Then Coemgen was only seven years of age, and he
remained
with that master for five years.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
M.
, Coll.
Reg.
Saints," tome vi.
, ive.
Jour de Juin, p.
441.
Oxon.
Socius, tomus i.
, cap.
xxxv.
, pp.
61,
viii. , p. 52.
"
Thus we find, De S. Petroco, Abbate et 62. Oxonii, 1709, 8vo.
"
June 4. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 113 At this day, as appears from the posthumous list, Colgan intended to publish
10 and edited
his Acts. These will be in the Bollandist found,
by Father Godefrid Henschen;11 while, they are published from a Manuscript Life,attributedtoJohnofTinmouth. Wefindanaccountofthisholyman, Dean 12 Rev. Alban 1* the Petits 1*
collection,
Cressy, Butler, Bollandistes, and Rev. S. Baring-Gould. 15 John of Tinmouth, Capgrave and Ussher call St. Petrock a Cumbrian : but, as he has been commonly named Corinius, which is said to have been an equivalent for Cornubiensis, these writers think the word Camber must have been a mistake for Camber. Suasius incorrectly calls him a Cimber. 16 The Welsh document, " Bonedd y Saint," declares, that his father was named Clement, and that he was a Cornish prince. According to Dr. Thomas Fuller, Petrok was a Welsh-Irish-Cornish man,
1
having his birth in Wales, and his breeding in Ireland. ? However, St.
Petrock was a native of Wales, and of royal extraction, according to most accounts. The Rev. John Adams regards him, however, as being a Cornish-
likewise, by
man. 18
According
to his
Itinerary,
an old Life of this 10 the author had saint,
seen, supplies information, that Petrock was by race, if not by birth, a Cam-
ber. Designated simply as a Camber, this word may signify a native of either
Wales or Cornwall f° and, accordingly, he is claimed, as a denizen, by both
countries. Some of the Welsh writers maintain, that he was born of princely
parentage in Wales ; while nearly all authors are agreed, that he was son to
Clement, said to have been a prince or chief, in Wales or Cornwall. The
time of his birth is regarded as having occurred, in the very early part of the
sixth century, if not late in the fifth. He was more ennobled for his virtues,
however, than he had been distinguished, owing to his family connexions.
Such was his life from childhood, and so closely did he imitate St. Peter's
faith and works, that he seemed not without a Divine presage, to have re-
ceived a name derived from that of the Apostle. These graces, God had
conferred on him, were so extraordinary, that he was admired and loved by
all. Ever modest and humble, he was a cheerful giver ; he was fervent in
charity, and assiduous in all the duties of religion. According to some writers,
Petrock was a of St. Patrick 21 this seems to be a more than
disciple ; but,
doubtful statement. Upon the death of his father, his people insisted on
Petrock succeeding in the kingdom. He was resolved, however, to choose
the better He wished to part.
give up
an
earthly,
for a crown. 22 heavenly
8
See his "Bibliotheca Britannico-Hiber-
to the mode of that Age, wherein all British sailed over into Ireland (as the English in
nica," p. 594.
to the "
Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Men-
sium et Dierum. "
9
According
Catalogus
Actuum
did into there to have France),
10
" He has a previous commentary, with notices of his cultus and the different trans-
lations of his body, in 5 paragraphs, with
notes, illustrating the Acts, from John of Tinmouth.
" See Dean " Church of Cressy's History
Brittany" book x. , chap. xxiv. , pp. 223 to 225. 13 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
after-ages
their Education in all learned sciences. Who would have thought to have found Helicon amongst the Bogs, as indeed it was at that
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii
De S. Petroco Abbate, in Cornubia time? "
—"The of the Worthies of History
iv.
Britannioe Provincia, pp. 399 to 402.
England :" endeavoured by Thomas Fuller,
D. D. , first printed in 1662. A new edition
with a few explanatory Notes, by John Nichols, F. S. A. , Lond. , Edinb. & Perth,
other principal Saints," vol. v. , June iv. 14 "
" Petrocus
it, genere
See Vies des Saints," tome vi. , ive. Jour de Juin, pp. 401, 402.
I9 There we have Camber. " See vol. viii. , p. 52.
15 See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , June 4> P- 35*
20 In the Itinerary of William of Worces- ter, it is stated: "Sanctus Petrocus, rex patriae Cumborum id est partis borialis regni
16
17 This writer
See Father Godefrid Henschen's n. (a). quaintly adds, "according
Anglise," p. 101. 2I See Borlase's
of
"History Cornwall,'
vol. ii.
The Worthies of Wales Generall,
p. 563. l8 See
of the Institution of Royal
"Journal
Cornwall, 1868," No. ix. , Chronicles of Cor- nish Saints, No. ii. , S. Petrock.
II
ii4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4.
In consequence of this resolution, he retired from the world. He left the
royal inheritance to his younger brother. 23 A hermit, who lived in a very
holymanner,hadbeenatfirst aninhabitantofBosmanach. Hisnamehas
been Latinized Guronus. 2* This solitary, named also St. Gorran, or Guron,25
had an humble abode in a small hut, which he left to St. Petroc. 26 It is stated,
that he lived in a valley. He settled afterwards, most probably in Gorran
parish, perhaps, at Polgorran, or Gorran's Pool, a little northwards from the
2 28
church. ? It is said, that St. Petrock professed a monastic life, under the
Rule ofSt. Bennet,2? at Bodmin, then called Brosmana, that is, the "mansion oftheMonks. ''3° Withsixtyothercompanions,St. Petrocembracedamonas-
tic life, in his native country. There, he remained, for some years ; yet, it is not known, where that monastery, in which he dwelt, had been located. After the lapse of those years, he left his hermitage, resolved on going else- where to study theology. When St. Petrock reached the age of an adult, 31 with favouring winds he passed over into Ireland, there to improve himself in theknowledgeofHolyScripture. Helefttheshipinaharbour,whereitsafely remained. 32 Several excellent Masters then flourished, in that Island. Here, he became a great proficient in Sacred Letters, "reading good Authors there,"35andinthescienceofthesaintsheadvancedtoperfection. Inturn, he became a teacher. It is said, St. Finian ? 4 had previously spent thirty years of his life in Britain ; and, when returning to his native land, that he was accompanied, by many British Christians, who were afterwards held in great veneration for their sanctity, by the Church in Ireland. As the time of his return corresponds with the time of Petrock's migration to Ireland, we may suppose, that our saint was one of the companions of that Finian alluded to, or, at all events, that he was attracted to our Island by him, there to pursue his studies under such guidance, at Clonard, in Meath. This was the most famous school in the Island, established at that time. It was founded by St. Finian, about a. d. 520. This institution soon became a kind of university, for the whole country. The fame of the founder's good works, it is said, drew many great men to him from divers parts of the land, as to an admirable sanctuary ofallwisdom. TheydesiredtolearninhisschoolthesacredScripturesand theecclesiasticalinstitutes. 35 ThemonasteryatClonard,atthattime,boasted of many teachers and students. These were famous, in their generation, for sanctity and learning. It is said, that no less than 3,000 scholars studied there, during the course of St. Finian's presidency. 36 The account in the old
sect, i. , p. 380.
3° We know, that a conventual establish- ment, which was associated with his name, existed in subsequent times, near the site of thepresentparishchurch. Perhaps,wemay conjecture, that the scene of his retirement must have been at that place. Besides the copious fountain, which still flows in that
33
John of Tinmouth, in the Bollandists' '"Acta Sanctorum,"tomusi. ,Juniiiv. ,p. 400.
23 This is stated in William of Worcester's
Itinerary, p. 101.
24 See John Leland's " Commentarii de
See the Life of our saint, attributed to
Scriptoribus Britannicis," tomus i. , cap. pleasant valley, we may picture to ourselves
xxxv. , p. 61.
25 He is probably the same as St. Guier,
or Guerir, to whom a church was formerly dedicated, in Cornwall, not far from Padstow.
" De
the young recluse, deepening his religious ardour by devotion, and acquiring day by day a firmer establishment, in the love of our Lord.
3I See Leland's "Commentarii de John
26 See Lelandi Joannis
Antiquarii
Rebus Britannicis Collectanea," vol. i. , p. 75. Scriptoribus Britannicis," tomus i. , cap.
37 The parish seems to have derived its denomination from him. See Whitaker's "Cathedrals of Cornwall," vol. i. , p. 36.
38 By Dugdale.
=9 We are told, that the Monks followed this Rule, until the time of Athelstan. The rule of St. Bennet, however, was not known in Cornwall, so early as the sixth century.
xxxv. , p. 61.
3a According to the narrative of John of
Tinmouth.
» See Dr. Thomas Fuller's "History of
the Worthies of England," vol. ii. , p. 563. M This saint is venerated at the 23rd of February, where in the Second Volume of
this work, at that date, Art. ix. , some no-
June 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 115
Life of St. Petrock states, that he studied twenty years in Ireland. 37 St. Petrock's character and reputation were soon well established there. In the Life of St. Coemgen,38 one of the most illustrious among the Irish Saints, we read, that his parents, who were Christians and of princely birth in Lein- ster, committed their son to St. Petrock for instruction.
Then Coemgen was only seven years of age, and he remained with that master for five years. The selection, therefore, of Petrock, to be the teacher of such a pupil, stamps him as a man of mark, and as a most capable instructor, among his contemporaries in Ireland, It seems most probable, that Petrock lived chiefly, in the pro- vinces of Meath and of Leinster, while sojourning in our Island. At length, having attained a lengthened experience, our saint resolved on returning to Britain, and several disciples were ready to accompany him, from Ireland. Having with great care and diligence laid up in Hibernia a good store of Divine wisdom and learning, St. Petrock went to where his bark remained, and thence he returned to Britain, after a favourable passage. There he desired to impart like treasures to his countrymen, 39 as those he had received in our Island. Great calamities had befallen his native land, during Petrock's long absence. Saxon armies had well nigh quenched the independence of the British chiefs. The invading hordes ravaged the country, from the banks of the Tweed, to the borders of Dartmoor.
renowned Arthur 4 ° King
kept
the
pagan
hosts at
bay,
and in some he degree
restoredthesupremacyofBritishpower. Thisherohaddeparted,however,
1
and his successor, Constantine II. ,* was obliged to wage war, with the two
sonsofMordred. Thesenowclaimedthethrone,andtheyhadinducedthe Saxon invaders to espouse their cause. Still, the stronghold of British power,
Cornwall, was beset, and invaded on all sides, by the foe. During his long residence in our Island, Petrock had seen the great value of monastic institu- tions there. St. Patrick's famous establishment at Armagh, as well as St. Finian's at Clonard, must have been examples to him of their wonderful power and success. Having disembarked, with those disciples, who accom- panied him from Ireland, he was asked by certain reapers to procure water to assuage their thirst/2 Before the barbarians, who lived in that part of the country, where they landed, he struck the living rock with his staff, and im- mediately, a clear stream of pure water began to flow. 43 The pagans no less than the Christians surrounding him admired the wonders of God's mercy in this miracle. When returning to his native country, with a band of fellow- labourers, Petrock's object was to establish a Monastery in Cornwall.
Inquiring of these people there, if any Christian remained in the province, they told him of one Sampson,44 who dwelt in a hermitage, not far distant, and
tice of him will be found. However, we shall treat of him more in detail, at the 1 2th of December, which is regarded as his chief festival.
3S See his Life in this volume, at the pre- vious day, June 3rd, Art. i.
"
39 See John Leland's
Scriptoribus Britannicis, tomus i. , cap.
De 61. Petroco, p.
" Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
35 See
niae," xxiii. Februarii. Vita S. Finniani sen Finenni Abbatis Cluain-Eraird, cap. xix. ,
xxxv. ,
4° He was son of Uthur
p. 395-
30 From the
Hymn
"Ad
in the
Laudes," Warrington's
"
of
Wales,"
vol.
Colgan's
office of St. Finian
Book
4I See Charles Wilkins' "Wales, Past and
Present," chap, x. , p. 61.
42 Jam loca ilia occupaverat Saxo, Britan-
nosque inde fugaverat ; vel qui cum Parto
nuper, vel qui cum Cerdicio venerat prius unde sequitur in Capgravio ; Egressis de
—
" Trium virorum millium
Flistory
i. ,
:
ii. , pp. 104
to 1 18.
Sorte fit doctor humilis ; Verbi his fudit fluvium, Ut fons emanens rivulis. "
—ibid. , p. 401.
37 "
Thus, —Petrocus 20 annis studuit in
;
Hibernia. " vol. viii. . p. 52.
Leland's "
messo—res illic
discipulis, operantes
John
Itinerary,"
nave
amare illis locuti sunt. " Alford's " Annales
It is true, during many years, the
and his eventful reign, from A. D. 517 to a. d. 542, will be found related in the Rev. William
"
Commentarii de
Pendragon,
it6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4-
who was in great repute, for his zeal and sanctity. 45 Here he lived, as a soli-
tary, in great abstinence, labour, watching and prayer, for many years. He used only barley bread for his subsistence. Petrock had a great desire to
visit this neighbour, and to have the happiness of holding a spiritual confer- ence with him. Our saint also wrought a miracle on his behalf. We gather fromthememoirs,thatSampson*6 wasmuchaddictedtothelifeofarecluse; and, there is local evidence, confirmatory of this incidental mention, regard- ing his residence in Cornwall. *? Petrock betook himself to St. Sampson's hermitage, where he found that holy man living, in great poverty. He was labouring with his own hands, in an adjoining field. Giving and receiving the kiss of peace, when they were about to part, Petrock had resolved on settling somewhere in the neighbourhood, with his disciples. It has been sup- posed,48 that Coemgen *9 accompanied Petrock, and that he is the saint from whomtheChurchofKeverneinCornwalltakesitsetymon. Thename,in fact, is sometimes written " Keivin. " Leland 5 ° and Whitaker 5I assert, that the patron was identical with Piran ; but, Dr. Borlase 52 argues, that he must have been a different person, and, chiefly on the ground, that different parents are ascribed to them. " Many Irish disciples, illustrious for learning and sanctity, were associated with Petrock's arduous work. Among these, the names of only three have been handed down. They were Credanus, Medanus, and Dachanus. 54 It seems very likely, they were natives of Ireland. In a brief memoir of" Dechanus" or " Deganus," Colgan states, 55 that he was born at the end of the sixth century, within the borders ofLagenia, in the east of Ireland,thathewasamanofhighrepute,first asanAbbot,andafterwards as a Bishop, in Ireland, and that he was a nephew of Coemgen, St. Petrock's pupil. 56 In order to effect the good work he meditated, Petrock settled in Cornwall. His residence is said to have been fixed some miles off the Severn Sea, and at a place, then named Loderic,57 or Laffenac. 58 It stood, on the
North Sea, and at the mouth of a river. Ecclesise Anglo-Saxonicse," vol. ii. , p. 10.
That locality was called the Heile-
48 By the Rev. John Adams.
4' See his Life, at the previous day, Art. i.
"
hodicrnum diem manare non desinit. "
"
Quassitus hac laboriosa scientise thesaurus cura, tandum est inuen- tus : qui jam ne deliteret, inventor Hiber- nicas gazas in Coriniam seu Cornubia—m
transtulit, et videndas omnibus exhibuit. "
"
Scriptorum Illustrium MajorisBritannice," &c, Centuaria Prima, num. xl. , p. 56.
44 In the opinion of Alford, this Sampson was, no doubt, the famous disciple of St. Iltutus, who became Bishop of Menevia, and who afterwards presided over the See of
"
Dol, in Brittany. See
tannica, sive Annales Ecclesise Britannicoe," tomus i , a. d. 505, num. 3.
43 John of Tinmouth adds,
et usque in
5° See Leland's " vol. Itinerary,"
John Bale says:
p. 24.
5 ' See Whitaker's " Cathedral of Corn-
wall," vol. ii. , p. 10.
52 See William Borlase's History of
Cornwall," vol. i. , Book iv. , chap, xi. , p. 388.
53 He adds, also, that in Domesday, Per- ranzabulse is called Lanpiran ; whereas St. Keverne is called Lannachebran, i. e. , Lan-a- Chebran, the Church of Chebran. There were formerly considerable ruins to be seen, near the parish church of St. Keverne, at a place, called Tregonin. According to tradi- tion, these were the remains of an old chapel
45
he was "nedans le South-Wale. " "His-
toire de Bretagne," tome i. , liv. i. , sect. xxxii , p. 10.
40 His feast occurs, at the 28th of July, where notices of him maybe found.
47 The parish of Golant, in ancient times, was called by his name. There was formerly
an old chapel, called St. Sampson, standing on the spot, now occupied by Place House, at Padstow. This chapel was no doubt built on the site of his Oratory, and it was pro- bably that spot to which Petrock had been
directed, by the Saxon pirates.
54
at Bodmin. " Extat Petroburgi libellus de
SepulturA sanctorum An^lorum ; ex quo
liquet Credanum, MeJanum, et Dackunum, viros sanctitate vitre illustreis, et Petr—oci im\' tatores, Bosmanach fuisse sepultos. " Corn- mentarii de Scriptoribus Britannicis, tomus i. , cap. xxxv. , De Tetroco, p. 61.
55 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernue,"
Martii xii. De S. Degano, Abbate et Epis-
cop. cap. i. , p. 584.
s« John Bale states
Fides Regia Bri-
toDomGuiAlexis— and According Lobineau, prioiy.
Leland tells us, that they were all buried
" In coenobio uero apostolici ordinis, quod in Cornubia aliquot
:
"
iii. ,
June 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 117
muth,byRogerWendover; and,byWilliamofMalrnsbury,itisnamedthe
Hegelmith. 5^
Petrock is said to have built a monastery, on the north coast
about a. d.
Cornwall,
520.
60 For St. Petrock is stated to have thirty years,
of
lived, where he had selected the site for his religious establishment, in inno- cence and seclusion. He crucified the flesh, by remaining immersed in cold water,duringaconsiderablepartofthenight; hisfastingandabstinencewere so rigorous, that he only permitted himself to eat a morsel of bread for his meals ; he was incessant in vigil and prayer : solely on the day of the Lord's Resurrection would he take some pulse, as a refreshment, and in honour of thatgreatfestival. Thisholymanissupposedtohaveoccupiedahermitage,
City of Jerusalem.
and to have lived a monastic life, under the rule of St. Benedict at Bodmina,
in the at Bodmin. 61 We are valley
informed,
that St. Petrock had resolved
on avisit toRome 2
making f although, first, disciples sought
at his todis- suade him from this purpose, as the weather seemed to be foul and stormy. But, Petrock promised, that the day following should prove more favourable. However, his hopes were frustrated, and he began to think the Almighty had deemed him presumptuous ; but, on the third day, the tempest abated, and he set out on his journey, with an assured conscience. Following the me- moir, attributed to John of Tinmouth, Capgrave and Ussher place this visit to Rome, after Petrock had returned to Cornwall, and had spent thirty years
passuum millibus a Sabrino littore redificabat,
discipulos habuit, Credanum, Medanum, et Dachanum—, uiros doctrina et uitae sanctiiate
the Monks. "—Borlase's " History of Corn-
wall," vol. i. , Book iv. , chap, xi. , sect, i. ,
illustres. " " Illustrium Scriptorum
P- 379-
Majoris Britanniae," &c. Centuaria Prima, num. lx. ,
59
See " De Primordiis, Ussher,
cap.
p. 56.
57 This is rendered '* the Creek of Rob-
bers," by Borlase.
58
See Sir William Dugdale's Monasti-
"Laffenac, quasi Lan-manach, the nicis Collectanea," vol. i. , p. 75. Editio Church of the Monks ; as Bodvenah (now Altera, with the preface, notes and Tndex of Bodman) from Bodmanach, the House of Thomas Hearn.
xvii. , p. 1014.
60 "
con Anglicanum," vol. ii. , p. 459.
61 See John Leland's " De Rebvs Biilan-
118 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 4.
there. 63 When he arrived in Rome, his great consolation was to visit the holy places. The old writers of St. Petrock's Acts speak also of his making
a
to 6* at the same time of when he had accom- pilgrimage Jerusalem, life,
plishedhisjourneytoRome.
viii. , p. 52.
"
Thus we find, De S. Petroco, Abbate et 62. Oxonii, 1709, 8vo.
"
June 4. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 113 At this day, as appears from the posthumous list, Colgan intended to publish
10 and edited
his Acts. These will be in the Bollandist found,
by Father Godefrid Henschen;11 while, they are published from a Manuscript Life,attributedtoJohnofTinmouth. Wefindanaccountofthisholyman, Dean 12 Rev. Alban 1* the Petits 1*
collection,
Cressy, Butler, Bollandistes, and Rev. S. Baring-Gould. 15 John of Tinmouth, Capgrave and Ussher call St. Petrock a Cumbrian : but, as he has been commonly named Corinius, which is said to have been an equivalent for Cornubiensis, these writers think the word Camber must have been a mistake for Camber. Suasius incorrectly calls him a Cimber. 16 The Welsh document, " Bonedd y Saint," declares, that his father was named Clement, and that he was a Cornish prince. According to Dr. Thomas Fuller, Petrok was a Welsh-Irish-Cornish man,
1
having his birth in Wales, and his breeding in Ireland. ? However, St.
Petrock was a native of Wales, and of royal extraction, according to most accounts. The Rev. John Adams regards him, however, as being a Cornish-
likewise, by
man. 18
According
to his
Itinerary,
an old Life of this 10 the author had saint,
seen, supplies information, that Petrock was by race, if not by birth, a Cam-
ber. Designated simply as a Camber, this word may signify a native of either
Wales or Cornwall f° and, accordingly, he is claimed, as a denizen, by both
countries. Some of the Welsh writers maintain, that he was born of princely
parentage in Wales ; while nearly all authors are agreed, that he was son to
Clement, said to have been a prince or chief, in Wales or Cornwall. The
time of his birth is regarded as having occurred, in the very early part of the
sixth century, if not late in the fifth. He was more ennobled for his virtues,
however, than he had been distinguished, owing to his family connexions.
Such was his life from childhood, and so closely did he imitate St. Peter's
faith and works, that he seemed not without a Divine presage, to have re-
ceived a name derived from that of the Apostle. These graces, God had
conferred on him, were so extraordinary, that he was admired and loved by
all. Ever modest and humble, he was a cheerful giver ; he was fervent in
charity, and assiduous in all the duties of religion. According to some writers,
Petrock was a of St. Patrick 21 this seems to be a more than
disciple ; but,
doubtful statement. Upon the death of his father, his people insisted on
Petrock succeeding in the kingdom. He was resolved, however, to choose
the better He wished to part.
give up
an
earthly,
for a crown. 22 heavenly
8
See his "Bibliotheca Britannico-Hiber-
to the mode of that Age, wherein all British sailed over into Ireland (as the English in
nica," p. 594.
to the "
Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Men-
sium et Dierum. "
9
According
Catalogus
Actuum
did into there to have France),
10
" He has a previous commentary, with notices of his cultus and the different trans-
lations of his body, in 5 paragraphs, with
notes, illustrating the Acts, from John of Tinmouth.
" See Dean " Church of Cressy's History
Brittany" book x. , chap. xxiv. , pp. 223 to 225. 13 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
after-ages
their Education in all learned sciences. Who would have thought to have found Helicon amongst the Bogs, as indeed it was at that
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii
De S. Petroco Abbate, in Cornubia time? "
—"The of the Worthies of History
iv.
Britannioe Provincia, pp. 399 to 402.
England :" endeavoured by Thomas Fuller,
D. D. , first printed in 1662. A new edition
with a few explanatory Notes, by John Nichols, F. S. A. , Lond. , Edinb. & Perth,
other principal Saints," vol. v. , June iv. 14 "
" Petrocus
it, genere
See Vies des Saints," tome vi. , ive. Jour de Juin, pp. 401, 402.
I9 There we have Camber. " See vol. viii. , p. 52.
15 See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , June 4> P- 35*
20 In the Itinerary of William of Worces- ter, it is stated: "Sanctus Petrocus, rex patriae Cumborum id est partis borialis regni
16
17 This writer
See Father Godefrid Henschen's n. (a). quaintly adds, "according
Anglise," p. 101. 2I See Borlase's
of
"History Cornwall,'
vol. ii.
The Worthies of Wales Generall,
p. 563. l8 See
of the Institution of Royal
"Journal
Cornwall, 1868," No. ix. , Chronicles of Cor- nish Saints, No. ii. , S. Petrock.
II
ii4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4.
In consequence of this resolution, he retired from the world. He left the
royal inheritance to his younger brother. 23 A hermit, who lived in a very
holymanner,hadbeenatfirst aninhabitantofBosmanach. Hisnamehas
been Latinized Guronus. 2* This solitary, named also St. Gorran, or Guron,25
had an humble abode in a small hut, which he left to St. Petroc. 26 It is stated,
that he lived in a valley. He settled afterwards, most probably in Gorran
parish, perhaps, at Polgorran, or Gorran's Pool, a little northwards from the
2 28
church. ? It is said, that St. Petrock professed a monastic life, under the
Rule ofSt. Bennet,2? at Bodmin, then called Brosmana, that is, the "mansion oftheMonks. ''3° Withsixtyothercompanions,St. Petrocembracedamonas-
tic life, in his native country. There, he remained, for some years ; yet, it is not known, where that monastery, in which he dwelt, had been located. After the lapse of those years, he left his hermitage, resolved on going else- where to study theology. When St. Petrock reached the age of an adult, 31 with favouring winds he passed over into Ireland, there to improve himself in theknowledgeofHolyScripture. Helefttheshipinaharbour,whereitsafely remained. 32 Several excellent Masters then flourished, in that Island. Here, he became a great proficient in Sacred Letters, "reading good Authors there,"35andinthescienceofthesaintsheadvancedtoperfection. Inturn, he became a teacher. It is said, St. Finian ? 4 had previously spent thirty years of his life in Britain ; and, when returning to his native land, that he was accompanied, by many British Christians, who were afterwards held in great veneration for their sanctity, by the Church in Ireland. As the time of his return corresponds with the time of Petrock's migration to Ireland, we may suppose, that our saint was one of the companions of that Finian alluded to, or, at all events, that he was attracted to our Island by him, there to pursue his studies under such guidance, at Clonard, in Meath. This was the most famous school in the Island, established at that time. It was founded by St. Finian, about a. d. 520. This institution soon became a kind of university, for the whole country. The fame of the founder's good works, it is said, drew many great men to him from divers parts of the land, as to an admirable sanctuary ofallwisdom. TheydesiredtolearninhisschoolthesacredScripturesand theecclesiasticalinstitutes. 35 ThemonasteryatClonard,atthattime,boasted of many teachers and students. These were famous, in their generation, for sanctity and learning. It is said, that no less than 3,000 scholars studied there, during the course of St. Finian's presidency. 36 The account in the old
sect, i. , p. 380.
3° We know, that a conventual establish- ment, which was associated with his name, existed in subsequent times, near the site of thepresentparishchurch. Perhaps,wemay conjecture, that the scene of his retirement must have been at that place. Besides the copious fountain, which still flows in that
33
John of Tinmouth, in the Bollandists' '"Acta Sanctorum,"tomusi. ,Juniiiv. ,p. 400.
23 This is stated in William of Worcester's
Itinerary, p. 101.
24 See John Leland's " Commentarii de
See the Life of our saint, attributed to
Scriptoribus Britannicis," tomus i. , cap. pleasant valley, we may picture to ourselves
xxxv. , p. 61.
25 He is probably the same as St. Guier,
or Guerir, to whom a church was formerly dedicated, in Cornwall, not far from Padstow.
" De
the young recluse, deepening his religious ardour by devotion, and acquiring day by day a firmer establishment, in the love of our Lord.
3I See Leland's "Commentarii de John
26 See Lelandi Joannis
Antiquarii
Rebus Britannicis Collectanea," vol. i. , p. 75. Scriptoribus Britannicis," tomus i. , cap.
37 The parish seems to have derived its denomination from him. See Whitaker's "Cathedrals of Cornwall," vol. i. , p. 36.
38 By Dugdale.
=9 We are told, that the Monks followed this Rule, until the time of Athelstan. The rule of St. Bennet, however, was not known in Cornwall, so early as the sixth century.
xxxv. , p. 61.
3a According to the narrative of John of
Tinmouth.
» See Dr. Thomas Fuller's "History of
the Worthies of England," vol. ii. , p. 563. M This saint is venerated at the 23rd of February, where in the Second Volume of
this work, at that date, Art. ix. , some no-
June 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 115
Life of St. Petrock states, that he studied twenty years in Ireland. 37 St. Petrock's character and reputation were soon well established there. In the Life of St. Coemgen,38 one of the most illustrious among the Irish Saints, we read, that his parents, who were Christians and of princely birth in Lein- ster, committed their son to St. Petrock for instruction.
Then Coemgen was only seven years of age, and he remained with that master for five years. The selection, therefore, of Petrock, to be the teacher of such a pupil, stamps him as a man of mark, and as a most capable instructor, among his contemporaries in Ireland, It seems most probable, that Petrock lived chiefly, in the pro- vinces of Meath and of Leinster, while sojourning in our Island. At length, having attained a lengthened experience, our saint resolved on returning to Britain, and several disciples were ready to accompany him, from Ireland. Having with great care and diligence laid up in Hibernia a good store of Divine wisdom and learning, St. Petrock went to where his bark remained, and thence he returned to Britain, after a favourable passage. There he desired to impart like treasures to his countrymen, 39 as those he had received in our Island. Great calamities had befallen his native land, during Petrock's long absence. Saxon armies had well nigh quenched the independence of the British chiefs. The invading hordes ravaged the country, from the banks of the Tweed, to the borders of Dartmoor.
renowned Arthur 4 ° King
kept
the
pagan
hosts at
bay,
and in some he degree
restoredthesupremacyofBritishpower. Thisherohaddeparted,however,
1
and his successor, Constantine II. ,* was obliged to wage war, with the two
sonsofMordred. Thesenowclaimedthethrone,andtheyhadinducedthe Saxon invaders to espouse their cause. Still, the stronghold of British power,
Cornwall, was beset, and invaded on all sides, by the foe. During his long residence in our Island, Petrock had seen the great value of monastic institu- tions there. St. Patrick's famous establishment at Armagh, as well as St. Finian's at Clonard, must have been examples to him of their wonderful power and success. Having disembarked, with those disciples, who accom- panied him from Ireland, he was asked by certain reapers to procure water to assuage their thirst/2 Before the barbarians, who lived in that part of the country, where they landed, he struck the living rock with his staff, and im- mediately, a clear stream of pure water began to flow. 43 The pagans no less than the Christians surrounding him admired the wonders of God's mercy in this miracle. When returning to his native country, with a band of fellow- labourers, Petrock's object was to establish a Monastery in Cornwall.
Inquiring of these people there, if any Christian remained in the province, they told him of one Sampson,44 who dwelt in a hermitage, not far distant, and
tice of him will be found. However, we shall treat of him more in detail, at the 1 2th of December, which is regarded as his chief festival.
3S See his Life in this volume, at the pre- vious day, June 3rd, Art. i.
"
39 See John Leland's
Scriptoribus Britannicis, tomus i. , cap.
De 61. Petroco, p.
" Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
35 See
niae," xxiii. Februarii. Vita S. Finniani sen Finenni Abbatis Cluain-Eraird, cap. xix. ,
xxxv. ,
4° He was son of Uthur
p. 395-
30 From the
Hymn
"Ad
in the
Laudes," Warrington's
"
of
Wales,"
vol.
Colgan's
office of St. Finian
Book
4I See Charles Wilkins' "Wales, Past and
Present," chap, x. , p. 61.
42 Jam loca ilia occupaverat Saxo, Britan-
nosque inde fugaverat ; vel qui cum Parto
nuper, vel qui cum Cerdicio venerat prius unde sequitur in Capgravio ; Egressis de
—
" Trium virorum millium
Flistory
i. ,
:
ii. , pp. 104
to 1 18.
Sorte fit doctor humilis ; Verbi his fudit fluvium, Ut fons emanens rivulis. "
—ibid. , p. 401.
37 "
Thus, —Petrocus 20 annis studuit in
;
Hibernia. " vol. viii. . p. 52.
Leland's "
messo—res illic
discipulis, operantes
John
Itinerary,"
nave
amare illis locuti sunt. " Alford's " Annales
It is true, during many years, the
and his eventful reign, from A. D. 517 to a. d. 542, will be found related in the Rev. William
"
Commentarii de
Pendragon,
it6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4-
who was in great repute, for his zeal and sanctity. 45 Here he lived, as a soli-
tary, in great abstinence, labour, watching and prayer, for many years. He used only barley bread for his subsistence. Petrock had a great desire to
visit this neighbour, and to have the happiness of holding a spiritual confer- ence with him. Our saint also wrought a miracle on his behalf. We gather fromthememoirs,thatSampson*6 wasmuchaddictedtothelifeofarecluse; and, there is local evidence, confirmatory of this incidental mention, regard- ing his residence in Cornwall. *? Petrock betook himself to St. Sampson's hermitage, where he found that holy man living, in great poverty. He was labouring with his own hands, in an adjoining field. Giving and receiving the kiss of peace, when they were about to part, Petrock had resolved on settling somewhere in the neighbourhood, with his disciples. It has been sup- posed,48 that Coemgen *9 accompanied Petrock, and that he is the saint from whomtheChurchofKeverneinCornwalltakesitsetymon. Thename,in fact, is sometimes written " Keivin. " Leland 5 ° and Whitaker 5I assert, that the patron was identical with Piran ; but, Dr. Borlase 52 argues, that he must have been a different person, and, chiefly on the ground, that different parents are ascribed to them. " Many Irish disciples, illustrious for learning and sanctity, were associated with Petrock's arduous work. Among these, the names of only three have been handed down. They were Credanus, Medanus, and Dachanus. 54 It seems very likely, they were natives of Ireland. In a brief memoir of" Dechanus" or " Deganus," Colgan states, 55 that he was born at the end of the sixth century, within the borders ofLagenia, in the east of Ireland,thathewasamanofhighrepute,first asanAbbot,andafterwards as a Bishop, in Ireland, and that he was a nephew of Coemgen, St. Petrock's pupil. 56 In order to effect the good work he meditated, Petrock settled in Cornwall. His residence is said to have been fixed some miles off the Severn Sea, and at a place, then named Loderic,57 or Laffenac. 58 It stood, on the
North Sea, and at the mouth of a river. Ecclesise Anglo-Saxonicse," vol. ii. , p. 10.
That locality was called the Heile-
48 By the Rev. John Adams.
4' See his Life, at the previous day, Art. i.
"
hodicrnum diem manare non desinit. "
"
Quassitus hac laboriosa scientise thesaurus cura, tandum est inuen- tus : qui jam ne deliteret, inventor Hiber- nicas gazas in Coriniam seu Cornubia—m
transtulit, et videndas omnibus exhibuit. "
"
Scriptorum Illustrium MajorisBritannice," &c, Centuaria Prima, num. xl. , p. 56.
44 In the opinion of Alford, this Sampson was, no doubt, the famous disciple of St. Iltutus, who became Bishop of Menevia, and who afterwards presided over the See of
"
Dol, in Brittany. See
tannica, sive Annales Ecclesise Britannicoe," tomus i , a. d. 505, num. 3.
43 John of Tinmouth adds,
et usque in
5° See Leland's " vol. Itinerary,"
John Bale says:
p. 24.
5 ' See Whitaker's " Cathedral of Corn-
wall," vol. ii. , p. 10.
52 See William Borlase's History of
Cornwall," vol. i. , Book iv. , chap, xi. , p. 388.
53 He adds, also, that in Domesday, Per- ranzabulse is called Lanpiran ; whereas St. Keverne is called Lannachebran, i. e. , Lan-a- Chebran, the Church of Chebran. There were formerly considerable ruins to be seen, near the parish church of St. Keverne, at a place, called Tregonin. According to tradi- tion, these were the remains of an old chapel
45
he was "nedans le South-Wale. " "His-
toire de Bretagne," tome i. , liv. i. , sect. xxxii , p. 10.
40 His feast occurs, at the 28th of July, where notices of him maybe found.
47 The parish of Golant, in ancient times, was called by his name. There was formerly
an old chapel, called St. Sampson, standing on the spot, now occupied by Place House, at Padstow. This chapel was no doubt built on the site of his Oratory, and it was pro- bably that spot to which Petrock had been
directed, by the Saxon pirates.
54
at Bodmin. " Extat Petroburgi libellus de
SepulturA sanctorum An^lorum ; ex quo
liquet Credanum, MeJanum, et Dackunum, viros sanctitate vitre illustreis, et Petr—oci im\' tatores, Bosmanach fuisse sepultos. " Corn- mentarii de Scriptoribus Britannicis, tomus i. , cap. xxxv. , De Tetroco, p. 61.
55 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernue,"
Martii xii. De S. Degano, Abbate et Epis-
cop. cap. i. , p. 584.
s« John Bale states
Fides Regia Bri-
toDomGuiAlexis— and According Lobineau, prioiy.
Leland tells us, that they were all buried
" In coenobio uero apostolici ordinis, quod in Cornubia aliquot
:
"
iii. ,
June 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 117
muth,byRogerWendover; and,byWilliamofMalrnsbury,itisnamedthe
Hegelmith. 5^
Petrock is said to have built a monastery, on the north coast
about a. d.
Cornwall,
520.
60 For St. Petrock is stated to have thirty years,
of
lived, where he had selected the site for his religious establishment, in inno- cence and seclusion. He crucified the flesh, by remaining immersed in cold water,duringaconsiderablepartofthenight; hisfastingandabstinencewere so rigorous, that he only permitted himself to eat a morsel of bread for his meals ; he was incessant in vigil and prayer : solely on the day of the Lord's Resurrection would he take some pulse, as a refreshment, and in honour of thatgreatfestival. Thisholymanissupposedtohaveoccupiedahermitage,
City of Jerusalem.
and to have lived a monastic life, under the rule of St. Benedict at Bodmina,
in the at Bodmin. 61 We are valley
informed,
that St. Petrock had resolved
on avisit toRome 2
making f although, first, disciples sought
at his todis- suade him from this purpose, as the weather seemed to be foul and stormy. But, Petrock promised, that the day following should prove more favourable. However, his hopes were frustrated, and he began to think the Almighty had deemed him presumptuous ; but, on the third day, the tempest abated, and he set out on his journey, with an assured conscience. Following the me- moir, attributed to John of Tinmouth, Capgrave and Ussher place this visit to Rome, after Petrock had returned to Cornwall, and had spent thirty years
passuum millibus a Sabrino littore redificabat,
discipulos habuit, Credanum, Medanum, et Dachanum—, uiros doctrina et uitae sanctiiate
the Monks. "—Borlase's " History of Corn-
wall," vol. i. , Book iv. , chap, xi. , sect, i. ,
illustres. " " Illustrium Scriptorum
P- 379-
Majoris Britanniae," &c. Centuaria Prima, num. lx. ,
59
See " De Primordiis, Ussher,
cap.
p. 56.
57 This is rendered '* the Creek of Rob-
bers," by Borlase.
58
See Sir William Dugdale's Monasti-
"Laffenac, quasi Lan-manach, the nicis Collectanea," vol. i. , p. 75. Editio Church of the Monks ; as Bodvenah (now Altera, with the preface, notes and Tndex of Bodman) from Bodmanach, the House of Thomas Hearn.
xvii. , p. 1014.
60 "
con Anglicanum," vol. ii. , p. 459.
61 See John Leland's " De Rebvs Biilan-
118 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 4.
there. 63 When he arrived in Rome, his great consolation was to visit the holy places. The old writers of St. Petrock's Acts speak also of his making
a
to 6* at the same time of when he had accom- pilgrimage Jerusalem, life,
plishedhisjourneytoRome.
