The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

X. CHAP.* 1.1

1. &c. Of S. Darerca Sister to S. Patrick: And her children S. Rioch, S. Menni, S. Sechnal, and S. Auxilius.

1. THE Irish Historians refer to the year of Grace five hundred and eighteen the death of S. Darerca sister of S. Patrick,* 1.2 and born likewise in Brittany, from whence she repaired to her Brother in Ireland. She was by another name calld Monynni, and erro∣neously confounded by some Writers with S. Moduenna a Holy Virgin, of whom here∣after.

2. S. Darerca was a maried woman, and by two husbands enrich'd the Church with a numerous and holy off spring. By her husband named Conis she is sayd to have brought forth three children,* 1.3 Mel, Rioch and Menni▪ all which accompanied S. Patrick in his journeys and preaching: and in severall places were exalted to the Episcopall function.

3. Concerning S. Rioch we read in Iocelin, that he was by Nation a Brittain,* 1.4 near kinsman to the Holy Bishop S. Patrick: that he was a Deacon (when he attended S. Patrick into Ireland) and that in beauty and come••ines of body he ex∣cell'd all others of that Nation. But the beauty of his soule was much more valuable. He seems to have been ordain'd Bishop by S. Pa∣trick, and to have fixed his Seat in a small Island,* 1.5 which according to S Beda's descri∣ption is situated at some good distance from the Western coasts of Ireland, and in the Scottish (that is, Irish) tongue is called Inis-bounide, or The Isle of the White Calfe In this Island S Col∣man in succeeding times b••ilt a Monastery, inhabited in common both by English and Scotts and vainly sought for in modern Scotland by Dempster.

4. In the Ecclesiasticall Annals of Ireland many things are related touching other Sons of S. Darerca famous for their San∣ctity But in this place we will only take notice of two, more illustrious then the rest. The former is vulgarly called Sechnallus, in Latin Secundinus: And he it was who wrote the Alphabeticall Hymn in praise of S. Pa∣trick. The others name was Auxilius, who was by S. Patrick ordained Bishop of the Pro∣vince of Leinster (Laginensium:) and who▪ (as we read in the Tripartite Work quoted by B Vsher) after many miracles wrought by him,* 1.6 ended his holy life in his own Citty, call'd Ceal∣usalli, seated in the plains of Leinster.

Notes

• * 1.1

  X. CHAP.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 518.
• * 1.3

  Ap. Vsser. in Primor. ••. 525.
• * 1.4

  Iocelin. in vi••. S. Patricij.
• * 1.5

  Bed. l. 4. c. 4.
• * 1.6

  Ap. Vser. l. Primor. ••. 827.