of the March Kalends,
corresponding
with the 22nd of February.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Lanigan's opinion, when only seventeen years old.
No one will admit this early age, as a time suitable for assuming the responsibilities of such an office.
'*'^
When the Synod of Brevy had been held, say the Bollandists, the Archi- episcopal see of Wales was established in the City of Carleon, on the Usk, Osk or Isk river. This city also obtained the name Legio. We are told, that Gistilianus, an uncle of St. David, had been a bishop of Carleon. '^^ St. Dubricius then presided over Carleon see, and that of Landaff, having succeeded St. Teliaus, second bishop over this latter diocese. 43 Some writers have supposed, that St. Dubricius, leaving Llandaff and Caerleon to St. Teliaus, had been transferred as Archbishop to Menevia, which he again
resigned to St. David. The Bollandists consider it more probable, that having died a. d. 522, or having been rendered through old age unable to dis-
^-t See his additions to Camden, col. 768.
time, but not against our being allowed to suppose that David died several years later than 544 ; whereas the first of March fell also on Tuesday in the years, 550, 561, 567, 578, 589, 595, 600, &c. Passing by Cressy and other copyists of Ussher, the Bollan- dists, and the minor writers of Lives of Saints, and even the author of L'Art de Veri-
3S See "Concilia Magnas Britannias," Tom. i. , p. 7.
3* " Llandewi brewi," says Leland, " is
but a simple or poor village set among
mountains every way but the west, where is
the Vale of Tyve. I passed over a little
brook to enter into it. The collegiate church
of prebendaries standeth somewhat upon a fier les Dates (at Chronologie des Samts), high ground, but it is rude. " Vol. v. , p.
75. This was founded in honour of St. David, for a precentor and twelve prebends
by Thomas Bek, Bishop of St. David's, A. D. 1 187. See, Tanner's "Notitia Mon- astica," p. 77.
have adopted his computat—ion, as if the question had been decided. " Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ix. , n. 142, p. 473.
't° Godwin, "De prsesulibus Anglise," ad Episcopos Menevenses, maintains that his episcopacy continued for sixty-five years,
37 In Gale's edition of Ranulph, we do not
find mention made of St. David, See If any foundation for this statement existed,
"
xv. " Le Neve's
it would overturn Ussher's hypothesis.
Scriptores
"
"Ecclesiastical of Ire- History
38
Fasti Ecclesiee
-t' See,
See, canas," p. 510.
Angli-
land," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ix. , and n.
143, pp. 47o> 472, 473.
*^ See, Winkles's "Cathedral Churches
of England and Wales," vol. iii. , p. 129. C
35 "Now, in the year 544, the first of March fell on Tuesday. This is a good argument against any other year about that
34
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
charge his episcopal duties, Dubricius had left the Church of Llandaflf to be ruled over by Teilaus, and that of Carleon by David. It is supposed, our saint may have thence removed to Menevia, still retaining his archiepiscopal rank and office. Or he may have become Bishop of Menevia, while Dubri- cius yet lived. The latter having died, St. David possibly became Arch- bishop over Cambria, with the approval of his reputed uncle, King Arthur. 4
Having thus successfully defended the cause of Catholic Truth, the dogmas of Faith were announced, authentic seals were attached to those decrees, and St. David was then and there named to the Archbishopric. As the Pelagian heresy was not entirely suppressed, St. David convened another Synod of all the Cambrian clergy at Caerleon,45 which proved so successful, that Pelagianism
"
was exterminated. This Synod was termed the
necessary and useful decrees were passed and afterwards signed by the illustrious Pontiff. He even prescribed the observance of statutes, framed at both of those S3^nods, in the churches and monasteries of Britain. Here, they served to form a rule and code of Christian life, and they were written by the hand of our holy prelate. It is greatly to be regretted, that these decrees have not survived the wreck of many other ancient records. "*?
The good fruits resulting from both these Synods soon became apparent. Churches and Monasteries increased in number and good government. Works of charity and religion extended among the faithful. The holy David seemed like a ruler set by our Lord over the house of Israel. In his learn- ing, discipline and life, he was a perfect example for his flock to follow. With judgment and care, he provided for all necessities of his people. Like, a pious father and revered shepherd, he assisted those subject to him. It would be impossible to enumerate the many virtues, which exalted his character, or those various advantages, procured for his ecclesiastical charge. And in the discharge of those religious duties, his life is said to haVe reached an extraordinary term of duration. *^
As Archbishop, he first resided at Caerleon, upon Usk ;49 but, he soon obtained permission from King Arthur^" to remove his see to Menevia, now
thesauri egregii, tam velustate quam iiicuria, piratarum quoque crebris insultibus, qui de Orcadum insulis aestivo tempore longis navi- bus advecti maritimas Kambrias provincias vastare consueverant, evanuenmt. " Lect. ix.
'•^ " Acta Sanctorum Hi- See, Colgan's
bemias," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, sect, xxiv. , xxv. , p. 429.
43 At the 9tli of February, John Bollandus has learnedly examined intricacies regarding this period of early British history.
44 " H? ec nos ibi conjectavimus," say the Bollandists, "non ausi fidere Actis S.
secundum in Brevi- quae Synodo
Davidis,
ensi est Archiepiscopus constitutus, cui eum honorem antea destinatione Dubricium ces- sisse. "
49 Xo this place, we are told, as a metro- 45 This Synod is thought to have been political see, the British bishoprics were
Its canons are said to have been "lost by means of the frequent incur- sions of pirates on the coasts of Wales. " See, Rev. John Williams' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of the Cymry," chap, xv. , p. 237, and note 16. Also, Ussher's Chrono-
for a time. " long See,
helil A. D.
529.
subject,
nicon," lib. i. , cap. 52.
logical Index, at A. D. Dxxix. , under which year it is placed. See, Britannicarum
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," p. 528.
4"^ In Wilkins' "Concilia Magnse Britan-
nise et Hibeniise," vol. i. , pp. 8, 9, we have
"
only a very short account, regarding
from the Ninth Lesson of St. David's Life,
in the Isle of Britain : Arthur as sovereign
prince (yn benteyrned) in Caerllenn upon- Usk, and Dewi (David) the head bishop, and Maelgon of Gwynez the chief elder (ben hynain) ; Arthur as sovereign prince at Cel-
Syno-
dus Victorias in Wallia. " This is taken liwig in Cornwall, and Bedwini the head
Cambrensis. The editor incerto," to this notice.
" anno
bishop, and Caradoc with the brawny arm (vreicvras) the chief elder ; Arthur as sove- reign prince at the promontory of Rionyz in
by
prefixes
"
sicut et alii quamplurimi nobilis bibliothecae gern) the head bisliop, and Gwrthmwl
*7 Giraldus says of them :
Quae quidem,
the north, and Cyndeyrn Garthwys (Kenti-
Synod of Victory. 4^ Many
Polychro- so "His nephew," according to Selden's
"
illustrations to Drayton's
The Fourth Song. From a translation of the seventh Historical Triad, we learn, that
the following three were enthroned persons ""
Poly-Olbion. "
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 35
St. David's, in Pembrokeshire. ^^ Such permission having been obtained, the change of see was effected. s^ This translation of the Archbishopric is said to have been foretold by Merlin :53 " Menevia shall put on the Pall of Caer- leon ; and the preacher of Ireland shall wax dumb by an infant growing in the womb. " 54
In the Life of St. Kentigern,s5 Bishop of Glasgow, it is sai'd, that certain children of Belial, belonging to King Morken's kindred, had conspired to effect the death of this holy man. Whereupon, having had a Divine admoni- tion, he directed his course towards Menevia, where St. David had already
acquired a great reputation, owing to his distinguished virtues. Near Carleumss St. Kentigern converted many to the faith and built a church. He remained some short time with our saint. This journey is assigned to A. D. 543,57 by Ussher. It is said, he obtained a place for building a monastery from Cathwal, a king in this part of the country. Again, we find it related, that he composed a very elegant and erudite discourse, on the death of St. David, besides leaving other learned works behind him. s^ These, however, the BoUandists considered to have been lost. 59
CHAPTER VI.
OUR SAINT RECEIVES A HEAVENLY ADMONITION REGARDING HIS DEATH—HIS PIOUS RESIGNATION TO THE DIVINE WILL—A FOREKNOWLEDGE OF HIS DECEASE CON- VEYED TO THE PEOPLE OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND—THE LAST HOURS OF ST. DAVID —DISCORDANT DATES REGARDING THE YEAR WHEN HE DIED—HIS EXTRAORDINARY LONGEVITY—OPINIONS OF VARIOUS WRITERS—ST. DAVID DIED AT MENEVIA ON THE FIRST OF MARCH—PUS INTERMENT—LOCAL TRADITIONS—TRANSLATION OF ST. DAVID'S RELICS, IN THE TENTH CENTURY—CANONIZATION BY POPE CALIXTUS II. , IN II20—WELSH CUSTOM OF WEARING THE LEEK ON ST. DAVID'S DAY—FESTIVALS IN HONOUR OF THIS HOLY ARCHBISHOP—OFFICES AND RELIGIOUS SERVICES AP- POINTED.
At last, having attained the extraordinary age of 147 years, the Almighty deemed his days and virtuous acts sufficiently ripe for heavenly rest and re-
sis, m " " ItinerariumCambriae, lib. ii. , cap.
Sharon
vol. 1. , book ii. . chap, v. , pp. 250, 251. In con," lib. i. , cap. 52.
the chief eldev. "
Turner's "History of the Anglo-Saxons,"
Wledig
See,
this same chapter, the reader will find an in-
teresting account, about the renowned King Arthur and his achievements. His history will serve to recall—these noble lines of our
S3 For authority, Alan de Insul. I. , ad Prophet. Merlini, is quoted.
Irish poet, Davis
" Then send out a thunder shout, and every
true man summon,
Till the ground shall echo round from
Severn to Plinlimmon,
Saxon foes, and Cymric brothers,
" Poems," Rulers, p. 43.
S4 "This was performed," we are told, "when St. Patrick, at presence of Melaria, then with child, lost use of his
5'
"
:
suddenly
speech ; but recovering it after some time,
" Cymric Rule and Cymric
S5 gee notices of him, at the 13th of Ja- nuary, and at the 1 3th of November.
s^ Carleon (? )
57 The BoUandists, regarding this as the last year before David's death, think St.
Kentigern might have procured many ac- counts through our saint's own narrative.
From such materials, perhaps, he might have written that obituary discourse, attri- buted to him, after the death of the holy Menevian bishop.
58 Pitseus, Bale, and Leland are cited, as authorities for statements in the text.
Arthur's come again !
Cambria; Metropolites et Primas pi'opterea factus, tantam cum Rege Arthuro gratiam iniit, ut ab urbe Legionum ad suam Meneviam Archiepiscopalem transferret sedem, ut lib. i. , cap. 52 fusius tradit Ra- nulfus Cestriensis. "—Spelman's "Concilia Decreta Leges Constitutiones in Re Eccle- siarum Orbis Britannici," p. 62.
5^ This is certified, by Giraldus Cambren-
4, and by Ralph of Chester in
**
made prediction of Dewy's holiness, joined with greatness, which is so celebrated. Upon
my author's credit only believe me. " Selden's illustrations to Drayton's Olbion. " The Fifth Song.
"
See, Poly-
Polychroni-
36 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March
ward. He was admonished by an angel about his approaching death, on the viii.
of the March Kalends, corresponding with the 22nd of February. His religious brethren had been engaged, reciting the Lauds of their Holy Office,
at an early morning hour, when this angelic voice was heard :
" Behold,
the thou hast desired " The venerable bishop heard
David,
this summons with delight. In a transport of joy, he cried out :
O dismiss Lord,
day approaches !
servant in "^ The monks, who were present, peace !
thy
heardthismiraculouscolloquy; but,notfullyunderstandingitsimport,they fell prostrate on earth. The venerable bishop standing, with his countenance
and thoughts alike raised towards heaven, exclaimed ""
spirit ! In the hearing of his monks, the angel again replied :
Prepare thyself for the Kalends of March, for then Jesus Christ, the King of this world, shall meet thee, and with him will be many thousands of angels. " Sadness filled the hearts of his spiritual children, when they heard this
"
My
How delightfully instructive are the examples left to Christians by God's
saints, especially during those days, when life fast draws towards its closing scenes. Some angelic monition regarding such events appears to have
spread a rumour, not alone through all Britain, but even throughout the whole of Hibernia. The holy men of both islands assembled together, like
flocks of birds flying through air, towards some place of trysting. But, from the moment St. David had heard the angelic warning, to that of his decease, he continued in the church, preaching God's holy word to all the people. ' On that Sunday intervening,3 after an eloquent and impressive sermon, which encouraged and exhorted his audience to persevere in the practice of good works,heconsecratedthebodyofourLordintheHolyEucharist. Having now experienced the last pangs of bodily suffering, and partaken of Holy Viaticum, at the close of a devout office, he calmly said to his brethren : " On Tuesday, the Kalends of March, I will tread the way of my fathers, but you I commend to the guardianship of the Father Almighty, who will strengthen you to persevere in those things learned from me. " The tliird day of the week had dawned, and the crowing of chanticleer aroused the citizens of Menevia from midnight slumber. Delicious odours impregnated the surrounding atmosphere, and angelic choirs filled the air with ravishing harmonies. With such foretaste of heavenly joys, clerics and monks assembledtochaunttheearlyLauds. TotheenrapturedgazeofSt. David,
announcement. But, the Blessed David consoled them, saying : brethren persevere, and bear to the end, that yoke you have received. " Soon were sorrow and lamentations diffused throughout his favoured city. Tears and pious impetrations were poured out by all its inhabitants. And as the angelic words sounded in his ears, a most enchanting concert of angelic choirs was heard, while a fragrance, surpassing earth's most odoriferous per- fumes, was wafted throughout the city of Menevia.
5? See, " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis. Commentarius
Prsevius, sect, i. , n. 6, p. 39. They have
published St. Kentigern's Acts, at the 13th
Or the Round Table feasts at Caerlleon, Or Angel joys in paradise. "
See, Thomas Stephens' "Literature of the
of January. See, Ibid. , tomus i. , Januarii Kymry," chap, iv. , sect, ii. , p. 481.
xiii. , pp. 815 to 821.
3 Giraldus, in his "Life of St. David,"
Lect. that the saint on 10, relates, foretold
a Sunday, that he would die on the third
"
Like that of sauitly David in the choir of
Hodnant,
Or Taliesiu at the court of Elphin,
* See the foregoing account, taken from that vellum MS. Life of our saint, belonging^ formerly to the Most Rev. David Routh, and^ published by Colgan, in his " Acta Sancto-
—
* An old Welsh bard, Rhys ab Rhicceart,
Chapter vi.
'
Luke
in his
these following comparisons
See,
ii. , 29.
of — introduces description pleasure,
:
the so it came to
and that
.
feria, i. e. ,
Tuesday following ; pass.
:
" O Lord, receive my
" Now,
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 37 our Lord Jesus appeared, and transported with the ineffable beauty of his
presence, our holy bishop poured forth his soul in the exclamation :
*'
Draw
me, O Lord, after thee. " Thus passed away from life, into the loving embraceofJesus,thisennobledservant; andmultitudesofheavenlydenizens led his way to their happy mansions, where not the least illustrious amongst God's elect was crowned with a brilliant diadem of glory. -*
He dieds accordingly, amid the joyous song of angels, and in the presence of Jesus, who had himself deigned to visit him on Monday, ist of March. The Bollandists consider his age to have been 97 years, but, they also give it, as an opinion of many, that he died at the age of 147 years. This last opinion they regard as erroneous, and set down his death as occurring in the year 544. Such mortuary chronology has been followed by many modern writers ; but, by others, it has been asserted, that St. David lived to a much later period. ^ On the death of David, the disciple of Dubricius, Ismael, is said to have been consecrated in his stead as Bishop of Menevia, by St. Teliaus. Ismael is also declared to have presided over all churches on the right side of Britain. ? Now, it is stated, in an old MS. , belonging to the Church of Llandaff,^ that when a Synod had been held there in 560, the bishop, Oerdoceus, excommunicated King Mouricus. This sentence was pronounced, for a homicide perpetrated, and for a contract, violated by him, even after an oath had been taken in the bishop's presence, at the altar of St. PetertheApostle,andofSS. DubriciusandTeliaus. Suchadatewould seem to prove, that Teliaus had died some time before 560, when the honour ofbeatificationhadbeenconferreduponhim. Now,reasontheBollandists, if St. David did not die, during the reign of King Constantine, a. d. 544, when the ist of March fell on a Tuesday, he must necessarily have departed A. D. 550, when a similar coincidence took place. 9
The Bollandists enter upon the following speculative dates, to determine the epoch of St. David's birth, age and death. Supposing him to have been born towards the close of a. d. 446, thirty years or more having elapsed since St. Patrick had transacted business at Rome, and on his return had spent some time in Britain,^" and that David had died in the beginning of a. d. 544 ; our saint would have completed his ninety-sixth, or died in the ninety- seventh year of his age. They do not think it at all credible, that he lived to the extreme age of 147 years. They suppose it possible, that some transcriber of St. David's Acts, may have fallen into the error of inserting a
rum Hibeini^," sect, xxvi. , xxvii. , p. 429.
Giraldus is not so minute in his description,
relatingtothelastdaysofSt. David. He
passes overmany of the foregoing particulars, as related in the text.
s "Talari indutus tunica," adds Giraldus.
tern—ensis Ecclesia," in the province of Cere-
^
Dr. Lanigan thinks it doubtful, if he
is in Legionensi sede successisse dicendus
est, quod etiam innuit Usserius, pag. 528.
Kinoco dien mortuo S. Teliaum in Legion-
ensi sede subrogatum, Menevensi Antistitem
ordinasselsmaelem, abaliisdiciindicavimus
ad S. Teliai Vitam, sect, i. , num. 9, quae
annum mortis S. Davidis a nobis assignatum
magis confirmant. " See, "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Martii i. Commentarius
Praevius, sect, ii. , n. 15, p. 41.
were even a bishop, in 544. See, "Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap.
i. , sect, xii. , n. 106, p. 28.
7 See the Acts of St. Teliaus or Eliud,
Bishop of Landaff, in Wales, compiled by Father John Bollandus, at the ninth of Feb-
ruary,
ii. , sect.
In the Acts have been born,
"
Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
of our he is said to saint,
"
in the Februarii ix.
s Published by Henry Spelman.
'»
mediately on completion of such a term. Some months, or even a year, nearly ex-
pired, might be allowed.
Commentarius ii. , n. 13, p. 305.
Praevius,
annos xxx. ," accord- ing to the prophecy. This indefinite way of writing, the Bollandists think, would not necessarily lead us to a conclusion, that St. David had been conceived or born im-
9 Yet, opposed to this inference, may be objected the testimony of Geoffrey of Mon- mouth. Hesays,thatonthedeathofSt. David, Ki—ncus, otherwise called Kinocus or Cenaucus who was bishop over "Lampa-
tica
obtained the
of Verum
motiontotheMetropolitanSee.
*'
post
higher dignity
pro-
See,
Vita S. Davidis, n. 31, p. 432.
** In an " and article, headed, Longevity
Centenarianism," published in the " Quar- terly Review," for January, 1868. No. 247, vol. cxxiv. , several extraordinary instances of extreme age are cited, and reference is made to various works
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[Mapxh
wrong numeral, in recording those years attained at his death. Thus, such a mistake may have occurred. They take Colgan to task for assigning the long term of 147 years for our saint's life, and for instances alleged by him, to prove parallel cases. " Bucelinus places the death of St. David at a. d. 650," which is thought to have been merely a typographical error ; the printer of his work having transposed one cypher for another, so that this learnedwritermusthaveintendedtowritea. d,560. EdwardMaihewmain- tains, that St. Uavid flourished about the year of our Lord 490. ^3
The calculation of Ussher, that St. David had died, a. d. 544, seems to have been founded on false data, for it is altogether too early placed. ^-* He depended on a statement made by Geoffrey of Monmouth, who says, that St. David departed in the time of King Constantine, son of Cador, who
reigned only three years, from a. d. 542, when King Arthur fell, to a. d. 545. Into this opinion, he was further led, from the agreement of Giraldus Cam- brensis and other writers in saying, that St. David died on a Tuesday,'5 the I St day of March. It so happened these coincident days came together, in the year 544. William of Malmesbury places his death at a. d. 546,^^ and also John of Teignmouth. '? That he died a. d. 547, has been asserted in the Annals of Waverly Monastery, and in the Annals of Winton. But, that St. David lived much longer appears, not only from his own Acts, but from many other old and trustworthy records. In the " Chronicum Scotorum," David of Cill-Muine's death is set down at a. d. 588. '^ It appears from our Irish Annals, that St. Aidan, Bishop of Ferns, died in the year 624. '? Now, in the Acts of David, Aidan is said to have been residing in a monastery at Ferns, when he sent a message to our saint. Colgan thinks, that he who had been only a boy, when Ainmire reigned in Ireland,^" and afterwards many years a disciple, could not have been abbot, until after a. d. 580. He
supposes, St. David must have lived subsequently to a. d. 590, and he does not hesitate to allow this bishop may have survived until a. d. 607 or 608. The extreme age, which our saint is said to have attained, is not without parallel in written Acts of other holy British and Irish ecclesiastics and recluses. "' Extraordinary and well-authenticated cases of longevity are known, even in days long subsequent to the time, when St. David flourished. '*
" In the Bollandists' opinion, what fur- niched occasion for such an error arose from the false statement, that St. Barr or Fynbarr, had visited St.
When the Synod of Brevy had been held, say the Bollandists, the Archi- episcopal see of Wales was established in the City of Carleon, on the Usk, Osk or Isk river. This city also obtained the name Legio. We are told, that Gistilianus, an uncle of St. David, had been a bishop of Carleon. '^^ St. Dubricius then presided over Carleon see, and that of Landaff, having succeeded St. Teliaus, second bishop over this latter diocese. 43 Some writers have supposed, that St. Dubricius, leaving Llandaff and Caerleon to St. Teliaus, had been transferred as Archbishop to Menevia, which he again
resigned to St. David. The Bollandists consider it more probable, that having died a. d. 522, or having been rendered through old age unable to dis-
^-t See his additions to Camden, col. 768.
time, but not against our being allowed to suppose that David died several years later than 544 ; whereas the first of March fell also on Tuesday in the years, 550, 561, 567, 578, 589, 595, 600, &c. Passing by Cressy and other copyists of Ussher, the Bollan- dists, and the minor writers of Lives of Saints, and even the author of L'Art de Veri-
3S See "Concilia Magnas Britannias," Tom. i. , p. 7.
3* " Llandewi brewi," says Leland, " is
but a simple or poor village set among
mountains every way but the west, where is
the Vale of Tyve. I passed over a little
brook to enter into it. The collegiate church
of prebendaries standeth somewhat upon a fier les Dates (at Chronologie des Samts), high ground, but it is rude. " Vol. v. , p.
75. This was founded in honour of St. David, for a precentor and twelve prebends
by Thomas Bek, Bishop of St. David's, A. D. 1 187. See, Tanner's "Notitia Mon- astica," p. 77.
have adopted his computat—ion, as if the question had been decided. " Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ix. , n. 142, p. 473.
't° Godwin, "De prsesulibus Anglise," ad Episcopos Menevenses, maintains that his episcopacy continued for sixty-five years,
37 In Gale's edition of Ranulph, we do not
find mention made of St. David, See If any foundation for this statement existed,
"
xv. " Le Neve's
it would overturn Ussher's hypothesis.
Scriptores
"
"Ecclesiastical of Ire- History
38
Fasti Ecclesiee
-t' See,
See, canas," p. 510.
Angli-
land," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ix. , and n.
143, pp. 47o> 472, 473.
*^ See, Winkles's "Cathedral Churches
of England and Wales," vol. iii. , p. 129. C
35 "Now, in the year 544, the first of March fell on Tuesday. This is a good argument against any other year about that
34
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
charge his episcopal duties, Dubricius had left the Church of Llandaflf to be ruled over by Teilaus, and that of Carleon by David. It is supposed, our saint may have thence removed to Menevia, still retaining his archiepiscopal rank and office. Or he may have become Bishop of Menevia, while Dubri- cius yet lived. The latter having died, St. David possibly became Arch- bishop over Cambria, with the approval of his reputed uncle, King Arthur. 4
Having thus successfully defended the cause of Catholic Truth, the dogmas of Faith were announced, authentic seals were attached to those decrees, and St. David was then and there named to the Archbishopric. As the Pelagian heresy was not entirely suppressed, St. David convened another Synod of all the Cambrian clergy at Caerleon,45 which proved so successful, that Pelagianism
"
was exterminated. This Synod was termed the
necessary and useful decrees were passed and afterwards signed by the illustrious Pontiff. He even prescribed the observance of statutes, framed at both of those S3^nods, in the churches and monasteries of Britain. Here, they served to form a rule and code of Christian life, and they were written by the hand of our holy prelate. It is greatly to be regretted, that these decrees have not survived the wreck of many other ancient records. "*?
The good fruits resulting from both these Synods soon became apparent. Churches and Monasteries increased in number and good government. Works of charity and religion extended among the faithful. The holy David seemed like a ruler set by our Lord over the house of Israel. In his learn- ing, discipline and life, he was a perfect example for his flock to follow. With judgment and care, he provided for all necessities of his people. Like, a pious father and revered shepherd, he assisted those subject to him. It would be impossible to enumerate the many virtues, which exalted his character, or those various advantages, procured for his ecclesiastical charge. And in the discharge of those religious duties, his life is said to haVe reached an extraordinary term of duration. *^
As Archbishop, he first resided at Caerleon, upon Usk ;49 but, he soon obtained permission from King Arthur^" to remove his see to Menevia, now
thesauri egregii, tam velustate quam iiicuria, piratarum quoque crebris insultibus, qui de Orcadum insulis aestivo tempore longis navi- bus advecti maritimas Kambrias provincias vastare consueverant, evanuenmt. " Lect. ix.
'•^ " Acta Sanctorum Hi- See, Colgan's
bemias," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, sect, xxiv. , xxv. , p. 429.
43 At the 9tli of February, John Bollandus has learnedly examined intricacies regarding this period of early British history.
44 " H? ec nos ibi conjectavimus," say the Bollandists, "non ausi fidere Actis S.
secundum in Brevi- quae Synodo
Davidis,
ensi est Archiepiscopus constitutus, cui eum honorem antea destinatione Dubricium ces- sisse. "
49 Xo this place, we are told, as a metro- 45 This Synod is thought to have been political see, the British bishoprics were
Its canons are said to have been "lost by means of the frequent incur- sions of pirates on the coasts of Wales. " See, Rev. John Williams' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of the Cymry," chap, xv. , p. 237, and note 16. Also, Ussher's Chrono-
for a time. " long See,
helil A. D.
529.
subject,
nicon," lib. i. , cap. 52.
logical Index, at A. D. Dxxix. , under which year it is placed. See, Britannicarum
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," p. 528.
4"^ In Wilkins' "Concilia Magnse Britan-
nise et Hibeniise," vol. i. , pp. 8, 9, we have
"
only a very short account, regarding
from the Ninth Lesson of St. David's Life,
in the Isle of Britain : Arthur as sovereign
prince (yn benteyrned) in Caerllenn upon- Usk, and Dewi (David) the head bishop, and Maelgon of Gwynez the chief elder (ben hynain) ; Arthur as sovereign prince at Cel-
Syno-
dus Victorias in Wallia. " This is taken liwig in Cornwall, and Bedwini the head
Cambrensis. The editor incerto," to this notice.
" anno
bishop, and Caradoc with the brawny arm (vreicvras) the chief elder ; Arthur as sove- reign prince at the promontory of Rionyz in
by
prefixes
"
sicut et alii quamplurimi nobilis bibliothecae gern) the head bisliop, and Gwrthmwl
*7 Giraldus says of them :
Quae quidem,
the north, and Cyndeyrn Garthwys (Kenti-
Synod of Victory. 4^ Many
Polychro- so "His nephew," according to Selden's
"
illustrations to Drayton's
The Fourth Song. From a translation of the seventh Historical Triad, we learn, that
the following three were enthroned persons ""
Poly-Olbion. "
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 35
St. David's, in Pembrokeshire. ^^ Such permission having been obtained, the change of see was effected. s^ This translation of the Archbishopric is said to have been foretold by Merlin :53 " Menevia shall put on the Pall of Caer- leon ; and the preacher of Ireland shall wax dumb by an infant growing in the womb. " 54
In the Life of St. Kentigern,s5 Bishop of Glasgow, it is sai'd, that certain children of Belial, belonging to King Morken's kindred, had conspired to effect the death of this holy man. Whereupon, having had a Divine admoni- tion, he directed his course towards Menevia, where St. David had already
acquired a great reputation, owing to his distinguished virtues. Near Carleumss St. Kentigern converted many to the faith and built a church. He remained some short time with our saint. This journey is assigned to A. D. 543,57 by Ussher. It is said, he obtained a place for building a monastery from Cathwal, a king in this part of the country. Again, we find it related, that he composed a very elegant and erudite discourse, on the death of St. David, besides leaving other learned works behind him. s^ These, however, the BoUandists considered to have been lost. 59
CHAPTER VI.
OUR SAINT RECEIVES A HEAVENLY ADMONITION REGARDING HIS DEATH—HIS PIOUS RESIGNATION TO THE DIVINE WILL—A FOREKNOWLEDGE OF HIS DECEASE CON- VEYED TO THE PEOPLE OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND—THE LAST HOURS OF ST. DAVID —DISCORDANT DATES REGARDING THE YEAR WHEN HE DIED—HIS EXTRAORDINARY LONGEVITY—OPINIONS OF VARIOUS WRITERS—ST. DAVID DIED AT MENEVIA ON THE FIRST OF MARCH—PUS INTERMENT—LOCAL TRADITIONS—TRANSLATION OF ST. DAVID'S RELICS, IN THE TENTH CENTURY—CANONIZATION BY POPE CALIXTUS II. , IN II20—WELSH CUSTOM OF WEARING THE LEEK ON ST. DAVID'S DAY—FESTIVALS IN HONOUR OF THIS HOLY ARCHBISHOP—OFFICES AND RELIGIOUS SERVICES AP- POINTED.
At last, having attained the extraordinary age of 147 years, the Almighty deemed his days and virtuous acts sufficiently ripe for heavenly rest and re-
sis, m " " ItinerariumCambriae, lib. ii. , cap.
Sharon
vol. 1. , book ii. . chap, v. , pp. 250, 251. In con," lib. i. , cap. 52.
the chief eldev. "
Turner's "History of the Anglo-Saxons,"
Wledig
See,
this same chapter, the reader will find an in-
teresting account, about the renowned King Arthur and his achievements. His history will serve to recall—these noble lines of our
S3 For authority, Alan de Insul. I. , ad Prophet. Merlini, is quoted.
Irish poet, Davis
" Then send out a thunder shout, and every
true man summon,
Till the ground shall echo round from
Severn to Plinlimmon,
Saxon foes, and Cymric brothers,
" Poems," Rulers, p. 43.
S4 "This was performed," we are told, "when St. Patrick, at presence of Melaria, then with child, lost use of his
5'
"
:
suddenly
speech ; but recovering it after some time,
" Cymric Rule and Cymric
S5 gee notices of him, at the 13th of Ja- nuary, and at the 1 3th of November.
s^ Carleon (? )
57 The BoUandists, regarding this as the last year before David's death, think St.
Kentigern might have procured many ac- counts through our saint's own narrative.
From such materials, perhaps, he might have written that obituary discourse, attri- buted to him, after the death of the holy Menevian bishop.
58 Pitseus, Bale, and Leland are cited, as authorities for statements in the text.
Arthur's come again !
Cambria; Metropolites et Primas pi'opterea factus, tantam cum Rege Arthuro gratiam iniit, ut ab urbe Legionum ad suam Meneviam Archiepiscopalem transferret sedem, ut lib. i. , cap. 52 fusius tradit Ra- nulfus Cestriensis. "—Spelman's "Concilia Decreta Leges Constitutiones in Re Eccle- siarum Orbis Britannici," p. 62.
5^ This is certified, by Giraldus Cambren-
4, and by Ralph of Chester in
**
made prediction of Dewy's holiness, joined with greatness, which is so celebrated. Upon
my author's credit only believe me. " Selden's illustrations to Drayton's Olbion. " The Fifth Song.
"
See, Poly-
Polychroni-
36 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March
ward. He was admonished by an angel about his approaching death, on the viii.
of the March Kalends, corresponding with the 22nd of February. His religious brethren had been engaged, reciting the Lauds of their Holy Office,
at an early morning hour, when this angelic voice was heard :
" Behold,
the thou hast desired " The venerable bishop heard
David,
this summons with delight. In a transport of joy, he cried out :
O dismiss Lord,
day approaches !
servant in "^ The monks, who were present, peace !
thy
heardthismiraculouscolloquy; but,notfullyunderstandingitsimport,they fell prostrate on earth. The venerable bishop standing, with his countenance
and thoughts alike raised towards heaven, exclaimed ""
spirit ! In the hearing of his monks, the angel again replied :
Prepare thyself for the Kalends of March, for then Jesus Christ, the King of this world, shall meet thee, and with him will be many thousands of angels. " Sadness filled the hearts of his spiritual children, when they heard this
"
My
How delightfully instructive are the examples left to Christians by God's
saints, especially during those days, when life fast draws towards its closing scenes. Some angelic monition regarding such events appears to have
spread a rumour, not alone through all Britain, but even throughout the whole of Hibernia. The holy men of both islands assembled together, like
flocks of birds flying through air, towards some place of trysting. But, from the moment St. David had heard the angelic warning, to that of his decease, he continued in the church, preaching God's holy word to all the people. ' On that Sunday intervening,3 after an eloquent and impressive sermon, which encouraged and exhorted his audience to persevere in the practice of good works,heconsecratedthebodyofourLordintheHolyEucharist. Having now experienced the last pangs of bodily suffering, and partaken of Holy Viaticum, at the close of a devout office, he calmly said to his brethren : " On Tuesday, the Kalends of March, I will tread the way of my fathers, but you I commend to the guardianship of the Father Almighty, who will strengthen you to persevere in those things learned from me. " The tliird day of the week had dawned, and the crowing of chanticleer aroused the citizens of Menevia from midnight slumber. Delicious odours impregnated the surrounding atmosphere, and angelic choirs filled the air with ravishing harmonies. With such foretaste of heavenly joys, clerics and monks assembledtochaunttheearlyLauds. TotheenrapturedgazeofSt. David,
announcement. But, the Blessed David consoled them, saying : brethren persevere, and bear to the end, that yoke you have received. " Soon were sorrow and lamentations diffused throughout his favoured city. Tears and pious impetrations were poured out by all its inhabitants. And as the angelic words sounded in his ears, a most enchanting concert of angelic choirs was heard, while a fragrance, surpassing earth's most odoriferous per- fumes, was wafted throughout the city of Menevia.
5? See, " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis. Commentarius
Prsevius, sect, i. , n. 6, p. 39. They have
published St. Kentigern's Acts, at the 13th
Or the Round Table feasts at Caerlleon, Or Angel joys in paradise. "
See, Thomas Stephens' "Literature of the
of January. See, Ibid. , tomus i. , Januarii Kymry," chap, iv. , sect, ii. , p. 481.
xiii. , pp. 815 to 821.
3 Giraldus, in his "Life of St. David,"
Lect. that the saint on 10, relates, foretold
a Sunday, that he would die on the third
"
Like that of sauitly David in the choir of
Hodnant,
Or Taliesiu at the court of Elphin,
* See the foregoing account, taken from that vellum MS. Life of our saint, belonging^ formerly to the Most Rev. David Routh, and^ published by Colgan, in his " Acta Sancto-
—
* An old Welsh bard, Rhys ab Rhicceart,
Chapter vi.
'
Luke
in his
these following comparisons
See,
ii. , 29.
of — introduces description pleasure,
:
the so it came to
and that
.
feria, i. e. ,
Tuesday following ; pass.
:
" O Lord, receive my
" Now,
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 37 our Lord Jesus appeared, and transported with the ineffable beauty of his
presence, our holy bishop poured forth his soul in the exclamation :
*'
Draw
me, O Lord, after thee. " Thus passed away from life, into the loving embraceofJesus,thisennobledservant; andmultitudesofheavenlydenizens led his way to their happy mansions, where not the least illustrious amongst God's elect was crowned with a brilliant diadem of glory. -*
He dieds accordingly, amid the joyous song of angels, and in the presence of Jesus, who had himself deigned to visit him on Monday, ist of March. The Bollandists consider his age to have been 97 years, but, they also give it, as an opinion of many, that he died at the age of 147 years. This last opinion they regard as erroneous, and set down his death as occurring in the year 544. Such mortuary chronology has been followed by many modern writers ; but, by others, it has been asserted, that St. David lived to a much later period. ^ On the death of David, the disciple of Dubricius, Ismael, is said to have been consecrated in his stead as Bishop of Menevia, by St. Teliaus. Ismael is also declared to have presided over all churches on the right side of Britain. ? Now, it is stated, in an old MS. , belonging to the Church of Llandaff,^ that when a Synod had been held there in 560, the bishop, Oerdoceus, excommunicated King Mouricus. This sentence was pronounced, for a homicide perpetrated, and for a contract, violated by him, even after an oath had been taken in the bishop's presence, at the altar of St. PetertheApostle,andofSS. DubriciusandTeliaus. Suchadatewould seem to prove, that Teliaus had died some time before 560, when the honour ofbeatificationhadbeenconferreduponhim. Now,reasontheBollandists, if St. David did not die, during the reign of King Constantine, a. d. 544, when the ist of March fell on a Tuesday, he must necessarily have departed A. D. 550, when a similar coincidence took place. 9
The Bollandists enter upon the following speculative dates, to determine the epoch of St. David's birth, age and death. Supposing him to have been born towards the close of a. d. 446, thirty years or more having elapsed since St. Patrick had transacted business at Rome, and on his return had spent some time in Britain,^" and that David had died in the beginning of a. d. 544 ; our saint would have completed his ninety-sixth, or died in the ninety- seventh year of his age. They do not think it at all credible, that he lived to the extreme age of 147 years. They suppose it possible, that some transcriber of St. David's Acts, may have fallen into the error of inserting a
rum Hibeini^," sect, xxvi. , xxvii. , p. 429.
Giraldus is not so minute in his description,
relatingtothelastdaysofSt. David. He
passes overmany of the foregoing particulars, as related in the text.
s "Talari indutus tunica," adds Giraldus.
tern—ensis Ecclesia," in the province of Cere-
^
Dr. Lanigan thinks it doubtful, if he
is in Legionensi sede successisse dicendus
est, quod etiam innuit Usserius, pag. 528.
Kinoco dien mortuo S. Teliaum in Legion-
ensi sede subrogatum, Menevensi Antistitem
ordinasselsmaelem, abaliisdiciindicavimus
ad S. Teliai Vitam, sect, i. , num. 9, quae
annum mortis S. Davidis a nobis assignatum
magis confirmant. " See, "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Martii i. Commentarius
Praevius, sect, ii. , n. 15, p. 41.
were even a bishop, in 544. See, "Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap.
i. , sect, xii. , n. 106, p. 28.
7 See the Acts of St. Teliaus or Eliud,
Bishop of Landaff, in Wales, compiled by Father John Bollandus, at the ninth of Feb-
ruary,
ii. , sect.
In the Acts have been born,
"
Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
of our he is said to saint,
"
in the Februarii ix.
s Published by Henry Spelman.
'»
mediately on completion of such a term. Some months, or even a year, nearly ex-
pired, might be allowed.
Commentarius ii. , n. 13, p. 305.
Praevius,
annos xxx. ," accord- ing to the prophecy. This indefinite way of writing, the Bollandists think, would not necessarily lead us to a conclusion, that St. David had been conceived or born im-
9 Yet, opposed to this inference, may be objected the testimony of Geoffrey of Mon- mouth. Hesays,thatonthedeathofSt. David, Ki—ncus, otherwise called Kinocus or Cenaucus who was bishop over "Lampa-
tica
obtained the
of Verum
motiontotheMetropolitanSee.
*'
post
higher dignity
pro-
See,
Vita S. Davidis, n. 31, p. 432.
** In an " and article, headed, Longevity
Centenarianism," published in the " Quar- terly Review," for January, 1868. No. 247, vol. cxxiv. , several extraordinary instances of extreme age are cited, and reference is made to various works
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[Mapxh
wrong numeral, in recording those years attained at his death. Thus, such a mistake may have occurred. They take Colgan to task for assigning the long term of 147 years for our saint's life, and for instances alleged by him, to prove parallel cases. " Bucelinus places the death of St. David at a. d. 650," which is thought to have been merely a typographical error ; the printer of his work having transposed one cypher for another, so that this learnedwritermusthaveintendedtowritea. d,560. EdwardMaihewmain- tains, that St. Uavid flourished about the year of our Lord 490. ^3
The calculation of Ussher, that St. David had died, a. d. 544, seems to have been founded on false data, for it is altogether too early placed. ^-* He depended on a statement made by Geoffrey of Monmouth, who says, that St. David departed in the time of King Constantine, son of Cador, who
reigned only three years, from a. d. 542, when King Arthur fell, to a. d. 545. Into this opinion, he was further led, from the agreement of Giraldus Cam- brensis and other writers in saying, that St. David died on a Tuesday,'5 the I St day of March. It so happened these coincident days came together, in the year 544. William of Malmesbury places his death at a. d. 546,^^ and also John of Teignmouth. '? That he died a. d. 547, has been asserted in the Annals of Waverly Monastery, and in the Annals of Winton. But, that St. David lived much longer appears, not only from his own Acts, but from many other old and trustworthy records. In the " Chronicum Scotorum," David of Cill-Muine's death is set down at a. d. 588. '^ It appears from our Irish Annals, that St. Aidan, Bishop of Ferns, died in the year 624. '? Now, in the Acts of David, Aidan is said to have been residing in a monastery at Ferns, when he sent a message to our saint. Colgan thinks, that he who had been only a boy, when Ainmire reigned in Ireland,^" and afterwards many years a disciple, could not have been abbot, until after a. d. 580. He
supposes, St. David must have lived subsequently to a. d. 590, and he does not hesitate to allow this bishop may have survived until a. d. 607 or 608. The extreme age, which our saint is said to have attained, is not without parallel in written Acts of other holy British and Irish ecclesiastics and recluses. "' Extraordinary and well-authenticated cases of longevity are known, even in days long subsequent to the time, when St. David flourished. '*
" In the Bollandists' opinion, what fur- niched occasion for such an error arose from the false statement, that St. Barr or Fynbarr, had visited St.
