Annales
Ecclesiastici
et
p.
p.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
He ruled religiously and justly.
A pious man, he was a valiant soldier also, and a wise monarch.
Yet, for a time, wickedness prevailed against him ; while in the performance of a noble and patriotic duty, he sacrificed his sceptre and his life.
It was Colgan's intention to have published the Acts of St.
Oswald, at the 5th of August, as would appear from that List of MSS.
published by Charles MacDonnell.
1 One of the earliest and most authentic biographers of that illustrious king and martyr was the Venerable Bede.
2 Several Manu- script Acts of Oswald are still preserved.
One of these belonged to D.
29 The eldest representative of the Gain- 32 See ibid. , xx. Februarii, Vita S. Fechini, ness family has taken the title of Lord n. 13, p. 141.
Ard Illaun, from this island.
30 A description of the antiquities on this
"Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
'
at the 20th ofJanuary, when treating about the early
pp. 212, 213.
34 A note by Dr. Todd slatesat
island has been
erections there, by St. Fechin, Abbot of adds, Opiato. Mar. '" "
already given,
:
Fore.
31 See "Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hi-
beini. . y Martii xxi. Appendix ad Acta S. Endei, cap. vii. , p. 715.
Article 11. Headed Cataloges Ac-
tuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, Ordine
Mensium et Dierum. "
2"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Gormghal "After this name, the more recent hand
Dubthacus,
August 5] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 77
Seguicr, Chancellor of France; one was kept in the Monastery of St. Maximin at Treves; another belonged to the Church of St. Saviour, at Utrecht ; while the Bollandists had a distinct Life of him, in manuscript,
andmarkedas
toGamansius. In
uNova
Legenda
belonging
Capgrave's
This holy king's Acts appear,
Anglise," the Acts of St. Oswald are inserted. 3
at this same date, in the u Hystoria Plurimorum Sanctorum," published in
Louvain, a. d. 1485. 4 Through the editor, Father John Pinius, the Bollandists
have presented us with a previous historic Commentary, in six sections, and
fifty-six paragraphs ; while a Life of St. Oswald which follows is comprised
in five chapters and forty-eight paragraphs. 5 The Life was compiled by a monk, named Drogon, who belonged to the Monastery of St. Winocberg, in Flanders, and it seems to have been written at the request of those religious inmates there ; for, they had preserved his relics, from the thirteenth century, with singular veneration. 6 The writer sufficiently indicates, that he drew much of his biographical account from the Venerable Bede. In different hagiographical works, his feast is likewise entered. The Annals of the
Cistercian Monks, contain at August the 5th an account of St. Oswald, king
and martyr. ? l n the " Church History of Brittany," Dean Cressy has given the acts of this religious monarch. 8 At the 5th of August, the account of St.
Oswald, King, appears in the works of Baillet,9 Bishop Challoner10 and Rev.
Alban Butler,
in the Rev. S.
Lives of the English Saints," in Les Petits Bollan-
11" 12
the " Circle of the Seasons. " 15 The Comte de Montalembert, in his charming and celebrated work,16 has also treated about this monarch, in connexion with Anglo-Saxon Church History. The parents of St. Oswald were Ethelfrid, King of Nor- thumbria, called the Ravager, and Acha, daughter to Ella, King of Deira, and sister to the martyred King Edwin. J ? The elder brother of our saint was named Eanfrid, while he had a younger brother, named Oswy, and a sisternamedEbba. Allofthesechildrenwerebroughtupintheerrorsof paganism, and amid the seductions of a court, where religion and morality were unknown. Like a rose growing among thorns, as stated, our saint was born, in the year 604. Of his early years, we have little account. Before we proceed to consider the personal career of the present holy man,
distes,
J 3
and in
Baring-Gould.
1 *
See, likewise,
it will be necessary, however, to premise a few historical notices. The first founder of the great Northumbrian Kingdom, comprising the northern
province of Bernicia, and the southern of Deira, was Ida, who left a son, named Ethelric. This prince and the other children of Ida, named Theodric and Occa, were only able to retain possession of the northern part, known as Bernicia. A warlike ruler, named /Ella or Alia, conquered the southern portion called Deira, comprising the present Yorkshire and Lanca-
Anglorurn," lib. iii. , cap. i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , v. , also, Book xxx, chap, vi. , pp. 801, 802. "
vi. , ix. , x. , xi. , xii. , xiii. The Cambridge 9 See Les Vies des Saints," tome
edition of 1644 is that referred to in this Life.
3 See Vita S. Oswaldi, fol. ccliv. , et seq.
4 See fol. cv. , cvi.
sSee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
ii. , pp.
79 to 81.
I0 See " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , Au-
gust 5, pp. 65 to 72.
" See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August v. " See vol. i.
v. 83 103.
Rege
Mart. , pp.
gusti to
I3 See " Vies des Saints," tome ix. , ve d'Aout, p. 304 and n. 1.
Jour
6
The Bollandists had two manuscript
De S. Oswaldo
ac
copies of this Life belonging to St. Winocberg, and these they collated with another copy belongingto the Monasterium Rubese Valhs.
7 See vol. viii. , pp. 205 to 208.
8
See Book xv. , chap, i. , ii. , hi. , pp. 345 to 350, and chap, x. , xi. , pp. 358 to 362 ; as
I4 See "Lives of the Saints," vol. viii. ,
August 5, pp. 63 to 74. I5 At p. 218.
l6 See " Les Moines d'Occident," tome
iv. , liv. xiii. , chap, i. , pp. 2 to 37.
*? The monk Simon of Durham has given
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 5,
shire. On the death of this latter prince, Ethelfrid, the son of Ethelric,
took possession of Deira; and, for twenty-four years, he swayed the destinies of the united Kingdom of Northumbria, then extending from the River Humber to the Forth or Firth or Scotland. However, va contest arose between him and Redwald, king of the East-Angles, which resulted in a decisive battle, fought a. d. 616. In this, Ethelfrid was slain, and Edwin, the son Alia, became King of Northumbria, which he governed for seventeen
;
18 On the death of their father, Ethelfrid, his sons Oswald Eanfrid,
years.
and Oswin or Oswy were obliged to fly elsewhere for refuge and safety. These made their escape to and lived for long among the Picts or Scots l 9
but, whether the latter were the ancient Scots of Ireland or those colonists who came thence to settle in Scotland has been disputed. However, if those princes escaped, in the first instance, to Northern Britain ; it seems most likely, that to ensure greater safety, they afterwards sailed for Ireland, where the power of the Northumbrian ruler should be unable to procure their arrest. Moreover, we know, that after his death, the sanctity and miracles of St. Oswald were widely diffused by fame throughout Ireland, while his intercession was there piously invoked. During their time of exile, Oswald and Oswy had the great advantage of living among a religious and Christianpopulation. Soonweretheprincessufficientlyinstructed,inaknow- ledge of the saving mysteries of Divine Faith. They were afterwards baptized. Among his brothers, Oswald was particularly distinguished for virtue and fervour, in the practices of religion. He also became skilled in those manly exercises, which fitted him for that future warlike career, in which the necessities of those times obliged him to engage. The royal brothers lived abroad for a successsion of years, during the eclipse of their hereditary claims and fortunes. At this time, the Christian religion had almost disappeared from Northumbria, were it had been propagated by St. Paulinus,20 and the whole province was a scene of desolation. For the seventeen years his uncle Edwin reigned, Oswald and his brothers had remained in exile among the Scots ; but, on the overthrow of the Deirian dynasty, those princes of
21
the Bernician family returned to Northumbria.
England, Eanfrid became King of Bernicia, while Osric was received as King of Deira. Both of these became apostates, and renounced the Christian faith. 22 A united effort was made to surprise Cadwallon in the city of York by Osric, but it signally failed ; and while the latter was in an unguarded position, that British king Cadwallon attacked him. Osric was killed. Eanfrid then sued for peace, but he failed to appease the conqueror's thirst for vengance. Meantime, the tyrant Cathlon or Cadwallon, King of North Wales, had resolved on throwing off the Saxon yoke, and, leagued with Penda, the fierce King of Mercia, he invaded Northumbria. They both ravaged that province, having fought a successful battle at Hatfield Chase, in York- shire, on the 1 2th of October, a. d. 633. '3 There, Edwin and his son Osfrid fell in battle, with a great number of followers. 2* Afterwards, Eanfrid was
us the genealogy of St. Oswald. the Saints," August 5, pp. 64, 65.
18 See the Chronological Series of Nor- "See Venerable Bede's " Historia Eccle-
thumbrian Kings given in Alford's very siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. i. ,
"
learned work.
Civiles Britannorum, Saxonum," &c, tomus iii. , pp. 57 et seg.
19 See Venerable Bede's " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis P« *6i.
20
Anglorum,"
lib.
iii. , cap. i. ,
24 Archidiaconi Hunten- See Henrici
dunensis "Historia Anglorum," edited by Thomas Arnold, M. A. , lib. iii. , sect. 33, pp. 89, 90.
Annales Ecclesiastici et
p.
161.
23 See Radulfi de Diceto Decani Lundoni-
His feast is kept, on the 10th of October. 21 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
"
Opera Historica," edited by William
After his return to
ensis
Stubbs, M. A. , M. K. I. A. , vol. i. , p. no.
August 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 79
treacherously murdered by his adversary, in 635. On the death of these
princes, Oswald was regarded as king over Bernicia and Deira. Trusting in
God's providence, and full of courage, he resolved on securing the crown, by
a brave effort, and then to restore the reign of religion and morality among
2
his subjects. 5 However, Cathlon had resolved on the invasion of Nor-
Selecting an advantageous position, the Anglo-Saxon prince drew his men upon a height, known as Denisesburn, having his flank covered by a part of the Roman wall. He had but few Christians in his army, 3° but on the eve
of battle, he was favoured by an extraordinary vision of St. Columba,3« as
2
thumbria, and accordingly, he levied a large army, with which, he devastated thatkingdom. Toopposesuchaforce,Oswaldcouldonlymusterasmall but resolute body of soldiers. The Britons were found to have been carelessly encamped in the neighbourhood of Hexam. 26 Both armies met near that great wall,9? which the Emperor Severus had erected to repel the incursions of the Picts and Scots. That was in the 28 to
year635, according generally received accounts. 9 Portions of the strong rampart were still standing.
already related 3
in our Life of the Apostle of Caledonia. This great patron
2
promised Oswald a glorious victory, in the approaching encounter. On
awaking, the king told his vision to the Saxons, who had joined him, and all
promised to receive baptism, should he return a victor from the field. 33
Then, erecting a large wooden cross, which had been hastily made, the king
set it up with his own hands, while his companions heaped earth around to
keep it in position. Prostrating himself before it, he said to his warriors :
"
Let us all fall on our knees, and together implore of the living and true and Almighty God to defend us in his mercy against the pride and fierceness of our enemy; for that God knows our cause is just, and that we fight for the safety of our nation. Yes, it is for our salvation and for our freedom, that we should fight to-day against those Britons, whom our fathers gloried in challenging, but who now prophesy the extermination of our race. "34 This remarkable event has been commemorated, by the learned and elegant writer Alcuin,35inLatinhexameterverse. 36 Earlyonthefollowingmorning,abattle
25 See Dean
Cressy's
" Church of History
i. , pp. 13
to and notes. 15
Book xv. ,
26 "
M See Rev. S. " Lives of Baring-Gould's
chap, ii. , p. 346.
See Rev. Dr. John Lingard's History
of England," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 90.
27 In a work by James Raine, "The tury was born in Yorkshire, England, about
Brittany,"
Priory of Hexam," published by the Surtees Society, a particular description of this re- markable battle-field is given. See vol i. ,
preface, p. ix. and appendix ii. , a. d. 1864.
28
See" Annales Monasterii de Waverleia," at that date, in " AnnalesMonastici," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. ii. , p. 151.
29However,the"AnnalesCambrioe,"edited by Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , have entered it thus : "clxxxvii. Annus. Bellum
Cantscaul, in quo Catguollan (cum suis) "
corruit, p. 7. In this work, the enumeration Prince- Abbot of St. Emmeran, has since
of entries commences at A. D. 444.
30 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
published a more complete edition, at Ratisbon, a. d. 1777, in two folio volumes.
36 The —is thus introduced
king addressing
Moines d' tome Occident,"
liv.
iv. , xiii. ,
chap, i. , p. 60.
31 See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the
Sixth Volume of this work, Art, i.
32 See ibid. , chap. xvii.
33 See Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba,"
edited by William Reeves, D. D. , lib. i. , cap,
his soldiers
"Nunc precor, invictas animis assumite vires,
Auxiliumque Dei, cunctis prsestantius armis,
the Saints," vol. viii. , August 5, pp. 65, 66.
the year 735, or as others state near London, and he was a scholar of the Venerable Bede. Afterwards, he became librarian to Ecbert, Archbishop of York. He then left for France, where he became the friend of the great Charlemagne. He departed this life in the Abbey of St. Martin, at Tours, on the 19th of May, a. d. 804, at the age of seventyyears. Hisworkshavebeencollected and published by Andre Du Chesne, at Paris, a. d. 1617, infol. To this edition his Life has been prefixed. However, Mr. Troben,
35 This celebrated writer of the cen- eighth
:
8o LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS,
[August 5.
began, and it was desperately contested. The British king was full of
confidence in the result, and already had he boasted, that nothing could
resist the forces he led. 3? In forty battles and in sixty single combats,
according to the Welsh traditions, their, British king Cadwallon had been
victorious. 38 In this battle, however, lie was vanquished by the greatly inferior
force opposed to him, and almost at the first encounter. When the Britons
gave way, their great warrior chief Cadwallon was found among the slain. 39
The height on which the battle had been fought was afterwards called Heaven's
Field, by the Saxons, who recognised this memorable engagement, as having
been obtained through a special intervention of Divine Providence. After
that the Britons evacuated Northumbria, and withdrew — great defeat, beyond
the Severn. Those who remained north of the Dee, in that territory dividedintotheCountiesofChester,LancasterandWestmoreland—submitted to the Northumbrian sway. Thenceforward, their dominion extended from the Irish Channel to the North Sea, tracing the line of the east coast so far astheFirthnearEdinburgh. Itisthought,likewise,thataportionofWales must have paid homage to Oswald, and that even Mercia was subject to his rule. Then, however, he became the undisputed sovereign not alone of Northumbria, but his supremacy was recognised over the whole Saxon Hep- tarchy, as the sixth of the Suzerains, who were titled in those times Bretwalda. 4° Not only had Oswald learned to possess in hope that heavenly
kingdom, which his fathers knew not ; but, even in this world, God gave him a kingdom vaster than that possessed by any of his ancestors. He reigned over the four races—who shared Britain among them—the Britons,
the the Picts and the Scots,
Angles. ''
1 No doubt, such was but supremacy
partially acknowledged, especially beyond the limits of the Anglo-Saxon territory. On the father's and on the mother's side, Oswald had a natural right to join the two kingships of Bernicia and Deira ; so that when Nor- thumbria had been united under one sovereign, it could not fail to become at once the chief realm in the Saxon Confederation. He succeeded, more- over, in reconciling and binding together into one state those two distinct races, who had heretofore lived in perpetual conflict and animosity. His first care was to solicit from the Scots a preacher, who might restore the Faith of Christ among the Saxons. However, the one sent, called by some writers Corman,^ does not appear to have been well chosen for the mission that awaited him. At length, finding little result from his labours, that man returned whence he came, and reported at a public meeting, that the people among whom he had been sent were of a rough, barbarous and incorrigible
Poscite, corde pio, precibus vestros
; prosternite
38 " See Le Comte de Montalembert's Les
Moines d'Occident," tome iv. , liv. xiii. , chap, i. , p. 10.
39 See Bishop Challoner's " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , August 5, p. 66.
40
Before these monarchs, the Tufa or plume of feathers was borne, and this was an emblem of supreme dominion, which rested chiefly among the Northumbrian kings. See Le Comte de Montalembert's "Les Moines d'Occident," tome iv. , liv. xiii. , chap, i. , pp. 12, 13.
/'See Venerable Bede's-Historia Eccle-
siast,ca Gentls Ang1("linb lib. ill. , cap. vi. ,
p. 174.
42 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
Moines d'Occident," tome iv. , liv. xiii. , chap, i. , p. 16.
Vultus ante crucem, quam vertice montis in isto
Erexi, rutilat quae Christi clara trophaeo, Quae quoque nunc nobis praestabit ab hoste
triumphuni.
Tunc clamor populi fertur super astra
precantis,
Et cruce sic coram, DominumqueDeumque
potentem,
Poplitibus flexis, exercitus omnis adorat. "
-"De Ponificibus et Sanctis Eboracensis," v. 244.
37 See Henrici Archidiaconi "
Ecclesi*
Hunten- dunensis Historia Anglorum," lib. iii. , sect. , 34, p. 91. Thomas Arnold's edition.
since
August 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
nature. 43 He seems to have had a special affection for Bernicia, his father's country ; for, in it he chiefly lived. Its ancient boundaries on the Caledonian side he re-established or extended. He resided usually at Bebbaborough,** now Bamborough, in Northumberland. When Oswald had been securely established on his father's throne, he desired to procure Christian missionaries from Iona, in order to spread the faith among his pagan subjects. Notwith- standing the previous failure, still such an appeal was most favourably received by that Scottish or Irish colony. Soon an Apostle was selected to bear the standard of the cross, into the whole northern region of Saxon Britain. A man of meek and humble spirit charitably pleaded for their conversion, and suggested, that a certain degree of toleration should be extended to the Saxons. This discourse pleased the whole assembly, and he was deemed most suited for that apostolic mission. The holy monk, named Aidants was sent accordingly from the monastic metropolis in Iona, and he was eagerly welcomed by the religious King, to found the church on the north side of the Humber. The new missioner had not yet learned the Saxon language ; but, as the King long lived among the Scots, and thoroughly understood their manners, customs and speech, he willingly assumed the office of interpreter. When Aidan preached in the Celtic tongue, to the great chiefs, thanes and officials of the court, Oswald translated the sermons of the bishop, who, as yet, only spoke very imperfectly the Anglo-Saxon language. The King and the bishop rivalled each other in virtue, piety and ardent charity ; but, above all things, they were anxious to gain souls to Christ, and soon the powerful nobles became converts, while their example wasspeedilyfollowedbycrowdsoftheirretainersanddependents. Great numbers received instruction and the Sacrament of Baptism, as preparatory to the reception of other sacraments. Not alone Oswald, but the North- umbrian nobles, gave lands and gifts to found churches and monasteries, to which schools were added, so that religion and civilization might progress through all parts of that flourishing kingdom. The noble church of St. Peter in York, begun by King Edwin, was finished by Oswald. *6 New missionaries, full of zeal and fervour, soon began to arrive almost daily from Ireland or Scotland, to second the efforts of the King and of the bishop. Those earnest preachers of the Word soon changed the whole face of that country, and in an incredibly short time, paganism disappeared, while the converts to Christianity gave evidence of their sincerity and perseverance. Nothing could exceed the respect and veneration shown by King Oswald towards the first Bishop of Northumbria, while all their work was done in concert, to promote the best interests of religion. One Easter Day, while Bishop Aidan was seated with him at table, a silver dish containing choice food was set before the King. A blessing was about to be asked on the viands, when a servant entered the apartment, and he told the monarch, that a very great multitude of poor persons were without in the streets expecting entertainment. Immediately, the King ordered that meat set before him to be carried to them, and even the silver dish in which it was served, he caused to be broken and to be divided among them. Delighted with such an act of charity, the bishop took hold of the King's right hand, and he then "
43 " See Venerable Bede's
said, may
this hand never Above all else,
Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , chap.
be found.
46 See Dean Cressy's
349.
47 See Venerable Bede's
v. , p.
29 The eldest representative of the Gain- 32 See ibid. , xx. Februarii, Vita S. Fechini, ness family has taken the title of Lord n. 13, p. 141.
Ard Illaun, from this island.
30 A description of the antiquities on this
"Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
'
at the 20th ofJanuary, when treating about the early
pp. 212, 213.
34 A note by Dr. Todd slatesat
island has been
erections there, by St. Fechin, Abbot of adds, Opiato. Mar. '" "
already given,
:
Fore.
31 See "Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hi-
beini. . y Martii xxi. Appendix ad Acta S. Endei, cap. vii. , p. 715.
Article 11. Headed Cataloges Ac-
tuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, Ordine
Mensium et Dierum. "
2"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Gormghal "After this name, the more recent hand
Dubthacus,
August 5] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 77
Seguicr, Chancellor of France; one was kept in the Monastery of St. Maximin at Treves; another belonged to the Church of St. Saviour, at Utrecht ; while the Bollandists had a distinct Life of him, in manuscript,
andmarkedas
toGamansius. In
uNova
Legenda
belonging
Capgrave's
This holy king's Acts appear,
Anglise," the Acts of St. Oswald are inserted. 3
at this same date, in the u Hystoria Plurimorum Sanctorum," published in
Louvain, a. d. 1485. 4 Through the editor, Father John Pinius, the Bollandists
have presented us with a previous historic Commentary, in six sections, and
fifty-six paragraphs ; while a Life of St. Oswald which follows is comprised
in five chapters and forty-eight paragraphs. 5 The Life was compiled by a monk, named Drogon, who belonged to the Monastery of St. Winocberg, in Flanders, and it seems to have been written at the request of those religious inmates there ; for, they had preserved his relics, from the thirteenth century, with singular veneration. 6 The writer sufficiently indicates, that he drew much of his biographical account from the Venerable Bede. In different hagiographical works, his feast is likewise entered. The Annals of the
Cistercian Monks, contain at August the 5th an account of St. Oswald, king
and martyr. ? l n the " Church History of Brittany," Dean Cressy has given the acts of this religious monarch. 8 At the 5th of August, the account of St.
Oswald, King, appears in the works of Baillet,9 Bishop Challoner10 and Rev.
Alban Butler,
in the Rev. S.
Lives of the English Saints," in Les Petits Bollan-
11" 12
the " Circle of the Seasons. " 15 The Comte de Montalembert, in his charming and celebrated work,16 has also treated about this monarch, in connexion with Anglo-Saxon Church History. The parents of St. Oswald were Ethelfrid, King of Nor- thumbria, called the Ravager, and Acha, daughter to Ella, King of Deira, and sister to the martyred King Edwin. J ? The elder brother of our saint was named Eanfrid, while he had a younger brother, named Oswy, and a sisternamedEbba. Allofthesechildrenwerebroughtupintheerrorsof paganism, and amid the seductions of a court, where religion and morality were unknown. Like a rose growing among thorns, as stated, our saint was born, in the year 604. Of his early years, we have little account. Before we proceed to consider the personal career of the present holy man,
distes,
J 3
and in
Baring-Gould.
1 *
See, likewise,
it will be necessary, however, to premise a few historical notices. The first founder of the great Northumbrian Kingdom, comprising the northern
province of Bernicia, and the southern of Deira, was Ida, who left a son, named Ethelric. This prince and the other children of Ida, named Theodric and Occa, were only able to retain possession of the northern part, known as Bernicia. A warlike ruler, named /Ella or Alia, conquered the southern portion called Deira, comprising the present Yorkshire and Lanca-
Anglorurn," lib. iii. , cap. i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , v. , also, Book xxx, chap, vi. , pp. 801, 802. "
vi. , ix. , x. , xi. , xii. , xiii. The Cambridge 9 See Les Vies des Saints," tome
edition of 1644 is that referred to in this Life.
3 See Vita S. Oswaldi, fol. ccliv. , et seq.
4 See fol. cv. , cvi.
sSee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
ii. , pp.
79 to 81.
I0 See " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , Au-
gust 5, pp. 65 to 72.
" See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August v. " See vol. i.
v. 83 103.
Rege
Mart. , pp.
gusti to
I3 See " Vies des Saints," tome ix. , ve d'Aout, p. 304 and n. 1.
Jour
6
The Bollandists had two manuscript
De S. Oswaldo
ac
copies of this Life belonging to St. Winocberg, and these they collated with another copy belongingto the Monasterium Rubese Valhs.
7 See vol. viii. , pp. 205 to 208.
8
See Book xv. , chap, i. , ii. , hi. , pp. 345 to 350, and chap, x. , xi. , pp. 358 to 362 ; as
I4 See "Lives of the Saints," vol. viii. ,
August 5, pp. 63 to 74. I5 At p. 218.
l6 See " Les Moines d'Occident," tome
iv. , liv. xiii. , chap, i. , pp. 2 to 37.
*? The monk Simon of Durham has given
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 5,
shire. On the death of this latter prince, Ethelfrid, the son of Ethelric,
took possession of Deira; and, for twenty-four years, he swayed the destinies of the united Kingdom of Northumbria, then extending from the River Humber to the Forth or Firth or Scotland. However, va contest arose between him and Redwald, king of the East-Angles, which resulted in a decisive battle, fought a. d. 616. In this, Ethelfrid was slain, and Edwin, the son Alia, became King of Northumbria, which he governed for seventeen
;
18 On the death of their father, Ethelfrid, his sons Oswald Eanfrid,
years.
and Oswin or Oswy were obliged to fly elsewhere for refuge and safety. These made their escape to and lived for long among the Picts or Scots l 9
but, whether the latter were the ancient Scots of Ireland or those colonists who came thence to settle in Scotland has been disputed. However, if those princes escaped, in the first instance, to Northern Britain ; it seems most likely, that to ensure greater safety, they afterwards sailed for Ireland, where the power of the Northumbrian ruler should be unable to procure their arrest. Moreover, we know, that after his death, the sanctity and miracles of St. Oswald were widely diffused by fame throughout Ireland, while his intercession was there piously invoked. During their time of exile, Oswald and Oswy had the great advantage of living among a religious and Christianpopulation. Soonweretheprincessufficientlyinstructed,inaknow- ledge of the saving mysteries of Divine Faith. They were afterwards baptized. Among his brothers, Oswald was particularly distinguished for virtue and fervour, in the practices of religion. He also became skilled in those manly exercises, which fitted him for that future warlike career, in which the necessities of those times obliged him to engage. The royal brothers lived abroad for a successsion of years, during the eclipse of their hereditary claims and fortunes. At this time, the Christian religion had almost disappeared from Northumbria, were it had been propagated by St. Paulinus,20 and the whole province was a scene of desolation. For the seventeen years his uncle Edwin reigned, Oswald and his brothers had remained in exile among the Scots ; but, on the overthrow of the Deirian dynasty, those princes of
21
the Bernician family returned to Northumbria.
England, Eanfrid became King of Bernicia, while Osric was received as King of Deira. Both of these became apostates, and renounced the Christian faith. 22 A united effort was made to surprise Cadwallon in the city of York by Osric, but it signally failed ; and while the latter was in an unguarded position, that British king Cadwallon attacked him. Osric was killed. Eanfrid then sued for peace, but he failed to appease the conqueror's thirst for vengance. Meantime, the tyrant Cathlon or Cadwallon, King of North Wales, had resolved on throwing off the Saxon yoke, and, leagued with Penda, the fierce King of Mercia, he invaded Northumbria. They both ravaged that province, having fought a successful battle at Hatfield Chase, in York- shire, on the 1 2th of October, a. d. 633. '3 There, Edwin and his son Osfrid fell in battle, with a great number of followers. 2* Afterwards, Eanfrid was
us the genealogy of St. Oswald. the Saints," August 5, pp. 64, 65.
18 See the Chronological Series of Nor- "See Venerable Bede's " Historia Eccle-
thumbrian Kings given in Alford's very siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. i. ,
"
learned work.
Civiles Britannorum, Saxonum," &c, tomus iii. , pp. 57 et seg.
19 See Venerable Bede's " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis P« *6i.
20
Anglorum,"
lib.
iii. , cap. i. ,
24 Archidiaconi Hunten- See Henrici
dunensis "Historia Anglorum," edited by Thomas Arnold, M. A. , lib. iii. , sect. 33, pp. 89, 90.
Annales Ecclesiastici et
p.
161.
23 See Radulfi de Diceto Decani Lundoni-
His feast is kept, on the 10th of October. 21 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
"
Opera Historica," edited by William
After his return to
ensis
Stubbs, M. A. , M. K. I. A. , vol. i. , p. no.
August 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 79
treacherously murdered by his adversary, in 635. On the death of these
princes, Oswald was regarded as king over Bernicia and Deira. Trusting in
God's providence, and full of courage, he resolved on securing the crown, by
a brave effort, and then to restore the reign of religion and morality among
2
his subjects. 5 However, Cathlon had resolved on the invasion of Nor-
Selecting an advantageous position, the Anglo-Saxon prince drew his men upon a height, known as Denisesburn, having his flank covered by a part of the Roman wall. He had but few Christians in his army, 3° but on the eve
of battle, he was favoured by an extraordinary vision of St. Columba,3« as
2
thumbria, and accordingly, he levied a large army, with which, he devastated thatkingdom. Toopposesuchaforce,Oswaldcouldonlymusterasmall but resolute body of soldiers. The Britons were found to have been carelessly encamped in the neighbourhood of Hexam. 26 Both armies met near that great wall,9? which the Emperor Severus had erected to repel the incursions of the Picts and Scots. That was in the 28 to
year635, according generally received accounts. 9 Portions of the strong rampart were still standing.
already related 3
in our Life of the Apostle of Caledonia. This great patron
2
promised Oswald a glorious victory, in the approaching encounter. On
awaking, the king told his vision to the Saxons, who had joined him, and all
promised to receive baptism, should he return a victor from the field. 33
Then, erecting a large wooden cross, which had been hastily made, the king
set it up with his own hands, while his companions heaped earth around to
keep it in position. Prostrating himself before it, he said to his warriors :
"
Let us all fall on our knees, and together implore of the living and true and Almighty God to defend us in his mercy against the pride and fierceness of our enemy; for that God knows our cause is just, and that we fight for the safety of our nation. Yes, it is for our salvation and for our freedom, that we should fight to-day against those Britons, whom our fathers gloried in challenging, but who now prophesy the extermination of our race. "34 This remarkable event has been commemorated, by the learned and elegant writer Alcuin,35inLatinhexameterverse. 36 Earlyonthefollowingmorning,abattle
25 See Dean
Cressy's
" Church of History
i. , pp. 13
to and notes. 15
Book xv. ,
26 "
M See Rev. S. " Lives of Baring-Gould's
chap, ii. , p. 346.
See Rev. Dr. John Lingard's History
of England," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 90.
27 In a work by James Raine, "The tury was born in Yorkshire, England, about
Brittany,"
Priory of Hexam," published by the Surtees Society, a particular description of this re- markable battle-field is given. See vol i. ,
preface, p. ix. and appendix ii. , a. d. 1864.
28
See" Annales Monasterii de Waverleia," at that date, in " AnnalesMonastici," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. ii. , p. 151.
29However,the"AnnalesCambrioe,"edited by Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , have entered it thus : "clxxxvii. Annus. Bellum
Cantscaul, in quo Catguollan (cum suis) "
corruit, p. 7. In this work, the enumeration Prince- Abbot of St. Emmeran, has since
of entries commences at A. D. 444.
30 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
published a more complete edition, at Ratisbon, a. d. 1777, in two folio volumes.
36 The —is thus introduced
king addressing
Moines d' tome Occident,"
liv.
iv. , xiii. ,
chap, i. , p. 60.
31 See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the
Sixth Volume of this work, Art, i.
32 See ibid. , chap. xvii.
33 See Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba,"
edited by William Reeves, D. D. , lib. i. , cap,
his soldiers
"Nunc precor, invictas animis assumite vires,
Auxiliumque Dei, cunctis prsestantius armis,
the Saints," vol. viii. , August 5, pp. 65, 66.
the year 735, or as others state near London, and he was a scholar of the Venerable Bede. Afterwards, he became librarian to Ecbert, Archbishop of York. He then left for France, where he became the friend of the great Charlemagne. He departed this life in the Abbey of St. Martin, at Tours, on the 19th of May, a. d. 804, at the age of seventyyears. Hisworkshavebeencollected and published by Andre Du Chesne, at Paris, a. d. 1617, infol. To this edition his Life has been prefixed. However, Mr. Troben,
35 This celebrated writer of the cen- eighth
:
8o LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS,
[August 5.
began, and it was desperately contested. The British king was full of
confidence in the result, and already had he boasted, that nothing could
resist the forces he led. 3? In forty battles and in sixty single combats,
according to the Welsh traditions, their, British king Cadwallon had been
victorious. 38 In this battle, however, lie was vanquished by the greatly inferior
force opposed to him, and almost at the first encounter. When the Britons
gave way, their great warrior chief Cadwallon was found among the slain. 39
The height on which the battle had been fought was afterwards called Heaven's
Field, by the Saxons, who recognised this memorable engagement, as having
been obtained through a special intervention of Divine Providence. After
that the Britons evacuated Northumbria, and withdrew — great defeat, beyond
the Severn. Those who remained north of the Dee, in that territory dividedintotheCountiesofChester,LancasterandWestmoreland—submitted to the Northumbrian sway. Thenceforward, their dominion extended from the Irish Channel to the North Sea, tracing the line of the east coast so far astheFirthnearEdinburgh. Itisthought,likewise,thataportionofWales must have paid homage to Oswald, and that even Mercia was subject to his rule. Then, however, he became the undisputed sovereign not alone of Northumbria, but his supremacy was recognised over the whole Saxon Hep- tarchy, as the sixth of the Suzerains, who were titled in those times Bretwalda. 4° Not only had Oswald learned to possess in hope that heavenly
kingdom, which his fathers knew not ; but, even in this world, God gave him a kingdom vaster than that possessed by any of his ancestors. He reigned over the four races—who shared Britain among them—the Britons,
the the Picts and the Scots,
Angles. ''
1 No doubt, such was but supremacy
partially acknowledged, especially beyond the limits of the Anglo-Saxon territory. On the father's and on the mother's side, Oswald had a natural right to join the two kingships of Bernicia and Deira ; so that when Nor- thumbria had been united under one sovereign, it could not fail to become at once the chief realm in the Saxon Confederation. He succeeded, more- over, in reconciling and binding together into one state those two distinct races, who had heretofore lived in perpetual conflict and animosity. His first care was to solicit from the Scots a preacher, who might restore the Faith of Christ among the Saxons. However, the one sent, called by some writers Corman,^ does not appear to have been well chosen for the mission that awaited him. At length, finding little result from his labours, that man returned whence he came, and reported at a public meeting, that the people among whom he had been sent were of a rough, barbarous and incorrigible
Poscite, corde pio, precibus vestros
; prosternite
38 " See Le Comte de Montalembert's Les
Moines d'Occident," tome iv. , liv. xiii. , chap, i. , p. 10.
39 See Bishop Challoner's " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , August 5, p. 66.
40
Before these monarchs, the Tufa or plume of feathers was borne, and this was an emblem of supreme dominion, which rested chiefly among the Northumbrian kings. See Le Comte de Montalembert's "Les Moines d'Occident," tome iv. , liv. xiii. , chap, i. , pp. 12, 13.
/'See Venerable Bede's-Historia Eccle-
siast,ca Gentls Ang1("linb lib. ill. , cap. vi. ,
p. 174.
42 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
Moines d'Occident," tome iv. , liv. xiii. , chap, i. , p. 16.
Vultus ante crucem, quam vertice montis in isto
Erexi, rutilat quae Christi clara trophaeo, Quae quoque nunc nobis praestabit ab hoste
triumphuni.
Tunc clamor populi fertur super astra
precantis,
Et cruce sic coram, DominumqueDeumque
potentem,
Poplitibus flexis, exercitus omnis adorat. "
-"De Ponificibus et Sanctis Eboracensis," v. 244.
37 See Henrici Archidiaconi "
Ecclesi*
Hunten- dunensis Historia Anglorum," lib. iii. , sect. , 34, p. 91. Thomas Arnold's edition.
since
August 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
nature. 43 He seems to have had a special affection for Bernicia, his father's country ; for, in it he chiefly lived. Its ancient boundaries on the Caledonian side he re-established or extended. He resided usually at Bebbaborough,** now Bamborough, in Northumberland. When Oswald had been securely established on his father's throne, he desired to procure Christian missionaries from Iona, in order to spread the faith among his pagan subjects. Notwith- standing the previous failure, still such an appeal was most favourably received by that Scottish or Irish colony. Soon an Apostle was selected to bear the standard of the cross, into the whole northern region of Saxon Britain. A man of meek and humble spirit charitably pleaded for their conversion, and suggested, that a certain degree of toleration should be extended to the Saxons. This discourse pleased the whole assembly, and he was deemed most suited for that apostolic mission. The holy monk, named Aidants was sent accordingly from the monastic metropolis in Iona, and he was eagerly welcomed by the religious King, to found the church on the north side of the Humber. The new missioner had not yet learned the Saxon language ; but, as the King long lived among the Scots, and thoroughly understood their manners, customs and speech, he willingly assumed the office of interpreter. When Aidan preached in the Celtic tongue, to the great chiefs, thanes and officials of the court, Oswald translated the sermons of the bishop, who, as yet, only spoke very imperfectly the Anglo-Saxon language. The King and the bishop rivalled each other in virtue, piety and ardent charity ; but, above all things, they were anxious to gain souls to Christ, and soon the powerful nobles became converts, while their example wasspeedilyfollowedbycrowdsoftheirretainersanddependents. Great numbers received instruction and the Sacrament of Baptism, as preparatory to the reception of other sacraments. Not alone Oswald, but the North- umbrian nobles, gave lands and gifts to found churches and monasteries, to which schools were added, so that religion and civilization might progress through all parts of that flourishing kingdom. The noble church of St. Peter in York, begun by King Edwin, was finished by Oswald. *6 New missionaries, full of zeal and fervour, soon began to arrive almost daily from Ireland or Scotland, to second the efforts of the King and of the bishop. Those earnest preachers of the Word soon changed the whole face of that country, and in an incredibly short time, paganism disappeared, while the converts to Christianity gave evidence of their sincerity and perseverance. Nothing could exceed the respect and veneration shown by King Oswald towards the first Bishop of Northumbria, while all their work was done in concert, to promote the best interests of religion. One Easter Day, while Bishop Aidan was seated with him at table, a silver dish containing choice food was set before the King. A blessing was about to be asked on the viands, when a servant entered the apartment, and he told the monarch, that a very great multitude of poor persons were without in the streets expecting entertainment. Immediately, the King ordered that meat set before him to be carried to them, and even the silver dish in which it was served, he caused to be broken and to be divided among them. Delighted with such an act of charity, the bishop took hold of the King's right hand, and he then "
43 " See Venerable Bede's
said, may
this hand never Above all else,
Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , chap.
be found.
46 See Dean Cressy's
349.
47 See Venerable Bede's
v. , p.
