" The
Scholiast
on an Irish hymn, com-
posed in praise of St.
posed in praise of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Leitrim.
Massey, Rev. William, St. Peter's Church, Lancaster, England.
Mitchell, Mr. William, 3 Exchange-court, Dublin.
Monaghan, Very Rev. Thomas Canon, P. P. , Loughduff, Scrabby, Co. Cavan.
Murray, Rev. Terence, P. P. , Killdallen,
Ballyconnell,
Murtagh, Mr. Garrett, 36 Amiens-street,
Dublin.
M'Nally, Mr. Thomas, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan.
O'Boylan, Rev. B. M. , St. Augustine's Church, Newstraitsville, Perry Co. Ohio, U. S. , America.
O'Daly, Mr. John, 9 Anglesea-street, Dublin.
O'Farrell, Rev. Michael J. , St. Peter's
Church, Barclay-street, New York, U. S. , America.
O'Kane, Rev. P. , P. P. , Mount Saint Patrick, Downpatrick, Co. Down.
O'MuIrenin, Mr. Richard J. , Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson-street, Dublin.
O'Rorke, Mr. J. , Garradice, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim.
O'Rorke, Mr. Michael, 12 Thomas-street, Dublin.
Parker, John IL, Esq. , Danesfort, Clon- tarf, Co. Dublin.
Passionist Fathers, The Very Rev. The
Superior, St. Mungo's Catholic Church,
Parson-street, Glasgow, Scotland. Penney, Rev. Dr. , St. John's Episcopal Church, Stuartfield House, Partick,
Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Royston, James, Esq. , 35 Bloomfield- avenue, Dublin.
Ryan, Rev. James J. , Louvain College, Belgium.
Ryan, Rev, John T. , The College, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Scully, Sergeant James, D. M. Police, Lower Castle Yard, Dublin.
Shamion, Very Rev. Timothy, P. P. , V. G. , Kilmacduagh, Gort, Co. Galway.
Simons, Mr. Thomas, 3 Exchange-street, Dublin.
Tasker, Very Rev. Charles W. , Canon, Royle House, Glossop, Manchester, England.
Woods, Very Rev. Charles, St. Bede's
College, Alexandra Park, Manchester, Endand.
Co. Cavan.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS
tfS" A Supplementary List of Subscribers will issue with succeeding Volumes. Back Parts and Volumes are reserved, and can at present be obtained by Subscribers.
Terms. —Single Parts, one shilling, delivery or postage free, to regular Subscribers only,onpayinginadvance. ToNon-Subscribers,ONESHILLINGANDSIXPENCE. Forthe
latter, the edition, owing to ordinary sales effected, is now necessarily limited, and another shall never#be issued by the Author.
aST Home Subscribers, who shall have kept Five Shillings paid always in advance, thus secure five successive Parts, post free. From Subscribers in the United States, the
British Colonies, and abroad. One Pound, paid in advance, is required, and the excess, of
Forei'^n postage is only charged. Money Orders to be drawn on the General Post Office, Dublin. Cheques to be drawn on a Dul)lin Bank, to save the cost of collection.
C3" Cheques {crossed) or Money Orders made payable to
REV. JOHN O'HANLON,
parochial house, lower exchange-street, DUBLIN.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
Siv^t JBap ot jf^hruarp^
ARTICLE I. —LIFE OF ST. BRIGID, VIRGIN, FIRST ABBESS OF KILDARE, SPECIAL PATRONESS OF KILDARE DIOCESE, AND GENERAL PATRONESS OF IRELAND.
\FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURIES. I
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—AUTHOR's PLAN AND TREATMENT—AUTHORITIES, ANCIENT AND MODERN, FOR THE LIFE OF ST. BRIGID—CRITICAL REMARKS—THE HOLY VIRGIN's PARENTAGE-^PLACE AND DATE OF HER BIRTH.
path of a modern biographer, while treating about the Acts of
Ireland's THE
great Patroness,
is beset with difficulties of a varied nature.
These arise, owing not so much to a want of materials for his task, as from
the legendary, conflicting, and oftentimes contradictory accounts, so fre-
quently met with, in several ancient tracts, relative to this holy virgin.
Occasionally, however, the most exacting investigator of our traditions and
antiquities will find facts or circumstances, mingled with legendary or irre-
concilable narratives, deserving more than ordinary significance and having
much historic importance. It can hardly admit of question, how pleasure and instruction, derivable from reading the most celebrated epic poems of
ancient and modern times, should be materially lessened, if presented by their authors, in a didactic or an unimaginative style, avoiding the introduc-
tion of mythic episodes and personages, or the use of exaggerated metaphors and fancies. We must be ready to allow, that an undercurrent of historic truth sometimes sustains a superstructure of mythology, in such poems, and that it directs the interest and moral, evolved from poetic imaginings. By a parity of reasoning—although in a widely different sense—the truly religious and disciplined spirit of an enlightened and a pious Christian will not too readily reject various interesting legends, contained in the acts of our na- tional Saints, when he is free to receive them on the weight, or set them in abeyance on the want, of sustaining evidence. Many sceptical or over fasti- dious critics undervalue the force of popular traditions, and regard such attested miracles as incredible or legendary ; but, while those persons desire to remove cockle from the field of Irish hagiology, they possibly incur some risk, at the same time, of rooting up good seed with the tares. Our Divine
Redeemer, rega—rding the existence of good and evil, has already observed, Vol. II. No. i. b
[February i. i
until the
'
into my bam. "'^ The known application of this, parable, respecting the sower and the cockle, is obvious to the mind of every well-instructed Christian. Without any unnatural perversion of meaning, it may likewise apply to topics here introduced, but in a mode somewhat different. A multitude of legends will doubtless be found interpolated, among St. Brigid's authentic acts and miracles. . Such fictions create so much embarrassment, in any effort to discriminate truth and error, that it may be regarded as an utterly impracticable project, at the present day, to draw in many cases a very marked line of distinction. Perhaps, no complete biography can be
presented to the reader, without running some risk of overloading it with un- necessary, and frequently with incongruous, matter. It must be observed, while depreciating an insertion of fables, as opposed to correct taste and
sound historic deduction, the plan of this present biography may not warrant absolute departure from records left us by ancient writers, however traditional
and unsatisfactory such accounts happen to appear ; especially, when no amount of credit is claimed for their authenticity, but such as may be estab-
lished, by tests of strict evidence, or by the dictates of acute judgment. Religious feeling and Christian faith do -not require for their preservation
and growth, the production and publication of many legends, to be found in special Acts of our national saints. Those narratives, however, were con- sonant with a prevalent taste, and with the sentiments of our ancestors, in past ages. Even yet, when received with due caution, and with a just, discriminating spirit, such legends may be found, not altogether devoid of edification, granting their authenticity to be very questionable. A well-re- gulated mind will regard them, chiefly as emanations of a former period, and as illustrations of popular opinion, national feeling or religious impressions, which widely prevailed during times, when those narratives had been written.
Entering upon the subject of our great saint's biography, it will be neces- sary to premise a few observations concerning its plan and treatment, before referring to authorities, on which subsequent statements are made. It is the writer's intention, to embody at least the most probable and substantial accounts former chroniclers have handed down, regarding this holy virgin, according to the best possible chronological order, and most consecutive form, consistent with the intricacy of his subject.
Wherever discrepancies may be detected, in accounts left by various
writers, those differences are faithfully pointed out, either in the text or in
its accompanying notes. Again, several disquisitions or comments, not claiming the character of being original, in most cases, are usually the result of attentive reading or careful enquiry ; while those dissertations are placed,
according to the writer's best opinion, in their most appropriate position. He has also preferred allowing the studious reader's exercise of his own sagacity and critical discrimination, rather to test the accuracy of statements made, than to assume their solution, where mistakes might so easily be in- troduced. The author supposes, those authorities quoted so frequently inust exonerate himself from any necessity for obtruding judgments, often liable to be ill-founded. In this life, it was deemed advisable to present the fullest and most complete narrative of St. Brigid's Acts, hitherto found in the English language. Sensible of those obvious and consequent difficulties he must expect to encounter, mistakes are frequently inevitable, while the
^
Article i. —Chaptlr i. — St. Matt, xiii. , 30.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
in a most beautiful and instructive " Suffer both to parable,
grow harvest, and in the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers :
Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
writer is almost as certain to incur censure from the learned and critical, for its many elaborations and redundancies, as for its numberless defects, and unavoidable inaccuracies.
Already several elegantly written, and tolerably correct, compendiums of Saint Brigid's Acts have appeared in an English dress. Many of these are most creditable to the literary taste and correct judgment of their respective authors. Such publications have supplied an admitted void in our popular literature. Still a critical and researchful life of Ireland's holy Patroness the writer chiefly desires to produce ; and, however he may disappoint the ex- pectations of capable students, he cannot conceal from himself the inherent difficulties of his task, and the utter impossibility of surmounting them, saving with a relative measure of success. That degree of credibility attaching to authorities or writers, treating about our great Virgin Saint, should pre-occupy the reader's mind, at the very start of our enquiry. Impartial opinions and exact methods of examination are required, when following the intricate pro- cess of inductive biographical research, where statements are often liable to mislead. In accordance with the general scope and design of this life, its authorities must first be given, after an unpretending and a simple arrange- ment. Abriefaccountoftheprobableperiodswhenherbiographerswrote, with their respective opportunities for acquiring information, may prove desirable; even though conjecture must be substituted for more reliable
knowledge, in regard to several subjects of special importance and enquiry. We shall endeavour to enumerate the several ancient writers, who are stated to have commemorated St. Brigid's Acts and virtues, so far as known to us, while observing that exact chronological order, in which each compiler seems to have flourished, or written, or died. It may be premised, that nearly all of these writers are Irishmen, and that several are classed among our native saints. Among the earliest we must regard St. Fiech,^ who
flourished in or about the year 520, the disciple of St. Patrick and first chief
bishop of Leinster. He is thought possibly to have composed a hymn in praise of St. Brigid. 3 One attributed to him, however, seems to indicate,
that this holy virgin had departed from life, before it had been composed. • St. Fiech was her contemporary ; yet, it is strange, we find no allusion to him in her Acts. Fiech does not seem to have lived, beyond the year 530. S
^
See his Life at the 12th of October.
3 It is said to commence with these words :
**
served. This he says may be instanced, in the fourth and fifth lines. Yet, the Latin reader must find, on investigation, that there are sixteen syllables in these lines mentioned, as in most of the other stanzas. There are, however, five lines which either fall short, orexceedthatnumberofsyllables. Secondly, as published by Colgan, the hymn consists of five instead of four strophes. Thirdly, \i what the scholiast states be true, that the words, "Audite Virginis laudes," com-
Audite Virginis laudes. "
*"
In the —Leabhur lomaun," or "Book
of Hymns" now preserved in the Francis- can Library, Dublin—an old scholiast pre-
fixed the io\\o\v'mg proeinium or argument to this hymn, and which may thus be trans- lated into English. "St. Nennid Lam- hoidhain, that is, of the Clean Hand, com- posed this hymn in praise of St. Brigid, or
St. Fieg of Sletty ;
laudes' is its beginning :
Ardbrecain composed it, in honour of St. Brigid. It comprises St. Brigid's miracles
in one book : an alphabetical order is there preserved, and it is written in imitation of Nosearian metre. There are four chapters
in it, and four lines in each chapter, with sixteen syllables in each line. " Three
points must here be noted, Colgan remarks. See First, in the hymn he published, the number
of sixteen in each line is not syllables
pre-
Brigidse, n. 80, p. 445.
s This endeavours to show, in his Colgan
*
Audite Virginis menced the hymn, and that there were
or, St. Ultan of
four divisions or parts in it, two of the last
must be wanting, and three other strophes,
which are placed before these lines, must
have been intended as a preface. Or, if we
can be sure, that absolutely speaking, there
were only four verses in it, the fifth which
is not found in the St. Magnus' manuscript,
must be an addition to the original number,
"
Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S.
Hibernice,"
i. , cap, i. , p. 3.
Colgan.
" The Scholiast on an Irish hymn, com-
posed in praise of St. Brigid, and which
xli. , a small 4to paper of the Betham Manu-
script Collection of the Royal Irish Aca-
demy, at p. 143 and p. 144. These arc
written Mr. Owen Connellan, by
'8
This writer is thought to be the St. Cogitosus, surnamed the Wise, whose life occurs at the i8th of April.
'9 At Eichstaett in Germany, there is a copy of the Life of St. Brigid, by Cogitosus.
begins
with the words, ' ' be bhith- Brigid
maith," doubts as to whether the hymn, in
question, should be assigned to St. Brendan
or to St. Columba. But, Colgan supposed,
it should rather be attributed to St. Co-
lumba's pen, as well because of a statement
contained in an Irish Life of St. Brigid, as
on account of a cause alleged by the afore-
said Scholiast for composing this hymn, and
more nearly indicating such a conclusion.
='° ^'
See his Life at the 9th of June.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i,
Nearly contemporaneous in point of antiquity, we may regard St. Ninni- dius,^ surnamed Laimhiohain. 7 He is said to have treated on the virtues
and miracles of St. Brigid. This is the statement of some writers. ^ As her
chaplain and most intimate friend, he must have had special advantages for acquiring information on this subject ; and therefore, a life of the saint, com- posed by him, should be regarded as one of inestimable value and authen- ticity. Yet, Colgan thinks, although Fiech and Nennidius, in all likelihood, wrote something concerning St. Brigid, the hymn in question should rather be attributed to St. Ultan, on account of certain reasons adduced. 9 St. Nennidius, called also Nenius,^° administered Holy Viaticum to the illus- trious virgin, when she died, about a. d. 523, and consequendy he flourished early in the sixth century. St. Brendan, Bishop of Clonfert, is said to have written about the virtues and miracles of St. lirigid. " He flourished, like- wise, after her time, and he died on the i6th of May," a. d. 576. ^3 St. Brogan Cloen,^^ of Rostuirk in Ossory, and who probably flourished in the seventh century, composed an Irish hynm'5 in praise of St. Brigid. '^ Of this various manuscript copies remain. ^7 . Besides these authors, Cogitosus,^^ who flourished probably after the sixth and before the ninth century, wrote a celebrated treatise on the life and virtues of St. Brigid. Several manuscript copies of this tract are yet to be found. ^9 Again, the illustrious St. Colum- kille,-° Apostle of the Picts and Scots, is thought to have written a hymn on the life, and in praise, of St. Brigid. ^^ He is reputed to have composed it," aboutA. D. 563,onhispassagetoBritain. St. Columkilleisgenerallythought
to have departed this life, in the year 596. ^3
Fourth Appendix to St. Patrick's Acts, and
in that Catalogue of authors, who wrote
biographies of our national Apostle.
' See his Life at the 2nd of April.
7 Believing him to have been Abbot of
Manuscripts, Dublin, and classed E. 4, 2, has only 34 stanzas.
Inis-Muighe-Samh, an island on Lough Michael O'Longan, about the year 1760, "
Erne, Colgan published his Acts in the there is a Hymnus de Virtutibus et mira-
'*
Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xviii. Janu- arii, pp. iii to 115.
^ See Sir James Ware, " De Scriptoribus
culis Sanctoe Brigidae Kildariensis abbatissas et patronte," a Sancto Brigano, p. 82. It appears to have been copied from Colgan.
'7 There are seven of a poem on quatrains
St. Brigid attributed to St. Brogan, and
According to the Third, Fourth and
Fifth Lives of St. Brigid, as published by St. Brigid, published by Colgan, in vol.
lib.
9 In his notes to St. Brigid's Third Life.
'°
"
him, at that day, when his Life will be vSt. Brigid's Acts (cap. xxiv. ), and which,
Colgan promised to say more regarding
found in this collection.
'3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
in the original, begins with these words "Brigid be bhithmaith. "
==" The Scholiast on this and an hymn,
Irish life of St. Brigid, attribute its com- position to St. Columba.
Four Masters," vol.
'* See his Life at the 1 7th of September.
'S That published by Colgan has 53 stanzas, while one, attributed to this same
i. , pp. 208, 209.
*3 On the 9th day of June. This is shown Brogan Clocn, among the Trinity College in the fourth appendix to his Acts. See
^^
Betham Collection of Manuscripts of the Royal Irish Academy, and written by
In the vol. xviii. , belonging to the
these are followed by St. Brogan's hymn to
Colgan supposed he had not seen any of Columba's compositions on this subject, except what had already been given through a Latin version in his second appendix to
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
St. Ultan,=* Bishop of Ardbraccan, in Meath, it is believed, wrote a book on the Life of St. Brigid. 's He also, it is said, composed a hymn, in her praise. ^^ Colgan has assigned both of these tracts to the third place among his various published acts of our saint. ^7 This author flourished about a. d. 5 So, and he is reputed to have died, at a very old age, on the 4th of Sep- tember, A. D. 656. =^^ St. Aleran, or Aileran, sometimes called Eleran,^9 and surnamed the Wise, was a president or chief-director over Clonard School, in Meath. He wrote St. Brigid's Life. 3° This is testified by St. Coelan, who himself composed metrical acts of St. Brigid. 3' St. Aileran's feast has been assigned incorrectly to the nth of August,32 and his death is set down at 664. This year of mortality, however, seems rather referable to St. Aileran the Wise,33 whose feast is held on the 29th of December. Kilian or Coelanus, of Inis-Keltra,34 composed St. Brigid's Life in verse. 35 This formsthesixthandlastofheracts,aspubHshedbyColgan. 36 Inhisnotes, postfixed to this metrical life,37 the editor attempts to prove that Coelan flourished about the end of the seventh or beginning of the eighth century. 38 Animosus, who appears to have acquired the name Anmchiudh or Anmire, among the Irish, is said to have written many books of St. Brigid's acts. 39 This author, as has been thought, flourished about the year 950. 4° At a period subsequent to the time of writers already named, many others, who flourished after the commencement of the twelfth century, wrote her life. Among these authors may be enumerated, Laurence of Durham,^^ who is
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," cap. iv. , v. , vi. , pp. 483 to 486.
^^ See his Life at the 4th of September.
=9 See his Life at the 29th of December.
3° See Sir James Ware, "De Scriptoribus Hibernian," lib. i. , cap. iii. , p. 27.
3' See " De Primordiis Britanni- Ussher,
" Ultan
Macconcubar \i. e. O'Connor] Bishop of carum Ecclesiarum," p. 1067.
''
The Virgin's virtues many writers paint, Ultan the Sage and Eleran the Saint ;
And Amchaid in immortal works dis-
play'd
The life and merits of the spotless
141 to 155.
3^
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita S. Brigidse, pp. 582 to 596.
-s In Harris' we Ware,
read,
Ardbraccan, collected the Miracles of St.
Brigid into one volume in alphabetical order, from whence an anonymous author, who 'ivrit the life ofthat virgin in verse hath taken occasion to preface his Poem with these lines : —
3^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Sexta Vita S. Brigidse, n. 6, p. 598, and
Appendix Tertia ad Acta S. Brigidae, pp. 609, 610. This seems to confound Jiim with St. Aireran or Ereran of Tyfarnham in Westmeath.
33 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
*'
Desaipsit
De vita ac studiis virginis ac meritis.
Scripserunt nmlti virtutes virginis ahnce^ Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 276, 277. UltanusDoctor,atqueEleraniisovans. 3-i SeehisLifeatthe29thofJuly.
vndtos Animosus nomine 3S This has been edited Father libros, by
maid. "
37 A manuscript copy of this metrical life, kindly presented by William Eassie, Esq. , High Orchard House, Gloucester, England, is in the writer's possession.
38 See ibid. , nn. 1,2, 596 to 598. 3, pp.
39 In a prologue, prefixed to St. Coe- lan's metrical life, and published by Colgan, allusion is made to the three last named writers of St. Brigid's Acts. See "Trias
Thaumaturga. " Sexta Vita S. Brigidse, p.
—Vol. ii. "Writers of chap, iv. , p. 30,
Ireland,"
book
i. ,
^^
Stated to have commenced with the
words: " Audite Virginis laudes. " To it,
allusion has been already made. "
^7 See Trias Thaumaturga," pp. 527 to 545.
582.
4° See ibid. Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, n.
-*^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 268, 269 and n.
{s^), ibid. In the " Chronicum Scotorum,"
edited by William M. Hennessy, his death about 1 149. Besides St, Brigid's life, he
is placed at A. D. 653, which is tlie year 657, wrote a Scriptural history, in Nine Books
according to O'Flaherty. SeCjpp.
Massey, Rev. William, St. Peter's Church, Lancaster, England.
Mitchell, Mr. William, 3 Exchange-court, Dublin.
Monaghan, Very Rev. Thomas Canon, P. P. , Loughduff, Scrabby, Co. Cavan.
Murray, Rev. Terence, P. P. , Killdallen,
Ballyconnell,
Murtagh, Mr. Garrett, 36 Amiens-street,
Dublin.
M'Nally, Mr. Thomas, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan.
O'Boylan, Rev. B. M. , St. Augustine's Church, Newstraitsville, Perry Co. Ohio, U. S. , America.
O'Daly, Mr. John, 9 Anglesea-street, Dublin.
O'Farrell, Rev. Michael J. , St. Peter's
Church, Barclay-street, New York, U. S. , America.
O'Kane, Rev. P. , P. P. , Mount Saint Patrick, Downpatrick, Co. Down.
O'MuIrenin, Mr. Richard J. , Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson-street, Dublin.
O'Rorke, Mr. J. , Garradice, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim.
O'Rorke, Mr. Michael, 12 Thomas-street, Dublin.
Parker, John IL, Esq. , Danesfort, Clon- tarf, Co. Dublin.
Passionist Fathers, The Very Rev. The
Superior, St. Mungo's Catholic Church,
Parson-street, Glasgow, Scotland. Penney, Rev. Dr. , St. John's Episcopal Church, Stuartfield House, Partick,
Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Royston, James, Esq. , 35 Bloomfield- avenue, Dublin.
Ryan, Rev. James J. , Louvain College, Belgium.
Ryan, Rev, John T. , The College, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Scully, Sergeant James, D. M. Police, Lower Castle Yard, Dublin.
Shamion, Very Rev. Timothy, P. P. , V. G. , Kilmacduagh, Gort, Co. Galway.
Simons, Mr. Thomas, 3 Exchange-street, Dublin.
Tasker, Very Rev. Charles W. , Canon, Royle House, Glossop, Manchester, England.
Woods, Very Rev. Charles, St. Bede's
College, Alexandra Park, Manchester, Endand.
Co. Cavan.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS
tfS" A Supplementary List of Subscribers will issue with succeeding Volumes. Back Parts and Volumes are reserved, and can at present be obtained by Subscribers.
Terms. —Single Parts, one shilling, delivery or postage free, to regular Subscribers only,onpayinginadvance. ToNon-Subscribers,ONESHILLINGANDSIXPENCE. Forthe
latter, the edition, owing to ordinary sales effected, is now necessarily limited, and another shall never#be issued by the Author.
aST Home Subscribers, who shall have kept Five Shillings paid always in advance, thus secure five successive Parts, post free. From Subscribers in the United States, the
British Colonies, and abroad. One Pound, paid in advance, is required, and the excess, of
Forei'^n postage is only charged. Money Orders to be drawn on the General Post Office, Dublin. Cheques to be drawn on a Dul)lin Bank, to save the cost of collection.
C3" Cheques {crossed) or Money Orders made payable to
REV. JOHN O'HANLON,
parochial house, lower exchange-street, DUBLIN.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
Siv^t JBap ot jf^hruarp^
ARTICLE I. —LIFE OF ST. BRIGID, VIRGIN, FIRST ABBESS OF KILDARE, SPECIAL PATRONESS OF KILDARE DIOCESE, AND GENERAL PATRONESS OF IRELAND.
\FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURIES. I
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—AUTHOR's PLAN AND TREATMENT—AUTHORITIES, ANCIENT AND MODERN, FOR THE LIFE OF ST. BRIGID—CRITICAL REMARKS—THE HOLY VIRGIN's PARENTAGE-^PLACE AND DATE OF HER BIRTH.
path of a modern biographer, while treating about the Acts of
Ireland's THE
great Patroness,
is beset with difficulties of a varied nature.
These arise, owing not so much to a want of materials for his task, as from
the legendary, conflicting, and oftentimes contradictory accounts, so fre-
quently met with, in several ancient tracts, relative to this holy virgin.
Occasionally, however, the most exacting investigator of our traditions and
antiquities will find facts or circumstances, mingled with legendary or irre-
concilable narratives, deserving more than ordinary significance and having
much historic importance. It can hardly admit of question, how pleasure and instruction, derivable from reading the most celebrated epic poems of
ancient and modern times, should be materially lessened, if presented by their authors, in a didactic or an unimaginative style, avoiding the introduc-
tion of mythic episodes and personages, or the use of exaggerated metaphors and fancies. We must be ready to allow, that an undercurrent of historic truth sometimes sustains a superstructure of mythology, in such poems, and that it directs the interest and moral, evolved from poetic imaginings. By a parity of reasoning—although in a widely different sense—the truly religious and disciplined spirit of an enlightened and a pious Christian will not too readily reject various interesting legends, contained in the acts of our na- tional Saints, when he is free to receive them on the weight, or set them in abeyance on the want, of sustaining evidence. Many sceptical or over fasti- dious critics undervalue the force of popular traditions, and regard such attested miracles as incredible or legendary ; but, while those persons desire to remove cockle from the field of Irish hagiology, they possibly incur some risk, at the same time, of rooting up good seed with the tares. Our Divine
Redeemer, rega—rding the existence of good and evil, has already observed, Vol. II. No. i. b
[February i. i
until the
'
into my bam. "'^ The known application of this, parable, respecting the sower and the cockle, is obvious to the mind of every well-instructed Christian. Without any unnatural perversion of meaning, it may likewise apply to topics here introduced, but in a mode somewhat different. A multitude of legends will doubtless be found interpolated, among St. Brigid's authentic acts and miracles. . Such fictions create so much embarrassment, in any effort to discriminate truth and error, that it may be regarded as an utterly impracticable project, at the present day, to draw in many cases a very marked line of distinction. Perhaps, no complete biography can be
presented to the reader, without running some risk of overloading it with un- necessary, and frequently with incongruous, matter. It must be observed, while depreciating an insertion of fables, as opposed to correct taste and
sound historic deduction, the plan of this present biography may not warrant absolute departure from records left us by ancient writers, however traditional
and unsatisfactory such accounts happen to appear ; especially, when no amount of credit is claimed for their authenticity, but such as may be estab-
lished, by tests of strict evidence, or by the dictates of acute judgment. Religious feeling and Christian faith do -not require for their preservation
and growth, the production and publication of many legends, to be found in special Acts of our national saints. Those narratives, however, were con- sonant with a prevalent taste, and with the sentiments of our ancestors, in past ages. Even yet, when received with due caution, and with a just, discriminating spirit, such legends may be found, not altogether devoid of edification, granting their authenticity to be very questionable. A well-re- gulated mind will regard them, chiefly as emanations of a former period, and as illustrations of popular opinion, national feeling or religious impressions, which widely prevailed during times, when those narratives had been written.
Entering upon the subject of our great saint's biography, it will be neces- sary to premise a few observations concerning its plan and treatment, before referring to authorities, on which subsequent statements are made. It is the writer's intention, to embody at least the most probable and substantial accounts former chroniclers have handed down, regarding this holy virgin, according to the best possible chronological order, and most consecutive form, consistent with the intricacy of his subject.
Wherever discrepancies may be detected, in accounts left by various
writers, those differences are faithfully pointed out, either in the text or in
its accompanying notes. Again, several disquisitions or comments, not claiming the character of being original, in most cases, are usually the result of attentive reading or careful enquiry ; while those dissertations are placed,
according to the writer's best opinion, in their most appropriate position. He has also preferred allowing the studious reader's exercise of his own sagacity and critical discrimination, rather to test the accuracy of statements made, than to assume their solution, where mistakes might so easily be in- troduced. The author supposes, those authorities quoted so frequently inust exonerate himself from any necessity for obtruding judgments, often liable to be ill-founded. In this life, it was deemed advisable to present the fullest and most complete narrative of St. Brigid's Acts, hitherto found in the English language. Sensible of those obvious and consequent difficulties he must expect to encounter, mistakes are frequently inevitable, while the
^
Article i. —Chaptlr i. — St. Matt, xiii. , 30.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
in a most beautiful and instructive " Suffer both to parable,
grow harvest, and in the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers :
Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
writer is almost as certain to incur censure from the learned and critical, for its many elaborations and redundancies, as for its numberless defects, and unavoidable inaccuracies.
Already several elegantly written, and tolerably correct, compendiums of Saint Brigid's Acts have appeared in an English dress. Many of these are most creditable to the literary taste and correct judgment of their respective authors. Such publications have supplied an admitted void in our popular literature. Still a critical and researchful life of Ireland's holy Patroness the writer chiefly desires to produce ; and, however he may disappoint the ex- pectations of capable students, he cannot conceal from himself the inherent difficulties of his task, and the utter impossibility of surmounting them, saving with a relative measure of success. That degree of credibility attaching to authorities or writers, treating about our great Virgin Saint, should pre-occupy the reader's mind, at the very start of our enquiry. Impartial opinions and exact methods of examination are required, when following the intricate pro- cess of inductive biographical research, where statements are often liable to mislead. In accordance with the general scope and design of this life, its authorities must first be given, after an unpretending and a simple arrange- ment. Abriefaccountoftheprobableperiodswhenherbiographerswrote, with their respective opportunities for acquiring information, may prove desirable; even though conjecture must be substituted for more reliable
knowledge, in regard to several subjects of special importance and enquiry. We shall endeavour to enumerate the several ancient writers, who are stated to have commemorated St. Brigid's Acts and virtues, so far as known to us, while observing that exact chronological order, in which each compiler seems to have flourished, or written, or died. It may be premised, that nearly all of these writers are Irishmen, and that several are classed among our native saints. Among the earliest we must regard St. Fiech,^ who
flourished in or about the year 520, the disciple of St. Patrick and first chief
bishop of Leinster. He is thought possibly to have composed a hymn in praise of St. Brigid. 3 One attributed to him, however, seems to indicate,
that this holy virgin had departed from life, before it had been composed. • St. Fiech was her contemporary ; yet, it is strange, we find no allusion to him in her Acts. Fiech does not seem to have lived, beyond the year 530. S
^
See his Life at the 12th of October.
3 It is said to commence with these words :
**
served. This he says may be instanced, in the fourth and fifth lines. Yet, the Latin reader must find, on investigation, that there are sixteen syllables in these lines mentioned, as in most of the other stanzas. There are, however, five lines which either fall short, orexceedthatnumberofsyllables. Secondly, as published by Colgan, the hymn consists of five instead of four strophes. Thirdly, \i what the scholiast states be true, that the words, "Audite Virginis laudes," com-
Audite Virginis laudes. "
*"
In the —Leabhur lomaun," or "Book
of Hymns" now preserved in the Francis- can Library, Dublin—an old scholiast pre-
fixed the io\\o\v'mg proeinium or argument to this hymn, and which may thus be trans- lated into English. "St. Nennid Lam- hoidhain, that is, of the Clean Hand, com- posed this hymn in praise of St. Brigid, or
St. Fieg of Sletty ;
laudes' is its beginning :
Ardbrecain composed it, in honour of St. Brigid. It comprises St. Brigid's miracles
in one book : an alphabetical order is there preserved, and it is written in imitation of Nosearian metre. There are four chapters
in it, and four lines in each chapter, with sixteen syllables in each line. " Three
points must here be noted, Colgan remarks. See First, in the hymn he published, the number
of sixteen in each line is not syllables
pre-
Brigidse, n. 80, p. 445.
s This endeavours to show, in his Colgan
*
Audite Virginis menced the hymn, and that there were
or, St. Ultan of
four divisions or parts in it, two of the last
must be wanting, and three other strophes,
which are placed before these lines, must
have been intended as a preface. Or, if we
can be sure, that absolutely speaking, there
were only four verses in it, the fifth which
is not found in the St. Magnus' manuscript,
must be an addition to the original number,
"
Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S.
Hibernice,"
i. , cap, i. , p. 3.
Colgan.
" The Scholiast on an Irish hymn, com-
posed in praise of St. Brigid, and which
xli. , a small 4to paper of the Betham Manu-
script Collection of the Royal Irish Aca-
demy, at p. 143 and p. 144. These arc
written Mr. Owen Connellan, by
'8
This writer is thought to be the St. Cogitosus, surnamed the Wise, whose life occurs at the i8th of April.
'9 At Eichstaett in Germany, there is a copy of the Life of St. Brigid, by Cogitosus.
begins
with the words, ' ' be bhith- Brigid
maith," doubts as to whether the hymn, in
question, should be assigned to St. Brendan
or to St. Columba. But, Colgan supposed,
it should rather be attributed to St. Co-
lumba's pen, as well because of a statement
contained in an Irish Life of St. Brigid, as
on account of a cause alleged by the afore-
said Scholiast for composing this hymn, and
more nearly indicating such a conclusion.
='° ^'
See his Life at the 9th of June.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i,
Nearly contemporaneous in point of antiquity, we may regard St. Ninni- dius,^ surnamed Laimhiohain. 7 He is said to have treated on the virtues
and miracles of St. Brigid. This is the statement of some writers. ^ As her
chaplain and most intimate friend, he must have had special advantages for acquiring information on this subject ; and therefore, a life of the saint, com- posed by him, should be regarded as one of inestimable value and authen- ticity. Yet, Colgan thinks, although Fiech and Nennidius, in all likelihood, wrote something concerning St. Brigid, the hymn in question should rather be attributed to St. Ultan, on account of certain reasons adduced. 9 St. Nennidius, called also Nenius,^° administered Holy Viaticum to the illus- trious virgin, when she died, about a. d. 523, and consequendy he flourished early in the sixth century. St. Brendan, Bishop of Clonfert, is said to have written about the virtues and miracles of St. lirigid. " He flourished, like- wise, after her time, and he died on the i6th of May," a. d. 576. ^3 St. Brogan Cloen,^^ of Rostuirk in Ossory, and who probably flourished in the seventh century, composed an Irish hynm'5 in praise of St. Brigid. '^ Of this various manuscript copies remain. ^7 . Besides these authors, Cogitosus,^^ who flourished probably after the sixth and before the ninth century, wrote a celebrated treatise on the life and virtues of St. Brigid. Several manuscript copies of this tract are yet to be found. ^9 Again, the illustrious St. Colum- kille,-° Apostle of the Picts and Scots, is thought to have written a hymn on the life, and in praise, of St. Brigid. ^^ He is reputed to have composed it," aboutA. D. 563,onhispassagetoBritain. St. Columkilleisgenerallythought
to have departed this life, in the year 596. ^3
Fourth Appendix to St. Patrick's Acts, and
in that Catalogue of authors, who wrote
biographies of our national Apostle.
' See his Life at the 2nd of April.
7 Believing him to have been Abbot of
Manuscripts, Dublin, and classed E. 4, 2, has only 34 stanzas.
Inis-Muighe-Samh, an island on Lough Michael O'Longan, about the year 1760, "
Erne, Colgan published his Acts in the there is a Hymnus de Virtutibus et mira-
'*
Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xviii. Janu- arii, pp. iii to 115.
^ See Sir James Ware, " De Scriptoribus
culis Sanctoe Brigidae Kildariensis abbatissas et patronte," a Sancto Brigano, p. 82. It appears to have been copied from Colgan.
'7 There are seven of a poem on quatrains
St. Brigid attributed to St. Brogan, and
According to the Third, Fourth and
Fifth Lives of St. Brigid, as published by St. Brigid, published by Colgan, in vol.
lib.
9 In his notes to St. Brigid's Third Life.
'°
"
him, at that day, when his Life will be vSt. Brigid's Acts (cap. xxiv. ), and which,
Colgan promised to say more regarding
found in this collection.
'3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
in the original, begins with these words "Brigid be bhithmaith. "
==" The Scholiast on this and an hymn,
Irish life of St. Brigid, attribute its com- position to St. Columba.
Four Masters," vol.
'* See his Life at the 1 7th of September.
'S That published by Colgan has 53 stanzas, while one, attributed to this same
i. , pp. 208, 209.
*3 On the 9th day of June. This is shown Brogan Clocn, among the Trinity College in the fourth appendix to his Acts. See
^^
Betham Collection of Manuscripts of the Royal Irish Academy, and written by
In the vol. xviii. , belonging to the
these are followed by St. Brogan's hymn to
Colgan supposed he had not seen any of Columba's compositions on this subject, except what had already been given through a Latin version in his second appendix to
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
St. Ultan,=* Bishop of Ardbraccan, in Meath, it is believed, wrote a book on the Life of St. Brigid. 's He also, it is said, composed a hymn, in her praise. ^^ Colgan has assigned both of these tracts to the third place among his various published acts of our saint. ^7 This author flourished about a. d. 5 So, and he is reputed to have died, at a very old age, on the 4th of Sep- tember, A. D. 656. =^^ St. Aleran, or Aileran, sometimes called Eleran,^9 and surnamed the Wise, was a president or chief-director over Clonard School, in Meath. He wrote St. Brigid's Life. 3° This is testified by St. Coelan, who himself composed metrical acts of St. Brigid. 3' St. Aileran's feast has been assigned incorrectly to the nth of August,32 and his death is set down at 664. This year of mortality, however, seems rather referable to St. Aileran the Wise,33 whose feast is held on the 29th of December. Kilian or Coelanus, of Inis-Keltra,34 composed St. Brigid's Life in verse. 35 This formsthesixthandlastofheracts,aspubHshedbyColgan. 36 Inhisnotes, postfixed to this metrical life,37 the editor attempts to prove that Coelan flourished about the end of the seventh or beginning of the eighth century. 38 Animosus, who appears to have acquired the name Anmchiudh or Anmire, among the Irish, is said to have written many books of St. Brigid's acts. 39 This author, as has been thought, flourished about the year 950. 4° At a period subsequent to the time of writers already named, many others, who flourished after the commencement of the twelfth century, wrote her life. Among these authors may be enumerated, Laurence of Durham,^^ who is
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," cap. iv. , v. , vi. , pp. 483 to 486.
^^ See his Life at the 4th of September.
=9 See his Life at the 29th of December.
3° See Sir James Ware, "De Scriptoribus Hibernian," lib. i. , cap. iii. , p. 27.
3' See " De Primordiis Britanni- Ussher,
" Ultan
Macconcubar \i. e. O'Connor] Bishop of carum Ecclesiarum," p. 1067.
''
The Virgin's virtues many writers paint, Ultan the Sage and Eleran the Saint ;
And Amchaid in immortal works dis-
play'd
The life and merits of the spotless
141 to 155.
3^
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita S. Brigidse, pp. 582 to 596.
-s In Harris' we Ware,
read,
Ardbraccan, collected the Miracles of St.
Brigid into one volume in alphabetical order, from whence an anonymous author, who 'ivrit the life ofthat virgin in verse hath taken occasion to preface his Poem with these lines : —
3^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Sexta Vita S. Brigidse, n. 6, p. 598, and
Appendix Tertia ad Acta S. Brigidae, pp. 609, 610. This seems to confound Jiim with St. Aireran or Ereran of Tyfarnham in Westmeath.
33 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
*'
Desaipsit
De vita ac studiis virginis ac meritis.
Scripserunt nmlti virtutes virginis ahnce^ Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 276, 277. UltanusDoctor,atqueEleraniisovans. 3-i SeehisLifeatthe29thofJuly.
vndtos Animosus nomine 3S This has been edited Father libros, by
maid. "
37 A manuscript copy of this metrical life, kindly presented by William Eassie, Esq. , High Orchard House, Gloucester, England, is in the writer's possession.
38 See ibid. , nn. 1,2, 596 to 598. 3, pp.
39 In a prologue, prefixed to St. Coe- lan's metrical life, and published by Colgan, allusion is made to the three last named writers of St. Brigid's Acts. See "Trias
Thaumaturga. " Sexta Vita S. Brigidse, p.
—Vol. ii. "Writers of chap, iv. , p. 30,
Ireland,"
book
i. ,
^^
Stated to have commenced with the
words: " Audite Virginis laudes. " To it,
allusion has been already made. "
^7 See Trias Thaumaturga," pp. 527 to 545.
582.
4° See ibid. Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, n.
-*^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 268, 269 and n.
{s^), ibid. In the " Chronicum Scotorum,"
edited by William M. Hennessy, his death about 1 149. Besides St, Brigid's life, he
is placed at A. D. 653, which is tlie year 657, wrote a Scriptural history, in Nine Books
according to O'Flaherty. SeCjpp.
