Coemgen or Keivin

ON S. COEMGEN OR KEIVIN,

ABBOT OF GLENDALOUGH IN IRELAND.

VI CENTURY.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

The cult of the Saint, the faith of the Acts.

Coemgenus, or Keivinus, Abbot of Glendalough in Ireland (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR F. B.

Glendalough, formerly an Episcopal city of Ireland in Leinster; now a village, in the County of Dublin, owed the beginnings of its better fortune, while it flourished, to S. Coemgen, by others Keivin: who in a desert place and among the rugged ridges of the mountains first led an eremitic life; and there, not without divine instinct, built a monastery. Glendalough, an Episcopal city, Because this was situated in a valley, into which water descending from the neighboring mountains is collected into two pools or lakes, it took its name from the place Gleandalouch, which is interpreted Valley of two Pools. The celebrity of the monastery, as is wont to happen, called forth many inhabitants, who chose for themselves dwellings around it: thus by various additions increased, it grew into a great city, also adorned with an Episcopal Chair. But, as nothing in this world is stable, the monastery and the city alike, by the daily course of times, collapsed; so that, in nearly the six hundredth year after the death of S. Coemgen, when scarcely a village remained of the city, the Episcopal See was united to that of Dublin. These things about the origin of that city, from the Acts of S. Coemgen to be given below, Ussher gathered in his Primordia of the British Churches page 956. A great monastery, he says, was founded by Coemgen in the lower part of the valley, which was once called in Scottish Gaelic Gleande, but now Gleandaloch, that is, the Valley of two Pools. And hence on that very place a famous and religious city grew up in honor of S. Coemgen, which from the name of the aforesaid valley, in which it is, is called Gleandaloch: and the city itself is in the East of the Lagenians, in the region which is called Fortuatha.

[2] Of the destruction of the city and the translation of the Episcopate, James Ware in the Archbishops of Dublin has thus. now a village, While he was presiding (Henry of London, the fourth Archbishop of Dublin) the See of Glendalough, in about the six hundredth year from the death of S. Coemgen (who is said to have died in the year 618), the first Bishop there, was joined to and united with this Chair. Of the causes of the union, it will not be tedious to transcribe from the Archives of this Church the testimony of the Archbishop of Tuam (Felix O'Ruadan, who then lived) and his suffragans: it itself runs thus: Lord John Papiron, Legate of the Roman Church, coming into Ireland, found a Bishop dwelling at Dublin, who exercised the Episcopal office only within the walls; he found in the same Diocese another church in the mountains, which was likewise called a city, and had a certain Bishop. The same Legate established that excellent city of Dublin as the Metropolis of that Province, handing over the pallium to that Bishop, by the authority of the Apostolic Legate, who then ruled that Church of Dublin; and established that the Diocese in which both cities were should be divided, so that one part should yield to the Metropolis, and the other part should remain to him who was in the mountains; as we firmly believe with this intention, that that part should return to the Metropolis at the death of him who then presided over that Church: and of the Kings of England, which he would at once have done, had he not deferred to the insolence of the Irish, who then had power in that land. Which intention of the said Legate, when Lord Henry King of England had learned from many; he granted it to the Metropolis, adhering to the intention and will of the Lord Legate. Similarly Lord John King of England (who now is) granted the same part to John, the predecessor of him who is at present, to be held; after hearing great men and aged in the land, on the deed and intention of the aforesaid Lord Legate. Besides, that holy church, which is in the mountains, although it was held in great reverence by the ancients, on account of Saint Keivin, who there led an eremitic life; now however is so deserted and desolated, for nearly forty years, that from a church it has been made a den of robbers, and a pit of thieves; so that more murders are committed in that valley than in any other place of Ireland, on account of the deserted and waste solitude. the Episcopate having been translated, Thus far the testimony: Ware continues: Notwithstanding those concessions (of Henry II and John), it is established that the Episcopate of Glendalough was not joined to the Cathedral of Dublin before the year 1214; in which (if not somewhat later) departed from the living William Piro, the last Bishop of that See.

[3] Of that Chair S. Coemgen On occasion of this instrument, in which it is only recorded that S. Coemgen led an eremitic life in the place of Gleandaloch; it comes to be inquired, whether truly he was the first Bishop of that Church, as Ware affirms, in the words above brought forth from him. It is indeed certain, that in Ireland the earlier founders of Churches and Bishops, for the most part were at the same time Abbots, and very devoted to the solitary life; whose utility and sweetness they themselves had previously experienced as Monks; and therefore were wont sometimes, with episcopal cares interrupted, to hide themselves in solitary places, that with the rest laid aside they might be free for God and themselves alone; soon, with the fervor of the Spirit doubled, about to return to their former ministries. Yet since in the aforesaid instrument no mention is made of the Episcopal Order, it seems altogether credible, that in the XIII century, in which it was written, its Authors were ignorant that S. Coemgen was the first Bishop of Glendalough. For why would they have been silent about this, asserting only that that place was held in veneration on account of S. Coemgen, who had led an eremitic life there? His Episcopal Chair could certainly have conciliated greater veneration to that place than an eremitic cave. But how could the Archbishop of Tuam and his suffragans have been ignorant that S. Coemgen was a Bishop, if he truly were? for in that case they could have known it, and should have, from the same witnesses by whom they had learned that he was a hermit, whether they had known this from written Acts, or public testimonies, or only from the tradition of the elders; as we speak. he was not the first Bishop. Wherefore, for no other cause I believe this saint is called the first Bishop of Glendalough, than because his successor Abbots were at the same time Bishops; especially since not even among the fables written about him do I find anything by which it could even be feigned that he was a Bishop. Only one could object the title of the Life soon to be given, which is read thus: Life of S. Coemgen, Bishop and Confessor. The Life itself, by at least a hundred years, seems to be older than the testimony of Tuam, as I will soon show: but I esteem that the title was added by another librarian, since in three compendia of the same Life, which we have, also anciently written, an entirely different title is held: in the first, Life of Coemgen, a man of great sanctity; in the second, Life of Coemgen; in the third, Life of Coemgen the Abbot; in the fourth also, which we have found in the Imperial Library of Vienna, it is read of S. Coengen.

[4] His Acts written in the 12th century But the Acts, of which we now treat, seem stuffed with many little fables; although composed, at the least, in the twelfth century. For when they were written, Glendalough was still flourishing, of which in the XIII century, as we have shown at number 2, scarcely any longer vestiges remained. But that a city ample and noble, in the course of time, by which all things are changed, should be reduced to the straits of a village, I not unreasonably require the space of a hundred years. Only therefore is it to be shown, that the Acts were written, with Glendalough still flourishing. This is gathered from number 25, where an Angel is introduced prophesying about the future celebrity of the monastery and city, and among other things promising, that until the end of the age the cenobium would remain in great glory; which prophecy the Author would surely have seen to be false, if he had written after the worse fortune of the city and monastery: nor would he have dissimulated this; but rather have feigned some prophecy about its destruction. The same is also demonstrated from number 27, in which it is said thus: In that very place a famous and religious city grew up in honor of S. Coemgen … and the city itself is in the East of the Lagenians: therefore the city still was, when the Acts were written. Yet because they are fabulous; I had decreed, them being suppressed, to publish only a compendium, from our Ms. which was once of the Salamanca College; as in S. Silao on May 21, and elsewhere not once has been done. But I changed my opinion, they are of suspect faith. when I noted that some things were narrated from time to time, which the writer had not from the mouth of the common people, but could himself have seen, as things which in his time still existed; such as those which look to the site of places or monasteries; likewise certain prophecies and miracles, by which we are taught not so much what the Saint foretold or did, as what was done or said when the Author was writing these things. Besides because Ussher, Colgan, and other Irish Historians used these Acts; I judged it worth the trouble to give them to the light; since hitherto no one, that I know of, has published them whole: that the reader may judge of their fabulosity or credibility. He will do this more conveniently, if he reads what was said on March 17 on the Acts of S. Patrick, in the Appendix §3 and 4, on the miracles and prophecies of the same Saint: for to most Irish Hagiographers those things can be applied, to whom it is sufficiently usual to transfer the miracles of one Saint to another, with erroneous rather than deceitful piety. Although likely some of the things which are narrated were actually done: yet since they have been written from the mouth of the common people, who had received them as handed down to themselves by the elders; they have been adorned with circumstances so fabulous, that they seem mere little fables.

[5] A triple compendium of the same. Of these Acts we have three (as I have said) compendia: one, in the manner of a smaller Eulogy; another more prolix, from a Ms. codex lent to us by R. P. Henry Fitzsimon of our Society, whose Author seems to have been more devoted to gathering fables; a third, from the Codex of the Salamanca Library, written at least three centuries ago, in which with certain things omitted, which are rightly suspect of fabulosity, those things are for the most part reported, which could be tolerated and believed, if they had not flowed from a sordid source. And because from time to time it will be necessary to note some things from the two latter compendia, the first which we received from Fr. Fitzsimon, I will call the briefer Acts; the second, the Salamanca compendium.

[6] The cult is proved: Of the celebrated cult of this Saint more certain monuments exist. The first is furnished to us by the Life of which we just treated, composed in the twelfth century; affirming that the city of Glendalough grew up in honor of S. Coemgen: by which it also seems to be indicated that the same Saint, as the first founder of the city, was also its primary Patron. The second we have from the instrument of the Church of Tuam, reported at number 2, which asserts that the holy Church of Glendalough was held in great reverence by the ancients, on account of S. Keivin, who led an eremitic life there. The third we receive from the Salamanca compendium, written three hundred years ago, of which is

this opening: The venerable festivity of the glorious Abbot Caymgin is at hand for us, Brothers. From which we learn, his memory in Martyrology, that for three centuries his festivity has been celebrated annually with ecclesiastical cult, and the said compendium has been recited publicly in the temple in honor of the Saint, or sung for the Lessons in Choir. There are added the Martyrology of Tallaght, which has his memory on May 11, as we have said on the same day among the Praetermissi. Likewise the Martyrology of Usuard by Grevenus, and the Florarium of Saints in Ms.; which however commit an error not slight, when they distinguish Keivin the Abbot from Coemgen the Confessor; although Keivin the Abbot and Coemgen the Confessor are to all others one and the same. Ferrari also in the General Catalogue of Saints, from the Martyrology of Peter Canisius, has thus: Prayer for the same Saint: In Ireland of S. Keuvin the Abbot. Finally, after the briefer Acts, in the codex received from Fr. Fitzsimon; this prayer is added: O God, who showest Blessed Koemgen, thy Confessor and Abbot, equal in the merits of thy Saints, by glorious miracles: grant, we beseech, that we may have him in heaven as our intercessor, whom thou hast given to us on earth as our Teacher. Through the Lord, etc.

[7] Of the Chronotaxis of his life, since few things can be said, let us say something. Ussher on page 1122 says, In the year 498 Coemgen, who is also Keivin, was born in Ireland: Chronotaxis of his life uncertain. if, as some hold by tradition, he lived 120 years, and in the year of Christ 618 met his death. This Chronotaxis rests on two (as the Dialecticians say) suppositions; which if they stood certainly, an arithmetical demonstration would be had. But the suppositions are of such a kind, that they cannot be safely believed nor refuted: since they are neither asserted by a suitable Author, nor is anything more certain held from elsewhere. Meanwhile it is scarcely doubtful that S. Coemgen in the sixth century lived together with most of the other Saints, in whom then Ireland was fertile. Holding then the year of his birth as 498, it will follow that the holy boy was handed over by his parents to S. Petrocus in the year 505, to be instructed in letters and pious morals; and in the year 510 went to the monastery of SS. Eogan, Lochan, and Æneas: for the first happened at seven, the second at twelve years old. The other times of his principal Acts, as, when he first began to inhabit Glendalough, when he departed thence, and again returning built a monastery, are to be left to be defined by prudent judgment: yet likely, on account of the things that are to be said in the Life at number 30, these things were done before the year 549, in which Saint Ciaran of Clonmacnoise, thirty-three years old, is said by Ussher to have died.

SUSPECT ACTS.

From the Manuscript of R. P. Hugh Ward, of the Order of Minors.

Coemgenus, or Keivinus, Abbot of Glendalough in Ireland (S.)

BHL Number: 1866

FROM MS.

CHAPTER I.

The Saint's birth; Baptism, and noviciate of a holier life.

[1] There was a man in the province of the Lagenians, which is the fifth part of Ireland, in the people namely Dalmascoirb, which is in the Eastern part of the Lagenians upon the shores of the sea, Born of pious parents: whose name was called Coinlogha, faithful enough and suitable to God: who had a wife by name Coenhella: and they both were just before God and men. a On a certain night an Angel of the Lord appeared to that woman in dreams, b saying to her: Blessed woman, you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Coemgen; who will be dear to God and men, and he himself will be the Father of many Monks, in whose place will be great grace of the Holy Spirit; and after he has been born, immediately he will be led to baptism. And as soon as he was born, as the Angel had commanded, he was led to baptism. There met those carrying him on the way an Angel of the Lord, in the form of a most beautiful young man; he is baptized by an Angel. and asked them, saying; What do you have, or where are you going? And they answered, To a certain holy Hermit Presbyter, dwelling near here, that he may baptize the infant whom we carry. Then the Angel of the Lord, breathing in the form of a man, signed him in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and praying blessed him.

[2] Then those men came to the holy Presbyter named Cronan c, who said to them: What do you seek here? They answered him; That you baptize this infant, Father. And the holy Cronan seeing the infant said: This holy infant does not need to be rebaptized, because by a better and holier man than I he has been baptized. d At their wondering about this word, he said to them: Did anyone meet you on the way? And they indicated to him how the aforesaid young man had blessed the infant, and called him Coemgen. And that elder said to them: That is the Angel of the Lord, who baptized this infant: and as the Angel named him, so he shall always be named, that is Coemgen, which in Latin sounds Pulcher-genitus the Beautifully-born: for he himself shall be most beautiful. And looking at the holy old man Cronan the infant, full of God's grace, he offered himself to him saying; S. Cronan's vaticination about him: O blessed infant of God, may the Almighty Lord God bless you, and I will be your first Monk, and I hand over to you my place with all that is mine. e And afterwards with the prayer and blessing of holy Cronan, the holy infant Coemgen was led back to his parents.

[3] he is nourished by the milk of a cow offering itself: At the birth, then, of holy Coemgen, by the gift of God to the house of his parents, for the grace of the infant, a wondrous white cow morning and evening came of its own accord, with whose milk the holy little infant Coemgen for some time was nourished; and those men did not know whence she came, or where she went day and night; but two great vessels f of milk every day were milked from her: and after a time, with no one of them still knowing, by God's nod she returned whence she came; and through this the name of the holy infant was magnified.

[4] he gives 4 sheep to the poor, with nothing diminished from the flock: When the holy Coemgen was a boy, he pastured the sheep of his parents with other shepherds; and on a certain day in the pastures the poor came to him, saying: Have mercy on us, holy boy Coemgen: we have already heard the fame of your sanctity… in the name of God, then, before the rest, the pious boy handed over to them four sheep. In the evening, with the sheep counted at home, the number of them was by God's gift found whole: lest the servant of Christ for the largesse of his charity be accused; and in this miracle holy Coemgen was strengthened in the love of Christ.

[5] With the most blessed Coemgen still remaining in the house of his parents, famous for many miracles, he is handed over to the Monks to be instructed. many other miracles were done through him by the Lord God, which we do not write here, wishing to come sooner to his perfect age. The parents of S. Coemgen, seeing such grace in him, handed him over to the holy elders Eogoinus, g Lochan, and Enna, that in their cell he might be nourished for Christ; and with those Saints B. Coemgen read assiduously: with him growing in the first flowers of his youth, a certain beautiful young woman seeing him outside in the field working with the Brothers, loved him greatly; for he was most beautiful, as we have said: and the girl began to indicate her friendship to him with cunning words; and she always laid snares for him as she could, by sight, by speech, and sometimes by messenger: all which the holy young man rejected, and from that day she sought opportunity to find him alone. But on a certain day, with the Brothers working in the wood, that girl went after them: and seeing holy Coemgen, working alone apart in the wood, she approached him; and with most blandishing knots of her hands embraced him; Tempted to unchastity: and asked him with sweet words to lie with her. But the soldier of Christ, arming himself with the holy sign, and filled with the Holy Spirit, resists her strongly, and leapt from her hands into the wood: and finding nettle, he wrapped himself with his naked body into it. And because that young woman was still pursuing him, he reclothed himself in his garments more quickly; and secretly seized a bundle of nettle: and as she came to him, the Saint struck her on the face with the nettle, and on the hands, and on the feet, many times. he rolls himself in nettles, and converts the temptress: And when she had been lacerated with nettle, the pleasure of her love was extinguished; and pricked at heart, with bent knees she asked pardon in the name of God from S. Coemgen. And the Saint praying for her to Christ, then she promised her virginity to God and to S. Coemgen: and the Brothers finding them so speaking with each other, marveled greatly: and the virgin narrated to them what had been done, having the shame of modesty: and the Brothers hearing such things were confirmed in the love of chastity. But that young woman thereafter was made a prudent and holy virgin; and the holy and pious admonitions of the most blessed Coemgen for the whole time of her life most diligently observed.

[6] On a certain day S. Coemgen was ordered to go with a certain Brother into the wood placed near the cell, Ordered, he carries fire in his bosom: that they might make a fire in it for some cause of the Brothers; and that Brother was older than B. Coemgen h, and he said to B. Coemgen; Brother Coemgen, carry the fire for us to the wood: and the Saint of God forgot to carry the fire with him. And reaching the place where they ought to kindle the fire, that elder asked where the fire was; and holy Coemgen confessed that he had forgotten the fire. The elder said to him; Run quickly, Brother, back for the fire, and bring the fire with you. And B. Coemgen asking him in what he should carry the fire; the elder said to him in anger; In your bosom. And S. Coemgen, coming to the kitchen, placed a burning brand with many coals, according to the word of the elder, in his bosom; and coming to the said place cast the fire on the earth from his bosom before the elder; but the garment remained untouched, with the fire burning, as if it had never been placed in it. But the elder seeing such a miracle, done through S. Coemgen; humbly said: O holy young man, I see you to be full of the Holy Spirit, and you truly ought to have our Abbacy. S. Coemgen said to him: It would be a marvel that the holy elders should be under the rule of me, a foolish young man: but do not tell anyone of this miracle. And the elder said; Now it is more fitting that others be under you, than that you be under others. Truly the day will come, when we all, and our places will be under you. And that elder narrating this miracle to the greater and to all the Brothers, it greatly displeased S. Coemgen, and he withdrew far from them to the desert alone.

ANNOTATIONS F. B.

CHAPTER II.

The Eremitic, and monastic Life: certain miracles, and the first Monastery founded.

[7] He seeks the desert; The most blessed Coemgen walking alone through desert places, found one day a certain valley, situated between the hollows of the highest mountains, and watered with beautiful waters: for two pools and clear streamlets flow into it from the mountains here and there. And he passed through that valley as far as the upper part of it, where there is a lake in its narrower end, between the summits of the highest mountains: but the lake is set from the roots of these from mountain to mountain: and that valley once was called in Scottish Gleand De, but now is called Gleanndaloch, a that is, the valley of Two-pools: and the Saint gathered himself beside the said pool, in a certain hollow tree, he lives in a hollow tree: and remained there for some time in a most narrow life: for rarely did he go out from that tree, and gathered a few greens, and with a little water ate them, and so lived for many days.

[8] A certain shepherd of a certain head of a household, who was called By, A cow licks his garments, on some days gathered his herd to pastures in the aforesaid valley, in which was S. Coemgen the Hermit. And the Lord, willing to show His servant Coemgen to men; made one cow from that herd come daily to S. Coemgen, remaining in his cave; and she coming licked diligently the garment of the Saint. And that cow hearing the lowing of the herd, sated with green herbs and waters, returning toward evening, and the shepherds with high-sounding voices driving the cattle, ran more swiftly to the first part of the herd, content with her grazing; and every day the herd descending from the bosom of the mountain into that valley, that cow stole herself from the rest, and came to the man of God, and did daily as on the first day she had done: by whose indication he is found by the shepherd and that cow had an incredible abundance of milk from the mere touch of the garment of the man of God. But the dairymen marveling abounding fountains of milk from that cow, narrated to their lord; and he said to the shepherd, Do you know what has happened to that cow? And the shepherd saying he did not know, his lord said to him; Observe her diligently, that you may know whence she has this grace. But on the morrow that shepherd commended the herd to younger boys, and followed that cow wherever she went. And that cow according to her custom went out to the hollow tree, in which was S. Coemgen. And the shepherd finding the cow licking the garment of the Saint, [and with the furious cows miraculously made gentle, the fame of his sanctity grows.] marveled greatly; and driving the cow thence harshly, rebuked the Saint of God rustically: and this displeased S. Coemgen, fearing that man would betray him. Afterwards that rustic drove the cattle to his house; but coming to the village, the cows and calves were turned into such madness, that not knowing each other, the mothers wished to kill the calves. Seeing this the shepherd feared, and narrated to his lord what he had seen in the valley. And by the order of his Lord that shepherd at once returned to S. Coemgen; and bending his knees asked the Saint of God to give him pardon: and being adjured by the Saint, he promised that he would no more betray him: for the Saint did not know that he had narrated before about him to men. And pardon being obtained, that man received blessed water from S. Coemgen; and sprinkling that water on the cows and calves, they recognized one another in their accustomed manner, and were made gentle on the spot: and immediately the fame of S. Coemgen was divulged through the region. The holy elders mentioned above, that is Eogan, Lochan, and Enna, hearing that S. Coemgen was in that desert valley, brought him thence, against his will, back to their monastery.

[9] On a certain day in autumn those holy elders gathered many reapers in their fields; and meats and beer were prepared for them abundantly. The lunch prepared for the reapers he distributes to the poor, Saint Coemgen being on some circuit b in the kitchen that day, a great throng of pilgrims, asking food in Christ's name, then came to the door. Now the most blessed Coemgen, full of mercy, distributed to them before the cooks all the foods which had been prepared for the reapers. Then S. Eogan sent that the reapers should come to lunch: when this had been announced to S. Lochan, he came to the kitchen, and said to S. Coemgen; O good young man, what is it that you have done without our command? for the reapers are many, and justly ought to have a good lunch, because they do a good work; but to those pilgrims we would give other food. Hearing this the holy young man, with bent knees asked pardon. But with the holy elder going out with sadness, B. Coemgen closed the kitchen upon himself, and ordered the ministers to gather all the bones, and to fill with water all the vessels of beer. Afterwards he sent the cooks out, by praying he obtains other foods miraculously. and prayed suppliantly to God; and at once by the power of Christ that water was turned into wine, and all appeared full of meats. And calling to him the master of the kitchen, he showed him what the Lord had given him: and the cook running narrated to the holy elders what had been done through S. Coemgen. And the holy elders, seeing that marvelous deed, glorified God; and blessed their holy disciple, through whom God had done such a miracle; and that gift made by God sufficed abundantly to the Brothers of that place and to the guests and reapers for three days.

[10] At another time S. Coemgen went to a certain holy Hermit, by name Broanus c, and remained with him some days. That Saint had one cow; and, with his servant on a certain day occupied in another office, The wolf, which had devoured the calf at his bidding, said to B. Coemgen: Go, Brother, and see our cow, lest the beasts of the desert eat her. Now S. Coemgen going, found her giving birth to a calf; and afterwards the Saint, wishing to drive her with the calf home, a she-wolf wasting with leanness came to him; and knowing that she was hungry, ordered her to eat the newly born calf: and at once the she-wolf killed the calf and ate. Seeing this, the pious mother cow was made most sad; and lowing miserably ran to the cell of her master: and the man of God, knowing the cause of her, said to S. Coemgen, Son, what have you done? why have you broken the heart of the wretched mother? I command you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you quickly help her sad mind. Hearing this S. Coemgen went into the nearby wood, and in the virtue of God called the she-wolf to himself: and by the nod of God she at once came to the Saint of the Lord, and B. Coemgen said to her: To you in the name of Jesus Christ my God I say, he makes loved by the cow in place of the calf. that as a substitute for the calf you now come to that cow, whose calf you have eaten, and at every fitting hour of milking, daily until she shall have another offspring,

you come in like manner: for she will love you by the power of God, although it be against nature. Wondrous to say, the she-wolf at once after such admonition ran to the cell, and stood before the cow. The cow seeing her, immediately loved her as a mother her only son: and afterwards every day at the hour of milking, for as long as the cow had milk from that conception, the she-wolf came from the wood; and the cow licking her, piously gave her milk. Seeing this sign, the holy Hermit Beoanus gave glory to God, and diligently blessed S. Coemgen.

[11] Then S. Coemgen, leave and blessing of the holy elder Beoanus having been received, went out to the holy Bishop Lugidus d. The holy Bishop Lugidus ruled the monastery of Monks piously and religiously; He confounds a perjuring thief and he gladly received S. Coemgen among his own. On a certain day a thief from the flock of the monastery of S. Lugidus the Bishop stole a ram and ate it: and when he had been compelled to return it, or to swear, S. Coemgen said to him; O wretch, confess what you have done, asking pardon, or boldly approach to perjury. But that man, making little of the Saint's word, approached the holy signs to swear. As soon as the thief was approaching to swear, the ram from his mouth bleating loudly cried out. e Then all wished after such confounding to condemn him to death; but the Saints freed him: and S. Coemgen said to him; O foolish man, leave this world, and converts him. and save your soul from the languor of your crimes. He now fulfilled the counsel of the Saint, and became a worthy penitent in his life.

[12] On a certain day S. Lugidus the Bishop sent B. Coemgen into the country to someone. Two girls killed by robbers The servant of Christ Coemgen making a journey, found on the way lying two daughters of the grandsons of Dallaynus, beheaded. The man of God seeing the nefarious work, stood there alone, that he might not abandon the human cadavers to birds or dogs: and the Saint praying in that place to God, the enemies who had done this crime, with their minds troubled wandered, and came to the place of the perpetrated crime, carrying the heads f of the slain. And S. Coemgen seeing them, with very many words rebuked them for the killing of the female sex. They said: On account of hatred and vengeance of their parents we did this, who have done us many evils. And the Saint asking from them the heads, they deposit them on the ground: he raises. and S. Coemgen joining the heads to their bodies, prayed for them: and the Saint praying, before all those daughters arose, healthy and strong giving thanks to God. Those men, seeing the greatest miracle done before them, suppliantly asked pardon, and promised they would never do such a wickedness, rejoicing greatly at the life of the girls; but the girls coming to their own, narrated to all what had happened to them. And from this unaccustomed miracle the name of S. Coemgen was much spread through the regions.

[13] Ordained Priest by S. Lugidus At a certain time the most blessed Bishop Lugidus in his youth wished to leave Ireland, and to be a pilgrim in a foreign country: and an Angel of the Lord coming to him said to him; Do not leave Ireland, because by God's dispensation you will ordain many Saints in it. By this Angelic command S. Lugidus was retained, and remained in Ireland: and of those Saints whom holy Lugidus ordained, is B. Coemgen. After S. Lugidus had now made S. Coemgen a Priest, he sent him with certain of his ordained disciples, that he might build a cell to God, where he could find a place; he founds a monastery. and coming to a place which is called Cluain-duach, he built a cell there, in which he remained for some time, gathering servants for Christ.

[14] At one time, with S. Coemgen still remaining in that place, A certain man fleeing murderers, a certain plebeian came to the door of that place: and twelve men seeing him, who were his enemies, ran after him, wishing to kill him. Seeing them pursuing him, he prostrated himself on the ground, next to the door; and then it was closed, and he could not enter. The enemies coming, perceived nothing there of a man; but only a transverse wood upon the ground: and they marveled greatly, because they had not seen the door opened, nor him gone out from there. And they said among themselves, Where is he? or where did he go? And not knowing what to do; some of them sat upon him, as upon wood. Then the most blessed Coemgen, alone within the oratory was praying: to whom it was divinely revealed what had been done outside; the wood appears to those pursuing: and going out, he called to himself a certain Brother, and said to him; Son, call to me the men standing before the doors. When they had come, the holy man said to them: O wretched men, why did you wish to kill a man before the door of the cell of Coemgen? They now hearing the name of S. Coemgen, and knowing from the grace of his countenance and speech, that he was B. Coemgen, fell to the ground, asking pardon from inmost heart. Then the minister of S. Coemgen said to them; O fools, go, and see the man whom you sought, and upon whom you sat, he appearing to you as wood, by which miracle they are converted and become Monks. by the power of God, through the grace of our Abbot. Those twelve seeing the man sitting there, and he narrating to them the truth of the matter; they all offered themselves to God and to S. Coemgen; and the man of God immediately made them Monks; and they remained with him piously and religiously until his death.

[15] A certain smith, of the family of S. Coemgen, on a certain day g grinding a stone in a mortar, a particle of the stone broken leapt out, He heals a gravely injured eye. and broke the smith's eye. This to S. Coemgen, praying in the oratory, was revealed by the Lord; and he came at once outside where the one-eyed man was. And seeing his misery, and the Brothers grieving for him; he placed his hand upon the eye, and prayed for him, signing his wound in Christ's name; and immediately there, before all, his eye was restored to health, free from blood and pain, as if it had never been struck; and he with the other Brothers gave thanks to God, glorifying the virtue of his holy Patron.

[16] After these and other great signs, the most blessed Coemgen left that place, he returns to his former habitation: that is Cluaindnach; leaving there Catholic men; and directed his journey to his country with the Monks whom he wished to lead with him. And S. Coemgen walking on a certain day alone through rough places after his Monks, saw a man somewhat removed from the way lying dead; and the Saint not being able there to cover him with earth (because his disciples all went before him) asked Christ to revive him; he raises a dead man, and at once he began to palpitate. And the Saint still praying, he who was dead arose alive, and blessed the man of God, giving thanks to God; and followed S. Coemgen, declaring himself to have been suddenly suffocated there by death. And coming to the Brothers, they asked whence was the unknown man. He now indicated to them that he had been lifeless, and had been raised by S. Coemgen. who becomes a monk. At hearing this the disciples gave praises to Christ the Savior; and that man was made a Monk by S. Coemgen, and remained with him obedient until his death.

ANNOTATIONS F. B.

CHAPTER III.

The foundation of the monastery of Glendalough: the Saint's solitary life: the deceptions of the demon detected by him.

[17] He constructs the monastery of Glendalough. Then S. Coemgen, when he came to his country, began to dwell in that solitude in Gleandaloch, namely the valley of Two-pools, in which he in his youth had been a Hermit, where the cow betrayed him being found, as has been said above. For that solitude from the beginning B. Coemgen had greatly loved, and in the lower part of the said valley he founded a great monastery, where two clear streams flow together. And many from here and there came to him; and S. Coemgen made them Monks in that place; and very many cells and various monasteries through the regions of the Lagenians were founded under him, and there was the greatest multitude of Monks through various places, under the care of S. Coemgen. The most blessed Coemgen himself commended his aforesaid monastery and others to men of proven life and sanctity, constituting for each Religious his office; and he went out from them alone to the upper part of the same valley, He leads an Eremitic life; about a mile from the monastery; and established a small dwelling there in a narrow place, between the mountain and the pool for himself, where there were dense trees and clear streamlets: and commanded his Monks, that they should give him no kind of foods; and that no one should come to him, except for the greatest cause. And so alone, in the upper part of that valley, between the mountain and the pool, in various places, for four years he was a Hermit, in continual fasts and vigils, without fire and without a roof; and it is held uncertain whether with roots of herbs, or fruits of trees, or celestial food, he sustained his life: because he indicated this question to no one: but his Monks built a famous cell, in the desert where S. Coemgen dwelt, between the upper pool and the mountain, in the Southern part; where now there is a famous monastery, in which always most religious men dwell; tame wild beasts accompany him. and it is called in Scottish Disert-Caughin; which sounds in Latin, Desert of Coemgen; And there many dwelt; and the wild beasts of the mountains and woods, their ferocity laid aside, gentle accompanied S. Coemgen, and drank water from his hands domestically. And after the said time, many Saints meeting, led S. Coemgen unwilling from the desert places; and made him dwell with his Monks in the said cell; and there S. Coemgen wished always to dwell, and to migrate to Christ; even still there among the Brothers he lived sufficiently strictly.

[18] On a certain day, S. Coemgen remaining outside upon a stone, the devil appeared to him with great modesty, in a most beautiful form, transforming himself as if into an Angel of light; and said to the man of God: Hail, The demon urges a more comfortable habitation; holy man of God; behold I am sent to you by the Lord, that I may give you counsel. You bear great labor always, and the holy Angels praise you before the sight of the Lord; and the Lord, loving you, commands you to depart from this mountain valley to a land habitable to your Monks after you. And the devil blessing S. Coemgen, immediately after such command vanished into the thin air. But S. Coemgen, marveling at the beauty and modesty of him, whether he were a demon; and why he had commanded him to depart from the place where his life is praised by God and His Angels; if that one were an Angel of light, since God is powerful to prepare good things for His servants everywhere, said: In this valley, with God permitting, where my life is praised whether by an Angel or by a demon, I shall consummate the course of this life. And afterwards that Satan with a throng of demons over the mountain Tuayd, but he decrees to remain there: in the Northern part of Ireland, in the region namely of the Ulstermen, appeared to S. Comgall a the Abbot, and S. Comgall said to him: Whence have you just come, Satan? Satan responded; From the borders of the Lagenians, namely from the valley of two Pools, the demon is forced by S. Comgall where that rigid Coemgen dwells, we have come; in that place that rustic with his wretched crew has harmed my disciples greatly without ceasing for seven years. But I after all went out to him, and persuaded him to depart from his place: but we did not succeed: because his stability surpasses us all: now I, with my family, return empty to our place; and we wish to tell there how our banners have been broken by him, for we still wish to tempt him. Then S. Comgall said to him: Return, Satan, with my Monks to S. Coemgen, and come to him neither before nor after them, but together with them; and your snares, and your deceit against him, with my Monks present, manifest to him: this I command you in the name of Christ. And the Monks of S. Comgall coming to S. Coemgen, Satan appeared together with them, and narrated all to S. Coemgen in order, as S. Comgall had commanded him. to disclose his frauds before S. Coemgen. Then S. Coemgen gave thanks to God, blessing his friend Comgall: and commanded the devil, that he should remove his nefarious crew from that valley forever. The demons at once at S. Coemgen's command departed from the valley, howling with a terrible cry, and declaring that they would never make a station in that valley. After the departure of the demons that rock, from which they had been harming, here and there, by the prayer of S. Coemgen fell into the pool with a great crash.

[19] S. Coemgen had been accustomed to pray fearlessly in the Pool every night for the space of an hour; Here immersed in the pool he prays; but a most horrid beast came to him from the place, and swimming surrounded his body on every side; but yet did the Saint no harm. The wondrous patience of the man of God sustained the impulse of the beast in the cold water, as if he saw nothing. The most pious God, seeing the greatest patience of His holy servant Coemgen, in the sight of the horrendous monster, and his greatest torment in the cold water; sent His Angel after a time to help him. and the Angel drives off the water-monster. For three causes was the Angel sent by the Lord there to S. Coemgen: First, that from his various grievous labors he might live a little more lightly; second, that he might repel the horrid beast hostile to the Saint; third, that he might warm the cold of the water. For with the Angel of the Lord coming, immediately every night the monstrous beast withdrew from the man of God; and with the Angel as it were sitting in his bosom, the water around him became warm.

[20] Within the space of the aforesaid seven years, on the northern margin of that lake, The hunter of King Brandubh S. Coemgen built for himself a little oratory of twigs, for praying to God daily; and there the Saint, known by no man, dwelt, and was fed by no human aliment, as we have said above. On a certain day also, the hunter of Brandubh King of the Lagenians, b mac-Eathach, of the seed of Enna (from whom the people Censelach are named, who made an innumerable slaughter in the greatest blow upon the Northern Provinces of Ireland in a great war; and that Brandubh held the kingdom of many regions of Ireland, after he killed in war the King of Tara and Aileach, that is, Aed son of Ainmire), following his dogs pursuing a boar, came into that valley: and the boar entered the little oratory of S. Coemgen: but the dogs did not enter, but lay upon their breasts before the door: pursuing a boar fleeing to the Saint, and there under a tree was S. Coemgen praying, and many birds stood upon his hands and shoulders, and flew around him, singing sweet songs to the Saint of God. The hunter seeing, stupefied at these things, finds him praying, and birds singing around: returned with his dogs at once, letting the boar go free, for the sake of the blessing of the holy Anchorite; and the miracles which he saw, he narrated to the King and to all the rest. And the branches and leaves of the trees sometimes sang sweet songs to S. Coemgen, that celestial songs might temper his intolerable labor.

[21] In the time of Lent, with S. Coemgen in the desert, a rock now about to fall an Angel of the Lord for three nights came to him, saying: That rock, which overhangs this cave in which you dwell, servant of Christ, will fall upon this cave soon: therefore go quickly to another place. S. Coemgen responded: This place is narrow in which I remain, and I wish to be in it during the time of Lent, unless it displease my God. The Angel said: Truly the hand of Almighty God sustains that rock, lest it kill you, is miraculously supported, until the Saint escapes. for many days: and having said these things, he departed. But blessed Coemgen said within himself; Trusting in my Lord God Jesus Christ, until Easter I shall remain here: also on holy Easter evening, the Angel again said to S. Coemgen; Quickly emigrate from this cave, following me. Then S. Coemgen followed the Angel with dry feet across the pool. After the Saint's departure, that rock quickly fell upon the said cave, as the Angel had foretold.

[22] On another day the most blessed Abbot Munna in c his monastery by name Teach-Munna, which is in the Southern part of the region of Censelach, S. Munna detects the deceit of the demon, heard a demon saying to another demon: Why is your countenance, O friend, so sad, and grows so pale at this time? The other responded: Why should I not be sad? For I and many other companions have fought strongly against one man for a long time, and we have availed nothing. For the place in which he stands is properly ours from the beginning of the world. Now, however, as it is impossible for a living man to remain in burning flames, so for us it is difficult to traverse between that place and heaven; because we are burned by the flames of his prayers. If you wish to know him, he is Coemgen, who dwells in the valley of Two pools. who had persuaded S. Coemgen on pilgrimage. We have, however, in these days persuaded him to go from that place on pilgrimage; and he is now prepared to go, if God should not impede his journey. Hearing these things S. Munna bound that demon in a chain d burning by the virtue of Christ, by a stone pillar, with the aid of God bound there until now in memory of the virtue. Then S. Munna sent messengers to S. Coemgen, who in order told S. Coemgen the words of the demons toward him. And S. Coemgen, giving thanks to God and S. Munna, abandoned the vow of pilgrimage.

[23] On a certain night S. Coemgen with his Monks were singing the e hymn of S. Patrick: suddenly however B. Coemgen wondering was silent, and ordered his own to sing the hymn three times. To those singing a Hymn about him: The hymn the third time laid down, S. Patrick blessed them. To them asking why he had ordered the hymn to be sung three times, being silent he expounded to them, saying: Our holy Patron Patrick, whose Hymn you have sung, was standing on the pavement supported by his staff, and blessed us when we ceased from the song. That is Patrick the Archbishop, who converted Ireland from heathenism to the faith, S. Patrick blesses. and he himself many years ago migrated to Christ: but the grace of his Hymn is narrated in his Life.

[24] Walking through the pool with dry feet On the following night S. Coemgen in nocturnal silence from the place where he had sung with his own the Hymn of S. Patrick, all the way to the place in which now is his city, walked across the pool with dry feet, thinking that no one then saw him: yet his tanner, by name Cronanus, f followed little by little the footsteps of S. Coemgen, likewise with dry feet, across the pool. The holy Father seeing him descending behind him from the pool, said to him: S. Cronanus follows, for which he is reproved by him. Why, Brother, have you dared to come after me on an unaccustomed way without my permission. Therefore I tell you, that your bones in the place where my Relics shall be, shall not be buried. But yet, lest there be despair, you shall be with me in the heavenlies. But that Brother was obedient, humble and faithful, and according to the vaticination of the man of God it happened to him.

ANNOTATIONS F. B.

Hymns composed in honor of S. Patrick; e.g., that which is believed (perhaps not rightly) to have been composed by S. Secundinus in his Life by Jocelin n. 156. There could also have been composed that which is wrongly ascribed to S. Fiacc Bishop of Sletty; as we have said in the Preliminary Commentary to the same Acts number 15. It is also credible that the Saint blessed those who piously invoked him. If however this deals with the Hymn which in the third Life of S. Patrick in Colgan is said to have been composed by a certain Sechnall; a fable seems to me to be narrated.

CHAPTER IV.

The translation of the monastery to the other bank of the pool. The friendship of S. Coemgen with SS. Columba, Kieran, and others. The deceit of the demon detected.

[25] The Saint is admonished by an Angel to change the place of the monastery, After these things an Angel of the Lord came to S. Coemgen, saying: O Holy of God, God has sent me to you, that you come to the place which the Lord has appointed, in the East of the smaller pool, and that you be there among your Brothers, because there will be your resurrection. S. Coemgen said: Unless it should have displeased my Lord, I would wish to remain in this place, in which I have borne labor for Christ, until my death. The Angel responded: If you with your Monks should go to that place, many sons of life always shall be in it until the end of the age; and your Monks after you shall have sufficiency of earthly things there; and many thousands of blessed souls with you from that place shall arise to the kingdom of the heavens. Coemgen responded: Truly, O holy minister, it is impossible for Monks to dwell in this valley surrounded by mountains, unless God should aid them with His power. The Angel responded these words: Hear, man of God, fifty holy men in that place, with celestial bread from your Monks, if you should wish, God will satisfy without earthly aliments, if they shall remain unanimous in Christ after you: and to each one of them dying another with the fear and love of God, in the same habit and profession, shall succeed until the day of judgment. Coemgen responded: I do not wish that my Monks should be so few after me in that place. The Angel responded: If therefore you do not wish them to be so few in that place, many thousands prosperously and without want, with God already preparing for them earthly conveniences, throughout the age there shall be: to the obedient is predicted the immense glory of the future monastery. but you from your celestial seat shall administer to your earthly family, as you in Christ shall wish: and with God helping you shall govern your Monks here and in the future. That place shall be holy and venerable: and Kings, and the powerful of Ireland, shall honor it, in honor of the Lord on account of you, on earth, with gold and silver, precious gems, and silken garments, in transmarine gifts; and shall be sufficiently heaped up with royal delights and fertility: For a great City shall grow up there: And the Levitical service a of your Monks shall be so holy, that none of them entering it under the earth shall bear the torments of hell: but if you should wish that these four mountains, which adhere to this valley, should be most pleasant and fruitful equal plains, without doubt your God will do it on account of you. S. Coemgen responded: I do not wish that the creatures of God should be moved on account of me, because otherwise my God can aid the place: and besides, all the wild beasts of these mountains are domestic and humble to me, and would be sad about what you say. These and similar things conversing between themselves, the Angel of the Lord and S. Coemgen, across the pool walked to that place upon the waters: and looking at that place diligently, Coemgen said to the Angel: This place is rough. For pits much hide its surface, and no place suitable for burial is in it. The Angel responded to him: Those stones have been immobile from ages until today; from this day on, however, they shall always be movable, and in that earth, which the Angel indicated to S. Coemgen, no immobile stone is found.

[26] Then not long after the said Angel again came to S. Coemgen, saying; Again admonished by the Angel In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, rise you with your own, and go out to the place which the Lord has ordained suitable for your resurrection. After these words he departed. S. Coemgen still remaining in the same place; behold a good man of noble lineage of the Lagenians, by name Dymma b son of Tiagnus, came to S. Coemgen; to whom the holy man said; and with helpers summoned, On the appointed day come to me with your own, that you may transfer the baggage and dwellings of the Brothers to another place, established for us by God. And as that man came as he had promised, S. Coemgen asked him saying; Have you led with you all your men, as I told you? Dymma responded; I have led with me my eight sons with the rest; but the ninth remained home not wishing to come. S. Coemgen said: By what name is he called? Dymma responded: He is called Moelguby. S. Coemgen said to him, Alas! the name is proper to him: for he within a few days, in the Southern part of the Lagenians which is called Censelach c, shall be crucified: and truly the name was congruent to him Moelguby that is, Bald lugubrious, because a lugubrious end will happen to him. Again S. Coemgen prophetically foretold to Dymma saying: But you and your eight sons shall not be slain; but after penance you shall quietly go to heaven, which was so fulfilled.

[27] After such vaticinations Dymma, with his sons and servants and the rest, transfers his habitation elsewhere. thence raising the furniture and dwellings, deposited them in the place marked by the Angel to S. Coemgen. Afterwards S. Coemgen said: In this place my city shall grow, in which shall be my resurrection. Dymma and his sons asking where the church and cemetery of that place would be built; S. Coemgen said: Here once a certain shepherd was buried, and around him many shall arise: for the cemetery of this place shall be here. And holy Coemgen said to Dymma and his sons: O sons, cut off the thorns and thistles, and make the initiation of this place: in this place you shall be buried: for there after much time a temple in my name shall be built to God, and prophesies various things. and under its altar you shall lie. For that valley was the possession of Dymma; and that whole one Dymma and his sons offered to God and to S. Coemgen. But the eighth son of Dymma, by name Dycoll, humbly above his strength labored before all: to whom S. Coemgen said: O son, blessed and lovable to God and men you shall be: and as you are more humble than the rest; so you, and your seed after you, shall be more sublime; and you shall rule over your brothers. Afterwards Dymma with his sons, rejoicing in the blessing of S. Coemgen, went out to his own. But S. Coemgen began in that place to live most holily, that is, to be clothed in the harshest garments, and without a bed to lie on the bare earth, and with excessive fasts; not tasting except herbs and rarely water, and with continual vigils, and to be without roof and fire most frequently outdoors, and so he lived there for a long time; until the holy Fathers, with his disciples asking, called him back from this harshness, to the society of the Brothers, through reason. And in that very place a famous and religious city in honor of saint Coemgen grew, which from the name of the aforesaid valley, in which it is, that is Gleam-daelach d is called: and the city itself is in the east of the Lagenians, in the region which is called Fortuatha.

[28] A lying beggar, the alms received from the Saint is compelled to bring back: A certain man, hearing that a golden belt had been given in alms to S. Coemgen; came full of guile, and asked for that belt; he said mendaciously that his mother was a captive, and that for her ransom he sought the belt; and this was false: and the Saint gave the golden belt, that he might give it for his mother. He now going out with the belt three times wondrously wandered, and in no way could recognize his way: but the third time, recognizing his fault, he came to S. Coemgen; and confessed that he had acted iniquitously, and did penance.

[29] At another time S. Coemgen hearing that three Abbots, that is Columba, e Comgall, and Cainnec gathered in one place, which is called Hicysneach, went to them; wishing to confirm fraternity with them: and there was on that day a great station f of the people, he himself approaches S. Columba: meeting with holy Columba, where the Saints were. And S. Columba seeing S. Coemgen from afar coming to the station, rose for the honor of him, and stood until S. Coemgen reached there. S. Coemgen now approaching that station, behold most fierce and horrible dogs met him, wishing to devour him: and all seeing thought that the Saint with his own would be killed by the dogs. g Fierce dogs he tames with the sign of the Cross. But S. Coemgen signing against the impulse of the dogs, they by the nod of God were made most gentle, and the feet of S. Coemgen and his garments, rejoicing greatly, with ears, and nostrils, and tongue licked. And seeing such a miracle, they gave the blessing to God in His Saints. The rustic men of that station, however, rebuked S. Columba, His Sanctity to those present S. Columba declares. that he stood so long for the cause of Coemgen's coming. And S. Columba said to them; Why, wretched men, should we not rise at the coming of the servant of God Coemgen; when the Angels of the Lord at his coming arise in heaven. And from this testimony all who were there were greatly edified.

[30] At another time the most blessed Coemgen went to visit the most holy Kyeranus g the Abbot, who established his city namely Cluain muc-Noyss, which is in the Western part of the region of Meath, upon the bank of the river Shannon opposite the province of Connacht. Coemgen about to care for S. Kyeranus's funeral, But S. Kyeranus, before S. Coemgen had come to him, on the third day from this world migrated to Christ; and his body in a certain basilica was set upon a bier, until S. Coemgen and other Saints should come to bury it. And S. Coemgen arriving late at

the monastery of S. Kyeranus, entered the basilica in which was the holy body; and commanded all the Brothers to go outside; he himself wishing that night alone to remain there beside the holy corpse. And with all the Brothers going outside, with him briefly raised he exchanges garments, S. Coemgen diligently closed the door of that basilica, and remained there alone until morning: but some of the Brothers were vigilant before the doors of the basilica until morning. And S. Coemgen praying there, the most blessed soul of S. Kyeranus returned to its body: and he rising began to speak with salutary words to S. Coemgen; and the Brothers remaining outside heard clearly the voices of both. S. Kyeranus asked S. Coemgen that, as a sign of eternal society, both should exchange their garments with each other: and so they did. With the door of the basilica opened on the morrow, the Brothers found S. Coemgen clothed in the garments of S. Kyeranus, and so buries him. and S. Kyeranus surrounded with the garments of S. Coemgen: and the body of Kyeranus was warm, having ruddiness in his face: and S. Coemgen indicated to the Monks of S. Kyeranus the fraternity and society, which he and S. Kyeranus between themselves, and their places, and their Monks had always confirmed. And the Brothers who were vigilant that night before that basilica, testified these things. And the body of S. Kyeranus having been honorably handed over to the earth, S. Coemgen returned to his city.

[31] It happened at some time that a thought came to S. Coemgen, that he wished to go alone on pilgrimage: From the pilgrimage undertaken he desists and he went alone from his monastery, wishing to go far on pilgrimage. And the holy Hermit Garbanus by name, seeing him going alone, said to him; O man of God, where are you going? It is better now to remain fixed in one place in Christ, than to run about from place to place in old age: for you have not heard of any bird in flight warming its eggs. Hearing these things S. Coemgen was pricked at heart, admonished by S. Garbanus. and promised to return to his place: and then S. Garbanus offered himself with his cell forever to God and to S. Coemgen. And that holy Garbanus dwelt near the city of Athcliath, which is in the Northern part of Leinster, placed upon the strait of the sea: and that is in Scottish called Dublus h which sounds in Latin Black-pool; and that city is powerful and warlike, in which always dwell men most harsh in battles, and most skilled in fleets.

[32] And S. Coemgen returning from S. Garbanus turned aside to the holy elder Berchanus, i who was blind, wishing to hear the words of God from him: But holy Berchanus, He turns aside to S. Berchanus foreseeing prophetically the coming of S. Coemgen, said to his disciples: O little sons, quickly prepare a bath for our holy elder Coemgen, coming to us today. After now Coemgen had come there, B. Berchanus said to him: Holy Father, in the bath prepared for you by divine showing, wash your body. To whom S. Coemgen responded: Truly, Father, from the day on which I received this proposal in youth, I have not bathed until today except in cold waters, for the cause of humbling my body; but yet, on account of you, and God whose chosen one you are, I will bathe. And with S. Coemgen washing himself in the bath, S. Berchanus said to his minister; Bring me, Brother, the shoes k of S. Coemgen; but holy Berchanus saw spiritually a demon sitting in the shoe of S. Coemgen, and said to him, Why do you stand here, O most wicked demon? how have you dared to enter the shoe of a holy man? by whom the deceit of the demon is detected to him. The demon responded: Demons can persuade him to nothing except under the appearance of good, so I entered his shoe, persuading him to go on pilgrimage and to leave his place, which is evil under the appearance of good: and the demon saying these things, cried out loudly, asking that he be allowed to depart from there (for before the sight of God's Saints, the demon did not have power over himself); and the demon having permission to go, vanished from the eyes of the Saints. But afterwards S. Coemgen and S. Berchanus, communicating salutary words to each other, one of them returned to his Brothers glorifying God, but the other remained in his cell with the fear and love of God.

ANNOTATIONS F. B.

CHAPTER V.

Miracles and benefits given by the Saint to Princely men.

[33] Colmannus son of Carbri, Duke of the fourth part of the Northern Lagenians, had in his youth a certain noble woman as wife: Colmannus's infant Foelan, but since they had not agreed with one another in their manners, he sent her away, and took another wife in her place. But that one who was dismissed was greatly malefic, in magical arts, and was filled with zeal against her husband Duke Colmannus; and she killed all the offspring of the other by her magical incantations. For she, as she heard that a son or daughter had been born to him; came from some part against the village in which the infant was, and chanted magically until the little infant was dead: And when in his old age a little infant was born to him, immediately he was baptized, lest without baptism he should be killed by that poisoner, and was called Foelan: whom at once the Duke his father sent to S. Coemgen, that he himself should defend him by the power of God from the said woman, and nourish him in secular habit: and offered him to S. Coemgen, that he with his seed at S. Coemgen's place should be buried for ever; and serve him, lest he be slain by the witch, if Foelan should evade alive. And S. Coemgen rejoicing received him, and nourished him in lay habit, as his father had ordered, and loved him greatly. And holy Coemgen not having whence he might have fresh milk for the little infant to be nourished, is handed over to S. Coemgen because the women and cows were far from his monastery; he prayed to the Lord that He might bestow some aid on him. And the Lord immediately sent from the nearby mountain a hind to S. Coemgen, with whose milk the infant Foelan was nourished: which hind twice a day came to the monastery of S. Coemgen, and was milked there by a certain Brother for the infant Foelan, until he was grown up, and is nourished by miraculous milk. and most gently returned to her pastures. On a certain day also a Brother milking her outside, placed the vessel with milked milk upon the ground; and a rapacious raven coming wished to drink it, and poured the vessel with the milk with its beak onto the ground. S. Coemgen seeing this said to that raven; For a long time this wickedness shall afterwards weigh on you and your kind; that is, many meats, on the day of my migration to heaven, shall be prepared, The Ravens who had poured it out are punished: and you shall not eat of them: and if any of you with his audacity shall wish to touch, of the dung or of the blood of the slain animals on those days, immediately he shall die, and all then shall be glad; but you upon the summits of the surrounding mountains shall be sad, chattering and quarreling among yourselves for sadness. a But this miracle is fulfilled until today every year.

[34] The said pestiferous woman, hearing that the boy Foelan was with S. Coemgen; came and stood on the summit of mount Eanach, which from the Southern part of S. Coemgen's city overhangs: and from that mountain looked into the monastery of S. Coemgen, that she might kill the boy Foelan with poisons and diabolical incantations. Father Coemgen sensing this by the nod of God, The witch wickedly perishes with the Saint praying. said to his Brothers; O Brothers, diligently hide the boy Foelan, lest the diabolical woman see him, who looks at us from the nearby mountain; and saying this, rose to God in prayer against her. She walking here and there about the summit of the mountain, was performing her magic art: but was blinded by God: and seeing nothing still persisted in her malice, and fell from the summit of the mountain through the rough places headlong, namely into the valley of Cassain; and was lacerated limb from limb, and there perished that wretch most unhappily.

[35] After these things, in the spring time, the same boy Foelan asked apples from S. Coemgen; and the man of God wishing to please him sufficiently, The same procures apples miraculously for his foster-son. blessed a tree, namely a willow, and immediately sweet apples by the grace of God appeared in it; with which the boy was satisfied, and that willow still every year by the nod of God produces apples. On another day the same boy refusing cold milk, asked warm from S. Coemgen. and warm milk: Coemgen now not finding a pan, poured the milk into a wooden bowl, b and placed it with his hands upon the fire, and the fire in no way harmed the wood; but in it within the milk was wondrously by God's power warmed.

[36] At another time, when the aforesaid first Foelan was a young man, S. Coemgen sent him, and others with him, to S. Mochonne c: and that Saint foretold to his own saying: and sending him to S. Mochonne Men of the family of holy Father Coemgen come to us today, and prepare refection for them. Afterwards Foelan with his own arrived there, and was received with joy; and holy Mochonne asked the young Foelan saying, For what have you come to us? Foelan responded: He did not indicate to us, O holy Father, the cause for which our elder

Coemgen sent us to you: but this now we know, that you know the secret counsel of Coemgen, and he wishes that you confirm it. S. Mochonne said to him; Wisely you have answered, son: for this is what our Father Coemgen wishes. The opportune time has come, that you, son, by our counsel and prayer, may sit in the kingdom of your father, and your seed after you until the end of the age d. But whoever of your offspring shall be contrary to the successors of S. Coemgen, He establishes him King in place of his father: all good things here and in the future shall be taken away from him. Afterwards happy young Foelan in the kingdom of his father, with the prayer and exhortation of S. Coemgen and S. Mochonne, sat: and the kingdom was prospered in his hand, through the grace of the Saints.

[37] At a certain time the same Foelan came to greet his foster-father S. Coemgen. Foelan, snares set by enemies His enemies hearing this, who wished to seize his kingdom, set great snares against him, wishing to kill him. The holy elder Coemgen seeing this in spirit, diligently narrated to Duke Foelan his foster-son, whom he greatly loved: and blessing him, ordered him to return securely to his own. There were now few with Duke Foelan. He, Foelan indeed, trusting in the blessing of his holy Father Coemgen, in the form of a stag escapes. went out by the straight way to his region: and coming among the snares of his enemies, he appeared with his own in the forms and swiftness of stags. And thus he escaped from his enemies unharmed, through the blessing of the man of God.

[38] Three students at one time, from the field of Lipsi, which is named the plain of the Lagenians, two murderers came to S. Coemgen, wishing to observe his counsel: one of them was called Melcrium: they meditating Philosophy e among themselves, the said Melcrium surpassed the other two in questions. But the other two, angry, killed him, and beheaded him in the valley of Cassain, in which the said malefic woman fell down. S. Coemgen knowing this within his cell, said to the master of guests: Two young students, who today have perpetrated a homicide, will come to you quickly: and do not be glad at their coming, but answer them with hard words obscurely: and so the minister did. Then they seeing his harshness against them, said sadly to each other: now the holy Father Coemgen, knowing our crime, has commanded this Brother to show us this harshness: let us make good counsel, that is, confessing to him our crime, coming to him S. Coemgen benignly rebukes let us do penance. And S. Coemgen said to them: O sons, you have perpetrated an evil work: but yet trust in God's mercy, and return to him whom you killed, and carry my staff with you, and place it upon his breast: and his head, which you left between his feet, fittingly place against his neck: and I believe that he will rise to you. No beast has yet touched him, except a fox drinking a little of his blood. They going, the slain he raises, and doing all things thus, he who had been killed, as if from a heavy sleep, arose from death: and at once the three rejoicing returned to S. Coemgen. But that student, who was raised from death, was an obedient Monk, until his death, with S. Coemgen he remained: and S. Coemgen ordered him, that he should never go far from the monastery, except leading guests to the place of his martyrdom f, that he might show them the way through the mountains. and he makes all Religious. In that place now a Cross g has been set up. To the other two returning he ordered, that they should go on pilgrimage, and afterwards live religiously, which they with great affection fulfilled.

[39] By his belt A certain royal man came to the holy old man Coemgen, that he might receive his blessed belt that he might not be slain by his enemies: and as he was returning with the blessed belt to his own, He renders a Prince invisible to enemies. a great throng of his enemies came against him on the plain way: and his enemies seeing him made a strong assault upon him. Then he, girded with his belt, began to invoke the name of S. Coemgen: and at once those could in no way see him, surrounded by them: and perceiving from their speech that they had not seen him, thus unharmed through the midst of them invisible by the grace of the man of God he escaped.

[40] The King of Leinster at the suggestion of the Saint At a certain time the King h of the Lagenians, when the descendants of Niall, and the Northern Province with them entered the region of the Lagenians to devastate it, came to S. Coemgen, seeking counsel from him. But S. Coemgen not permitting him to enter into his valley, stood on the brow of the Southern mountain, where now is the terebinth of the Kings: and sent his legates to S. Coemgen; to whom the holy man said; The King by human right, enters battle and conquers: for the fatherland committed to him, ought to war, if otherwise he cannot defend it. The King hearing these words of the holy one of God, glad and prompt returned to war; and before him a huge battle was made, in which the descendants of Niall were greatly overcome by the Lagenians, and the Northerners were reduced to extermination. The King himself with the Lagenians, after the battle, gave thanks to the Lord and to S. Coemgen.

[41] Luxuriously nourishing his hair A certain Soldier, by name Rotanus, had most beautiful hair, which loving greatly he nourished with all care; and on account of it lived luxuriously, caring nothing for his soul. Hearing this, the holy old man Coemgen, it greatly displeased him; and blessing water, he sent it to him, and ordered him to wash his head with it, as if for a blessing. He now with joy washing his head from it, deposited all his hair: and knowing that this had been the wish of S. Coemgen, he came and did penance before the Saint; is amended. and promised the emendation of his life. And the man of God seeing his satisfaction; blessed his head, and on it another hair at once grew, which was sufficiently beautiful, but did not reach to the first. Afterwards that Soldier, giving thanks to God and His Saint in all things, returned to his own.

ANNOTATIONS F. B.

CHAPTER VI.

The Prophetic Spirit. Spiritual benefits given to various persons. Death.

[42] Robbers from the nation of Degha, from the region of Kenselach a, came and hid themselves in the mountains beside the Monastery of S. Coemgen, wishing to plunder on the following night a certain village in the people of the descendants of Moel, and to kill its men. This was revealed by the Lord to the holy old man Coemgen. He saves the people from robbers. Then S. Coemgen, not having another messenger at hand, ordered a certain man blind from birth by name Guaire, to go to them, and indicate to them about the robbers. He rising without excuse, immediately an Angel of the Lord came to him, and led him there, and back from there with celestial light brought him back unharmed. Through a blind messenger led by an Angel. The inhabitants of the said village giving thanks, hid themselves with their own in safe places; but the robbers returned thence empty.

[43] A certain leatherworker b by name Cronanus, but afterwards a holy and pious man before God and men, who built Clara-cella to the Lord, sent a legation to S. Coemgen, that he should send a faithful and suitable Brother to him, through whom he might transmit his secrets to S. Coemgen. To him without delay the holy Father Coemgen sent the Monk Berchanus c, alone according to the custom of ancient time. That Brother now beginning his journey through woods and desert mountains, found a certain beautiful woman, Of the Monk Berchanus, alone on the way, expecting an escort through the desert. Who seeing him, said to him: O man of God, for the sake of Almighty God, allow and suffer me to go with you through the wilderness. The Brother therefore for the sake of God granted, and promised on his faith to expect, until through the desert he should bring her back to her village. And she was seized by love of him: for he was beautiful, strong in the flower of youth; and she tempted him frequently with bland speech. Finally however coming to a certain stream, she said to him: I beg you, Lord, in the name of Christ, until I drink water, and bathe in the water, wait; I am now wearied from the way: but this she did, wishing to show him the beauty of her body. As she was disrobing herself, d Berchanus placed his head on the ground, not wishing to look at her; and oppressed immediately by a most heavy sleep, the woman coming from the water, seeing him sleeping, desired greatly to lie with him: tempted to unchastity, and taking the Brother's garments, began to lie with him, embracing him with her hands. But the soldier of Christ awakened from sleep, resisted her strongly with arms and knees; and leaping from her hands, began to flog her on the back and sides. But holy Coemgen and holy Cronanus divinely saw all these things in their cells from afar, and S.

Cronanus said: Act manly, O good Brother Berchanus, the constancy absent is known to SS. Coemgen and Cronanus: flogging the unchaste one. But holy Coemgen said: O son, dearest Berchanus, indulgent spare, and do not flog the wretch. These words of the Saints, sitting in their cells, the blessed Monk Berchanus heard from far in the desert by God's nod: and hearing the command of his holy Master, ceased flogging the woman; and she doing penance, Berchanus led her with him through the desert as he had promised: and she magnifying the sanctity of the man of God, narrated to her friends what had been done on the way.

[44] But blessed Berchanus reaching the cell of S. Cronanus, was received with joy; and S. Cronanus gave him thanks for his manly struggle; and sending him back to S. Coemgen, he prophesies about his death and Cronanus's. among other secrets said to him: Indicate to my Father Coemgen, that I desire to migrate to Christ with him on one day. Hearing this, S. Coemgen said prophetically: On one day we two shall not go to heaven, that is, not in the same year: but yet on the day itself of my migration, after time he shall migrate to Christ; and on one day afterwards shall be our solemnity, and so it was done.

[45] A certain cruel knight, frequently practiced robberies among the ridges of mountains, Of one daily invoking him the soul and cared nothing about good works, except only that he invoked the name of S. Coemgen daily, believing in the Lord, for aiding his soul. On a certain day also he was enclosed by his enemies, and slaying him, they cut him to pieces. Afterwards an Angel of the Lord came to S. Coemgen, saying; A certain wretched man, who daily against the danger of his soul invoked you, soldier of Christ, today has been cut to pieces. You therefore in your Lord act manly, and go after the demons, who drag his soul to torments; because although the body is destroyed, yet his soul through God's power you may rescue from hell. Then S. Coemgen comforted, by Angelic conduct ascending into the air, freed the soul of that wretch from the demons through the virtue of Christ, and was in that contest e from the ninth hour until the morrow. from the demons rescues, But his Monks grieving, marveled at the absence of their most holy decrepit old man: and coming on the next day to his Brothers from the air, he immediately said to them: O my Brothers, the body of that wretch, for whom I was in heaven, bury among your sepulchres; because his soul is freed from the demons, and is in rest before the presence of God. So the Brothers did, and he orders the body to be buried. marveling at the grace of God in their holy Father.

[46] A certain holy virgin, by name Cassayr, daughter of Aedh, seeing in the air the holy old man Coemgen, clothed in the harshest skins, Refusing better garments, asked him in the name of Christ, to receive better garments from her. But the man of God refused them, lest through avarice Satan should approach him. But the holy virgin was made sad by this, who afterwards handed over herself and her cell with all hers under the rule of S. Coemgen. Then an Angel of the Lord came, and taking the harsh garments from the holy and decrepit old man Coemgen, clothed him in the said garments of the holy virgin. he is clothed in these by the Angel: For which the man of God and the holy virgin with hers paid thanks to God.

[47] A certain man, Critanus by name, and his enemies, made peace in the sight of S. Coemgen, and that holy elder commended both in the faith of the other: but after a time, with the darts of dissension stirred up between them, they came to S. Coemgen, that they might reform peace before him. Quarreling with one another on the way, they angry killed him: and afterwards came to S. Coemgen, and spoke ill of him, as if they themselves had done him no evil. To whom S. Coemgen said: O wretches, why do you speak before me in guile? he raises one perfidiously slain. You killed him today, not caring about your faith: I was now present in spirit, when you killed him: return to him quickly, saying to him, that without delay he come with you to me; that you may know how much the keeping of faith in Christ avails. They so doing, he who was killed arose from death, and with them came to S. Coemgen: and they all, according to the command of S. Coemgen, did penance: but he who was raised from death, gave thanks to Coemgen, magnifying God in all things.

[48] Two, guilty of death, in the field of Liffey, were led by the King of the Lagenians to slaughter. When now they came to the place of slaughter, To prisoners condemned to punishment, they asked together of S. Coemgen: one of them asked, that he should seek eternal life for him; but the other asked for present life. The holy old man Coemgen indeed was present to them in spirit, although absent in body: and he in his cell prayed for them to God, and God granted to them according to their petitions, on account of the prayer of most faithful Coemgen. For one of them was immediately killed, to one eternal life, commending himself to God through the grace of the old man Coemgen, and his soul was led by Angels into heaven: but the other of them the lictors of the King wished all day to kill, but could neither kill nor crucify him in any way. But asking him toward evening, for what magic art weapons or clubs could not tear his body, for the other present life he obtains. he said to them: You heard today how my companion and I asked the holy old man Coemgen; he, for eternal life; I, for present life. Him you killed immediately, and the Angels of God received his soul: but I see our holy Patron Coemgen around me, casting back your darts and blows from me. When this had been announced to the King, he ordered that he be dismissed free to God and to S. Coemgen: and so he was dismissed, giving thanks to God and to S. Coemgen continually.

[49] When now the most holy old man Coemgen, in venerable old age, Desiring to die wished to migrate from this life to Christ; perfectly, from infancy to old age, running in the commandments of God, in sanctity and justice, in many virtues, and very many signs; twelve most proven of his Monks he sent to the place where, after his Hymn was sung three times, the most blessed Archbishop Patrick stood by: who indeed receives men of good will rightly from the Lord in that place, as S. Coemgen had promised; and therefore S. Coemgen sent them there, orders his disciples to pray to his intention: that they should there ask the Lord for the petition of S. Coemgen, which he did not indicate to them: and the Brothers asked the Lord for the petition of S. Coemgen, still not knowing it: and the prayer being finished they returned to S. Coemgen. Then the holy Father Coemgen, knowing it had been granted to them what they had asked; indicated to them his petition, that is, that he might be put down from the burden of the flesh; because it had once been promised to him by God, that he should not migrate from this world, until he should pray God for this. The Brothers hearing these words, were made very sad. But Father Coemgen began to console them about the promise of Christ, declaring that he had already seen the kingdom of God living in the body; and taught them to keep his rule and the commandments of God diligently. Afterwards lifting up his hands, whom sad he consoles, he blessed them, and his place: and the Body and Blood of Christ having been received from Saint Mocherog f the Briton, whose cell is in the East of the city of S. Coemgen himself, the Brothers now established in weeping and groaning, after one hundred twenty years in the present life passed, he migrated among the choirs of Angels and the bands of Archangels, and the Viaticum received he dies. on the third Nones of June, to the celestial Jerusalem, to the kingdom without end, our Lord God Jesus Christ, to whom is with God the Father and the Holy Spirit glory, honor, and power through all ages of ages.

ANNOTATIONS F. B.