Having observed that this plague raged when he was on that visit, and that the Continent —of Europe and the islands Sc—
Dunnechtyn
otia et Britannia viz.
Dunnechtyn
otia et Britannia viz.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
:« There he was educated in piety and learning by some Irish monks.
1*6 Others will have it, that he sought a refuge in Hy 14?
but probably he visited both places.
14* An
his death says : A. \tcp|tich tdac Oppu . 1. JTl-Atro pr>A Ia gAe-oelu hinAi-oh [he was called Fland Fina by the Irish] rex Saxon
;
Irish poem,'49 of twenty-four ranns, said to have been composed by him in
Whereupon it is related, Hiberniam, seuvi seu indignatione, secesserat. Ibi, et ab odio
U1 Thus at A. c. 704, Tighernach recording superseded on the ground of illegitimacy, ""
^
"
nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tigernachi Quocirca, imperii habenis, habiliorem Annales, p. 222. So the Annals of Inis- aestimantes, qui quondam expulerant ultro fallen, in the parallel place a. d. 694, have expetiverunt. "—" Wilhelmi Malmesbirien- JTlAnn rine itiac goffA Rex Saxonorum sis," "Gesta Regum Anglorum," p. 52,
germani tutus, et magno otio Uteris imbutus, fnit. " See Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hiber- omni philosophia composuerat animam.
edition of Thomas D. Hardy, 1840.
145 Irish writers observe; " Non sui tan- turn Uteris excolendi causa in Hiberniam mother. He is distinguished from J? lAnn venit, verum etiam ut Sanctis Hibernue pnn, an ecclesiastic, whom the Gloss and deprecantibus limace qui in aurem ejus the Felire of /Engus at January 14th, places irrepsit, et capitis humoribus attractis at Inbher Neola [An fheblA of the intumuit educto, molestia et morbo—ex ea Foyle ? ] on the confines of Tir Connell and recontracta immunis efficeretur. " Arch-
quievit. " See ibid. Annales Inisfalenses, y. 17.
143 The surname Fina was derived from his
Tir Eoghain ; or at Chuillinn beside Corcagh, as Mananus O'Gorman has it at the same
from
Cambrensis Eversus,"
M oreover, he is to be
day.
Flann Finn, as chief of the Cinel Eoghain, Christianity," vol. ii. , book iv. , chap, iv. ,
Aliter, Kina, daughter of Colman Rimidh, son of liaedan, son of Muircertach, son of Muiredhach, was mother of Flann Fina, King of the Saxons. Tract on the Mothers of the Iiish Saints in the Leabhar Lecain, fol. 43, a Manuscript classed H. 2. 16, in Trinity College, Dublin, p. 365 of the
278, Goodall finishes the climax ;
illas insulas minime Hibernia, Uteris nun- quam Celebris sed Hebrides, et ex iis Heii
—vel Iona insula pnecipue designari videtur. " "
Fordun's Scotichronicon," vol. i. , p.
159, n. 4.
148 Fordun writes: "Qui non pancis
distinguished
in 698, whom the Annals of Ulster call Flann Albus at a. d. 699. Pinkerton greatly errs in confounding this Aldfrid with Alchfrid, a legitimate son of Oswy, and who was invested with regal power by his father, but who died at an earlier date.
143 She is stated by . /Engus, a writer of the
eighth century, to have been from the
princely house of Niall : pnA injen
mic DAeTMin mic tTluijicefXAij mic Scotia, and, as appears by this passage of muijie'OAij;, mACAifi f? loimo ptiA 1115 Malmesbury and others, even t—he name
Chin-ofAetAT) mAtAift f/lom-o pnA mic
OffA. Aliter pnA injen ColmAin ftime Ireland in these times, when the name
SAXAn. "Fina, daughter ol Cennfaeladh, Hibernia was common to both. " was mother of Flann Fina, son of Ossa.
Catalogue. In the Claun Neill Genealogy
Fina is represented as the great grand- curam dedit. " Scotichronicon lib. iii. , p.
daughter of Muircertach, either through his son Baedan,—or through Ailill, father of
$*• ,4»
It begins :
Cennfaeladh.
Ibid. , fol.
63.
•"Oswy, King of Northumbria, died in
670, and was succeeded by his son Egfrid. Though an elder brother, Aldfrid was
Uo-oeA-o in Imp pnn Ail J?
In efimn ji e iaji n-imAjifJAij.
1m mAr bAn, ni bAech An bjieAch. ImAC lAec, imAc clefeAch
"
deacon Lynch's
edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, vol. ii. , p. 236.
146 See Dean Milman's " of Latin History
p. 267.
147 Such is the account of a Lindisfarne
:
Benedictine Monk. See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus hi. , Martii xx. Tertia Vita S. Cuthberti, lib. iii. , sect. 6, p. 121. T. Innes endeavours to make it appear, that Aldfrid 's place of retirement was Ycolmkill, and draws the startling con- clusion
" We see that it was usual to the exactest writers to confound Scotland with
"Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," p.
"
annis in Scoti—a et Hibernia discendo literas
""
per
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 489
111
reference to his sojourn in Ireland, ** is still preserved. * The original has
12
been printed by James Hardiman, * and a literal translation into English
has been furnished by John O'Donovan,^ with critical notes appended. '5* James Clarence Mangan has given a metrical version of this poem. 'ss It may
be supposed, that owing to an alleged relationship of his mother with the chief northern family, Aldfrid had been induced to seek refuge on the shores of our Island. It is also probable during the time of his exile, that prince had formed an intimacy with Adamnan, of whom he is called the alumnus *& This friendship thus early formed, afterwards proved serviceable to Adamnan, when his protege ascended the throne. Ecgfrid had been slain by the Picts,
in a fatal
undertaken —them, in the expedition against year 684*57
8 near
a
Loch,
J59 and at Dun Nechtainl6°
supposed
1mu jio bit mAC OffA, Accacff1 ctAi-orhejtAfa, C1A -DO fAT)A A1C1fje,
1f hi mx> ht iAf nAffa. 1mu f. o bit mAC OffA,
CAf a mbi-oif -ouftA -oeojA. Tlo cuaVa Cfifc Af nsui-oe, RoifAOf. buc Ofui-oe bfejjA.
" The death of Flann Fiona, son of Ossa, King of the Saxons, the illustrious wise man, thefoster-sonofAdamnan; ofwhomRiaguil of Bennchor sung :
To-day Bruid fights a battle
About the land of his grandfather.
Unless it be too much to ask of the Son of
God,
Mayhenotperishinit.
To-day the son of Ossa falls
In battle with green swords, Although he did his penance,
And shall lie in Hi after his death. To-day the son of Ossa fulls,
Who had the brown drinks.
Christ has heard our supplication, He will save the splendid Bruide. "
The writer appears to confound Aldfrid
withEcgfrid,asregardsthebattle. Tigher- nach places the death of Aldfrid in the year
704, and Bede at 705. Riaguil, of Bangor, is placed in the Irish Calendar, at June nth, although he is not noticed in the Annals. See at that date, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
,57 The Venerable Bede places this event
"
plAnn £itiA idac Oofa Affor-AoiefienneotofA
x\f bf. u c-ffotA Ren Afecc fTUAIf. A fieift TttAjl -DO f. AI'OeAT).
The translation into English is thus given : — •' It is natural in fair Inis-fail,
In Erin, without contention, Many women, no silly boast, Many laics, many clerics.
Flann Fina, son of Osa, ArchdoctorinErin's
On the banks of the river Ren
[this] ;
Received his due as was natu—ral. "
Rann 23.
150 Charles O'Connor, senior, had a copy "
o—f thispoeminaveryobscurecharacter. "
"
iv. , p. 129. Also in the Stowe Catalogue,
vol. i. , p. 95. Other ancient copies are
mentioned by Edward O'Reilly in his
"
Chronological Account of nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," p. xlviii.
'51 It is marked H. 2. 16, among the Manuscripts in Trinity College, Dublin.
152 In his "Irish Minstrelsy," vol. ii. , p. 372.
^3
Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus
See "The Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 12, pp. 94, 95.
'54 However, the translator omitted to observe, that the introduction of the deno- mination Dublin, in one of the stanzas, deprives the poem of an antiquity dating back to the seventh
155 " century.
See Poems by James Clarence
at A. D. 684. See
Historia Ecclesiastica
Mangan;" with Biographical Introduction
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. 26.
's8 With Bede's account coincides that of
Mathew, of Westminster, except as to date, which he places in the year 685. He adds that Egfrid was succeeded by " frater ejus Aelfridus licet non de legitimo matrimonio susceptus, & in scripturis vir doctissimus, qui regni statum, in magna parte inclinatum
by John to 381.
Mitchel. Irish
Anthology, pp. 379
156 In a Brussels MS. 530I, p. 80, of
Mac Firbis's Irish
Annals,
the death of trioff £lAmn
Alfrid is thus recorded :
JTionA true OffA fi SAXAn, An cejnAit)
"OAtiCA xVoArhnAin bennchuif cecemc,
x>e
quo ttiA5Uit
ArhjiA,
;
1niu pejiAf bfwoe cac,
1m fofbA a fenACAji. ITlAnAT) At$Af Ia niAC *Oe,
Conit) x>e At) jenACAft.
159 This event is thus related by Simeon of Durham: " Extinctum regem apud Nech- tanesmere, quod est Stagnum Nectani,
learning, composed
laudabiter reparavit. " rum," p. 224.
—"
Flores Historia-
or
to have been the modern
685,'5
49© LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
l6x 162
Dunnichen, near the North Sea, in Scotland. Aldfrid was afterwards
restored to his country and to the possession of his hereditary rights. Attheyear683,163wehaveanaccountconcerningaforay,whichis said to have taken place in the month of June, when the churches and territories
of Magh-Breagh were devastated. 16*
16
pleading with Ecgfrid. ? Certain it is, however, that he had in view the
release of some Irish captives, who had been carried away from Meath, by the Saxon general of that prince. From Adamnan's own account, we learn, that he visited Aldfrid, the year after King Ecgfrid's death. Wherefore, this
the Saxons to their
16* The Bollandist editor
brought by
that Adamnan's first visit166 to the Saxons had for its object a desire of
visit must have its date in the latter end of l68 or the 685,
of l69 beginning 686,
sepultum. "— Historica Dunelmensis Eccle-
sise," pp. 3, 5. This lake formerly occupied the place of Dunnichen Moss.
160 The Annals of Ulster, at the year 685, ""
record ; Bellum Duin Nechtain in vicesimo
die mensis Maii, die sabbati, factum est, in
quo Elfrith mac Ossu rex Saxonum, xv.
anno regni sui, consummata magna cum
caterva militum suorum interfectus est ; et
combussit cuIa AmAn -oum OtlAijh. " In
686, Tighernach relates this same event :
"
CAi -cum tlechtAin [praelium Dun- Nechtain], xx. die mensis Maii sabbati die factum est, in quo Ecfrit Mac Ossu ex Saxonum xv. anno regni sui, consumata magna cum caterva militum suorum interfectus est tA [a] Brudhi mac Bili rege roficfiein [Pictimia],
161 A parish in Forfarshire, next Forfar, on the south-east, and which is mentioned as
Egfrid's war, in the Vita S. Columbse," lib. ii. , cap. xlvi,
167 See the " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Junii ix. De S. Columba, Presbytero, Abbate, in Iona Scotiae Insula. Commen- tarius Praevius, sect, i. , num. 2, p. 190.
in a charter of William the Lion to the Abbey of Arbroath. See " Liber de Aberbrothoe, pp. 4, 10, 124,
165.
,6a The Saxon Chronicle, at a. d. 685,
places the scene of this action near the
North Sea, to which the situation of
Dunnichen answers, as it is only twelve
miles distant from the German Ocean. See
"
vol. i. , p. 419 ; also Chalmers' "Caledonia,"
168 The " Annals of the Four Masters" have it at A-D. 684, and mark it as the eleventh year of the reign of Finnacta. It was that, in which the dreadful plague, mentioned by them at said year, broke out, the commencement of which is affixed by FlorenceofWorcesterto685. SeeColgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," p. 385.
Having observed that this plague raged when he was on that visit, and that the Continent —of Europe and the islands Sc—
Dunnechtyn
otia et Britannia viz. , Ireland and Britain were laid waste by it, except those parts of North Britain inhabited by the British Scots and the Picts, these, he thought, were preserved from it
Old Statistical Account of Scotland,"
through the intercession of St. Columba.
l0» Roderick O'Flaherty has a manuscript note to Adamnan's Vita S, Columbse, lib. ii. ,
cap. xlvi. , referring to Tigernach's Annals, assigning this visit to a. d. 686, in his former
copy of Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
which is now preserved in the Library of
the Royal Society, Dublin.
'70 « ne visited Alfrid more than once on
some subsequent occasions but
; this, his
first embassy, was either in the latter e—nd of
the
vol. i. , pp. 210, 255.
163 See Dr. O' Donovan's
164 The Annals of Clonmacnoise relate this event at the year 680.
Annals FourMasters,"vol. i. , pp. 288to291.
of the
"
ships.
supposed,
l
according to a learned authority. i° The circumstances connected with
Adamnan's journey are related in his Irish life, but with that disregard for historic accuracy, so characteristic of later Irish hagiology. The piratical expedition of th—e North-Saxons, and the plundering of Magh-Breagh so far
1
as Bealach dui—n now Castlekeeran on the Blackwater,^ and lying north-
west of Kells with the number of male and female captives made by them, are recorded. Then we are told, that the men of Erin requested Adamnan to go to Saxon-land, in quest of those unhappy people. Our saint accordingly
Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses, p. 62.
166
Making mention of his visits to Alfrid, Adamnan calls him his friend, and he speaks of this visit as the first one after
ejusque corpus in Hii, insula Columba "
'•5 The date given by the Annals of 685, or in the beginning of 686. "
Ulster is 684, for the devastation of Breg
plainsi or Meagh-Breagh, by the Saxons. See Dr. O'Conor's M Rerum Hibernicarum
Dr. Langan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect. 5, n. 53, p. 98. * Formerly called the Sele.
Many spoils and several hostages were
September 23. ] LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. 491
went to demand the prisoners, and put in at a place called Tracht-Romra. '? 3 The strand is said to have been long, and the flood rolling at this place. The current was so rapid, that if the best steed in Saxon-land were ridden by the best horseman, and started from the tidal water's edge when it begins to flow, so extensive is the strand and so impetuous was the tide, that he might only bring his rider to the shore by swimming. The Saxons, as related, were willing to allow Adamnan's landing upon their shore. u Push
your
currachs on the land," said Adamnan to his " for both land and people,
sea are obedient to God, and nothing can be done without His permission. "
The clerics did as they had been told, when Adamnan drew a circle with his
crozier around the currachs. Providence rendered the strand firm under
their vessels, and a high wall of sea-waves was formed about them ; so that
the place where they were became an island. The sea even went to its
limits past it, but did them no injury. When the Saxons had observed this
great miracle, they trembled for fear of Adamnan, and granted his full
demand. It was to this effect ; that a complete restoration of the captives
should be made to him, and that no Saxon should ever again go upon a
predatory excursion to Erin. Our saint is then said to have brought back
all the I? 3 It is captives.
supposed, by
a learned and acute writer^* of our
saint's life, that Adamnan possibly undertook this mission, at the instance of
King Finnachta, on whose patrimonial territory this descent had been
made by the Saxons, and perhaps also at the request of the Leinstermen.
The secret of Adamnan's success probably rests on the fact of his previous
friendship with Aldfrid, which time had rather strengthened, together with
theobvious of toareasonabledemand. 1" Theresultofhis justice acceding
embassy is reported by our Annalists. These state, that Adamnan conducted 16
sixty captives to Ireland in 686. ? It is sufficiently probable, our Saint had formed an acquaintance with the great Saint Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfame, then or sometime previous to this period. The latter Bishop died
l
on the 20th of March, ? 7 687 ; and, it would appear, that the mutual good
offices of Cuthbert and Adamnan had been vainly employed in endeavouring to effect a reconciliation between the Picts and {Scots of Britain. These nations were almost constantly at variance. 1? 8 It is possible, that Cuthbert and Adamnan had met together at the court of King Aldfrid, and on the occasion of our saint's first visit thereto. Perhaps, Adamnan had turned out of his direct way while going to or from the court of this prince, for the purpose of seeing the Lindisfame abbot and community. However, there is no positive testimony to establish a suspicion, that Adamnan and Cuthbert were personally acquainted ; although from their mutual agency in the same
172 " The name is now unknown, but the
graphic description is very applicable to Solway Firth. Fordun speaks of the
1'
sive Sulwath. "—"
cap. 2, and lib. iii. , cap. 7, 41. Ptolemy calls the Solway', Irotiva etsxwts.
'73 This is attested by Venerable Bede, in his Ecclesiastical History.
174 The Rev. William Reeves, D,D.
'75 The Annals of Clonmacnoise refer this event to A. D. 682. At the year 684, those of the Four Masters relate, that "Adamnan went to Saxon land, to request [a restora- tion] of the prisoners which the North Saxons had carried off from Magh-Breagh
theyearbeforementioned. Heobtaineda restoration of them, after having performed wonders and miracles before the hosts ; and they afterwards gave him great honour and
carum Scriptores, tomus iv.
'^See his Acts, at the same day, in the
Third Volume of this Work, Art. i.
1? 8 See Buchanan's "Rerum Scoticarum
Historia," lib. v. , p. 147.
flumen Eske, quod dicitur Scotiswath,
lib. Sco^chronicon," ii. ,
respect, together
tion of
with a full restora— everything he asked of them. "
Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 290 to 293. '? 6 This is attested by the Annals of Ulster, "a. d. 686. Ada—mnamus captivos reduxit ad Hiberniam lx. " " Annales Ultonienses," p. 64, in Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni-
49* LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
negotiation,thewriterwouldfeelinclinedtoformsuchaconclusion. When
our saint paid his first visit to King Aldfrid's court, a great mortality
prevailed in several countries of Europe. However, the Picts and Scots in
North Britain were providentially exempted from the ravages of this plague.
Such isattributedtothe andmeritsofSt. Columba. 1? ? exemption patronage
While on his legation to Aldfrid, it is stated, that Adamnan conceived a desire to celebrate Easter according to the Roman manner. 180 It is most probable, however, that this celebration took place on the occasion of a
,Sl
was then King of the Scots, and a contemporary with Aldfrid, King over the Northumbrians. A firm alliance had been established between both of these monarchs, who were bound
together in friendship, originating from a mutual cultivation of studies, to which they had both been addicted.
CHAPTER II.
THE VISION OF ADAMNAN—HIS SOJOURN IN IRELAND—RAPHOE AND ITS CHURCH DEDICATED TO THE PATRON SAINT—THE SHRINE OF ADAMNAN—VIRTUES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE SAINT—BISHOP ARCULF'S VISIT TO IONA—ADAMNAN WRITES THE TRACT DE LOCIS SANCTIS—HIS LIFE OF ST. COLUMBA—ADAMNAN'S GENUINE WRITINGS AND THOSE ATTRIBUTED TO HIM.
There seems to be ground for believing, that the public mind for some time
subsequent visit. Eugenius VI.
had been in kept
and alarm
by prevailing
diseases and
1
expectation
observed or imagined. It was advantageously impressed and seriously dis- posed in fine, by the relation of a certain vision, attributed to Adamnan.
Not only in the Books of Erinn were extraordinary phenomena recorded as occurring towards the close of the seventh century, but also in those of the neighbouring island of Britain. 3 The joys of Heaven and the pains of Hell
'"See Adamnan's ''Vita S. Colurabse," lib. ii. , cap. 46.
x
^°See Matthew of Paris' "Chronica Majora," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 318.
1,1 We are told, the during
Chapter 11. —' Among these may be
mentioned the moon turned into the colour
of blood, on the feast of St. Martin, A. D. ,
688; bloody rain falling in Lagenia, a. D.
689; famine and pestilence prevailing tor
three in so that man years Hibernia, great
ate man ; a great frost, so that the lakes and rivers in Erinn were frozen over, while the sea between Erinn and Alba was frozen to such an extent, that people used to travel to andfroontheice; besidesamortalitybroke out among cows in Hibernia on the Kalends of February in Magh Treagha, in Teathbha, A. D. 696. See William M. Hennessy's " Chronicum Scotorum," pp. no to 113.
3
During the reign of Rhodri Molvynog in Wales, at A. D. 685, is related a mortality in Ireland lasting for two years ; at A. D. 687, in Armorica an earthquake ; at A. D. 688, it rained blood in the island of Britain and in Ireland ; at a. d. 690, the milk and butter turned to blood ; and, at a. d. 692, the moon
of this King, that for seven days it rained blood
"
converso etiam lacte, caseo, et butiro in sanguinem. " This account appears to have been taken from the Saxon Chronicle, which refers such phenomenon to A. D. 685. Caradoc states, that in the fifth year of the reign of Ivor, King over the Britons, and who began his rule A. D. 689, showers of blood fell in Britain and Ireland. Those showers caused milk and butter to be converted into a sanguineous colour. The Annals of Clon- macnoise assign this portent in Ireland to a. d. 688 ; the Annals of the Four Masters to A. D. 690 ; and the Annals Tighernach to a. d. 693. The latter Annals state, that
throughout the whole of Britain,
reign
"
the blood flowed in streams for three days turned of a bloody colour. See Brut y
and three nights. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
Twysogion ; or the Chronicle of the Princes," edited by Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , pp. 2 to 5. With some
"
Tigernachi Annales, p. 217.
Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomusii.
portents,
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 493
Adamnan is said to have witnessed, previous to the date for holding a very celebrated synod. The account is contained in a Tract styled the Fis Adamnain, or the Vision of Adamnan, an Irish composition of considerable antiquity,3 as proved by its style. Copies of it are yet extant. Like the visions of St. Fursey,4 it embodies a narrative, which passed current in conver- sation, as the realities of our saint's experience. This so-called Vision of Adamnan was written prosaically, partly in Latin, and partly in Irish. s This tract is a religious discourse on the text of the cxlvi. Psalm,6 verses 5 and 6,7 as taken from the Vulgate Version. Of these it opens with a paraphrase. A copy is to be found 8 in the Leabhar Breach a manuscript belonging to the Royal Irish Academy. 10 Another is stated to be in the Bibliotheque
Nationale, Paris. " There is also a copy of it—a quarto vellum "—among #
the Royal Irish Academy s MSS. *3 An imperfect copy was also in the hands of John McNamara, Esq. , Assistant Secretary to the Iberno-Celtic Society.
his death says : A. \tcp|tich tdac Oppu . 1. JTl-Atro pr>A Ia gAe-oelu hinAi-oh [he was called Fland Fina by the Irish] rex Saxon
;
Irish poem,'49 of twenty-four ranns, said to have been composed by him in
Whereupon it is related, Hiberniam, seuvi seu indignatione, secesserat. Ibi, et ab odio
U1 Thus at A. c. 704, Tighernach recording superseded on the ground of illegitimacy, ""
^
"
nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tigernachi Quocirca, imperii habenis, habiliorem Annales, p. 222. So the Annals of Inis- aestimantes, qui quondam expulerant ultro fallen, in the parallel place a. d. 694, have expetiverunt. "—" Wilhelmi Malmesbirien- JTlAnn rine itiac goffA Rex Saxonorum sis," "Gesta Regum Anglorum," p. 52,
germani tutus, et magno otio Uteris imbutus, fnit. " See Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hiber- omni philosophia composuerat animam.
edition of Thomas D. Hardy, 1840.
145 Irish writers observe; " Non sui tan- turn Uteris excolendi causa in Hiberniam mother. He is distinguished from J? lAnn venit, verum etiam ut Sanctis Hibernue pnn, an ecclesiastic, whom the Gloss and deprecantibus limace qui in aurem ejus the Felire of /Engus at January 14th, places irrepsit, et capitis humoribus attractis at Inbher Neola [An fheblA of the intumuit educto, molestia et morbo—ex ea Foyle ? ] on the confines of Tir Connell and recontracta immunis efficeretur. " Arch-
quievit. " See ibid. Annales Inisfalenses, y. 17.
143 The surname Fina was derived from his
Tir Eoghain ; or at Chuillinn beside Corcagh, as Mananus O'Gorman has it at the same
from
Cambrensis Eversus,"
M oreover, he is to be
day.
Flann Finn, as chief of the Cinel Eoghain, Christianity," vol. ii. , book iv. , chap, iv. ,
Aliter, Kina, daughter of Colman Rimidh, son of liaedan, son of Muircertach, son of Muiredhach, was mother of Flann Fina, King of the Saxons. Tract on the Mothers of the Iiish Saints in the Leabhar Lecain, fol. 43, a Manuscript classed H. 2. 16, in Trinity College, Dublin, p. 365 of the
278, Goodall finishes the climax ;
illas insulas minime Hibernia, Uteris nun- quam Celebris sed Hebrides, et ex iis Heii
—vel Iona insula pnecipue designari videtur. " "
Fordun's Scotichronicon," vol. i. , p.
159, n. 4.
148 Fordun writes: "Qui non pancis
distinguished
in 698, whom the Annals of Ulster call Flann Albus at a. d. 699. Pinkerton greatly errs in confounding this Aldfrid with Alchfrid, a legitimate son of Oswy, and who was invested with regal power by his father, but who died at an earlier date.
143 She is stated by . /Engus, a writer of the
eighth century, to have been from the
princely house of Niall : pnA injen
mic DAeTMin mic tTluijicefXAij mic Scotia, and, as appears by this passage of muijie'OAij;, mACAifi f? loimo ptiA 1115 Malmesbury and others, even t—he name
Chin-ofAetAT) mAtAift f/lom-o pnA mic
OffA. Aliter pnA injen ColmAin ftime Ireland in these times, when the name
SAXAn. "Fina, daughter ol Cennfaeladh, Hibernia was common to both. " was mother of Flann Fina, son of Ossa.
Catalogue. In the Claun Neill Genealogy
Fina is represented as the great grand- curam dedit. " Scotichronicon lib. iii. , p.
daughter of Muircertach, either through his son Baedan,—or through Ailill, father of
$*• ,4»
It begins :
Cennfaeladh.
Ibid. , fol.
63.
•"Oswy, King of Northumbria, died in
670, and was succeeded by his son Egfrid. Though an elder brother, Aldfrid was
Uo-oeA-o in Imp pnn Ail J?
In efimn ji e iaji n-imAjifJAij.
1m mAr bAn, ni bAech An bjieAch. ImAC lAec, imAc clefeAch
"
deacon Lynch's
edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, vol. ii. , p. 236.
146 See Dean Milman's " of Latin History
p. 267.
147 Such is the account of a Lindisfarne
:
Benedictine Monk. See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus hi. , Martii xx. Tertia Vita S. Cuthberti, lib. iii. , sect. 6, p. 121. T. Innes endeavours to make it appear, that Aldfrid 's place of retirement was Ycolmkill, and draws the startling con- clusion
" We see that it was usual to the exactest writers to confound Scotland with
"Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," p.
"
annis in Scoti—a et Hibernia discendo literas
""
per
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 489
111
reference to his sojourn in Ireland, ** is still preserved. * The original has
12
been printed by James Hardiman, * and a literal translation into English
has been furnished by John O'Donovan,^ with critical notes appended. '5* James Clarence Mangan has given a metrical version of this poem. 'ss It may
be supposed, that owing to an alleged relationship of his mother with the chief northern family, Aldfrid had been induced to seek refuge on the shores of our Island. It is also probable during the time of his exile, that prince had formed an intimacy with Adamnan, of whom he is called the alumnus *& This friendship thus early formed, afterwards proved serviceable to Adamnan, when his protege ascended the throne. Ecgfrid had been slain by the Picts,
in a fatal
undertaken —them, in the expedition against year 684*57
8 near
a
Loch,
J59 and at Dun Nechtainl6°
supposed
1mu jio bit mAC OffA, Accacff1 ctAi-orhejtAfa, C1A -DO fAT)A A1C1fje,
1f hi mx> ht iAf nAffa. 1mu f. o bit mAC OffA,
CAf a mbi-oif -ouftA -oeojA. Tlo cuaVa Cfifc Af nsui-oe, RoifAOf. buc Ofui-oe bfejjA.
" The death of Flann Fiona, son of Ossa, King of the Saxons, the illustrious wise man, thefoster-sonofAdamnan; ofwhomRiaguil of Bennchor sung :
To-day Bruid fights a battle
About the land of his grandfather.
Unless it be too much to ask of the Son of
God,
Mayhenotperishinit.
To-day the son of Ossa falls
In battle with green swords, Although he did his penance,
And shall lie in Hi after his death. To-day the son of Ossa fulls,
Who had the brown drinks.
Christ has heard our supplication, He will save the splendid Bruide. "
The writer appears to confound Aldfrid
withEcgfrid,asregardsthebattle. Tigher- nach places the death of Aldfrid in the year
704, and Bede at 705. Riaguil, of Bangor, is placed in the Irish Calendar, at June nth, although he is not noticed in the Annals. See at that date, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
,57 The Venerable Bede places this event
"
plAnn £itiA idac Oofa Affor-AoiefienneotofA
x\f bf. u c-ffotA Ren Afecc fTUAIf. A fieift TttAjl -DO f. AI'OeAT).
The translation into English is thus given : — •' It is natural in fair Inis-fail,
In Erin, without contention, Many women, no silly boast, Many laics, many clerics.
Flann Fina, son of Osa, ArchdoctorinErin's
On the banks of the river Ren
[this] ;
Received his due as was natu—ral. "
Rann 23.
150 Charles O'Connor, senior, had a copy "
o—f thispoeminaveryobscurecharacter. "
"
iv. , p. 129. Also in the Stowe Catalogue,
vol. i. , p. 95. Other ancient copies are
mentioned by Edward O'Reilly in his
"
Chronological Account of nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," p. xlviii.
'51 It is marked H. 2. 16, among the Manuscripts in Trinity College, Dublin.
152 In his "Irish Minstrelsy," vol. ii. , p. 372.
^3
Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus
See "The Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 12, pp. 94, 95.
'54 However, the translator omitted to observe, that the introduction of the deno- mination Dublin, in one of the stanzas, deprives the poem of an antiquity dating back to the seventh
155 " century.
See Poems by James Clarence
at A. D. 684. See
Historia Ecclesiastica
Mangan;" with Biographical Introduction
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. 26.
's8 With Bede's account coincides that of
Mathew, of Westminster, except as to date, which he places in the year 685. He adds that Egfrid was succeeded by " frater ejus Aelfridus licet non de legitimo matrimonio susceptus, & in scripturis vir doctissimus, qui regni statum, in magna parte inclinatum
by John to 381.
Mitchel. Irish
Anthology, pp. 379
156 In a Brussels MS. 530I, p. 80, of
Mac Firbis's Irish
Annals,
the death of trioff £lAmn
Alfrid is thus recorded :
JTionA true OffA fi SAXAn, An cejnAit)
"OAtiCA xVoArhnAin bennchuif cecemc,
x>e
quo ttiA5Uit
ArhjiA,
;
1niu pejiAf bfwoe cac,
1m fofbA a fenACAji. ITlAnAT) At$Af Ia niAC *Oe,
Conit) x>e At) jenACAft.
159 This event is thus related by Simeon of Durham: " Extinctum regem apud Nech- tanesmere, quod est Stagnum Nectani,
learning, composed
laudabiter reparavit. " rum," p. 224.
—"
Flores Historia-
or
to have been the modern
685,'5
49© LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
l6x 162
Dunnichen, near the North Sea, in Scotland. Aldfrid was afterwards
restored to his country and to the possession of his hereditary rights. Attheyear683,163wehaveanaccountconcerningaforay,whichis said to have taken place in the month of June, when the churches and territories
of Magh-Breagh were devastated. 16*
16
pleading with Ecgfrid. ? Certain it is, however, that he had in view the
release of some Irish captives, who had been carried away from Meath, by the Saxon general of that prince. From Adamnan's own account, we learn, that he visited Aldfrid, the year after King Ecgfrid's death. Wherefore, this
the Saxons to their
16* The Bollandist editor
brought by
that Adamnan's first visit166 to the Saxons had for its object a desire of
visit must have its date in the latter end of l68 or the 685,
of l69 beginning 686,
sepultum. "— Historica Dunelmensis Eccle-
sise," pp. 3, 5. This lake formerly occupied the place of Dunnichen Moss.
160 The Annals of Ulster, at the year 685, ""
record ; Bellum Duin Nechtain in vicesimo
die mensis Maii, die sabbati, factum est, in
quo Elfrith mac Ossu rex Saxonum, xv.
anno regni sui, consummata magna cum
caterva militum suorum interfectus est ; et
combussit cuIa AmAn -oum OtlAijh. " In
686, Tighernach relates this same event :
"
CAi -cum tlechtAin [praelium Dun- Nechtain], xx. die mensis Maii sabbati die factum est, in quo Ecfrit Mac Ossu ex Saxonum xv. anno regni sui, consumata magna cum caterva militum suorum interfectus est tA [a] Brudhi mac Bili rege roficfiein [Pictimia],
161 A parish in Forfarshire, next Forfar, on the south-east, and which is mentioned as
Egfrid's war, in the Vita S. Columbse," lib. ii. , cap. xlvi,
167 See the " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Junii ix. De S. Columba, Presbytero, Abbate, in Iona Scotiae Insula. Commen- tarius Praevius, sect, i. , num. 2, p. 190.
in a charter of William the Lion to the Abbey of Arbroath. See " Liber de Aberbrothoe, pp. 4, 10, 124,
165.
,6a The Saxon Chronicle, at a. d. 685,
places the scene of this action near the
North Sea, to which the situation of
Dunnichen answers, as it is only twelve
miles distant from the German Ocean. See
"
vol. i. , p. 419 ; also Chalmers' "Caledonia,"
168 The " Annals of the Four Masters" have it at A-D. 684, and mark it as the eleventh year of the reign of Finnacta. It was that, in which the dreadful plague, mentioned by them at said year, broke out, the commencement of which is affixed by FlorenceofWorcesterto685. SeeColgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," p. 385.
Having observed that this plague raged when he was on that visit, and that the Continent —of Europe and the islands Sc—
Dunnechtyn
otia et Britannia viz. , Ireland and Britain were laid waste by it, except those parts of North Britain inhabited by the British Scots and the Picts, these, he thought, were preserved from it
Old Statistical Account of Scotland,"
through the intercession of St. Columba.
l0» Roderick O'Flaherty has a manuscript note to Adamnan's Vita S, Columbse, lib. ii. ,
cap. xlvi. , referring to Tigernach's Annals, assigning this visit to a. d. 686, in his former
copy of Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
which is now preserved in the Library of
the Royal Society, Dublin.
'70 « ne visited Alfrid more than once on
some subsequent occasions but
; this, his
first embassy, was either in the latter e—nd of
the
vol. i. , pp. 210, 255.
163 See Dr. O' Donovan's
164 The Annals of Clonmacnoise relate this event at the year 680.
Annals FourMasters,"vol. i. , pp. 288to291.
of the
"
ships.
supposed,
l
according to a learned authority. i° The circumstances connected with
Adamnan's journey are related in his Irish life, but with that disregard for historic accuracy, so characteristic of later Irish hagiology. The piratical expedition of th—e North-Saxons, and the plundering of Magh-Breagh so far
1
as Bealach dui—n now Castlekeeran on the Blackwater,^ and lying north-
west of Kells with the number of male and female captives made by them, are recorded. Then we are told, that the men of Erin requested Adamnan to go to Saxon-land, in quest of those unhappy people. Our saint accordingly
Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses, p. 62.
166
Making mention of his visits to Alfrid, Adamnan calls him his friend, and he speaks of this visit as the first one after
ejusque corpus in Hii, insula Columba "
'•5 The date given by the Annals of 685, or in the beginning of 686. "
Ulster is 684, for the devastation of Breg
plainsi or Meagh-Breagh, by the Saxons. See Dr. O'Conor's M Rerum Hibernicarum
Dr. Langan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect. 5, n. 53, p. 98. * Formerly called the Sele.
Many spoils and several hostages were
September 23. ] LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. 491
went to demand the prisoners, and put in at a place called Tracht-Romra. '? 3 The strand is said to have been long, and the flood rolling at this place. The current was so rapid, that if the best steed in Saxon-land were ridden by the best horseman, and started from the tidal water's edge when it begins to flow, so extensive is the strand and so impetuous was the tide, that he might only bring his rider to the shore by swimming. The Saxons, as related, were willing to allow Adamnan's landing upon their shore. u Push
your
currachs on the land," said Adamnan to his " for both land and people,
sea are obedient to God, and nothing can be done without His permission. "
The clerics did as they had been told, when Adamnan drew a circle with his
crozier around the currachs. Providence rendered the strand firm under
their vessels, and a high wall of sea-waves was formed about them ; so that
the place where they were became an island. The sea even went to its
limits past it, but did them no injury. When the Saxons had observed this
great miracle, they trembled for fear of Adamnan, and granted his full
demand. It was to this effect ; that a complete restoration of the captives
should be made to him, and that no Saxon should ever again go upon a
predatory excursion to Erin. Our saint is then said to have brought back
all the I? 3 It is captives.
supposed, by
a learned and acute writer^* of our
saint's life, that Adamnan possibly undertook this mission, at the instance of
King Finnachta, on whose patrimonial territory this descent had been
made by the Saxons, and perhaps also at the request of the Leinstermen.
The secret of Adamnan's success probably rests on the fact of his previous
friendship with Aldfrid, which time had rather strengthened, together with
theobvious of toareasonabledemand. 1" Theresultofhis justice acceding
embassy is reported by our Annalists. These state, that Adamnan conducted 16
sixty captives to Ireland in 686. ? It is sufficiently probable, our Saint had formed an acquaintance with the great Saint Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfame, then or sometime previous to this period. The latter Bishop died
l
on the 20th of March, ? 7 687 ; and, it would appear, that the mutual good
offices of Cuthbert and Adamnan had been vainly employed in endeavouring to effect a reconciliation between the Picts and {Scots of Britain. These nations were almost constantly at variance. 1? 8 It is possible, that Cuthbert and Adamnan had met together at the court of King Aldfrid, and on the occasion of our saint's first visit thereto. Perhaps, Adamnan had turned out of his direct way while going to or from the court of this prince, for the purpose of seeing the Lindisfame abbot and community. However, there is no positive testimony to establish a suspicion, that Adamnan and Cuthbert were personally acquainted ; although from their mutual agency in the same
172 " The name is now unknown, but the
graphic description is very applicable to Solway Firth. Fordun speaks of the
1'
sive Sulwath. "—"
cap. 2, and lib. iii. , cap. 7, 41. Ptolemy calls the Solway', Irotiva etsxwts.
'73 This is attested by Venerable Bede, in his Ecclesiastical History.
174 The Rev. William Reeves, D,D.
'75 The Annals of Clonmacnoise refer this event to A. D. 682. At the year 684, those of the Four Masters relate, that "Adamnan went to Saxon land, to request [a restora- tion] of the prisoners which the North Saxons had carried off from Magh-Breagh
theyearbeforementioned. Heobtaineda restoration of them, after having performed wonders and miracles before the hosts ; and they afterwards gave him great honour and
carum Scriptores, tomus iv.
'^See his Acts, at the same day, in the
Third Volume of this Work, Art. i.
1? 8 See Buchanan's "Rerum Scoticarum
Historia," lib. v. , p. 147.
flumen Eske, quod dicitur Scotiswath,
lib. Sco^chronicon," ii. ,
respect, together
tion of
with a full restora— everything he asked of them. "
Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 290 to 293. '? 6 This is attested by the Annals of Ulster, "a. d. 686. Ada—mnamus captivos reduxit ad Hiberniam lx. " " Annales Ultonienses," p. 64, in Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni-
49* LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
negotiation,thewriterwouldfeelinclinedtoformsuchaconclusion. When
our saint paid his first visit to King Aldfrid's court, a great mortality
prevailed in several countries of Europe. However, the Picts and Scots in
North Britain were providentially exempted from the ravages of this plague.
Such isattributedtothe andmeritsofSt. Columba. 1? ? exemption patronage
While on his legation to Aldfrid, it is stated, that Adamnan conceived a desire to celebrate Easter according to the Roman manner. 180 It is most probable, however, that this celebration took place on the occasion of a
,Sl
was then King of the Scots, and a contemporary with Aldfrid, King over the Northumbrians. A firm alliance had been established between both of these monarchs, who were bound
together in friendship, originating from a mutual cultivation of studies, to which they had both been addicted.
CHAPTER II.
THE VISION OF ADAMNAN—HIS SOJOURN IN IRELAND—RAPHOE AND ITS CHURCH DEDICATED TO THE PATRON SAINT—THE SHRINE OF ADAMNAN—VIRTUES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE SAINT—BISHOP ARCULF'S VISIT TO IONA—ADAMNAN WRITES THE TRACT DE LOCIS SANCTIS—HIS LIFE OF ST. COLUMBA—ADAMNAN'S GENUINE WRITINGS AND THOSE ATTRIBUTED TO HIM.
There seems to be ground for believing, that the public mind for some time
subsequent visit. Eugenius VI.
had been in kept
and alarm
by prevailing
diseases and
1
expectation
observed or imagined. It was advantageously impressed and seriously dis- posed in fine, by the relation of a certain vision, attributed to Adamnan.
Not only in the Books of Erinn were extraordinary phenomena recorded as occurring towards the close of the seventh century, but also in those of the neighbouring island of Britain. 3 The joys of Heaven and the pains of Hell
'"See Adamnan's ''Vita S. Colurabse," lib. ii. , cap. 46.
x
^°See Matthew of Paris' "Chronica Majora," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 318.
1,1 We are told, the during
Chapter 11. —' Among these may be
mentioned the moon turned into the colour
of blood, on the feast of St. Martin, A. D. ,
688; bloody rain falling in Lagenia, a. D.
689; famine and pestilence prevailing tor
three in so that man years Hibernia, great
ate man ; a great frost, so that the lakes and rivers in Erinn were frozen over, while the sea between Erinn and Alba was frozen to such an extent, that people used to travel to andfroontheice; besidesamortalitybroke out among cows in Hibernia on the Kalends of February in Magh Treagha, in Teathbha, A. D. 696. See William M. Hennessy's " Chronicum Scotorum," pp. no to 113.
3
During the reign of Rhodri Molvynog in Wales, at A. D. 685, is related a mortality in Ireland lasting for two years ; at A. D. 687, in Armorica an earthquake ; at A. D. 688, it rained blood in the island of Britain and in Ireland ; at a. d. 690, the milk and butter turned to blood ; and, at a. d. 692, the moon
of this King, that for seven days it rained blood
"
converso etiam lacte, caseo, et butiro in sanguinem. " This account appears to have been taken from the Saxon Chronicle, which refers such phenomenon to A. D. 685. Caradoc states, that in the fifth year of the reign of Ivor, King over the Britons, and who began his rule A. D. 689, showers of blood fell in Britain and Ireland. Those showers caused milk and butter to be converted into a sanguineous colour. The Annals of Clon- macnoise assign this portent in Ireland to a. d. 688 ; the Annals of the Four Masters to A. D. 690 ; and the Annals Tighernach to a. d. 693. The latter Annals state, that
throughout the whole of Britain,
reign
"
the blood flowed in streams for three days turned of a bloody colour. See Brut y
and three nights. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
Twysogion ; or the Chronicle of the Princes," edited by Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , pp. 2 to 5. With some
"
Tigernachi Annales, p. 217.
Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomusii.
portents,
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 493
Adamnan is said to have witnessed, previous to the date for holding a very celebrated synod. The account is contained in a Tract styled the Fis Adamnain, or the Vision of Adamnan, an Irish composition of considerable antiquity,3 as proved by its style. Copies of it are yet extant. Like the visions of St. Fursey,4 it embodies a narrative, which passed current in conver- sation, as the realities of our saint's experience. This so-called Vision of Adamnan was written prosaically, partly in Latin, and partly in Irish. s This tract is a religious discourse on the text of the cxlvi. Psalm,6 verses 5 and 6,7 as taken from the Vulgate Version. Of these it opens with a paraphrase. A copy is to be found 8 in the Leabhar Breach a manuscript belonging to the Royal Irish Academy. 10 Another is stated to be in the Bibliotheque
Nationale, Paris. " There is also a copy of it—a quarto vellum "—among #
the Royal Irish Academy s MSS. *3 An imperfect copy was also in the hands of John McNamara, Esq. , Assistant Secretary to the Iberno-Celtic Society.
