^7 These went as
preachers
to the nation of the East Saxons.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
d.
1541, this stronghold was the subject of a'contest between the O'Roorkes.
Through
Glenn-Dallain, the host of Red Hugh O'Don- nell marched a. d. 1595; and in 1597, he again encamped for a short time, south-west of this place. See ibid. , vol. vi. , pp. 1976,
1977, 2036, 2037.
s Hence it was the the thought by people,
church ought to have got for its name, Killa-
"the church of the This journey. "
by
Kelly, p.
xi.
v. , pp. 1462
fortified Crannog and a village were on the
Art. XI. —'From O'Rourke's called Caislean a' Chartha.
Castle, stair,
however, is a worthless tradition, which only
"See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xv. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani, cap. vii. , p. 336. Read by the comment, the Irish Life
serves to obscure the real origin of the name ; although Irish local traditions are in the main highly valuable.
January 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 87
to the townland of Killroose. There was also a church called Killmhinorach ;
but Dr. O'Donovan was unable to learn in what townland it was situated. ^
The name of Osnat, Virgin, is enrolled in the Martyrology of Donegal. ? But afterwards we find added: "These three were the three sisters of Molaisse of Damhinis. "^ Reference is made, of course, to the previous saints, Muadnuat and Tallula, venerated on this same day. 9 The present St. Osnata is supposed to have visited St. Farannan,'° at Drumcliff. She is thought likewise to have belonged to Gleann Dallain, said to have been situated in the territory of Carbry. " This appears, however, to be a mis- take of Colgan. This saint lived in the sixth century ; but the date of her death does not seem to be on record.
Article XII. —Reputed Feast of St. Erhard, Bishop of Ratisbon,
Bavaria. [Eighth Century. '\ In Father Stephen White's work,^ the Feast
of St. Erhard, Bishop of Ratisbon, in Bavaria, is assigned to the 6th of January. This seems to have been an error. The Acts of this saint will be found at the 8th of this month.
^t\imt\) ©ap of Sanuarp.
ARTICLE I. —ST. CEDDA, CHAD, CHEADDAN, OR CEDD, BISHOP OF LONDON, AND APOSTLE AMONG THE MIDLAND ENGLISH, AND EAST SAXONS.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. ^
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—IRISH SCHOOLS—ST. CHAD'S BIRTH AND EDUCATION—HIS MISSION TO THE MIDLAND ENGLISH AND EAST SAXONS—HE RETURNS TO LINDISFARNE—CONSE- CRATED BISHOP, AND CHARGED WITH THE ECCLESIASTICAL GOVERNMENT OF THE EAST SAXONS.
the seventh century, as the Venerable Bede states, numbers of
nglish DURING
the nobles and
of the middle class left their for homes,
persons
the purpose of pursuing sacred studies, or of leading religious lives, in Ireland,
orunderIrishdirectors. Manyembracedthemonasticprofession. Othersagain went their rounds to the cells of the most celebrated masters, who instructed theminlearning. Itwasanage,wheneducationwasgratuitouslyobtainedin
E
* See "Letters containing information relative to the Antiquities of the Counties of Cavan and Leitrim (Breifney), collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1836," p. 256.
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
man says nothing of the sort.
^ in the Bruxelles MS. of Marianus'
Martyrology, the corresponding gloss on the name of this present saint agrees with that comment in the text. It states that Muadh- nat, Talulla, and Osnat, were the three
sisters to Molaisse of Damhinis.
8, 9.
* '°
In a note appended to the foregoing word in the text. Dr. Todd remarks, that a more recent hand has added here in the
"
Sed Marianus non prece- dentes sed sequentes dicit esse sorores S.
See his Acts at the 15th of February, "See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi- berniae," xv. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani,
§ vii. , 337, a—nd n. 36,"p. 339. '
original record,
Art. xii. See Apologia pro Hiber- Molassii. " This appears however to be a nia," cap. iv. , p. 44.
mistake forMarianusorMaolmaireO'Gor- ;
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 7.
Ireland. Willingly did the Irish receive their Anglo-Saxon and British visitors : daily food was given to these without cost ; books they received without payment; and masters were provided to teach them without fees. '
For biographical and historical notices regarding this distinguished pre- late and missionary, we are chiefly indebted to Venerable Bede. ^
The Acts of St. Cedd or Chad more properly are found connected with England, and noted in English martyrologies and records. The educational direction of this saint's mind was received, however, from Irishmen, and in Irish-founded schools. 3 Ceadda or Cedda is variously called Cedd and Ceddus,+asalsoChad,Chada,andCheaddan. s Probably,hefirstsawthe light about the beginning of the seventh century. This saint was a native of the Kingdom of Northumbria; but Cressy says he was born at London, in East Anglia. ^ His earliest education was received in the famous Monas- tery of Lindisfame or Holy Island. This estabhshment had been founded by the great Saint Aidan,7 an Irishman. Retired from the noise and distrac- tions of this world, here St. Chadd learned from that excellent master the science of the saints. He was, in course of time, esteemed worthy to attain the priestly dignity. Among so many other servants of God, who then
flourished in the Kingdom of Northumbria, St. Cedd was selected as most eligible to be sent as a missionary, first to the Midland English,^ and after- wardstotheEastSaxons. 9 TheselatterinhabitedEssexandMiddlesex.
To the former of these missions St. Chad was sent, together with three
other holy priests, Adda,'° Betti," and Diuma,'^ after King Peada had em- braced the Christian faith. 's This prince was baptized by St. Finan,'*
Bishop of Lindisfame. All the King's cornpanions, his soldiers, and their servants, that came along with him, were regenerated at Atwell, or Walton. '5 ThiswasthecountryresidenceofOswy,KingofNorthumbria. '^ Fortheir erudition and godliness of life the missionaries already named were esteemed
— —'
Art. I. Chap. i. "SeeHistoria Ec- of January,
"
Camerarius tells us, but without citing 27, pp. 240, 241. Cambridge edition, authority, that his feast was held on the
clesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap.
1644, fol.
^ See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. 2i, 22, 23, 25, 26. ; lib. iv. , cap. 3.
3 In the collection of Irish Saints, by a
Cistercian monk, we find mentioned, St.
Cedd, Bishop of London, at this date. See Then Oswy, King of Northumbria, ruled pp. 32,33. overthem; buthegenerouslybestowedthe
"t His acts are given by Colgan, in "Acta southern part of Mercia on Peada, son to Sanctorum Hibernise," vii. Januarii. Vita King Penda. Peada is said to have been
s See ibid. , nn. 2, 3, p. 20. the Northern from the Southern Mercians.
^ See " Church History of Brittany under See Matthew of Westminster, " Flores
S. CeddsesiveCeddiEpiscopi,§§i. toxvi. ,
pp. 18 to 20. wife A. D. 657. The River Trent separated
the Saxon Heptarchy," book xv. , chap.
xvii. , p. 368.
7 See his Life at the 31st of August.
"
Historiarum, pp. 230 to 232.
"• See his Life at the of
9th January.
'S This was near the great northern wall built by the Romans,
^ The Midland English or Middelengli,
as called by Venerable Bede, are distin-
guished by this historian from the Mer- killed 5th of August, a. d. 644, by Penda,
cians. The former inhabited Leicestershire,
according to Ussher. Perhaps, too, they occupied some other adjacent countries. At this time, King Penda had transferred them as subjects to his son Peada.
King of the Mercians. Oswy is said to have
reigned twenty-eight years over the King- dom of the Bernici, and to have died a. d. 670. See Matthew of Westminster, "Flores Historiarum," pp. 224, 235. Oswy's
"
9 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of daughter, Alchfleda, became the wife of
the Saints," vol. i. , pp. 91, 92. Peada.
'°
The Bollandists give his Acts at the 1 7th
nth of February.
^'^ Some writers state his festival was held
on the 22nd of February, and others on the
19thofJuly.
'3 His father was Penda, King of the
Mercians, and he was killed A. D. 655.
murdered through the treachery of his own
'* He succeeded his brother St. Oswald,
JANUARY 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
fit to teach and baptize Peada's nation of the Midland EngHsh. This potentate returned home with much joy to prepare for the reception of those priests. Diuma, the last-named, was a Scot/7 while the others belonged to the Angli race. Arriving in the province, with the Prince, these holy mis-
^^
the
by the people. The nobility and the humbler inhabitants, renouncing the
filthofidolatry,weredailybaptizedingreatnumbers. '9 NordidKingPenda offer any obstruction to their^ preaching the Word among his people, the Mercians, if any of these were willing to hear it. ^° But he hated and des- pised such as had received the Gospel of Christ, yet who did not live up to their faith. He most truly declared, that these wretches deserved to be
despised, when they would not obey their God, in whom they professed to believe. ^'^
Saint Cedd was labouring with great success on his midland field of duty, when called away to be sent upon another holy expedition. His next desti- nation was to the Eastern Saxons. ^^ For Sigbercht or Sigebert,^^ the monarch ofthatprovince,hadvisitedOswy,KingofNorthumbria. '^^ Thisreligious
prince, omitting no opportunity for exhorting his friends to embrace the true way of salvation, had induced his guest to accept the sweet yoke of the Christian faith. ^s Sigebert was baptized by Bishop Finan. ^^ Having now become a citizen of the Eternal Kingdom, Sigebert returned to the seat of his temporal kingdom, and requested King Oswy that he would despatch teachers, who might convert his nation to the faith of Christ. Leaving the province of the Midland English, the man of God, Cedda, obtained another priest for his companion.
^7 These went as preachers to the nation of the East Saxons. ^^ After travelling through all the country, when they had gathered a numerous Church to our Lord, Cedda returned to Lindisfarne Church to confer with Bishop Finan. ^9 Finding how successful he had been in the work of the Gospel, after the year 652, Finan constituted him bishop over the Church of the East Saxons, while calling two other bishops to assist at the consecration. 3° Having received the episcopal degree, Cedd returned to his province. Pursuing the work he had begun with more ample authority,
'7 This Venerable Bede states expressly, rated on the 24th of April. See Rev.
sionaries
diligently preached
Gospel.
They
were hearkened to willingly
yet Dr. Lingard calls the four missionaries
Northumbrian priests. See "History and
Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church,"
Alban Butler's
''
Lives of the Fathers, Mar-
chap.
i.
tyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. iv. , April xxiv.
^3 Sigebert, sumamed the Little, the son
of Siward, over the East Saxons feigned
A. D. 623, according to Matthew of West- minster, "Flores Historiarum," p. 215.
^^Seezizd. , p. 225.
^s See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part L, p. 11.
'^ Abbot of Ingulph,
Croyland,
states, that this prince was disposed to found a monastery at Medishamisted, but his im- timely death frust^-ated his purpose. See "Historia," p. 850. Rerum Anglicarum
Scriptores post Bedam Prsecipui. '9 See Bishop Challoner's
Sancta," parti. , p. Ii.
" ^* Britannia
^°
See Dr. Lingard's "History of Eng-
Matthew of Westminster assigns these
events to A. D. 649. See "Flores Historia-
rum," p. 225.
^7 See Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 22. , pp. 221,222.
=^
In "The Circle of the Seasons," at the 7th of January, p. 7, occurs "St. Cedd,
"
Bishop of London.
^ See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xv. ,sec. xv. , p. 428.
3° Camden has fallen into an error, in as- signing to A. D. 630 the conversion of the East Saxons. Now King Oswy did not
land," vol. i,, chap, ii. , A. D. 651. , p. 95.
Edition, 1837.
^'
See Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxi. , pp. 218, 219.
^^ St. Mellitus, in the beginning of the seventh century, had partially succeeded in bringing many of them to the true Faith. On the death of their King Sebert, about A. D. 616, his sons banished this holy first bishop of London, and many of the converts lapsed into paganism. St. Mellitus is vene-
90 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [January 7.
the newly-appointed prelate built churches in several places. 3^ He also ordained priests and deacons to assist him in preaching the Word, and in
administering baptism, more especially in that city called by the Saxons Ythancester. 32 This was formerly denominated Othona, once a town of note, but now swallowed up by encroachment of the sea. 33 It was seated on the bank of a river, named Pante, now Froshwell. His mission was
prosecuted, hkewise, in another city called Tillaburg, now Tilbury, 34 near the RiverThames. 35 Inbothoftheseplaces,St. Chadgatheredcommunitiesof devout servants to our Lord. 36 These he instructed in the discipline of a regular life, so far as those rude people, lately reclaimed from paganism, were then capable of learning.
CHAPTER II.
ST, CHAD FREQUENTLY VISITED NORTHUMBRIA—KING ETHELWALD GRANTED HIM LAND, WHEREON TO ERECT A MONASTERY—AUSTERITIES PRACTISED THEREIN—THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES OF LINDISFARNE INTRODUCED AT L^STINGA OR LESTIN- GAN—THE HOLY PRELATE RETURNS TO THE EAST SAXONS.
Our saint did not confine his apostolic labours, however, to the province of the East Saxons, or to his diocese of London,^ the capital of that pro- vince. ^ He went several times, as we learn from St. Bede, to visit and exhort his countrymen, living on the north side of the Humber river. Here, Ethelwald, son to King Oswald, who reigned among the Deire, in Yorkshire, finding him to be a holy and a wise man, desired him to accept of some landed possessions, on which to build a monastery. There, the King desired toresort,toofferhispiousprayersandtoheartheWordofGod. Therehe wished to be buried when he died, firmly believing he should receive much benefit from the prayers of those who were to serve God in that place. The King had with him Celin, a brother of the same holy prelate. Celin was a man of great piety, and being a priest, he administered frequently to the King and to his family, the Word of God and the Sacraments of Faith. Through his means. King Ethelwald chiefly came to know and love the bishop. Wherefore, complying with the King's desires, St. Cedd choose a place to build his monastery. He selected a site among the craggy and re- mote mountains. These seemed to be a fitter retreat for robbers, or a lurking place for wild beasts, than a suitable habitation for men. The ser-
begin his reign until 642, and before the
year 652, St. Finan had not been consecrated
bishop,
3' See Matthew of Westminster, " Flores
" Historiarum, p. 225.
3^ It is situated on the Blackwater. An old chapel marks the site, and there are numerous traces of an ancient settlement. It is in the parish of Bradwell. See Rev.
Brittany," book xv. , chap, xvii. , p. 369. 35Xhe monasteries of Ythancester and Til-
bury, in all appearance, were destroyed by the Danes, about the ninth century. We find no further mention of them in history.
3* gee Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 22. pp.
S. Baring-Gould's vol. i. , p. 91, note.
"
Lives of the Saints,"
saint is called Bishop of London in the Eng-
lish Martyrology, by William of Malms- 33 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of bury and by other writers, as it was the chief
the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. i. , January 7.
3''
Cressy maintains, however, that the seat of St. Cedd's bishopric among the East Saxons was not at Tilbury, as Camden
city of the East Saxons. See "Acta Sane-
torum Hibernije," vii. , Januarii, n. 14, p. 21.
^ See Wharton's " Historia Episcoporum London. " and Polydore Virgil Urbinatis
"
the kingdom. See "Church History of p. 71.
imagines,
but at
London,
the
Metropolis
of
Anghcse Historiae,"
lib.
xxvii. ,
lib.
iv. ,
222, 223. — Chap. ii.
' that this Colgan remarks,
January 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 91
vant of God desired by prayers and fasting to cleanse this place from crimes, formerly committed there, and thus he prepared to erect a monastic founda- tion. He requested the King, that there he might be permitted to abide in prayer, during the whole of an approaching Lent. This request was granted. According to Ecclesiastical custom, St. Cedd kept fast until the
evening every day, except on Sundays. Then he was content with a small piece of bread, one egg, and a little milk, mingled with water. Such he stated was anciently the custom of those,3 from whom he had learned a rule of regular discipline. '^ They consecrated first to the Lord by prayers and fasting those places, which were given them for the building of monasteries or churches. When only ten days of the Lent remained, a person came inviting St. Cedd to pay a visit to the King. That so religious a work should not be intermitted, even to regulate the King's important affairs, Cedd desired his priest, and his own brother, Cynibil, to continue there those devotions which he had piously begun. Cynibil most willingly consented.
The full time for prayer and fasting having been completed, St. Cedda there built a monastery, which was called Laestinga. s His disciples were furnished with such religious institutes as were observed at Lindisfame, where he had been trained. After this, the holy Prelate returned to his bishopric among the East Saxons. ^ There he diligently carried on God's works, yet so as to keep superintendence over Lestingan Monastery. He placed superiors to govern it, and he visited it from time to time. 7
CHAPTER III.
KING SIGEBERT REJOICES AT THE GOOD BISHOP's WORK—EXCOMMUNICATION OF A NOBLE, AND TRAGIC DEATH OF THE KING—SUIDHELM SUCCEEDS HIM—ST. CHAD ASSISTS AT THE SYNOD OF STREANESHALCH—ON A VISIT TO LESTINGA, HE IS SEIZED WITH HIS LAST ILLNESS—HIS DEATH AND BURIAL—HOLY BROTHERS OF THIS; SAINT—REMARKABLE DEVOTEDNESS OF THE RELIGIOUS OF ESSEX—FEAST OF ST. CHAD—CONCLUSION.
King Sigebert saw with joy the great progress which the Gospel made
amonghispeople,owingtothepreachingofSt. Cedda. Yetbyinstigation of the common enemy to all good deeds, Sigebert was basely murdered by two of his own kinsmen. The murderers could allege no other reason for what they had done than a hatred towards him, because he was too mercifully
inclined, and too easily induced to forgive his enemies. ' Sigebert's death might have entitled the King to some share in the martyr's glory, had there not been a former fault, which drew on him this punishment from Divine
justice.
3 St. Columba's disciples, under whose but to the Bemicians. See " The Church
rule he had received his first education at Lindisfame. Besides the fast days in each
week, there were three particular portions of each year, during which a solemn fast was formerly kept in Ireland. See Rev. P. J. Carew's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," chap. viii. , p. 309, note.
"t See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 13.
s This place is sometimes written Lestin-
gau, and Lestinghen. In the Breviary of Sarum it is said to have belonged to the Isle of Lindisfame. According to Cressy, this island did not pertain to the Deiri province,
History of Brittany under the Saxon Hep- tarchy," book xvi. , chap, xii. , p. 393.
*
This people first received the faith in 604, according to the Chronicler, Ethel- werd. See "ChroniconimEthelwerdi," libri iv. , lib. ii. , cap. L, p.
Glenn-Dallain, the host of Red Hugh O'Don- nell marched a. d. 1595; and in 1597, he again encamped for a short time, south-west of this place. See ibid. , vol. vi. , pp. 1976,
1977, 2036, 2037.
s Hence it was the the thought by people,
church ought to have got for its name, Killa-
"the church of the This journey. "
by
Kelly, p.
xi.
v. , pp. 1462
fortified Crannog and a village were on the
Art. XI. —'From O'Rourke's called Caislean a' Chartha.
Castle, stair,
however, is a worthless tradition, which only
"See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xv. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani, cap. vii. , p. 336. Read by the comment, the Irish Life
serves to obscure the real origin of the name ; although Irish local traditions are in the main highly valuable.
January 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 87
to the townland of Killroose. There was also a church called Killmhinorach ;
but Dr. O'Donovan was unable to learn in what townland it was situated. ^
The name of Osnat, Virgin, is enrolled in the Martyrology of Donegal. ? But afterwards we find added: "These three were the three sisters of Molaisse of Damhinis. "^ Reference is made, of course, to the previous saints, Muadnuat and Tallula, venerated on this same day. 9 The present St. Osnata is supposed to have visited St. Farannan,'° at Drumcliff. She is thought likewise to have belonged to Gleann Dallain, said to have been situated in the territory of Carbry. " This appears, however, to be a mis- take of Colgan. This saint lived in the sixth century ; but the date of her death does not seem to be on record.
Article XII. —Reputed Feast of St. Erhard, Bishop of Ratisbon,
Bavaria. [Eighth Century. '\ In Father Stephen White's work,^ the Feast
of St. Erhard, Bishop of Ratisbon, in Bavaria, is assigned to the 6th of January. This seems to have been an error. The Acts of this saint will be found at the 8th of this month.
^t\imt\) ©ap of Sanuarp.
ARTICLE I. —ST. CEDDA, CHAD, CHEADDAN, OR CEDD, BISHOP OF LONDON, AND APOSTLE AMONG THE MIDLAND ENGLISH, AND EAST SAXONS.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. ^
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—IRISH SCHOOLS—ST. CHAD'S BIRTH AND EDUCATION—HIS MISSION TO THE MIDLAND ENGLISH AND EAST SAXONS—HE RETURNS TO LINDISFARNE—CONSE- CRATED BISHOP, AND CHARGED WITH THE ECCLESIASTICAL GOVERNMENT OF THE EAST SAXONS.
the seventh century, as the Venerable Bede states, numbers of
nglish DURING
the nobles and
of the middle class left their for homes,
persons
the purpose of pursuing sacred studies, or of leading religious lives, in Ireland,
orunderIrishdirectors. Manyembracedthemonasticprofession. Othersagain went their rounds to the cells of the most celebrated masters, who instructed theminlearning. Itwasanage,wheneducationwasgratuitouslyobtainedin
E
* See "Letters containing information relative to the Antiquities of the Counties of Cavan and Leitrim (Breifney), collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1836," p. 256.
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
man says nothing of the sort.
^ in the Bruxelles MS. of Marianus'
Martyrology, the corresponding gloss on the name of this present saint agrees with that comment in the text. It states that Muadh- nat, Talulla, and Osnat, were the three
sisters to Molaisse of Damhinis.
8, 9.
* '°
In a note appended to the foregoing word in the text. Dr. Todd remarks, that a more recent hand has added here in the
"
Sed Marianus non prece- dentes sed sequentes dicit esse sorores S.
See his Acts at the 15th of February, "See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi- berniae," xv. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani,
§ vii. , 337, a—nd n. 36,"p. 339. '
original record,
Art. xii. See Apologia pro Hiber- Molassii. " This appears however to be a nia," cap. iv. , p. 44.
mistake forMarianusorMaolmaireO'Gor- ;
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 7.
Ireland. Willingly did the Irish receive their Anglo-Saxon and British visitors : daily food was given to these without cost ; books they received without payment; and masters were provided to teach them without fees. '
For biographical and historical notices regarding this distinguished pre- late and missionary, we are chiefly indebted to Venerable Bede. ^
The Acts of St. Cedd or Chad more properly are found connected with England, and noted in English martyrologies and records. The educational direction of this saint's mind was received, however, from Irishmen, and in Irish-founded schools. 3 Ceadda or Cedda is variously called Cedd and Ceddus,+asalsoChad,Chada,andCheaddan. s Probably,hefirstsawthe light about the beginning of the seventh century. This saint was a native of the Kingdom of Northumbria; but Cressy says he was born at London, in East Anglia. ^ His earliest education was received in the famous Monas- tery of Lindisfame or Holy Island. This estabhshment had been founded by the great Saint Aidan,7 an Irishman. Retired from the noise and distrac- tions of this world, here St. Chadd learned from that excellent master the science of the saints. He was, in course of time, esteemed worthy to attain the priestly dignity. Among so many other servants of God, who then
flourished in the Kingdom of Northumbria, St. Cedd was selected as most eligible to be sent as a missionary, first to the Midland English,^ and after- wardstotheEastSaxons. 9 TheselatterinhabitedEssexandMiddlesex.
To the former of these missions St. Chad was sent, together with three
other holy priests, Adda,'° Betti," and Diuma,'^ after King Peada had em- braced the Christian faith. 's This prince was baptized by St. Finan,'*
Bishop of Lindisfame. All the King's cornpanions, his soldiers, and their servants, that came along with him, were regenerated at Atwell, or Walton. '5 ThiswasthecountryresidenceofOswy,KingofNorthumbria. '^ Fortheir erudition and godliness of life the missionaries already named were esteemed
— —'
Art. I. Chap. i. "SeeHistoria Ec- of January,
"
Camerarius tells us, but without citing 27, pp. 240, 241. Cambridge edition, authority, that his feast was held on the
clesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap.
1644, fol.
^ See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. 2i, 22, 23, 25, 26. ; lib. iv. , cap. 3.
3 In the collection of Irish Saints, by a
Cistercian monk, we find mentioned, St.
Cedd, Bishop of London, at this date. See Then Oswy, King of Northumbria, ruled pp. 32,33. overthem; buthegenerouslybestowedthe
"t His acts are given by Colgan, in "Acta southern part of Mercia on Peada, son to Sanctorum Hibernise," vii. Januarii. Vita King Penda. Peada is said to have been
s See ibid. , nn. 2, 3, p. 20. the Northern from the Southern Mercians.
^ See " Church History of Brittany under See Matthew of Westminster, " Flores
S. CeddsesiveCeddiEpiscopi,§§i. toxvi. ,
pp. 18 to 20. wife A. D. 657. The River Trent separated
the Saxon Heptarchy," book xv. , chap.
xvii. , p. 368.
7 See his Life at the 31st of August.
"
Historiarum, pp. 230 to 232.
"• See his Life at the of
9th January.
'S This was near the great northern wall built by the Romans,
^ The Midland English or Middelengli,
as called by Venerable Bede, are distin-
guished by this historian from the Mer- killed 5th of August, a. d. 644, by Penda,
cians. The former inhabited Leicestershire,
according to Ussher. Perhaps, too, they occupied some other adjacent countries. At this time, King Penda had transferred them as subjects to his son Peada.
King of the Mercians. Oswy is said to have
reigned twenty-eight years over the King- dom of the Bernici, and to have died a. d. 670. See Matthew of Westminster, "Flores Historiarum," pp. 224, 235. Oswy's
"
9 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of daughter, Alchfleda, became the wife of
the Saints," vol. i. , pp. 91, 92. Peada.
'°
The Bollandists give his Acts at the 1 7th
nth of February.
^'^ Some writers state his festival was held
on the 22nd of February, and others on the
19thofJuly.
'3 His father was Penda, King of the
Mercians, and he was killed A. D. 655.
murdered through the treachery of his own
'* He succeeded his brother St. Oswald,
JANUARY 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
fit to teach and baptize Peada's nation of the Midland EngHsh. This potentate returned home with much joy to prepare for the reception of those priests. Diuma, the last-named, was a Scot/7 while the others belonged to the Angli race. Arriving in the province, with the Prince, these holy mis-
^^
the
by the people. The nobility and the humbler inhabitants, renouncing the
filthofidolatry,weredailybaptizedingreatnumbers. '9 NordidKingPenda offer any obstruction to their^ preaching the Word among his people, the Mercians, if any of these were willing to hear it. ^° But he hated and des- pised such as had received the Gospel of Christ, yet who did not live up to their faith. He most truly declared, that these wretches deserved to be
despised, when they would not obey their God, in whom they professed to believe. ^'^
Saint Cedd was labouring with great success on his midland field of duty, when called away to be sent upon another holy expedition. His next desti- nation was to the Eastern Saxons. ^^ For Sigbercht or Sigebert,^^ the monarch ofthatprovince,hadvisitedOswy,KingofNorthumbria. '^^ Thisreligious
prince, omitting no opportunity for exhorting his friends to embrace the true way of salvation, had induced his guest to accept the sweet yoke of the Christian faith. ^s Sigebert was baptized by Bishop Finan. ^^ Having now become a citizen of the Eternal Kingdom, Sigebert returned to the seat of his temporal kingdom, and requested King Oswy that he would despatch teachers, who might convert his nation to the faith of Christ. Leaving the province of the Midland English, the man of God, Cedda, obtained another priest for his companion.
^7 These went as preachers to the nation of the East Saxons. ^^ After travelling through all the country, when they had gathered a numerous Church to our Lord, Cedda returned to Lindisfarne Church to confer with Bishop Finan. ^9 Finding how successful he had been in the work of the Gospel, after the year 652, Finan constituted him bishop over the Church of the East Saxons, while calling two other bishops to assist at the consecration. 3° Having received the episcopal degree, Cedd returned to his province. Pursuing the work he had begun with more ample authority,
'7 This Venerable Bede states expressly, rated on the 24th of April. See Rev.
sionaries
diligently preached
Gospel.
They
were hearkened to willingly
yet Dr. Lingard calls the four missionaries
Northumbrian priests. See "History and
Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church,"
Alban Butler's
''
Lives of the Fathers, Mar-
chap.
i.
tyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. iv. , April xxiv.
^3 Sigebert, sumamed the Little, the son
of Siward, over the East Saxons feigned
A. D. 623, according to Matthew of West- minster, "Flores Historiarum," p. 215.
^^Seezizd. , p. 225.
^s See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part L, p. 11.
'^ Abbot of Ingulph,
Croyland,
states, that this prince was disposed to found a monastery at Medishamisted, but his im- timely death frust^-ated his purpose. See "Historia," p. 850. Rerum Anglicarum
Scriptores post Bedam Prsecipui. '9 See Bishop Challoner's
Sancta," parti. , p. Ii.
" ^* Britannia
^°
See Dr. Lingard's "History of Eng-
Matthew of Westminster assigns these
events to A. D. 649. See "Flores Historia-
rum," p. 225.
^7 See Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 22. , pp. 221,222.
=^
In "The Circle of the Seasons," at the 7th of January, p. 7, occurs "St. Cedd,
"
Bishop of London.
^ See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xv. ,sec. xv. , p. 428.
3° Camden has fallen into an error, in as- signing to A. D. 630 the conversion of the East Saxons. Now King Oswy did not
land," vol. i,, chap, ii. , A. D. 651. , p. 95.
Edition, 1837.
^'
See Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxi. , pp. 218, 219.
^^ St. Mellitus, in the beginning of the seventh century, had partially succeeded in bringing many of them to the true Faith. On the death of their King Sebert, about A. D. 616, his sons banished this holy first bishop of London, and many of the converts lapsed into paganism. St. Mellitus is vene-
90 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [January 7.
the newly-appointed prelate built churches in several places. 3^ He also ordained priests and deacons to assist him in preaching the Word, and in
administering baptism, more especially in that city called by the Saxons Ythancester. 32 This was formerly denominated Othona, once a town of note, but now swallowed up by encroachment of the sea. 33 It was seated on the bank of a river, named Pante, now Froshwell. His mission was
prosecuted, hkewise, in another city called Tillaburg, now Tilbury, 34 near the RiverThames. 35 Inbothoftheseplaces,St. Chadgatheredcommunitiesof devout servants to our Lord. 36 These he instructed in the discipline of a regular life, so far as those rude people, lately reclaimed from paganism, were then capable of learning.
CHAPTER II.
ST, CHAD FREQUENTLY VISITED NORTHUMBRIA—KING ETHELWALD GRANTED HIM LAND, WHEREON TO ERECT A MONASTERY—AUSTERITIES PRACTISED THEREIN—THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES OF LINDISFARNE INTRODUCED AT L^STINGA OR LESTIN- GAN—THE HOLY PRELATE RETURNS TO THE EAST SAXONS.
Our saint did not confine his apostolic labours, however, to the province of the East Saxons, or to his diocese of London,^ the capital of that pro- vince. ^ He went several times, as we learn from St. Bede, to visit and exhort his countrymen, living on the north side of the Humber river. Here, Ethelwald, son to King Oswald, who reigned among the Deire, in Yorkshire, finding him to be a holy and a wise man, desired him to accept of some landed possessions, on which to build a monastery. There, the King desired toresort,toofferhispiousprayersandtoheartheWordofGod. Therehe wished to be buried when he died, firmly believing he should receive much benefit from the prayers of those who were to serve God in that place. The King had with him Celin, a brother of the same holy prelate. Celin was a man of great piety, and being a priest, he administered frequently to the King and to his family, the Word of God and the Sacraments of Faith. Through his means. King Ethelwald chiefly came to know and love the bishop. Wherefore, complying with the King's desires, St. Cedd choose a place to build his monastery. He selected a site among the craggy and re- mote mountains. These seemed to be a fitter retreat for robbers, or a lurking place for wild beasts, than a suitable habitation for men. The ser-
begin his reign until 642, and before the
year 652, St. Finan had not been consecrated
bishop,
3' See Matthew of Westminster, " Flores
" Historiarum, p. 225.
3^ It is situated on the Blackwater. An old chapel marks the site, and there are numerous traces of an ancient settlement. It is in the parish of Bradwell. See Rev.
Brittany," book xv. , chap, xvii. , p. 369. 35Xhe monasteries of Ythancester and Til-
bury, in all appearance, were destroyed by the Danes, about the ninth century. We find no further mention of them in history.
3* gee Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 22. pp.
S. Baring-Gould's vol. i. , p. 91, note.
"
Lives of the Saints,"
saint is called Bishop of London in the Eng-
lish Martyrology, by William of Malms- 33 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of bury and by other writers, as it was the chief
the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. i. , January 7.
3''
Cressy maintains, however, that the seat of St. Cedd's bishopric among the East Saxons was not at Tilbury, as Camden
city of the East Saxons. See "Acta Sane-
torum Hibernije," vii. , Januarii, n. 14, p. 21.
^ See Wharton's " Historia Episcoporum London. " and Polydore Virgil Urbinatis
"
the kingdom. See "Church History of p. 71.
imagines,
but at
London,
the
Metropolis
of
Anghcse Historiae,"
lib.
xxvii. ,
lib.
iv. ,
222, 223. — Chap. ii.
' that this Colgan remarks,
January 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 91
vant of God desired by prayers and fasting to cleanse this place from crimes, formerly committed there, and thus he prepared to erect a monastic founda- tion. He requested the King, that there he might be permitted to abide in prayer, during the whole of an approaching Lent. This request was granted. According to Ecclesiastical custom, St. Cedd kept fast until the
evening every day, except on Sundays. Then he was content with a small piece of bread, one egg, and a little milk, mingled with water. Such he stated was anciently the custom of those,3 from whom he had learned a rule of regular discipline. '^ They consecrated first to the Lord by prayers and fasting those places, which were given them for the building of monasteries or churches. When only ten days of the Lent remained, a person came inviting St. Cedd to pay a visit to the King. That so religious a work should not be intermitted, even to regulate the King's important affairs, Cedd desired his priest, and his own brother, Cynibil, to continue there those devotions which he had piously begun. Cynibil most willingly consented.
The full time for prayer and fasting having been completed, St. Cedda there built a monastery, which was called Laestinga. s His disciples were furnished with such religious institutes as were observed at Lindisfame, where he had been trained. After this, the holy Prelate returned to his bishopric among the East Saxons. ^ There he diligently carried on God's works, yet so as to keep superintendence over Lestingan Monastery. He placed superiors to govern it, and he visited it from time to time. 7
CHAPTER III.
KING SIGEBERT REJOICES AT THE GOOD BISHOP's WORK—EXCOMMUNICATION OF A NOBLE, AND TRAGIC DEATH OF THE KING—SUIDHELM SUCCEEDS HIM—ST. CHAD ASSISTS AT THE SYNOD OF STREANESHALCH—ON A VISIT TO LESTINGA, HE IS SEIZED WITH HIS LAST ILLNESS—HIS DEATH AND BURIAL—HOLY BROTHERS OF THIS; SAINT—REMARKABLE DEVOTEDNESS OF THE RELIGIOUS OF ESSEX—FEAST OF ST. CHAD—CONCLUSION.
King Sigebert saw with joy the great progress which the Gospel made
amonghispeople,owingtothepreachingofSt. Cedda. Yetbyinstigation of the common enemy to all good deeds, Sigebert was basely murdered by two of his own kinsmen. The murderers could allege no other reason for what they had done than a hatred towards him, because he was too mercifully
inclined, and too easily induced to forgive his enemies. ' Sigebert's death might have entitled the King to some share in the martyr's glory, had there not been a former fault, which drew on him this punishment from Divine
justice.
3 St. Columba's disciples, under whose but to the Bemicians. See " The Church
rule he had received his first education at Lindisfame. Besides the fast days in each
week, there were three particular portions of each year, during which a solemn fast was formerly kept in Ireland. See Rev. P. J. Carew's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," chap. viii. , p. 309, note.
"t See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 13.
s This place is sometimes written Lestin-
gau, and Lestinghen. In the Breviary of Sarum it is said to have belonged to the Isle of Lindisfame. According to Cressy, this island did not pertain to the Deiri province,
History of Brittany under the Saxon Hep- tarchy," book xvi. , chap, xii. , p. 393.
*
This people first received the faith in 604, according to the Chronicler, Ethel- werd. See "ChroniconimEthelwerdi," libri iv. , lib. ii. , cap. L, p.
