"
Whilst a stranger to the place takes his meditative and discursive ramble through the streets, or visits the old Flemish interiors of the quaint houses in Gheel, his attention will be arrested by grotesque tenements and tenants, never imagined, and of course never delineated, by any effort of mind or pencil, in the genre style and manner of a Teniers or of an Ostade.
Whilst a stranger to the place takes his meditative and discursive ramble through the streets, or visits the old Flemish interiors of the quaint houses in Gheel, his attention will be arrested by grotesque tenements and tenants, never imagined, and of course never delineated, by any effort of mind or pencil, in the genre style and manner of a Teniers or of an Ostade.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
321
An Irish Catholic pilgrim to the shrine of St. Dympna, who desires acquaintance with primitive Flemish manners and customs, after having visited the fine cities and routes usually frequented by the herd of Belgian tourists, can easily accomplish his object without any considerable delay or inconvenience, while combining information and amusement with philanthro- pic feeling or interest, as also with national predilections or religious emotions. Antwerp is never omitted from his memoratida, for a resting place in the tourist's itinerary ; and, by starting at an early yet suitable hour from this city, the morning train to Turnhout will leave the traveller at Herenthals station. There, a well-appointed omnibus is to be found, waiting to receive its contin- gent of passengers, baggage, and mail packets, destined for the quaint old cityofGheel. Offataspankingpacestartthevigorousroadsters,overthe paved highway, bounded on either side with a broad and much frequented path for foot passengers, whilst extending under long and regular lines of oak and elm trees. No elevation, deserving the name of a hill, can be seen rising
over the level plain, that lies between the cities of Antwerp and of Gheel. It is true, at certain points along the road, from Herenthals to the latter munici- pality, a few broken embankments of light sand-hills diversify this scene, on
but, they soon disappear, amidst the dark pine woods, moors, and marshes, that spread over this tract of country. This wild and dreary district, known as the Campine, extends through portions of the pro-
vinces of Antwerp, Limbourgand South Brabant, as also, into the kingdom of Holland. 3 All this natural waste is not, however, unproductive and monoto- nous. Hedgerows along the road side are neatly trimmed ; white cottages, withtheirred-tiledroofs,gleamunderthewarmsunshineofsummer;4 fields wave with heavy crops of wheat, oats, rye and other vegetable esculents patches of verdure contrast with bare yellow sandbanks and heath-covered moorlands ; while from morning dawn to dewy eve, the moving human figures of all ages and of both sexes, through rich corn fields, proclaim the steady and tireless industry of these Campinois. At various intervals, signposts, indices, and figures, mark the direction and distances of neighbouring cities, by kilo- metres. The country immediately around the old city of Gheel s is teeming with fertility, and in the harvest time, it is loaded with the finest crops, cover- ing a deep, rich, sandy, loam soil.
The fame of St. Dympna's veneration and miracles had so far extended, and such a concourse of people came on pilgrimages, that some ages after her time,^ Gheel grew to be a considerable town. Through the bounty and pa- tronage of the Dukes of Brabant, it was erected into a baronial district, and had annexed to it as dependencies some villages. In the twelfth century, it
XXII. , Joannes XXIIL, et Eugenius IV. , therein conveyed, and those inferences
the left hand side
;
annis respective MCCCXXX. , MCCCCXII. , et Mccccxxxi.
^ See De Burgo's " Officia Propria Sane-
torum Hibernige," Noct. ii. , Lect. vi. ,
p. 57,
3 For an interesting, well-written and
generally accurate description of another trip, taken by way of Malines, Contich and Herenthals to Gheel, the reader is referred to an article, entitled "The Shrine of St. Dympna,''whichformerlyappearedinDuffy's " Hibernian Sixpenny Magazine," No. 20, August, 1863, pp. 144 to 153. The author- ship of this article is unknown, to the pre- sent writer; but, later observations and in- quiry fully confirm the correct information
Vol. v. —No. 6.
drawn, regarding the soil and scenery, with the material, moral and religious state of Gheel, and of its immediate neighbour- hood.
4 These observations were made by the writer, during his excursion to and from Gheel, on the 27th and 28th of July, 1863.
5 According to the Rev. Mr. Kuyl, Gheel means a fertile place. The name is not de- rived from the yellow colour of the sands around it, as Grammay incorrectly states. The earth around Gheel is of a very dark colour.
* According to an enumeration, made some years before 1863, Gheel and its immediate
x
;
:
322 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
had grown into a city, with its dependencies, Bel, Zammel, Milleghem, Eyn- thout, Veerle, Oevel, Oosterloo, Zoerle-Parwys, Echelpoel, etc. Then it belonged to the powerful family of the Bertholds, patron lords of Malines. The numerous miracles, wrought through the intercession of St. Dympna, in- ducedamemberofthisnoblehouse,toerectachurchinherhonour. 7 Itis said, that Gheel obtained the privilege of becoming a municipal city, through the favour of Henry, Duke of Brabant. ^ Three dukes, bearing this title, flourished in the thirteenth century. The Emperor Charles V. , renewed its im- munities, which had been abolished, or which had been forgotten, during the course of passing ages. There were three principal families, possessing great
power and influence over Gheel, viz. : the Bertholds, descended from the BaronsofMechlin,aslikewisetheHornanandMerodehouses. 9 Thislatter family '° was in the ascendant at Gheel, when Grammay wrote. " This family at present resides, in a magnificent chateau, near Westerloo, and not far re- moved from Gheel. The tourist may procure an extensive and a picturesque view of the surrounding country, from the tower of that proud castle. The Merodes have ceased to exercise proprietorial influence in Gheel, since the period of the French Revolution.
This populous city, formerly of Brabant, but at present included within the province of Antwerp, is situated about two or three leagues distance, from the town of Herentals. There are still extant at Gheel several large paper folio and manuscript tomes, which admirably serve to illustrate the mediaeval and subsequent history of that interesting city. These are intituled, " Archie- ven der Kerkvan S. Dympna tot Gheel. "" The first of these volumes contains 431 pages, consisting of documents, extending from a. d. 1270 to 1646, with a tableofcontentsprefixed. Thecharactersinitarelegiblyandelegantlywritten. The second volume is not paged, but it comprises 122 different articles or docu- ments ; it contains, also, a long stitched book, loosely laid within thecover. This latter appears to be a sort of calendar, for private use, and it was interspersed with notes. The third register contains ninety-one different tracts, unpaged, but extending from a. d. 1538 to 1628, as may be seen in the index. '3
The fourth volume has, from No. 22 to 167, documents unpaged, and ex-
tending from the year 1559 to 1644.
environscontainedapopulationof li,502per- sons. The population has doubtless in- creased considerably since that date.
7 See Stroobant's^ "Notice Histoiique sur le Chapitre Collegial de Sainte Dympne, a Gheel, "p. 10.
* Grammay thus commences his descrip- tion of the Barony and District of Gheel : '* Hactenus Urbesct Territoriadcscripsimus aliquatenus nunc aut olim obnoxia Marchire Aniwerpiensi, nunc capitibus tnbus daturi loca ilia quae olim fuere Bei tholdorum Mech- linise dominantium ut sunt Baronatus Gelce, ComitatusHcochstrati, DynastiaTurnhouti a Gela itaque incipiam. Baronatus hie est ex 18. antiquioribus Brabantix, Territorium ex amplissimis, municipium ex antiquissimis. Municipium dico, hoc etenim vocabulo lo- cum dignati jam inde a quatuor seculis Henricus Dux, el libertates vitio tcmporum obiiteratas aut oblitas renovavit Casar Caro- lus. "—" Anlverpite Antiquitates," cap. x. , P- 141-
9 The genealogical pedigree of these dis- tinguishcd families is drawn, by Miireus, in
The fifth commences, at a. d. 1646, it
" Donationum Belgicanim," lib. i. , cap. 128.
'" The wife of the celebrated Comte de Montalembert was a daughter of this noble house.
"He adds: " Ita niuiirum Catharina Bertholdia, Henrici et Beatricis Wesemalix filia, nupta Hornano Parwy. -^ii Domino, Dominium secum traxit : cujus abnepote Henrico sine liberis defuncto, heres Elisa- betha soror, Joanni Rotzelario, Domino in Vorsselaer, Rethi et Lichtert (qui pagi exinde Baronibus accesserunt) Gelam altulit. Horum denique nepotibus vita functis sine prole, devoluta est hereditas ad Merodios, ex Aleide Hornana Henrici supradicti sorore procreatos. "—Grammayus " De Antiquitati- bus Anlverpiae," lib. ii. , cap. x. , pp. 145, 146.
'• In English, Archives of St. Dympna's Church at Gheel.
'^ To which these words are appended, Colligite—fragmenta nc pereant. C. Stroo- bant, Vicarius in Lembecq, 1S52.
'^ This book was in possession of the Rev.
^
Amandus, at Gheel, in 1863.
's At the house of the Rev. Mr. Aerts.
'* The Rev. Mr. Aerts conjectures, that
many of these were Irish students, belong- ing to the Louvain University.
'7 At the request of the writer, a list of these Irish names, entered on St. Dympna's confraternity book, was obligingly furnished by the Rev. Mr. Aerts. As few Irish travel- lers to this part of Belgium may have like facilities for obtaining access to this record, and as a transcript of those names here pub- lished might serve to elucidate the biography ofour exiled brethren, during the seventeenth century, I deem it opportune to preserve these entries, under the years, and in the order they occur. Thus, at a. d. 1636 : Cornelius Mahonii, Thomas Duhy, Cornelio O'Sulli- van, Davis, Richard Scott, Eurialus Kelly, Phillip O'Hassy, Andrew Corry, Laurence Morrissy, Florence O'Driscoll, Frater Patrick, Ord. str. obs. ; Fr. John Kearney, ej. ord. ; Fr. Anthony Gearnon, ej. ord. ; Fr. Valentine O'Connor, ej. ord.
John O'Connor, ej. ord. ; Fr. Stephen Lynch, RecoUecta ; Fr. Raphael Bris-
Edmundus O'Kennedy, Capellanus Major Hiberni Regimenti. lUus- trissimi D. Octavii Guasco, 21, 7bris, 1636. a. d. 1649: Charles Quilnan, Presbyter; John Magower, Patrick Matthew, Saceidos Hib. ; Patrick Rogan, Sac. Hib. ; John O'Daly, D. Diego Barry, Irlande ; Con- stantine Duffy, Sac. Hib. ; James Matthew, Irish soldier. This is as complete a list as could be procured of undoubtedly Irish members, while some of these seem to have been residents of the Franciscan Convent at
Louvain, which is pictured faithfully in the Frontispieceto the presentvolume. and where Fathers Hugh Ward and John Colgan lived.
'^ In 1S63, the writer had an opportunity for examining it, at the house of Rev. Mr. Kuyl, to whom the auihorities at Gheel lent it, wiih seven other Folios here noticed, for the purpose of compiling his learned History of their old city, and of their vene- rated patroness St. Dympna.
;
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
goestoA. D. 1656,anditisnotpaged. ThesixthManuscriptregister,com- mencing at A. D. 1665, extends to a. d. 1689, and it is also unpaged. There are entries and matters, apparently wanting to complete this Register, until 1709, when the seventh volume is resumed at the latter year, and then it con- tinues to 1729 : it is likewise unpaged. The eighth Manuscript commences with 1730, and it ends at 1739, without pagination ; but, it contains various entries in the appendix, old letters, and other matters, concerning the chapter of canons at Gheel. The last date, in this volume, ends with the year 1852.
TheninthvolumeformstheBookofSt. Dympna'sConfraternity. '* Within it are found names of associates and members of St. Dympna's Confrater- nity's The writer had an opportunity of inspecting it and of examining its contents, during his visit to Gheel. In this volume are found two bulls of Pope Urban VIII. ; the entry of 4,000 different names of confraternity members
;
besides various documents and registries that follow. The first date in it is 14th of May, 1636, and the last a. d. 1699. It contains 82 written folio pages. The names of several Irish pilgrims, who probably travelled to Gheel, in the seventeenth century, for the purpose of praying before the shrine of St. Dympna, and who were enrolled as members of her confraternity,^^ appear in this book. We find amongst these, laics, priests, and especially many Irish Franciscans,with the names and autographs of several individuals. '^ The tenth and last volume of this series, as numbered, is entitled : " Regis- ter van Cauwegom. Arckieven der Kerk van S. Dympna tot Gheel. " It con- tains bulls^ statutes, ordinances, etc. , relating to the canons and church of St. Dympna, in the municipality of Gheel.
A very ancient Manuscript,'^ written about the beginning of the fifteenth century, commences in red letters with " Oratio de Sancta Dympna. " It also contains, as an addition, " Juramentum Canonicorum," written a. d. 1582, besides old statutes of the canons, in still more ancient writing. Curious an- tique binding in wood covers this Record. It had a chain attached, which for- merly bound it to a fixed place, perhaps in the sacristy, so that persons com- ing to Gheel might read this book, but not take it away; for, the good citizens ever entertained a horror of sacrilegious fraud, and preserved a vivid recollec- tion of a loss they had formerly experienced, from the covetous and ill regu-
Mr. Aerts, vicaire of the church of St. Fr. Richardus Gerald ej. ord. ; Fr.
cow, ej. ord.
;
323
324
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
lated desires of their Xanten visitors. Even, at the present day, when distrusting smooth pretences and pious canting expressions of suspicious characters, the people of Gheel have a shrewd, good-humoured observation, referring to the past history of their city, and serving to convey a very sarcastic meaning : " Be on your guard against the holy robbers of Xanten.
"
Whilst a stranger to the place takes his meditative and discursive ramble through the streets, or visits the old Flemish interiors of the quaint houses in Gheel, his attention will be arrested by grotesque tenements and tenants, never imagined, and of course never delineated, by any effort of mind or pencil, in the genre style and manner of a Teniers or of an Ostade. Old- fashioned, solid structures, with oval-headed doorways, square window frames, with stout sashes, opening under red-tiled roofs, which press heavily down- wards on the wall-plates and massive beams of single-storied houses, flank the dusty thoroughfare, along the principal streets and bye-ways of this city. Umbrageous trees, neat hedge-rows, and enclosed gardens, afford evidences of careful culture, of thrift and of busy industry, distinguishing in a remark- ablemannertheinhabitantsofthemunicipalityandofitsneighbourhood. '? But the peculiar institutions and religious establishments of Gheel are what chiefly arrest the attention of a traveller. It may be considered desirable, to give a brief description of the latter, so far as these have an intermediate or more direct bearing on the subject of this biography.
The present parish church of St. Amand, at Gheel, is a fine building, and it is richly decorated interiorly, where it has a choir, nave, transepts, and side aisles. ^° Besides the finely designed high altar, within the choir, there are four marble altars, extending in a line across the transepts. ^' Its pulpit is beautifully carved in wood. The organ and the fine oak panelling under it, near the principal door of this church, are worthy of special observation. Stations of the cross, with their several groups of figures, elaborately carved on stone and painted, deserve commendation, as remarkable works of sculp- ture. But, the most splendid artistic feature in the church is the truly mag- nificent white marble balustrade entering the choir, and which, as an inscrip- tion on it states, was executed by D. Scheemaeckers of Antwerp, in 1693. Nothing in this style of workmanship can exceed its lavish decoration and
'9 On arriving in the chief public square,
adjoining the church of St. Amand, the tra-
veller -will find excellent accommodation,
board and lodging, at the rather antiquated
Hotel de la Campine, which was built in
1644. It receives this name from tlie plain,
extending around the city in which it is
situated. When leaving this hostelry, the
moderate charges to which the tourist will
be liable must prove agreeable—especially
when contrasted with exactions of more
celebrated, but not more comfortable, guide-
book hotels, in the larger and more fre-
quented cities. Another quaint-looking but
excellent inn, with the sign of a stork in
front, may be found on the open place,
opposite the left side of St. Dympna's anno 15 17, lalas et authoritate Ccesarea pub- church, licatas. NeeproculhincGymnasiumlittera-
'° A beautiful engraving of one of the ex- rum olim floreniissimum, unde viri lectissimi terior sides of this church, and two medals prodiere hi imprimis eiiam hie nati A. containing images of St. Uynipna and of St. Ileynis laud. Ttissinius Auerbodii Archiman- Gerebern, with rays of light proceeding driia : Joannis Philippi Smeyers, Carmelita- from them, above the church, besides a rum I'rovincialis eruditus, Joannes Jaco- ground plan, on the opposite page, may be boeus Dyesta- Prepositus, ct alii complures. " seen in the Rev. Mr. Kuyl's larger work, at —" Antverpiae Antiquitates," cap. x. , p. 142.
pages 316, 317.
^' Of this church, Grammay writes:
" Regio templi Curialem habet haud inele- gantem D. Amando inscriptam, et proxima forum justje aniplitudinis ad numlinas heb- domadales diebus Saturni, et annales Sab- bato ante Dominicam in Albis, Palmarum, vigilice Natalis Doniinici, et decimo quinto die sequenti, quas litteris confirmatoriis anni 1559- Philippus Rex ait ab 200 amplius annis celebres fuisse. Curia etiam in vicino est, ubi annales per Baronem circa natalitia Baptistce Scabini creantur et jus dicunt et rempublicam adminislrant assistentibus ex quaciue municipii regione duobus juratis juxta prrescripta et leges a Joanne Merodio,
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
325
tracery, with the fine interlacing of foliage, flowers, fruits, and figures. On the right side of the high altar, there is a carved white statue of St. Dympna, and it is larger than life size. She bears a cross in the left, and a sword in the right, hand, whilst a demon is trampled beneath her feet. A correspond- ing statue of St. Amand, patron of the church, occupies the left side of the high altar. In another part of this church may be seen a picture of St. Dympna. She appears, holding a sword in her right hand, and with the other hand grasping a chain, fastened to a demon's neck. The infernal spirit lies bound at her feet. Among the valuable treasures of this church is an old and a magnificent solid silver monstrance of great size and weight. On one of its sides, there is a figure of St. Amand, and on the other, there is a representa- tion of the martyrdom of St; Dympna and of St. Gerebern. It seems to be a very probable conjecture, that St. Dympna's had been the ancient parish church, at Gheel;^^ another writer^3 supposes, that this was never a parochial one, because it bears the name of chapel, in several ancient documents, while St. Amand's was apparently regarded as the chief mother church of the parishioners, in that old city. However this may be, the architecture of St. Dympna's present church, according to the opinionof a writer who had maturely considered his subject, seems to denote, that this fine building had been com- menced in the twelfth century. A difference, remarked in the style, leads to a supposition, that the great nave and northern aisle might have been built at this period, while the southern aisle's construction was of later date. The columns of the two former parts are not adorned with capitals, while those of the southern aisle are ornamented with foliaged friezes and octagon supports, which indicate their connection with the fourteenth century. Windows in this latter aisle are much larger than those on the opposite side, and are divided into four compartments. Two large transept windows, with various other mullioned panes, above the great choir and around its side chapels, serve ad- mirably to light with sombre effect the interior of this noble pile. There are five clerestory windows, on either side of the nave, and five also, on either side of the aisles, in the church of St. Dympna.
The structure of St. Dympna's arched roof is very remarkable : the vaults are formed by intersecting ogees, considerably elevated, and built with brick. At the intersection of the transepts, choir, and nave, a cross-surmounted spire dominates over the roof, to a very considerable elevation. Two massive towers flank the principal entrance door, opening into the nave ; they only ascend, however, to the parapet of the adjoining roof. Towards the close of A. D. 1539, a hurricane swept away the tower of St. Dym'pna's church, which destroyed by its fall the adjoining house for infirm persons. The portal re- mained intact; and, in the year 1549, a rebuilding of the fallen tower was completed, as we see it left at the present day.
It was only in the twelfth century, that the construction of ogee roofs be- came common, through the invention of columnar supports and flying but- tresses. Hence, it may be concluded, that the church of St. Dympna was one of the first ecclesiastical structures, built in this style. It is certainly one of the most interesting, within the Turnhout arrondissement,, whether we regard its antiquity or its architecture. ^+ On the outside, although St.
^^ Father Kuyl thought, as he informed the writer, that formerly St. Dympna's church, attracted so many insane persons, with their immediate friends, it was found abso- lately necessary to build an addition! church, dedicated to St. Amand, for a special and general accommodation of the iiihabitrxnts of
Gheel and of its neighbourhood. Hence, it was optional with the sane residents of this community to perform pious exercises with- out interruption or disturbance within the latter sacred edifice, or to enter St. Dympna's church, when it suited their incli- nation or convenience.
326 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
Dympna's temple is imposing in size and appearance, the restorations effected have greatly marred its architectural beauty, for they appear to have been a work of mere necessity, without exhibiting any pretensions to structural taste or uniformity. In the Rev. Mr. Kuyl's work, a beautiful engraving represents an exterior side-view of St. Dympna's church, drawn to a scale of fifty metres. ^5 A medal of the patroness, containing her figure and emitting rays of light, appears over the building. A correct ground-plan of the nave, choir, tran- septs, aisles, chapels, altars, etc. , accompanies this view, on the opposite page. A critically historical and minutely architectural description of St. Dympna's church is given, by the accomplished author. ^^ On the exterior, and attached to one of the front towers of St. Dympna's church, maybe seen the house, in which novenas are recited, to obtain deliverance from various maladies. A large enclosed space, around the church, is used for the purpose ofa public cemetery.
Church of St. Dympna, at Gheel.
Heretofore, there were eleven altars in the church, the several names of which are: i. Altar of St. Martin, of St. John the Baptist, and of the Cross. This altar is not existing, at present, in its former position. 2. Altar of our Lady, yet remaining. 3. Altar of the Passion, now existing. 4. Altar of the Holy Cross, of St. John the Baptist, and of St. Dympna, not occupying its former site. 5. Altar of St. Gerebern, and of the 10,000 martyrs belonging to the Theban legion, not existing in its former position. 6. Altar of St. Anthony, of St. Sebastian, and of St. Roch, yet existing. 7. Altar of St. Dympna, in the small choir, behind the high altar, still existing. 8. Altar of St. Mary Magdalen, of St. Catherine, and of St. Barbara, which now exists. 9. Altar of St. Dympna, now the high altar, within the great choir, still re-
maining in its conspicuous position.
"3 Tlie Abbe Stroobant.
"* See Strool)ant'. s " Notice Historiquesur le Chapitrc Collegial de Sainle-Dymphne, a Gheel," p. II.
'5 Tliis has been carefully copied, on a re- duced scale, by William F, Wakeman, and
10. Altar of the Holy Passion of Jesus,
drawn on the wood, for an accompanying illustration ; this has been engraved, also, by Mrs. Millard.
''See "Gheel vermaerd door den eer- dienst der Heilige Dimphna," etc. , pp, 108 to 157.
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
327
and of the Holy Cross, formerly near the entry to the grand choir, has no longer any existence. 11. Altar of St. Anne, of St. Job, and of St. Gertrude, formerly at the column, where the pulpit now stands, has been removed. ^'? The two last altars have been demolished. All the others, with the excep- tion of those specially noted as still existing, have been changed from their former place, but are still to be found within the church.
The Calvinists destroyed this edifice in great part, during the civil wars of the sixteenth century, so that certain modifications took place, when the building was restored for purposes of divine worship. When those iconoclasts pillaged the churches at Antwerp, in 1566, the canons of St. Dympna's church sent all its portable treasures to Lierre. These treasures consisted of the massive silver shrine, containing the mortals remains of St. Dympna, and weighing sixty-one pounds and a half, besides four silver gilt chalices, a silver crucifix, a silver bust of St. Appoline, chandeliers, censers, holy-water vessels, cruets, bells, and reliquaries, of the same precious material. Such precau- tions had been happily taken; for, in the year 1567, the Vandals entered Gheel,andwreckeditschurches. Theybrokedownthestatuesofthetwelve apostles, which were placed in Gothic niches, on the tower of St. Dympna's church. The image of a crucifix, with statues of the Blessed Virgin and of St. John, which stood at the great choir, suffered desecration at their hands. The whole of that beautifully carved wood-work, connected with the high altar of St. Dympna, and all the images around it, were executed in 1778. The conception of this emblematic design is attributed to the painter, Herreyns. In 1 781, the high altar, greatly admired for its fine artistic effect, was painted by Lacosta, whose name, with the date of decoration, is found inscribed on one of its panels.
A curious and an elevated structure, terminating in a spire, and an object of frequent occurrence in most of the Flemish churches, is called the Tower of the Blessed Sacrament. It maybe noticed, on the left side of St. Dympna's high altar, facing the choir. It has never changed its present position, and it is probably of as ancient a date as the choir around. A grill in front, under which the Blessed Sacrament was formerly preserved, and a rude stone carving, representing the last supper, as also a bronze lamp hanging in front, complete the accessories.
At the right entrance to the great choir, which contains finely carved oak stalls, formerly used by the canons, a beautifully sculptured image of St. Dympna may be seen, in an alcove, and covered with a glass case. She holds in her right hand a sword. This image is clothed—but in very questionable taste—with an elegant white dress, trimmed with gold lace; a part of the cos- tume consists of lace ruffles and a collar. A cherry-coloured silk robe falls loosely over the under garments; a rich lace scarf depends over the silk man- tilla, and parts from under a crown of artificial flowers, placed on the head of this statue. The left hand holds a bunch of flowers ; and worsted embroidery, in coloured threads, appears over the under dress. Two cierges rest before this image, with a brass basin to receive the offerings of St. Dympna's faithful clients. A corresponding image of the Blessed Virgin may be seen, on the other side of this choir. A chapel of our Blessed Lady occupies the left tran- sept within this church.
The high altar and its superstructure, within the great choir, are truly majestic and elaborate specimens of wooden sculpture. They are divided into many compartments, richly gilt and painted in a variety of colours. In
=' These altars are enumerated, in the Rev. several religious bequests to St. Dympna's Mr. Kuyl's work. In it, likewise, as in the Church are found. The dates for various " Notice Historique " of the Abbe Stroobant, successive additions to it are also recorded.
328
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
the upper part are represented angels, and the figure of a dove, to symbohze the Holy Ghost, Under it are the words : " Passam Excelsus decorat justitise thronus. " Underneath is represented the statue of St. Dynipna, with beau- tiful drapery. The figure is of more than life size, and elegantly carved. Two angels hold a wreath, a sword, and a palm-branch, over the figure of the saint, standing on a chained demon. Angels flit around her, and a full life-sized figure, immediately under this statue, represents a winged ange', pointing with the right finger towards St. Dympna, whilst a scroll, on blue ground with gilt letters, unfolds these words: " Accidentibus auxilium. " A beautiful group on the right side, still lower down, represents an angel bearing a shield, with
*' Ecce virgo dat auxilium. " This address appears directed to a group of figures, in frontof the angel, and consisting of a chained insane man, a female figure, as also two children. On the left side of this altar, there is another group, comprising a lame man leaning against a crutch, two possessed persons, and a blind infant. These figures rest on a level with the former group.
An Irish Catholic pilgrim to the shrine of St. Dympna, who desires acquaintance with primitive Flemish manners and customs, after having visited the fine cities and routes usually frequented by the herd of Belgian tourists, can easily accomplish his object without any considerable delay or inconvenience, while combining information and amusement with philanthro- pic feeling or interest, as also with national predilections or religious emotions. Antwerp is never omitted from his memoratida, for a resting place in the tourist's itinerary ; and, by starting at an early yet suitable hour from this city, the morning train to Turnhout will leave the traveller at Herenthals station. There, a well-appointed omnibus is to be found, waiting to receive its contin- gent of passengers, baggage, and mail packets, destined for the quaint old cityofGheel. Offataspankingpacestartthevigorousroadsters,overthe paved highway, bounded on either side with a broad and much frequented path for foot passengers, whilst extending under long and regular lines of oak and elm trees. No elevation, deserving the name of a hill, can be seen rising
over the level plain, that lies between the cities of Antwerp and of Gheel. It is true, at certain points along the road, from Herenthals to the latter munici- pality, a few broken embankments of light sand-hills diversify this scene, on
but, they soon disappear, amidst the dark pine woods, moors, and marshes, that spread over this tract of country. This wild and dreary district, known as the Campine, extends through portions of the pro-
vinces of Antwerp, Limbourgand South Brabant, as also, into the kingdom of Holland. 3 All this natural waste is not, however, unproductive and monoto- nous. Hedgerows along the road side are neatly trimmed ; white cottages, withtheirred-tiledroofs,gleamunderthewarmsunshineofsummer;4 fields wave with heavy crops of wheat, oats, rye and other vegetable esculents patches of verdure contrast with bare yellow sandbanks and heath-covered moorlands ; while from morning dawn to dewy eve, the moving human figures of all ages and of both sexes, through rich corn fields, proclaim the steady and tireless industry of these Campinois. At various intervals, signposts, indices, and figures, mark the direction and distances of neighbouring cities, by kilo- metres. The country immediately around the old city of Gheel s is teeming with fertility, and in the harvest time, it is loaded with the finest crops, cover- ing a deep, rich, sandy, loam soil.
The fame of St. Dympna's veneration and miracles had so far extended, and such a concourse of people came on pilgrimages, that some ages after her time,^ Gheel grew to be a considerable town. Through the bounty and pa- tronage of the Dukes of Brabant, it was erected into a baronial district, and had annexed to it as dependencies some villages. In the twelfth century, it
XXII. , Joannes XXIIL, et Eugenius IV. , therein conveyed, and those inferences
the left hand side
;
annis respective MCCCXXX. , MCCCCXII. , et Mccccxxxi.
^ See De Burgo's " Officia Propria Sane-
torum Hibernige," Noct. ii. , Lect. vi. ,
p. 57,
3 For an interesting, well-written and
generally accurate description of another trip, taken by way of Malines, Contich and Herenthals to Gheel, the reader is referred to an article, entitled "The Shrine of St. Dympna,''whichformerlyappearedinDuffy's " Hibernian Sixpenny Magazine," No. 20, August, 1863, pp. 144 to 153. The author- ship of this article is unknown, to the pre- sent writer; but, later observations and in- quiry fully confirm the correct information
Vol. v. —No. 6.
drawn, regarding the soil and scenery, with the material, moral and religious state of Gheel, and of its immediate neighbour- hood.
4 These observations were made by the writer, during his excursion to and from Gheel, on the 27th and 28th of July, 1863.
5 According to the Rev. Mr. Kuyl, Gheel means a fertile place. The name is not de- rived from the yellow colour of the sands around it, as Grammay incorrectly states. The earth around Gheel is of a very dark colour.
* According to an enumeration, made some years before 1863, Gheel and its immediate
x
;
:
322 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
had grown into a city, with its dependencies, Bel, Zammel, Milleghem, Eyn- thout, Veerle, Oevel, Oosterloo, Zoerle-Parwys, Echelpoel, etc. Then it belonged to the powerful family of the Bertholds, patron lords of Malines. The numerous miracles, wrought through the intercession of St. Dympna, in- ducedamemberofthisnoblehouse,toerectachurchinherhonour. 7 Itis said, that Gheel obtained the privilege of becoming a municipal city, through the favour of Henry, Duke of Brabant. ^ Three dukes, bearing this title, flourished in the thirteenth century. The Emperor Charles V. , renewed its im- munities, which had been abolished, or which had been forgotten, during the course of passing ages. There were three principal families, possessing great
power and influence over Gheel, viz. : the Bertholds, descended from the BaronsofMechlin,aslikewisetheHornanandMerodehouses. 9 Thislatter family '° was in the ascendant at Gheel, when Grammay wrote. " This family at present resides, in a magnificent chateau, near Westerloo, and not far re- moved from Gheel. The tourist may procure an extensive and a picturesque view of the surrounding country, from the tower of that proud castle. The Merodes have ceased to exercise proprietorial influence in Gheel, since the period of the French Revolution.
This populous city, formerly of Brabant, but at present included within the province of Antwerp, is situated about two or three leagues distance, from the town of Herentals. There are still extant at Gheel several large paper folio and manuscript tomes, which admirably serve to illustrate the mediaeval and subsequent history of that interesting city. These are intituled, " Archie- ven der Kerkvan S. Dympna tot Gheel. "" The first of these volumes contains 431 pages, consisting of documents, extending from a. d. 1270 to 1646, with a tableofcontentsprefixed. Thecharactersinitarelegiblyandelegantlywritten. The second volume is not paged, but it comprises 122 different articles or docu- ments ; it contains, also, a long stitched book, loosely laid within thecover. This latter appears to be a sort of calendar, for private use, and it was interspersed with notes. The third register contains ninety-one different tracts, unpaged, but extending from a. d. 1538 to 1628, as may be seen in the index. '3
The fourth volume has, from No. 22 to 167, documents unpaged, and ex-
tending from the year 1559 to 1644.
environscontainedapopulationof li,502per- sons. The population has doubtless in- creased considerably since that date.
7 See Stroobant's^ "Notice Histoiique sur le Chapitre Collegial de Sainte Dympne, a Gheel, "p. 10.
* Grammay thus commences his descrip- tion of the Barony and District of Gheel : '* Hactenus Urbesct Territoriadcscripsimus aliquatenus nunc aut olim obnoxia Marchire Aniwerpiensi, nunc capitibus tnbus daturi loca ilia quae olim fuere Bei tholdorum Mech- linise dominantium ut sunt Baronatus Gelce, ComitatusHcochstrati, DynastiaTurnhouti a Gela itaque incipiam. Baronatus hie est ex 18. antiquioribus Brabantix, Territorium ex amplissimis, municipium ex antiquissimis. Municipium dico, hoc etenim vocabulo lo- cum dignati jam inde a quatuor seculis Henricus Dux, el libertates vitio tcmporum obiiteratas aut oblitas renovavit Casar Caro- lus. "—" Anlverpite Antiquitates," cap. x. , P- 141-
9 The genealogical pedigree of these dis- tinguishcd families is drawn, by Miireus, in
The fifth commences, at a. d. 1646, it
" Donationum Belgicanim," lib. i. , cap. 128.
'" The wife of the celebrated Comte de Montalembert was a daughter of this noble house.
"He adds: " Ita niuiirum Catharina Bertholdia, Henrici et Beatricis Wesemalix filia, nupta Hornano Parwy. -^ii Domino, Dominium secum traxit : cujus abnepote Henrico sine liberis defuncto, heres Elisa- betha soror, Joanni Rotzelario, Domino in Vorsselaer, Rethi et Lichtert (qui pagi exinde Baronibus accesserunt) Gelam altulit. Horum denique nepotibus vita functis sine prole, devoluta est hereditas ad Merodios, ex Aleide Hornana Henrici supradicti sorore procreatos. "—Grammayus " De Antiquitati- bus Anlverpiae," lib. ii. , cap. x. , pp. 145, 146.
'• In English, Archives of St. Dympna's Church at Gheel.
'^ To which these words are appended, Colligite—fragmenta nc pereant. C. Stroo- bant, Vicarius in Lembecq, 1S52.
'^ This book was in possession of the Rev.
^
Amandus, at Gheel, in 1863.
's At the house of the Rev. Mr. Aerts.
'* The Rev. Mr. Aerts conjectures, that
many of these were Irish students, belong- ing to the Louvain University.
'7 At the request of the writer, a list of these Irish names, entered on St. Dympna's confraternity book, was obligingly furnished by the Rev. Mr. Aerts. As few Irish travel- lers to this part of Belgium may have like facilities for obtaining access to this record, and as a transcript of those names here pub- lished might serve to elucidate the biography ofour exiled brethren, during the seventeenth century, I deem it opportune to preserve these entries, under the years, and in the order they occur. Thus, at a. d. 1636 : Cornelius Mahonii, Thomas Duhy, Cornelio O'Sulli- van, Davis, Richard Scott, Eurialus Kelly, Phillip O'Hassy, Andrew Corry, Laurence Morrissy, Florence O'Driscoll, Frater Patrick, Ord. str. obs. ; Fr. John Kearney, ej. ord. ; Fr. Anthony Gearnon, ej. ord. ; Fr. Valentine O'Connor, ej. ord.
John O'Connor, ej. ord. ; Fr. Stephen Lynch, RecoUecta ; Fr. Raphael Bris-
Edmundus O'Kennedy, Capellanus Major Hiberni Regimenti. lUus- trissimi D. Octavii Guasco, 21, 7bris, 1636. a. d. 1649: Charles Quilnan, Presbyter; John Magower, Patrick Matthew, Saceidos Hib. ; Patrick Rogan, Sac. Hib. ; John O'Daly, D. Diego Barry, Irlande ; Con- stantine Duffy, Sac. Hib. ; James Matthew, Irish soldier. This is as complete a list as could be procured of undoubtedly Irish members, while some of these seem to have been residents of the Franciscan Convent at
Louvain, which is pictured faithfully in the Frontispieceto the presentvolume. and where Fathers Hugh Ward and John Colgan lived.
'^ In 1S63, the writer had an opportunity for examining it, at the house of Rev. Mr. Kuyl, to whom the auihorities at Gheel lent it, wiih seven other Folios here noticed, for the purpose of compiling his learned History of their old city, and of their vene- rated patroness St. Dympna.
;
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
goestoA. D. 1656,anditisnotpaged. ThesixthManuscriptregister,com- mencing at A. D. 1665, extends to a. d. 1689, and it is also unpaged. There are entries and matters, apparently wanting to complete this Register, until 1709, when the seventh volume is resumed at the latter year, and then it con- tinues to 1729 : it is likewise unpaged. The eighth Manuscript commences with 1730, and it ends at 1739, without pagination ; but, it contains various entries in the appendix, old letters, and other matters, concerning the chapter of canons at Gheel. The last date, in this volume, ends with the year 1852.
TheninthvolumeformstheBookofSt. Dympna'sConfraternity. '* Within it are found names of associates and members of St. Dympna's Confrater- nity's The writer had an opportunity of inspecting it and of examining its contents, during his visit to Gheel. In this volume are found two bulls of Pope Urban VIII. ; the entry of 4,000 different names of confraternity members
;
besides various documents and registries that follow. The first date in it is 14th of May, 1636, and the last a. d. 1699. It contains 82 written folio pages. The names of several Irish pilgrims, who probably travelled to Gheel, in the seventeenth century, for the purpose of praying before the shrine of St. Dympna, and who were enrolled as members of her confraternity,^^ appear in this book. We find amongst these, laics, priests, and especially many Irish Franciscans,with the names and autographs of several individuals. '^ The tenth and last volume of this series, as numbered, is entitled : " Regis- ter van Cauwegom. Arckieven der Kerk van S. Dympna tot Gheel. " It con- tains bulls^ statutes, ordinances, etc. , relating to the canons and church of St. Dympna, in the municipality of Gheel.
A very ancient Manuscript,'^ written about the beginning of the fifteenth century, commences in red letters with " Oratio de Sancta Dympna. " It also contains, as an addition, " Juramentum Canonicorum," written a. d. 1582, besides old statutes of the canons, in still more ancient writing. Curious an- tique binding in wood covers this Record. It had a chain attached, which for- merly bound it to a fixed place, perhaps in the sacristy, so that persons com- ing to Gheel might read this book, but not take it away; for, the good citizens ever entertained a horror of sacrilegious fraud, and preserved a vivid recollec- tion of a loss they had formerly experienced, from the covetous and ill regu-
Mr. Aerts, vicaire of the church of St. Fr. Richardus Gerald ej. ord. ; Fr.
cow, ej. ord.
;
323
324
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
lated desires of their Xanten visitors. Even, at the present day, when distrusting smooth pretences and pious canting expressions of suspicious characters, the people of Gheel have a shrewd, good-humoured observation, referring to the past history of their city, and serving to convey a very sarcastic meaning : " Be on your guard against the holy robbers of Xanten.
"
Whilst a stranger to the place takes his meditative and discursive ramble through the streets, or visits the old Flemish interiors of the quaint houses in Gheel, his attention will be arrested by grotesque tenements and tenants, never imagined, and of course never delineated, by any effort of mind or pencil, in the genre style and manner of a Teniers or of an Ostade. Old- fashioned, solid structures, with oval-headed doorways, square window frames, with stout sashes, opening under red-tiled roofs, which press heavily down- wards on the wall-plates and massive beams of single-storied houses, flank the dusty thoroughfare, along the principal streets and bye-ways of this city. Umbrageous trees, neat hedge-rows, and enclosed gardens, afford evidences of careful culture, of thrift and of busy industry, distinguishing in a remark- ablemannertheinhabitantsofthemunicipalityandofitsneighbourhood. '? But the peculiar institutions and religious establishments of Gheel are what chiefly arrest the attention of a traveller. It may be considered desirable, to give a brief description of the latter, so far as these have an intermediate or more direct bearing on the subject of this biography.
The present parish church of St. Amand, at Gheel, is a fine building, and it is richly decorated interiorly, where it has a choir, nave, transepts, and side aisles. ^° Besides the finely designed high altar, within the choir, there are four marble altars, extending in a line across the transepts. ^' Its pulpit is beautifully carved in wood. The organ and the fine oak panelling under it, near the principal door of this church, are worthy of special observation. Stations of the cross, with their several groups of figures, elaborately carved on stone and painted, deserve commendation, as remarkable works of sculp- ture. But, the most splendid artistic feature in the church is the truly mag- nificent white marble balustrade entering the choir, and which, as an inscrip- tion on it states, was executed by D. Scheemaeckers of Antwerp, in 1693. Nothing in this style of workmanship can exceed its lavish decoration and
'9 On arriving in the chief public square,
adjoining the church of St. Amand, the tra-
veller -will find excellent accommodation,
board and lodging, at the rather antiquated
Hotel de la Campine, which was built in
1644. It receives this name from tlie plain,
extending around the city in which it is
situated. When leaving this hostelry, the
moderate charges to which the tourist will
be liable must prove agreeable—especially
when contrasted with exactions of more
celebrated, but not more comfortable, guide-
book hotels, in the larger and more fre-
quented cities. Another quaint-looking but
excellent inn, with the sign of a stork in
front, may be found on the open place,
opposite the left side of St. Dympna's anno 15 17, lalas et authoritate Ccesarea pub- church, licatas. NeeproculhincGymnasiumlittera-
'° A beautiful engraving of one of the ex- rum olim floreniissimum, unde viri lectissimi terior sides of this church, and two medals prodiere hi imprimis eiiam hie nati A. containing images of St. Uynipna and of St. Ileynis laud. Ttissinius Auerbodii Archiman- Gerebern, with rays of light proceeding driia : Joannis Philippi Smeyers, Carmelita- from them, above the church, besides a rum I'rovincialis eruditus, Joannes Jaco- ground plan, on the opposite page, may be boeus Dyesta- Prepositus, ct alii complures. " seen in the Rev. Mr. Kuyl's larger work, at —" Antverpiae Antiquitates," cap. x. , p. 142.
pages 316, 317.
^' Of this church, Grammay writes:
" Regio templi Curialem habet haud inele- gantem D. Amando inscriptam, et proxima forum justje aniplitudinis ad numlinas heb- domadales diebus Saturni, et annales Sab- bato ante Dominicam in Albis, Palmarum, vigilice Natalis Doniinici, et decimo quinto die sequenti, quas litteris confirmatoriis anni 1559- Philippus Rex ait ab 200 amplius annis celebres fuisse. Curia etiam in vicino est, ubi annales per Baronem circa natalitia Baptistce Scabini creantur et jus dicunt et rempublicam adminislrant assistentibus ex quaciue municipii regione duobus juratis juxta prrescripta et leges a Joanne Merodio,
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
325
tracery, with the fine interlacing of foliage, flowers, fruits, and figures. On the right side of the high altar, there is a carved white statue of St. Dympna, and it is larger than life size. She bears a cross in the left, and a sword in the right, hand, whilst a demon is trampled beneath her feet. A correspond- ing statue of St. Amand, patron of the church, occupies the left side of the high altar. In another part of this church may be seen a picture of St. Dympna. She appears, holding a sword in her right hand, and with the other hand grasping a chain, fastened to a demon's neck. The infernal spirit lies bound at her feet. Among the valuable treasures of this church is an old and a magnificent solid silver monstrance of great size and weight. On one of its sides, there is a figure of St. Amand, and on the other, there is a representa- tion of the martyrdom of St; Dympna and of St. Gerebern. It seems to be a very probable conjecture, that St. Dympna's had been the ancient parish church, at Gheel;^^ another writer^3 supposes, that this was never a parochial one, because it bears the name of chapel, in several ancient documents, while St. Amand's was apparently regarded as the chief mother church of the parishioners, in that old city. However this may be, the architecture of St. Dympna's present church, according to the opinionof a writer who had maturely considered his subject, seems to denote, that this fine building had been com- menced in the twelfth century. A difference, remarked in the style, leads to a supposition, that the great nave and northern aisle might have been built at this period, while the southern aisle's construction was of later date. The columns of the two former parts are not adorned with capitals, while those of the southern aisle are ornamented with foliaged friezes and octagon supports, which indicate their connection with the fourteenth century. Windows in this latter aisle are much larger than those on the opposite side, and are divided into four compartments. Two large transept windows, with various other mullioned panes, above the great choir and around its side chapels, serve ad- mirably to light with sombre effect the interior of this noble pile. There are five clerestory windows, on either side of the nave, and five also, on either side of the aisles, in the church of St. Dympna.
The structure of St. Dympna's arched roof is very remarkable : the vaults are formed by intersecting ogees, considerably elevated, and built with brick. At the intersection of the transepts, choir, and nave, a cross-surmounted spire dominates over the roof, to a very considerable elevation. Two massive towers flank the principal entrance door, opening into the nave ; they only ascend, however, to the parapet of the adjoining roof. Towards the close of A. D. 1539, a hurricane swept away the tower of St. Dym'pna's church, which destroyed by its fall the adjoining house for infirm persons. The portal re- mained intact; and, in the year 1549, a rebuilding of the fallen tower was completed, as we see it left at the present day.
It was only in the twelfth century, that the construction of ogee roofs be- came common, through the invention of columnar supports and flying but- tresses. Hence, it may be concluded, that the church of St. Dympna was one of the first ecclesiastical structures, built in this style. It is certainly one of the most interesting, within the Turnhout arrondissement,, whether we regard its antiquity or its architecture. ^+ On the outside, although St.
^^ Father Kuyl thought, as he informed the writer, that formerly St. Dympna's church, attracted so many insane persons, with their immediate friends, it was found abso- lately necessary to build an addition! church, dedicated to St. Amand, for a special and general accommodation of the iiihabitrxnts of
Gheel and of its neighbourhood. Hence, it was optional with the sane residents of this community to perform pious exercises with- out interruption or disturbance within the latter sacred edifice, or to enter St. Dympna's church, when it suited their incli- nation or convenience.
326 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
Dympna's temple is imposing in size and appearance, the restorations effected have greatly marred its architectural beauty, for they appear to have been a work of mere necessity, without exhibiting any pretensions to structural taste or uniformity. In the Rev. Mr. Kuyl's work, a beautiful engraving represents an exterior side-view of St. Dympna's church, drawn to a scale of fifty metres. ^5 A medal of the patroness, containing her figure and emitting rays of light, appears over the building. A correct ground-plan of the nave, choir, tran- septs, aisles, chapels, altars, etc. , accompanies this view, on the opposite page. A critically historical and minutely architectural description of St. Dympna's church is given, by the accomplished author. ^^ On the exterior, and attached to one of the front towers of St. Dympna's church, maybe seen the house, in which novenas are recited, to obtain deliverance from various maladies. A large enclosed space, around the church, is used for the purpose ofa public cemetery.
Church of St. Dympna, at Gheel.
Heretofore, there were eleven altars in the church, the several names of which are: i. Altar of St. Martin, of St. John the Baptist, and of the Cross. This altar is not existing, at present, in its former position. 2. Altar of our Lady, yet remaining. 3. Altar of the Passion, now existing. 4. Altar of the Holy Cross, of St. John the Baptist, and of St. Dympna, not occupying its former site. 5. Altar of St. Gerebern, and of the 10,000 martyrs belonging to the Theban legion, not existing in its former position. 6. Altar of St. Anthony, of St. Sebastian, and of St. Roch, yet existing. 7. Altar of St. Dympna, in the small choir, behind the high altar, still existing. 8. Altar of St. Mary Magdalen, of St. Catherine, and of St. Barbara, which now exists. 9. Altar of St. Dympna, now the high altar, within the great choir, still re-
maining in its conspicuous position.
"3 Tlie Abbe Stroobant.
"* See Strool)ant'. s " Notice Historiquesur le Chapitrc Collegial de Sainle-Dymphne, a Gheel," p. II.
'5 Tliis has been carefully copied, on a re- duced scale, by William F, Wakeman, and
10. Altar of the Holy Passion of Jesus,
drawn on the wood, for an accompanying illustration ; this has been engraved, also, by Mrs. Millard.
''See "Gheel vermaerd door den eer- dienst der Heilige Dimphna," etc. , pp, 108 to 157.
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
327
and of the Holy Cross, formerly near the entry to the grand choir, has no longer any existence. 11. Altar of St. Anne, of St. Job, and of St. Gertrude, formerly at the column, where the pulpit now stands, has been removed. ^'? The two last altars have been demolished. All the others, with the excep- tion of those specially noted as still existing, have been changed from their former place, but are still to be found within the church.
The Calvinists destroyed this edifice in great part, during the civil wars of the sixteenth century, so that certain modifications took place, when the building was restored for purposes of divine worship. When those iconoclasts pillaged the churches at Antwerp, in 1566, the canons of St. Dympna's church sent all its portable treasures to Lierre. These treasures consisted of the massive silver shrine, containing the mortals remains of St. Dympna, and weighing sixty-one pounds and a half, besides four silver gilt chalices, a silver crucifix, a silver bust of St. Appoline, chandeliers, censers, holy-water vessels, cruets, bells, and reliquaries, of the same precious material. Such precau- tions had been happily taken; for, in the year 1567, the Vandals entered Gheel,andwreckeditschurches. Theybrokedownthestatuesofthetwelve apostles, which were placed in Gothic niches, on the tower of St. Dympna's church. The image of a crucifix, with statues of the Blessed Virgin and of St. John, which stood at the great choir, suffered desecration at their hands. The whole of that beautifully carved wood-work, connected with the high altar of St. Dympna, and all the images around it, were executed in 1778. The conception of this emblematic design is attributed to the painter, Herreyns. In 1 781, the high altar, greatly admired for its fine artistic effect, was painted by Lacosta, whose name, with the date of decoration, is found inscribed on one of its panels.
A curious and an elevated structure, terminating in a spire, and an object of frequent occurrence in most of the Flemish churches, is called the Tower of the Blessed Sacrament. It maybe noticed, on the left side of St. Dympna's high altar, facing the choir. It has never changed its present position, and it is probably of as ancient a date as the choir around. A grill in front, under which the Blessed Sacrament was formerly preserved, and a rude stone carving, representing the last supper, as also a bronze lamp hanging in front, complete the accessories.
At the right entrance to the great choir, which contains finely carved oak stalls, formerly used by the canons, a beautifully sculptured image of St. Dympna may be seen, in an alcove, and covered with a glass case. She holds in her right hand a sword. This image is clothed—but in very questionable taste—with an elegant white dress, trimmed with gold lace; a part of the cos- tume consists of lace ruffles and a collar. A cherry-coloured silk robe falls loosely over the under garments; a rich lace scarf depends over the silk man- tilla, and parts from under a crown of artificial flowers, placed on the head of this statue. The left hand holds a bunch of flowers ; and worsted embroidery, in coloured threads, appears over the under dress. Two cierges rest before this image, with a brass basin to receive the offerings of St. Dympna's faithful clients. A corresponding image of the Blessed Virgin may be seen, on the other side of this choir. A chapel of our Blessed Lady occupies the left tran- sept within this church.
The high altar and its superstructure, within the great choir, are truly majestic and elaborate specimens of wooden sculpture. They are divided into many compartments, richly gilt and painted in a variety of colours. In
=' These altars are enumerated, in the Rev. several religious bequests to St. Dympna's Mr. Kuyl's work. In it, likewise, as in the Church are found. The dates for various " Notice Historique " of the Abbe Stroobant, successive additions to it are also recorded.
328
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
the upper part are represented angels, and the figure of a dove, to symbohze the Holy Ghost, Under it are the words : " Passam Excelsus decorat justitise thronus. " Underneath is represented the statue of St. Dynipna, with beau- tiful drapery. The figure is of more than life size, and elegantly carved. Two angels hold a wreath, a sword, and a palm-branch, over the figure of the saint, standing on a chained demon. Angels flit around her, and a full life-sized figure, immediately under this statue, represents a winged ange', pointing with the right finger towards St. Dympna, whilst a scroll, on blue ground with gilt letters, unfolds these words: " Accidentibus auxilium. " A beautiful group on the right side, still lower down, represents an angel bearing a shield, with
*' Ecce virgo dat auxilium. " This address appears directed to a group of figures, in frontof the angel, and consisting of a chained insane man, a female figure, as also two children. On the left side of this altar, there is another group, comprising a lame man leaning against a crutch, two possessed persons, and a blind infant. These figures rest on a level with the former group.
