In fine, the
illustrious
pilgrim, Mochtius?
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Cure for us," said they to Patrick, our companion, and
beseech your God to awake him from death. " " My debroth" 3^ replied the saint, "I should not wonder, if he were really dead. '' He also added : "the covering of Garban shall be the covering of a dead body ; but, I tell you even more, for it is Garban Avho shall lie under it. " His friends removed the covering from Garban's face, and they found it to be so. 39
became with fear and astonishment mute,
cried "
out, Truly
then
this is a man of God. " They were all moved to repentance, for their impious
act, and they believed at once, receiving baptism, and promising a change of
Mac Cuill professed the Faith, also, and he resolved on doing heroic
life.
acts of penance. He went to the sea, and embarked in a cot, formed out of one hide, obeying the command of Blessed Patrick. Garban was awakened from death, however, through tlie prayers of our Apostle. To satisfy more fully for his crimes, Mac Cuill made his confession, and he was told, to leave his native country and friends, to give all he possessed to the poor, and afterwards to live an austere life. That very day, he resolved to make a perpetual sacrifice of the world and of its goods. His right hand was kept, during the sea-course, towards Magh-Inis, and God's holy providence, guiding his bark over the waves, at last he reached Manann,t° or Eubonia,-'' now called theIsleofMan,intheIrishsea. ^^ Hefoundtheretwovenerablepersons,who had landed before him, on that island,''^ and who are called, Coninnri,''-* or Con- derius,'^5 and Romael*^ or Romailus. ''? These preached the word of God, and established the faith, in Manann ; and, through their teaching, the people ot that island were baptized, and they believed in Christ. '*^ Those missionaries were very exemplary, in their conduct and conversation. When they saw
"quod laboratis, non proderit vobis. " Col- gan renders it correctly, as "Deus mens
judicii," or, "judicem. "
39 Thus were verified the words of St.
Peter Chrysologus : "Qui jocari voluerit
that now bears his name. Released from
his perilous situation, he retired to the mountains. He there consecrated his life
to religion. Becoming exemplary for piety, at length he was elected bisliop over Man, by the wishes of the clergy and people. It is said, St. Brigid from Ireland visited him, owing to his reputation for sanctity. She is even said to have received the veil from his hands. See "The Illustrated Guide and Visitor's Companion through the Isle of Man," By a Resident, pp. 22, 23. How- ever, in tlie latter particular, Maughold has been confounded with St. Maccalle.
*3 The conversion of the Robber Chief, Machaldus, is told in Patrick Kennedy's "Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts,"
pp. 327, 328.
^* He is thus designated, in the Irish Tri-
cum diab—olo, non poterit gaudere cum "
Christo. " Breviarium Romanum," iv. Dec. Noct. ii. , Lect. v.
*°Camdenhasit Menania,in"Britan-
nica," col. 1439. But, Orosius added the
letter M, as a prefix to the original Evania, and thus made the name, Mevania. See
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernipe,"
xiii. Januarii. De S. Connano Episcop. Mannise, n. 4, p. 60. From the latter
designation came Mannia, now iNIan.
•' Ard-Ebnanensis is also a name given to the Isle of Man. This denomination, Ard- ebnanensis, is considered to have been de-
rived, from Ard-Ebnana, the "hill of partite Life. In the Fourth Life, he is
Evania," or Man. The Irish called the
island, Eumhonia, i. e. Eubonia, as Gildas and others have it. They termed it, also,
called Conindrius, and his feast is referred, by Colgan, to the 17th of November,
^^ He is thus named, in the Latin Tripar-
*
Eumhania, or Exivania, whence came tite.
Evania. ^* So is he called, in the Irish Tripartite
*^ The Manx have a legend, that St. Life. He is named Romulus, in the Fourth, Maughold, a leader of banditti in Ireland— Fifth and Sixth Lives, while Colgan refers
either as a punishment, or according to
his festival, to the l8th of November,
other accounts, a
by voluntary
'•'' Heisthusnamed,intheLatin tite Life.
act of After- wai-ds he was driven ashore, in a small boat, and on the north part of the island,
Tripar-
penance—was bound hand and foot.
; and,
they
*^ See Rev. J. R. Cumming's "Isle of INIan, its History, Physical, Ecclesiastical,
They afterwards
7i8 LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS. [March ^^
Mac Cuill, in his hide-bound cot, they took him off the stormy sea, and they received him kindly. Afterwards, he learned letters and Divine knowledge from them. 'tg He spent, also, his whole time with them, until he became a bishop, in the place, after their death. s°
One Sunday, St. Patrick slept on a rising ground, over the sea, at Drombo, which means " the ox-ridge. " According to some authorities, the place is to
Drumbo Round Tower, County of Down.
be regarded as Drumboe, a parish near Lisburn, in the county of Down, where a Round TowerS' may now be seen, and near the site of an ancient church. 52 'Pl^g River Lagan traces the western boundary ;53 and, it is thought, in ancient times, there had been a small fortified town, on the hill of Drumboe. Others state, however, that a hill, between Saul and Quoile, or Coyle Castle, where fragments of masonry and human remains were found, must more correctly indicate the position of Colliim bovis, the Latin desig- nation for Drumbo. The latter hill overhangs Coyle River, and it is con- jectured to be near the strait, called Colliim bovis,^^ There, our saint heard a noise, made by Gentiles, who were engaged digging a rath, on the Sabbath. He called them, and told them to cease. But, they heeded him not, and
"
began to mock him. Whereupon, Patrick said,
My dcbroth, your labour
Civil and Legendary. " Van Voorst, 1843, 8vo. *9 This is Mac Cuill, or Machaldus, of Mann, or of Ard-ebanensis, as St. Patrick's Tripartite Lives remark, a famous bishop
and abbot. his favour assist us, May holy
is the devout concluding prayer.
s° According to the " Annales Ulto-
nienses," Maccaldus departed this life, A. D. 488.
5' This is about 35 feet high, and 47 in circumference. The accompanying illustra- tion presents it, from a drawing of William
F. Wakeman, on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
5' The church ruins were 45 feet in length,
by 20 broad, according to the " Ancient and Present State of the County Down," by Walter Harris, published in Dublin, A. D. 1744.
53 See "The Gazetteer of Parliamentary
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 81.
5* See Miss Cusack's '* Life of St. Patrick,
Apostle of Ireland," p. 345, and n. 6, ibid. The Rev. David B. Mulcahy is of opinion, that this place should be at Ardbo, in the county of Tyrone, and west of Lough Neagh. Letter, dated Ballinafoy, Belfast, 2ist Oct. , 1878.
55 Three Catalogues of the Ultonian kings, and written by different persons, were in
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 719
shall not profit you. " On the following night, a great tempest arose, and destroyed their work. This happened, according to the word of the holy man, and as a punishment for their impiety.
About this time, Euchadius, or Eochaidh, son of Muredac, happened to be king in Ultonia. ^s He was descended, from an illustrious family, on whom, however, he conferred httle honour. He was not only an unbeliever himself, but he prosecuted, in a tyrannical manner, those who became Christians. Two maidens, who had offered their virginity to the Lord, he bound and sent on the waves, to be drowned, as they refused to adore idols and to marry. When the Apostle heard this, he besought the king regarding them, but in vain. Then, Patrick said to Eochaidh, that there should never be a king from him, nor enough of his race to constitute an assembly or army, in Ultonia, but that his tribe should be scattered, that his own life must be short, and that he should meet a tragic fate. " Your brother, Cairell,^^ shall
have an advantage over thee, since he favourably granted me a request," said
Patrick,
" and
you
have lost
it, through your
disobedience. Cairell Hence,
shall reign as a king, and there shall be kings and chiefs of his race, over
your children, and over all Ulster. " Wherefore, from him proceeded the
race of kings, and his son Deman57 succeeded, according to the words of Patrick. The wife of Eochaidh cast herself, at the feet of the holy Apostle. According to some accounts, we should infer, that her name was Derinilla. s^ He baptized her, and blessed the child in her womb, afterwards the excellent and illustrious son, Domangart,59 or Donard, son of Eochaidh, and from whom Slieve Donard, in the county of Down, is named. ^° Regarding this holy man, a strange tradition prevailed. He it was, whom Patrick left in his body,^^ according to the popular legend, and that he should be there for ever is not the least remarkable phase of the popular behef.
Then, our saint turned back to the territory, which bore the denomination of Crioch-Rois, or Feara-Rois. ^^ Within its bounds was Druim-Mor,^3 over Cluain-Cain. ^'^ Here, he had desired to remain permanently, and to build a church. Having selected a most beautiful and convenient site, St. Patrick intended to erect an episcopal See, in a place, called Ludha,^s ©r Lughmagh,
Colgan's possession. Those records agreed with the statements, contained in the text.
s* He reigned over Uladh, and died A. D. 526. He was succeeded, by another Eocli- aidh, of the Clanna Rury, from whom descended St. Fergus, Bishop of Down, who died on the 30th March, 583.
57 He reigned fourteen years, having been slain, A. D. 565, by the shepherds or herds- men of Bon-inn. After death, his brother Baodan succeeded. He reigned twenty years, and he died, a. d. 585. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix I. , p. 202, andn. (y). Also, IL, p. 353, and nn. (f, g).
and over which he was bishop.
^'
Colgan characterizes this as a fable, im- worthy of attention.
*^ It is said to have embraced a portion ot the barony of Farney, in the county ot Monaghan, with some adjoining districts, in the counties of Meatli and Louth. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (o), p. 59, and n. (1), p. 122.
*3 It was also called probably Druim- Charadh, being situated in the diocese of Armagh and county of Louth, according to Colgan. See " Trias Thaumaturga," nn. 96, 97, p. 187. The Four Masters, at A. D. 868, call this Druim-Caradh of Ard-Cian- achta, which O'Donovan, in his notes, writes, is now Drumcar, a townland, in a parish of liie same name, in the barony of Ferrard, and county of Louth,
5^ Thus, our records state, that St. Donard's mother was Derinilla. According
to St. . (Engus the Culdee, she was also mother to St. Mura of Fahan, in Inishowen **
; Anglicised, to St. Mochumma of Druimbo ; and, be-
sides others, to St. Cillen of Achadhcail, in Lecale, beside the estuary of Dundrum.
59 His feast occurs, at the 24th of March.
^ He had a church there, as also at Rath-
Murbhuilg, now Maghera, between New- castle and Castlewellan, county of Down,
"the beautiful meadow. " Colgan thinks the place to have been iden- tical with Louth, although in his day there was a chapel, at a spot, known as Cluain,
in the county of Louth.
^5 it would appear, from the Tripartite Life, that Druim Mor was another name, for this place.
^20 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
now Louth. ^'5 Here, too, the people had a tradition, that the great Apostle of Ireland lived, for some time. ^7 But, an angel desired him to desist from that work ; because a St. Moctheus, who came out of England, on a pilgrim-
should build in that " It is not here have been place. you
" Where shall I go ? " asked Patrick.
into
destined to stay," said the Angel.
age,
" Pass on to
Macha, northwards," replied
the " The chiain below is Angel.
Ireland,
Louth Abbey, County of Louth.
fairer,"answeredPatrick. "Beitsname,therefore,Cluain-Cain,"theAngel said. " A pilgrim of the Britons shall come, and he shall occupy it, and, after-
" ^^
wards, it shall be yours. " At the word, Deo gratias ago," replied Patrick.
Then, obeying such a Divine admonition, the holy man went to a place, east- wards, and there he proposed to erect a temple, which long afterwards was destined to bear his name. Here he lived, for a time, pending the arrival of a dis- tinguishedBriton. ThatplaceisnowknownasArdpatrick,''^or"thehillof Patrick," Many—if not most—of St. Patrick's foundations occupied elevated sites, as may be seen by those, who desire to visit his churches.
In fine, the illustrious pilgrim, Mochtius? "—locally designated Moutee—came to that place,wherehebuiltanoratory,withothersuitableoffices. Thefertilefields
** Archdall gives an interesting account of
this' place, in his " Monasticon Hibernicum,"
pp. 469 to 479. The accompanying view of the ruined abbey, at this place, was drawn
on the spot, by the writer, in June, 1879. It was transferred to the wood, by William
F. Wakeman, and it was engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
*7 Such account, Archbishop Ussher re- ceived, from the inhabitants, in his day. See "Primordia," cap. xvii. , p. 854. Jocelyn and the Tripartite Lives also favour this tradition.
«8 "I give thanks to God. "
*9 It is situated, about a mile eastwards from r. outh. It afterwards belonged to St. Columba, and it was a ruin in Ussher's time.
"
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of
St. Columba," pp. 6, 7, nn. (p, r. ) Also, Corrections and Additions, pp. 461, 462.
7° This saint's feast occurs, at the 24th of March, as also on the 19th of August.
7' "At Cluain Cain, in Rosa, unbent yet old.
Dwelt Patrick long. Its sweet and flowery sward.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 721
surrounding it are even yet most attractive. 7^ This was known as Cluain- Chaoin,nowClonkeen. ? ^ Thepeoplearoundhereseemtohavebeencalled Dalruinntir,73 or Dal-Runter. 74 These went after him, to keep him, there, as one presented him to another. He blessed them, afterwards, and he pro- phesied, that distinguished chiefs and clerics should issue from them, and that they should have possessions outside their territory, because they followed him, out of their own country, when he left them.
A saint Mochteus,75 or Mauctaneus,? ^ is ranked among the disciples of our great Apostle. 77 According to the legend, one day, as Blessed Patrick and he were in spiritual conference, an angel tendered a letter,? ^ wherein the former was commanded to bestow that place, with all its appurtenances, upon St. Mochteus. It is also stated, that himself was to erect his Archiepiscopal See atArmagh. ObeyingmostwillinglythisDivinecommand,theIrishApostle committed to St. Mocheus the care of twelve lepers. These, St. Patrick him- self was accustomed to tend -p but, afterwards, as we are told, at Ard-Phad- raig,theirfoodusedtobegiventothem,eachnight,byMochta. Oursaint
He to the rock had delved with fixed
resolve 1^ In some editions of Adamnan, for Moc-
turga," p. 336.
To build thereon to God ere 5'et he theits, we find Mavcteus. Colgan's edition
died.
Then by him stood God's angel,
has Mauctaneus; but Ussher's M. S. had
Mochteus. More regarding this saint will
''"
be found in Ussher's Primordia, cap.
xvii. , p. 855.
"See "Annales Ultonienses. " Dr.
O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus iv.
78 The Irish Tripartite remarks, that it
"
'
speaking tlius,
Not here, but northward. '
'
He re-
Oh, would
This spot might favour find with
God ! Behold !
Fair is it, and as meet a church to
clasp
As is a true heart in a virgin breast To hold the Faith of Christ. The
hinds around
Name it " The beauteous meadow," '
plied,
'
Fair it is,'
Patrick, through profound humility charity, kept a leper always in his company. He tended most this afflicted man,
* nor shall lack
Another's is its beauty. Here, one day
A pilgrim from the Britons sent shall build.
And, later, what he builds to thine shall pass :
But thou to Macha get thee. ' "
—Aubrey De Vere's "Legends of St. Patrick," p. 171.
The
its crown.
angel answered,
carefully
washing with his own hands the ulcers of
7^ This parish, in the barony of Ardee, is
marked, on the " Ordnance Survey Town- bundle of reeds. The man went to that
land Maps for the County of Louth," Sheets 13, 14-
73 According to the Tripartite Life. This
place, and as he plucked up the reeds, a fountain gushed out, whereof he gave notice to the leper, when he brought him the reeds.
The " Know then, my dear leper replied :
brother, that God sent thee hither, to wash me in that fountain, and lastly to bury me
'
Which words being spoken, he gave up the ghost. As the Christian washed that leper, in the miraculous water, there remained not one spot of leprosy upon him. So burying him, the Christian de- parted. This is said to have occurred, at the place, aftei-wards known as Clonmac- noise, between Meath and Connaught. Afterwards, when St. Munis returned from
is called Mac Ui- Mocuruntir, rede,
family
Runtir, by Adamnan, in lib. i. , ch. xviii.
T- The Book of Armagh states, that the three Magi, who opposed St. Patrick, were membersofthisrace; and,itappears,that the locale of the family was at Clonkeen, in Fer-Ross. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adam- nan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. xviii. , p. 47, n. (c. )
75 In his Second Preface to the Life of St.
: Columba, Adamnan says of him " Prose-
lytus Brito, homo sanctus, sancti Patricii
in that pla(^.
episcopi discipulus. " See *' Trias Thauma- Rome, with sacred relics, he saw there a 2Z
ran to this effect :
the believing, let him be in the place he has taken. "
7» We are told, by Jocelyn, that St.
and
that person, and providing him with all necessaries of life. This leper, living with the saint, being deprived of his bodily
health, laboured by frequent prayers, and by other exercises of piety, to procure and to preserve the health of his soul. Fearing to be offensive to others, he withdrew from the company of men, and lived a solitary life, in a great hollow tree. One day, he requested a Christian, that passed by, to bring him out from a neighbouring place a
Mochta, the devoted,
72 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
departed from that locality, for a place he was destined to render so
celebrated, as the seat of Ireland's primatial See ; notwithstanding, that the good people of Louth appear to have had a most earnest desire, to retain
theirgreatmissionaryamongthem. LongafterSt. Patrick'sdeparture,they used to point out Leach-Mochta, or " Mochta's stone," which was a remark- able rock, where the two saints were accustomed to raeet,^° for their mutual edification. ^' Here, likewise, the glorious Apostle of Ireland often visited Mochta,^^ and they engaged, in various holy conversations and counsels. ^3 There, too, St. Mochta lived, afterwards, until the time of his death.
CHAPTER XXII.
ST. PATRICK IS SAID TO HAVE PRESIDED OVER THE SEE OF CLOGHER—HE IS REPORTED TO HAVE VISITED BRITAIN, AND THE ISLE OF MAN—BAPTISM OF THE PRINCESS
ST. PATRICK RETURNS TO IRELAND—HE TOWARDS* JOURNEYS — ARMAGH,
MUNESSA—
AND RECEIVES FROM DAIRE THE SITE FOR HIS GREAT CATHEDRAL ST. PATRICK MEASURES OUT ITS BOUNDARIES—VARIOUS WONDERFUL EVENTS ARE RECORDED, AFTER ITS ESTABLISHMENT.
It has been thought, that St. Patrick spent about two years in Louth, and in some of the adjoining districts of Ulster. Following his system, in placing the foundation of Armagh, at a. d. 445, Ussher brings St. Patrick to Louth, in the year 443. ' Upon a similar principle, Dr. Lanigan thinks 453 preferable, for his own theory. Our saint departed from Munster, as it has been supposed, in the year 452. For his progress towards Ulster, as also for his delay in Maghinis, his stay at Louth, and in other places, it has been computed,^ that we may allow, at least, another year to have elapsed, if not a longer time.
According to some accounts, the Irish Apostle governed the See of Clogher,
about the middle of the fifth century. 3
great light, surrounding the spot, during the silence of night, and where that leper had
been buried, while Angels, keeping watch, were singing canticles. At a subsequent
Afterwards, the holy man, named
siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect, xii. , n. 121, p. 309.
^3 gee Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. lix. , pp. 25, 26, cap. ixxii. , p. 27, cap. Ixxix. , pp. 27, 28. Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxvii. , p. 44, and nn. 49, 50, 51, pp. 49, 50, cap. Ixxx. , Ixxxi. , Ixxxii. , pp. 45, 46, and nn. 59, 60,
time, St. Kieran founded a great religious
establishment there, and he paid marked
honour to the relics of the buried leper.
See Sixth Life, chap, cxiii. , pp. 90, 91.
See, also, the Seventh Life, lib. i. , chap. 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, p. 50. Quinta Vita S.
'
xxiv. , XXV. , p. 132.
^° The Irish Tripartite has it, that Patrick 52, 53, and nn. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, p. 63.
used to come every day, from the east, or
from Ard-Phadraig, while Mochta used to
come from the west, or from Lughmadh.
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxiii. , p. 81, cap. cxiii. , pp. 90, 91, cap. cxxxii. , cxxxiii. , p. 94, and n. 134, p. 114, cap. cli. , clii. , pp. 98, 99, and nn. 156, 157, 158, 159, pp.
beseech your God to awake him from death. " " My debroth" 3^ replied the saint, "I should not wonder, if he were really dead. '' He also added : "the covering of Garban shall be the covering of a dead body ; but, I tell you even more, for it is Garban Avho shall lie under it. " His friends removed the covering from Garban's face, and they found it to be so. 39
became with fear and astonishment mute,
cried "
out, Truly
then
this is a man of God. " They were all moved to repentance, for their impious
act, and they believed at once, receiving baptism, and promising a change of
Mac Cuill professed the Faith, also, and he resolved on doing heroic
life.
acts of penance. He went to the sea, and embarked in a cot, formed out of one hide, obeying the command of Blessed Patrick. Garban was awakened from death, however, through tlie prayers of our Apostle. To satisfy more fully for his crimes, Mac Cuill made his confession, and he was told, to leave his native country and friends, to give all he possessed to the poor, and afterwards to live an austere life. That very day, he resolved to make a perpetual sacrifice of the world and of its goods. His right hand was kept, during the sea-course, towards Magh-Inis, and God's holy providence, guiding his bark over the waves, at last he reached Manann,t° or Eubonia,-'' now called theIsleofMan,intheIrishsea. ^^ Hefoundtheretwovenerablepersons,who had landed before him, on that island,''^ and who are called, Coninnri,''-* or Con- derius,'^5 and Romael*^ or Romailus. ''? These preached the word of God, and established the faith, in Manann ; and, through their teaching, the people ot that island were baptized, and they believed in Christ. '*^ Those missionaries were very exemplary, in their conduct and conversation. When they saw
"quod laboratis, non proderit vobis. " Col- gan renders it correctly, as "Deus mens
judicii," or, "judicem. "
39 Thus were verified the words of St.
Peter Chrysologus : "Qui jocari voluerit
that now bears his name. Released from
his perilous situation, he retired to the mountains. He there consecrated his life
to religion. Becoming exemplary for piety, at length he was elected bisliop over Man, by the wishes of the clergy and people. It is said, St. Brigid from Ireland visited him, owing to his reputation for sanctity. She is even said to have received the veil from his hands. See "The Illustrated Guide and Visitor's Companion through the Isle of Man," By a Resident, pp. 22, 23. How- ever, in tlie latter particular, Maughold has been confounded with St. Maccalle.
*3 The conversion of the Robber Chief, Machaldus, is told in Patrick Kennedy's "Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts,"
pp. 327, 328.
^* He is thus designated, in the Irish Tri-
cum diab—olo, non poterit gaudere cum "
Christo. " Breviarium Romanum," iv. Dec. Noct. ii. , Lect. v.
*°Camdenhasit Menania,in"Britan-
nica," col. 1439. But, Orosius added the
letter M, as a prefix to the original Evania, and thus made the name, Mevania. See
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernipe,"
xiii. Januarii. De S. Connano Episcop. Mannise, n. 4, p. 60. From the latter
designation came Mannia, now iNIan.
•' Ard-Ebnanensis is also a name given to the Isle of Man. This denomination, Ard- ebnanensis, is considered to have been de-
rived, from Ard-Ebnana, the "hill of partite Life. In the Fourth Life, he is
Evania," or Man. The Irish called the
island, Eumhonia, i. e. Eubonia, as Gildas and others have it. They termed it, also,
called Conindrius, and his feast is referred, by Colgan, to the 17th of November,
^^ He is thus named, in the Latin Tripar-
*
Eumhania, or Exivania, whence came tite.
Evania. ^* So is he called, in the Irish Tripartite
*^ The Manx have a legend, that St. Life. He is named Romulus, in the Fourth, Maughold, a leader of banditti in Ireland— Fifth and Sixth Lives, while Colgan refers
either as a punishment, or according to
his festival, to the l8th of November,
other accounts, a
by voluntary
'•'' Heisthusnamed,intheLatin tite Life.
act of After- wai-ds he was driven ashore, in a small boat, and on the north part of the island,
Tripar-
penance—was bound hand and foot.
; and,
they
*^ See Rev. J. R. Cumming's "Isle of INIan, its History, Physical, Ecclesiastical,
They afterwards
7i8 LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS. [March ^^
Mac Cuill, in his hide-bound cot, they took him off the stormy sea, and they received him kindly. Afterwards, he learned letters and Divine knowledge from them. 'tg He spent, also, his whole time with them, until he became a bishop, in the place, after their death. s°
One Sunday, St. Patrick slept on a rising ground, over the sea, at Drombo, which means " the ox-ridge. " According to some authorities, the place is to
Drumbo Round Tower, County of Down.
be regarded as Drumboe, a parish near Lisburn, in the county of Down, where a Round TowerS' may now be seen, and near the site of an ancient church. 52 'Pl^g River Lagan traces the western boundary ;53 and, it is thought, in ancient times, there had been a small fortified town, on the hill of Drumboe. Others state, however, that a hill, between Saul and Quoile, or Coyle Castle, where fragments of masonry and human remains were found, must more correctly indicate the position of Colliim bovis, the Latin desig- nation for Drumbo. The latter hill overhangs Coyle River, and it is con- jectured to be near the strait, called Colliim bovis,^^ There, our saint heard a noise, made by Gentiles, who were engaged digging a rath, on the Sabbath. He called them, and told them to cease. But, they heeded him not, and
"
began to mock him. Whereupon, Patrick said,
My dcbroth, your labour
Civil and Legendary. " Van Voorst, 1843, 8vo. *9 This is Mac Cuill, or Machaldus, of Mann, or of Ard-ebanensis, as St. Patrick's Tripartite Lives remark, a famous bishop
and abbot. his favour assist us, May holy
is the devout concluding prayer.
s° According to the " Annales Ulto-
nienses," Maccaldus departed this life, A. D. 488.
5' This is about 35 feet high, and 47 in circumference. The accompanying illustra- tion presents it, from a drawing of William
F. Wakeman, on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
5' The church ruins were 45 feet in length,
by 20 broad, according to the " Ancient and Present State of the County Down," by Walter Harris, published in Dublin, A. D. 1744.
53 See "The Gazetteer of Parliamentary
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 81.
5* See Miss Cusack's '* Life of St. Patrick,
Apostle of Ireland," p. 345, and n. 6, ibid. The Rev. David B. Mulcahy is of opinion, that this place should be at Ardbo, in the county of Tyrone, and west of Lough Neagh. Letter, dated Ballinafoy, Belfast, 2ist Oct. , 1878.
55 Three Catalogues of the Ultonian kings, and written by different persons, were in
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 719
shall not profit you. " On the following night, a great tempest arose, and destroyed their work. This happened, according to the word of the holy man, and as a punishment for their impiety.
About this time, Euchadius, or Eochaidh, son of Muredac, happened to be king in Ultonia. ^s He was descended, from an illustrious family, on whom, however, he conferred httle honour. He was not only an unbeliever himself, but he prosecuted, in a tyrannical manner, those who became Christians. Two maidens, who had offered their virginity to the Lord, he bound and sent on the waves, to be drowned, as they refused to adore idols and to marry. When the Apostle heard this, he besought the king regarding them, but in vain. Then, Patrick said to Eochaidh, that there should never be a king from him, nor enough of his race to constitute an assembly or army, in Ultonia, but that his tribe should be scattered, that his own life must be short, and that he should meet a tragic fate. " Your brother, Cairell,^^ shall
have an advantage over thee, since he favourably granted me a request," said
Patrick,
" and
you
have lost
it, through your
disobedience. Cairell Hence,
shall reign as a king, and there shall be kings and chiefs of his race, over
your children, and over all Ulster. " Wherefore, from him proceeded the
race of kings, and his son Deman57 succeeded, according to the words of Patrick. The wife of Eochaidh cast herself, at the feet of the holy Apostle. According to some accounts, we should infer, that her name was Derinilla. s^ He baptized her, and blessed the child in her womb, afterwards the excellent and illustrious son, Domangart,59 or Donard, son of Eochaidh, and from whom Slieve Donard, in the county of Down, is named. ^° Regarding this holy man, a strange tradition prevailed. He it was, whom Patrick left in his body,^^ according to the popular legend, and that he should be there for ever is not the least remarkable phase of the popular behef.
Then, our saint turned back to the territory, which bore the denomination of Crioch-Rois, or Feara-Rois. ^^ Within its bounds was Druim-Mor,^3 over Cluain-Cain. ^'^ Here, he had desired to remain permanently, and to build a church. Having selected a most beautiful and convenient site, St. Patrick intended to erect an episcopal See, in a place, called Ludha,^s ©r Lughmagh,
Colgan's possession. Those records agreed with the statements, contained in the text.
s* He reigned over Uladh, and died A. D. 526. He was succeeded, by another Eocli- aidh, of the Clanna Rury, from whom descended St. Fergus, Bishop of Down, who died on the 30th March, 583.
57 He reigned fourteen years, having been slain, A. D. 565, by the shepherds or herds- men of Bon-inn. After death, his brother Baodan succeeded. He reigned twenty years, and he died, a. d. 585. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix I. , p. 202, andn. (y). Also, IL, p. 353, and nn. (f, g).
and over which he was bishop.
^'
Colgan characterizes this as a fable, im- worthy of attention.
*^ It is said to have embraced a portion ot the barony of Farney, in the county ot Monaghan, with some adjoining districts, in the counties of Meatli and Louth. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (o), p. 59, and n. (1), p. 122.
*3 It was also called probably Druim- Charadh, being situated in the diocese of Armagh and county of Louth, according to Colgan. See " Trias Thaumaturga," nn. 96, 97, p. 187. The Four Masters, at A. D. 868, call this Druim-Caradh of Ard-Cian- achta, which O'Donovan, in his notes, writes, is now Drumcar, a townland, in a parish of liie same name, in the barony of Ferrard, and county of Louth,
5^ Thus, our records state, that St. Donard's mother was Derinilla. According
to St. . (Engus the Culdee, she was also mother to St. Mura of Fahan, in Inishowen **
; Anglicised, to St. Mochumma of Druimbo ; and, be-
sides others, to St. Cillen of Achadhcail, in Lecale, beside the estuary of Dundrum.
59 His feast occurs, at the 24th of March.
^ He had a church there, as also at Rath-
Murbhuilg, now Maghera, between New- castle and Castlewellan, county of Down,
"the beautiful meadow. " Colgan thinks the place to have been iden- tical with Louth, although in his day there was a chapel, at a spot, known as Cluain,
in the county of Louth.
^5 it would appear, from the Tripartite Life, that Druim Mor was another name, for this place.
^20 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
now Louth. ^'5 Here, too, the people had a tradition, that the great Apostle of Ireland lived, for some time. ^7 But, an angel desired him to desist from that work ; because a St. Moctheus, who came out of England, on a pilgrim-
should build in that " It is not here have been place. you
" Where shall I go ? " asked Patrick.
into
destined to stay," said the Angel.
age,
" Pass on to
Macha, northwards," replied
the " The chiain below is Angel.
Ireland,
Louth Abbey, County of Louth.
fairer,"answeredPatrick. "Beitsname,therefore,Cluain-Cain,"theAngel said. " A pilgrim of the Britons shall come, and he shall occupy it, and, after-
" ^^
wards, it shall be yours. " At the word, Deo gratias ago," replied Patrick.
Then, obeying such a Divine admonition, the holy man went to a place, east- wards, and there he proposed to erect a temple, which long afterwards was destined to bear his name. Here he lived, for a time, pending the arrival of a dis- tinguishedBriton. ThatplaceisnowknownasArdpatrick,''^or"thehillof Patrick," Many—if not most—of St. Patrick's foundations occupied elevated sites, as may be seen by those, who desire to visit his churches.
In fine, the illustrious pilgrim, Mochtius? "—locally designated Moutee—came to that place,wherehebuiltanoratory,withothersuitableoffices. Thefertilefields
** Archdall gives an interesting account of
this' place, in his " Monasticon Hibernicum,"
pp. 469 to 479. The accompanying view of the ruined abbey, at this place, was drawn
on the spot, by the writer, in June, 1879. It was transferred to the wood, by William
F. Wakeman, and it was engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
*7 Such account, Archbishop Ussher re- ceived, from the inhabitants, in his day. See "Primordia," cap. xvii. , p. 854. Jocelyn and the Tripartite Lives also favour this tradition.
«8 "I give thanks to God. "
*9 It is situated, about a mile eastwards from r. outh. It afterwards belonged to St. Columba, and it was a ruin in Ussher's time.
"
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of
St. Columba," pp. 6, 7, nn. (p, r. ) Also, Corrections and Additions, pp. 461, 462.
7° This saint's feast occurs, at the 24th of March, as also on the 19th of August.
7' "At Cluain Cain, in Rosa, unbent yet old.
Dwelt Patrick long. Its sweet and flowery sward.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 721
surrounding it are even yet most attractive. 7^ This was known as Cluain- Chaoin,nowClonkeen. ? ^ Thepeoplearoundhereseemtohavebeencalled Dalruinntir,73 or Dal-Runter. 74 These went after him, to keep him, there, as one presented him to another. He blessed them, afterwards, and he pro- phesied, that distinguished chiefs and clerics should issue from them, and that they should have possessions outside their territory, because they followed him, out of their own country, when he left them.
A saint Mochteus,75 or Mauctaneus,? ^ is ranked among the disciples of our great Apostle. 77 According to the legend, one day, as Blessed Patrick and he were in spiritual conference, an angel tendered a letter,? ^ wherein the former was commanded to bestow that place, with all its appurtenances, upon St. Mochteus. It is also stated, that himself was to erect his Archiepiscopal See atArmagh. ObeyingmostwillinglythisDivinecommand,theIrishApostle committed to St. Mocheus the care of twelve lepers. These, St. Patrick him- self was accustomed to tend -p but, afterwards, as we are told, at Ard-Phad- raig,theirfoodusedtobegiventothem,eachnight,byMochta. Oursaint
He to the rock had delved with fixed
resolve 1^ In some editions of Adamnan, for Moc-
turga," p. 336.
To build thereon to God ere 5'et he theits, we find Mavcteus. Colgan's edition
died.
Then by him stood God's angel,
has Mauctaneus; but Ussher's M. S. had
Mochteus. More regarding this saint will
''"
be found in Ussher's Primordia, cap.
xvii. , p. 855.
"See "Annales Ultonienses. " Dr.
O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus iv.
78 The Irish Tripartite remarks, that it
"
'
speaking tlius,
Not here, but northward. '
'
He re-
Oh, would
This spot might favour find with
God ! Behold !
Fair is it, and as meet a church to
clasp
As is a true heart in a virgin breast To hold the Faith of Christ. The
hinds around
Name it " The beauteous meadow," '
plied,
'
Fair it is,'
Patrick, through profound humility charity, kept a leper always in his company. He tended most this afflicted man,
* nor shall lack
Another's is its beauty. Here, one day
A pilgrim from the Britons sent shall build.
And, later, what he builds to thine shall pass :
But thou to Macha get thee. ' "
—Aubrey De Vere's "Legends of St. Patrick," p. 171.
The
its crown.
angel answered,
carefully
washing with his own hands the ulcers of
7^ This parish, in the barony of Ardee, is
marked, on the " Ordnance Survey Town- bundle of reeds. The man went to that
land Maps for the County of Louth," Sheets 13, 14-
73 According to the Tripartite Life. This
place, and as he plucked up the reeds, a fountain gushed out, whereof he gave notice to the leper, when he brought him the reeds.
The " Know then, my dear leper replied :
brother, that God sent thee hither, to wash me in that fountain, and lastly to bury me
'
Which words being spoken, he gave up the ghost. As the Christian washed that leper, in the miraculous water, there remained not one spot of leprosy upon him. So burying him, the Christian de- parted. This is said to have occurred, at the place, aftei-wards known as Clonmac- noise, between Meath and Connaught. Afterwards, when St. Munis returned from
is called Mac Ui- Mocuruntir, rede,
family
Runtir, by Adamnan, in lib. i. , ch. xviii.
T- The Book of Armagh states, that the three Magi, who opposed St. Patrick, were membersofthisrace; and,itappears,that the locale of the family was at Clonkeen, in Fer-Ross. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adam- nan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. xviii. , p. 47, n. (c. )
75 In his Second Preface to the Life of St.
: Columba, Adamnan says of him " Prose-
lytus Brito, homo sanctus, sancti Patricii
in that pla(^.
episcopi discipulus. " See *' Trias Thauma- Rome, with sacred relics, he saw there a 2Z
ran to this effect :
the believing, let him be in the place he has taken. "
7» We are told, by Jocelyn, that St.
and
that person, and providing him with all necessaries of life. This leper, living with the saint, being deprived of his bodily
health, laboured by frequent prayers, and by other exercises of piety, to procure and to preserve the health of his soul. Fearing to be offensive to others, he withdrew from the company of men, and lived a solitary life, in a great hollow tree. One day, he requested a Christian, that passed by, to bring him out from a neighbouring place a
Mochta, the devoted,
72 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
departed from that locality, for a place he was destined to render so
celebrated, as the seat of Ireland's primatial See ; notwithstanding, that the good people of Louth appear to have had a most earnest desire, to retain
theirgreatmissionaryamongthem. LongafterSt. Patrick'sdeparture,they used to point out Leach-Mochta, or " Mochta's stone," which was a remark- able rock, where the two saints were accustomed to raeet,^° for their mutual edification. ^' Here, likewise, the glorious Apostle of Ireland often visited Mochta,^^ and they engaged, in various holy conversations and counsels. ^3 There, too, St. Mochta lived, afterwards, until the time of his death.
CHAPTER XXII.
ST. PATRICK IS SAID TO HAVE PRESIDED OVER THE SEE OF CLOGHER—HE IS REPORTED TO HAVE VISITED BRITAIN, AND THE ISLE OF MAN—BAPTISM OF THE PRINCESS
ST. PATRICK RETURNS TO IRELAND—HE TOWARDS* JOURNEYS — ARMAGH,
MUNESSA—
AND RECEIVES FROM DAIRE THE SITE FOR HIS GREAT CATHEDRAL ST. PATRICK MEASURES OUT ITS BOUNDARIES—VARIOUS WONDERFUL EVENTS ARE RECORDED, AFTER ITS ESTABLISHMENT.
It has been thought, that St. Patrick spent about two years in Louth, and in some of the adjoining districts of Ulster. Following his system, in placing the foundation of Armagh, at a. d. 445, Ussher brings St. Patrick to Louth, in the year 443. ' Upon a similar principle, Dr. Lanigan thinks 453 preferable, for his own theory. Our saint departed from Munster, as it has been supposed, in the year 452. For his progress towards Ulster, as also for his delay in Maghinis, his stay at Louth, and in other places, it has been computed,^ that we may allow, at least, another year to have elapsed, if not a longer time.
According to some accounts, the Irish Apostle governed the See of Clogher,
about the middle of the fifth century. 3
great light, surrounding the spot, during the silence of night, and where that leper had
been buried, while Angels, keeping watch, were singing canticles. At a subsequent
Afterwards, the holy man, named
siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect, xii. , n. 121, p. 309.
^3 gee Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. lix. , pp. 25, 26, cap. ixxii. , p. 27, cap. Ixxix. , pp. 27, 28. Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxvii. , p. 44, and nn. 49, 50, 51, pp. 49, 50, cap. Ixxx. , Ixxxi. , Ixxxii. , pp. 45, 46, and nn. 59, 60,
time, St. Kieran founded a great religious
establishment there, and he paid marked
honour to the relics of the buried leper.
See Sixth Life, chap, cxiii. , pp. 90, 91.
See, also, the Seventh Life, lib. i. , chap. 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, p. 50. Quinta Vita S.
'
xxiv. , XXV. , p. 132.
^° The Irish Tripartite has it, that Patrick 52, 53, and nn. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, p. 63.
used to come every day, from the east, or
from Ard-Phadraig, while Mochta used to
come from the west, or from Lughmadh.
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxiii. , p. 81, cap. cxiii. , pp. 90, 91, cap. cxxxii. , cxxxiii. , p. 94, and n. 134, p. 114, cap. cli. , clii. , pp. 98, 99, and nn. 156, 157, 158, 159, pp.
