No More Learning

In the Parish of Foughart, there are five remarkable Moats. Three3°8 of these are on the townland of Upper Faughart; anotherMoat is in Lower Faughart,3°9 while one is onRoskeagh townland. 3^°
All writers are agreed,
that St. Brigid's birth
cannot be very distantly removed from the mid- dle of the fifth century. But authorities differ as totheexactdate. Some writers—as for instance the Bollandists3"—place it so early as the year
436 or 437. 3" The "" Annals of Dublin
and the "Annals of
Ross,3^3 with Friar John Clynn3H and Dr. Mere-
3°6 In May, 1874.
3°7 The accompanying illustration was
drawn on the spot by V. George Du Noyer, and transferred to wood from his sketches
in the R. I, A; by Gregor Grey, of Dublin, who also engraved it.
3<^ One is called m6cA ^aSa^c ; another is denominated moCA aw c-'peAti •otiine ; while the other has no distinguishing name.
3°9 This is called flAc ]"AileA6,
s^° This is styled mocA Uac fjeAfi. See "Louth Letters, containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1835-1836," vol. i. , p. 294.
3" Tillemont properly remarks, they had no sufficient grounds for their statements or
part
conjectures. These they were obliged to death to 506 or 517. " See Dr. Lanigan's
adopt, because they supposed St. Brigid had interviews with St. Patrick, and that he had requested her to weave a shroud for him.
"
312
ing St. Patrick's shroud is assigned by
This circumstance of St. Brigid weav-
arum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 459.
3^4 See this Tract of his published by the
st. Brigid's Well, Faughart.
Henschenius and Papebrochius, to A. D. 458, to make it accord with their hypothesis regarding St. Patrick's death occurring, as they suppose, in 460. Their predecessor Bollandus, who admitted the circumstance,
relating to friendship existing between St. Patrick and St. Brigid (" Acta Sanctorum, Februarii," torn, i. , i. Februarii), was not obliged to antedate St. Brigid's birth. For, with Ussher, he supposed the former to have lived until the year 493. "Now the successors of Bollandus, when they rejected this date, should have rejected also what has been said about the shroud, &c. , and thus would not have been reduced to assign, in opposition to the best authorities, her birth to the time above mentioned, and her
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec. ii. , p. 378, and n. 25, pp. 382, 383, ibid.
3'3 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi-
32 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
dith Hanmer,3^5 have 439. Another calculation should make her first see the light in 443. 3^^ The " Annals of Roscrea" note this event at a. d. 449. 3^7 A
judicious Irish historian considers, that including a. d. 451 and 458, St. Brigid's birth must have occurred at some time within such era. Following Ussher's
her birth to a. d. ^^^ Dr. 45 3,
to concur. The " Annals of Inisfallen" In the " Annals of Senat Mac Magnus," said to have been compiled by Charles Maguire, authors are cited for assigning the holy Virgin's birth to a. d. 457. 3^' Henry of Marl-
borough brings this event to so late a period as 468. 3'''
According to his computation, St. Brigid was only twelve years of age,
when St. Patrick died, if we adopt Dr. Lanigan's opinion ; and the same writer supposes, our Saint might have been known to the Apostle of Ireland,
at a very early age, in consequence of her singular sanctity having become conspicuous, and as she was derived from an illustrious family. But, it is thought, she could not have become a professed nun at that time, nor have already founded any religious house. 3*3 During St. Patrick's lifetime, according to the most consistent and authentic acts of both Saints, the same historian remarks, that Brigid is not represented as having been a consecrated Virgin. However minute, in all matters relating to St. Patrick, his Tripartite Life only mentions St. Brigid on one occasion. 3^4 There it is related, that, when Hstening, together with a vast number of people, to a sermon of his, she fell asleep and had a vision relative to the then state of the Irish Church and to its future vicissitudes, as expounded by St. Patrick. He, knowing that she had a vision, desired her, after she awoke, to tell what she saw.
The Saint replied, that at first she beheld a herd of white oxen amidst white crops, then spotted ones of various colours, after which appeared black and dark-coloured oxen. These were succeeded by sheep and swine, wolves
computation, affixing
The " Annals of Cambria"3i9 date it at a. d. 454.
Lanigan appears
give A. D. 456 in the opinion of some writers. s^Q
and dogs jarring with each other. 325
Irish Archaeological Society. "Quadrin-
There appears to be no good reason
3" So states Ussher in " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 459. However, in Henry Marleburrough's "Chronicle of Ireland," as published by the Hibemia Press Company, 4to, in 1809, we find no such notice, and there his Chronicle commences with A. D. 1 285, ending with A. D. 1421.
3^3 <' The lowest age, which I find to have been allowed in those times in any part of the Church for taking the veil, was that of 16 or 17 years. (St. Basil, Ep. Canonica, can. 18. ) The African 'Canons fixed it at 25 ; and this regulation became very general in the Western Church. Yet even in the countries where it was received, it might have been dispensed witli in certain cases.
— torn, ii. , (See Gilbert, Corp. J. Can. , p.
gentes—imo 39°. Nascitur beata virgo Bri- "
gida. " Annales Hiberniee," p. 4.
"
Other writers assume the same date, as in
3'S In his
Chronicle of Ireland," p. 89.
"Vetusto libro Chromelliae," quoted by "
Ussher. See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 459.
S"** Colgan remarks, that according to an
opinion, not improbable, St. Brigid lived to be eighty years. Hence, as it is very generally supposed, she died on February 1st, A. D. 523, her birth must naturally be referred to A. D. 443. See "Trias Thau- maturga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidaj, cap. ix. , p. 620.
3'7 See ibid,
3*8 See "Index CCCCLiii. , p. 520.
Chronologicus,"
at A. D.
3*9 The "Annales Cambrige," supposed by the editor, Rev. John Williams ab Ithel,
n. 27, p. 383.
to be
aflfairs extant, places her birth at A. D. 454. See Preface, p. ix. and p. 3.
3=-^ See "Trias Colgan's
perhaps
the oldest chronicle of Welsh
Thaumaturga," SeptimaVitaS. Patricii,lib. iii. , cap. iv. ,
320 See "Annales
tomus ii. Dr. O'Conor's "Return Hibemi- carum Scriptores. "
3" See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. U. , p. 620.
pp. 149, 150.
3=5 See also or Sexta Vita S. Jocelyn's,
Patricii, cap. xciv. , xcv. , Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," pp. 86, 87. Dr. Lanigan adds :— " In this narrative there is nothing
repugnant to the ways of the Almighty, who has been often pleased to impart to
Inisfalenses," p. 3,
"Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec. ii,
410). "
Dr. Lanigan's
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 33
for admitting, that during the illustrious Apostle's life-time, St. Brigid had
been abbess of a monastery, nor concerning her having woven that shroud, in which St. Patrick's body was enveloped after death, and at his own parti-
cular request. 326 Still more, it nmst be observed, that neither Cogitosus, nor the author of the first or of the fifth Life, has a single word about it.
What is very remarkable, moreover, these never once mention St. Patrick, notwithstanding the care, with which they collected whatever could redound
to the honour of St. Brigid. Had she enjoyed those frequent interviews, or kept up a correspondence with St. Patrick, or attended him at his death, it is scarcely possible, that those writers, who are evidently her most ancient biographers, should have been quite silent on such material points.
From her very childhood, we are told, she had been accustomed to an
excellent course of instruction ; and, as she grew up, this holy maiden pre-
sentedeachdaysomefreshproofofreligiousdecorumandmodesty. In
allthings,sheconformedtotheinspirationsofDivineGrace. Herveryname
seemed pre-ordained to indicate her future spiritual state. 3^7 The story is
told of her, that when she was a mere child, playing at holy things, she got
a smooth slab of stone which she tried to set up as a little altar ; then a
beautiful angel joined in her play, and made wooden legs to the altar, and
bored four holes in the stone, into which the legs might be driven, so as to
make it stand. ^^^ Such legends as these—although inexactly preserved— usually attest a life of virtue, from the cradle to the grave.
CHAPTER II.
THE SCOTCH CLAIM TO ST.
BRIGID'S BIRTH EXAMINED—PROBABLE ORIGIN OF THIS ERROR—REFUTATION—EARLY AND SUPERNATURAL INDICATIONS OF BRIGID's SANCTITY—HER SPIRIT OF PROPHECY MANIFESTED—HER INFANTILE VIRTUES— HER PROBABLE ACQUAINTANCE WITH ST. PATRICK DURING CHILDHOOD—HER RE- SOLUTION TO LIVE A VIRGIN—HER CHARACTERISTICS AND COMPARISON TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY BY THE IRISH.
It must appear strange, at the present day, to understand, that some of the mediaeval Scotch chroniclers and historians reputed St. Brigid to have been a native of modern Scotland. This idea probably arose from the fact, that ancient writers of her Acts stated her having been born, her having lived, and
little ones secrets and gifts, which He with-
held from the learned and wise of this world.
It was thus that while the chief priests and
scribes remained in their infidelity, the chil-
dren cried out, Hosanna to the Son ofDavid,
through a Divine impulse, as appears from
our Saviour's answer to those wiseacres;
Enfans celebres, what may we not expect from the omnipotence of God in the order
—
of grace? "
land," vol. i. , chap, viii. , n. 28, pp. 383, 384.
3=^ This circumstance is mentioned, in the
Tertia Vita S. Brigidae, cap. Ix. , p. 534;
* And said to him hearest thou what in the Vita S.
lib.
these say? Jesus replied; Yes: have you xxx. , p. 554; and in the Sexta Vita S.
they ; Quarta
Brigidoe,
ii. , cap.
never read, that out of the mouth of injants Brigidse, sec. xlvi. , p. 592.
and sucking babes thou hast perfectedpraise ? ' 327 So Laurence of Durham appears to Matt. xxi. 16. St. Brigid might have been think ; while Colgan remarks, that Brigh, at that time ten or eleven years old, an age meaning "virtue," is likely to have been fully sufficient to render her in the hands of the original Irish source for the name Brigida God, an instrument fit for displaying the or Brigid. See "Trias Thaumaturga,** wonderful effects of His grace and His know-
ledge of all things. If in what is called the
order of nature we find so many children of
extraordinary precocity in learning, so many Vol. II.
3="^ See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February i, p. 17.
*' Ecclesiastical of Ire- History
Quinta Vita S. Brigidse, cap. viii. , and n. 10, pp. 569, 640.
D
34 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [February i. I
her having died in Scotia. Yet by such term, those do not refer to any other country,exceptourownisland. AmongScottishauthors,whoclaimourillus-
trious patroness as their countrywoman, may be specially mentioned John Major''andHectorBoece. * BothCamerarius^andDempster*assert,thatshe wasborn,andthatshedied,inAlbaniaorBritishScotia. Ithasbeengenerally advanced by old writers, that she was of Scottish race. Thus, George Gam- feld,5 or Garnefelt, Antonio Possevino,^ Raphael Volaterranus,^ Sigebert Gem- blacensis^andMarianus^write. ThatSt. BrigidwasborninScotiaisanopinion formed by Antonius Sabellicus,^° by Petrus de Natalibus," and by a writer of the general Chronicles of the World. Sigebert tells us, she died in the same country at the year 578, and the Chronicle, entitled, "Rudimentum Novitiorum," has her death at a. d. 520. Her Natalis, indeed, has been ob- servedinScotia,ontheistofFebruary. Thismaybefoundamongnearly all Hagiologists and Martyrologists. It is noted in the Roman Martyrology, and in the Martyrologies of Bede, Usuard, Ado, Viennen. , Rodulphus Rivius, and the Carthusian Martyrology. Galesinus and many other writers, both Irishandforeign,allow,thatoursaintwasanativeofScotia. Yet,although this be admitted, it will not follow, however, that St. Brigid was born in British Scotia, or that her ancestors were natives of that country. On the contrary, evidence is afforded, that the island known as Hibernia, had been called Scotia, by ancient writers of every condition, age, and nation. " We are told, that previous to the eleventh century, no one thought of calling that part of Britain, now known as Scotland, by the name of Scotia. Writers usuallycalleditAlbania. AllwhomentionedScotiatotheperioddesignated understood Scotia as applicable to an island,'3 situated between Britain and Spain. '4 If all other arguments were wanting in support of such a position, various passages, found in the old acts. of St. Brigid, should be sufficient to establish it. For by birth and descent, this holy virgin was evidently a native ofIreland; shediedthere;andshewasparticularlyveneratedinourisland.
Chap, ii. —* See "Historia
to have, "in mendicabulis re-
Bri- tanniae, tarn Anglise, quam Scotiae," lib. ii. , cap. xiv. , p. 85. Edinburgh edition, A. D.
Dempster
pressis Hibernorum," vindicated our St. Brigid's fame for Scotland.
5 See " De Vita Eremitica," p. 223.
1740, 4to. =^
See "Scotorum Historise, a prima gentis origine," &c. , lib. ix. , fol. clxiiii. Prelum Ascensianum, fol.
3 See "De Statu Hominis, Veteris simul ac novae Ecclesiae, et Infidelium Conver- sione," lib. i. , cap. iii. , sec. ii. Camerarius cites many authorities, yet these only prove she was a "Virgo Scota. " Among such authorities are quoted, Rodulphus de Breda,' Tungrensis Diaconus " In Calendario Gene- rali. " MassKus, "In Chronico," lib. xii.
See "Apparatus Sacer," p. 252.
7 Commentariorum. Ad annum 52 I, lib.
xxi. , p. 635.
^ See " Chronicon," ad annum 518. See
" Monumenta Germanise Historica," tomus
vi. , p. 314
9 In his Chronicle" at A. D. 521, ibid. ^
tomus V.
" See "iEnead," viii. , lib. ii.
"See "Catalogus Sanctorum," lib. iii. ,
cap. Ixix.
" Almost the sole exception is Dempster. "With his follower Camerarius, that unac-
countable chronographer and chorographer maintains an opposite opinion with a fantasy peculiar to himself.
'3 This to from Colgan promised prove
ancient and modern writers, belonging to every age and nation, in a volume where he intended to illustrate solely the ecclesiastical antiquities of Ireland. This work, however, he did not live to
Franciscus Rosier " Stemmatum Lothar- "
ingiae," tomusiii. Gualterius, In Chrono-
logio. " Genebrardus "In Chronico. " Ri- "
badeneira In Vitis Sanctorum. " Delrio,
"Disquisis. Magic," tomus ii. , lib. iv.
Ja-
Com-
cobus Gretscrus in his
to
''
mentar. Exegetici in Serenissimum lacobum
Magnae Britannise Regem. " Theuetus
"
Cosmog," lib. xvi,, in his description of Scotia. See pp. 140, 141.
preface
Majoris
* See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus i. , lib. ii. , p. 82. Edinburgh
edition, 1829, 4to. Camerarius supposes notion of the early and middle ages.
publish.
'* In accord with a prevailing geographical
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 35
Hence, as a consequence, when ancient writers mention her country as Scotia, it is certain they must have meant Ireland.
Dempster most strangely asserts, that St. Brigid was born in Laudonia, a province of Albanian Scotia. 's Now, by St. Columkille, Apostle of Al- banian Scotia, and patron of Scotia Major or Hibernia, she is called our Saint of I^genia. It may be objected, with Dempster, that when writers treat about St. Brigid and her parents, the word Lagenia or Lageniensis are everywhere incorrectly used for Laudenia, Ladenensis or Laudianensis. ^*^ But this is clearly a foolish and blind subterfuge. Can he find in this
Laudenia, Kildare, Campus Leiife, Campus Gessille, Campus Bregh, with many other Irish names and places, which as the author of her Third Life*7 relates are in St. Brigid's country, and which are well known to be situated within the Irish province of Leinster ? Can he find, in his Scotia, the town Macha or Armagh, the ecclesiastical metropolis of Ireland, or the great river Sinann,^^ which turns its course from Albanian Scotia, and which from near Clanawley district, runs through the middle of Ireland, into the ocean? Both are placed by this same author in the Scotia of St. Brigid's birth. ^9 Dempster falsely assigns to his Scotia these places, and others mentioned by him, such as Campus Femhin, Campus Cliach, Arx Lethglass. More-
over, very few writers, at the present day, even if ignorant regarding the situation and obscure nomenclature of the places just mentioned, will —be
foolish enough to claim for Scotland, all the other Irish provinces, viz. =*«
:
Media, Connacia," Lagenia," Ultonia,=3 Mummonia. ^'^ So long as these are left us, we can still lay claim to Hibernia, Brigid and Scotia. =^5 Again,
all the circumstances related, regarding her parentage,'^ birth,^? receiving the
^s St. Cogitosus, in the first chapter of her life, says, that St, Brigid was born in Scotia, and descended from the good and honour-
able family of Ethech, her father being
named Dubtach, and her mother Brocessa.
By the Scotia here mentioned, it is evident,
; as well because no author who flourished before the time of Cogitosus, nor any writer who lived after understood
^9 See ibid. ^ cap. Ixii. , xcvii.
=° Now Meath.
=^ Now Connaught. ^NowLeinster.
=3 Now Ulster.
=4 Now Munster.
Scotia or must be intended Major, Ireland,
"S See "Trias Colgan's
400 years him,
that any other country save Ireland had re- ceived this name of Scotia, as also, because Ethech's family flourished in Hibernia, and not in Scotia Minor or Albania. Again, the same author mentions a celebrated church of St. Brigid at Kildare, which he greatly extols in his prologue, and most ac- curately describes in the 35th chapter of her Life. In this church, he tells us, St. Brigid was interred. He also names a most exten-
"^^ Inhis ofoursamt,andmthefirst Life
chapter, when speaking of her father, St. Ultan tells us, that he was a certain Dubtach, genere Lageniensis, &c. He states, that St. Brigid's mother had been sold to a certain Magus belonging to the family of Neill and to the territory of Meath, at a time when she bore our saint in her womb (cap. 3). Animosus, or the author of St. Brigid's Fourth Life, informs us, that there was a glorious king in Ireland named Fedhlimid Reachtmar, see lib. i. , cap. i. , how Eochad Fionn, brother to this same king, had mi-
grated to Leinster, and that there Dubtach, St. Brigid's father, descended from him. See ibid.