'•* See John D'AIton's " Memoirs of the
Archbishops
of Dublin," p.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Reputed Feast of St.
Eata, Abbot of Melrose, AND Bishop of Lindisfarne.
Referring to Sarins for notices of St.
Eata, Thomas Dempster,' at the 7th of May, sets down this holy man, as one of Scotia's most shining lights.
^ On such authority, the Bollandists 3 note his festival, at the same date, but they remark, that English and other writers place his feast, at the 26th of October.
Our own account of him will be found, also, at the latter da}'.
Article V. St. Airaran. In the Franciscan copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, at the 7th of May, a feast is entered for Airaran. ' It is omitted from the published copy ; nor do we find such a record, in any other authority, so that it may be supposed, there is some error in the entry.
eigl)tl) J3ai) of iBap*
ARTICLE I. —ST. WIRO, BISHOP IN IRELAND, AND APOSTLE OF GUELDRES, BELGIUM.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—AUTHORITIES FOR ST. WIRO's BIOGRAPHY—HIS FAMILY AND BIRTH HIS EARLY TRAINING AND DISPOSITIONS—ELECTED BISHOP—HE LEAVES IRELAND FOR ROME, IN COMPANY WITH SAINTS PLECHELM AND OTGER—THKIR RECEPTION BY THE POPE, WHO CONSECRATED WIRO AS BISHOP—THEY RETURN TO IRELAND,
WHERE WIRO EXERCISED EPISCOPAL FUNCTIONS—HIS FIRM RESOLVE TO BECOME A MISSIONARY ABROAD—HE LEAVES IRELAND A SECOND TIME, AND HE PASSES OVER TO GAUL.
WHETHER our Island deserves the greater merit, for having sent innumerable Doctors and Apostles to convert and enlighten the people of the continent, or for having attracted to itself, as to a hive of learn-
ing and monastic piety, Italians, Gauls, Germans, Britons, Picts and Saxons, with people of other countries, who flocked thither, in order to acquire sacred and secular branches of learning,' and to lead lives of strict holiness, may exer- cisespeculativeopinion. Itwasacradleoflearningandofasceticism,forEuro-
Article IV. — ' Thus is he entered, in "Menologium Scoticum :" "vii. Ila^ul- stadice Eata; episcopi, qui ex Abbale Mail- rosice Apostolus Nordanynibrorum et Lindis-
farnx Archiepiscopus, inter claiisbinia Scotiae luniinacensendus. "
" See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 198.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
ec ^ip ApAni, meaning " and Airar. in. " Article i. —Chapter i. — ' " Des fiottes d'etudiants font voile de toutes parts vers I'lrlande ; ils y vont chercher des mai- tres de grec. de latin, d'ecrituie sainte, et Ics ecoles hibernoises deviennent le ren<iez-
vous general des pelorins dc la science. " Urbain Sinardet's " Synchronisme des Lit- teratures depuis leur origine jusq 'a nos
jours, considerees dans leurs rapports avec
—' After the entry of Moch- socials. Cinquieme Epoque, sect, xii. , p. "_
Among the pretermitted saints,
uaroc's name, another distinct line is given, 2S4.
—7
May 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 119
pean scholars, while many distinguished and pious men are recorded to have lived and died in Ireland. In our ancient records, and in the Lives of our Saints, such as in those of St. Patrick, of St. Kieran, ofSt. Declan, of St. Albeus, of St. Columkille, of St. Endeus, of St. Maidoc, of St. Senan, and of St. Brenan, besides in various other similar biographies, relations confirmatory of these assertions are found. From St. ^Engus' " Book of Litanies," alone, we find innumerable native saints, its author invokes, as also, several holy men placed on the list of foreign saints, and who were buried in Ireland. The chief authority for tiie Acts of St. Wiro is an old Life, by an anonymous writer, and which came into the possession of Wilhelm Lindan, the first Bishop of Rure- mond. ThishasbeencomparedandcollatedwithanotherManuscriptcopy, by Father John BoUand; as various changes or alterations have been admitted, in more recent compilations. We find, that a Life of St. Wiro has been written by John Capgrave,^ as also in the Hystorie Plurimorum Sancto- rum, 3 and in Lippeloo 4; while Mirseus has son^e notices of St. Wiro, at the 8thofMayfasalsoMolanus. ^ ThomasDempsterliasanaccountofhim. Again, Laurence Surius,^ who usually follows the old Memoir by Wilhelm Ivindan 9—but who changed the style from that copy of the old Manuscript in his possession—has published his Acts, at the 8th of May, in five para- graphs. Baronius ^° also borrowed his notices from this source. The Acts of St. Wiro seem also to have been prepared by Colgan for publication, at the8thofMay. " TheBollandistsgivehisActs,"andtheseareintroduced byapreviouscommentary,'3 thecompositionofFatherJohnBoUandhim- self. Likewise, the "Acta Sanctorum Belgii,"''* Father Adrien Baillet,'5 Bishop Challenor,^^ the Rev. Alban Butler,'? John D'Alton,'^ and Bishop Forbes,'? record his Life, at this same date, as also the Rev. S. Baring-Gould. ^° In the " Scoti-Chronicon "-' of Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon, there is an account of St. Wiro, as in " Les Petits Bollandistes,"^^ at this date.
This holy bishop was born in Scotia,^3 or Ireland,^4 although the particu-
- See " Legenda Nova Anglias," fol. cccvii. , cccviii. , for Octavo Idus Maii.
3 Printed at Louvain, A. D. 1485. It has Wiroepiscopus et Confessor, foL Ixviii. , Ixix. * See "Vitse Sanctorum," vol. ii. , pp. 614,
to 617, at 8th of May.
5 See " Fasti Belgici et Bm-gundici," pp.
23810 241.
* See " Natales Sanctorum Belgii," in
three paragraphs, pp. 89, 90. _
7 See " Histovia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum,"tomus ii. , lib. xix. , num. 1167.
* See " L)e Probatis Sanctorum Vitis,"
vol. iii. , Maiiviii. , pp. 28, 29.
5 However, the two first paragraphs of
thisLife—aspubli. ^hedbytheBollandists have been omitted in the work ofSurius. These do not contain any biographical par- ticulars of great interest, as they are chiefly prefatory.
'° See " Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus viii. , ad A. D. 631, num. 8, et seq.
" Accordifig to " Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum qure MS. habentur, ordine Men- slum et Dierum. "
" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. De S. Wirone Episcopo Ruremundae in Gelria, pp. 309 to 320.
'3 This is in Three Sections, and in Thirty-two paragraphs.
''' Tomus v. , Maii viii. These Acts of St. Wiro, Bishop of Ruiimond, at the 8th of May, are a Vita S. Wironis, auctoie anony- mo, ex schedis Wilhelmi Lindani Episcopi Rurimondensis, sections l to 9. Also a Translatio Ecclesire collegiate ex Monte S. Odilise in urbem Rurcemondam, sections i to II. These are preceded by a commen- tary of J. BoUandus, in three sections, pp. 343 to 369.
'S See " Les Vies des Saints," tome ii. , pp. 152, 153.
'^ See "Britannia Sancta,'' part i. , jip. 182, 183.
''' See"LivesoftheFathers,Mart)rsand otherprincipalSaints,"vol. v. , Mayviii.
"® See "Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin," pp. 18 to 20.
'^ See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints" p. 459.
^° See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , pp. 116, 117.
-' See vol. i. , p. 67.
" See " Vies des Saints," tome v. viii=. , Jour de Mai, pp. 404, 405.
^3 "Sanctum Wironem produxit Scotia, fertilis Sanctorum virorum insula, Scotus enim patria fuit Wiro. "—" Batavia Sacra, sive Res Gestw Apostolorum \irorum qui fidem Batavi:s primi intulerunt. " L pars,,
_
I20 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 8.
lar country of his birth has been challenged by certain writers. 's However, the great bulk of autliority,'^ and all the inferences to be drawn from our saint's earlier Acts, tend to estal)lish beyond question the fact, that Ireland was the land to which his nativity must be referred. '^ The parents of St. Wiro are thought to have been of considerable rank,^^ and to have belonged to that race, from wliom St. Senan ^9 drew his origin. In accounts of the present holy man, his name is written indiscriminately, Wyro, or Wiro ; but, we doubt, if this correspond closely with his original Irish etymon, which now is probably unknown. He descended from the race of Conaire, son to Mogh- lamha, who was King of Eirn, and who belonged to the progeny of Eremon.
In a Table, appended to the Donegal Martyrology,3° the commentator calls
him Viron, i. e. , Feron. 3' St. Wiro's father was named Cuan, and liis grand-
father's name was Lugid. This latter was the son of Fintan, the son of
Mechar, son to Conchrius, son of Decius, son to Imchad, son of Corb, &c. ,
according to the " Sanctilogic Genealogy. "32 Wiro is said to have lived at
the place, called Corcobaschin,33 in the county of Clare. There, it is sup-
posed, our saint was born, early in the seventh century,34 but in what year is
uncertain. However, although the Irish writers consider Wiro as their country-
man ; on the assumed authority of Alcuin, the Rev. Dr. Lingard has called him
anAnglo-Saxon. 35 Forsuchanassertion,hequotesanoldLatinPoem,on
the Bishops of York. 3^ To this claim, Dr. Lanigan responds, that in the said
poem 37—which by-the-bye was not written by Alcuin—there is not a word
about Wiro, at that verse quoted, nor, as far as he could find, in any other
38
part of it.
The early training of Wiro in learning and virtue, by the guardians of his
youth, had not been neglected, as his after life and labours proved. From day
p. 80. Thomas Dempster, as usual, claims for his own country of Scotland the birth of this holy man, or at least, at the 12th of this month, he is noted as Archbishop of Dun- blane, although he afterwards adds, " ut tunc moris erat nulli certK sedi alligati," &c. See "MenologiumScoticum," in Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 198.
** Father John Boland, although admit- ting that John Capgrave makes our saint a native of Hibernia or Ireland, seems to tliink, the original Continental writer of his Acts, must have imagined, that he was born in North Britain ; thus connecting Saints Patrick, Columba or Cuthbert with this quarter, although Venerable Bede states, " Hiberniam proprire patriam Scotorum esse. "—"Historia Ecclesiastica Genlis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. i.
veteri Scotia ; quae nunc dicitur Hibernia : ibi egit. ibi in Episcopum est electus, inde Roman ivit consecrandus, inde reversus in Gallias transivit. "—" De Primis Vetei is Frisise Apostolis," Dissertatio Ixxxiii, The Office of Ruremond Church, keeping the local tradition, accords with the foregoing authors.
'7 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto- rum," tomus ii. , Mali viii. De S. Wirone Episcopo Ruremondoe in Gelria. Commen- tarius Prxvius Joanuis Bollandi, sect, ii. , num. II, 12, p. 311.
'•* See John D'AIton's " Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin," p. iS.
^ See his Life, at the Slh of March.
5° Etlited by Dis. Todd and Reeves, p. 121.
3' See ibid. , pp. 478, 479.
3' See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- '5 Ferrarius, in his General Catalogue of nix," viii. Maitii. Appendix ad Vitam S.
the Saints, follows the statement of Demp- ster.
'' Thus, 7"k" Capgrave, Gerbrandus a Leidis, John Wilson, in his " Martyrologium Anglicanum," Canisius, in his German Martyrology, Constantius Ghinius in " Na- talibus Sanctorum Canonicorum," Mirxus, Molanus, and Petriis Galesinius, in his Martyrology, all make St. Wiro an Irish- man. Ag. iin, Willilirordus Boschartius, of the Order of Premunst rants, in the Abbey of Tungcrloo, writes : " Wiro oriundus crat ex
Scnani, cap. iii. , p. 538 {rccle), or p. 542. 33 This was an ancient district of Tho-
mond, now erected into a barony.
3^ See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome v. , viii=. Jour de Mai.
p. 404.
35 In his "History of the Anglo-Saxon
Church," chap, xiii. , n. 12.
3" Alcuin, de Pontificibus Ebor. v. 1045. 37 Sec note 12 to chap. iii.
38 Sec "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, viii. , note 105.
May 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
to day, his merits and good dispositions became more pronounced ; so that he grew up, flourishing as a pahn tree before the Almighty, and as a cedar in the house of God. His zeal to advance in all virtue was noticed, nor were bounds given to his holy desires ; he was steady of purpose, when obstacles interposed; whileinprosperity,hisserenityofsoulwasnoticeable. According to some writers, St. VViro was a monk pg but, this statement is not to be in- ferred, from his earliest known biography. His vigils were constant ; he prayed and he fasted. As examples for his imitation, and holy rivalry, he proposed those of the illustrious Fathers of the Irish Church : such as St. Patrick,'I" St. Columkille,'*' St. Cuthbert,-'^ the pillars of his country, and the luminaries of the world. Thus, he was filled with Apostolic desires, to spread the Gospel in distant places ; while daily and nightly were his prayers and fasts directed to implore their intercession, so that no obstacle might be in- interposed to his self-sacrificing zeal, and to prevent the natural tendency of the flesh to prevail against the purity of his intentions. His youth is said to havebeendistinguished,bytheperformanceofmiracles. 43 Suchwashisre- putation, that at an early period of life, he was called upon to assume the responsibilities of the episcopal office, when one of the Irish bishops died, and left his See vacant. The people of the place, conscious of St. Wiro's merits, were unanimous in wishing him to succeed in that office. But, the humble man declined such an honour, and declared, that he prefered the situation and con- ditionofadiscipletothatofamaster. InfillingthevacantSeeofabishop, however, the voice of the people was by no means sufficient ; he upon whom their choice had fallen must gain also the vote of the clerg}^ and receive ordination from the bishops of the neighbouring churches, before he could be considered a member of the episcopal body of the Catholic Church. 44 While Dempster states, that Wiro was appointed Bishop of Dunblane,4S his country- man Camerarius^^ will have it, that he ruled over the See of Glasgow ;47 but, these statements are given, without quoting any authority. Again, it has been said, that he was a Bishop in England. 4^ Although Wiro's objections were strongly urged at first, in opposition to the especial wishes of the clergy and people, his assent was at length reluctantly obtained. 49 Then, he made preparation for his departure, to visit the Eternal City and to have an interview witli its Sovereign Pontiff.
39 This is stated, by Trithemius, in his work, " De Viris Illustribus Ordinis S. Benedicti,"cap. cclxiii.
46 jn his worl<, "De Scotorum Pietate," lib. iii.
^^ St. Kentigern is the reputed founder of 4° See his Life, aheady given at the 17th of this See, and there he is buried. See John
March. '
4' His Life occurs, at the 9th of June.
4* See his Life, at tlie 20th of March.
43 So states Dempster, in these words,
"qui etiam ab infantia miraculis emicuit," &c.
44 " Ordinarily the election was conducted under the superintendence of bishops of the province ; and not unfrequently, the bishops alone elected, their choice being afterwards approved by the people. "—Dollingei's " History of the Church," Dr. Cox's Trans- lation, vol. i. , period i. , chap, iii. , sect, ii. , p. 243.
Lesley, " De Gestis Scotorum," lib. ii. , cap. vii,
•'^According to Trithemius, "De Viris IHustribus Ordinis S. Benedict! ," cap. cclxiii. He is called " S. Wiro Episcopus Deiro- rum," in an old Life of St. Swibert—vene- rated at the 1st of March—and which has been attributed to St. Marcellinus.
49 " Erat ejus insula consuetudo, ut primo eligerint incolce Episcopum, deinde electum Romam mitterent, Summi Pontificis mani- bus consecrandum, atqueitaque demumred- diturum ad sedem suam. Itaque licet mul- tum refragraretur Sanctus Vviro, non tamen
45According to Hector Boetius, it was only a sua sententia discessit plebs fidelis, sed
in the time of King David L of Scotland, who begin to reign al)Out A. D. 1121, that four new Sees, viz. , Ross, Dunkeld, Brechin and -Dunblane were established. See " His- toria Scotia;," lib. xii. , fol. 264.
etiam ilium invitnm eligens, compulit tan- dem assenliii. "—Acta S. Vvironis Episcopi. See Surius, " De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis," ad diem viii. Mali,
5° Xhe ancient name was Ath Cliath.
,
122
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 8.
He was elected Bishop of Dublin s°—as is generally thought s'—but incor- rectly ; for, Dublin was not then erected into a See. This city, however, boasts a considerable antiquity, for Ptolemy, about a. d. 140, sets a town there, and calls it " Civitas Eblan'a. " By the old Irish, it seems to have been named Ath-cliath-dubhlinne, " the Ford of Hurdles of the Black Pool," more com- monly given, Ath-cliath, " Hurdleford,"5^ or Baile-ath-cliath, " Hurdleford- town/'^^Dubhlinn, or " Black Pool," was originally the name of the estuary or part of the estuary on the Liffey. 53 For several centuries, it was not remark- able for its growth or population ; but, the Northmen took Ath-cliath, a. d.
836, according to the Donegal annalists. In their hands, it began to take rank as a capit°al 3S4 and, its importance was deemed to be so great, that it was
'**=f->^^^--w^:=
Dublin from the LifTey, at Wood Quay, and Christ Church Cathedral, in the distance.
surrounded by strong walls. Near the old Celtic dim or fortification, which connnanded a pass over the Lififey, and at a part of the river, called Dubhlitiu,^^ or "the black pool," was built the Church of the Holy Trinity, since called Christ Church Cathedral. s^ This is said to have been erected, about the year
5< The county of Dublin has its name from Archbishops of Dublin," p. 19. the city. See William'Allingham's article, 5^ There were several minor places in Erin on Irish Names of Places, in Frazer's
5' See John D'Alton's "Memoirs of the
" Mag. izine for Town and Country. "
55 From this, the Irish capital derives its picked out the Dubh linn—Latinized now generally accepted name. See W. F. Wakcman's " Tourists' Guide to Ireland,"
called Ath-cliath, " Ilunlleford. "
53 They were foreigners, probably, who
Eblana—and fixed that for the nnme of this
place, on the dark-watered LifTey, at the
lowest ford over tlie river, just before it ex-
panded into its estuary. Naturally it was as lately restored i>y Mr. Roe, " the eminent an early place of settlement, owing to its Dublin distiller. " will be found in the work
fine situation, and ready access botJi by sea just quoted. See ibid,
and land.
5' The accompanying illustration was
p. 62.
5* An interesting engraving of this church,
123
1038, by the Northmen citizens ; although, there can hardly be any question, but that a more ancient church occupied its site. It was built on an elevated situation, and in the oldest part of the city. s7
In accordance with the prevailing custom, it is related, that St. Wiro pro- ceeded to Rome, for the purpose of receiving consecration, at the hands of the Pope ; and, he sailed over to England, taking with him the Priest, St. Plechelmus. 58 The latter was distinguished, likewise, for his holy life and high reputation, and he was about the same age as Wiro. In England, these were joined by a virtuous Deacon, named Othgerus,s9 who was desirous of leading a most perfect life. Charmed with the purpose and conversation of the Irish visitors, he resolved on accompanying them, leaving to Divine Providence the disposition of his future career. The author of St. Wiro's Life tells us,,that after a prosperous voyage, he arrived at Rome, with his com- panions ; that they devoutly visited the shrine of St. Peter and St. Paul, where they offered up their prayers and vows before the altar, and bedewed the
pavement with their tears. When the Roman Pontiff^" heard of their arrival, they were summoned before him. This order they immediately obeyed. When the Pope beheld Wiro, struck with the angelic expression of his coun- tenance, he accurately conjectured the dispositions and fervour of soul, which such an exterior indicated ; and, unable to control an excess of affection towards the saint, the Pontiff rushed impulsively into his arms, and kissed himwithtearsofaffection. ThePopemadeinquiriesabouthisname,country, andbusiness. Thisinformationoursaintrevealed,yetwithmuchreluctance. Falling on his knees at the feet of the Pontiff, Wiro declared his repugnance to assume the office of bishop, and besought him, but in vain, to withhold assent fromthepopularappoiniment. Tothisrequest,thePopewouldnotaccede. SoonWiroreceivedepiscopalconsecrationathishands. Hewasafterwards dismissed, with many presents, and recommended to return for Ireland
; although, it seems to have been his most earnest desire, even to have engaged
himself on a foreign mission. At the same time, Plechelm was elevated to the dignity of the episcopate ; while, the Sovereign Pontiff bestowed on both the relics of saints, and other gifts, to mark his esteem and affection for the holy strangers. ^'
On the way to his own country, St. Wiro crossed over the Alps,^^ in obedience to a mandate of the Sovereign Pontiff; and, afterwards, he sailed onthatStrait,whichinterposedbetweenhimandthelandofhisbirth. Itissaid, moreover, that Wiro returned to his appointed See, and was received with much joy on his arrival, by the clergy and people of his cathedral.
While filling this exalted position of bishop, every day manifested more his fitness
for the office. His morals and example were lights to his faithful people while, his doctrine and teaching were directed to lead, them in the paths of life eternal. After presiding over that portion of the Irish Church, for some
drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman,
in 1884, to exhibit the existing view from
the north side of the River Liffey, the upper
part of the cathedral appearing in the back-
ground. It was afterwards transferred by consecrated Bishop, by Pope Honorius I, him to the wood, which was engraved by
This Father John Bolland will not admit. ^' See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus ii. Vita Auctore Anonymo, and, in the diocese of Rurimond, he has Ex Schedis Willielmi Lindani Episcop'i
Mrs. Millard.
ns His Acts are given, at the 15th of July ;
another festival, at the 26th of the same Ruremondensis, sect. 5, p. 316.
month.
59 His feast occurs, on the lOth of Sep-
tember.
*° The Bollandists suppose, that he was
^- In his time, this was the course invaria- bly taken by Irish travellers to and from Rome.
^^ See the Eollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
St. Sergius, who ruled from a. d. 687 to 701. He also consecrated St. Willebrord as Bis- hop. However, Gabriel Bucelin and John Spotiswod think, that St. Wiro had been
;
May 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
—
124 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 8.
time, being moved by missionary zeal for the conversion of unbelievers, he resigned his episcopal charge, because his soul thirsted to gain in foreign lands a more abundant harvest of souls. Seeking a favourable time and opportunity for leaving his native countr)', Wiro took with him the holy Bis- hop Plechalm and the virtuous Deacon Otger, as the companions of his journey. Neither the considerations of fomily or of temporal ease could obstruct that early feeling, which still burned within his soul ; and, as we may infer from the words of the old writer of his Life, Wiro and his companions went through England, on their way to a more distant field of labour. ^5 With his com- panions, St. Wiro passed over into Gaul, after the year 680, as appears most probable ; and, while the power of the Mayors of the palace was established in that realm, under the nominal rulers, who w'ere called rotsfaineantsf*^ it is thought, he arrived there, to coinmence his missionary career.
CHAPTER II.
HIS LANDING IN GAUL—HONOURABLY RECEIVED BY PFPIN OF HERISTALL—HE SETTLES AT ROERMONDE OR RUREMOND—HIS ASCETIC AND APOSTOLIC LIFE WHILE LIVING THERE—HE BECOMES CONFESSOR AND COUNSELLOR OF DUKE TEPIN—ST. WIRO'S HAPPY DEPARTURE ON THE 8tH OF MAY—HE IS BURIED IN THE ORATORY OF MONS PETRI—SUBSEQUENT TRANSLATION OF HIS RELICS—HIS ECCLESIASTICAL COMMEMORATIONS—CONCLUSION.
The course by sea was a favourable one ; but, landing on the shore of Gaul,' St. Wiro gave thanks to the Almighty for his safe deliverance from the perils of the sea, and still more, that he had been saved from that shipwreck, which the world makes of souls. As yet, he had not defined the scene for his future settlement, which he left to the Almighty's wise decree. However, he wished rather to be an exile and a pauper in a strange country, than to be rich and renowned in the land of his birth,^ At that time, Pepin of Her5tall,3 the father of Charles Martel, appears to have enjoyed great power and an exten- sive rule in France. ^ He soon heard about the arrival of tliose pious pilgrims, who were now within the bounds of his dominions ; and, filled with joy, he invited them to his presence. In return, St. Wiro, with his companions.
Article V. St. Airaran. In the Franciscan copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, at the 7th of May, a feast is entered for Airaran. ' It is omitted from the published copy ; nor do we find such a record, in any other authority, so that it may be supposed, there is some error in the entry.
eigl)tl) J3ai) of iBap*
ARTICLE I. —ST. WIRO, BISHOP IN IRELAND, AND APOSTLE OF GUELDRES, BELGIUM.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—AUTHORITIES FOR ST. WIRO's BIOGRAPHY—HIS FAMILY AND BIRTH HIS EARLY TRAINING AND DISPOSITIONS—ELECTED BISHOP—HE LEAVES IRELAND FOR ROME, IN COMPANY WITH SAINTS PLECHELM AND OTGER—THKIR RECEPTION BY THE POPE, WHO CONSECRATED WIRO AS BISHOP—THEY RETURN TO IRELAND,
WHERE WIRO EXERCISED EPISCOPAL FUNCTIONS—HIS FIRM RESOLVE TO BECOME A MISSIONARY ABROAD—HE LEAVES IRELAND A SECOND TIME, AND HE PASSES OVER TO GAUL.
WHETHER our Island deserves the greater merit, for having sent innumerable Doctors and Apostles to convert and enlighten the people of the continent, or for having attracted to itself, as to a hive of learn-
ing and monastic piety, Italians, Gauls, Germans, Britons, Picts and Saxons, with people of other countries, who flocked thither, in order to acquire sacred and secular branches of learning,' and to lead lives of strict holiness, may exer- cisespeculativeopinion. Itwasacradleoflearningandofasceticism,forEuro-
Article IV. — ' Thus is he entered, in "Menologium Scoticum :" "vii. Ila^ul- stadice Eata; episcopi, qui ex Abbale Mail- rosice Apostolus Nordanynibrorum et Lindis-
farnx Archiepiscopus, inter claiisbinia Scotiae luniinacensendus. "
" See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 198.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
ec ^ip ApAni, meaning " and Airar. in. " Article i. —Chapter i. — ' " Des fiottes d'etudiants font voile de toutes parts vers I'lrlande ; ils y vont chercher des mai- tres de grec. de latin, d'ecrituie sainte, et Ics ecoles hibernoises deviennent le ren<iez-
vous general des pelorins dc la science. " Urbain Sinardet's " Synchronisme des Lit- teratures depuis leur origine jusq 'a nos
jours, considerees dans leurs rapports avec
—' After the entry of Moch- socials. Cinquieme Epoque, sect, xii. , p. "_
Among the pretermitted saints,
uaroc's name, another distinct line is given, 2S4.
—7
May 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 119
pean scholars, while many distinguished and pious men are recorded to have lived and died in Ireland. In our ancient records, and in the Lives of our Saints, such as in those of St. Patrick, of St. Kieran, ofSt. Declan, of St. Albeus, of St. Columkille, of St. Endeus, of St. Maidoc, of St. Senan, and of St. Brenan, besides in various other similar biographies, relations confirmatory of these assertions are found. From St. ^Engus' " Book of Litanies," alone, we find innumerable native saints, its author invokes, as also, several holy men placed on the list of foreign saints, and who were buried in Ireland. The chief authority for tiie Acts of St. Wiro is an old Life, by an anonymous writer, and which came into the possession of Wilhelm Lindan, the first Bishop of Rure- mond. ThishasbeencomparedandcollatedwithanotherManuscriptcopy, by Father John BoUand; as various changes or alterations have been admitted, in more recent compilations. We find, that a Life of St. Wiro has been written by John Capgrave,^ as also in the Hystorie Plurimorum Sancto- rum, 3 and in Lippeloo 4; while Mirseus has son^e notices of St. Wiro, at the 8thofMayfasalsoMolanus. ^ ThomasDempsterliasanaccountofhim. Again, Laurence Surius,^ who usually follows the old Memoir by Wilhelm Ivindan 9—but who changed the style from that copy of the old Manuscript in his possession—has published his Acts, at the 8th of May, in five para- graphs. Baronius ^° also borrowed his notices from this source. The Acts of St. Wiro seem also to have been prepared by Colgan for publication, at the8thofMay. " TheBollandistsgivehisActs,"andtheseareintroduced byapreviouscommentary,'3 thecompositionofFatherJohnBoUandhim- self. Likewise, the "Acta Sanctorum Belgii,"''* Father Adrien Baillet,'5 Bishop Challenor,^^ the Rev. Alban Butler,'? John D'Alton,'^ and Bishop Forbes,'? record his Life, at this same date, as also the Rev. S. Baring-Gould. ^° In the " Scoti-Chronicon "-' of Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon, there is an account of St. Wiro, as in " Les Petits Bollandistes,"^^ at this date.
This holy bishop was born in Scotia,^3 or Ireland,^4 although the particu-
- See " Legenda Nova Anglias," fol. cccvii. , cccviii. , for Octavo Idus Maii.
3 Printed at Louvain, A. D. 1485. It has Wiroepiscopus et Confessor, foL Ixviii. , Ixix. * See "Vitse Sanctorum," vol. ii. , pp. 614,
to 617, at 8th of May.
5 See " Fasti Belgici et Bm-gundici," pp.
23810 241.
* See " Natales Sanctorum Belgii," in
three paragraphs, pp. 89, 90. _
7 See " Histovia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum,"tomus ii. , lib. xix. , num. 1167.
* See " L)e Probatis Sanctorum Vitis,"
vol. iii. , Maiiviii. , pp. 28, 29.
5 However, the two first paragraphs of
thisLife—aspubli. ^hedbytheBollandists have been omitted in the work ofSurius. These do not contain any biographical par- ticulars of great interest, as they are chiefly prefatory.
'° See " Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus viii. , ad A. D. 631, num. 8, et seq.
" Accordifig to " Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum qure MS. habentur, ordine Men- slum et Dierum. "
" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. De S. Wirone Episcopo Ruremundae in Gelria, pp. 309 to 320.
'3 This is in Three Sections, and in Thirty-two paragraphs.
''' Tomus v. , Maii viii. These Acts of St. Wiro, Bishop of Ruiimond, at the 8th of May, are a Vita S. Wironis, auctoie anony- mo, ex schedis Wilhelmi Lindani Episcopi Rurimondensis, sections l to 9. Also a Translatio Ecclesire collegiate ex Monte S. Odilise in urbem Rurcemondam, sections i to II. These are preceded by a commen- tary of J. BoUandus, in three sections, pp. 343 to 369.
'S See " Les Vies des Saints," tome ii. , pp. 152, 153.
'^ See "Britannia Sancta,'' part i. , jip. 182, 183.
''' See"LivesoftheFathers,Mart)rsand otherprincipalSaints,"vol. v. , Mayviii.
"® See "Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin," pp. 18 to 20.
'^ See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints" p. 459.
^° See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , pp. 116, 117.
-' See vol. i. , p. 67.
" See " Vies des Saints," tome v. viii=. , Jour de Mai, pp. 404, 405.
^3 "Sanctum Wironem produxit Scotia, fertilis Sanctorum virorum insula, Scotus enim patria fuit Wiro. "—" Batavia Sacra, sive Res Gestw Apostolorum \irorum qui fidem Batavi:s primi intulerunt. " L pars,,
_
I20 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 8.
lar country of his birth has been challenged by certain writers. 's However, the great bulk of autliority,'^ and all the inferences to be drawn from our saint's earlier Acts, tend to estal)lish beyond question the fact, that Ireland was the land to which his nativity must be referred. '^ The parents of St. Wiro are thought to have been of considerable rank,^^ and to have belonged to that race, from wliom St. Senan ^9 drew his origin. In accounts of the present holy man, his name is written indiscriminately, Wyro, or Wiro ; but, we doubt, if this correspond closely with his original Irish etymon, which now is probably unknown. He descended from the race of Conaire, son to Mogh- lamha, who was King of Eirn, and who belonged to the progeny of Eremon.
In a Table, appended to the Donegal Martyrology,3° the commentator calls
him Viron, i. e. , Feron. 3' St. Wiro's father was named Cuan, and liis grand-
father's name was Lugid. This latter was the son of Fintan, the son of
Mechar, son to Conchrius, son of Decius, son to Imchad, son of Corb, &c. ,
according to the " Sanctilogic Genealogy. "32 Wiro is said to have lived at
the place, called Corcobaschin,33 in the county of Clare. There, it is sup-
posed, our saint was born, early in the seventh century,34 but in what year is
uncertain. However, although the Irish writers consider Wiro as their country-
man ; on the assumed authority of Alcuin, the Rev. Dr. Lingard has called him
anAnglo-Saxon. 35 Forsuchanassertion,hequotesanoldLatinPoem,on
the Bishops of York. 3^ To this claim, Dr. Lanigan responds, that in the said
poem 37—which by-the-bye was not written by Alcuin—there is not a word
about Wiro, at that verse quoted, nor, as far as he could find, in any other
38
part of it.
The early training of Wiro in learning and virtue, by the guardians of his
youth, had not been neglected, as his after life and labours proved. From day
p. 80. Thomas Dempster, as usual, claims for his own country of Scotland the birth of this holy man, or at least, at the 12th of this month, he is noted as Archbishop of Dun- blane, although he afterwards adds, " ut tunc moris erat nulli certK sedi alligati," &c. See "MenologiumScoticum," in Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 198.
** Father John Boland, although admit- ting that John Capgrave makes our saint a native of Hibernia or Ireland, seems to tliink, the original Continental writer of his Acts, must have imagined, that he was born in North Britain ; thus connecting Saints Patrick, Columba or Cuthbert with this quarter, although Venerable Bede states, " Hiberniam proprire patriam Scotorum esse. "—"Historia Ecclesiastica Genlis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. i.
veteri Scotia ; quae nunc dicitur Hibernia : ibi egit. ibi in Episcopum est electus, inde Roman ivit consecrandus, inde reversus in Gallias transivit. "—" De Primis Vetei is Frisise Apostolis," Dissertatio Ixxxiii, The Office of Ruremond Church, keeping the local tradition, accords with the foregoing authors.
'7 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto- rum," tomus ii. , Mali viii. De S. Wirone Episcopo Ruremondoe in Gelria. Commen- tarius Prxvius Joanuis Bollandi, sect, ii. , num. II, 12, p. 311.
'•* See John D'AIton's " Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin," p. iS.
^ See his Life, at the Slh of March.
5° Etlited by Dis. Todd and Reeves, p. 121.
3' See ibid. , pp. 478, 479.
3' See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- '5 Ferrarius, in his General Catalogue of nix," viii. Maitii. Appendix ad Vitam S.
the Saints, follows the statement of Demp- ster.
'' Thus, 7"k" Capgrave, Gerbrandus a Leidis, John Wilson, in his " Martyrologium Anglicanum," Canisius, in his German Martyrology, Constantius Ghinius in " Na- talibus Sanctorum Canonicorum," Mirxus, Molanus, and Petriis Galesinius, in his Martyrology, all make St. Wiro an Irish- man. Ag. iin, Willilirordus Boschartius, of the Order of Premunst rants, in the Abbey of Tungcrloo, writes : " Wiro oriundus crat ex
Scnani, cap. iii. , p. 538 {rccle), or p. 542. 33 This was an ancient district of Tho-
mond, now erected into a barony.
3^ See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome v. , viii=. Jour de Mai.
p. 404.
35 In his "History of the Anglo-Saxon
Church," chap, xiii. , n. 12.
3" Alcuin, de Pontificibus Ebor. v. 1045. 37 Sec note 12 to chap. iii.
38 Sec "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, viii. , note 105.
May 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
to day, his merits and good dispositions became more pronounced ; so that he grew up, flourishing as a pahn tree before the Almighty, and as a cedar in the house of God. His zeal to advance in all virtue was noticed, nor were bounds given to his holy desires ; he was steady of purpose, when obstacles interposed; whileinprosperity,hisserenityofsoulwasnoticeable. According to some writers, St. VViro was a monk pg but, this statement is not to be in- ferred, from his earliest known biography. His vigils were constant ; he prayed and he fasted. As examples for his imitation, and holy rivalry, he proposed those of the illustrious Fathers of the Irish Church : such as St. Patrick,'I" St. Columkille,'*' St. Cuthbert,-'^ the pillars of his country, and the luminaries of the world. Thus, he was filled with Apostolic desires, to spread the Gospel in distant places ; while daily and nightly were his prayers and fasts directed to implore their intercession, so that no obstacle might be in- interposed to his self-sacrificing zeal, and to prevent the natural tendency of the flesh to prevail against the purity of his intentions. His youth is said to havebeendistinguished,bytheperformanceofmiracles. 43 Suchwashisre- putation, that at an early period of life, he was called upon to assume the responsibilities of the episcopal office, when one of the Irish bishops died, and left his See vacant. The people of the place, conscious of St. Wiro's merits, were unanimous in wishing him to succeed in that office. But, the humble man declined such an honour, and declared, that he prefered the situation and con- ditionofadiscipletothatofamaster. InfillingthevacantSeeofabishop, however, the voice of the people was by no means sufficient ; he upon whom their choice had fallen must gain also the vote of the clerg}^ and receive ordination from the bishops of the neighbouring churches, before he could be considered a member of the episcopal body of the Catholic Church. 44 While Dempster states, that Wiro was appointed Bishop of Dunblane,4S his country- man Camerarius^^ will have it, that he ruled over the See of Glasgow ;47 but, these statements are given, without quoting any authority. Again, it has been said, that he was a Bishop in England. 4^ Although Wiro's objections were strongly urged at first, in opposition to the especial wishes of the clergy and people, his assent was at length reluctantly obtained. 49 Then, he made preparation for his departure, to visit the Eternal City and to have an interview witli its Sovereign Pontiff.
39 This is stated, by Trithemius, in his work, " De Viris Illustribus Ordinis S. Benedicti,"cap. cclxiii.
46 jn his worl<, "De Scotorum Pietate," lib. iii.
^^ St. Kentigern is the reputed founder of 4° See his Life, aheady given at the 17th of this See, and there he is buried. See John
March. '
4' His Life occurs, at the 9th of June.
4* See his Life, at tlie 20th of March.
43 So states Dempster, in these words,
"qui etiam ab infantia miraculis emicuit," &c.
44 " Ordinarily the election was conducted under the superintendence of bishops of the province ; and not unfrequently, the bishops alone elected, their choice being afterwards approved by the people. "—Dollingei's " History of the Church," Dr. Cox's Trans- lation, vol. i. , period i. , chap, iii. , sect, ii. , p. 243.
Lesley, " De Gestis Scotorum," lib. ii. , cap. vii,
•'^According to Trithemius, "De Viris IHustribus Ordinis S. Benedict! ," cap. cclxiii. He is called " S. Wiro Episcopus Deiro- rum," in an old Life of St. Swibert—vene- rated at the 1st of March—and which has been attributed to St. Marcellinus.
49 " Erat ejus insula consuetudo, ut primo eligerint incolce Episcopum, deinde electum Romam mitterent, Summi Pontificis mani- bus consecrandum, atqueitaque demumred- diturum ad sedem suam. Itaque licet mul- tum refragraretur Sanctus Vviro, non tamen
45According to Hector Boetius, it was only a sua sententia discessit plebs fidelis, sed
in the time of King David L of Scotland, who begin to reign al)Out A. D. 1121, that four new Sees, viz. , Ross, Dunkeld, Brechin and -Dunblane were established. See " His- toria Scotia;," lib. xii. , fol. 264.
etiam ilium invitnm eligens, compulit tan- dem assenliii. "—Acta S. Vvironis Episcopi. See Surius, " De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis," ad diem viii. Mali,
5° Xhe ancient name was Ath Cliath.
,
122
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 8.
He was elected Bishop of Dublin s°—as is generally thought s'—but incor- rectly ; for, Dublin was not then erected into a See. This city, however, boasts a considerable antiquity, for Ptolemy, about a. d. 140, sets a town there, and calls it " Civitas Eblan'a. " By the old Irish, it seems to have been named Ath-cliath-dubhlinne, " the Ford of Hurdles of the Black Pool," more com- monly given, Ath-cliath, " Hurdleford,"5^ or Baile-ath-cliath, " Hurdleford- town/'^^Dubhlinn, or " Black Pool," was originally the name of the estuary or part of the estuary on the Liffey. 53 For several centuries, it was not remark- able for its growth or population ; but, the Northmen took Ath-cliath, a. d.
836, according to the Donegal annalists. In their hands, it began to take rank as a capit°al 3S4 and, its importance was deemed to be so great, that it was
'**=f->^^^--w^:=
Dublin from the LifTey, at Wood Quay, and Christ Church Cathedral, in the distance.
surrounded by strong walls. Near the old Celtic dim or fortification, which connnanded a pass over the Lififey, and at a part of the river, called Dubhlitiu,^^ or "the black pool," was built the Church of the Holy Trinity, since called Christ Church Cathedral. s^ This is said to have been erected, about the year
5< The county of Dublin has its name from Archbishops of Dublin," p. 19. the city. See William'Allingham's article, 5^ There were several minor places in Erin on Irish Names of Places, in Frazer's
5' See John D'Alton's "Memoirs of the
" Mag. izine for Town and Country. "
55 From this, the Irish capital derives its picked out the Dubh linn—Latinized now generally accepted name. See W. F. Wakcman's " Tourists' Guide to Ireland,"
called Ath-cliath, " Ilunlleford. "
53 They were foreigners, probably, who
Eblana—and fixed that for the nnme of this
place, on the dark-watered LifTey, at the
lowest ford over tlie river, just before it ex-
panded into its estuary. Naturally it was as lately restored i>y Mr. Roe, " the eminent an early place of settlement, owing to its Dublin distiller. " will be found in the work
fine situation, and ready access botJi by sea just quoted. See ibid,
and land.
5' The accompanying illustration was
p. 62.
5* An interesting engraving of this church,
123
1038, by the Northmen citizens ; although, there can hardly be any question, but that a more ancient church occupied its site. It was built on an elevated situation, and in the oldest part of the city. s7
In accordance with the prevailing custom, it is related, that St. Wiro pro- ceeded to Rome, for the purpose of receiving consecration, at the hands of the Pope ; and, he sailed over to England, taking with him the Priest, St. Plechelmus. 58 The latter was distinguished, likewise, for his holy life and high reputation, and he was about the same age as Wiro. In England, these were joined by a virtuous Deacon, named Othgerus,s9 who was desirous of leading a most perfect life. Charmed with the purpose and conversation of the Irish visitors, he resolved on accompanying them, leaving to Divine Providence the disposition of his future career. The author of St. Wiro's Life tells us,,that after a prosperous voyage, he arrived at Rome, with his com- panions ; that they devoutly visited the shrine of St. Peter and St. Paul, where they offered up their prayers and vows before the altar, and bedewed the
pavement with their tears. When the Roman Pontiff^" heard of their arrival, they were summoned before him. This order they immediately obeyed. When the Pope beheld Wiro, struck with the angelic expression of his coun- tenance, he accurately conjectured the dispositions and fervour of soul, which such an exterior indicated ; and, unable to control an excess of affection towards the saint, the Pontiff rushed impulsively into his arms, and kissed himwithtearsofaffection. ThePopemadeinquiriesabouthisname,country, andbusiness. Thisinformationoursaintrevealed,yetwithmuchreluctance. Falling on his knees at the feet of the Pontiff, Wiro declared his repugnance to assume the office of bishop, and besought him, but in vain, to withhold assent fromthepopularappoiniment. Tothisrequest,thePopewouldnotaccede. SoonWiroreceivedepiscopalconsecrationathishands. Hewasafterwards dismissed, with many presents, and recommended to return for Ireland
; although, it seems to have been his most earnest desire, even to have engaged
himself on a foreign mission. At the same time, Plechelm was elevated to the dignity of the episcopate ; while, the Sovereign Pontiff bestowed on both the relics of saints, and other gifts, to mark his esteem and affection for the holy strangers. ^'
On the way to his own country, St. Wiro crossed over the Alps,^^ in obedience to a mandate of the Sovereign Pontiff; and, afterwards, he sailed onthatStrait,whichinterposedbetweenhimandthelandofhisbirth. Itissaid, moreover, that Wiro returned to his appointed See, and was received with much joy on his arrival, by the clergy and people of his cathedral.
While filling this exalted position of bishop, every day manifested more his fitness
for the office. His morals and example were lights to his faithful people while, his doctrine and teaching were directed to lead, them in the paths of life eternal. After presiding over that portion of the Irish Church, for some
drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman,
in 1884, to exhibit the existing view from
the north side of the River Liffey, the upper
part of the cathedral appearing in the back-
ground. It was afterwards transferred by consecrated Bishop, by Pope Honorius I, him to the wood, which was engraved by
This Father John Bolland will not admit. ^' See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus ii. Vita Auctore Anonymo, and, in the diocese of Rurimond, he has Ex Schedis Willielmi Lindani Episcop'i
Mrs. Millard.
ns His Acts are given, at the 15th of July ;
another festival, at the 26th of the same Ruremondensis, sect. 5, p. 316.
month.
59 His feast occurs, on the lOth of Sep-
tember.
*° The Bollandists suppose, that he was
^- In his time, this was the course invaria- bly taken by Irish travellers to and from Rome.
^^ See the Eollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
St. Sergius, who ruled from a. d. 687 to 701. He also consecrated St. Willebrord as Bis- hop. However, Gabriel Bucelin and John Spotiswod think, that St. Wiro had been
;
May 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
—
124 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 8.
time, being moved by missionary zeal for the conversion of unbelievers, he resigned his episcopal charge, because his soul thirsted to gain in foreign lands a more abundant harvest of souls. Seeking a favourable time and opportunity for leaving his native countr)', Wiro took with him the holy Bis- hop Plechalm and the virtuous Deacon Otger, as the companions of his journey. Neither the considerations of fomily or of temporal ease could obstruct that early feeling, which still burned within his soul ; and, as we may infer from the words of the old writer of his Life, Wiro and his companions went through England, on their way to a more distant field of labour. ^5 With his com- panions, St. Wiro passed over into Gaul, after the year 680, as appears most probable ; and, while the power of the Mayors of the palace was established in that realm, under the nominal rulers, who w'ere called rotsfaineantsf*^ it is thought, he arrived there, to coinmence his missionary career.
CHAPTER II.
HIS LANDING IN GAUL—HONOURABLY RECEIVED BY PFPIN OF HERISTALL—HE SETTLES AT ROERMONDE OR RUREMOND—HIS ASCETIC AND APOSTOLIC LIFE WHILE LIVING THERE—HE BECOMES CONFESSOR AND COUNSELLOR OF DUKE TEPIN—ST. WIRO'S HAPPY DEPARTURE ON THE 8tH OF MAY—HE IS BURIED IN THE ORATORY OF MONS PETRI—SUBSEQUENT TRANSLATION OF HIS RELICS—HIS ECCLESIASTICAL COMMEMORATIONS—CONCLUSION.
The course by sea was a favourable one ; but, landing on the shore of Gaul,' St. Wiro gave thanks to the Almighty for his safe deliverance from the perils of the sea, and still more, that he had been saved from that shipwreck, which the world makes of souls. As yet, he had not defined the scene for his future settlement, which he left to the Almighty's wise decree. However, he wished rather to be an exile and a pauper in a strange country, than to be rich and renowned in the land of his birth,^ At that time, Pepin of Her5tall,3 the father of Charles Martel, appears to have enjoyed great power and an exten- sive rule in France. ^ He soon heard about the arrival of tliose pious pilgrims, who were now within the bounds of his dominions ; and, filled with joy, he invited them to his presence. In return, St. Wiro, with his companions.
