No More Learning

Such was the man, on whom devolved the noble duty, to defend the cause
oflibertyandlearning; andwhenColumbacametotheassembly,allroseup
toreverenceandwelcomehim. 1? Owingtosomecause,itissaidtheQueen
of Aedh was filled with jealousy, at the veneration manifested towards
Columba and his followers. She secretly ordered her son Connal to insult
and maltreat them, and he obeyed her commands. Now Connal was
regarded as Roydamha or heir-apparent to the sovereignty of Ireland. It so happened, his pavilion was placed near to that of our saint and his com-
panions. The prince urged the boys and subservient persons in his retinue, to deride the strangers, and even to pelt them with sods and stones. Some of Columba's followers sustained severe injuries, and were knocked down to the earth. This was only a subject for sport and laughter among the ill- bred youths. For such an unmerited attack, the saint boldly and unsparingly
110 He also foretold, because of that crime, the prince should be deprived of the
to a and as she had insti- popular legend,
reproached the king's son, and pronounced excommunication against him.
crown and 111 kingdom.
According
gated her son to such acts of violence, the holy abbot asked, that the Queen
might be visited with a temporary affliction, in order to bring her to a true sense of her irreligious conduct. Consequently, she and a maid, who abetted
107 See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' Adam-
"3 This popular rumour was a sufficient theme for the bards ; one of whom, like another Ovid, produced some Irish—lines,
nan's face, p. 9.
McGee's "
"
Life of St. Columba," Second Pre-
108 See Thomas D'
lar History of Ireland," vol. i. , book i. , chap. V. , \>. 30.
which are thus rendered in
111 See "Trias Colgan's
"4 His father was the sovereign of Ire- land, when the famous Convention was held at Drumceat.
"5 In Irish "OpomA CeAcc or t>|\uim
Arcy
Popu-
English astonished at her feathers
l°9SeeRightRev. PatrickF. Moran's A j . ' ,
«
»o On this occasion, St. Columba ordered his companions to ring their hand-bells against Connall, as part of this solemn cere- monial.
. , . , ,, , And W1 h *er maid transform d fre-
Irish Saint! in Great Britain," chapr, iii. , g7
fl quents the flood ;
Thaumaturga," Quinta Acta S. Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. v. ,
p. 431.
*" See Rev. Jeoffrey Keating's "General
History of Ireland, "book ii. , p. 377. Duffy's Ceacc. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adam-
'"
edition, nan's' Life of St. Columba, lib. i. , cap. 49,
u Tfae ctrwl
But whTM
5 esais
she sees a cominS storm
. J , , , ,, ,,
A1 ov th< C uds and kaVeS the
? <: ; ? lowly vales'
'
:
484 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
her improprieties, were afflicted with a loathsome sickness, which confined
them at this crisis, from public view. 112 It was noticed during that whole
interval, two cranes incessantly hovered over a grotto, near a murmuring cas- cade adjacent to the palace, and whither the queen used always to retire. Hence originated a belief among the credulous country people, that the maid and mistress were metamorphosed into cranes. 113
However, Domnald,114 the son of Ayd, was altogether different in disposi-
tion, and while yet but a child, his guardians had brought him to St.
ColumbaatDorsumCette. "5 WhentheholyAbbotapproached,thatprince
received him with great reverence, and gave him the kiss of peace. Domnall
arose from his seat, insisting on Columba taking possession of it. "6 As a re-
ward for his urbanity and reverence shown to the ecclesiastics there, St.
Columb a 11? and him the and pronounced blessing, promised kingly power
sceptre,
118 ofwhichhisbrotherConnallshouldbe Heaskedthem deprived.
onlookingat theboy "Whosesonisthisyouhavebroughtme? ""9 They
:
told him, he was Domnald, son of Ayd, whom they had brought, to the end he might be enriched with the saint's blessing. When the abbot had blessed
" This child shall outlive I2° all his and adjoined : brethren,
he he shall become a
him, presently
famous 121 neither shall he ever be delivered into king ;
very
the hands of his enemies, but he shall in his old age die a quiet and peace- able death I22 within his own house, and surrounded by a circle of his fami-
12
liar friends. 123 All which in due course was fulfilled,
phecy of the holy Abbot. 125
county of Donegal.
n. (a), p. 91, and lib. ii. , cap. 6, n. (b), p. 113.
116 This interview is thus recorded in the ancient Preface to the Amhra Choluim
*' :
126 was
Aedh's
12? where
* according to the pro- In the parish of Drumhome, and townland of
fort
Domhnalldied. "8 ItisnowcalledRacoon,I29 inthebaronyofTirhugh,and
Ballymagrorty,
King
royal
Ard-Fothadh,
King
The cleric went then to the assem- blage of Domhnall, son of Aedh. And Domhnall rose immediately before him, and bade him welcome, and kissed his cheek, and set him down in his own place. "
near Coleraine—in 629. See Rev. Dr.
'*
Reeves'Adamnan's LifeofSt. Columba,"
lib. — more i. , cap. 49,n. (i). Healso,gainedthe
one of —Rath now Moira, important Magh
inthe ofDown A. D. Seealso county 637.
lib. hi. , cap. 5, n. (n), pp. 200, 201.
122 A natural death was of rare occurrence among the sovereigns of Ireland at this
period.
123 Of the twelve kingly successions which
took place, between the birth of St. Co-
lumba and the reign of this Domhnall, only two were unattended by violence.
124 See Walter Brower's edition of Fordun's"Scotichronicon,"vol. i. , lib. iii. , cap. xli. , p. 148. In this place, however, Fordun seems to confound the Irish Prince Domhnall, son of Aedh, with Domhnall brecc, King of Albania, who was killed at the battle of Srait Cairinn, A. D. 641. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ulionienses, p. 48.
Cille
117 The same writer thus continues : "And the Cleric left many blessings on him, viz. , to be ten years in the sovereignty of Ireland ; and victory in battle during that time ; and to fulfil one out of seven of his
John
every pro- mises ; to be a year and a-half in the disease of which he should die ; and to receive the Body of Christ every Sunday during that time. " Such is the substance oi what is found in the Manuscript belonging to Trinity Col- lege, Dublin, and classed H. 2, 16, p. 68 1. The same passage occurs, also, in the sequel to the Irish Life of St. Columba contained in the Highland Society's Manuscript, at fol.
"5 See " Trias Colgan's
12a, b.
1,8 These he afterwards enjoyed, as mon-
arch, for thirteen years.
119 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. io, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e), pp. 36 to 38.
120 His death is recorded in Dr. O'Dono- van's "Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d.
Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita i>. Columbre, lib. iii. , cap. vi. ,
639, rccte, 642. See vol. i. , pp. 256, 257.
121 He won the battle at Dun Ceithern O'Conor's Rerum Hibernicarum
—"
said to be identical with the Giant's Sconce, res," lomus iv. , p. 48. Tigernach has his
P- 43i-
Ia0 See it shown on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Donegal, sheet 103.
127 Called Ardfothaig, by Tigernach.
'
128
Annals of Ulster, A. D. 641. See Rev. Dr.
At the end of January, according to the
Scripto-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 485
The year in which this assembly was held is variously calculated and
set down, at a. d. 558,,3°572,131 573>132 574,133 575134 587,135 andsgo. ^ This ,
last seems to be the true date, according to the best corrected chronology. *37
Though it is referred to by Adamnan,1 *8 and by nearly all the ancient annalists, with whose writings their authors must have been familiar, the Chronicum Sco- torum and the Four Masters make no mention whatever of this celebrated Con- vention or Parliament. This great representative assembly was opened and conductedwithgreatpompandceremony. '39 Itwasattendedbyallthepro- vincial kings, and by all the great chiefs and nobles of the island, while eccle- siasticswerepresentinveryconsiderablenumbers. Tentsandpavilionswere pitched on or around the sides of the hill. Besides Aedh or Hugh, the mon- arch of Ireland, it is stated, there came thither, 140 Criovhhan or Criomhthan I41 Kear, King of Leinster ; Jollan, son of Scanlan, King of Ossory; Maolduin, 142 son of Aodhna, or Hugh Beannain, 1 ^ King of West Munster ; Guaire, King of ClanFiachadh,northandsouth; FirghinorFlorence,sonofAodhnaorHugh Dubh,andgrandsonofCriovhan,orCriomhthan,KingofMunster; Criovhan or Criomhthan Deilgeneach, KingofWest Ireland; Raghallagh, equivalentto I44
"
death, at the end of January, a. d. 642, and 137 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
Ecclesiasti- in the fourteenth year of his reign. See cal History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. ,
ibid. , tomus ii. , p. 194.
sect, xiii. , and n. 202, pp. 236, 239.
138 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 10, pp. 36, 37, site is not noted on the Irish Ordnance also cap. 49, p. 91. Likewise, in lib. ii.
,
"9 Strange to say, under its modern or an- cient form of name, this celebrated historic
1789, 8vo.
131 The Annales Inisfalenses have it at
this year. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Re- rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 17.
133 This meeting took place, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," in the year 574. See vol. i. , pp. 208, 209, n. (q). The Annals of Ulster place
"
_
Survey Maps.
130 This is the
cap. 6, p. 113.
139 A — pretty
—
but in
absurd statement of Rev. Dr. Thomas Campbell, in his "Stric- tures on the Ecclesiastical and Literary His- tory of Ireland," sect, vii. , p. 112. Dublin,
full
is to be found in
very
description
part
ac-
132 See Professor
the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish," vol. iii. , Lect. xxxi. , p. 245.
many
curious Amendments taken from the
:
Magna inojvoAib
Eugene O'Curry,
" On
it at 574
Drommacheta, qua
mac -dinmif\e4ch [et filius Ainmirei]. " See Dr. Keating's original work, written in
. 1. convcntio in erant Colum-cille ocur1
great literary want,
Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 27. This date is
confirmed by a poem, cited in the Preface to
the Amhra Choluim Cille, in the Manuscript the " Chronicum Scotorum," edited by
belonging to Trinity College, Dublin, and classed H. 2, 16, at p. 680.
p. 92.
135 TheAnnalsofClonmacnoisenoticeit,
at a. d. 587.
136 Colgan and O'Flaherty, followed by
Chalmers and others, have assigned 590, as its date. This is also the date k'iven by Dr. John O'Donovan, in " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (q), p. 208.
William M. Hennessy, pp. 82, 83.
142 In Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four " we read at A. D. about Masters, 636,
a victory gained over Beannan, at the battle of Cathair-Chinncon in Munster, by /Engus Liath. See vol. i. , and n. (t), pp. 254, 255.
143 The death of Aedh Bendan, Arch- King of Mumhan, is set down, A. D. 619, in William M. Hennessy's " Chronicum Sco- torum," pp. 74, 75.
144 He killed Colman, the father of Guaire,
King of Connaught, a. d. 622, in the battle
of Cenngubha. See ibid. , pp. 76, 77.
145 The death of Raghallach Mac Uatach is placed at a. d. 648, in the Annals of
134 This is the set down for year
it, by Rev. Dr. Reeves, in his edition of Adam- nan's "Life of St. Columba," Appendix to Preface. Summary of St. Columba's Life, p. lxxvi. , and at lib. i. , cap. 49, n. (c),
Keating's count of the proceedings at the Convention
"
of Druimceatt, in his History of Ireland,"
at the reign of Aedh.
140 See " The General History of Ireland,"
&c, collected by the learned Jeofifry Keating, D. D. , faithfully translated from the original Irish language, by Dermod O'Connor, with
legendary
Psalters of TaraandCashel,and other authen-
tic Records. The Second Edition with an
Appendix, collected from the Remarks of the
learned Dr. Anthony Raymond of Trim,
not in the former Edition, book ii. , pp. 373,
374. Printed at Westminster, a. d. 1726, fol.
It is a that we have not
yet published
the
genuine
text of the Rev.
Irish.
141 Crimthann, son of Aedh, King of
Laighen, was slain A. D. 633, according to
486 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
O'Reilly, son to Uadhagh,1^ King of Tuagtha-Taihgdean and Breifhey O'Rorke to Cliabhan Modhuirn ; Ceallach, son of Cearnach or O'Kear-
ney, son of Dubh Dothra, at Breifney ui Reilly ; Conghallach Ceann MhaguirofTyrconnell. TothisaugustmeetingalsorepairedFearguill,son of Maol-duin on Oillioch ; Guaire son to Conguill of Ulster, with both the
Kings of Oirgiall, that is to say, the renowed Daimin, son of Aongus, from Colchar Deasa to Fionn Cairn, at Sliabh Fuad, and Hugh, son of Duach Gal- lach, from Fionn Cairn, at Sliabh Fuaid, to the River Boyne. 146 No less than
nine persons named Aedh were present at this great assembly. 147
Among the
1 *8
ecclesiastics,
who were
present
at this
council,
are mentioned St.
Cuanus,
sonto St. 1^sonto anda St. son Midhorn, Garuan, ^Engus, bishop, Colman,^
'
son to Brendan, and St. Farannan. 's*
The bards had collected in all their numbers, and were present at this Convention, having taken their station near the hill of meeting. IS3 The result of a decision in their case was awaited with great anxiety. They are said to have been in danger of expulsion from the kingdom, on different occasions ; yet, each time, they found in a King of Ulster a successful advocate of their cause. O—ne of the most celebrated and — of the time was
religious poets
to Eochod, St. Baithen,15
*M
while his character and abilities gave him the greatest consideration and
influence. He is called the Poet Royal, and sometimes the Chief Ollamh, of Erinn. 'ss Thequestionofthebardsformedoneofthoseimportantsubjects, which the convention had to discuss. As we have already seen, public opinion had been justly excited against them, while the king shared the dis- like and prejudice, which their numbers, exactions and insolence had occa- sioned. Whenadiscussiononthismatterarose,Aedhcomplained,thatthey had enormously increased as a privileged class, and that their pretensions had been extravagantly asserted ; their idleness and disorderly demands were accompanied by dissolute behaviour, so that they became a burden to the
j
whole kingdom 1 *6 while their compositions in praise or disparagement of
individuals were proportioned only to the rewards received or refused. The chiefs and nobles, best able to comply with their exactions, were reluctant to incur their displeasure, lest they should become objects for their satirical verses, which in that age, were likely to send their names down to posterity, with dishonour ; while others, less deserving public esteem, were likely to be unduly praised, because they had been lavish in their gifts and benefactions to those ioving minstrels. '57 The eloquent Abbot of Iona then undertook the
Eochaidh betterknownasDalianForgall
whoattendedastheirchief;
Ulster. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Sciiptores," tomus iv.
146 The foregoing enumeration is found, in
Dermod O'Conor's Keating's "General His-
tory of Ireland," book ii. , p. 373. Duffy's edition.
' 4 ? There is an Irish Poem of nine Qua-
I5' SuccessoratIona,toSt. Columba,and venerated at the 9th of June.
l&3 See his Life, already given in the Second Volume of this work, at the 15th of
February, Art. ii. "M See Professor
trains beginning with <\ex> mac <\inmi]\ech "'
ceti Veil, in the Leabhar Breac, R. I. A. It refers to the nine persons named Aedh, said to have been at this Convention of Drum- ceat. Seethe published copy, contents, p. 22, and body of the book, No. CLXX. , col. 1, p. 238c.
S4 See an account of him, in Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hibemix," xxix. Januarii. De S. Dallano Martyre. Ex diversis, pp.
203 to 205.
,5S His Life will be found, in the First
Volume of this work, at the 29th of January, Art. v.
148
festival lias not been determined.
Among several saints of the name, his
149 His feast has been set down at the 20th of March and the 9th of July.
'5° Venerated at the 6th of September.
's6 See Thomas D'Arcy McGee's "Popu- lar History of Ireland," book i. , chap, v. , p. 34.
" On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient
Irish," vol. iii. . Lect. xxxi. , p. 245.
Eugene O'Curry,
* " One of their privileges, however,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 487
advocacy of the bardic order,^8 and while leading the assembled council to right views for the correction of admitted abuses, he insisted on the preserva- tion of liberty—God's priceless gift to man—and on the cultivation of learn- ing, which teaches us to use that gift with intelligence and wisdom. He argued, that even when excess prevailed, moderation should be used, and that when evils became manifest, a remedy should be found for them in the fram- ing of just laws. He maintained, that an institution, which might be use- fully regulated, and which should be preserved for many public reasons, ought not be abolished, when its continuance could be directed under proper rules. He then advised, that the king and the national representatives at the convention should devise for the bards a code of laws, that might at once preserve their order and restrain all excesses. Their able advocate had so much influence with the monarch and his people, as to procure a satisfactory termination to that misunderstanding between them and the poets. To him- self was committed the care of framing laws,150 which should effectively restrain all admitted abuses. St. Columba procured a compromise of their suppression, in a limitation of their number apportioned to each province, and in demands, 160 which were to be of a more modest character, and which should prove less onerous to the upper classes in the state. These regulations of the
holy On this
known as Dalian
l63 is said to have written a
poem.
l64
antiquity.
lately published
separate form,
English
and forth the setting
of its
man to have been received with 161 appear general approval.
162 better It bears for its titleAmhraCholuimchille. l6s Copiesofit,largelyglossed,arepreservedinthe ** Liber Hymnorum," 166 and in the " Leabhar na h Uidhre," 16 ? which attest its
168 It has been
translation, by Professor O'Beirne Crowe. There is a Preface to be found,
occasion,
Forgaill,
Eigeas,
the celebrated Poet called Eochaidh
history
the Amhra is so old, as to have elicited from Colgan, who was an accom-
origin, ofitsarchaiclanguageandthepeculiaritiesofits style. '71 Thelanguageof
called conmed, which gave them a right to
exact refection from the tribes for themselves
and their — occasion to retinue, gave many
complaints. " Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Irish Saints in Great Britain,"
chap, hi. , p. 88.
158 See " A Dictionary of Christian Bio-
graphy," &c, edited by William Smith, D. C. L. , LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. i.