This happened, during the reign of
Sigebert
over East Anglia.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Brioc's whole ecclesiastical office,35 having a proper Prayer,3^ had been recited, and continued during the octave, in the diocese of St.
Brieuc;37 while, the feast of St.
Philip and St.
James, Apostles —occurring also on the ist of May—was transferred to the first festival day, not pre-occupied by the recital of a Nine Lesson Office.
But, since the year 1804, St.
Brioc's feast has been assigned to the second Sunday after Easter.
The chief Celtic nations seem to have specially honoured this holy man. The anonymous calendar, and Henry Fitzsimon's List of Irish Saints,3S have classed the present holy bishop among them. 39 There are two parish churches in St. Malo's ancient diocese, and these acknowledge our saint, as their patron, viz. , that of St. Brieuc, near Montmuran, and that of St. Brieuc, at Mauron. The parish of St. Breock in Cornwall and on the River Camel, was dedicated to St. Brioc, and its fair was held, on the first day of May,-*" said to have been the date for the translation of his relics. '*^ St. Brioc was venerated as a patron, in many places of Scotland. '^^ Thus, he was patron of Rothesay, where his name is preserved in St. Brock's Fair, on the first Wednes- day in May. 'IS At the i6th of November is Bryak—? Brioc—fair, but it is assignedtonoparticularplace. '*'^ ThesamededicationoccursinInchbrayoch, an island in the South Esk, just below Montrosc^s Dunrod, in Kircud- brightshire, was dedicated to St. Mary and St. Brioc*^ A cliapel was dedica- ted to a St. Breagh,t7 in the barony of Forth, and county of Wexford, towards the close of the seventeenth century. No date is assigned for his feast. The church was pulled down, not very long ago, and a schoolhouse was erected on its site. Some time about 1680, or probably before it, certain miraculous accidents are said to have happened. The Almighty demonstrated his indig- nation with signal severity, against the contemners and scoffers of his beatified servants, to the confusion and immediate chastisement of the impious blas- phemers at this place. The incident is not mentioned, although in the neigh- bourhood, it seems to have been well known. The violators of things and
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
37
cites the Breviary of Laon, a diocese in Ar- moric Britain.
3-* According to Henschenn.
35 It was published at St. Brieux, a. d. MDCXXi. , by authority of Andrew le Pore, Bishop of St. Brieuc.
3^ The following is the prayer: "Bea-
tissimi Confessoris tui atque Pontificis and Ecclesiastical Documents relating to
Brioci, quaesumus Domine, precibus adjuve- mur in cujus meritis semper es gloriosus et vehementerglorificandus. "—"ActaSancto- rum," tomus i. , Mail i. , Acta S. Brioci, Com- mentarius Preevius, sect, i. , p. 91.
37 It is stated, that the Lessons were to be
found in very old Breviaries. " Sed quo-
niam non ea sermonis erat puritas, quse
legentes non offenderet, recitantibus que
fastidium non ingeneraret, quod erat inso-
lens et barbarum, germane Latinitati sic
restituere conati sumus, ut et humilior non
esset oratio, et ab Ecclesias lenitate non sent saint's name is meant for St. Brioc or St. abesset. " Bridget?
3* Thelatter notes, Briocus a quo S. Brieve in *^ See '
'
A Brief Description of the barony
Anglia, Echard i. , RTaii Mol.
39 See O'SulIevan Beare's Historic Catho-
licas Ibernise Compendium," tomus iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , pp. 50, 53.
i. , lib.
'•° See Smith's and Wace's *' Dictionary of Christian Biography," vol. i. , p. 338.
Great Britain and Ireland," Appendix B, vol. i. , p. 31, and cf. ii. , 'j'i,, 86.
''- SeeBishopForbes'"KalendarsofScot- tish Saints," p. 291.
'See Haddan's and Stubbs' "Councils
'3 See " Origines Parochiales Scotias," vol. ii. , pp. 223, 239.
"* The Aberdeen Ahnanack of 1665, in the list of Faires of Fayre Scotland,
"•= See Preface to "Regisirum Vetus de Aberbrothock," pp. 28, 339.
''* See "Liber Sanctas Crucis, " p. 20.
"^ Herbert F. Here asks, whether the pre-
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
places dedicated to Divine service are specially rebuked/^ Moreover, Arnold Wion, Dorganius, Menard, and Bucelinus, in their Martyrologies, as also An- tonius Yepez, in his Benedictine Chronicle, at the year 556, state, that our saint and those monasteries he founded might be claimed by the Benedictines. If, as has been supposed, St. Brioc was initiated to the reHgious life, and had received his early education in Ireland ; or, if he founded monasteries in Ceretica, the same pious rule established by St. David of Menevia must have beenfollowed,bythisholypatronofBrieuccity. TheBritonsofArmoricaand of Cambria seem to have followed the same religious order of life, in the time of Germanus of Auxerre, who is said to have been the master of St. Brioc. This being admitted, the latter must have been St. Benedict's senior by many years. 43 The founder of the Benedictine order, first saw the light, in the year 480. Wherefore, at the first Benedictine age, the learned Father John Mabillon5° prefers placing our saint, among those pretermitted ; because, as he had already observed, the monasteries in Armoric Britain were not subject univer- sally to his order, in the time of St. Brioc. Nor could he find anything cer- tain, from ancient documents, about his religious foundation, except the statement, that it was built in the sixth century. 51
Article III. St. Ultan, Abbot of Fosse, in Belgium. [^Seventh Century. '] Already in a previous volume, we have given the Life of St. Fursey,' Abbot of Lagny, at some length ; and, as having a close relation with that remarkable saint's career, we must associate his brothers. Saints Foillan and Ultan. A distinct feast for the latter holy man belongs to this date. An ancient Manuscript copy * of St. Ado's Martyrology, preserved in the monastery of St. Laurence, at Liege, has this statement, with a lengthened eulogy of St. Ultan, embracing the particulars of his Life. This is found, also, transcribed into a Manuscript copy of Florarius, relating to the saints. It agrees with the generally received accounts. Allusion is made to St. Ultan,
at an early period, in the work of Venerable Bede. 3 Constantine Ghinius ^ noticesSt. Ultan,amongtheholyCanons. AttheistofMay,theBenedic- tines and Bollandists s have the Acts of St. Ultan,^ Abbot at Fosse and Per- rone. While the former claim him, as a Benedictine Saint, Father Godefrid Henschen denies it, and asserts, that those celebrated brothers only followed the monastic rule,? which prevailed in Ireland, during th. eir period. Mirseus has a notice of him at this date. ^ It would seem, that Colgan had prepared
38
of Fort, in the county of Wexford, togetlier
with a Relation of the Disposition and some
peculiar Customs of the Ancient and Present
Native Inhabitants thereof. "—"Journal of
the Kilkenny and . South-ea. -t of Ireland rum. "
ArchKological Society. " New Series, vol. iv. , part i. , p. 69, and n. (6).
*9 See Father Hennschenn's remarks, in " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. De S. Brioco. Commenlarius Praevius, sect. 6, p. 92.
5° In " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene- dicti. "
s' See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. vi. , 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 chief Celtic nations seem to have specially honoured this holy man. The anonymous calendar, and Henry Fitzsimon's List of Irish Saints,3S have classed the present holy bishop among them. 39 There are two parish churches in St. Malo's ancient diocese, and these acknowledge our saint, as their patron, viz. , that of St. Brieuc, near Montmuran, and that of St. Brieuc, at Mauron. The parish of St. Breock in Cornwall and on the River Camel, was dedicated to St. Brioc, and its fair was held, on the first day of May,-*" said to have been the date for the translation of his relics. '*^ St. Brioc was venerated as a patron, in many places of Scotland. '^^ Thus, he was patron of Rothesay, where his name is preserved in St. Brock's Fair, on the first Wednes- day in May. 'IS At the i6th of November is Bryak—? Brioc—fair, but it is assignedtonoparticularplace. '*'^ ThesamededicationoccursinInchbrayoch, an island in the South Esk, just below Montrosc^s Dunrod, in Kircud- brightshire, was dedicated to St. Mary and St. Brioc*^ A cliapel was dedica- ted to a St. Breagh,t7 in the barony of Forth, and county of Wexford, towards the close of the seventeenth century. No date is assigned for his feast. The church was pulled down, not very long ago, and a schoolhouse was erected on its site. Some time about 1680, or probably before it, certain miraculous accidents are said to have happened. The Almighty demonstrated his indig- nation with signal severity, against the contemners and scoffers of his beatified servants, to the confusion and immediate chastisement of the impious blas- phemers at this place. The incident is not mentioned, although in the neigh- bourhood, it seems to have been well known. The violators of things and
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
37
cites the Breviary of Laon, a diocese in Ar- moric Britain.
3-* According to Henschenn.
35 It was published at St. Brieux, a. d. MDCXXi. , by authority of Andrew le Pore, Bishop of St. Brieuc.
3^ The following is the prayer: "Bea-
tissimi Confessoris tui atque Pontificis and Ecclesiastical Documents relating to
Brioci, quaesumus Domine, precibus adjuve- mur in cujus meritis semper es gloriosus et vehementerglorificandus. "—"ActaSancto- rum," tomus i. , Mail i. , Acta S. Brioci, Com- mentarius Preevius, sect, i. , p. 91.
37 It is stated, that the Lessons were to be
found in very old Breviaries. " Sed quo-
niam non ea sermonis erat puritas, quse
legentes non offenderet, recitantibus que
fastidium non ingeneraret, quod erat inso-
lens et barbarum, germane Latinitati sic
restituere conati sumus, ut et humilior non
esset oratio, et ab Ecclesias lenitate non sent saint's name is meant for St. Brioc or St. abesset. " Bridget?
3* Thelatter notes, Briocus a quo S. Brieve in *^ See '
'
A Brief Description of the barony
Anglia, Echard i. , RTaii Mol.
39 See O'SulIevan Beare's Historic Catho-
licas Ibernise Compendium," tomus iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , pp. 50, 53.
i. , lib.
'•° See Smith's and Wace's *' Dictionary of Christian Biography," vol. i. , p. 338.
Great Britain and Ireland," Appendix B, vol. i. , p. 31, and cf. ii. , 'j'i,, 86.
''- SeeBishopForbes'"KalendarsofScot- tish Saints," p. 291.
'See Haddan's and Stubbs' "Councils
'3 See " Origines Parochiales Scotias," vol. ii. , pp. 223, 239.
"* The Aberdeen Ahnanack of 1665, in the list of Faires of Fayre Scotland,
"•= See Preface to "Regisirum Vetus de Aberbrothock," pp. 28, 339.
''* See "Liber Sanctas Crucis, " p. 20.
"^ Herbert F. Here asks, whether the pre-
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
places dedicated to Divine service are specially rebuked/^ Moreover, Arnold Wion, Dorganius, Menard, and Bucelinus, in their Martyrologies, as also An- tonius Yepez, in his Benedictine Chronicle, at the year 556, state, that our saint and those monasteries he founded might be claimed by the Benedictines. If, as has been supposed, St. Brioc was initiated to the reHgious life, and had received his early education in Ireland ; or, if he founded monasteries in Ceretica, the same pious rule established by St. David of Menevia must have beenfollowed,bythisholypatronofBrieuccity. TheBritonsofArmoricaand of Cambria seem to have followed the same religious order of life, in the time of Germanus of Auxerre, who is said to have been the master of St. Brioc. This being admitted, the latter must have been St. Benedict's senior by many years. 43 The founder of the Benedictine order, first saw the light, in the year 480. Wherefore, at the first Benedictine age, the learned Father John Mabillon5° prefers placing our saint, among those pretermitted ; because, as he had already observed, the monasteries in Armoric Britain were not subject univer- sally to his order, in the time of St. Brioc. Nor could he find anything cer- tain, from ancient documents, about his religious foundation, except the statement, that it was built in the sixth century. 51
Article III. St. Ultan, Abbot of Fosse, in Belgium. [^Seventh Century. '] Already in a previous volume, we have given the Life of St. Fursey,' Abbot of Lagny, at some length ; and, as having a close relation with that remarkable saint's career, we must associate his brothers. Saints Foillan and Ultan. A distinct feast for the latter holy man belongs to this date. An ancient Manuscript copy * of St. Ado's Martyrology, preserved in the monastery of St. Laurence, at Liege, has this statement, with a lengthened eulogy of St. Ultan, embracing the particulars of his Life. This is found, also, transcribed into a Manuscript copy of Florarius, relating to the saints. It agrees with the generally received accounts. Allusion is made to St. Ultan,
at an early period, in the work of Venerable Bede. 3 Constantine Ghinius ^ noticesSt. Ultan,amongtheholyCanons. AttheistofMay,theBenedic- tines and Bollandists s have the Acts of St. Ultan,^ Abbot at Fosse and Per- rone. While the former claim him, as a Benedictine Saint, Father Godefrid Henschen denies it, and asserts, that those celebrated brothers only followed the monastic rule,? which prevailed in Ireland, during th. eir period. Mirseus has a notice of him at this date. ^ It would seem, that Colgan had prepared
38
of Fort, in the county of Wexford, togetlier
with a Relation of the Disposition and some
peculiar Customs of the Ancient and Present
Native Inhabitants thereof. "—"Journal of
the Kilkenny and . South-ea. -t of Ireland rum. "
ArchKological Society. " New Series, vol. iv. , part i. , p. 69, and n. (6).
*9 See Father Hennschenn's remarks, in " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. De S. Brioco. Commenlarius Praevius, sect. 6, p. 92.
5° In " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene- dicti. "
s' See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. vi. , 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.
