A book of the west. Volume 2, Cornwall : $b being an introduction to Devon and CornwallBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
A book of the west. Volume 2, Cornwall : $b being an introduction to Devon and Cornwall
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Cornwall (England : County)
Now that candle remains behind the wall that closes up the rood-stair
door. And the devil cannot claim the girl, because the candle is not
burnt out. But if ever that wall be pulled down and the candle be
removed, and anyone be wicked enough to burn it, then he will ascend
from the place of outer darkness and the gnashing of teeth, and snatch
the soul of Genefer away, even though it be in Abraham’s bosom.
Bridgerule is Llan-Bridget, that was granted at the Conquest to a
certain Raoul. It is one of the cluster of Bridget churches that are
found near the Tamar, of which the others are Virginstow and Bridestow,
and Landue--now only a house with a holy well of S. Bridget and the
foundations of a chapel. Clearly there was in this district a colony
from Leinster, from Magh Brea, the great plain in which Bridget had her
foundations. S. Bridget was a real person, and one of great force of
character; but what gave her such an enormous popularity in Ireland was
that she inherited the name of one of the old pagan goddesses, she of
the fire, also the earth mother, and the great helper of women in their
trouble.
When the real Bridget saw the vast plain in Leinster covered with
white clover, from which the wind that wafted over it was sweet as if
it had breathed from paradise, “Oh!” said she, “if this lovely plain
were mine I would give it to God.”
S. Columba heard this story. He smiled, and said, “God accepts the will
for the deed. It is the same to Him as if Bridget had freely given Him
the wide white clover field.”
The centre of the cult of S. Bridget in ancient Dumnonia must have
been Bridestow, for there is a sanctuary which marks the main monastic
establishment.
One day a party of bishops and clergy arrived at Bridget’s house of
Kildare very hungry and clamorous for food, and particularly desirous
to know what they were going to have for dinner.
“Now,” said Bridget, “I and my spiritual daughters also suffer from
hunger. We have not the Word of God ministered to us but exceptionally
when stray priest comes this way. Let us go to church first, and do ye
feed us with spiritual nourishment whilst dinner is getting ready, and
then do you eat your fill.”
It is a long way to North Tamerton, but worth a visit, for the church
is well situated above the Tamar, and contains some good bench-ends;
and in the parish is Ogbeare with a very fine old hall, but a very
modern villa residence attached to it--new cloth on the old garment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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