¹ There is a certain land which of old was called Letavia, but is now named Lesser Britain; in which a certain prince of royal descent, named Dihocus, had a most beautiful daughter, upon whom often looking, and being ensnared by an unlawful love, he burned fiercely with the fiery darts of desire. At last, at the devil’s prompting, he knew her, and at the first approach made her pregnant. In those days Arthur, ruling the whole of Britain, was holding his court at Christmas in a province named Soyr, and commanded the princes subject to him to assemble at the said place; among whom the prince of Letavia also, obeying the royal command, set out on his journey and brought his pregnant daughter with him. And when her time was completed that she should bring forth, about a mile from King Arthur’s palace in the pitched tents she bore a son. Now the child’s leg clung to its own thigh, nor could he raise it in any way; this signifying that just as the leg which is under the thigh clung to the thigh, so the daughter who was under the father had been carnally subjected to her father.

² So in a certain cradle twisted of wicker, with wild sedges laid beneath, by the prince’s order his servants set the boy, and cast that vessel, the boy placed upon it, into a torrent; yet by a certain priest, before it was cast into the river, the little child had obtained the grace of baptism. But the river, as though his nurse, bore him to a greater river now named the Lothur, and the greater river with its rapid flood swiftly bore the boy to the sea. And without delay the straits seethed with so sudden a motion that they mingled the lowest parts of the abyss with the upper, and a mighty tempest suddenly arose: and the cradle was borne, undissolved and without foundering, upon the crests of the waves. So while the boy was tossed in the waves near the shore, he drew nigh to an island which in British was called Henisweryn, in Latin “the island of the crowd”. And look, very many sea-birds suddenly flew round the boy, and snatched him from the waves with their claws and beaks, and raising him into the air rejoiced to touch him on every side above and beneath. Flying long here and there, they set the boy upon a rock; standing round him in companies, they made a certain couch composed of a manifold array of feathers; driving serpents and worms from the place, they kept away winds and hails and snows by the shelter of their wings.

³ And while the little one thus lay in his bed, before nine days had passed, an angel of the Lord descended to him, and bringing with him a certain brazen bell, placed it near the little one’s mouth. And when he was hungry, as an infant turns to its mother’s breasts, so he turned his face to the said bell. Now that little bell had a brazen nipple in the manner of a particle of a woman’s breast such as sucking infants take into their mouth. Taking this into his mouth, the little boy sucked it as his mother’s nipple; and it rendered to the infant’s mouth a most sweet savour of childish nourishment, more desirable than all woman’s milk and honeycombs, and as the manna of old to the fathers, afforded every seasoning of flavour. For in Welsh it is called to this day “cloch tethauc”, which is interpreted “the mamillated bell”. Now the filth which a child naturally voids at stool he by no means made: for he fed on a most subtle food which had no dregs. For such a life he led in his little bed until the time was completed in which he could naturally walk. The cloths in which he was wrapped grew about him like the bark around a growing tree, nor were the rags affected by any decay.

⁴ Now when these things had been fulfilled, it happened that a certain peasant, having a dwelling near the sea-coast and lacking children, as he was walking one day along the sea-shore, saw from afar various birds flocking together to a certain place. And when he had come there, he found a very pleasing infant in that place; and taking him from the birds, he brought him in his arms to his wife, saying: “O woman, though fortune has until then been much against us, the children we have lost by long barrenness are restored to us in the comfort of this found infant. Enter the bed in the manner of those who have given birth, and we will say you have borne this child.” When this was done, flocks of many winged creatures suddenly came together clamouring at the said rustic’s roof, and dividing into two companies, one part invaded the house and cast down to the ground with eager beaks and curved claws the covering wherewith it was covered, while the other part made assault upon his cattle and drove them headlong to the sea-shores. Then the man and woman, astounded, by deliberate counsel bore the boy to the said island where he had been found. And when the infant had been replaced in the nest made of various feathers, at once the covering cast down by the birds upon the house was replaced in its place, and the cattle driven to the sea had already returned to their pastures and the places from which they had been taken.

⁵ And when blessed Kynedo had grown to a riper age, each day, twice a day, a wild hind bearing a great udder swollen with milk came to the place where the little bell was set, and standing over it, turned upside down, filled it by milking herself; and if any milk was left remaining in the udder, she left it in the hollows of the rocks.

⁶ And when, the course of boyhood completed, he had come to youthful estate, now refusing softer foods, he planned to be fed on harsher ones; and often conversing with an angel as to the food by which he might refresh his body, he learned and received instruction that the harsher they were, the more pleasing to God. So sometimes he fed on wild herbs, sometimes on whatever fruits he found. And living a hermit’s life for eighteen years on that island, he was instructed in letters by an angel.

⁷ When these were completed, the angel of the Lord said to him: “O searcher of divine scripture, constant and unmovable lover of truth: since God’s grace suffices you, the Lord your God has disposed you to leave this seat, and you must go to another which I will show you.” To whom the saint: “Though I am drawn back to remain by the sweetness of this soil as of my birthplace, I am prepared and ready to set out on a journey to whatever place you direct me.” To whom the angel: “There is a place girt about with a dense covering of reeds, distant about a mile, that shall be fit for the divine office. Break off delay therefore and diligently set out on your way: for God is with you.” So the saint, taking his way, when he had reclined himself wearied in the heat of the day, suddenly a stream of purest spring water bursting forth flowed out of the dry earth, from which drinking he accomplished the work begun. And when again wearied he cast himself upon the ground, the earth, opening, gave a most clear spring; and before he came to the place marked out by the angel, in the places where he cherished his weary limbs with rest, the earth brought out twenty-four springs running down into the plain. For he built a cell of wicker, which he also covered with reed; and in the oratory built in that place, the host of angels, comforting him, most often visited him.

⁸ A certain layman came to him that he might live a hermit’s life in his service. He, being kindly received, lived with the saint for many years. Nine robbers, coming into that province, afflicted with hunger and thirst said among themselves: “There is a certain holy man not far from here who loves and instructs all, and refreshes both strong and weak, invites the needy and the wanderers, and is gentle even to wrongdoers. Let us go to him therefore, that he may relieve our want.” And when they had come to him, they were peacefully received into hospitality. Now it happened that the servant of the holy man, looking at the robbers’ lances left outside and admiring their beauty, took one and hid it in a secret place. When those robbers went out, a certain one asked the man of God’s servant whether he had seen his spear. But he asserted on oath that he knew nothing. Hearing this, the man of God called his servant, saying: “Friend, these strangers have not turned aside to us in order to lose their goods.” To whom he: “Let our little mamillated bell be set here, and upon it I will swear that I have not done this thing, nor know anything of it.” And when he had sworn and touched that little bell with his hand, at once losing his natural senses, he was tossed here and there in horrible fury and madness of mind. And at once going out and coming to the sea, he did not shrink from the waves, but walked upon the sea. Having crossed it, he ran through mountains and valleys and bushy places, and going towards Menevia, where St David had his seat, fed on beasts’ fare, eating herbs and roots.

⁹ For seven years he made his stay; and his hair covered his body down to his heels as on a beast. And when the seven years were completed, it came into blessed Kynedo’s mind concerning his servant: and moved with fatherly pity he burst forth into this prayer: “Gracious and merciful God, whose property is ever to have mercy, recall the impulse of your wrath, and deign to restore my servant, if he live, to his former state of sense. But if not, in the abundance of your pity grant indulgence to his soul.” And when the prayer was finished, look, his servant, recalled by God’s will to his country, returned, and crossing the sea as before, entering St Kynedo’s oratory and covered with hair all over, thus addressed the servant of God: “Servant of God, to serve whom is greater than to reign over the whole world, though I am unworthy, receive me into your service: the severity of the divine fury has ceased in me, and what it deservedly took away, he has graciously granted me again by the favour of his grace.” To whom the saint: “What God forgives, no man is bound to impute; and because you have made satisfaction to God, you have pleased me. Well therefore have you come, and sin no more, and know your God as the avenger of crime and the bestower of pardon.” And there he dwelt long after this in most holy life, untrained to endure any evils.

¹⁰ A certain prince named Morgantius held in his dominion the land now called Glamorgan and the neighbouring lands as far as the river Wye; and on a dissension arising, a certain army was moved into those parts where the saint dwelt, and taking the spoil of the whole country returned. So the man of God’s servant was sent, bearing the mamillated bell in his hand, to demand back something of the spoil. But they mocked him with rebukes and heaped very many threats upon him. Now when a very great dispute arose about the division of the spoil, the army mortally wounded one another, nor did the fury of that hard fight cease until all were given over to death. Seeing this, the saint’s servant drove the spoil back to its own places from where it had gone out, and the poor unjustly despoiled received back their own with joy. But the prince of Glamorgan, hearing that God through the holy man’s merits had thus permitted his enemies to perish by mutual slaughter, came to him and giving him thanks, asked him to request whatever he wished of him, and he should obtain it without delay. And when he said he wished to have nothing, at length with great difficulty he scarcely asked that he would give him a little land for the refuge of the poor. To whom the prince: “Ascend with me into the mountain.” And when they had come there, he said: “Make your own as much as you wish of the provinces within your sight.” And he: “I will not ask what is too much, or what your heirs or successors might take away. There is a certain river running not far from here: let that be the boundary of my possession.” And so it was done.

¹¹ Now St David, Teilo, and Padarn, making a journey for the comfort of the brethren, came to the man of God. He, rejoicing in their coming, kindly received them and ministered the benefits of hospitality to them as to reverend fathers. And blessed David had proclaimed a coming universal synod, and took care humbly to invite St Kynedo to it. Who said: “I, having deservedly bent limbs, am unworthy to have fellowship and most unworthy to be associated with such great men; and moreover, my natural power fails me for undertaking the journey.” St David said: “Let us pray Jesus Christ to deign to straighten your limbs for making the journey with us.” And when prayer had been poured out to the Lord, the leg was released from the thigh as its natural disposition should better have it. And when they were walking together prepared to take their way, the servant of God Kynedo, a prayer poured out to God in the secrets of his heart, made his leg adhere to his thigh as before. Then the holy Bishop David said: “Why do you despise our fellowship, when we rejoice in your companionship? Why do you leave us, holy father, anxious in your absence, when by your presence we could lighten the burden of our cares?” And when they had exchanged a mutual farewell, the bishops went away, and he returned to his own place.

¹² I have seen many other things about this glorious confessor written in a single place in Wales, which, as it were erased by age, could not be read. And leaving the lands, he departed to receive his rewards in heaven on the first of August.

Further Stories #

¹ [Added in the Tiberius manuscript.] For a certain Roman had a son of five years, whom loving too carnally he reared most tenderly; and the same little child — which is grievous to say — as soon as anyone crossed his will, used to blaspheme the majesty of God. And he, being stricken with this mortality, came to his death, and seeing evil spirits coming to him with trembling eyes, began to cry: “Stop them, father. Dark men have come,” he said, “who wish to carry me off.” And blaspheming the name of the Majesty, he rendered up his soul. For almighty God, to show for what guilt he had been delivered to such executioners, permitted him to repeat in death what his father had not wished to correct in life, that his father might acknowledge his guilt, who, careless of his little son’s soul, had not reared the little sinner as he should.

² The Lombards in their savagery hanged two monks on the branches of a single tree, and they died the same day. But when evening came, the spirits of both began to sing psalms there with open voices, and those who had slain them, hearing the voices of the singers, marvelled exceedingly and were terrified. For the elect, who without doubt are tending to eternal life — what does it harm them if they die grievously for a little while? And perhaps sometimes there is a fault of theirs, although a very small one, which must be cut away in that same death. For the man of God sent against Samaria, because through disobedience he ate on the way, a lion slew on that same way. But straightway it is written there that the lion stood beside the ass and did not eat of the carcass. By which it is shown that the sin of disobedience had been absolved in that very death: since the same lion which had presumed to kill him living, did not presume to touch him slain.