s-t
According
to Jocel3m.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Pharsalias,"
to
453 458.
tical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. ,
sect, v. , n. 43, pp. 226, 227.
33 See Rev. Henry Rowland's " Mona An- tiqua Restaurata,'" sect, ix. , pp. 107, 108. Dublin Ed. , 1723. 4to.
3* See Daniel Wilson's " and Archaeology
Prehistoric Annals ol Scotland," part ii. ,
chap, viii. , p. 345.
35 See John Toland's " Critical History of
the Celtic Religion and Learning : contain- ing an account of the Druids ; or the Priests and Judges, of the Vaids, or the Diviners or
"
Melusine," edited by the same writer,
and Heralds ; of the Ancient Gauls, Britons,
Irish and Scots. " Letter i. , sect, iii. , p. 49.
'^
In connexion with this subject, an in-
tract has been
teresting " lately published by
Henri Gaidoz :
Esquisse de la Religion
des Gaulois avec un Appendice sur le Dieu
Encina. " It first appeared in "Encyclope-
dic des Sciences Religieuses," tome v. It
has been separately re-issued at Paris, 1879, in 8vo. The " Revue Celtique," and that
highly interesting folk-lore periodical, Physicians ; and of the Bards, or the Poets
have very curious notices of old Celtic
mythology.
^9 See the learned
"
Dissertation, in
Universitatis Oxoniensis," vol. i. , pp. i to 3. Oxonii, 1674, foL
3° Especially from Caesar, Strabo, Diodo- rus Siculus, Pomponius Mela and Ammia- nus Marcellinus.
3' See Caesar, "De Belle Gallico," lib. Vi.
Edinburgh, 1815. 8vo.
Wood's First
3* See Wood's " the Inquiry concerning
Anthony
Historia et Antiquitates
Primitive Inhabitants of Ireland," pp. 159 to 180. Cork. 8vo, 1821.
"
Essay on the Ancient History, Religion, Learning, Arts and Government of Ireland," in "Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol.
xvi. , part i. Period the First, sect, iii. , pp. 79 to 95.
3" The poet Lucan has such an allusion,
^ By Dr. Stukeley.
37 See John D'Alton's
558 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
history and archseology. The name of Bealtinne, applied to the first of May,'»° with many similar etymologies, and traditional accounts,'*^ sufficiently de- monstrate, that in the time of heathenism, fire was a chief object of some
mysterious worship in Ireland. Again, it must be observed, we have little
evidence, from Celtic tradition, to preserve a- distinction between the pan-
theistic creed of the Arian races, and the spells or superstitions of Allophy- lian aborigines. 42 However, the Magi were the Celtic priests, in Wales and Ireland, before the introduction of Christianity. ''3 Their institutions and rites are thought to have prevailed, earlier in Ireland, than in Britain and on the Continent, where their system was distinguished as Druidism ; and, it seems probable, that after its extinction here, the terms, Druids and Druidism, re- coiled upon our island/* The system was not known in Germany. ^s In these islands, we are informed, that the Island of Anglesy was a chief seat of their mysteries ; and, many curious monuments, illustrative of their usages, have been there discovered. *^ Our Irish Pagan ancestors believed in the existence of a sort of or called Sidhe ^^ nor has this
were supposed to inhabit pleasant raths, hills, and romantic places. *^
The strange and forbidden fire, lighted on the Hill of Slane, was a sub- ject for astonishment to all who beheld it. In full court, and surrounded by his notables, at Tara, the Monarch Laoghaire enquired, and with extreme vehemence, about this man, who had dared to violate their old and honoured custom, and who had presumed to introduce such an innovation. ^ The Druids or enchanters are said to have practised the art of pseudo-prophecy,5° and they told him, if that fire, which the stranger had lighted, were not put out,
genii, fairies, ; popular superstition altogether died out, even in the present century. These spirits
39 See the " London Magazine," October, 1751, p. 464.
Patrick," in the opening to —his poem,
*° See General
" Vindication Ireland," p. 394.
illustrated work,
troductory chapter, pp. 5, 6.
Campbell's
Laeghaire to-morrow his birthday keeps ?
Vallancey's
of the Ancient
'See "Irish Folk-Lore," By Lageni-
History
of
ensis, chap, xxiii. , pp. 182 to 197.
*' See Daniel Wilson's "
Prehistoric Annals of Scotland," pait ii. , chap, viii. , p. 345,
*3 See Mr. James Ferguson's beautifully-
"
in all Countries, their Age, and Uses. " In-
Archasology
and
Rude Stone Monuments
^ See
clesiastical and Literary History of Ireland," p. 67.
" Strictures on the Ec-
That
No fire may be lit upon hill or hearth
Till the king's strong fire in its kingly mirth
Up rushes from Tara's palace steeps ! Yet Patrick—has his —
« See Caesar, "De Bello Gallico," lib. vi.
*® See Rev. Henry Rowland's " Mona An-
tiqua Restaurata," sect, viii. , ix. , pp. 53 to 112.
"See "Tertia Vita S. Patricii," cap. xlviii. , p. 25.
*® Roderick O'FIaherty observes, that the old Irish knew of no such beings as Jupiter,
"
Paschal fire
or other gods, worshipped by the ancient
Romans. He concludes thus
:
" Unde col-
ligendum Hibemorum numina fuisse deos
Topicos, sc. montanos, campestres, fluviales,
aequoreos, et id genus alios locorum genios. "
"
See his 199 to 201.
s° Dr. Lanigan does not think, tliat they were endowed with any sort of prophetic gift, any more than the Jews, when they said of
our Saviour ••
: If we let him alone in this
Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. xxii. , pp. ^9 These incidents are thus alluded to in
Aubrey
De Vere's of St. "Legends
"
" The is wroth with a wrath King greater
Than the wrath of Nial or the wTath of Conn !
From his heart to his brow the blood malces path,
And hangs there, a red cloud, beneath his crown.
" Is there any who knows not, from south to north,
Saint Patrick at Tara," p. 26
:
lighted
At Slane
And bless'd his font 'mid the chanting
choir !
From hill to hill the flame makes way.
While the king looks on it his eyes wiili ire
Flash red, like Mars, under tresses grey. "
it is
Holy Saturday
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 559 on that night, Patrick and liis successors should hold sovereign power, not only-
"
over the
magicians had only the natural foresight to anticipate St. Patrick's final success, unless they energetically opposed this his first intrepid proceeding. s^ Their pro- phecy—if as such we can regard it—has been fully verified, in the spiritual light, which from that hour to this day, has burned on through so many vicissitudes of Ireland's history. The appearance and mission of our saint, at Tara, being the supreme effort of his life, so the accounts left to^us, regarding them, have been overcrowded with popular fables, and these have even been con- fused in the records which remain. It was resolved, that signal vengeance be executed, on the transgressors of the law. Wherefore, the king, being greatly incensed, hastened with all expedition to quench St. Patrick's Paschal
Fire, and he is said to have taken with him a number of chiefs, guards and
Magi, when setting out for Slane. Horses and chariots were prepared for
this expedition. S3 One account has it, that his retinue consisted of thrice
nine, that is twenty-seven chariots. ^* His Magiciansss had asserted, that
numberwasfortunate,andprosperous. TheseMagihadproposedtodispute
with the saint. At sight of all the chariots coming, the holy man sung that
verseofthePsalm "Sometrustinchariots,andsomeinhorses,butwewill :
call upon the name of the Lord our God. " s° When the king came near to the place, Fearta da Feic,57 where Patrick had kindled his fire, the Magi, through advice given, prevented their monarch from honouring the saint, by approach-
ing him, as if it would be a humiliating acknowledgment of supremacy or reverence. Therefore, he sent messengers to the saint, and commanded him to make his appearance, before the royal presence. His Divine office being ended, the saint came. But, none of the courtiers, as the king had com- manded, exhibited any reverence or honour, by rising up to salute St. Patrick,onhisapproach,exceptoneHercus,orHerc,5^sonofDego. He rose, and saluted the saint, in a very marked manner. S9 The saint gave him hisbenediction,andpromisedhimlifeeverlasting. Healsolived,itissaid,to the ninetieth year of his age, and died, a. d. 512,^° or, as some state, a. d. 514. ^'
" 5^
City of Kings," but, even over all Hibernia. s^ It is probable, those
manner, all will believe in bim ; and the
Romans will come and take away our place
andnation. " (Johnxi. ,48. )
monarch. They are represented, as uttering blasphemies against God.
5' See the Second
15, the Third Life, cap. xxxvii. , p. 24, the
5*Psalmxix. ,9.
S7 The Abbate D. Giacomo Certani
ed e non molto distante a Temoria all'
and then — Reale," very incorretly
follows, "e Metropoli della Conacia. " "II Mose dell' Ibernia, Vita del glorioso S.
Patrizio, Canonico Regolare Lateranense, Apostolo, e Primate dell' Ibema," Libro Quinto, p. 159.
ss pje died, on the 2nd of November, which is the date for his festival,
59 a certain writer, called Anselm, who
Fourth
the Fifth Life, cap. xl. , p. 40, Life,
lib. i. , cap. XXXV. , p. 50, the Sixth Life,
cap. xl. , p. 74, and the Seventh Life, lib. i. ,
cap. Iv. , p. 125. See, also, Miss Cusack's
Life of St. Patrick," pp. 379, 380, 385. According to Probus, the Magi pre- dieted regarding this fire: "nisi extinctus fuerit hac nocte, non extinguetur in seter- num : insuper et omnes ignes nostrae con-
suetudinis
eum, regnum tuum dissipabit. "
Vita S. Patricii," lib. i. , cap. xxxv. , p. 50. The other Lives substantially agree.
Life, cap. xxxiv. , p.
"
ora Citta
adds,
et — incendit superexcellet : ille, qui
or relates, that this holy man was converted by St. Patrick, on Holy Satur- day. He is said to have been son to a certain King, Clito. It is related of him, that he, too, stood up to honour St. Patrick. Yet, the Acts of our national Apostle do not mention such a circumstance. St. Fin- gar and his martyr companions are vene-
rated, at the 23rd of February.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
53 The Latin Tripartite Life states, that
the king came " in fine noctis," to Slane, or Ferta-fer-Feic. See Seventh Life, lib. i. , cap. Ivi. , p. 126. The Irish Life, as pub- lished by Miss Cusack, has a like statement. See p. 385.
s-t According to Jocel3m.
"
Fingar
has recorded the Acts of a St. Quinta Guignar,
55 Among these, Lochu or Lochru and Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 166 to 1 69, and Lucamael are named, as chiefly advising the nn. (h, i, k, 1. ) Ibid.
56o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
This holy man received the grace of regeneration, and he led a life, conspicuous both for miracles and virtues. Afterwards, he became the first bishop, in the city of Slane. He departed to a better life, in the same city, of which he is the recognisedpatron. ThelegendsofSt. Patrick'sActsthengivesomewonderful accounts of Luchru's opposition,^^ and of a challenge to a contest, in which the Irish Apostle proved victorious. ^3 The Lord magnified his servant, by sending earthquakes, lightning and thunder, to scatter the hosts of his enemies. The monarch, his queen, and others, who were in their train, felt terrified at thoseportents. Then,thequeen,^^fallingprostratebeforethesaint,undertook on behalf of her husband, that he should yet adore the true Lord of all, and submit to the saint's directions. Patrick then praying to Almighty God, the vehement storm ceased, no further was life sacrificed, and the sky became serene. Thekingcame,too,asthequeenhadpromised,butcovering,withthe veilofafeignedhumility,theobstinatemaliceofhisheart. Inshowandout-
ward adoration only, he acknowledged the sovereign majesty of God. He bent the knee, and there entreated Saint Patrick, that he would be pleased to come
to his court, while Loaighaire promised, that for the future, he should be wholly directed and governed by the saint. Whereupon, the holy man conde-
scended, to accept this invitation, although he was not ignorant of the king's deep and wicked dissimulation ; for, the spirit of a Divine Revelation burned,
within the soul of our Apostle. Notwithstanding, the deceitful king, being ob- durate in his malice, took an apparently kind farewell of Patrick. ^s However, the monarch beset all the way, whereby the saint was to pass, so that he might be assassinated. With armed chariots, Laoighaire blocked up every passage
*' See Ussher's " Primordia," cap. xvii. , ness ; and he set the idolater to war against
"
p. 1047, as also his
at A. D. Dxiv. If this account be true, Egyptians. Each man rushed on his fellow,
Index Chronologicus," the idolater, like the Egyptians against the
according to Dr. Lanigan's computation, it will follow, that Here could only have been about nine years old, at that time.
** The . account of St. Patrick's contest with the Druids, at Tara, is related in Patrick Kennedy's "Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts," pp. 322 to 325.
*3 Lochu is said to have attempted a
flight into the air, after the example of Simeon Magus, to have fallen down to the ground,andtohavebrokenhisneck. Then, the king, attributing this calamity to St. Patrick's malediction, ordered his satellites to kill the holy man. The mangled remains of the magician who was named Lochu, in that part of the country, thus lay at the feet of St. Patrick. It is stated, that he was pro- jected to earth, by a ball of snow, after the saint had prayed aloud, in presence of all the
and brother fought against brother, while the chariots and their riders were cast to the ground and overturned. Several men were slain, and hardly did the rest escape with life, to a neighbouring hill, called Moduirn. On William Larkin's fine map of the County of Meath, published in 1812, the hills about Slane are very finely delineated ; but, no such name for any hill there occurs. The old Celtic names, for the most part, have merged into modern English denominations. The Latin Tripartite Life states, that fifty of King Leoghaire's retinue came only half- alive to the mountain of Modhairn, and Briggraidbe, in the territory of Carbrie, while the rest were scattered in various directions, three only excepted, King Leo- gaire, his queen, and one of his courtiers. See Seventh Life, lib. i. , cap. Iviii. , p. 126.
*'' In St. Patrick's Acts, her published
name is not given, except in the Latin Tri-
people. Anticipating
tion, St. Patrick in a clear voice began to
their inten- desperate
sing that verse of the psalm " Let God partite Life, which alone calls this queen
:
arise, and let his enemies be scattered, and Angusa, the daughter of Tessach, son to let them that hate him fly from before his Liethen. See lib. i. , cap. Iviii. , p. 126.
The Iri. sh version does not at all name her. ''5 The Irish Tripartite Life states, that the king went to Tara. in sorrow and shame, by twilight, a few persons only escaping in his company. In the Latin and Irish Tri- partite Lives, St. Benen, or Benignus, is said to have carried the polaire (satchel or epis- 15. For, he sent among them, according to tolary) of sacred books, on his back. Ac- the prophecy of Isaiah, the spirit of giddi- cording to the Irish Life, Benan is called a
face. " (Psalms Ixvii. I. ) Then, the Lord, the protector of his chosen ones in the time of need, saved from this angry multitude his faithful servant. Thus, as was said by
"
The Lord shot forth his arrffwt, and lie scattered them ; he vndtiplied lightnings, a7id troubled them. " Psalms xvii.
the Prophet :
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 561
and river ford. With nine chariots, and wicked men in them, each spot was guarded, to the end, that if the saint escaped one passage, he should be en-
trappedinanother. But,themaUceofmancannotprevailagainstthegoodness of God, who conducted his true servant, with eight more attendants,^^ and the holy youth Benignus, in an invisible manner, and through the midst of their blood-thirsty enemies, to Tara, where the king kept his chief court. At the various places of ambush, the eyes of those plotters were bound, so that they couldnotbeholdtheholytravellers. But,totheirsightappearedeightstags, with one hind, passing over the mountains ; and, thus, the Lord being his protector, did the saint and his companions escape the contrivers of, and the means for, their destruction. ^7
On the following day, which was Easter Sunday, the great Fes was solemnized by a public banquet, held in the Royal Hall, on the Hill of Tara. ^^ The advent of St. Patrick in Ireland, and the late events at Slane, were then a subject for general wonder and comment. An invitation had been extended, that he should present himself, before the magnates of the land, at their great assembly. ^9 Nothing could be more sublime, than the dignified and solemn entrance of St. Patrick, into the king's presence, at the Palace of Tara. Pre- cededbythecrucifix, andaccompaniedbyhisclergy,theholymanadvanced like a prophet,7° and when he arrived, all assembled there gazed upon himself and upon his companions, with feelings of admiration and reverence. The palace gates flew open as he approached. 7' It is said, that as St. Patrick
journeyed forward to Tara, on this occasion, he composed that celebrated
Hymn,72 in the Irish
gUla, and he was clothed
or garment of invisibility, occurs, in the Latin Life. ** The Second Life has
language, known as the Feth-Fiadha,73 and which was
"
Quarta Vita S. Patricii," cap. xli. , xlii. ,
with a dicheltair, Notliing of this
the order and celebration of the Tara Fes.
See, also, Eugene O'Curry's Lectures "On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient
Irish," edited by Dr. W. K. Sullivan, vol.
seven.
*7 See "Secunda Vita S. Patricii," cap. ii. , lect. ii. , pp. 12 to 20. Also "Trans-
XXXV. , xxxvi. , xxxvii. , p. 15 ; "Tertia Vita S. Patricii," cap. xxxviii,, xxxix. , xl. , p. 24 ;
actions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. xiv. O'Flaherty's "Isles of Arran," pp. 105, 106.
""
Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib.
^^ In the History of Tara Hill," Dr. Petrie printed the celebrated Hymn of St. Patrick, with a translation and notes by
xliii. , p. 40 ;
i. , cap. xxxvi. , xxxvii. , xxxviii. , xxxix. , xl. ,
"
xl. , xli. , xlii. , xliii. , xliv. , pp. 74, 75;
"
Ivi. , Ivii. , Iviii. , lix. , Ix. , p. 126. Also, Miss
Sexta Vita S. Patricii," cap.
Septima Vita S. Patricii," lib. i. , cap. re-translated from different versions, by
pp. 50, 51 ;
Cusack's 387-
*«
"
Life of St. Patrick," pp. 385 to
Whitley Stokes, the late Dr. Todd, and J. O'BeirneCrow. MissCusackhasprinted
According to the Scholiast on St.
Fiech's Hymn, this place. Latinized, Temo-
ria, had its name, Tea-mhur, or Tese-Murus,
because Tea, the wife of King Eremon, son some h—as been Latinized, "Lorica Pa-
to the Spaniard Milesius, had been there in- terred. See First Life, stanza 10, p. 2, and n. 17 r. , p. 5.
Stenson's "Pane-
1875. i2mo.
T' See Archdeacon Hamiilton's " Sum-
mary of the Life of St. Patrick," p. 6, to his edition of the Confession,
7' The most m—inute notices we find, re- garding the turs mentioned by Ptolemy in
"
Jeoffrey Keating, in his
land," and under the reign of Tuathal Teachtmhar, from a. d. 79 to 109, describes
tricii :"
" There has come to me to-day, powerful
strength, the invocation of the Trinity.
" I invoke the of the mighty power
Trinity, 1 believe in the Trinity, under the unity of the God of the Elements.
" At Tara, to-day, I place between me and harm, the virtue of the birth of Christ with his Baptism ; the virtue of His Cruci- fixion, with His Burial ; the virtue of His Resurrection, with His Ascension ; the
•^9 See Rev. E.
J. J.
gyric of St. Patrick," p. 15. Almonte,
—and the
his account of Ireland
and forts at Tara, are to be found in Dr, Petrie's "History of Tara Hill. " Dr.
virtue of the to the Eternal coming
other houses
Judg-
History of Ire-
ment.
" At Tara, to-day, the virtue of the love
of the Seraphim, the obedience of the angels, the hope of the resurrection to eternal re- ward, the prayers of the noble fathers, the
John O'Donovan. Since then, it has been
this Hymn, in the body of her
"
Life of St. Patrick," with valuable annotations.
73 Here do we insert an English trans- lation of this sublime Hymn, which, by
2N
562 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
afterwards held in such great veneration among our people. 7+ The Monarch Laoighaire had desired, that his chiefs and familiars should manifest nothing of courteous respect to the distinguished stranger. Wherefore, as our saint
entered the king's palace, none showed him any honour, or reverence, ex-
cepting the king's chief Poet. ^s In some accounts, he is merely called a
Poet 7^ in others, he is distinguished as Arch-Poet. 77 With great submission, ;
this " son of saluted him. This action was distinguished song," Dubtach,? ^
reputedinhimtojustice. HeaskedtobecomeaChristian,andhereceived the grace of baptism.
to
453 458.
tical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. ,
sect, v. , n. 43, pp. 226, 227.
33 See Rev. Henry Rowland's " Mona An- tiqua Restaurata,'" sect, ix. , pp. 107, 108. Dublin Ed. , 1723. 4to.
3* See Daniel Wilson's " and Archaeology
Prehistoric Annals ol Scotland," part ii. ,
chap, viii. , p. 345.
35 See John Toland's " Critical History of
the Celtic Religion and Learning : contain- ing an account of the Druids ; or the Priests and Judges, of the Vaids, or the Diviners or
"
Melusine," edited by the same writer,
and Heralds ; of the Ancient Gauls, Britons,
Irish and Scots. " Letter i. , sect, iii. , p. 49.
'^
In connexion with this subject, an in-
tract has been
teresting " lately published by
Henri Gaidoz :
Esquisse de la Religion
des Gaulois avec un Appendice sur le Dieu
Encina. " It first appeared in "Encyclope-
dic des Sciences Religieuses," tome v. It
has been separately re-issued at Paris, 1879, in 8vo. The " Revue Celtique," and that
highly interesting folk-lore periodical, Physicians ; and of the Bards, or the Poets
have very curious notices of old Celtic
mythology.
^9 See the learned
"
Dissertation, in
Universitatis Oxoniensis," vol. i. , pp. i to 3. Oxonii, 1674, foL
3° Especially from Caesar, Strabo, Diodo- rus Siculus, Pomponius Mela and Ammia- nus Marcellinus.
3' See Caesar, "De Belle Gallico," lib. Vi.
Edinburgh, 1815. 8vo.
Wood's First
3* See Wood's " the Inquiry concerning
Anthony
Historia et Antiquitates
Primitive Inhabitants of Ireland," pp. 159 to 180. Cork. 8vo, 1821.
"
Essay on the Ancient History, Religion, Learning, Arts and Government of Ireland," in "Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol.
xvi. , part i. Period the First, sect, iii. , pp. 79 to 95.
3" The poet Lucan has such an allusion,
^ By Dr. Stukeley.
37 See John D'Alton's
558 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
history and archseology. The name of Bealtinne, applied to the first of May,'»° with many similar etymologies, and traditional accounts,'*^ sufficiently de- monstrate, that in the time of heathenism, fire was a chief object of some
mysterious worship in Ireland. Again, it must be observed, we have little
evidence, from Celtic tradition, to preserve a- distinction between the pan-
theistic creed of the Arian races, and the spells or superstitions of Allophy- lian aborigines. 42 However, the Magi were the Celtic priests, in Wales and Ireland, before the introduction of Christianity. ''3 Their institutions and rites are thought to have prevailed, earlier in Ireland, than in Britain and on the Continent, where their system was distinguished as Druidism ; and, it seems probable, that after its extinction here, the terms, Druids and Druidism, re- coiled upon our island/* The system was not known in Germany. ^s In these islands, we are informed, that the Island of Anglesy was a chief seat of their mysteries ; and, many curious monuments, illustrative of their usages, have been there discovered. *^ Our Irish Pagan ancestors believed in the existence of a sort of or called Sidhe ^^ nor has this
were supposed to inhabit pleasant raths, hills, and romantic places. *^
The strange and forbidden fire, lighted on the Hill of Slane, was a sub- ject for astonishment to all who beheld it. In full court, and surrounded by his notables, at Tara, the Monarch Laoghaire enquired, and with extreme vehemence, about this man, who had dared to violate their old and honoured custom, and who had presumed to introduce such an innovation. ^ The Druids or enchanters are said to have practised the art of pseudo-prophecy,5° and they told him, if that fire, which the stranger had lighted, were not put out,
genii, fairies, ; popular superstition altogether died out, even in the present century. These spirits
39 See the " London Magazine," October, 1751, p. 464.
Patrick," in the opening to —his poem,
*° See General
" Vindication Ireland," p. 394.
illustrated work,
troductory chapter, pp. 5, 6.
Campbell's
Laeghaire to-morrow his birthday keeps ?
Vallancey's
of the Ancient
'See "Irish Folk-Lore," By Lageni-
History
of
ensis, chap, xxiii. , pp. 182 to 197.
*' See Daniel Wilson's "
Prehistoric Annals of Scotland," pait ii. , chap, viii. , p. 345,
*3 See Mr. James Ferguson's beautifully-
"
in all Countries, their Age, and Uses. " In-
Archasology
and
Rude Stone Monuments
^ See
clesiastical and Literary History of Ireland," p. 67.
" Strictures on the Ec-
That
No fire may be lit upon hill or hearth
Till the king's strong fire in its kingly mirth
Up rushes from Tara's palace steeps ! Yet Patrick—has his —
« See Caesar, "De Bello Gallico," lib. vi.
*® See Rev. Henry Rowland's " Mona An-
tiqua Restaurata," sect, viii. , ix. , pp. 53 to 112.
"See "Tertia Vita S. Patricii," cap. xlviii. , p. 25.
*® Roderick O'FIaherty observes, that the old Irish knew of no such beings as Jupiter,
"
Paschal fire
or other gods, worshipped by the ancient
Romans. He concludes thus
:
" Unde col-
ligendum Hibemorum numina fuisse deos
Topicos, sc. montanos, campestres, fluviales,
aequoreos, et id genus alios locorum genios. "
"
See his 199 to 201.
s° Dr. Lanigan does not think, tliat they were endowed with any sort of prophetic gift, any more than the Jews, when they said of
our Saviour ••
: If we let him alone in this
Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. xxii. , pp. ^9 These incidents are thus alluded to in
Aubrey
De Vere's of St. "Legends
"
" The is wroth with a wrath King greater
Than the wrath of Nial or the wTath of Conn !
From his heart to his brow the blood malces path,
And hangs there, a red cloud, beneath his crown.
" Is there any who knows not, from south to north,
Saint Patrick at Tara," p. 26
:
lighted
At Slane
And bless'd his font 'mid the chanting
choir !
From hill to hill the flame makes way.
While the king looks on it his eyes wiili ire
Flash red, like Mars, under tresses grey. "
it is
Holy Saturday
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 559 on that night, Patrick and liis successors should hold sovereign power, not only-
"
over the
magicians had only the natural foresight to anticipate St. Patrick's final success, unless they energetically opposed this his first intrepid proceeding. s^ Their pro- phecy—if as such we can regard it—has been fully verified, in the spiritual light, which from that hour to this day, has burned on through so many vicissitudes of Ireland's history. The appearance and mission of our saint, at Tara, being the supreme effort of his life, so the accounts left to^us, regarding them, have been overcrowded with popular fables, and these have even been con- fused in the records which remain. It was resolved, that signal vengeance be executed, on the transgressors of the law. Wherefore, the king, being greatly incensed, hastened with all expedition to quench St. Patrick's Paschal
Fire, and he is said to have taken with him a number of chiefs, guards and
Magi, when setting out for Slane. Horses and chariots were prepared for
this expedition. S3 One account has it, that his retinue consisted of thrice
nine, that is twenty-seven chariots. ^* His Magiciansss had asserted, that
numberwasfortunate,andprosperous. TheseMagihadproposedtodispute
with the saint. At sight of all the chariots coming, the holy man sung that
verseofthePsalm "Sometrustinchariots,andsomeinhorses,butwewill :
call upon the name of the Lord our God. " s° When the king came near to the place, Fearta da Feic,57 where Patrick had kindled his fire, the Magi, through advice given, prevented their monarch from honouring the saint, by approach-
ing him, as if it would be a humiliating acknowledgment of supremacy or reverence. Therefore, he sent messengers to the saint, and commanded him to make his appearance, before the royal presence. His Divine office being ended, the saint came. But, none of the courtiers, as the king had com- manded, exhibited any reverence or honour, by rising up to salute St. Patrick,onhisapproach,exceptoneHercus,orHerc,5^sonofDego. He rose, and saluted the saint, in a very marked manner. S9 The saint gave him hisbenediction,andpromisedhimlifeeverlasting. Healsolived,itissaid,to the ninetieth year of his age, and died, a. d. 512,^° or, as some state, a. d. 514. ^'
" 5^
City of Kings," but, even over all Hibernia. s^ It is probable, those
manner, all will believe in bim ; and the
Romans will come and take away our place
andnation. " (Johnxi. ,48. )
monarch. They are represented, as uttering blasphemies against God.
5' See the Second
15, the Third Life, cap. xxxvii. , p. 24, the
5*Psalmxix. ,9.
S7 The Abbate D. Giacomo Certani
ed e non molto distante a Temoria all'
and then — Reale," very incorretly
follows, "e Metropoli della Conacia. " "II Mose dell' Ibernia, Vita del glorioso S.
Patrizio, Canonico Regolare Lateranense, Apostolo, e Primate dell' Ibema," Libro Quinto, p. 159.
ss pje died, on the 2nd of November, which is the date for his festival,
59 a certain writer, called Anselm, who
Fourth
the Fifth Life, cap. xl. , p. 40, Life,
lib. i. , cap. XXXV. , p. 50, the Sixth Life,
cap. xl. , p. 74, and the Seventh Life, lib. i. ,
cap. Iv. , p. 125. See, also, Miss Cusack's
Life of St. Patrick," pp. 379, 380, 385. According to Probus, the Magi pre- dieted regarding this fire: "nisi extinctus fuerit hac nocte, non extinguetur in seter- num : insuper et omnes ignes nostrae con-
suetudinis
eum, regnum tuum dissipabit. "
Vita S. Patricii," lib. i. , cap. xxxv. , p. 50. The other Lives substantially agree.
Life, cap. xxxiv. , p.
"
ora Citta
adds,
et — incendit superexcellet : ille, qui
or relates, that this holy man was converted by St. Patrick, on Holy Satur- day. He is said to have been son to a certain King, Clito. It is related of him, that he, too, stood up to honour St. Patrick. Yet, the Acts of our national Apostle do not mention such a circumstance. St. Fin- gar and his martyr companions are vene-
rated, at the 23rd of February.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
53 The Latin Tripartite Life states, that
the king came " in fine noctis," to Slane, or Ferta-fer-Feic. See Seventh Life, lib. i. , cap. Ivi. , p. 126. The Irish Life, as pub- lished by Miss Cusack, has a like statement. See p. 385.
s-t According to Jocel3m.
"
Fingar
has recorded the Acts of a St. Quinta Guignar,
55 Among these, Lochu or Lochru and Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 166 to 1 69, and Lucamael are named, as chiefly advising the nn. (h, i, k, 1. ) Ibid.
56o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
This holy man received the grace of regeneration, and he led a life, conspicuous both for miracles and virtues. Afterwards, he became the first bishop, in the city of Slane. He departed to a better life, in the same city, of which he is the recognisedpatron. ThelegendsofSt. Patrick'sActsthengivesomewonderful accounts of Luchru's opposition,^^ and of a challenge to a contest, in which the Irish Apostle proved victorious. ^3 The Lord magnified his servant, by sending earthquakes, lightning and thunder, to scatter the hosts of his enemies. The monarch, his queen, and others, who were in their train, felt terrified at thoseportents. Then,thequeen,^^fallingprostratebeforethesaint,undertook on behalf of her husband, that he should yet adore the true Lord of all, and submit to the saint's directions. Patrick then praying to Almighty God, the vehement storm ceased, no further was life sacrificed, and the sky became serene. Thekingcame,too,asthequeenhadpromised,butcovering,withthe veilofafeignedhumility,theobstinatemaliceofhisheart. Inshowandout-
ward adoration only, he acknowledged the sovereign majesty of God. He bent the knee, and there entreated Saint Patrick, that he would be pleased to come
to his court, while Loaighaire promised, that for the future, he should be wholly directed and governed by the saint. Whereupon, the holy man conde-
scended, to accept this invitation, although he was not ignorant of the king's deep and wicked dissimulation ; for, the spirit of a Divine Revelation burned,
within the soul of our Apostle. Notwithstanding, the deceitful king, being ob- durate in his malice, took an apparently kind farewell of Patrick. ^s However, the monarch beset all the way, whereby the saint was to pass, so that he might be assassinated. With armed chariots, Laoighaire blocked up every passage
*' See Ussher's " Primordia," cap. xvii. , ness ; and he set the idolater to war against
"
p. 1047, as also his
at A. D. Dxiv. If this account be true, Egyptians. Each man rushed on his fellow,
Index Chronologicus," the idolater, like the Egyptians against the
according to Dr. Lanigan's computation, it will follow, that Here could only have been about nine years old, at that time.
** The . account of St. Patrick's contest with the Druids, at Tara, is related in Patrick Kennedy's "Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts," pp. 322 to 325.
*3 Lochu is said to have attempted a
flight into the air, after the example of Simeon Magus, to have fallen down to the ground,andtohavebrokenhisneck. Then, the king, attributing this calamity to St. Patrick's malediction, ordered his satellites to kill the holy man. The mangled remains of the magician who was named Lochu, in that part of the country, thus lay at the feet of St. Patrick. It is stated, that he was pro- jected to earth, by a ball of snow, after the saint had prayed aloud, in presence of all the
and brother fought against brother, while the chariots and their riders were cast to the ground and overturned. Several men were slain, and hardly did the rest escape with life, to a neighbouring hill, called Moduirn. On William Larkin's fine map of the County of Meath, published in 1812, the hills about Slane are very finely delineated ; but, no such name for any hill there occurs. The old Celtic names, for the most part, have merged into modern English denominations. The Latin Tripartite Life states, that fifty of King Leoghaire's retinue came only half- alive to the mountain of Modhairn, and Briggraidbe, in the territory of Carbrie, while the rest were scattered in various directions, three only excepted, King Leo- gaire, his queen, and one of his courtiers. See Seventh Life, lib. i. , cap. Iviii. , p. 126.
*'' In St. Patrick's Acts, her published
name is not given, except in the Latin Tri-
people. Anticipating
tion, St. Patrick in a clear voice began to
their inten- desperate
sing that verse of the psalm " Let God partite Life, which alone calls this queen
:
arise, and let his enemies be scattered, and Angusa, the daughter of Tessach, son to let them that hate him fly from before his Liethen. See lib. i. , cap. Iviii. , p. 126.
The Iri. sh version does not at all name her. ''5 The Irish Tripartite Life states, that the king went to Tara. in sorrow and shame, by twilight, a few persons only escaping in his company. In the Latin and Irish Tri- partite Lives, St. Benen, or Benignus, is said to have carried the polaire (satchel or epis- 15. For, he sent among them, according to tolary) of sacred books, on his back. Ac- the prophecy of Isaiah, the spirit of giddi- cording to the Irish Life, Benan is called a
face. " (Psalms Ixvii. I. ) Then, the Lord, the protector of his chosen ones in the time of need, saved from this angry multitude his faithful servant. Thus, as was said by
"
The Lord shot forth his arrffwt, and lie scattered them ; he vndtiplied lightnings, a7id troubled them. " Psalms xvii.
the Prophet :
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 561
and river ford. With nine chariots, and wicked men in them, each spot was guarded, to the end, that if the saint escaped one passage, he should be en-
trappedinanother. But,themaUceofmancannotprevailagainstthegoodness of God, who conducted his true servant, with eight more attendants,^^ and the holy youth Benignus, in an invisible manner, and through the midst of their blood-thirsty enemies, to Tara, where the king kept his chief court. At the various places of ambush, the eyes of those plotters were bound, so that they couldnotbeholdtheholytravellers. But,totheirsightappearedeightstags, with one hind, passing over the mountains ; and, thus, the Lord being his protector, did the saint and his companions escape the contrivers of, and the means for, their destruction. ^7
On the following day, which was Easter Sunday, the great Fes was solemnized by a public banquet, held in the Royal Hall, on the Hill of Tara. ^^ The advent of St. Patrick in Ireland, and the late events at Slane, were then a subject for general wonder and comment. An invitation had been extended, that he should present himself, before the magnates of the land, at their great assembly. ^9 Nothing could be more sublime, than the dignified and solemn entrance of St. Patrick, into the king's presence, at the Palace of Tara. Pre- cededbythecrucifix, andaccompaniedbyhisclergy,theholymanadvanced like a prophet,7° and when he arrived, all assembled there gazed upon himself and upon his companions, with feelings of admiration and reverence. The palace gates flew open as he approached. 7' It is said, that as St. Patrick
journeyed forward to Tara, on this occasion, he composed that celebrated
Hymn,72 in the Irish
gUla, and he was clothed
or garment of invisibility, occurs, in the Latin Life. ** The Second Life has
language, known as the Feth-Fiadha,73 and which was
"
Quarta Vita S. Patricii," cap. xli. , xlii. ,
with a dicheltair, Notliing of this
the order and celebration of the Tara Fes.
See, also, Eugene O'Curry's Lectures "On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient
Irish," edited by Dr. W. K. Sullivan, vol.
seven.
*7 See "Secunda Vita S. Patricii," cap. ii. , lect. ii. , pp. 12 to 20. Also "Trans-
XXXV. , xxxvi. , xxxvii. , p. 15 ; "Tertia Vita S. Patricii," cap. xxxviii,, xxxix. , xl. , p. 24 ;
actions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. xiv. O'Flaherty's "Isles of Arran," pp. 105, 106.
""
Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib.
^^ In the History of Tara Hill," Dr. Petrie printed the celebrated Hymn of St. Patrick, with a translation and notes by
xliii. , p. 40 ;
i. , cap. xxxvi. , xxxvii. , xxxviii. , xxxix. , xl. ,
"
xl. , xli. , xlii. , xliii. , xliv. , pp. 74, 75;
"
Ivi. , Ivii. , Iviii. , lix. , Ix. , p. 126. Also, Miss
Sexta Vita S. Patricii," cap.
Septima Vita S. Patricii," lib. i. , cap. re-translated from different versions, by
pp. 50, 51 ;
Cusack's 387-
*«
"
Life of St. Patrick," pp. 385 to
Whitley Stokes, the late Dr. Todd, and J. O'BeirneCrow. MissCusackhasprinted
According to the Scholiast on St.
Fiech's Hymn, this place. Latinized, Temo-
ria, had its name, Tea-mhur, or Tese-Murus,
because Tea, the wife of King Eremon, son some h—as been Latinized, "Lorica Pa-
to the Spaniard Milesius, had been there in- terred. See First Life, stanza 10, p. 2, and n. 17 r. , p. 5.
Stenson's "Pane-
1875. i2mo.
T' See Archdeacon Hamiilton's " Sum-
mary of the Life of St. Patrick," p. 6, to his edition of the Confession,
7' The most m—inute notices we find, re- garding the turs mentioned by Ptolemy in
"
Jeoffrey Keating, in his
land," and under the reign of Tuathal Teachtmhar, from a. d. 79 to 109, describes
tricii :"
" There has come to me to-day, powerful
strength, the invocation of the Trinity.
" I invoke the of the mighty power
Trinity, 1 believe in the Trinity, under the unity of the God of the Elements.
" At Tara, to-day, I place between me and harm, the virtue of the birth of Christ with his Baptism ; the virtue of His Cruci- fixion, with His Burial ; the virtue of His Resurrection, with His Ascension ; the
•^9 See Rev. E.
J. J.
gyric of St. Patrick," p. 15. Almonte,
—and the
his account of Ireland
and forts at Tara, are to be found in Dr, Petrie's "History of Tara Hill. " Dr.
virtue of the to the Eternal coming
other houses
Judg-
History of Ire-
ment.
" At Tara, to-day, the virtue of the love
of the Seraphim, the obedience of the angels, the hope of the resurrection to eternal re- ward, the prayers of the noble fathers, the
John O'Donovan. Since then, it has been
this Hymn, in the body of her
"
Life of St. Patrick," with valuable annotations.
73 Here do we insert an English trans- lation of this sublime Hymn, which, by
2N
562 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
afterwards held in such great veneration among our people. 7+ The Monarch Laoighaire had desired, that his chiefs and familiars should manifest nothing of courteous respect to the distinguished stranger. Wherefore, as our saint
entered the king's palace, none showed him any honour, or reverence, ex-
cepting the king's chief Poet. ^s In some accounts, he is merely called a
Poet 7^ in others, he is distinguished as Arch-Poet. 77 With great submission, ;
this " son of saluted him. This action was distinguished song," Dubtach,? ^
reputedinhimtojustice. HeaskedtobecomeaChristian,andhereceived the grace of baptism.
