No More Learning

» See Albert Krantz, "Ecclesiastica His-
toria, sive Metropolis," lib. i. , p. I. In this work, he treats about the origin of the Christian religion in Saxony, and about its bishops, their lives, morals, learning and
"
Antiquitates," cap. xii. , pp. 209, 210.
^
Regarding their ancient modes of wor- ship and belief, much interesting information will be found, in Gbrres' "Mythengeschichte
"
der alten Welt, published, in 1810 ; F. J.
by Ussher in
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
February 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 251
likewise,agreataffinitywiththoseofthenorthernEuropeannations. They were a warlike and a nomadic race. It is thought probable, the Saxons had colonized the eastern shores of England, long before the time generally as- sumed for their advent. '° They were hardy, brave and adventurous. But, especially the early Saxons, had an inveterate hatred for the principles and laws of Christianity. " Yet, before its dawn upon the world, those ferocious barbarians seem to have been unrecognised, as a distinct power. In the graphic page of Tacitus, we have probably the most reliable—yet still imper- fect—description of the condition and manners of the ancient Germans. '^ However, he has omitted all mention of the Saxons ; and, the geographer, Ptolomy,isthefirstknownwriter,whotreatsaboutthem. Apeople,called Saxones, before a. d. 141, inhabited a territory, at the north side of the Elbe, on the neck of the Cimbric Chersonesus, and three small islands,^3 at the mouth of that river. ^-^ But, they were of no great importance, in the time of Ptolemy ; for, in that peninsula noted, and now divided into Jutland, Sles- wick and Holstein, besides the Saxons, and the remnants of the Cimbri, no fewer than six other nations were stationed. ^s After the lapse of some cen- turies,theSaxonsbecameformidableamongtheirneighbours. TheVandals gave place to them, in the north of Germany. '^ The celebrated Charle- magne,'7 towards the close of the eighth century, having waged war against the Saxons, obtained several signal victories over them. Being finally sub- dued, with their king and leader Wedekind, the Christian faith was intro- duced into Saxony, by that great and zealous emperor, about the year 780. ^^ At that time, when Charlemagne subdued the Saxons,^9 he founded new bishoprics at Minden and Verden. *° Several pious and zealous Scottish or Irish missionaries passed into the northern parts of Germany, to sow there the seeds of Divine Faith. Some of these had undoubtedly preceded Er- lulph," and had evangelized the Saxons, before his arrival. They had then
actions. Likewise he reviews the deeds of various nations, their kings and princes, re- ferring the reader frequently to passages in his other works.
forty-eighth of his reign. See L. P- An-
See Albert Krantz,
" See John Mitchell Kemble's "Saxons i. , cap. i, 2, 3, pp. 3 to 5. Charlemagne in England," vol. i. , book i. , chap, i. , p. is said, by Camerarius, to have entered into li_ a treaty with Achaius, King of the Scots, to
"See M. Capefigue, "Charlemagne," procure missionaries for the Saxons ; and, tome i. , chap, ii. , p. 40. following the example of many among his
'=* See "De Situ, Moribus et Populis countrymen, Erlulph left Scotia, to labour
Germanise Libellus. " C. Cornelii Taciti '*
Opera.
^3 Ptolomy calls them, ^albvtjiv vrjaoi
TOEtg.
^4 See the Map of the Territory, inhabited
among them. See " De Statu Hominis, Veteris simul ac novae Ecclesiae, et Sanctis Regni Scotias," lib. i. , pars 11. , cap. 111. , sect. 2, p. 147-
^sSee ii>td. , book ii. , chap, i. , pp. 87, gg
^6 See Albert Krantz's " Wandalia. " De
Wandalorum vera origine, variis gentibus,
crebris e patria migrationibus, regnis item,
quorum vel autores vel eversores fuerunt.
Prsefacio pp. 3, 4. This folio work was Minden. There is another Verden in Ba-
published at Francfort-on-the-Maine, A. d.
1580.
'7 This great emperor died a. d. 814, in
the
varia, on the Danube, between Ingoldstadt and Ulm. There is a third Verden, in Westphalia, at the River Ruhe.
seventy-second year
of his age and in the
=' Krante says, that he was either a Scot
"
Race dite des Carlovingiens, p. 65.
quetil's
Histoire de France. " Deuxieme
'^
"
Metropolis," lib.
. ,,,, ,^^ '9 Their province extended along the
shores of the Baltic Sea, and it was situated to the first volume of Sharon in the more northern part of Germany. Its
by the Ancient Saxons north of the Elbe,
prefixed
Turner's " History of the Anglo-Saxons. " Fourth edition : London, 1823, 8vo.
position in reference to the adjoining dis- tricts is shown on Wilkinsons V^tlas Classica. " Map 52. The Empire of Char- lemagne, A. D. D. ccc.
'° These cities were situated on or near the River Weser. Verden is built near the confluence of the Aller River with the Weser. It is situated between Bremen and
2! 52 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 2.
already become Christians. After employing many years with great success on that arduous mission, St. Erlulph was chosen to occupy the see of Verden. ^^ ThisisthechieftownintheformerprincipalityofVerden,and in the province of Bremen. It is situated on the navigable River Aller, a shortdistanceaboveitsconfluencewiththeWeser. 23 Itsprincipalbuilding is a fine Gothic cathedral. =4 The city is now surrounded with walls, and it has three gates. ^'s it belonged to the former kingdom of Hanover, but, in late years, it has been incorporated with the Empire of North Germany. Hanover, in the way of race, is Saxon, rather than Frank, while it is also largely Slavonic. ^^ Several Scottish bishops had presided over the see of Verden, before the arrival of Erlulph. ^7 Albert Krantz,^^ the celebrated German historian and writer, treats about this saint. That learned man^9 was born at Hamburg, towards the middle of the fifteenth century, and he died on the 7th of December, a. d. 1517. 3° Krantz makes the first nine or ten bishops of Verden Scots or Englishmen. If we are to credit Dempster,3^ St. Erlulph was the ninth in orders^ among the Bishops of Verden,. and the last of the Scots, who obtained that position from Charlemagne, on account of distinguished services rendered to the monarch, in his wars with Spain. 33 Now, it seems much more probable, that Erlulph arrived at Verden, long
or an Englishman. This may be inferred, the-Maine, 1580, in fol. ; "Regnorum Aquil- he thinks, from the names and titles of the onarium, Daniffi, Suecioe, et Norvegise
abbeys, which were left by the first nine bishops of Verden, preceding Waltherus.
Chronicon" (printed at Strasburg, in fol. , 1546) ; another edition at Francfort-on-the-
See Alberti
toria, sive Metropolis. "
"Ecclesiastica His-
in fol. Se- ; "Metropolis. "
Krantzii,
Maine, 1583,
veral editions of this latter work have been
^
lib. ii. , cap. 30, p. 58. The edition of this Cologne, 1574 and 1596; at Francfort,
See ibid. , lib. i. , cap. 31, p. 22, and published; at Bale, 1548 and 1568; at
work, which we have used, is the folio one,
published at Francfort-on-the-Maine, 1590. This professes to be revised and edited more
accurately and carefully than former ones. It is dedicated by John Wolfius, to Julius, Prince Bishop of Wutzburgh.
="3 Formerly the Roman Visurgis, one of the largest German rivers, and formed by the junction of the Werra and the Fulda. See Charles Knight's "English Cyclopaedia," vol. iv. , col. 1082.
^^ The Protestant Reformation has taken away its historic and national character.
I575> 1590 ai^<i 1627. It contains the ec-
clesiastical history of Saxony, of Westphalia, and of Jutland, with the lives of those pre-
lates, who occupied the twelve bishoprics of those countries, from A. D. 780 to a. d. 1504.
^9 At Hamburgh appeared, in 8vo shape, Wilkens, " Leben Alberti Crantzii," 1722-29.
3° He was a Doctor of Theology, of Canon
Law and of Philosophy, and Rector over the
University of Rostock. He was also a canon
and dean at Hamburgh. See an account of
him and of his writings, in M. le Dr.
*'
Nouvelle Biographic Generale," &c. , tome xxviii. , cols. 192, 193.
3' See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. v. , sect. 447, p. 244.
^^ This does not seem to have been
Krantz's opinion. He says, Helingand was the ninth bishop of Verden, and the imme-
diate predecessor of Erlulph, who was the tenth. Helingand was present, when St.
Anscher became Archbishop of Hamburgh. The local annals have this event at 833. He had long presided over that sec, before he was driven away by the Danes. See "Metropolis," lib, i,, cap, xxi. , pp. 16, 17, lib. ii. , cap. xxx. , p. 58.
33 For the foregoing statements, Dempster quotes the authority of Philip Belforest. Histor. Carolor. , lib. i. It is often very
difficult to verify his quotations. ]
"
See M.
i. , chap. X. , p. 173, n.
tome
Hoeffer's
Capefigue's
Charlemagne,"
=5 See Knight's "English Cyclopsdia," vol. iv. , col. 1002.
=* See Dr. R. G. Latham's " Nationalities
of Europe," vol. ii,, chap, xxviii. , pp. 358, 359.
'^ See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," Februarii ii. De S.
Erlulpho Epis-
copo Verdensi et Martyre, p. 240, and n. 2.
Among his many learned works are, "Vandalia, sive Historia de Vandalorum vera origine, variis gentibus, regnis item ad annum 1500 deducta" (printed in fol. at Cologne, 1519); "Saxonia, De Saxonicse Gentis vetusta origine, longinquis expedi- tiombus susceptis, et bellis, Historia ad an- num 1501 deducta" (Cologne 1520 in fol. ) ; another edition was printed at Francfort-on-
February 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 25^
afterthedeathofCharlemagne. Whilesomewritersplaceoursaint'sdemise, so early as a. d. 815 ; others again make him the tenth Bishop of Verden, and state that he lived there, a. d. 876. How his final conflict took place, and at what exact period, have been subjects for conjecture. 34 Were we to followDempster'sstatement,Erlulphwastheauthorofsometracts. 35 When he presided over the Church of Verden, he administered its affairs with zeal
and prudence. His success in propagating the faith was exceeding great. However, it became a subject of inexpressible grief to him, when many who professed themselves Christians, lived slaves to shameful passions. In order
to convert, or at least to confound, such profligates, he preached a most zealoussermonagainstthevices,whichreignedamongstthem. Hereupon, a barbarous mob was so enraged as fiercely to assault him. One of these rufiians stabbed him, with a lance. This barbarous act procured him the
gloriouscrownofmartyrdom. s^ Anotheraccount,however,isgiven,regard- ing the circumstances, which led to his triumphant crown. Writers state,
Erlulph was slain at the place, called Eppockstorp, or Ebbeckstorp, a. d. 830,37 and that he died by the hands of infidels,38 while others say, the North- menwerehismurderers. ThisplacewasnotfarfromHamburgh. Thedate for this occurrence is placed, at an earlier, and at a later, date. In the year 826, we are told, that Eric Barn, the Pomeranian King of Denmark, wasted Saxony, and killed Bruno, its duke, with twelve counts. Bishops, with their flocks were then slain, cities, with their inhabitants, churches, with the faith- ful, were burned and destroyed. 39 This, however, is deferred to a later period, by other writers. While Erlulph is said to have obtained the crown of martyrdom, it is hardly known, whether or not, he was among that band of Christians, who suffered from Pagan ravages at Ebbeckestorp,4o or Ebbeckes- dorp. 4^ According to some accounts, the martyrdom of Erlulph took place A. D. 856. 4^ The Normans43 are said to have invaded Saxony, and Bruno,
3* Albert Krantz, alluding to the massacre
at Ebbekestorp, says, it did not occur dur-
ing the time of the Emperor Ludovicus, but
during the reign of his son Ludovicus, King
of Germany. See "Metropolis," seu His- toria Ecclesiastica Saxoniae, lib. ii. , cap.
Adam of Bremen and other writers tell tis,
that the foregoing marauding expedition did not occur during the reign of Eric I. , who founded the Church of Sleswick A. D. 847, or according to others, A. D. 850, but during the reign of Eric II. , King of Den-
mark, who was a violent persecutor of the *'
XXX. , p. 58. Camerarius follows, in making
this saint the tenth bishop of Verden, and Christians. See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum
he quotes Pantaleon. See " De Statu Ho- minis, Veteris simul ac novae Ecclesise, et Sanctis Regni Scotiae," lib. i. , pars ii. , cap.
iii. , sect. 2, p. 147.
35 He is said to have written "Epistotee
Hibernise," Februarii ii. De S. Erlulphu Episcopo Verdensi et Martyre, p. 240.
'^°Yox these statements, Dempster cites "Annales Ecclesiastici," Albert Krantz, "Metropolis," lib. ii. , cap. xxx. Suffridus Petrus, lib. i. , Orig. Frison. , cap. xv. An-
tonius Demochares, lib. ii,, cap. xxxv.
^^ Sometimes called Ebsdorp. This was
a possession of the Dukes of Luneburgh. "
him and afterwards other Saxons. See ii. , n. 21, pp. 244, 245. Also, Adolphus ""
ad Diversos,"lib. i. , lib. i.
**
Homiliade Sanctis,"
3* This account of him is given us by Wion, " Lignum Vitse," lib. iii.
-^^ See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His* suffered in the year 839. Walter succeeded tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect,
37 It is related, by some, that Erlulph
Dempster's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Cyprseus, in "Annalibus Slesuicensibus,
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. v. , sect. 447, p. 244.
p. 58.
39 Such is the description given by Alber-
cap. iii.
•3 One of the most learned of histories,
and an early printed work of Albert Krantz, gives us a researchful account of the Danes,
Swedes and Norwegians. It is intituled,
38 See Krantz, "
sive Historia Ecclesiastica Saxonise," lib. iii. , cap. xxx. ,
Metropolis,
"
tus Stadensis, in his "Chronicle. " See Noruagiffi, Chronica. " Quibus gentium
"
Pe Martyribus, &c. , sect, i. , p. 313. Yet, gothorum, Longobardorum atque Normau'
Acta Sanctorum," tomus
i. , Februarii ii. origo vetustissima et Ostrogothorum, Wissi-
Regnorum Aquilonarium, Danioe, Sueciae,
254 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 2.
the son of Ludolph, bravely endeavoured to make head against these Pagans but overpowered by their numbers, he and his army were cut to pieces at Ebbecstorp, on the 2nd of February, a. d. SSo. -** He and those killed with him were afterwards revered as martyrs. ^^s Afterwards, on the site of this sacred ground, an abbey for Benedictine nuns was founded, towards the close of the ninth century, or in the tenth, and it continued until the commence- mentofthesixteenthcentury. ^^ Thenunsretainedpossessionofthemartyr's relics. Ferrarius makes St. Erlulph the recipient of martyrdom, at this place,
in Wandalia, together with three dukes, fifteen counts, and many other persons. 47 Ludovicus-^^ is said to have been King of Germaiiy, at this period. 49
The martyrs' Acts have been written by an anonyn^ous author, partly drawn from confused popular tradition, and partly, it is probable, from manuscripts, compiled by the Benedictine nuns there, and thirteenth century copies of which are yet extant. s" These authorities, however, are very unreliable ; yet, if we are to connect St. Erlulph with those companion martyrs, his festi-
val should undoubtedly be assigned to the 2nd of February, as Ferrarius, the German Calendar and other Martyrologists place it. Yet, Dempster enters his feast, for the 22nd of February, and Camerarius has it, at the loth of Feb- ruary. s^ They quote no authorities for these statements. s^* Were either
festival date admissible, however, and grounded on ancient documents, or on reliable tradition, we might fairly infer, that St. Erlulph obtained his crown of martyrdom, on a day distinct from the present, which is specially dedicated to the Martyrs of Ebbecstorp.
Article IV. —St. Findeach Duirnd, Bishop of Cill-Finnche, at Ath-Duirn, in Ossory Diocese, and County of Kilkenny. There can be
norum, antiquitus inde profectorum, res in noted year by Charles le Gros. See Sir "
Italia, Hispania, Gallia, et Sicilia gestis, Harris Nicolas' Chronology of History,"
prseter domesticam historiam narrantur. " The folio edition used is that printed at Francfort-on-the- Maine," A. D. 1583. This has a preface by John Wolfius, dedicated to Prince Louis, Duke of Wirtemburgh. Chris-
p. 391.
^ So states the German Calendar.
tianus Cicilius Cimber adds to it,
"
viz. : Saints Erlulf, Bishop of Verden, Gosbert, Bishop of Osnaburgh, Theoderic, Bishop of Minden, Marquard, Bishop of Hildesheim, St. Bruno, Duke of Saxony, Saints and Counts, Wigmann, three Bardos, Thiotheric, Gerric, Liutolf, Folcwart, Avan, and Thio- trie. Besides these were the following nobles or royal guards, Saints Liuthar, Aderam, Alfuin, Addasta, two Aidas, Dudo, Bodo, Walus, Halilf, Hunildiun, Adalwin, Werin- hart, Thiotrich, Hilwart, and many others. Their Acts are elaborately treated so far as
Historia Dithmarsici Belli," in two books, and the
"Schondia" Jacobi Ziegleri, follows.
'''' The annals of the Francks, written at Fulda, assigns, to A. D. 882, this massacre of
the Christians.
ls See M. I'Abbe Migne's
"
Dictionnaire
des Abbayes et Monasteres," &c. , col. 258. ^* See Louis Bulteau's "Abrege de This- toire de I'ordre de Saint-Benoit et des moines d 'Occident. " This work was published in 1684, in two vols. , 4to. This learned French Benedictine was bom at Rouen 1625, and he died at Paris on the 6th of April, 1693.
"
Among other works, he wrote,
I'histoire monastique de rOrient," published at Paris in 8vo, A. D. 1678, See M. le Dr.
Hofifer's "Nouvelle Biographic Generale," tome vii. , col. 779.
*7 "In Catalogo General! Sanctorum," at
—— obscurities and varieties of statement allow
the 2nd of
*^ Louis I. reigned, from A. D. 814 to 843,
having immediately succeeded Charlemagne. Louis! I. governed the empire from the latter
year to a. d. 876. Louis IH. reigned only for a brief period, as the successor of Carlo- man, and both were succeeded in the last
February.
Essai de
by GodefridHenschenius, in a historical com- mentary of six —sections—comprising thirty
so At the 2nd of February the following holy martyrs are venerated in the Calendars
at Ebbekesdorp, in Lower Saxony—
in the Boliandists' new edition of "Acta Sanctorum," tomusi. , Feb* ruarii ii. , pp. 312 to 319. The sees, death and cultus of tlie Bishops Erlulph and Gos- bert are treated, chiefly in the Fourth Sec«
tion.
si See '* De Statu Hominis Veteris, simul
ac novte Ecclesiae, et Sanctis Regni Scotioe," lib. i. , pars ii. , cap. lii. , sect. 2, p. 147.
s* See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Februarii ii, De S. Erlulpho, Epis« copo Verdensi et Martyre, n. 4, p. 241,
five paragraphs
February 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 255
no doubt, tliat this holy servant of God flourished at an early period, in the Church of Ireland ; for, the " Feilire " of St. ^ngus^ enters him, as Finnich Duirn, while almost similar is the simple notice, Finnchi Duiren, at the 2nd of February, in the Martyrology of Tallagh.