Voyage of St Brendan

tr. O’Donoghue, 1893

2. St. Brendan and His Companions Set Sail

St. Brendan and his companions set sail

St. BRENDAN soon after selected from his whole community fourteen monks [amongst whom was the youthful Machutus, so famous and worthy of God’s favour, who had been chosen of God from his infancy, and who persevered to the end of his life in the divine praises, as anyone may know who reads his venerable Acts, wherein his early and latest renowned works are recorded].¹ Taking these apart, the venerable father Brendan retired with them into an oratory where he thus addressed them:—“Dearly beloved fellow-soldiers of mine, I request your advice and assistance, for my heart and mind are firmly set upon one desire; if it be only God’s holy will, I have in my heart resolved to go forth in quest of the Land of Promise of the Saints, about which Father Barinthus discoursed to us. What do you think? What is your advice?” But they, well knowing the purpose of their holy father, replied, as with one voice:—“Father-abbot, your will is our will also. Have we not forsaken our parents? Have we not slighted our family prospects? Have we not committed into your hands even our very bodies? We are, therefore, ready to go with you, whether unto life or unto death, provided only we find such to be the will of God.”

St. Brendan and the chosen brethren then decided to make a fast of forty days, at three days’ intervals,² and afterwards to take their departure. Those forty days having elapsed, St. Brendan, affectionately taking leave of his monks, and commending them to the special care of the Prior of his monastery, who was afterwards his successor there, sailed forth towards the west, with fourteen brethren, to the island wherein dwelt St. Enda, and remained there three days and three nights. Having received the blessing of this holy father and all his monks, he proceeded to the remotest part of his own country, where his parents abode. However, he willed not to visit them, but went up to the summit of the mountain³ there, which extends far into the ocean, on which is “St. Brendan’s Seat;” and there he fitted up a tent, near a narrow creek, where a boat could enter. Then St. Brendan and his companions, using iron implements, prepared a light vessel, with wicker sides and ribs, such as is usually made in that country, and covered it with cow-hide, tanned in oak-bark, tarring the joints thereof, and put on board provisions for forty days, with butter enough to dress hides for covering the boat and all utensils needed for the use of the crew. He then ordered the monks to embark, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; but while he stood on the shore and blessed the little creek, behold three more monks from his monastery came up, and cast themselves at his feet, saying: “O dearest father, suffer us, for the love of Christ, to accompany you on your voyage, otherwise we will die here of hunger and thirst, for we are resolved to travel with thee all the days of our lives.” When the man of God saw their great urgency, he ordered them to embark, saying: “Have your will, my children;” but adding: “I know well why you have come hither. One of you has acted well, for God had provided for him an excellent place; but for two others, He has appointed harm and judgment.”

St. Brendan then embarked, and they set sail towards the summer solstice. They had a fair wind, and therefore no labour, only to keep the sails properly set; but after twelve days the wind fell to a dead calm, and they had to labour at the oars until their strength was nearly exhausted. Then St. Brendan would encourage and exhort them: “Fear not, brothers, for our God will be unto us a helper, a mariner, and a pilot; take in the oars and helm, keep the sails set, and may God do unto us, His servants and His little vessel, as He willeth.’ They took refreshment always in the evening, and sometimes a wind sprung up; but they knew not from what point it blew, nor in what direction they were sailing.

Notes

The words within brackets are found only in two late MSS., and are clearly an interpolation.
i.e., taking food only every third day.
Hodie, Brandon-Hill.