f Aed which is evidently a
combination of our incidents XII and XIII: to the effect that when
ploughing he made a gift of one of his oxen and of the coulter, and
continued to plough without either (VSH, i, 36).

The angels grinding for Ciaran reappear in incident XVIII: this is a
frequent type of favour shown to saints. Angels ground for Colum Cille
at Clonard (LL, 850), swept out a hearth for Patrick (LL, 121), and
harvested for Ailbe (CS, 241).

_Beoit an Uncle._--This is an important link between incidents XII and
XIII in LA. Its bearing upon the question of the origin of Ciaran's
family has already been noticed.

_The Oxen ploughing._--Incident XIII would be meaningless if we did
not understand from it that at the time of the formation of the
story it was not customary to use horses in the plough. This is an
illustration of the way in which these documents, unhistorical though
they may be in the main, yet throw occasional sidelights, which may be
accepted as authentic, on ancient life.

_King Furbith._--I have not succeeded in tracing this personage, who
reappears in incident XXVII. But the story of his cauldron is found in
the Life of Ciaran of Saigir (CS, 815), in a rather different form--to
the effect that he deposited his considerable wealth for safe-keeping
with Ciaran, who was already abbot of Clonmacnois. Ciaran promptly
distributed it to the poor. Furbith was human enough to be annoyed at
this breach of trust, and ordered Ciaran to be summoned before him in
bonds. This done, he addressed him "insultingly," as the hagiographer
puts it, in these words: "Good abbot, if thou wilt be loosed from
bonds, thou must needs bring me seven white-headed red hornless
kine:[15] and if thou canst not find them, thou shalt pay a penalty
for my treasures which thou hast squandered." Ciaran undertook to
provide the required cattle, "not to escape these thy bonds, which are
a merit unto me, but to set forth the glory of my God"; and therefore
he was set free to obtain them. Another variant of these stories--a
common type, in which the saint gives away the property of other
people in alms, but has his own face miraculously saved--is
illustrated by the tale of Coemgen, who, when a boy was pasturing
sheep. He gave four of them to beggars, but when the sheep were led
home at night the number was found complete "so that the servant of
Christ should not incur trouble on account of his exceeding charity"
(VSH, i, 235).

The sit