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LIFE

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JOSEPH DOLLARD, 13 & 14 DAME STREET, AND DAME LANE.

1877-

HfUT REDEEMER ,UBRARy, WINDSOR

LIFE

OF

ST. BRIGID,

FIRST ABBESS OF KILDARE,

SPECIAL PATRONESS OF KILDARE DIOCESE, AND GENERAL PATRONESS OF IRELAND.

'

BY THE

REV. JOHN O'HANLON, M.R.I. A

ILLUSTRATED \\ITH TIIIRTKEV ENGRAVINGS ox WOOD.

DUBLIN:

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JOSEPH DOLLARD, 13 & 14 DAME STREET, AND DAME LANE.

1877- v

|W|N

CONTENTS.

PREFACE ... iii

CHAPTER I. — Introduction — Author's Han and Treatment — Authorities, ancient and modern, for the Life of St. Brigid — Critical Remarks — The Holy Virgin's Parentage — Place and Date of her Birth ... ... " ... ' ... ... ... I

CHATTER II. — The Scotch Claim to St. Brigid's Birth examined — Probable Origin of this Error — Refutation — Early and supernatural Indications of Brigid's Sanctity — Her Spirit of Prophecy manifested — Her infantile Virtues — Her probable Acquaint ance with St. Patrick during Childhood — Her Resolution to live a Virgin — Her Characteristics and Comparison to the Blessed Virgin Mary by the Irish ... ... ... 33

CHAPTER III. — Statement regarding St. Brigid's Parents— Her personal and mental Attractions during her early Youth — Alleged Treat ment by her Parents — Her great Charity towards the Poor — Brought before Dunlaing, King of Leinster — His Admiration of her Virtues — Her Resolution to embrace a Religious Life — A Suitor proposes Marriage with Assent of her Family — She rejects this Offer — Her Religious Profession, and Opinions advanced relative to it — Probable Time and Place — Establishment of St. Brigid's first Religious House — She selects the Beatitude of Mercy for her special Practice — Her Miracles ... ... ... ... ... ... 49

CHAPTER IV. — Remarkable Manifestations of Providence in St. Brigid's Regard — She cures many diseased and afflicted Persons — Her Bounties and Hospitality — She visits St. I bar — Bishop Mel's Religious Intimacy with St. Brigid — Her Miracles in Theba or Teffia — Said to have met St. Patrick at Tailtin— Her Power over Demons ... ... ... ... ... 67

CHAPTER V. — At St. Lasara's Convent St. Brigid \vorks Miracles — Her Excur sion to Munster with Bishop Ere — The Holy Abbess visits Connaught — Her Labours and Austerities while there — The People of Leinster request her to return — She complies, and re-crosses the Shannon — She resolves on building her great Establishment at Kildare ... ... ... ... 77

CHAPTER VI. — Kings of Ireland in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries— Condition of Leinster after the Middle of the Fifth Century — Kildare — Period when selected by St. Brigid for her chief Monastery — Gradual Growth and Importance of the Place — Instances of her Protection ... ... ... ... ... 93

CHAPTER VII. —St. Brigid's Intimacy with St. Patrick— Armagh— Foundation of St. Brigid there — Her Miracles— Vision regarding St. Patrick's last Resting-place — Her Spirit of sublime Recol lection and her great Charity — She desires the Introduction of the Roman Rite for Ireland ... ... ... ... 104

CHAPTER VIII. — Illand, the warrior Prince of Leinster — St. Brigid visits her Father, Dubtach, and protects his Family — Favours accorded to the Holy Abbess — She visits King Illand and blesses him — The Victories of this Dynast over his Enemies — The Borumha Laighean — Wars throughout Ireland during St. Brigid's Lifetime — Death of King Illand — Victory obtained after his Death by the Lagenians, through the special Pro tection of St. Brigid ... ... ... ... ... 115

viii CONTENTS,

CHAPTER IX. — Different Places called Kilbridc, on the Eastern and South- Eastern Coast of ancient Leinster, where the Holy Abbess may have lived — St. Brigid and St. Senan — St. Brigid restores a Cripple — An insane Man — Various Miracles which were wrought through her Merits — She prevents Bloodshed between Conall and Cairbre — She saves Conall from his Enemies ... ... ... ... ••• ••• 128

CHAPTER X. — Ancient Irish Hospitality — Bishop Broon's Visit to St. Brigid — The Eight Bishops of Tullach na n-Espuc — Holy Brigid's Love for the Poor — Her generous Good Nature — Her Gentle ness of Manner — Illustration of such Characteristics — Her Chaplain, Natfroich — St. Ninnidh — St. Conleath appointed Bishop of Kildare ... ... ... ... ... 1-10

CHAPTER XI. — St. Brigid's Benignity and Prudence — Rewards miraculously bestowed on the Poor and on her Entertainers — St. Ilinna — Miraculous Occurrences — St. Daria's Sight partially restored — Faith in St. Brigid's Intercession justified ... ... 154

CHAPTER XII. — The Disciples of St. Brigid— Her holy Contemporaries — She obtains Pardon for a Man unjustly condemned to Death — The Drovers and Swine escape from Wolves — St. Brigid protects a young Lady, who wished to be a Nun — She relieves the Road-makers — Other remarkable Occurrences ... 159

CHAPTER XIII. — St. Brigid's reputed Residence at Glastonbury — The early Practice of Writing and Illuminating in Ireland — Writings ascribed to St. Brigid — The Conventual Rule and Discipline, under which herself and her Nuns lived — Her Charity in relieving the Poor — Her Modesty, her self-sacrificing Spirit, her Liberality, her Gifts of Mind and Person, her Powers for healing the Sick and Infirm, her Vigils, and her Care for Subjects ... ... ... ... ... ... 169

CHAPTER XIV. — Vision of St. Brigid regarding her approaching Death — Her Preparation — St. Nennid administers the last Sacraments to her — The Year and Day of St. Brigid's Departure — The Place where it occurred — Kildare and its Religious Founda tions — St. Brigid's Shrine and Relics — Honour paid to her Memory ... ... ... ... ... ... 177

CHAPTER XV. — Miracles wrought at Kildare after St. Brigid's Death — The Falcon — St. Brigid's Relics are removed to Down— Remark able Discovery of the Bodies of St. Patrick, St. Brigid and St. Columkille in that City — Solemn Translation to a magnificent Tomb — Kildare and its Traditions — Desecration of holy Remains at Down — Reputed Removal of St. Brigid's Head to Austria, and afterwards to Lisbon ... ... lS6

CHATTER XVI. — Ancient Churches, Chapels, Religious Institutions, and Places dedicated to, or called after, St. Brigid, in Ireland — Holy Wells and Objects associated with her Memory — Modern Churches, Chapels, and Convents, dedicated to her — Religious Orders placed under her Patronage ... ... ... 193

CHAPTER XVII. — Churches and Religious Institutes dedicated to St. Brigid, in the British Islands, in ancient and modern Times, as also on the Continent of Europe, and in America — Festivals, Commemo rations, Offices, Hymns, Relics, Usages, and popular Memorials, referring to her — Conclusion " ... ... 211

PREFACE.

THE publication of a full and critical Life of Ireland's Virgin Patroness had long been desired, by the clergy and laity of our country. While preparing the following Biography, as a leading feature in his " Lives of the Irish Saints," the author was urged, by many devout clients of St. Erigid, to issue it in a separate form, to satisfy the wants and wishes of numerous kind friends. Not alone members of religious communities, under the special patronage of this holy virgin, and pastors or teachers, whose churches or educational institutions have been placed under her invocation, will be afforded a better opportunity, for becoming acquainted with her surpassing virtues and miracles, through this medium ; but, even the general public can learn such particulars of her Life, as may serve still more to extend the love and veneration, due to her memory and merits.

•Abroad, as well as at home, the Irish race has never ceased to regard this holy virgin as a bright example of the active and contemplative life, united in a purity of purpose and an energy of will, which enabled her to confer countless blessings, on the country of her birth, and during the period when she flourished ; but, even in our own times, and to the most remote parts of the earth, her fame has been diffused ; while, thousands of Erin's daughters, who have received her name in Baptism, and who have assumed it at Con firmation—not to speak of the numbers who have chosen to be called by it in the hallowed retirement of the cloister— are justly proud of and grateful for that distinction and those spiritual advantages, which are inseparably con nected with a pious and faithful regard, for the efficacy of her intercession. After our illustrious Apostle, St. Patrick, no other Irish saint, probably, has secured a greater depth of affection and reverence, in the hearts of our people, than she, who, in so special a manner, has been designated, " the Mary of Erin." At a time, when our Island was just emerging from the darkness of heathen superstition, she obtained heavenly monitions and inspiration, while eagerly receiving the teaching and impulse that glorious missionary so trium phantly proclaimed and imparted to a believing nation. Seldom, if ever, has the Church witnessed more glorious and peaceful conquests than these effected, through the arguments and preaching of St. Patrick; while, among all his distinguished converts, none appear to move in more radiant light, than the nobly born and predestined child of grace, St. Brigid. To trace her brilliant career, from the cradle to the grave, forms a task of no ordinary difficulty for her

iv PREFACE.

biographer ; to show forth, some of the wonderful manifestations of Divine Providence, in her behalf, is the effort so inadequately attempted in succeeding pages.

That peculiarly spiritual and national character of the people converted led this holy virgin to a sphere of usefulness, for which her talents and vir tues were admirably adapted. The Irish nation even yet retains that impress, which it received from our glorious Apostle, Patrick, and in a manner, too, that no other Christian community has excelled. It has preserved the spirit and mould of his noble generosity and self-devotion, from the fifth to the nineteenth century. Among St. Patrick's spiritual daughters, the dis tinguished subject of the present biography holds a foremost place. Her bright example has brought numerous Irish females to a state of holiness on earth and to an eternal reward in Heaven. In the career of St. Brigid, im pulses of religious zeal were tempered and purified by contact, with the duties of an active public life ; while, the rules of a virtuous discipline and the occupations of useful labour directed the communities and houses, over which she so happily presided. She travelled much to engage in the great work of her time — the conversion in detail of both pagans and believers. In this work, she seemed to care for no amount of toil, and hardly to know of any rest or relaxation.

It must appear evident, the writer has not been desirous of obtruding original views, on the reader's attention, at doubtful passages of her Life, lor the mere purpose of supporting some favourite theory or paradox, not sufficiently borne out by legitimate proofs or inferences. He has rather pre ferred citing his authority for each statement, or indicating sources for infor mation, which he found most available or useful. On the whole, the nu merous notes and illustrations, comprising literary references and acknow ledgments, which will be found interspersed throughout this biography, must tend to manifest distrust and hesitancy in forming opinions, and still more in resolving controvertible statements. The author has always been of opinion, that materials, available for historical investigation, should be employed in delineating only truthful pictures and a correct appreciation of the past, rather than be produced as mere adjuncts, giving undue prominence to the historian's peculiar opinions, prejudices, or prepossessions. And, with some slight modification, these remarks will apply to the biographer of eminent individuals, whose actions and character illustrate the personality of contem poraneous history. We have much to condemn, on the score of partial and incompetent writers, who have undertaken to treat matters, relating to general, and especially to ecclesiastical, Irish History. Happily, however, we have much reason to rejoice, that learned, laborious, and impartial investigators have wrought successfully, in various departments of native historical and literary enquiry. These have chased away many mists and misrepresentations, which had been accumulating through lapse of time, owing to various incorrect statements, made by injudicious or incompetent historians and antiquaries. While having occasion to lament irretrievable

PREFACE. v

losses, sustained by lovers of archaeological researches, from the mutilation and total destruction of so many national records, inscriptions, and monu ments of past ages ; yet, it is a fortunate circumstance, that very many curious manuscripts and memorials have escaped the general wreck, and that several material landmarks have survived the ravages of time. These greatly tend to elucidate the incidents of distant periods, and to corroborate many traditions, which, otherwise, must rest upon rather doubtful authority. In no department of archaic research are those evidences more desirable — and happily better perpetuated — than in that of our ecclesiastical Antiquities and Biography.

In compiling the following " Life of St. Brigid/' the author has been care ful to consult original authorities, when these were attainable, for nearly all his statements. By adopting this practice, throughout, as a development of the system on which his biography has been prepared, it will enable readers to discriminate, between the authority on which each statement is made, and the author's individual opinions, in certain cases. And, in this connection, it must be remarked, he would not have :he reader infer, that any degree of credence should be attached to such opinions or statements — however care fully or impartially formed — unless these carry with them a sufficient amount of evidence or probability, to satisfy the unbiassed judgment of persons, fully capable of entering upon a course of strict historical investigation and enquiry.

Our very earliest recollections carry us back to the time, when often we were accustomed to gaze on the tall Round Tower of Kildare, and its pile of adjoining ruins, which, even in decay, lifted their mysterious battlements high over the wide-spreading plains around them, and when, altogether un conscious, regarding the hallowed associations of their age and place, in the simple character of pilgrim, we could hardly analyse what we saw and felt, on the site itself. Those memories, which were awakened within us, when we visited for the first time " Kildare's holy fane," were merely the vague im pressions of childhood ; but, there remained a curiosity to be gratified with growing years, and, more especially, when that veneration, entertained by the people for their great Patroness, formed a spell-word of interest and ad miration throughout the whole diocese. Nothing then remained, but those cold gray ruins, that had no type in the present day, and that dismantled aspiring tower, which reared its graceful and yet massive pile, as we scanned its hoary, moss-grown walls, to the very highest string-course of wonderful masonry. In the midst of present desolation, the glories of the past flitted, with the haze and indistinctness of a dream, before our mental vision. The local traditions, regarding St. Brigid, were still more tantalizing and wonderful. Our after studies, however, served to draw from void and obscurity, some glimpses of reality. If the shadows be not wholly dissi pated, we have reason to feel gratified and assured, that effort and will shall be exercised, by millions of the Irish race, even yet unborn, to become familiar with the details of her extraordinary labours, virtues and miracles.

vi PREP ACE.

Eloquence, piety, imagination, taste, and genius, will long unite to perpe tuate their memory, and to invest with their attractions, the story of St. Brigid. This unpretending record, which the writer has here presented, may help the reader to some comprehension of a remote period, of social customs and manners now become obsolete, of exalted enthusiasm in the practice of great and heroic deeds, and of a triumphant success, in the achievement of a civilization, which has no abiding force, except when directed and con trolled by the Science of the Saints.

DUBLIN : CHURCH OF SS. MICHAEL AND JOHN, Feast of Saint Brigid, iSff.

I LLUSTR ATION S.

Page

Kildare Ruins ... ... ... ... ... IO

Church Ruins at Foughart, Co Louth ... ... ... ' 27

St. Brigid's Well, Faughart ... ... ... ... 31

Old Church Ruins at Ardagh ... ... ... ... ... 64

Franciscan Abbey Ruins, at Slane ... .. ... ... 81

City of Armagh, from the East ... ... ... ... ... 108

Kilbride, Co. Dublin ... ... ... ... ... 129

Scattery Island, and Mouth of the Shannon ... ... ... ... 131

Tullagh Old Church, Co. Dublin ... ... ... ... 144

Church of the Sacred Heart and of St. Brigid, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare ... 161

The Grey Abbey, Kildare ... ... ... ... ... 184

The Old Ruins of Killester ... ... ... ... ... 195

Church of the Assumption, of St. Michael, of St. Patrick, and of St. Brigid, Wexford 209

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID,

FIRST ABBESS OF KILDARE, SPECIAL PATRONESS OF KILDARE DIOCESE,

AM)

(Snueral air0Hjcs$ of

C H A P T E R

THE path of a. modern biographer, while treating about the Acts of Ireland's great Patroness, is beset with difficulties of a varied nature. These arise, owing not so much to a want of materials for his task, as from the legendary, conflicting, and oftentimes contradictory accounts, so fre quently met' with, in several ancient tracts, relative to this holy virgin. Occasionally, however, the most exacting investigator of our traditions and antiquities will find facts or circumstances, mingled with legendary or irre concilable narratives, deserving more than ordinary significance and having much historic importance. It can hardly admit of question, how pleasure and instruction, derivable from reading the most celebrated epic poems of ancient and modern times, should be materially lessened, if presented by their authors, in a didactic or an unimaginative style, avoiding the introduc tion of mythic episodes and personages, or the use of exaggerated metaphors and fancies. We must be ready to allow, that an undercurrent of historic truth sometimes sustains a superstructure of mythology, in such poems, and that it directs the interest and moral, evolved from poetic imaginings. _ By a parity of reasoning — although in a widely different sense — the truly religious and disciplined spirit of an enlightened and a pious Christian will not too readily reject various interesting legends, contained in the acts of our na tional Saints, when he is free to receive them on the weight, or set them in abeyance on the want, of sustaining evidence. Many sceptical or over fasti dious critics undervalue the force of popular traditions, and regard such attested miracles as incredible or legendary ; but, while those persons desire to remove cockle from the field of Irish hagiology, they possibly incur some risk, at the same time, of rooting up good seed with the tares. Our Divine Redeemer, regarding the existence of good and evil, has already observed,

B

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

in a most beautiful and instructive parable, " Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers : ' Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn/'"1 The known application of this parable, respecting the sower and the cockle, is obvious to the mind of every well-instructed Christian. Without any unnatural perversion of meaning, it may likewise apply to topics here introduced, but in a mode somewhat different. A multitude of legends will doubtless be found interpolated, among St. Brigid's authentic acts and miracles. Such fictions create so much embarrassment, in any effort to discriminate truth and error, that it may be regarded as an utterly impracticable project, at the present day, to draw in many cases a very marked line of distinction. Perhaps, no complete biography can be presented to the reader, without running some risk of overloading it with un necessary, and frequently with incongruous, matter. It must be observed, while depreciating an insertion of fables, as opposed to correct taste and sound historic deduction, the plan of this present biography may not warrant absolute departure from records left us by ancient writers, however traditional and unsatisfactory such accounts hippen to appear; especially, when no amount of credit is claimed for their authenticity, but such as may be estab lished, by tests of strict evidence, or by the dictates of acute judgment. Religious feeling and Christian faith do not require for their preservation and growth, the production and publication of many legends, to be found in special Acts of our national saints. Those narratives, however, were con sonant with a prevalent taste, and with the sentiments of our ancestors, in past ages. Even yet, when received with due caution, and with a just, discriminating spirit, such legends may be found, not altogether devoid of edification, granting their authenticity to be very questionable. A well-re gulated mind will regard them, chiefly as emanations of a former period, and as illustrations of popular opinion, national feeling or religious impressions, which widely prevailed during times, when those narratives had been written.

Entering upon the subject of our great saint's biography, it will be neces sary to premise a few observations concerning its plan and treatment, before referring to authorities, on which subsequent statements are made. It is the writer's intention, to embody at least the most probable and substantial accounts former chroniclers have handed down, regarding this holy virgin, according to the best possible chronological order, and most consecutive form, consistent with the intricacy of his subject.

Wherever discrepancies may be detected, in accounts left by various writers, those differences are faithfully pointed out, either in the text or in its accompanying notes. Again, several disquisitions or comments, not claiming the character of being original, in most cases, are usually the result of attentive reading or careful enquiry ; while those dissertations are placed, according to the writer's best opinion, in their most appropriate position. He has also preferred allowing the studious reader's exercise of his own sagacity and critical discrimination, rather to test the accuracy of statements made, than to assume their solution, where mistakes might so easily be in troduced. The author supposes, those authorities quoted so frequently must exonerate himself from any necessity for obtruding judgments, often liable to be ill-founded. In this life, it was deemed advisable to present the fullest and most complete narrative of St. Brigid's Acts, hitherto found in the English language. Sensible of those obvious and consequent difficulties he must expect to encounter, mistakes are frequently inevitable, while the

CHAPTER I.—' St. Matt, xiii., 30.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

writer is almost as certain to incur censure from the learned and critical, for its many elaborations and redundancies, as for its numberless defects, and unavoidable inaccuracies.

. Already several elegantly written, and tolerably correct, compendiums of Saint Erigid;s Acts have appeared in an English dress. Many of these are most creditable to the literary taste and correct judgment of their respective authors. Such publications have supplied an admitted void in our popular literature. Still a critical and researchftil life of Ireland's holy Patroness the writer chiefly desires to produce; and, however he may disappoint the ex pectations of capable students, he cannot conceal from himself the inherent difficulties of his task, and the utter impossibility of surmounting them, saving with a relative measure of success. That degree of credibility attaching to authorities or writers, treating about our great Virgin Saint, should pre-occupy the readers mind, at the very start of our enquiry. Impartial opinions and exact methods of examination are required, when following die intricate pro cess of inductive biographical research, where statements are often liable to mislead. In accordance with the general scope and design of this life, its authorities must first be given, after an unpretending and a simple arrange ment. A brief account of the probable periods when her biographers wrote, with their respective opportunities for acquiring information, may prove desirable; even though conjecture must be substituted lor more reliable knowledge, in regard to several subjects of special importance and enquiry.

A\ e shall endeavour to enumerate the several ancient writers, who are stated to have commemorated St. Urigid's Acts and virtues, so far as known to us, while observing that exact chronological order, in which each compiler seems to have flourished, or written, or died. It may be premised, that nearly all of these writers are Irishmen, and that several are classed among our native saints. Among the earliest we must regard St. Eiech,2 who flourished in or about the year 520, the disciple of St. Patrick and first chief bishop of Lcinster. He is thought possibly to have composed a hymn in praise of St. Prigid.3 One attributed to him, however, seems to indicate, that this holy virgin had departed from life, before it had been composed.* St. Eiech was her contemporary ; yet, it is strange, we find no allusion to him in her Acts. Eiech does not seem to have lived, beyond the year 530.5

- See his Life at the I2th of October. served. This he says may be instanced, in

3 It is said to commence with these words : the fourth and fifth lines. Yet, the Latin " Audite \ irginis laudes." reader must find, on investigation, that there

4 In the^ " Leabhur lomaun," or " Book are sixteen syllable* in the.-e lines mentioned, of Hymns" — now preserved in the Francis- as in most of the other stanzas. There are, can Library, Dublin— an old scholiast pre- however, five lines which either fall short, fixed the following /nw/H«;« or argument or exceed that number of syllables. Secondly, to this hymn, and which may thus be trans- as published by Colgan, the hymn consists lated into English. "St. A'ennid Lam- of live instead of four strophes. Thirdly, if hoidhain, that is, of the Clean Hand, com- -what the scholiast states be true, that the posed this hymn in praise of St. Brigid, or words, "Audite Virginia laudes," com- St. I-icg ot Sletty ; 'Audite Virginis menced the hymn, and that there were laudes' is its beginning : or, St. Ultan of four divisions or parts in it, two of the last Ar Ibrecain composed it, in honour of St. must be wanting, and three other strophes, Brigid. It comprises St. Brigid's miracles which are placed before these lines, must in one book : an alphabetical order is there have been intended as a preface. Or, if we preserved, and it is written in imitation of can be sure, that absolutely speaking, there Nosearian metre. There are four chapters were only four verses in it, the fifth which in it, and four lines in each chapter, with is net found in the St. Magnus' manuscript, sixteen syllables in each line." Three must be an addition to the original number, points mu.it here be noted, Colgan remarks. See " Trias Thaumaturga." Tertia Vita S. First, in the hymn he published, the number Brigid a;, n. 80, p. 445.

of sixteen syllables in each line is not prc- s This Colgan endeavours to show, in hib

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

Nearly contemporaneous in point of antiquity, we may regard St. Nmm- dius,6 surnamcd Laimhiohain.? Me is said to have treated on the virtues and miracles of St. Brigid. This is the statement of some writers. As her chaplain and most intimate friend, he must have had special advantages for acquiring information on this subject ; and therefore, a life oi the saint, com posed by him, should be regarded as one of inestimable value and authen ticity. Vet, Colgan thinks, although 1-iech and Nennidius, in all likelihood, wrote something concerning St. Brigid, the hymn in question should ratner be attributed to St. Ultan, on account of certain reasons adduced.? St. Nennidius, called also Xenius,10 administered Holy Viaticum to tne illus trious virgin, when she died, about A.D. 523, and consequently he flourished early in the sixth century. St. Brendan, Bishop of Clonfert, is said to have written about the virtues and miracles of St. Brigid.11 lie flourished, like wise, alter her time, and he died on the i6th of May," A.D. 576-'^ St. Brogan Cloen,1-* of Rostuirk in (J,sory, and who probably flourished m tl seventh century, composed an Irish hynm^in praise of St. Bngid.1 this various manuscript copies remain.17 Besides these authors, Cogitosus,10 who flourished probably alter the sixth and before the ninth century, wrote a celebrated treatise on the life and virtues of St. Brigid. Several manuscript copies of this tract are yet to be found.1? Again, the illustrious St. Comm- kille 20 Apostle of the Picts and Scots, is thought to have written a hymn 01 the life, and in praise, of St. Brigid.- He is reputed to have composed it,23 nhout A.D. 563, on his passage to Britain. St. Columkille is generally thought lo have departed this life, in the year 596.^

Fourth Appendix to St. Patrick's Acts, and in that Catalogue of authors, who wrote biographies of our national Apostle.

6 See his Life at the 2nd of April.

7 Believing him to have been Abbot of Inis-Muighe-Samh, an island on Lough Lrne, Colgan published his Aets in the " Acta Sanctorum llibernuc," xviii. Janu- arii, pp. Hi to 115.

8 See Sir James Ware, " De Scriptoribus Hibernire," lib. i., cap. i., p. 3.

'•> In his notes to St. Brigid's Third Life.

10 According to the Third, Fourth and Fifth Lives of St. Brigid, as published by Colgan.

71 The Scholiast on an Irish hymn, com posed in praise of St. Brigid, and which begins with the words, "Brigid be bhith- maith," doubts as to whether the hymn, in question, should be assigned to St. Brendan or to St. Columba. But, Colgan supposed, it should rather be attributed to St. Co- lumba's pen, as well because of a statement contained in an Irish Life of Si. Brigid, as on account of a cause alleged by the afore said Scholiast for composing this hymn, and more nearly indicating such a conclusion.

12 Colgan promised to say more regarding him, at that day, when his Life will be found in this collection.

*3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i., pp. 208, 209.

'•* See his Life at the ijth of September. '5 That published by Colgan has 53 stanzas, while one, attributed to this same Brogan Cloen, among the Trinity College

Manuscripts, Dublin, and classed K. 4, 2, has only 34 stan/as.

15 In the vol. xviii., belonging to_ the Betham Collection of Manuscripts of the Royal Irish Academy, and written by Michael O'Longan, about the year 1760, there is a " Hymnus dc Virtutibus et mira- culis SancUe Brigida_> Kilclariensis abbatissa: et patronoj," a Sancto Brigano, p. 82. It appears to have been copied from Colgan.

J? There arc seven quatrains of a poem on St. Brigid attributed to St. Brogan, and. these are followed by St. Brogan's hymn to St. Brigid, published by Colgan, in vol. xli., a small 410 paper of the Betham Manu script Collection of the Royal Irish Aca demy, at p. 143 and p. 144. These are written by Mr. Owen Connellan.

18 This writer is thought to be the St. Cogitosus, surnamcd the Wise, whose life occurs at the i8th of April.

:9 At Eichstaett in Germany, there is a

copy of the Life of St. Brigid, by Cogitosus.

"° See his Life at the Qlh of June.

2T Colgan supposed he had not seen any

of Columba' s compositions on this subject,

except what had already been given through

a Latin version in his second appendix to

St. Brigid's Acts (cap. xxiv. ), and which,

in the original, begins with these words

" Brigid be bhithmaith."

~ The Scholiast on this hymn, and an Irish life of St. Brigid, attribute its com position to St. Columba.

=3 On the gth day of June. This is shown in the fourth appendix to his Acts. Sec

LIFE OF ST. BRIG ID.

St. Ultan,24 Bishop of Ardhraccan, in Meatb, it is believed, wrote a book on the Life of St. Brigid.25 He also, it is said, composed a hymn, in her praise.25 Colgan has assigned both of these tracts to the third place among his various published acts of our saint.27 This author flourished about A.D. 580, and he is reputed to have died, at a very old age. on the 4th of Sep tember. A.D. 656. 2S St. Aleran, or Aileran, sometimes called Eleran,^ and surnamed the Wise, was a president or chief-director over Clonard School, in Mcath. He wrote St. Brigid's Life.30 This is testified by St. Coelan, who himself composed metrical acts of St. Brigid.31 St. Aileran's feast has been assigned incorrectly to the nth of August. •">-' and his death is set down at 664. This year of* mortality, however, seems rather referable to St. Aileran the Wise,3- whose feast is held on the 2Qth of December. Kilian or Coelanus, of Inis-Keltra,34 composed St. Brigid's Life in verse.35 This forms the sixth and last of her acts, as published by Colgan.36 In his notes, postfixed to this metrical life,37 the editor attempts to prove that Coelan llourished about the end of the seventh or beginning of the eighth century.33 Animosus, who appears to have acquired the name Anmchiudh or Anmire, among the Irish, is said to have written many books of St. Brigid's acts.39 This author, as has been thought, nourished about the year 950. -»° At a period subsequent to the time of writers already named, many others, who nourished after the commencement of the twelfth century, wrote her life. Among these authors may be enumerated, Laurence of Durham, <r who is

Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," cap. iv., v., vi., pp. 48.5 to 486.

-'4 Sec his Life at the 4th of September.

'-'•' In Harris' Ware, we read, " Cltan Mticfonciibar [i.e. O'Connor] Bishop of Ardbmccaii, collected the Miracles {if St. Jlrigid into one volume in alphabetical order, from whence an anonymous author, ~i.'!:o 7(77? ///,' lif<: cf that rir^in in Terse hath taken occasion to preface his Poem with these lines : —

Scnpscrnnt vinlti -'irttttcs inrginis almce,

Ultanus Doctor, uttiue Eleranus

Desoipsit vntltos Animosus nomine libros.

• vita Hi slitdus nr^inis ac mentis.

ns vrtues many writers paint,

Ullan the Sage and Eleran the Saint ;

immortal works

pay

The life and merits of the spotless

maid."

— Vol. ii. "Writers of Ireland," book i., chap, iv., p. 30.

'-' Stated to have commenced with the words: " Audite Virginis laudes." To it, allusion has been already made.

"7 See " Trias Thaumaturga,'' pp. 527 to

545-

-8 See Ur. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i., pp. 268, 269 and n. (d), ibid. In the " Chronicum Scotorum," edited by William M. Hennessy, his death is placed at A.D. 653, which is tlie year 657, according to O'Flaherty. Sec, pp. 94, 95, and n. 7, by the editor.

-' See his Life at the 291!) of December.

'° See Sir fames Ware, " De Scriptoribus Iliberni.e," lib. i., cap. iii., \>. 2~J.

:'1 See l.'ssher, " De I'riinordiis Britanni- carum Ecclesiarum," p. 1007.

'-'See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga." Sexta Vita S. Biigid;i>, n. 6, p. 598, and Appendix Tertia ad Acta S. Brigida.', pp. 609, 610. This seems to confound him witli St. Aircr.ni or Lrerau of Tyfarnhani in Westmeath.

•» See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,'' vol. i., pp. 276, 277.

•u See hi. Life at the 2u.th of July.

'•'= Tliis has been edited by Father John 1'oland, ia "Ada Sanctorum Februarii," tomus i. Vila iii. S. JJrigidix-, vir.;., pp. 141 to 155.

"J See "Trias Thaumaturga.'' Sexta Vita S. llrigida1, pp. 582 to 590.

]~ A manuscript copy of this metrical life, kindly presented by William Eassie, Esq., High Orchard House, Gloucester, England, is in the writer's possession.

;S See ibid., nn. 1,2, 3, pp. 596 to 598.

0 In a prologue, prefixed to St. Coe- lan's m.'.rical life, and published by Colgan, allusion is made to the three last named writers of St. Brigid's Acts. See "Trias Thaumaturga." Sexta Vita S. Brigidse, p. 582. 4J Sec ibid. Vita (Juarta S. Brigidre, n.

i. P- 5°3-

-*' An English Benedictine. He died about 1149. Besides St. Brigid's life, lie wrote a Scriptural history, in Nine Books and in Latin elegiac verses. It bore the title of " Hypognosticon." He also com-

LIFE OF ST. BRTGTD.

said to have composed St. Brigid's biography, about the year 1150, and in a superior style of Latinity, not commonly attempted during that age in which he lived.42

The most complete series of St. Brigid's ancient Acts has been already published by our national hagiographer, Father John Colgan. 43 These Acts he has admirably arranged and annotated. With certain modifications of opinion and comment, we shall briefly review them in his order.44

The first of Colgan's Brigidine Lives is that Irish poem, ascribed to St. Brogan45 of Rosstuirc, in Ossory.46 This, according to one inference, had been written about the beginning of the sixth century,47 soon after St. Brigid's death, if we credit the scholiast's statement.43 However, if St. Ultan4^ of Ardbraccan advised Brogan to compose it — as the same authority states — its production is thought to be more properly referable to the seventh century.50 The second is her life, by Cogitosus,51 who is incorrectly consi dered to have been a nephew and contemporary of the holy Virgin.52 It would appear, even from a passage in the Prologue to this Life,53 how that Prelate of Kildare, at the time its author wrote, was Archbishop over the Leinster province,54 while many bishops had preceded him in rule, since this See of Kildare had been first ruled by Conlaeth.55 That this work had been written, before the removal took place of St. Brigid's relics to Down,56 and

posed "Consolatio pro morte Amici," in Latin verse, with some other poetical pieces. .See S. Austin Allibone's " Critical Dic tionary of English Literature," &c., vol. ii., p. 1064.

42 Colgan has published it, as the fifth among his acts of St. Brigid. In an ap pended note, the editor states, this author died about A.D. 1160. See "Trias Thau maturga, " p. 639.

43 No less than six different Lives of St. Brigid has he comprised in the "Trias Thaumaturga, " extending from p. 513 to p. 598. Then follow five elaborate Appen dices, and an Epilogue, specially referring to this Virgin's Acts, pp. 599 to 640. A Summary of her Acts is likewise given, pp. 654 to 658, besides other allusions to her, in the general Indices.

44 It will be understood, that when subse quently alluding to the numerical order of St. Brigid's Lives, we are referring solely to Colgan's arrangement.

45 Most likely, it is said, this Poem of his had been written as an Elegy, immediately on receipt of intelligence, regarding St. Brigid's death.

46 Near Slieve Bloom Mountains.

"7 He is said to have composed it in the time of Oilill, or Ailikl, son of Dulaing, King of Leinster, and whose deach is re corded in Dr. O' Donovan's "Annals of the Eour Masters," at A.D. 526. Vol. i., pp. 174, 175-

48 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga." Vita Prima S. Brigidne. Prrefacio Veteris Anonymi, p. 515. Her death is usually placed between the years 518 and 525, by the greater number of those, who have written her Acts.

49 According to Ussher, he died A.D. 657. See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anliqui- tates." Index Chronologicus, p. 539.

50 Ultan is placed in that age, by Sir James Ware. See " DC Scriptoribus Hibernise." Lib. i. cap. iii., pp. 22, 23.

51 Canisius had previously published a version of it in " Antiquie Lectiones." Tomus v.

52 By Messingham, who has given this Life a place in " Florilegium Insult Sanc torum."

5J The version of St. Brigid's Life, by Cogitosus, which Colgan has published, was prepared especially from a Manuscript be longing to the Monastery of St. Hubert, and from a Codex belonging to the Monas tery of St. Amand — both houses probably were situated in Belgium or Northern France. The version, issued by Canisius and Messingham, Colgan found to be very full of errors, and therefore he corrected several, especially using the St. Amand copy, although he did not quite restore the text to his perfect satisfaction. He also subdivided the Life into a more convenient number of chapters, than he had previously found existing.

54 From the following passage in a Pro logue to this Life, we read : " Quam sem per Archiepiscopus Hiberniensium Episco- porum, et Abbatissa, quam omnes Abbatissse Scotorum venerantur, felici successione, et ritu perpetuo dominantur." — Cogitosus' or "Secunda Vita S. Brigidae," p. 516.

53 His Festival occurs at the 3rd of May. 3'J This transfer happened, in Colgan's

opinion, before or about the middle of the ninth century. See " Trias Thaumaturga," n. 14, pp. 565, 566.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

before those ravage?." caused by the Danes — or even by Irish princes53 — in Kildare, cannot be disputed.5? Various manuscript copies of Cogitosus' work60 have been preserved in different libraries.61 Not the least allusion occurs in it to Kildare's having been ever destroyed, or to the spoliation of St. Brigid's and St. ConlaetlVs shrines, which he represents as being very splendid and very rich. From his statement, likewise, that the city of Kil dare and its suburbs were places of safety and refuge, in which there could not be the least apprehension of any hostile attack,62 the canons of historic criticism seem to place the authorship of this tract, at some time before the commencement of the ninth century.

The Third Life of St. Brigid. as published by Colgan, is attributed to St. Ultan of Ardbraccan by the editor ; although such a supposition has been contravened by other judicious critics. On the authority of some false genealogies, it is thought St. frigid was sister to St. Ultan of Arc! P>reccain. It was this Ultan, who, according to another statement, collected the virtues and miracles of Brighit together, and who commanded his disciple Brogan to put them into poetry.63 This is said to be evident from the Book of Hymns, i.e. " The victorious''-* Brighit did not love.'' ovc. While comparing the Third with the First. Second, Fourth and Fifth Lives of St. Brigid,"5 it will be found, that many particulars there related concerning her are not con tained in those last-mentioned tracts.66 Again, the number of divisions it

7 Thc^c are not known to have commen ced, before the ninth reiitury, and the first ivcord of the foreigners having plundered rmd burned Kildare is referred to A.D. 835 in Dr. (>' Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i.. pp. 452, 45;,.

-'* In 831, Kil Lire was plundered by Ceallaeh, sun of Bran, and again in 855 by

"

Feidhlimidh. See Dr. O' Donovan's

nals of the Four Masters,1' vol. i., pp. 446,

£,;-, 452. 45;.

?/ In his notes to the foregoing passage, Colgan remark^, it is not to be understood, the bishop of Kildare was Archbishop over nil Ireland, but that he only presided over the Leiiister province. Nor did Kildare always claim the dignity of being a Metro politan See. For, St. F'iech, bishop of Hetty, St. Patrick's disciple, at a previous period, was styled Archbishop of I.<jin>ter. This Colgan intended to show, in his Acts, •which were to have been published, at the I 2th of ( >ctober. After his time, the metro- political seat is said to have been translated from Sletty to Kildare. This seems to be manifest from the foregoing passage. F'rom Kildare it passed ; Ferns, as asserted in notes to the Life of St. Maidoc, at the 3ist of January, and as promised to be shown, in those, to be attached to St. Moling's Life, at the Ijtli of June, as also to St. Molua's Acts, at the 4th of August. Thence it afterwards returned to Kildare. See Ussher's " Bi itannicarum Lcclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii., p. 449.

60 From MSS-. Cameracen. \\ibling. Tre- vcrens., it has been printed in the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i., Februarii i., Vita ii. S. Brigidae, pp. 135 to 141. It was

edited from a MS., belonging to Preudhome, a Canon of Arras, collated also with MSS. belonging to " Monasteriorum S. Maximini, T revcri>, \Viblingensis in Suevia, Bodicensis in Westphalia, cumque e ditimibus Cani^ii e MS. Aistadiano, ct foannis Colgani ex MSS. S. Ilubrrtiet S. Amandi."

61 Among these may be noticed : Vita S. Brigida-, MS. Bod I.'. Fell. } ff. 108 116 b. veil, fol xi. cent. Also MS. Bil.l. Valli- cellan. ap. Roniam., Tom. xxi., If. 203-207, fol. veil. xi. cent.

b-' Thus he writes " nullus carnalis adver saries, nee concursus timetur hostium." See Secunda Vita S. Brigida\ cap. xxxv., p. 524, Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga."

6) Could we only trust imp'icitly this statement of the O'Clery's Calendar, St. Ultan's or St. Brogan's Life of St. Brigid must be the most authentic and valuable of all her biographies.

°4 In a note by Dr. Todd, he says, at this passage, "This is the first line of the metri cal life of St. Brigid, published from the Book of Hymns, by Colgan ; Tnas 77iaittn., p. 515."

°-~ In Colgan's work, where such differ ences may be noticed.

66 Dr. Lanigan writes in his "Ecclesias tical History of Ireland," vol. i., chap, viii., § iii., n. 38, p. 388. "This Life was, I suspect, patched up in the diocese of Ardagh, and very probably in an island of Lough Kie called the Island of All Saints, in which Augustin Magraiden lived, who, having compiled Lives of Irish Saints, died A.D. 1405 (Ware's Writers). Colgan got one of his copies ot it from the monastery of that place."

LIFE OF ST. BRIGW.

comprises exceed those in the Fourth Life, by about twenty-three chapters.6? Its excess seems established in point of matter, if not in regard to substantial accuracy. Colgan was indebted to Father Stephen White63 for the reception of that MS. — published afterwards as the Third- Life6'J — with other erudite communications. White thought, that the author of this Third life must have been either St. Virgil, 7° or St. Erard,71 who were Irishmen.72 This Ratisbonne MS., we are told, had been written in Irish characters, and as supposed, in the tenth or eleventh century.73 A fifth MS. copy of the Third Life was extant.74 The editor of St. Brigid's Third Life, however, could not agree with Stephen White, that its authorship was attributable to either of the Saints named by him.75 The Bollandists76 have published the Life of our Saint attributed to St. Ultan, from a manuscript codex, belonging to the Church of St. Omer. Some manuscript copies of it are yet preserved at Oxford.77 That St. Ultan wrote the Acts of St. Brigid, is asserted by Colgan, on authority of Ussher,73 Ware,™ an author of her life in Irish, and a certain Scholiast.80 The editor also maintains, that the life written was identical with that published by him,81 owing to the probability of some metrical lines appended being composed by the same author.c- In the St.

°7 This is Colgan's statement. Yet, it must refer, not to the relative numerical divisions of chapters, but to additional mat ter in the Third Life.

68 This learned Irish Jesuit was well versed in the Antiquities of his native coun try.

69 The original manuscript was an old codex, belonging to the monastery of St. Magnus, at Ratisbonn, in Bavaria. This tract Colgan accompanied with various marginal annotations and readings. These were partly taken from a M.S., belonging to the monastery of St. Autbert, at Cambray, and partly from a MS., preserved at the Island of all Saints, in Ireland. The Cam- bray MS. had been furnished by D- Georgeus Colvenerius, who was distinguished for his research and love of antiquities ; and beside; the All Saints' MS., received from Longford County in Ireland, Colgan obtained another MS. from the Carthusian collection at Cologne.

"° His Festival occurs on the 271)1 of November.

71 His Feast is assigned to the Sth of January.

?2 These flourished in Bavaria, during tl it- eighth century.

" The Trinity College Manuscript classed E. 4, 10 contains, "Vita et Legenda S. Brigidrc Virginis." Ussher supposes this to have been the Life of St. Brigid, written by St. Ultan of Ardbraccan. It includes, also, various readings on. the margins, copied from a more copious old MS., belonging to the monastery of St. Magnus, tenanted by the Canons regular of St. Augustine, at Ratisbon in Bavaria.

"4 This belonged to Dunensis monastery in Flanders. Colgan adds, that we may fairly infer the author must have lived at a

very remote period, when most of the copies known had been traced more than five hun dred years before his own time, while some were more than seven hundred years old.

75 Colgan's reason is chiefly a negative one, ?'!•:., because no writer or author had heretofore stated his having compiled her biography.

'JSee '''Ada Sanctorum," tomus L, Febraarii i., Vita 1'rima Brigidre, pp. nS to 135.

"7 Among these arc: \ita S. Brigiclse, MS. Bodl. Rawl., B. 505, pp. 193-207, fol. veil. xiv. cent. A similar life in MS. Bodl. Rawl., B. 485, f. 134, veil. 4to. xiv. cent., is extant.

78 See " De Primordiis Ecclesiarum Bri- tannicarum," p. 1067.

;-> See " De Scriptoribus Ilibernice," lib. i., cap. iii., pp. 22, 23.

"'-' While it is admitted, by Dr. Lanigan, that Ultan of Ardbraccan wrote something concerning St. Brigid, this learned historian will not allow either him or any other wri ter of the seventh century, to have recorded the many strange fables, with which it is crammed. This work he designates as "a hodge-podge, made up at a late period, in which it is difficult to pick out any truth, from amidst a heap of rubbish." It also differs from the two former tracts, in some material points. See " Lcclesiastical His tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii., § n, n. 18, p. 380.

Sl This conclusion is supposed to be fur ther warranted, by the usual clause, "Ex plicit Vita S. Brigickx'," postfixed to the life of a Saint coming after, and not before that Hymn, found in the St. Magnus MS., as written many ages before Colgan's time.

s- In the opinion of White, Colvenerius and Ward.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGW.

Autbert MS., the Life comes after a "carmen/"33 which follows the Hymn. Although the author does not give us his name, he nevertheless reveals him self as being from the Island Hibernia, and of Irish origin.-^ After the last words, in a life of our sainted Virgin, the author first places her proper Latin Hymiv5 and then having completed the Latin lines, he pours forth prayers to St. Erigid — thus piously invoking her intercession, in the Irish idiom and character. These circumstances are somewhat remarkable.86 That St. Ultan was its author, and consequently composer of the Third Life, seems to be established,8? from certain remarks of an old Scholiast, ^ on the same Hymn. Lven although the Scholiast doubts, whether St. Xennidius, St. Fiech, or St. L'ltan, be its author, his very words are thought conclusive, in showing this latter to be the writer, both of the Life and of the Hymn ; since, he is said to have composed both one and the other, in praise of St.

1 ; This piece is headed "Carmen do eadem (Scil. S. I'.rigida) ex MSS. Autberti." Its lines are in Latin, ot which we present the following English vcrv -r.i : —

]!rigid's great name, our love with light entwines.

A Virgin of the Lord, without, within,

i'urc was her soul, preserved from stains of sin.

A Virgin of the Lord, dear brethren, she

1 )ead to the world and pride, for Heaven was free.

Despised she Heeling honours, wealth and pleasures,

She .sought eternal joys, exhaustless trea sures.

Then shield us from that future fate we dread,

When the l.i^t Trumpet wakes the buried dead,

0 Virgin, loved by God, bless'd and be nign,

O hear thy clients' prayers, nor cease to oii'er thine."

See Colgan's "Tria; Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. lingid.e, p. 542, and nn. Sj, 85, p. 545, li'i.L

h4 This is indicated, in the fn>t line. Colgan says, the Hymn which he published was found in that IrUh -MS., commonly called the Lcabhur Jsinann, and in Latin, " Liber Hymnorum, '' by our national anti quaries. In this MS. were also contained many Hymns, composed by different Irs:i Saints. From it, Colgan obtaine i the 1: -t line, which was wanting in the St. Magnus MS.

*-• It has been concluded, that as no authority states St. Xennidius or St. l-'iecli to have written St. lirigid's Acts in a book, and as it could be shown from written and from other sources, that St. Ultan wrote her Acts in one book, and also a Hymn in her praise ; it would seem, this latter mu-t have been the author of St. Brigid's Third Life,

publi>hcd by Colgan, with the melrical lines po>tli\e 1, and th.it he- was composer, both of the prose life and of the Hymn. See il/iJ., n. So, p. 545.

:0 This metrical composition is headed, " Ilymnus de Brigida \'irgine." The lines run in Latin ; but we have ventured to ren der them in the following Lngli-h version:- —

•'Those Signs, \\hereby her wond'rous

pow'r was known To men, in our Hibernian Lie, were

shown ; Excelling through great virUies, beamed

on earth The da\vning promise- of her heavenlv

birth. Not miglity llrigid's fame, this humble

vcr-e

Can fitly celebrate, nor half rehearse, ( Hir X'irgin, type of Mary, myriads found Lager to prai-c, and hear her triumphs

sound. She girt around her, day and night, the

/.one Of cha-te de-ires ; she read and prayed

alone ; She vigil spent ; as the bright sun on

high

Her radiance warm'd the earth, and hll'd the sky.

Hear ye the Virgin's praise! her gifts proclaim !

The victor's garland twines around that name.

No void her words and acts e'er left be tween

"Whose vows to Christ were pledg'd u:.d to Ileav'n's Queen.

lie gracious then, O sainte 1 frigid, five

From earthly toils, our pray'rs ascend to thee ;

Obtain for us, from God, of good the giver,

Th'j Angel's crown of re 4 and joy for ever."

"' Tn Colgan's opinion.

These comments are given in a note.

TO

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID,

Brigid, and both were contained in one book.8? Now, it is not rightly

known, that St. Ncnnidius or St. Fiech wrote a life of St. Brigid, whether in

one tract, or in more

than one part. St.

Ultan — surnamed

likewise Mac

Concubar — bishop

of Ardbraccan, in

Meath, is reputed

to have been St.

Brigid's relative,?0

on her mother's

side.?1 Ware treats

about him and his

writings. 92

The Fourth Life of our saint, as pub lished by Colgan,°3 and by this latter writer attributed to Animosus or Anim- chad,04 is contained in two books. 95 The editor of this Trea tise says, the Latin ized form of Ani mosus' name is not easily recognisable as an Irish one, al though its vernacu lar interpretation be com m o n . T h i s Latin form, how ever, can easily be resolved into the name Anmchadh or Anamchodh. This

Kildare Ruin?

89 The Scholiast even cites a portion of one line, taken from this Hymn, and which .agrees with what Colgan has published.

90 Ussher writes, that he was descended from the Conchabar or O'Conor family, to whom belonged, also, Brodsechain, daughter to Dallbronaig, and the mother of St. Brigid. This is given on the authority of a certain Scholiast in an Irish hymn composed in praise of Brigid. Some, however, attribute this to St. Columkille, who lived in the time of King Aed, son to Ainmirech : while others ascribe it to Ultan, Bishop of Ardbrechan, who flourished in the time of the two sons of Aed Slane. See " De Primordiis Brita- nicarum Ecclesiarum. " p. 965.

91 Hence, we do not find this relationship shown in the Pedigrees of St. Brigid, on the father's side, as given by Dr. Todd in " St.

Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," appendix A, pp. 247 to 255.

92 See " De Scriptoribus Hibernia;," lib. i. , cap. iii. , pp. 22, 23.

93 Sec " Trias Thaumaturga." Quarta Vita S. Brigidoe, pp. 54610563. Appended notes, pp. 563 to 566.

94 St. Coelan, or his prologuist, enume rates Animosus, among various writers of St. Brigid's Acts. This is asserted in the following verses :

" Descripsit multos Animosus nomine libros De vita, et studiis Virginis, ac meritis," &c.

See ibid., p. 563. Also, " Sexta Vita S.

Brigidse," p. 582.

35 These comprise, with a Prologue, in the

First Book 52, in the Second Book 100 —

in all 152 chapters. As published in the

I.TFE OF ST. BRTGTD.

IT

has been applied to various Irish saints of the olden time. To pass over others, there was a venerable and pious man. who died in the year 980. 96 He is called Anmchadh, Bishop of Kildare. This prelate is said to have departed at an advanced age, after the course of his virtuous life in this world had been completed. ^7 It has been maintained,93 that until some other fairer objections be advanced, these following reasons should lead us to con clude, this Anmchadh or Animosus was author of our saint's Fourth Life. In the first place, circumstances of name and locality favour such a conclusion, as no one could more appropriately or justly manifest his reverence and de votion towards St. Bridget, than a native of Kildare, especially when he was either a prelate or a monk. As it is related, an Animosus wrote St. Brigid's Acts, and as a certain prelate of Kildare bore that name, to what other Ani mosus than he can we more probably assign the performance of such a task? Again, it must be added, the author of this Fourth Lite often insinuates, that he was a monk or prelate of Kildare, and in a Prologue to it, he addresses certain brethren." It has been concluded,100 there-tore, that he must have been a monk or an abbot, before he became bishop of Kildare,101 in accord ance with a usage, common to his age and country. In the next place, the author of St. Brigid's Fourth Life indicates, that he lived so late as the tenth century, at which period Anmchod of Kildare flourished.102 Yet, there are reasons, also, that can be advanced for a different opinion. The author of this Fourth Life appears to have written only two books of St. Brigid's Acts ; whereas, Animosus is said to have written her Acts in several books. This

'• Trias Thaumaturga, " however, 22 of these chapters are wanting in the I- irst Book. See " Ouarta Vita S. Brigida-," III), i. p. 547.

'-•'' See O'Donovan's '• Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 712, "i;v The e litor corrects the date 980 by the words, "[nr/t- <jM.J" See aKo n. (y), //'/,/.

'-•' Colon's Copy of the Four Masters add*, that he died " in loco, que Kenntar appella- Uir.'' The latter clause seems to he omitted in Mr. O'Doiiovan's copy. "( (nines fere Hibernia- pr.vlati ex Mouaehis assumeban- tur." Ser Giraldus Cambrcnsis, Opera, vol. v. '' Topographia 1 1 ibernica, Dist. iii., cap. x\ix. Edition by James F. Dimock, M.A.

^ By Colgan. The town of Kildare has yet many interesting vestiges of its former religious establishments. The accompany ing engraving, which represents one of these ruins, has been executed by Mrs. Millard, from a photograph of Frederick \V. Mare-, Dublin.

w This Preface runs as follows: " My mind, brethren, is filled with three emotion--, viz., of love, of shame, and of fear. Love urges me to write in documents a life of the illustrious Brigid, lest that great abundance of virtues, which God's grace conferred on her, or the many miracles accomplished through her, should be hidden and unheard. I feel prevented through shame, lest, as I suppose, my very plain discourse or poor judgment, maydisplease my educated readers or hearers. Yet, my fear is still greater, for my weakness of mind in the composition of

such a work presents a danger : since, I dread the taunts of critics and enemies tasting my very small intellectual viands. Hut, as the l,..;"-d ordered His poor to offer little gifts, when abniu to build Ilis tabernacle, ought \\eiiut give ours to build up His church ? What is she but a congregation of the just ? How is a prudent life formed, unless through the examples and records of the prudent? Therefore -hall I give a lir-t place to love, I shall trample on shame, and I shall tolerate the carpers. I adjure you, O wise reader and intelligent hearer, that you overlook the text arrangement ; and consider only the miracles of God and of His blessed hand maid. Indeed, every husbandman should be fed on the fruits drawn Irom the furrows of his own held."

1 ° l!y Colgan.

IJI The " Vita S. Brigida-," by an anony mous author, and Irom a Manuscript belong ing to Hugh Ward, has been printed by Father John Boland in the " Acta Sancto rum," tomus i, Februarii i. Vita iv., Fipartita S. Brigido-, pp. 155 to 172. Usher oft 'Mi cites it as the anonymous or inedited Life in two books. The author lived before 1152. See Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy's " Descriptive Catalogue of Materials relating to the Historyol Great Britain and Ireland," vol. i., part i. , pp. 108, 109. The writer is supposed to be Animosus, by Colgan.

'"-; See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita "S. Brigida', n. i., pp. 563. Also, Harris' Ware, vol. ii., " Writers of Ireland," Book i., chap, iv., p. 37.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID,

occurred, before the time in v.-liich St. Coelan, or at least the author of that prologue to his metrical acts of our saint, wrote. No\v, Colgan thinks St. Coelan wrote St. Brigid's Acts previous to A.D. 8oo'°3 In such hypothesis, it is supposed, that Animosus, who wrote St. Brigid's Acts, must be distin guished from Animosus or Animchadh, who died A.D. 980. Again, the Irish word, Anmire, seems to have an identical meaning with Animosus. At least four Anmires are enumerated among the saints of Ireland : T. Anmire of Alech,10-* 2. Anmire of Cluanfoda,105 3. Anmire of Ros-hua Chonna,106 4. Anmire of Rath-nuadha,10? It may be argued, that some one of the forego ing, or another person, bearing the same name, different from the Animchod, who died in 980. had been the author of St. Brigid's Acts. The matter re mains, not yet fully determined. But the author of St. Brigid's Fourth Life, whoever he may be, is deemed trustworthy.103 Although he flourished at a comparatively late period, and wrote in a rude style, his Acts relate, in a more copious and comprehensive manner, than any other writer's, almost all St. Brigid'' s transactions. Also, he gives many particulars, concerning the anti quities of Ireland, which, for the most part, are either omitted or obscurely related, by other biographers. I09 The Fifth of St. Brigid's Lives, as published by Colgan, was taken from a Manuscript belonging to the Irish College at Salamanca110 Although containing fewer Acts and miracles of St. Brigid, than most of her other Lives ; yet, this biography, making allowance for many fables,111 surpasses most of them in elegance and correctness of style, as also in its more systematic and complete arrangement.112 For these reasons, it seems more suited for reading in the refectories of religious com munities. It came into Colgan's hands, in an imperfect state;1'3 yet, he thought, that not more than the first, and a part of its second chapter, had been wanting.114 The editor endeavoured to supply such missing portions in that distinctive character, known as the Italic ; while special titles are pre fixed by him to the several chapters, and placed in the margin. He thinks there can be no question about the author being Laurence of Durham. ";; This, it is supposed, can be shown, from the elegant style, nationality of authorship, and the period, in which it had been written ; for, in the second chapter, its author indicates his being an Englishman, and that he composed this life, after the Normans came to England. He likewise wrote it before the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. Now, as he flourished after the year 1065 — -1'6 about which date the Norman conquest of England commenced —

103 This he endeavours to show, in his notes to 185.

to "Sexta Vita S. Bngido.-," mi. I, 2, 3, pp. IIj As this Manuscript was acephalous, its

596 to 598, "Trias Thaumaturga. " author's name had not been found prefixed.

104 His feast is celebrated on the loth of "•* The following MSS. conies of this life June. are exlant : Vita S. Brigidiv, auctore Lau-

105 This saint is commemorated on the rentio Dunelmensi, MS. Salmanticensis, 1 5th of September. published by Colgan and Bollandus. JJefi-

l(':> His festival occurs on the 25th of Sep- ciencies in this may be supplied from the

tember. following copies in Latin : Vita S. Brigittae

In7 This saint's feast is held on the 2oth of Virginis a Latirentio Dunelmensi. MS.

November. Bodl. Laud. Mis. 668 (1052) 106. veil. 410

03 Such is Colgan's expressed opinion. XII. cent. Again, S. Briguke Vita per Lau-

I05 So far as came under Colgan's observa- rentium Dunelmensem, proevia Epistola ad

lion. Kthelredum Dispensatorem. MS. Coll.

"° Therefore it is called by him the Sala- Balliol. ccxxvi. f. 86-94. veil. fol. dble. eol.

mancan Manuscript. XIII. cent. Tanner refers to both of these

111 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical copies in his " Bibliothcca," p. 472. History of Ireland," vol. i., chap, viii., sec. 1!^ This writer is known to have flourished ii., n. 18., p. 381. about the year 1140, and he wrote a singu-

112 This Life has been printed in the Bol- larly learned and eloquent Life of St. Brigid lanclists' " Aela Sanctorum," tomus i., Feb- complete, in one book.

niarii i., Vita v., S. Brigidie Virg. pp. 172 "6 Dr. Lingard assigns the battle of Hast-

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

and prior to the 1171."" when the English invasion of Ireland began ; it appears probable enough, that the author of St. Brigid's Fifth Life must have been the aforesaid Laurence of Durham. The Sixth Life of St. Brigid,"8 is along poem, written in Latin Hexameter verse. The editor supposes St. Cholian or Coelan, a monk of Inis-Keltra monastery, on the Shannon, to have been its author.11 ' It was published from an old Manuscript, belonging to the library of Monte Cussino, and it had been collated, with a copy taken Irom the Vatican library, as also with various other Manuscript exemplars. In the first note, post-fixed to our Saint's Sixth Life, we are told, that over three months before, when Colgan had begun passing St. Brigid's Acts through the press, he received from the Rev. Lather Bernard Lgan,1-0 a certain fragment of this biography.1-1 A prologue is prefixed, commencing with " Fimbus occiduis. ' CMC. Tins latter is supposed to have been a composition of St. Donatus.1--' IJishop of Fcsule. in Tuscany.1--5 and who flourished in the ninth centurv. But. the life itself was marked, as having been written by a monk of Iniskeltra, in Lough Derg, and who was named Chihen. This writer Colgan conjectures to have been the same as Coelan of Iniskeltra, who was known in the eighth century. '••' liut, with much apparent truth.1-'3 this fragment has been referred to a later period, in which it is suspected ils author lived. Dr. Lanigan believes, that if Chilieii lived in the eighth cen tury,1-'1 it must have been in the latter part : although this historian does not think it worth while, to enter upon a long discussion regarding him.1-'?

Having received this Sixth Life, from the Cassiman MS., anil through the xealous Father already mentioned, three other counterpart copies of these same Acts were procured. One copy came from the Vatican Library, one from the Library of his Imminence Anthony Barberini, and a third wa^ sent by the celebrated Franciscan Father, Luke Wadding. All these copies

ings to the I4th of October, A. i>. lot'xi. Se\ "History ot England," vol. i., chap, vi., p. 509.

"' Henry II. landed at Waterford on the iSth of October, A. i>. 1171. See Kcv. fohn ( I'llunlon's " Catechism of Irish lli.-tury," Lesson xiii., ]). 1 io.

11 As published liy Colgan.

IJ' In 1 Ian is' \\are, Chaelian or Coelan, ,\ monk of the Abbey of Ini.--Keitra, in the iiiocc.>e of Kdlaioe, an 1 who \\mte the I. lie ot St. Bn.;id 111 verse, is said to have been a contemporary with .Fngus Mac-Tiprait, who died 745. The festival of this Chiiicti is assigned to the 291)1 ol July in o'.;r domestic Martyrologies.

'• lie was a licnedicthic Abbot and an Irishman.

'-' It commences \\ith the.-e ver.-es : " Quadam forte die sanctus 1'atricius alnuis

C lemma sacerdotum synodali carmine

scdit,'' iv.c.

From a hurried reading, it was thensupposed, that the poem in question began -with these lines, anil Colgan stateil as much in the com mon preface to St. lirigid's Acts. But he afterwards discovered his mistake, when this holy virgin's five fir>t lives had been printed.

'-- See his Life at the 22nd of October.

'-1 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. 1'atricii, cap. xx., p. 255.

' Dr. I.anig.in think-;, that t!ie circum stance of Chilien calling the mother of St. J>rigid a countess seems to indicate a com paratively late period for this composition.

'•-"•Speaking about Donat, Bishop of Ficsolc, who Nourished in the ninth century, Harris observes : "He seems also to have been the author of a Description of Ireland, in Hexameter and Pentameter verse; or rather the Life oi St. Urigid, containing a Description of Ireland, of which Colgan hath given as a fragment, which is prefixed also as a prologue to the Life of St. lirigid, suppo-cd to be written by St. Chaelan." See Harris' "Ware, "Writers of Ireland, ' vol. ii., chap. iv. , p. 47, and chap, vi.,

!'• 57-

-J 'I his Chilien, whether author or not of both the prologue and Life — as stated in his "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Hrigido:, mi. i, 2, 3, p. 507 — was, in Col- gan's opinion, the same a.-> Coelan of hiis- Keltra, who seems to have flourished in the eighth century. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i., chap, viii., sec. ii., 11. 18., p. 381. ]!ut, ISollandus thought him to be a different person. See *' Acta Sancto rum," Februarii, tomus i. Vita S. Urigida1. Commentaria Prsi'via, sec. 2.

'•'See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire land," vol. i., chap, viii., sec. ii., n, iS, p.

i4 LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

were diligently collated by the editor, who found them severally mutilated, worn, abounding in false emendations of librarians, or commentators, de formed with verbal transpositions and changes, to such a degree, that the sense of some verses could not be discovered, while the proper number of feet and the requisite syllabic measure were wanting, in many lines.123 Yet, through the collector's great industry, who observed closely the discrepancy in his copies, we are indebted for the publication of this old Tract. The editor endeavoured to follow authorities he considered most authentic, in his several copies ; for he observed, that in many instances, the just number and measure of the verse could be found in some particular Manuscripts, while in others they were expressed, sometimes by abbreviations, again by a transpo sition of words, and often by some closing or arbitrary notation. The lines were frequently found so greatly mutilated, that they bore a prosaic rather than a metrical appearance. So many omissions and licences on the part of copyists were detected, that the editor felt obliged to affix various marginal annotations to this poem.I29 Not alone through the incautiousness of copyists — a fruitful source of error in old documents — many transpositions of words had been introduced, and certain synonymous terms were substituted for others; but, besides, many abbreviations of doubtful meaning were iound, while these left the sense imperfect. '3° Even unaccountable caprice and mutilations caused some of the chapters to be acephalous or truncated, while some were altogether omitted, as might be seen in the still imperfect and published Sixth Life.131 There certain lines are subjoined from the Barberini Manuscript, and which were wanting in that of Monte Cassino, while breaks are discoverable in the narrative and structural course of the poem.132 Although many particulars relating to St. Brigid are found in the Five first Lives, as published by Colgan, and which are missing in the Sixth ;T33 yet, the editor sup poses this attributable to no other cause, than to the deplorable liberties taken by scribes or librarians. Here and there have been detected many elisions and erasures. It can scarcely be doubted, that these manipulators altoge ther pretermitted other matters. As this old and careful writer relates, many of St. Brigid's Acts were left out by others, and as it is indicated in the Pro logue, that he read her Lives written by St. Ultan, Eleran and Animosus ;

-8 But for such defects, it must have been immediately afterwards, verses were maimed

extremely valuable. in prosodial number and quantity, while

^I29 He did not alter the poem in the they were disfigured with blots. Colgan

slightest tittle, except in those instances, tells us he published the poem, as he found it,

where noted and obvious omissions of copy- changing nothing therein, with only the

ists had left discrepancies between certain foregoing exceptional emendations,

parts and lines, or had so crudely amended I3- This is noticed by the editor in a great

them, ti.at it could readily be conjectured variety of instances.

these emendations did not represent the I33 Colgan's divisions of the six lives are as

original writer's words. follow, viz. : First. The Metrical life, 53

30 It was not possible for the industry or stanzas of four lines each, Irish with Latin research of either collator or editor, to repair translation. Secondly. The Second Prose so many mistakes, or restore so many omis- life has 36 chapters, with a prologue, .dons. Wherefore, Colgan only endeavoured Thirdly. The Third Prose life has 131 chap- to place in due order, those words which ters, with supplementary metrical lines, seemed transposed, in certain passages, and Fourthly. The Fourth Prose life is divided cautiously to substitute others in place of into two books— the first book containing certain contracted words, doubtful in the 52 chapters, and the last IOO. It is prefaced reading, or which through the error of the by a prologue. Fifthly. The Fifth Prose copyists were put for terms having a sup- life comprises 58 chapters. Sixthly. The posed affinity. Sixth Metrical life contains 68 sections—

131 Here and there, certain elegant and more or less imperfect— with prefatory and

glowing phrases were found, especially in supplementary lines, descriptive and metaphorical passages ; then

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

hence, it cannot be supposed, he would have passed over so many accounts, faithfully related by various other writers, or that he would not have included several accounts, not given by them.1--*

The Lives of St. Brigid, published by Colgan, are not the only authorities available for her Acts. In the Book of Lisniore, which had been written1-'5 for Mac Carthy Reagh, or Einghen Mac I )iarmata, and which is now the Duke of Devonshire's property, there is an Irish sermon on the Life of St. Brigid. Ij6 This has been translated into English,13? transcribed, and collated with a similar copy, but having varied readings, in the Leabhar Breach3 Besides these, there \\ere many lives of St. Brigid, written in the Irish tongue. Four only of these, however, came into Colgan's hands.1--'} There is scarcely any considerable library in which the Acts of St. Brigid will not be found. Her meinorv likewise has been commemorated by a Divine Office, not only throughout the whole of Ireland, but even in many Dioceses of England, Scotland, Belgium, E ranee and (lermany.'40

A Life of St. Brigid has been inserted in the collection of John Cap- grave. MI This is taken apparently from the work of Cogitosus.142 A certain anonymous writer edited a Lite ot St. Bngid, in (ierman, and this was printed at Augusta, in 1478. '43 Another biography of the Saint had been printed'44 at Argentine. M5 Yalentinus Leuctius, in his work, " De Sanctis,''' has special reference to St. Brigid. In addition to those tracts already mentioned, Yincentius Bellovacensis'46 wrote a summary of St. Brigid's Acts in his book.'4? St. Antoninus'43 has also treated about this illustrious Virgin.'4? Guido de Castris,'-J 1'etrus de Natalibiis,"1 John of Tinmouth,'52 Sunns, '53 in two different acts,1"4 Ilaneus, Messingham,'35 Cornelius Orasius/s6

1 ;4 Such is ('norm's expressed opinion. He supposes such omissions arc attributable rather to incompetent commentator.-, than to the original author.

'« IJy Aonghus O'Calladh.

'^ At folio'53. col. 2, of tliis MS., there is a Gael c entry given in |. T. Gilbert's ''History of the \'iceroys of Ireland,'' notes to chap, xi., p. 603. The following is an English translation: "Let everyone who shall read this Life of [Saint] lirigid give a blessing on the s,,ul.s of the cuiiple for whom it was written."

M7p,y Professor Bryan O'l.ooney of the Catholic University, who has obligingly lent his Irish transcript, with his English translation, to the writer.

138 Belonging to the Royal Irish Academy.

*'9 As they contained, for the must part, only particulars, which were to be found in various Acts published by him, Co'gan thought it quite unnecessary to present more than an Irish Hymn, composed by St. Brogan, with its Latin version.

140 Sec, "Trias Thaumaturga." Tertia Vita S. Brigidae, n. 7, p. 543. (Juarta Vita S. Brigidre, nn. 15, 16, p. 504, iind. Ouinta Vita S. Brigidie, cap. viii., ]). 569, and nn. 9, 11, p. 640, ibid.

141 In his " Xova Lcgcntla Angliix:" we find " Vita S. Brigidac Virginis," fol. xlix., 1., li., Kalendas Februarii. See notices of this work and of the writer in S. Austin Allibone's "Critical Dictionary of English Literature," &c., vol. i., p. 336.

I4-' Agreeing with it is the MS. Colt. TikT./L. i., IT. 32-34.

'*'• This was probably Triers, in Germany, although many towns bear a .similar Latin name.

U4 A.I). 1506.

145 Probably this was Argentan, in Lower Normandy, or Argenton, of the Orleannois, in I-'rance.

4'J < 'r Vincent De Beauvais, a French Dominican savant, who lived from about IKJO to 1264. See Laurence E. Phillip*' " Dictionary of Biographical Reference," p.

937-

47 See "Speculum IIistori;p," lib. xxii., cap. 29.

'4"; He died the 2nd of May, A.n. 1459. His feast is kept on the loth of May.

49 In "Cronicon," pars, ii., tit. xii. , caji. 6.

'5° Abbot of St. Denis, who wrote, " De Vitis Sanctorum."

151 Lib. iii., cap. 69.

'5'J In " De Sanctis Britannia.1."

155 See " De Probatis Sanctorum Histo- riis," iVc., tomus i., pp. So6 to 809. Cologne Edition, A.I). 1576. In the otner edition I Februarii, pp. 19 to 25.

154 The first of these is comprised in fifteen paragraphs, and the second in thirty-two paragraphs.

155 See " Florilegium Insulce Sanctorum,'' pp. 189 to 207.

'& At the 1st of February.

i •:>

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

&c have r>ll made their respective commemorations of her. Robert of Gloucester^; wrote a Biography of this venerable Virgin, and some mam- script copies of it are preserved."8 The Right Rev. David Rothe, bishop of Ossory, published a beautiful dissertation, intitlcd, " De Brigida lhau:

^Likewise, in the « Hystoric Sanctorum," published at Louvain,^ we have a short biography of this most pious virgin. In Lippeloo s Collect >ns the Acts of St. Brigid arc to be met with.162 Also, in the « Breviary of \berdeen,;"63 the Life and Miracles of this holy virgin are recorded in six I essons l6^ In a Latin translation,"* with additions to that celebrated work of the Spanish Jesuit, Father Ribadenira l66 the editor has placed this lily of virgins in his Flower-Garden of the Saints.16? Canon Giacomo Certain has written her Acts in Italian.'6* Lives of St. Brigid were published by Henry Adrian and Herbert Rosweyde,1'0 in Flemish. A lather Robert Rochfort, formerly Rector of the Franciscan College at Louvain, wrote in English, a Life of this illustrious virgin. The Bollandists1?' have published various acts of this holy virgin. After having given a previous commentary in fourteen chapters and one hundred and fourteen paragraphs, with s lessons from an office, their First Life contains seventeen chapters and one hundred and fourteen sections ; a Second Life contains eight chapters and 40 sections; a Third Life in metre has ten chapters and seventy-two sections ; a Fourth Life is in two Books— the first Book containing 5 chap ters and 55 sections— the second Book 12 chapters and 82 sections ; while a Fifth Life of St. Brigid is comprised in 15 chapters and 93 sections.1?5

';< He died about 1290. -Sec Laurence E. Phillips' "Dictionary of Biographical Reference," p. 800.

158 Among these are written in old English a MS. C.C.C. Cant. 145, veil. sm. fol, xiv. cent., apparently by Robert of Gloucester. It commences with the words : — "Sain Bride that holi maicle of Irlonde was," &c. Another copy, with some differences of reading, is a MS. Ashmole 43, ff. 15-18, b. veil. 8vo, circa A.D. 1300. Again, there is another old English Life of S. Bride, with an illumination of the saint very fairly executed. It is classed MS. Bocll. Tanner. 17, f. 12, veil, fol., xv. cent. Also, a MS. Bodl. Laud. Misc. 463 (1596), ff. 6-9, vol. f-)i., xiv. cent. Another Life of S. Brigid (old English) MS. Bodl. 779 (2567), ff. 127, b. — 128 b. paper folio, xv. cent. The fore going seem to be different copies of Robert of Gloucester's Life of St. Brigid, with some differences in the text.

159 Nearly all of these tracts were issued in the Latin language.

160 There occurs, Brigida Virgo, at fol. \\., xxi.

101 See " Vitos Sanctorum," vol. i.

lfc At the 1st of February, pp. 553, 558.

163 This was first printed in 1509. The Bollanclists have reprinted from it the six Lessons of St. Brigid's Office in " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i., Februarii i., Com- mentarius prcevius, § xv., p. 118.

164 The Breviary of Aberdeen has been reprinted, under the Editorship of the Rev.

William Blew, in two vol.-,., 4tc cols.

I63 Published at Cologne, A. D. 1630, " apud Joanncm Kinkium sub Monocerote." This translation purports to give useful notes and the festivals of recent saints. It con tains a double Index of Saints, and of sub jects for preachers.

166 In the second part of the Latin version of Ribadeneira's "Flos Sanctorum," &c., we have a Life of St. Bridget, at the 1st of February, pp. 82, 83. See his biography in Rees' "Cyclopaedia," vol. xxx., sub i'occ " Ribadcneira."

'°7 In the Dublin edition of an English translation of Ribadeneira, the Life oi St. Brigid is not found.

'°8 He lived about 16/0. See Phillips' " Dictionary of Biographical Reference," p. 241.

I69 His work, in a 4to volume, is intituled, "La Santita Prodigiosa, Vita di S. Brigida Ibernese."

l'° This celebrated Dutch hagiographer lived from 1569 to 1629. See Phillips' " Dictionary of Biographical Reference," p. Sii.

J': See Rees' "Cyclopaedia," vol. iv., sub vocc, " Bollanclists."

*i- See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i., i. Februarii, Vita S. Brigida;, pp. 99 to 185. In the Addenda to this Tome are to be found two paragraphs referring to St. Brigid, pp. 941, 942.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

Aclnen Baillet has written her Life, in the French Language,1" and included

Bishop Challoner'75 has inserted a Life of

Brigide or Bride, Virgin and Abbess, at the ist of February.1?6 The

Rev. Alban Butler has_some brief notices of the Saint in his work.1" Also,

among the Irish Cistercian Monk's extracts from the same, an account has been

A very elegantly written biography of the Virgin Abbess

t has been compose 1 by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould.1^ Bishop Forbes

has likewise inserted her Aits.1"1

Hardly any important collection of Manuscripts can be met with, in which we do not find some Acts or memorials of the great St. Brigid.lSr Several Lives and Hymns relating to this holy Virgin, and in the native language, are to be found among those Tracts,1" contained in the Royal

Among the Messrs. Hodges' and Smith's Collec-

on of Irish Manuscripts belonging to this noble national institution,

Another small quarto paper Manu script contains an Irish Life of this holy Virgin.1 •» Besides these, we find a :. Brigid,' 5 jn this collection alone. Again we meet lanuscripts— one small,1 ' the other a folio1"?— belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, and containing a Life of St. Brigid in Irish. The Library of Trinity College,1 Dublin, has another interesting collection of documents, which serves to illustrate her Acts.18? The Irish Catholic

dern Manuscripts, relating to the Life of

this \ ii-gm Saint. Archbishop Marsh's Library furnishes an old Manuscript Liie ot St. Bngid.: Knglish collections,' •' as among those of Oxford, Cam-

"! At th • i,t of February, in Bailiet's " Le- \ ies de- Sain'.-/' appeals an ace unt of St. I'.rigid, Virgin, Abbc.-s of Kilda.e, ami I'atroi:e-s of Ireland. Tuine i., pp. 24 to 2(>.

174 It seems slrang • that an account of this is omifed, when treating about the author's other works in the "\\c\v ami General Biographical Dictionary," Aie,, \ol. ii., pp. 24 to 27. London, I 7oS.

lr; His Life, written in F.i::;IMi by liis Vicar-General, Jame-, Bernard, appeared at London, A. 1 1. 17X4, in Svo. See Leller's '• Uictionnaire I li-torique," tome iv., p. 290. 1'aris edition, 1827, ,/.•,;., Svo.

i;0 See "Britannia Sanaa," par;, i., pp. 91 to 95.

'" Jn Butler's '• Lives of the Father-, Maityrs and other 1'rineipal Saint-," vol. ii., at the i-t of February, is entere i St. Bridget, or Bride, V. Abbess, and Patron of Ireland.

'7>- See " Lives of the Irish Saints,'' ^c., pp. 9. 10.

'" See " Lives of tlie Saint.-," vol. ii., February i, pp. 14 to 22.

fco See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"' pp. 287 to 291.

1CI The lartje folio vellum MS., in the K. I. A. copy of "Leabliar Ilieae," con tains a Life of St. Bridget. No. 40, 6.

182 Some composition.-, in Latin re^ardin^ her are also preserved. The XVIII. vol. of O'Longan MSS. in the R. 1. A. contains, Hyinmis de virtutilms ct miraculis sanctix.- Brigidcc Kildariensis abbatiss;i- et 1'atron.e a Sancto Brigano, p. 82. Yul. XLI. of

numbered 12. numbered 165. numbered iGS. classed No. 49, 4. classed No. 39, 6. are tracts: — DC S. Brigida.

n MSS. in the K. I. A. contains a oi St. Ilro^an's short poem on St. KM- d, seven (juatrains, p. 14;. The XI. I. vol. of O'Lon-an MSS. in the R. I. A. contains St. llro-an's Jlymn to St. Brigid, published by Colgan, p. 144. The LIV. vol. of O'Longan MSS. in the R. I. A. con tains a poem on St. Brigid, improperly ascribed to St. Suibne, the sou of Colman, p. 176.

This 4 This This '" '1 his "• This sllcre

^IS. Trin. C'oll. Dublin. 290. Miracula B. Brigidiv, MS. Trin. Coll. Dublin. 647. Vita S. Urigid;u, MS. Trin. Coll. Dublin. 647. Tins is a transcript from the Cotto- nian .MS. Nero., F. i., No. 316. Also Yita i. Brigid;v, MS. Trin. Coll. Dublin. This is a transcript from a Ratisbon Manuscript, with emendations by Ussher. See Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy's "Descriptive Catalogue of Materials Relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland," vol. i., part i., p. 114.

'The Trinity College MS., classed II.

I. n, contains i. A Life of St. Brigid, ac

cording to the accounts of learned antiqua-

' rian.s and handed down by tradition. It

begins, •peAcci!]- -oo imbrue.

'It is classed, "Vita S. Brigidse," Virg. vol. 3, 4, 23. MSS.

'''I he following are among these: — Vita S. Brigida.', Scotice-Mutila MS. Insul,

C

iS

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

bridge, the British Museum1?2 and Lambeth, as also Scotch _and European1^ Libraries, are stored with different Acts of this illustrious Saint. There is an Irish Life of St. Brigid, transcribed by Michael O'Clery, and kept among the MS. records of the Burgundian Library, at Bruxelles.1^ If all these public collections could be examined and compared, there can hardly be a doubt, but much valuable matter might be evolved, to place her history in a truer light than has yet been obtained. Those documents prove, likewise, that her fame was by no means confined to Ireland.1?5 Indeed, it may be said, hardly any Saint in the universal Church was more renowned during the Middle Ages, than Ireland's great Patroness • and the prodigies recorded concerning her sufficiently manifest that special devotion entertained for her memory by numberless clients and admirers. Her memorials also have been succinctly related in various Breviaries : viz. in the old Roman one, published at Venice in 1522 ; in that printed at Genoa, Italy; in a Breviary issued at Cornouaille, in British Armorica ; in that produced at Mons, by the Canons Regular; in that published at Paris, A.D. 1622, and intended for Kildare diocese ; as also in others published at Wurtzburgh, at Triers, and at other places in Germany.1?6 Besides these the Breviary of Kilmoon Church, in Ireland, contained an Office for St. Brigid.1?? It appears to have consisted of Nine Lessons, with Responses, Antiphons and musical Notation, but it is very much mutilated and defaced.

arnd Claudium : Doresmieulx. See " Bi- biiolheca Belgica Manuscript.!," p. 266. Legenda in Festo S. Brigittce MS. Arundel 198, f. 19 b. This is a short lection and of no great value. Vita S. Brigidse MS. Lambeth. 94, 18, f. 155. Vita S. Brigidae MS. Bodl. Laud. Misc. 108 (1486) ff. 93 b. 94 b. veil. fol. xiv. cent. This is written in old English. Vita S. Brigidi-e MS. Harl. 2800, 28, ff. 74 b. 83 b. Vita S. Brigidce. MS. Bodl. Tanner. 15 f. 86. Vita S. Brigidse Virginis. MS. Cott. Nero. E. i. 29, ff. 134 b. 140. Life of Brigid. MS. Phillips, 10294, 8vo paper, xix. cent. Copy of a MS. belonging to the Duke of Devon shire. Vita S. Brigidse. MS. Eccl. Lincoln, folio. See Haenel " Catalogus Librorum Manuscriptorum," p. 799. Vita S. Brigidse, auctore Hugbaldo monacho Elnonensi MS. Csenob. Elnonensis, 251. Vita S. Brigidae. MS. Clarendon, 65, f. 4. See Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy's "Descriptive Catalogue of Materials relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland," vol. i., parti., pp. in to 114.

192 Among the Clarendon Manuscripts, formerly the property of Sir James Ware, are Excerpts from " Vita S. Brigidce," and a " Vita S. Brigidse."

193 In the various European Libraries we have been enabled to trace the following copies : — Vita S. Brigidse MS. Regensburg. Vita S. Brigittae fragmentum. We find appended, " Hujus vitee auctor est, ni fallor, Hugbaldus Elnonensis, Monachus. MS. Bibl. du Roi. 2999, 3. olim Le Tellier veil, xi. cent. Vita S. Brigidse Virginis. MS. Bibl. du Roi. 3788, 42. olim Colbert, veil, xii. cent. Yita S. Brigidte, Virginis. MS.

Bibl. du Roi. 3800. a. 7. olim de Bethune.

veil. xiii. cent. Vita Sanctce Brigidse, MS.

Bibl. du Roi. 5269, 21. olim Faurian.

veil. xiv. cent. Vita S. Brigidse Virginis.

MS. Bibl. du Roi. 5278, 23. olim Colbert.

veil. xiii. & xiv. cent. Vita S. Brigidae,

Virginis. MS. Bibl. du Roi. 5292, 48.

olim Colbert, veil. xiii. cent. Vita S.

Brigidae, Virginis. MS. Bibl. du Roi. 5318,

60. olim Bigot, veil. xiii. cent. Vita S.

Brigidse, Virginis. MS. Bibl. du Roi. 5352, i. olim Colbert, veil. xiv. cent. Vita Brigiclre, MS. Petavii in Vaticana, 507. Vita S. Brigidce, MS. Bibl. Monast. S. Audoeni Rothomag, 104. Vita Brigidic MS. Monast. de Becco, 128. Vita S. Brigidoe. MS. Vatican, 4872. MS. Vati can, 6074. MS. Vatican, 6075. Vita S. Brigittse. MS. Vallicellan. ap. Rom. H. 12, f. 195. MS. Vallicellan. ap. Rom. H. 25, f. 43. MS. Vallicellan. ap. Rom. H. 28, f. 105. Vita S. Brigittrc. MS. Palatin, 863. Vita S. Brigidae. MS. Laureatiance Medi- ccye in bibl. Florentine iv. 323. Cod. xx. Vita S. Brigidse. MS. Monast. S. Gisleni in Cella. See Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy's " Descriptive Catalogue of Materials relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland," vol. i., part, i., pp. 114 to 116. *94 Vol. xi., fol. i.

*K Among the Bruxelles MSS., in the Burgundian Library, there is a tract ' ' S. Brigidte Vita," vol. iv., part i., p. 24.

196 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita S. Brigidce. Appendix Tertia, cap. i., pp. 609, 610.

'w See Trinity College MS., classed B. i, 5, at fol. 114 b.

LIFE OF ST. BRIG ID.

I he less remote genealogies of Ireland's kings, chiefs, and saints arc iound to harmonize in a remarkable manner with each other. Nor can we regard more ancient pedigrees and traditions as mere fabrications.^8 Ac cording to Cogitosus and Animosus, St. Brigid was descended from Feidhmidh Rechtmar or the Law-giver,'^ through the line of Fthach,200 or Eochaidh2°'Finn Foihurt. his son, who was brother to the celebrated Conn of the Hundred Buttles, King of Ireland.— The family to which our

lint belonged was formerly very celebrated, and a powerful one, belonging to the Province of Leinster. In Irish song and story, bards and senachies limed their renown. The genealogists of Ireland have been careful to record St. Brigid's descent,20 • which in the direct line irom her paternal progenitor, Eochaidh Finn Futharr, was illustrated by holy persons, as well as by heroes.20* The various Irish pedigrees and kalendars enumerate not

sss than fourteen— Colgan-'^ only enters thirteen— saints/06 who had been descended from Focluuuh Finn. Two of these named in the list are sup posed, however, to have been of a different family. St. Gall, Patron of Switzerland,20? and his brother Deicolus, Abbot of Lure203 have been con- jccturally added to the foregoing number. The following is the order of pa ternal descent, traced for St. Bngid. To Fochaidh Finn was born a son, named Aongus Meann. He had a son Cormac, whose son Cairpre Niadh was father to Art Corb, whose son was Conleach or Conla. To the latter was born a son, Den, the father of Bresal, who was the father of Demri.2^

:< Sec Rev. i)r. Todd\ "St. Patrick, Apostle ol Ireland." Appendix to Intro duction, A, p. 247.

l'"' King u: Ireland, from A.I'. 104 to 174, according to O'Flaherty's clmmulogy. .sce "Ogygi.i," Par-- ii>-, cap. Ivii., pp. '306 to 308. In Dr. (/Donovan's "Annals uf tile Four Masters," however, his reign is placed much earlier, vi/., from A.D. 110 to no. See vol. i., pp. 100 to 103. Having enacted a law of retaliation for the repression of various crimes this king died a natural death, after a reign oi nine years. Cathaeir Mor, or the Great, succeeded, according to I Jr. O' Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters.'' Alter a reign of three years, \ve are informed, that he was slam in the battle of Magh-h-Agha, by Conn of the Hundred 1' ightsand by the Fian or militiaof Luaighne, A.D. 122. See if>:',t., pp. 102, 103.

J See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Secunda Vita S. Brigida,', cap. i., p. 519.

•'-' See ibid. Cjuarta \"ita S. Ikigicla.1, cap.^i., p. 546.

^ From A.D. 177 to 21 !, according to O'Flaherty's "Ugygia,'' pars, iii., cap^ lx., Ixi., pp. 313 to 3KS. Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters" has it from A.D. 123 to 157. See vol. i., pp. 103 to 105.

-uj Among the St. Gall manuscripts like wise there is a " Genealogia S. IJrigidte. "

-°4 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga." Appendix O_uarta ad Acta S. Ikigidx-, cap. ii., p. 613.

ci He remarks, that the Xatales for most of those saints are found entered in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus

O'Gorman,ofCathald Maguire, and of Done gal.

'J The following is a list of the saints and their places, with presumed days for their fes- tivit;e>. i. St. Aidan, venerated on the 27th of Augu-t, or on the 41)1 of September, at a place called Cluain Tai bh, or Clontarf. 2. St. Berchan. also called MobiClairenach, vene rated on the 1 2th of October, at Glasnevin. 3. St. Barrindus, of Achadh-Cailltin, at tiie hth ot November. 4. St. Colman, of Airthir Femhin. 5. St. Declan, of Ard- more, venerated on the 24th of July. But, from the Hie of this latter saint, which Colgan intended to publish at that day, it would seem, Declan and his brother Colman are not derived Irom the race of Eochad, as the author of the " Sanctilogic Genealogy" writes, but rather from the posterity of his brother Fiach Sugdhe. 6. St. Diman, bishop, who was venerated on the 9th, or on the 22nd, of March. 7. St. Enan, of Drum Rath, venerated on the igthof August. 8. St. Fechin, of Fore, venerated on the 20th of January. 9. St. Finbarr or Fionub- har, Abbot of Inis Doimhle, venerated on the 4th of July. 10. St. Fintan, Abbot of Clonenagh, venerated on the 171)1 of Feb ruary, n. St. Fman, venerated on the 131)1 of February, or on the 41)1 of October. 12. St. Mochuan. 13. St. Sarnata, who was venerated on the i6th of April. See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga." Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidiu, cap. iii., p. 613.

17 See his Life at the i6th of October.

•°3 See his Life at the i8th of January.

209 This accords with the Irish Life of St.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

The sou of this latter was Dubtach, the father of St. Brigid."° Thus was the illustrious virgin eleventh in lineal descent, from the renowned Feidhmidh Rechtmar,2" or the Lawgiver,2- King of Ireland, in the second century of our Christian era 2I3 It would seem, that on our saint's maternal side, Bngid was descended from the O'Connor family.21* The mother of this holy virgin is incorrectly called Brocea, Broca,2I5 or Broccssa, by Cogitosus, > and by some foreign writers. But, by most of our native authorities, she is more correctly named Brotseach,"6 or Brocseach.21? The sister of this Brotseacn appears to have been Fanchca, the mother of three holy sons.21 Calendar of the CTClerys states, that Broiccseach,2I9 daughter of Dallbronach, son to Aedh Meamhair,220 was the mother of this most renowned virgin. Such a respectable pedigree is alone sufficient to disprove an assertion ot certain writers recording our saint's acts, that her mother was of servile con dition. Both her parents are called Christians, and they are reputed to have been of noble birth.221 It seems probable enough, they may have been among St. Patrick's converts, when he spent some time in Louth, before re turning to the North from his southern missionary travels. Besides the

Brigid, in the "Book of Lismore" and in the " Leabhar Brcac" according to Professor O'Looney's copy, pp. 3, 4.

210 Such is her lim- as traced in the " Sanctilogic Genealogies," chapter xv. Cormac Mae Cuillenan, in his treatise on "Genealogies of the Saints," contained in the " Psalter of Cashel," assigns the same descent on the father's side, for St. Brigid. In this particular, Dr. Geoffry Keating agrees with the foregoing authorities. See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's "General History of Ireland," part ii., p. 389.

211 In the Fourth Life of St. Brigid, it is said, he was thus named, because he effected great law reforms in his kingdom of Ireland, while " Reacht" of the Scotic dialect in Latin is identical with "lex/' In English it means " law."

212 Colgan agrees, that the cognomen Rcachtmar is Latinized by the words " legi- fer" or "legislator." Such an epithet had been bestowed on him because of his being a great lover of justice. He also says that the origin of this word " Rcachtmar^ is in accordance with our historic traditions, and the common use of the epithet. See " Trias Thaumaturga." Vita Quarta S. Brigidte, lib. i., cap. i., p. 546, and n. 3, p. 563.

213 The O'Clery's Calendar agrees, like wise, that St. Brigid descended from the race of Eochaidh Finnfuathairt, son to Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar, son to Tuathal Teachtmhar, Monarch of Erinn.

214 According to Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, St. Brigid's mother was Broig- seach, the daughter of Dallbronach, of the Dail Conchobhar in South Brcgia.

215 In the Third Office of St. Brigid, pub lished by Colgan, " patre Diptoco, et matre Broca," are held to have been her parents. Her offices and other accounts make our .saint a native of Leinster. This was an ciently a Province of Ireland, bounded eastwards by the Irish Sea, having Minister

on its south and west, with Meath towards the north. Like other great districts of Ire land, it had its own kings ; subject, however, to the chief monarch of the island. Naas was the capital cityduring St. Brigid's period. Its metropolis for many ages past has been Dublin, which formerly had many suffragan sees within its present archiepiscopal limits. For some time past, it has only the suffragan sees of Kildare and Leighlin, Ossory and Ferns.

216 Co]ga.n remarks, that she should be called Brotseach, as the generality of au thors — especially in old Latin codices — style her. See "Trias Thaumaturga." Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigida^, cap. ii., p. 613.

217 Irish writers more generally, as also more correctly, write her name Brocseach, and hence Colgan prefers to adopt their or thography. See ibid. Quarta Vita S. Bri gid 03, n. 8, p. 563.

218 St. /Engus the Culdee, in his tract, "Mothers of the Irish Saints," relates, that Fanchca, daughter of Dalbronach, was mo ther of Saints Conall, Eugene, and Carbre, three sons of Neman.

219 In the table to this martyrology, after the holy virgin's name, we find the following comment introduced, within brackets : — "[Daughter of Bro'icsech ; her mother was Brocsecha.]" Sec " Martyrology of Done gal." Edited by Drs. Tocld and Reeves.

220 He is said to have been of Dalconchab- huir, in the southern part of Bregia, accord ing to an Irish Life of St. Brigid. St. Ultan also belonged to that family. A scholiast, in his preface to a hymn, said to have been composed by St. Ultan, writes, that he com posed this hymn in praise of St. Brigid : and that he was of the Daleconchabuir, to which belonged St. Brigid's [mother, Brot seach, daughter of Dallbronac.

221 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga." Cogitosus' or Secunda Vita S. Brigidse, cap. i., p. 519.

LIFE OF ST. FRIGID.

testimony of Cogitostts, referable to the Christian parentage of St. Brigid, in that metrical prologue to her sixth life,22-' Dubtach is represented as a noble, pious man. and still more noble, through his own proper spouse2-'-5 and their holy offspring.22* Xor does there appear to be any qualification to this eulogy, in regard to any particular portion of his life. Whether the birth of their illustrious daughter took place before or after their conversion to Chris tianity is not established on any reliable authority.

Our most judicious historians, Protestant and Catholic,22? pass over in silence, or with reproof, those very incredible legends, which contradict the foregoing accounts."' Indeed, an exact critical analysis will only serve to render the least remarkable circumstances, attending St. Brigid's birth, more probable; while the romantic narratives can be traced to no better sources than popular traditions, so liable to be obscured by fables. No doubt, cer tain old Acts of the saint— we cannot be sure, however, these are the most ancient and authentic —contain the entry of such preposterous statements. Later writers, during the middle ages,2-'? adopted those vain fantasies, without sufficient examination, and these again have been repeated by more modern writers"3 unreflectingly or in complete ignorance of the historic value, applic able to their sources for information. The genealogy of St. Brigid's mother- apparently drawn from remote pedigrees — shows that she was not of servile condition, 225 but through family origin, in every respect, fitted to be the lawful and respected spouse of the noble Dubtach.

'1 he best refutation of certain strange accounts, relating to St. Brigid's birth, will probably be found in a brief statement of the legend. 2> The paternal ancestor of our illustrious virgin, and who is named Kochaidh Finn, went among the I.agcnians. whose king bestowed many tracts of land on him, at different places. In that province the prince's posterity dwelt at a time

=" " Dubtachus ejus erat genitor cogno-

niinc dirtus ;

Claru.s homo merit is, clarus ct a proa- vis ;

Xobilis atque humilis, mitis pietate

repletus ;

Nobilior propria conjure, prole pia.'1 — Scxta Vita S. Brigidaj. Prologus. Col- gan's "Trias Thaumaturga, " p. 5S2.

"3 She is understood to have been Bro- cessa or Brotseach, the mother of St. Brigid.

•-4 In those well-known acts of St. Brigid, written by Cogitosiis, she is said to have been predestined for accomplishment of the Almighty's decrees, by special graces re ceived from heaven.

?-"5 Such as U.v-her, Ware, Lanigan, &c. The latter writer observes, that " no atten tion is due to \vl: : \ve find in two or three of the so-called Lives of St. Brigid concern ing her mother having been a concubine, whom, when pregnant, the wife of Dubtach obliged him to dismiss, and of her having been purchased by a pagan poet or a magus, and how, in consequence of his taking her to Ulster, she was then delivered of the saint. This romance-like narrative cannot agree with the circumstance, that the parents of the saint were Christians. I mean such strict Christians as were then in Ireland, nor vith the rank of her mother's family and her

being everywhere else spoken of as the wile of I hibtach."

-'' Thai the illustrious St. Brigid was burn in Scotia of noble and Christian parents isolated in the ''Chronica (Jeneralis Mun- d:," by I'etrus de Natalibus, lib. iii., cap. 69, as, ul.-o, in St. Brigid's Second, Third, and Fourth Offices, published by Colgan. She is said to have been "de bona pro- saj>ia'' in the 1'irst Oince.

-' See the succinct account of John Cap- grave in his '' Nova Legenda Angliae," fol. xh\.

•'•* Such as Harris in his edition of Sir James Ware's works, vol. ii., " Writers of Ireland," book i., ehap. iii., pp. II, 12.

--•* That she was a captive is intimated in Colgan's tir^t published metrical acts of the saint, attributed to St. Brogan Cloen. See " Trias Thaumaturga." Hymnus, sen Vita I'riina S. Hrigiche, strophe i., p. 515.

• On this subject, Dr. Lanigan remarks : '' These stories are given in the third and fourth lives, which in very great part are mere transcripts of each other, agreeing, word for word, in many passages. The former bears every appearance of being an abridgment of the latter. Be this as it may, ihey form but one authority. And as to the life called the fifth, whatever it has on these subjects was evidently taken from one or other of them. Amidst other nonsense

LIfE Of ST. BRIGW.

when the author of St. Brigid's Fourth Life wrote.*' Lrom his race as we are told a celebrated and powerful chieftain, named Dubtach, was derived who bought a female servant, named Broschach. She was very beautifu and distinguished by her great propriety of manner.'* Immediately after follows a romantic and an incredible account, seemingly irreconcilable with this latter statement. On learning that Broschach had conceived, the proper wife of Dubtach, it is said, became very much grieved, and advise husband to sell his slaveys Fear was expressed, at the same time, that Broschach's children should domineer over the family of his wife. ut, tt chieftain Dubtach would not hearken to the counsels of his consort, o count of a great love he entertained for Broschach.2^

About this time, it is said, that two holy bishops^ came from Britain, and entered the house of Dubtach. One of these was called Mel or Maol, and the other Melchu or Maolchu.237 These were disciples, we are told, ot St Patrick, the archbishop, who then preached God's word in Ireland.23 Maol said to Dub.tach's wife, '; Why are you sorrowful ? The offspring c thy servant, shall be exalted above you and your progeny :2 that servant equally with your own sons, because her infant shall procure blessings

for your children." But, the jealously of Dubtach's wife was not appeased, and her brothers, who were powerful and brave men, earnestly urged Dubtach to sell his servant, in a distant part of the country. By a special inspiration a poet, belonging to the Hy-Niall family,2'0 came from the northern part of

contained in these tracts a magus is intro duced foretelling the future sanctity of the child, while she was still in her mother's womb." — "Ecclesiastical History of Ire land," vol. i., chap, viii., sec. ii., n. 22, pp. 381, 382.

231 Colgan remarks, that this account fur nishes no slight indication showing how the author of this life lived at a very early period, and that he flourished at least previously to the tenth century, as for many ages back, the family of St. Brigid did not live, in those places to which allusion had been made. See "Trias Thaumaturga." Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, n. 7, p. 563. It may be asked, however, on what data Colgan grounds his assertion, even if the author specified those exact places ? This he has not done.

232 In the Third Life, this latter account of Brocseach's good morals — as contained in the Fourth Life — is coincidently given. See "Tertia Vita S. Brigicla;, cap. i. , p. 527. Both statements appear to have been im plicitly followed, in the Fifth or acephalous Life of our saint, which Colgan supplies in his own words, and in elegant Latin, appa rently written to imitate Laurence of Dur ham's style. This narrative is paraphrased from more succinct accounts of previous writers. To supply what is wanting in his author, Colgan draws somewhat on his own imagination — a rather exceptional case with him.

233 In the Irish Life of St. Brigid, con tained in the " Leabhar Breac" and the " Book of Lismore," the account is some what similar.

334 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga."

Vita Quarta S. Brigidrc, lib. i., cap. i., p. 546. In closing this account of Broschach, as she is generally called throughout the Fourth Life, the author adds regarding her, " in omnibus enim moribus, ilia fscmina erat perfecta."

235 They were disciples and nephews of St. Patrick, the children of his sister Darerca. Colgan gives their acts, at the 6th of Feb ruary, the day of their feast, in his " Acta Sanctorum Ilibernice," vi. Februarii, pp. 259 to 264.

-•^ In Professor O'Looney's "Life of St. Brigid," Irish and English MS., while call ing" them bishops of the Britons, they are said to have come from the Alps to foretel of her, pp. 5> 6.

-^ In the "Tertia Vita S. Brigidre" they are called Mel and Melchu, as also in many other works. In the " Vita Quarta S. Bri- giclte" they are more correctly named, Maol and Maolchu, or by change of the dipthong, Mael and Maelchu ; for ao, ae, and n- were indifferently used by the Irish and other ancient people.

238 Such is the account given, in the Fourth Life of St. Brigid.

239 In an Irish life (chap, ii.) this wife of the chieftain is called Brectan. She is said to have borne seven sons to Dubtach, the seventh or last having been born after the birth of St. Brigid. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga." Quarta Vita S. Brigiclse, n. 10, p. 564.

240 « jd est; de terra nepotum Neill, seu Media." The poet, in question, or the magus, as he is called in the St. Autbert MS., came from the territory of Himaccuais

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

Ireland,2'1 and bought this female slave from Uubtach, who consented to sell her, because he feared the anger of his wife,2-*2 and of her brothers, belonging to a noble family. 2« Yet, he would not consent to sell the child, which she then bore, because wonderful things had been predicted regarding the unborn infant.2** In his account of these transactions, Laurence of Durham remarks, that the English, Irish, and Scotch were accustomed to deal in slaves, more than in any other kind of merchandise ; and that they even considered it an honourable kind of traffic, although so much opposed to the spirit of Chris tianity. He says, that the mother had been known to sell her daughter, the

in Meath, and from the particular spot called Tochar-mainc, as Mated in St. Brigid's Irish Life (cap. v.) Although, in the Fourth Life, it is said, he was " poeta de aquilone Hi- berniie," there is nothing contradictory to be found ; because relatively to Leinster, Meath lay to the north, and because a certain ma^ns, or poet, belonging to the region of Conall Marthemne, in Ulster, bought the mother of St. Brigid, not immediately from Dubtach. but from the aforesaid Meathian poet. This is expressly stated, in the Iri-h Life. See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga." Tertia Vita S. Brigida1, n. 4, \\ 542.

-•" In Professor U'Lconey's MS. the poet is said to have been of the l"i Mac L'ais, and to have been from Tochur Maine, pp. S, 6.

242 Laurence of Durham's fragmentary life starts with an announcement, that the wife of Duhtach, bitterly reproaching her husband with his infidelities, declared' that henceforth he must makeup his mind, either to sell his female slave, or be prepared for her own separation from him. Her persistently expressed resolution, it is said, overcame her husband's previous intention. Dubtach then placed his servant in the chariot, which enabled him to journey after the fashion of his country, to reach a place where he could find a market.

243 By the later writers of our saint's acts, we are told, that one day the holy maiden's father and mother passed by the house of a certain magus, in a chariot. In St. Brigid's Irish Life he is called Maithginn, from whom Ross-Maithginn is denominated. I le ordered the servants to inform him who were seated in it, for by the noise of this vehicle, Maith ginn supposed it conveyed a king. The servants reported to their master, that the chariot contained i ';.'.nhac. The magus de sired him to be called. On being hailed, the magician asked if the woman, called ancilla, who sat behind him in the chariot, was with child. On receiving an answer in the affir mative from Dubtach, the magician asked her the name of this unborn child's father. She replied, that Dubtach was its parent. Then the magus addressed these words to him, "Be thou a careful guardian of this woman, for the child she bears shall become illustrious." Dubtach then told the magus that his wife, who feared this child's birth,

had urged him to sell his fellow-traveller, who is represented as being a slave. The magus then prnphesised, that the children of Dubtach's wife should serve the family of her servant for ever. The magician also said to the servant : " Be of good cheer, for no person shall be able to injure you ; the graces bestowed on your infant shall prove your protection, for to you shall be born an illustrious daughter, who will shine in this world with the brightness of the noon-day sun.'' Dubtach replied, "I give thanks to ('•nd, that hitherto 1 have had no daughter, although having sons. " After these words of the magus, Dubtach regarded his female servant with greater affection ; although his wife, with her brothers, urged her husband to sell his slave, in a far distant country. See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Tertia S. Brigidaj, cap. ii., p. 527. Vita Quarta S. Brigii;;!', lib. i., cap. ii., p. 546, ibid. In the Fifth Life of our saint, a similar story is told substantially, but in a more improved Latin phraseology and style ; a greater im aginative liberty having been taken appa rently with special circumstances given in previous accounts. See Vita (vhiinta S. Bn- gidcc, cap. iii., p. 567, ibid. In the metrical acts of St. Brigid, the matter is thus briefly recorded : —

" Quadam namque die genetrix dum forte

sedebat, In curru pra-gnans, ncc tune enixa puel-

lam, Dumque frementis equi spumantia colla

tencbat, Pulvcrulenta quidem vestigia longa sona-

bat.

Audierat sonitum vatcs stridere rotarum Dixerat ; ecce vcnit. Rex est, qui prae-

sidct axi. Sed commitissa tamen carpentum sola re-

gebat. — Se'xta Vita S. Brigid.T, sec. i., pp. 582,

5S3, ibiJ.

-44 In the Office of St. Brigid, printed at Paris in 1622, and in her other printed or manuscripts offices, various portents re ferring to her conception and early child hood are noticed, in the antiphons, hymns and responses. Also, many virtues and miracles, which afterwards distinguished her, arc related.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

son his father, and a husband his wife, forgetting every sentiment of nature and grace.^5 After the Normans took possession of England, slavery of this sort was happily abolished ; and the English owed _this happy change, rather to invaders, than to their own countrymen. This writer adds, that the Irish and Scots, having lords of their own nation, never wholly abandoned serfdom, nor yet allowed it to exist, as formerly they did.2-)6 However this may be, we are obliged to resume the incredible and contradictory romance, which consigns St. Brigid's mother to a state of bondage. With his newly- purchased slave, the poet afterwards returned to his own_ country.2-^ A certain holy man paid a visit, on that night of arrival at his_ house. This pious guest prayed to God, the whole night. Frequently during that time, he saw a globe of fire, resting over the spot, where the bond-woman and mother of St. Brigid slept. Respecting such circumstances, the poet _ host was apprized in the morning.2^3 Several incidents, connected with St. Brigid s birth, as related by some of her biographers, are puerile in the extreme, and unworthy the slightest degree; of credit.2^ It is said, a certain infant, whose

"43 Colgan remarks, that except in the writings of this author, lie could never dis cover elsewhere, authority for the statement of a custom prevailing in former times among the Irish, whereby a brother would sell his brother, a daughter her mother, a father his son, or any other relative his kinsman. Tf the sale of slaves and captives prevailed in pagan times, the mild spirit of Christianity and of religious feeling haslongago abolished all vile customs of the slave mart, in our island. We read, however, that the English and Britons, even long after their reception of the Christian religion, allowed this abomin able trade in human creatures to continue. We learn, also, that to this infamous traffic in men and women, could be traced, in great part, their loss of liberty and subjection to a foreign yoke. These were regarded as just punishments and visitations of God, for permitting such abuses. Sec Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga." Quinta Vita S. Brigidre, cap. L, ii., p. 567 and n. 5, p. 639, ibid.

246 Giraldus Cambrensis writes as follows on this subject, in reference to Ireland, that soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, a council was convened at Armagh, in which it was decreed, that the English, then held as bondsmen, in various parts of Hibernia, should be set at liberty. The clergy and laity were unanimously agreed on this sub ject. Previously to that period, the Saxons were accustomed to sell their own children and relations as slaves to the Irish, even although not pressed to it by any necessity. Merchants and pirates were alike engaged in this nefarious commerce. The Irish, becoming purchasers of those slaves, were justly deemed as partners in such traffic, and therefore was it thought they had incurred Divine displeasure, which had been mani fested by permitting their subjection, in turn, to the Anglo-Norman invaders. See " Ex- pugnatio Hibemica," lib. i., cap. xviii., p.

258. diraldus Cambrensis, Opera, vol. v., Dimock's edition.

'4? According to Professor O'Looney's Irish Eife in MS. a Druid from the territory of Connaill repurchased the bondwoman from the poet ; and brought her to his own part of the country, pp. 5, 6.

248 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga." Tertia Vita S. Brigida', cap. iii., p. 527. Quarta Vita S. Brigida', lib. i., cap. iii., iv., p. 546. In the Fifth Life, the foregoing accounts are greatly extended, by the intro duction of imaginary discourses and circum stances. See Quinta Vita S. Brigida:, cap. iii., iv. , pp. 567, 568, ibid.

24? After the account already given, theThird Life inserts a ridiculous narrative, relative to an occurrence at the infant's birth. This same narrative is given in the Fourth Life, where it is added, that the infant St. Brigid was distinguished by extraordinary beauty of features. " Vita Quarta S. Brigidse," lib. i., cap. v., pp. 546, 547, ibid. As usual, Laurence of Durham greatly enlarges on the foregoing accounts. Vita Quinta S. Brigidre, cap. v., p. 568, ibid. We are assured, by Col- gan, that a king alluded to, and then with his queen a guest with the magus, was dynast of Conall Murthemne, a region mentioned, in an Irish Life of St. Brigid. In a part of this territory, designated Fochart, St. Brigid was born, according to the same authority, and to Henry of Marlborough, A.D. 468. Conchobarius in " Vita S. Monenna;," and other biographers are of accord. These are followed by Ussher, " De Primordiis Eccle- siarum Britannicarum," pp. 627, 884. But, the magian here mentioned is not identical with the Meathian, who purchased St. Brigid 's mother in the first instance. He was the second purchaser and he belonged to the territory of the aforesaid Conall, as mentioned in an Irish Life. The student may refer to "Vita Tertia S. Brigidse," n. 5. P- 543-

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

birth had preceded St. Brigid's by a single day,250 died suddenly on that of our saint's nativity.251 By some chance, Brigid, being brought near the life less body of this infant, touched it.252 The child was immediately restored to life. When this miracle took place, all who were present declared, Brigid was that renowned saint, promised by the prophets.253

After our saint's birth, the magus is said to have brought her mother with him to Connaught, where he dwelt ; and, it is also stated, that the mother of this magus had been a native of that province, while his father was born in Munster.254 One day, when the mother of St. Brigid went some distance to milk cows,255 she left her infant sleeping alone in the house. Suddenly, it appeared to be in llames, and all who saw ran to extinguish them.256 On approaching the dwelling, however, these llames went out ; and on entering, the people found St. Brigid sweetly smiling, with infantile innocence and beauty, her cheeks being flushed with a roseate hue.-'57 All proclaimed aloud, that the child was replenished with graces of the Holy Spirit.1'5"

Before we proceed further, it may be well to mention, that St. Brigid's biographers seem generally to agree in naming Fochard^ as her birthplace. Such is the account left us in her Fourth Life. There, as we are told, the village in which she was born bore the name, Fochart Muirthemnc,2CO being in the region called Conaille Muirthemhne, formerly within the Ulster province.'-'01 The tradition, on which such a statement prevails, is referable to a remote time.20- At present, Faughart36^ is a small country village, in

'•' This infant is said to have been a son of the King and Queen of Conaille, who were then on a visit with a magus, the second purchaser, according to Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, pp. 5 to S.

^:' Professor O'Looney's Irish Life states, St. Brigid was born at the rising of the sun, pp. 7, S.

5-' In Professor O'Looney Irish Life, it is stated, that St. Brigid's breath brought the king's son to life, pp. 7, 8.

-53 This account is contained in the Fourth Life. We are told by Colgan, that it is to be found, also, in the Irish Life, where it is stated, the infant brought to life was a son to the King of Conall, and this child was born on that night, previous to St. Brigid's birth, according to the legend. See "Trias Thaumaturga." Ouarta YitaS. Brigida-, lib. i., cap. vi., ]>. 547, and n. 12, p. 564, ibid.

"54 This is accordant with a statement in Professor O Looney's Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 7, 8.

255 Jbid.

256 " Stepe etiam rutilis tectorum subdere fiammis

Cernebant fabricam, parvce et cunabula

Brigida?." — Vita Sexta S. Brigi<ke, sec.

ii., p. 583. Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga."

257 Ibid. " Tertia Vita S. Brigidae/'cap. v., p. 527. "Quarta Vita S. Brigida.'," lib. i., cap. viii., ix. , p. 547. In the latter life, we are informed about the reason why the magician visited the province of Con- naught. This he did to exercise his magic arts ; for which purpose, he travelled through that district, and through other provinces, where he was received with great respect.

'53 In the Fifth Life of our saint, with its

usual amplifications, we are told, St. Brigid spoke, before that natural period arrived, when infants usually articulate. Such ac count, hoVcver, is not contained in her other lives. Colgan refers to notes, ap pended to St. Fursey's Life at the i6th of January, and to other particulars, which serve to accompany that of St. Barr, at the 25th of September, for parallel instances of children, who spoke soon after their birth, and even in their mother's womb.

:y In Wright's "Louthiana," parti., p. 9, there is a very interesting description of certain ancient remains in this locality. Dr. Lanigan, who rejects the romantic narrative of St. Brigid's birth, agrees that she was born in Fochard. lie further observes : " Whether her coming into the world in that place was owing to her parents having had a residence there, or to their being on a visit at some friend's house, it is imma terial to enquire." — " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i., chap, viii., sec. II, p. 378, and n. 24, p. 382, ibid,

160 St. Brigid was patron of that place, and in her honour a monastery of Canons hri'l been established there, at a time when the Fourth Life had been written. See Colgan's "Trias" Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Brigidse, lib. i., cap. vi., p. 547.

161 Foughart is a parish in the diocese of Armagh.

;62 St. Bernard in his " Vita S. Malachiae" writes ; " Venerunt tres Episcopi in villain Fochart, quern dicunt locum nativitatis Brigidoe virginis," &c., cap. xxv. , sec. 56.

203 See the " Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii., pp. 197, 198, for an in teresting account of this parish.

26 LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

the Barony of Upper Dundalk, County of Louth, and Province of_Lemster. There too not only a church and a cemetery, dedicated to St. Bngid, were to be seen at a time when her Fourth Life had been written ; but, according to local tradition, they were situated even on the very site of that house, in which she had been born.26* This latter statement, with a slight emendation, is probably correct. It has been remarked, that the allusion to a monastery of Canons being at Foughart shows a remote antiquity when the author of her Fourth Life flourished ; for, many ages back, there had been no institute of the kind discoverable, nor any monastic house, specially dedicated to St. Brigid, at least from the period of the eleventh century.* The old church site°of Pochard is situated between the town of Dundalk and the church of Kilslieve,266 being about two miles distant from either place. A holy woman, known as Monenna,26? built a church here, at a very early period.26 The exact situation of Fochard has been misplaced in some rccords.26s In the seventeenth century, this little village was called by the Irish-speaking peo ple Fochart Brighde, or " Fochart of Brigid."2'

In the three previous lives of our Saint2?1 no mention is made concerning the place of her birth ; which is also the case, in the two latter lives, viz. : the Fifth and Sixth. Admitting, however, the usually assigned place, where the illustrious virgin is said to have been born, it seems likely enough, that old circular, cone-shaped Dun,2?2 which rises high2" over the adjoining fields on the very summit of Foughart Hill, about three miles north-west of Dun dalk, supported and protected the house of Dubtach.2?* A circular level on the top was 40 feet in diameter, and around the circumference appears to have extended a wide breast-work of masonry, laid with mortar.2^ At the southern sides, when broken, the foundations were clearly traceable. A deep

26« At the rear of this church, the local other Leinster county, it seems certain, she

habitants pointed out that identical stone, first saw light, in a certain village called

on which, it was traditionally said, St. Fochart, in Louth county, in Armagh dio-

Brigid first reposed after having come cese, and within the bounds of Ulster's

into the world. The relic was held in ancient province. See Ussher " De Pri-

especial veneration by inhabitants of the mordiis Ecclesiarum Britannicarum," pp.

adjacent country, and through its instru- 627, 705, 706. Also, _ David Roth, in his

mentality many miracles were reported to Dissertation on St. Brigid, p. 151, and an

have been accomplished. Irish Life of St. Brigid, cap. iii.

265 Nothing save the parish church at 7° They also called that district, in which Fochart was known in Colgan's time to it was situated, Machaire Airgiell. See have been placed under her special invoca- Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix tion. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. v., p. 617. Vita S. Brigidce, lib. i., cap. vi., p. 547, 2?I As published by Colgan.

and nn. 13, 14, p. 864, ibid. 2?2 Thomas Wright, in his day, correctly

266 Some ruins of a church are still re- describes it as "in the form of a frustrum maining at Kilslieve, but these are devoid of a cone."- -"Louthiana," book i., p. 9. of all architectural beauty. See "The There was formerly some sort of octagonal History of Dundalk and its Environs," by building upon the top, but whether it had John D' Alton and J. R. O'Flanagan, p. been a tower or parapet breast high, there 279. was not wall enough left to determine, a

'^ See her Life at the 6th of July. little after the middle of the last century.

268 Conchobranus, in "Vita S. Monennce," 2" About 60 feet, according to Wright,

says, that this holy woman first built a but it is certainly of a lesser altitude,

church at Fochart, where the nativity of St. 2?4 Two curious copper-plate illustrations

Brigid took place. of this Dun, with the shape of the upper

269 The English Martyrology, at the 1st fort-like works, are contained on Plate xiv.

of February, and other authorities, state, of book i. in "Louthiana."

that our Saint was born in the County of 2?5 In May, 1874, the writer visited this

Kildare, and at a place called Fochart. spot, and found it nearly in a perfect state,

But Fochart is not within the limits of that except towards the south, where a portion

county. However, if it be allowed, St. of its sides had been removed for manure. Brigid had been conceived in that, or in any

LIFE Of ST. BRIGID.

27

circular fosse surrounded the lower ascent of this high Dun,2?6 from the top of which a magnificent view of the bay and town of Dundalk, with the sublime crags of the Carlingford mountains, extending far into the sea, towards the north and east, can be obtained.27' Near this Dun, in the townland and parish of Faughart, on the very summit of a rising hill, are the ruins of St. Brig-id's old church. ^ The entire length was 24 yards, and the

Church KUHU at Foughart, Co. Louth.

breadth 7 yards interiorly, in 1836 ; an inside gable stood at a distance of about 10 yards from the east gable.27' This latter was demolished to within three feet of the ground, in the middle part, the sides being lower. Only a small part of the south side-wall, towards the east gable, stands. 2So The remainder, to the middle gable, was levelled with the ground. The north side-

276 Thomas Wright states, " in all proba bility, it may originally have been a Funeral Monument, and in latter days formed into a Beacon or Fort, either as an out Guard to defend the said Frontier," (i. c. , of the old English Pale), "or signify the Approach of an Enemy." — " Louthiana," book i., p. 9.

277 Mr. John Craig, who rented an adjoin ing farm, told the writer, that in the field next this Dun, while ploughing, the hoofs of a horse sunk through some flag stones. On examination of the spot, a remarkable zig-zag-shaped earth-cave was discovered. After removing some of the covering stones, he descended into it, and found it regularly walled on the sides. Barely stooping, he was enabled to pass through it for several yards, covering flags being over his head. He saw several specimens of "crockery

ware," within the cave, through which his further progress was checked by its being choked by earth and stones, in one particu lar place. The extent of these remarkable caves, he pointed out to the writer, on the surface of the ground above, and he ex pressed the greatest desire that they should be carefully explored by gentlemen com petent to describe them.

278 The people in 1836 called it CeV pull -<\i|vo, " the high church," and it was also designated CCA' pull bfu'g'oe n-A li-dijvoe imnpe, " Brigid's Church of the great height."

-~r) This inner gable has since fallen. Bo The accompanying engraving by Wil liam Oldham, 8 Gloucester-street, Dublin, is from a sketch by the author, and taken on the spot, in May, 1874.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

wall was reduced to about 7 feet in height, east of the middle gable.'8' The western length to the middle gable was about 14 yards; the side-walls height, in this part, is about 14 feet. On the south side-wall was a breach near the middle gabled The west gable had been reduced in height to the level of the side-walls ; while there is a breach on it, reaching from top to bottom, about 3 yards wide. On the north side-wall, about 7 feet from the ground, there was an opening, reaching to the top. Another opening next the middle gable, was to be seen, and about the same height - This ruinous pile of masonry, at present, is in a very dilapidated condition.

The people of Foughart neighbourhood2^ preserved a tradition, that this church had been built by St. Brigid— especially the eastern part—- although they knew not that here285 was her birthplace.28? The graveyard of Foughart is still much used for interments. The base of an old cross yet rises over the graves. This last resting-place of the dead is intimately asso ciated with the invasion of Ireland by King Robert Bruce288 of Scotland,2^ and by his brother Edward Brucc,2y0 who prosecuted it to a disastrous issue.2"'

281 About a yard in length retained the original height of 14 feet towards the mid dle ; it was lower towards the east gable.

283 In 1836, seven feet from the ground was an opening reaching to the top.

=8-* The foregoing is the substance of Messrs. P. O'Keefe's and T. O'Conor's description in a letter dated Dundalk, Feb ruary 1 5th, 1836, taken from " Louth Letters, containing information relative to the Antiquities of the County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1835-1836," vol. L, pp. 285, 286.

2gs In 1836.

-86 None of the inhabitants were able then to assign a signification for the word

8? A few, who read St. Brigid's Life, said that she was born within 2^ miles of Dundalk, on a green near the old road, leading from the latter town to Newry. Then tradition had it, that she founded Foughart Church, where she remained 2.\ years, before she went to the nunnery at Kildare. Ibid, pp. 286, 287.

288 In A.D. 1306, this heroic chieftain was forced to take refuge in the small Island of Rachlinn, off the northern coast of Antrim. In the spring of 1306, with a fleet of thirty- three galleys and about 300 men, he sailed for the Scottish coast, "and proceeded on that course of chivalrous conquest which led to the establishment of his country's inde pendence and his own deathless renown." About 700 of the northern Irish accompa nied him on this expedition, and these were led by his brothers, Thomas and Alexander. See Moore's " History of Ireland," vol. iii., chap, xxxvi., p. 52.

2fc9 The reader will recollect the allusion to his taking refuge in Ireland, as poetically recorded in Sir Walter Scott's " Lord of the Isles," canto iii., sec. xi.

" The scheme," said Bruce, "contents me well ;

Meantime 'twere best that Isabel

For safety, with my bark and crew,

Again to friendly Erin drew.

There Edward, too, shall with her wend,

In need to cheer her and defend,

And muster up each scattered friend."

"9° The old Scoto-Lnglish poem, "The Bruce ; or the Metrical History of Robert I. King of Scots," by Master John Barbour, Archdeacon of Aberdeen, contains the most detailed account of Edward Brace's career in Ireland, in Buke Tend, Buke Eleuenth, Buke Twelt, vol. i., pp. 277 to 368. This is published from a Manuscript dated M.CCCC.LXXXIX. See "The Bruce; and Wallace;" edited by John Jamieson, D.D., with notes, biographical sketches, and a glossary. In Two Volumes. Edinburgh, A.D. 1820, 410.

^.That brilliant and decisive victory, achieved by the Scots over the English, at Bannockburn, in 1314, and to which allusion has been already made in the Life of St. Foilan, at the gth of January, had awakened for a kindred people warm sympathies, while it aroused ambition among the north ern Irish chieftains, to originate some effec tive means for obtaining national indepen dence. Proposing to Robert Bruce the propriety of making his brother, Edward, king of Ireland, they agreed to rally round the latter, immediately on his arriving in their country. As Edward had already demanded a share in the sovereignty of Scotland, King Robert eagerly inclined to the expressed wishes of these Irish chiefs, and made every preparation to organize a military and naval expedition, destined for the coasts of Ireland. Accordingly, on the 26th of May, 13151 Edward Bruce landed on the shores of Antrim, with a fleet of 300 sail and an army of Scots, estimated at 6,000 men. Immediately on his arrival, the Irish of Ulster hastened in great numbers to fight under his standard. With united forces,

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

29

A hollow space between Faughart hill and Carrickbroad-^2 is pointed out as the spot where Bruce was killed,293 in that last desperate

the Scots and Irish overran the whole pro vince of Ulster, within an incredibly short period. Dundalk, Ardee, with some other places in Louth, were taken and demolished by the invading forces and their allies. To oppose them, J )e Burgo, earl of Ulster, raised a large army, chietly in Connaught. He formed a junction with Sir Edmond Butler, the lord justice. The Scots and Iri>h crossed the river Bann, when they gave battle to the Earl of Ulster, at Connor. Here the Anglo-Irish leader was defeated, and afterwards he was forced to fly for pro tection towards the western province. Ed ward Bruce, who had already caused himself to be proclaimed king of Ireland, next be sieged the castle of Carrickfergus, where some of the defeated English 'had taken refuge. Hruce spent some time endeavour ing to reduce the stronghold of Carrickfer- gus ; yet, at last he raided the siege to proceed southwards, through the midland counties of Leinster. His advance caused the rising ()f various native septs ; but the prevalence of famine at this time obliged the Scottish leader to retire upon Ulster. At the town of Kclls, he gave battle to 15,000 English, under the command of Sir Roger Mortimer, who suffered an ignomi nious defeat. Illicit"., King Robert Bruce landed in Ireland with a great army to assist his brother Edward, and with united forces the garrison of Carrickfergus, after a brave and protracted defence, was compelled to surrender. Robert liruce, accompanied by a large army of Scots and Irish, advanced to Dublin, where he arrived about the close of February, 1317. The Anglo-Irish deni zens were in a state of consternation, but lost no time in making energetic preparations for defence. The English and Irish appear to have been almost equally demorali/ed and disorganized, during the progress of these transactions. The suburbs of Dublin were burnt down by the citi/ens, to prevent their invaders from finding there a shelter on approaching. Richard," Earl of Ulster, now advanced in years, was arrested on suspicion of having favoured the cause of J'.ruce, whilst DeLacy joined his forces with the Scots and Irish. King Robert Bruce, however, on finding the metropolis so strongly fortified and so resolutely defended by its Anglo-Irish garrison, deemed it a useless waste of time and valour to attempt its reduction by the slow process of a siege. Conducting his army southwards through Kildare, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Limerick, he burned and plundered the English foun dations, civil and ecclesiastical, wherever he passed. Famine, pressing sorely on this desolated country, disconcerted his plans. Although the English mustered a force of

30,000 men to surprise and harass the King of Scotland, they did not, however, venture to risk a decisive engagement with him. About the commencement of May, Robert liruce was obliged to retreat upon Ulster, lie soon afterwards set sail for Scotland, leaving his brother Edward to sustain the cause, in which his fortunes were embarked. This retreat of the Scots and Irish, into the northern province, allowed the English an opportunity for making many successful diversions around the borders of their own settlements. In the year 1318, Edward liruce raised a small army, with which he advanced to Eoughart, near Dundalk. Here he was opposed and defeated by John Birmingham, at the head of an English force, which had marched from Dublin. See the Author's "Catechism of Irish His tory," lesson xv., pp. 153 to 158.

Some written accounts state, that Ed ward Bruce's body had been divided into quarters, and had been sent for exhibition all over the country. See Moore's " His tory of Ireland,'' vol. iii., chap, xxxvi., p. 71. I his, however, does not appear to be confirmed on any good authority, and the local tradition is prokibly correct, that the headless body had been buried in Foughart graveyard. Near this cemetery, the inha bitants point out a spot, where Bruce's horse was buried, and it is said, the bones of this animal were even discovered, on digging for them.

';'lhe Rev. Dr. Drummond's Poem, — of no special merit, however, — and intituled, "Bruce's Invasion of Ireland," describes the progress of the Scottish leader, and his linal defeat. An idea of its measure and style may be gleaned from the following lines, relating to the mustering of Irish chiefs and tribes to his standard : —

Blood-royal O'Connor his infantry guides

From regions beyond where the 'broad Shannon glides ;

Creat monarch of streams, that from up land and dell,

And a thousand steep mountains, his wide current swell ;

By cities, lakes, forests, and fields rich with grain,

Sweeping on with his sail-covered tides to the main."

" With these comes O'Mailey, well-versed

in sea-wiles, The lord of Craig-Uilc, a prince of the

isles ; Of th' Arrans, where health-wafting gales

ever blow, And Bovin, with fat lowing herds, white

as snow,

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

battle, which he fought on the i4th of October, A.D. 1318,'* at Foughart. * Many of his chieftains and soldiers, Irish and Scots, fell in this short but decisive conflict.2*6 Although during the course of three years,2*? pending which lie waged war in Ireland, Edward Bruce had encountered the English armies in eighteen successive and victorious battles,2*8 their great numerical superiority at the battle of Foughart caused victory to favour the arms ot England from the very first onset.2** From the south-west corner < church, and removed about four yards, the grave of Edward Bruce is shown.3 The authentication, however, is only sustained by a popular tradition. About the middle of the last century, St. Brigid's Stone, having a raised work about it in the form of a horse-shoe, was to be seen at Foughart. 3« In the middle was a rough rocky flint, on which with bared knees penitents were accustomed to kneel. Raised upon two circular and concentric steps was elevated St. Brigid's pillar. ^ Only the circular stones are now noticeable within the graveyard^ These are singularly suggestive of having been the base of a round tower. The burial-ground is well enclosed with a fine fence and a quick-set hedge of grown hawthorns. It rises high over the adjacent fields. North-west of the old church, and within the graveyard enclosure, is shown " St. Brigid's Well."3°4 It was dried up,3°s when visited

And a thousand green islets, with foam

girdled bright, Like gems chased in silver, and glistening

in light."

" As birds to the prey that come rushing

from far, They speed to enjoy the grand pastime of

war ; Proud Flaiths on whose helmets gemmed

coronets shine ; Proud Tanists with baldrics enriched by

the mine."

This Poem was issued in a small I2mo volume, at Dublin, in 1826.

294 According to John Fordun's " Scoti- chronicon," vol. ii., lib. xii., cap. xxxvii. , p. 271, Walter Goodall's Edition.

295 Authors differ greatly in their account both of the numbers engaged, and of those who fell. Barbour, whose object it was to pay all possible honour to the valour of his countrymen, says that Brace's army con tained about 2,000 men, not including his Irish auxiliaries ; and that they Were oppo sed by the overwhelming multitude of 40,000. Bruce, at his landing, had 6,000 men, and he afterwards received reinforcements from Scotland. Now, though he sustained some loss from the sword, famine, and other casualties of war, it is scarcely credible that his forces were reduced to one-third. The Irish annals compute his numbers at 3,000 ; but Ware says that 8,274 fell in the field, and that they were opposed by only 1,324 men-at-arms. Walsingham states the num ber of the slain to be 5,800, besides 29 barons and knights. The Anglo-Irish army is not said to have sustained any loss beside that of Maupus. See "Brace's Invasion of Ire land," note viii., pp. 113, 114.

196 Relative to the issue of this battle, we are told in "The Bras," writ be Master Johne Barbour : —

" And tha that at the fkhting wer Socht Schir Eduard to get his hed Emang the folk that thar was ded."

— Sec. cxxxn., 11. 200 to 202. The Spald- ing Club Edition, edited by C. Innes, p. 423. Aberdeen, 1856, 4to.

-97 An interesting account of this Irish expedition of the Braces is given in Sir Da vid Dalrymple's (Lord Hailes') " Annals of Scotland," vol. ii., pp. 60 to 82. Edin burgh, A.D. 1776, 1779, 4to.

^ See Barbour' s "Bruce," book xii.

299 See Thomas Moore's " History of Ireland," vol. iii., chap, xxxvi., p. 70.

3°° In 1836, his tomb was pointed out on the west end of the grave ; the remainder being concealed in the ground. Then it lay nearly horizontal, but sinking slightly to the east side. It was said to have been covered by notches, one of which was then visible.

301 This object seems to have disappeared.

3°- Thomas Wright informs us, that the nuns of the convent used to go upon their knees on particular occasions ; sometimes around the lesser and sometimes around the larger circles, as their penitence required. See " Louthiana," book iii., p. 19.

303 Views of all the foregoing curious ob jects are preserved for us in Plate xx., book iii., of Wright's " Louthiana," while in addition there is a ground plan of St. Brigid's quadrangular church in the grave yard.

3°s This, we were told, was the result of some previous desecration.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

by the writer,^5 but a pyramidical structure of stone and mortar, over a square aperture, remain ed. 3°? It is on a sloping part of the burial- ground, and surrounded by thickly-matted thorn bushes.

In the Parish of Foughart, there are five remarkable Moats. Three308 of these are on the townland of Upper Faughart ; another Moat is in Lower Faughart, 3°9 while one is onRoskeagh townland.310

All writers are agreed, that St. Brigid's birth cannot be very distantly removed from the mid dle of the fifth century. But authorities differ as to the exact date. Some writers — as for instance the Bollandists3" — place it so early as the year 436 or 437. 312 The " Annals of Dublin " and the " Annals of Ross,3'3 with Friar John 1* and Dr. Mere-

Si.. Brigid's Well, Faughart.

306 In May, 1874.

307 The accompanying illustration was drawn on the spot by V. George Du Noyer, and transferred to wood from his sketches in the R. I. A. by Gregor Grey, of Dublin, who also engraved it.

:i°8 One is called 111 OCA VACA^C ; another is denominated ITIocA «.\n c-feAn •ouinc ; while the other has no distinguishing name.

309 This is called 1U\c p,ileAft.

310 This is styled 111 OCA 1U\c fJoAr. Sec " Louth Letters, containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1835-1836," vol. i., p. 294.

311 Tillemont properly remarks, they had no sufficient grounds for their statements or conjectures. These they were obliged to adopt, because they supposed St. Brigid had interviews with St. Patrick, and that he had requested her to weave a shroud for him.

312 This circumstance of St. Brigid weav ing St. Patrick's shroud is assigned by

Henschenius and Papebrochius, to A. i>.

458, to make it accord with their hypothesis regarding St. Patrick's death occurring, as they suppose, in 460. Their predecessor Bollandus, who admitted the circumstance, relating to friendship existing between St. Patrick and St. Brigid (" Acta Sanctorum, Februarii," torn. i. , i. Februarii), was not obliged to antedate St. Brigid's birth. For, with Ussher, he supposed the former to have lived until the year 493. "Now the successors of Bollandus, when they rejected this date, should have rejected also what has been said about the shroud, &c., and thus would not have been reduced to assign, in opposition to the best authorities, her birth to the time above mentioned, and her death to 506 or 517." See Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i., chap, viii., sec. ii., p. 378, and n. 25, pp. 382, 383, ibid.

313 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi- arum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 459.

3M See this Tract of his published by the

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

dilh Hanmer,3'5 have 439. Another calculation should make her first sec the light in 443-316 The " Annals of Roscrea" note this event at A.D. 449-31.7 . A judicious Irish historian considers, that including A.D. 451 and 458, St. Bngid's birth must have occurred at some time within such era. Following Ussher s computation, affixing her birth to A.D. 453, 3l8 Dr. Lanigan appears to_concur. The " Annals of Cambrian's date it at A.D. 454. The " Annals of Imsfallen give A.D. 456 in the opinion of some writers.320 In the "Annals of Senat Mac Magnus," said to have been compiled by Charles Maguire, authors are cited for assigning the holy Virgin's birth to A.D. 45 7. 321 Henry of Marl- borough brings this event to so late a period as 468. 322

According to his computation, St. Brigid was only twelve years of age, when St. Patrick died, if we adopt Dr. Lanigan's opinion ; and the same writer supposes, our Saint might have been known to the Apostle of Ireland, at a very early age, in consequence of her singular sanctity having become conspicuous, and as she was derived from an illustrious family. But, it is thought, she could not have become a professed nun at that time, nor have already founded any religious house.323 During St. Patrick's lifetime, according to the most consistent and authentic acts of both Saints, the same historian remarks, that Brigid is not represented as having been a consecrated Virgin. However minute, in all matters relating to St. Patrick, his Tripartite Life only mentions St. Brigid on one occasion. ^ There it is related, that, when listening, together with a vast number of people, to a sermon of his, she fell asleep and had a vision relative to the then state of the Irish Church and to its future vicissitudes, as expounded by St. Patrick. He, knowing that she had a vision, desired her, after she awoke, to tell what she saw. The Saint replied, that at first she beheld a herd of white oxen amidst white crops, then spotted ones of various colours, after which appeared _black and dark-coloured oxen. These were succeeded by sheep and swine, wolves and dogs jarring with each othcr.325 There appears to be no good reason

Irish Archaeological Society. " Quadrin- 3" So states Us.sher in "Britannicarum

gentesimo 39°. Nascitur beata virgo Bri- Kcclesiarum Antiquitates,"cap. xvii., p-459-

gicla." — " Annales Hiberniffi," p. 4. However, in Henry Marleburrough's

' 3<5 In his " Chronicle of Ireland," p. 89. "Chronicle of Ireland," as published by the

Other writers assume the same date, as in Ilibernia Press Company, 410, in 1809, we

" Vetusto libro Chromellice," quoted by find no such notice, and there his Chronicle

Ussher. See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum commences with A.D. 1285, ending with

Antiquitates," cap. xvii., p. 459. A.D. 1421.

3l6 Colgan remarks, that according to an 3*3 " The lowest age, which I find to have

opinion, not improbable, St. Brigid lived to been allowed in those times in any part of

be eighty years. Hence, as it is very the Church for taking the veil, was that_ of

generally supposed, she died on February 16 or 17 years. (St. Basil, Ep. Canotnca,

1st, A.D. 523, her birth must naturally be can. 18.) The African Canons fixed it at

referred to A.D. 443. See "Trias Thau- 25; and this regulation became very general

maturga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. in the "Western Church. Yet even in the

Brigidiie, cap. ix., p. 620. countries where it was received, it might

31? See ibid, have been dispensed with in certain cases.

318 See "Index Chronologicus," at A.D. (See Gilbert, Corp. J. Can., torn, ii., p. CCCCLIII., p. 520. 410)-" — L>r. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical His-

319 The "Annales Cambria:," supposed tory of Ireland," vol. i., chap, viii., sec. II, by the editor, Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, n. 27, p. 383.

to be perhaps the oldest chronicle of Welsh 3=4 gee Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga,"

affairs extant, places her birth at A.D. 454. Scptima Vita S. Fatricii, lib. iii., cap. iv.,

See Preface, p. ix. and p. 3. pp. 149, 150.

320 See "Annales Inisfalcnses," p. 3, 3=5 See also Jocelyn's, or Sexta Vita S. tomus ii. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni- Fatricii, cap. xciv., xcv., Colgan's "Trias carum Scriptores." Thaumaturga," pp. 86, 87. Dr. Lanigan

321 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," adds :—" In this narrative there is nothing Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidce, cap. repugnant to the ways of the Almighty, ix., p. 620. who has been often pleased to impart to

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID. 33

for admitting, that during the illustrious Apostle's life-time, St. Erigid had been abbess of a monastery, nor concerning her having woven that shroud in which St. Patrick's body was enveloped after death, and at his own parti cular request. 3* Still more, it must be observed, that neither Co^itosus nor the author of the first or of the fifth Life, has a single word about it. What is very remarkable, moreover, these never once mention St. Patrick notwithstanding the care, with which they collected whatever could redound to the honour of St. Erigid. Had she enjoyed those frequent interviews, or kept up a correspondence with St. Patrick, or attended him at his death, it is scarcely possible, that those writers, who are evidently her most ancient biographers, should have been quite silent on such material points.

From her very childhood, we are told, she had been accustomed to an excellent course of instruction ; and, as she grew up, this holy maiden pre sented each day some fresh proof of religious decorum and modesty. In all things, she conformed to the inspirations of I )ivine Grace. Her very name seemed pre-ordained to indicate her future spiritual stated The story is told of her, that when she was a mere child, playing at holy things, she got a smooth slab of stone which she tried to set up as a little altar ; then a beautiful angel joined in her play, and made wooden legs to the altar, and bored four holes in the stone, into which the legs might be driven, so as to make it stand.32 Such legends as these— although inexactly preserved— usually attest a life of virtue, from the cradle to the" grave.

CHAPTER II.

THE SCOTCH CLAIM TO ST. BRIGID's BIRTH EXAMINED— PROBABLE ORIGIN OF THIS ERROR— REFUTATION — EARLY AM) ST I'l.KN ATCKAI. INDICATIONS OF URIGID's

SANCTITY— HER SPIRIT OF ]'K< )I'I I KC V MAM FKSTED— HF.R INFANTILE VIRTUES

HER PROBABLE ACQUAINTANCE WITH ST. PATRICK DURING CHILDHOOD— HER RE SOLUTION TO LIVE A VIRGIN — HER CHARACTERISTICS AND COMPARISON TO THK BLESSED VIRGIN MARY HY THE IRISH.

IT must appear strange, at the present day, to understand, that some of the mediaeval Scotch chroniclers and historians reputed St. Erigid to have been a native of modern Scotland. This idea probably arose from the fact, that ancient writers of her Acts stated her having been born, her having lived, and

J'.nfans f,-M»\-s, what may we not expect

held from the learned and wise of this world. from the omnipotence of God in the order It was thus that while the chief priests and of grace?"— " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- scribes remained in their infidelity, the chil- land," vol. i., chap. viii., n. 28 pp. 383 dren cried out, Hosanna to the Sot cf David, 384.

through a Divine impulse, as appears from -° This circumstance is mentioned, in the

our Saviour's answer to those wiseacres; Tertia Vita S. Brigidrc, cap. lx., p. 534;

''And they said to him ; hearest thou what in the Quarta Vita S. Brigidre, lib. ii., cap.

these say/ Jesus replied; Yes: have you xxx., p. 554; and in the Sexta Vita S.

never read, that out of the month of injants Brigidre, sec. xlvi., p. 592. and sucking babes tJwu hast perfected praise? "So Laurence' of Durham appears to

Matt. xxi. 1 6. St. Brigid might have been think ; while Colgan remarks, that Brigh,

at that time ten or eleven years old, an age meaning "virtue," is likely to have been

fully sufficient to render her in the hands of the original Irish source for the name Brigida

God, an instrument fit for displaying the or Brigid. See "Trias Thaumaturga,"

wonderful effects of 1 1 is grace and II is know- Ouinta Vita S. Brigida;, cap. viii., and n.

ledge of all things. If in what is called the 10, pp. 569, 640.

order of nature we find so many children of * See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of

extraordinary precocity in learning, so many the Saints," vol. ii., February i, p. 17.

D

,4 LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

her having died in Scotia. Yet by such term, those do not refer to any other country except our own island. Among Scottish authors, who claim our illus trious patroness as their countrywoman, may be specially mentioned John Major1 and Hector Boece.2 Both Camerarius-' and Dempster* assert, that she was born and that she died, in Albania or British Scotia. 1 1 has been generally advanced by old writers, that she was of Scottish race. Thus, George Garn- teld s or Garnefelt, Antonio Possevino,6 Raphael Yolaterranus,? Sigebert Gem- blacensis8 and Marianus* write. That St. Hrigid was born in Scotia is an opinion formed by Antonius Sabellicus,- by Petrus de Natalibus," and by a writer of the general Chronicles of the World. Sigebert tells us, she died in the same country at the year 578, and the Chronicle, entitled, "Rudimentum Novitiorunv" has her death at A.D. 520. Her Natalis, indeed, has been oh served in Scotia, on the ist of February. This may be found among nearly all Ila-iologists and Martyrologists. It is noted in the Roman Martyrplogy, and in the Martyrologies of T.ede, Usuard, Ado, Viennen., Rodulphus Riyius, and the Carthusian ^Martyrology. Galesinus and many other writers both Irish and forei-ni, allow, that our saint was a native ot Scotia. \ et, although this be admitted, it will not follow, however, that St. Brigid was born in British Scotia, or that her ancestors were natives of that country. ^ On the contrary, evidence is afforded, that the island known as Hiberma, had been called Scotia, by ancient writers of every condition, age, and nation." ^\ e are told, that previous to the eleventh century, no one thought of calling that part of Britain, now known as Scotland, by the name ot Scotia. \\ nters usually called it Albania. All who mentioned Scotia to the period designated understood Scotia as applicable to an island,1- situated between Britain and Spain.1* If all other arguments were wanting in support of such a position, various passages, foumfin the old acts of St. Brigid, should be sufficient _ to establish it. For by birth and descent, this holy virgin was evidently a native of Ireland ; she died there ; and she was particularly venerated in our island.

CHAr ii— ' See "IlistoriaMajoris r>ri- Dempster to have, "in memlicabulis re-

tannue, tarn Anglic, quam Scotia>," lib. ii., pressis Hibernorum," vindicated our ht.

cap. xiv., \\ 85. Edinburgh edition, A.D. Brigid's fame for Scotland.

1740," 4to. 5 s" " De vita Eremitica, p. 223.

2 See "Scotorum Historic, a prhna 5 See " Apparatus bacer, p. 252.

gent is origine," £c., lib. ix., fol. clxiiii. ? Commentariorum. Ad annum 521, hh.

Prelum Ascensianum, fol. xxu, p. 035.

3 See " IV Statu llominis, Veteris simul s See " Chronicon, ad annum 516. bee ac nov;-e Keclesi.v, et Inhdelium Conver- " Monumenta Germanias Histonca, tomus sione," lib. i., cap. iii., see. ii. Camerarius vi., p. 314. _

cites many authorities, yet these only prove 9 In his "Chronicle at A.D. 521, ttod.,

she was a " Vir^o Seota." Among such tomus v.

authorities are quoted, Rodulphus de Breda, I0 See " /Enead, vui., lib. n. __

Tungrensis Diaconus " In Calendario Gene- "See "Catalogus Sanctorum, lib. m.,

rali." Massivus, "In Clironico," lib. xii. cap. Ixix.

Franciscus Rosier " Stemmatum l.othar- = Almost the sole exception is Dempster.

inguv," tomus iii. Gualterius, " In Chrono- With his follower Camerarius, that unac-

loi,'io." Genebrardus "In C'hronieo." Ri- countable chronographer and chorographer

badeneira " In Vitis Sanctorum." IVlrio, maintains an opposite opinion with a fantasy

"Disquisis. Magic," tomus ii., lib. iv. fa- peculiar to himself.

cobus Gretserus in his preface to "Com- '-'This Colgan promised to prove from

mentar. Exegetici in Serenissimum Jacobum ancient and modern writers, belonging to

Magnx Britannia) Regem.'' Theuetus every age and nation, in a volume where he

" Cosmog," lib. xvi., in" his description of intended to illustrate solely the ecclesiastical

Scotia. 'See pp. 140, 141. antiquities of Ireland. This work, however,

4 See " Ilistoria Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco- he did not live to publish.

torum," tomus i., lib. ii., p. 82. Edinburgh I4 In accord with a prevailing geographical

edition, 1829, 410. Camerarius supposes notion of the early and middle ages.

LIFE OF ST. BR1GID.

35

Hence, as a consequence, when ancient writers mention her country as Scotia, it is certain they must have meant Ireland.

Dempster most strangely asserts, that St. Brigid was born in Laudonia, a province of Albanian Scotia.^ Now, by St. Columkille, Apostle of Al banian Scotia, and patron of Scotia Major or Hibernia, she is called our Saint of Lagenia. It may be objected, with Dempster, that when writers treat about St. Brigid and her parents, the word Lagenia or Lageniensis are everywhere incorrectly used for Laudenia, Ladenensis or Laudianensis.'6 Hut this is clearly a foolish and blind subterfuge. Can he find in this Laudenia, Kildare, Campus Leiffe, Campus Gessille, Campus Bregh, with many other Irish names and places, which as the author of her Third Life1? relates are in St. Brigid's country, and which are well known to be situated within the Irish province of Leinster ? Can he find, in his Scotia, the town Macha or Armagh, the ecclesiastical metropolis of Ireland, or the great river Sinann,'3 which turns its course from Albanian Scotia, and which Irom near Clanawley district, runs through the middle of Ireland, into the ocean ? Both are placed by this same author in the Scotia of St. Brigid's birth. 19 Dempster falsely assigns to his Scotia these places, and others mentioned by him, such as Campus Femhin, Campus Cliach, Arx Lethglass. More over, very few writers, at the present day, even if ignorant regarding the situation and obscure nomenclature of the places just mentioned, will be foolish enough to claim for Scotland, all the other Irish provinces, vi/. : — Media,20 Connacia,-'1 Lagenia,2- Ultonia,2^ Mummonia.-'-* So long as these are left us, we can still lay claim to Hibernia, Brigid and Scotia. 25 Again, all the circumstances related, regarding her parentage,16 birth,2? receiving the

15 St. Cogitosus, in the first chapter of her life, says, that St. Brigid was horn in Scotia, and descended from the good and honour able family of L'thech, her father being named Dubtach, and her mother Brocessa. By the Scotia here mentioned, it is evident, Scotia Major, or Ireland, must be intended ; as well because no author who flourished before the time of Cogitosus, nor any writer who lived 400 years after him, understood that any other country save Ireland had re ceived this name of Scotia, as also, because Fthech's family flourished in Hibernia, and not in Scotia Minor or Albania. Again, the same author mentions a celebrated church of St. Brigid at Kildare, which he greatly extols in his prologue, and most ac curately describes in the 351!! chapter of her Life. In this church, he tells us, St. Brigid was interred. He also names a most exten sive plain of Bu.;, in the 2yth chapter. Other bishops of Ireland are alluded to in this same life, as likewise in its prologue, when the words, Scotia and Ilibernia, Scoti and Hibernienses are used as synonymous terms.

16 See " Ilistoria Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco- torum," tomus i., lib. ii., pp. 82, 84.

J? Attributed by Colgan to St. Ultan. See " Trias Thaumaturga." Tertia Vita S. Brigidre, cap. xlvii., li., hi., liv., Ixii., Ixiv. Many other references might be made.

18 Now the Shannon.

"> See //</(/., cap. Ixii., xcvii.

50 Now Meath.

-' Now Connaught.

22 Now Leinster. " Now Ulster. "4 Now Minister.

23 Sec Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga." Appendix Ouarta ad Acta S. Urigidaj, cap. iv., pp. 614, 615.

-° In his Life of our saint, and in the first chapter, when speaking of her father, St. Ultan tells u>, that he was a certain Dubtach, go ten' J.ii^aiii>i.<is, \c. He states, that St. Brigid's mother had been sold to a certain Magus belonging to the family of Neill and to the territory of Meath, at a time when she bore our saint in her womb (cap. 3). Animosus, or the author of St. Brigid's Fourth Life, informs us, that there was a glorious king in Ireland named Fedhlimid Reach'. :nar, see lib. i. , cap. i., how Lochad Fionn, brother to this same king, had mi grated to Leinster, and that there Dubtach, St. Brigid's father, descended from him. See ibid.

-i The author of the Fourth Life of St. Brigid tells us, how a certain poet from the northern part of Ireland bought Brosaech the mother of St. Brigid, during a time when she was pregnant (cap. 4) ; and when treating about the place of our saint's birth, he assures us, that it was a town named Fochart llurthcmne, of Conaille Muirthem-

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

veil personal connexions,25 the places she visited,2* the houses she founded, and where she died,3° can only have reference to Ireland. 3' Besides all this, the unanimous opinions and traditions of the Irish and of every other foreign nation tend to establish most conclusively, that the illustrious and super- eminent vir<nn,3" called even " the Mary of Ireland,'^ had been ever con tinuously and specially regarded as a native and great patron saint m our country.

At the present day, it would prove quite superfluous to enter upon any enquiry as to the country of St. Brigid's birth ; a weight of historical autho rity and universal popular tradition fully vindicating the claims of Ireland to this honour. Yet, it appears, Colgan thought it necessary, in his time, to devote a rather lengthened dissertation to establish a position controverted by certain writers.:* In order to expose Dempster's misstatements, and those of other Brito-Scottish writers, he addresses many arguments, although dubious, if it would not seem diminishing the force of manifest truth by proving a self-evident proposition. In .the first place, that she was of Irish descent and bom in Ireland, had been established by authorities numerously cited. Foreign as well as domestic writers bear abundant testimony to the fact that St. Brig-id was a native of our island. Thus Raban,3S Notkaiy6 St.

hne district, in the province of Ulster (cap. 6). See Usshcr, " De Primordiis Ecclesi- arum Britannia," cap. xvi., p. 706.

28 It can he shown, by referring to their descent, festivals, places, and days of vene ration, that many saints, allied to St. Brigid, were Irish.

29 The author of St. Brigid's Third Life- thought by Colgan to be St. Ultan — states, that St. Brigid was born in the country and house of a Magus (cap. 4) ; that this identical Magus went with the infant to Connaught, so soon as she was born (cap. 5) ; and, in the following chapter, he relates, how the child had been brought up in Connaught, until she had become a grown maiden. He tells us, how she returned to Lagenia, where her father lived (cap. n) ; how she was called another Mary, at a certain synod, assembled in the plain of the Liffey, in which Kildare is situated (cap. 14) ; how, in com pany with her father, she left the house of this latter to visit the King of Leinster, in the Liffey's great plain (cap. 90). He re lates, how she had received the veil in that land, belonging to the Niall family (cap. 1 8), and which is identical with Meath, as after wards indicated (cap. 21). He also records, in the following chapters, what she achieved in different countries and provinces of Ire land, as for instance, in Theba (cap. 29) ; how she accompanied St. Patrick to the northern part of Ireland, called Ulster, and what she did at the Castle of Lethglass and in the town of Macha (cap. 57, 60, 61) ; how she went with Bishop Ere, of Munster descent, into the southern province of Ire land (cap. 71) ; how returning to the ex treme bounds of Leinster, she entered the Labrathi country (cap. Si), and how in fine, returning to her father's house, she saved him from impending death (cap. 87). We have already seen, that in a hymn subjoined

to St. Ultan's Life of our saint, she is said to have been distinguished in that island, " quse vocatur Hibernia," &c. If St. Brigid had been born in Britain, is it not strange, that St. Ultan, in no place, speaks of her birth, education, religious profession, &c., as having occurred there, while these inci dents, and special localities already men tioned, are referable alone to Ireland ? Nor does he even indicate, in one single instance, that she had ever left our island.

3° In his Life of our saint, when describing the church of Kildare in Leinster, Cogitosus tells us, that St. Brigid was buried in it (cap. xxxv.). And, towards the end of her Acts, Animosus says, that she died, and was buried in Ireland (lib. ii., cap. xcix.). Blessed Marianus Scotus, in his Chronicle, at the year 521, writes, " S. Brigida Scota Virgo in Hibernia diem clausit extremum." 3' These reliable writers, St. Cogitosus, St. Cormac, archbishop, Animosus, Keat ing, and others, exhibit this fact sufficiently, when introducing her paternal and maternal genealogies.

33 St. ^Engus calls her a "bright Virgin and chief of holy Irishwomen," in his Festi- logy, at the 1st of February. In like manner, Marianus O' Gorman, at the same date, styles her " Chief- Virgin or Chief of the Virgins of Ireland."

33 Among Irish authorities may be enu merated, St. Ibar, an Irish Apostle, who calls St. Brigid, "Mary of the Irish," when she came from the house of her father Dub- tach to that synod, assembled at Kildare, in Leinster.

34 Such as Dempster and Camerarius.

35 In his Martyrology, at the 1st of Feb ruary, Raban says, " In Hibernia nativitas S. Brigidas. "

36 In his Martyrology, St. Notkar enters at the same day: "In Hibernia nativitas

LIFE OF ST. BRIG ID.

37

Bernard,3? Florence of Worcester,38 John Capgrave,3? Francis Hare,40 Zacharias Lippeloo,41 Cornelius Grassius/2 the English Martyrology,4-* Baronius,** Herebert Ros\veyde,« Legends of the Brabantine Saints/6 and a great number of other highly respectable authorities, may be cited. Various Breviaries and offices might be added. 4? Nor even do Scotch authors of respectability*3 deny this origin for the Scotian virgin, in ages now past ; while none of them at present claim Scotland to have been the country of her birth, although she is there greatly venerated.

It may easily be supposed, however, that John Majorca and Hector

S. Brigida;, Virginis," iS:c.

3? In "Vita S. Malachia;," he speaks of Fochart, as being the birth-place of St. Brigid, while alluding to St. Malachy's acts anil travels in Ireland, cap. xxiv.

38 Florence of Worcester records, " S.- Brigida Scota Virgo in Hibernia obiit," A.D. 521.

3yjohn Capgravc, in his " Legcnda Sanc torum Anglin.'," says, " \"ir quidam in Ili- bernia nomine Dubthacus, geiierc Lage- niensis," cVc.

4u " Vitic Sanctorum," at the 1st of Feb ruary.

41 "Vita: sivc Res Gest;c Sanctorum," at the 1st of February.

42 At the 1st of February.

45 The English Martyrology, at the 1st of February, says, "In Hibernia depositio S. Brigida.1, virginis, qua; in Comitatu Kill- dariensi in loco Fochart appellato nata est."

1)4 At this same year, 521 Baronius says, " Hoc insiiper anno S. Brigida, Scota Virgo in Hibernia diem clausit extremum. Hoc in Chronico gentilis ipsius Marianus Scotus, cui potius assentiendum putamus, quam, iis qui ante bicnnium defunctam ponunt." — " Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus vii.

45 In his " Chronicle," at the year 521 : " Eodem anno S. Virgo Brigida, ctijus pn.i> clara vita hodie extat, in Hibernia obiit."

46 In the "Lcgenda Sanctorum Brabantiu;" we read: "S. Brigida venerabilis Virgo Hibernia fuit instar suaveolentis rosa;, quie super spinas floret."

47 That St. Brigid was an Irishwoman and a Lagenian, both by birth and descent, will be found in her office in the " Breviarium Gienensum," when we read : " Natale Bri gida; Virginis qua; a Christianis nobilibus- que parentibus orta, patre Dubthaco et matre Broca, a pueritia bonarum artium studiis inolevit, adeo ut de omnibus pro- vinciis Hibernia; innumerabiles populi con- fluentes ad ejus monasterium," <kc. (cap. 2). Again, in her office, printed at Paris, A. u. 1620, Resp. i, "Felicem Hiberniam beata Lageniadeclarat,Brigidajgignansprosapiam, de qua lastitiatn sumat ecclesia ;" and in the hymn, " llxc est Laurus Hibernian, cujus viror non marcuit," &c.

48 James Gordon, himself a Scotchman, in his " Chronicle," at the year 521 : " S. Brigida Scota moritur ia Hibernia." John

Bisciol in his " F.pitome Annalium," A.D. 521, writes, " S. Brigida Scota \"irgo in Hibernia diem clausit extremum." See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga." Appendix Uuarta ad Acta S. Brigida', cap. iv. , pp. 615, 6 1 6.

4/ It is strange that Major — otherwise so learned — could have fallen into so many chronological and historic mistakes, as, when citing Mede for authority, he states, that St. Columba came into Britain, while Brudeus, a powerful king, reigned over the 1'icts ; that (laniard, the son of Dompnach, succeeded to Brudeus, and built a collegiate church at Abernethy. Afterwards, it is added, the blessed Patrick brought St. Brigid into that place ; when (iarnard pre sented certain possessions to the holy Brigid and to nine virgins, who accompanied her. The.-.e possessions the Propositus and canons held in his time. See "Historia Majoris Britannia;," iVc., lib. ii., cap. xiv., p. 85. Bede testifies, indeed, that St. Columba came from Ireland to Albania in the year 565, while Brudeus or Bridius, son of Meilo- chon, ruled over the Picts. See " Historia Fcclesiastica (ientis Anglorum," lib. iii., cap. iv., p\i. 168, 169. (iarnard succeeded in the government. Now, according to Marianus Scotus and Sigebert, in their Chronicles, St. Patrick died A.I). 491, or according to other admitted accounts, in 493. Thus, he flourished many years be fore St. Columba and Brudeus were born, or before (iarnard reigned. Wherefore, St. Patrick could not have introduced St. Brigid into Abernethy, during the time when lived any of those already named. In fine, how could St. Brigid be installed at Abernethy, about the time of Garnard, king over the Picts, if she died A.D. 521, or according to other accounts, in 523 ? or how could that king offer possessions to her, and to the nine virgins, accompanying her? If it be objected, Major meant that King Garnard, bestowed those possessions, not during St. Brigid's life-time but to express his great veneration for her, when she had departed from this world ; why, it may be asked, does he observe, that the aforesaid church had been built by Garnard, that St. Brigid had been inducted there, and that certain endowments were made, unless St. Brigid and her virgins were living ? We may remark, there ib not

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

Boetius,s° who advance these statements, did not voluntarily fall into error : they had even some apparent foundation whereon their opinions might have been based. The source of their mistake seems to have arisen from the in determinate name of Erigicl. Giraldus Cambrensis, too,_has strangely con fused her period.51 Many other holy women bear a similar name and be long to our country, as mentioned in native martyrologies. Nay more, in Scotland, the name of Brigid was highly extolled, and several females were named after her. Among others, there was a certain saint so called, who had been buried at Abernethy52 in Britannic Scotia.53 Abernethy as a see was at one time superior to St. Andrew's. 54 It was even primatial,ss but it was transferred to the latter place, in 850.56 That Brigid, however, was quite a different person from the Patroness of Ireland." As this latter, had been much more celebrated and exalted in popular estimation, she was probably considered to have been the person alluded to, by those writers mentioned ; they not having known about any other Brigid, nor having weighed atten tively those arguments, which might favour a contrary conclusion.53 It is

a shadow — much less a probability — of truth, in the supposition, that St. Brigid, a Scot, and by profession a Christian, left her country and Christian friends, with a band of virgins, or betook herself to a Pagan and hostile nation, as alsobeforeits kingand chiefs had been converted, establishing herself there in a royal city, where she dwelt to the time of her death. The Northern Picts, with their king, had been pagans, for more than forty years after St. Brigid's death, and until St. Columba came, from Ireland in 565, when he afterwards converted them to the faith. These facts are sufficiently clear, from the testimony of Venerable Becle. See " Ilistoria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo- rum," lib. iii., cap. iv., pp. 168, 169, and lib. v., cap. x., pp. 400 to 403.

5° See " Scotorum Historic, aprima Gcn- tis Origine," &c., lib. ix., fol. clxiiii.

51 Thus he states, that St. Patrick, St. Brigid, and St. Columkille were cotem- poraries. See " Topographia Hibernica," Dist. iii., cap. xviii., in Giraldi Cambrensis "Opera." Edited by James F. Dimock, M.A., p. 163. Father Stephen White de votes nearly a chapter to an elaborate refu tation of this misstatement, and to other errors in relation to them. See "Apologia pro Ilibernia," cap. xii. , pp. 123 to 131. Rev. Dr. Kelly's edition.

52 See an interesting account of this place in Fullarton's " Imperial Gazetteer of Scot land," vol. i. , pp. 22 to 24.

53 In Colgan's opinion, the St. Brigid, in terred at Abernethy, should rather be con sidered a holy virgin, who was a disciple of St. Columba, Bishop of Dunkeld, in Scot land. She is mentioned in Capgrave's " Acta S. Cuthberti," and in Ussher's " Primordia Ecclesiarum Britannicarum, " cap. xvi., p. 705? where we read, " S. Co lumba primus Episcopus in Dunkeld Cuth- bertum puerum suscepit ; unaque cum puella quadam. nomine Brigida ex Ilibernia

oriunda retinuit, ct aliquamdiu cducavit." It is supposed, if the circumstances of time do not warrant such an opinion, those of place are favourable to it, for this St. Brigid had been educated in Britannic Scotia.

54 See Rev. Mackenzie E. C. Walcott's " Scoti-Monasticon : The Ancient Church of Scotland," p. 2.

55 Ibid., p. 72. This work contains some beautiful illustrations of Scottish churches.

& Ibid,, p. 84.

S? It is said, St. Cuthbert flourished in Britain, about A.I). 660, and at this period, Garnard lived according to Buchannan's "Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. v., p. 148. He died A. I). 640, the fifty-third king of the Picts. See Rev. Thomas Innes' "Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scot land." Chronological Memoirs, p. 225.

s8 In his time, John Major remarks, that St. Brigid was venerated at Abernethy. See " Historice Majoris Britannia," lib. ii., cap. xiv., p. 85. But, if this be not the identical Brigid there venerated, she might have been a St. Brigid, daughter to Neman, son of Aid, son to Loarn, son to Ere, son to Eochad, surnamed Muinreamhuir, Prince of Dalaradia. She is thought to have been venerated in Magoluinge, on the 9'h °f March. It is certain, this Brigid, with her three sisters Corba, Lassara, and Lemania, had descended from the line of Dalriadan princes, who were formerly most powerful chiefs both in Scotia Major, or Ireland, and in Scotia Minor, or Scotland. From this line, the kings of Albanian Scotia issued. In the same Albanian Scotia we find a loca lity, termed Magluinge. This appears, where the plain of Lunge is said to have been "in terra Ethica," according to Adamnan's "Vita S. Columbce," lib. ii., cap. 15. The country, called "terra Ethica," seems to have derived its denomination from Ethech or Echodius, prince of Dalaradia, or as he is called by the British Scots Ethod.

LIFE OF ST. BRIG ID. 39

not difficult, moreover, to discover the origin of that error, into which Hector Boetius,5? and other writers after him, had been betrayed, when they state, that St. Brigid of Kildare was veiled in the Isle of Man, and by Bishop Machille. In some of St. Brigid's Acts, we read, that she had received the veil from a Bishop Machille, or more correctly, from a Bishop Maccalleus.60 In certain Acts of the Irish Apostle,61 it is stated, that Maccaldus, or more properly Macculleus, a disciple to our illustrious Irish Apostle, had been consecrated a bishop and placed over the Isle of Man.62 Hence, it had been incorrectly supposed St. Brigid received the veil in that island, while it is evident from her Acts by Cogitosus, that she had been invested with it, not in Mannia,°-5 but in Media.'-* and that it had been given to her, not by Macculleus, Bishop of Man, but by another Maccalleus, quite a different person from the first-named prelate.65

It will surprise the curious investigator of our glorious saint's biography, to learn on what grounds Scoto-British writers state her birth to have taken place in Laudonia, that she was veiled by Bishop Machille in Mona Island,66 that she died and was buried at Abernethy/? in the Tiffa district of North Britain ; especially, when we take into account, that among many writers of St. Brigid's Acts, no one of them has even stated, she was born out of Ireland, or has mentioned any other place or country in Britain having connection with her Life and labours. We can hardly take into account Dempster's ridiculous explanation, that Laclenia/8 a province of Britain, should be sub stituted for Lagcnia. In previous passages, it will be seen, that the most authentic accounts make St. Brigid, not only a native of Ireland, but they even assert she was conceived in Leinster, was born in Ulster, and had been educated in Connaught ; they likewise state, that she assumed the veil in Mcath, while her labours extended to Minister, as well as to those other provinces already mentioned. In fine, it is stated, she died at Kildare in Lcinster, and afterwards she was honourably interred at Down in Ulster, having been deposited in the same tomb with St. Patrick and Columkille. Moreover, her paternal and maternal genealogy, derived through such a long line of ancestors, so many saints related to her, so many other holy Irish virgins bearing her name, and so many journeys taken by her, through Irish

59 See " Scotorum Ilisloria1," &c., lib. 6s See "Appendix Quarta ad Acta S.

i.x., ful. clxiiii. Brigida.1," cap. iv., pp. 614 to 617, ibid.

'" Sec Colon's "Trias Thaumaturga. " 0lJ A line old Map of Mona, with Coats of

Ilymnus sou Trima Vila S. Brigid;c, sec. S, Arms, coloured, was published in folio size

p. 515. Secunda Vita S. Brigidix.', cap. iii., about A.D. 1020. In 1835, was issued at

p. 519. Quinta Vita S. Brigida.', cap. xxix., Douglas, in 8vo shape, Arch. Crcgecn's

p. 574. "Dictionary of the Manks Language, intcr-

61 l!y Jocelyn. spersed with many Gaelic Proverbs."

6- See " Sexta Vita S. Fatr.cii," cap. clii., b? There is an interesting account of Aber-

p. 98. Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga." nethy (Apurnethige) in Rev. Mackenzie E.

63 The Island of Man. See " Chronicon S. Walcott's " Ancient Church of Scotland," Manniiu, or a Chronicle of the Kings of pp. 3 '6, 31?-

Man," supposed to have been written by the 68 Colgan says, he could not find any pro- Monks of the Abbey of Russin, for an in- vince, territory or spot, called Laudenia or tcresting account of the civil and ccclesias- Landian. If perchance, Dempster wished tical history of the island. This I2mo book, to understand Laudonia, most certainly in published in 1784, contains the Norwegian St. Brigid's time, it did not belong to the narrative of Olave, the Black King of Man, Picts or Scots, but to the more southern with other curious particulars. Britons. In the century of Venerable Bede,

64 Or the territory of Meath. See Colgan's it appertained to the Northumbrians and "Trias Thaumaturga." Secunda Vita S. English. This is proved by Ussher, in his Brigida}, cap. iii., p. 519, and n. II, p. 525, " 1'rimordia Ecclesiarum Britannicarum," ibid. pp. 663, 667.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

towns, plains and territories, from her birth to the time of her death, prove conclusively, that St. Bngid should be specially classed among our national saints. It is not a little surprising— to say the least of it— to find Dempster6? has not only infelicitously, but even incautiously, jumbled irrelevant circum stances, with his assertions. 7° It is incredible to suppose, that so many reliable authors, as those already cited, could egregiously and perseveringly have corrupted the names of Lagenia and Laudenia, in the manner it has pleased Dempster alone to imagine, and that without any grounds.?1 To assume that he meant Laudonia,?2 if we allow, that before Bede's time, it belonged to Albania, it certainly was never under the Scottish dominion, but solely under that of the Picts, from whom Pictland is called. If therefore, St. Brigid had been born in Laudonia," it must be conceded, she was not a Scot, but a Briton, or at least a Pict, by family and birth.

To resume what we consider the more legendary accounts of our saint's early infancy, it is said, that the Magus, the mother of St. Brigid, her nurse and others, who were sitting in a certain place without the house, saw a cloth take fire suddenly^ and it" touched the head of this holy child, who was beside them. But, when their hands were immediately stretched forth to ex tinguish the flame, it disappeared at once, and the cloth was even found to have escaped the ravages of this fire. Such a portent was supposed to have been an indication, that the grace of the Holy Spirit inflamed God's servant^ On another occasion, while this same Magus was sleeping, he had a vision of two angels,?6 clothed in white, pouring oil on the girl's head, and seeming to perform a baptismal rite in the usual manner. " From such account, some persons have inferred our saint had been baptized by an angel. How ever, this should be a false conjecture, as the Magus is merely said to have seen this apparition during his sleep, and it only indicated the future per formance of the rite, as also the name Brigid was destined to bear.?8

One of those angels said to the Magus : " Call this virgin Brigid, for

6' This writer remarks, St. Brigid has been called a Lagenian, whereas, she ought to be considered a Ladenian ; her father, it is pre tended, having been from Ladenia, deno minated Landian, in Dempster's time. " Ex Ladenia mine Landian," &c. See " Ilis- toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," lib. ii., num. 144.

7° These manifestly false statements ob viously destroy all faith in accounts, the in accuracy of which could not otherwise be so easily detected by a cursory reader of his works. Wilful negligence and perversion of facts are very clearly attributable to this self- constituted historian.

71 Yet, after all, if we should institute a careful examination of the entire map of British Scotland, we shall not be able to discover the Ladenia or Landian, imagined by Dempster, no more than we could expect to find Lagenia there. Having attentively read over all the names of Albanian Scotia's provinces, territories and other particular localities, and their very accurate descrip tions, as given by Hector Boetius and George Buchannan, Colgan could find no such de nomination.

72 A very interesting account of this pro vince, Loudian, or Lothian, will be found in

Chalmers' " Caledonia," vol. i., book iii., chap, vi., pp. 367 to 373.

73 As Dempster states.

74 In Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of the Saint, this cloth is called the covering or cap, which was on the infant's head, pp. 7, 8.

75 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga." Tertia Vita S. Brigidre, cap. vi., pp. 527, 528. Quarta Vita S. Brigidoe, lib. i.,cap. x., p. 547, ibid.

76 The Irish Life has three angels, clothed in white garments, like clerics. Professor O'Looney's copy, pp. 7, 8.

77 Colgan remarks, that the ministry of angels is often read, as having been em ployed in the administration of the sacra ments to men. The Fifth Life expressly says; "aqua perfundentes totum ordinem baptismatis sicut Catholica consuevit eccle- sia, super earn peregerunt." Colgan adds that a succeeding prophecy seems to have its truth confirmed from experience. See "Trias Thaumaturga." Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, n. 16, p. 564. Quinta Vita S. Brigidae, cap. viii., p. 569, and nn. 9, II, p. 640.

78 See Tertia Vita S. Brigidoe, n. 7, p. 543. Quarta Vita S. Brigidce, n. 15, p. 564-

LIFE OF ST. BRIG ID. 41

she shall be full of grace before God and man, and her name shall be celebrated throughout the entire world.'"' Pronouncing such words, those angels disappeared. On a certain occasion, being awake, and studying the course of the heavenly bodies, according to a usual custom7* during the whole night, that same Magus saw a column of fire ascending from the house, in which Brigid and her mother slept. He called another man to witness such phenomenon. In the morning, an account of this prodigy was given to many other persons.80 We are told, that the child's stomach rejected the food of the Magus, and on endeavouring to discover a cause for such nausea, the magician was urged to cry out : " I am unclean, but this girl is filled with graces of the Holy Spirit, and that is the reason why she will not retain any sustenance which I supply to her." Whereupon, lie procured a white cow,8' which was intended to give milk, while a certain religious and Christian woman was provided to take charge of the infant. That woman milked the cow, and the milk, afterwards given to the child, was found to agree with her. Yet, while the infant suffered from weakness, her personal beauty even improved.32 As the maid grew up, she served in menial offices about the house.8-5 Whatever she touched or saw, in the shape of food, seemed to increase in a miraculous manner. It is remarked, that the Magus and his family were Pagans at the time of these occurrences. Afterwards, however, he became a Christian. A little before this latter event, the faith of Christ is said to have come into Ireland.84 On a certain day, the infant's voice was heard praying to God, while extending her little hands towards heaven. A certain man saluted her, and to him she replied, "This will be mine; this will be mine." Hearing such words, he said ; " This is truly a prophecy, for the infant says this place shall belong to her forever." And her prediction was 'exactly fulfilled.85 In course of time, a

75 The Fourth Life has it, " suoquc more nion, being obliged to take a little water

astra c<eli considerans," &c. It may be immediately afterwards, in order to facilitate

asked, if this passage throws any light on such an effort. On each Thursday, also,

the supposed astronomical pursuit of the she rather tasted than drank a little water.

Uruids ? And during such a long lapse of time, she

80 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," neither eat or drank anything, besides what Tertia Vita S. Brigidae, cap. vii., viiu, p. has been already mentioned. Nor had she 528. Quarta Vita S. Brigidse, lib. i., cap. even an appetite for eating or drinking, xi., p. 547, ibid. As usual, the foregoing Although she was reduced to a great degree circumstances are greatly amplified in the of bodily prostration, and could not walk : Fifth Life of our Saint, where it is added, yet, her mental powers were unimpaired, that the Magus and his wife took care to she had the faculty of speech, and retained provide a nurse for the infant. This nurse a great appearance of personal comeliness, assisted the mother in attending to its wants. This wonderful example of abstinence, it is It is also said, the heads of the family were said, could be vouched for, by more wit- very indulgent to the mother, even although nesses than even the inhabitants of that they held her as a slave. Quinta Vita S. village, in which the maiden lived. Hence, Brigidie, cap. viii., p. 569, ibid. a less remarkable instance, in St. Brigid's

Bl Professor O'Looney's Irish Life ha* a cr.se, cannot be reasonably doubted. The

"white red-eared cow," pp. 9, 10. writer then adds, that what the Almighty

82 The writer of St. Brigid's Fifth Life had effected for the virgin then living was

remarks, that this account should not excite only known to the great Author and for an

the incredulity — even if it might the admi- undefinable reason. See Vita Quinta S. Bri-

ration — of his readers ; for, in his own day, gidic, cap. x., xi., pp. 569, 570, ibid.

it was possible to see a certain virgin, that *3 Professor O'Looney's Irish Life states,

dwelt in the south of England, and that she that she used to train the sheep, supply the

lived for twenty years in her father's house, birds, and feed the poor, pp. 9, 10.

without taking any kind of food, except the 8-» See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga,"

Body of our Lord, which she received on Vita Tertia S. Brigidoe, cap. x., p. 528.

all Sundays of the year. And as the passage Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, lib. i., cap. vii., p.

through the throat was of narrow compass, 547, ibid.

she could scarcely swallow Holy Commu- 8s In "The Life of St. Brigid, 'the Mary

LIFE OF ST. B RIGID.

hr-e parish was formed in that part of the country, and it was dedicated to St &Brimd S6 Learning those foregoing words, some local inhabitants went to' the Magus and said to him : " Do you remain with us, but let the girl, who has prophesied that our lands will belong to her, retire." The Magus replied : " I shall not leave my female slave and her daughter, but I will rather quit your country." Then the Magus, with his family, is said to have directed his course towards Munster, his native province.8? There, also, he inherited a paternal estate.88

In St Braid's Third Life, we afterwards read of a desire entering the daughter's mind to return— in all probability— to her father's home. On learning this wish, the Magus sent messengers to Dubtach, who was informed, that his daughter could be received free. The father of our Saint was greatly rejoiced. On the reception of this message, he went to the magician's house whence he returned,89 accompanied by his daughter. The Christian nurse also followed her youthful charged This attendant was seized with some complaint. Our Saint, accompanied by another girl, was sent to the house of a certain man,?1 that they might procure a draught of beer for the patient. In this expectation, it appears, the messengers were disappointed ; but on their return homewards, St. Brigid turned out of her course towards a particular well.?2 Here she filled the vessel borne with water, and instantly

uf Erin,' and the special Patroness of the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin," by an Irish Priest, the late Rev. Mr. O'Donnell of Maynooth College, the expressions of the holy infant are referred, not to an earthly, but to a heavenly, inheritance. See chap. i., p. 9. Dublin, 1859, iSmo.

80 Colgan maintains, that from the manner in which this account is conveyed in her Third Life, by the word "parrochia," the author means a district of ecclesiastical land, dedicated to St. Brigid, according to an old custom. In Colgan's time, there was a parish church consecrated to St. Brigid, in the diocese of Elphin, within the district of Soil-mured-haigh, and in the province of Connaught. Formerly a monastery was there endowed with ample possessions. The author, in Colgan's opinion, must have flourished at a distant date ; for, he says, that district was large, that a considerable tract of land was ' attached, and that it was St. Brigid's patrimony. For many ages before Colgan's time, the tract there was of no large extent, nor did it belong to St. Brigid's order. See "Trias Thauma- turga," Vila Tertia S. Brigida.', n. 8, p. 543, ibid. However, it may still be ques tioned, if Colgan rightly indentified the locality, to which allusion has been made .

87 These circumstances are also briefly related in Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, PP. 7, 8.

88 These circumstances are related in the Third and Fourth Lives of our Saint. See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. ix., p. 528. Vita Quarta S. Brigidai, cap. xii., p. 579. In the latter record, we find these following additional particulars related: "Cum jam crevisset quidem corpore, sed plus fide spe et charitate,

sancta puclla fideliter ministrabat." Then twenty-one or twenty-two chapters of the latter life are said to be missing. In a note we find remarked, that these seem to have been omitted, owing to the fault of a scribe. But their tenor may be gleaned from the ninth to the thirty-second chapter of the preceding life. See ibid, n. 17, p. 5^4-

8? It is stated to be in Ui Failge, or Offaly, in Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, pp. 9, IO.

9° Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. xi., p. 528. In the Fifth Life of our Saint, the same circum stances apparently are somewhat differently related. After describing the virtues, which characterized the holy maiden, when absent from her paternal roof, the writer then pro ceeds to relate how her father impulsively thanked God for having sent him such a daughter. While leaving her mother still a captive, Brigid and her nurse were brought to his house. There his daughter was re ceived with the most affectionate care. See Quinta Vita S. Brigidse, cap. xiii., p. 570, ibid. See also " The Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, ii., pp. 14, 15.

91 In Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, he is named Baethchu, pp. 9, 10.

92 The account runs, that she was enabled to express these words, as versified in the Sixth Life :

' ' Quferite cervisiam : mihi medo magna voluptas."

Then follow these lines :

" Brigida (tune fuerat juvenis et pulchra

puella)

Mittitur ad vicos quoorendo quippe liquo» rem.

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID. 43

it became changed into an excellent description of beer.^3 When the nurse tasted it, she recovered from her infirmity.?* This miracle is also alluded to in one of St. Brigid's offices.

Most of those foregoing accounts are altogether omitted, from narratives which are considered to have been the earliest and most authentic biogra phies of our Saint ; and there is every reason to suppose them altogether legendary, and undeserving attention. Nor can we find any valid reason to question a supposition already adduced,'53 that our Saint's parents, besides being of noble family, were also Christians, and that St. Brigid herself was born in lawful wedlock. All her biographers seem agreed, however, that from her earliest youth, this illustrious maiden was remarkable for every noble and virtuous characteristic, foreshadowing the future Saint. To her Christian nurse is attributed much of that holy training, which during child hood made her a devout client of Jesus and Mary.96 When this holy virgin grew to the years of discretion, and even from her most tender youth, she was distinguished for her extraordinary virtues ;'-'? especially, for that grave decorum and modesty, which bestowed dignity and propriety on her every word and action. Kach day she acquired some new virtue, or increased in spiritual progress. She was early grounded in doctrines of the Christian's Faith ; and she must have received, also, some secular education, corre sponding with the rank of her parents. From earliest years she was distin guished for instances of extraordinary charity, especially towards the poor. An anecdote of her childhood is related.'-'3 The youthful virgin was bounti ful and hospitable to such a degree, that she frequently distributed to the poor and to strangers large quantities of milk and butter, which her mother had committed to her charge. In consequence of this generous propensity, she found on a certain occasion, that her store was completely exhausted. Being accustomed each day to superintend the labours of her maids and of her daughter, in various departments ot" their industry, our Saint's mother was about to make her usual inquiries, when fearing reproof for the improvi-

Virgo Dei properans una comitantc account, and all that follows in this biogra-

sororc. 1'hy, so ^ar as lne 35tn chapter, are wanting

Quiclam cervisiam, quamvi.s velabat, ha- in the Fourth Life. See ibid, n. 8, p. 543-

bebat : The circumstances of this miracle are related,

Virginibus sacris stultus donate ncgabat." with certain modifications, in the Fifth and

Sixth Lives. In the former, it is said,

Further on this line occurs : during her infirmity, the nurse suffered

greatly from thirst, and that St. Brigid

" Qui latices gelidos Lyci convertit in un- signed the water drawn from the well, with

das :" a sign of the cross, while those, who were

present and witnessed the miraculous effect

to which Colgan appends this note, that in the produced, admired and extolled our Saint's

MS. for lyei, or more correctly, /nr/, was to faith and miraculous powers. It is here

be found c<cli<r. But because the author said, likewise, that two girls accompanied

seems to allude to the change by Christ of the Saint, when she proceeded on her er-

water into wine at Cana in Galilee, ly<-i rand. In the Sixth Life, it is stated, that

appears to be the correct reading. See ''Trias the nurse had been seized with a burning

Thaumaturga," Vita Quinta S. Brigid.T, fever, so that she could scarcely articulate

cap. xvi., p. 571 ; and Sexta Vita S. P>ri- owing to thirst.

L,ida3, sec. iii., p. 583, and n. 8, p. 598, ibid. 95 Especially by Dr. Lanigan.

w The kind of beer alluded to was mead, 9& See "The Life of St. Brigid," by an

as expressed in the metrical life. It appears Irish Priest, chap, i., pp. 10 to 13.

to have been a favourite drink among the 97 See the various published Offices and

ancient Irish ; and, most likely, it was little accounts of our Saint, by different writers.

• — if at all — impregnated with intoxicating 98 By Cogitosus. In Professor O'Looney's

properties. Irish Life of St. Brigid, this account is am-

94 Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita plified, and St. Brigid's prayer is rendered

Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. xii., p. 528. Such into three Irish stanzas, pp. II to 14.

44

LIFE OF ST. BRIGID.

dence admitted into household concerns, Brigid betook herself to prayer. The Almighty graciously heard her petitions, and miraculously increased the exhausted store of butter. 99 When this remarkable circumstance became known to the handmaids, these admired the girl's wonderful trust in Divine Providence, and then gave praise to God, who rewarded her Faith, Hope and Charity, by the performance of this miracle in her behalf.100

At another time, it is related, while engaged in providing food for some noble guests,101 she was so much moved with the whining and eager gestures of a dog, that she gave him a great portion of the bacon she had been cook ing, and, afterwards, she found more than a sufficiency remaining, for the entertainment of the strangers.102 These anecdotes serve to impress us most agreeably, with the natural kindliness and generosity of her youthful disposition.

It appears quite probable, that in her youth, the pious maiden must have been known, to the great Irish Apostle Patrick. For, it is related, in the Tripartite Life of this latter Saint, that on a certain occasion, when preaching

99 This account is also given in various Offices and other narratives, regarding our Saint. See likewise "The Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, ii., pp. 17, 1 8.

100 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Brigidos, cap. ii., p. 5!9- Capgrave relates this miracle, as occurring at the house of the Magus. " Legenda Sanctorum Anglite, Scotia; et HiberniDe," Vita S. Brigidce, sec. 2. In the Third Life of St. Brigid, the account given regarding this miracle is substantially as follows. After stating some circumstances, that took place after our Saint had been sent back to her father, we are told, that she again re turned to visit her mother, who remained with her master, the Magus ; although she lived in a separate house, from that in which he dwelt. The Saint's mother had the charge of twelve cows ; the butter produced from which, she was obliged to collect. But, when St. Brigid arrived on this visit to her mother, the virgin was accustomed to distribute butter each day to the poor and to the guests ; in doing which, she divided it into twelve parts, in honour of the twelve Apostles. She made one portion greater than the remaining parts, in honour of our Saviour, while remarking, she saw the per son of Christ in that of every guest. One day, the Magus and his wife brought a large measure to her, that it might be filled with butter. On seeing this vessel, the ready flush of her cheeks betrayed a certain dis turbance of her mind ; for she had only the butter of one day and a half day then col lected. Visitors having entered the house, the virgin joyously began to exercise claims of hospitality towards them, and to prepare for their refection. She then retired to a private part of this house, where she poured forth her prayers to God. Afterwards, she produced the small quantity of butter then in her possession. But, the wife of the

Magus, on seeing it, contemptuously taunted her on its smallness. The Saint replied, however, that there should be sufficient to fill a large vessel. Through the interposi tion of Divine Providence, her prediction was fulfilled. When the Magus witnessed