No More Learning

— iiitt. , (i).
'
Article it. The present Cadoc seems
to have been more intimately connected with Wales and Ireland ; while another, also called Sophias, is thought to have suffered martyrdom.
5* See Dr. Travers' article in "The
Exhibition Expositor. "
55 how- This writer, adds: "We doubt,
ever, whether a claim might not be sustained on behalf of the celebrated St. Manchan of Mohill, which is in the same ancient
dioc^seofArdagh, and who flourished early in the eleventh century. "
Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints,"
etc. , p. xiii. The Franciscan copy enters,
"
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 3.
^8 jr^ited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 26, 27.
59 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part
i. , pp. 96, 97. ^'See Archdall's
"
Monasticon Hibenii-
4i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 24.
distinguished rank. In early ages his acts had been written. ^ It is doubtful,
however,^that we possess the most ancient. Several mediseval hagiographists and chronicles have recorded this saint. 3 Among the more modern writers, are Colgan,4 Bishop Challoner,5 the Rev. Alban Butler,^ the extractor from his work of the Irish Saints' Lives,? the Rev, W. J. Rees,^ the Vicomte Hersart de la Villemarque,9 Le Comte de Montalembert,'° and the Rev. S. Baring- Gould. " History and legend are strangely combined in accounts left us regarding this saint. The facts of his life are thus obscured, and even the period when he lived is variously computed to have been the beginning or the latter part of the sixth century. It must be noted, that there is con- siderable doubt respecting fhe dates for his transactions. " Harpsfield gives his death epoch at 570,^3 and this is reconcilable with Cadoc having been a contemporary of the renowned King Arthur and with his successor Mailgun.
There is a certain Catanus, or Cadan,'* a priest, who is ranked among the ministers and domestics of St. Patrick. '^ Colgan seems to be under an impression that this is only another name for Cadocus or Mochatocus,*° the son of Gundleus, and the grandson of Brecan, in South Wales. But it is quite irreconcilable with the probabilities of epochs and persons to place the present saint among those who served St. Patrick; for the Irish Apostle had probably departed to bliss many years before the birth of St. Cadoc.
The master, the maternal ancestors, and several of this saint's uncles, had their nativity in or a close connexion with Ireland. ^7 As a missionary, likewise, the present holy man lived for a considerable time in our country.
^The following Manuscript Acts of St. Cadoc are extant. Vita S. Cadoci (sive)
Sophise, Episcopi et Martyris Beneventanx
civitatis ; cum Indice Terrarum ad Ecclesiam
quam ille fundavit pro Canonicis Regulari-
hus Spectantium, ad an. 570. MS. Cott.
Vespas, A. xiv. , ff. 17, 33, veil. 4to, xii.
cent. Passio Ejusdem, il'ib. , ff. 33—42 b.
Vita et Passio S. Cadoci. MS. Cott. Titus
D. xxii. , ff. 51—107, veil. 8vo, xiii. cent.
Passio Ejusdem, ibid. ff. 107—134. Vita
Sancti Cadoci, Episcopi Beneventani, MS.
Ashmole, 794, ff. 231—247, paper, xv. cent.
Vita S. Cadoci Episcopi et Martyris Bcne-
ventanas civitatis. MS. Ashmole, 1289, ff.
75—79 b'j veil. , large 410, xiv. cent. De
Sancto Cadoco, MS. Cott. Tiber, E. i. f.
29, b. veil, folio. Vit—a S. Cadoci, MS. vol. i. , part i. , p. 149.
Bodl. Tanner, 15, ff. 91 94, b. veil, folio, XV. cent. See Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy's
*'
of Materials relat-
Descriptive Catalogue
ing to the History of Great Britain and
Ireland," vol. i. , part i. , pp. I46 to 151.
3 It is to be feared, however, that the acts of two—if not of more—Saints Cadoc have been confused in bardic, historic, and popu- lar traditions.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," Vita S. Cadoci, xxiv. Januarii, pp. 158 to 161.
5 See
to
"
Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp. 72
74.
* * ' Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- mve," xxiv. Vita Prima S. Cadoci, cap. i. , ii. , n. I, pp. 158, 159. And again the Se- cond Life, published by Colgan, and ex-
other Principal Saints, "vol. i. January xxiv. 7 See at the 24th of January, the "Lives of the Irish Saints," by a Cistercian Monk, who records St. Cadocus or Cadoc, abbot
in Wales, pp. 106, 107.
"
See cap. i. , p. 160.
*In "The Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," we find a "Vita Sancti Cadoci," ix. Kal. , Feb. , pp. 22 to 96, and Appendix iii. , "The Life of St. Cadoc," pp. 309 to 395-
" "I-a Legende Celtique et la Poesie des Cloitres en Irlande, en Cambric, et en Bre- tagne. " Deuxieme Partie, La Legende de Saint Kadok, instituieur des Bretons-Cam- briens, pp. 127 to 227.
"See "Les Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. x. , chap, ii. , pp. 55 to 74.
"Lives of the Saints," vol. i. , Januarv xxiv. , pp. 363 to 369.
"See Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy's "De-
'3 " " Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica.
'^ This name is also written Keadanus.
'5 See "Trias " Colgan's Thaumaturga,
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xcviii. , p. 167.
'"There too his feast is assigned to the
24th of January. '>ee ib/ii. , n. 125, p. 18S. Elsewhere he remarks on the resolution of Of and an, as being frequent in the termina- tions of Irish proper names. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xxiv. Januarii, n. i. , p. 159.
"
tracted from Albert le Grande, " De Sanctis
Britannice Armoricje.
scriptive Catalogue of Materials relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland,"
'' See Colgan's
January 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 417
Of old he had been very illustrious and popular among the ancient Britons, He and the members of his family have become a frequent theme of the Breton bards and chroniclers. Cadoc or Kadok,'^ was son to Gundleus,'? called also Gwynlliw Fih\T,^° or Gundliou, the Warrior, by his lady, Gla- dusa,^' who was one of a most numerous family of holy brothers and sisters,'^ several of whom are enumerated among the saints of Ireland, and many are even connected by missionary life with our island. She was the daughter or granddaughter^3 of Braghan,^'^ or Braccan,'5 who gave name to a province now- knownasBrecknockshire. ^^ Cadocwastheeldestson,andhewasbaptized bythenameofCathmail. ^7 AholyIrishhermitwastheministerofbap- tism,^^andhewascalledSt. Tathai,Tathseus,orThaddeus. ^9 Theparents of our saint, after they had embraced Christianity, were not less ennobled by their virtues than by their blood. 3° His father, the son of an Irishman, if not an Irishman by birth, after some years retired from the world, and led an eremitical life. 3'
At the age of seven years, Cadoc obtained permission from his parents to place himself under the tuition of his baptizer, who taught him gramma- tical learning. 32 During the period of his scholarship he is said to have
wrought miracles. 33 Resigning his temporal principality for an eternal kingdom, this prince likewise embraced a religious life. At that time, the holy Tathai, a learned doctor, had retired into the mountains of South Wales. He had lately been called out of his solitude, by Caradoc, son to Inirius, a British king. Thaddeus had opened a famous school of learning and piety in the city, known as Gwent,34 in Monmouthshire. With this great master the young disciple remained for twelve years. Under his discipline, Cadoc was prone to obedience, and he served at menial offices.
He had
'^
The Welsh generally call him Cattwg. '' He was king over South Wales.
"^ After the death of his father, and from
his own name, the country he governed was called Gwynlliw, generally termed the Hun-
dred of Gwynllwg or Wentloog in Mon- mouthshire. See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," p. 310, and n. 2.
of Cambria, signifies 'a hilly country,*" See "The History of Wales," by John Jones, LL. D. , chap, xi. , p. 307,
^7 It is regarded as a singular circumstance, we are not told why or when this name had been changed into Cadoc. Llancarvan is called Cadmael in the " Liber Landavensis," P- 372.
**A miracle took place at the well in which the infant had been baptized . See Rev,
Rees' " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," p. 317,
^9 See some notices regarding him at the 26thofDecember. HeisalsocalledMeu- thi, by the Welsh.
3°See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 72.
3' See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , January xxiv. —
3=FromDonatusandPriscian celebrated and learned grammatical writers— as stated in the Life published by Rev. W. J. Rees.
33 From a circumstance related regarding
one of these miracles, Thomas Wakeman,
Esq. , has proved, that the written legend must have been composed a long time after the death of Howel ap Owen, King of Gla- morgan, who died A. D. 1042.
3* This city was some time a Bishop's See, but it is long since quite ruined. It was called by the Romans, Venta Silurum.
*'
rated as a saint. W.
She is also called Gwladys, and is vene-
"The circumstances attending the mar- riage of St. Cadoc's parents are related with no slight savour of romance, in the old acts published in Rev, W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 311 to 313-
"3 As Braccan died about the
this statement seems more accordant with chronology. See Professor Rees' "Welsh Saints," p. 146.
'* Sometimes called Brychan,
*sSee notices of himself and his family under the Acts of St. Beoc or Dabeoc, at the 1st ofJanuary.
^"This district, anciently called Garth Mathdrym or Fox Hill, is said to have re- ceived the name of Breckeinog from Brac- han, the son of Awlach Mac Gormoc, an Irish prince, by Marchell, daughter of Tydor, chief of Garth Mathrym. Such is the fabu- lous tradition. The tnith, however, is, that Brecheinog in the Irish, or ancient language
Vol. I,
year 450,
J.
41. 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 24.
thus made such progress in the sciences, but more especially in true holy science, so as to be advised by Tathai to become a master in turn. After- wards he was obliged with sorrow to leave his kindly instructor. A guide and teacher of many others in the ways of Christian perfection, 35 the humble young man went on his mission, and miracles attested his holiness. ^^ Soon did his renown spread abroad, so that many of the western British clergy flocked to place themselves under his direction, and to receive instruction from his teaching and example. He especially loved to labour with his own hands, and as we are informed, he undertook to raise up a large mound of earth, and to make therein a handsome cemetery, where the bodies of the faithful mightbeburiedneartoachurchdedicatedtoGod. Afterthishadbeenac- complished, he constructed through almost impassable places four large foot- paths, across four declivities of the rising grounds, which surrounded his residence. He chose likewise for himself another place, and caused another earthen mound in the form of a round city to be erected. In the language
"
of the Britons, this was called Kastell Cadoc, or
the Castle of Cadoc. " Although the proprietor of much land, he was accustomed to sow his com
only in one fertile acre, called Ersvgwen, or " the white acre. '"37
After 3. long time, on a certain day, it happened that the Blessed Cadoc
"
spoke to his disciples,
My most dear brethren, I have a great desire to
sail to for the sake of Ireland,
" We in- know,
teaching. " They answered,
deed, kind master, that thou formest such designs as are pleasing to God, and according to the will of God, for whatever thou dost ask of Him, thou
dost immediately obtain, and thou dost not contemplate anything that is wicked or perverse, for thou knowest that it is better to be constantly
meditating on the Holy Scriptures, according to the proverbs of the Wise '
Man, Son, acquire learning in thy youth, and thou wilt find wisdom with
thy gray hairs, and it will be to thee as a father and a mother. '
he ordered a strong bark, besmeared with pitch, to be prepared for him in the harbour of the sea, that he might safely sail therein to Ireland. Some of his disciples expressed a desire to accompany their master, when he said, " Some of you shall go with me, but others shall here remain, to keep faith- fully my monastery and town, until I come back. "' Cadoc had a prosperous voyage across the Irish sea. Landing in good time, he made inquiry re- garding the most excellent masters in Ireland, that he might be more perfectly instructed in the seven liberal arts. Thirsting eagerly for improve- ment in learning, at length he came to a chief city in the country known as Lismore Muchutu. 3^ He was graciously received by the most learned master of that town and by all the resident clergy. On account of his sanctity and humility, he got the surname of Muchutu, the principal saint. With this chief doctor,39 Cadoc remained three years, until he succeeded in
3SSee Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 72.
3* See Rev. \V. J. Rees' "Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," pp. 32010324.
37 This was after^vards called from the venerable man's name. See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints,"
"
depot de toute la science de rOccident au cinquieme siecle," observes Le Vicomte Hersart de la Villemarque, Cadoc chose the great Abbey of Lismore to complete his course of studies. There he could satisfy his thirst for knowledge, in
knowledge classed among the liberal sciences, and which embraced grammar, rhetoric,
dialectics, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music See "La Legende Celtique et la Poesie des Cloitres en Irlande, en Cam- brie, et en Bretagne. " St. Kadok, sec. ii. , p, 138.
35 Such statement seems fairly agreeable to chronology, for Dr. Lanigan states, that St. Carthage the Elder lived until 580, in all probability; and that he ordained St.
Carthage, Junior, the present Muchutu or Mochuda, possibly about a. d. 577. The latter lived until the year 637. See "Ec-
pp. 324, 325.
3^ In Ireland,
taking large draughts of the seven circles of clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
"
Aftenvards
i
January 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 419
gaining perfection in the learning of the West. -i" Three years having passed, he returned from Ireland with a large company of Irish and British clergy. Among these were the religious and learned men Finian, Macmoil, and Gnavan, said to have been the most celebrated and skilful of all his British disciples. When he reached the British shore, Cadoc with his dependants withdrew into the district of Brec- knock. He heard that a celebrated rhetorician, named Bachan, had come from Italy to that country. The Blessed Cadoc learned much regard- ing his proficiency in letters, and he wished to be taught Latin by that master after the Roman method. But, at this time a famine oppressed the district. While Cadoc was before a table, he observed a mouse coming out of a hole, and carrying a grain of corn. This action was repeated several times. Cadoc at last caught the mouse, and to search into the mystery, he tied a long thread to its foot and then let it loose. He followed to observe its motions, when the little animal came to a certain mound, under which there was a very beautiful subterranean house. *' This had been built of old. The mouse went in through a dark hole, and soon returned bringing in its mouth another grain of corn. This incident was regarded as a most providential discovery; for a granary was found concealed, and the corn it contained served not only to feed God's servants, but it was distributed in a just measure so as to relieve all the poor in that district. The place where this corn had been found was called Llanspyddid,"*^ and Brychan, the grandfather of Blessed Cadoc, bestowed it on him. Here the holy man builtamonastery. AfterasufficientcourseofinstructionfromBachan,he left the oratory to this doctor and to some of his attendants, Cadoc then returned to his dear Llancarvan, but only to find his principal monastery destroyed, with the rafters of its roofs and the rubbish of its buildings scattered over the cemetery. 3
Not far from the Severn, at the sea, and three miles off Cowbridge,'** he now rebuilt that church and monastery, called in the British tonguCj-'S Llan-
"
carvan, or the
nated, because in the building of it, these animals, forgetting their natural wildness,wereobsequioustotheservantofGod. *^ Inthisplace,St. Cadoc opened a school, which was one of the most celebrated in all Britain. *' There numerous monks, subject to a very severe rule, bowed their bodies
Church of the Stags. " Legends relate, it was thus desig-
under the yoke of continual fatigue. the fields. *^
chap, xi. , sec. v. , p. 99, and n. 52, p. 102. °Le Comte de Montalembert's "Les
Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. x. , chap. ii. , p. 58.
*' By Rev. S. Baring-Gould, it is styled one of those cellars or ' ' old Keltic subter- ranean granaries, remains of which are found to this day in Wales and Cornwall. " See
They cleared the forests and cultivated
Cambro-British Saints," pp. 325 to 329. **See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
"Lives of the Saints," vol. i. , xxiv. January, "
of the Stags. "
'^ It is stated, that Finian and Macmoil
on this occasion left a book open under the rain, to assist hastily in the erection, and that the book remained uninjured. It was afterwards designated in the British Ian- guage Gov. Cattwg, or "The Memory of Cadoc. " A chapel dedicated to St. Finian was built in this place, as was reported, See Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cam-"
p. 365. These earth-caves," as they have been called, are very numerous, and often of considerable size, in Ireland. In many instances, they are interiorly walled and flagged over in a very remarkable manner.
*This lies about two miles eastward from Brecknock, where the church was dedicated to St. Cadoc. This saint is thought, how- ever, by Professor Rees, to have been the
See "
«See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the
bro-British Saints," pp. 329, 330. "
son of
Essay
on the Welsh
Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. x. , ii. , p. 59.
chap.
Brychan. Saints," p. 143.
Sancta,"-part i. , pp. 72. " « Others call it Nancarvan, or the
Vale
'•^ See Bishop Challoner's Britannia
Sancta," part i. , pp. 72, 73.
*^ Le Comte de Montalembert's "Les
4^o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 24.
In a barbarous age, the Welsh monasteries were often invaded by disso-
luteandrapacioushordes. OneSavilorganizedanexpeditionforthepurpose of committing such a robbery. +s When this chieftain, at the head of a band of mounted robbers, came to pillage Llancarvan, St. Cadoc went against
him with his monks, armed with their harps, chanting and striking the strings. Then that chief recoiled and left them unmolested. Another dynast, enraged because St. Cadoc had received his son into the monastery, came with a force to reclaim the youth, and to destroy the cloister. Bathed in sunshine, Cadoc met him, and found the chief and his men groping in darkness. He gave them light, and they returned ashamed to their homes. The holy Cadoc had the great happiness of assisting in the conversion and sanctification of his parents. 5° In the depths of his cloister, he groaned over the rapines and sins of him from whom he had derived life. Accordingly Cadoc sent to his father's house three of his monks, to preach repentance. His mother, the beautiful Gwladys, was the first to be touched, and it was not long before she persuaded her husband to agree with her. They called their son, wishing to make a public confession of their sins. 5' Then both father and son
chanted the " Exaudiat te Dominus.