Then
throwing
himself on the flames, he made himself an holocaust for the infernal demons.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
AknowledgeofthetrueGod,andofhisreligion,this chieftain seems not to have as yet received.
With him, on Slemish, in the county of Antrim, the saint suffered much, in the days of his captivity ; and, near the mountain Mis, Milcho yet lived.
St.
Patrick must have given him offence, for becoming a fugitive slave ; and, we are not enlightened, as to the hope of pardon from a former master, he seems to have entertained, and the
still more sublime hope of converting that pagan chief to Christianity. But, the holy Apostle does not appear to have remained more than a few dayss* with Dichu. Leaving his bark on the sea-shore, and under care of that chief,5S St. Patrick travelled inwards by land to seek his former master, Milcho. s^ who lived at a considerable distance. Our saint thus taking leave of Dichuo, who is said, by various old writers, to have been his first begotten in Christ, after having come to preach in Ireland ; as he had purposed, Patrick journeyed through the lands of the Crutheni. 57 The saint hoped by his preaching, to subdue this man, likewise, to the sweet yoke of our Saviour.
^7 These are noted on the townland, so been left open ; for, it is not likely this
named, in the parish of Down, and barony
of Upper Lecale. They are shown, on the
" Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Down," Sheet 38. The most
minute and accurate description of the
locality and of the penitential stations will
be found, in the Rev. James O'Laverty's xxxiii. , p. 72, and "Septima Vita S. learned work, "An Historical Account of
Patricii," lib, i. , cap. xlviii. , p. 124. Hence arose a common proverb, among the Irish : Ui pu a -mAOin rHAnce-p (Mantes not worthy of his wealth). It is remarkable, that this legend is not to be found in tlie IrishversionoftheTripartiteL—ife,
of many cures effected there are told by niultis diebus. "
the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient
and Modern," vol. i. , pp. 248 to 253.
4^ During a visit, paid to Saul and to this place, in May, 1874, the writer had an opportunityforseeingthosesprings,some of which are roofed overhead, and they are used, also, for bathing purposes. Relations
54 Some of St. Patrick's Acts—
Catholics, living in the neighbourhood. Here, too, is shown the chair or bed of St. Patrick.
55 gee the Third Life, cap. xxxiv. , and
<9 In the Latin Tripartite, he is noticed as
Mantes nomine. " tricii," cap. xxxiv. , p. 23; Quarta Vita 50 From such narratives as these, we may S. Patricii," cap. xxxiii. , xxxiv. , p. 39 ;
Tertia Vita S. Pa- ""
accidentally alight on an interesting fact or inference. It seems probable, no glass was in the window mentioned : it must have
" Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib. i. , cap.
xxix. , p. 49.
s? Sometimes ceilled C\. \t riA Ci\«icne, or
wicked action could have been otherwise so
readily perpetrated.
5' gee the Third Life, cap. xxxii. , p. 23.
^ It is compared to the punishment of Dathan and Abiron.
"
S3 ggg Sexta Vita S. Patricii," cap.
such as the SecondandtheFourthLives have"non
the Fifth Life, lib. i. , cap. xxii. "
s^ gee Secunda Vita S. Patricii," cap.
xxii. , xxx. , p. 14;
"
550 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
The Crutheni,s8 or — —sometimes confounded Cruithneach,
with the Dal-Aradii^° in general, had settled in the northern parts of Ireland. ^^ Those former people were Picts. ^^ Although belonging to the same race, they must be distinguished, however, from the Picts of Northern Britain. ^3 Ussher's opinion was, that those Crutheni possessed only the northern part of Dal-aradia,^* or that tract, since called Clandeboy. ^s Dal-aradia^^ must not be confounded with the Dalrieda region. ^7 The former comprehended the
South and South-East parts of Antrim County. Another writer thinks it in- cludedthegreatestpart—ifnotall—ofDownCountybesidesf^ but,thisis
" Fort of the Cruithne," and it apparently was in the district, now called Coleraine
"
Irish word c|\uic, meaning "colour," as the
Latin writers called them Picti, or Fictores,
from the artificial colouring of their bodies.
To the Albanian Picts, the latter terms have
been applied, by Irish and classic authors ;
the native term, C|\uicne, is used, however,
by purely Irish writers, to express both the
Albanian and Irish Picts. We know not,
if the latter were accustomed to paint their
bodies, as were those in Scotland. The by Innes, makes allusion to the Picts of Ire-
" Country of the Cruithne. " These are thought to have been so called, from the
Irish Picts have been called, Y Gwydhyl Phichtiaid, by the Welsh writers.
s* The Second Life has this account : " Cumque vellet ire et visitare praedictum
« * * "relicta
land. See " Critical Essay," vol. ii.
^3 As Bede tells us, some of the Picts
touched at Ireland, before they occupied the northern parts of Great Britain. See
hominem
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis lib. i. , cap. i. , p. 23.
Miliuc,"
navi, coepit per terram iter dirigere ad
^^ See " 1047.
Angloriim," Primordia," cap. xvii. , pp. 1019,
regionem Cruthenorum, ad montem Miss. " See
donee
*'
perveniret Secunda Vita S.
Quarta Vita S. Patricii," cap. xxxiv. , p.
Patricii," cap. xxx. ,p. 14.
the same words, in the Fourth Life. See
39. The account, given by Probus, very *'
nearly corresponds. See Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib. i. , cap. xxix. , p. 49. Through
an error of transcription, however, Egli ap- pears, and not Mis, in this latter text. Egli
"
is in the Connaught province. See Quinta
Vita S, Patricii," n. 31, p. 63.
59 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " The
Second Life, n. 50, p. 19 ; the Third Life, I'S'jP-32; theFourthLife,n. 26,p. 49; the Fifth Life, n. 31, p. 63. In O'Flaherty's marginal notes, to the copy of this work, in the Dublin Society's Library, he follows Colgan.
'° They were called after Fiacha Araidhe, a king of Ulster, who flourished A. D. 236. See "Annales Tigemaci," p. 42. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii.
*' Among other northern tribes, converted by St. Patrick, those of the Cruithne and Dahiaraide are distinguishably mentioned, in the Third Life, cap. Ivii. , p. 25. There- fore, although the Crutheni lived in a part of Dal-Aradia, it is thought, by Dr. Lani- gan, that they did not occupy the whole of it. There was a tribe, or a people, called
to have been distinct from them. Some of the Crutheni might, perhaps, have been found in other parts of Ulster. The Tripartite Life men- tions a place, called Dun-cruthen, or the
fast, of Massarene, and of Antrim. See "
Dal-aradians, supposed
quite
^ This latter comprehended the North,
North-West, and part of the South, in
AntrimCounty. IthasbeencalledReuta,
likewise, and, by a corruption, "the
Routs. " Foramoreparticulardescription
and historical notices of both territories, the
reader is referred to Rev. William Reeves'
"
Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix FF, Dalriada, and GG, Dalaradia, pp. 318 to 348.
/«See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- bishops of Armagh," p. 8. Also, "Anti- quities of Ireland," p. 48, vol. ii.
^^ The Rev. Dr. Reeves supposes, that the more extensive application of name, as
in "
given O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars, iii. ,
cap. xviii. , p. 190, must apply to Fiacha Araidhe's descendants, rather than to Dala- radia, which as a territorial designation re- ferred to a northern portion, now nearly
'*
We find nearly
*5 That district, alluded to by Ussher, is what has been denominated North Clande-
boy. It was so called, as distinguished from South Clandeboy. This latter lay in the county of Down. It extended from Carrickfergus Bay, and from the River Lagan, westwards to Lough Neagh. It consequently contained the baronies of Bel-
barony. See
Septima Vita S. Patricii,"
lib. ii. , cap. cxxv. , p. 146, and n. 187, p. "
181. The "Book of Lecan states, that
there was a place in Dal-Araidhe, called xitc riA n-lnge^nn, or "Mount of the Maidens. " From this, the maidens, given by Heremon to the Cruithne, took their de- parture for Albain, fol. 141.
Dubourdieu's Statistical Survey of Antrim," chap, i. , sect, i. , p. 3.
^*
to Sliabh Mis, now Slemish, in Antrim barony.
by Colganss
*^ The " Chronicon Pictorum," published
This extended, it is said, from Newry,
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 551
very questionable. ^9 According to a s—tatement of Ussher,7° Dalrieda stretched aboutthirtymiles—fromGlenfinnaght oneoftheGlynnesintheeasternpart ofAntrimCounty totheBushRiver. ? '
In some accounts we read, that Milchuo was a man of very avaricious disposition, and desirous, on every occasion, to increase his wealth. Hence, we are told, that St. Patrick brought with him a quantity of gold, to please the dynast, who feared, that his efficacious preaching and gift of miracles should soften an obdurate heart, and withal Milchuo disdained to receive the doctrine of one, who in former times had been his slave. Thus, the force of human respect was added to a naturally cold, callous and pagan disposition ; so that, the zealous labour and tender feelings of the holy missionary, for his old master, proved unavailing. 7^ When Milchuo heard, that the Priest of the Most High was approaching, the wicked spirit urged him to a diabolical act. This child of perdition gathered together all his substance, his gold and silver, and cast them into the fire.
Then throwing himself on the flames, he made himself an holocaust for the infernal demons. 73 In the townland of Killycarn,74 and parish of Skerry, there is a large rath, under which are some beehived erections, constructed in a Cyclopean manner, and this is popularly beheved to have been one of Milchuo's residences. The holy prelate, be- holding from the neighbouring mountain of Mis^s the deadly end of that wicked prince, saw his soul in the form of a fiery serpent plunged into hell. For two or three hours remaining silent, and contemplating the infinite depths
of the of — with tears and judgments God, heavy
St. Patrick at
sighs, length
" :
may be loosed. " All this came to pass, according to the word of the man of God. Fornoneofhisraceascendedafterhim,tothethroneofhiskingdom; but, in a short time, all his generation quickly perished, from the face of the
earth, by the sword, or by famine, or in captivity, and in the lowest servitude. Thus,theLordvisitsthesinsofthefathersontheirchildren; and,thus,the axe is appHed to the tree of death, lest it should bring forth branches of iniquity. 76 However, there seems to be an inconsistency, in the Tripartite Lifeofoursaint,incommonwithotherLives,relatingthisprediction. For, it makes Guasact,77 afterwards a holy bishop at Granard,? ^ the son of this
uttered these words
posterity
of this
king, who,
conterminous with the modern diocese of
Milchuo's discourtesy towards St. Patrick.
See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, iii. , n. 26, p. 219.
^* It is shown, in the barony of Lower Antrim, and on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim," Sheets 28, 29.
'5 The Tripartite states, that St. Patrick proceeded past the northward side of Sliabh- Mis, and that there was a cross, in the place
Connor. The
of Dalaradia was ex-
The
lest he should believe in the Creator of heaven, and earth, hath thus doubly damned him- self, shall not inherit his kingdom, but shall be bound in servitude that never
king
cluded, from most of the present county of
Down ; while, the Irish Annals frequently
represent Dalaradia, as a territory, inde- pendent of UUdia.
7° See "Primordia," cap. xvii. , p. 1029.
7' See the Rev. Mr. Dubourdieu's ex-
cellent work, "The Statistical Survey of
the County of Antrim," chap, i. , sect, i. , p. 4. This writer extends the Routs—supposed
to be the old Dalrieda
or so far as the Bann River. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
vol.
sect,
nn.
" Vita S. Septima
land,"
pp. 217 to 219.
i. , chap, v. ,
iii. ,
24, 25,
xxxvi. , pp. 72, 73.
Patricii," lib. i. , cap. i. , p. 125. See, also, Miss Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick," pp.
72 " The DisbeliefofMilcho" is elegantly versified, in Aubrey De Vere's "Legends of St. Patrick," pp. 3 to 25.
—more to the where he
west, stood,
this Con- '^ See Sexta Vita S. Patricii," cap.
282, 283.
77 His festival is observed, at the 24th of
73 Yet it is more probable, that by some
accident, this fire had broken out ; if, in-
deed, we are to credit the account. Such a ciples, we find a Gosachus, who was, misfortune might have been attributed to perhaps, the same person as Guasactus.
flagration.
"
while
beholding
January.
78 In Tirechan's list of St. Patrick's dis-
552 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
Milcho, and, it places two noble and virtuous sisters79 of his, both virgins, and each one called Emeria,^° in the nunnery of Clonbrone, near that town. ^* These are said to have received the grace of baptism; as the roses spring from thorns, sowere they fairestof flowers, and from a parentsiock the most repulsive.
Then,thesaintreturnedsouthwards,untothehouseofDichu, Therehe
abidedforsomedays. BypreachingtheChristianfaith,andbyworkingsigns andmiracles,heprofitedmanypeopleinthispartofUlidia. Dichuoissaid to have resided, in the plain of Inish,**^ whither St. Patrick returned. While he remained there preaching the Gospel, one of his chief converts is named Ross, or Rus,^3 son of Trichem. He lived in a town, called Derluss. ^-^ Afterwards, it was known as Inreathan,^5 and now distinguished by the modern denomi- nation of Bright. ^^ The Tripartite Life calls it Brettan. ^7 This was a castle and a gentleman's seat, in Colgan's time. ^^ It lay southwards, from Down- patrick, and there. Bishop Loarn^s was buried. 5° It is stated, that Rus was very old, when St. Patrick came to visit him, and that he was warned, by the
"
Why strive you for this life, which is passing away from you ? for, all your senses are failing you : your eyes are becoming dimmed ; your ears scarcely hear ; your tongue hardly enables you to speak ;
the number of your teeth is diminished ; while, all your limbs are weak. ShouldInowrenewyouryouth,wouldyoubelieve? " Atonce,Rusreplied, " Whosoever should restore me to the flower of youth must compel me to believeinhismiraculouspower," Then,Patrickprayed,andRusbecamea youngman,handsomeandrobust. Thischiefnotonlybelievedhimself,but three of his sons, and a great number of persons besides, received the grace
:
ofbaptism. Whereupon,theApostlesaidtohim "Achoiceisnowgivento
thee ; hadst thou rather live a long time, in this life, or go immediately to
at once. " after Then,
While St. Patrick remained in this part of the country, sowing the seed
of evangelical doctrine, he became acquainted with a youth, named Mochua, or Mochoe ;92 and, by Divine inspiration, he knew this disciple should prove a chosen vessel of election. This holy youth was only a swineherd,93 but, he
latter, in these words :
heaven ? " Rus " I desire to enter replied,
heaven, receiving Holy Communion, he went to eternal rest. 9'
See Ussher's " Primordia," cap. xvii. , p.
951.
79 Milchuo is said to have had a remark-
able vision, indicating their future sanctity. See the Second Life, cap. xv. , p. 12 ; the Sixth Life, cap. xiv. , p. 67. .
^ These are venerated, on the nth of December.
*5 This was an earthen rath, now probably occupied, by the old Anglo-Norman castle of Bright. See Rev. James O'Laverty's
"Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient and Modem," vol. i. , p. 148.
^This, the native parish of Rev. James
O'Laverty, is very fully described, in the
previouslyquoted.
165.
**? See the Seventh Life, lib.
p. 125.
**
^'
those two Emerias of Clon-
work See to
Jocelynhas
brone, but he makes no mention of Guasact.
pp. 137
"
See Sexta Vila S. Patncii," cap. xxxvi. ,
"
Septima Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , ca]). xxx. , p. 133, and nn. 65, 66,
p. 176. Ibid.
^^ The Second Life has '* campum Inish
i. , cap. lii. ,
p. 73. Also,
"
Patricii," cap. xxx. , p. 14. The same name
See ibid. , nn. r, 37, pp. 169, 172.
^ His feast was kept, on the nth of Sep-
tember. A curious legend is told regarding him.
so See the Second Life, cap. xxx. , xxxi. , p. 14.
9' See the Third Life, cap. xxziii. , p. 23 ; the Fourth Life, cap. xxxvi. , xxxvii. , p. 39; the Fifth Life, hb, i. , cap. xxix. , xxx. , p. 49; the Sixth Life, cap. xxxiv. , xxxv. , p. 72 ; the Seventh Life, lib. i. , cap. li. , lii. , p. 125.
^ His feast occurs, at the 23rd of June. 93 On this account, the church of Mahee,
ubi Dichu erat.
See "Vita Secunda S.
occurs in the Fourth Life. See,
"
Quarta Vita S. Patricii," cap. xxxvi. , p. 39.
*3 The Third Life represents him as being "valde senex," at this time. Jocelyn says : "Erat prsedicto Dichu germanus came, Rus nomine. "
^* Durlas is translated "a strong fort," by Dr. O'Donovan. It is Anglicised, Thurles.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
553
embraced willingly the Apostle's doctrine. The saint himself baptized Mo- choe, and taught him his earliest lessons. —9'* On this first occasion, and aft—er hisbaptism,St. PatricktaughtMochoe, orasJocelyncallshimMochua, the alphabet. 95 This was perhaps the Roman alphabet, and for the purpose ofhisdisciplelearningLatin. 96 jgu^^gyeninpagantimes,besidestheOgham
characters,?
still more sublime hope of converting that pagan chief to Christianity. But, the holy Apostle does not appear to have remained more than a few dayss* with Dichu. Leaving his bark on the sea-shore, and under care of that chief,5S St. Patrick travelled inwards by land to seek his former master, Milcho. s^ who lived at a considerable distance. Our saint thus taking leave of Dichuo, who is said, by various old writers, to have been his first begotten in Christ, after having come to preach in Ireland ; as he had purposed, Patrick journeyed through the lands of the Crutheni. 57 The saint hoped by his preaching, to subdue this man, likewise, to the sweet yoke of our Saviour.
^7 These are noted on the townland, so been left open ; for, it is not likely this
named, in the parish of Down, and barony
of Upper Lecale. They are shown, on the
" Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Down," Sheet 38. The most
minute and accurate description of the
locality and of the penitential stations will
be found, in the Rev. James O'Laverty's xxxiii. , p. 72, and "Septima Vita S. learned work, "An Historical Account of
Patricii," lib, i. , cap. xlviii. , p. 124. Hence arose a common proverb, among the Irish : Ui pu a -mAOin rHAnce-p (Mantes not worthy of his wealth). It is remarkable, that this legend is not to be found in tlie IrishversionoftheTripartiteL—ife,
of many cures effected there are told by niultis diebus. "
the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient
and Modern," vol. i. , pp. 248 to 253.
4^ During a visit, paid to Saul and to this place, in May, 1874, the writer had an opportunityforseeingthosesprings,some of which are roofed overhead, and they are used, also, for bathing purposes. Relations
54 Some of St. Patrick's Acts—
Catholics, living in the neighbourhood. Here, too, is shown the chair or bed of St. Patrick.
55 gee the Third Life, cap. xxxiv. , and
<9 In the Latin Tripartite, he is noticed as
Mantes nomine. " tricii," cap. xxxiv. , p. 23; Quarta Vita 50 From such narratives as these, we may S. Patricii," cap. xxxiii. , xxxiv. , p. 39 ;
Tertia Vita S. Pa- ""
accidentally alight on an interesting fact or inference. It seems probable, no glass was in the window mentioned : it must have
" Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib. i. , cap.
xxix. , p. 49.
s? Sometimes ceilled C\. \t riA Ci\«icne, or
wicked action could have been otherwise so
readily perpetrated.
5' gee the Third Life, cap. xxxii. , p. 23.
^ It is compared to the punishment of Dathan and Abiron.
"
S3 ggg Sexta Vita S. Patricii," cap.
such as the SecondandtheFourthLives have"non
the Fifth Life, lib. i. , cap. xxii. "
s^ gee Secunda Vita S. Patricii," cap.
xxii. , xxx. , p. 14;
"
550 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
The Crutheni,s8 or — —sometimes confounded Cruithneach,
with the Dal-Aradii^° in general, had settled in the northern parts of Ireland. ^^ Those former people were Picts. ^^ Although belonging to the same race, they must be distinguished, however, from the Picts of Northern Britain. ^3 Ussher's opinion was, that those Crutheni possessed only the northern part of Dal-aradia,^* or that tract, since called Clandeboy. ^s Dal-aradia^^ must not be confounded with the Dalrieda region. ^7 The former comprehended the
South and South-East parts of Antrim County. Another writer thinks it in- cludedthegreatestpart—ifnotall—ofDownCountybesidesf^ but,thisis
" Fort of the Cruithne," and it apparently was in the district, now called Coleraine
"
Irish word c|\uic, meaning "colour," as the
Latin writers called them Picti, or Fictores,
from the artificial colouring of their bodies.
To the Albanian Picts, the latter terms have
been applied, by Irish and classic authors ;
the native term, C|\uicne, is used, however,
by purely Irish writers, to express both the
Albanian and Irish Picts. We know not,
if the latter were accustomed to paint their
bodies, as were those in Scotland. The by Innes, makes allusion to the Picts of Ire-
" Country of the Cruithne. " These are thought to have been so called, from the
Irish Picts have been called, Y Gwydhyl Phichtiaid, by the Welsh writers.
s* The Second Life has this account : " Cumque vellet ire et visitare praedictum
« * * "relicta
land. See " Critical Essay," vol. ii.
^3 As Bede tells us, some of the Picts
touched at Ireland, before they occupied the northern parts of Great Britain. See
hominem
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis lib. i. , cap. i. , p. 23.
Miliuc,"
navi, coepit per terram iter dirigere ad
^^ See " 1047.
Angloriim," Primordia," cap. xvii. , pp. 1019,
regionem Cruthenorum, ad montem Miss. " See
donee
*'
perveniret Secunda Vita S.
Quarta Vita S. Patricii," cap. xxxiv. , p.
Patricii," cap. xxx. ,p. 14.
the same words, in the Fourth Life. See
39. The account, given by Probus, very *'
nearly corresponds. See Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib. i. , cap. xxix. , p. 49. Through
an error of transcription, however, Egli ap- pears, and not Mis, in this latter text. Egli
"
is in the Connaught province. See Quinta
Vita S, Patricii," n. 31, p. 63.
59 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " The
Second Life, n. 50, p. 19 ; the Third Life, I'S'jP-32; theFourthLife,n. 26,p. 49; the Fifth Life, n. 31, p. 63. In O'Flaherty's marginal notes, to the copy of this work, in the Dublin Society's Library, he follows Colgan.
'° They were called after Fiacha Araidhe, a king of Ulster, who flourished A. D. 236. See "Annales Tigemaci," p. 42. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii.
*' Among other northern tribes, converted by St. Patrick, those of the Cruithne and Dahiaraide are distinguishably mentioned, in the Third Life, cap. Ivii. , p. 25. There- fore, although the Crutheni lived in a part of Dal-Aradia, it is thought, by Dr. Lani- gan, that they did not occupy the whole of it. There was a tribe, or a people, called
to have been distinct from them. Some of the Crutheni might, perhaps, have been found in other parts of Ulster. The Tripartite Life men- tions a place, called Dun-cruthen, or the
fast, of Massarene, and of Antrim. See "
Dal-aradians, supposed
quite
^ This latter comprehended the North,
North-West, and part of the South, in
AntrimCounty. IthasbeencalledReuta,
likewise, and, by a corruption, "the
Routs. " Foramoreparticulardescription
and historical notices of both territories, the
reader is referred to Rev. William Reeves'
"
Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix FF, Dalriada, and GG, Dalaradia, pp. 318 to 348.
/«See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- bishops of Armagh," p. 8. Also, "Anti- quities of Ireland," p. 48, vol. ii.
^^ The Rev. Dr. Reeves supposes, that the more extensive application of name, as
in "
given O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars, iii. ,
cap. xviii. , p. 190, must apply to Fiacha Araidhe's descendants, rather than to Dala- radia, which as a territorial designation re- ferred to a northern portion, now nearly
'*
We find nearly
*5 That district, alluded to by Ussher, is what has been denominated North Clande-
boy. It was so called, as distinguished from South Clandeboy. This latter lay in the county of Down. It extended from Carrickfergus Bay, and from the River Lagan, westwards to Lough Neagh. It consequently contained the baronies of Bel-
barony. See
Septima Vita S. Patricii,"
lib. ii. , cap. cxxv. , p. 146, and n. 187, p. "
181. The "Book of Lecan states, that
there was a place in Dal-Araidhe, called xitc riA n-lnge^nn, or "Mount of the Maidens. " From this, the maidens, given by Heremon to the Cruithne, took their de- parture for Albain, fol. 141.
Dubourdieu's Statistical Survey of Antrim," chap, i. , sect, i. , p. 3.
^*
to Sliabh Mis, now Slemish, in Antrim barony.
by Colganss
*^ The " Chronicon Pictorum," published
This extended, it is said, from Newry,
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 551
very questionable. ^9 According to a s—tatement of Ussher,7° Dalrieda stretched aboutthirtymiles—fromGlenfinnaght oneoftheGlynnesintheeasternpart ofAntrimCounty totheBushRiver. ? '
In some accounts we read, that Milchuo was a man of very avaricious disposition, and desirous, on every occasion, to increase his wealth. Hence, we are told, that St. Patrick brought with him a quantity of gold, to please the dynast, who feared, that his efficacious preaching and gift of miracles should soften an obdurate heart, and withal Milchuo disdained to receive the doctrine of one, who in former times had been his slave. Thus, the force of human respect was added to a naturally cold, callous and pagan disposition ; so that, the zealous labour and tender feelings of the holy missionary, for his old master, proved unavailing. 7^ When Milchuo heard, that the Priest of the Most High was approaching, the wicked spirit urged him to a diabolical act. This child of perdition gathered together all his substance, his gold and silver, and cast them into the fire.
Then throwing himself on the flames, he made himself an holocaust for the infernal demons. 73 In the townland of Killycarn,74 and parish of Skerry, there is a large rath, under which are some beehived erections, constructed in a Cyclopean manner, and this is popularly beheved to have been one of Milchuo's residences. The holy prelate, be- holding from the neighbouring mountain of Mis^s the deadly end of that wicked prince, saw his soul in the form of a fiery serpent plunged into hell. For two or three hours remaining silent, and contemplating the infinite depths
of the of — with tears and judgments God, heavy
St. Patrick at
sighs, length
" :
may be loosed. " All this came to pass, according to the word of the man of God. Fornoneofhisraceascendedafterhim,tothethroneofhiskingdom; but, in a short time, all his generation quickly perished, from the face of the
earth, by the sword, or by famine, or in captivity, and in the lowest servitude. Thus,theLordvisitsthesinsofthefathersontheirchildren; and,thus,the axe is appHed to the tree of death, lest it should bring forth branches of iniquity. 76 However, there seems to be an inconsistency, in the Tripartite Lifeofoursaint,incommonwithotherLives,relatingthisprediction. For, it makes Guasact,77 afterwards a holy bishop at Granard,? ^ the son of this
uttered these words
posterity
of this
king, who,
conterminous with the modern diocese of
Milchuo's discourtesy towards St. Patrick.
See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, iii. , n. 26, p. 219.
^* It is shown, in the barony of Lower Antrim, and on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim," Sheets 28, 29.
'5 The Tripartite states, that St. Patrick proceeded past the northward side of Sliabh- Mis, and that there was a cross, in the place
Connor. The
of Dalaradia was ex-
The
lest he should believe in the Creator of heaven, and earth, hath thus doubly damned him- self, shall not inherit his kingdom, but shall be bound in servitude that never
king
cluded, from most of the present county of
Down ; while, the Irish Annals frequently
represent Dalaradia, as a territory, inde- pendent of UUdia.
7° See "Primordia," cap. xvii. , p. 1029.
7' See the Rev. Mr. Dubourdieu's ex-
cellent work, "The Statistical Survey of
the County of Antrim," chap, i. , sect, i. , p. 4. This writer extends the Routs—supposed
to be the old Dalrieda
or so far as the Bann River. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
vol.
sect,
nn.
" Vita S. Septima
land,"
pp. 217 to 219.
i. , chap, v. ,
iii. ,
24, 25,
xxxvi. , pp. 72, 73.
Patricii," lib. i. , cap. i. , p. 125. See, also, Miss Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick," pp.
72 " The DisbeliefofMilcho" is elegantly versified, in Aubrey De Vere's "Legends of St. Patrick," pp. 3 to 25.
—more to the where he
west, stood,
this Con- '^ See Sexta Vita S. Patricii," cap.
282, 283.
77 His festival is observed, at the 24th of
73 Yet it is more probable, that by some
accident, this fire had broken out ; if, in-
deed, we are to credit the account. Such a ciples, we find a Gosachus, who was, misfortune might have been attributed to perhaps, the same person as Guasactus.
flagration.
"
while
beholding
January.
78 In Tirechan's list of St. Patrick's dis-
552 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
Milcho, and, it places two noble and virtuous sisters79 of his, both virgins, and each one called Emeria,^° in the nunnery of Clonbrone, near that town. ^* These are said to have received the grace of baptism; as the roses spring from thorns, sowere they fairestof flowers, and from a parentsiock the most repulsive.
Then,thesaintreturnedsouthwards,untothehouseofDichu, Therehe
abidedforsomedays. BypreachingtheChristianfaith,andbyworkingsigns andmiracles,heprofitedmanypeopleinthispartofUlidia. Dichuoissaid to have resided, in the plain of Inish,**^ whither St. Patrick returned. While he remained there preaching the Gospel, one of his chief converts is named Ross, or Rus,^3 son of Trichem. He lived in a town, called Derluss. ^-^ Afterwards, it was known as Inreathan,^5 and now distinguished by the modern denomi- nation of Bright. ^^ The Tripartite Life calls it Brettan. ^7 This was a castle and a gentleman's seat, in Colgan's time. ^^ It lay southwards, from Down- patrick, and there. Bishop Loarn^s was buried. 5° It is stated, that Rus was very old, when St. Patrick came to visit him, and that he was warned, by the
"
Why strive you for this life, which is passing away from you ? for, all your senses are failing you : your eyes are becoming dimmed ; your ears scarcely hear ; your tongue hardly enables you to speak ;
the number of your teeth is diminished ; while, all your limbs are weak. ShouldInowrenewyouryouth,wouldyoubelieve? " Atonce,Rusreplied, " Whosoever should restore me to the flower of youth must compel me to believeinhismiraculouspower," Then,Patrickprayed,andRusbecamea youngman,handsomeandrobust. Thischiefnotonlybelievedhimself,but three of his sons, and a great number of persons besides, received the grace
:
ofbaptism. Whereupon,theApostlesaidtohim "Achoiceisnowgivento
thee ; hadst thou rather live a long time, in this life, or go immediately to
at once. " after Then,
While St. Patrick remained in this part of the country, sowing the seed
of evangelical doctrine, he became acquainted with a youth, named Mochua, or Mochoe ;92 and, by Divine inspiration, he knew this disciple should prove a chosen vessel of election. This holy youth was only a swineherd,93 but, he
latter, in these words :
heaven ? " Rus " I desire to enter replied,
heaven, receiving Holy Communion, he went to eternal rest. 9'
See Ussher's " Primordia," cap. xvii. , p.
951.
79 Milchuo is said to have had a remark-
able vision, indicating their future sanctity. See the Second Life, cap. xv. , p. 12 ; the Sixth Life, cap. xiv. , p. 67. .
^ These are venerated, on the nth of December.
*5 This was an earthen rath, now probably occupied, by the old Anglo-Norman castle of Bright. See Rev. James O'Laverty's
"Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient and Modem," vol. i. , p. 148.
^This, the native parish of Rev. James
O'Laverty, is very fully described, in the
previouslyquoted.
165.
**? See the Seventh Life, lib.
p. 125.
**
^'
those two Emerias of Clon-
work See to
Jocelynhas
brone, but he makes no mention of Guasact.
pp. 137
"
See Sexta Vila S. Patncii," cap. xxxvi. ,
"
Septima Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , ca]). xxx. , p. 133, and nn. 65, 66,
p. 176. Ibid.
^^ The Second Life has '* campum Inish
i. , cap. lii. ,
p. 73. Also,
"
Patricii," cap. xxx. , p. 14. The same name
See ibid. , nn. r, 37, pp. 169, 172.
^ His feast was kept, on the nth of Sep-
tember. A curious legend is told regarding him.
so See the Second Life, cap. xxx. , xxxi. , p. 14.
9' See the Third Life, cap. xxziii. , p. 23 ; the Fourth Life, cap. xxxvi. , xxxvii. , p. 39; the Fifth Life, hb, i. , cap. xxix. , xxx. , p. 49; the Sixth Life, cap. xxxiv. , xxxv. , p. 72 ; the Seventh Life, lib. i. , cap. li. , lii. , p. 125.
^ His feast occurs, at the 23rd of June. 93 On this account, the church of Mahee,
ubi Dichu erat.
See "Vita Secunda S.
occurs in the Fourth Life. See,
"
Quarta Vita S. Patricii," cap. xxxvi. , p. 39.
*3 The Third Life represents him as being "valde senex," at this time. Jocelyn says : "Erat prsedicto Dichu germanus came, Rus nomine. "
^* Durlas is translated "a strong fort," by Dr. O'Donovan. It is Anglicised, Thurles.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
553
embraced willingly the Apostle's doctrine. The saint himself baptized Mo- choe, and taught him his earliest lessons. —9'* On this first occasion, and aft—er hisbaptism,St. PatricktaughtMochoe, orasJocelyncallshimMochua, the alphabet. 95 This was perhaps the Roman alphabet, and for the purpose ofhisdisciplelearningLatin. 96 jgu^^gyeninpagantimes,besidestheOgham
characters,?
