Patrick had
requested
; but, instead of it, he granted a stony rath, or place, 39 in the low ground, called, in some of his Acts, Fearta,4° or Da Ferta.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
, chap, vi.
, num.
xi.
, n.
* His name is found in Tiiechan's
list, where he is called Carthen. See Colgan's
is even said to have been with St. Patrick,
1 1 8, pp. 305 to 307.
^ His feast at the ist of March, occurs,
'°
See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xcii. , p. 86. Jocelyn states, that St. Germanus, a wise and holy disciple of St. Patrick, was consecrated a bishop, and placed over the church of Man, and that his See was estab- lished, at a certain promontory, afterwards known as Patrick's Island, because our Apostle had dwelt there for some time. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Moran is of opinion, that the bishop in question was no other than the St. Germain of Auxerre, who visited Britain a second time in 448, who laboured in Ire- land, under the guidance of St. Patrick, as
also in Wales, and probably in the Isle of "
in
See Ussher's "
Primordia," cap.
Italy. xvii. , p. 856.
s See Jocelyn or Sexta Vita S. Patricii,
cap. cxliii. , p. 96. The Tripartite makes
mention of this appointment. See Septima
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. iii. , p. 149.
*
It seems to convey the impi-ession, how- ever, that the See of Armagh then existed.
^ The Lat—in Tripartite Life states, that St. Patrick not only thrice, but more frequently — visited Britain. We are even told, that he went into other European nations and regions, beyond the sea, for the purpose of bringing holy men and virgins, to assist in the works of his mission, espe- cially as those were attracted, by the fame of his labours and miracles, they having a desire to see him, and to embrace his holy
doctrine or rules for their manner of living.
Man. See Irish Saints in Great Britain," chap, i. , p, lo.
*
The state of Britain, however, being
See Vita Tertia S. Patricii, cap. Ixxviii. , p. 27, and nn. 74, 75, p. 34. Colgan deems
refute such statements as the foregoing. See ""
'' '^
According to Jocelyn.
724 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
daughter to a great prince, in Britain/'* By contemplating the works of creation, she had attained to such a perfect knowledge, and love of the
Creator, that for his sake, she despised all worldly things. Her parents laboured very much, but neither by fair nor by foul means could they enforce her, ever to contract with any of the great lords, that were suiters for the honour of her companionship, so constant was she in the purpose of dedicating her virginity to the great Maker of all things. We arc told, that her familiars even resorted to magic arts, that their purposes might be effected. Seeing no persuasions could prevail with their daughter, her parents sent her into Ire- land, where St. Patrick, then so celebrated, accepted her profession of Faith, and was destined to take her under his charge. ^s The saint received her with great joy, instructed her in the Christian Religion, and after she had abjured paganism, he baptized her. After receiving the Blessed Sacrament, by way of Holy Viaticum, and being engaged in devout prayer, she yielded
was carried —to her
holy virgin by Angels heavenly
soul. This
—Spouse. '^ TheIrishApostlehadherburiedinthatplace nowunknown'^
her
up pure
where she departed to Christ, and there a cell was soon afterwards built,
where holy virgins consecrated to the service of God lived, according to his
prediction. '^ On Patrick's return from Britannia,'? it is traditionally believed, that he converted Eubonia, or the Isle of Man,'^° which then was subject to
Britain, as Jocelyn states, while others have it inhabited by Irish people. ^' According to some authorities, Romulus^^ and Coindrus'^s were the first preachers of the Divine Word, in this place f* while others relate,^^ that St. Patrick was the proto-missionary among the Manx. ''^ The like labours he
this, or Monessa, to be the right form for her name, Asaintthusnamed,isfoundinour
Calendars,atthe4thofSeptember. Ness, or Nessa, is another rendering of her name. '3 She is thus named by Probus, in the
Fifth Life, Ub. ii. , cap. xxv. , p. 59.
'* Dr. Lanigan thinks, it may be doubted, whether the Britain, here alluded to by
Probus, or by his earlier authorities, was not rather Belgic than insular Britain.
'S Dr. Lanigan remarks, that no clue, as
to the time when this happened, can be ob-
tained.
'^
See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. clix. , p. 100.
'? It is difficult to ascertain, from the statement in the Latin Tripartite Life, whether or not, this place is to be distin-
guished from Coll-na-ningean, near Armagh. '^TheFifthLifeadds,thatthememory
'9 This is called "propria patria," by Jocelyn.
^° About the year 440 or 444, it is said St.
Patrick founded a church in the Isle of
when the Britons it were Man, inhabiting
He St. Germanus over the appointed bishop
islanders in 448. Under this prelate and his successors, the inhabitants continued for
many years, free from foreign invaders, until it fell at last under the sway of the Scots or Northmen. From Germanus, the Cathedral
in Peel Castle and the parish of Kirk Ger- man are named. At Peel are the ruins of a church, once consecrated to St. Patrick. See "The Illustrated Guide and Visitor's Companion through the Isle of Man. " By a Resident, pp. 5, 6, 22.
"See Nenuius "Historia Britonum," cap. viii.
"
Ruanadh, copied into the
Donegal," from Marianus, at the iStli of November.
'3 Also called Conindrius, Connidrius, Coindrius, Coninnri, or Conderius, whose feast is set down at the 1 7th of November. Both of these holy men are alluded to, as having been ordained to succeed St. Ger- manus, the first bishop of Man. See Ussher's "Index Chronologicus," at a. d.
ccccLxxiv. ,p. 522.
'^ Thus Probus " docuemnt states, primi
verbum Dei et baptismum in Euonia, et per eos conversi sunt homines insuloe ad Catlio- licam fidem. "—" Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , cap. xi. , p. 53. In the Fourth Life, they are not expressly said to have been the first Apostles in the island. See cap. Ixxxi.
woman was venerated there, at
of that
theactualtimeofwriting. Seelib. ii. ,cap. XXV. , p. 59.
holy
faith,
and had aban-
our " fidem Catholi- garding saint, primus
converted to the true
doned the superstitious rites of the Dmids. cam predicasse fertur Mannensibus. " See
" This missionary seems to be the Roman
^5 The " Chronicon Mannias " re- states,
" Celtre Norma- Johnstone's Antiquitates
nic? e," p. 43.
"* "
See Ussher's Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates," cap. xv. , pp. 335,
336.
*' Ussher has copied this statement, in his
Martyrology of
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 725
accomplished, as we are told, in several other isles. Through the prayers of Patrick, all venemous animals were driven from those islands, that preserved their faith. But, the dwellers in some other lands, being aliened from the faith, afterwards renounced the law of God, which Patrick preached unto them. ComingbackintoIreland,hebroughtwithhimmanylearnedand religious men, as we are told by Jocelyn. Thirty of these missionaries were installed by him, as bishops over several Episcopal Sees. ^7 Those laboured assiduously in the Lord's vineyard. In obedience to the direction he had received from an Angel, Patrick left Louth,^^ moving onward, and towards Magh-Macha,^9 or as more usually called, Machaire-Arda-Macha,3° for that place and district, known as the Height of Macha ;3i for, it was so called, from a celebrated woman, Macha Mongruadh,32 foundress of the royal fort Emania,33
" Primordia," cap. xvii. , pp. 870, 872. See, For rarely then should we be seen apart. likewise, Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- Nor yet remote, lest we should meet no
bishops of Armagh," p. 22.
^^ The journey of St. Patrick from Louth,
towards the north, is thus poetically de- scribed : —
" Patrick then, Obedient as that Patriarch Sire who faced
At God's command the desert, northward went
In holy silence. Soon to him was lost That green and purple meadow-sea, em-
bayed
'Twixt two descending woody promonto-
ries,
Its outlet girt with isles of rock, its shores All white with meadow-sweet. Not once
he turned,
Climbing the uplands rough, or crossing streams
Swoll'n by the melted snows. The brethren
paced
Behind, Benignus first, his psalmist, next Secknall, his bishop, next his brehon Ere, Mochta, his priest, and Sinell of the Bells, Rodan, his shepherd, Essa, Bite and Tas-
sach.
Workers of might in iron and in stone, God-taught to build the churches of the
Faith
With wisdom, and with heart-delighting
craft
Mac Cairthen last, the giant meek that oft On shoulders broad had borne him through
more. '
At Clochar soon he placed him. There
long years
Mac Cairthen sat its bishop.
" As they went.
Oft through the woodlands rang the battle
shout ;
And twice there rose above the distant hill The smoke of town new-fired. Yet, none
the less,
Spring-touched, the blackbird sang ; green,
grassy lawns
The cowslips changed to golden ; and grey
rock,
And river's marge with primroses were
starred ;
Here shook the windflower , there the blue-
bells gleamed
As though a patch of sky had fallen on
earth. "
;
the floods.
His rest was nigh.
That hour a stream they
crossed,
Deep stream, and, 'neath his load, the
giant sighed : Saint Patrick said,
sigh ;'
*
Thou wert not wont to
According to Lynch's translation, there has *'
He mates
* OldI
been adde^, regarding this place : Long
answered,
Ofthem
my
has been the of Emania. " prerogative
How many hast thou left in churches housed
' Whereintheyruleandrest? Thesaint
'
replied,
Thee also will I leave within a church
For rule and rest ; not to mine own too near,
grow.
Thus, Colgan writes some description of its noble ruins. " Emania prope Ardmacham, nunc fossis latls, vestigiis muroram eminentibus,
e—truderibuspristinumredolens. splendorem. " "
"Trias Thaumaturga, Prima Vita S.
Patricii, n. 15, p. 6. Emania is near to
where Armagh now stands ; and, according to O'Donnel, it still existed, in St. Columba's
—"
De Vere. " St. Patrick and the Founding of Armagh Cathedral," pp. 172, 173.
^9 This is thought, by Dr. Lanigan, to have been a small territory.
3° Or " the plain of Armagh. "
3' It is called Altitude Macha, and Alti-
macha, in the " Book of Armagh. "
3' Some say she was Macha, the wife of
Nemhidh.
33 It is supposed to have been a royal
residenceoftheUlsterkings. TheoldIrish writers called it Emhain-Macha. It is mentioned, in Fiech's hymn, but not as a royal residence ; however, it is said, that in Armagh, the seat of royalty was maintained.
The Legends of St. Patrick," by Aubrey
726 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
near the present city of Armagh. 34 A certain prosperous and venerable person was there, named Daire,35 or Darius. 3^ He lived at a place, called Rath-Daire,whichhasnotbeenidentified. Fromhim,Patrickhumblyaskeda site,37 for his Regles,^^ or church. The chief wished to know that spot he desired for selection, and the holy man requested, what seemed to him a most eligible and beautiful site. Daire at first refused that hill, which St.
Patrick had requested ; but, instead of it, he granted a stony rath, or place, 39 in the low ground, called, in some of his Acts, Fearta,4° or Da Ferta. *' Holy Patrick founded a church there, and he remained a long time, in that place.
One day, two steeds belonging to Daire were brought to graze at St. Patrick's regies. The pasture here was fertile and grassy. Those horses died,atonce,aftertheyhadtastedthegrass. HisservanttoldthistoDaire,
and he added the following, to excite the chief's indignation :
*'
That
Christian hath killed your steeds, because they ate the grass which was at his
Regies. "*' Dairefeltveryangryonreceivingthisinformation,andheordered
servants to plunder the cleric, and to expel him from the Ferta. Then a
colic43 seized Daire, immediately, so that he was near dying. His wife thereupon
recalled to mind the plundering of St. Patrick, and she told Daire, the cause
for his approaching death was owing to that attack, directed against the holy
missionary. She sent messengers, instantly, to beg water, sanctified by his
prayers from Patrick, in order that her husband might be restored to health.
Patrick then " for what that woman has there should never said, Only done,
beanyresurrectionfromdeath,forDaire. " Wherefore,Patrickblessedwater, and gave it to the servants, with orders to have it sprinkled over the horses and overtheirformerowner. 44 Theydid,ashadbeendirected,andimmediately Dariusrecovered,sothatallwerereleasedfromdeath. ^s Abrazencauldron^^was next brought to Patrick, as an offering from the chief. " Deo gratias," said the saint. Daireaskedhisservants,whatPatricksaidonreceivingit. Theyanswered, " Gratzicum. " '^^ " This is little reward, for a good offering, and for a good
time. See O'Donnell's or Vita S. ^i Quinta
Meaning
" the two " graves.
Columbae, lib. i. , cap. Ixxxiv. , p. 402. The *^ The Latin Tripartite has it, "in ejus "''
growth of Armagh, liowever, contributed to agello, or in his paddock. " Probus only
its downfall.
34 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol i. , p. 10, n. (vv), and p. 143, n. (b. )
35 He was the son of Finched, son to Eoghan, the son of Niallan, from whom the ^i-Niellain race derived name and origin.
3* So is he called, in the Latin Tripartite Life.
37 According to the Latin Tripartite Life, "in quo Deo domum in terra, sacramque excitaret aedem. "
32 This is the term found, in the Irish Tri-
partite Life.
39 The Irish Tripartite Life thus relates
""
mentions one horse.
« According to the Irish Tripartite Life. * Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. clxi. , p.
100.
4S These events form the subject, for an
illustration, in Miss Cusack's " Life of St. Patrick," &c. , at p. 393. The upper part
represents Daire's donation of land for the church of Armagh, In the next com- partment is shown that site marked out, and where the fav\'n was found; while below, Daire is shown, lying on his death-bed, and about to be sprinkled with the holy water sent by the saint. The dead horses are on the ground outside,
this occurrence : Daire asked, " What
^6 Many of these ancient cauldrons, and of large size, have been found, in bogs and below," said Patrick. That was where other places, thi-oughout Ireland. The
place do you desire ?
This great hillock
"
give it," said Daire ; "but I will give you
a site for your regies, in the strong rath below. " There the Ferta or De-Fearta
might be seen, when the Irish Tripartite Lives were written.
material and workmanship were excellent and durable, in many of those vessels, which
are usually of great size. According to the account, in the Book of Armagh, the present one held three firkins. It is also
Armagh afterwards stood.
I will not
4° See Ussher's " p. 851.
called,
" eneum mirabilem transmarinum. "
Probus calls "a^neum in Primordia," cap. xvii. , this, cyphum,"
lib. ii. , cap. vi. , p. 52, but Colgan remarks.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 727
cauldron,"repliedDaire. Hethenorderedthisvesseltobebroughttohim, again, and when it was demanded, " Deo gratias," was still St. Patrick's expres- sion. Daire afterwards asked, what Patrick said, when they were taking the
is a word with good
Daire
Patrick
fashion, i§ as follows
this is because a " incorrect,
A cruciform area includes a nave and or chancel,
cypbus not contain "metretas ternas. "
n. 4, p. 63.
'^^ Such is the form of
bringing
"
The servants answered, " He said the same thing,
cauldron away from him.
aswhenwewere
him. " Then Daire and his wife went with submission to St. Patrick, and the chief gave the cauldron most willingly to the holy man, as also that hill, which he had before asked. '^s This gift Patrick gratefully accepted, and he blessedthem. Afterwards,hefoundedachurchinthatplace,calledArd- Macha, and it was destined to be renowned, in after time.
In the various Lives of St. Patrick, it is stated, that at a spot, which was
known as Drumsaileth, or Druymsaileach,s° otherwise, " the ridge of willows,'' SalicetumS'orSailech;52 and,onahighground,"Dairegavehimthesite, forachurch. 54 Thisaccountruns,thatbothSt. PatrickandDairewentforth, to view the admirable and well-pleasing gift, and they ascended that height. There, they found a roe, and a little fawn with her, lying on that spot, where an altar of the Northern Church in Ardmacha stood, at a time, when the Acts of St. Patrick, contained in the Book of Armagh, had been written. 55 The eminence to which St. Patrick first went, at the north side of Armagh, can hardly be any other than that, on which the new Catholic Cathedral, dedicated to him, is nowbuilt. s^ On the 17 th of March, 1840, its foundation- stone was laid, by the Most Rev. Dr. Crolly. s? The style is that known, as perpendicular Gothic. s—^ The plan of this Cathedral,S9 described in technical
it to
whichwas"Gratzicum. "48 "
him, them," replied
This, then,
when
Gratzicum,
giving the cauldron to him, and, again, Gratzicum, when taking it away from
;
" could See ibid. ,
name of the before the Cathedral had hill,
been built.
55 See the Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Ancient
Churches of
s* The height is now called Banbrook
found " Crazacam " and ' '
the Fourth Life, it is "Graticum. " In the
Fifth Life, we find it "Grazagam. " In for great loveliness. The city, with its
the Sixth Life, it is better expressed, as narrow streets and that air of antiquity
""
Gratias agam, as also in the Latin Tri- which pervades it, lies to the south and
Plenty of Salleys there growing. " See vol. "
i. , Archbishops of Armagh," p. 19, note. 53 See Quinta Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. ,
cap. iii. , p. 52, and n, 3, p. 63.
54 Seward states, that the Cathedral of
expression,
in the
Armagh," p. 7.
Irish Tripartite Life.
4^ In the Third Life, this expression is Hill. It lies between the Protestant
partite, where it is " Deo Gratias. "
49 Probus writes " ab eo : Accepit ergo
S. Patricius prsedium optatum et placitum sibi. "
5° See Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxxii. , p. 28, and Sexta Vita S, Patricii, cap. clxiii. , p. loi.
S' See Ussher's "Primordia," p. 857, and in his " Index Chronologicus," ad A. D. CCCCXLV. , as also in Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars, i. , p. 289, it is so termed.
5^ According to Probus, book ii. , chap, iii. In Harris' Ware, it is said to have been called Druim-Sailech, "from the
west. The Ridge of Sallows, the Ferta
Grazagam. "
In
Cathedral and the and from railway station,
Armagh was called Druim-Sailec. See had been raised between nave and aisles.
"
the word Armagh. This, however, was the Professor of Architectvire to the Catholic
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," at Afterwards, Mr. J. J. McCarthy, R. H. A. ,
;
said,
it may be obtained a view, almost unexcelled
and other historic eminences, revered even under their modern titles, con- front the spectator ; religious edifices and
public buildings, every one of them hallowed by their association with the past, or occupy- ing ground made sacred by the memories of sacred things, present themselves on all sides.
57 On Sunday, the 24th of August, 1873, enormous crowds gathered to the ancient
city of Armagh, from every point in the North of Ireland, from Leinster, Connaught and Munster, from all parts of the British Empire, *nd from the United States of America, to assist at the ceremony of dedi- cation of the new Cathedral.
58 The architect, Mr. Duff, of Newry, furnished the original design, but he died when the structure had been raised to the summit of the aisle walls, and the arches
Ma7-tyriim,
728 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
choir, with two western towers,^° north and south transepts,—and aisles to both the nave and chancel. The measurements of the walls are total length in the clear, 210 feet 3 width across nave and aisles, 72; across transepts, 1X2 ; height from floor to ridge, 91 feet. ^^ The nave is separated from the aisles on each side, by six bays of clustered shafts, with moulded capitals and
St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral of Armagh.
bases, and deeply-moulded arches ; the chancel bay is separated from the aisles,bythreebaysofsimilarshaftsandarches. ^^ Theprincipalentranceto
the Cathedral is by a finely-wrought and richly-moulded doorway, in the west end of the nave ; and by smaller doors of a similar character in the towers^3
areapproaches. TheinteriorofthisnobleCathedralpresentsanimposing
University, was charged by Archbishop Dixon, in 1854, with the execution of the
task. He began, by altering materially the design, on which his predecessor had been working,
59 The accompanying side view of this fine structure has been drawn, from a photo- graph, on the wood, and it has been en- graved by William Oldham.
^ The towers rise in successive stages,
until they terminate in the bell stages, con-
taining two double light-mullioned and traceried openings, on each face. From
these stages rise the graceful broach spires, with tiers of lucarns on alternate faces, each lucarn terminated with gilt cross, until the entire is terminated with beautifully-wrought iron gilt crosses.
^' The windows of the aisles are three- light, and are filled with moulded muUions and elaborate tracery. The east window is
seven-light, and formed of moulded mullions, with rich and varied tracery. The north and
south windows of transepts are five-light and traceried.
^^ Over these arches are the triforia, con-
sisting of marble shafts, with moulded bases
and carved capitals, deeply-moulded tracery filling the arches. Above the triforia rises
the clerestory, containing in each bay three- light traceried windows.
*3 Over the west door of the nave is a series of moulded and canopied niches, to be hereafter filled with figures of saints. Under these niches is a string-course, o—n
which the following inscription is carved
'^
Soli Deo omnipotenti, trino in fcrsonis, sub iiivocatione Sti. Fatritii, Hibernoriim Afos- toli. A. D. MDCCCLVI. " Rising above the i. 'clies is an elaborate seven-light traceried window, and the west gable termi- nates in a floriated cross.
** The high altar is placed in an advanced position within the choir, and behind it are situated the cliapel and altar of the Blessed Virgin. At the end of each choir aisle are
:
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 729
appearance. ^* Its site, perhaps, is one of the finest to be found, in the world. ^5 It commands a view of the surrounding country, for many miles.
This prospect is unrivalled, for picturesque beauty, and for charming variety of scenery ; while, the noble towers, and their surmounting spires, are objects of imposing height, from all points of approach.
Following the legend,^^ St. Patrick's companions wanted to catch the fawn, which fled to the northern hill f^ but, the saint objected, and he would not permit them to kill it. *"^ He even took up the fawn with care, and carried itonhisownshoulders. Theroefollowedhim,likeapetsheep,untilhelaid down that fawn on another eminence, at the north side of Armagh. ^'9 There, according to the statement of those who are familiar with the ground, mira- culous attestations were to be witnessed, in after time. The particular spot was called Telac-na-liece,7° or Tualach na Leke,7^ afterwards Tullyleckeny. 72 Were we to credit Jocelyn, the glorious bishop, with God's help and favour, began the building of a city,73 remarkable for its situation, greatness and com- pass. 74 He brought, likewise, many principal citizens to inhabit there. The city itself, in due course, was adorned with fair and decent churches, wherein were ordained, by the saint, clergymen for singing the Divine Office, for the government of souls, and for instructing the people.
* His name is found in Tiiechan's
list, where he is called Carthen. See Colgan's
is even said to have been with St. Patrick,
1 1 8, pp. 305 to 307.
^ His feast at the ist of March, occurs,
'°
See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xcii. , p. 86. Jocelyn states, that St. Germanus, a wise and holy disciple of St. Patrick, was consecrated a bishop, and placed over the church of Man, and that his See was estab- lished, at a certain promontory, afterwards known as Patrick's Island, because our Apostle had dwelt there for some time. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Moran is of opinion, that the bishop in question was no other than the St. Germain of Auxerre, who visited Britain a second time in 448, who laboured in Ire- land, under the guidance of St. Patrick, as
also in Wales, and probably in the Isle of "
in
See Ussher's "
Primordia," cap.
Italy. xvii. , p. 856.
s See Jocelyn or Sexta Vita S. Patricii,
cap. cxliii. , p. 96. The Tripartite makes
mention of this appointment. See Septima
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. iii. , p. 149.
*
It seems to convey the impi-ession, how- ever, that the See of Armagh then existed.
^ The Lat—in Tripartite Life states, that St. Patrick not only thrice, but more frequently — visited Britain. We are even told, that he went into other European nations and regions, beyond the sea, for the purpose of bringing holy men and virgins, to assist in the works of his mission, espe- cially as those were attracted, by the fame of his labours and miracles, they having a desire to see him, and to embrace his holy
doctrine or rules for their manner of living.
Man. See Irish Saints in Great Britain," chap, i. , p, lo.
*
The state of Britain, however, being
See Vita Tertia S. Patricii, cap. Ixxviii. , p. 27, and nn. 74, 75, p. 34. Colgan deems
refute such statements as the foregoing. See ""
'' '^
According to Jocelyn.
724 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
daughter to a great prince, in Britain/'* By contemplating the works of creation, she had attained to such a perfect knowledge, and love of the
Creator, that for his sake, she despised all worldly things. Her parents laboured very much, but neither by fair nor by foul means could they enforce her, ever to contract with any of the great lords, that were suiters for the honour of her companionship, so constant was she in the purpose of dedicating her virginity to the great Maker of all things. We arc told, that her familiars even resorted to magic arts, that their purposes might be effected. Seeing no persuasions could prevail with their daughter, her parents sent her into Ire- land, where St. Patrick, then so celebrated, accepted her profession of Faith, and was destined to take her under his charge. ^s The saint received her with great joy, instructed her in the Christian Religion, and after she had abjured paganism, he baptized her. After receiving the Blessed Sacrament, by way of Holy Viaticum, and being engaged in devout prayer, she yielded
was carried —to her
holy virgin by Angels heavenly
soul. This
—Spouse. '^ TheIrishApostlehadherburiedinthatplace nowunknown'^
her
up pure
where she departed to Christ, and there a cell was soon afterwards built,
where holy virgins consecrated to the service of God lived, according to his
prediction. '^ On Patrick's return from Britannia,'? it is traditionally believed, that he converted Eubonia, or the Isle of Man,'^° which then was subject to
Britain, as Jocelyn states, while others have it inhabited by Irish people. ^' According to some authorities, Romulus^^ and Coindrus'^s were the first preachers of the Divine Word, in this place f* while others relate,^^ that St. Patrick was the proto-missionary among the Manx. ''^ The like labours he
this, or Monessa, to be the right form for her name, Asaintthusnamed,isfoundinour
Calendars,atthe4thofSeptember. Ness, or Nessa, is another rendering of her name. '3 She is thus named by Probus, in the
Fifth Life, Ub. ii. , cap. xxv. , p. 59.
'* Dr. Lanigan thinks, it may be doubted, whether the Britain, here alluded to by
Probus, or by his earlier authorities, was not rather Belgic than insular Britain.
'S Dr. Lanigan remarks, that no clue, as
to the time when this happened, can be ob-
tained.
'^
See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. clix. , p. 100.
'? It is difficult to ascertain, from the statement in the Latin Tripartite Life, whether or not, this place is to be distin-
guished from Coll-na-ningean, near Armagh. '^TheFifthLifeadds,thatthememory
'9 This is called "propria patria," by Jocelyn.
^° About the year 440 or 444, it is said St.
Patrick founded a church in the Isle of
when the Britons it were Man, inhabiting
He St. Germanus over the appointed bishop
islanders in 448. Under this prelate and his successors, the inhabitants continued for
many years, free from foreign invaders, until it fell at last under the sway of the Scots or Northmen. From Germanus, the Cathedral
in Peel Castle and the parish of Kirk Ger- man are named. At Peel are the ruins of a church, once consecrated to St. Patrick. See "The Illustrated Guide and Visitor's Companion through the Isle of Man. " By a Resident, pp. 5, 6, 22.
"See Nenuius "Historia Britonum," cap. viii.
"
Ruanadh, copied into the
Donegal," from Marianus, at the iStli of November.
'3 Also called Conindrius, Connidrius, Coindrius, Coninnri, or Conderius, whose feast is set down at the 1 7th of November. Both of these holy men are alluded to, as having been ordained to succeed St. Ger- manus, the first bishop of Man. See Ussher's "Index Chronologicus," at a. d.
ccccLxxiv. ,p. 522.
'^ Thus Probus " docuemnt states, primi
verbum Dei et baptismum in Euonia, et per eos conversi sunt homines insuloe ad Catlio- licam fidem. "—" Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , cap. xi. , p. 53. In the Fourth Life, they are not expressly said to have been the first Apostles in the island. See cap. Ixxxi.
woman was venerated there, at
of that
theactualtimeofwriting. Seelib. ii. ,cap. XXV. , p. 59.
holy
faith,
and had aban-
our " fidem Catholi- garding saint, primus
converted to the true
doned the superstitious rites of the Dmids. cam predicasse fertur Mannensibus. " See
" This missionary seems to be the Roman
^5 The " Chronicon Mannias " re- states,
" Celtre Norma- Johnstone's Antiquitates
nic? e," p. 43.
"* "
See Ussher's Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates," cap. xv. , pp. 335,
336.
*' Ussher has copied this statement, in his
Martyrology of
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 725
accomplished, as we are told, in several other isles. Through the prayers of Patrick, all venemous animals were driven from those islands, that preserved their faith. But, the dwellers in some other lands, being aliened from the faith, afterwards renounced the law of God, which Patrick preached unto them. ComingbackintoIreland,hebroughtwithhimmanylearnedand religious men, as we are told by Jocelyn. Thirty of these missionaries were installed by him, as bishops over several Episcopal Sees. ^7 Those laboured assiduously in the Lord's vineyard. In obedience to the direction he had received from an Angel, Patrick left Louth,^^ moving onward, and towards Magh-Macha,^9 or as more usually called, Machaire-Arda-Macha,3° for that place and district, known as the Height of Macha ;3i for, it was so called, from a celebrated woman, Macha Mongruadh,32 foundress of the royal fort Emania,33
" Primordia," cap. xvii. , pp. 870, 872. See, For rarely then should we be seen apart. likewise, Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- Nor yet remote, lest we should meet no
bishops of Armagh," p. 22.
^^ The journey of St. Patrick from Louth,
towards the north, is thus poetically de- scribed : —
" Patrick then, Obedient as that Patriarch Sire who faced
At God's command the desert, northward went
In holy silence. Soon to him was lost That green and purple meadow-sea, em-
bayed
'Twixt two descending woody promonto-
ries,
Its outlet girt with isles of rock, its shores All white with meadow-sweet. Not once
he turned,
Climbing the uplands rough, or crossing streams
Swoll'n by the melted snows. The brethren
paced
Behind, Benignus first, his psalmist, next Secknall, his bishop, next his brehon Ere, Mochta, his priest, and Sinell of the Bells, Rodan, his shepherd, Essa, Bite and Tas-
sach.
Workers of might in iron and in stone, God-taught to build the churches of the
Faith
With wisdom, and with heart-delighting
craft
Mac Cairthen last, the giant meek that oft On shoulders broad had borne him through
more. '
At Clochar soon he placed him. There
long years
Mac Cairthen sat its bishop.
" As they went.
Oft through the woodlands rang the battle
shout ;
And twice there rose above the distant hill The smoke of town new-fired. Yet, none
the less,
Spring-touched, the blackbird sang ; green,
grassy lawns
The cowslips changed to golden ; and grey
rock,
And river's marge with primroses were
starred ;
Here shook the windflower , there the blue-
bells gleamed
As though a patch of sky had fallen on
earth. "
;
the floods.
His rest was nigh.
That hour a stream they
crossed,
Deep stream, and, 'neath his load, the
giant sighed : Saint Patrick said,
sigh ;'
*
Thou wert not wont to
According to Lynch's translation, there has *'
He mates
* OldI
been adde^, regarding this place : Long
answered,
Ofthem
my
has been the of Emania. " prerogative
How many hast thou left in churches housed
' Whereintheyruleandrest? Thesaint
'
replied,
Thee also will I leave within a church
For rule and rest ; not to mine own too near,
grow.
Thus, Colgan writes some description of its noble ruins. " Emania prope Ardmacham, nunc fossis latls, vestigiis muroram eminentibus,
e—truderibuspristinumredolens. splendorem. " "
"Trias Thaumaturga, Prima Vita S.
Patricii, n. 15, p. 6. Emania is near to
where Armagh now stands ; and, according to O'Donnel, it still existed, in St. Columba's
—"
De Vere. " St. Patrick and the Founding of Armagh Cathedral," pp. 172, 173.
^9 This is thought, by Dr. Lanigan, to have been a small territory.
3° Or " the plain of Armagh. "
3' It is called Altitude Macha, and Alti-
macha, in the " Book of Armagh. "
3' Some say she was Macha, the wife of
Nemhidh.
33 It is supposed to have been a royal
residenceoftheUlsterkings. TheoldIrish writers called it Emhain-Macha. It is mentioned, in Fiech's hymn, but not as a royal residence ; however, it is said, that in Armagh, the seat of royalty was maintained.
The Legends of St. Patrick," by Aubrey
726 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
near the present city of Armagh. 34 A certain prosperous and venerable person was there, named Daire,35 or Darius. 3^ He lived at a place, called Rath-Daire,whichhasnotbeenidentified. Fromhim,Patrickhumblyaskeda site,37 for his Regles,^^ or church. The chief wished to know that spot he desired for selection, and the holy man requested, what seemed to him a most eligible and beautiful site. Daire at first refused that hill, which St.
Patrick had requested ; but, instead of it, he granted a stony rath, or place, 39 in the low ground, called, in some of his Acts, Fearta,4° or Da Ferta. *' Holy Patrick founded a church there, and he remained a long time, in that place.
One day, two steeds belonging to Daire were brought to graze at St. Patrick's regies. The pasture here was fertile and grassy. Those horses died,atonce,aftertheyhadtastedthegrass. HisservanttoldthistoDaire,
and he added the following, to excite the chief's indignation :
*'
That
Christian hath killed your steeds, because they ate the grass which was at his
Regies. "*' Dairefeltveryangryonreceivingthisinformation,andheordered
servants to plunder the cleric, and to expel him from the Ferta. Then a
colic43 seized Daire, immediately, so that he was near dying. His wife thereupon
recalled to mind the plundering of St. Patrick, and she told Daire, the cause
for his approaching death was owing to that attack, directed against the holy
missionary. She sent messengers, instantly, to beg water, sanctified by his
prayers from Patrick, in order that her husband might be restored to health.
Patrick then " for what that woman has there should never said, Only done,
beanyresurrectionfromdeath,forDaire. " Wherefore,Patrickblessedwater, and gave it to the servants, with orders to have it sprinkled over the horses and overtheirformerowner. 44 Theydid,ashadbeendirected,andimmediately Dariusrecovered,sothatallwerereleasedfromdeath. ^s Abrazencauldron^^was next brought to Patrick, as an offering from the chief. " Deo gratias," said the saint. Daireaskedhisservants,whatPatricksaidonreceivingit. Theyanswered, " Gratzicum. " '^^ " This is little reward, for a good offering, and for a good
time. See O'Donnell's or Vita S. ^i Quinta
Meaning
" the two " graves.
Columbae, lib. i. , cap. Ixxxiv. , p. 402. The *^ The Latin Tripartite has it, "in ejus "''
growth of Armagh, liowever, contributed to agello, or in his paddock. " Probus only
its downfall.
34 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol i. , p. 10, n. (vv), and p. 143, n. (b. )
35 He was the son of Finched, son to Eoghan, the son of Niallan, from whom the ^i-Niellain race derived name and origin.
3* So is he called, in the Latin Tripartite Life.
37 According to the Latin Tripartite Life, "in quo Deo domum in terra, sacramque excitaret aedem. "
32 This is the term found, in the Irish Tri-
partite Life.
39 The Irish Tripartite Life thus relates
""
mentions one horse.
« According to the Irish Tripartite Life. * Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. clxi. , p.
100.
4S These events form the subject, for an
illustration, in Miss Cusack's " Life of St. Patrick," &c. , at p. 393. The upper part
represents Daire's donation of land for the church of Armagh, In the next com- partment is shown that site marked out, and where the fav\'n was found; while below, Daire is shown, lying on his death-bed, and about to be sprinkled with the holy water sent by the saint. The dead horses are on the ground outside,
this occurrence : Daire asked, " What
^6 Many of these ancient cauldrons, and of large size, have been found, in bogs and below," said Patrick. That was where other places, thi-oughout Ireland. The
place do you desire ?
This great hillock
"
give it," said Daire ; "but I will give you
a site for your regies, in the strong rath below. " There the Ferta or De-Fearta
might be seen, when the Irish Tripartite Lives were written.
material and workmanship were excellent and durable, in many of those vessels, which
are usually of great size. According to the account, in the Book of Armagh, the present one held three firkins. It is also
Armagh afterwards stood.
I will not
4° See Ussher's " p. 851.
called,
" eneum mirabilem transmarinum. "
Probus calls "a^neum in Primordia," cap. xvii. , this, cyphum,"
lib. ii. , cap. vi. , p. 52, but Colgan remarks.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 727
cauldron,"repliedDaire. Hethenorderedthisvesseltobebroughttohim, again, and when it was demanded, " Deo gratias," was still St. Patrick's expres- sion. Daire afterwards asked, what Patrick said, when they were taking the
is a word with good
Daire
Patrick
fashion, i§ as follows
this is because a " incorrect,
A cruciform area includes a nave and or chancel,
cypbus not contain "metretas ternas. "
n. 4, p. 63.
'^^ Such is the form of
bringing
"
The servants answered, " He said the same thing,
cauldron away from him.
aswhenwewere
him. " Then Daire and his wife went with submission to St. Patrick, and the chief gave the cauldron most willingly to the holy man, as also that hill, which he had before asked. '^s This gift Patrick gratefully accepted, and he blessedthem. Afterwards,hefoundedachurchinthatplace,calledArd- Macha, and it was destined to be renowned, in after time.
In the various Lives of St. Patrick, it is stated, that at a spot, which was
known as Drumsaileth, or Druymsaileach,s° otherwise, " the ridge of willows,'' SalicetumS'orSailech;52 and,onahighground,"Dairegavehimthesite, forachurch. 54 Thisaccountruns,thatbothSt. PatrickandDairewentforth, to view the admirable and well-pleasing gift, and they ascended that height. There, they found a roe, and a little fawn with her, lying on that spot, where an altar of the Northern Church in Ardmacha stood, at a time, when the Acts of St. Patrick, contained in the Book of Armagh, had been written. 55 The eminence to which St. Patrick first went, at the north side of Armagh, can hardly be any other than that, on which the new Catholic Cathedral, dedicated to him, is nowbuilt. s^ On the 17 th of March, 1840, its foundation- stone was laid, by the Most Rev. Dr. Crolly. s? The style is that known, as perpendicular Gothic. s—^ The plan of this Cathedral,S9 described in technical
it to
whichwas"Gratzicum. "48 "
him, them," replied
This, then,
when
Gratzicum,
giving the cauldron to him, and, again, Gratzicum, when taking it away from
;
" could See ibid. ,
name of the before the Cathedral had hill,
been built.
55 See the Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Ancient
Churches of
s* The height is now called Banbrook
found " Crazacam " and ' '
the Fourth Life, it is "Graticum. " In the
Fifth Life, we find it "Grazagam. " In for great loveliness. The city, with its
the Sixth Life, it is better expressed, as narrow streets and that air of antiquity
""
Gratias agam, as also in the Latin Tri- which pervades it, lies to the south and
Plenty of Salleys there growing. " See vol. "
i. , Archbishops of Armagh," p. 19, note. 53 See Quinta Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. ,
cap. iii. , p. 52, and n, 3, p. 63.
54 Seward states, that the Cathedral of
expression,
in the
Armagh," p. 7.
Irish Tripartite Life.
4^ In the Third Life, this expression is Hill. It lies between the Protestant
partite, where it is " Deo Gratias. "
49 Probus writes " ab eo : Accepit ergo
S. Patricius prsedium optatum et placitum sibi. "
5° See Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxxii. , p. 28, and Sexta Vita S, Patricii, cap. clxiii. , p. loi.
S' See Ussher's "Primordia," p. 857, and in his " Index Chronologicus," ad A. D. CCCCXLV. , as also in Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars, i. , p. 289, it is so termed.
5^ According to Probus, book ii. , chap, iii. In Harris' Ware, it is said to have been called Druim-Sailech, "from the
west. The Ridge of Sallows, the Ferta
Grazagam. "
In
Cathedral and the and from railway station,
Armagh was called Druim-Sailec. See had been raised between nave and aisles.
"
the word Armagh. This, however, was the Professor of Architectvire to the Catholic
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," at Afterwards, Mr. J. J. McCarthy, R. H. A. ,
;
said,
it may be obtained a view, almost unexcelled
and other historic eminences, revered even under their modern titles, con- front the spectator ; religious edifices and
public buildings, every one of them hallowed by their association with the past, or occupy- ing ground made sacred by the memories of sacred things, present themselves on all sides.
57 On Sunday, the 24th of August, 1873, enormous crowds gathered to the ancient
city of Armagh, from every point in the North of Ireland, from Leinster, Connaught and Munster, from all parts of the British Empire, *nd from the United States of America, to assist at the ceremony of dedi- cation of the new Cathedral.
58 The architect, Mr. Duff, of Newry, furnished the original design, but he died when the structure had been raised to the summit of the aisle walls, and the arches
Ma7-tyriim,
728 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
choir, with two western towers,^° north and south transepts,—and aisles to both the nave and chancel. The measurements of the walls are total length in the clear, 210 feet 3 width across nave and aisles, 72; across transepts, 1X2 ; height from floor to ridge, 91 feet. ^^ The nave is separated from the aisles on each side, by six bays of clustered shafts, with moulded capitals and
St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral of Armagh.
bases, and deeply-moulded arches ; the chancel bay is separated from the aisles,bythreebaysofsimilarshaftsandarches. ^^ Theprincipalentranceto
the Cathedral is by a finely-wrought and richly-moulded doorway, in the west end of the nave ; and by smaller doors of a similar character in the towers^3
areapproaches. TheinteriorofthisnobleCathedralpresentsanimposing
University, was charged by Archbishop Dixon, in 1854, with the execution of the
task. He began, by altering materially the design, on which his predecessor had been working,
59 The accompanying side view of this fine structure has been drawn, from a photo- graph, on the wood, and it has been en- graved by William Oldham.
^ The towers rise in successive stages,
until they terminate in the bell stages, con-
taining two double light-mullioned and traceried openings, on each face. From
these stages rise the graceful broach spires, with tiers of lucarns on alternate faces, each lucarn terminated with gilt cross, until the entire is terminated with beautifully-wrought iron gilt crosses.
^' The windows of the aisles are three- light, and are filled with moulded muUions and elaborate tracery. The east window is
seven-light, and formed of moulded mullions, with rich and varied tracery. The north and
south windows of transepts are five-light and traceried.
^^ Over these arches are the triforia, con-
sisting of marble shafts, with moulded bases
and carved capitals, deeply-moulded tracery filling the arches. Above the triforia rises
the clerestory, containing in each bay three- light traceried windows.
*3 Over the west door of the nave is a series of moulded and canopied niches, to be hereafter filled with figures of saints. Under these niches is a string-course, o—n
which the following inscription is carved
'^
Soli Deo omnipotenti, trino in fcrsonis, sub iiivocatione Sti. Fatritii, Hibernoriim Afos- toli. A. D. MDCCCLVI. " Rising above the i. 'clies is an elaborate seven-light traceried window, and the west gable termi- nates in a floriated cross.
** The high altar is placed in an advanced position within the choir, and behind it are situated the cliapel and altar of the Blessed Virgin. At the end of each choir aisle are
:
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 729
appearance. ^* Its site, perhaps, is one of the finest to be found, in the world. ^5 It commands a view of the surrounding country, for many miles.
This prospect is unrivalled, for picturesque beauty, and for charming variety of scenery ; while, the noble towers, and their surmounting spires, are objects of imposing height, from all points of approach.
Following the legend,^^ St. Patrick's companions wanted to catch the fawn, which fled to the northern hill f^ but, the saint objected, and he would not permit them to kill it. *"^ He even took up the fawn with care, and carried itonhisownshoulders. Theroefollowedhim,likeapetsheep,untilhelaid down that fawn on another eminence, at the north side of Armagh. ^'9 There, according to the statement of those who are familiar with the ground, mira- culous attestations were to be witnessed, in after time. The particular spot was called Telac-na-liece,7° or Tualach na Leke,7^ afterwards Tullyleckeny. 72 Were we to credit Jocelyn, the glorious bishop, with God's help and favour, began the building of a city,73 remarkable for its situation, greatness and com- pass. 74 He brought, likewise, many principal citizens to inhabit there. The city itself, in due course, was adorned with fair and decent churches, wherein were ordained, by the saint, clergymen for singing the Divine Office, for the government of souls, and for instructing the people.
