ON S. NINNOCA THE VIRGIN,
IN LESSER BRITAIN.
VIII CENT.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Nennoca Virgin, in Lesser Britain (S.)
BHL Number: 6242
BY THE AUTHOR F. B.
§. I. Of her certain Cult, but of Acts very badly composed, as to the age, race, and birth of the Saint.
[1] Albert le Grand, Priest of the Order of Preachers of stricter observance in Armorican Brittany, among the Lives of the British Saints written by him, The cult is proved presents on this fourth of June the Acts of S. Ninnoca the Virgin: who from greater Britain, with desire of a holier life, sailing across to Armorica, there erected a monastery, called from the foundress's name Lan-Nennoc: the chief monument of ancient cult that I could find, and sufficiently firm. from the church dedicated to her name Another, that, when the Acts were written, probably about the 13th century, the miracles had not yet ceased, as their Author testifies, thus speaking of the time at which he was writing in no. 14: "In which place the aforesaid handmaid of God, with a monastery constructed, built a church, and several tabernacles for the servants of Christ: where up to the end of her life through her the Lord wrought distinguished miracles, and now after her end also does not cease to work the same." likewise from miracles; The Acts indeed are fabulous, as I shall show below, and so the Author scarcely merits credit, when he narrates those things which pertain to the Saint's life: but when he testifies of those miracles which were happening in his time, there is no reason why we cannot believe him. The public veneration paid to the holy Virgin is confirmed by a supposititious instrument of donation, and from the instrument of the founded monastery, reported in the Acts no. 19: for it cannot be denied that at least then the public cult was given to the Saint, when that instrument of whatever kind was fabricated.
[2] But that it is supposititious is patent even to the mere reader, especially from this that the Duke of Brittany donates to S. Ninnoca the place which from her name is called Lan-Nennoc. For it is not probable that, with the Saint still living, that place received that name: though supposititious: but it must have received it some time after her death, when her cult was already celebrated among the inhabitants, and the monastery itself possessed those lands from time immemorial: justly indeed, although the title of just possession was unknown. The title also of "Saint," which is ascribed to "the handmaid of God Ninnoca" in the instrument, is an indication that long after her death it was composed: for it is a phrase obvious in instruments of sacred donations, by which benefactors of such Churches are said to donate to S. Peter for example or other Saints, what they donate for adorning their temples, or founding monasteries. But more manifest the fraud appears, that this donation is said to have been made in the 5th century by Guerec Duke of Brittany: since among the Dukes or Kings of Brittany who are reported in British writers, no Guerec is found. Besides that among the Counts of Nantes there is numbered someone by that name, who wished to claim the Duchy of Brittany for himself; but by the machination of Conan of Rennes, Duke of Brittany, through his physician was taken off by poison, before he had peacefully possessed any part. But all these things are thought to have happened in the 10th century, and so cannot pertain to this history. There is also another Guerec among the Counts of Vannes,
who under Alan I King of Brittany, at the end of the VI century, against the armies of Clotharius, Childeric, and Gontram, Kings of the Franks, sent down into Brittany at intervals, fighting bravely, and though the Acts are fabulous: sustained the British affairs as best he could, with Alan meanwhile doing nothing worthy of a King: and therefore the memory of Guerec Count of Vannes is held more illustrious among British Historians than that of the King himself. Why could he not by posterity, not very expert in deeds done, deservedly have been called Duke of Brittany, since he led their armies against the enemy? He could also have founded or endowed the monastery of Lan-Nennock from his own goods: but not while the Saint lived, if she lived in the 5th century; nor with S. Turrianus Bishop of Dol intervening, who flourished in the 8th century; nor would that Guerec have called himself Duke of Brittany.
[3] No better credit have the Acts themselves, composed (as is gathered from no. 14) long indeed after the Saint's death, but when still at her memory miracles were frequent; although, on account of the antiquity of the time, now scarcely the ruins of the little monasteries remained, which the Saint was believed to have constructed, for the habitation of the men who had come with her into Armorica. For so they have: "The little monasteries also of religious men remaining with her, there constructed, in semi-ruined walls show to posterity even today." But the Author, who fashioned the Acts rather than wrote them, was so lightly versed in British Histories, that he could not consequently invent anything. For, to omit the anachronism in the Duke of Brittany Guerec, detected in the higher number; as also to grant many things, which do not seem to be narrated aptly enough for the use of that time and the manner of acting of men, and need some benign interpretation: these, I say, to grant all; how could S. Columba, as is said in no. 9, wash S. Ninnoca with the sacred fountain at the beginning of the fifth century, who did not come into the light before the sixth century? as will be shown on the ninth of this month in the preliminary Commentary on his Acts no. 26. with greater Saints ascribed to S. Ninnoca, How could S. Turrianus, Archbishop of Dol, assist in the 5th century at the foundation of the monastery of Lan-Nennoc, as is narrated in no. 18, who held that Episcopate only in the 8th century, according to le Grand in the Chronology? How was the mother of S. Ninnoca Meneduc daughter of Constantine the King, as is said in no. 6, who lived only in the 6th century? For Constantine, of whom here the discourse could be, is said to have been a Regulus of Damnonia or Cornwall or rather of present-day Wales; and after various crimes perpetrated, converted to a better life in the year 588. By what argument finally is it shown that he was of the stock of Julian the Caesar?
[4] I fear truly, lest this fabulist, as he badly confused the times, also ineptly confused Julian the Caesar and Constantine the Great and this King Constantine. Which perhaps happened to him also in S. Germanus no. 11, and S. Germanus as author of her departure. who was the author to her father of permitting the daughter's departure into lesser Britain, called Letavia, here and in the Acts of many Irishmen of the middle age. But this S. Germanus Albert le Grand interpreted Bishop of Auxerre, who namely much spoke to S. Ninnoca about the zeal for virtues and sanctity of Virgins serving God in lesser Britain: which the Acts are silent that he did, but the same Albert le Grand supposed in his French interpretation: otherwise perhaps he might not find a cause why the holy Virgin chose rather to set out for the Britons, than for the Irish. But how ineptly is it said, that S. Germanus of Auxerre was sent from the region of the Irish by S. Patrick the Archbishop. There was therefore another S. Germanus, if there was any; he namely, who first, if you please, Canon of the Lateran with S. Patrick was Ordained at Rome, and going out with him into Ireland, was sent by the same into the Isle of Man, as Iocelinus has in the Acts of S. Patrick, with us March 17 no. 79. Now as to the Saint's native country Combronensian region, this Albert le Grand interpreted in French, "certain Canton of greater Britain." But Gurtiernum the King, With this caution the Acts are to be read the grandfather or great-grandfather of the same Saint, I judge to be called by the Irish historians Gortigirnus, about whom in Ussher from Ninnius and others more than one fable is reported: and he in the same page 1115 is said to have been burned by Ambrosius Aurelianus in the year 446. With a mind thus prepared I would have the Acts read, which were described and transmitted to us from a Ms. Codex of the Monastery of the Holy Cross of the Order of S. Benedict, at Quimperlé in lesser Britain. But, as is understood from the little Preface of the scribe, they were extant in an older Codex. For so he speaks:
[5] "Finding the Life of S. Ninnoca composed in a certain little old book in a rustic style, we preferred to preserve the right simplicity of the incomposed matter by so writing, than by emending it more than just, under a double little Preface they say, yet less, to corrupt the order of the narration." This sincerity is to be desired in all scribes. Perhaps he found it composed in the old Armorican language, so that he could say it was "composed in a rustic style." Then the first author begins the Acts with this title: "In the name of the most high God, begins the life of S. Ninnoca": and by way of Preface: "It must be investigated, dearest Brothers, and explained in order, about the origin of the race of Ninnoc, and her nativity, and genealogy, or how she served God." The narration furthermore proceeds thus:
[6] that Brochan formerly a Regulus, "There was a certain noble man in the Combronensian region, named Brochan, of the race of Gurthiern, a most honorable King in all of Britain: for he was rich, and frequently offered double gifts to God, saying in himself: 'I give thanks to my God, who has given me all that I have.' Inasmuch as this Brochan himself took a wife from the race of the Scots, the daughter of King Constantine, of the stock of Julian Caesar, named Meneduc: and that King Brochan and his wife Meneduc had fourteen sons by each other. and his wife Meneduc had 14 sons, And they themselves remembered what the Lord said in the Gospel: 'Who shall have left the world and the things that are in the world for my sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess eternal life.' And therefore they were scattered through many regions in exile, and everywhere preached the Gospel of Christ; all Religious. and were Saints of God in the farthest ends of them. But their father and mother were greatly angered; and grieved on account of them, because they had esteemed that they would become Princes over the royal kingdom for their posterity; who did not so, but loved Christ, as we have said above.
[7] "But King Brochan said to his faithful: What shall I do about the misery, That grieving the father asked God for offspring to succeed him, which has come upon me and upon my kingdoms, and also upon you? I know what I shall do; I shall meditate in myself, and I shall give to Almighty God tithes from what I possess, and I shall offer gifts in the temple of God, and the tenth part of my inheritance to the altar of God I shall give; that God may raise up my seed, and give me a son or daughter who shall reign after my death over my inheritance.' Then King Brochan said to his wife Meneduc: 'I shall go into the desert mountain, and there I shall make a tabernacle to God and his Saints: and I shall be there with my Priests and Monks: and I shall not depart hence, doing fasting and almsgiving, until God visit my seed, as it shall please Him.' Therefore Brochan did, as was said above. He went out into the mountain of the desert place, and made a tabernacle and altar in honor of God; and was there forty days and forty nights, not eating nor drinking, except only three times in the week with his Priests. But when these things were fulfilled; on the night of Good Friday before Easter, an Angel of the Lord came to Brochan saying: 'Rise at dawn, and go joyful into your house to your wife and your family, from which a daughter to be born was warned by the Angel, because God has received your prayer and almsgiving and fasting: for you have labored much before Him. Therefore your wife Meneduc shall conceive a daughter, and you shall call her name Ninnoc, and there shall be great joy in all of Britain at her nativity.' But his wife, named Meneduc, lamented saying, mourning: 'I shall mourn my widowhood: for the Lord my God has humbled me.'
[8] he consoled his wife; "But with the holy festival day of Easter approaching, King Brochan came to his wife Meneduc with very great joy, saying thus: 'Why do you humble your soul, Meneduc? Do not mourn; but put on your royal vestments, and give glory to God and his Saints, and be glad: because thus and thus has the Angel of the Lord spoken to me, saying; Your wife Meneduc shall conceive a daughter, and you shall call her name Ninnoc'; and the other things which had been foretold by the Angel. Then Meneduc responded with very great joy, saying: 'I give thanks to Almighty God, who has given me so great grace and honor. The tithes therefore of all that I possess I will give to Him, gold and silver, land and animals, all these things to the altar of God I offer.' But when the time of bringing forth came, Meneduc bore a daughter.
[9] "But at the same time there came a certain religious man named Columchille, of the stock of the Scots, to a colloquy with King Brochan. But the King said to his faithful: she offered the daughter for baptism to S. Columba: 'I beseech you, that this holy Columcille, the Abbot of the Scots, you ask with me, that he sign and hold my daughter at the sacred font of baptism; for I greatly fear him, and on account of God love him.' To whom the man of God responded, saying: 'I am ready.' Therefore King Brochan called his kinsman Gurkentelius, who was called Ilfin, and his wife Guennargant, because Guennargant and Meneduc wife of King Brochan were in the third line of generation: and therefore they held the daughter of the King at Baptism with St. Columcille, who baptized her; and imposed on her the name, as had been foretold by the Angel, that is Ninnoc Guengustle. These things accomplished, King Brochan ordered Gurkentelius and his wife Guennargant, that returning to their house they should nurse his daughter: who when she had grown, until the completion of fourteen years remained with them.
[10] "After these spaces of time had passed, a certain youth, son of the King of the Scots, came to King Brochan, willing and seeking to be given the daughter as wife. and afterwards the son of the King of the Scots desired her as wife. Which hearing, the King sent to Gurkentelius the kinsman and his wife Guennargant, that coming they should bring with them his daughter to the palace. But the King having held council with the Primates
of the kingdom, said before them to his daughter: "I beseech you, my most beloved daughter, by myself, and by your parents, that opening the secret of your dear breast, you tell me whether you wish to take the son of the King of the Scots in marriage." To whom the holy Virgin Ninnoca, before many Combronensian Nobles, humbly responded: "My Lord father, what you ask I do not deny to confess, for the most certain secret of my heart I shall reveal to you. For it is my will, to love Almighty God and his son with a pure intention of mind; and Him, with the bonds of all royal princes set aside, with the momentary allurements of present life, with chaste affection of heart, to follow in all things. To Him I have already given myself, to Him with all things left I have offered myself as handmaid: nothing is dearer to me, than that in His service, to whom I have once already devoted myself, the final end may find me."
§. II. Passage of the Saint into Armorica.
[11] The Life continues to narrate, how the Saint, The second part of the Acts is no more felicitously woven, naming at the very beginning S. Germanus, of whom I have prefaced in no. 4. For so it has: "Meanwhile S. Germanus the Bishop, sent from the region of the Irish by S. Patrick the Archbishop, came to Brochan King of Britain: who, by the same King honorably received, throughout the whole region by bestowing benefits of healings on the sick, sowed the Gospel of Christ. To whose holy proclamations frequently to be heard the holy Virgin of God Ninnoca coming, inquired from the same holy man about the doctrines of heavenly life. with the Father's assent obtained, But he daily fully imbuing her with the holy Scriptures, in a short time strengthened her with the inmost love of Christ. Meanwhile when the solemn day of the Kalends of January was at hand as usual; the King made a feast for his birthday for all the Princes and Nobles of his kingdom: among whom S. Germanus, asked to come, and sitting at the royal table before the King; then Ninnoca the handmaid of God entered the house, and fell at the feet of her father the King saying: 'I ask, my Lord father, that before these Primates of your kingdom feasting with you, the petition which I shall ask of you today you grant me.' To whom the King: 'My dearest daughter, all that I have is truly yours, and I will give you whatever you ask today before these Nobles of my kingdom; even half of the kingdom itself with all the gold and silver of my treasury.' To whom the holy Virgin of God Ninnoca: 'My sweetest father, riches and possessions, with all greed for gold and silver, and the other things which seem to be of an earthly kingdom, for the love of the supreme King I have already resolved in my mind to despise. I ask, however, that you grant me license to sail to the transmarine parts of Letavia, with those who shall wish to set out with me and there to serve God. For nothing more useful can be believed in life, than to adhere to the service of Him, who shall enrich those serving Him with the hundredfold reward of eternal life.' Which heard, the King and all reclining with him were struck with grave grief, so that the very day of so great a feast was changed into a day of mourning: but her mother with her kinswoman Guennargant, and all the people, and the family of the Royal house, moved by excessive grief uttered these voices:
What do riches profit me? what the noble kingdom? Exile has already taken away the sons whom my womb had brought forth: Now it remains, that me, left without offspring, Death snatch wretched away.
[12] By these and other lamentations of the royal Court the holy man of God Germanus, moved, also admonished by the exhortation of all the Nobles present, with S. Germanus intervening, began thus to address the King with words of consolation: 'You ought not to be saddened, O King, over the departure of your daughter: but rather to rejoice, because the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, who already long since divinely gave her to you, has Himself betrothed her to Himself signed with the ring of faith, and in future will dower her with the celestial inheritance. Cease therefore from this sadness; and do not forbid your daughter, willing to follow God, from being able by her prayer to obtain for you an eternal mansion in heaven with her bridegroom: for in the present exile of this life, which whatever we will, willing or not, we shall leave, our faith ought not to be placed; but in that heavenly fatherland, where for transitory we shall have lasting, for fading noble, for the least, if we have deserved, great things. For this world is slipping away with its acts, and its concupiscence.' At last by these and other discourses of the holy man the King was animated, called his daughter to him, and said to her before all: 'My most beloved daughter, in you my greatest hope was to hold the kingdom after my end: but since it has happened otherwise, and you have chosen to serve the heavenly King, rather than rule an earthly empire; for the love of Him, I give you license to go wherever you will, with my blessing. Therefore I commend to you Gurkentelius your patron, with his wife, whom I know to be setting out with you, renouncing the world, and I leave you to them to be guarded and ruled, with all things which seem necessary for your uses: let them be to you, for my love, in place of parents: I also through paternity ask you, be obedient to them as a daughter of their own, who already seem to be spiritual; and do nothing which might displease them in any way, as long as you live. But ships, with all furnishings, both of expense and of victuals in copious quantity, as many as necessity demands, I will cause to be supplied for you.'
[13] These things therefore prepared, this fame went out through the whole region; she set out with many others into Armorica: so that many, with possessions sold, and faculties distributed in works of mercy, with their own soil left, gathered together, followed the holy resolve of God's Virgin Ninnoca, and joined themselves to her holy company. But when the time for crossing now drew near, with no small multitude gathered, in which (as is reported) were four and more Bishops, with a great throng both of Presbyters and Deacons, and also of Holy Virgins, and of both sexes of men, who were to enter the sea; they came to the port where was the station of ships; to which King Brochan came to bid farewell to his daughter: and after many conversations giving the kiss of peace, and receiving blessing from each other, the King himself, though sad, returned to his own.
[14] But that holy army of God joyfully entered the ships prepared for them; to which arrived, who as much time as the matter required, sailing with prosperous wind, and going around the borders of Letavia, with God governing, with seven equipments of ships landed in the place which from her coming, up to the present day, has the name Pullilfin. But coming out of the ships, with counsel held among themselves, they sent to the Prince of the land, named Guerec, as messengers, namely Morhedrus and Gurgalonus the Bishops, and Gurkentelius surnamed Ilfin, S. Ninnoca's patron and counselor. To whom first saluted they related the whole course of their pilgrimage and exile; or how the aforesaid handmaid of God, daughter of Brochan King of the Combronensians, renouncing the world for God's love had gone into exile; and to the parts of his province about to serve God, she obtained a place for building a monastery now with a great assembly of the faithful by ship had come; adding besides, that she had sent them to him for this; and asking, that for the name of the Lord, who had given him power on earth, and for the commemoration of his parents, he might deign to provide for the servants of God a place, where day and night insisting on the service of Christ, they might pass the present life in quiet. Which hearing, the Count, filled with great joy, gave thanks to God: and ordered to be shown them a desert place, in the people which is called Pleumeur, on the southern shore near the sea. In which place the aforesaid handmaid of God, with a monastery constructed, built a church and several tabernacles for the servants of Christ: where up to the end of her life through her the Lord wrought distinguished miracles; and now after her end also does not cease to work the same. The little monasteries also of religious men remaining with her, there constructed, in semi-ruined walls show to posterity even today.
[15] Some moreover of that holy company of the often-spoken handmaid of God, both Bishops and Abbots, where intent on contemplation and many other faithful, constructing churches throughout the region of Letavia in various places to serve God, even today are held in great veneration by the inhabitants, with miracles diligently wrought by their merits.
[16] But the holy Virgin of God Ninnoca, leading a contemplative life within the enclosures of her monastery, she shone in miracles. so dedicated herself to divine services, that with evident signs the Lord through her deigned to bestow benefits of healings on those asking. For giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, office of tongue to the mute, gait to the lame, restoration of weak limbs to paralytics, and cleansing lepers, and recalling the dead to life, He makes her celebrated name known to many. So great also an abundance both of crops and of trees, in all the land of Kemene Thebone (it seems to have been the name of that tract in which the Saint dwelt, now perhaps abolished), with her still living, as is reported, by her preceding merits, the Lord conferred. So that to the inhabitants, the cultivation of that very land, and the assiduous catching of fish in the neighboring sea, abundantly administered the necessities of human life.
§. III. The monastery built and endowed.
[17] Therefore after the course of three years it happened, that the aforesaid Duke Guerec in this part, where S. Ninnoca dwelt intent on the service of God, On the occasion of a stag taking refuge with her, sometimes came for the purpose of hunting. Whose huntsmen, when with chosen dogs unleashed they intended to pursue a certain stag more outstanding than the rest, before often put to flight, but by them in no way caught, and the Prince himself from their clamor followed them; with the many divergences of forests and groves traversed, not knowing how he could rescue his life from instant slaughter, the stag himself nearly extinct with weariness, fled to the church of the holy handmaid of God; and there before her feet lay tame. To which when the fleeing rush of pursuing both huntsmen and dogs had come, in no way did the dogs dare to pursue him beyond the stream which flows past there, much less within the courtyard before the monastery established. she is said to have obtained the place from the Duke of Brittany, At last the Duke himself coming descended, and entered the church: and seized with astonishment at so great a miracle, gave thanks to God; and discerning in the midst of the choir psalmodizing of both Bishops and Abbots and also of Monks and Nuns, before the feet of the blessed Virgin the tamed beast had lain; he believed through himself the miracles seen, the things reported: but he remained there, made joyful by the novelty of so glorious a miracle, seven days with the aforesaid handmaid of God, offering her very many gifts and to her holy convent, and commending himself to her prayers.
[18] But indeed after much time, with divine clemency inspiring, the same Guerec, considering how he might relieve the want of the same holy convent, and amplify the possessions which to the same servants of God might suffice for daily expenses more copiously; with legates sent through the regions of all Letavia, with the consent of the Nobles, first S. Thurianus the Metropolitan, with the other Prelates who presided over the churches of that region,
and also the Abbots and religious men of sacred Order, he summoned at the appointed term of the council: among whom he was at pains to summon by his prayers and writings Juthaël Count of Phedon and Budicus Count of Cornwall, his brothers, as antiquity reports. And when with counsel held he had expounded the cause of this gathered Synod, and what he had proposed in his mind to do or to give to the holy handmaid of God Ninnoca and her successors, there serving God, he had opened to them; and all rejoicing at his so holy will gave their assent; then the Duke himself asked the aforesaid Archpriest, that he might prepare himself to celebrate the most sacred Mystery; that in the presence of so noble men, the gift now arranged, through the hand of so great a patron, on the altar with alert mind he might offer to God. With the solemnities of the most sacred Mass therefore celebrated according to custom, the often-mentioned Prince offered the writings of his donation, fortified and bullaed, thence ordered to be kept, thus in words, saying:
[19] and with an instrument drawn up over it, "In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity, and of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, and through the virtue of the holy Cross: I Guerec, by the grace of God Duke of Lesser Britain, from my own proper inheritance, for the assiduous commemoration of the souls of my parents, both living and deceased, and for the salvation of my soul, and also of those after me who from my stock shall succeed, and for the state of my kingdom, in the presence of the Bishops and Counts and Nobles of the region of Britain here standing, give, donate, concede to the holy handmaid of God and Virgin Ninnoca and her successors in perpetuity, there in the place which from her name is called Lann-Ninnoc, to serve God; the whole people which is called Pleumeur, with all lands cultivated and uncultivated, as it is contained entirely within its boundaries. received a large endowment for her monastery: I add besides another gift, the whole land namely in which is the church of S. Julitta, with the same church, which is in Renguis. To sustain also the procuration of this place each year, three hundred modii both of salt and of wine and of grain, from the land which is called Bath-Guerran, similarly I concede, and I shall have them conveyed up to here by ship. I increase also for this gift of mine three hundred both of horses and mares, and as many of oxen and cows, and also of small animals. To corroborate the privilege of this my donation, this golden chalice with paten, full of pure wine, in testimony I offer, and in eternal exchange I promise. Whoever therefore violates or diminishes the quantity of this gift, may he be transfixed by the dart of present and eternal anathema, and let his part be with those who in inextinguishable fire, in the heap of perdition, for their wickedness are forever wrapped up." But all who were there responding, said Amen.
[20] But the holy Virgin of God Ninnoca, rejoicing in the Lord at the conferring of so great a benefit, for whom also she took care to have her uncle set in charge. giving thanks to the same Prince, blessed him saying: "May the Lord God Almighty bless you, and magnify your name, multiply your seed in all this Letavia, and give you long life in this world; and that for this earthly donation which you have given God, with the hundredfold reward you may be enriched by Him in future. Besides, my Lord, it is exceedingly necessary to us, I ask your excellence, that this place with all its things pertaining to it, you commit to my patron named Gurkentelius, to be ruled under your tutelage; and him, in the present admonished by your petition, you promote into a Pastor: for he is a man of the highest nobility and providence, to whom by my parents under guardianship from infancy I was already long since committed; and I have proved him in all things faithful and most useful." Who assenting to the holy Virgin's words, set the same man over the rule of that monastery, and constituted him to be blessed as Abbot by the Bishops present. With this constitution for which they had convened accomplished, and the blessing received from S. Thurrianus, the individuals return joyfully to their own. But that man lived in the government of the same Abbey 43 years. This was done in the place which is called Lann-Ninnoc, in the people Pleumur, in the presence of the aforesaid Letavian Nobles, in the year from the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ four hundred and fifty-eight, with the same our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, for infinite ages of ages. Amen."
[21] Thus far the Life, badly enough (as appears from the premises) sewn together; in which the places named, Pleumeur (which signifying "people" or "greater church," is found in more than one part of Armorican Brittany, and indeed near the city of Vannes double), Renguis and Bath-Guerran, I leave to those skilled in that region to investigate: Whence to us the difficulty of writing well about the Armorican Saints? since I could not, with much asking, learn anything certain about even the very Lann-Ninnoc, which before all things it was necessary to know, although Albert speaks of it as most well-known. For, to say what is the case, intercourse with that Province is difficult for us, in which our Society has only very few houses, and those almost placed on the borders of Aquitaine, so that we should vehemently wish to find there a man studious of his country's affairs, who for the cause of the Saints would labor for us, in investigating the Legends of whatever kind which Albert cites: nor indeed can we, often caught having added or changed something by conjecture, securely acquiesce; nor is it our business to render again from French into Latin what he made from Latin into French.
[22] But that I may at least establish something about S. Ninnoca by conjecture; it seems possible to be said, that she with Gurkentelius and other holy men, for the sake of a pious pilgrimage came from greater Britain to Armorica, What by conjecture can be said about Ninnoca? just as afterwards in the 8th century came S. Walburgis with her holy Brothers into Germany. Then after the death of the Saint, about the year 740, with S. Turrianus the Bishop living and perhaps taking care, the monastery of Lan-Ninnoc was founded; not by a Duke of Brittany, but by a certain Noble named Guerec. For in monasteries, although at intervals written monuments perish, in the memory of the Religious the names of the first Founders persevere longer, for whom daily during the divine Offices prayers are poured forth. Unless another conjecture about the foundation of the monastery should please more, and it should be said that this Guerec, that Count of Vannes, of whom we treated in no. 2, founded it one century after the death of S. Ninnoca. But St. Turrianus, and the other two brothers of Duke Guerec, are therefore found in the instrument, because under those names at various times they were benefactors of the monastery. And these things, with the addition of the knowledge of the old possessions and rights of the monastery, perhaps given by not one donor, gave the occasion of inventing both the instrument of donation, and the Life itself such as we have given to be read, because we could hope for nothing better.