272 CORNISH DEDICATIONS. 



is more probable that it was of Irish endeavouring to recover 

 the lands from which they had been expelled, though it is 

 possible enough that Saxon pirates may have assisted them. 

 Aedan and Cadoc gathered their countrymen together, and 

 surrounded the enemy, who were encamped in a valley, rolled 

 down stones upon them, and exterminated them to the last man. 

 After a while, probably summoned by his father, Aedan started 

 for Ireland to take a part in the revival of Christianity there, 

 and he took with him a hive of bees, as he was informed that 

 there were none in Ireland. 



Apparently he took boat at Forth Mawr whence in the evening 

 light the mountains of Wexford are visible. He arrived off the 

 Irish coast at a critical moment, when the natives had seized on 

 some strangers who had just landed, were plundering them, and 

 threatened them with death. The arrival of Aedan with a large 

 number of men in the same vessel, awed the wreckers, who ran 

 away. Aedan at once proceeded to the chief, whose name was 

 Dima, and remonstrated with good effect. The chief gave him 

 lands on which to build churches. 



Aedan' s principal field of labour was among the Hy 

 Cinnselach of Wexford, but he also penetrated into the country 

 of the Southern Deisi, Waterford, and founded a monastery 

 among them at Desert Mainbre, the situation of which has not 

 been satisfactorily determined. His headquarters were however at 

 Ferns. He became intimately attached to S. Molaisse of Devenish. 

 When the latter saint had a mind to visit Fome, he passed 

 through Ferns. " Maedoc (Aedh) went to meet him, and give 

 him welcome, and afterwards ministered to him with meat and 

 drink, with bed and intimate conversation. Soon these two high 

 saints agreed that when either of them in secret craved a boon 

 (from Heaven) the prayer of both should take the same direction ; 

 also that any whom Molaisse might bless should be blessed of 

 Maedoc also, and that whomsoever Molaisse should curse should 

 be cursed also of Maedoc, and likewise e contrario. All behests 

 whatever the one saint should ask, both were to cooperate to 

 their fuLfilment."* 



* Silva Gadelica, II, p. 27. A prophecy of the coming of Maedoc is put into 

 the mouth of Finn Mac Cumhal. Ihid, II, p. 168. 



