There was a rich nobleman in Connaught named Sétna, son of Erc, &c.154 He had a wife named Eithne of the race of Amalgaid son of Fiachra, son of Eochaid Muigmedon. They had no heir, neither son nor daughter; and they entreated God earnestly and devoutly that they might have a son worthy to take their place after them. In this behalf they gave frequent alms with fastings and abstinences. The saints and righteous men joined in their prayers, that they might obtain their request from the one God.
After this Sétna and Eithne were together; and Eithne saw a vision, as it were a star falling down from heaven into her mouth; and Sétna himself saw the same vision, to wit, a star falling from heaven into his wife's mouth. When they arose they told each other what they had seen. They also told the vision to men of prudence and penetration. And this is what they said to them: ‘A star, said they, guided the kings to Christ to adore Him, when He was born in Bethlehem, and by the same sign which has been revealed to you, a noble and worshipful son will be born of you, who will be filled with the grace and favour of the Holy Spirit.’ In the same night the holy and mighty one was conceived in his mother's womb, to wit Maedoc; and it is for this cause that he is called son of the star.
After this Eithne, being pregnant with Maedoc, was going one day in her chariot on some business. A cunning druid met her on the road; and when he heard the thunder and noise of the chariot coming towards him, he said: ‘Tis under a king that this chariot is running towards us, or under the favour of the Holy Spirit.’ {folio 168b} One of them went to look who was in it, and saw that there was no one there but Eithne. Thereupon the druid said to her: ‘Thou shalt bear a beautiful and mighty son, said he, who will be full of the grace and exceeding favour of the Holy Spirit.’
So the boy was born in Inis Brechmaighe in Magh Slecht, to speak precisely. The sign and presage of his sanctity was evident on the innocent child from his birth through the favour of the Lord; for in the place where he was born there was for a long time no want of light by day or night.
The first miracle of Maedoc after his birth was that on the stone on which he was carried to his baptism folk would be ferried backwards and forwards as in any ferry-boat.
Another of Maedoc's miracles was this: the webstress's slay which Eithne held at the child's birth made of hard dry hazel-wood produced afterwards leaves and goodly flowers; and this hazel still stands, a fresh unaging tree, in Inis Brechmaighe in token of the miracle. The learned men of the district say with reference to this hazel, that when earth from it over which nine Masses have been said is inserted between prisoners and their chains (lit. irons), they thereupon escape forthwith.
And it is to commemorate155 these miracles that this poem was made:
- 1] The first of the miracles of Maedoc of the relics;
2] Hereafter we shall see clearly;
3] To recount them is due from me,
4] A poet ought to reveal (them).- 5] The stone on which Aedóc was baptized,
6] The marvellous saint Maedóc,
7] Went from one bank to the other,
8] Like a ferry-boat plying.- 9] Another of his miracles:
10] Magh Slecht for a period of time
11] Both by day and night, -- a fitting thing --
12] Was all in one blaze of light.- 13] The stick of a webstress found in the house,
14] Held by Eithne in the time of her travail,
{folio 169a}
15] A withered hazel staff,
16] Was covered with fair fresh leaves.- 17] This hazel is still a fresh hazel,
18] And will remain so without changing
19] Till the end of the world shall come,
20] In flowery Inis Brechmaighe.- 21] It is of the virtues of the hazel of great Maedoc,
22] That earth from it as a preservative156 of escape
23] Will arise till the strict judgement,
24] An addition to his first miracles.First miracle.
So this holy noble-mannered child was baptized by a devout and chaste priest and by his guardian angel. He was given to be
- 1] Six sons of Dub-da-Crich renowned,
2] Dubthach, Dogran of the bright countenance,
2] Maelbennachtaid, beauteous Murchad,
2] Guaire, and Fannan of the curly hair.
The child was nurtured zealously and affectionately by Úa Dubthaig (O Duffey) and his other fosterers, more 157 carefully indeed than any other child, and was kept from everything unlawful by reason of the abundant shining and enlightment of the Holy Spirit in him. And his nurturers, that is his foster-mother and nurses, as is the way of loving and affectionate foster-mothers, openly gave him through love and affection an eke-name, calling him habitually my little Aed (mo Aed óc), so that the name Maedoc stuck to him as a surname to the exclusion of other names.
Thus the grace of the mighty Lord rested evidently on this child Maedoc, beyond all other children of his time. Long before had he been foretold, for the prophet of truth, Finn mac Cumaill, chief sage and prophet of Erin, had foretold the elect cleric, the glorious and wonder-working Maedoc son of Sétna, a long period of time before his birth, that is the period of twenty kings of Ireland, to wit from the time of Art son of Conn the hundred-fighter, to the time of Ainmire son of Sétna, &c., {folio 169b}in whose time Maedoc was born; for so great was the interval between Finn and him, when Finn foretold his coming, at the time that Goll mac Morna killed Ferna mac Cairill, the son of the chief of the Deisi of Munster, and a favourite of Finn's.
And as he was being buried under158 the ground, Finn put his thumb under his tooth of knowledge, that true knowledge of the future might thereupon be revealed to him, and ignorance re moved (lit, concealed) from him. ‘By my word,’ said he, ‘O Ferna mac Cairill, well is thee to be buried in that place by reason of the number of harmonious bells, and fair learned books, and offerings of the Lord's Body which will be above thy head to the world's end.’
And prophesying of Maedoc he spoke this poem:
- 1] Ath Ferna (Ferna's ford),
2] The place where excellent Maedoc will be;
3] Though many to-day its litters (of wolf-cubs),
4] Many will be its heavenly cries.
- 5] Ath Ferna of the green strand!
6] Excellent will be the man who will own it;
7] Confessors will come thither;
8] It will be a place dear to God.- 9] Maedoc with his company will come.
10] (Like) the sheen of the sun athwart showers;
11] The son of the star will come,
12] A star victorious for ever.
- 13] Maedoc with his company will come,
14] Across Ath Finnglaisi Fia;
15] He will be a clerk who will raise it;
16] Sroibgenn will be a man of God.- 17] It will be an angelic159 place,
18] The place where the fair fian will be cooking;
19] Maedoc with his company will come;
20] Welcome the king whose mighty sepulchre it is.- 21] He will be a strong wealthy prince,
22] He will be a flame of fierce doom;
23] Maedoc with his company will come,
24] He will be a wave over many fords.A
So the father of baptism and of lasting belief to the men of Erin, St. Patrick, prophesied of the same patron saint, Maedoc the mighty of the sweet words, as he was traversing the deserts and fastnesses of the Úi Briuin, when he heard the melodious and harmonious chant of the angels {folio 170a} near him, and the many varied songs, and the sweet angelic harping, and the heavenly sounds of their utterance and swift chanting. The thrice fifty holy clerks who were with Patrick asked: ‘Why do we not settle in this place, in which are the cry and song of the angels, and make our habitation and abode on this ridge which is beside the water?’ (Druim leth re han).
‘(15) That shall be its name for ever,’ said Patrick, ‘namely, Druim Lethan. However, not to us is it granted to settle there, but to Aed the son of Sétna, that is to Maedoc of Ferns, the mighty and wonder-working saint, the head and chief of the saints of Leth Cuinn in general, and of Oriel, that is of the clans of the Collas is his race, and he will serve Breifne, for in it he will be born, as is understood and foretold, in Inis Breghmaighe in Magh Slecht of Connaught at the end of thirty years from to-day. And he is destined to inhabit and occupy this place. And though marvellous in your eyes be the number of the trees on the ridge on which ye are, Druim Lethan, not
Patrick baptized and blessed the place for Maedoc there. He bequeathed to it grace and good fortune, bliss and blessing, wealth and hospitality, pre-eminence in foot-washing and in service, and honour above every (place); and he spoke this poem:
- 1] I reveal true knowledge,
2] To you, O religious clerks,
3] From God it was made sure to us;
4] Not to me was granted- 5] To remain in this place,
6] Drumlane, which I shall not attempt;
7] But to the elect cleric,
8] To noble angelic Maedoc;- 9] Head of the saints and holy patrons
{folio 170b}
10] Of Leth Cuinn160 is he to be reckoned;
11] To the seed of victorious Colla
12] Are the steps of his genealogy counted.- 13] At the end of thirty great years,
14] On Magh Slecht, to speak precisely,
15] Will this fair son be born,
16] The gracious son of the star.- 17] Till doom this will be his surname;
18] I bless this place
19] Wherein will dwell the choice, righteous man,
20] Ere Maedoc of the mighty works shall come
21] To protect and strengthen,
22] To preserve and consecrate it.- 23] The honour of this place
24] From Maedoc will increase
25] Until the day of Monday's doom shall come;
26] To you now I reveal it.I reveal.
After this, while Maedoc was a young tender lad, Ainmire son of Sétna, &c., king of Erin, came to the Úi Briuin to take hostages and pledges from them, as was the usual custom of kings and chiefs at that time. Maedoc, like others, was given to him in pledge by his
Now as Ainmire was returning, his pledges preceded him on the road. It was revealed to the king of Erin how the favour of the Holy Spirit rested on Maedoc beyond all the other boys. On perceiving this he said: ‘Of a truth perfect and highly favoured is this youth Maedoc, said he, and he must needs be with me on this royal progress on which I am; or, if he prefer to be released and to return, he shall have his choice. ’.
On hearing this Maedoc said: ‘If it be thy pleasure to set me free, I pray thee in honour of the blessed Trinity to set free the other youths also from the pledge-ship in which they are.’ ‘Thou shalt have this boon,’ said the king. Thereupon they were all allowed to return home. Ainmire commended himself to Maedoc in soul friendship (i. e. as his confessor), for he understood that he would one day be a strong pillar in the catholic Church, as was fulfilled. So that this was the first honour {folio 171a} shown to Maedoc and his comrades through the favour of the Lord attending him.
One day as Maedoc was playing with the herdsmen on the land, and minding the sheep of his foster-mother, there came towards him gently and fawningly eight wolves together, poor, weak, and starving. He looked on them and said to them: ‘Take,’ said he, ‘eight wethers from the flock, and eat them.’ The wolves did as Maedoc commanded them, and departed to the wood; and these wethers belonged to Maedoc's foster-mother. The herdsmen thereupon went home promptly and told Maedoc's foster-mother what he had done.
His foster-mother set off towards Maedoc in great wrath. Maedoc was much frightened when he saw her, and said: ‘O Almighty God, Lord Jesus Christ, help and assist me, for it was in honour of Thee that I gave food to the poor starvelings.’ That very moment there appeared between Maedoc and his foster-mother eight wethers of the same colour, size, and form as the first sheep. They came gently and caressingly towards the flock like the other sheep. No one under heaven from that day to this knows whence they came on that errand. So the name of God and of Maedoc was glorified through these miracles.
And it was to show this that an author made the following lay:
- 1] One day Maedoc -- great was the grace --
2] Was tending sheep for his foster-mother,
3] When he saw coming to his side
4] Eight wolves together.
- 5] For the wolves that confronted him
6] The cleric was seized with pity;
7] Beyond all other animals
8] They were poor, wretched, and out-worn.- 9] From my foster-mother, (to stand) between you and death,
10] Take eight wethers of the great flock
11] In the name of God -- zealous was the hospitality --
12] Said wonder-working Maedoc.- 13] When she heard of the destruction of her sheep,
14] The foster-mother of the oft-victorious patron saint,
15] Great anger came upon her therefor,
16] Whereat the saint was filled with fear.- 17] Aed son of Sétna, on whom no blot was seen,
18] Asked God to help him
{folio 171b}
19] Against the unmeasured wrath of his foster-mother;
20] Against her he did not attempt to plead.- 21] As a reward of the hospitality of the young Aed
22] He obtained a boon from the Trinity,
23] Eight other sheep of one colour
24] And form with the first sheep.- 25] (Thus) by the Wright of the Universe was delivered
26] Young Aed from the wrath of his foster-mother;
27] The son of Sétna more and more prevailed
28] With God the Father each day.One day.
So when the father and mother of Maedoc saw the greatness of the favour which God conferred upon him, they put him to learning, and the fame of his devotion, and the excellence of his studies, his knowledge and his deep learning became generally known.
One day a number of holy blameless men were earnestly entreating God to reveal to them the place of their resurrection, for they wished to serve God earnestly in that place. An angel came to them, and told them to go where Maedoc was, and he would reveal to them the place of their resurrection. They went to him at the angel's bidding. Maedoc asked of them: ‘Did ye hear the voice of any bell as ye came hither?’ said he. They said that they did not. ‘Come with me then,’ said he, that I may show you the place of your resurrection. They went with him, and he informed them where their resurrection would be, and they remained there till the time of their death, leading a life of marvellous blessedness.
Another day Maedoc was in a retired spot reading his
Maedoc and Molaise of Devenish were comrades. It happened that they were one day together (sitting) at the root of two trees on Magh Slecht in Breifne of Connaught. They entreated God earnestly to reveal to them whether they were to remain together, or whether they must needs separate from one another. The two trees under which they then were fell, one to the north, and the other to the south; the tree under which Molaise was fell to the north, and that under which Maedoc was fell to the south.
Thereupon they said: This is a sign of our separation given us by God, said they. And as the trees have now fallen, said Maedoc, so ought we to depart from one another; thou, Molaise, to the north, and I to the south. Thereupon they bade each other farewell, and kissed each other sweetly and caressingly. Molaise went north to Lough Erne, and built a fair and famous church, Devenish. Maedoc went south and built there a fair church and venerable monastery, Ferna Mor Maedoc, in the centre of Leinster.
Another time Daimin son of Cairbre, nicknamed Dam Argait ( Silver Ox ), with two other children was drowned in Lough Erne, (Cairbre his father being) son of Eochaid &c.163, a valiant and powerful man in Connaught. And his body could not be found and raised. So the mother of Daimin went round to many of the saints of Erin, seeking of them that she might recover the bodies of the children for interment. And she did not obtain her request from any of them. Molaise of Devenish said to her: ‘Remain here,’ said he, till ‘Maedoc comes to thee; for I know that he will recover those bodies and raise them, and that he will restore them to life by the favour of the Holy Spirit. ’
Shortly afterwards Maedoc came to them. {folio 172b} The woman told him all that we have related, and wept and lamented grievously before him. In the end Maedoc took pity and compassion on her. He went to the lough and prayed intensely to God, and the dead children rose up alive, (and came) to him, and he afterwards ordered them to their mothers. When Cairbre son of Eochaid saw his son raised from death, he gave himself and his son, and his seed, to God and Maedoc in
After the sanctity and renown of Maedoc had thus increased, many men came from every quarter of Ireland to be under his government and rule. Maedoc desired to forsake his own land and country {folio 173b} and to flee therefrom, for he did not wish to be honoured and renowned in this way.
So he meditated going on pilgrimage to Rome, to acquire carefully knowledge and expertness in the divine Scripture, as other saints and devotees were wont to do at that time. Now these are the associates and companions who are mentioned as going with Maedoc on this great journey, viz. Caillin the ascetic and chaste of Fenagh of Magh Rein, his tutor and instructor, Molaise the divine and learned of Devenish, and Ultan, the wise and gracious of 171 Ardbreckan; for these four were united to one another in one common bond in heaven and in earth. 172
There were further the other steadfast, intelligent, conscientious four, who were his confidants and loyal friends beyond all others, viz. Cele and Aedan of Ferna Mor Maedoc, Faircellach of Drumlane, and Fergus of Rossinver 173. These are the four to whom Maedoc entrusted the storing up and preservation of his great treasure, and great riches, during his life, and to whom he conveyed in inheritance the headship and coarbship of his cells and fair churches, the exaction of his dues and tributes after him; and these were severally the confidants and counsellors, the fellow-voyagers174and shipmates of the chaste and prayerful saint when he quitted Ireland.
When this devout and holy band reached Rome, God wrought a genuine and evident miracle to make them known to all; to wit, the bells of the place rang of themselves without any human agency, but solely by the operation of the one Almighty God. Great wonder and astonishment of mind, and trembling of heart fell on all the citizens in general at hearing these sacred signs, until they finally obtained information, when the successor of Peter and Paul made
Three of them were ordained as regular bishops by him after the testimony of men, the election of the Trinity, and the permission {folio 174a} of the dread and mighty Lord, to wit, Maedoc the wonder-worker of the sweet words, Molaise of the mighty works, the modest, and Caillin the devout and orthodox. It was on this journey that Maedoc of the mighty works received through his holiness two signal gifts from the Trinity which were left on the altar of Peter in Rome in his presence, and handed down from heaven, as he there found them; viz. the variegated (crozier) of Maedoc, one of his seven relics, and the staff of Brandub; as a poet said:
- 1] The variegated (crozier) of Maedoc from the plain of heaven
2] The noble patron saint received,
3] And he received the staff of Brandub
4] From the fair starry vault.
A whole year were the clerks together in Rome on this occasion, acquiring such knowledge and expertness in the Holy Scripture as they required, and receiving honour, and reverential respect, and authority, from the Pope with his clergy and cardinals. They bade farewell to one another after binding harmoniously their mutual alliance and union, and after the confirmation of them (the Irish saints) in dignity and great honour and in good orders by the vicegerent of God on earth, so that they returned to Ireland to their several places with authority and renown for orthodoxy and devotion.
Aed Dub (the Black) son of Fergna, son of Fergus, the king of the Úi Briuin, heard of the manifold miracles done by Maedoc, and the honour and great reverence which he had received at Rome, and the two noble and illustrious gifts which he had received there, the variegated (crozier) and the staff. He came zealously to him, and fasted humbly to him (asking him) to obtain from God for him a change of form and feature, for up to that time he was175 hideous. Maedoc then put the head of Aed under his cowl. Aed fell asleep on the spot under Maedoc's cowl; and the form which he put upon him was the form of Aedan son of Éicnech the one most beautiful man of all the men of Erin in his time.
He was afterwards baptized at Ath Airm (Weapon Ford) in Coill na gCros (Wood of the Crosses); and it is from the marking of the king with the Cross, and his consignation, that {folio 174b} the place is called Coill na gCros, and Ath Airm from the weapons and dress of the king which were taken from him while he was being baptized and blessed (and were given) in perpetuity to God and to Maedoc. And the name
Now this is the baptism-fee (given) by Aed Finn to Maedoc,177 -- a scruple yearly to Maedoc from every house, the horse and robes of every king and every queen, the robes and dress of every chief and every chieftainess; a cow on a halter out of every (cattle-)raid from every Breifne man between Drumcliff and Kells; a beast out of every estate to Maedoc's coarb, a foal from every stud, a pig from every sty, a sheep from every flock, an ox at every festival of Maedoc, a charge of iron from every smith to the great church, circuit dues at Easter and Christmas to Maedoc's monks and stewards, and (Maedoc's coarb) to be the first to sit down in the banqueting hall, and to have the lead in counsel and conference, and in every house in which there is a man of Maedoc's family (he is to have) the first horn in time of drinking178; peace not to be made in Úi Briuin without the coarb of Maedoc making it and drawing it up, otherwise they will be conspicuous for lack of peace.
A foster-child from the coarb of Maedoc to be fostered by the king of Breifne, and to be supplied with food, and clothing, and learning in honour of Maedoc, till he be proficient in study and good learning; for no son of king or chief, of land-owner {folio 175a} or hospitaller, from the time that he enters on his landed inheritance, ought to be without a foster-child from Maedoc. Moreover, the king of Úi Briuin is bound to give in marriage the daughter of the coarb of Maedoc, and to provide her with stock and dowry. He must welcome the coarb of Maedoc whenever he sees him, and the kings of Breifne must contribute like every landowner to the upkeep of Maedoc's church179 or temple in every place where one exists.
The horse and robes of the king of Breifne on his coronation day to be given to the family of Maedoc, or else ten horses or twenty kine. Maedoc's variegated (crozier) to be carried round the king, to pledge him thereby to do right between man and man, whether weak or powerful. It is to be carried, moreover, in front of the men of Breifne, in every battle and every contest, and is to go round them
The tales and miracles of Maedoc are to be narrated and made known to each one of the nobles by the family of Maedoc. Unless they (the family of M.) receive the tribute, they are to fast thrice on the Úi Briuin; the first fast at Drumlane in the great church; the second at Lee na Nemand, where Maedoc himself used to perform vigil and genuflexion with long prayer; the third at Rossinver, for it is there that God and Maedoc most hear the prayers of each one of his family; and the Brec (the variegated crozier) to be turned widdershins against them afterwards. Short life and hell is the inevitable lot of every one who earns the curse; and the same disability rests on the family of Maedoc, unless they demand this tribute every year. {folio 175b} If coarbs and erenaghs of Maedoc be made duly by the men of Breifne, without earning the curse, then, though all the saints of Erin were a-cursing them, they need have no fear.
This is the manner of the crowning of the king of Breifne: -- twelve coarbs of Maedoc to go round him in procession, to wit, O'Farrelly, O'Fergus, O'Shallow, O'Connaghty, Magauran, O'Duffey, O'Duigenan, O'Cassidy182; the coarbs of Caillin, of Presbyter Fraech, and of Bishop Finnchu (read: Finnchad); and these 183 are to march round him. This assembly should jointly do honour to O'Duffey and his successor after him, for he is Maedoc's fosterer, and let O'Duffey give the wand (of office) to the king of Breifne in honour of Maedoc. And this wand must be cut from the hazel of Maedoc in Sescenn Uairbeoil in Leinster, which place is (now) called Disert Maedoc (Maedoc's hermitage).
The king should give his horse and robes to the family of Maedoc, or else the commutation which we mentioned just now. A third of this equipment 184 to go to O'Duffey in honour of his nurture and fosterage of Maedoc, or to his successor, and the other two-thirds to this assembly that we have mentioned. He is no (lawful) king or chief who is not ordained on this wise.
Tribute.
After binding and establishing his tribute and due honour on Aed Finn son of Fergna, and his race and posterity after him, in return for his baptism and regular consecration at Ath Airm, as we stated previously, Maedoc proceeded to Drumlane at the suggestion and request of the high king, Aed Finn, and also by the counsel and joint exhortation of the kings and royal chiefs of Úi Briuin and of the people generally, both high and low, laic and cleric.
He founded and duly blessed this place afterwards, as had been foreshadowed and prophesied since the time of Patrick the chief apostle, when he foretold the wonder-working Maedoc, thirty years
So then Maedoc in fulfilment of the prophecy of the cleric came to Drumlane, as we mentioned above, in the maturity of his age and days, having increased his mighty works and high miracles, and become famous for devotion and good morals, for wisdom and varied powers, for charity and good works; and he blessed and permanently established the place, arranged its ramparts and fair cemeteries, measured and marked out its temple and fair churches, fashioned and fairly constructed the caps and columns (?) of its round towers, with stone and timber and implements, visited its houses and buildings, ordered its seniors and congregations, ordained and set in honour its clerics and mass-priests, its work-people and servitors, its students and men of learning, to sow belief and devotion, to chant psalms and psalters, to celebrate the divine canonical hours, to give refection to guests and destitute, (travelling) companies, and strangers, to the weak and feeble, and to all others who were in need, both in state and church.
He bequeathed to the place grace of clergy and coarbs, grace of prosperity and abundance, grace of welcome and entertainment for ever, according to the proverb: the welcome of Erin is Drumlane. And he was some time at Drumlane on this wise, attending to it and serving it, till it came into his mind to leave Ireland secretly, to avoid and shun the honour and high reverence which all entertained for him.
Now Aed Finn son of Fergna, the king of Breifne, heard that Maedoc was departing from Úi Briuin, and when he heard it, he set about preventing it, for he deemed it no honour or pleasure that the author (lit. father) of his baptism and blessing, who had given him so strikingly his choice of form and feature, should depart from him, for he disliked that his abode and dwelling should not be in his own land and country. Then Maedoc said to him {folio 177b}: ‘Let me go,’ said he, ‘without delay or pursuit on thy part, and thou shall receive of the Lord in recompense therefor fellowship and rest in the house of heaven.’ But Aed Finn would not of his free will consent to let him go. However, in spite of his prohibition and power, the Trinity guided Maedoc in all secrecy to the territory of Leinster, and thence to Britain194 to a holy bishop who was there, viz. David of Menevia; and he was there with him for a long time.
One day when Maedoc was reading out-of-doors near the
The man brought two wild unbroken oxen to him, and bade him put them in the cart, and go to the forest to fetch firewood. Out of malice towards Maedoc the prior did all this. But as soon as Maedoc took hold of the oxen, they became tame and perfectly gentle at the bidding of the high saint; and he then harnessed them to the cart, and went after the brethren with only one little lad with him.
Now there was on the way a large spongy and uneven bog, forming a short cut, while the way round was long. The lad said to Maedoc195: ‘It would be a great saving to us, if we could go across the bog, for then we should reach the brethren in a short space.’ Maedoc said to the lad thereupon: ‘Make the sign of the Holy Spirit and of the Cross of suffering on thine eyes and heart, and thou shalt speedily see {folio 178a} before thee the power of Christ.’ Maedoc then turned the oxen and cart towards the bog; God made a smooth and easy road, and a firm and level path through the soft and yielding surface of the bog for Maedoc and his oxen. This road still remains, to preserve the memory of these great miracles of Maedoc, and ever since it has been of great use and profit to both men and oxen. Afterwards they arrived where the brethren were, giving glory and thanks to God.196
Everything, however, that the prior had done out of ill-will to Maedoc was revealed by God to David, and He also revealed to him how the prior had caused Maedoc to leave his book open out by the wall. There came a storm and a heavy downpour just then, and David saw Maedoc's book lying open; but though he saw it, he left it as it was. However, later on he remembered about its being open, and went to save it; and he found it dry and strongly bound, without injury to a line or letter, and without a drop of water or rain having touched it.
When David saw that great miracle, he left the book as it was, and went himself to the sea-shore where the disciples were, for Menevia is close to the sea. He went up to Maedoc, and said to him: ‘Why,’ said he, ‘when thou wert setting out this morning with the oxen to join the others in the forest, didst thou leave thy book open exposed to the shower and the storm?’ When Maedoc perceived this, he fell on his knees to the ground humbly and reverently for
David did not bid him rise, but went after the brethren; and he and they entered the house side by side. The lad afterwards told them all that had befallen them when they set out for the forest, and how they had found a level dry road in the bog {folio 178b} through the miracles of Maedoc. David asked where Maedoc was. They all agreed in saying that they had not seen him since he lay on the shore before David, after hearing about his book. Some of the chief clerks were sent to the sea-shore to fetch him, and brought him with them thence. A marvellously high tide had risen in walls and great mountains199 on each side of him round about, with the exception of the actual spot on which he lay, and had not hurt him in the least. Bishop David moreover related all the miracles which God had done through Maedoc, and rebuked and reprimanded the prior repeatedly for his bad conduct towards Maedoc. And the name of God, &c.
Another day the same man, the prior, determined to kill Maedoc out of envy and jealousy. He sent him to the forest with a lay servant200 to cut firewood. The prior bade the man kill Maedoc, and promised him a reward for it. After they had entered the forest Maedoc stooped down to pick up a stick. The man raised his hands to the axe in order to smite Maedoc. By the power of the Lord it came about that the hands of the man clave to the axe, so that he could not move them or ply them as usual201. The man then promptly confessed his guilt, and came to seek forgiveness of Maedoc, the servant of God, with great earnestness.
When Maedoc saw this, he prayed fervently to God; and through this prayer it came about that the hands of the man were freed from the bond and chain in which they were held. The man went home apace, and told the matter to every one whom he met. When the story had been made known to David, he got up on the side of his bed, and put one shoe on, and went in haste towards the forest to meet Maedoc. When the brethren saw him going with one foot bare, they promptly followed {folio 179a} their master. Maedoc came to meet him to a stream which was near the place. David seeing him said to his disciples: ‘Depart now,’ 202 said he; for he had seen a host of angels encircling Maedoc at that spot.
When Maedoc saw David waiting for him, he ran hastily to him, and did obeisance. There is a cross at the place in witness of their mutual covenant and union. They both offered thanks and
Another day Maedoc was sent to fetch a vessel of ale to the monastery; and as he was going close to an ever-deep and dreadful valley which lay on his way, the cart in which the vessel was and the oxen fell down at the edge of a hideous precipice203 Maedoc made the sign of the Cross of suffering between them and the precipice. After the saint had raised his hand on high the oxen suffered no hurt, the cart was not broken, and no drop of the ale was spilt. And the name, &c.
The king of the Britons had a son who was blind, deaf, and lame. When his friends and fosterers heard of these great {folio 179b} miracles done by Maedoc, they sent the boy to him, and entreated him to heal him. He was also greatly entreated by his master David. Maedoc then made earnest prayer to God, and the young boy was speedily healed of his blemishes after this. The friends of the child gave great thanks to God and to Maedoc therefor; and the name of God and of Maedoc was magnified through the miracles done on the son of the king of Britain.
There was another man in Britain whose face was all as flat as a204 board, without eyes or nose, and he had been born so. He was taken to Maedoc to be healed. After Maedoc had entreated God on his behalf, he was healed forthwith, and his eyes and nose came in their proper place finally. And the name, &c.
Another time the Saxons invaded Britain with a great innumerable army. The Britons assembled to oppose them, and sent messengers to David to ask him to send Maedoc to them, to bless their army, and consecrate their battalion. Maedoc went at David's bidding where the Britons were, they and the Saxons confronting one another. The Britons were no match for the Saxons in numbers. Maedoc prayed on behalf of the Britons, and the Saxons thereupon fled, and the Britons pursued them, and for the seven days of the week they were slaughtering and butchering them; and not one man of the Britons fell by the hands of the Saxons all that time through the favour of God and the miracles of Maedoc. And no Saxon
{folio 180a}There was another man in Britain, and he took in hand to deceive Maedoc, for he bade his attendants to carry him to Maedoc, and say that he was blind and deaf. Maedoc recognizing his deceit, said to him: ‘Thy kingdom and authority were in thine own hand,’ said he, till thou didst determine to conceal the gifts which God had given thee. And as thou hast done this deceit thou shalt be as they said till the day of thy death. And this was fulfilled.205 The name, &c. Many then are the miracles and mighty works which God did in Britain in honour of Maedoc, which are not enumerated here to avoid tediousness. And therefore the author omitted to relate them.
After all the miracles that Maedoc had done in Britain, he took leave of his master, David of Menevia, and began his return journey to Ireland together with his disciples. As he drew near to the Irish coast, he saw robbers on one side of a road, robbing and killing pilgrims and feeble folk, who were travelling from place to place. Maedoc said to his company: ‘Let us hasten to the pilgrims,’ said he. Then he straightway rang his bell, and the chief of the brigands heard it. ‘Tis the sound of the bell of a devout and godly man,’ said he, and he rings his bell to bid us cease this work. They let the pilgrims be after this.
The man who was their chief was a wealthy and very powerful man, with great riches and property at his command, to wit Dima son of Finntan, &c.206 As Maedoc was drawing near them, Dima sent {folio 180b} one of his followers to meet him. This man carried Maedoc from the ship on his back, and conducted him to his lord. And he repented earnestly afterwards, and offered land to God and Maedoc in perpetuity. And this land is in that southern part of Ireland which is called Úi Cennselaig, and he built a church there, that is Ard Ladrann, and the man we have mentioned, viz. Dima, commended himself with his race and fair landed estate to God and to Maedoc.
One day after this when Maedoc was by the sea, and his brethren with him, he said to them: ‘I am sorry that I did not ask my master, David, who should be my father confessor in Ireland.’ His disciples began to get ready a ship for him, and to set out on this errand. However they were greatly terrified at the sea. Maedoc went towards the sea, and was minded to go without a ship to Britain to the master with whom he had been.
An angel came to him and said: ‘Presumptuous is thy deed.’ ‘Not out of presumption was I minded to do it,’ said Maedoc, ‘but through the power of God.’ The angel said: ‘Thou needest not to seek any other father confessor, but the God of the elements, for He understands the thoughts and secrets of every man. However, if it be thy wish to have testimony to thy confession and conscience, let Molua mac Oiche be thy father confessor.’ Maedoc turned back and went to the land called Úi Cennselaig, in the district named Ard Ladrann, and as he sat in the place called Achel, he remembered a bell which he had forgotten in Britain. And when it was time for him to ring it, he saw it beside him. Maedoc gave {folio 181a} great thanks and praise to God therefor.
One day when Maedoc was on the shore of the sea which divides the men of Munster and Leinster, that is the Úi Cennselaig and the Desi, he was minded to go along the shore towards the Desi, and he and his disciples were on horseback. There was an arm of the sea in front of them on which ships and laden boats plied. His company were minded to alight from their horses, for they did not think that they could proceed without a boat at this point. Maedoc said: ‘Let the horses go forward by themselves,’ said he, ‘for God could cause the sea to ebb and dry up for us.’ They did so, setting their hope firmly on God; and the horses went on to the sea with its mighty waves without wetting their hoofs, as if it had been dry land or any other level road. And by this short cut they came to the Desi.
Maedoc built a church in the place called Disert nDairbre (Oakwood Hermitage), and was there some time with his disciples. The brothers had two cows and a calf there. Maedoc207 was one day alone there indoors in his cell. He saw some wolves coming to him, and they went round him gently and fawningly. Maedoc understood that they were asking for food. He was moved to compassion for them; he gave the calf to them, and bade them eat it. When then the woman came in the afternoon,208 she looked for the calf to let it in to them. Maedoc said to her: ‘Do not look for it, for I have given it to the wolves.’
One of the brothers said: ‘How can the cows be milked without their calf?’ Maedoc said to the brother: ‘Bend thy head towards me,’ said he, ‘that I may bless it; for when the cows see it, they will give their milk humbly and obediently.’ And so it was that whenever the cows saw the head of the brother, they would suddenly lick it, and so give their milk. {folio 181b} Often did Maedoc do these miracles; whenever a calf was killed, he would bless the head of the
Errand.
Another day Maedoc was grinding wheat in the mill, the brothers being all engaged on other business. An Ossory man came in, and took some of the meal from him by force. The same man came again afterwards, having changed his look and appearance by deliberately closing one of his eyes, and asked for some of the meal as a gift. Maedoc looked at him, and asked him what made him like that, though he knew very well. And he added: ‘Thou shalt have some meal to take with thee; nevertheless thou shall be permanently blind of one eye, and thy seed after thee shall never be without some one-eyed man among them.’ And this was fulfilled.
Many churches and monasteries were built by Maedoc on this
Aed son of Ainmire, king of Ireland, assembled a great army to harry and raid Úi Cennselaig. Now Brandub son of Eochaid, son of Muiredach, was king over Úi Cennselaig, and he it was that was opposing Aed the king of Ireland. A great number therefore of the men of the country collected their flocks and chattels under the protection of God and the safeguard of Maedoc to the place where he was, viz. Cluain Mor Dicholla. When the king heard of the great quantity of property and {folio 182b} cattle gathered together in one spot, he went to raid the place.
Maedoc set out to meet the army, and made the sign of the holy Cross with the point of his bachall against them. One of the army who happened to be in the very front, said as he was passing the mark: ‘There is no one so holy as to stop me,’ said he, ‘from passing the mark.’ And when he had thus said, he fell dead and lifeless in the presence of them all. Great fear seized all of them at once at this deed, and they turned back to the king. The king turned back from the church, saying: ‘We cannot fight against the saints, and the three Persons of the Trinity, and Maedoc with his miracles.’ And the name, &c.
On another occasion when Maedoc came to the monastery named Shanbo, at the foot of the hill called Mount Leinster, as he was going along the road, a bitch wolf happened to meet him, wretched, weak, and starving. It came to him gently and fawningly. Maedoc asked a lad who had joined him on the road, whether he had anything which he could give the wolf. The lad said that he had one loaf and a piece of fish. Maedoc took this from him, and threw it to the wolf. The boy flushed and flamed at seeing this, and said that he was afraid of his master, for he was not of Maedoc's following, but had chanced upon him by the way. Maedoc said: ‘Bring me some of the leaves of the wood,’ said he. And he did so. Maedoc blessed the foliage thereupon, and it was turned into a loaf and fish; and he gave it to the lad afterwards. And the name, &c.
On another occasion when the above-mentioned king, Brandub son of Eochaid, had taken possession {folio 183a} of the kingdom of Leinster, and was driving great preys before him which he had taken213 from the northern part of Ireland, there chanced to meet him
It drew the king towards it with its breath, and almost swallowed him at a single gulp, when a handsome shapely clerk came swiftly towards it, and put a dun hornless ox in the mouth of the monster, just like the ox which the king had previously given to the leper, and thus freed the king from the yawning mouth of the monster. The monster drew him towards it again, and wanted to swallow him as before. The same clerk came to him again, and smote his bachall on the huge head of the monster, and it very promptly shut its mouth; so the king was freed from the danger of the monster and of hell at one and the same time.
The spirit of the king returned to his body, and he arose afterwards, and told his attendants all that he had seen. The king was subsequently carried to the place called Inber Crimthainn, being still in the same sickness as before. His friends said to him: ‘There is a holy man in this country named Maedoc,’ said they. ‘Mighty works and miracles are done by him on the spot. Do thou send messengers to him, to bring thee holy water from him.’ The king said: ‘Not so; but I myself will go to the place where he is.’
The king mounted his chariot, {folio 183b} and came where Maedoc was. When Maedoc heard that the king was coming, he went to meet him. However, when the king saw Maedoc at a distance, he said: ‘Yonder is the cleric who freed me from the mouth of the monster, and from the pain of hell as well, for I recognize from here his form and fair appearance.’ The king then prostrated himself at Maedoc's feet and said: ‘I repent of my sin,’ said he, ‘for I have done much evil and wrong up to this time; and whats ever thou shalt say to me for the good of my soul, I will do to the best of my ability.’ The king was thereupon healed of all remaining sickness on Maedoc praying on his behalf. The king said: ‘Thou hast healed me of my sickness,’ said he, ‘and separated me from the pains of hell.’ And he then told Maedoc everything he had seen in the before-mentioned vision.
The king then said: ‘I give myself with my race and descendants214 in perpetuity to God and to thee; and I ordain my burial and
Now when Maedoc was building the monastery of Ferns, his disciples complained to him that there was no water near them in the place. There was then a great tree in the place. Maedoc said to his disciples: {folio 184a} ‘Cut down yon tree215 to the root, said he, and there will spring forth a gleaming fount, and a thin bright stream of green blue-edged water from it.’ The tree was cut down then, and on its being cut down there thereupon sprang forth after it a lovely fount and pool called the spring of Maedoc. The women and lesser folk used to go and wash their clothes and cleanse their garments in the stream that flowed from the fount.
There was a man of great substance on this land, named Becc son of Eogan, and his ancestral house was near the cell and fair church, for his land extended to this stream. And the women of the place used to come and wash their clothes in it, as we already said. Maedoc disliked this, and said to them: Depart forthwith, and come not so near to the church or to us, said he. One of the women said that they would not go: for the water and the land both belong to us, said they.
Afterwards a fair and comely daughter of Becc son of Eogan was washing clothes with her feet on the stones. Her feet clave to the clothes, and the clothes to the stones, and the stones to the earth; and thus she stood there like a statue or any human image, without motion or movement, and did not dare to stir to one side or the other.216 When the woman's father, Becc son of Eogan, heard this, he came in haste to Maedoc, and entreated him humbly to release his daughter. On Maedoc praying for her she was loosed forthwith from the bond which held her. And the man, Becc son of Eogan, gave himself, and the place, and his family in perpetuity to God and to Maedoc.
After this a herdsman who lived near Maedoc's
On one occasion Maedoc went to Taghmon where was the holy abbot, Munnu son of Tulcan, and he was honourably entertained there. Munnu son of Tulcan said to the company who were attending him: ‘Go to Maedoc,’ said he, ‘and tell him to send all the brethren and others who are in the place to my house and abode, to eat and drink together in his honour to-night,’ said he. Maedoc said that they would all eat together that night. Munnu said to the messenger: ‘Tell Maedoc that they cannot all eat, for many of them are sick.’ Maedoc said when he heard that: ‘With subtlety has the abbot asked health for the brethren; however God could give them health in my honour,’ said he. And when Maedoc had said this, all those of them that had been sick came with joy to the refectory, including some who had been barely alive previously; and they came to eat their supper on this occasion like the rest.
{folio 185a}At the end of the third day, as Maedoc was leaving the place, Munnu said: ‘Thou shalt not go hence,’ said he, ‘till the brethren are in the same sickness in which they were before.’ Maedoc said: God granted it to me to confer health upon them, said he. Munnu said: ‘Not thus shall it be, said he, for virtues are perfected in the weak.’ However, on the permission of Maedoc at Munnu's bidding, the same company of the brethren returned to their former sicknesses. Maedoc then departed after taking leave and bidding farewell to Munnu; and went to his own place, leaving and taking blessing.
And it was to explain all these things that this lay was made218:One day.
Another time Maedoc went to visit some holy virgins of distinguished chastity, who were daughters of Aed son of Cairbre; and he took with him as an alms for them a plough-team of oxen. As the ploughmen were yoking the team, a poor woman, leprous, weak, and grievously sick, came to Maedoc and asked of him one of the oxen as an alms. He gave it to her. The ploughmen said: ‘How shall we {folio 186a} plough now?’ said they, ‘for we lack one of the proper number of the team.’ Maedoc said: ‘Wait a while,’ said he, ‘and God will give you an ox in the place of yonder one.’ They saw after this an ox coming towards them from the sea. It came to the team, and put its head obediently under the yoke in the place where the above-mentioned ox had been. It remained
Another time Maedoc was in the place called Ard Ladrann, and saw a team of oxen ploughing close to Ferns, his own monastery, and there was a distance of nearly a hundred miles between the two places. However Maedoc saw them by the favour of the Holy Spirit. Now as the team was turning from one furrow to another, it happened that just then the ploughman slipped to the ground between the share and the coulter, the team straining in full career. Maedoc lifted up his hand on seeing this, and blessed the ploughman from where he was, and the oxen afterwards, though he was far from them. The team stopped still in mid career, and did not hurt the ploughman, who escaped whole from this danger. So the name, &c.
On another occasion his master, Bishop David, sent a message for Maedoc to go on a visit to him with all speed before his death. Maedoc then went obediently at the summons of his tutor to Britain, and was a long time with him there. One day Maedoc said to Bishop David: ‘O lord, and master dear,’ {folio 186b}said he, ‘I promised to certain people on my word and conscience that I would be with them in Ireland to-day.’ ‘Thou shalt surely be in Ireland to-day,’ said Bishop David. Maedoc asked him how that might be. ‘Thy company shall follow thee in a ship,’ said Bishop David, ‘and thou thyself shalt go before them, as I shall tell thee. Go to the sea, and whatever animal shall meet thee on the strand, mount upon it, and it will bear thee speedily to Ireland.’
Maedoc set out after bidding farewell to Bishop David and receiving his blessing, and after binding a covenant and chief-friendship with him, and between their successors after them in their respective places for ever. Maedoc then went to the sea-shore, and found a huge wild animal coming to meet and receive him there. And he mounted on its back with firm and confident faith. The animal carried him thence to the port called Inber Crimthainn. There it left him after taking leave of him in its own brute fashion (lit. according to its own intelligence); and Maedoc went to his own place, as he had promised his confidants and friends; and his company221 and escort came after him, without trouble or death or drowning, through the power of God and Maedoc.
On another occasion, after the example of Moses the son
Maedoc obtained four boons from God after finishing {folio 187a} his fasting at that time. The first boon, that whoever of the seed of Brandub, son of Eochaid, or of the seed of Aed Finn, son of Fergna, &c., who should take up his quarters in his monasteries or in his church, and should die there, should not enter the kingdom of heaven for ever and ever. The second boon, that any one of his monks or family who should desert or flee from him, should in like manner not enter into the kingdom of heaven. The third boon, that hell should not be closed upon any one who should be buried in any one of his churches to the end of the world. The fourth boon, that he should rescue from hell a soul of the seed of Aed Finn, and one of the seed of Brandub son of Eochaid every day to the end of the world.
So that it was to witness to this particularly that a poet sang these words:A mighty work.
Another time Maedoc was at Ferns. This was the time that some of his race were hostages in Munster with the Úi Conaill Gabra. Maedoc went to ransom them. And when he got there the king of the land would not admit him, and did not want to see him or listen to him, but kept him outside in front of the fort. Maedoc then fasted on the king. When he had finished his fasting, a very favourite daughter of the king's died {folio 188a} most suddenly. The wife of the king knew that it was because of the saint's fasting that the maiden had died; so she took the body of the maiden with her to where Maedoc was, and begged him earnestly and persistently to restore her daughter to life. Maedoc prayed on her behalf, and afterwards brought her to life again. However, the malignity of the king towards Maedoc remained unchanged at this, and he remained obstinate and spiteful in angry words against him.
When then Maedoc was minded to curse him, there came a young and beautiful child to him and said to him: ‘God be thy life and health, thou perfect truly holy man,’ said he, ‘and let thy curse and great displeasure be on that rocky stone before thee.’ ‘I am willing that this stone be accursed,’ said Maedoc. In the end the stone was divided into two exactly equal halves. When the king saw this miracle he repented deeply, and released the hostages to Maedoc without ransom,223 and gave him the estate named Cluain Claidech in atonement for his repulse from the door of his house and fort. Maedoc built a church in that place, and blessed it and the king as well. So the name, &c.
Another time Maedoc, with a hundred and fifty monks, was reaping corn in harvest-time. The king, Brandub son of Eochaid, came to where they were reaping on a visit to Maedoc. When the king saw them so humble and reverent to one another, he said: ‘It is wonderful to me that there should be so many in one company and (all) so loving and so humble.’ ‘It is yet more wonderful,’ said Maedoc, ‘that they are all monks (destined) for the holy and eternal life, except one single monk.’ ‘Who is that man?’ said the king. ‘He must be a monk (destined) for death, if he is not a monk (destined) for the holy life. Let us put him to death,’ said the king, ‘that he be not any longer among the sheep of God.’ Bishop Maedoc {folio 188b} said: ‘Thou shalt not slay him; yet thou shalt know presently who he is; for when the time of the celebration of our (canonical) hours shall come, they will all prostrate themselves to the ground, save only he.’
When then the hour of tierce came, Maedoc and all the monks bent to the ground, except the one monk of evil life. Maedoc asked him why he did not prostrate himself before God as all (the others) did. He said that he had something else to think of. Maedoc expelled him from the congregation as an unbeliever; and he died a violent death on the seventh day after leaving the order; and his violent end was an immediate fulfilment of Maedoc's words among the monks.
On another occasion Maedoc was minded to go to the royal and famous city, Cashel of Munster. The horses of his chariot stopped on the road, and did not move in any direction. Maedoc wondered at this. An angel of the Lord came to him, and said: ‘It is God's will that thou shouldst go to another country, said he, not to Munster, but to the Connaught district, for Guaire Aidne, the king of Connaught, is seriously ill in the city called Kilmacduagh, and thou art destined to heal him for the sake of God and thine own holiness.’ Maedoc said: ‘Whatever the messenger of my Lord
Maedoc said to the lad: ‘Let the horses go,’ said he, ‘in any direction they please.’ The horses then set off in a northerly direction, and when they reached Lough Derg the horses crossed it with dry feet, as if it had been dry land, or a level path224 which they had (to traverse) at that time. As they left the lough, two men happened to meet them on the way. Maedoc asked them for information as to the direct roads {folio 189a} to Kilmacduagh, for it was there that Guaire was lying sick at the time. One of the men said that there was no good road thither (lit. before them). The other man said: ‘If ye be good clerks, God will make a good road for yourselves and for your horses.’ Maedoc blessed the road, and said thus: ‘God knoweth how we are; and God could make a good road for us, as thou sayest.’
After he had said this, there became plain to them a practicable dry road, firm and level, through the high and difficult mountains, and through the dense branching forests, and through the soft yielding bogs, till they came to Kilmacduagh, where was Guaire son of Colman son of Cobthach, king of Connaught, being tended in sickness. How ever the king was healed of every sickness that troubled (lit. pursued) him, after Maedoc had made supplication and earnest prayer on his behalf. And Maedoc said to him afterwards: ‘Thou shall retain thy kingdom and authority for thirty years from to-day; and at the end of thy life thou shalt be for three years in mortal sickness, and thou shalt receive the kingdom of heaven at last because of thy charity and liberality.’ Maedoc then blessed the king after fasting and praying on his behalf, and after making (lit. binding) soul-friendship with him. And a monastery225 was constructed there in honour of Maedoc, and he left that church to Colman mac Duach, and from him the church is named, Kilmacduagh. And Maedoc departed to his own place afterwards.
And it was to commemorate this that a poet sang this lay:The visit.
A certain holy man named Molua mac Oiche came where Maedoc was, and told him that he was minded to go on a pilgrimage to Rome. Maedoc said to him: ‘I am not sure that thou wilt get my permission for that.’ ‘It is certain that I shall die, if I do not see Rome, said Molua.’ Maedoc thereupon mounted his chariot, and took Molua with him to Rome that night, without danger of sea or storm, of road, travel, or lengthy journey, through the favour of the Holy Spirit, and the miracles of Maedoc of the mighty deeds. And they came the next day to Ferns in Leinster without let or hindrance.
Maedoc said to him afterwards: ‘Dost thou want to go on pilgrimage to Rome now, Molua?’ ‘Why should I?’ said Molua,
On another occasion the prior of Mochua of Lothra came to Maedoc, and said to him: ‘We have only a little wheat left; what shall we do? Sow it? or give it to the brethren?’ Maedoc said: ‘Sow it copiously, and give liberally229 to the brethren.’ The messenger said: ‘How is it possible to do that?’ Maedoc said: ‘Whether it be much or little that you have now, nothing of it shall fail, however much it be sown or eaten, till the earth's new corn come in.’ And this was fulfilled through Maedoc's word.
Another time Maedoc's own steward came to him and said: ‘We have nothing in the world in the kitchen,’ said he, ‘but one vessel of drink and a little butter, and we do not know whether to give it to the monks, or to the guests.’ Maedoc said: ‘Give it to both of them without stint, as if there were in the kitchen as much as it could hold of every kind of food and drink.’ After this no man in the house had any lack of food or drink, but good abundance of both through the power of God and the miracles of Maedoc.
Another time deceitful men came to Maedoc, having left their own clothes concealed in a wood outside the place, and asked him for other clothes. Maedoc, to whom their deceit had been revealed by God, said: ‘Wait a while,’ said he, ‘till clothes can be procured’. And he sent a man secretly to the wood to fetch their clothes, and instructed him where he would find them. The man brought the clothes to Maedoc, and Maedoc gave them to the men. They were vastly ashamed on seeing their own clothes, and departed afterwards, and thus God revealed their deceit and trickery230 to Maedoc.
{folio 191a}Once upon a time the king of Ireland,231 Aed son of Ainmire, accompanied by a great force and the king of Connaught, and the northern part of Ireland, with their under-kings, and high chiefs, came to invade and harry Leinster in revenge for the killing of Cumascach son of Ainmire by the Leinstermen on a previous occasion. That is to say, Cumascach, as heir apparent, went on progress in Leinster; and whatever place he came to, he insisted
He went to the place of Brandub son of Eochaid, and insisted on having his wife to share his bed like other women. So Cumascach was slain by the king of Leinster for this offence; and it was on this account that Aed son of Ainmire invaded Leinster to avenge him; and he would not accept gift or payment from them, but (was determined) to destroy and exterminate them altogether. The king of Leinster then came to his patron and chief soul-friend232 (confessor), Maedoc the wonder-worker of Ferns, and made his complaint and accusation to him. Maedoc said: ‘There is many a saint and good devout man serving God instantly in thy territory,’ said he, ‘and they must needs intercede for thee. Go then,’ said Maedoc, ‘with strong protection to the battle, confiding in thine own saints and holy ecclesiastics, and I will be zealously on thy side. ’
Maedoc made mighty supplication and instant prayer to God on behalf of his earthly lord, Brandub, son of Eochaid. Brandub set out eagerly on the morrow, with firm confidence in God and Maedoc, to fight against the high king of Ireland and the northern division. It is related, moreover, that there were 24,000 cavalry engaged in the battle, besides footmen and fine infantry. So the battle of Belach Duin Bolc was fought between them; and the victory {folio 191b} was gained by the king of Leinster on the spot, and the king of Ireland, Aed son of Ainmire, was killed there, and an innumerable company of nobles and gentry of Ireland with him, through the favour of God, and the miracles of Maedoc at that time.
There was a man in Leinster called Saran the squinting, erenagh of Temple-Shanbo, who killed the above-named king, Brandub son of Eochaid, the heroic warrior-king of Leinster; and the king died without confession or the ministrations of the Church. When Maedoc heard this, he was sorry and greatly concerned, and he wept bitterly and heavily, and said: ‘I am sorry that the arm which slew and extinguished the protector of the Church, and the helper of the weak, the entertainer of the poor and the widow, and the protector of the feeble and aged233 did not fall from its shoulder for all to see.’ And this was fulfilled in the end, as is related below.
Maedoc went to the place where the body and fair remains of the king were, and he was a whole year from one kalends to another, with his clergy and congregation, fasting on bread and water, as we said previously at the beginning of our undertaking, seeking to revive him; and he was healed afterwards, and arose in the presence of them all. The king said to Maedoc: ‘I pray thee, dear father,’ said
Then came Saran the squinting, the man whom we have mentioned above as the slayer of the king, Brandub the son of Eochaid, stricken with remorse; and being penitent he went to the grave of the king at Ferns, and wept and lamented over it. He was in continual fasting and abstinence, and almost bare of clothing; and he would not leave the grave day or night. After he had been like this for a long time, a voice from the grave, like the voice of the king, said to him: ‘O Saran,’ said he, ‘it is God's leave and Maedoc's that the arm with which thou didst slay me should fall from thee to the ground, as Maedoc said at first.’ When he had said this, the arm fell from his (Saran's) side, as Maedoc had previously ordained. When the congregation saw this, they took Saran with them from the grave, and he led a good life afterwards.
Another time Maedoc was praying, when he heard the voices234 of the angels (singing) loudly in the air above him. And hearing them he prayed earnestly to God that he would take him from the earth forthwith, for he was weary of serving the world at that time. However, God thought it better that Maedoc should remain in the mortal flesh a while longer, in order that many unbelievers might be brought to belief and devotion by his means. An angel in the air said to him: ‘It is not God's will that thou shouldest leave the world at present, that thou mayest profit and fully succour men, to conduct {folio 192b} them to the haven of life by sowing and making known the divine Scripture.’235 Maedoc said: ‘As long as it pleases thee or God, I would remain alive; I will not grudge all my labour and long service for Him.’
Another time a poor man came to Maedoc from whom his lord claimed rent and heavy arrears, of which he could obtain no abatement, and he complained of this to Maedoc, and begged for help and assistance. Maedoc at the time was just about to sow barley, and he gave a handful236 to the man. The man said to Maedoc: ‘What do I want to do with this?’ said he. Maedoc said: ‘Thou shalt pay
The king asked him: ‘Where didst thou get all that gold?’ He said that it was Maedoc who had made it from the seed barley of his field; and he then tendered it to his lord. Thereupon the lord said: ‘It is not fit for me to take this gold, but it should be given to God and to Maedoc; and I make thee free to God and to Maedoc for ever.’ The man came back again to Maedoc with great joy, and told him all that his lord had said to him, and how he had freed him thenceforth for ever. The man gave all his land to Maedoc afterwards. Maedoc then prayed {folio 193a} to God, and the gold turned into natural barley-grain such as was wanted for the field where it was before. And the name, &c.
Another time Maedoc wanted to build a church, and he could not find a wright anywhere to build it for him. He afterwards blessed the hands of a man named Cobban, and made him into an excellent wright. This church was made free to him, and was named from him. And there was no man who could surpass him or his church, and no wright who could surpass him from that time forth, through the power of God, and through the miracles of Maedoc.
Maedoc the marvellous of the mighty deeds was seven full years fasting in Drumlane, without milk or ale, without flesh238 or kitchen, but only a little bit of barley bread and a drink of water from one evening to another, and a little drink of milk every third Sunday, lying on the bare ground or a stone full hard, without any covering or clothing except the skins of wild untamed animals, continually reciting his psalms and psalters, and praying zealously to God on Lec na Némhann; for he used to recite thrice fifty psalms every day on cold clammy stones, or on the bare clean-swept floor; and seven psalters with fifty psalms in each psalter; and he never rejected the face of any man in the world in respect of food or drink or clothing,239 if only he saw that he was (really) in need of them.
So an angel came to him after his fasting and abstinence, when the Lord had perceived his devotion and conscientiousness, and asked him: ‘What dost thou ask of the one God now?’ said he. ‘This verily is my request,’ said Maedoc, ‘for all who succeed me in Drumlane, if only they do my will, and remain in submission to me (lit. in my bosom), and {folio 193b}for all of the seed of Aed Finn or of any other seed who are buried in my cemetery (lit. with me), and choose (their
Some time after this a strange and wondrous vision appeared to Maedoc in Drumlane; to wit, all the ramifications of the family (lit. battalion) of Aed Finn simultaneously, and their genealogical branches, and ramifications of relationship, and further the name of every king and every great chief of them who should obtain sovereignty and authority to the end of the world. This thing was a great wonder and astonishment to Maedoc. He sent in all haste for Columcille to come to him, that he might tell him the vision, and that he (Columcille) might give a true interpretation of it. Columcille came in response to the message, and he went to heaven to learn the interpretation of the vision, as he was wont to go every Thursday to converse with the angels of heaven; as he said himself in the verse:
- 1] I know my way on the firm earth,
2] I go to the abodes of hell,
3] I flee every Thursday to heaven,
4] At the call of the King of the three companies.
An angel told the meaning of the vision to Columcille, and said: ‘What the vision reveals is the way in which the race and descendants of the proud and mighty man, Aed Finn, son of Fergna, under whom are the churches and fellow-habitants of Maedoc with his great companies, will fork and ramify,’ said he, ‘and his race and posterity will be enemies and unfriends, and contentious and disunited towards one another; and these are their names, Ruarc and Ragallach. Ruarc son of Tigernan {folio 194a} &c., son of Cernachan, and Ragallach son of Cathalan &c., son of Cernachan; and many will be the progeny of both.’
‘Let there be raised and strongly built in another land by Maedoc,’ said the angel, ‘another honourable place in addition to Drumlane, to receive his due and tribute from all in general; and this will be one of the three most lasting fires for entertainment240 in Úi Briuin, to wit the fire of this place, whence Maedoc saw the vision, Drumlane; and Cuillín na bFer or Rossinver, and Cell Mor Feidlimid. And as to this Ruarc that I spoke of,’ said the angel, ‘God shall swiftly pour down the raging fire of his wrath on his progeny and posterity, unless they submit to and greatly honour
Columcille came to Maedoc and told him the answer of the angel from beginning to end; and it was plain to Maedoc himself, for the angel came with his message to Maedoc in company with Columcille, and told him to go in haste to Rossinver, and to inhabit and occupy it,242 and that it would be there that he would be buried and rise to meet the Lord with His company, and that he himself would be judge of doom to the men of Breifne. Maedoc came at the joint instance and command of the angel and Columcille to Port na fFinnlec, which is now called Rossinver, with his fifty holy clerks,243 besides work-people and servants, and people for singing, for saying the canonical hours, and for other fair offices.
As Maedoc with his company, and many saints together with him, drew near to the fair shining Cuillín244 and the beautiful wooded forest which was near the mighty lough, they heard the sweet harmonious singing, {folio 194b} and the melodious words of the chanting, and the loud musical voice and heavenly shouts of the fair wondrous angels above the Cuillín and its dwellings, and the unceasing unresting converse of the bright and mighty angels as they moved above them, so that all the air245 was filled with their number and great multitude, their mirth and loud voices. The saints looked forth, and one of them said: ‘Fair is the band of glorious, active, and swift men yonder, who are singing the solemn and moving strain above the Cuillín.’
‘Be that one of the famous names of the place till doom,’ said Maedoc, 'the Cuillín of the Fair Men'; and Ros na nAingel (Promontory of the Angels) is another name for it, from the visitation and movement of angels round about it; Port na fFinnlec (Port of the White Stones) is another name for it, from the white and dazzling246 stones which are to be seen on the neighbouring strand. Rossinver (Promontory of the Inlet) was the name which finally became attached to it in common parlance, from the inlet of the broad and mighty lough, and of the two strong foaming rivers which meet there; for ind is the name of every confine or border, and bir is the name of any water, that is the border of each water of them as they meet. And therefore it is called Ros Inbir.
Maedoc consecrated and blessed the place, together with a number of angels and high saints round about to give it247 a perpetual blessing. He built a strong and ample oratory, and a fair-built quadrangular
Muirigen the son of Duban &c ... the son of Aengus Musc (from whom are descended the Muscraige Failinne) ... son of Lonan, the poet of the Muscraige, &&c., held the chieftainship and authority over the Muscraige when Maedoc came to Rossinver, for Rossinver was parcel of the lands of Muscraige Failinne at that time, the patrimony of Muscraige extending from Glend Ferna to Lough Melvin, and from Sliab da Chon to Glend Muighe. Now Muirigen son of Duban had a proud and powerful sister named Failenn. She built a royal spacious fort, and a fair and strong city in this territory, in which was displayed (lit. used) all the honour and glory of the terri tory. From this Failenn are derived the names of Rath Failinne and Muscraige Failinne.
Now Failenn and Muirigen were annoyed that Maedoc should occupy their inheritance and land; and they warned him off and denied it to him. But he would brook no denial, and said: ‘The spot in which God has granted me to make my last resting-place and abode, that spot I will not forsake,’ said he, ‘for the sod on which I stand is the sod of my resurrection and burial; for there are three sods which no single man can avoid or elude, the sod of his birth, the sod of his death, and the sod of his burial; as one said:’
- 1] Three little sods which are not avoided,
2] As the masters of speech say,
3] The sod of one's birth, the sod of one's death,
4] And the sod of one's burial.
However, they insisted on expelling and banishing him against his will after his answer and decision.
Finally Maedoc was angered against Muirigen and Failenn; he turned his bachals and enduring relics round them three times {folio 195b} widdershins. He rang his bells and handbells together against them, that is the Mac Ratha (son of Grace), the bell of the brooch, the bell of the hours, which is called the white bell, and the bells of the clergy and congregation from that time forth; and he cursed them without delay, and said that there should never be any of their seed or descendants in the headship of the district to the brink of doom, and
Another time Maedoc was washing his hands at the river near the place. A number of men were watching him, and thereupon one of them said: There is no man in the world who could provoke Maedoc to strife or anger. There was a rude249 uncivilized ignorant churl present; and he said: I shall be able to, said he. Now Maedoc at the time was wearing clothes made of the skins of brute beasts and wild animals. The man came to him, and shot him into the river. Maedoc said to him patiently: ‘What is this that thou hast done, thou rash ill-mannered man?’ said he.
The man saw then that the skins which Maedoc wore were dry, warm, and compact, without a flock or hair of them being wetted or spoiled {folio 196a}by the water. And when he saw this he was stricken with great remorse, and he said: ‘I am penitent and ashamed for what I have done,’ said he, ‘and grant me forgiveness for the sake of the God of the elements.’ Maedoc said: ‘It is well for thee, O man,’ said he, ‘that thou hast confessed thy guilt and crimes, and hast repented of them. Howbeit, hadst thou not repented, the earth would have swallowed thee up in punishment for thy crimes. But now thou shalt receive heaven, and shalt die a Christian death forty years hence.’ And the pledge and promises of Maedoc were fulfilled in this way.
On a certain occasion the steward of Molua of Lorrha came to Maedoc and said: ‘We have been labouring to build a church, and we have the material cut in the forest, but we have no means of hauling or carrying it in the way of horses or men.’ ‘Go to your chambers,’ said Maedoc, ‘and whatever sound ye hear to-night, let none of you look out.’ They heard a great noise coming from the forest towards the church, but no one ventured to look out owing to the saint's injunction.
There was a rude ignorant churl in the place at that time, and he went against Maedoc's command by looking to see what was making the loud noise and the thundering rush. And he saw from where he was, through the slit of the door or the keyhole, a great
Another time Maedoc was in the district of Munster in Úi Conaill Gabra, near Ida's church; and Maedoc was minded to go to visit {folio 196b}his father-confessor Molua mac Oiche, when he heard the bells of Ida's place ringing. Maedoc asked why the bells which he heard were ringing. A voice in the air replied, that it was a foster- child of Ida, a virgin who was a dearly-loved favourite of hers,251 that had died. Ida heard that Maedoc was in the neighbourhood, and on hearing it she sent a messenger to him, to bid him come and restore the maiden to life, relying on his sanctity and effectual prayer. Maedoc told one of the disciples to go to the place, and take his (Maedoc's) staff with him, and lay it on the maiden's breast. This was done, and she arose at once in the presence of all, and every one who saw or heard of these great miracles, gave glory for them to God and to Maedoc.
Another day a thief came to Maedoc, and stole an ox from his herd, and proceeded to eat it. The thief was charged with the act, and when he was about to take an oath to Maedoc respecting the ox, an ear of the ox was seen (protruding) from his mouth, and on seeing this, all who were about him began to mock and jeer at him. The thief repented afterwards and confessed, and finally walked in. a better course and way of life. And the name, &c.
Another time Maedoc was at Ferns, when he saw a number of the king of Leinster's horsemen coming towards him, with a man in bonds whom they were taking to the king for his crimes and misdeeds, for he was a man who had violated law and rule exceedingly. Maedoc was greatly moved to compassion for him, and said to them: ‘Release this man to me, in honour of the mighty Christ, and do not take him to his destruction.’ They said they would not let him go {folio 197a} till he was in the hands of the king. When the horse men were passing close to a neighbouring forest, it appeared to them as if a great company of their enemies were waiting in ambush for them on either side of the road round about, and they fled forthwith252 at seeing this; and left the prisoner fast-bound without any guard
Anotner time Maedoc and Munnu the son of Tulcan were together. Maedoc went to a lofty place in a corner of the church. Munnu saw him there, and asked: What dost thou see, O noble worthy righteous one? said he, and whatever sight thou seest, tell it me. Maedoc then made the sign of the holy Cross exactly over the eyes of the abbot, Munnu, so that he saw all that Maedoc saw, to wit, the whole great world from sunrise to sunset, as if it were all but the measure253 of a single furlong. Munnu and Maedoc descended from the place where they were, and Munnu afterwards related the story to the monks. And the name, &c.
Another time Maedoc was going along the road one day. Colman son of Fiachra happened to meet him on the way. At that moment one of Colman's horses died suddenly in Maedoc's presence. Maedoc harnessed one of his own horses to Colman's chariot in place of his (dead) horse. After they had been a short time like this, Colman's horse came from death to life (and went) gently and caressingly to Maedoc, as seemed good to the favour of God and Maedoc, and placed itself under his chariot. When Colman came back by the same way, he found on his arrival his own horse alive harnessed to Maedoc's chariot, and he wondered greatly thereat, and gave praise254 to God and to Maedoc.
{folio 197b}Another time Maedoc was planting fruit-trees in his garden on a certain day,255 and the man who was handing the trees to him, brought to Maedoc shoots of unproductive trees, beeches and alders, and any tree that chanced; and they were all planted together on that occasion. It came then of the favour of God and of the miracles of Maedoc that the unproductive trees which he set, ended by becoming trees as fruitful (as the others), and that sweet well- tasted apples, and proper ripe edible nuts came on them at the time when nuts and fair fruit came on the other trees.
Another time Maedoc and an immature young child were by a cross which there was in the monastery (lit. place) at Ferns. Presently Maedoc wrote a psalm for the child. The child saw him mount a golden ladder which reached from earth to heaven; and when he descended later, the child could not look in his face for the great brilliance and resplendence of the Deity which transfused and beautified his countenance. Maedoc said to the child: ‘Beware that thou never tell to any one in the world what thou hast seen.’ The child said: ‘If thou tell me whither thou wentest, I will not tell any
An addition.
Another time Maedoc was going along the road to Ath Imdain. His servant said to him: ‘Tell me, O father,’ said he, ‘who will be bishop in thy room in thine own monastery, Ferns.’ Maedoc said: ‘Whoever shall open the gate of yonder ford in front of us, he will be bishop in my room.’ They saw coming towards them a troop262 of wanton restless scholars with toy shields and spears, playing and hurling together. One of them came and eagerly opened the gate of the ford, and undid the valve of it. The servant said263: ‘Is it really yonder young and foolish scholar, that will be our patron in thy stead?’ said he.
The scholar then came to Maedoc, the Holy Spirit kindling and blazing strongly in him, and said to him: ‘O divine and discreet man,’ said he, ‘I am minded to go with thee, and to spend my life in thy country, under the yoke of thy rule and great devotion.’ Maedoc asked him of what land he was, and what his name was. ‘I am a Munsterman,’ said he, ‘and my name is Cronan son of Failenn, &c., and I am one of the inhabitants of Luachra (Lougher) in the south.’ Maedoc said: ‘Thou shalt be called by another name, Moling Luachra; and follow me henceforth,’ said he.
Moling Luachra followed him afterwards {folio 199b} to the time of Maedoc's death, and became eventually a holy man of noble morals and sacred devotion, so that by reason of his miracles and great sanctity Maedoc ordained that he should be regular bishop in his own room at Ferns after his death, that is in his own household and conse crated monastery; and everything was fulfilled as Maedoc promised concerning them.
The family of Ragallach are bound above all to advance and greatly honour Drumlane, for Maedoc left it as one of his bequests to them that their spoils should come to them at their homes (lit. beds), and commanded them not to enter or trespass on his land, and of any living creature not to kill so much as a hare or an angled trout within the territory of his church or sanctuary, and if they should do so, they should have short life and hell, and disease and famine in return; since there were two hundred and ten saints with Maedoc at Drumlane praying God earnestly for the death and destruction of every one who should do outrage or violence or displeasure to him, and for the grace and prosperity of the people who should do the will of his congregations and his elders after him.
These are the seven relics which Maedoc had as arms of battle against the injustice of the race of Aed Finn and others in general; to wit, the Brec, and the staff of Brandub, and the white staff, and the white bell, that is the bell of the hours, the bell of the brooch, the Mac Ratha, and the reliquary. The seed of Aed Finn therefore, when they see any of the relics, or all of them, are bound to rise, and do obeisance to them.
So it was to show the names of these relics that an author made these verses:What number.
Maedoc once went to the place where Molaise of Devenish was, to bind their covenant and union with one another in heaven and on earth, as they had previously done, when the Lord gave them the sign of parting from one another by the fall of the trees at the foot of which they were in the district of Magh Slecht, to
- 1] The same mind, the same union,
2] To the two beauteous saints;
3] Molaise shall not be without Maedoc,
4] Nor Maedoc without Molaise.
Molaise bound and confirmed the tribute and dues of Maedoc on the men of Fermanagh on this great circuit, that is, the Easter circuit every third year; (that is) a scruple from every city and every one of their forts, a horse from the king on his coronation day, and a cloak from every chief. Half a groat from every house in Toorah (Tuaith Ratha), that is from the race of Cairbre son of Niall generally. A penny from every hearth in all Fermanagh, the first drink of every drinking horn, a seat on one side (lit. a shoulder) of each king and prince, the lead in conference and decision to his successor after him; and further that no king or chief of a territory should be made in the land without light-fee being paid to the family of Maedoc. That Maedoc should have a house and garden in Molaise's place, Devenish. That the family of Molaise should rise up before the family of Maedoc whenever they see them; and in like manner the family of Maedoc before the family of Molaise. Moreover, Molaise left sorrow and sickness, loss of memory and (good) counsel on the men of Fermanagh, if they hear this tribute being demanded, and fail to pay it humbly and respectfully to Maedoc's stewards.
Maedoc himself ordered the men of Breifne to do the will and good pleasure of the family of Molaise in like manner all their life long, and not to refuse them. Molaise further granted to Maedoc a half quarter of land free from all benevolences to bishop or king, in addition to all other boons or grants which he gave him, as a fixed place for the levying and collection of his tribute and dues from the territory of Fermanagh and its chief tribes, whence he might carry them
Maedoc built and consecrated a beautiful church275 in the place called Killybeg. And he left O Connolly in the headship of the church to protect and maintain it. There is a stone of Maedoc in the place on which he left this as one of its virtues, that whoever shall do wrong or injustice to the erenaghs or tenants of this church, shall not be alive at the end of a year, if this stone be thrice turned widdershins against him, as the wise men of that land and territory agree. As the proverb says: ‘Every man of an estate or land is a shanachie’ (historian).
And it was to prove all these things that the following lay was made:The right.
Once when Maedoc and Ultan of Ardbreckan were together at Ath na bFer (Rossinver), whither Maedoc had come from
Maedoc went west to Clonmacnois to bind his alliance and covenant with Ciaran and his congregation. Ultan went east to Ardbreckan to his own place; and it was there he composed and wove together by the poetic art of authors and ollaves the steps of the genealogy and the family branches of the descendants (lit. battalion) of Aed Finn, {folio 203a} and the tribute-dues of Maedoc,289 as follows:
- 1] The story of Maedoc, remember it,
2] For it ought not to be forgotten,
3] The sage of Ferns the pure and bright,
4] Of Drumlane and Ros Ainglide (Rossinver).- 5] The sage when old made known,
6] After coming to Ath na bFer,
7] His story distinctly and clearly,
8] And it is known to me.- 9] It is to be recited every hallow tide;
10] He commanded the seed of Fergna
11] That they should not carry off secretly
12] The dues without their being habitually demanded.- 13] I will speak of the fair dues,
14] I will show forth the story of the high saint,
15] I will tell you the unblemished truth of it,
16] All the kings who will serve him.
The story.
Thus, moreover, did the saints, Columcille and Caillin, ordain the dues of Maedoc from the Úi Briuin and from the men of Leinster, to be divided between his churches and coarbs, viz. Drumlane, Rossinver, and Ferns, for Maedoc was a favourite and faithful foster-child of Caillin, and he was an ally and friend of Columcille likewise, and therefore they ordained that the dues of Maedoc should be divided between his three churches. A third of the dues levied in Úi Briuin to Drumlane, and two-thirds to Rossinver and Ferns. Two-thirds of the dues of Leinster306 to Drumlane and Rossinver [and one-third to Ferns307]. The family of Drumlane are not bound to deliver the dues levied here308 to Ferns, but the family of Ferns are bound to deliver the dues levied by them to Drumlane; for Maedoc left it as an obligation on the family of Cele and the family of Aedan to deliver these dues to Drumlane, with destruction of tribe, and reproach and disgrace to them from every one unless they so delivered them.
This is the enumeration of Maedoc's dues from Leinster; the suit of the king of Leinster the day he is made king, except his silk shirt and his one spear, and one of his shoes full of silver; and the successor of Aed son of Sétna to go three times round about him. And if he or his successor shall place the wand (of office) in the hand of the king, he will be pre-eminent in strength and valour. The king himself and his following both small and great are bound to make large offerings309; and the chiefs of Leinster are bound to pay a third of the amount payable by the king. And all these dues are to be delivered into the hands of the coarbs, O Farrelly and O Fergus, to be divided as they shall please, for no one has any right to dispose of it except as they shall ordain.
The division.
These are the decisions of Maedoc according to Gilla Mochuda O Cassidy the knowing and truly learned sage, as he found them written by the high saint without error or deviation (from the truth), that is, his judgements between his honourable and equally great churches and the battalion of Aed Finn with their noble kings, with their strong generous chiefs, with their farmers and hospitallers; namely, that they should honour his churches and his clergy, his relics and his rich insignia316, his sanctuaries and strong privileges, and never reject his relics or his stewards, {folio 206b} or swear falsely by his relics. And whoever should do this, Maedoc with his clergy and congregation decided that prayer should be made for him, that he might be delivered from the dreadful pains of hell. And that what ever king or lord should fulfil (these duties) to Maedoc, should not be excommunicated except for three causes: outraging his churches, diminishing the honour of his coarbs, and encroaching on his estate and land.
And it was to make these things clear that the author, Gilla Mochuda, composed the lay:The decisions.
Once when Maedoc was at Ferns at the end of his time, the angel of the Lord revealed to him that the term of his days and the end of his life was now approaching and drawing nigh, and bade him go to the place of his resurrection, and to the site of his burial, and to leave his churches and noble 'annoits', and his chosen sanctuaries, to their native gentry and to their proper heirs after him. Maedoc did so. He left Ferns and its lands under the authority of Cele and Aedan, and with their race and descendants, together with the perpetual obligation of levying and collecting the tribute dues of Leinster, and of dividing them impartially among his churches and coarbs, as we said above.
He went thence to Drumlane, and did the same in that church. He left the headship and coarbship of that church with Urcain, son of Oilill, who was called Faircellach. Maedoc had baptized this man, Urcain, and given him the name of Faircellach; for these were the two first attendants that Maedoc had, viz. Faircellach and Fergus, two sons of Oilill, &c. And Maedoc never received gold or silver, riches or raiment, tribute or fair offering or any single thing which he did not straightway give away till it was all distributed to the poor of the Lord, and God's feeble folk, and to musicians and players, and {folio 208a} men of (poetic) science, in charity and humanity to protect his honour, nobility, and worth.
For in addition to the other distinguished three whom we mentioned, Molaise, Caillin, and Ultan, these were his four companions at Rome, viz. Cele and Aedan of Ferns, Faircellach and Fergus of Drumlane and Cuillin na fFer (Rossinver), and it was on this account that he left his inheritance to them after his death, and to their heirs in succession. Maedoc then left Faircellach in his room in Drumlane, and delivered the place with its property and great riches into his authority and power, and to his seed and descendants thenceforth and for ever. He left further grace and prosperity to his race and posterity if only they are obedient to Maedoc. He left his blessing on the place, and bade farewell to it afterwards.
He then went to Rossinver, to the sod of his burial and resurrection. He took with him Fergus, son of Oilill, son of Eiten, his own dear faithful foster-child and equal-aged companion. He placed the erenaghship and high headship of the place under his judgement and warranty, and under the authority of his tribe and true descendants till the day of doom. He left grace of riches
He sent a messenger in haste to Kildallan to fetch Dallan Forgall to be320 witness to his (testamentary) disposition and will in respect of his relics and high insignia,321 and to the binding of his tribute and dues on the battalion of Aed Finn and on other families besides; for this man Dallan was a poet, a prophet, and a true saint; and moreover he was a favourite and faithful ally, a companion and friend of Maedoc, {folio 208b} to say nothing of their relationship to one another, for Dallan and Maedoc were children of two brothers; to wit, Maedoc son of Sétna, son of Erc, &c., and Dallan son of Colla, son of Erc, &c. For these reasons Dallan came at the summons of the heavenly intensely devout saint, and elect compassionate cleric, to Rossinver where Maedoc was, and was with him for some time while he made known his disposition and will, and divided his bells and fair bachalls, and his glorious wonder-working relics, among his churches and chief cells, and further finally made known to Dallan the tribute due to him from (various) races, just as he had related and told to Ultan of Ardbreckan, who made a poetical explanation of it, in order to compose and adorn (the account of) it at the bidding of the patron and high saint and virgin bishop, for the man Ultan was a prophet and a poet.
The following is the origin of the tribute due to Maedoc from the Uí Briuin and people of Breifne, namely because of the baptism and blessing of Aed Dub at Ath Airm, as we said above ( Sect. 41). And Maedoc made known to Dallan everything that Aed Finn promised and bound upon his race and descendants, as he had made it known to Ultan previously; that is, the horse and robes of the king of Breifne on his coronation day, a scruple from every hearth, a cow in every stead, an ox from every raid, a pig from every sty, a sheep from every flock; a baptism groat every year from each one of his family, and an offering on every feast of Maedoc; a foal from every stud, three vats of ale with the taste of honey in the ale to Rossinver every year. The family of Maedoc to be the first to be seated in the banquet hall, to have the first greeting and bath, the first taste of every drinking horn, a seat on one side of every king and every chief; all to rise up before them or before any of his relics whenever they meet them, {folio 209a} indoors or out.
The same tribute-dues are payable by Oriel and Fermanagh alike on account of the restoration to life of Daimin Damargait. ‘These then are the bequests that I make of my relics,’ said Maedoc to Dallan. ‘The first bequest of them then is the staff of Brandub’, with which he had raised to life Brandub the son of Eochaid,&c., the high king of Leinster. ‘I leave this to Ferns, my privileged monastery and high see. among the heroes of Leinster.’
‘I further leave the bell of the brooch and the bell of the hours to Drumlane, together with the other illustrious and potent relic, namely my beautiful wonder-working reliquary, which travelled with me to every place, in which are relics of the saints and patriarchs, namely relics of the martyr Stephen, and Lawrence, and Clement, the ankle of Martin, and some of the hair of the Virgin Mary, and many other relics322 of323 saints and holy virgins besides, which had been divided with variegated arrangement between the Brec and the reliquary: and this is why the name Brec (variegated) was given to it, because of the variegated arrangement together of the relics of the saints and virgins which had been united and made fast in it, after being collected and gathered together from the bosom of marvellous Molaise on the corner of Maedoc's mantle324, as the Life of Molaise relates.’
‘I leave then the three other glorious and famous relics, the Brec, the white bachall, and the Mac Ratha (son of grace), to Rossinver325, that is Rossinver of the Angels, the place to which I bequeath my own relics and remains till the day of doom, with angels to guard them in high honour. And the reason why I decree my burial in this place, Rossinver, with my honourable relics around me, is because of the vast woods and deserts326 which are round about it on every side, and will be till doom; so that there will be my body and my beauteous remains, and my marvellous relics with me, avenging {folio 209b} wrong and injustice on those who persecute and dishonour me, and rescuing and protecting those who obey and honour me, who fast and use abstinence for me, and all who make choice (of burial) in my church. Death and loss, diminution of kingship and rule, short life and finally hell to the descendants of Aed Finn if they forsake my services and my rights, and if they omit to be buried in my church.’.
‘And, O Dallan,’ said Maedoc, ‘thou art going now; take eastwards with thee my special blessing to the men of Breifne, for they have ever protected and supported my church and coarbs, and
‘Take also my blessing to the proud house of Eochaid (Tullylaw), for they right often did my will, and among them is the sod of my birth and famed conception, to wit, the eminent Inis Brecmaighe on Magh Slecht to speak precisely. Once more my sevenfold327 blessing to the men of Breifne, O Dallan, said he, both high and low, both king and great man, both few and many, for they, beyond any other race, never earned my curse or my reproach, and though they will never now see my body any more, they will see my mighty works and my miracles protecting them henceforth.’.
Dallan then was sorrowful, sad, and melancholy, at bidding farewell to Maedoc on that spot; it was moreover like the separation of a woman from her son, or of a cow from her calf, or a bitch from her whelps, or a duck from her pool, the parting of them from one another at that time. Maedoc said: There is only one year left of my life, said he, and at the end of the year be thou here with the thrice fifty other saints who will be by me at the time of {folio 210a} my death to fight against demons and vices, and to be present at my burial here.
Thus he spoke, and he made the following poem to make clear his disposition and will, to record his tribute-dues for Dallan in the last place, as he had recorded them for each other person hitherto, and said:Melodious.
Dallan bade farewell to Maedoc on the spot, and proceeded {folio 212a} to his own place, Kildallan,343 and was there till the end of the year approached of which Maedoc had spoken to him. And he was
He bequeathed, moreover, in presence of his seniors and congregations, grace, and riches, and prosperity, to every church and to every tribe which should protect and support his churches and coarbs, his men and his feeble folk; and further in every place in which his Life and lasting histories are read, or fully written for ever; and every king and every prince to whom his life is read completely after his crowning, shall never be dethroned after that.
So then, after Maedoc had built and honoured many and various cells and fair churches, after doing wondrous great miracles, after raising the dead, healing the blind, the crippled, and the lame, after succouring the lepers, the weak and feeble, and helpless folk, after driving out idols and images, and unbelievers in the Lord, after lifting up the widows and believers in Jesus in every place, after putting down famine and hard hunger in every 'annoit' and every abode which he served; after healing folk of every affliction and every heavy disease who came to him in the name of the Trinity, the last day of his age and time drew near, as his guardian and assisting angel revealed to him. There came ten and thrice fifty saints and holy virgins to the scene of his death and departure, and he received the Communion and sacrifice from them afterwards severally and jointly; and he sent his spirit to heaven among the saints and holy angels, after conquering the world and the devil, on the last day of January precisely.
{folio 212b}There came then wondrous great hosts of angels to meet him, and to convoy his soul with melodious songs, and marvellous sweet organs, and musical and moving cries, Maedoc was buried honourably on the spot by the angels and high saints, in accordance with his own will and disposition, in Port na bFinnlec, which is called Rossinver, with saints and holy virgins round about him there, with an innumerable multitude345 of heavenly fresh pure angels to witness and to guard his death and burial. And so he is among the legions of virgins and angels and archangels, in the unity of apostles and high saints and disciples of the Creator, in the unity of the might and splendour of the Trinity, in the deathless life, and undecaying age, in lordship unsubdued, in never-ending honour, in dominion without
There are many miracles which God wrought for Maedoc in his lifetime which are not enumerated here, from a desire347 to avoid and shun tediousness. But from that time forth great miracles have been wrought and yet are wrought on the earth at his relics, and they will continue to be wrought till the day of doom, as is clear from the following story.348
There was a man349 in Rome who was paralysed, and he was a man of substance and great power. He sought for help and healing in many places, and found them not. Many men said to him that there was in Ireland a holy man of noble manners, named Maedoc, and that he would be certain to receive health if he went to him, for he had received abundant gifts from the Trinity.
The man therefore came to Ireland, and it was just at the time of Maedoc's death. {folio 213a} However, he was persuaded in his own mind on the ground of Maedoc's sanctity, that his illness would be repelled, if he visited and handled the body of the cleric. He was shown the way to Rossinver, where the body and beauteous relics of the righteous patron saint were. He went therefore to the place where the body was at that time, and asked permission of those who were guarding it to prostrate himself and handle it in honour of the mighty Lord. He obtained the permission asked for, and handled the body forthwith, and thereupon obtained complete restoration of his health in the presence of all generally, and went whole to his territory and fair land with joy and great gladness. And the name, &c.
There was another man in the district of Leinster named Finan Lobar (the Leper), who had been diseased for thirty years. He saw a vision on the eve of Maedoc's festival on another occasion. He thought he saw a chariot coming to the church of Ferns, and two persons in the chariot; one a venerable and very holy cleric with the fair radiance of the Deity on his countenance and dress, and a virgin of excellent beauty with him, and they did reverence to one another, as a servant would to his lord.
Finan inquired of them. The cleric answered him, and said: ‘The beauteous and blessed virgin yonder’, said he, ‘is the virgin Brigit, the patroness of the Irish, and I am Maedoc of Ferns,’ said he, ‘the slave and own servant of the Creator. And to-morrow is my festival, and the day after to-morrow is the festival of yonder virgin. And we have come on purpose to bless every one who shall
Finan arose joyfully on the morrow, and his chariot was yoked for him, and he proceeded to Magh Liffe (plain of the Liffey) to the church of Brigit, Kildare; and he told his vision to all in general, and what Maedoc had said to him from first to last. Finan himself died on the third day most happily, having been healed of his bodily disease, and having triumphed over world and devil, and went to heaven.
Another time after the death of Maedoc, Moling of Luachra was the duly appointed bishop in the church of Maedoc in Ferns. He went one night to sleep in Maedoc's bed; that is, the bed on which Maedoc was wont to perform constant fasts and genuflexions, and earnest intense devotion. However, no one since the death of Maedoc up to that time had ventured to enter it. A clerk who was in the house350 said: O Moling, said he, hitherto no one has entered that bed since the death of our patron, by reason of the greatness of his grace and constant holiness, for it was there he used to rest after his labour and long prayers to God. Moling said: Whoever is bishop in his place, may fitly and rightly sleep in his bed.
When Moling had said this, he was thereupon seized with a dreadful disease after lying in the bed. When he perceived this, he made earnest prayer to God for help and assistance from Him. However, his illness and heavy sickness did not depart from him therewith. Then he signed himself with the sign of the holy Cross, and called frequently on the name of Maedoc to ask his help, and his disease and sickness departed from him after that.
Moling arose joyfully with great351 gladness from the bed of Maedoc, and said: ‘It is true,’ said he, ‘no man in the world in these days, however great his excellence and sanctity, is worthy to sleep or rest in the bed of Maedoc of the great devotion. It is then clear from this, what great favour and honour Maedoc has obtained in heaven, when God confers such honour and dignity on his relics on earth, and further on the bed on which he used to rest and repose after his prayers {folio 214a} and true devotion.’
And it was in order to set forth all these things that we have said, that the following verses were made:They remain.
Lofty.
The history.
Woe.
Woe.