Adamnan,
a contemporaneous monk, at his feast day, January 31st, in the First Volume of this
work, Art.
a contemporaneous monk, at his feast day, January 31st, in the First Volume of this
work, Art.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
Ebba, she and her seven brothers were protected by Donald Brek, King of Scotland.
See Pars Estiva, fol.
lxxxvii.
ts See "Church-History of Brittany. "
206 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis from A. D. 559 to 588, and his grandfather was
Bookxv. , iii. , 348. chap, p.
xiii. , chap, i. , p. 13.
2'3 Their mother was named Acha, prin-
cess of Deira.
2I+ HewassonofElla,whoruledinDeira
Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. xxxiv.
207 *< ThjS) however, is a question of little
Yffi, said to have been descended from Odin, in the tenth degree. Ella had a brother named Elfric, who had a son named Osrie, afterwards a ruler for only a short period in Deira, when he was slain by Cadwallon, A. D.
importance, and the reader may choose for
himself between Maihew and Cressy. "—Dr.
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land, vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sect, xii. , n. 98, p. 634. Osric's son, Oswin, surnamed the 418. martyr,wasKingofDeirafromA. D. 64Sto6si.
s" mony.
"
2I2 See Le Comte de Montalembert's
Les Moines d'Occident," tome iv. , liv.
According to Venerable Bede's testi-
47o LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 31.
the mysteries of a heavenly King should be profaned, by her cohabiting with a king altogether a stranger to the worship of the true God. When his
messengers had brought such answer to Edwin, he promised in no manner to act in opposition to the Christian Faith which she professed ; but that he would give leave to her, and all that went with her, men and women, priests or ministers, to follow their faith and worship after the custom of the Chris- tians. Nor did he deny, but that himself would embrace the same religion, when examined by wise persons, if it were found to be more holy and more worthy of God. Hereupon the virgin was promised and sent to Edwin. Meantime, Paulinus, a man beloved of God, was consecrated Bishop, on the 21st day of July, in the year of our Lord 625, and he was sent with her, so that by daily exhortations and by celebrating the Divine mysteries, he might confirm her and her company, lest they should be corrupted by companionship with the pagans. Resolved on converting the people to whom he had been sent, and to bring them to a knowledge of the true religion, Paulinus laboured much, not alone to preserve the queen's retinue in the faith, but to convert some of the natives of Northumbria, through his exhortations and preaching.
At length, Edwin embraced the Christian religion, after much deliberation,
a. d. 627. He was baptized by St. Paulinus on the Holy Day of Easter, being the 12th of April in that year, and in the Church of St. Peter at York, which he had built of timber, while under instruction preparatory to his receiving Baptism. Moved by the example of their king Edwin, nearly all the nobles of Northumbria professed the Faith of Christ, as also a large number of the common people. Afterwards, the king became most earnest in his endeavours to propagate Christianity in his kingdom, and St. Paulinus was truly zealous in preaching the word of God among his subjects, with the greatest possible success. The contemporary king of North Wales, named Cathlon or Cadwallon,21 * a nominal Christian, and of a turbulent, enterprising character, had resolved on vindicating his claim to rule over the Britons of Strathclyde, who had submitted to the King of Northumbria. Having assembled a force consisting of many thousand men, in the year 633, an engagement took place between the Britons and Saxons under King Edwin. The former were signally defeated, and with great loss. Cadwallon was put to flight, and pursued by the Northumbrian monarch, who brought the war into Wales. He ravaged all that country, burning towns and taking forts, until Cadwallon was obliged to seek refuge in Ireland. Edwin led his army into the provinces of Demecia, of Venedocia, and of Menevia, which he brought under his sway. However, Cadwallon contrived to collect some of his bands, and he endeavoured to return back into his own country ; but, Edwin is said to have had a friendly astrologer named Pellitus, who indicated all the movements of the banished king, so that his rival of Northumbria was able to anticipate him and prevent his entry at any port on the coast.
Finding all his attempts to result in failure, in despair he sought Solomon, who then ruled in Lesser Britain. By him, Cadwallon was favourably
received, and on stating his case, aid and advice were freely promised. According to Solomon's recommendation, the fugitive sought a man of a
daring and wily disposition to seek Edwin's court in guise of a pilgrim, when he was to lie in waiting for an opportunity to assassinate Pellitus the
astrologer. Such a person was found in Cadwallon's own nephew Brien, andheacceptedthatcommission. Takingthepilgrim'shabit,andastart with a sharp iron point in his hand, and having a wallet slung from his left shoulder, Brien entered Britain, and hastened to York, where he knew that
"5SometimeswrittenCatguallon,Catguol- briae," pp. 6, 7. Edited by Rev. John laun, or Catguollan. See " Annalcs C? m- Williams ab Ithel, M. A.
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 471
Edwin resided. It was customary for a crowd of mendicants to beset the
passages towards the King's court, while expecting his alms, and entering that city, Brien mixed with the crowd of paupers. It so happened, that he had a sister, who had been made captive when the city of Worcester was takenbyEdwin,aftertheflightofCadwallon. Shewasthenaslaveinthe palace of Edwin, and coming out with a bucket in her hand to carry water for domestic use, she recognised her brother under his disguise among the paupers. Fearing for his safety, she nevertheless had a few brief and furtive wordswithhim. Brienthuslearnedsomethingregardingthestateofthings about the household, and the astrologer whom he sought was pointed out tohimwalkingamongthecrowd. Havingarrangedwithhissister,thatshe should steal out to meet him that night, at a certain old temple near the city, Brien then went to where the astrologer was arranging the poor in their proper places. Then dexterously raising his staff he struck it deep in the breast of Pellitus. Then dropping it from his grasp, he drew back into the crowd, so that in the confusion none had a knowledge of the individual who committedthatmurder. Withoutsuspicionofhisagencyinthattransaction, Brien sought the haunt he had selected at the old temple. Meanwhile, the rumour of an assassination within the courtyard of the palace caused great commotion and excitement throughout the city, while. King Edwin stationed guards around the palace, to detect and arrest if possible the perpetrator of that crime. The sister of Brien could not venture to keep her appointment, in consequence ; but, the assassin of Pellitus, taking advantage of the dense woods with which the country was then covered, managed to elude all pur- suit, and reached Exeter. There he collected an army of Britons, who were informed about what he had done, and soon the news spread over the whole country. Having fortified and garrisoned Exeter, the Britons awaited there the expected arrival of Cadwallon. 216 Soon Penda, King of Mercia, collected a large army of Saxons, and marched to besiege Brien in Exeter. Having heard of his deed—the assassination of Pellitus—Cadwallon collected ten thousand soldiers, and landing in the Island of Britain, he hastened to relieve Exeter. Penda was surprised and defeated with his army, while he was
taken prisoner. He found no other means for escape than by swearing
fealty to the conqueror, and by surrendering hostages for his future submission. About this time, an alliance had been formed between Penda, the
powerful pagan King of Mercia and Cathlon or Cadwallon, King of North Wales. Theyhadmotivesofpolicyincommon,andthesewerenowdirected to curb the power of the northern Bretwalda. With their united forces Northumbria was invaded. That whole kingdom was miserably ravaged, and Cadwallon fought a decisive battle at Hatfield Chase in Yorkshire,
2I7 There Edwin's forces were hissonOsfridwerekilledinthatengagement. Afterwards,Cadwallontook possession of York city. By some arrangement, not well understood from ancient records, Eanfrid had returned from exile, and he obtained possession of Bernicia. Both he and Osric, the son of Elfric, had been previously baptized; but,probablyowingtomotivesofworldlyinterest,andtoplease the great majority of their subjects, they became apostates, and proclaimed themselves pagans. The latter ruled only for a short time over the Deira province. With united forces, both endeavoured to surprise Cadwallon while Osric was besieging him, then in a strong town, but being in an
October 12th, 633.
routed,
while himself
and
216SeeMatthseiParisiensis,MonachiSancti
2I? SeeVenerableBede's'' HistoriaEccle- siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. ii. , cap. xx. , pp. 224, 225.
"
Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , pp. 276, 277.
Albani
Chronica Majora," edited by Henry
472
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 31.
unguarded position, the British king sallied out with all his forces. Osric
was taken by surprise, and destroyed with all his army. This event took place in the year 633. Afterwards, Cadwallon ruled over Northumbria for
oneyear,notlikeavictoriousking,butasarapaciousandbloodytyrant. No longer able to resist, Eanfrid of Bernicia resolved to sue for peace, and for
that purpose, he unadvisedly approached the conqueror with twelve chosen soldiers. The perfidious Cadwallon seized and put him to death, a. d. 634.
At length, the time for Oswald's banishment was at an end, and he re- solved on returning to Northumbria. There his valour and prestige were signalized when he obtained that decisive victory of Heaven's Field over the formidable British King Cathlon or Cadwallon, in the neighbourhood of Hexham, a. d. 635. Naturally enough, to strengthen his alliance in a country at that time so divided among independent dynasts as was that of the Anglo- Saxons, the kingdom of VVessex, being one of great power, and adjoining that of Northumbria, Oswald deemed it politic to secure peace and safety for his dominions, by a proposal to take in marriage Kineburga, otherwise called Kinegilsis. She was daughter to the King of Wessex or of the West Saxons, but still a pagan, like the other members of her family and nation. How- ever, mindful of his duty as a Christain, Oswald would not act in a manner unworthy of himself and of his sacred profession ; but, he resolved to gain over her father and herself to the true Faith, and accordingly he employed the agency of an Italian prelate, who had undertaken a mission to convert the pagans of Wessex. His efforts were crowned with success, for both the KingandhisdaughterreceivedBaptism. ToKineburgaOswaldwasmar- ried in the year 635, or 636, and soon after that great victory, which gave himpreponderanceovertheotherAnglo-Saxonsovereigns. Beingamanof great zeal and piety, that prince most earnestly wished to convert his pagan subjects to the true religion, when he had obtained possession of the North- umbriansceptre. However,hedidnotseekaidfromtheSeeofCanterbury, although it had been the cradle of Christianity for Saxon-land, and it had even sent St. Paulinus 2l8 to York ten years before, as the earliest missionary in the northern kingdom. Neither did he think it expedient to consult the wishes of that valiant and noble Roman Deacon James, who had been left as his lieutenant, when Paulinus had been obliged to abandon his episcopal See, owing to the ravages of invasion and war, which came upon that province. They had been identified too much with Edwin, and the Deirian dynasty, to be trusted with the important project King Oswald had in view. 210 Neverthe- less, it is more reasonable to presume, that he was most influenced by the generous hospitality extended to him during his years of exile, and above all by the recollection of his having received Baptism and other Sacraments of the Church at the hands of Celtic clerics, by whom he had been so religiously instructed. However this may be, Oswald looked to Iona, that great centre of Scottish Christianity, where so many holy monks and missionaries had been trained according to the institutions, rule and traditions of the great St. Columba, and whose founder had miraculously appeared to him in a vision, the very night before that celebrated battle, to promise him victory and a crown. 220
The Northumbrians inhabited, not only the present Northumberland- shire, in the north of England ; but, their kingdom included a considerable
of southern Scotland. 221 not part Although
expressly
mentioned in
any
9,8
His festival is celebrated on the 10th Moines d'Occident," tome iv. , liv. xiii. ,
chap, i. , pp. 14, 15.
a" See Ussher's " Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates," p. 653, et seq.
2 " When her brother Oswy succeeded to
of October.
"» See " Life of St.
Faber. "*°
Oswald," by See Le Comte de Montalembert's "Les
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 473
known historic records, there can scarcely be any question, but that the fer- vent and devout St. Ebba, who shared in the exile of King Oswald, her brother, was equally anxious with him for the establishment of Christianity, when their fortunes had been restored in Northumbria. She had long desired to lead a life of celibacy, after her conversion from paganism, and to practise the evangelical counsels. Such intention was afterwards realized, when she took the veil as a religious ; although during the lifetime of King Oswald, she appears to have remained in his court, and to have emulated his virtues. 222 Then, as afterwards, when " mother of the handmaids of Christ," as she has been styled by Venerable Bede, with holiness and fervour, she presided not only over a community of nuns, but she governed also a monastery of men, subject to the royal foundation and patronage.
Having taken the resolution of spreading the Gospel among his subjects, Oswald adopted the means he deemed most conducive to that end. An invita- tion from the King of Northumbria to the Irish elders of the Church, introduces us historically to St. Aidan for the first time, and to that active missionary career, which rendered him so celebrated in the History of the Anglo-Saxon Church. BeforethemissionofAedantoNorthumbria,VenerableBedede- tails a report of a bishop having preceded him, and designed for that work, but his name is not mentioned. 223 It is most probable, that the Scottish
elders, as Bede calls them, and to whom the king applied for Christian mis- sionaries, in order to evangelize his people, were some of the Irish prelates and clergy belonging to the northern province of Ireland. This is further established, since immediately after, he opposes to their practice, that of the ScotslivinginthesouthernpartofIreland. 224 Itissaid,22*thatwhenKing Oswald required a Scottish Bishop to instruct his people in the faith, a man characterized by an austere turn of mind, had been sent on this mission. By Hector Boetius, 226 he has been called Corman. He probably alludes to a
the throne, he desired an alliance with the Scots or Irish King, who had sheltered his
family in their distress, and he proposed a
marriage to Ebba. She refused entering into
such a state of life ; but, as Finan had then
become the successor of Aidan, in the See of
Lindisfarne, from that bishop she received the
veil of a reltgieuse, and soon afterwards,
having obtained lands on the banks of the
Derwent River, she founded a monastery
there, and it was called from her Ebbae- 679. A century afterwards, a second erec-
Castrum or Ebbchester. However, her
tion was burned by the Danes. When Cap-
grave wrote his " Nova Legenda Anglise," the ruins were to be seen. In 1088, the
principal foundation was at Coldingham, on
the summit of an isolated promontory, which
projects into the North Sea, and which re-erection of Coldingham once more had
abruptly terminates the chain of the Lam—-
mermoor Hills. On that commanding site—
now known from her as St. Abb's Head
an extensive view might be obtained of the
Scottish coast beyond the Frith of Forth, to
the north, and of the English coast, to the
south, so far as the Isle of Lindisfarne and
theroyalfortressofBamborough. TheVener-
able Bede alludes to the nuns there, as being Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. v. , pp. 278, 279.
224 See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sect, xii. ,
by the foundress, who brought her Irish ex-
perience of manufactures to her religious
establishment. We have already alluded to Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. v.
the double community of nuns and monks, 226 In " Scotorurn Historise," lib. ix. , fol. who lived at Coldingham, under the rule of clxxxi.
at works of fine
weaving textures,
engaged
which was an art probably taught to them
St. Ebba, when treating about St.
Adamnan,
a contemporaneous monk, at his feast day, January 31st, in the First Volume of this
work, Art. ii. For nearly thirty years,- St. Ebba lived there as a superior, and departed
happily on the 25th of August. Having in- advertently omitted to insert notices, at that
day of the month, the oversight has been ob- viated to a certain extent in the present note. The foundation of St. Ebba was burned in
place, and a priory of monks from Durham took possession. At the end of the four- teenth century, another restoration was effected. The ruins of two chapels of that date are still to be seen. See Dr. Stuart's "Sculptured Stones of Scotland/' vol. ii. , p. 631.
223 See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
n. 98, p. 418.
22S See Bede's
"
Historia Ecclesiastica
474
LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 3 r.
bishop named Corman, Conan or Convan,"? whom some Scotch writers pretend to have been one of those named in a Roman letter, and as if that letter had been written to persons living in modern Scotland. Although remarkable for his gravity and great learning, Corman proved unequal to the mission he had undertaken. "8 The report goes on to state, that this bishop being of rather an austere disposition, was not willingly received by the people, who heard him with manifest reluctance ; and, finding that he was
22
doing no good among them, he returned to his own country. ^ There he
announced, at a meeting of the elders or clergy, that his failure was owing
to the untractable, rough and barbarous disposition of the Anglo-Saxon nation. ^
However, the good intention of King Oswald was favourably recognised and aided by the community at Iona. The fathers felt grieved at the failure
oftheirfirstmissionary. Whereupon,theyassembledandbegantoconsider
in council, what should be done, to effect the salvation of the Northumbrian
people ; being thus informed, that their missionary had received so bad a receptionfromthem. Aidanwasoneofthosepresent,andhesaidtothe
priestalreadymentioned "Brother,itappearstome,youweremoreaustere ;
towards those stiff-necked auditors, than you should have been, and that you did not first present to them the milk of a milder doctrine, according to the
Apostolic precept, until being nourished with the word of God, by degrees you might induce them to embrace the Almighty's more perfect and sublime
precepts. " These words produced a deep impression on the fathers in that council. On hearing them uttered, the eyes of that whole assembly were turned towards the speaker. Having diligently examined the import of such words, they considered Aidan worthy of being promoted to the Episcopacy, and of being sent as a missionary among those obstinate and incredulous people ; he being especially gifted with that rare discretion and moderation,
1
Venerable Bede merely observes, that Aidan's election and consecration
occurred in the time of Segenius's administration, and not that he had been
appointedbythatAbbot. Hiswordsprovenomore,thanachoicehaving
been made of Aidan for missionary work, and that he was selected from
amongtheMonksofIona. Weknowthatabishopresidedconstantlyin
that Island, and by such resident prelate, Aidan might have been conse-
crated. 232 Bedesays,thatthemonksofHyhadsentAedantopreachtothe
2
which they thought necessary to effect conversions among the pagans. ^
33 which indeed is
business. Moreover,Aedanbelongedtotheirbody; but,thisdidnotexclude the interference and co-operation of those prelates, to whom he most clearly alludes. 23 * For by these Elders of the Scots, among whom Oswald had lived, Bede could not have understood the monks or superiors of Hy alone, unless
"7 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- clesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap.
niae," Februarii xiv. De S. Convano seu v. , pp. 278, 279.
English
;
true,
insomuch as
they
had taken in that part
verius Conano vel Comano, pp. 335, 336. 332 It is the opinion of Bishop Lloyd; in 328" "
See the Kegistrum Palalinum Dunel-
mense. " The Register of Richard de Kel-
lawe, Lord Palatine and Bishop of Durham, 1311-1316. Edited by Sir Thomas Duftus
his work, Historical Account of Church
Government, as it was in Great Britain and
Ireland," chap, v. , pp. 104, 105. London, 1684, 8vo.
233 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Hardy, vol. i. , Preface xi. , London, xfy^etscq.
399 The Rev. Dr. Lingard unwarrantably Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xxii. , and lib. iii. ,
states to his own monastery.
cap. iii. v.
23* See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesiastical Lanigan's
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sect.
xii. , n. 100, pp. 419, 420.
** The Venerable Bede only states, that
" Ecclesiastical ** See Venerable B«de's " Historia Ec-
330 See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , n. 99, pp. 418, 419.
Lanigan's
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 475
weshouldsuppose,whatcannotbeadmitted,viz. : thatheandhisfollowershad spenttheirexileinthatveryisland. Therefore,amongthesaidelders,there
were probably some prelates and dignified clergymen, besides the abbot and headsofthatmonastery. ThemonksofHywerethepersonsappliedtofor a bishop by Oswald, and it was by them that Aedan was sent. But, although it is certain that the superiors of Hy had a share in this transaction, as Aedan could not have been made a bishop without the consent of his abbot, who was then Segenius, it does not follow, that they were the only persons con- cerned in his appointment. ^
Having been consecrated a bishop, Aidan was sent to his mission. It was then found Aidan possessed, not only that virtue, they gave him credit for,
but also other noble many
gifts,
in a
high degree
of 6 He was a perfection. ^
man of singular meekness, piety and moderation. Being a truly religious man, 2
he had now attained Episcopal rank, 37 and zealous for the honour of God, while attached to the Irish usages, which then prevailed at Iona, he set out to commence his mission among the Northumbrians.
CHAPTER II.
RECEPTION OF ST. AIDAN BY KING OSWALD—THE HOLY BISHOP OBTAINS FROM HIM THE ISLAND OF LINDISFARNE—DESCRIPTION OF THAT PLACE AND OF ITS ENDOW- MENTS—THERE ST. AIDAN FOUNDS A CHURCH AND MONASTERY—THE DISCIPLINE OF IONA INTRODUCED—THE SCHOOL ESTABLISHED AT LINDISFARNE BECOMES A SOURCE OF MISSIONARY PROPAGANDISM FOR THE DIFFERENT ANGLO-SAXON NATIONS—MISSIONARY CAREER OF ST. AIDAN—KING OSWALD ACTS AS HIS IN- TERPRETER.
No welcome could be more cordial than that given to St. Aidan, by the
Judiciis verax, animi pietate benignus, Excelsus meritis, summissus mente sed
ipsa, Hostibushorribilis,cunctisjocundisamicis,
1 when the Irish
Northumbria. He was received with the respect due to his sacred calling,
pious King Oswald,
no less than to his personal piety, character, learning and accomplishments,
Aedan was sent from Hy and from its
" Ab hac ergo insula, ab horum
monastery ;
collegio monachorum,* ad provinciam An- gloruminstituendam in Christo, missusest
Aidanus, accepto gradu episcopatus. "— Ut bello indomitus, sic pacta in pace
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum,"
fidelis.
Invaluit postquam sceptris et culmine
Regni,
Extruit Ecclesias domisque exornat opimis, Vasa ministeriis prsestans pretiosa sa-
cratis
Argento, gemmis aras vestivit et auro,
lib. iii. , cap, v. , pp. 274, 275.
236 See Surius, "De Probatis Sanctorum
Vitis," vol. iv. , Augusti xxxi. Vita St. Aidani, cap. iv. , p. 338.
23? See Matthew of Paris, "Chronica Majora," edited by Henry Richards Luard,
M. A. , vol. — i. , p. 278.
'
Serica
tendens velamina parietibus sacris,
Chapter ii.
His praise is thus given inthePoemofFlaccusAlcwin,"DePonti—-
" flcibusetSanctisEcclesiseEboracensis :
" Hostibus occisis regnum sanctissimus Oswald
Ingreditur, heros veterum condignus avo- rum.
Vir virtute potens, patriae tutator, amator, Moribusegregius,Christimandatasecutus,
Pauperibus largus, parcus sibi, dives in omnes,
Auri blateolis pulcre distincta coronis,
Sanctaque suspendit varias per tecta
lucernas,
Esset ut in templis cceli stellantis imago,
Christicolasque greges duxit devotus in illas,
Ut fierent Domino laudes sine fine ca- nentum. "
-Thomas Gale's "Historic Britannicse,
Saxonicse, Anglo-Danicae, Scriptores xv. ," vol. i. , pp. 707, 708.
missionary
made his in appearance
47 6 LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. [AucuiT3i.
The King delighted much in his society and conversation. Nevertheless, seeking to avoid the distractions of a court, the holy man but seldom
accepted Oswald's invitation to banquets ; yet, whenever, through courtesy, Aidan deemed it necessary to keep up such social and friendly relations, the bishop went, with one or two clerics, to the royal table. There having taken
a small repast, he made haste to depart, so that he might usefully employ
8
When our saint arrived in Northumbria,— Oswald, for his episcopal King
see,3 bestowed upon him the Island of Fame afterwards called Holy Island
his time in reading or in writing.
—at his own request.
not properly an island, but rather, as Bede has termed it, a semi-isle ; for, although surrounded by the sea at full tide, its ebb leaves the sands dry between it and the opposite coast of Northumberland, from which it is about two miles distant. 5 At present, it is called House Isl—and, and it is situated
nearly two miles eastward from Bamborough Castle formerly the royal residenceoftheBerenicianKingsofNorthumbria. Atthenorthernendof the Island, there is a deep chasm, and in stormy weather the sea forces its way through it with such violence, as to form a fine jet cTeau sixty feet high, and it is c—alled the Churn. Altogether, the Fame Islands form a cluster of seventeen most of these being only small islets. Nevertheless, from all we can learn, it seems probable, that another religious establishment was on the
6
mainland of Northumbria ; but, whether in the time of Aidan, or after it,
does not clearly appear. It is known, however, that a great part of his life was spent in a cell and in retirement, on the Island ? although he often went and stayed in the royal residence of Bamburgh, where he had a church in which to minister. Whether he had a separate habitation there for him- self and his community we cannot discover. At the south-western angle of the Island of Fame, the site for St. Aidan's religious establishment is thought to have been selected, and there, through the munificence of King Oswald, and his own zealous exertions, dwellings for himself and his religious com- munity were erected. At the present time, the chief village on that island indicates the site of an ancient monastery, and, with its subsequent exten-
2"
See Venerable Bede's Historia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. v. , pp. 276, 277.
3 See Matthew of Paris, " Chronica Majora," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 278.
the 20th erf March, Art. i. St. Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, chap. hi. St. Cuth-
bert, who was bishop of Lindisfarne, not very long after the death of St. Aidan, is stated, after an episcopacy of twelve years, in 676, to have retired and constructed a hermitage for himself on the Island of Fame,
*
However,
it must be that Lindisfarne is observed,
4 Holy Island now forms a parish, in the
union of Berwick, in Islandshire, north See Wharton's "Anglia Sacra," vol. i. ,
division of Northumberland, 5^ miles N. by Chronicon Sanctse Crucis Edinburgensis, E. from Belford, and 10 miles S. E. from p. 155.
Berwick. It is now dedicated to St. John 7 All the inference we can draw from Bede
"
the Evangelist. See Samuel Lewis' Topo- on the subject of St. Aidan's residence is,
graphical Dictionary of England," vol. ii. , p. 219.
that Oswald "locum episcopalis in insula —Lindisfarnensi, ubi ipse petebat, tribuit. "
s Scott
11
—is :
thus
described
Sir
Walter
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
It
by
Anglorum,"
For with the flow and ebb its style Varies from continent to isle ;
Dry-shod, o'er sands, twice every day, The pilgrims to the shrine find way ; Twice every day the waves efface
—" Of staves and sandalled feet the trace. " Marmion," canto ii. , sect. ix.
6
See the Third Volume of this work, at
"illo enim secreta? orationis et silentii causa secedere consueverat ; denique usque hodie locum sedis illius solitarice in eadem insula solent ostendere. "—Ibid. , cap. xvi. He died on the mainland, so that we are inclined to be- lieve he chiefly lived there, but that occa- sionally he resorted to a cell, which had been
built on the Island.
* See Samuel Lewis' M Topographical
Dictionary of England," vol. ii. , p. 539.
lib. iii.
ts See "Church-History of Brittany. "
206 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis from A. D. 559 to 588, and his grandfather was
Bookxv. , iii. , 348. chap, p.
xiii. , chap, i. , p. 13.
2'3 Their mother was named Acha, prin-
cess of Deira.
2I+ HewassonofElla,whoruledinDeira
Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. xxxiv.
207 *< ThjS) however, is a question of little
Yffi, said to have been descended from Odin, in the tenth degree. Ella had a brother named Elfric, who had a son named Osrie, afterwards a ruler for only a short period in Deira, when he was slain by Cadwallon, A. D.
importance, and the reader may choose for
himself between Maihew and Cressy. "—Dr.
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land, vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sect, xii. , n. 98, p. 634. Osric's son, Oswin, surnamed the 418. martyr,wasKingofDeirafromA. D. 64Sto6si.
s" mony.
"
2I2 See Le Comte de Montalembert's
Les Moines d'Occident," tome iv. , liv.
According to Venerable Bede's testi-
47o LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 31.
the mysteries of a heavenly King should be profaned, by her cohabiting with a king altogether a stranger to the worship of the true God. When his
messengers had brought such answer to Edwin, he promised in no manner to act in opposition to the Christian Faith which she professed ; but that he would give leave to her, and all that went with her, men and women, priests or ministers, to follow their faith and worship after the custom of the Chris- tians. Nor did he deny, but that himself would embrace the same religion, when examined by wise persons, if it were found to be more holy and more worthy of God. Hereupon the virgin was promised and sent to Edwin. Meantime, Paulinus, a man beloved of God, was consecrated Bishop, on the 21st day of July, in the year of our Lord 625, and he was sent with her, so that by daily exhortations and by celebrating the Divine mysteries, he might confirm her and her company, lest they should be corrupted by companionship with the pagans. Resolved on converting the people to whom he had been sent, and to bring them to a knowledge of the true religion, Paulinus laboured much, not alone to preserve the queen's retinue in the faith, but to convert some of the natives of Northumbria, through his exhortations and preaching.
At length, Edwin embraced the Christian religion, after much deliberation,
a. d. 627. He was baptized by St. Paulinus on the Holy Day of Easter, being the 12th of April in that year, and in the Church of St. Peter at York, which he had built of timber, while under instruction preparatory to his receiving Baptism. Moved by the example of their king Edwin, nearly all the nobles of Northumbria professed the Faith of Christ, as also a large number of the common people. Afterwards, the king became most earnest in his endeavours to propagate Christianity in his kingdom, and St. Paulinus was truly zealous in preaching the word of God among his subjects, with the greatest possible success. The contemporary king of North Wales, named Cathlon or Cadwallon,21 * a nominal Christian, and of a turbulent, enterprising character, had resolved on vindicating his claim to rule over the Britons of Strathclyde, who had submitted to the King of Northumbria. Having assembled a force consisting of many thousand men, in the year 633, an engagement took place between the Britons and Saxons under King Edwin. The former were signally defeated, and with great loss. Cadwallon was put to flight, and pursued by the Northumbrian monarch, who brought the war into Wales. He ravaged all that country, burning towns and taking forts, until Cadwallon was obliged to seek refuge in Ireland. Edwin led his army into the provinces of Demecia, of Venedocia, and of Menevia, which he brought under his sway. However, Cadwallon contrived to collect some of his bands, and he endeavoured to return back into his own country ; but, Edwin is said to have had a friendly astrologer named Pellitus, who indicated all the movements of the banished king, so that his rival of Northumbria was able to anticipate him and prevent his entry at any port on the coast.
Finding all his attempts to result in failure, in despair he sought Solomon, who then ruled in Lesser Britain. By him, Cadwallon was favourably
received, and on stating his case, aid and advice were freely promised. According to Solomon's recommendation, the fugitive sought a man of a
daring and wily disposition to seek Edwin's court in guise of a pilgrim, when he was to lie in waiting for an opportunity to assassinate Pellitus the
astrologer. Such a person was found in Cadwallon's own nephew Brien, andheacceptedthatcommission. Takingthepilgrim'shabit,andastart with a sharp iron point in his hand, and having a wallet slung from his left shoulder, Brien entered Britain, and hastened to York, where he knew that
"5SometimeswrittenCatguallon,Catguol- briae," pp. 6, 7. Edited by Rev. John laun, or Catguollan. See " Annalcs C? m- Williams ab Ithel, M. A.
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 471
Edwin resided. It was customary for a crowd of mendicants to beset the
passages towards the King's court, while expecting his alms, and entering that city, Brien mixed with the crowd of paupers. It so happened, that he had a sister, who had been made captive when the city of Worcester was takenbyEdwin,aftertheflightofCadwallon. Shewasthenaslaveinthe palace of Edwin, and coming out with a bucket in her hand to carry water for domestic use, she recognised her brother under his disguise among the paupers. Fearing for his safety, she nevertheless had a few brief and furtive wordswithhim. Brienthuslearnedsomethingregardingthestateofthings about the household, and the astrologer whom he sought was pointed out tohimwalkingamongthecrowd. Havingarrangedwithhissister,thatshe should steal out to meet him that night, at a certain old temple near the city, Brien then went to where the astrologer was arranging the poor in their proper places. Then dexterously raising his staff he struck it deep in the breast of Pellitus. Then dropping it from his grasp, he drew back into the crowd, so that in the confusion none had a knowledge of the individual who committedthatmurder. Withoutsuspicionofhisagencyinthattransaction, Brien sought the haunt he had selected at the old temple. Meanwhile, the rumour of an assassination within the courtyard of the palace caused great commotion and excitement throughout the city, while. King Edwin stationed guards around the palace, to detect and arrest if possible the perpetrator of that crime. The sister of Brien could not venture to keep her appointment, in consequence ; but, the assassin of Pellitus, taking advantage of the dense woods with which the country was then covered, managed to elude all pur- suit, and reached Exeter. There he collected an army of Britons, who were informed about what he had done, and soon the news spread over the whole country. Having fortified and garrisoned Exeter, the Britons awaited there the expected arrival of Cadwallon. 216 Soon Penda, King of Mercia, collected a large army of Saxons, and marched to besiege Brien in Exeter. Having heard of his deed—the assassination of Pellitus—Cadwallon collected ten thousand soldiers, and landing in the Island of Britain, he hastened to relieve Exeter. Penda was surprised and defeated with his army, while he was
taken prisoner. He found no other means for escape than by swearing
fealty to the conqueror, and by surrendering hostages for his future submission. About this time, an alliance had been formed between Penda, the
powerful pagan King of Mercia and Cathlon or Cadwallon, King of North Wales. Theyhadmotivesofpolicyincommon,andthesewerenowdirected to curb the power of the northern Bretwalda. With their united forces Northumbria was invaded. That whole kingdom was miserably ravaged, and Cadwallon fought a decisive battle at Hatfield Chase in Yorkshire,
2I7 There Edwin's forces were hissonOsfridwerekilledinthatengagement. Afterwards,Cadwallontook possession of York city. By some arrangement, not well understood from ancient records, Eanfrid had returned from exile, and he obtained possession of Bernicia. Both he and Osric, the son of Elfric, had been previously baptized; but,probablyowingtomotivesofworldlyinterest,andtoplease the great majority of their subjects, they became apostates, and proclaimed themselves pagans. The latter ruled only for a short time over the Deira province. With united forces, both endeavoured to surprise Cadwallon while Osric was besieging him, then in a strong town, but being in an
October 12th, 633.
routed,
while himself
and
216SeeMatthseiParisiensis,MonachiSancti
2I? SeeVenerableBede's'' HistoriaEccle- siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. ii. , cap. xx. , pp. 224, 225.
"
Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , pp. 276, 277.
Albani
Chronica Majora," edited by Henry
472
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 31.
unguarded position, the British king sallied out with all his forces. Osric
was taken by surprise, and destroyed with all his army. This event took place in the year 633. Afterwards, Cadwallon ruled over Northumbria for
oneyear,notlikeavictoriousking,butasarapaciousandbloodytyrant. No longer able to resist, Eanfrid of Bernicia resolved to sue for peace, and for
that purpose, he unadvisedly approached the conqueror with twelve chosen soldiers. The perfidious Cadwallon seized and put him to death, a. d. 634.
At length, the time for Oswald's banishment was at an end, and he re- solved on returning to Northumbria. There his valour and prestige were signalized when he obtained that decisive victory of Heaven's Field over the formidable British King Cathlon or Cadwallon, in the neighbourhood of Hexham, a. d. 635. Naturally enough, to strengthen his alliance in a country at that time so divided among independent dynasts as was that of the Anglo- Saxons, the kingdom of VVessex, being one of great power, and adjoining that of Northumbria, Oswald deemed it politic to secure peace and safety for his dominions, by a proposal to take in marriage Kineburga, otherwise called Kinegilsis. She was daughter to the King of Wessex or of the West Saxons, but still a pagan, like the other members of her family and nation. How- ever, mindful of his duty as a Christain, Oswald would not act in a manner unworthy of himself and of his sacred profession ; but, he resolved to gain over her father and herself to the true Faith, and accordingly he employed the agency of an Italian prelate, who had undertaken a mission to convert the pagans of Wessex. His efforts were crowned with success, for both the KingandhisdaughterreceivedBaptism. ToKineburgaOswaldwasmar- ried in the year 635, or 636, and soon after that great victory, which gave himpreponderanceovertheotherAnglo-Saxonsovereigns. Beingamanof great zeal and piety, that prince most earnestly wished to convert his pagan subjects to the true religion, when he had obtained possession of the North- umbriansceptre. However,hedidnotseekaidfromtheSeeofCanterbury, although it had been the cradle of Christianity for Saxon-land, and it had even sent St. Paulinus 2l8 to York ten years before, as the earliest missionary in the northern kingdom. Neither did he think it expedient to consult the wishes of that valiant and noble Roman Deacon James, who had been left as his lieutenant, when Paulinus had been obliged to abandon his episcopal See, owing to the ravages of invasion and war, which came upon that province. They had been identified too much with Edwin, and the Deirian dynasty, to be trusted with the important project King Oswald had in view. 210 Neverthe- less, it is more reasonable to presume, that he was most influenced by the generous hospitality extended to him during his years of exile, and above all by the recollection of his having received Baptism and other Sacraments of the Church at the hands of Celtic clerics, by whom he had been so religiously instructed. However this may be, Oswald looked to Iona, that great centre of Scottish Christianity, where so many holy monks and missionaries had been trained according to the institutions, rule and traditions of the great St. Columba, and whose founder had miraculously appeared to him in a vision, the very night before that celebrated battle, to promise him victory and a crown. 220
The Northumbrians inhabited, not only the present Northumberland- shire, in the north of England ; but, their kingdom included a considerable
of southern Scotland. 221 not part Although
expressly
mentioned in
any
9,8
His festival is celebrated on the 10th Moines d'Occident," tome iv. , liv. xiii. ,
chap, i. , pp. 14, 15.
a" See Ussher's " Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates," p. 653, et seq.
2 " When her brother Oswy succeeded to
of October.
"» See " Life of St.
Faber. "*°
Oswald," by See Le Comte de Montalembert's "Les
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 473
known historic records, there can scarcely be any question, but that the fer- vent and devout St. Ebba, who shared in the exile of King Oswald, her brother, was equally anxious with him for the establishment of Christianity, when their fortunes had been restored in Northumbria. She had long desired to lead a life of celibacy, after her conversion from paganism, and to practise the evangelical counsels. Such intention was afterwards realized, when she took the veil as a religious ; although during the lifetime of King Oswald, she appears to have remained in his court, and to have emulated his virtues. 222 Then, as afterwards, when " mother of the handmaids of Christ," as she has been styled by Venerable Bede, with holiness and fervour, she presided not only over a community of nuns, but she governed also a monastery of men, subject to the royal foundation and patronage.
Having taken the resolution of spreading the Gospel among his subjects, Oswald adopted the means he deemed most conducive to that end. An invita- tion from the King of Northumbria to the Irish elders of the Church, introduces us historically to St. Aidan for the first time, and to that active missionary career, which rendered him so celebrated in the History of the Anglo-Saxon Church. BeforethemissionofAedantoNorthumbria,VenerableBedede- tails a report of a bishop having preceded him, and designed for that work, but his name is not mentioned. 223 It is most probable, that the Scottish
elders, as Bede calls them, and to whom the king applied for Christian mis- sionaries, in order to evangelize his people, were some of the Irish prelates and clergy belonging to the northern province of Ireland. This is further established, since immediately after, he opposes to their practice, that of the ScotslivinginthesouthernpartofIreland. 224 Itissaid,22*thatwhenKing Oswald required a Scottish Bishop to instruct his people in the faith, a man characterized by an austere turn of mind, had been sent on this mission. By Hector Boetius, 226 he has been called Corman. He probably alludes to a
the throne, he desired an alliance with the Scots or Irish King, who had sheltered his
family in their distress, and he proposed a
marriage to Ebba. She refused entering into
such a state of life ; but, as Finan had then
become the successor of Aidan, in the See of
Lindisfarne, from that bishop she received the
veil of a reltgieuse, and soon afterwards,
having obtained lands on the banks of the
Derwent River, she founded a monastery
there, and it was called from her Ebbae- 679. A century afterwards, a second erec-
Castrum or Ebbchester. However, her
tion was burned by the Danes. When Cap-
grave wrote his " Nova Legenda Anglise," the ruins were to be seen. In 1088, the
principal foundation was at Coldingham, on
the summit of an isolated promontory, which
projects into the North Sea, and which re-erection of Coldingham once more had
abruptly terminates the chain of the Lam—-
mermoor Hills. On that commanding site—
now known from her as St. Abb's Head
an extensive view might be obtained of the
Scottish coast beyond the Frith of Forth, to
the north, and of the English coast, to the
south, so far as the Isle of Lindisfarne and
theroyalfortressofBamborough. TheVener-
able Bede alludes to the nuns there, as being Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. v. , pp. 278, 279.
224 See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sect, xii. ,
by the foundress, who brought her Irish ex-
perience of manufactures to her religious
establishment. We have already alluded to Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. v.
the double community of nuns and monks, 226 In " Scotorurn Historise," lib. ix. , fol. who lived at Coldingham, under the rule of clxxxi.
at works of fine
weaving textures,
engaged
which was an art probably taught to them
St. Ebba, when treating about St.
Adamnan,
a contemporaneous monk, at his feast day, January 31st, in the First Volume of this
work, Art. ii. For nearly thirty years,- St. Ebba lived there as a superior, and departed
happily on the 25th of August. Having in- advertently omitted to insert notices, at that
day of the month, the oversight has been ob- viated to a certain extent in the present note. The foundation of St. Ebba was burned in
place, and a priory of monks from Durham took possession. At the end of the four- teenth century, another restoration was effected. The ruins of two chapels of that date are still to be seen. See Dr. Stuart's "Sculptured Stones of Scotland/' vol. ii. , p. 631.
223 See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
n. 98, p. 418.
22S See Bede's
"
Historia Ecclesiastica
474
LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 3 r.
bishop named Corman, Conan or Convan,"? whom some Scotch writers pretend to have been one of those named in a Roman letter, and as if that letter had been written to persons living in modern Scotland. Although remarkable for his gravity and great learning, Corman proved unequal to the mission he had undertaken. "8 The report goes on to state, that this bishop being of rather an austere disposition, was not willingly received by the people, who heard him with manifest reluctance ; and, finding that he was
22
doing no good among them, he returned to his own country. ^ There he
announced, at a meeting of the elders or clergy, that his failure was owing
to the untractable, rough and barbarous disposition of the Anglo-Saxon nation. ^
However, the good intention of King Oswald was favourably recognised and aided by the community at Iona. The fathers felt grieved at the failure
oftheirfirstmissionary. Whereupon,theyassembledandbegantoconsider
in council, what should be done, to effect the salvation of the Northumbrian
people ; being thus informed, that their missionary had received so bad a receptionfromthem. Aidanwasoneofthosepresent,andhesaidtothe
priestalreadymentioned "Brother,itappearstome,youweremoreaustere ;
towards those stiff-necked auditors, than you should have been, and that you did not first present to them the milk of a milder doctrine, according to the
Apostolic precept, until being nourished with the word of God, by degrees you might induce them to embrace the Almighty's more perfect and sublime
precepts. " These words produced a deep impression on the fathers in that council. On hearing them uttered, the eyes of that whole assembly were turned towards the speaker. Having diligently examined the import of such words, they considered Aidan worthy of being promoted to the Episcopacy, and of being sent as a missionary among those obstinate and incredulous people ; he being especially gifted with that rare discretion and moderation,
1
Venerable Bede merely observes, that Aidan's election and consecration
occurred in the time of Segenius's administration, and not that he had been
appointedbythatAbbot. Hiswordsprovenomore,thanachoicehaving
been made of Aidan for missionary work, and that he was selected from
amongtheMonksofIona. Weknowthatabishopresidedconstantlyin
that Island, and by such resident prelate, Aidan might have been conse-
crated. 232 Bedesays,thatthemonksofHyhadsentAedantopreachtothe
2
which they thought necessary to effect conversions among the pagans. ^
33 which indeed is
business. Moreover,Aedanbelongedtotheirbody; but,thisdidnotexclude the interference and co-operation of those prelates, to whom he most clearly alludes. 23 * For by these Elders of the Scots, among whom Oswald had lived, Bede could not have understood the monks or superiors of Hy alone, unless
"7 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- clesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap.
niae," Februarii xiv. De S. Convano seu v. , pp. 278, 279.
English
;
true,
insomuch as
they
had taken in that part
verius Conano vel Comano, pp. 335, 336. 332 It is the opinion of Bishop Lloyd; in 328" "
See the Kegistrum Palalinum Dunel-
mense. " The Register of Richard de Kel-
lawe, Lord Palatine and Bishop of Durham, 1311-1316. Edited by Sir Thomas Duftus
his work, Historical Account of Church
Government, as it was in Great Britain and
Ireland," chap, v. , pp. 104, 105. London, 1684, 8vo.
233 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Hardy, vol. i. , Preface xi. , London, xfy^etscq.
399 The Rev. Dr. Lingard unwarrantably Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xxii. , and lib. iii. ,
states to his own monastery.
cap. iii. v.
23* See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesiastical Lanigan's
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sect.
xii. , n. 100, pp. 419, 420.
** The Venerable Bede only states, that
" Ecclesiastical ** See Venerable B«de's " Historia Ec-
330 See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , n. 99, pp. 418, 419.
Lanigan's
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 475
weshouldsuppose,whatcannotbeadmitted,viz. : thatheandhisfollowershad spenttheirexileinthatveryisland. Therefore,amongthesaidelders,there
were probably some prelates and dignified clergymen, besides the abbot and headsofthatmonastery. ThemonksofHywerethepersonsappliedtofor a bishop by Oswald, and it was by them that Aedan was sent. But, although it is certain that the superiors of Hy had a share in this transaction, as Aedan could not have been made a bishop without the consent of his abbot, who was then Segenius, it does not follow, that they were the only persons con- cerned in his appointment. ^
Having been consecrated a bishop, Aidan was sent to his mission. It was then found Aidan possessed, not only that virtue, they gave him credit for,
but also other noble many
gifts,
in a
high degree
of 6 He was a perfection. ^
man of singular meekness, piety and moderation. Being a truly religious man, 2
he had now attained Episcopal rank, 37 and zealous for the honour of God, while attached to the Irish usages, which then prevailed at Iona, he set out to commence his mission among the Northumbrians.
CHAPTER II.
RECEPTION OF ST. AIDAN BY KING OSWALD—THE HOLY BISHOP OBTAINS FROM HIM THE ISLAND OF LINDISFARNE—DESCRIPTION OF THAT PLACE AND OF ITS ENDOW- MENTS—THERE ST. AIDAN FOUNDS A CHURCH AND MONASTERY—THE DISCIPLINE OF IONA INTRODUCED—THE SCHOOL ESTABLISHED AT LINDISFARNE BECOMES A SOURCE OF MISSIONARY PROPAGANDISM FOR THE DIFFERENT ANGLO-SAXON NATIONS—MISSIONARY CAREER OF ST. AIDAN—KING OSWALD ACTS AS HIS IN- TERPRETER.
No welcome could be more cordial than that given to St. Aidan, by the
Judiciis verax, animi pietate benignus, Excelsus meritis, summissus mente sed
ipsa, Hostibushorribilis,cunctisjocundisamicis,
1 when the Irish
Northumbria. He was received with the respect due to his sacred calling,
pious King Oswald,
no less than to his personal piety, character, learning and accomplishments,
Aedan was sent from Hy and from its
" Ab hac ergo insula, ab horum
monastery ;
collegio monachorum,* ad provinciam An- gloruminstituendam in Christo, missusest
Aidanus, accepto gradu episcopatus. "— Ut bello indomitus, sic pacta in pace
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum,"
fidelis.
Invaluit postquam sceptris et culmine
Regni,
Extruit Ecclesias domisque exornat opimis, Vasa ministeriis prsestans pretiosa sa-
cratis
Argento, gemmis aras vestivit et auro,
lib. iii. , cap, v. , pp. 274, 275.
236 See Surius, "De Probatis Sanctorum
Vitis," vol. iv. , Augusti xxxi. Vita St. Aidani, cap. iv. , p. 338.
23? See Matthew of Paris, "Chronica Majora," edited by Henry Richards Luard,
M. A. , vol. — i. , p. 278.
'
Serica
tendens velamina parietibus sacris,
Chapter ii.
His praise is thus given inthePoemofFlaccusAlcwin,"DePonti—-
" flcibusetSanctisEcclesiseEboracensis :
" Hostibus occisis regnum sanctissimus Oswald
Ingreditur, heros veterum condignus avo- rum.
Vir virtute potens, patriae tutator, amator, Moribusegregius,Christimandatasecutus,
Pauperibus largus, parcus sibi, dives in omnes,
Auri blateolis pulcre distincta coronis,
Sanctaque suspendit varias per tecta
lucernas,
Esset ut in templis cceli stellantis imago,
Christicolasque greges duxit devotus in illas,
Ut fierent Domino laudes sine fine ca- nentum. "
-Thomas Gale's "Historic Britannicse,
Saxonicse, Anglo-Danicae, Scriptores xv. ," vol. i. , pp. 707, 708.
missionary
made his in appearance
47 6 LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. [AucuiT3i.
The King delighted much in his society and conversation. Nevertheless, seeking to avoid the distractions of a court, the holy man but seldom
accepted Oswald's invitation to banquets ; yet, whenever, through courtesy, Aidan deemed it necessary to keep up such social and friendly relations, the bishop went, with one or two clerics, to the royal table. There having taken
a small repast, he made haste to depart, so that he might usefully employ
8
When our saint arrived in Northumbria,— Oswald, for his episcopal King
see,3 bestowed upon him the Island of Fame afterwards called Holy Island
his time in reading or in writing.
—at his own request.
not properly an island, but rather, as Bede has termed it, a semi-isle ; for, although surrounded by the sea at full tide, its ebb leaves the sands dry between it and the opposite coast of Northumberland, from which it is about two miles distant. 5 At present, it is called House Isl—and, and it is situated
nearly two miles eastward from Bamborough Castle formerly the royal residenceoftheBerenicianKingsofNorthumbria. Atthenorthernendof the Island, there is a deep chasm, and in stormy weather the sea forces its way through it with such violence, as to form a fine jet cTeau sixty feet high, and it is c—alled the Churn. Altogether, the Fame Islands form a cluster of seventeen most of these being only small islets. Nevertheless, from all we can learn, it seems probable, that another religious establishment was on the
6
mainland of Northumbria ; but, whether in the time of Aidan, or after it,
does not clearly appear. It is known, however, that a great part of his life was spent in a cell and in retirement, on the Island ? although he often went and stayed in the royal residence of Bamburgh, where he had a church in which to minister. Whether he had a separate habitation there for him- self and his community we cannot discover. At the south-western angle of the Island of Fame, the site for St. Aidan's religious establishment is thought to have been selected, and there, through the munificence of King Oswald, and his own zealous exertions, dwellings for himself and his religious com- munity were erected. At the present time, the chief village on that island indicates the site of an ancient monastery, and, with its subsequent exten-
2"
See Venerable Bede's Historia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. v. , pp. 276, 277.
3 See Matthew of Paris, " Chronica Majora," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 278.
the 20th erf March, Art. i. St. Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, chap. hi. St. Cuth-
bert, who was bishop of Lindisfarne, not very long after the death of St. Aidan, is stated, after an episcopacy of twelve years, in 676, to have retired and constructed a hermitage for himself on the Island of Fame,
*
However,
it must be that Lindisfarne is observed,
4 Holy Island now forms a parish, in the
union of Berwick, in Islandshire, north See Wharton's "Anglia Sacra," vol. i. ,
division of Northumberland, 5^ miles N. by Chronicon Sanctse Crucis Edinburgensis, E. from Belford, and 10 miles S. E. from p. 155.
Berwick. It is now dedicated to St. John 7 All the inference we can draw from Bede
"
the Evangelist. See Samuel Lewis' Topo- on the subject of St. Aidan's residence is,
graphical Dictionary of England," vol. ii. , p. 219.
that Oswald "locum episcopalis in insula —Lindisfarnensi, ubi ipse petebat, tribuit. "
s Scott
11
—is :
thus
described
Sir
Walter
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
It
by
Anglorum,"
For with the flow and ebb its style Varies from continent to isle ;
Dry-shod, o'er sands, twice every day, The pilgrims to the shrine find way ; Twice every day the waves efface
—" Of staves and sandalled feet the trace. " Marmion," canto ii. , sect. ix.
6
See the Third Volume of this work, at
"illo enim secreta? orationis et silentii causa secedere consueverat ; denique usque hodie locum sedis illius solitarice in eadem insula solent ostendere. "—Ibid. , cap. xvi. He died on the mainland, so that we are inclined to be- lieve he chiefly lived there, but that occa- sionally he resorted to a cell, which had been
built on the Island.
* See Samuel Lewis' M Topographical
Dictionary of England," vol. ii. , p. 539.
lib. iii.
