SAINT MODWEN. 39 
Alban Butler states she came into England about the 
year 840: here is a difference of 347 years. 
Dugdale quotes from the ‘Golden History of John of 
Tinemouth,” in the Bodleian Library, ‘‘ M.S. Bodl 240, 
Secunda pars historie auree quam scribi fecit dompnus 
Rogere de Huntedon sumptibus quarum suarum anno dom. 
1377,” and follows with an extract from an ancient record 
which in 1640 was the property of John Ferrars, and was 
preserved at Tamworth Castle. 
In the former, Alured, or Alfred, son of Ethelwulf is said 
to have been cured by S. Modwen; this would make her 
living 836-858. 
In the latter, Egbert the King sends his son Arnulf to 
be cured by S. Modwen, which would put her date 
800-836. 
The whole difference seems to have arisen by a confusion 
of Alfred the Great with Alfrid, illegitimate son of Oswin, 
King of England; and this places her date back to 640. 
I next turned to Baring-Gould’s “‘ Lives of the Saints,” 
and I do not think we can do. better than follow his 
account. From him we learn that S. Modwenna belonged 
to the great Sept or Clan of the Conalls of Conall 
Murthemteni (the country about Dundalk) and Clan Conall 
in the modern county of Down. Her pedigree can be 
made out for several generations. Her father was Mochta, 
prince of that sept and ruler of an extensive territory 
stretching from Iveagh to the neighbourhood of Armagh. 
She founded a convent at Fochard Brighde, now Fangha, 
in the county of Louth, about the year 630, and one 
hundred and fifty virgins placed themselves under her rule. 
She removed it to Kill-Sleve-Cuilin in the county of Armagh. 
The reason for removal is rather amusing: a large wedding 
took place in the neighbourhood, and the 150 virgins were 
so fluttered by the event that their foundress thought 
solitude more complete and entire was necessary.  Alfrid, 
illegitmate son of Oswin, King of England 642-670, went 
