It is
dedicated
by John Wolfius, to Julius, Prince Bishop of Wutzburgh.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Dr.
Kelly's
Townland Kildare. " Sheet14.
5 The accompanying engraving of this spot, by George A. Hanlon, and drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, is from
Mr. John O'C. Robinson.
^
It lies within Upper Castledillon Town-
Survey
Maps for the County of
2^0 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February
southern bank of the River Liffey. Here, probably, stood the former paro- chial church of Castledillon parish, in the barony of South Salt, in the county of Kildare.
Article III. — St. Erlulph, Bishop of Verden and Martyr, in Saxony.
[Ninth Century? ^ This holy missionary and martyr proved himself to have been themostunselfishofmen. HisfirstthoughtwasforGodandforthedutiesof his sacred office, his second was ever an offering at the shrine of friendship towards his fellow-man ; but, of himself, his own ease, his own interest, or his own pleasure, he seemed to take no account. His life and career, however, are little known. At the 2nd of February,^ the Bollandists have a short notice of this saint, in two paragraphs. ^ These are included in a history of several martyrs. Other accounts, given of him, are rather obscure ; and, theyarehardlywellsupported,byancientdocuments. St. Erlulphisclassed among our Irish saints,3 by Father John Colgan. 4 The place of his birth and his descent cannot now be recovered ; nor, is it an easy task, to recon- cile the varied statements regarding him, with exact chronological dates. The few facts of his history preserved are derived from ancient popular tra- ditions. In imitation of so many other apostolic labourers, Erkilph, a holy Scot, went towards Saxony. s He followed in the footsteps of Irish and English missionaries, who had already sowed the seeds of God's word, among a Pagan people. *^ Ties of blood and of sympathy, as well as religious zeal, urged the Anglo-Saxon preachers to spread the Faith, where might also be sought the cradle of their race ; the Irish ecclesiastics, who went thither, were destined, perhaps, to encounter even more prejudice and hostiUty, before obtaining at the hands of heathens their glorious crowns of martyrdom.
The origin of the Saxons is involved in much obscurity. 7 The Scythian Getae are said to have given rise to the Goths, in Europe. Their language was Celtic in its roots. ^ The Goths passed from Sweden into Germany. The Saxons are thought to have been a tribe among those people, and they are known to have been worshippers of idols. 9 Their superstitions had,
Article hi. —' By Dempster, his feast has been assigned to the 22nd of January. See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scoto- rum," tomus i. , lib. v. , sect. 447, p. 244. See an account of St. Erlulph in a work of
Mone's " Geschichte des Heidenthums im nordlichen Europa," published in two 8vo
vols. , 1822-23; as also Jacob Grimm's "Deutsche Mythologie," the second en-
larged edition, published at Gottingen, 1844.
^ Their origin and history are examined with great ability and research in Albert ruarii ii. De Sanctis Martyribus Ebbeck- Krantz's learned work, "Saxonia. " De
"
In Catalogo Episcoporum
Demochares,
Verdensium," lib. De Sacrificio Missae.
'See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Feb-
esdorphiensibus, &c. There is a historic
commentary of six sections relating to them, pp. 309 to 316. Old edition.
3 That our saint was a Scot, and an Irish Scot, seems probable ; because, at, or after, the time of Charlemagne, many Irishmen went over to the Continent.
*• "
See Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," Feb-
ruarii ii. De S. Erlulpho Episcopo Ver-
densi et Martyre, pp. 240, 241.
5 The position of ancient Saxony is defined
Saxonicae gentis origine, longinquis expedi- tionibus susceptis, et bellis domi pro liber-
tatediufortiterquegestis. SeePraefatio,pp. I to 4. The folio edition of this work used is that of D. Nicolas Cisner, published at Francfort-on-the-Maine, a. d. 1580; and pro- fessing to be more accurately and carefully edited than a former one.
^ This is shown by the learned Dr. Hicks, who has published the English Saxon, Mae- sogothic, and other grammars, and who was
so distinguished as a philologist.
» 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.
Townland Kildare. " Sheet14.
5 The accompanying engraving of this spot, by George A. Hanlon, and drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, is from
Mr. John O'C. Robinson.
^
It lies within Upper Castledillon Town-
Survey
Maps for the County of
2^0 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February
southern bank of the River Liffey. Here, probably, stood the former paro- chial church of Castledillon parish, in the barony of South Salt, in the county of Kildare.
Article III. — St. Erlulph, Bishop of Verden and Martyr, in Saxony.
[Ninth Century? ^ This holy missionary and martyr proved himself to have been themostunselfishofmen. HisfirstthoughtwasforGodandforthedutiesof his sacred office, his second was ever an offering at the shrine of friendship towards his fellow-man ; but, of himself, his own ease, his own interest, or his own pleasure, he seemed to take no account. His life and career, however, are little known. At the 2nd of February,^ the Bollandists have a short notice of this saint, in two paragraphs. ^ These are included in a history of several martyrs. Other accounts, given of him, are rather obscure ; and, theyarehardlywellsupported,byancientdocuments. St. Erlulphisclassed among our Irish saints,3 by Father John Colgan. 4 The place of his birth and his descent cannot now be recovered ; nor, is it an easy task, to recon- cile the varied statements regarding him, with exact chronological dates. The few facts of his history preserved are derived from ancient popular tra- ditions. In imitation of so many other apostolic labourers, Erkilph, a holy Scot, went towards Saxony. s He followed in the footsteps of Irish and English missionaries, who had already sowed the seeds of God's word, among a Pagan people. *^ Ties of blood and of sympathy, as well as religious zeal, urged the Anglo-Saxon preachers to spread the Faith, where might also be sought the cradle of their race ; the Irish ecclesiastics, who went thither, were destined, perhaps, to encounter even more prejudice and hostiUty, before obtaining at the hands of heathens their glorious crowns of martyrdom.
The origin of the Saxons is involved in much obscurity. 7 The Scythian Getae are said to have given rise to the Goths, in Europe. Their language was Celtic in its roots. ^ The Goths passed from Sweden into Germany. The Saxons are thought to have been a tribe among those people, and they are known to have been worshippers of idols. 9 Their superstitions had,
Article hi. —' By Dempster, his feast has been assigned to the 22nd of January. See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scoto- rum," tomus i. , lib. v. , sect. 447, p. 244. See an account of St. Erlulph in a work of
Mone's " Geschichte des Heidenthums im nordlichen Europa," published in two 8vo
vols. , 1822-23; as also Jacob Grimm's "Deutsche Mythologie," the second en-
larged edition, published at Gottingen, 1844.
^ Their origin and history are examined with great ability and research in Albert ruarii ii. De Sanctis Martyribus Ebbeck- Krantz's learned work, "Saxonia. " De
"
In Catalogo Episcoporum
Demochares,
Verdensium," lib. De Sacrificio Missae.
'See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Feb-
esdorphiensibus, &c. There is a historic
commentary of six sections relating to them, pp. 309 to 316. Old edition.
3 That our saint was a Scot, and an Irish Scot, seems probable ; because, at, or after, the time of Charlemagne, many Irishmen went over to the Continent.
*• "
See Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," Feb-
ruarii ii. De S. Erlulpho Episcopo Ver-
densi et Martyre, pp. 240, 241.
5 The position of ancient Saxony is defined
Saxonicae gentis origine, longinquis expedi- tionibus susceptis, et bellis domi pro liber-
tatediufortiterquegestis. SeePraefatio,pp. I to 4. The folio edition of this work used is that of D. Nicolas Cisner, published at Francfort-on-the-Maine, a. d. 1580; and pro- fessing to be more accurately and carefully edited than a former one.
^ This is shown by the learned Dr. Hicks, who has published the English Saxon, Mae- sogothic, and other grammars, and who was
so distinguished as a philologist.
» 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.
