No More Learning

spot, lest their dead bodies might become the prey of birds or dogs. He
offered up prayers to God, at the same time. Soon afterwards, the perpetrators of this wicked action came there, in a disturbed state of mind, and having in their possession the heads of those, who had been slain. 16 On seeing them, Kevin upbraided those ruffians, with the murder already committed. The assassins acknowledged the commission of that foul and cruel deed. averred, it was done through hatred, and to be revenged of their parents, who had persecuted themselves. Our saint asked those mangled remains from the murderers. The heads being then deposited on the ground, Kevin joined them to their bodies. He next engaged in prayer, for some time, when in the presence of all, the females arose perfectly restored. These women gave thankstoGod. Theirmurderers,seeingthegreatmiraclewhichhadtaken place, suppliantly asked pardon for that crime. The murderers expressed joy, likewise, at the fortunate issue of this event, and then promised they wouldneverbeguiltyofanylikeaction. Returningtotheirpeople,therestored maidens gave an account of what had occurred. Owing to this wonderful
1 miracle, St. Kevin's renown was spread throughout that whole region. ?
In his youth, Bishop Lugid had resolved on leaving Ireland, to become a pil- grim,insomeforeignland. Then,theAngeloftheLordcametohimandsaid:
" Do not leave Ireland, for through the providence of God, you shall ordain many saints in it. " Acting on this admonition, Lugid remained in his native country. The holy Kevin was one among those saints, he afterwards ordained. When our saint had become a Priest, Lugid sent him with other disciples, whom he had ordained, that he might build a cell in God's honour, and in any place he might be able to find. On coming to a spot, called Cluainduach, the blessed Kevin built a cell, in which he remained for some time. While some writers assert, that this place was identical with Glenda- lough, and its more ancient d—enomination l8 others will have it a distinct
This latter — opinion
with its name and peculiar
—
already described and it may have been the ancient name for that place, with which St. Kevin's name has been associated in tradition. At Cluain-
be — it was not distinct from allowable, perhaps Luggala
20
which has been
duach, it is said, he collected together many servants of Christ. 21
While our saint remained at this place, where in seclusion he
practised great austerities, a poor fugitive ran towards his ceil door, pur- sued by twelve men, who were his enemies. These had resolved on taking
away his life. The door being closed, the runaway could not enter ; but. he fell on the ground, before it. Arriving at the spot, in search of their intended victim, his enemies could see nothing, but what appeared to be a log of wood, lying stretched on the earth. They wondered very much thereat, for they
that by a divine revelation, St. Kevin knew, that the heads of those murdered females were hidden in the hollow of a tree.
17 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Juniiiii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. ii. , num. 12,
"they come bubbling or trickling among rocks and huge roots, now and then concealed both from sight and hearing ; but anon forcing their way through tangled under- wood, and forming, when their journey is nearly over,—most deliciously clear and cool
p. 314.
18 Hanmer, who possessed, or who had fountains. " Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland
:
access to, a Manuscript Life of St. Coemgen,
its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. ii. , p. 208. There, too, may be seen an exquisite engrav- ing of Luggela, from the pencil of Mr. Creswick.
2I See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , 20 Several miniature cascades proceed Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. ii. , num.
fromtheupperprecipicestoformtheLough: 13, p. 314.
is of this opinion. See
"
Chronicle of Ire-
land," p. 126.
19 See Harris' Ware, vol. iii. ,
"
Writers of Ireland," Book i. , chap, iii. , p. 21.
;
in
seems to establish it as the correct conclusion.
conjunction
Its position, however, has not been ascertained. However, if a conjecture
locality. ^
the context of this narrative
They
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 43
had not seen St. Kevin's door open, or the man escape from that place. Enquiring from one another, what could have become of the fugitive, or what they should next do, some among them sat down upon what appeared to be only a piece of timber. Meantime, being within his oratory, and engaged at prayer, Kevin had a revelation, regarding the occurrence outside his cell.
:
Going forth, at last, he called a certain brother, and said to him " My son,
bringthosemen,whoaresittingbeforethedoor,tome. " Whentheywere
:
in his presence, the blessed anchorite said " O wretches, why have you
wished to kill a man, before the door of Coemgen's cell? " On hearing this name pronounced, and knowing from his saintly countenance and words, that he who addressed them could have been no other than blessed Kevin him- self, the marauders fell prostrate upon earth, humbly asking his pardon.
:
Then, a servant of St. Kevin said to them " O fools, go, and see the man
you seek, and on whom you sit ; he appearing to you as wood, through the power of God, and through the merits of our Abbot. " Those marauders afterwards saw a man there sitting, and he related to them what had occurred. Then, presenting themselves to God and to St. Kevin, they all became monks, and lived under our saint. With him they remained, leading pious and reli-
22
A workman, belonging to St. Kevin's family, being one day engaged braying a stone in a mortar; a particle from this stone suddenly struck the man's eye. This accident deprived him of sight. The circumstance so occurring was revealed to St. Kevin, who had been engaged at this time, pray- ing within his oratory. On coming forth, and seeing the blind man's unhappy state, with the brethren lamenting around him, the holy anchorite placed his hand on the workman's eye and prayed for him. Kevin also signed the wound, in the name of Christ. Immediately, and in presence of all, that man rv< overed the use of sight. He was freed from pain and blood, like- wise, as if he had never been struck. He and the other brethren gave thanks to God, glorifying their holy patron, at the same time.
After* these and many like miracles, blessed Kevin left his cell at
2 Cluainduach, having placed some venerable men in charge of it. 3 Then,
taking some monks with him, our saint directed his footsteps towards his own
country. While walking alone, and through a desert place, his monks having preceded him on the way, St. Coemgen saw a man's dead body lying near the roadside. Not being able to bury the corpse without assistance, our saintprayedtoGod,thatthedeceasedmightberestoredtolife. Thedeadman arose, and blessed the saint, giving thanks to the Almighty. Then accom- panying holy Kevin, the man told him, that he had been suddenly suffocated and overtaken by death, on that very spot, where he had been found. Coming up with the rest of St. Kevin's brethren, these made enquiries regarding that stranger, who declared, he had been raised to life, by their venerable
gious lives to the period of their respective deaths.
" See W. , num. 14, pp. 314, 315.
23 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
Anglo-Saxons ! O mighty antiquary ! on this stupid statement it is sufficient to ob-
serve, that Glendalough is, both as a com- pound word and in its parts, downright
Irish, consisting of Glen, valley, da, two, and lough lake. The Doctor need not have
gone further than Johnson's Dictionary to learn that glen and lough are originally Irish words, which as well as very many others,
or rather Glendalough, seems to be an have crept into the English language. The
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. x. , p. 44.
24 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. ii. , num. 15, 16, p. 315-
* 5 " Ledwich, to make a display of his learning, says (Ant. p. 33), that Glendalogh
Anglo-Saxon compound, and that the name
was derived from the first Firbolgian pos-
sessorsofthe valley, viz. , the Tuathals or
O'Tooles. So then these Firbolgians were Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, x. , n. 154,
place has very appropriately been so call—ed from there being two lakes in the valley. "
Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of
44 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
superior. Hearing such a surprising account, the disciples gave praise to
Christ,theSaviourofmen. Thestrangersoonbecameamonk,andhelived
under St. Kevin, with whom he remained to the day of his death, in a state
2 of holy obedience. *
Thence, pursuing his course, and having come towards his own part of the country, St. Kevin began to inhabit those solitudes of Wicklow, now known as
2 ^ There, in he had led an eremi- youth,
the and Lakes of Valley
Glendalough.
tical life, until he had been discovered in this place of his retreat, and in the
manneralreadymentioned. Fromthebeginning,oursainthaddearlylovedthis place. The old writer of his Acts states, that in the lower part of this valley, and where two clear rivers flow together, he began to found a great monas- tery. We may well suppose, these streams must be that one of Glenealo, as now called, which rolls down from the bleak and precipitous mountain, at the head of the Upper Lough, which supplies its deep basin, and afterwards escapes from its outlet, again forming a river, until it enters the Lower Lough, from which it again issues, and a little below, it is joined by theGlen- dasan rivulet. 26 The ancient pass running upwards towards the head of this latter glen is called St. Kevin's Road ; while huge Camaderry Mountain rises between both streams, and terminates at their junction. Within the—se
- rivulet boundaries, and immediately near their blending into one course—
thence taking the name ofGlendasan River until it falls into the Avonmore the ancient city of Glendalough was chiefly situated, as the numerous ruins still there sufficiently indicate. However, other opinion prevails, that where
the stream of Lugduff, below Poulanass Waterfall, joins the Upper Lake, and within the woods, must have been the site originally selected by St. Kevin for his religious house. This monastic institute has been identified with what is now called Reafert Church, which the learned Dr. Petrie calls St. Kevin's earlier church, near the upper Lake. 2 ? Even at the present day, its ruins are buried in an almost perfect solitude. 28 After descending the valley, a very shortdistancefromSt. Kevin'sBed,andstillbelowit, butonasteepledge of rock, under Lugduff there is a circular wall, 12 feet in diameter, and two feet or more in thickness. A cross in the centre, and a few trees cluster
about the place picturesquely. This seems to have been a place for holding stations. A little distance below it in the valley, and on the same side of the
lake,
"
tend from the inner to the outer face. A massive lintel covers the doorway. Some completed chiselling on its left side seems to indicatean intention of adding an architrave, like that seen in the Lady's Church, at Glen- dalough. See ibid. , p. 174.
2? The finest and most characteristic en- graving, by George Hanlon, we have seen, and representing the doorway of Refeart
church at Glendalough, is that designed by William F. Wakeman, in the " Irish Literary Gazette," vol. ii. There is an arti- cle descriptive of the antiquities of Glenda- lough appended, and written in the graceful style of that accomplished artist. See pp. 299, 300.
30 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, however, sus-
27 See
Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs, i. , p. 173.
28 There may be seen, likewise, a beauti-
ful woodcut, representing the doorway, which is formed of chiselled granite blocks. This doorway is six feet in height, two feet six inches in width at top, and two feet and nineinchesatthebottom. Thewallisthree feet ia thickness, and most of its stones ex-
Ecclesiastical Architecture and
2^ inamostsecluded Numbersofoldbroken position.
is Reafert
stone crosses lie scattered about this church, which had been surrounded by a graveyard, now embosomed in fine shady trees. The date, for the erection ofamonasteryatGlendalough,isnotrecorded; but,anopinionisentertained, that it must have been founded, before a. d. 549, supposing our saint to have been abbot there, when he went to pay a visit to St. Kieran,3° at Clonmacnois,
church,
pp. 48, 49.
26 An inspection of the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Wicklow," sheet 23, will bring the whole of this locality, as also the site and ruins of Glendalough, most intelligibly under the eye of the
inspector.
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
45
and where he did not arrive until three days after the Abbot's death. 3 event is held to have occurred, a. d. 549.
32
1
This
At one time, as we find the circumstance related, St. Kevin went on a visit to that St. Kieran, who dwelt in Clonmacnoise city, on the banks of the River Shannon, and towards the western confines of Meath province, opposite the territoryofConnaught. But,threedaysbeforeSt. Kevin'sarrival,theAbbot of Clonmacnoise had departed this life. The exact date for his death, there- fore, must determine the year of St. Kevin's visit to Clonmacnoise. The body was then placed upon a bier, within a certain church, until Kevin and other men should be present to assist at the interment. Our saint arrived at a late hour in Clonmacnoise monastery, and he entered the church, where the dead Abbot's body lay. He commanded all the brethren to go outside, as lie wished to be left alone with the sacred relics. Doing as they had been com- manded, our saint closed the church doors, and remained himself within it, until the following day. But, some of the brethren remained watching with- out the door. While St. Kevin prayed, St. Kieran's beatified spirit is said to have returned to his body, and a holy conversation afterwards passed between both saints. Their words were distinctly heard, by the brethren without ; and, Kieran asked our saint, that as a sign of lasting friendship, both should change their garments. This was accordingly done. The doors beingopenedonthefollowingday,themonksfoundSt. Kevinclothedwith St. Kieran's garments. The latter holy person, in like manner, was covered withthegarmentsofoursaint. Kieran'sbody,moreover,seemedfullofvital heat, and his face appeared ruddy in colour. Then, St. Kevin declared, that the deceased Abbot had established a fraternity and union with himself, and that this extended to the monks of Clonmacnoise and to these of Glenda- lough. The body of St. Kieran being buried, with great honour, St. Kevin returned towards his own city. 33
Many pious men with religious vocations flocked to him, from all parts of the
surrounding country, and became monks at this place, being under our saint's
spiritualguardianship. 34 Variouscellsandmonasterieswerefounded,afterwards, in the Leinster province; while, a great number of monks lived at different sta-
tions, all being subject totheRule of St. Kevin. Themonastery of Glendalough, and other monasteries, subject to him, were assigned to the care of approved and saintly men. He appointed their several duties for each of his religious.
Having provided for the spiritual wants and welfare of others, the holy Abbot—who had always loved perfect retirement and contemplation— resolved to indulge his desire for solitude and prayer. He then went alone, into an upper part of the valley, about a mile distant from his monastery. Here, he erected a small hermitage for himself, in a narrow place, between the lake and the mountain above it, where there were thick shady trees and clear rivulets. He ordered his monks, to send him no kind of food, and that none should approach him, except on urgent business. While thus alone, in the upper part of Glendalough valley, and in different places between the moun- tain and the lake, he led an eremitical life, for four years. These he passed, in continual fasting and vigil, without fire, and without even a roof to cover him. It was not known, whether he lived on roots, found in the earth, or on the fruits of trees, or on food miraculously sent him from Heaven ; for, he would
pects, that our saint was not an abbot at the time of this event. See "Ecclesiastical
nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tigernachi Annales, p. 138.
of vol.
History Ireland," ii. , chap,
x. , sect.
33 See " Acta " tomus Sanctorum,
x. , p. 44, and n. 155, p. 49. Ibid.
31 His feast is commemorated, at the 9th
of September.
3' See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiber-
i. , Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. iv. , num. 30,
p. 318.
34 See ArchdalFs " Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 766.
46 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [JUNE 3.
not disclose the secret manner of his life to any person. His monks built a renowned cell, however, in that desert place, where St. Kevin dwelt, between the upper mountain and the lake on its southern side. 35 In the Scottish or Irish language, this place was called Disert-Caughin, which is rendered in Latin, " Eremus Coemgeni. "36 This cell, which was tenanted by St. Kevin, must have been the present almost shapeless mass of ruins, some short distance above St. Kevin's Bed, and on the very margin of the lake. Towering and
"
The walls of a cell there measure 21 feet, by 17 feet interiorly ; while, they
precipitous black rocks, rise perpendicularly over this
Teampulna Scellig. "
Ruins of St. Kevin's First Cell Glendalough.
are over two feet, in thickness. Outside of this quadrangular cell, a circularly built wall may be seen. Through it, there is a very narrow passage faced
with stone, and having steps descending towards the cell. 37 Here, it is very likely, St. Kevin spent his most lonely hours. Perhaps, some of the stones
yet remaining were placed there, by the saint's own hand. Here, however, there could not have been space, for the erection of any considerable monas- tery, 38 so that it must have been merely a hermitage.
As illustrating the gentleness of his disposition, it is said, that the beasts, on the mountains and in the woods, laying aside their natural ferocit) accompanied St. Kevin. In a domesticated state, they tamely drank water
35 Here, at the time the biographer of St. Kevin wrote, a famous monastery stood, and in which religious men always lived.
36 It may be translated, " Kevin's soli-
tude," or "desert," in English.
37 In company with the Rev. Richard
Galvan, P. P. , Rathdrum, and the Rev. James Gafifney, M. R. I. A. , these remains were examined by the writer in May, 1871, with much curious interest. The writer then took a drawing of this ruined cell, which was
transferred to the wood, by William F Wakeman, for the present illustration, en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
38 According to a tradition, which pre-
vailed towards the close of the last century,
St. Kevin had an apartment here, for the
purposes of study. See Jonathan Fisher's
"
Scenery of Ireland," p. 6, at the beautiful series of Aquatinta views, illustrating the Scenery and Antiquities at Glendalough, plates lv. , lvi. , lvii. lviii. , lix. , lx.
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 47
from his hands. After the term of four years, many holy men assembled
together, and drew persuasively St. Kevin from his place of retreat, although much against his inclinations ; for, there he wished to dwell, until he should be called to his reward in the next life. It seems, that he lived too austere a life when alone. His friends therefore compelled him to reside among his monks, in that monastery, to which allusion has been already made. 3^
One day, after he had resolved on this change of residence, St.
Kevin took his station on a stone without his monastery. There, the devil
transforming himself into an Angel of light appeared. With apparent modesty of demeanour, and in a very beautiful form, the demon said to our saint : " Hail, O holy man of God ; behold, I am sent to thee by the Lord, that I may give thee counsel. Already thou hast sustained great labour, and the holy Angels praise thee, in the sight of God. The Lord hath ordered thee in love, to depart from this rocky valley, and to seek a place more habitable for thy monks after thee. " Pretending to bless St. Kevin, the devil immediately vanished, after communicating these fallacious orders. Deceived by the modest and beautiful appearance of the demon, Kevin felt greatly preplexed, onhearingthismessage. For,ifitweretrue,thathislifehadbeenpleasing to God and to the Angels in this place : he knew, also, that the Almighty could provide means of living for his servants, at all times, and in all places. Where-
:
he
Here, appeared
thou come, Satan. "
totheAbbot
The devil answered
1 whosaidtohim "Whencehast :
" With the permission of God, I will finish my mortal course,
fore, he said
in this valley, whether my life be praised by an Angel or by a demon. " After- wards, with a number of wicked spirits, Satan went beyond the mountain called Tuayd,*° in the Ulster province, and in the northern part of Ireland.
Comgall,-'
ries of Leinster, and from the valley of the two Lakes, where austere Kevin
dwells. In that place, with his baneful company, that man hath been greatly
and incessantly injuring my followers, for seven whole years. Afterwards, I
went to him, and persuaded him to leave his place. But, my representations
didnotavail,forhisfortitudehathovercomeallmypowers. Now,Iand
my family, must depart foiled to our place of habitation. Our standards are
broken by him, as we must proclaim ; yet, we still wish to tempt him. " Then,
St. Comgall said to him: "Satan, return with my monks to St. Coemgen.
Thou shalt approach him, neither before nor after, but simultaneously with
them ; and, thou shalt manifest to him thy wiles and plots, against him, my
monks being present. Thus, I command thee, in the name of Christ. " St.
Comgall's monks then coming to St. Kevin, Satan appeared at the same
time with them. The devil told our saint all things, after the manner in which
he had been directed, by the holy Abbot of Bangor. Whereupon, giving
thanks to God, and blessing his friend St. Comgall, our holy Abbot ordered
the devil, that he should, thenceforward and for ever, remove his wicked com-
panions from that happy valley. On hearing St. Kevin's orders, with a terri-
ble howling the demons departed from Glendalough, and saying at the same
time, that they should never more take up their station within it. After this
departure of the demons, that rock on which they were accustomed to alight
fell into pieces. These were precipitated into the Lake, and with a great noise.
Blessed Kevin, as we are informed, had been engaged at prayer, to effect this
2
miracle,'' at the time of its occurrence.
39 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. hi. , num. 17, p. 315.
40 This denomination has not been identi
fied:but, probably, Fiodh, or Feadha, the Fews of Armagh, may be the correct reading.
*" The Life of this saint is already given, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 10th of May, Art. i.
*3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. iii. , num. 18, pp. 315, 316.
:
" I have come from the territo-
48 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
CHAPTER III.
THE AUSTERITIES OF ST. KEVIN—HIS ORATORY AND ROAD BESIDE THE LAKE—KING BRANDUBH'S HUNTSMAN AND THE BOAR—ST. KEVIN'S BED—HE IS PROVIDENTIALLY RESCUED FROM A LAND-SLIDE—ST. FINTAN MUNNU'S VISION OF THE DEMONS— ST. KEVIN BEHOLDS ST. PATRICK IN A VISION—ST. KEVIN AND HIS MONK CRONAN—AN ANGEL APPEARS AND COMMANDS ST. KEVIN TO FOUND HIS CHIEF MONASTERY—HE RECEIVES A GRANT OF THE PLACE FROM DYMMA—ST. KEVIN'S JOURNEY TO USNEACH, WHERE HE MEETS THE HOLY ABBOTS COLUMBA, COMGELL AND CAINNIC
St. Kevin is said to have prayed each night, for a full hour, surrounded by the Lake waters, in that place where he stood. A monster frequenting the Lough, according to a legend, was accustomed to swim around his body, without offering him any violence. The servant of God bore all this with patience, for a long time. To reward his virtues, the Almighty sent an Angel, at last, to assist him, and to relieve him from what he saw and endure—d. For three
: principal reasons, the Angel was despatched to his assistance First,
that he might be relieved from his many self-imposed labours ; secondly, that the monster might be repelled ; and thirdly, that the cold water might be ren- deredwarm. For,ontheAngeloftheLordcomingtohimeachnight,the monster retired. Then, reposing on his bosom, that Angel caused the Lake water to lose its naturally cold temperature, and to become warm. It is also
of seven 1 to this 2 St. Kevin years, previous time,
that within a
had constructed a little oratory, formed of osiers, on the northern shore of the Lake. At present a passage is shown, near the lower outlet of the Upper Lough, and through the young plantations, which now cover that side of Camaderry, and, it is traditionally called St. Kevin's Road. This pathway goes upwards by a very steep ascent to the very summit of that mountain, and then it drops downwards into Glendassan, on the other side ; while, it continues afterwards to ascend that ravine, on the northern face of the glen. Perhaps, his abode might be located somewhere, over the outlet of the Upper Lough, and near the beginning of St. Kevin's Road. At least, this conjecture should accord very well, with the account contained in his published Acts. In that temporary bower, the holy man had often prayed to God. In this retreat, moreover, St. Kevin dwelt free from the interruptions of mankind, and sustained by no human nourishment. It seems most probable, also, that his manner of living there must be referred to the latter part of the sixth century.