In what part of our island he was born, or where his
earliest
education had been received, does not seem to have transpired.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
Among these were the holding of maintenance lands.
This relic of St.
Fillan was called the Coygerach, and its holders sought a royal charter, early in the fifteenth century, to confirm their rights.
On the 22nd of April, A.
D.
1428, the BaiUie of Glendochart called an inquest of the men
exists. For a long time, a stone called
of the glen to give their verdict, regarding the authority and privileges of the '*
relic of St. Fillan, commonly called the Coygerach. " Their verdict was,
that this relic, then in the keeping of Finlay J ore, had been originally granted by the successor of St. Fillan to one of Finlay's progenitors. Finlay himself
"
exercise from the time of King Robert Bruce, and downward to their own
"
day. 9 Malise Doire was keeper of the
Many miracles were wrought by St. Foilan. To his intercession is attri-
buted that glorious victory of Bannockburn, obtained by Robert Bruce over the English forces. The details of this celebrated battle are recorded by the mediaeval and more modem Scottish and English historians. Edward II. , King of England, collected a force, amounting, it is stated, to one hundred
5 Mr. Stuart, secretary of the society, in If it happened, that goods or cattle were moving a vote of thanks to the Bishop of stolen or "lifted," from any of the pa-
was declared the rightful
heir of the office," whose privileges had been in
Brechin for his paper, said, he was inclined to agree with him that the bell may have come from Italy, or some other foreign country. The society was very much in- debted to the bishop, for the learned paper they had heard, and he was glad to say, that Lord Crawford and the bishop, who were now the custodiers of the bell, were willing it should be deposited in the National Museum.
* The bell of St. Fillan was used on those occasions.
' Five of these are still preserved.
* See " Statistical Account of Scotland,"
vol. xviii. , p. 378.
9 Moreover they found, that the keeper of
rishioners, who from any cause might not dare to follow after their property, then they might
despatch a man to the keeper of the Coy- gerach with four pence or a pair of shoes
and a night's provisions. Then the keeper, on his own charges, was bound to follow the
stolen goods, wherever he could trace them, within the kingdom.
'° In 1487, he received from King James
III. a royal letter, narrating that the "Said Malise and his forebearis has had ane relik of Sanct Fulane callit the Quegrick in kep- ing, of us and of oure progenitouris of maist nobill mynde, guham God assoyle, sen the tyme of King Robert the Bruys, and of be- fore," without owing —service to any person
the "Coygerach" was entitled to demand spiritual or temporal therefore the King
from all the inhabitants —of the
on the parish enjoins lieges
" to intend and to obey
yearly
of Glendochart certain dues viz.
:
From
in the broik- the said Malise Doire peccable
ing and joicing of the said relik;" "and that ye mak him nane impediment letting nor distrowblance in the passing with the
everyone owning or labouring a merk of
land, whether for a rent or otherwise half a
boll of meal, and smaller quantities from
those who had less land. But they found, said relik throu the contre, as he and his that these privileges inferred certain duties. forebearis was wount to do. "
Coygerach" forty years later. '"
142 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [January 9.
and fifty thousand foot, with several thousand horse, for the invasion of Scot- land. To oppose this immense army, comprising men of various nations,
Bruce could scarcely muster thirty-four thousand men. Placing his whole trust in God, the Scottish King betook himself to prayer. Entertaining a great veneration towards St. Fillan, he entreated a certain abbot or priest, whowascustodian,forarelicofthissaint. TherelicwasanarmofSt. Fillan, which had been preserved in a silver case. Fearing this relic might be lost in battle, the priest removed it fi:om the shrine, which was then presented to King Robert. In presence of many persons, the shrine was seen to open suddenly, and afterwards to close of its own accord. The priest then ap- proached, to behold the result of this miraculous occurrence, when he saw the arm of St. Filan deposited again within its shrine. He related what had oc- curred to the King. Filled with admiration, on account of this incident, the priest exclaimed that Heaven should prove favourable to their cause. On the eve of this great battle, the Scottish King obtained some successes.
Thus inspired with hope, although greatly fatigued, Bruce spent the remaining part of that night in prayer, and in acts of thanksgiving. " On the following day,heorderedtheHolySacrificeofMasstobecelebrated. Hedesiredall
his soldiers to partake of the Holy Eucharist, that thus they might be spiri- tuallystrengthened. Acertainabbot,namedMaurice,"celebratedtheDivine Mysteries on an eminence. He administered the Holy Sacrament to King Robert and to his nobles. Through the ministry of other priests, the entire army received Holy Communion. Afterwards, taking a crucifix in his hands, and showing the image of Christ crucified to the Scottish soldiers, Abbot Maurice exhorted them to defend their country with courage, trusting solely in God's goodness. ^3 He then desired the warriors to prostrate them- selves in prayer.
After a spirited address to his soldiers, ^^ the army was placed in position by Bruce,whiletheEnglishcavalryandarchersadvanced. Immediatelytheonset commenced,andtheScotsfoughtwithdeterminedcourage. Afterafiercecon- flict, victory declared in their favour. Both armies were engaged not far from the castle of Sterling, then besieged by the Scots, '5 and on the glorious field of Bannockbum. This battle took place on Midsummer Day, the Feast of St. John the Baptist, a. d. 13 14. The forces on both sides are variously estimated
by English^^ and Scottish writers. '7
" See Bellenden's translation of " The History and Chronicles of Scotland," from the Latin of Boece, vol. ii. , p. 391.
"
Insula Missarum" in Stratheme. "If S. Fillan be the Faolan of Ratherran," says Bishop Forbes, "we here see a reason for this particular relic being brought into the camp; and it will be recollected, that Killin, the special seat of the cultus of the saint, was a church under the jurisdiction of Inch- affray. " See"KalendarsofScottishSaints," P- 345'
The English summoned a large host
pp. 391, 392. In this, he is made to say : "God hes now schawin to us his favour be
mirakle of Sanct Phillane, quhilk is cumin, " He is called Abbot of Inchaffray, the as I belief, to your eiris. " This oration pro-
'3 See Dr. Lingard's "History of Eng- land, Scotland, and Ireland," vol. ii. , p.
land," vol. iii. , chap. iv. The incidents of Scotland's invasion by the English King Edward I. , are very lucidly set forth in this valuable history. See chap, iii. , ibid.
553.
'* See Thomas Carte's " General History
of England," vol. ii. , book ix. , Edward II. , pp. 333 to 336. This writer states, that an
Irish contingent was expected by the King of England to aid in his Scotch expedition. Yet it does not appear to have arrived in time.
'? One of the most interesting and pic-
'*
This address, after the manner of the
classical writers, may be found in Hector
^'^ce. See John Bellenden's translation,
The History and Chronicles of Scotland," volume ii. The Fourtene Buke, chap, xi. ,
bably furnished Robert Bums' inspiration to
write those soul-stirring lines, on Robert Bruce's . "Address to hi—s Army" before the
battle of Bannockbum
"Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots wham Bmce has aften led, Welcome to your gory bed,
Ortogloriousvictory. "
'S See Holinshed's "Chronicles of Eng-
:
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 143
belonging to various nationalities ;'^ but the Scots appear to have had not
alone the advantage of a brave and able leader, but a greater perfection of militarydisciplineandorderintheirranks. Soonafterthebattlecommenced
in earnest, the English skirmishers and vanguard fell into disarray. Bruce, leading the centre division'^ and bringing up his reserves, added to their con- fusion, and the Scots advancing in compact bodies ensured their foes' dis- comfiture. The valiant Scottish king pushed forward the various divisions ofhisarmy. Afteravigorouscharge,theEnglishhorseandinfantrybecame panic-stricken. At last the invading host gave way, and Edward's forces fled from Bannockburn in the wildest disorder. Many, trying to escape across the river in their rere, were driven into its waters and drowned ; while avastnumberfellunderthebattle-axesandspearsoftheiropponents. ^" An immense booty was the prize of the Scottish army. Like chaff scattered before the whirlwind, the English fled in dismay, and with continuously diminishingbands,towardsthenorthernbordersofEngland. Stirlingalmost immediately surrendered to King Robert, while Scotland recovered her inde- pendence, in a manner, most creditable to her military prowess, and most complete in the results achieved. It was believed, the great triumph at Bannockburn had been owing solely to St. Fillan's intercession, and to the mercy of the Almighty. Fifty thousand of the English are said by Scottish writerstohavefalleninbattle,orafterwardsinthepursuit. ^^ Onlyaverysmall number of the Scottish army, and especially of their nobles, had been slain. The English king escaped with great difficulty, and he crossed the River Tweed, in a small boat, with only a single attendant. ^^
When Bishop Macdonnell, who lately died in Upper Canada, and at a very advanced age, left the Highlands of Scotland, he brought with him that old staff and crook, used by the Abbot of St. Fillan to bless the Scottish army, beforethebattleofBannockburn. Itwasofsolidsilver,andtheworkman- ship proves its genuineness and antiquity. A relic is inclosed behind a white stone. This precious heirloom is yet preserved by the Catholic Bishop of Toronto. ''3 The Scots knelt before the abbot while holding this staff, ac- cording to tradition. The English monarch is said to have remarked, that his northern foes were then kneeling to sue for mercy. ''^ But, as of old, the chosen people of Israel trusted in the God of Battles when their cause was just, and referred to Him all the glory of victory ; so did an oppressed nation wrest from ambitious and cruel invaders their rights and freedom, of which
they had been so treacherously deprived. Our saint prayed for the devoted soldiers, who combined patriotic ardour with religious feeling and duty. The
turesque descriptions of this decisive battle is that contained in the admirable "History of Scotland" by John Hill Burton, vol. ii. , chap, xxiii. , pp. 376 to 388.
'^ Among these King Edward II. issued personal requisitions to the kings or chiefs
"
the Irishry. " See Rymer's "Foedera,"
of
vol. ii. , p. 245. Record Commissioners' edition.
'9 See Buchanan's "Rerum Scoticarutn Historia," lib. viii. , p. 247.
—" Toronto Mirror" of Nov.
'° See Charles " Pictorial Knight's
of England," vol. i. , book iv. , chap, i. , p.
738.
^' See N. Tindal's translation of " The
History of England," written in French, by M. Rapin de Thoyras, vol. i. , book ix. , p. 393-
25th, 1859.
'"' See Hector Boetius' Scotorum His-
torisea Gentis Origine, cum aliarum et rerum et gentium Illustatione non vulgari, libri xix. , lib. xiv. , p. 303.
^See Camerarius, "De Pictate Scoto-
rum," lib. iii. Lesley, lib. xxvii. , is quoted by the Rev. Alban Butler, as an authority for the foregoing statement, as also Boelius, lib. xiv. See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , ix. January.
^3 it was used at the consecration of Right Rev. Bishop Lynch, by the consecrating prelate, the Right Rev. Bishop de Char- bonnel of Toronto, in the presence of a vast
History congregation.
144 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
issue was fraught with triumph, right gloriously prevailing against the efforts of human might and despotic power. So should the warrior, especially in
the trying moment of battles and danger, strengthen his soul by spiritual exercises, and trust his valour and his safety to the protection of the Lord of Hosts.
ARTICLE II. —ST. FINAN, BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE, AND APOSTLE IN NORTHUMBRIA.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. \
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—THE COUNTRY AND FATHER OF ST. FINAN—A MONK AT lONA—CON- SECRATED AS BISHOP THERE AND SENT TO SUCCEED ST. AIDAN AT LINDISFARNE— HE BUILDS A CHURCH OF WOOD ON THAT ISLAND—HIS INTIMACY WITH KING OSWIN—CONTROVERSY BETWEEN HIMSELF AND RONAN, AN IRISHMAN, ON THE PASCHAL QUESTION—OBSERVATIONS ON THIS SUBJECT.
That wonderful centre of Irish missionary enterprise, at lona, continued to
inherit the spirit and zeal of its great founder, St. Columkille, long after he had passed to enjoy an eternal reward. In a great measure Scotland had been evangelized, her pastors having been largely recruited from the clerical schools of Ireland. To lona constant accessions of novices and students repaired, during the sixth and the succeeding century. In the latter age, Irish missioners made their first successful inroads on the border-lands of Northum- bria, to extirpate Pagan errors. Soon their conquests extended, until the whole Saxon Heptarchy began to experience the happy results of their labours.
The Acts of this holy missionary have been collected from Venerable Bede and other writers by Colgan. ' It must be admitted, that one of the most distinguished Apostles of the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria was St. Finan, a native of Ireland. He is called the son of Rimed or Ryves.
In what part of our island he was born, or where his earliest education had been received, does not seem to have transpired. Our first accounts of him are, that he was a monk in the Monastery of lona. Here he remained probably for a very considerable time, under the jurisdiction of Seghine, the fifth abbot in succession from the great St. Columkille. Seghine ruled over this house from A. D. 6i23 to 652, a period of twenty-nine years. ' While under his guardianship, St. Finan must have been greatly distinguished for his zeal and virtues ; for wlien St. Aidan,3 the first Bishop of Lindisfame, died on the 31st of August, A. D. 651,'^ Finan was chosen as his immediate successor. He was consecrated bishop at lona, and sent at once to assume the duties of his new pastoral charge.
The Island of Lindisfame lay near the sea-shore, and only a short distance from the eastern coast of Northumbria. s St. Aidan had already erected a religious establishment there. Yet it seems to have been of very humble
Art. II. —Chap. i. —'See "Acta Sane- The " Chronicon Scotorum," so ably
torum Hibernise," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Fi- edited by W. M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A. ,
nani, pp. 43 to 48. places his death at A. D. 648. See pp. 90, 91.
*
See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's s At low tide it is easily reached on foot
"Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes from the main shore, "twice an island and "
O, pp. 373 to 375. Yet the Chronicon twice a continent in one day. " See Grose's Scotorum" places his death under the year "Antiquities of England and Wales," vol. 649. See pp. 92, 93. iv. , p. 109.
3 See his Life at the 31st of August.
January 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 145
pretensions. ^ St. Finan's first care was to build a more suitable church, for aseewhichhadbecomesodistinguished. Hewasbothconsecratedandsenton his new mission by the Scots,? as the Irish were then called \ and from lona he brought the ecclesiastical lore and discipline, which had been there taught. ^
In this isle of Lindisfarne he built a church for the episcopal see. Accord- ing to the Scottish fashion he constructed it, not of stone, but of hewn timber, and he covered it with reeds. This church was afterwards dedicated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Theodore to the honour of St. Peter, the Apostle. But Eadbert, who in following times was bishop of that place, took away the thatch. He caused it to be covered all over, both roof and walls, with plates of lead. 9 King Oswry, or Oswin, was the king who ruled over this northern district, when our saint began his mission ;'° and that local monarch was a zealous seconder of Finan's exertions, to spread the Gospel
among his Anglo-Saxon and British subjects. "
Soon after St. Finan's arrival, the disputed Paschal question was again
revived, owing to some persons who had come from Kent or France. These
had asserted, that the Irish computation differed from that of the universal
Church. Amongthemwasanardentabettorofthemoregeneralpractice.
Ronan, an Irishman, had learned the true Paschal method in France and Italy. "
While he brought over several persons to his system, this Ronan was not able
to convince Fman. Rather by his reproofs was our saint rendered still more
persistent. '^ Nearly all the Saxon kingdoms, with the exception of Sussex, had
already heard the instructions of Christian missionaries, towards the middle
of the seventh century. The missionaries in England had come from different
countries. While they taught a like doctrine, they disagreed regarding several
points of ecclesiastical discipline. Their most important difference affected
the canonical time for celebrating Easter. During several centuries this
questionhaddisturbedthepeaceoftheChurch. ThatEastertimedepended
on the commencement of the equinoctial lunation was universally admitted.
The Roman astronomers maintained that lunation might begin as early as the
fifth, but according to the Alexandrian computation it could not commence
beforetheeighthdayofMarch. Inconsequenceofthisdiversityofopinion,
when the new moon fell on the fifth, sixth, or seventh of that month, the
Latins celebrated the feast of Easter a full lunation before the Greek Chris-
tians. ''* Towards the middle of the sixth century, weary of the disputes
occasioned by these different computations, the Roman Church had adopted a
new cycle. This agreed in every important point with the Alexandrian cal- culation. Such an improvement was unknown, however, to the British Chris-
_
*
This sufficiently appears from the sequel.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25,
p. 233.
'° See Cressy's "Church History of Brit-
tany," xv. book, chap, xvii. , p. 368.
"See the Life of St. Chad at the 7th of
this month.
"The ancient "Annales Cambrifc," edited
by the Rev. John Williams, ab Ithel M. A. for the Master of the Rolls, note under a. d.
In the work already quoted the reader will
find a description of Lindisfarne, and some
fine copper-plate engravings of its antiquities,
vol. i. Frontispiece, vol. iv. , pp. 93 to 97, with
a view of Holy Island Castle, taken in 1773 ;
and pp. 109 to 122, with three distinct views
of ancient monastic ruins there, and each
taken from adifferentpointof view, a. D. 1773. ~' See Bartholomieide Cotton Monachi Nor-
wicensis "Historia Anglicana;" a. D. (449— 1298), necnon ejusdeni "Liber de Archie- piscopis et Episcopis Anglio:,'' p. 413. Edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. London,
1859. 8vo.
" Pasca commutatur diem Domi- super
**
See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
'^ gee Bcde's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233. '^ There were a few other variations in the Paschal canons, which contributed still more toperplexthissubject. Theymaybeseenin
Smith's Bede, App. ix. , p. 698.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 17, ? •204.
5 See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
453,
nicum Papa Leone episcopo Roma;," p. 3. St. Patrick brought most probably the older form of observance into Ireland,
L
'
Hibemise," Januarii. Vita S. Finani, n. 6, p. 45.
"
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. ,
146
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 9.
tians. Atthatperiod,thesewerewhollyemployedinopposingtheircountr/s invaders. They continued to observe the ancient cycle of Sulpicius Severus.
This had become peculiar to themselves. Hence, it occasionally happened, that Easter, and other festivals of the year depending on that solemnity, were celebrated at different times by the Saxon Christians. As these had been instructed by Scottish, by Roman, or by Gallic missionaries,'^ so did their obser- vances vary, and in accordance with the practice of their respective teachers. '^ It is not easy to determine, from the order of his composition, whether by a man of ferocious or rough mind, Bede intended to describe Finan or Ronan. The context seems to favour an allusion to the former but the
;
phrase used by him to denote Ronan's mode of arguing,'^ a mode very unbe- coming towards a bishop, might incline one to think that he alluded to Ronan. He appears to have been a very persistent and acute disputant. It is difficult to believe the Scoto-Irish prelates and clergy would have fixed upon St. Finan as their champion were he man of rough disposition. Colgan says,^^ that this
Ronan here alluded to had been revered in Armoric Brittany, on the ist of June," and this seems to form a very probable ground for supposition.
CHAPTER II.
ST. FINAN BAPTIZES PEADA, PRINCE OF THE MIDDLE-ANGLES—HE SENDS MISSIONARIES AMONG THESE PEOPLE—ST. FINAN CONSECRATES DIUMA AS BISHOP—HE BAPTIZES SIGEBERT, KING OF THE EAST SAXONS—HE CONSECRATES ST. CHAD AS BISHOP— VARIOUS SAINTS CALLED FINAN IN THE IRISH CALENDARS—WRITINGS ATTRIBUTED TO THE PRESENT ST. FINAN—HIS DEATH—HIS DIFFERENT COMMEMORATIONS— CONCLUSION.
Notwithstanding this Paschal diversity, justly considered a great inconve- nience, there was no breach of communion, nor did Finan disturb the con- scienceofthosewhopreferredtheRomancomputation. Thisprelatehad the happiness to baptize Peada, Prince of the Middle-Angles, and son to Penda, Pagan King of the Mercians. Peada had come to the court of the Northumbrian King Os\vin, for the purpose of obtaining in marriage his daughter, the Princess Alchfleda. ' His proposal would not be agreed to, unless he and his subjects should become Christians. Peada listened to the Word of God, and he was so convinced of the truth, that he declared himself willing to become a convert, even should the princess be refused to him in marriage. Accordingly Peada and all his companions and suite, were baptized
by Finan. Having obtained four learned and worthy priests, for the instruc- tion of his subjects, the prince returned with joy to his o\vn country. Those priests were Cedd, Add, Betti, and Diuma. The three former are said to
"^
have been English, and the last was an Irishman.
however, notv^ithstanding the statement of Venerable Bede,3 that Cedda,^
'5 See Dr. " of Lingard's History Eng-
land," vol. i. , chap, ii. , a. d. 656, p. 99.
'* See what has been already observed on this subject in the Life of St. Diman Dubh,
Bishop of Connor, at the 6th of January.
'7 The words are "acerbiorem castigando. "
''
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo- rum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233.
ix.
four Northumbrian Bede expressly priests.
states, however, that Diuma was not a North- umbrian or an Englishman, but an Irishman or Scot. Nor does Dr. Lingard say a word about Finan, nor the part he had in the con- version of Peada, nor of his having supplied those priests to the Middle-Angles,
3 " Erant autem presbyteri Cedda et Adda et Betti et Diuma, quorum ultimus natione
See
'* See "Acta Sanctorum
'9 See noti—ces of him at that day.
'
Chap. ii. See what has been already
stated in the Life of St. Chad, at the 7th of this month.
218.
* Bede declares that this Cedda spent some
time with St. Egbert in Ireland, when both 'Dr. Lmgard, in his "History of the were young men. See ? ^/</. , lib.
exists. For a long time, a stone called
of the glen to give their verdict, regarding the authority and privileges of the '*
relic of St. Fillan, commonly called the Coygerach. " Their verdict was,
that this relic, then in the keeping of Finlay J ore, had been originally granted by the successor of St. Fillan to one of Finlay's progenitors. Finlay himself
"
exercise from the time of King Robert Bruce, and downward to their own
"
day. 9 Malise Doire was keeper of the
Many miracles were wrought by St. Foilan. To his intercession is attri-
buted that glorious victory of Bannockburn, obtained by Robert Bruce over the English forces. The details of this celebrated battle are recorded by the mediaeval and more modem Scottish and English historians. Edward II. , King of England, collected a force, amounting, it is stated, to one hundred
5 Mr. Stuart, secretary of the society, in If it happened, that goods or cattle were moving a vote of thanks to the Bishop of stolen or "lifted," from any of the pa-
was declared the rightful
heir of the office," whose privileges had been in
Brechin for his paper, said, he was inclined to agree with him that the bell may have come from Italy, or some other foreign country. The society was very much in- debted to the bishop, for the learned paper they had heard, and he was glad to say, that Lord Crawford and the bishop, who were now the custodiers of the bell, were willing it should be deposited in the National Museum.
* The bell of St. Fillan was used on those occasions.
' Five of these are still preserved.
* See " Statistical Account of Scotland,"
vol. xviii. , p. 378.
9 Moreover they found, that the keeper of
rishioners, who from any cause might not dare to follow after their property, then they might
despatch a man to the keeper of the Coy- gerach with four pence or a pair of shoes
and a night's provisions. Then the keeper, on his own charges, was bound to follow the
stolen goods, wherever he could trace them, within the kingdom.
'° In 1487, he received from King James
III. a royal letter, narrating that the "Said Malise and his forebearis has had ane relik of Sanct Fulane callit the Quegrick in kep- ing, of us and of oure progenitouris of maist nobill mynde, guham God assoyle, sen the tyme of King Robert the Bruys, and of be- fore," without owing —service to any person
the "Coygerach" was entitled to demand spiritual or temporal therefore the King
from all the inhabitants —of the
on the parish enjoins lieges
" to intend and to obey
yearly
of Glendochart certain dues viz.
:
From
in the broik- the said Malise Doire peccable
ing and joicing of the said relik;" "and that ye mak him nane impediment letting nor distrowblance in the passing with the
everyone owning or labouring a merk of
land, whether for a rent or otherwise half a
boll of meal, and smaller quantities from
those who had less land. But they found, said relik throu the contre, as he and his that these privileges inferred certain duties. forebearis was wount to do. "
Coygerach" forty years later. '"
142 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [January 9.
and fifty thousand foot, with several thousand horse, for the invasion of Scot- land. To oppose this immense army, comprising men of various nations,
Bruce could scarcely muster thirty-four thousand men. Placing his whole trust in God, the Scottish King betook himself to prayer. Entertaining a great veneration towards St. Fillan, he entreated a certain abbot or priest, whowascustodian,forarelicofthissaint. TherelicwasanarmofSt. Fillan, which had been preserved in a silver case. Fearing this relic might be lost in battle, the priest removed it fi:om the shrine, which was then presented to King Robert. In presence of many persons, the shrine was seen to open suddenly, and afterwards to close of its own accord. The priest then ap- proached, to behold the result of this miraculous occurrence, when he saw the arm of St. Filan deposited again within its shrine. He related what had oc- curred to the King. Filled with admiration, on account of this incident, the priest exclaimed that Heaven should prove favourable to their cause. On the eve of this great battle, the Scottish King obtained some successes.
Thus inspired with hope, although greatly fatigued, Bruce spent the remaining part of that night in prayer, and in acts of thanksgiving. " On the following day,heorderedtheHolySacrificeofMasstobecelebrated. Hedesiredall
his soldiers to partake of the Holy Eucharist, that thus they might be spiri- tuallystrengthened. Acertainabbot,namedMaurice,"celebratedtheDivine Mysteries on an eminence. He administered the Holy Sacrament to King Robert and to his nobles. Through the ministry of other priests, the entire army received Holy Communion. Afterwards, taking a crucifix in his hands, and showing the image of Christ crucified to the Scottish soldiers, Abbot Maurice exhorted them to defend their country with courage, trusting solely in God's goodness. ^3 He then desired the warriors to prostrate them- selves in prayer.
After a spirited address to his soldiers, ^^ the army was placed in position by Bruce,whiletheEnglishcavalryandarchersadvanced. Immediatelytheonset commenced,andtheScotsfoughtwithdeterminedcourage. Afterafiercecon- flict, victory declared in their favour. Both armies were engaged not far from the castle of Sterling, then besieged by the Scots, '5 and on the glorious field of Bannockbum. This battle took place on Midsummer Day, the Feast of St. John the Baptist, a. d. 13 14. The forces on both sides are variously estimated
by English^^ and Scottish writers. '7
" See Bellenden's translation of " The History and Chronicles of Scotland," from the Latin of Boece, vol. ii. , p. 391.
"
Insula Missarum" in Stratheme. "If S. Fillan be the Faolan of Ratherran," says Bishop Forbes, "we here see a reason for this particular relic being brought into the camp; and it will be recollected, that Killin, the special seat of the cultus of the saint, was a church under the jurisdiction of Inch- affray. " See"KalendarsofScottishSaints," P- 345'
The English summoned a large host
pp. 391, 392. In this, he is made to say : "God hes now schawin to us his favour be
mirakle of Sanct Phillane, quhilk is cumin, " He is called Abbot of Inchaffray, the as I belief, to your eiris. " This oration pro-
'3 See Dr. Lingard's "History of Eng- land, Scotland, and Ireland," vol. ii. , p.
land," vol. iii. , chap. iv. The incidents of Scotland's invasion by the English King Edward I. , are very lucidly set forth in this valuable history. See chap, iii. , ibid.
553.
'* See Thomas Carte's " General History
of England," vol. ii. , book ix. , Edward II. , pp. 333 to 336. This writer states, that an
Irish contingent was expected by the King of England to aid in his Scotch expedition. Yet it does not appear to have arrived in time.
'? One of the most interesting and pic-
'*
This address, after the manner of the
classical writers, may be found in Hector
^'^ce. See John Bellenden's translation,
The History and Chronicles of Scotland," volume ii. The Fourtene Buke, chap, xi. ,
bably furnished Robert Bums' inspiration to
write those soul-stirring lines, on Robert Bruce's . "Address to hi—s Army" before the
battle of Bannockbum
"Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots wham Bmce has aften led, Welcome to your gory bed,
Ortogloriousvictory. "
'S See Holinshed's "Chronicles of Eng-
:
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 143
belonging to various nationalities ;'^ but the Scots appear to have had not
alone the advantage of a brave and able leader, but a greater perfection of militarydisciplineandorderintheirranks. Soonafterthebattlecommenced
in earnest, the English skirmishers and vanguard fell into disarray. Bruce, leading the centre division'^ and bringing up his reserves, added to their con- fusion, and the Scots advancing in compact bodies ensured their foes' dis- comfiture. The valiant Scottish king pushed forward the various divisions ofhisarmy. Afteravigorouscharge,theEnglishhorseandinfantrybecame panic-stricken. At last the invading host gave way, and Edward's forces fled from Bannockburn in the wildest disorder. Many, trying to escape across the river in their rere, were driven into its waters and drowned ; while avastnumberfellunderthebattle-axesandspearsoftheiropponents. ^" An immense booty was the prize of the Scottish army. Like chaff scattered before the whirlwind, the English fled in dismay, and with continuously diminishingbands,towardsthenorthernbordersofEngland. Stirlingalmost immediately surrendered to King Robert, while Scotland recovered her inde- pendence, in a manner, most creditable to her military prowess, and most complete in the results achieved. It was believed, the great triumph at Bannockburn had been owing solely to St. Fillan's intercession, and to the mercy of the Almighty. Fifty thousand of the English are said by Scottish writerstohavefalleninbattle,orafterwardsinthepursuit. ^^ Onlyaverysmall number of the Scottish army, and especially of their nobles, had been slain. The English king escaped with great difficulty, and he crossed the River Tweed, in a small boat, with only a single attendant. ^^
When Bishop Macdonnell, who lately died in Upper Canada, and at a very advanced age, left the Highlands of Scotland, he brought with him that old staff and crook, used by the Abbot of St. Fillan to bless the Scottish army, beforethebattleofBannockburn. Itwasofsolidsilver,andtheworkman- ship proves its genuineness and antiquity. A relic is inclosed behind a white stone. This precious heirloom is yet preserved by the Catholic Bishop of Toronto. ''3 The Scots knelt before the abbot while holding this staff, ac- cording to tradition. The English monarch is said to have remarked, that his northern foes were then kneeling to sue for mercy. ''^ But, as of old, the chosen people of Israel trusted in the God of Battles when their cause was just, and referred to Him all the glory of victory ; so did an oppressed nation wrest from ambitious and cruel invaders their rights and freedom, of which
they had been so treacherously deprived. Our saint prayed for the devoted soldiers, who combined patriotic ardour with religious feeling and duty. The
turesque descriptions of this decisive battle is that contained in the admirable "History of Scotland" by John Hill Burton, vol. ii. , chap, xxiii. , pp. 376 to 388.
'^ Among these King Edward II. issued personal requisitions to the kings or chiefs
"
the Irishry. " See Rymer's "Foedera,"
of
vol. ii. , p. 245. Record Commissioners' edition.
'9 See Buchanan's "Rerum Scoticarutn Historia," lib. viii. , p. 247.
—" Toronto Mirror" of Nov.
'° See Charles " Pictorial Knight's
of England," vol. i. , book iv. , chap, i. , p.
738.
^' See N. Tindal's translation of " The
History of England," written in French, by M. Rapin de Thoyras, vol. i. , book ix. , p. 393-
25th, 1859.
'"' See Hector Boetius' Scotorum His-
torisea Gentis Origine, cum aliarum et rerum et gentium Illustatione non vulgari, libri xix. , lib. xiv. , p. 303.
^See Camerarius, "De Pictate Scoto-
rum," lib. iii. Lesley, lib. xxvii. , is quoted by the Rev. Alban Butler, as an authority for the foregoing statement, as also Boelius, lib. xiv. See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , ix. January.
^3 it was used at the consecration of Right Rev. Bishop Lynch, by the consecrating prelate, the Right Rev. Bishop de Char- bonnel of Toronto, in the presence of a vast
History congregation.
144 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
issue was fraught with triumph, right gloriously prevailing against the efforts of human might and despotic power. So should the warrior, especially in
the trying moment of battles and danger, strengthen his soul by spiritual exercises, and trust his valour and his safety to the protection of the Lord of Hosts.
ARTICLE II. —ST. FINAN, BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE, AND APOSTLE IN NORTHUMBRIA.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. \
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—THE COUNTRY AND FATHER OF ST. FINAN—A MONK AT lONA—CON- SECRATED AS BISHOP THERE AND SENT TO SUCCEED ST. AIDAN AT LINDISFARNE— HE BUILDS A CHURCH OF WOOD ON THAT ISLAND—HIS INTIMACY WITH KING OSWIN—CONTROVERSY BETWEEN HIMSELF AND RONAN, AN IRISHMAN, ON THE PASCHAL QUESTION—OBSERVATIONS ON THIS SUBJECT.
That wonderful centre of Irish missionary enterprise, at lona, continued to
inherit the spirit and zeal of its great founder, St. Columkille, long after he had passed to enjoy an eternal reward. In a great measure Scotland had been evangelized, her pastors having been largely recruited from the clerical schools of Ireland. To lona constant accessions of novices and students repaired, during the sixth and the succeeding century. In the latter age, Irish missioners made their first successful inroads on the border-lands of Northum- bria, to extirpate Pagan errors. Soon their conquests extended, until the whole Saxon Heptarchy began to experience the happy results of their labours.
The Acts of this holy missionary have been collected from Venerable Bede and other writers by Colgan. ' It must be admitted, that one of the most distinguished Apostles of the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria was St. Finan, a native of Ireland. He is called the son of Rimed or Ryves.
In what part of our island he was born, or where his earliest education had been received, does not seem to have transpired. Our first accounts of him are, that he was a monk in the Monastery of lona. Here he remained probably for a very considerable time, under the jurisdiction of Seghine, the fifth abbot in succession from the great St. Columkille. Seghine ruled over this house from A. D. 6i23 to 652, a period of twenty-nine years. ' While under his guardianship, St. Finan must have been greatly distinguished for his zeal and virtues ; for wlien St. Aidan,3 the first Bishop of Lindisfame, died on the 31st of August, A. D. 651,'^ Finan was chosen as his immediate successor. He was consecrated bishop at lona, and sent at once to assume the duties of his new pastoral charge.
The Island of Lindisfame lay near the sea-shore, and only a short distance from the eastern coast of Northumbria. s St. Aidan had already erected a religious establishment there. Yet it seems to have been of very humble
Art. II. —Chap. i. —'See "Acta Sane- The " Chronicon Scotorum," so ably
torum Hibernise," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Fi- edited by W. M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A. ,
nani, pp. 43 to 48. places his death at A. D. 648. See pp. 90, 91.
*
See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's s At low tide it is easily reached on foot
"Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes from the main shore, "twice an island and "
O, pp. 373 to 375. Yet the Chronicon twice a continent in one day. " See Grose's Scotorum" places his death under the year "Antiquities of England and Wales," vol. 649. See pp. 92, 93. iv. , p. 109.
3 See his Life at the 31st of August.
January 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 145
pretensions. ^ St. Finan's first care was to build a more suitable church, for aseewhichhadbecomesodistinguished. Hewasbothconsecratedandsenton his new mission by the Scots,? as the Irish were then called \ and from lona he brought the ecclesiastical lore and discipline, which had been there taught. ^
In this isle of Lindisfarne he built a church for the episcopal see. Accord- ing to the Scottish fashion he constructed it, not of stone, but of hewn timber, and he covered it with reeds. This church was afterwards dedicated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Theodore to the honour of St. Peter, the Apostle. But Eadbert, who in following times was bishop of that place, took away the thatch. He caused it to be covered all over, both roof and walls, with plates of lead. 9 King Oswry, or Oswin, was the king who ruled over this northern district, when our saint began his mission ;'° and that local monarch was a zealous seconder of Finan's exertions, to spread the Gospel
among his Anglo-Saxon and British subjects. "
Soon after St. Finan's arrival, the disputed Paschal question was again
revived, owing to some persons who had come from Kent or France. These
had asserted, that the Irish computation differed from that of the universal
Church. Amongthemwasanardentabettorofthemoregeneralpractice.
Ronan, an Irishman, had learned the true Paschal method in France and Italy. "
While he brought over several persons to his system, this Ronan was not able
to convince Fman. Rather by his reproofs was our saint rendered still more
persistent. '^ Nearly all the Saxon kingdoms, with the exception of Sussex, had
already heard the instructions of Christian missionaries, towards the middle
of the seventh century. The missionaries in England had come from different
countries. While they taught a like doctrine, they disagreed regarding several
points of ecclesiastical discipline. Their most important difference affected
the canonical time for celebrating Easter. During several centuries this
questionhaddisturbedthepeaceoftheChurch. ThatEastertimedepended
on the commencement of the equinoctial lunation was universally admitted.
The Roman astronomers maintained that lunation might begin as early as the
fifth, but according to the Alexandrian computation it could not commence
beforetheeighthdayofMarch. Inconsequenceofthisdiversityofopinion,
when the new moon fell on the fifth, sixth, or seventh of that month, the
Latins celebrated the feast of Easter a full lunation before the Greek Chris-
tians. ''* Towards the middle of the sixth century, weary of the disputes
occasioned by these different computations, the Roman Church had adopted a
new cycle. This agreed in every important point with the Alexandrian cal- culation. Such an improvement was unknown, however, to the British Chris-
_
*
This sufficiently appears from the sequel.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25,
p. 233.
'° See Cressy's "Church History of Brit-
tany," xv. book, chap, xvii. , p. 368.
"See the Life of St. Chad at the 7th of
this month.
"The ancient "Annales Cambrifc," edited
by the Rev. John Williams, ab Ithel M. A. for the Master of the Rolls, note under a. d.
In the work already quoted the reader will
find a description of Lindisfarne, and some
fine copper-plate engravings of its antiquities,
vol. i. Frontispiece, vol. iv. , pp. 93 to 97, with
a view of Holy Island Castle, taken in 1773 ;
and pp. 109 to 122, with three distinct views
of ancient monastic ruins there, and each
taken from adifferentpointof view, a. D. 1773. ~' See Bartholomieide Cotton Monachi Nor-
wicensis "Historia Anglicana;" a. D. (449— 1298), necnon ejusdeni "Liber de Archie- piscopis et Episcopis Anglio:,'' p. 413. Edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. London,
1859. 8vo.
" Pasca commutatur diem Domi- super
**
See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
'^ gee Bcde's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233. '^ There were a few other variations in the Paschal canons, which contributed still more toperplexthissubject. Theymaybeseenin
Smith's Bede, App. ix. , p. 698.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 17, ? •204.
5 See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
453,
nicum Papa Leone episcopo Roma;," p. 3. St. Patrick brought most probably the older form of observance into Ireland,
L
'
Hibemise," Januarii. Vita S. Finani, n. 6, p. 45.
"
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. ,
146
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 9.
tians. Atthatperiod,thesewerewhollyemployedinopposingtheircountr/s invaders. They continued to observe the ancient cycle of Sulpicius Severus.
This had become peculiar to themselves. Hence, it occasionally happened, that Easter, and other festivals of the year depending on that solemnity, were celebrated at different times by the Saxon Christians. As these had been instructed by Scottish, by Roman, or by Gallic missionaries,'^ so did their obser- vances vary, and in accordance with the practice of their respective teachers. '^ It is not easy to determine, from the order of his composition, whether by a man of ferocious or rough mind, Bede intended to describe Finan or Ronan. The context seems to favour an allusion to the former but the
;
phrase used by him to denote Ronan's mode of arguing,'^ a mode very unbe- coming towards a bishop, might incline one to think that he alluded to Ronan. He appears to have been a very persistent and acute disputant. It is difficult to believe the Scoto-Irish prelates and clergy would have fixed upon St. Finan as their champion were he man of rough disposition. Colgan says,^^ that this
Ronan here alluded to had been revered in Armoric Brittany, on the ist of June," and this seems to form a very probable ground for supposition.
CHAPTER II.
ST. FINAN BAPTIZES PEADA, PRINCE OF THE MIDDLE-ANGLES—HE SENDS MISSIONARIES AMONG THESE PEOPLE—ST. FINAN CONSECRATES DIUMA AS BISHOP—HE BAPTIZES SIGEBERT, KING OF THE EAST SAXONS—HE CONSECRATES ST. CHAD AS BISHOP— VARIOUS SAINTS CALLED FINAN IN THE IRISH CALENDARS—WRITINGS ATTRIBUTED TO THE PRESENT ST. FINAN—HIS DEATH—HIS DIFFERENT COMMEMORATIONS— CONCLUSION.
Notwithstanding this Paschal diversity, justly considered a great inconve- nience, there was no breach of communion, nor did Finan disturb the con- scienceofthosewhopreferredtheRomancomputation. Thisprelatehad the happiness to baptize Peada, Prince of the Middle-Angles, and son to Penda, Pagan King of the Mercians. Peada had come to the court of the Northumbrian King Os\vin, for the purpose of obtaining in marriage his daughter, the Princess Alchfleda. ' His proposal would not be agreed to, unless he and his subjects should become Christians. Peada listened to the Word of God, and he was so convinced of the truth, that he declared himself willing to become a convert, even should the princess be refused to him in marriage. Accordingly Peada and all his companions and suite, were baptized
by Finan. Having obtained four learned and worthy priests, for the instruc- tion of his subjects, the prince returned with joy to his o\vn country. Those priests were Cedd, Add, Betti, and Diuma. The three former are said to
"^
have been English, and the last was an Irishman.
however, notv^ithstanding the statement of Venerable Bede,3 that Cedda,^
'5 See Dr. " of Lingard's History Eng-
land," vol. i. , chap, ii. , a. d. 656, p. 99.
'* See what has been already observed on this subject in the Life of St. Diman Dubh,
Bishop of Connor, at the 6th of January.
'7 The words are "acerbiorem castigando. "
''
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo- rum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233.
ix.
four Northumbrian Bede expressly priests.
states, however, that Diuma was not a North- umbrian or an Englishman, but an Irishman or Scot. Nor does Dr. Lingard say a word about Finan, nor the part he had in the con- version of Peada, nor of his having supplied those priests to the Middle-Angles,
3 " Erant autem presbyteri Cedda et Adda et Betti et Diuma, quorum ultimus natione
See
'* See "Acta Sanctorum
'9 See noti—ces of him at that day.
'
Chap. ii. See what has been already
stated in the Life of St. Chad, at the 7th of this month.
218.
* Bede declares that this Cedda spent some
time with St. Egbert in Ireland, when both 'Dr. Lmgard, in his "History of the were young men. See ? ^/</. , lib.
