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From Life of St. Laurence O’Toole, Archbishop of Dublin (1128-1180), by M. L’Abbé Legris, English Translation, Dublin: Catholic Truth Society of Ireland, 1914; pp. 14-19.

Life of   .      .      .      .
St. Laurence O’Toole
Archbishop of Dublin (1128-1180)
by M. L’Abbé Legris
English Translation

CHAPTER  II

CHILDHOOD OF LAURENCE

Somewhat to the south of Dublin two petty kingdoms, contiguous to each other, Hy-Muireadhaigh (Hy-Murray) and Hy Faelan, formed, on that side the northern frontier of Leinster, one of the five provinces of Ireland.

Hy-Faelan, which the Wicklow Mountains alone separated from the sea, was inhabited by the clan of the O’Byrnes. Situated a little further west, Hy-Murray was occupied by the sept of the O’Tooles. Hy-Faelan comprised the greater part of the north-east portion of the present County Kildare, whilst the kingdom of Hy-Murray consisted mainly of the baronies of Kilkea, Moone, Narragh, Rheban, and part of the barony of Connell. The family of the O’Tooles, who ruled over Hy-Murray, ranked among the most ancient in Ireland, tracing their origin to the second century of the Christian era.¹ Throughout the ages the O’Tooles had reigned in Leinster until, at length, weakened by disputes and divisions, they were supplanted in the government of the kingdom by Dermot MacMurrough, and reduced to the rank of a mere tribe. Nevertheless, the chief of the O’Tooles, equally with the head of the O’Byrnes, always assumed the title of King. Hence St. Laurence’s biographer could say, with truth, that he was of royal birth,² both parents being of blood royal,³ Maurice, King of Hy-Murray, having married a daughter of O’Byrne, King of Hy-Faelan. Six sons and one daughter, named Mor, had been already born to the royal pair, when about the year 1128, our Saint, the youngest of the family, opened his eyes upon the world.⁴ Chosen by God to be an apostle of peace to 16 his country, Laurence was destined to suffer throughout his whole life from the dissensions between the various clans. At the time of the Saint’s birth, peace had just been concluded between his father and a neighbour, Donat, dynast of Kildare, with whom he had been at variance. To seal the treaty of peace, Maurice sent his new-born son to Donat, requesting him to have the infant baptised.

The child was entrusted to a small band of Maurice’s retainers who forthwith set out for Kildare. They had gone but a short distance on their journey when they were stopped by a bard of venerable appearance. In Ireland the bards had taken the place once held by the Druids, and had inherited their authority also. Like their predecessors, the bards were musicians and skilled in improvising, whilst the people gave willing credence to their alleged power of prophecy. Regarding the child for a moment, the stranger inquired of the escort what name he was to receive in Baptism. Maurice had chosen for his son the name of one of Ulster’s mightiest heroes, Conconor. Did this name recall to the bard too many memories of war and bloodshed?

“No,” said the old man, “call him Laurence.” Then, in a brief improvisation, he predicted that the child should be exalted above all, rich and poor alike, and should have great glory both on earth and in Heaven. Seeing that the retainers hesitated to disobey their master’s orders, the bard continued: “Have no fear, I shall be at your lord’s house this evening, and I shall explain to him my reasons for making this change.”

In their turn, the Saint’s biographers find in this 17 name, Laurence, a prediction of the laurels which should one day wreath his brow.⁵ Equally was it of happy augury for the child that he should receive the regenerating waters of Baptism in one of Ireland’s most venerated sanctuaries. Kildare, famous throughout the land for the sacred memories which gathered round it, of St. Brigid and the monastery which she had founded.

On reaching Kildare the little band were welcomed joyfully by Donat. Taking in his arms the infant thus sent as a pledge of peace and friendship, he carried him to the Bishop, who baptised him, bestowing upon him the name of Laurence, as the bard had desired.

How long did Laurence remain in Kildare? In reality, he was a hostage in the hands of Donat. Moreover, it was the custom, as is well known, for the kings and nobles to have their sons brought up in the households of other nobles who thus became their foster-fathers, a sort of legal tie or kinship being established between these nobles and the actual parents of the children. The Canon of Eu, ignorant of this custom, and wanting in information concerning that period of the Saint’s life, discourses in vague sentences on the child’s happy disposition and the progress which he made so far beyond other boys of his age.

Our next meeting with Laurence is in his father’s house where we find him, at the age of ten, on the eve of an exile infinitely more painful than the first. Hostilities between the O’Tooles and their hereditary enemy, the King of Leinster, had broken out afresh. The whole tribe had much to fear from so implacable an adversary. Maurice took counsel with his people. No other means remained to him by which Dermot’s wrath might be appeased, but to deliver to him as hostage his youngest son. Amongst Ireland’s warrior-kings 18 there is no more hateful figure than this King of Leinster whose name recurs so frequently in our Saint’s life. Imperious, tyrannical, quarrelsome, harsh, even ferocious, feared by his neighbours by reason of his fierce disposition, by his people for his deeds of violence, Dermot’s life was one continual scene of warfare.⁶

Usually, the sons of noble houses held as hostages were treated with consideration. But Dermot was incapable of any generous sentiment. He wreaked upon the child the anger which he cherished towards his father. Not far from his stronghold of Ferns was a stony, barren tract of land, the soil of which barely yielded sustenance for the inhabitants, a desolate region where one found neither corn, nor wine, nor oil.⁷ Hither young Laurence was brought in chains, and here, in want of everything, even of bread, he spent two years. Without shelter, badly clad, badly fed, suffering cold and hunger, the boy was forced to spend his days in the performance of menial and degrading tasks. Soon, in appearance, he resembled a wretched beggar. From the account given by the Canon of Eu, one is led to suppose that he was attacked by a skin disease which covered his body from head to foot. In his exterior he inspired nothing but sentiments of disgust.

At last news of the ill-usage to which his child was subjected reached Maurice. Taking prisoners twelve of Dermot’s soldiers, the outraged father sent his enemy word that these should be put to death if his son were not restored to him with the least possible delay. 19 Dermot submitted. The King of Leinster knew that his rival would not hesitate an instant in carrying out his threat; perhaps, too, he feared that his noncompliance with the demand might lead to the coalition against him of the other lesser kings. He preferred to restore the child and thus deliver his soldiers. But he would not treat directly with Maurice. The Bishop of Glendalough was commissioned to act as intermediary; and to him Dermot sent the child, enjoining strictly that he should not be restored to his father until the latter had released Dermot’s soldiers.

FOOTNOTES

¹  Owing to the principle of election prevailing in Ireland, the noble families carefully preserved their genealogies; that of St. Laurence O’Toole is given in the Saint’s life written by the late Canon O’Hanlon.

²  There are three Latin lives of St. Laurence, all written at the beginning of the thirteenth century; a panegyric of the Saint, which was pronounced by Jean d’Abbeville, and subsequently revised by him; a life written at Eu by a Canon of the Abbey, this life being corrected and reproduced by another member of the Chapter; it is this latter work which was published by Surius, November 14.

³  This is what the Canon of Eu means by Ynyan O’Bren.

⁴  According to their usual custom the hagiographers omit all reference to the date of birth, but from data furnished elsewhere in the life we are able to fix it approximately. The biographers tell us that when elected Abbot of Glendalough, Laurence was twenty-five years of age. Now, as we know the date of his predecessor’s death, we are safe in fixing the Saint’s election as Abbot as having taken place about 1153, and consequently his birth about 1128.

⁵  “In typum praedestinate sibi laureae vocatu est Laurentius,” says Jean d’Abbevile, c. 1.

⁶  “Infestus suis, exosus alienis. Manus omnium contra ipsum, et ipse contrarius omni.” — Giraldus Cambrensis, Expugnatio Hibernica, l. I. c. vi.

⁷  “It is in a deep valley, shut in between high, precipitous mountains. The whole landscape is mournful in appearance, save for one spot where the eye is refreshed by the luxuriant foliage of some ancient ash-trees encircling a large meadow, which is known as St. Laurence’s Park.” — St. Laurence O’Toole, Archbishop of Dublin. Paris, Dumoulin, 1903, p. 67.

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