ON SAINT URSMAR,
BISHOP AND ABBOT IN BELGIUM.
YEAR 713.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
Ursmar, Bishop and Abbot of Lobbes, in Belgium (Saint)
By G. H.
§ I. Life and Miracles written by various authors. Time of his life and translation to Binche.
Lobbes, or Laubium or Laubacum,
a most illustrious monastery of Belgium, owes its
origin to Saint Landelin, who departing from there to Crispin,
handed it over to Saint Ursmar to inhabit
and perfect: which according to Molanus in The Natalities of the Saints of Belgium, came to
such a blessing of temporal things, that it is said to have possessed one hundred and fifty-three
villas: Lobbes monastery once rich from the patronage of Saint Ursmar. nor wonder, he says, since in it flourished the
Episcopal dignity, and the daily patronages of Saints
Ursmar and his colleagues. It is situated on the left bank of the Sambre
river, opposite the town of Thuin, which the ancient
Abbots at great expense had fortified to defend the Abbey.
The Abbey belongs to the diocese of Cambrai,
although it is of the Liège territory. The last of the Abbots, who
were also Bishops, Life written before the year 776 by Anso the Abbot was Saint Theodulf: who, in the time
of King Pippin and his son Charlemagne, ruled the said monastery,
died in 776. He was succeeded by Anso the Abbot,
"a good and holy man, and according to the capacity of his talent
studious of letters. There exists a little book of the Life of Saint Ursmar,
written by him to his predecessor Theodulf the Bishop; likewise another
of Saint Erminus: in which the truth of the history, so far as could be described
by a man of simple eloquence, is to be embraced," as Fulcuin
Abbot of Lobbes relates, On the Deeds of the Abbots of Lobbes chapter
9. a holy man, We have the Life of each Saint from the same Manuscript
codex of Utrecht of Saint Salvator and in both places he is called Erminon,
who to others is Erminus; the Life of him written by Anso
we give on April 25, collated with the Manuscripts of Saint-Omer of Saint Bertin,
of Liège of Saint James, and of Hubergen of the Wilhelmites.
The one we give here on Saint Ursmar
we have compared with the Trier Manuscript of the monastery of Saint Maximin.
In volume 6 of the Spicilegium of Achery, after Fulcuin's Chronicle
is added a Continuation, up to our times, excerpted
from ancient monuments of the Lobbes church, the first of which
ends before the death of Abbot Arnulf, and thus before
1094; and it narrates how in his time
the Provost Oibald, while the old pavement of the Presbytery was opened
to be restored, among other bodies of Saints,
which he left as they were found, found the body
of Anso the Abbot of holy memory... and placed it deep beside
the structure of the wall: but secretly, not as for veneration;
yet this also confirms, that in great opinion of holiness
the aforementioned Anso lived and died.
[2] The same in verse by Heriger the Abbot, created in 990. With Fulcuin dead about 890, he was succeeded by Heriger,
20th Abbot of Lobbes, who wrote the Deeds of the Pontiffs
of Tongres, Utrecht, and Liège; these John Chapeavilleus published
and illustrated, Canon
and Vicar of Liège. That the same Heriger wrote in metrical
style the Life of Saint Ursmar the Continuator of Fulcuin
on the Deeds of the Abbots of Lobbes testifies. This poem we have from
a very ancient Manuscript codex of the Church of Gembloux transcribed,
in which nothing historical of Saint Ursmar is found, which
is not contained in the Life to be given here from the aforesaid Manuscript
codices. Wherefore, and because that poem wanders in freer style,
with this beginning of the prologue, lest the mass of the work should grow beyond necessity,
we omit it, willing to give it to whomever wishes to publish it.
The preface begins thus:
"First the supreme heaven with wondrous rotation,
Breathing upon all things, the wisdom of the supreme God made,
Where he placed the Angelic choir, which he himself founded."
And so he proposes the fall of the Angels, the creation of the world
and of Adam, his fall and its reparation through Christ's coming
and triumph on the cross. Then he proceeds to the Gospel
preached through the Apostles and apostolic men to the whole
world and especially to the neighboring regions; and after 190 verses
with illustrious mention of Saint Landelin and the Lobbes monastery
the prologue ends, and the history of the Life is given with this beginning:
"Saint Ursmar, and of the history shining with merits and honor,
Famed with nobility, gleaming with probity of morals,
Commending the praises of his kind life by deeds."
There, after the country is described, the Poet tarries on the visions made to his mother
before Saint Ursmar's nativity, and whatever of fables
about the gods of the pagans is touched upon, and
after easily four hundred verses the birth of Saint Ursmar and his
deeds are explained through another high four hundred verses, of which
one hundred fifty-four exist published in part 2, sec. 3
of the Benedictines. They are together a few verses over a thousand, which with
Saint Ursmar's burial thus end:
"For in the aforementioned monastery in the bottom of the valley,
In honor of Saint Peter placed, a high mountain rises, and the end of the Life,
Upon whose lofty top founded by himself
The Church the pious Virgin at once Theotokos protects.
In this they place the holy tombs of the venerable Father,
And reverently with vows they entomb the sacred treasure,
Where God diligently shows his signs decently,
So that anyone may easily perceive by sense,
Of how great merit are the remains there placed;
For his praise, who reigns living everywhere. Amen."
[3] Laurence Surius published the Life, amplified here and there with fuller phrasing,
with a preface of Ratherius, formerly monk
of Lobbes, then Bishop of Verona, who asserts he found the Life
written by Anso with the people of Como; and adds that it,
in content of things, is to be preferred to pure gold and topaz,
but of speech with solecisms so, according to its own
measure, crammed full, [Another Life in Surius in more elegant style adorned by Ratherius Bishop of Verona:] that it was difficult to determine,
whether by the writer's negligence, or the dictator's folly,
this had happened. Thus Ratherius, who twice was Bishop of Verona,
and as many times of Liège, and was expelled
four times, lived finally a private life and ended it,
either unhappy or little fit for rule, as of him
writes Bartholomew Fisen in book 6 of the Ecclesiastical History of Liège
number 25 at the year of Christ 951. We, content with the truth
of the history, simple but not so contemptible in eloquence,
described by Anso the Abbot, omit that more elegant one of Ratherius
(because it can be read in Surius, and because it contains nothing
but more prolix phrases). The same Life in later times
by a certain Lobbes monk was greatly amplified, another afterwards amplified from Fulcuin; Appendices with various fragments inserted here and there from Fulcuin's history of
the Deeds of the Abbots of Gembloux, which Life Aubertus Miraeus, Dean
of the Cathedral Church of Antwerp and most affectionate to our studies,
once communicated to us:
from which Andreas du Chesne published some things in volume 1
of The Writers of the History of the Franks p. 688. We touch on some things
in the Notations; with the history of the elevation. the rest we reject into an Appendix
to this Life; to which we subjoin a second Appendix,
in which we give other things about the Deeds of Saint Ursmar indicated by Fulcuin,
and to it we subjoin the history of the elevation of the same
Saint Ursmar, described by the same.
[4] History of miracles composed by various authors. The history of the miracles of Saint Ursmar is collected as into one
body, and communicated to us from the Manuscript of Lobbes.
The first part of it is described by Abbot Fulcuin, which
we distinguish into three chapters; the same is also contained in the aforementioned
history of Fulcuin on the Deeds of the Abbots of Lobbes.
The things following in chapter four, in the time of the said Fulcuin and perhaps
at his command, are written. The things proposed in chapters five and six
are composed by another much younger. In the last place
is given the Journey of Saint Ursmar, by which among the Flemings
he wished to be glorified, and under that title are brought forth
miracles, which happened while his sacred body was being carried about,
compiled by an eyewitness.
[5] Those who come closest to these times are Sigebert
of Gembloux, and Baldric Bishop of Noyon. He is created Abbot in the year 698 Of
these Sigebert inscribed the time of Saint Ursmar in his Chronicle, and
first at the year 698 thus has: "Saint Ursmar, through the intervention
of Duke Hildulf, received the Lobbes monastery
to rule from Prince Pippin." But this ought to be referred
to the preceding year at least, or rather 697, since
in the beginning of his rule on the 17th day before the Kalends of September in the year
697 he is said by Fulcuin to have dedicated the church of the monastery
of Lobbes, as will appear below from Appendix 2. He dies in the year 713, Again Sigebert
at the year 713 has this: "Saint Ursmar the Bishop
and Abbot of the Lobbes monastery dies, and to him
Saint Erminus succeeds in the rule." But Baldric in book 2
of the Cambrai Chronicle chapters 37 and 38, hands down these things: "Saint
Landelin, about to withdraw to Lobbes, placed in that place the blessed
man of God Ursmar, endowed with pious morals,
made Bishop in function of preaching only.
With him as teacher, and then Blessed Erminus succeeding,
the place flourished; and to the glory of God, as appears to the present,
the ecclesiastical custom fully grew up. Of these
blessed Confessors of God therefore let us add their
dwelling place of rest. He is buried in the parish church on the mountain top, For there was a parish Church,
lying below the aforesaid monastery,
which is situated next to it, namely on the top of the mountain: where
the monks themselves, but also all their neighbors dwelling around and
about, were carried to be buried. To this the most blessed
men Ursmar and Erminus, when they died, were
carried to be buried: for the declaration of whose merits
divine piety deigned to work many miracles.
After both had been called to the reward,
in the already mentioned parish church they had been buried,
with so many and so great munificences that place is endowed, that
in modern times, with a monastery made, Canons
were sent there." Thus Baldric. Where a College of Canons was instituted: That old parish
church still exists, and in it or in the cemetery attached are buried
the Abbot, monks, and inhabitants of Lobbes. Moreover,
with wars raging in the territory of Liège in 1408, the College
of Canons from the said church transferred itself to Binche, in 1408 transferred to Binche, which is
a neighboring town of Hainaut. By this it came about that
William Bavarus, Count of Hainaut, earnestly asked
that they should wish to establish there a fixed and perpetual seat. Which
they did, with Pope Martin V consenting and approving.
At the same time, from the aforesaid Lobbes church, the bodies of Saints
Ursmar, Erminus, and six others were translated to Binche: with other sacred bodies.
which enclosed in eight different silver reliquaries are preserved there,
and every year at the beginning of July, with great concourse of men,
are piously carried about the town in solemn procession.
Albert, Prince of the Belgians, gave various umbrellas of gold, silver, and silk,
and other precious ornament for adorning this procession;
and had the very sacred relics visited by the Archbishop
of Cambrai Francis Burchius, with a notable ceremony,
himself being present: as Aubertus Miraeus in
the Chronicle of the Order of Saint Benedict, and the Belgian Fasts describes,
and there we ourselves venerated the sacred relics, and we learned
also that Master Giles Waulde, Parish priest of Binche, in 1628
at Mons in Hainaut had printed in French the Life and miracles of Saint Ursmar
and the other seven Patrons of Binche together with the Chronicles
of the House of Lobbes.
§ II. Sacred cult on various days. Monasteries and temples built.
[6] The people of Lobbes and Binche, as their first and chief
Patron, He is venerated April 18 in the Breviaries venerate Saint Ursmar with the most solemn
rite on this April 18, on which he died. On the same day with the Office
of three Lessons the Church and diocese
of Liège celebrates his feast. But the noble Collegiate Church of Saint Waldetrude in
the city of Mons venerates on this day with double rite Saint Aya with commemoration
of Saint Ursmar, as is prescribed in the proper Offices of the said Church,
printed in 1625. But formerly an Office
was made of Saint Ursmar, as the old Breviary indicates
according to the use of the said Church of Saint Waldetrude, in which
this Prayer is prescribed: "O God, who through the devout prayers of your Blessed
Ursmar, Confessor and Pontiff, deigned to call us
to the recognition of your holy name; mercifully grant that those whose solemn feasts
we celebrate, we may also feel as patrons." In like manner the Manuscript Martyrology of Lobbes,
under the name of Ado, and in the Martyrologies: first place has this: "XIV day before the Kalends of May
at Lobbes the passing of Saint Ursmar, Bishop and Confessor."
The same are referred at the end in the Martyrology of Ado
published by Mosander and Rosweyde, to which many things are added in
the Manuscript Ado of Saint Laurence of Liège, but especially about the vision
made to his mother before his birth. In the Manuscripts of Arras, Tournai,
and Laeti, from which we published the genuine Martyrology
of Bede and Florus, these things are read: "On the same day at Lobbes the natal day
of Saint Ursmar the Bishop." In the Brussels Manuscript of the church of Saint
Gudula in the first place it is referred thus: "At Lobbes of Saint Ursmar,
Bishop and Confessor: who with the necessaries prepared for the use of the monastery,
received the Lobbes monastery, which Ladelin
founded, to be ruled, from Pippin." The same
with their eulogies celebrate the Manuscript Martyrologies, of Liège of Saint Lambert,
of Centulum of Saint Richarius, and others: likewise Greven, Canisius,
Galesinius, Ferrarius, and especially Molanus in the Addition to
Usuard of a triple edition, in some on April 19. and in the Indiculus and *Natalities of the Saints
of Belgium*; for which Baronius allegates Usuard in his Notes
on April 19, on which day he is inscribed in the present Roman Martyrology,
and others of Maurolycus and Felicius; on which day also, "shining with much
holiness," as Mejerus writes in the Annals
of Flanders; and on that day the office for him is found to be made in ancient
Breviaries of Antwerp, Brussels, and others.
[7] Trithemius's eulogy John Trithemius, in book 3 On Illustrious Men of the Order of Saint Benedict,
chapter 157, has this eulogy: "Ursmar, from Abbot
of the Lobbes monastery Bishop of Bobium, a learned
and holy man, and a distinguished preacher of the divine word, who
preaching in the time of Dagobert in the province of Flanders
built and had built many churches. His
Life Abbot Heriger described in brilliant speech.
He flourished in the year of the Lord seven hundred: whose feast
is celebrated on the 9th day before the Kalends of May." Thus Trithemius, not without
errors. For first no mention of him is made in any Martyrology
on the ninth day before the Kalends of May, Corrected. but on the fourteenth day before the Kalends
of May; then in the year 700 no King Dagobert was reigning
or living, but Dagobert III King of the Franks,
began as a boy to reign in 711; under whom Saint Ursmar died
in 713. Moreover, he was not made Bishop of Bobium,
namely in Italy, where the monastery of Bobbio was built by Columban
in the 7th century of Christ, and in it an Episcopal See was erected in 1014,
and Atto was ordained first Bishop. But Saint Ursmar was at the same time both Abbot
of Lobbes and Bishop, but "only in function of
preaching," as we said above from Baldric: about which
Episcopate of his below in the Appendix it is more broadly treated. Name in the Benedictine fasts, About his Life,
written in metrical style by Heriger, we have already treated. Arnold Wion
celebrates him with a better encomium, but on April 19: "In the monastery
of Lobbes," he says, "the deposition of Saint Ursmar the Bishop and
Confessor, who by the office of preaching brought very many to
the faith of Christ, and famous for miracles rested in
the Lord." Wion is followed by Dorganius and Menardus. But
with a longer encomium Bucelinus adorns him, on this April 18.
Wion errs greatly, when in his notes he says that Saint Ursmar
succeeded in the rule of the Abbey and Episcopate
Saint Hildulf, Duke and Abbot of the Lobbes monastery: for only
(as we said above from Sigebert) through the intervention
of Duke Hildulf he received the rule of the Lobbes monastery.
Saint Hildulf the Duke is venerated on June 23: and of the Canons. about whom we say a few
things on this day at the Life of Blessed Aya his wife. Constantine
Ghinius includes the same Saint Ursmar among the Canons, and
commends him with a great encomium on April 19, in the *Natalities
of the Holy Canons*.
[8] Among other solemnities first is reckoned the feast of the elevation
made in the year 823, other solemnities on March 26, which as to be celebrated on March 26 is referred
in the Manuscript Ado of the Lobbes monastery, likewise by Molanus in the Addition
to Usuard and in the Natalities of the Saints of Belgium, by Canisius, Ferrarius,
Saussay, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus. But that solemnity,
when it is impeded by the time of the Passion of Christ or Resurrection,
is transferred to the Sunday before the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.
The next festivity is for the commemoration of the merits
of Saints Ursmar and Erminus, when through their patronages the people of Lobbes were freed
from the incursion of the Hungarians, and is celebrated on the second
day of April, indicated below in chapter 1 of the Miracles, April 2, which
are described by Fulcuin. It is also mentioned in the Manuscript Ado
of Lobbes, and others already indicated. In the Manuscript Florarium is celebrated
on April 15 the deposition of Saint Ursmar, April 15, and on April 18 the translation
or Elevation. But another solemnity is at Binche on the second
Sunday after the feast of Saint John the Baptist, for the translation of Saints
Ursmar, Erminus, and other Saints to the town of Binche,
made on the 20th day of the month of June in the year 1409, June 20, and inscribed
in the Addition of Molanus to Usuard, in the Martyrologies of Saussay,
Canisius, and other monastic ones, on the second day of July:
which can be the second Sunday after the feast of Saint John. July 2, Finally
in the Addition of the Brussels Carthusians to Greven some commemoration is announced
on October 14, October 14 for the translation
of the said Saints into a new reliquary, under
Bishop John of Burgundy of Cambrai, who presided over the said Church
from 1440 to 1479.
[9] Blessed Ursmar is said to have built the monasteries of Aulne and Waslare; Blessed Ursmar is handed down to have founded many churches and monasteries,
besides the primary one of Lobbes. Of these below in Appendix 2, given from
Fulcuin, are counted Aulne under the Lobbes people, which does not
lie far, and is now a monastery of the Cistercian Order; and
Waslare toward the forest of Theoracia on the borders of Fania,
over which he placed Dodo; to be venerated on October 28. Saint
Ursmar is called by some the Apostle of the Tirasci,
Flemings, and Menapians, and that on account of the town
of Aldenburg, situated between Bruges and Nieuwpoort, but
closer to Ostend; about which treating Antonius Sanderus, in volume 1
of Flanders Illustrated p. 316 and following, from the Chronographer
of Aldenburg has this: "The most reverend Prelate
Ursmar, seeing this deepest part of Flanders, At Aldenburg still given
to the cult of idolatry, not without much argument
of a very sad mind; soon inflamed with the ardor of the true faith,
in the times of Childebert King of the Franks,
for the sake of the grace of baptism he traversed preaching; and in many
places of this province of Flanders, but especially
at Aldenburg, he placed the foundations of the Christian faith. For
the place of his habitation in that once noble,
but at that time quite lugubrious Aldenborch, on account
of the memory of its former dignity, choosing,
with his companion soldiers first he went there: where
he evangelized Jesus, and inserted the doctrines of the Christian
religion into the rude hearts of the nation."
Childebert reigned from 698 to 711, whom then his son Dagobert succeeded, by
whose license Saint Ursmar consecrated the temple of Saint Peter at Aldenborch: the church of Saint Peter,
"which flourished with long-lasting stability, grew old with long age,
and fell through prolonged antiquity.
But after many years' course, that is,
in 1056 it was begun anew by Bishop Rabodo,
and consecrated on the first of May 1070; who donated it
to Arnulf Bishop of Soissons, and made to him canonical
investiture of it. This Arnulf donated it
into an Abbey and congregation of monks
of the Order of Saint Benedict, in 1084, and presided
over the same for three years, died in 1087 on
the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary; who inscribed among
the Saints is venerated the following day." But Rabodo of Noyon and Tournai
Bishop was created in 1068, died in 1098.
Moreover, the curial church of Aldenburg is said to have been, dedicated to Blessed Mary
the Virgin, and to Saint Mary; conspicuous with peristyles and lofty
ceiling, honored by Saint Ursmar with a sodality of Clerics.
[10] At Singulf-villa a community of 12 Canons: In the schedules also sent to us from Binche these things are held:
Singulf-villa is the name of an estate, now Zeclesen
near Oudenarde in Flanders, and in it memory
of Saints Peter and Ursmar, in which then a community of twelve
Canons was held, instituted by the same Saint Ursmar,
which place was destroyed by the Normans
about the year 881. In the land also,
which was called Broad-oak, where the church of Affligem
is situated, a church near Affligem. by the industry of the same Saint the church was built,
and acquired for the monastery of Lobbes, and by
the inhabitants was properly named the possession of Saint Ursmar.
But after various depopulation, the aforesaid place
having been occupied by some under pretext of the eremitic life,
Leonius the 28th Abbot, publicly reclaiming his right often,
at last at Saint Peter of Ghent, at the persuasion and intervention
of certain Flemings, voluntarily yielded.
LIFE
By Anso the 5th Abbot of Lobbes.
From the Utrecht and Saint Maximin Manuscripts.
Ursmar, Bishop and Abbot of Lobbes, in Belgium (Saint)
BHL Number: 8416, 0000
BY ANSO FROM A MANUSCRIPT
PROLOGUE OF THE AUTHOR.
To my Lord and truly Lord, the Lord's servant
and Christ's chosen, Theodulf, Bishop
comparable to men of perfect virtue, Anso,
useless servant of the servants of the Lord, greeting. O pious
Father, my Lord, late is your inquiry, and tardily
was given to me the option of writing the Life of Saint Ursmar the Bishop,
whose work you enjoin me to complete: of whose
virtues many have been weakened from memory, on account
of the passing of some years. But though from
the many I may be able to bring forth few, which I have found written
by someone, He hands down things written by another: weighed down by the burden of sins, I fear to speak,
fearing that Prophetic testimony: "To the sinner
God said? Ps. 49:16 Why do you tell of my justices,
and take up my testament in your mouth?" Yet
lest I appear disobedient, protected by your holy prayers
and defended, I shall begin to write the Life of the aforesaid
Saint; first indeed what had been revealed to his mother
about him before he was born, or what he himself
did exalted in the height of the Episcopate.
For though I could not attain to all his deeds;
but those things in which he alone was conscious
are not known: because not seeking praise from men,
as much as it was in him, he wished all his
virtues to be hidden. We, however, believe it suffices
if we note only the more excellent; and at the same time
the readers must be considered, lest the abundance piled up
breed weariness in them. I beseech
those who will read, that they give faith to my words, and these proved and certain, nor think I have
written anything except what is known and proven:
otherwise it is better to be silent, than to
speak false.
CHAPTER I.
Visions made to the mother of Saint Ursmar: his private and Episcopal life.
[1] Blessed Ursmar the Bishop, worthy of the praise of good men,
in the district of Hainaut or a Theorascensi,
in the village called b Fleon, was born. Who
by God was chosen from heaven through predestination before
he was born through origin. For with his
mother pregnant with him, there appeared to her a certain old man in a nightly vision,
holding in his hand a little boy.
Then the old man said to her: "Take this boy, A vision made to the mother: and nurse
him." A great famine then hung over
that region, and the woman answering said to the old man: "Whence shall I
nurse him, Lord, when I lack, on account of the greatness
of the famine which we suffer in this land?" But
he gave into her hand a white bread, and said
to her: "From this bread you shall nurse him." When she had received
it, it grew in her hands very large. Then
rejoicing the same woman said: "What is this that I see,
or what does it signify?" It is indicated he will be great before God, The old man answering
said to her: "You will bear a son, who shall sustain a great
part of the kingdom." Who so at length preaching, as he grew up,
sustained it; since such grace he obtained from the Lord,
that he refreshed all with the food of the word of God,
who came to him for the grace of conversation.
[2] and again with another vision Again however his mother, oppressed by sleep, saw
another vision. For a ladder was standing on the earth facing
her, whose top touched the heavens: and the boy
himself ascending through it, entered heaven.
But also the woman herself ascending after him up to the top
of the ladder, could in no way reach
him. Then at length the woman returning to herself immediately
knew, that truly all these things were prefigured in her son,
whom she still held enclosed in her womb. These
and similar things the mother knew about her own son before
his birth. Whence exulting she said: "I know foreknowing
through the mercy of God, that my son shall be great
before the Lord."
[3] d Then the parents, when he was born and grown up, delivered him
to teachers of the holy Scriptures to be imbued.
Who was instructed in sacred letters, He is imbued with sacred letters:
and not moderately imbued with the divine law,
not in a secular manner but in a monastic and regular manner.
For from the time of his childhood having an aged heart,
passing his age in morals, suspending his mind
to the stars, he walked not at all in his own will,
but in the will of God. He adheres strictly to the divine law: Wherever
the divine law bound him, there with all effort
he applied himself unwearied with the hand of the heart. Growing
in age, he flourished in virtues. e He was indeed
chaste in body, devout in mind, lovable to all,
most beautiful in appearance; possessor of prudence, temperance,
fortitude, and justice; perfected in longanimity,
generous in alms; solicitous in patience, meekness,
humility, and piety; having perfect
charity. He excels in virtues, But all these virtues
were adorned by wisdom, which is the creator
of all elements.
His speech according to the Apostle's saying was always
seasoned with salt. Col. 4:6 Who thus for many years
in holy deeds led his life, not ceasing to show forth
the way of salvation; and for the instruction of the brethren from his mouth as
sweetness from a honeycomb overflowed. If ever he saw
a suitable time for speaking, without the edification
of his neighbors he in no way allowed the hour to pass.
Despising also all earthly things, he clung to the Lord;
desiring only to be free for him, frequently pressing upon
prayers, with tears and compunction of heart
he besought the Lord, that he might grant
him protection, that he should dispense
or meditate on those works which in the sight of the divine
majesty would be acceptable. The Lord, however, who searches
the reins and heart, deigned to hear his pious
prayers.
[4] Finally when he had been ordained Bishop f,
divine piety granted him such grace that he surpassed
almost all mortals, Made Bishop, and many wished to live
by his example: who on account of the greatness of his holiness
was made a spiritual Father of many,
Teacher of the Scriptures, builder of monasteries,
Pastor of churches, He applies pastoral care: guardian of souls,
nourisher of orphans and widows, and redeemer
of captives; for from Pippin he had received the power
of redeeming captives. The flock committed to him
he so loved, as the truth itself taught:
"The good Shepherd lays down his life for his
sheep." John 10:11 For if in the holy Church the rage of persecution
had arisen, he would have in no way trembled to die for the Lord's
causes. This holy man was
indeed unlike the men we see in our
own times. We have not heard of anyone in our
own times who in the body sustained so long
a martyrdom, or who endured such torment
in the present life. Nor are we fit
to unfold what his life was, He lives in wondrous abstinence, especially
since for nine years and ten weeks he lived without
the sustenance of bread, on account of the sickness of his body.
Truly from the food he took, I think no
carnal man could live,
except through the Holy Spirit, who nourished him.
All who saw him walking
or heard him speaking, marveled greatly that
he spoke so efficaciously, living without
the sustenance of bread. A spring of water was his drink
and refreshment. His food was such that
he could take it without the service of teeth. and patience, Such was his
patience in his tribulations, that he might be compared
to Blessed Job: for just as he did not sin
with his lips by murmuring against God, but sang
praises to the Lord; so also the holy man unceasingly
blessed the Lord, as the Prophet
said, "I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always in my mouth." Job 1:22; Ps. 33:2 g
NOTES.
CHAPTER II.
Various miracles of Saint Ursmar: his death.
[5] This also must not be covered with silence,
how illustrious he was in the virtue of purging
the possessed. There was a certain monastery called
Malbodium a, not far from the Lobbes
monastery, in which were religious women. When
an unclean spirit had taken hold of one of them,
he began gravely to vex her, and through her mouth
to speak base things. Then fear seized all
who dwelt there,
so that they confessed they had never
suffered such fear: and the sisters holding the afflicted one,
said to the demon: "How have you dared to vex
a handmaid of Christ?" And they said: "Most impure
demon, come out of her." To whom he answering
said: "I will not come out, before Ursmar comes;
for he himself shall compel me to come out." b On the next
day, by the Lord's ordering, Ursmar the Bishop arrived.
And when the Sisters had spoken about her who was
tormented by the devil, he ordered her to be brought forth. A religious possessed by a demon he frees by the accustomed exorcism.
Who, when she had been brought, he, in no way presuming
of his own power, with God's help armed himself
against the devil; and then taking a book, he began
to read the exorcism over the head of the possessed,
that by the conjuration of the Divine name he might be compelled
to go out; and so taking the holy
oil of blessing, he anointed her eyes and nostrils and mouth.
When this was done, immediately the unclean spirit fled from her.
And so at length from that very suffering the servant of God was healed,
so that from then on the malignant spirit did
not dare approach her. Yet the fear, which before
the malignant one had sown among the Sisters, seemed
still to be among them after the liberation of the girl. Then
the man of God Ursmar commanded salt and water
to be brought to him, which he had blessed and sprinkled
throughout the monastery, and thus fear departed with its author.
[6] At another time a secular girl was brought to him,
full of a demon: c whom he ordered to be carried
to him in the oratory. When this was done he ordered her, He heals another possessed one by touching with his staff;
loosed from the bonds by which she was held;
and he began to invoke God's power
upon her head, and to rebuke the very blackest spectre, to depart
from the creature of the living God.
In a wondrous manner that ancient enemy immediately began
to be anxious and to rage, and to emit various and dread cries.
Saint Ursmar ordered her to be dragged outside the oratory,
and he following, touched her twice or
thrice with the staff which he carried in his hand: and immediately
the unclean spirit went out of her, as if he himself had been bodily
beaten. Then anointing her with the holy oil,
he sent her back safe to her parents' home.
[7] The holy man had a niece in the aforementioned
monastery, whom he had commended to d Saint Aldegundis.
When she had grown up, a very serious illness
arose in her neck e. And the physicians said
that she could not obtain health, unless the flesh
were cut by iron, and so drawn out with an iron
hook. When they were planning to do this,
it happened that Saint Ursmar had come there, and found his
niece gravely ill. And calling the doctor,
he said to him: "Tell me whether you can heal
her." And he said: "I cannot, unless with an iron
hook I draw out the disease with incised flesh."
The man of God did not permit this to be done, for
he tenderly loved her. And placing his hand
more often on that day upon the wound, he said to her: "See,
daughter, do not allow the iron to be applied to you: I believe
in God that he himself shall heal you from this infirmity. He heals his niece from the infirmity of the neck,
On that night the Saint poured out most abundant
prayers to the Lord; and as the next day was dawning,
the girl rose from her bed sound, so much
that not even a trace of the infirmity remained in her.
[8] At another time also in the same monastery
another sick woman was lying, so besieged by a very bad languor,
that those who saw her despaired in every way
that she could recover health. When she heard
of the coming of so great a man, she began with what strength
she could to say: "I beseech, ask him to come
to me: I trust in God that I shall recover
health as quickly as possible, if I should deserve to see him."
When this was told to Blessed Ursmar,
he immediately hastened to the house, looking on the feverish woman,
lifting his hand, and by the sign of the Cross a feverish woman: he made the sign of the Cross over
her, and with the fever departing, she soon recovered.
She publicly proclaimed to all that she had been healed
by the holy man's prayers.
[9] After these things Saint Ursmar, perceiving his infirmity
growing and the day of his calling imminent,
took no small care lest the flock committed to him
be left bereft. Then by God's authority, with all wishing it,
to f Saint Erminus his disciple
he enjoined the pastoral care, and took pains
to admonish him, ill he appoints Saint Erminus as successor: that with vigilant zeal he should feed
the sheep entrusted to him: which afterwards he most devoutly
did. g He also described the miracles of his master
in metrical work, according to the order of the elements,
being an excellent versifier. Not long after in the year
of the Lord 713, Saint
Ursmar the Bishop of blessed memory was released
from the prison of the body, dies in the year 713, and with the service of Angels
borne to the ethers, now rewarded
with the Angels triumphs in glory. Whose disciples
devoutly celebrating his obsequies, buried him
honorably in his Lobbes monastery, in the church
which is situated on the top of the mountain, is buried in the church of Saint Mary: at whose
foot is situated the monastery. And a church was built
there in honor of holy Mary ever Virgin Mother of God,
He shines in miracles, where virtues and benefits are bestowed,
to the praise and glory of the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Amen.
NOTES
APPENDIX I.
From the Lobbes Manuscript and that published by Andreas du Chesne.
Ursmar, Bishop and Abbot of Lobbes, in Belgium (Saint)
BHL Number: 0000
But of how great virtue and fame he is, it is not much
for us to commend. a This a great
part of Gaul and Flanders knows, where those vexed by various
molestations, through his prayers and merits he daily restored
to health. Through whom when in parts of Gaul, in b
Fania namely and Theoracia, many had been converted, and
the churches were built which still survive; as he was
always intent on winning souls, he betook himself
to preaching in Flanders toward the borders of the Menapi,
who were still held in the rite of the nation's vain superstitions.
Struck by his manifold miracles, In Flanders he converts many:
and converted to the faith by his assiduous preaching, from a great
part of their estates they established him as their heir, and
also the Church of Christ which is in Lobbes. Also
the lord of the province himself, by name Aldo, converted
by the preaching of Blessed Ursmar to the faith of Christ, gave
of his own the village called c Aldeburch, and
a thousand paces around it on every side; in which he built
and consecrated a Church in honor of Peter
the Apostle: and especially the people of Aldenburg: with which afterwards he endowed the Church
of the people of Lobbes; that the very blessed Apostle, to whom
by the Lord the power of binding and loosing was conferred,
might be the patron of the Flemings and d Menapi,
who, called from various cults of idols,
were made one Church of Christ. There are, however, places round about
the village called Aldeburch: in which place also
a church, which still survives, they built in honor
of Saint Ursmar. Where the numerous and great things God
through him has wrought as miracles, only his knowledge
collects, who from the beginning is the Word of the Father and wisdom.
And because the place offers itself for rendering to those doubting
and inquiring the reason, namely why he
is called Bishop, when Lobbes is not an Episcopal See; e
according to the time it should be explained in a few words. Because, For what reason he was created Bishop,
as has been said before, he was always intent on winning souls,
and because many of the barbarian nation, as the above-said
Flemings, were still held in the vain
superstitions of idolatry, for the sake only of preaching,
as was fitting to the rudiments of the new faith, he was ordained
Bishop: which deed we also read about Saint Amandus.
By whom also the place of Lobbes obtained such
dignity, partly from this and partly
because the royal place f by royal munificence was built,
that to no one was it committed, unless he was first ordained
Bishop, which dignity endured also in many
successors, who are read to have been Bishops and Abbots.
Of which so much still remains in that place, that to the Abbot
it is lawful to use sandals, Subdeacon's tunic, to have
the power of binding and loosing, and everywhere
to use a gold ring and gloves.
NOTES.
APPENDIX II.
From Fulcuin On the Deeds of the Abbots of Lobbes chapters 4 and 5.
Ursmar, Bishop and Abbot of Lobbes, in Belgium (Saint)
Blessed Ursmar therefore in the beginning of his rule
consecrated the church, which before that time was unconsecrated:
He dedicates the church of Lobbes in the year 697 dedicating it to the Lord in honor
of the Prince of Apostles Peter, together with the Doctor of the Gentiles
Paul and all the Apostles of Christ, and heaping
the temple with gifts and the altar with the patronages of many Saints.
This dedication was made in the year 697 of the Lord's Incarnation,
August 16, on the 17th day before the Kalends
of September, with the Lord reigning forever, and Pippin
ruling over the Franks. This church,
not at all allowing to be polluted with the bodies of the dead,
he made another in honor of Saint Mary on the top of the mountain,
under which lies the aforesaid monastery: He builds another on the mountain, with a cemetery. where he established
a cemetery for the faithful, and to which the people
should flow; for it was unlawful, as now also except at
a fixed time, for women to approach the other.
He also himself built the monastery at Aulne, He builds the monasteries of Aulne and Waslar and
subjected it to Lobbes. He also built the monastery of Waslar, toward
the forest of Theorascia, on the borders of Fania:
over which he placed Dodo, a very holy man,
taught by himself: who after dwelling there for a while,
desired the desert, and with a cell built in the same
forest of Fania, with the permission of the pious Father
and license, led a contemplative life in it, where afterwards
famous for many virtues he went to the Lord...
Blessed Ursmar therefore, full of the traffic of all virtues,
with the office committed to him faithfully administered,
and the place made equal to ancient monasteries built with royal munificence,
was freed from the prison of the flesh, and was borne into the heavenly
paradise: where now and always, mindful of us, we ask,
may he happily enjoy the Lord. He died in 713
He died in the year seven hundred and thirteen of the Lord's Incarnation,
with his successor Saint Erminus previously appointed. with the Lord God reigning over us forever,
and Pippin wielding the scepter. Who before he died,
broken by long trouble, had substituted
Saint Erminus to himself as successor while he was alive:
into whom by a certain special familiarity he had poured himself
wholly, as into a beloved heir and most welcome successor.
HISTORY OF THE TRANSLATION.
From the said Fulcuin chapters 9 and 10.
Ursmar, Bishop and Abbot of Lobbes, in Belgium (Saint)
The Abbey of Lobbes came to Lord Folrad,
most pious Abbot, in the time of Lord
Louis the Emperor... In these days the Lord his lamp,
which by justifying he had kindled, having kindled had beatified,
having beatified had illustrated by miracles, wishing
no longer to hide himself; but to make public
to all men for greater veneration, touched the heart
of the aforesaid Abbot, and inflamed him
that he might raise the body of the holy and venerable and with all love
to be named Ursmar from the tomb. The body is elevated in the year 823.
This elevation was made by the order and permission of him
who was then Bishop of Cambrai, with the Clerics
of both Orders acting, with a great multitude of people.
When the elevation was completed, they kept that day festive,
and consecrated it to be celebrated by us and posterity. This elevation
was made in the year of the Lord 823;
but from the Saint's, I shall not say death but
birthday, on which he truly began to live in Christ, the hundred
and tenth year having passed. From then therefore the famous fame
of the blessed man began to grow, More miracles are wrought. and with
crowds of sick streaming to him, he shone with various kinds
of healings: which many, through either the negligence or lack of skill
of our predecessors, had for a time lain buried,
and were passed over by the study of letters.
We, noting only the more excellent of those which we have seen
or heard, shall place them in their places,
and shall do this with order preserved, when, God granting,
we shall come to the dregs of our own time.
HISTORY OF THE MIRACLES
By Fulcuin the Abbot and others. From the Lobbes Manuscripts.
Ursmar, Bishop and Abbot of Lobbes, in Belgium (Saint)
BHL Number: 8420, 8421, 8422, 8423, 8424
FROM THE LOBBES MANUSCRIPT.
PROLOGUE.
The manifold and magnificent wonders which the power
and wisdom of almighty God in his chosen
ones everywhere often works as marvels,
some eloquent writers, for the measure of their eloquence,
briefly touching on them with their pen, have handed down to many churches; Written miracles stimulate to obtain others:
and especially to those in which the pledges of the bodies
of the holy ones are kept buried, to be restored thence to blessed
immortality; because where there is more frequent
healing of the weak, opportunity is given for writing
miracles. But we, stolid
and inert, lacking all salt of talent, both with hearts
pressed down with the weight of sins, and smeared with the pleasures
of the wretched flesh, our senses
dulled by the cares of the world, we snore drowsily, being silent about
the most outstanding marvels which in our fathers
Ursmar and Erminus God daily works: since
with the hand withdrawn from the rod, the path, alas!
immediately we left of disciplining knowledge;
suffocating with the thorns of temporal solicitudes
and pleasures the very small spark
of that most slender kindling, which by the effort of the urging
masters in us with much labor
seemed elaborated. Obviously we wither
sterile, bringing back no fruit of any utility.
At length then let us sometime bring forth fruit lest
surely by that cautery of the Lord's animadversion against
the unfruitful fig-tree we be marked: We take them up again: let the hearts
be quickly extirpated, encumbered with thickets of empty solicitudes;
let the lifeless be fattened with a thousand baskets of nectarine
dung, applied by the skill of our holy cultivators
Ursmar and Erminus: in which a somewhat
better fruit of our lips rendered to God
speaks to the sons of men the glory of his magnificence
and his virtue, which by the merits of the aforesaid
Fathers, with evident indication, he has often made known to the sight
and ears of many. And deeds done in the last times are described. And although the innumerable
and manifest merits of these Fathers surpass the eloquence
even of all prudent rhetoricians:
yet lest anyone should whisper that we have hammered out
something fabulous or murky, not old monuments
of any compilation, but the yesterday's work of wondrous
virtue, shall proclaim altogether the pen of this undertaken discourse.
SYLLABUS OF CHAPTERS.
We subjoin the chapters, which were proposed with these titles,
which also we commuted into numbers, with other chapters substituted
after our manner.
1. How the people of Lobbes were freed from the Hungarians, through the merits of the holy Confessors Ursmar and Erminus.
2. How through the merits of the same heaven sent rain.
3. Of a certain blind man, devout in the restoration of the little church of Saint Ursmar, and healed by his merits.
4. Of a blind woman, who was healed at his tomb.
5. How a certain woman had a contracted hand made whole through his staff.
6. How a certain woman full of a demon was cured.
7. How a certain demoniac was cured.
8. How a certain paralytic was made upright.
9. How a certain man, when others carried stones to his shrine, refusing to carry, was loosed from all strength; but led by repentance, was restored to health.
10. How by the multitude of people a bridge was broken, and with all falling into the water, none perished.
11. How a certain Count with a horse tried to ascend the Mountain of the Saints, and was not able.
12. How in a small church consecrated in his memory, brightness was shown from heaven.
13. How a certain Presbyter, so loosed by paralysis that he could not even speak, received virtue.
14. How the same Presbyter, while celebrating Mass, found wine divinely sent into the chalice.
15. That never monks, if they ascend the Mountain of the Saints to complain for any damage, remain unavenged.
16. How a certain contracted woman, when with premised prayer she offered a candle, was suddenly raised up.
17. How a certain woman, falling with an infant into a well behind the altar, was drawn out unharmed with the same infant.
18. How John of Belmont, having plundered Lobbes, not led to repentance, seized by a demon, perished miserably.
19. How a certain man miserably possessed by a demon was wondrously cured.
20. How a Cleric was freed from toothache.
21. How with the relics of the Saints carried about, the harvests were freed from the devastation of mice.
22. How thieves, having stolen the Church's treasure, were apprehended.
23. How cowherds, with oxen and a cart loaded with wine, with the bridge broken fell into the water; and all were preserved unharmed.
24. How a certain robber, Ginard by name, took the oxen from some of our monks into France, and put the cowherds into prison; and afterwards trembling, with divine fear restored everything to them.
25. How Saint Ursmar appeared to a certain matron in dreams, and foretold that he was going to the aid of his own.
26. How a certain Anselm plundered our village with twenty-four accomplices: and how they were afterwards killed.
27. Of a certain baker, who threw himself alive into an oven.
28. Of the overthrow of the Grumac castle: and how Isaac, who dwelt in it, terrified by Saint Ursmar in dreams, fled.
29. How the people of Lobbes were freed from fire through Saints Peter, Ursmar, and Erminus.
30. Of a certain hydropic, who through the merits of the same Saints was healed.
31. Of a certain rustic, who refused to forgive another rustic.
CHAPTER I.
The people of Lobbes freed in the irruption of the Hungarians.
[1] A certain people dwells on the further bank of the Danube,
inhabiting the province which the ancients
called Pannonia; from which the Hungarians coming, The Hungarians after the irruption made under King Henry the Fowler,
were known to us before by their natural barbarity implanted in them,
than by their origin. Whose insatiated
cruelty under a King Henry crossed the borders
of the b Moravians, whom not long before by impious
licentiousness they had usurped to themselves, and very many c provinces of his kingdom
devastated far and wide with sword and fire. Afterwards under d
Otto his son a tempest having arisen, there was dissension of the kingdom
(Jesus sleeping, I believe, in the hearts of the watchmen, under Otto,
who were keeping watch before the doors of the Lord's house), so that certain
companions of Satan tried to destroy the King:
but that counsel conceived through the serpent's hiss
being frustrated by God's mercy, they spread the venom
of their wickedness through the bowels of the whole kingdom.
There was in that conspiracy a Prince, son of the King himself, e Liudolf,
a notable and uniquely famous youth, With Liudolf son of Otto conspiring, if he had not believed the seducers,
and had wished to be an heir, not a traitor:
and with him, as a certain goad,
Cono, Duke a little before the strongest: to whom (as I might say)
everything was in hand, and Duke Cono, but in acting for more,
they altogether brought it about that they had nothing.
These men solicited the Hungarians, that ancient pest we spoke of before,
to invade the kingdom divided against itself:
thinking in this way that the solicitude
by which they were pressed could either be entirely removed, or
to some extent diminished. On this occasion, as we intended to say,
the savage nation of the Hungarians, and such barbarity
as our land never felt, allured by perverse citizens, they invade Germany,
crossing Germany and very many provinces
of Gaul, in which that noble people of the Franks had already settled,
poured itself entirely to devastate everything with sword and fire.
In this army Cono, whom we mentioned, campaigned with his
followers. and Belgium, But when they came to Utrecht,
which the Meuse washes, it is uncertain by what faction
he made dissension from them. The Hungarians attacking Hasbania by fire
and rapine, seek Carbonaria. Hasbania. Carbonaria, When the report reached us,
there was sent from our collegium Hucbert, a brother patient
of labor and shunning rest, and ready to offer himself
for the love of the place and of holy religion,
to make a pact with them. And notwithstanding the pact made, A pact having been made of two hundred solidi,
he returned after this, hostages having been received from them.
But our men, not credulous enough (for what or
how great faith can be with the faithless), tried to fortify f Thudinium,
which not long before, holding the Liège militia g
suspect, Rainer had destroyed;
but by the same with a soldier sent again, they were prevented
from restoring the fortification; God, as afterwards was discovered,
especially acting in this, to show, not
in man, but in himself and in the patronage of his Saints,
that they ought to hope for defense. With the hope
of holding Thudinium taken away, and with the fame
of plundering and burning increasing, and no confidence remaining
in military things (for that praised and in all
ages celebrated Lotharingian militia, by the just
judgment of God in the coming of the Hungarians blunted, was everywhere
shut up in its fortifications), our troop of monks beloved
of God that remained, and the familia of our church
faithful enough to itself, thinking what is true, with some monks fleeing to the mountain
that namely divine help is never lacking where
human help ceases; ascends the mountain, where the bodies
of Saints Ursmar and Erminus are venerated, long
deliberating, and trusting in God's aid, with impediments
of carts or of any kind of shoots or fences
surrounded it in the manner of a fortification.
Already the holy celebration of the Paschal days
had come, on the completion of its octave, which was
on h the fourth day before the Nones of April; behold suddenly in the beginning
of the matin hour a cloud of horses thickened the air, and
as though from hidden ends of the earth there emerged
thousands of breastplates and helmets. On April 2, 954 they invade Lobbes, Our men grew afraid and
began to meditate on death. Those who were more agile,
I do not say a fortification, but the likeness of a fortification they ascended;
rather a true fortification, through the intercession of the Saints of God.
The rest, who were more impeded by age or weight,
remained within the cloisters of the monastery.
Those who remained are captured: and there they hold the monks they found captive: others are besieged, with no
distinction between the captive and the besieged, except that according to
a certain one, death awaited is heavier than death inflicted.
Theodulf and Theumar are butchered in the sight of onlookers,
who among the captives seemed more outstanding;
they kill two, the rest, flogged, are kept in captivity.
Meanwhile the besieged are pressed, and no kind of weapons
or torments is spared: our men on the contrary with their strength
resist, and with the gathered band of commoners and
clerics and even of monks (although it is unlawful for this order
to handle arms), since the matter was for their soul,
strive earnestly. When it came to the point that all hope
was altogether despaired of, only this was heard,
"Kyrie eleison, and Saint Ursmar help," in the custom of the nation.
Now with them fearing the irruption, now with them hanging
on mutual kisses, about to break into the mountain, are divinely impeded now with many negotiating
surrender, behold, from the regard of God's mercy
two doves fly out from the recesses of the temple: which with a threefold
circling enclose the battle lines of the besiegers. There followed
immediately a very great rain, which frustrated the pagan
skill of arrow-shooting through the stretching of the strings. Fear
also and such great terror rushed upon them, that they hastened
flight, and the Princes themselves used whips on
those who wished to remain. They take away
those whom they had captured below. The church of Saint Paul and the cloister
were consumed by fire, with the dormitory unharmed
and the monastery attempted, but by God's mercy
saved. The treasure of the church, the other Theodulf partly
had transported with him to a certain fortification,
partly in the church, lest it be found, had buried in the ground.
It was later said and is thought to be true, that
it was betrayed by a certain prisoner for weakness of enduring;
then it was dug up and carried away. In commemoration
however of so wondrous a liberation, they consecrated that
day festive to themselves and posterity. And this is
the celebration which is thus inscribed in our martyrologies: Annual celebration April 2.
"Fourth day before the Nones of April, commemoration of the merits
of i Ursmar and Erminus, on which the people of Lobbes were worthy to be delivered
from the siege of the Hungarians." Nor should we be silent, that
those also who had been captured, the captives also returned, soon all returned
safe and joyful. But God did not in any way allow
that same perfidious nation to have done this unpunished; for
in the k following year, when now near was
the highest day and the ineluctable time, in which God
propitious to the earth of his people, Year 955 avenging the blood
of his servants, wished to repay vengeance on their enemies;
the pride of the most ferocious nation of the Hungarians was aggravated
beyond measure and altogether intolerably, led astray,
I believe, by the success of the previous year: for as it is most
truly said: "Before ruin the heart is exalted, and there
all fell who work iniquity." Prov. 16:18; Ps. 35:13
The Church's peace preceded this imminent pressure, in a royal
meeting, which was held at l Arnestat, the Hungarians returning, anew
agreed upon, already in great part through the Emperor our
and his brothers' wisdom confirmed; by King Otto
and truly it became known to tribes and tongues, that God
is not of dissension but of peace, for at its beginning he worked
salvation among his people. The Emperor's spirit indeed
was agitated in himself, because it was not the time to gather an army:
but he had confidence through Christ in the Lord, who is powerful to save
in few as in many. There was Cono there, Cono fighting for him, not
any longer a Duke, but a soldier, with all his mind, as was thought, converted
to peace, which a little before he violently attacked,
taming his members with a hair shirt, asking God with groans, as is said,
that if it were his holy will, victory having been permitted
to our King and his army, he should be allowed to be slaughtered
by those impious ones, with whom before he had wickedly joined himself,
that he might be forever freed from their company.
The Emperor ordered a fast on the very night which
was then the vigil of Saint Laurence the Martyr, a fast being indicted the day before
through whose intervention he asked the same God
to be a refuge to him and his people, and he urged
to carry out the purpose of the undertaken work.
The battle first at dawn of the holy m festivity
undertaken, scarcely now at twilight, with God mercifully
disposing and fighting for his own, in the feast of Saint Laurence they are defeated. was completed happily
enough. I am silent about Cono's pitiable end after
the victory; the most glorious triumph of the Emperor;
the king of the barbarians himself,
the dukes and princes captured; trophies throughout the whole breadth
of that kingdom up to the borders of the same nation,
most frequent, all of which await the industry of a proper work
for the praise and glory of almighty God.
NOTES.
CHAPTER II.
Rain obtained: the blind illumined: demoniacs freed: a paralytic healed.
[2] The earth was parched a some time, and with rains denied,
the sun cooking from above, the times of Elijah were feared. In great drought
All the people and the whole province ran to
the patronages known to them and often proved,
namely Saint Ursmar, the patron most accustomed
in such anxieties to propitiate God's grace.
They ask the Abbot that the relics of the Saints, brought forth,
be allowed to be carried about in the manner of litanies.
The Abbot refers the matter to the brothers: they praise the people's devotion,
say that they ought to satisfy them. With a general fast indicted,
a fast being indicted, such a multitude of people flowed together,
as scarcely anyone ever saw or no one
clumped together into one place. The bodies of the Saints
placed in reliquaries are brought forth, the bodies of the Saints are exposed, not without much lamentation of the people
mingled with joy: and because so great was the multitude
of people, that no field, however broad, could
contain them in one place, and all were nonetheless pressing
with popular noise to salute the bodies of the Saints;
they proposed that to those b who were from the further side
of the Sambre, with a great concourse of peoples: they should first be brought to be saluted.
The place where they should be deposited was provided on the mountain above
named: where how eager was the devotion of the people worthy
of God, how generous, how joyful,
no writing can pursue. In the same place
moreover a church, at once designated from the resources which
the people supplied, was begun; the rest, when
and by whom it is to be finished, is in God's providence. They were brought after this
also across the Sambre; and here so great
was the frequency of people, that the capacity of any magnitude
was narrow for that multitude. The Lord also showed
that he had approved the devotion of this faith;
for on that very day, with the serenity of the sky clouded, there was made
the sound of a following rain: and there follows on the same day abundant rain. which afterwards so copiously
flowed, that it sufficed abundantly, and rendered the stores
of that year most fertile. And because to the dregs of our time,
as we proposed, God granting, we have come,
and now occasion has offered itself, that for a little while we should
pre-taste this from the virtues of Ursmar; Then are narrated those things which the author saw or has from those who saw. let it please
somewhat more abundantly at the end of our little work to linger
in the miracles of his virtues: so that he who was the beginning, should
also be the close of the book. For so mindful of our promise
we pay the interest, but also ourselves perceive. We shall say
therefore not those things which have been either neglected by our predecessors
or obliterated: but those things which
we ourselves have seen or have heard from those who saw.
[3] There is an estate, which they call villa c Relia: this
is near us and in it is a memorial of Saint Ursmar. In the villa of Relia, They say
that the same man of God, while he was living in the body, and
visiting the King staying at Liptines more frequently
(because the place is contiguous to the road), used to rest there; an altar of Saint Ursmar, where his tooth is
and there he buried a tooth, which had happened to fall out
through excessive pain (which ailment he suffered much);
That place is sacred to a church,
but through the negligence of the citizens it had been destroyed, only the altar
and that untended had remained. A blind man was dwelling there,
who formed the plan, A blind man wishing to fence it in. that he would surround the altar with wicker,
that it might not be approached by cattle or dogs. Who
with a boy as guide proceeded into the forest: and while he drew to himself
a branch, to cut it off d with an iron tool;
in the very effort, his eyes were so restored
that he saw clearly. And made more joyful, he is illumined, in compensation
of the benefit, from his little resources he began to rebuild
it, giving thanks to God, and builds a church; who wondrously magnified Saint Ursmar
in many miracles.
[4] Abbot Alethrannus, as we said, suffered from paralysis.
A certain blind woman then, A blind woman supported by the alms of the Abbot, supported by the alms
of Tredesendis, she who had married Stephen, was sustained. She
one day came to the shrine of Saint Ursmar
for the sake of praying: and while she was ascending the mountain, on which the church
is placed for his rest; in the interval, which the ancient
oak divides, from the recesses of the temple, To the body of Saint Ursmar she is illumined: as though
through the most slender chinks, somewhat of light
she perceived to vibrate toward her. At length proceeding to the tomb
of our holy Father, she was fully restored to sight. Which
deed, being reported by Cosbert to the Brothers, becomes most joyful
and most beautiful in the praises of God.
[5] Brother Robert, in our time sacristan of the church of Saint
Ursmar, a recurved staff (which most call
cambutta, others e petalum), supposedly carried by Saint
Ursmar and thus his own, fashioned with silver;
and asked us, While the staff of Saint Ursmar that we should insert into that staff
something of his body, for greater veneration of the people.
We did what he asked, having sought and taken
from the ashes of the most holy body in
his tomb two teeth; which having been inserted, is carried with his relics, from
the lower to the upper monastery it was carried. There was
there a certain old woman, who sometimes by the church's stipends,
sometimes by the alms of the faithful, was supported: her contracted hand suddenly healed. whose
right hand was so contracted that the nails of her fingers
seemed to have pierced the hollow of the palm. She at the coming in
of the same staff (Masses were being celebrated,
and it was the third Sunday of Lent)
in the church in her place was standing. When suddenly she trembled,
and unhoped-for the nerves of her fingers began to extend,
and the hand to return to its office. Wondering
and terrified, she fills the church with her voices. The church
was full, all follow: "Thanks to God, praises to God,"
with no one silent, are said in common. They run
to me where I was, perhaps in the greater church, the author called to the miracle is present. and
one after another the thing done, as though it had not before been said,
the messenger announced. We at once to the upper church
ascended: we found her from stupor of the miracle
standing and trembling, yet healed:
we praised God, and so departed.
[6] A certain woman full of a demon was dragged rather than brought
by her relatives to the tomb of the holy man. A woman possessed
Bonds constricted her feet, hands, and neck;
only with her throat and tongue she uttered certain horrible
and foul things. You would hear sometimes the barking of dogs,
the hissing of serpents, the lowing of bulls, as though
in one den were diverse monsters of beasts. It was the day
of the festivity of the same Father, Present on the feast of Saint Ursmar, on which more people than usual
had gone to the feasts. She lay there, emitting such terrible
voices, that the Masses could scarcely be heard on so
celebrated a day. The festivity over, when the next day shone,
the Brothers condoling with her, go to the church of Saint Ursmar,
to pray for her deliverance. They had proposed
to perform a Litany prostrate, whose recitation was
enjoined on me. When therefore, on the next day in reading the Litanies she rebukes a transposition: after the recitation of the holy
names, it came to the place where I ought
to say: "By your coming deliver us, Lord";
terrified by her voices, I anticipated by saying: "By
your birth." Then she, rather he, by whom the wretched
one was tormented, said: "You lie and speak preposterously."
I was terrified, I confess, and almost was taken
out of myself. But when I recovered, I proceeded with the Litany:
and I began silently to think, that the same apostate
spirit, tormented by God's judgment, then too had spoken true things
compelled and unwilling. By our sins acting,
then nothing was done: whence her despairing parents
try to lead her back. But when they came to the Sambre,
in the middle of the bridge one of them looking at the church,
said: "Eia, Saint Ursmar, does it please you
that we should depart from you so sad, frustrated in the health
of this one sought from far by you?" and while she is being led back, she is freed, Scarcely had he completed the words,
when suddenly she in the same place of the bridge fell,
and for a little while there lay most like a dead woman. What
more? By God's mercy, through the merits of Saint Ursmar, after
a little while she sat up; asked about what had been happening around her;
and taking food and healed from every incommodity, she was freed
from the pest; and afterwards herself carried about her miracle.
[7] Recently also a certain man equally a demoniac was
brought to the above-said tomb: whom the Clerics
of the church, A demoniac is cured. we being occupied with other things, try by themselves
to rebuke: and placing him in consecrated water,
in the manner of exorcists, they exorcized him. But among the hands
of the exorcising men, suddenly he was snatched up into the air, so that
with his feet he was scarcely held by their hands, and with great effort
was led down. With the Clerics nonetheless pressing
in prayer and rebuke, this one too is healed
to the praise of God, through the merits of Saint Ursmar.
NOTES.
CHAPTER III.
A contracted man and paralytic healed: detractors punished: other miracles.
[8] A certain Atho was in the service of my brother Godescalcus,
practicing the cobbler's art: whom we all knew to have been
contracted from boyhood, so that he could not walk
anywhere, except with little stools. This one on a certain day
approached the tomb of Saint Ursmar to fulfill vows,
bringing with him waxen gifts, namely two
candles; and asked the sacristan to allow him to stay there
through the night. He granted it: the man spent the night there. Immediately in
the very silence, A contracted man is raised, as he was praying and expecting God's power,
the folded legs began to draw themselves back,
and the feet from their long cohesion with the buttocks
to separate, not without great incommodity to the sufferer;
until fully raised, with the guardians marveling,
he stood on his feet. But from excessive pain
and unaccustomed use of walking, he could not walk.
Who from excessive joy seemed in a certain way to have been ungrateful;
while unknown to all he went out of the church in the morning,
and did not even then say praises to God; and he himself, when
he was fully free from pains, mixed himself as a follower
of the Rainerian rebellion.
[9] In the territory also of Villare b, belonging to us,
there was recently a certain colonist; who when to the others, mocking those working for the Saint,
making vows who were bringing stones for the construction of the aforementioned
church across the Sambre, insulted them,
and said he would in no way undertake that service; is deprived of the use of his members: suddenly
he was debilitated in the use of all his members. But
when he recognized his guilt, albeit late, he accumulated vows; led by penance, he is healed:
and made sound at once, kindling the others more than the others,
he worked with what ardor of devotion he could.
[10] It was the Kalends of August, which is a famous day
with us for the commemoration of Saint Peter's Chains:
the Sambre had perhaps then risen more than usual, and the people
flowing together to the feasts were hurrying. In the midst of the doings,
while the Masses are being celebrated, With many, the bridge being broken, and to them those from across the Sambre
in clusters were hastening to speed; the bridge, which they had gone upon,
weighed down by the multitude, fell; and those submerged
whom the channel had received, the river dragged far.
A great outcry having been made, falling into the water, the church is disturbed, with almost
all having gone out, while they anxiously sought only corpses,
by God's wondrous power, all those swarms of the submerged met them
safe and joyful. no one perished. Let anyone here say what
he will, we ascribe this deliverance to God: to whom
it is proper and singular to magnify his Saints everywhere,
and to raise up those trusting in them by the help of his mercy
in their dangers by their merits.
[11] Gislebert, one of the four sons of Count Robert,
recently with others who had surrounded c Countess Matilda,
had come to lodge with us. Having disparaged the monks Who over supper,
began to disparage the monastic order, as though less profuse,
since they had come unexpectedly:
although for the opportunity of time sufficient supplies
were administered to them. When morning came, he cannot ascend the mountain of the Saints on horseback. he ascended the mountain on horseback
to pray: but in the very crossing of the steps, through
which one ascends to the upper monastery, the horse beneath
him slipped: which, being struck many times with spurs, is not raised.
They thought that the horse was being troubled by disease, as happens.
It was tried again and a third time: the four-footed one lies undoubtedly
immobile. It was persuaded to him by friends
and companions, especially by our Boso the Advocate,
that if he perhaps, with conscience witnessing, had transgressed in anything,
making a vow, he should satisfy God and his church:
and this as quickly as he could, he promised; and descending,
he indeed found the horse sound, but it could not stay
except below the mountain.
[12] Nor are these things so specifically wondrously done
only in the place of the same happy Father's rest
by his intervention by the Lord: but also in remote places dedicated to his
memory very often many things have been shown worthy of a miracle.
At Thudinium finally, a neighboring castle of ours, At Thudinium in the church of Saint Ursmar, there is a place
sacred to the memory of the church of Saint Ursmar: in
which at a certain time, namely on the night
of the Lord's Supper (as we heard Boso our Advocate,
who was present, relate), while in the customary
way in the matin synaxis, with the Gospel finished, those standing by
were prostrating themselves to the earth; three drops,
in the manner of those which we see burning from the fat of pork's
flesh, dripped from the top of the roof onto the pavement; three drops, as though about to kindle or illuminate the church,
so that to some it seemed they were burning the church, to some
illuminating it. Which when all saw,
yet to a certain Tietberga, a most noble matron, lying in prayer
there, fall near a pious matron: more nearly and almost on the very back of her head
they seemed to have dripped. And why this was done,
to us indeed is uncertain: but that nothing on earth is done without
cause, since we read, is without doubt. Whence
the ternary number is sacred, is plain to Catholics, and
that fire is the Lord, not figuratively, as by poets Vulcan
is called fire, but truly, as the Apostle felt, both
from his own words, where "our God is a consuming fire";
as also in this, that the Holy Spirit, true God in the perfect
Trinity, in fiery tongues descended upon the Apostles,
every orthodox man understands. Heb. 12:29 This
threefold and fiery dripping, therefore, the Holy Trinity,
whether for the approving of the devotion of some one standing by,
performed, whom perhaps then it had kindled (to show
outwardly what was being done within) or for the commending
of the patronages of the Saints (which is more credible),
which the people there devoutly frequented; is hidden from us indeed:
but to him who foresees all things to be done, and the things done
regulates and rules, without doubt it is plain.
[13] There is a Presbyter, whom they call Osinger, and
he still survives: who was so loosed by paralysis,
that his very neck was detached from the juncture. A Presbyter loosed by paralysis, What shall I say?
He could not speak, whose services of all his members,
with only his spirit breathing, had failed. He in this
ailment, completing a year, by another's solace, was supported
by the alms of the faithful. He lay in a village
called Fleon, in the little church of Saint Ursmar in Fleon near which is that minister of the birth of Saint Ursmar,
in which was a wooden little church, which they say
he himself with his own hands had joined together and
in his own estate had dedicated. One day, with certain men going
with carts into Vermandois
for the sake of trading, he asked with what strength he could,
that, placed upon a cart, he might be led to the above-said church.
It was done: he was placed in the little church, and there
he spent the night. When morning came, he wished to try,
trusting in God's mercy and Saint Ursmar's intercession, spending the night,
whether by himself in the very cot he could sit up raised.
He did: he marveled at the matter: then gradually with his members
reviving, he is healed: wonderful to say! he raised himself, and
walked, giving thanks to God and to his patron.
We afterwards enjoyed his frequent celebrations of Masses
in the same place. He himself remains sound for the rest,
except that the neck, which had been detached, seems
a little twisted: I think for the commemoration
of so wondrous a benefit, to publish
to all how great is the merit of his Saint
in the sight of the Lord.
[14] The same Presbyter related to us, that while
one day in the very church, in which in compensation
of the benefit already said he was serving, the same celebrating Mass he was performing Masses;
with the Gospel read, the vase, which customarily
hung next to the altar with wine, he pours into the chalice: but the wine was so
congealed, finds the chalice full of wine that not a drop could flow out. He gives the vase
to the Cleric ministering, that he melt the ice with fire:
he himself meanwhile performs the Office. While that one delays,
he looked at the chalice, which was found full of wine,
so that it almost overflowed.
[15] Overcome and exhausted by the magnitude or enormity
of the undertaken work, we pass over many things: this one
last one and noted to all, Those inflicting injury are punished. and known to very many
who have experienced it themselves, we shall say: namely that
no one, who ever inflicted damage on that church,
has gloried within a year. And if perchance, as is the custom,
for any unjustly inflicted damage, the monks from the greater
monastery, which is below, ascend the mountain of Saint Ursmar
to complain; it is believed, nor is the hope vain,
that it will never be unavenged. Many have experienced this,
and groaned late. No wonder: the place,
which he ruled while living in the body, he protects by his merits, with
Christ reigning, and rejoicing in him. d
NOTES.
CHAPTER III.
Benefits bestowed on a contracted woman, on one fallen into a well, on one possessed by a demon. Punishment inflicted on a despoiler.
[16] a Bermereias is the name of an estate which to our
subsistence brings aid, where a certain little woman,
with contracted nerves of the legs and back by illness, miserably contracted and stooped,
since she could not erect, looked upright at heaven, but bent forward and stooping
gazed at the ground. This woman, making her way sometimes
on a rustic chair, placed under her up to her middle,
you would see creeping on four feet rather than walking.
With effort meanwhile though slow, supplied with
the help of travelers, to the basilica of the holy Fathers Ursmar
and Erminus, which was eight miles from the already
mentioned estate, she had come to seek care and food.
She had sought a lodging-home before the doors
of the basilica, visiting the shrines of the same
Confessors daily, there giving tearful sobs
as the price for her health. Not long after came the day,
on which by the merits of the Saint Confessors, the Lord
would cure her pains. Suddenly she is healed. For on the Sunday
before Septuagesima, with her illness pressing more sharply than usual,
brought into the basilica, when now frequent people
were present; she had held the grating, where
were the shrines of the Saints, praying; when suddenly she rose,
and the candle which she had brought, that kindling
of fire might be made, raised up she offered. Stupefied indeed those who were present,
by the unexpected miracle of such great divine power, in compensation
of the exchange give thanks of blessing
and praise to the Most High; joyful in mind, because
the Lord deigned to enrich them with the helps of such great Fathers.
In the time of Fulcuin the Abbot. It happened then that the reverend Father of our monastery
Fulcuin b, in the times of our age quite upright,
about to ride somewhere for some utility of the place,
as is the custom, had prepared himself for riding; but
surrounded by a greater than usual crowd of people, who to seek a blessing
from him were already treading the halls of the rejoicing court:
when behold, the sacristan of the same basilica,
our monk, Alberic by name, met us, panting, the bearer of this
new greatness. Immediately
we leapt out, the writer with others sang the Te Deum, joining ourselves to the praises of the others watching,
singing the hymn Te Deum, and among the singing the sight of such great
power filled our eyes quite enough. For there stood the same sick woman now sound,
showing the curved, a little before, step now straight to the onlookers;
giving so much greater thanks, as she demanded greater
health at the relics of the same Father. And so
for a considerable time, by the command of the aforesaid
Abbot, was supplied to her sufficient food: namely so that she whom
our heavenly Fathers had animated with the medicine of health,
he might render more corpulent by meaty nourishment.
And he blames the sloth of those negligent in writing miracles.For innumerable also other miracles worked by divine power
in Saints Ursmar and Erminus before this time
the sloth of writers preferred to hand down to oblivion
rather than to memory; making light of the quantity of the talent
entrusted to them, they hid it buried, while the mention escaped them
that this was not without fault. For truly of great
volumes they would have filled pages, if they had not
reached the hiding-places of oblivion. For not to pass over these
miracles of their signs, which we, made now the dregs
of the nodding century, have drunk in with eyes and ears;
namely the wondrous deliverance not only of the people of Lobbes
from the slaughter of the Hungarians, but also of very many
who, for fear of the aforesaid slaughter, had fled from every direction
for their help as foreigners; the frequent
expulsion of demons from the possessed, the illumination
and the recovery of the weak; we have also seen the recovery
of diverse sick people, and (from which some
follow) innumerable varieties of signs.
[17] c The solemnity of Easter was being celebrated, the church
was frequented by the people, not only for the solemnity,
but for receiving the communion of the sacred mysteries,
which most especially was fitting on that day.
The same church, where the pledges of Saints Ursmar and Erminus
rest, is the parish of the village: In the church of Saints Ursmar and Erminus in the Paschal solemnity, it was full of those assembling
and of those hurrying with what devotion they could to that Sacrament.
There was scarcely room for the priest standing at the most sacred altar,
so was he surrounded on all sides by the crowd of people.
A certain woman, carrying in her arms a little girl,
whom she desired to participate in the mysteries as she was herself;
while she was pushed here and there by the pressing
crowd, a woman pressed, suddenly fell into a well, which is about
twenty feet deep, situated between two altars. with the little girl falls into a deep well,
The matter at the present was hidden, because then each one was
consulting for himself more, than providing for another's event.
With the celebration of the Masses finished, they departed.
Having returned home, those of whose family she was, when
they had inquired about her everywhere, no sign of any indication
could they find. They returned to the monastery,
nor did any corner remain to be searched. At last,
as is human curiosity, extracted unharmed, someone approaches the well;
he looks in; he raises his voice; he calls;
she answers from within: ropes are brought,
she is drawn out; they ask what she has suffered; she answers
that she had never been in such tranquility, supported above the water. the water
not even in her very tracks having she felt, but as though on the hardest
rock she had been standing. The magnitude of the miracle
is made known to all; the fame is diffused in every direction,
God is glorified in common, the veneration of the Saints is increased.
[18] Of John the Castellan of d Belmont,
what I have heard from our elders, I will relate under the beginning
of warning. He everywhere showing examples of his cruelty,
on a certain day with a hostile band
entering Lobbes, taking plunder from it,
was returning home more quickly. having plundered the house of Lobbes, Nor had he withdrawn half a mile,
when behold, with face turned toward those of whom
he had been such an impious visitor, he saw upon the tower
of the upper church a certain one sitting, beautiful with venerable
grey hair; is divinely struck: who with the staff which he carried in his hand
directed against him, struck him with a very hard blow.
Terrified by this vision, he pressed to complete the journey begun,
with heavenly vengeance urging him on.
Some of our monks followed, by reason and justice;
if perhaps anyone might intercede;
but if not, at least by prayers to extort back what had been taken;
but hope deceived them on both sides. For he,
hearing their reasoning, refuses to restore what was taken; altogether of these
all things he had received, swore he would not give back even the tail.
Already condemned in the hardness of his heart, he had cast off
even the reverence to be paid to God's ministers. Thus with all hope
of recovering things lost, the monks returned to the monastery,
and determined to call upon the help of their Patrons,
namely Saints Ursmar and Erminus, Having implored the patronage of Saints Ursmar and Erminus,
the more earnestly the more necessary.
For they saw that, if God should allow the wrong inflicted
to remain unavenged, the place itself would come
into great contempt. But when does God turn his ear
from a just petition? He is seized by fury and dies. On the third day from the plundering,
suddenly John was seized with madness; and he who would not
have pity on others, by himself avenging God's wrath most cruelly
upon himself, by tearing his own members with his teeth,
ended his life with a miserable death. The monks considered it
not sufficiently ungrateful to have lost that plunder,
who by this one incommodity were freed from very many.
For many would have applauded in their trust to dare similar things,
if they had recognized that this had passed with impunity for him:
which we have received as an example to our day
from many.
[19] e Liphtinas is the name of an estate in the district of Hainaut,
formerly a royal seat, when still peace and
justice met each other in the land; now distributed in benefices
to many, it scarcely suffices for the yearly income
of one. From this a certain man, out of his mind, A possessed man
was led by relatives to the shrine of the above-said Saints.
Why do I say led? He was bound on a cart, dragged
rather than led. For such was the infestation
of the demon in him, that he could scarcely be tamed
by any bonds: for if he had been bound
with ropes however new, endowed with wonderful strength.
forgetful of the strength given to him, he would have
undone it in a moment. I believe if he had sometime
pleased, he would have torn up some oak;
although it clung with its roots to the abyss,
yet somehow he would have worked at it.
Even the very appearance of the man brought into the minds
of the onlookers something horrible about its inhabitant. Why
more? This such man, as said above, dragged to the shrine
of the Saints, was tied in the middle of the monastery
to a ladder. Nor could he rest in one place,
but was thrown here and there like a wallower.
No one dared approach him, because at once his conscience
was made public. And upbraiding each one he met with his own sins,
For when a certain youth had come before him: "Eia, companion,
what did you do a little before? Do you not remember?
I was sitting on a stake, when you, having more zealously cleared
away your gloves' hedge, were hurrying to the brothel's
diversion you know." That one blushed, convicted
by his conscience; and having called a Presbyter, confessed what he had done;
and returning at once, asked him if he knew
anything in himself from his former deeds. He with furious face,
with stern eyes directed against him, said: "You,
you may know who you are; as for me, when every entrance
is closed to me, what do you seek to ask me?"
Therefore after raging with continual agitation, when
now it had pleased God through the merits of the Saints to have
mercy on him, suddenly he was released into sleep: he is freed: rising,
now in his right mind, of all the things
he had done he begged pardon from God and the Saints,
with tears and groans. The monks climb
immediately, as was announced to them, from the lower to the upper
monastery; and with voices suggesting the devotion
of their minds, they concelebrate the hymn Te Deum laudamus.
Nor was he ungrateful for the health restored to him, he vowed
a vow that he would pay his own weight in the same church yearly:
which devoutly he fulfilled as long as he lived.
NOTES.
CHAPTER V.
Toothache taken away: mice driven from the crop: thieves captured. Cowherds with oxen and wine saved from drowning.
[20] A certain Cleric Boso dwelt at Soignies,
and suffered from severe toothache. A Cleric laboring with toothache,
It happened that a certain pilgrim had turned aside to his lodging,
when he was more grievously than usual pressed by the pain
of this trouble. The host taking pity on the man,
said: "If you would believe my counsels,
perhaps I might find for you a remedy of health." He, whose
wish was to be free from distress, said, "Speak, speak:
you shall prove that I have already believed, if however it is possible."
The pilgrim followed: "Memorable in
aid of this trouble a certain Saint is held,
by name Ursmar: in whose honor if
hereafter you shall promise that you will celebrate Mass on every
day, and accepting the obligation of celebrating Mass I also promise you that you will be free from all this
immediately. For they say that he too suffered from a like
pain, and therefore he has compassion on those failing in this sort
of disease, if they have sought him out with ready
devotion of mind." The Cleric carefully pondering
what had been said; "It is impossible," he said, "for me to comply
in every way with the counsel; not because there is lack of devotion,
but because human frailty daily hinders,
as you say, approaching this mystery.
Yet I promise I will not carry out a day any further,
without the memory of him intervening." The saying
was accompanied with deed, and thus he was free of pain
according to the affection of his faith. He is healed. For the commemoration
of the vow, lest it be sometime taken away by forgetfulness,
something remained in him in the manner of a scar, in that very
previous possession of pain, which with monthly
return is wont to revive, but without any of the sufferer's
discomfort.
[21] A certain monk of ours, from a Cleric Convert,
in the year 1050, a native of the Mouzon
district b, with love of his countrymen asked from Lord
Abbot Hugo c that of the Relics of the Saints
some be given to him. He asked and received; and brought them
himself to the Presbyter of his former parish, Through relics brought into the Mouzon district, with
a little book of the life of the Saints, to be kept. A most savage
pest of mice, devouring the crops to the root,
was ravaging in all the borders of those regions.
They decided by common counsel to carry about the relics of the Saints,
if perhaps by their merits they might merit
the sight of divine clemency. Mice devouring the crop are driven away: They carried them about,
nor were they frustrated in hope: for within a very few
days all that pestilence was so altogether
calmed, that no further damage was brought to that region.
It is little that they work virtues nearby: believe
that they work many things among nations placed far,
although they do not reach our ears.
[22] d A prevailing famine raged in many places,
compelling some to robbery, and inflaming very many
with cupidity to this crime, which was in no way pardonable.
Three, agreeing in such disagreement,
came to Lobbes on the days of Lent, and stayed
at the house of a certain native. Three thieves They frequented
the church of the Saints daily, under pretext
of religion conspiring for a stroke of fraud: for already
they had conceived pain, to bring forth iniquity.
Why more? On the very most sacred day of Easter,
which is believed even to the infernals to be festive
because of the joy of the Lord's Resurrection, after Easter day, when they had departed
from the Masses, they went to their lodging. After feasting,
not in the unleavened bread of sincerity, but of gluttony and drunkenness,
conversing together, they withdrew to the nearest forest,
to await the times suitable for wickedness. And
now with the sun's brightness taken away from the earth, darkness
had more abundantly met the sky; when behold,
they, protected by the benefit of the favoring night,
rise from their hiding-places, approach the long-watched entrances
of the monastery; through a window entering the church of Saint Ursmar, and through
a sloping window entering, through the altar below they descend.
What a crime! Rashness once unpunished,
by its own license becomes iniquity to be condemned.
First they invade the prepared table, all the silver
by hammering they break in pieces; then whatever
was placed under the altar of furnishings: for the honor
of the festivity demanded nothing be held within.
Thus in small things with fortune favoring, cupidity
came to dare greater things; for they attempted
even to plunder the ornaments of the sacred bodies.
When suddenly with a crash the bells, [about to carry off the ornaments of the sacred bodies, are disturbed by bells sounding of themselves:]
hanging in the same church, sounded; which
heard very often by many, and not only this time,
turned into the greatest miracle, but then
into the increase of great terror for them, so that scarcely
of the three did they think any survived. Deepest sleep
had buried the watchmen, nor was the divine will
lacking in this, which was destined to glorify its Saints.
Rashly therefore with haste going out,
the way is directed toward the Mountain: which with
the effect being named, quite plain is the indication,
for they call it the Place of the Castle. They flee to Mons in Hainaut: And when
now with the helpers of night put to flight, the day
was present of the most serene light; they through the whole
conduct of the same road seemed as if to grope in
darkness. At length with the highest difficulty they came,
where they had wished to have been already. They received
hospitality lodging with a certain moneychanger, by name Walcher. with a moneychanger host
Among supper with many things each conferring to the other;
"If you were willing," said to the moneychanger one of them,
"to agree with our consensus,
it could not with a small gain benefit the profit
of your art: They treat of exchange: for we have no small weight of silver and gold,
which you could obtain whole, if for its
equilibration you respond with half a pound of
money." O tongue to be torn out up to the throat!
equal to that which, selling for thirty coins,
as a vile slave, him of whom there was no price,
by greed stole to itself its own gain.
He therefore giving faith to the words,
the moneychanger marveling at the quantity of the shining ore,
recognized from the quality of the work of what crime
they were held. "There is not time," he said, from him pretending; "now at night
for this commerce: tomorrow we shall have
consensus with each other by reason, as
the lot may offer to be done." Thus they went to sleep.
In the silence of the deep night, and by the terrors of the night stirred, in that place where the guilty ones rested,
confused voices of a multitude began to be heard,
the lowing of bulls, the neighing of horses,
the bleating of sheep, discordantly imitating. Those
who rested within the house were troubled, and now and now
were meditating death for themselves: but gradually with the darkness
receding, the magnitude of fear also receded. The moneychanger rising
in the morning, goes to the Magistrate; betrayed, they are cast into prison: expounds the matter in order.
Immediately they are captured, tied with bonds,
cast into prison by command of Count e Hermann.
Already the preceding fame had refreshed the despairing people of Lobbes
with this rumor, that they had been apprehended, whom
they thought nowhere to appear. By common counsel therefore
envoys are sent there, and the guilty to be delivered to them, The treasure taken away is recovered. and
what they had taken to be returned, they obtained by prayers. As they returned,
both congregations proceeded to meet them, namely of Monks
and Clerics, most lofty singing Te Deum laudamus,
and with this modulation ascending up to the upper monastery.
Thus the church received the things lost, and the consummated iniquity
received its due end.
[23] f Ercliacus is a village in the district of Laon,
once the possession of Saint Erminus, but now serving
the Church of Lobbes, which the same Saint Erminus
granted for the use of the monks at the time
when he succeeded Saint Ursmar in the Episcopate, in merits
and honor: Carts of wine from the Laon territory. where also he bestowed a most ample
possession of vineyards, whose liquor every year
is brought to Lobbes, not without great
torment of oxen and men: usually brought to Lobbes for the way is heavy
and long, being distant from Lobbes by no less
than thirty leagues, with every difficulty comparable
to no other anywhere. Recently therefore in the same month of the harvest,
in which g the Emperor Henry departed
from human things, in the year 1056. namely in that sterility of wine which was
everywhere, from the vineyards of the region only sixteen
carts of wine were there, which with great labor
were brought to Lobbes. For the rainy moon
had made the way more difficult, One of them on account of the roads made most difficult by rain, which is never
easy, up to the yokes of the oxen and the saddles of the horses
with a thousand streams of torrents overflowing. And when
they had reached Lobbes, and thought they had escaped
all dangers in the safest harbor; they encountered the Sambre
of such overflow, that if ever, rarely is seen
greater by the inhabitants. What therefore should they do? Nothing
more dangerous than if they tried to cross with boats,
since both this and every counsel of crossing, except
one, the breadth and force of the water dissuaded.
But there was a bridge through the midst of the water, which though
old, yet whole on the surface, seemed to exclude every
danger of crossing.
With which confidence hesitating nothing, but without doubt
first, second, and third making carts through the middle,
by God's nod they crossed unharmed. And when
the tenth cart had come into the middle of the bridge,
where it was higher from the ground by almost two spears; immediately
that antiquity, and the bridge of the Sambre broken, not bearing such weight, dissolves;
and as much of the bridge as the cowherds, oxen, and
cart occupied, with great sound melts
and collapses. with oxen and cowherds falls into the river: But with those who were crossing
the bridge and banks, from both sides crying out, "Saint
Ursmar, help them," upon i a plank, which scarcely
empty stood, the cart with a tun hung: with the further
wheels and the oxen, which were yoked
to the cart, swimming above the water, and the cowherds
holding their horns strongly. When so great matter
of the falling bridge had lain upon them, the cowherds are saved, neither
animal was found, which had incurred the mark
of any injury. Immediately with those leaping into boats who
had gone out for this spectacle, so that if they could not
live, they might rescue at least the corpses of the dead;
by God's mercy they found them safe; and having received
the men, with the reins cut, they loosed and led out
the oxen; the oxen, then cutting the ties of the tun,
they held it falling into the water, and drew it out without
damage of wine of one k denarius. and the very wine. Thus magnificently
with all freed, this was not counted by anyone
as the virtue of God and his Saint; but, which sometimes
is accustomed to happen, a case of things perishing and
not perishing. But God, who deigned to show such great
virtue, wished also to manifest for whom and through whom he had done it;
not to any of those dwelling in the same region,
but so that his works might shine more broadly, to a certain
one dwelling far away in the district of Vimeu. Finally
at Saint-Valery l as Christ's vicar officiated
and officiates Abbot m Wazo, whom, although in his life
wisdom forbids to be praised by human favor, Wazo Abbot of Saint-Valery,
yet three sisters, where he is known, praise him, and
commend him in silence; namely charity, humility,
and discretion. Who when in the next night in
the monastery of Saint-Valery, which he himself was decently
building new, before Matins for some time
had passed the night, and for the conclusion of his prayer
for a longer time continued the Litany; he came to that place
and order, where after the victories of the Martyrs, In the Litanies he invokes Saint Ursmar,
he had to invoke the glory of the Confessors; and having invoked
those whom he wished with reverence and devotion,
Saint Ursmar, Bishop of Lobbes, but inhabitant
of heaven, he had to invoke in his order. And at once
recalling to memory his monastery,
where he had often celebrated Mass, in contemplation of him,
as though he saw him himself, with longer tearful
clinging: until more often invoking him, among sobs,
tears, and weeping, he fell briefly asleep. To whom
soon in a vision appearing Saint Ursmar, made certainly not
a deaf hearer of his prayer; said: "Do what you are doing; and from this appearance he learns of his protection
work what you are working: because no time of prayer is in vain.
The prayer of the faithful makes assiduous prayers of the Saints
with God, that they may always avert dangers from their servants.
I myself am so accustomed to protect my own, that
I am always present to them in every distress and tribulation;
and not only them, but I have never allowed their cowherds
to perish. And that you may not be in doubt
of my words, when you come to Lobbes upon the bridge,
by experiment you shall prove, how there today
I aided my cowherds." With these things said, he vanished: also in the aforesaid case, he also,
the good sleeper, immediately awoke, and
marveling at the vision, devoutly, as he had begun, completed
the Litany: completed, he arose; rising, with the sign of the Cross
he signed himself. He stood therefore hesitating, the rest
of the night and day pondering what he had seen; and, lest
anyone should say it fantastic, fearing to relate it to anyone.
It was the time when, as every year was the custom,
he was to go into the kingdom of Lothar to the villas of Saint-Valery,
and in the same month he was already
prepared to go. He passed through Lobbes, which coming to Lobbes he narrates. for
the charity of our men greatly pleased his charity,
and with no small veneration he esteemed
the same place. Where being officially received (for who
would not greatly value his humility) after
mutual colloquies and reports, the aforesaid Abbot
added his vision to our Abbot among
many circumlocutions. But we when we heard it,
scarcely had the word been brought forth when we snatched it from his mouth,
and the virtue, which we thought a chance or fortune,
we explained. We showed him the bridge newly
restored, and for confirmation of the matter from
the same wine we gave him a full drink. Certain
indeed was the deliverance through Saint Ursmar, and certain
was the vision of that deliverance and of many others.
For never did we ascend from the lower
to the upper temple of Saint Ursmar for any tribulation,
without it being the more quickly punished, either by vengeance
or correction. But let there be an end of speaking: lest,
while I wish to be helpful to the reader, by saying everything that can
be said, I become careless.
NOTES.
CHAPTER VI.
Various robbers punished: a fire put out: a hydropic healed.
[24] A long time afterward, by a Adelardus the Abbot,
certain ones of the monks sent for this, were bringing
from the same Ercleacus wine for the uses of the Brethren.
Certain of our townsmen mixed themselves into their company, with their carts,
so that by the patronage of the Saints they might go and
return safe. They came therefore to a castle set in the middle
of the passage; but a certain Givardus, a pestilent and most monstrous
robber, with a paid multitude had invaded the place: With Monks and others detained by the robber, and from the plunder
of the Saints, whom he had as his companions, was enriching them.
He therefore, fearing no justice, orders those passing
through to be assaulted; he takes everything, and first the very oxen,
as plunder divides among his own, the cowherds and other companions
bound with iron knots he casts into prison.
The monks, who could contend with no other use of arms,
led into the middle, were acting with prayers with promise
of price, that they might be permitted to go free. But
he, harder than a stone, could not be bent by prayers
or price in any way. Saint Ursmar is invoked by one, One therefore of the monks, John
by name, trusting in the merits of Saint Ursmar, ran
to faithful defenses. In the middle sight of the land
he prostrates himself, beats his breast, and with all hearing, said: "Most pious
Patron Saint Ursmar, come to the aid, help
your own in this danger." Wonderful things I am about to say. Scarcely
had he finished his words, and behold with a wondrous trembling
the whole castle is shaken, the carts with raised shafts
by a violent impulse to ascend the opposing mountain,
with which strength or human art they could never be impelled; so that
those of the number of Saint Peter being only seven, the others
who were beside that number running, not without
a huge crash almost all trampled upon. And soon the rest are freed. Which being seen,
the cry of all is raised, and the divine power even
by the unwilling is proclaimed: and so that contumacious man subdued,
not only the men, but the oxen with
the wine allows to depart, with those held back who were beside that number.
The same John bore witness, God
and all the Saints, that he had seen at each cart
two oxen yoked of such magnitude, that
from one horn to the other he estimated a cubit in width:
which however only he himself could see. And sufficiently
evident it was on that day, that Saint Ursmar was
a help to his own, who never fails those piously invoking him, which
is gathered from the following.
[25] A certain matron, Liedrudis by name, on the
night which preceded the danger almost entirely watchful,
when after the hymns of Matins in the church, where
the body of the Saint rests, for a little while she had fallen asleep;
sees Saint Ursmar himself, in the Episcopal manner
with alb and stole and cope, wishing to go out of the monastery: and when
he was passing by her, as though well known and seen
at all times, she addresses him. "Whither, said she,
are you going, my Lord?" At whom he kindly looking,
said: "I go to aid some faithful of mine,
because today especially they shall need my aid." With these said,
he quickly passed by. This vision she reported to many:
and truly it was found that it had happened on that night, when
on the following day the blessed Confessor worked the miracle that has been
foretold.
[26] Gruduracus is the name of a castle, which is situated
to the west of the town of Lobbes, less than half a mile.
And that with Saint Ursmar appearing was shown to a certain matron. In this dwelt with a band of robbers
a certain Anselm, more monstrous in crime than all,
intent on slaughters and burnings and plunders,
and crueler with all bestial ferocity. He also when
with many and great damages had afflicted the place of Lobbes;
at the last their village which is called Strata, with
twenty-four accomplices of his broke, and in the very church
seized the bailiff, on the fourth day before the end of April,
which in the following May would be wholly to serve. Moved
by this sinister news, the Abbot with several monks, having mounted
horses, goes to the castle where the captured bailiff was being held:
approaches the robber himself, before him complains
of the injury to Saint Ursmar and the needs of the Brethren, and
implores that he would return the one he had taken. He denies,
and all the labor is consumed in vain. Confused thence
both the Abbot and the monks return: nor was there counsel what they should do, The robber refuses to return to Saint Ursmar the bailiff he had seized,
whither they should turn. At length it came
to mind, the memory of the most pious Father and protector
of ours Saint Ursmar: with him in prayers day
and night they perpetuate. At the very dawn therefore, on the last
day of April, with the most holy body again
to the place they approach to pray: he, when roused from his bed
he sees the unexpected thing, by divine fear, by extreme horror
is seized, is compelled by the body of Saint Ursmar brought, and willing or unwilling without delay what was asked
he restored. But not long did divine vengeance rest.
After a few days when the same and the twenty-four
accomplices, from the neighboring castle of Bellomontium, had
according to their custom taken plunder; moved by the injury done,
the inhabitants suddenly rush in, and all at once cruelly
overthrow and slay them. And thus it happened, and all a little after are killed.
that all on one day cruelly slain were brought back to Lobbes,
who for injury to the Saints had seized their bailiff,
and had seen the most holy body brought before their
doors.
[27] From the same castle, at the time when war was being waged
between them and the people of Thudinium, with many others
a certain baker had come to Lobbes, to seek yeast b for making
bread; there were present also some of the Thudinium
clientele, and from verbal injuries, as
is the custom, a serious sedition arose among them.
They rush, each upon each, and as each had armed himself by chance,
the mixed crowd rages. The people of Thudinium flee, taking refuge with Saint Ursmar, and
in the church of Saint Ursmar, as in the safest
asylum are protected: but indeed that baker snatching up a bow,
while he attacks one of them within the monastery with a weapon, the baker tries to harm but in vain, by God's bidding
the flying arrow fastens in the doors. With the contention
settled, when from both sides they departed, that wretch having prepared
the bread, kindled the oven more than usual:
and when throughout the hollow of that place with all its might
the fire was dominating, rolling bloody eyes,
with his hands bound behind, into the middle of the flames, and throwing himself into the oven, perishes.
with the devil urging him, he is thrown headlong: and with such death,
the desecrated offender of Ursmar ended his most wretched
life, God avenging the injury of his Saint.
[28] Also in the time of c Baldwin the Elder the Count,
when in the same castle there dwelt Isaac, Isaac the disturber of Lobbes, one
of the nobles of the Hainaut people, and with frequent incursions
devastated the people of Thudinium themselves and all further
Lotharingia; the people of Lobbes, situated on the border
of both, were almost consumed by them.
At every hour it was necessary to flee, to hasten, and as though
with death impending to tremble. By night the sound of cornets
and the noise of trumpets, not only men
but, so to say, the Saints resting in Lobbes
was disturbing without any reverence. By the long
injury moved therefore our blessed Patrons Peter and Ursmar
prepare to consider both themselves and us. In the middle
of the silence of a certain night, when he lay in his bed
waking, terrified by Saints Peter and Ursmar in a vision. suddenly he sees both standing before him,
with furious and threatening face: and Blessed Ursmar,
having in his armed hand a very sharp stool, while
he was brandishing the deadly blow, the right hand of the one striking
Blessed Peter sustained, and kindly. "Spare, he said, brother,
spare this one, and let him have this benefit, because
in the city of Rome he went to my sepulchre; but let him beware
lest he stay here longer, nor be any further molestation
to me or to you; otherwise the death which we now
defer, he takes flight. he shall pay much more heavily." With these said,
the vision disappeared. He as quickly as possible snatches
his body from the bed, and wearies the whole house with horrifying cry.
He calls his companions, and himself first mounting a horse took flight,
orders all his things to follow: and coming to
Baldwin the Count: With the castle of Gruduracus gradually collapsing: not without the admiration of many,
what he had seen, and what he had suffered, he related.
From that time that castle began to flow and to be carried back,
until at last completely overthrown, and
for us perpetual peace from it was made. d
[29] What and how great a miracle is to be proclaimed,
that recently, when the peoples of the surrounding provinces were burning
with divine fire, the people of Lobbes after their custom fled
to their patrons Peter, Ursmar, and Erminus. For by common
counsel held they bring out the bodies of the Saints; and with
procession and Litany go around their borders. Wondrous
thing! When the same plague was devastating all the neighborhood, yet
within the circuit of that procession, The people of Lobbes are freed from the holy fire. as though an opposed
boundary, not daring to enter, was there only permitted
to rage. What happened in that procession I shall relate.
[30] A certain hydropic, from the town called Soignies,
was present with the people: whose belly distended in the manner
of a bag, and all the skin with the most evil
humor showing through seemed in the manner of wax. When therefore together
with others he was passing beneath the shrines of the Saints for the cause of a remedy; A hydropic is healed.
suddenly by God's power and their prayers cured,
he marveled at himself, who he had been, or who he was:
so that he showed his tunic, which for his infirmity
had been stretched, loose to all as a miracle.
Which deed in so great a multitude of people could
not be hidden.
[31] There also when a certain rustic to another rustic,
whom he had as hostile for a mortal act, that he would pardon him,
had fallen at his feet; and he with obstinate
mind, as is that kind of men, altogether refused;
with those passing before him who were carrying the Saints' relics,
not pardoning the one asking, becomes blind. suddenly lost his sight. Then at last
compelled by this scourge, barefoot and wailing, first
he fell at the feet of him whom he had scorned: then
satisfying the Saints, he suddenly received sight, and what
was asked, willingly granted. There are also many other
and stupendous miracles, which have happened in our times.
NOTES.
HISTORY OF THE MIRACLES
In the circuit through Flanders.
Ursmar, Bishop and Abbot of Lobbes, in Belgium (Saint)
BHL Number: 8425
FROM THE LOBBES MANUSCRIPT
CHAPTERS PREFIXED IN THE MANUSCRIPT.
1. How Ursmar was brought from Lobbes into Flanders.
2. How he freed certain parts of Brabant from a plague of death.
3. How he came to the castle called Lille.
4. Of the stepmother who beat her stepdaughter.
5. How he reconciled certain ones disagreeing among themselves.
6. How Saint Ursmar freed from death a certain soldier who had treacherously killed a certain young man.
7. Of a certain girl, who had suffered for forty days continuous flow of blood, healed by the merits of Saint Ursmar.
8. Of a certain monk healed from toothache.
9. Of certain ones disagreeing reconciled through the merits of Saint Ursmar.
10. Of a certain blind boy healed.
11. Of a candle in the hand of a certain Cleric divinely kindled.
12. Likewise of another reconciliation of some disagreeing.
13. Of a certain blind matron healed.
14. Of a certain boy healed from fevers.
15. Of a certain guilty man saved from death through Saint Ursmar.
16. How at Litfengia the land, sterile for three months from drought, by his intervention was moistened with an inundation of the greatest rain.
17. Of a certain lame soldier healed.
18. Of a certain girl healed from pain of side and arm.
19. Of a certain little old woman, to whom an eye was restored when the pastoral staff of Saint Ursmar was placed beneath.
20. How at Finia the doors of the temple were opened divinely to Saint Ursmar.
21. Of a certain woman healed from foot pain.
22. Of a certain Thudinium rustic healed from blindness.
We with these chapters commuted into numbers divide
the whole history after our manner into fewer Chapters.
CHAPTER I.
Occasion of the pilgrimage. Journey to Lille and Cassel. Enmities removed, health conferred.
[1] Although the praise in the mouth of a sinner is not beautiful;
yet to praise God in his Saints is in a way
obtaining of that very beauty. For if it is good to preach
the works of God, it is evil certainly to be silent about
the virtues of the Saints, which are the works of Christ,
in which he deigns to gloriously magnify his wills.
Whence both if injustice dissuades, the matter exacts
and obedience exhorts, that we strive for posterity
to write with letters, how among the Flemings Saint Ursmar
with God accompanying willed to travel. At that tempest a
in which between Henry the Emperor and Baldwin
the Count justice, attacked and expelled, could not
reign on earth; Lobbes was at the head, Lobbes destroyed by wars who was compelled
to lose the title of its nobility. The cultivators perished,
the inhabitants fled, nothing of antiquity remained,
except the stones and some situations, which still can recall
the memory for posterity. But after Henry the Emperor
departed from human things b; although false, yet
justice seemed to have returned to earth, and
willy-nilly, peace reigned even in men of evil will. Rapines
ceased, the Saturnian kingdoms seemed to have returned:
and, though with poverty, each one received his own
from freedom: but the Church of Lobbes,
which had been oppressed and devastated above all
others, grievously anxied the mind of its Rector, namely
Abbot Adelardus, by this obtaining of peace,
when it might be able to recover itself and its things from such dejection.
Who, having held counsel with his own, gave weight, not without divine
assistance, to having recourse to the merits of the Saints
in such matters. For the fall was grave and there was more
than one occasion: for the temple of Saint Peter, which had been cast
down in peace and reestablished, seemed more some ruin
of age than a foundation of renewal: and partly
by war, partly by the negligence of the elders, the ecclesiastical possession had been
diminished, especially in Flanders:
where when c the Menapi, the Wasiacensians, and the Flemings themselves
Saint Ursmar had converted to the Lord from
the error of gentility, he had acquired for Saint Peter many lands
by the grace of his preaching, which by the carelessness of former men the church
had almost lost, on account of the length of the journey. When
therefore so many and so great things were either inopportunely
present or opportunely absent, the pilgrimage is conceived to be instituted: with the counsel of both the elder d Count
and the younger, with their exhortation and petition,
with the license and benediction of the e Bishops,
Saint Ursmar is brought out, not only to redeem
his own, but also to come to the aid of the dejection of his affairs.
Who brought out with honor and worthy veneration by his own,
wished to pass almost no day without the signs of miracles.
No infestation of the demon could prevail before him,
no dispute could reign among the discordant, no
passion of infirmity could prevail. But lest we seem to bring forth
everything in general, let us be careful to determine
each individually.
[2] With God's wrath coming upon the sons of unbelief,
at that time the human race was laboring and failing
with a pestilence of mortality: which having seized very many
regions, was so desolating certain parts of Brabant, The Brabantians from a raging pestilence,
that not with one but with both hands the Sisters
seemed to break the threads. Death reigned through
all ages and sexes; and if any she had passed by unpunished,
these the despair of life and intolerable fear afflicted.
For they did not fall by the usual manner of dying, but
still sound receiving communion, and disposing of their things,
and even feasting with friends, as though with license
to depart, the living in troops occupied themselves with the office
of burying themselves. At length God's providence came to their aid
through Saint Ursmar: they are freed by the help of Saint Ursmar. for wherever the Holy Confessor
had the crossing of his advance through them,
he left such traces of his saving power, that no one of them
afterwards incurred from that pestilence the danger of death.
[3] Thence proceeding, the Castle which is called g Lille,
on the next day we came with a great frequency of people. Where
how great was the love toward the Holy Confessor, At Lille many are healed, and
how great was the affection of the people, he afterwards toward them
showed very plainly, with pious intervention with God for them:
for no one among them was surrounded by any infirmity,
who before he went out was not
visited by God's hand. And when we were going out the next day,
of the whole town a multitude of men and women, of youths
and elders, also to the Cross erected, where the body of Saint Ursmar had rested. went out with us. At their petition,
when at a crossroad we had deposited the body of the Saint outside the village,
they diligently noted for themselves the place, so that
they might erect a Cross in his honor there. Which when
they had erected, as they afterwards related, whoever of the sick
coming there slept in that place, of how great merit
he was before the Lord, who had been placed there,
by receiving health they perceived.
[4] A certain girl also on that day went out with others;
whom, because she was beautiful, a certain noble
youth had bound to himself with love. A stepmother She had however
a stepmother, that kind of women which is usually the worst;
who when she wished to go out after the Saint, seeing
her stepdaughter had preceded, not daring to leave
the house alone, remained at home unwilling indeed, but
with such beatings afflicted the returning girl, that for eight
days she had no strength to rise from her bed.
Reproaching her also with the love of the aforesaid youth,
calling her a thousand times a harlot, said, "You did not go out, who had beaten her stepdaughter who had followed the Body,
for the cause of any other devotion, except to see him who
burns with the flame of so wicked a harlot." But she, not long
bearing the words of the reproaching stepmother, said: "Let Saint
Ursmar judge, worst of women, between me and you; and
if I have not followed him with the intention you say, she is punished with the languor of her arm:
let him strike the hand which you raised over me with the worst
languor." The girl prayed, and obtained: for immediately
such languor invaded the stepmother's arm, that for
forty days she could not raise it to her head.
Which thing all the townsmen knew, and to a certain
one of ours passing through them afterwards related as a miracle.
[5] And when on the journey begun we walked, to
a certain village, which is called New Basilica, near
hostile to each other, that no mortal could
compose peace among them: for in past years such sedition
had arisen among them, that fathers sons,
sons fathers, brothers brothers lost by diabolical
instigation. When therefore to the Saint peoples flowed together
from every side, it happened that they also all from their parts
came together. To the rest, the part not admitting peace, who were immune from that
sedition, reporting the matter to us, we began to meet
with them separately and by turns, that they should give this contention
to God and the Saint, lest the number of the slain
increase further. Some assented, though unwilling, for
fear of God and love of the Saint:
but a smaller part began to oppose entirely. Whom
when we could by no means incline to consent,
"Eia," said Balduinus the Dean, "let us carry the
Saint around, that either the consenting may yield to our counsel,
or the dissenting may follow their leader the devil,
separated from our company." When we had lifted the Saint
from the earth, and that all might be enclosed in the circle
of the procession, cautiously and singing psalms we walked;
immediately the contradictors of peace alone leapt out,
ignorant wholly of what our men had been plotting among themselves:
for this was the sum of the counsel, that such
was the trust in the Saint, whom we were following, that if
they could be enclosed within the procession once, afterwards
the power of the enemy would not prevail among them. And no
delay: and behold the devil's trick was revealed.
For crossing between us and them a most black dog, he showed
that as their leader they were departing from us. To whom
he also did not withdraw his leadership, until after about three months
he composed them all in a fight, miserably perishes. from which
of all the contradictors not one remained alive.
[6] To these therefore, because they could not be conquered, imprecating
peace we departed; and it through our whole journey
by the Saint's intervention inserting into many hearts,
after some days at a castle called i Blarengehem
we obtained lodging. Where whether by chance
we were led or by God's providence, would have been uncertain
to us, unless the next day's light had made it clear. There was there a certain
youth, Hugo by name, no less notable in nobility
of morals than in nobility of birth,
who on that day was about to conduct a judgment; which could not without
much blood be settled, unless through God's clemency
Saint Ursmar had come first. For he had
in his familia two soldiers, who had once disputed
among themselves with harsher words, being young.
This contention was not hidden from the Lord, who having called his soldiers,
seeking judgment upon those two,
made peace between them up to a kiss. But one
of them, who had been more wounded by words, badly founding
in his heart the kiss of completed peace, dissimulated
indeed for a time, not long however, until
a place was at hand for him: for the soldiers, he was lesser in birth,
but greater in name of soldier. And because, deceit
or virtue, in an enemy is sought by few; there was not lacking
to him a place though inglorious. For waiting after
two days for his Lord Hugo to be absent, not guarding himself
from the made peace, he sought, and found him safe
sitting in a cellar; whom with guile he pierced through
the chest with a lance, and for one word brought
death. There followed a cry and tumult: he
immediately entered the church, unable to resist many alone.
Whom when the soldiers wished to kill in the church;
a certain soldier, whom after Hugo he had
as Lord, with pledges given led him out with this
reasoning, that in the presence of Hugo he should restore him
in the same church with arms on the fifteenth day.
It happened that night that the Holy
Confessor came to the church, namely the anniversary night
of the Lord's Ascension. In the morning therefore,
a very great multitude of soldiers came together with arms
from each part: these,
so that if they could not by reason, [the guilty one to be extracted from the church and killed with the danger of many slaughters,] by force they might snatch him: Hugo
and his men, lest being made inferior they allow the guilty one to be snatched from them.
The whole atrium was red with shields, with the reflection of the morning
sun the line of arms shone, the noise was more confused
and the neighing of horses. Hugo's men stood with drawn swords
around the church, thirsting to shed the blood of one sinner.
At length we through their midst entered the church: we found that wretch,
now most like to death, prostrate before the altar:
we celebrated Mass for all the faithful first of all;
with Litanies and all ways tearfully imploring divine
clemency for such great danger. After these, clothed with albs and copes, as about to celebrate
the principal Mass, we proceeded:
Hugo first of all we humbly approached, lest for
the blood of one sinner he should allow so many arms of soldiers
to clash. But our prayers availed nothing,
with the words of the one excusing against the Saint and
against us interrupted by sobs and tears.
We entered the church: again the holy body, they not knowing,
we brought into their midst.
They were stupefied, all humbly lowered their eyes,
and who among them had been brought, even though they knew not,
they showed quite plainly by their very posture. with the body of Saint Ursmar present he is freed.
Tears flowed from the eyes of all: piety fought
and wrath in the hearts of our men. At length piety conquered
in Hugo, and that wretch, with life, limbs,
and even his grace given, he allowed to depart.
On this occasion, of almost a hundred enmities
among the soldiers who had come together on that day, there was
a confederation. other enmities are put to sleep. There was there a certain most illustrious soldier,
in name and deed Bonifacius: from whom two brothers
had taken his castle, and killed his wife
newly married, and a son not yet of one year:
of whom afterwards one he killed, the other fled from his
face. But then, having heard the Saint's reputation,
whom through himself and his own he did not dare to seek, without
the conduct of any mortal, through Saint Ursmar
he presumed to seek mercy. He sought and found,
nor did anyone on that day from the Saint unconfederated
return: for from when he had been placed on the ground in their midst,
such piety crept into the hearts of all,
that to no one could there be doubt that the grace
of the Holy Spirit had been present.
[7] Departing thence, Cassel-Mountain k we attempt to ascend.
We prepared for the Saint a place within
his pavilion: but for us lodging with a certain
innkeeper. There was a girl, who in the middle
of her forehead had had a vein cut, for the cause of avoiding
a certain infirmity: At Cassel is stopped a flow of blood but while she prepared to flee
infirmity, she should have entirely incurred death.
For forty days had passed entirely,
from which the outpouring of blood had not ceased from that little
wound. When she was now almost fainting (no wonder:
for no one so manly, much less of the fragile
sex, could bear these things so long), she began
to ask us, if any of us knew anything for stopping
the blood, for God's love to make it known to her.
"Nothing," I said, "we know, nor beside Saint
Ursmar is any of us a physician; seek him,
for in such cases and such people he is wont mercifully
to come to aid." At these things she arose, and with
four women supporting her she sought the Saint:
where immediately such an outpouring of blood flowed forth, that
almost dead she was carried out of the pavilion. Yet after
she had breathed a little: she asked that a candle be made for her:
which when she had placed before the Saint with her own hand,
so the outpouring of blood ceased, that thereafter not one drop of
blood came out. Who immediately returning to us,
took food with us for a blessing, and with us praised
her healer. O physician not
greedy of money; who for a candle of scarcely one obol,
but rather for the devotion of faith, wished to
confer such great health!
NOTES.
CHAPTER II.
Blind and various sick healed: various hatreds removed.
[8] After these things a we met the Count and Countess at
Bergues, we declaimed the injustice that was being done
to us concerning the lands of the Saint, by whom
with reverence due to the Saint being received;
the Saint in the church, we in the b cloister received lodging.
A certain monk there was laboring with toothache,
which he had borne rather gravely for the space of more than five years.
And because for the sick any remedy is always desirable, At Bergues of Saint Winoc toothache is cured, he began to ask us,
if we knew any medicine thence. We knew nothing
indeed, but gave him the Life of the Saint to read,
in which is related that for nine years and seven weeks
he had sustained the same passion. There was that
night the solemnity of the coming of the Holy Spirit, on Pentecost night: that is
the fiftieth day from the resurrection; and because from
pain he could scarcely sleep a little, he resolved that night
with his candle to keep vigil before the Saint: where
not without prayers and tears he kept vigil for a long time, but
a little after a little while oppressed by sleep, by God's grace
sound he arose, and was present at Matins with the other Brethren
unharmed.
[9] We celebrated the solemnity of the day there: on the next day
we went out with the Count and Countess following, and with them
two Bishops, c namely of London of the English and d of Thérouanne,
with the nobles of all Flanders: and scarcely had we gone out
of the town, when piety fixed its step, because God willed to magnify
his Saint in the sight of Princes. For with the burden
of such a treasure set down, mention was made
of concords and of peace in the hearing of all: Peace and concord among many Nobles is reconciled. it was also recited
what great grace in these things on that journey had been present divinely.
Then invited to peace, and as they were hostile to each other,
named one by one, they entered such a will and grace
of composing peace,
as Saint Ursmar wished to obtain for them from the Lord.
For there was no one of all the nobles,
who dared to withdraw from the admonitions of peace:
but such and such great a confederation
was made among them, as no mortal could have
effected for the gold of the whole world,
witnessing the one who testified these same things before all,
Count Baldwin. Finally no one remained
unconfederated, no one went away without the kiss; and thus with peace
composed, we departed with so great a Patron.
[10] On the following night the Castellan of Furnes received us
in hospitality, the little son of the Castellan of Furnes at a certain village, at the command of the Countess;
who having heard the miracles that were being done through
Saint Ursmar, when he had a little son scarcely
five years old, but now for three years deprived of
sight, the blind is illumined: sent him to us, that we might intercede for him
with our Patron. Such a swelling had grown in the place
of his eyes, that they did not seem eyes, but
swollen flesh. He on that night placed before the Saint,
on the next day was led back; and before the third day
was restored both to sight and the beauty of his eyes
to integrity.
[11] Going out thence, Bruges received us with due
devotion; where when we were to assemble in an appointed station,
we placed the Saint decently in his pavilion, and
with guardians appointed we took lodging opposite.
And while we sat at meat, At Bruges an extinguished light with the wind blowing
the lamps were extinguished before the Saint. After the food
the guardian returning, to whom the care of these things was committed;
when he saw the light absent, began vehemently to be angry
with the Cleric, whom in his place he had left, why there was
no light before the body of the Saint. "Many times," he said,
"I have already rekindled it, but the pavilion cannot bear the spirit of
the blowing wind." "Take," said the guardian, "the lamp:
and beware lest hereafter I find the pavilion without
light." He obeys and goes out; but is not permitted to go out
wholly from the Saint. For not yet having gone out
the pavilion, he sees the candle burning in his hands.
He marvels, is stupefied, and cries out, and all who
were there still ignorant of the matter he disturbs with his cry.
"I have," said he, "a light divinely sent, glorify
the Lord with me"; of which thing there were at once witnesses
and preachers, is of itself kindled. as many as were within the pavilion
present at that hour; a light divinely sent, divinely
also was preserved, until after a month we came to
Ghent.
[12] Thus journeying, with Saint Ursmar never ceasing
from the curing of feverish, toothache sufferers, and of those
sick in many ways, e Osburg we entered, preceding and following with
innumerable people in praises. With envoys sent ahead
the people of Osburg came to meet us. At Osburg To us going under
the temple, and from the temple, lodging of our stay,
for three days there did not cease a cord of people
of going and coming. Where how necessary was the coming
of the Saint, God is witness, by whose
disposition and prudence we came there on that day. there were fatal hatreds, There
were in that town almost four hundred soldiers,
among whom was such a tempest of enmities,
that unless with an army gathered no one
dared to go out of his house or return. They exacted from each other the killings
of their parents, and by avenging increased rather the heap of vengeance,
because in them the custom of fighting is always first, never
however the abundance of conquering.
But when they could now no longer bear themselves, with hostages given
for a time for keeping faith, for justification
they had come together that day. They came together not in mind, and with a one-day truce made,
but in assembly: with boasting for showing themselves, not with affection for peace;
and therefore it turned out badly, because the peace due did not
intervene. No worse thing, however, was present than
cupidity: because one wishes to sell the death of a brother, another
to defend himself by oath, while he prefers entirely to
perjure, than to squander his treasure. So
some by receiving Sacraments, some ten pounds, others
twenty, others thirty, others one hundred and more depositing,
were divided on that day, to return on the morrow; so that
if concord did not intervene, the repetition of vengeance might be
more burning. They came together indeed on the morrow, but
it turned out better because Saint Ursmar was mediator in the midst: before the body of Saint Ursmar full peace is made:
whom already badly divided from each other, and a little after
about to return most badly with arms in the same way,
brought into their midst, to such great concord and
peace suddenly recalled, that altogether f the ransoms
and oaths were discarded, with peace sworn
upon the body, they ran to kisses with arms thrown down. Then
with the Saint entering the church joyfully, that for the souls
of the dead, for whom these things were being done, we might ask
absolution and mercy from God, they
themselves together began the hymn Te Deum laudamus:
and with us singing with the sound of bells,
in the fatherly manner each sex praised God.
[13] There was there a rich and noble matron, but deprived
of the light of the eyes now for five years, and in mind
and body by great sadness was always sitting in darkness.
Who hearing the Saint to be present, A blind woman is illumined: she rose hastily, and having
herself led to the church with a candle, night and day
sat before the Saint, as at Jesus's feet with Mary.
With others laughing she wept, with others singing she mourned;
and to her who lacked the use of seeing, abounded
a river of weeping. She moved all to piety, and
especially us who were suspended for her illumination.
With others going to eat, she fasting
persevered near the altar: with others sleeping, she
always praying kept vigil. That night, which
was the last of our hospitality, as under cock-crow
the Canaanite woman crying, "Raise me up and
place me before the Saint," said to her handmaids: "I feel
the help of the highest piety." There were in the church
more than five hundred of both sexes, who all
holding lamps in their hands, were hymning to God,
not as with feminine, but as with canonical praises.
Who all running at once, and surrounding the woman
prostrate in the form of a cross, they wait for her
praying and for her were attentive; they look at her weeping,
and they themselves sigh. Who when she had prayed long, rose;
and with what flowed out of her eyes as whiteness of egg,
though not entirely, she cried that she saw: and on
the morrow without a guide following the Saint, she was
a witness of her healing.
[14] After these things fame preceded us, as herald
everywhere of our coming; devising as much about the done
as the undone of the deeds of the Saint: with whose reputation from
all hamlets with zeal they made to meet us.
In a village, whose name has escaped me, in which that night
we were to lodge, a woman had a son scarcely
yet five years old: who for three years vexed with the languor of fevers, the fever of the little boy is cured.
at that hour when we were about to come, cast on the ground,
deaf and mute was lying in agony. And when
we entered the village, his pitiable mother taking the boy
in her hands, carried him under the reliquary of the Saint
three times; and so returning home placed him where
he had lain before, and running after us to the church asked
from us blessed water, and dipping into it the pastoral staff
of the holy Confessor, she quickly brought the drink to the little one.
Which having drunk, he began a little to breathe; and calling his mother,
in clear speech he said that water had brought
great sweetness to him. Then he asked for food,
ate what was brought, comforted by food immediately
arose; where a little after coming to buy necessities for us
(for in that house were things for sale), we found the boy
playing with boys, the mother praising God.
[15] On the third day a certain soldier, Baldrad by name,
received us in lodging: he was however lame in one foot,
but in mind and intention none more upright; a noble youth,
The hospit's family grows sick. and from the more wealthy; wise, and from the more perfect;
a soldier, and from the better; counselor of the Count,
and from the first: who showed plainly enough in our reception,
and in the honoring of the Saint from his gifts, with how
great love he burned toward the Saint.
Nor did he lose his reward, although Saint Ursmar
gave us from him a quite pleasant game. For when we had
come there, all were sound, namely himself and
his wife and two sons: and after two days, except him
all fell sick. Coming running to us
on the third day, he began to exact his wife and sons with tears
and contrition of heart from the Saint, and quite sweetly
to beseech us that we pray for them. Thus having received license
he returned home, and with health restored to his own,
found among them that Saint Ursmar had worked plentifully.
NOTES.
Charles the Good Count of Flanders n. 62. Consult the annotations there note a.
CHAPTER III.
A guilty man saved: rain given: the lame, the blind, and others healed: the door of the church opened of itself.
[16] We lodging at the village which is called Liswege,
in the morning began to invite the discordant to concord,
for love of the Saint: for following us were more than five hundred soldiers,
some wishing to reconcile the discordant, some asking
through the Saint for peace from their enemies. Whom when we thought
by God's grace to have all reconciled, a certain one
brought furtively through the crowd, throwing himself with pincers
and broom at the feet of a certain one, naked and barefoot,
lying before his feet in the form of a cross, a hundred times
crying mercy asked pardon, because on one day he had killed
two soldiers, brothers of him. [on account of the double homicide the guilty man prostrates himself before the brother of those slain:] It was
that Robert, a young and powerful man, pre-eminent in the militia
of about two hundred soldiers. Who struck by the newness of the thing,
partly from stupor, partly from grief over
his soldiers fell back. All wept with voice suppressed:
for who was so stony that in that hour tears would not come?
At length the soldier raised by others, prostrated himself again
to our prayers. To us the matter seemed very grave,
and almost to despair most difficult, but not without
the trust of our Patron. Yet we met with the youth,
we descended into all prayers before his sublimity:
he on the contrary to proffer the full most pious excuse of grief.
He stood firm by contradicting, we persisted by praying: he asks for mercy for the sake of Saint Ursmar: but the guilty
lay in the middle, always imploring mercy on himself
for God's sake and for the Saint's sake. At these things the youth began to weep
and be silent, to show many colors, now pale, now
red, and by grinding his teeth contradicting almost to be mad.
Why more? if place and time had been at hand, he would have
slipped into flight. We meanwhile ceased from prayer, and with dissimulation,
taking Saint Ursmar before his feet upon a mantle we brought in.
The youth was greatly stupefied, and falling with tears on his face,
crying himself wretched, he bit the ground from grief.
There were prostrate in a like and unlike way three:
Saint Ursmar, as though asking pardon for the guilty;
the guilty, for himself; the youth near the Saint, asking pardon
that he had been brought before him for the guilty.
It was piety to see there; for there was no sound,
no voice except tears: the cheeks and beards of the soldiers
flowed with weepings, and so with weeping for the space of three
hours silence endured among us:
for there was no one of us, who could from weeping and sobbing
draw forth even one word. At length Saint Ursmar conquered, with smoke coming out from the reliquary of Saint Ursmar,
and with a wondrous sign binding all minds
and sights, from the earth, where perhaps not voluntarily he was lying,
he made himself to be raised more quickly. Smoke, wondrous
to tell! proceeding from the reliquary, took away the breath of all
with great horror: who immediately fell on their faces,
beating their breasts with fists. We, lifting the Saint not without
great fear, placed him hastily on the altar. the guilty one is absolved. Before
whom the youth led in asked pardon with tears:
which in order to merit to receive, he gave pardon to his guilty one;
with oath and kiss peace confirmed.
[17] With all these going out with us, at the village
which is called b Liffenges, we received lodging.
There the nature of things laboring, heaven
and earth for three months were waiting for Saint Ursmar. The earth
was sterile from drought; heaven, except by the Saint's intervention,
did not wish to put down water. Rain is granted. And when they came
to meet us with litanies and their songs imploring rain
through the Saint, such an inundation of rain
followed without delay, that to none was it in doubt, that it was
sent down by the Confessor's intervention and merit. Yet first he permitted
us to enter the church, not wishing to rain down on his own,
and with that water, which fell upon us, to frustrate the earth.
All night it rained; the dawn rising brought back fair weather.
We arose in the morning: celebrated Mass: as many
as God wished, after the usual custom we composed federations;
with the peasants unwilling, because they wished to detain us, we departed.
[18] These and similar things being worked daily by the Saint,
rewarding his hosts with such beautiful gifts,
we came to Ghent on the Lord's day. At Ghent The townsmen of both sexes
rush to meet us like a swarm of bees;
and first led into c the castle, with benevolent reception,
at Saint Pharahild we began to pray.
Reconciling there more than twenty discordant ones, we passed to the monastery
of d Saint John the Baptist. There lodging that night, we sent
to the e Blandinian monks, to inquire whether they would receive us the next day
for the sake of resting: for we were wearied from the journey.
They received the Saint with due veneration,
us with due charity. We indeed had leisure: but
Saint Ursmar worked for us and for himself.
For a certain girl, God leading her, entering the church,
came before the altar, a girl upon which the Saint lay, to pray.
She was so dead on the left
side, that not flesh but coal seemed from blackness:
the arm also clung to the ribs, wondrously contorted, and the hand to her little breast,
the chest and arm however clung together,
in the manner f of a spigot with the bone passed through. When she had prayed through,
she rose; and standing half-naked, for she was poor
and a beggar, she signed herself girlishly; and behold with the arm
separated from the ribs, the hand from the breast; the bone, by which
the chest and arm were pierced through, she is healed: leapt out before the altar,
and from that very wound blood flowed out abundantly.
The girl fell as though dead, wonderful and pitiable
to see: and immediately with health entirely recovered in a moment
all the blackness of the left side went away, by the holy Confessor's
intervention. In the evening the bells were sounding: monks
and laics in large numbers were present: we sang Vespers, and
afterwards with the people flowing together the hymn Te Deum laudamus.
The girl also, having followed the Saint as far as Lobbes,
not by narrating but by showing herself, bore the testimony of her
health.
[19] It seemed unbecoming to us to pass over the prayers
of Saint Bavo: we determined to go with the monastic procession,
we celebrated Mass again at the church of Saint
John the Baptist. There was among the Masses with many others
a woman, very old indeed, but deprived for many
years of the light of one eye: she prayed that the Saint's
pastoral staff be placed upon her. We began to laugh, because even
if not from illness, yet by age from twenty years she could
have lost sight: the eye of the little old woman is restored: but Saint Ursmar had compassion on her.
For when we had placed the staff upon her, giving thanks
and extending her eye with a finger, she exclaimed that she had never
seen more clearly. Some from piety wept, others
because she thus extended her eye laughed: but all
the townsmen affirmed that they knew her. With the celebration of the Masses
completed, we proceeded toward g Saint Bavo,
with frequent popular company; where with such veneration
we were received, that if we all had been Saints,
it could not have been greater.
[20] And having received license we went out the next day, to a village
called h Finia we came after eight days. It was
however grave heat, and the people labored from the heat.
We sent ahead to the Presbyter, that he open the church,
and prepare for us lodging. The Presbyter was called Paul,
ill-conformed to Paul, except while he was still
Saul: who immediately with all the doors of the church locked
fled, with the Presbyter having fled with the keys of the church, and took the keys with him. We therefore approaching stood
before the door, and with the keys sought heard
that the Presbyter had fled. And when we had begun to set up our pavilions
in the atrium; with the doors thrown open toward
the Saint, we saw the bolt and heard it fly with
great sound into the middle of the church. the door is opened of itself: We all entered
with joy, praising God and our gate-keeper:
the Presbyter returning not a little confused, sought pardon
from the Saint and from us, bathed in tears, making satisfaction
with what groans he could. In the morning, again
prostrate before the Saint, he sought pardon before all
the people, and absolved by us, how it had happened to him
narrated to the people in German.
[21] i And now hastening our journey, returning
we came to Brussels. On the eighth day with a crowd running,
there was present among others a certain lame woman, with one At Brussels suspended
foot, as though three-footed with staves walking,
slowly followed from afar, because she could not reach the others.
Yet as she alone walked invoking the Saint piously,
and gradually striving into steps, she felt the help of God
and the Saint present to her: the lame is healed, and with one staff thrown down
she held the other: with which supporting herself, touching
the earth with the highest tips of her toes, she immediately came after us to the church
praising God, and preaching to all the recovery
of her health. She was however known to all: for she had been
a mime, but chaste in life and morals. A peace
of many hearts has already been made: for no one, after
he had kissed willing or unwilling the Saint's staff,
could contradict. Departing from these, and
going through others gloriously, on the vigil of the Apostles
we came to Lobbes, namely on the tenth day; and because
it was a festival, at the principal temple there we brought
our Patron: where also for some days he remained
with us.
[22] On that night, when after the light was returned he was to be placed
again in his monastery; there came a certain man
of Thudinium to the church with a little son, I know not
on what occasion for a year deprived of eyesight.
Whom placing before the Saint, he watched and prayed
until dawn. By night he profited nothing: At Lobbes a blind boy is illumined. with us telling him
on the morrow that the Saint would take the boy
with him. And when he was being placed again in his place, throwing down
a little stick which he held in his hand, invoking the Saint, said:
"Run, son, and bring back to me what I just
threw there." Immediately with sight recovered the boy ran, and
with us seeing brought back the little stick which the father
had thrown down. The man is a neighbor of ours: the boy still is at Thudinium,
where he sees many things not his, nor is he from the richer sort:
but whatever he needs, thanks to God and Saint Ursmar,
he is rich in the light of his eyes.