He says : " Cum ad
vigessimum
quintum aetatis annum pervenisset, &c.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
689.
SeeColgan's"ActaSanctorumHiber-
nise," V. Februarii. Vita S. Indracti, &c. , cap. ii. , pp. 253, 254,
^'
This miracle is more minutely related, in the Acts, as given by Capgrave. "Fecit quoque stagnum quoddam parvulum, de quo pisces juxta numerum certum quotidie sump-
in his " Chronicle of Ireland," p. 79, agree sit : & nee plures, nee pauciores ; sed
with Capgrave, in calling her Dominica.
absque numeri diminutione pisces in stagno semper invenit. Accidit enim, ut unus so- ciorum suorum, tentationi diabolicae acqui- escens, piscem unum quadem die furari prae- sumeret, & offenso Domino, quosque pisces omnes defecissent, unus quotidie de numero
Although in the Acts, as published by Col-
gan, from this circumstance of Dominica
being left in Britain, by her brother and
companions, on their way to Rome, and it
not being stated, that they returned to her
before their martyrdom, in England, it diminutus est. " Legends of a character, would appear she was not a sharer in their somewhat similar, yet prevail in Ireland, sufferings, nevertheless the English Martyr- regarding sacred fish, which are supposed
February 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 351
his journey towards Rome,^^ conceiving this deficiency of supply, as an in- timation from above, that he should not longer remain in that place. At- tended by his companions,''3 and with their assent, he took leave of his sister, who appears to have remained, in that part of the country ; then, having journeyed to Rome, he afterwards returned to Britain. He then wished to visit the city of Glastonbury, for devotional purposes. At this time, InCj^** King of the West Saxons,'5 hved at a place denominated Pedret,
where he held a court.
^"^
Many of his servants were living in villages, sur-
rounding this place. Among those servants was a person named Hona, who seems to have been bent upon the commission of a grievous crime. Learn- ing that Indract and his companions were on their way from Glastonbury, and supposing they had some concealed treasures with them, this man resolved upon their death. This town is situated in Somersetshire, or in the Isle of Avalon,='7whichhasbeenalsocalledInisWitrin,ortheGlassyIsland. This latter name, it is supposed, must have been derived, from the glasten or bluish-green colour of its earthy surface ; or, because the aborigines here found an herb, known as glast, or woad, which served to tinge their bodies. This town, like many others, is indebted for its orgin, to early monastic in- stitutions. ^'^ Indeed, many houses, in the present town of Glastonbury, are built entirely of stones, taken from the remains of its once magnificent monastery. When the servants of God had departed from the place, at which their devotions were offered, they stopped for the night, at a village, called Shaywike,^9 or Skapwith,3° or Stapwick,3i not far from Glastonbury.
to live in holy wells, and when these latter are desecrated, the fish are said to abandon them.
=s The people of this province are said to
have received the faith only in A. D. 634, at
the preaching of Birinus. See Rev. John
^Father
this pilgrimage, so early as A. D. 508. See "Apologia pro Hibemia," cap. iii. , p. 22.
^3 There are conflicting statements, re-
garding the number of our saint's compa-
nions. William of Malmesbury in his book,
*'De Gestis Pontificum Anglorum," enume-
rates only seven companions ; but, Colgan
thinks an error has been committed, in put-
ting the numeral 7 for 9. The Martyrology and Irish language, Auall means "an
Stephen
incorrectly places
Lingard's
Antiquities
of the
Anglo-Saxon
White
"
Church," chap, i. , p. 28 and n. 38, ibid.
of Salisbury says, that Indract suffered, with many companions ; while, the English Mar- tyrology, with Hanmer, states, that nine companions, together with his sister, endured
it produced good apples. In the British "
phical, Historical, and Descriptive of each martyrdom, when Indract fell. See Col- County. " Embellished with engravings,
"
gan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise, v. Feb- vol. xiii. , part i. , pp. 494, 499. This article
ruarii, n. 4, p. 254. on Glastonbury, compiled by Rev. J. Night-
""^
688, abeunte Ceadwalla Romam, suscepit
imperium Ina de stirpe regia, qui Monaste-
rium, quod Glgestingabirig dicitur, con-
struxit. " Afterwards, he adds : "Anno 728,
relicto imperio ac Aethelhardo, de prosapia
Gerderici Regis oriundo, commendato, Rex
Ina ad limina Beatorum Apostolorum, Gre- gorio Pontificalum agente profectus est. "
=9 The English Martyrology calls it Stap- wickia.
Edward in Mahew,
31 See Father White's " Stephen
"Trophseis Congreg. Anglican," tom. i. , p. 46. Polidore Virgil, and others, say, that Ina became a monk at Rome. Colgan is of opinion, that St. Indract suffered martyrdom before Ina as-
Apolo- gia pro Hibemia," cap. iii. , p. 22. The " Saxon Chronicle" states, at the year 688, that Ina then became King of VVessex, that
sumed the government of his kingdom of
Hibemise," n, 6, p. 255. EngUsh translation, pp. 57, 64.
He went to Rome and died there A. D. 728. the West Saxons. See "Acta Sanctorum See the Rev. J. Ingram's edition, with
^^
Sir Henry Spelman's collection "ConciUa. "
The laws of King Ina may be found in
Church History of Brittany," book xix. , chap, xv. ,
They are, also, noticed in Cressy's
pp. 479, 480.
^^ It is said to have been so called, because
apple.
=8 See " The Beauties of England and
Wales : or Original Delineations, Topogra-
Florence of Worcester, in his Annals, ingale, is illustrated by three exquisite cop-
"
writes about this King, Ine or Ina :
Anno perplate engravings, representing its anti- quities. The History of Glastonbury is a very interesting one. Some of the abbey ruins exhibit the former glories of this place.
3° See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 107.
he founded the monastery of Glastonbury.
"
352 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 5.
While they were sleeping, that wicked man, Hona, with a band of miscreants,^^ entering the house sword in hand, rushed upon those defencelesss and un- suspecting pilgrims, and put them all to death. Their bodies were dragged from the beds, on which they slept, towards a deep pit. Into this they were thrown,forbetterconcealment. But,sometime,aftersuchtragicoccurrence took place, being afflicted with indisposition, and going out from his chamber by night, King Ine observed a large column of light, extending towards heaven, and reaching from the spot, where the bodies of those martyrs re- posed. 33 Such an extraordinary phenomenon occurred on three successive nights. At length, taking some persons with him. King Ine went towards thespot,fromwhichtheluminousbeamsproceeded. Whilethiswonderful occurrence continued, a certain woman, who was an idolater from her infancy, and who could not be induced to listen to the preaching of Christianity, be- held this fiery column over the martyrs' bodies. This woman feared to ap- proach, until, being fortified by the graces of the Sacraments,34 she had become aChristian. 35 Then,withgreatdevotion,shehastenedtotheplaceofmartyr- dom. She, also, proclaimed in a public manner, what she had seen there, so that eighty men and women believing were admitted into the fold of the Church. Then,havingdiscoveredthemartyrs'bodies,thesewerebrought to the monastery and were buried with marked solemnity, at Glastonbury. 3'^ St. Indract's remains were placed opposite the tomb of St. Patrick, and at the left side of the altar. 37 Those of his companions were deposited, under the flooring or pavement of Glastonbury church. 38 This must have hap- pened some days after their martyrdom. 39 The participators, in this cruel murder, were miraculously punished for their crimes. They are said, to have been possessed by demons, and to have torn their own flesh, until with the most unnatural outcries, they expired in great agony. 4° Thus, all came to an untimely end. -*^ Many miracles were said to have taken place, after our saint's death,^^ and that of his companions, at the place of their sepulture/^
32 These are called West Saxons, in the
English Martyrology.
33 It is added, that the splendour of this
fiery column met his eyes wherever they turned.
^s <<Fuit corpus ejus ibi elevatum anno 1 184, ut interpolator Guilielmi Malmes- buriensis refert, dicens quod Ecclesia Glas* toniensis fuerit incendio vastata anno 1184, ipse die veneris Pentecostes sive die 25 Maii
The order
of narrative has
" cum
& subdens in vetusta Ecclesia postea
34
confessis sacerdoti peccatis suis baptismi
effossa esse corpora Sanctorum, Patricii a dexteris
it,
35 far as refers to these
So foregoing
altaris, Indracti socioriimque ejus a sinistris
ac- & Gilda; de — ante altare ; & in -S". pavimento
gratiam consecuta fuisset," &c.
counts, Colgan observes in his notes, that scriniis collocata. ^' Colgan's "Acta "
Sanc- when the woman is said to have made her torum Hibernise, v. Februarii, n. 7, p.
confession to the priest, we are not to under- stand, that a sacramental confession could be made, before reception of the sacrament of Baptism. This latter sacrament must be received first in the order of time, as it pre- pares the recipient for the graces of all other sacraments. Nor are we to suppose this a sacramental confession perfected, imme- diately after the reception of Baptism, with a view to obtain remission of sins committed before Baptism. For such sins are entirely cancelled by Baptism ; and, hence they are
not, in theological phraseology, matter for the sacrament of Penance. He adds : "Quanquam nihil etiam nostra referret, si sa- cerdos ille ex ignorantia putaret, illius fse- minse sacramentalem confessionem vel ante, vel mox post baptismum excipiendam. "
255.
37 So Capgrave states,
38 xhe English Martyrology states, they were honourably consigned to the earth,
39 Yet, Father Stephen White asserts, that immediately after it occurred, and on the very same day, their bodies were in-
terred at Glastonbury. See "Apologia pro
Hibemiae," cap. iii. , p. 22. ^*'
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," v. Februarii. Vita S. Indracti, &c. ,
cap. vii. , p. 254.
<' See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 108. ^"
See Father Stephen White's Apolo- gia pro Hibernia," cap. iii. , p. 22.
'3 According to William of MalmesbUry and Capgrave.
February 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 353
Various dates are assigned for the martyrdom of those saints. The English Martyrology, and Ferrarius/* on its authority, relate, that this occurrence took
place, about a. d. 708/5 Colgan holds an opinion, for various reasons, which he assigns, that it happened about, or perhaps before, the year 678. 4^ In the Martyrology of Salisbury^? the festival of those saints has been assigned tothe8thdayofMay\'>'^ whilst,insomeofourIrishCalendars,49andinthe
** In "Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum," at this date.
-ts The Rev. S. Baring-Gould refers their
martyrdom to the beginning of the eighth century. See "Lives of the Saints," vol.
that he was bom about A. D. 673. Colgan says, if we are to suppose this saint to have been identical with the Guthlac, who came to St. Indract's tomb, at a time when the former was quite young and scarcely able to speak : considering that a child in this state must have attained about four or five
ii. , February v. , p. 140.
on the
'•^ It is
tion, that the date for St. Guthlac's age and
death can be found, from the English An-
nalists. Thus, Matthew of Westminster, has
it at A. D. 714, when he states that St. Guth-
lac, the hermit, closed his life, at Croiland,
in the marshes. Then, after relating the
particulars of his life, Guthlac is said to
have been twenty-five years old, when he
began to lead a solitary life, and to have
continued in it fifteen years longer. See years before he began to reign. To these "Flores Historiarum," anno gratiae conjectures of Colgan, the statement of
chiefly grounded
supposi-
years, it should therefore follow, that St. Indract must have suffered in, or before, A. D. 678. But, it may be objected, that St. Indract died in the time of Ina, King of the West Saxons, who undertook the administration of his kingdom, A. D. 688, and laid down his sceptre A. D, 728. Colgan replies, that our saint and his companions suffered during the life-time of this king, and at least ten
Dccxiiii. ,pp. 260to263. IntheChronicle of Florence of Worcester, at the same year 714, the admirable anchoret, and most faith- ful priest of God, Guthlac, brother of the choice virgin, Pegia, and the performer of innumerable virtues, resigned his soul to the
"
indictione 12. quarto lumine festi Paschalis 3. Idus Aprilis. " Mahewandothershavelikestate- ments. Harpsfeld relates, from Felix of Croy- land, an old and a cotemporaneous writer of St. Guthlac's Life, that this saint became
a convert in the twenty-fifth year of his age. From being a soldier before, he then as- sumed the habit of a monk.
He says : " Cum ad vigessimum quintum aetatis annum pervenisset, &c. , deinceps Dei stipendia facere, spiritualique militise nomen dare constituit. " Likewise, Matthew of West- minster, at A, D. 714, says: "Vicesimo et quinto setatis suae anno solitariam aggressus vitam, &c. " But, according to Felix of Croyland, Harpsfeld, Capgrave, Mahew, and all others, this saint commenced a mo- nastic and not an eremitical life, during that year. These authors and even Matthew of Westminster himself state, that having re- mained two years in a monastery, he then entered the desert. He remained fifteen years a solitary, as Matthew of Westminster says: "quindecim annis in ea permansit. " Harpsfeld, also, remarks : "in qua solitu-
"
Surius and Capgrave have the same statement, in St. Guthlac's Life. If, therefore, the latter saint spent twenty-five years in the world, two in a monastery, and fifteen in a desert, it follows, that he died in the forty-second
Hanmer is added, " Chronicle of Ireland," while the exile and death of St. Indract is related, after St. Fiacre's death, which took place before A. D. 640, and before the death ofSt. Cuthbert,whodiedA. D. 688. Weare, also, to take into account, that if we follow Capgrave, Surius and Grasius, regarding the age of Guthlac, St. Indract's death must have occurredatanearlierperiodthan678. For these writers say, that St. Guthlac was twenty-four years of age when he embraced a military profession, and that he spent eight years in the duties of that profession. If to this we add, two years spent in the monastery, and fifteen passed in his her- mitage, he must have died in the forty-ninth year of his age, A. D. 714; so that conse- quently, he must have been bom about A. D. 666. Wherefore, according to the calcula-
tion thus made, St. Indract must be sup- posed to have suffered about or before A. D. 671. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi- bemise," v. Februarii, n. 11, p. 255.
47 Edited by Richard Whitford.
48 At this date, we find recorded : "Eodem die festum S. Indracti Regis Hibemiae filii, qui abdicato sceptro Romam peregrinatus est cum suo sorore Dominica, multisque
aliis, qui omnes privatam ducebant vitam ; & tandem pro Christi fide martyrio coronati sunt. "
49 Thus, in the Anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullivan Beare, we meet at the Sth of Febmary, " Indractus M. cum novem sociis. " Henry Fitzsimon, also, at this date, enters their feast, taking for his authority the English Martyrology. See "Historiae Catholicae Ibemiae Com-
delights of eternal happiness,
dine quindecim annis consumpsit.
year of his age ; and, as it has been shown, pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. he departed a. d. 714, it must be apparent, 49, and cap. xii. , p. 55, ibid.
Vol II.
A 2
354 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 5.
English Martyrology, it is placed, at the 5th of February. 5° It must be re- marked, however, that their history is rather involved in obscurity, and beset wilh chronological difficulties. s^ After the martyrdom of those saints,5=' it is related, that the son, belonging to a king of the West Saxons, supposed to be attacked by an incurable disease, was restored to his former health, after having been brought to the tomb of those martyrs. A certain rich man was accustomed, likewise, to visit it, and once he came with his wife, and a little infant, called Guthlac,S3 who was scarcely able to speak. When wearied with watching, before the tomb of St. Indract, they fell asleep. Then, ap- peared, to the infant Guthlac,54 a man venerable and handsome, rising from the left side of the altar. He had the clerical tonsure on his head, and he
"
held a book in his hands. This he presented to the infant, and said,
My son, do you wish to read from this book ? " The child, Guthlac,5s assenting, awoke from his sleep, and related the vision to his mother. When the
clerics, afterwards, presented a similar book to GuthlaCjS^ he, without falter- ing in the slightest degree, read it at once, and explained what he read. In concluding ^his account, perhaps it may be well to notice, the festival of so many saints, being set for this particular day, seems to indicate, it was that of their death, and probably, as all were companions on earth, they may have passed together, through the way of martyrdom, to that Ufe, which has no end.
Article III. —St. Finghin, Son of Odhran Feabhla, or, of Metz, IN France. [Probably in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries. ^ In distant countries, as well as at home, the names of many renowned Irishmen are honoured for their merit and virtue. Colgan has some notices of a holy man,calledFingen,insertedinhisgreatwork,atthe5thofFebruary. ^ A saint bearing this name, is mentioned, also, by our native compilers of mar-
s'' At this date, it says, the commemora-
tion of St. Indract, Martyr, took place, at
Glastonbury in Somerset, Ferrarius, in "Ca-
ss In a manuscript, belonging to the Cot- tonian Library, an ancient menology has St.
Guthlake, a hermit, at Croyland, at the
talogus Generalis Sanctorum," and Father ilth of April. See Rev. John Lingard's
'*
Henry Fitzsimon, in
Sanctorum Hibemiae," likewise follow this
authority, assigning the martyrdom of St. Indract, and his nine companions, to the 5th of February.
**
Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church. " Notes, P, p. 309.
se Jn previous notes, Colgan referring to authorities already given, and more at length, in note 1 1, thus sums up, "anno ergo 708, non puer, sed vir maturus & in-
his " non est verisimile tam reason, quia
ingens miraculum, et alias non tam neces- sarium, factum esse circa infantem aliquem,
must fall to the Neither arrived, ground.
is Hanmer's authority of much weight, in an investigation —of this nature.
nisi intuitu futurse sanctitatis
54 In 714 died Guthlac the Holy, accord-
ing to Rev. J. Ingram's "Saxon Chroni- cle," p. 62.
Article hi.
^
Catalogus Aliquorum
5' It is taken chiefly from the Antiquities
of the Church of Glastonbury, by William signis erat Christi pugil. " See "Acta of Malmsbury. Sanctorum Hibemiee," v. Februarii, nn, 9,
5' At Shapwick, near Glastonbury. The 10. To me, it does not appear evident,
village yet keeps the same name. See Cressy's "Church History of Brittany," book xxi,, chap, ix. , pp. 533, 534.
53 Regarding the boy Guthlac already mentioned, 'Colgan says, he does not doubt of this having been the celebrated Guthlac, Anchoret and Confessor, whose Acts are
that Guthlac, spoken of in St. Indract's and his companions' Acts, was identical with the hermitandsainthavingasimilarname. If they were one and the same person, it seems unlikely, that the remarkable miracle, which is said to have occurred at St. Indract's tomb, should not be found related in the Lives of St. Guthlac, which have been pub- lished by so many different editors. If the contrary be the case, the whole fabric of
given by Harpsfeld, at the eighth century
(cap. 19), by Surius (tom. iv), at the ilth of
April, by Mahew, In Trophaeis, p. 385, by
Capgrave, and by others. Colgan adds, as conjectural conclusions, at which Colgan
ejus. "
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," v. Februarii. Vita S. Fingeni,
pp. 257, 258.
=
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
February 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 355
tyrologies. He is entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 5th of February, under the title of Febla, Fingin mic Odhrain. There must be
some transposition of proper names, in this record ; unless, indeed, an entry in a later Calendar be incorrect. Thus, we read, Finghin, son of Odhrdn
Feabhla, is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 as having a festival on this day. The account given of St. Fingen is very imperfect, as we find it in Colgan's work. The Bollandists have omitted this saint, placing him, however, among the Praetermissi et in aUos dies relati,'^ for the 5th of Feb-
ruary. They observe, likewise, that Colgan had not a sufficient reason for giving him the title of beatus, since he had found him called only virtuosus. ^
The chief cause, why Colgan placed his St. Fingen, at the 5th of February, was, for the reason, that the name of a Fingen, the Virtuous, son of Odran Fedhla,happenstooccuratthisday,insomeIrishCalendars. ^ Theholy person, thus commemorated, in om/asfi, was a very celebrated Irish abbot, who is said to have left Ireland, and to have gone to the kingdom of Lothaire. 7 He is called Fingen, and he must have been born, sometime in the tenth century. It is said he succeeded St. Cadroe,^ as abbot of St. Felix, other- wise known as St. Clement, at Metz, in or about the year 976. Mabillon, who treats concerning him in his history,9 did not scruple to consider this Fingen as a great saint, and he often speaks of the abbot, at Metz, as a most religious man. Yet, this Fingen, in all probability, was different from the saint, who is recorded, at the present date, in our native Calendars. Nor did Colgan state, that they were the same, although both were, no doubt, Irishmen. At least, the Fingen, celebrated in connexion with Metz, is re- gardedasaScottus,byrace,^°andderivedbybirthfromHibernia. " We are informed, there was a pretty full account of him, in an ancient Life of
Thierri I. , Bishop of Metz,''^ which unfortunately has not been recovered, if the biography be extant. ^3 Besides other mistakes, concerning Fingen and his Irish monks, admitted by Fleury, he calls them Ecossois j'-^ thus mis-
leadinghisreaders,astotheirnationality. TheoldabbeyofSt. Symphorian^s had been rebuilt, by Adalbero 11. ,'^ Bishop of Metz, who had a great esteem for Fingen. ^7 Over it, this holy man was placed, in the year 991 ; and, with the assistance of the Empress Dowager Adelhaide,'^ a protectress of Fingen,
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
38, 39.
* See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,''
tomus i. , Februarii v. , p. 593.
the history of this holy abbot. See idid.
^3 In the Life of Thierri I. , Bishop of
Metz, by Sigebert, there is not a single word about St. Fingene.
^^ See " Histoire " tome Ecclesiastique,
xii. , liv. Iviii. , sec. Ix. , p. 435.
^^ in the Charter of Otho III. , published
by Colgan, it is said regarding our saint, that he was " Abbas primus nomine Fingenius Hi- berniensis natione," &c. This shows, the monastery of St. Symphronian was different from the monastery of St. Felix. Cathroe was the first abbot of the latter, and Fingen of the former, after its restoration. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," v. Februarii. De S. Fingeno Abbate, p. 258, and n. 19.
""^ He died December 15th, a. d. 1005,
and he was buried in St. Symphronien.
See an account of this bishop in Fleury's
*'
Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome xii,, liv. Ivii. , sec. xxxviii. , pp. 291, 292.
^7 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Februarii v. Praetermissi
et in alios dies rejecti, p. 593.
'^
s Thus is he called man.
^
by
Marianus O'Gor-
Cathal Maguire also notes him in the Calendar.
7 See " Histoire Literaire de la France," tomus vi. Dixieme Siecle, p. 437.
^
See his Life at the 6th of March.
"
9 See
tomus iv. , lib. 1. , sec.
nise," V. Februarii. Vita S. Indracti, &c. , cap. ii. , pp. 253, 254,
^'
This miracle is more minutely related, in the Acts, as given by Capgrave. "Fecit quoque stagnum quoddam parvulum, de quo pisces juxta numerum certum quotidie sump-
in his " Chronicle of Ireland," p. 79, agree sit : & nee plures, nee pauciores ; sed
with Capgrave, in calling her Dominica.
absque numeri diminutione pisces in stagno semper invenit. Accidit enim, ut unus so- ciorum suorum, tentationi diabolicae acqui- escens, piscem unum quadem die furari prae- sumeret, & offenso Domino, quosque pisces omnes defecissent, unus quotidie de numero
Although in the Acts, as published by Col-
gan, from this circumstance of Dominica
being left in Britain, by her brother and
companions, on their way to Rome, and it
not being stated, that they returned to her
before their martyrdom, in England, it diminutus est. " Legends of a character, would appear she was not a sharer in their somewhat similar, yet prevail in Ireland, sufferings, nevertheless the English Martyr- regarding sacred fish, which are supposed
February 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 351
his journey towards Rome,^^ conceiving this deficiency of supply, as an in- timation from above, that he should not longer remain in that place. At- tended by his companions,''3 and with their assent, he took leave of his sister, who appears to have remained, in that part of the country ; then, having journeyed to Rome, he afterwards returned to Britain. He then wished to visit the city of Glastonbury, for devotional purposes. At this time, InCj^** King of the West Saxons,'5 hved at a place denominated Pedret,
where he held a court.
^"^
Many of his servants were living in villages, sur-
rounding this place. Among those servants was a person named Hona, who seems to have been bent upon the commission of a grievous crime. Learn- ing that Indract and his companions were on their way from Glastonbury, and supposing they had some concealed treasures with them, this man resolved upon their death. This town is situated in Somersetshire, or in the Isle of Avalon,='7whichhasbeenalsocalledInisWitrin,ortheGlassyIsland. This latter name, it is supposed, must have been derived, from the glasten or bluish-green colour of its earthy surface ; or, because the aborigines here found an herb, known as glast, or woad, which served to tinge their bodies. This town, like many others, is indebted for its orgin, to early monastic in- stitutions. ^'^ Indeed, many houses, in the present town of Glastonbury, are built entirely of stones, taken from the remains of its once magnificent monastery. When the servants of God had departed from the place, at which their devotions were offered, they stopped for the night, at a village, called Shaywike,^9 or Skapwith,3° or Stapwick,3i not far from Glastonbury.
to live in holy wells, and when these latter are desecrated, the fish are said to abandon them.
=s The people of this province are said to
have received the faith only in A. D. 634, at
the preaching of Birinus. See Rev. John
^Father
this pilgrimage, so early as A. D. 508. See "Apologia pro Hibemia," cap. iii. , p. 22.
^3 There are conflicting statements, re-
garding the number of our saint's compa-
nions. William of Malmesbury in his book,
*'De Gestis Pontificum Anglorum," enume-
rates only seven companions ; but, Colgan
thinks an error has been committed, in put-
ting the numeral 7 for 9. The Martyrology and Irish language, Auall means "an
Stephen
incorrectly places
Lingard's
Antiquities
of the
Anglo-Saxon
White
"
Church," chap, i. , p. 28 and n. 38, ibid.
of Salisbury says, that Indract suffered, with many companions ; while, the English Mar- tyrology, with Hanmer, states, that nine companions, together with his sister, endured
it produced good apples. In the British "
phical, Historical, and Descriptive of each martyrdom, when Indract fell. See Col- County. " Embellished with engravings,
"
gan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise, v. Feb- vol. xiii. , part i. , pp. 494, 499. This article
ruarii, n. 4, p. 254. on Glastonbury, compiled by Rev. J. Night-
""^
688, abeunte Ceadwalla Romam, suscepit
imperium Ina de stirpe regia, qui Monaste-
rium, quod Glgestingabirig dicitur, con-
struxit. " Afterwards, he adds : "Anno 728,
relicto imperio ac Aethelhardo, de prosapia
Gerderici Regis oriundo, commendato, Rex
Ina ad limina Beatorum Apostolorum, Gre- gorio Pontificalum agente profectus est. "
=9 The English Martyrology calls it Stap- wickia.
Edward in Mahew,
31 See Father White's " Stephen
"Trophseis Congreg. Anglican," tom. i. , p. 46. Polidore Virgil, and others, say, that Ina became a monk at Rome. Colgan is of opinion, that St. Indract suffered martyrdom before Ina as-
Apolo- gia pro Hibemia," cap. iii. , p. 22. The " Saxon Chronicle" states, at the year 688, that Ina then became King of VVessex, that
sumed the government of his kingdom of
Hibemise," n, 6, p. 255. EngUsh translation, pp. 57, 64.
He went to Rome and died there A. D. 728. the West Saxons. See "Acta Sanctorum See the Rev. J. Ingram's edition, with
^^
Sir Henry Spelman's collection "ConciUa. "
The laws of King Ina may be found in
Church History of Brittany," book xix. , chap, xv. ,
They are, also, noticed in Cressy's
pp. 479, 480.
^^ It is said to have been so called, because
apple.
=8 See " The Beauties of England and
Wales : or Original Delineations, Topogra-
Florence of Worcester, in his Annals, ingale, is illustrated by three exquisite cop-
"
writes about this King, Ine or Ina :
Anno perplate engravings, representing its anti- quities. The History of Glastonbury is a very interesting one. Some of the abbey ruins exhibit the former glories of this place.
3° See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 107.
he founded the monastery of Glastonbury.
"
352 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 5.
While they were sleeping, that wicked man, Hona, with a band of miscreants,^^ entering the house sword in hand, rushed upon those defencelesss and un- suspecting pilgrims, and put them all to death. Their bodies were dragged from the beds, on which they slept, towards a deep pit. Into this they were thrown,forbetterconcealment. But,sometime,aftersuchtragicoccurrence took place, being afflicted with indisposition, and going out from his chamber by night, King Ine observed a large column of light, extending towards heaven, and reaching from the spot, where the bodies of those martyrs re- posed. 33 Such an extraordinary phenomenon occurred on three successive nights. At length, taking some persons with him. King Ine went towards thespot,fromwhichtheluminousbeamsproceeded. Whilethiswonderful occurrence continued, a certain woman, who was an idolater from her infancy, and who could not be induced to listen to the preaching of Christianity, be- held this fiery column over the martyrs' bodies. This woman feared to ap- proach, until, being fortified by the graces of the Sacraments,34 she had become aChristian. 35 Then,withgreatdevotion,shehastenedtotheplaceofmartyr- dom. She, also, proclaimed in a public manner, what she had seen there, so that eighty men and women believing were admitted into the fold of the Church. Then,havingdiscoveredthemartyrs'bodies,thesewerebrought to the monastery and were buried with marked solemnity, at Glastonbury. 3'^ St. Indract's remains were placed opposite the tomb of St. Patrick, and at the left side of the altar. 37 Those of his companions were deposited, under the flooring or pavement of Glastonbury church. 38 This must have hap- pened some days after their martyrdom. 39 The participators, in this cruel murder, were miraculously punished for their crimes. They are said, to have been possessed by demons, and to have torn their own flesh, until with the most unnatural outcries, they expired in great agony. 4° Thus, all came to an untimely end. -*^ Many miracles were said to have taken place, after our saint's death,^^ and that of his companions, at the place of their sepulture/^
32 These are called West Saxons, in the
English Martyrology.
33 It is added, that the splendour of this
fiery column met his eyes wherever they turned.
^s <<Fuit corpus ejus ibi elevatum anno 1 184, ut interpolator Guilielmi Malmes- buriensis refert, dicens quod Ecclesia Glas* toniensis fuerit incendio vastata anno 1184, ipse die veneris Pentecostes sive die 25 Maii
The order
of narrative has
" cum
& subdens in vetusta Ecclesia postea
34
confessis sacerdoti peccatis suis baptismi
effossa esse corpora Sanctorum, Patricii a dexteris
it,
35 far as refers to these
So foregoing
altaris, Indracti socioriimque ejus a sinistris
ac- & Gilda; de — ante altare ; & in -S". pavimento
gratiam consecuta fuisset," &c.
counts, Colgan observes in his notes, that scriniis collocata. ^' Colgan's "Acta "
Sanc- when the woman is said to have made her torum Hibernise, v. Februarii, n. 7, p.
confession to the priest, we are not to under- stand, that a sacramental confession could be made, before reception of the sacrament of Baptism. This latter sacrament must be received first in the order of time, as it pre- pares the recipient for the graces of all other sacraments. Nor are we to suppose this a sacramental confession perfected, imme- diately after the reception of Baptism, with a view to obtain remission of sins committed before Baptism. For such sins are entirely cancelled by Baptism ; and, hence they are
not, in theological phraseology, matter for the sacrament of Penance. He adds : "Quanquam nihil etiam nostra referret, si sa- cerdos ille ex ignorantia putaret, illius fse- minse sacramentalem confessionem vel ante, vel mox post baptismum excipiendam. "
255.
37 So Capgrave states,
38 xhe English Martyrology states, they were honourably consigned to the earth,
39 Yet, Father Stephen White asserts, that immediately after it occurred, and on the very same day, their bodies were in-
terred at Glastonbury. See "Apologia pro
Hibemiae," cap. iii. , p. 22. ^*'
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," v. Februarii. Vita S. Indracti, &c. ,
cap. vii. , p. 254.
<' See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 108. ^"
See Father Stephen White's Apolo- gia pro Hibernia," cap. iii. , p. 22.
'3 According to William of MalmesbUry and Capgrave.
February 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 353
Various dates are assigned for the martyrdom of those saints. The English Martyrology, and Ferrarius/* on its authority, relate, that this occurrence took
place, about a. d. 708/5 Colgan holds an opinion, for various reasons, which he assigns, that it happened about, or perhaps before, the year 678. 4^ In the Martyrology of Salisbury^? the festival of those saints has been assigned tothe8thdayofMay\'>'^ whilst,insomeofourIrishCalendars,49andinthe
** In "Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum," at this date.
-ts The Rev. S. Baring-Gould refers their
martyrdom to the beginning of the eighth century. See "Lives of the Saints," vol.
that he was bom about A. D. 673. Colgan says, if we are to suppose this saint to have been identical with the Guthlac, who came to St. Indract's tomb, at a time when the former was quite young and scarcely able to speak : considering that a child in this state must have attained about four or five
ii. , February v. , p. 140.
on the
'•^ It is
tion, that the date for St. Guthlac's age and
death can be found, from the English An-
nalists. Thus, Matthew of Westminster, has
it at A. D. 714, when he states that St. Guth-
lac, the hermit, closed his life, at Croiland,
in the marshes. Then, after relating the
particulars of his life, Guthlac is said to
have been twenty-five years old, when he
began to lead a solitary life, and to have
continued in it fifteen years longer. See years before he began to reign. To these "Flores Historiarum," anno gratiae conjectures of Colgan, the statement of
chiefly grounded
supposi-
years, it should therefore follow, that St. Indract must have suffered in, or before, A. D. 678. But, it may be objected, that St. Indract died in the time of Ina, King of the West Saxons, who undertook the administration of his kingdom, A. D. 688, and laid down his sceptre A. D, 728. Colgan replies, that our saint and his companions suffered during the life-time of this king, and at least ten
Dccxiiii. ,pp. 260to263. IntheChronicle of Florence of Worcester, at the same year 714, the admirable anchoret, and most faith- ful priest of God, Guthlac, brother of the choice virgin, Pegia, and the performer of innumerable virtues, resigned his soul to the
"
indictione 12. quarto lumine festi Paschalis 3. Idus Aprilis. " Mahewandothershavelikestate- ments. Harpsfeld relates, from Felix of Croy- land, an old and a cotemporaneous writer of St. Guthlac's Life, that this saint became
a convert in the twenty-fifth year of his age. From being a soldier before, he then as- sumed the habit of a monk.
He says : " Cum ad vigessimum quintum aetatis annum pervenisset, &c. , deinceps Dei stipendia facere, spiritualique militise nomen dare constituit. " Likewise, Matthew of West- minster, at A, D. 714, says: "Vicesimo et quinto setatis suae anno solitariam aggressus vitam, &c. " But, according to Felix of Croyland, Harpsfeld, Capgrave, Mahew, and all others, this saint commenced a mo- nastic and not an eremitical life, during that year. These authors and even Matthew of Westminster himself state, that having re- mained two years in a monastery, he then entered the desert. He remained fifteen years a solitary, as Matthew of Westminster says: "quindecim annis in ea permansit. " Harpsfeld, also, remarks : "in qua solitu-
"
Surius and Capgrave have the same statement, in St. Guthlac's Life. If, therefore, the latter saint spent twenty-five years in the world, two in a monastery, and fifteen in a desert, it follows, that he died in the forty-second
Hanmer is added, " Chronicle of Ireland," while the exile and death of St. Indract is related, after St. Fiacre's death, which took place before A. D. 640, and before the death ofSt. Cuthbert,whodiedA. D. 688. Weare, also, to take into account, that if we follow Capgrave, Surius and Grasius, regarding the age of Guthlac, St. Indract's death must have occurredatanearlierperiodthan678. For these writers say, that St. Guthlac was twenty-four years of age when he embraced a military profession, and that he spent eight years in the duties of that profession. If to this we add, two years spent in the monastery, and fifteen passed in his her- mitage, he must have died in the forty-ninth year of his age, A. D. 714; so that conse- quently, he must have been bom about A. D. 666. Wherefore, according to the calcula-
tion thus made, St. Indract must be sup- posed to have suffered about or before A. D. 671. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi- bemise," v. Februarii, n. 11, p. 255.
47 Edited by Richard Whitford.
48 At this date, we find recorded : "Eodem die festum S. Indracti Regis Hibemiae filii, qui abdicato sceptro Romam peregrinatus est cum suo sorore Dominica, multisque
aliis, qui omnes privatam ducebant vitam ; & tandem pro Christi fide martyrio coronati sunt. "
49 Thus, in the Anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullivan Beare, we meet at the Sth of Febmary, " Indractus M. cum novem sociis. " Henry Fitzsimon, also, at this date, enters their feast, taking for his authority the English Martyrology. See "Historiae Catholicae Ibemiae Com-
delights of eternal happiness,
dine quindecim annis consumpsit.
year of his age ; and, as it has been shown, pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. he departed a. d. 714, it must be apparent, 49, and cap. xii. , p. 55, ibid.
Vol II.
A 2
354 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 5.
English Martyrology, it is placed, at the 5th of February. 5° It must be re- marked, however, that their history is rather involved in obscurity, and beset wilh chronological difficulties. s^ After the martyrdom of those saints,5=' it is related, that the son, belonging to a king of the West Saxons, supposed to be attacked by an incurable disease, was restored to his former health, after having been brought to the tomb of those martyrs. A certain rich man was accustomed, likewise, to visit it, and once he came with his wife, and a little infant, called Guthlac,S3 who was scarcely able to speak. When wearied with watching, before the tomb of St. Indract, they fell asleep. Then, ap- peared, to the infant Guthlac,54 a man venerable and handsome, rising from the left side of the altar. He had the clerical tonsure on his head, and he
"
held a book in his hands. This he presented to the infant, and said,
My son, do you wish to read from this book ? " The child, Guthlac,5s assenting, awoke from his sleep, and related the vision to his mother. When the
clerics, afterwards, presented a similar book to GuthlaCjS^ he, without falter- ing in the slightest degree, read it at once, and explained what he read. In concluding ^his account, perhaps it may be well to notice, the festival of so many saints, being set for this particular day, seems to indicate, it was that of their death, and probably, as all were companions on earth, they may have passed together, through the way of martyrdom, to that Ufe, which has no end.
Article III. —St. Finghin, Son of Odhran Feabhla, or, of Metz, IN France. [Probably in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries. ^ In distant countries, as well as at home, the names of many renowned Irishmen are honoured for their merit and virtue. Colgan has some notices of a holy man,calledFingen,insertedinhisgreatwork,atthe5thofFebruary. ^ A saint bearing this name, is mentioned, also, by our native compilers of mar-
s'' At this date, it says, the commemora-
tion of St. Indract, Martyr, took place, at
Glastonbury in Somerset, Ferrarius, in "Ca-
ss In a manuscript, belonging to the Cot- tonian Library, an ancient menology has St.
Guthlake, a hermit, at Croyland, at the
talogus Generalis Sanctorum," and Father ilth of April. See Rev. John Lingard's
'*
Henry Fitzsimon, in
Sanctorum Hibemiae," likewise follow this
authority, assigning the martyrdom of St. Indract, and his nine companions, to the 5th of February.
**
Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church. " Notes, P, p. 309.
se Jn previous notes, Colgan referring to authorities already given, and more at length, in note 1 1, thus sums up, "anno ergo 708, non puer, sed vir maturus & in-
his " non est verisimile tam reason, quia
ingens miraculum, et alias non tam neces- sarium, factum esse circa infantem aliquem,
must fall to the Neither arrived, ground.
is Hanmer's authority of much weight, in an investigation —of this nature.
nisi intuitu futurse sanctitatis
54 In 714 died Guthlac the Holy, accord-
ing to Rev. J. Ingram's "Saxon Chroni- cle," p. 62.
Article hi.
^
Catalogus Aliquorum
5' It is taken chiefly from the Antiquities
of the Church of Glastonbury, by William signis erat Christi pugil. " See "Acta of Malmsbury. Sanctorum Hibemiee," v. Februarii, nn, 9,
5' At Shapwick, near Glastonbury. The 10. To me, it does not appear evident,
village yet keeps the same name. See Cressy's "Church History of Brittany," book xxi,, chap, ix. , pp. 533, 534.
53 Regarding the boy Guthlac already mentioned, 'Colgan says, he does not doubt of this having been the celebrated Guthlac, Anchoret and Confessor, whose Acts are
that Guthlac, spoken of in St. Indract's and his companions' Acts, was identical with the hermitandsainthavingasimilarname. If they were one and the same person, it seems unlikely, that the remarkable miracle, which is said to have occurred at St. Indract's tomb, should not be found related in the Lives of St. Guthlac, which have been pub- lished by so many different editors. If the contrary be the case, the whole fabric of
given by Harpsfeld, at the eighth century
(cap. 19), by Surius (tom. iv), at the ilth of
April, by Mahew, In Trophaeis, p. 385, by
Capgrave, and by others. Colgan adds, as conjectural conclusions, at which Colgan
ejus. "
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," v. Februarii. Vita S. Fingeni,
pp. 257, 258.
=
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
February 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 355
tyrologies. He is entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 5th of February, under the title of Febla, Fingin mic Odhrain. There must be
some transposition of proper names, in this record ; unless, indeed, an entry in a later Calendar be incorrect. Thus, we read, Finghin, son of Odhrdn
Feabhla, is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 as having a festival on this day. The account given of St. Fingen is very imperfect, as we find it in Colgan's work. The Bollandists have omitted this saint, placing him, however, among the Praetermissi et in aUos dies relati,'^ for the 5th of Feb-
ruary. They observe, likewise, that Colgan had not a sufficient reason for giving him the title of beatus, since he had found him called only virtuosus. ^
The chief cause, why Colgan placed his St. Fingen, at the 5th of February, was, for the reason, that the name of a Fingen, the Virtuous, son of Odran Fedhla,happenstooccuratthisday,insomeIrishCalendars. ^ Theholy person, thus commemorated, in om/asfi, was a very celebrated Irish abbot, who is said to have left Ireland, and to have gone to the kingdom of Lothaire. 7 He is called Fingen, and he must have been born, sometime in the tenth century. It is said he succeeded St. Cadroe,^ as abbot of St. Felix, other- wise known as St. Clement, at Metz, in or about the year 976. Mabillon, who treats concerning him in his history,9 did not scruple to consider this Fingen as a great saint, and he often speaks of the abbot, at Metz, as a most religious man. Yet, this Fingen, in all probability, was different from the saint, who is recorded, at the present date, in our native Calendars. Nor did Colgan state, that they were the same, although both were, no doubt, Irishmen. At least, the Fingen, celebrated in connexion with Metz, is re- gardedasaScottus,byrace,^°andderivedbybirthfromHibernia. " We are informed, there was a pretty full account of him, in an ancient Life of
Thierri I. , Bishop of Metz,''^ which unfortunately has not been recovered, if the biography be extant. ^3 Besides other mistakes, concerning Fingen and his Irish monks, admitted by Fleury, he calls them Ecossois j'-^ thus mis-
leadinghisreaders,astotheirnationality. TheoldabbeyofSt. Symphorian^s had been rebuilt, by Adalbero 11. ,'^ Bishop of Metz, who had a great esteem for Fingen. ^7 Over it, this holy man was placed, in the year 991 ; and, with the assistance of the Empress Dowager Adelhaide,'^ a protectress of Fingen,
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
38, 39.
* See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,''
tomus i. , Februarii v. , p. 593.
the history of this holy abbot. See idid.
^3 In the Life of Thierri I. , Bishop of
Metz, by Sigebert, there is not a single word about St. Fingene.
^^ See " Histoire " tome Ecclesiastique,
xii. , liv. Iviii. , sec. Ix. , p. 435.
^^ in the Charter of Otho III. , published
by Colgan, it is said regarding our saint, that he was " Abbas primus nomine Fingenius Hi- berniensis natione," &c. This shows, the monastery of St. Symphronian was different from the monastery of St. Felix. Cathroe was the first abbot of the latter, and Fingen of the former, after its restoration. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," v. Februarii. De S. Fingeno Abbate, p. 258, and n. 19.
""^ He died December 15th, a. d. 1005,
and he was buried in St. Symphronien.
See an account of this bishop in Fleury's
*'
Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome xii,, liv. Ivii. , sec. xxxviii. , pp. 291, 292.
^7 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Februarii v. Praetermissi
et in alios dies rejecti, p. 593.
'^
s Thus is he called man.
^
by
Marianus O'Gor-
Cathal Maguire also notes him in the Calendar.
7 See " Histoire Literaire de la France," tomus vi. Dixieme Siecle, p. 437.
^
See his Life at the 6th of March.
"
9 See
tomus iv. , lib. 1. , sec.
