48. Vita Sancti Danielis
golygwyd gan David Callander
Deiniol, patron saint of Bangor Cathedral, had a significant cult in medieval Wales and is attested in a number of different sources. According to his Life, which survives only in the form of these lections, he spent much of his life as a hermit in the vicinity of Pembroke. Following the death of the bishop of Bangor, it was revealed by divine grace to the clerics there that they should choose Deiniol as their next bishop. When the messengers reach Deiniol, he is shocked as he is illiterate, but, after praying at the altar at Bangor, Deiniol miraculously becomes learned in letters. Lections §§7–9 concern various miracles Deiniol carried out in the vicinity of Pembroke, and §10 contains the Collect, which also survives in manuscript additions to an early printed missal used at Bangor. This text is edited from Peniarth 225 (its only witness), with variants for the Collect from additions to NLW, Printed Books, IE Ven 94.
Legenda 9 lectionum de Sancto Daniele, episcopo Bangoriensi.
§1
Lectio .I.
Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis et gloriosus in maiestate, volens sanctos suos a Christi fidelibus gloriosos reputari, et digne ac laudabiliter venerari, ipse mirabiliter innumeris non desistit decorare miraculis,
inter quos beatissimum Danielem episcopum et confessorem, sanctitatis gratia decoratum, dominus noster, multimodis miraculis insignitum, ecclesiæ suæ sanctæ
præelegit in pastorem, et omnia miracula, quæ idem saluator meritis prędicti sancti Danielis operari dignatus est, nequaquam sufficimus enarrare, aliqua tamen ex illis devotioni vestræ duximus intimanda. Tu autem domine
miserere nostri.
§2
Lectio secunda.
Beatus itaque Daniel ex nobili prosapia Brytonum oriundus, cum esset adultæ ætatis, relictis parentibus et solo natali, heremiticam et solitariam1
solitariam
followed by vitam which was subsequently deleted P225. cupiens ducere vitam (cui optima pars promittitur, adeoque non auferetur) ad quendam montem, qui nunc Mons Danielis nuncupatur,
iuxta Penbrochiam
Menevensis diœcesis pervenit. Considerans, quia illum locum a tumultu hominum segregatum, carpendis divinæ contemplationis
fructibus vtilem et idoneum, statuit in mente, si Deus permiserit, ibidem moram trahere, suo perpetuo domino serviturus. Tu
autem etc.
§3
Lectio tertia.
Quem dominus loci benigne suscipiens, de solo suo tantum sibi concessit, quantum ad victum quotidianum sibi necessarium fore
existimaret, vna cum animalibus et ministris vtilibus ad agriculturam. Constructo in domum tugurio in loco vbi nunc ecclesia
miræ pulchritudinis et magnitudinis in ipsius sancti honore et nomine fabricata est, in ieiuniis, in orationibus, ac aliis
operibus pietatis, Deo omnipotenti creatori devotissime seruiebat. Tu autem etc domine miserere nostri etc.
§4
Lectio 4ta.
Procedente tempore, ecclesia cathedrali Bangoriensi per mortem pontificis sui vacante, illis ad quos in eadem ecclesia pontificis
electio seu provisio pertinebat in vnum congregatis, invocata spiritus sancti gratia, divinitus revelatum est quod ad partes
Penbrochiæ quantocius mitterent, et quendam heremitam, super montem ex parte australi Penbrochiæ commorantem, sibi ecclesiæ
suæ eligerent in episcopum et pastorem. Adiectumque est quod Daniel vocaretur. Tu autem domine miserere nostri.
§5
Lectio quinta.
Qui statim nuncios miserunt ad partes prædictas. Venientes nuncii ibidem, ipsum heremitam in loco quem prædiximus invenerunt,
nunciique, salutatione præmissa, interrogant eum: ‘Quale nomen habes?’ Ille vero humiliter respondit: ‘Ego Daniel nuncupatus sum, sed non propheta.’ Tunc nuncii, gavisi gaudio magno, itineris sui et adventus causam seriatim expresserunt.
Ille vero vltra quam credi potest admirans, ait: ‘Qualiter hoc fieri potest vt me asseritis in episcopum electum, cum sim
vir omnino illiteratus, nec aliquam scientiam literatoriam cognovi?’ Cui respondentes dixerunt: ‘Voluntas Dei est vt ita fiat.’
Ille vero devictus eorum instantia, et divinæ vocationi obtemperare volens, relictis omnibus quæ possidebat, sequutus est
eos in nomine saluatoris, vsque dum venirent ad ingressum civitatis Bangoriensis. Tu autem domine, etc.
§6
Lectio sexta.
Statimque omnes campanæ civitatis absque manu hominis sunt pulsatæ. Audientes autem hii, qui in civitate fuerunt, sonitum
campanarum, ingressi ecclesiam, nullum pulsantem campanas invenientes, dixerunt adinvicem quod ‘Miraculum est quod dominus
operatus est’, et statim ecce nuncii cum Daniele ad valuas ecclesiæ iam steterunt. Tunc clerici eiusdem ecclesiæ ipsum Danielem ad summum ecclesiæ altare deducentes, et ‘Te Deum Laudamus’ devotissime cantantes, saluatoris laudantes clementiam. Et cum
ab oratione Sanctus Daniel surrexisset, omnium literarum scientia ecclesiastica ita repletus est, quod nullus in Brytania illi tunc similis videbatur
in scientia et literatura. Tu autem etc.
§7
Lectio vii.
Debitis postmodum temporis interstitiis ad omnes minores et maiores ordines rite promotus, in episcopum laudabiliter consecratur,
et inthronizatur cum maxima et populi iucunditate. Pontificali igitur infula decoratus, Deo et omnibus hominibus amabilem
se exhibuit. Miracula vero quæ dominus ipsius meritis, tam in eius vita, quam post transitum eiusdem, operari dignatus est,
prolixum nimis foret enarrare, erant enim multa valde. Quadam nocte cum vir ille sanctus in Monte Penbrochiæ morabatur, venerunt
duo malevoli homines illuc, vt boves, ad terram suam arandam sancto viro commodatos, furarentur, et comprehendentes boves,
eos abducere ceperunt. Audiens vero vir sanctus in hospiciolo suo strepitum hominum et animalium, vidit per fenestram fures
abducentes boves, et exiens clamauit: ‘Expectate! Expectate modicum in nomine domini!’ At ipsi vocem ipsius audientes velocius
cucurrerunt, sanctoque Daniele signum crucis faciente erga boves, ne ipse qui eos accommodauerat pro facto suo laudabili damnum reportaret, et statim fures
versi sunt in duos lapides in eodem loco, ad instar hominum stantes vsque in hodiernum diem. Animalia autem ad pascua consueta
conuertuntur. Tu autem domine etc.
§8
Lectio octava.
Alio autem tempore cum vir sanctus non inveniret animalia cum quibus terram suam araret, ecce venerunt de sylua Pencoet, quæ
prope erat, duo cerui magni ad locum vbi terra aranda extiterat, et colla sua iugo submittentes, tanquam bestiæ mansuetæ tota
die aratrum traxerunt, et, opere diei completo, ad syluam predictam reuersi sunt. Tu autem domine miserere nostri.
§9
Lectio nona.
Quodam autem tempore vir sanctus Hierusalem causa devotæ peregrinationis pergebat. Perlustratis locis nativitatis et passionis
dominicæ, visitatoque sepulchro in quo corpus requieuit saluatoris, venit ad flumen Iordanis
Christi baptismate consecratum, et quandam phialam ex aqua illa impleuit, et eandem secum detulit vsque ad cacumen montis iuxta Penbrochiam,
super quem constructum erat eius habitaculum, vbi non modica extitit aquæ penuria. Invocato Christi nomine baculum fixit, et aquam illam, quam de terra sancta portauit, fundebat in terram, et statim baculus creuit in arborem
pulcherrimam, et fons aquæ dulcissimæ ibidem emanauit, ægritudinum diversarum, si in potum sumpta fuerit, curativa.
Quædam etiam mulier de partibus Caerwy
Menevensis diecesis vltra modum extitit inflata, ita quod nullo potuit consilio medicorum liberari. Tandem ad ecclesiam sancti2
sancti
followed by michaeli which was subsequently deleted P225.
Danielis, et postea ad fontem predictum accedens, oransque sancti adiutorium, ex aqua illa potauit causa recuperandæ sanitatis, et
ante ipsius recessum, in ostium ecclesiæ veniebat, et ex ore suo eiecit, multis astantibus et videntibus, tres vermes horribiles
cum quatuor pedibus in singulis, et salua facta est mulier ex illa hora. Preterea vxor cuiusdam viri de partibus Oxoniis diutissime
cæca, admonita3
admonita
followed by michaeli which was subsequently deleted P225. in somnis per sanctum Danielem, imo verius per revelationem divinam, ad dictam ecclesiam sancti Danielis adducta, in orationibus devotis ibidem cum quodam capellano cæco et aliis multis pernoctauit, et vterque eorum visum recepit
eadem nocte meritis ipsius confessoris, prestante domino nostro Iesu Christo, qui cum Deo patre et spiritu sancto viuit et regnat Deus per omnia secula seculorum. Amen. Tu autem domine miserere nostri.
§10
Oracio de eodem.
Deus qui beatum Danielem antistitem ecclesię tuæ pastorem esse voluisti, concede propitius vt, qui eius beneficiis innitimur, æternæ beatitudinis
gloriam suis precibus4
suis precibus
sua prece IEVen94. mereamur, per dominum nostrum Iesum Christum etc.5
Iesum Christum etc.
– IEVen94.
Ex libro manuscripto antiquo.
1602
1 Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis (God, marvellous in his saints). Cf. Psalms 67.36 (Vulgate; modern 68.35) (mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis). Versions of this statement occur frequently in saints’ lives, cf. VSSamsonis(LL), §5; VSWenefrede(Claud), §22; VSDubricii(LL/Vesp), §16, §20; VSTeliaui(LL), §29; VSTeliaui(Vesp), §5.
2 This reference to devotioni vestræ (your devoutness) is ambiguous. It can be used as a title, like ‘your holiness’, and thus could refer to an individual who might have commissioned the lections (DMLBS s.v. deuotio 3), but it could also refer to a group of people, in particular the intended audience of the lections, and this is perhaps more likely in context.
3 Tu autem domine miserere nostri (But you, o lord, have mercy upon us). Cf. Psalms 40.11. This line is used frequently to end lections in the liturgy.
4 Brytonum is probably used here to refer to the Welsh, although Deiniol’s exact origin is left unclear and he could possibly be from Brittany or Cornwall.
5 Cui optima pars promittitur, adeoque non auferetur (to which the best part is promised, and equally will not be taken away) . Cf. Luke 10.42 (Maria optimam partem elegit quae non auferetur ab ea).
6 This is the hill upon which St Daniel’s church now stands, just south of Pembroke. Harris notes that ‘both hill and church are referred to indiscriminately by later writers as “St Daniel’s”’ (Harris 1955: 17).
7 Pembroke is the county town of Pembrokeshire in south-west Wales and the site of a major Norman castle, built by Earl Roger of Montgomery in 1093.
8 The copy of this text in Peniarth 225 uses etc to abbreviate the repeated prayer at the end of each lection, and such abbreviation may well have been present in the lost medieval exemplar, as it is a common abbreviation in liturgical books.
9 St Daniel’s church near Pembroke, which this must describe, is an ancient church which, as Harris notes, ‘was annexed to the Benedictine Priory (founded c. 1098) at Monkton near Pembroke. This was a cell of the abbey of St. Martin of Séez in Normandy’ (Harris 1955: 18). On this priory, see Burton and Stöber (2015): 157–9; Coflein s.n. Monkton Priory; Monastic Wales s.n. Pembroke (Priory). The church building at St Daniel’s also impressed early modern antiquaries with it height (Harris 1955: 18).
10 In the Latin text, Deiniol’s name is always Danielis, and thus identical with that of the Old Testament prophet Daniel.
11 This Latin hymn in praise of God was used frequently in liturgical offices from the early medieval period onwards (Cross 1957: 1326).
12 This sentence lacks a main verb and is possibly evidence for the reduction of a longer Life in creating the material for these readings.
13 Brytania could refer to either Wales or Britain here, but the latter is perhaps more likely given that the text’s focus in on Wales, where almost all its action takes place.
14 The minor orders represent lower degrees of the clergy, namely, porters, lectors, exorcists, and acolytes in the western church, which are received prior to major orders. Major orders refer to the more senior roles in Christian sacred ministry of deacon, priest, and bishop.
15 There are two other references to Deiniol dwelling on a hill near Pembroke (§2, 9), which appear to refer to St Daniel’s. Here the reference is to Monte Penbrochiæ, literally ‘the mountain of Pembroke’, but it must still refer to Deiniol’s dwelling at St Daniel’s. As St Daniel’s is so close to Pembroke, it could perhaps be seen as part of the same unit, and thus the mountain of Pembroke might refer to St Daniel’s here.
16 The ‘and’ (et) here is superfluous and indeed stops the sentence working grammatically.
17 Pencoed is a fairly common Welsh place-name. Here it most likely refers to Pencoed in the vicinity of Lawrenny in southern Pembrokeshire, which is by far the closest Pencoed to Pembroke: ArchifMR s.n. Pencoed.
18 This appears to refer to St Daniel’s.
19 This echoes the action of Moses in Exodus 17.5–6, where God commands him to strike the rock at Horeb with his staff and water comes out of it to provide for the thirsty Israelites.
20 Carew (Welsh Caeriw) is a small settlement in south Pembrokeshire, around four miles east-north-east of Pembroke. It contains a tenth- or eleventh-century inscribed stone in honour of a certain Maredudd (CIMES II: 303–10) and is the site of a Norman castle probably founded around 1100 by Gerald of Windsor, constable of Pembroke (King and Perks 1962).
21 As Pembrokeshire was an area of strong Anglo-Norman influence, it is possible that this does indeed refer to someone originally from Oxford. Yet elsewhere the references are to local places in Pembrokeshire and Silas Harris suggests that this may be a corruption of a local place-name (Harris 1955: 17).
1 solitariam followed by vitam which was subsequently deleted P225.
2 sancti followed by michaeli which was subsequently deleted P225.
3 admonita followed by michaeli which was subsequently deleted P225.
4 suis precibus sua prece IEVen94.
5 Iesum Christum etc. – IEVen94.