'ti The ground-plan pre- sents an appearance of great regularity, and the
building
is cruciform.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
.
nu.
.
855.
p.
« The Rev. Alban Butler incorrectly sup- num. xxiv. , p. 61 Its site °" *(=
^:^-^-,,^:S! ^^XoV ^S
die Irih TMd
i^*^'"'''P"''
«"[;
Apkil 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 183
was chosen, as a place of residence, by some of the ancient Counts "» and Bishops of Orkney,"" while a church was there, at the time of our narrative. Whether it was identical, with the unique towered one there at present, may be questioned. This consists of nave and chancel,'"' but it differs from all other known churches in Scotland, a Round Tower "" on tothe west
by having joined
end of the nave. '°3 The whole structure is of irregularly coursed masonry. '"* There is nothing in the material or character of the tower '"s to suggest, that it had not been built, at a period corresponding with that of the church. "* The upper story of the tower had four windows,'"? facing the cardinal points.
Egilshay Oiiirch and Round Tower, Scotland.
The tower is built of smaller stones,"* than these used in the construction of the church, and access to it is obtained, through a round-headed doorway, opening through the west gable of the nave. '"* The chancel "" has no proper
•* The DoogUssesand Montdths were sub-
lequently iti proprieton. See ibib.
""See Robert Forsyth'* "Beauties of
Scotland,"&c. , vol. v. , Islands, Orkney p.
45, Edinburgh, 8vo, 1805 to 1808, $ vols. " Hibbert gives an engraving from an old
drawing, which represents both church and tower, as covered by stone roofs, that of the Round Tower having a conical cap, like to the Round Towers of Ireland.
'"*
This is a perfect type of the Irish Round Tower, and it may have been built, by Irish ecclesiastics, iamiliar with the archi- tecture of such structures.
"^ The accompanying illustration has been drawn by William K. Wakeman, from one in Joseph Andrews' work, " Scotland in Early Christian Times," Lecture ii. , p. 36. First Series, Edinburgh, 1881, 8vo. It has bees engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'^Generally speaking, the stones are of irregular size, but some are 4 feet long, by 18 inches deep.
'"S Its is 48 feet, but about present height
15 feet of its original height was removed
many years ago, so that it must have been, at least, 60 feet high. The internal diameter of this tower is 7 fcet ; and, at the base, the thickness of the wall is 3J feet.
** A ground plan of this is given, in Muir's "Caithness and Orkney. "
"^ Below these, there is a narrow square-
topped window, in the east side, and straight
below it, there is a semi-circularly-hcaded window, of small dimensions.
"* These are unhewn, and fitted to the round, by their length.
"9 The nave itself is 29 feet, 9 inches, long,
by 15 feet, 6 inches, in breadth, internally; while the walU are about 3 feet, in thickness.
i84 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
arch, and the end of its vault opened directly from the nave. Not dreaming
of treachery, on the day, before that appointed for the meeting, St. Magnus, preparing two long vessels,'" sailed for Egilshay, with a calm sea, and a cloud-
Nevertheless, on entering the boat, he stumbled, and immediately
not wishing to participate in an act of perfidy, one of his crew leaped over board, and swam to the nearest land. When he had reached Egilshay, Hako surroundedthechurch. ThenMagnuswentoutside,butfoundhimselfinthe midst of foes. Magnus had passed the night, in prayer ; and, early on the next morning, he devoutly received the Blessed Eucharist, while forecasting hisapproachingdoom. Theclansmen,whowerethere,insistedonthedis- advantages of a divided earldom. For some time, a parley was maintained, between the cousins. Magnus offered some humiliating proposals, to save his life; but, the wicked followers of Hako would not admit of compromise. " Then Hako ordered the standard-bearer "s to strike his helpless cousin. That man nobly refused, however, to become the executioner. Hako next
less sky.
he
said,
church, on Eglishay, and he prayed there. Next morning, he heard Mass in it. '" Instead of two vessels, as agreed upon, the treacherous Haco brought seven or eight, with a vastly greater number of armed attendants, than were warranted, by the terms of their convention. "3 Knowing Hako's purpose, and
" I fear this is an omen of a fatal fall. On he visited the landing,
desired one "* of his servants, to deal the fatal stroke ;
still, this man
" the
Mangus,
guilt is not thine ; and remember, my clothes become thy perquisite. " The Earl was then led apart to that spot, destined for his execution. With great courage, Magnus faced the executioner. "Stand before nie," he cried, "and strikeatmewithallthymight; itbeseemethnotaprincetobebeheadedlikea thief. "' Hethenblessedhimself. Beforethesecondblowwasgiventothe unfortunate Earl, he fell dead,"^ a victim to the barbarity of his unnatural relative. With his usual incorrect ideas, Dempster states, that St. Magnus suffered martyrdom, at the hands of wicked pagans,"' and when the Orkney Islands had lapsed again into the state of gentileism. "" Various are the years assigned, for this martyrdom of St. Magnus. While some accounts have
and he burst into tears. " Do not be said hesitated, afraid,"
"
It has two doorways, opposite each other, in Andrews' Scotland in Early Christian
the north and south walls, near the west
end. Theyaresemi-circularly-headed,each being 2 feet, 6 inches, wide. It has two windows, one in the north, and the other in the side wall : those are semi-circularly- headed, and widely splayed, on the interior. Besides these, there are two other windows,
on the south side, and these, apparently, are not very ancient.
"° It was roofed with a plain barrel vault ; and, its dimensions are 15 feet, by 9 feet, 6 inches, while the walls are about 2 feet, 9 inches, in thickness. There is no window, in the west end ; but, in the north wall, there is a small round-headed window, opening im- mediately under the impost of the vault. It is of the same character as those in the nave, and in the south wall there is a like window
Over the vault of the chan- eel was a chamber, to which access from the nave was given, by a round-headed doorway,
6 feet, inches, 2 2
4 high, by feet, inches,
Palladio et — commendo Servano, meipsum
et
similarly placed.
wide. The chamber was lighted by a flat-
headed window, 18 inches high, and this was
placed, in the east gable. See Joseph the Scottish Breviary.
Times. " Lecture ii. , pp. 34 to 37.
"AccordingtotheBreviaryofAberdeen, Lect. iii.
'" "
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of
the Saints," vol. iv. , April 16, p. 216.
"^ The Breviary of Aberdeen is authority for this statement. Lect. iii.
"* See " Sagan of Hinum Helga Magnuse Eya Jarle," cap. 24, pp. 494 to 499. To the writer of this work, the foregoing particulars were more fully detailed, by one Holdbod, who was present.
"5 On the same authority, he is called
Ofeyg, in cap. 25,
""' He is called Lifolf.
"' Quoting an ancient Chronicle, Camera- rius gives a different version of his dying
words
:
" Domine Jesu, tibi, S. Marise, SS.
gregemmeum. *' "MftlologiumScotorum," at the l6th of April .
"° See Forbes' " Kalendars of Bishop
Scottish Saints," p. 385.
"' This he foolishly states, although citing
April i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 185
it so early as 1104,"' 1106,'" iio9,"3j others again defer it to mo. "'* The Saga of St. Magnus states, that he died on the second day,"5 after the feast of Saints Tibiirtius and Valerian,"* and three weeks, after the festival of the Annunciation. But, the Orkneyinga Saga tells us, that he died two days, after the feast of St. Tiburtius, when himself and Hako had jointly ruled the Orkneys for seven years. "? He lived, in the year 1109, according to
ditions to Usuard's Martyrology, in Canisius, in Molanus, in Galesinius, in Ferarius, in David Camerarius, and in the works of other Kalendarists. '^ In the first instance, his body was buried in Egilshay. The church, dedicated to St. Magnus, is said to have been built, on that very spot, where the unjust andcruelmurderoftheholymantookplace;'3' and,it hasbeenidentified, with that one, to which the high and tapering round tower was attached. '^' An adventurous and a turbulent race were the inhabitants of the Orkney Is-
lands, and constantly engaged in predatory expeditions. During many a wretched age,'33 their Scandinarian settlers domineered over the Hebride
islanders, and yielded little subjection to any ruler, or obedience to any government. '3< Aftermuchentreaty,themotherofSt. Magnus,namedThora, had the remains of her martyred son removed to Christ Church, Bersa. 'JS A sister's son, named Ronald, avenged the death of his uncle, against the son of Hacon, who held for a time, after the father's death, his cousin's portionoftheprincipalityoftheOrkneys. Ronaldhadmadeavow,thatif successful against his rival, a splendid fane should be erected over the martyr's ashes ; but, when, in fine, some plots and contentions enabled him to become possessed of the whole Earldom, he resolved on the fulfilment of his resolution. '36 Finally, the body of St. Magnus was removed to Kirkwall, the chief metropolis of the Orkney Islands, and there his massive Cathedral of fine proportions is now to be seen. Its present length, on the outside, is 226 feet ; its breadth is 5-6 ; the height of the main roof is 71 feet ; and from the level of the floor to the top of the steeple, it is 133 feet. However, the
present spire is merely a plain pyramidical roof, and it is only a paltry substi- tuteforanelegantspire,whichwasdestroyedbylightning,ini67o. '37 The original style of this Cathedral is of the most ornate Irish-Romanesque
Dempster,
held,
'"See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 855,
pp. 454. 455.
"'In his " Menologium Scoticum," he has the feast of St. Magnus, at the 6th of
September, evidently confounding the pre- sent saint, with another bearing a like name.
'"
and to Rev. Alban Butler.
"3 The second day of the week did not
fall on the i6th of April, in a. d. 1104 or
the Saints," vol. iv. , April i6, p. 216.
According to the Aberdeen Breviary
" According to Bishop Challenor, Bollandists, and the Petits Bollandistes.
'^o " See the Bollandists'
on the i6th of '^^ he has April, although
and his festival was
it,atadifferentday,inanotherwork. "9 This,too,isthedateassignedfor it,'in the Breviary ofAberdeen, in the Manuscript of Florarius, in Greven's ad-
1 ftsthe Bollandists remark. 109,
438.
'3' See Rev.
" of History
states, that " anno Domini millesimo centesimo quarto, —sextodecimo
KalendasMaii,feriasecunda. " Lectv.
'"
This should be April 14.
"7 The year of his death was 1 1 10, accord-
ingto that Saga. See pp. 122 to 135.
his took Martyrdom
Blaviana," p. 159.
'33
in Nova
"*
See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
SeeTorfaeus,inreferencetotheOrca- des, chap. ii.
'3< See George Chalmers' "Caledonia," vol. i. . Book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 263.
'35SeeRobertWilliamBillings"Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland. " vol. iii. , after plates, 42 to 47, p. 2,
Breviary place
According
Geographia Descriptio Orcadum,
Scotorum," tomus ii, lib. xii. , num. 855, p. 455-
the
Acta Sancto- rum," tomus ii. , April xvi. De Sancto Magno, &c. Proemium, num. 2, I3, 4, p.
George Barry's
"* See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Orkney Islands," &c. , Book i. , chap,
"5 The Aberdeen
"' to the " Scotiae
ii. , num. xxiv. , p. 61.
1 86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
character, as the arches, windows, corbels, and tracery, abundantly demon- strate. At a latter time, some additions and restorations are worked o^'> ''^
Sometime before the middle
a Gothic style, incongruous, yet imposing. 'ss
of the twelfth century,'39 Ronald, Count of Orkney, founded this magnifi- cent church, in honour of his uncle, St. Magnus,|to whom it was dedicated. """ While this fine structure shows a pious industry, in the execution ; its design is bold and majestic, for the period and the place.
'ti The ground-plan pre- sents an appearance of great regularity, and the building is cruciform. ''*' The Breviary of Aberdeen assigns to the Festival of St. Magnus two special hymns, which recount some of his miracles. Provision is made, likewise, for the anniversary celebration, both of his passion and of his translation. On the west coast of the Shetland main-shore, St. Magnus' Bay was called after this holy man. He was regarded, as the chief Patron Saint of the Orkney Islands,'" BeforethegreatbattleofBannockburn,KingRobertBruceis said to have seen in a vision St. Magnus, who promised him a splendid vic- tory. "'tt At the time of the Reformation, some of his relics were carried away
Another
from Kirkwall. In part, these were deposited at Aix-la-Chapelle.
of St. Magnus' relics '45_a portion of the shoulder—was preserved, in the Metropolitan Church of St. Vitus, at Prague. Another festival has been assigned to St. Magnus, at the 19th of August. '+« Injustice and treachery had a partial triumph in the death of this noble and holy prince, but these opened for him the ultimate crown, awaiting the martyrs of Christ.
Article III. —St. Failbe, or Falbe, Bishop. The name of Failbe appears, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the i6th day of April. By Colgan,= a St. Falbe is called Bishop of Kill-Fore, or Fobhuir, while his fes-
tothenthofJanuary,ortothei6thofApril. Heisclassed, among the disciples of St. Patrick. 3 The name of Failbheis set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal * as having been venerated, on this day; but, it is not at all certain, when he flourished, or when he lived.
tivalis
136 See ibid. , p. 3.
37 See " vol. ii. , p. 270.
Gazetteer of Scotland,"
'*' A Catalogue orKalendar of these relics had been prepared and edited, by the Dean Thomas Pessina a Czechorod.
'^o "As there is a S. Tiburtius coinmemo- rated in the Roman and Scandmayian Ka- lendars on Aug. nth, this may possibly have given occasion to the mistake, the 19th bemg taken as the day of the burial, the 13th as
assigned
Imperial
"8 The "assertions are safely made, after a careful study of the beautiful drawings of Billing, engraved in an exquisite style of art
by John Godfrey, J. H. Lee Keux, John Saddler, and G. B. Smith.
'39 In 1 138, according to Grub's " Eccle- that of his martyrdom. But, there is a S.
siastical History of Scotland," vol. i. , p.
257^
"'''' Beside it are the fine remains of the
Magnus, B. of Avignon, and another of the same name Bishop of Anagni, commemo-
ratedonAug. 19, in the Roman Martyrology, and either of these may be intended. "—Rev.
"
and the Earl's Palace, so faithfully described in Sir Walter Scott's
novel "The Pirate," at chap. xxxi.
'• See Rev. George Barry's "History of
Bishop's Palace,
Lives of the Samts,
Article hi. — " Edited by Rev. Ur. the Orkney Islands," &c. , Book ii. , chap. Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy enters,
v. , sect, vii. , p. 230. A fine copperplate engraving of it is there to be found.
••» See Mackenzie E. C. Walcott's " Scoti-
at this date, -pAiibe. " '"
Monasticon,"p. 173. " <3 See Bishop John Lesley,
See TriasThaumaturga, QuintaAp- pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxui. , p. 268.
Gestis Scotorum," Prsefacio, p. 40.
'« See Hector Bcetius' " Historise Scoto-
rum," lib. iv.
De Rebus
3 the por these statements, Colgan quotes
Life of St. Benignus, chap. x.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
104. 105.
S. Baring-Gould's
vol. iv. , April l6th, p. 211.
April i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 187
Article IV—St. Miolan, of Moin-Miolain. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,' we find, that MioMn, of Moin-Miolain, was vene- rated, on this day.
Article V. —St. Marianus, Monk. At this date, Colgan intended to publish Acts of this saint;' but, it is difficult to find any clue to his identity,
locality or period.
Article VI. —Inghen, or the Daughter of Diarmata, in Connaught. We read, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' that Inghen h Diarmata, in Connaught, was venerated, at the i6th of April.
Article VII. —Reputed Feast of St. Auxilius, of Killashee, County of Kildare. \Fifth Century^ A feast of St. Auxilius, of Killossy, or Killashee, in the county of Kildare, has been noted for this day. His Life will be found, at the 27th of August, the date for his principal festival.
Article VIII. —Feast of St. Maxentia, Virgin and Martyr. The second edition of Wilson's English Martyrology places the celebration of this holy Virgin, and Martyr, at the present date, when she is said to have been commemorated, at some localities, in England. ' By others, her feast is assigned to the 24th of October. ' Notices of St. Maxentia will be found, atthe20thofNovember. ThesupplementtotheGallicMartyrologyplaces her festival, at the 24th of November.
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of St. Moloc, Bishop in Scot- land. [5/rM CW;/«ry-] The Scottish Breviary," according to Thomas Dempster," has the feast of St. Moloc, Bishop, one of St. Brandan's disciples and companions,' at the i6th of April. It is said, that he joined Bonifacius Queretinus, and made a tour of Scotland with him. Having been invested with the dignity of Bishop, he instructed the people, through all the northern parts of Gotland; and, especially was he regarded as the Apostle of Argadum. * There,hewasatlastburied,inthebasilicaofLismore. Acon- course of people flocked thither, to venerate his relics. ' If we are to credit Dempster, he wrote Viu Brandani Magistri, Lib. i. , and Commonitorium ad Scotos, Lib. i. He flourished, a. d. 590, according to Dempster. * The Bol-
Articlb IV. —' Edited Drs. Todd Scotorum," "In Haebud. b. Moloci
by eji'is-
and Reeves, pp. 104, 105.
Article v. —' See "Catalogu. ? Actuura
Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Men- sinm et Dierum. "
Article VI. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi. In the Franciscan copv, I can only deciphei the word T>iAiMn4ca t.
copi, comitis et discipuli S. Brandani. —
'
Article viii. — See the Bollandists' ii. ,
"AcU Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis ivi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 402.
•
See \bid.
Articleix. —' ThatofAberdeen
this saint a Duplex Major Office.
gives
Thus is it noted, in his
"
Menologium
Bishop Forbes'
"
Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p. 196.
'Pitts states, that Machutes was a com-
panion of Moloc, but not his preceptor.
* Thomas " Historia Ec- See Dempster's
desiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , hb.
num.
5 See Hector Boetius' Scotorum Ilistoriae
a Prima Gentis Origine," &c. , lib. ix. , p. clxxii.
'See"HistoriaEcclesiasUcaGentisSco- torum," tomus ii. , lib. x. , num. 840, p. 449.
840, p. 449.
"
i88 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
landists,' who cite Dempster and Ferrarius at this date, remark, that St Moloc had another feast, at the 25th of June. When about to engage in
battle, King Malcolm prayed to this saint; and, afterwards, he won a glorious victory. In consequence of a vow then made, that king erected a fine church
to St. Moloc, and at very great outlay. ^
Article X. —Feast of St. Carissim and of the Deacon Felix. In the early Irish Church, the festivals of St. Carissim, and of the holy Deacon, Felix, were celebrated, on the i6th of April, as St. ^ngus records, in the Feilire. ' We are inclined to believe, that Carissim must be taken to repre- sent one of the holy Martyrs, at Corinth," in Achaia, who is variedly named, Charisius, Carisius, Carisa, and Carissus. Or, it may be, that Carissim was the Carissus, belonging to another company of holy Martyrs, whose names occur,inoldMartyrologies,atthisdate. 3 Inlikemanner,adoubtmayexist, regarding that Felix, whose name has been entered, in the Festilogy of St.
. iEngus ; as, in a group of Martyrs, one is so named ;• and, again, in another group of Martyrs, those who suffered at Asiatic Pontus, two bearing the name are to be found. 5 In like manner, and at this same day, one Felix suffered
asaMartyr,inSpain. * Atthisdate,also,theMartyrologyofTallagh'men- tions a festival, in honour of Felix, a Deacon. *
Article XI.
« The Rev. Alban Butler incorrectly sup- num. xxiv. , p. 61 Its site °" *(=
^:^-^-,,^:S! ^^XoV ^S
die Irih TMd
i^*^'"'''P"''
«"[;
Apkil 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 183
was chosen, as a place of residence, by some of the ancient Counts "» and Bishops of Orkney,"" while a church was there, at the time of our narrative. Whether it was identical, with the unique towered one there at present, may be questioned. This consists of nave and chancel,'"' but it differs from all other known churches in Scotland, a Round Tower "" on tothe west
by having joined
end of the nave. '°3 The whole structure is of irregularly coursed masonry. '"* There is nothing in the material or character of the tower '"s to suggest, that it had not been built, at a period corresponding with that of the church. "* The upper story of the tower had four windows,'"? facing the cardinal points.
Egilshay Oiiirch and Round Tower, Scotland.
The tower is built of smaller stones,"* than these used in the construction of the church, and access to it is obtained, through a round-headed doorway, opening through the west gable of the nave. '"* The chancel "" has no proper
•* The DoogUssesand Montdths were sub-
lequently iti proprieton. See ibib.
""See Robert Forsyth'* "Beauties of
Scotland,"&c. , vol. v. , Islands, Orkney p.
45, Edinburgh, 8vo, 1805 to 1808, $ vols. " Hibbert gives an engraving from an old
drawing, which represents both church and tower, as covered by stone roofs, that of the Round Tower having a conical cap, like to the Round Towers of Ireland.
'"*
This is a perfect type of the Irish Round Tower, and it may have been built, by Irish ecclesiastics, iamiliar with the archi- tecture of such structures.
"^ The accompanying illustration has been drawn by William K. Wakeman, from one in Joseph Andrews' work, " Scotland in Early Christian Times," Lecture ii. , p. 36. First Series, Edinburgh, 1881, 8vo. It has bees engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'^Generally speaking, the stones are of irregular size, but some are 4 feet long, by 18 inches deep.
'"S Its is 48 feet, but about present height
15 feet of its original height was removed
many years ago, so that it must have been, at least, 60 feet high. The internal diameter of this tower is 7 fcet ; and, at the base, the thickness of the wall is 3J feet.
** A ground plan of this is given, in Muir's "Caithness and Orkney. "
"^ Below these, there is a narrow square-
topped window, in the east side, and straight
below it, there is a semi-circularly-hcaded window, of small dimensions.
"* These are unhewn, and fitted to the round, by their length.
"9 The nave itself is 29 feet, 9 inches, long,
by 15 feet, 6 inches, in breadth, internally; while the walU are about 3 feet, in thickness.
i84 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
arch, and the end of its vault opened directly from the nave. Not dreaming
of treachery, on the day, before that appointed for the meeting, St. Magnus, preparing two long vessels,'" sailed for Egilshay, with a calm sea, and a cloud-
Nevertheless, on entering the boat, he stumbled, and immediately
not wishing to participate in an act of perfidy, one of his crew leaped over board, and swam to the nearest land. When he had reached Egilshay, Hako surroundedthechurch. ThenMagnuswentoutside,butfoundhimselfinthe midst of foes. Magnus had passed the night, in prayer ; and, early on the next morning, he devoutly received the Blessed Eucharist, while forecasting hisapproachingdoom. Theclansmen,whowerethere,insistedonthedis- advantages of a divided earldom. For some time, a parley was maintained, between the cousins. Magnus offered some humiliating proposals, to save his life; but, the wicked followers of Hako would not admit of compromise. " Then Hako ordered the standard-bearer "s to strike his helpless cousin. That man nobly refused, however, to become the executioner. Hako next
less sky.
he
said,
church, on Eglishay, and he prayed there. Next morning, he heard Mass in it. '" Instead of two vessels, as agreed upon, the treacherous Haco brought seven or eight, with a vastly greater number of armed attendants, than were warranted, by the terms of their convention. "3 Knowing Hako's purpose, and
" I fear this is an omen of a fatal fall. On he visited the landing,
desired one "* of his servants, to deal the fatal stroke ;
still, this man
" the
Mangus,
guilt is not thine ; and remember, my clothes become thy perquisite. " The Earl was then led apart to that spot, destined for his execution. With great courage, Magnus faced the executioner. "Stand before nie," he cried, "and strikeatmewithallthymight; itbeseemethnotaprincetobebeheadedlikea thief. "' Hethenblessedhimself. Beforethesecondblowwasgiventothe unfortunate Earl, he fell dead,"^ a victim to the barbarity of his unnatural relative. With his usual incorrect ideas, Dempster states, that St. Magnus suffered martyrdom, at the hands of wicked pagans,"' and when the Orkney Islands had lapsed again into the state of gentileism. "" Various are the years assigned, for this martyrdom of St. Magnus. While some accounts have
and he burst into tears. " Do not be said hesitated, afraid,"
"
It has two doorways, opposite each other, in Andrews' Scotland in Early Christian
the north and south walls, near the west
end. Theyaresemi-circularly-headed,each being 2 feet, 6 inches, wide. It has two windows, one in the north, and the other in the side wall : those are semi-circularly- headed, and widely splayed, on the interior. Besides these, there are two other windows,
on the south side, and these, apparently, are not very ancient.
"° It was roofed with a plain barrel vault ; and, its dimensions are 15 feet, by 9 feet, 6 inches, while the walls are about 2 feet, 9 inches, in thickness. There is no window, in the west end ; but, in the north wall, there is a small round-headed window, opening im- mediately under the impost of the vault. It is of the same character as those in the nave, and in the south wall there is a like window
Over the vault of the chan- eel was a chamber, to which access from the nave was given, by a round-headed doorway,
6 feet, inches, 2 2
4 high, by feet, inches,
Palladio et — commendo Servano, meipsum
et
similarly placed.
wide. The chamber was lighted by a flat-
headed window, 18 inches high, and this was
placed, in the east gable. See Joseph the Scottish Breviary.
Times. " Lecture ii. , pp. 34 to 37.
"AccordingtotheBreviaryofAberdeen, Lect. iii.
'" "
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of
the Saints," vol. iv. , April 16, p. 216.
"^ The Breviary of Aberdeen is authority for this statement. Lect. iii.
"* See " Sagan of Hinum Helga Magnuse Eya Jarle," cap. 24, pp. 494 to 499. To the writer of this work, the foregoing particulars were more fully detailed, by one Holdbod, who was present.
"5 On the same authority, he is called
Ofeyg, in cap. 25,
""' He is called Lifolf.
"' Quoting an ancient Chronicle, Camera- rius gives a different version of his dying
words
:
" Domine Jesu, tibi, S. Marise, SS.
gregemmeum. *' "MftlologiumScotorum," at the l6th of April .
"° See Forbes' " Kalendars of Bishop
Scottish Saints," p. 385.
"' This he foolishly states, although citing
April i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 185
it so early as 1104,"' 1106,'" iio9,"3j others again defer it to mo. "'* The Saga of St. Magnus states, that he died on the second day,"5 after the feast of Saints Tibiirtius and Valerian,"* and three weeks, after the festival of the Annunciation. But, the Orkneyinga Saga tells us, that he died two days, after the feast of St. Tiburtius, when himself and Hako had jointly ruled the Orkneys for seven years. "? He lived, in the year 1109, according to
ditions to Usuard's Martyrology, in Canisius, in Molanus, in Galesinius, in Ferarius, in David Camerarius, and in the works of other Kalendarists. '^ In the first instance, his body was buried in Egilshay. The church, dedicated to St. Magnus, is said to have been built, on that very spot, where the unjust andcruelmurderoftheholymantookplace;'3' and,it hasbeenidentified, with that one, to which the high and tapering round tower was attached. '^' An adventurous and a turbulent race were the inhabitants of the Orkney Is-
lands, and constantly engaged in predatory expeditions. During many a wretched age,'33 their Scandinarian settlers domineered over the Hebride
islanders, and yielded little subjection to any ruler, or obedience to any government. '3< Aftermuchentreaty,themotherofSt. Magnus,namedThora, had the remains of her martyred son removed to Christ Church, Bersa. 'JS A sister's son, named Ronald, avenged the death of his uncle, against the son of Hacon, who held for a time, after the father's death, his cousin's portionoftheprincipalityoftheOrkneys. Ronaldhadmadeavow,thatif successful against his rival, a splendid fane should be erected over the martyr's ashes ; but, when, in fine, some plots and contentions enabled him to become possessed of the whole Earldom, he resolved on the fulfilment of his resolution. '36 Finally, the body of St. Magnus was removed to Kirkwall, the chief metropolis of the Orkney Islands, and there his massive Cathedral of fine proportions is now to be seen. Its present length, on the outside, is 226 feet ; its breadth is 5-6 ; the height of the main roof is 71 feet ; and from the level of the floor to the top of the steeple, it is 133 feet. However, the
present spire is merely a plain pyramidical roof, and it is only a paltry substi- tuteforanelegantspire,whichwasdestroyedbylightning,ini67o. '37 The original style of this Cathedral is of the most ornate Irish-Romanesque
Dempster,
held,
'"See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 855,
pp. 454. 455.
"'In his " Menologium Scoticum," he has the feast of St. Magnus, at the 6th of
September, evidently confounding the pre- sent saint, with another bearing a like name.
'"
and to Rev. Alban Butler.
"3 The second day of the week did not
fall on the i6th of April, in a. d. 1104 or
the Saints," vol. iv. , April i6, p. 216.
According to the Aberdeen Breviary
" According to Bishop Challenor, Bollandists, and the Petits Bollandistes.
'^o " See the Bollandists'
on the i6th of '^^ he has April, although
and his festival was
it,atadifferentday,inanotherwork. "9 This,too,isthedateassignedfor it,'in the Breviary ofAberdeen, in the Manuscript of Florarius, in Greven's ad-
1 ftsthe Bollandists remark. 109,
438.
'3' See Rev.
" of History
states, that " anno Domini millesimo centesimo quarto, —sextodecimo
KalendasMaii,feriasecunda. " Lectv.
'"
This should be April 14.
"7 The year of his death was 1 1 10, accord-
ingto that Saga. See pp. 122 to 135.
his took Martyrdom
Blaviana," p. 159.
'33
in Nova
"*
See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
SeeTorfaeus,inreferencetotheOrca- des, chap. ii.
'3< See George Chalmers' "Caledonia," vol. i. . Book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 263.
'35SeeRobertWilliamBillings"Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland. " vol. iii. , after plates, 42 to 47, p. 2,
Breviary place
According
Geographia Descriptio Orcadum,
Scotorum," tomus ii, lib. xii. , num. 855, p. 455-
the
Acta Sancto- rum," tomus ii. , April xvi. De Sancto Magno, &c. Proemium, num. 2, I3, 4, p.
George Barry's
"* See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Orkney Islands," &c. , Book i. , chap,
"5 The Aberdeen
"' to the " Scotiae
ii. , num. xxiv. , p. 61.
1 86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
character, as the arches, windows, corbels, and tracery, abundantly demon- strate. At a latter time, some additions and restorations are worked o^'> ''^
Sometime before the middle
a Gothic style, incongruous, yet imposing. 'ss
of the twelfth century,'39 Ronald, Count of Orkney, founded this magnifi- cent church, in honour of his uncle, St. Magnus,|to whom it was dedicated. """ While this fine structure shows a pious industry, in the execution ; its design is bold and majestic, for the period and the place.
'ti The ground-plan pre- sents an appearance of great regularity, and the building is cruciform. ''*' The Breviary of Aberdeen assigns to the Festival of St. Magnus two special hymns, which recount some of his miracles. Provision is made, likewise, for the anniversary celebration, both of his passion and of his translation. On the west coast of the Shetland main-shore, St. Magnus' Bay was called after this holy man. He was regarded, as the chief Patron Saint of the Orkney Islands,'" BeforethegreatbattleofBannockburn,KingRobertBruceis said to have seen in a vision St. Magnus, who promised him a splendid vic- tory. "'tt At the time of the Reformation, some of his relics were carried away
Another
from Kirkwall. In part, these were deposited at Aix-la-Chapelle.
of St. Magnus' relics '45_a portion of the shoulder—was preserved, in the Metropolitan Church of St. Vitus, at Prague. Another festival has been assigned to St. Magnus, at the 19th of August. '+« Injustice and treachery had a partial triumph in the death of this noble and holy prince, but these opened for him the ultimate crown, awaiting the martyrs of Christ.
Article III. —St. Failbe, or Falbe, Bishop. The name of Failbe appears, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the i6th day of April. By Colgan,= a St. Falbe is called Bishop of Kill-Fore, or Fobhuir, while his fes-
tothenthofJanuary,ortothei6thofApril. Heisclassed, among the disciples of St. Patrick. 3 The name of Failbheis set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal * as having been venerated, on this day; but, it is not at all certain, when he flourished, or when he lived.
tivalis
136 See ibid. , p. 3.
37 See " vol. ii. , p. 270.
Gazetteer of Scotland,"
'*' A Catalogue orKalendar of these relics had been prepared and edited, by the Dean Thomas Pessina a Czechorod.
'^o "As there is a S. Tiburtius coinmemo- rated in the Roman and Scandmayian Ka- lendars on Aug. nth, this may possibly have given occasion to the mistake, the 19th bemg taken as the day of the burial, the 13th as
assigned
Imperial
"8 The "assertions are safely made, after a careful study of the beautiful drawings of Billing, engraved in an exquisite style of art
by John Godfrey, J. H. Lee Keux, John Saddler, and G. B. Smith.
'39 In 1 138, according to Grub's " Eccle- that of his martyrdom. But, there is a S.
siastical History of Scotland," vol. i. , p.
257^
"'''' Beside it are the fine remains of the
Magnus, B. of Avignon, and another of the same name Bishop of Anagni, commemo-
ratedonAug. 19, in the Roman Martyrology, and either of these may be intended. "—Rev.
"
and the Earl's Palace, so faithfully described in Sir Walter Scott's
novel "The Pirate," at chap. xxxi.
'• See Rev. George Barry's "History of
Bishop's Palace,
Lives of the Samts,
Article hi. — " Edited by Rev. Ur. the Orkney Islands," &c. , Book ii. , chap. Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy enters,
v. , sect, vii. , p. 230. A fine copperplate engraving of it is there to be found.
••» See Mackenzie E. C. Walcott's " Scoti-
at this date, -pAiibe. " '"
Monasticon,"p. 173. " <3 See Bishop John Lesley,
See TriasThaumaturga, QuintaAp- pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxui. , p. 268.
Gestis Scotorum," Prsefacio, p. 40.
'« See Hector Bcetius' " Historise Scoto-
rum," lib. iv.
De Rebus
3 the por these statements, Colgan quotes
Life of St. Benignus, chap. x.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
104. 105.
S. Baring-Gould's
vol. iv. , April l6th, p. 211.
April i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 187
Article IV—St. Miolan, of Moin-Miolain. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,' we find, that MioMn, of Moin-Miolain, was vene- rated, on this day.
Article V. —St. Marianus, Monk. At this date, Colgan intended to publish Acts of this saint;' but, it is difficult to find any clue to his identity,
locality or period.
Article VI. —Inghen, or the Daughter of Diarmata, in Connaught. We read, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' that Inghen h Diarmata, in Connaught, was venerated, at the i6th of April.
Article VII. —Reputed Feast of St. Auxilius, of Killashee, County of Kildare. \Fifth Century^ A feast of St. Auxilius, of Killossy, or Killashee, in the county of Kildare, has been noted for this day. His Life will be found, at the 27th of August, the date for his principal festival.
Article VIII. —Feast of St. Maxentia, Virgin and Martyr. The second edition of Wilson's English Martyrology places the celebration of this holy Virgin, and Martyr, at the present date, when she is said to have been commemorated, at some localities, in England. ' By others, her feast is assigned to the 24th of October. ' Notices of St. Maxentia will be found, atthe20thofNovember. ThesupplementtotheGallicMartyrologyplaces her festival, at the 24th of November.
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of St. Moloc, Bishop in Scot- land. [5/rM CW;/«ry-] The Scottish Breviary," according to Thomas Dempster," has the feast of St. Moloc, Bishop, one of St. Brandan's disciples and companions,' at the i6th of April. It is said, that he joined Bonifacius Queretinus, and made a tour of Scotland with him. Having been invested with the dignity of Bishop, he instructed the people, through all the northern parts of Gotland; and, especially was he regarded as the Apostle of Argadum. * There,hewasatlastburied,inthebasilicaofLismore. Acon- course of people flocked thither, to venerate his relics. ' If we are to credit Dempster, he wrote Viu Brandani Magistri, Lib. i. , and Commonitorium ad Scotos, Lib. i. He flourished, a. d. 590, according to Dempster. * The Bol-
Articlb IV. —' Edited Drs. Todd Scotorum," "In Haebud. b. Moloci
by eji'is-
and Reeves, pp. 104, 105.
Article v. —' See "Catalogu. ? Actuura
Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Men- sinm et Dierum. "
Article VI. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi. In the Franciscan copv, I can only deciphei the word T>iAiMn4ca t.
copi, comitis et discipuli S. Brandani. —
'
Article viii. — See the Bollandists' ii. ,
"AcU Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis ivi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 402.
•
See \bid.
Articleix. —' ThatofAberdeen
this saint a Duplex Major Office.
gives
Thus is it noted, in his
"
Menologium
Bishop Forbes'
"
Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p. 196.
'Pitts states, that Machutes was a com-
panion of Moloc, but not his preceptor.
* Thomas " Historia Ec- See Dempster's
desiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , hb.
num.
5 See Hector Boetius' Scotorum Ilistoriae
a Prima Gentis Origine," &c. , lib. ix. , p. clxxii.
'See"HistoriaEcclesiasUcaGentisSco- torum," tomus ii. , lib. x. , num. 840, p. 449.
840, p. 449.
"
i88 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
landists,' who cite Dempster and Ferrarius at this date, remark, that St Moloc had another feast, at the 25th of June. When about to engage in
battle, King Malcolm prayed to this saint; and, afterwards, he won a glorious victory. In consequence of a vow then made, that king erected a fine church
to St. Moloc, and at very great outlay. ^
Article X. —Feast of St. Carissim and of the Deacon Felix. In the early Irish Church, the festivals of St. Carissim, and of the holy Deacon, Felix, were celebrated, on the i6th of April, as St. ^ngus records, in the Feilire. ' We are inclined to believe, that Carissim must be taken to repre- sent one of the holy Martyrs, at Corinth," in Achaia, who is variedly named, Charisius, Carisius, Carisa, and Carissus. Or, it may be, that Carissim was the Carissus, belonging to another company of holy Martyrs, whose names occur,inoldMartyrologies,atthisdate. 3 Inlikemanner,adoubtmayexist, regarding that Felix, whose name has been entered, in the Festilogy of St.
. iEngus ; as, in a group of Martyrs, one is so named ;• and, again, in another group of Martyrs, those who suffered at Asiatic Pontus, two bearing the name are to be found. 5 In like manner, and at this same day, one Felix suffered
asaMartyr,inSpain. * Atthisdate,also,theMartyrologyofTallagh'men- tions a festival, in honour of Felix, a Deacon. *
Article XI.
