CHAPTER III.'

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF ST. TEILO, ARCHBISHOP OF LLANDAFF-PRIVILEGE OF ST. TEILO GRANTED TO THE CHURCH OF LLANDAFF-GRANTS OF KING IDDON AB YNYR GWENT-ACCOUNT OF CHURCHES GIVEN TO ST. TEILO-GRANTS OF MEREDYDD AP RHUN, KING OF DYFED-AIRCOL LAWHIR AP TRYFUN, KING OF DYFED-TUDWG-AND OF THE SONS OF CYNWAIN.

1.-CONCERNING THE LIFE OF SAINT TEILO, ARCHBISHOP OF THE CHURCH OF LLANDAFF.

I. This holy man, dearly beloved brethren, was from his infancy a worshipper of God; nor is it wonderful, for before his infancy, God had predestinated him to be his servant; he predestinated whom he elected, he elected whom he loved, and he crowned his beloved with the victory of a true confession. The man of God therefore carried on his warfare by being urgent in his prayers to God, and by giving to the poor all that he possessed. What more? he diligently performed the six works of mercy; the servant was never idle with respect to ecclesiastical ordinances; all that was his own he caused not to be his own, and what was not his own, he caused to be his own. For leaving nothing remaining to himself of his own, he gave in exchange perishing for eternal things. O how great, and what a merchant, who gave his own to God, that he might receive an hundred fold! O precious

1 The Sections of this Chapter, in the original Latin, commence at Page 92.

merchandize! O commendable usury! O interest without crime! O gain without blame! Let us thus ourselves acquire gain, that as lenders we shall not lose our profit. O what wisdom and knowledge he possessed, who distributed to others that he might be enriched himself, who caused himself to become poor, that he might make others wealthy; he exercised pity, that he might obtain mercy. It is certain that such were the principles of this holy man, in which he persevered without intermission until the end of his life. He was therefore an eminent confessor, who, on account of his virtues, had nothing to confess; for in infancy he was good, in youth he was better, in advanced age he was best of all.

II. But that there may not be silence with respect to the race of so great a man as if it were not known, we know that he was descended from noble parents; and the nobility of the flesh exalted him among men, who, through the nobility of his mind, was likewise acceptable to God. After he grew up in age, virtue, and wisdom, he was called by intelligent persons by the suitable name of Elios; and Elios, in Greek, is interpreted in Latin by Sol, [the Sun;] for his learning shone as the sun, by illustrating the doctrine of the faithful. But illiterate men corruptly pronouncing the termination of the word, it came to pass, in course of time, that he was called not Elios, but Eliud. We read that he was, in his childhood, instructed in the Holy Scriptures, by St. Dubricius, the Archbishop, (whose successor he was,) until at length he saw him a boy of such talent, that he not only believed himself to be inferior to him in knowledge, but that with the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, he succeeded better than any other in explaining to him the obscure passages of the Scriptures. Which St. Dubricius observing, who hitherto had been his

master, and understanding that he could not teach him, was desirous that he should succeed him in the mastership, because he exceeded him in learning and talent.

III. But so much modesty accompanied him, and such zeal for the study of sacred literature excited him, that he who was now able to become a master to others, yet sought a master for himself; as well because he had rather be under the discipline of another than live without constraint, as because he wished to understand the mysterious and obscure passages of the Scriptures, not after the manner of foolish philosophers, that he might confound others, but that he might confute the errors of heretics; and therefore he confuted the heresies, and corrected the errors of many.

IV. He more benefitted the faithful by his simple and general mode of reasoning, than any philosopher ever did by his subtile arguments: for they seeking the way, always deviated from it; he never passed by the way of truth, but travelled along it, as if a candle preceded him; and no one hindering him, he went to him who was the true light. For he travelled through him who is the way, and was taught by him who is wisdom. Then hearing the fame of a certain eminent man named Paulinus,' he went and abode with him for some time, that by conversing together on the obscure parts of the Scriptures, which he did not comprehend, they might understand all as truly explained.

1 Paulinus, or Pawl Hen, was originally a North Briton. He founded a monastery at Ty-gwyn ar Dâf, (Whitland, in Carmarthenshire,) of which he was himself the first Abbot, and where he was also styled a Bishop, though it does not appear that he had the care of a diocese. His institution soon became famous as a place of religious education, and as Paulinus was eminent for his acquaintance with the sacred Scriptures, David, Teilo, and other distinguished Saints, removed to Ty-gwyn to share his instructions.— Rees' Welsh Saints, p. 187.

And he had there for a companion St. David,1 a man of most perfect life; to whom he was united by so much love, and the grace of the Holy Spirit, that in their transactions, they both had the same thought with respect to what was to be done, and what to be left undone. Behold, dearly beloved brethren, how God unites his saints on earth, whom he elects to be citizens in heaven; he chose two, that by means of two he might choose many. O blessed life of these two, through which the souls of many persons have received refreshment.

V. In the days of those holy men, a certain people, of Scythia, who, from their painted clothes, or the colour of their eyes, were called Picts, came in a very large fleet to Britain; and being seized with a desire of enjoying the land on account of the plenty of the good things, with which it then, above all islands, abounded, invaded the country of the Britons, more through means of treachery than force, and for some time exercised very great tyranny over them. Nor is it wonderful that it was overcome by it; for the nation of the Picts were crafty, and trained in many engagements by sea and land; and the other, although endued with strength of body, was artless, and peaceable, and not having been by any one attacked, and ignorant of war, was the more easily subjugated. If any one should be desirous of having a more full account, he will find it in the History of Gildas, the Historian of the Britons.

1 David, or, as his countrymen called him Dewi, was the son of Sandde ap Caredig ap Cunedda, by Non, daughter of Gynyr of Caergawch. He was born at the place since called St. David's, and is reported to have received his religious education in the school of Illtyd, and afterwards in that of Paulinus, at Ty-gwyn ar Dâf, where he is said to have spent 10 years in the study of the Scriptures. He subsequently became Archbishop, and resided, first at Caerleon, and afterwards at St. David's, where he died about the middle of the 6th century.-Rees' Welsh Saints, p. 194-201.

V. And when a certain prince' of that impious nation had arrived from the seaport, and by murdering the unfortunate inhabitants, and burning the houses and churches of the saints, proceeded as far as the city of St. David's; he here stopped, and built himself a palace. And when he beheld the probity of the life of St. Teilo, and St. David, and of other servants of God, who lived with them, he not only envied them, as it is always the custom of the wicked to envy the good, but also because he saw them so attentive to the service of God, said many reproachful things of them, that he might separate them from Christ. And as he could not effect what he wished by threats, and bad language, he endeavoured to tempt them by various schemes, and thought that it could not be better effected than by the blandishments of women.

VI. He therefore ordered his housekeeper to send her female servants to the holy men, and offer themselves to their sight, that by their immodest deportment, and their meretricious blandishments, they might endeavour to withdraw the minds of the holy men from their holy purpose. Who, whilst they executed the orders of their mistress, and counterfeited madness, became really mad, as it is said, "He that acts in a filthy manner, deserves to be"come more filthy." Which the aforesaid persecutor, and all his family observing, they, by the favour of the servants of God, received the catholic faith, and were baptized by them in the name of Christ. He therefore was blessed, who persecuted the just knowingly to become just ignorantly, who tempted holy persons so as to become holy, who quarrelled with men to become reconciled to God, who despised the humble so as to take delight in humility.

1 A chieftain of the Gwyddyl Ffichti, or Irish Picts, named Boia.