Rufine declared, that he had long wished for baptism, and
expressed
his in-
" The things you tell me would be more likely to work
prince then said
faith in me, if the hart you have taught to wander in the forest, with the rope round its neck, were to appear in answer to your prayers.
" The things you tell me would be more likely to work
prince then said
faith in me, if the hart you have taught to wander in the forest, with the rope round its neck, were to appear in answer to your prayers.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
'^ At the 2nd day of March, Colgan introduces Acts of this saint.
These are chiefly taken from Venerable Bede, and Colgan has added notes of his own toillustratethememoir.
s TheBoUandistsalsohaveinsertedhisActs.
^Adrien Baillet,7 Bishop Challenor,^ Rev.
Alban Butler,9 Rohrbacher,'° and Rev.
S.
A
metrical Life of St. Chad, attributed to Robert of Glocester, is likewise ex-
tant ; and, among the Bodleian MSS. , there is an Anglo-Saxon homily for
St. Chad's day, written in the Middle-Anglian dialect, which stretched from
Lichfield to Peterborough. — Ceaddanus, who is also called St. Chad, Cedd, or Cedda and by the
Baring-Gould" have their respective notices of this renowned saint.
•* Edited
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusi. , Martii ii. De S. Ceadda Episcopo Mercionim et
Lindisfarorum, Lichfeldiae in Anglia, pp. 143 to 148. The Acts of St. Chad are pre- ceded by a historic commentary of two sections and twelve paragraphs,
^ See Baillet's "Vies des Saints," tome i. , at the Second of March, the Life of St. Ceadde, pronounced Cedde, Bishop of Lich- field, pp. 20 to 23.
^ See "Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp. 147 to 151.
60, 61.
Article xiv. See Bishop Forbes'
—
" Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 249.
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglormn," lib.
iii. , cap. xxiii. , xxviii. , lib. iv. , cap. iii. , pp. 197, 206, 211 to 214. Edition in "Monu- menta Historica Britannica. "
^
^ See "Nova Legenda Anglias. "
'
Article I. —Chapter i. —'See "His-
3 This writer classes him among the Scot- tish Saints.
* See "Church-History of Brittany," book xvi. , chap, xii. , p. 393, and book xvii. , chap, ii. , viii. , ix. , pp. 410, 416 to 418.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," ii. Martii. Vita S. Ceddre, Episcopo Lick- feldiensis, pp. 444 to 447.
-' See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March ii.
'°
See "Vies des Saints pour tous les
jours de I'annee," tome ii. , p. Ii.
"See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. ,
March ii. , pp. 23 to 37.
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 71
Irish, Ceaddan, or Ceaddain"—was brother to that Apostolic Prelate, St. Cedd,'3 or Chad, who was Apostle and Bishop of the East Saxons, and also, it has been stated, Bishop of London. The two holy priests, St. Ceulin and St. Cymbill, were his brothers. ^* They were natives of Northumbria, as has
been generally supposed. It is remarkable, that often in Saxon, as in the Celtic, families, we find two brothers or two sisters, bearing the same name. ^s Probably, from the order in which they are mentioned, by Venerable Bede, we should consider the present holy man, as junior among the four brothers. The date a. d. 620 has been suggested, as the probable time of this St. Chad's birth. '^ His early ecclesiastical education^? was received from the great St. Aidan,'^inhismonasteryofLindisfarne,orHolyIsland. Hereheprobably enjoyed the companionship of his brother Cedd or Chad. Thence, for his greater improvement in sacred letters and Divine contemplation, St. Chad, it is said, passed into Ireland. This adventure is thought to have taken place, after the death of St. Aidan j'9 but, we have no sufficient warrant for such assumption, as the narrative, in Venerable Bede, and on which nearly all subsequent writers rest their statements, is obscure and equivocal, in reference to his having lived in our island, for any length of time. *° This resort to Ireland for a studious purpose, however, according to the practice prevailing among a great many distinguished English-Saxons, was common enough in those days. He contracted a close friendship and companionship with St. Egbert. " WhetherChadbecameapriestinIrelandorinEngland,wehave no means left for knowing. However, we may infer, from Venerable Bede's narrative, that a mutual friendship prevailed in their youth, between Egbert and himself, while both were engaged in the monastic profession.
The elder St. Chad, as we have already seen, had founded a monastery at
Lestingan, Lestinga or Laestingaeu, which he left occasionally, to prosecute his missionary work among the East Saxons. It was situated near Streanae-
shalch, but much doubt seems to exist, regarding its actual position. ^^ We are told, however, that it stood, just on the edge of that wide expanse of moorland, which extends thirty miles inland from the coast of Yorkshire. ^3 The younger Chad was desired to take care of this new establishment,'-* when his brother was obliged to minister among the East Saxons. We are told, that St. Chad was then living in Ireland; and, if we credit some accounts, he returned from that country, only when the death of the elder
St. Chad took
'3 See his Life, already written, at the 7th
of January.
'* See Venerable Bede's " Historia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxiii.
'5 In such cases, they were possibly dis-
tinguished as the Elder or the Younger, or
probably the use of some soubriquet supplied the distinction.
'7 See Ven. Bede's " Historia Ecclesias-
tica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxviii. , p. 206.
'^ See his Life, at the 31st of August.
'9 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 24.
"
pit autem revelation! et relalioni prcefati
His
Fratris
for about six was office, years,
de obitu Antistitis, etiam hujus
" See
^° The
^^ " See Rev. S. Gould's
Colgan's
place,
in the =^5 year 664.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Martii ii. , n. i, p. 446.
'* See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 23.
passage
runs as follows
Conve-
Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 24.
Baring-Gould's
:
Baring-
" Lives of
sermo reverendissimi Patris Egberti, de quo
supra diximus, qui dudum cum eodem
Ceadda adoloscente, et ipse adolescens in
Hibernia monachicam in orationibus et con-
tinentia ac meditationc divinarum Scriptura-
rum vitam sedulus agebat. "—Ven. Bede's
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum,"
lib. iv. , cap. iii. This seems only to mean,
that Egbert alone passed his monastic life in
Ireland, although, in earlier days, he had
the of with Blessed Chad. happiness living
''
See his Life, at the 24th of April.
^^ See "Monumenta Historica Britan-
nica," vol. i. , n. (a), p. 197.
=3 See Rev. S. Baring- Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 24.
^-^ See Bishop Chailenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 147.
72 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
managed with great perfection and prudence, while he was much recom- mended by his virtuous eminence. While here, Owen,=^ or Owini, a monk
of great merit, left the world, through a pure intention of obtaining the heavenly reward. In all respects, he was deemed worthy to have the secrets of our Lord revealed to him, and deserving to have credit given by his hearers, to what he related. He came with Queen Etheldryde or St. Audry'7 from the province of the East Angles. He was her prime officer and major- domo. As the fervour of his faith increased, however, he resolved wholly to renounce the world. Nor did he set about this work slothfully ; but, quitting at once all earthly things, and being clad in a mean garment, while carrying only an axe and a hatchet in his hand, he went to the monastery of the holy prelate at Lestingay. Then signifying, that he came there to work, and not to be idle, his intentions were made good in his practice. ^^
ThefollowingbeautifullegendisrelatedintheLifeofSt. Chad. '? King
Wulfere,3° the youngest son of King Penda, the Strenuous, had been baptized by Blessed Finan,3^ many years before our saint's time. At the font, and afterwards when wedded to Ermenilda,3* of the royal house of Kent, Wulfere had promised to destroy all the idols in his realm. But, he neglected to do so, and he even allowed his three sons, Wulfade, Rufine and Kenred to remain unbaptized. The queen had dedicated her beauteous daughter Wer- burga33 to Christ, as a virgin ; yet, Werbode, the king's chief councillor and a Pagan, sought her hand in marriage, and obtained her father's consent. This purpose, however, was opposed by the queen and by her sons. One day, the young Prince Wulfade pursued a hart in the forest, and while praying by a fountain, near his cell, St. Chad perceived the animal plunge into the cooling stream, with quivering limbs and panting breath. Pitying its distress, the saint covered the animal with boughs, and, placing a rope about its neck, he let it graze in the forest. Soon Wolfade came up, and, heated with the
he asked where the hart had Then Chad " Am I chase, gone. replied,
keeper of the hart ? Yet, through the instrumentality of the hart, I have be- come the guide of thy salvation. The hart, bathing in the fountain, fore-
showeth to thee the laver of baptism, as the text says :
*
As the hart panteth
after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. ' " The young
:
saintexclaimed "Allthingsarepossibletohimwhobelieveth. Hearthen,
and receive the faith of Christ. " The young prince consented to receive in- struction, and Chad baptized him. The next day he received the Eucharist, went home, and told his brother Rufine, that he had become a Christian.
Rufine declared, that he had long wished for baptism, and expressed his in-
" The things you tell me would be more likely to work
prince then said
faith in me, if the hart you have taught to wander in the forest, with the rope round its neck, were to appear in answer to your prayers. " Holy Chad then prostrated himself in prayer, and lo ! the hart burst from the thicket. The
:
"^^ His feast was
March, according to Menard's
gium Benedictinum," or on the 29th of July, according to the "English Martyrology. " The name was always a common one in Ireland.
brother Peada in Mercia. He revolted from
under the jurisdiction of Oswey, King of Northumbria, afterwards, and united under his government the Mercians, the Middle Angles and the Lindiswaras or natives of the county of Lincoln. See Rev. Dr. Lingard's
*7 Her feast occurs
" of History
celebrated,
on the of
She died "^ See Venerable Bede's " Historia Eccle-
vol.
A. D. 679.
-p. 98.
^i See his Life, at the 9th of January.
3' She is also venerated as a at the
saint,
13th of February.
33 Her feast occurs, on the 3rd of Feb-
ruary.
3+ The festival of Wulfade and Rufine ig
siastica Gentis lib. Anglorum,"
p. 212.
iv. , cap. iii. ,
June 23rd.
England,"
i. , chap, ii. ,
'^ By Mr. Warner, and Rev. S. Baring- Gould.
3° About the year 657, he succeeded his
"
3rd. Martyrolo-
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 73
tention to seek holy Chad. The brothers set out with such an intent ; and,
on the way, Rufine espied the hart, with the rope around its neck. He gave
hot chase, and the animal, making for Chad's cell, jumped into the fountain
as before. Rufine saw a venerable man praying near the water, and he
accosted him :
*'
Art thou, my lord, Father Chad, the guide of my brother
Wulfade to salvation ? " Chad answered, " I am. " Rufine earnestly desired
baptism, and the saint performed the office, Wulfade holding him at the font,
afterthemannerprescribedbyholyChurch. Afterwards,theprincestook
their leave, but they returned daily to seek the company and conversation of
theexemplaryhermit. However,Werbodestealthilyobservedtheirproceed- ings, and having told their father that they had become Christians, he added, that their conversion must alienate his subjects. He reported, that they were worshipping in St. Chad's oratory ; and, the king, in an angry mood, set out for the cell, yet he sent Werbode before, to tell the princes of his
approach, so that they might escape from his presence. But, Werbode only lookedinthroughtheoratorywindow,andsawthemearnestlypraying. He then returned to the king, stating that his sons were obstinate in their purpose of worshipping Christ. Pale with anger, Wulfere rushed towards the oratory,
and upbraided his sons for breaking his laws, by becoming Christians. He threatened them with his vengeance, and bade them renounce Christ. Wul- fade replied, that they did not want to break the laws, and that the king him- self had once embraced the faith, which he now renounced; but, while wishing to retain his fatherly affection, he declared, that no tortures could turn them from Christianity. The king rushed furiously on him, and cut off his head. His brother, Rufine, fled, but he was pursued by Wulfere, who gavehimadeath-wound. 34 Thenreturningtothecastle,Werbodeannounced this murder, but he was immediately smitten with madness. In great sorrow, the queen buried her sons, whose souls had departed to celestial glory, in onestonetomb. ^s Withherdaughter,Werburga,shesoonwithdrewtothe monastery at Sheppey, and then to that of Ely. ^^ Subsequently, the king was filled with remorse, and he became dangerously ill. The queen coun- selled him to seek out Chad, and confess to him. Wulfere took her advice, and called his thanes together, as if for a chase. But, his attendants got scattered from him, and being left alone, he espied the hart, with the rope around its neck. Following on its track, he was led to Chad's oratory, where the saint was then engaged celebrating Mass. When the canon began, so great a light shone through the apertures in the wall, while priest and sacri- fice were covered with such splendour, that the king was nearly blinded by it, for it was brighter than that of the natural sun. He durst not enter the oratory, until he had been shriven, and he lay prostrate before the door. Knowing what the king desired, at the conclusion of the office, Chad hastily put off his vestments, and thinking to leave them upon the natural place, he unwittingly hung them upon a sun-beam, for the natural sunlight was now streaming in through the window. Then he" went out, and raising the king from his prostrate position, Chad heard his confession, and enjoined it as a penance, on him, to root out idolatry, and to build several abbeys. 37 The holy man next motioned to the king, that he should enter the oratory and pray. Lift-
kept on the 24th of July. See Sir Harris
"
These twey sons thot ye see here," &c.
3« Ethelreda, daughter of Anna, King of the East Angles, founded a monastery here dows of Peterborough : it runs in quaint old in 673. It is the seat of a bishop, and it
verse, beginning : — possesses a fine Cathedral, begun in 1081.
See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of By Queen Ermenild had King Wulfere England," vol. ii. , pp. 171 to 173.
Nicolas'
35 The substance of this legend was for-
Chronology of History," p. 176.
merly inscribed, beneath the cloister win-
"
74 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
ing up his eyes, by chance, Wulfere saw with astonishment the vestments
hanging on the sun-beam. Rising from his knees, he drew near, trying to place his own gloves and baldric upon the beam, but these immediately fell on theground. Whereforethekingunderstood,asthenaturalsunpaidhimso muchhomage,thatChadwasbelovedbytheSunofRighteousness. s^ Wul- fere died in the year 675,39 and he was buried in Lichfield. ''^
CHAPTER II
ST. CHAD CONSECRATED BISHOP—ST. THEODORE—ST. CHAD'S MISSIONARY CAREER—HIS Pious PRACTICES WHILE AT LAESTINGAEU—HE BECOMES A BISHOP OVER MERCIA AND LINDSAY—HIS LOVE FOR PRAYER AND RETIREMENT.
Oswiu * was a potent and a contemporary king in Northumbria : he had
alreadyconceivedahighideaofholyChad'sworthandsanctity. Avacancy occurred in the see of York, or Northumbria, through the death of Tuda,' who was carried off by the pestilence, a. d. 664. 3 At the nomination of King Alchfrid,* son of Oswy, St. Wilfrids was consecrated for the same see, by
Agilbert, Bishop of Paris, at Compeigne. However, the newly-consecrated prelate delayed too long his return to Northumbria, while the king and people of that province were impatient to have its see filled. Chad was
obliged by King Oswy, to accept episcopal consecration. ^ Accordingly, he was consecrated Bishop of York, by Wini, or Wina, Bishop of Winchester,^ assisted by two British prelates. ^ Other accounts place this event in the year
664. 9 The king sent his own priest, Eadhaed,'° with him, as a companion to Kent ; but, before arriving there, Densdedit," the Archbishop of Canterbury, died, and no other prelate was available for the ceremony but Wini, the
bishop. I'his proceeding created some confusion, for a time ; but, it was soon remedied, owing to St. Chad's great humility. In the year 668, St. Theodore" was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury, and Wilfrid also returned to England, with a great desire to introduce the Roman customs,
37 Among the number, he completed Peterborough Minster, which his father had begun. The reader will here recall, the account of Lancelot, and the Sacring in the
Tower by Joseph of Arimathsea, in the Morte d'Arthur.
The situation is not well known.
3 This was a very fatal scourge, as we
learn from the Irish and English Annals,
* His father bestowed on him the province
of the Derori, which he governed.
s His chief feast occurs on the 1 2th of October. He died A. D. 709, on the 24th of
3* See Rev, S. Baring- Gould's " Lives of
the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , pp. 33 April,
to 37.
39 See Florentii Wigorniensis' " Chroni-
con," A. D. DC. LXXV.
*° See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of
Wereburge, v. — Chapter ii.
6
See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
the
Saints," vol. ii. , February iii.
Sancta," part i. , p. 147.
7 So states Bishop Challenor. Colgan
calls him, however, Bishop of Lincoln,
^ See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of
the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March ii.
Fathers, Martyrs
and other
Life of St.
He was brother to St.
Oswald, King of Northumbria, who was nicle. "
'
9 to the Chro- According "Anglo-Saxon
slain a. d. Oswiu imme- by Penda, 642.
diately succeeded, and died, February 15th, A. D. 670. See the "Anglo-Saxon Chro- nicle," pp. 31110318. " Monumenta His- torica Biitannica. "
'" He afterwards became of Bishop Ripon,
during the reign of Egfrid.
" The English Martyrology has his feast
at the 30th of June, and the Benedictine
' Hewas
" of
His feast occurs, on the 19th Sep-
buried, according to Ven. Bede, in his monastery of Paegnalacch : by some, it is called Waghcle, and again Wemalet.
tember.
'3 He ruled over the English Church, from
principal
Martyrology, at the 15th of July.
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 75
instead of those prevailing among the Scots. St. Theodore had been sent overintoEngland,byPopeVitalian/3in669/+ Whenhecametovisitthe northern provinces, he found fault with St. Chad's ordination,'s giving the preference to St. Wilfrid, and adjudging to him the see of York. St. Chad
was thought to have been defective in his ordination. "^
No sooner was he consecrated bishop, than he devoted himself, with un-
tiring zeal, to the observance of ecclesiastical truth and purity. He con-
stantly practised humility and mortification ; he was addicted to spiritual reading. After the apostolic manner, he visited the diocese, on foot, and
not on horseback. ^7 He assiduously preached the Gospel, and sought the salvation of souls, not alone in towns, castles, and villages, but even in the meanest cottages, and even in the very fields. Thus he was a true disciple and follower of St. Aidan, and he endeavoured to instruct the people with a like zeal. He adopted the same method and behaviour, he had learned from Aidan's and from his brother Cedda's example. '^
St. Chad retired to his monastery at Lestingay, so that there might not be two bishops for the same see, and at the same time. This place was situated in the province of the Deiri. ^9 At Laestingaeu, St. Chad remained
=°
humbly replied :
episcopal
you not heard it said,
'
" If I have not received you judge, lawfully
con- secration, I willingly resign the function. I never thought myself worthy of it ; yet, although unworthy, in obedience, I submitted to take it. " St. Theo- dore would not permit St. Chad's resignation, however, but he supplied what
until called upon to undertake the charge of another church.
While here, or
elsewhere, he had a disciple, named Trumhere,*' sometimes called Trum-
berct, Trumbrect, Trumberht, or Trumberthus,^^ who told Venerable Bede,
the saint was so filled with the fear of God and of his last end, that when a
strong gale of wind blew, while Chad was reading or engaged at any other business, he at once called for mercy from the Almighty, for himself and for
all mankind. If it blew stronger, prostrating himself, he prayed more earnestly. But, if a violent storm of wind or rain, or of thunder and lightning, came, he prayed and recited psalms in the church, until the weather became
calm. asked Being
he did so, Chad " Have replied :
A. D. 658 to 672. See Sir Harris Nicolas' "Outlines of History," p. 211.
'* See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 27.
'5 The validity of his consecration does
not appear to have been questioned ; but,
it is probable, there was something informal
in his nomination, or in the mode of per-
formance. Yet, Wini, as we are told, was
the only bishop then in Britain, who had
been consecrated after the Roman usage ;
all the other bishops were ordained, alter
the British or Scottish manner. See Col-
He went into all his bishopric, and preacht full fast,
Much of that folk, through his word, to God their hearts cast,
All afoot he travelled about, nor kept he any state,
Rich man though he was made he reckoned there of little great,
The Archbishop of York had not him used to go
To preach about on his feet, nor another none the mo,
They ride upon their palfreys, lest they should spurn their toe,
But riches and worldly state doth to holy Churchwoe. "
'^ "
See Venerable Bede's Historia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap.
"
ii,, n. 22, p. 477.
gan's
Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," Martii
'*
Sancta," part i. , p. 148.
'7 Robert of Gloucester thus celebrates his
labours, in the Metrical Life, of which he is the supposed author ;—
" He endeavoured earnestly, night and day, when lie had hither come,
To guard well holy Church, and to up- hold Christendom.
See I3ishop Challenor's "Britannia
by
disciples why
his
The Lord thundered from heaven, and the highest
xxviii. , p.
A
metrical Life of St. Chad, attributed to Robert of Glocester, is likewise ex-
tant ; and, among the Bodleian MSS. , there is an Anglo-Saxon homily for
St. Chad's day, written in the Middle-Anglian dialect, which stretched from
Lichfield to Peterborough. — Ceaddanus, who is also called St. Chad, Cedd, or Cedda and by the
Baring-Gould" have their respective notices of this renowned saint.
•* Edited
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusi. , Martii ii. De S. Ceadda Episcopo Mercionim et
Lindisfarorum, Lichfeldiae in Anglia, pp. 143 to 148. The Acts of St. Chad are pre- ceded by a historic commentary of two sections and twelve paragraphs,
^ See Baillet's "Vies des Saints," tome i. , at the Second of March, the Life of St. Ceadde, pronounced Cedde, Bishop of Lich- field, pp. 20 to 23.
^ See "Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp. 147 to 151.
60, 61.
Article xiv. See Bishop Forbes'
—
" Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 249.
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglormn," lib.
iii. , cap. xxiii. , xxviii. , lib. iv. , cap. iii. , pp. 197, 206, 211 to 214. Edition in "Monu- menta Historica Britannica. "
^
^ See "Nova Legenda Anglias. "
'
Article I. —Chapter i. —'See "His-
3 This writer classes him among the Scot- tish Saints.
* See "Church-History of Brittany," book xvi. , chap, xii. , p. 393, and book xvii. , chap, ii. , viii. , ix. , pp. 410, 416 to 418.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," ii. Martii. Vita S. Ceddre, Episcopo Lick- feldiensis, pp. 444 to 447.
-' See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March ii.
'°
See "Vies des Saints pour tous les
jours de I'annee," tome ii. , p. Ii.
"See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. ,
March ii. , pp. 23 to 37.
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 71
Irish, Ceaddan, or Ceaddain"—was brother to that Apostolic Prelate, St. Cedd,'3 or Chad, who was Apostle and Bishop of the East Saxons, and also, it has been stated, Bishop of London. The two holy priests, St. Ceulin and St. Cymbill, were his brothers. ^* They were natives of Northumbria, as has
been generally supposed. It is remarkable, that often in Saxon, as in the Celtic, families, we find two brothers or two sisters, bearing the same name. ^s Probably, from the order in which they are mentioned, by Venerable Bede, we should consider the present holy man, as junior among the four brothers. The date a. d. 620 has been suggested, as the probable time of this St. Chad's birth. '^ His early ecclesiastical education^? was received from the great St. Aidan,'^inhismonasteryofLindisfarne,orHolyIsland. Hereheprobably enjoyed the companionship of his brother Cedd or Chad. Thence, for his greater improvement in sacred letters and Divine contemplation, St. Chad, it is said, passed into Ireland. This adventure is thought to have taken place, after the death of St. Aidan j'9 but, we have no sufficient warrant for such assumption, as the narrative, in Venerable Bede, and on which nearly all subsequent writers rest their statements, is obscure and equivocal, in reference to his having lived in our island, for any length of time. *° This resort to Ireland for a studious purpose, however, according to the practice prevailing among a great many distinguished English-Saxons, was common enough in those days. He contracted a close friendship and companionship with St. Egbert. " WhetherChadbecameapriestinIrelandorinEngland,wehave no means left for knowing. However, we may infer, from Venerable Bede's narrative, that a mutual friendship prevailed in their youth, between Egbert and himself, while both were engaged in the monastic profession.
The elder St. Chad, as we have already seen, had founded a monastery at
Lestingan, Lestinga or Laestingaeu, which he left occasionally, to prosecute his missionary work among the East Saxons. It was situated near Streanae-
shalch, but much doubt seems to exist, regarding its actual position. ^^ We are told, however, that it stood, just on the edge of that wide expanse of moorland, which extends thirty miles inland from the coast of Yorkshire. ^3 The younger Chad was desired to take care of this new establishment,'-* when his brother was obliged to minister among the East Saxons. We are told, that St. Chad was then living in Ireland; and, if we credit some accounts, he returned from that country, only when the death of the elder
St. Chad took
'3 See his Life, already written, at the 7th
of January.
'* See Venerable Bede's " Historia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxiii.
'5 In such cases, they were possibly dis-
tinguished as the Elder or the Younger, or
probably the use of some soubriquet supplied the distinction.
'7 See Ven. Bede's " Historia Ecclesias-
tica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxviii. , p. 206.
'^ See his Life, at the 31st of August.
'9 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 24.
"
pit autem revelation! et relalioni prcefati
His
Fratris
for about six was office, years,
de obitu Antistitis, etiam hujus
" See
^° The
^^ " See Rev. S. Gould's
Colgan's
place,
in the =^5 year 664.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Martii ii. , n. i, p. 446.
'* See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 23.
passage
runs as follows
Conve-
Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 24.
Baring-Gould's
:
Baring-
" Lives of
sermo reverendissimi Patris Egberti, de quo
supra diximus, qui dudum cum eodem
Ceadda adoloscente, et ipse adolescens in
Hibernia monachicam in orationibus et con-
tinentia ac meditationc divinarum Scriptura-
rum vitam sedulus agebat. "—Ven. Bede's
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum,"
lib. iv. , cap. iii. This seems only to mean,
that Egbert alone passed his monastic life in
Ireland, although, in earlier days, he had
the of with Blessed Chad. happiness living
''
See his Life, at the 24th of April.
^^ See "Monumenta Historica Britan-
nica," vol. i. , n. (a), p. 197.
=3 See Rev. S. Baring- Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 24.
^-^ See Bishop Chailenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 147.
72 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
managed with great perfection and prudence, while he was much recom- mended by his virtuous eminence. While here, Owen,=^ or Owini, a monk
of great merit, left the world, through a pure intention of obtaining the heavenly reward. In all respects, he was deemed worthy to have the secrets of our Lord revealed to him, and deserving to have credit given by his hearers, to what he related. He came with Queen Etheldryde or St. Audry'7 from the province of the East Angles. He was her prime officer and major- domo. As the fervour of his faith increased, however, he resolved wholly to renounce the world. Nor did he set about this work slothfully ; but, quitting at once all earthly things, and being clad in a mean garment, while carrying only an axe and a hatchet in his hand, he went to the monastery of the holy prelate at Lestingay. Then signifying, that he came there to work, and not to be idle, his intentions were made good in his practice. ^^
ThefollowingbeautifullegendisrelatedintheLifeofSt. Chad. '? King
Wulfere,3° the youngest son of King Penda, the Strenuous, had been baptized by Blessed Finan,3^ many years before our saint's time. At the font, and afterwards when wedded to Ermenilda,3* of the royal house of Kent, Wulfere had promised to destroy all the idols in his realm. But, he neglected to do so, and he even allowed his three sons, Wulfade, Rufine and Kenred to remain unbaptized. The queen had dedicated her beauteous daughter Wer- burga33 to Christ, as a virgin ; yet, Werbode, the king's chief councillor and a Pagan, sought her hand in marriage, and obtained her father's consent. This purpose, however, was opposed by the queen and by her sons. One day, the young Prince Wulfade pursued a hart in the forest, and while praying by a fountain, near his cell, St. Chad perceived the animal plunge into the cooling stream, with quivering limbs and panting breath. Pitying its distress, the saint covered the animal with boughs, and, placing a rope about its neck, he let it graze in the forest. Soon Wolfade came up, and, heated with the
he asked where the hart had Then Chad " Am I chase, gone. replied,
keeper of the hart ? Yet, through the instrumentality of the hart, I have be- come the guide of thy salvation. The hart, bathing in the fountain, fore-
showeth to thee the laver of baptism, as the text says :
*
As the hart panteth
after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. ' " The young
:
saintexclaimed "Allthingsarepossibletohimwhobelieveth. Hearthen,
and receive the faith of Christ. " The young prince consented to receive in- struction, and Chad baptized him. The next day he received the Eucharist, went home, and told his brother Rufine, that he had become a Christian.
Rufine declared, that he had long wished for baptism, and expressed his in-
" The things you tell me would be more likely to work
prince then said
faith in me, if the hart you have taught to wander in the forest, with the rope round its neck, were to appear in answer to your prayers. " Holy Chad then prostrated himself in prayer, and lo ! the hart burst from the thicket. The
:
"^^ His feast was
March, according to Menard's
gium Benedictinum," or on the 29th of July, according to the "English Martyrology. " The name was always a common one in Ireland.
brother Peada in Mercia. He revolted from
under the jurisdiction of Oswey, King of Northumbria, afterwards, and united under his government the Mercians, the Middle Angles and the Lindiswaras or natives of the county of Lincoln. See Rev. Dr. Lingard's
*7 Her feast occurs
" of History
celebrated,
on the of
She died "^ See Venerable Bede's " Historia Eccle-
vol.
A. D. 679.
-p. 98.
^i See his Life, at the 9th of January.
3' She is also venerated as a at the
saint,
13th of February.
33 Her feast occurs, on the 3rd of Feb-
ruary.
3+ The festival of Wulfade and Rufine ig
siastica Gentis lib. Anglorum,"
p. 212.
iv. , cap. iii. ,
June 23rd.
England,"
i. , chap, ii. ,
'^ By Mr. Warner, and Rev. S. Baring- Gould.
3° About the year 657, he succeeded his
"
3rd. Martyrolo-
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 73
tention to seek holy Chad. The brothers set out with such an intent ; and,
on the way, Rufine espied the hart, with the rope around its neck. He gave
hot chase, and the animal, making for Chad's cell, jumped into the fountain
as before. Rufine saw a venerable man praying near the water, and he
accosted him :
*'
Art thou, my lord, Father Chad, the guide of my brother
Wulfade to salvation ? " Chad answered, " I am. " Rufine earnestly desired
baptism, and the saint performed the office, Wulfade holding him at the font,
afterthemannerprescribedbyholyChurch. Afterwards,theprincestook
their leave, but they returned daily to seek the company and conversation of
theexemplaryhermit. However,Werbodestealthilyobservedtheirproceed- ings, and having told their father that they had become Christians, he added, that their conversion must alienate his subjects. He reported, that they were worshipping in St. Chad's oratory ; and, the king, in an angry mood, set out for the cell, yet he sent Werbode before, to tell the princes of his
approach, so that they might escape from his presence. But, Werbode only lookedinthroughtheoratorywindow,andsawthemearnestlypraying. He then returned to the king, stating that his sons were obstinate in their purpose of worshipping Christ. Pale with anger, Wulfere rushed towards the oratory,
and upbraided his sons for breaking his laws, by becoming Christians. He threatened them with his vengeance, and bade them renounce Christ. Wul- fade replied, that they did not want to break the laws, and that the king him- self had once embraced the faith, which he now renounced; but, while wishing to retain his fatherly affection, he declared, that no tortures could turn them from Christianity. The king rushed furiously on him, and cut off his head. His brother, Rufine, fled, but he was pursued by Wulfere, who gavehimadeath-wound. 34 Thenreturningtothecastle,Werbodeannounced this murder, but he was immediately smitten with madness. In great sorrow, the queen buried her sons, whose souls had departed to celestial glory, in onestonetomb. ^s Withherdaughter,Werburga,shesoonwithdrewtothe monastery at Sheppey, and then to that of Ely. ^^ Subsequently, the king was filled with remorse, and he became dangerously ill. The queen coun- selled him to seek out Chad, and confess to him. Wulfere took her advice, and called his thanes together, as if for a chase. But, his attendants got scattered from him, and being left alone, he espied the hart, with the rope around its neck. Following on its track, he was led to Chad's oratory, where the saint was then engaged celebrating Mass. When the canon began, so great a light shone through the apertures in the wall, while priest and sacri- fice were covered with such splendour, that the king was nearly blinded by it, for it was brighter than that of the natural sun. He durst not enter the oratory, until he had been shriven, and he lay prostrate before the door. Knowing what the king desired, at the conclusion of the office, Chad hastily put off his vestments, and thinking to leave them upon the natural place, he unwittingly hung them upon a sun-beam, for the natural sunlight was now streaming in through the window. Then he" went out, and raising the king from his prostrate position, Chad heard his confession, and enjoined it as a penance, on him, to root out idolatry, and to build several abbeys. 37 The holy man next motioned to the king, that he should enter the oratory and pray. Lift-
kept on the 24th of July. See Sir Harris
"
These twey sons thot ye see here," &c.
3« Ethelreda, daughter of Anna, King of the East Angles, founded a monastery here dows of Peterborough : it runs in quaint old in 673. It is the seat of a bishop, and it
verse, beginning : — possesses a fine Cathedral, begun in 1081.
See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of By Queen Ermenild had King Wulfere England," vol. ii. , pp. 171 to 173.
Nicolas'
35 The substance of this legend was for-
Chronology of History," p. 176.
merly inscribed, beneath the cloister win-
"
74 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
ing up his eyes, by chance, Wulfere saw with astonishment the vestments
hanging on the sun-beam. Rising from his knees, he drew near, trying to place his own gloves and baldric upon the beam, but these immediately fell on theground. Whereforethekingunderstood,asthenaturalsunpaidhimso muchhomage,thatChadwasbelovedbytheSunofRighteousness. s^ Wul- fere died in the year 675,39 and he was buried in Lichfield. ''^
CHAPTER II
ST. CHAD CONSECRATED BISHOP—ST. THEODORE—ST. CHAD'S MISSIONARY CAREER—HIS Pious PRACTICES WHILE AT LAESTINGAEU—HE BECOMES A BISHOP OVER MERCIA AND LINDSAY—HIS LOVE FOR PRAYER AND RETIREMENT.
Oswiu * was a potent and a contemporary king in Northumbria : he had
alreadyconceivedahighideaofholyChad'sworthandsanctity. Avacancy occurred in the see of York, or Northumbria, through the death of Tuda,' who was carried off by the pestilence, a. d. 664. 3 At the nomination of King Alchfrid,* son of Oswy, St. Wilfrids was consecrated for the same see, by
Agilbert, Bishop of Paris, at Compeigne. However, the newly-consecrated prelate delayed too long his return to Northumbria, while the king and people of that province were impatient to have its see filled. Chad was
obliged by King Oswy, to accept episcopal consecration. ^ Accordingly, he was consecrated Bishop of York, by Wini, or Wina, Bishop of Winchester,^ assisted by two British prelates. ^ Other accounts place this event in the year
664. 9 The king sent his own priest, Eadhaed,'° with him, as a companion to Kent ; but, before arriving there, Densdedit," the Archbishop of Canterbury, died, and no other prelate was available for the ceremony but Wini, the
bishop. I'his proceeding created some confusion, for a time ; but, it was soon remedied, owing to St. Chad's great humility. In the year 668, St. Theodore" was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury, and Wilfrid also returned to England, with a great desire to introduce the Roman customs,
37 Among the number, he completed Peterborough Minster, which his father had begun. The reader will here recall, the account of Lancelot, and the Sacring in the
Tower by Joseph of Arimathsea, in the Morte d'Arthur.
The situation is not well known.
3 This was a very fatal scourge, as we
learn from the Irish and English Annals,
* His father bestowed on him the province
of the Derori, which he governed.
s His chief feast occurs on the 1 2th of October. He died A. D. 709, on the 24th of
3* See Rev, S. Baring- Gould's " Lives of
the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , pp. 33 April,
to 37.
39 See Florentii Wigorniensis' " Chroni-
con," A. D. DC. LXXV.
*° See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of
Wereburge, v. — Chapter ii.
6
See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
the
Saints," vol. ii. , February iii.
Sancta," part i. , p. 147.
7 So states Bishop Challenor. Colgan
calls him, however, Bishop of Lincoln,
^ See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of
the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March ii.
Fathers, Martyrs
and other
Life of St.
He was brother to St.
Oswald, King of Northumbria, who was nicle. "
'
9 to the Chro- According "Anglo-Saxon
slain a. d. Oswiu imme- by Penda, 642.
diately succeeded, and died, February 15th, A. D. 670. See the "Anglo-Saxon Chro- nicle," pp. 31110318. " Monumenta His- torica Biitannica. "
'" He afterwards became of Bishop Ripon,
during the reign of Egfrid.
" The English Martyrology has his feast
at the 30th of June, and the Benedictine
' Hewas
" of
His feast occurs, on the 19th Sep-
buried, according to Ven. Bede, in his monastery of Paegnalacch : by some, it is called Waghcle, and again Wemalet.
tember.
'3 He ruled over the English Church, from
principal
Martyrology, at the 15th of July.
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 75
instead of those prevailing among the Scots. St. Theodore had been sent overintoEngland,byPopeVitalian/3in669/+ Whenhecametovisitthe northern provinces, he found fault with St. Chad's ordination,'s giving the preference to St. Wilfrid, and adjudging to him the see of York. St. Chad
was thought to have been defective in his ordination. "^
No sooner was he consecrated bishop, than he devoted himself, with un-
tiring zeal, to the observance of ecclesiastical truth and purity. He con-
stantly practised humility and mortification ; he was addicted to spiritual reading. After the apostolic manner, he visited the diocese, on foot, and
not on horseback. ^7 He assiduously preached the Gospel, and sought the salvation of souls, not alone in towns, castles, and villages, but even in the meanest cottages, and even in the very fields. Thus he was a true disciple and follower of St. Aidan, and he endeavoured to instruct the people with a like zeal. He adopted the same method and behaviour, he had learned from Aidan's and from his brother Cedda's example. '^
St. Chad retired to his monastery at Lestingay, so that there might not be two bishops for the same see, and at the same time. This place was situated in the province of the Deiri. ^9 At Laestingaeu, St. Chad remained
=°
humbly replied :
episcopal
you not heard it said,
'
" If I have not received you judge, lawfully
con- secration, I willingly resign the function. I never thought myself worthy of it ; yet, although unworthy, in obedience, I submitted to take it. " St. Theo- dore would not permit St. Chad's resignation, however, but he supplied what
until called upon to undertake the charge of another church.
While here, or
elsewhere, he had a disciple, named Trumhere,*' sometimes called Trum-
berct, Trumbrect, Trumberht, or Trumberthus,^^ who told Venerable Bede,
the saint was so filled with the fear of God and of his last end, that when a
strong gale of wind blew, while Chad was reading or engaged at any other business, he at once called for mercy from the Almighty, for himself and for
all mankind. If it blew stronger, prostrating himself, he prayed more earnestly. But, if a violent storm of wind or rain, or of thunder and lightning, came, he prayed and recited psalms in the church, until the weather became
calm. asked Being
he did so, Chad " Have replied :
A. D. 658 to 672. See Sir Harris Nicolas' "Outlines of History," p. 211.
'* See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 27.
'5 The validity of his consecration does
not appear to have been questioned ; but,
it is probable, there was something informal
in his nomination, or in the mode of per-
formance. Yet, Wini, as we are told, was
the only bishop then in Britain, who had
been consecrated after the Roman usage ;
all the other bishops were ordained, alter
the British or Scottish manner. See Col-
He went into all his bishopric, and preacht full fast,
Much of that folk, through his word, to God their hearts cast,
All afoot he travelled about, nor kept he any state,
Rich man though he was made he reckoned there of little great,
The Archbishop of York had not him used to go
To preach about on his feet, nor another none the mo,
They ride upon their palfreys, lest they should spurn their toe,
But riches and worldly state doth to holy Churchwoe. "
'^ "
See Venerable Bede's Historia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap.
"
ii,, n. 22, p. 477.
gan's
Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," Martii
'*
Sancta," part i. , p. 148.
'7 Robert of Gloucester thus celebrates his
labours, in the Metrical Life, of which he is the supposed author ;—
" He endeavoured earnestly, night and day, when lie had hither come,
To guard well holy Church, and to up- hold Christendom.
See I3ishop Challenor's "Britannia
by
disciples why
his
The Lord thundered from heaven, and the highest
xxviii. , p.
