'* It is entitled, "Les Vies des Saints De Bretagne et des Per- sonnes d'une
eminente
picte qui ont
35 Edited by Rev.
35 Edited by Rev.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
13
known, in connexion with a ruined churoh, and a well-preserved round tower. ^+ Afterwards, Muiredach besought the priests in charge of Lis Cail- lain church,^5 to grant the same favour, but he was again denied the privilege sought. This refusal sorely grieved him, and he retired from this place with an aching heart, when suddenly fire was seen to descend from Heaven, while, in his presence and in that of his companions, the church was entirely con- smned. It was never afterwards restored, to that time, when St. Kellach's Liie had been written. Another remarkable miracle followed close on the foregoing incident. The crowd of noble mourners stood around the coffin, not yet resolved what to do. Two stags then appeared, and drew his body to its last resting-place ;'^ nor was there a mortal to guide them. The funeral cortege followed the direction they took, and the mourners were even consoled, because of this extraordinary manifestation by Divine Providence. At length, the deer drawing the coffin, to which they had been harnessed,stoppedbeforethedoorofacertainoratory. Then,suddenlyrang out the church bell of its own accord, as if to welcome there the sacred re- mains. These were deposited in Eiscreach church, '7 with becoming solemnity, psalms,canticlesandsacredritesbeingemployed. Angelsingreatnumbers were seen above the grave, and the people of that place felt greatly rejoiced, to have such a precious deposit committed to them. Then is furnished a sequel, to the foregoing beautiful legend. The stags, when unyoked from the saint's coffin, would not stir from the place ; but, like beasts of burden, they became domesticated, and they served the inhabitants while ploughing, and during other rustic operations. Each evening, when loosed from the yoke, they sought holy Kellach's grave, and licked it with token of affection. Thus, did those mute animals teach the people there to venerate the saint, and to pay constant honours to his memory. '^
While standing over those mangled remains, as they were con- signed to the tomb, Cucoingelt's outraged feelings found vent, in a vow of vengeance, against the perpetrators of this barbarous murder. He is related, to have chanted a dirge, or caoin, over the body of Ceal- lach,asitwasloweredintothegrave. '9 Cugoingeltthenputintrainofaction his designs for revenge, and in a manner, as singularly conceived, as it was fatal and effective in execution. Time was required, for the maturing of his object ; and, then, having assembled about three hundred of his retainers and relatives, this chief retired with them into Hy- Many territory, where helivedwith
J.
,
p. 426.
14 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
that armed band of followers, during one year. He afterwards spent some time in Meath, where he married Aife, daughter to Blathniac,='° King of Ire- land. But, at length, he returned to Tyrawly. "' Having procured the friendly assistance of a swine-herd, to whom he discovered his intention this man entered warmly into his plot, and procured its successful accomplish- ment. The prince, having disguised himself as a swine-herd, was admitted to the fort of Dun-Fine, and as a companion of that menial. Cuct»ingelt had previously posted his armed bands, in the neighbourhood of Dun-Fine castle, that they might be ready to surprise it, wiien a signal should be given. During a banquet, Cellach's murderers, with their guests and vassals, became stupidly intoxicated ; and, this being an opportunity the prince so c'-gerly desired, he despatched his friend the swine-herd, to give notice to his men, that their timeforactionhadarrived. Immediately,theyrushedforwardandsurprised the castle. Having slain its guards and vassals, they spa ed the guests. The four murderers of holy Bishop Cellach were seized, and bound with chains
; while the guests, who were made aware of those circuristances, and the dis- guise assumed by Cucoingelt, felt rather pleased than otherwise, at the success of his plot. They even drank to the avenger's fortunes. On the day follow- ing, the murderers were brought in chains, to a place r. alled Durlus Muaidhe,^^ and across Lee Durluis. -^ until they arrived at Ardnarea,*^ or Ardnaree, on the River Moy. ^5 Here, they were executed, ir a manner characterizing Cucoingelt's barbarity, even allowing for the di-e provocation he had re- ceived. ^^ One account has it, that the assassins were torn to pieces, by wild
horses ;^7 while, according to others, they were tianged. ^^ The Hill of Ard na Riagh is in the parish of Kilmore Moy, -md barony of Tirawly, a short distance to the south of Ballina. It is a rem^irkable cromlech, supported by three pillar-stones, and fixed as level as a h'^rizontal dial. '? Situated on a hill to the west side of the River Moy, and nearly opposite to Ard-na-Ree, is shown Ard-na-Maol, or the height or hill of the Afaols, i. e. , where the four youths, whose names began with the wcrd Maol, were interred. 3° The monu- ment raised over them is yet in existence. Afterwards, Cucoingelt received the submission of the Tir Fiachrach and Tir Amhalgaidh tribes, with hos- tages ; and, he banished Guaire to Me southern part of the province. Here,
of eight years. See Dr. O'Dono'an's called the Muaidh, and it was from them the " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. -•, pp. hill over the Muaidh was called Ard na
Kiogh ; . ontl, Ard na Maol is the name of ^' There are five quatrains, addressed by the hill on the other side of the stream,
276, 277.
Aife to her husband Cvigoini^eh, vhen he was about pioceeding to L'onnaug'it, to re- venge the death of his brothc Celhich. These are to be found, in the published "Leabhar Breac," p. 275, col. ! '. , b'le 44.
" This place has not been id^ntilled.
^3 This place has not been ir'entititd.
"* See Harri>' Ware, vol. i. " Bishops of
Killala," p. 650.
*5This village is but a su'mrb of Ballina,
on the east side of the Rive- Moy. It is in the barony of Tireragh, an! shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Town'^nd M. ips for the County of Sligo," sheet 2)-
=' See Major Wood-Mirtin's "History of Sligo," &c. , buokii. , ci>'P- i^'-. P- U^-
'^ There are three qu:'rains, on the fate of those, who murdered St. Cellach, in the "Leabhar Breac. " p. 276, col. i. , line 59.
"^ " At the river c* Sal Srotha Dert,' (an ancient name of th( Kiver Moy), which is
where they were interred. "—John O Dono- van's translation of " Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy Fiachrach. " p. 35.
'' ''It is now po[niIariy called the Table of the Giants by the natives when speaking English, and C/och an togbhdla, i. e. , the raised stone, in Irish. This is the only Crom- lech in Ireland, which can be satisfactorily connected with history. In the Dinnsean- chus this moMument is called Leaf^ht na Afaol, and said to occupy a loftv situation, which coupled with the description of its situation on the other side of the Moy, op]io- site Ard na riagh, leaves no doubt of its identity. " Ibid. , pp. 34, 35, note x.
3° For a more circumstantial account of the execution and interment of the four Maols, the reader is leferrcd to the Diii- seanchus, in the Book of Lecan, at fol. 246.
*' It would seem, however, that at some
;
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
15
he drove the usurper, within the territories of Tir Fiachrach Aidhne and, his ;
previous extent of sway over Connaught was now confined, to a very small districtofthatprovince. 3' Thuswasafoulmurderavenged,byaretribution, barbarousandrevolting,itistrue yet,whoshallsay,thesufferersinthislife
;
had atoned for a deep crime committed against God's holy law ?
In the DunkeUl Litany 3^ occurs the name of a Bishop Kellach ;33 but, it does not follow, that he was identical with the present holy man, so named and distinguished in ecclesiastical rank. 34 In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^5 at the ist of May. we find the entry of Celhnn h Fiachrach
this also very nearly corresponds, with what is given in the Franciscan copy,36 at the Kalends of May. On this day was celebrated the festival of Ceallan Ua Fiachrach, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. 37
In the foregoing tragic and afflicting narrative of St. Ceallach's Life, we have several useful lessons presented. In the first phce, his own inconstancy of resolution to persevere in the religious state, on which he had entered, and his disobedience, marked with the denunciation of his holy master, St. Kieran; next, the fatal suspicions excited, jealousy and envy creating the plot laid to repress his apprehended worldly ambition ; then, his death resolved on, and attended with circumstances of such atrocity and perfidy, although the holy man was not unprepared, for his departure from life. Again, it may be seen, that when murder has been perpetrated, and with imagined secrecy, im- punity seldom attends the murderer, detested by his fellowmen ; discovery of the deed and the perpetrators is usually followed by condign punishment while, worldly interest or satisfaction soon ceases to hold out advantages, for
the wretched miscreant. Vengeance is the Lord's, and he will repay—fre- quently in this life, but assuredly in the next, where grievous crimes unre- pented of are never to be expiated, for the tortures of the damned shall there last, for ever and ever.
ARTICLE II. —ST. BRIEUC, OR BRIOC, FIRST BISHOP AND PATRON OF THE DIOCESE OF BRIEUX, FRANCE.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTROnuCTION—VARIOUS ACCOUNTS OF ST. BRIOC—HIS BIRTHPLACE AND PARENTAGE —INSTRUCTED BY ST. GERMANUS—HIS EARLY LABOURS AMONG THE PEOPLE OF HIS OWN COUNTRY—HE PASSES OVER TO ARMORICA.
THE great missionary saints of the early Church, with sublime heroism, pre- paredthemselvestoaccomplishtheregenerationofhumansociety. The lowest species of servility springs from superstition, and from being subject to
time subsequent, Cucoingelt went to the Cucoingelt, bv Guaire, son of Colman, and house of Guaire, while there are three qua- his emissaries. See the published " Leabhar trains extant, and supposed to have been Breac," at p. 276, col. ii. , lines 30, 38, spoken by the former, in consequence of a
vision he had, that he should there be mur- dered. Emissaries of Guaire Aidne are said to have assassinated the two sons of Eogan Bel, King of Connaught, Cellach and Cu- coingelt ; and fourteen quatrains are preser- ved on the subsequent desertion of Eogan Bel's residence. Again, there are twelve quatrains, on the murder of Cellach and
67.
32 According to William F. Skene, he was
probably that Bishop Kellach, who emanci- pated the church on the Collis Credulitatis at Scone, in the reign of Constantine III. See "Chronicle of the Picts and Scots," p. 9.
33 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints, " p. 361.
;
and,
;
i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
persons' opinions, when, at the same time,reason persuades us, that theseare en- tirelyfalse. Christianityhasalwaysinfusedanoblerspiritintoitsconvertsfrom paganism ; and, it has often made them great reformers of corrupt practices. Among the benefactors of a country, glorious and renowned on the Continent of Europe, the present holy man is distinguished ; while his fame and influ- ence have impressed their abiding record, in a part of France, where religion has been cherished, as essential for the spiritual and prosperous life of her people.
From various sources are we obliged to glean particulars of this biogra- phy. An ancient Breviary contains the Legend of St. Brioc's life. ' We find, also, that an old Memorial of St. Brioc^ is cited, by Archbishop Ussher. The Acts of St. Brieuc, or Brioc, have been edited in French, by Albert le Grand, in his Lives of the Saints belonginL^to Armoric Britain. 3 The Life of this saint has been Avritten, also in French,* by L. G. de la Devison, a canon of Brieux church. 5 This iDook was published in the year 1637,^ and it is held in high esteem. 7 The BoUandists have also published this saint's Acts, at the xst of May ; and, these consist of his Life, taken from his Proper Office for the church of St. Brioc, in nine para'::,raphs, with annotations. ^ There are three additional paragraphs, containing an account of the Translation of this saint's
relics, the whole being preceded by seven paragraphs, forming an introduc- tory Dissertation. 9 These Acts are edited by Father Godefrid Henschenn. In Baillet's work,'° at the ist of May, we have a Life of St. Brieu, or Briocus. In the First Volume of I^obineau's Saints of Bretagne," we find an account of St. Brieuc, the first Bishop and Patron of Brieux. " The Rev. Alban Butler,'3 and Godescard,''* have notices regarding him. Lately, Lobineau's Lives of the Saints of Bretagne, has been edited, 's with many corrections and additions, by L'Abbe Tresvaux, Canon, Vicar-General and Official of Paris. '^
3* Dempster has a St. Celiach who is
venerated, according to him, at the 14th of
February ; but. from the account, he differs
from the pre. -;ent venerable bishop. See in one volume, iSm. o, published at Saint
•' llistoria Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lil). iii. , num. 272, pp. 160, 161.
Brieuc, a. d. 1771.
7 See Lobineau's " Vies des Saints de Bre-
tagne," par ^L L'Abbe Tresvaux, tome i,,
_
* This is printed, from an ancient Manu- script, found in the public Library at Rotho- mag. No. 70.
9 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. . Mail i. De Sancto Brioco, Episcopo in Britannia Armorica, pp. 91 to 94.
'° See " Les Vies des Saints," tome ii. , pp. 24, 25.
" It was pubhshed, at Rennes, A. D. 1724, in folio. " Ce livre a d'exactitude, mais il manque d'onction. "—Feller's Dictionnaire Ilisiorique. Art. Lobineau.
"See "LTIistoire des Saints de Bre- tagne," tome i. , at May 1st, pp. 70 to 87. His period is referred to A. n. 502.
'3 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May i.
'* See " Les Vies des Peres et des Mar- tyrs," at the 1st of May.
'5 This work was printed at Paris, in five volumes, A. D. 1836, 8vo.
'* It is entitled, "Les Vies des Saints De Bretagne et des Per- sonnes d'une eminente picte qui ont
35 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii.
3* It is written there CellAin Vi pAcVi- p. 70.
|\ACV|.
37 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves. See
Appendix to the Introduction, n. xlvii. , and
pp. 116, 117. —Chapter —
Article ii. i. ' The Bol-
landists and Baillet had no knowledge con- cerning this legend, which was discovered at a time later than that at which they wrote. Hence, they have not been able to speak about our saint, in an exact manner ; and they should not be too scrupulously fol- lowed, in all their statements regarding St. Brieuc.
' See, also, John Leland's Itinerary, vol.
iii. , p. 15.
3 This work is intituled, " De Vitis Sanc-
torum Britannia Armoricoe. "
* It is intituled : " Vie et Miracles de
Saint Brieuc et de Sunt Cjuillaume," (en- semble la Translation de Rellques dudit Saint Brieuc et la canonization dudit Saint Guillaume, &c. ) Tliis little work was pub- lished in one volume, i2mo. at Saint Brieuc.
5 We regret our not being able to procure
a copy of his Life.
* See " Les Annales Briochines," par
I'Abbe Ruffelct, chanoine de la cathedrale,
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 17
The Life of St. Brioc/^ is said to have been drawn, from the original Legend of this saint, discovered in part, by Father Lobineau ; as also, from the ancient Breviary, containing a Legend of St. Brioc's Life. The Petits Bol- landistes have their notices regarding him. '^ Li nearly all the great French Biographical Dictionaries, the name of St. Brieux, Brioc, or Brieuc, is to be found. Thus, in the early part of this century, it was produced in a volumin- ous work. ^9 The Life of St. Brieux also appears, in the " Biographie Univer- selle, Ancienne et Moderne,=° edited by M. Michaud ; in the Dictionnaire Universel, Historique, Critique et Bibliographique ;^' as likewise, in the "Nou- velle Biographie Generale,"^^ the most extended of such works. Also, St. Briocus ''3 is noticed, in a recent English collection of Biographies, very care- fully compiled,'''^ as likewise, in the Rev. S. Baring-Gould's work. ^s Monta- lembert has classed this holy man, with the seven chief missionary bishops of Bretagne ;^^ and, the same writer has notices of S:. Brieux's works, after he had chosen that country for his monastic establishment. ^7
This saint appears to have been variously named, Broc, Brieuc, Brio- magleorVriomacle,andLatinizedasBriocus,BriociusandBriomaclus. Inthe Breton dialect, he is called Briec. There are several authors, who make him a native of Ireland. ^^ A certain writer, while treating this Life, calls St. Briocus a Briton : it is admitted, he states, that Briton apparently sometimes included Hibernia or Ireland. ^9 Among those, who make St. Briea a native of Ireland, are William Camden,3° and Archbishop Ussher. 3' Hennschenius
vecu dans cette Province," par Dom. Guy Alexis Lobineau, Pretre, religieux Benedic- Un de la congregation de Saint Maur, Nou- velle edition, revue coirigee et considera- blement augmentee, &c. , &c.
'^ See tome i. , pp. 70 to 87 of this edi- tion.
'^ See "Vies des Saints," &c. , tome v. , Premier Jour de Mai, pp. 194 to 196.
'9 See " Biographie Universelle, Ancienne et Moderne, ou Histoire, par ordre Alpha- betique, de la Vie publique et privee de tous les Hommes qui se sont fait remarquer par leurs ecrits, leurs actions, leurs talents, leurs vertus ou leurs crimes, ouvrage entierement neuf, redige par une societe des gens de lettres et de savants," tome v. , pp. 597, 598. This, the first edition, was issued at Paris, A. D. 181 1, et seq. , 8vo.
^° See " Biographie Universelle Ancienne et Moderne ou Histoire, par ordre Alphabe- tique, de la Vie publique et privee de tous les Plommes qui se sont fait remarquer par leurs ecrits, leurs actions, leur talents, leurs vertus ou leurs crimes. " Nouvelle Edition, publiee sous la direction de M. Michaud revue, corrigee, et considerablement aug- mentee d'Articles omis ou nouveaux : ouv- rage redige par une Societe de gens de Lettres et de Savants. Paris, 1843, et seq. , Imp. 4to.
'^ Neuvieme Edition, d'apres la Huitieme Edition publiee par MM. Chaudon et De- landine, tomeiii. , Art. Brieuc (saint), p. 292, Paris, 8vo.
" Edited by M. le Dr. Hoefer, tome vii. . Art. Brieuc, Brioc or Briock (saint), col. 390» 391.
^3 See "Dictionary of Christian Biogra- phy, Literature, Sects and Doctrines, being a continuation of the Dictionary of the Bible," edited by William Smith, D. C. L. , LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. , &c. , vol. i. , p. 338.
^^ It was published in London, a. d. 1877, et seq. , in Roy. 8vo shape.
*5 See " Lives ofthe Saints," vol. v. , May I, pp. 20, 21.
^'^ See"LesMoinesd'Occident,"tomeii. , liv. vii. , chap, iv. , p. 314.
^^ See ibid. , liv. viii. , chap. iii. , p. 433.
^^ See "Dictionnaire Universel, Histori- que, Critique et Bibliographique," tome iii. , where it is entered, at Art. Brieuc (saint). There we read, "Briocus natif d'Irlande," &c. , p. 292.
=9 See the Tractarian " Lives of the Eng- lish Saints," vol. ix. , chap, x. , p. 96.
3° See " Britannia,i' in that part which treats of Hibernia, and especially on the county of Cork, p. 739.
3' After giving au extract from Saussaius' Galilean Martyrology, referring to our saint, Ussher adds : " Hffic Saussaius de S. Brioco urbis Briocensis (vulgo S. Brieu) ab ejus nomine nuncupatse in Britannia Armorica primo Episcopo '• quern alii non Bi-iianniam (id enim Saussaius voluit quum patria Ang- lumfmsse scripsit) sed Hibo-num, e territorio
;
neque German! Aiitissiodorensis sed Germani Parisieiisis, in schola ipsius Episcopali, discipulum fuisse tradiilerunt : qua in re, quid fuerit causae cur ab aliorum sententia discesserit, in Commen- tariis quos pol—licetur Apodictitis ut ostendat expectamus. " " Btitannicarum Ecclesiarum
Corcagiensi oriundum ;
i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
says,3' that " Corriticiana gens " is incorrectly located, by some writers, in Ire- land ; while, it should be taken for theCeretici, orCoretani,ofBritain. 33 Certain writers have alleged, this country of the Coriticians was identical with the pre- sent county of Cork, in Ireland. There, at the present time, is the second city of Ireland, near a spacious harbour. 34 Some state, that St. Brieuc had perhaps a master named St. Gormain, as his instructor, who might have been incor- rectly called St. Germain. It is known, that there were many saints in Ireland bearing the former name. ^s Where the country, thus denominated Corititaina, was situated, has occasioned no little difference of opinion. 3^ Many writers
General View of the City of Cork.
state, that St. Brieuc was a native of insular Britain. 37 According to some ac- counts, the "Cereticagens3^ had been located, in that particularpartof it,which was opposite to the Irish coast, and which, having once received the Chris-
Antiquitates," cap. xi. , pp. 184, 185.
3' See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii
i. , n. (a), p. 94.
33 See Vita ex officio proprio Ecclesiae S.
Brioci.
3* The accompanying illustration of the
City of Cork is taken from a photograph, and it has been drawn by William F. Wakc- nian, on the wood, which was engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
35 The Abbe Tresvaux would not under-
take to pronounce definitively on this matter,
only so far as Ireland was concerned. He Cornwall. " "Lives of the Fathers, Mar-
supposed our Island as having no claim whatever to the birth of St. Brieuc.
3^ L'Abb^ Tresvaux remarks, that while
tyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May I.
39 Nennius, speaking of the Island of Bri-
it has been universally acknowledged, that this saint was a native of the " Coriticiana regio," the position of such territory is not known with certainty.
37 See M. le Dr. Hoefer's " Nouvelle Bio- graphic Generale," tomevii. , col. 390.
3^ The Rev. Alban Butler assigns different
opinions, respecting the province of Coriti-
ciana, " which some take for Cerctica, now
Cardigansliiie ; others for the Coretans,
situated on the Trent, now in Staffordshire
and Derbyshire others will have it to be —;
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
19
tian faith, always retained it, even when their fellow-countrymen, the Britons,39 were oppressed by the Saxon, and driven for refuge, towards inaccessible and remotepartsofWales. AccordingtoAndrewSaussayj^oSt. Briocissaidto have been an Englishman by birth—for he places that province of the Cori- ticiana in England—but, for this remark, he has been corrected by Dean Cressy, who notes, "he should have said a Brittain. "^' Henschennius seems to entertain an opinion, that this saint was a native of that part of England, known as Coretana. The same writer also remarks, that the Coretani were known to have been a people of the Britons, subject to the Romans, and to have held that part, in which the large Mercian kingdom extended, from ocean to the bounds of the Ceretici. At the year of Christ 586, we read in Matthew of Westminster, that the Archbishops, Theonus of London and Tha- diocus of York, seeing all the churches hitherto subject to their jurisdiction destroyed, fled into Cambria, of which Ceretica forraed a part. ^" Many of the clergyandpeopleimitatedtheirexample; while,thesearesupposedtohave beensubjectsofThadiocus,knownasCoretaniorCoritani. Hence,thebirth and age ofSt. Brioc are thought to bereferable to that time. ^3 The "Coriticiana regio"'*^ is said to be the country of theCeretes,to the west of ancient Cambria, or modern Wales, and it was opposite the coast of Ireland, according to some writers. In Latin, this tract was named " Ceretica " or the " Cereticana regio," being shown at present as Cardigan-shire. Such an opinion, so far as the birth of this saint is concerned, seems to rest for a foundation, on the similarity of these names, Coriticiana, and Ceretica, or Cereticana, as also on the circumstance, that Brioc had been the son of a Breton nobleman, the termBretonusuallyreferringtotheinhabitantsofWales. Othersderivethe origin of our saint from that country, belonging to the ancient Coritans or Coritaves, who were situated on the River Trent, and who inhabited the pre-
sent counties of Stafford and Derby. ts Having found in the geographer Ptolemy's works a Corinium, near the Severn, and about the source of the Thames, where the present county ofGloucester lies, and as there appears to be no great difference between the Coriticiana regio and the Coriniana regio^ M. Abbe Tresvaux is inclined to believe, this might be the part of the country, where St. Brieuc was born. Besides, this situation was sufficiently near to Cambria ; whence, it would seem, were derived those parents, of whom St. Brieux was bonL-^^ There are other writers, such as le P. Albert and Bertrand
tain, says, that its inhabitants consist of four different people, the Scots, the Picts, the Saxons, and the Ancient Britons. See the curious version in Irish of the Historia Bri- tonum, or History of the Britons, which has for its title LeAbhA^ 'bt^eAchnAcli Amifo pf, for an account of these early colonists of our Islands.
known, in connexion with a ruined churoh, and a well-preserved round tower. ^+ Afterwards, Muiredach besought the priests in charge of Lis Cail- lain church,^5 to grant the same favour, but he was again denied the privilege sought. This refusal sorely grieved him, and he retired from this place with an aching heart, when suddenly fire was seen to descend from Heaven, while, in his presence and in that of his companions, the church was entirely con- smned. It was never afterwards restored, to that time, when St. Kellach's Liie had been written. Another remarkable miracle followed close on the foregoing incident. The crowd of noble mourners stood around the coffin, not yet resolved what to do. Two stags then appeared, and drew his body to its last resting-place ;'^ nor was there a mortal to guide them. The funeral cortege followed the direction they took, and the mourners were even consoled, because of this extraordinary manifestation by Divine Providence. At length, the deer drawing the coffin, to which they had been harnessed,stoppedbeforethedoorofacertainoratory. Then,suddenlyrang out the church bell of its own accord, as if to welcome there the sacred re- mains. These were deposited in Eiscreach church, '7 with becoming solemnity, psalms,canticlesandsacredritesbeingemployed. Angelsingreatnumbers were seen above the grave, and the people of that place felt greatly rejoiced, to have such a precious deposit committed to them. Then is furnished a sequel, to the foregoing beautiful legend. The stags, when unyoked from the saint's coffin, would not stir from the place ; but, like beasts of burden, they became domesticated, and they served the inhabitants while ploughing, and during other rustic operations. Each evening, when loosed from the yoke, they sought holy Kellach's grave, and licked it with token of affection. Thus, did those mute animals teach the people there to venerate the saint, and to pay constant honours to his memory. '^
While standing over those mangled remains, as they were con- signed to the tomb, Cucoingelt's outraged feelings found vent, in a vow of vengeance, against the perpetrators of this barbarous murder. He is related, to have chanted a dirge, or caoin, over the body of Ceal- lach,asitwasloweredintothegrave. '9 Cugoingeltthenputintrainofaction his designs for revenge, and in a manner, as singularly conceived, as it was fatal and effective in execution. Time was required, for the maturing of his object ; and, then, having assembled about three hundred of his retainers and relatives, this chief retired with them into Hy- Many territory, where helivedwith
J.
,
p. 426.
14 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
that armed band of followers, during one year. He afterwards spent some time in Meath, where he married Aife, daughter to Blathniac,='° King of Ire- land. But, at length, he returned to Tyrawly. "' Having procured the friendly assistance of a swine-herd, to whom he discovered his intention this man entered warmly into his plot, and procured its successful accomplish- ment. The prince, having disguised himself as a swine-herd, was admitted to the fort of Dun-Fine, and as a companion of that menial. Cuct»ingelt had previously posted his armed bands, in the neighbourhood of Dun-Fine castle, that they might be ready to surprise it, wiien a signal should be given. During a banquet, Cellach's murderers, with their guests and vassals, became stupidly intoxicated ; and, this being an opportunity the prince so c'-gerly desired, he despatched his friend the swine-herd, to give notice to his men, that their timeforactionhadarrived. Immediately,theyrushedforwardandsurprised the castle. Having slain its guards and vassals, they spa ed the guests. The four murderers of holy Bishop Cellach were seized, and bound with chains
; while the guests, who were made aware of those circuristances, and the dis- guise assumed by Cucoingelt, felt rather pleased than otherwise, at the success of his plot. They even drank to the avenger's fortunes. On the day follow- ing, the murderers were brought in chains, to a place r. alled Durlus Muaidhe,^^ and across Lee Durluis. -^ until they arrived at Ardnarea,*^ or Ardnaree, on the River Moy. ^5 Here, they were executed, ir a manner characterizing Cucoingelt's barbarity, even allowing for the di-e provocation he had re- ceived. ^^ One account has it, that the assassins were torn to pieces, by wild
horses ;^7 while, according to others, they were tianged. ^^ The Hill of Ard na Riagh is in the parish of Kilmore Moy, -md barony of Tirawly, a short distance to the south of Ballina. It is a rem^irkable cromlech, supported by three pillar-stones, and fixed as level as a h'^rizontal dial. '? Situated on a hill to the west side of the River Moy, and nearly opposite to Ard-na-Ree, is shown Ard-na-Maol, or the height or hill of the Afaols, i. e. , where the four youths, whose names began with the wcrd Maol, were interred. 3° The monu- ment raised over them is yet in existence. Afterwards, Cucoingelt received the submission of the Tir Fiachrach and Tir Amhalgaidh tribes, with hos- tages ; and, he banished Guaire to Me southern part of the province. Here,
of eight years. See Dr. O'Dono'an's called the Muaidh, and it was from them the " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. -•, pp. hill over the Muaidh was called Ard na
Kiogh ; . ontl, Ard na Maol is the name of ^' There are five quatrains, addressed by the hill on the other side of the stream,
276, 277.
Aife to her husband Cvigoini^eh, vhen he was about pioceeding to L'onnaug'it, to re- venge the death of his brothc Celhich. These are to be found, in the published "Leabhar Breac," p. 275, col. ! '. , b'le 44.
" This place has not been id^ntilled.
^3 This place has not been ir'entititd.
"* See Harri>' Ware, vol. i. " Bishops of
Killala," p. 650.
*5This village is but a su'mrb of Ballina,
on the east side of the Rive- Moy. It is in the barony of Tireragh, an! shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Town'^nd M. ips for the County of Sligo," sheet 2)-
=' See Major Wood-Mirtin's "History of Sligo," &c. , buokii. , ci>'P- i^'-. P- U^-
'^ There are three qu:'rains, on the fate of those, who murdered St. Cellach, in the "Leabhar Breac. " p. 276, col. i. , line 59.
"^ " At the river c* Sal Srotha Dert,' (an ancient name of th( Kiver Moy), which is
where they were interred. "—John O Dono- van's translation of " Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy Fiachrach. " p. 35.
'' ''It is now po[niIariy called the Table of the Giants by the natives when speaking English, and C/och an togbhdla, i. e. , the raised stone, in Irish. This is the only Crom- lech in Ireland, which can be satisfactorily connected with history. In the Dinnsean- chus this moMument is called Leaf^ht na Afaol, and said to occupy a loftv situation, which coupled with the description of its situation on the other side of the Moy, op]io- site Ard na riagh, leaves no doubt of its identity. " Ibid. , pp. 34, 35, note x.
3° For a more circumstantial account of the execution and interment of the four Maols, the reader is leferrcd to the Diii- seanchus, in the Book of Lecan, at fol. 246.
*' It would seem, however, that at some
;
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
15
he drove the usurper, within the territories of Tir Fiachrach Aidhne and, his ;
previous extent of sway over Connaught was now confined, to a very small districtofthatprovince. 3' Thuswasafoulmurderavenged,byaretribution, barbarousandrevolting,itistrue yet,whoshallsay,thesufferersinthislife
;
had atoned for a deep crime committed against God's holy law ?
In the DunkeUl Litany 3^ occurs the name of a Bishop Kellach ;33 but, it does not follow, that he was identical with the present holy man, so named and distinguished in ecclesiastical rank. 34 In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^5 at the ist of May. we find the entry of Celhnn h Fiachrach
this also very nearly corresponds, with what is given in the Franciscan copy,36 at the Kalends of May. On this day was celebrated the festival of Ceallan Ua Fiachrach, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. 37
In the foregoing tragic and afflicting narrative of St. Ceallach's Life, we have several useful lessons presented. In the first phce, his own inconstancy of resolution to persevere in the religious state, on which he had entered, and his disobedience, marked with the denunciation of his holy master, St. Kieran; next, the fatal suspicions excited, jealousy and envy creating the plot laid to repress his apprehended worldly ambition ; then, his death resolved on, and attended with circumstances of such atrocity and perfidy, although the holy man was not unprepared, for his departure from life. Again, it may be seen, that when murder has been perpetrated, and with imagined secrecy, im- punity seldom attends the murderer, detested by his fellowmen ; discovery of the deed and the perpetrators is usually followed by condign punishment while, worldly interest or satisfaction soon ceases to hold out advantages, for
the wretched miscreant. Vengeance is the Lord's, and he will repay—fre- quently in this life, but assuredly in the next, where grievous crimes unre- pented of are never to be expiated, for the tortures of the damned shall there last, for ever and ever.
ARTICLE II. —ST. BRIEUC, OR BRIOC, FIRST BISHOP AND PATRON OF THE DIOCESE OF BRIEUX, FRANCE.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTROnuCTION—VARIOUS ACCOUNTS OF ST. BRIOC—HIS BIRTHPLACE AND PARENTAGE —INSTRUCTED BY ST. GERMANUS—HIS EARLY LABOURS AMONG THE PEOPLE OF HIS OWN COUNTRY—HE PASSES OVER TO ARMORICA.
THE great missionary saints of the early Church, with sublime heroism, pre- paredthemselvestoaccomplishtheregenerationofhumansociety. The lowest species of servility springs from superstition, and from being subject to
time subsequent, Cucoingelt went to the Cucoingelt, bv Guaire, son of Colman, and house of Guaire, while there are three qua- his emissaries. See the published " Leabhar trains extant, and supposed to have been Breac," at p. 276, col. ii. , lines 30, 38, spoken by the former, in consequence of a
vision he had, that he should there be mur- dered. Emissaries of Guaire Aidne are said to have assassinated the two sons of Eogan Bel, King of Connaught, Cellach and Cu- coingelt ; and fourteen quatrains are preser- ved on the subsequent desertion of Eogan Bel's residence. Again, there are twelve quatrains, on the murder of Cellach and
67.
32 According to William F. Skene, he was
probably that Bishop Kellach, who emanci- pated the church on the Collis Credulitatis at Scone, in the reign of Constantine III. See "Chronicle of the Picts and Scots," p. 9.
33 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints, " p. 361.
;
and,
;
i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
persons' opinions, when, at the same time,reason persuades us, that theseare en- tirelyfalse. Christianityhasalwaysinfusedanoblerspiritintoitsconvertsfrom paganism ; and, it has often made them great reformers of corrupt practices. Among the benefactors of a country, glorious and renowned on the Continent of Europe, the present holy man is distinguished ; while his fame and influ- ence have impressed their abiding record, in a part of France, where religion has been cherished, as essential for the spiritual and prosperous life of her people.
From various sources are we obliged to glean particulars of this biogra- phy. An ancient Breviary contains the Legend of St. Brioc's life. ' We find, also, that an old Memorial of St. Brioc^ is cited, by Archbishop Ussher. The Acts of St. Brieuc, or Brioc, have been edited in French, by Albert le Grand, in his Lives of the Saints belonginL^to Armoric Britain. 3 The Life of this saint has been Avritten, also in French,* by L. G. de la Devison, a canon of Brieux church. 5 This iDook was published in the year 1637,^ and it is held in high esteem. 7 The BoUandists have also published this saint's Acts, at the xst of May ; and, these consist of his Life, taken from his Proper Office for the church of St. Brioc, in nine para'::,raphs, with annotations. ^ There are three additional paragraphs, containing an account of the Translation of this saint's
relics, the whole being preceded by seven paragraphs, forming an introduc- tory Dissertation. 9 These Acts are edited by Father Godefrid Henschenn. In Baillet's work,'° at the ist of May, we have a Life of St. Brieu, or Briocus. In the First Volume of I^obineau's Saints of Bretagne," we find an account of St. Brieuc, the first Bishop and Patron of Brieux. " The Rev. Alban Butler,'3 and Godescard,''* have notices regarding him. Lately, Lobineau's Lives of the Saints of Bretagne, has been edited, 's with many corrections and additions, by L'Abbe Tresvaux, Canon, Vicar-General and Official of Paris. '^
3* Dempster has a St. Celiach who is
venerated, according to him, at the 14th of
February ; but. from the account, he differs
from the pre. -;ent venerable bishop. See in one volume, iSm. o, published at Saint
•' llistoria Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lil). iii. , num. 272, pp. 160, 161.
Brieuc, a. d. 1771.
7 See Lobineau's " Vies des Saints de Bre-
tagne," par ^L L'Abbe Tresvaux, tome i,,
_
* This is printed, from an ancient Manu- script, found in the public Library at Rotho- mag. No. 70.
9 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. . Mail i. De Sancto Brioco, Episcopo in Britannia Armorica, pp. 91 to 94.
'° See " Les Vies des Saints," tome ii. , pp. 24, 25.
" It was pubhshed, at Rennes, A. D. 1724, in folio. " Ce livre a d'exactitude, mais il manque d'onction. "—Feller's Dictionnaire Ilisiorique. Art. Lobineau.
"See "LTIistoire des Saints de Bre- tagne," tome i. , at May 1st, pp. 70 to 87. His period is referred to A. n. 502.
'3 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May i.
'* See " Les Vies des Peres et des Mar- tyrs," at the 1st of May.
'5 This work was printed at Paris, in five volumes, A. D. 1836, 8vo.
'* It is entitled, "Les Vies des Saints De Bretagne et des Per- sonnes d'une eminente picte qui ont
35 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii.
3* It is written there CellAin Vi pAcVi- p. 70.
|\ACV|.
37 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves. See
Appendix to the Introduction, n. xlvii. , and
pp. 116, 117. —Chapter —
Article ii. i. ' The Bol-
landists and Baillet had no knowledge con- cerning this legend, which was discovered at a time later than that at which they wrote. Hence, they have not been able to speak about our saint, in an exact manner ; and they should not be too scrupulously fol- lowed, in all their statements regarding St. Brieuc.
' See, also, John Leland's Itinerary, vol.
iii. , p. 15.
3 This work is intituled, " De Vitis Sanc-
torum Britannia Armoricoe. "
* It is intituled : " Vie et Miracles de
Saint Brieuc et de Sunt Cjuillaume," (en- semble la Translation de Rellques dudit Saint Brieuc et la canonization dudit Saint Guillaume, &c. ) Tliis little work was pub- lished in one volume, i2mo. at Saint Brieuc.
5 We regret our not being able to procure
a copy of his Life.
* See " Les Annales Briochines," par
I'Abbe Ruffelct, chanoine de la cathedrale,
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 17
The Life of St. Brioc/^ is said to have been drawn, from the original Legend of this saint, discovered in part, by Father Lobineau ; as also, from the ancient Breviary, containing a Legend of St. Brioc's Life. The Petits Bol- landistes have their notices regarding him. '^ Li nearly all the great French Biographical Dictionaries, the name of St. Brieux, Brioc, or Brieuc, is to be found. Thus, in the early part of this century, it was produced in a volumin- ous work. ^9 The Life of St. Brieux also appears, in the " Biographie Univer- selle, Ancienne et Moderne,=° edited by M. Michaud ; in the Dictionnaire Universel, Historique, Critique et Bibliographique ;^' as likewise, in the "Nou- velle Biographie Generale,"^^ the most extended of such works. Also, St. Briocus ''3 is noticed, in a recent English collection of Biographies, very care- fully compiled,'''^ as likewise, in the Rev. S. Baring-Gould's work. ^s Monta- lembert has classed this holy man, with the seven chief missionary bishops of Bretagne ;^^ and, the same writer has notices of S:. Brieux's works, after he had chosen that country for his monastic establishment. ^7
This saint appears to have been variously named, Broc, Brieuc, Brio- magleorVriomacle,andLatinizedasBriocus,BriociusandBriomaclus. Inthe Breton dialect, he is called Briec. There are several authors, who make him a native of Ireland. ^^ A certain writer, while treating this Life, calls St. Briocus a Briton : it is admitted, he states, that Briton apparently sometimes included Hibernia or Ireland. ^9 Among those, who make St. Briea a native of Ireland, are William Camden,3° and Archbishop Ussher. 3' Hennschenius
vecu dans cette Province," par Dom. Guy Alexis Lobineau, Pretre, religieux Benedic- Un de la congregation de Saint Maur, Nou- velle edition, revue coirigee et considera- blement augmentee, &c. , &c.
'^ See tome i. , pp. 70 to 87 of this edi- tion.
'^ See "Vies des Saints," &c. , tome v. , Premier Jour de Mai, pp. 194 to 196.
'9 See " Biographie Universelle, Ancienne et Moderne, ou Histoire, par ordre Alpha- betique, de la Vie publique et privee de tous les Hommes qui se sont fait remarquer par leurs ecrits, leurs actions, leurs talents, leurs vertus ou leurs crimes, ouvrage entierement neuf, redige par une societe des gens de lettres et de savants," tome v. , pp. 597, 598. This, the first edition, was issued at Paris, A. D. 181 1, et seq. , 8vo.
^° See " Biographie Universelle Ancienne et Moderne ou Histoire, par ordre Alphabe- tique, de la Vie publique et privee de tous les Plommes qui se sont fait remarquer par leurs ecrits, leurs actions, leur talents, leurs vertus ou leurs crimes. " Nouvelle Edition, publiee sous la direction de M. Michaud revue, corrigee, et considerablement aug- mentee d'Articles omis ou nouveaux : ouv- rage redige par une Societe de gens de Lettres et de Savants. Paris, 1843, et seq. , Imp. 4to.
'^ Neuvieme Edition, d'apres la Huitieme Edition publiee par MM. Chaudon et De- landine, tomeiii. , Art. Brieuc (saint), p. 292, Paris, 8vo.
" Edited by M. le Dr. Hoefer, tome vii. . Art. Brieuc, Brioc or Briock (saint), col. 390» 391.
^3 See "Dictionary of Christian Biogra- phy, Literature, Sects and Doctrines, being a continuation of the Dictionary of the Bible," edited by William Smith, D. C. L. , LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. , &c. , vol. i. , p. 338.
^^ It was published in London, a. d. 1877, et seq. , in Roy. 8vo shape.
*5 See " Lives ofthe Saints," vol. v. , May I, pp. 20, 21.
^'^ See"LesMoinesd'Occident,"tomeii. , liv. vii. , chap, iv. , p. 314.
^^ See ibid. , liv. viii. , chap. iii. , p. 433.
^^ See "Dictionnaire Universel, Histori- que, Critique et Bibliographique," tome iii. , where it is entered, at Art. Brieuc (saint). There we read, "Briocus natif d'Irlande," &c. , p. 292.
=9 See the Tractarian " Lives of the Eng- lish Saints," vol. ix. , chap, x. , p. 96.
3° See " Britannia,i' in that part which treats of Hibernia, and especially on the county of Cork, p. 739.
3' After giving au extract from Saussaius' Galilean Martyrology, referring to our saint, Ussher adds : " Hffic Saussaius de S. Brioco urbis Briocensis (vulgo S. Brieu) ab ejus nomine nuncupatse in Britannia Armorica primo Episcopo '• quern alii non Bi-iianniam (id enim Saussaius voluit quum patria Ang- lumfmsse scripsit) sed Hibo-num, e territorio
;
neque German! Aiitissiodorensis sed Germani Parisieiisis, in schola ipsius Episcopali, discipulum fuisse tradiilerunt : qua in re, quid fuerit causae cur ab aliorum sententia discesserit, in Commen- tariis quos pol—licetur Apodictitis ut ostendat expectamus. " " Btitannicarum Ecclesiarum
Corcagiensi oriundum ;
i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
says,3' that " Corriticiana gens " is incorrectly located, by some writers, in Ire- land ; while, it should be taken for theCeretici, orCoretani,ofBritain. 33 Certain writers have alleged, this country of the Coriticians was identical with the pre- sent county of Cork, in Ireland. There, at the present time, is the second city of Ireland, near a spacious harbour. 34 Some state, that St. Brieuc had perhaps a master named St. Gormain, as his instructor, who might have been incor- rectly called St. Germain. It is known, that there were many saints in Ireland bearing the former name. ^s Where the country, thus denominated Corititaina, was situated, has occasioned no little difference of opinion. 3^ Many writers
General View of the City of Cork.
state, that St. Brieuc was a native of insular Britain. 37 According to some ac- counts, the "Cereticagens3^ had been located, in that particularpartof it,which was opposite to the Irish coast, and which, having once received the Chris-
Antiquitates," cap. xi. , pp. 184, 185.
3' See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii
i. , n. (a), p. 94.
33 See Vita ex officio proprio Ecclesiae S.
Brioci.
3* The accompanying illustration of the
City of Cork is taken from a photograph, and it has been drawn by William F. Wakc- nian, on the wood, which was engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
35 The Abbe Tresvaux would not under-
take to pronounce definitively on this matter,
only so far as Ireland was concerned. He Cornwall. " "Lives of the Fathers, Mar-
supposed our Island as having no claim whatever to the birth of St. Brieuc.
3^ L'Abb^ Tresvaux remarks, that while
tyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May I.
39 Nennius, speaking of the Island of Bri-
it has been universally acknowledged, that this saint was a native of the " Coriticiana regio," the position of such territory is not known with certainty.
37 See M. le Dr. Hoefer's " Nouvelle Bio- graphic Generale," tomevii. , col. 390.
3^ The Rev. Alban Butler assigns different
opinions, respecting the province of Coriti-
ciana, " which some take for Cerctica, now
Cardigansliiie ; others for the Coretans,
situated on the Trent, now in Staffordshire
and Derbyshire others will have it to be —;
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
19
tian faith, always retained it, even when their fellow-countrymen, the Britons,39 were oppressed by the Saxon, and driven for refuge, towards inaccessible and remotepartsofWales. AccordingtoAndrewSaussayj^oSt. Briocissaidto have been an Englishman by birth—for he places that province of the Cori- ticiana in England—but, for this remark, he has been corrected by Dean Cressy, who notes, "he should have said a Brittain. "^' Henschennius seems to entertain an opinion, that this saint was a native of that part of England, known as Coretana. The same writer also remarks, that the Coretani were known to have been a people of the Britons, subject to the Romans, and to have held that part, in which the large Mercian kingdom extended, from ocean to the bounds of the Ceretici. At the year of Christ 586, we read in Matthew of Westminster, that the Archbishops, Theonus of London and Tha- diocus of York, seeing all the churches hitherto subject to their jurisdiction destroyed, fled into Cambria, of which Ceretica forraed a part. ^" Many of the clergyandpeopleimitatedtheirexample; while,thesearesupposedtohave beensubjectsofThadiocus,knownasCoretaniorCoritani. Hence,thebirth and age ofSt. Brioc are thought to bereferable to that time. ^3 The "Coriticiana regio"'*^ is said to be the country of theCeretes,to the west of ancient Cambria, or modern Wales, and it was opposite the coast of Ireland, according to some writers. In Latin, this tract was named " Ceretica " or the " Cereticana regio," being shown at present as Cardigan-shire. Such an opinion, so far as the birth of this saint is concerned, seems to rest for a foundation, on the similarity of these names, Coriticiana, and Ceretica, or Cereticana, as also on the circumstance, that Brioc had been the son of a Breton nobleman, the termBretonusuallyreferringtotheinhabitantsofWales. Othersderivethe origin of our saint from that country, belonging to the ancient Coritans or Coritaves, who were situated on the River Trent, and who inhabited the pre-
sent counties of Stafford and Derby. ts Having found in the geographer Ptolemy's works a Corinium, near the Severn, and about the source of the Thames, where the present county ofGloucester lies, and as there appears to be no great difference between the Coriticiana regio and the Coriniana regio^ M. Abbe Tresvaux is inclined to believe, this might be the part of the country, where St. Brieuc was born. Besides, this situation was sufficiently near to Cambria ; whence, it would seem, were derived those parents, of whom St. Brieux was bonL-^^ There are other writers, such as le P. Albert and Bertrand
tain, says, that its inhabitants consist of four different people, the Scots, the Picts, the Saxons, and the Ancient Britons. See the curious version in Irish of the Historia Bri- tonum, or History of the Britons, which has for its title LeAbhA^ 'bt^eAchnAcli Amifo pf, for an account of these early colonists of our Islands.
