^-t
Marianus
O'Gorman, Abbot of Louth,
and from the same region of Conallia:, in his
learned metrical Martyrology, thus speaks of
"
*= In the "Menologic Genealogy, chap.
and from the same region of Conallia:, in his
learned metrical Martyrology, thus speaks of
"
*= In the "Menologic Genealogy, chap.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
Yet many particulars not contained in the latter have been published by the French biographer.
4^ To the acts and notes which are given by Colgan, at the i6th of January, he has subjoined anAppendix,inelevendifferentchapters•,''^ andthisisalsofollowedbythree Latin hymns,4S in praise of our saint.
+9 The chapters of this Appendix were added, by Colgan, to our saint's acts ; because, as stated, he found it a difficult matter to introduce their subjects into preceding notes, and because whilst they served to elucidate certain points connected with our saint's history, God's greater glory might be more revealed to man, through labour
bestowed in authenticating transactions of His favoured servant's career. Twelve or more manuscript lives relating to St. Fursey, differing rather in
Bede's
words and
style
than
from each —were in
substantially other, Colgan's posses-
to those of
sion. These codices belonged to various libraries viz. Fossey,
:
of Trudonensis, of St. Hubert, of Arras, of the Carthusian library at Cologne, of Gemnicensis, of Longipontensis, &c. , and they were all productions of
anonymous writers. In every particular they agreed with what was found in the Lagny Breviary lessons, distributed through the octave of o\ir saint's festival. This Colgan observed after a careful collation. In the Bollandist edition of St. Fursey's Acts, which had been pubHshed two years previously
*^ Nothing is known of Arnulf 's early life, beyond the fact, that on the death of Raoul, Abbot of Lagny, in 1066, he succeeded. Arnulf also became Abbot of St. Colombe. He died a. d. 1106. See "Gallia Chris- tiana," tomus vii. , p. 494.
*3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xvi.
Januarii, pp. 87, 88.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," ix.
Februarii, pp. 282 to 300.
45 Dr. Lanigan remarks, that its publica-
following heads ; I. The authors who have
written St. Fursey's Acts. II. Different
eulogies and testimonies regarding St.
Fursey. III. On the country of St. Fursey.
IV. The family and genealogy of St. Fursey. V. His rank and dignity. VI. The disciples
and companions of St. Fursey. VII. The time when he flourished in Ireland. VIII. The time when he went into England, and thence into Gaul. IX. The year of his death. X. The day of St. Fursey's death, and his festivals. XI. An epilogue of the
tion by Colgan, at the 9th of February, was
scarcely worth his editorial trouble. In preceding chapters.
general reference to St. Fursey's Acts, Dr. Lanigan also wishes to remind his readers,
that he regularly means those placed by "
^8 fhe authors of the " Histoire Litteraire de la France," vol. ix. , p. 292, attribute the two hymns on St. Fursey, as published by
Colgan, under 1 6th of January. See Ec- the Bollandists and Colgan, to Arnulfus,
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § vii. , n. 52, p. 450.
Abbot of Lagny. It is supposed that they were intended for a chaunt in that abbey.
'The first of these is extracted hymns
"ex Missali Ghempen," while the other two hymns are taken from Arnold Wion's " Lignum Vitae," lib. iii.
^ See
nia:," ix. Februarii. Vita S. Furscei, n. i. , p. 299.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- 4' These chapters are classed under the
Colgan's
January i6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
to Colgan's issue, we are furnished with some previous editorial notices re- lating to the materials used, with individual labours employed during the process of preparing them for publication. The editor also alludes to writers thathadpreviouslytreatedrespectingoursaint'stransactions. Inlikemanner, the Irish hagiologist devotes a special chapter of the appendix to our saint's acts, in which he brings together various eulogies and testimonials, selected fromdifferentwriters,withparticularallusionstoSt. Fursey. 5° Inaccordance with our general plan, such references will be found more conveniently in- corporated in succeeding notes. affixed to the text of this present biography.
On account of its clearer arrangement and more ample details, I have generally preferred Desmay's as a basis for the following narrative of St. Fursey's life, even although posterior in point of time, and therefore less valuable as an authentic document, than those more antique acts from which it has been admittedly drawn. Although many details are undoubtedly fabulous, yet the more material incidents given are of a reliable character. Those visions recorded in connexion with our saint are worth attention, like- wise, on account of their mystic sense, and those great moral lessons conveyed by them to the mind of every true Christian. The narrative of Desmay will be accompanied by referential notes, which may enable a studious reader to ascertain how far it is in accordance with more ancient acts, or in what respect it differs from them. The writer, however, has reserved to himself an occa- sional introduction of independent remarks or statements, both in the text and notes of this present life. While serving to bestow upon it some trifling degree of originality, or at least of re-arrangement, these observations will be found, notwithstanding, to present no interpolation of an unauthorized character. "J'he motive for these alterations was necessitated by that con- tinuity and conciseness of narrative, essential to the better understanding of an extended biography.
Like many other saints, whose nativities were undoubtedly cast in Ireland, a question had been raised by some Scottish writers, whether they might not be able to claim Fursey, as a native of Scotland. Because it is said by Bede, Trithemius, Wion, and other writers, that our saint was a Scot, or of Scottish descent, it is falsely inferred by Dempster,s' and CamerariuSjS^ that his family and country must be identified with that part of Britain formerly called Albania, and at present known as Scotland. By a like process of reasoning, to the same country have been assigned St. Columkille, St. Columbanus, St. Gallus, St. Magnus, St. Kilian, St. Foillan, St. Eloquius, St. Adalgisius, St. Etto, and a host of other saints, who are claimed as Hibernians, even though called Scots. Such writers appear to have forgotten circumstances recorded in the acts of those saints, and in accounts given by respectable authors, that they have been expressly mentioned as Scots from Hibernia, or as having been born in Ireland. It is even said, there was a certain district called Hibernia, in that part of Britain, now denominated Scotland. These statements, or arguments, if they may be called so, appeared unworthy of Colgan's serious refutation, were it not that in his time many persons, little versed in Irish or Scotch antiquarian researches, had been seduced into a belief, that several of our saints could not be claimed as natives of Ireland, or at least that a doubt might reasonably be entertained on that particular ques- tion. 53 Our national hagiologist, in allusion most probably to an unpublished
s° See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xvi. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Furssei, cap. ii. , pp. 92, 93.
sz See " De Pietate Scotonim," lib. iii.
^3 Had Colgan lived in our own day, he
should have been greatly gratified to learn, 5' In " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco- that the opinions, or statements of their torum. " earlier writers, founded on the name of
2 28 - LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
treatise, says he has proved at length in another place by most indubitable testimonies of authors belonging to every age and nation, that not only were the Irish or natives of Hibemia called Scots, by all ancient writers, but no part of Britain, or of any other country or district in Europe, had ever been calledScotiaorHibemia,thisIrelandaloneexcepted. Inhistimeithadbeen thus designated, and at a former period, it had been variously denomi—nated
Scotia, Hibernia, Ivernia, lema, &c. In consequence, all writers who flourished before the year of our Lord looo—when they speak of any saint having been from Scotia or Hibemia, understand thereby, not that he was from British Scotia, or from any other country, but Ireland.
So much being premised, it is quite certain that St. Fursey was an Irish- man by birth. This appears to have been the almost unanimous opinion of writers belonging to every age and country, who have wTitten his acts, or who considered it necessary to mention at all his birth-place. s* Even the very ancient anonymous writer of St. Furse/s Acts, who flourished as a cotem- porary, and from whose account Venerable Bede had been furnished with those particulars, which are incorporated in his history, declared that our saint was a native of Ireland,ss But a still stronger argument is furnished in the Acts of St. Fursey, where it is stated, that he was born in Munster, in which province his father was king. Magh Murthemne, the district over which his uncle Brendan was ruler ; Cluainferta, where he is said by Colgan to have been born ; Esbren or Erbsen, where he was educated ; and Rath- magh, where he founded a monastery ; all these were situated \\athin Ireland.
to St. — written there were four According Fursey's life, by James Desmay, pro-
Fursey as a countryman. And the testimony of a Scotch writer, Hector Boetius,s'5 is adduced to confute the statements of Dempster and Camerarius.
near the close of the same ; St. century
Hiber-
Mirseus, and Baronius all agree on this point,
Ultonia, and within Conacia, Momonia, Lagenia,
vinces or districts viz.
the Hibernia or Scotia, in which the subject of his biography had been bom. Colgan concludes his dissertation on this matter by saying, that until the British Scots can show towns, monasteries, and provinces, bearing the fore- going names in modem Scotland, her people must waive all claim to St.
Scotia, have been altogether exploded by a more learned and critical school of Scottish
archaeologists.
s^Thus Venerable Bede, who flourished
in the year 720, in his " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xix. , says, Furseus "supervenit de Hibemia. " St. Cumineus, an Irishman, who lived to
Again Arnold Wion, in "Lignum Vitas," lib. iii. , and at the i6th day of January, makes this saint the son of an Irish king, where he has the following statement : "In Monasterio Peronas S. Furssei Abbatis & Confessoris : qui cum Philtani Regis Hiber- niJB filius esset, omnibus relictis, nobile in Anglia Monasterium construxit. " And
:
"S. Fursaeus Philtani
iEngus the Culdee, an Irishman ; St. Raban, niae filius," lib. iv. , cap. xxiv. Harpsfeld,
a German ; and Almoin, a Frenchman ; all of whom flourished towards the middle of the
ninth century ; Saint Notger, a German, who
lived at the commencement of the tenth;
Sigebert, a Belgian, who flourished towards
the close of the eleventh, and Florence of rum," lib. iii. , cap. xix. The same informa- Worcester, who saw the beginning of the tion is conveyed by Venerable Bede, who twelfth century ; all these agree in making after telling us, that Fursey came from St. Fursey a native of Ireland. Yet these Hiberniae, then observes, that he was de- are not the only authors who concur on this
subject ; although they more than afford a sufficient weight of testimony. There are
other foreign ^vriters, who expressly say, that St. Fursey was born in our Ireland. Thus Wemerus in his chronicle, at A. D.
584, states that Fursseus, a holy man, and son to the King of Ireland, then flourished.
Speaking about his having remained many years in Scotia, Bede then adds, that he then left his insular country, when he was con- templating a visit to England. Now modem . Scotland could not be called Ireland, much less could it be mentioned as an island,
s* In his work " De Rebus Scoticis," he
again :
Regis
Again Edward Mayhew, in his "Trophseis Benedictinis" at the 7th of August, has a like statement.
ss" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo-
scended from a noble Scottish family,
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 229
Another question of equal importance remains to be considered, before entering on the serial order of our saint's acts. This especially relates to St.
Fursey's race and family. We must first premise, that there were many holy Irish prelates bearing his name. 57 In the proper acts of our saint, published by Colgan at the i6th of January,5S Fursey's father is said to have been Philtanus or Fintanus,^^ the son of Finlog, King of ]Munster. *^° And the
lessons in the Lagny Breviary, Desmay, as likewise other writers, agree in this
"
Menologic Genealogy,'" and other native autho- rities to be named hereafter, refer his paternal descent, in regular gradation from Laga-Laga, who was a celebrated and noble hero, belonging to the race of Emerin. That he was of a Munster family, or at least that he dwelt in Munster, is indicated by the ancient Lives of St. Barr,^' of St. ]\tolagga,^- and
ofSt. Cronan. ^3
There are other documents which state our saint was descended from an
Ulster family, and that he was born in a territory known as ^laghmurthemne, or Conaille Murthemne. It is said, his origin was deri\-ed from the race of Roderick the Great, King of Ulster, and afterwards Monarch of Ireland. *^-* The Calendar of Cashel not only derives the descent of our saint from the province of Ulster, but it even traces his genealogy in the following manner, at the 1 6th of January : We are told, that St. Fursey, who rested at Perrone,
was son to Finnloga, the son of Dergroga, son to Locan, son of Laga, son to Conall, the son of Eochadius, and that he was of Ulster origin. The name of our saint's mother is said to have been Gelgesia. It is also related, that St. Magnend, of Kilmainham, and St. Meldan, son of Hua Cuinn, of Ennis- mac-hy-Chuinn, in a lake formerly called Loch Oirbsen, and now Lough Corrib, in Connaught, were relatives to St. Fursey. ^^ There can be little
statement. But the Irish
says,
"
Mira sanctitate claruerunt Fursseus,
chronological poem, by O'Dugan, relating to the kings of South Munster, and edited by Mr. John O'Daly, there is no mention
made of any Finlog or Finnloga.
'^^
Cap. xix.
^-t Marianus O'Gorman, Abbot of Louth,
and from the same region of Conallia:, in his
learned metrical Martyrology, thus speaks of
"
*= In the "Menologic Genealogy, chap. xxv. , it is written that St. Fursey was the
son of Finlog, son to Deghroga, son of Lochan, son to Kierius, son of Laga, sur- named Leathanglass ; son of Conall, Anghon- nac, son to Eochad, son of Feghius, son to
Foilanus & Ultanus, quos Philtanus, Hi-
bernie Rex ex Gelgesia uxore susceplt ; qui
in Gallia fundatis Monasteriis religiose vixe- runt," lib. ix.
5^ Besides the saint whose acts are here given, there was a P'ursey, Abbot of Leean, in Meath, who, according to our annals, died in the year 746. There was another bearing this name, Abbot of Eas-mac-Neire, at the Boyle river in Connaught, who died a. d. 748. And, unless we add a fourth Fursey to the foregoing list, it will prove a matter of difficulty to reconcile what is said in the proper acts of St. Fursey of Perrone, with what we find transmitted in other Irish re- cords.
"
*' *- Cap. xxiv.
Cap. xvi.
5^ See
i. , cap. i. , p. 75, and the following pas- Ross, son of Fachlna, son to Senchad, son
Acta Sanctorum Ilibernite," lib.
of Ailild, son of Malcroc, s^. n to Koderic the Great. Colgan says, we read in a certain
marginal gloss to a co]iy of St. /Engus' Martyrology, and also in the Annals of Ros-
In the "
sages.
55 See ibid. , ix. Februarii. Vita S. Fursffii,
cap. i. , p. 282, and following passages.
"^ In a manuscript used by Colgan, this name was written Fundloga, and in other
crea, at the year 652, an old verse, in which manuscripts, especially Irish MSS. , it is set the foregoing genealogy was sustained. In down as Finloga. lie was the grandfather tills it was slated, likewise, that St. Fursey's of St. Fursey. This is allowed by all writers, father was Lociiuis, of Dalaradia, and that both native and foreign. But it may be his mother Ciclgesia, was daughter to the King of Connaught. But the name of our saint's father, in this instance, seems to have been used in a wide sense for a more remote
questioned, if this same Finlog was a native
of Munster, or merely a king of Munster.
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Ilibernire,"
xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursffii, n. 4, p. 89. ancestor ; so that he who is called Locinus,
Kings
of the Race of Eibhear," a the father in one case is designated Locanus,
our saint at the i6th of January :
S. Fursa? i de regione Conalliie Murthemne. " The scholiast of /Engus, at the same day, has a like statement.
" Natalis
230 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6
doubt, however, concerning the Munster origin of St. Fursey of Perrone, the brotherofSaintsFoillanandUltan. Therearealsomanyweightyreasonsand
authorities to estabHsh the fact, that he was son of Fintan, son to Finlog,
King in Southern Munster, but not of the whole province. In the first place,
all foreign writers who treat about our saint, appear to have been unanimous
in their opinion, as we have already seen. Such accounts they could only
have derived from ancient documents, and in all likelihood, it was at first
taken from that old cotemporaneous author who wTote the life of St. Fursey,
before Venerable Bede's time, as previously stated, and from whom subse-
quent biographers derived no inconsiderable materials. Secondly, because
"
the aforesaid
Menologic Genealogy,"^^ as cited by Colgan, and which he
says was compiled by four learned Irish antiquarians, derives the genealogy of St. Fursey from Loga, brother to the celebrated Loga Alill, King of Munster. Thirdly, the old book of Lecan, then in Connaught,^? delivered a similar statement regarding St. Fursey's origin. ^^ Fourthly, Dr. Geoffrey Keating is of accord with the foregoing authorities. ^? And lastly, certain differences in Fursey's Dalaradian and Munster genealogy, as already shown, leave scarcely a doubt of their having been similarly named, yet distinct individuals. Although the same name applies to the father of one and to the grandfather ot another, as likewise to the grandfather of one Fursey and to the great grand- father of another, it is evident, from diverse names, in united orders or posi- tion, and varying origin, that those genealogies must be held as applying to different persons. Although, for instance, two or three names, such as Finn- loga, Lochanus, and Loga, agree in both lives, yet they do not occur in a like order and relation. ? " Perhaps it is o\vning to this very circumstance of similar names, occurring in their respective genealogies, that \vhat is some- times asserted of one, is also attributed to the other. Thus, it may have happened, that the mother of the Ulster or Dalaradian Fursey had been called Gelgesia, daughter to the King of Connaught. 7'
the great grandfather to Fursey, by the son to Laga Laga, son of Eugene Taiglech, Cashel Calendar, already mentioned. The wlio is also called Madhnuadhat, chap,
father of our saint, as Colgan remarks, does not derive his title Locinus de Dalaradia,
from any particular family, but from that territory of Ulster, so named. Thus, he is not to be considered as coming from Fiach Aradius's race, from whom the family and territory in Ulster were known by the term Dalaradia ; but, according to authorities
xxxvii.
*' Now preserved in the library of the
Royal Irish Academy.
^ It states, that St. Fursey, the son of
Fintan, belonged to the family of Loga Laga, who was the son of Eugene Taighlech, and the brother of Ailill or Oilioll Olum, chap. i. , num. i.
^This writer tells us, that St. Fursey, who was descended from the posterity of of Dalaradia. Although Colgan considers I^erghaidh Laga, brother to Oilioll Olum,
already quoted, St. Fursey was of Mai- crosius's race, who dwelt in the same country
the authorities for our saint's Ulster descent
as sufficiently grave and respectable ; yet, there were others of no less weight and con-
sideration, referring St. Fursey's origin to Munster, and from those he does not appear
desirous of dissenting in opinion. Colgan adds, that until the truth of this matter could further be evolved from the shadows hung around it by' antiquity, he thought it necessary to admit, there must have been two saints named Fursey, one of whom belonged to Ultonia, and the other to Momonia, while I heir acts, genealogies and districts may have been confused by some writers.
**
This relates, that St. Fursaeus was the son of Fintan, son to Finnlog, son of Luochan,
died during the sovereignty of Conall Claon, and of his brother Ceallach, who began to reign about the middle of the seventh cen- tury. See Desmod O'Connor's "Keating's History of Ireland," part ii. , p. 402.
^° Thus the father of one Fursey, and grandfather of the other, will be found bear- ing the name Finnloga. In like manner, Lochan is said to have been great grandfather to the Ulster and Munster Fursey ; but, in one instance he is called " Lochanus filius
Kierii" (Procrii? ), and in the other anus filius Logae. "
"
Loch-
'' The Ulster Fursey's mother was quite a different person. This Fursey, belonging to the family of Loga Leathan-glais or of Mai-
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 231
But she was most certainly mother to the Munster Fursey, Abbot of Perrone,
as nearly all authors relate, when expressing the names of his parents. Another difficulty presents itself in the fact, that it is stated a feast of St. Fursey occurred on the i6th of January, in the Ulster territory of Maghmur- themne. Thisday,althoughnotthenatalisofSt. FurseyofPerrone,never- theless was one of his most noted festivals. Its celebration in Ulster might be the cause of having his family assigned to that province, he being con- founded with some native saint Fursey. But the principal argument favour- ing the distinction of both individuals will be found, not only in the account that their respective fathers, mothers, and brothers were different, but that they flourished at different periods. While in a previous note, the name and genealogy of the Ulster Fursey's mother and her children have been given, it will be found, that the Momonian, or Perronean Fursey's mother is differently stated to have been Gelgesia, daughter to ^dhfinn, Prince of Hy- Brian, and of the Conacian race of kings. In like manner, the brothers of this latter Fursey are named St. Foillan and St. Ultan, according to all autho- rities. ? ^ The Ulster Fursey, moreover, must have flourished in the fifth, or about the commencement of the sixth century, as his brothers, St. Mochay and St. Macerius were disciples of St. Patrick -p while all authorities agree, that St. FurseyofMunster,orofPerrone,livedintheseventhcentury. Colganalso says he held in possession a metrical fragment of very great antiquity, and deserving of credit, in which it was related that St. Fursey of Perrone had Gelgesia for his mother. 74 We find entered on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,7s Fursa, abbot. He—descended from the Conaille Muirtheimhne,
as in this quatrain we are told
:
" The father of Fursa, a pure true saying.
Was Lochin of Dal-Araidhe.
The mother of this son
Was Gelgeis, daughter of the King of Connacht. "
This means that she was daughter to Guaire Aidhne, or Gelghis, daughter of Aedh Finn, according to another book, called the Martyrology of Tam-
crocius, had for his mother Bronachia, feast of St. Macerius or Mac Earca is placed
daughter to Milcho, a chieftain of Dalaradia, in Ulster, to whom St. Patrick had been a
slave in his youth. According to St. ^ngus the Culdee, he was brother to various saints,
by Rev. Dr. Reeves at the 6th of July. See
" Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor
and Dromore," p. 379.
? * In connection with such statement,
as we find in
that Brona-
" aliam adhuc Additque
Colgan's quotation,
cia, the daughter of Milchon, with whom St.
Colgan subjoins:
horum fratrem, nempe S. Manchenum Liathensem, et omnes dixit esse de stirpe Loghse haerois ad quem nempe supra re- tulimus genealogiam S. Furssei. " As I understand the foregoing passage, the St. Manchan of Leith here spoken of, is made according to the fragment in question, brother to vSaints Fursey, Foillan and Ultan; and while here he is said to have been of Laga's race, he is also called elsewhere son
Patrick had served as a slave, was the mother
of St. Mochay of Nendrum, in Loch Cuan ;
ef St. Colman Cameraren, near the moun-
tain of Usnech ; of St. Columban Merlinn,
of Doire Chaochain in Dalriada ; of St.
Macredius, Bishop of Domnach Mor maig
Cobha; of St. Dimna or Danate, of Mount
Betha ; and of St. Fursey, the Devout, is
added,ofPerrone. ButColganthinksthese
latter words had been inserted by some of Doga, by Colgan. See "Acta Sane-
ignorant amanuensis, as the same authority states (num. 23), that the mother to St.
Fursey of Perrone was Gelgesia.
7^ For these statements, Colgan refers
torum Hibernise," xiv. Februarii. Vita S.
Manchani, n. 6, p. 333. This may be noted in his acts, afterwards occurring at the 24th of Januaiy. See, also, in connection with
principally to vEngus the Culdee's work, on both Furseys mentioned in the text, Dr.
" The Mothers of the Irish Saints. " Lanigan's observations in his " Ecclesiastical
73 Colgan quotes lib. i. and ii. of St. History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § Patrick's Irish Life for a confirmation of vii. , n. 54, pp. 450, 451.
this statement. The Life of St. Mochay 75 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. will be found at the 23rd of June. The 18, 19.
iS2 LtVES OF THE IRISH SAlNTS. [January i6.
lacht. ? *^ It is therefore likely that this Fursa belonged to the race or house of Fiacha Araidhe, from whom are descended the Dal-Araidhe. These were of the race of Iriel, son of Conall Cearnach. According to the Sacred Genealogies,77 he is not sprung from the race of Fiacha, but rather from the race of Maelcroich, son to Rudhraighe.
Whilst entering upon the subject of this saint's acts, it will be necessary
to premise, that the Latin life, published by Colgan, at the i6th of January, has been mainly followed in our text, and referred to in the notes ; but, at
the same time, its agreement or disagreement with the supposed original used by Bede, and published by the Bollandists, together with the more recent life byDesmay,willbeshowninvariouscommentsappended. Intheprologue to the first book of this life, we learn, or rather infer, that it had been under- taken at the request of some religious superior, to whose virtues and dignity obedience was due by the writer. This author considers himself unsuited for
the toil of penetrating into a tangled wood, or for exploring its recesses, when he reflected interiorly on his ovm literary deficiency. Indulging in a meta-
phorical compliment of nearly similar character, the obedient scribe gives us
to understand that he had been requested to ^vrite in simpler style the holy
confessor's life and miracles out of records drawn from various places, and
collected by his patron's zeal and industry. He intimates that a collection of
various records and their embodiment into a simple biographical treatise would
be required, and that during such process he should be obliged to correct with
critical accuracy several errors of previous scribes, restoring apparent philo-
logical dissonance of divers languages, while preserving the -wTitefs meaning. ? ^
Although conscious of a labour disproportioned to his ability being imposed,
the author assumes his task, trusting that Divine grace might supply his
intellectual deficiencies, and that the Holy Spirit would inspire him to celebrate
the Almighty's praises. With the assistance of his patron's prayers, he also trusted in the merits and intercession of the holy subject selected for his
biography. 79 The copy of St. Furse/s Life, published by Colgan, at the i6th of January, was taken from a vellum manuscript belonging to a Cistercian monastery^" in France. This monastery was situated within the diocese of the Rheims. Two other manuscripts, similar in style and tenor, were used for purpose of collation, one of them having been obtained from a collection in the Cistercian monastery (Longipontentis), diocese of Soissons, and the other having been published by Belfortius. ^' From a collation of those several MSS. , it would be readily observable how frequently copyists and scribes were apt to vitiate unauthorizedly ancient records, even if this were not a matter otherwise well knowTi to antiquarian philologists.
The writer of those acts in question was not that early author of our saint's biography, who flourished befoje Bede's time, as this latter states, and
"
Tamlacht. "This is not found in the '* Colgan remarks, that the author of St.
Brussels copy of the Mart. Taml. , the only Fursey's Acts, seems to intimate that he
"
one now known. Yet the Franciscan copy saw the original and ancient life of this
'^Ina note Dr, Todd says at this word Scantilog Geneal.
is now known to exist.
bestowed in authenticating transactions of His favoured servant's career. Twelve or more manuscript lives relating to St. Fursey, differing rather in
Bede's
words and
style
than
from each —were in
substantially other, Colgan's posses-
to those of
sion. These codices belonged to various libraries viz. Fossey,
:
of Trudonensis, of St. Hubert, of Arras, of the Carthusian library at Cologne, of Gemnicensis, of Longipontensis, &c. , and they were all productions of
anonymous writers. In every particular they agreed with what was found in the Lagny Breviary lessons, distributed through the octave of o\ir saint's festival. This Colgan observed after a careful collation. In the Bollandist edition of St. Fursey's Acts, which had been pubHshed two years previously
*^ Nothing is known of Arnulf 's early life, beyond the fact, that on the death of Raoul, Abbot of Lagny, in 1066, he succeeded. Arnulf also became Abbot of St. Colombe. He died a. d. 1106. See "Gallia Chris- tiana," tomus vii. , p. 494.
*3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xvi.
Januarii, pp. 87, 88.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," ix.
Februarii, pp. 282 to 300.
45 Dr. Lanigan remarks, that its publica-
following heads ; I. The authors who have
written St. Fursey's Acts. II. Different
eulogies and testimonies regarding St.
Fursey. III. On the country of St. Fursey.
IV. The family and genealogy of St. Fursey. V. His rank and dignity. VI. The disciples
and companions of St. Fursey. VII. The time when he flourished in Ireland. VIII. The time when he went into England, and thence into Gaul. IX. The year of his death. X. The day of St. Fursey's death, and his festivals. XI. An epilogue of the
tion by Colgan, at the 9th of February, was
scarcely worth his editorial trouble. In preceding chapters.
general reference to St. Fursey's Acts, Dr. Lanigan also wishes to remind his readers,
that he regularly means those placed by "
^8 fhe authors of the " Histoire Litteraire de la France," vol. ix. , p. 292, attribute the two hymns on St. Fursey, as published by
Colgan, under 1 6th of January. See Ec- the Bollandists and Colgan, to Arnulfus,
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § vii. , n. 52, p. 450.
Abbot of Lagny. It is supposed that they were intended for a chaunt in that abbey.
'The first of these is extracted hymns
"ex Missali Ghempen," while the other two hymns are taken from Arnold Wion's " Lignum Vitae," lib. iii.
^ See
nia:," ix. Februarii. Vita S. Furscei, n. i. , p. 299.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- 4' These chapters are classed under the
Colgan's
January i6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
to Colgan's issue, we are furnished with some previous editorial notices re- lating to the materials used, with individual labours employed during the process of preparing them for publication. The editor also alludes to writers thathadpreviouslytreatedrespectingoursaint'stransactions. Inlikemanner, the Irish hagiologist devotes a special chapter of the appendix to our saint's acts, in which he brings together various eulogies and testimonials, selected fromdifferentwriters,withparticularallusionstoSt. Fursey. 5° Inaccordance with our general plan, such references will be found more conveniently in- corporated in succeeding notes. affixed to the text of this present biography.
On account of its clearer arrangement and more ample details, I have generally preferred Desmay's as a basis for the following narrative of St. Fursey's life, even although posterior in point of time, and therefore less valuable as an authentic document, than those more antique acts from which it has been admittedly drawn. Although many details are undoubtedly fabulous, yet the more material incidents given are of a reliable character. Those visions recorded in connexion with our saint are worth attention, like- wise, on account of their mystic sense, and those great moral lessons conveyed by them to the mind of every true Christian. The narrative of Desmay will be accompanied by referential notes, which may enable a studious reader to ascertain how far it is in accordance with more ancient acts, or in what respect it differs from them. The writer, however, has reserved to himself an occa- sional introduction of independent remarks or statements, both in the text and notes of this present life. While serving to bestow upon it some trifling degree of originality, or at least of re-arrangement, these observations will be found, notwithstanding, to present no interpolation of an unauthorized character. "J'he motive for these alterations was necessitated by that con- tinuity and conciseness of narrative, essential to the better understanding of an extended biography.
Like many other saints, whose nativities were undoubtedly cast in Ireland, a question had been raised by some Scottish writers, whether they might not be able to claim Fursey, as a native of Scotland. Because it is said by Bede, Trithemius, Wion, and other writers, that our saint was a Scot, or of Scottish descent, it is falsely inferred by Dempster,s' and CamerariuSjS^ that his family and country must be identified with that part of Britain formerly called Albania, and at present known as Scotland. By a like process of reasoning, to the same country have been assigned St. Columkille, St. Columbanus, St. Gallus, St. Magnus, St. Kilian, St. Foillan, St. Eloquius, St. Adalgisius, St. Etto, and a host of other saints, who are claimed as Hibernians, even though called Scots. Such writers appear to have forgotten circumstances recorded in the acts of those saints, and in accounts given by respectable authors, that they have been expressly mentioned as Scots from Hibernia, or as having been born in Ireland. It is even said, there was a certain district called Hibernia, in that part of Britain, now denominated Scotland. These statements, or arguments, if they may be called so, appeared unworthy of Colgan's serious refutation, were it not that in his time many persons, little versed in Irish or Scotch antiquarian researches, had been seduced into a belief, that several of our saints could not be claimed as natives of Ireland, or at least that a doubt might reasonably be entertained on that particular ques- tion. 53 Our national hagiologist, in allusion most probably to an unpublished
s° See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xvi. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Furssei, cap. ii. , pp. 92, 93.
sz See " De Pietate Scotonim," lib. iii.
^3 Had Colgan lived in our own day, he
should have been greatly gratified to learn, 5' In " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco- that the opinions, or statements of their torum. " earlier writers, founded on the name of
2 28 - LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
treatise, says he has proved at length in another place by most indubitable testimonies of authors belonging to every age and nation, that not only were the Irish or natives of Hibemia called Scots, by all ancient writers, but no part of Britain, or of any other country or district in Europe, had ever been calledScotiaorHibemia,thisIrelandaloneexcepted. Inhistimeithadbeen thus designated, and at a former period, it had been variously denomi—nated
Scotia, Hibernia, Ivernia, lema, &c. In consequence, all writers who flourished before the year of our Lord looo—when they speak of any saint having been from Scotia or Hibemia, understand thereby, not that he was from British Scotia, or from any other country, but Ireland.
So much being premised, it is quite certain that St. Fursey was an Irish- man by birth. This appears to have been the almost unanimous opinion of writers belonging to every age and country, who have wTitten his acts, or who considered it necessary to mention at all his birth-place. s* Even the very ancient anonymous writer of St. Furse/s Acts, who flourished as a cotem- porary, and from whose account Venerable Bede had been furnished with those particulars, which are incorporated in his history, declared that our saint was a native of Ireland,ss But a still stronger argument is furnished in the Acts of St. Fursey, where it is stated, that he was born in Munster, in which province his father was king. Magh Murthemne, the district over which his uncle Brendan was ruler ; Cluainferta, where he is said by Colgan to have been born ; Esbren or Erbsen, where he was educated ; and Rath- magh, where he founded a monastery ; all these were situated \\athin Ireland.
to St. — written there were four According Fursey's life, by James Desmay, pro-
Fursey as a countryman. And the testimony of a Scotch writer, Hector Boetius,s'5 is adduced to confute the statements of Dempster and Camerarius.
near the close of the same ; St. century
Hiber-
Mirseus, and Baronius all agree on this point,
Ultonia, and within Conacia, Momonia, Lagenia,
vinces or districts viz.
the Hibernia or Scotia, in which the subject of his biography had been bom. Colgan concludes his dissertation on this matter by saying, that until the British Scots can show towns, monasteries, and provinces, bearing the fore- going names in modem Scotland, her people must waive all claim to St.
Scotia, have been altogether exploded by a more learned and critical school of Scottish
archaeologists.
s^Thus Venerable Bede, who flourished
in the year 720, in his " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xix. , says, Furseus "supervenit de Hibemia. " St. Cumineus, an Irishman, who lived to
Again Arnold Wion, in "Lignum Vitas," lib. iii. , and at the i6th day of January, makes this saint the son of an Irish king, where he has the following statement : "In Monasterio Peronas S. Furssei Abbatis & Confessoris : qui cum Philtani Regis Hiber- niJB filius esset, omnibus relictis, nobile in Anglia Monasterium construxit. " And
:
"S. Fursaeus Philtani
iEngus the Culdee, an Irishman ; St. Raban, niae filius," lib. iv. , cap. xxiv. Harpsfeld,
a German ; and Almoin, a Frenchman ; all of whom flourished towards the middle of the
ninth century ; Saint Notger, a German, who
lived at the commencement of the tenth;
Sigebert, a Belgian, who flourished towards
the close of the eleventh, and Florence of rum," lib. iii. , cap. xix. The same informa- Worcester, who saw the beginning of the tion is conveyed by Venerable Bede, who twelfth century ; all these agree in making after telling us, that Fursey came from St. Fursey a native of Ireland. Yet these Hiberniae, then observes, that he was de- are not the only authors who concur on this
subject ; although they more than afford a sufficient weight of testimony. There are
other foreign ^vriters, who expressly say, that St. Fursey was born in our Ireland. Thus Wemerus in his chronicle, at A. D.
584, states that Fursseus, a holy man, and son to the King of Ireland, then flourished.
Speaking about his having remained many years in Scotia, Bede then adds, that he then left his insular country, when he was con- templating a visit to England. Now modem . Scotland could not be called Ireland, much less could it be mentioned as an island,
s* In his work " De Rebus Scoticis," he
again :
Regis
Again Edward Mayhew, in his "Trophseis Benedictinis" at the 7th of August, has a like statement.
ss" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo-
scended from a noble Scottish family,
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 229
Another question of equal importance remains to be considered, before entering on the serial order of our saint's acts. This especially relates to St.
Fursey's race and family. We must first premise, that there were many holy Irish prelates bearing his name. 57 In the proper acts of our saint, published by Colgan at the i6th of January,5S Fursey's father is said to have been Philtanus or Fintanus,^^ the son of Finlog, King of ]Munster. *^° And the
lessons in the Lagny Breviary, Desmay, as likewise other writers, agree in this
"
Menologic Genealogy,'" and other native autho- rities to be named hereafter, refer his paternal descent, in regular gradation from Laga-Laga, who was a celebrated and noble hero, belonging to the race of Emerin. That he was of a Munster family, or at least that he dwelt in Munster, is indicated by the ancient Lives of St. Barr,^' of St. ]\tolagga,^- and
ofSt. Cronan. ^3
There are other documents which state our saint was descended from an
Ulster family, and that he was born in a territory known as ^laghmurthemne, or Conaille Murthemne. It is said, his origin was deri\-ed from the race of Roderick the Great, King of Ulster, and afterwards Monarch of Ireland. *^-* The Calendar of Cashel not only derives the descent of our saint from the province of Ulster, but it even traces his genealogy in the following manner, at the 1 6th of January : We are told, that St. Fursey, who rested at Perrone,
was son to Finnloga, the son of Dergroga, son to Locan, son of Laga, son to Conall, the son of Eochadius, and that he was of Ulster origin. The name of our saint's mother is said to have been Gelgesia. It is also related, that St. Magnend, of Kilmainham, and St. Meldan, son of Hua Cuinn, of Ennis- mac-hy-Chuinn, in a lake formerly called Loch Oirbsen, and now Lough Corrib, in Connaught, were relatives to St. Fursey. ^^ There can be little
statement. But the Irish
says,
"
Mira sanctitate claruerunt Fursseus,
chronological poem, by O'Dugan, relating to the kings of South Munster, and edited by Mr. John O'Daly, there is no mention
made of any Finlog or Finnloga.
'^^
Cap. xix.
^-t Marianus O'Gorman, Abbot of Louth,
and from the same region of Conallia:, in his
learned metrical Martyrology, thus speaks of
"
*= In the "Menologic Genealogy, chap. xxv. , it is written that St. Fursey was the
son of Finlog, son to Deghroga, son of Lochan, son to Kierius, son of Laga, sur- named Leathanglass ; son of Conall, Anghon- nac, son to Eochad, son of Feghius, son to
Foilanus & Ultanus, quos Philtanus, Hi-
bernie Rex ex Gelgesia uxore susceplt ; qui
in Gallia fundatis Monasteriis religiose vixe- runt," lib. ix.
5^ Besides the saint whose acts are here given, there was a P'ursey, Abbot of Leean, in Meath, who, according to our annals, died in the year 746. There was another bearing this name, Abbot of Eas-mac-Neire, at the Boyle river in Connaught, who died a. d. 748. And, unless we add a fourth Fursey to the foregoing list, it will prove a matter of difficulty to reconcile what is said in the proper acts of St. Fursey of Perrone, with what we find transmitted in other Irish re- cords.
"
*' *- Cap. xxiv.
Cap. xvi.
5^ See
i. , cap. i. , p. 75, and the following pas- Ross, son of Fachlna, son to Senchad, son
Acta Sanctorum Ilibernite," lib.
of Ailild, son of Malcroc, s^. n to Koderic the Great. Colgan says, we read in a certain
marginal gloss to a co]iy of St. /Engus' Martyrology, and also in the Annals of Ros-
In the "
sages.
55 See ibid. , ix. Februarii. Vita S. Fursffii,
cap. i. , p. 282, and following passages.
"^ In a manuscript used by Colgan, this name was written Fundloga, and in other
crea, at the year 652, an old verse, in which manuscripts, especially Irish MSS. , it is set the foregoing genealogy was sustained. In down as Finloga. lie was the grandfather tills it was slated, likewise, that St. Fursey's of St. Fursey. This is allowed by all writers, father was Lociiuis, of Dalaradia, and that both native and foreign. But it may be his mother Ciclgesia, was daughter to the King of Connaught. But the name of our saint's father, in this instance, seems to have been used in a wide sense for a more remote
questioned, if this same Finlog was a native
of Munster, or merely a king of Munster.
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Ilibernire,"
xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursffii, n. 4, p. 89. ancestor ; so that he who is called Locinus,
Kings
of the Race of Eibhear," a the father in one case is designated Locanus,
our saint at the i6th of January :
S. Fursa? i de regione Conalliie Murthemne. " The scholiast of /Engus, at the same day, has a like statement.
" Natalis
230 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6
doubt, however, concerning the Munster origin of St. Fursey of Perrone, the brotherofSaintsFoillanandUltan. Therearealsomanyweightyreasonsand
authorities to estabHsh the fact, that he was son of Fintan, son to Finlog,
King in Southern Munster, but not of the whole province. In the first place,
all foreign writers who treat about our saint, appear to have been unanimous
in their opinion, as we have already seen. Such accounts they could only
have derived from ancient documents, and in all likelihood, it was at first
taken from that old cotemporaneous author who wTote the life of St. Fursey,
before Venerable Bede's time, as previously stated, and from whom subse-
quent biographers derived no inconsiderable materials. Secondly, because
"
the aforesaid
Menologic Genealogy,"^^ as cited by Colgan, and which he
says was compiled by four learned Irish antiquarians, derives the genealogy of St. Fursey from Loga, brother to the celebrated Loga Alill, King of Munster. Thirdly, the old book of Lecan, then in Connaught,^? delivered a similar statement regarding St. Fursey's origin. ^^ Fourthly, Dr. Geoffrey Keating is of accord with the foregoing authorities. ^? And lastly, certain differences in Fursey's Dalaradian and Munster genealogy, as already shown, leave scarcely a doubt of their having been similarly named, yet distinct individuals. Although the same name applies to the father of one and to the grandfather ot another, as likewise to the grandfather of one Fursey and to the great grand- father of another, it is evident, from diverse names, in united orders or posi- tion, and varying origin, that those genealogies must be held as applying to different persons. Although, for instance, two or three names, such as Finn- loga, Lochanus, and Loga, agree in both lives, yet they do not occur in a like order and relation. ? " Perhaps it is o\vning to this very circumstance of similar names, occurring in their respective genealogies, that \vhat is some- times asserted of one, is also attributed to the other. Thus, it may have happened, that the mother of the Ulster or Dalaradian Fursey had been called Gelgesia, daughter to the King of Connaught. 7'
the great grandfather to Fursey, by the son to Laga Laga, son of Eugene Taiglech, Cashel Calendar, already mentioned. The wlio is also called Madhnuadhat, chap,
father of our saint, as Colgan remarks, does not derive his title Locinus de Dalaradia,
from any particular family, but from that territory of Ulster, so named. Thus, he is not to be considered as coming from Fiach Aradius's race, from whom the family and territory in Ulster were known by the term Dalaradia ; but, according to authorities
xxxvii.
*' Now preserved in the library of the
Royal Irish Academy.
^ It states, that St. Fursey, the son of
Fintan, belonged to the family of Loga Laga, who was the son of Eugene Taighlech, and the brother of Ailill or Oilioll Olum, chap. i. , num. i.
^This writer tells us, that St. Fursey, who was descended from the posterity of of Dalaradia. Although Colgan considers I^erghaidh Laga, brother to Oilioll Olum,
already quoted, St. Fursey was of Mai- crosius's race, who dwelt in the same country
the authorities for our saint's Ulster descent
as sufficiently grave and respectable ; yet, there were others of no less weight and con-
sideration, referring St. Fursey's origin to Munster, and from those he does not appear
desirous of dissenting in opinion. Colgan adds, that until the truth of this matter could further be evolved from the shadows hung around it by' antiquity, he thought it necessary to admit, there must have been two saints named Fursey, one of whom belonged to Ultonia, and the other to Momonia, while I heir acts, genealogies and districts may have been confused by some writers.
**
This relates, that St. Fursaeus was the son of Fintan, son to Finnlog, son of Luochan,
died during the sovereignty of Conall Claon, and of his brother Ceallach, who began to reign about the middle of the seventh cen- tury. See Desmod O'Connor's "Keating's History of Ireland," part ii. , p. 402.
^° Thus the father of one Fursey, and grandfather of the other, will be found bear- ing the name Finnloga. In like manner, Lochan is said to have been great grandfather to the Ulster and Munster Fursey ; but, in one instance he is called " Lochanus filius
Kierii" (Procrii? ), and in the other anus filius Logae. "
"
Loch-
'' The Ulster Fursey's mother was quite a different person. This Fursey, belonging to the family of Loga Leathan-glais or of Mai-
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 231
But she was most certainly mother to the Munster Fursey, Abbot of Perrone,
as nearly all authors relate, when expressing the names of his parents. Another difficulty presents itself in the fact, that it is stated a feast of St. Fursey occurred on the i6th of January, in the Ulster territory of Maghmur- themne. Thisday,althoughnotthenatalisofSt. FurseyofPerrone,never- theless was one of his most noted festivals. Its celebration in Ulster might be the cause of having his family assigned to that province, he being con- founded with some native saint Fursey. But the principal argument favour- ing the distinction of both individuals will be found, not only in the account that their respective fathers, mothers, and brothers were different, but that they flourished at different periods. While in a previous note, the name and genealogy of the Ulster Fursey's mother and her children have been given, it will be found, that the Momonian, or Perronean Fursey's mother is differently stated to have been Gelgesia, daughter to ^dhfinn, Prince of Hy- Brian, and of the Conacian race of kings. In like manner, the brothers of this latter Fursey are named St. Foillan and St. Ultan, according to all autho- rities. ? ^ The Ulster Fursey, moreover, must have flourished in the fifth, or about the commencement of the sixth century, as his brothers, St. Mochay and St. Macerius were disciples of St. Patrick -p while all authorities agree, that St. FurseyofMunster,orofPerrone,livedintheseventhcentury. Colganalso says he held in possession a metrical fragment of very great antiquity, and deserving of credit, in which it was related that St. Fursey of Perrone had Gelgesia for his mother. 74 We find entered on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,7s Fursa, abbot. He—descended from the Conaille Muirtheimhne,
as in this quatrain we are told
:
" The father of Fursa, a pure true saying.
Was Lochin of Dal-Araidhe.
The mother of this son
Was Gelgeis, daughter of the King of Connacht. "
This means that she was daughter to Guaire Aidhne, or Gelghis, daughter of Aedh Finn, according to another book, called the Martyrology of Tam-
crocius, had for his mother Bronachia, feast of St. Macerius or Mac Earca is placed
daughter to Milcho, a chieftain of Dalaradia, in Ulster, to whom St. Patrick had been a
slave in his youth. According to St. ^ngus the Culdee, he was brother to various saints,
by Rev. Dr. Reeves at the 6th of July. See
" Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor
and Dromore," p. 379.
? * In connection with such statement,
as we find in
that Brona-
" aliam adhuc Additque
Colgan's quotation,
cia, the daughter of Milchon, with whom St.
Colgan subjoins:
horum fratrem, nempe S. Manchenum Liathensem, et omnes dixit esse de stirpe Loghse haerois ad quem nempe supra re- tulimus genealogiam S. Furssei. " As I understand the foregoing passage, the St. Manchan of Leith here spoken of, is made according to the fragment in question, brother to vSaints Fursey, Foillan and Ultan; and while here he is said to have been of Laga's race, he is also called elsewhere son
Patrick had served as a slave, was the mother
of St. Mochay of Nendrum, in Loch Cuan ;
ef St. Colman Cameraren, near the moun-
tain of Usnech ; of St. Columban Merlinn,
of Doire Chaochain in Dalriada ; of St.
Macredius, Bishop of Domnach Mor maig
Cobha; of St. Dimna or Danate, of Mount
Betha ; and of St. Fursey, the Devout, is
added,ofPerrone. ButColganthinksthese
latter words had been inserted by some of Doga, by Colgan. See "Acta Sane-
ignorant amanuensis, as the same authority states (num. 23), that the mother to St.
Fursey of Perrone was Gelgesia.
7^ For these statements, Colgan refers
torum Hibernise," xiv. Februarii. Vita S.
Manchani, n. 6, p. 333. This may be noted in his acts, afterwards occurring at the 24th of Januaiy. See, also, in connection with
principally to vEngus the Culdee's work, on both Furseys mentioned in the text, Dr.
" The Mothers of the Irish Saints. " Lanigan's observations in his " Ecclesiastical
73 Colgan quotes lib. i. and ii. of St. History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § Patrick's Irish Life for a confirmation of vii. , n. 54, pp. 450, 451.
this statement. The Life of St. Mochay 75 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. will be found at the 23rd of June. The 18, 19.
iS2 LtVES OF THE IRISH SAlNTS. [January i6.
lacht. ? *^ It is therefore likely that this Fursa belonged to the race or house of Fiacha Araidhe, from whom are descended the Dal-Araidhe. These were of the race of Iriel, son of Conall Cearnach. According to the Sacred Genealogies,77 he is not sprung from the race of Fiacha, but rather from the race of Maelcroich, son to Rudhraighe.
Whilst entering upon the subject of this saint's acts, it will be necessary
to premise, that the Latin life, published by Colgan, at the i6th of January, has been mainly followed in our text, and referred to in the notes ; but, at
the same time, its agreement or disagreement with the supposed original used by Bede, and published by the Bollandists, together with the more recent life byDesmay,willbeshowninvariouscommentsappended. Intheprologue to the first book of this life, we learn, or rather infer, that it had been under- taken at the request of some religious superior, to whose virtues and dignity obedience was due by the writer. This author considers himself unsuited for
the toil of penetrating into a tangled wood, or for exploring its recesses, when he reflected interiorly on his ovm literary deficiency. Indulging in a meta-
phorical compliment of nearly similar character, the obedient scribe gives us
to understand that he had been requested to ^vrite in simpler style the holy
confessor's life and miracles out of records drawn from various places, and
collected by his patron's zeal and industry. He intimates that a collection of
various records and their embodiment into a simple biographical treatise would
be required, and that during such process he should be obliged to correct with
critical accuracy several errors of previous scribes, restoring apparent philo-
logical dissonance of divers languages, while preserving the -wTitefs meaning. ? ^
Although conscious of a labour disproportioned to his ability being imposed,
the author assumes his task, trusting that Divine grace might supply his
intellectual deficiencies, and that the Holy Spirit would inspire him to celebrate
the Almighty's praises. With the assistance of his patron's prayers, he also trusted in the merits and intercession of the holy subject selected for his
biography. 79 The copy of St. Furse/s Life, published by Colgan, at the i6th of January, was taken from a vellum manuscript belonging to a Cistercian monastery^" in France. This monastery was situated within the diocese of the Rheims. Two other manuscripts, similar in style and tenor, were used for purpose of collation, one of them having been obtained from a collection in the Cistercian monastery (Longipontentis), diocese of Soissons, and the other having been published by Belfortius. ^' From a collation of those several MSS. , it would be readily observable how frequently copyists and scribes were apt to vitiate unauthorizedly ancient records, even if this were not a matter otherwise well knowTi to antiquarian philologists.
The writer of those acts in question was not that early author of our saint's biography, who flourished befoje Bede's time, as this latter states, and
"
Tamlacht. "This is not found in the '* Colgan remarks, that the author of St.
Brussels copy of the Mart. Taml. , the only Fursey's Acts, seems to intimate that he
"
one now known. Yet the Franciscan copy saw the original and ancient life of this
'^Ina note Dr, Todd says at this word Scantilog Geneal.
is now known to exist.
