No More Learning

58 Such providential manifestations are
imaginary
saint " has a name which "does
34 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
senttohisparents'house,eachmorningandevening. 57 Withthemilkof
this animal, the child was nourished. It was not known, whence the animal
came, or whither she went, at other times ; but, two large vessels of milk
wereobtainedfromhereachday. Thiscircumstancecausednolittledegree
of interest to be excited in the neighbourhood, regarding that child, in whose
favour such wonders were wrought. 38 In the shorter Acts of our saint, it is
said, that his parents lived in this place, for two years. When Coemgen
attained sufficient age, he was employed in tending, with other shepherds, the
sheep of his parents. While thus employed, some poor persons one day
came to him, and stated, from an account heard regarding his sanctity, they
hoped he would afford them some relief. In the presence of certain persons,
the holy youth delivered four sheep to those paupers. When evening came,
and the flock had been counted over, still it was found, that the number of
sheep remained complete. Thus, it would appear, the Almighty wished to
reward this charity of his servant, and to avert all blame from him, because
of his great liberality. Coemgen felt greatly strengthened in the love of God,
after this occurrence. 3! ? It is that when seven of 6° our saint stated, years age,
was sent by his parents to receive a literary and religious training from a holy
man called 61 who was a Briton Petrocus,
by havinglefthispaternalkingdom,Petrocus62embracedamonasticlife. About
A. D. 498,^ he is said to have been distinguished for sanctity, in Ireland.
his parents, many miracles were wrought through him. These are not written, it is alleged, so that thus his biographer might sooner arrive at those incidents, con- nectedwithoursaint'smorematureage. Seeingsomanyindicationsofsanctity in their son, the boy's parents placed him under direction of three holy men,
which
The writer of Kevin's Life says, that while his youth was spent in the house of
Here,
he remained for
twenty years,
expired
who dwelt in a cell. 65 Guided
these venerable
66 who were
his studies with the
6? 68 and Eogoin, Lochan,
Enna,
69 our saint
celebrated Irish saints, as appear from their various Acts.
siarum Antiquitates," p. 526.
65 The locality is not specified.
66 Harris calls them "
59 See ibid. , num.
3, 4, p 312.
Dogain, Lochan,
by
seniors, prosecuted
named,
"
often related, in reference to the infancy of Chronologicus. See Britannicarum Eccle-
60 At a. d. dv. See Ussher's " Britanni- and yEneas or Enna. " Harris Ware, vol. i. ,
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index " Bishops of Glendaloch," p. 373. Dogain
Chronologicus, p. 524. is probably a misprint for Eogain. Arch-
61
See ibid. , cap. xiv. , p. 292. Having dall copies this mistake, in his notice of
spoken regarding this Petrocus, and the time he remained in Ireland, Ussher afterwards adds to his account concerning this holy
Glendalogh. See "Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 765.
6
? Baert observes, that among many bear- ing this name, the Eugenius or Eogain, here spoken of, appears to have been one, num- bered among the disciples of a St. Fintan,
Briton's residence in Ireland :
"
Quo tem-
pore S. Coemgenum sive Keyvinum, Glin- delacensem postea Abbatem (de que in xvii.
capite erit dicendum) a septimo usque ad afterwards Bishop of Ardstra. However, as duodecimum aetatis annum, in Uteris ac Sanc- this saint flourished beyond the middle of the
tis moribus ab eo fuisse — Vitse sixth institutum, century,
he is not to be considered a
Coemgeni scriptor memorat. " See ibid. , Addenda qusedam omissa, p. 506.
62
His feast occurs, at the 4th of June, at which day, his Life is given in this Volume, Art. ii.
vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, x. , n. 150, p. 48. of Colgan, it is impossible to discover, if 64 According to Ussher, in his Index the person here mentioned beoneof them.
63 However, according to Dr. Lanigan, it
is probable, that Ussher's chief reason for
assigning Petrocus' term in Ireland, between
the dates he mentions, was because, St.
Kevin is said to have been his scholar. See
his "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," many Lochans mentioned, in both tomes
birth. He lived as a and hermit,
in a. d. 6* 5i8.
senior in respect of age, but rather, on ac- count of his office ; for, as St. Kevin is said to have been born in 498, the age of Eogoin could not have been very advanced, unless as Baert remarks, we are willing to assign very extraordinary ages to Saints Fintan and Eugenius, such as we find attributed to St. Kevin himself.
68
This master is called Lochran, in the Sal- mancan Manuscript. Although there are
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 35
greatest diligence. A local tradition has it, that St. Kevin lived near Bray,7° inthecountyofWicklow,beforehewenttoGlendalough. Nothingisdis-
tinctly known regarding Eogoin, Lochan and Enna, although it may fairly be supposed, they lived not very far distant from the home of St. Kevin's
We are told, shortly after this period, and in the bloom of youth, that our
saint was greatly distinguished for his comely appearance. While engaged at work, with the brethren of his cell, the young novice was one day seen by a youthful and beautiful maiden. She then conceived a particular affection forhim. Atfirst,thisfemalebegantomanifestgreatfriendshiptowardsour saint ; but, dissembling her real object for some time, she endeavoured to engage the love of this holy youth, by her looks, her words, and sometimes, by her messages. However, Kevin rejected these several advances. Thus baffled and disappointed, the maiden sought an opportunity, and found him alone. The brethren being at work in the wood, Kevin separated from them. Soon was he found in a solitude by that young female, who had followed the band of workmen. Seizing an opportunity, that now presented itself, she approached our holy youth. With words of affection, and with blandish- ments, capable of overcoming one less firmly resolved, she sought to tempt him from that course of life, he had voluntarily embraced. But, Kevin,
aiming himself with a sign of the cross, and being filled with the graces of the
Holy Spirit, at once fled from the maiden's solicitations. He sought conceal-
ment within a wood. Here, the pious youth buried himself among some
nettles. Yet, having discovered his place of concealment, the girl followed
him thither, when binding a bundle of nettles, our saint repelled her further
advances,bystrikingherseveraltimeswiththem. 73 Thesenettlesstungher
severely. 74 In fine, she became repentant, for indulging her former thoughts.
Prostrate on her knees, she asked pardon from God, and from the saint.
Kevin offered up his prayers for her. Afterwards, she promised to dedicate
hervirginitytoGod,andinpresenceofhisservantKevin. Atthismoment,
the brethren coming up were in admiration, at what they had heard and seen.
The maiden modestly related, what had taken place before their arrival : and,
on learning this, the brethren were more confirmed in their love for holy purity.
Thenceforward, that female became distinguished for great prudence and
sanctity. During the whole of her subsequent life, she diligently observed the wise and holy admonitions of blessed Kevin. 75
church still exists.
1 This event of our saint's life is said to have occurred in his twelfth
parents. ?
year, and consequently, assuming the earliest chronology, about A. D. 510. 7
2
" By that Lake, whose gloomy shore Skylark never warbles o'er,
Where the cliff hangs high and
steep,
Young St. Kevin stole to sleep, "&c.
"Poetical Works," vol. iii. , Irish Melodies, 7 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical p. 294.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. 74 There is, indeed, very little similarity
x. , n. 151, p. 48. between the principal circumstances, related 2
** The history of Enna, Eanna, or ^Eneas, is not known further, from any available
"
Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. i. , n. (g),
source. See
Junii iii.
p. 313.
7° Even the site is shown, where a ruined —
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
1"
7 According to Ussher's Index Chronolo- in the prose Life of St. Kevin, and in the
"
gicus, in
quitates," p. 525. Baert tells us, the histo- riun of the British Churches had this account
''
from the
73 A reader of the
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
poetical legend. Nevertheless, the account furnished in the text, is the only narrative found in St. Kevin's published Acts, that would account for the origin of a popular tradition, connected with "St. Kevin's
Bed," over the lake of Glendalough.
75 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Acta Breviora. "
will perhaps call to mind, that local legend re- garding St. Kevin, which Moore has wedded
foregoing passage
to immortal — and which commences verse,
with these lines
iii. Vita S.
Junii Coemgeni, cap. i. ,
p. 312.
num.
5,
:
36
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
There is a local tradition, that when St. Kevin resolved on retir- ing from the world, to commence his religious course of life, he selected for such a purpose, that retired and deep valley, now known as Lug-
6 Whether this was the place of his noviceship or not is unknown, gela. ?
but it seems to be sufficiently probable. ? ? It must be observed, accord-
ing to the peasantry living near the district of Lough Tay, county of 8
Wicklow, St. Kevin is said to have founded a monastery,? in the upper part of this romantic valley, before he retired to Glendalough. The site of this cell or monastery is yet pointed out, on a delightful spot, adjoining the
^wosgS\K^
Ruins at Luggela, County of Wicklow.
watersofLoughTay,wheretheAnnamoeRiverentersit, andonthatbeau-
tiful lawn, extending in front of Luggala Lodge. Hardly a vestige of the old building now remains. 7^ A shapeless pile of stones, just rising over the
76 There are some beautiful illustrations of Luggelaw and its adjoining Lough Dan in
"
: its Character," &c, vol. ii. , pp. 207 to 211. These pictures, however, only convey a very
partial glimpse of many lovely scenes, in connection with those romantic spots.
" The pure-minded Gerald Griffin has
"
And virgin saints and holy men The Vesper song were singing,
Poetical and Dramatic Works," p. l,et From the construction of this narrative, and from his beautiful tale, "The Rivals," Gerald Griffin would seem to have learned in Luggelaw the legend there current, and as related to the present writer on the spot,
in June, 1855.
78
to the
leen—as the maiden of story is called—first
made advances to St. Kevin, when he had resolved to establish his hermitage, in this romantic valley. But, it is said, he then stole away to Glendalough, in order to hide
Mr. and Mrs. Hall's,
Ireland
And downthe sweetly
The Fate of Cathleen," founded on the well- known Wicklow legend, and referring to St. Kevin. It contai—ns 56 stanzas, commencing
written a metrical romance, entitled,
with these lines
:
" In Luggelaw's deep-wooded vale The summer eve was dying ;
On lake and cliff, and rock and dale A lulling calm was lying ;
According
popular story,
Kath-
Scenery,
rocky glen The Vesper bell was ringing. "
—"
seq.
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 37 earth, and grass-covered mounds, mark the site of a former religious edifice,
which this exact undoubtedly occupied
8° The
people
of
Luggela neigh-
spot.
bourhoodsupposedit aprofanation,todestroyanyofthosebranches,thatgrew
within the ruins of St. Kevin's deserted hermitage, and that some evil must
be sure to await such offender. 81 The local traditions 82 leave a any hardly
doubt on the enquiring mind, that at one period of his life, St. Kevin hal- lowed this lone dell with his presence and prayers. 83 The scenery around possesses features of the most magnificent and romantic character. Even in a district of country, unrivalled for the grandeur and loveliness of its varied landscapes, no more appropriate or fascinating spot could be selected, for the quiet hermitage of an ascetic or a contemplative. One day, our saint was told to go into a wood near the cell, and in company with a namesake, known as Coemgen, the senior. This latter told our saint, to bring fire into the wood, for some purpose required by the brethren. His orders, however, were forgotten and neglected. When they had come to that place, where he wished it to be kindled, the senior Coemgen 8 * asked, where was the fire. Then, St.
Coemgen junior declared he had forgotten the mandate. The
seniorcriedout " run : Brother,
and St. Kevinasked,inwhatmannerheshouldbearit, whenhisseniorrather
himself from her visits. Discovering his re- treat once more, that tragic incident—so beautifully versified by Moore in his Irish Melodies—afterward is stated to have oc- curred.
79 In May, 1886, the accompanying illus- tration was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, who afterwards transferred it to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
80
the effect. The romancist or archaeologist would have no reason to fell displeased, if Mr. Latouche's statements had the result of preserving from desecration any vestige of these time-hallowed ruins or their sylvan accessories. It is very probable, that many legends, connected with this place and with the valley of Glendalough, are merely mo- dern inventions of the guides, who, by these stories, endeavour to cater for the amuse-
quickly
forthe
itwith
you. "
bring
hastily answered :
placed a burning torch, as we are told, with some live coals, in his bosom,
"
In your bosom. " Then, going to the kitchen, Kevin thus literally observing the senior's mandate. Coming towards him, the young
novice threw this on the fire,
of his 8s Not superior.
in the
alone his flesh, but even his garments, seemed to suffer no injury. When the
ground,
presence
At a time, it was first visited by the
writer, in June, 1855, several large and ment of strangers and tourists, delighting in spreading trees, with tangled thickets of this species of lore.
hawthorn, surrounded the place, and these
added greatly to the lonely, secluded posi-
tion of the ruins. During a visit made in
May, 1886, the thorns had been cleared
away, and only the fine trees growing tertain a belief, that St. Kevin only com- around it were to be seen.
81
mer of 1855, by a local guide, that the re-
menced the building of a monastery at this place, when his retreat was discovered by Kathleen of the legend.
It was stated to the writer, in the sum-
84 In the Salmancan Manuscript, this Latouche, using an axe to clear away some senior is called Braitdiucus, and nothing
spected proprietor of Luggela Lodge, Mr.
of the brambles, had personal experience, regarding the truth of this legend. A thorn
more is found regarding him, in any accessi- ble accounts. In the " Acta Breviora," this miracle is said to have occurred, when our saint was under the tuition of St. Petrocus. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. , Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. i. , n. (h), p. 313.
85 It is probably, in this sense, his name of Coemgen Senior is to be understood.
86 the correct reading may be Perhaps,
Petrocus, born in Cambria, and who was one of St. Kevin's preceptors. See Bishop Tanner's " Bibliotheca Britannico-Hiber- nica," &c, p. 594.
87 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
on rebounding nearly deprived him of sight. He was said to be a firm believer, in the certainty of retribution attending Vandalic acts of this nature, nor would he allow any person afterwards to meddle with that thicket. A probability is, the gentleman in question amused himself at the
expense his tenantry's and dependants' credulity, by giving circulation to the circumstance, which may well have happened, without at all trenching on the supernatural, or even on the marvellous, whatever might have been
of
fire,
*2
to the influx of fashionable tourists, towards this magic region.
These date back to a period, long prior
83 The pesaantry of the neighbourhood en-
38 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
: seniorCoemgen86witnessedthismiracle,hecriedout "Oholyyouth,Isee
that thou are full of the Holy Ghost, and that thou oughtest to rule over our
saint " It must be an absurd supposi- replied :
The
tion, that reverend old men should serve under the rule of a foolish young
community. "
youthful
man tell this occurrence to no The senior said ; but, person. "
:
" Now, it
is more proper, that thou be set over others, than that thou shouldst be
under a superior. Truly, a day must come, when all of us and our place shall be subject to thee. " The senior then related such a miraculous occur- rence to Kevin's superiors, and to all the brethren. This, however, dis- pleased our saint, and it gave him much inquietude. His resolution was soonformed. Asalonewanderer,hetookhisdeparturefromamongthem.
adesert 8? toseekamorecon- country,
Hethen far journeyed
and
venient retreat for practices of austerity and contemplation.
through
off,
MIGRATION OF ST. KEVIN TO GLENDALOUGH, WHERE HE LEADS THE LIFE OF A HERMIT —DISCOVERED THERE, AND BROUGHT TO THE MONASTERY OF SAINTS EOGAIN, LOCHAN AND ENNA—MIRACLES—HE VISITS THE HERMIT BEOAN AND BISHOP LUGID—HE ENTERS THE MONASTERY OF THIS LATTER PRELATE, BY WHOM HE WAS ORDAINED —HE AFTERWARDS LIVES IN A CELL AT CLUAINDUACH—HE NEXT PROCEEDS WITH SOME MONKS TO GLENDALOUGH, WHERE HE FOUNDS A MONASTERY—ITS PROBABLE SITE—HE ESTABLISHES OTHER SUBJECT COMMUNITIES—HIS CELL AT DISERT CAUGHIN OR TEAMPUL NA SCELLIG—TEMPTED BY THE DEMON TO LEAVE HIS PLACE, BUT DISSUADED FROM FOLLOWING THAT COURSE BY THE MONKS OF ST. COMGALL.
During his wanderings, through the rugged and desert regions met with, in the county of Wicklow, St. Kevin one day entered that singularly romantic valley, lying embosomed in the midst of lofty and precipitous mountains. Within this secluded valley were two distinct lakes, which are connected by astreamrunningfromtheUpperintotheLowerLough. Thesereflectthe dark shadows of overhanging mountains, even when a noontide sun pours its rays over the waters. But, at morning's dawn and evening's close, no gleam of sunshine spreads its cheering effulgence over their surface, on account of the natural barriers, within which those waters are pent. The scene likewise
CHAPTER II.
from that of the rocks and mountains. 1 The whole over-topping
changes,
valley of Glendalough is fully three miles in length, with an average width of about one quarter of a mile. The near mountains bounding it are Brockagh
and Coomaderry, on the north, with Derrybawn and LugdufT, on the south side. Towards the west, Coomaderry and Lugduff mountains join, the latter
forming steep precipices over the Upper Lake. The whole valley has that appearance of monastic retirement and religious awe, which have peculiarly
2
fitted it, as a retreat for holiness and learning, from the earliest Christian ages. Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. i. , n. 6, the ancient city of St. Kevin. "—Vol. iii. ,
pp. 312,313. — No. 17, p. 243.
Chapter
contributed by William F. Wakeman, and
*2
"The Ilis- tory and Antiquities of Glendalough," by headed, " A Day at Glendalough," as pub- Joseph Nclan, F. R. G. S. I. , cap. i. , p. 9.
11. In an
interesting article,
See an little interesting
book,
iished in Duffy's "Hibernian Magazine,"
this writer remarks, " we find ourselves, as
it were, shut out from the rest of the world,
by huge gloomy mountains, the sides of cuts,
which, in many places, actually overhang 3 See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland: its
There is a good compendium of narrative and
of architectural description, regarding this remarkable place, in it, with a few wood-
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 39
In some parts, the surrounding mountains are bare of verdure to the very
summit, or covered with huge projecting masses of rock, among which descending rivulets foam and revel ; in other places, they are crowned with sable peat sods or brown heather. This valley is said to have been anciently called (xleand De, in the Irish language, and at a subsequent period, it was
denominatedGleanndaloch. Thislatter " compound word^ signifies,
of the two Lakes. "3
valley
Admiring its scenery, St. Kevin penetrated the depths of this lonely place. He proceeded towards the upper part, where the lake is buried within over- topping mountains, and where it extends from one side to the other, with
found that wild spot a perfect solitude ; yet, he left it, in after time, peopled with a pious colony of monks, and numerous inhabitants, the nucleus of a
5 Near the
saint dwelt for some time, in the hollow of a tree, and here he led a most
a accessible to human hardly margin
4 In the
the hoary ruins now to be seen there had not any material existence, and he
flourishing
religious city.
upper lough,
it would our appear,
austere life.
footstep.
youth
of St.
Kevin,
and
He seldom went forth, from his confined place of habitation,
except for the purpose of collecting a few wild herbs. These he chiefly
lived upon, and he only used a little water for drink. 6 While here, it is
stated, that he wrote several learned works, and particularly a Life of St.
Patrick $ but, if so, these treatises are most probably assignable to a later
period of his career. While in this retreat, the shepherd of a certain man, who
was named By, had been accustomed to bring his herd to pasture on particu-
lar days, and within that valley, where St. Kevin lived as a hermit. The
Almighty, as if to disclose his servant's seclusion, and to draw him from that
place of retirement, caused a cow, belonging to liy's herd, to wander each
day towards that hollow tree, in which our saint dwelt. This animal would
frequentlylickSt. Kevin'sgarments. Atthecloseofeachday,sheheard
the lowing of other cattle, returning from their pasturage, and from the dark
deep waters of the lake, with the loud shouts of herdsmen reverberating
through the mountains and valleys, while conducting their herds homeward;
then, this animal speedily rejoined the herd, and she proceeded with her
hornedcompanions. Sheappearedtobesatisfiedwithverymeagrefare. Thus, it happened daily, when the herd had been driven into the valley, that
animal separated herself from the rest. She sought our saint, to lick his gar- ments with her tongue. It was found, however, that she gave an almost incre- diblequantityofmilk. Wonderingatsuchacircumstance,themilkerstoldtheir master, who enquired from his shepherd, what had occurred to account for thiscow'ssuperioryieldofmilk. Theherdsmansaidhecouldnotassignany sufficient reason. He was desired by his master to observe her closely, on the following day, so that the matter might be more fully investigated. The herdsman accordingly committed the charge of his herd to younger boys. He then followed that particular animal wherever she went. It was soon dis- covered, that she took her usual course towards the hollow tree, where St.
Scenery, Character," &c, vol. ii. , p. 214.
4 " Ubi est lacus in angustiori suo fine, inter eacumina montium altissimorum ; sed lacus ad radices eorum a monte usque ad
gazine," for August, 1871, vol. lxxviii. , No. cccclxiv. , pp. 231 to 240. It is, however, considerably spiced by false assumptions, and anti-Catholic prejudice,
—"Acta
Vita S. Coemgeni, cap.
3 A
annalistic account of this remarkable place will be found in an article entitled, '"The
History and Antiquities of Glendaloch," to be met with in the " Dublin University Ma-
6 See "Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
montem constat. " tomus i. , Junii iii.
n.
ii. , 7, p. 313.
Sanctorum,"
i. , Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. ii. , num. 7,
very interesting topographical
and
p. 313.
7 See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 765.
8 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. ii,, n. 8, pp. 313, 314.
4o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
Kevin lived. There, the herdsman observed her licking our saint's garments. Much surprised at this circumstance, he began to drive her way; while, at
the same time, he reproved our saint, and in a clownish manner. Holy Kevin felt greatly displeased at this rencontre, as he feared the rustic should dis- close the place of his retreat. The herdsman drove his cattle homewards, and on coming to their stalls, the cows and calves are said to have become maddened to such a degree, that not knowing each other, the dams seemed about to kill their own calves. On seeing this, the herdsman felt alarmed, and told his master, what he had witnessed in the valley. Owing to special ordersfromhisemployer,theservantreturnedtoSt. Kevin. Fallingonhis knees, this menial besought pardon from God's holy servant. The saint adjured him, not to discover his place of retreat; for, he did not know, that the rustic had already disclosed such a secret. Having obtained the saint's forgiveness, the herd then received water, that had been blessed by St. Kevin. With this, the cows and calves were sprinkled. Then, they became gentle, as they were before, and, immediately, St. Kevin'—s fame was divulged abroad. His former teachers, Eogoin, Lochan, and E—nna hearing that their pupil was to befoundintherecessesofGlendalough broughthimthencetotheirmonas- tery, although this was done, contrary to his own inclinations. 8
One day in autumn, our saint's superiors collected many reapers for their harvest. An abundance of flesh meat and beer had been prepared for these labourers. Havingbeenappointedtoservehisturnforthisday,inthekitchen, a great crowd of pilgrims arrived, and these asked Kevin for food, in the name of Christ. Full of compassion, he entreated the cooks to bestow on these strangers the reapers' food, which had been prepared. St. Eogoin sent to the workmen saying, that they should come to dinner. But, St. Lochan, hearing what had occurred, went to the kitchen. He addressed these words to Kevin : "Ogoodyouth,whathastthoudonewithoutourorders? Therearemany reapers, and they justly deserve a good dinner, for they have wrought a good day's work; and, we would have given other food to the pilgrims. " On hearing this reproach, falling on his knees, the holy youth besought pardon. The pious senior went outside the kitchen. Kevin then closed it, and ordered the attendants to collect all the bones, and to fill with water all those vessels,
which before had contained beer. Afterwards, he desired the cooks to retire,
and then he prayed with great fervour. Immediately, through favour of Heaven, the water is stated to have become wine, while the bones were coveredwithanabundanceofexcellentfleshmeat. Then,callingthechief cook, our saint showed him the miracle, that had taken place. Instantly, the cook hastened with an account of this event, to his pious superiors in the monastery. TheseseniorsglorifiedGod,whoseAlmightypowerwasmani- fested in this miracle, and then they blessed their holy disciple, who had been made an instrument, for procuring such a great abundance of excellent food and drink. Three days in succession, there was a sufficiency for all reapers, pilgrims, and brothers, who remained in the place.
We are told, among the many legends in his Acts, that at another time, our saint went to visit a holy hermit, named Beoan,9 with whom he remained for some days. This hermit had only a single cow.