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Acta Sanctorum.

FO

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, GENERAL.

Jan. Vol. 1. RÆF. Generalis. ix. Rosweyd. xi. He contracted a disease by reading books which had become damp on shipboard. xi. Bolland. Origin of the work. xxiii. xxv. Richness and utility of the work well illus trated. xlii. Rosweyd.

xxx. Dispute between the Scotch and Irish concerning their saints.

xxxiv. Heretical objections to hagiology. "John Hus, et alios ejusdem farinæ."

lx. Good conclusion to the Preface. lxi. Winghius the great patron of the work.

46. S. Kienan builds the first stone church in Ireland.

Warm baths.

47. S. Mochua's stags killed, eaten, restored to life, and twelve of them still living among the mountains.

48. A fountain goes before S. Mochua in the air, to issue wherever he pleases. 49. Passage over an arm of the sea by two ropes and a basket.

He transfers a great gathering from one man to his bell, and a deadly paleness of disease from another to his walking stick.

136. S. Melor, a Cornish saint. Specimen of romance passing into legend, pro bably first an honest fiction, then palmed by fraud upon credulity for fact.

296. Westminster Abbey, its miraculous foundation.

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299. An opinion that Harold escaped from the Battle of Hastings, and lived in penitence.

300. An ill omen for Christendom when the seven sleepers turned in their sleep.

303. Edward the Confessor buried "calceatum caligis purpureis et calceamentis pretiosis."

597. Severe school discipline.

642. "Erant utique tunc temporis, tot almi ordinis Benedictinorum propagines, per totum orbem diffusæ et dilatatæ, cum tanto cœlestis doctrinæ fructu luxuriantes, quod vix Ecclesia aliqua paræcialis (ut de Episcopalibus sileam) in tota Lusitania, imó et in Europæ majori parte reperiretur, quæ ex ordine D. Benedicti Curionem, Pastoremve non possideret."

711. A man swears falsely by his beard to defraud Worcester Cathedral, and it comes off in his hand.

746. Benedictus Biscopius, Abbot of Wearmouth. What he brought from Rome whenever he returned from thence, books, relics, glass makers, architects, singing masters, privileges of exemption, pictures of scripture history, for the instruction of those who could not read. See the passage from one of Bede's homilies.

746. William of Malmesbury says of him, "artifices ædium lapidearium et vitrearium fenestrarum primus omnium Angliam asciverit. Nec enim lapidei tabulatus in Angliâ ante Benedictum nisi perrarò videbantur; nec perspicuitate vitri penetratâ lucem solaris jaciebat radius. 747. He died 703 A. D.

749. Alred at Rivaux Abbey uses a cold bath to tame his body.

750. Character of Galloway in his time,

"Est autem terra illa fera, silvestris et barbara; bestiales homines, et barbarum omne quod gignit.-Mulieres per menses viros alternant."-Is this mere vague exaggeration, or is the polyandrian system of the Britons remaining here, in their last refuge on this side? This is so important a fact, if it be so, that the whole passage should be given; I incline to think it fact, though the general tenor of the language is that of declamation. He died 1166.

815. The Scotch or Irish, and Britons fond of attributing immaculate conception to the mothers of their saints.

815. An opinion held by some that Melchisedech had neither father nor mother.

816. This life of S. Kentigern, to whom our church here at Keswick is dedicated, is❘ a good specimen of Catholic romance.1

899. According to S. Veronica of Binasco, angels have a small horn in the middle of the forehead.

1065. St. Ida or Ytha promised the artificer Beoan that he should have a son; his wife, however, proved barren, and one day going to war with his chief, he was killed, and his head cut off and carried away. "Et cum hoc narratum esset S. Ythæ, valde sibi displicuit." So going to the field, she found the body, and prayed for the head; the head came flying through the air, she joined it to the body, an operation which cost her an hour's praying; Beoan went home nothing the worse for his mishap, except that he had a scar remaining, his wife conceived and bare a son, and that son became the Sanctissimus Abbot Mochaemoch, which is, being interpreted in Latin, Pulcherius, "in cujus honore civitas Liath edificata est," or, according to another MS. " in cujus nomine ecclesia de Liath-Mochaemoch est fundata." -March, Tom. 2, p. 281. Beoan was "ho

Southey has given it in his Progress and Prospects of Society, vol. i. 307, &c. J. W. W.

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norificus artifex in lignis et lapidibus." Circiter 650.

1066. When S. Ytha foresees that guests are coming, she always orders the bath to be prepared.

Jan. Tom. 2.

P. 45. S. FURSEUS (of Ireland) speaks before he is born.

62. The Five martyrs of Morocco. 243. S. Wulstan (made Bishop of Winchester 1062). 64 Cibi et potus erat abstinens, quamvis in aulâ ejus pro more Anglorum, totis post prandium biberetur horis, cum quibus ipse assidens psalmos ruminabat, ordine tamen suo se bibere simulabat: hauriebant alii spumantes pateras," (N. B. creaming, sparkling liquors) "ipse vasculum minutissimum tenens eos ad hilaritatem invitabat, magis consuetudini patriæ, quam judicio satisfaciens animi. Nam et consuetudines Normannorum fon omittebat, pompam militum secum ducens, qui stipendiis annuis, quotidianisque cibis immane quantum populabantur." WILLIAM OF MALMS

BURY.

"Equo quocumque vadens psalterium frequentabat orationales versus qui occurrebant, ad fastidium concantantis crebro repetens."

243. "Nullius unquam personæ contuitu, nec etiam in curiâ Regis positus, et ad mensam ejus assidens, benedictiones, quas Angli super potum faciebant, omisit."—Ibid. Was this a Saxon, not a Norman custom?

"Indifferenter vilioribus utebatur vestibus, magis agninis quam alterius generis pellibus frigus depellens. Si vero ei diceretur, ut saltem cattinas pelles amiciret, jocosâ comitate respondebat, Crede mihi, (nam hic mos jurandi Episcopo inoleverat) numquam audivi cantari Cattus Dei, sed Agnus Dei; ideoque non catto, sed agne volo calefieri. Ita Dei timor mentem ejus insederat, ut quod alii torquebant in pompam, ipse in compunctionis transferret materiam."-Ibid.

245. "Modo aratrum ad meum pervenit sulcum," said S. Wulstan, when he heard

sicut murmuratum fuit de meis miraculis et doctrinis, sic de Fratribus minoribus, Patribus tuis, murmurare præsument."

328. It was revealed to her that S. Francis occupies the place in heaven from which Lucifer fell, 330; and that all his followers who imitate him have a place near.

343. Again Christ says-" plus mihi placent Fratres minores quam aliquis ordo Ecclesiæ meæ. Sunt enim utiliores animarum zelatores, quos hodie mundus habeat." 348. Christ orders the Franciscans to preach a Crusade, circiter 1280.

406. B. Cardinal. Petr. Damianus.

March. Tom. 1.

the kings concerning clerical privileges, the kings compelling them to military service. B. Fothadius in Keledeus's days wrote a treatise to the king upon this subject, and obtained an exemption for the clergy, which continued till the year 799. 88. He made a book concerning homonymous saints, and there were 855, all having their doubles, trebles, quadruples or more: so had saints swarmed in those days.

114. St. Paul (Pol) de Leon asked of a certain King Mark, a Royalet either in Cornwall or Wales, to give him a bell at his departure. "Mos quippe erat septem tintinnabula pulsari ad mensam Regis, discumbentibus familis." Perhaps the laws This bell was afterwards fished up out of the sea, "Hæc vero cloca, and worked miracles.

P. 468. SOULS in Purgatory bleached by of Hoel Dhu may explain this. the prayers of the faithful.

546. S. Francis and S. Dominic intercessors between Christ and man! The story of Christus fulminans, as about to destroy the world, when the Virgin presented these her chosen champions.

779. Protestant Bishop of Limerick murdered by miracle, all but the miracle is very likely to be true.

March. Tom. 2.

P. 85. The Irish S. Engus Keledeus used to kneel 300 times a day, and recite the Psalter daily, after this manner, fifty psalms in his oratory, fifty in the open air, and fifty in a tub of cold water, with a rope round his neck fastened to a post. 86. He too had the barn and the mill work, which seems to have been considered the most menial and hardest of all service; and as he never cleaned himself, some of the grain which stuck in his hair, and about his hairy body, used to grow as in a good soil, and then he pulled it out. 87. He lived in the eighth century, at which time there was a contest between the clergy and

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a populo Letanorum Hyrglas, a colore metalli et a formâ compositionis nomen accepit, viridis enim et oblonga esse conspicitur." It was preserved in the treasury of S. Pol de Leon.

282. An army of devils drawn up against a monastery in battle array, while a single one keeps guard at his ease at the neighbouring palace, "quasi præpositus expectans servitium suum."

150. A monstrous vision of S. Francisca

Romana, wherein S. Catharine teaches her "quomodo debeat Deum amplecti!"

445. A place in Ireland so holy, that no creature can either be born or die there.

446. S. Finian,-"fecit ergo cœmeterium et basilicam, quæ hodie claris virtutibus fulget: si quis enim in eâ dormiret, licet januis clausis, projectus foras super ripam lacus inveniretur: Sanctus enim Finianas non ut ibi dormiretur basilicam instituit sed ut Dominus oraretur."

Via vermium,-the place still so called, where the worms from his leprous body used to go backward and forward to water. He could not sleep if he had not them all at home.

This also was a phosphoric saint. Some thieves having stolen and eaten a ram of his, and denied the fact, he called upon the

ram to bear witness; and though the mut- | repentance has been accepted, an angel turns ton was then in a state of digestion, it bleated in their bellies.

509. Here, I think, it appears from Capgrave that, as I suspected, there was a design of making the Sangreal pass for a legend, not a romance.1

Prophecy that Joseph of Arimathæa's body is to be found in Britain, and that after that time the island will never want rain. But the editor shows that his arm is in the Vatican.

66

510. Service for this, S. Joseph's, day. The lessons from a sermon by S. Ambrose; quas ob suavissimam comparationem ab hoc S. Doctore institutam inter uterum et tumulum. Josephum et Mariam hic non pigebit describere!" says the editor.

517. S. Patrick said to have first brought letters into Ireland, and wrote Abgatorias, which are Abecedarias; so called, because in Irish the C is always hard. But the word sounded of Gamma, and not of K.

In other countries women used to speak and write Latin; but it was so little known in Ireland, that their legends were mostly written in Irish.

527. Patrick heard babes at the breast, and babes unborn, saying, "Veni S. Patrici (N.B. before he was a saint too), salvos nos fac ab irâ venturâ."

539. The Roman and Gallic Christians sent priests with large sums of money to ransom captives who were baptized from the Franks, and other exteras gentes; but the Irish sold their Christian prisoners to the infidels, and more especially into the hands " 'indignissimorum pessimorumque apostatarum Pictorum."

541. Patrick also makes fires of ice. 540. St. Martin of Tours, his mother's uncle.

545. Overcome by the desire of eating meat, Patrick gets some pork and hides it. An apparition having eyes before and behind terrifies him; and in proof that his

See Preface to the Morte Darthur, p. xxiv. J. W. W.

this pork into fish. " Perplures autem Hibernigenarum, hoc signum sinistre sectantes solebant in die S. Patricii, quæ semper infra quadragesimam evenit, carnes aquis immergere" (because Patrick had put the pork in water at the angel's bidding), " mersas extrahere, extractas coquere, coctas comedere, illasque Patricii pisces nominare."

549. A custom at Easter of kindling tapers "de igne benedicto: Contigit nocte eâdem idololatras quoddam sublime festum quod dicitur Rach, frequentare; quod et ipsi in tenebris incedentes principi tenebrarum solebant consecrare. Moris erat apud illos, ut ignis totus circumcirca extingueretur, nec reaccenderetur ab aliquo in circumjacenti provinciâ, nisi prius accensus appareret in aule regiâ." This seems to be the Druidical custom.

558. St Patrick's tooth, a relic while he was alive, and placed by himself in the altar of a church which he built!

564-6. He removes a lake, and a mountain. 569. It seems that men used to be ridden in Ireland, as they were in Otaheite. St. Patrick, when riding one of his disciples thus, says "sæpius me portasti," without being so much out of breath.

| 570. Patrick not only makes a goat bleat in a man's belly, but by his curse makes a goat's beard grow upon all his posterity.

570. Maguil or Machaldus,-"maximus in scelere, nominatissimus crudelitate: et quia similis similem quærit, turbam non modicam furtis, rapinis, cædibus cruentis assuetam sibi adunavit. Hic quædam signa diabolica, quæ Diberc dicuntur, capiti proprio atque unicujusque sociorum ejus imposuit, ut cunctis patesceret quod de satellitio Satanæ sodalitium illud totum fuit." The note upon these Diberc says, "In omnibus S. Brigidæ Vitis horum mentio fit, in iisque vocantur stigmata maligna et vincula; indicaturque ea assumi solita cum execratione, quod ea sumentes non prius deponerent, quàm designatum facinus perpetrassent, quod cum istis signis certò ac tutò perpetrandum arbitrabantur.”

of his sister's death. The Old Woman of | Berkeley's words seem to show that this was a popular expression.1

rity gives a live calf to the wolves. This too is a worthy legend of Irish growth. 1131. S. Martin de Soure.

P. 4. THE famous Granada relics.

246. Before he was made Bishop, he used to preach on Sundays, "quem Frater February. Tom. 1. quidam increpans, solius asseruit esse Pontificis prædicare, monacho silentium et claustrum competere." The Frater was flogged bodily for this in a vision.

247. William wished to deprive him, "litteraturæ insufficientiam, et Gallici sermonis imperitiam prætendens." See here the miracle well told which I have related in Espriella. "Ecce novus Rex, nova lex, novus Pontifex, nova jura condunt, novas sententias promulgant."

249. A miracle of Wulstan's, which, enormous lie as it is, proves a most ferocious state of manners.

330. S. Columba,-"cui Deus spiritum prophetiæ in specie pulcherrimæ Reginæ quondam desponsaverat."

100. Custom said to be retained in Scotland, on the eve of S. Bridget, of preparing a bed for the saint, and this not by Catholic alone, but by very many others.

567. S. Gilbert of Sempringham.

"Discum pauperum, quem Discum Domini nostri vocavit, mensæ suppositum semper primitiis et præcipuis ciborum partibus impinguavit. Vasis ligneis, et testeis, et cochlearibus utebatur corneis."

Feb. Tom. 2.

P. 82. LUCAS Thaumaturgus.
101. S. Romuald.

130. Reason for being filthy: "pedes non loti, manus neglectæ, cæsaries inculta 331. Some Irish monks build a mill upon quasi quædam anchora est eremitæ in cellâ a hill where there is no water, and S. Fe-jugiter permanendi; e diverso, bona vestis, chin brings it from a lake up the hill by et delicati corporis compositio, fomes est et miracle. occasio in publicum prodeundi."

332. This same saint, at an Irish king's desire, prays in time of famine, for a plague to thin the people. The prayer takes effect, two-thirds of the nation are cut off, and the king and the saint among them.

540. Proneness of the Northumbrians in

times of sickness to recur to their idolatry. 652. Henricus Suso, a Dominican, died at Ulm 1365.

653. God changed his name to Amandus, but this was a profound secret, till it was found after his death, among his revelations.

This is a rich legend of mysticism and miracles; characteristic of the age of Dominican impostures.

1115. S. Aidan (an Irish saint) for cha

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147. S. Antonio de Stroncone. first twelve years after his profession, "inter alia, quæ magistri nutu, domando corpori adhibebat, millies per diem genua religiose humi ponebat."

148. "Precanti aliquando adstitit Christus specie adspectabili, dixitque sibi valde missam placere multis coruscantem luminibus."

307. Yellow plague in England in the sixth century. 309. seen bodily.

307. Miracle of S. Teilan's three bodies. 367. S. Marianus Scotus wrote by the light of his own fingers.

552. Cædman. He composed poems in his sleep.

570. The Spanish S. Martin made a theologian by eating a book. When S. Isidore appeared and told him to do this, he objected-because it would be breaking his fast.

673. Bees first carried to Ireland by S. Modomnoc in the sixth century. He seems to have been a master-apist, like Wildman.

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