She was sought in marriage, by a young prince from Ireland, and his addresses were
encouraged
by her father, who considered that family alliance to be an advantageous one, as well for Nen- noke, as for the interests of himself, his chiefs, and people.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
, p.
Saints," tome xiii.
, p.
339.
as then existing. His successor St.
2* The first
June 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 129
many historic references to St. Martin and to his cultus. Nor can allusion be made to any of those removals, which took place during the Northman dis- orders in France, since these happened, after that poetic calendar had been
Article XIV. —St. Nennoca, or Nennoc, Virgin, of Armorica. {Fifth Century. . ] There appears to have been a revival of hagiographical literature and investigation in Ireland, due to the impetus given it byyEngus the Culdee, as also to the earlier and more successful labours of Adamnan,
The scholiast on St.
to doubt, whether this transference of St. Martin meant into a bishopric, or whetherit signifiedtheremovalofhisbodyfromthesepulchretoanother place, or—as otherwise expressed—his relics being carried out of that monas-
1
composed.
tery wherein he died to the city. 3
the biographer of St. Columcille.
1
Subsequently, the love for legends grew
iEngus
up, and such a taste has diminished in too many instances the authenticity
of saintly biography, not alone in Ireland, but more especially in Great
Britain, and on the Continent of Europe. Colgan intended to have given
theActsof 2atthisdate and, wehavereasonto Nennoca, Virgin, ; therefore,
think he regarded her, as having some intimate relations with Ireland. The oldest known Life of this holy woman seems to have existed in Brittany ; but, it is not certain, that it has survived the wreck of time. The Legend of St. Nennoc's Acts was preserved, in the monastery of Quimperle Cross, in the diocese of Quimper, and province of Brittany. The writer states, that its matter had been taken from an old book, written in a rustic style. 3 This Quimper Legend was chiefly derived from oral traditions, and written in the twelfth or thirteenth century, by a monk of Ste. Croix de Quimperle, who wasnamedGurherden. * Theseaccountsappeartohavebeenchieflycom- posed, from popular Breton ballads. The Bollandists quote them, but do not deem it necessary to publish them in full. s They contain several
anachronisms,
and therefore the is of doubtful 6 The Legend very authority.
Bollandists have inserted the Acts of St. Ninnoca, Virgin, at the 4th day of
June, in their great collection. ? These are contained in a historic Commen-
tary, consisting of three sections, containing twenty-two paragraphs. Albert
8
leGrand includestheActsofSt. Ninnoc,Virgin,inhiscollectionofBreton
6 As for example, her mother Moneduc is
stated to have been the daughter of Con-
stantine, the King of Cornwall and of
Devon. It is stated, that he descended
from and that he a. d. Julius Caesar, died,
576. Again, St. Coluvnba, who departed this life in the year 597, is said to have bap-
she lived in Moreover, St. Germain of Auxeire, who died in the year 448, and who is reputed to have been sent from Ire- land by St. Patrick to Britain in the fifth written in the old Breton tongue, from century, is made a contemporary with St.
31 See "Transactions of the Royd Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by Dr.
Whitley Stokes, p—p. xcii. , xcviii. , xcix. *
Article xiv. See Rev. John Francis
Shearman's " Loca Patriciana," No. x. , n.
(1), p. 250.
2 She is thus
in his "
Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, or-
tized St. Nennocha, the eighth century.
noted,
Catalogus
although
Turian, Bishop of Dol, who lived in the eighth century.
7 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iv. , De S. Ninnoca Virgine, in Biittannia
Minoii, pp. 407 to 411.
8 He belonged to the Order of Preachers
of the Strict Observance.
9 See " De Sanctis Britannise Armo-
dine Mensium et Dierum. "
3 It has been suggested by the Bollandist
editor as probable, that the original had been
which the Latin translation has been liter- ally made.
4 See an account of him in Histoire Lit- teraire de la France," tome xi. , xii. Siecle, pp. 45, 46.
5 Neither does Lobineau insert these ac- counts, nor has he any mention of St. Ninnoc, in his "Vies des Saints de Bre- tagne. "
Vol. VI. —No. 3.
ricse. "
in the " Leabhar Breac " seems copy
1
130 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4.
Saints,^ at the same date. Some notices of her are to be found in the work of Chatelain,10 at the 4th day of June. The chief Acts of St. Nennoke, Virgin, are met with in " Les Petits Bollandistes. "11 Accounts of St. Nenno- cha, Virgin, are to be found, in the works of Rev. Alban Butler," and of Rev. S. Baring-Gould. 13 The Rev. Alban Butler I4 makes St. Nennoc a native of Britain, where she is said first to have served God. If the following account be reliable, her period must be referred to the latter part of the fifth or to t—he
T beginningofthesixt century. daughter Brychans
—h She was to Brecan or
16
also called Brochan the regulus of Brecknock, who was the ancestor of
saints. have we alluded to him and to his children. 1 ? This Already
many
ruler of Brecheinoc, 18 now Brecknockshire, is said '9 to have lived contem-
poraneously with the Emperors Arcadius and Honorius ; however, owing to the conflicting statement's of various writers, we find nothing but confusion,
in the thread of his An Irish biography.
named Gormac 2 ° or
had a son, Aulach, it is stated, and he was father to Brecan. This Aulach was leader of an armed band, that made a descent on the Welsh coast, towards the close of the fourth century. He conquered Tewdrig, the chief ruler in South Wales, and carried off as a captive his daughter Marchella, who subse- quently became his wife. On the death of Tewdrig, about a. d. 420, their son Brecan, having come to man's estate, claimed his territory, and asserted
this claim the sword. 21 He was a by
St. 22 Brenach,
but his
converted him to the Christian faith. Afterwards, Brecan was distinguished
See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
See Jones' H'story of Wales, chap. xi. , p. 307.
2I
See Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's Early Irish Missions," p. 7.
and other principal saints," vol. vi.
June iv.
13 See ''Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. , pp.
" 22
23 See Williams' " Ecclesiastical 14 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs ties of the Cymry," p. 53.
Antiqui-
36, 37.
and other principal saints," vol. vi. , June iv. 15 See a very complete account of this Welsh ruler, and his of descendants, inRev. Rice Rees' " Essay on the Welsh Saints," sect, vii. , pp. no to 113, and sect, viii. , pp.
136 to 160.
10 The Legend of our saint's Life states,
that he was a nobleman " in Combronensia
24 See " Myvyrian Archaeology," vol. ii. , p. 98.
regione," and that he was
"
ex genere Gur-
find it stated, that the wife of Brychan was
Digna, Dina or Din, who was daughter of
a Saxon king. It is not improbable, how-
ever, that Brychan may have been twice
married, and that all of his children were
not born of the same mother,
36 Acts.
thierni," while he was respected throughout the whole of Britain.
Following the Legend of St. Nennoc's
pagan,
countryman,
for his fervent piety, and he trained a numerous family in the way of perfec- tion. The Welsh writers seem to regard him, not as a foreigner, but as one of their own hereditary chiefs. His valour in the field was equalled by his wisdom in council. The Triads mention him,23 with — 24
distinguished praise. It is stated, again, that—the King of Wales named Bieochan another form
2*
for the name Brychan had a wife named Moneduc or Menduke. She
was of the Scottish race, and daughter to King Constantine. 26 According
10 Also called Claude Cbastelain, Canon of the Cathedral at Paris. He compiled, be- sides other writings, two very useful works, the Roman Martyrology translated into French, with notes, A. D. 1704, in 4to, and a work " Le Martyrologe Universe1 with
,
additions and notes, a. d. 1709, in 4to. See
an account of him, in Le Dr. Hoeffer's
** See the First Volume of this work, at the 1st day of January, Art. ii.
l8
In Sir John Prise's Description of Cam- bria now called Wales, it is stated to have consisted of three cantreds and eight comots. See " The Historie of Cambria," translated by H. Lhoyd, corrected by David Powel, p. 20.
" x»" Nouvelle Biographie Generale," tome x. , See
Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
cols. 64, 65.
11
See ''Vies des Saints. " tome vi. , iv Jour de Juin, pp. 455 and 456.
12
Saints," tome vi. , iv? Jour de Juin, p. 455. e20 " '
king,
Cormac,
See notices of him, in this work, at the 7th of April, Fourth Volume, Art. vi.
2
s Elsewhere, at the 1st of January, we
June 4. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 131
to
tradition,
this
couple
had fourteen all of whom were saints. 2 ? These sons,
chose to become missionaries, or monks, in various places. This however
was a cause for sorrow to their parents, who desired to have them as temporal
rulers, in that country they possessed. Its dynast felt most anxious to have
a child left as his companion, and he promised, that should the Almighty
bestow such a favour on him, he would yield a tenth part of all his gold and
landsforreligiousendowments. Heresolved,moreover,toretireforatime
into a desert place, and there on a high mountain, he built a church and
he erected an altar to God's honour. Here for forty days and forty nights
he fasted rigorously with his priests, and he bestowed alms to procure the
fulfilment of his wishes. On the night before Easter Sunday, he had an angelic
vision, in which it was intimated to him, that his wife should conceive, and
that her child should be called Nennoc, whose birth should be a source of
joy and consolation to all living in Britain. In like manner, Meneduc be-
wailed her loss of 28 the return of her husband to his house.
children, awaiting
He announced to her, in due course, the promise received from the angel, and to her great relief of mind. Thereupon, she gave thanks to God with great fervour. 2? It pleased the Almighty, that Moneduc brought forth a daughter. At that time, if we are to credit the Legend of his Acts, St. Colum- kille, 3 ° the great Abbot of the Scots, came to hold a conference with Brochan. The king most earnestly pressed him, to confer the Sacrament of Baptism on his daughter, and he is said to have consented. In baptism, she received the name of Ninnoc Guengustle. 31 She was afterwards given in charge of fosterage to Gurkentel,32 who was a kinsman of the king, and to his wife, who was named Guennargant, related to the queen. These, too, had been selected as the sponsors. Nennoca was distinguished as a child for her modesty, obedience and charity; she loved pious reading and pilgrimages to holy places; she was addicted to prayer, and she frequented the sacraments; her love of industry was manifested by her daily engaging in household and manual labour. 33 How different is the disposition of too many females, not having had her advantages of birth and position, and who love idleness or frivolous amusements, while leading useless and criminal lives. Nennocha returned to her father's house, when fourteen years of age, and remarkable for her beauty, as for her virtues.
She was sought in marriage, by a young prince from Ireland, and his addresses were encouraged by her father, who considered that family alliance to be an advantageous one, as well for Nen- noke, as for the interests of himself, his chiefs, and people. However, the secret inclinations of his daughter were for espousals with the Son of Him who rules in Heaven. When urged on the subject of marriage by her father, cast- ing herself on her knees before him, Nennoca candidly and filially opened her mind, in nowise doubting as she declared the merits of the prince favoured
by her parents, but manifesting her purpose to chose the better part, by fol- lowing the example of her brothers and sisters. Several of the Cambrian
27 Another account has
that he "had
29 The
and of his offspring is treated at consider- able length in Alford's " Annales Ecclesias-
twenty-four sons and twenty-five daughters, several of whom are —recorded in the long
list of Welsh saints. "
B. B. Woodward's tici et Civiles
An-
"
80, 81.
Britannorum, Saxonum, gloium," tomus i. , pp. 623 to 633.
History of Wales," vol. i. ,
chap, vi. , pp.
states in his
28
Giraldus Cambrensis
30 n[s Ljfe is given in this volume, at the
9th of June, Art. i.
3' See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 4.
& The Legend adds: "qui vocabatur
Ilfin. "
» See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
Saints," tome vi. , p. 455.
"Itinerarium Cambrise/'that Bragan or Bry-
chan had twenty-four daughters, who were
saints, having various chuiches in Cambria dedicated in their honour, lib. i. , cap. ii. See edition of James F. Dimock, " Opera," tomus vi. , pp. 31, 32.
it,
of or Brachanus history Braganus
132 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4.
nobles were then present. 34 Without a word of remonstrance, at that time,
Brychan referred the matter to his wife Meneduc, and engaged her to use
maternal influence, to change their daughter's intentions. Meneduc con-
sented, while she prudently advanced every means, to obtain the desired
result. Still, her daughter's resolution was not to be altered. However,
although her father was reluctant in giving his consent to her choice of a state
of life, it was finally obtained ; and, as it concerned her personal happiness,
Nennoca was allowed to follow the direction of Heaven. This was to her
a cause of great joy, and she thanked the Almighty most heartily for her free-
dom. At this time, St. Germanus, the Bishop^5 was a visitor at the house
of King Brychan, who received his guest with distinguished honour. There
hepreachedseveraltimeswithgreatfervour,s6 Fromhislips,Nennocaheard
the whole exposition of a perfect state, as laid down in the sacred writings,
as also, about the holy lives of several pious women, in France, and notably
in Britannia Armorica. 37 She greatly desired to imitate their example, and to
obtain permission from her parents to retire thither, where she might spend
her life in exercises and in works of 8 As she had an inclination holy charity. 3
for the religious state, St. Germanus earnestly advised Nennoc to follow the bentofherinclinations. Thekinghadpreparedagreatbanquetforhischiefs and nobles, on the first day of the New Year, and to it St. Germanus had been invited. When all were assembled, Nennoc entered and fell on her knees before her father. She besought him to grant the petition, which she was about to prefer to him, before all the guests who were present. ^ The king promised he should do so ; when, to his surprise and that of his nobles, Nen- noc asked, not for any temporal favour or wealth, but that she might beallowed to go beyond the sea to Letavia,* together with all those, who wished to
her for God's service. The 1 and all king, queen/ Guennargant,
accompany
who were at the banquet, felt sorrowful, on account of the wish so expressed,
and they remonstrated. However, St. Germanus interposed, and counselled them to be consoled, as Nennoc only followed the will of Heaven in her regard, that she had renounced earthly treasures and enjoyments, that her heart had been consecrated to her Divine Spouse, and that she only aspired to heavenly rewards. Brochan was moved by these words, and gave his con- sent. LearningthatGurkenteliusandhiswifewereabouttoaccompanyher, Nennoc was commended to their care. All things necessary for her purpose were ordered to be ready, and ships were provided for their voyage. 42 The example thus given by the noble lady, when the news of her departure went
3* According to the Legend of our Saint's Acts.
35 The Legend states "ex Hibernensium
regione transmissusa S. Patricio Archiepis-
copo. "
36 Albert le Grand styles him, St. Ger-
maims, Bishop of Auxerre. But, the Bol-
landist editor observes, that he had only
been in Britain, and not in Ireland. If tliis
account be credited, it was another Ger- feelings in these Latin lines
"
37 An account of this ancient division of
France will be found in U. Roberti Coenalis
"Gallica Historia," tomus i. , lib, ii. , De tained, in the Legend of our Saint's Acts.
manus, who, according to Joceline in his Life of St. Patrick, had been made a Canon of Lateran with him in Rome, who then ac- companied him to Ireland, and who after- wards had been sent by him on a mission to the Isle of Man.
Quid mihi divitke prosunt ? quid no- bile regnum ?
Jam tulit exilium natos, quos fuderat alvus :
Nunc superest ut me sine prole relic- tam,
Britannico Tractu, pp. 164 to 182. Parisiis, a. d. mdlvii. , fol.
38 See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des Saints," tome vi. , pp. 456, 457.
39 A dialogue of rather a dramatic charac- ter is introduced in the Legend.
*° A name often given in ancient docu- ments to Armoiic Britain,
*l Sheis as —venttoher represented giving
Mors miseram rapiat. "
*3 Such is a synopsis of the account con-
:
June 4. ]
LTVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
133
abroad, caused a great number to retire from the world, in order to prepare
more securely for the way which leads to heaven. They sold earthly posses-
sions, and distributed the product in alms, resolving to leave their country
and relations. Accompanied by four bishops, a number of priests, deacons,
many holy virgins and religious men, St. Nennocha retired from Greater to
Lesser Britain, having received a last paternal embrace from Brochan at the
port of embarkation. With mutual benedictions they separated ; and the king
returned sorrowfully to his home. It is stated, that she accompanied St. Ger-
manus,43 Bishop of Auxerre,44 during his journey into France, and that he had
general direction of the course. Seven vessels are said to have sailed, and
they had a prosperous voyage to Letavia. Their ships landed at a place, called
Pullilfyn. «s Having taken counsel together, a deputation, consisting o—f the
Morhedrus and —
with also named the
Bishop Gurgalonus, Gurkentelius,
Ilfi. n patron and confidant of St. Nennoc were appointed to wait on the local re- gulus, to relate all the circumstances concerning their journey and purpose,
while they were to seek from him a place, where they could serve God as a community within his territories. When the pious pilgrims had disembarked,
they sought hospitality and protection from that Duke or chief, who is called Guerec*5 orGuerech. 4? HewasabrothertoKingBudix,andfromhim,they received a kindly welcome. The ruler in that part of the country also bestowed a tract of land on St. Nennocha, and at a deserted place, called Pleumur, 48 or Ploermel. Here are some remains of its ancient ramparts, and a church of the sixth century, the facade of which is adorned with curious sculptures. -»9 This place granted to our saint lay towards the south, and near to the sea. There, St. Nennoc founded a celebrated church and monastery, building several cells for herself and her religious. There they lived in peace and holy recollection, serving God with heart and soul. Especially were they addicted to prayer, and to a contemplative life. There, too, she established a monas- tery, for the holy men who accompanied her. s° Some of the bishops and abbots, who were her companions, also erected churches and habitations in Letavia;S» andthesewereheldingreatveneration,bythepeople,tothattime when the Legend of St. Nennoc's Acts had been written. This pious woman had the grace to work many miracles during her lifetime ; for, she gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, activity to the lame, and
43 He was a of herself nor in the time of St. Turrian distinguished opponent lived,
Pelagianism. See Rev. Dr. George T. of Dol, who flourished during the eighth
Stokes' "Ireland and the Celtic Church,"
Lect. iii. , pp. 50, 51.
44 See the History of his Life and Writings
"
century. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iv. De S. Ninnoca Virgine, commen- tarius Historicus, sect, i. , num. 2, pp. 407, 408. Also, sect, ii. , num. 14, p. 410.
48 This seems to be identical with Pleu- meur-Gautier, a small commune, having a population of 2,651 in 1846. It is in the de- partment of Cotes-du-Nord, in the province of Britanny. See "Gazetteer of the World,"
Histoire Literaire de la France," tome ii. , v. Siecle, sect, i. , ii. , pp. 256, 261.
45 Its exact position we are not able to determine.
^TheBollandists remark, notwithstanding, that no such ruler is found thus named, among
in
the Chiefs or Dukes of Britanny. Among vol. xi. , p. 79.
"
the Counts of Nantes, however, there is one
so named, as belonging to the tenth century,
and therefore he cannot be assigned to the
period of St. Nennoc. Also, there was a
Guerec, Count of Vennes, a very distin-
guished warrior, living in the time of Alan I. ,
King of Britanny, about the end of the
sixth century. See Le Bavd's " Histoire graphicum," this denomination is further
de Bretagne," chap, x. , pp. 72, 73. rendered Lhydaw, said to have been 47 He may have been Guerec, Count of Ven- a tract of Armorica, or Lesser Britain, nes, who might have endowed the monastery and a region of Celtic Gaul. See tomus. i. ,
of Lan-Nennock, but not while St. Nennoc p. 418.
49 See Elisee Reclus'
phie Universelle," tome ii. , chap, viii. , sect, iv. , pp. 621, 624.
5° The writer of her Legend states, that the ruins of this house were to be seen there in his time.
5I In Bavdrand's " Novum Lexicon Geo-
Nouvelle Geogra-
134 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4.
strength to those who had been paralyzed. St. Nennoc healed lepers, and even she brought the dead to life. As a reward for her merits, while she lived, the Almighty was pleased to produce an abundance of corn and trees for that agricultural people of the whole Kemene Thebone region. 52 Moreover, the fishermen along that coast procured an abundant supply of fish, as a reward for their labours. 5 ? - One day, while engaged hunting near that place, a stag pursued by Prince Guerech fled towards the oratory of St. Nennoke, who was thenengagedatprayerwithhersisters. 5* Thechoirofbishops,abbots,monks andnunsweresingingthedivinepraises. Thedogsandhuntsmenwerearrested at a rivulet, and they did not intrude on the sacred enclosure. However, the Duke entered the church, where the stag had taken refuge. This terrified animal had there couched down at Nennoc's feet, as if to obtain her pro- tection. The sight greatly astonished Guerech, who not only saved the life of that poor animal, but the dynast remained there for seven whole days, offering many gifts to the convent, and commending himself to the prayers of its venerated superioress. After a conference with the holy Abbess, he gave the place where she then dwelt, and all the lands of the parish of Plemaur, as an inheritance and an endowment. This he did with great form and cere- mony, having convened an assembly of Bishops, Abbots and holy men, to
offer the sacred mysteries, and to witness in a public manner his gift of that patrimony, which he destined for St. Nennoc and for her religious. He also
prepared a charter, which was duly sealed, to authenticate that grant. Thank- ing the Duke most gratefully for his largesses, St. Nennoc asked a blessing from God on him and on his posterity. She prayed for his long life, and that his seed might be multiplied and flourish in the land of Letavia. Again, she urged, that the protectorate of that patrimony and its appurtenances might be conferred on her guardian Gurkentelius, and that he might be advanced to the abbatial rank, as he was a man of noble parentage and of consummate wisdom. She had experienced, also, true fidelity and good service from him. The king listened favourably to her request. Soon Gurkentelius obtained charge of a monastery there established, having been appointed by the bishops, who were on the spot, as an Abbot. 55 Duly accomplishing these formalities, all the bishops returned to their respective places, having received
the benediction of St. Thurrian. 56 St. Nennoc became superioress over a con-
vent, and she trained many nuns, in the way of religious life, at that place, afterwards known as Land-Nennoke,57 among the people of Pleumur. 58 The
to which we have has been to the — donation, alluded, assigned, year 458;-^
—s are of however, the Bollandist opinion,
that the foundation of Lan-Ninnoc
60
in honour of our saint did not take place until the eighth century. St.
52 The Eollandist editor remarks, that this it, owing to bis want of knowing that part was probably the former name of her place ; of France well, or of obtaining any informa- but now probably, it has become obso- tion through members of the Society of
Jesus, or of having books, which should
throw some light on its history and topogra-
phy. '
s3 Lann-Nennock must have had its site
within or near the present commune of Pleu -
meui-Gautier, according to this statement, in the Legend of St. Nennoc's Acts. See
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i.
as then existing. His successor St.
2* The first
June 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 129
many historic references to St. Martin and to his cultus. Nor can allusion be made to any of those removals, which took place during the Northman dis- orders in France, since these happened, after that poetic calendar had been
Article XIV. —St. Nennoca, or Nennoc, Virgin, of Armorica. {Fifth Century. . ] There appears to have been a revival of hagiographical literature and investigation in Ireland, due to the impetus given it byyEngus the Culdee, as also to the earlier and more successful labours of Adamnan,
The scholiast on St.
to doubt, whether this transference of St. Martin meant into a bishopric, or whetherit signifiedtheremovalofhisbodyfromthesepulchretoanother place, or—as otherwise expressed—his relics being carried out of that monas-
1
composed.
tery wherein he died to the city. 3
the biographer of St. Columcille.
1
Subsequently, the love for legends grew
iEngus
up, and such a taste has diminished in too many instances the authenticity
of saintly biography, not alone in Ireland, but more especially in Great
Britain, and on the Continent of Europe. Colgan intended to have given
theActsof 2atthisdate and, wehavereasonto Nennoca, Virgin, ; therefore,
think he regarded her, as having some intimate relations with Ireland. The oldest known Life of this holy woman seems to have existed in Brittany ; but, it is not certain, that it has survived the wreck of time. The Legend of St. Nennoc's Acts was preserved, in the monastery of Quimperle Cross, in the diocese of Quimper, and province of Brittany. The writer states, that its matter had been taken from an old book, written in a rustic style. 3 This Quimper Legend was chiefly derived from oral traditions, and written in the twelfth or thirteenth century, by a monk of Ste. Croix de Quimperle, who wasnamedGurherden. * Theseaccountsappeartohavebeenchieflycom- posed, from popular Breton ballads. The Bollandists quote them, but do not deem it necessary to publish them in full. s They contain several
anachronisms,
and therefore the is of doubtful 6 The Legend very authority.
Bollandists have inserted the Acts of St. Ninnoca, Virgin, at the 4th day of
June, in their great collection. ? These are contained in a historic Commen-
tary, consisting of three sections, containing twenty-two paragraphs. Albert
8
leGrand includestheActsofSt. Ninnoc,Virgin,inhiscollectionofBreton
6 As for example, her mother Moneduc is
stated to have been the daughter of Con-
stantine, the King of Cornwall and of
Devon. It is stated, that he descended
from and that he a. d. Julius Caesar, died,
576. Again, St. Coluvnba, who departed this life in the year 597, is said to have bap-
she lived in Moreover, St. Germain of Auxeire, who died in the year 448, and who is reputed to have been sent from Ire- land by St. Patrick to Britain in the fifth written in the old Breton tongue, from century, is made a contemporary with St.
31 See "Transactions of the Royd Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by Dr.
Whitley Stokes, p—p. xcii. , xcviii. , xcix. *
Article xiv. See Rev. John Francis
Shearman's " Loca Patriciana," No. x. , n.
(1), p. 250.
2 She is thus
in his "
Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, or-
tized St. Nennocha, the eighth century.
noted,
Catalogus
although
Turian, Bishop of Dol, who lived in the eighth century.
7 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iv. , De S. Ninnoca Virgine, in Biittannia
Minoii, pp. 407 to 411.
8 He belonged to the Order of Preachers
of the Strict Observance.
9 See " De Sanctis Britannise Armo-
dine Mensium et Dierum. "
3 It has been suggested by the Bollandist
editor as probable, that the original had been
which the Latin translation has been liter- ally made.
4 See an account of him in Histoire Lit- teraire de la France," tome xi. , xii. Siecle, pp. 45, 46.
5 Neither does Lobineau insert these ac- counts, nor has he any mention of St. Ninnoc, in his "Vies des Saints de Bre- tagne. "
Vol. VI. —No. 3.
ricse. "
in the " Leabhar Breac " seems copy
1
130 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4.
Saints,^ at the same date. Some notices of her are to be found in the work of Chatelain,10 at the 4th day of June. The chief Acts of St. Nennoke, Virgin, are met with in " Les Petits Bollandistes. "11 Accounts of St. Nenno- cha, Virgin, are to be found, in the works of Rev. Alban Butler," and of Rev. S. Baring-Gould. 13 The Rev. Alban Butler I4 makes St. Nennoc a native of Britain, where she is said first to have served God. If the following account be reliable, her period must be referred to the latter part of the fifth or to t—he
T beginningofthesixt century. daughter Brychans
—h She was to Brecan or
16
also called Brochan the regulus of Brecknock, who was the ancestor of
saints. have we alluded to him and to his children. 1 ? This Already
many
ruler of Brecheinoc, 18 now Brecknockshire, is said '9 to have lived contem-
poraneously with the Emperors Arcadius and Honorius ; however, owing to the conflicting statement's of various writers, we find nothing but confusion,
in the thread of his An Irish biography.
named Gormac 2 ° or
had a son, Aulach, it is stated, and he was father to Brecan. This Aulach was leader of an armed band, that made a descent on the Welsh coast, towards the close of the fourth century. He conquered Tewdrig, the chief ruler in South Wales, and carried off as a captive his daughter Marchella, who subse- quently became his wife. On the death of Tewdrig, about a. d. 420, their son Brecan, having come to man's estate, claimed his territory, and asserted
this claim the sword. 21 He was a by
St. 22 Brenach,
but his
converted him to the Christian faith. Afterwards, Brecan was distinguished
See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
See Jones' H'story of Wales, chap. xi. , p. 307.
2I
See Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's Early Irish Missions," p. 7.
and other principal saints," vol. vi.
June iv.
13 See ''Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. , pp.
" 22
23 See Williams' " Ecclesiastical 14 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs ties of the Cymry," p. 53.
Antiqui-
36, 37.
and other principal saints," vol. vi. , June iv. 15 See a very complete account of this Welsh ruler, and his of descendants, inRev. Rice Rees' " Essay on the Welsh Saints," sect, vii. , pp. no to 113, and sect, viii. , pp.
136 to 160.
10 The Legend of our saint's Life states,
that he was a nobleman " in Combronensia
24 See " Myvyrian Archaeology," vol. ii. , p. 98.
regione," and that he was
"
ex genere Gur-
find it stated, that the wife of Brychan was
Digna, Dina or Din, who was daughter of
a Saxon king. It is not improbable, how-
ever, that Brychan may have been twice
married, and that all of his children were
not born of the same mother,
36 Acts.
thierni," while he was respected throughout the whole of Britain.
Following the Legend of St. Nennoc's
pagan,
countryman,
for his fervent piety, and he trained a numerous family in the way of perfec- tion. The Welsh writers seem to regard him, not as a foreigner, but as one of their own hereditary chiefs. His valour in the field was equalled by his wisdom in council. The Triads mention him,23 with — 24
distinguished praise. It is stated, again, that—the King of Wales named Bieochan another form
2*
for the name Brychan had a wife named Moneduc or Menduke. She
was of the Scottish race, and daughter to King Constantine. 26 According
10 Also called Claude Cbastelain, Canon of the Cathedral at Paris. He compiled, be- sides other writings, two very useful works, the Roman Martyrology translated into French, with notes, A. D. 1704, in 4to, and a work " Le Martyrologe Universe1 with
,
additions and notes, a. d. 1709, in 4to. See
an account of him, in Le Dr. Hoeffer's
** See the First Volume of this work, at the 1st day of January, Art. ii.
l8
In Sir John Prise's Description of Cam- bria now called Wales, it is stated to have consisted of three cantreds and eight comots. See " The Historie of Cambria," translated by H. Lhoyd, corrected by David Powel, p. 20.
" x»" Nouvelle Biographie Generale," tome x. , See
Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
cols. 64, 65.
11
See ''Vies des Saints. " tome vi. , iv Jour de Juin, pp. 455 and 456.
12
Saints," tome vi. , iv? Jour de Juin, p. 455. e20 " '
king,
Cormac,
See notices of him, in this work, at the 7th of April, Fourth Volume, Art. vi.
2
s Elsewhere, at the 1st of January, we
June 4. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 131
to
tradition,
this
couple
had fourteen all of whom were saints. 2 ? These sons,
chose to become missionaries, or monks, in various places. This however
was a cause for sorrow to their parents, who desired to have them as temporal
rulers, in that country they possessed. Its dynast felt most anxious to have
a child left as his companion, and he promised, that should the Almighty
bestow such a favour on him, he would yield a tenth part of all his gold and
landsforreligiousendowments. Heresolved,moreover,toretireforatime
into a desert place, and there on a high mountain, he built a church and
he erected an altar to God's honour. Here for forty days and forty nights
he fasted rigorously with his priests, and he bestowed alms to procure the
fulfilment of his wishes. On the night before Easter Sunday, he had an angelic
vision, in which it was intimated to him, that his wife should conceive, and
that her child should be called Nennoc, whose birth should be a source of
joy and consolation to all living in Britain. In like manner, Meneduc be-
wailed her loss of 28 the return of her husband to his house.
children, awaiting
He announced to her, in due course, the promise received from the angel, and to her great relief of mind. Thereupon, she gave thanks to God with great fervour. 2? It pleased the Almighty, that Moneduc brought forth a daughter. At that time, if we are to credit the Legend of his Acts, St. Colum- kille, 3 ° the great Abbot of the Scots, came to hold a conference with Brochan. The king most earnestly pressed him, to confer the Sacrament of Baptism on his daughter, and he is said to have consented. In baptism, she received the name of Ninnoc Guengustle. 31 She was afterwards given in charge of fosterage to Gurkentel,32 who was a kinsman of the king, and to his wife, who was named Guennargant, related to the queen. These, too, had been selected as the sponsors. Nennoca was distinguished as a child for her modesty, obedience and charity; she loved pious reading and pilgrimages to holy places; she was addicted to prayer, and she frequented the sacraments; her love of industry was manifested by her daily engaging in household and manual labour. 33 How different is the disposition of too many females, not having had her advantages of birth and position, and who love idleness or frivolous amusements, while leading useless and criminal lives. Nennocha returned to her father's house, when fourteen years of age, and remarkable for her beauty, as for her virtues.
She was sought in marriage, by a young prince from Ireland, and his addresses were encouraged by her father, who considered that family alliance to be an advantageous one, as well for Nen- noke, as for the interests of himself, his chiefs, and people. However, the secret inclinations of his daughter were for espousals with the Son of Him who rules in Heaven. When urged on the subject of marriage by her father, cast- ing herself on her knees before him, Nennoca candidly and filially opened her mind, in nowise doubting as she declared the merits of the prince favoured
by her parents, but manifesting her purpose to chose the better part, by fol- lowing the example of her brothers and sisters. Several of the Cambrian
27 Another account has
that he "had
29 The
and of his offspring is treated at consider- able length in Alford's " Annales Ecclesias-
twenty-four sons and twenty-five daughters, several of whom are —recorded in the long
list of Welsh saints. "
B. B. Woodward's tici et Civiles
An-
"
80, 81.
Britannorum, Saxonum, gloium," tomus i. , pp. 623 to 633.
History of Wales," vol. i. ,
chap, vi. , pp.
states in his
28
Giraldus Cambrensis
30 n[s Ljfe is given in this volume, at the
9th of June, Art. i.
3' See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 4.
& The Legend adds: "qui vocabatur
Ilfin. "
» See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
Saints," tome vi. , p. 455.
"Itinerarium Cambrise/'that Bragan or Bry-
chan had twenty-four daughters, who were
saints, having various chuiches in Cambria dedicated in their honour, lib. i. , cap. ii. See edition of James F. Dimock, " Opera," tomus vi. , pp. 31, 32.
it,
of or Brachanus history Braganus
132 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4.
nobles were then present. 34 Without a word of remonstrance, at that time,
Brychan referred the matter to his wife Meneduc, and engaged her to use
maternal influence, to change their daughter's intentions. Meneduc con-
sented, while she prudently advanced every means, to obtain the desired
result. Still, her daughter's resolution was not to be altered. However,
although her father was reluctant in giving his consent to her choice of a state
of life, it was finally obtained ; and, as it concerned her personal happiness,
Nennoca was allowed to follow the direction of Heaven. This was to her
a cause of great joy, and she thanked the Almighty most heartily for her free-
dom. At this time, St. Germanus, the Bishop^5 was a visitor at the house
of King Brychan, who received his guest with distinguished honour. There
hepreachedseveraltimeswithgreatfervour,s6 Fromhislips,Nennocaheard
the whole exposition of a perfect state, as laid down in the sacred writings,
as also, about the holy lives of several pious women, in France, and notably
in Britannia Armorica. 37 She greatly desired to imitate their example, and to
obtain permission from her parents to retire thither, where she might spend
her life in exercises and in works of 8 As she had an inclination holy charity. 3
for the religious state, St. Germanus earnestly advised Nennoc to follow the bentofherinclinations. Thekinghadpreparedagreatbanquetforhischiefs and nobles, on the first day of the New Year, and to it St. Germanus had been invited. When all were assembled, Nennoc entered and fell on her knees before her father. She besought him to grant the petition, which she was about to prefer to him, before all the guests who were present. ^ The king promised he should do so ; when, to his surprise and that of his nobles, Nen- noc asked, not for any temporal favour or wealth, but that she might beallowed to go beyond the sea to Letavia,* together with all those, who wished to
her for God's service. The 1 and all king, queen/ Guennargant,
accompany
who were at the banquet, felt sorrowful, on account of the wish so expressed,
and they remonstrated. However, St. Germanus interposed, and counselled them to be consoled, as Nennoc only followed the will of Heaven in her regard, that she had renounced earthly treasures and enjoyments, that her heart had been consecrated to her Divine Spouse, and that she only aspired to heavenly rewards. Brochan was moved by these words, and gave his con- sent. LearningthatGurkenteliusandhiswifewereabouttoaccompanyher, Nennoc was commended to their care. All things necessary for her purpose were ordered to be ready, and ships were provided for their voyage. 42 The example thus given by the noble lady, when the news of her departure went
3* According to the Legend of our Saint's Acts.
35 The Legend states "ex Hibernensium
regione transmissusa S. Patricio Archiepis-
copo. "
36 Albert le Grand styles him, St. Ger-
maims, Bishop of Auxerre. But, the Bol-
landist editor observes, that he had only
been in Britain, and not in Ireland. If tliis
account be credited, it was another Ger- feelings in these Latin lines
"
37 An account of this ancient division of
France will be found in U. Roberti Coenalis
"Gallica Historia," tomus i. , lib, ii. , De tained, in the Legend of our Saint's Acts.
manus, who, according to Joceline in his Life of St. Patrick, had been made a Canon of Lateran with him in Rome, who then ac- companied him to Ireland, and who after- wards had been sent by him on a mission to the Isle of Man.
Quid mihi divitke prosunt ? quid no- bile regnum ?
Jam tulit exilium natos, quos fuderat alvus :
Nunc superest ut me sine prole relic- tam,
Britannico Tractu, pp. 164 to 182. Parisiis, a. d. mdlvii. , fol.
38 See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des Saints," tome vi. , pp. 456, 457.
39 A dialogue of rather a dramatic charac- ter is introduced in the Legend.
*° A name often given in ancient docu- ments to Armoiic Britain,
*l Sheis as —venttoher represented giving
Mors miseram rapiat. "
*3 Such is a synopsis of the account con-
:
June 4. ]
LTVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
133
abroad, caused a great number to retire from the world, in order to prepare
more securely for the way which leads to heaven. They sold earthly posses-
sions, and distributed the product in alms, resolving to leave their country
and relations. Accompanied by four bishops, a number of priests, deacons,
many holy virgins and religious men, St. Nennocha retired from Greater to
Lesser Britain, having received a last paternal embrace from Brochan at the
port of embarkation. With mutual benedictions they separated ; and the king
returned sorrowfully to his home. It is stated, that she accompanied St. Ger-
manus,43 Bishop of Auxerre,44 during his journey into France, and that he had
general direction of the course. Seven vessels are said to have sailed, and
they had a prosperous voyage to Letavia. Their ships landed at a place, called
Pullilfyn. «s Having taken counsel together, a deputation, consisting o—f the
Morhedrus and —
with also named the
Bishop Gurgalonus, Gurkentelius,
Ilfi. n patron and confidant of St. Nennoc were appointed to wait on the local re- gulus, to relate all the circumstances concerning their journey and purpose,
while they were to seek from him a place, where they could serve God as a community within his territories. When the pious pilgrims had disembarked,
they sought hospitality and protection from that Duke or chief, who is called Guerec*5 orGuerech. 4? HewasabrothertoKingBudix,andfromhim,they received a kindly welcome. The ruler in that part of the country also bestowed a tract of land on St. Nennocha, and at a deserted place, called Pleumur, 48 or Ploermel. Here are some remains of its ancient ramparts, and a church of the sixth century, the facade of which is adorned with curious sculptures. -»9 This place granted to our saint lay towards the south, and near to the sea. There, St. Nennoc founded a celebrated church and monastery, building several cells for herself and her religious. There they lived in peace and holy recollection, serving God with heart and soul. Especially were they addicted to prayer, and to a contemplative life. There, too, she established a monas- tery, for the holy men who accompanied her. s° Some of the bishops and abbots, who were her companions, also erected churches and habitations in Letavia;S» andthesewereheldingreatveneration,bythepeople,tothattime when the Legend of St. Nennoc's Acts had been written. This pious woman had the grace to work many miracles during her lifetime ; for, she gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, activity to the lame, and
43 He was a of herself nor in the time of St. Turrian distinguished opponent lived,
Pelagianism. See Rev. Dr. George T. of Dol, who flourished during the eighth
Stokes' "Ireland and the Celtic Church,"
Lect. iii. , pp. 50, 51.
44 See the History of his Life and Writings
"
century. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iv. De S. Ninnoca Virgine, commen- tarius Historicus, sect, i. , num. 2, pp. 407, 408. Also, sect, ii. , num. 14, p. 410.
48 This seems to be identical with Pleu- meur-Gautier, a small commune, having a population of 2,651 in 1846. It is in the de- partment of Cotes-du-Nord, in the province of Britanny. See "Gazetteer of the World,"
Histoire Literaire de la France," tome ii. , v. Siecle, sect, i. , ii. , pp. 256, 261.
45 Its exact position we are not able to determine.
^TheBollandists remark, notwithstanding, that no such ruler is found thus named, among
in
the Chiefs or Dukes of Britanny. Among vol. xi. , p. 79.
"
the Counts of Nantes, however, there is one
so named, as belonging to the tenth century,
and therefore he cannot be assigned to the
period of St. Nennoc. Also, there was a
Guerec, Count of Vennes, a very distin-
guished warrior, living in the time of Alan I. ,
King of Britanny, about the end of the
sixth century. See Le Bavd's " Histoire graphicum," this denomination is further
de Bretagne," chap, x. , pp. 72, 73. rendered Lhydaw, said to have been 47 He may have been Guerec, Count of Ven- a tract of Armorica, or Lesser Britain, nes, who might have endowed the monastery and a region of Celtic Gaul. See tomus. i. ,
of Lan-Nennock, but not while St. Nennoc p. 418.
49 See Elisee Reclus'
phie Universelle," tome ii. , chap, viii. , sect, iv. , pp. 621, 624.
5° The writer of her Legend states, that the ruins of this house were to be seen there in his time.
5I In Bavdrand's " Novum Lexicon Geo-
Nouvelle Geogra-
134 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4.
strength to those who had been paralyzed. St. Nennoc healed lepers, and even she brought the dead to life. As a reward for her merits, while she lived, the Almighty was pleased to produce an abundance of corn and trees for that agricultural people of the whole Kemene Thebone region. 52 Moreover, the fishermen along that coast procured an abundant supply of fish, as a reward for their labours. 5 ? - One day, while engaged hunting near that place, a stag pursued by Prince Guerech fled towards the oratory of St. Nennoke, who was thenengagedatprayerwithhersisters. 5* Thechoirofbishops,abbots,monks andnunsweresingingthedivinepraises. Thedogsandhuntsmenwerearrested at a rivulet, and they did not intrude on the sacred enclosure. However, the Duke entered the church, where the stag had taken refuge. This terrified animal had there couched down at Nennoc's feet, as if to obtain her pro- tection. The sight greatly astonished Guerech, who not only saved the life of that poor animal, but the dynast remained there for seven whole days, offering many gifts to the convent, and commending himself to the prayers of its venerated superioress. After a conference with the holy Abbess, he gave the place where she then dwelt, and all the lands of the parish of Plemaur, as an inheritance and an endowment. This he did with great form and cere- mony, having convened an assembly of Bishops, Abbots and holy men, to
offer the sacred mysteries, and to witness in a public manner his gift of that patrimony, which he destined for St. Nennoc and for her religious. He also
prepared a charter, which was duly sealed, to authenticate that grant. Thank- ing the Duke most gratefully for his largesses, St. Nennoc asked a blessing from God on him and on his posterity. She prayed for his long life, and that his seed might be multiplied and flourish in the land of Letavia. Again, she urged, that the protectorate of that patrimony and its appurtenances might be conferred on her guardian Gurkentelius, and that he might be advanced to the abbatial rank, as he was a man of noble parentage and of consummate wisdom. She had experienced, also, true fidelity and good service from him. The king listened favourably to her request. Soon Gurkentelius obtained charge of a monastery there established, having been appointed by the bishops, who were on the spot, as an Abbot. 55 Duly accomplishing these formalities, all the bishops returned to their respective places, having received
the benediction of St. Thurrian. 56 St. Nennoc became superioress over a con-
vent, and she trained many nuns, in the way of religious life, at that place, afterwards known as Land-Nennoke,57 among the people of Pleumur. 58 The
to which we have has been to the — donation, alluded, assigned, year 458;-^
—s are of however, the Bollandist opinion,
that the foundation of Lan-Ninnoc
60
in honour of our saint did not take place until the eighth century. St.
52 The Eollandist editor remarks, that this it, owing to bis want of knowing that part was probably the former name of her place ; of France well, or of obtaining any informa- but now probably, it has become obso- tion through members of the Society of
Jesus, or of having books, which should
throw some light on its history and topogra-
phy. '
s3 Lann-Nennock must have had its site
within or near the present commune of Pleu -
meui-Gautier, according to this statement, in the Legend of St. Nennoc's Acts. See
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i.
