Victim to Apollo.

"AT Terracina, in Italy, it was an impious and barbarous custom, on certain very solemn occasions, for a young man to make himself a voluntary sacrifice to Apollo, the tutelar deity of the city. After having been long caressed and pampered by the citizens, apparelled in rich gaudy ornaments, he offered sacrifice to Apollo, and running full speed from this ceremony, threw himself headlong from a precipice into the sea, and was swallowed up by the waves. Cæsarius, a holy deacon from Africa, happened once to be present at this tragical scene, and not being able to contain his zeal, spoke openly against so abominable a superstition. The priest of the idol caused him to be apprehended, and accused him before the governor, by whose sentence the holy deacon, together with a Christian priest named Lucian, was put into a sack and cast into the sea, the persecution of Dioclesian then raging, in 300."-Lives of the Fathers, &c. by ALBAN BUTLER. Dub. 1780.

Ejaculation.

"ST. MALACHY used in his walks to send up short inflamed ejaculations from the bow of his heart," says S. BERNARD, "which was always bent."-Ibid.

St. Wenefride

"THIS name, in the Anglo-Saxon tongue, signifies winner or procurer of peace; but in the British, fair countenance. Thus St. Winfrid called himself Boniface in foreign countries.1 Her father, whose name was Thevith, was very rich, and one of the prime nobility in the country, being son to Eluith,

"Winfrid, an obtainer of concord, or a win. peace. Winifrid an Englishman was by means of Charles the Great unto Pope Gregory the Second, made Archbishop of Mayence, and of the said Pope named Boniface.

"Winnefrede; the name of a woman all one in signification." VERSTEGAN.

J. W. W.

the chief magistrate, and second man in the kingdom of North Wales, next to the King. Her virtuous parents desired above all things to breed her up in the fear of God, and to preserve her soul untainted amidst the corrupt air of the world. About that time St. Beuno, a holy priest and monk, who is said to have been uncle to our saint by the mother, having founded certain religious houses in other places, came and settled in that neighbourhood. Thevith rejoiced at his arrival, gave him a spot of ground free from all burden or tribute, to build a church on, and recommended his daughter to be instructed by him in Christian piety. When the holy priest preached to the people, Wenefride was placed at his feet, and her tender soul eagerly imbibed his heavenly doctrine, and was wonderfully affected with the great truths which he delivered, or rather which God addressed to her by his mouth. The love of the sovereign and infinite good growing daily in her heart, her affections were quite weaned from all the things of this world; and it was her earnest desire to consecrate her virginity by vow to God, and instead of an earthly bridegroom, to choose Jesus Christ for her spouse. Her parents readily gave their consent, shedding tears of joy and thanking God for her holy resolution. She first made a private vow of virginity in the hands of S. Beuno, and some time after received the religious veil from him, with certain other pious virgins, in whose company she served God in a small nunnery which her father had built for her, under the direction of S. Beuno, near Holy Well. After this, S. Beuno returned to the first monastery which he had built at Clynog Vaur, about forty miles distant, and there soon after slept in our Lord. After the death of S. Beuno, S. Wenefrede left Holy Well, and after putting herself for a short time under the direction St. Daifer, entered the nunnery of Gutherin in Denbighshire, under the direction of a very holy abbot, called Elerius, who governed there a double monastery. After the death of the Abbess Theonia, S. Wenefrede was chosen

to succeed her. Caradoc, son of Alain, prince of that country, being violently fallen in love with her, gave so far way to his brutish passion for her, that finding it impossible to extort her consent to marry him, or gratify his desires, in his rage he one day pursued her, and cut off her head, as she was flying from him to take refuge in the church which St. Beuno had built at Holy Well. Robert of Shrewsbury and some others add, that Caradoc was swallowed up by the earth upon the spot; that in the place where the head fell, the wonderful well which is seen there sprang up, with pebble stones and large parts of the rock in the bottom stained with red streaks, and with moss growing on the sides under the water, which renders a sweet, fragrant smell; and that the martyr was raised to life by the prayers of St. Beuno, and bore ever after the mark of her martyrdom by a red circle on the skin of her neck."-Ibid. p. 112.

Saint Aignan.

"SAINCT AIGNAN nasquit a Vienne en Dauphine, de parens riches, nobles, et Chretiens, et fut frere de S. Leonian, pere d'un grand nombre de Moynes. La chair, le monde, et le diable luy livrerent en la fleur de son age de furieux assauts, pour lesquels repousser, il delibera de quitter le monde, et s'enrooler sous les enseignes de la Croix, bastissant luy-mesme un petit Hermitage hors la ville; ou il vescut quelque temps, chery et caressé de Dieu, mais mesprise et mocque de ses concitoyens, qui ne pouvoient gouter une maniere de vie si austere car il prioit sans cesse, jeusnoit estroittement, portoit sur son corps une tres-rude cilice.

"Ayant ainsi passe quelques annees, il fut inspire de Dieu d'aller a Orleans. Ses rares et singulieres vertus donnerent incontinent une odeur si souefue1 en tous les en

I find "souef, suavis," in MENAGE.-It is evidently the same in signification. J. W. W.

droits de la ville, que chacun et particulierement S. Euvertre, admira son humilite, sa patience, son austerite, et pardessus tout son incroyable charite, de sorte que n'en pouvant rencontre un plus digne, il le nomma son successeur. Les Grands de la ville ne s'y accordans pas, en porterent deux des meilleures familles contre luy. S. Euvertre procura une assemblee generale, pour montrer que son election venoit du Ciel, que Dieu des son Eternite l'avoit ainsi arreste, et que la seule vertu du venerable A. l'y avoit induit; et pour plus les en assurer, il fit une proposition qui fut trouvee bonne de toute l'assemblee ; c'est que l'on mist sur un autel les noms de ceux qu'ils desiroient, avec celuy de S. A: et apres avoir employe la nuict en prieres, et celebre le saincte Messe, nous envoyerons (dit il) un enfant prendre les billets, celuy qu'il tirera le premier, sera instale en mon lieu. Si cela ne vous suffit, nous prendrons le Psaultier, et le livre des Evangiles, pour voir si tout ne se rapporte pas.' Cet advis estant generalement receu, l'on passa le nuict en oraison, et apres la Messe, que celebre S. E. l'on prend un petit enfant qui ne pouvoit encore parler, pour aller a l'autel. mier billet qu'il tira, fut celuy S. A. au grand estonnement de toute l'assistance, distinctement par trois fois le proclama Evesque. On ouvre le Psaultier, on l'on trouva de prime abord ce verset, 'Bien heureux est celuy que vous avez eleu et etably, il demeurera en vostre maison.' Et au livre des

6

Le pre

Evangiles, on y rencontra ces paroles. Tu es Pierre, et sur cette Pierre je bastiray mon Eglise!' Et pour fermer entierement l'election, afin que chacun n'en doutast plus, S. E. fit ouvrir l'Apocalypse,1 ou l'on trouva: Personne ne peut mettre un autre fondement que celuy deja pose.' A ces miracles si manifestes personne n'osa resister, voyant palpablement la volonté divine, tellement que S. E. la sacra aussi tost.

la charge de l'Eglise d'Orleans, en laquelle il se comporta si dignement, que comme un vigilant Jardinier, il arrache de tout son diocese les herbes dommageables, et y en planta de bonnes; prechant d'un zele nompareil, visitant les malades, assistant les vefues, defendant les orphelins, secourant les pauvres et particulierement les prisonniers, desquels il avoit grand soin. Le Colonel Agrapin n'ayant point voulu a sa requeste relacher ceux qu'il tenoit, allant a l'Eglise une pierre tomba sur sa tete, qui le blesse si fort que l'on n'en pouvoit etancher le sang, et n'en attendoit on que la mort. Cette affliction desilla ses yeux, et le faisant souvenir de son injuste refus, protesta d'accorder la requeste du Sainct, lequel par le signe de la Croix luy restitua sa premiere sante et de la est provenu le privilege qu'ont ses successeurs Eveques, de delivrer les prisonniers le jour de leur entree. Faisant agrandir une Eglise que S. E. avoit batie, le Maitre Masson tombe du faiste en bas, et se froisse tellement les membres, qu'il en tiroit a la fin S. A. y accourut, fit le signe de la Croix sur luy, et le rendit sain.

"En ce temps le cruel Attila sortit des Mers, resolu de s'emparer des Gaules. Le saint prelat prevoyant que cette nuee viendroit fondre a Orleans, s'en va a Arles pour s'aboucher avec Etius, Lieutenant General de l'Empereur Justinian (!) a luy demander secours, et comme une grande fontaine arrouse les terres par lesquelles elle passe, ainsi en son chemin il laissa des marques de son heureux voyage, guerissant en beaucoup de lieux grand nombre de malades. Entr'autres estant loge une nuict en la maison de S. Mammert qui avoit perdu la parole, et alloit rendre l'esprit, et ayant prie le long de cette nuict, il le guerit sur le matin, tant du corps de de l'ame: car S. M. se voue depuis a Dieu, se separa de sa femme par son consentement et fut Archivesque de Vienne. A son retour la ville fut incontinent assiegee, Attila fermant toutes les issues, et battant jour et nuict la muraille et avoit il deja partage le butin de la ville, et

fait amas de beaucoup de chariots. Comme les citoyens effrayez eurent recours a leur prelat, luy, sans se soucier, pour le salut des siens, sortit de la ville et parla a Attila. Mais ne l'ayant pu flechir, il se mit en prieres, fit faire des Processions, et porter par les rues les reliques des saints. Un Prestre s'en estant mocque, disant, que cela n'avoit de rien profite aux autres villes, tomba roide mort sur la place, portant par ce moyen la peine de son insolente temerite. Apres toutes ces choses, il commanda aux habitans de voir si le secours n'arrivoit point; ayant ete respondu que non, il se remet en prieres, et puis leur fait mesme commandement : mais n'appercevant point encore de secours, pour le troisieme fois il se prosterna a terre, les yeux et l'esprit vers le Ciel. Se sentant exauce, il fait monter a la guerite et luy rapporte-t-on que l'on ne voyoit rien si non une grosse nuee de poussiere; il asseure que c'etoit le secours d'Etius et de Teudo Roy des Goths, lesquels tardans a se montrer a l'armee d'Attilla, S. A. fut divinement transporte en leur camp, et les advertit que tout estoit perdu, s'ils attendoient au lendemain. Ils parurent aussi-tost, et forcerent Attila de lever si hâtivement le siege, que plusieurs des siens se noyerent dans la Loire, d'autres s'entretuerent avec regret d'avoir perdu le ville: et non contens de cette victoire, le poursuiverent si vivement avec le R. Meronec, que se vint joindre a eux, qu'ils le defirent en bataille rangee pres de Châlons, jonchant la campagne de 180,000 cadavres. On ne peut rapporter la joye qu'eurent lors ceux d'Orleans, ny l'estime qu'ils firent de leur sainct prelat, l'appellant Mur de France, Protecteur de leur ville, et vray Pere de tous les Citoyens; lesquels furent tous conservez, exceptez quelques incredules, qui tombans entres les mains de l'ennemy, furent traittez avec cruaute. En

From here is quoted in the notes to Joan of Arc, fifth book, p. 37, on the lines,

"St. Aignan's shrine Was throng'd with suppliants, the general voice Call'd on St. Aignan's name again to save His people, as of yore," &c. J. W. W.

cette mesme annee Dieu le combla encore d'une nouvelle faveur; car comme pour les ravages des armees la famine fut extreme, par ses prieres la terre devint si fertile en bleds, vins, et autres provisions, que par tout son Diocese l'on ne ressentoit plus les pertes de la guerre."

Two years after, on November 17, "il passa de cette vie laborieuse en une pleine de repos." He has a Church dedicated to him at Orleans; and on June 14, the day he delivered the city, a festival.

From Le nouveau parterre des fleurs des vies des Saints. Par PERE RIBADENEIRA de la Compagnie de Jesus; M. ANDRE DU VAL Docteur et Professeur du Roy en Theologie, et par JEAN BAUDOIN Historiographe du Roy. Lyons, 1666.

Aberfraw.1

"ABERFRAW Palace is succeeded by a barn, in which are stones of better workmanship than usual in such buildings. Here was kept a copy of the ancient code of laws. Near it are frequently found the Glain Naidr, or Druid glass rings. Of these the vulgar opinion in Cornwall and most parts of Wales is, that they are produced by snakes joining their heads together and hissing, which forms a kind of bubble like a ring about the head of one of them, which the rest by continual hissing blow on till it comes off at the tail, when it immediately hardens and resembles a glass ring. Whoever found it was to prosper in all his undertakings. These rings are called Glain Nadroedh or Gemma Anguinæ.

is borne up into the air, and must be caught in a mantle before it reaches the earth. The person who catches it must escape on horseback, for the snakes will pursue him till they are stopped by a river. The proof of it is, if it floats against the stream even when set in gold. It must be caught in a certain period of the moon.

"On a little hill near Holyhead is a round chapel of St. Fraid, of which the people can give no account, except that human bodies and stone coffins have been dug up in it within memory, and it is still walled round for burial. About one quarter of a mile north of it on the hill overlooking Holyhead are the remains of a double Cromlech in the same direction as the rest, and seeming to have been considerable. It is called Trechen Tre rechthre. Tradition says that a very profligate debauchè, owner of the adjoining farms of Trergow and Pentros, committed great excesses at these stones with his mistresses, and at last in a fit of rage murdered them there. Under the mountain that overhangs the town (Holyhead), and is properly called the Head, is a large cavern in the rock, supported by natural pillars, called the Parliament Houses, accessible by boats, and the tide flows into it. On its top is Caer Twr, a circular stone wall without mortar, surrounding its summit ten feet with a wall, probably a pharos. Several other like fortifications appear on the tops of the hills on the coast in this island. In the Church of Llanedan a reliquary of very ordinary grit stone with a roof-like cover, the celebrated Maen Mordhwyd, or stone of the thigh, is now chained to the church walls, having defied the orders of Hugh Lupus to cast it into the sea, whence it returned to its usual place.