here, in confounding St. Machaldus with the holy Bishop, whose Acts immediately follow. It is stated, that Machaldus died, A.D. 518. This will more nearly coincide with Sacheverell's account, that he was Bishop there, for over twenty-four years. It can hardly be admitted, with Dr. Heylin, that he ruled to A.D. 578.65 Many churches in Scotland, and one church in Wales, are dedicated to this saint.66 Its In after times, the Isle of Man held a close relation with Ireland."7 first missionaries seem to have been recruited from our Island. There is reason to suppose, in early days, the population was not very large, as during the eighth century, Venerable Bebe estimates the inhabitants at three hundred families. There are several very ancient and interesting churches in the Isle of Man,68 and these have been frequently described. In one of these, called St. Maughold, the relics of the Patron had been preserved to the time of the Protestant Reformation,69 which did not seriously affect the Catholics there, until about the seventeenth century. A succession of bishops ruled over the diocese here established, and their names are recorded in the chronicles of the Isle of Man. After the early Christian ages, it was seized upon by the Norwegians.70 For a long period, it had a succession of kings," and their history has been preserved, chiefly in connexion with that of the Hebridean chiefs,72 who belonged to the Northman race.73 It is said, that Pope Gregory IV., who sat from 828 to 844,74 erected this island with all the Hebrides into one bishopric, and the prelate who presided over this See was called Bishop of Sodor 75 and Man.76 But, when the latter became dependent on the Kingdom of England, the Western Islands claimed to have a bishop of their own. He was styled Sodorensis, but more commonly Bishop of the Isles. During an interegnum in 1075, on the death of their King Lag-man, the nobility of the Isles sent commissioners to Muircheard O'Brien, King of Ireland, asking him to send some worthy person of the royal family, who might act as regent, until the son of Godred was fit to govern. The king nominated one Donald McTade to the office, and recommended him to govern the country with bounty and moderation. But, disregarding such instructions, the regent behaved despotically and cruelly towards the people, so that at last a confederacy of Hebridean chiefs expelled him from the Island. Near the close 63 See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales Ultonienses, pp. 7, 8. 64 In Keith's "Catalogue of Scottish Bishops," p. 298. Russel's edition. 65 This is probably a misprint, for A.D. 518. See Rev. Joseph George Cumming's Isle of Man," &c. Appendix P, p. 342. 66 There is a remarkable spring, at Chapelton of Kilmaichlie, in the immediate neighbourhood of the old chapel outlines, and in the parish of Inveravon. It is cased with stones. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 380, 67 See Gough's Camden's "Britannia," vol. iii., p. 699. 68 At Douglas, but without date, has been published Delamotte's "Eight Views of the Churches and Chapels in the Isle of Man." This is an oblong 4to volume. 69 See "Les Petits Bollandistes Vies des Saints," tome v. xxve Jour d'Avril, n. 1, p. 15. 70 See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban," vol. i., Book i., chap. vii., p. 345. 71 See "A Descriptive Historical Account of the Isle of Man," &c., pp. 40, 41, published at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1809, 12mo. 72 See the Rev. James Johnstone's "Antiquitates Celto-Normanicæ,' Chronicon Manniæ, pp. 3 to 55. 73 The old Kings of Man, Table DCXL, with the Kings of Man, and Earls of Derby, of the Family of Stanley, Table DCXLI have their descent set down, in the Rev. William Betham's "Genealogical Tables of the Sovereigns of the World, from the Earliest to the Present Period." London, 1795, folio. 74 See Sir Harris Nicolas' of History," p. 209. "Chronology 75 This Swedish word is said to mean the sail or oar islands, and it is said the Northmen so named them, as objects for their frequent expeditions southwards. See "Encyclopedia Britannica." Art. Isle of Man. 76 See R. Willis' "Account of the Diocese of Man," with plates, published in the last century, 4to. 81 of the eleventh century, Magnus Barefoot subdued it, and in 1143, Godred, who afterwards became King over the Northmen of Dublin. After the invasion of Scotland by Haco, King of Norway, and the junction of Magnus, King of Man, with his forces, they were defeated in the Battle of Largs 77 by Alexander III., King of Scotland, who recovered possession, and then ruled over the Hebrideans and Manx, in the year 1266.78 When he died, these latter people placed themselves under the protection of Edward I., who then governed England. He directed it to be restored to John Baliol, who had done homage for the kingdom of Scotland, held then from the English crown. Man was afterwards seized upon by Edward II.79 The English kings who succeeded bestowed the Island upon their favourites. Edward III., by letters patent, conveyed Man to Sir Simeon de Montacute. At length, Sir John Stanley, under Henry IV. of England, became owner in perpetuity, and it was regarded as an appanage of his family. When the tenth Earl of Derby died without issue, in the first half of the last century, the Isle of Man reverted to the Duke of Athol, who had married one of the Ladies Stanley.80 This Duke gave the island, with certain reservations, to the British Government, but, it was purchased for the sum of £70,000.8 In 1829, these reservations were also yielded, on the payment of a considerable sum. Altogether, the Isle of Man cost about half a million sterling to the British Government. Notwithstanding, during all these changes, the Manx never gave up their own form of government, their laws, nor their independence.82 The industrious, intelligent and thrifty population of this Island is about 52,000, while agriculture, mining, and fishing 83 maintain them in plenty. During the summer season, there is a large influx of pleasure-seekers and visitors. Their lead, copper, zinc, and iron mines are worked with great advantage to their export trade;84 while they pay small royalties, on the mines which are opened. With these fines upon them, they contrive, however, to enjoy a good political and social constitution, besides having the blessings of home rule, and a popular representation. Their House of Keys is the Parliament; while the members manage all important affairs, and provide for the necessities of their constituents, consistently with a wise economy in the administration of their revenues. people profess, for the most part, the religion of the English Established Church; however, they have their own canons, and an independent convocation.85 The For some time after the so-called Reformation, the Manx made a 77 See an account of these transactions in Dr. James Taylor's "Pictorial History of Scotland," vol. i., chap. vi., pp. 78 to 80. 78 See the Chronicle of the Kings of Man, in Gough's Camden's "Britannia," vol. iii., p. 709. 79 See James Bell's "System of Geogra phy, Popular and Scientific," vol. iii., part 1., p. 168. 80 See " History of the House of Stanley from the Conquest," published at Preston, A.D. 1793, 8vo. 8 See "History of the Isle of Man, with the Situation and Geographical Description thereof, and account of the Purchase of the Island from the Duke of Athol." This was published at Preston, A.D, 1793, 8vo. 82 M. A. Mills has edited the "Ancient Ordinances and Statute Laws of the Isle of Man, carefully copied from, and compared with, the original Records, from the earliest date to the year 1841." This is a thick royal 8vo volume, published at Douglas in that year. 83 Their herring and cod fisheries produce about £60,000 per annum. They cure about 400,000 barrels of herrings or about thirty millions of that fish alone. 84 The customs duties bring about £30,000 per annum to the British revenue. 85 The Manx have regulated not many years ago their ecclesiastical courts, and abolished one court which had little or nothing to do, while the vicar-general was then over-ruled in a demand, which interfered with the public interest, as the House of Keys understood it. 86 For this account and the succeeding statements, the writer is indebted to the Rev. Edward Caffrey, who served the Mission of St. Mary's, Douglas, for some time in the Isle of Man. His interesting letter is dated St. Mary's, Widnes, Lancashire, May 5th, 1873. noble stand against the Reformers. 86 At length, Catholicity seems to have disappeared, and it used to be repeated, that not a Manx Papist could be found. However, the Church was gradually recruited, by the accession of a few Catholic fishermen,87 during the last century;88 and, in the beginning of the present. Father M'Pharlan, a native of Down, and previously P.P. of Castleknock, was the first to build a Catholic chapel on the Island. This was dedicated to St. Brigid, about the year 181189 It was a mile out from town, and quite close to the ancient Nunnery of St. Brigid.90 A Father Gahan, S.J., came to the Island in 1825, and from this time, a resident priest always lived there.91 Afterwards, Father Peter M'Grath, who arrived direct from Maynooth, was full of zeal, and the flock under his charge daily increased.92 This mission was next entrusted to Father Carr, who built St. Mary's, in Douglas. One of the guide books says, it is undoubtedly the finest church on the Island.93 The Isle of Man, until recent times, was thought to have been under the guardianship of the Catholic Archbishops of Dublin; but, it is now attached to the Diocese of Liverpool, and subject to the jurisdiction of its Bishop. At present, there is a Catholic population there of about three thousand souls. ARTICLE II. ST. MACCAILLE, BISHOP AT CROGHAN, KING'S COUNTY. [Fifth Century.] One of the revered prelates of our early Irish Church was 87 A Father Johnson, O.S.B., came for a time, in the year 1779, to hear their confessions, but he returned again to Whitehaven. The father of Mr. William Rooney and others had to leave Ireland in 1796, and when they came, there was neither priest, nor Catholic, to be found on the Isle. Mr. Rooney, a highly-respectable Irishman, living on the Isle of Man, communicated this information to the Rev. Mr. Caffrey. Another family named Fagan fled from the '98 affair, and brought with them as chaplain a Father Collins, who died soon after his arrival, and who is buried at St. Michael's, Derby Haven. It appears, that a census of the Catholics was taken about 1781, by order of the Vicar-Apostolic of the Northern District of England, and that the number returned was only 25. After that same time, an exiled French priest came from Nantes, and he is highly praised, by a Protestant writer, for his morals and learning. He was allowed to celebrate Mass in a barn, near St. Mary's famous abbey of Rushen. That ecclesiastic lived with the Governor of Castle Rushen, taught his and the Protestant Bishop's children French, besides teaching at Peel grammar school. 89 During the memorable struggle of '98, a Major Taukman was commanding the brutal Manx Fencibles, and Fr. M'P'harland allowed him the use of his house. On coming to the Isle, Father M'Pharland was gratefully acknowledged by the Major, who was owner of the "nunnery "grounds, and he gave a piece of land for 5s., on which St. Bridgid's little chapel was erected. The stone, with the inscription, is still preserved at St. Mary's, Douglas. "Deo, Optimo, Maximo. so The Very Rev. Andrew O'Connell, before he became Parish Priest of SS. Michael and John, Dublin, afterwards translated to St. Mary's, Haddington-road, and who died Dean of Dublin, A.D. 1876, with several other Irish priests, spent short missionary intervals, among the poor Irish refugees, who dwelt on the Island. 91 His congregation began rapidly to increase. He purchased a Club-house, in the town of Douglas, and that he converted into a very neat chapel. He died in 1837, from a fever caught in the discharge of his holy ministrations. He bought that ground, on which now stands the handsome church of St. Mary's, in Douglas. When about to commence building the church, after seventeen years of hard missionary labour, he was removed from the Island. Both Father Gahan and Father M'Grath are still spoken of by the old inhabitants, Catholic and Protestant, with the greatest veneration. 93 It was opened in August, 1859, by Dr. Goss, Bishop of Liverpool. Ramsey has its neat little Chapel of Our Lady and St. Maughold, with a resident priest; nor are the simple fishermen of Peel without their chapel, dedicated to SS. Patrick and Ger. manus. It is built near the ruins of Peel Castle, and it was opened in 1865. There is now a community of Sisters of Mercy, who teach the poor schools, keep a select school for young ladies, and who do a great deal of good, by their visits to the sick and destitute. the venerable man of whom we are now to treat, but whose special Acts do not seem to have been written. The Bollandists have published accounts of the Holy Bishops Maccalleus, of Cruachad, and of Machaldus, in the Isle of Man, at the 25th of April. As we have seen, in the previous Article, these personages are to be distinguished. Mac-Caille is variedly called Maccille, Macalleus, Filius Cailleus, Maccille, and Machillus. This latter is the form of his name, as used by Surius.3 Little is known, regarding the birth and parentage of this saint. As in the Irish language, however, Mac signifies "son," and as, in a notice of this holy man, taken from one of St. Patrick's Lives, his name is Latinized Filius Caille, it seems to be almost certain, that Caille was the name of his father,5 and it may have been given by his parents, or it may have arisen, owing to some other cause. Nevertheless, another opinion has been advanced, and which shows, that Maccalle may have been the true way for spelling his own name. He is sometimes called Macull;6 yet, this has probably more immediate reference to the saint, whose Life precedes. Maccaille is stated, also, to have been one of St. Patrick's nephews, by his sister Darerca ;7 and, he is thought, in all probability, to have been the same as that Maceleus, who is classed among the disciples of St. Patrick. Again, it is conjectured, that Maceleus had been identical with a person mentioned in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, and who is named Macetus, or Maccectus." Having found Maccalleus elsewhere, and wishing to swell the number of St. Patrick's disciples, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that Colgan thought it better, to distinguish him from the Maceleus of Tirechan.1 However, Maceleus or Makaleus differs not from Maccaleus, in the ancient Irish pronunciation. A very general opinion now prevails, that the present holy man had been a disciple to St. Mel, or Melchu, of whom St. Patrick was supposed to be uncle. St. Maccaille was elevated to the government of a church at Cruachad, or Cruachan Bri-Ele,13 in the territory of Offaly, or Hy Failge ;14 and, this place is expressly mentioned in the Calendar of Cashel, and in other documents, as that where his church stood.15 Here, it is stated, he was a Bishop. It was on the confines of Leinster and Munster, 16 according to the See the "Catholic Directory, Ecclesiastical ARTICLE II.-- See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii., xxv. Aprilis. "De Sanctis Epis. copis Hibernis Macalleo in Cruachadia, et Machaldo in Insula Mona, pp. 366 to 368. According to a Manuscript, belonging to the Monastery of St. Amand. 3 In "De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis." Which is quoted, in Ussher's "Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xv., p. 336. 5 Colgan observes: "loco tamen nominum propriorum temporis successu usurpata. ut suo loco constabit de nominibus Maccarthinn, Maccainne, Macereiche, Maccallain, Maclasre, Macnisse, Mactail, Mactrena, aliisque similibus." See "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Brigidæ, sect. 8, 9, and Secunda Vita S. Brigidæ, n. 11, pp. 525, 526. "See Circle of the Seasons," p. 116. ? This statement is given, in the O'Clerys' Martyrology. Her feast is assigned to the 22nd of March. Who are included in Tirechan's list. 10 This is an opinion of Rev. Dr. Lanigan. 9 By Father John Colgan. 10 See Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii., cap. xli., p. 135, and n. 81, p. 176, lib. iii., cap. xcviii., p. 167, and n. 129, p. 188. See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii., p. 268. 12 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i., chap. vii., sect. v., p. 335, and nn. 33, 39, 42, pp. 337 to 339, ibid. 13 See under this head, Duald Mac Firbis, entry of Mac Caille, Bishop, in "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i., part i., pp. 102, 103. 14"This place is still well known, and the ruins of the church of St. Maccaille are to be seen on the eastern side of the conspicuous hill of Croghan, near Tyrrell's Pass, on the confines of the King's County, and the county of Westmeath."-Dr. Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i., p. 152, n. (m). 15 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Brigidæ, cap. iii., p. 519, and n. 11, PP. 525, 526. former extent of the latter province, and before a part of it was added to the present King's County. The Eile, with which the name of that place terminates, was a district, commonly called Ely O'Carroll. It has been supposed, that while Mac-calle's See was established, at the place already named; his jurisdiction also extended over a considerable tract of country, and that we may reasonably conclude, he had been consecrated, before A.D. 465.7 The range of Croghan Hills gives name to a small parish, in the barony of Lower Philipstown, King's County. There are three well-defined summits, the highest of which rises towards the west, and this elevation is terminated by a remarkable cone, from which a most extensive and varied view of all the neighbouring Irish counties may be obtained. Immediately under it, and sloping along the hill-side, with its aspect towards the east, the crowded cemetery, within which a church 18 was formerly to be seen, is now enclosed, with a low and parapeted stone wall. A great number of head-stones 19 with inscriptions rise over the graves; and this spot is still a favourite and frequented place for interments.20 This hill was, no doubt, that site, formerly selected by St. Macaille, for his religious establishment. It is said, one Macca, or as 16 See ibid. Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. iv., p. 231. 17 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i., chap. vii., sect. V., p. 335, and n. 44, pp. 339, 340, ibid. 18 The writer was informed, by a farmer named Egan, living near the place, that the foundations remained, and were occasionally unearthed, near the centre of the present 21 |