ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS
GORDIANUS AND EPIMACHUS. LIKEWISE PRIMULUS, AND MAJOR OR MEDON THE CONFESSOR.
IN THE YEAR 362.
PrefaceGordianus, Roman Martyr (St.)
Epimachus, Roman Martyr (St.)
Primulus, Roman Confessor (St.)
Major or Medon, Roman Confessor (St.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
The Acts of the Martyrdom of S. Gordianus extant everywhere in very many MS. Passionals, even of all which we could see most ancient, & such were by Claudius Puteanus once communicated, as also described from the MSS. Treves of S. Maximinus, The Acts of the Martyrdom from MSS. of St.-Omer of the Cathedral Church, of Münster of Bernandus Rottendorf, & two other codices ours, which especially we used after we had collated them with a triple codex of the Queen of Sweden numbers 13, 81 & 482. Aringhus book 4 of Rome subterranean chapter 3 several MSS. alleges. By type once published the same in Joninus Mombritius, likewise in the Legend of Cologne & Louvain in the year 14 83 & two years after printed: such also referred to this X of May Laurentius Surius, having prefaced that the diction in favor of the reader somewhat had been polished: but we prefer in the genuine style them to bring forth. In which lest offend the reader, him Baronius in his to the Roman Martyrology Notes admonishes, under Julian absent. those slaughterhouses, which at Rome on the Christians to be exercised were wont in the times of Julian they say, not by Julian himself, but by Apronianus the Prefect of the City instituted … & their Martyrdoms rather under Julian than before Julian at Rome were enacted. For him after he obtained the Empire, at Rome at some time to have been, by no of the approved ancient authors testimony to be affirmed. While therefore here nearly about Julian it is treated as if at Rome present, you know not to be these Acts of the first authority: but at a notable after the deed done time collected by someone, who as to the words, freely on either side in the judgment held between Januarius the Presbyter & Gordianus still a heathen, & the Prefect of the city rather than the Emperor's Vicar, & again between the same now a Christian & his successor Clementianus, seems to have followed the Notarial Acts; & in these a more certain faith to them can be given, though not the most certain.
[2] About S. Epimachus's martyrdom nothing elsewhere is read, but here also nothing except in the end: for after it was said, that On the way, which the Latin is called, not far from the city of Rome, but as a milestone more or less one, there they laid him (Gordianus namely) in a crypt on the sixth of the Ides of May, where already long before S. Epimachus they had buried; is added, In which also place the benefits of them & virtues flourish even to the present day. In the MS. Utrecht of S. Salvator, where the same Acts are contained but contracted, toward the end these things are read: At length by his household by night is seized Gordianus, & with B. Epimachus, whose is also today the feast, whom long before the aforesaid Julian had caused to be slain, he is buried. The Greeks both venerate on the day 9 of May, & in the Menology of Basil the Emperor these things are read: The Martyrs of Christ Epimachus & Gordianus were from great & ancient Rome. The cult among the Greeks 9 May. But when Christ they professed, apprehended by the idolaters they were, & to the region's Governor handed over: by him ordered they were Christ to deny & to idols to sacrifice. But because they did not consent, atrociously they were beaten: then on woods hung, & with iron claws torn. But afterward from the woods to descend they were compelled & into prison thrust, a fixed for them time, in which if they repented, they could live. But they themselves in prison detained, never to God prayers to offer & to Him thanks to give ceased. Wherefore worthy held they were on account of Him martyrdom to sustain: accordingly after some days again from prison led out, & to manifold tortures subjected, with a sword at last with the head struck they were. These things in the said Basil the Emperor's Menology: to which similar, but contracted, are had in the illustrious Synaxary MS. Parisian of the College of the Society of Jesus, & in the Menæa MS. of Milan of the Ambrosian library & of Turin of the Duke of Savoy. From which this elogium formed Sirletus in his Menology: The Contest of the holy Martyrs Epimachus & Gordianus, who since they were from the great city Rome, were detained. And when they were compelled by the Governor to the gods to immolate & to idols to sacrifice, the nefarious deed they refused: & for that very thing very many torments undergoing, with an axe they were struck. These things the Greeks. Whether therefore some time before Gordianus was Epimachus crowned, as the Latin Acts seem to have, we leave undecided, on account of the things which soon will be said.
[3] The Latins both refer to this X of May, & the most ancient of the Hieronymian Martyrology apograph the Epternac thus the day inaugurates: VI Ides. At Rome the passion of Gordianus. by the Latins are added Medon or Major, At Rome of Epimachus & Midon Confessors. The Way Latin to the hundred halls of Quartus & Quintus. About these two separately we treat. The Corbey of the same Martyrology apograph thus begins: VI Ides of May, At Rome the Latin way, in the cemetery of the same the birthday of Gordianus, Julius. In the cemetery of Prætextatus at Rome the birthday of S. Epimachus & of Major the Confessor, Quartus & Quintus. In the apograph of Lucca these things are had: VI Ides of May at Rome the Latin way in the cemetery of the same the birthday of S. Gordianus: & in the cemetery of Prætextatus at Rome the birthday of S. Efiniacus & Major, Corus, Quartus & Quintus. Which the same are had in the apograph Blumian, but toward the end is written of S. Epimachus & of Major the Confessor. In the MSS. Reichenau near Constance & Rheinau in Helvetia these things are handed down: At Rome of Gordianus & Epimachus & Major: for which Midon is read in Grevenus. The MSS. Augsburg of S. Udalric & Parisian of Labbé; At Rome of Gordianus & Epimachus. Which two, the arena Rome omitted, also are joined in the Casinensian MS. But in the other Casinensian MS. & the Roman of the Duke of Altemps, the eve or IX of May, on which the Greeks them venerate, are referred at Rome Gordianus & Epimachus. In the alleged apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology & the Vatican of S. Peter, is celebrated the memory, At Rome of Gordianus & Primolus, & Primolas. or Primulus or Promolus: & without the arena of Gordianus & Prinolus in the MSS. Augsburg & Parisian: of Primulus alone in the Reichenau: What therefore? Whether in the place of Epimachus was intruded the name of Primolus? Or indeed Gordianus & Primolus are others to be reckoned, & from these diverse Gordianus & Epimachus? Nothing of these to affirm do we dare: & accordingly Primolus, as distinct, in the title we have placed, with S. Major or Midon the Confessor, perhaps in prison extinguished. We omit Julia in a single MS. added, & perhaps from the following day, when Julius the Martyr is referred.
[4] But let us return to the arena of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus, whom hitherto at Rome ascribed we have found: Whether at Rome they suffered? & so jointly in the Calendars inserted, that together companions of the martyrdom to have been they seem. Moreover in S. Gregory the Great in the book of the Sacraments three prayers are extant in the Mass to be recited, & hitherto in the Missal & Breviary are retained. Usuard with this them elogium adorns: At Rome the Latin way the birthday of the holy Martyrs Gordianus & Epimachus. Of whom the former for the confession of Christ's name, in the time of Julian, long with leaden scourges is beaten & at the last is beheaded. Rabanus very much from the Acts describes with these words, Where already long before S. Epimachus they had buried. Or, as in Ado is read: Where already long before the body of the blessed Martyr Epimachus had been buried. Whether more by Ado was added it can be doubted: for with the said words ends his elogium in an old MS. of the Church of the Morini, which at Ypres in the Cathedral Church is kept. Nothing also more have Notker & Peter de Natalibus book 4 chapter 129, who are wont Ado to describe. Aloysius Lipomanus volume 4 on the Lives of the Saints page 167 writes the Life of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus by Ado collected, & with the cited before words it he ends. But in the Martyrology of Ado, published by Mosander & Rosweidus, & in various MSS. these things are subjoined: This Epimachus at Alexandria, whether S. Epimachus at Alexandria? with his colleague Alexander, much time both in chains & in the tortures of prison tortured, when in frequent & diverse punishments worn out he had persisted in the faith, by fires at the last is consumed: then his Relics to Rome were brought. But above among the Greeks are said SS. Epimachus & Gordianus beheaded, ὕστερον τὰς κεφαλὰς ἀπετμήθησαν. Whether therefore SS. Epimachus & Alexander are others to be reckoned Martyrs? Bede in the genuine Martyrology only these things has: VI Ides the Birthday of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus. But in the Martyrology under his name supposititious, the same from Ado cited are published, & are found in a single MS. codex ours in the Life of these Martyrs, but not very ancient. In the ancient Roman Breviaries, from two hundred years & thereafter long printed, the elogium of these Martyrs from Ado taken ends without mention of Alexandria. But in the Breviary, by command of Pius V published, a Lesson one about these Martyrs is prescribed: in which is read the body of S. Gordianus buried in the same crypt, into which the Relics of B. Epimachus the Martyr translated had been from Alexandria, where he long on account of Christ's confession bound in prison, at the last burned, with martyrdom was crowned. Which the same hitherto are recited, also inserted in the present Martyrology Roman, & it everywhere the more recent follow. Meanwhile they do not cohere with the beginning of Ado, which such is: At Rome the Latin way in the cemetery of the same SS. Gordianus & Epimachus, whom Julian the apostate among many Christians to the public custodies committed. Aringhus book 4 of Rome subterranean chapter 3 writes the sacred S. Epimachus's body, whether also it is venerated 11 March, first according to the Greeks' Menology, on the day XI of the month of March, to Constantinople with becoming honor translated to have been: this however only in the Index of the Menology by Sirletus collected is read; in the very text omitted. But the Greeks in the printed Menæa celebrate on the said XI of March, the memory of the Relics of S. Epimachus the Martyr to Constantinople brought, with a distich added with an allusion to the holy city honored with S. Epimachus's body. Another solemnity is at Constantinople of four Martyrs on the day VI of July, & 6 July? when so is read in the MS. Greek Synaxary Claromontane: Of the holy Martyrs Apollonius, Alexander, Epimachus & Onesimus, whose celebrity is held in the Hexacionium, or at the six columns. Georgius Codinus on the Origins Constantinopolitan page 39 asserts; the pomerium of the city Constantinopolitan by Constantine the great extended even to the Exacionium, above the Hexacionium called. Here therefore recur Epimachus & Alexander, above as colleagues held. But whether from these not be diverse the Epimachus at Alexandria suffering, who, while the Acts further are wanting, can certainly determine? These rather to learned men to be proposed we judged, by whom if more certain things be brought forth, with a grateful affection of mind we will receive, about to give them on the day VI of July, or where occasion shall be offered. The feast of these Martyrs at Rome to be celebrated in the church of S. Laurence in Lucina, where their Relics are kept, asserts Piazza in the Sanctuary Roman.
ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM
From very ancient various MS. codices.
Gordianus, Roman Martyr (St.)
Epimachus, Roman Martyr (St.)
Primulus, Roman Confessor (St.)
Major or Medon, Roman Confessor (St.)
BHL Number: 3612
FROM MSS.
[1] In the times of Julian the most impious Emperor, were divulged many Christians. And when these things had heard the most impious Julian, with wrath full, he ordered them to be held, & into public custody to be sent. There was moreover among them a certain Christian, S. Januarius the Presb. examines Gordianus the Vicar of Julian the Emp. by name Januarius, an old Presbyter. But after the third day the most impious Julian the Emperor sent, & called to him Gordianus his Vicar, & ordered him that Januarius the Presbyter from his audience he should interrogate. Then Gordianus the Vicar ordered to himself, as had charged him the King, Januarius the Presbyter led out of prison to be presented: to whom thus he said; Who are you called, or of what nation yourself to be you show, most happy b orator, declare to us. Answered S. Januarius the Presbyter, & said: If indeed the citizen to learn you wish, an Antiochene I am: but if the nation, from Christian parents Why us with many verbosities to deceive do you compel? Now therefore hear me, & choose for yourself of two one answer. Either sacrifice to the immortal gods, & be a friend of the most unconquered Prince our Julian; or certainly receive the sentence of nefarious c crimes. Answered moreover S. Januarius the Presbyter, & said to Gordianus: If you to me consent, I indeed myself desire to my God to offer a sacrifice of placation; yet whatever to me you say or promise, for my sins I said, for my sins, not for justice. Answered Gordianus & said to him: If for your sins all punishments you merit, pour to the gods libations, that so you may merit from us for their expiation to be saved. Answered therefore S. Januarius the Presbyter & said: I indeed in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ always saved I was, & as I believe, always saved I shall be, moreover also others saved e I have made through the reception of His baptism f, who desire to be saved. For you if you had wisdom, with whole heart indeed you would seek Him, & you would covet that you should find rest for your soul after so great a tempest, & you would have abiding life eternal.
[2] Then Gordianus the Vicar ordered him in house his own under guard committed to be held. by him in the faith he is instructed Whom inspiring the Lord by night calling together, he asserted that him he wished with his words to delight. To whom S. Januarius the Presbyter said: Son, do not lose your time, but rather do penance for the bodies of the Saints whom you have slain; & be baptized, that you may be able to find rest everlasting g, & in the fire eternal not be burned. Gordianus the Vicar, with these words compunct, said: And how secure shall I be, if washed I have been, that I escape torments eternal. Answered S. Januarius the Presbyter & said: I to you promise in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, that if with whole heart you shall believe & baptized you shall have been, of all your crimes will be wiped away the filth, so that you immaculate to the Lord Jesus Christ may offer. Gordianus the Vicar said: Give me the measure of believing. S. Januarius the Presbyter said: That you confess in the name of the Father & the Son & the Holy Spirit one Deity, & doing penance you show yourself to have sinned. Then Gordianus the Vicar with tears entered to his wife, by name Marina, with Marina his wife, & narrated to her all the admonitions of S. Januarius the Presbyter. Then his wife in that very hour of the night, holding the hand of her husband, they came together to S. Januarius the Presbyter: & falling to the ground they cast themselves at his feet asking him that they be baptized by him, crying out themselves to have sinned & saying to him: Redeem us from our sins. To these answered S. Januarius the Presbyter, saying to them: See whether with whole heart you believe, or lest some veil in hidden things you hold, because I know you by the Emperor to be honored. Answered Marina & said: One likeness of Jove given by the Emperor we have laid up, on account of which the holy Martyrs are tortured: but what shall we do about it now? Yet I will divulge to my Lord the way through which also we may merit to obtain the crown of life, when melted down by us it shall have been. But at the same hour introduced Marina B. Januarius the Presbyter into her bedroom, & the idol of Jove cast out & showed him the image of Jove of bronze gilded, & a tripod of bronze. Which image with the altar grasping B. Januarius, a fire being kindled he melted down & cast into a sewer, & so with great joy catechized Gordianus, he is baptized with 53 others. with Marina his wife, & their family of both sexes in number fifty-three; whom also with h their Lords he baptized.
[3] At the same also time, after days fourteen, sent to Gordianus the Vicar Julian the most impious Caesar his Tribune, by name Clementianus, saying to him: Go & see whether he has declined to sacrifice to the great God Jove Januarius the Presbyter: he professes the Christian faith:
or if he has not persuaded him, then under a herald's voice in the forum of Trajan with clubs let him be beaten. And was done this which had charged the Emperor to Clementianus. Answering moreover Gordianus, said to Clementianus: O Clementianus, if you knew to be the Lord Jesus Christ, both the threats & terrors of a mortal man not would you fear: but rather you would see life eternal, just as also I have seen now prepared for me. For the Priest holy I will honor, & now not injure: whom I seeing his feet do not disdain to kiss, through whom also saved I have been. Then Clementianus going to the palace crying out said, the chief magus Januarius, who the Vicar Gordianus turned away by his magic arts. And when he entered to the Emperor Julian, he said to him; Januarius, whom your piety on account of his genius of letters praised, this one we have known a magus to be: who also has subverted your Vicar Gordianus, with all his house & wife, whom also he has baptized, & the gods of our Republic melted by fire into a mass has hidden. Then Julian the most impious Emperor, with wrath full, ordered by inscriptions to be condemned S. Januarius the Presbyter & B. Gordianus: he is shut in prison: to whom also a successor he gave Clementianus in his place to be Vicar. Him indeed B. Gordianus he charged to the public custody to be committed: his wife moreover Marina in a certain villa, which is called l At-the-Salvian-Waters, in the service of rustics to be oppressed. But afterward he ordered, that Gordianus under the judgment of Clementianus should be heard.
[4] he is set before Clementianus, At the same time charged Clementianus in the temple of Tellus for himself a tribunal to be prepared, & bound with chains B. Gordianus before him to be presented. Whom Clementianus thus interrogates, saying: Gordianus, so have you despised the precepts of the Prince our ever Augustus, who you honored & with dignity adorned the office, that also you with magic arts against the Republic & the safety of the most unconquered Prince our the gods melted down & hid? Answered B. Gordianus, & said to him: I rather for the safety of the Republic did this. For if I had all idols by hand made, I would break them & melt down. For whom do you say to be adored rather, whether him who made, or him who is fashioned? I indeed Him adore who made all things. Clementianus the Vicar said: And who is it who made all things? B. Gordianus said: Christ the son of God living. Clementianus the Vicar said: If He made all things, why by the prince of the republic Lord Julian ever Augustus was He cast out? B. Gordianus said to him: Rather Julian by God was cast out, who God did not fear, but adores idols of demons, with whom about to perish he is. Then Clementianus the Vicar said to Gordianus: Sacrifice to the immortal gods: but if not, I will make you with the head to be struck. B. Gordianus said: Never to you well be it, with leaden scourges he is beaten. wretch, nor to your Prince Julian, who in darkness is condemned. Then with anger moved Clementianus ordered him with leaden scourges to be beaten, & when long was beaten B. Gordianus, he cried out saying: Thanks to thee I give, Lord God my Jesus Christ.
[5] These things hearing the impious Clementianus ordered him with the head to be cut off there, before the temple in Tellus. he is beheaded, Whose body he ordered again before the temple of Pallas to be cast, in the place above said, that it not be buried for days five, but to the dogs be left. But when there came the dogs, m a barking & a howling they sent forth, & did not dare to touch, but rather guarded him. Then one of his household with other Christians in the nocturnal silence came, & seized the venerable body of the holy Martyr Gordianus: & coming into the way, which the Latin is called, he is buried with S. Epimachus not far from the city of Rome, but as a milestone more or less one, there they laid him in a crypt, on the sixth of the Ides of May, where already long before holy Epimachus they had buried. In which also place the benefits of them & virtues flourish even to the present day, to the praise & glory of our Lord Jesus Christ: to whom is honor & glory, together with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
is from the Capene gate, from which not far S. Paul the Apostle with the head was struck, & in his honor a temple & monastery by posterity erected, which then SS. Vincent's & Anastasius's was called, as often has been said, & must be said at the Life of S. Paul.
APPENDIX
The church & cemetery of these Martyrs at Rome. The sacred pledges brought to the churches of Kempten, Weingarten, Prague & Prüm.
Gordianus, Roman Martyr (St.)
Epimachus, Roman Martyr (St.)
Primulus, Roman Confessor (St.)
Major or Medon, Roman Confessor (St.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
[1] The cemetery of S. Gordianus The Gordian cemetery outside the Latin gate described Peter Manlius, in the Catalogue of cemeteries of the City in Paul Aringhus, book 4 of Rome subterranean chapter 3. A name to it from S. Gordianus the Martyr given sufficiently openly intimate the ancient of the Hieronymian Martyrology apographs, the Corbey, Lucca, & Blumian with these words: At Rome the Latin way, in the cemetery of the same, the birthday of Gordianus: & in the cemetery of Prætextatus at Rome the birthday of S. Epimachus. But Ado thus joined: At Rome the Latin way, in the cemetery of the same, the birthday of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus. But when it is said in the cemetery of the same, & not of the same ones, it is referred to S. Gordianus: whom there, as the Acts have, after death they laid, where already long before S. Epimachus they had buried. Notker thus speaks: Gordianus's body they laid in a crypt in the cemetery of Prætextatus, where already long before the body of the blessed Martyr Epimachus had been buried. It seems therefore the cemetery of Gordianus contiguous to have been to the cemetery of Prætextatus, although that to the Latin way, this to the Appian is attributed: which most excellently is confirmed on the XXV of August in the Acts of S. Nemesius the Deacon, & his church & Epimachus's, whom with the head to be cut off they ordered between the way Appian & Latin. There once a basilica of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus constructed, by Adrian the Pope first anew to have been renovated, writes Anastasius the Librarian in his Life. The words below in the Acts of SS. Quartus & Quintus we explain.
[2] But of that Pontiff in the third year, of Christ 774, the bodies of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus the Martyrs from Rome into Alamannia to have been brought writes in his Chronicle Hermann the Lame. the bodies in the year 774 brought to the Church of Kempten, These the Life of B. Hildegard the Queen by us on the XXX of April illustrated num. 2 more clearly explains with these words: Among those monasteries, of which she that most blessed foundress was, the Kempten house more especially she loved, which both with riches she heaped & with honors exalted… Whence also Andegarius, the first of the same cenobium Elect… to Rome with herself she led, & … from Pope Adrian to be consecrated obtained. Then with the precious bodies of the holy Martyrs Gordianus & Epimachus endowed the Queen, with joyfulness returned & glory; the more indeed glorious & joyful the more devoutly, because so glorious she carried back a burden, & because by her prayers Pope Adrian deigning to come to Kempten, newly by him constructed dedicated the monastery, in honor indeed of the holy Mother of God Mary, & of the holy Martyrs Gordianus & Epimachus, whose bodies there even to the present day rest, & with divine offices are cultivated. These things more at length are read in the said Life, which the Author from an old MS. renewed in the year 14 72. The Dedication of the Kempten church, by a Legate Pontifical probably made, to the Pontiff himself against the verisimilitude attributing, as there we noted. But about the Relics Bucelinus in the Sacrarium Benedictine at this X of May these things writes: Of these the sacred bodies are kept in the cenobium of Kempten, Some bones in the church of Weingarten, & notable parts in that of Weingarten. The same Bucelinus part 2 of Germany sacred, recounting the Relics in the monastery of Weingarten kept, asserts, to be notable portions of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus. Charles IV the Emperor, & in the Cathedral of Prague: by an epistle to all of the kingdom of Bohemia the estates in the year 1354 given & by Thomas John Pessina in the Metropolitan of Prague published testifies page 434 himself in the monastery of Kempten to have obtained relics of the bones of Gordianus & Epimachus the Martyrs. In the Diary of the Relics of the Church of Prague are said to be fragments four. In the MS. Martyrology of Prague the same are confirmed, & the Ecclesiastical Office under the semidouble rite in the whole diocese is recited.
[3] There is a certain MS. Chronicle of the monastery of Prüm in the diocese of Treves, the author Servatius Ottlerus there a cenobite: from which John Gamansius by himself described to us has transmitted the following: The Abbot Gregory in peace buried, by lineage & virtue illustrious & in religion notable Lord Gerardus, of the most noble & most ancient stock of the Counts of Vienne, the Prelacy & principate of the Church of Prüm received in order the twenty-ninth. This man frugal, with glory at once & advantage of the house of God is known to have presided, of piety a cultivator & propagator chief. And among the rest of his strenuousness's works this surely greatest ought to be esteemed, that with a new foundation of the lower Prüm a church of God & of Christ's handmaids a cenobium he constructed: & in the lower Prüm which certainly by day & night of religious women the Lord praising a dwelling providently with earthly possessions, for the supplement of corporeal necessity, from the substance & heritage of the holy Savior, he augmented: & that very sacred church of the holy Martyrs Gordianus & Epimachus with sacred bodies he honored, exalted, sanctified. Over which sacred & new of Christ family he set first his kinswoman, Sophia by name: who to God consecrated a Virgin the office enjoined on her of a most devout Mother well fulfilling, of virtue & sanctity to posterity left most illustrious vestiges. Of this therefore foundation the reason that more certainly may be expressed & more truly believed in its tenor the testament of her it pleases here to append.
[4] In the name of the holy & undivided Trinity. I Gerardus, by Divine favoring mercy, of the holy Prüm Church the humble minister, to all of Christ the faithful, as future as present, greeting which is in Christ Jesus. by Gerardus the Abbot of Prüm founded What to the honor of God & the usefulness of those serving God piously by us & rationally has been done, to the memory of letters to commend worthy we have judged; in so far as through this both the deed done its necessary to itself of firmness strength in the present may obtain, & all of calumniating occasion in the future may rest.
For since certain it is, brief to be & momentary of the present life the state, since here we have not an abiding city; it befits us with works good vigilantly to toil, that to the heavenly fatherland & city eternally abiding to come we may be able. It pleased therefore our discretion, those serving God, of whatever they be of order, with charity not feigned to love, & with the necessity of temporal things, in as much as we can, God helping to sustain. Hence it is that a certain noble woman, by the line of consanguinity to us nearest, in habit, vow & conversation honest a nun, Sophia by name, an Abbess called & consecrated, into our parts with few Sisters to her subject coming, kindly we received. Who having left her kinsmen & the land of her nation, into a land to her & to her own somewhat alien, in peace & quiet all the days of her life God to serve most devoutly desiring, to our & our friends' providence, protection, counsel, & help humbly herself submitted. We indeed so devout of mind her considering the desire, & immutable in the sex frail purpose admiring; a situation to her will sufficiently congruous, near a chapel of a certain court, which the lower Prüm is called, & that very chapel ours with its appendages entirely, & the benefice & allod of a certain man ours, by heirs legitimate into our hands voluntarily designated, by the counsel of our faithful to her perpetually we gave. She indeed three Virgins very small, of the already said benefice & allod heirs, with her wonted piety to herself joined: whom with a maternal of love affection, under regular discipline of her order, to serve God to instruct zealously she took care. We therefore of the same handmaid of Christ at the good beginnings rejoicing together, with the aforesaid place two Mother Churches, namely Merinche & Romeschem with their daughters, to the aforesaid Abbess & to those who after her are to be, by perpetual right to be possessed we delivered; saved through all things & untouched the right, which to the Prebend of the Prüm monks from the ancient constitution to pertain is known, & of any service, which to the Abbot of either church is owed. Of the rest whatever the Abbess for her advantage thence shall be able to ordain, his sister Adelheid helping. to her & to her cenobium's uses shall accrue: nonetheless also the shrubs, which are in the hill, which is called Comerworst, to her we have granted, so that six denarii yearly thence she pay. A place also for a mill to be constructed suitable to her we have granted: which when it shall have been built, five maldra of rye thence through the several years to the Abbot she shall render. Of the rest my sister Adelheid, Countess of Molbach, a venerable widow, of the allod which from her great-grandfather, grandfather & father legitimately she had possessed, our part, namely the little villa which Noverode is called, with all its appendages, bondmen, fields, meadows & woods (except the enfeoffed) for the safety of her soul, & of her husband & children & of all her successors, to the honor of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus, to serve God & the glorious Virgin Mary & the holy Martyrs Gordianus & Epimachus, in perpetuity most devoutly to the same place gave: & me & my successors of the holy Prüm Church Abbots, Advocates & Defenders by the authority & grace of almighty God solemnly instituted. Moreover of the tithes in Neukirchen four modii of wheat, six modii of rye, twenty modii of oats to the nuns in that same chapel the Lord serving, on the several years before the Natal day of our Lord Jesus Christ, without all impediment to be paid firmly & very devoutly she instituted. a confirmation before their altar made, We therefore, with the aforesaid Countess & several honest men, before the altar of the aforesaid Martyrs coming under the stole, with the bond of anathema we confirmed, that to no ever of men these things to change or to infringe be lawful, but ratified & unshaken in perpetuity may remain. But if anyone this our of the institution confirmation to violate, to change or to infringe presume or attempt, perpetually anathema be he, & the anger & indignation of the most blessed Virgin Mary may he incur, & the inevitable of her son our Lord Jesus Christ vengeance eternally may he feel, unless humbly & timely he repent. Of the many assisting of certain ones the names in testimony to be written we caused. Gerardus of the Church of holy Salvator Dean, Bertramus Custodian, Cuno Cantor, Bertholdus Provost of the church of S. Mary, Hermann Dean, Theodoricus Scholastic, Bertramus Custodian, & several of the Church ministerials. These things were done & with the seal of holy Salvator, ours also & of the Countess marked, in the year 1190. in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 1190 Indiction VII, Epact XII, reigning Lord Henry the glorious Emperor Frederick's son happily. Upon the articles also of the same foundation other of consent & confirmation copies are had, namely of John the Archbishop of Treves, the Archdeacon, & of the whole Chapter of the same Church; & likewise of the Supreme Pontiffs Celestine & Honorius: which for prolixity's avoiding sake here to be omitted we judged. Hitherto Olerus. Mentions this Parthenon at the said year 1190 Christopher Browerus book 15 of the Annals of Treves, & asserts the pledges of SS. Gordianus & Epimachus the Martyrs from the basilica of Salvator to the new Virgins' temple to be brought were: & them to this brought writes Bucelinus in Gerardus the XXIX Abbot of Prüm's elogium. But we judge them by the Kempten ones received, & to have been some of these Martyrs' more notable bones, & so to be said the bodies of them at Prüm to be.