No More Learning

v. , vi. The Calendar of Cashel, as cited by Colgan, places their commemoration at Kill- Murchon, in the territory of Hi-Garrchon, in the eastern part of the County of Wicklow, and near the town bearing the same name. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," v. Martii. Vita S. Kierani, n. 31, p. 465.
39 The entry of this name in the Acts of Adamnan's Synod is of importance in the History of the Book of Armagh, as it seems to fix the date of Muirchu Maccumachtheni, whose name is attached to a portion of the Memoirs of St. Patrick in that volume, in
:
thesewords "HsecpaucadeSanctiPatricii
peritia et virtutibus Muirchu Maccumach-
theni, dictante Aiduo Slebtiensis civitatis "
episcopo, conscripsit. (fol. 20, ba). The name of this informant also occurs in the
"
See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," v. Martii.
Vita S. Kierani. Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 473. 32 The Annals of Ulster have a. d. 696, for Adamnan's visit to Ireland, when he pro- mulgated the Law of the Innocents among
the people.
33 It is strange that Colgan, in one passage
of his work, should have confounded the Synod at Tara with the Convention at Drumceatt, held in the time of St. Columb- kille. See " Trias Thaumaturga," n. 36, p. 384.
34 The Rev. Mr. Reeves states, that the name is thus written in the original, which he had examined. Colgan understands it of Ecbertus Anglus.
35 See an account of him, at the 24th of April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
36 Venerable Bede tells us, that the last occasion on which the old Easter had been observed was at the festival of 715, after a duration of 150 years. The Roman tonsure was introduced among the Columban monks about the same time. This reformation was effected through the zealous exertions of a Northumbrian priest, named Egbert or
Adhmnain, or the
Canon of Adamnan. "
Ecgberet,
long
time was in living
42 Called mac bjiume
who for a
Appendix to Preface, n. (e), p. li.
40 See notices of this Saint, at the 8th of
April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
41 According to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," this monarch reigned eight years ; from a. d. 693, when Finachta Fleadhach was slain, to the year 791, when he and his three sons also were killed in battle. See vol. i. , pp. 296 to 303, with notes, ibid.
this Synod as Aidan, son of Gabhean, did at Drumceatt. "—Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adam- nan's " Life of St. Columba. " Appendix to Preface, n. (h). , p. li.
Skene's "Celtic Scotland : A History of Ancient Alban," vol ii. , book ii. , chap. Jvi. , p. 231.
Ireland, to which country he exiled himself, "
-oefiili fii CfiuitencuAice. He died in 706, in the eleventh year of his reign. The introduc- tion of his name into the Acts is suspicious, unless we suppose him to have attended at
for the sake of Christ. See Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xxii. 37 See Chronicon Hyense. in the Additional Notes to Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," pp. 379 to 381. The Acts of St. Dunnchadh will be found, at the 25th of May, in the Fifth Volume of this work,
Art. i.
38 Murchu mac Ua Maichtene and his predecessor of Nectan. See William F
brother Meadhran, are noticed in the Irish
Calendars, at June 8th, and at that date, their respective festivals may be found in
7i6,3
during
acts of the Synod, in the form Aedh epscop Sleibte, whose day is Feb. 7, and whose obit is entered in Tighernach a—t 700, and in the Annals of Ulster at 699. "
Rev. Mr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. "
43 He was the brother and immediate
5io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
called Lex Adamnani, or Cain Adhamhnain," which means M Tribute of Adamnan" ; because from it, a privilege devolved on him and on his succes- sors of levying pecuniary contributions under certain conditions. At a subsequent period, when this assessment became a matter of consideration, an officer or agents was appointed for its collection. 40 It is much to be regretted, however, that we have not a more authentic account than the foregoing. It is possible, that the question regarding the proper mode for celebrating Easter had been discussed at this synod, and that usages recom- mendedbyAdamnanhadbeenadopted. Theeightcanons,"whichbear Adamnan's name were also probably promulgated, during its session. These canons do not seem, however, to have had any connexion with the Cain Adhamhnain. *8 Although Colgan says, nevertheless, that the Acts of this synodonlycontainedtheCainAdhamnanorCanonsofAdamnan;«° yet, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan is of the opinion, that matters of greater consequence were promulgated in its decrees. These Canons* are eight in number, and comprise some regulations with regard to fasting, as also a prohibition to eat the flesh of animals, which had fed upon carrion, or of beasts that died of themselves. They contain, also, a provision in the eighth Canon, whereby the owner of a horse or other animal grazing in land annexed to a town is obliged to pay a fine to any person, belonging to said town who may have been injured by such animal. s1
A well-informed writer of our saint's Acts says, that if ecclesiastical topics were entertained at this synod, these were not considered of sufficient impor- tance in Irish estimation to merit entry in a journal. The absorbing subject is said to have been, that civil enactment, which afterwards became a source of profit, and for this reason had special claims upon recorded acts. The same writer adds, that in the mystified Irish style, it is sometimes dangerous, and always difficult, to deal with their statements as historical records. 52 Nevertheless, it must be observed, that many of its canons are still extant 5 '
; and of these, some refer immediately to the priesthood, others have a reference
44 The Brehon Laws make frequent men- tion of this Cain. But its particulars were not known, until the Brussels MS. , contain- ing an account of this Synod, had been
"
in Martene a detached canon is to be found under the title, Item Adompnanus (ibid. , col. 11). It is of the same purport as the others, namely, relating to unclean food. It exists also in the Cotton MS. , but without Adamnan's name. (Otho. E. xiii. , fol. 126. b).
49See uActa Sanctorum Hibernise,"
History and 45 He was the C&r\& Ax>avc\
discovered. In Dr. Petrie's
Antiquities of Tara," various kinds of Cain are mentioned. See pp. 173, 174.
xx. Februarii. Vita S.
s° They are published in Martene's" The-
saurus Novus Anecdotarum," tomus iv. , col. 18.
s' Dr. Lanigan laments, that Colgan had not published those Acts, without appearing to be conscious at the time of a fact, that
are elsewhere, as he himself they published
Canons, but with considerable variations, chap, xviii. , sec. xiv. , notes, 186, 187, pp. under the title, Incipiunt Canones Adam- 139, 140.
nani, fol. 155 b. s* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
48 Martene printed the Canones Adam- "Life of St. Columba. " Appendix to Pre-
"
styled, mAOft Steward of Adamnan's Law. ''
Colgae, p. 382.
nAin,
46 At the year a. d. 927, in Dr. O'Dono-
"
van's Annals of the Four Masters," we
have a record concerning the death of
"
and Bishop of Daire-Chalgaigh, and
Caencomhrac, son of Maeluidhir, Abbot
Steward of Adamnan's Law. "—
Vol.
ii. ,
pp. , 620, 621.
47 These exist in the Cotton MS. of " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. ,
nani with other Irish Canons, from a MS. of the Bigot Library at Rotterdam, and which formerly belonged to the Monastery
"
of Fescamp, in Normandy. See Thesaurus
Novus Anecdotarum," tomus iv. , col 18, Lutecia? Parisiorum, 1717. Besides these,
face, p. Ii.
S3 For this statement, Rev. M. J. Brennan
writes: "Juxta MS. Vardsei in Archiv—. Isidor. et D'Achery Spicil,, torn, ix. "
•'
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," Seventh Century, chap, i. , p. 112, note.
acknowledges, in a subsequent note. See
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 511
to the sanctuary, and to the respect which must belong to the Church of the MostHigh. Themannerinwhichtheepiscopalelectionhadbeenconducted
: intheancientIrishChurchisthusdescribedinthem "Thebishopistobe
ordained with the consent of the clergy, and of the laity, and of the bishops of the v/hole province, but especially of the metropolitan, either by his
epistle, or by his authority, or by his presence. " The next canon prescribes the age required in Ireland for the reception of the different orders at this early period, in these terms : " A person attached to the sacred ministry from his youth must remain a lector or an exorcist until the twentieth year of his age ; a sub-deacon, four years ; a deacon, five ; at thirty he may be ordainedapriest,thatbeingtheageatwhichChristbegantopreach; andat
or
a
"
Again :
" Should it be deemed
bishop. "
at any time, to promote a layman considerably advanced in years to the
episcopacy, he must be two years a lector, five years a sub-deacon, and after twelveyearsapriest,hemayreceiveepiscopalordination. " Thetenthcanon
thirty, forty,
fifty,
necessary,
decrees
:
" No bishop shall, during his life, constitute his successor ; but after
his death, let a deserving man be elected by the proper persons. " By way of preface, before entering on the canons which refer to simple priests, the
synoddecrees "TheChurchnowofferstheSacrificeinmanymodestothe
:
Lord, first, for herself, secondly, for a commemoration of Jesus Christ, who
:
the next canon u are not allowed to priests
* Do this for a commemoration of me,' and for the souls of the thirdly,
said,
faithful departed. " The next canon decrees
but one day from his church ; but should he be absent for two days, he must do penance for seven, on bread and water. In like manner, should he be absent one Sunday from the church, he must do penance for twenty days on bread and water ; but if absent for two Sundays, he is to be removed from
the of his station. " dignity
By
consider donations which are offered either with the Church or separately, as
their own property, but rather as grants appertaining to the Church. " By
another " The priest cannot receive the oblations of a public sinner. " :
:
Againthesynoddecrees uThatthepriestshallgivetotheChurchwhatever
" Any
the Church. " In conclusion " Ecclesiastics are to be reverenced, they
:
beingthepastorsofthefaithful,andtheservantsoftheGreatJudge. " In
like manner, that due reverence be shown to consecrated places, the synod
decreed " Wherever you shall find the sign of the Cross of Christ, do no :
injury there. " By an express canon " All thieves and robbers are to be
:
cast out of the Church . "54 Finally, the consecrated area of the Church is declared to have been marked by three divisions : the first boundary was that by which the laymen entered, and was called sacred ; the second was allotted forfemales,andwascalledmoresacred; andthethirdwasforecclesiastics, and was called most sacred. To the Acts of this synod the names of the Saints Mochonna and Adamnan are said to have been subscribed.
54 The account given in the text is a literal the Canons of Adamnan. See ibid. , pp.
superfluities he may possess. " According to a subsequent canon ecclesiastic who should be present at the public games was liable to degrada- tion ; and should an ecclesiastic be killed in battle or any quarrelsome engagement, he is not to receive the benefit of the sacrifice or the prayers of
translation from Latin notes extracted from
113, 114.
" That a priest may be absent
:
5" LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
CHAPTER IV.
RETURN OF ADAMNAN TO IONA—HE AGAIN SAILS FOR IRELAND IN 696 OR 697, AND CONVENES A MORDAIL OR GENERAL CONYOCATION—THE SYNOD AT TARA AND PRO- MULGATION OF THE LAW OF THE INNOCENTS WITH OTHER ENACTMENTS—RETURN TO IONA—ANOTHER EMBASSY TO KING ALDFRID'S COURT—ADAMNAN IS THERE CONVERTED TO THE ADOPTION OF THE ROMAN USAGES—HE FAILS IN HIS EFFORT TO INTRODUCE THEM AT IONA, BUT VISITS IRELAND ONCE MORE, WHERE HE SUCCEEDS—HIS REPUTED CONNEXION WITH MAYO—HIS RETURN TO IONA AND DEATH—FESTIVALS—COMMEMORATIONS IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND—ST. EUNAN'S CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL IN LETTERKENNY—RELICS OF ADAMNAN PRESERVED AT IONA—THEIR REMOVAL TO IRELAND—RETURNED TO IONA—ONCE MORE REMOVED TO IRELAND—CONCLUSION
After the held in Ireland in or great Synod 694
695,
Adamnan again returned to Ireland. What has been called a Mordail or
General Convention was proposed by our saint, when he visited Ireland,* as
generally supposed, in 696 or 697. It was probably a meeting of influential
clergy and laity. The acts of this assemblage do not tell us where or when
it was held : thus while the Irish Life ot Adamnan3 states this convention to
have been at the place now known as Ballyshannon ; Colgan thinks it was
at Derry or Raphoe, and the Rev. Dr. Reeves* that it might be inferred to
have been at Leitir, near Birr,- on the confines of ancient Meath and Munster.
When Adamnan visited Ireland on this occasion, the Annals of Ulster state,
that he the Law of the Innocents the 6 This promulgated among people.
also was known as the Cain' or Adamnan's Law, because he procured its enactment. 8 His chief purpose appears to have been the procuring of a national enforcement, in which women were to be declared exempt from engaging in warlike expeditions. ' It stated, that his compassion had been excited by a revolting scene he had witnessed in the case of two women,10 who were engaged in one of those feuds which were frequently known at the
Chapter iv. — See
" Trias
7 Cain Law was that which had been enacted and sanctioned by public assemblies. It was of universal obligation, and could be
Colgan's
Quarta Appendix ad Acta
"
S. Columbse, cap. iii. , sect. 2, p. 503.
Thaumaturga.
2
"Adomnanus ad Hiberniam pergit, et dedit
AncientLaw, 3. Dr. chap, i. , p.
At A. d. 696, the Ulster Annals state :
administered only by professional judges. "
Legem Innocentium populis. "8
O'Conor's Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus iv. Annales Ultonienses, p. 66.
3 It tells us . "On another occasion, when Adamnan was at the Royal meeting [ju5--oAit] of Conall and Coirpe, at Eas Ruaidh, making his Law, the roydamna of the son of Ainmire, i. e. Flannabhra, son of
Cumascach, came, having with him a female captive, who had killed a woman, to submit
the case to Adamnan," &c.
4 In his edition of Adamnan's
"
Life of St. Cclumba. " Appendix to Preface, n. (z. ) p. 1. 5 See also the " Dictionary of Christian
Biography," vol. i. , Art. Adamnan, p. 42.
Innocentium, it is termed Lex Morientium, in the"Origines Parochiales Scotiae," vol. ii. , p. 288.
R. H. A. , M. R. I. A. , pp. 171, 172.
10
This is related, in the Leabhar Breac, and also in the Book of Lecan.
' —
See Laurence Ginnell's Brehon Laws,"
Thus we have similar instances in many of the modern Parliamentary and Decretal acts of legislators, and which are associated with the names of their respective authors.
9 We are probably to regard this Law as
the Cain Adamnan, according to what is stated in the Book of Lecan, that there are four Cains of Ireland, namely, the Cain of Patrick, not to kill the clergy ; the Cain of Dari, the Nun, not to kill cows ; the Cain of Adamnan, not to kill women ; the Sunday Cain, not to travel on it, fol. 166,
M
p. a, col. 4. See Transactions of the
Royal Irish Academy," vol. xviii. Antiqui-
ties, sect. iii. On the History and Antiquities 6 Whilst the Ulster Annals call it the Lex of Tara Hill. By George Petrie, Esq. ,
* it is that probable
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 513
time ; but, it may well be supposed, he required no such legendary incident to influence his sentiments of religion and humanity.
After697AdamnanappearstohavebeenatIona. However,itisrelated, that the declining years of his life, from 697 to 703, were spent wholly in
11 He was
and most
his Irish countrymen, as legate or ambassador, to his old friend, Aldfrid, King of Northumberland, some time in the year 701" or 702. '3 In his Memoir of St. Adamnan, the Rev. Mr. Reeves extracts a narrative, concerning our saint's proceedings, from Mac Firbis's Manuscript Annals. It comprises incidents from the first visit paid to Aldfrid's court, down to the last delay Adamnan made in Ireland. As that writer remarks, it is characteristic of native simplicity. With the object of his second visit we are unacquainted. Although disease was still ravaging that part of the country, himself and his attendants were preserved from contagion. '* It is probable, from an inci- dental allusion, that our saint had been chosen to negociate some affair of international policy. 15 The venerable historian Bede seemingly alludes to
Ireland,
likely
in his
monastery
of
Deny.
again
sent
by
this second visit, when he states, that Adamnan, who was a presbyter and abbot over monks belonging to Iona monastery, had been sent by his nation
on an embassy to Aldfrid, King of the Angles. He had likewise an oppor- tunity of seeing the canonical church rites while he remained for some time
in that province.
The Annals of Mac Firbis seem to confuse the incidents of Adamnan's
first and second visits to King Aldfrid, as may be found in the following
untrustworthy account " A great spoil was carried off by the Saxons from
:
Erin. Adamnan went to demand a restitution of the spoil, as Bede relates
in his History. The greater part of the bishops of all Europe assembled to condemn Adamnan for having celebrated Easter after the fashion of
Columcille, and for having upon him the tonsure of Simon Magus, i. e. , ab
aurtadaurem. *6 Bede 1? that werethewisemeninthat says, though many
Synod, Adamnan excelled them all in wisdom and eloquence ; and Adamnan said, It was not in imitation of Simon Magus that he had this tonsure, but in imitation of of the 18 the foster-son of the and that
John Breast,
Redeemer,
11 "
See Rev. William O'Doherty's Derry
Columbkille, p. 01. "
may be supposed to have any relation to this mission or not can hardly be determined.
I5 Venerable Bede states: " Adamnanus nica Majora," vol. i. , p. 318. Edition of presbyter et abbas monachorum, qui
to Matthew of Paris, " Chro-
12
Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
13 Bede, who mentions this embassy, does
not mark the year. See " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. 15. Smith, who follows Matthew of Westminster,
in his
a. d.
"
Flores Historiarum," assigns it to
erant in insula Hii, cum legationis gratia missus a sua gente venisset ad Alfridum regem Anglorum," &c. —" Historia Ecclesi- astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xv.
,6 Mabillon describes this tonsure as formed "i—n fronte ab aure ad aurem ir. tonso
According
The Rev. Dr.
" Annates Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. viii. , sec. hi. , p. 207. We are informed by the Rev. Mr. Reeves, that the
Book of Durrow gives a good representation of this tonsure, in a picture exhibiting an ecclesiastic, wearing a plaid chasuble.
1? This is a mistake, for we find no such Magh-Murtheimhe by the Britains and account in Bede. Perhaps, the writer was
701.
Lanigan conjee-
occipito. "
tures, that it was rather perhaps A. D. 702,
about two years before our saint's death.
"
See
hi. , cap. xix. , sect, hi. , and n. 25, pp. 149, 150.
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol.
14 At the year 695, the devastation of
Ulidians is again recorded, in the "Annals
of the Four Masters ;" and at the year 698,
the banishment of Aurthuile ua Crunnmaeil,
chief of the Cinel-Eoghain, into Britain, is
noted. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol.
i. , pp. 298 to 301. Whether these incidents gelist was lohanner- brunnne. It appears
thinking of Colman's discussion, at the time he made his statement. "See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxv.
The Irish name for St. John the Evan- Vol. IX. —No. 9. 1 k
l8
5M LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September23.
this was the tonsure which he had upon him, and that though Peter loved the Saviour, the Saviour loved John ; and that it was on the fourteenth of the moon of April, on whatever day of the week that should fall, the Apostles
'
Though Columcille himself were present here, we would not leave him until he should be of the same rule with ourselves. ' Adamnan made answer unto him and said, ' I
celebrated Easter. Then an old senior rising up said,
shall be of the same rule with k Be tonsured therefore, you. '
accordingly,'
'
It will be sufficient that I do so,' said Adamnan, at my
him on this occasion ; and that great spoil was restored to him, and he came straight home to his own monastery of la. It was a great surprise to his congregation to see him with that tonsure. He then requested of the con- gregation to receive the tonsure, but they refused, and he got nothing from them, sed Deus pcrmisit conventiti peccare. i. e. , ipsum Adatnnanum cxpeUere^ qui misertus est Hibemiae, sic Beda dixit; for Bede was along with Adamnan "
It seems most probable, that during the time of his latest stay at the court of King Aldfrid, Adamnan became fully impressed with the necessity of changing the old Irish disciplinary customs. Having examined the subjects in question, he became persuaded, that the Roman cycle was preferable to the old Irish one, and he had no objection to whatever religious observances were then followed in England. He also heard with respect the observations of Abbot Coelfrid in reference to his adopting the Roman tonsure. 20 At
21
said the bishops.
own ' monastery. '
' but Adamnanwasthen immediately. '
said
tonsured, and no greater honour was ever shown to man than was given to
No,'
they,
this period, the Irish Scots and some of the Britons in Britain
differed in
discipline, from a general practice in the Western Church, on the subject of Paschalobservance. Adamnanhadanopportunityofformingacquaintance- ship with many learned and holy men, during this visit he paid to Northumbria. By these, he was admonished, that it would only be expedient and reasonable for people, who were placed, as it were, in a remote corner of the world, to adopt this practice of the universal Church, as the proper mode for celebrating Easter, and regarding other matters. They besought him, to introduce the rites and practice he had seen and learned in the English churches, when he should have returned among his own people, and thus endeavour to procure their abandonment of contrary
2
customs. In his letter to King Naiton,* Coelfrid has reference to this visit
of our saint, when writing at a period long subsequent to its occurrence. *3
to have been borrowed from accounts con-
tained in the writings of this same Evan-
gelist, at St. John, xiii. 23, 25, and xxi. 20.
"
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. v. , p. 52.
19 There is no existing authority for this statement, except perhaps an inference
See
p. 318, edition of Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
2I
The Rev. Mr. Reeves suggests, that these were probably the Alcluid Britons, whose King, Rydderch Hael, had been on friendly terms with St. Columba. See his
"
Adamnan's Life of St. Columba. " Appen-
dix to Preface, n. (o), p.