Baring-Gould’s sources: In Wales on Nov. 8.1 Authorities: — A Life of S. Cuby, of 12th cent., in “Lives of the Cambro-British Saints,” p. 183-187, in Latin; Leland, &c. See a valuable Memoir on S. Cuby by Rev. J. Adams, in No. 8 of “Journal of Royal Institution of Cornwall,” 1867.] S. Cuby (Cyby) was a native of Cornwall, bom, says his biographer, between the Tamar and Lynher, which flows into the Tamar at S. Germans. His father was a chieftain o f ancient lineage, named Selyf or Soloman, son of Geraint, prince of Devon, according to Achau y Saint, but grandson of Geraint, according to his biographer. His mother was Gwen, the daughter of Gynyr of Caer-gawch, and sister of S. Non, mother of S. David. Bishop Gweslan, or Guistlianus, was the son of Gynyr, and therefore uncle to both S. Cuby and S. David. “Tradition tells us that his family had an ancestral abode at Gerans, called Din Gerein, and that his father Soloman built a castle in the parish of Veryan, on the south side of the present road from Veryan to Pendower, the earthworks of which may still be seen. There we may suppose that Cuby spent the early years of his life. He was probably bom at the end of the fifth century, when the superstition of Druidism had to a great extent been up1 Rees, in his “ Essay on the Welsh Saints,** says cm November 6; but the Life of S. Cuby says: “ Sanctus Kepius... cujus festum colitur in octavo die Novembris, solicit sexto idus Novembris.”
…rooted by the labours of Christian teachers. There is good reason to suppose that Christianity was extensively embraced in Cornwall upwards of a hundred years before this time, and that there were many zealous ministers of Christ living within reach of Cub/s early home. A band of missionaries from Ireland had in the previous generation settled in many places along the western coast. S. Gorran, having left his humble abode at Bodmin, was about this time labouring on the eastern outskirts of Roseland, where now a parish church commemorates his name.1 S. Petrock was organizing a monastic institution on the site of S. Gorran’s former hermitage. S. Mawes, attracted perhaps by the neighbourhood of the good king Gerennius (Geraint) and his family, had built a cell on the western confines of the little kingdom; and as he was represented as a schoolmaster 2 on the walls of a chapel that once stood in the village which now bears his name, may we not conjecture that he was the instructor of the youthful Cuby ? ” 3 S. Cuby was seven years old when he began to read; his father, though a soldier, was a scholar, and saw that his son was well instructed. He remained in Cornwall till he was twenty-seven, and then he is said to have gone on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It is pretended that he was consecrated bishop by S. Hilary on his way back. S. Hilary of Arles died in 449, S. Hilary of Poitiers in 367. We may safely say that he was consecrated by neither. Among the saints contemporary 1 “ In valle ubi S. Guronus (fait) solitarie in parvo tugurio, quod reliqucns tradidit S. Petroco.” — Lc land’s Coll. i. 75. “ He went probably and settled in Gorran parish, which was therefore denominated from him; residing, I suppose, at Polgorran, or Gorran’s Pool, a little north of the church.” — Whittaker's ** Cathedral of Cornwall," land is a pratty village or fischar town with a pere, called S. Maws; and there is a Chappelle of Hym, and his Chaire of stone a little without, and his Welle. They called this Sainct there S. Mat,... he was a bishop in Britain, and painted as a Schole-Master.” — Iceland's I tin. iii. 19. with Cuby was Elian, though it is not certain that he was a bishop. As S. Hilary is called Elian in Welsh, we may conjecture that Cuby was a disciple of, perhaps received consecration from, Elian of Wales, and it is easy to see how this may have misled his Latin biographer. When he returned to his own country, he brought with him ten disciples, of whom the principal were Maelog, a brother of Gildas; Libiau, mentioned in the Liber Llandavensis as a contemporary of bishop Berthgwyn; Peulan, son of Pawl H£n the instructor of S. David, and an old kinsman, Cyngar. His journey to Jerusalem is very doubtful. Probably at the age of twenty-seven he left Cornwall for Wales, there placed himself under S. Elian, and returned to his native land bringing with him a number of Welsh disciples. That he should have picked up these disciples on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem is not probable. Legend makes S. David go to visit the sepulchre of the Lord, and to receive consecration at the hands of the patriarch [the title of the bishops of the great ancient sees: Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem] of Jerusalem. The biographer probably puzzled about Elian, taking him for S. Hilary, and knowing that Cuby was absent for some while, and believing that Cuby’s cousin David had gone to Jerusalem, sent his saint thither also to account for his absence and consecration. On the return of S. Cuby, the kingdom of his father was offered him; he declined it, and went to Edelygion,1 where a chieftain Etelic was living. His brother Melyan became prince, and Cuby devoted himself to the sacred work of the ministry. “ The place above all others in Cornwall where we should expect him under the circumstances to take up his abode, was Tregony; for although it is now, to use the words of Whittaker, ‘ a mere kind of village, without trade, without industry, without money/ it was in Cuby’s time a town of 1 Probably Tregony in the east of Cornwall. Welsh writers, however, think it is Eddlogan in Gwent, but the old name of this district was Eithaf dy-lygion. No such prince as Etelic is known to Welsh historians. S. Cuby.
importance. It had beep, in days still earlier, a Roman station; and, doubtless, much of Roman enterprise and civilization still lingered there. The tide, which has long since receded from it, then flowed far above the town, bringing merchant-vessels to the very base of the castle-hill; and the main street of the town sloped down to the quay, whence the mineral treasures of the central mining district were exported. Tregony was at that time one of the most thriving and populous towns west of Exeter; and it pre-eminently claimed the sympathy of Cuby on his return to his native land.” 1 With his ten disciples S. Cuby planted himself, “in a meadow,” near this busy place. Etelic sent a man to see who had come on his land. The servant returning, said, “They are monks.” Etelic, says the biographer of the saint, at once went to expel the intruders, but his horse fell under him and died. Etelic was blinded also. Then, full of fear, he promised to give lands to the monks, and S. Cuby, having prayed, revived the dead horse and restored sight to its rider. Etelic gave S. Cuby two pieces of land, one where now stands the church of S. Cuby, the other at Llandaverguir.3 S. Cuby also seems to have been the founder of a church at Duloe, where there is a holy-well called by his name, and a lane called Kippiscombe-lane, or the lane in the combe or glen of Cuby. Bond, in his “ History of Looe,” gives the following account of this well: “ The spring flows into a circular basin or reservoir of granite, or of some stone like it, two feet four inches at its extreme diameter at top, and about two feet high. It appears to have been neatly carved and ornamented on its lower part with the figure of a griffin, and round the edge with dolphins, now much defaced. The water was formerly carried off by a drain or ' S. Cuby, ** Journal of R. Inst, ot Cornwall.” 9 Landeghe, in Domesday Landighe, now Kea, embracing Truro and Kenwyn. hole at the bottom, like those usually seen in fonts and piscinas. The basin, which I take to be an old font, was formerly much respected by the neighbours, who conceived some great misfortune would befall the person who should attempt to remove it. A daring fellow, however, says a story, once went with a team of oxen for the express purpose of removing it. On his arrival at the spot, one of the oxen fell down dead, which so alarmed the fellow that he desisted from the attempt he was about to make. There are several loose stones scattered round the basin or reservoir, perhaps the remains of some building which formerly enclosed it, — a small chapel likely.” The font has been removed to a place of safety at the suggestion of the rector of the parish, and is now in the safe keeping of the owner of the property, Mr. Peel, of Trenant About two miles off from S. Cub/s well is another ancient well in the parish of Pelynt, dedicated to S. Non, his aunt, the mother of S. David. Melyan, brother of S. Cuby, and prince of Cornwall, was murdered about 524, by Rivold, his sister’s husband, who is also said to have instigated the murder of S. Melor, the son of Melyan (January 3rd). Rivold entered Cornwall with a hostile army, and subjugated the country. This probably was the occasion of S. Cuby deserting Cornwall. He left behind him a small vari-coloured handbell, “ Parvum digit! sui cimbalum varium; ” then departed first for Wales, after that for Ireland. He spent four years in the isle of Aran, in which he built a church. At that time S. Enda shone as a light in a dark world in Aran, and the barren island became a gathering place of saints.1 There was Kieran, afterwards abbot of Clonmacnois; S. Brendan, famed for his voyage of exploration in the West; S. Finnian of Moville, S. Finnian of Clonard, S. Jarlath of Tuam, S. Kevin of Glendaloch, S. Carthage of Lismore, S. Nechan, and S. Libeus. 1 For an account of Aran-more see S. Enda, March 21. Cuby.
Cyngar, son of Arthog, son of Ceredig, kinsman of Cuby, was with him, an old man, failing in health. S. Cuby bought a cow with its calf for him, “ because, on account of his old age, he could not take any other food besides milk.” And Cuby and his disciples cultivated the barren soil. “ It happened that on a certain day, one of the disciples of S. Cuby, named Maelog, went to the door of Crubthir Fin tan1 to dig the ground. And Crubthir Fintan being angry, came to forbid him, and said, ‘ Do not dig the ground at the door of my residence.' Then S. Cuby and Fintan went out together to the abbot of the isle of Aran, who was called Enna (Enda), and he made peace between them. Now it happened on a certain day, that the calf of Cyngar's cow came to the cornfield of Crubthir Fintan, and the disciples of Crubthir Fintan came and took the calf, and tied it to a great tree. And S. Cuby sent one of his disciples to Crubthir Fintan, requesting that he might loosen the calf, and he would not loose it, for as yet Crubthin Fintan persevered in his anger. And S. Cuby prayed to the Lord that the calf might come to its mother, for the old man Cyngar was almost dead for want of milk, for without the calf the cow would not give any milk. And the Lord heard the prayer of S. Cuby, and sent the calf to its mother in a wonderful manner, with the tree to which it had been tied and its roots. Then Crubthir Fintan prayed to the Lord that he might drive away or destroy S. Cuby from the isle of Aran, but the Lord loved him, and an angel of the Lord came to S. Cuby in his sleep, and said to him, 4 Go from this island to the eastern side.’ To which S. Cuby answered, saying, ‘ May God destroy Crubthir Fintan from this island.’ And the angel said, ‘ So shall it be.’ 1 Fintan, son of Crimthan. Nothin* is known of him. Crimthan was the father of S. Columba [Irish abbot of Iona (d. 597), apostle of Scotland] of Tirdaglas. Archdall makes Fintan son of Crimthan, bishop of Clonfert; but Lanigan points out that this is a mistake. Eccl. Hist of Ireland, ii. 231Crimthan was King of Hy-kinsellagh; he favoured S. Patrick [apostle of Ireland (5th century)], but opposed Fiecli. Columba of Tirdaglas died about 552.
44 Then S. Cuby came to the southern side of the region of Mida,1 and he built there a church, which unto this day is called the great church of Mochop.” Fin tan pursued him, and drove him thence, so Cuby removed across the plain of Bregh; 9 Fintan went after him again, and he retired before him 44 to the region of Vobyun, and there remained twelve days. Crubthir Fintan still followed him, and said to him, 4 Cuby, go beyond the sea/ Then S. Cuby, being angry, said to him, 4 All thy churches are so much deserted that there are not three to be found in the island of Ireland where there is singing at thy altar/ ”
S. Cuby, thinking it best to depart, bade his disciples cut wood and build a boat. And when the boat was made, but not covered with hide, Fintan said, scornfully, 44 If ye be the servants of God, sail away without covering the boat with hide/' Then S. Cuby answered, 44 God is wonderful in his saints, the God of Israel himself, the blessed God, will give virtue and fortitude to his people; ” and he said to his disciples, 44 Place the boat upon the sea,” and they placed it, and S. Cuby and his disciples entered the boat without a skin-covering. A storm rose and they were nearly dashed to pieces against a rock on the Welsh coast, but providentially the swell carried them over the reef, and they landed safely in Anglesea. There S. Cuby is said to have struck the rock with his staff, and produced a spring of fresh water. He went to a place called Cyndof, and there remained some time. He said to one of his disciples, named Caffo, 44 Go and bring us some fire.” And Caffo went to the house of a certain smith named Magurn; and Magum said, 44 1 will give you fire only on condition that you will cany it in your bosom.” And Caffo said, “Place the fire in my bosom.” 1 Meath.
counties of Meath and Dublin. S. Cuby. And Magum placed it, and immediately Caffo returned with it to his master, unbumed, and with his garment unscorched.
At that time Maelgwn Gwynedd was prince of North Wales. One day he chased a goat, and it took refuge in the cell of S. Cuby, and he would not give it up to the king. Then Maelgwn said, “ If thou wilt not let it go away, I will drive thee from the land.” And the blessed Cuby was forced to loose the goat, and she ran, with the dog after her, all round the headland, and came back again to the saint. Then the king spared the life of the animal, and gave the land to S. Cuby, and his castle with it. The walls of the castle still exist, and form the boundary of the churchyard of Caer Gybi (Cuby).
Welsh tradition has preserved many memorials of the saint. The place where Cuby and Elian his master met and held sweet converse together is pointed out. A similar tradition has been handed down respecting S. Cuby and Seiriol, another contemporary, who dwelt on a small island called Priestholm, near Beaumaris. Midway between Caer Gybi and Seiriors chapel of Priestholm there are two wells, which are said to mark the site of their weekly converse, and are held in great reverence by the peasantry. “ What better memorial could there be of two holy men than these two pure and unfailing springs, making the wilderness and solitary place like the garden of the Lord, and symbolizing the blessings of friendship, as they blend together in their pilgrimage to the parent sea? This beautiful tradition is remarkably corroborated by another which associates together the names of these good men, and tells us that they were called ‘ Seiriol Wyn a Cybi Felyn,* Seiriol the Fair and Cybi the Brown; because in their weekly journeys to and from the well, Cuby always faced the sun, travelling eastward in the morning and vol. xiii. 13 westward in the evening; whereas Seiriol always journeyed with his back to the sun.” 1 Three churches bear the name of Cuby in Wales: Llangybi, in Carnarvonshire, where is a holy well bearing his name, and a stone rudely hollowed out, called his chair; Llangybi, in Monmouthshire; and Caer Gybi at Holyhead; each marking a centre of his work.
There is also extant a Welsh poem said to have been written by Aneurin, who flourished in the early part of the 6th century, entitled “ Cuby's Discourse with the saints as they were going to the island of Bardsey.” 2 One stanza is as follows: — “ * Pray we with fervour/ he answered, Indolence ever is bootless; Better is labour than ease/ ”
Another monument of the saint is found among the “ Sayings of the Wise.” It is this: — “ Hast thou heard the saying of Cybi Of Anglesea, to the son of Gwigi ?
• There is no misfortune like wickedness/ ” * Cuby’s greatest work was the establishment of a monastery at Holyhead, over which he presided in his old age. It was called in Welsh, C6r Cybi, the Choir of Cuby, and it continued to flourish till the Reformation. Cuby is said to have attended the synod of LlanddewiBrefi, the date of which is so uncertain; it was probably nearer 569 than 519, the date usually assigned it. “At length a multitude of angels came and took the most holy soul of Cuby to heaven, to be in the company of the patriarchs and prophets, in the unity of the martyrs and confessors, of the virgins and all righteous saints; in the 9 Iolo MSS. 66a.
Not. 8.J S. Sulien. unity of the heavenly Church, where there is day without night, tranquillity without fear, and joy without end; where there are seven eternal things: life without death, youth without old age, joy without sorrow, peace without discord, light without darkness, health without sickness, and a kingdom without change."
