Why do you not
26
rather manifest as much love as possible for his habit,
with whom you desire
to live for ever ?
26
rather manifest as much love as possible for his habit,
with whom you desire
to live for ever ?
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
5 See also the " Dictionary of Christian
Biography," vol. i. , Art. Adamnan, p. 42.
Innocentium, it is termed Lex Morientium, in the"Origines Parochiales Scotiae," vol. ii. , p. 288.
R. H. A. , M. R. I. A. , pp. 171, 172.
10
This is related, in the Leabhar Breac, and also in the Book of Lecan.
' —
See Laurence Ginnell's Brehon Laws,"
Thus we have similar instances in many of the modern Parliamentary and Decretal acts of legislators, and which are associated with the names of their respective authors.
9 We are probably to regard this Law as
the Cain Adamnan, according to what is stated in the Book of Lecan, that there are four Cains of Ireland, namely, the Cain of Patrick, not to kill the clergy ; the Cain of Dari, the Nun, not to kill cows ; the Cain of Adamnan, not to kill women ; the Sunday Cain, not to travel on it, fol. 166,
M
p. a, col. 4. See Transactions of the
Royal Irish Academy," vol. xviii. Antiqui-
ties, sect. iii. On the History and Antiquities 6 Whilst the Ulster Annals call it the Lex of Tara Hill. By George Petrie, Esq. ,
* it is that probable
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 513
time ; but, it may well be supposed, he required no such legendary incident to influence his sentiments of religion and humanity.
After697AdamnanappearstohavebeenatIona. However,itisrelated, that the declining years of his life, from 697 to 703, were spent wholly in
11 He was
and most
his Irish countrymen, as legate or ambassador, to his old friend, Aldfrid, King of Northumberland, some time in the year 701" or 702. '3 In his Memoir of St. Adamnan, the Rev. Mr. Reeves extracts a narrative, concerning our saint's proceedings, from Mac Firbis's Manuscript Annals. It comprises incidents from the first visit paid to Aldfrid's court, down to the last delay Adamnan made in Ireland. As that writer remarks, it is characteristic of native simplicity. With the object of his second visit we are unacquainted. Although disease was still ravaging that part of the country, himself and his attendants were preserved from contagion. '* It is probable, from an inci- dental allusion, that our saint had been chosen to negociate some affair of international policy. 15 The venerable historian Bede seemingly alludes to
Ireland,
likely
in his
monastery
of
Deny.
again
sent
by
this second visit, when he states, that Adamnan, who was a presbyter and abbot over monks belonging to Iona monastery, had been sent by his nation
on an embassy to Aldfrid, King of the Angles. He had likewise an oppor- tunity of seeing the canonical church rites while he remained for some time
in that province.
The Annals of Mac Firbis seem to confuse the incidents of Adamnan's
first and second visits to King Aldfrid, as may be found in the following
untrustworthy account " A great spoil was carried off by the Saxons from
:
Erin. Adamnan went to demand a restitution of the spoil, as Bede relates
in his History. The greater part of the bishops of all Europe assembled to condemn Adamnan for having celebrated Easter after the fashion of
Columcille, and for having upon him the tonsure of Simon Magus, i. e. , ab
aurtadaurem. *6 Bede 1? that werethewisemeninthat says, though many
Synod, Adamnan excelled them all in wisdom and eloquence ; and Adamnan said, It was not in imitation of Simon Magus that he had this tonsure, but in imitation of of the 18 the foster-son of the and that
John Breast,
Redeemer,
11 "
See Rev. William O'Doherty's Derry
Columbkille, p. 01. "
may be supposed to have any relation to this mission or not can hardly be determined.
I5 Venerable Bede states: " Adamnanus nica Majora," vol. i. , p. 318. Edition of presbyter et abbas monachorum, qui
to Matthew of Paris, " Chro-
12
Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
13 Bede, who mentions this embassy, does
not mark the year. See " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. 15. Smith, who follows Matthew of Westminster,
in his
a. d.
"
Flores Historiarum," assigns it to
erant in insula Hii, cum legationis gratia missus a sua gente venisset ad Alfridum regem Anglorum," &c. —" Historia Ecclesi- astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xv.
,6 Mabillon describes this tonsure as formed "i—n fronte ab aure ad aurem ir. tonso
According
The Rev. Dr.
" Annates Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. viii. , sec. hi. , p. 207. We are informed by the Rev. Mr. Reeves, that the
Book of Durrow gives a good representation of this tonsure, in a picture exhibiting an ecclesiastic, wearing a plaid chasuble.
1? This is a mistake, for we find no such Magh-Murtheimhe by the Britains and account in Bede. Perhaps, the writer was
701.
Lanigan conjee-
occipito. "
tures, that it was rather perhaps A. D. 702,
about two years before our saint's death.
"
See
hi. , cap. xix. , sect, hi. , and n. 25, pp. 149, 150.
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol.
14 At the year 695, the devastation of
Ulidians is again recorded, in the "Annals
of the Four Masters ;" and at the year 698,
the banishment of Aurthuile ua Crunnmaeil,
chief of the Cinel-Eoghain, into Britain, is
noted. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol.
i. , pp. 298 to 301. Whether these incidents gelist was lohanner- brunnne. It appears
thinking of Colman's discussion, at the time he made his statement. "See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxv.
The Irish name for St. John the Evan- Vol. IX. —No. 9. 1 k
l8
5M LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
this was the tonsure which he had upon him, and that though Peter loved the Saviour, the Saviour loved John ; and that it was on the fourteenth of the moon of April, on whatever day of the week that should fall, the Apostles
'
Though Columcille himself were present here, we would not leave him until he should be of the same rule with ourselves. ' Adamnan made answer unto him and said, ' I
celebrated Easter. Then an old senior rising up said,
shall be of the same rule with k Be tonsured therefore, you. '
accordingly,'
'
It will be sufficient that I do so,' said Adamnan, at my
him on this occasion ; and that great spoil was restored to him, and he came straight home to his own monastery of la. It was a great surprise to his congregation to see him with that tonsure. He then requested of the con- gregation to receive the tonsure, but they refused, and he got nothing from them, sed Deus pcrmisit conventiti peccare. i. e. , ipsum Adatnnanum cxpeUere^ qui misertus est Hibemiae, sic Beda dixit; for Bede was along with Adamnan "
It seems most probable, that during the time of his latest stay at the court of King Aldfrid, Adamnan became fully impressed with the necessity of changing the old Irish disciplinary customs. Having examined the subjects in question, he became persuaded, that the Roman cycle was preferable to the old Irish one, and he had no objection to whatever religious observances were then followed in England. He also heard with respect the observations of Abbot Coelfrid in reference to his adopting the Roman tonsure. 20 At
21
said the bishops.
own ' monastery. '
' but Adamnanwasthen immediately. '
said
tonsured, and no greater honour was ever shown to man than was given to
No,'
they,
this period, the Irish Scots and some of the Britons in Britain
differed in
discipline, from a general practice in the Western Church, on the subject of Paschalobservance. Adamnanhadanopportunityofformingacquaintance- ship with many learned and holy men, during this visit he paid to Northumbria. By these, he was admonished, that it would only be expedient and reasonable for people, who were placed, as it were, in a remote corner of the world, to adopt this practice of the universal Church, as the proper mode for celebrating Easter, and regarding other matters. They besought him, to introduce the rites and practice he had seen and learned in the English churches, when he should have returned among his own people, and thus endeavour to procure their abandonment of contrary
2
customs. In his letter to King Naiton,* Coelfrid has reference to this visit
of our saint, when writing at a period long subsequent to its occurrence. *3
to have been borrowed from accounts con-
tained in the writings of this same Evan-
gelist, at St. John, xiii. 23, 25, and xxi. 20.
"
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. v. , p. 52.
19 There is no existing authority for this statement, except perhaps an inference
See
p. 318, edition of Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
2I
The Rev. Mr. Reeves suggests, that these were probably the Alcluid Britons, whose King, Rydderch Hael, had been on friendly terms with St. Columba. See his
"
Adamnan's Life of St. Columba. " Appen-
dix to Preface, n. (o), p. xlvi.
" Nechtan, who is the Naiton of Bede,
did not become King over the Picts, until
Life of St. Columba. " Appen- as Baronius refers its composition to 699, he
from Bede's words,
"
graviorem cum eis
cogeretur habere discordiam," cited in the
text. Possibly Adamnan's protracted stay
in Ireland suggested the idea of his expul-
sion from Iona. See the Rev. I )r. Reeves' letter was written to this King, Naiton, and
"
Adamnan's
dix to Preface, n. (i), p. lvi. antedates it seven years, at the very least. 20 "
This inference maybe drawn from the
See Baronius' Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus viii. , a. d. 699, sect, v. , p. 542.
accounts of Matthew of Westminster, at "
2J Following Higden, Smith dates it at year, in "Chronica Majora," vol. i. , tica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xxi.
a. d. 701, in Flores Historiarum," p. 255
as also of Matthew of Paris, at the same A. D. 710. See Bede's " Historia Ecclesias-
;
two years after Adamnan's death. As the
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 515
Speaking of many holy and worthy men, who differed from himself on the subject of Paschal observance, he mentions Adamnan by name, and calls him an abbot and an illustrious priest of the Columban Order. He adds, that being sent to King Aldfrid, as legate of his nation,
Adamnan had a desire to see the monastery of Jarrow.
2*
It was
the house in which the writer of this epistle lived. Adamnan is praised
for wonderful prudence, humility and piety, displayed by him, both in his
discourse and morals. Coelfrid relates, that among other discourses which
passed between them on this occasion was the following colloquy, concerning the peculiar Scottish tonsure, and the Irish mode of celebrating Easter. Coelfrid said: " O venerable brother, I beseech you, who believe that you tend to a crown of life knowing no end, yet contrary to the spirit of faith, why do youbearuponyourheadtheimageofacrownwhichhasalimit? 25 Ifyou seek the companionship of holy Peter, why do you imitate the form of tonsure, borne by that man whom he anathematized ?
Why do you not
26
rather manifest as much love as possible for his habit,
with whom you desire
to live for ever ? " Adamnan '* Beloved brother, thou happily replied :
knowest for certain, according to the custom of my country, that although I
bear the tonsure of Simon 27 with my whole heart I detest and repel ;
Simonical perfidy, and that I desire to tread in the footsteps of the Prince of the Apostles, so far as my weakness will allow. " Then said Coelfrid, " I believe indeed that such is the case ; yet, however, is it an indication that you embrace in your innermost heart the Apostle Peter's sentiments, when exteriorly you exhibit, what you know to have been peculiar to him? For, I suppose your prudence will readily judge it much more suitable, that your features, now dedicated to God, should be distinguished from any appearance borne by him whom you abominate with your whole heart, and whose abhorred countenance you would shrink from
as wish to follow the actions and you
s on the beholdingf but,
contrary,
words of him, whom you desire as a patron before God, it ought also be just
that you imitate the fashion of his habit. " Moved by these representations,
and having inspected the decrees of the English churches, Adamnan 2
approved of them. 9 Venerable Bede states, that on this occasion, also,
24 To reach this
Gyruus, Adamnan must have passed the north of England, much in the line ©f Hadrian's Wall.
25 The Rev. Mr. Reeves remarks, that a contrast is here drawn between the frontal and coronal tonsure, in reference to their emblematic forms, and it is peculiar.
26
It is the opinion of many ecclesiastical writers, that the Tonsure dates back to the time of St. Peter, chief of the Apostles.
27 "The Cotton MS. ," containing the Irish canons from which Ussher occasionally borrows, is one of those which suffered by thefireof 1 73 1, and which were lately restored under the care of Sir F. Madden. Its mark is Otho E. xiii. At fol. 142 b is found the following rationale of St. Peter's tonsure " Ut a Simone Mago Christianos discerneret in cujus capite cesaries ab aure ad aurem tonsse anteriore parte cum antea Magi in fronte circumhabebant. " At fol. 143 a occurs the passage cited from Ussher at p. 350, infra, where for re$i, which is a
in the late edition of Ussher's Works, the original has tegi ; and for Nil, which Ussher reads, the original gives
place, anciently
called
misprint
:
pene
omnes hanc tonsuram
sumpserunt. "
" of Niall. " —Rev. Dr. Reeves Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. "
Nailis to
express
Appendix to Preface, &c, n. (u), p. xlvii.
2®
Allusion is here made to Simon Magus, Ussher cites an ancient Cotton MS. , con- taining a collection of Irish Canons, for the
"
following :
Simone Mago sumpsisse initium, cujus tonsura de aure ad aurem tantum con-
tingebat ; pro excellentia ipsa Magorum tonsura, qua sola frons anterior tegi solebat. Auctorem autem hujus tonsurse in Hibernia subulcum regis Loigeri filii Nil extitisse, Patricii sermo testatur ;ex quo Hibernens—es
Romani dicunt tonsuram a
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
cap. xvii. , p. 479.
29Thewriteradds "Tonsuramquoquesi tantum sibi auctoritatis subesset, emendare meminisset. " Bingham states, that the
Roman Tonsure was not known in the time
:
516 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
Adamnan presented a copy of his celebrated work on the Holy Places to the
King. 3° Thisworkispraisedforitsgreatutility,whilethosecircumstances, which led to its composition, are related. On presenting the book to Aldfrid,
the author was loaded with and sent back to his own gifts,
1
country. 3 Venerable Bede devotes two chapters of his History to extracts from this
work on the Holy Places, after giving substantially the foregoing account It is worthy of remark, while the latter writer takes special notice of this work, written by Adamnan, he makes no mention about that still more celebrated one comprising the Life of St. Columba. What is even most remarkable, in a passing observation relating to the latter saint,3» it would appear, that Bede had no information concerning Adamnan having written on such a subject. 33 Such silence presented some difficulty to the Bollandist editor. This, however, was removed, when he remembered, that the Life itself bears internal evidence of having been written some time after Adam- nan's visit to Aldfrid. 34 This second interview, it has been thought, must have occurred about the year 688. 35 Influenced by the cogency of those reasons urged upon him, Adamnan endeavoured on his return to induce those subject to his jurisdiction in Hy, to adopt the Roman custom. But, all the influence of argument, and the weight derived from character, position and general considerations, could not induce them to abandon old usages, for what they supposed to be an introduction of new and strange observances. 36
We are informed, that Irgalach ua Conaing, Lord of Cianachta,*' in
••
cam,devirtutibusetmiraculisS. Columbse
scripsisse, quae in aliorum scriptis invenerat, et per totam vitam suam a senioribus audierat. "—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Junii, ix. De Sancto Columba Presbytero Abbate, in Iona Scotiae Insula, Commen- tarius Praevius, sect, i. , num. 3, p. 188.
3s Following the computation of Bede.
36 See Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentia Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xv.
"So he is in the Cain Adhamnain, styled
although he could not have been lord by descent, as the Cianachta were of a different race from his.
38 He gained a battle at Imlech over
and a to Aedh Slaine, slew his own cousin
great grandson Niall,3
8
Meath,
son to Crearnach Sotail,A. D. 701. That Inisfallen Annals call him
of Hy Neill,39 which is probably correct, as his son Cioneadh was monarch of Ireland from 724 to 728. This act excited the indignation of Adamnan, under whose protection Niall had been, and he denounced Irgalach, threatening a speedy retribution for his crime. He also adopted the ancient usageoffastingagainsttheKing/ Atthisjuncture,Adamnanisrepresented41
"
ofSt. Jerome. See OriginesEcclesiasticse;
the Antiquities of the Christian Church," vol. i. , book vi. , chap, iv. , sect. 1 6, p. 229. Bergier tells us that it is difficult to affirm its
"" origin. See Dictionnaire de Theologie.
Art. Tonsure.
30 We are told by John T. Gilbert, that
owing to the liberality of Aldfrid, King of
Northumbria, several transcripts of the book
" De Locis Sanctis" were made. See
Leslie " of National Stephen's Dictionary
Biography,'' vol, i. , Art. Adamnan or
Adomnan, p. 93.
31 This has been issued by Father John
Mabillon, in "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis
S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , saec. iii. , p. 502. Congalach, son of Conaing, in 684, accord- ""
To this, he added another tract, in Terram
Sanciam Haedeporicon," the author being one Bernard, a monk of St. Gall, and written about 870. See Cardinal Bellarmin,
ing to the Chronicum Scotorum," pp. 108, 109, William M. Hennessy's edition,
"Operum," tomus vii. Ecclesiasticis, p. 251.
32 In another place.
De Sciiptoribus
Iorgalach King of Bregia," in his His- tory and Antiquities of Tara Hill," p. 148. This must be a mistake, however, or else the printed text has omitted the title.
33 He observes of St. Columba, "
4° " Distress of now so by way fasting,
strange to us because so long obsolete, was clearly designed in the interests of honesty, and of the poor as against the mighty. How
Decujus vita et verbis nonnulla—a discipulis ejus
"
feruntur scripta haberi. " Histoiia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iv.
34 He adds, "Quandoquidem constet or why it assumed this particular form is not
Adamnanum, post finitam legationem Angli- known, and shall probably never be known. "
39 Dr. Petrie states, that Tighernach calls ""
King
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 5i7
to have been immersed in the river Boyne. 42 Muirenn, daughter to Cellach
Caulaun, and sister to St. Kentigerna,-*3 of Loch Lomond, is incorrectly said to have been the wife of Irgalach. The Irish Life of our Saint relates, that she was humble and obedient to the Lord and to Adamnan. It is remark- able, that her obit is entered in the Irish Annals, at the year 748. This is rarelj the case, in the instance of women, not classed amongst the female Saints of Ireland. An ancient poem states, that the cursing of Irgalach took place in a Synod held by Adamnan at Tara. *4 The Dinnseanchus^ places the site of Adamnan's tent within his rath.
that our Saint
procured
the enactment of a
This Irgalach was slain by the Britons,*? a. d. 702,*8
taking part in battles,
as stated in the " Annals ofTighernach. "4? The Annals of Ulsters state, that
in 701 he was slain at Inismic Nessan, now known as Ireland's Eye, a small island to the north of Howth. s1 These occurrences, on record in the Irish Annals, almost proves our Saint to have been in Ireland about a. d. 701.
2 AfterthedeathofSt. Gerald,AbbotofMayo,wearetold,s thatAdamnan
ruled that church and its community with great charity, that he caused books to betherewritten. HewroteabookoftheFourGospelswithhisownhand,and church bells he also fashioned. Thence he went to Iona, where he died happily in the Lord, and was buried. However, this statement must be rejected, as St. Gerald of Mayo long survived Adamnan.
In his exertions to promote the observance of the Roman Easter, Adamnan
—Laurence Ginnell's " Brehon Laws,"
The Synod of Adamnan, afterwards,
chap, iv. , sect. iii. p. 162.
41 By the Irish Life.
Distraint by Fasting,
—In cursing Irgalach. "
42 "This system of fasting against an obnoxious individual was a favourite mode with the Irish ecclesiastics of bringing down visitations on their enemies. The Brehon Laws contain directions on the course which is to be pursued in such a case. Irgalach resisted the influence of St. Adamnan's fast- ing by doing the same himself, until Adam- nan, by inducing one of his people to per- sonate him, put Irgalach off his guard, and thus got the mastery of him. The story is curious, not only as illustrative of this extra- ordinary system of fasting, but as indicating the low tone of moral feeling in the writer,
45 Called after him Cam -AOAmnAin, "Law of Adamnan," and CentiA mnA tjo mAT\b<YO, "not to kill women. " It is pro- bable also, that reference is made to this law in the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 696, in these terms: " Adamnanus ad Hiberniam pergit, et dedit legem innocentium popu- lis. " And, again in an entry made by Tighernach, at the year 697 : -A-oomnan cue jvechc leif m ejMno An bli<voAin •pea, " Adamnan brought a law with him to Ire- land in this year. "
47 It is an error to say that he was killed
the as Dr. Petrie does in his by Saxons,
"
of Tara Hill. " 48See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Sciiptores," tomus ii. , Tiger-
nachi Annales, pp. 220, 221.
49 In A. D. 700, according to Dr. O'Dono-
who
represents
the saint as people
* :Itis
better that one of his
saying
should tell a
and
History Antiquities
falsehoodf—orhim,thanthatheshouldtellit
"
himself. ' Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"
Life of St. Columba," Appendix to Pre- face, n. (w), p. liv.
43 See her
at the 7th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. ii.
44 There traces of an earthen enclosure, anciently called Uac nA Ser»At>, " Rath of the Synods," may be seen, close to the wall of Tara churchyard, on the west.
45 This poem contains a line, of which the following is a translation :
11 The Synod of Patrick was held in the
great Rath ;
The Synod of Brendan, and of Ruadhan ;
the Four vol. i. Masters,"
\ >g
Acts,
which are
already given
van's "Annals of
s«See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
It was probably on this occasion,
6 women from law,* prohibiting
"
See Dr. Petne's on the
History and Antiquities of Tara Hill," pp. 1 15, 122,
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , An- nales Ultonienses, p. 68.
51 In 681, the Britons fought with the Dalaradiana at Rathmor, Magh Line, and in 696 they joined the Ulidians in wasting the coast of Louth. See ibid. , pp. 62, 66, 67. Powibly they had made a settlement in Ireland.
s' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xiii. Martii. Vita S. Geraldi, cap. xvi. , p. 602.
Essay
518 LIVES 02> THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
may have attended Synods of the Irish clergy : indeed, it is scarcely to be conceived, that he could otherwise have effected such a change as Bede describes,S3 and the latter historian tells us, that while there he preached to the people, who were more docile to his disciplinary teaching than were the monks at Iona. By prudent exhortations, he announced to them the legitimate time for celebrating Easter. 5* He induced many who did not belong to the Hyensian Community, to correct their former erroneous practice, and to adopt the canonical and Catholic custom of Paschal observ- ance.
Biography," vol. i. , Art. Adamnan, p. 42.
Innocentium, it is termed Lex Morientium, in the"Origines Parochiales Scotiae," vol. ii. , p. 288.
R. H. A. , M. R. I. A. , pp. 171, 172.
10
This is related, in the Leabhar Breac, and also in the Book of Lecan.
' —
See Laurence Ginnell's Brehon Laws,"
Thus we have similar instances in many of the modern Parliamentary and Decretal acts of legislators, and which are associated with the names of their respective authors.
9 We are probably to regard this Law as
the Cain Adamnan, according to what is stated in the Book of Lecan, that there are four Cains of Ireland, namely, the Cain of Patrick, not to kill the clergy ; the Cain of Dari, the Nun, not to kill cows ; the Cain of Adamnan, not to kill women ; the Sunday Cain, not to travel on it, fol. 166,
M
p. a, col. 4. See Transactions of the
Royal Irish Academy," vol. xviii. Antiqui-
ties, sect. iii. On the History and Antiquities 6 Whilst the Ulster Annals call it the Lex of Tara Hill. By George Petrie, Esq. ,
* it is that probable
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 513
time ; but, it may well be supposed, he required no such legendary incident to influence his sentiments of religion and humanity.
After697AdamnanappearstohavebeenatIona. However,itisrelated, that the declining years of his life, from 697 to 703, were spent wholly in
11 He was
and most
his Irish countrymen, as legate or ambassador, to his old friend, Aldfrid, King of Northumberland, some time in the year 701" or 702. '3 In his Memoir of St. Adamnan, the Rev. Mr. Reeves extracts a narrative, concerning our saint's proceedings, from Mac Firbis's Manuscript Annals. It comprises incidents from the first visit paid to Aldfrid's court, down to the last delay Adamnan made in Ireland. As that writer remarks, it is characteristic of native simplicity. With the object of his second visit we are unacquainted. Although disease was still ravaging that part of the country, himself and his attendants were preserved from contagion. '* It is probable, from an inci- dental allusion, that our saint had been chosen to negociate some affair of international policy. 15 The venerable historian Bede seemingly alludes to
Ireland,
likely
in his
monastery
of
Deny.
again
sent
by
this second visit, when he states, that Adamnan, who was a presbyter and abbot over monks belonging to Iona monastery, had been sent by his nation
on an embassy to Aldfrid, King of the Angles. He had likewise an oppor- tunity of seeing the canonical church rites while he remained for some time
in that province.
The Annals of Mac Firbis seem to confuse the incidents of Adamnan's
first and second visits to King Aldfrid, as may be found in the following
untrustworthy account " A great spoil was carried off by the Saxons from
:
Erin. Adamnan went to demand a restitution of the spoil, as Bede relates
in his History. The greater part of the bishops of all Europe assembled to condemn Adamnan for having celebrated Easter after the fashion of
Columcille, and for having upon him the tonsure of Simon Magus, i. e. , ab
aurtadaurem. *6 Bede 1? that werethewisemeninthat says, though many
Synod, Adamnan excelled them all in wisdom and eloquence ; and Adamnan said, It was not in imitation of Simon Magus that he had this tonsure, but in imitation of of the 18 the foster-son of the and that
John Breast,
Redeemer,
11 "
See Rev. William O'Doherty's Derry
Columbkille, p. 01. "
may be supposed to have any relation to this mission or not can hardly be determined.
I5 Venerable Bede states: " Adamnanus nica Majora," vol. i. , p. 318. Edition of presbyter et abbas monachorum, qui
to Matthew of Paris, " Chro-
12
Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
13 Bede, who mentions this embassy, does
not mark the year. See " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. 15. Smith, who follows Matthew of Westminster,
in his
a. d.
"
Flores Historiarum," assigns it to
erant in insula Hii, cum legationis gratia missus a sua gente venisset ad Alfridum regem Anglorum," &c. —" Historia Ecclesi- astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xv.
,6 Mabillon describes this tonsure as formed "i—n fronte ab aure ad aurem ir. tonso
According
The Rev. Dr.
" Annates Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. viii. , sec. hi. , p. 207. We are informed by the Rev. Mr. Reeves, that the
Book of Durrow gives a good representation of this tonsure, in a picture exhibiting an ecclesiastic, wearing a plaid chasuble.
1? This is a mistake, for we find no such Magh-Murtheimhe by the Britains and account in Bede. Perhaps, the writer was
701.
Lanigan conjee-
occipito. "
tures, that it was rather perhaps A. D. 702,
about two years before our saint's death.
"
See
hi. , cap. xix. , sect, hi. , and n. 25, pp. 149, 150.
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol.
14 At the year 695, the devastation of
Ulidians is again recorded, in the "Annals
of the Four Masters ;" and at the year 698,
the banishment of Aurthuile ua Crunnmaeil,
chief of the Cinel-Eoghain, into Britain, is
noted. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol.
i. , pp. 298 to 301. Whether these incidents gelist was lohanner- brunnne. It appears
thinking of Colman's discussion, at the time he made his statement. "See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxv.
The Irish name for St. John the Evan- Vol. IX. —No. 9. 1 k
l8
5M LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
this was the tonsure which he had upon him, and that though Peter loved the Saviour, the Saviour loved John ; and that it was on the fourteenth of the moon of April, on whatever day of the week that should fall, the Apostles
'
Though Columcille himself were present here, we would not leave him until he should be of the same rule with ourselves. ' Adamnan made answer unto him and said, ' I
celebrated Easter. Then an old senior rising up said,
shall be of the same rule with k Be tonsured therefore, you. '
accordingly,'
'
It will be sufficient that I do so,' said Adamnan, at my
him on this occasion ; and that great spoil was restored to him, and he came straight home to his own monastery of la. It was a great surprise to his congregation to see him with that tonsure. He then requested of the con- gregation to receive the tonsure, but they refused, and he got nothing from them, sed Deus pcrmisit conventiti peccare. i. e. , ipsum Adatnnanum cxpeUere^ qui misertus est Hibemiae, sic Beda dixit; for Bede was along with Adamnan "
It seems most probable, that during the time of his latest stay at the court of King Aldfrid, Adamnan became fully impressed with the necessity of changing the old Irish disciplinary customs. Having examined the subjects in question, he became persuaded, that the Roman cycle was preferable to the old Irish one, and he had no objection to whatever religious observances were then followed in England. He also heard with respect the observations of Abbot Coelfrid in reference to his adopting the Roman tonsure. 20 At
21
said the bishops.
own ' monastery. '
' but Adamnanwasthen immediately. '
said
tonsured, and no greater honour was ever shown to man than was given to
No,'
they,
this period, the Irish Scots and some of the Britons in Britain
differed in
discipline, from a general practice in the Western Church, on the subject of Paschalobservance. Adamnanhadanopportunityofformingacquaintance- ship with many learned and holy men, during this visit he paid to Northumbria. By these, he was admonished, that it would only be expedient and reasonable for people, who were placed, as it were, in a remote corner of the world, to adopt this practice of the universal Church, as the proper mode for celebrating Easter, and regarding other matters. They besought him, to introduce the rites and practice he had seen and learned in the English churches, when he should have returned among his own people, and thus endeavour to procure their abandonment of contrary
2
customs. In his letter to King Naiton,* Coelfrid has reference to this visit
of our saint, when writing at a period long subsequent to its occurrence. *3
to have been borrowed from accounts con-
tained in the writings of this same Evan-
gelist, at St. John, xiii. 23, 25, and xxi. 20.
"
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. v. , p. 52.
19 There is no existing authority for this statement, except perhaps an inference
See
p. 318, edition of Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
2I
The Rev. Mr. Reeves suggests, that these were probably the Alcluid Britons, whose King, Rydderch Hael, had been on friendly terms with St. Columba. See his
"
Adamnan's Life of St. Columba. " Appen-
dix to Preface, n. (o), p. xlvi.
" Nechtan, who is the Naiton of Bede,
did not become King over the Picts, until
Life of St. Columba. " Appen- as Baronius refers its composition to 699, he
from Bede's words,
"
graviorem cum eis
cogeretur habere discordiam," cited in the
text. Possibly Adamnan's protracted stay
in Ireland suggested the idea of his expul-
sion from Iona. See the Rev. I )r. Reeves' letter was written to this King, Naiton, and
"
Adamnan's
dix to Preface, n. (i), p. lvi. antedates it seven years, at the very least. 20 "
This inference maybe drawn from the
See Baronius' Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus viii. , a. d. 699, sect, v. , p. 542.
accounts of Matthew of Westminster, at "
2J Following Higden, Smith dates it at year, in "Chronica Majora," vol. i. , tica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xxi.
a. d. 701, in Flores Historiarum," p. 255
as also of Matthew of Paris, at the same A. D. 710. See Bede's " Historia Ecclesias-
;
two years after Adamnan's death. As the
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 515
Speaking of many holy and worthy men, who differed from himself on the subject of Paschal observance, he mentions Adamnan by name, and calls him an abbot and an illustrious priest of the Columban Order. He adds, that being sent to King Aldfrid, as legate of his nation,
Adamnan had a desire to see the monastery of Jarrow.
2*
It was
the house in which the writer of this epistle lived. Adamnan is praised
for wonderful prudence, humility and piety, displayed by him, both in his
discourse and morals. Coelfrid relates, that among other discourses which
passed between them on this occasion was the following colloquy, concerning the peculiar Scottish tonsure, and the Irish mode of celebrating Easter. Coelfrid said: " O venerable brother, I beseech you, who believe that you tend to a crown of life knowing no end, yet contrary to the spirit of faith, why do youbearuponyourheadtheimageofacrownwhichhasalimit? 25 Ifyou seek the companionship of holy Peter, why do you imitate the form of tonsure, borne by that man whom he anathematized ?
Why do you not
26
rather manifest as much love as possible for his habit,
with whom you desire
to live for ever ? " Adamnan '* Beloved brother, thou happily replied :
knowest for certain, according to the custom of my country, that although I
bear the tonsure of Simon 27 with my whole heart I detest and repel ;
Simonical perfidy, and that I desire to tread in the footsteps of the Prince of the Apostles, so far as my weakness will allow. " Then said Coelfrid, " I believe indeed that such is the case ; yet, however, is it an indication that you embrace in your innermost heart the Apostle Peter's sentiments, when exteriorly you exhibit, what you know to have been peculiar to him? For, I suppose your prudence will readily judge it much more suitable, that your features, now dedicated to God, should be distinguished from any appearance borne by him whom you abominate with your whole heart, and whose abhorred countenance you would shrink from
as wish to follow the actions and you
s on the beholdingf but,
contrary,
words of him, whom you desire as a patron before God, it ought also be just
that you imitate the fashion of his habit. " Moved by these representations,
and having inspected the decrees of the English churches, Adamnan 2
approved of them. 9 Venerable Bede states, that on this occasion, also,
24 To reach this
Gyruus, Adamnan must have passed the north of England, much in the line ©f Hadrian's Wall.
25 The Rev. Mr. Reeves remarks, that a contrast is here drawn between the frontal and coronal tonsure, in reference to their emblematic forms, and it is peculiar.
26
It is the opinion of many ecclesiastical writers, that the Tonsure dates back to the time of St. Peter, chief of the Apostles.
27 "The Cotton MS. ," containing the Irish canons from which Ussher occasionally borrows, is one of those which suffered by thefireof 1 73 1, and which were lately restored under the care of Sir F. Madden. Its mark is Otho E. xiii. At fol. 142 b is found the following rationale of St. Peter's tonsure " Ut a Simone Mago Christianos discerneret in cujus capite cesaries ab aure ad aurem tonsse anteriore parte cum antea Magi in fronte circumhabebant. " At fol. 143 a occurs the passage cited from Ussher at p. 350, infra, where for re$i, which is a
in the late edition of Ussher's Works, the original has tegi ; and for Nil, which Ussher reads, the original gives
place, anciently
called
misprint
:
pene
omnes hanc tonsuram
sumpserunt. "
" of Niall. " —Rev. Dr. Reeves Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. "
Nailis to
express
Appendix to Preface, &c, n. (u), p. xlvii.
2®
Allusion is here made to Simon Magus, Ussher cites an ancient Cotton MS. , con- taining a collection of Irish Canons, for the
"
following :
Simone Mago sumpsisse initium, cujus tonsura de aure ad aurem tantum con-
tingebat ; pro excellentia ipsa Magorum tonsura, qua sola frons anterior tegi solebat. Auctorem autem hujus tonsurse in Hibernia subulcum regis Loigeri filii Nil extitisse, Patricii sermo testatur ;ex quo Hibernens—es
Romani dicunt tonsuram a
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
cap. xvii. , p. 479.
29Thewriteradds "Tonsuramquoquesi tantum sibi auctoritatis subesset, emendare meminisset. " Bingham states, that the
Roman Tonsure was not known in the time
:
516 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
Adamnan presented a copy of his celebrated work on the Holy Places to the
King. 3° Thisworkispraisedforitsgreatutility,whilethosecircumstances, which led to its composition, are related. On presenting the book to Aldfrid,
the author was loaded with and sent back to his own gifts,
1
country. 3 Venerable Bede devotes two chapters of his History to extracts from this
work on the Holy Places, after giving substantially the foregoing account It is worthy of remark, while the latter writer takes special notice of this work, written by Adamnan, he makes no mention about that still more celebrated one comprising the Life of St. Columba. What is even most remarkable, in a passing observation relating to the latter saint,3» it would appear, that Bede had no information concerning Adamnan having written on such a subject. 33 Such silence presented some difficulty to the Bollandist editor. This, however, was removed, when he remembered, that the Life itself bears internal evidence of having been written some time after Adam- nan's visit to Aldfrid. 34 This second interview, it has been thought, must have occurred about the year 688. 35 Influenced by the cogency of those reasons urged upon him, Adamnan endeavoured on his return to induce those subject to his jurisdiction in Hy, to adopt the Roman custom. But, all the influence of argument, and the weight derived from character, position and general considerations, could not induce them to abandon old usages, for what they supposed to be an introduction of new and strange observances. 36
We are informed, that Irgalach ua Conaing, Lord of Cianachta,*' in
••
cam,devirtutibusetmiraculisS. Columbse
scripsisse, quae in aliorum scriptis invenerat, et per totam vitam suam a senioribus audierat. "—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Junii, ix. De Sancto Columba Presbytero Abbate, in Iona Scotiae Insula, Commen- tarius Praevius, sect, i. , num. 3, p. 188.
3s Following the computation of Bede.
36 See Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentia Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xv.
"So he is in the Cain Adhamnain, styled
although he could not have been lord by descent, as the Cianachta were of a different race from his.
38 He gained a battle at Imlech over
and a to Aedh Slaine, slew his own cousin
great grandson Niall,3
8
Meath,
son to Crearnach Sotail,A. D. 701. That Inisfallen Annals call him
of Hy Neill,39 which is probably correct, as his son Cioneadh was monarch of Ireland from 724 to 728. This act excited the indignation of Adamnan, under whose protection Niall had been, and he denounced Irgalach, threatening a speedy retribution for his crime. He also adopted the ancient usageoffastingagainsttheKing/ Atthisjuncture,Adamnanisrepresented41
"
ofSt. Jerome. See OriginesEcclesiasticse;
the Antiquities of the Christian Church," vol. i. , book vi. , chap, iv. , sect. 1 6, p. 229. Bergier tells us that it is difficult to affirm its
"" origin. See Dictionnaire de Theologie.
Art. Tonsure.
30 We are told by John T. Gilbert, that
owing to the liberality of Aldfrid, King of
Northumbria, several transcripts of the book
" De Locis Sanctis" were made. See
Leslie " of National Stephen's Dictionary
Biography,'' vol, i. , Art. Adamnan or
Adomnan, p. 93.
31 This has been issued by Father John
Mabillon, in "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis
S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , saec. iii. , p. 502. Congalach, son of Conaing, in 684, accord- ""
To this, he added another tract, in Terram
Sanciam Haedeporicon," the author being one Bernard, a monk of St. Gall, and written about 870. See Cardinal Bellarmin,
ing to the Chronicum Scotorum," pp. 108, 109, William M. Hennessy's edition,
"Operum," tomus vii. Ecclesiasticis, p. 251.
32 In another place.
De Sciiptoribus
Iorgalach King of Bregia," in his His- tory and Antiquities of Tara Hill," p. 148. This must be a mistake, however, or else the printed text has omitted the title.
33 He observes of St. Columba, "
4° " Distress of now so by way fasting,
strange to us because so long obsolete, was clearly designed in the interests of honesty, and of the poor as against the mighty. How
Decujus vita et verbis nonnulla—a discipulis ejus
"
feruntur scripta haberi. " Histoiia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iv.
34 He adds, "Quandoquidem constet or why it assumed this particular form is not
Adamnanum, post finitam legationem Angli- known, and shall probably never be known. "
39 Dr. Petrie states, that Tighernach calls ""
King
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 5i7
to have been immersed in the river Boyne. 42 Muirenn, daughter to Cellach
Caulaun, and sister to St. Kentigerna,-*3 of Loch Lomond, is incorrectly said to have been the wife of Irgalach. The Irish Life of our Saint relates, that she was humble and obedient to the Lord and to Adamnan. It is remark- able, that her obit is entered in the Irish Annals, at the year 748. This is rarelj the case, in the instance of women, not classed amongst the female Saints of Ireland. An ancient poem states, that the cursing of Irgalach took place in a Synod held by Adamnan at Tara. *4 The Dinnseanchus^ places the site of Adamnan's tent within his rath.
that our Saint
procured
the enactment of a
This Irgalach was slain by the Britons,*? a. d. 702,*8
taking part in battles,
as stated in the " Annals ofTighernach. "4? The Annals of Ulsters state, that
in 701 he was slain at Inismic Nessan, now known as Ireland's Eye, a small island to the north of Howth. s1 These occurrences, on record in the Irish Annals, almost proves our Saint to have been in Ireland about a. d. 701.
2 AfterthedeathofSt. Gerald,AbbotofMayo,wearetold,s thatAdamnan
ruled that church and its community with great charity, that he caused books to betherewritten. HewroteabookoftheFourGospelswithhisownhand,and church bells he also fashioned. Thence he went to Iona, where he died happily in the Lord, and was buried. However, this statement must be rejected, as St. Gerald of Mayo long survived Adamnan.
In his exertions to promote the observance of the Roman Easter, Adamnan
—Laurence Ginnell's " Brehon Laws,"
The Synod of Adamnan, afterwards,
chap, iv. , sect. iii. p. 162.
41 By the Irish Life.
Distraint by Fasting,
—In cursing Irgalach. "
42 "This system of fasting against an obnoxious individual was a favourite mode with the Irish ecclesiastics of bringing down visitations on their enemies. The Brehon Laws contain directions on the course which is to be pursued in such a case. Irgalach resisted the influence of St. Adamnan's fast- ing by doing the same himself, until Adam- nan, by inducing one of his people to per- sonate him, put Irgalach off his guard, and thus got the mastery of him. The story is curious, not only as illustrative of this extra- ordinary system of fasting, but as indicating the low tone of moral feeling in the writer,
45 Called after him Cam -AOAmnAin, "Law of Adamnan," and CentiA mnA tjo mAT\b<YO, "not to kill women. " It is pro- bable also, that reference is made to this law in the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 696, in these terms: " Adamnanus ad Hiberniam pergit, et dedit legem innocentium popu- lis. " And, again in an entry made by Tighernach, at the year 697 : -A-oomnan cue jvechc leif m ejMno An bli<voAin •pea, " Adamnan brought a law with him to Ire- land in this year. "
47 It is an error to say that he was killed
the as Dr. Petrie does in his by Saxons,
"
of Tara Hill. " 48See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Sciiptores," tomus ii. , Tiger-
nachi Annales, pp. 220, 221.
49 In A. D. 700, according to Dr. O'Dono-
who
represents
the saint as people
* :Itis
better that one of his
saying
should tell a
and
History Antiquities
falsehoodf—orhim,thanthatheshouldtellit
"
himself. ' Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"
Life of St. Columba," Appendix to Pre- face, n. (w), p. liv.
43 See her
at the 7th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. ii.
44 There traces of an earthen enclosure, anciently called Uac nA Ser»At>, " Rath of the Synods," may be seen, close to the wall of Tara churchyard, on the west.
45 This poem contains a line, of which the following is a translation :
11 The Synod of Patrick was held in the
great Rath ;
The Synod of Brendan, and of Ruadhan ;
the Four vol. i. Masters,"
\ >g
Acts,
which are
already given
van's "Annals of
s«See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
It was probably on this occasion,
6 women from law,* prohibiting
"
See Dr. Petne's on the
History and Antiquities of Tara Hill," pp. 1 15, 122,
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , An- nales Ultonienses, p. 68.
51 In 681, the Britons fought with the Dalaradiana at Rathmor, Magh Line, and in 696 they joined the Ulidians in wasting the coast of Louth. See ibid. , pp. 62, 66, 67. Powibly they had made a settlement in Ireland.
s' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xiii. Martii. Vita S. Geraldi, cap. xvi. , p. 602.
Essay
518 LIVES 02> THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
may have attended Synods of the Irish clergy : indeed, it is scarcely to be conceived, that he could otherwise have effected such a change as Bede describes,S3 and the latter historian tells us, that while there he preached to the people, who were more docile to his disciplinary teaching than were the monks at Iona. By prudent exhortations, he announced to them the legitimate time for celebrating Easter. 5* He induced many who did not belong to the Hyensian Community, to correct their former erroneous practice, and to adopt the canonical and Catholic custom of Paschal observ- ance.
