:
February i.
February i.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
, Vita Quarta S.
Brigidse, lib.
ii.
, cap.
xiv.
, p.
552.
Vita Tertia S.
Bri- gidae, cap.
xci.
, pp.
538, 539, ibid.
In the latter life, to the account contained in the text, this following sentence is added :— "Item dixit post aliquantum tempus Bri-
9* The author of her metrical acts ad illos states, gida
that she was not present at Rome bodily, but only saw by a mental illuminat—ion what
qui-
took place in that city. He adds
detulerunt ut invenerunt. "
the first century of the Christian era, Silius
"
:
Officium sanctum placuit sibi semper ha- bendum,
Unde sacerdotes Romam transmisit ad urbem.
Sacra adferre nova et quodcumque audi-
verat
illic,
Virginibus cupiens haic tradere lege pe-
renni.
Libros composites, cantumque et munera multa
Misit Apostolicus Brigidse, concessit ha- benda
Tradidit ilia suis, discendi vertit inusum,"
"
Certavit Mutinas quassata Placentia
--Sexta Vita S. Brigidae, sec. Ivi. p. 594. loid^
— bello. " **
Punicorum," lib. viii. , v. 593. It is now called Placenza, on the River Trebia, not far from the Po. A very interesting de- scription of it may be found, in Rev. John Chetwode Eustace's " Classical Tour through Italy, An. MDCCCII. ," vol. i. , chap, vi. , pp. 237 to 241.
9^ These Colgan did not think necessary to be related, in his own notes. See " Tria9 Thaumaturga," n. 55.
at the time I heard and you speak of,
9' The meaning of the Latin words, in our saint's lives, seems to indicate, that St. Brigid desired to conform entirely to the rites, ceremonies and constitutions of the Roman Church; wherefore, the Ritual of Rome and the Roman order bear such a sig- nification.
93 Colgan says, that in an Irish Life of
St. Brigid, at chapter 50, and in an old MS. , called by our antiquaries, "The Book of
Hymns," in a commentary to a certain can- ticle, composed in praise of St. Brigid, and
commentaries, affixed to the Martyrology
viros ;
dam commutaverunt in Roma missas post-
Ego sentio quod quam venistis ab ea. Exite iterum. Et illi
exierunt et
95 This was an ancient city of Italy. In
Italicus alludes to
it,
in this hexameter line:
I'ebruary I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ti^
affixed to St. Angus' "Metrical Festilogy," at the ist of February. On a certain day, as she could not undertake the journey herself, St. Brigid sent
seven of her disciples to Rome,97 that they might bring from thence the
Ordo of St. Peter, or the Roman Rite. But, on their return home, they en-
tirely forget what they had then learned. To whom St. Brigid addressed
these words " The Son of the Virgin knows, that however great your dili- :
gence had been, it is altogether useless. " Again, she despatched seven other disciples, and with a hke result. A third time, she sent other mes- sengers,andjoinedwiththemacertainblind/r^/^^<? ofherown. TheAl- mighty had endowed this blind man with the singular faculty of retaining permanently in his recollection, whatsoever he heard. Being overtaken by a storm in the Iccian98 or Tyrhene^s* sea, they cast anchor. Alterwards, being unable to raise it, the crew cast lots among themselves, to determine who should commit himself to the deep to loose its fastenings. Their lot fell upontheblindmanalreadymentioned. Ondivingdownwards,heappeared no more, until other sailors, driven by the same storm, cast anchor in this place. When they wound it upwards again, they observed this blind man ascending with their anchor, and bearing with him the Ecclesiastical Rite or
"
Ordo, and a bell, afterwards called, Cloc an mic daill, or
bell of the blind
son. " At a time this legend was in vogue, it was believed, St. Brigid's fa-
mily had still possession ot this bell,'°° and that they used a Ritual, called
"
the
yet it probably shadows the substance of a conviction, that St. Brigid, Hke her beloved teacher St. Patrick, clung with fidelity and affection to the rites and practices of the Roman Church, the true fountain and centre of Christian union.
CHAPTER VIII.
ILLAND, THE WARRIOR PRINCE OF LEINSTER—ST. BRIGID VISITS HER FATHER, DUB- TACH, AND PROTECTS HIS FAMILY—FAVOURS ACCORDED TO THE HOLY ABBESS— SHE VISITS KING ILLAND AND BLESSES HIM—THE VICTORIES OF THIS DYNAST OVER HIS ENEMIES—THE BORUMHA LAIGHEAN—WARS THROUGHOUT IRELAND DURING ST. brigid's LIFETIME—DEATH OF KING ILLAND—VICTORY OBTAINED AFTER HIS DEATH BY THE LAGENIANS, THROUGH THE SPECIAL PROTECTION OF ST. BRIGID.
Again must we regard St. Brigid as having returned to Leinster, where the chief
Ordo Placentinus. "^°^ Quaint though the form of this legend may be,
actions of her religious life took place.
97 Very numerous views of this city by Piranesi are engraved in R. Venuti's *' Ac- curata e Succinta Descrizione Topografica e Istorica di Roma Moderna," published in four 4to vols. Roma, A. D. 1766.
^The Iccius Portus of is Ptolemy sup-
posed to be Calais in Picardy ; so that the sea between that port of France and Dover is
Soon after the death of Crimthann,^
conserua quel libro col campanello nel Mo-
nasterio Killdariense chiamandosi da tutti
Cloc-an-Mic-Daill, cioe Campana del figlio cieco. "—"La Santit^ Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Ibemese. " Libro Sesto, p. 478.
as the " Iccium Mare. "
'°^ The account adds that Placentia -was a city near the Iccian, or more correctly the Tyrrhenian Sea, and that there St, Brigid vtras venerated. See " Trias Ihauma-
usually distinguished
99 This was called by the ancients indif-
Colgan's
turga," Appendix Secunda ad Acta S. Bri-
''
ferently TuscumMare,velTyrrhenum, quod et Infernum. " It lies on the western shore of Italy. See Wilkinson's "Atlas Classica. " Map 24. Italia Antiqua.
'°° The Abbate Certani says:— " Si con- seru6 lunghissimo tempo, e forse ancora si
gidae,cap. xliv. ,p. —608.
Chapter viii. 'This warlike prince
seems to have chiefly resided in Southern Leinster, for we are told, that he warred with and subdued the Northern Leinster- men. After the death of OilioU Molt, he
ii6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ebruary i.
the son of Enna Kinsellagh, while Finnchadh,'* and afterwards his son Fraech,3 ruled in that territory, the star of lolland or Illand* appears to have been in the ascendant, throughout the province. This enterprising
hero was the son of Dunlaing,5 who preceded him in the government, at least of its northern division. Illand and his brother Ailill^ received bap- tism at the hands of St. Patrick. 7 After St. Brigid had taken possession of Kildare, as may be inferred from accounts left us in her acts, that religious daughter paid a visit to the house of her father, Dubtach, after a long inter- val of absence from her parents,^ Her father and all her relatives greatly rejoiced at her arrival. No mention is made of her mother as then living. 9 Dubtach earnestly desired her to remain that night under his roof. With this request she complied. During her sleep, an angel sent from God ap- peared to her. Then awaking, she heard these words addressed to her : "Arise immediately, and arouse your father, with his whole family, and your religious daughters, now sleeping ; for, with an intention of murdering your father and his household, an enemy approaches. But, the Lord will prevent such intention, on your account. Depart instantly from this house, for the foe will soon set it on fire. " Our saint obeyed this portentous man- date, and warning the inmates, these fled. On approaching, their enemy
Dubtach
was greatly disappointed, not finding any of the family present.
are now conscious of all those wonderful things predicted concerning thee. "
"
Our saint repUed :
shall not be shed within your dwelling. " This prediction proved true on a subsequent occasion, for when a certain man intended to strike a woman there, his hand became stiff as he tried to extend it. Nor could he draw it back, until he had abandoned that wicked intention. ^"
" I pray, that the Angel of the Lord may always assist you, as he has done
and others, on seeing the house blazing at a distance, cried out " O holy
Brigid,thyblessinghathpreservedusthisnightfromimpendingdeath. We
was even regarded as King of Ireland for a time, if we are to credit a statement con- tained in the Vita S. Kierani, cap, xix. , p.
"
:
Trias Thaumaturga," Vita
460, See Colgan's berniae,"v. Martii.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hi-
s Hence, he is usually called Illand, Mac Dunking, or Illand, son of Dunking, in the Irish Annals. He seems to have commenced his rule over Leinster, about A. D. 486.
^
At the battle of Graine or Grane, in the
north of Kildare, this lord of Hy-Kinnsel-
lach fell, A. D. 480, according to Dr. O'Do-
^
Both brothers were probably very young
novan's
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol.
men, vv'hen St. Patrick came to their father,
Dunking, then living on the Dun, at Naas.
7 When the Irish Apostle visited Naas, on
his way to Munster. See Colgan's "Trias
Thaumaturga," Tertia VitaS. Patricii, cap.
Iviii. , p. 25 and n. 52, p. 32. Also Septima
Vita S. Patricii, Pars iii. , cap, xvi,, p. 151. Also, Miss Mary F. Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," The Irish
i. , pp. 150, 151. Eochaidh Mac Coirpre was the victor, in this battle, which was
among the Lagenians themselves, A. D. 484,
'*
Chronicum Scotorum," edited by William M. Hennessy, pp. 30, 31. 3 He fell, however, in the second battle of
according to the
Not only on this night, but so long as you live, blood
The following day, one of her spiritual daughters said to our saint
Graine, fought A. D. 492, Eochaidh, son of
Coirpre, being the victor. See " Chronicum Tripartite Life, translated by William M.
Scotorum," edited by William M. Hennessy, pp. 32, 33.
Hennessy, part iii. , p. 458.
8
Ti^g following account is given, at great length, in Abbate D, Giacomo Certani's of Leinster. This would appear from a "La Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Bri- Catalogue of Kings, belonging to that pro- gida Ibernese. " Libro Sesto, pp. 456 to
^ He is regarded as the fifth Christian king
vince. According to that catalogue, and 463.
other authorities, he reigned 30 years. Thus his death is found recorded : "The age of Christ 506. The third year of Muirchear-
» See " The Life of St. Brigid," by an
Irish Priest, chap, v. , p. 58.
'° The foregoing accounts are also sub-
stantially contained in the Vita Sexta S.
Brigidae, sec. liii. , pp. 593, 594. "Trias Thaumaturga. "
tach. Ilknn,sonofDunking,KingofLein- "
ster, died. " See O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 164, 165.
Also, Colgan's
Quarta S. Brigidse, n. 5, p. 564.
:
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 117
during the past night, by the liberation of yourself, your father and his fa- mily. " TowhomthespouseofChristreturnedforanswer:—"Notonlydur- ing this night, but in every age, I shall have the Lord's assistance, in all things, through the ministry of His angels. " For daily do I experience a great joy
of spirit, while I hear, through Divine inspiration, holy songs," spiritual canticles, and strains of heavenly organs. ^3 I am also able to hear every day those sacred Masses, which are offered in honour of the Almighty, in distant parts of the world, in like manner, as if I were present at their cele- bration ;'* while, the angels of God present my prayers to Heaven day and night. Wherever I am, the Lord always hears me, as I wilt show by the two following incidents. ^5 On a particular occasion, a certain woman, who was a leper and infirm, asked me to bring her water, and to perform some other charitable offices, in her necessities. Whereupon, I blessed the vessel, which was filled with water, and presented it, telling her to place that vessel between herself and the wall, so that no other person should be able to touch it, until her return. But, in my presence, the Angel of the Lord blessed that water, and it was turned into whatever kind of liquid that leper desired ; thus, it had the taste of honey, when this was wished for, and again the taste of wine, of beer, of milk, or of any other liquid, that infirm woman especiallyrequired. Again,whenIwasalittlegirl,Ifashionedanaltar-stone in honour of my God, yet with child-like intent. Then, an Angel of the Almighty, in my presence, perforated the stone at its four angles, and placed at each of them four wooden feet. '^ That you may glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, I have mentioned, O daughter, these two interpositions of my Angel
Guardian. Thus,thegraceofGodhathalwayscontinuedwithme. "'7 Already had the saintly daughter secured the respect of her dynast so- vereign and protector Illand,'^ son of Dunlaing. During this visit of the Brigid,herfatherDubtachsaidtoher "Opiousmaid,gotoourking,and
:
ask him to give me as a valuable and perpetual gift, that sword which he lent me for a time. '''9 In compliance with the request of her father, the dutiful Brigid set out on a visit to the Leinster king, who then dwelt in the plain of the Liffey. ^° When our saint rested before the gate of the regal city,
"See "The Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, v. , pp. 59, 60.
"In the Vita Sexta S. Brigidae, sec. li. , P- 593. "Trias Thaumaturga," we have
—
Organa dulcisono resonant cselestia cantu. Hoc pueri pariter cantantes, hoc seniores, Angehci populi respondent, Alleluia. "
lunque parte del Cattolico Hondo. "—"La Santita Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, p. 464. —
the following lines
however—
^3 The invention of
"Trias
Vita Quarta S. Brigid*, lib. ii. , cap. vi. ,
vii. , viii. , ix. , p. 551. Nearly the same ac- counts are contained in the Vita Tertia S.
Brigidae, cap. Ixxxvii. , Ixxxviii. , Ixxxix. , p. 538, ibid.
*^ In Professor Irish Life of O'Looney's
St. Brigid, pp. 30, 31, the King of Leinster, to whom the holy abbess went, is called
Ailill, son of Dunlaing. Perhaps, he and his brother held a joint sovereignty over Leinster, or what seems more likely, Ailill may have preceded lUand in his term of rule,
'^ See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's " La Santit^ Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, pp. 465 to 467.
'"Most probably at JNaas, where therq
reformed Roman Church
music,
he intro-
:
very good warrant,
placed by
*
organs
mote antiquity , and to a period long ante-
cedent to the Christian era. Bellarmine states, that organs were used in Church ser-
vices, about the year6Co, as Platina relates from the Pontifical. When Pope Vitalian
the Saints," vol. ii.
February i. , p. 17.
duced organs as instruments for accompani-
ment. Other authors refer their introduc-
tion in Church services to a later period.
"
See the
xiii. , pp. 485 to 489. Dublin edition.
Encyclopaedia Britannica," vol.
**The Abbate D. Giacomo Certani has
" Merce dell' mio assisto Angelo
it :
nalmente a quanti sacrificii s'offrono a Dio nella Catolica chiesa. Ascolto, e veggo le Messe, che si celebrano in Roma, e in qua-
dates to are-
'^ See
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
gior-
'SThe visit to Connaught without any
is
the Irish Priest's "Life of St. Brigid,"
after this visit to Dubtach. See chap, v. , p. 60.
^''See Rev. S. Baring- Gould's "Lives of
ii8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
with her virgins, one of the king's servants came to her. He said,
release me from my bondage to the king, both I and my family shall become your servants for ever, while myself, my posterity and kindred shall likewise
make profession of Christianity. " The holy virgin said, she should prefer his request before the monarch, into whose presence she was soon con- ducted. Thekingthenaskedtheholyvirginwhathadbeenherobjectin seekingthisinterview. Shereplied,herfatherdesiredtopossessthatsword, which had been lent to him, as a perpetual gift, whilst on her own part, she petitioned the king to manumit or transfer to herself the slave and his
" You
O saint, but what better favour will you accord me, should I grant both of
these boons ? " The holy virgin asked him, what he should think about obtaining eternal life, and of having kings in his line, to the end of time. The king then told her, he did not desire that Hfe, of which he had yet no experience, nor did he care for the prosperity of those children, who were destined to succeed him. But, he asked for two other favours. These were, that he should enjoy a long life, in this world, which he loved, and that he should be a conqueror, in all his wars. ^'^ He told Brigid, that a great war was then pending, between the people of Leinster and the race of Cuinn. The holy abbess assured him, that both those desires should be obtained, when she returned home, with those favours she asked for granted to her. Before leaving, she imparted her blessing to the kii^g. ^^
Shortly afterwards, Illand with a small army, entered the territories of his
enemies, who belonged to the posterity of Cuind. ^3 Having reached the
plain of Breagh,24 he was there met by a well-appointed force. When he saw the number of men drawn out to meet him, the King of Leinster
"
family.
Then said the
king :
require
from me a most sword, precious
Stand firm, and invoke St. Brigid's assistance,
called aloud to his soldiers :
for she will redeem her promises. " With cries that reached the heavens, his whole band called out the holy virgin's name, and immediately com- menced their onset of battle. The King of Leinster had a glorious vision of holy Brigid, preceding him in the field, and holding a staff in her right hand, while a pillar of glittering flame reached from her head towards heaven. ^5 A sudden panic seized on the Neill forces. They immediately
fled. The King of Leinster and his victorious army gave thanks to God and to St. Brigid. To her patronage they mainly attributed the glory of this day. =^ This great victory over the northern forces was the prelude to other famous achievements. Illand is said to have fought thirty battles in Ireland, and eight^7 or nine^'^ in Britain. In all of these conflicts, he proved victo- rious. A belief entertained, regarding his invincible prowess, caused several
was formerly a seat of the kings of Lein- O'Dubhagain and Giolla na naomh O'Hui- ster. See "The Parliamentary GazeUeer dhrin. " Edited by Dr. John O'Donovan,
of Ireland," vol iii. , p. 3.
*' See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's"La
Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, pp. 467 to 470.
n. 272, pp. xxxvii. , xxxviii,
^^^ Probably the plain, known as Magh
Breacraighe, comprising the northern part of Moygoish barony, in the county of West- meath, and extending into the county of Longford, See ibid. , n. 273, p. xxxviii.
=5 See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's " La Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, pp. 470, 471.
"*
Some of the foregoing incidents are
briefly related in Professor O'Looney's Irish
Life of St. Brigid, pp. 31, 32.
=3 These seem to have been the O'Cuinns
or O'Quins of Munter Gillagan. These
were distributed among the baronies of Ar-
dagh, Moydow, and Shrule, in the county
of Longford. Although dispossessed by p. 551. Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, cap. xc, the O'Farrells in the fifteenth
their posterity are yet numerous in that locality.
p. 539.
=7 According to the Fourth Life.
'^ to the Third Life, ^^coj-ding
See "The Poems of Topographical
John
century,
=*See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," QuartaVita S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. x. , xi. ,
"
If you
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 119
kings to court his alliance with large gifts. During these wars and rumours
of wars, St. Brigid and her nuns, at Kildare, appear not to have been dis- turbed, in the least, so far as the even current of a religious life passed on ; nor do we hear of hostile clamour awakening that repose, so grateful to their holy inmates, around the precincts of her privileged cloisters.
The Borumha Laighean or " Leinster cow-tribute"='9 was a fruitful source of warfare between the sovereigns of Ireland and the men of Leinster, not only before, but during and long after the lifetime of St. Brigid. 3° From this irritating cause, probably originated most of those petty wars, carried on with such frequent and obstinate persistence for so many centuries. s^ The renowned warrior King of Ireland, Tuathal Teachtmhar,32 who is said to have fought no less than 133 battles in the different provinces, reigned thirty years,33 during the close of the first, and he was slain after the commence- ment of the second century,34 a. d. io6,3S He is related to have imposed the degrading and oppressive Borumha, or cow tribute, on the Leinster people. 3^ During the reign of King Cormac,37 son of Art, about a. d. 241, is recorded a great outrage, perpetrated or permitted by Dunlang, son to Enna Niadh, King of Leinster. He appears to have assaulted the royal seat at Tara, and on the western slope of the hill, at Claenfearta,3S where the apartments for females had been erected,39 thirty royal maidens,4o with three hundred women servants, had been massacred. This happened on Saman's day. ^'' To avenge this cowardly and cruel act,^^ King Cormac ex- ecuted, at the same time, twelve of the Leinster chiefs, who were thought or proved to be guilty of it, while he increased the Leinster tribute, which already was so very onerous. Yet, this annual exaction was impolitic, as it
"9 There is a very curious Irish tract, in-
ster, and when the people of that province
had submitted to he exacted "the fol- him,
lowing Fine or Boroimhe, viz. , 600 Cows, 600 Hogs, 600 Sheep, 600 Ounces of Silver, 600 Mantles, and 600 Tun of Iron, Yearly ;
" Borumha on the ori- Laighean,"
tituled,
ginal imposition and final remittance of this impost, preserved in the Book of Lecan. Another copy of it may be found in a vellum
which was
of Trinity College, Dublin. A copy had Kings successively thereafter," MacCur-
classed H, 2, in the manuscript, 18, Library.
the — of 40 paid during Reigns
been prepared for publication by the Irish Archaeological Society, but it has not yet issued from the press.
3° See Townsend " of Young's History
Ireland," chap, i. , pp. 15, 16.
3' See "Three Fragments, copied from
ancient sources," by Dubhaltach Mac Fir- bisigh. Edited by Dr. O'Donovan, pp. 32 to 35.
tin's "Brief Discourse in Vindication of the
book i. , part i. , chap, vii. , pp. 328 to 360.
3^ The exact position of this site will be
found on the adynirable map, which illus-
'*
Monuments of Tara Hill restored 32 See an account of his reign in LAbbe from Ancient Documents. " See "Trans- Ma-Geoghegan's "Histoire de I'lrlande, actions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. Ancienne et Moderne," tome i. , part i. , xviii. Antiquities, sec. iii. "On the His-
chap, vi. , pp. 126 to 130.
33 Beginning A. D. 76, according to Dr.
O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 98, 99.
9* The author of her metrical acts ad illos states, gida
that she was not present at Rome bodily, but only saw by a mental illuminat—ion what
qui-
took place in that city. He adds
detulerunt ut invenerunt. "
the first century of the Christian era, Silius
"
:
Officium sanctum placuit sibi semper ha- bendum,
Unde sacerdotes Romam transmisit ad urbem.
Sacra adferre nova et quodcumque audi-
verat
illic,
Virginibus cupiens haic tradere lege pe-
renni.
Libros composites, cantumque et munera multa
Misit Apostolicus Brigidse, concessit ha- benda
Tradidit ilia suis, discendi vertit inusum,"
"
Certavit Mutinas quassata Placentia
--Sexta Vita S. Brigidae, sec. Ivi. p. 594. loid^
— bello. " **
Punicorum," lib. viii. , v. 593. It is now called Placenza, on the River Trebia, not far from the Po. A very interesting de- scription of it may be found, in Rev. John Chetwode Eustace's " Classical Tour through Italy, An. MDCCCII. ," vol. i. , chap, vi. , pp. 237 to 241.
9^ These Colgan did not think necessary to be related, in his own notes. See " Tria9 Thaumaturga," n. 55.
at the time I heard and you speak of,
9' The meaning of the Latin words, in our saint's lives, seems to indicate, that St. Brigid desired to conform entirely to the rites, ceremonies and constitutions of the Roman Church; wherefore, the Ritual of Rome and the Roman order bear such a sig- nification.
93 Colgan says, that in an Irish Life of
St. Brigid, at chapter 50, and in an old MS. , called by our antiquaries, "The Book of
Hymns," in a commentary to a certain can- ticle, composed in praise of St. Brigid, and
commentaries, affixed to the Martyrology
viros ;
dam commutaverunt in Roma missas post-
Ego sentio quod quam venistis ab ea. Exite iterum. Et illi
exierunt et
95 This was an ancient city of Italy. In
Italicus alludes to
it,
in this hexameter line:
I'ebruary I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ti^
affixed to St. Angus' "Metrical Festilogy," at the ist of February. On a certain day, as she could not undertake the journey herself, St. Brigid sent
seven of her disciples to Rome,97 that they might bring from thence the
Ordo of St. Peter, or the Roman Rite. But, on their return home, they en-
tirely forget what they had then learned. To whom St. Brigid addressed
these words " The Son of the Virgin knows, that however great your dili- :
gence had been, it is altogether useless. " Again, she despatched seven other disciples, and with a hke result. A third time, she sent other mes- sengers,andjoinedwiththemacertainblind/r^/^^<? ofherown. TheAl- mighty had endowed this blind man with the singular faculty of retaining permanently in his recollection, whatsoever he heard. Being overtaken by a storm in the Iccian98 or Tyrhene^s* sea, they cast anchor. Alterwards, being unable to raise it, the crew cast lots among themselves, to determine who should commit himself to the deep to loose its fastenings. Their lot fell upontheblindmanalreadymentioned. Ondivingdownwards,heappeared no more, until other sailors, driven by the same storm, cast anchor in this place. When they wound it upwards again, they observed this blind man ascending with their anchor, and bearing with him the Ecclesiastical Rite or
"
Ordo, and a bell, afterwards called, Cloc an mic daill, or
bell of the blind
son. " At a time this legend was in vogue, it was believed, St. Brigid's fa-
mily had still possession ot this bell,'°° and that they used a Ritual, called
"
the
yet it probably shadows the substance of a conviction, that St. Brigid, Hke her beloved teacher St. Patrick, clung with fidelity and affection to the rites and practices of the Roman Church, the true fountain and centre of Christian union.
CHAPTER VIII.
ILLAND, THE WARRIOR PRINCE OF LEINSTER—ST. BRIGID VISITS HER FATHER, DUB- TACH, AND PROTECTS HIS FAMILY—FAVOURS ACCORDED TO THE HOLY ABBESS— SHE VISITS KING ILLAND AND BLESSES HIM—THE VICTORIES OF THIS DYNAST OVER HIS ENEMIES—THE BORUMHA LAIGHEAN—WARS THROUGHOUT IRELAND DURING ST. brigid's LIFETIME—DEATH OF KING ILLAND—VICTORY OBTAINED AFTER HIS DEATH BY THE LAGENIANS, THROUGH THE SPECIAL PROTECTION OF ST. BRIGID.
Again must we regard St. Brigid as having returned to Leinster, where the chief
Ordo Placentinus. "^°^ Quaint though the form of this legend may be,
actions of her religious life took place.
97 Very numerous views of this city by Piranesi are engraved in R. Venuti's *' Ac- curata e Succinta Descrizione Topografica e Istorica di Roma Moderna," published in four 4to vols. Roma, A. D. 1766.
^The Iccius Portus of is Ptolemy sup-
posed to be Calais in Picardy ; so that the sea between that port of France and Dover is
Soon after the death of Crimthann,^
conserua quel libro col campanello nel Mo-
nasterio Killdariense chiamandosi da tutti
Cloc-an-Mic-Daill, cioe Campana del figlio cieco. "—"La Santit^ Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Ibemese. " Libro Sesto, p. 478.
as the " Iccium Mare. "
'°^ The account adds that Placentia -was a city near the Iccian, or more correctly the Tyrrhenian Sea, and that there St, Brigid vtras venerated. See " Trias Ihauma-
usually distinguished
99 This was called by the ancients indif-
Colgan's
turga," Appendix Secunda ad Acta S. Bri-
''
ferently TuscumMare,velTyrrhenum, quod et Infernum. " It lies on the western shore of Italy. See Wilkinson's "Atlas Classica. " Map 24. Italia Antiqua.
'°° The Abbate Certani says:— " Si con- seru6 lunghissimo tempo, e forse ancora si
gidae,cap. xliv. ,p. —608.
Chapter viii. 'This warlike prince
seems to have chiefly resided in Southern Leinster, for we are told, that he warred with and subdued the Northern Leinster- men. After the death of OilioU Molt, he
ii6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ebruary i.
the son of Enna Kinsellagh, while Finnchadh,'* and afterwards his son Fraech,3 ruled in that territory, the star of lolland or Illand* appears to have been in the ascendant, throughout the province. This enterprising
hero was the son of Dunlaing,5 who preceded him in the government, at least of its northern division. Illand and his brother Ailill^ received bap- tism at the hands of St. Patrick. 7 After St. Brigid had taken possession of Kildare, as may be inferred from accounts left us in her acts, that religious daughter paid a visit to the house of her father, Dubtach, after a long inter- val of absence from her parents,^ Her father and all her relatives greatly rejoiced at her arrival. No mention is made of her mother as then living. 9 Dubtach earnestly desired her to remain that night under his roof. With this request she complied. During her sleep, an angel sent from God ap- peared to her. Then awaking, she heard these words addressed to her : "Arise immediately, and arouse your father, with his whole family, and your religious daughters, now sleeping ; for, with an intention of murdering your father and his household, an enemy approaches. But, the Lord will prevent such intention, on your account. Depart instantly from this house, for the foe will soon set it on fire. " Our saint obeyed this portentous man- date, and warning the inmates, these fled. On approaching, their enemy
Dubtach
was greatly disappointed, not finding any of the family present.
are now conscious of all those wonderful things predicted concerning thee. "
"
Our saint repUed :
shall not be shed within your dwelling. " This prediction proved true on a subsequent occasion, for when a certain man intended to strike a woman there, his hand became stiff as he tried to extend it. Nor could he draw it back, until he had abandoned that wicked intention. ^"
" I pray, that the Angel of the Lord may always assist you, as he has done
and others, on seeing the house blazing at a distance, cried out " O holy
Brigid,thyblessinghathpreservedusthisnightfromimpendingdeath. We
was even regarded as King of Ireland for a time, if we are to credit a statement con- tained in the Vita S. Kierani, cap, xix. , p.
"
:
Trias Thaumaturga," Vita
460, See Colgan's berniae,"v. Martii.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hi-
s Hence, he is usually called Illand, Mac Dunking, or Illand, son of Dunking, in the Irish Annals. He seems to have commenced his rule over Leinster, about A. D. 486.
^
At the battle of Graine or Grane, in the
north of Kildare, this lord of Hy-Kinnsel-
lach fell, A. D. 480, according to Dr. O'Do-
^
Both brothers were probably very young
novan's
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol.
men, vv'hen St. Patrick came to their father,
Dunking, then living on the Dun, at Naas.
7 When the Irish Apostle visited Naas, on
his way to Munster. See Colgan's "Trias
Thaumaturga," Tertia VitaS. Patricii, cap.
Iviii. , p. 25 and n. 52, p. 32. Also Septima
Vita S. Patricii, Pars iii. , cap, xvi,, p. 151. Also, Miss Mary F. Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," The Irish
i. , pp. 150, 151. Eochaidh Mac Coirpre was the victor, in this battle, which was
among the Lagenians themselves, A. D. 484,
'*
Chronicum Scotorum," edited by William M. Hennessy, pp. 30, 31. 3 He fell, however, in the second battle of
according to the
Not only on this night, but so long as you live, blood
The following day, one of her spiritual daughters said to our saint
Graine, fought A. D. 492, Eochaidh, son of
Coirpre, being the victor. See " Chronicum Tripartite Life, translated by William M.
Scotorum," edited by William M. Hennessy, pp. 32, 33.
Hennessy, part iii. , p. 458.
8
Ti^g following account is given, at great length, in Abbate D, Giacomo Certani's of Leinster. This would appear from a "La Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Bri- Catalogue of Kings, belonging to that pro- gida Ibernese. " Libro Sesto, pp. 456 to
^ He is regarded as the fifth Christian king
vince. According to that catalogue, and 463.
other authorities, he reigned 30 years. Thus his death is found recorded : "The age of Christ 506. The third year of Muirchear-
» See " The Life of St. Brigid," by an
Irish Priest, chap, v. , p. 58.
'° The foregoing accounts are also sub-
stantially contained in the Vita Sexta S.
Brigidae, sec. liii. , pp. 593, 594. "Trias Thaumaturga. "
tach. Ilknn,sonofDunking,KingofLein- "
ster, died. " See O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 164, 165.
Also, Colgan's
Quarta S. Brigidse, n. 5, p. 564.
:
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 117
during the past night, by the liberation of yourself, your father and his fa- mily. " TowhomthespouseofChristreturnedforanswer:—"Notonlydur- ing this night, but in every age, I shall have the Lord's assistance, in all things, through the ministry of His angels. " For daily do I experience a great joy
of spirit, while I hear, through Divine inspiration, holy songs," spiritual canticles, and strains of heavenly organs. ^3 I am also able to hear every day those sacred Masses, which are offered in honour of the Almighty, in distant parts of the world, in like manner, as if I were present at their cele- bration ;'* while, the angels of God present my prayers to Heaven day and night. Wherever I am, the Lord always hears me, as I wilt show by the two following incidents. ^5 On a particular occasion, a certain woman, who was a leper and infirm, asked me to bring her water, and to perform some other charitable offices, in her necessities. Whereupon, I blessed the vessel, which was filled with water, and presented it, telling her to place that vessel between herself and the wall, so that no other person should be able to touch it, until her return. But, in my presence, the Angel of the Lord blessed that water, and it was turned into whatever kind of liquid that leper desired ; thus, it had the taste of honey, when this was wished for, and again the taste of wine, of beer, of milk, or of any other liquid, that infirm woman especiallyrequired. Again,whenIwasalittlegirl,Ifashionedanaltar-stone in honour of my God, yet with child-like intent. Then, an Angel of the Almighty, in my presence, perforated the stone at its four angles, and placed at each of them four wooden feet. '^ That you may glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, I have mentioned, O daughter, these two interpositions of my Angel
Guardian. Thus,thegraceofGodhathalwayscontinuedwithme. "'7 Already had the saintly daughter secured the respect of her dynast so- vereign and protector Illand,'^ son of Dunlaing. During this visit of the Brigid,herfatherDubtachsaidtoher "Opiousmaid,gotoourking,and
:
ask him to give me as a valuable and perpetual gift, that sword which he lent me for a time. '''9 In compliance with the request of her father, the dutiful Brigid set out on a visit to the Leinster king, who then dwelt in the plain of the Liffey. ^° When our saint rested before the gate of the regal city,
"See "The Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, v. , pp. 59, 60.
"In the Vita Sexta S. Brigidae, sec. li. , P- 593. "Trias Thaumaturga," we have
—
Organa dulcisono resonant cselestia cantu. Hoc pueri pariter cantantes, hoc seniores, Angehci populi respondent, Alleluia. "
lunque parte del Cattolico Hondo. "—"La Santita Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, p. 464. —
the following lines
however—
^3 The invention of
"Trias
Vita Quarta S. Brigid*, lib. ii. , cap. vi. ,
vii. , viii. , ix. , p. 551. Nearly the same ac- counts are contained in the Vita Tertia S.
Brigidae, cap. Ixxxvii. , Ixxxviii. , Ixxxix. , p. 538, ibid.
*^ In Professor Irish Life of O'Looney's
St. Brigid, pp. 30, 31, the King of Leinster, to whom the holy abbess went, is called
Ailill, son of Dunlaing. Perhaps, he and his brother held a joint sovereignty over Leinster, or what seems more likely, Ailill may have preceded lUand in his term of rule,
'^ See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's " La Santit^ Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, pp. 465 to 467.
'"Most probably at JNaas, where therq
reformed Roman Church
music,
he intro-
:
very good warrant,
placed by
*
organs
mote antiquity , and to a period long ante-
cedent to the Christian era. Bellarmine states, that organs were used in Church ser-
vices, about the year6Co, as Platina relates from the Pontifical. When Pope Vitalian
the Saints," vol. ii.
February i. , p. 17.
duced organs as instruments for accompani-
ment. Other authors refer their introduc-
tion in Church services to a later period.
"
See the
xiii. , pp. 485 to 489. Dublin edition.
Encyclopaedia Britannica," vol.
**The Abbate D. Giacomo Certani has
" Merce dell' mio assisto Angelo
it :
nalmente a quanti sacrificii s'offrono a Dio nella Catolica chiesa. Ascolto, e veggo le Messe, che si celebrano in Roma, e in qua-
dates to are-
'^ See
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
gior-
'SThe visit to Connaught without any
is
the Irish Priest's "Life of St. Brigid,"
after this visit to Dubtach. See chap, v. , p. 60.
^''See Rev. S. Baring- Gould's "Lives of
ii8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
with her virgins, one of the king's servants came to her. He said,
release me from my bondage to the king, both I and my family shall become your servants for ever, while myself, my posterity and kindred shall likewise
make profession of Christianity. " The holy virgin said, she should prefer his request before the monarch, into whose presence she was soon con- ducted. Thekingthenaskedtheholyvirginwhathadbeenherobjectin seekingthisinterview. Shereplied,herfatherdesiredtopossessthatsword, which had been lent to him, as a perpetual gift, whilst on her own part, she petitioned the king to manumit or transfer to herself the slave and his
" You
O saint, but what better favour will you accord me, should I grant both of
these boons ? " The holy virgin asked him, what he should think about obtaining eternal life, and of having kings in his line, to the end of time. The king then told her, he did not desire that Hfe, of which he had yet no experience, nor did he care for the prosperity of those children, who were destined to succeed him. But, he asked for two other favours. These were, that he should enjoy a long life, in this world, which he loved, and that he should be a conqueror, in all his wars. ^'^ He told Brigid, that a great war was then pending, between the people of Leinster and the race of Cuinn. The holy abbess assured him, that both those desires should be obtained, when she returned home, with those favours she asked for granted to her. Before leaving, she imparted her blessing to the kii^g. ^^
Shortly afterwards, Illand with a small army, entered the territories of his
enemies, who belonged to the posterity of Cuind. ^3 Having reached the
plain of Breagh,24 he was there met by a well-appointed force. When he saw the number of men drawn out to meet him, the King of Leinster
"
family.
Then said the
king :
require
from me a most sword, precious
Stand firm, and invoke St. Brigid's assistance,
called aloud to his soldiers :
for she will redeem her promises. " With cries that reached the heavens, his whole band called out the holy virgin's name, and immediately com- menced their onset of battle. The King of Leinster had a glorious vision of holy Brigid, preceding him in the field, and holding a staff in her right hand, while a pillar of glittering flame reached from her head towards heaven. ^5 A sudden panic seized on the Neill forces. They immediately
fled. The King of Leinster and his victorious army gave thanks to God and to St. Brigid. To her patronage they mainly attributed the glory of this day. =^ This great victory over the northern forces was the prelude to other famous achievements. Illand is said to have fought thirty battles in Ireland, and eight^7 or nine^'^ in Britain. In all of these conflicts, he proved victo- rious. A belief entertained, regarding his invincible prowess, caused several
was formerly a seat of the kings of Lein- O'Dubhagain and Giolla na naomh O'Hui- ster. See "The Parliamentary GazeUeer dhrin. " Edited by Dr. John O'Donovan,
of Ireland," vol iii. , p. 3.
*' See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's"La
Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, pp. 467 to 470.
n. 272, pp. xxxvii. , xxxviii,
^^^ Probably the plain, known as Magh
Breacraighe, comprising the northern part of Moygoish barony, in the county of West- meath, and extending into the county of Longford, See ibid. , n. 273, p. xxxviii.
=5 See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's " La Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, pp. 470, 471.
"*
Some of the foregoing incidents are
briefly related in Professor O'Looney's Irish
Life of St. Brigid, pp. 31, 32.
=3 These seem to have been the O'Cuinns
or O'Quins of Munter Gillagan. These
were distributed among the baronies of Ar-
dagh, Moydow, and Shrule, in the county
of Longford. Although dispossessed by p. 551. Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, cap. xc, the O'Farrells in the fifteenth
their posterity are yet numerous in that locality.
p. 539.
=7 According to the Fourth Life.
'^ to the Third Life, ^^coj-ding
See "The Poems of Topographical
John
century,
=*See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," QuartaVita S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. x. , xi. ,
"
If you
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 119
kings to court his alliance with large gifts. During these wars and rumours
of wars, St. Brigid and her nuns, at Kildare, appear not to have been dis- turbed, in the least, so far as the even current of a religious life passed on ; nor do we hear of hostile clamour awakening that repose, so grateful to their holy inmates, around the precincts of her privileged cloisters.
The Borumha Laighean or " Leinster cow-tribute"='9 was a fruitful source of warfare between the sovereigns of Ireland and the men of Leinster, not only before, but during and long after the lifetime of St. Brigid. 3° From this irritating cause, probably originated most of those petty wars, carried on with such frequent and obstinate persistence for so many centuries. s^ The renowned warrior King of Ireland, Tuathal Teachtmhar,32 who is said to have fought no less than 133 battles in the different provinces, reigned thirty years,33 during the close of the first, and he was slain after the commence- ment of the second century,34 a. d. io6,3S He is related to have imposed the degrading and oppressive Borumha, or cow tribute, on the Leinster people. 3^ During the reign of King Cormac,37 son of Art, about a. d. 241, is recorded a great outrage, perpetrated or permitted by Dunlang, son to Enna Niadh, King of Leinster. He appears to have assaulted the royal seat at Tara, and on the western slope of the hill, at Claenfearta,3S where the apartments for females had been erected,39 thirty royal maidens,4o with three hundred women servants, had been massacred. This happened on Saman's day. ^'' To avenge this cowardly and cruel act,^^ King Cormac ex- ecuted, at the same time, twelve of the Leinster chiefs, who were thought or proved to be guilty of it, while he increased the Leinster tribute, which already was so very onerous. Yet, this annual exaction was impolitic, as it
"9 There is a very curious Irish tract, in-
ster, and when the people of that province
had submitted to he exacted "the fol- him,
lowing Fine or Boroimhe, viz. , 600 Cows, 600 Hogs, 600 Sheep, 600 Ounces of Silver, 600 Mantles, and 600 Tun of Iron, Yearly ;
" Borumha on the ori- Laighean,"
tituled,
ginal imposition and final remittance of this impost, preserved in the Book of Lecan. Another copy of it may be found in a vellum
which was
of Trinity College, Dublin. A copy had Kings successively thereafter," MacCur-
classed H, 2, in the manuscript, 18, Library.
the — of 40 paid during Reigns
been prepared for publication by the Irish Archaeological Society, but it has not yet issued from the press.
3° See Townsend " of Young's History
Ireland," chap, i. , pp. 15, 16.
3' See "Three Fragments, copied from
ancient sources," by Dubhaltach Mac Fir- bisigh. Edited by Dr. O'Donovan, pp. 32 to 35.
tin's "Brief Discourse in Vindication of the
book i. , part i. , chap, vii. , pp. 328 to 360.
3^ The exact position of this site will be
found on the adynirable map, which illus-
'*
Monuments of Tara Hill restored 32 See an account of his reign in LAbbe from Ancient Documents. " See "Trans- Ma-Geoghegan's "Histoire de I'lrlande, actions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. Ancienne et Moderne," tome i. , part i. , xviii. Antiquities, sec. iii. "On the His-
chap, vi. , pp. 126 to 130.
33 Beginning A. D. 76, according to Dr.
O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 98, 99.
