^3
The calculation of Ussher, that St.
The calculation of Ussher, that St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
ii.
, cap.
Sharon
vol. 1. , book ii. . chap, v. , pp. 250, 251. In con," lib. i. , cap. 52.
the chief eldev. "
Turner's "History of the Anglo-Saxons,"
Wledig
See,
this same chapter, the reader will find an in-
teresting account, about the renowned King Arthur and his achievements. His history will serve to recall—these noble lines of our
S3 For authority, Alan de Insul. I. , ad Prophet. Merlini, is quoted.
Irish poet, Davis
" Then send out a thunder shout, and every
true man summon,
Till the ground shall echo round from
Severn to Plinlimmon,
Saxon foes, and Cymric brothers,
" Poems," Rulers, p. 43.
S4 "This was performed," we are told, "when St. Patrick, at presence of Melaria, then with child, lost use of his
5'
"
:
suddenly
speech ; but recovering it after some time,
" Cymric Rule and Cymric
S5 gee notices of him, at the 13th of Ja- nuary, and at the 1 3th of November.
s^ Carleon (? )
57 The BoUandists, regarding this as the last year before David's death, think St.
Kentigern might have procured many ac- counts through our saint's own narrative.
From such materials, perhaps, he might have written that obituary discourse, attri- buted to him, after the death of the holy Menevian bishop.
58 Pitseus, Bale, and Leland are cited, as authorities for statements in the text.
Arthur's come again !
Cambria; Metropolites et Primas pi'opterea factus, tantam cum Rege Arthuro gratiam iniit, ut ab urbe Legionum ad suam Meneviam Archiepiscopalem transferret sedem, ut lib. i. , cap. 52 fusius tradit Ra- nulfus Cestriensis. "—Spelman's "Concilia Decreta Leges Constitutiones in Re Eccle- siarum Orbis Britannici," p. 62.
5^ This is certified, by Giraldus Cambren-
4, and by Ralph of Chester in
**
made prediction of Dewy's holiness, joined with greatness, which is so celebrated. Upon
my author's credit only believe me. " Selden's illustrations to Drayton's Olbion. " The Fifth Song.
"
See, Poly-
Polychroni-
36 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March
ward. He was admonished by an angel about his approaching death, on the viii. of the March Kalends, corresponding with the 22nd of February. His religious brethren had been engaged, reciting the Lauds of their Holy Office,
at an early morning hour, when this angelic voice was heard :
" Behold,
the thou hast desired " The venerable bishop heard
David,
this summons with delight. In a transport of joy, he cried out :
O dismiss Lord,
day approaches !
servant in "^ The monks, who were present, peace !
thy
heardthismiraculouscolloquy; but,notfullyunderstandingitsimport,they fell prostrate on earth. The venerable bishop standing, with his countenance
and thoughts alike raised towards heaven, exclaimed ""
spirit ! In the hearing of his monks, the angel again replied :
Prepare thyself for the Kalends of March, for then Jesus Christ, the King of this world, shall meet thee, and with him will be many thousands of angels. " Sadness filled the hearts of his spiritual children, when they heard this
"
My
How delightfully instructive are the examples left to Christians by God's
saints, especially during those days, when life fast draws towards its closing scenes. Some angelic monition regarding such events appears to have
spread a rumour, not alone through all Britain, but even throughout the whole of Hibernia. The holy men of both islands assembled together, like
flocks of birds flying through air, towards some place of trysting. But, from the moment St. David had heard the angelic warning, to that of his decease, he continued in the church, preaching God's holy word to all the people. ' On that Sunday intervening,3 after an eloquent and impressive sermon, which encouraged and exhorted his audience to persevere in the practice of good works,heconsecratedthebodyofourLordintheHolyEucharist. Having now experienced the last pangs of bodily suffering, and partaken of Holy Viaticum, at the close of a devout office, he calmly said to his brethren : " On Tuesday, the Kalends of March, I will tread the way of my fathers, but you I commend to the guardianship of the Father Almighty, who will strengthen you to persevere in those things learned from me. " The tliird day of the week had dawned, and the crowing of chanticleer aroused the citizens of Menevia from midnight slumber. Delicious odours impregnated the surrounding atmosphere, and angelic choirs filled the air with ravishing harmonies. With such foretaste of heavenly joys, clerics and monks assembledtochaunttheearlyLauds. TotheenrapturedgazeofSt. David,
announcement. But, the Blessed David consoled them, saying : brethren persevere, and bear to the end, that yoke you have received. " Soon were sorrow and lamentations diffused throughout his favoured city. Tears and pious impetrations were poured out by all its inhabitants. And as the angelic words sounded in his ears, a most enchanting concert of angelic choirs was heard, while a fragrance, surpassing earth's most odoriferous per- fumes, was wafted throughout the city of Menevia.
5? See, " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis. Commentarius
Prsevius, sect, i. , n. 6, p. 39. They have
published St. Kentigern's Acts, at the 13th
Or the Round Table feasts at Caerlleon, Or Angel joys in paradise. "
See, Thomas Stephens' "Literature of the
of January. See, Ibid. , tomus i. , Januarii Kymry," chap, iv. , sect, ii. , p. 481.
xiii. , pp. 815 to 821.
3 Giraldus, in his "Life of St. David,"
Lect. that the saint on 10, relates, foretold
a Sunday, that he would die on the third
"
Like that of sauitly David in the choir of
Hodnant,
Or Taliesiu at the court of Elphin,
* See the foregoing account, taken from that vellum MS. Life of our saint, belonging^ formerly to the Most Rev. David Routh, and^ published by Colgan, in his " Acta Sancto-
—
* An old Welsh bard, Rhys ab Rhicceart,
Chapter vi.
'
Luke
in his
these following comparisons
See,
ii. , 29.
of — introduces description pleasure,
:
the so it came to
and that
.
feria, i. e. ,
Tuesday following ; pass.
:
" O Lord, receive my
" Now,
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 37 our Lord Jesus appeared, and transported with the ineffable beauty of his
presence, our holy bishop poured forth his soul in the exclamation :
*'
Draw
me, O Lord, after thee. " Thus passed away from life, into the loving embraceofJesus,thisennobledservant; andmultitudesofheavenlydenizens led his way to their happy mansions, where not the least illustrious amongst God's elect was crowned with a brilliant diadem of glory. -*
He dieds accordingly, amid the joyous song of angels, and in the presence of Jesus, who had himself deigned to visit him on Monday, ist of March. The Bollandists consider his age to have been 97 years, but, they also give it, as an opinion of many, that he died at the age of 147 years. This last opinion they regard as erroneous, and set down his death as occurring in the year 544. Such mortuary chronology has been followed by many modern writers ; but, by others, it has been asserted, that St. David lived to a much later period. ^ On the death of David, the disciple of Dubricius, Ismael, is said to have been consecrated in his stead as Bishop of Menevia, by St. Teliaus. Ismael is also declared to have presided over all churches on the right side of Britain. ? Now, it is stated, in an old MS. , belonging to the Church of Llandaff,^ that when a Synod had been held there in 560, the bishop, Oerdoceus, excommunicated King Mouricus. This sentence was pronounced, for a homicide perpetrated, and for a contract, violated by him, even after an oath had been taken in the bishop's presence, at the altar of St. PetertheApostle,andofSS. DubriciusandTeliaus. Suchadatewould seem to prove, that Teliaus had died some time before 560, when the honour ofbeatificationhadbeenconferreduponhim. Now,reasontheBollandists, if St. David did not die, during the reign of King Constantine, a. d. 544, when the ist of March fell on a Tuesday, he must necessarily have departed A. D. 550, when a similar coincidence took place. 9
The Bollandists enter upon the following speculative dates, to determine the epoch of St. David's birth, age and death. Supposing him to have been born towards the close of a. d. 446, thirty years or more having elapsed since St. Patrick had transacted business at Rome, and on his return had spent some time in Britain,^" and that David had died in the beginning of a. d. 544 ; our saint would have completed his ninety-sixth, or died in the ninety- seventh year of his age. They do not think it at all credible, that he lived to the extreme age of 147 years. They suppose it possible, that some transcriber of St. David's Acts, may have fallen into the error of inserting a
rum Hibeini^," sect, xxvi. , xxvii. , p. 429.
Giraldus is not so minute in his description,
relatingtothelastdaysofSt. David. He
passes overmany of the foregoing particulars, as related in the text.
s "Talari indutus tunica," adds Giraldus.
tern—ensis Ecclesia," in the province of Cere-
^
Dr. Lanigan thinks it doubtful, if he
is in Legionensi sede successisse dicendus
est, quod etiam innuit Usserius, pag. 528.
Kinoco dien mortuo S. Teliaum in Legion-
ensi sede subrogatum, Menevensi Antistitem
ordinasselsmaelem, abaliisdiciindicavimus
ad S. Teliai Vitam, sect, i. , num. 9, quae
annum mortis S. Davidis a nobis assignatum
magis confirmant. " See, "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Martii i. Commentarius
Praevius, sect, ii. , n. 15, p. 41.
were even a bishop, in 544. See, "Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap.
i. , sect, xii. , n. 106, p. 28.
7 See the Acts of St. Teliaus or Eliud,
Bishop of Landaff, in Wales, compiled by Father John Bollandus, at the ninth of Feb-
ruary,
ii. , sect.
In the Acts have been born,
"
Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
of our he is said to saint,
"
in the Februarii ix.
s Published by Henry Spelman.
'»
mediately on completion of such a term. Some months, or even a year, nearly ex-
pired, might be allowed.
Commentarius ii. , n. 13, p. 305.
Praevius,
annos xxx. ," accord- ing to the prophecy. This indefinite way of writing, the Bollandists think, would not necessarily lead us to a conclusion, that St. David had been conceived or born im-
9 Yet, opposed to this inference, may be objected the testimony of Geoffrey of Mon- mouth. Hesays,thatonthedeathofSt. David, Ki—ncus, otherwise called Kinocus or Cenaucus who was bishop over "Lampa-
tica
obtained the
of Verum
motiontotheMetropolitanSee.
*'
post
higher dignity
pro-
See,
Vita S. Davidis, n. 31, p. 432.
** In an " and article, headed, Longevity
Centenarianism," published in the " Quar- terly Review," for January, 1868. No. 247, vol. cxxiv. , several extraordinary instances of extreme age are cited, and reference is made to various works
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[Mapxh
wrong numeral, in recording those years attained at his death. Thus, such a mistake may have occurred. They take Colgan to task for assigning the long term of 147 years for our saint's life, and for instances alleged by him, to prove parallel cases. " Bucelinus places the death of St. David at a. d. 650," which is thought to have been merely a typographical error ; the printer of his work having transposed one cypher for another, so that this learnedwritermusthaveintendedtowritea. d,560. EdwardMaihewmain- tains, that St. Uavid flourished about the year of our Lord 490.
^3
The calculation of Ussher, that St. David had died, a. d. 544, seems to have been founded on false data, for it is altogether too early placed. ^-* He depended on a statement made by Geoffrey of Monmouth, who says, that St. David departed in the time of King Constantine, son of Cador, who
reigned only three years, from a. d. 542, when King Arthur fell, to a. d. 545. Into this opinion, he was further led, from the agreement of Giraldus Cam- brensis and other writers in saying, that St. David died on a Tuesday,'5 the I St day of March. It so happened these coincident days came together, in the year 544. William of Malmesbury places his death at a. d. 546,^^ and also John of Teignmouth. '? That he died a. d. 547, has been asserted in the Annals of Waverly Monastery, and in the Annals of Winton. But, that St. David lived much longer appears, not only from his own Acts, but from many other old and trustworthy records. In the " Chronicum Scotorum," David of Cill-Muine's death is set down at a. d. 588. '^ It appears from our Irish Annals, that St. Aidan, Bishop of Ferns, died in the year 624. '? Now, in the Acts of David, Aidan is said to have been residing in a monastery at Ferns, when he sent a message to our saint. Colgan thinks, that he who had been only a boy, when Ainmire reigned in Ireland,^" and afterwards many years a disciple, could not have been abbot, until after a. d. 580. He
supposes, St. David must have lived subsequently to a. d. 590, and he does not hesitate to allow this bishop may have survived until a. d. 607 or 608. The extreme age, which our saint is said to have attained, is not without parallel in written Acts of other holy British and Irish ecclesiastics and recluses. "' Extraordinary and well-authenticated cases of longevity are known, even in days long subsequent to the time, when St. David flourished. '*
" In the Bollandists' opinion, what fur- niched occasion for such an error arose from the false statement, that St. Barr or Fynbarr, had visited St. David, and the monastic habit havingbeenassumedbyConstantine,Kingof Cornwall. Thesetimesorevents,ho\vever,are supposed to have happened after the death of St. David. The evidence produced by Colgan regarding out saint's length of years are nearly altogether taken from Irish sources, and are considered to be very ob- scure. To refute such testimonies would in- volve great labour, and it might otherwise be productive of weariness to the reader.
" Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis. Commentarius Praevius, sect. ii. , n. 16, p. 41.
" See the Benedictine" Menology.
'3 Ibid.
'* See, Sir R. C. Hoare's Annotations to
^^ In "Vita S. Patricii. "
on this sub- the "Itinerary of Wales," by Giraldus ject. See, pp. 179 to 19S. It is there
Cambrensis, vol. ii. , p. 13.
treating
stated, that Iceland, Greenland and Norway
»5 Not " feria
" as
has
have boasted a always
•'
quarta feria tertia. "
Colgan
of
old people, and that the Highlands of Scot- land, with " the colder parts of Wales and England, show the same phenomenon in the
but
»* For this statement, he quotes the Chro-
nicies of Glastonbury Church.
it,
large average
very
'^
It is also under the head, "Kal. iv. ,"
according to an arrangement explained by the learned editor, William M. Hennessy,
M. R. I. A. , in his preface. See, pp. xlii. et
seq. , and pp. 62, 63.
'» See, Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 24610249, and n. (p. ) Ibid.
=°A. D. 564, 565 or 566. See ibid. , pp. 204, 205.
-' cites various Colgan
instances. See, " Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;,"i. Martii.
particular
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 39
If we are to credit the account of St. David, as contained in Roth's MS. ,
his days were prolonged to a period, far exceeding the ordinary span of life. One hundred and forty-seven years are set down as the term for his exist- ence. ''^ The truth of this account has been denied by some of our most learned and competent critics and historians. ^'^ Yet, many ancient writers^s agree in this statement, probably founded on still older accounts, or resting on a universally prevailing tradition. '^ And, indeed, if we are to form an estimate of calculation from incidents recorded, it would seem a matter of easy accomplishment, to spread the Acts of St. David over such a lengthened period. When St. Patrick, on his way to Ireland in 432,^7 foretold St. David's birth would happen thirty years later, and when this event as pre- dicted had occurred, a supposition must be entertained, that the future bishop of Menevia first saw the light in a. d. 462. We are told, that St. David was alive, after the year 560. This is concluded by Dr. Lanigan, from the circumstance of his having died, during the reign of Maelgwn, i\Ia-
whose order he is said to have been — ISIagoclun, by buried,
been — of North Wales having prince
andheissaidtohavelivedintheIsleofAnglesey MaelgwnAvasraisedto the rank of king over all the Britons,^^ about this year 560. ^9 It must have
or
in his own church at Menevia. From
glocun, Malgon
records of parishes," p. 194. laid. Amongst these instances, allusion is made to the old Countess of Desmond, in Ireland, who lived to be 140 years, and according to some ac- counts to be 150, or even 163 years. See, p. 183, ibid. , and the "Quarterly Review"
No. "
tion of Parr's dietary and mode of living
1775. aged 131 years. See, "Notes and Queries," 2nd series, vol. x. , p. 156.
^3 The Bollandist editor only allows him to have attained 82 years.
^* Ussher says, he could not be persuaded,
that St. David lived to the extraordinary age
of or until the " As to 147 years, year 604.
the 147 years he was right," observes Dr.
Lanigan, "but had he rejected the hypo- thesis of David having been born in the year 462, he would have found matters easy enough. In fact that story of so great an age was patched up to reconcile the supposi- tion of David's birth at that
for
329 to 354. See, also,
2nd Series, vol. vii. , pp. 313, 365, 431, 432. Old Parr is said to have been born at Alber- bury, Salop, in 1483, and to have died in 1635, having thus lived 152 years. Taylor, the Water Poet, gives the following descrip-
March, 1853,
vol.
Notes and Queries,"
"His physic was good butter, which the soil
Of Salop yields, more sweet than candy oil,
And garlic he esteemed beyond the rate Of Venice treacle or best mithridate.
He entertained no gout, no ache he felt, The air was good and temperate where he
dwelt,
While mavises and sweet-tongued night-
ingales
Did chaunt him roundelays and madri-
gals.
Thus living within bounds of nature's
laws.
Of his long lasting life may be some
cause. "
It may fairly be conjectured, that a nearly similar plain regimen and strict temperate habits, had a healthy influence on the pre- sumed longevity of St. David. Henry Jenkins, of EUerton, is said to have followed the occupation of fisherman to the end of a long life, lasting 169 years. Of this, how- ever, grave doubt is entertained. Peter Garden of Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, is said to have died on the 12th of January,
early period lived until towards the latter end of the
184,
xcii. , pp.
:
—
with the real circumstance of his having
"
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ix. ,
n. 147, pp. 474, 475.
^s Amongst these may be mentioned,
Ricemarc, Giraldus Cambrensis, John of
Teignmouth, John Capgrave, Harpsfeld, with others.
'^
It is said, St. David died, in the one hundred and forty-sixth year of his age, ac- cording to Herman Greuen's additions to the Martyrology of Usuard.
sixth century. " See,
^7 The Bollandist editor has it eai^lier, or about the year 414.
'^
many years
Humphry Lhuyd, as cited by Ussher and Rowland, in his " Mona Antiqua," has this event placed at A. D. 560. Also,
"
in Lewis'
year of Maclawn's ascension to the throne is mentioned as th—e year 552—Vitus being
to
cited as authority and, according Powel,
it was A. D. 580. Ussher himself takes date for his elevation, from Matthew Florilegus,
History of Britaine," p. 204, the
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
p. 533.
^•^ As to 552, the date is thought to be
much too early. Lhuyd's computation is
atA. D. 581. See, "
Index Chronologicus. "
40 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [^March I.
been after advancing to this dignity, that he interfered with regard to St. David's interment. So long as he remained a chieftain or king over North Walesonly,atMeneviahehadnojurisdictionorpower. 3° Itcannotbecon- jectured, at what period of Maelgwn's reign, which lasted, it is supposed, until A. D. 593,3' St. David died ; but, that his decease took place towards the latter end of it would seem probable, from having had for some years under his tuition St. Aidan or Maidoc, afterwards Bishop of Ferns. This latter saint was only a boy, during the reign of Ainmire, King of Ireland, which began at the earliest, in a. d. 564. 3^ Maidoc afterwards became distinguished before St. David's death. On the other hand, St. David's death cannot well be placed after Maelgwn's reign, lasting until a. d. 593.
Sharon
vol. 1. , book ii. . chap, v. , pp. 250, 251. In con," lib. i. , cap. 52.
the chief eldev. "
Turner's "History of the Anglo-Saxons,"
Wledig
See,
this same chapter, the reader will find an in-
teresting account, about the renowned King Arthur and his achievements. His history will serve to recall—these noble lines of our
S3 For authority, Alan de Insul. I. , ad Prophet. Merlini, is quoted.
Irish poet, Davis
" Then send out a thunder shout, and every
true man summon,
Till the ground shall echo round from
Severn to Plinlimmon,
Saxon foes, and Cymric brothers,
" Poems," Rulers, p. 43.
S4 "This was performed," we are told, "when St. Patrick, at presence of Melaria, then with child, lost use of his
5'
"
:
suddenly
speech ; but recovering it after some time,
" Cymric Rule and Cymric
S5 gee notices of him, at the 13th of Ja- nuary, and at the 1 3th of November.
s^ Carleon (? )
57 The BoUandists, regarding this as the last year before David's death, think St.
Kentigern might have procured many ac- counts through our saint's own narrative.
From such materials, perhaps, he might have written that obituary discourse, attri- buted to him, after the death of the holy Menevian bishop.
58 Pitseus, Bale, and Leland are cited, as authorities for statements in the text.
Arthur's come again !
Cambria; Metropolites et Primas pi'opterea factus, tantam cum Rege Arthuro gratiam iniit, ut ab urbe Legionum ad suam Meneviam Archiepiscopalem transferret sedem, ut lib. i. , cap. 52 fusius tradit Ra- nulfus Cestriensis. "—Spelman's "Concilia Decreta Leges Constitutiones in Re Eccle- siarum Orbis Britannici," p. 62.
5^ This is certified, by Giraldus Cambren-
4, and by Ralph of Chester in
**
made prediction of Dewy's holiness, joined with greatness, which is so celebrated. Upon
my author's credit only believe me. " Selden's illustrations to Drayton's Olbion. " The Fifth Song.
"
See, Poly-
Polychroni-
36 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March
ward. He was admonished by an angel about his approaching death, on the viii. of the March Kalends, corresponding with the 22nd of February. His religious brethren had been engaged, reciting the Lauds of their Holy Office,
at an early morning hour, when this angelic voice was heard :
" Behold,
the thou hast desired " The venerable bishop heard
David,
this summons with delight. In a transport of joy, he cried out :
O dismiss Lord,
day approaches !
servant in "^ The monks, who were present, peace !
thy
heardthismiraculouscolloquy; but,notfullyunderstandingitsimport,they fell prostrate on earth. The venerable bishop standing, with his countenance
and thoughts alike raised towards heaven, exclaimed ""
spirit ! In the hearing of his monks, the angel again replied :
Prepare thyself for the Kalends of March, for then Jesus Christ, the King of this world, shall meet thee, and with him will be many thousands of angels. " Sadness filled the hearts of his spiritual children, when they heard this
"
My
How delightfully instructive are the examples left to Christians by God's
saints, especially during those days, when life fast draws towards its closing scenes. Some angelic monition regarding such events appears to have
spread a rumour, not alone through all Britain, but even throughout the whole of Hibernia. The holy men of both islands assembled together, like
flocks of birds flying through air, towards some place of trysting. But, from the moment St. David had heard the angelic warning, to that of his decease, he continued in the church, preaching God's holy word to all the people. ' On that Sunday intervening,3 after an eloquent and impressive sermon, which encouraged and exhorted his audience to persevere in the practice of good works,heconsecratedthebodyofourLordintheHolyEucharist. Having now experienced the last pangs of bodily suffering, and partaken of Holy Viaticum, at the close of a devout office, he calmly said to his brethren : " On Tuesday, the Kalends of March, I will tread the way of my fathers, but you I commend to the guardianship of the Father Almighty, who will strengthen you to persevere in those things learned from me. " The tliird day of the week had dawned, and the crowing of chanticleer aroused the citizens of Menevia from midnight slumber. Delicious odours impregnated the surrounding atmosphere, and angelic choirs filled the air with ravishing harmonies. With such foretaste of heavenly joys, clerics and monks assembledtochaunttheearlyLauds. TotheenrapturedgazeofSt. David,
announcement. But, the Blessed David consoled them, saying : brethren persevere, and bear to the end, that yoke you have received. " Soon were sorrow and lamentations diffused throughout his favoured city. Tears and pious impetrations were poured out by all its inhabitants. And as the angelic words sounded in his ears, a most enchanting concert of angelic choirs was heard, while a fragrance, surpassing earth's most odoriferous per- fumes, was wafted throughout the city of Menevia.
5? See, " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis. Commentarius
Prsevius, sect, i. , n. 6, p. 39. They have
published St. Kentigern's Acts, at the 13th
Or the Round Table feasts at Caerlleon, Or Angel joys in paradise. "
See, Thomas Stephens' "Literature of the
of January. See, Ibid. , tomus i. , Januarii Kymry," chap, iv. , sect, ii. , p. 481.
xiii. , pp. 815 to 821.
3 Giraldus, in his "Life of St. David,"
Lect. that the saint on 10, relates, foretold
a Sunday, that he would die on the third
"
Like that of sauitly David in the choir of
Hodnant,
Or Taliesiu at the court of Elphin,
* See the foregoing account, taken from that vellum MS. Life of our saint, belonging^ formerly to the Most Rev. David Routh, and^ published by Colgan, in his " Acta Sancto-
—
* An old Welsh bard, Rhys ab Rhicceart,
Chapter vi.
'
Luke
in his
these following comparisons
See,
ii. , 29.
of — introduces description pleasure,
:
the so it came to
and that
.
feria, i. e. ,
Tuesday following ; pass.
:
" O Lord, receive my
" Now,
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 37 our Lord Jesus appeared, and transported with the ineffable beauty of his
presence, our holy bishop poured forth his soul in the exclamation :
*'
Draw
me, O Lord, after thee. " Thus passed away from life, into the loving embraceofJesus,thisennobledservant; andmultitudesofheavenlydenizens led his way to their happy mansions, where not the least illustrious amongst God's elect was crowned with a brilliant diadem of glory. -*
He dieds accordingly, amid the joyous song of angels, and in the presence of Jesus, who had himself deigned to visit him on Monday, ist of March. The Bollandists consider his age to have been 97 years, but, they also give it, as an opinion of many, that he died at the age of 147 years. This last opinion they regard as erroneous, and set down his death as occurring in the year 544. Such mortuary chronology has been followed by many modern writers ; but, by others, it has been asserted, that St. David lived to a much later period. ^ On the death of David, the disciple of Dubricius, Ismael, is said to have been consecrated in his stead as Bishop of Menevia, by St. Teliaus. Ismael is also declared to have presided over all churches on the right side of Britain. ? Now, it is stated, in an old MS. , belonging to the Church of Llandaff,^ that when a Synod had been held there in 560, the bishop, Oerdoceus, excommunicated King Mouricus. This sentence was pronounced, for a homicide perpetrated, and for a contract, violated by him, even after an oath had been taken in the bishop's presence, at the altar of St. PetertheApostle,andofSS. DubriciusandTeliaus. Suchadatewould seem to prove, that Teliaus had died some time before 560, when the honour ofbeatificationhadbeenconferreduponhim. Now,reasontheBollandists, if St. David did not die, during the reign of King Constantine, a. d. 544, when the ist of March fell on a Tuesday, he must necessarily have departed A. D. 550, when a similar coincidence took place. 9
The Bollandists enter upon the following speculative dates, to determine the epoch of St. David's birth, age and death. Supposing him to have been born towards the close of a. d. 446, thirty years or more having elapsed since St. Patrick had transacted business at Rome, and on his return had spent some time in Britain,^" and that David had died in the beginning of a. d. 544 ; our saint would have completed his ninety-sixth, or died in the ninety- seventh year of his age. They do not think it at all credible, that he lived to the extreme age of 147 years. They suppose it possible, that some transcriber of St. David's Acts, may have fallen into the error of inserting a
rum Hibeini^," sect, xxvi. , xxvii. , p. 429.
Giraldus is not so minute in his description,
relatingtothelastdaysofSt. David. He
passes overmany of the foregoing particulars, as related in the text.
s "Talari indutus tunica," adds Giraldus.
tern—ensis Ecclesia," in the province of Cere-
^
Dr. Lanigan thinks it doubtful, if he
is in Legionensi sede successisse dicendus
est, quod etiam innuit Usserius, pag. 528.
Kinoco dien mortuo S. Teliaum in Legion-
ensi sede subrogatum, Menevensi Antistitem
ordinasselsmaelem, abaliisdiciindicavimus
ad S. Teliai Vitam, sect, i. , num. 9, quae
annum mortis S. Davidis a nobis assignatum
magis confirmant. " See, "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Martii i. Commentarius
Praevius, sect, ii. , n. 15, p. 41.
were even a bishop, in 544. See, "Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap.
i. , sect, xii. , n. 106, p. 28.
7 See the Acts of St. Teliaus or Eliud,
Bishop of Landaff, in Wales, compiled by Father John Bollandus, at the ninth of Feb-
ruary,
ii. , sect.
In the Acts have been born,
"
Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
of our he is said to saint,
"
in the Februarii ix.
s Published by Henry Spelman.
'»
mediately on completion of such a term. Some months, or even a year, nearly ex-
pired, might be allowed.
Commentarius ii. , n. 13, p. 305.
Praevius,
annos xxx. ," accord- ing to the prophecy. This indefinite way of writing, the Bollandists think, would not necessarily lead us to a conclusion, that St. David had been conceived or born im-
9 Yet, opposed to this inference, may be objected the testimony of Geoffrey of Mon- mouth. Hesays,thatonthedeathofSt. David, Ki—ncus, otherwise called Kinocus or Cenaucus who was bishop over "Lampa-
tica
obtained the
of Verum
motiontotheMetropolitanSee.
*'
post
higher dignity
pro-
See,
Vita S. Davidis, n. 31, p. 432.
** In an " and article, headed, Longevity
Centenarianism," published in the " Quar- terly Review," for January, 1868. No. 247, vol. cxxiv. , several extraordinary instances of extreme age are cited, and reference is made to various works
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[Mapxh
wrong numeral, in recording those years attained at his death. Thus, such a mistake may have occurred. They take Colgan to task for assigning the long term of 147 years for our saint's life, and for instances alleged by him, to prove parallel cases. " Bucelinus places the death of St. David at a. d. 650," which is thought to have been merely a typographical error ; the printer of his work having transposed one cypher for another, so that this learnedwritermusthaveintendedtowritea. d,560. EdwardMaihewmain- tains, that St. Uavid flourished about the year of our Lord 490.
^3
The calculation of Ussher, that St. David had died, a. d. 544, seems to have been founded on false data, for it is altogether too early placed. ^-* He depended on a statement made by Geoffrey of Monmouth, who says, that St. David departed in the time of King Constantine, son of Cador, who
reigned only three years, from a. d. 542, when King Arthur fell, to a. d. 545. Into this opinion, he was further led, from the agreement of Giraldus Cam- brensis and other writers in saying, that St. David died on a Tuesday,'5 the I St day of March. It so happened these coincident days came together, in the year 544. William of Malmesbury places his death at a. d. 546,^^ and also John of Teignmouth. '? That he died a. d. 547, has been asserted in the Annals of Waverly Monastery, and in the Annals of Winton. But, that St. David lived much longer appears, not only from his own Acts, but from many other old and trustworthy records. In the " Chronicum Scotorum," David of Cill-Muine's death is set down at a. d. 588. '^ It appears from our Irish Annals, that St. Aidan, Bishop of Ferns, died in the year 624. '? Now, in the Acts of David, Aidan is said to have been residing in a monastery at Ferns, when he sent a message to our saint. Colgan thinks, that he who had been only a boy, when Ainmire reigned in Ireland,^" and afterwards many years a disciple, could not have been abbot, until after a. d. 580. He
supposes, St. David must have lived subsequently to a. d. 590, and he does not hesitate to allow this bishop may have survived until a. d. 607 or 608. The extreme age, which our saint is said to have attained, is not without parallel in written Acts of other holy British and Irish ecclesiastics and recluses. "' Extraordinary and well-authenticated cases of longevity are known, even in days long subsequent to the time, when St. David flourished. '*
" In the Bollandists' opinion, what fur- niched occasion for such an error arose from the false statement, that St. Barr or Fynbarr, had visited St. David, and the monastic habit havingbeenassumedbyConstantine,Kingof Cornwall. Thesetimesorevents,ho\vever,are supposed to have happened after the death of St. David. The evidence produced by Colgan regarding out saint's length of years are nearly altogether taken from Irish sources, and are considered to be very ob- scure. To refute such testimonies would in- volve great labour, and it might otherwise be productive of weariness to the reader.
" Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis. Commentarius Praevius, sect. ii. , n. 16, p. 41.
" See the Benedictine" Menology.
'3 Ibid.
'* See, Sir R. C. Hoare's Annotations to
^^ In "Vita S. Patricii. "
on this sub- the "Itinerary of Wales," by Giraldus ject. See, pp. 179 to 19S. It is there
Cambrensis, vol. ii. , p. 13.
treating
stated, that Iceland, Greenland and Norway
»5 Not " feria
" as
has
have boasted a always
•'
quarta feria tertia. "
Colgan
of
old people, and that the Highlands of Scot- land, with " the colder parts of Wales and England, show the same phenomenon in the
but
»* For this statement, he quotes the Chro-
nicies of Glastonbury Church.
it,
large average
very
'^
It is also under the head, "Kal. iv. ,"
according to an arrangement explained by the learned editor, William M. Hennessy,
M. R. I. A. , in his preface. See, pp. xlii. et
seq. , and pp. 62, 63.
'» See, Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 24610249, and n. (p. ) Ibid.
=°A. D. 564, 565 or 566. See ibid. , pp. 204, 205.
-' cites various Colgan
instances. See, " Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;,"i. Martii.
particular
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 39
If we are to credit the account of St. David, as contained in Roth's MS. ,
his days were prolonged to a period, far exceeding the ordinary span of life. One hundred and forty-seven years are set down as the term for his exist- ence. ''^ The truth of this account has been denied by some of our most learned and competent critics and historians. ^'^ Yet, many ancient writers^s agree in this statement, probably founded on still older accounts, or resting on a universally prevailing tradition. '^ And, indeed, if we are to form an estimate of calculation from incidents recorded, it would seem a matter of easy accomplishment, to spread the Acts of St. David over such a lengthened period. When St. Patrick, on his way to Ireland in 432,^7 foretold St. David's birth would happen thirty years later, and when this event as pre- dicted had occurred, a supposition must be entertained, that the future bishop of Menevia first saw the light in a. d. 462. We are told, that St. David was alive, after the year 560. This is concluded by Dr. Lanigan, from the circumstance of his having died, during the reign of Maelgwn, i\Ia-
whose order he is said to have been — ISIagoclun, by buried,
been — of North Wales having prince
andheissaidtohavelivedintheIsleofAnglesey MaelgwnAvasraisedto the rank of king over all the Britons,^^ about this year 560. ^9 It must have
or
in his own church at Menevia. From
glocun, Malgon
records of parishes," p. 194. laid. Amongst these instances, allusion is made to the old Countess of Desmond, in Ireland, who lived to be 140 years, and according to some ac- counts to be 150, or even 163 years. See, p. 183, ibid. , and the "Quarterly Review"
No. "
tion of Parr's dietary and mode of living
1775. aged 131 years. See, "Notes and Queries," 2nd series, vol. x. , p. 156.
^3 The Bollandist editor only allows him to have attained 82 years.
^* Ussher says, he could not be persuaded,
that St. David lived to the extraordinary age
of or until the " As to 147 years, year 604.
the 147 years he was right," observes Dr.
Lanigan, "but had he rejected the hypo- thesis of David having been born in the year 462, he would have found matters easy enough. In fact that story of so great an age was patched up to reconcile the supposi- tion of David's birth at that
for
329 to 354. See, also,
2nd Series, vol. vii. , pp. 313, 365, 431, 432. Old Parr is said to have been born at Alber- bury, Salop, in 1483, and to have died in 1635, having thus lived 152 years. Taylor, the Water Poet, gives the following descrip-
March, 1853,
vol.
Notes and Queries,"
"His physic was good butter, which the soil
Of Salop yields, more sweet than candy oil,
And garlic he esteemed beyond the rate Of Venice treacle or best mithridate.
He entertained no gout, no ache he felt, The air was good and temperate where he
dwelt,
While mavises and sweet-tongued night-
ingales
Did chaunt him roundelays and madri-
gals.
Thus living within bounds of nature's
laws.
Of his long lasting life may be some
cause. "
It may fairly be conjectured, that a nearly similar plain regimen and strict temperate habits, had a healthy influence on the pre- sumed longevity of St. David. Henry Jenkins, of EUerton, is said to have followed the occupation of fisherman to the end of a long life, lasting 169 years. Of this, how- ever, grave doubt is entertained. Peter Garden of Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, is said to have died on the 12th of January,
early period lived until towards the latter end of the
184,
xcii. , pp.
:
—
with the real circumstance of his having
"
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ix. ,
n. 147, pp. 474, 475.
^s Amongst these may be mentioned,
Ricemarc, Giraldus Cambrensis, John of
Teignmouth, John Capgrave, Harpsfeld, with others.
'^
It is said, St. David died, in the one hundred and forty-sixth year of his age, ac- cording to Herman Greuen's additions to the Martyrology of Usuard.
sixth century. " See,
^7 The Bollandist editor has it eai^lier, or about the year 414.
'^
many years
Humphry Lhuyd, as cited by Ussher and Rowland, in his " Mona Antiqua," has this event placed at A. D. 560. Also,
"
in Lewis'
year of Maclawn's ascension to the throne is mentioned as th—e year 552—Vitus being
to
cited as authority and, according Powel,
it was A. D. 580. Ussher himself takes date for his elevation, from Matthew Florilegus,
History of Britaine," p. 204, the
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
p. 533.
^•^ As to 552, the date is thought to be
much too early. Lhuyd's computation is
atA. D. 581. See, "
Index Chronologicus. "
40 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [^March I.
been after advancing to this dignity, that he interfered with regard to St. David's interment. So long as he remained a chieftain or king over North Walesonly,atMeneviahehadnojurisdictionorpower. 3° Itcannotbecon- jectured, at what period of Maelgwn's reign, which lasted, it is supposed, until A. D. 593,3' St. David died ; but, that his decease took place towards the latter end of it would seem probable, from having had for some years under his tuition St. Aidan or Maidoc, afterwards Bishop of Ferns. This latter saint was only a boy, during the reign of Ainmire, King of Ireland, which began at the earliest, in a. d. 564. 3^ Maidoc afterwards became distinguished before St. David's death. On the other hand, St. David's death cannot well be placed after Maelgwn's reign, lasting until a. d. 593.
