49 Then, it is said, that the king was greatly rejoiced, and that besides
entrusting
his sister to them for her education, he gave that villa with lands and endowments.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
cexxxiiii.
, cexxxv.
, cexxxvi.
, cexxxvii.
, cexxxviii.
, cexxxix.
, ccxl.
31 However, this is probably a mistake of
This is numbered 39, and it was written
' See "Catalogi Librorum Manuscripto- rum Anglic et UibernLw"
is classed: MS. Bibl. Reg. 15, B. iv. . ff. 76, 78, veil. 4to.
orthography by substituting an N for an M " Vita S. Modwenna: MS. Lansdowne, as the initial letters.
22 "
436, ft. I26,b-I3l b, veil, folio xiv. cent. See Histories Cntholicac [berniae Com-
In old French verse, the Life of St.
It is noticed as Vita S. Modwenna;. 13 Classed Tanner, 15, f. 423, veil, folio. x « Classed 99, 5, f. 187.
13 This collection is intituled
:
gus Sanctorum in Anglia pausantium et oriundorum, quorum Depositionum diescon- sequenter annotantur, Progreditur juxta or- dinem Mensium adeoque incipiens ab Edwardo Confessore, 8 Kal. Januar. desinit in S. Thoma, Cant. 4to Kal. Januar. "
16 It is classed in the Bodleian Library,
Oxford, Digby, 34, ff. 1-76, vell. Svo. , dble. cols. The Manuscript belongs to the twelfth
century.
'7 It thus commences
:
—
"OezseignurspurDeunuspri, Cummunt li munz eit peri
Ala
Par Jhesu Crist reverti. "
duntil gloire chai,
" Catalo-
July 5. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 57
O'Sullevan Beare has Nodwenna 21
entered,
at the same date. 22 The Manu-
script from which John Capgrave's Life of this holy woman 2 3 had been
printed is extant among the Cottonian collections. 2'* Besides, in the collec-
tions of F. Maihew,2* some notices of her are to be met with. It appears
Colgan's posthumous list 26 of Irish Saints notes St. Moduenna's Life as pre-
pared for publication, at the 5th of July. The Acts of St. Modwenna, in two
sections and twenty-six paragraphs, are to be found in the great Bollandist
2
collection. 7 ThereFatherJohnPiniusverycriticallyexaminesthelegendary
biographies which had been written, and he shows how impossible it must be to reconcile them with an individual saint, who at one time is stated to have received the veil from St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland in the fifth cen- tury ; also, to have lived in the middle of the seventh century; and, again, to have flourished and built monasteries in England about the middle of the ninthcentury. —Heinclinestotheopinion,thattheremusthavebeenatleast threeMoninnas ifwearetoattachanydegreeofcredittothespecifications set forth in those Acts 28 which have come down to our times. There is a
2
Vita S. Darercse seu Monynnse Virginis by some anonymous writer, 9 and it is
supposed by Father John Pinius to have been written earlier than one attri- butedtoConchubran. Itsnarrativesarebriefer,writteninabetterstyleof
composition, altogether more comformable to credibility, yet does it abound
inanachronisms. Bothagree,however,inmanysta—tements. Thepublished
—uted to Conchubran 3 1 who is to have Life of St. Modwenna,3° attrib thought
2
writtenintheeleventhcentury hasprobablybeeninterpolated;3
various silly popular legends introduced, it is quite evident, that the names of many Irish places are misunderstood and falsely spelled, while it is not likely that any Irish scribe could have fallen into such obvious mistakes. The same
Conchubran is said to have written, moreover, two alphabetical Hymns in praise of the same Moninna. However, Archbishop Ussher and Sir James Ware both maintain, that there were two distinct saints bearing this name; one of these was usually known as Darerca, who flourished in the time of St.
Patrick, and who departed this life at Kilsleve of Kilsleve-Cuilin, in the county of Armagh, on the 3rd of July, A. D. 516 or 518 ; while the other is said to have flourished about the year 640. We are told, likewise, that Con- cubran confounds the actions of both. Some notices of St. Modwena are givenbyBishopChalloner. 3^ St. ModuenaiscalledanobleIrishVirgin,by Rev. Alban Butler, who has an account regarding her, for this day. 3*
pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , pp.
50, 56.
23 It is intituled : Vita S. Modvennse. 24ItisclassedTiber. E. i. , ff. 199b-204b. 2 5 See " Troprueorum Benedictinorum,"
tomus ii. , pp. 909, 910.
Dierum. "
27 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii
v. De S. Moduenna seu Monenna, Monynna Monyma, una an pluribus, pp. 241 to 246.
published in the " Acta Sanctorum," at the
6th of It is there divided into four July.
chapters, consisting of forty-five para-
graphs.
30 This has been taken from the Codex in
the Cottonian Library, and the original was
classed A. 2. It has been pub- Cleopatra
lished the second in order by the Bollan- dists, at the 6th of July, and it has been col- lated with a Life of St. Monynna or Darerca. Besides a Prologue, it is given in eight chapters, consisting of seventy-eight para- graphs,
31 He is supposed to have been a scholas- tic of Gleanussen, who is related to have died there A. D. 1082.
32 His work, according to Sir James Ware,
was written in Three Books. See "De Scrip- "
toribus Hibernke, lib. i. , cap. viii. , p. 57. 33 See " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , at 5th
of July, p. 14.
26 See "
Actuum Sanctorum quse MS. habentur, Ordine Mensium et
2S A
transcript
of the Manuscript Codex of
Catalogus
this saint's Life, classed Cleopatra A. 2, and
belonging to the Cottonian Library, appears
to have been sent by the learned William
Dugdale in 1678, to Father Daniel Pape- broch.
29 This has been taken from an Irish
Manuscript, belonging to the Salamancan College of the Jesuits, and it is the one first
for
besides
58 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 5.
It seems to us, no better means exist for solving the difficulties here pre- sented, than to suppose, that certain inventions have found the position of facts in the biographies accessible to us, unless we are to admit their appli- cation to three distinct Modwennas 35 however, only two of these appear to
;
be traceable, with any great degree of probability ; therefore, our conjec- ture is, that the Irish Calendars have recognised a St. Modwenna, otherwise
called Darerca, who lived contemporaneously with St. Patrick, the great
IrishApostle,andwhosefeastisascribedtothe6thofJuly; whiletheotheris
Modwenna, who went from Ireland to England, who flourished probably
during the ninth century, and whose feast is generally referred to the 5th of
July,bymostoftheCalendarists. Proceedingonthisassumption,weshallnext
endeavour to deal conjecturally with her Acts, omitting what we deem to be
only excrescences and fables in them. Her name is variedly written Mod-
6
wen,3 Moninna,Moninne,Maudoena,Moedoena,Monenna,Monynna,Mony-
ma, Moninia, Moduena, Mowena, Modovena, Moduenna, Modvenna, Mod- wena,ModewineandModwenna. 37 Accordingtoallthereceivedaccounts,St. Modwenna was born in Ireland, 58 but, in what particular part of it, we have no correct means for ascertaining. According to her Acts, as written by Capgrave, her father was a king. 39 She had first embraced a religious life in her own country. There she was illustrious for sanctity and miracles. She also trained many pious souls in the fear and love of God. She is said to have established a nunnery in Ireland at Celistline, and at other places. 4° She miraculously cured Alfred, the illustrious son of King Ethelwolf, from a grievous infirmity. He was the fourth son of the king, by his first wife Osburg, and he was born a. d. 849, the thirteenth of his father's reign. When only five years old, the young Prince Alfred was sent to Rome, where he was con-
firmed by Pope Leo IV. *
1
Afterwards, during the successive reigns of his
three elder
9 3 and Prince Alfred brothers, Ethelbald,* Ethelbert,* Ethelred,^
had acquired such a reputation for wisdom, magnanimity and integrity, that he acted as viceroy under each of them, until he came to the throne a. d. 872. The virtues, valour and abilities of King Alfred are matters of history 45 so well known, that it is needless to state, his reign which lasted twenty-nine
34 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs names of St. Moninne, of Cill-Sleibhe-
nn 1 other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July v.
35 The only corresponding names we find
in the Irish Calendars are Mo-Inne, which
Culaind or Killesoy, in the County of
Armagh, according to William M. llen- nessey, M. R. I. A.
38 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
may be the name of a female ; but, it has Sancta," part ii. , p. 14.
been rendered Moenind, Moeninninius or 39 Hut this author is mistaken, when he Moenennus, as recorded at the 21st of May, makes her a disciple of St. Patrick. The
in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. iv. ; Moninne, Virgin, barely recorded at the 3rd
of June, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. viii. ; the Moduena, Moedoena or Mau- doena, who seems to be confounded with Etaoin, and both of whom are recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal, at this date,
;6 In Holingshed's Chronicle.
37 There is a note, regarding Moninna,
carried from column to column on the 3 4,
17th page of the Ten Folia of the " Book of Leinster," among the Franciscan archives, Merchants' quay, Dublin. On column 3, p. 17, there is also a short tract, on the various
Irish Apostle was dead long before her time.
40 This account is to be found in Holing-
and the . Moninne. of Sliabh Virgin
4 ' He the Church from A. D. 847 governed
July 5th;
Cuillmn, who is placed, at the following day. July 6th, in the same Martyrology.
10855. See Sir Harris Nicolas' " Chrono-
"
builded both in England and Scotland, as at
Sniveling, Edenbrough, and in Ireland at Celis'lineand elsewhere. "
shed's Chronicle
Manie monastries she
logy of History," p. 210.
« He only reigned from A. D. 857, to the
201 h December, a. d. 860.
4i He from a. d. 860, to A. D. reigned
866. 4*
1 1 is reign, beginning A. D. 866, the 23rd of April, a. d. 872.
lasted to
*> His biographer Asser has admirably
July 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 59
years and six months was one of the most glorious in the Annals of England. He
6
departed this life, on the 26th of October, a. d. 899 or 90 1,* in the fifty-fust
yearofhisage. However,astatement,4? thatPrinceAlfredwentintoIreland to serve King Conald,48 and that he was there cured by St. Modwenna, is likely to be false, for our Annals do not give the name of a supreme King of Ireland so named during the time of Prince Alfred. —
Afterwards, it is stated, that she passed into England. St. Athea said to have been her kinswoman —accompanied her. A foolish story is told of Modwenna and several holy virgins passing over to a castle called Dagann in Britain, in a miraculous manner, and that afterwards they visited the king there in his villa, called Streneshalen.
49 Then, it is said, that the king was greatly rejoiced, and that besides entrusting his sister to them for her education, he gave that villa with lands and endowments. In the time of King Ethelwolf,5° St. Modwena is said to have gone into England. His sister s 1 —others state his daughter—Edgith or Edith, he committed during her childhood to the care of this holy Irish virgin, Modewine,*2 who in turn transferred her to Athea. From her, Edith is said to have learned the Psaltery, while St. Modwenna dwelt there for three months. 53 Afterwards, Edith founded the famous nunnery of Polesworth,*4 where she lived, died and was honourably buried, so that from her the place was subsequently called St. Edith's of Polesworth. ss This was near the forest of Arden, in Warwick- shire. There, too, she collected around her a pious community that con- formed to her rule. 56 From King Ethelwolf, as we are informed, St. Mod- wennaobtainedsomeland,forthepurposeofbuildingamonastery. The pious Modwena did not confine herself, however, to the erection of this
foundation. She built another religious house at Trentshall,57 also called Strenshall. Some writers confound this place with the Streanshalch of St. Hilda ; but, the situation of this latter locality was in the northern part of England. ' AtTrenshaleforsometimeModwennaledasolitarylife,which was passed in prayer, contemplation, and other religious exercises.
pom trayed his character and acts.
46
See Lingard's "History of England," vol. i. , chap, iv. , p. 187.
47 In the Life by Conchubran.
48 King Congall or Conald II. reigned towards the close of the seventh century, while King Congall III. was slain in the twelfth year of his reign, a. d. 956, according
Ethelwolfe gave leave to build two abbies, and also dalivered unto her his sister Edith to be a professed nun. "
S3 After this, the Life by Conchubran adds most unchronologically, that she and her nuns returned with many gifts to Brigid's family, in Ireland, and that she remained there in the northern parts, until she and her virgins made a pilgrimage to Rome.
54 In the time of Henry L, Robert Mar- mion and Milicent, his wife, were founders and benefactors of a nunnery here, which was dedicated to St. Mary and St. Edith. It was placed under the Black Nuns, and at
to our historians. See Thomas D'Arcy "
McGee's Popular History of Ireland," book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 79.
49 In Conchubran's Life, this place is said
to have been "juxta silvam, quae dicitur Arderne. "
50 His reign over England commenced the time of suppression it was valued at
over and 8s. 6d. See twenty years, ^"23
A. D. He 837.
" of History
reigned
died on the 13th of January, a. d. 857.
John Speed's
Great Britaine," book ix. , chap. xxi. Cata-
logue of the Religious Houses. Warwick- shire.
ss See ibid. ^ book vii. , chap, xxxi. , p.
366.
s6 That regular discipline she there estab-
lished continued even until the days of King
Henry VIII. In this monastery, the royal virgin Editha was trained. Afterwards, she became its Abbess, and she was regarded as a great saint,
57 Thus called by Holingshed.
st She appears to have been much younger than her brother Ethelwolf.
52 The following is Holingshed's account of this saint : "In this season one Modwen,
a virgin in Ireland, was greatly renowned in the world, unto whom King Ethelwolfe sent his son Alfred to be cured of a disease that was thought incurable ; but by her means he recoverd health, and therefore, when her monastrie was destroyed in Ireland, Modwen came over into England, unto whom King
66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 5.
Modwenna went into Scotland, to visit King Conagal her kinsman,s8
and this statement causes Father John Pinius to suspect, —that there had been
three distinct virgins bearing the name of Modwenna one belonging to
Ireland, one to England, and one to Scotland. 5? At least, it seems to us a
very reasonable supposition, that while one holy virgin named Moduenna
remained altogether in Ireland, the present Modwenna extended the benefit of
her religious propaganda to England as also to Scotland. But, it is indeed a
very difficult matter to arrange the order of narrative and of time, in reference to
her stay in either country. We are told, that Ratheri, Cobo,Bollan and Choilli,
with other chiefs, visited her at this time. 60 While in Scotland, no less than
three churches did St. Modwenna build in Galloway; one of these is called
61
Chilnecase, anotherwasonthesummitofamountaindenominatedDundeue-
Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket.
6a
nel, while the third was at Dunbreten. She built a church in a castle,
named Strivelin, or Sterling. ^ She erected a church at Dunpeleder,6* and from that place she crossed the Alban Sea to visit St. Andrew's. 6* After- wards, she went to Aleeth, where she built a church, named Lonfortin, near toDundee,andneartoaclearrivulet. Thereshedweltforsometime,andshe
66
greatly loved that place.
She erected another church, in Dunedin or Eden-
6? as we are
burgh, informed,
and this dedicated to St. Michael was built on the top of a mountain. There four holy virgins, named Athea, Ede, Osid
and Lazar, lived with her for five years.
We are told, tli. it these afterwards tous rock.
Dunpelder.
65 These several erections arc mentioned
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
5*
According to Capgrave's account.
59 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
De S. Darcrca sen Monynna Virg. In
61 Also called
310.
60 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 407.
61
This no doubt should be written Can- dida Casa, now Whithorn.
61
In Laudonia.
6 ' One of the royal cities of Scotland, re-
markable for its castle, placed on a precipi-
"
ii. , Julii
vi.
Hihernia, Scotia, vel Anglia, n. (e), p. in the Life by Conchubran. See Ussher's
cap. xv. , j). 369.
1 Life by Conchubran adds: "in
quo in finem vita suae, ut affirmant, Domino volente, emisit spiriturn. "
67 The beautiful capital of Scotland. The accompanying illustration was drawn by William F. Wakeman on the wood, en-
July 5. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 61
set out with her on a journey to Rome, where they intended to visit the shrines of Saints Peter, Paul and Andrew. On the way, they came to the River Trent,
which passed by a mountain, called Calvechif, in the Anglo-Saxon language. There, it is said, they built a church at the foot of a mountain, in Latin called Mons Calvus. This was dedicated to the Apostles, St. Peter and
68
St. Paul.
It has been stated,
6? that thrice this
indications for these visits are too vague and undefined to be very readily
trusted. The first of these pilgrimages is said to have taken place after her
return to Arderne—it is to be presumed from Scotland—
and where she had been accompanied by her sisters Athea and Ite. Yet, this account seems to be strangely enough jumbled into a second visit from Andressea, and with a stillgreaternumberofcompanions. Againweareinformed,thatattheage of one hundred and ten years, Movenna undertook a third journey to Rome, when she returned to Scotland ; but this latter narrative seems to be a con- fused version of the two former journeys, which proves beyond doubt, that the whole of Conchubran's Life of St. Modwenna has been interpolated, and without judgment or discrimination on the part of the interpolator or interpo- lators. While making these three penitental pilgrimages to Rome, it is stated, likewise, that she went all the way barefoot, and clothed with a rough hair
shirt. 70 It may be admitted, indeed, that in accordance with the usages of her age, she had visited Rome, at least on one occasion ; and probably, her desire to found or extend her various religious enterprises furnished a neces- sity for seeking an interview with the Sovereign Pontiff, who then presided in the chair of St. Peter.
Returning into England, Modwenna chose for hei dwelling-place a little island, situated in the River Trent. At this time it was a desert. There she
1
built a small oratory in honour of St. Andrew. ?
This gave to that island the name of Andrcsey. In it, the pious Modwenna lived for seven years as a hermitess. Lazar and Athea also lived there with her. Afterwards, Mod- wenna visited Ireland, as we are told, and at this time paganism and crime all England. 72 The fame of St. Modwenna's miracles drew many to that place, which she had selected as the site for her nunnery. This undesired concurrence was the occasion, however, for her leaving it. She seems to have returned again to Lanfortin, where she had a miraculous intuition regarding her approaching end. Then she sent messengers to her religious,Athea,OsidandEde,thattheyshouldcometoher. Theyobeyed this summons, and remained with her for some days. Meanwhile, the anti- cipation of her death spread among the people, and her increasing infirmities began to fill them with profound grief. Among others, it is stated, that Congal, King of Scotia at the time, with certain magnates of his kingdom, visited the monastery. They are said to have requested her, through a Bishop Ronan, who was her brother, that she should yet remain among them for one year, and not leave them as orphans too soon, and they felt assured, that if she preferred such a petition to heaven, it would be granted. However, she
declared, that her time had now come, and she then imparted her blessing to
her distinguished visitors and to all the people. Already, although her death took place in Scotland, she had foretold, her body should be interred after her
were rife
throughout
graved by Mrs. Millard.
to the Life of Modwenna,
71 "
See Cressy's Church History of
68 Conchubran.
under Saxon and Danish Mo- narchs," part iv. , book xxviii. , chap, ii. , p. 744.
73 This account, we may very well credit, since the Danes had succeeded in effecting
According
by England,
"Chronicle. "
70 See Bishop Forbes' u Kalendars of
^See
Scottish Saint," p. 407.
Holingshed's
holy virgin
visited Rome the ; but,
62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 5.
death,73 at Andressy. To those who were present at her death-bed, she is said to have declared, that had their request been conveyed to her a few days
before, it might possibly be granted; but it so happened, she had a vision of the
two great Apostles of our Lord, who had come to her on that day with a
message, that they were about to convey her soul into Heaven. She declared,
that they had brought her a white shroud, beautifully ornamented with gold ;
and that with such illustrious companions, it was well she should be intro-
duced to the mansions of perpetual bliss. She then bequeathed certain relics,
such as her girdle, a cloak of sheep-skin, and certain other articles which
belonged to her, and she requested these, with her baculus, to be conveyed
to another place. She stated, furthermore, that should those people who
possessed them not engage in hostile incursions on the lands of others ; her
relics should prove to be a shield of defence against any enemies, who might
seektoinvadeortodevastatetheirterritory. Shewasthusfavouredinherlast
infirmity, with this consoling vision of the holy Apostles, St. Peter and St.
Paul, before she parsed away to bliss, having declared, also, that her protection
should be as generously afforded to all her devout clients after death, as during
her lifetime. Those promises, and words spoken by the Bishop, assuaged
the grief of the people present ; so that when he bestowed a benediction
on them, and when they had assisted at Modwenna's holy obsequies, all pre-
pared to start for their respective hoines. 74 She is said to have attained the
extraordinary age of one hundred and thirty years;" but, as the account of
such great longevity likewise applies in a still greater degree to St. Monenna
or Darerca, venerated at Slieve Cullin on the day following, it seems a matter
of great difficulty to decide any point, even regarding its qualified credibility.
She is said to have died on the of 6 and towards the close of the 5th July,?
ninth century. It is related, that soon after her death, St. Modwenna appeared to one of her sisters, named Taunat or Tannat, and urged her to admonish the nuns, regarding the infraction of silence without doors, and which silence their rule enjoined. This message was conveyed to them, and after a pre- paration for eternity lasting for seven days, Tannat passed away to bliss with her revered mother and former superioress. Again, it is said, that after St. Modwenna's death, numbers of Hibernians, Scots and Angles came to the place where her remains lay ; they were about to engage in combat for possession of the holy virgin's body, until Columchille appeared to them, and proposed an expedient, whereby the tumult was appeased. But, indeed, this whole fable is so evidently concocted and so poorly invented, that intrinsic evi- dencesofitslegendarycharacterareeasilydetected. Sometimeafterherdeath, the blessedremains were translated from Andresey,to the church of that Abbey, wheretheywerefinallydeposed. WhentheAbbeyofBurton-upon-Trent was founded, a. d. 1004, the remains of St. Modwenna were solemnly removed thither. Matthew of Westminster 77 informs us, that in his day, St. Mod- wena's tomb was illustrated by frequent miracles.
The feast of St. Moduenna was very religiously observed, and it is to be found noted, at the 5th of July, among the Scottish Entries in the Kalen- dar of David Camerarius. 78 There is still extant a Hymn to St. Modwenna or Moinnea, among the Clarendon Manuscripts. 79 In England, this holy
conquests throughout its various provinces. 77 See "Flores Historiarum," at a. d.
"
73 See Bishop Challoner's Britannia 1201.
ii
Sancta," part
WSuchisthenarrativegiveninherLife Laudo—niaetGalouidaScotiseprouincijscele-
by Conchrubran.
"" bris. Bishop Forbes'
Kalendars of Scot-
, pp. 14, 15.
78 Thus: "Sancta Moduenna Virgo in
"
75 According to Holingshed's Chro- tish Saints," p. 238.
"
nicle. " 79 It is numbered 39. See Catalogus
76 See her Acts, by John Capgrave. Manuscriptorum Anglise et Hiberniae.
July 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 63
woman was specially venerated. At Burton-on-Trent, the Protestant church is still named after her, while the site of her chapel is yet called St. Mod-
wen'sOrchard.
31 However, this is probably a mistake of
This is numbered 39, and it was written
' See "Catalogi Librorum Manuscripto- rum Anglic et UibernLw"
is classed: MS. Bibl. Reg. 15, B. iv. . ff. 76, 78, veil. 4to.
orthography by substituting an N for an M " Vita S. Modwenna: MS. Lansdowne, as the initial letters.
22 "
436, ft. I26,b-I3l b, veil, folio xiv. cent. See Histories Cntholicac [berniae Com-
In old French verse, the Life of St.
It is noticed as Vita S. Modwenna;. 13 Classed Tanner, 15, f. 423, veil, folio. x « Classed 99, 5, f. 187.
13 This collection is intituled
:
gus Sanctorum in Anglia pausantium et oriundorum, quorum Depositionum diescon- sequenter annotantur, Progreditur juxta or- dinem Mensium adeoque incipiens ab Edwardo Confessore, 8 Kal. Januar. desinit in S. Thoma, Cant. 4to Kal. Januar. "
16 It is classed in the Bodleian Library,
Oxford, Digby, 34, ff. 1-76, vell. Svo. , dble. cols. The Manuscript belongs to the twelfth
century.
'7 It thus commences
:
—
"OezseignurspurDeunuspri, Cummunt li munz eit peri
Ala
Par Jhesu Crist reverti. "
duntil gloire chai,
" Catalo-
July 5. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 57
O'Sullevan Beare has Nodwenna 21
entered,
at the same date. 22 The Manu-
script from which John Capgrave's Life of this holy woman 2 3 had been
printed is extant among the Cottonian collections. 2'* Besides, in the collec-
tions of F. Maihew,2* some notices of her are to be met with. It appears
Colgan's posthumous list 26 of Irish Saints notes St. Moduenna's Life as pre-
pared for publication, at the 5th of July. The Acts of St. Modwenna, in two
sections and twenty-six paragraphs, are to be found in the great Bollandist
2
collection. 7 ThereFatherJohnPiniusverycriticallyexaminesthelegendary
biographies which had been written, and he shows how impossible it must be to reconcile them with an individual saint, who at one time is stated to have received the veil from St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland in the fifth cen- tury ; also, to have lived in the middle of the seventh century; and, again, to have flourished and built monasteries in England about the middle of the ninthcentury. —Heinclinestotheopinion,thattheremusthavebeenatleast threeMoninnas ifwearetoattachanydegreeofcredittothespecifications set forth in those Acts 28 which have come down to our times. There is a
2
Vita S. Darercse seu Monynnse Virginis by some anonymous writer, 9 and it is
supposed by Father John Pinius to have been written earlier than one attri- butedtoConchubran. Itsnarrativesarebriefer,writteninabetterstyleof
composition, altogether more comformable to credibility, yet does it abound
inanachronisms. Bothagree,however,inmanysta—tements. Thepublished
—uted to Conchubran 3 1 who is to have Life of St. Modwenna,3° attrib thought
2
writtenintheeleventhcentury hasprobablybeeninterpolated;3
various silly popular legends introduced, it is quite evident, that the names of many Irish places are misunderstood and falsely spelled, while it is not likely that any Irish scribe could have fallen into such obvious mistakes. The same
Conchubran is said to have written, moreover, two alphabetical Hymns in praise of the same Moninna. However, Archbishop Ussher and Sir James Ware both maintain, that there were two distinct saints bearing this name; one of these was usually known as Darerca, who flourished in the time of St.
Patrick, and who departed this life at Kilsleve of Kilsleve-Cuilin, in the county of Armagh, on the 3rd of July, A. D. 516 or 518 ; while the other is said to have flourished about the year 640. We are told, likewise, that Con- cubran confounds the actions of both. Some notices of St. Modwena are givenbyBishopChalloner. 3^ St. ModuenaiscalledanobleIrishVirgin,by Rev. Alban Butler, who has an account regarding her, for this day. 3*
pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , pp.
50, 56.
23 It is intituled : Vita S. Modvennse. 24ItisclassedTiber. E. i. , ff. 199b-204b. 2 5 See " Troprueorum Benedictinorum,"
tomus ii. , pp. 909, 910.
Dierum. "
27 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii
v. De S. Moduenna seu Monenna, Monynna Monyma, una an pluribus, pp. 241 to 246.
published in the " Acta Sanctorum," at the
6th of It is there divided into four July.
chapters, consisting of forty-five para-
graphs.
30 This has been taken from the Codex in
the Cottonian Library, and the original was
classed A. 2. It has been pub- Cleopatra
lished the second in order by the Bollan- dists, at the 6th of July, and it has been col- lated with a Life of St. Monynna or Darerca. Besides a Prologue, it is given in eight chapters, consisting of seventy-eight para- graphs,
31 He is supposed to have been a scholas- tic of Gleanussen, who is related to have died there A. D. 1082.
32 His work, according to Sir James Ware,
was written in Three Books. See "De Scrip- "
toribus Hibernke, lib. i. , cap. viii. , p. 57. 33 See " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , at 5th
of July, p. 14.
26 See "
Actuum Sanctorum quse MS. habentur, Ordine Mensium et
2S A
transcript
of the Manuscript Codex of
Catalogus
this saint's Life, classed Cleopatra A. 2, and
belonging to the Cottonian Library, appears
to have been sent by the learned William
Dugdale in 1678, to Father Daniel Pape- broch.
29 This has been taken from an Irish
Manuscript, belonging to the Salamancan College of the Jesuits, and it is the one first
for
besides
58 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 5.
It seems to us, no better means exist for solving the difficulties here pre- sented, than to suppose, that certain inventions have found the position of facts in the biographies accessible to us, unless we are to admit their appli- cation to three distinct Modwennas 35 however, only two of these appear to
;
be traceable, with any great degree of probability ; therefore, our conjec- ture is, that the Irish Calendars have recognised a St. Modwenna, otherwise
called Darerca, who lived contemporaneously with St. Patrick, the great
IrishApostle,andwhosefeastisascribedtothe6thofJuly; whiletheotheris
Modwenna, who went from Ireland to England, who flourished probably
during the ninth century, and whose feast is generally referred to the 5th of
July,bymostoftheCalendarists. Proceedingonthisassumption,weshallnext
endeavour to deal conjecturally with her Acts, omitting what we deem to be
only excrescences and fables in them. Her name is variedly written Mod-
6
wen,3 Moninna,Moninne,Maudoena,Moedoena,Monenna,Monynna,Mony-
ma, Moninia, Moduena, Mowena, Modovena, Moduenna, Modvenna, Mod- wena,ModewineandModwenna. 37 Accordingtoallthereceivedaccounts,St. Modwenna was born in Ireland, 58 but, in what particular part of it, we have no correct means for ascertaining. According to her Acts, as written by Capgrave, her father was a king. 39 She had first embraced a religious life in her own country. There she was illustrious for sanctity and miracles. She also trained many pious souls in the fear and love of God. She is said to have established a nunnery in Ireland at Celistline, and at other places. 4° She miraculously cured Alfred, the illustrious son of King Ethelwolf, from a grievous infirmity. He was the fourth son of the king, by his first wife Osburg, and he was born a. d. 849, the thirteenth of his father's reign. When only five years old, the young Prince Alfred was sent to Rome, where he was con-
firmed by Pope Leo IV. *
1
Afterwards, during the successive reigns of his
three elder
9 3 and Prince Alfred brothers, Ethelbald,* Ethelbert,* Ethelred,^
had acquired such a reputation for wisdom, magnanimity and integrity, that he acted as viceroy under each of them, until he came to the throne a. d. 872. The virtues, valour and abilities of King Alfred are matters of history 45 so well known, that it is needless to state, his reign which lasted twenty-nine
34 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs names of St. Moninne, of Cill-Sleibhe-
nn 1 other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July v.
35 The only corresponding names we find
in the Irish Calendars are Mo-Inne, which
Culaind or Killesoy, in the County of
Armagh, according to William M. llen- nessey, M. R. I. A.
38 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
may be the name of a female ; but, it has Sancta," part ii. , p. 14.
been rendered Moenind, Moeninninius or 39 Hut this author is mistaken, when he Moenennus, as recorded at the 21st of May, makes her a disciple of St. Patrick. The
in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. iv. ; Moninne, Virgin, barely recorded at the 3rd
of June, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. viii. ; the Moduena, Moedoena or Mau- doena, who seems to be confounded with Etaoin, and both of whom are recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal, at this date,
;6 In Holingshed's Chronicle.
37 There is a note, regarding Moninna,
carried from column to column on the 3 4,
17th page of the Ten Folia of the " Book of Leinster," among the Franciscan archives, Merchants' quay, Dublin. On column 3, p. 17, there is also a short tract, on the various
Irish Apostle was dead long before her time.
40 This account is to be found in Holing-
and the . Moninne. of Sliabh Virgin
4 ' He the Church from A. D. 847 governed
July 5th;
Cuillmn, who is placed, at the following day. July 6th, in the same Martyrology.
10855. See Sir Harris Nicolas' " Chrono-
"
builded both in England and Scotland, as at
Sniveling, Edenbrough, and in Ireland at Celis'lineand elsewhere. "
shed's Chronicle
Manie monastries she
logy of History," p. 210.
« He only reigned from A. D. 857, to the
201 h December, a. d. 860.
4i He from a. d. 860, to A. D. reigned
866. 4*
1 1 is reign, beginning A. D. 866, the 23rd of April, a. d. 872.
lasted to
*> His biographer Asser has admirably
July 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 59
years and six months was one of the most glorious in the Annals of England. He
6
departed this life, on the 26th of October, a. d. 899 or 90 1,* in the fifty-fust
yearofhisage. However,astatement,4? thatPrinceAlfredwentintoIreland to serve King Conald,48 and that he was there cured by St. Modwenna, is likely to be false, for our Annals do not give the name of a supreme King of Ireland so named during the time of Prince Alfred. —
Afterwards, it is stated, that she passed into England. St. Athea said to have been her kinswoman —accompanied her. A foolish story is told of Modwenna and several holy virgins passing over to a castle called Dagann in Britain, in a miraculous manner, and that afterwards they visited the king there in his villa, called Streneshalen.
49 Then, it is said, that the king was greatly rejoiced, and that besides entrusting his sister to them for her education, he gave that villa with lands and endowments. In the time of King Ethelwolf,5° St. Modwena is said to have gone into England. His sister s 1 —others state his daughter—Edgith or Edith, he committed during her childhood to the care of this holy Irish virgin, Modewine,*2 who in turn transferred her to Athea. From her, Edith is said to have learned the Psaltery, while St. Modwenna dwelt there for three months. 53 Afterwards, Edith founded the famous nunnery of Polesworth,*4 where she lived, died and was honourably buried, so that from her the place was subsequently called St. Edith's of Polesworth. ss This was near the forest of Arden, in Warwick- shire. There, too, she collected around her a pious community that con- formed to her rule. 56 From King Ethelwolf, as we are informed, St. Mod- wennaobtainedsomeland,forthepurposeofbuildingamonastery. The pious Modwena did not confine herself, however, to the erection of this
foundation. She built another religious house at Trentshall,57 also called Strenshall. Some writers confound this place with the Streanshalch of St. Hilda ; but, the situation of this latter locality was in the northern part of England. ' AtTrenshaleforsometimeModwennaledasolitarylife,which was passed in prayer, contemplation, and other religious exercises.
pom trayed his character and acts.
46
See Lingard's "History of England," vol. i. , chap, iv. , p. 187.
47 In the Life by Conchubran.
48 King Congall or Conald II. reigned towards the close of the seventh century, while King Congall III. was slain in the twelfth year of his reign, a. d. 956, according
Ethelwolfe gave leave to build two abbies, and also dalivered unto her his sister Edith to be a professed nun. "
S3 After this, the Life by Conchubran adds most unchronologically, that she and her nuns returned with many gifts to Brigid's family, in Ireland, and that she remained there in the northern parts, until she and her virgins made a pilgrimage to Rome.
54 In the time of Henry L, Robert Mar- mion and Milicent, his wife, were founders and benefactors of a nunnery here, which was dedicated to St. Mary and St. Edith. It was placed under the Black Nuns, and at
to our historians. See Thomas D'Arcy "
McGee's Popular History of Ireland," book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 79.
49 In Conchubran's Life, this place is said
to have been "juxta silvam, quae dicitur Arderne. "
50 His reign over England commenced the time of suppression it was valued at
over and 8s. 6d. See twenty years, ^"23
A. D. He 837.
" of History
reigned
died on the 13th of January, a. d. 857.
John Speed's
Great Britaine," book ix. , chap. xxi. Cata-
logue of the Religious Houses. Warwick- shire.
ss See ibid. ^ book vii. , chap, xxxi. , p.
366.
s6 That regular discipline she there estab-
lished continued even until the days of King
Henry VIII. In this monastery, the royal virgin Editha was trained. Afterwards, she became its Abbess, and she was regarded as a great saint,
57 Thus called by Holingshed.
st She appears to have been much younger than her brother Ethelwolf.
52 The following is Holingshed's account of this saint : "In this season one Modwen,
a virgin in Ireland, was greatly renowned in the world, unto whom King Ethelwolfe sent his son Alfred to be cured of a disease that was thought incurable ; but by her means he recoverd health, and therefore, when her monastrie was destroyed in Ireland, Modwen came over into England, unto whom King
66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 5.
Modwenna went into Scotland, to visit King Conagal her kinsman,s8
and this statement causes Father John Pinius to suspect, —that there had been
three distinct virgins bearing the name of Modwenna one belonging to
Ireland, one to England, and one to Scotland. 5? At least, it seems to us a
very reasonable supposition, that while one holy virgin named Moduenna
remained altogether in Ireland, the present Modwenna extended the benefit of
her religious propaganda to England as also to Scotland. But, it is indeed a
very difficult matter to arrange the order of narrative and of time, in reference to
her stay in either country. We are told, that Ratheri, Cobo,Bollan and Choilli,
with other chiefs, visited her at this time. 60 While in Scotland, no less than
three churches did St. Modwenna build in Galloway; one of these is called
61
Chilnecase, anotherwasonthesummitofamountaindenominatedDundeue-
Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket.
6a
nel, while the third was at Dunbreten. She built a church in a castle,
named Strivelin, or Sterling. ^ She erected a church at Dunpeleder,6* and from that place she crossed the Alban Sea to visit St. Andrew's. 6* After- wards, she went to Aleeth, where she built a church, named Lonfortin, near toDundee,andneartoaclearrivulet. Thereshedweltforsometime,andshe
66
greatly loved that place.
She erected another church, in Dunedin or Eden-
6? as we are
burgh, informed,
and this dedicated to St. Michael was built on the top of a mountain. There four holy virgins, named Athea, Ede, Osid
and Lazar, lived with her for five years.
We are told, tli. it these afterwards tous rock.
Dunpelder.
65 These several erections arc mentioned
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
5*
According to Capgrave's account.
59 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
De S. Darcrca sen Monynna Virg. In
61 Also called
310.
60 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 407.
61
This no doubt should be written Can- dida Casa, now Whithorn.
61
In Laudonia.
6 ' One of the royal cities of Scotland, re-
markable for its castle, placed on a precipi-
"
ii. , Julii
vi.
Hihernia, Scotia, vel Anglia, n. (e), p. in the Life by Conchubran. See Ussher's
cap. xv. , j). 369.
1 Life by Conchubran adds: "in
quo in finem vita suae, ut affirmant, Domino volente, emisit spiriturn. "
67 The beautiful capital of Scotland. The accompanying illustration was drawn by William F. Wakeman on the wood, en-
July 5. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 61
set out with her on a journey to Rome, where they intended to visit the shrines of Saints Peter, Paul and Andrew. On the way, they came to the River Trent,
which passed by a mountain, called Calvechif, in the Anglo-Saxon language. There, it is said, they built a church at the foot of a mountain, in Latin called Mons Calvus. This was dedicated to the Apostles, St. Peter and
68
St. Paul.
It has been stated,
6? that thrice this
indications for these visits are too vague and undefined to be very readily
trusted. The first of these pilgrimages is said to have taken place after her
return to Arderne—it is to be presumed from Scotland—
and where she had been accompanied by her sisters Athea and Ite. Yet, this account seems to be strangely enough jumbled into a second visit from Andressea, and with a stillgreaternumberofcompanions. Againweareinformed,thatattheage of one hundred and ten years, Movenna undertook a third journey to Rome, when she returned to Scotland ; but this latter narrative seems to be a con- fused version of the two former journeys, which proves beyond doubt, that the whole of Conchubran's Life of St. Modwenna has been interpolated, and without judgment or discrimination on the part of the interpolator or interpo- lators. While making these three penitental pilgrimages to Rome, it is stated, likewise, that she went all the way barefoot, and clothed with a rough hair
shirt. 70 It may be admitted, indeed, that in accordance with the usages of her age, she had visited Rome, at least on one occasion ; and probably, her desire to found or extend her various religious enterprises furnished a neces- sity for seeking an interview with the Sovereign Pontiff, who then presided in the chair of St. Peter.
Returning into England, Modwenna chose for hei dwelling-place a little island, situated in the River Trent. At this time it was a desert. There she
1
built a small oratory in honour of St. Andrew. ?
This gave to that island the name of Andrcsey. In it, the pious Modwenna lived for seven years as a hermitess. Lazar and Athea also lived there with her. Afterwards, Mod- wenna visited Ireland, as we are told, and at this time paganism and crime all England. 72 The fame of St. Modwenna's miracles drew many to that place, which she had selected as the site for her nunnery. This undesired concurrence was the occasion, however, for her leaving it. She seems to have returned again to Lanfortin, where she had a miraculous intuition regarding her approaching end. Then she sent messengers to her religious,Athea,OsidandEde,thattheyshouldcometoher. Theyobeyed this summons, and remained with her for some days. Meanwhile, the anti- cipation of her death spread among the people, and her increasing infirmities began to fill them with profound grief. Among others, it is stated, that Congal, King of Scotia at the time, with certain magnates of his kingdom, visited the monastery. They are said to have requested her, through a Bishop Ronan, who was her brother, that she should yet remain among them for one year, and not leave them as orphans too soon, and they felt assured, that if she preferred such a petition to heaven, it would be granted. However, she
declared, that her time had now come, and she then imparted her blessing to
her distinguished visitors and to all the people. Already, although her death took place in Scotland, she had foretold, her body should be interred after her
were rife
throughout
graved by Mrs. Millard.
to the Life of Modwenna,
71 "
See Cressy's Church History of
68 Conchubran.
under Saxon and Danish Mo- narchs," part iv. , book xxviii. , chap, ii. , p. 744.
73 This account, we may very well credit, since the Danes had succeeded in effecting
According
by England,
"Chronicle. "
70 See Bishop Forbes' u Kalendars of
^See
Scottish Saint," p. 407.
Holingshed's
holy virgin
visited Rome the ; but,
62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 5.
death,73 at Andressy. To those who were present at her death-bed, she is said to have declared, that had their request been conveyed to her a few days
before, it might possibly be granted; but it so happened, she had a vision of the
two great Apostles of our Lord, who had come to her on that day with a
message, that they were about to convey her soul into Heaven. She declared,
that they had brought her a white shroud, beautifully ornamented with gold ;
and that with such illustrious companions, it was well she should be intro-
duced to the mansions of perpetual bliss. She then bequeathed certain relics,
such as her girdle, a cloak of sheep-skin, and certain other articles which
belonged to her, and she requested these, with her baculus, to be conveyed
to another place. She stated, furthermore, that should those people who
possessed them not engage in hostile incursions on the lands of others ; her
relics should prove to be a shield of defence against any enemies, who might
seektoinvadeortodevastatetheirterritory. Shewasthusfavouredinherlast
infirmity, with this consoling vision of the holy Apostles, St. Peter and St.
Paul, before she parsed away to bliss, having declared, also, that her protection
should be as generously afforded to all her devout clients after death, as during
her lifetime. Those promises, and words spoken by the Bishop, assuaged
the grief of the people present ; so that when he bestowed a benediction
on them, and when they had assisted at Modwenna's holy obsequies, all pre-
pared to start for their respective hoines. 74 She is said to have attained the
extraordinary age of one hundred and thirty years;" but, as the account of
such great longevity likewise applies in a still greater degree to St. Monenna
or Darerca, venerated at Slieve Cullin on the day following, it seems a matter
of great difficulty to decide any point, even regarding its qualified credibility.
She is said to have died on the of 6 and towards the close of the 5th July,?
ninth century. It is related, that soon after her death, St. Modwenna appeared to one of her sisters, named Taunat or Tannat, and urged her to admonish the nuns, regarding the infraction of silence without doors, and which silence their rule enjoined. This message was conveyed to them, and after a pre- paration for eternity lasting for seven days, Tannat passed away to bliss with her revered mother and former superioress. Again, it is said, that after St. Modwenna's death, numbers of Hibernians, Scots and Angles came to the place where her remains lay ; they were about to engage in combat for possession of the holy virgin's body, until Columchille appeared to them, and proposed an expedient, whereby the tumult was appeased. But, indeed, this whole fable is so evidently concocted and so poorly invented, that intrinsic evi- dencesofitslegendarycharacterareeasilydetected. Sometimeafterherdeath, the blessedremains were translated from Andresey,to the church of that Abbey, wheretheywerefinallydeposed. WhentheAbbeyofBurton-upon-Trent was founded, a. d. 1004, the remains of St. Modwenna were solemnly removed thither. Matthew of Westminster 77 informs us, that in his day, St. Mod- wena's tomb was illustrated by frequent miracles.
The feast of St. Moduenna was very religiously observed, and it is to be found noted, at the 5th of July, among the Scottish Entries in the Kalen- dar of David Camerarius. 78 There is still extant a Hymn to St. Modwenna or Moinnea, among the Clarendon Manuscripts. 79 In England, this holy
conquests throughout its various provinces. 77 See "Flores Historiarum," at a. d.
"
73 See Bishop Challoner's Britannia 1201.
ii
Sancta," part
WSuchisthenarrativegiveninherLife Laudo—niaetGalouidaScotiseprouincijscele-
by Conchrubran.
"" bris. Bishop Forbes'
Kalendars of Scot-
, pp. 14, 15.
78 Thus: "Sancta Moduenna Virgo in
"
75 According to Holingshed's Chro- tish Saints," p. 238.
"
nicle. " 79 It is numbered 39. See Catalogus
76 See her Acts, by John Capgrave. Manuscriptorum Anglise et Hiberniae.
July 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 63
woman was specially venerated. At Burton-on-Trent, the Protestant church is still named after her, while the site of her chapel is yet called St. Mod-
wen'sOrchard.
