to Liadhain and confessed her fault.1 Then Carthach got into an intrigue with another girl of the convent of Cuacha, the nurse of Ciaran, and when she became a mother by him, the scandal provoked Ciaran to insist on Carthach leaving Saighir for a while and sowing his wild oats abroad.2

According to the scholiast on the Félire of Oengus, when the babe was born the mother laid it in a tuft of rushes beside the road. S. Comgall, with his pupils, was passing along the highway when he heard the sobbing of the child, and he bade one of his disciples go to the spot and see what was there. The man kicked the rushes and disclosed the babe, which he took up and tucked under his arm.

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Where is the child? asked Comgall. "In my arm-pit,” replied the brother. "That shall be its name," said the abbot; "My lua (kick), son of Ocha (arm-pit)." Comgall took the child along with him and reared it; and this is the celebrated S. Lugaidh, or Molua, who is commemorated on August 4.3 But the story does not agree with that given in the Life of S. Molua. In this latter, Sochte, an Ossorian, was the mother, by a Carthach son of Daigre of the Hy Fidgeinte who occupied Limerick. Molua was the youngest of three sons born to Carthach by Sochte, and so far from exposing him, Carthach brought him up. at home. He was drunk for nine consecutive days from merely inhaling the breath of the child. It was not till much later, when Molua was grown up and approaching manhood, that S. Comgall took him as a pupil.4

It is, accordingly, clear that the scholiast blundered in making Molua the son of S. Carthach of Saighir. He mistook one Carthach for the other, his namesake.

When Carthach was sent away from Saighir for his loose morals, he went to Gaul, where he remained for some years, but in what part we are not informed. He also visited Rome.

It is possible that to this period may be attributed the foundations. of S. Caradec in Armorica.

After some years he returned to Ireland. Ciaran was one day bathing, along with a Saint named Germanus, when the latter caught a fish. That will do for dinner to-morrow," said Ciaran, “when I expect my old pupil to return to me." Next day Carthach arrived and was received with great joy.

1 Acta SS. Hib. in Cod. Sal., 1888, coll., 814-5.

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Carthach, Ciaran's pupil, was sent by Ciaran on his pilgrimage to Rome for having come into a woman's company, for it is to him that Molua MacOcha was a son." Félire of Oengus, ed. W. Stokes, p. lx.

3 Ibid. p. cxxviii.

Acta SS. Hib. in Cod. Sal., coll., 814-5.

It is supposed that Carthach was ordained by Ciaran, and perhaps consecrated bishop by him, and the Martyrology of Donegal says that on his deathbed, "Ciaran dedicated his congregation to God and to Carthach." He probably could do no other in accordance with an agreement with Aengus MacNadfraich, which would be enforced by Eochaidh, the son and successor in the kingdom of Munster.

Carthach seems to have been for awhile in Kerry, and there took as his disciple the younger Carthach, afterwards founder of Lismore. The date of his death is not recorded, but it must have taken place somewhere about 580.

The feast of S. Carthach in the Irish Martyrologies of Tallagh, Cashel, Donegal, Marianus O'Gorman, etc., is on March 5, the same day as that of his master S. Ciaran.

But in Brittany on May 16, as he has been confounded with S. Carantoc (Missal of Vannes, 1530; Breviary of Vannes, 1586; Breviary of Léon, 1516; Missal of Léon, 1526).

He is patron of S. Caradec Trégomel, near Guéméné, and S. Caradec Hennebont, both in the diocese of Vannes; of S. Caradec near Loudéac, and S. Carreuc, both in Côtes du Nord; and he had chapels in Plouai, Morbihan, at Mellac and Pontaven.

At S. Caradec near Loudéac is a statue representing him as an abbot, mitred and giving benediction, but without distinguishing symbol. He is invoked in the Litany of the Stowe Missal.1

S. CARADOG, Monk, Confessor

His Life, probably abridged from the lost Life by Giraldus Cambrensis, was adopted by John of Tynemouth into his collection, and thence it was taken by Capgrave and printed in the Nova Legenda Angliæ.2 Further information concerning him is obtained from the Itinerary of Wales by Giraldus, Bk. i, chap. xi. Caradog was a native of Brycheiniog, born of parents in a moderate position of life. He received a good education, and was sent to the Court of Rhys ab Tewdwr, King of South Wales (1077–93), where he was well received, as he was a skilled harper. Rhys committed to his charge a couple of harriers, the King's pets. One day by his neglect the dogs got away. The King was furious, swore at him and threatened him with mutilation.

1 Warren, Liturgy of the Celtic Church, Oxford, 1881, pp. 238, 240.

2 Nova Legenda Angliæ, ed. Horstman, Oxford, 1893, i, pp. 167-173. Giraldus read the lost Life to the Pope. Its preface has been preserved in his Symbolum Electorum.

Thereupon Caradog replied: "If you value my long and laborious service so little, as your words imply, I will go and serve another master who values men higher than hounds."

Breaking off the head of his lance, so as to convert the staff into a walking-stick, he departed, and joined with some others, betook himself to Llandaff. On the way they found a goat that had been transfixed with an arrow, and they skinned, roasted and ate it.

On reaching Llandaff, Caradog was tonsured by the bishop, and served at the church there for a time. But after a while, desiring a quieter life, he went to Gower, and found the church of S. Cenydd abandoned. He built himself a habitation near the churchyard, and set to work to clear the ground. It took him three days before he could get the sacred edifice clear of the brambles and thorns that had invaded it.1

After having spent some time there, he became restless, and went off to Menevia, where he was advanced to the priesthood.

Then he seceded to the isle of Ary (probably Barry Island, Llanrian), Pembrokeshire. He was not quite alone, he had some companions with him. But he did not obtain the quiet there that he desired, for Norwegian pirates landed and carried him and his comrades off. However, owing to currents and contrary winds, they could not get away, and fearing that they might run short of food, they set Caradog and his fellows on the island again. One night, so runs the story, Satan appeared to him and offered his menial services. Get away with you,” said the hermit, “I don't want your service in any way.” Then the Evil One laid hold of his belt and purse, and cut capers and jeered at him. Caradog had some difficulty in ridding himself of so troublesome a guest, and in securing his belt and purse. The Satan in the story was doubtless one of his comrades who was tired of the solitary life, and had to be dismissed, and endeavoured to steal some of his master's property. At last the incursions of the Northmen became so frequent and so menacing, that Caradog was obliged to leave, and the Bishop of S. David's sent him to take charge of the cell founded by S. Ismael, now S. Issell's, Haroldston. But here also he was harassed. This time it was by the Flemings whom Henry I

1 “Casa juxta cimiterium edificata, spinis ac tribulis non sine labore grandi locum purgans, vix post triduum ecclesiam introire valebat." The Book of Llan Dâv (p. 279) states that Bishop Herwald of Llandaff (died 1104) ordained Caradog, a holy and religious man, to be a monk" in the church of Llangenydd. He may be the magister Caratocus of the Life of Elgar the Hermit, in the same book (pp. 1-5), who went to Bardsey to see the hermit whether he were alive or dead," and wrote from his lips the story of his life.

"

introduced, and to whom he gave up the district now termed Little England beyond Wales." To make room for his Flemings, the Welsh were dispossessed, and driven out of the country.

Caradog was specially troubled by one Richard Tankard, who impounded his cattle and sheep. The wife of Tankard, however, treated the holy man with much consideration, and often sent her youngest son Richard to him with provisions. Richard the Elder was governor of the Castle of Haverford. Giraldus says that the young boy so ingratiated himself in the eyes of the hermit, that Caradog often promised him, along with his blessing, that his brothers, who were older than himself, should die before him, and that he would inherit the paternal possessions-a promise not calculated to act wholesomely on the boy's mind. Once it happened that the young man was out hunting, when a violent storm of rain coming on, he turned for shelter to the hermit's cell. Being unable to get his hounds together either by calling, coaxing or by offering them food, the holy man smiled, and making a gentle motion with his hand, brought them all to him immediately." "I

The annoyance caused by the elder Tankard ceased, as he was carried over the cliffs when out hunting a stag, which bounded into the sea and was followed by the hounds and the steed mounted by Tankard; but this was after the death of the hermit whom he vexed. The elder brothers of young Richard having happily deceased, the young man came into all the inheritance of his father.

Caradog died in the year 1124 at Haroldston S. Issell's.

He had desired that his body should be conveyed to S. David's, but Tankard endeavoured to detain it. However, being unwell, and attributing this to his having gone against the last wishes of Caradog, he permitted it to be conveyed thither. As the corpse was being transported to S. David's, a storm of rain came on as the procession was traversing the sands of Newgate; when the bearers and the convoy escaped for shelter into a house. On coming forth they found that the silken pall that had covered the bier was not wet and was uninjured, and this was regarded as miraculous.

A chapel, called Cradock's Chapel, was afterwards erected on the spot, and was subordinate to Roch, but it has disappeared, and some mounds only indicate the locality.

The body was buried in S. David's Cathedral in the left aisle,

1 Itin. Kamb., bk. i, ch. xi.

His death, as Caradawc Vynach, is entered in the chronicle, O Oes Gwrtheyrn (Oxf. Bruts, p. 405).

near the altar of the holy proto-martyr Stephen." His shrine is often mistaken for that of S. David.1

The site of Caradog's hermitage was probably near a place called Portfield, the common on which Haverfordwest races are held, as there is a well there, once noted, called Caradog's Well, round which, till a few years ago, a sort of Vanity Fair was held, where cakes were sold, and country games were performed. It was held on the Monday in Easter or Whitsun week.2

Giraldus Cambrensis endeavoured to get him canonized, but failed, which he attributed to spite.

Lawrenny Church is dedicated to Caradog. His day is April 13th according to Nicolas Roscarrock, but the 14th according to the Calendar in Cotton MS. Vesp. A. xiv (early thirteenth century).

He is one of the few Welsh Saints who lived after the close of the Age of the Saints.

S. CARANNOG, Bishop, Confessor

THERE is some uncertainty as to whose son Carannog was, whether he was son of Ceredig ab Cunedda Wledig, or son of Corun ab Ceredig. According to the Progenies Keredic Regis de Keredigan,1 at the end of the Cognatio de Brychan, in Cotton MS. Vesp. A. xiv. (of the early thirteenth century) and his Vita in the same Collection, he was the son of Ceredig, and therefore brother of Corun. The genealogies in Harleian MS. 4181,5 Peniarth MS. 12,6 Hajod MS. 16, and the Iolo MSS., give him as the son of Corun.

It is always safest to adopt the fuller descent, as grandchildren are not infrequently entered as ab the grandfather. This has certainly taken place in the Brychan family.

1 William of Malmesbury visited his shrine, and was in the act of cutting off one of the fingers when the saint suddenly withdrew his hand. It is said that the body on being removed some years after his death was found perfect and incorrupt. There is an illustration of the shrine in J. C. Wall, Shrines of the British Saints, p. 94, and also in P. A. Robson, S. David's, Bell's Series, p. 55. 2 Fenton, Pembrokeshire, 1811, pp. 144, 201.

3 A letter of Innocent III, dated May 8, 1200, is extant, enjoining inquiry into the virtues and miracles of Caradog. Haddan and Stubbs, Councils, etc., i, p. 412.

4 Y Cymmrodor, xix, p. 27; Cambro-British Saints, p. 275.

5 Cambro-British Saints, p. 265.

6 Y Cymmrodor, vii, p. 133.

7 Myv. Arch., p. 415, cf. p. 420.

8 Iolo MSS., pp. 110, 125. The name is mis-spelt here Corwn. It is from the Latin Coronus.