3*
Giraldus
Cambrensis and John of Teign- njputh have so called him.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
C.
Cant, 161.
veil, folio, xiii.
cent.
—Likewise, a MS.
Bodl.
336.
b. veil, folio, xiv. cent. In addition to these, there is a MS. Bodl.
(2337. ) pp. 319 322
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
In a collected edition of Giraldus Cambrensis' complete works'? is to be
found his Life of St. David, '^
from Wharton's text. It is collated
reprinted
with fragments, quoted by Ussher, and compared with 'older Lives, published
by the Bollandists, and by other editors. In a Proaemium to this wor—k, Giraldus declares, that he had been urged by certain canons and religious—
notwithstanding his literary engagements, and almost against his own will to undertake and finish this biography, in a style worthy of the subject.
However, notwithstanding such assertion, this Life of St. David by Giraldus may be regarded as little more than an abridgment of Ricemarc's compilation. This latter, as a bishop, ruled over St. David's, and he died about a. d. 1096, or 1099. '9 Giraldus often retains Ricemarc's very words, inserting a few
additions,ofnogreatimportance. Anyalterationsarechieflyconfinedto softening down ruder and plainer language, found in the more ancient Life. '° The author says, that he supplied some unimportant omissions and rescinded superfluous comments, in earlier accounts referring to the holy Menevian bishop. This Life seems to have been undertaken by Giraldus, from a sense of duty he owed to that ecclesiastical foundation, from which his dignity and emoluments were chiefly derived. With expressions of humility, he declares an intention to exercise some judgment and discretion, in pruning or select- ing materials for this work, and in treading his way through a difficult course. His Life of St. David is divided into Ten Lessons, with a collect at the close, andaResponsoryfortheChoir. Suchanarrangementindicates,thatithad been composed for an office or choral service, probably on the feast day of Menevia'spatronsaintandfounder. Thiswasinaccordancewiththeusage of early British and Gallic churches ; when the Lives of martyrs, confessors and writings of the Fathers, formed part of the daily lessons. '^' Such custom was a stimulus to literary exertion. Generally writers of 'known ability and piety were engaged, for the purpose of re-writing or emending ancient Lives or Offices of saints. The responsibihty of composing or re-editing a saint's or a martyr's Life, to be inserted in a church office, usually urged an eccle- siastic to develop for such task his best mental efforts of thought and taste. "
In that invaluable archaeological work of Rev. Rice Rees, where eccle- siastical antiquities of the Welsh principality are so admirably treated, there is a very interesting account regarding St. David, even although it be occasionally clouded with the author's peculiar prejudices. ^3 However, in that spirit of provincial patriotism so honourable to them, the Welsh writers
285. ff. 136. b. veil, fol. , dble. cols. xiii. cent. A fragment of St. David's Life, is found, as
classed, MS. Bibl. du Roi. 5352. 40. olim.
Colbert, veil. xiv. cent. In fine, among the
Lambeth MSS. 12, there is met "Legenda
Davidis. " The foregoing are all in the
Latin language. It is quite possible, many other MS. Lives of this saint may still be
discovered, in various British and Continental libraries.
^
'7 Published under direction of the Master
of the Rolls, and edited by J. S. Brewer, M. A.
the End of the Reign of Henry VII. ," vol.
i. , part i. , p. 122.
"See Martene, " De Antiquis Ecclesix
Ritibus," vol. iii. , p. 13. This practice pre- vailed generally in tiie Western Church. St. Bernard wished that like readings should not be taken from modem and unauthenti- cated hagiologies ; but, rather from such as gave edification, and were redolent of eccle- siastical propriety. He wished them, like- wise, to accord with antiquity and veracity,
See, Epistola ad Monachos Arremarensis, ""
_
'^ See Giraldi Cambrensis' "
Opera,"
vol.
""of of Novelty style supplied the place
iii. , pp. 37810404.
*9,See, "Annales Menevensis," MS.
Harl. 838.
=° See Sir Thomas iDuffus Hardy's " Des-
criptive Catalogue of Materials relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland to
novelty and freshness of facts. And the new reading of an old Life proved an era in the literary career of a mecliceval author, not to be forgotten. " See J. S. Brewer's Giraldi
Cambrensis "Opera," vol. iii. Preface, pp. xlii. to xlv.
312 [al. 398]. Opera S. Bernardi.
'
[March i.
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
of all denominations have cherished a great respect for their patron saint.
They have not failed to investigate, likewise, with considerable research and
accuracy, particulars having a special or an indirect bearing on his biography. The birth of St. David was foretold or indicated to his father. St.
Patrick, who was in Wales, thirty years before it happened, had a like revela- tion. =4 The father of our saint was potentate over a territory, known as
Keretica or Ceretica,^5 when, during sleep, he heard the voice of an angel. It admonished him, that while hunting on the following day, he should kill a stag, and with its carcass he should find a fish and hive of bees, near a river ; from these he was directed to take a honey-comb, with part of the fish and deer, for transmission to the monastery^^ of Manchan,^? as an offering on be- half of his son, not yet born. This presentation would be emblematic of St. David'stalentsandperfection. Forthehoney-combtypified,thatsweetness of heavenly wisdom, which would fill his mind ; while the wax, containing its store of honey, represented a mystic sense, included in historic or literal
The fish his prefigured
the ^^ and his selected sea-shore,
meaning.
aliment of bread and water solely ;
living by
for, he avoided every draught that could
inebriate. In fine, as the stag is supposed to renew its strength, so the holy David became transformed into a new man, having cast away the yoke of
toslakehis— atfountainsof
sin, by always desiring thirst, supernal
language, Dewid^9 wasbom,cannotbeascertainedwithanygreatdegreeofcertainty. The Bollandists set it down as happening, about the year 445. 3° But this date is founded on a rather arbitrary calculation, drawn from an incident, re- lated in the Life of St. Patrick. It is supposed probable, that this latter saint had predicted St. David's birth, about the year 414 or 415. At this time, St. Patrick was not a bishop, but he is supposed to have been a priest, and with- out any definite idea of devoting himself to glean that harvest of souls, which awaitedhislaboursinIreland. Hemighthavebeendissuaded,theysay,by
someangelicmonition,fromspendingasolitarylife, amongsttheIslandsof
The —
exact whenSt. David orasheiscalledintheWelsh
year,
Hetruria, in the Mediterranean Sea.
Afterwards, returning to Gaul, he be-
monastery, we are toW, was called " Vetus Rubus," in Latin ; and, it has been regarded,
'3 See " An Essay on the Welsh Saints,
or the Primitive Christians usually con-
sidered to have been the Founders of as identical with "Vetus Menevia. " On
Churches in Wales," sect, x. , pp. 191 to 202.
^* Ricemarchus, Giraldus Cambrensis,
John of Teignmouth, and John Capgrave agree in relating this tradition.
*5 See Giraldus' Life, lect. i. Camden re-
gards this district as conterminous with the
present Cardiganshire, in Wales. It appears to have been included within the territory of
Demetia. Itissupposed,bysomewHters, to have derived its name from King Ceretus
account of this incident, related in the text,
"
it was anciently called the
the Gift ;" and, because St. David afterwards became an alumnus there, and while still later, as archbishop, he was guardian of those precious treasures deposited at Me- nevia.
*? The Monastery of Ma—nchanj who was
or Caraticus, the paternal grandfather of St. David. The sea lay westward of this terri-
tory ; to the south, the Maridunenses or people of Caermarthen were separated by
the Tivy River ; to the north and east, ex- " tended the present Shires of Brecknock and Montgomery. The Britons called this dis-
trict Sire Aber-tivi. See Gough's Camden's
Monasterium. "
=s Wherefore, we are told, the Britons
=9 " Sanctus, quem tinctio baptism! Dauid, Ussher's "De Primordiis Britannicarum vulgus antem Dewi clamat," says the
"Britannia," vol. ii. , p. 524. See, also, Ecclesiarum," cap. xiv. , p. 442.
Utrecht MS. , published by the Bollandists.
30 also thatSt. Davidflourished xhey state,
in the hfth and sixth centuries,
^'^ "AdNautanum
ing to the Bollandist Utercht MS. This
Monasterium,"
accord-
at the 21st of March—seems to have been identified with that of Rosnat in Britain. Yet, says the Bollandist editor, it may be doubtful if it were identical with the Rosnat here men- tioned, and which, on account of many gifts
bestowed on it, received for its appellation,
the master of St. i^ndeus venerated
Depositi
called St. David " Dewi Deverur," which %\^\'ii&'i, David, the Waterman, \s:z\. . \.
water.
Monastery of
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March i.
came a disciple of St. Amator and St. Germanus, until by advice of this latter holy master, he sought Pope Celestine, and received episcopal ordination. In passing through Wales, about the period intimated by the Bollandists, it is supposed, he predicted St. David's birth to take place thirty years subse- quently ; for, they do not think it probable, this prophetic incident can be as- signed to A. D. 432, on his returning from Rome, or to about a. d. 459, when he madeathirdvisittothiscity,afterhavingestablishedhisseeofArmagh. 3' The nameofDavid'sfather—wasSanctus,32—sometimescalledSandde,orXantus,one oftheKingsofWales thatofhismotherhasbeenvariouslyrenderedNon,
Nonna, Nennita, Nonnita, Nemata,33 Melaria34 and Melari. ss Sheis said to have been the daughter of Bracan or Brecan, an Irish prince, who died a. d. 450. 2^ Our saint was a nephew to St. Canoe, of Gallen,37 in the King's County,32
according to this family connexion ; and, this latter holy man flourished, it is thought, towards the close of the fifth century. 39 David was born in Breck- nock, a part of Wales in which Nonna's father settled, and from him its present etymon has been derived. It would not, indeed, be an easy task, to deter- mine in a satisfactory manner, the variety of appellations bestowed on the mother of St. David, or to trace their respective affinities, if any such may happen to exist. It would seem, the revelation made to Ireland's great Apostle occurred subsequent to that previously related. If we credit Roth's MS. Life of our Saint, when venerable Patrick,t° having obtained his" Pontifical dignity, passed through Ceretica'*'' on returning from Rome, he cast his eyes over the beautiful vale, Rhos, or Rosina. ^^ Then, he desired to rest in a spot, suit- ablefordevoutprayerandcontemplation. Again,theAngelofGodwasheard
to " The Lord has not destined this say :
for
as a still
greater
David, who, thirty years hence, shall here be born. Let this prove a sign for you ; the wide extent of Irish shore shall be visible from this locality. " St. Patrick's eyes were raised from the ground, where he stood, when these
you,43
legation and charge await you. The whole land of Ireland, you are appointed to convert ; but, this spot must become the inheritance of a boy, named
3' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis. Commentarius Praevius, sect, ii, num. 10, p. 39.
3* Giraldus Cambrensis and John of Teign- njputh have so called him. The former says
appended learned explanatory notes, in the "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," at the llth
day of P'ebruary. See pp. 311 to 314. This Priory of Gallen, according to Harris' Ware, was founded by St. Cauoc or Mochenoc,
about A. D. 492. See vol. ii. , "Antiquities
of our saint,
"
Arthur! vero regis avunculus,
fuisse perhibetur. "
33 Colgan remarks : rectius forte Neni-
39 In the Illustrations to Drayton's Poly- Olbion," the Fourth Song, reports are said to have prevailed in Wales, that he was "uncle to King Arthur," the most renowned of ancient British monarchs.
t° See his Life, at the 17th of March.
41 Or " Demetica intrans rura," as read in the Utrecht MS.
••2 " Vallis Menevia aliis, prope urbem S.
nata, quod Hibernicis olim feminis fuit familiare, nisi et rectius Nonnita. Sic enim S. Davidis mater apud Capgravium in ejus
vitaetapud Vsserum, pag. 442 appellatur. " "
See ActaSanctorumHibernise,"i. Martii.
Vita S. Davidis, n. 7, p. 431. 34 "
Illustra- tions to the Fourth Song. These illustra-
Drayton's Poly-Olbion. "
tions were written by Selden.
35 in Vita S. calls her Capgrave, Keinse,"
Melari. See Rev. John Adams' Chroni- cles of Cornish Saints," No. v. , S. David.
3* According to a MS. , quoted by Sir R. C.
Davidis. " (Bollandisteditor. )
Holt, in his notes to the
"
Itinerarium Cam-
Davidem prte ceteris hanc Abbatiam dilex- isse, quia B. Patricius, ipsam fundavit," (Lib. ii. , cap. 3).
'•'• Many other things are added in an ac- count left us by Giraldus. We are told, that St. Patrick raised a dead man, named Dun- audus, to life, in this place. Ricemarc, in his Life of St. David, calls him Cruimther. It is added, that he remained twelve years buried, near that shore, and afterwards sail-
brise," lib. i. , cap. 2, and the Martyrology of Salisbury, at the 8ih of October.
37 See notices of hmi, at the ilth of Feb-
ruary.
3* Colgan has compiled the Acts of this
saint from different sources, and he has
place
of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 263. ""
^3 of "S. Yet, John Teignmouth says:
•March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
heaven-sent sounds had ceased/* On his range of vision flashed the whole land of Erin, we are told/s There afterwards stood a chapel/'^ Even then, in the proud language of an Irish poet, as it
"rose from the dark swelling flood, God bless'd the green island, and saw it was good ;
The em'rald of Europe, it sparkled and shone,
In the ring of the world, the most precious stone. In her sun, in hei; soil, in her station thrice blest, *^
Ireland was still more favoured, when her great Apostle St. Patrick took " heart of grace," for his destined missionary enterprise. He soon sailed over the Irish Channel to conquer on her soil, and to gain over her sons those happy victories, that planted Christianity on the ruins of Paganism. ''^
Thirty years had elapsed, after these heavenly manifestations, when the King of Ceretica travelled through a large district of Wales, anciently known
by the name, Demetrica, or as more generally and diversely written, Deme- tica, Demetia, Dimeta, or Demeta. '^s This region appears to have included a considerable angular portion of south-western Wales. s° At its extreme western point lies Menevia, now better known and named, as St. David's episcopal city. Within this district of Demeta,s^ the mother of our saint
ing with St. Patrick to Ireland, he became
a bishop.
*5 The Bollandists observe, although Rice-
marc and Giraldus assert this whole island
was miraculously seen from that place, whence St. Patrick proposed embarking for Ireland ; yet, Ussher says, such account is a fiction, not found in earlier Acts of St. David. Theremanyothermattersareseen, which Ussher quotes from Giraldus. Some of these are reproduced in the BoUandist notes. The words attributed to John of Teignmouth, by Ussher, are met with in
niae," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, cap. i. , ii. , p. 425.
'" Camden has given us a description of this ancient territory, which is called West Wales. Pliny supposed it to have been occupied, by the Silures ; but, Ptolemy, better acquainted with Britain, placed a people called Dimetae or Demetie here ; whilst both Gildas and Ninnius use the name Demetia. The Cambro-British called it Difed, by a change of/ into m, peculiar to their language. Camden maintains the name should be derived from Deheu Meath. \\h. \c\\ he renders the Plain to the South ; for the Britons are said to have called all this South Wales, Deheerbarth or the South Part. But, his editor says,^ it is more probable, the Romans formed this name, Divietcz, out of
See Camden's "Britan- Dyved. Gough's
nia," p. 504, and n. (b). Ibid.
5° As laid down in the Atlas Classica,
Demeta seems to comprise the Shires of Pembroke, Cardigan, and Caermarthen. See the edition of this work, published by Robert Wilkinson, London, 1808. Royal 4to.
"Vita S. Davidis," by John Capgrave, in ''"
his work, Nova Legenda Angliae, printed at London, a. d. mdxvi.
** Teignmouth describes the place, whence the wliole of Ireland was seen by St. Patrick,
See
magna, in qua est lapis, super quern stetit ante ostium cujusdam capellae antiquas, quam ego oculis vidi et manibus palpavi. " These very words occur in Capgrave's book. He
Ussher, p. 845.
had been an Augustinian hermit. See M. "
le Dr. Hoefer's Nouvelle Biographie Generale depuis les Temps les plus Recules
5' The Demetiau or Demeticau territory— thesiteof—whichhasbeenplacedbyPtolemy
jusqu'anosJours,"tomeviii. ,p. 575-John of Teignmouth was at first a priest, attached to the Church of Durham. _ Afterwards, he became a Benedictine monk of St. Alban's, where he lived about the year 1360. He wrote or compiled a large volume on the Lives, Actions and Miracles of English,
contained Pem-
broke, Caermarthen, and Ceretica districts.
But this supposition appears contrary to
what is related in St. David's Acts, viz. : that his father set out from Ceretica and
"
Menevia, sita est in Penbrokiae Commitatus promontorio spa- cioso, quod grandi fronte in Oceanum Ver-
ginium longe procedit : OKTawLrapov &Kpov appellat PtolenicEus, Britanni incolce Pebi- diaue and CantredDewi, Angli S. David's- land, id est S. Davidis ditionem, et ipsam urbem Meneviam Bfitaniii Tuy-Deui, id est domus Deui sive Davidis, et Angli S.
Welsh, Scotch, and Irish Saints. See "
Joannes Pitseus, De lUustribus Anglise
"
tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis, Com-
mentarius Prsevius, sect, i. , n. 5, pp. 38, 39. *7 See that beautiful song of Dr. Drennan,
Scriptoribus. " Also,
Acta Sanctorum,"
and intituled, *" See
Erin. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
" Colgan's
" Erat vallis satis
in Britain is said to have
went into Demetica.
ing to the site of this church, Giraldus Cam- brensis writes, that it was situated in a place called Kanmorva or Cair Morua, which means a Maritime Fori or Town, in the
ostendit : quje et in medium divisa dolenti matri condoluit. " And Capgrave tells us, that a church was afterwards built on this spot, while the stone itself rested as a founda-
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
lived, and she is described as a lady, possessing rare beauty and gracefulness. These qualifications endeared her to the king. s^ From the time of St. David's conception,s3 we are told, that she lived solely on bread and water, afterwards leading a celibate's life. While yet in his mother's womb, the advent of our saint was signalized by miracles. Shortly before his birth, the mother entered a certain church,54 where a very celebrated and holy man, named Gildas,55 preached God's word to the people. As if struck suddenly dumb, on her entering, the preacher ceased his discourse ; and, he declared, on being asked the reason for this silence, he felt unable to announce divine truths in the ordinary way. Gildas then requested his congregation to leave the church ; and no other person remained within, but our saint's mother, who continued there unknown to the preacher. Yet, another attempt to speak, made by this holy teacher, was not attended with better success. Wherefore, raising hisvoice,headjuredanypersonyetremainingtorevealthefact. Oursaint's mother then made known her presence. The preacher requested her to leave the church, so that his congregation might return. This order having been obeyed, the holy man found his tongue capable of giving expression to his ordinary religious and impressive sermons. Thus did the Almighty manifest his power, and indicate to all present the future greatness and eloquenceofanunbornchild. ^^ LiketheBlessedVirginMary,wecanhave little doubt, his mother treasured these remarkable incidents within her heart. 57 When the Saviour of this world deigned to enlighten it by his presence, the wicked tyrant Herod sought to learn the place of his birth, from those pilgrim Magi, that came from the East to adore him. This monster,however,designedtheinfantSaviour'sdeath,^^ Ashappenedinthe case of our Divine Master, a tyrant of Demeta planned the infanticide of David, when his birth had occurred. This wicked and envious man had learned from British Magi, the whole country around must become subject to thatchild,afterhisbeingborn. Theyhadevenpointedouttheexactplace, where his mother should be found living, when her term of child-bearing had elapsed. The Almighty, however, miraculously preserved the pious matron and her infant charge. 59 At the very moment of St. David's birth, a mighty tempest, mingled with lightning, hail, thunder and rain, swept the whole country around, so that no person dare venture out of doors. Yet, by a strange contrast, the air was perfectly serene, the skies were lightsome, nor did any storms prevail, near the house, where this religious woman experi- enced the pains and consolations of such heaven-protected maternity. ^ In
"
Acta Sanctorum," tonius i. , Mariii i. Vita S. Daviclis, Com-
mentarius Praevius, sect, i. , num. 4, p. 38. 5* We are told, he met Nonnita, when "ad partes de Pepidiaue declinaverat. "
Lect. i.
53 Referring to this incident, the Utrecht
MS. relates a legend, not found in Roth's MS.
5* " Ad offerendas pro partu eleemosynas
oblationem," says the Utrecht MS. AUud- veluti cera impressum, petram intuentibus
T>zmd% appellant. " See
^s See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, cap. iii,, iv. , pp. 425, 426.
English language. See Vita S. Davidis. tion for its altar, which covered the stone.
John Capgrave has a similar account, in his Life of our Saint.
55 Known as St. Gildas the "Wise. His feast is kept on the 29th of January.
"
See Legenda Sanctorum Anglia;. "
*°
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, cap. v. , p. 426.
57 See Luke
^^ Matthew ii.
59 The Utrecht MS. contains the
referring to the time of St. David's birth :
ii.
b. veil, folio, xiv. cent. In addition to these, there is a MS. Bodl.
(2337. ) pp. 319 322
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
In a collected edition of Giraldus Cambrensis' complete works'? is to be
found his Life of St. David, '^
from Wharton's text. It is collated
reprinted
with fragments, quoted by Ussher, and compared with 'older Lives, published
by the Bollandists, and by other editors. In a Proaemium to this wor—k, Giraldus declares, that he had been urged by certain canons and religious—
notwithstanding his literary engagements, and almost against his own will to undertake and finish this biography, in a style worthy of the subject.
However, notwithstanding such assertion, this Life of St. David by Giraldus may be regarded as little more than an abridgment of Ricemarc's compilation. This latter, as a bishop, ruled over St. David's, and he died about a. d. 1096, or 1099. '9 Giraldus often retains Ricemarc's very words, inserting a few
additions,ofnogreatimportance. Anyalterationsarechieflyconfinedto softening down ruder and plainer language, found in the more ancient Life. '° The author says, that he supplied some unimportant omissions and rescinded superfluous comments, in earlier accounts referring to the holy Menevian bishop. This Life seems to have been undertaken by Giraldus, from a sense of duty he owed to that ecclesiastical foundation, from which his dignity and emoluments were chiefly derived. With expressions of humility, he declares an intention to exercise some judgment and discretion, in pruning or select- ing materials for this work, and in treading his way through a difficult course. His Life of St. David is divided into Ten Lessons, with a collect at the close, andaResponsoryfortheChoir. Suchanarrangementindicates,thatithad been composed for an office or choral service, probably on the feast day of Menevia'spatronsaintandfounder. Thiswasinaccordancewiththeusage of early British and Gallic churches ; when the Lives of martyrs, confessors and writings of the Fathers, formed part of the daily lessons. '^' Such custom was a stimulus to literary exertion. Generally writers of 'known ability and piety were engaged, for the purpose of re-writing or emending ancient Lives or Offices of saints. The responsibihty of composing or re-editing a saint's or a martyr's Life, to be inserted in a church office, usually urged an eccle- siastic to develop for such task his best mental efforts of thought and taste. "
In that invaluable archaeological work of Rev. Rice Rees, where eccle- siastical antiquities of the Welsh principality are so admirably treated, there is a very interesting account regarding St. David, even although it be occasionally clouded with the author's peculiar prejudices. ^3 However, in that spirit of provincial patriotism so honourable to them, the Welsh writers
285. ff. 136. b. veil, fol. , dble. cols. xiii. cent. A fragment of St. David's Life, is found, as
classed, MS. Bibl. du Roi. 5352. 40. olim.
Colbert, veil. xiv. cent. In fine, among the
Lambeth MSS. 12, there is met "Legenda
Davidis. " The foregoing are all in the
Latin language. It is quite possible, many other MS. Lives of this saint may still be
discovered, in various British and Continental libraries.
^
'7 Published under direction of the Master
of the Rolls, and edited by J. S. Brewer, M. A.
the End of the Reign of Henry VII. ," vol.
i. , part i. , p. 122.
"See Martene, " De Antiquis Ecclesix
Ritibus," vol. iii. , p. 13. This practice pre- vailed generally in tiie Western Church. St. Bernard wished that like readings should not be taken from modem and unauthenti- cated hagiologies ; but, rather from such as gave edification, and were redolent of eccle- siastical propriety. He wished them, like- wise, to accord with antiquity and veracity,
See, Epistola ad Monachos Arremarensis, ""
_
'^ See Giraldi Cambrensis' "
Opera,"
vol.
""of of Novelty style supplied the place
iii. , pp. 37810404.
*9,See, "Annales Menevensis," MS.
Harl. 838.
=° See Sir Thomas iDuffus Hardy's " Des-
criptive Catalogue of Materials relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland to
novelty and freshness of facts. And the new reading of an old Life proved an era in the literary career of a mecliceval author, not to be forgotten. " See J. S. Brewer's Giraldi
Cambrensis "Opera," vol. iii. Preface, pp. xlii. to xlv.
312 [al. 398]. Opera S. Bernardi.
'
[March i.
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
of all denominations have cherished a great respect for their patron saint.
They have not failed to investigate, likewise, with considerable research and
accuracy, particulars having a special or an indirect bearing on his biography. The birth of St. David was foretold or indicated to his father. St.
Patrick, who was in Wales, thirty years before it happened, had a like revela- tion. =4 The father of our saint was potentate over a territory, known as
Keretica or Ceretica,^5 when, during sleep, he heard the voice of an angel. It admonished him, that while hunting on the following day, he should kill a stag, and with its carcass he should find a fish and hive of bees, near a river ; from these he was directed to take a honey-comb, with part of the fish and deer, for transmission to the monastery^^ of Manchan,^? as an offering on be- half of his son, not yet born. This presentation would be emblematic of St. David'stalentsandperfection. Forthehoney-combtypified,thatsweetness of heavenly wisdom, which would fill his mind ; while the wax, containing its store of honey, represented a mystic sense, included in historic or literal
The fish his prefigured
the ^^ and his selected sea-shore,
meaning.
aliment of bread and water solely ;
living by
for, he avoided every draught that could
inebriate. In fine, as the stag is supposed to renew its strength, so the holy David became transformed into a new man, having cast away the yoke of
toslakehis— atfountainsof
sin, by always desiring thirst, supernal
language, Dewid^9 wasbom,cannotbeascertainedwithanygreatdegreeofcertainty. The Bollandists set it down as happening, about the year 445. 3° But this date is founded on a rather arbitrary calculation, drawn from an incident, re- lated in the Life of St. Patrick. It is supposed probable, that this latter saint had predicted St. David's birth, about the year 414 or 415. At this time, St. Patrick was not a bishop, but he is supposed to have been a priest, and with- out any definite idea of devoting himself to glean that harvest of souls, which awaitedhislaboursinIreland. Hemighthavebeendissuaded,theysay,by
someangelicmonition,fromspendingasolitarylife, amongsttheIslandsof
The —
exact whenSt. David orasheiscalledintheWelsh
year,
Hetruria, in the Mediterranean Sea.
Afterwards, returning to Gaul, he be-
monastery, we are toW, was called " Vetus Rubus," in Latin ; and, it has been regarded,
'3 See " An Essay on the Welsh Saints,
or the Primitive Christians usually con-
sidered to have been the Founders of as identical with "Vetus Menevia. " On
Churches in Wales," sect, x. , pp. 191 to 202.
^* Ricemarchus, Giraldus Cambrensis,
John of Teignmouth, and John Capgrave agree in relating this tradition.
*5 See Giraldus' Life, lect. i. Camden re-
gards this district as conterminous with the
present Cardiganshire, in Wales. It appears to have been included within the territory of
Demetia. Itissupposed,bysomewHters, to have derived its name from King Ceretus
account of this incident, related in the text,
"
it was anciently called the
the Gift ;" and, because St. David afterwards became an alumnus there, and while still later, as archbishop, he was guardian of those precious treasures deposited at Me- nevia.
*? The Monastery of Ma—nchanj who was
or Caraticus, the paternal grandfather of St. David. The sea lay westward of this terri-
tory ; to the south, the Maridunenses or people of Caermarthen were separated by
the Tivy River ; to the north and east, ex- " tended the present Shires of Brecknock and Montgomery. The Britons called this dis-
trict Sire Aber-tivi. See Gough's Camden's
Monasterium. "
=s Wherefore, we are told, the Britons
=9 " Sanctus, quem tinctio baptism! Dauid, Ussher's "De Primordiis Britannicarum vulgus antem Dewi clamat," says the
"Britannia," vol. ii. , p. 524. See, also, Ecclesiarum," cap. xiv. , p. 442.
Utrecht MS. , published by the Bollandists.
30 also thatSt. Davidflourished xhey state,
in the hfth and sixth centuries,
^'^ "AdNautanum
ing to the Bollandist Utercht MS. This
Monasterium,"
accord-
at the 21st of March—seems to have been identified with that of Rosnat in Britain. Yet, says the Bollandist editor, it may be doubtful if it were identical with the Rosnat here men- tioned, and which, on account of many gifts
bestowed on it, received for its appellation,
the master of St. i^ndeus venerated
Depositi
called St. David " Dewi Deverur," which %\^\'ii&'i, David, the Waterman, \s:z\. . \.
water.
Monastery of
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March i.
came a disciple of St. Amator and St. Germanus, until by advice of this latter holy master, he sought Pope Celestine, and received episcopal ordination. In passing through Wales, about the period intimated by the Bollandists, it is supposed, he predicted St. David's birth to take place thirty years subse- quently ; for, they do not think it probable, this prophetic incident can be as- signed to A. D. 432, on his returning from Rome, or to about a. d. 459, when he madeathirdvisittothiscity,afterhavingestablishedhisseeofArmagh. 3' The nameofDavid'sfather—wasSanctus,32—sometimescalledSandde,orXantus,one oftheKingsofWales thatofhismotherhasbeenvariouslyrenderedNon,
Nonna, Nennita, Nonnita, Nemata,33 Melaria34 and Melari. ss Sheis said to have been the daughter of Bracan or Brecan, an Irish prince, who died a. d. 450. 2^ Our saint was a nephew to St. Canoe, of Gallen,37 in the King's County,32
according to this family connexion ; and, this latter holy man flourished, it is thought, towards the close of the fifth century. 39 David was born in Breck- nock, a part of Wales in which Nonna's father settled, and from him its present etymon has been derived. It would not, indeed, be an easy task, to deter- mine in a satisfactory manner, the variety of appellations bestowed on the mother of St. David, or to trace their respective affinities, if any such may happen to exist. It would seem, the revelation made to Ireland's great Apostle occurred subsequent to that previously related. If we credit Roth's MS. Life of our Saint, when venerable Patrick,t° having obtained his" Pontifical dignity, passed through Ceretica'*'' on returning from Rome, he cast his eyes over the beautiful vale, Rhos, or Rosina. ^^ Then, he desired to rest in a spot, suit- ablefordevoutprayerandcontemplation. Again,theAngelofGodwasheard
to " The Lord has not destined this say :
for
as a still
greater
David, who, thirty years hence, shall here be born. Let this prove a sign for you ; the wide extent of Irish shore shall be visible from this locality. " St. Patrick's eyes were raised from the ground, where he stood, when these
you,43
legation and charge await you. The whole land of Ireland, you are appointed to convert ; but, this spot must become the inheritance of a boy, named
3' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis. Commentarius Praevius, sect, ii, num. 10, p. 39.
3* Giraldus Cambrensis and John of Teign- njputh have so called him. The former says
appended learned explanatory notes, in the "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," at the llth
day of P'ebruary. See pp. 311 to 314. This Priory of Gallen, according to Harris' Ware, was founded by St. Cauoc or Mochenoc,
about A. D. 492. See vol. ii. , "Antiquities
of our saint,
"
Arthur! vero regis avunculus,
fuisse perhibetur. "
33 Colgan remarks : rectius forte Neni-
39 In the Illustrations to Drayton's Poly- Olbion," the Fourth Song, reports are said to have prevailed in Wales, that he was "uncle to King Arthur," the most renowned of ancient British monarchs.
t° See his Life, at the 17th of March.
41 Or " Demetica intrans rura," as read in the Utrecht MS.
••2 " Vallis Menevia aliis, prope urbem S.
nata, quod Hibernicis olim feminis fuit familiare, nisi et rectius Nonnita. Sic enim S. Davidis mater apud Capgravium in ejus
vitaetapud Vsserum, pag. 442 appellatur. " "
See ActaSanctorumHibernise,"i. Martii.
Vita S. Davidis, n. 7, p. 431. 34 "
Illustra- tions to the Fourth Song. These illustra-
Drayton's Poly-Olbion. "
tions were written by Selden.
35 in Vita S. calls her Capgrave, Keinse,"
Melari. See Rev. John Adams' Chroni- cles of Cornish Saints," No. v. , S. David.
3* According to a MS. , quoted by Sir R. C.
Davidis. " (Bollandisteditor. )
Holt, in his notes to the
"
Itinerarium Cam-
Davidem prte ceteris hanc Abbatiam dilex- isse, quia B. Patricius, ipsam fundavit," (Lib. ii. , cap. 3).
'•'• Many other things are added in an ac- count left us by Giraldus. We are told, that St. Patrick raised a dead man, named Dun- audus, to life, in this place. Ricemarc, in his Life of St. David, calls him Cruimther. It is added, that he remained twelve years buried, near that shore, and afterwards sail-
brise," lib. i. , cap. 2, and the Martyrology of Salisbury, at the 8ih of October.
37 See notices of hmi, at the ilth of Feb-
ruary.
3* Colgan has compiled the Acts of this
saint from different sources, and he has
place
of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 263. ""
^3 of "S. Yet, John Teignmouth says:
•March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
heaven-sent sounds had ceased/* On his range of vision flashed the whole land of Erin, we are told/s There afterwards stood a chapel/'^ Even then, in the proud language of an Irish poet, as it
"rose from the dark swelling flood, God bless'd the green island, and saw it was good ;
The em'rald of Europe, it sparkled and shone,
In the ring of the world, the most precious stone. In her sun, in hei; soil, in her station thrice blest, *^
Ireland was still more favoured, when her great Apostle St. Patrick took " heart of grace," for his destined missionary enterprise. He soon sailed over the Irish Channel to conquer on her soil, and to gain over her sons those happy victories, that planted Christianity on the ruins of Paganism. ''^
Thirty years had elapsed, after these heavenly manifestations, when the King of Ceretica travelled through a large district of Wales, anciently known
by the name, Demetrica, or as more generally and diversely written, Deme- tica, Demetia, Dimeta, or Demeta. '^s This region appears to have included a considerable angular portion of south-western Wales. s° At its extreme western point lies Menevia, now better known and named, as St. David's episcopal city. Within this district of Demeta,s^ the mother of our saint
ing with St. Patrick to Ireland, he became
a bishop.
*5 The Bollandists observe, although Rice-
marc and Giraldus assert this whole island
was miraculously seen from that place, whence St. Patrick proposed embarking for Ireland ; yet, Ussher says, such account is a fiction, not found in earlier Acts of St. David. Theremanyothermattersareseen, which Ussher quotes from Giraldus. Some of these are reproduced in the BoUandist notes. The words attributed to John of Teignmouth, by Ussher, are met with in
niae," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, cap. i. , ii. , p. 425.
'" Camden has given us a description of this ancient territory, which is called West Wales. Pliny supposed it to have been occupied, by the Silures ; but, Ptolemy, better acquainted with Britain, placed a people called Dimetae or Demetie here ; whilst both Gildas and Ninnius use the name Demetia. The Cambro-British called it Difed, by a change of/ into m, peculiar to their language. Camden maintains the name should be derived from Deheu Meath. \\h. \c\\ he renders the Plain to the South ; for the Britons are said to have called all this South Wales, Deheerbarth or the South Part. But, his editor says,^ it is more probable, the Romans formed this name, Divietcz, out of
See Camden's "Britan- Dyved. Gough's
nia," p. 504, and n. (b). Ibid.
5° As laid down in the Atlas Classica,
Demeta seems to comprise the Shires of Pembroke, Cardigan, and Caermarthen. See the edition of this work, published by Robert Wilkinson, London, 1808. Royal 4to.
"Vita S. Davidis," by John Capgrave, in ''"
his work, Nova Legenda Angliae, printed at London, a. d. mdxvi.
** Teignmouth describes the place, whence the wliole of Ireland was seen by St. Patrick,
See
magna, in qua est lapis, super quern stetit ante ostium cujusdam capellae antiquas, quam ego oculis vidi et manibus palpavi. " These very words occur in Capgrave's book. He
Ussher, p. 845.
had been an Augustinian hermit. See M. "
le Dr. Hoefer's Nouvelle Biographie Generale depuis les Temps les plus Recules
5' The Demetiau or Demeticau territory— thesiteof—whichhasbeenplacedbyPtolemy
jusqu'anosJours,"tomeviii. ,p. 575-John of Teignmouth was at first a priest, attached to the Church of Durham. _ Afterwards, he became a Benedictine monk of St. Alban's, where he lived about the year 1360. He wrote or compiled a large volume on the Lives, Actions and Miracles of English,
contained Pem-
broke, Caermarthen, and Ceretica districts.
But this supposition appears contrary to
what is related in St. David's Acts, viz. : that his father set out from Ceretica and
"
Menevia, sita est in Penbrokiae Commitatus promontorio spa- cioso, quod grandi fronte in Oceanum Ver-
ginium longe procedit : OKTawLrapov &Kpov appellat PtolenicEus, Britanni incolce Pebi- diaue and CantredDewi, Angli S. David's- land, id est S. Davidis ditionem, et ipsam urbem Meneviam Bfitaniii Tuy-Deui, id est domus Deui sive Davidis, et Angli S.
Welsh, Scotch, and Irish Saints. See "
Joannes Pitseus, De lUustribus Anglise
"
tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis, Com-
mentarius Prsevius, sect, i. , n. 5, pp. 38, 39. *7 See that beautiful song of Dr. Drennan,
Scriptoribus. " Also,
Acta Sanctorum,"
and intituled, *" See
Erin. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
" Colgan's
" Erat vallis satis
in Britain is said to have
went into Demetica.
ing to the site of this church, Giraldus Cam- brensis writes, that it was situated in a place called Kanmorva or Cair Morua, which means a Maritime Fori or Town, in the
ostendit : quje et in medium divisa dolenti matri condoluit. " And Capgrave tells us, that a church was afterwards built on this spot, while the stone itself rested as a founda-
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
lived, and she is described as a lady, possessing rare beauty and gracefulness. These qualifications endeared her to the king. s^ From the time of St. David's conception,s3 we are told, that she lived solely on bread and water, afterwards leading a celibate's life. While yet in his mother's womb, the advent of our saint was signalized by miracles. Shortly before his birth, the mother entered a certain church,54 where a very celebrated and holy man, named Gildas,55 preached God's word to the people. As if struck suddenly dumb, on her entering, the preacher ceased his discourse ; and, he declared, on being asked the reason for this silence, he felt unable to announce divine truths in the ordinary way. Gildas then requested his congregation to leave the church ; and no other person remained within, but our saint's mother, who continued there unknown to the preacher. Yet, another attempt to speak, made by this holy teacher, was not attended with better success. Wherefore, raising hisvoice,headjuredanypersonyetremainingtorevealthefact. Oursaint's mother then made known her presence. The preacher requested her to leave the church, so that his congregation might return. This order having been obeyed, the holy man found his tongue capable of giving expression to his ordinary religious and impressive sermons. Thus did the Almighty manifest his power, and indicate to all present the future greatness and eloquenceofanunbornchild. ^^ LiketheBlessedVirginMary,wecanhave little doubt, his mother treasured these remarkable incidents within her heart. 57 When the Saviour of this world deigned to enlighten it by his presence, the wicked tyrant Herod sought to learn the place of his birth, from those pilgrim Magi, that came from the East to adore him. This monster,however,designedtheinfantSaviour'sdeath,^^ Ashappenedinthe case of our Divine Master, a tyrant of Demeta planned the infanticide of David, when his birth had occurred. This wicked and envious man had learned from British Magi, the whole country around must become subject to thatchild,afterhisbeingborn. Theyhadevenpointedouttheexactplace, where his mother should be found living, when her term of child-bearing had elapsed. The Almighty, however, miraculously preserved the pious matron and her infant charge. 59 At the very moment of St. David's birth, a mighty tempest, mingled with lightning, hail, thunder and rain, swept the whole country around, so that no person dare venture out of doors. Yet, by a strange contrast, the air was perfectly serene, the skies were lightsome, nor did any storms prevail, near the house, where this religious woman experi- enced the pains and consolations of such heaven-protected maternity. ^ In
"
Acta Sanctorum," tonius i. , Mariii i. Vita S. Daviclis, Com-
mentarius Praevius, sect, i. , num. 4, p. 38. 5* We are told, he met Nonnita, when "ad partes de Pepidiaue declinaverat. "
Lect. i.
53 Referring to this incident, the Utrecht
MS. relates a legend, not found in Roth's MS.
5* " Ad offerendas pro partu eleemosynas
oblationem," says the Utrecht MS. AUud- veluti cera impressum, petram intuentibus
T>zmd% appellant. " See
^s See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, cap. iii,, iv. , pp. 425, 426.
English language. See Vita S. Davidis. tion for its altar, which covered the stone.
John Capgrave has a similar account, in his Life of our Saint.
55 Known as St. Gildas the "Wise. His feast is kept on the 29th of January.
"
See Legenda Sanctorum Anglia;. "
*°
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, cap. v. , p. 426.
57 See Luke
^^ Matthew ii.
59 The Utrecht MS. contains the
referring to the time of St. David's birth :
ii.
