In his life of our saint, Desmay says, the angel
signified
to Fursey, that he should spend twelve years preaching in Ireland, Scotland, and England, before the time of his journeying into France.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
, that this term of years had been
spent solely in Ireland. See Dr. Lanigan's ""
is entered, Visio quam vidit Fursseus re- Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , ligiosus Episcopus. " See Dr. O'Conor's chap, xvi. , § viii. , p. 456, and n. 78, p.
" Rerum Hibernicarum "
tomus
458,
ibid. " Acta Sanctorum Also, Colgan's
Scriptores,"
76, pp. 457, 458. This latter note, Dr. cap. x. , p. 290, ibid. Vol. I. —No. 5.
iv, Annales Ultonienses," p. 43. "
HibernicC," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursasi, *See Plcclesiastical History of Ireland," lib. i. , cap. xxxi. , xxxii. , p. 81, and n. 23, . vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § viii. , p. 456, and n. p. 90. Likewise, Vita S. Furscei a Desmaio,
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
258
of his Irish mission, we find that he visited Munster," and it is probable, that he also preached occasionally in other provinces of Ireland.
After our saint had completed twelve years of his mission, and having preached the Gospel to all without exception, multitudes of people flocked to hear him and obtain his counsel. He now resolved on leaving the beautiful shores of Lough Orbsen, where he had spent so many happy hours in prayer and contemplation. Many an interesting ruin, near Kilfursa, attests the spirit of piety he first awakened in that neighbourhood. The old abbey ruins of Ros-Oirbhealagh, or as it is now written Roserrilly, are well worthy the tourist's visit and the ecclesiologist's study. '3 These are to
Rosserrilly Ruins, Co. Galway.
be seen on the River Ross, near the town of Headford, in the barony oi Clare,andcountyofGalway. ThisabbeywaserectedforFranciscanfriars in 135 1,** and its remains are even yet in a fair state of preservation. The situation is a very retired one, and the monastery is said to have been a famous seat of piety and learning. 'S Reclaimed marshes, now converted into rich. meadows or pasture-lands, surround it, and within the enclosed cemetery are many tombs and gravestones. '^ A causeway, paved with large stones, leads to the cemetery at the end of a shady lane. The beautiful arches of the spacious cloister are still objects of great admiration to every visitor of taste. '7 The great church, 128 feet in length, by 20^ in width, is surmounted by a lofty square tower, 70 feet in height. This is supported on pointed arches, separating nave and chancel. '^ Various parts of the
"This appears evident, from the Lives Franciscan Monasteries," chap, vii. , pp.
of St. Barr, cap. 24; of St. Molagga, cap. 19 ; and of St. Cronan, cap. 16, as already quoted.
'3 A very copious history and description of this Franciscan erection will be found in
Oliver J. Burke's "Abbey of Ros? , its History and Details. "
'•See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 598, 599, and n. (z. ), ibid.
'5 See an interesting description in Rev. C. P. Meehan's "Rise and Fall of the Irish
78, 79-
'*
The writer had an opportunity of visit-
ing this spot in August, i860.
'7 Sir William Wilde has furnished a very
graphic detail and some legends of Ross- Errilly, with a fine woodcut view of the monastery, taken from the south-east. See "Lough Corrib, its Shores and Islands: with notices of Lough Mask," chap, v. , pp. 112 to 124.
'^ See »(*? </. pp. 118, 119.
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 259
monastic establishment are still distinctly traceable. "9 It is a subject for
congratulation, that Mr. Oliver J. Burke, of Ower,=° has lately effected some repairs in the ruins, which he has likewise protected from offensive desecra- tions, to which they had been too long subjected. ^^ The ruins of Ross- errilly^* are only a very short distance towards the north-east of Kilfursa church.
At length St. Fursey withdrew to a small island in the ocean. =3 Thither
he was accompanied by some religious men. The saint had previously forsaken the few relics of property he possessed. Here he found some rest fromtheimportunitiesofthosewhohadfollowedhimonthemainland. Hav- ing lived in that island for some time, Fursey resolved on leaving Ireland
altogether, and England appears to have been the next country designed for his habitation. After much travelling, he reached the country of East
Anglia. He was accompanied by some religious men, two of the number being his brothers, St. Foillan and St. Ultan. By the king of East Anglia our saint was honourably received. Fursey laboured with zeal amongst his barbarian subjects in spreading truths of the Gospel. ^^
The period of St. Furse/s landing in England has not been exactly determined ; but it has been variously assigned to the years 633,=^5 636,=^^ 637,""^ 638,^^ or 639. ^9 These different dates will enable us, however, to
approximate somewhat closely to his departure from Ireland. 3° Itisjelated, that at this period, Sigebert was king over that portion of Britain in which he arrived. From him the saint received a hospitable reception. 3' This king
'9 The accompanying woodcut, taken from a different point of view to that given by Sir William Wilde, is executed by George A. Hanlon, from a drawing on the wood by William F. Wakeman, copied from a photo- graph by Frederick W. Mares, Dublin.
^° Author of the interesting little work,
date is given by Mahew, in his " Tropheis Benedictinis," at the 7th of August, in St. Sigebert's life. See Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemiae," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Furssei. Appendix, cap. viii. , p. 97.
^'^At the year Dcxxxvil. , Ussher says, that Fursasus, when he had spent many years preaching the word of God at home,
"Abbey of Ross, its History and Details. "
"' "
passed from Hibernia into Anglia. Index
116. the Gospel for about twelve years in Ireland, '"They are marked on the "Ordnance and ab—out the year 637 he went to Eng-
Mr. Bevan, the writer of Murray's valu-
"
" Britannicarum
able ' ' Handbook for Travellers in
alludes to the human bones, left piled in the
crevices of ruins here ; and, long before he Ware, vol. ii. "Writers of Ireland," book wrote, the Rev. Caesar Otway called atten- i. , chap, iv. , p. 34. Lanigan's "Ecclesias- tion to this unsightly exposure of mortal tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , remains. See "Tour in Connaught," p. § ix. , p. 458. "He continued to preach
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway. " Sheet41.
land. " Wills' "Lives of Illustrious and DistinguishedIrishmen,"vol. i. , p. i, n. 139.
=* has it at A. D. or Colgan 637 638.
'3 There are no means for
ascertaining
"
Ireland,
Chronologicus," p. 538.
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. Also, Harris'
where this island was situated with anything
approaching accuracy.
''^See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
curred before this date, but in what year is i. , cap. XXX. , yxxi. , xxxii. , p. 81. Vita S. uncertain. See tomus i. , lib. xii. , § Ixi. ,
Furssei a Desmaio, cap x. , p. 290, ibid. P- 374-
^5 In his notes on Bede, Smith assigns it 3° See Dr. Lanigan s "Ecclesiastical His-
to A. D. 633. His argument is founded tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § ix. ,
niae," xvi. Januarii; Vita S. Fursrei, lib.
chiefly on the supposition, that Sigebert was killed in 635, and that his reign had begun in 630. Accordingly, Smith concluded that Fursey's arrival might be placed in 633, as being about the middle of Sigebert's reign.
** Florence of Worcester, in his ' ' Historia
Anglicana," at the year 636, says, at this time Fursey came from Ireland to the pro- vince of the East Angles. And the same
n. 83, pp. 459, 460.
In his life of our saint, Desmay says, the angel signified to Fursey, that he should spend twelve years preaching in Ireland, Scotland, and England, before the time of his journeying into France.
3' See Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 19. The same venerable writer treats of the reign and
martyrdom of this king, in succeeding chap-
^'Mabillon mentions it in his
Annales
Ordinis S. Benedict! ," at A. D. 639. He
says, however, his arrival in England oc-
,
"
26o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
granted him a tract of land, on which he founded a monastery. 3^ The site
of this building was Burghcastle, in the present shire of Suffolk ;33 it was
formerly named Cnobhersberg. This monastery, surrounded by woods, overlooked the sea, and it was erected within the enclosure of a castle. 34
A stranger, who wanders on the dank, marshy shores of the oozy Yare, while contemplating the lichen-encrusted ruins of Roman castramentation, at Gariononum—now Burgh Castle—will scarcely think that those gray walls once enclosed the cell of the Milesian Scot, Fursaeus. Yet, says a distinguished Avriter, strangely is the chain of causation involved, for this obscure anchoret exercised a mighty influence, equally upon the opinion and genius of Roman Christendom. When received in East Anglia by King Sigebert, Fursaeus became emvrapped in those trances, which disclosed to him secrets of a world beyond the grave. 33 Thus, his celebrated visions^ served to kindle that spark, which transmitted to the inharmonious Dante of a barbarous age the first of those compositions, from the combination of which his Divina Coni7nedia arose. 37
Here, Fursey employed himself in preaching and missionary duties, and he brought many unbelievers to embrace the faith ; effecting, likewse, the real conversion of many nominal Christians. 3^ He continued, also, his watchingsandprayers; but,wishingtodevotehimselfaltogethertoheavenly contemplation, he resigned the charge of the monastery and his missions to his brother Fullan and to the priests Gobban and Dichul. 39 In company with his brother Ultan, he lived the life of an anchorite, during a whole year. This they passed in labour, prayer, and fasting. He continued his mode of life until about the time of the expedition of Penda, King of Mercia, against the East Angles.
ters of his history. Polydore Virgil also mentions these occurrences, lib. iv. Mat-
same authority ; and he perfected the en- dowment of this monastery, commenced by
his predecessor; not, however, until after the
succeeded to the East Anglian throne.
39 Gobban, who is erroneously called Gib-
thew of Westminster, in like manner, at
the " Flores year 652,
who to the died, according
death of
228. In the English Martyrology, Sige- best accounts, before a. d. 653, when Anna
Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol, ii. , chap, xvi. , § ix. , p. 458.
35 To such notices, adds Sir Francis Pal- "
grave,
the development of these opinions
the East Anglian churches the fading traces of the grotesque designs by which the same
lessons were imparted. "
Normandy and of England," vol. i. , book i. , chap, i. , pp. 163, 164.
at he knew not the Peronne, although
Historiarum," p.
Fursey,
bert's martyrdom is recorded at the 27th
of September.
s'' See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xii. , § Ixi. , p. 374.
33 In the eastern part, according to Cam- gan. This inference appears almost un-
den. questionable, from their very names. Lani- 34 See Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica gan also supposes them to have passed over Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 19. Dr. to England, with St. Fursey, from Ireland. Camerarius in his work " De Pietate Scoto- rum," lib. iii. , and Dempster, in his " His- toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vii. , pp. 304, 305, make St. Gobban concerns us not. But theology was as the a countryman and disciple of St. Fursey. sap flowing into all the branches of human According to these inaccurate writers, he literature . . . . Sermon and homily re- was a British Scot. Camerarius says, that peated these legends ; and the curious arch- Cobban's festival was observed on the 3rd aeologist still recovers from the walls of of November, according to certain tablets
preserved at Perrone. Dempster also main- tains, that his memory was commemorated
—"The of History
day, that an epistle of his was there preserved with great veneration, and that he wrote a 3^ See Ampere's " Histoire Litteraire de book on the Acts of St. Fursey, which
France," tome iii. , p. 115.
37 See Ozanam's "CEuvres Completes,"
Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 19. King Anna was successor of Sigebert, according to the
Colgan supposes may have been the old acts of our saint, referred to by the Venerable Bede. The priests Gobban and Dichull,
here mentioned, are not yet satisfactorily identified.
tome v. , pp. 458, 459. 38 "
bon in a and note,
are to thought
Dichull,
have been natives of Ireland by Dr. Lani-
January i6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 261
When leaving Ireland, Fursey Is said to have taken the relics of many- saints with him. 4° Among them were the reliqui(B of Saints Meldan and Beodan, whom he had seen in his visions. It is even stated,'*'^ that Fursey visited Scotland, where he preached the Gospel for some time, previous to hisarrivalinEngland. ButwecannotdiscoverwhatauthorityDesmayhad for this latter statement. While Fursey was engaged prosecuting the labours of the Gospel in England, the pious King Sigebert resolved on abandoning his sceptre, in order to become a monk, under our saint's direction. This resolution he put in practice,4^ and appointed his cousin, who was named Egric, to succeed him on the throne. +3 He was thus
enabled to enter the monastery, which he had founded. Before the con- struction of his monastery in England, it is said that St. Fursey had another
vision, having previously sustained an attack of his customary illness, which lasted for three days. During this vision, he was admonished about the necessity for earnestness in the labour of preaching. He heard these words
:
of the Gospel addressed to him " Watch and pray, for you know not the
day,northehour. " Thisexhortationwasconstantlyrecurringtohismemory.
It urged the saint to make extraordinary exertions in his missionary labours, and in diffusing still more the spirit of his monastic institute. Pious young men of all ranks and orders left parents, relatives, wealth, and secular pursuits,whiletheyrepairedtohismonastery,atCnobhersberg. 44 Oursaint accompanied the duties of his more active ministry by those pious exercises which might best enable him to anticipate the certain approach of death, however uncertain the time, place, and manner of its advent. ^s
Nothing seemed wanting to his religious establishment at Cnobhersberg,
except a bell, for summoning the monks to sing the Divine praises in their
church. This want was miraculously supplied. '*^ The young son of a
certain widow, named Anna, died, and his corpse was brought to the church
.
year of Grace six hundred thirty-eight af-
forded an example of Heroicall humility and
contempt of the world, which had hitherto
never been practis'd in God's Church, but
was afterwards frequently imitated : which
was that a King, not forced thereto by any
calamity, freely abandon'd his throne to in-
close himself in a Monastery, there to be
subject to the will of a poor stranger, de-
priv'd of all things that might'please sence, mortified with continuall abstinence, fre-
quent fasts, watching, cilices, and scarce ever interrupted devotion. All which he cheerfully underwent that he might more securely provide for another kingdom after thislife. "
3Cressy places this succession at A. D, 638. vSee ibid.
*Thismonasteryofoursaint, constructed, according to Bede, "in castro quodam,
called Themanahera. About fifty years elapsed between the time of St. Fursey and of Venerable Bede. Desmay falls into a mistake when he says, that Venerable Bede was told, regarding Fursey's verbal descrip- tions of his visions, by a monk that lived under our saint in this monastery. How- ever, Bede only states, that he heard these accounts from a truthful and religious man, who saw Fursey in the province of East Anglia.
^sSee Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 19.
^^ Such is Desmay's account,
*? John Mielot, who wrote A. D. 1432, re-
lates that, by a special gift of Providence, all places, to which the sound of this bell
reached, were singularly preserved from the destructive effects of thunder, lightning, and storms,
for interment. Then an angel appeared descending from the skies, and in
presence of the whole funeral train, he presented a bell to St. Fursey. At
its first sound, the young man came to life, and he lived holily as a monk
in the monastery of Cnobhersberg, until again it pleased God to call him out of this world. 47
quod lingua Anglorum Cnobhersbuvg. I. Urbs Cnobheri vocatur," is said by Trithe- mius to have been called Cnoab Hersbourg, in the old English tongue. It was situated
chap, vii. , p. 356, where he says, "The in the neighbourhood of a certain village,
*" See his life by Desmay. *' Ibid.
4- In Cressy's valuable
work, "The Church History of Brittany," book xv. ,
262 LIVES 01^ THE IRISB' SAINTS. [January i6.
Having firmly established his monastery in England, it is said Fursey made journeys at one time to Ireland, and at another to Scotland, that he
might encourage to perseverance in virtue those spiritual children he had brought to Christ, in both kingdoms. It is stated, likewise, that whilst engaged on these pastoral missions, he built from its foundation a certain
monastery in Ireland, called Clumet. +^ In a short time, his religious family became very numerous in this place. St. Fursey held the Lord's Day in
such veneration, that he began to observe it with special devotion, from the
hour of none on the preceding Saturday. Wherever the saint lodged at this
particular time, he was accustomed to remain without moving, and to engage
in pious contemplation until the following Monday. Once, when travelling towards a certain city in Ireland, of which a St. Parmedinus is said to have
been bishop,'^9 he Avrought a remarkable miracle to reprove a want of reverence on the part of its citizens.
A short time after the performance of this miracle, our saint is said to have returned to England, where a famine so generally prevailed, that his religious supposed they should be left without necessaries to sustain life. Fursey reproached them for their want of trust in Divine Providence. He told them, that they who cherished poverty through a love of God should never be without aid from heaven ; and that the more they practised privation, and abandoned all care of temporal concerns, the more must they enjoy Almighty favour. Within a few days' time, he confirmed these words by the performance of a remarkable miracle. Going forth into a particular field belonging to his monastery, and attended by a St. Lactan,s° who was the usual companion of his various journeys, Fursey began to dig and cultivate the earth with spade and rake. He then planted seed, and within the short term of three days it grew up into com ripe for the hook. It was soon fit to be drawn into the granary. Faith in Divine Providence was wonderfully strengthened among the religious family of St. Fursey. They placed full reliance on God's mercies and bounty owing to this miracle, and felt no further solicitude regarding their temporal needs.
The holy man, calling King Sigebert and his nobles apart, conversed withtheminanaffablemanner. Hewishedtoreconcilethemtoanavowal of his hitherto concealed resolution. He succeeded in obtaining the consent of clergy and laity for the election of his brother Foillan to the dignity of abbot, over that monastery he had founded. To his charge was then entrusted those monks who had there devoted themselves to a religious life. Fursey then enriched the church with a present of many precious relics. Through their means many miracles were aftenvards wrought. Then he permitted his other brother Ultan to retire into a desert place, as the latter,
*^ Colgan thinks Cluainet or Cluainech,
should be read, and that it may have been
the monastery of Cluain-eich, in which St. Caurannus was venerated on the 28th of
acquaintance of Fursey. In the life of Fin- barr, which Colgan intended to publish, at the asth of September, mention is made of
St. Fursey, in the 35th chapter, where he refers to note 81. See "Acta Sanctorum
April. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
ix. Februarii. Vita S. Furssei, n, 10, p. 299. Hibemiae," ix, Febmarii. Vita S. Furssei,
<9In a note, at this passage, Colgan re-
marks, that, amongst the saints of Ireland, he could ,not find one called Parmedinus.
n. 11, p. 299. The latter remarks fairly
indicate, that the learned Colgan had pro-
ceeded to a considerable length in preparing
for the " Acts of Irish Saints," which press
his death prevented him from publishing,
so in the time of St. Fursey, St. Lactan, Bishop of Freshford, and of Munster de- scent, son to Tarb, flourished. His feast occurs on the 19th of March, but probably
another saint of the name is meant«
He the saint in suspects
should In the time of St. Fursey, there was a saint in Ireland named Barrindus, Bishop of Cork, who has been also called Barrius, Barrindi- nus, or Finbarrius. What is more to the purpose, this saint was a countryman and
question probably be called Barrindinus.
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 263
distinguished for his purity of life and religious conduct, had often desired to lead an eremitical life. Ever anxious to avoid the praise and observation of worldlings, having obtained a reluctant consent from the king, and knowing that those who labour to secure human applause are despised by God, St. Fursey himself retired to a wood, where he might become a hermit, removed fromtheconversationofmen. St. GobbanandSt. Dichullwereappointed assistants to St. Foillan. According to Molanus and the Venerable Bede, Fursey lived during an entire year in his retreat, supporting himself by the labour of his hands, and spending tliis time in vigils, fasting, and prayer, s'
Penda, the pagan king of the Mercians, drew together a powerful army, and invaded the East Angles. s^ Egric prepared to resist, but it was deemed
expedient, likewise, to induce the co-operation and active exertions of Sigebert.
spent solely in Ireland. See Dr. Lanigan's ""
is entered, Visio quam vidit Fursseus re- Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , ligiosus Episcopus. " See Dr. O'Conor's chap, xvi. , § viii. , p. 456, and n. 78, p.
" Rerum Hibernicarum "
tomus
458,
ibid. " Acta Sanctorum Also, Colgan's
Scriptores,"
76, pp. 457, 458. This latter note, Dr. cap. x. , p. 290, ibid. Vol. I. —No. 5.
iv, Annales Ultonienses," p. 43. "
HibernicC," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursasi, *See Plcclesiastical History of Ireland," lib. i. , cap. xxxi. , xxxii. , p. 81, and n. 23, . vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § viii. , p. 456, and n. p. 90. Likewise, Vita S. Furscei a Desmaio,
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
258
of his Irish mission, we find that he visited Munster," and it is probable, that he also preached occasionally in other provinces of Ireland.
After our saint had completed twelve years of his mission, and having preached the Gospel to all without exception, multitudes of people flocked to hear him and obtain his counsel. He now resolved on leaving the beautiful shores of Lough Orbsen, where he had spent so many happy hours in prayer and contemplation. Many an interesting ruin, near Kilfursa, attests the spirit of piety he first awakened in that neighbourhood. The old abbey ruins of Ros-Oirbhealagh, or as it is now written Roserrilly, are well worthy the tourist's visit and the ecclesiologist's study. '3 These are to
Rosserrilly Ruins, Co. Galway.
be seen on the River Ross, near the town of Headford, in the barony oi Clare,andcountyofGalway. ThisabbeywaserectedforFranciscanfriars in 135 1,** and its remains are even yet in a fair state of preservation. The situation is a very retired one, and the monastery is said to have been a famous seat of piety and learning. 'S Reclaimed marshes, now converted into rich. meadows or pasture-lands, surround it, and within the enclosed cemetery are many tombs and gravestones. '^ A causeway, paved with large stones, leads to the cemetery at the end of a shady lane. The beautiful arches of the spacious cloister are still objects of great admiration to every visitor of taste. '7 The great church, 128 feet in length, by 20^ in width, is surmounted by a lofty square tower, 70 feet in height. This is supported on pointed arches, separating nave and chancel. '^ Various parts of the
"This appears evident, from the Lives Franciscan Monasteries," chap, vii. , pp.
of St. Barr, cap. 24; of St. Molagga, cap. 19 ; and of St. Cronan, cap. 16, as already quoted.
'3 A very copious history and description of this Franciscan erection will be found in
Oliver J. Burke's "Abbey of Ros? , its History and Details. "
'•See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 598, 599, and n. (z. ), ibid.
'5 See an interesting description in Rev. C. P. Meehan's "Rise and Fall of the Irish
78, 79-
'*
The writer had an opportunity of visit-
ing this spot in August, i860.
'7 Sir William Wilde has furnished a very
graphic detail and some legends of Ross- Errilly, with a fine woodcut view of the monastery, taken from the south-east. See "Lough Corrib, its Shores and Islands: with notices of Lough Mask," chap, v. , pp. 112 to 124.
'^ See »(*? </. pp. 118, 119.
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 259
monastic establishment are still distinctly traceable. "9 It is a subject for
congratulation, that Mr. Oliver J. Burke, of Ower,=° has lately effected some repairs in the ruins, which he has likewise protected from offensive desecra- tions, to which they had been too long subjected. ^^ The ruins of Ross- errilly^* are only a very short distance towards the north-east of Kilfursa church.
At length St. Fursey withdrew to a small island in the ocean. =3 Thither
he was accompanied by some religious men. The saint had previously forsaken the few relics of property he possessed. Here he found some rest fromtheimportunitiesofthosewhohadfollowedhimonthemainland. Hav- ing lived in that island for some time, Fursey resolved on leaving Ireland
altogether, and England appears to have been the next country designed for his habitation. After much travelling, he reached the country of East
Anglia. He was accompanied by some religious men, two of the number being his brothers, St. Foillan and St. Ultan. By the king of East Anglia our saint was honourably received. Fursey laboured with zeal amongst his barbarian subjects in spreading truths of the Gospel. ^^
The period of St. Furse/s landing in England has not been exactly determined ; but it has been variously assigned to the years 633,=^5 636,=^^ 637,""^ 638,^^ or 639. ^9 These different dates will enable us, however, to
approximate somewhat closely to his departure from Ireland. 3° Itisjelated, that at this period, Sigebert was king over that portion of Britain in which he arrived. From him the saint received a hospitable reception. 3' This king
'9 The accompanying woodcut, taken from a different point of view to that given by Sir William Wilde, is executed by George A. Hanlon, from a drawing on the wood by William F. Wakeman, copied from a photo- graph by Frederick W. Mares, Dublin.
^° Author of the interesting little work,
date is given by Mahew, in his " Tropheis Benedictinis," at the 7th of August, in St. Sigebert's life. See Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemiae," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Furssei. Appendix, cap. viii. , p. 97.
^'^At the year Dcxxxvil. , Ussher says, that Fursasus, when he had spent many years preaching the word of God at home,
"Abbey of Ross, its History and Details. "
"' "
passed from Hibernia into Anglia. Index
116. the Gospel for about twelve years in Ireland, '"They are marked on the "Ordnance and ab—out the year 637 he went to Eng-
Mr. Bevan, the writer of Murray's valu-
"
" Britannicarum
able ' ' Handbook for Travellers in
alludes to the human bones, left piled in the
crevices of ruins here ; and, long before he Ware, vol. ii. "Writers of Ireland," book wrote, the Rev. Caesar Otway called atten- i. , chap, iv. , p. 34. Lanigan's "Ecclesias- tion to this unsightly exposure of mortal tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , remains. See "Tour in Connaught," p. § ix. , p. 458. "He continued to preach
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway. " Sheet41.
land. " Wills' "Lives of Illustrious and DistinguishedIrishmen,"vol. i. , p. i, n. 139.
=* has it at A. D. or Colgan 637 638.
'3 There are no means for
ascertaining
"
Ireland,
Chronologicus," p. 538.
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. Also, Harris'
where this island was situated with anything
approaching accuracy.
''^See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
curred before this date, but in what year is i. , cap. XXX. , yxxi. , xxxii. , p. 81. Vita S. uncertain. See tomus i. , lib. xii. , § Ixi. ,
Furssei a Desmaio, cap x. , p. 290, ibid. P- 374-
^5 In his notes on Bede, Smith assigns it 3° See Dr. Lanigan s "Ecclesiastical His-
to A. D. 633. His argument is founded tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § ix. ,
niae," xvi. Januarii; Vita S. Fursrei, lib.
chiefly on the supposition, that Sigebert was killed in 635, and that his reign had begun in 630. Accordingly, Smith concluded that Fursey's arrival might be placed in 633, as being about the middle of Sigebert's reign.
** Florence of Worcester, in his ' ' Historia
Anglicana," at the year 636, says, at this time Fursey came from Ireland to the pro- vince of the East Angles. And the same
n. 83, pp. 459, 460.
In his life of our saint, Desmay says, the angel signified to Fursey, that he should spend twelve years preaching in Ireland, Scotland, and England, before the time of his journeying into France.
3' See Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 19. The same venerable writer treats of the reign and
martyrdom of this king, in succeeding chap-
^'Mabillon mentions it in his
Annales
Ordinis S. Benedict! ," at A. D. 639. He
says, however, his arrival in England oc-
,
"
26o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
granted him a tract of land, on which he founded a monastery. 3^ The site
of this building was Burghcastle, in the present shire of Suffolk ;33 it was
formerly named Cnobhersberg. This monastery, surrounded by woods, overlooked the sea, and it was erected within the enclosure of a castle. 34
A stranger, who wanders on the dank, marshy shores of the oozy Yare, while contemplating the lichen-encrusted ruins of Roman castramentation, at Gariononum—now Burgh Castle—will scarcely think that those gray walls once enclosed the cell of the Milesian Scot, Fursaeus. Yet, says a distinguished Avriter, strangely is the chain of causation involved, for this obscure anchoret exercised a mighty influence, equally upon the opinion and genius of Roman Christendom. When received in East Anglia by King Sigebert, Fursaeus became emvrapped in those trances, which disclosed to him secrets of a world beyond the grave. 33 Thus, his celebrated visions^ served to kindle that spark, which transmitted to the inharmonious Dante of a barbarous age the first of those compositions, from the combination of which his Divina Coni7nedia arose. 37
Here, Fursey employed himself in preaching and missionary duties, and he brought many unbelievers to embrace the faith ; effecting, likewse, the real conversion of many nominal Christians. 3^ He continued, also, his watchingsandprayers; but,wishingtodevotehimselfaltogethertoheavenly contemplation, he resigned the charge of the monastery and his missions to his brother Fullan and to the priests Gobban and Dichul. 39 In company with his brother Ultan, he lived the life of an anchorite, during a whole year. This they passed in labour, prayer, and fasting. He continued his mode of life until about the time of the expedition of Penda, King of Mercia, against the East Angles.
ters of his history. Polydore Virgil also mentions these occurrences, lib. iv. Mat-
same authority ; and he perfected the en- dowment of this monastery, commenced by
his predecessor; not, however, until after the
succeeded to the East Anglian throne.
39 Gobban, who is erroneously called Gib-
thew of Westminster, in like manner, at
the " Flores year 652,
who to the died, according
death of
228. In the English Martyrology, Sige- best accounts, before a. d. 653, when Anna
Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol, ii. , chap, xvi. , § ix. , p. 458.
35 To such notices, adds Sir Francis Pal- "
grave,
the development of these opinions
the East Anglian churches the fading traces of the grotesque designs by which the same
lessons were imparted. "
Normandy and of England," vol. i. , book i. , chap, i. , pp. 163, 164.
at he knew not the Peronne, although
Historiarum," p.
Fursey,
bert's martyrdom is recorded at the 27th
of September.
s'' See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xii. , § Ixi. , p. 374.
33 In the eastern part, according to Cam- gan. This inference appears almost un-
den. questionable, from their very names. Lani- 34 See Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica gan also supposes them to have passed over Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 19. Dr. to England, with St. Fursey, from Ireland. Camerarius in his work " De Pietate Scoto- rum," lib. iii. , and Dempster, in his " His- toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vii. , pp. 304, 305, make St. Gobban concerns us not. But theology was as the a countryman and disciple of St. Fursey. sap flowing into all the branches of human According to these inaccurate writers, he literature . . . . Sermon and homily re- was a British Scot. Camerarius says, that peated these legends ; and the curious arch- Cobban's festival was observed on the 3rd aeologist still recovers from the walls of of November, according to certain tablets
preserved at Perrone. Dempster also main- tains, that his memory was commemorated
—"The of History
day, that an epistle of his was there preserved with great veneration, and that he wrote a 3^ See Ampere's " Histoire Litteraire de book on the Acts of St. Fursey, which
France," tome iii. , p. 115.
37 See Ozanam's "CEuvres Completes,"
Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 19. King Anna was successor of Sigebert, according to the
Colgan supposes may have been the old acts of our saint, referred to by the Venerable Bede. The priests Gobban and Dichull,
here mentioned, are not yet satisfactorily identified.
tome v. , pp. 458, 459. 38 "
bon in a and note,
are to thought
Dichull,
have been natives of Ireland by Dr. Lani-
January i6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 261
When leaving Ireland, Fursey Is said to have taken the relics of many- saints with him. 4° Among them were the reliqui(B of Saints Meldan and Beodan, whom he had seen in his visions. It is even stated,'*'^ that Fursey visited Scotland, where he preached the Gospel for some time, previous to hisarrivalinEngland. ButwecannotdiscoverwhatauthorityDesmayhad for this latter statement. While Fursey was engaged prosecuting the labours of the Gospel in England, the pious King Sigebert resolved on abandoning his sceptre, in order to become a monk, under our saint's direction. This resolution he put in practice,4^ and appointed his cousin, who was named Egric, to succeed him on the throne. +3 He was thus
enabled to enter the monastery, which he had founded. Before the con- struction of his monastery in England, it is said that St. Fursey had another
vision, having previously sustained an attack of his customary illness, which lasted for three days. During this vision, he was admonished about the necessity for earnestness in the labour of preaching. He heard these words
:
of the Gospel addressed to him " Watch and pray, for you know not the
day,northehour. " Thisexhortationwasconstantlyrecurringtohismemory.
It urged the saint to make extraordinary exertions in his missionary labours, and in diffusing still more the spirit of his monastic institute. Pious young men of all ranks and orders left parents, relatives, wealth, and secular pursuits,whiletheyrepairedtohismonastery,atCnobhersberg. 44 Oursaint accompanied the duties of his more active ministry by those pious exercises which might best enable him to anticipate the certain approach of death, however uncertain the time, place, and manner of its advent. ^s
Nothing seemed wanting to his religious establishment at Cnobhersberg,
except a bell, for summoning the monks to sing the Divine praises in their
church. This want was miraculously supplied. '*^ The young son of a
certain widow, named Anna, died, and his corpse was brought to the church
.
year of Grace six hundred thirty-eight af-
forded an example of Heroicall humility and
contempt of the world, which had hitherto
never been practis'd in God's Church, but
was afterwards frequently imitated : which
was that a King, not forced thereto by any
calamity, freely abandon'd his throne to in-
close himself in a Monastery, there to be
subject to the will of a poor stranger, de-
priv'd of all things that might'please sence, mortified with continuall abstinence, fre-
quent fasts, watching, cilices, and scarce ever interrupted devotion. All which he cheerfully underwent that he might more securely provide for another kingdom after thislife. "
3Cressy places this succession at A. D, 638. vSee ibid.
*Thismonasteryofoursaint, constructed, according to Bede, "in castro quodam,
called Themanahera. About fifty years elapsed between the time of St. Fursey and of Venerable Bede. Desmay falls into a mistake when he says, that Venerable Bede was told, regarding Fursey's verbal descrip- tions of his visions, by a monk that lived under our saint in this monastery. How- ever, Bede only states, that he heard these accounts from a truthful and religious man, who saw Fursey in the province of East Anglia.
^sSee Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 19.
^^ Such is Desmay's account,
*? John Mielot, who wrote A. D. 1432, re-
lates that, by a special gift of Providence, all places, to which the sound of this bell
reached, were singularly preserved from the destructive effects of thunder, lightning, and storms,
for interment. Then an angel appeared descending from the skies, and in
presence of the whole funeral train, he presented a bell to St. Fursey. At
its first sound, the young man came to life, and he lived holily as a monk
in the monastery of Cnobhersberg, until again it pleased God to call him out of this world. 47
quod lingua Anglorum Cnobhersbuvg. I. Urbs Cnobheri vocatur," is said by Trithe- mius to have been called Cnoab Hersbourg, in the old English tongue. It was situated
chap, vii. , p. 356, where he says, "The in the neighbourhood of a certain village,
*" See his life by Desmay. *' Ibid.
4- In Cressy's valuable
work, "The Church History of Brittany," book xv. ,
262 LIVES 01^ THE IRISB' SAINTS. [January i6.
Having firmly established his monastery in England, it is said Fursey made journeys at one time to Ireland, and at another to Scotland, that he
might encourage to perseverance in virtue those spiritual children he had brought to Christ, in both kingdoms. It is stated, likewise, that whilst engaged on these pastoral missions, he built from its foundation a certain
monastery in Ireland, called Clumet. +^ In a short time, his religious family became very numerous in this place. St. Fursey held the Lord's Day in
such veneration, that he began to observe it with special devotion, from the
hour of none on the preceding Saturday. Wherever the saint lodged at this
particular time, he was accustomed to remain without moving, and to engage
in pious contemplation until the following Monday. Once, when travelling towards a certain city in Ireland, of which a St. Parmedinus is said to have
been bishop,'^9 he Avrought a remarkable miracle to reprove a want of reverence on the part of its citizens.
A short time after the performance of this miracle, our saint is said to have returned to England, where a famine so generally prevailed, that his religious supposed they should be left without necessaries to sustain life. Fursey reproached them for their want of trust in Divine Providence. He told them, that they who cherished poverty through a love of God should never be without aid from heaven ; and that the more they practised privation, and abandoned all care of temporal concerns, the more must they enjoy Almighty favour. Within a few days' time, he confirmed these words by the performance of a remarkable miracle. Going forth into a particular field belonging to his monastery, and attended by a St. Lactan,s° who was the usual companion of his various journeys, Fursey began to dig and cultivate the earth with spade and rake. He then planted seed, and within the short term of three days it grew up into com ripe for the hook. It was soon fit to be drawn into the granary. Faith in Divine Providence was wonderfully strengthened among the religious family of St. Fursey. They placed full reliance on God's mercies and bounty owing to this miracle, and felt no further solicitude regarding their temporal needs.
The holy man, calling King Sigebert and his nobles apart, conversed withtheminanaffablemanner. Hewishedtoreconcilethemtoanavowal of his hitherto concealed resolution. He succeeded in obtaining the consent of clergy and laity for the election of his brother Foillan to the dignity of abbot, over that monastery he had founded. To his charge was then entrusted those monks who had there devoted themselves to a religious life. Fursey then enriched the church with a present of many precious relics. Through their means many miracles were aftenvards wrought. Then he permitted his other brother Ultan to retire into a desert place, as the latter,
*^ Colgan thinks Cluainet or Cluainech,
should be read, and that it may have been
the monastery of Cluain-eich, in which St. Caurannus was venerated on the 28th of
acquaintance of Fursey. In the life of Fin- barr, which Colgan intended to publish, at the asth of September, mention is made of
St. Fursey, in the 35th chapter, where he refers to note 81. See "Acta Sanctorum
April. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
ix. Februarii. Vita S. Furssei, n, 10, p. 299. Hibemiae," ix, Febmarii. Vita S. Furssei,
<9In a note, at this passage, Colgan re-
marks, that, amongst the saints of Ireland, he could ,not find one called Parmedinus.
n. 11, p. 299. The latter remarks fairly
indicate, that the learned Colgan had pro-
ceeded to a considerable length in preparing
for the " Acts of Irish Saints," which press
his death prevented him from publishing,
so in the time of St. Fursey, St. Lactan, Bishop of Freshford, and of Munster de- scent, son to Tarb, flourished. His feast occurs on the 19th of March, but probably
another saint of the name is meant«
He the saint in suspects
should In the time of St. Fursey, there was a saint in Ireland named Barrindus, Bishop of Cork, who has been also called Barrius, Barrindi- nus, or Finbarrius. What is more to the purpose, this saint was a countryman and
question probably be called Barrindinus.
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 263
distinguished for his purity of life and religious conduct, had often desired to lead an eremitical life. Ever anxious to avoid the praise and observation of worldlings, having obtained a reluctant consent from the king, and knowing that those who labour to secure human applause are despised by God, St. Fursey himself retired to a wood, where he might become a hermit, removed fromtheconversationofmen. St. GobbanandSt. Dichullwereappointed assistants to St. Foillan. According to Molanus and the Venerable Bede, Fursey lived during an entire year in his retreat, supporting himself by the labour of his hands, and spending tliis time in vigils, fasting, and prayer, s'
Penda, the pagan king of the Mercians, drew together a powerful army, and invaded the East Angles. s^ Egric prepared to resist, but it was deemed
expedient, likewise, to induce the co-operation and active exertions of Sigebert.
