No More Learning

andBoructuarians. BothWigbert,aholySaxonmonkwholivedinIreland, and himself, had attempted the work of conversion, but they failed in carry- ingittoasuccessfulissue. 18 ThereputationofEgbert'ssanctitywassogreat,
greatness for the love of Christ, and earnestly desiring to become perfect under a holy teacher, he resolved on following the example set by so many of his countrymen. Leaving his native land, relations and friends, he became at first a disciple of St. Egbert, who was then in Ireland. 20 There, Adalbert appears to have closely attached himself to his great master, as also to have in
every way profited by his example and instructions. The suavity and gentle- ness of his manners ; his humility and self-denial ; and his resolve to obtain salvation by persevering in virtue to the end of his days; these qualities were remarked by all, and therefore, he was destined to crown these good disposi- tions, by a life of active zeal for the salvation of others. He was ordained deacon,butheseemsnevertohavereceivedtheorderofPriesthood. 21 How- ever, when St. Willebrord 22 was destined by Heaven to carry the truths of the Christian religion among the pagans of the Low Countries, Adalbert no doubt felt desirous of humbly sharing in his labours. 23 The present saint is called a Levite, and he is commonly numbered 24 among those twelve apos- tolic men of the English nation, who were sent by Egbert to carry the light
ofthe Gospel to the Frisons. 2* These great missionaries adhered to St. Willebrord, the Apostle of the Netherlands. About this time, Pepin of Heristal had become very powerful in the Low Countries ; where that pious man received the missionaries with great veneration and hospitality. He felt delighted to learn, that Willibrord and his companions had devoted them- selves to the conversion of the heathens, By advice and recommendation of
6
their patron, St. Willibrord went to Rome, where he was consecrated bishop,' andhewasappointedtopresideovertheSeeofUtrecht. Inallhislabours, St. Adalbert was a willing and an efficient sharer. The latter was distin-
guished, especially for his great suavity of manners, humility and zeal for the
that he attracted numbers of Scots and
in Ireland. Owing to his distinguished birtb, Adalbert could have attained greattemporaladvantages,inhisowncountry. But,hedespisedallworldly
salvation of souls. the Supported by
of 2? who had King Pepin,
patronage
subdued Radbod,28 King of the Frisians, St. Willebrord and his missionaries
notably promoted the Faith of Christ, throughout the provinces where he preached. Theyconvertedinnumerablesoulsfromtheerrorsofpaganism.
St. Adalbert was actively employed, in preaching the word of Life to the Batavians or Hollanders. 2' His mission there is supposed to have com- menced about A. D. 700. 3° A great patron of St. Adalbert was Eggo. 31 from
,8 See Father John Mabillon's " Annales
Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xviii. ,
25 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , June 25, p. 386.
Bea Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
sect, iv. , pp. 591, 592.
19 See Surius' " De Probatis Sanctorum Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xviii. , sect, xvii. ,
Historiis," tomus iii. , Vita S. Adalberti Con- fessoris et Levitae, cap. i. , ii. , p. 925.
p. 597.
1 1 is wars with Radbod are very fully re-
lated by Paul the Deacon, in his "Historia Longabardorum," lib. vi. , cap. xxxvii. Edi- tio Raphelingica.
** In the year 693, he was vanquished and banished from his kingdom, according to Joannes a Leidis, lib. ii. , cap. ix.
** See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , June 25, p. 386.
3* See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vi. ,June xxv.
10 21
See Henry Fitzsimon's "Catalogus. "
See Rev. S. Paring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. , June 25, p. 361.
22 His feast occurs, on the 7th of Novem- ber.
23 See Surius' " De Probatis Sanctorum
Historiis,"tomusiii. , VitaS. AdalbertiCon-
fessoris et l. evita. *, cap. 3, p. 926.
24 See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxi. , p. 116.
sect,
lxv. ,
English
1* to his school, while he dwelt
June 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
797
whom Egmond 3* is thought to have been named, as he was lord over that place. 33 This was in a retired part of the country, but so attached to Adal- bert was the great man who resided there, and so pleased was he with the virtues of the holy missionary, that he cultivated a special friendship and social bond of union. To strengthen this the more, Adalbert became either the baptizer or sponsor of that chief's son. 34 By St. Willebrord, Adelbert was made Archdeacon over the church of Utrecht. 35 But, he loved retire- ment for spiritual exercises. At Egmund, he was engaged in the practice of those pious works, in which he continued persevering to the end. 36
Prayer and contemplation served to make him wholly perfect. After he had spent some time in Holland, Adalbert desired a return to his own people, as he
had intended that visit for their spiritual advantage. This purpose he com- municated to Eggo, who felt sorrowful at his departure. But, he was con- soled by Adalbert, who declared he should return again to Frisia. 37 A remarkable miracle took place, in confirmation of this promise, which was duly fulfilled. The course of St. Adalbert's labours continued uninterrupted, after revisiting the Low Countries ; while he began anew the pursuit of his virtuous life. At length, St. Adalbert was called by Almighty God to the reward of his labours, at Egmond,38 some time in the eighth century. 39 The parti- cular year of his death is not certainly known ; but, it is thought to have happened, about a. d. 740. 4° Buried at Egmond, in Holland, his tomb was there illustrated by many miracles, and it became an object of pious pilgrim- age. 41 IntheworkofSurius,anaccountofthevariouswonderstherewrought, and taken from his ancient Acts, but abridged, may be found. *2 These are supplemented from other reliable Manuscripts by the editor. *3 The miracles
of this saint were written by a monk of St. Egmund, in the twelfth century, and these are published by the Bollandists in three chapters. *4 Soon after our saint'sdeath,achurchappearstohavebeenerectedatEgmund,andit was dedicated to him. After the year 760,*$ and again in the year 856,*° incursions of Norman pirates on the shores of Holland caused the destruction of that church and city, as also of the whole surrounding country. A pious widow, named Eswar,*? who had often prayed to Adalbert, was reduced to great straits for food ; however, the Providence of God brought her daily a supply
"
De Probatis Sanctorum Vita S. Adalbert! Con-
39 See "De Probatis Sanctorum Surius,
Vitis," tomus iii. Vita S. Adalberti Con-
fessoris et Levitae, cap. 7, p. 927.
4° See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
vol. vi. , June xxv.
4I "Lives of See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 25.
** See "De Probatis Sanctorum Historiis,
tomus iii. Vita S. Adalberti Confessons et Levitae, cap. II, 12, 13, 14, I5> l6» J 7> l8» 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, pp. 928 to 930.
43 See ibid. , pp. 930 to 932. 44 Containing twelve sections.
3'
Vitis," tomus iii.
fessoris et Levitae, cap. 6, pp. 926, 927.
See Surius,
32 Now Egmont, the name of three villages in the Province of North Holland, on tne sea-coast. See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. v. , p. 159.
33 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
_
and other
Fathers, Martyrs vol. vi. , June xxv.
principal
Saints,"
3* In'the old Latin Life, it is thus equivo-
" Ad roborandum quoque hujus caritatis tenorem, filium ejus de sacro
fonte suscepit," &c.
35 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , June 25, p. 386.
36 See Surius, " De Probatis Sanctorum
cally expressed :
37 See Surius,
Historiis," tomus iii. Vita S. Adalberti Con- terment to the church of St. Adalbert in
fessoris et Levitae, cap. 5, p. 926.
Egmund. St. Jero is venerated as a
38
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 25, p. 361.
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
Martyr, August.
" Lives of
and his feast is held on the I7tli ot
43 According to the danum," cap. 111.
"
Chronicon Egmun-
* See ibid. , cap. v. At this time, St. Jero, a Priest, was beheaded by the pirates, at "De Probatis Sanctorum Nortwyck. His body was brought tor m-
Historiis," tomus iii. Vita S. Adalberti Con- fessoris et Levitae, cap. 4, 5, P- 926.
798 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 25.
from the ocean, and to the benignant intercession of her Patron, she attributed this miraculous aid in her necessities. The church of our saint which had been destroyed was again restored by a priest named Amalathus * 8 or Ama- lech, who was urged to this task by an angelic admonition. Nor was the pious work once commenced suffered to decline for want of miraculous assist- ance. Afterwards, it appears to have had an immunity from hostile incur- sions. In old records, the place is called Haec-munda,*9 and it is thought owing to that circumstance of its having been situated at the opening of a river into the ocean. For a long time, the body of St. Adalbert had lain under ground ; but, as the wonders wrought in that place had attracted a great concourse of pilgrims, so was it thrice revealed in her sleep to a holy nun, named Wilfsit or Vulsfit, that the remains should be raised and placed more conspicuously in a shrine.
This vision she communicated to Theodo- ric, the first count of Holland, who was a truly religious noble. He was
proprietor of the place, nor was he slow in adopting the suggestion. The
body of St. Adelbert was afterwards taken up by this Thierry or Theodoric I.
At that time, a pall, in which it had been wrapped, was found fresh and
entire 5° and, under his coffin was discovered a spring of most pure water. 51 ;
The power of this Theodoric commenced in Holland, about the year 922 ; as may be gleaned from the Chronicle of Flodoard ; and, it was conferred on him by Charles III. , surnamed the Simple, King of France. 52 According to the heavenly admonition, Theodoric began preparations for the construction ofawoodenoratory,andcalledhisvassalstolabouratthiswork. Tothe intercession of St. Adalbert. , he attributed being saved from drowning in a lake,whichhadbeenfrozenover,andwhensuddenlytheicebroke. The place selected for that oratory, by Theodoric, was called Hallen or rather Hallem. A great ceremonial had been arranged for the occasion, and several miracles were wrought there, during the transfer of those sacred remains. These were then deposited a. d. 941, in the chapel, built by that prince. 53 Soon the faithful began to frequent the place, in order to pray before the holy man's shrine, and to solicit spiritual and temporal favours. It would
seem, that owing to the negligence of its keepers, the oratory was twice a prey to the flames ; but, the pall and relics of the saint were most providen- tially saved from the conflagration. About the year 960, the death of Theo- doric I. took place; then his successor and son Theodoric II. assumed his position, being also a man devoted to religious observances. 54 Although the difficulties were great, in that part of the country, owing to the want of suit- able materials, he resolved on building a stone church, and in it to place a sarcophagus,asareceptacleforthebodyofSt. Adelbert. Hehadresolved, likewise, to appoint a company of religious men to take charge of it. In the tenth century, the monastery of Egmont was founded, likewise, in honour of
v In Surius, her name is written Eseuuar. See " De Probatis Sanctorum Historiis," tomus iii. Vita S. Adalberti, cap. 9, p. 927.
48 See ibid. , cap. IO.
*9 Supposed to be derived from the Teu- tonic word Mond, which means " the mouth of a river. "
were healed from various infirmities. The water was also carried away in bottles to distant places, where sick persons lay, and it is said to have effected many cures.
& Seethe particulars of his reign, in "The Modern Part of an Universal History from the earliest Accounts to the present Time," by the Authors of the Ancient Part, vol. xix. The History of France, chap, lxviii. ,
50 Beka adds : "Crux etiam aurea super
pectus ejusdem ibidem inventa est, quae sect, v. , pp. 388 to 401.
contra varias segritudines medecina salutaris est. "
5' A stone enclosure was afterwards placed around it, and many pilgrims flocked to this well, where they drank of its waters, and
"
53 See Mabillon's Benedicti,"tomusii. ,lib. xxi. ,sect. lxv. ,p. 1 16.
54 gee the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii xxv. De S. Adalberto Dia- cono Egmundae in Hollandia.
Annales Ordinis S.
June 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
799
our saint. ss It was occupied by Benedictine monks. The body of St. Adalbert was translated, by Theodoric II. , son of the first bearing that name,
—
to that famous monastery. The oratory at first built of wood as were most
—
had
the year 1572, it was utterly destroyed by the Reformers. St. Adalbert is venerated, at the 25th of June. In the church of Utrecht, he had an Office, with a Double Rite, and with Proper Lessons. Adalbertus is entered, on the same day, in the anonymous Calendar, published by O'Sullevan Beare. 60 The name of St. Adelbert occurs at this date, in several Martyrologies; and, it is that usually assigned for his feast, in most of the Calendars. In Manu- script Martyrologies of St. Martin at Treves, of St. Richarius at Centule, and of St. Gudule at Bruxelles, as also in Florarius and others, he is thus commemo- rated. In others printed at Cologne and Lubeck, towards the close of the fifteenthcentury,intheadditionsofGrevenandMolanustoUsuard; asalso, in the Indiculus and Natales Sanctorum Belgii of the latter ; his feast is to be seen at this date. His festival is entered in the English Martyrology of John Wilson. This holy man is noticed in the German, French and Belgium Martyrologies. Thus, in Ghinius, Trithemius, Wion, Menard, Bucelin, in the German Martyrology of Canisius, in the Gallican Martyrology of Saussay, among the Westphalian Feasts of Joannes Velde, the festival of this holy man is recorded. 61 The feast of St. Adalbertus is entered, likewise, in the Roman
churches before the tenth century 5&
been founded in his honour, at Egmond. 57Itwasthusreplacedbyamoreelegantandcostlystructure. *8 This appears to have been a fine institution before the sixteenth century. 59 About
62 at the
memorials, we may well assume, that during life, he was a man famous for his virtues,andafterdeathforthepotencyofhismiracles. InHolland,especially,
even to the present day, he is held in great veneration.
Article IV. —St. Telle, Son of Seigin, of Tehelly, King's
Martyrology,
25th
of
June.
From the references to his foregoing
See Bishop
Sancta," part i. , June 25, p. 386.
57
Episcopi. "—
copperplate
engraving of the Abbey
2" See also the
Menologium Genealogi-
Challenor's
" Martyrologium Romanum Gregorii XIII. " Editio Novissima Septimo
The O'Clerys give the pedigree of this saint 1
County. \Seve? ith Century. ~\
under the designation of Telle, son to Seigin, son—of Colgan, son to Tuathail
2 of Telia, in Westmeath but rather, it should be Tegh
Crunnbhcoil, &c. ,
stated of Helia Territory. He was born, most probably, about the beginning of the seventh century. Colgan 3 thinks, he may have been the same as Teloc, a disciple of St. Patrick ; but this is an egregious error. Thus, we are told, that when St. Patrick visited a part of Ulster, known as Hua Meith tire, he built a church at a place called Teag-talain. * Here, he is said to have left
55 See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. rum," tomus v. , Junii xxv. De S. Adal-
Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxi. , sect, lxv. , pt n6#
'ss Such is the remark of the author of " Batavia Sacra," p. 44.
"Britannia
5« When Theodoric II. died, a. d. 985, he was buried in this church, as were also the remains of his wife.
59 A
of E^mont, as it stood at that period, is to be cum,
"Trias
Tunii xxv. De S. Adalberto Diacono Vita S. Patricii, n. 135, p. 1S0.
found in the "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
See
Thaumaturga, Septima
Egmundee in Hollandia, p. 96.
60 See "Historic Catholicselbernise Com-
pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , xii. ,
on co t,2 ht '
6i See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
Tegh- Talain in the territory of Hua Meeth-tire, and in the diocese of Armagh. See ibui. ,
berto Diacono, Egmundae in Hollandia. Commentarius Prsevius, num. 5, p. 95.
62 Thus :" In Hollandia Sancti Adelberti Confessoris, discipuli sancti Willibrordi
Kalendas Julii, p. 90.
Article IV. — ' He belonged, it is said,
to the race of Colla-da-chrioch.
"
chap. xiii.
3
4 the church of Colgan places
nn- "7» l8> P- l84-
s
See Colgan's
"Trias
Thaumaturga,"
Soo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 25.
some relics of the saints, which were brought from beyond the sea. He is also said to have left a St. Cillen or Killen, a bishop, and some of his own holy disciples* to serve this church. 5 According to Dr. Lanigan, however, the church is thought to have derived its name from the present St. Telle or Telain. 6 The situation of Tegh Telle, recognised by Colgan ? as having been
under the
have belonged to Western Meath.
Tigh Telle was in Westmeath. In the Feilire ^Enguis, at this very day, there is a gloss, which places it in the vicinity of Daurmagh, now Durrow, in the northern part of the King's County. Its name was taken from the pre-
jurisdiction
of the Helia
territory,
It is incorrect, however, to state, that
Old Church of Tehelly, King's County.
sent saint, who was a contemporary of St. Fintan, who lived at Taghmun, in
the of Wexford. 10 county
" or lies Tihelly,'3
11 also written
close to Durrow, a parish in the barony of Ballycowan, and in the northern
partoftheKing'sCounty. Atpresent,thereisanancientcemeteryinthat place, and unenclosed in an open field. It is evidently of great antiquity, although at present little used as a place for interments. Such was not the
case, however, in former times, as noticeable on the spot. Mageoghegan *«
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. ix. , 9 Contained in the Leabhar-Breac, Royal
p. 150. Irish Academy.
6 10 His pedigree is given in theGenealogic
Sanctilogy, at chap. 13. Mis father is said to have been chieftain in this district.
7 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," v.
Januarii. Vita St. Cerre, n. 10, p. 15.
8"' '
But by western Meath Colgan, and
under-
quotes,
stood not only the present Westmeath, but likewise the King's County, in which Tcch-
Telle ought to be placed, whereas no part of
Heli ever extended —so far as what is now
called Westmeath. " Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
See Dr. O'Donovan's '•Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (u), p. 2S2.
" In Irish, it is written Cit; Cheille, meaning " the habitation of Tell
the older writers whom he
"
chap, xviii. , sect, xii. , n. 156, p. 130.
{rtctif he was the son) "of Brogaine of Tehill. who" (recti' and who) " was a good preacher and divine. "
TM See ibid. , n. (h), p. 319.
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. ,
Tehelly,
Tyhilly
8 is said before to many years
'•' " See the published Inquisition,
nia," Com.