,
translated
from the German of Rev.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
Wherefore,havingcon- sulted the illustrious King Pepin, he was advised to select an auxiliary bishop,
« A sermon of St. Boniface, on the Saints," tome vi. , ve Jour de Juin, p. 464. Renunciation made of one's self in Baptism, s* This forms the Section Sixth of Rev.
""
occurs, in the Thesaurus Anecdotorum Dr. Giles' edition. It is headed, ^Enigmata
Novissimus," of D. Bernard Pez, tome iii. ,
pars ii. Augsbourg, 1729.
by
;*"
grand poem. *
regarded
as also a
cannot be
latter, however,
with certainty, as the works of St. Boniface, and they must, in all probability,
46 See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 5, pp. 47, 48.
" Lives of
de Virtutibus quae misit Bonifacius ad Soro- rem suam. " Then follow sub-headings : Fides Catholica, fatur, dixit,
Spes Justitia Veritas ait, Misericordia ait, Patientia ait, Pax vere Christiana, Humilitas Christiana fatetur, Virginitas ait. These are all in Latin Hexameters. See vol. ii. , pp. 109 to 115. This has been published for the first time, date, more recent than the Manuscript and from a Manuscript, kept in the British
Baring-Gould's
v These form the Fifth section of his edi-
tion, pp. 53 to 107.
48 This is stated, in letters of gold on the
last page of this Codex, and these are of a
itself.
4» In i2mo size.
50 This interesting Tract has a Prologue,
commencing with the words, " Bonifacius
homo peccator. " It forms the Seventh Sec-
turn of Rev. Dr. Giles' edition of St. Boni- covered. See Preface, p. 7. ibid.
face's works, vol. ii. , pp. 117 to 141. How- si Their chief Festival is on the 8th of ever, it may be doubted, if this be a genuine
July.
work of our present St. Boniface. See Pre- 54 See Dean Cressy's
Church History of face, p. 7, ibid. According to Dempster, Brittany," book xxiii. , chap, xxv. , pp. 613
the author of this work, published by Surius, to 615.
in his tomus vi. , at Nov. xii. , was thought to ss His feast is celebrated, on the 13th of havebee—n"HucbaldummonachumElmon- August. Atthisdate,somenoticesregard- ensem. "
Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xix. , num. 1157,
P- 639.
"Historia
51 See "Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
willbe in a volume inghim found, subsequent
Ecclesiastica
Gentis
Museum. This Poem is imperfect at the
"
end, but most probably only a few of the lines are wanting, as the addresses of nine out of the ten virtues are remaining, while those lines missing may possibly be re-
of this work.
ss His festival is kept, on the 14th of
October.
1 84 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
to share with him the duties of ministration. Chiefest among the disciples ofBonifacewereWigbert5S orWictbercht,Burchard,*6 andLullus. 57 Allwere
8 and therefore, he desired to hold a conference of bishops and other clergy, t—o determine on the election of his successor^
Accordingly, he chose Lullus formerly a monk of Malmesbury—who was advanced to the episcopal grade. Already as a priest, he had been sent to Rome by St. Boniface, with a letter to the Pope, in which an intimation had
been conveyed, that the Apostle of Germany desired to spend the evening of his life, in the monastery at Fulda, where he wished also to be interred.
Zachary replied to this letter, by giving extraordinary privileges to that establishment. As Lullus had presented a memorial to the Pope, on behalf of Boniface, so was it answered in detail, and certain recommendations were set forth for direction. 60 The permission of King Pepin was conceded, by
and it was 61 About cheerfully granted.
eminent for
sanctity^
the to effect this Pope,
arrangement,
a. d. 751 or 752, St. Lulle was appointed Archbishop of Mayence, in succes-
sion to St. Boniface. 62 Others state, however, he was appointed Archbishop of that city, so late as 754. 63 He began to instruct and labour among the numerous flock confided to his charge. Thus, he shared St. Boniface's tribulations and consolations, while he was a companion and a witness of the
6
daily life led by his illustrious patron. * After the election of Stephen II. ,
he was obliged to visit France in person, a. d. 753, to implore the assistance of King Pepin against Aistolphe, King of the Lombards. 65 The Pope was
received most honourably by the monarch, at his royal palace of Pontyon,
near Langres, and he passed that winter, in the monastery of St. Denys, where
he fell dangerously sick, so that his life was despaired of by his physicians.
However, he was suddenly and miraculously restored to health, having been
Paul and 66 Boniface wrote in Dionysius.
favoured a vision of Saints by
Peter,
the year 754, to Pope Stephen II. , signifying that he was in communion with
the Holy See, and to ask advice and protection, such as had been accorded by the two Gregories and Zachary, his predecessors. In this, he declares,
that for
thirty-six years
he had been 6? Apostolic Legate.
60
At the of request
68 it is
brord had passed out of this life, St. Boniface consented to take charge of the See of Utrecht. ? However, it was placed for a time, under the charge of an
Caroloman,
stated,
although unwilling
to do
so,
and after St. Willi-
assistant bishop. Notwithstanding, it having been asserted, by Hildebert, 1
BishopofCologne,? thatKingDagobertbestowedonhisSeethecityofUtrecht, with a small church, which had been there dedicated to St. Martin, that pre-
s? His feast, occurs, at the 16th of Breviarium," Pars Prima, Seculum vm. ,
October.
s8 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Fathers,MartyrsandotherprincipalSaints," 59 See the Third Life of St. Boniface, vol. vi. , June v.
sect. 6? Hence, we date at the 5. may 718,
Sancta,"parti. , p. 342.
751.
60 This was dated November 4th, A. D.
beginning of this honourable office.
w He retired to a monastery, A. D. 746. 61 " "
See 1'Abbe" Fleury's Histoire Eccle- See R. Chambers' Book of Days," vol. i. , siastique," tome ix. , liv. xliii. , sect. xx„ June 5, p. 737.
p. 355.
62 See " Histoire Literaire de la France,"
tome iv. , viii. Siecle, p. 94. "
** Mabillon is of opinion, that after the death of Dadan, who became Bishop of Utrec—ht—succeeding on the death of Willi-
63 See Michaud, Biographie Universale brord St. Boniface had appointed St.
Ancienne et Moderne," tome v. , Art. Boni-
Eoban as his assistant Bishop. See "Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxii. , sect, lxviii. , p. 161.
r> See Heda's "Historia Ultrajecten- sis. "
P The early history of this interesting city
face (saint),
64 See Willibald's Life of St. Boniface,
chap, iii. , sect. 28 to 47, and nn. (a to z),
pp. 466 to 470.
6* See Berti's " Ecclesiastical Historia?
p.
5.
cap. i. , p. 189.
66 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
June 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 185
late desired to suppress Utrecht, as an independentbishopric, and then to annex theplaceasadependencyofCologne. Onthisquestion,BonifacewrotetoPope Stephen II. in 754, to represent, that one of those conditions annexed to the donation required the Bishop of Cologne, that he should preach to theFrisons. This had not been observed, while the Church's interest in that part of the
country had been completely neglected. He then prays the decision of the Pope on this subject, when he had examined the archives in Rome, and the
letter of Pope Sergius to Bishop Willibrord, relating to that commission actually
2 Itwas
tation was forwarded by King Pippin for Bishops and ecclesiastics of every grade to assemble, so that affairs should be wisely regulated, and that the illustrious Apostle of Germany should be enabled to proceed once more for Frisia. Accordingly, St. Boniface sailed down the Rhine to Utrecht for such a pur- pose. There, it is said, he built a monastery, in 754. 74 For a considerable time, it is thought, St. Boniface governed that church, until he deemed it best to set over it St. Eoban as bishop. A short time before St. Boniface's martyrdom, hesenthisdiscipleSt. Gregorytogovernamonasterylatelyfoundedthere. ? s However, the guidance of Utrecht See was afterwards committed to this worthy disciple, who seems to have acted only in the capacity of administra- tor, during and even after the lifetime of St. Boniface.
given. ?
necessary
toconvokea
synod,
The time at last drawing near, that was to put a period to his labours, Boniface undertook a last holy expedition among the Frisons. This happened,
asgenerallysupposed,intheyear755-? 6 Thespiritualwelfareofthesepeople never escaped from his thoughts. The illustrious Apostle of Germany seemed tohavehadaninspiration,thathisdeathwasthenfastapproaching. Henow selected Sturim to become Abbot of Fulda, Willibald to rule over Eichstad, Bur- chard to be bishop of Wurtzburg, and Wigbert to govern the monastery of Hers- feld. 7? HavingsoughtpermissionfromPopeStephen,whowillinglyaccorded it to him, that he might depart for Frisia ; St. Boniface then wrote to Fulrade, Abbot of St. Denis, first chaplain to King Pepin, and entreating him, to obtain the great monarch's authority and influence, for his meditated enter- prise. He asked, also, that some of his disciples, dispersed over a large dis-
is well set forth in l'Abbe G. Beeteme's ? 6 Among the writers, who place his " Sainte Ursule et ses onze mille Vierges," martyrdom, at A. D. 754, are Eginhard,
and in the lowest state of
his death, they should not be left scattered and destitute, as sheep without a shepherd. First of all, having obtained the sanction of the Pope and the royal permission of Pepin, 79 he resigned the Archbishopric of Mentz into the hands of his disciple Lullus. Then, signifying to him the proposed journey, which he desired to accomplish, and from which he could not recede, as he was about to leave the prison of the body, and as he hoped for the eternal
trict,
indigence, might
&c.
, translated from the German of Rev. Dr.
J. H. Kessel. Seconde Partie, chap, ii. , pp. 101 to 130.
2
Hincmar, the Abbot Egil, as also the Fulda Metz and Bertinian Annals ; among those, who state A. D. 755 to be the year for his death, are Willibald, the writer of his life, while he is followed by Adam of Bremen, Lambert of Scafnaburg, and most of the modern writers. See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxiii. ,
See l'Abbe Fleury's "Histoire Eccle- siastique," tome ix. , liv. xliii. , sect, xix. , pp. 353, 354.
73 This assembled, A. D. 752 or 753, and in it, Lullus was nominated for a successor
?
to Boniface, in the city of Mayence. See sect, x. , p. 171.
Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of His-
tory,"p. 225.
» See R. Chambers' " Book of Days,"
vol. i. , June 5, p. 737.
« See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August xxv.
7* According to the Third Life of St.
Boniface, sect. 5.
? 8 See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
Saints," tome vi. , ve Jour de Juin, p. 463. "See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 5, pp. 52, 53.
8o With this, also, was packed up a Trea-
"andasa aninvi- consequence,
have 8 and that after relief,?
1 86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 5.
reward ;- to his assistant and successor Boniface commended the finishing of churches in Thuringia, and especially that of Fulda, which he desired should receive his mortal remains after death. He recommended, also, that the people should be reclaimed from the error of their ways. He closed his parting
wordswiththese "Myson,takecarefulmeasurestoprovidewhatshallbe
:
necessary for this journey ; but, especially, in the case containing my books put the shroud, which must be wrapped around this decrepid body of mine. "80 Bishop Lullus was moved to tears, while Boniface made all preparations for his immediate departure.
He embarked on board a boat, which descended the Rhine, and with great
secrecy beginning his voyage during the night. He was to be accompanied
by St. Eoban,81 whom he ordained a Bishop for the Church of Utrecht, and
by other holy men, who were selected as his companions, for a distant expe-
ditionhehadarranged,throughthemoreuncivilizedpartsofFrisia. 82 When
he reached he the blessed 83 who had been his Utrecht, appointed Gregory,
former missionary companion, to take pastoral charge of that See, before him- selfandhiscompanionsshouldproceedtomorenorthernregions. InFrisia, Boniface converted and baptized many thousand pagans; and, while he de- stroyed their temples, he erected churches in their stead. 84 Having reached
the water-abounding region of Frisia, 85 they came to a vast Lake or Sea, called Elmere,86 in the language of that country ; but which is now better known as the Zuyder zee. Around it were various villages of Gentiles, who had never yet heard the voice of God's true servants. The last stage of his journey was at places, respectively called Ostroche and Westroche. 87 He had already passed through several districts of the Frisons. He preached, and he con- verted many from idolatry, while he baptized many thousands of men and women, as also of children. 88 His fellow-labourer Eoban, with several others who accompanied him, aided zealously in this apostolic work. As these were of one heart and soul, associated in merits here, so were they destined to gain together the crowning laurel for their labours. Coming to the River Bordne 8o
or Bortna,9° on the confines of East and West Friesland, the illustrious Arch- 1
bishoptherepitchedhistent,? designingtogiveconfirmation,inthatplace, to a great number of his late converts. These lived at distances wide apart. The spot where the missionaries were encamped is now called Docko,02 Dorkum,°3 or Dockum. 1-* It lay within the territory of East Friesland. Some intimation reached St. Boniface and his company, that the infidels in that
tise of St. Ambrose, " On the Advantage of Death. "
81 His feast occurs, on this day.
"8 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 343.
^ The name of this river appears to have
become obsolete; but, the denomination has now been changed, probably to Born- wert and Bornwerthusen.
9° It is called the Burda, in the " Petits
Bollandistes, Vies des Saints," tome vi. ,
82
See Baronius "Annales Ecclesiastici,"
tomus ix. , at A. D. 755, sect. xxx. to xxxviii. ,
pp. 202 to 204.
83 He seems only to have ruled this See
as a Vicar-General, never having been con- secrated bishop.
" Histoire Ecclesi-
8s Ut—recht was the capital city of this region formerly much more extended in
v« Jour de Juin, p. 463.
9* About six from Lewarden. See
84 See l'Abbe
leagues
Biographie Universelle," tome
Fleury's
astique," tome ix. , liv. xliii. , sect. xxi. , p. 356.
"
v. , Art. Boniface (saint), p. 5.
denomination than at
present.
The accurate
Thomas " Docko Frisiae Dempster says :
Bonifacii — Mo- oppido passio Archiepiscopi
Schotanus a topographer Sterringa
divides
it into Ostergoa, or Eastern, Westergoa, or guntini Germaniarum Apostoli. " Bishop Western, and Sevewoldia, or the Seven Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints,
Forests.
i6 Said to mean in Latin, Mare nobile, or
" the great sea. "
87 According to the Third Life of St.
Boniface, sect. 6.
p.
202.
»3 This considerable town of Holland in
Micliaud's
'*
In his "Menologium Scotorum,"
the Province of Friesland, near the German Ocean, retains its old fortification of an earthen mound all round the town and, &
June 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 187
district were laying plots to take away their lives. Wherefore, they kept watch, and during the night, a celestial radiance appeared over the tent in which
they were, while that light continued the greater part of the ensuing day. 95 The Apostle cheered his disciples, exhorting them to fortitude, so that, as the
timeoftrial shouldnotbefound approached, they
6 Onthe
unprepared. ?
designed for administering the Sacrament of Confirmation, instead of coming to receive the Holy Ghost, a multitude of the barbarians approached, armed
while —and inorderto — weapons, brandishing spears swords, destroy
withdivers
the saint and his companions. °? Certain youths
were with him in the camp would have eagerly fought in defence of their teachers, and ran to meet their enemies. Following the example of his Divine Master, Boniface would not permit them. He declared, this was to him the long- wished for day, which was to bring him to the eternal joys of his Lord, that they should follow the Gospel precepts, not to return evil for evil, but rather good for evil, that they should be comforted in the Lord, and allow His holy will to be done, while he promised for their trust in him, that their souls should be saved. His Priests and Deacons, with others, stood ready for the sacrifice. Then, encouraging all his companions to resolution and constancy in their sufferings, as knowing that those who kill the body cannot destroy the soul, he called upon them rather to rejoice in the Lord, and to place their hopes on Him, as on a sure foundation. He would instantly give them a re- ward, and place them on thrones with the Angels who were in Heaven, so that far from living on the sufferance of the Gentiles or sharing the deceits of this world, by an immediate death they were assuredly to reign with Christ for ever. All promised to die with fortitude, as St. Willibrord had often ex- horted his disciples to shed their blood if necessary for the faith of Christ. They even rejoiced and praised God, for the favour about to be granted them, of entering that very day into Paradise. °9 Then, a tumult arose among the pagans, thirsting for the blood of innocent persons, while with arms uplifted, they rushed furiously against the unarmed band. At this moment, Hyltibrant, who served at the table of St. Boniface, had hardly put on his shoes, when he was the first to suffer death. Then, his brother Habmunt, who was a Deacon, on
out from his — shared the same fate. one going tent, Thus, by
one fell those
:
who were present Eoban,
Walter and
pels,
10 lifted towards Heaven. '*
Other accounts he state,
placed
it as a
pillow
ditch. See vol. v. , p. 36.
"
I0° sect. 7.
the
Hamund, Scirbald or Strichald, and Bosa, Deacons, Waccar, Gun-
Gazetteer of the World,"
See the Third Life of St. Boniface, I01 Thomas Dempster in his "Menologium
"
produntur. V. M. W. "—Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 202.
I0J See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 343.
I03 M. le Dr. Hoefer's " Nouvelle Biogra-
phie Universelle," tome vi. , col. 577.
I04 In this attitude, the saint is often repre-
sented by painters.
94 The writers of the First and Second Lives of St. Boniface call it Dockinga.
95 See Supplement to the Life by Willi- bald, cap. iii. , sect. 12.
96 See Baronius, " Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus ix. , at a. d. 755, sect, xxxix. , p. 204.
97 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia Sancta," part i„ p. 343.
98 See Baronius, " Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus ix. , at A. D. 755, sect, xxxix. , p. 204.
99 According to the Third Life of St. Boniface, sect. 7.
Scotorum :"
peremptus est cum Lll. sociis, qui omnes Scoti aut Angliet instituti Benedictini fuisse
Bishop, Wintrung,
Adelhere,
100
Priests,
derhar or Gundwaccar, Williker or Illeshere, and Hadulph, or Barthowlf,
besides some others of the in 101 shared in monks, laity ; all, fifty-two persons,
this glorious martyrdom. 102 Some accounts have it fifty-three martyrs, inclu- ding of course St. Boniface. 103 Last of all, St. Boniface with true Christian courage faced his assailants, and held between his hands a Book of the Gos
day
98 probably his servants that
qui indomitse genti prsedicans,
1 88 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. underhisheadandneck. I03 Hemetwithatemporaldeath,onthe5thdayof
106
June. Although
his murderers cut the with their still not one of Book, swords,
1 ^ and this has been considered as little less than mira- The merciless and uncivilized crowd of barbarians, after this wholesale mas-
its letters was
destroyed,
culous.
108
106
rushedtowardsthedesertedtentsin of 100 Somefoodwas quest plunder.
sacre,
there, for the refreshment of God's servants, and this they speedily devoured ;
they also opened some vessels containing wine, of which they partook to ex- cess. 110 Thisstrongdrinkinflamedallthemoretheirunnaturalferocity. These murderers soon fell out among themselves, about a coveted booty, which they expected to find in the boxes and coffers of the slain. 111 Many of them were killed in this ignoble quarrel. Instead of gold and silver treasures, which they looked for, the base assassins found nothing but books and relics in their respective cases. So enraged and disappointed were they, that taking those out of their covers, they were plunged in the adjacent loughs and
112
However, in course of time, several of those precious relics were recovered, by the Christians, and they were brought away for more reverential use.
« A sermon of St. Boniface, on the Saints," tome vi. , ve Jour de Juin, p. 464. Renunciation made of one's self in Baptism, s* This forms the Section Sixth of Rev.
""
occurs, in the Thesaurus Anecdotorum Dr. Giles' edition. It is headed, ^Enigmata
Novissimus," of D. Bernard Pez, tome iii. ,
pars ii. Augsbourg, 1729.
by
;*"
grand poem. *
regarded
as also a
cannot be
latter, however,
with certainty, as the works of St. Boniface, and they must, in all probability,
46 See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 5, pp. 47, 48.
" Lives of
de Virtutibus quae misit Bonifacius ad Soro- rem suam. " Then follow sub-headings : Fides Catholica, fatur, dixit,
Spes Justitia Veritas ait, Misericordia ait, Patientia ait, Pax vere Christiana, Humilitas Christiana fatetur, Virginitas ait. These are all in Latin Hexameters. See vol. ii. , pp. 109 to 115. This has been published for the first time, date, more recent than the Manuscript and from a Manuscript, kept in the British
Baring-Gould's
v These form the Fifth section of his edi-
tion, pp. 53 to 107.
48 This is stated, in letters of gold on the
last page of this Codex, and these are of a
itself.
4» In i2mo size.
50 This interesting Tract has a Prologue,
commencing with the words, " Bonifacius
homo peccator. " It forms the Seventh Sec-
turn of Rev. Dr. Giles' edition of St. Boni- covered. See Preface, p. 7. ibid.
face's works, vol. ii. , pp. 117 to 141. How- si Their chief Festival is on the 8th of ever, it may be doubted, if this be a genuine
July.
work of our present St. Boniface. See Pre- 54 See Dean Cressy's
Church History of face, p. 7, ibid. According to Dempster, Brittany," book xxiii. , chap, xxv. , pp. 613
the author of this work, published by Surius, to 615.
in his tomus vi. , at Nov. xii. , was thought to ss His feast is celebrated, on the 13th of havebee—n"HucbaldummonachumElmon- August. Atthisdate,somenoticesregard- ensem. "
Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xix. , num. 1157,
P- 639.
"Historia
51 See "Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
willbe in a volume inghim found, subsequent
Ecclesiastica
Gentis
Museum. This Poem is imperfect at the
"
end, but most probably only a few of the lines are wanting, as the addresses of nine out of the ten virtues are remaining, while those lines missing may possibly be re-
of this work.
ss His festival is kept, on the 14th of
October.
1 84 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
to share with him the duties of ministration. Chiefest among the disciples ofBonifacewereWigbert5S orWictbercht,Burchard,*6 andLullus. 57 Allwere
8 and therefore, he desired to hold a conference of bishops and other clergy, t—o determine on the election of his successor^
Accordingly, he chose Lullus formerly a monk of Malmesbury—who was advanced to the episcopal grade. Already as a priest, he had been sent to Rome by St. Boniface, with a letter to the Pope, in which an intimation had
been conveyed, that the Apostle of Germany desired to spend the evening of his life, in the monastery at Fulda, where he wished also to be interred.
Zachary replied to this letter, by giving extraordinary privileges to that establishment. As Lullus had presented a memorial to the Pope, on behalf of Boniface, so was it answered in detail, and certain recommendations were set forth for direction. 60 The permission of King Pepin was conceded, by
and it was 61 About cheerfully granted.
eminent for
sanctity^
the to effect this Pope,
arrangement,
a. d. 751 or 752, St. Lulle was appointed Archbishop of Mayence, in succes-
sion to St. Boniface. 62 Others state, however, he was appointed Archbishop of that city, so late as 754. 63 He began to instruct and labour among the numerous flock confided to his charge. Thus, he shared St. Boniface's tribulations and consolations, while he was a companion and a witness of the
6
daily life led by his illustrious patron. * After the election of Stephen II. ,
he was obliged to visit France in person, a. d. 753, to implore the assistance of King Pepin against Aistolphe, King of the Lombards. 65 The Pope was
received most honourably by the monarch, at his royal palace of Pontyon,
near Langres, and he passed that winter, in the monastery of St. Denys, where
he fell dangerously sick, so that his life was despaired of by his physicians.
However, he was suddenly and miraculously restored to health, having been
Paul and 66 Boniface wrote in Dionysius.
favoured a vision of Saints by
Peter,
the year 754, to Pope Stephen II. , signifying that he was in communion with
the Holy See, and to ask advice and protection, such as had been accorded by the two Gregories and Zachary, his predecessors. In this, he declares,
that for
thirty-six years
he had been 6? Apostolic Legate.
60
At the of request
68 it is
brord had passed out of this life, St. Boniface consented to take charge of the See of Utrecht. ? However, it was placed for a time, under the charge of an
Caroloman,
stated,
although unwilling
to do
so,
and after St. Willi-
assistant bishop. Notwithstanding, it having been asserted, by Hildebert, 1
BishopofCologne,? thatKingDagobertbestowedonhisSeethecityofUtrecht, with a small church, which had been there dedicated to St. Martin, that pre-
s? His feast, occurs, at the 16th of Breviarium," Pars Prima, Seculum vm. ,
October.
s8 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Fathers,MartyrsandotherprincipalSaints," 59 See the Third Life of St. Boniface, vol. vi. , June v.
sect. 6? Hence, we date at the 5. may 718,
Sancta,"parti. , p. 342.
751.
60 This was dated November 4th, A. D.
beginning of this honourable office.
w He retired to a monastery, A. D. 746. 61 " "
See 1'Abbe" Fleury's Histoire Eccle- See R. Chambers' Book of Days," vol. i. , siastique," tome ix. , liv. xliii. , sect. xx„ June 5, p. 737.
p. 355.
62 See " Histoire Literaire de la France,"
tome iv. , viii. Siecle, p. 94. "
** Mabillon is of opinion, that after the death of Dadan, who became Bishop of Utrec—ht—succeeding on the death of Willi-
63 See Michaud, Biographie Universale brord St. Boniface had appointed St.
Ancienne et Moderne," tome v. , Art. Boni-
Eoban as his assistant Bishop. See "Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxii. , sect, lxviii. , p. 161.
r> See Heda's "Historia Ultrajecten- sis. "
P The early history of this interesting city
face (saint),
64 See Willibald's Life of St. Boniface,
chap, iii. , sect. 28 to 47, and nn. (a to z),
pp. 466 to 470.
6* See Berti's " Ecclesiastical Historia?
p.
5.
cap. i. , p. 189.
66 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
June 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 185
late desired to suppress Utrecht, as an independentbishopric, and then to annex theplaceasadependencyofCologne. Onthisquestion,BonifacewrotetoPope Stephen II. in 754, to represent, that one of those conditions annexed to the donation required the Bishop of Cologne, that he should preach to theFrisons. This had not been observed, while the Church's interest in that part of the
country had been completely neglected. He then prays the decision of the Pope on this subject, when he had examined the archives in Rome, and the
letter of Pope Sergius to Bishop Willibrord, relating to that commission actually
2 Itwas
tation was forwarded by King Pippin for Bishops and ecclesiastics of every grade to assemble, so that affairs should be wisely regulated, and that the illustrious Apostle of Germany should be enabled to proceed once more for Frisia. Accordingly, St. Boniface sailed down the Rhine to Utrecht for such a pur- pose. There, it is said, he built a monastery, in 754. 74 For a considerable time, it is thought, St. Boniface governed that church, until he deemed it best to set over it St. Eoban as bishop. A short time before St. Boniface's martyrdom, hesenthisdiscipleSt. Gregorytogovernamonasterylatelyfoundedthere. ? s However, the guidance of Utrecht See was afterwards committed to this worthy disciple, who seems to have acted only in the capacity of administra- tor, during and even after the lifetime of St. Boniface.
given. ?
necessary
toconvokea
synod,
The time at last drawing near, that was to put a period to his labours, Boniface undertook a last holy expedition among the Frisons. This happened,
asgenerallysupposed,intheyear755-? 6 Thespiritualwelfareofthesepeople never escaped from his thoughts. The illustrious Apostle of Germany seemed tohavehadaninspiration,thathisdeathwasthenfastapproaching. Henow selected Sturim to become Abbot of Fulda, Willibald to rule over Eichstad, Bur- chard to be bishop of Wurtzburg, and Wigbert to govern the monastery of Hers- feld. 7? HavingsoughtpermissionfromPopeStephen,whowillinglyaccorded it to him, that he might depart for Frisia ; St. Boniface then wrote to Fulrade, Abbot of St. Denis, first chaplain to King Pepin, and entreating him, to obtain the great monarch's authority and influence, for his meditated enter- prise. He asked, also, that some of his disciples, dispersed over a large dis-
is well set forth in l'Abbe G. Beeteme's ? 6 Among the writers, who place his " Sainte Ursule et ses onze mille Vierges," martyrdom, at A. D. 754, are Eginhard,
and in the lowest state of
his death, they should not be left scattered and destitute, as sheep without a shepherd. First of all, having obtained the sanction of the Pope and the royal permission of Pepin, 79 he resigned the Archbishopric of Mentz into the hands of his disciple Lullus. Then, signifying to him the proposed journey, which he desired to accomplish, and from which he could not recede, as he was about to leave the prison of the body, and as he hoped for the eternal
trict,
indigence, might
&c.
, translated from the German of Rev. Dr.
J. H. Kessel. Seconde Partie, chap, ii. , pp. 101 to 130.
2
Hincmar, the Abbot Egil, as also the Fulda Metz and Bertinian Annals ; among those, who state A. D. 755 to be the year for his death, are Willibald, the writer of his life, while he is followed by Adam of Bremen, Lambert of Scafnaburg, and most of the modern writers. See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxiii. ,
See l'Abbe Fleury's "Histoire Eccle- siastique," tome ix. , liv. xliii. , sect, xix. , pp. 353, 354.
73 This assembled, A. D. 752 or 753, and in it, Lullus was nominated for a successor
?
to Boniface, in the city of Mayence. See sect, x. , p. 171.
Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of His-
tory,"p. 225.
» See R. Chambers' " Book of Days,"
vol. i. , June 5, p. 737.
« See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August xxv.
7* According to the Third Life of St.
Boniface, sect. 5.
? 8 See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
Saints," tome vi. , ve Jour de Juin, p. 463. "See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 5, pp. 52, 53.
8o With this, also, was packed up a Trea-
"andasa aninvi- consequence,
have 8 and that after relief,?
1 86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 5.
reward ;- to his assistant and successor Boniface commended the finishing of churches in Thuringia, and especially that of Fulda, which he desired should receive his mortal remains after death. He recommended, also, that the people should be reclaimed from the error of their ways. He closed his parting
wordswiththese "Myson,takecarefulmeasurestoprovidewhatshallbe
:
necessary for this journey ; but, especially, in the case containing my books put the shroud, which must be wrapped around this decrepid body of mine. "80 Bishop Lullus was moved to tears, while Boniface made all preparations for his immediate departure.
He embarked on board a boat, which descended the Rhine, and with great
secrecy beginning his voyage during the night. He was to be accompanied
by St. Eoban,81 whom he ordained a Bishop for the Church of Utrecht, and
by other holy men, who were selected as his companions, for a distant expe-
ditionhehadarranged,throughthemoreuncivilizedpartsofFrisia. 82 When
he reached he the blessed 83 who had been his Utrecht, appointed Gregory,
former missionary companion, to take pastoral charge of that See, before him- selfandhiscompanionsshouldproceedtomorenorthernregions. InFrisia, Boniface converted and baptized many thousand pagans; and, while he de- stroyed their temples, he erected churches in their stead. 84 Having reached
the water-abounding region of Frisia, 85 they came to a vast Lake or Sea, called Elmere,86 in the language of that country ; but which is now better known as the Zuyder zee. Around it were various villages of Gentiles, who had never yet heard the voice of God's true servants. The last stage of his journey was at places, respectively called Ostroche and Westroche. 87 He had already passed through several districts of the Frisons. He preached, and he con- verted many from idolatry, while he baptized many thousands of men and women, as also of children. 88 His fellow-labourer Eoban, with several others who accompanied him, aided zealously in this apostolic work. As these were of one heart and soul, associated in merits here, so were they destined to gain together the crowning laurel for their labours. Coming to the River Bordne 8o
or Bortna,9° on the confines of East and West Friesland, the illustrious Arch- 1
bishoptherepitchedhistent,? designingtogiveconfirmation,inthatplace, to a great number of his late converts. These lived at distances wide apart. The spot where the missionaries were encamped is now called Docko,02 Dorkum,°3 or Dockum. 1-* It lay within the territory of East Friesland. Some intimation reached St. Boniface and his company, that the infidels in that
tise of St. Ambrose, " On the Advantage of Death. "
81 His feast occurs, on this day.
"8 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 343.
^ The name of this river appears to have
become obsolete; but, the denomination has now been changed, probably to Born- wert and Bornwerthusen.
9° It is called the Burda, in the " Petits
Bollandistes, Vies des Saints," tome vi. ,
82
See Baronius "Annales Ecclesiastici,"
tomus ix. , at A. D. 755, sect. xxx. to xxxviii. ,
pp. 202 to 204.
83 He seems only to have ruled this See
as a Vicar-General, never having been con- secrated bishop.
" Histoire Ecclesi-
8s Ut—recht was the capital city of this region formerly much more extended in
v« Jour de Juin, p. 463.
9* About six from Lewarden. See
84 See l'Abbe
leagues
Biographie Universelle," tome
Fleury's
astique," tome ix. , liv. xliii. , sect. xxi. , p. 356.
"
v. , Art. Boniface (saint), p. 5.
denomination than at
present.
The accurate
Thomas " Docko Frisiae Dempster says :
Bonifacii — Mo- oppido passio Archiepiscopi
Schotanus a topographer Sterringa
divides
it into Ostergoa, or Eastern, Westergoa, or guntini Germaniarum Apostoli. " Bishop Western, and Sevewoldia, or the Seven Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints,
Forests.
i6 Said to mean in Latin, Mare nobile, or
" the great sea. "
87 According to the Third Life of St.
Boniface, sect. 6.
p.
202.
»3 This considerable town of Holland in
Micliaud's
'*
In his "Menologium Scotorum,"
the Province of Friesland, near the German Ocean, retains its old fortification of an earthen mound all round the town and, &
June 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 187
district were laying plots to take away their lives. Wherefore, they kept watch, and during the night, a celestial radiance appeared over the tent in which
they were, while that light continued the greater part of the ensuing day. 95 The Apostle cheered his disciples, exhorting them to fortitude, so that, as the
timeoftrial shouldnotbefound approached, they
6 Onthe
unprepared. ?
designed for administering the Sacrament of Confirmation, instead of coming to receive the Holy Ghost, a multitude of the barbarians approached, armed
while —and inorderto — weapons, brandishing spears swords, destroy
withdivers
the saint and his companions. °? Certain youths
were with him in the camp would have eagerly fought in defence of their teachers, and ran to meet their enemies. Following the example of his Divine Master, Boniface would not permit them. He declared, this was to him the long- wished for day, which was to bring him to the eternal joys of his Lord, that they should follow the Gospel precepts, not to return evil for evil, but rather good for evil, that they should be comforted in the Lord, and allow His holy will to be done, while he promised for their trust in him, that their souls should be saved. His Priests and Deacons, with others, stood ready for the sacrifice. Then, encouraging all his companions to resolution and constancy in their sufferings, as knowing that those who kill the body cannot destroy the soul, he called upon them rather to rejoice in the Lord, and to place their hopes on Him, as on a sure foundation. He would instantly give them a re- ward, and place them on thrones with the Angels who were in Heaven, so that far from living on the sufferance of the Gentiles or sharing the deceits of this world, by an immediate death they were assuredly to reign with Christ for ever. All promised to die with fortitude, as St. Willibrord had often ex- horted his disciples to shed their blood if necessary for the faith of Christ. They even rejoiced and praised God, for the favour about to be granted them, of entering that very day into Paradise. °9 Then, a tumult arose among the pagans, thirsting for the blood of innocent persons, while with arms uplifted, they rushed furiously against the unarmed band. At this moment, Hyltibrant, who served at the table of St. Boniface, had hardly put on his shoes, when he was the first to suffer death. Then, his brother Habmunt, who was a Deacon, on
out from his — shared the same fate. one going tent, Thus, by
one fell those
:
who were present Eoban,
Walter and
pels,
10 lifted towards Heaven. '*
Other accounts he state,
placed
it as a
pillow
ditch. See vol. v. , p. 36.
"
I0° sect. 7.
the
Hamund, Scirbald or Strichald, and Bosa, Deacons, Waccar, Gun-
Gazetteer of the World,"
See the Third Life of St. Boniface, I01 Thomas Dempster in his "Menologium
"
produntur. V. M. W. "—Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 202.
I0J See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 343.
I03 M. le Dr. Hoefer's " Nouvelle Biogra-
phie Universelle," tome vi. , col. 577.
I04 In this attitude, the saint is often repre-
sented by painters.
94 The writers of the First and Second Lives of St. Boniface call it Dockinga.
95 See Supplement to the Life by Willi- bald, cap. iii. , sect. 12.
96 See Baronius, " Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus ix. , at a. d. 755, sect, xxxix. , p. 204.
97 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia Sancta," part i„ p. 343.
98 See Baronius, " Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus ix. , at A. D. 755, sect, xxxix. , p. 204.
99 According to the Third Life of St. Boniface, sect. 7.
Scotorum :"
peremptus est cum Lll. sociis, qui omnes Scoti aut Angliet instituti Benedictini fuisse
Bishop, Wintrung,
Adelhere,
100
Priests,
derhar or Gundwaccar, Williker or Illeshere, and Hadulph, or Barthowlf,
besides some others of the in 101 shared in monks, laity ; all, fifty-two persons,
this glorious martyrdom. 102 Some accounts have it fifty-three martyrs, inclu- ding of course St. Boniface. 103 Last of all, St. Boniface with true Christian courage faced his assailants, and held between his hands a Book of the Gos
day
98 probably his servants that
qui indomitse genti prsedicans,
1 88 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. underhisheadandneck. I03 Hemetwithatemporaldeath,onthe5thdayof
106
June. Although
his murderers cut the with their still not one of Book, swords,
1 ^ and this has been considered as little less than mira- The merciless and uncivilized crowd of barbarians, after this wholesale mas-
its letters was
destroyed,
culous.
108
106
rushedtowardsthedesertedtentsin of 100 Somefoodwas quest plunder.
sacre,
there, for the refreshment of God's servants, and this they speedily devoured ;
they also opened some vessels containing wine, of which they partook to ex- cess. 110 Thisstrongdrinkinflamedallthemoretheirunnaturalferocity. These murderers soon fell out among themselves, about a coveted booty, which they expected to find in the boxes and coffers of the slain. 111 Many of them were killed in this ignoble quarrel. Instead of gold and silver treasures, which they looked for, the base assassins found nothing but books and relics in their respective cases. So enraged and disappointed were they, that taking those out of their covers, they were plunged in the adjacent loughs and
112
However, in course of time, several of those precious relics were recovered, by the Christians, and they were brought away for more reverential use.
