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CELTIC
FEW

SAINTS

nations
with

AND

have

to the Isles

of their dead
the memory
than the Celts, whether
as the
was
Hibernia
long known

cherished

more

loving
or of Ireland.
of Brittany
Island of the Saints
and
nation

veneration

its inhabitants

of Arran.

ful accuracy
of detail
that
at the monastic
of
church
their

FICTION.

ROMANTIC

record

Legend
there were
Clonmore.

gave
asserts
relics
The

the same

desig
a delight
saints
10,129

with
of

in

Bollandists

to November

from

have

stretching
January
saints born in early
proofs of the cultus of seventy
at this
and of 304 of Irish or Scotch
origin, which
no
are
race.
time implied
of
distinction
pre
Biographies
served
of 62 saints of Scotland
and the Irish
and Wales,

gathered
Britain

is still more

copious.
accessible
part of these lives have been made
to the student
of the Bolland
in the great
either
collection
in Reese's
Sanctorum
Celtic
ists, in the Acta
Hibemiae,
or
in
the
Stokes
else
Saints,
by
Tripartite
Life
of Patrick,
hagiography
The greater

where.

of the

earlier

documents

with

Some

as historical

be regarded
may
biographies
a little embellishment
at times,

that can, however,

be easily
separated
are Tirechan's
Life
of Patrick
which
written

in A.

D.

some

two hundred

from
seems

the rest.

Such

to have

been

after

the death

years
658,
its subject,
and the Life
of Patrick
which
by Muirchu
a
be
A.
D.
We
al
have
later,
may
placed
generation
698.
so two lives of Columba,
the Abbot
of Hy, who died in 597,
one
Cum men?
written
the other
before
by Abbot
669,
which must be placed before 692.
Both
by Abbot Adamnan
these are essentially
a
even
more
and
sober
historical,
spirit
Walafrid
Strabo's
relation
of
the
pervades
martyrdom
of Blaithmac
and Jonas' Life of Columban
of Bobbio
which
are almost
accounts.
Life
of
contemporary
Cogitosus'
must
be
at
three
within
centuries
least
too,
of
placed
Brigit,
her death 3nd s?ems bas?d on earlier material,
of

The

i8
are

These
to

made

the

to record.
Of course
they profess
is much
that is pure fiction.
there
case with
but it is more
Cogitosus,
Walafrid

Strabo

exceptions
lives of

four to six centuries

from

written

Review.

important
that the

only
statement

the

saints were

Sewanee

even

in these

This
or

that

less

need

be

the early Celtic

after the events
lives

earlier

is especially
the
true of all except

of Bobbio.

the

With

and, possibly,
Jonas
of these or of the later

so far as
legends,
not
to
I
do
deal
sub
here.
The
propose
any,
they possess
one of the most
in
is
historical
difficult
the
with
which
ject
to
has
do
ill
to
and
is
suited
vestigator
exposition.1
popular
It is proposed
to treat the legends here not
nor
historically
historical

content

critically,
and most

but

from

point of view, as one of the first

in
the development
of Celtic
and
steps
fiction.
literary

important
of European
romantic
The
with which we have to deal were written,
documents
as has been said, with very few
the year
between
exceptions
1100.
and
the
and
then
year
900
accompa
precede,
They
the development
of national
romance
as we
ny,
patriotic
find it in Nennius
and in the Arthurian
Sometimes
legends.
on earlier
based
as were
ro
also
the patriotic
traditions,
mances,

bridled
dence
of his
dence

those

the

again,

with
fancy,
they must be received
of the state of the Church
in the time
subject,
is more

in regard

while

that credulity
serve the strange
in artistic

finish

cautious

student

ly and
bushel

late, since
of what,

*For an application
reader may
be

rious

Review,

caution

of

as

of the author

conditions

their

un

evi
or
evi

in the seventh
Already
century we
vied with
to
invent
and pre
imagination
tales that obscure
the glorious
work
of the

and Columbas.

Patricks

to social

creations

valuable.

see

Historical

like

sometimes,

to

Cogitosus
romancers

the

and Muirchu
yield only
a later time.
a
Yet

of

is bound

to examine
ear
all these legends,
there may be a
of
in
wheat
hid
the
grain
at least from an historical
point of view,

of

the

referred
1890.

"
to

"
historical
to these
method
"
St. Patrick's
Earlier
Life

(p. 475.)

"

the cu
legends
in the English

and Roman?c

Celtic Saints
?ttist
his

/action.

i^

will forbid him to invite

chaff; but prudence
to share his fatigues.
The writer
of these pages
a
of
of which
he
examined
life
Celtic
saint
every printed
be called

readers

has
has

of

result

to

able

been
his

studies

learn
in

the
their

of fiction,
show how, as works
them
of the age that produced
country where
they grew.
tales are
These
legendary

seem

This
is
paper
to
It
aims
aspect.
literary
indicate
the legends
the ideals
and

the characteristics

not biography
but
in adventure
and believed

In an age that
acle they took
most

existence.

delighted
of professed
the place
as if Irish humor sometimes

fiction.
made

of

the

romance.
in mir

It might
al
ve
the
legend

of the
it be supposed
that the Scots
; or will
or
were
twelfth century
disposed
seriously
by
devotionally
to deter
his miraculous
the tale of Cannech
powers
applying
of seeds in an apple, or when
mine
the number
they read of
on S. David's
across
the Irish Channel
Barr who galloping
hicle

of parody

horse

met

ted him

on a whale, Arion
salu
like, who
riding
: "Marvellous
in his
the dry remark
is God
swam
to a
on?
Did not their credulity
yield

Brendan
with

and
saints,"
smile when
they read how
one hand for a candle while
light was

so dazzling
blinded

was

key-hole
were
born with

one

Finnian
he wrote

that a man
so effectually

held
with
who

up the fingers
the other, and

peeked
that all his

of
the

the
through
descendants

eye?
in these

is their
likeness.
legends
family
as well be told of any other.
one
saint
of
story
might
That
There
is no pronounced
very
story
individuality.
told
is
with
unessential
variations
of
of the shining
fingers
Most

noticeable

The

and the Scot

Columba
of Tiree,
Flannan,
Foillan,
Patrick,
The
seldom
shot
writers
Blane whose
sparks.
supple
fingers
or Romance
from classical
mented
their failing
imagination
sources,

although

had been
Cyclops
from their relations

from

the first

familiar

to local mythology.
A
occurs
in the oldest
of borrowing
to the girl
lover gave
It tells how a rejected
life of Brigit.
for
who had refused his suit a jewel of great price to guard
perhaps
figures,
more
characteristic

case

4?

The

him.

stole

he

Then

Sew an te Review.
it from

he cast

lost

and,
her,
in the sea.

it

to insure
now

And

past recovery,
that the girl would
its restoration,
manded
hoping
to pay the debt.
He would
to sell herself
pelled
chase as a slave her who had rejected him as her

its being
he de
com

be
then

pur
husband.

for
she recovered
his evil design,
the
defeated
Brigit
a fish.
is
in
This
of
the
Gesta
the
stomach
in
story
jewel
been more
na?ve.
and seldom has "adaptation"
Romanorum
or of the common
of native
remains
The
my
superstition
are naturally
more
nations
of northern
frequent.
thology
to the sea and set adrift
was borne
in an
The dying Gildas
ancestor
in the Sax
of Beowulf
open boat like the mythical
But

on epic.

The

that accompanied
of Beowa.
legend

bees

the Norse

suggest
lose nothing

their

of

to Ireland

Modamnoc
Dragons
character.

in these

tales

The

pagan
mythological
for the elements,
veneration
water,
fire,
peculiar
in
the
This
the sun.
appears
legends.
constantly
King
: "Put your books
and a Druid
to Patrick
proposed
Logaire
comes
out
book
and we will adore him whose
in the water,
" had
of
the
heard
Druid
But the
unharmed."
baptism
by
was
water
that
and
Patrick's
Patrick
water
thought
by
given
all the saints could calm the sea at will,
Almost
they
god."
their belongings
would
float
the
could
control
tide, and
rivers with
barren
strike
could
the current.
They
against
had

Celts

a Druid

when
and Patrick,
ness,
a plain waist-deep
covered

with

by
snow,

enchantment
removed

had

it without

moisture.

was

Fire
Miraculous
element
Fursey
the
The

enter

even

more

intimately

associated

with

them.

saint, and
every Celtic
nearly
light attended
for their birth to do them homage.
did not wait
a great
his conception
announced
light filling
by

monastery
mother

of

where

his

Edanus

on

parents
a

similar

were

transient

occasion,

saw

they could
candles with

S.
all

guests.
a moon

a star.
it seemed
Balls
of
; to her husband
As
over the infancy
saints.
of many
youths
in their
and
coals
aprons,
carry burning
light

her mouth

fire watched

the

their breath,

or with

a wet

finger.

Fire-giants,

of Patrick
in the legends
figure
Cyclops,
as an instrument
of divine
also appears
Miliuc
it.
the Druids
who had worshipped
at Patrick's
and his children were
approach,
?i*

Fire

In their
the powers

control

over

bodies
the heavenly
of
the Christians

of darkness,
a night for three

days, Ludigus,
and Brigit
in its course.
Colman
and Brigit when
the same spot till sun-set,
to dry found
it still
cloak on a sunbeam

prolongs
the sun

midnight1.
light for

It was

Si

and Mor?aniic Metion.

Celtic Sainte

that

foretold

it should

and

Brendan.

on
vengeance
burned
himself
to ashes.

turned

the Druids
A

have
Druid

light.
like Joshua,
stays
fix a single
ray in
she had hung her
at
there
hanging
be continually
"
and the folk of

death,
days after Patrick's
not so
the nights were
to the end of the year
dark as usual."
1. c. 296.)
(Stokes,
a
born without
Kenti
saints were
Few Celtic
prodigy.
"
or how
was
not
when
he
mother
could
gern's
imagine
was
was
she
she
dis
and,
u?baptized,
begotten,"
though
his
to
in
to
it
attribute
which,
God,
says
posed
biographer,
" saw a
"
mother
fish of red
Finan's
she was mistaken."

Ulod

said

twelve
that

her mouth
entered
from the East which
through
gold flying
Similar
tales of
into her womb,
and by him she conceived."
noticed
have
been
Where
and Fursey
Edanus
already.
to proclaim
the coming
failed
saint, Druids
fiery apparitions
or
their
revealed
visions
holiness.
their
prophesied
glories
and severe abstinence
continence
Finnian's
mother
observed
the same interval
till his birth.
conception
During
no meat
eat
Tiree
of
could
and
the mother
of Columba
the birth
of Fintan
drink no wine.
For seven days before
fed from
sat on a log in a desert place and was
his mother
from

his

heaven.
were

The

of the carts

rattling

proclaimed
While
yet
Comgal.
hours and David
canonical
driving

and

to a bishop.
Several
sunbeams.

It was

continental

revealed

saints

and

in which

their

mothers

of Edanus,
Kieran,
sanctity
Mocteus
observed
the
unborn

the

demanded

the

to the mother

the

English

Aldhelm

precedence
of Aidus

hung

due
that

cloaks

if
on

The ?ewanee Rev?ei?.

S2
of her

the birth

ing he would
sat till dawn

child

be deferred

could

be a great
on a stone

saint.
in which,

To

next

the

m?f ft*

this

she
blessing
the child's head
a proof
of his

meantime,
as
exhibited

was
a hole which
long
" The water
that gathers
sanctity.
to this day."1
of the faithful

made

till

secure

everv

in it heals

disease

of their usually
luminous
childhood
The wonders
suggest
infant
stomach
life.
all milk
the pastoral
Brigit's
rejected
from
the common
hands
herd.
drawn
With
by heathen
ease
and
she
distributed
milk,
butter,
multiplied
generous
to minister
the rich
to the ne
and cows, and even robbed
cessities
she

this

of me,
(Cogit.
proclaimed

the king
When
of the poor.
her
for
reproached
: "If my God asked you and my father
answered
if I could."
I would
you both to him
give
gladly
later lives
Her
then
13, 14, 30.)
say that it was
that she was a type of the Blessed
from heaven

Other
holy
Virgin.
their herds and made

bitter

water

called

children

water

sweet,

from
both

rocks

in

for

imitation

of Moses.
The

saints'

power

state.

over

children

even

extended

an

relieved

nun

to

their

of the

evi
erring
or pain."
This
(Cogit.
12.)
for the tale is repeated
must have met with popular
approval
On another
and Aidus.
how
of Kieran,
Cannech,
occasion,
a
at
to
her
w?fe
husband's
fruitfulness
she
ever,
prayer,
gave
pre-natal
of her
dence

fault

Brigit
"without

birth

friend Bronus
less emulation.
Brigit's
a
at
the trial she made
was once accused
of being
father, but
a
she thus con
whom
its parent,
the infant name
layman,
same won
the
Albeus
Her countryman
verted.
performed
but

in this

der,

and

she found

so

did Aldhelm

and Antony

of Malmesbury

of

Padua.

Their
monastic
self was

childhood
schools.

is hardly
Miracles

over when
follow

them

the saints
here.

enter
Christ

the
him
by an

was
of Cannech,
Mocteus
teacher
taught
was
to secure
in his
able
like
the
former,
Brigit,
angel,
fire and smoke."
own teaching
the aid of a devil "breathing
the

and

*ASS.

Hib.

(Smedt

et Becker),

333.

Celtic
Wolves

guarded

for

Saints

and Romantic

the flocks

of eager
them

in

Fiction.
students
the

23,
and
of

the thirst

pangs
conquered
knowledge
not be
like Cuthbert's
books,
Gospels,
might
nor
once wrote
the whole
Colman
by water
by fire.
in a single
"and other books"
ter, the Acts,
day.
hired a scribe to write
and then
for him "till dark"

Their

lously
without
Gildas

prolonged
resting
rebuked

hunger.
harmed
Psal
Cronan
miracu

the light
for forty days so that the writer
to eat, drink, or sleep produced
four gospels.
for hoping
his
favorite
Cadoc
that Virgil,

be among
to
the saved,
but a vision
revealed
poet, might
the latter that his wish was
granted.
tales
of their preaching.
illustrate
the eloquence
Many
"
none knew
Patrick
that
three
and
and
spoke
days
nights,
the sun had set or risen
and they thought
it but an hour."
was
so carried
charioteer
away by
Brigit's
that he quite
his
Turning
driving.
forgot
"
to the ladies,
to them so wonderfully
he preached
that
see
a
to
failed
that
his
head
horse
had
too,
they,
slipped
from the yoke,
of the by-standers,
the
till, to the admiration
horse
returned
and yoked
himself
of his own accord."
life could play
but small part in the lives of saints
Family
who were
from infancy.
the writers
As
continent,
usually
were men
and monks
some
it is not unnatural
that women
an
times appear
in
as a special
unfavorable
Alban,
light.
a
a
at
into
the
The
font.
followers
favor, converted
girl
boy
of Albeus
murmured
a wild doe
because
Blaitha
had milked
"
in his presence
and he hearing
this sent his servant who
"
did the same."
his angel
But
said : Leave
these trifling
to women,
miracles
and perform
them not, for they are fit
....
but nothing
under
heaven
shall be
only for women
to
thee."
Alb.
The
state
impossible
(Vit.
47.)
marriage
was
with
ill-favor
regarded
by the legend writers.
They
make
the parents
of many
saints
continent
their con
after
or at least
like Cuthbert
Others
ception,
gestation.
during
are children
of violated
was
one
It
of
virgins.
Illtyd's good
that he tricked his wife
deeds
into leaving
his house
and re
fused to admit her on her return.
course
Of
she soon began
(Vit. Brig.
59.)
his own sermon,

24 The
to emulate
ent

his

spirit

memory

asceticism.

The

'

attributed

played

often

to David

are

traces

of

the

the

a differ

of

"

for

are

of

that

he

married,"

to Cadoc's

credit

an

and Wenefrid

and

abbot,

the

to

refer

probably

sexes.

supply of food is inseparable

and
the relief
of their
people

irregular

a pastoral
the
claims

grain
food.

man

unmarried

separation

gradual

An

and

; it is put

together
?"an

to have

chose

the monks,

youths,

ten mentioned
reforms

there

But

in the legends.
of Wales
the
Those
preserve
monas
the
of some married
connected
with
body

"

teries.

Review.

Sewanee

from

the

life of

often
necessity
that agriculture

of miracle.
It is clear
dignity
a very
small part in the national
life.
The use of
means
was hindered
the
of
it for
poor
by
preparing
corn seemed
so great a burden
that
Grinding
legends
or under an
turn of their own accord
the mills
make

that
gel hands
Cuthbert
Both

the saint may

have time for his devotions.
and Columba
that had been
reaped wheat
sown
too late to yield a crop.
The
author of Fintan's
life
tells the same tale of him, shortening
the time to extol
his
all
outdid
in
but
rivals
this
;
easy competi
sanctity
Ludigus

at Cluon
in the same day
for he sowed and
tion,
reaped
told
of
The
Eraird.
and
Albeus
is
Blaitha
story
just
of this rivalry among
another amusing
instance
the hagiogra
phers.

The

chief

herdsman
cases

food was

veal.

by separating
eaten
the calf

cows

The
from

staff assisted
the
pastoral
their calves.
In count

the night
before
is found,
like
next
the
from
Meat
stolen
the
goats,
morning.
or turned
to be cooked,
or snakes,
saints
refused
tp worms
to its
the robbers
returned
but when
restored
it, it was
a
same
In
the
former character.
Patrick
pot for which
way
Since meat was often the only
had been sold, proved useless.
less

Thor's

alive

from
it became
abstinence
available,
practicable
to fish to save the
veal
turned
miracle.
Ludigus
by
of his guest, Aidus,
whose
restored
it to
blessing
to
it
fish
turned
state, but Ludigus
again of which
two of
When
Lud.
40.)
unquestioning.
(Vit,
food

only
scruples
its true
they

ate

Brigit's.

Celtic
nuns
as

refused

some

meat

Cogitosus
pig, with
to normal

who

bounds.

This

Those

fish, were
imitation

used

till Brigit
who

to

it, or

altar-breads.

to eat an ox, and a

his appetite
reduced
not

would

supplied
of Christ

25
turned

abbess

thence

and

vipers,

of a man

(?26)
bread at each meal

not catch

could

of them.

to

tells

Fiction.

the outraged

in Lent,

them,

say

and Romantic

Saints

eat

meat,

and

with miraculous
was

Finan's

draughts
but
common,
very
to catch fish on
him

enabled
superior merits
(?36)
a
than
The
of
the
products
dry
larger place
dairy fill
or
fish
at their
the saints produced
Salt and cheese
grain.
from
stones
increase.
could
butter
;
pleasure
they
indefinitely
land.

This
stant

last was

Saints
culty
beer.

and
the peculiar
of women
province
in the stories of Brigit
and Darerca.
who could call water
from a rock found

is a con

feature

or milk.
in turning
it to wine
"
often
made
the best
Brigit

Nuns
of beer"

no

diffi

preferred
from holy
of it into a

usually
even

a
and once
water,
changed
single measure
"
i. 10, 18, 20,
churches."
supply for eighteen
(Vit. Anon.
to
Poisoned
the
drinks,
24, 100.)
promise,
gospel
according
or Columba.
to harm David
failed
and Albeus
Patrick,
after

the liquid.
it from their cups by freezing
separated
are
cannot have been
We
Intemperance
severely
judged.
assured
that the breath
of Ludigus
of
his
and
friend
(?5)
to produce
Albeus
sufficed
The former
intoxication.
(?46)
"
was once at a feast where
was
so bad
the wine
that
it
him,

he so
his sock in it, however,
By soaking
"
it
that
it
all
made
drunk."1
improved
very
or
to punish
Other
insults
saints were
fancied
quicker
to
than
aid
in
and
Lasrean
convivial
Colman
wrong
joys.
made

bade

all vomit."

bards who mocked

swallow
them, the latter
"to
to
was
to
to demons."
that
sacrifice
adding
give
players
was
Arthur
to
for dar
buried
in
neck
the
earth
his
up
King
a
man
to
ask
for
dead
Padarn's
cloak.
struck
ing
Brigit
to let her drive
who
refused
new-set
his
hedge.
through
a smith
to be burned
to
Cadoc
caused
alive who
refused
give

the earth

him

fire. Patrick
*Vit, Lud.

cursed
50. Magnam

a field
ebrietatem

with

barenness
omnibus

fecit.

because

26

The
oxen were

his

the fishers
fed

not

to feed

suffered

there

no fish.

him
give
land he made

would

on his

anee Rcviczv.

Sew

own

he

owner's

When

him

a river, because
another's
horse

fall dead

him

restored

and

at the

though

to life with

holy water.
barren because

repentance
an orchard
1. c. 291.)
Brigit made
(Stokes,
use
owner
the
found fault with her
of apples
that had been
a queen
her
from
it.
bade
her
maids
When
tempt
given
he
them
Teilo's
struck
with
David
chastity,
insanity.
a like temptation
but Moling
with
withstood
quiet dignity,
a
to
to
induced
the temptress
retire
wood
she
and, when
had laid aside her garments,
chastised
her.
severely
toward
others
them
toward
implied
Severity
austerity
to their
theme
selves.
This
is a never-ending
of delight
It is true that the early
Scots
exceeded
their
biographers.
in these

contemporaries
doubt that they
and on
caves,
Psalter
standing
tended
when

many
Such

disease1.
beetle

reason
bodies

cramped
excessively,
of rock,
like Brigit,
and,
in tubs of cold water.
Doubtless,
form
that

thought
facts

that devoured

of penance
Christ himself

stimulated
Ida's

side,

fancy
the stone

his mouth

for

sand.

said

to
in
the

too, they
in the middle
ages,
had
assumed
the

to invent
that Ultan

an entire

flour

and

is no
their

shelves

a favorite

lepers,

There

practices.

fasted

the

stag
in

kept
made

and Kieran's
bread
of
Lent,
is not likely
that Finnchu
with
slept
that he hung
sickles
be
himself
up with

It

still less
corpses,
neath
his arm-pits.
It is said
the body of his master
"seeing
the

bones

from

scarce

his wounds."

that a pupil of Finnian

wept
so
emaciated
that
greatly
. . . and worms
the flesh
fell

to
clung
Colman
bade

two women

eat snakes

was compelled
to raise from
and Cannech
penance,
a
woman
whom
similar penance
had killed.
When
nath's

for

death

Cuan

his beauty
that saint thought
fit to
tear out his eyes, whereupon
him "two
beautiful
God gave
a suitor
blue ones."
avoided
dis
Brigit
by a miraculous
the
which
When
Fur
with
figurement
disappeared
danger.
*See
Arabian

mother

Stokes,
Nights,

praised

1. c. cxcv.

seq.,
v, 294, note,

407,

409;

Reeves,

Adamn,

335,348;

Burton,

Celtic

and Romantic

Saints

Fiction.

27

a monk

in Gaul
gey was
land by means

in Ire

he exchanged
diseases
with
them to and
of his bell that passed
with
had
been
restored
the air.
Daria whose
sight

fro

by
through
to be
he asked
voiced
the general
sentiment
when
Brigit,
made blind again.
"For," said he, "the farther from the world,
nearer

the

That

to God."

saints

since

sometimes

to voluntary

at least

death,

cases

many

their

pushed

have

may

occur

in

various

or

to suicide,

austerity
historic

foundation,
A

legends.

nun

of

to die and be the spouse

of Christ
rather
chose
"
an
to
her
and
soul
than marry
she
God,
lover,
gave
earthly
the spouse she had chosen." The Briton Oran
p. 284)
(Reeves,
to die at Hy
to free the island by his burial
there
consented

Fanchea

from
choice
when

Patrick
Ross
his
the power
of the Druids.
gave
" to
and
live for a long time or now to go to heaven,"
he died. The death of Lo
he had taken the Sacrament

also voluntary.
Bren
p. 65) was
gaire's daughters
(Stokes,
he found, preferred
death
dan's smith, and a mermaid
whom
same saint bade his cross-bearer
to life. The
with the viaticum,
"
and go
the Body
of Christ
and his Blood
arise and take
to
into
the sea
then
eternal
life."
He obeyed
by springing
sea-cats

where

is the

hagiographers
to an island
Eucharist
are

cases

such

not

"

him.

devoured

He

hermit

was

famous

Brendan

conclusion.

died

who

martyr,"

also

the

gave

and

straightway,

rare.1

of the saints take a prominent

in their
place
journeys
to
to
nature
do
fails
and
seldom
their
holi
homage
legends
ness.
for them,
aside to make way
the fallen
Trees move
The

raise

trunks

proach,
sea

themselves

or divided

obey

them.

to give

them passage,
too

Here

are

rivers

erect,

the

writers

at

dried

their

the winds
an

show

ap

and

the

amusing

was
that Columba
of invention.
said to
Observing
rivalry
of
the
Kieran
drive without
said
his
lynchpins
biographer
a broken
not to be out
hero drove with
axle. A competitor,
done,
Vit.

makes

Aidus

drive

1. c. 410 ; Colgan,
*See Todd,
vi.
iv. 78, Vit.
iii. 33, Vit.

with

ASS.
34, 35,

419,
159.

one wheel
705

; Stokes,

off.
1. c. 181,

Macnissus
183, 575

;Patr.

28 The

on his

so humbly
shoulders.

branch

of a tree.

walked

Sewanee

bent

that

To walk

Review.

the Gospels
the water

ever

rested

on

and

secure

still

tempests
a boat was
occurence.
If
an every
used
was
day
they
"
on
sent his Cyclops
Patrick
asked no aid of sail or oar,"
a
feet
in
chained
of
boat
a penitential
with
hides.
voyage
or
in carts over
drove
the sea,
Some
1. c. 286.)
(Stokes,
a
or
on
sea
monster.
the back of
One
sailed on a flat stone,
over it through
the air on the
floated
monks
of Mocteus'
The

Armorica,
for
went
tential,
relics.
Land

of

goal

these

and Rome

journeys
or Jerusalem.

was

or

Britain
To

their

or

Ireland

kinsmen

they

were

instruction.

peni
journeys
Longer
usually
from
returned
them
laden with
they often
to portion
had proposed
out the Holy
(?31)
and Cannech.
Columba,
Brendan,
himself,
to the edification
inWelsh
at Jerusalem
of

though
Fintan
between

Teilo

preached
in his humility
the lowest
seat
and chose
nationalities,
own.
to
Christ's
be
Petroc
which
there
penetrated
proved
and lived
there on an island
to the Eastern
even
Ocean,
to Rome
Visits
seven years with one fish for his only food.
more frequent.
made
the
were
Kentigern
journey
naturally
for the
Albeus
consecrated
times.
seven
there,
Angels
and
sent
himself
felt
He,
also,
Brigit
unworthy.
Pope
a
was
divine
and
there to study Roman
clerks
ways,
priest
all

from that city to give her the last Sacrament.

ly summoned
in one day, but his
there and back
travelled
Edanus
legend
at
in
he could cure
like
us
assures
Evesham,
that,
Egwin
succor
at
the
thresh
had vainly
those who
Ireland
sought
hold
bones

Columba
of Tiree
the
enshrined
the Apostles1.
a prediction
of
at Tours,
that
of S. Martin
fulfilling
with Patrick
connection
endeared
whose
supposed

of

saint,
him to the Scots.
Legends
to
saints
?Vit. Edan.

differ
the

English,

account
Kieran

Vit. Finniani,
9 asserts
Medeshamsted
In England
also of Tighernach,
recorded
Finnian.
Barr, Alban,

31, 33.

good as at Rome.
are
pilgrimages
Lasrean,
Kieran,

in their

of the relation
passed

twenty

of

Celtic
years

at his altar
that prayer
is as
the same claim.
made
Roman
Macnissus,

Mocteus,

Colman,

and Romantic Riction.

Celtic Saints
them,

among
three

of

he

Colman

thither,
journeys
to them, and
Lasrean
hand
other
the
try. On

(not
Columba

?Q
made

Lindisfarne)
of Tiree

preached
coun
that

returned

through
and Edanus

Finnian

sought
and
the Saxons,
deserted
soli
Beuno
his
destroy
voices.
The
of
tary retreat at the sound of English
feeling
seems mutual,
for Guthlac,
the hermit saint of Cray
aversion
to

land,

used

him,
With

language
the spirit

Brendan

that

to say

sailed

were

the devils

that he had
and

unknown

of

courage
seas

islands

the classical

instances

of these
of

to

in youth.

the

and

Cormac
vikings
of a new world,
Brendan's
voyages

or

in search

of the blessed.

of the fabled

to talk Welsh

wont

learned

tales

of adventure

are
in

clothed

Seven

years

he

promised
an isle of birds, and another
on which
annually
visiting
on
an ideal monastery.
He
celebrated
each Easter
a
a
saw
much
back of
than
whale,
sea-serpent
larger
a
island
with
and
which
ship,
fiery
cyclopean
giants

land,
was

the thinnest
wandered

disguise
over
the

ocean

of

for the mouth

took
rather
have

Near

in Iceland.

modern

hell,
though
it a volcano which
Scotch

to think
seen

purpose,
religious
in search
of

on

by,

critics

adventurers

a bare

rock,

the
his
he

incline
might
Brendan

to whom

this mitigation
of his
Sunday
brought
saw on an island " a hermit
of Patrick,",
who
was
and forty years
old and had passed
then a hundred
on the island, thirty of them without
food.
He
sixty years
at last the paradise
he
remained
reached
there
sought,
as witness
of
forty days, and returned with fruit and gems
"
to
Ireland
where
his
received
monks
his successful
quest,
God."
and glorified
him gladly
found

Judas,
torment.
He

The

love

of

nature

is

the

consolation
of man.
Trees

the sinfulness

oppressed
by
the friends of these Celtic
obedience.
stag and
to them.
him

of

him

who

and beasts

solitaries

and gave
them willing
to Teilo's
; a
plough
Wild
does yield
their milk

themselves

Stags
yoke
a wolf
to Kentigern's.
The

to Ireland

bees
and

that Modamnoc
though

is

were

sent back

had
returned

followed
tended,
to their master.

30 The Sewanee Review.

Wolves

the scholars'
The
infant Albeus
in
sheep.
guarded
wras fed
one. Kinedus,
of Romulus,
like
Elijah,
by
m the cell to which
was fed
him.
by birds
they had guided
on
was
seen
as he
to perch
A dove
of David
the shoulder
imitation

these
others
loved
and tended
innocent
Many
of
their
and
Tiree
said
Columba
of
solitude,
companions
:
a
as
a
should
bird
birds
shun
bird?
flies,
for,
"Why
quaintly
preached.

so

ceases

soul

my

to

not

soar

toward

Patrick
cape
horses

and his companions

their enemies.
When
had

been
and

life again
a hundred

relieved
from

foxes,

king's

lions

by

the form

source

a hundred

a poacher,

who

his

as

her

long
came

and

effectually
recovered.
He

to his

Nature
often

so

hermit

took

the

in

another

creating
harmed

the

saints;
But they
and
Carantoc,
Patrick,
Columba,
as Columba
did wolves
of Tiree
failed

to win

their

that
also

she

love.

woman

a little snake.
one
three

vomited
a

healed

sick

dragon

of his

angels,

came
He
feet
that

cell.
to them

seemed

es

Albeus
pro
for
and
sheep
Brigit,
one
of the
had killed

banished
Finnian,
them,
from Ere.
turned them to stone.
Keyna
to Petroc
that she had swallowed
saying
blessed

to

the

heaven.

punishment
by
No wild
beasts

every way
good.
snakes
and dragons
alone
even these.
seldom killed

of deer
that

heard

king's
them back to
he brought
with
of the foreign beasts

the hunger
from
summoned

the same

she herself

Albeus

satisfied

horses

from

cured

devoured

heaven."

took

form

full of God
swans

of

and

who

to unhallowed

eyes.
They
his
letters,
taught Mocteus
as they did Aldhelm's,
turn
and boats through
the air and

at Rome,
to build Darerca's
church,

consecrated

helped
ed Kieran's

Albeus

mill,
of Tiree

bore

trees

across

the water.
is to
The angel Victor
to Socrates,
the daimon was
what
and his corpse was
an
host with psalms
waked
and sweet odors.
angelic
by
were
the
sick
and
the
dead
the chief func
Healing
raising
Columba

Patrick

tions

of the

saints

in this

with her shadow

diseases
a pebble,
others with holy

Brigit
society.
legendary
v.
Columba
Acts,
15),
(cp.
or a blessing.
water
Brigit

cured
with
gave

an old woman
gar
her

saints were

The

in

death

imitators

Dega
him,
died

31

the sick, for this prudent

beg
that
it would
be of no use to

saying
steal
would

it.

supposed
others.
and

his
prolong
and Brendan

could

at

to heal

Fiction.

to control

themselves

Columba

least

girdle
a cow

the thieves

since

died

refused

had

and Romantic

Saints

Celtic

the

issues

Adamnan

at ninet}^,

that

thought

at will.

life

of life and
indeed

Comgal

few
they
to
at
Patrick
Legend
gives
to
to
130,
p. 67)
Comoginus
(Stokes,
was
met
Paul
hermit
140 when Brendan
no
of
Kieran
Mocteus
and
age.
signs

eighty
of their moderation.
120

years
140. The
showed
and

but

found

If others
touched
300 and Fintan
360.
hap
to life again.
them
could
the
saints
pened
easily bring
with
for
this miracle
Blane
peculiar
performed
virtuosity,
to life a dead boy first with one eye,
then with
he brought
when

to die,

both,
Senan

and finally
to bring

in a state
himself

It was reserved
for
grace.1
from
the dead, but he soon
and bade his disciples
keep his memo
of

back

to die again
perferred
rial on the day of his second
departure.
his
like Patrick,
tooth to his servant
presented
Ludigus,
some
it
Finnian's
that
be
would
precious
day.
remarking
lost
tooth, when
radiance.
its
by
relics

of herself

intercessions.

in a bush,
Darerca
before

The

her
dead

disclosed

itself

provided
death,
Colman

to the relic

hunter

folk with

the

country
and promised
them future
to
appeared
superintend
to punish
Flannan
the dis

of his relics and

enshrining
cast the dust of Kieran
Yet
turber of his bones.
Columba
on the sea, Fiacc
rent the arm of'Comgal
from his body,
from Rome
relics were
and fragmentary
brought
constantly
one
for instance
and Jerusalem.
returned with
Macnissus
the

of the Apostles,
of the "high altar," garments
a stone from the sepulchre
of the
of S. Thomas,
and
over
the
Blessed
be
averted
War
could
body
Virgin.
hardly
to him the
of Patrick,
of Albeus,
attributes
and the legend
same distinction.
had a bolder fancy.
of Teilo
The biographer
one morning
monasteries
discovered
that
Three
contending
of the vessels

bones

lForbes,

Scottish

Kaiendars,

280,

32 The

Sew anee Review.

three
become
of their strife had suddenly
single object
a hermit
follower
in every way
indentical.
Baldred,
this power
of Kentigern,
shared with
him, and the polyps,
the

bodies
of

self-multiplication.
In his eagerness
the story of David

of
the writer
competitors
a tale that caps the climax
were
A German
and a Welshman
of absurdity.
captives
"
David
have mercy,"
the
Dewi
Saracens.
wareth,
among
The Ger
released.
and wras at length
cried the Welshman
man

to outbid

has

and was

delivered

to repeat
by the

existence

he was

ignorant.

was

moved

all

conceived

the words

he did

intercession

of

(ASS.

Boll.

not understand,
saint of whose

i. 47.)
B. W. Wells.

Mart.