Carthagus or Mochuda

CONCERNING S. CARTHAGUS OR MOCHUDA

BISHOP AND ABBOT OF LISMORE IN IRELAND.

YEAR DCXXXVI

Cathagus or Mochuda, Bishop & Abbot of Lismore in Ireland (S.)

G. H.

[1] In Munster, the region of Ireland most Southern, toward the Eastern district is the County

maritime of Waterford, and in this is seen the city of Lismore, formerly known by an Episcopal See, which owes its origin to S. Carthagus, surnamed Mochuda; there on this 14 May having ended his life. We give a double Life of him: the former from a MS. of Salamanca and another granted to us formerly by Henry Fitzsimon, A double Life is given from MSS. wont to be recited in churches at Matins, as is also clear from the adjoined Antiphon. But the latter, at length deduced, was transcribed for us from an ancient Irish codex. Both James Usher more often alleges in his antiquities of the British Churches. But John Colgan published various things from the second Life in the Acts of the Saints of Ireland of the months of January, February and March. Would that the things also which he collected concerning the remaining months and fitted for the press, were printed for public utility! surely they would afford a fuller light to our Annotations. Meanwhile we would wish this double Life to be received by the reader with some discretion, as not written by coeval authors, and augmented here and there with miracles, partly received from vulgar tradition, partly translated to this Saint from elsewhere. But the historical relation itself, as to places, times, and persons, seems to be deduced sufficiently aptly in the second more prolix Life, and likely to give some light to various Acts of the Irish Saints: wherefore, although it contain more, than the former epitome, which may merit to be held suspected, this also we here give; just as we gave the Lives of S. Patrick and several other Irish ones, which if we were willing to weigh with that rigor, by which we discuss most things, scarcely a few would hold their place in this Work. Read therefore what concerning such things our Bollandus admonishes before January chapter 3 of the Prolegomena §. 2: which also we in March in the Patrician Appendix num. 18. And instructed with these admonitions approach to read this Life also.

[2] The sacred memory of S. Carthagus or Mochuda of Lismore is inscribed on this 14 May in the Martyrology of Tamlacht and other Irish Calendars. The sacred cult, Likewise with a long encomium it is reported in the Martyrology of Richard Whitford printed in English at London in the year 1526. The day before or the 13th day of May he is mentioned by Grevenus in the Auctary of Usuard printed in the year 1515 and 1521, likewise by Canisius in the German Martyrology, by Ferrarius in the general Catalogue, and by Henry Fitzsimon in the Catalogue of the chief Saints of Ireland.

[3] The time of his Life and death. Moreover S. Carthagus flourished in the sixth and seventh century of Christ, having begun the monastic life in the region of Ireland called Meath, the monastery of Rathin being built about the year 590, in which for forty years he presided over an assembly of more than eight hundred monks. But about the year 630 driven from his monastery of Rathin, he withdrew to Lismore, there in the year 637 having ended his life, as from the Annals of Ulster designates the above-mentioned Usher, who relates that a proper rule was prescribed by Carthagus to his monasteries on page 919.

LIFE

From a double MS. Legendary.

Cathagus or Mochuda, Bishop & Abbot of Lismore in Ireland (S.)

BHL Number: 1623

FROM THE MSS.

[1] The most blessed servant of God Carthagus from boyhood so prevailed by divine grace, A globe of fire-like appearance before his nativity, that not only born, and grown up, did he coruscate with frequent miracles, but also enclosed in his mother's womb the heavenly goodness deigned by evident signs to foreshow, what he would be. For while, he being conceived, his mother sat in a certain assembly, a fiery globe, by divine nod, descending from the heavens, all who were present seeing it, glided down upon her head: and when all were detained by the wonder of this portent, they knew the divine grace had descended not into the woman herself, but into the burden of the womb. When therefore the venerable infant was born, he was ordered by his parents to be presented for baptizing to a certain holy Presbyter, named Aidan. after it honored by a fountain welling forth for the baptism And when the bearers of the infant were making the journey, it happened that they had the Presbyter, whom they sought, coming to meet them: and when he was asked to baptize the boy, a fountain of most clear water bubbled up from under his feet: in which the infant being baptized, and the name Carthagus imposed on him, as the Angel of the Lord had forewarned, they returned to their own with joy.

[2] But the holy boy being made about twelve years old, and nevertheless neglected by his parents, by the beauty of body, the cheerfulness of countenance and the probity of aged morals, and the affability of sweet conversation, showed himself amiable to all. But that the solicitude of divine providence toward the keeping of the boy might shine the more, he put it into the hearts of his parents, that they should not care to educate the boy concerning it. But after the carnal parents neglected the holy boy; he himself who made and created him the heavenly Father, took him into a son, and therefore adopted him, and illustrated with signs of miracles, prodigies of virtues, and the doctrine of wisdom, honored him before the Kings and Princes of the world. Thence now made a man, instructed by the discipline of a certain venerable Bishop, he is ordained Priest: he was advanced to the grade of the Priesthood. But when that same Bishop saw himself surpassed by him in the grace of virtues, and the wisdom of doctrine, he was unwilling that he should be longer under him, to whom by demanding merits he saw himself to lie subject. he builds a monastery. The leave and blessing of the master being received therefore, he built for himself a proper monastery, as divine providence willed: in which when he had become the Father of many servants of God, so great divine virtue wrought marvels through him, that as a most pure lamp of the sun, it filled the whole Church of Ireland with examples of good works and the rays of mellifluous doctrine. But of the miracles, which God through him by his condescending goodness deigned to show to the world, which no one can embrace by reason of their multitude, passing over very many, touching briefly a few, I have plucked the following.

[3] The holy man therefore was in the winter time sitting in a certain place, in which he had a tree almost dry standing opposite. And while the man of God prayed there, there came thither a certain magus, a son of iniquity; and desiring to insult the virtues of the holy man, said to him: Beloved man of God, if, as report narrates of you, you are the faithful servant of almighty God, at the urging of the magus he makes the dry tree flower and bear fruit bid this apple tree to put forth leaves, then to flower, and at last to produce ripe fruits. The wondrous man, confident through all things in the goodness of God, and wishing to show his virtue before the enemy, his right hand raised blessed the tree, and satisfied through all things the will of the tempter. But the magus seeing the apples of the tree to be most beautiful, one being taken, tasted, wishing to prove, what savor the fair apples bore in themselves. But when they presented a certain bitterness to the taste, turning to the man of God, he said: The apples would be excellent and worthy of divine virtue, if they had not the stain of bitterness. and he makes the apples before bitter sweet: And at once the sign of blessing being given, they were found sweet as honey. But the magus seeing such stupendous miracles, yet did not believe, but as a hard stone stood immovable in his malice: and when to so many signs he gave no faith at all, immediately touched by divine justice, struck with a sign of his ignorance, his infirmities multiplied, namely deprived of his eyes for a year, that thus at least he might hasten to God, he passed that time in darkness. But the year being completed, led by penance he came to the man of God, humbly acknowledging his fault, and asking pardon: who pitying his frailty, dismissed him healed.

[4] Thereupon all who heard the fame of his sanctity and miracles, brought their sick held by various languors, to the man of God, that they might be healed of their languors. Among whom was a man, famous according to the dignity of the world, but greatly saddened over the sickness of his son: who humbly falling at the feet of the man of God, expressing by the affection of his heart the mark of his voice, besought the man, that he would quickly succor the misery of his offspring. But B. Carthagus, touched with the pain of compassion, and inclined by so great prayers, he heals a deaf and mute boy: clemently raising the man, began to ask what he sought, or whence he conceived so great a sadness in mind. But he, with a shaking sob bursting into words, said: Father, he said, holy one, I had an only son, whom, God perhaps permitting, the devil so invaded, that the office of the tongue being taken away, his ears being stopped, he made him mute and deaf. To whom the man of God said: Have him presented to us. The boy being brought also, the man of God his knees being a little bent gave himself to prayer. And at once rising from prayer, he impressed the sign of salvation on the mouth and ears of the boy. Soon he who had been infirm, cried out before the bystanders, and made his voices never heard to be heard, and perceived the words of others never before heard by him. Which the father of the boy seeing, broke forth into a voice of praise with his companions, and destined his service and that of all his posterity to the man of God for ever.

[5] At another time also there came to him a certain leper, asking with hoarse voices, he cleanses a leper: that he might merit to be cleansed of his leprosy by the touch of the holy hand. But the pious Father, having compassion on the misery of the poor man, bursting into the customary words of prayer, first prostrated himself to God, and after the prayer raising himself, imposed his hand on the wretch, and cleansed his flesh from all the contagion of leprosy. On another day also there came to him a certain miserable man, who lacking the seats of the eyes and the eminence of the nose, he restores a deformed face to its due figure: bore his whole face flattened in the manner of a board: whose misery the more unknown, the more it was thought by all to be miserable. Upon whom the man full of piety looking, said to him: If you had a firm faith of the holy Trinity, it would be possible to God that you should recover the human figure, which you have almost lost. And at once that wretch casting himself at the feet of the holy man, protested both that he had the faith of the holy Trinity, and that he was baptized in the name of Christ, and that to almighty God all things are possible. Then the beloved of God and men, fortifying himself with the customary supports of prayers, the sign of the holy Cross being given, drove away the foul flatness of the face, and restored the nose and eyes and eyebrows, and the other things which had been lacking to human integrity, wholly. Thereupon all who were present, and had seen the unusual miracle, magnified almighty God in his servant.

[6] This man received not only over the curing of infirmities, but also over the expulsion of demons full power. he frees a man possessed: For a certain one full of a demon was brought to the presence of the holy man, that he might be cured of the one vexing him. To whom forthwith his hand raised impressing the sign of the salvation-bearing Cross, he commanded the unclean Spirit in the name of Christ, that it should not by tarrying longer usurp to itself the temple, which God built for himself to inhabit. Which command the devil dreading, forthwith abandoned that dwelling, which long before it had possessed: and before the bystanders from insane he was made sane: and through this the reverence of the holy man and the glory of God grew among men.

[7] It happened also that on a certain day into a river, near the monastery of the holy man, a certain boy

fell: and because no one who could help him was present, day and night he lay hidden under the water. Whom the wretched parents, he indicates to the parents the drowned boy and sad kinsmen seeking, ceased not to search all places, and through houses and villages and through the surrounding fields to run lamenting. And when they saw themselves to labor in vain, they faithfully placed all the hope of their help in the holy servant of God Carthagus: to whom coming, they humbly prostrated themselves at his feet, demanding of him that he would indicate to them their son, the spirit revealing it. Who said to them: Go to the bridge of the river, and under its nearer foot you will find your son drowned. Who running thither, found the infant dead. Whom raising from the water they brought to the man of God, and cast at his feet. Who the name of Christ being invoked raised the boy, and raises him. whom afterward he himself nourishing taught.

[8] In those days also of a certain cruel King, who was surnamed Corpreus, a third part of the army was struck by heavenly lightning. likewise he raises the Queen and son: Then also his wife and only son were struck by the same heavenly wrath. But the wicked King seeing the God of heaven angry with him, fearing lest divine indignation come upon him, the man of God being called to him said: Servant of almighty God Carthagus, make your Lord appeased to me, that he be no longer angry with me. But if I shall recover my wife and son by your prayers, we will serve your God and you with all my posterity. To whom the pious Father said: To tame the hardness of your flesh God has exercised this scourge upon you: but because the vexation gives you understanding and compunction of your sins, for you I will pray the divine piety. And when the holy man came to the place, where the Queen and her son lay dead; the name of Christ being invoked over them, all who were present wondering, he raised them from the dead, and restored them to their former soundness. Which when the present ones saw, they praised the all-powerful God, and held their Saint in worthy reverence.

[9] his girdle being sent he heals a dropsical man: In the same times the wondrous servant of God was invited to a certain Petty-king, laboring with the disease of dropsy; to whom when he could not conveniently go, he sent his girdle to the sick man. When the Petty-king was girt with that girdle, at once the noxious humor of the belly being dried up, he was made whole: for which he rendered thanks to almighty God, and exhibited perpetual servitude to his servant. There was a certain noble man, who although in the goods of the world he was rich, yet deprived of his ears and one of his eyes, reckoned the other things which he possessed for nothing on account of the lack of these: who hearing the man of God to be in a certain neighboring place, by the sign of the Cross a deaf man and one blind in one eye: his horse being mounted hastened to him. And when he came to the presence of the man of God, at once running he prostrated himself at the feet of the holy man, asking of him that what was lacking to his integrity through infirmity, for this the clemency of God being invoked he would take care to repay through the grace of his virtue. The clement Father seeing the great devotion of the man, girding himself with the customary arms of prayers, over his ears and eye impressed the salvation-bearing signs. But he feeling himself healed, in great gladness of exultation rendering thanks to Christ, made over himself and his progeny to the service of the holy man.

[10] At another time when the holy man was going to the castle of a certain Duke, the right hand of a girl clinging to her side. in the open place of the same, he found certain royal boys and girls, playing near the place: among whom was an only daughter, whose right hand from her birth torpid and dry clung to her side. To whom the man of God approaching, because he knew a virtue was to be wrought in her, showed her a most beautiful apple and offered it, saying: Take, beloved, the apple which I hold. Who led by girlish desire, when she beheld the apple most beautiful to sight, stretched out her left hand as she was wont. But the pious physician, desiring to bestow health with the gift, his hand with the apple being drawn back, said to her, Stretch not that hand which you extend, but the right, if you wish to obtain the apple. Which hearing the girl, moved by desire of the apple, stretched out the hand asked, and grasped that apple. The girl feeling vigor in her hand to grasp, at this unusual thing, running announced it to her father, and announced that so great a man, who had thus healed her, stood outside. And the grateful parents of the girl ran to the servant of God, and as was worthy according to their power honored him, and glorified the omnipotence of God: but the girl who was healed, the concupiscences and delights of the world being spurned, joined herself to the heavenly Spouse, and under the admonitions of the holy man lived even to old age.

[11] By these therefore and very many other miracles the most blessed servant of Christ shining forth, filled the absent and present with the odor of his fame: whence by the consent of all it seemed good, that he whom God had honored with the odor of virtues, He is ordained Bishop, should be elevated to the Episcopal grade. When therefore he had obtained the honor of so great a dignity, so great a multitude of good men flowed together to him, that unless the divine bounty sufficiently ministered to them the necessary things, by their number they could scarcely dwell together. For excepting the little ones and men of more remiss life, who ministered to the holy true servants of God in their necessities, the number of holy monks was eight hundred and forty-seven, having under him 847 monks, who all following the examples of one Pastor, unanimously served God. Their labor indeed was a difficult servitude, but the flame of charity diminished the force of this labor, so that to none of them did his burden seem grievous. But their monastery was then situated in the borders of Meath, in the people of Ferkel, in a place which is called Rathin: in which by the labor of their hands they acquired food for themselves and for the poor. Meanwhile the native Clergy of that province, kindled with the torches of envy the devil instigating, with whom driven from Meath, began to expel the blessed man as a foreigner from their borders. For Carthagus himself drew his origin from the Southern district of Ireland, namely from Munster. The wicked King therefore of that region, by name Blaithmac, and what is more to be grieved, the Clergy there, the sons of Belial compelling him, that he should desert his place; the servant of Christ, mindful of the Lord's precept, by which it is said, If they shall persecute you in one city, flee into another; with his sacred college began to take up the journey to his native land. Matt. 10, 23

[12] he migrates into Munster: When he had come to the land desirable to him, approaching the King of it, he asked a place in which by their own labors they could live, and burden no one, but serve God alone without disturbance. But the King exhilarated by his coming and that of his own, according to the desire of their heart, gave them a place removed from the tumults of the world, and habitable for the eremitic life which they desired. But between them and the place given was a certain impetuous river, which when it overflowed with the tide of the neighboring sea, there was no crossing without a raft. And when the man of God with his own had come to the bank of the river, the rest doubting what they should do, and the river being divided the great Patriarch Carthagus with two men of eminent sanctity, namely Colman and Molua, prostrated himself in prayer, and obtained what he asked. For the prayers not yet finished the river was divided into two parts, he crosses with dry feet and afforded a dry way between two deeps to the steps of the Saints. Then the true Israelites crossing the river with dry footsteps, in a canticle of praise anticipated the face of the Almighty. He builds a monastery at Lismore: All therefore praising God in his Saints, they came to the place granted to them, namely by name Lismore, and built for themselves cells fit for contemplation.

[13] an old man he dwells in a valley 18 months: After many miracles there, wrought through the man of God and his own, the powers of his body failing through labor and old age, he began to be gravely infirm. And because he could not bear the frequency of those coming and the noise of those laboring, he betook himself into a secret valley of the monastery which was there: and there for one year and six months living to God alone, he led the eremitic life. After this the lover of piety seeing other elders laboring in their visitation of him, lest they should incur anything troublesome, ordered himself to be led to a higher place. And when in the midst of the ascent of the valley he was carried by the Brethren, seeing the heavens opened to him, and the Angels as on the high ladder of Jacob descending and ascending, he ordered himself to be set down. holily he dies 14 May. The sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord being received therefore, after very many admonitions of salvation given there, among the hands of the holy Brethren, bidding them farewell and kissing all, the day before the Ides of May he migrated to Christ. To whom be honor and power unto ages of ages. Amen.

Antiphon concerning him at the Magnificat.

Glorious Prelate of Christ, venerable Carthagus, With God help us by your holy prayer, That every defilement being wiped away, and the crime washed, In the heavenly summit we may rejoice together for ever.

ANNOTATIONS.

i. In the year 637.

ANOTHER LIFE

From an ancient Irish MS.

Cathagus or Mochuda, Bishop & Abbot of Lismore in Ireland (S.)

BHL Number: 1624

FROM THE MSS.

CHAPTER I.

His birth foretold: the keeping of swine: instruction under S. Carthagus the elder Bishop. His country illustrated by his virtue.

[1] The glorious Bishop Carthagus, who is vulgarly called Mochuda, of the nation of Kiarraigh Luack, Sprung of an illustrious lineage, of the descendants of Fergus specially, who was a most strong hero of the Ulstermen, whose descendants are in diverse places through Ireland, and he himself through the envy of the zeal of Olellus King of the Connaught men, who was originally born of the nation of the Leinstermen, fell. The father of S.

Carthagus Fingen the son of Guel was of the nation of Kiarraigh. But his mother was called Mead, who was the daughter of Fingen of the nation of Corcoduidne, which nation is in the western district of Ireland near the Ocean at the streams of the fishy river Leamha. foretold by an Angel to S. Comgall, The holy Carthagus therefore about to be born an Angel of the Lord, before he was born, had foretold to the holy elder Comgall saying: There will be born, blessed elder, a son in the western region of Ireland, who from the fountain of baptism will be called Carthagus, because he will be amiable to God and men in heaven and on earth: and after much time he will come to you beginning to go to Rome: and do not abandon him, because this is commanded by the Lord; but let him remain a whole year with you; which was thus afterward fulfilled. Likewise S. Carthagus was prophesied of by the Angel to S. Brendan, who found the land of promise of the Saints, saying to him: and to S. Brendan: There will come to you soon a wondrous Brother, who will help your nation here and in the future, and the men will divide the region of Kiarraigh, and his name will be Carthagus among you, and many will rejoice in his solemnity; for he indeed will gather a great congregation of many nations to the Lord in the day of judgment; and his first city will be called Ragelem, set in the middle of Ireland in the region of Meath, namely in the people called Ferakeell, and it will be illustrious: but more illustrious will be the second and greater, and it will hold a great principate, which will be called Liosmor.

[2] in his mother's womb presignified by a fiery globe, At one time, many being gathered in one place in the region of Kiarraigh of both sexes, there was seen a fiery globe descending from heaven upon the mother of S. Carthagus, he then remaining in her womb, and it vanished quickly harming nothing. But all those were astonished, not knowing what this signified. For the grace of God visited the holy little infant in his mother's womb. The father of holy Carthagus was a powerful man, having two illustrious castles, one in a field on the Southern side of mount Miss, but the other in the glades of the river Mainne, and in it was born S. Carthagus or Mahuttus, and both those castles were blessed from that time, because in one of them the holy one of God Carthagus was conceived, and in the other was born: and it is reported to us that malefic men cannot dwell in them. Then S. Carthagus was led to baptism, and there met his bearers the man of God Aedan by name, and they asked him to baptize the infant. by S. Aedan he is baptized, But there was dry land there: but quicker than said water flowed from the earth in the place where they were, and the holy infant was baptized there, and a clear fountain is there even unto this day, and the infant was called by the name from the fountain of baptism Carthagus; by the elder Carthagus the Bishop he is called Mochuda which had been thus prophesied before by the Angel to the holy elders: but now by all the common people he is called Mochuda, because the holy elder Carthagus the Bishop, his Master, had been wont so to call him, with piety for love kissing him and blessing him. From that time now there are few, who know his name otherwise than Mochuda, and therefore we do not care, whether we have written Mochuda or Carthagus: but know you, that those two names signify one person. But Aedan the baptizer of S. Carthagus said prophetically, this little infant will be illustrious to God and men on the earth.

[3] The holy Carthagus now, firm and desirable of countenance as David, abstaining from unlawful things as Daniel, mild to the people as Moses: he feeds the swine of his parents but he was despised by his parents, because he would not consent to their secular morals: but he was loved by God, that to him the Davidic sentence should befit: My father and my mother have abandoned me but the Lord has taken me up. Ps. 26, 10 And as David fed the sheep of his father, so B. Carthagus in boyhood kept the swine of his father with others. On a certain day when the boy Carthagus was feeding the swine with the rest in the great glades of the river Mainne, he is loved by the Duke of the region, he heard the Duke of the region of Kiarraigh to be near, and went to him dwelling in a certain castle, by name Astaddin, that is the swift field, and found grace in his sight. That Duke was called Moeltuli: and the Duke said to the holy boy: Come hither daily with the other swineherds, and honor will be given to them on your account: for I desire to see you. On a certain night the holy boy staying there sat before the Duke; but the Duke diligently regarded him so long, that he was chided by his wife Nooleathan, who was the daughter of Moeldius son of Aedhabeannan King of the Munster men, saying to him; Why do you so attentively hear that boy the whole night? on account of the divine portents, He said to her then; Woman, if you had seen, what I see in him, you would look on no one besides him. I see a golden necklace, wondrously made, about his neck; and a fiery column from his head even to heaven; and I see a house unbarred upward, as if it had no roof. From that hour therefore, in which I saw these signs concerning him, the love of him has ascended into my heart. Then the Duchess his wife said to him: Let him therefore come hither and sit beside: and so it was done.

[4] Then S. Carthagus sometimes kept the swine in the woods, sometimes stayed in the castles with the Duke. He follows S. Carthagus the Bishop singing Psalms: On a certain day, when the holy Bishop the elder Carthagus came through the glade of Mainne, the holy boy Mochuda was feeding the swine, and the Bishop with his companions sang Psalms in turn along the way. But when S. Mochuda had heard their psalmody, inspired by the Holy Spirit he left his herd, and followed the Bishop even to the monastery which is called Glain: and when the Bishop sat with his own in the lodging, B. Mochuda sat under the roof outside, the Bishop not knowing, and the inhabitants of the house. That night namely the Duke Moeltuli inquired, that B. Carthagus had not come to him, not knowing what was done concerning him: and he sent messengers through the region to seek the boy: and one of them found Mochuda sitting under the roof, and chid him with many words, and directed him with him to the Duke. And the Duke asked him saying: Why, my son, did you not come the preceding night? The holy boy answered: Therefore I came not to you, my Lord, because the divine song delighted me, which I heard from the holy choirs, and nowhere have I heard like to this song, and they sang it unceasingly along the way and in the house until the time of sleeping, and the holy Bishop after them far in the night chanted it. Would that I, Lord Duke, were with them, that I might learn that song. Then the Duke sent to the Bishop, that he would come to him quickly.

[5] Meanwhile the father of holy Mochuda prepared a great supper for that Duke. he rejects the gifts of the Duke: But while they supped pleasantly in the banquet the Duke Moeltuli called the holy boy Carthagus to him, and showed him a sword, a shield, and a spear, and a moon of silver and gold, and royal garments, and all the instruments of warfare, and said to him: Take these gifts, son, and be my companion in the place of your father: but the holy one esteeming earthly things little, rejected them. Then the Duke said to him: What therefore do you wish that I give you? The Saint said to him: I wish nothing of your carnal gifts, but I truly wish, that I may learn the song which I heard from the Saints of God. And the Duke knew, the grace of God to be in him, and promised to give him, what he sought. And afterward S. Carthagus the Bishop being called came to the Duke, and the Duke commended to him the young boy Mochuda, by S. Carthagus he is consecrated Priest: that he might read and learn with him. And the holy Bishop received him glad, knowing him to be full of the Holy Spirit: and S. Mochuda remained under the discipline of S. Carthagus the Bishop, until he received the Priestly grade from him.

[6] S. Mochuda was comely, as we said before: and on diverse days in his youth thirty young virgins loved him with great carnal love, he leads 30 Virgins to a monastery: not concealing this. But the servant of God prayed for them, that they might change carnal love into spiritual. Which was so done. For those young women, through the prayer of S. Mochuda, were made virgins: and built for themselves cells and monasteries, which places are today in the parish of S. Mochuda: for those holy virgins offered themselves with their cells to God and S. Mochuda.

[7] he baptizes the son of Fintan and prophesies concerning him. On that day on which S. Mochuda was made a Priest, Fintan with his son came to the holy Bishop Carthagus, that the Bishop might baptize that infant, and offer him to the Bishop. And the Bishop said to him: Offer your son to that holy youth who today has been consecrated, that he himself may baptize him: which he willingly did. And the holy Bishop asked Fintan, by what name his son should be called. He said, He will be called Fuendranus. When that little infant was baptized, S. Mochuda prophesied concerning him, and holding his hands said: This hand will be cruel, and will obtain the hostages of the descendants of Forna, which nation is in the region of Kiarraigh, from mount Kuastra even to the sea, and his sons will reign after him for ever, unless they deny me: if ever they shall deny me and my posterity, the kingdom will fail from them: which prophecy was thus fulfilled.

[8] But on a certain day after S. Mochuda received the Priesthood, the Duke he being led back to him, the holy old man Carthagus the Bishop his instructor went with him to the aforesaid Duke Moelruli: and they found the Duke in a place, which is called Feorann, near the shore of Leamhna, in which the Dukes of Kiarraigh rule: and the Bishop Carthagus said to the Duke: This is, Lord Duke, the excellent son, whom from you I received: he reads well and has learned well in diverse Scriptures, and the Priestly grade from me he has received, and the grace of God in him appears by many prodigies. Then the Duke said to the Bishop: What will be given to you in reward? The holy Bishop answered: I wish that you offer yourself with your generation after you always to this youth servant of Christ. This at first the Duke, on account of the youthful age of S. Mochuda, refused. Then the Bishop bowed and bent his knees before S. Mochuda, saying to him: Behold I offer myself, my church with my parish, to the Lord and to you,

my son, for ever. Seeing this the Duke, moved by the example of S. Carthagus the Bishop, gives himself and his own, wrapped himself at the feet of S. Mochuda, and offered himself, his body and his soul with his offspring after him, to God and to S. Mochuda for ever. Then S. Mochuda trod the neck of the Duke with his foot, and measured him in length with his feet. Then a certain one of the servants of the Duke chid S. Mochuda saying to him: Why do you tread upon our Lord the Duke? it is an honorable body which you press. Then the Saint left off measuring the body of the Duke, saying: The neck, which I have trodden, will not be beheaded; and the body, which I have measured, will not be slaughtered; and unless you had forbidden me, a Duke of his seed would not be lacking for ever. And he said to that chider: You and your descendants will always be vile among the servants. But blessing the Duke he promised him heaven and earth, and in turn is blessed by him. and said to him: If any of your seed shall cause an offence to my posterity, and shall not render to me my due, he will not hold the kingdom of Kiarraigh. All these things are fulfilled according to that prophecy.

[9] Afterward the holy younger Mochuda, by the persuasion of his holy Master Carthagus and of the Duke Moeltuli, A cell built by himself, built a cell in the Southern district of Kiarraigh, between mount Mysis and the aforesaid river Mainne, by name Kelltulach, and did great virtues there, and all honored him. Two Bishops seeing this, that is Dublinus and Domangenus, envied S. Carthagus, he leaves to his enviers: and persecuted him in all things. Then S. Carthagus went to that same Duke Moeltuli, dwelling in his castle near the strait of Suningh; and narrated to him all things, which had befallen him from the Bishops. That Duke hearing came forthwith with S. Carthagus to his cell, and pitched camp on the top of mount Mysis, and slept there: and waking he looked between mount Mysis, and the said Mainne; and said to S. Mochuda: O my son, this narrow field of the envious Bishops: for the meanwhile leave it, and again it will be yours with its dwellings through the age. And this counsel pleased S. Mochuda much: and he made the Duke return with a blessing. And S. Carthagus leaving his cell to faithful men, began to go alone on pilgrimage into the Northern district of Ireland.

[10] he stays with S. Comgall: Meanwhile an Angel of the Lord came to Comgall, a holy man, Abbot of the monastery of Bangor, and said to him: There will come a young and holy Presbyter to you, wishing to go across the sea for the name of Christ, whom I once foretold to you before he was born: and do not dismiss him, because the Lord commands you this, but let him stay with you until the end of the year. S. Comgall said to the Angel: How shall I be able to know him? The Angel answered: He who goes backward from the church even to the lodging, he is the one. For S. Mochuda wished always to look at the church of God. Then S. Comgall said to his disciples: There will come on this day a venerable guest to us, who is amiable to God: for an Angel of the Lord has twice indicated him to me. Afterward S. Carthagus suddenly came to the monastery of Bangor, and did as the Angel of the Lord had foretold of him, and S. Comgall knowing him, rejoiced greatly. whence having returned he receives the Episcopate. And S. Carthagus hearing from S. Comgall the command of the Lord to him through his Angel, stayed with him until the end of the year. But the year being finished by the counsel of S. Comgall S. Carthagus returned to his province, and built many places to the Lord there, and did great virtues in them, and many men offered themselves to him, and his parish was made great in his country: for he himself received the Episcopate of the region of Kiarraigh.

ANNOTATIONS.

e. There Forkell.

CHAPTER II.

The departure into Meath. The monastery of Rathin built. Various miracles wrought.

[11] After these things S. Carthagus commended his places and his parishes to most holy and most faithful men; and bidding them farewell, came with a few through the Southern part of Munster, and went to S. Hyaranus the Bishop, son of Fintan, He is ordered to go away into Ulster: who built the monastery of Roffigillain: and asked him saying: In what place, Father, will my greater church be in these parts? For an Angel of the Lord foretold to S. Comgall, that I would found my church in the Southern district of Ireland. For S. Hyaranus had the spirit of prophecy, and answered him: You will go first, dear fellow-servant in Christ, to the descendants of Niall, and there you will build an illustrious place to the Lord, and you will stay there forty years, and thence afterward you will be expelled, and you will return to Munster, and then you will build your greater church. Then S. Carthagus said to him: I will take you, holy Father, as my patron always. And the holy Bishop Hyaranus said to him; Not, my Brother, will it so be, but I offer myself and my church with my Monks to you for ever. And S. Hyaranus said to S. Mochuda: Let Furudranus my son be in my See after me: and S. Mochuda granted it. And B. Furudranus held the principate after S. Hyaranus twenty years. Then S. Mochuda went on to the region of Nandesi to the sons of Ruathan, and they offered themselves with their citadel to S. Mochuda. Likewise Olmanus son of Cobihaigh, a Count in the same region, from various men he receives very many offerings, offered much land to S. Carthagus. All which the holy one of God commending to faithful men, ascended thence through mount Guad, which is in the same region of Nandesi: and the Saint looking back from its top, saw beyond the river Angels ascending between heaven and earth, and they raised a silver chair with a golden image in it even to heaven. In that very place where the saint saw the Angels, after much time he founded his greater church, in which he himself migrated to Christ.

[12] he goes to S. Molua at Clonfert: After these things S. Carthagus went on to S. Molua, son of Corda, then dwelling in his city Cluanifearta, which is on the border of the Leinster men and the Munster men: and found S. Molua with reapers. Now S. Carthagus sent away from him all his disciples to their places, wishing manfully to go out into a foreign land, except one, who said to him: Holy Father, I wish to stay here with you. S. Molua said to him: I grant it to you, if it be the will of your pious Master. But the holy Mochuda, when he had dismissed many from him, was unwilling to despise one, and dismissed him: and he himself going out alone placed two lethae full of books upon his shoulders. The monks of S. Molua seeing him going alone, smiled saying: It would be time for this elder to stay in some monastery: for it is a disgrace for an elder to run about alone: but they themselves knew not that he was S. Mochuda, for to few had he indicated himself. To whom S. Molua said, Do not, Brethren, say these things: behold there will come a day, when our congregation and our city will be small in comparison of the city and congregation of him, whom today you see walking alone: for he indeed is the holy one of God Carthagus, whom many call Mochuda: many already today are Saints under him, but more will be. Then the Brethren repented that they smiled at him.

[13] and by the counsel of S. Colman, So when holy Carthagus was walking on the journey, two Brethren met him saying; Whither do you go Father? The Saint answered, I go to Colman. The Brethren said to him, receive us as monks, always serving you and the Lord: for the grace of God appears in your face. And the Saint received them. And when they had come to S. Colman S. Carthagus said to him, Lord Father, I wish to dwell here with you. To whom S. Colman said: Not so will it be: but you will go to a certain place near to me, which is called Raithin, where it is promised by the Lord: building a monastery at Rathin, stay there: and many monks through you will minister to the Lord there: for from that place you will be called by your name, that is Corthach Raithin. Then a blessing being received from S. Colman, with his two Brethren S. Carthagus went on to the aforesaid place, and established a Cell. And S. Carthagus and S. Colman frequently visited one another.

[14] In that place namely Rathin S. Columba of Kells before proposed to found a cell, and left three bundles of rods, saying to his own, There will come another after me hither, for whom that place is destined by the Lord. And from those bundles S. Carthagus built for himself a Cell, as S. Columba prophesied. In that very place a very great monastery was built by S. Carthagus, in which he himself lived forty years, and in which eight hundred sixty-seven Monks were under him. After S. Carthagus built the Church of Rathin, doing great virtues in it; his fame filled all Ireland and the island of Britain, he lives there 40 years, having under him 867 monks, and many came to him from diverse provinces of Ireland and Britain, and offered themselves to God and S. Carthagus as monks always. S. Carthagus first made his monks for many days plough with hoes; for at first he did not take herds from secular men. For Kings and Princes and Dukes had honored him with lands and herds, gold and silver, and other offerings of goods, and the monks from certain Saints used their hoes for the cultivation of the earth. And the most blessed Carthagus was consecrated Bishop by many Saints: and they sometimes visited his region Kiarraigh. But he lived among his monks in his pilgrimage

in his monastery of Rathin: but Monks and clergy were not always with him.

[15] On a certain other day in the Winter time there came a certain magus, to tempt the servant of God, saying to him: Tell me in the name of your God, that this apple tree produce leaves now. S. Carthagus knowing that that malign one wished to detract from the divine power, blessed in the name of Christ the tree, in winter he bids a tree bear apples, and at once it produced leaves. Secondly the magus said: Likewise in the name of your God produce a flower on the tree: and the holy Pontiff signed the apple tree, and forthwith a flower appeared. Thirdly the magus said, What profits a flower to men, unless the apples be safe? And a third time he blessed the wood, and many apples appeared on it. The magus said, say, O Christian, that the apples ripen in an hour. And with the sacred sign the holy one of God blessed the apple tree, and soon the ripe apples fell to the earth. And the magus seeing the apples upon the earth, tasted one of them, which was very bitter, and said: This fruit is not good, which has bitterness. Again the holy Bishop blessed the apples, and forthwith the taste of honey appeared in them. Then in vengeance of his temptation his eyes were blinded for a year, and coming after a year with penance the holy Carthagus healed his eyes, and with joy he returned to his own.

[16] On a certain day a singular man, with his deaf and mute son, came to the holy man, and asked him to heal his son. he cures various infirmities. And the holy Pontiff prayed for him to God, and said to him: Hear, son, and greet us. And forthwith the boy answered saying, Behold I offer myself to you, O man of God, with my inheritance always. And from that time he was made whole in his senses and his members. On a certain day a certain young leper came to S. Carthagus, showing him his misery: and forthwith before all the saints by praying he healed him of his leprosy. Likewise on another day a certain man, who had a planked face, came to S. Carthagus: and the holy man praying the Lord for him, he was healed from that hour from the foulness of his countenance.

[17] On another day also, in the spring time, a certain poor man, to a poor man he sends 2 stags for ploughing: who dwelt in a place near the monastery, came to S. Carthagus, and asked of him a ploughman and two oxen for ploughing. At that time namely S. Carthagus did not take animals in his monastery, but as we said before his monks ploughed with hoes. And the holy man calling one servant to him, by name Aedan, said; Go out into the neighboring wood, and lead to us two stags meeting you, and go to that man, and plough with them through this spring. He forthwith obeyed the holy one of God, and did as was commanded him: and he ploughed with the stags at that poor man's during that spring. Afterward the stags returning to their places, that minister Aedan returned to S. Mochuda.

[18] he frees a man possessed: On a certain day a certain demoniac man was brought to S. Carthagus: and forthwith the man of God cast out from him the demon in the name of the most holy Trinity: and he returned giving thanks to God whole to his own.

[19] On another day the holy man Carthagus, the Brethren being wearied and occupied in other things, himself went to the mill, that he might prepare provision for the Brethren. Knowing this nine robbers, who hated the Saint, came to kill him: lest he be killed, a flame set against them hinders them, and one by one in order the Leader sent to slay the saint, knowing that the man of God would not cry out nor resist: and none of them was able to enter the mill, a fiery flame forbidding them, which by the will of God, for the grace of freeing the holy man, appeared against them within near the door of the mill. But each one of them looked through the opening of the door at S. Mochuda sometimes waking, sometimes lightly sleeping, for sleep had oppressed the Saint. The holy man sleeping, the millstone forthwith ceased from its course; and again waking, at once the millstone ran swiftly. And one of them returning to his Leader sitting in the wood, announced to him, what he had seen in the mill. Then the Leader himself with fury went on to the mill, wishing in the impulse of wrath to kill the Saint: and he saw, what the others had seen. Returning to his companions, he said to them: Let us wait here until he return from the mill, then we will slay him. and another divine virtue. And after a short interval of time S. Mochuda came to the cell, carrying a great load of meal. And those running to the Saint could in no way slay him: because wishing to brandish their weapons their hands were not permitted. S. Mochuda therefore asked that they should not hinder him from coming to the Brethren: and he promised them on his faith that he would at once return to them that they might kill him. And dismissing the Saint, he placed his load in the kitchen, and at once prompt for martyrdom, returned to the robbers. the robbers are converted: The disciples thought he had gone out into a secret place to pray: but they trying in many ways to kill him could not. They seeing these signs, did penance and offered themselves to the Lord and S. Mochuda, and under his care persevered to the day of their death, whose holy and glorious works are afterward narrated.

[20] snatched by an Angel he gives Communion to a dying man: On another day an Angel of the Lord came to S. Carthagus in his monastery, and said to him: The Lord commands you from heaven, that you go out to the son of Fridhaich, the Duke of your region of Kiarraigh, that you give him the Sacrifice, because he is on the border of death, and will quickly migrate from this world. The Saint making a complaint to the Angel, how he could go so quickly; he was snatched by the Angel in a fiery chariot into the air, and set down at the citadel of that Duke at the end of Kiarraigh. And forthwith the man of God gave him the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, and the Duke offered him many gifts, and afterward migrated to heaven. But the most blessed Pontiff Carthagus on the same day was brought back to his city Rathin, and found there the Brethren celebrating the ninth Hour.

[21] On a certain other day S. Mochuda came to the aforesaid S. Colman dwelling in his monastery of Lainneala, that he coming with him might mark out a Cemetery in his monastery of Rathin: for it was the custom of S. Colman, with the Angels to mark out the places of Cemeteries: and it was granted by the Lord to S. Colman, that sons of death should not rise in the Cemeteries which he marked out. Then S. Colman said to S. Carthagus: Go to your cell, he finds a Cemetery marked by an Angel: and on the fifth day after you I will go. Then S. Carthagus came to his place, and waited until the fifth day for S. Colman, and he did not come to him: and S. Carthagus returned to him saying to him: My Father, did you not fulfill, what you promised? S. Colman answered him saying: I went out to mark the Cemetery with the Angels; return and as you will see the small signs set by an old man in the southern district of your cell, so he has established the Cemetery: and let it not seem small to you, because another greater will be marked out for you by the Angels in your other city, in the southern region of Ireland. And S. Carthagus returning found the Cemetery so marked, as S. Colman had said.

[22] At the same time certain men from the end of Kiarraigh came across the mountain to the cell of the most blessed Virgin Itha, situated in the region of Huaconill, in which S. Itha foretells that no reprobate is to be buried. and a little boy was in their company. S. Itha looking at the boy wept: and the Clergy asked the holy one of God saying, O holy Mother, why are you saddened at our coming? The Virgin answered them: O happily was this boy born here, because the earth of the Cemetery, in which he himself will rest, will not go forth over a son of death: and would that I were buried in it! The Clergy said to her, in what Cemetery will this one be buried! S. Itha answered, In the Cemetery of S. Mochuda, which is not yet marked out, and when it shall be marked out, it will be glorious: which was thus fulfilled, for that boy was afterward a monk of S. Mochuda, and was buried in the Cemetery of S. Mochuda, by name Diossmor, which then was not inhabited, as S. Itha prophesied.

[23] At another time also a certain boy in the city of Rathin, S. Carthagus raises a drowned one: by a certain chance was cast headlong from a bridge, and was drowned in the river, which is near the city of Rathin, and his body was not found by day and night. But on the next day his body being found, far from the city of Rathin, was brought back to S. Carthagus: and S. Carthagus had pity on him, because he was the only son of his father, and raised him from death before all, and nourished him in secular habit a long time. And he when he was a youth, S. Carthagus sent him to his region, and he begot sons and daughters in his country, and he himself with his offspring offered himself to God and S. Carthagus for ever: and in the service of the monastery his seed remains.

[24] At a certain time the holy Pontiff Carthagus, his parish having been visited, namely in the region of Kiarraigh, with many gifts was returning to his city Rathin; and when he was making the journey night fell upon him, near the lake of Mainne at the end of Dealhna. And going out along the way he found a creaking and movable hurdle, set in the crossways, which by the artificers in the water-conduit of the aforesaid lake, for the cause of harming, was made: and when the hurdle was raised, it made a great noise. Which when the inhabitants, who dwelt in the neighboring villages, heard; they came swift with great clamor and howling of voices, that they might know the unknown thing. The companions of S. Carthagus hearing such things were greatly afraid, and their horses were turned to flight laying down their loads, and were scarcely afterward retained through the byways. But S. Carthagus knowing the truth of that matter, said to the artificers despising them: Through diverse regions you will be useless: and that mill, which is always built by you, will not be completed: and their descendants are called the descendants of fenna, because they are wanderers after their fathers. After this S. Carthagus came to a place, as also to those denying him apples. which is called Cluainbiennain, and his disciples asked of the inhabitants of that place apples, which abounded in that place: and the household refusing to give apples

to the Saint, he himself said: From this year apples will not be born on these trees, which prophecy is fulfilled for ever.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER III.

Illustrious deeds in the monastery of Rathin: the dead raised: things absent and future known: other miracles.

[25] S. Mochuda had twelve disciples in his monastery of Rathin very humble, that is Mochua son of Mellan, and he was made the first monk in the monastery of Rathin; to 12 very obedient disciples he foretells happy things: Mochemog son of Vairt; and three sons of Nascan whose names, Gobbanus, and Straphanus and Lasceranus; and Molua, and Lughayr, and Mochemhog son of Cuaith, and Aedan, and Fiachna, and Mochoemhog afterward a Bishop, and Fynlughie: and all these were incredibly obedient. And S. Carthagus wishing to lighten their burden, before his death established for them cells, that they might have some solace in old age, on account of their great obedience in their youth: and he prophesied many good things concerning them. For S. Carthagus prophesied concerning the aforesaid Mochua son of Mellan, marking for him a cell in a place which is called Cluaindachraim, near the city of Rathin, saying: Dear son, not here will be your resurrection, but in another place established by the Lord. So it was done. S. Carthagus also prophesied concerning his disciple Fiachna, ordaining for him a cell at Coningnibh, and said to him: Not here will be your resurrection, my son, but you will hold three places, and your relics will be with Aedan your comrade at the end of the descendants of Torna, and there will be your resurrection, and that place will be called from your name. Likewise S. Carthagus Mochuda establishing for that Aedan a cell, in the region of the descendants of Torna near mount Luachra, prophetically said to him: There will come a day when the relics of your fellow-disciple Fiachna will be brought to you, and his name will be above the stars of the heavens for ever. Which all things were thus fulfilled. Now that place in Irish is called Cealb Frachna, which before was called the Cell of Aedan Redhaire, and other things concerning others he prophesied.

[26] At another time a little infant, who was born of adultery, a foundling nourished by him, whose he was, he knows and ordains a Bishop, was brought to the city of Rathin, and was left there near the church, and the holy Bishop Carthagus nourished him, until he made him a Bishop: and all not knowing his parents, and by what name he should be called, S. Carthagus revealed it, saying in prophecy: This infant will be called Dymna, who is the son of Cornac of the seed of Ethac, from whom are named the descendants of Ethac: and all magnified the prophecy of S. Carthagus, who set forth the genealogy of the holy infant, no one indicating it to him but the Holy Spirit: and S. Carthagus said to B. Dymna, when he was made a Bishop: Go quickly to your country, that is the region… in the Southern part of Munster, because there will be your resurrection, and your kindred will accomplish a parricide of their brothers, if you do not quickly come to forbid them. Then at once the holy Bishop Dymna went forward to his region: and another holy Bishop by name Cmanna, of the disciples of S. Carthagus, went out with him a pilgrim, full of the grace of God. And S. Dymna, preaching the divine precept to his own, made them peaceful: and built a monastery in his country, which with himself and his family he offered to Carthagus his Master: and the happy course of his life the blessed Bishop Dymna, as S. Carthagus prophesied, finished.

[27] On a certain day the holy Prelate went from his city Rathin into the kingdom of Munster, and entered the region, which is called Kiarraigh. Then the King of Munster Corbreus son of Chrymtus, was in the same region in a certain stronghold in the plain of Cuyphert, and a vehement fiery storm suddenly prostrated very many of our kingdoms, among whom the son of the King by name Aedus, and his Queen by name Cuinhan, he raises the wife and thirst of King Corbreus: and two of the King's best chariot horses died. The King therefore asked the holy Bishop Carthagus that he would raise his son, and the Queen, and the rest. The holy Pontiff now seeing their faith, prayed for them to God, and bade them to rise, and rendered them alive to the King: and all gave honor both to God and to S. Carthagus, and the King offered him many oblations of land and servants. But one of those servants strove proudly against S. Carthagus, being unwilling to serve him: and the Pontiff said to him prophetically: Your seed will be extinguished for ever; and your inheritance, for which you war against me, will be mine always: and whoever shall take away what was offered to me, heaven and earth will be taken from him: and that man with his seed quickly perished. At another time the elder S. Mochuda sent a golden girdle to a certain Duke, a girdle being sent he heals freckles, who was called Fergus son of Cryntharin, who suffered most grievous freckles, with his blessing: and when the Duke held the girdle, blessed by the holy one of God, about his loins he was healed.

[28] At a certain time Cathal son of Aede, King of the Munster men was in the aforesaid region of Kiarraigh Chuyrthe, for the King of Munster he cures ears and eyes. who by great pains a long time was made deaf and one-eyed. The holy Bishop Carthagus coming thither, the King with his friends asked him that in the name of Christ he would heal him: and the holy one of God praying for the King healed him, and his eyes and ears recovered. Then the King offered his citadel, that is Hyleam Cnharch, and Rosbeargh, and Rosmor, and the island Pioch set in the strait of Cogam, to the Lord and S. Carthagus for ever. In that place now, that is Rosbeargh, he builds monasteries: the holy one of God set certain Brethren, that they should build a cell to the Lord there, which place is sufficiently illustrious. But in the island of Pioch S. Carthagus himself began to build, and stayed there a whole year. After the end of the year three of the aforesaid disciples, that is three sons of Nascan, Gobbanus a Bishop, and Straphanus a Presbyter, and B. Lasceranus, and the most holy Bishop Domangenus he nourished to preserve them: because he ordained them in the sight of holy Carthagus the Bishop in the monastery of Rathin, and left twelve Brethren with them there, and afterward the holy father Mochuda returned to his city Rathin. In that island now a place is most blessed; and religious men were there always.

[29] The holy elder Mochuda passing through the region of the Munster men forded a river, which formerly was called Nemphe, but now is called Abhaim, that is the great river: and the man of God saw a great apple in the midst of the ford floating, and took it, and carried it in his hand home. From that day therefore the place is called Arhubbla, that is the ford of the apple, An apple being offered he heals the dry hand of the Duke's daughter, which is in the land of the men of Maighe: and his charioteer asked it of S. Mochuda, and he was unwilling to give it to him saying prophetically: A wonderful thing concerning this apple through me my God will do today: for we will find today the daughter of Cuanna son of Bealcham, the Duke of this region, before the castle of her father, who has her right hand dry and clinging to her side, and she through this apple by the grace of God will be healed, which was thus fulfilled. S. Mochuda seeing that daughter playing with the other daughters in the open place of the castle, turned aside to her and said to her: Take that apple. Then she stretched out her left hand, as was her custom. And the Saint refused to give it to her saying: Not so, but stretch out your right hand. But she filled with faith began to move the dry one, and forthwith with blood and health stretched out her loosed hand, and took the apple from the hand of the Saint. Then all rejoiced wondering at the miracle. And the Duke Cuanus said that night to his daughter: Choose, daughter, of the royal youths of Munster, who veiled by him, whom you wish to have as spouse, and I will find him for you. She answered saying: No other than he who loosed my hand. Then she said to the Pontiff, You hear, what she says. S. Carthagus answered: Give her to me, I will give her as spouse to the Son of God, who healed her hand. Then the Duke Cuanus said: I give you Flannaid my daughter with the inheritance, which she had in the town Farth on the bank of the aforesaid river Nemphe, to God and S. Carthagus for ever. That Duke Cuanus was very generous. The Saint led that Virgin with him to his city Rathin, and she there with the holy nuns in a cell apart with great felicity lived, until S. Carthagus with his people was expelled from his city Rathin by the King and princes of Tara, as you will hear. For the holy Virgin Flannaid he led with him with the rest. But after S. Mochuda founded his city Lismore, she was foundress of a monastery. he sent the holy Virgin to her inheritance, that she might build a cell there. And S. Flannaid built an illustrious cell in the town of the aforesaid town, which is called Cluain-Dablam, and that place is in the proper parish of the holy Bishop Carthagus. Staying once in a certain place in the region of the Munster men, he said to his companions: I hear here the voice of the boys of Leinster from our monastery of Rathin, and through this I know, that this place will be ours: which afterward was thus fulfilled.

[30] he understands from S. Columba that he is to be driven from Rathin, On another day S. Columba of Kells came to the holy Bishop Carthagus, dwelling in his city Rathin, and greeting the old man said to him: Do you love this place, holy Father? S. Mochuda answered:

Truly I love it. Columba said: Let not what I shall say to you disturb you. Now in this place your resurrection will not be, envy against you from the King of Tara, from his sons, and the Princes, by the persuasion of certain Clergy will rise: and they after a time will expel you from that place. Then the most blessed Father asked S. Columba, who was a truthful prophet: Where will my resurrection be? S. Columba answered: Where once you saw a great army of Angels upon the bank of the river Nemphe from the top of mount Cuah, raising a silver chair with a golden statue in the midst of it even to heaven, there will be your resurrection: that church is your silver one, and truly your golden statue is in the midst of it. Both knowing that it would be so, blessed the Lord.

[31] On a certain other day a Priest and monk of S. Carthagus from the North of Munster came to the monastery of Rathin, he declares, that he will admit whoever ask to the habit. and bent his knees before the holy Father, as was the custom for monks coming from the way, saying: I have completed, Father, the order of the rule, as it seems to me, and your commands, from the day until now I went on, except that I changed my secular Brother with me hither from the world, without your permission. The Saint answered him saying: Go, Brother, in peace: I tell you truly, that if you had gone out into the mountain in your region, and had cried out with a very loud voice from the top of the mountain, and all whoever had heard your voice had come with you, I would have received them to the holy habit with joy. Then they greatly admired the breadth of the charity of the holy Father Carthagus, in that word giving thanks to the Lord.

[32] Then on a certain day the holy elder Carthagus, about the ninth hour, said to his monks: Today we will not eat, He knows in spirit the hatreds of two between themselves, until each one reveals to me his confession: for one of you thinks enmity through hatred toward another Brother. Then the Brethren revealing to him their conscience, one confessed saying: Father I do not love our miller, nay I have hated him. For when I go to the mill, he will not lift the loads from the horses with me, nor fill the vessels with meal, and besides he will not lift me onto the horses, and does me ill in every matter, and is bitter and harsh against me always: the Lord knows, I know not why he does this: and now I have thought, if ever I should come to him, and he should do likewise to me, to strike him even unto death. Then S. Mochuda answered him; Hear, Brother, the Prophet saying: Decline from evil, and do good. Ps. 36, 27. Therefore according to my counsel do him good: and he by your goodness will be pricked in heart, and you will be friends, as long as you wish. And that Brother with all his might pleased the Brother miller for three days, and he foretells that these will be turned into friendship, and cures it: but yet the miller was not yet moved from his evil, nor the brother from his hatred. S. Mochuda asked the confession on the third day from that Brother: and he said: This is my confession, I do not love the miller. The holy Father said to him, this very night he will be pricked in heart, and will not eat, until you come to him, and eat with him: for in that very meal friendship will fill you, and in your life you will be friends: and so all things happened. That monk was filled with the Holy Spirit through the doctrine of S. Carthagus, who is called Colman son of Jonas, and the Brethren glorified the divine inspiration in their old man Bishop Carthagus.

[33] On a certain other day two monks, by nation Britons, greeted one another, by two enviers to be drowned in the river, saying: This old man is sick, but yet he will not die soon: and there is no doubt, that equals to him in piety and sanctity will never be found here: and now if he had fallen, after him one of us would be chosen: therefore let us kill him, because, as we said before, he will not die of himself soon. And they made a counsel, that in the last part of the following night they should secretly drown him in the neighboring river. And finding him alone in a secret place praying, as was his custom, they diligently bound him with thongs in a skin, and then carried him between them to the river. Then there met them carrying a certain religious monk, whose custom it was in the last part of the night to go round the consecrated Cemetery, and wondering he asked them saying: What do you carry at this hour? they said: The garments of certain Brethren to wash? But he instigated by the Holy Spirit did not believe, and said to them: Set it down, that I may see. But it being set down, there was found there the most holy Father our Patron Carthagus. That monk also was Provost of that place, he is divinely freed: and said to them saddened: A most wicked work you wished to do. Then for a little while the holy old man Mochuda said: Sons, it would be good for me, because I would be numbered among the holy Martyrs; but evil for them, because with Judas the betrayer of the Lord they would have been damned: they wished to kill me, that they might preside over my Brethren, and neither those malefactors, nor any of their kindred will be my successors: but of the nation of the Britons in my city they will be ridiculous through the age; but of the kindred of him, through whom God freed me, in my See always will be my successors: and so all things were done. For that monk, who freed the Saint, was of the nation of Kiarraigh, of which nation are always the successors of S. Carthagus.

[34] As we said above, for many days S. Mochuda did not take cows, nor oxen, nor horses: but his monks with hoes and feet ploughed every year, he permits oxen and horses to be in his monastery: and carried loads only on their shoulders. But S. Fintan, kinsman of S. Carthagus coming from Rome, chid him saying: Why, Carthagus, do you impose upon rational men the service of irrational animals? for animals were made wholly for the sake of man, and never in this place will I taste unless you free the monks the servants of Christ from unworthy work. Then S. Carthagus permitted his monks, for the honor of S. Fintan, to have oxen and horses.

[35] After these things S. Lancheanus the Abbot having compassion on the holy Father Mochuda and his monks, likewise cows brought by S. Lancheanus, with thirty cows and a bull, and two herdsmen and with two churns and vessels went on to the city of Rathin, and in a place near the city hid his things, and went out to the monastery: and grief being feigned asked for milk. At once the minister indicated to S. Mochuda, that S. Lancheanus had asked for milk because of infirmity. Then S. Mochuda ordered a bowl to be filled with water, and blessing it it was made new milk, as if lately milked, and was brought to S. Lancheanus. But the holy Lancheanus knowing, that it had been divinely done, and again it was turned into water, said: I asked for milk, not water. These things being said and done the Master of guests ministered among the Saints. S. Lancheanus said before all, Our Father Carthagus is a good monk, but his successors will not make milk of water. And he said to the master of guests: Tell S. Mochuda, after he had changed water into milk. that I will not eat in this place, unless he receive the alms which I brought for the Brethren of that place. And S. Carthagus promised to receive it. Then the disciples of S. Lancheanus assigned the cows with the other monks of S. Mochuda, and S. Mochuda said to S. Lancheanus: I was unwilling to receive cows from anyone in this place, but for your honor and fear I received them. To whom S. Lancheanus said: From this day always abundance of temporal things will be with your people, and a multitude of religious men in your city, in which you will migrate to Christ, through the age, for from this place you will be driven away. After these things the Saints greeting one another, confirmed brotherhood between them here and in the future.

[36] In a certain autumn a certain Provost came to S. Carthagus, saying: Father, he has Angels as his reapers. we cannot find sufficient reapers, and the crops are much ripened. To whom S. Mochuda answered: Go, dear one, in peace, the Lord will give you good reapers. According now to the word of the holy Pontiff the Angels of God came, and reaped the greater crop of the monks of S. Carthagus, and gathered it into one heap: the Brethren seeing such a work wondered, and gave praises to Christ, magnifying the sanctity of their old man.

[37] He has monks miraculously obedient, So great was the obedience of the monks of S. Carthagus, that if it were commanded to any of them by an elder, he would soon throw himself into the fire. For example. A certain one, when the breads were in the oven, said to a younger Brother: The breads are burning, help them: for the iron plate, by which the breads were taken from the oven, then fell from its handle. But that Brother, when he heard the voice of him commanding, leaped through the fire, which was in the mouth of the oven, and threw the breads from the hottest oven with his hands, and in no way did the heat of the oven nor the burning fire in the mouth harm him. On another day when the monks of S. Mochuda were outside near a stream working: where one elder for necessity said to another Brother by name Colman; Colman, go into the bath. Then soon twelve Colmans went out into the bath with their garments, hearing that Colman was called: and the rest were edified, that so many Brethren clothed went out into the water for one voice.

[38] and most patient in pains. Great patience the monks of S. Carthagus had in torments and adversities, as was proved in a certain monk, from whose body worms falling in his tracks fell before the Brethren, and without excuse of infirmity he did his daily work: and he seemed infirm, and pallor and leanness appeared in him, and the Brethren grieved over him. But on a certain day the holy old man Carthagus, for the observance of the Rule, asked the cause of his pain from him. That Brother unwilling showed him his lacerated sides. Then S. Mochuda said to him: Who did to you this superstitious and incredible thing? The monk answered: On another day the Brethren dragging a very heavy wood from the wood, my girdle was broken: and a boy seeing my shirt about my legs, put this rough collar about my sides: and thence my flesh was rotted. The holy old man said to him: Why did you not loose it again? The Brother answered: Because this is not my work, and the boy who put it did not loose it, and it was full

years since it happened. S. Mochuda said to that Brother: A great torment you have sustained, Brother: therefore choose, whether today you be whole, or go to heaven: and the holy Communion being received he forthwith migrated to Christ. But the boy by the holy Father and the Brethren, for the bitterness of his indiscretion, was then greatly reproved.

[39] A certain woman, by name Brigh, having a dry hand clinging to her side, a hand clinging to the side he heals. came to S. Carthagus with her husband, and asked the Saint that in the name of Christ he would heal her hand: and the woman was pregnant. And the holy Pontiff stretched out his hand with an apple, as he did to the Duke's daughter, saying to her, lift up your dry hand to take this apple. And quickly her hand was healed, and she took the apple from the hand of the Saint: and when she had tasted the apple, she quickly brought forth an infant without the pain of childbirth, and with great joy they returned to their own.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER IV.

Violently driven from Meath he departs into Munster: and the monastery of Lismore being founded he piously dies.

[40] As the most blessed Prophet Columba and other Prophets prophesied, Ordered to migrate elsewhere when he excused himself, that the most holy old man Carthagus would at the end of his life be expelled from his city Rathin, the Princes of Meath with the King of Tara, and the Clergy adhering to them, in the city of Cluam Kiarraigh, decreed to expel him thence. Those Princes now, coming to the city of Rathin, said to S. Mochuda: From this city and from this region go with your own, and seek for yourself a place in another region. The holy old man answered: I wish here to consummate my life: for many years in this place I have served the Lord, and have almost consummated the course of my life, therefore from this place I will not depart, unless someone violently drag me: lest instability in this age be imputed to me by men, because it is a disgrace in an old man to wander hither and thither. Then they returned to the King of Tara Blaithmach, son of Aedha-slana, and accused the old man before the King in many lies, and asked the King that he himself would come to the holy old man to expel him: and the King came with them in a great retinue. Meanwhile the most blessed Father Carthagus prophesied to his monks, saying: You most beloved, pray and bind your loads, because soon a violent temptation will come to us: for the Princes of this region will expel us from our most illustrious place. But the King Blaithmach coming with the Dukes and Princes and his brother Diarmoid and (as is reported) with his sons, the King's brother is sent to drive him out, encamped at the city of Rathin. Then the King sent his brother with many Dukes to the city of Rathin, to expel the holy old man. He arriving, found S. Carthagus praying in the choir. For he himself stood in the vestibule of the choir, and the holy old man asked him saying: For what cause have you come hither? Diarmoid answered: My brother King Blaithmach and the Dukes of Meath have sent me, that I take your hand, and cast you with your own out of this city. The Saint said to him: As you wish, for we are prepared to suffer all things for Christ. Diarmoid answered, This wickedness I will never do: for you are a holy one of God. Then S. Carthagus said to him: You will possess a part in heaven, to whom declining the deed he foretells a Kingdom; and you will be King soon in your brother's place: and your face, which before me has feared, will not fear your enemies: the reproach, which now the King your brother will give you, because you do not perform the work, to which you were sent, will be for praise and blessing to you. But because you have thought evil things against me in your heart, and were more prompt than the rest to expel me, your son after you will not reign. Then the Lord Diarmoid returned to his brother the King in the camp, saying, that he could not harm the holy one of God: and the King through anger said to his brother, This Ruanaidh is glad. Diarmoid answered him: It will be true, because so the servant of God Mochuda promised me.

[41] Then all praising him with one voice cried: Truly Ruanaidh he is glad. but to another, hastening it, death, Then the Princes cast lots among themselves on the aforesaid, that they might know, which of them for the King should hold the hand of S. Carthagus from his seat: and the lot fell upon the Prince of Cluana. Then the King with his Powerful ones entered the city, and they found the holy old man with the Brethren gathered in the church. Then a certain rich man, by name Cronanus, with a loud voice said: Quickly do the work, for which you have come. The holy Pontiff said to him: You will have a swift death; but yet because you have offered me many gifts in the name of Christ, and were before to us up to now a friend, rich men of your seed will be through the age: which were thus fulfilled: he underwent a sudden death, and his descendants remain rich. Another man, and to others mocking him punishment: by name Dublisuileach, closed one of his eyes by way of mockery, deriding S. Mochuda and his holy monks. And the holy Bishop looking at him, said to him; So you will be ridiculous until your death, and many of your kindred will be likewise: and so it was fulfilled. Likewise another man, by name Caillihe, made a great noise with his lips, in derision of S. Carthagus and his monks. The Saint said: You will quickly suffer dysentery, and thence will die: and it befell him. Alas a wickedness and an evil made lamentable to many.

[42] at last expelled by the King himself with his own But the King Blaithmach angry and the Prince of Cluana, taking hold of the honorable hand of the most holy and decrepit Bishop Mochuda, expelled him from his city Rathin without any reverence, and likewise their satellites did to the monks. Then howlings, weepings and lamentations, alas and woe, from both sexes from every habit were through the city, and very many of the King's army grieved over the misery of the Saints. In the foot of a certain monk was gout, and for him the holy Bishop asked the whole council that, the infirm monk in the name of Christ they would let remain in his monastery: and they all refused. Then S. Carthagus called him to him, the gout of one he transfers to Colman the Prince, and ordered in the name of Christ that the pain should leave the foot of the monk, and go out into the foot of Colman the Prince, who strongly resisted him: and it left the foot of the monk, and forthwith seized the foot of Colman, and stayed there strongly in his life: but the monk rose unharmed, and strongly went on with S. Carthagus his Master. Likewise another elder monk of S. Carthagus forthwith in the monastery of Rathin desired to migrate to the Lord, because there he had promised his stability: to another he gives the faculty of dying, and S. Mochuda giving him license, that elder received the Sacrifice from the hand of the holy Bishop, and before all migrated to heaven, and was buried in the city of Rathin, as he had desired.

[43] The most blessed Carthagus going out of his monastery entered the Cemetery of the dead Brethren, nor does he permit the dead to go out with him. and asking the blessing of those lying there, and pouring forth for them a prayer to Christ, the sepulchre of a certain monk, who had been buried long before, by divine will was opened: and suddenly before all raising his head the dead one outside the sepulchre, raised his voice, and said, Our most holy nourisher, Lord Mochuda, bless us your sons, and by the blessing we all rising will go with you. The holy Father answered him saying: A new work I will not do, that is, the resurrection of so many men, before the resurrection of the whole human race. The dead one again said: Why, Father, do you leave us who promise our unity to you, and you yours to us? S. Mochuda said: Hear this proverb, son, Necessity moves a decree and counsel: but here rest in your sepulchres, and in the day of our resurrection with all my monks I will return to you even to that cross, which is at the doors of this church, and likewise we will all go together to the judgment of God. And saying these things the Saint, the dead one gathered himself again into the sepulchre, and it was made firm over him. And the holy Bishop bidding the dead farewell, went forth outside near the city with his people even to the cross which is called the Cross of the Angels.

[44] Having ill-prayed against the King, There the holy old man Carthagus turned to the King, and said to him: Look, O King, at heaven above and earth below, neither will you now possess heaven, and from your earthly kingdom you will quickly be expelled: and your brother Diarmoid, whom you chid, because he gave me honor, will reign before you, and you will be despised by all, so that without food in the camp you will be forgotten for your contemptibleness: and you with your offspring will die in evil, and none of your seed after a very short time will be. And S. Mochuda cursing the King, struck with his hand a small cymbal over

the King and over his seed: and the cymbal in Irish is called Clograbbaigh Blaichmei, that is the cymbal extinguishing Blaithmach, because for the striking of it the King with his seed was extinguished more swiftly. Now the King Blaithmach had several sons and daughters, but for nothing all by the curse of the holy old man Carthagus went out with their Father. And he said to the Prince, who held his hand: You will be a servant before your death, and to his accomplices because you will be driven from your principate, and your seed will be almost extinguished: and so it befell him. Again to another, who drew his hand, he said: Why did you hold my hand from my seat? He answered, Lest you a Munster man should have so great honor here in our country. The holy man said to him, Under confusion your face will always be, and the hand which drew me out will be cursed, and forthwith his eye in his head was broken. After these things S. Mochuda turned to the Prince and people of the city of Demaige, and to the city of Demaige: said, A most evil discord will be roused among you, and thence you will suffer many losses; for you promoted in great part that discord against me: and so it befell them.

[45] Then the holy one of God was ordered most harshly to go on his way by the King and people: and the Saint went on with his disciples on the way, he departs with 867 monks, who were in number eight hundred and sixty-seven, and an equal number in the city of Rathin in their sepulchres remained, and more through the province of Ireland in other places of the disciples of S. Mochuda were living and deceased: and those who followed the holy old man Carthagus from the city of Rathin, were full of the grace of God, and very many of them afterward made holy Bishops and Abbots, built places to God. Our holy old man Carthagus was most pious and most humane, as in this matter is proved; for he himself had a great crowd of lepers in his city in a cell below with great dignity, and a certain one bodily health dismissed. He himself most frequently ministered to them: and the lepers hearing S. Mochuda bearing so great care, came to him from diverse Provinces of Ireland, and the man of God received them: whom he led with him from the city of Rathin to his other city Lismore, and established for them there a place, in which still the lepers remain with honor, according to their dignity sustained by the holy Father Mochuda. and very many lepers: The disciples of S. Carthagus going on their way unwillingly, with chariots and wagons, found in a certain great wood a great oak lying across the way. Then one of the crowd said to S. Mochuda: Father, he raises a fallen tree: we cannot go on the way, because of the great wood lying in the way, because the wood is most dense round about. And the man of God signing the wood with his hand, said: In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, rise oak. And straightway the tree rose, and stands even today in its former place, having a heap of stones at its roots in sign of the virtue.

[46] The first lodging of S. Carthagus, as he came from the city of Rathin, he passes through various monasteries, was in a monastery, which is called Druym-Culium, which is on the border of the Munster men, the Leinster men, and the Descendants of Niall, but yet is in the land of the Descendants of Niall, in the people which is called Fearceall, in which is also the aforesaid city, in which monastery the holy Abbot Barriin shines with miracles. Then he came to the city of S. Kieranus the Bishop, which is called Saiger. Thence into the place, in which is the city of S. Cronanus Rossere, and he passed the night there without lodging, although invited by the holy Cronanus himself: for he himself prepared a supper for S. Mochuda. But S. Mochuda was unwilling to go out to him saying; To a man who shunned guests, and built a cell in the marsh of the desert I will not go out. These words hearing S. Cronanus came to S. Carthagus, and by his command S. Cronanus deserted the cell near the marsh: and both of them assigned the monastery and city, which is called Roscre, in which the holy Father Cronanus himself lies. Afterward S. Mochuda came through the region of Hesse to the royal city of Munster Cassel; but on the next day the King of Cassel by name Failbhe, came to S. Mochuda, and offered him a place, that the Saint there might establish a monastery. And the Saint said to the King: It is not yet granted by the Lord to remain, but we will go to the place indicated to us by holy men. Then messengers of the King of the Leinster men came to the King of Munster Failbhe, asking, that for fellowship he would go out to help the Leinster men: for all the Northern provinces had assembled, the King Failbe one-eyed he heals: to devastate the region of the Leinster men, to fight against them. But at that time the eye of King Failbhe was broken by some event and he was one-eyed, and the King was unwilling to go out for the cause of pleasure, lest he should be seen by strange men one-eyed. The holy Pontiff seeing the eye of the King, blessed it, and forthwith before all it was healed; and bidding one another farewell, the King Failbhe and the holy old man Mochuda each went out on his way. The King indeed an army being gathered went on to the Leinster men, and put those Northerners to great flight.

[47] But the Father S. Mochuda came to the people of Muscraigh Hirhir, in the rest of the journey he pacifies those at discord: and Aedan the Count of that people received him kindly, and offered him a village, which is called Hysseall: and the man of God blessing the Count with his seed, thence came into the region of Nandesi: and passing through the Plain of Fenryn, stood in a place which is called Ardbrenaind, on the bank of the river Suir, and there came to him there Melostrich Duke of Nandesi, and another noble Suibhne, going astray in great wrath over a contention of some land. And by divine will S. Mochuda pacified them, and dismissed them peaceful: and that Duke offered S. Mochuda that field: and there the man of God assigned a cell, where today is a great village, which is called Aairdfinayn, commended to the Duke of Nandesi through his wife's dream, with a very great parish round about in honor of S. Mochuda. Meanwhile the wife of that Duke Melochtrig son of Cabhtaygh, who was the daughter of the aforesaid King of Cassel Failbhe-flann, saw a dream: namely very many quails flying through the air across the Plain of Femyn, and one of them was more excellent and greater than the rest, which followed, and it sat in the lap of the Duke Meloctrig. That Lady now awakened from the dream, forthwith narrated to her husband the Duke what she had seen. And the Duke said to her: A good dream you have seen, O woman, and it will be quickly fulfilled. This is now its interpretation: The flying birds are S. Mochuda and his monks in heavenly conversation: but he himself is more excellent and greater than all: to sit also in my lap, that is he will have a place of resurrection in my region, and a great grace will be to us and to our country. A faithful dream appeared to the good woman; and the true interpretation of it, by the glorious and approved Christian Duke was divinely shown. On another day S. Mochuda went on to the aforesaid Meloctrig, and asked of him a field, he obtains Lismore for building a monastery, in which he might found his church. The Duke answered him: This great place cannot be in a narrow place. And S. Mochuda said to him; God who sent us to you, will show you to give us a fitting place. Then the Duke said to him: I have a region on the other side of mount Chuah on the bank of the river Nemhe, good in woods and fishes: but I fear, if it is narrow. S. Mochuda said: It will be not narrow but spacious: that very land for many days has been designated to us by the Lord, in which our resurrection will be. Then the glorious Duke Meloctrig of Nandesi, son of Cobhthaigh, that region, in which now is the city of S. Mochuda Liassmor, before many witnesses offered to S. Carthagus: and the holy old man Carthagus blessed the Duke with his wife, and children, and people.

[48] Then honor and license being received from him, he directed his journey across mount Chuah, and into the plain Cehnemin came to a cell, which is called Ceallchochayr: and the holy Father of that place Mochua Miannanus prepared, he is fed with his own for three days the ale not diminished: according to his power a little supper for S. Mochuda with all his own, in which indeed of that kind there was no more of drinking, than one half cask of ale: and S. Mochuda stayed there with all the people three days and three nights. And the holy Abbot Mochua Miannain himself gave to drink ale from the cask to the ministers in bowls sufficiently for all the people, and the cask was still full of ale: for the liquor grew like the holy oil by the blessing of Elias. Then one of the disciples of S. Mochuda said with a loud voice before all; If we should wish to be here until this supper fails, a long time we shall stay here. For this supper by the gift of the Lord is not diminished, but grows daily. Hearing this the holy Bishop Mochuda, said to him: You speak truly, Brother, it is time for us to go. He ordered that all should go out on their way from the place, and S. Mochua Miannain offered himself with his place to God and the holy Mochuda. S. Mochuda beginning to go out from that place, at once in that cask the ale decreased even to the dregs.

[49] After these things S. Carthagus went on through the plain of Chua to the aforesaid river Nemphe, to a place which in Irish is called Athmedhoin, that is the Ford of the channel, in which none ford except a few strong ones, well knowing how to swim in great dryness of summer heat, and when the marine flood fully decreases. For the flood upward even to the city of Liassmor against the river about five miles spreads, and fills the channel of the river with its banks. But when the holy Father Carthagus came to the ford, that day a great abundance of waters, like a torrent, fell into the river: which with the marine tide then flowing so filled the channel of the river, that the waters scarcely were contained by the usual banks. S. Carthagus asked, if there were any convenience of a vessel there, and they said, that there was not. Then the holy Father, the river being divided into parts he crosses with his own: full of confidence, came nearer to the bank of the river: and commanded the sea and the torrent river, that in the name of the Lord Christ they should stay for a time their flux and their force, and return to the servants of their Lord. And the sign of the Cross being made, the seas and waters cleave themselves, and there appeared earth and sand, dry like a hill, through the middle of the divided river: and the waters rolled back to the twin side like

walls on the right and left stood, and the bared earth was stripped of its accustomed waters. Then S. Carthagus ordered his monks to go forward by the way of the sea, and with great confidence undaunted they went on: and after the Saints the crowd on foot enters, and others in chariots just as they had been carried by land through the divided strait, according to the likeness of the river Jordan under Joshua, with dry feet they went on. Higher and higher in the manner of a hill rose the river, likewise also the sea: and when the most holy old man last of the rest had come from the shore, he blessed that place, and ordered the waters to return into their course: and that place is called in Irish… which in Latin sounds, The Place of blessings. The waters meeting one another, made a very great commotion.

[50] Then the glorious Pontiff with his own through a certain little plain, and a little cell of a certain Virgin being received, in the Irish name Maghsgiats, but in Latin the field of the Shield, went out to the place predestined to him by the Lord, but offered by the aforesaid Duke of Nandesi, and they encamped in it. Afterward the holy Pontiff blessing the place with the other Saints, marked out the circle of the city: and there came to them a certain Virgin, who had a little cell in that field, by name Cornelli: and she asked them saying: What do you wish here to do, servants of God? S. Mochuda answered her: In the will of God we prepare a small court to enclose round our baggage. And the holy Virgin said: Not small but great it will be. The holy Father Mochuda said: True will be, what you say, handmaid of Christ. For from this name the place will always be called Liassmor in Irish, but in Latin the Great-Court. And that holy Virgin offered herself with her cell to S. Mochuda: and as Colman Ela had foretold, the Cemetery of S. Mochuda in the city of Liassmor was assigned by the Angels, he founds a monastery at Liassmor, in which he himself was buried, and only the knowledge of God knows the number of the Saints who there after him were buried even today. Now the excellent and holy city of Liassmor, of which the half is a refuge, in which no woman dares to enter: but it is full of cells and monasteries of Saints, and a multitude of holy men always remains there. For religious men from every part of Ireland; and not only, but from England and Britain flow together to it, wishing there to migrate to Christ: and that city itself is set upon the bank of the Southern river formerly called Neamh, but now Abhanmhor, that is the Great-River, in the district of the region of Nandesi.

[51] On a certain day a certain magus, to whom it displeased that S. Mochuda had come thither, he is illustrious by miracles, came to him tempting him and asking, if he were a servant of God, that a dry branch without bark, which he had brought with him, he would make in the name of his God have fruit. The holy man seeing that he wished to detract from the divine power, blessed that dry branch, and forthwith it produced bark, leaves, flowers and fruit. When the magus saw such power, he withdrew. On another day a certain poor man asked of S. Mochuda indiscreetly milk and ale. Then the holy Father was near a fountain, and blessed the fountain: and at once the fountain was changed into milk, then into ale, afterward into wine: and he bade that man, that he should take as much as he wished.

[52] Afterward his strength failing through too great labor and his great age, he lives solitary 18 months. he began to have weariness of the noise and concourse of the peoples flowing together to him from every side: and counsel being taken with the Brethren, and by their common consent, he went to a certain secret and safe place, where there is an illustrious monastery in a valley, very near to the east of his great monastery, in his great city Liassmor, where with a few ministers he stayed a full year: and six months he led the eremitic life, living to God alone in contemplation: and after a time was visited by the holy Brethren and decrepit Elders, on whom he abundantly poured forth the streams of his most sweet doctrine, and gave admonitions of salvation fitting to the life of each one. For he himself our holy Patron S. Mochuda was the relief of the elders, the safety of the infirm, the solace of the mourning, the firmament of the despairing, the sure faith of the doubting, and the stability of the young.

[53] When now the holy Father Mochuda saw the holy Elders, and all the holy Brethren, laboring in the ascent and descent of the valley for visiting him, and knowing the day of his death had come; he called to him the Brethren of his monastery, and ordered himself to be carried to the higher parts to the Brethren, lest they should always have trouble from visiting him. But the merciful and almighty God willing to lead his most illustrious servant from trouble and toils, and to reward him with the prize of his labor; the heavens were opened and an army of Angels was sent with ineffable triumph to him. And the holy Father seeing the heavens opened, and the Angels coming to him, Heaven being seen open, caused himself to be set down there in the midst of the valley: and narrating to the holy Elders what he saw, ordered the Body and Blood of the Lord to be offered to him, and to his Brethren the divine precepts he commanded, where now is a fountain, where a cross is erected, which is called the Cross of migration. But after very many admonitions of salvation given, and the Sacrament of the body and blood of the Lord being received, among the multitude of holy Elders and Brethren, he dies 14 May. bidding them farewell, piously, modestly, and kissing all in order, by the divine command with the Angels our most pious nourisher, the most holy old man Bishop Mochuda, on the second of the Ides of May migrated to Christ the Lord: to whom be honor, glory, and power with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, unto ages of ages Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.