34 According to Archbishop Ussher, as we have said, his death occurred in 544 ; but, there is reason to believe he
survived
this period, for
someyears.
someyears.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
It so happened these coincident days came together, in the year 544.
William of Malmesbury places his death at a.
d.
546,^^ and also John of Teignmouth.
'?
That he died a.
d.
547, has been asserted in the Annals of Waverly Monastery, and in the Annals of Winton.
But, that St.
David lived much longer appears, not only from his own Acts, but from many other old and trustworthy records.
In the " Chronicum Scotorum," David of Cill-Muine's death is set down at a.
d.
588.
'^ It appears from our Irish Annals, that St.
Aidan, Bishop of Ferns, died in the year 624.
'?
Now, in the Acts of David, Aidan is said to have been residing in a monastery at Ferns, when he sent a message to our saint.
Colgan thinks, that he who had been only a boy, when Ainmire reigned in Ireland,^" and afterwards many years a disciple, could not have been abbot, until after a.
d.
580.
He
supposes, St. David must have lived subsequently to a. d. 590, and he does not hesitate to allow this bishop may have survived until a. d. 607 or 608. The extreme age, which our saint is said to have attained, is not without parallel in written Acts of other holy British and Irish ecclesiastics and recluses. "' Extraordinary and well-authenticated cases of longevity are known, even in days long subsequent to the time, when St. David flourished. '*
" In the Bollandists' opinion, what fur- niched occasion for such an error arose from the false statement, that St. Barr or Fynbarr, had visited St. David, and the monastic habit havingbeenassumedbyConstantine,Kingof Cornwall. Thesetimesorevents,ho\vever,are supposed to have happened after the death of St. David. The evidence produced by Colgan regarding out saint's length of years are nearly altogether taken from Irish sources, and are considered to be very ob- scure. To refute such testimonies would in- volve great labour, and it might otherwise be productive of weariness to the reader.
" Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis. Commentarius Praevius, sect. ii. , n. 16, p. 41.
" See the Benedictine" Menology.
'3 Ibid.
'* See, Sir R. C. Hoare's Annotations to
^^ In "Vita S. Patricii. "
on this sub- the "Itinerary of Wales," by Giraldus ject. See, pp. 179 to 19S. It is there
Cambrensis, vol. ii. , p. 13.
treating
stated, that Iceland, Greenland and Norway
»5 Not " feria
" as
has
have boasted a always
•'
quarta feria tertia. "
Colgan
of
old people, and that the Highlands of Scot- land, with " the colder parts of Wales and England, show the same phenomenon in the
but
»* For this statement, he quotes the Chro-
nicies of Glastonbury Church.
it,
large average
very
'^
It is also under the head, "Kal. iv. ,"
according to an arrangement explained by the learned editor, William M. Hennessy,
M. R. I. A. , in his preface. See, pp. xlii. et
seq. , and pp. 62, 63.
'» See, Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 24610249, and n. (p. ) Ibid.
=°A. D. 564, 565 or 566. See ibid. , pp. 204, 205.
-' cites various Colgan
instances. See, " Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;,"i. Martii.
particular
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 39
If we are to credit the account of St. David, as contained in Roth's MS. ,
his days were prolonged to a period, far exceeding the ordinary span of life. One hundred and forty-seven years are set down as the term for his exist- ence. ''^ The truth of this account has been denied by some of our most learned and competent critics and historians. ^'^ Yet, many ancient writers^s agree in this statement, probably founded on still older accounts, or resting on a universally prevailing tradition. '^ And, indeed, if we are to form an estimate of calculation from incidents recorded, it would seem a matter of easy accomplishment, to spread the Acts of St. David over such a lengthened period. When St. Patrick, on his way to Ireland in 432,^7 foretold St. David's birth would happen thirty years later, and when this event as pre- dicted had occurred, a supposition must be entertained, that the future bishop of Menevia first saw the light in a. d. 462. We are told, that St. David was alive, after the year 560. This is concluded by Dr. Lanigan, from the circumstance of his having died, during the reign of Maelgwn, i\Ia-
whose order he is said to have been — ISIagoclun, by buried,
been — of North Wales having prince
andheissaidtohavelivedintheIsleofAnglesey MaelgwnAvasraisedto the rank of king over all the Britons,^^ about this year 560. ^9 It must have
or
in his own church at Menevia. From
glocun, Malgon
records of parishes," p. 194. laid. Amongst these instances, allusion is made to the old Countess of Desmond, in Ireland, who lived to be 140 years, and according to some ac- counts to be 150, or even 163 years. See, p. 183, ibid. , and the "Quarterly Review"
No. "
tion of Parr's dietary and mode of living
1775. aged 131 years. See, "Notes and Queries," 2nd series, vol. x. , p. 156.
^3 The Bollandist editor only allows him to have attained 82 years.
^* Ussher says, he could not be persuaded,
that St. David lived to the extraordinary age
of or until the " As to 147 years, year 604.
the 147 years he was right," observes Dr.
Lanigan, "but had he rejected the hypo- thesis of David having been born in the year 462, he would have found matters easy enough. In fact that story of so great an age was patched up to reconcile the supposi- tion of David's birth at that
for
329 to 354. See, also,
2nd Series, vol. vii. , pp. 313, 365, 431, 432. Old Parr is said to have been born at Alber- bury, Salop, in 1483, and to have died in 1635, having thus lived 152 years. Taylor, the Water Poet, gives the following descrip-
March, 1853,
vol.
Notes and Queries,"
"His physic was good butter, which the soil
Of Salop yields, more sweet than candy oil,
And garlic he esteemed beyond the rate Of Venice treacle or best mithridate.
He entertained no gout, no ache he felt, The air was good and temperate where he
dwelt,
While mavises and sweet-tongued night-
ingales
Did chaunt him roundelays and madri-
gals.
Thus living within bounds of nature's
laws.
Of his long lasting life may be some
cause. "
It may fairly be conjectured, that a nearly similar plain regimen and strict temperate habits, had a healthy influence on the pre- sumed longevity of St. David. Henry Jenkins, of EUerton, is said to have followed the occupation of fisherman to the end of a long life, lasting 169 years. Of this, how- ever, grave doubt is entertained. Peter Garden of Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, is said to have died on the 12th of January,
early period lived until towards the latter end of the
184,
xcii. , pp.
:
—
with the real circumstance of his having
"
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ix. ,
n. 147, pp. 474, 475.
^s Amongst these may be mentioned,
Ricemarc, Giraldus Cambrensis, John of
Teignmouth, John Capgrave, Harpsfeld, with others.
'^
It is said, St. David died, in the one hundred and forty-sixth year of his age, ac- cording to Herman Greuen's additions to the Martyrology of Usuard.
sixth century. " See,
^7 The Bollandist editor has it eai^lier, or about the year 414.
'^
many years
Humphry Lhuyd, as cited by Ussher and Rowland, in his " Mona Antiqua," has this event placed at A. D. 560. Also,
"
in Lewis'
year of Maclawn's ascension to the throne is mentioned as th—e year 552—Vitus being
to
cited as authority and, according Powel,
it was A. D. 580. Ussher himself takes date for his elevation, from Matthew Florilegus,
History of Britaine," p. 204, the
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
p. 533.
^•^ As to 552, the date is thought to be
much too early. Lhuyd's computation is
atA. D. 581. See, "
Index Chronologicus. "
40 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [^March I.
been after advancing to this dignity, that he interfered with regard to St. David's interment. So long as he remained a chieftain or king over North Walesonly,atMeneviahehadnojurisdictionorpower. 3° Itcannotbecon- jectured, at what period of Maelgwn's reign, which lasted, it is supposed, until A. D. 593,3' St. David died ; but, that his decease took place towards the latter end of it would seem probable, from having had for some years under his tuition St. Aidan or Maidoc, afterwards Bishop of Ferns. This latter saint was only a boy, during the reign of Ainmire, King of Ireland, which began at the earliest, in a. d. 564. 3^ Maidoc afterwards became distinguished before St. David's death. On the other hand, St. David's death cannot well be placed after Maelgwn's reign, lasting until a. d. 593. Ralph of Chester, who is quoted by Ussher, says, that David died in the same year with Pope
Gregory the Great. If such were the case, his departure should be assigned to the year 604. 33 An extravagant calculation of St. David having lived until A. D. 642, founded upon a supposition that he did not take possession of the Menevian See, until 577, and that he held it for sixty-five years, has been adopted by some writers. According to this very strange hypothesis, he should have survived, not alone Maelgwn, but likewise his disciple, Aidan. It is well known, this latter bishop lived for several years, after St. David's death.
It is generally allowed, thatSt. Daviddiedinthemonasteryhehadfoundedat Menevia.
34 According to Archbishop Ussher, as we have said, his death occurred in 544 ; but, there is reason to believe he survived this period, for
someyears. 35 HediedontheKalendsofMarch,correspondingwiththeistday
*'
one usually followed, and it seems tolerably gan's
wellestablished. Accordingtoanoldbook,
which treats on the laws of the Ancient
Britons, it is said, Malgon ruled not only
over all Britain, but even over six adjoining
islands or countries lying on the ocean, viz. :
Ireland, Iceland, Gothland, the Orcades, has stated, that he died about 586. This is
Norway and Dacia. He is erroneously said by Gildas to have subjected these nations to his sway, after fighting fierce battles. Over these he is related to have ruled like Draco. See, ibid.
asserted from a MS. note by Vaughan on
Powel. But Ussher, in his Chronological Index at DXClil. , tells us that Cereticus succeeded Malgon or Maglocun in Britain. This latter was known as Slaelgun Gwinedh or Malgonus Venedotus, whilst the Cambro-
3° Maglocun is represented by Ussher as
prince of North Wales, at the time of Britons call the former Karedic. See,
David's death. ' ' His
hypothesis required
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
Antiquitates,"
this caution. And, lest it might be objected
that Maglocun was not sovereign even of
North Wales as early as A. D. 544, he has
affixed his accession to that year. (Ind, ever, O'Flaherty places the commencement Chron. ) He must also have supposed that of his reign at A. D. 568. See, " Ogygia :
Maglocun obtained that sovereignty very seu Rerum Hibernicarum Chronologia,"
early in said year, whereas St. David died on the first of March. But how could he
pars, iii. , p. 431.
33 Yet, such a date cannot agree with his
having died during Maelgwn's reign, nor with a notation of Tuesday being the day of
explain that prince's issuing orders as to the
burial of a person, who lived and died in
South Wales ? If it be said that he issued his death. Still it indicates a belief, that he
them during a certain predatory incursion
(see Ussher, p. 528), surely we are not to suppose that incursion took place in the first
did not die until towards the time of Pope
Gregory, and very many years after A. D. 544. Other writers have said, that his death happened in the same year, with that of St. Senan. Meanwhile, it may be observed, that St. Senan lived to a later period than A. D. 544.
3't of Monmouth has such a state- Geoffrey
year of his sovereignty, nor much less prior to the first of March in said year. On the whole, Ussher's calculations on these dates are too much forced ; and the simplest method of
all the circumstances is to admit that Maglocun was king not only
reconciling
of North but likewise of South —
Wales, &c. ,
ment. 35 If
Dr.
at the lime of David's death. "
Dr. Lani-
great degree
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ix. , n. 145, pp. 473, 474-
3« Several writers place the death of Maelg\vn at a somewhat earlier period. Gibson, in his notes on Camden, col. 825,
P- 534-
3^ See, O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 204, 205. How-
were the Lanigan thinks, that
of his
day death.
with a
Tuesday
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIN2S. 41
ofthatmonth,36andonaTuesday. 37 Theholydisciplesofoursainttook care to have his remains deposited in the Church of St. Andrew, within that city, with which his name and celebrity have since been so much identified. s^ Giraldus Cambrensis testifies, that his body had been interred with great solemnity by his religious brethren, and that it was preserved with that vene- ration,becomingsogreatatreasure. Downtothetwelfthcentury,theLord was pleased to manifest our saint's glory, by signs and prodigies. Even in later ages, Giraldus considered it possible, that accounts of these miracles would be extended, and added to his own record of our saint's Acts. 39 St, Kentigern is said to have seen his soul ascending to heaven, and borne by holy angels. Near the Church of St. Andrew stood several chapels, which were formerly resorted to with great devotion. One of these has been dedi- cated to St. Nun, who presided over many religious women, and who was consideredthemotherofSt. David. Sheishonouredonthe2ndofMarch. Near this chapel was a beautiful well, often a place of resort for pilgrims. Another chapel was sacred to St. Lily, surnamed Gwas-Dewy, that is, St. David'sman; because,hewasabeloveddiscipleandcompanion,duringour bishop's retirement. St. Lily was venerated on the 3rd of March, In honour of these several saints, the three first days of March Avere formerly kept as holy days in South Wales. At present, only St. David's day is
observed as a festival, throughout all Wales. -*"
A certain matron, named Elswida, in the time of King Edgar, a. d. 962,1^ translated the relics of St. David from the Vale of Ross to Glastonbury, when all Wales had been so laid waste, that scarcely anyone was found therein dwelling. These she procured, through the influence of her kinsman, who was Bishop of Menevia. A portion of the relics of St. Stephen, Proto- martyr, had also been removed, at the same time. This religious rite was accompaniedwithgreatsolemnity,onthepartofthoseassisting. ^^ Itwould seem, that the relics of St. David had been deposited on the right side of the
altar, within Glastonbury old Church. ts
of probability, we may suppose the year was 589.
3^ Our native Martyrologists, St. ^ngus, Marianus Scotus, Maguire, and the Tallagh Martyrology, mention his festival, as occur- ring on this day. So, also, accord, Giraldus Cambrensis, John of Teignmouth and Cap- grave, with the English and Salisbury Mar- tyrologies. The Rev. W. J. Rees, in his " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," has a Life of Buchedd Dewi Sant, in Welch, pp. 102 to 116, with an English translation, pp.
He is said to have been canonized cede ad Dominum Magnum.
"
Deus, qui ecclesise tuas beatum David pontificem tuum mirabilem tribuisti docto- rem, concede propitius, ut hunc apud te semper pium habere mereamur interces- sorem, per Dominum nostrum Jesum Chris- tum. Amen. " See, "Vita S. Davidis," lect. x. "Opera," vol. iii. , p. 404.
'*° SeeRev. AlbanButler's"Livesofthe
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. March ist.
^^ According to the Bollandist computa- tion, this translation took place a. d. 964,
and in the sixth year of King Edgar's reign. Capgrave removes it to a different period, " Hasc autem Translatio Corporis S. David per matronam praefatam facta est usque ad
402 to 417. Selden in his illustrations to "
Drayton's Poly-Oibion," says of St.
David " To him our country Calendars :
give the first of March, but in the old Mar-
tyrologies, I find him not remembered. See, '"
Fourth Glastoniam anno mortem—
Song. ' post ejus quadrin-
37" "
See, Ussher's Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates. " Index Chronologicus, A. D. DXLiv,, p. 530.
3^ This account is found in Rev. Alban Butler's Life of this saint, and in the copy of St. David's Life, furnished to Colgan, by the Most Rev. David Routh, Bishop of Ossory.
gentesimo vicesimo primo. " Vita S. Patricii. "
'•'^ We have an account concerning this
translation at in the " of p. 130, History
Glastonbury," written by John of Glaston- bury, and published by Mr. Thomas Hearne, in 1726.
-ts See,Dodsworth'sandDugdale's"Mo- 39 Giraldus concludes his account of St. nasticon Anglicanum," vol. i. , p. 4. For
David with the following, Responsio :
an interesting account of Glastonbury and its antiquities, the reader is referred to this same work. Ibid. , pp. i to 18.
"
vota servorum tuorum, et pro nobis inter-
Gloriose prsesul Christi David, suscipe
42
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March r.
by Pope Calistus II. ,44 in 1120. The Bollandists tell us, that either such was the case, or that this Pontiff must have issued new privileges to sanction still more an old veneration of the faithful, towards St. David. Soon after this time, his religious celebrity extended beyond the limits of these islands, and, it was propagated throughout the whole Christian world. t^ The name of St. David is found recorded in nearly all our Calendars and Martyrologies, as, also, in almost every work that treats on the early ecclesiastical history of England, Ireland, Wales or Scotland. ^
A singular Welsh custom of wearing the leek has prevailed throughout the principality from a very remote time. Most probably, the leek had been the favourite article of food, used by this holy vegetarian, whose austerity of living had been so remarkable. t7 By another account, such a custom is said to have derived its origin, from that neighbourly aid, practised amongst farmers in South Wales, and locally known as Cymhorthu. When a small farmer had slender means, his neighbours, more favoured with the gifts of fortune, appointed a day for all to meet and plough his land, or to render him some other agricultural service. On such occasions, each individual of the company carried with him that portion of leeks necessary to make his pottage. -*^ Others again, have asserted, that the practice took its rise from a
victory obtained by Cadwallo over the Saxons, on the ist of March, 640, when, to distinguish themselves, the Welsh wore leeks in their bonnets. ^?
^'' See, Bale, Cent. I. , the English Martyr- ology, and Godwin's work on the Bishops of England, p. 601. This Pope sat from a. d. 1 1 19 to 1 124.
As nature at the first appointed it for
pray'r :
Wherein an aged cell, with moss and ivy
grown,
In which not to this day the sun hath ever
shone,
That reverend British Saint in zealous
ages past.
To contemplation liv'd ; and did so traly
fast.
As he did only drink what crystal Hodney
yields,
Andj^(/«/^« M^/^t'/C'j he gathered in the
fields.
In memory of whom, in the revolving year
The Welchman on his day that sacred herb do wear :
Where, of that holy mail as humbly they do crave.
That in their just defen—ce they might his furth'rance have. " "Poiy-Olbion. "
^5 Nicholas Harpsfeld writes, in his
*'
His-
toria Ecclesiastica AngHcana, in sex primis
seculis," cap. 26, regarding this saint:
" Deum hujus viri sanctitatem orbi commen- dasse stupendis et admirandis quibusdam
"
Then are noted some miraculous occurrences, which are elsewhere related. These were attributed to the merits of St. David of
Wales.
«* Besides, various works, already cited in
the progress of this Memoir, the reader is referred to the General Catalogue of Saints, compiled by Ferrarius, Molanus, Canisius, the MS. " Florarium Sanctorum," and to many other tracts and writers, treating about the saints of our Church.
^^ So, at least, the old poet Drayton has it, with some other —interesting metrical
eventibus, quos alii persequuntur.
allusions to St. David
:
" The Britons, like devout, their messengers direct
To David, that he would their ancient
right protect.
'Mongst Hatterill's lofty hills, that with
the clouds are crown'd,
Ewias lies immur'd so deep
valley and round.
As they below that see the mountains rise
The "
valley Ewias,"
alluded to in tlie fore-
The
^9 To such event, the gi'eat English dra- matist is supposed to allude, when he makes the stout-hearted Welsh Captain, Fluellen, remark to King Henry V.
so
Might think the straggling herds were
grazing in the sky :
Which in it such a shape of solitude doth
bear,
" the Welshmen did good service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth
high,
The Fourth Song.
going lines, is situated in Monmouthshire, and on the borders of Brecknockshire.
''^ Mr. Owen is accredited with the fore-
goingexplanation; although,Mr. Reessays, he never heard of such a custom prevailing in South Wales.
:
caps ; which your majesty knows, to this hour, is an honourable page of the service ;
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 43
have been use of this national Cymbric practice. S'
5° to account for the
Of this custom the Cambrians were proud, from Shakespeare's time, when the brave Fluellen had cause and occasion for wearing his leek, although St. Davy's day had passed, to a much more recent period, when a modern writer presents us with the picture of a tall, meagre old Welsh baronet, stalking down the streets of London, " with
a leek stuck defiantly in his hat, because it is St. David's day. "^^
It would seem, that the i6th of August had been observed as a feast to commemorate the translation of St. David's relics. s3 Again, the 26th of September is mentioned, as having been a similar festival. 54 For these statements,wehavetheauthorityofGreuen.
supposes, St. David must have lived subsequently to a. d. 590, and he does not hesitate to allow this bishop may have survived until a. d. 607 or 608. The extreme age, which our saint is said to have attained, is not without parallel in written Acts of other holy British and Irish ecclesiastics and recluses. "' Extraordinary and well-authenticated cases of longevity are known, even in days long subsequent to the time, when St. David flourished. '*
" In the Bollandists' opinion, what fur- niched occasion for such an error arose from the false statement, that St. Barr or Fynbarr, had visited St. David, and the monastic habit havingbeenassumedbyConstantine,Kingof Cornwall. Thesetimesorevents,ho\vever,are supposed to have happened after the death of St. David. The evidence produced by Colgan regarding out saint's length of years are nearly altogether taken from Irish sources, and are considered to be very ob- scure. To refute such testimonies would in- volve great labour, and it might otherwise be productive of weariness to the reader.
" Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis. Commentarius Praevius, sect. ii. , n. 16, p. 41.
" See the Benedictine" Menology.
'3 Ibid.
'* See, Sir R. C. Hoare's Annotations to
^^ In "Vita S. Patricii. "
on this sub- the "Itinerary of Wales," by Giraldus ject. See, pp. 179 to 19S. It is there
Cambrensis, vol. ii. , p. 13.
treating
stated, that Iceland, Greenland and Norway
»5 Not " feria
" as
has
have boasted a always
•'
quarta feria tertia. "
Colgan
of
old people, and that the Highlands of Scot- land, with " the colder parts of Wales and England, show the same phenomenon in the
but
»* For this statement, he quotes the Chro-
nicies of Glastonbury Church.
it,
large average
very
'^
It is also under the head, "Kal. iv. ,"
according to an arrangement explained by the learned editor, William M. Hennessy,
M. R. I. A. , in his preface. See, pp. xlii. et
seq. , and pp. 62, 63.
'» See, Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 24610249, and n. (p. ) Ibid.
=°A. D. 564, 565 or 566. See ibid. , pp. 204, 205.
-' cites various Colgan
instances. See, " Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;,"i. Martii.
particular
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 39
If we are to credit the account of St. David, as contained in Roth's MS. ,
his days were prolonged to a period, far exceeding the ordinary span of life. One hundred and forty-seven years are set down as the term for his exist- ence. ''^ The truth of this account has been denied by some of our most learned and competent critics and historians. ^'^ Yet, many ancient writers^s agree in this statement, probably founded on still older accounts, or resting on a universally prevailing tradition. '^ And, indeed, if we are to form an estimate of calculation from incidents recorded, it would seem a matter of easy accomplishment, to spread the Acts of St. David over such a lengthened period. When St. Patrick, on his way to Ireland in 432,^7 foretold St. David's birth would happen thirty years later, and when this event as pre- dicted had occurred, a supposition must be entertained, that the future bishop of Menevia first saw the light in a. d. 462. We are told, that St. David was alive, after the year 560. This is concluded by Dr. Lanigan, from the circumstance of his having died, during the reign of Maelgwn, i\Ia-
whose order he is said to have been — ISIagoclun, by buried,
been — of North Wales having prince
andheissaidtohavelivedintheIsleofAnglesey MaelgwnAvasraisedto the rank of king over all the Britons,^^ about this year 560. ^9 It must have
or
in his own church at Menevia. From
glocun, Malgon
records of parishes," p. 194. laid. Amongst these instances, allusion is made to the old Countess of Desmond, in Ireland, who lived to be 140 years, and according to some ac- counts to be 150, or even 163 years. See, p. 183, ibid. , and the "Quarterly Review"
No. "
tion of Parr's dietary and mode of living
1775. aged 131 years. See, "Notes and Queries," 2nd series, vol. x. , p. 156.
^3 The Bollandist editor only allows him to have attained 82 years.
^* Ussher says, he could not be persuaded,
that St. David lived to the extraordinary age
of or until the " As to 147 years, year 604.
the 147 years he was right," observes Dr.
Lanigan, "but had he rejected the hypo- thesis of David having been born in the year 462, he would have found matters easy enough. In fact that story of so great an age was patched up to reconcile the supposi- tion of David's birth at that
for
329 to 354. See, also,
2nd Series, vol. vii. , pp. 313, 365, 431, 432. Old Parr is said to have been born at Alber- bury, Salop, in 1483, and to have died in 1635, having thus lived 152 years. Taylor, the Water Poet, gives the following descrip-
March, 1853,
vol.
Notes and Queries,"
"His physic was good butter, which the soil
Of Salop yields, more sweet than candy oil,
And garlic he esteemed beyond the rate Of Venice treacle or best mithridate.
He entertained no gout, no ache he felt, The air was good and temperate where he
dwelt,
While mavises and sweet-tongued night-
ingales
Did chaunt him roundelays and madri-
gals.
Thus living within bounds of nature's
laws.
Of his long lasting life may be some
cause. "
It may fairly be conjectured, that a nearly similar plain regimen and strict temperate habits, had a healthy influence on the pre- sumed longevity of St. David. Henry Jenkins, of EUerton, is said to have followed the occupation of fisherman to the end of a long life, lasting 169 years. Of this, how- ever, grave doubt is entertained. Peter Garden of Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, is said to have died on the 12th of January,
early period lived until towards the latter end of the
184,
xcii. , pp.
:
—
with the real circumstance of his having
"
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ix. ,
n. 147, pp. 474, 475.
^s Amongst these may be mentioned,
Ricemarc, Giraldus Cambrensis, John of
Teignmouth, John Capgrave, Harpsfeld, with others.
'^
It is said, St. David died, in the one hundred and forty-sixth year of his age, ac- cording to Herman Greuen's additions to the Martyrology of Usuard.
sixth century. " See,
^7 The Bollandist editor has it eai^lier, or about the year 414.
'^
many years
Humphry Lhuyd, as cited by Ussher and Rowland, in his " Mona Antiqua," has this event placed at A. D. 560. Also,
"
in Lewis'
year of Maclawn's ascension to the throne is mentioned as th—e year 552—Vitus being
to
cited as authority and, according Powel,
it was A. D. 580. Ussher himself takes date for his elevation, from Matthew Florilegus,
History of Britaine," p. 204, the
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
p. 533.
^•^ As to 552, the date is thought to be
much too early. Lhuyd's computation is
atA. D. 581. See, "
Index Chronologicus. "
40 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [^March I.
been after advancing to this dignity, that he interfered with regard to St. David's interment. So long as he remained a chieftain or king over North Walesonly,atMeneviahehadnojurisdictionorpower. 3° Itcannotbecon- jectured, at what period of Maelgwn's reign, which lasted, it is supposed, until A. D. 593,3' St. David died ; but, that his decease took place towards the latter end of it would seem probable, from having had for some years under his tuition St. Aidan or Maidoc, afterwards Bishop of Ferns. This latter saint was only a boy, during the reign of Ainmire, King of Ireland, which began at the earliest, in a. d. 564. 3^ Maidoc afterwards became distinguished before St. David's death. On the other hand, St. David's death cannot well be placed after Maelgwn's reign, lasting until a. d. 593. Ralph of Chester, who is quoted by Ussher, says, that David died in the same year with Pope
Gregory the Great. If such were the case, his departure should be assigned to the year 604. 33 An extravagant calculation of St. David having lived until A. D. 642, founded upon a supposition that he did not take possession of the Menevian See, until 577, and that he held it for sixty-five years, has been adopted by some writers. According to this very strange hypothesis, he should have survived, not alone Maelgwn, but likewise his disciple, Aidan. It is well known, this latter bishop lived for several years, after St. David's death.
It is generally allowed, thatSt. Daviddiedinthemonasteryhehadfoundedat Menevia.
34 According to Archbishop Ussher, as we have said, his death occurred in 544 ; but, there is reason to believe he survived this period, for
someyears. 35 HediedontheKalendsofMarch,correspondingwiththeistday
*'
one usually followed, and it seems tolerably gan's
wellestablished. Accordingtoanoldbook,
which treats on the laws of the Ancient
Britons, it is said, Malgon ruled not only
over all Britain, but even over six adjoining
islands or countries lying on the ocean, viz. :
Ireland, Iceland, Gothland, the Orcades, has stated, that he died about 586. This is
Norway and Dacia. He is erroneously said by Gildas to have subjected these nations to his sway, after fighting fierce battles. Over these he is related to have ruled like Draco. See, ibid.
asserted from a MS. note by Vaughan on
Powel. But Ussher, in his Chronological Index at DXClil. , tells us that Cereticus succeeded Malgon or Maglocun in Britain. This latter was known as Slaelgun Gwinedh or Malgonus Venedotus, whilst the Cambro-
3° Maglocun is represented by Ussher as
prince of North Wales, at the time of Britons call the former Karedic. See,
David's death. ' ' His
hypothesis required
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
Antiquitates,"
this caution. And, lest it might be objected
that Maglocun was not sovereign even of
North Wales as early as A. D. 544, he has
affixed his accession to that year. (Ind, ever, O'Flaherty places the commencement Chron. ) He must also have supposed that of his reign at A. D. 568. See, " Ogygia :
Maglocun obtained that sovereignty very seu Rerum Hibernicarum Chronologia,"
early in said year, whereas St. David died on the first of March. But how could he
pars, iii. , p. 431.
33 Yet, such a date cannot agree with his
having died during Maelgwn's reign, nor with a notation of Tuesday being the day of
explain that prince's issuing orders as to the
burial of a person, who lived and died in
South Wales ? If it be said that he issued his death. Still it indicates a belief, that he
them during a certain predatory incursion
(see Ussher, p. 528), surely we are not to suppose that incursion took place in the first
did not die until towards the time of Pope
Gregory, and very many years after A. D. 544. Other writers have said, that his death happened in the same year, with that of St. Senan. Meanwhile, it may be observed, that St. Senan lived to a later period than A. D. 544.
3't of Monmouth has such a state- Geoffrey
year of his sovereignty, nor much less prior to the first of March in said year. On the whole, Ussher's calculations on these dates are too much forced ; and the simplest method of
all the circumstances is to admit that Maglocun was king not only
reconciling
of North but likewise of South —
Wales, &c. ,
ment. 35 If
Dr.
at the lime of David's death. "
Dr. Lani-
great degree
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ix. , n. 145, pp. 473, 474-
3« Several writers place the death of Maelg\vn at a somewhat earlier period. Gibson, in his notes on Camden, col. 825,
P- 534-
3^ See, O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 204, 205. How-
were the Lanigan thinks, that
of his
day death.
with a
Tuesday
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIN2S. 41
ofthatmonth,36andonaTuesday. 37 Theholydisciplesofoursainttook care to have his remains deposited in the Church of St. Andrew, within that city, with which his name and celebrity have since been so much identified. s^ Giraldus Cambrensis testifies, that his body had been interred with great solemnity by his religious brethren, and that it was preserved with that vene- ration,becomingsogreatatreasure. Downtothetwelfthcentury,theLord was pleased to manifest our saint's glory, by signs and prodigies. Even in later ages, Giraldus considered it possible, that accounts of these miracles would be extended, and added to his own record of our saint's Acts. 39 St, Kentigern is said to have seen his soul ascending to heaven, and borne by holy angels. Near the Church of St. Andrew stood several chapels, which were formerly resorted to with great devotion. One of these has been dedi- cated to St. Nun, who presided over many religious women, and who was consideredthemotherofSt. David. Sheishonouredonthe2ndofMarch. Near this chapel was a beautiful well, often a place of resort for pilgrims. Another chapel was sacred to St. Lily, surnamed Gwas-Dewy, that is, St. David'sman; because,hewasabeloveddiscipleandcompanion,duringour bishop's retirement. St. Lily was venerated on the 3rd of March, In honour of these several saints, the three first days of March Avere formerly kept as holy days in South Wales. At present, only St. David's day is
observed as a festival, throughout all Wales. -*"
A certain matron, named Elswida, in the time of King Edgar, a. d. 962,1^ translated the relics of St. David from the Vale of Ross to Glastonbury, when all Wales had been so laid waste, that scarcely anyone was found therein dwelling. These she procured, through the influence of her kinsman, who was Bishop of Menevia. A portion of the relics of St. Stephen, Proto- martyr, had also been removed, at the same time. This religious rite was accompaniedwithgreatsolemnity,onthepartofthoseassisting. ^^ Itwould seem, that the relics of St. David had been deposited on the right side of the
altar, within Glastonbury old Church. ts
of probability, we may suppose the year was 589.
3^ Our native Martyrologists, St. ^ngus, Marianus Scotus, Maguire, and the Tallagh Martyrology, mention his festival, as occur- ring on this day. So, also, accord, Giraldus Cambrensis, John of Teignmouth and Cap- grave, with the English and Salisbury Mar- tyrologies. The Rev. W. J. Rees, in his " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," has a Life of Buchedd Dewi Sant, in Welch, pp. 102 to 116, with an English translation, pp.
He is said to have been canonized cede ad Dominum Magnum.
"
Deus, qui ecclesise tuas beatum David pontificem tuum mirabilem tribuisti docto- rem, concede propitius, ut hunc apud te semper pium habere mereamur interces- sorem, per Dominum nostrum Jesum Chris- tum. Amen. " See, "Vita S. Davidis," lect. x. "Opera," vol. iii. , p. 404.
'*° SeeRev. AlbanButler's"Livesofthe
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. March ist.
^^ According to the Bollandist computa- tion, this translation took place a. d. 964,
and in the sixth year of King Edgar's reign. Capgrave removes it to a different period, " Hasc autem Translatio Corporis S. David per matronam praefatam facta est usque ad
402 to 417. Selden in his illustrations to "
Drayton's Poly-Oibion," says of St.
David " To him our country Calendars :
give the first of March, but in the old Mar-
tyrologies, I find him not remembered. See, '"
Fourth Glastoniam anno mortem—
Song. ' post ejus quadrin-
37" "
See, Ussher's Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates. " Index Chronologicus, A. D. DXLiv,, p. 530.
3^ This account is found in Rev. Alban Butler's Life of this saint, and in the copy of St. David's Life, furnished to Colgan, by the Most Rev. David Routh, Bishop of Ossory.
gentesimo vicesimo primo. " Vita S. Patricii. "
'•'^ We have an account concerning this
translation at in the " of p. 130, History
Glastonbury," written by John of Glaston- bury, and published by Mr. Thomas Hearne, in 1726.
-ts See,Dodsworth'sandDugdale's"Mo- 39 Giraldus concludes his account of St. nasticon Anglicanum," vol. i. , p. 4. For
David with the following, Responsio :
an interesting account of Glastonbury and its antiquities, the reader is referred to this same work. Ibid. , pp. i to 18.
"
vota servorum tuorum, et pro nobis inter-
Gloriose prsesul Christi David, suscipe
42
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March r.
by Pope Calistus II. ,44 in 1120. The Bollandists tell us, that either such was the case, or that this Pontiff must have issued new privileges to sanction still more an old veneration of the faithful, towards St. David. Soon after this time, his religious celebrity extended beyond the limits of these islands, and, it was propagated throughout the whole Christian world. t^ The name of St. David is found recorded in nearly all our Calendars and Martyrologies, as, also, in almost every work that treats on the early ecclesiastical history of England, Ireland, Wales or Scotland. ^
A singular Welsh custom of wearing the leek has prevailed throughout the principality from a very remote time. Most probably, the leek had been the favourite article of food, used by this holy vegetarian, whose austerity of living had been so remarkable. t7 By another account, such a custom is said to have derived its origin, from that neighbourly aid, practised amongst farmers in South Wales, and locally known as Cymhorthu. When a small farmer had slender means, his neighbours, more favoured with the gifts of fortune, appointed a day for all to meet and plough his land, or to render him some other agricultural service. On such occasions, each individual of the company carried with him that portion of leeks necessary to make his pottage. -*^ Others again, have asserted, that the practice took its rise from a
victory obtained by Cadwallo over the Saxons, on the ist of March, 640, when, to distinguish themselves, the Welsh wore leeks in their bonnets. ^?
^'' See, Bale, Cent. I. , the English Martyr- ology, and Godwin's work on the Bishops of England, p. 601. This Pope sat from a. d. 1 1 19 to 1 124.
As nature at the first appointed it for
pray'r :
Wherein an aged cell, with moss and ivy
grown,
In which not to this day the sun hath ever
shone,
That reverend British Saint in zealous
ages past.
To contemplation liv'd ; and did so traly
fast.
As he did only drink what crystal Hodney
yields,
Andj^(/«/^« M^/^t'/C'j he gathered in the
fields.
In memory of whom, in the revolving year
The Welchman on his day that sacred herb do wear :
Where, of that holy mail as humbly they do crave.
That in their just defen—ce they might his furth'rance have. " "Poiy-Olbion. "
^5 Nicholas Harpsfeld writes, in his
*'
His-
toria Ecclesiastica AngHcana, in sex primis
seculis," cap. 26, regarding this saint:
" Deum hujus viri sanctitatem orbi commen- dasse stupendis et admirandis quibusdam
"
Then are noted some miraculous occurrences, which are elsewhere related. These were attributed to the merits of St. David of
Wales.
«* Besides, various works, already cited in
the progress of this Memoir, the reader is referred to the General Catalogue of Saints, compiled by Ferrarius, Molanus, Canisius, the MS. " Florarium Sanctorum," and to many other tracts and writers, treating about the saints of our Church.
^^ So, at least, the old poet Drayton has it, with some other —interesting metrical
eventibus, quos alii persequuntur.
allusions to St. David
:
" The Britons, like devout, their messengers direct
To David, that he would their ancient
right protect.
'Mongst Hatterill's lofty hills, that with
the clouds are crown'd,
Ewias lies immur'd so deep
valley and round.
As they below that see the mountains rise
The "
valley Ewias,"
alluded to in tlie fore-
The
^9 To such event, the gi'eat English dra- matist is supposed to allude, when he makes the stout-hearted Welsh Captain, Fluellen, remark to King Henry V.
so
Might think the straggling herds were
grazing in the sky :
Which in it such a shape of solitude doth
bear,
" the Welshmen did good service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth
high,
The Fourth Song.
going lines, is situated in Monmouthshire, and on the borders of Brecknockshire.
''^ Mr. Owen is accredited with the fore-
goingexplanation; although,Mr. Reessays, he never heard of such a custom prevailing in South Wales.
:
caps ; which your majesty knows, to this hour, is an honourable page of the service ;
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 43
have been use of this national Cymbric practice. S'
5° to account for the
Of this custom the Cambrians were proud, from Shakespeare's time, when the brave Fluellen had cause and occasion for wearing his leek, although St. Davy's day had passed, to a much more recent period, when a modern writer presents us with the picture of a tall, meagre old Welsh baronet, stalking down the streets of London, " with
a leek stuck defiantly in his hat, because it is St. David's day. "^^
It would seem, that the i6th of August had been observed as a feast to commemorate the translation of St. David's relics. s3 Again, the 26th of September is mentioned, as having been a similar festival. 54 For these statements,wehavetheauthorityofGreuen.
