Walfrid

CONCERNING ST. WALFRID, ABBOT OF MONTEVERDE IN ETRURIA.

ABOUT THE YEAR 765.

Preliminary commentary.

Walfrid, Abbot of Monteverde in Etruria (Saint)

G. H.

[1] Monteverde, a town of Etruria between Volterra and Populonium (commonly called Piombino), seems to owe its origin to the monastery of Palatiolo, The Life of St. Walfrid was written which is said now to be situated on Monteverde, now to be placed beside Monteverde. The first Abbot, or founder, of this monastery was St. Walfrid, who departed this mortal life on February 15. He was succeeded by his son Gimfred; for both St. Walfrid and his wife, having left the married state, embraced the monastic life. The third Abbot afterward, named Andreas, was the son of Gundualdus, By Abbot Andreas. who is also said to have been a companion of the conversion and monastic discipline after leaving the pleasures of this life, according to the Acts of St. Walfrid, which this third Andreas wrote. We give those Acts from an ancient manuscript codex of the most celebrated monastery of St. Maximin near Trier, His birthday is February 15. to which this title was prefixed: "Life of St. Walfrid the Abbot," and he is said in number 7 to have ended his life in the month of February, on the fifteenth before the Kalends of March. On which day, in a manuscript Martyrology or Calendar of the Saints of the Order of St. Benedict (which is appended to a manuscript Usuard preserved in the monastery of the Holy Savior, Cistercian Order), these words are read: "Of St. Walfrid, Abbot of the monastery of Palatiolo." Others give February 14. But the day before, on February 14, in the manuscript Florarium, he is reported in these words: "Of St. Walfrid, Abbot and Confessor." The same is also read in Hermann Greven's supplement to Usuard, printed in the years 1515 and 1521.

[2] John Trithemius, in his book On the Illustrious Men of the Order of St. Benedict, book 3 (in which he states in his preface that he treats of Saints and Canonized Persons), presents chapter 281 on St. Walfrid the Abbot in these words: And April 17. "Walfrid, monk and Abbot of the monastery of Palatiolo (which long ago ceased to exist), a holy man and beloved of God, is said to have left magnificent evidences of holiness, which studious readers may investigate; his feast is celebrated on the fifteenth before the Kalends of May." On which day -- that is, April 17 -- he is inscribed in the monastic Martyrologies of Wion, Menard, and Dorgany, as well as in the Alphabetical Index of Ferrari's Saints of Italy and his general Catalogue of Saints not found in the Roman Martyrology -- where it should be corrected that he places the monastery of Palatiolo in Belgium.

[3] The example that Walfrid and his companions followed was given at the same time by the most holy King Ratchis, He flourished under the Lombards, who, having abandoned the kingdom of the Lombards and been tonsured a cleric by Pope St. Zacharias, and clothed in the monastic habit, spent the remainder of his life among the Cassinian monks -- as did also his wife Thesia and his daughter Rattruda, in a monastery they had built. Ratchis was succeeded in the year 750 by his brother Aistulph, in the fourth year of whose reign St. Walfrid, converted to true piety, dedicated himself to the divine service. He died when he had presided for about ten years, around the year 765. He died around the year 765. After him, his son Gimfred governed the monastery for thirty years, until about the year 795, and was then succeeded by Andreas, the writer of this Life, who in the title is called "Blessed."

LIFE,

by Abbot Andreas, from the manuscript of St. Maximin.

Walfrid, Abbot of Monteverde in Etruria (Saint)

BHL Number: 8792

By Abbot Andreas. From manuscript.

CHAPTER I

The secular life of St. Walfrid; and, that being abandoned, his monastic life.

Here begins the Life or death of the most blessed Walfrid the Abbot, who was a native of the city of Pisa, recently composed by the blessed Andreas, venerable Abbot of the monastery situated on Monteverde.

[1] I confess that by many accounts I have come to know through experience the miracles and deeds of this holy man, which were performed lately in my monastery and were related by many Brothers; Prologue. and we shall endeavor, with the Lord's help, to set them forth briefly. In that time, therefore, when King Aistulph reigned in Italy, this first miracle was reported to us. Many disciples, remaining after the death of their Fathers or Masters, have endeavored to describe their Life and holy miracles out of love for heavenly things, because often the hearing of good things and of new miracles is wont to kindle human hearts to the love of God. And we read of some among many who, hearing such things, departed from the world and dedicated themselves to the service of Christ. As when Antony was still a boy and had entered a church and heard the holy Gospel being read, where the Lord says to His disciples: "Unless a man renounce all that he possesses, he cannot be my disciple" Luke 14:33 -- hearing this, he abandoned not only his possessions but himself, and followed Christ. Moreover, hearing these things, he understood greater things promised by Him who had commanded these, as is that saying: Matthew 19:29 "And every one who has left father, mother, brothers, sisters, wife, or fields for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess eternal life." This love draws to life the one who loves life.

[2] For at that time the great King Aistulph ruled Italy, Tuscany, and the provinces of Spoleto and Benevento, In the time of Aistulph, King of the Lombards, in about the fourth year of his reign, more or less, before the kingdom itself was delivered, by God's permission, into the hands of the great Kings of the Gauls and Franks. In those days there was a certain illustrious man, Walfrid, secular in habit but a most Christian man, fearing God. St. Walfrid, How he attained to the grace of the highest holiness, let us now follow; and let us indicate more fully whence he originated. A native of Pisa, He was born, therefore, in the province of Tuscany, from the city then called Pisa, which was anciently called Alphea, because the city itself was laid out in the form of a letter which among the Greeks is called Alpha. Although secular and great in life, and handsome in person, pure in mind, right in faith, Devoted to virtue, elegant and sweet in speech, wealthy in riches, generous to the poor, merciful to his own, faithful to his neighbors, perfect in charity, full of love, upright in justice, truthful in judgment, wise in words, imbued with letters -- loving his wife and fulfilling the Lord's commandment in her, as the Apostle says: Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church." This woman was so loved by him that it is manifest that besides his wife alone he never knew any other woman; After having five children, and the Lord gave him from her five sons, who were all brought to perfection and led to the highest cultivation. For when the father perceived his soul growing nauseated at the pomps of this world, He resolves to embrace the monastic life: he and his wife began to discuss together how they might abandon this sad world and follow God. But that merciful and compassionate God, who had kindled these desires in their hearts, Himself sent His angel to them through a man who bore similar things in his own breast.

[3] For there was a certain most holy man, strong both in name and deed, from the island called Cyrnus, He takes as companions Fortis, a native of Corsica, which is commonly called Corsica, and he too was very rich in possessions and in male and female servants, who were accustomed to come to him assiduously out of the love of charity; and disputing among themselves about the kingdom of God, they discussed how they might establish themselves in a monastery, following Him who said: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20 Then, taking with them also a third perfect man, And Gundualdus of Lucca; a kinsman of Walfrid named Gundualdus, from the city of Lucca -- who was also rich in many possessions and had an only son named Andreas, who succeeded as the third Pastor in the government of the monastery -- these three, joined by charity and confirmed in faith, began anxiously to seek and to go here and there for a place where they might submit their necks for the love of God and subject themselves to another's authority, to serve the Lord. But the Lord, who had united those three in love, beheld their devotion; and those who knew they could save only themselves -- it was to come from the Lord that through them very many would be saved.

[4] These, having had a revelation from the Bishop, And behold, while they were pondering such things in their hearts, it happened that on a certain night the aforesaid Bishop, sleeping and being powerfully led through a vision, was carried as if a flying bird to a place They build a monastery; which to this day is called Palatiolo, situated beside Monteverde, which belonged to the estate of the aforesaid person; in which place he found a spring, which was called Holy, which sent forth waters of wonderful abundance, and which to this day flows for the service of the Brothers; but at that time it lay hidden among thickets and great dense places. But after this the Bishop, awakening, reported everything in order to his companions. They immediately mounted horses and came as quickly as they could, hastening to the place, which is about sixty miles distant from the aforesaid city. When they arrived and saw the place, they were filled with joy, and there they built a chapel in honor of the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, placing therein his relics and likewise those of many Saints, which were honorably gathered together. Another for their wives: In which place they built from day to day a great monastery for themselves to dwell in. For they also built another chapel in a similar manner in a place called Pitiliano, situated beside the river Versilia, in honor of the Lord Savior, and also of the blessed Mary ever-Virgin and St. Peter the Apostle, likewise placing therein the relics of many other Saints. Similarly, on their own estate, far from the aforesaid one, no less than a hundred and eighty miles or five more -- in which monastery they most devoutly placed their wives together with other most noble women, who, receiving sacred and religious garments through the hands of the Saints, submitted their heads to the holy veil; and having been given a rule, they submitted their necks to regular discipline. And these aforesaid men, together with the aforementioned Bishop, endowed their monasteries wonderfully from their own possessions. Having then left their wives, they returned to the former place with joy in haste. Many of their relatives, seeing these things, began to leave the world and join the monastery.

a This title seems to have been added by later generations, and perhaps the Life was somewhat abridged by the same.

b King Aistulph of the Lombards reigned from the year 750 to 756.

c We gave the Life of St. Antony on January 17.

d In the Life this sentence is read: "If you wish to be perfect, go; sell all that you have and give to the poor, and come, follow me, and you shall have treasure in heaven." Matthew 19:21.

e About the year of Christ 754.

f In the year 774, when Charlemagne captured King Desiderius, Aistulph's successor, and led him away to Gaul.

"Those from the Alphean origin of Pisa obey this, A Tuscan city on the soil."

Certainly Pliny, Solinus, and others maintain that Pisa was founded by the Pisaeans, a Greek people, who are said to have come from Pisa, a fortress of Achaea, which is washed by the river Alpheus.

h Pliny, book 3, chapter 6, relates that Corsica was called Cyrnos by the Greeks. So also the Greeks -- Diodorus in book 5, Dionysius in his Periegesis, Procopius, Eustathius, and the epitomizer of Stephanus, and others indicated by Cluverius.

i From this it is clear that the Life was abridged, since no mention of that Bishop was made earlier in it.

k Rather, fruteta or fruticeta (thickets) should be read.

l The river Versilia in Etruria empties into the sea between the territories of Lucca and Genoa, where the place Mostrone, perhaps deriving its name from an ancient monastery, is situated.

CHAPTER II

The governance of the monastery, death, and burial.

[5] The aforesaid Walfrid was made Abbot, having with him the holy Rule St. Walfrid becomes Abbot and also a great pilgrim, a monk from the monastery of St. Vincent, a learned man and of wonderful manner of life, who gave a great example of discipline to him and the Brothers. The aforesaid Abbot began to lead a course of wonderful life, to keep the habit of holy conduct, to bear the care of the monastery, and to guard his own soul and those of the Brothers. Of sixty monks: And indeed after no long time, so great a reputation of holiness went forth from their manner of life that within a few years they became no fewer than about sixty monks. But when the most holy Father afflicted himself with many fasts, prayers, and vigils, the evil spirit came and began to sting him with great attacks of the spirit of fornication. But the soldier of Christ, who endured these things, began to fight all the harder and to confess to his spiritual Brothers. He divinely receives the gift of chastity. In doing this he prayed God mightily to repel this assault from him and to cut away the vice of pollution from his flesh. And behold, one night, seeing an Angel come to him... immediately the struggle departed from him, and there was no further pollution of his flesh for as long as the servant of God lived. When he had lived a full six years, he testified to this; but during his lifetime he did not wish to reveal it, taking care lest vainglory should arise in his heart and he should lose the cause of his contest. Therefore, coming to the end of his life, he narrated the miracle to his disciples, so that the disciples might be firm in the Lord through such a sign wrought in their Father.

[6] Now, as we have begun to relate, with the Lord's help, the miracles wrought in His servant, we shall faithfully relate them to the end as best we can, as the Lord says through the Prophet: Psalm 80:11 "Open your mouth and I will fill it." The aforesaid Father, having with him no fewer than about sixty monks, prudent and perfect in the service of God, it happened by the counsel of the Brothers that one of his sons, more beloved by the father, His son Gimfred, having fled, named Gimfred -- who above, while still an infant, was called Jerome by his parents -- should be advanced to the honor of the Diaconate. Having been so advanced, he remained for some time; then he attained the honor of the Priesthood. Finding the burden heavy to bear, at the instigation of the devil, he took flight. Leaving the monastery, he took with him men, horses, and charters of the monastery. The father, rising for vigils as usual and seeking his son to render him the customary service, did not find him. Understanding what had happened, after completing vigils and Matins, with the day already bright and the sun risen, sitting with the Brothers as usual, he read the holy lesson and preached a word to his disciples. During this he revealed what had befallen his son that same night. For he sent chosen prudent men from the Brothers after his son, that if they could, they should bring him back to the monastery. When the father prays, the son loses part of a finger: The father, who thirsted more for his son's soul than for natural affection, bewailed his son and prayed that the Lord would return his son to him. For it happened that on the third day, sitting among the Brothers, he said with an angry spirit to his son by name: "Because you have troubled me, son Gimfred, may the Lord trouble you, and may He place upon you such a sign that you shall have it before your eyes as long as you live." And on that same day, at that same hour, the second finger of his right hand, nearly the middle one, was cut off by soldiers, and it remained so as long as he lived. And he, returning home with the Brothers who had pursued him, He returns, and is then made second Abbot: and comparing the day and hour, they found it to have occurred when the father was angered against the son through the disturbance of his mind. And yet after his father he shone forth as a great and distinguished Pastor, and governed the monastery for thirty years. And this the goodness of God brought about, that he might recognize in himself how he ought to have mercy on others committed to his care, as we read of the denial of the Apostle Peter, who was to be the Pastor of the Church, and the rest.

[7] But when God wished His servant to rest from labor, as He Himself promised, saying: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you" Matthew 11:28, He wished to reveal to him concerning his death. The death and heavenly seat prepared for Walfrid, revealed to another. For it happened to one of his Fathers through an Angel that, as if in an ecstasy of mind, he was led to paradise, seeing there many golden and jeweled seats, some vacant and others having their occupants. But concerning one which he had seen among the vacant seats, fashioned more beautifully than all the rest, the Angel said: "Do you see this seat, more beautiful than the others? It is owed to your Abbot Walfrid, and at the coming Easter he shall come and sit upon it." But when the Father heard this, he was frightened, saying: "And who can believe this thing from me?" And the Angel said to him: "This shall be the sign: you have sent such-and-such a monk to Corsica, and the cleric whom he had with him has died, and he has suffered very great loss, because that one perished in the waters." And the Priest, coming to himself, reported all things to his Abbot; and within a few days a messenger came, and it happened concerning the cleric just as it had been revealed to the Priest in the vision. For the Priest saw this vision in the month of August; but the Abbot ended his life in the month of February, on the fifteenth before the Kalends of March, to receive the seat that had been revealed to him through the Angel in the Priest.

[8] It came to pass that, coming to his tenth year The sick man exhorts the Brothers: after he had trained a troop of monks numbering no fewer than sixty, being himself stricken with a pain in his side, on the seventh day he called the Brothers to him and taught them concerning the word of life and the kingdom of God, and narrated the miracle that had been wrought in him -- what had been hidden in life, he revealed in death -- so that the disciples might trust in the Lord at the death of their Master. He decides concerning his burial: And he commanded the Brothers, saying: "Bury me in the middle of the cloister of the monastery." For he ordered a tablet covered with wax to be brought to him, on which tablet he himself drew with his own hands the sepulcher, and above the sepulcher a small chamber in which chamber arches should be on both sides, so that the Brothers passing by might make his memorial. Having received the Viaticum, he dies: Completing these instructions and kissing the Brothers one by one, blessing them, he ordered the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ to be brought to him. Having received it with joy and giving thanks, he poured forth a prayer; Heavenly music is heard. and blessing the Brothers, that holy soul was freed from the flesh. And it happened immediately as he breathed forth his spirit, such angelic psalmody of those singing was heard at that same hour that it was heard not only by the Brothers but also by the shepherds of the monastery who were pasturing animals outside; and noble men situated no less than about thirty miles from the monastery also testified that they had heard these praises; and that psalmody continued for as long as it took until the body of the holy man was committed to burial. For when the funeral office had been completed by the Brothers, the psalmody ceased. But what happened afterward at his sepulcher, with the Lord's assent, let us relate.

a About the year 764 or the following.

CHAPTER III

The miracles of St. Walfrid after his death.

[9] By the patronage of St. Walfrid are cured: toothache, There was a certain monk named Adhelmus, a great man in life, who suffered exceedingly from toothache, who could neither sleep nor eat any food. Coming to the sepulcher of the Saint and falling down there, he began to beg him to give him a remedy. While the monk was given over to sleep, the aforesaid Father appeared and said: "The herb which you first find outside my sepulcher, pluck it and drink it, and you shall be made well." He awoke, went outside, and found the herb; which is called verbena, and by many called septembervia. Gathering it and crushing it in a small mortar, he drank it mixed with wine; and as soon as he took it, the pain departed from him and the molar remained in its place.

[10] It happened also on another occasion that a certain young monk, whom we know by name and face -- for he was called Nuncius -- Fever, was fiercely troubled by fevers, so that he seemed to be burning in his body. But rising at night, as best he could, he came to the sepulcher of the man of God and besought him with an oath, saying that if he were a saint of God, he should grant him aid. Lying prostrate on the ground for a long time and kissing the sepulcher, rising from the ground, he began to walk, already returning to his bed in health; nor did that fever dare to attack him further. Rising in the morning, he reported to all the Brothers what had happened to him. Therefore the Abbot who then governed the monastery, of whom we made mention above, Gimfred, most beloved among the sons of the holy man, great in life and learned in wisdom, when he had learned of such great miracles concerning his Father and recognized that they were from God, attempted to write some philosophically composed verses in his praise upon the wall above the sepulcher. But as soon as he ascended the steps and began to write, he was immediately seized by fevers and withdrew; and when freed from the fever, he wished to write again, but then greater fevers were inflicted upon him. Understanding therefore that as the Father had fled vainglory in this life, so after death it did not please him, the writer was thus rebuked by him; and after this he did not presume to write further. But the Father, having merit with God, does not cease to work miracles.

[11] There was a certain Brother, a devout man, who suffered from a severe pain in his kidneys. Pain of the kidneys: Coming as best he could to the sepulcher of the man of God, he began to sing psalms and to beg him anxiously to grant him help and to free him from the kidney pain that he suffered. Standing in prayer, casting himself upon the ground, then raising himself up, he went forth from the sepulcher already healthy and without any pain.

[12] Moreover, there was a certain Brother who was led by the habit of his negligence and presumed to lie down unlawfully without his cowl during the night and midday hours. A monk is rebuked and beaten by the Saint appearing to him: The Saint appeared to him in a vision and strongly rebuked him, asking where his cowl was. And while the monk in his dream was searching everywhere for his cowl as if in distress, he was beaten by the rod which the Saint held in his hands, so severely as if he were truly being beaten by someone. For rising in the morning, he narrated this to the Brothers; he sought pardon from the Abbot who presided, affirming with an oath that all the members of his body ached as if he had truly been fiercely beaten. And from that day the monk never again fell into that fault, so that the Father who in life bore their care, in death might always have care for their salvation before God.

[13] Now let no one doubt that what we narrate concerning the most holy Father is true -- that he had care for the souls of the Brothers in death as in life, and concerning his holiness and merit before God. A certain monk from his monastery died; but because he had led a negligent life, he was consigned to places of punishment. Another is freed from the pains of Purgatory: Within a few days, therefore, it happened that a certain secular man, a neighbor of the monastery, who also belonged to its dependants, simple and rustic, died. Going forth from his body and being led toward paradise, he saw the most holy Abbot passing quickly with the monk. When the escorts asked him, he said they should tell him who that person was. They said to him: That is the holy Abbot Walfrid. While they were exchanging these words, he returned with a cheerful face, rejoicing. When the secular man saw this, he asked where he had been and what he had done. His aforesaid escorts said to him: That monk who recently died from his monastery was assigned among torments for his sins. The holy Abbot besought the Lord for this purpose, that He would grant him to him, rescue him from the places of punishment, and join him to the company of his holy monks in paradise. For this reason the Father returns joyful, because the monk who had perished is brought back with him. And the secular man, returning to his body, reported all these things to certain monks, affirming that he had most certainly seen it thus; and as long as he lived, he maintained this.

[14] To this day the two monasteries endure, of women and of men, built by him, in which the number of Brothers and Sisters is daily increased to the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ. But how the number of Brothers and Sisters has been increased, The growth of Walfrid's monasteries. and how the monasteries themselves remain sound, and what their merit is before Almighty God, has been frequently revealed by the Lord to certain Brothers. For concerning the number of Brothers and Sisters that has been increased, we shall narrate. Sixty, as we have read above, were the holy men in the time of the first Abbot; but after the death of the Abbot of whom we made mention above, no fewer remain there, whose number we know to be a hundred and sixty. And in the other aforesaid monastery of women, no fewer than about ninety, besides those who have been made nuns there. Likewise, a third continues in the office of Abbess. For as we have said above, let us narrate concerning the salvation of the aforesaid monasteries. That monastery of men, situated indeed some distance from the sea -- about thirty miles from the port called Populonium, where the body of St. Cerbonius, Confessor and Bishop, rests buried -- and from the other direction, far from the sea, about twelve miles more or less, in which no port is found where ships may find safety; and the road itself that ascends to the monastery appears narrow and very strait. And that other monastery does not seem to lie farther from the sea than two miles, situated at the foot of a mountain, rising above the river Versilia. But the Sisters remain so enclosed to this day that not one of them, after she has entered, may go out; but she is buried there in the cloister of her monastery when she dies.

[15] Now it happened in the time of the Emperor Charlemagne and also of Pope Leo of the city of Rome Against Moorish pirates, that the most abominable nation of the Moors went forth from Mauritania with a great fleet, and making their way through the waters of the sea, going here and there through the islands, they dug up churches and altars of God and burned them with fire and carried off many captives; and many of those Franks and Lombards also perished. But the wicked sons were not ashamed, and their terror and malice resounded in distant regions, to such an extent that the aforesaid Brothers and Sisters were obliged to leave their monasteries. But Almighty God, who saves those who trust in Him, willed to reveal to a certain Brother of that same monastery through His Angel what the Abbot should do with the Brothers. There was a certain Brother They are divinely commanded to take refuge at the sepulcher of St. Walfrid, who was living at a distance from the monastery on an assigned obedience, no less than ten miles away, at the Church of the blessed James, Brother of the Lord. To him in a vision a certain most splendid old man, of distinguished countenance, stood before his bed before the middle of the night and said to him: Arise and go to the monastery as quickly as you can, for the Abbot with the Brothers there is in great sorrow because of the Moors. And the Brother replied to this, saying: Certainly, Lord, it is true. And again the Angel said to him: Go, tell your Abbot and the Brothers that all together with litanies should go to the sepulcher of Abbot Walfrid and beseech him to intercede for you with the Almighty Lord, for such is his merit before God that if he intercedes for you, no Moor shall harm you. Saying this, he vanished. The monk, rising, entered the Church and performed his office as best he could. Having completed it, he immediately mounted a horse and came to the monastery as quickly as he could and reported everything in order to his Abbot. The Abbot, hearing this, began to weep for joy and immediately ordered the Brothers to perform litanies, to bring with them the holy Gospel, Crosses with holy Relics, and all to come to the sepulcher of the man of God, and to beseech the Lord there for a very long time with weeping, and to invoke that most holy Father among the Saints, They invoke him among the Saints, that he might be an intercessor for them, so that they might be made secure from the aforesaid tribulation. When the office of that day had been completed, on the following day they did the same; and on the third day they did the same again.

[16] But when all came at early dawn to the sepulcher of the man of God and performed the litanies, they saw thunderclaps sent from heaven, and gazing at the sky, they saw a rainbow appear at that same hour; but they did not know what these signs meant. When the litany was completed, on that same day and at that same hour a messenger came, telling how those Moors who had planned to plunder the monastery had been killed. For twelve ships full of six hundred and seventy men, who had come to the port of Populonium wishing to come and destroy the monastery -- but with God against them -- Almighty God, who had revealed to His servants on the day before what they should do, as it is written: "And He shall be consoled in His servants" And a few men, having slain the Moors, were victorious. -- thus chosen by God, no more than forty fighting men were found who resisted those most wicked men, lest they be able to reach the monastery. But on that same day when they were to go forth to battle, all the Brothers came to the sepulcher of Walfrid and began to perform litanies and to invoke him more attentively among the Saints of God, and they saw suddenly thunderclaps sent from heaven and a rainbow appearing above those who stood in battle against them. For they fought from about the first hour of the day until nearly the seventh; and of the Pagans, no fewer than four hundred and eighty fell wounded, and the rest who had remained on the ships fled; indeed, many of them perished with their ships. Of the Christian men, however, not one fell or was injured; but all, exulting in their triumph, returned to their homes with their spoils and arms, giving thanks to Christ, who deigned to give such a victory to His worshippers and to free the spirits of His servants -- namely, monks and nuns -- from fear of the impious, by the merits and intercessions of the most blessed Walfrid, as Jesus Christ our Lord deigned to reveal to that Brother through His Angel; to whom be honor and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever, Amen.

a St. Cerbonius is venerated on October 10.

b This is Leo III, who crowned Charlemagne Emperor in the year 800 and died in the year 816.

c The Frankish Annals of Loisel, of Bertin, of Einhard, and the Life of Charlemagne by an uncertain author, relate that Moorish pirates plundered the island of Corsica in the year 809.

d In the same Annals the maritime city of Populonium is said to have been devastated in the same year 809 by Greeks who are called Orobiotae. But Abbot Andreas, who then presided over the nearby monastery, could have known this better, unless these are different and distinct incursions.