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CELTIC
FEW
SAINTS
nations
with
AND
have
to the Isles
of their dead
the memory
than the Celts, whether
as the
was
Hibernia
long known
cherished
more
loving
or of Ireland.
of Brittany
Island of the Saints
and
nation
veneration
its inhabitants
of Arran.
ful accuracy
of detail
that
at the monastic
of
church
their
FICTION.
ROMANTIC
record
Legend
there were
Clonmore.
gave
asserts
relics
The
the same
desig
a delight
saints
10,129
with
of
in
Bollandists
to November
from
have
stretching
January
saints born in early
proofs of the cultus of seventy
at this
and of 304 of Irish or Scotch
origin, which
no
are
race.
time implied
of
distinction
pre
Biographies
served
of 62 saints of Scotland
and the Irish
and Wales,
gathered
Britain
is still more
copious.
accessible
part of these lives have been made
to the student
of the Bolland
in the great
either
collection
in Reese's
Sanctorum
Celtic
ists, in the Acta
Hibemiae,
or
in
the
Stokes
else
Saints,
by
Tripartite
Life
of Patrick,
hagiography
The greater
where.
of the
earlier
documents
with
Some
as historical
be regarded
may
biographies
a little embellishment
at times,
in A.
D.
some
two hundred
from
seems
the rest.
Such
to have
been
after
the death
years
658,
its subject,
and the Life
of Patrick
which
by Muirchu
a
be
A.
D.
We
al
have
later,
may
placed
generation
698.
so two lives of Columba,
the Abbot
of Hy, who died in 597,
one
Cum men?
written
the other
before
by Abbot
669,
which must be placed before 692.
Both
by Abbot Adamnan
these are essentially
a
even
more
and
sober
historical,
spirit
Walafrid
Strabo's
relation
of
the
pervades
martyrdom
of Blaithmac
and Jonas' Life of Columban
of Bobbio
which
are almost
accounts.
Life
of
contemporary
Cogitosus'
must
be
at
three
within
centuries
least
too,
of
placed
Brigit,
her death 3nd s?ems bas?d on earlier material,
of
The
i8
are
These
to
made
the
to record.
Of course
they profess
is much
that is pure fiction.
there
case with
but it is more
Cogitosus,
Walafrid
Strabo
exceptions
lives of
from
written
Review.
important
that the
only
statement
the
saints were
Sewanee
even
in these
This
or
that
less
need
be
earlier
is especially
the
true of all except
of Bobbio.
the
With
and, possibly,
Jonas
of these or of the later
so far as
legends,
not
to
I
do
deal
sub
here.
The
propose
any,
they possess
one of the most
in
is
historical
difficult
the
with
which
ject
to
has
do
ill
to
and
is
suited
vestigator
exposition.1
popular
It is proposed
to treat the legends here not
nor
historically
historical
content
critically,
and most
but
from
important
of European
romantic
The
with which we have to deal were written,
documents
as has been said, with very few
the year
between
exceptions
1100.
and
the
and
then
year
900
accompa
precede,
They
the development
of national
romance
as we
ny,
patriotic
find it in Nennius
and in the Arthurian
Sometimes
legends.
on earlier
based
as were
ro
also
the patriotic
traditions,
mances,
bridled
dence
of his
dence
those
the
again,
with
fancy,
they must be received
of the state of the Church
in the time
subject,
is more
in regard
while
that credulity
serve the strange
in artistic
finish
cautious
student
ly and
bushel
late, since
of what,
*For an application
reader may
be
rious
Review,
caution
of
as
of the author
conditions
their
un
evi
or
evi
in the seventh
Already
century we
vied with
to
invent
and pre
imagination
tales that obscure
the glorious
work
of the
and Columbas.
Patricks
to social
creations
valuable.
see
Historical
like
sometimes,
to
Cogitosus
romancers
the
and Muirchu
yield only
a later time.
a
Yet
of
is bound
to examine
ear
all these legends,
there may be a
of
in
wheat
hid
the
grain
at least from an historical
point of view,
of
the
referred
1890.
"
to
"
historical
to these
method
"
St. Patrick's
Earlier
Life
(p. 475.)
"
the cu
legends
in the English
and Roman?c
Celtic Saints
?ttist
his
/action.
i^
readers
has
has
of
result
to
able
been
his
studies
learn
in
the
their
of fiction,
show how, as works
them
of the age that produced
country where
they grew.
tales are
These
legendary
seem
This
is
paper
to
It
aims
aspect.
literary
indicate
the legends
the ideals
and
the characteristics
not biography
but
in adventure
and believed
In an age that
acle they took
most
existence.
delighted
of professed
the place
as if Irish humor sometimes
fiction.
made
of
the
romance.
in mir
It might
al
ve
the
legend
of the
it be supposed
that the Scots
; or will
or
were
twelfth century
disposed
seriously
by
devotionally
to deter
his miraculous
the tale of Cannech
powers
applying
of seeds in an apple, or when
mine
the number
they read of
on S. David's
across
the Irish Channel
Barr who galloping
hicle
of parody
horse
met
ted him
on a whale, Arion
salu
like, who
riding
: "Marvellous
in his
the dry remark
is God
swam
to a
on?
Did not their credulity
yield
Brendan
with
and
saints,"
smile when
they read how
one hand for a candle while
light was
so dazzling
blinded
was
key-hole
were
born with
one
Finnian
he wrote
that a man
so effectually
held
with
who
up the fingers
the other, and
peeked
that all his
of
the
the
through
descendants
eye?
in these
is their
likeness.
legends
family
as well be told of any other.
one
saint
of
story
might
That
There
is no pronounced
very
story
individuality.
told
is
with
unessential
variations
of
of the shining
fingers
Most
noticeable
The
although
had been
Cyclops
from their relations
from
the first
familiar
to local mythology.
A
occurs
in the oldest
of borrowing
to the girl
lover gave
It tells how a rejected
life of Brigit.
for
who had refused his suit a jewel of great price to guard
perhaps
figures,
more
characteristic
case
4?
The
him.
stole
he
Then
Sew an te Review.
it from
he cast
lost
and,
her,
in the sea.
it
to insure
now
And
past recovery,
that the girl would
its restoration,
manded
hoping
to pay the debt.
He would
to sell herself
pelled
chase as a slave her who had rejected him as her
its being
he de
com
be
then
pur
husband.
for
she recovered
his evil design,
the
defeated
Brigit
a fish.
is
in
This
of
the
Gesta
the
stomach
in
story
jewel
been more
na?ve.
and seldom has "adaptation"
Romanorum
or of the common
of native
remains
The
my
superstition
are naturally
more
nations
of northern
frequent.
thology
to the sea and set adrift
was borne
in an
The dying Gildas
ancestor
in the Sax
of Beowulf
open boat like the mythical
But
on epic.
The
that accompanied
of Beowa.
legend
bees
the Norse
suggest
lose nothing
their
of
to Ireland
Modamnoc
Dragons
character.
in these
tales
The
pagan
mythological
for the elements,
veneration
water,
fire,
peculiar
in
the
This
the sun.
appears
legends.
constantly
King
: "Put your books
and a Druid
to Patrick
proposed
Logaire
comes
out
book
and we will adore him whose
in the water,
" had
of
the
heard
Druid
But the
unharmed."
baptism
by
was
water
that
and
Patrick's
Patrick
water
thought
by
given
all the saints could calm the sea at will,
Almost
they
god."
their belongings
would
float
the
could
control
tide, and
rivers with
barren
strike
could
the current.
They
against
had
Celts
a Druid
when
and Patrick,
ness,
a plain waist-deep
covered
with
by
snow,
enchantment
removed
had
it without
moisture.
was
Fire
Miraculous
element
Fursey
the
The
enter
even
more
intimately
associated
with
them.
saint, and
every Celtic
nearly
light attended
for their birth to do them homage.
did not wait
a great
his conception
announced
light filling
by
monastery
mother
of
where
his
Edanus
on
parents
a
similar
were
transient
occasion,
saw
they could
candles with
S.
all
guests.
a moon
a star.
it seemed
Balls
of
; to her husband
As
over the infancy
saints.
of many
youths
in their
and
coals
aprons,
carry burning
light
her mouth
fire watched
the
their breath,
or with
a wet
finger.
Fire-giants,
of Patrick
in the legends
figure
Cyclops,
as an instrument
of divine
also appears
Miliuc
it.
the Druids
who had worshipped
at Patrick's
and his children were
approach,
?i*
Fire
In their
the powers
control
over
bodies
the heavenly
of
the Christians
of darkness,
a night for three
days, Ludigus,
and Brigit
in its course.
Colman
and Brigit when
the same spot till sun-set,
to dry found
it still
cloak on a sunbeam
prolongs
the sun
midnight1.
light for
It was
Si
Celtic Sainte
that
foretold
it should
and
Brendan.
on
vengeance
burned
himself
to ashes.
turned
the Druids
A
have
Druid
light.
like Joshua,
stays
fix a single
ray in
she had hung her
at
there
hanging
be continually
"
and the folk of
death,
days after Patrick's
not so
the nights were
to the end of the year
dark as usual."
1. c. 296.)
(Stokes,
a
born without
Kenti
saints were
Few Celtic
prodigy.
"
or how
was
not
when
he
mother
could
gern's
imagine
was
was
she
she
dis
and,
u?baptized,
begotten,"
though
his
to
in
to
it
attribute
which,
God,
says
posed
biographer,
" saw a
"
mother
fish of red
Finan's
she was mistaken."
Ulod
said
twelve
that
her mouth
entered
from the East which
through
gold flying
Similar
tales of
into her womb,
and by him she conceived."
noticed
have
been
Where
and Fursey
Edanus
already.
to proclaim
the coming
failed
saint, Druids
fiery apparitions
or
their
revealed
visions
holiness.
their
prophesied
glories
and severe abstinence
continence
Finnian's
mother
observed
the same interval
till his birth.
conception
During
no meat
eat
Tiree
of
could
and
the mother
of Columba
the birth
of Fintan
drink no wine.
For seven days before
fed from
sat on a log in a desert place and was
his mother
from
his
heaven.
were
The
of the carts
rattling
proclaimed
While
yet
Comgal.
hours and David
canonical
driving
and
to a bishop.
Several
sunbeams.
It was
continental
revealed
saints
and
in which
their
mothers
of Edanus,
Kieran,
sanctity
Mocteus
observed
the
unborn
the
demanded
the
to the mother
the
English
Aldhelm
precedence
of Aidus
hung
due
that
cloaks
if
on
S2
of her
the birth
ing he would
sat till dawn
child
be deferred
could
be a great
on a stone
saint.
in which,
To
next
the
m?f ft*
this
she
blessing
the child's head
a proof
of his
meantime,
as
exhibited
was
a hole which
long
" The water
that gathers
sanctity.
to this day."1
of the faithful
made
till
secure
everv
in it heals
disease
of their usually
luminous
childhood
The wonders
suggest
infant
stomach
life.
all milk
the pastoral
Brigit's
rejected
from
the common
hands
herd.
drawn
With
by heathen
ease
and
she
distributed
milk,
butter,
multiplied
generous
to minister
the rich
to the ne
and cows, and even robbed
cessities
she
this
of me,
(Cogit.
proclaimed
the king
When
of the poor.
her
for
reproached
: "If my God asked you and my father
answered
if I could."
I would
you both to him
give
gladly
later lives
Her
then
13, 14, 30.)
say that it was
that she was a type of the Blessed
from heaven
Other
holy
Virgin.
their herds and made
bitter
water
called
children
water
sweet,
from
both
rocks
in
for
imitation
of Moses.
The
saints'
power
state.
over
children
even
extended
an
relieved
nun
to
their
of the
evi
erring
or pain."
This
(Cogit.
12.)
for the tale is repeated
must have met with popular
approval
On another
and Aidus.
how
of Kieran,
Cannech,
occasion,
a
at
to
her
w?fe
husband's
fruitfulness
she
ever,
prayer,
gave
pre-natal
of her
dence
fault
Brigit
"without
birth
friend Bronus
less emulation.
Brigit's
a
at
the trial she made
was once accused
of being
father, but
a
she thus con
whom
its parent,
the infant name
layman,
same won
the
Albeus
Her countryman
verted.
performed
but
in this
der,
and
she found
so
did Aldhelm
and Antony
of Malmesbury
of
Padua.
Their
monastic
self was
childhood
schools.
is hardly
Miracles
over when
follow
them
the saints
here.
enter
Christ
the
him
by an
was
of Cannech,
Mocteus
teacher
taught
was
to secure
in his
able
like
the
former,
Brigit,
angel,
fire and smoke."
own teaching
the aid of a devil "breathing
the
and
*ASS.
Hib.
(Smedt
et Becker),
333.
Celtic
Wolves
guarded
for
Saints
and Romantic
the flocks
of eager
them
in
Fiction.
students
the
23,
and
of
the thirst
pangs
conquered
knowledge
not be
like Cuthbert's
books,
Gospels,
might
nor
once wrote
the whole
Colman
by water
by fire.
in a single
"and other books"
ter, the Acts,
day.
hired a scribe to write
and then
for him "till dark"
Their
lously
without
Gildas
prolonged
resting
rebuked
hunger.
harmed
Psal
Cronan
miracu
the light
for forty days so that the writer
to eat, drink, or sleep produced
four gospels.
for hoping
his
favorite
Cadoc
that Virgil,
be among
to
the saved,
but a vision
revealed
poet, might
the latter that his wish was
granted.
tales
of their preaching.
illustrate
the eloquence
Many
"
none knew
Patrick
that
three
and
and
spoke
days
nights,
the sun had set or risen
and they thought
it but an hour."
was
so carried
charioteer
away by
Brigit's
that he quite
his
Turning
driving.
forgot
"
to the ladies,
to them so wonderfully
he preached
that
see
a
to
failed
that
his
head
horse
had
too,
they,
slipped
from the yoke,
of the by-standers,
the
till, to the admiration
horse
returned
and yoked
himself
of his own accord."
life could play
but small part in the lives of saints
Family
who were
from infancy.
the writers
As
continent,
usually
were men
and monks
some
it is not unnatural
that women
an
times appear
in
as a special
unfavorable
Alban,
light.
a
a
at
into
the
The
font.
followers
favor, converted
girl
boy
of Albeus
murmured
a wild doe
because
Blaitha
had milked
"
in his presence
and he hearing
this sent his servant who
"
did the same."
his angel
But
said : Leave
these trifling
to women,
miracles
and perform
them not, for they are fit
....
but nothing
under
heaven
shall be
only for women
to
thee."
Alb.
The
state
impossible
(Vit.
47.)
marriage
was
with
ill-favor
regarded
by the legend writers.
They
make
the parents
of many
saints
continent
their con
after
or at least
like Cuthbert
Others
ception,
gestation.
during
are children
of violated
was
one
It
of
virgins.
Illtyd's good
that he tricked his wife
deeds
into leaving
his house
and re
fused to admit her on her return.
course
Of
she soon began
(Vit. Brig.
59.)
his own sermon,
24 The
to emulate
ent
his
spirit
memory
asceticism.
The
'
attributed
played
often
to David
are
traces
of
the
the
a differ
of
"
for
are
of
that
he
married,"
to Cadoc's
credit
an
and Wenefrid
and
abbot,
the
to
refer
probably
sexes.
irregular
a pastoral
the
claims
grain
food.
man
unmarried
separation
gradual
An
and
; it is put
together
?"an
to have
chose
the monks,
youths,
ten mentioned
reforms
there
But
in the legends.
of Wales
the
Those
preserve
monas
the
of some married
connected
with
body
"
teries.
Review.
Sewanee
from
the
life of
often
necessity
that agriculture
of miracle.
It is clear
dignity
a very
small part in the national
life.
The use of
means
was hindered
the
of
it for
poor
by
preparing
corn seemed
so great a burden
that
Grinding
legends
or under an
turn of their own accord
the mills
make
that
gel hands
Cuthbert
Both
at Cluon
in the same day
for he sowed and
tion,
reaped
told
of
The
Eraird.
and
Albeus
is
Blaitha
story
just
of this rivalry among
another amusing
instance
the hagiogra
phers.
The
chief
herdsman
cases
food was
veal.
by separating
eaten
the calf
cows
The
from
staff assisted
the
pastoral
their calves.
In count
the night
before
is found,
like
next
the
from
Meat
stolen
the
goats,
morning.
or turned
to be cooked,
or snakes,
saints
refused
tp worms
to its
the robbers
returned
but when
restored
it, it was
a
same
In
the
former character.
Patrick
pot for which
way
Since meat was often the only
had been sold, proved useless.
less
Thor's
alive
from
it became
abstinence
available,
practicable
to fish to save the
veal
turned
miracle.
Ludigus
by
of his guest, Aidus,
whose
restored
it to
blessing
to
it
fish
turned
state, but Ludigus
again of which
two of
When
Lud.
40.)
unquestioning.
(Vit,
food
only
scruples
its true
they
ate
Brigit's.
Celtic
nuns
as
refused
some
meat
Cogitosus
pig, with
to normal
who
bounds.
This
Those
fish, were
imitation
used
till Brigit
who
to
it, or
altar-breads.
would
supplied
of Christ
25
turned
abbess
thence
and
vipers,
of a man
(?26)
bread at each meal
not catch
could
of them.
to
tells
Fiction.
the outraged
in Lent,
them,
say
and Romantic
Saints
eat
meat,
and
with miraculous
was
Finan's
draughts
but
common,
very
to catch fish on
him
enabled
superior merits
(?36)
a
than
The
of
the
products
dry
larger place
dairy fill
or
fish
at their
the saints produced
Salt and cheese
grain.
from
stones
increase.
could
butter
;
pleasure
they
indefinitely
land.
This
stant
last was
Saints
culty
beer.
and
the peculiar
of women
province
in the stories of Brigit
and Darerca.
who could call water
from a rock found
is a con
feature
or milk.
in turning
it to wine
"
often
made
the best
Brigit
Nuns
of beer"
no
diffi
preferred
from holy
of it into a
usually
even
a
and once
water,
changed
single measure
"
i. 10, 18, 20,
churches."
supply for eighteen
(Vit. Anon.
to
Poisoned
the
drinks,
24, 100.)
promise,
gospel
according
or Columba.
to harm David
failed
and Albeus
Patrick,
after
the liquid.
it from their cups by freezing
separated
are
cannot have been
We
Intemperance
severely
judged.
assured
that the breath
of Ludigus
of
his
and
friend
(?5)
to produce
Albeus
sufficed
The former
intoxication.
(?46)
"
was once at a feast where
was
so bad
the wine
that
it
him,
he so
his sock in it, however,
By soaking
"
it
that
it
all
made
drunk."1
improved
very
or
to punish
Other
insults
saints were
fancied
quicker
to
than
aid
in
and
Lasrean
convivial
Colman
wrong
joys.
made
bade
all vomit."
the earth
him
fire. Patrick
*Vit, Lud.
cursed
50. Magnam
a field
ebrietatem
with
barenness
omnibus
fecit.
because
26
The
oxen were
his
the fishers
fed
not
to feed
suffered
there
no fish.
him
give
land he made
would
on his
anee Rcviczv.
Sew
own
he
owner's
When
him
a river, because
another's
horse
fall dead
him
restored
and
at the
though
to life with
holy water.
barren because
repentance
an orchard
1. c. 291.)
Brigit made
(Stokes,
use
owner
the
found fault with her
of apples
that had been
a queen
her
from
it.
bade
her
maids
When
tempt
given
he
them
Teilo's
struck
with
David
chastity,
insanity.
a like temptation
but Moling
with
withstood
quiet dignity,
a
to
to
induced
the temptress
retire
wood
she
and, when
had laid aside her garments,
chastised
her.
severely
toward
others
them
toward
implied
Severity
austerity
to their
theme
selves.
This
is a never-ending
of delight
It is true that the early
Scots
exceeded
their
biographers.
in these
contemporaries
doubt that they
and on
caves,
Psalter
standing
tended
when
many
Such
disease1.
beetle
reason
bodies
cramped
excessively,
of rock,
like Brigit,
and,
in tubs of cold water.
Doubtless,
form
that
thought
facts
that devoured
of penance
Christ himself
stimulated
Ida's
side,
fancy
the stone
his mouth
for
sand.
said
to
in
the
too, they
in the middle
ages,
had
assumed
the
to invent
that Ultan
an entire
flour
and
is no
their
shelves
a favorite
lepers,
There
practices.
fasted
the
stag
in
kept
made
and Kieran's
bread
of
Lent,
is not likely
that Finnchu
with
slept
that he hung
sickles
be
himself
up with
It
still less
corpses,
neath
his arm-pits.
It is said
the body of his master
"seeing
the
bones
from
scarce
his wounds."
to
clung
Colman
bade
two women
eat snakes
was compelled
to raise from
and Cannech
penance,
a
woman
whom
similar penance
had killed.
When
nath's
for
death
Cuan
his beauty
that saint thought
fit to
tear out his eyes, whereupon
him "two
beautiful
God gave
a suitor
blue ones."
avoided
dis
Brigit
by a miraculous
the
which
When
Fur
with
figurement
disappeared
danger.
*See
Arabian
mother
Stokes,
Nights,
praised
1. c. cxcv.
seq.,
v, 294, note,
407,
409;
Reeves,
Adamn,
335,348;
Burton,
Celtic
and Romantic
Saints
Fiction.
27
a monk
in Gaul
gey was
land by means
in Ire
he exchanged
diseases
with
them to and
of his bell that passed
with
had
been
restored
the air.
Daria whose
sight
fro
by
through
to be
he asked
voiced
the general
sentiment
when
Brigit,
made blind again.
"For," said he, "the farther from the world,
nearer
the
That
to God."
saints
since
sometimes
to voluntary
at least
death,
cases
many
their
pushed
have
may
occur
in
various
or
to suicide,
austerity
historic
foundation,
A
legends.
nun
of
Fanchea
from
choice
when
Patrick
Ross
his
the power
of the Druids.
gave
" to
and
live for a long time or now to go to heaven,"
he died. The death of Lo
he had taken the Sacrament
also voluntary.
Bren
p. 65) was
gaire's daughters
(Stokes,
he found, preferred
death
dan's smith, and a mermaid
whom
same saint bade his cross-bearer
to life. The
with the viaticum,
"
and go
the Body
of Christ
and his Blood
arise and take
to
into
the sea
then
eternal
life."
He obeyed
by springing
sea-cats
where
is the
hagiographers
to an island
Eucharist
are
cases
such
not
"
him.
devoured
He
hermit
was
famous
Brendan
conclusion.
died
who
martyr,"
also
the
gave
and
straightway,
rare.1
raise
trunks
proach,
sea
themselves
or divided
obey
them.
to give
them passage,
too
Here
are
rivers
erect,
the
writers
at
dried
their
the winds
an
show
ap
and
the
amusing
was
that Columba
of invention.
said to
Observing
rivalry
of
the
Kieran
drive without
said
his
lynchpins
biographer
a broken
not to be out
hero drove with
axle. A competitor,
done,
Vit.
makes
Aidus
drive
1. c. 410 ; Colgan,
*See Todd,
vi.
iv. 78, Vit.
iii. 33, Vit.
with
ASS.
34, 35,
419,
159.
one wheel
705
; Stokes,
off.
1. c. 181,
Macnissus
183, 575
;Patr.
28 The
on his
so humbly
shoulders.
branch
of a tree.
walked
Sewanee
bent
that
To walk
Review.
the Gospels
the water
ever
rested
on
and
secure
still
tempests
a boat was
occurence.
If
an every
used
was
day
they
"
on
sent his Cyclops
Patrick
asked no aid of sail or oar,"
a
feet
in
chained
of
boat
a penitential
with
hides.
voyage
or
in carts over
drove
the sea,
Some
1. c. 286.)
(Stokes,
a
or
on
sea
monster.
the back of
One
sailed on a flat stone,
over it through
the air on the
floated
monks
of Mocteus'
The
Armorica,
for
went
tential,
relics.
Land
of
goal
these
and Rome
journeys
or Jerusalem.
was
or
Britain
To
their
or
Ireland
kinsmen
they
were
instruction.
peni
journeys
Longer
usually
from
returned
them
laden with
they often
to portion
had proposed
out the Holy
(?31)
and Cannech.
Columba,
Brendan,
himself,
to the edification
inWelsh
at Jerusalem
of
though
Fintan
between
Teilo
preached
in his humility
the lowest
seat
and chose
nationalities,
own.
to
Christ's
be
Petroc
which
there
penetrated
proved
and lived
there on an island
to the Eastern
even
Ocean,
to Rome
Visits
seven years with one fish for his only food.
more frequent.
made
the
were
Kentigern
journey
naturally
for the
Albeus
consecrated
times.
seven
there,
Angels
and
sent
himself
felt
He,
also,
Brigit
unworthy.
Pope
a
was
divine
and
there to study Roman
clerks
ways,
priest
all
Columba
of Tiree
the
enshrined
the Apostles1.
a prediction
of
at Tours,
that
of S. Martin
fulfilling
with Patrick
connection
endeared
whose
supposed
of
saint,
him to the Scots.
Legends
to
saints
?Vit. Edan.
differ
the
English,
account
Kieran
Vit. Finniani,
9 asserts
Medeshamsted
In England
also of Tighernach,
recorded
Finnian.
Barr, Alban,
31, 33.
good as at Rome.
are
pilgrimages
Lasrean,
Kieran,
in their
of the relation
passed
twenty
of
Celtic
years
at his altar
that prayer
is as
the same claim.
made
Roman
Macnissus,
Mocteus,
Colman,
Celtic Saints
them,
among
three
of
he
Colman
thither,
journeys
to them, and
Lasrean
hand
other
the
try. On
(not
Columba
?Q
made
Lindisfarne)
of Tiree
preached
coun
that
returned
through
and Edanus
Finnian
sought
and
the Saxons,
deserted
soli
Beuno
his
destroy
voices.
The
of
tary retreat at the sound of English
feeling
seems mutual,
for Guthlac,
the hermit saint of Cray
aversion
to
land,
used
him,
With
language
the spirit
Brendan
that
to say
sailed
were
the devils
that he had
and
unknown
of
courage
seas
islands
the classical
instances
of these
of
to
in youth.
the
and
Cormac
vikings
of a new world,
Brendan's
voyages
or
in search
of the blessed.
of the fabled
to talk Welsh
wont
learned
tales
of adventure
are
in
clothed
Seven
years
he
promised
an isle of birds, and another
on which
annually
visiting
on
an ideal monastery.
He
celebrated
each Easter
a
a
saw
much
back of
than
whale,
sea-serpent
larger
a
island
with
and
which
ship,
fiery
cyclopean
giants
land,
was
the thinnest
wandered
disguise
over
the
ocean
of
took
rather
have
Near
in Iceland.
modern
hell,
though
it a volcano which
Scotch
to think
seen
purpose,
religious
in search
of
on
by,
critics
adventurers
a bare
rock,
the
his
he
incline
might
Brendan
to whom
this mitigation
of his
Sunday
brought
saw on an island " a hermit
of Patrick,",
who
was
and forty years
old and had passed
then a hundred
on the island, thirty of them without
food.
He
sixty years
at last the paradise
he
remained
reached
there
sought,
as witness
of
forty days, and returned with fruit and gems
"
to
Ireland
where
his
received
monks
his successful
quest,
God."
and glorified
him gladly
found
Judas,
torment.
He
The
love
of
nature
is
the
consolation
of man.
Trees
the sinfulness
oppressed
by
the friends of these Celtic
obedience.
stag and
to them.
him
of
him
who
and beasts
solitaries
and gave
them willing
to Teilo's
; a
plough
Wild
does yield
their milk
themselves
Stags
yoke
a wolf
to Kentigern's.
The
to Ireland
bees
and
that Modamnoc
though
is
were
sent back
had
returned
followed
tended,
to their master.
the scholars'
The
infant Albeus
in
sheep.
guarded
wras fed
one. Kinedus,
of Romulus,
like
Elijah,
by
m the cell to which
was fed
him.
by birds
they had guided
on
was
seen
as he
to perch
A dove
of David
the shoulder
imitation
these
others
loved
and tended
innocent
Many
of
their
and
Tiree
said
Columba
of
solitude,
companions
:
a
as
a
should
bird
birds
shun
bird?
flies,
for,
"Why
quaintly
preached.
so
ceases
soul
my
to
not
soar
toward
Patrick
cape
horses
been
and
life again
a hundred
relieved
from
foxes,
king's
lions
by
the form
source
a hundred
a poacher,
who
his
as
her
long
came
and
effectually
recovered.
He
to his
Nature
often
so
hermit
took
the
in
another
creating
harmed
the
saints;
But they
and
Carantoc,
Patrick,
Columba,
as Columba
did wolves
of Tiree
failed
to win
their
that
also
she
love.
woman
a little snake.
one
three
vomited
a
healed
sick
dragon
of his
angels,
came
He
feet
that
cell.
to them
seemed
es
Albeus
pro
for
and
sheep
Brigit,
one
of the
had killed
banished
Finnian,
them,
from Ere.
turned them to stone.
Keyna
to Petroc
that she had swallowed
saying
blessed
to
the
heaven.
punishment
by
No wild
beasts
every way
good.
snakes
and dragons
alone
even these.
seldom killed
of deer
that
heard
king's
them back to
he brought
with
of the foreign beasts
the hunger
from
summoned
the same
she herself
Albeus
satisfied
horses
from
cured
devoured
heaven."
took
form
full of God
swans
of
and
who
to unhallowed
eyes.
They
his
letters,
taught Mocteus
as they did Aldhelm's,
turn
and boats through
the air and
at Rome,
to build Darerca's
church,
consecrated
helped
ed Kieran's
Albeus
mill,
of Tiree
bore
trees
across
the water.
is to
The angel Victor
to Socrates,
the daimon was
what
and his corpse was
an
host with psalms
waked
and sweet odors.
angelic
by
were
the
sick
and
the
dead
the chief func
Healing
raising
Columba
Patrick
tions
of the
saints
in this
Brigit
society.
legendary
v.
Columba
Acts,
15),
(cp.
or a blessing.
water
Brigit
cured
with
gave
an old woman
gar
her
saints were
The
in
death
imitators
Dega
him,
died
31
saying
steal
would
it.
supposed
others.
and
his
prolong
and Brendan
could
at
to heal
Fiction.
to control
themselves
Columba
least
girdle
a cow
the thieves
since
died
refused
had
and Romantic
Saints
Celtic
the
issues
Adamnan
at ninet}^,
that
thought
at will.
life
of life and
indeed
Comgal
few
they
to
at
Patrick
Legend
gives
to
to
130,
p. 67)
Comoginus
(Stokes,
was
met
Paul
hermit
140 when Brendan
no
of
Kieran
Mocteus
and
age.
signs
eighty
of their moderation.
120
years
140. The
showed
and
but
found
If others
touched
300 and Fintan
360.
hap
to life again.
them
could
the
saints
pened
easily bring
with
for
this miracle
Blane
peculiar
performed
virtuosity,
to life a dead boy first with one eye,
then with
he brought
when
to die,
both,
Senan
and finally
to bring
in a state
himself
It was reserved
for
grace.1
from
the dead, but he soon
and bade his disciples
keep his memo
of
back
to die again
perferred
rial on the day of his second
departure.
his
like Patrick,
tooth to his servant
presented
Ludigus,
some
it
Finnian's
that
be
would
precious
day.
remarking
lost
tooth, when
radiance.
its
by
relics
of herself
intercessions.
in a bush,
Darerca
before
The
her
dead
disclosed
itself
provided
death,
Colman
to the relic
hunter
folk with
the
country
and promised
them future
to
appeared
superintend
to punish
Flannan
the dis
of the Apostles,
of the "high altar," garments
a stone from the sepulchre
of the
of S. Thomas,
and
over
the
Blessed
be
averted
War
could
body
Virgin.
hardly
to him the
of Patrick,
of Albeus,
attributes
and the legend
same distinction.
had a bolder fancy.
of Teilo
The biographer
one morning
monasteries
discovered
that
Three
contending
of the vessels
bones
lForbes,
Scottish
Kaiendars,
280,
32 The
three
become
of their strife had suddenly
single object
a hermit
follower
in every way
indentical.
Baldred,
this power
of Kentigern,
shared with
him, and the polyps,
the
bodies
of
self-multiplication.
In his eagerness
the story of David
of
the writer
competitors
a tale that caps the climax
were
A German
and a Welshman
of absurdity.
captives
"
David
have mercy,"
the
Dewi
Saracens.
wareth,
among
The Ger
released.
and wras at length
cried the Welshman
man
to outbid
has
and was
delivered
to repeat
by the
existence
he was
ignorant.
was
moved
all
conceived
the words
he did
intercession
of
(ASS.
Boll.
not understand,
saint of whose
i. 47.)
B. W. Wells.
Mart.