Again, it is said, that in the
fifteenth
year from that in which Finnachta had forgiven the Borumha, Adamnan sent a cleric of his people to Finnachta, that he might come to converse with him, but he found it difficult to obtain an interview.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
d.
665.
9 ThelatterdidnotgettheBorumha,tillheassembledthemenofthe North of Ireland.
10 Thus matters went on until the time of Finnac—hta
; if Fleadhach, in whose reign this —vexatious tribute was remitted through
we are to credit the bardic story under circumstances not exactly creditable
to any of the parties concerned. This Finnachta u bore away the Tribute
twice without opposition," but on the third occasion of his coming to exact
it, the Leinstermen rose up against him. Great preparations were made on
both sides, and the Leinstermen were naturally anxious to have the powerful *
Moling ; as St. Ciaran got the salmon in his river the Nore, and the shads betook themselves to the Barrow. It is needless to state, that this story has been coined to ac- count for the abundance of good and rich salmon for which the Nore is noted
after died ofa broken heart,
6
while the Barrow does not possess the reputation of being a river favourable to the culture of
This tribute was to consist of 5,000 ounces of silver, 5,000 cloaks, 5,000 fat cows, 5,000 fat hogs, 5,000 fat wethers, and 5,000 large vessels of brass and bronze. It was known as the Boromean Tribute. It is said to have been so named, owing to —the great number of cows paid through it ho being Irish for cow ; but, as the proportion was equal on all the other items enumerated, we may attribute to bardic exaggeration much that has been stated, in reference to this
word Bovaticum, or "cattle uibute," some- times alluded to.
to be found, in the " Book of Leinster," sometimes called the Book of Glendalough, edited by Robert Atkinson, M. A. , LL. D. It extends from p. 294 to p. 308, but here the Manuscript breaks off abruptly, and the re- mainder of the tale is lost
'°The "Book of Leinster," professing to give an account of these particulars, relates that he sang this lay invoking their advi—ce
the salmon. See No. vi. , p. 94, n. 3.
"See his Life, at the 20th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. ii. ,
chap. iii.
"ActaSanctorumHiber-
3 See
Colgan's
subject.
7 In mediaeval Latin Tracts, we find the
niae," xx. Januarii. Secunda Vita S.
Fechini, cap. 1. , p. 139.
" Ecclesiastical iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xiii. , p. 132, and n. 170, pp. 134,
135.
s Eochaidh Ainchean married first Dairine\
whom he afterwards confined in a prison, and pretending that she had died, he next asked for and obtained her sister in mar- riage. Dairine escaped from the prison, in which she had been immured, and made her appearance before her faithless husband and his new wife. Seeing her sister, whom she had thought to be dead, still living, owing to the shock, the latter espoused sister fell dead on the spot. The injured wife soon
4 See Rev. Dr.
Lanigan's
History
Ireland,"
reign,
year 673.
of
8 He to began
vol.
in the
» The History of the Borumha Tribute is
;
Denaid duin bar comairle, &c. See p. 304, b. 2.
and help
"His death is placed in the "Annals
:
1
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
707
aid of St. Moling. They requested him to assist at an assembly, which appears
to have been convoked for the purposes of deliberation. This is said to have
beenheld,underthepresidencyofBranUaFaelain,KingofLeinster. 11 St.
Moling willingly accepted that invitation, and on arriving at the place of
assembly, he received a joyous welcome, and he was seated at the king's
side. 12 After some consultation, it was determined, that St. Moling should
become their delegate, and he accepted the commission J 3 entrusted to his
management. Then, King Bran requested him to arise, and to proceed north-
wards on his mission, I4 taking with him the poet Tollcend, who was to go
with him to the house of King Finnachta. ^ St. Moling recited a hymn of 16
Companions were selected, and accordingly they set out for the
praise.
house of Cobthach Mac Colman, and in it they were entertained. It should seem, that the Lagenians had resolved to avail of St. Moling's influence to represent the hardships of their case to the King of Temoria, the Ui Niall.
was there enjoying the annual sports. Knowing the cause for the arrival of St. Molyng and his companions, the Hy-Neill were not in a mood to remove their tribute. J ? The princes and chiefs of the Hy-Neill did not give due honour to St. Molyng, nor would they in any manner remit the debt. But, the kingdidnotgiveanunfavourableanswertotheholyprelate. TheOmnipo- tent Lord, wishing to honour his own bishop, caused heavy rain, mixed with hail, to fall upon his enemies, and did not suffer them to enjoy the sports. This greatly disconcerted them. However, in the place where St. Molyng was, the rain did not descend. Seeing this miracle, they requested St. Molyng
%i
royalfairhadthenbeenassembled. Theking,withhisprincesandchiefs,
Accordingly, deputies
accompanied
of the Four Masters," at A. D. 690. See Dr.
O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 294, 295.
" Then spake King Bran: "What counsel shall we adopt ? shall we make war with Cond's Half? Or shall we go and seek the remission of the Borumha in re- liance on the intercession of the saints? and if it is to be their intercession, whom of the saints of Leinster shall we send to seek the remission ? " This speech of Bran's is then put in the form of a poem, in which Bran asks this question of Tuathal Mac Ailella, and Tuathal replies, that St. Moling is, of course, the most fitting person. Then follows a series of far-fetched eulogistic compari- sons relating to the saints. It begins : "Turchan duin a Thuathail," &c. See p.
305. b. 3.
13 Then, it is related, he made the follow-
ing song, telling of the saints who were ready to go with him on his mission : *' In- mair triar a Christ grind gluair," &c. See p. 305, a. 35. Two stanzas of this poem are given in the Martyrology of Donegal, at May 3rd and at October 8th.
14 King Bran recounted to him the re- wards he would bestow on the saint, ' ' a hood of satin shall be thine," &c, "Eriga
intended to be Tollcend's function, to recite the Song of Praise made by Moling.
16 While Molyng was preparing for his difficult task, he recited a hymn invoking
aid, in the name of the Trinity : "In the Name of the Manhood and the Godhead of
Christ, in the name of the Archangels who are with him in Heaven, and of the twelve chief Apostles who are around his bright face. " " In anmum na Trinoite," &c. See p. 306, a. 20.
"? In the "Martyrology of Donegal," at St. Cuan's festival, October 15th, occurs this entry : St. Moling in the work called "Borumha," mentions the following as having gone with him, to seek a remission from the—Borumha from Finnachta, King
&c. See b. 46. p. 305,
Moiling,"
15 In the house of King Finnachta, it was
x s This word, Borumha, means the Tri- "
them to Onach 18 where a Tailltean,
of Erin
" Dear the three who met the difficulty, Who went with me for my welfare, Dubhtach, Dubhan, who concealed
sorrow,
And Cuan of Clonmore. "
O'Clery adds, in a note : I think the Cluain- more of which he speaks, is Cluain-mor Maedhog in Leinster, In another work, it is stated, that Forannan Bishop of Kildare, and Colman of the Ossorians also accom-
panied
:
St. Moling, on his visit to King Finnachta's court.
18 Now known as Teltown, in the county of Meath.
bute of Oxen. See O'Donovan's Frag-
ments of Annals," pp. 77, 89.
19 680. Inthe It is said, about the year
708 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J une i 7.
to drive away, in the name of the Lord, the rain from them, that they might
exercise themselves in the sports. They promised also to satisfy the saint, after the sports had concluded. Believing them to be in earnest, St. Molyng
prayed to the Lord, and then blessing the heavens, the rain ceased instantly,
andthesunappearedbright. Then,theyexercisedtheirsportspleasantlyand exhibiteddiversespeciesofathleticexercises. Butafterthesports,theywould not fulfil their promises, nor would they remit that tribute for St. Molyng. OnechieffoughtmostfiercelybeforealltheothersagainstSt. Molyng. He was at a distance, but he stood before the face of the holy bishop. Seeing his fierceness, the holy senior made the sign of the cross on his breast. In- stantly, he became pacified with St. Molyng. He began to entreat others, who were there to take part with the bishop, while he urged, that they should dothewillofSt. Molyng,byforgivingtheCowTribute. Otherpartieswerestill in and St.
" Grant me at
until/uan. " ThekingthoughthemeantuntilthefollowingMonday,and
opposition,
Molyng
said to the
king :
least,
O
king,
granted his request, according to the old Life of St. Molying. However, the
word was equivocal ;
but, from that day forward,20 the tribute was abolished,
21 it was never more
22 If we that adopt
to the
account, contained in the ancient historical Tale, called Borumha-Laighean, * this saint, owing to his able and persevering advocacy, obtained the remission oftheBorumhantaxation,infavouroftheLeinsterpeople. 24 Accordingtothe legend, Moling obtained the remission of this tax, by a singular use of the Irishword/uan,whichmeansMonday,andalsotheDayofJudgment. In his covenant with the monarch, he desired in reality to abolish this tribute, not until Monday, as the king understood, but until the Day of Judgment, as the saint intended. 25
and, according
legend,
paid.
This remission of that tax is stated to have in occurred,
693 ;
20
2
it be may
but, referredprobablytoanearlierdate. WhenMolynghadobtainedfromtheKing of the Hy-Niall, that the Boromha tribute should be remitted, and while the saint was returning to his cell, accompanied by his companions, then repenting of his concession, that monarch sent an armed force in pursuit of Moling to slay him, and those who were with him. It is stated, that the magicians had gone to the king, and had asked, if anything new was effected in the council. When informed about what had occurred, they advised him to bring back
Molyngas acaptive,andtorescindtheengagemententeredintowithhim. Other- wise, they said, Finnachta should never exact that tribute, nor any other person
for him, as Molyng had intended it should cease. The holy senior, knowing the impending danger, bade his own people, to proceed on their way with
greater speed, praying to the Lord.
eleventh year of Finnachta's reign, at A. D. 684, the Four Masters record a frost, so great that all the lakes and rivers of Ireland were frozen over, while the sea between Ire- land and Scotland was so frozen, that there was a communication between them over the ice.
31
Perhaps from this very statement, we might be able to infer its very extreme anti-
quity, as left in writing.
m St. Moling, however, lived to see the
tribute levied once more by the monarch Hugh Mac Ainmireach, against whom he
"
arch to leave the country in complete dis- comfiture.
He then began a sacred poem, in which
*3 There is a copy of this tract, in the Book of Lecan, Royal Irish Academy's Library, and another in the Library of Trinity
College, Dublin, Manuscript classed H. 2, 18.
"* See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (x), pp. 298, 299.
*s "It is to be suspected," writes Dr. O'Donovan, " that the equivocation had had its origin in the fanciful brain of the author of the tract, who displays his own, not the saint's morality in the many strange inci- dents with which he embellishes the
simple
events of history. "
** See Roderick O'Flaherty's "Ogygia,"
pars, iii. , cap. Ivi. , p. 305. *? HeimploredBrighitfirst, andhesaid:
raised his voice and his "
" or crozier," as stated. At the head of the men of Leinster, he compelled that mon-
bachall,
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
709
he named many saints, praying to them, and singing their praises, com- mencing with virginity, and ending in like manner with a virgin. First, he named the most blessed Virgin Brigid, and at the end, he celebrated Mary, the Mother of God. 2? When the saint had finished his canticle, he and his
people were nearly overtaken by his pursuers. While the companions of Moling were almost in despair of escaping in safety, he confided in Christ. A bright cloud, sent by God from heaven, had now descended between the saint and his pursuers, so that they could no longer see nor pursue the pious servant ofGod. 28 It is a very remarkable circumstance, that the substance of the foregoing account still survives in a tradition, among the people of St.
Mullins. 2? Thus the holy prelate Molyng together with his people safely escaped from the country of theHy-Neill. That sacred canticle of St. Molyng is always held in honour throughout Ireland, and men of goodwill, when undertaking a journey, sing it, and through the favour of St. Molyng, and the rest of the saints whose memory is celebrated in it, the Omnipotent God sets them free from divers dangers. But, the aforesaid King Fianachta, wishing stilltoexacthistribute,wasafterwardsbeheadedbytheLagenians. Atthat hour when he was slain, the most blessed Molyng, being in his own monas- tery, and seeing with prophetic spirit what had occurred, said to his disciples: " At this moment, brethren, Fianachta, the glorious King of Temoria, is beheaded. He shall receive the recompense for that very great tribute, which he conceded to us ; but, wicked and designing men seduced him after- wards. " Therearesomanychronologicalinaccuraciesandinherentabsur- dities of statement regarding the Borumha-Laighean, that we must largely dis- count several of the foregoing and succeeding incidents of narrative.
Again, it is said, that in the fifteenth year from that in which Finnachta had forgiven the Borumha, Adamnan sent a cleric of his people to Finnachta, that he might come to converse with him, but he found it difficult to obtain an interview. At last, Adamnan was admitted to his presence, and he is stated to have bitterly reproached the monarch for allowing himself to be outwitted by
" O Brighit, bless our path," &c. See vol. he ordered the trumpets to be sounded, and viii. , of the O'Longan Manuscripts in the his army sent in full "purshuit" after the Royal Irish Academy, which contains a saint to kill him. When the saint, who had
story of St. Moling, at p. 12*.
not proceeded very far, on his way^* home, heard all the noise and "jingling of the army behind him, he turned the Liffey be- tween himself and his pursuers—as can be seen to this day, according to my informant
28
Moling, preserved in the Liber Kilkennien- sis, Marsh's Library, Dublin.
29
According
following story is told in the neighbourhood: " After the saint had stopped the cattle for
the people, on the hill of Thomple-na-bo,
as mentioned in his Life, he went to the King
of Ireland 'who was living in Dublin,' to
ask him to forgive the tax, and while he
was speaking to the king, one of the cour-
tiers ' had his ear cocked,' all the time, lis-
tening to the debate between the king and
According
to that ancient Life of St.
to Mr. Patrick O'Leary, the
"
the saint and when the saint was gone, he ;"
an' asked the did he know what he king,
up
was afther promising 'that little grey-headed ouldman? ' 'Begor I'm not rightly sure,'
to gain heaven for himself, or by allowing himself to be outwitted by St. Moling. To remit the Borumha, in order to gain Heaven for himself, was doubtless to deprive the race of Tuathail leachmarofa great revenue for a selfish purpose. But, to allow himself to be outwitted by bt. Moling was scarcely a sin on the part of the king, for it appears that Finnachta had no notion of re-
the ' for he had such quare ould says king,
Irish I could hardly understand him,' says he; 'you see 'twas something like broken English,' said my informant. 'Well,' says the courtier, ' you're after promising him not
to ask the tax until the day after the day of judgment. '" When the king heard this,
—and so made his escape. See
Ancient Life of St. Molyng," Notes (s), pp. 43, 44.
3° The Berbha means the River Barrow, which was near Moling's church.
3I Allusion is made to Breasal Brec, King of Leinster in the pagan times,
3' The Douglas stream, in the Queen s County, that falls into the Barrow,
33 Finnachta had committed a great sin in the estimation of Adamnan, against the race of Tuathail, by forgiving the Borum-
"
ha Tribute
7io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 17. Moling, and for having remitted the tribute. However, he ended by pro-
a — onthemeritsofSt. nouncing high eulogy Moling,
and
by praying
forhimin
this fashion
:
" I ask a petition from God, that death or danger may not overtake me ;
That Moling may this day escape, may he not perish by point or edge (of weapon).
Mac Faillen from beyond the sea, shall not be driven over the sea. He knows the secrets of the Son of God, the Son of God knows his
secrets.
Thrice fifty psalms each day he sings to God ;
——— Thricefiftypaupers worthydeed hefeedseachnight;
The virtuous productive tree the Seer with the visions, The foreign ship which has found welcome.
The wave of Berbha
of the of — ship Breasal,
31
golden
The — golden
board over the
3°
treasure from the centre the
tribes
The salmon of the brown Dubhghlaise 32 the wave sound, the wave
against the cliff. "
After this, Finnachta placed his head on the bosom of Adamnan, and he did penance in his presence, and Adamnan forgave him 33 for the remission of the Borumha. 34 Another miracle, which Christ worked through St. Molyng, when he was with the aforesaid King of Temoria, is also related. A certain man, charged with a grievous crime, was bound in chains, and the prisoner was left in his camp, near the king, to be punished with death. That man requested his keepers to go with him to St. Molyng. But, having gone with him, the captive prostrated himself at the feet of St. Molyng adjuring him, in the name of Christ, that he would beseech the king for his pardon. Forth- with, St. Molyng went to the monarches to entreat for his liberty. The king and his council had resolved, that the captive should be executed, on the very next day. However, the holy bishop replied : "Trust in Christ, brother, for on this very night, your chains shall be loosed by Christ ; you shall come to me a freed man ; you shall safely escape ; and you shall afterwards amend your life. " This prediction was exactly fulfilled. On that very night, his chains were unbound, in a miraculous manner, and the liberated captive went toSt. Molyng. ThisholyservantofGodgavehimleavetoescape,andhe returned fervent thanks to the Almighty.
The present remains of St. Moling's Monastery consist of four ruined
churches or houses, with a small cell, erected at the east side of the monas-
tery, said to have been St. James' chapel. 36 Opposite to this, there is an ancientcross,whichwasbroken; butlately,theportionshavebeenreunited,37
"
Boramha" at all.
34 The tribute was, however, revived and
again levied by Brian, the son of Cinneidigh, at the beginniug of the eleventh century, as a punishment for the adherence of the Kings of Leinster to the Danish cause ; and, it was from this circumstance, that he obtained the surname of Boroimhe (Boru).
35 In the year 693, Finnachta was slain by Aedh or Hugh, son of Dluthach, son of Ailill, &c, at the battle of Greallach Dol- laith, now probably Girley, near Kells ;
after he had reigned in Ireland 20 years, and
13 years after his acceding to the prayer of St. Moling. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 296, 297, and nn. (o, p, q, r), ibid.
3* The group of ecclesiastical ruins at St.
Mullins, is well represented in a photograph, kindly forwarded to the writer by M r. Patrick
O'Leary, Graigenamanagh. From it, a draw- ing was made on the wood by William F.
Wakeman, presented in the accompanying illustration, engraved by Mrs. Millard,
mining the
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
711
although it is evident from its stunted and mutilated appearance, that a great portionofit hasnotbeenrecovered. Acarvedfigure,intendedtorepresent the crucifixion, is centrally placed between the arms, and within the circle Utner carvings, but very much worn, are still traceable over the portion
remaining.
37 An Patrick
engraving
ofitistobeseeninMr. " Ancient Life of St.
"Thatcannotbe,"said "When Moiling :
Academy,"
Irish
Manuscript Series,
vol.
thou hast in me,"
says
the
youth,
Ruins at St. Mullins, County of Carlow.
Numerous are the miracles and prophecies to be recounted, regarding him, as given in the Legends of his Life. When these were divulged, the fame of
St. Moling was spread abroad, throughout the whole of Ireland. Many of those stories regarding his wonderful exploits, however, are but the remnant of foolish and absurd popular traditions. One of these 38 is the account of an attempt made by the Devil to deceive him, and the saint's dialogue with him. 3?
The demon ends that interview by pronouncing Moling's eulogy. 40
O'Leary's Molyng," at Notes, p. 33.
Christ used to come and converse with the
38 It has been translated into English, by nor royally did he come, but in the shapes
Professor Eugene O'Curry.
39 See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
of the wretched, namely of the sick and of the
i. ,
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. Notes seems it to thee that is here ? " " Meseems,"
•*
for June 17th, pp. civ. to cvi. says Moiling, that it is the Devil for my
*° An Insh and ancient poem, found in the hurt. " " 111 for thee is thy unbelief," says ""
"Book of Leinster," tells how the devil the youth. Well," says Moiling, here is
attempted
" Raise it not, O Cleric," likelier it is I whom thou thinkest, the man full of tribulations. " " Wherefore
Moiling,
was once
praying
Gospel.
to deceive St. " As Molyng :
successor,
Christ's " He then Gospel.
he, in his church, he saw a youth coming to him into the house.
thy raised the
— —
servants of God Culdees not in purple
lepers, used Christ to be. "
" It is unbelief
" who
" ""
Purple raiment around him, and a dignified form he had. " That is well, O Cleric," saith he. "Amen," saith Moiling. "Where- fore dost thou not bless me? " asks the
hast thou come ? " asked Moiling.
youth. "Who art thou? " quoth Moiling.
"
I," says he,
" am Christ, the Son of God,"
says he,
That I will not give it. " says Moiling, "for it is not a desire that thou wouldst be the better of ;
what were it to thee, moreover ? " " O good
thou mayst give me thy blessing.
"
v
712 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 17.
In another legend, we are told that St. Moling sprang over Luachair Dead-
haidh in three when the leaps,
of him. *1 The
were in
named is thought to have been identical with the rushy land of the River
Burren, in the county of Carlow. 4
*
Cleric," says he, "just as if thou shouldst go
into a vat of honey, and bathe therein with
thy raiment, the odour of it would be on thee
unless thou shouldst wash thy raiment. "
" Wherefore is this thy desire ? " asks Moi-
ling. "It is," says he, "though thou givest
nought of thy blessing to me, its prosperity
and its goodness should be on me exter-
nally. " "Thou shalt not have it," says
"
Moiling,
"Well, then," says he, "give me the full of a curse. " "Wherefore wishest thou this? " says Moiling. " Not hard to say, O Cleric,"
He is a precious stone with good- ness,
Whoso doth the will of God's Son of heaven.
He is a blind nut, wherein is no pro- fit,
He is a stinking rottenness, he is a withered tree,
He is a wild apple branch without
blossom,
Everyone who doth not the will of
the King.
If he does the will of God's Son of
heaven,
He is a brilliant sun ound which
is summer,
He is the image of God in heaven,
He is a vessel glassy pure.
He is a racehoise over a smooth
plain.
That man who strives for the King-
dom of great God,
He is a chariot that is seen under
a King,
Which wins a prize from bridles
of gold. Heisasonthatwarmsholyheaven,
The man for whom the Great is thankful,
He is a temple prosperous, noble, He is a holy shrine which gold ac-
companies.
He is an altar whereon wine is shed,
Round which is chanted a multi-
tude of choruses,
He is a cleansed chalice with
liquor,
He is white fituiruine, he is gold. "
• For this reason, he was called Moling Luachra.
42
" See Rev. John Francis Shearman's
Loca Patriciana," No. vi. , p. 93.
43 See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , edited by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. Notes at June 17, p. ciii.
44 It would seem, from what is here said, that this ring (cirme), was not a mere finger ring, but one of the great golden rings, now
for thou hast not deserved it. "
" the mouth whereon would come
says he,
the curse on me, its hurt and its poison shall
"" be on thy lips. " Go," says Moiling, no blessing deservest thou. " "Better forme How shall I attain
that I should earn it.
it ? " " Service unto God," says Moiling.
is me," says he, I bear not this. " "Woe "
" A little even of reading," replied Moiling. " No more thy reading, and this helps me
not. " " Fasting then," says Moiling. "I am fasting from the world's beginning. Not the belter am I. " " Prostration to make,"
" forbackwardsaremyknees. " "Goforth,"
quoth Moiling.
I cannot bend forward, " I cannot teach nor save
says Moiling. thee. "
Then said the Devil—
" He is pure gold, he is a heaven round the sun,
He is a vessel of silver full of wine, He is an angel, he is wisdom of
saints,
Every one who doth the will of the
King.
He is a bird round which a trap
shuts,
He is a leaky bark in dangerous
peril.
He is an empty vessel, he is a
withered tree,
Whoso doth not the will of the
King above.
He is a sweet branch, with its blos-
som,
He is a vessel which is full of
honey,
King
spectres
place
Another accounts has the locality as
Luachra, in the county of Kerry. Another version of the story relates, how a certain woman looking on cried out: "Well has the scholar leaped
(mo-ling) the rushes (luachair). " Hence, his previous name of Dairchell was changed into that of Moling Luachair. 43
One night, according to his usual practice, Moling sent his fishermen to catch some fish. They captured a large salmon in their nets, and
a of 4* was found in its split open, ring gold
when it was
divided the gold into three parts ; one-third he gave to the poor; one-third to cover reliquaries; while, the other third, he bestowed on labour and on bountiful
pursuit
belly. Moling
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
7i3
works. « In an old Irish Manuscript, it is related, too, that the devil paid a visit to St. Moling, in his church at St. Mullins. Finding, however, that he could take no advantage of the holy man, the fiend broke out into a poetic com- parison, between those who do the will of God and those who neglect it. 46 Our Lord Jesus Christ is related to have appeared to him, on a certain occasion, and under the guise of a leper. 47 This holy man is said also to have been with the
"
Baile Mholing," or "Ecstasy
327-
5< Edward O'Reilly had some prophecies
ascribed to him; he states, however, "if they were written by him, their language has
— modernized some later
been much by writers,"
called the
of Moling," which consists of forty-seven
of 8 and to have
prophecy/ expressed his predic-
gifted
tions regarding the future in metrical style. He wrote in the Scotic or Irish language. A Poem on Clonmore Maedoc has been attributed to him. 49 Another, on the Borumha Tribute, he is said to have written. To him is attributed, also, an Irish Poem, respecting the kingdom of the Lagenians and respecting the kingdom of all Ireland, naming the kings, and how they should reign, and in what manner they should depart from this world, whether by the sword or by death ; while he described many wars and their localities, the conquerors and the conquered in them, until the end of the world. In no manner were these prophecies falsified during the lapse of time. 50 It is also stated, that he wrote some prophecies in Irish 51 and that he had been
spirit
regarded52 asoneofthefourgreatIrishprophets. S3 Heissaidtohavefore-
told 54 the coming of King Henry II. , and of the Anglo-Normans into Ire- land. 55 ApoemonSt. John'sFestivalandoneontheFieryBoltarestatedto have been his compositions. Again, an old Irish metrical composition has been attributed to him, in which he praises St. Onchuo,56 whose remains, with those of St. Finian the Leper,5? rest at Clonmore-Maedhog. More poems have
called torques or fibulae, of which there are such magnificent specimens in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy.
*s In a note at Labours and Works, Dr.
Todd here inserts, bubj\4 &cay oibj\e, " labores et opera. "
46 There are eight quatrains extant, on this subject, and they serve fully to illustrate the style and matter of our legendary com-
positions.
4? An account of this circumstance will be
found, in a Manuscript of Michael O'Clery. This is preserved, in the Burgundian Library at Bruxelles. See Catalogue, class, vol. iv. , Nos.
; if Fleadhach, in whose reign this —vexatious tribute was remitted through
we are to credit the bardic story under circumstances not exactly creditable
to any of the parties concerned. This Finnachta u bore away the Tribute
twice without opposition," but on the third occasion of his coming to exact
it, the Leinstermen rose up against him. Great preparations were made on
both sides, and the Leinstermen were naturally anxious to have the powerful *
Moling ; as St. Ciaran got the salmon in his river the Nore, and the shads betook themselves to the Barrow. It is needless to state, that this story has been coined to ac- count for the abundance of good and rich salmon for which the Nore is noted
after died ofa broken heart,
6
while the Barrow does not possess the reputation of being a river favourable to the culture of
This tribute was to consist of 5,000 ounces of silver, 5,000 cloaks, 5,000 fat cows, 5,000 fat hogs, 5,000 fat wethers, and 5,000 large vessels of brass and bronze. It was known as the Boromean Tribute. It is said to have been so named, owing to —the great number of cows paid through it ho being Irish for cow ; but, as the proportion was equal on all the other items enumerated, we may attribute to bardic exaggeration much that has been stated, in reference to this
word Bovaticum, or "cattle uibute," some- times alluded to.
to be found, in the " Book of Leinster," sometimes called the Book of Glendalough, edited by Robert Atkinson, M. A. , LL. D. It extends from p. 294 to p. 308, but here the Manuscript breaks off abruptly, and the re- mainder of the tale is lost
'°The "Book of Leinster," professing to give an account of these particulars, relates that he sang this lay invoking their advi—ce
the salmon. See No. vi. , p. 94, n. 3.
"See his Life, at the 20th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. ii. ,
chap. iii.
"ActaSanctorumHiber-
3 See
Colgan's
subject.
7 In mediaeval Latin Tracts, we find the
niae," xx. Januarii. Secunda Vita S.
Fechini, cap. 1. , p. 139.
" Ecclesiastical iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xiii. , p. 132, and n. 170, pp. 134,
135.
s Eochaidh Ainchean married first Dairine\
whom he afterwards confined in a prison, and pretending that she had died, he next asked for and obtained her sister in mar- riage. Dairine escaped from the prison, in which she had been immured, and made her appearance before her faithless husband and his new wife. Seeing her sister, whom she had thought to be dead, still living, owing to the shock, the latter espoused sister fell dead on the spot. The injured wife soon
4 See Rev. Dr.
Lanigan's
History
Ireland,"
reign,
year 673.
of
8 He to began
vol.
in the
» The History of the Borumha Tribute is
;
Denaid duin bar comairle, &c. See p. 304, b. 2.
and help
"His death is placed in the "Annals
:
1
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
707
aid of St. Moling. They requested him to assist at an assembly, which appears
to have been convoked for the purposes of deliberation. This is said to have
beenheld,underthepresidencyofBranUaFaelain,KingofLeinster. 11 St.
Moling willingly accepted that invitation, and on arriving at the place of
assembly, he received a joyous welcome, and he was seated at the king's
side. 12 After some consultation, it was determined, that St. Moling should
become their delegate, and he accepted the commission J 3 entrusted to his
management. Then, King Bran requested him to arise, and to proceed north-
wards on his mission, I4 taking with him the poet Tollcend, who was to go
with him to the house of King Finnachta. ^ St. Moling recited a hymn of 16
Companions were selected, and accordingly they set out for the
praise.
house of Cobthach Mac Colman, and in it they were entertained. It should seem, that the Lagenians had resolved to avail of St. Moling's influence to represent the hardships of their case to the King of Temoria, the Ui Niall.
was there enjoying the annual sports. Knowing the cause for the arrival of St. Molyng and his companions, the Hy-Neill were not in a mood to remove their tribute. J ? The princes and chiefs of the Hy-Neill did not give due honour to St. Molyng, nor would they in any manner remit the debt. But, the kingdidnotgiveanunfavourableanswertotheholyprelate. TheOmnipo- tent Lord, wishing to honour his own bishop, caused heavy rain, mixed with hail, to fall upon his enemies, and did not suffer them to enjoy the sports. This greatly disconcerted them. However, in the place where St. Molyng was, the rain did not descend. Seeing this miracle, they requested St. Molyng
%i
royalfairhadthenbeenassembled. Theking,withhisprincesandchiefs,
Accordingly, deputies
accompanied
of the Four Masters," at A. D. 690. See Dr.
O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 294, 295.
" Then spake King Bran: "What counsel shall we adopt ? shall we make war with Cond's Half? Or shall we go and seek the remission of the Borumha in re- liance on the intercession of the saints? and if it is to be their intercession, whom of the saints of Leinster shall we send to seek the remission ? " This speech of Bran's is then put in the form of a poem, in which Bran asks this question of Tuathal Mac Ailella, and Tuathal replies, that St. Moling is, of course, the most fitting person. Then follows a series of far-fetched eulogistic compari- sons relating to the saints. It begins : "Turchan duin a Thuathail," &c. See p.
305. b. 3.
13 Then, it is related, he made the follow-
ing song, telling of the saints who were ready to go with him on his mission : *' In- mair triar a Christ grind gluair," &c. See p. 305, a. 35. Two stanzas of this poem are given in the Martyrology of Donegal, at May 3rd and at October 8th.
14 King Bran recounted to him the re- wards he would bestow on the saint, ' ' a hood of satin shall be thine," &c, "Eriga
intended to be Tollcend's function, to recite the Song of Praise made by Moling.
16 While Molyng was preparing for his difficult task, he recited a hymn invoking
aid, in the name of the Trinity : "In the Name of the Manhood and the Godhead of
Christ, in the name of the Archangels who are with him in Heaven, and of the twelve chief Apostles who are around his bright face. " " In anmum na Trinoite," &c. See p. 306, a. 20.
"? In the "Martyrology of Donegal," at St. Cuan's festival, October 15th, occurs this entry : St. Moling in the work called "Borumha," mentions the following as having gone with him, to seek a remission from the—Borumha from Finnachta, King
&c. See b. 46. p. 305,
Moiling,"
15 In the house of King Finnachta, it was
x s This word, Borumha, means the Tri- "
them to Onach 18 where a Tailltean,
of Erin
" Dear the three who met the difficulty, Who went with me for my welfare, Dubhtach, Dubhan, who concealed
sorrow,
And Cuan of Clonmore. "
O'Clery adds, in a note : I think the Cluain- more of which he speaks, is Cluain-mor Maedhog in Leinster, In another work, it is stated, that Forannan Bishop of Kildare, and Colman of the Ossorians also accom-
panied
:
St. Moling, on his visit to King Finnachta's court.
18 Now known as Teltown, in the county of Meath.
bute of Oxen. See O'Donovan's Frag-
ments of Annals," pp. 77, 89.
19 680. Inthe It is said, about the year
708 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J une i 7.
to drive away, in the name of the Lord, the rain from them, that they might
exercise themselves in the sports. They promised also to satisfy the saint, after the sports had concluded. Believing them to be in earnest, St. Molyng
prayed to the Lord, and then blessing the heavens, the rain ceased instantly,
andthesunappearedbright. Then,theyexercisedtheirsportspleasantlyand exhibiteddiversespeciesofathleticexercises. Butafterthesports,theywould not fulfil their promises, nor would they remit that tribute for St. Molyng. OnechieffoughtmostfiercelybeforealltheothersagainstSt. Molyng. He was at a distance, but he stood before the face of the holy bishop. Seeing his fierceness, the holy senior made the sign of the cross on his breast. In- stantly, he became pacified with St. Molyng. He began to entreat others, who were there to take part with the bishop, while he urged, that they should dothewillofSt. Molyng,byforgivingtheCowTribute. Otherpartieswerestill in and St.
" Grant me at
until/uan. " ThekingthoughthemeantuntilthefollowingMonday,and
opposition,
Molyng
said to the
king :
least,
O
king,
granted his request, according to the old Life of St. Molying. However, the
word was equivocal ;
but, from that day forward,20 the tribute was abolished,
21 it was never more
22 If we that adopt
to the
account, contained in the ancient historical Tale, called Borumha-Laighean, * this saint, owing to his able and persevering advocacy, obtained the remission oftheBorumhantaxation,infavouroftheLeinsterpeople. 24 Accordingtothe legend, Moling obtained the remission of this tax, by a singular use of the Irishword/uan,whichmeansMonday,andalsotheDayofJudgment. In his covenant with the monarch, he desired in reality to abolish this tribute, not until Monday, as the king understood, but until the Day of Judgment, as the saint intended. 25
and, according
legend,
paid.
This remission of that tax is stated to have in occurred,
693 ;
20
2
it be may
but, referredprobablytoanearlierdate. WhenMolynghadobtainedfromtheKing of the Hy-Niall, that the Boromha tribute should be remitted, and while the saint was returning to his cell, accompanied by his companions, then repenting of his concession, that monarch sent an armed force in pursuit of Moling to slay him, and those who were with him. It is stated, that the magicians had gone to the king, and had asked, if anything new was effected in the council. When informed about what had occurred, they advised him to bring back
Molyngas acaptive,andtorescindtheengagemententeredintowithhim. Other- wise, they said, Finnachta should never exact that tribute, nor any other person
for him, as Molyng had intended it should cease. The holy senior, knowing the impending danger, bade his own people, to proceed on their way with
greater speed, praying to the Lord.
eleventh year of Finnachta's reign, at A. D. 684, the Four Masters record a frost, so great that all the lakes and rivers of Ireland were frozen over, while the sea between Ire- land and Scotland was so frozen, that there was a communication between them over the ice.
31
Perhaps from this very statement, we might be able to infer its very extreme anti-
quity, as left in writing.
m St. Moling, however, lived to see the
tribute levied once more by the monarch Hugh Mac Ainmireach, against whom he
"
arch to leave the country in complete dis- comfiture.
He then began a sacred poem, in which
*3 There is a copy of this tract, in the Book of Lecan, Royal Irish Academy's Library, and another in the Library of Trinity
College, Dublin, Manuscript classed H. 2, 18.
"* See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (x), pp. 298, 299.
*s "It is to be suspected," writes Dr. O'Donovan, " that the equivocation had had its origin in the fanciful brain of the author of the tract, who displays his own, not the saint's morality in the many strange inci- dents with which he embellishes the
simple
events of history. "
** See Roderick O'Flaherty's "Ogygia,"
pars, iii. , cap. Ivi. , p. 305. *? HeimploredBrighitfirst, andhesaid:
raised his voice and his "
" or crozier," as stated. At the head of the men of Leinster, he compelled that mon-
bachall,
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
709
he named many saints, praying to them, and singing their praises, com- mencing with virginity, and ending in like manner with a virgin. First, he named the most blessed Virgin Brigid, and at the end, he celebrated Mary, the Mother of God. 2? When the saint had finished his canticle, he and his
people were nearly overtaken by his pursuers. While the companions of Moling were almost in despair of escaping in safety, he confided in Christ. A bright cloud, sent by God from heaven, had now descended between the saint and his pursuers, so that they could no longer see nor pursue the pious servant ofGod. 28 It is a very remarkable circumstance, that the substance of the foregoing account still survives in a tradition, among the people of St.
Mullins. 2? Thus the holy prelate Molyng together with his people safely escaped from the country of theHy-Neill. That sacred canticle of St. Molyng is always held in honour throughout Ireland, and men of goodwill, when undertaking a journey, sing it, and through the favour of St. Molyng, and the rest of the saints whose memory is celebrated in it, the Omnipotent God sets them free from divers dangers. But, the aforesaid King Fianachta, wishing stilltoexacthistribute,wasafterwardsbeheadedbytheLagenians. Atthat hour when he was slain, the most blessed Molyng, being in his own monas- tery, and seeing with prophetic spirit what had occurred, said to his disciples: " At this moment, brethren, Fianachta, the glorious King of Temoria, is beheaded. He shall receive the recompense for that very great tribute, which he conceded to us ; but, wicked and designing men seduced him after- wards. " Therearesomanychronologicalinaccuraciesandinherentabsur- dities of statement regarding the Borumha-Laighean, that we must largely dis- count several of the foregoing and succeeding incidents of narrative.
Again, it is said, that in the fifteenth year from that in which Finnachta had forgiven the Borumha, Adamnan sent a cleric of his people to Finnachta, that he might come to converse with him, but he found it difficult to obtain an interview. At last, Adamnan was admitted to his presence, and he is stated to have bitterly reproached the monarch for allowing himself to be outwitted by
" O Brighit, bless our path," &c. See vol. he ordered the trumpets to be sounded, and viii. , of the O'Longan Manuscripts in the his army sent in full "purshuit" after the Royal Irish Academy, which contains a saint to kill him. When the saint, who had
story of St. Moling, at p. 12*.
not proceeded very far, on his way^* home, heard all the noise and "jingling of the army behind him, he turned the Liffey be- tween himself and his pursuers—as can be seen to this day, according to my informant
28
Moling, preserved in the Liber Kilkennien- sis, Marsh's Library, Dublin.
29
According
following story is told in the neighbourhood: " After the saint had stopped the cattle for
the people, on the hill of Thomple-na-bo,
as mentioned in his Life, he went to the King
of Ireland 'who was living in Dublin,' to
ask him to forgive the tax, and while he
was speaking to the king, one of the cour-
tiers ' had his ear cocked,' all the time, lis-
tening to the debate between the king and
According
to that ancient Life of St.
to Mr. Patrick O'Leary, the
"
the saint and when the saint was gone, he ;"
an' asked the did he know what he king,
up
was afther promising 'that little grey-headed ouldman? ' 'Begor I'm not rightly sure,'
to gain heaven for himself, or by allowing himself to be outwitted by St. Moling. To remit the Borumha, in order to gain Heaven for himself, was doubtless to deprive the race of Tuathail leachmarofa great revenue for a selfish purpose. But, to allow himself to be outwitted by bt. Moling was scarcely a sin on the part of the king, for it appears that Finnachta had no notion of re-
the ' for he had such quare ould says king,
Irish I could hardly understand him,' says he; 'you see 'twas something like broken English,' said my informant. 'Well,' says the courtier, ' you're after promising him not
to ask the tax until the day after the day of judgment. '" When the king heard this,
—and so made his escape. See
Ancient Life of St. Molyng," Notes (s), pp. 43, 44.
3° The Berbha means the River Barrow, which was near Moling's church.
3I Allusion is made to Breasal Brec, King of Leinster in the pagan times,
3' The Douglas stream, in the Queen s County, that falls into the Barrow,
33 Finnachta had committed a great sin in the estimation of Adamnan, against the race of Tuathail, by forgiving the Borum-
"
ha Tribute
7io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 17. Moling, and for having remitted the tribute. However, he ended by pro-
a — onthemeritsofSt. nouncing high eulogy Moling,
and
by praying
forhimin
this fashion
:
" I ask a petition from God, that death or danger may not overtake me ;
That Moling may this day escape, may he not perish by point or edge (of weapon).
Mac Faillen from beyond the sea, shall not be driven over the sea. He knows the secrets of the Son of God, the Son of God knows his
secrets.
Thrice fifty psalms each day he sings to God ;
——— Thricefiftypaupers worthydeed hefeedseachnight;
The virtuous productive tree the Seer with the visions, The foreign ship which has found welcome.
The wave of Berbha
of the of — ship Breasal,
31
golden
The — golden
board over the
3°
treasure from the centre the
tribes
The salmon of the brown Dubhghlaise 32 the wave sound, the wave
against the cliff. "
After this, Finnachta placed his head on the bosom of Adamnan, and he did penance in his presence, and Adamnan forgave him 33 for the remission of the Borumha. 34 Another miracle, which Christ worked through St. Molyng, when he was with the aforesaid King of Temoria, is also related. A certain man, charged with a grievous crime, was bound in chains, and the prisoner was left in his camp, near the king, to be punished with death. That man requested his keepers to go with him to St. Molyng. But, having gone with him, the captive prostrated himself at the feet of St. Molyng adjuring him, in the name of Christ, that he would beseech the king for his pardon. Forth- with, St. Molyng went to the monarches to entreat for his liberty. The king and his council had resolved, that the captive should be executed, on the very next day. However, the holy bishop replied : "Trust in Christ, brother, for on this very night, your chains shall be loosed by Christ ; you shall come to me a freed man ; you shall safely escape ; and you shall afterwards amend your life. " This prediction was exactly fulfilled. On that very night, his chains were unbound, in a miraculous manner, and the liberated captive went toSt. Molyng. ThisholyservantofGodgavehimleavetoescape,andhe returned fervent thanks to the Almighty.
The present remains of St. Moling's Monastery consist of four ruined
churches or houses, with a small cell, erected at the east side of the monas-
tery, said to have been St. James' chapel. 36 Opposite to this, there is an ancientcross,whichwasbroken; butlately,theportionshavebeenreunited,37
"
Boramha" at all.
34 The tribute was, however, revived and
again levied by Brian, the son of Cinneidigh, at the beginniug of the eleventh century, as a punishment for the adherence of the Kings of Leinster to the Danish cause ; and, it was from this circumstance, that he obtained the surname of Boroimhe (Boru).
35 In the year 693, Finnachta was slain by Aedh or Hugh, son of Dluthach, son of Ailill, &c, at the battle of Greallach Dol- laith, now probably Girley, near Kells ;
after he had reigned in Ireland 20 years, and
13 years after his acceding to the prayer of St. Moling. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 296, 297, and nn. (o, p, q, r), ibid.
3* The group of ecclesiastical ruins at St.
Mullins, is well represented in a photograph, kindly forwarded to the writer by M r. Patrick
O'Leary, Graigenamanagh. From it, a draw- ing was made on the wood by William F.
Wakeman, presented in the accompanying illustration, engraved by Mrs. Millard,
mining the
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
711
although it is evident from its stunted and mutilated appearance, that a great portionofit hasnotbeenrecovered. Acarvedfigure,intendedtorepresent the crucifixion, is centrally placed between the arms, and within the circle Utner carvings, but very much worn, are still traceable over the portion
remaining.
37 An Patrick
engraving
ofitistobeseeninMr. " Ancient Life of St.
"Thatcannotbe,"said "When Moiling :
Academy,"
Irish
Manuscript Series,
vol.
thou hast in me,"
says
the
youth,
Ruins at St. Mullins, County of Carlow.
Numerous are the miracles and prophecies to be recounted, regarding him, as given in the Legends of his Life. When these were divulged, the fame of
St. Moling was spread abroad, throughout the whole of Ireland. Many of those stories regarding his wonderful exploits, however, are but the remnant of foolish and absurd popular traditions. One of these 38 is the account of an attempt made by the Devil to deceive him, and the saint's dialogue with him. 3?
The demon ends that interview by pronouncing Moling's eulogy. 40
O'Leary's Molyng," at Notes, p. 33.
Christ used to come and converse with the
38 It has been translated into English, by nor royally did he come, but in the shapes
Professor Eugene O'Curry.
39 See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
of the wretched, namely of the sick and of the
i. ,
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. Notes seems it to thee that is here ? " " Meseems,"
•*
for June 17th, pp. civ. to cvi. says Moiling, that it is the Devil for my
*° An Insh and ancient poem, found in the hurt. " " 111 for thee is thy unbelief," says ""
"Book of Leinster," tells how the devil the youth. Well," says Moiling, here is
attempted
" Raise it not, O Cleric," likelier it is I whom thou thinkest, the man full of tribulations. " " Wherefore
Moiling,
was once
praying
Gospel.
to deceive St. " As Molyng :
successor,
Christ's " He then Gospel.
he, in his church, he saw a youth coming to him into the house.
thy raised the
— —
servants of God Culdees not in purple
lepers, used Christ to be. "
" It is unbelief
" who
" ""
Purple raiment around him, and a dignified form he had. " That is well, O Cleric," saith he. "Amen," saith Moiling. "Where- fore dost thou not bless me? " asks the
hast thou come ? " asked Moiling.
youth. "Who art thou? " quoth Moiling.
"
I," says he,
" am Christ, the Son of God,"
says he,
That I will not give it. " says Moiling, "for it is not a desire that thou wouldst be the better of ;
what were it to thee, moreover ? " " O good
thou mayst give me thy blessing.
"
v
712 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 17.
In another legend, we are told that St. Moling sprang over Luachair Dead-
haidh in three when the leaps,
of him. *1 The
were in
named is thought to have been identical with the rushy land of the River
Burren, in the county of Carlow. 4
*
Cleric," says he, "just as if thou shouldst go
into a vat of honey, and bathe therein with
thy raiment, the odour of it would be on thee
unless thou shouldst wash thy raiment. "
" Wherefore is this thy desire ? " asks Moi-
ling. "It is," says he, "though thou givest
nought of thy blessing to me, its prosperity
and its goodness should be on me exter-
nally. " "Thou shalt not have it," says
"
Moiling,
"Well, then," says he, "give me the full of a curse. " "Wherefore wishest thou this? " says Moiling. " Not hard to say, O Cleric,"
He is a precious stone with good- ness,
Whoso doth the will of God's Son of heaven.
He is a blind nut, wherein is no pro- fit,
He is a stinking rottenness, he is a withered tree,
He is a wild apple branch without
blossom,
Everyone who doth not the will of
the King.
If he does the will of God's Son of
heaven,
He is a brilliant sun ound which
is summer,
He is the image of God in heaven,
He is a vessel glassy pure.
He is a racehoise over a smooth
plain.
That man who strives for the King-
dom of great God,
He is a chariot that is seen under
a King,
Which wins a prize from bridles
of gold. Heisasonthatwarmsholyheaven,
The man for whom the Great is thankful,
He is a temple prosperous, noble, He is a holy shrine which gold ac-
companies.
He is an altar whereon wine is shed,
Round which is chanted a multi-
tude of choruses,
He is a cleansed chalice with
liquor,
He is white fituiruine, he is gold. "
• For this reason, he was called Moling Luachra.
42
" See Rev. John Francis Shearman's
Loca Patriciana," No. vi. , p. 93.
43 See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , edited by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. Notes at June 17, p. ciii.
44 It would seem, from what is here said, that this ring (cirme), was not a mere finger ring, but one of the great golden rings, now
for thou hast not deserved it. "
" the mouth whereon would come
says he,
the curse on me, its hurt and its poison shall
"" be on thy lips. " Go," says Moiling, no blessing deservest thou. " "Better forme How shall I attain
that I should earn it.
it ? " " Service unto God," says Moiling.
is me," says he, I bear not this. " "Woe "
" A little even of reading," replied Moiling. " No more thy reading, and this helps me
not. " " Fasting then," says Moiling. "I am fasting from the world's beginning. Not the belter am I. " " Prostration to make,"
" forbackwardsaremyknees. " "Goforth,"
quoth Moiling.
I cannot bend forward, " I cannot teach nor save
says Moiling. thee. "
Then said the Devil—
" He is pure gold, he is a heaven round the sun,
He is a vessel of silver full of wine, He is an angel, he is wisdom of
saints,
Every one who doth the will of the
King.
He is a bird round which a trap
shuts,
He is a leaky bark in dangerous
peril.
He is an empty vessel, he is a
withered tree,
Whoso doth not the will of the
King above.
He is a sweet branch, with its blos-
som,
He is a vessel which is full of
honey,
King
spectres
place
Another accounts has the locality as
Luachra, in the county of Kerry. Another version of the story relates, how a certain woman looking on cried out: "Well has the scholar leaped
(mo-ling) the rushes (luachair). " Hence, his previous name of Dairchell was changed into that of Moling Luachair. 43
One night, according to his usual practice, Moling sent his fishermen to catch some fish. They captured a large salmon in their nets, and
a of 4* was found in its split open, ring gold
when it was
divided the gold into three parts ; one-third he gave to the poor; one-third to cover reliquaries; while, the other third, he bestowed on labour and on bountiful
pursuit
belly. Moling
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
7i3
works. « In an old Irish Manuscript, it is related, too, that the devil paid a visit to St. Moling, in his church at St. Mullins. Finding, however, that he could take no advantage of the holy man, the fiend broke out into a poetic com- parison, between those who do the will of God and those who neglect it. 46 Our Lord Jesus Christ is related to have appeared to him, on a certain occasion, and under the guise of a leper. 47 This holy man is said also to have been with the
"
Baile Mholing," or "Ecstasy
327-
5< Edward O'Reilly had some prophecies
ascribed to him; he states, however, "if they were written by him, their language has
— modernized some later
been much by writers,"
called the
of Moling," which consists of forty-seven
of 8 and to have
prophecy/ expressed his predic-
gifted
tions regarding the future in metrical style. He wrote in the Scotic or Irish language. A Poem on Clonmore Maedoc has been attributed to him. 49 Another, on the Borumha Tribute, he is said to have written. To him is attributed, also, an Irish Poem, respecting the kingdom of the Lagenians and respecting the kingdom of all Ireland, naming the kings, and how they should reign, and in what manner they should depart from this world, whether by the sword or by death ; while he described many wars and their localities, the conquerors and the conquered in them, until the end of the world. In no manner were these prophecies falsified during the lapse of time. 50 It is also stated, that he wrote some prophecies in Irish 51 and that he had been
spirit
regarded52 asoneofthefourgreatIrishprophets. S3 Heissaidtohavefore-
told 54 the coming of King Henry II. , and of the Anglo-Normans into Ire- land. 55 ApoemonSt. John'sFestivalandoneontheFieryBoltarestatedto have been his compositions. Again, an old Irish metrical composition has been attributed to him, in which he praises St. Onchuo,56 whose remains, with those of St. Finian the Leper,5? rest at Clonmore-Maedhog. More poems have
called torques or fibulae, of which there are such magnificent specimens in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy.
*s In a note at Labours and Works, Dr.
Todd here inserts, bubj\4 &cay oibj\e, " labores et opera. "
46 There are eight quatrains extant, on this subject, and they serve fully to illustrate the style and matter of our legendary com-
positions.
4? An account of this circumstance will be
found, in a Manuscript of Michael O'Clery. This is preserved, in the Burgundian Library at Bruxelles. See Catalogue, class, vol. iv. , Nos.
