Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/118

106 106 ST. NINNOC fiays that Blemnr, near Qaimperl6, is meant. Eepresented with a stag taking refage at her feet, supposed to mean a Bre- tonne princess fleeing from the pnrsuit of a nobleman. There was once a prince called Brochan, who lived in Combronensia. He was of the family of King Gnrthiem, and was respected thronghont the whole of l>ritain. This Brochan was very rich and often made thank offerings to God, as he knew that he owed all his wealth and power to Him alone. He married Menednc, daughter of Constantino, king of the Scots, who was descended from Jnlins CsBsar. Brochan and Menednc had fourteen sons. As these boys grew up, they re- membered that Christ had said, '' Whoso- ever shall renounce the world and all that is therein for My sake, shall receive an hundredfold and shall have eternal life." So they left their father's home and went as missionaries into different countries, preaching the gospel everywhere, and living as saints of God in the uttermost parts of the earth. Their father and mother, however, grieved to lose them, because they hoped that their sons would succeed them as princes in their own land. Accordingly, the king vowed to present on the altar, a tenth of all his possessions, if God would grant him another child, that he might have one to reign over bis territory alter him. At last an angel appeared to him in a dream, and bade him be of good cheer, for his prayer was heard, and he should have a daughter whose birth should be the cause of great joy throughout all Britain. Soon after her birth, the future saint was christened Ninnoc Guengustlee, and given to her god-parents to be brought up. When she was fifteen, a Scottish prince came to Brochan to ask for his daughter in marriage; but Ninnoc wished to devote herself to Christ and not to any king's son. About this time, St. Germanus was sent from Ireland to France, by St. Patrick, the archbishop, and came on his way, to the Court of Brochan. Ninnoc listened dutifully to his instruc- tions. When the kalends of January came round, the king made a great supper to celebrate his birthday,^ and invited to it all his lords and great men, St. Germanus among them. As they were sitting at table, the prin- cess came in and threw herself at her father's feet, begging him to grant what she was about to ask in presence of all the assembled nobles. Brochan having promised, she declared that lands and gold, or any other kinds of wealth, were nothing to her ; she only begged for her father's permission to leave the kingdom and go to Letavia, with as many of her friends and servants as would volunteer to accompany her, to do as she herself did for the love of God. At this announcement, a great sad- ness fell on the whole party, the queen gave way to despair ; but St. Germanus comforted the king and exhorted him not to oppose that holy vocation, to which his daughter had been called, even before her birth. So the king made answer to Ninnoc, *' Beloved daughter, I have hitherto cherished the hope that in you I should reign over my kingdom, even after my own death ; but since you have chosen the kingdom of heaven rather than an earthly dominion, I give you leave to go wherever you please, and may my blessing go with you. You shsdl have ships, and money, and attendants, and all that you require." When it became known throughout the kingdom that the king had allowed his daughter to depart, many persons sold their possessions and gave all they had to the poor, and joined the expedi- tion. Brochan himself went to the port to take leave of his daughter.. He con- fided her to the care of her godfather and godmother, gave her his blebsing, and returned sorrowfully to his house. Then the army of God set sail, and arrived in due time at Letavia (Brit- tany), and landed at a place called Pul- lilfin. Thence they sent envoys to Gueric, the king of the country, to tell him who they were and to beg that Ninnoc, the daughter of Brochan, king of the Combronos, might be allowed to settle in Gueric's dominions and serve God in peace. The king made them welcome and gave them a settlement