The
the in second
fifth fhst Book
in
114 chapters
then 107 Adamnan
)
3 kS)
he de- incidents regarding St.
the in second
fifth fhst Book
in
114 chapters
then 107 Adamnan
)
3 kS)
he de- incidents regarding St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
25 to 27.
86 See " Sketches ofAncient Biographical
Irish Saints," sect, ii. , pp. 14 to 38.
87 "
See Primer of the Church History of
Biographia Hibernica," pp. 485, 486.
i. ,
i. ,
68 See " Lives of Illustrious and Dis- tinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. , First Period, pp. 114 to 125.
69 See " Irlande Poesies des Bardes," &c, p. 125. Paris, 1853, 8vo.
70 See "Patrilogiae Cursus Completus," tome lxxxvii. , 726. Paris, 1850, small fol.
"
chap, vii. , pp. 261 to 272.
71 See
et Moderne," tome viii. , p. 667.
Biographie Universelle Ancienne
72 See"Nouvelle Biographie Generate,"
tome cols.
xi. , 307, 308.
73 See "The Book of Days," vol. i. , pp. 755. 756.
liv. xi. , pp. 101 to 334. "
75 See Biography," vol. ii. , col. 334.
76 See " A New General Biographical
Dictionary," vol. vi. , pp. 418, 419.
77 Now Protestant Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore. It is intituled : "The Life of St. Columba, Founder of Hy," written by Adamnan, Ninth Abbot of that Monastery. The Text printed from a Manu- scriptoftheeighthcentury; withthevari- ous Readings of six other Manuscripts pre- served in different parts of Europe. To which are added, copious Notes and Dis-
sertations, illustrative of the early History of the Columbian Institutions in Ireland and Scotland. By William Reeves, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , Curate of Kilconriola, in the Dio- cese of Connor. Dublin, 1857, 4to.
78 It is printed as vol. vi. , of the series "Historians of Scotland. " Its title there
83 It is
intituled,
" Life of St. Columba, Founder of
stands
Hy. " Written by Adamnan, ninth Abbot of that Monastery. Edited by William Reeves, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , Rector of Tynan and Canon of Armagh. Edinburgh, 1874, 8vo.
:
260 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
88 William F. 8o Chambers's 00 the Rev. Bishop Forbes, Skene, Encyclopaedia,
01 02 Q S. Baring-Gould, the Encyclopedia Britannica, les Petits Bollandistes, 3
the Dictionary of Christian Biography, * His Eminence Cardinal Moran,°5 Alfred Webb,00 and the Duke ofArgyll, ? present us with various dissertations,
whichservetothrowgreatlightonhisbiography. Itmustproveanimpracti- cable task, however, to enumerate all the special treatises and articles published, which have a direct or mediate bearing on the subject of St. Columb's Acts.
The most complete and trustworthy materials, for the elucidation of
the
published by Colgan. 00
the succeeding pages.
present memoir,
are to be found in the five different 08 biographical Treatises,
These are usually quoted, in his order, throughout
The first of Colgan's Lives is not very lengthy, and in
it several incidents are told, but without apparent attention to the order ot
time. At one period, the editor was of opinion, that it had been composed
by Cumineus Albus ; but again, he thought it should be attributed to some
other unidentified author. He concluded, likewise, this treatise had been
written some one or other of St. Columba's 100 who had recorded
by disciples, theirgreatarchimandrite'sacts. 101 ThisfirstLifecontainsmanyancedotes,102 not found in the second ; while, in the other three, those have been intro- duced according to a different plan and order. From various arguments, which he gives, Colgan laboured to prove, that the second of his published Lives must be attributed to Cumineus Albus. io3 These are the chief reasons alleged ; first, Father Hugh Ward, a most learned investigator of Irish anti- quity, had prefixed the name of Cumineus Albus to his copy of it ; secondly, becausetheauthorofit seemedtohavebeenamonkofIona,IO-» tohavelived about the I05 and to have that he had seen St. Columba's
immediate
year 650, disciples,
intimated,
or those who were his 100 contemporaries ;
thirdly,
Ireland, vol. i. , book i. , chap, ix. , x. , xi. ,
no chapters—the third in 78 chapters, pp. 389 10455.
99 These Acts are admirably introduced by a Dissertation regarding them, in the shape of a Preface, and addressed to the reader. They are all learnedly annotated, and succeeded by five most methodical and illustrative Appendices.
100 See the account of such a in tradition,
the time of Venerable Bede, "Historia Ec-
clesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. hi. ,
cap. iv.
pp. 74 to 107. 88 "
See Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
PP- 3o6> 3°7- "
89 See Celtic Scotland," vol. ii. , book ii. ,
chap. ii. to iv. , pp. 78 to 148.
90 See vol. hi. , pp. 136, 137. Revised edi-
tion. London, 1874, small fol.
91 See "Lives of the June 9, pp. 90 to 126.
Saints,"
vol.
vi. ,
92 See vol. vi. , p. 167. Ninth edition, Edinburgh, 1877, 4to.
93See "Vies des
tome
101 to Thomas six
ixe de Jour
Saints," Juin, pp. 541, 542.
vi. ,
According
or seven of those
Dempster,
wrote St. Columba's Life, viz. : St. Baithen, St. Ether- nan, St. Failbe, St. Finten, St. Gallan, St. Golgus, and St. Virgnous. See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," num. 123,
459, 5p3. 5°7. 556, 578, 1 1 70.
102
See cap. v. , vi. , viii. , xi. , xiv. . xv. , xxi. , «7 See Io-na," Third Edition. London, xxii. , xxiii. , xxiv. , xxv. , xxvi. , xxvii. , xxviii. ,
9* Edited by Rev. Dr. William Smith. See vol. i. , pp. 602 to 605.
95 See " Irish Saints in Great Britain," chap, hi. , pp. 53 to 103.
59 See "Compendium of Irish Biogra-
phy, pp. . 87, 88. "
1882, cr. 8vo.
98 These are. classed in the following
order, with pagination to correspond. I. A first prose I ;lle j n ^j chapters, with notes, pp. 321 to 325. II. A second Life in 39 chapters, with noteS; pp. 325 to 331. III. A third Life in with
XXX.
103 Adamnan says he wrote a Book, on
the Acts of St. Columba. See lib. hi. , cap. viii.
">* In the Thirty-first and Thirty-eighth chapters, he calls St. Columba his Patron.
4
-j
chapters,
notes, pp.
the Four Thirty-eighth chapter,
332 to 335- IV. A fourth Life by Adam- ',
nanin Boc —
V. A
with notes.
The
the in second
fifth fhst Book
in
114 chapters
then 107 Adamnan
)
3 kS)
he de- incidents regarding St. Columba's decease had been communicated
present.
A. D.
L|fe i«
3 Books,
—
by persons
with notes. The first Book
106 In the
contains 50 uiapters
ters—the t^ir(j 24 chapters, pp. 336 to 386.
that some
the second
46 chap- clares,
,05 The "Annals of place his death, at A. D. 668.
Masters"
died,
703.
disciples
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 261
because he seems to have written this Life, before Adamnan's had been
written I07 for otherwise, he would be likely to include some anecdotes left by ;
the latter, and which are not to be found in this Second Life ; and, fourthly, because from the Twentieth chapter to the end of the tract, he has almost
Manuscript,belongingtothemonasteryofCompeigne. BothColganJisand the 110 have confounded Cumineus with
the same narrative that Adamnan
cal analysis of this Treatise is thought to establish the conclusion, 100 that it hadbeenacompilationfromtwodistinctworks. 110 AstheworkofCumineus or Cuminias, it has been published by Mabillon IJI and by Pinkerton. 112 The original of the name is Cumin, and it was thought, he was Abbot of Iona in the year 65 7. "3 Dr. Lanigan, 114 too, says there can be no doubt regarding Cumi- neus being author of the first Life, as edited by Colgan. The lattertook his copy fromaManuscriptsupplementofBelforttoSurius; whileMabillonfolloweda
Bollandists, however, strangely Cummian, author of the celebrated Paschal Epistle.
Albus, Harris has fallen into a
similar mistake. 11? The Third Life was written
by John Capgrave,"
8 or
rather of
John Teignmouth,
who lived at an earlier 110 As this had period.
108
Hence, probably, he either copied from Adamnan, or Adamnan copied from
him ; but, for the reasons
Adamnan did not copy from him, and be- sides there seems no fair reason, why he should omit other anecdotes written by Adamnan. Therefore, Colgan argues, that Adamnan acknowledges his indebtedness to this presumed work of Cumineus Albus, while his insertion of other matters was on the faith of approved witnesses. Colgan then proceeds to state some objections that may be urged, while he solves them very plausi- bly, and apparently to his own satisfaction.
109 According to Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
about Cumineus, the Abbot.
"2 See " Vitse Antiquse Sanctorum Scotia? . "
110
In the Nineteenth chapter the saint's
dus had previously distinguished them as different persons, at the 24th of February, p. 429.
II7 See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Writers of Ireland," Book i. , chap, iv. , p. 37.
assigned already,
"3 See Ussher's " Britanicarum Ecclesia- rum Antiquitates,"cap. xv. , p. 367, and "In- dex Chronologicus. " A. D. , dclxix. , p. 539.
gives
been compiled many centuries after Columba's time, Bede and Adamnan
I2°
This Life occupies nearly the same number of columns, as the first ; while it con- tains some statements, differing from those of Adamnan and other writers, on
appear to have been the authorities chiefly used, in composing it.
the 121 subject.
is I22 to be more ancient than the former thought
This, too,
part; while we may consider the prologue to have been written, long subsequent tothatperiod,whenCumineusAlbuslived. AdifferentversionofColumba's
death is again introduced, and with additional circumstances, in the thirty- fifth chapter. This Second Life differs in many respects from the first memoir,
death is narrated, and this appears to have
been the conclusion of a complete tract,
written some This work is a by foreigner.
sort of brief biographical treatise, borrowed
chiefly from Adamnan, with some additions
from later documents. The remaining part
from the Twentieth chapter to the end is
said to have been the production of a this writer. They appeared at London,
different writer, and in a style less correct. The writer of thjs part, indeed, seems to have been a monk of Hy, and to have bor- rowed nearly the whole of his tract from Adamnan's memoir.
111 See "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene-
dicti," tomus i. It is remarkable, that
Mabillon places the Island of Hy "in Ang- viii. , ix. , xiii. , xv. , xvi. , xvii. , xviii. , xx. ,
lia," ins ad of "in Scotia," when treating xxi. , xxiii. , xxiv. , xxvi. , xxvii.
in his Third Book. 108 A more criti-
"4 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, vii. , n. 70, pp.
107, 108.
1I5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise,"
xxiv. Februarii. De S. Cumineo sive Cum-
eano, pp. 408 to 411.
II6 1
See "Acta Sanctorum,' xviii. Aprilis. ActaS. Laseriani. Yet,thelearnedBollan-
II8 He flourished in and wrote 1480,
a. d. 15 16.
I20 See Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vdI. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, vii. , p. 109.
I21 See chapters i. , ii. , v.
122 By Rev. John Lanigan, D. D.
123 See chapters i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , v. , vi. , vii. ,
"
Legenda Sanctorum Angliae. "
II9 This Benedictine monk lived about the
year 1366. John Capgrave seems to have taken all the lives published by him, from
262 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
and from other biographical tracts succeeding it. It inserts certain things omit- ted from the first, third, and fourth Lives. I2 3 These, too, in some entries are specifically different f—rom its contents. The biography ofSt. Columkille, —as
12*
writtenbyAdamnan classedamongthewritersoftheseventhcentury morenearlyapproacheshistimethananyotherknowntobeextant. I2s Con- sequently, it has been generally regarded as the most authentic. 126 In de- picting St. Columba's life and character, this early biographer intended to present in a brief manner, a general summary of his Acts, so that the reader might contemplate the image of his holy career. Adamnan promises briefly torecordthemiraclesofhisgreatPatron. 12? Weshouldnotdespisearecord of beneficent deeds, which bear the impress of God's seal, remarks the bio- grapher j and, we have only to regret, that he has not succeeded in rescuing from the waifs of record or tradition, many more important incidents, than those he had selected. 128 It is rather strange, too, that the writer deems the Irish etymons of obscure men, tribes, and places, as rude and inelegant, when
12 compared with others in the various languages of foreign nations. ^ In this
respect, he imitates other Irish writers, who were and are accustomed to
depreciate their native tongue. '3° In no respect does the biography of St.
Columkille by Adamnan appear so faulty, as in the very unsystematic manner
shown, by proceeding to relate in the First Book, not the ordinary facts of
early childhood, or even of opening youth, but those prophetic revelations,
which were made to him in after life. ^1 The
Adamnan's book lies, in the vivid though incidental touches of life and man-
"
124 See Mre. L. Ellies Dupin's Bibliotheque des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques" &c,tomevi. ,p. 44.
"5 In Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," this Life is designated among the five different biographies of St. Columkille, the Quarta Vita S. Columbaj. It begins, at the 336th page, and it continues to the 386th, includ- ing tlie learned commentaries of the editor.
126 Yet, it is not the most ancient Life,
that had been compiled ; for Adamnan him-
self acknowledges his indebtedness to pre-
viously available records, for the subject
matter of his memoir. The renowned bio-
graher of our saint begins his undertaking by invoking the name of Jesus Christ on his
labours, originating from earnest desires, preferred by his monks, that the virtues of
learned abbot. This latter apologizes for the uncouth and inelegant style of his com-
position. Yet, he is scarcely just to his own performance in this estimate ; but, he wishes the reader to regard the facts contained in it, rather than the words. For, as he justly remarks, the kingdom of God is not to be sought for in the flowers of speech, but in the fruits of Divine Faith.
127 The writer declares, chiefly with a view of exciting a relish for their more detailed account, which was to be given in three sub- sequent books. These were to be divided on the following system : the first book was destined to contain Prophetic Revela- tions ; the second, Divine Miracles effected throughhim; whilethethirdwastoinclude
Nouvelle
Angelic Apparitions and certain Manifesta- tions of celestial lights poured on the man ofGod. Adamnandeprecatestheintention of stating any falsehood, or of recording any- thing doubtful or debatable, regarding a man so favoured.
128
Popular favour, in his estimation, had published the less interesting actions of St. Columba, as compared with the few things which it fell to his province, briefly to relate. Many other events, well worthy of being told, had been omitted, so that the reader's patience might not be wearied in perusing the acts of this man of blessed memory. Such are the chief observations and informa-
tion regarding the writer's plan and objects, to be derived from a perusal of his introduc- tory remarks.
129 See Adamnan's First Preface, Vita memorated, through their humble and S. Columbas, in "Trias Thaumaturga,"
their holy patron might be suitably com-
imperishable
interest of
P- 336,
130 However, it is now universally con-
ceded by scholars, who have well studied its peculiarities and who have the most com-
plete knowledge of comparative philology, that the Irish language cannot be excelled
by any known, in the polish, elegance, copiousness, energy and expression of its diction and structural features.
131 In tlie accomplishment of this task, the biographer opens his narrative with a brief sketch of his wondeiful miracles. Alluding
to a promise already given, in his Preface, Adamnan commences his first book with a brief account of evidence, which the vene- rable man gave of St. Columba's miraculous powers.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 263 nerswhich he gives us, in the telling of his tales—of habits and customs, as they
ofancient^2 haddiedaway,andbeforethelightofmodernhistoryhadarisen. Adamnan had resolved to tell with all candour, what he had learned from the consistent narratives of his predecessors, and from other trustworthy persons. This narra- tive was founded, likewise, on written authorities, anterior to his own period, as also on what he had a personal knowledge of, owing to accounts given by veryveraciousandintelligentseniors. Theseattestedseveralfacts,thetruth
of which they had undoubtedly ascertained. x 33 In the name of Jesus Christ,
Adamnan commences the Second Preface or Prologue to his work, which in-
troduction, however, is found separated from the Second Book. With a
beautiful simplicity of style and narrative, it tells how there was a man of
reverend life and of blessed memory, the father and founder of many monas-
!
teries. 34 In the fifth place, Colgan publishes certain Extracts, translated into
Latin, and taken from a very large biography of St. Columkiile, completed about the year 1520, and divided into three books. This had been written
in Irish, by Magnus or Manus O'Donnel, Prince of Tyrconnell. Many parts of it have been omitted, by Colgan, who did not wish to cause tedium to his
readers, by repeating what had been already published, from more ancient
J
Lives. 3S However, he has given narratives omitted from other memoirs, or
x 38 and known as his edition of St. Columba's Life, by Adamnan, 39 is chiefly used to authenticate obscurities of general facts. Our ancient Annals, and the Acts of other Irish Saints, have served a useful purpose, in elucidating the incidents of this illustrious Abbot's
biography.
We read in his Life, that the birth and future greatness of St. Columkiile
had been foretold, many years before his time. Among the various predic-
tions referring to him, none are more remarkable, than those which are recorded,
1 asdatingfrompre-Christiantime. ItwasrevealedtoFedhlimidhReachtmhar,*
son to Tuathal the Legitimate, 141 monarch of Erin, in the thirteenth ascend- ing generation before his period, that Colum Cille should be born from his race. ' 42 The legend as related I43 gives us to understand, that he had a
were in that obscure but most fruitful when the time,
light
history
thought
werecalculatedtoelucidatetheirdoubtful x36 This passages.
whichhe
is a very useful work, notwithstanding, since it follows a more regular chrono- logical order than the other published Lives present. 13? That wonderfully
learned and researchful work of Rev. Dr. J
Reeves,
132 See " Iona," by the Duke of Argyll,
chap. i. , p. 53.
133 See Secunda Pnefacio, Vita S. Colum-
n. 70, p. no.
I38 This indeed a which supplies void,
must have been found truly embarrassing to
bx, Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," the gleaner of particulars, respecting the
p. 336,
134 Three hundred are enumerated in Ire-
land and Scotland, according to some ancient accounts. This must be regarded,
illustrious Apostle of Caledonia, had it not issued from the press.
139 It was published for the Irish Archaeo-
logical and Celtic Society.
' 4° He flourished, in the second of century
the Christian era, and after a reign of nine years over Ireland, he died a. d. 120. See
however, tion.
as
savouring
of
great exaggera-
,35 Besides this, we find that he compiled other Lives of Irish Saints, thus described by Lhuyd : 25. Vita?
86 See " Sketches ofAncient Biographical
Irish Saints," sect, ii. , pp. 14 to 38.
87 "
See Primer of the Church History of
Biographia Hibernica," pp. 485, 486.
i. ,
i. ,
68 See " Lives of Illustrious and Dis- tinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. , First Period, pp. 114 to 125.
69 See " Irlande Poesies des Bardes," &c, p. 125. Paris, 1853, 8vo.
70 See "Patrilogiae Cursus Completus," tome lxxxvii. , 726. Paris, 1850, small fol.
"
chap, vii. , pp. 261 to 272.
71 See
et Moderne," tome viii. , p. 667.
Biographie Universelle Ancienne
72 See"Nouvelle Biographie Generate,"
tome cols.
xi. , 307, 308.
73 See "The Book of Days," vol. i. , pp. 755. 756.
liv. xi. , pp. 101 to 334. "
75 See Biography," vol. ii. , col. 334.
76 See " A New General Biographical
Dictionary," vol. vi. , pp. 418, 419.
77 Now Protestant Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore. It is intituled : "The Life of St. Columba, Founder of Hy," written by Adamnan, Ninth Abbot of that Monastery. The Text printed from a Manu- scriptoftheeighthcentury; withthevari- ous Readings of six other Manuscripts pre- served in different parts of Europe. To which are added, copious Notes and Dis-
sertations, illustrative of the early History of the Columbian Institutions in Ireland and Scotland. By William Reeves, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , Curate of Kilconriola, in the Dio- cese of Connor. Dublin, 1857, 4to.
78 It is printed as vol. vi. , of the series "Historians of Scotland. " Its title there
83 It is
intituled,
" Life of St. Columba, Founder of
stands
Hy. " Written by Adamnan, ninth Abbot of that Monastery. Edited by William Reeves, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , Rector of Tynan and Canon of Armagh. Edinburgh, 1874, 8vo.
:
260 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
88 William F. 8o Chambers's 00 the Rev. Bishop Forbes, Skene, Encyclopaedia,
01 02 Q S. Baring-Gould, the Encyclopedia Britannica, les Petits Bollandistes, 3
the Dictionary of Christian Biography, * His Eminence Cardinal Moran,°5 Alfred Webb,00 and the Duke ofArgyll, ? present us with various dissertations,
whichservetothrowgreatlightonhisbiography. Itmustproveanimpracti- cable task, however, to enumerate all the special treatises and articles published, which have a direct or mediate bearing on the subject of St. Columb's Acts.
The most complete and trustworthy materials, for the elucidation of
the
published by Colgan. 00
the succeeding pages.
present memoir,
are to be found in the five different 08 biographical Treatises,
These are usually quoted, in his order, throughout
The first of Colgan's Lives is not very lengthy, and in
it several incidents are told, but without apparent attention to the order ot
time. At one period, the editor was of opinion, that it had been composed
by Cumineus Albus ; but again, he thought it should be attributed to some
other unidentified author. He concluded, likewise, this treatise had been
written some one or other of St. Columba's 100 who had recorded
by disciples, theirgreatarchimandrite'sacts. 101 ThisfirstLifecontainsmanyancedotes,102 not found in the second ; while, in the other three, those have been intro- duced according to a different plan and order. From various arguments, which he gives, Colgan laboured to prove, that the second of his published Lives must be attributed to Cumineus Albus. io3 These are the chief reasons alleged ; first, Father Hugh Ward, a most learned investigator of Irish anti- quity, had prefixed the name of Cumineus Albus to his copy of it ; secondly, becausetheauthorofit seemedtohavebeenamonkofIona,IO-» tohavelived about the I05 and to have that he had seen St. Columba's
immediate
year 650, disciples,
intimated,
or those who were his 100 contemporaries ;
thirdly,
Ireland, vol. i. , book i. , chap, ix. , x. , xi. ,
no chapters—the third in 78 chapters, pp. 389 10455.
99 These Acts are admirably introduced by a Dissertation regarding them, in the shape of a Preface, and addressed to the reader. They are all learnedly annotated, and succeeded by five most methodical and illustrative Appendices.
100 See the account of such a in tradition,
the time of Venerable Bede, "Historia Ec-
clesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. hi. ,
cap. iv.
pp. 74 to 107. 88 "
See Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
PP- 3o6> 3°7- "
89 See Celtic Scotland," vol. ii. , book ii. ,
chap. ii. to iv. , pp. 78 to 148.
90 See vol. hi. , pp. 136, 137. Revised edi-
tion. London, 1874, small fol.
91 See "Lives of the June 9, pp. 90 to 126.
Saints,"
vol.
vi. ,
92 See vol. vi. , p. 167. Ninth edition, Edinburgh, 1877, 4to.
93See "Vies des
tome
101 to Thomas six
ixe de Jour
Saints," Juin, pp. 541, 542.
vi. ,
According
or seven of those
Dempster,
wrote St. Columba's Life, viz. : St. Baithen, St. Ether- nan, St. Failbe, St. Finten, St. Gallan, St. Golgus, and St. Virgnous. See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," num. 123,
459, 5p3. 5°7. 556, 578, 1 1 70.
102
See cap. v. , vi. , viii. , xi. , xiv. . xv. , xxi. , «7 See Io-na," Third Edition. London, xxii. , xxiii. , xxiv. , xxv. , xxvi. , xxvii. , xxviii. ,
9* Edited by Rev. Dr. William Smith. See vol. i. , pp. 602 to 605.
95 See " Irish Saints in Great Britain," chap, hi. , pp. 53 to 103.
59 See "Compendium of Irish Biogra-
phy, pp. . 87, 88. "
1882, cr. 8vo.
98 These are. classed in the following
order, with pagination to correspond. I. A first prose I ;lle j n ^j chapters, with notes, pp. 321 to 325. II. A second Life in 39 chapters, with noteS; pp. 325 to 331. III. A third Life in with
XXX.
103 Adamnan says he wrote a Book, on
the Acts of St. Columba. See lib. hi. , cap. viii.
">* In the Thirty-first and Thirty-eighth chapters, he calls St. Columba his Patron.
4
-j
chapters,
notes, pp.
the Four Thirty-eighth chapter,
332 to 335- IV. A fourth Life by Adam- ',
nanin Boc —
V. A
with notes.
The
the in second
fifth fhst Book
in
114 chapters
then 107 Adamnan
)
3 kS)
he de- incidents regarding St. Columba's decease had been communicated
present.
A. D.
L|fe i«
3 Books,
—
by persons
with notes. The first Book
106 In the
contains 50 uiapters
ters—the t^ir(j 24 chapters, pp. 336 to 386.
that some
the second
46 chap- clares,
,05 The "Annals of place his death, at A. D. 668.
Masters"
died,
703.
disciples
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 261
because he seems to have written this Life, before Adamnan's had been
written I07 for otherwise, he would be likely to include some anecdotes left by ;
the latter, and which are not to be found in this Second Life ; and, fourthly, because from the Twentieth chapter to the end of the tract, he has almost
Manuscript,belongingtothemonasteryofCompeigne. BothColganJisand the 110 have confounded Cumineus with
the same narrative that Adamnan
cal analysis of this Treatise is thought to establish the conclusion, 100 that it hadbeenacompilationfromtwodistinctworks. 110 AstheworkofCumineus or Cuminias, it has been published by Mabillon IJI and by Pinkerton. 112 The original of the name is Cumin, and it was thought, he was Abbot of Iona in the year 65 7. "3 Dr. Lanigan, 114 too, says there can be no doubt regarding Cumi- neus being author of the first Life, as edited by Colgan. The lattertook his copy fromaManuscriptsupplementofBelforttoSurius; whileMabillonfolloweda
Bollandists, however, strangely Cummian, author of the celebrated Paschal Epistle.
Albus, Harris has fallen into a
similar mistake. 11? The Third Life was written
by John Capgrave,"
8 or
rather of
John Teignmouth,
who lived at an earlier 110 As this had period.
108
Hence, probably, he either copied from Adamnan, or Adamnan copied from
him ; but, for the reasons
Adamnan did not copy from him, and be- sides there seems no fair reason, why he should omit other anecdotes written by Adamnan. Therefore, Colgan argues, that Adamnan acknowledges his indebtedness to this presumed work of Cumineus Albus, while his insertion of other matters was on the faith of approved witnesses. Colgan then proceeds to state some objections that may be urged, while he solves them very plausi- bly, and apparently to his own satisfaction.
109 According to Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
about Cumineus, the Abbot.
"2 See " Vitse Antiquse Sanctorum Scotia? . "
110
In the Nineteenth chapter the saint's
dus had previously distinguished them as different persons, at the 24th of February, p. 429.
II7 See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Writers of Ireland," Book i. , chap, iv. , p. 37.
assigned already,
"3 See Ussher's " Britanicarum Ecclesia- rum Antiquitates,"cap. xv. , p. 367, and "In- dex Chronologicus. " A. D. , dclxix. , p. 539.
gives
been compiled many centuries after Columba's time, Bede and Adamnan
I2°
This Life occupies nearly the same number of columns, as the first ; while it con- tains some statements, differing from those of Adamnan and other writers, on
appear to have been the authorities chiefly used, in composing it.
the 121 subject.
is I22 to be more ancient than the former thought
This, too,
part; while we may consider the prologue to have been written, long subsequent tothatperiod,whenCumineusAlbuslived. AdifferentversionofColumba's
death is again introduced, and with additional circumstances, in the thirty- fifth chapter. This Second Life differs in many respects from the first memoir,
death is narrated, and this appears to have
been the conclusion of a complete tract,
written some This work is a by foreigner.
sort of brief biographical treatise, borrowed
chiefly from Adamnan, with some additions
from later documents. The remaining part
from the Twentieth chapter to the end is
said to have been the production of a this writer. They appeared at London,
different writer, and in a style less correct. The writer of thjs part, indeed, seems to have been a monk of Hy, and to have bor- rowed nearly the whole of his tract from Adamnan's memoir.
111 See "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene-
dicti," tomus i. It is remarkable, that
Mabillon places the Island of Hy "in Ang- viii. , ix. , xiii. , xv. , xvi. , xvii. , xviii. , xx. ,
lia," ins ad of "in Scotia," when treating xxi. , xxiii. , xxiv. , xxvi. , xxvii.
in his Third Book. 108 A more criti-
"4 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, vii. , n. 70, pp.
107, 108.
1I5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise,"
xxiv. Februarii. De S. Cumineo sive Cum-
eano, pp. 408 to 411.
II6 1
See "Acta Sanctorum,' xviii. Aprilis. ActaS. Laseriani. Yet,thelearnedBollan-
II8 He flourished in and wrote 1480,
a. d. 15 16.
I20 See Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vdI. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, vii. , p. 109.
I21 See chapters i. , ii. , v.
122 By Rev. John Lanigan, D. D.
123 See chapters i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , v. , vi. , vii. ,
"
Legenda Sanctorum Angliae. "
II9 This Benedictine monk lived about the
year 1366. John Capgrave seems to have taken all the lives published by him, from
262 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
and from other biographical tracts succeeding it. It inserts certain things omit- ted from the first, third, and fourth Lives. I2 3 These, too, in some entries are specifically different f—rom its contents. The biography ofSt. Columkille, —as
12*
writtenbyAdamnan classedamongthewritersoftheseventhcentury morenearlyapproacheshistimethananyotherknowntobeextant. I2s Con- sequently, it has been generally regarded as the most authentic. 126 In de- picting St. Columba's life and character, this early biographer intended to present in a brief manner, a general summary of his Acts, so that the reader might contemplate the image of his holy career. Adamnan promises briefly torecordthemiraclesofhisgreatPatron. 12? Weshouldnotdespisearecord of beneficent deeds, which bear the impress of God's seal, remarks the bio- grapher j and, we have only to regret, that he has not succeeded in rescuing from the waifs of record or tradition, many more important incidents, than those he had selected. 128 It is rather strange, too, that the writer deems the Irish etymons of obscure men, tribes, and places, as rude and inelegant, when
12 compared with others in the various languages of foreign nations. ^ In this
respect, he imitates other Irish writers, who were and are accustomed to
depreciate their native tongue. '3° In no respect does the biography of St.
Columkille by Adamnan appear so faulty, as in the very unsystematic manner
shown, by proceeding to relate in the First Book, not the ordinary facts of
early childhood, or even of opening youth, but those prophetic revelations,
which were made to him in after life. ^1 The
Adamnan's book lies, in the vivid though incidental touches of life and man-
"
124 See Mre. L. Ellies Dupin's Bibliotheque des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques" &c,tomevi. ,p. 44.
"5 In Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," this Life is designated among the five different biographies of St. Columkille, the Quarta Vita S. Columbaj. It begins, at the 336th page, and it continues to the 386th, includ- ing tlie learned commentaries of the editor.
126 Yet, it is not the most ancient Life,
that had been compiled ; for Adamnan him-
self acknowledges his indebtedness to pre-
viously available records, for the subject
matter of his memoir. The renowned bio-
graher of our saint begins his undertaking by invoking the name of Jesus Christ on his
labours, originating from earnest desires, preferred by his monks, that the virtues of
learned abbot. This latter apologizes for the uncouth and inelegant style of his com-
position. Yet, he is scarcely just to his own performance in this estimate ; but, he wishes the reader to regard the facts contained in it, rather than the words. For, as he justly remarks, the kingdom of God is not to be sought for in the flowers of speech, but in the fruits of Divine Faith.
127 The writer declares, chiefly with a view of exciting a relish for their more detailed account, which was to be given in three sub- sequent books. These were to be divided on the following system : the first book was destined to contain Prophetic Revela- tions ; the second, Divine Miracles effected throughhim; whilethethirdwastoinclude
Nouvelle
Angelic Apparitions and certain Manifesta- tions of celestial lights poured on the man ofGod. Adamnandeprecatestheintention of stating any falsehood, or of recording any- thing doubtful or debatable, regarding a man so favoured.
128
Popular favour, in his estimation, had published the less interesting actions of St. Columba, as compared with the few things which it fell to his province, briefly to relate. Many other events, well worthy of being told, had been omitted, so that the reader's patience might not be wearied in perusing the acts of this man of blessed memory. Such are the chief observations and informa-
tion regarding the writer's plan and objects, to be derived from a perusal of his introduc- tory remarks.
129 See Adamnan's First Preface, Vita memorated, through their humble and S. Columbas, in "Trias Thaumaturga,"
their holy patron might be suitably com-
imperishable
interest of
P- 336,
130 However, it is now universally con-
ceded by scholars, who have well studied its peculiarities and who have the most com-
plete knowledge of comparative philology, that the Irish language cannot be excelled
by any known, in the polish, elegance, copiousness, energy and expression of its diction and structural features.
131 In tlie accomplishment of this task, the biographer opens his narrative with a brief sketch of his wondeiful miracles. Alluding
to a promise already given, in his Preface, Adamnan commences his first book with a brief account of evidence, which the vene- rable man gave of St. Columba's miraculous powers.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 263 nerswhich he gives us, in the telling of his tales—of habits and customs, as they
ofancient^2 haddiedaway,andbeforethelightofmodernhistoryhadarisen. Adamnan had resolved to tell with all candour, what he had learned from the consistent narratives of his predecessors, and from other trustworthy persons. This narra- tive was founded, likewise, on written authorities, anterior to his own period, as also on what he had a personal knowledge of, owing to accounts given by veryveraciousandintelligentseniors. Theseattestedseveralfacts,thetruth
of which they had undoubtedly ascertained. x 33 In the name of Jesus Christ,
Adamnan commences the Second Preface or Prologue to his work, which in-
troduction, however, is found separated from the Second Book. With a
beautiful simplicity of style and narrative, it tells how there was a man of
reverend life and of blessed memory, the father and founder of many monas-
!
teries. 34 In the fifth place, Colgan publishes certain Extracts, translated into
Latin, and taken from a very large biography of St. Columkiile, completed about the year 1520, and divided into three books. This had been written
in Irish, by Magnus or Manus O'Donnel, Prince of Tyrconnell. Many parts of it have been omitted, by Colgan, who did not wish to cause tedium to his
readers, by repeating what had been already published, from more ancient
J
Lives. 3S However, he has given narratives omitted from other memoirs, or
x 38 and known as his edition of St. Columba's Life, by Adamnan, 39 is chiefly used to authenticate obscurities of general facts. Our ancient Annals, and the Acts of other Irish Saints, have served a useful purpose, in elucidating the incidents of this illustrious Abbot's
biography.
We read in his Life, that the birth and future greatness of St. Columkiile
had been foretold, many years before his time. Among the various predic-
tions referring to him, none are more remarkable, than those which are recorded,
1 asdatingfrompre-Christiantime. ItwasrevealedtoFedhlimidhReachtmhar,*
son to Tuathal the Legitimate, 141 monarch of Erin, in the thirteenth ascend- ing generation before his period, that Colum Cille should be born from his race. ' 42 The legend as related I43 gives us to understand, that he had a
were in that obscure but most fruitful when the time,
light
history
thought
werecalculatedtoelucidatetheirdoubtful x36 This passages.
whichhe
is a very useful work, notwithstanding, since it follows a more regular chrono- logical order than the other published Lives present. 13? That wonderfully
learned and researchful work of Rev. Dr. J
Reeves,
132 See " Iona," by the Duke of Argyll,
chap. i. , p. 53.
133 See Secunda Pnefacio, Vita S. Colum-
n. 70, p. no.
I38 This indeed a which supplies void,
must have been found truly embarrassing to
bx, Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," the gleaner of particulars, respecting the
p. 336,
134 Three hundred are enumerated in Ire-
land and Scotland, according to some ancient accounts. This must be regarded,
illustrious Apostle of Caledonia, had it not issued from the press.
139 It was published for the Irish Archaeo-
logical and Celtic Society.
' 4° He flourished, in the second of century
the Christian era, and after a reign of nine years over Ireland, he died a. d. 120. See
however, tion.
as
savouring
of
great exaggera-
,35 Besides this, we find that he compiled other Lives of Irish Saints, thus described by Lhuyd : 25. Vita?
