ON THE BLESSED MARTYRS,
GODESCHALCUS PRINCE OF THE SLAVS, EPPO THE PRESBYTER, AND OTHER CLERICS AND LAYMEN.
YEAR 1066.
HISTORICAL COMPILATION.
From Saxon Writers, of the same and near age.
Godescalcus the Prince, in Northern Germany, M. (S.)
Eppo Presbyter, in Northern Germany, M. (S.)
Other Clerics, in Northern Germany, MM. Other Laymen, in Northern Germany, MM.
G. H. & D. P.
§. I. Birth of the Saint, return to Paganism, and penitence for evils inflicted on the Christian people.
When was published at Cologne in 1515 the Martyrology of Usuard, with the illustrious Auctarium of Greven or the Carthusian Fathers of Cologne, and again with Additions here and there new in 1521 reprinted; the Brussels Carthusians were excited to gather a new addition, but hitherto not printed: in which on this 7th of June they noted these things: According to Acts described by the ancients, "The Passion of Blessed Godscalcus Prince of the Western Wends, who was as another Maccabee, and with Ippo the Presbyter and other innumerable of both sexes, were killed by the infidel rebellious Wends." This martyrdom of theirs happened in the year 1066, when Albert or Adalbert Archbishop of Hamburg presided over the Church of Bremen, under whom Adam of Bremen was made Canon: from whose Ecclesiastical History we excerpt what he has about the life and death of B. Godscalcus and his companions: and confirm them both from the Chronicle of the Slavs, which Helmold the Presbyter brought down to the year 1168, when he flourished; and from the Chronicle of Albert Abbot of Stade, created in the year 1232. But from these Albert Krantz Dean of Hamburg perfected his History, who died in 1517.
[2] Godeschalcus was growing up under the rule of Conrad the Salian, who had succeeded S. Henry dead in 1024; Godeschalcus, educated in a monastery, with King of the English, Danes and Norwegians being Knut or Canute the Great, and Bernard Duke of the Saxons neighboring the Elbe. At that time, says Adam lib. 2 cap. 48, "by the virtue of King Knut and Duke Bernard a firm peace was across the Elbe, when even Caesar had tamed the Winuli by war. For their princes Gneus and Anatrog, were Pagans; but Uto the third, son of Misliwooi, a bad Christian. Whence even on account of his cruelty by a certain Saxon deserter he was killed; having a son Gotescalcus, who through the same time at Lumburg monastery of the Duke was instructed in literary studies, in revenge for paternal death, with Godeschalcus the Bishop of the Goths having care of the same cenobium. But he, having learned the death of his parent, was so moved with fury, that, with faith and letters rejected, he seized arms, and with the river crossed, joined himself to the Winuli enemies of God: whose help relying on, attacking Christians, Made Prince of Robbers: he laid low many thousands of Saxons in vengeance of his father. Him at last, as Prince of robbers, Duke Bernard capturing, held in custody: and judging the man most brave, with a league joined with himself, dismissed him. Who coming to King Knut, set out with him to England, and there remained for a long time."
[3] These things Adam, all of which in the same words Albert of Stade wrote in his Chronicle on the year 1032. Brings very many losses to Christians. Helmold lib. 1 cap. 19 at the beginning indicates the same things: "and with a multitude of robbers gathered, struck in vengeance of his father all the land of the Nordalbingians; and made such slaughter of the Christian people, that his cruelty exceeded all measure: and nothing remained in the province of the Holsatians and Stormarians, or of those who are called Dithmarsians, which the hand
1of theirs escaped, except those best-known strongholds of Ezeho and Bokeldeburg. To that place certain armed men had betaken themselves, with women and little children and the goods which had survived the plundering. Thus far there. Ezeho is, in Regino at the year 809, Esselfeldt, built by Charlemagne against the incursions of the Danes, on the river Stora or Sturia, a town now called Itzehoe, in the Duchy of Stormarn, on the borders of Holstein properly so called, as it is distinguished here. But let us proceed to the conversion of Gottschalk, of which Helmold in the said chapter 19 writes thus:
[4] One day, when the commemorated Prince in robber fashion was carried through fields and tamarisks, seeing the region, once full of men and churches, lying in vast solitude, he shuddered at the work of his own cruelty; Touched by conscience, and touched with intrinsic pain of heart, he deliberated at length to restrain his hands from nefarious enterprises. Drawn apart a little from his companions, and as if going out to ambushes, he unexpectedly met a certain Christian Saxon. Who when he fled the armed man coming from afar, he raising a shout exhorts that he stop: and swears he will harm him in nothing. And when the timorous man, having received confidence, had stopped; he began to inquire from him, who he was, or what rumors he knew. But he, "I am," he says, "a poor man, born in Holstein: but daily we experience adverse rumors: because this Prince of the Slavs Godescalcus inflicts many evils on our people and land, and desires to slake the thirst of his cruelty with our blood. It would be time indeed, that an avenging God should avenge our injuries."
[5] To whom Godescalcus: "Greatly," he says, "do you accuse that Prince of the Slavs: he indicates that he wishes to be reconciled to them. for truly he has stirred up many oppressions on your people and land, being a magnificent avenger of paternal slaughter. But I am that man, of whom now the discourse is: and I have come that I might speak with you. For I grieve to have committed so great a crime against the Lord and the worshippers of Christ, and vehemently desire to return into the grace of those whom I recognize myself to have so unjustly afflicted with so much. Take therefore my words, and returning to your people, announce to them, that to the appointed place they should send faithful men, who may treat with me about a league and condition of peace. With which done all this multitude of robbers, with whom rather by necessity than by will I am held, I shall hand into their hands." And these things saying, he designated to him the place and time. Meanwhile he is captured by Duke Bernard, Who when he had come to the fortress, in which the surviving Saxons with great fear were standing, announced to the Elders this hidden word, suggesting in all ways, that they should transmit men to the appointed place of colloquy. But they did not attend, reckoning a deceit fit for snares. After several days then the same Prince was captured by the Duke, and as Prince of robbers cast into chains. But the Duke reckoning a brave man, and sturdy in arms, would be useful to himself; entered with him into a league, and honorably endowed permitted him to depart. and dismissed he betakes himself to the King of the Danes. But he dismissed, went to the King of the Danes, and remained with him for many days or years, with various exercises of wars in Normandy or England acquiring for himself the glory of virtue; whence even with the King's daughter he was honored.
§. II. Deeds of Godeschalcus now converted, zeal for the conversion of his people.
[6] Thus Helmold, and from him Krantz lib. 2 Wandalia cap. 46, at the place of Helmold already reported in his Notes. Henry Bangertus, adds these: "Godeschalcus, returning from Duke Bernard, was excluded from his land and paternal dominions by Ratibor, who meanwhile had invaded the Principality of Wagria, professing the Christian religion, and of great authority and power among the barbarians. Therefore Goeschalcus brought to Denmark, to King Canute in Norway first renders distinguished service militating. strenuously conducts the matter in Norway and England: Such there shone the man's prudence and fortitude, that the King sent him with Sweno, his nephew by his sister, to England for war. Here again with bright deeds performed, also bound to himself Sweno, soon after King, that he should give Syritha his daughter to him in marriage." Thus there. But after the death of King Knut and his sons, says Adam cap. 59, "Goteschalcus returning from England, came hostile against Slavonia, attacking all, and striking great terror into the Pagans." Which Albert of Stade reports on the year 1042. Furthermore Adam lib. 3 cap. 21 and following thus pursues his deeds.
[7] and as a prudent and brave man "Across the Elbe indeed and in Slavonia our affairs were still being conducted with great prosperity. For Godeschalcus, of whom above was said, a man to be praised for prudence and fortitude, having received in marriage the daughter of the King of the Danes, so tamed the Slavs, that fearing him as a King they offered tribute, and sought peace with subjection. By which time's occasion our Hamburg had peace, and Slavania was full of Priests and churches. Godeschalcus therefore, a religious man and fearing God, also familiar with the Archbishop, converts many pagans, revered Hamburg as a mother: to which, for the sake of fulfilling vows, he was wont frequently to come. In further Slavania no one ever rose up more powerful, and so fervid a propagator of the Christian religion. For if a longer life had been conceded to him, he had disposed to compel all Pagans to Christianity, since he had converted nearly a third part of those who before under his grandfather Mistiwoi had relapsed into Paganism. So all the peoples of the Slavs who look to the Hammaburg diocese, serving the Priests as interpreter, under that devout Prince cultivated the Christian faith, that is the Wagiri, Obotriti or Reregi, and Polabingi, also Linoges, Warnabi, Chissini and Circipani, up to the river Penis. The provinces were now full of churches, but the churches of Priests: but the Priests freely acted in those things which pertained to God. Of whom the industrious Prince Godeschalcus, burned with such zeal of religion, that forgetful of his order, he often in the church made a sermon of exhortation to the people, which were said mystically by the Bishops and Presbyters, desiring to render them plainer in Slavic words.
[8] also constructs many cenobia, "Infinite was their number, who daily were converted to the Lord, so that for Priests there were sent into whole provinces. Then also through individual cities were made cenobia of holy men living canonically: also of Monks and Holy Nuns, as these testify, who at Lübeck, Aldinburg, Leontium, Ratzeburg, and in other cities saw them severally. But at Magnopolis, which is the city of the Obotriti, three congregations of those serving God are said to have been. The Archbishop therefore rejoiced over the new plantation of Churches, and sent from his Bishops and Presbyters wise men to the Prince, who might comfort the peoples rude in Christianity. He ordained at Aldinburg, with Abelinus dead, Eizo the Monk: he constituted John Scotus at Magnopolis; at Ratzeburg he disposed to be a certain Aristo, coming from Jerusalem, and others elsewhere. Besides when he himself came to Hamburg, he invited the same Prince Godeschalcus to a colloquy, greatly exhorting that the begun labor for Christ he constantly bring to an end, animated by the Archbishop promising him victory in all to be at hand: finally, if he should suffer any adversity
2for the name of Christ, he would be blessed: and that many rewards were laid up for him in heaven for the conversion of the Pagans, and many crowns too would come from the salvation of each one. Thus far Adam, a contemporary author; which things, but with many omitted, Albert of Stade also related. But Helmold interposes very many circumstances, and therefore it is expedient to insert what he himself has in book 1, chapter 20. He writes, then, thus.
[9] After the death of King Canute then, Godescalcus returned to the land of his fathers: resolves to seek God's glory alone for himself. and finding his inheritance invaded by certain tyrants, decided to fight: and with victory accompanying, he recovered his possessions with the Principality in full. And at once, for acquiring for himself with the Lord glory and honor, intending his soul, he strove to rouse the peoples of the Slavs, whom now the forgetfulness of Christianity once received was holding, to receive again the grace of faith, and to bear the care of the Church. And the work of God prospered in his hands, so that an infinite multitude of nations flowed together to the grace of baptism. And through the whole province of the Wagitorians, and also of the Polabingians and Obotritians, were rebuilt the churches, formerly destroyed. And now was sent into all provinces for Priests and ministers of the word, with Priests called to it from everywhere. by whom they might imbue the rude manners of the Gentiles with the doctrine of faith. The faithful then rejoiced at the increase of the new plantation: and it happened that the provinces were full of churches, but the churches full of Priests. But also the Kycini and Circipani, and whatever peoples dwell about the Panis, received the grace of faith. But the Panis is a river, at whose mouth is situated the city of Dimine: thither once was extended the boundary of the Aldenburg parish. The same Helmold cap. 22 describes the new Episcopates erected by Albert Archbishop of Hamburg, among whom, he says, "John he destined for Mecklenburg. This John for the love of pilgrimage going out from Scotia, came to Saxony: and clemently, like all, received by the Archbishop, not long after into Slavia was sent to Godeschalcus: with whom staying, in those days he is described to have baptized many thousands of Pagans."
§. III. Martyrdom endured for the faith: for the ancient cult a just presumption.
[10] "Firm peace was in all the kingdom, because the most brave Emperor Henry had coerced with a powerful hand the Hungarians, Bohemians, Slavs, and all neighboring kingdoms. With him translated to the Heavens, With Emperor Henry 2 dead succeeded in the scepter his son Henry, a boy of eight years: and at once various perturbations boiled up in the kingdom: because the Princes, who affected contentions, despised the infancy of the King. After not much time also Bernard Duke of the Saxons died: who administered the affairs of the Slavs and Saxons for 40 years strenuously, and with Duke Bernard of the Saxons, whose inheritance Ordulf and Hermann his sons divided between themselves. And indeed Ordulf took up the Duchy to govern, although in fortitude and use of warfare he far diverged from paternal felicity. Finally after the death of his father scarcely five years passed, immediately the Slavs preparing to rebel, first of all killed Godeschalcus. And indeed the man memorable in every age, is killed by the rebellious Slavs for the faith, on account of the faith shown to God and Princes, was killed by the barbarians, whom he himself strove to convert to the faith. For not yet were completed the iniquities of the Amorites, nor did the time of mercy on them come. Therefore it was necessary that scandals should come, that the approved should be made manifest. But that other Maccabee suffered in the city of Leontium (which by another name is called Lenzin) on the 7th Ides of June with the Presbyter Eppo, with Eppo the Presbyter and others, who was immolated upon the altar, and others both Laymen and Clerics, who endured various punishments for Christ." Thus Helmold: Adam the contemporary author describes the same things almost in the same way: "Across the Elbe came great vengeance, since Prince Godeschalcus was killed by the Pagans, whom he himself strove to convert to Christianity. And indeed the man memorable in every age, had a great part of Slavania converted to divine religion. But our Maccabee suffered in the city Leontium on the 7th Ides of June, with the Presbyter Ippo, who was immolated upon the altar; and with many others both Laymen and Clerics, who endured various punishments for Christ everywhere." The same has Albert Abbot of Stade on the year 1066: in the year 1066. but the Saxon Chronologist Ms. in our parchments on the following year. Krantz lib. 3 of Wandalia, in the first four chapters describes the exceptional zeal of Godeschalcus in promoting the faith, and other things, until he too and the others, Martyrs of Christ, meet death, as the Scholiast in the margin appended. But those whom Krantz calls Wandali, Adam and Albert call Winuli, and Helmold calls Slavs, peoples on the Baltic sea, in today's Wagria and the Mecklenburg Duchy.
[11] From what has been said the cause of Martyrdom seems indubitable; yet for the title in this work, perhaps the proof of cult will seem to be lacking, having no other testimony than the Ms. Additions of the Brussels Carthusians, Of their ancient cult a reasonable presumption, confirmable thus far by no older copies of Martyrologies. But if to Baronius, recognizing and augmenting the Roman Martyrology, it was permitted, from similar Additions of Molanus to the same Usuard, to which these Carthusians prepared theirs, to augment the Roman, by supposing he wrote nothing (as that most upright man, having prefaced this very thing, should altogether be supposed), unless with the example of some older and publicly used Martyrology shining before; why cannot and ought we, of the Brussels Carthusians, having followed the example of the Cologne ones, suppose what Molanus did of these, and Baronius did of Molanus; having prefaced before the Roman Martyrology, that he would not equanimously suffer the brief schedule of so great a man to perish?
[12] Besides as we receive the Saints of the Eastern Churches, even on the faith of one Ms. Synaxarium, which is presumed to have had public use, also from a single testimony. besides another proof; because they are worthy of that favor, those Churches under infidels dissipated and trampled, that all the fragments of the ancient religion among them be gathered, lest they perish; why with the same favor are the Northern, having suffered a similar lot under heretics, whose ancient rituals had to perish in such various ways, not also be judged worthy, that from some Kalendar or Martyrology of them now similarly lost, those Carthusians whom I have said be believed to have received that addition? But this once posited, and considering the time of martyrdom, then endured, when it itself alone did not suffice for Catholics, that they should decree some public cult, either from the judgment of the Prelates, or from the suffrage of the people proven by their long-continued connivance; but besides miracles were required, testifying that such cult was pleasing to God; it consequently happens that it must even be presumed, that those were not lacking, in the very place where the bodies were buried; then at least when to Christ the whole people returned, and those whom by hatred of faith they had made Martyrs, by zeal of religion began to invoke as Patrons? If to S. Godescalcus and his companions it did not happen, that the place of their burial should be converted into a monastery, and so more certainly the cult of the same should be perennial, as happened to the Ebbeckesdorp Martyrs, around the year 1080 similarly killed, and on February 2 reported on the faith of Acts, very confusedly after several centuries gathered; this at least they have above such, that their history was consigned by the writings of contemporary authors with more certain credit, as we have seen.
3