Gerald of Mayo long
survived
Adamnan.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
Adamnanhadanopportunityofformingacquaintance- ship with many learned and holy men, during this visit he paid to Northumbria.
By these, he was admonished, that it would only be expedient and reasonable for people, who were placed, as it were, in a remote corner of the world, to adopt this practice of the universal Church, as the proper mode for celebrating Easter, and regarding other matters.
They besought him, to introduce the rites and practice he had seen and learned in the English churches, when he should have returned among his own people, and thus endeavour to procure their abandonment of contrary
2
customs. In his letter to King Naiton,* Coelfrid has reference to this visit
of our saint, when writing at a period long subsequent to its occurrence. *3
to have been borrowed from accounts con-
tained in the writings of this same Evan-
gelist, at St. John, xiii. 23, 25, and xxi. 20.
"
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. v. , p. 52.
19 There is no existing authority for this statement, except perhaps an inference
See
p. 318, edition of Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
2I
The Rev. Mr. Reeves suggests, that these were probably the Alcluid Britons, whose King, Rydderch Hael, had been on friendly terms with St. Columba. See his
"
Adamnan's Life of St. Columba. " Appen-
dix to Preface, n. (o), p. xlvi.
" Nechtan, who is the Naiton of Bede,
did not become King over the Picts, until
Life of St. Columba. " Appen- as Baronius refers its composition to 699, he
from Bede's words,
"
graviorem cum eis
cogeretur habere discordiam," cited in the
text. Possibly Adamnan's protracted stay
in Ireland suggested the idea of his expul-
sion from Iona. See the Rev. I )r. Reeves' letter was written to this King, Naiton, and
"
Adamnan's
dix to Preface, n. (i), p. lvi. antedates it seven years, at the very least. 20 "
This inference maybe drawn from the
See Baronius' Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus viii. , a. d. 699, sect, v. , p. 542.
accounts of Matthew of Westminster, at "
2J Following Higden, Smith dates it at year, in "Chronica Majora," vol. i. , tica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xxi.
a. d. 701, in Flores Historiarum," p. 255
as also of Matthew of Paris, at the same A. D. 710. See Bede's " Historia Ecclesias-
;
two years after Adamnan's death. As the
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 515
Speaking of many holy and worthy men, who differed from himself on the subject of Paschal observance, he mentions Adamnan by name, and calls him an abbot and an illustrious priest of the Columban Order. He adds, that being sent to King Aldfrid, as legate of his nation,
Adamnan had a desire to see the monastery of Jarrow.
2*
It was
the house in which the writer of this epistle lived. Adamnan is praised
for wonderful prudence, humility and piety, displayed by him, both in his
discourse and morals. Coelfrid relates, that among other discourses which
passed between them on this occasion was the following colloquy, concerning the peculiar Scottish tonsure, and the Irish mode of celebrating Easter. Coelfrid said: " O venerable brother, I beseech you, who believe that you tend to a crown of life knowing no end, yet contrary to the spirit of faith, why do youbearuponyourheadtheimageofacrownwhichhasalimit? 25 Ifyou seek the companionship of holy Peter, why do you imitate the form of tonsure, borne by that man whom he anathematized ? Why do you not
26
rather manifest as much love as possible for his habit,
with whom you desire
to live for ever ? " Adamnan '* Beloved brother, thou happily replied :
knowest for certain, according to the custom of my country, that although I
bear the tonsure of Simon 27 with my whole heart I detest and repel ;
Simonical perfidy, and that I desire to tread in the footsteps of the Prince of the Apostles, so far as my weakness will allow. " Then said Coelfrid, " I believe indeed that such is the case ; yet, however, is it an indication that you embrace in your innermost heart the Apostle Peter's sentiments, when exteriorly you exhibit, what you know to have been peculiar to him? For, I suppose your prudence will readily judge it much more suitable, that your features, now dedicated to God, should be distinguished from any appearance borne by him whom you abominate with your whole heart, and whose abhorred countenance you would shrink from
as wish to follow the actions and you
s on the beholdingf but,
contrary,
words of him, whom you desire as a patron before God, it ought also be just
that you imitate the fashion of his habit. " Moved by these representations,
and having inspected the decrees of the English churches, Adamnan 2
approved of them. 9 Venerable Bede states, that on this occasion, also,
24 To reach this
Gyruus, Adamnan must have passed the north of England, much in the line ©f Hadrian's Wall.
25 The Rev. Mr. Reeves remarks, that a contrast is here drawn between the frontal and coronal tonsure, in reference to their emblematic forms, and it is peculiar.
26
It is the opinion of many ecclesiastical writers, that the Tonsure dates back to the time of St. Peter, chief of the Apostles.
27 "The Cotton MS. ," containing the Irish canons from which Ussher occasionally borrows, is one of those which suffered by thefireof 1 73 1, and which were lately restored under the care of Sir F. Madden. Its mark is Otho E. xiii. At fol. 142 b is found the following rationale of St. Peter's tonsure " Ut a Simone Mago Christianos discerneret in cujus capite cesaries ab aure ad aurem tonsse anteriore parte cum antea Magi in fronte circumhabebant. " At fol. 143 a occurs the passage cited from Ussher at p. 350, infra, where for re$i, which is a
in the late edition of Ussher's Works, the original has tegi ; and for Nil, which Ussher reads, the original gives
place, anciently
called
misprint
:
pene
omnes hanc tonsuram
sumpserunt. "
" of Niall. " —Rev. Dr. Reeves Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. "
Nailis to
express
Appendix to Preface, &c, n. (u), p. xlvii.
2®
Allusion is here made to Simon Magus, Ussher cites an ancient Cotton MS. , con- taining a collection of Irish Canons, for the
"
following :
Simone Mago sumpsisse initium, cujus tonsura de aure ad aurem tantum con-
tingebat ; pro excellentia ipsa Magorum tonsura, qua sola frons anterior tegi solebat. Auctorem autem hujus tonsurse in Hibernia subulcum regis Loigeri filii Nil extitisse, Patricii sermo testatur ;ex quo Hibernens—es
Romani dicunt tonsuram a
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
cap. xvii. , p. 479.
29Thewriteradds "Tonsuramquoquesi tantum sibi auctoritatis subesset, emendare meminisset. " Bingham states, that the
Roman Tonsure was not known in the time
:
516 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
Adamnan presented a copy of his celebrated work on the Holy Places to the
King. 3° Thisworkispraisedforitsgreatutility,whilethosecircumstances, which led to its composition, are related. On presenting the book to Aldfrid,
the author was loaded with and sent back to his own gifts,
1
country. 3 Venerable Bede devotes two chapters of his History to extracts from this
work on the Holy Places, after giving substantially the foregoing account It is worthy of remark, while the latter writer takes special notice of this work, written by Adamnan, he makes no mention about that still more celebrated one comprising the Life of St. Columba. What is even most remarkable, in a passing observation relating to the latter saint,3» it would appear, that Bede had no information concerning Adamnan having written on such a subject. 33 Such silence presented some difficulty to the Bollandist editor. This, however, was removed, when he remembered, that the Life itself bears internal evidence of having been written some time after Adam- nan's visit to Aldfrid. 34 This second interview, it has been thought, must have occurred about the year 688. 35 Influenced by the cogency of those reasons urged upon him, Adamnan endeavoured on his return to induce those subject to his jurisdiction in Hy, to adopt the Roman custom. But, all the influence of argument, and the weight derived from character, position and general considerations, could not induce them to abandon old usages, for what they supposed to be an introduction of new and strange observances. 36
We are informed, that Irgalach ua Conaing, Lord of Cianachta,*' in
••
cam,devirtutibusetmiraculisS. Columbse
scripsisse, quae in aliorum scriptis invenerat, et per totam vitam suam a senioribus audierat. "—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Junii, ix. De Sancto Columba Presbytero Abbate, in Iona Scotiae Insula, Commen- tarius Praevius, sect, i. , num. 3, p. 188.
3s Following the computation of Bede.
36 See Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentia Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xv.
"So he is in the Cain Adhamnain, styled
although he could not have been lord by descent, as the Cianachta were of a different race from his.
38 He gained a battle at Imlech over
and a to Aedh Slaine, slew his own cousin
great grandson Niall,3
8
Meath,
son to Crearnach Sotail,A. D. 701. That Inisfallen Annals call him
of Hy Neill,39 which is probably correct, as his son Cioneadh was monarch of Ireland from 724 to 728. This act excited the indignation of Adamnan, under whose protection Niall had been, and he denounced Irgalach, threatening a speedy retribution for his crime. He also adopted the ancient usageoffastingagainsttheKing/ Atthisjuncture,Adamnanisrepresented41
"
ofSt. Jerome. See OriginesEcclesiasticse;
the Antiquities of the Christian Church," vol. i. , book vi. , chap, iv. , sect. 1 6, p. 229. Bergier tells us that it is difficult to affirm its
"" origin. See Dictionnaire de Theologie.
Art. Tonsure.
30 We are told by John T. Gilbert, that
owing to the liberality of Aldfrid, King of
Northumbria, several transcripts of the book
" De Locis Sanctis" were made. See
Leslie " of National Stephen's Dictionary
Biography,'' vol, i. , Art. Adamnan or
Adomnan, p. 93.
31 This has been issued by Father John
Mabillon, in "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis
S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , saec. iii. , p. 502. Congalach, son of Conaing, in 684, accord- ""
To this, he added another tract, in Terram
Sanciam Haedeporicon," the author being one Bernard, a monk of St. Gall, and written about 870. See Cardinal Bellarmin,
ing to the Chronicum Scotorum," pp. 108, 109, William M. Hennessy's edition,
"Operum," tomus vii. Ecclesiasticis, p. 251.
32 In another place.
De Sciiptoribus
Iorgalach King of Bregia," in his His- tory and Antiquities of Tara Hill," p. 148. This must be a mistake, however, or else the printed text has omitted the title.
33 He observes of St. Columba, "
4° " Distress of now so by way fasting,
strange to us because so long obsolete, was clearly designed in the interests of honesty, and of the poor as against the mighty. How
Decujus vita et verbis nonnulla—a discipulis ejus
"
feruntur scripta haberi. " Histoiia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iv.
34 He adds, "Quandoquidem constet or why it assumed this particular form is not
Adamnanum, post finitam legationem Angli- known, and shall probably never be known. "
39 Dr. Petrie states, that Tighernach calls ""
King
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 5i7
to have been immersed in the river Boyne. 42 Muirenn, daughter to Cellach
Caulaun, and sister to St. Kentigerna,-*3 of Loch Lomond, is incorrectly said to have been the wife of Irgalach. The Irish Life of our Saint relates, that she was humble and obedient to the Lord and to Adamnan. It is remark- able, that her obit is entered in the Irish Annals, at the year 748. This is rarelj the case, in the instance of women, not classed amongst the female Saints of Ireland. An ancient poem states, that the cursing of Irgalach took place in a Synod held by Adamnan at Tara. *4 The Dinnseanchus^ places the site of Adamnan's tent within his rath.
that our Saint
procured
the enactment of a
This Irgalach was slain by the Britons,*? a. d. 702,*8
taking part in battles,
as stated in the " Annals ofTighernach. "4? The Annals of Ulsters state, that
in 701 he was slain at Inismic Nessan, now known as Ireland's Eye, a small island to the north of Howth. s1 These occurrences, on record in the Irish Annals, almost proves our Saint to have been in Ireland about a. d. 701.
2 AfterthedeathofSt. Gerald,AbbotofMayo,wearetold,s thatAdamnan
ruled that church and its community with great charity, that he caused books to betherewritten. HewroteabookoftheFourGospelswithhisownhand,and church bells he also fashioned. Thence he went to Iona, where he died happily in the Lord, and was buried. However, this statement must be rejected, as St.
Gerald of Mayo long survived Adamnan.
In his exertions to promote the observance of the Roman Easter, Adamnan
—Laurence Ginnell's " Brehon Laws,"
The Synod of Adamnan, afterwards,
chap, iv. , sect. iii. p. 162.
41 By the Irish Life.
Distraint by Fasting,
—In cursing Irgalach. "
42 "This system of fasting against an obnoxious individual was a favourite mode with the Irish ecclesiastics of bringing down visitations on their enemies. The Brehon Laws contain directions on the course which is to be pursued in such a case. Irgalach resisted the influence of St. Adamnan's fast- ing by doing the same himself, until Adam- nan, by inducing one of his people to per- sonate him, put Irgalach off his guard, and thus got the mastery of him. The story is curious, not only as illustrative of this extra- ordinary system of fasting, but as indicating the low tone of moral feeling in the writer,
45 Called after him Cam -AOAmnAin, "Law of Adamnan," and CentiA mnA tjo mAT\b<YO, "not to kill women. " It is pro- bable also, that reference is made to this law in the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 696, in these terms: " Adamnanus ad Hiberniam pergit, et dedit legem innocentium popu- lis. " And, again in an entry made by Tighernach, at the year 697 : -A-oomnan cue jvechc leif m ejMno An bli<voAin •pea, " Adamnan brought a law with him to Ire- land in this year. "
47 It is an error to say that he was killed
the as Dr. Petrie does in his by Saxons,
"
of Tara Hill. " 48See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Sciiptores," tomus ii. , Tiger-
nachi Annales, pp. 220, 221.
49 In A. D. 700, according to Dr. O'Dono-
who
represents
the saint as people
* :Itis
better that one of his
saying
should tell a
and
History Antiquities
falsehoodf—orhim,thanthatheshouldtellit
"
himself. ' Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"
Life of St. Columba," Appendix to Pre- face, n. (w), p. liv.
43 See her
at the 7th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. ii.
44 There traces of an earthen enclosure, anciently called Uac nA Ser»At>, " Rath of the Synods," may be seen, close to the wall of Tara churchyard, on the west.
45 This poem contains a line, of which the following is a translation :
11 The Synod of Patrick was held in the
great Rath ;
The Synod of Brendan, and of Ruadhan ;
the Four vol. i. Masters,"
\ >g
Acts,
which are
already given
van's "Annals of
s«See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
It was probably on this occasion,
6 women from law,* prohibiting
"
See Dr. Petne's on the
History and Antiquities of Tara Hill," pp. 1 15, 122,
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , An- nales Ultonienses, p. 68.
51 In 681, the Britons fought with the Dalaradiana at Rathmor, Magh Line, and in 696 they joined the Ulidians in wasting the coast of Louth. See ibid. , pp. 62, 66, 67. Powibly they had made a settlement in Ireland.
s' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xiii. Martii. Vita S. Geraldi, cap. xvi. , p. 602.
Essay
518 LIVES 02> THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
may have attended Synods of the Irish clergy : indeed, it is scarcely to be conceived, that he could otherwise have effected such a change as Bede describes,S3 and the latter historian tells us, that while there he preached to the people, who were more docile to his disciplinary teaching than were the monks at Iona. By prudent exhortations, he announced to them the legitimate time for celebrating Easter. 5* He induced many who did not belong to the Hyensian Community, to correct their former erroneous practice, and to adopt the canonical and Catholic custom of Paschal observ- ance. 55 Although the reception of Roman customs had taken place in the southern parts of Ireland, and for a considerable period before Adamnan sought to introduce them into the northern portions of our island ; yet we may well believe, that the success of his Paschal advocacy must have
required a considerable period for its completion, among a people naturally attached to old prejudices, as also among communities widely spread, and
subject to a variety of antagonistic influences. We can hardly conceive, that so important a measure was brought about, without much exertion and
preparatory solicitation ; although the social improvement effected by Adamnan has been despatched by the Annals, in a few words.
It is stated, according to all the ancient authorities, that after the death of Diarmaid Mac Fergus Ceirbheoil in 565, Tara had been abandoned,56 as the Royal residence of the Irish Kings. 57 We are told, that although their title had been taken after the death of Dermod from this distin- guished place, yet those monarchs had subsequently no fixed or common residence, 58 but each chose for himself the one most convenient or agreeable,
and it was usually, if not always, within their own hereditary principalities. 5? However, although no longer the residence of the kings, Tara was still occasionally selected as a place for ecclesiastical and lay assemblies. The memory of our Saint, in connection with this great assembly at Tara, is
associated with many local features
60 61 on the summit of that remarkable hill,
53 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xv.
54 He exerted himself to induce the
Northern Irish to adopt that computation,
5B According to the Book of Clonmacnoise and the Leabhar Buidhe Lecan, col. 321.
59 " Thus the kings of the family of the Northern Hy-Niall appear to have resided chiefly at their ancient fortress of Aileach. near Derry, and those of the Southern Hy- Niall, first, at the Rath, near Castlepollard,
and he was so far successful, as to persuade
almost all of them, with the exception of
those, who were immediately under control
of the monastic institute at Hy. See Rev. now called Dun-Tor^eis, having afterwards
Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xix. , sect, iii,, and n. 25, pp. 149, 150.
become the residence of the Danish King,
Turgesius, and subsequently at Dun-na-
Sciath, on the margin of Lock Ainninn—, 55 The Rev. Dr. Ledwich, amidst a num- now Lough Ennell, near Mullingar. "
" apostatized, and he blames that abbot for quities of Tara Hill," p. 128.
ber of falsehoods, states, that Adamnan Dr. George Petrie's
History and Anti-
having brought over to Rome most of the
6o
Thus the Pupall Auhamhnain, or
Southern monks whom he represents as "Pavilion of Adamnan," the Suidhe "
ignorant and bigoted. See "Antiquities of Adhamnain, or Adamnan's chair," the
Dumha Adhamnain, or "Adamnan's 56 In consequence of the curse of St. Mound," and the Cros Adhamhnain, or
Ruadhan, whose life has been already pub- "Adamnan's Cross" situated on the
Ireland," pp. 79, 89.
lished in the Fourth Volume of this work at the 15th of April, Art. i.
Eastern side of the Rath. These remain as
topographical monuments to our Saint, even
57 The cause assigned by the poets and
chroniclers is related in the Annals of Clon-
macnoise, as translated by Connall Mac map in Dr. George Petrie's History and Geoghegan in 1627. It is transferred to Dr. Antiquities of Tara Hill, p. 152. See George Petrie's "History and Antiquities "Transactions of the Royal Irish of Tara Hill," pp. 125 to 127. Academy," vol. xviii.
at the present day.
6l
All these objects are marked on the
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 519
which commands Lsuch a beautiful and such an extensive prospect over the surrounding country.
It has been
62 that our saint sailed from Britain to
in of the seventh century, the Irish in the southern parts had agreed to adopt the Roman computation for the celebration of Easter, after the celebrated Synod held at Magh Lene. 6* However, those in the northern parts had not received it very generally until after the close of that century. At the Synod of Old Leighlin, although there had been a keen controversy on that special subject, the question regarding tonsure65 does not seem to have been debated and determined until brought forward and urged by Adamnan as a reformer of the Irish custom. The Rev. Dr. Reeves appears to infer66 that a practical introduction of the new tonsure must require a longer time, than
6
would the establishment of the Easter observance. ? . Such need not
necessarily be the case ; and although there may be a difference in the respec- tive dates of 716 and 718, between Bede and Tigernach, in relation to the introduction of those observances already mentioned, yet such variation would scarcely be worthy of notice, were it not, that Tighernach himself states, while the Easter observance was in Iona a. d. 716, the new tonsure and its
supposed,
Ireland, part
the latter of 63 As we have part 703.
already
seen, in the earlier
must be referred to A. d. 68 it must be observed, that our 718. For,
adoption
Annals do not always agree with each other respecting the date of year in recording the same event. This difference of date is not less observable, when opportunity affords for comparing them with British chronicles.
to the Annals of
consented to receive one jurisdiction and one rule from our saint respecting the celebration of Easter, on Sunday, on the 14th of the moon of April, and respecting the tonsuring of all the clerks of Erin after the manner of St. Peter, for there had been great dissension in Erin, up to that time ; i. e. some of the clergy of Erin celebrated Easter on Sunday [next after] the fourteenth of the moon of April, and had the tonsure of Peter the Apostle, after the example
According
62 By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
63 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. iii. , chap, xix. , sect, iii. , p. 150.
64 See this matter more fully detailed, in the Life of St. Laserian, Bishop and Patron
circum habebant. "—" Britannicarum Eccle- siarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 479.
66
MacFirbis,
From the circumstance recorded by Roman tonsure, he lay by for four months,
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo- rum," lib. iv. , cap. i.
6? In allusion to the totality of Greek ton- sure, the Rev. Mr. Reeves subjoins a note, Canons found in the Cotton Library for the in which he tells us, that St. Patrick's ancient tradition in reference to the origin charioteer was called Totus Calvus, in the and introduction of that custom, in these Book of Armagh. This name is glossed terms, " Romani dicunt, quod Petrus CocmiAel (fol. 13 bb), and it is elsewhere
of Leighlin Diocese, at the i8thof April, in See the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i. ,
chap. iii.
65 Archbishop Ussher cites an old book of
primus clericus tonsurando usus est, gestans
in capite imaginem coronae spiniae Christi :
idque quinque de causis. I. Ut adsimilaret
Christi coronam. II. Ut Clerici a laicis in
tonsura et habitu et operibus discernerenter.
III. Ut Sacerdotes veteris Testamenti re-
probarent, in illo loco ubi columba super
caput Christi descendit. IV. Ut derisionis
gannituram in regno Romano propter Ancient Sources by Dubhaltach Mac Dominum sustineient. V. Ut a Simone Firbisigh," edited with a translation and Mago Christianos discerneret, in cujus
capite ctesaiies ab aure ad aurem tonsa anteriore parte ; cum antea Magi in fronte
6? in the the men of Erin year 704,
Venerable Bede, that when Theodore of
Canterbury exchanged the Greek for the
written Bodmailus (fol. ii. ab). See Rev. Dr.
"
Reeves'Adamnan's LifeofSt. Columba. '
Additional Notes, N. n. (k), p. 350. 68 "
Tighernacli writes at a. d. 718: Ton—- sura corona super familiam Iae datur. " Dr. O'Conors " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tigernachi Annales.
^ See " Three Fragments, copied from
notes, from a manuscript preserved in the Burgundian Library at Brussels, by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , pp. 1 10 to 113.
520 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
of Patrick ; but others, following the example of Columbkille, celebrated Easter on the fourteenth of the moon of April, on whatever day of the
1
week? the fourteenth should happen to fall,? and had the tonsure of Simon
2
A third
with the followers of Patrick or the
while many evils resulted in the country as a consequence, viz. , a great murrain of cows? * and a very great famine, with many diseases, and the devas- tation of Erin by foreign tribes.
After Adamnan had visited the whole of Ireland, it is stated, that he proceeded to that plain where Gerald of Mayo dwelt,? 3 for the purpose of
6
Gerald is said to have presented Adamnan with a tract of land, through which a clear fountain flowed, and to have recommended his church, so that after his decease, it might be defended from lay exactions. Adamnan promised compliance with
8
i° The Annals of Ulster at 451 have Roman, which was coronal, was styled St.
2
customs. In his letter to King Naiton,* Coelfrid has reference to this visit
of our saint, when writing at a period long subsequent to its occurrence. *3
to have been borrowed from accounts con-
tained in the writings of this same Evan-
gelist, at St. John, xiii. 23, 25, and xxi. 20.
"
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. v. , p. 52.
19 There is no existing authority for this statement, except perhaps an inference
See
p. 318, edition of Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
2I
The Rev. Mr. Reeves suggests, that these were probably the Alcluid Britons, whose King, Rydderch Hael, had been on friendly terms with St. Columba. See his
"
Adamnan's Life of St. Columba. " Appen-
dix to Preface, n. (o), p. xlvi.
" Nechtan, who is the Naiton of Bede,
did not become King over the Picts, until
Life of St. Columba. " Appen- as Baronius refers its composition to 699, he
from Bede's words,
"
graviorem cum eis
cogeretur habere discordiam," cited in the
text. Possibly Adamnan's protracted stay
in Ireland suggested the idea of his expul-
sion from Iona. See the Rev. I )r. Reeves' letter was written to this King, Naiton, and
"
Adamnan's
dix to Preface, n. (i), p. lvi. antedates it seven years, at the very least. 20 "
This inference maybe drawn from the
See Baronius' Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus viii. , a. d. 699, sect, v. , p. 542.
accounts of Matthew of Westminster, at "
2J Following Higden, Smith dates it at year, in "Chronica Majora," vol. i. , tica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xxi.
a. d. 701, in Flores Historiarum," p. 255
as also of Matthew of Paris, at the same A. D. 710. See Bede's " Historia Ecclesias-
;
two years after Adamnan's death. As the
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 515
Speaking of many holy and worthy men, who differed from himself on the subject of Paschal observance, he mentions Adamnan by name, and calls him an abbot and an illustrious priest of the Columban Order. He adds, that being sent to King Aldfrid, as legate of his nation,
Adamnan had a desire to see the monastery of Jarrow.
2*
It was
the house in which the writer of this epistle lived. Adamnan is praised
for wonderful prudence, humility and piety, displayed by him, both in his
discourse and morals. Coelfrid relates, that among other discourses which
passed between them on this occasion was the following colloquy, concerning the peculiar Scottish tonsure, and the Irish mode of celebrating Easter. Coelfrid said: " O venerable brother, I beseech you, who believe that you tend to a crown of life knowing no end, yet contrary to the spirit of faith, why do youbearuponyourheadtheimageofacrownwhichhasalimit? 25 Ifyou seek the companionship of holy Peter, why do you imitate the form of tonsure, borne by that man whom he anathematized ? Why do you not
26
rather manifest as much love as possible for his habit,
with whom you desire
to live for ever ? " Adamnan '* Beloved brother, thou happily replied :
knowest for certain, according to the custom of my country, that although I
bear the tonsure of Simon 27 with my whole heart I detest and repel ;
Simonical perfidy, and that I desire to tread in the footsteps of the Prince of the Apostles, so far as my weakness will allow. " Then said Coelfrid, " I believe indeed that such is the case ; yet, however, is it an indication that you embrace in your innermost heart the Apostle Peter's sentiments, when exteriorly you exhibit, what you know to have been peculiar to him? For, I suppose your prudence will readily judge it much more suitable, that your features, now dedicated to God, should be distinguished from any appearance borne by him whom you abominate with your whole heart, and whose abhorred countenance you would shrink from
as wish to follow the actions and you
s on the beholdingf but,
contrary,
words of him, whom you desire as a patron before God, it ought also be just
that you imitate the fashion of his habit. " Moved by these representations,
and having inspected the decrees of the English churches, Adamnan 2
approved of them. 9 Venerable Bede states, that on this occasion, also,
24 To reach this
Gyruus, Adamnan must have passed the north of England, much in the line ©f Hadrian's Wall.
25 The Rev. Mr. Reeves remarks, that a contrast is here drawn between the frontal and coronal tonsure, in reference to their emblematic forms, and it is peculiar.
26
It is the opinion of many ecclesiastical writers, that the Tonsure dates back to the time of St. Peter, chief of the Apostles.
27 "The Cotton MS. ," containing the Irish canons from which Ussher occasionally borrows, is one of those which suffered by thefireof 1 73 1, and which were lately restored under the care of Sir F. Madden. Its mark is Otho E. xiii. At fol. 142 b is found the following rationale of St. Peter's tonsure " Ut a Simone Mago Christianos discerneret in cujus capite cesaries ab aure ad aurem tonsse anteriore parte cum antea Magi in fronte circumhabebant. " At fol. 143 a occurs the passage cited from Ussher at p. 350, infra, where for re$i, which is a
in the late edition of Ussher's Works, the original has tegi ; and for Nil, which Ussher reads, the original gives
place, anciently
called
misprint
:
pene
omnes hanc tonsuram
sumpserunt. "
" of Niall. " —Rev. Dr. Reeves Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. "
Nailis to
express
Appendix to Preface, &c, n. (u), p. xlvii.
2®
Allusion is here made to Simon Magus, Ussher cites an ancient Cotton MS. , con- taining a collection of Irish Canons, for the
"
following :
Simone Mago sumpsisse initium, cujus tonsura de aure ad aurem tantum con-
tingebat ; pro excellentia ipsa Magorum tonsura, qua sola frons anterior tegi solebat. Auctorem autem hujus tonsurse in Hibernia subulcum regis Loigeri filii Nil extitisse, Patricii sermo testatur ;ex quo Hibernens—es
Romani dicunt tonsuram a
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
cap. xvii. , p. 479.
29Thewriteradds "Tonsuramquoquesi tantum sibi auctoritatis subesset, emendare meminisset. " Bingham states, that the
Roman Tonsure was not known in the time
:
516 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
Adamnan presented a copy of his celebrated work on the Holy Places to the
King. 3° Thisworkispraisedforitsgreatutility,whilethosecircumstances, which led to its composition, are related. On presenting the book to Aldfrid,
the author was loaded with and sent back to his own gifts,
1
country. 3 Venerable Bede devotes two chapters of his History to extracts from this
work on the Holy Places, after giving substantially the foregoing account It is worthy of remark, while the latter writer takes special notice of this work, written by Adamnan, he makes no mention about that still more celebrated one comprising the Life of St. Columba. What is even most remarkable, in a passing observation relating to the latter saint,3» it would appear, that Bede had no information concerning Adamnan having written on such a subject. 33 Such silence presented some difficulty to the Bollandist editor. This, however, was removed, when he remembered, that the Life itself bears internal evidence of having been written some time after Adam- nan's visit to Aldfrid. 34 This second interview, it has been thought, must have occurred about the year 688. 35 Influenced by the cogency of those reasons urged upon him, Adamnan endeavoured on his return to induce those subject to his jurisdiction in Hy, to adopt the Roman custom. But, all the influence of argument, and the weight derived from character, position and general considerations, could not induce them to abandon old usages, for what they supposed to be an introduction of new and strange observances. 36
We are informed, that Irgalach ua Conaing, Lord of Cianachta,*' in
••
cam,devirtutibusetmiraculisS. Columbse
scripsisse, quae in aliorum scriptis invenerat, et per totam vitam suam a senioribus audierat. "—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Junii, ix. De Sancto Columba Presbytero Abbate, in Iona Scotiae Insula, Commen- tarius Praevius, sect, i. , num. 3, p. 188.
3s Following the computation of Bede.
36 See Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentia Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xv.
"So he is in the Cain Adhamnain, styled
although he could not have been lord by descent, as the Cianachta were of a different race from his.
38 He gained a battle at Imlech over
and a to Aedh Slaine, slew his own cousin
great grandson Niall,3
8
Meath,
son to Crearnach Sotail,A. D. 701. That Inisfallen Annals call him
of Hy Neill,39 which is probably correct, as his son Cioneadh was monarch of Ireland from 724 to 728. This act excited the indignation of Adamnan, under whose protection Niall had been, and he denounced Irgalach, threatening a speedy retribution for his crime. He also adopted the ancient usageoffastingagainsttheKing/ Atthisjuncture,Adamnanisrepresented41
"
ofSt. Jerome. See OriginesEcclesiasticse;
the Antiquities of the Christian Church," vol. i. , book vi. , chap, iv. , sect. 1 6, p. 229. Bergier tells us that it is difficult to affirm its
"" origin. See Dictionnaire de Theologie.
Art. Tonsure.
30 We are told by John T. Gilbert, that
owing to the liberality of Aldfrid, King of
Northumbria, several transcripts of the book
" De Locis Sanctis" were made. See
Leslie " of National Stephen's Dictionary
Biography,'' vol, i. , Art. Adamnan or
Adomnan, p. 93.
31 This has been issued by Father John
Mabillon, in "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis
S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , saec. iii. , p. 502. Congalach, son of Conaing, in 684, accord- ""
To this, he added another tract, in Terram
Sanciam Haedeporicon," the author being one Bernard, a monk of St. Gall, and written about 870. See Cardinal Bellarmin,
ing to the Chronicum Scotorum," pp. 108, 109, William M. Hennessy's edition,
"Operum," tomus vii. Ecclesiasticis, p. 251.
32 In another place.
De Sciiptoribus
Iorgalach King of Bregia," in his His- tory and Antiquities of Tara Hill," p. 148. This must be a mistake, however, or else the printed text has omitted the title.
33 He observes of St. Columba, "
4° " Distress of now so by way fasting,
strange to us because so long obsolete, was clearly designed in the interests of honesty, and of the poor as against the mighty. How
Decujus vita et verbis nonnulla—a discipulis ejus
"
feruntur scripta haberi. " Histoiia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iv.
34 He adds, "Quandoquidem constet or why it assumed this particular form is not
Adamnanum, post finitam legationem Angli- known, and shall probably never be known. "
39 Dr. Petrie states, that Tighernach calls ""
King
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 5i7
to have been immersed in the river Boyne. 42 Muirenn, daughter to Cellach
Caulaun, and sister to St. Kentigerna,-*3 of Loch Lomond, is incorrectly said to have been the wife of Irgalach. The Irish Life of our Saint relates, that she was humble and obedient to the Lord and to Adamnan. It is remark- able, that her obit is entered in the Irish Annals, at the year 748. This is rarelj the case, in the instance of women, not classed amongst the female Saints of Ireland. An ancient poem states, that the cursing of Irgalach took place in a Synod held by Adamnan at Tara. *4 The Dinnseanchus^ places the site of Adamnan's tent within his rath.
that our Saint
procured
the enactment of a
This Irgalach was slain by the Britons,*? a. d. 702,*8
taking part in battles,
as stated in the " Annals ofTighernach. "4? The Annals of Ulsters state, that
in 701 he was slain at Inismic Nessan, now known as Ireland's Eye, a small island to the north of Howth. s1 These occurrences, on record in the Irish Annals, almost proves our Saint to have been in Ireland about a. d. 701.
2 AfterthedeathofSt. Gerald,AbbotofMayo,wearetold,s thatAdamnan
ruled that church and its community with great charity, that he caused books to betherewritten. HewroteabookoftheFourGospelswithhisownhand,and church bells he also fashioned. Thence he went to Iona, where he died happily in the Lord, and was buried. However, this statement must be rejected, as St.
Gerald of Mayo long survived Adamnan.
In his exertions to promote the observance of the Roman Easter, Adamnan
—Laurence Ginnell's " Brehon Laws,"
The Synod of Adamnan, afterwards,
chap, iv. , sect. iii. p. 162.
41 By the Irish Life.
Distraint by Fasting,
—In cursing Irgalach. "
42 "This system of fasting against an obnoxious individual was a favourite mode with the Irish ecclesiastics of bringing down visitations on their enemies. The Brehon Laws contain directions on the course which is to be pursued in such a case. Irgalach resisted the influence of St. Adamnan's fast- ing by doing the same himself, until Adam- nan, by inducing one of his people to per- sonate him, put Irgalach off his guard, and thus got the mastery of him. The story is curious, not only as illustrative of this extra- ordinary system of fasting, but as indicating the low tone of moral feeling in the writer,
45 Called after him Cam -AOAmnAin, "Law of Adamnan," and CentiA mnA tjo mAT\b<YO, "not to kill women. " It is pro- bable also, that reference is made to this law in the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 696, in these terms: " Adamnanus ad Hiberniam pergit, et dedit legem innocentium popu- lis. " And, again in an entry made by Tighernach, at the year 697 : -A-oomnan cue jvechc leif m ejMno An bli<voAin •pea, " Adamnan brought a law with him to Ire- land in this year. "
47 It is an error to say that he was killed
the as Dr. Petrie does in his by Saxons,
"
of Tara Hill. " 48See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Sciiptores," tomus ii. , Tiger-
nachi Annales, pp. 220, 221.
49 In A. D. 700, according to Dr. O'Dono-
who
represents
the saint as people
* :Itis
better that one of his
saying
should tell a
and
History Antiquities
falsehoodf—orhim,thanthatheshouldtellit
"
himself. ' Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"
Life of St. Columba," Appendix to Pre- face, n. (w), p. liv.
43 See her
at the 7th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. ii.
44 There traces of an earthen enclosure, anciently called Uac nA Ser»At>, " Rath of the Synods," may be seen, close to the wall of Tara churchyard, on the west.
45 This poem contains a line, of which the following is a translation :
11 The Synod of Patrick was held in the
great Rath ;
The Synod of Brendan, and of Ruadhan ;
the Four vol. i. Masters,"
\ >g
Acts,
which are
already given
van's "Annals of
s«See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
It was probably on this occasion,
6 women from law,* prohibiting
"
See Dr. Petne's on the
History and Antiquities of Tara Hill," pp. 1 15, 122,
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , An- nales Ultonienses, p. 68.
51 In 681, the Britons fought with the Dalaradiana at Rathmor, Magh Line, and in 696 they joined the Ulidians in wasting the coast of Louth. See ibid. , pp. 62, 66, 67. Powibly they had made a settlement in Ireland.
s' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xiii. Martii. Vita S. Geraldi, cap. xvi. , p. 602.
Essay
518 LIVES 02> THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
may have attended Synods of the Irish clergy : indeed, it is scarcely to be conceived, that he could otherwise have effected such a change as Bede describes,S3 and the latter historian tells us, that while there he preached to the people, who were more docile to his disciplinary teaching than were the monks at Iona. By prudent exhortations, he announced to them the legitimate time for celebrating Easter. 5* He induced many who did not belong to the Hyensian Community, to correct their former erroneous practice, and to adopt the canonical and Catholic custom of Paschal observ- ance. 55 Although the reception of Roman customs had taken place in the southern parts of Ireland, and for a considerable period before Adamnan sought to introduce them into the northern portions of our island ; yet we may well believe, that the success of his Paschal advocacy must have
required a considerable period for its completion, among a people naturally attached to old prejudices, as also among communities widely spread, and
subject to a variety of antagonistic influences. We can hardly conceive, that so important a measure was brought about, without much exertion and
preparatory solicitation ; although the social improvement effected by Adamnan has been despatched by the Annals, in a few words.
It is stated, according to all the ancient authorities, that after the death of Diarmaid Mac Fergus Ceirbheoil in 565, Tara had been abandoned,56 as the Royal residence of the Irish Kings. 57 We are told, that although their title had been taken after the death of Dermod from this distin- guished place, yet those monarchs had subsequently no fixed or common residence, 58 but each chose for himself the one most convenient or agreeable,
and it was usually, if not always, within their own hereditary principalities. 5? However, although no longer the residence of the kings, Tara was still occasionally selected as a place for ecclesiastical and lay assemblies. The memory of our Saint, in connection with this great assembly at Tara, is
associated with many local features
60 61 on the summit of that remarkable hill,
53 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xv.
54 He exerted himself to induce the
Northern Irish to adopt that computation,
5B According to the Book of Clonmacnoise and the Leabhar Buidhe Lecan, col. 321.
59 " Thus the kings of the family of the Northern Hy-Niall appear to have resided chiefly at their ancient fortress of Aileach. near Derry, and those of the Southern Hy- Niall, first, at the Rath, near Castlepollard,
and he was so far successful, as to persuade
almost all of them, with the exception of
those, who were immediately under control
of the monastic institute at Hy. See Rev. now called Dun-Tor^eis, having afterwards
Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xix. , sect, iii,, and n. 25, pp. 149, 150.
become the residence of the Danish King,
Turgesius, and subsequently at Dun-na-
Sciath, on the margin of Lock Ainninn—, 55 The Rev. Dr. Ledwich, amidst a num- now Lough Ennell, near Mullingar. "
" apostatized, and he blames that abbot for quities of Tara Hill," p. 128.
ber of falsehoods, states, that Adamnan Dr. George Petrie's
History and Anti-
having brought over to Rome most of the
6o
Thus the Pupall Auhamhnain, or
Southern monks whom he represents as "Pavilion of Adamnan," the Suidhe "
ignorant and bigoted. See "Antiquities of Adhamnain, or Adamnan's chair," the
Dumha Adhamnain, or "Adamnan's 56 In consequence of the curse of St. Mound," and the Cros Adhamhnain, or
Ruadhan, whose life has been already pub- "Adamnan's Cross" situated on the
Ireland," pp. 79, 89.
lished in the Fourth Volume of this work at the 15th of April, Art. i.
Eastern side of the Rath. These remain as
topographical monuments to our Saint, even
57 The cause assigned by the poets and
chroniclers is related in the Annals of Clon-
macnoise, as translated by Connall Mac map in Dr. George Petrie's History and Geoghegan in 1627. It is transferred to Dr. Antiquities of Tara Hill, p. 152. See George Petrie's "History and Antiquities "Transactions of the Royal Irish of Tara Hill," pp. 125 to 127. Academy," vol. xviii.
at the present day.
6l
All these objects are marked on the
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 519
which commands Lsuch a beautiful and such an extensive prospect over the surrounding country.
It has been
62 that our saint sailed from Britain to
in of the seventh century, the Irish in the southern parts had agreed to adopt the Roman computation for the celebration of Easter, after the celebrated Synod held at Magh Lene. 6* However, those in the northern parts had not received it very generally until after the close of that century. At the Synod of Old Leighlin, although there had been a keen controversy on that special subject, the question regarding tonsure65 does not seem to have been debated and determined until brought forward and urged by Adamnan as a reformer of the Irish custom. The Rev. Dr. Reeves appears to infer66 that a practical introduction of the new tonsure must require a longer time, than
6
would the establishment of the Easter observance. ? . Such need not
necessarily be the case ; and although there may be a difference in the respec- tive dates of 716 and 718, between Bede and Tigernach, in relation to the introduction of those observances already mentioned, yet such variation would scarcely be worthy of notice, were it not, that Tighernach himself states, while the Easter observance was in Iona a. d. 716, the new tonsure and its
supposed,
Ireland, part
the latter of 63 As we have part 703.
already
seen, in the earlier
must be referred to A. d. 68 it must be observed, that our 718. For,
adoption
Annals do not always agree with each other respecting the date of year in recording the same event. This difference of date is not less observable, when opportunity affords for comparing them with British chronicles.
to the Annals of
consented to receive one jurisdiction and one rule from our saint respecting the celebration of Easter, on Sunday, on the 14th of the moon of April, and respecting the tonsuring of all the clerks of Erin after the manner of St. Peter, for there had been great dissension in Erin, up to that time ; i. e. some of the clergy of Erin celebrated Easter on Sunday [next after] the fourteenth of the moon of April, and had the tonsure of Peter the Apostle, after the example
According
62 By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
63 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. iii. , chap, xix. , sect, iii. , p. 150.
64 See this matter more fully detailed, in the Life of St. Laserian, Bishop and Patron
circum habebant. "—" Britannicarum Eccle- siarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 479.
66
MacFirbis,
From the circumstance recorded by Roman tonsure, he lay by for four months,
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo- rum," lib. iv. , cap. i.
6? In allusion to the totality of Greek ton- sure, the Rev. Mr. Reeves subjoins a note, Canons found in the Cotton Library for the in which he tells us, that St. Patrick's ancient tradition in reference to the origin charioteer was called Totus Calvus, in the and introduction of that custom, in these Book of Armagh. This name is glossed terms, " Romani dicunt, quod Petrus CocmiAel (fol. 13 bb), and it is elsewhere
of Leighlin Diocese, at the i8thof April, in See the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i. ,
chap. iii.
65 Archbishop Ussher cites an old book of
primus clericus tonsurando usus est, gestans
in capite imaginem coronae spiniae Christi :
idque quinque de causis. I. Ut adsimilaret
Christi coronam. II. Ut Clerici a laicis in
tonsura et habitu et operibus discernerenter.
III. Ut Sacerdotes veteris Testamenti re-
probarent, in illo loco ubi columba super
caput Christi descendit. IV. Ut derisionis
gannituram in regno Romano propter Ancient Sources by Dubhaltach Mac Dominum sustineient. V. Ut a Simone Firbisigh," edited with a translation and Mago Christianos discerneret, in cujus
capite ctesaiies ab aure ad aurem tonsa anteriore parte ; cum antea Magi in fronte
6? in the the men of Erin year 704,
Venerable Bede, that when Theodore of
Canterbury exchanged the Greek for the
written Bodmailus (fol. ii. ab). See Rev. Dr.
"
Reeves'Adamnan's LifeofSt. Columba. '
Additional Notes, N. n. (k), p. 350. 68 "
Tighernacli writes at a. d. 718: Ton—- sura corona super familiam Iae datur. " Dr. O'Conors " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tigernachi Annales.
^ See " Three Fragments, copied from
notes, from a manuscript preserved in the Burgundian Library at Brussels, by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , pp. 1 10 to 113.
520 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
of Patrick ; but others, following the example of Columbkille, celebrated Easter on the fourteenth of the moon of April, on whatever day of the
1
week? the fourteenth should happen to fall,? and had the tonsure of Simon
2
A third
with the followers of Patrick or the
while many evils resulted in the country as a consequence, viz. , a great murrain of cows? * and a very great famine, with many diseases, and the devas- tation of Erin by foreign tribes.
After Adamnan had visited the whole of Ireland, it is stated, that he proceeded to that plain where Gerald of Mayo dwelt,? 3 for the purpose of
6
Gerald is said to have presented Adamnan with a tract of land, through which a clear fountain flowed, and to have recommended his church, so that after his decease, it might be defended from lay exactions. Adamnan promised compliance with
8
i° The Annals of Ulster at 451 have Roman, which was coronal, was styled St.
