Carantoc fed it, and after- wards he let the serpent go,
commanding
it not to injure man or beast.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Notwithstanding, in an ancient Manuscript, which gives an account of the family of Brychan of
withNiall-mortobeagreatmistake; for, even allowing 60 years to a generation, Niall-mor could not be contemporary with Pope Celestine or St. Patrick ; but, with this allowance of 60 years to a generation we will exactly have Niall-mor contemporary with Careiicus, King of Britain, as my enclosed paper will show, &c. , while it looks curious andveryinteresting. " Thenfollowsthislist of British Kings, and the years of their respective reigns :
Arthur reigned for . Constantine II. .
Conan
Vortipor
Malgo
Careticus . . . 27 Cadwan . ,
. .
. .
. .
Cadwallan English Total
. 4 . 30 -4 . 6
. .
. 22 -43
Afterwards is given, in like form, the list of Irish Kings, with their respective reigns :
Years. . 36
172
—was son to Darerea,''' the
May 1 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
479
Brecknock, Crantock is stated to have been the son, and not the grandson, of Ceredig. This, too, is in harmony with the legendary life above-mentioned. When his father grew old and became incapable of wielding the sword against the Scots, who at that time devastated his territory, the elders of his people requested their king, to resign the sovereignty, in favour of his son Carantoc, in order that they might have a leader, who could go forth with them, to repel their troublesome invaders. This, however, Carantoc refused to do, and he wished rather for religious retirement. After spending his youth at home, in great purity and innocence, retiring from his father's house, Carntock stole away with a wallet and staff. He lived in a cave, known as Edilg, ac- cording to one account, and there he read Canonical Lessons, from the Old and New Testament. He is said, early to have embraced a religious life, and to have retired to a place, called Guerit-Carancanc, where he remained for some time. "*^ But, St. Carantoc was impelled by a Divine inspiration to follow another course. He crossed over to Ireland, having been attracted by the fame of St. Patrick,49 who was then labouring there. He is classed, among the disciples of the great Irish Apostle. s° Yet, it is said, that both had many clerics as their followers, and that they accordingly took counsel together, when it was resolved, that Patrick should go to the left, and Caran- toc to the right, while they were to meet each year,5^ it is to be presumed, for the purpose of holding a spiritual conference. At this lime, the Scots had invaded Britain, under their leaders Briscus,^* Thubaius, Machleves and Auxatus. ss That invasion happened thirty years, before the birtli of St. David, son to Sant or Xanthus and, apparently, mistaking the drift of this
;
statement,54 it has been supposed,^s that Carantoc preached the faith in Ire- land for thirty whole years. He was very well received by the Irish people, whogavehimthenameofCernath,orCernach. Ifwegivecredencetothe statement of John of Tynmouth,56 he must have been very successful in his labours; for, we are told, that the churches and cities in the region of Legenia57 were exalted underhis name, thathe converted districtsof Irishmen, which were enchained by the superstitions of magicians, and that he was honoured by kings. 5^ He was constantly attended by a white dove, which the people sup- posed to be his guardian angel. ^9 He was enriched with virtues and graces, having been honoured and obeyed, as if he were an Apostle. While meek and humble, Carantoc was also firm and faithful ; he made many become penitent ; while he was constantly engaged pouring forth prayers and thanks to God. Literary works have been ascribed to Carantoc, from some expres- sions contained in his Acts f° and, besides the part he said to have had, in compiling the Senchus Mor, it is thought, writings of a religious character
45 See his Life in vol. iii. of this work, at the 17th of March, Ait. i.
s° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 266.
5' See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesia- rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 441.
Sanctorum," at the i6th May, tomus iii. , p. 585 , from a transcript, with some additions. s? Nq doubt, a misprint for Lagenia, the
Latin name for Leinster.
ss xt is inferred, because his Latin Acts
state, " Beati Cernachi opera leguntur in Hibernia per totam patriam," thai his Life and Miracles must have been written, in tlie Irish language.
s= William Camden calls liim Brichus, in
Apparatu Britannia. "
55 Camden calls him Auspacus.
s-tjohn Capgrave has it, that Carantoc the Saints," vol. v. , p. 215.
began his missionary course in Ireland, thirty years before St. David's birth.
55 By Father Michael Alford, at A. D. 4S9. See " Fides Regia Britannica, sive Annales Ecclesice Britannie^e," &c. , tomusi. , num. 7.
56 Vespasian A. XIV. , printed in the "Acta
^° See " Ancient Laws of Ireland," SOII - ChUS niOK. Introduction to Sencus Mor, and ^XchgAbAit ; or Law of Distress, as contained in the Harleian Manuscript, vol. i. , part i. Preface, p. xix. Dublin, 1865,
et seg. , Svo.
59 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
—
4§o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
were compiled by bim. ^' It bas been conjectured, tbat tbey were translations of writings, wbich bad been efficacious in tbe conversion of Druids in Gaul andBritain. Tbesemaybavebeenadapted,also,toimpresstbeDruids,Poets and Brehons in Ireland. His intimate acquaintance witb tbe Druidical system in Britain, and witb facts relating to conversions effected tbere, sbould eminently fit bim for sucb a task. ^^ Wbetber tbe present saint, or tbat one bearing tbe name Cairnecb, venerated at tbe 28tb of Miircb, be tbe Carnecbus Moel,
wbo wrote the Acts of bis master St. Ciaran, bas been questioned isprobable,theholymanveneratedonthisdayismeant. Weareinformed, tbat St. Carnigb founded, in the fifth or sixth century, a monastery at Dulane ^^ or Duleene ^5—the modern equivalent for Tuilen, or Tulan, a parish in the baronyofUpperKells,andcountyofMeatb. Wemayinfer,thathehada missionary station, in that place. He became a zealous coadjutor of the great Irish Apostle ; and, for many years, he fulfilled all tbe duties of his ministry. He converted innumerable souls, by his preaching and miracles, to tbe Faith of Christ. ^^ Among the three saints,^? chosen to revise tbe Pagan Laws of Ireland, and to make them harmonize with Christianity, Cairnech is specially named. An incident may be mentioned, also, which shows bow prominent and beneficent his position at Dulane must have been. In a collection of fragments,^^ taken from ancient historical manuscripts,^^ it is said, 7° tbat Muir- cheartach Mac Erca,7i monarch of Erinn, having been captivated by a Ben- shee, drove bis queen, her children and her friends of tbe clanns of Conaill and of Eogbain—tbe O'Donnells and O'Neills—from the palace of Cleitech, ontheBoyne. Then,tbeyfledtoSt. Cairnecb,whotookthemallunderhis protection. "Thereupon," it is added, "the saint cursed tbe palace, and when tbe queen's friends departed to their own country, he gave them his blessing, and be appointed three insigfiia,'''^ for their war standards. " We are told, moreover, that . ^t. Cairnech of Dulane appointed the Afiosach,3. s one of
the three battle insignia for the O'Neills and O'Donnells. This word means literally"Monthly,"or"ofMonths. " Tberelicwasprobablyacalendar. 73 Subsequently, Carantoc is thought to have returned to his own country, with many companions, and he lived for some time in a cave. The dove once more fluttered before bim, darted away, and then came back, as though desi- ing him to follow. It led him through tbe forest, to a smooth grassy spot, and there it rested, on the coast of Cardiganshire. Tbe surrounding scenery is
*' See ibid. , vol. ii. , part ii. . Preface, p. V.
^ See ibid. , p. vii.
^3 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," Martii v. Appendix ad Acta S. Kierani, cap. iv. , p. 473.
*•• It is shown, on the "Ordnance Sur%-ey Towniand Maps for the County of Meath," sheets 10, li, 16, 17.
*5 Here, on this day, the founder's festival wasobserved. See Rev. A. Cogan's " Uio- cese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxiii. , pp. 133, 134.
'^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 266.
''' WiththesewereassociatedthreeKings, and three Bards, who are thus named :
" Laeghaire, Core. I )airi, the hardy ; Patrick, Bcncn, Cairnech, the just ; Ross. -! , Dubhthach, Fcrghus, with
science ;
These were the nine pillars of the Senchus Mor. "
—Preface to " Senchus Mor," vol. i. , p. xiii. ** Contained in the "Yellow Book of Lecain. "
^^ Now preserved, in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.
'° See Professor O'Curry's " Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History. " Appendix CI. , p. 599.
'' He reigned, from A. D. 504 to 527. The particulars of his reign are noticed, in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 164 to 177.
'' One of these is saiil to have been the celebrated Cathach or Battler of theO'Don- nells. It contained a copy of the Psalms, or (Jospels, written by St. Columba. It is yet preserved—although greatly defaced and stained—within a silver case, in the Royal Irish Academy's Museum,
f'^
but, it
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 481
pleasingly diversified, and here, St. Carantoc expressed an intention of build- ing a church. 74 He is said to have had a small chapel or an oratory, among the rocks, on this part of the coast, where his days were spent in religious seclu- sion. 75 A church still bearing tlie name of Llangranog,? ^ alias Lann-Garanog, or the church of Carannog, was tluis founded by him. There is also a rock, near a small harbour in the parish. That rock bears some resemblance to a large chair. It is called, by the native peasantry, Eisteddfa Carannog,^? or Cranwg. 78 St. Carantoc sailed down the Severn,79 and he landed at Dind- raithov,. where Cato^°—sometimes written Cathon—and Arthur were living. Elsewhere, we do not find the name of Cato in history,^^ and, it seems likely, there is a false reading, for some other British name. The former renowned British king has his history well interlarded with fable ; and, one of those won- derful stories is found in connexion with our saini. A great serpent had devas- tated the Carr, a marshy district in South Wales. We are told, that an altar of marvellous colour fell out of heaven, and that Carantog took possession of
it. While he was conveying it in a boat over the Severn, tliat altar fell over- board into the sea. However, he declared, that the Almighty would wash it withHiswaves,tothatplacewhereitmustbesetup; while,hewenttoKing Arthur and enquired, if he knew, that it had come ashore in any part of his dominions. " Bind me the serpent in the Carr, and 1 will tell thee," replied the king. Then Carantoc went to the morass, and called the venemous beast, when it came to him. Casting his stole about it, that serpent was brought into the hall, where the king and his knights sat.
Carantoc fed it, and after- wards he let the serpent go, commanding it not to injure man or beast. King Arthur had intended to convert the altar into a table, for himself and for his knights, as it had been miraculously washed ashore. However, he then gave it to the holy man, who set it up at a place called Carrow^^—interpreted Cardigan—where he built a church. ^3 This donation, the king confirmed by a
deed. After crossing the Severn, other accounts have it, that Carantoc obtained a grant of land from King Arthur, near the port of Guellit, and built there a church, which was called Carrun, or Carrow. That church, no doubt, was the building of which Leland^+ speaks, when he tells us, that Karantoc con- structedanoratory,andataplace,calledGuerithKarantauc. Mostproba- bly, it was that spot, where the Parish Church of Crantock—on the Irish Sea in Cornwall—is built. There, too, it is thought by some writers, that the holy and venerable old patriarch spent the remainder of his days. Before the Con- quest, there was a collegiate church at Crantock ; however, the sand which
73 See Professor O'Curry's "Lectures on Moel Badell. "—Samuel Lewis' " Topogra- the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish phical Dictionary of Wales," vol. ii. .
History," Lect. XV. , p- 336. T-AccordingtotheCottonianManuscript,
classed Vesp. A 14, fol. 90, this happened before he went to Ireland.
"5 See Samuel Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Wales," vol. ii. , p. 48.
76
p. 49.
^9CalledinLatinSabrina. Itflowsbe-
tween Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire, into the Bristol Channel, south of Wales.
^° Probably, Cador is meant.
^' Much the same account is given, by This parish is in the Union of New- Capgrave, Alford, Ussher, and the Salisbury
castle-Emlyn, lower division of Moythen Martyrology.
Hundred, Cardiganshire, South Wales. ^- In the British language, it is said,
77 See "Lives of the Cambo-British that Car means "a marsh," while Caer
Saints," p. 398.
7^ " By some writers, the name is supposed
to be derived from its having been anciently a place of meeting for the bards ; and on the summit of an eminence in the immediate vicinity is a large tumulus, in form resem- blingan inverted pan, and thence called Pen
means "a fortress," or "city. " Skinner places Carrow, or Carew, in the County of Devon ; but, the Bollandists think, it is to be sought for, in some part of Wales,
^3 gee Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. . May 16, pp. 215, 216.
^^ See "Itinerary," vol. iii. , p. 196. IH
_
482 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [Mat 16.
had blown up along this coast has nearly obliterated the remains of that college, but the holy well remains. ^s Exercising to the last the duties of his ministry, among the Britons of the South, it is stated, that he departed this life in Corn- wall, where he is deservedly honoured as a great saint. However, he re- ceived a warning from heaven, to leave his religious family, and to become an exile from his native country, according to some accounts. ^^ Carantoc accordingly returned to our Island, and ended his days peacefully, in Ire- land,^7 at a city called Chernacli,^^ after having attained a good old age. If such be the case, it seems probable, he departed this life, at Dulane. Here, the old church, presents every appearance of antiquity. ^9 The chancel has been torn down ; but, the nave measured thirty by twenty-one feet. s° On the west end, there is a plain doorway, surmounted by an immense block of
>itNN^^^
Old Church of Dulane, County of Meath.
stone ; on the south side, there is another entrance, but appearing to be much more modern. To the north of this church lies a baptismal font. The grey walls, in the last stage of desolation, cannot fail to awaken in the pilgrim's thoughts a recollection of the past Christian days of Ireland. ^' It is said, he
's See " Dictionary of Christian Biogra- old," and Dr. Petrie calls it " a fine specimen phy," &c. , by William Smith, LL. D. , of our earliest Christian architecture. " He
and Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 3S3.
^ As for instance, that contained in the Cottonian Manuscript, classed Vesp. A. 14,
fol. 90.
*' See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
the Saints," vol. v. , May 16, p. 216.
^ It is not easy to discover it, under this name—probably a misprint ; but, a more rational account has it Cernach. See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints, '
p. 298.
^ Lord Dunraven describes it as "grandly
describes it in a letter to Lord Dunraven. See Dr. William Stokes' " Life and Labours in Art and Archncology, of George Petrie, LL. D. ," Appendix, pp. 407, 408.
9° The accompanying illustration of Dulane is drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, partly from an original sketch by himself, and partly from a photograph. It has been engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
' See Rev. A. Cogan's " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , p. 28 1.
May i6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
483
"
was buried, on the xvii. day of the June Kalends, in his renowned Irish city,
which was more distinguished, than any of his other cities
dar of Cashel is cited to show, that this saint, a native of Britain, was buried in the Island of St. Baithen,^^ now know as Ennisboyne, off the east coast of Wicklow, He is still remembered, as the patron saint of Dulane, in the county of Meath. 93 He is said to have been venerated, also, at Drumleena, on the western shores of Lough Foyle. 9'* In one of the Topographical Poems of O'Dub- hagin,9S written in the fourteenth century,^^ there is an obscure allusion to three septs, and these are said to have been of Cairnech's congregation. These three septs of Tuilen were located, in the present county of Meath, and im- mediately near the town of Kells, although originally, they are said not to have
been Meathmen. They were called the Fir-Eochain, the Maini, and " the Britons of lasting fame. "97 The three septs, thus mentioned, are now totally unknown. ^s Inthefifthcentury,thedeathofSt. Carantocisthoughttohave occurred ; others defer it to early in the sixth ; however, the exact date is unknown. Irish Martyrologists call him Cairnech,99 of Tuilen. '°° On the 1 6th of May, we find marked the happy death of Carnech the mighty, in the Feilire of St. ^ngus. '°^ St. Carantac, or Cernach's name appears, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,'°^ on this day, as also, in the Franciscan copy. '°3 In Richard Whitford's " Martyrologium Anglicanum," it is set at this date ; while John Wilson omits Carantocus, from the first edition of his English Martyrology, and in his last, places him at the 17th of May. The Martyrology of Donegal ^°^ has the festival of Cairnech of Tuilen, or of Tulan, at the i6th of May. In the posthumous list of Colgan's Manuscripts, the name of St. Carantocus occurs, at the i6th of May. At the same date, too, in the anonymous Catalogue of O'Sullevan Beare,'°5 Qernochus or Carantochus is entered. However, the parish feast of Crantock, in Cornwall, is on the Sunday nearest to the i6th of May. ^°^ He was venerated, also, in Scotland. At the i6th of May, the name appears in the Kalendar of Drummond. '°7
^ See the Cottonian Manuscript, classed Vesp. A. 14, fol. 90, with notes, given by the BoUandists, in the "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mali xvi. De S. Carentoco seu Cernatho Episc. Abbate in Wallia et Hiber- nia, pp. 584 to 587.
53 See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Series ii. Polite Literature and Antiquities, vol. ii. , No. xlv. On the Iden- tification of the proper Names appearing on two Monuments bearing Ogam Inscriptions, by the Right Rev. Charles Graves, D. D. , p. 2S6.
''* See Rev. Anthony Cogan's " Diocese ofMeath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , p. 283.
5^ Edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , M. R. I. A.
5* The Irish has been published, with an English translation, by the Irish Archaeolo- gical and Celtic Society, a. d. 1862, inSvo.
97 "Early these men quaff their met-
heglin
They are the congregation of Cair-
nech,
—Seepp. 14, 15.
s' Seepp. xiv. , xv. , n. 60.
s' In the Feilire of St. . ^nghus, his death
is thus recorded : " The illustrious death of Carneach, the truly powerful. "
'°° The following gloss is added to the Feilire: "i. e. , Carnech of Tuilen, in the neighbourhood of Cenannas (Kells). " See " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxvii.
'°' See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxx,
"= Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
'°3 There, the entry seems to read CAi|\ni5. o ctnLen, probably a mistake of the scribe, writing in the last word the initial c for c.
'°'t Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 132, 133. There is also an entry of Cai]\- neAC—16 Mali, in Appendix to the Intro- duction, p. xlvii.
'°s jjee " Historise Catholicse Ibernias Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
^°^ See Rev. Dr. Oliver's " Monasticon Dioecesis Exoniensis.
withNiall-mortobeagreatmistake; for, even allowing 60 years to a generation, Niall-mor could not be contemporary with Pope Celestine or St. Patrick ; but, with this allowance of 60 years to a generation we will exactly have Niall-mor contemporary with Careiicus, King of Britain, as my enclosed paper will show, &c. , while it looks curious andveryinteresting. " Thenfollowsthislist of British Kings, and the years of their respective reigns :
Arthur reigned for . Constantine II. .
Conan
Vortipor
Malgo
Careticus . . . 27 Cadwan . ,
. .
. .
. .
Cadwallan English Total
. 4 . 30 -4 . 6
. .
. 22 -43
Afterwards is given, in like form, the list of Irish Kings, with their respective reigns :
Years. . 36
172
—was son to Darerea,''' the
May 1 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
479
Brecknock, Crantock is stated to have been the son, and not the grandson, of Ceredig. This, too, is in harmony with the legendary life above-mentioned. When his father grew old and became incapable of wielding the sword against the Scots, who at that time devastated his territory, the elders of his people requested their king, to resign the sovereignty, in favour of his son Carantoc, in order that they might have a leader, who could go forth with them, to repel their troublesome invaders. This, however, Carantoc refused to do, and he wished rather for religious retirement. After spending his youth at home, in great purity and innocence, retiring from his father's house, Carntock stole away with a wallet and staff. He lived in a cave, known as Edilg, ac- cording to one account, and there he read Canonical Lessons, from the Old and New Testament. He is said, early to have embraced a religious life, and to have retired to a place, called Guerit-Carancanc, where he remained for some time. "*^ But, St. Carantoc was impelled by a Divine inspiration to follow another course. He crossed over to Ireland, having been attracted by the fame of St. Patrick,49 who was then labouring there. He is classed, among the disciples of the great Irish Apostle. s° Yet, it is said, that both had many clerics as their followers, and that they accordingly took counsel together, when it was resolved, that Patrick should go to the left, and Caran- toc to the right, while they were to meet each year,5^ it is to be presumed, for the purpose of holding a spiritual conference. At this lime, the Scots had invaded Britain, under their leaders Briscus,^* Thubaius, Machleves and Auxatus. ss That invasion happened thirty years, before the birtli of St. David, son to Sant or Xanthus and, apparently, mistaking the drift of this
;
statement,54 it has been supposed,^s that Carantoc preached the faith in Ire- land for thirty whole years. He was very well received by the Irish people, whogavehimthenameofCernath,orCernach. Ifwegivecredencetothe statement of John of Tynmouth,56 he must have been very successful in his labours; for, we are told, that the churches and cities in the region of Legenia57 were exalted underhis name, thathe converted districtsof Irishmen, which were enchained by the superstitions of magicians, and that he was honoured by kings. 5^ He was constantly attended by a white dove, which the people sup- posed to be his guardian angel. ^9 He was enriched with virtues and graces, having been honoured and obeyed, as if he were an Apostle. While meek and humble, Carantoc was also firm and faithful ; he made many become penitent ; while he was constantly engaged pouring forth prayers and thanks to God. Literary works have been ascribed to Carantoc, from some expres- sions contained in his Acts f° and, besides the part he said to have had, in compiling the Senchus Mor, it is thought, writings of a religious character
45 See his Life in vol. iii. of this work, at the 17th of March, Ait. i.
s° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 266.
5' See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesia- rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 441.
Sanctorum," at the i6th May, tomus iii. , p. 585 , from a transcript, with some additions. s? Nq doubt, a misprint for Lagenia, the
Latin name for Leinster.
ss xt is inferred, because his Latin Acts
state, " Beati Cernachi opera leguntur in Hibernia per totam patriam," thai his Life and Miracles must have been written, in tlie Irish language.
s= William Camden calls liim Brichus, in
Apparatu Britannia. "
55 Camden calls him Auspacus.
s-tjohn Capgrave has it, that Carantoc the Saints," vol. v. , p. 215.
began his missionary course in Ireland, thirty years before St. David's birth.
55 By Father Michael Alford, at A. D. 4S9. See " Fides Regia Britannica, sive Annales Ecclesice Britannie^e," &c. , tomusi. , num. 7.
56 Vespasian A. XIV. , printed in the "Acta
^° See " Ancient Laws of Ireland," SOII - ChUS niOK. Introduction to Sencus Mor, and ^XchgAbAit ; or Law of Distress, as contained in the Harleian Manuscript, vol. i. , part i. Preface, p. xix. Dublin, 1865,
et seg. , Svo.
59 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
—
4§o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
were compiled by bim. ^' It bas been conjectured, tbat tbey were translations of writings, wbich bad been efficacious in tbe conversion of Druids in Gaul andBritain. Tbesemaybavebeenadapted,also,toimpresstbeDruids,Poets and Brehons in Ireland. His intimate acquaintance witb tbe Druidical system in Britain, and witb facts relating to conversions effected tbere, sbould eminently fit bim for sucb a task. ^^ Wbetber tbe present saint, or tbat one bearing tbe name Cairnecb, venerated at tbe 28tb of Miircb, be tbe Carnecbus Moel,
wbo wrote the Acts of bis master St. Ciaran, bas been questioned isprobable,theholymanveneratedonthisdayismeant. Weareinformed, tbat St. Carnigb founded, in the fifth or sixth century, a monastery at Dulane ^^ or Duleene ^5—the modern equivalent for Tuilen, or Tulan, a parish in the baronyofUpperKells,andcountyofMeatb. Wemayinfer,thathehada missionary station, in that place. He became a zealous coadjutor of the great Irish Apostle ; and, for many years, he fulfilled all tbe duties of his ministry. He converted innumerable souls, by his preaching and miracles, to tbe Faith of Christ. ^^ Among the three saints,^? chosen to revise tbe Pagan Laws of Ireland, and to make them harmonize with Christianity, Cairnech is specially named. An incident may be mentioned, also, which shows bow prominent and beneficent his position at Dulane must have been. In a collection of fragments,^^ taken from ancient historical manuscripts,^^ it is said, 7° tbat Muir- cheartach Mac Erca,7i monarch of Erinn, having been captivated by a Ben- shee, drove bis queen, her children and her friends of tbe clanns of Conaill and of Eogbain—tbe O'Donnells and O'Neills—from the palace of Cleitech, ontheBoyne. Then,tbeyfledtoSt. Cairnecb,whotookthemallunderhis protection. "Thereupon," it is added, "the saint cursed tbe palace, and when tbe queen's friends departed to their own country, he gave them his blessing, and be appointed three insigfiia,'''^ for their war standards. " We are told, moreover, that . ^t. Cairnech of Dulane appointed the Afiosach,3. s one of
the three battle insignia for the O'Neills and O'Donnells. This word means literally"Monthly,"or"ofMonths. " Tberelicwasprobablyacalendar. 73 Subsequently, Carantoc is thought to have returned to his own country, with many companions, and he lived for some time in a cave. The dove once more fluttered before bim, darted away, and then came back, as though desi- ing him to follow. It led him through tbe forest, to a smooth grassy spot, and there it rested, on the coast of Cardiganshire. Tbe surrounding scenery is
*' See ibid. , vol. ii. , part ii. . Preface, p. V.
^ See ibid. , p. vii.
^3 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," Martii v. Appendix ad Acta S. Kierani, cap. iv. , p. 473.
*•• It is shown, on the "Ordnance Sur%-ey Towniand Maps for the County of Meath," sheets 10, li, 16, 17.
*5 Here, on this day, the founder's festival wasobserved. See Rev. A. Cogan's " Uio- cese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxiii. , pp. 133, 134.
'^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 266.
''' WiththesewereassociatedthreeKings, and three Bards, who are thus named :
" Laeghaire, Core. I )airi, the hardy ; Patrick, Bcncn, Cairnech, the just ; Ross. -! , Dubhthach, Fcrghus, with
science ;
These were the nine pillars of the Senchus Mor. "
—Preface to " Senchus Mor," vol. i. , p. xiii. ** Contained in the "Yellow Book of Lecain. "
^^ Now preserved, in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.
'° See Professor O'Curry's " Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History. " Appendix CI. , p. 599.
'' He reigned, from A. D. 504 to 527. The particulars of his reign are noticed, in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 164 to 177.
'' One of these is saiil to have been the celebrated Cathach or Battler of theO'Don- nells. It contained a copy of the Psalms, or (Jospels, written by St. Columba. It is yet preserved—although greatly defaced and stained—within a silver case, in the Royal Irish Academy's Museum,
f'^
but, it
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 481
pleasingly diversified, and here, St. Carantoc expressed an intention of build- ing a church. 74 He is said to have had a small chapel or an oratory, among the rocks, on this part of the coast, where his days were spent in religious seclu- sion. 75 A church still bearing tlie name of Llangranog,? ^ alias Lann-Garanog, or the church of Carannog, was tluis founded by him. There is also a rock, near a small harbour in the parish. That rock bears some resemblance to a large chair. It is called, by the native peasantry, Eisteddfa Carannog,^? or Cranwg. 78 St. Carantoc sailed down the Severn,79 and he landed at Dind- raithov,. where Cato^°—sometimes written Cathon—and Arthur were living. Elsewhere, we do not find the name of Cato in history,^^ and, it seems likely, there is a false reading, for some other British name. The former renowned British king has his history well interlarded with fable ; and, one of those won- derful stories is found in connexion with our saini. A great serpent had devas- tated the Carr, a marshy district in South Wales. We are told, that an altar of marvellous colour fell out of heaven, and that Carantog took possession of
it. While he was conveying it in a boat over the Severn, tliat altar fell over- board into the sea. However, he declared, that the Almighty would wash it withHiswaves,tothatplacewhereitmustbesetup; while,hewenttoKing Arthur and enquired, if he knew, that it had come ashore in any part of his dominions. " Bind me the serpent in the Carr, and 1 will tell thee," replied the king. Then Carantoc went to the morass, and called the venemous beast, when it came to him. Casting his stole about it, that serpent was brought into the hall, where the king and his knights sat.
Carantoc fed it, and after- wards he let the serpent go, commanding it not to injure man or beast. King Arthur had intended to convert the altar into a table, for himself and for his knights, as it had been miraculously washed ashore. However, he then gave it to the holy man, who set it up at a place called Carrow^^—interpreted Cardigan—where he built a church. ^3 This donation, the king confirmed by a
deed. After crossing the Severn, other accounts have it, that Carantoc obtained a grant of land from King Arthur, near the port of Guellit, and built there a church, which was called Carrun, or Carrow. That church, no doubt, was the building of which Leland^+ speaks, when he tells us, that Karantoc con- structedanoratory,andataplace,calledGuerithKarantauc. Mostproba- bly, it was that spot, where the Parish Church of Crantock—on the Irish Sea in Cornwall—is built. There, too, it is thought by some writers, that the holy and venerable old patriarch spent the remainder of his days. Before the Con- quest, there was a collegiate church at Crantock ; however, the sand which
73 See Professor O'Curry's "Lectures on Moel Badell. "—Samuel Lewis' " Topogra- the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish phical Dictionary of Wales," vol. ii. .
History," Lect. XV. , p- 336. T-AccordingtotheCottonianManuscript,
classed Vesp. A 14, fol. 90, this happened before he went to Ireland.
"5 See Samuel Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Wales," vol. ii. , p. 48.
76
p. 49.
^9CalledinLatinSabrina. Itflowsbe-
tween Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire, into the Bristol Channel, south of Wales.
^° Probably, Cador is meant.
^' Much the same account is given, by This parish is in the Union of New- Capgrave, Alford, Ussher, and the Salisbury
castle-Emlyn, lower division of Moythen Martyrology.
Hundred, Cardiganshire, South Wales. ^- In the British language, it is said,
77 See "Lives of the Cambo-British that Car means "a marsh," while Caer
Saints," p. 398.
7^ " By some writers, the name is supposed
to be derived from its having been anciently a place of meeting for the bards ; and on the summit of an eminence in the immediate vicinity is a large tumulus, in form resem- blingan inverted pan, and thence called Pen
means "a fortress," or "city. " Skinner places Carrow, or Carew, in the County of Devon ; but, the Bollandists think, it is to be sought for, in some part of Wales,
^3 gee Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. . May 16, pp. 215, 216.
^^ See "Itinerary," vol. iii. , p. 196. IH
_
482 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [Mat 16.
had blown up along this coast has nearly obliterated the remains of that college, but the holy well remains. ^s Exercising to the last the duties of his ministry, among the Britons of the South, it is stated, that he departed this life in Corn- wall, where he is deservedly honoured as a great saint. However, he re- ceived a warning from heaven, to leave his religious family, and to become an exile from his native country, according to some accounts. ^^ Carantoc accordingly returned to our Island, and ended his days peacefully, in Ire- land,^7 at a city called Chernacli,^^ after having attained a good old age. If such be the case, it seems probable, he departed this life, at Dulane. Here, the old church, presents every appearance of antiquity. ^9 The chancel has been torn down ; but, the nave measured thirty by twenty-one feet. s° On the west end, there is a plain doorway, surmounted by an immense block of
>itNN^^^
Old Church of Dulane, County of Meath.
stone ; on the south side, there is another entrance, but appearing to be much more modern. To the north of this church lies a baptismal font. The grey walls, in the last stage of desolation, cannot fail to awaken in the pilgrim's thoughts a recollection of the past Christian days of Ireland. ^' It is said, he
's See " Dictionary of Christian Biogra- old," and Dr. Petrie calls it " a fine specimen phy," &c. , by William Smith, LL. D. , of our earliest Christian architecture. " He
and Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 3S3.
^ As for instance, that contained in the Cottonian Manuscript, classed Vesp. A. 14,
fol. 90.
*' See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
the Saints," vol. v. , May 16, p. 216.
^ It is not easy to discover it, under this name—probably a misprint ; but, a more rational account has it Cernach. See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints, '
p. 298.
^ Lord Dunraven describes it as "grandly
describes it in a letter to Lord Dunraven. See Dr. William Stokes' " Life and Labours in Art and Archncology, of George Petrie, LL. D. ," Appendix, pp. 407, 408.
9° The accompanying illustration of Dulane is drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, partly from an original sketch by himself, and partly from a photograph. It has been engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
' See Rev. A. Cogan's " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , p. 28 1.
May i6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
483
"
was buried, on the xvii. day of the June Kalends, in his renowned Irish city,
which was more distinguished, than any of his other cities
dar of Cashel is cited to show, that this saint, a native of Britain, was buried in the Island of St. Baithen,^^ now know as Ennisboyne, off the east coast of Wicklow, He is still remembered, as the patron saint of Dulane, in the county of Meath. 93 He is said to have been venerated, also, at Drumleena, on the western shores of Lough Foyle. 9'* In one of the Topographical Poems of O'Dub- hagin,9S written in the fourteenth century,^^ there is an obscure allusion to three septs, and these are said to have been of Cairnech's congregation. These three septs of Tuilen were located, in the present county of Meath, and im- mediately near the town of Kells, although originally, they are said not to have
been Meathmen. They were called the Fir-Eochain, the Maini, and " the Britons of lasting fame. "97 The three septs, thus mentioned, are now totally unknown. ^s Inthefifthcentury,thedeathofSt. Carantocisthoughttohave occurred ; others defer it to early in the sixth ; however, the exact date is unknown. Irish Martyrologists call him Cairnech,99 of Tuilen. '°° On the 1 6th of May, we find marked the happy death of Carnech the mighty, in the Feilire of St. ^ngus. '°^ St. Carantac, or Cernach's name appears, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,'°^ on this day, as also, in the Franciscan copy. '°3 In Richard Whitford's " Martyrologium Anglicanum," it is set at this date ; while John Wilson omits Carantocus, from the first edition of his English Martyrology, and in his last, places him at the 17th of May. The Martyrology of Donegal ^°^ has the festival of Cairnech of Tuilen, or of Tulan, at the i6th of May. In the posthumous list of Colgan's Manuscripts, the name of St. Carantocus occurs, at the i6th of May. At the same date, too, in the anonymous Catalogue of O'Sullevan Beare,'°5 Qernochus or Carantochus is entered. However, the parish feast of Crantock, in Cornwall, is on the Sunday nearest to the i6th of May. ^°^ He was venerated, also, in Scotland. At the i6th of May, the name appears in the Kalendar of Drummond. '°7
^ See the Cottonian Manuscript, classed Vesp. A. 14, fol. 90, with notes, given by the BoUandists, in the "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mali xvi. De S. Carentoco seu Cernatho Episc. Abbate in Wallia et Hiber- nia, pp. 584 to 587.
53 See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Series ii. Polite Literature and Antiquities, vol. ii. , No. xlv. On the Iden- tification of the proper Names appearing on two Monuments bearing Ogam Inscriptions, by the Right Rev. Charles Graves, D. D. , p. 2S6.
''* See Rev. Anthony Cogan's " Diocese ofMeath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , p. 283.
5^ Edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , M. R. I. A.
5* The Irish has been published, with an English translation, by the Irish Archaeolo- gical and Celtic Society, a. d. 1862, inSvo.
97 "Early these men quaff their met-
heglin
They are the congregation of Cair-
nech,
—Seepp. 14, 15.
s' Seepp. xiv. , xv. , n. 60.
s' In the Feilire of St. . ^nghus, his death
is thus recorded : " The illustrious death of Carneach, the truly powerful. "
'°° The following gloss is added to the Feilire: "i. e. , Carnech of Tuilen, in the neighbourhood of Cenannas (Kells). " See " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxvii.
'°' See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxx,
"= Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
'°3 There, the entry seems to read CAi|\ni5. o ctnLen, probably a mistake of the scribe, writing in the last word the initial c for c.
'°'t Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 132, 133. There is also an entry of Cai]\- neAC—16 Mali, in Appendix to the Intro- duction, p. xlvii.
'°s jjee " Historise Catholicse Ibernias Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
^°^ See Rev. Dr. Oliver's " Monasticon Dioecesis Exoniensis.
