Gertrude
made a donation, in favour of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
, sect, xxv.
,
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. De S. Ultano Abbate Fossis et Pe- ronre, pp. 1 18, 119.
*" Legendurn ejus Elogium historicum sreculosecuiulo Benedictino, et in Actis SS. Boliandianis ad diem primam Mail. "—Cri- tices pagii apud Baronius, " Annates Ecclesi- astici," tome xi. , A. i). 654, sect. viii.
' Ilensciien sup["Osed this to be the rule established by St. Columbanus—we pre- sunie to say, he meant St. Columba, Abbot of lona.
* See " Festi Belgici et Burgundici," pp. 223, 224.
p. 152. — Article III.
' See his Life, in vol. i. , of this work, at January xvi.
' It has been interpolated, however, by
later writers.
^ ,See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. xix.
^ " In Natalibus Sanctorum Canonico-
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
39
materials to give the Life of this saint, for the ist of May ;9 and, at this date, Bishop Challenor '° has placed St. Uitan. He is also known by the name of Outain," the French rendering for Ultanus. The ancient Lives of St. Fursey throw most light on his history. The later Life of St. Fursey, written by John Desmay, has also allusion to this holy man. It may be observed, that Saints Foillan and Ultan were brothers to St. Fursey, and the name of the father was Fintan, dynast over one of the small principalities in Munster.
Else- where, we have seen, that they were said to be sons to the King of Lein- ster," but this is incorrect. However, we are told, they were children to Hugh Bannin, King of Munster, according to the History of the Saints of Ireland. '3 Ultan was the eldest of the three brothers; and all received the benefit of a most excellent education. The brothers Ultan and Foillan remained with their parents, while St. Fursey was absent on the western isles of Ireland ; and, both continued to lead religious lives, notwithstanding the many dissipations of society, and the temptations, to which they were exposed. On the return of their brother, however, he persuaded them to embrace the monastic profession. Under his direction, they passed some time at Cno- bersburg,^4nowBurghCastle,'^intheshireofSuffolk,inEngland. Here,a religious establishment was formed, owing to the munificence of King Sige- frid, their patron and protector. St. Fullen was set over this house, while both his brothers sought a penitential retirement, in a neighbouring desert. There, for a whole year,'^ St. Fursey and St. Ultan lived as anchorites. This happened, during the reign of Sigebert over East Anglia. '? Afterwards, St. Fursey resolved on leaving England for France, in consequence of the dis- orders created by Penda, King of the Mercians. Taking with him Saints Ultan and Foillan, with other companions, according to some accounts, St. Fursey went over to Gaul, in the year 640, or perhaps somewhat later. There, he founded a monastery at Lagny. Other statements arrange it, that having been charged to look after the religious establishment in Britain,'^ his brothers did not accompany him to Gaul ; but, that they arrived there, only after his death. It is even said, that St. Fursey, after his arrival in Gaul, resolved to go back,
in order to visit them in England, but his death occurred, before he could accomplish that purpose. After the demise of St. Fursey, in France, about the year 650, his brothers. Saints Ultan and Foillan, arc thought to have left England for the Continent. According to one account, St. Foillan, excited by the desire and intentions of his brother Fursey, went to Rome, in order to receive the Pontifical Benediction from Pope Martin I. , who then sat in the Chair of Peter. ^9 He is said to have been accompanied there, by his brother
5 According to his " Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum qu£e MS. habenter, ordine Men- slum etDierum. "
'° See "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 275.
'' See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des
Saints," tome v. , Premier Jour de Mai, he ascended the throne of the East Angles,
p. 144.
" Such is Hanmer's account.
See "Chro-
A. D. 636. See " Flores Historiarum," p. 221.
'^ See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. . Mail i. l)e S. Ultano Abbate Fossis et Peronce, sect. 3, p. 118.
'9 " Foillianus Romam ivit, petiturus a Martino Pontifice Episcopalem benediction- em ad infidelium conversionem ; quaaccepta, ad Gallias venit. "—Molanus, in " Natalibus
Sanctorum Belgii," die xxxi. Octobris.
nicle of Ireland," p. 152.
'^ See the Preface to Haliday's Transla-
tion of K eating's "History of Ireland,"
p. Ixix.
'• Here there had been a celebrated Roman
encampment, and within its bounds, St. Fursey built his monastery. The place is supposed to have been the Roman Gariano- num.
vol. i.
,
'= gee an account of this place in Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of England," vol. i. , p. 436.
'° The date has been variously ascribed to years, between 63340 639.
'^ According to Matthew of Westminster,
'"'
See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
. ;
40 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
;
St. Ultan. However,Dr. Lanigan,seemstothink,thatFoillanintheinterval between that period and his own death was so much occupied in Brabant, that he had no time to visit Rome. ^° The Sovereign Pontiff is related to have consecrated St. Foillan as a Regionary Bishop, and to have given him permission to preach, on account of his great zeal and fervour. This journey to Rome and his consecration are denied by others
yet, as we are assured, without good proof. ^' Yet, if this journey to Rome took place, it must have been, as supposed, after St. Fursey's death. ^^ Having received power to preach the Gospel among the infidels, St. Foillan is said to have left Rome, and to have directed his journey towards Gaul, accompanied by his brother St. Ultan. They first went to Lagny, where St. Fursey had lived, and thence, they passed to Perrone, where his remains were deposed. ^^ On St. Foillan's return from Rome, he is stated to have rejoined his brother Ultan, whothenlivedinthedioceseofCambray. Incompany,theytraversedthe whole country around, spreading a knowledge of the Gospel, wherever they came. ^+ AstheActsofSt. FoillanoftenstylehimPraesul,weareledtocon- clude,thathereceivedepiscopalconsecration,atsomeperiodofhislife. The Mayor of King Clovis, who is also called the Patrician Erchinoald, had
erected two great religious establishments ; one of these was near his castle of Perrone, on the mountain of Cignes, and the other was at a place, called Mount St. Quintin. According to Desmay, St. Fursey ordered St. Ultan with some religious to occupy Perrone ; where, it is said, both of the brothers met while this statement is discredited, by most writers. St. Fursey was buried in the new church, which had been built at Perrone. St. Foillan was present at the translation of his brother Fursey's remains, in the year 654, according to some accounts. ^5 About this time, Ituberga, widow of Pepin de Landen, Mayor over the Palace of Austrasie, with her daughter, St. Gertrude,^^ Abbess, lived at Nivelle, between Mons and Brussels, in Brabant. A religious com- munity of men, as of women, had been established here; and, the two brothers, directing their steps towards this city, applied for admission among the brothers, and were received. Their virtues and talents so far recom- mended them to tlie notice of St. Gertrude, that they were appointed to in- struct the religious under her rule, in psalmody and in religious practices. Even those villages and hamlets, where the monastic tenants resided, received the benefit of their preaching, through her means. The charge of Pen-one monastery was confided to St. Foillan. St. Gertrude Avas a truly religious and munificent patroness of the saints, and she took care to provide every- thing necessary for them. It is said, that she founded a monastery at Fosse, or Fossas, where St. Foillan built a church, and established separate cells for the monks, who belonged to it. The direction of this Avas committed to St. Ultan. ^7 She retained St. Foillan at Nivelles, to act as spiritual director over her nuns—to whom he expounded the Holy Scri])tures, and gave instruction
land," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , sect, xi. , n. 107, p. 466.
^' . See Baillet's " Vies des Saints," tome vii. , Oct. xxxi. , sect, i
^^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nin;," Februarii ix. , Vita S. Furscei, Epis- copi et Conftssoris, n. 23, p. 300.
^'^ This is related, in an old "Vita S. Foil- lani. "
the " Martyrologium Benedictinum," at Vita Sancli Foillani, p. 900.
"= in the church of St. John, at Perrone, there is an old pictuie representing Louis XI. assisting at the translation of St. Fursey's re- mains. See Murray's Handbook for Tra- vellers in France," sect, x. , Route 184, p. 655.
-* Her feast occurs at the 17th of March, '*" Tempore Siegeberti Regis, Grimoaldi and she departed this life, a. d. 659. See
maioris domus et Erchenaldi I'atricii cum senioreeorumfratre Ultanoin Galliam venit, et una divcrsa loca peragranda (crat autem Episcopus) ChristiEvangeliumlongo latcque divulgavit. "—Menardus, in his Additions to
Guillaume Descceuvres' " La Vie de S. Ger- trude, Abbesse de Nivelles," published at Paris. A. n. 1612, i2mo.
''. Such is a statement found, in an old Life of St. Foillan.
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 41
and advice. In his chronicle,'^^ at a. d. 648, Sigebert places the gift of St. Ger- trude to the Irishman St. Foillan, According to some, St.
Gertrude made a donation, in favour of St. Ultan, in the year 652, after the death of her mother. ^9 She assigned him a tract of country, called Fosse, or rossas,3° west of Namur, between the Rivers Meuse and Sambre, then in the diocese of Maestricht, but now in that of Liege. She also furnished him with means, to build a hospital and a monastery. Of the latter, he became first abbot. With the means furnished by St. Gertrude, St. Ultan built a church,3' which was dedicated to St. Agatha. Fosse—about three leagues from Namur
is called a Monastery of the Scots,3' by Eginhart ;33 and formerly many such houses were occupied by the Scots or Irish, throughout France and Germany. Peirone was regarded, also, as a monastery for Irishmen. About the year 655,34 St. Foillan set out, with three of his companions, on a visit to the MonasteryofFosse. Ontheirway,whilstpassingthroughtheforestofSonef,3S or Charboniere—better known at present as Soigne or Soignies—in Hainaut, they were attacked by robbers 3^ and barbarously murdered, while they were engaged singing God's praises. 37 From the account given, regarding the murder of St. Foillan, it would appear, that he was put to death, merely for the sake of plunder, and probably because he had in his possession rich vessels or other articles, which he was then bearing with him to the Monas- teryofFosse. Asallhiscompanionswereputtodeath,withSt. Foillanhim- self, no news of their fate reached their friends. 3^ When the bodies had been stripped of their garments, and dragged to a retired part of the wood for imme- diate concealment, the murderers, clothed with their dress, escaped, also, with
their horses. Hearing no account of St. Foillan, at the time of his expected return, Gertrude sent a messenger to Ultan, that she might learn from him the cause for his brother's delay. As yet, unapprized of Foillan's departure from Nivelles, Ultan could give no information, regarding his missing brother. However, on the following night, he dreamed of having seen a white dove, with its wings dripping blood. He began to fear the death of his brother, from such information as he received, and from all other indications. Sending to St. Gertrude a relation of his dream and surmises, she was filled with the most gloomy apprehension. Immediately, she sent messengers in all direc- tions, to seek intelligence about the missing director and his companions but, although their martyrdom took place, on the 31st day of October, as was afterwards discovered, their remains were not found, until the i6th day of January, in the year following, and seventy-seven days, after this murder had beencommitted. TheoratoryofRceuxwasbuiltonthespot,whereSt. Foil- lan had suffered martyrdom ; and, this afterwards gave rise to the Abbey of
** " Fossense monasterium S. Foillanus, Hibernus, dono S. Gertiudis virginis Nivel- lensis, fundavit, ubi et quiescit. "
°9 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. X. , October xxxi.
3° There is an excellent historical account of Fosses, with charters, edicts, &c. , relating thereto, contained in a work, edited by M. Jules Borgnet, and intituled, " Documents, inedits relatifs a I'Histoire de la Province de Namur. " This work has been published, at Namur, in 1867.
Mirreus' "Codex Donationum Pianim," p. 89.
'^^ In " Historia Translationis SS. Marcel- lini et Petri. "
34 gee Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and otherprincipal Saints," vol. x. , October xxxi.
35 This forest was also called Sinesia.
36 jjy some writers, these are called idola- ters.
37 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Saints," tome v. , Mai i. , p. 144.
38 gge an account in the Manuscript Flora- 3' See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des rius Sanctorum. The Bollandists' "Acta
Saints," tome v. , Mai i. , p. 144.
3' Thus do we read : " monasterium Scot-
torum : qualia olim multa Scotti sive Hiber- ni per Germaniam habuerunt. "—Autbeatus
Sanctorum," toraus i. , Mali i. De S. Ultano
Abbate, sect. i.
each year to the Chapter of Canons at Fosse
p. 1 18.
39 The religious of this place used to pay
,
—;
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
St. Foillan, called Feuillan-aux-Roeux. 39 The bodies were removed to Nivel- les, where they were buried with much honour. The remains of St. Foillan wereshortlyafterremovedtoFosse,attheinstanceoftheAbbot. Thoseof his martyred companions were preserved at Nivelles, and here, as at Fosse, the memory of all four is invoked. ° The monks had charge of those relics, and the Secular Canons then succeeding in their place kept them with great care. Afterthedeathofhisbrother,St. Ultanwaschargedwiththeadminis- trationofPerroneAbbey. Ultanwasthought,also,tohavebeenAbbotover Mount Saint Quentin ; but, Mabillon could not find an earlier date than the tenth century, for a monastery, at that place. ''' When St. Gertrude perceived her end about to close, she sent one of her nuns to St. Ultan, to learn from him the e. xact day of her death. The saint prophetically replied : " This day is the i6th of March ; Gertrude, the servant of the Lord, shall die to-morrow, during the celebration of tlie Holy Mass. Tell her not to fear the result St. Patrick and the angels are ready to receive her into glory. "-'^ The event corresponded with his prediction. '*3 She is said to have departed happily from this life, on the 17th of March, a. d. 659. When St. Amatus,'** called in French Ame, had been banished from his See of Sion in the Valais, by Theodoric III. ,45 he fled for protection to St. Ultan, at Peronne, where the holy Abbot received him with every token of respect and veneration. Under the influence of Ebroiuj^^ the IMayor of his palace, and other evil counsellers, Thierry or Theodoric was abandoned to cruelty, irreligion and other vices, being a persecutor of the bishops and clergy, especially when not subservient to his unjust mode of ruling. The exact year of our saint's departure from this life has been disputed. Dr. Lanigan seems to think, that Ultan died in the year 676, or thereabouts, from the circumstance of Mabillon speaking about him, as living in the year 674, yet, as if he departed not long after such date. ''^ About the year 680, the death of St. Ultan is said to have occurred, according to Pagius. '*^ This date is followed by Rev. S. Baring-Gould. '*9 According to Le Cointe, St. Ultan survived his brother Foillan nearly thirty years, having departed this life, on the ist day of May, in the year 686. =° He was buried at Fosse or Fosses,s' in the church of St. Agatha. During the Norman inroads, this place suffered greatly from their devastions ; but, Not-
42
a piece of gold, or twelve deniers of silver;
and after his benediction, they were obliged
to present their Abbot, to take the abbatial
cross, from the aUar of St. Foillan. Sec Austrasia, at first, and afterwards of all
Les Petits Bollandisles, " Vies des Saints," tome v. , Mai i. , p. 144, n. 3.
'° " On a bati depuis un monastere dans la foret de Charbonicre au lieu de leur martyre, ou plutot sur la place ou leurs corps furcnt trouves, etjl'on en a fait dans la suite une Abb. iye de Premontre pres de la petite ville de Reux a I'entree du Haynaut. "—Baillct's "Vies des Saints," tome vii. , Oct. xx. xi. , sect. 2.
^' See " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iii. , lib. xlviii. , sect, xlviii. , p. 642.
*" Longueval adds : " L'Auteur qui rap- porte les circonstances de ceUe sainte niort, est bien digne de foi, puisqu'il y etoit pre- sent. "—"liistoire de I'Englise Gallicane," tome iv. , liv. x. , pp. 59, 60.
43 Seethe Bollandisis' " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Martii xvii. , Vita Sanctte Ger- ta," part i. , p. 275.
trudis. 53 'I'hese Canons were the first, in 1246, to
^4 His feast is kept at the 13th of Sep- tember.
'S He was son to Clovis II. , King of
France,
** He was assassinated in Neustrie. See
L. -P. Anquetii's " Histoire de France," Pre- miere Race dite des Merovingiens, sect, v. , p. 54.
*' See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , sect, xi. , p. 465, and n. Ill, p. 666.
*' Hesays : " Colitur Ultanus inrecentiori- busMartyrologiis IrelandisMaii, mortuus cir- ca annum scxcentessinium octogessimum,'' Baronius' "Annales Eccle^iaslici," tomus xi. , a. d. 654, sect, viii. , Criiices.
'"See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iv. , May i. , p. I.
5° See, also, Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome v. , Mai i. , p. 144.
S" See Bishop Challoner's Britannia Sanc-
—;
—:—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
ger, Bishop of Liege, caused it to be surrounded by Avails, in 974, Then its ruined monastery was converted into a Chapter of Canons. s^ Towards the end of the last century, the relics of St. Ultan had been preserved, in the church of Fosse. 53 Under the name Altanus, Joannes Trithemius has noticed this saint, and his actions, in England, while classing him among the Bene- dictines. 54 So in like manner does Arnold Wion, Dorgan, Menard and Bucelin. The name of Ultan, without any further designauon, occurs in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,s5 at the ist of May. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,5^ Ultan, son of Maolsneachta,57had veneration paid him, on this day. If—as seems to have been thought—he was brother to St. Faoillan and St. Fursey, their father's name was Fintan, and some error must haveoccurred,whencallinghimMaolsneachta,inthepresentinstance. The name of St. Ultan is entered at this same date, in the anonymous Catalogue of Irish Saints, published by O'SuUevan Beare. This name and designation of his
being abbot appear in Henry Fitzsimon's List of our National Saints, as belong- ing to May-day, the festival set apart for his commemoration. 5^ The general account of his conduct and example is the grand criterion, by which the world, unto the very end of time, should easily recognise the true Chris- tian man.
Article IV. St. Nathchaoimhe, or Machoemi, Abbot of Terry- glass, County of Tipperary. \_Sixth Ceniury. '] Authentic particulars of this holy person's Acts have not reached us ; but, popular traditions in Ire- land, especially when derived from time immemorial, and not drawn from the conjectural reveries of modern writers, often lead by some indirect and mys- terious clue to the elucidation of historic facts. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' the feast of St. Mochoemi of Tir-da-glas is assigned to the ist of May. In the Feilire of St. ^ngus,^ at the ist of May, the festival of this holy man is cele- brated. The commentator identifies him, likewise, as Abbot of Tir-da-glas, and Caemgen's brother. 3 In the Martyrology of Alarianus O'Gorman, he is
also noticed. We deem it quite probable, that Nath, or Mo, are only prefixes totheoriginalnameofChoem,Chaoimhe,orChoemius, TheBollandists^ have some remarks, in reference to Mochoemius of Tyrdeglass, at this date. This saint, as we have already seen, was brother to the illustrious St. Kevin,5
May I. ]
43
celebrate the Fete Dieu, at the request of Robert, Bishop of Liege.
53 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Saints," torne v.
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. De S. Ultano Abbate Fossis et Pe- ronre, pp. 1 18, 119.
*" Legendurn ejus Elogium historicum sreculosecuiulo Benedictino, et in Actis SS. Boliandianis ad diem primam Mail. "—Cri- tices pagii apud Baronius, " Annates Ecclesi- astici," tome xi. , A. i). 654, sect. viii.
' Ilensciien sup["Osed this to be the rule established by St. Columbanus—we pre- sunie to say, he meant St. Columba, Abbot of lona.
* See " Festi Belgici et Burgundici," pp. 223, 224.
p. 152. — Article III.
' See his Life, in vol. i. , of this work, at January xvi.
' It has been interpolated, however, by
later writers.
^ ,See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. xix.
^ " In Natalibus Sanctorum Canonico-
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
39
materials to give the Life of this saint, for the ist of May ;9 and, at this date, Bishop Challenor '° has placed St. Uitan. He is also known by the name of Outain," the French rendering for Ultanus. The ancient Lives of St. Fursey throw most light on his history. The later Life of St. Fursey, written by John Desmay, has also allusion to this holy man. It may be observed, that Saints Foillan and Ultan were brothers to St. Fursey, and the name of the father was Fintan, dynast over one of the small principalities in Munster.
Else- where, we have seen, that they were said to be sons to the King of Lein- ster," but this is incorrect. However, we are told, they were children to Hugh Bannin, King of Munster, according to the History of the Saints of Ireland. '3 Ultan was the eldest of the three brothers; and all received the benefit of a most excellent education. The brothers Ultan and Foillan remained with their parents, while St. Fursey was absent on the western isles of Ireland ; and, both continued to lead religious lives, notwithstanding the many dissipations of society, and the temptations, to which they were exposed. On the return of their brother, however, he persuaded them to embrace the monastic profession. Under his direction, they passed some time at Cno- bersburg,^4nowBurghCastle,'^intheshireofSuffolk,inEngland. Here,a religious establishment was formed, owing to the munificence of King Sige- frid, their patron and protector. St. Fullen was set over this house, while both his brothers sought a penitential retirement, in a neighbouring desert. There, for a whole year,'^ St. Fursey and St. Ultan lived as anchorites. This happened, during the reign of Sigebert over East Anglia. '? Afterwards, St. Fursey resolved on leaving England for France, in consequence of the dis- orders created by Penda, King of the Mercians. Taking with him Saints Ultan and Foillan, with other companions, according to some accounts, St. Fursey went over to Gaul, in the year 640, or perhaps somewhat later. There, he founded a monastery at Lagny. Other statements arrange it, that having been charged to look after the religious establishment in Britain,'^ his brothers did not accompany him to Gaul ; but, that they arrived there, only after his death. It is even said, that St. Fursey, after his arrival in Gaul, resolved to go back,
in order to visit them in England, but his death occurred, before he could accomplish that purpose. After the demise of St. Fursey, in France, about the year 650, his brothers. Saints Ultan and Foillan, arc thought to have left England for the Continent. According to one account, St. Foillan, excited by the desire and intentions of his brother Fursey, went to Rome, in order to receive the Pontifical Benediction from Pope Martin I. , who then sat in the Chair of Peter. ^9 He is said to have been accompanied there, by his brother
5 According to his " Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum qu£e MS. habenter, ordine Men- slum etDierum. "
'° See "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 275.
'' See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des
Saints," tome v. , Premier Jour de Mai, he ascended the throne of the East Angles,
p. 144.
" Such is Hanmer's account.
See "Chro-
A. D. 636. See " Flores Historiarum," p. 221.
'^ See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. . Mail i. l)e S. Ultano Abbate Fossis et Peronce, sect. 3, p. 118.
'9 " Foillianus Romam ivit, petiturus a Martino Pontifice Episcopalem benediction- em ad infidelium conversionem ; quaaccepta, ad Gallias venit. "—Molanus, in " Natalibus
Sanctorum Belgii," die xxxi. Octobris.
nicle of Ireland," p. 152.
'^ See the Preface to Haliday's Transla-
tion of K eating's "History of Ireland,"
p. Ixix.
'• Here there had been a celebrated Roman
encampment, and within its bounds, St. Fursey built his monastery. The place is supposed to have been the Roman Gariano- num.
vol. i.
,
'= gee an account of this place in Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of England," vol. i. , p. 436.
'° The date has been variously ascribed to years, between 63340 639.
'^ According to Matthew of Westminster,
'"'
See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
. ;
40 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
;
St. Ultan. However,Dr. Lanigan,seemstothink,thatFoillanintheinterval between that period and his own death was so much occupied in Brabant, that he had no time to visit Rome. ^° The Sovereign Pontiff is related to have consecrated St. Foillan as a Regionary Bishop, and to have given him permission to preach, on account of his great zeal and fervour. This journey to Rome and his consecration are denied by others
yet, as we are assured, without good proof. ^' Yet, if this journey to Rome took place, it must have been, as supposed, after St. Fursey's death. ^^ Having received power to preach the Gospel among the infidels, St. Foillan is said to have left Rome, and to have directed his journey towards Gaul, accompanied by his brother St. Ultan. They first went to Lagny, where St. Fursey had lived, and thence, they passed to Perrone, where his remains were deposed. ^^ On St. Foillan's return from Rome, he is stated to have rejoined his brother Ultan, whothenlivedinthedioceseofCambray. Incompany,theytraversedthe whole country around, spreading a knowledge of the Gospel, wherever they came. ^+ AstheActsofSt. FoillanoftenstylehimPraesul,weareledtocon- clude,thathereceivedepiscopalconsecration,atsomeperiodofhislife. The Mayor of King Clovis, who is also called the Patrician Erchinoald, had
erected two great religious establishments ; one of these was near his castle of Perrone, on the mountain of Cignes, and the other was at a place, called Mount St. Quintin. According to Desmay, St. Fursey ordered St. Ultan with some religious to occupy Perrone ; where, it is said, both of the brothers met while this statement is discredited, by most writers. St. Fursey was buried in the new church, which had been built at Perrone. St. Foillan was present at the translation of his brother Fursey's remains, in the year 654, according to some accounts. ^5 About this time, Ituberga, widow of Pepin de Landen, Mayor over the Palace of Austrasie, with her daughter, St. Gertrude,^^ Abbess, lived at Nivelle, between Mons and Brussels, in Brabant. A religious com- munity of men, as of women, had been established here; and, the two brothers, directing their steps towards this city, applied for admission among the brothers, and were received. Their virtues and talents so far recom- mended them to tlie notice of St. Gertrude, that they were appointed to in- struct the religious under her rule, in psalmody and in religious practices. Even those villages and hamlets, where the monastic tenants resided, received the benefit of their preaching, through her means. The charge of Pen-one monastery was confided to St. Foillan. St. Gertrude Avas a truly religious and munificent patroness of the saints, and she took care to provide every- thing necessary for them. It is said, that she founded a monastery at Fosse, or Fossas, where St. Foillan built a church, and established separate cells for the monks, who belonged to it. The direction of this Avas committed to St. Ultan. ^7 She retained St. Foillan at Nivelles, to act as spiritual director over her nuns—to whom he expounded the Holy Scri])tures, and gave instruction
land," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , sect, xi. , n. 107, p. 466.
^' . See Baillet's " Vies des Saints," tome vii. , Oct. xxxi. , sect, i
^^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nin;," Februarii ix. , Vita S. Furscei, Epis- copi et Conftssoris, n. 23, p. 300.
^'^ This is related, in an old "Vita S. Foil- lani. "
the " Martyrologium Benedictinum," at Vita Sancli Foillani, p. 900.
"= in the church of St. John, at Perrone, there is an old pictuie representing Louis XI. assisting at the translation of St. Fursey's re- mains. See Murray's Handbook for Tra- vellers in France," sect, x. , Route 184, p. 655.
-* Her feast occurs at the 17th of March, '*" Tempore Siegeberti Regis, Grimoaldi and she departed this life, a. d. 659. See
maioris domus et Erchenaldi I'atricii cum senioreeorumfratre Ultanoin Galliam venit, et una divcrsa loca peragranda (crat autem Episcopus) ChristiEvangeliumlongo latcque divulgavit. "—Menardus, in his Additions to
Guillaume Descceuvres' " La Vie de S. Ger- trude, Abbesse de Nivelles," published at Paris. A. n. 1612, i2mo.
''. Such is a statement found, in an old Life of St. Foillan.
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 41
and advice. In his chronicle,'^^ at a. d. 648, Sigebert places the gift of St. Ger- trude to the Irishman St. Foillan, According to some, St.
Gertrude made a donation, in favour of St. Ultan, in the year 652, after the death of her mother. ^9 She assigned him a tract of country, called Fosse, or rossas,3° west of Namur, between the Rivers Meuse and Sambre, then in the diocese of Maestricht, but now in that of Liege. She also furnished him with means, to build a hospital and a monastery. Of the latter, he became first abbot. With the means furnished by St. Gertrude, St. Ultan built a church,3' which was dedicated to St. Agatha. Fosse—about three leagues from Namur
is called a Monastery of the Scots,3' by Eginhart ;33 and formerly many such houses were occupied by the Scots or Irish, throughout France and Germany. Peirone was regarded, also, as a monastery for Irishmen. About the year 655,34 St. Foillan set out, with three of his companions, on a visit to the MonasteryofFosse. Ontheirway,whilstpassingthroughtheforestofSonef,3S or Charboniere—better known at present as Soigne or Soignies—in Hainaut, they were attacked by robbers 3^ and barbarously murdered, while they were engaged singing God's praises. 37 From the account given, regarding the murder of St. Foillan, it would appear, that he was put to death, merely for the sake of plunder, and probably because he had in his possession rich vessels or other articles, which he was then bearing with him to the Monas- teryofFosse. Asallhiscompanionswereputtodeath,withSt. Foillanhim- self, no news of their fate reached their friends. 3^ When the bodies had been stripped of their garments, and dragged to a retired part of the wood for imme- diate concealment, the murderers, clothed with their dress, escaped, also, with
their horses. Hearing no account of St. Foillan, at the time of his expected return, Gertrude sent a messenger to Ultan, that she might learn from him the cause for his brother's delay. As yet, unapprized of Foillan's departure from Nivelles, Ultan could give no information, regarding his missing brother. However, on the following night, he dreamed of having seen a white dove, with its wings dripping blood. He began to fear the death of his brother, from such information as he received, and from all other indications. Sending to St. Gertrude a relation of his dream and surmises, she was filled with the most gloomy apprehension. Immediately, she sent messengers in all direc- tions, to seek intelligence about the missing director and his companions but, although their martyrdom took place, on the 31st day of October, as was afterwards discovered, their remains were not found, until the i6th day of January, in the year following, and seventy-seven days, after this murder had beencommitted. TheoratoryofRceuxwasbuiltonthespot,whereSt. Foil- lan had suffered martyrdom ; and, this afterwards gave rise to the Abbey of
** " Fossense monasterium S. Foillanus, Hibernus, dono S. Gertiudis virginis Nivel- lensis, fundavit, ubi et quiescit. "
°9 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. X. , October xxxi.
3° There is an excellent historical account of Fosses, with charters, edicts, &c. , relating thereto, contained in a work, edited by M. Jules Borgnet, and intituled, " Documents, inedits relatifs a I'Histoire de la Province de Namur. " This work has been published, at Namur, in 1867.
Mirreus' "Codex Donationum Pianim," p. 89.
'^^ In " Historia Translationis SS. Marcel- lini et Petri. "
34 gee Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and otherprincipal Saints," vol. x. , October xxxi.
35 This forest was also called Sinesia.
36 jjy some writers, these are called idola- ters.
37 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Saints," tome v. , Mai i. , p. 144.
38 gge an account in the Manuscript Flora- 3' See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des rius Sanctorum. The Bollandists' "Acta
Saints," tome v. , Mai i. , p. 144.
3' Thus do we read : " monasterium Scot-
torum : qualia olim multa Scotti sive Hiber- ni per Germaniam habuerunt. "—Autbeatus
Sanctorum," toraus i. , Mali i. De S. Ultano
Abbate, sect. i.
each year to the Chapter of Canons at Fosse
p. 1 18.
39 The religious of this place used to pay
,
—;
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
St. Foillan, called Feuillan-aux-Roeux. 39 The bodies were removed to Nivel- les, where they were buried with much honour. The remains of St. Foillan wereshortlyafterremovedtoFosse,attheinstanceoftheAbbot. Thoseof his martyred companions were preserved at Nivelles, and here, as at Fosse, the memory of all four is invoked. ° The monks had charge of those relics, and the Secular Canons then succeeding in their place kept them with great care. Afterthedeathofhisbrother,St. Ultanwaschargedwiththeadminis- trationofPerroneAbbey. Ultanwasthought,also,tohavebeenAbbotover Mount Saint Quentin ; but, Mabillon could not find an earlier date than the tenth century, for a monastery, at that place. ''' When St. Gertrude perceived her end about to close, she sent one of her nuns to St. Ultan, to learn from him the e. xact day of her death. The saint prophetically replied : " This day is the i6th of March ; Gertrude, the servant of the Lord, shall die to-morrow, during the celebration of tlie Holy Mass. Tell her not to fear the result St. Patrick and the angels are ready to receive her into glory. "-'^ The event corresponded with his prediction. '*3 She is said to have departed happily from this life, on the 17th of March, a. d. 659. When St. Amatus,'** called in French Ame, had been banished from his See of Sion in the Valais, by Theodoric III. ,45 he fled for protection to St. Ultan, at Peronne, where the holy Abbot received him with every token of respect and veneration. Under the influence of Ebroiuj^^ the IMayor of his palace, and other evil counsellers, Thierry or Theodoric was abandoned to cruelty, irreligion and other vices, being a persecutor of the bishops and clergy, especially when not subservient to his unjust mode of ruling. The exact year of our saint's departure from this life has been disputed. Dr. Lanigan seems to think, that Ultan died in the year 676, or thereabouts, from the circumstance of Mabillon speaking about him, as living in the year 674, yet, as if he departed not long after such date. ''^ About the year 680, the death of St. Ultan is said to have occurred, according to Pagius. '*^ This date is followed by Rev. S. Baring-Gould. '*9 According to Le Cointe, St. Ultan survived his brother Foillan nearly thirty years, having departed this life, on the ist day of May, in the year 686. =° He was buried at Fosse or Fosses,s' in the church of St. Agatha. During the Norman inroads, this place suffered greatly from their devastions ; but, Not-
42
a piece of gold, or twelve deniers of silver;
and after his benediction, they were obliged
to present their Abbot, to take the abbatial
cross, from the aUar of St. Foillan. Sec Austrasia, at first, and afterwards of all
Les Petits Bollandisles, " Vies des Saints," tome v. , Mai i. , p. 144, n. 3.
'° " On a bati depuis un monastere dans la foret de Charbonicre au lieu de leur martyre, ou plutot sur la place ou leurs corps furcnt trouves, etjl'on en a fait dans la suite une Abb. iye de Premontre pres de la petite ville de Reux a I'entree du Haynaut. "—Baillct's "Vies des Saints," tome vii. , Oct. xx. xi. , sect. 2.
^' See " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iii. , lib. xlviii. , sect, xlviii. , p. 642.
*" Longueval adds : " L'Auteur qui rap- porte les circonstances de ceUe sainte niort, est bien digne de foi, puisqu'il y etoit pre- sent. "—"liistoire de I'Englise Gallicane," tome iv. , liv. x. , pp. 59, 60.
43 Seethe Bollandisis' " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Martii xvii. , Vita Sanctte Ger- ta," part i. , p. 275.
trudis. 53 'I'hese Canons were the first, in 1246, to
^4 His feast is kept at the 13th of Sep- tember.
'S He was son to Clovis II. , King of
France,
** He was assassinated in Neustrie. See
L. -P. Anquetii's " Histoire de France," Pre- miere Race dite des Merovingiens, sect, v. , p. 54.
*' See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , sect, xi. , p. 465, and n. Ill, p. 666.
*' Hesays : " Colitur Ultanus inrecentiori- busMartyrologiis IrelandisMaii, mortuus cir- ca annum scxcentessinium octogessimum,'' Baronius' "Annales Eccle^iaslici," tomus xi. , a. d. 654, sect, viii. , Criiices.
'"See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iv. , May i. , p. I.
5° See, also, Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome v. , Mai i. , p. 144.
S" See Bishop Challoner's Britannia Sanc-
—;
—:—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
ger, Bishop of Liege, caused it to be surrounded by Avails, in 974, Then its ruined monastery was converted into a Chapter of Canons. s^ Towards the end of the last century, the relics of St. Ultan had been preserved, in the church of Fosse. 53 Under the name Altanus, Joannes Trithemius has noticed this saint, and his actions, in England, while classing him among the Bene- dictines. 54 So in like manner does Arnold Wion, Dorgan, Menard and Bucelin. The name of Ultan, without any further designauon, occurs in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,s5 at the ist of May. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,5^ Ultan, son of Maolsneachta,57had veneration paid him, on this day. If—as seems to have been thought—he was brother to St. Faoillan and St. Fursey, their father's name was Fintan, and some error must haveoccurred,whencallinghimMaolsneachta,inthepresentinstance. The name of St. Ultan is entered at this same date, in the anonymous Catalogue of Irish Saints, published by O'SuUevan Beare. This name and designation of his
being abbot appear in Henry Fitzsimon's List of our National Saints, as belong- ing to May-day, the festival set apart for his commemoration. 5^ The general account of his conduct and example is the grand criterion, by which the world, unto the very end of time, should easily recognise the true Chris- tian man.
Article IV. St. Nathchaoimhe, or Machoemi, Abbot of Terry- glass, County of Tipperary. \_Sixth Ceniury. '] Authentic particulars of this holy person's Acts have not reached us ; but, popular traditions in Ire- land, especially when derived from time immemorial, and not drawn from the conjectural reveries of modern writers, often lead by some indirect and mys- terious clue to the elucidation of historic facts. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' the feast of St. Mochoemi of Tir-da-glas is assigned to the ist of May. In the Feilire of St. ^ngus,^ at the ist of May, the festival of this holy man is cele- brated. The commentator identifies him, likewise, as Abbot of Tir-da-glas, and Caemgen's brother. 3 In the Martyrology of Alarianus O'Gorman, he is
also noticed. We deem it quite probable, that Nath, or Mo, are only prefixes totheoriginalnameofChoem,Chaoimhe,orChoemius, TheBollandists^ have some remarks, in reference to Mochoemius of Tyrdeglass, at this date. This saint, as we have already seen, was brother to the illustrious St. Kevin,5
May I. ]
43
celebrate the Fete Dieu, at the request of Robert, Bishop of Liege.
53 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Saints," torne v.
