Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys
Anno MCXLI. (1141). In the yeare 1141, the abbey of St. Mary of Holme, Cultram, was founded.
Anno MCXLII. (1142). In the yeare 1142, Gødred, son of Olave, crossed over the sea to the King of Norway, whose name was Hinge, and did homage to him. He was well received, and remained some time. In the same yeare three sons of Harold, the brother of Olave, who had been brought up in Dublin, assembling a large body of men, and among them all the refugees from the dominions of Gødred, came to Man, and demanded from the king one half of the whole kingdom of the Isles for themselves. The king having heard their application, and being desirous to pacify them, answered that he would take advice on the subject. When the day and place for holding a meeting had been agreed upon, these most wicked men spent the interval in planning the death of the king. On the appointed day both parties met at the port called Ramsey, and sat down in order, the king and his followers on one side, and they with theirs on the other. Reginald, the second brother, who was to give the fatal blow, stood apart, speaking to one of the chiefs of the country. On being summoned to approach the king, turning to him as if in the act of saluting, he raised his gleaming battleaxe on high, and at a blow cut off the king's head. As soon as this atrocious act was perpetrated they divided the country between them. After the lapse of a few days they collected their fleet, and sailed to Galloway with the purpose of conquering it. But the men of Galloway, forming a compact body, rushed upon them with great impetuosity; whereupon the invaders turned and fled in great confusion to Man, and massacring some, expelled the rest of the Galloway residents in the island.
In 1140 Malachy, former archbishop of Armagh and then Bishop of Down, set out on pilgrimage to Rome with some disciples. On the way to Rome, he visited Clairvaux, and was so touched by St. Bernard and the life at Clairvaux that he was converted to the monastic life. When he arrived in Rome, the pope refused to absolve him of his priestly duties, and so he returned to Ireland to fulfill his pastoral responsibilities. Nevertheless, on his return trip, he stopped again at Clairvaux, this time leaving four disciples behind. When he arrived back in Ireland, he asked Bernard to send two of the disciplines back as soon as possible in order to bring the Cistercian reform to Ireland. Bernard refused, and in a letter to Malachy he wrote that, "it would not be well for them to be separated from us, until Christ is more fully formed in them, until they are better equipped to fight for the Lord." In the meantime, Bernard asked Malachy to find a place such as Clairvaux which would be suitable for he foundation of a Cistercian community. Malachy later sent a second group of Irishmen to Clairvaux, and went in search of a site for the new monastery.
In 1140 Maelmhadhog O'Morgair, better known as St. Malachy, the great reforming bishop of Down and at one time Archbishop of Armagh was travelling to Rome. Attracted by the fame of St. Bernard he visited Clairvaux and was so impressed that on arriving at Rome he petitioned the Pope's permission to resign his bishopric and enter Clairvaux as a novice. This permission was refused but on his return journey he left some of his companions at Clairvaux to be trained in Cistercian life with a view to founding a monastery of the Order in Ireland. "St. Malachy chose a site for his proposed monastery five miles north of Drogheda in Co. Louth. This land was in the territory of Donnachadh Ua Cearbhaill, king of Airghialla who donated not only the land but also the materials for the building of the new abbey. The first group of monks, the Irishmen trained by St. Bernard at Clairvaux, accompanied by some French monks who were to direct the building of the new abbey, arrived in 1142. Initial difficulties arising from the French design of the abbey, which interrupted the work, were settled by St. Bernard and St. Malachy and the construction was resumed and continued until completion in 1157. Before that date, however, St. Malachy again called at Clairvaux on another journey to Rome in 1148. While there he was struck down by fever and died in the arms of St. Bernard on 2nd November.
1142—St Malachy founds Ireland's first Cistercian monastery at Mellifont. Its first abbot, sent by St Bernard, is Christian O'Conarchy (future bishop of Lismore and papal legate). Donchadh Ua Cearbhaill (or Ua Cerbaill) was a major supporter of and contributor to the church of Mellifont, which was consecrated in 1157
In the yeare 1143 died Bernard, of blessed memory, first abbot of Clairvaux. In the same yeare died David, King of Scotland. He was succeeded by his grandson Malcolm, who was raised to the throne according to royal usage. In the same yeare King Olaf was slain, as we have already stated, on the feast of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. In the following autumn Gødred, his son, came from Norway with five ships, and put in at the Orkneys. All the chiefs of the Isles were rejoiced when they heard of his arrival, and assembling together, unanimously elected him for their king. Gødred then came to Man, seized the three sons of Harold,and, to avenge his father's murder, awarded them the death they deserved. Another story is that he put out the eyes of two of them, and put the third to death.
"One of the young men left by St. Malachy with St. Bernard at Clairvaux was Gillacrist (Christian). He became the first abbot of the new monastery but in 1150 Pope Eugenius, his former fellow-novice at Clairvaux, appointed him Bishop of Lismore and Legate of the Holy See to Ireland. In this capacity he attended the consecration of the new abbey church in 1157. The consecration was performed by the Archbishop of Armagh in the presence of seventeen other bishops, the High King of Ireland and many local kings and chieftains."
Anno MCLVI. (1156). In the yeare 1156, a naval battle was fought between Gødred and Somerled, during the night of the Epiphany of our Lord, with great slaughter on both sides. But when day light came they made peace, and shared between them the kingdom of the Isles, and from that day to this the kingdom has remained divided. Thus was the kingdom of the Isles ruined from the time the sons of Somerled got possession of it.
"U1157.4 The successor of Patrick (namely, the archbishop of Ireland) consecrated the church of the Monks [of Mellifont, near Drogheda, in presence of the clergy of Ireland, that is, of the Legate and of Ua Osein and of Grenne and of the other bishops and in presence of many of the laity, around Ua Lachlainn, that is, around the king of Ireland and Donnchadh Ua Cerbaill and Tigernan Ua Ruairc. Moreover, Muircertach Ua Lochlainn gave eight score cows and three score ounces of gold to the Lord and to the clergy. He gave also a townland at Drochait-atha to the clergy, namely, Finnabhair-na-ningen. And three score ounces of gold [were given] by Ua Cerbaill and three score ounces more by the daughter of Ua Mael-Sechlainn, [namely] by the wife of Tigernan Ua Ruairc. . . ."
Anno MCLVIII. (1158). In the yeare 1158, Somerled came to Man with fifty-three ships, gave battle to Gødred, put him to flight, plundered the whole island, and retired. But Gødred crossed over to Norway, for the purpose of asking assistance against Somerled.
One of the principal chiefs called Gilcolum, drew the attention of Somerled to these treasures, and maintained that it would be no violation of the asylum of St. Maughold to drive off, for the supply of the army, the cattle that were grazing outside the precincts of the cemetery. But Somerled demurred, affirming that he could in nowise allow the asylum to be violated. Gilcolum continued to urge with great earnestness his proposal, begging that he and his followers might be allowed to go there, and offering to take the responsibility on himself. Upon this Somerled reluctantly gave his consent, saying: "Let the affair be between yourself and St. Maug hold; I and my army will be guiltless, nor do we wish to have any share in your spoil." Gilcolum overjoyed returned to his followers, and calling together his three sons and all his dependents, ordered all to prepare during the night, so as to be ready to rush suddenly at break of day upon the church of St. Maughold, which was distant two miles. A rumour, in the meantime, reached the church that the enemy was coming, and so alarmed by it were all, that many fled from the church, and concealed themselves in the recesses of the rocks, and in the caverns, whilst the remaining crowd, with loud and continued cries, implored the mercy of God, through the intercession of St. Maughold. The weaker sex, with dishevelled hair and mournful accents, wandered around the walls of the church, loudly crying: "Where art thou now, oh Maughold! where are thy miracles which till now thou hast worked in this place? Willst thou now quit it on account of our sins, and abandon thy people in this their distress? Ifnot for our sake, at least for the honour of thy name, help us now." Moved, as we believe, by these and similar supplications, and compassionating their affliction, St. Maughold delivered them from the imminent danger, and condemned their enemy to a terrible death. For when the aforesaid Gilcolum had fallen asleep in his tent, St. Maughold appeared to him clothed in a white garment, and carrying the pastoral staff in his hand; and standing before his bed, addressed him in the following words: "What is there between thee and me, Gilcolum? In what have I injured thee or thine, that thou art now about to plunder my place ?" To this appeal Gilcolum replied: "Who art thou ?" The saint answered: "I am the servant of Christ, Maughold, whose church thou seekest to profane, but thou shalt not succeed." Having spoken thus, he raised on high the staff that was in his hand, and drove the point through Gilcolum's heart. The unfortunate man uttered a fearful shriek, which awoke all who were sleeping in the surrounding tents. Again the saint transfixed him, again he shrieked. A third time the saint repeated the blow; a third tune the man shrieked. His sons and followers, alarmed by the screams, hastened to him, inquiring what had happened. Scarcely able to move his tongue, he answered with a groan: "St. Maughold has been here, and, thrice transfixing me with his staff, has killed me. But go quickly to his church, and bring the staff with the priests and clerks, that they may intercede for me with St. Maughold, that he may perchance forgive what I was preparing to do against him." Quickly, in execution of his orders, they begged the clerks to bring the staff of St. Maughold, and come to their lord, who appeared to be lying in the last extremity. They narrated, also, all that had happened to him. The priests, clerks, and people, hearing this account, rejoiced with a great joy, and sent back with the messengers some of the clerks, who bore the staff. When they stood in his presence and saw him almost expiring, for he had just before lost the use of his voice, one of the clerks pronounced the following imprecation : - " May St. Maughold, who has begun thy punishment, cease not till he has brought thee to death, that others, seeing and hearing, may learn to show greater reverence to holy places." Having thus spoken, the clerks returned home; and after their departure such a number of large black flies swarmed about his face and mouth, that neither he nor his attendants could keep them away. Thus did he expire in great torture and agony about the sixth hour of the day. Upon his death, such a great fear seized upon Somerled and his army, that, as soon as the ships were floated by the rising tide, the fleet left the port, and returned home as quickly as possible.
Anno MCLXIv. (1164). In the yeare 1164, Somerled assembled a fleet of 160 ships and put in at Renfrew, with the intention of subduing the whole of Scotland. But through divine punishment he was overcome by a small number of foes, and there slain with his son and a vast number of his people.
In the same yeare there was a battle at Ramsey between Reginald, brother of Gødred, and the Manxmen, and throngh the treachery of a certain Viscount the Manxmen were put to flight and Reginald began to reign. On the fourth, day, however, Gødred returned from Norway with a large body of troops, and seizing his brother, mutilated, and deprived him of his sight. In the same yeare died Malcolm, King of Scotland, who was succeeded by his brother William.
Anno MCLXXI. (1171). In the yeare 1171, Richard, Earl of Pembroke, sailed to Ireland, and subdued Dublin, with a great part of Ireland. In the yeare 1171, Henry, King of England, caused his son Henry, yet a boy, to be crowned king at London on the 22d of May, and on the Sunday to be anointed by Roger, the usurping Archbishop of York, who, in opposition to the canons, led by the despotism of the king, and his own contempt of law, exercised a right and office not his, to the prejudice of a pro vince not under his jurisdiction, while the venerable Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, was still alive, and an exile in France. During the same year, on the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, a great and fearful earthquake suddenly occurred.
Anno McLXXvI. (1176). In the yeare 1176, John de Courcy subdued Ulster. In the same yeare Vivian, Cardinal legate of the apostolic See, came to Man, and in the discharge of his office caused Gødred to be united in lawful marriage with his wife, the daughter of MacLoughlin, son of Muinrough, King of Ireland, who was mother of Olave then three years old. They were married by Silvanus, Abbot of Rivaulx.
On the same day Gødred gave to the Abbot Silvanus a piece of land at Mirescoge, where he soon built a monastery; but in process of time the land and the monks were made over to the abbey of St. Mary of Rushen.
Anno MCLXXXII. (1182) In the yeare 1182, Reginald, son of Eacmarchat, a man of the royal race, came to Man with a large number of followers, during the absence of the king; and in the first combat put to flight a party of those who guarded the coast, killing about twenty of them. Later on, however, in the same day, the Manxmen, assembling in a body, manfully encountered and slew him with nearly all his followers.
Anno MCLXXXVII. (1187). In the yeare 1187, Jerusalem was captured by the pagans (infidels), and the holy cross was carried away to Damascus.
In the same year, on the 10th of November, Gødred, King of the Isles, died in the Island of St. Patrick, in Man. In the beginning of the following summer his body was removed to the Island called lona. He left three sons, Reginald, Olave, and Ivan. Reginald, then a full grown young man, was absent in the Isles. Olave, yet a very young boy, resided in Man.
Godred during his life had appointed Olave to succeed to the kingdom, for the inheritance belonged to him by right, because he was born of lawful wedlock; and had commanded all the people of Man to appoint Olave king after his own death, and preserve inviolate their oath of allegiance. How ever, after the death of Gødred, the Manxmen sent their messengers to the Isles for Reginald, and made him king, be cause he was a man of energy and of riper age. For they dreaded the weakness of Olave, for he was but a boy ten years old, and they considered that a person, who on account of his tender age, knew not how to direct himself, would be wholly incapable of governing his subjects. This was the reason why the people of Man appointed Reginald king.
Anno MCLXXXVIII. (1188). In the yeare 1188, Reginald, son of Gødred, began to reign over the Isles. In the same yeare was killed Murrough, a chief whose power and energy were felt throughout the whole kingdom of the Isles.
Anno MCLXXXIX. (1189). ln the yeare 1189, died Henry King of England. He was succeeded by his son Richard. In the same yeare Rodoiph, Abbot of Fuinness, died at Mellifont.
Anno MCXC. (1190). In the yeare 1190, Philip, King of France, and Richard, King of England, set out for Jerusalem with large armies.
Anno MCXCII. (1192). In the yeare 1192, there was a contest between the sons of Somerled, Reginald, and Angus, in which many were wounded and fell, but Angus gained the victory. In the same year, the abbey of St. Many of Rushen was removed to Pouglas. After remaining there four years the monks returned to Rushen.
Anno MCXCIII. (1193). In the yeare 1193, Richard, King of England, returned from Jerusalem and was made prisoner in Germany; for his ransom England paid 100,000 marcs.
Anno MCXCIII. (1193). In the yeare 1193, died Michael, Bishop of the Isles, at Fountains. He was succeeded in the episcopacy by Nicholas.
Anno MCCIV. (1204). In the yeare 1204, Hugh de Lacy entered Ulster with an army, gave battle to John de Councy, took him prisoner, and put him in chains, and subdued Ulster. Afterwards he gave John his liberty. John, on his delivery from prison, went to King Reginald, by whom he was received with distinction, because he was his brother-in-law. John de Courcy married a daughter of Gødred, called Affrica, who founded the monastery of St. Mary, of the Yoke of God, where she was interred.
Anno MCCV. (1205).In the yeare 1205, John de Courcy, recovering his strength, collected a large force, and was accompanied by Reginald, King of the Isles, with nearly one hundred ships, to Ulster. Putting into the port called Strangford, they laid siege, but carelessly, to the fort of Rath. Walter do Lacy came upon them with a large army, and totally routed them; aiid after that time John do Courcy never recovered his pos sessions.
Anno MCCX. (1210).In the yeare 1210, Angus, son of Somerled, was killed, with his three sons. In the same year, John, King of Eng land, with a fleet of 50 ships, went to Ireland and subdued it. He sent a part of the army, with an earl of the name of Fulke, to Man. This force in fifteen days devastated nearly the whole island, and receiving hostages returned home. King Reginald, however, and his nobles were absent from Man at the time.
Anno MCCXvII. (1217).In the yeare 1217, Nicholas, Bishop of the Isles died, and was buried in Ulster, in the monastery of Bangor, and was succeeded in the episcopacy by Reginald.
Reginald gave his brother Olave a certain island called Lewis, which is said to be more extensive than the other islands, but thinly peopled, because it is mountainous and rocky, and almost totally unfit for cultivation. The inhabitants live mostly by hunting and fishing. Olave took possession of this island and dwelt there; living, how ever, very scantily. Finding that the island could not support himself and his followers, he went frankly to his brother Reginald, who was then residing in the Isles, and spoke to him as follows: "You know, my brother and king, that the kingdom of the Isles was mine by hereditary right, but as the Lord chose you for its governor, I do not grudge it you, nor am I discontented because you have been raised to the supreme dignity of king. I now there-fore beg that you will allot me hand somewhere in the Isles sufficient for my own decent maintenance and that of my followers, for the island of Lewis which you gave me is unequal to my support." When Reginald had heard this, he promised to take advice on the subject, and return an answer to the petition next day. When next day had dawned, and Olave had conic by summons, to speak with the king, Reginald ordered him to be seized, bound, and carried in chains to William, King of Scotland, to be kept prisoner by that Sov ereign. This order was executed, and Olave remained pri soner with the King of Scotlamid nearly seven years. In the seventh year, William, king of Scotland, died, and was suc ceeded by his son Alexander. Before his death, however, William gave directions for the liberation of all who were confined in his prisons. Olave then, having his chains removed, and being restored to liberty, went to Man to his brother Reginald, and shortly afterwards set out with a considerable attendance of men of rank for the shrine of St. James. Returning from the pilgrimage, he again visited his brother Reginald, by whom he was received in a friendly manner. At that timne Reginald caused his brother Olave to marry Lanon' the daughter of a certain man of rank of Kintyre, sister to his own wife, and gave hium the aforesaid island of Lewis, whither Olave, taking leave of his brother, went with his wife, amid dwelt there.
After some days, Reginald bishop of the Isles, successor to bishop Nicholas, came to the Isles to visit the churches. Olave went to meet him with great alacrity, and was glad of his arrival, for the bishop was son of Olave's sister, and ordered a great banquet to be prepared. Reginald, however, said to Olave "I will not hold communication with you, brother, till the Catholic Church has canonically released you from the bonds of an unlawful marriage." The bishop added:
"Know you not that you lived long with the cousin of her whom you now have as your wife?" Olave did not deny the truth of what had been said, and acknowledged that he had long kept her cousin as a concubine. A synod therefore was assembled, and in it bishop Reginald canonically separated Olave the son of Gødred and Lauon his wife. Afterwards, Olave married Christina, daughter of Fenquhard, Earl of Ross.
But the wife of King Reginald, Queen of the Isles, pained by the separation of her sister from Olave, and moved by the gall of bitterness, and sower of all the discord between Reginald and Olave, wrote secretly in the name of King Reginald, to her son Gødred, who was in the isle of Sky, to seize and kill Olave. Gødred, on receipt of the letter, collected a force and went to Lewis for the purpose of carrying out, if he could, his mother's truly wicked desires. Olave, however, entering a small boat, with a few men, with difficulty avoided Gødred, and fled to his father-in-law, the Earl of Ross, whilst Gødred laid waste nearly the whole island, killed a few of the inhabitants, and returned home.
At that time the Viscount of Sky, whose power and energy were felt throughout the whole kingdom of the Isles, Pdll the son of Bdhki, having refused to consent to the murder of Olave, fled from Gødred, and resided as well as Olave with the Earl of Ross. After a few days Olave, and the aforesaid Viscount of Sky, entered into a covenant of friendship, confirmed on either side by oath, and went together with a single vessel to Skye, where they concealed themselves for some days in secret places; they then learned from the spies they had sent out that Gødred was residing in a certain island, called the island of St. Coim, without apprehension, with very few attendants, Upon this, assembling all their friends and acquaintances, and all who were willing to join them, they surrounded the island during the silence of deep night, bringing over five ships from the nearest point of the shore, which was two furlongs from the above mentioned island. Gødred and his companions were thrown into consternation when, rising early in the morning, they saw themselves surrounded. Being armed, however, they undertook to resist manfully, but in vain; for about nine o'clock in the morning Olave, and Pdll~ the aforesaid Viscount, entered the island with all their force, and putting all to death who were found outside the precincts of the church, they seized Gødred, mutilated and deprived him of his eyes. Olave, however, did not give his consent to this deed, but was unable to prevent it on account of Bdlki the aforesaid Viscount. This happened in the yeare of grace 1223.
Miraculum de Sancta Maria.
There was a certain aged chief of the name of Donald, a particular friend of Harold son of Olave. To escape the persecution of King Harold, son of Gødred Don, he fled with an infant son to the monastery of St. Mary of Rushen. Harold followed him to the monastery, and unable to use force within the holy precincts, addressed him with gentle and deceitful speech, "Why dost thou thus fly from me? I intend thee no injury," and promnised on oath that he should be unmolested, and allowed to go wheresoever he chose in his country. The man, trusting the oath and honour of the king, followed him out of the monastery. After a short interval, the king, led on by evil thoughts, and forgetful of his oath and word, ordered the said man to be seized, bound, and imprisoned in an island in the forest of Mirescog, and guarded by numerous keepers. The above named chief, however, had great confidence in the Lord. Whenever it could be done conveniently, he besought the Lord on his knees to deliver him from his bonds, through the intercession of his Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary, from whose monas tery he had been treacherously taken. Nor did divine assistance fail him. One day when he was sitting in the house with only two guards, the rest having gone out to look after their own affairs, all at once the chains fell from his foot, and left him free to escape. Reflecting, however, that he would have a better chance of success if he fled in the night while his guards were asleep, he endeavoured to replace his foot in the chain, this, however, he was not able to do. Considering, therefore, that what had happened was the effect of divine interposition, he girded himself in his tunic and cloak, and hastening out from the house fled away. One of the guards, who was engaged in baking, perceiving his attempt, rose and followed, but had not gone far when, anxious to arrest the fugitive, he stumbled over a log and nearly broke his leg, so that, instead of continuing to run, he had become, through the power of God, unable to stand. The prisoner, thus liberated by the divine favour, came on the third day to the nionastery of St. Mary of Rushen, thanking the Almighty, and his most compassionate mother for his freedom. We have written the above as we had it from his own lips.
In the yeare 1250, Harold son of Gødred Don was summoned, amid went to time Court of the Lord King of Norway; for the king was displeased with his having usurped a king dom to which he had no title, and intended not to allow his return to the Sodor Islands. In the same yeare Magnus son of Olave, and John son of Dugald, with some Norwegians, came to Man, and put in at the port of Ronaldsway. John, son of Dugald, sent messengers to the people of Man to say "This, and Thus, does John King of the Isles command you." When the Manxmen heard John styled king of the Isles, instead of Magnus, Olave's son, they became indignant, and refused to hear anything further from the messengers, who returned and reported all to their master. John, greatly exasperated, immediately ordered his followers under arms, and led them up to St. Michael's isle, where he marshalled them in troops, and made them sit down in ranks prepared to engage in battle, and ordered all to be in readiness to commence the attack at break of day, unless the Manxmen would spontaneously promise to yield all he should ask from them. The Manxmen, seeing the troops drawn up in hostile array, descended boldly to the shore, and arranging themselves in corresponding bodies manfully awaited the result. During the ebb of the tide which barred the approach to the island, John and his followers betook themselves to their ships, leaving many however, who were dispersed through the island, or who were engaged in preparing provisions. In the evening a certain young follower of Sir Ivar with many of the men of the Isles entered the island and slew at the first onset many, while others were drowned in endeavouning to swim to the ships. This happened to them I have no doubt on account of their pride and insolence in refusing to accept the terms of peace offered by the natives; for the people of Man sent messengers at the first hour of day to say to them, "Let those from amongst you who are sent by the King of Norway come on shore without fear, and exhibit to us the royal letters, and we will cheerfully do whatever his Clemency commands. But they neither showed the letters nor made any overtures for peace, nor received any that were offered by the Manx people; and retiring next day in great wrath from Man they lost many of their chiefs by shipwreck in a storm which arose.