Patrick
journeyed
from Italy through Britain, on his way to Ireland.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Gough's
nia," p. 504, and n. (b). Ibid.
5° As laid down in the Atlas Classica,
Demeta seems to comprise the Shires of Pembroke, Cardigan, and Caermarthen. See the edition of this work, published by Robert Wilkinson, London, 1808. Royal 4to.
"Vita S. Davidis," by John Capgrave, in ''"
his work, Nova Legenda Angliae, printed at London, a. d. mdxvi.
** Teignmouth describes the place, whence the wliole of Ireland was seen by St. Patrick,
See
magna, in qua est lapis, super quern stetit ante ostium cujusdam capellae antiquas, quam ego oculis vidi et manibus palpavi. " These very words occur in Capgrave's book. He
Ussher, p. 845.
had been an Augustinian hermit. See M. "
le Dr. Hoefer's Nouvelle Biographie Generale depuis les Temps les plus Recules
5' The Demetiau or Demeticau territory— thesiteof—whichhasbeenplacedbyPtolemy
jusqu'anosJours,"tomeviii. ,p. 575-John of Teignmouth was at first a priest, attached to the Church of Durham. _ Afterwards, he became a Benedictine monk of St. Alban's, where he lived about the year 1360. He wrote or compiled a large volume on the Lives, Actions and Miracles of English,
contained Pem-
broke, Caermarthen, and Ceretica districts.
But this supposition appears contrary to
what is related in St. David's Acts, viz. : that his father set out from Ceretica and
"
Menevia, sita est in Penbrokiae Commitatus promontorio spa- cioso, quod grandi fronte in Oceanum Ver-
ginium longe procedit : OKTawLrapov &Kpov appellat PtolenicEus, Britanni incolce Pebi- diaue and CantredDewi, Angli S. David's- land, id est S. Davidis ditionem, et ipsam urbem Meneviam Bfitaniii Tuy-Deui, id est domus Deui sive Davidis, et Angli S.
Welsh, Scotch, and Irish Saints. See "
Joannes Pitseus, De lUustribus Anglise
"
tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis, Com-
mentarius Prsevius, sect, i. , n. 5, pp. 38, 39. *7 See that beautiful song of Dr. Drennan,
Scriptoribus. " Also,
Acta Sanctorum,"
and intituled, *" See
Erin. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
" Colgan's
" Erat vallis satis
in Britain is said to have
went into Demetica.
ing to the site of this church, Giraldus Cam- brensis writes, that it was situated in a place called Kanmorva or Cair Morua, which means a Maritime Fori or Town, in the
ostendit : quje et in medium divisa dolenti matri condoluit. " And Capgrave tells us, that a church was afterwards built on this spot, while the stone itself rested as a founda-
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
lived, and she is described as a lady, possessing rare beauty and gracefulness. These qualifications endeared her to the king. s^ From the time of St. David's conception,s3 we are told, that she lived solely on bread and water, afterwards leading a celibate's life. While yet in his mother's womb, the advent of our saint was signalized by miracles. Shortly before his birth, the mother entered a certain church,54 where a very celebrated and holy man, named Gildas,55 preached God's word to the people. As if struck suddenly dumb, on her entering, the preacher ceased his discourse ; and, he declared, on being asked the reason for this silence, he felt unable to announce divine truths in the ordinary way. Gildas then requested his congregation to leave the church ; and no other person remained within, but our saint's mother, who continued there unknown to the preacher. Yet, another attempt to speak, made by this holy teacher, was not attended with better success. Wherefore, raising hisvoice,headjuredanypersonyetremainingtorevealthefact. Oursaint's mother then made known her presence. The preacher requested her to leave the church, so that his congregation might return. This order having been obeyed, the holy man found his tongue capable of giving expression to his ordinary religious and impressive sermons. Thus did the Almighty manifest his power, and indicate to all present the future greatness and eloquenceofanunbornchild. ^^ LiketheBlessedVirginMary,wecanhave little doubt, his mother treasured these remarkable incidents within her heart. 57 When the Saviour of this world deigned to enlighten it by his presence, the wicked tyrant Herod sought to learn the place of his birth, from those pilgrim Magi, that came from the East to adore him. This monster,however,designedtheinfantSaviour'sdeath,^^ Ashappenedinthe case of our Divine Master, a tyrant of Demeta planned the infanticide of David, when his birth had occurred. This wicked and envious man had learned from British Magi, the whole country around must become subject to thatchild,afterhisbeingborn. Theyhadevenpointedouttheexactplace, where his mother should be found living, when her term of child-bearing had elapsed. The Almighty, however, miraculously preserved the pious matron and her infant charge. 59 At the very moment of St. David's birth, a mighty tempest, mingled with lightning, hail, thunder and rain, swept the whole country around, so that no person dare venture out of doors. Yet, by a strange contrast, the air was perfectly serene, the skies were lightsome, nor did any storms prevail, near the house, where this religious woman experi- enced the pains and consolations of such heaven-protected maternity. ^ In
"
Acta Sanctorum," tonius i. , Mariii i. Vita S. Daviclis, Com-
mentarius Praevius, sect, i. , num. 4, p. 38. 5* We are told, he met Nonnita, when "ad partes de Pepidiaue declinaverat. "
Lect. i.
53 Referring to this incident, the Utrecht
MS. relates a legend, not found in Roth's MS.
5* " Ad offerendas pro partu eleemosynas
oblationem," says the Utrecht MS. AUud- veluti cera impressum, petram intuentibus
T>zmd% appellant. " See
^s See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, cap. iii,, iv. , pp. 425, 426.
English language. See Vita S. Davidis. tion for its altar, which covered the stone.
John Capgrave has a similar account, in his Life of our Saint.
55 Known as St. Gildas the "Wise. His feast is kept on the 29th of January.
"
See Legenda Sanctorum Anglia;. "
*°
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, cap. v. , p. 426.
57 See Luke
^^ Matthew ii.
59 The Utrecht MS. contains the
referring to the time of St. David's birth :
ii. , 19.
following legend, not to be found in Roth's MS. , and
" vero dolore in Urgente
petra, qua; juxta erat, manibus innixa est : qua; vestigium
'
writers of our saint's Acts, viz. , that David
was born in 462, if they thought so, their authority is still of little weight. We do not know, whether they were rightly in- formed, concerning the year ol St. Patrick's arrival in Ireland. The notation of thirty intermediate years cannot then form a correct chronological date. "I do not know," writes Dr. Lanigan, "how it came to pass that the compilers of the Acts of our saints were so fond of the number thirty, as we have seen in the accounts of St. Patrick, St. Brigid, St. Finnian, &c. Jocelin gives a different turn to that prophecy, and attribut- ing one somewhat like it to St. Patrick him- self, who, he says (cap. 167), happening to be in Britain some years after the com- mencement of his mission, foretold the sanctity of St. David then in his mother's womb. " See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, iv. , sect, ix. , n. 136, pp. 471, 472.
^3 See his Life, at the 12th of September.
^^ Ailbe's reputation, until about A. u. 490, had not been so generally established, as to
Iliberniae," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, n.
8, p. 431.
'-^ Giraldus writes, that St. David was
born at a place, near the present St. David's, and that he was baptized at Porth Clais or
Portcleis, by i^ilueus, or Albeus, Bishop of Munster. Ussher says, that Portcleis was near Menevia, and that its name had not been changed, even in his time. Giraldus Cambrensis, in his Life of St. David, ac- cording to the old edition, instead of Ailbe, has Relveus, Bishop of Menevia, who, he says, had just arrived in Britain, from Ire- land. But, as Ussher observes (p. 871), there was no Bishop of Menevia before St. David, and as Giraldus himself allows, he first built there a cathedral church. No necessity for this observation exists, if we follow Wharton's edition in Anglia Sacra, tom. ii. Giraldus' text here is Adveo Muven- iensium episcopi, and it plainly refers to Ailbe, Bishop of Munster. In the Life of this latter holy man, David's father is said to have given his son to St. Albeus, " ut nutriret eum Deo. " And, afterwards, it is
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
this physical world, storms and aerial disturbances are required to render our
atmosphere clear and salubrious ; the moral order of our lives is usually
purified by chastening persecutions and afflictions. If he were a grandson to the Irish prince, Bracan, or Brecan, by his mother's side, and a nephew to St. Canoe of Gallen, David could hardly have been born in the year 462,^^ Some
writers maintain, his birth occurred at this date, upon an unproved supposi- tion, that he came into the world, thirty years after St. Patrick was about to arrive in Ireland, when engaging on his great mission. ^^ Now, we are also informed, that soon after his birth, St. David was baptized by St. Helvacus, otherwise, Ailbe,^3 the Bishop of Munster. Hardly can we believe, that St. Ailbe was bishop so early as 462 ; yet, this is not very clear. We have a further probable indication, regarding David not having been born at this date, from what we find mentioned, concerning his birth and future greatness having been predicted by this Ailbe. ^* Another account, in the Welsh Annals, places St. David's nativity, under a. d. 458, the thirtieth year after the death of Patrick of Menevia. ^s Immediately at his birth, David was baptized, according to one account, by Bishop Elisus,^^ but, other writers call
®'
In the Acts of St. David, it is said, when St. Patrick happened to be in the Vallis Rosina, in which Menevia was situ- ated, an Angel foretold, that after thirty years a child would be born. He should bear the name of David, it was announced,
and at a proper time, he would have care of that place. Soon afterwards, St. Patrick set out for Ireland, where he arrived in the year 432. Hence, Ussher has concluded, . that St.
"
David was born in 462. See rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,
fifth century, or perhaps to the beginning of the sixth. Meanwhile, those thirty years, already treated of, must be omitted from such calculations. See ibid. , n. 138, p. 472.
*5 See *' Annales Cambrise," edited by the Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, p. 3.
Britannica- cap. xvii. , p. 452 ; and " Inde. x Chronologicus," A. D.
Life, but also in the Acts of St. Ailbe, which
Colgan promised to give at the 12th of Sep-
tember, his feast day. But we are admon- ished, that this baptism by Ailbeus did not take place before A. D. 432, when St.
Patrick journeyed from Italy through Britain, on his way to Ireland. It took place on a subse- quent occasion, A. D. 462. according to Colgan, when St. Ailbe is thought to have been in
"
Ussher's calculation would answer very
CCCCLXII. , p. 521.
*^
well, if it could be proved the Angel spoke
in that manner. For, as to the opinion of this part of Wales. See "Acta Sanctorum
have had
to him. If, then, we may be allowed to build upon such traditions, David's birth must be brought down to the close of the
stated "
:
est David sanctus
predictions
of this sort attributed
Ipse
Episcopus :
*°
This is stated, not only in St. David's
cujus reliquiae requiescunt in civitate sua Ceallmuni, quje est in Britannia. "
10 LIVES OF . THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March i.
him Helveus or Ailbeus, Bishop of Munster. ^7 St. David gave sight to a bhnd man, who held him, whilst the water was being poured upon him. We are again told, this blind man used as a lotion for his eyes, that very water, whichhadflowedontheheadofDavid,duringhisbaptism. Thismiraculous act the infant is supposed to have performed, through some holy inspiration. In the very same place, a beautiful and clear fountain of water sprung from earth. It served for the matter of baptism. As the rising sun dispels the shades of night, so this newly-born child gave sight to the blind, and he enlightened, likewise, in a miraculous manner, the pagan society of his age and country.
CHAPTER II.
THE MONASTERY OF EOSNAT OR KILMUNE—ST. DAVID NURTURED IN OLD MENEVIA— THE DOVE, AN EMBLEM OF HIS INNOCENCE AND HOLINESS—IT IS PROBABLE, ST. DAVID AND ST. FINNIAN OF CLONARD WERE EARLY COMPANIONS—ST. DAVID EDUCATED AT FIRST BY ILLTUTUS—AFTERWARDS INSTRUCTED BY PAULINUS— ORDAINED A PRIEST—HE RESTORES PAULINUS TO THE USE OF SIGHT—OBSERVA- TIONS CONCERNING ILLTUTUS AND PAULINUS.
From allusions already made to the celebrated Monastery of Manchen, it is somewhat incumbent on us to trace out—so far as can possibly be done— both its origin, and that of its founder. Yet, it will not be an easy matter to determine, who was this Manchan, or, as he is sometimes called, Nennius, under various forms of writing. There are divers reasons adduced, for sup- posing him to have been an Irishman, by race and birth. In any history or Martyrology known, we cannot find one bearing such a name, and belonging to the British nation. ^ Yet, we must endeavour to discover one having this cognomen, who had attained some degree of celebrity, even before St. David's birth, and who settled in the valley of Rosnat, where he lived in a monastery, known as Kill-mune. Such attempt would lead us to a conclusion, that Manchan probably lived before, or at least soon after, the commencement of the fifth century. In our Irish Calendars, as we are told, are found many different saints, bearing this name, and their Natales occur as follows,* viz. : At January 2nd,3 i3th,4 and 24th ;5 at February 14th ;^ at March ist;? at May 2ist ;^ at October 12th f at November 2nd ;'° and at December 4th. "
Chapter ii. —' There may have been an * Mainchein of Moethail is venerated on
exception, in the particular case of Nennius this day. Ibid. ——,
of Bangor if he were a Briton by birth
but he is said by Camerarius, to have first
become a monk, about the year 600, and as
other writers state, he flourished, circiter,
620. See Bale, " Britannicarum Rerum
Scriptores," n. 67.
^
They are enumerated, as found in the text, by St. ^ngus, by the Martyrology of Tallagh, by ]\larianus O'Gorman, by
pp. 48, 49.
At this day, I can only discover a Maoi-
neann, Bishop of Cluain-ferta-Brenainn, as nearly approaching the name Manchan. See
ibid. , pp. 60, 61. In the Rev. Dr. Kelly's
and the
Maguire, by Martyrology
of Done-
In the " of he Martyrology Tallagh,"'
gal.
3 At this day, Mainchin, the Sage of
Disert-mic-Cuillin of Laeighis in Leinster,
"
Moenind ocus Polan. " » Neither in the "Martyrology of Tal-
is venerated. See "The of Martyrology lagh,"
or in the " of Martyrology Donegal,"
Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 4, 5-
* At this day was venerated Maincliinn,
son of sOnthis
chan, of Liath, son of Indagh. 26, 27.
do I find a St. Manchan, so called. In the latter, however, we have recorded a Nannidh
Collan, day,
date, "
Martyrology
of Inis Cais. '^ At this
Ibid. , pp. 14, 15. wefindthefeastofMan- of
See pp. 274, 275.
in Corann.
Dr. " Kelly's
Ibid. , pp.
^
" of Martyrology Tallagh,"
he is set down
as " Moinend, Epis. " at the same day. See p. xvii.
*
At this day, I only find a "Moinne," in the "Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 134,
135.
is thus entered, See p. xxv.
buteveninthe"
ology of Donegal," I cannot find notice of a
Manchan, at this day.
Tallagli fails,
Martyr-
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Again, if we regard the denomination, Nennius, Nennidius, or Nennionus, we
Bishop of Kiltoma, in Meath, at the 13th of November. '^ Colgan is of opinion, that the founder of Kill-mune—sometimes called Nennius—can be no other person, than the saint having this name, venerated on the ist of March, and who had so many Irish saints enumerated among his disciples, viz. : Saints Brigid, Virgin,'9 Endeus,^° Finnian of Maghbile,^' Tigernach,^^ Eugene, Bishop of Ardstra,^3 and Carpre, Bishop of Colerain. ^'* Whoever had been master of these great saints must necessarily have flourished, before the end of the fifth century.
From what we have already said, there seems to be little difficulty, in re-
conciling the chronological period of the exiled Irish Manchan, living in Wales, with that of a holy man, known as Manchen, the Master. ^5 He is
classed among the disciples of St. Patrick, our great Irish Apostle. It is said, this latter had set him to rule over the church of Coille Fochluc, in
Connaught. ^^ AHuponrecordmightagreewiththeholycharacter,wisdom,
find Irish saints, not fewer in number, set down in our Calendars.
Among these, we need only mention, St. Nennius, Abbot of Inis-muighe-Samh, on Lough Erne, at the i6th and i8th of January 3" St Moinennus or Mon- Nennius at the ist of March -p St. Nennionus or Nennius, denominated Sene of the Monastery, at the 18th of April -^^ St. Nennius, Abbot of Cion- chaoin, at the 21st of April ;'5 St. Nennius, Deacon of Cluain-airthir, at the 25th of April ;'^ St. Nennius Sene, at the 25th of July;'? St. Nennius,
" The ticular date.
remarks
to this
" fails at this month,
'9 So Colgan states. But, I fear he must
have hastily identified this saint, with Nin-
nidh of the White Hand, whose Acts he
gives at the 1 8th of January.
^^
In the Life of this saint, published by Colgan, at the 2 ist of March, his sister, St. Fanchea, is represented as saying to him : " Vade ad Britanniam ad Rosnacum mon- asterium, et esto humilis discipulus Manseni,
previous
apply
par-
Tallagh
" Colgan gives us his Acts, at the latter of these days. It is said, he flourished, in the time of Saints Patrick and Brigid ; that he left Ireland ; and, that he lived many years afterwards, in Britain.
'3 Colgan published his Acts, at this day. He is there called Bishop of Clonfert. He flourished about the middle of the sixth
"
century. See Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Magiatri ilims Monasierii," See cap. v. , p.
nire," i. Martii. Vita S. Moinenni, sive, 705-
^^This
to
'* In t-Jie "Manyrology of Donegal," says Colgan.
Mon-Nennii, pp. 437
439.
nothing regarding
ejus vita, cap. iii. ,"
already quoted,
him. But, in the " lagh," I meet with a ister," at this date, p. xxi.
4th "Mo- nennii disciplinis et monitis in Rosnacensi Monasterio, quod alio nomine Alba voca-
p. xxii.
'7 In the
"
"
See Martj'rology of Donegal," at
this date, he is called, "
the Old. In
" Sanctis etiam Pa- tricius hoic populo converso noviter ad Christum, Magistrum, Manchenum virum religeosum, et in scripturis Sanctis exercita-
I lind
saint, was
whoisveneratedonthe
5 There is a Ninnidh of Cluain-Caoi, at
this in the " of
day, Martyrology Donegal,"
pp. 106, 107. Dr. Kelly's "Martyrology ofTallagh" does not mention him at this date, in such a manner ; but we find there a "Ninidh Bugno i Tir Bret. " See p. xxii.
"In the "Martyrology of Donegal," there is a notice concerning Deacon Menn
ofCluainArathair,atthisdate. Inanote, he seems to be identical with Nennius, as the commentator remarks. See pp. 110, III. In the " of we
tur. "—"Vita S. Tigernaci," cap. iii.
^3 As in the former we find Ros- instance,
nacensis or Rosnatensis, confounded with Alba, and Nennius or Monennius with Man- chanus, so in " Vita S. Eugenii," cap. iii. ,
as Colgan promised to show at the 23rd of August, these words are quoted, "Vir sanctus ac sapiens, Nennio qui Mancenus dicitur de Rosnacensi Monasterio quod alio nomine Alba vocatur. "
** Also, " Vita S. Eugenii," cap. iii,, quoted by Colgan,
^5 See, Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, pars,
ii. , cap. 62, Colgan's "Trias Thauma-
Martyrology Tallagh," read, Dechonen Cluana Arathair. "
Ninnio,
the Martyrology ofTallagh," he is deno-
says Joceline.
minated, "Ninnio senior. " See p. xxx. '* "
of Tal- Moninnsen o Main-
of
Martyrology "
April,
diligently instructed,
In the Martyrology of Donegal," at
this date, such an entry may be seen, pp. tum. " Vita S. Patricii, cap. 59. Ibid. 30S, 309. Dr. Kelly's "Martyrology of '^ See Giraldus Cambrensis, " Itinerarium
"' " Ut habetur in
turga. " *° So
12 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March
and learning of the saintly Abbot Manchan, who presided over Rosnat or
Kill-mune Monastery, in Britain, and perhaps, at some subsequent period of his life to that already indicated.
When Manchan and probably some Irish disciples alone were inhabitants of this place, they may have given it the well-remembered name Kill-mune. By this denomination, it seems to have been solely designated, in all our Irish Histories and Calendars. Possibly, it obtained the title, Moiiastei'ium Rosna- tense, or Rosjiacense, in other writings, from the circumstance of Manchan's religious house having been built, in the valley, Rosina, or Rosnat. We know, that Menevia, or St. David's, afterwards lay in this valley. ^? It does not seem so clearly explained, why this place had the etymon. Alba, applied to it. ^^ Yet, Colgan was doubtful, if this monastery, called indiscriminately,
in the Lives of our early saints, Rosnatense, Albium, or Magnum Monas- terium, could have been different from that of Benchor or Bangor. ''? Such a supposition, however, would even appear irreconcilable with various authori- ties, produced by this learned author.
St. David wasbroughtupataplace,variouslycalled, Vetus-Rubus, or Vetus- Menevia,3°inLatin,andHenmenen,orHenmenew,intheWelshlanguage. He was there instructed in letters and in ecclesiastical discipline. He was often
discovered by his companions, in the state of being taught by a dove, which warbled hymns with him. Hence, and for a reason to which allusion will be
made hereafter, the pictures and statues of St. David usually represent him preaching on a hill, with a dove perched on his shoulder. 3^ This bird, also, serves to typify the Holy Ghost, shedding the sweet influence of holy inno- cence and Divine Grace into his soul. Thus, our saint grew in amiabiUty and virtue, beloved by the children of men, and favoured specially by the Lord of Heaven.
Some persons supposed St. Patrick to have been the first founder of a monastery at Menevia, and that it had been afterwards restored or enlarged by St. David, about the year 490. 3^ About this time, also, St. Finian of Clonard33 is said to have left Ireland for Britain, where he formed an ac- quaintanceship and a friendship, with St. David. 34 At such date, as St.
Cambrice," lib. ii. , cap. i. , and Camden in his description of Pembrokeshire.
**
Tile valley in which Kilmmie monastery lay abounded in marble, and possibly the church or house had been built of this mate- rial ; so that it might be called marmorea, rather than J^osea or Rosina, says Giraldus ; for roses do flourish there, while marble is found in great abundance.
'''See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii i. Vita S. Davidis, n.
nia," p. 504, and n. (b). Ibid.
5° As laid down in the Atlas Classica,
Demeta seems to comprise the Shires of Pembroke, Cardigan, and Caermarthen. See the edition of this work, published by Robert Wilkinson, London, 1808. Royal 4to.
"Vita S. Davidis," by John Capgrave, in ''"
his work, Nova Legenda Angliae, printed at London, a. d. mdxvi.
** Teignmouth describes the place, whence the wliole of Ireland was seen by St. Patrick,
See
magna, in qua est lapis, super quern stetit ante ostium cujusdam capellae antiquas, quam ego oculis vidi et manibus palpavi. " These very words occur in Capgrave's book. He
Ussher, p. 845.
had been an Augustinian hermit. See M. "
le Dr. Hoefer's Nouvelle Biographie Generale depuis les Temps les plus Recules
5' The Demetiau or Demeticau territory— thesiteof—whichhasbeenplacedbyPtolemy
jusqu'anosJours,"tomeviii. ,p. 575-John of Teignmouth was at first a priest, attached to the Church of Durham. _ Afterwards, he became a Benedictine monk of St. Alban's, where he lived about the year 1360. He wrote or compiled a large volume on the Lives, Actions and Miracles of English,
contained Pem-
broke, Caermarthen, and Ceretica districts.
But this supposition appears contrary to
what is related in St. David's Acts, viz. : that his father set out from Ceretica and
"
Menevia, sita est in Penbrokiae Commitatus promontorio spa- cioso, quod grandi fronte in Oceanum Ver-
ginium longe procedit : OKTawLrapov &Kpov appellat PtolenicEus, Britanni incolce Pebi- diaue and CantredDewi, Angli S. David's- land, id est S. Davidis ditionem, et ipsam urbem Meneviam Bfitaniii Tuy-Deui, id est domus Deui sive Davidis, et Angli S.
Welsh, Scotch, and Irish Saints. See "
Joannes Pitseus, De lUustribus Anglise
"
tomus i. , Martii i. Vita S. Davidis, Com-
mentarius Prsevius, sect, i. , n. 5, pp. 38, 39. *7 See that beautiful song of Dr. Drennan,
Scriptoribus. " Also,
Acta Sanctorum,"
and intituled, *" See
Erin. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
" Colgan's
" Erat vallis satis
in Britain is said to have
went into Demetica.
ing to the site of this church, Giraldus Cam- brensis writes, that it was situated in a place called Kanmorva or Cair Morua, which means a Maritime Fori or Town, in the
ostendit : quje et in medium divisa dolenti matri condoluit. " And Capgrave tells us, that a church was afterwards built on this spot, while the stone itself rested as a founda-
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
lived, and she is described as a lady, possessing rare beauty and gracefulness. These qualifications endeared her to the king. s^ From the time of St. David's conception,s3 we are told, that she lived solely on bread and water, afterwards leading a celibate's life. While yet in his mother's womb, the advent of our saint was signalized by miracles. Shortly before his birth, the mother entered a certain church,54 where a very celebrated and holy man, named Gildas,55 preached God's word to the people. As if struck suddenly dumb, on her entering, the preacher ceased his discourse ; and, he declared, on being asked the reason for this silence, he felt unable to announce divine truths in the ordinary way. Gildas then requested his congregation to leave the church ; and no other person remained within, but our saint's mother, who continued there unknown to the preacher. Yet, another attempt to speak, made by this holy teacher, was not attended with better success. Wherefore, raising hisvoice,headjuredanypersonyetremainingtorevealthefact. Oursaint's mother then made known her presence. The preacher requested her to leave the church, so that his congregation might return. This order having been obeyed, the holy man found his tongue capable of giving expression to his ordinary religious and impressive sermons. Thus did the Almighty manifest his power, and indicate to all present the future greatness and eloquenceofanunbornchild. ^^ LiketheBlessedVirginMary,wecanhave little doubt, his mother treasured these remarkable incidents within her heart. 57 When the Saviour of this world deigned to enlighten it by his presence, the wicked tyrant Herod sought to learn the place of his birth, from those pilgrim Magi, that came from the East to adore him. This monster,however,designedtheinfantSaviour'sdeath,^^ Ashappenedinthe case of our Divine Master, a tyrant of Demeta planned the infanticide of David, when his birth had occurred. This wicked and envious man had learned from British Magi, the whole country around must become subject to thatchild,afterhisbeingborn. Theyhadevenpointedouttheexactplace, where his mother should be found living, when her term of child-bearing had elapsed. The Almighty, however, miraculously preserved the pious matron and her infant charge. 59 At the very moment of St. David's birth, a mighty tempest, mingled with lightning, hail, thunder and rain, swept the whole country around, so that no person dare venture out of doors. Yet, by a strange contrast, the air was perfectly serene, the skies were lightsome, nor did any storms prevail, near the house, where this religious woman experi- enced the pains and consolations of such heaven-protected maternity. ^ In
"
Acta Sanctorum," tonius i. , Mariii i. Vita S. Daviclis, Com-
mentarius Praevius, sect, i. , num. 4, p. 38. 5* We are told, he met Nonnita, when "ad partes de Pepidiaue declinaverat. "
Lect. i.
53 Referring to this incident, the Utrecht
MS. relates a legend, not found in Roth's MS.
5* " Ad offerendas pro partu eleemosynas
oblationem," says the Utrecht MS. AUud- veluti cera impressum, petram intuentibus
T>zmd% appellant. " See
^s See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, cap. iii,, iv. , pp. 425, 426.
English language. See Vita S. Davidis. tion for its altar, which covered the stone.
John Capgrave has a similar account, in his Life of our Saint.
55 Known as St. Gildas the "Wise. His feast is kept on the 29th of January.
"
See Legenda Sanctorum Anglia;. "
*°
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, cap. v. , p. 426.
57 See Luke
^^ Matthew ii.
59 The Utrecht MS. contains the
referring to the time of St. David's birth :
ii. , 19.
following legend, not to be found in Roth's MS. , and
" vero dolore in Urgente
petra, qua; juxta erat, manibus innixa est : qua; vestigium
'
writers of our saint's Acts, viz. , that David
was born in 462, if they thought so, their authority is still of little weight. We do not know, whether they were rightly in- formed, concerning the year ol St. Patrick's arrival in Ireland. The notation of thirty intermediate years cannot then form a correct chronological date. "I do not know," writes Dr. Lanigan, "how it came to pass that the compilers of the Acts of our saints were so fond of the number thirty, as we have seen in the accounts of St. Patrick, St. Brigid, St. Finnian, &c. Jocelin gives a different turn to that prophecy, and attribut- ing one somewhat like it to St. Patrick him- self, who, he says (cap. 167), happening to be in Britain some years after the com- mencement of his mission, foretold the sanctity of St. David then in his mother's womb. " See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, iv. , sect, ix. , n. 136, pp. 471, 472.
^3 See his Life, at the 12th of September.
^^ Ailbe's reputation, until about A. u. 490, had not been so generally established, as to
Iliberniae," i. Martii. Vita S. Davidis, n.
8, p. 431.
'-^ Giraldus writes, that St. David was
born at a place, near the present St. David's, and that he was baptized at Porth Clais or
Portcleis, by i^ilueus, or Albeus, Bishop of Munster. Ussher says, that Portcleis was near Menevia, and that its name had not been changed, even in his time. Giraldus Cambrensis, in his Life of St. David, ac- cording to the old edition, instead of Ailbe, has Relveus, Bishop of Menevia, who, he says, had just arrived in Britain, from Ire- land. But, as Ussher observes (p. 871), there was no Bishop of Menevia before St. David, and as Giraldus himself allows, he first built there a cathedral church. No necessity for this observation exists, if we follow Wharton's edition in Anglia Sacra, tom. ii. Giraldus' text here is Adveo Muven- iensium episcopi, and it plainly refers to Ailbe, Bishop of Munster. In the Life of this latter holy man, David's father is said to have given his son to St. Albeus, " ut nutriret eum Deo. " And, afterwards, it is
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
this physical world, storms and aerial disturbances are required to render our
atmosphere clear and salubrious ; the moral order of our lives is usually
purified by chastening persecutions and afflictions. If he were a grandson to the Irish prince, Bracan, or Brecan, by his mother's side, and a nephew to St. Canoe of Gallen, David could hardly have been born in the year 462,^^ Some
writers maintain, his birth occurred at this date, upon an unproved supposi- tion, that he came into the world, thirty years after St. Patrick was about to arrive in Ireland, when engaging on his great mission. ^^ Now, we are also informed, that soon after his birth, St. David was baptized by St. Helvacus, otherwise, Ailbe,^3 the Bishop of Munster. Hardly can we believe, that St. Ailbe was bishop so early as 462 ; yet, this is not very clear. We have a further probable indication, regarding David not having been born at this date, from what we find mentioned, concerning his birth and future greatness having been predicted by this Ailbe. ^* Another account, in the Welsh Annals, places St. David's nativity, under a. d. 458, the thirtieth year after the death of Patrick of Menevia. ^s Immediately at his birth, David was baptized, according to one account, by Bishop Elisus,^^ but, other writers call
®'
In the Acts of St. David, it is said, when St. Patrick happened to be in the Vallis Rosina, in which Menevia was situ- ated, an Angel foretold, that after thirty years a child would be born. He should bear the name of David, it was announced,
and at a proper time, he would have care of that place. Soon afterwards, St. Patrick set out for Ireland, where he arrived in the year 432. Hence, Ussher has concluded, . that St.
"
David was born in 462. See rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,
fifth century, or perhaps to the beginning of the sixth. Meanwhile, those thirty years, already treated of, must be omitted from such calculations. See ibid. , n. 138, p. 472.
*5 See *' Annales Cambrise," edited by the Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, p. 3.
Britannica- cap. xvii. , p. 452 ; and " Inde. x Chronologicus," A. D.
Life, but also in the Acts of St. Ailbe, which
Colgan promised to give at the 12th of Sep-
tember, his feast day. But we are admon- ished, that this baptism by Ailbeus did not take place before A. D. 432, when St.
Patrick journeyed from Italy through Britain, on his way to Ireland. It took place on a subse- quent occasion, A. D. 462. according to Colgan, when St. Ailbe is thought to have been in
"
Ussher's calculation would answer very
CCCCLXII. , p. 521.
*^
well, if it could be proved the Angel spoke
in that manner. For, as to the opinion of this part of Wales. See "Acta Sanctorum
have had
to him. If, then, we may be allowed to build upon such traditions, David's birth must be brought down to the close of the
stated "
:
est David sanctus
predictions
of this sort attributed
Ipse
Episcopus :
*°
This is stated, not only in St. David's
cujus reliquiae requiescunt in civitate sua Ceallmuni, quje est in Britannia. "
10 LIVES OF . THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March i.
him Helveus or Ailbeus, Bishop of Munster. ^7 St. David gave sight to a bhnd man, who held him, whilst the water was being poured upon him. We are again told, this blind man used as a lotion for his eyes, that very water, whichhadflowedontheheadofDavid,duringhisbaptism. Thismiraculous act the infant is supposed to have performed, through some holy inspiration. In the very same place, a beautiful and clear fountain of water sprung from earth. It served for the matter of baptism. As the rising sun dispels the shades of night, so this newly-born child gave sight to the blind, and he enlightened, likewise, in a miraculous manner, the pagan society of his age and country.
CHAPTER II.
THE MONASTERY OF EOSNAT OR KILMUNE—ST. DAVID NURTURED IN OLD MENEVIA— THE DOVE, AN EMBLEM OF HIS INNOCENCE AND HOLINESS—IT IS PROBABLE, ST. DAVID AND ST. FINNIAN OF CLONARD WERE EARLY COMPANIONS—ST. DAVID EDUCATED AT FIRST BY ILLTUTUS—AFTERWARDS INSTRUCTED BY PAULINUS— ORDAINED A PRIEST—HE RESTORES PAULINUS TO THE USE OF SIGHT—OBSERVA- TIONS CONCERNING ILLTUTUS AND PAULINUS.
From allusions already made to the celebrated Monastery of Manchen, it is somewhat incumbent on us to trace out—so far as can possibly be done— both its origin, and that of its founder. Yet, it will not be an easy matter to determine, who was this Manchan, or, as he is sometimes called, Nennius, under various forms of writing. There are divers reasons adduced, for sup- posing him to have been an Irishman, by race and birth. In any history or Martyrology known, we cannot find one bearing such a name, and belonging to the British nation. ^ Yet, we must endeavour to discover one having this cognomen, who had attained some degree of celebrity, even before St. David's birth, and who settled in the valley of Rosnat, where he lived in a monastery, known as Kill-mune. Such attempt would lead us to a conclusion, that Manchan probably lived before, or at least soon after, the commencement of the fifth century. In our Irish Calendars, as we are told, are found many different saints, bearing this name, and their Natales occur as follows,* viz. : At January 2nd,3 i3th,4 and 24th ;5 at February 14th ;^ at March ist;? at May 2ist ;^ at October 12th f at November 2nd ;'° and at December 4th. "
Chapter ii. —' There may have been an * Mainchein of Moethail is venerated on
exception, in the particular case of Nennius this day. Ibid. ——,
of Bangor if he were a Briton by birth
but he is said by Camerarius, to have first
become a monk, about the year 600, and as
other writers state, he flourished, circiter,
620. See Bale, " Britannicarum Rerum
Scriptores," n. 67.
^
They are enumerated, as found in the text, by St. ^ngus, by the Martyrology of Tallagh, by ]\larianus O'Gorman, by
pp. 48, 49.
At this day, I can only discover a Maoi-
neann, Bishop of Cluain-ferta-Brenainn, as nearly approaching the name Manchan. See
ibid. , pp. 60, 61. In the Rev. Dr. Kelly's
and the
Maguire, by Martyrology
of Done-
In the " of he Martyrology Tallagh,"'
gal.
3 At this day, Mainchin, the Sage of
Disert-mic-Cuillin of Laeighis in Leinster,
"
Moenind ocus Polan. " » Neither in the "Martyrology of Tal-
is venerated. See "The of Martyrology lagh,"
or in the " of Martyrology Donegal,"
Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 4, 5-
* At this day was venerated Maincliinn,
son of sOnthis
chan, of Liath, son of Indagh. 26, 27.
do I find a St. Manchan, so called. In the latter, however, we have recorded a Nannidh
Collan, day,
date, "
Martyrology
of Inis Cais. '^ At this
Ibid. , pp. 14, 15. wefindthefeastofMan- of
See pp. 274, 275.
in Corann.
Dr. " Kelly's
Ibid. , pp.
^
" of Martyrology Tallagh,"
he is set down
as " Moinend, Epis. " at the same day. See p. xvii.
*
At this day, I only find a "Moinne," in the "Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 134,
135.
is thus entered, See p. xxv.
buteveninthe"
ology of Donegal," I cannot find notice of a
Manchan, at this day.
Tallagli fails,
Martyr-
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Again, if we regard the denomination, Nennius, Nennidius, or Nennionus, we
Bishop of Kiltoma, in Meath, at the 13th of November. '^ Colgan is of opinion, that the founder of Kill-mune—sometimes called Nennius—can be no other person, than the saint having this name, venerated on the ist of March, and who had so many Irish saints enumerated among his disciples, viz. : Saints Brigid, Virgin,'9 Endeus,^° Finnian of Maghbile,^' Tigernach,^^ Eugene, Bishop of Ardstra,^3 and Carpre, Bishop of Colerain. ^'* Whoever had been master of these great saints must necessarily have flourished, before the end of the fifth century.
From what we have already said, there seems to be little difficulty, in re-
conciling the chronological period of the exiled Irish Manchan, living in Wales, with that of a holy man, known as Manchen, the Master. ^5 He is
classed among the disciples of St. Patrick, our great Irish Apostle. It is said, this latter had set him to rule over the church of Coille Fochluc, in
Connaught. ^^ AHuponrecordmightagreewiththeholycharacter,wisdom,
find Irish saints, not fewer in number, set down in our Calendars.
Among these, we need only mention, St. Nennius, Abbot of Inis-muighe-Samh, on Lough Erne, at the i6th and i8th of January 3" St Moinennus or Mon- Nennius at the ist of March -p St. Nennionus or Nennius, denominated Sene of the Monastery, at the 18th of April -^^ St. Nennius, Abbot of Cion- chaoin, at the 21st of April ;'5 St. Nennius, Deacon of Cluain-airthir, at the 25th of April ;'^ St. Nennius Sene, at the 25th of July;'? St. Nennius,
" The ticular date.
remarks
to this
" fails at this month,
'9 So Colgan states. But, I fear he must
have hastily identified this saint, with Nin-
nidh of the White Hand, whose Acts he
gives at the 1 8th of January.
^^
In the Life of this saint, published by Colgan, at the 2 ist of March, his sister, St. Fanchea, is represented as saying to him : " Vade ad Britanniam ad Rosnacum mon- asterium, et esto humilis discipulus Manseni,
previous
apply
par-
Tallagh
" Colgan gives us his Acts, at the latter of these days. It is said, he flourished, in the time of Saints Patrick and Brigid ; that he left Ireland ; and, that he lived many years afterwards, in Britain.
'3 Colgan published his Acts, at this day. He is there called Bishop of Clonfert. He flourished about the middle of the sixth
"
century. See Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Magiatri ilims Monasierii," See cap. v. , p.
nire," i. Martii. Vita S. Moinenni, sive, 705-
^^This
to
'* In t-Jie "Manyrology of Donegal," says Colgan.
Mon-Nennii, pp. 437
439.
nothing regarding
ejus vita, cap. iii. ,"
already quoted,
him. But, in the " lagh," I meet with a ister," at this date, p. xxi.
4th "Mo- nennii disciplinis et monitis in Rosnacensi Monasterio, quod alio nomine Alba voca-
p. xxii.
'7 In the
"
"
See Martj'rology of Donegal," at
this date, he is called, "
the Old. In
" Sanctis etiam Pa- tricius hoic populo converso noviter ad Christum, Magistrum, Manchenum virum religeosum, et in scripturis Sanctis exercita-
I lind
saint, was
whoisveneratedonthe
5 There is a Ninnidh of Cluain-Caoi, at
this in the " of
day, Martyrology Donegal,"
pp. 106, 107. Dr. Kelly's "Martyrology ofTallagh" does not mention him at this date, in such a manner ; but we find there a "Ninidh Bugno i Tir Bret. " See p. xxii.
"In the "Martyrology of Donegal," there is a notice concerning Deacon Menn
ofCluainArathair,atthisdate. Inanote, he seems to be identical with Nennius, as the commentator remarks. See pp. 110, III. In the " of we
tur. "—"Vita S. Tigernaci," cap. iii.
^3 As in the former we find Ros- instance,
nacensis or Rosnatensis, confounded with Alba, and Nennius or Monennius with Man- chanus, so in " Vita S. Eugenii," cap. iii. ,
as Colgan promised to show at the 23rd of August, these words are quoted, "Vir sanctus ac sapiens, Nennio qui Mancenus dicitur de Rosnacensi Monasterio quod alio nomine Alba vocatur. "
** Also, " Vita S. Eugenii," cap. iii,, quoted by Colgan,
^5 See, Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, pars,
ii. , cap. 62, Colgan's "Trias Thauma-
Martyrology Tallagh," read, Dechonen Cluana Arathair. "
Ninnio,
the Martyrology ofTallagh," he is deno-
says Joceline.
minated, "Ninnio senior. " See p. xxx. '* "
of Tal- Moninnsen o Main-
of
Martyrology "
April,
diligently instructed,
In the Martyrology of Donegal," at
this date, such an entry may be seen, pp. tum. " Vita S. Patricii, cap. 59. Ibid. 30S, 309. Dr. Kelly's "Martyrology of '^ See Giraldus Cambrensis, " Itinerarium
"' " Ut habetur in
turga. " *° So
12 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March
and learning of the saintly Abbot Manchan, who presided over Rosnat or
Kill-mune Monastery, in Britain, and perhaps, at some subsequent period of his life to that already indicated.
When Manchan and probably some Irish disciples alone were inhabitants of this place, they may have given it the well-remembered name Kill-mune. By this denomination, it seems to have been solely designated, in all our Irish Histories and Calendars. Possibly, it obtained the title, Moiiastei'ium Rosna- tense, or Rosjiacense, in other writings, from the circumstance of Manchan's religious house having been built, in the valley, Rosina, or Rosnat. We know, that Menevia, or St. David's, afterwards lay in this valley. ^? It does not seem so clearly explained, why this place had the etymon. Alba, applied to it. ^^ Yet, Colgan was doubtful, if this monastery, called indiscriminately,
in the Lives of our early saints, Rosnatense, Albium, or Magnum Monas- terium, could have been different from that of Benchor or Bangor. ''? Such a supposition, however, would even appear irreconcilable with various authori- ties, produced by this learned author.
St. David wasbroughtupataplace,variouslycalled, Vetus-Rubus, or Vetus- Menevia,3°inLatin,andHenmenen,orHenmenew,intheWelshlanguage. He was there instructed in letters and in ecclesiastical discipline. He was often
discovered by his companions, in the state of being taught by a dove, which warbled hymns with him. Hence, and for a reason to which allusion will be
made hereafter, the pictures and statues of St. David usually represent him preaching on a hill, with a dove perched on his shoulder. 3^ This bird, also, serves to typify the Holy Ghost, shedding the sweet influence of holy inno- cence and Divine Grace into his soul. Thus, our saint grew in amiabiUty and virtue, beloved by the children of men, and favoured specially by the Lord of Heaven.
Some persons supposed St. Patrick to have been the first founder of a monastery at Menevia, and that it had been afterwards restored or enlarged by St. David, about the year 490. 3^ About this time, also, St. Finian of Clonard33 is said to have left Ireland for Britain, where he formed an ac- quaintanceship and a friendship, with St. David. 34 At such date, as St.
Cambrice," lib. ii. , cap. i. , and Camden in his description of Pembrokeshire.
**
Tile valley in which Kilmmie monastery lay abounded in marble, and possibly the church or house had been built of this mate- rial ; so that it might be called marmorea, rather than J^osea or Rosina, says Giraldus ; for roses do flourish there, while marble is found in great abundance.
'''See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii i. Vita S. Davidis, n.
