This
stated, regarding any unjust dislike borne
Aydan, as he is there called.
stated, regarding any unjust dislike borne
Aydan, as he is there called.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
202, 203.
In the Chronicon
thinks, that there is question here of Damin, son to Damh-airgid, or of some other Damin
Scotorum," edited and translated by William M. Hennessy, we have the death of Daim- hin, son of Coirpre Damhairgaid, set down
at a. d. 566. See pp. 56, 57,
si The meaning seems to be, that this
chief bound himself and his posterity to be-
or Damen, a prince of the Oirgiell family.
Yet in the Rev. W, J. Rees' " Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints" the drowned boy is
called Bosargente, the son of Echdach,
"
mater Oruntham," it seems to us wrongly
stow gifts on Maidoc's religious establish- translated "mother of Oruntham. " See ment, in acknowledgment of his gratitude
" Vita Sancti Aidui," p. 234, and " Life of St. Aldus," p. 556.
and indebtedness towards the saint. In the
Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-
British Saints," we find this transaction thus
"
'^ St. Endeus his grandson, and son to
Conall, flourished before St. Maidoc, as is stated,
shown at the 21st of March. See Colgan's
"Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," n. 14, p.
216. Also Appendix ad Acta S. Endei. , same son and all his family. " See Life of
xxi. Martii, cap. iii,, p. 712, ibid.
St. Aidus," p. 557.
*^ If we attend to its verbal
as Colgan tells us, this writer's statement can easily be reconciled with the foregoing account
s^ See
*'
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
signification,
Colgan's
nice," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. ix. , p. 209.
he said " Go and wait ;
ghialla,
See Shirley's
Dominion of Farney," p. 148.
"
And King Cuchait offered his son with all his family to Saint Aldus for ever ; and Saint Aldus gave to Saint Molassus the
"
536 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
came to him, desiring to embrace a religious life, and to remain under his direction. Through humility, and a desire to avoid distinction, our saint wished to leave his own part of the country. But this desire was opposed by the Hy-Brian dynast, named Aedus the Fair,53 or Beautiful. This chief,
who was son to Fergna, and who belonged to the royal family of Connaught, ruled over the aforesaid principality, which included both divisions of Breff- ney. s4 This territory, divided into districts, was so called because a race, who inhabited, it, descended from Brian, son to Eochod Mogmedonius, King of Ireland. 55 The holy Maidoc sought permission from Aedus to retire in a quiet manner, and he promised the prince a future repose in heaven, if com- pliance with his request were granted. From the posterity of this Aedus de- scended the two noble families of O'Reilly and O'Roorke ; Kellachan and
Maelmordha,
sons to
the heads of those celebrated s^ septs.
Kernachan, being
Yet, notwithstanding an opposition, which our saint still experienced, the
Lord favoured his servant's desires, and he was conducted in peace to a frontier of the Leinster province. Thence this celebrated saint sailed over to Menevia,57 in Wales. In the published life of our saint, this city is called Kill-Muine,58 and here he remained with holy Bishop David for a consider- able time. According to Ussher,59 Swithun, otherwise Scolan,^° appears to have been the master^* of Aidan or Maidoc, Bishop of Ferns, while he so- journed in Wales. ^^ However, it seems much more probable, that this
53 He was thus called, because from being very deformed, he was rendered very hand- some, after St. Maidoc baptized him, so that he resembled Aidan, son to Egnech, who was considered the most beautiful man in Ire- land. Before baptism he was surnamed
59 See "Works," toI. v. " Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xi. ,
p. 390.
'° This is stated, on the authority of Gi-
raldus Cambrensis, in his " Historia de Vita
S. Davidis Archiepiscopi Menevensis," Lec-
Dubh, or "Black," as we learn from an tio v. , sec. 2, p. 392. See Giraldi Cam- ""
Irish Life of St. Maidoc, quothed by Colgan. brensis Opera, edited by J. S. Brewer, In the Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cam- vol. iii. Here, notwithstanding Swithun or bro-British Saints" he is called "Albus. " Scolan is represented as having been the
See p. 557.
^ That part of their race, which dwelt in
Mughaoi territory was called the Hy-Brian- aoi ; that which dwelt in Maghseola was called the Hy-Brien seola ; that which lived near the Shannon was called the Hy-Brien- Sinnse.
disciple of St. Aidan, who sent him on a miraculous journey to Wales, that he might
save the life of St. David from an attempt made to poison him. In Capgrave's "Vita S. Davidis," St. Aidan and St. Scuithin are called fellow-disciples of St. David : this statement is likely to have been correct, and all were in consequence contemporaries.
ss O'Flaherty makes him the 133rd in de-
scent, and places the events of his reign from
A. D. 358 to 366. See "Ogygia. " Pars, with St. Swithin, Bishop and Patron of
iii. , cap. Ixxix. , Ixxx. , pp. 373 to 380,
•5* These renowned clans reverenced St.
Maidoc, as their protecting saint. He is
also regarded as patron of the O'Kinsellaghs. See Mrs. Anastasia O'Byme's " Saints of
Ireland," p. 12.
S7 There is a very interesting account ot
Winchester, who departed this life on the 2nd of July, A. D. 862, but whose feast in
England was generally held on July 15th, when his relics were translated from the graveyard to the Cathedral Church A. D. 964. See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other Principal
"
''
De Jure et Statu M—ene-
Saints," vol. vii. , July xv. Also Bishop
this ancient See in
vensis Ecclesise. " Distinctiones vil. See Milner's valuable History of the City
Giraldi Cambrensis "
" edited
by J.
of Winchester. " But Ricemare more cor- rectly renders this master's name Scutinus,
who was a contemporary and a disciple of St. David, and whose life may be found at the 2nd of January. See Giraldus Cam- brensis "Opera," vol. iii. "Historia de Vita
Opera,
S. Brewer, vol. iii. , pp. loi to 373.
5* There is a place called Kill-muine or
Kill -moon, within a short distance of Kil-
dare town, in Ireland. Of course it is dis-
tinct from the place already mentioned.
But, could it have been called after the an- S. Davidis Archiepiscopi Menevensis. cient Celtic name bestowed on Menevia, as
after the English invasion so many Norman Welsh settled in Kildare ?
Lectio v. , sec. 2, p. 392, nn. i, 2, 3.
^= Here his fellow-disciples were Elind, otherwise called Tcliau and Ysmacl. A
^' Giraldus Cambrensis confounds him
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 537
Scuithinwashisfellow-disciple. Duringhisresidenceatthatplace,asteward, placed over St. David's monastery, entertained feelings of aversion towards Maidoc. TheirritatedGEconomusenteredoneday,andreproachfullytold Maidoc, who was reading, to go with others among his brethren, out of the cell to bear wood from a forest, which grew at some distance. Thither his companions had gone in the morning, but without the knowledge of Maidoc. Instantly, our meek young Irishman obeyed this rudely enjoined mandate ; and he left the open book he had been reading without doors, in his haste to obey. ^3 Having no favourable regards for the saint, this steward ordered him to harness a pair of untamed oxen, to a waggon, and then gave him a yolk without irons. Notwithstanding, those oxen appeared quite tame, and the yolk adhered to their necks, as accompanied by a small boy, Maidoc followed theothermonksorworkmenwithhiswaggon. ^* Alargebogormarshex- tended between them and the forest. In consequence, their way could only be followed by taking a circuit. On approaching this obstruction, the boy
" Oh how much sooner we should come to our if this road said, ! brethren,
" Make a
published life had been at first written. Afterwards this road proved one of great utility for all travellers. When Maidoc came to his fellow-disciples, all ofthemgavethankstoGod. ^s TheholyBishopDavid—becamecognizant
of what his CEconomus —
did towards the student for in such
led
answered,
sign
thy
the Maidoc through bog. "
of the cross on heart and eyes, and thou shall see the power of God. " St. Maidoc then turned his oxen and waggon towards the bog. Immediately a direct way opened before him ; and this road was to be seen, at the time St. Maidoc's
young
mustjweregardMaidoc andrespectinghisaction,whenleavingabookex-
posed, in open air. On this day a heavy shower of rain chanced to fall. Mindful of the book, St. David went out to remove it ; but, he found that a single drop of rain had not fallen on it, to cause the slightest injury. ^^ See- ing such a miracle, he left that book where it remained. Then he set out; towards the sea-shore to meet his brethren. ^7 Near the sea-side St. David found Maidoc, and asked, why he had left his book exposed to the rain. Whereupon, with great humility, this humble young man prostrated himself on the earth. The holy bishop having forgotten to order his rising, Maidoc continued prostrate, while St David and his companions returned home. Having heard from the boy, who had accompanied Maidoc in the waggon, an account regarding the miraculous manner in which the bog had been passed, the holy bishop enquired from others, where his favoured disciple might be found. These replied, they had not seen him, after having pro- strated himself before the bishop, beside the sea-shore. Having sent some ofhismonkstothisspot,thesereturnedwithMaidoc. ThenSt. Davidre- lated to his brethren, all the miracles which had been \vrought that day through Maidoc's merits. Meanwhile he severely censured the steward. ^^
miracle is recorded, while all three were niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. present with St. David. See ibid. . Lectio xxi. , p. 209.
iv. , pp. 387, 388.
^3 These circumstances are differently re-
lated, in a life of St. David, which belonged to the Right Rev. David Roth, Bishop of
Ossory, and published by Colgan, at the 1stofMarch. Inthislife,wehavenothing
**
Preservation of the exposed book is at- tributed elsewhere to St. David's merits, A special account is introduced, but this is not to be found in the Life of St. Maidoc, published by Colgan.
'? Itwouldappear,fromtheaccountin St. Maidoc's Life, that these monks then by the steward, towards St. Maidoc or lived in a city, named Cellmuyninn.
This
stated, regarding any unjust dislike borne
Aydan, as he is there called.
"" See Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," p. 558.
is only another form of the denomination Kill-muine.
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nia," xxxi. Januarii, Vita S. Maidoci, cap.
•^5 See Colgan's
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
light
538 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. . [January 31.
It appears, this strangely disposed person not only continued in his evil disinclination towards Maidoc ; but on one occasion, he even entertained a design to take away life. While the saint one day remained in the woods, with a laic, this latter was urged by the steward, to slay his holy companion. Withsuchanintention,themanraisedanaxe. Instantly,hishandsbecame withered, so that he was utterly deprived of any power to move them. ^9 Then confessing his crime, he besought pardon from his intended victim. Already aware of that dread purpose, Maidoc notwithstanding offered up prayers to God ; when, instantly this man's hands were restored to motion, and hastily he returned to the city. There he afterwards furnished an ac- count of what had occurred. That incident was miraculously conveyed to St. David, who rising from his bed, hastened with one sandal7° on his foot, towardsthewoods,sothathemightthesoonermeetMaidoc. Takingnotice of their venerable superior's hasty departure, the monks followed him to wit- ness the result. Meantime, St. Maidoc had approached a river, which was called Gladius, or in the Welsh language, Gledawh. 7^ On beholding him, David stopped and told his monks to retire, for at that same time he saw a band of angels around his disciple. This latter, observing his master wait- ing for his approach, ran forward to where he stood, and here in aftertimes a cross was erected. ? ^ Having blessed the Lord and given thanks to Him, for this miraculous preservation of his servant, they proceeded towards a church. When they had returned home, St. David a second time upbraided his procurator73 in presence of all. Then Maidoc said to his superior,
" do not Father,
because God shall
him for he us,
reproach him,
must speedily die, and no person shall know the place of his sepulture. " This prophecy was fulfilled, after the death of that unhappy man. 74
One day, having been sent with a waggon to bring some beer to the
monastery, Maidoc came to a certain valley. There both waggon and
oxen tumbled casually from a steep rock, and rolled down its declivity. The
servant of God immediately formed a sign of the cross. Wonderful to re-
late! thewaggon,beerandoxensufferednodamageinanysingleparticular. This miracle—for such it was considered—caused Maidoc's name to be held
in greater veneration. In consequence of these wonders, reports began to prevail respecting his extraordinary sanctity. At that time, a British king
had a blind, lame and deaf son. 75
xii. , p. 209.
*9 See Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," p. 558.
^° in the Life of St. Maidoc, and in many
other ancient lives of monks and hermits,
that kind of sandal called a fico or ficon is
mentioned, as being used by persons de- voted to a religious life.
7' InPembrokeshire,notfarfromMenevia, are two streams called in Welsh Gledawh,
said to bear the English signification of
"sword. " Whereforetheplacewhereboth
join and enter the sea is . called Aberdugle- "
The king sent him to our saint, that
"
dawh, the port of the two swords. " See monastic establishment in ancient as in
" Camden's Britannia" Pembroke-
modem times,
74 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xiii. , p. 209.
Cough's
shire, vol. ii. , p. 513.
7^ A— most valuable and highly artistic
work the laborious and tasteful contribu-
tion of— O'Neill to the literature of Henry
Ireland was produced by his private enter- prise and at great expense, while residing at
75 The
punish
Fennoy in 1857. Its title is
and Illustrations of the Ancient Crosses of Ireland. " From their situation nearly all of these seem to have been sepulchral erec- tions. But, from the account in the text, and from various other sources, we learn, this placing of a cross was a common prac- tice among the Christian Celtic people to commemorate miraculous or remarkable oc- currences.
^3 This official appears to have been a very usual addition to the household or out-of- door economy connected with every large
nor of his son, has been transmitted to our times, See the account in Rev. W. J. Ree«' " Lives
name,
neither of this
king
Descriptions
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 539
through prayers, this afflicted youth might be restored. Being requested by holy Bishop David and others, Maidoc took the young man apart, and prayedtoGodforhim; whenimmediatelytheprincewasreleasedfromall his infirmities. The servant of God restored him, soundly and safely, to his parents and friends. All of these rejoiced greatly, while giving thanks to God. Anotherman,bornwithouteyesornose,7^wasbroughtfromacertain partofBritain,toberestoredbyMaidoc. ThesaintprayedtoGodforhim, and this prayer was heard; for that man, formerly so much deformed in features,receivedthesenaturalmembers. Hethengaveunfeignedthanks to God and to His servant Maidoc. 77 Another man, holding some position in society and wishing to deceive our saint, sent certain servants to require hispresence. Feigninghimselftobebothdeafandblind,thesaintsaidto that man, " Thou wouldst rule in thy country, but that thou hast wished to
tempt
Divine
bounty.
7^ Now thou seest and hearest well but because thou ;
hastlied,thoushaltbedeafandblindtotheverydayofthydeath. " As
Maidoc had prophesied, this prediction was accomplished. 79 While the
saint remained in Wales, the Angles, or people of England proper, collected a great army, and made a sudden inroad upon the Welsh, then known as Britons, and who inhabited the western mountains ot the island. ^ Those mountaineers belonged to a race, who had formerly been expelled by the Scots and by Saxon invaders from the more open and accessible parts of the country. Hastily arming in their own defence, they sent to Menevia's holy bishop, that he should despatch St. Maidoc to call down heaven's blessings upon their cause. In obedience to such a desire, Maidoc hastened to the Britishcamp,whiletheSaxonswereadvancing. Althoughbadlyprepared for an encounter, the Britons engaged their invaders ; God's servant mean- timeofferingupprayersforthesuccessofhisadoptedcountry. TheAngles were utterly routed, while the Britons, without losing a single man, pursued their enemies, for two whole days. ^^ Great had been the slaughter of those invaders, and they dared not return to Wales, so long as Maidoc remained there ; for this victory was attributed entirely to his prayers. ^^ The author of our saint's published life adds, that St. Maidoc wrought many other miracles, while living in the Welsh country. These, however, were not written for the sake of that brevity he was so studious to observe. ^3 Such as remain on record are amply sufficient to show how mighty were the favours
accorded to His saint by the Almighty.
oftheCambro-BritishSaints. " VitseSancti Aidui, p. 237, and its English translation, p. 559.
7* Such deformed persons, called in Gallic
jection by King Egbert.
"Heisstatedto
"
acts of our early saints.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Madoci, cap.
xiv. , XV. , xvi. , p. 210.
7^ In the old British, as in the ancient
Irish social system, persons of distinction
and of talents were usually selected to fill all
the important offices of state, or among the clans.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Vita S. Maidoci, cap.
have expelled every Welshman from his
newly-acquired dominions, and to have
threatened them with instant death if found there within six months from his edict. "— Charles Wilkins' "Wales, Past and Present," chap, x. , pp. 6r, 62. -
®'
The Christian religion was followed, cherished and defended in the midst of the Welsh mountains, with no less fervour and zeal than national independence. See Le
**
Les Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. x. , chap, ii. , p.
39.
^^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Clairenich," are frequently noticed in the
77 See Colgan's
79 See
nise," xxxi. Januarii, xviii. , p. 210.
Colgan's
** The reign of petty Welsh princes is said to have continued, according to the Anglo- Saxon chronicles, until A. D. 828, when all North Wales was reduced to complete sub-
^3fbid. SeealsoRev. W. J. Rees'"Lives oftheCambro-BritishSaints. " LifeofSt. Aldus, pp. 558 to 560.
Comte de Montalembert's
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xvii. , p. 210.
540 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
CHAPTER III.
ST. MAIDOC GOES BACK TO IRELAND—A MIRACLE—DYMMA PRESENTS LANDS AND SERVICES TO THE SAINT—HEAVENLY ADMONITIONS—MIRACLES RECORDED—MAIDOC's SOJOURN IN THE COUNTY OF WATERFORD—DIFFICULTIES OF IDENTIFICATION— BRANDUBH, KING OF LEINSTER—HE GRANTS THE SITE OF FERNS FOR MOGUE'S RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT—THE SAJNT'S MANNER OF LIFE—MIRACULOUS OC- CURRENCES.
St. Maidoc or Aidan, having been instructed in all sacred knowledge, and having been eminent for his miracles and virtues, asked permission from St. DavidandhismonkstoleavetheirinstitutionforIreland. ' Thisheobtained, with their benediction,^ and taking some disciples^ with him, St. Maidoc sailed over to Ireland. As he approached its shore, he beheld robbers de- spoiling and wounding some strangers, who fell into their hands. Seeing
"
this outrage, our saint said to his disciples : thosewretchedmen,whoareabouttobemurdered. " Thenhesoundeda cymbal from the sea. '* The chief of those robbers hearing it at a great dis-
" This is a trumpet-sound from a man of God, and he raises it, thatwemaynotperpetratesuchagreatcrime. " Whereupon,thebandits desisted from offering violence, and their intended victims escaped. This robber leader was a rich and powerful man, who had many warriors under his command. When Maidoc approached the shore, feeling sorry for his actions, that leader sent a soldier, named Dymma,5 to meet God's holy servant ; and on his shoulders, Maidoc was borne from the ship to land. The chief, doing penance for his former crimes, gave a tract of land as a offering to God and to St. Maidoc. Even the soldier Dymma^ pre- sented himself, his race, and his landed property for ever, to our saint. His lands lay in that part of southern Ireland, called Hy-Kinsellagh. 7
tance, said
:
Chap. hi. —' See Giraldus Cambrensis
"Opera. " Edited by J. S. Brewer, vol. iii. Historia de Vita S. Davidis Menevensis
Archiepiscopi, Lect. v. , § 2, p. 391.
' Dr. Reeves has remarked, that his his- tory became interwoven with that of Mene- via, and his abode in Britain is not only re-
him, was the son of Fintan, son of Branen, son to Kenlachan, son to Aimonius, son of Nazarius, son to Fothad. He is said to have belonged to the same line as St. Coemgin and St Berchan. To St. Maidoc he gave the site and lands for Ardladhran
church, in the territory of Hy-Kinselach. See n. 20, to the life of St. Maidoc
7 The and so
people territory distinguished
derive denomination from Eanna Ccinnsea- lach, who was the fourth in line from Ca- thaeir Mor, Monarch of Ireland, or accord- ing to another account, third in descent. In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters" Cathaeir Mor reigned from a. d. 120 to 123, when he was slain by the cele- brated monarch Conn of the Hundred Battles. See vol. i. , pp. 102, 103. His descendant Eanna or Enna Ceinnsealach flourished during the reign of Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin, King of Ireland, a. d. 358 to 365. See ibid.
thinks, that there is question here of Damin, son to Damh-airgid, or of some other Damin
Scotorum," edited and translated by William M. Hennessy, we have the death of Daim- hin, son of Coirpre Damhairgaid, set down
at a. d. 566. See pp. 56, 57,
si The meaning seems to be, that this
chief bound himself and his posterity to be-
or Damen, a prince of the Oirgiell family.
Yet in the Rev. W, J. Rees' " Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints" the drowned boy is
called Bosargente, the son of Echdach,
"
mater Oruntham," it seems to us wrongly
stow gifts on Maidoc's religious establish- translated "mother of Oruntham. " See ment, in acknowledgment of his gratitude
" Vita Sancti Aidui," p. 234, and " Life of St. Aldus," p. 556.
and indebtedness towards the saint. In the
Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-
British Saints," we find this transaction thus
"
'^ St. Endeus his grandson, and son to
Conall, flourished before St. Maidoc, as is stated,
shown at the 21st of March. See Colgan's
"Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," n. 14, p.
216. Also Appendix ad Acta S. Endei. , same son and all his family. " See Life of
xxi. Martii, cap. iii,, p. 712, ibid.
St. Aidus," p. 557.
*^ If we attend to its verbal
as Colgan tells us, this writer's statement can easily be reconciled with the foregoing account
s^ See
*'
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
signification,
Colgan's
nice," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. ix. , p. 209.
he said " Go and wait ;
ghialla,
See Shirley's
Dominion of Farney," p. 148.
"
And King Cuchait offered his son with all his family to Saint Aldus for ever ; and Saint Aldus gave to Saint Molassus the
"
536 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
came to him, desiring to embrace a religious life, and to remain under his direction. Through humility, and a desire to avoid distinction, our saint wished to leave his own part of the country. But this desire was opposed by the Hy-Brian dynast, named Aedus the Fair,53 or Beautiful. This chief,
who was son to Fergna, and who belonged to the royal family of Connaught, ruled over the aforesaid principality, which included both divisions of Breff- ney. s4 This territory, divided into districts, was so called because a race, who inhabited, it, descended from Brian, son to Eochod Mogmedonius, King of Ireland. 55 The holy Maidoc sought permission from Aedus to retire in a quiet manner, and he promised the prince a future repose in heaven, if com- pliance with his request were granted. From the posterity of this Aedus de- scended the two noble families of O'Reilly and O'Roorke ; Kellachan and
Maelmordha,
sons to
the heads of those celebrated s^ septs.
Kernachan, being
Yet, notwithstanding an opposition, which our saint still experienced, the
Lord favoured his servant's desires, and he was conducted in peace to a frontier of the Leinster province. Thence this celebrated saint sailed over to Menevia,57 in Wales. In the published life of our saint, this city is called Kill-Muine,58 and here he remained with holy Bishop David for a consider- able time. According to Ussher,59 Swithun, otherwise Scolan,^° appears to have been the master^* of Aidan or Maidoc, Bishop of Ferns, while he so- journed in Wales. ^^ However, it seems much more probable, that this
53 He was thus called, because from being very deformed, he was rendered very hand- some, after St. Maidoc baptized him, so that he resembled Aidan, son to Egnech, who was considered the most beautiful man in Ire- land. Before baptism he was surnamed
59 See "Works," toI. v. " Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xi. ,
p. 390.
'° This is stated, on the authority of Gi-
raldus Cambrensis, in his " Historia de Vita
S. Davidis Archiepiscopi Menevensis," Lec-
Dubh, or "Black," as we learn from an tio v. , sec. 2, p. 392. See Giraldi Cam- ""
Irish Life of St. Maidoc, quothed by Colgan. brensis Opera, edited by J. S. Brewer, In the Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cam- vol. iii. Here, notwithstanding Swithun or bro-British Saints" he is called "Albus. " Scolan is represented as having been the
See p. 557.
^ That part of their race, which dwelt in
Mughaoi territory was called the Hy-Brian- aoi ; that which dwelt in Maghseola was called the Hy-Brien seola ; that which lived near the Shannon was called the Hy-Brien- Sinnse.
disciple of St. Aidan, who sent him on a miraculous journey to Wales, that he might
save the life of St. David from an attempt made to poison him. In Capgrave's "Vita S. Davidis," St. Aidan and St. Scuithin are called fellow-disciples of St. David : this statement is likely to have been correct, and all were in consequence contemporaries.
ss O'Flaherty makes him the 133rd in de-
scent, and places the events of his reign from
A. D. 358 to 366. See "Ogygia. " Pars, with St. Swithin, Bishop and Patron of
iii. , cap. Ixxix. , Ixxx. , pp. 373 to 380,
•5* These renowned clans reverenced St.
Maidoc, as their protecting saint. He is
also regarded as patron of the O'Kinsellaghs. See Mrs. Anastasia O'Byme's " Saints of
Ireland," p. 12.
S7 There is a very interesting account ot
Winchester, who departed this life on the 2nd of July, A. D. 862, but whose feast in
England was generally held on July 15th, when his relics were translated from the graveyard to the Cathedral Church A. D. 964. See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other Principal
"
''
De Jure et Statu M—ene-
Saints," vol. vii. , July xv. Also Bishop
this ancient See in
vensis Ecclesise. " Distinctiones vil. See Milner's valuable History of the City
Giraldi Cambrensis "
" edited
by J.
of Winchester. " But Ricemare more cor- rectly renders this master's name Scutinus,
who was a contemporary and a disciple of St. David, and whose life may be found at the 2nd of January. See Giraldus Cam- brensis "Opera," vol. iii. "Historia de Vita
Opera,
S. Brewer, vol. iii. , pp. loi to 373.
5* There is a place called Kill-muine or
Kill -moon, within a short distance of Kil-
dare town, in Ireland. Of course it is dis-
tinct from the place already mentioned.
But, could it have been called after the an- S. Davidis Archiepiscopi Menevensis. cient Celtic name bestowed on Menevia, as
after the English invasion so many Norman Welsh settled in Kildare ?
Lectio v. , sec. 2, p. 392, nn. i, 2, 3.
^= Here his fellow-disciples were Elind, otherwise called Tcliau and Ysmacl. A
^' Giraldus Cambrensis confounds him
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 537
Scuithinwashisfellow-disciple. Duringhisresidenceatthatplace,asteward, placed over St. David's monastery, entertained feelings of aversion towards Maidoc. TheirritatedGEconomusenteredoneday,andreproachfullytold Maidoc, who was reading, to go with others among his brethren, out of the cell to bear wood from a forest, which grew at some distance. Thither his companions had gone in the morning, but without the knowledge of Maidoc. Instantly, our meek young Irishman obeyed this rudely enjoined mandate ; and he left the open book he had been reading without doors, in his haste to obey. ^3 Having no favourable regards for the saint, this steward ordered him to harness a pair of untamed oxen, to a waggon, and then gave him a yolk without irons. Notwithstanding, those oxen appeared quite tame, and the yolk adhered to their necks, as accompanied by a small boy, Maidoc followed theothermonksorworkmenwithhiswaggon. ^* Alargebogormarshex- tended between them and the forest. In consequence, their way could only be followed by taking a circuit. On approaching this obstruction, the boy
" Oh how much sooner we should come to our if this road said, ! brethren,
" Make a
published life had been at first written. Afterwards this road proved one of great utility for all travellers. When Maidoc came to his fellow-disciples, all ofthemgavethankstoGod. ^s TheholyBishopDavid—becamecognizant
of what his CEconomus —
did towards the student for in such
led
answered,
sign
thy
the Maidoc through bog. "
of the cross on heart and eyes, and thou shall see the power of God. " St. Maidoc then turned his oxen and waggon towards the bog. Immediately a direct way opened before him ; and this road was to be seen, at the time St. Maidoc's
young
mustjweregardMaidoc andrespectinghisaction,whenleavingabookex-
posed, in open air. On this day a heavy shower of rain chanced to fall. Mindful of the book, St. David went out to remove it ; but, he found that a single drop of rain had not fallen on it, to cause the slightest injury. ^^ See- ing such a miracle, he left that book where it remained. Then he set out; towards the sea-shore to meet his brethren. ^7 Near the sea-side St. David found Maidoc, and asked, why he had left his book exposed to the rain. Whereupon, with great humility, this humble young man prostrated himself on the earth. The holy bishop having forgotten to order his rising, Maidoc continued prostrate, while St David and his companions returned home. Having heard from the boy, who had accompanied Maidoc in the waggon, an account regarding the miraculous manner in which the bog had been passed, the holy bishop enquired from others, where his favoured disciple might be found. These replied, they had not seen him, after having pro- strated himself before the bishop, beside the sea-shore. Having sent some ofhismonkstothisspot,thesereturnedwithMaidoc. ThenSt. Davidre- lated to his brethren, all the miracles which had been \vrought that day through Maidoc's merits. Meanwhile he severely censured the steward. ^^
miracle is recorded, while all three were niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. present with St. David. See ibid. . Lectio xxi. , p. 209.
iv. , pp. 387, 388.
^3 These circumstances are differently re-
lated, in a life of St. David, which belonged to the Right Rev. David Roth, Bishop of
Ossory, and published by Colgan, at the 1stofMarch. Inthislife,wehavenothing
**
Preservation of the exposed book is at- tributed elsewhere to St. David's merits, A special account is introduced, but this is not to be found in the Life of St. Maidoc, published by Colgan.
'? Itwouldappear,fromtheaccountin St. Maidoc's Life, that these monks then by the steward, towards St. Maidoc or lived in a city, named Cellmuyninn.
This
stated, regarding any unjust dislike borne
Aydan, as he is there called.
"" See Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," p. 558.
is only another form of the denomination Kill-muine.
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nia," xxxi. Januarii, Vita S. Maidoci, cap.
•^5 See Colgan's
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
light
538 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. . [January 31.
It appears, this strangely disposed person not only continued in his evil disinclination towards Maidoc ; but on one occasion, he even entertained a design to take away life. While the saint one day remained in the woods, with a laic, this latter was urged by the steward, to slay his holy companion. Withsuchanintention,themanraisedanaxe. Instantly,hishandsbecame withered, so that he was utterly deprived of any power to move them. ^9 Then confessing his crime, he besought pardon from his intended victim. Already aware of that dread purpose, Maidoc notwithstanding offered up prayers to God ; when, instantly this man's hands were restored to motion, and hastily he returned to the city. There he afterwards furnished an ac- count of what had occurred. That incident was miraculously conveyed to St. David, who rising from his bed, hastened with one sandal7° on his foot, towardsthewoods,sothathemightthesoonermeetMaidoc. Takingnotice of their venerable superior's hasty departure, the monks followed him to wit- ness the result. Meantime, St. Maidoc had approached a river, which was called Gladius, or in the Welsh language, Gledawh. 7^ On beholding him, David stopped and told his monks to retire, for at that same time he saw a band of angels around his disciple. This latter, observing his master wait- ing for his approach, ran forward to where he stood, and here in aftertimes a cross was erected. ? ^ Having blessed the Lord and given thanks to Him, for this miraculous preservation of his servant, they proceeded towards a church. When they had returned home, St. David a second time upbraided his procurator73 in presence of all. Then Maidoc said to his superior,
" do not Father,
because God shall
him for he us,
reproach him,
must speedily die, and no person shall know the place of his sepulture. " This prophecy was fulfilled, after the death of that unhappy man. 74
One day, having been sent with a waggon to bring some beer to the
monastery, Maidoc came to a certain valley. There both waggon and
oxen tumbled casually from a steep rock, and rolled down its declivity. The
servant of God immediately formed a sign of the cross. Wonderful to re-
late! thewaggon,beerandoxensufferednodamageinanysingleparticular. This miracle—for such it was considered—caused Maidoc's name to be held
in greater veneration. In consequence of these wonders, reports began to prevail respecting his extraordinary sanctity. At that time, a British king
had a blind, lame and deaf son. 75
xii. , p. 209.
*9 See Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," p. 558.
^° in the Life of St. Maidoc, and in many
other ancient lives of monks and hermits,
that kind of sandal called a fico or ficon is
mentioned, as being used by persons de- voted to a religious life.
7' InPembrokeshire,notfarfromMenevia, are two streams called in Welsh Gledawh,
said to bear the English signification of
"sword. " Whereforetheplacewhereboth
join and enter the sea is . called Aberdugle- "
The king sent him to our saint, that
"
dawh, the port of the two swords. " See monastic establishment in ancient as in
" Camden's Britannia" Pembroke-
modem times,
74 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xiii. , p. 209.
Cough's
shire, vol. ii. , p. 513.
7^ A— most valuable and highly artistic
work the laborious and tasteful contribu-
tion of— O'Neill to the literature of Henry
Ireland was produced by his private enter- prise and at great expense, while residing at
75 The
punish
Fennoy in 1857. Its title is
and Illustrations of the Ancient Crosses of Ireland. " From their situation nearly all of these seem to have been sepulchral erec- tions. But, from the account in the text, and from various other sources, we learn, this placing of a cross was a common prac- tice among the Christian Celtic people to commemorate miraculous or remarkable oc- currences.
^3 This official appears to have been a very usual addition to the household or out-of- door economy connected with every large
nor of his son, has been transmitted to our times, See the account in Rev. W. J. Ree«' " Lives
name,
neither of this
king
Descriptions
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 539
through prayers, this afflicted youth might be restored. Being requested by holy Bishop David and others, Maidoc took the young man apart, and prayedtoGodforhim; whenimmediatelytheprincewasreleasedfromall his infirmities. The servant of God restored him, soundly and safely, to his parents and friends. All of these rejoiced greatly, while giving thanks to God. Anotherman,bornwithouteyesornose,7^wasbroughtfromacertain partofBritain,toberestoredbyMaidoc. ThesaintprayedtoGodforhim, and this prayer was heard; for that man, formerly so much deformed in features,receivedthesenaturalmembers. Hethengaveunfeignedthanks to God and to His servant Maidoc. 77 Another man, holding some position in society and wishing to deceive our saint, sent certain servants to require hispresence. Feigninghimselftobebothdeafandblind,thesaintsaidto that man, " Thou wouldst rule in thy country, but that thou hast wished to
tempt
Divine
bounty.
7^ Now thou seest and hearest well but because thou ;
hastlied,thoushaltbedeafandblindtotheverydayofthydeath. " As
Maidoc had prophesied, this prediction was accomplished. 79 While the
saint remained in Wales, the Angles, or people of England proper, collected a great army, and made a sudden inroad upon the Welsh, then known as Britons, and who inhabited the western mountains ot the island. ^ Those mountaineers belonged to a race, who had formerly been expelled by the Scots and by Saxon invaders from the more open and accessible parts of the country. Hastily arming in their own defence, they sent to Menevia's holy bishop, that he should despatch St. Maidoc to call down heaven's blessings upon their cause. In obedience to such a desire, Maidoc hastened to the Britishcamp,whiletheSaxonswereadvancing. Althoughbadlyprepared for an encounter, the Britons engaged their invaders ; God's servant mean- timeofferingupprayersforthesuccessofhisadoptedcountry. TheAngles were utterly routed, while the Britons, without losing a single man, pursued their enemies, for two whole days. ^^ Great had been the slaughter of those invaders, and they dared not return to Wales, so long as Maidoc remained there ; for this victory was attributed entirely to his prayers. ^^ The author of our saint's published life adds, that St. Maidoc wrought many other miracles, while living in the Welsh country. These, however, were not written for the sake of that brevity he was so studious to observe. ^3 Such as remain on record are amply sufficient to show how mighty were the favours
accorded to His saint by the Almighty.
oftheCambro-BritishSaints. " VitseSancti Aidui, p. 237, and its English translation, p. 559.
7* Such deformed persons, called in Gallic
jection by King Egbert.
"Heisstatedto
"
acts of our early saints.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Madoci, cap.
xiv. , XV. , xvi. , p. 210.
7^ In the old British, as in the ancient
Irish social system, persons of distinction
and of talents were usually selected to fill all
the important offices of state, or among the clans.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Vita S. Maidoci, cap.
have expelled every Welshman from his
newly-acquired dominions, and to have
threatened them with instant death if found there within six months from his edict. "— Charles Wilkins' "Wales, Past and Present," chap, x. , pp. 6r, 62. -
®'
The Christian religion was followed, cherished and defended in the midst of the Welsh mountains, with no less fervour and zeal than national independence. See Le
**
Les Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. x. , chap, ii. , p.
39.
^^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Clairenich," are frequently noticed in the
77 See Colgan's
79 See
nise," xxxi. Januarii, xviii. , p. 210.
Colgan's
** The reign of petty Welsh princes is said to have continued, according to the Anglo- Saxon chronicles, until A. D. 828, when all North Wales was reduced to complete sub-
^3fbid. SeealsoRev. W. J. Rees'"Lives oftheCambro-BritishSaints. " LifeofSt. Aldus, pp. 558 to 560.
Comte de Montalembert's
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xvii. , p. 210.
540 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
CHAPTER III.
ST. MAIDOC GOES BACK TO IRELAND—A MIRACLE—DYMMA PRESENTS LANDS AND SERVICES TO THE SAINT—HEAVENLY ADMONITIONS—MIRACLES RECORDED—MAIDOC's SOJOURN IN THE COUNTY OF WATERFORD—DIFFICULTIES OF IDENTIFICATION— BRANDUBH, KING OF LEINSTER—HE GRANTS THE SITE OF FERNS FOR MOGUE'S RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT—THE SAJNT'S MANNER OF LIFE—MIRACULOUS OC- CURRENCES.
St. Maidoc or Aidan, having been instructed in all sacred knowledge, and having been eminent for his miracles and virtues, asked permission from St. DavidandhismonkstoleavetheirinstitutionforIreland. ' Thisheobtained, with their benediction,^ and taking some disciples^ with him, St. Maidoc sailed over to Ireland. As he approached its shore, he beheld robbers de- spoiling and wounding some strangers, who fell into their hands. Seeing
"
this outrage, our saint said to his disciples : thosewretchedmen,whoareabouttobemurdered. " Thenhesoundeda cymbal from the sea. '* The chief of those robbers hearing it at a great dis-
" This is a trumpet-sound from a man of God, and he raises it, thatwemaynotperpetratesuchagreatcrime. " Whereupon,thebandits desisted from offering violence, and their intended victims escaped. This robber leader was a rich and powerful man, who had many warriors under his command. When Maidoc approached the shore, feeling sorry for his actions, that leader sent a soldier, named Dymma,5 to meet God's holy servant ; and on his shoulders, Maidoc was borne from the ship to land. The chief, doing penance for his former crimes, gave a tract of land as a offering to God and to St. Maidoc. Even the soldier Dymma^ pre- sented himself, his race, and his landed property for ever, to our saint. His lands lay in that part of southern Ireland, called Hy-Kinsellagh. 7
tance, said
:
Chap. hi. —' See Giraldus Cambrensis
"Opera. " Edited by J. S. Brewer, vol. iii. Historia de Vita S. Davidis Menevensis
Archiepiscopi, Lect. v. , § 2, p. 391.
' Dr. Reeves has remarked, that his his- tory became interwoven with that of Mene- via, and his abode in Britain is not only re-
him, was the son of Fintan, son of Branen, son to Kenlachan, son to Aimonius, son of Nazarius, son to Fothad. He is said to have belonged to the same line as St. Coemgin and St Berchan. To St. Maidoc he gave the site and lands for Ardladhran
church, in the territory of Hy-Kinselach. See n. 20, to the life of St. Maidoc
7 The and so
people territory distinguished
derive denomination from Eanna Ccinnsea- lach, who was the fourth in line from Ca- thaeir Mor, Monarch of Ireland, or accord- ing to another account, third in descent. In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters" Cathaeir Mor reigned from a. d. 120 to 123, when he was slain by the cele- brated monarch Conn of the Hundred Battles. See vol. i. , pp. 102, 103. His descendant Eanna or Enna Ceinnsealach flourished during the reign of Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin, King of Ireland, a. d. 358 to 365. See ibid.
