A._, May, 1889. In the _Tripartite_ (Stokes, p. 251), _menister_ seems
to mean the paten, and _mias_ (quasi _mensa_) the altar-table.
[139] It has been said that Ninian died A.D. 432; but as Skene observes,
without any authority. See _Celtic Scotland_, vol. ii., p. 4.
[140] "Proselytus Brito, homo sanctus, S. Patricii discipulus." _Secunda
Praefatio_, p. 6.
[141] _Four Masters_, A.D. 922.
[142] We believe this stream is a tributary of the Fane river, which in
fact does come from the County Monaghan to Louth.
[143] Ad Scotos in Christum credentos ordinatus a Papa Caelestino
Palladius primus episcopus mittitur.
[144] Hence the name Ailbe = _ail-beo_, "living under the rock."
[145] See Stokes' _Calendar of Ængus_.--April 23rd.
[146] In the _Tripartite_ he is represented as founding Pallas Green in
the Barony of Coonagh, co. Limerick.
[147] See _Kilk. Arch. Soc._, vol. iv., New Series, page 90.
[148] His father was son of Laei, son of Tadhg, son of Cian, son of
Oilioll Olum. See _Book of Rights_, page 50, and page 103.
[149] Others think Kilbanon was the church of 'Benen, brother of Cethech,'
who is distinguished in the Tripartite from 'Benen, successor of Patrick.'
This is highly probable.
[150] _Celtic Scotland_, Book II, p. 44.
[151] _Histor. Eccles._, Liber III., c. 4.
[152] "Vade ad Brittaniam ad Rosnatum monasterium, et esto humilis
discipulus Manceni, Magistri illius monasterii." _Vita S. Endei._
[153] Lib. III. c. 4.
[154] _Primordia_, page 1058.
[155] _Chron. Picts and Scots_, page 56.
[156] _Trias Tham._, page iii. note 67.
[157] The word Rosnat simply means a sea-girt promontory, and would be
equally applicable to Whithern and St. David's Head.
[158] Called also _Bealagh-na-haite_, from the overhanging cliffs.
[159] In Irish _Bealagh-na-fearback_.
[160] The lighthouse throws a red sector over the rock and shoal, which
are also marked by a red buoy.
[161] Admirably edited by Miss Stokes, to whom Irish scholars owe so much.
[162] Aubrey de Vere's Translation--_Irish Odes and other Poems_.
[163] "In the Islands of the Tyrrhene Sea."--_Fiacc's Hymn._
[164] _Confession_, page 396, Vol. II., Rolls Series.
[165] Loman was a Briton, and Scotha, mother of Fortchern, was also a
Briton, perhaps a connection.
[166] _Loca Patriciana_, page 152.
[167] The Life in the _Book of Lismore_ says that he was then thirty years
of age, and that he had previously founded three churches in his native
territory--Ross Cuire, Drumfiaid, and Magh Glass.
[168] Gerald Barry seems to think the name meant the Valley of Roses, of
which he says there were none--it should rather be called the Marble
Valley.
[169] See _Itinerarium Cambriae_, page 102.
[170] See _Tripartite_, vol. ii., page 632.
[171] See _Loca Patriciana_, page 204.
[172] "His daily meal was a bit of barley bread and a drink of water. On
Sundays and holidays it was wheaten bread and a piece of broiled
salmon."--_Irish Life._
[173] See the Irish Life in the _Book of Lismore_.
[174] See Colgan's _Life of St. Columba of Tir-da-glas_.
[175]
Regressus in Clonardiam
Ad cathedram lecturae,
Apponit diligentiam
Ad studium Scripturae.
--_Hymn from St. Finnian's Office._
[176]
Trium virorum millium
Sorte fit doctor humilis;
Verbi his fudit fluvium
Ut fons emanans rivulis.
[177] The Irish Life also makes him son of Fintan.
[178] The modern diocese of Meath is an aggregate of seven or eight
ancient dioceses; hence it has no cathedral church, but takes its name
from the ancient principality (Midhe) with which it is almost
conterminous.
[179] _Leabhar Breac._
[180] See Father D. O'Donoghue's interesting Paper in the _Journal_ of the
R.S.A.I. for 1891, page 706.
[181] _Life of St. Ita._
[182] See _Latin Life of St. Brendan_, edited by Cardinal Moran.
[183] "Bute (Scotland) is said to derive its name from _bothe_, a cell,
St. Branden having once made it the place of his retreat, and for the same
reason, the natives of this isle, and also of Arran, have been sometimes
styled Brandani."--Pennant's _Tour in Scotland_, vol. ii., 4th edition,
Dublin, 1775, p. 164.
[This note was sent to us by the late lamented Mr. Hennessy.]
[184] _Annals of Clonmacnoise._
[185] From the late W. M. Hennessy we received shortly before his lamented
death the following note:--
"In an Irish MS. in Trinity College, Dublin (Class H. 1, 7), in a tract
beginning on fol. 84, two poems are copied, the composition of which is
ascribed to St. Brendan (obviously of Clonfert). The first, No. 7,
begins--
An da Aodh mo dha Charaid
(The two Hughs, my two friends).
The second begins--
Beannacht an Choimhdhe chomachtaigh
(The blessing of the Almighty Lord).
This," adds Mr. Hennessy, "is stated to be in praise of Aedh, King of
Cashel; but there is no record of such a King of Cashel in the time of St.
Brendan." It is much more likely it refers to Aedh, King of Connaught, who
gave Inchiquin to Brendan.
[186] There are families near Clonfert, who bear this name at the present
day.
[187] _Life of St. Tighernach._
[188] Whiterne in sound for Irish ears is nearly the same as Futerne, the
Latin being Futerna.
[189] Some confound this St. Fursey with another Fursey, son of Lochan of
the Dal-araidhe.
[190] Fursey must have been very young, certainly not more than ten years
of age, when Brendan died in A.D. 577.
[191] We have made a minute examination of all this locality with the help
of the Very Rev. J. Barrett, P.P., V.F.
[192] To whom we are indebted for much information about Cummian.
[193] Note to Archdall, _sub voce_, "Clonfert."
[194] There is a characteristic story of Cummian, Guaire, and Caimin, told
by the scholiast on the Felire of Ængus. The three half brothers were at
one time in Caimin's Church of Inis Cealtra in Lough Derg. "What would you
wish to have this Church filled with?" said Caimin to Guaire. "With silver
and gold," he replied, "that I might give it for my soul's sake to saints
and to churches, and to the poor." "And you, Cummian, what would you have
it filled with?" "I would have it full of books to instruct studious men,
to enable them to preach the Gospel, and save souls," said Cummian. Then
they said, "But thou, Caimin, what would you wish to have in it?" "I would
wish to have the full of it of diseases and sicknesses to afflict my
body," replied Caimin. And all three got their wish, "the earth to Guaire,
wisdom to Cummian, and sickness and disease to Caimin;" and they all went
to heaven in the way they wished.
[195] Primo loco de observatione Paschae Domini, et uno die et uno tempore
per omnem orbem a nobis observetur et juxta consuetudinem litteras ad
omnes tu dirigas.
[196] See Hefele. _Councils_, vol i., page 314. French Edition, 1869.
[197] Was this Breacan of Dairinis, near Waterford, half-brother to
Cummian? He might have been then at Hy.
[198] Perhaps to Disert Chuimin, where he wrote: "Ut me ut nycticoracem in
domicilio latitantem defenderem." Epistola.
[199] Skene says this "is the oldest authentic notice of St.
Patrick."--_Celtic Scot._, vol. ii., p. 17.
[200] This is the synodical decree quoted in the _Book of Armagh_, and
already referred to in this work at page 60. Its citation by Cummian so
early as A.D. 640 is a clear proof that the Synod's decrees are authentic.
[201] Tome 87. _Patr. Latina_.
[202] In some ancient MSS. Fada is written Fota, but it is the same word,
meaning 'Tall.'
[203] _Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland_, page 44.
[204] And sometimes Ninian, because he was confounded with the original
founder.
[205] Book ii. c. i.
[206] _Le gach boin a boinin._
[207] Cardinal Moran's _Essays_, page 138.
[208] _Book of Rights_, page 100, note.
[209] See _Chronicon Scotorum_, compiled at Clonmacnoise.
[210] _Vita S. Ciarani._
[211] This date of the Latin Life is quite accurate. The Dominical letter
for that year is C.B.; therefore the 1st of January was on Friday, and the
23rd was Saturday; and the 9th of Sept. was also on Saturday. We cannot,
however, now ascertain the exact day of the moon, for the old cycle was
then in use.
[212] _Chronicon Scotorum._ Anno 544.
[213] Colgan says that some of the Druids continued in Ireland down to the
eighth century, and were held in high esteem in certain parts of the
country as poets and sheanachies.--_Acta SS._, page 149, n. 15.
[214] See Dr. Monaghan's interesting _Records of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise_.
[215] One of the "Patres priores."
[216] "Cheranus Scottorum gloria gentis."
[217] This was the hide of the dun cow which Ciaran brought to Clonard
where she gave milk to the Twelve Apostles of Erin.
[218] _Annals of Loch Cé._
[219] See Lord Dunraven's _Notes_.
[220] See Professor Stokes' _Lectures_.
[221] It has been translated for Miss Stokes by Mr. O'Looney.
[222] See _Christian Inscriptions_, page 79.
[223]
Epistola Albini Magistri ad Colcum Lectorem in Scotia--
Benedicto Magistro, et Pio Patri Colcuo Alcuine humilis levita salutem.
[224] _Acta Sanctorum_, page 379.
[225] _Wars of the G. G._ Introduction, xiv.
[226] _Four Masters_, A.D. 840.
[227] Professor Stokes repeats these mistakes in his _Lectures--Celtic
Church_, page 200. Keating, however calls Cormac Archbishop of Cashel,
which he certainly was not.
[228] At his conference with Niall at Clonfert, Felim sat in the seat of
the abbots as a token of his superiority over Niall, not as a bishop.
[229] It is not unlikely that his family resided at Cluain Ui Braoin, now
Cloonybrian, near Boyle.
[230] See _Lectures_, page 127.
[231] It was first published in 1807 by M. Walckenaer from two MSS. in the
Imperial Library of Paris. In 1814, M. Letronne produced a still more
learned and accurate edition, in which he shows the advantages that
scholars may derive from a careful study of Dicuil's work. It is entitled:
_Recherches Geographiques, et Critiques sur Le Livre "De Mensura Orbis
Terrarum," composé en Irlande au Commencement du Neuvième siècle par
Dicuil_.
[232] It might be rendered a trustworthy brother.
[233] See Smith's _Dictionary of Geography_.
[234] See Introd. to _Celtic Scotland_, page 3, vol. i.
[235] See Reeves' _Adamnan_, page 169, note.
[236] See Bishop Reeves' excellent edition of Adamnan's _Life of Columba_.
[237] See Reeves' _Adamnan_, page lxix.
[238] "By genealogy he had a natural right to the kingship of Ireland, and
it would have been offered to him had he not put it from him for God's
sake."--Life in the _Book of Lismore_.
[239] It is more likely that his ordination took place after he left
Glasnevin on his homeward journey.
[240] This mistake led to important consequences. Columba not being
himself a bishop found it necessary to have a bishop, subject to his
jurisdiction, to perform episcopal functions in his monasteries. It was an
unusual arrangement, as Bede declares, "Habere solet ipsa insula (Hy)
rectorem semper abbatem presbyterum, cujus juri et omnis provincia, et
etiam episcopi, _ordine inusitato_, debeant esse subjecti, juxta exemplum
primi doctoris illius, qui non episcopus sed presbyter extitit et
monachus."--Bede, H.E. III. 4.
[241] A.D. 545--"Daire Colum Cille fundata est" (_recte_, 546).
[242] See the _Felire of Ængus_.
[243] Notes to the _Felire_.
[244] Fecerat autem priusquam Brittaniam veniret monasterium nobile in
Hibernia, quod a copia roborum _Dearmach_ linguâ Scottorum, _i.e._ Campus
roborum cognominatur.--Book iii. 4.
[245] The 'Great House' was perhaps the abbot's residence. See Petrie's
_Round Towers_, page 431.
[246] Ps. xc. verse 11.
[247] See Reeves' _Adamnan_, page 276.
[248] _Ibid_, page 269.
[249] Gilbert, _National MSS._, page 10.
[250] See Professor Stokes' very interesting Lecture.
[251] The Irish Life in the _Book of Lismore_ indirectly implies that
Kells was founded by St. Columba, as well as many other churches in
Bregia.
[252] _Round Towers_, page 437.
[253] _Four Masters._
[254] At the Dissolution in A.D. 1539 the Book came into the hands of
Gerald Plunket of Dublin, but he appears to have restored it to the monks
of Kells.
[255] Such is the opinion of the learned Cardinal Moran expressed to the
writer in person.
[256] See Reeves' _Adamnan_, page 275.
[257] _Green Leaves_, by T. D. Sullivan.
[258] From an account written in A.D. 1761.
[259] This cross 'in margine viae' is the only cross now in the island
which could answer Adamnan's description as that nigh to which Columba sat
down to rest himself on his last journey from the monastic farm.--Page
231.
[260] _Irish Life._
[261] Codex A. of Adamnan's _Vita_.
[262] Greek characters are found in Adamnan's earliest MSS.
[263] In the Irish Rule attributed to Columcille we find:--"Three labours
in the day, _i.e._, prayers, work, and reading," prescribed for all. But
Adamnan's statement is even more authoritative and explicit:--
"Nullum etiam unius horae intervallum transire poterat (Columba), quo non
aut orationi, aut lectioni, vel scriptioni, vel etiam alicui operationi
incumberat."--_Adamnan's_ Praefatio II.
[264] In the Life in the _Book of Lismore_ it is said that "Columba had
thrice fifty monks for contemplation, and sixty for the active life"--that
is in their turn.
[265] See _Haddan and Stubbs_, Vol. II., part I., page 120.
[266] See the Irish Life in the _Book of Lismore_, which enumerates
several of these churches.
[267] The first part of this Vita Secunda is not the work of Cuimine the
Fair.
[268] _Matt._ x., 8.
[269] "Scitote quod nullus citra Alpes compar illi in cognitione divinarum
scripturarum et in magnitudine scientae reperitur."--_Salamanca MS._
[270] See _School of Clonfert_.
[271] For instance, the details of the martyrdom of St. Blaithmac of Iona
by the Danes in A.D. 824, which he describes in Latin verse, and may have
learned from a fugitive who was, perhaps, the bearer of this very MS.
[272] "Erat enim vir bonus et sapiens, et scientia Scripturarum
nobilissime instructus."
[273] "Edoctus est omnes liberales, sacras et asceticas disciplinas,
linguas etiam Hebraicam et Graecam; et quicquid patria lingua (in qua tunc
pleraeque scientiae et Dryadum quae non fuerant damnata dogmata) scriptum
est vel artium vel legum vel historiarum."
[274] Book II., c. 45.
[275] See Petrie's _Tara_, page 147.
[276] "Dedit legem innocentum populis."
[277] The story of Adamnan's carrying his mother on his back originated in
his well-known filial piety. Vol. III.
[278] Up to the tenth century Britannia included Scotland.
[279] See _Haddan and Stubbs_, vol. ii., part 1, p. 120.
[280] _Four Masters_, A.D. 1034.
[281] Decoro vultu, crine nitenti, ultra communem valentiam hominum, formâ
erat speciosus, divinus ac humanis litteris et eloquentiâ erat
praeditus.--_Vita._
[282] No. 1247 (Theol. 287).
[283] See _Transactions of the R.I.A._, Vol. vii., 295.
[284] The author has received from Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, Bishop of
Canea, a duly attested relic of the Blessed Marianus--Ex sepulchro S.
Merchertachi Scoti.
[285] _Four Masters._
[286] According to O'Donovan's identification.
[287] See Reeves' _Adamnan_, page 405.
[288] _Annals of Ulster._
[289] _Four Masters._
[290] Skene thinks that this Cellach was the Benedictine abbot Celestinus
to whom the Pope granted Hy in 1203, probably after this attempt to seize
the place by the authority of Ronald, Lord of the Isles.--_Celtic
Scotland_, vol. ii., p. 417.
[291] See _Four Masters_, A.D. 1152.
[292] See the poem from the _Saltair na Rann_ on the Patron Saints of
Ireland, Cambr. Eversus, vol. ii., page 779.
[293] He was born in Mourne of Antrim, near Larne, not in Mourne of Down
as stated here, and belonged to the Picts of Dalaradia.
[294] In the _Second Life_.
[295] Cardinal Moran thinks he was born as early as A.D. 530.
[296] Sinell himself studied at Clonard. His feast day is Nov. 12th.
[297] It is said that it was in Cluains Columbanus wrote his Commentary on
the _Psalter_, lately published by the learned Ascoli. See Stokes' _Island
Monasteries_. Journal of the R.S.A.I., page 663.
[298] It is said that Columban when working at the spade wore leather
gloves through reverence for the Holy Sacrifice which he used to offer.
[299] It was a ship--"quae Scotorum commercia vexerat"--trading between
Gaul and Ireland.--_Vita_, c. 22.
[300] According to others he was nearly ninety.
[301] Some writers assert that Bobbio had been founded many years
previously, and that this was the second journey of Columban into
Lombardy. We follow old Jonas.
[302] See Migne's _Patrologia_, vol. lxxx., page 210.
[303] "Ergo quotidie jejunandum est, sicut quotidie orandum est, quotidie
laborandum, quotidie est legendum."
[304] It appears to us more likely that the Bangor Missal has the
Patrician liturgy; and that the Mass in the Stowe Missal is of Welsh
origin.--See _Irish Eccl. Record_, Jan., 1891.
[305] Inver Becne was the ancient name of Bangor Bay; the islands near the
shore, in one of which is an ancient graveyard, are now called the
Copeland Islands--the name of the foreigner who enjoyed the lands of
Bangor Abbey. Dr. M'Cormick, the last Abbot of Bangor, died in Maynooth,
and is buried in Larahbrine.--See Laverty's _Down and Connor_.
[306] Quantum igitur spatii lata dimensio (Zodiaci) porrectis sideritus
occupat, duabus lineis limitatum est, et tertia ducta per medium ecliptica
vocatur, quia cum cursum suum in eadem linea pariter sol et luna
conficiunt, alterius eorum necesse est evenire defectum; solis si ei tunc
luna succedat, lunae si tunc adversa sit soli. Ideo nec sol unquam deficit
nisi cum tricesimus lunae dies est; et nisi quinto decimo cursus sui die,
nescit luna defectum; sic enim evenit ut aut lunae contra solem positae,
ad mutuandum ab eo solidum lumen, sub eadem lineae inventus terrae conus
obsistat, aut soli ipsa succedens, objectu suo ab humano aspectu lumen
ejus repellat. In defectu autem sol ipse nihil patitur ... luna vero circa
proprium defectum laborat non accipiendo solis lumen cujus beneficio
noctem colorat.--_Migne's Patrol._, No. 105, page 454.
[307] See Lothaire's Capitular, _De Doctrina_, published by Muratori.
"Primum in Papia conveniunt ad Dungalum de Mediolano, de Brixia, etc.,
etc." So that Dungal may be justly regarded as the founder of the
University of Pavia.
[308] The authenticity of these famous Caroline Books can no longer be
questioned.
[309] The real number is unknown. See Hefélé, vol. v., p. 102.
[310] Hefélé clearly proves that the eighty-five Capitula sent to the Pope
were not exactly the same as they are in the _Libri Carolini_ which we
have. But there was no substantial difference between them.
[311] Sacris etiam literis ornatum, et simul in grammaticali foro ac
Prisciani deliciis enutritum, ut facile legenti constabit.--See Lanigan,
vol iii., ch. 20.
[312] Muratori adds, that in one of the MSS. are inscribed these words:--
"Sancte Columba tibi Scotto tuus incola Dungal
Tradidit hunc librum, quo fratrum corda beentur.
Qui leges ergo Deus pretium sit muneris, oro."
[313] Some critics have doubted if Dungal, the recluse of St. Denys, who
wrote the letter on the double eclipse of the sun, were the same as Dungal
of Pavia. But there is not a shadow of proof offered in support of their
theory; hence, to refute it is to fight with a shadow. The unusual name,
the similarity of style, the testimony of the learned, the phrase ex quo
(tempore) in hanc terram (Italiam) advenerim, all point to the identity of
Dungal in Paris and in Italy.
[314]
"Te precor Omnipotens quadrati conditor orbis,
Dungalus ut vigeat miles ubique tuus,
Sidereum ut valeat rite comprendere Olympum
Sum sanctis vitamque participare queat."
[315] St. Bernard says it was "nobilior inter caeteras regni illius."
[316] See St. Bernard's graphic account.
[317] See Vita Malachiae, c. 10.
[318] "Notandum quod haec ecclesia, sicut et aliae per Hiberniam et
Walliam plures, abbatem laicum habet." _Itin. Cambriae_, L. II., C. 4. A
similar practice existed at the same time in the Celtic Church of
Scotland.
[319] At a place now called Churchfield, where a disused churchyard is
supposed to mark the site of a church built there in his honour.
[320] _Salamanca MS._
[321] "All transcripts," says Skene, "show the orthography and forms of
their period" of transcription.--_Four Ancient Books of Wales_, p. 184.
[322] "Cujus (vallis) in occidentali parte versus meridiem extensum inter
duos montes repperit stagnum."--_Salamanca MS._
[323] Others think it was the _Reefert_ Church, as it is now called.
[324] Petrie--_Round Towers_, p. 451.
[325] Petrie says there were no such early dedications to the B. V. Mary;
but the Life of Carthach of Lismore shows that he built and dedicated a
church in honour of the B. V. Mary.
[326] See page 342, where the equivocation is put in another way.
[327] See O'Hanlon, Volume vi., page 714.
[328] See Archdall.
[329] See Life in the _Salamanca MS._
[330] It is likely that his first name was Cuda, and that he got the name
of Carthach Junior in honour of his master.--_Martyrology of Donegal._
[331] Constantine, a British king, was vice-abbot of Rahan, some time
between 588 when he was converted, and 596, when he was martyred in
Kintyre. See Forbes' _Calendars_, page 311.
[332] O'Hanlon's _Lives_, page 263, Vol. v.
[333] In the Office of St. Cathaldus it is stated that:--
Adolescens liberalibus disciplinis eruditus ad eam brevi doctrinæ
excellentiam pervenit ut ad ipsum audiendum Galli, Angli, Scoti, Theutones
aliique finitimarum aliarum regionum quam plurimi Lesmoriam convenirent.
Morini tells in elegant verse of the same influx of students to Lismore
from most of the countries of Europe.
Celeres, vastissima Rheni
Jam vada Teutonici, jam deseruere Sicambri;
Mittit ab extremo gelidos Aquilone Boemos,
Albis et Arverni coeunt, Batavique frequentes
Et quique colunt alta sub rupe Gebennas ...
Certatim hi properant diverso tramite ad urbem
Lesmoriam, juvenis primos ubi transigit annos.
[334]
Ille terrarum mihi praeter omnes
Angulus ridet, ubi non Hymetto
Mella decedunt, viridique certat
Bacca Venafre.
Ver ubi longum, tepidasque praebet
Jupiter brumas, et amicus Aulon
Fertili Baccho minimum Falernis
Invidet uvis.
[335] See _Salamanca MS._, page 931.
[336] Such is Colgan's opinion; but Skene's opinion is more probable, that
Jarnlach was abbot of the Scottish Lismore. Colman was probably abbot for
40 years.
[337] See _Opera_ Ed., Giles, p. 94. He says that the English swarmed to
the Irish Schools like bees, whilst the great School of Canterbury was by
no means overcrowded.
[338] He is called Mailduf by Bede; but it is merely another way of
rendering the Irish name--_Maeldubh_. Bede calls Malmesbury _Maildufi
urbem_, that is, Mailduf's-bury, contracted afterwards into Malmesbury.
William of Malmesbury describes it as founded by _Meildulf_. "Natione
Scotus, eruditusque philosophus, professione monachus." See Lanigan, Vol.
iii., p. 100.
[339] See _Christian Inscriptions_. Vol. ii., p. 31.
[340] _Christian Inscriptions._ Vol. ii., p. 118.
[341] See _Lectures on MS. Materials_.
[342] "The Lives of Saints from the Book of Lismore" have been lately
(1890) edited and translated into English by Dr. Whitley Stokes, and
issued from the Clarendon Press at Oxford. The "Lives" are preceded by an
elaborate critical Preface on the language and matter of the text. There
is also a very complete Glossary of all the Irish words in the volume. The
Dialogue has also been recently published in the _Silva Gadelica_ by Mr.
S. H. O'Grady.
[343] Liber iii. c. 27. "Erant (in Hibernia) eo tempore multi nobilium
simul et mediocrium de gente Angelorum ... quos omnes Scoti libentissime
suscipientes victum eis quotidianum sine pretio, libros quoque ad
legendum, et magisterium gratuitum praebere curabant."
[344] Mr. Caulfield seems to think that Loch Irce was the lake since
called Gougane Barra: but such does not seem to have been Colgan's
opinion. See _Life of St. Barre_, page iv.
[345] Father Lyons says the name is derived from its being a 'shaky' place
in St. Finbarr's time.
[346] London, 1864. There is an _Irish Life_ in the Book of Lismore.
[347] See 25th Sept.
[348] See _Vita S. Davidis_, Lectio vi., p. 394. Rolls Series, Vol. iii.
[349] This clearly shows that Loch Eirce was at Cork, not in the mountains
at Gougane Barra, _for they rest with Finbarr_.
[350] In the _Annals of Ulster_ the death of Diarmaid and Blathmac, sons
of Aedh Slaine, is marked both at A.D. 664 and 667; the former is the true
date.
[351] _Acta SS._, page 471.
[352] It is not easy to see how Fachtna could have visited the School of
Cork, for he died young, and the school could scarcely be founded before
the last quarter of the sixth century.
[353] _Acta SS._, page 471.
[354] See _Acta SS._, page 607, _Life of St. Talmach_.
[355] See the Paper by the Rev. Thomas Olden (in the Proceedings of the
Royal Irish Academy, Jan., 1884), who gives the text and a translation of
this geographical poem of Mac Cosse.
[356] Book I., c. xv.
[357] _Martyr. Doneg._ April 13th.
[358] Others say he was Kennedy, son of Maenag. Becnait, daughter of Cian,
was his mother.
[359] "Alio autem tempore ratis fabricatus est in insula apud S. Finanum,
et missum est ab eo ad regem stagni Lein, scilicet Fedelmith, ut
portaretur secum ratis." ... "Et portaverunt ratem secum (angeli) super
stagnum Lugdech."
[360] _History of Kerry_, p. 100.
[361] It contains about two acres, and is called Church Island. The ruins
of both church and cell are still to be seen on the island.
[362] The original entry may still be seen in the _Book of Armagh_, as
follows: "Sanctus Patricius iens ad caelum mandavit totum fructum laboris
sui tam baptismi tam causarum quam elemoisinarum deferendum esse
apostolicae urbi quae Scotice nominatur Ardd-Macha. Sic reperi in
Bibliothecis Scotorum. Ego scripsi, id est, Calvus Perennis in conspectu
Briain imperatoris Scotorum et quod scripsi finivit pro omnibus regibus
Maceriae."
[363] _Lectures_, MS. Materials, p. 77. Though Anmchara generally means
confessor, it sometimes means counsellor. It is applied to the Angel
Victor by the scholiast on Fiacc's Hymn.
[364] In a letter to Thomas Wright, 15th Jan., 1803.
[365] That is, 'Cloyne of the Caves.'
[366] Lough Lein is written Loch Leighinn in an old MS., and the natives
of the district explain the word as the Lake of Learning.
[367] There is no foundation for O'Halloran's statement that Mungret was
founded before the time of St. Patrick.
[368] Aubrey de Vere.
[369] _The Feast of Knock Cae._
[370] On this passage Dr. M'Carthy has kindly sent me the following
note:--
That is: do not refuse what is offered, but dispense what you do not
require for your own needs: ask not, but accept what is proffered, without
being vainglorious thereat, or without concealing the benefaction (in
order to hoard it without incurring the censure of being avaricious).
The metre is heptasyllabic, each line ending in a word of three syllables.
Its name is _Casbairdne_.
The chief Old-Irish form is _ragabae_==_ro-a-gabae_: that is, the relative
pronoun a (them) is placed (infixed) between the verbal particle ro and
the verb--_them you shall accept_. A mediæval forger could not have coined
an expression of the kind.
Plainly, the quatrain embodied a _rule_ of the monastery of Nessan; for
most of their regulations were embodied in verse, being thus easier to be
remembered.
[371] Nessan is expressly named amongst the saints of the Second Order;
if, indeed, it be Nessan of Mungret who is referred to.
[372] The _Psaltair of Cashel_ is quoted for this statement, but that work
no longer exists; Keating, however, saw it.
[373] The remains of a smaller, but later church, are still to be seen a
little to the south of the older and larger building.
[374] Sneidhius of Disert Diarmada was Cormac's principal tutor.
[375] See the Rev. Denis Murphy in the _Journal of the R. H. A. A._, for
July, 1889.
[376] See _Life of St. Fintan_ in this work, p. 399.
[377] The ruins of a mediæval monastery may still be seen at Terryglass;
and a beautiful new church has been lately erected through the munificence
of Colonel Hickie of Slevoir, at a cost to him of nearly £10,000.
[378] This anchorite, who died in A.D. 898, is called Cosgraich. He dwelt
in the round tower, which on that account is sometimes call Cosgraich's
tower.
[379] "_Wars of the Gael_," page 139.
[380] "Qui Propheta in scholis illiset etiam Sanctorum Hiberniae
habebatur." _Vita._
[381] Ad gurgitem Ruyad, perhaps Ballyshannon.
[382] See Gilbert's _National Manuscripts_, Vol. i., page 21.
[383] See Skene's _Celtic Scotland_, Introduction, page 3.
[384] _Bede_, Liber iii., C. v.
[385] See _Irish Ecclesiastical Record_, for April, 1887.
[386] Bede, _Eccles. Hist._, Book iv., c. 4.
[387] A.D. 644, "Navigatio Colmain episcopi cum reliquis Scotorum ad
insulam Vaccae Albae in quâ fundavit ecclesiam." _Ch. Scotorum._
[388] They say he came in the year in which Diarmait and Blathmac died;
that is, in A.D. 664, according to the first entry.
[389] See the _Four Masters_, the second entry in the _Annals of Ulster_
A.D. 667, and _Tighernach_, who has it in A.D. 668.
[390] See also O'Hanlon's _Lives of the Saints_.
[391] Clare was a part of Connaught, at least at an earlier date.
[392] Bede, _Eccles. Hist._, Book.
[393] See Reeves' _Adamnan_, 378.
[394] See _Brady_, Vol. ii., p. 134.
[395] See Theiner, _Vet. Mon._, page 4.
[396] See Theiner. _Vet. Mon._, p. 2.
[397] See _Acta Sanctorum_, pp. 308-310.
[398] _Martyr. of Donegal_, page 349.
[399] _Annals of Ulster_, page 467.
[400] See _Loca Patriciana_, page 474.
[401] O'Donovan says it is another form of "Tuaim da Ghualann."
[402] In like manner Bishop O'Cattan is described in the previous year as
High-bishop of Ferns, as there was as yet no Archbishop of Dublin.--See
_Four Masters_, A.D. 1135.
[403] The ancient poem ascribed to Ængus Cele De, and quoted by Colgan
from the _Saltair na Rann_, describes the Siol Briuin of Roscommon as
under the patronage of Ciaran of Clonmacnoise.
[404] See _Cambrensis Eversus_, Vol. ii., p. 786.
[405] See O'Hart's _Pedigrees_, page 556.
[406] _Round Towers_, page 317.
[407] _Round Towers_, page 317.
[408] Wilde's _Lough Corrib_, pages 179, 180.
[409] _Early Christian Art_, by Miss Stokes, page 109.
[410] See _Christian Inscriptions_, Vol. ii., page 129.
[411] See _Christian Inscriptions_, Vol. ii., page 129.
[412] See _Pro. Roy. I. Ac._, vii., p. 514.
[413] See Dr. Monaghan's _Records_, p. 354.
[414] "Protulit in lucem quem mater Hibernia primum, instituit, docuit,
nutrivit ... amavit."--_Poemata._
[415] "Hic pater et pastor, humilis doctusque sacerdos corpore Virgilius
pausat, quem Hibernia tellus, Disponente Deo, partes direxit in istas,"
etc.
[416] Virgilius et Sidonius religiosi viri apud Bojoarium provinciam
degentes, suis apud nos litteris usi sunt, per quas intimaverunt quod tua
reverenda paternitas eis injungeret Christianos denuo baptizare.
Sanctissme frater, si is qui baptizavit, non errorem introducens aut
heresim sed pro sola ignorantia Romanae locutionis infringendo linguam
baptizans dixisset ut supra fati sumus, non possumus consentire ut denuo
baptizentur.
[417] There is very good reason to believe that Boniface though born in
England, was himself of Irish origin. See _Irish Eccles. Record_ for 1884,
pages 115, 190.
[418] "Malignatur adversum te pro eo quod confundebatur a te, erroneum se
esse a Catholica doctrina."
[419] "Immissiones faciens Ottiloni duci Bojoariorum ut odium inter te et
illum seminaret."
[420] "Quod a nobis esset absolutus."
[421] "Quod alius mundus et alii homines sub terra sint et sol et luna."
See _Epistola_ xi. Zachariae ad Bonifacium, Migne's edition, page 943.
[422] "De perversa autem et iniqua doctrina ejus, qui contra Deum et
animam suam locutus est; _si clarificatum fuerit_ ita eum confiteri quod
alius mundus et alii homines sub terra sint, seu sol et luna, hunc, habito
concilio, ab ecclesia pelle sacerdotii honore privatum."[A]
[A] See Zachary's letter to Boniface loco citato.
[423] It was while building this church that the saint so paid his men,
that none of them could take out of the money-bag (pelle) more than his
labours entitled him to. See the _Lessons_ on the saint's Feast.
[424] The epitaph on the saint's tomb in St. Peter's Abbey is worth
transcribing:--
"Hic pater et pastor humilis doctusque sacerdos
Corpore Virgilius pausat, quem _Hibernia tellus_
Disponente Deo partes direxit in istas,
Quique regebat ovans praesentis culmina sedis
Ferme quater denos, caris cum fratribus annos
A quibus ille et amatus erat, pie quos et amavit.
Interim et extruxit pulchro molimine multa
Templa, loco quaedam nunc cernuntur in isto
Insuper et miseris largus, simul omnibus aptus,
Pro quo, quisquis legis versus orare memento."
[425] See _Haddan and Stubbs_, Vol. ii., part i., page 7.
[426] "Sedulius Episcopus Britanniæ de genere Scotorum, huic constituto a
nobis promulgato subscripsi."--_Labb._ vi., 1458.
[427] _Four Masters._
[428] _Palaeographia Graeca_, iii.
[429] See Professor Stokes' _Celtic Church_, page 226.
[430] "Quid Hiberniam memorem, contempto pelagi discrimine, pene toto cum
grege philosophorum ad littera nostra migrantem," "concrepantibus," says
William of Malmesbury, "undique belli fragoribus."
[431] "Non ita sum territus auctoritate, aut minus capacium animorum
expavesco impetum, ut ea quæ vera ratio clare colligit indubitanterque
definit aperta fronte pronuntiare confundar, praesertim cum de talibus non
nisi inter sapientes tractandum sit, quibus nil suavius est ad audiendum
vera ratione, nil delectabilius ad investigandum, quando quæritur, nil
pulchrius ad contemplandum quando invenitur."
[432] We can only quote the headings:--
1. Quod una tantum sit prædestinatio Dei.
2. Quod liberum hominis arbitrium per gratiam sanetur.
3. Quod Deus omnes homines velit salvos fieri.
4. Quod Christus pro omnibus hominibus passus sit.
The opponents of these propositions could not be orthodox.
[433] As, for instance, when he says--"Spiritualiter enim Christum
immolamus, et intellectualiter eum mente, non dente, comedimus." Scotus
meant spiritualiter et realiter in the same sense precisely as St.
Augustin used similar words to the exclusion of the carnal revolting
meaning of the Capharnaites.
[434] See Dean Cogan's _Diocese of Meath_, Vol. i., page 58.
[435] See _Dictionary of Christian Biography_, Arts. 'Sigebert' and
'Dagobert,' and the authorities there cited.
[436] Book iii., chapters iv. and xxvii.
[437] See _Bohn's_ Edition, page 163.
[438] Was this the "Colman of the Britons" mentioned in the _Additions to
Tirechan_? See Stokes' _Tripartite_, Vol. ii., page 341.
[439] _Bede_, Book iii., c. 13.
[440] Agilbert may have been consecrated bishop in Ireland. The following
are the words of Bede:--
"Venit in provinciam de Hibernia pontifex quidam nomine Agilberctus,
natione quidem Gallus, sed tunc legendarum gratia Scripturarum in Hibernia
non parvo tempore demoratus ... cujus eruditionem atque industriam videns
rex rogavit eum, accepta ibi (in Wessex) sede episcopali, suae genti
manere pontificem."--_Haddan and Stubbs_, Vol. iii., p. 91.
[441] By A. G. Richey in the _Introduction_, for which he declares himself
alone responsible. Vol. iv., c. vii.
[442] Vol. iv., page 355.
[443] Vol. iv., page 361.
[444] See O'Curry. _Lectures_, page 240.
[445] See _Senchus Mor_, p. 231.
[446] See O'Curry, Lecture iii., Vol. ii., p. 53.
[447] _Annals of Innisfallen_, anno 1127.
[448] Keating.
[449] See _Lectures on MS. Materials_.
[450] _Acta SS._, page 5.
[451] See _Acta SS._, page 5, n. x.
[452] Fol. 58, b. a.
[453] _Manuscript Materials_, Lecture iii., page 53, and _Manners and
Customs_, Vol. ii., pages 90-178.
[454] _Irish Writers_, page xlvii. to page lxxxv.
[455] See O'Curry, page 29.
[456] The "Tain-Quest" in the _Lays of the Western Gael_.
[457] Page 221.
[458] O'Donovan's _Four Masters_, A.D. 891--note.
[459] _Annals of Ulster_, A.D. 974 and 663.
[460] See page 24 of this present work.
[461] See O'Curry's _Lectures_, p. 521.
[462] See O'Reilly, page lxiv.
[463] Its Irish title is _Cogadh Gaedhil re Gallaibh_.
[464] See page 51.
[465] See page 117.
[466] It was this narrative that inspired Moore's beautiful lyric--"Rich
and Rare."
[467] _Manners and Customs_, Vol. ii., page 138.
[468] The _Annals of Lough Cé_, A.D. 1024.
[469] _Annals of Ulster_ and _Four Masters_.
[470] Chapter II., page 21.
[471] _Brehon Laws_, Vol. iii., p. 89.
[472] _Grammatica_, p. xxxiv.
[473] "Lingua formis suis, et regulis certis, circumscripta."
[474] See O'Curry's Lectures--_Manners and Customs_--Vol. ii., p. 154.
[475] _Lectures_, Vol. i., p. 53.
[476] Lectures--_Manners and Customs_--Vol. ii., page 157.
[477] _Tripartite_, Rolls Series, Vol. ii., page 530.
[478] Vol. ii., page 349.
[479] O'Curry, _M. & C._--Vol. ii., p. 33.
[480] The earliest authority we know for the first part of this title is
the ancient author of St. Alban's Life:--"In hac insula tot viri eximiae
sanctitatis fuerunt quod _Insula Sanctorum_ nomine appropriato dicebatur."
The corresponding Irish form was _Inis na Naomh_. Marianus Scotus, in his
Chronicle, also calls it by the same title--Insula Sanctorum--under date
of the year 696, but which is really A.D. 589. See Reeves' notes in the
_Ulster Journal of Archæology_, vol. vii., p. 228.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
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Transcriber's Notes:
Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_.
Footnote 250 appears on page 306 of the text, but there is no
corresponding marker on the page.
The original text includes Gaelic characters that are represented as
[Gaelic] in this text version.
End of Project Gutenberg's Insula Sanctorum et Doctorum, by John Healy