No More Learning

3* - sTheir See ibid. ^ p. 97.
festival is usually assigned to the 4th of March.
^^ See vol. of Feb- ii. , Twenty-Third day
ruary, Article iv. , Saints Mannan and Tiaan, of Aredh-Suird, or Airiudh h-Uird.
45 See Scottish Entries in the Kalendar of 38 See "Proceedings of the Society of David Camerarius. Bishop Forbes' " Kal-
35 See ibid. , p. 113.
3* From a
Manuscript
of the sixteenth
century.
3' Communicated by David Laing, Esq. ,
F. S. A. , Scot.
Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. Sessions
261.
endars of Scottish Saints," p. 235.
* See " Historia Ecclesiastica Dempster's
Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num.
851, p. 453.
' a note on Moinend, in the " Feilire "
lib. v. , pp. 158, 159.
'See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of mo^bA CluAriA 'pet\CA bt\enAin'o, i. e. ,
Scottish Saints," p. 146. "Bishop and Coarb of Cluaia-Ferta of *' See ibid. , p. 193. Brenaind. "
MDCCCLiv—v. MDCCCLVi—
VII. , p. According to George Buchanan, King Constantine II. reigned from A. D. 858 to 874. See "Rerum Scoticarum Historia,"
39
" De
of St. ^ngus thus runs : ej'poc ocax'^ co-
Legitima lib. i.
£
66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
The present saint is thought to have been a companion of St. Brendan, during the seven years of his trans-Atlantic voyage ; and to have afterwards lived under this holy abbot's rule, at Clonfert. But, indeed, historic notices have been so obscure regardmg him, that little of a definite character can be gleaned for his Acts. The ancient building at Clonfert had been remodelled, at various periods, and it is now used for the Protestant episcopal parish church. It consisted of nave, chancel and transepts. The chancel, supposed to be the oldest part of the building, is 27^ feet long, by 22 feet in breadth 3 while
the nave measures 54 feet in length, and 27 feet 6 inches in breadth, clear of thewalls. Thesouthwallofthenaveisabout14or15feethigh,and2feet 6 inches in thickness, while the chancel wall only measures 2 feet in depth. The gables are
highly pitched, yet so covered with
thick ivy, that there is no way of seeing what was the nature of the roof. Themason- ry of this build-
ing is in irregular courses of rough
sandstone, laid in rough mortar, without ashlar work. 5' Thedoor- way of sandstone deserves a parti-
cular study. 53 Two outer pilasters sup- port a high pitched
the
pediment :
doorway proper is
deeply recessed,
in six jamb-shafts
and piers, on
either side, sur-
rounded by capi-
tals. From these
springs a beautiful
columnar rounded
arch, with a row
of bosses, all
varied in pattern.
The most quaint and elaborate carving appears on all the stones of which it is composed ; and, an amazing variety of ornament, showing a marvellous fertility of invention,54 is manifested in a work, which has hitherto so well
*^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvii. By Edwin, third Earl of Dunraven, edited 4' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of by Margaret Stokes, vol. ii. , p. 106.
founded a great monastery here, in the middle of the sixth century. 5*
^
Scottish Saints," p. 412.
50 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 60, 61.
5' See Archdall's "Monasticon Hibcmi«
cum," p. 278.
53 Two fine autotypes accompany the letter-press of the noble work, to which allusion has been made in the previous note. The accompanying illustration of the door- way has been copied therefrom by the writer, with kind permission of Miss Stokes. It has
5» See
"
Notes on Irish Architecture. "
Doorway of Clonfert Church, County Galway.
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 67
stood the ravages of time. Colgan would fain make St. Moinend or Monen- neus the same as Moena, who died Bishop of Clonfert, in the year 570, or
571. But, Dr. Lanigan asks, how could a man, who had been a bishop in Britain, before Tigernach became one in 506, be supposed to have lived to so late a period ? Besides, as he remarks, the names are plainly different. ss To wind up the uncertain accounts regarding him, we have only to state, the Annals of the Four Masters, at a. d. 570, mention, that St. Maeineann, Bishop of Cluain-fearta-Breanainn, died on the ist of March. s^ Tighernach,57 and the Annalists of Ulster, assign his death to a. d. 571. 5^ The foregoing account must mean, our saint was either a bishop assistant, or a bishop desig- nate, of St. Brendan's foundation, as the death of the founder is, by the Annals of Ulster, -9 and of the Four Masters, assigned to a. d. 576. ^° Yet, we heartily wish, the foregoing notices should be more critically examined, by future writers.
Article VI. —Obituary Festival of St. Senan, Abbot of Scattery Island,CountyofClare. \SixthCenturyi\ Oneofthemostrenowned among our old saints was St. Senan, Abbot of Iniscathaigh. At this date, as noticed by Colgan' and by the BoUandists,^ his death occurred ; althougli, his chief festival is set down, at the 8th of March, where his Life will be found written more at length. The old metrical Acts, published by Calgan, allude to the coincidence of his departure on St. David's day; and, with the illus- trious prelate of Menevia, he was bound in a special spiritual friendship. Senan, Bishop, is the only mention made of him, in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh,3 at this date. At the Kalends of March, the Calendar of Cashel places the death of St. Senan. Marianus O'Gorman, and Maguire have his festival, also, at the present date. It is stated to be that day, when his departure fromlifefirsttookplace; but,that,throughasingulardispensationofDivine Providence, he was again revivified, and that on the eighth day subsequent, Senan was finally summoned away to heaven. The Martyrology of Donegal* mentions on this day Senan, of Inis Cathaigh. s in the table affixed, this saint's name has been Latinized, Priscianus. ^ Under the head of Inis Cat- haigh, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Senan, Bishop, from Inis-Cathaigh, at March
ist. 7 ThereisanotherfeasttoSenin,onthe8thofMarch; but,thispresent
been drawn on the wood by William F.
Wakeman, and engraved by George A. Hanlon.
5* In Richard Rolt Brash's "Ecclesias-
tical Architecture of Ireland," there is a Hiberniae," Martii i. De S. Senano Epis-
minute and critical detailed description of
the workmanship, at p. 42.
ss See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. i. , chap ix. , sect, ii. , n. 17, p. 437.
Article vi,—'See "Acta Sanctorum copo, p. 440.
5« See Dr. O'Donovan's
pp. 206, 207.
R. I'A.
58 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni-
carum tomus ii.
Scriptores," Tigernaci
Annales, p. 151. The Annales Ultonienses state ''Moena Eps Cluana ferta Brenain
* Edited Drs. Todd and by
57
According
60, 61.
s " Aut de Insula
to the MS.
and English, which is to be found in the
of the Irish Scribe of * handwriting Brannan,
Edition,
vol.
i. ,
Reeves, pp. " state the Bol-
copy,
in Irish
Gatag, landists, at this date.
"The
Charles O'Conor, of Belanagare, fol. 22, 23. pp. 464, 465. Dr. Todd here remarks ;
Cluana:
». £•. , Episcopus civitatis Cluaufert] quievit. "
Academy," Irish MS. Series, vol. i. , parti. , pp. 114, 115.
^ Dr. Todd in a note at the word adds,
Aen^hus : "Or rather, according to the
[yi/<7^«a Episcopus
fertae Brendani,
—Ibid. , tomus iv. , p. 26. S9 See ibid. , p. 28.
*"Seeibid. , pp. 208,209.
*
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Martii i. Among the pretermitted Saints,
p. 4.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
See,
of Martyrology Donegal,"
"The Irish word Sean signifies antiquus, priscus. "
^ See " of the Irish Proceedings Royal
68 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
one is the commemoration of his death, as the O'Clerys inexactly state,
according to Aenghus. ^ The same thing is understood, from the Life of Sen^n, where it treats about his death.
Article VII. —St. Cassan, Casyn, or Cassain, Son of Neman. \Sixth Century^ A brief notice of this holy man is given, by the BoUan- dists,^ who remark on Colgan having omitted all mention of him, at this day, although assigning his festival to it. This supposes him to be identical with a holy man, who must have flourished, so early as the sixth century. He is alluded to as Casyn, in the Acts^ of St. Brigid,3 Abbess of Kildare. To illus-
"
trate his pedigree, Colgan cites the twenty-second chapter of the
Sanctilogic
Genealogy. "* St.
Finian of Clonard^ met St. Cassan, the son of Neman, in
the country of Fortcherten. The latter greatly rejoiced at his approach ;
whilehesubjectedhimselfandhischurchtoFinian. ThenameCassanmac
Nemain, without any further designation, occurs in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh,^ at the ist of March. At this date, also, Marianus O'Gorman com-
memorates him. Again, on this day was venerated, according to the Martyrology of Donegal,? Caissin, son of Nemdn. There was a Caisin of the
Dal Buain, adds the compiler, who belonged to the race of Eochaidh, son to Muiredh, and who sprung from the posterity of Heremon.
Article VIII. —St. Enan Mac Nissi, Bishop. The Bollandists record
a St. Macnissius or Maonissius, at this date, relying on the Irish Martyrolo- gists,althoughacknowledging,thatotherwisehewasunknown. ' Thename
Enan, without any other title, is found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* at the ist of March ; but, it would seem Macnisi, with its adjunct, bishop, ought to be placed in conjunction with the first name. Marianus O'Gorman, likewise, notices him. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day was venerated Endn, Mac Nissi. -*
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of St. Non, Nonna, Nonnita or Melari, Mother of St. David, Archbishop of Menevia, Wales. \^Fifth Century? [ InamanuscriptcopyofFlorarius,thepiousmotherofSt. David,^
Archbishop of Menevia, in Wales, is entered as St. Nonnita, Martyr, at this date. But, the Bollandists assert, that elsewhere, she is not found among the lists of saints, neither does it appear, that her life was crowned by martyr- dom. ^ The illustrious David's mother, Non, or Nonnita, by name, is usually designated a nun. But, in the oldest and most consistent Life of St. David, and also in the Life given by Colgan, she is spoken of as a beautiful girl, whom the chieftain of Ceretica, Xantus, met as he journeyed into Demetia,
Scholiast on Aengiis, whose words are,
Article viii. —'See "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Martii i. Among the pre-
termitted Saints," p. 3.
^
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
60, 61.
* In a note, Dr. Todd here "The says:
Mart. Taml. distinguishes Enan and Mac
Nissi, but M. O'Gorman, as explained by the gloss, makes—them one and the same. "
'
Article ix. See his Life, already
given, at this date.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Martii i. Among the pretermitted Saints, p, 3.
'
obitus est in hoc—die. '"
Article VII. ' See " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Martii i. Among the pre- termitted Saints," p. 3.
"
See the BoUandist Collection, at the 1st
of sect, xiii. , num. Ii6. February, 105, p.
3 See her Life, at the 1st of February.
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernias," xxiii.
Februarii. Vita S. Finniani seu Finneni
Abbatis de Cluain-Eraird, n. 20, p. 398.
5 See his Life, at the 12th of December. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
1 Edited bv Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
-
60, 61,
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 69
and of whom he became
enamoured. 3- She is said to have been daughter to Bracan or Breccan, an Irish prince, who settled in Wales, and who died a. d. 450. Whether she was born there or in Ireland seems a matter open to question. In the Shire of Cornwall, and in the union of Camelford, and hundred of Lesnewth, lies the parish of Tintagel. * This is said to have been the stronghold and birthplace of the famous King Arthur, to whom St. David was so closely related. Adjoining it, on the east side, is the wide parish of Alternun, where, tradition tells us, his mother abode, and where her well remains to this day. 5 The particulars of her life, so far as known to us, have been already embodied in the Acts of St. David, which precede. She lived a most holy and austere life, as the Acts of her cele- brated son indicate. ^ Non seems to have been a woman of great Christian
3 See Rev. John Adams' " Chronicles of Cornish Samts," No. v. , S. David.
* See an account of it, in Lewis' " Topo-
graphical Dictionary of England," vol. iv. , pp. 362, 363.
s See Rev. John Adams' "Chronicles of Cornish Saints," No. v. , S. David.
* See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis, ex MS.
Cornish Saints," No. v. , S. David. Ak-TICLE X. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xvii. — Article xi.
Kelly, p. xvii.
=
'Edited
by
Rev, Dr,
num. 2, 3,
*
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Ultrajectino, cap. i. ,
7 See Rev. John Adams' " Chronicles of
passionately
zeal. There are four religious edifices in Wales dedicated to her memory, all of which, like her church in Cornwall, are situated in the immediate neighbourhood of churches ascribed to her renowned son. ?
Article X. —Banfota. According to the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^venerationwasgiven,attheistofMarch^toBanfota. Tous,this
entry is simply unintelligible.
Article XI. —St. Columba or Colum, of Ceann Garadh, now Kin- garth,INBute,Scotland. Wefindthenameofthissaintentered,inthe MartyrologyofTallagh,^attheistofMarch. MarianusO'Gormanhasa notice of him, likewise, as the Bollandists observe,^ placing him among the pretermitted Saints. Colum, of Ceann Garadh, is mentioned in the Martyr- ology of Donegal,^ as having a festival at this date. When he flourished does not appear, from the Annals of the Four Masters.
Article XII. —St. Saran, Bishop. At the 17th of February, when
treating about the saints, buried at Trim, Colgan alluded to a St. Saran, veneratedattheistandlothofMarch;^ but,ateitherday,hehastakenno further notice of them. The Bollandists merely notice St. Saran, a bishop, at the ist of March, and point out such omission," We find an entry, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the ist of March, relating to St. Saran, a bishop. The festival of Sardn, Bishop, is registered in the Martyrology of Donegal,* on this day. More we cannot state, in reference to him.
Article XIII. —Reputed Festival of a St. Fergana, Abbot. The MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. i. i. , contains in its Calendar list, at March ist, Sancti Fergana Abbatis, ix. , Lect. This was formerly the Antiphonarium of
pp.
41, 42.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i,, Martiii. , p. 3.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
60, 61.
Article xii. —'See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernire," xvii, Februarii, p, 367.
Martii i. Among the pretermitted Saints,
p, 3.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
70 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [March 2.
the Culdees, at the MetropoHtan Church of Armagh. As will be seen, at the
ensuing day, St, Fergna, Britt, Bishop and Abbot of lona, is then venerated, and perhaps the present notice may, likewise, have reference to him.
ArticleXIV. —ReputedFestivalofSt. Cedde. Inthe"Scottish Kalendar,"isenteredCedde,attheistofMarch. ^ Wethink,however,this must be a mistake for the 2nd of this month.
^erontr ©ay of ilarrt*
ARTICLE I. —ST. CEDDA OR CHAD, BISHOP OF LICHFIELD, AND APOSTLE OF THE MERCIANS.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. '\
CHAPTER I.
ST. CEADDA'S or chad's acts—his family and birth—HIS EARLY EDUCATION IN LIN- DISFARNE AND IN IRELAND—HE IS PLACED OVER LESTINGAN MONASTERY—OWEN OROWINIBECOMESHISDISCIPLE—THELEGENDOFST. CHAD,KINGWULFEREAND HIS FAMILY.
chiefest and most reliable accounts, we find, regarding this holy
THE are taken from Venerable Bede. ^ Since his bishop, time,
others have
treated concerning him ; as, for example, John Capgrave,'' Dempster,3 Dean Crcssy. '^ At the 2nd day of March, Colgan introduces Acts of this saint. These are chiefly taken from Venerable Bede, and Colgan has added notes of his own toillustratethememoir. s TheBoUandistsalsohaveinsertedhisActs. ^Adrien Baillet,7 Bishop Challenor,^ Rev. Alban Butler,9 Rohrbacher,'° and Rev. S.
A
metrical Life of St. Chad, attributed to Robert of Glocester, is likewise ex-
tant ; and, among the Bodleian MSS. , there is an Anglo-Saxon homily for
St.