Long after the author's death, which took place in the year 1797, his son William
llamiltonpreparedareprintof
the last edition, with a Memoir and Profile shade of his father prefixed, and this, as also the second edition, was dedicated to the Right Honourable
James Earl of Charlemont, President of the Royal Irish Academy, &c.
James Earl of Charlemont, President of the Royal Irish Academy, &c.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
ii.
, " Writers of Ireland," Book i.
, chap, iii.
, p.
17.
^° Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
^^ See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xii. , p. 63.
*- See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Mali. Vita S. Comgalli, ex tribus Codicibus MSS. , num. 4, pp. 580, 581.
i66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
manner. A time for sleeping next approached, and both felt wearied. The Abbot commanded his subject to occupy the bed. In obedience, his attendant did as he had been required, while our saint continued his vigil. After a part ofthenighthadbeenspentinsleep,thebrotherawoke. Hesawthewhole house briUiantly illuminated, and this light continued, until break of day. But our saint ordered his companion not to reveal this vision, during the lifetime of his Abbot. This command the brother religiously obeyed. On the following morning, the man who had provided for their accommodation the night before, became their guide to the monastery, towards which they were proceeding. ^3 From the O'Clerys^'* welearn, likewise, how a very old vellum book ^5 states, that Comgall of Bennclior, in habits of life, was like unto James the Apostle.
It chanced, while Comgall was once absent from the monastery, one of his monks took sick. At that time, the brethren had no other food for their sustenance, only some vegetables with esculents of an inferior quality. Being moved with compassion for the condition of the sick man, the monks advised him to visit certain religious, belonging to the same order, who lived in another place. There, they said, he should receive better treatment, besides obtaining the advantage of being nearer to his own relations. ^^ But, when the sick man was brought to this monastery, which lay three or four miles dis- tant,^7 he shortly afterwards died. A vigil was kept over his body, according to a usual custom. On the next day, his corpse was brought to the monas- tery. Friends and kinsmen of the deceased accompanied the remains, with tears and lamentations. Their wailing disturbed monastic quiet. When St. Comgall returned to the monastery, a short time afterwards, the steward humbly confessed his negligence, in not taking due care of the patient. Approaching the bier, our Abbot offered up his prayers to God, when the dead man was instantly restored to life. Afterwards, he lived fifteen years, in thesamemonastery. Thismonkwaswonttorelate,thatwhenhewishedto ascend a ladder, extending towards Heaven, with others preceding him, he heard a voice saying, that Comgall would not then suffer him to ascend. Another day, according to their usual custom, the brothers being at work ; being overcome with fatigue and thirst, one among them sunk to the earth, and from the middle of the day, to the ninth hour, he was lifeless. But, the Abbot, taking compassion on him, prayed to our Lord, when he was imme- diately restored to life. ^^
CHAPTER III.
ST. COMGALL GOES OVER TO BRITAIN—HE VISITS ST. COLUMKILLE—HE INTENDS BUILDING A CELL ON RATHLIN OR RAGHERV ISLAND—IN THE TERRITORY OF HETII HE FOUNDS A MONASTERY—DISTURBED BY THE PICTS—HE RETURNS TO IRELAND—MIRACULOUS OCCURRENCES—VISITS OF ST. FINBARR AND OF ST. COLUMKILLE TO BANGOR—INTERVIEW BETWEEN ST. COLUMBA AND ST. COMGALL,
AFTER THE CONVENTION AT DRUMCEAT.
In the seventh year, after the foundation of his monastery at Bangor,' St. Comf^all went over into Britain,^ to visit some holy men. It seems very proba-
'3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Mail. Vita S. Comgalli, ex tribus Codicibus MSS. , num. 5, p. 581.
'* See " Martyrology of Donegal," Rev.
Drs. Todd and Reeves' edition, pp. 122,
123.
'5 Already referred to in St. Biigid's Acts,
at the 1st of February.
** This anecdote serves to show, that change of air and scene had been prescribed, at an early period, for those monks, whose licalth happened to be in a languishing con- dition.
*' This seems to have been a house, under St. Comgall's rule, and thelocntion of which must have been very near Hangoi-.
i
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
167
** See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Conigalli, ex tribus Codicibus MSS. , num. 6, p. 581. Also Vita S. Com- galli, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num. 30, p. 586.
Chapter hi. — ' In 555, St. Comgall founded liere an Abbey for Regular Canons, according to Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland, its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. , p. 19.
* According to the Second Life, chap, ii. , sect. 21, pp. 584, 585, in the Bollandist col- lection.
3 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. xii. , p. 63.
* The Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that supposing our saint paid a visit to St. Colum- kille, in one of the Western Isles of Scot- land, Bangor could not have been founded so early as the year 555, because the seventh year following it should have been 562. He says, that Columkille did not leave Ireland until 563 ; and that he spent not a very short time in the western isles, before he had been visited there by St. Comgall. See ibid. , n. 206, pp. 68, 69.
5 This is the year assigned for its estab- lishment, in Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra," Vita S. Comgalli, cap. 22, p. 307.
* Archbishop Ussher has it, " volens quos- dam Sanctos ibi visitare et ibi manere ad tempus ; et constituit ibi monasterium in quaddam villa in regione Heth : ait Vitas Scriptor ; de monachis ibidem a Pictonum quorundam piratarum incursione ab ipso vindicatis narrationem postea adjiciens. "
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
7 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. xii. , p. 63.
* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Vita S. Columbse," lib. iii. , cap. 17, pp. 219 to 222, and notes accompanying.
9 This island has not yet been identified, but it is supposed to have lain north of, and not far distant from, Hy.
'" The most celebrated of these is Rath- linn or Raghery, on the north coast of
—
ble, that the Britain, to which went, was no other than Great Britain. 3
ever, there appears to have been a mistake in chronology, if on this occasion, he there visited St. Columba,4 unless, indeed, we refer the foundation of Bangor to A. D. 559. 5 He proposed remaining in Britain, for some time. ^ It is likely, that on the occasion, when he went to Britain, in company with St. Brendan and others, he paid a visit to St. Columkille, then living in one of the western Isles. ? The names of four saints, who visited St. Columkille, are Comgellus AIocu Aridi, Cainnechus Mocu Dalon, Brendenus Mocu Alti, and Cormacus Nepos Leathain. ^ The Island, where St. Columkille then resided, is stated to have been Hinba,9 although, according to another account,itiscalledRechra. Thelattermaybesupposedtohavereference to one, among the many islands of Ireland, called Rathlin f° and, the most probable of these is that parish and island of Rathlin," or Raghery,'^ in the
Antrim County. Reachra is supposed to have been an ancient name ofLambay. This island lies off the east shore of Dublin County. See ibid. , pp. 164, 165, n. (b), pp. 86, 87, n. (b), pp. 219, 220, nn. (a, b).
" See it described, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim," sheet i.
" In the year 1786 appeared a description of this island, contained in the first edition of Rev. William Hamilton's " Letters con- cerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim, containing a natural History of its Basaltes : with an Account of such circum- stances as are worthy of notice respecting the Antiquities, Manners and Customs of that Country. The whole illustrated by an accurate Map of the Coast, Roads, Moun- tains,&c. IntheseLettersisstatedaplain and impartial View of the Volcanic Theory of the Basaltes," Dublin, 8vo. This only contained Twelve Letters, pp. 195. This was followed in 1790, by a greatly improved edi- tion of that work, and bearing for its title, "Letters concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim, containing such cir- cumstances as appear worthy of notice re- specting the Antiquities, Manners and Cus- toms of that Country. Together with the natural History of the Basaltes, and its attendant Fossils, in the Northern Counties of Ireland. The whole illustrated by an accurate Map, and Engravings of the most interesting objects on the coast. " In two parts. By the Rev. William Hamilton, B. D. , and M. R. I. A. In these Letters is stated a plain and impartial View of the Volcanic Theory of the Basaltes. " Dublin, 8vo. Each of the parts contains Eight Letters ; both parts constituting 227 pp. The engravings on copper have reference solely to the mainland of the Antrim Coast.
Long after the author's death, which took place in the year 1797, his son William llamiltonpreparedareprintof the last edition, with a Memoir and Profile shade of his father prefixed, and this, as also the second edition, was dedicated to the Right Honourable
James Earl of Charlemont, President of the Royal Irish Academy, &c. It bears the title,
How-
i68 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAII^'TS. [May 10.
barony of Carey, and county of Antrim. In ancient times, it is said '3 to have been called Ricnea, by Pliny, Ricina, by Plotomy, Riduna, by Antonius, Recarn and Recrain, by the Irish historians, Raclinda, by Buchannan,''* and Rachri, by M. M'Kenzie. It has an area of nearly 3,400 acres ; of which over 30 are under water. 's Here, it is stated—but incorrectly—that the illustrious St. Columkille had built a church, about a. d. 546, and had estab- lishednearitsomesortofCuldeanestablishment; and,thesearesaidtohave beenplaced,underthegovernmentofDeaconColnian,'^,sonofRoi. How- ever, we can find very little of a reliable nature, regarding those ecclesiastical settlements, in the very early ages. It is only known with certainty, that St. Columkille visited Rechrea ^,^^ but, it is stated, in the Irish Annals, that Segineus, Abbot ofHy, was the first erector of a church at Rechrainn, a. d.
635. "^ After this period, there are several allusions to its history, in our chronicles. At one time, St. Comgall wished to build a cell on the island, called ReachraindorRaclin,asweareinformed. '9 Situatedofftheextremenorthern shore of Ulster, it is not always an easy matter to reach that Island, from the mainland. The site of the ancient ecclesiastical establishment here is not indicated ; some mound of remarkable formation, and Bruce's Castle,^° being the only ruins, now to be seen on the Island. This latter fortress rises on a bold head-land, at the extreme eastern point of the Island, immediately front- ing Scotland ;^' and, it is so called, because the illustrious fugitive Robert Bruce, afterwards King of that country,^- was obliged to seek shelter there, when his fortunes were at a very low ebb, in the winter of 1306^3 About one-fourth of the entire island surface consists of rocks and poor pasturage, while the remaining three-fourths contains tolerably good arable land. ^^ Very
" Letters concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim ; containing observa- tions on the Antiquities, Manners and Cus- toms of that Country. With the Natural History of the Basaltes, illustrated by an accurate Map of the County of Antrim and views of the most interesting objects on the coast. " In two parts. This edition is enriched by a Memoir of the Author—and an Itinerary and Guide to the Giants' Causeway. " Bel- fast, 8vo. , pp. 265. To this latter edition reference is made, in the quotations here given.
'3 See ibid. , Part i. , Letter i. , n. p. 3.
'• He classes it among the EbudK or Western Isles of Scotland. See " Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. i. , p. 24.
'^ See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire- land. " vol. iii. , p. 134.
Academy," vol. xvii. , p. 47. This interest- ing Paper is found under the head of "Anti- quities," extending from pp. 37 to 71. It is preceded by an excellent and accurate Map of the Island, now regarded as a separate parish, with its various townland denomina- tions ; as also, beautiful copper-plate views of—I. Rathlin Island, from Ballycastle. 2. LimestoneRocksinChurchBay,Raihlin Island. 3. Ruins of Bruce's Castle, Rath- lin Island, and 4. Doon Point, Rathlin Island.
'° A woodcut representing this castle, and the cliff on which it stands, over the sea, may be seen in "TheDublin Penny Journal," vol. ii. . No. 56. A letter-press description accompanies it. See pp. 25, 26.
" Angus McDonnell, in the beginning of the fourteenth centur)-, was regarded as King over the Western Islands, and Raheny was deemed to be a part of his sovereignty.
'* However, it seems more probable, that
he belonged to Rachrainn, or Lambay
Island, off the east of Bregia. See Dr. See ibid,
O'Donovan's "IrishGrammar,"pp. 155, 281. ''See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaiurga," Adamnan's Vita S. Columl)as, lib. ii. , cap.
xli. , p. 361.
'^ See Ussher's " Index Chronologicus,"
at A. D. Dcxxxv. , " Britannicarum Eccle- siannii /Vntiquitates. "
'9 According to the account of James Drummond ^iarshall, M. D. , St. Comgall landed here belore St. Columba. See Notes on the Statistics and Natural History of the Island of Rathlin, off the Northern Co. ast of Ireland, in " Transactions of the Royal Irish
" See an account of this heroic king, in John Hill Burtons "History of Scotland," vol. ii. , chap, xxii. , xxiii. , xxiv. , pp. 344 to 432.
^3 " Bot in to Rauchryiie, nocht forthi Thai arywyt ilkane sawffly :
Blyth, and glaid, that thai war sua Eschapyt thai hidwyss waivis fra. "
—Barbbour's"Bruce. "BukeThyrd,v. 187. ''^ So late as the miiklle of the eighteenth century, the tenants on Rathlin paid their
May 10. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
169
remarkable Basaltic columns, and in contorted forms ^s—resembling those on the Giant's Causeway and on the opposite Antrim coast—are here to be seen, especially at Doon Point. ^^ Several very curious antiquities have also been discoveredonthisIsland. ^? Thatmarinesweeporlargeindentation,between Bull Point and Rue Point, is called Church Bayf^ ^-^^^^ probably, because of
Church Bay, Raghery Island, County Antrim.
a church standing there,^9 and it is the chief landing place. 3° Both this Bay, and the channel between it and the mainland of Ireland, are scourged by a power- ful current, and by a conflux of tides, chafing in recesses and recoiling from headlands. The waves are continually in agitation, and often they are very dan- gerous. 3' St. 'Comgall was opposed in the design of settling here, by thirty sol- diers. These bound his hands, and expelled him from the Island. In punish-
Academy," vol. xvii. James Drummond rents in kind ; most usually in pullets and sheep. See Rev. George Hill's " Historical Account of the Plantation in Ulster, at the commencement of the seventeeth century, 1608-1620," chap, vi. , p. 242, n. 84. Belfast, 1877, 4to.
-5 Allusion is made to this Island in the Poem of Rev. William Hamilton Drum- mond, D. D. :
" Where Rathlin braves the surge that round her rolls.
Edition of Rev. William Hamilton's " Let- ters concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim," &c. . Part ii. , Letter iv. , p. 131.
^7 See tbid. , Part i. , Letter ii. , pp. 20, 21.
^^ A view of this scene is here presented, drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake- man, Esq. , and engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
^5 In Ballynoe was the site of an old church, on which was built a new Protestant church, by Act of Council, dated April 20th, 1722. See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Down and Connor," pp. 215, 216.
3" "The form of the; island has been com- pared, like Italy, to that of a boot, the toe pointing to the coal works of Ballycastle the heel, where Bruce's Castle is situated, to Cantire—and the top to the great Western Ocean. " "Transactions of the Royal Irish
With chalky bastions, and basaltic moles," &c.
—"The Giant's Causeway," Book Second,
P-59-
** A very remarkable copperplate illustra-
tion of this scene, will be found in the Tliird
—
lyo
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. May io.
ment for such impious conduct, they all died within the course of a month. 3^ In times subsequent, the religious foundation of St. Columkille was ravaged and destroyed by the Danes, here, in 790; and again, in 973, these freebooters madeanothervisitation,whentheyputtlieabbottodeath. 33 Whileabsentfrom Ireland, St. Comgall built a monastery, in a certain village of the territory of Heth. 34 There was a place having such denomination in Britanny, and it is mentioned in the Acts of St. Brendan of Clonfert. 33 However, as it appears more probable, that the Britain, to which Comgall repaired, was Great Britain, a conjecture has been offered, that Heth, instead of being the proper name for a territory, may mean a tract lying near the sea. Thus, Hit/ie, the name of a place in Kent, has been explained,3^ as signifying coast, or sea-shore. 37 The Heth, in which Comgall is said to have been, was probably a maritime district ;38 and it is thought to have been in some part of Northern Britain,39 rather than in Gallic Britanny. ''"
About this time, the Picts of Scotland were often engaged, on marau- ding excursions ; and, it would seem, that Brude, son of Maelcon, called King of the Cruithne, had waged a victorious war, against the Albanich, or Southern Scots, so as to expel them from his territories. ^' His prowess was acknowledged over the northern parts of Scotland, where he ruled for several years. One day, while the saint was working in a field alone, he left a chrismal resting upon his garments. It chanced, that some Pictish robbers, who were Gentiles, made an irruption into a village, which they plundered ; but, on coming to where St. Comgall was at work, and seeing the chrismal placed upon his garments, supposing it to be the God of the saint, they did not dare to touch it. Comgall was much disturbed, on account of this barbarian irruption, and he cried out, " Lord, thou art my strength,myrefuge,andmydeliverer. " Then,havingprayed,hesignedthe Heavens,earthandsea,withasignofthecross. ImmediatelythePagansbe- came blind, and the sea swelled in boisterous manner, so that the invaders' ves- selswerethrownbackontheshore. Manyamongthecrewsufferedevenbodily injury. Thepirates,hereupon,relinquishedtheirprey,andaskedforgiveness fromSt. Comgall. Owingtohisprayers,theirsightwasrestored;and,the sea becoming calm, these rovers returned without any booty. After this, at the entreaty of many holy men, St. Comgall repaired to Ireland. -*^
It was a custom, in the monastery of our saint, if any one among the brethren should chide another, that person, who had received such reproof—whether deservingitornot—wasrequiredtogoonhisknees. Wherefore,atonetime, while Comgall visited an island, in the northern part of Ireland, some monks
Marshall's "Notes on the StatisticsandNatu- ralllistoryofthe Island of Rathlin," &c. ,p. 3S. 3' See the " Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Ireland," vol. iii. , p. 134.
3^ See "Acta . Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
X. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, exMS. antiquoet editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num. 47, p. 587.
38 As stated in St. Comgall's Acts, some British pirates made an attack on the monas- tery : and hence, an inference may be drawn, regarding such a situation for it.
39 Eday, one of the Orkney islands, is called Hethy hy Camden, in his " Britan- nia," at col. 1469. However, Comgall's Ileth is not called an island, but a terri-
*° See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii.
^° Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
^^ See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xii. , p. 63.
*- See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Mali. Vita S. Comgalli, ex tribus Codicibus MSS. , num. 4, pp. 580, 581.
i66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
manner. A time for sleeping next approached, and both felt wearied. The Abbot commanded his subject to occupy the bed. In obedience, his attendant did as he had been required, while our saint continued his vigil. After a part ofthenighthadbeenspentinsleep,thebrotherawoke. Hesawthewhole house briUiantly illuminated, and this light continued, until break of day. But our saint ordered his companion not to reveal this vision, during the lifetime of his Abbot. This command the brother religiously obeyed. On the following morning, the man who had provided for their accommodation the night before, became their guide to the monastery, towards which they were proceeding. ^3 From the O'Clerys^'* welearn, likewise, how a very old vellum book ^5 states, that Comgall of Bennclior, in habits of life, was like unto James the Apostle.
It chanced, while Comgall was once absent from the monastery, one of his monks took sick. At that time, the brethren had no other food for their sustenance, only some vegetables with esculents of an inferior quality. Being moved with compassion for the condition of the sick man, the monks advised him to visit certain religious, belonging to the same order, who lived in another place. There, they said, he should receive better treatment, besides obtaining the advantage of being nearer to his own relations. ^^ But, when the sick man was brought to this monastery, which lay three or four miles dis- tant,^7 he shortly afterwards died. A vigil was kept over his body, according to a usual custom. On the next day, his corpse was brought to the monas- tery. Friends and kinsmen of the deceased accompanied the remains, with tears and lamentations. Their wailing disturbed monastic quiet. When St. Comgall returned to the monastery, a short time afterwards, the steward humbly confessed his negligence, in not taking due care of the patient. Approaching the bier, our Abbot offered up his prayers to God, when the dead man was instantly restored to life. Afterwards, he lived fifteen years, in thesamemonastery. Thismonkwaswonttorelate,thatwhenhewishedto ascend a ladder, extending towards Heaven, with others preceding him, he heard a voice saying, that Comgall would not then suffer him to ascend. Another day, according to their usual custom, the brothers being at work ; being overcome with fatigue and thirst, one among them sunk to the earth, and from the middle of the day, to the ninth hour, he was lifeless. But, the Abbot, taking compassion on him, prayed to our Lord, when he was imme- diately restored to life. ^^
CHAPTER III.
ST. COMGALL GOES OVER TO BRITAIN—HE VISITS ST. COLUMKILLE—HE INTENDS BUILDING A CELL ON RATHLIN OR RAGHERV ISLAND—IN THE TERRITORY OF HETII HE FOUNDS A MONASTERY—DISTURBED BY THE PICTS—HE RETURNS TO IRELAND—MIRACULOUS OCCURRENCES—VISITS OF ST. FINBARR AND OF ST. COLUMKILLE TO BANGOR—INTERVIEW BETWEEN ST. COLUMBA AND ST. COMGALL,
AFTER THE CONVENTION AT DRUMCEAT.
In the seventh year, after the foundation of his monastery at Bangor,' St. Comf^all went over into Britain,^ to visit some holy men. It seems very proba-
'3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Mail. Vita S. Comgalli, ex tribus Codicibus MSS. , num. 5, p. 581.
'* See " Martyrology of Donegal," Rev.
Drs. Todd and Reeves' edition, pp. 122,
123.
'5 Already referred to in St. Biigid's Acts,
at the 1st of February.
** This anecdote serves to show, that change of air and scene had been prescribed, at an early period, for those monks, whose licalth happened to be in a languishing con- dition.
*' This seems to have been a house, under St. Comgall's rule, and thelocntion of which must have been very near Hangoi-.
i
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
167
** See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Conigalli, ex tribus Codicibus MSS. , num. 6, p. 581. Also Vita S. Com- galli, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num. 30, p. 586.
Chapter hi. — ' In 555, St. Comgall founded liere an Abbey for Regular Canons, according to Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland, its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. , p. 19.
* According to the Second Life, chap, ii. , sect. 21, pp. 584, 585, in the Bollandist col- lection.
3 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. xii. , p. 63.
* The Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that supposing our saint paid a visit to St. Colum- kille, in one of the Western Isles of Scot- land, Bangor could not have been founded so early as the year 555, because the seventh year following it should have been 562. He says, that Columkille did not leave Ireland until 563 ; and that he spent not a very short time in the western isles, before he had been visited there by St. Comgall. See ibid. , n. 206, pp. 68, 69.
5 This is the year assigned for its estab- lishment, in Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra," Vita S. Comgalli, cap. 22, p. 307.
* Archbishop Ussher has it, " volens quos- dam Sanctos ibi visitare et ibi manere ad tempus ; et constituit ibi monasterium in quaddam villa in regione Heth : ait Vitas Scriptor ; de monachis ibidem a Pictonum quorundam piratarum incursione ab ipso vindicatis narrationem postea adjiciens. "
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
7 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. xii. , p. 63.
* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Vita S. Columbse," lib. iii. , cap. 17, pp. 219 to 222, and notes accompanying.
9 This island has not yet been identified, but it is supposed to have lain north of, and not far distant from, Hy.
'" The most celebrated of these is Rath- linn or Raghery, on the north coast of
—
ble, that the Britain, to which went, was no other than Great Britain. 3
ever, there appears to have been a mistake in chronology, if on this occasion, he there visited St. Columba,4 unless, indeed, we refer the foundation of Bangor to A. D. 559. 5 He proposed remaining in Britain, for some time. ^ It is likely, that on the occasion, when he went to Britain, in company with St. Brendan and others, he paid a visit to St. Columkille, then living in one of the western Isles. ? The names of four saints, who visited St. Columkille, are Comgellus AIocu Aridi, Cainnechus Mocu Dalon, Brendenus Mocu Alti, and Cormacus Nepos Leathain. ^ The Island, where St. Columkille then resided, is stated to have been Hinba,9 although, according to another account,itiscalledRechra. Thelattermaybesupposedtohavereference to one, among the many islands of Ireland, called Rathlin f° and, the most probable of these is that parish and island of Rathlin," or Raghery,'^ in the
Antrim County. Reachra is supposed to have been an ancient name ofLambay. This island lies off the east shore of Dublin County. See ibid. , pp. 164, 165, n. (b), pp. 86, 87, n. (b), pp. 219, 220, nn. (a, b).
" See it described, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim," sheet i.
" In the year 1786 appeared a description of this island, contained in the first edition of Rev. William Hamilton's " Letters con- cerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim, containing a natural History of its Basaltes : with an Account of such circum- stances as are worthy of notice respecting the Antiquities, Manners and Customs of that Country. The whole illustrated by an accurate Map of the Coast, Roads, Moun- tains,&c. IntheseLettersisstatedaplain and impartial View of the Volcanic Theory of the Basaltes," Dublin, 8vo. This only contained Twelve Letters, pp. 195. This was followed in 1790, by a greatly improved edi- tion of that work, and bearing for its title, "Letters concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim, containing such cir- cumstances as appear worthy of notice re- specting the Antiquities, Manners and Cus- toms of that Country. Together with the natural History of the Basaltes, and its attendant Fossils, in the Northern Counties of Ireland. The whole illustrated by an accurate Map, and Engravings of the most interesting objects on the coast. " In two parts. By the Rev. William Hamilton, B. D. , and M. R. I. A. In these Letters is stated a plain and impartial View of the Volcanic Theory of the Basaltes. " Dublin, 8vo. Each of the parts contains Eight Letters ; both parts constituting 227 pp. The engravings on copper have reference solely to the mainland of the Antrim Coast.
Long after the author's death, which took place in the year 1797, his son William llamiltonpreparedareprintof the last edition, with a Memoir and Profile shade of his father prefixed, and this, as also the second edition, was dedicated to the Right Honourable
James Earl of Charlemont, President of the Royal Irish Academy, &c. It bears the title,
How-
i68 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAII^'TS. [May 10.
barony of Carey, and county of Antrim. In ancient times, it is said '3 to have been called Ricnea, by Pliny, Ricina, by Plotomy, Riduna, by Antonius, Recarn and Recrain, by the Irish historians, Raclinda, by Buchannan,''* and Rachri, by M. M'Kenzie. It has an area of nearly 3,400 acres ; of which over 30 are under water. 's Here, it is stated—but incorrectly—that the illustrious St. Columkille had built a church, about a. d. 546, and had estab- lishednearitsomesortofCuldeanestablishment; and,thesearesaidtohave beenplaced,underthegovernmentofDeaconColnian,'^,sonofRoi. How- ever, we can find very little of a reliable nature, regarding those ecclesiastical settlements, in the very early ages. It is only known with certainty, that St. Columkille visited Rechrea ^,^^ but, it is stated, in the Irish Annals, that Segineus, Abbot ofHy, was the first erector of a church at Rechrainn, a. d.
635. "^ After this period, there are several allusions to its history, in our chronicles. At one time, St. Comgall wished to build a cell on the island, called ReachraindorRaclin,asweareinformed. '9 Situatedofftheextremenorthern shore of Ulster, it is not always an easy matter to reach that Island, from the mainland. The site of the ancient ecclesiastical establishment here is not indicated ; some mound of remarkable formation, and Bruce's Castle,^° being the only ruins, now to be seen on the Island. This latter fortress rises on a bold head-land, at the extreme eastern point of the Island, immediately front- ing Scotland ;^' and, it is so called, because the illustrious fugitive Robert Bruce, afterwards King of that country,^- was obliged to seek shelter there, when his fortunes were at a very low ebb, in the winter of 1306^3 About one-fourth of the entire island surface consists of rocks and poor pasturage, while the remaining three-fourths contains tolerably good arable land. ^^ Very
" Letters concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim ; containing observa- tions on the Antiquities, Manners and Cus- toms of that Country. With the Natural History of the Basaltes, illustrated by an accurate Map of the County of Antrim and views of the most interesting objects on the coast. " In two parts. This edition is enriched by a Memoir of the Author—and an Itinerary and Guide to the Giants' Causeway. " Bel- fast, 8vo. , pp. 265. To this latter edition reference is made, in the quotations here given.
'3 See ibid. , Part i. , Letter i. , n. p. 3.
'• He classes it among the EbudK or Western Isles of Scotland. See " Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. i. , p. 24.
'^ See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire- land. " vol. iii. , p. 134.
Academy," vol. xvii. , p. 47. This interest- ing Paper is found under the head of "Anti- quities," extending from pp. 37 to 71. It is preceded by an excellent and accurate Map of the Island, now regarded as a separate parish, with its various townland denomina- tions ; as also, beautiful copper-plate views of—I. Rathlin Island, from Ballycastle. 2. LimestoneRocksinChurchBay,Raihlin Island. 3. Ruins of Bruce's Castle, Rath- lin Island, and 4. Doon Point, Rathlin Island.
'° A woodcut representing this castle, and the cliff on which it stands, over the sea, may be seen in "TheDublin Penny Journal," vol. ii. . No. 56. A letter-press description accompanies it. See pp. 25, 26.
" Angus McDonnell, in the beginning of the fourteenth centur)-, was regarded as King over the Western Islands, and Raheny was deemed to be a part of his sovereignty.
'* However, it seems more probable, that
he belonged to Rachrainn, or Lambay
Island, off the east of Bregia. See Dr. See ibid,
O'Donovan's "IrishGrammar,"pp. 155, 281. ''See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaiurga," Adamnan's Vita S. Columl)as, lib. ii. , cap.
xli. , p. 361.
'^ See Ussher's " Index Chronologicus,"
at A. D. Dcxxxv. , " Britannicarum Eccle- siannii /Vntiquitates. "
'9 According to the account of James Drummond ^iarshall, M. D. , St. Comgall landed here belore St. Columba. See Notes on the Statistics and Natural History of the Island of Rathlin, off the Northern Co. ast of Ireland, in " Transactions of the Royal Irish
" See an account of this heroic king, in John Hill Burtons "History of Scotland," vol. ii. , chap, xxii. , xxiii. , xxiv. , pp. 344 to 432.
^3 " Bot in to Rauchryiie, nocht forthi Thai arywyt ilkane sawffly :
Blyth, and glaid, that thai war sua Eschapyt thai hidwyss waivis fra. "
—Barbbour's"Bruce. "BukeThyrd,v. 187. ''^ So late as the miiklle of the eighteenth century, the tenants on Rathlin paid their
May 10. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
169
remarkable Basaltic columns, and in contorted forms ^s—resembling those on the Giant's Causeway and on the opposite Antrim coast—are here to be seen, especially at Doon Point. ^^ Several very curious antiquities have also been discoveredonthisIsland. ^? Thatmarinesweeporlargeindentation,between Bull Point and Rue Point, is called Church Bayf^ ^-^^^^ probably, because of
Church Bay, Raghery Island, County Antrim.
a church standing there,^9 and it is the chief landing place. 3° Both this Bay, and the channel between it and the mainland of Ireland, are scourged by a power- ful current, and by a conflux of tides, chafing in recesses and recoiling from headlands. The waves are continually in agitation, and often they are very dan- gerous. 3' St. 'Comgall was opposed in the design of settling here, by thirty sol- diers. These bound his hands, and expelled him from the Island. In punish-
Academy," vol. xvii. James Drummond rents in kind ; most usually in pullets and sheep. See Rev. George Hill's " Historical Account of the Plantation in Ulster, at the commencement of the seventeeth century, 1608-1620," chap, vi. , p. 242, n. 84. Belfast, 1877, 4to.
-5 Allusion is made to this Island in the Poem of Rev. William Hamilton Drum- mond, D. D. :
" Where Rathlin braves the surge that round her rolls.
Edition of Rev. William Hamilton's " Let- ters concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim," &c. . Part ii. , Letter iv. , p. 131.
^7 See tbid. , Part i. , Letter ii. , pp. 20, 21.
^^ A view of this scene is here presented, drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake- man, Esq. , and engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
^5 In Ballynoe was the site of an old church, on which was built a new Protestant church, by Act of Council, dated April 20th, 1722. See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Down and Connor," pp. 215, 216.
3" "The form of the; island has been com- pared, like Italy, to that of a boot, the toe pointing to the coal works of Ballycastle the heel, where Bruce's Castle is situated, to Cantire—and the top to the great Western Ocean. " "Transactions of the Royal Irish
With chalky bastions, and basaltic moles," &c.
—"The Giant's Causeway," Book Second,
P-59-
** A very remarkable copperplate illustra-
tion of this scene, will be found in the Tliird
—
lyo
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. May io.
ment for such impious conduct, they all died within the course of a month. 3^ In times subsequent, the religious foundation of St. Columkille was ravaged and destroyed by the Danes, here, in 790; and again, in 973, these freebooters madeanothervisitation,whentheyputtlieabbottodeath. 33 Whileabsentfrom Ireland, St. Comgall built a monastery, in a certain village of the territory of Heth. 34 There was a place having such denomination in Britanny, and it is mentioned in the Acts of St. Brendan of Clonfert. 33 However, as it appears more probable, that the Britain, to which Comgall repaired, was Great Britain, a conjecture has been offered, that Heth, instead of being the proper name for a territory, may mean a tract lying near the sea. Thus, Hit/ie, the name of a place in Kent, has been explained,3^ as signifying coast, or sea-shore. 37 The Heth, in which Comgall is said to have been, was probably a maritime district ;38 and it is thought to have been in some part of Northern Britain,39 rather than in Gallic Britanny. ''"
About this time, the Picts of Scotland were often engaged, on marau- ding excursions ; and, it would seem, that Brude, son of Maelcon, called King of the Cruithne, had waged a victorious war, against the Albanich, or Southern Scots, so as to expel them from his territories. ^' His prowess was acknowledged over the northern parts of Scotland, where he ruled for several years. One day, while the saint was working in a field alone, he left a chrismal resting upon his garments. It chanced, that some Pictish robbers, who were Gentiles, made an irruption into a village, which they plundered ; but, on coming to where St. Comgall was at work, and seeing the chrismal placed upon his garments, supposing it to be the God of the saint, they did not dare to touch it. Comgall was much disturbed, on account of this barbarian irruption, and he cried out, " Lord, thou art my strength,myrefuge,andmydeliverer. " Then,havingprayed,hesignedthe Heavens,earthandsea,withasignofthecross. ImmediatelythePagansbe- came blind, and the sea swelled in boisterous manner, so that the invaders' ves- selswerethrownbackontheshore. Manyamongthecrewsufferedevenbodily injury. Thepirates,hereupon,relinquishedtheirprey,andaskedforgiveness fromSt. Comgall. Owingtohisprayers,theirsightwasrestored;and,the sea becoming calm, these rovers returned without any booty. After this, at the entreaty of many holy men, St. Comgall repaired to Ireland. -*^
It was a custom, in the monastery of our saint, if any one among the brethren should chide another, that person, who had received such reproof—whether deservingitornot—wasrequiredtogoonhisknees. Wherefore,atonetime, while Comgall visited an island, in the northern part of Ireland, some monks
Marshall's "Notes on the StatisticsandNatu- ralllistoryofthe Island of Rathlin," &c. ,p. 3S. 3' See the " Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Ireland," vol. iii. , p. 134.
3^ See "Acta . Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
X. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, exMS. antiquoet editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num. 47, p. 587.
38 As stated in St. Comgall's Acts, some British pirates made an attack on the monas- tery : and hence, an inference may be drawn, regarding such a situation for it.
39 Eday, one of the Orkney islands, is called Hethy hy Camden, in his " Britan- nia," at col. 1469. However, Comgall's Ileth is not called an island, but a terri-
*° See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii.
