Aidan was, as we have seen, the son of Gildas, and the disciple of David, and was accordingly admirably calculated for the work. But we encounter chronological difficulties. Gildas crossed to Ireland in 565, and if Aidan died in 625, he would then be aged sixty. If so, then Aidan was begotten by Gildas after he was an abbot, as he retired to Ruys in 520. But it is more probable that Aidan was grandson, and not son of Gildas. Whether Aidan had founded a monastery in Wales before crossing, we are not told, but it is probable that he had, and that it was at Llawhaden, a sweet spot, under the bold rocky height at that time crowned by a Caer, but afterwards by the imposing castle of the Bishops of S. David's.

It is said that when Aidan departed for Ireland he took with him a hive of bees, as he had been informed that they were scarce in that island. Under this figure he is shown to us passing over, and carrying with him his swarm of busy honey gatherers, monks. Apparently he took boat at Porth Mawr, whence in the evening light the mountains of Wexford are visible. He arrived off the Irish coast at a critical moment, when the natives had seized on some strangers who had just landed, were plundering them, and threatened them with death. The arrival of Aidan, with a large number of men in the same vessel, overawed the wreckers, who ran away. Aidan, resolved not to let the matter rest thus, proceeded at once to lodge a complaint with the chief, whose name was Diuma.

The chief received him with overwhelming hospitality, and persisted in taking him on his shoulders and carrying him.1 He then generously gave Aidan large possessions on which to found churches and monasteries.2

This chief seems to have been Dyma, son of Fergus or Fintan, who was married to Cumaine, mother of Guaire, king of Connaught. By her Dyma had become the father of S. Caimen of Iniskeltra, who died in 562.

Aidan's principal field of labour was among the Hy Cinnselach, of Wexford. His headquarters were, however, at Ferns. He became intimately attached to S. Molaisse, of Devenish. When the latter saint had a mind to visit Rome, he passed through Ferns. "Maedoc

Ciaran, Columba, Brendan Brychinus, Cainech, Caemgen, Laysrian, Laysreus, Lugeus and Barideus." (Ussher, Britann. Eccl. Antiquitates, Dublin, 1639, ii, pp. 913-5; Cod. Sal., coll. 161-4.)

Accipiens eum in humeris suis, ad terram de navis portavit." l'ita SS. Hib., Codex Sal., coll. 468. The site has not been satis

2 He granted to Aidan the land of Ardladhran. factorily identified.

(Aedh) went to meet him, and give him welcome, and afterwards ministered to him with meat and drink, with bed and intimate conversation. Soon these two high saints agreed that when either of them in secret craved a boon (from Heaven) the prayer of both should take the same direction; also that any whom Molaisse might bless should be blessed of Maedoc also, and that whomsoever Molaisse should curse should be cursed also of Maedoc, and likewise e contrario. All behests whatever the one saint should ask, both were to co-operate to their fulfilment." 1

Shortly after his arrival in Ireland Aidan is said to have remarked :—“I forgot, before leaving, to inquire of David who should be my confessor in this land." He resolved on making Molua of Clonfert his soul-friend."

66

Aidan did not confine his energies to the territory of the Hy Cinnselach. He crossed Waterford Harbour, and entered the country of the Nan-Desies, and founded a monastic settlement at Dessert Maimbre, the site of which is not surely determined. Whilst he was there, and was on one occasion taking his turn at grinding at the quern, a beggar approached and asked for flour. Aidan gave him some. Then the man retired, disguised himself, and, pretending to be blind, came and asked again for flour. This exasperated Aidan, and he cursed him, that a blind man should never lack among his descendants.2

There were many wolves about the monastery. One night they carried off a calf. The cow that had lost her calf was inconsolable, and Aidan's cook came to him to say that the poor beast lowed and was restless. Then Aidan blessed the head of his cook and said to him, “There, go and offer your head to the cow." The man did so, and the cow licked his head, and "loved him like a calf." 3 Aidan then returned among the Hy Cinnselach and founded several monasteries, but made Ferns his central seat, and this is supposed to have taken place about 570.

But

One day fifty British bishops crossed over from Wales to visit the disciple of S. David. They arrived in Lent, and were taken into the guest-house, thoroughly exhausted by their journey. To them were brought fifty bannocks with leeks and whey for their dinner. this did not please them, they demanded pork or beef. The steward reported the matter to Aidan. "Can this be permitted in Lent?" he inquired dubiously. "Of course they shall have it," answered the bishop. So they were supplied with butcher's meat.

1 Silva Gadelica, ii, p. 27. A prophecy of the coming of Maidoc is put into the mouth of Finn Mac Cumhal. Ibid., ii, p. 168.

2 Cambro-British Saints, p. 239; Cod. Sal., col. 470.

3 Cambro-British Saints, p. 239.

Before they departed, these bishops deemed it expedient to apologise and explain :-" You see," said they, that bullock you killed for us had been suckled on milk, and ate grass only, so that its flesh was actually milk and vegetables in a condensed form. But we felt conscientious scruples about those biscuits, for they were full of weevils." Aidan was too good and courteous a man to make answer to this quibble.1

Aidan is said to have visited S. Fintan Munu and found most of

the brethren there very ill. S. Fintan invited Aidan to perform a miracle and cure them. According to the legend, Aidan did this, but on the next day they were all as bad as they had been before, and the legend writer explains this by saying that Fintan thought it more wholesome for their souls to be ill, and so begged Aidan to let them all once more be sick. The fact would seem to be that Aidan attempted a miracle and failed.2

Aidan is said to have been associated with S. Ruadhan of Lothra in the cursing of Tara and of King Diarmid, son of Fergus Cearbhall, in 554, but this is chronologically impossible, as Aidan was not then in Ireland; the Aidan who lent his voice and presence to that unholy conjuration must have been Aedh Mac Bricc, who died in 588. There is no mention of the conjuration in the Life of S. Aidan, but that is not the main objection, as the scandal of the iniquitous proceeding would have deterred a panegyrist from inserting it.

Aidan survived S. Ita, who died in 570, and S. Columcill, who died in 579. He was summoned by his old master, David, to visit him before his death, and gladly went when called. We may associate him with Brandubh, of the Hy Cinnselach, who was king of Leinster, and a liberal contributor to the endowment of Ferns and other foundations of the Saint.

3

Camuscaech, son of Aedh Mac Ainmire, king of Ireland, made a raid into Leinster, with the object of carrying off Brandubh's wife. He crossed the River Rye, and Brandubh, taken by surprise, was obliged to fly. However, he secretly surrounded the wooden house in which was Camuscaech and set it on fire. Camuscaech hastily disguised himself as a bard, and, climbing to the ridge piece by the smoke hole, managed to escape, but was pursued and caught, and his head cut off.

1 Gloss on the Felire of Oengus.

2 Vitæ SS. Hib., Cod. Sal., coll. 474-5.

3 The account of these events is given in the historical treatise, Borumha Laighean. See O'Hanlon, Irish Saints, i, pp. 547-8; and Keating's History of Ireland, ed. O'Connor, 1841, ii, p. 68; O'Donovan, Annals of the Four Masters

King Aedh, to avenge the death of his son, but under the pretext of coming to exact the Boromha tribute from the Leinster men, crossed the Rye, and marched at the head of a large force against Brandubh. The King of Leinster called S. Aidan to his assistance, to curse his enemy, and the Battle of Dunbolg was fought in 598. In it the Irish head king was slain, and his army completely routed. Soon after this victory, the men of Leinster revolted against Brandubh, and fought the king in a battle at Camcluain, and Saran Soebhdhearc, who had headed the rebels, slew Brandubh in 601. After that, Saran endeavoured to make his peace with S. Aidan, who cursed him that his right hand might rot off to the stump. Saran was frightened, and begged Aidan to impose on him a penance. Aidan bade him go to the tomb of Brandubh, whose body had been removed to Ferns, and pray there for forgiveness. According to the legend, a voice issued from the tomb, “You brute, Saran, you are forgiven." But he lost his hand all the same. Probably he had received a wound in the wrist in the battle, and this gangrened.1

A pretty story of S. Aidan is told. He was riding one day in his chariot, and the clerical charioteer, looking over his shoulder, said to him :—“ I wonder who will be bishop after you?" Now some boys were about, playing at being soldiers, and the chariot was on a way barred by a gate. Who will succeed me?" said the prelate, "why the boy who has the courtesy to leave his play, and open for us." Then a lad, seeing that the aged bishop was going along the road that was barred, ran forward and flung the gate open for him. Aidan asked his name, and the boy said that he was called Cronan, and then begged that he might be taken into the school at Ferns. To which Aidan replied, "Follow me." 2 The boy was afterwards known as Mochua Luachra, who is identified with Dachua, bishop of Ferns, after the second Aidan, and died 652. The story was clearly made ex post facto. It was remembered that this Dachua had opened the gate to Aidan, and at the same time had asked to be taken as his disciple, and then it was fabled that Aidan had foretold his elevation.

On another occasion Aidan noticed how clever with his fingers a lad named Gobban was, and he took the child's hand in his and blessed it. Gobban became a famous architect. He afterwards built churches for S. Molling and S. Abban.3

1 Cod. Sal., col. 482. "O Sarane, brute, ignoscitur tibi quod fecisti." CambroBritish Saints, pp. 246–7.

2 Cod. Sal., col. 477. Cambro-British Saints, pp. 245-6.

3 See on him O'Curry, Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish, London, 873, iii, pp. 34-6, 39-42, 44-5.

Once S. Aidan was stooping by the riverside washing his hands. Some men looking on discussed the question whether the Saint ever lost his temper. "We will soon put that to the proof," said one of them, and, giving the old man a thrust, sent him headlong into the water. Aidan quietly got out and made no reprimand, whereupon the man who had thus behaved, ashamed of himself, apologised for his practical joke.1

S. Aidan died on January 31, on which day he is commemorated in all the Irish Martyrologies, but he does not seem to have had any place in the Welsh Calendars.2 John of Tynemouth, however, asserts that in his time the feast of S. Aidan was observed at S. David's. The Annals of Boyle state that he died in 600, but Colgan regarded 633 as the right date. This is the date given, as already observed, by the Four Masters, and in the Annals of Tighernach. In those of Ulster the two dates.are given, 625 and 656, the latter date belonging to his successor and namesake.

When we come to examine into the chronology of the Life of S. Aidan, we have to lay aside the story of his having been a boy hostage to Ainmire (568-71). This belongs to the second Aidan. So also his association with Guaire Aidhne (662) is impossible.

It is not possible to reconcile his chronology with the dates of Gildas = Aneurin, his reputed father. Gildas retired from the world in 520 according to our computation, and although Celtic bishops and abbots did sometimes possess wives, it is not probable that Gildas had one after 520. But Aidan died in or about 625. We are therefore inclined to correct the Welsh genealogies into making Aidan grandson in the place of son of Aneurin-Gildas.

Aidan crossed into Ireland, if summoned by Gildas, in 565, but he must then have been very young, and we should propose the date 570. He does not come into contact with Irish princes till associated with Aedh, son of Ainmire, between 572 and 599. He was on familiar terms with Brandubh, king of Leinster, till the death of that king in 601. He was intimate with S. Fintan Munu, who died in 634, and his "soul-friend," Molua of Clonfert, died in 591. The year 625 is therefore somewhere about the date of Aidan's death.

On one point in the history of Aidan it is well to pause, before leaving him. In his Life it is asserted that King Brandubh, in a Synod of clergy and laity, decreed that the Archbishopric of all Leinster should be for ever in the See and Chair of S. Aidan, that is to say at Ferns, and that the Saint should be at once consecrated Archbishop.

1 Acta SS. Hibern., Cod. Sal., col. 584.

2 Nicolas Roscarrock gives him on this day under the name of Modoack.