The Life of Saint Carannog
Here begins the Life of saint
Carannog,
confessor, May 16th.
§1. This festival is to be solemnized by all people
believing in God, since the blessed Carannog, son of Ceredig, was taken up into
heaven, who from Ceredigion (?) parentage is high-born according to worldly
honour, so easy is it to trace his genealogy to Mary, the Mother of the Lord,
for which reason none is accounted higher among the kings of the Britons. But he
declined to strive for earthly realms. From the years of boyhood he preserved
innocency, and afterwards withdrew to the cave of Edilv, and read the canonical
lessons from the new and old law. Then he proceeded to the island of Ireland,
Patrick going before him. And they came together and they dwelt together, as it
is said ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together
in unity.’ They consulted together how they should act, and they said they
would separate, the one to the left hand and the other to the right, because
many clergy were walking with them.... And Carannog proceeded towards the right
side, but Patrick towards the left, and they said they should meet once a
year.
§2. In those times the Irish overcame Britannia, the names of whose
leaders were Briscus, Thuibaius, Machleius, and Anpacus. Thirty years before the
birth of saint David, the son of Sant, was Carannog well received in Ireland,
for it is not difficult for God to lead his servants. An angel of the Lord was
entrusted to be with him in the form of a dove, and he changed his name in their
language, to Cernach. And churches were raised and monasteries in his name in
the region of Leinster. And wheresoever he went, he performed miracles and
wonders innumerable by the will of God. He healed many thousands of persons
filled with divers diseases, the blind, the lame, lunatics, and the like. God
enriched him with the highest places and rewards as one about to reign with the
happy princes of heaven. The acts of the blessed Cernach are read in Ireland
throughout the whole country, as are read in Rome the prodigies of the blessed
apostle, Peter; and his perfect life is equal to the apostles, as it is read,
‘Go ye, teach all nations’, and the grace, which was bestowed on the apostles
was fulfilled in him, ‘Whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in
heaven, and whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.! It
follows that such a person is to be feared and adored, who by good work is
powerful on his highest throne and is powerful to save bodies on earth from all
ailments. He was brave and faithful, fitted to minister in peace, for in a
wonderful manner he was like the angels. In the presence of the sun he was a
brave soldier, wonderful, spiritual, a supreme abbot, a patient preacher of
fidelity, proclaiming just things to all just people, a herald of the heavenly
kingdom. He lived for many years among unbelievers, he remitted the crimes of
sinners that they might all deserve to sit in the height of heaven. Giving
thanks to God he poured forth every day and night innumerable prayers, most
fervent, holy, and most salutary. This is the beloved Cernae, because aided from
on high and endowed from heaven with great rewards from God, whose death was
anything but a benefit to mankind. He found grace indeed, sought with great
labour, (grace) pious and most pure, signified by the parable of the shining
lamp; when the pastor of the church marvellously held (in his hand) golden and
ecclesiastical candlesticks. O pastor most rich, O bishop most excellent, holy
and most chaste, following the works of Peter in the apostolic chair, and Paul
in doctrine, leading many districts to the faith. Thus Carannog led the
districts of the Irish, honoured along with kings, although against the will of
the companies of the magi (or Druids).
§3. And afterwards he came again
to his own native district of Ceredigion, to his own cave, with many clerics,
and there he performed many miracles which no one can enumerate. And Christ gave
him an honourable altar from heaven, the colour of which no one fathomed. And
afterwards he came to the Severn river (i.e., the [Severn] sea), that he might
sail across, and he cast the altar into the sea, which also preceded him whither
God wished him to go.
§4. In those times Cadwy and Arthur were reigning
in that country, dwelling in Dindraithov. And Arthur came wandering about that
he might find a most formidable serpent, huge and terrible, which had been
ravaging twelve portions of the land of Carrum (i.e., locus, monastery). And
Carannog came and greeted Arthur, who joyfully received a blessing from him. And
Carannog asked Arthur, whether he had heard where his altar had landed. And
Arthur replied, ‘If I shall have a reward, I will tell thee.’ And he said,’ What
reward dost thou ask?’ He answered, ‘That if thou art a servant of God, thou
shouldst bring forth the serpent, which is near to thee, that we may see it.’
Then the blessed Carannog went and prayed to the Lord, and immediately the
serpent came with a great noise like a calf running to its mother, and it bent
its head before the servant of God like a slave obeying his lord with humble
heart and with sidelong glance. And he placed his stole about its neck and led
it like a lamb, nor did it raise its wings or claws. And its neck was like the
neck of a bull of seven years, which the stole could scarcely go round. Then
they went together to the citadel and greeted Cadwy, and they were welcomed by
him. And he led that serpent down the middle of the hail and fed it in the
presence of the people, and they tried to kill it. He did not allow it to be
killed because he said that it had come at the word of God to destroy the
sinners who were in Carrum, and to show the power of God through him. And after
this he went outside the gate of the citadel and Carannog loosed it and bade it
to depart and not to hurt anyone nor to return any more. And it went forth and
remained as he had foretold, according to God’s ordinance. And he received the
altar which Arthur had thought to convert into a table, but whatever was placed
upon it was thrown to a distance. And the king asked of him that he should
accept Carrum for ever by a written deed. And after this he built a church
there.
§5. Afterwards a voice came to him from heaven to cast the altar
into the sea. Then he sent Cadwy [and] Arthur to enquire concerning the altar,
and it was told them that it had landed at the mouth of the Guellit. And the
king said, ‘Again give him twelve parts of the land where the altar was found.’
Afterwards Carannog came and built a church there, and the monastery was called
Carrov.
§6. But a voice came to him from heaven and said that he should
go into exile, and leave his familia. Here innumerable persons have been buried
in that monastery and their names are not recorded. And he went by himself to
the island of Ireland, and was buried on May 16th in his own renowned monastery,
even the best of all his monasteries, which is called the monastery of Chernach.
And he departed in peace, and left peace, and found peace, as it is
read--‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.’
And again the prophet says, ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of
his saints.’ He was mindful that the substance of this carnal world is frail,
and that all things, although they may now be lovely, are nevertheless subject
to corruption. He was very conspicuous in opposing the devil, having gained many
souls. O truly blessed life, O life worthy of the gifts of God, O truly blessed
man, in whom was no guile, judging none, despising none, rendering to no one
evil for evil. He frequently wept for blasphemers; he abides, spotless, with joy
and glory amid the angelic hosts forever and ever, Amen.
Version Two
§1. There was once upon a time a man,
Ceredig by name. He was a king. And this man had many sons, one of whom was
named Carannog, son of Ceredig, son of Cunedda, son of Edern, m. Patern Pes
Rudauc m. Tacit m. Kein m. Guorchein m. Doli m. Gurdoli m. Domn m. Guordumn m.
Amguoloid m. Amguerit m. Omnid m. Dubunn m. Britguenin m. Eugen [in.] Aballach,
in. Canalech m. Beli and Anna, his mother, whom they say was cousin to the
Virgin Mary.
§2. Now Cunedda had sons, Tybion the firstborn, who died in
the country of Manaw Gododdin, and his father Cunedda and his brothers came not
hither, but Meirion his son divided the possessions of his father among his
brothers; the second, Ysfael; the third, Rhufon; the fourth, Dunod; the fifth,
Ceredig; the sixth, Afioeg; the seventh, Einion; the eighth, Dogfael; the ninth,
Edern.
§3. This is their boundary from the river which is called Dyfrdwyf
[i.e. the Dee] as far as another river which is called Gvoun [i.e., the Gwaun].
And they held very many regions on the western [side] of Britannia.
§4.
Ceredig held Ceredigion, and from him it was named. And after that he had held
it, the Irish came and fought with them and took all the regions. But Ceredig
was an old man, and the elders said to him, ‘Thou art old, sir, thou canst not
fight. It behoves us to appoint one of thy sons to be king. Who is the eldest?’
They said, ‘Carannog. He ought to be king.’ But Carannog preferred the heavenly
king to an earthly realm, and the will of the Lord to human favour. And when he
had heard, he took to flight, lest they should discover him. He first bought a
better bachall together with a hoe from a poor man. And he came to the place
which is called Gweryd Carannog and there he sojourned for some time. And he
wished to pray to God in that place. And when he was there and whenever he
wished to labour, a dove came [and] took away all that he whittled daily from
his bachall. And he said, ‘Lord, whither does she take it?’ And he resolved in
his mind ‘I will go to see whither she takes this.’ And he arose [to follow]
whither she went through wood, through forest. The dove came, and descended on a
spot where is a church to-day and left it there. And he saw and said, ‘Here it
behoves me to be, because God has willed it.’ And he remained there some time,
where he rendered devout thanks to God.
Version One
