Hilarius

ON SAINT HILARIUS

BISHOP OF PAVIA IN ITALY.

YEAR 376

Hilarius, Bishop of Pavia in Italy (S.)

G. H.

Ferdinandus Ughelli in volume one of Sacred Italy proposes the Bishops of Pavia: among whom he recenses XVII S. Hilarius, & these things about him reports: S. Hilarius to the same See was elected in the year 358, & died 376 on the day XVI May, whose Relics are honorably preserved in the Church of S. Michael the Greater. He against the Arians celebrated a most salutary Synod. Of him mention is made only by Bossius in his diptych: but no other writer, nor even the Roman Martyrology indeed. Thus Ughelli. Afterwards Ioannes Baptista de Gasparis published the Breviary of the Holy Bishops of the Ticinensian Church, which he himself in the year 1662 to us at Pavia present gave. He in the Index subjoins the Catalogue of the Bishops of the Ticinensian Church about whom the divine Office is not celebrated, & there writes these things: S. Hilarius Bishop XVIII. XVI May from the year 358 to the year 376. Body in S. Michael's. Nor more about him hitherto could we obtain.

ON S. ROSIUS OR ROSSIUS, AFRICAN BISHOP CONFESSOR,

IN THE DIOCESE OF SUESSA IN CAMPANIA.

CENT. V

Rosius or Rossius, African Bishop and Confessor, in the diocese of Suessa in Campania (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

[1] Illustrious was the crown of twelve Confessors, who under the persecution of the Vandals in Africa on account of the Catholic faith variously afflicted & to old new ones imposed, came to the shores of Campania & Christian religion in various places dispersed, & set over different Churches, Drawn from his Episcopal See, wonderfully propagated: as about them in the Roman Martyrology is read on the Kalends of September, on which day S. Priscus one of them is venerated at Capua, & the names of others recensed; among whom is Rossius, about whom here we treat. There is also S. Castrensis from that duodenary number, whose Acts from various MSS. we gave on XI February, of which the two prior chapters to all that glorious troop look: & since there they can be read thence we repeat only a few things.

[2] It was done that in throngs from each province the Saints of God bound were ordered to be brought. no. 3 But with a vast multitude even holy men, in morals & honesty of life shining, & also endowed with the honor of the highest Priesthood, were among them, thinking themselves with the triumph of martyrdom to obtain life eternal. bound with others, Of whom especially gleamed in merits & morals & in the beauty of sense, Rossius, Priscus, Tammarus, & by nature Holy shining Castrensis. Whom the savage & most nefarious satellites in close custody thrust, & separately from one another they separated… Then The most cruel satellites caused the Saints to be gathered into one place, & some with rods, variously beaten, some with slaps, others with stones beat. no. 4 But the Saints of God, with alert mind in the love of the supernal King remaining, did not even seem to emit a sigh… Nor much later they made the Saints of God to be thrust into the depths of the prison. no. 5 On the same night appeared to them an Angel of the Lord, & the splendor of the Lord shone around all, who were in the chamber of the prison & he said to them: in prison comforted by an Angel: Behold the Lord our Jesus Christ has sent me to you, that by my speeches your hearts & bodies may be strengthened, & before the most savage persecutors attempt to plunge you into the deep of the vast sea; all you should know, that the eternal King for each of you has prepared a place, in which both you yourselves in Christ may rest, & the multitude of peoples staying in those parts from all error you may absolve. To these things the Saints unanimously said: Be praise in the highest to God, & may the supernal piety fulfill His will to us. This only let the Divine majesty confer to us, that those whom from one sun for the glory of His name He deigns to translate, within the boundaries of one country by His piety He may grant, that our bodies be buried. To whom the Angel with placid mouth responded: Of certain I wish you to know, that whatever you shall ask, according to your wish shall be fulfilled. Which said the Angel from their eyes departed: but light through the whole night abounded in the prison, & the Saints through the whole night with hymns & praises exulted. no. 6 But on the second day the unspeakable troop of the wicked, with daggers & rods rushing upon the Saints, is not terrified by threats placed, thought to bend them by their terror. But the Saints of God, confidently expecting the Angelic promise, considered as nothing their threats…

[3] Then one, in whom corporally to dwell satan was believed… no. 8 These, he said, if fire shall burn, the dust which from them remains again pollutes; but if the iron shall extinguish, their gore wherever in any countryside shall fall, first put into a worm-eaten ship, shall infect… let them be food to marine beasts; let a most ancient ship be brought, in which… scarcely walking through small spaces of the sea, let them be absorbed by the gullets of the deep… And when they had cast away an abundance of many ships, by indication was seen one older, which through the courses of many years only by the dung of birds rotten had decayed. This unanimously embracing, with joyful spirit to the shores of the sea to lead they hastened, proclaiming: This ship the Christ-worshippers shall transport to other shores. And when it on the sea they had thrown, pretending to call the names of the Saints separately with worthy honor, thus they began: Let first enter here Rossius endowed with reverend hoariness & sanctity, after this one of fecund offspring's offspring Secundinus, third who the rights of Christ to the people boldly sprinkled Heraclius: next him it is right, that Benignus & Priscus reside, Elpidius and let him sit at the last part of the side. no. 9 Within then of the other part let take place Marcus, & Augustinus: Canion & Vindonius equally with them shall recline. The standard-bearer leader Castrensis of the stern shall possess the citadel, by nature who commanded the iniquitous winds. no. 10 with others lands at the shores of Campania. Tammarus it is right to govern the prow benignly … Then the strength of the supernal King gave this indication of His strength, that those, who the Saints of God bound to the sea had led; in no way the rowing of their ships changed, until they themselves with their lights saw, in what manner Christ our God to His own in the sea provided ways & in the waters paths. And so rejoicing & exulting, & to Christ the King of ages giving thanks, they came to the Campanian shores, when the month May ten days fulfilled from the Kalends. Day of birth 16 May at Benevento,

[4] Thus far that ancient Author, who then S. Castrensis's labors, miracles & death pursues. Would that about S. Rossius's, everywhere first, labors & death some monuments existed. That his natal day is this XVI May we learn first from a very ancient Martyrology of the Church of Benevento, which translated to Rome to the Vatican library there marked number 5949 is preserved: in it indeed on this XVI May in the first place are written these words: At Benevento the natale of S. Rosius the Bishop in S. Sophia. Furthermore, whether on account of Relics there preserved as Ughelli in the Beneventan Archbishops col. 8 writes, Arechis the Duke & first Prince that vast temple of Sophia, the notable monument of Royal piety, from the foundations built & most magnificently endowed; into which afterwards nearly innumerable bodies of Saints & bones, here and there through various parts of Italy and the world sought, he translated, which about the year 600, in the time of Gregory the Great was done. Why not also then the sacred bones of S. Rossius were translated to the said S. Sophia's church, & it obtained the primary veneration on this XVI May: His Church in the diocese of Suessa: on which day also S. Rosius's cult is indicated in the MS. Calendar, with Antonius Caracciolus the Regular Cleric at Naples preserved, as testifies Michael the monk in the Sanctuary of Capua in the Notes to the Acts of S. Priscus the Bishop page 68. On the preceding page however he adds, that S. Rosius had a Church in the diocese of Suessa, to appear in the Bull of confirmation of Benedictus Bishop of Suessa, given by Athenulfus Archbishop of Capua in the year 1032. Which bull then he published in the same Sanctuary from page 581, & from him Ughelli volume 6 of Sacred Italy in Benedictus Bishop of Suessa from column 675. There the Churches of the diocese of Suessa are individually designated, & among other Churches is named the Church of S. Rosius. But Suessa is an ancient city of Felix Campania, toward

the Tyrrhenian sea & parts of ancient Latium. whether buried there? And because they had asked that their bodies within the boundaries of one country be buried, to us very verisimilarly seems, that S. Rosius, who as old man had landed in Campania, in this diocese of Suessa & province of Capua finished the rest of life, & there buried, where a Church to his name was dedicated: but the sacred body or his bones were then to Benevento translated. In the additions ascribed to Greven from the Brussels Charterhouse, also on this XVI May is reported S. Rosius Bishop & Confessor in Samnium, & seems to be understood Benevento, accustomed to be ascribed to Samnium.

ON S. MAXIMA THE VIRGIN

OF CALLIDIANUM IN THE DIOCESE OF FRÉJUS IN PROVENCE.

Maxima, Virgin, of Callidianum in the diocese of Fréjus in Provence (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

Usuard in his Martyrology about this holy Virgin thus speaks: In the country of Fréjus of S. Maxima the Virgin, Name in the sacred fasts, who illustrious for many virtues, in peace rested. Ado the place thus expresses & in the country of Fréjus, in the village which is called Calidianus, of S. Maxima the Virgin, who illustrious for many virtues, in peace rested. The same has Notker, & with Ado cited Petrus de Natalibus amplifies these things in book 5 chap. 7 with these words: Maxima Virgin in the country of Forli (rather Fréjus), in the village Callidianus, flowering in the lily of virginity, & with many & noteworthy virtues illustrious, in peace rested on the seventeenth Kalends of June. Public veneration in the diocese of Fréjus, The genuine Martyrology of Bede is empty, but that which is supposed to him, with places omitted, brings forth the rest from Ado. Finally Usuard & Ado are everywhere followed by others in Martyrologies handwritten & printed with today's Roman Martyrology. Furthermore moved by the faith of those ancient Martyrologies, & the very celebrity of the Relics preserved at Callidianum, the Church of Fréjus, from all retro memory holds the feast of S. Maxima on this day through the entire diocese, which the most ancient MS. Litanies prove, in the number of Virgins invoking S. Maxima: & the old Breviary of Fréjus, printed in the year 1529, where in the Calendar, is added to the name a red Cross, in sign that the feast ought to be celebrated in double rite with three Lessons, which in the greatest also feasts to that Church is the highest number: but all things are done from the Common. But what a few years from now were printed of the same diocese's proper Offices, contain this Prayer about her: The intercession we ask, Lord, of S. Maxima the Virgin from all sins may cleanse us; & because her feasts with worthy obeisances we celebrate, by her intercessions may we be helped. Nicolaus Brautius Bishop of Sarsina & Count of Bobbio, in the Poetic Martyrology adorns her with this distich: With exceptional love of the Spouse, & of pure modesty, Above the rest, the Virgin Maxima pleases the Spouse.

[2] Ferrarius in the Catalogue of Saints of Italy adds that she obtains great veneration with the Fréjusois & Aquileians and the whole diocese, but laments that he the proper Acts of this Virgin, if any exist, through the negligence of those, from whom he had expected them, has not yet seen. Nothing wonderful: for while to the Fréjusois he joins the Aquileians, not Italian, to whom by mere & vain conjecture the cult of S. Maxima he extends; he sufficiently shows that he labors in equivocation, & for the Fréjus diocese in the Province of Gaul, at the Grimaldic gulf under the Archbishopric of Aix, understands the Friulian tract of Northern Italy, between Istria & the Treviso territory, at the Adriatic gulf, commonly Friuli; where, after diligent inquiry through himself & through friends, neither Callidianum village nor S. Maxima is asserted to be known, replying to me a man most studious of paternal antiquities, of Lower Carniola the Archdeacon, D. Ioannes Ludovicus Schonleben. Gallic Forum-Julium, commonly Fréjus, gets its name from its capital, of which thus speaks Tacitus book 3 History. Forum-Julium, between Olbia & Antipolis founded, but Gallic, whose region is irrigated by the Argentius river, in the most fecund plain of the Maritime Salii. Hence going four or five leagues to the North, across the Bencon stream, near Faventia, Callidianus is a village, commonly Callian: from the other side however across the Argentius river two villages are found, with title and patronage of S. Maxima known; of which the one which is closer, toward the South-West situated is at the Grimaldic gulf, on the promontory of S. Vincentius, & opposite faces the village of S. Torpes commonly called S. Tropez, where today still on the very shore is a certain turreted bulwark, & beneath it traces of cells drawn into squares, & caves & tombs as of some monastery: but the one further toward the West, inland is and has a church to the same Saint dedicated for six hundred or seven hundred years, as much as from the antiquity of the structure is gathered; about which church D. Henricus de Suarez, from his MS. observations on universal ecclesiastical history, suggests, that it is situated near the castle of Cannet, & is a Priory, subject to the Abbey of S. Andrew near Avignon; of which same church Pope Gelasius II makes mention in a Bull given to Petrus the Abbot of the said monastery, confirming all its benefices & possessions, at Orange. Ides of December in the first year of the Pontificate (this was 1099 begun from XXI January, as elsewhere we shall demonstrate) but for about four hundred years was united to the Prebend of the Archdeacon of Fréjus, with opulent tithes in the Cassinensian district.

[3] where the body is held From those places therefore or from the very Village Callidianum should one have sought the Life of S. Maxima, which I understand many have already done, but in vain; so that, if any ever was, it must be judged altogether to have perished. Meanwhile is established the most ancient cult & possession of the sacred body, all whose bones in the year 1643, on her very feast day, by command of Petrus Camelinus the Diocesan, from the old into a new and most splendid chest were translated, together with equally preserved instruments of female work, needles, scissors, and others as pure from rust & shining, as if first from the smith's hands they had come. To these is added an old parchment, containing to the church of S. Mary of Callian, with notable memory of the Relics of S. Maxima. Of this bull a transcript on paper, marked with the seal of the Aix Curia, signed authentically by the hand of the public Notary Bellissen, in the year 1675 on day XXVII November to be made asked D. Franciscus de Vitalis, Prior of Callian; perhaps at the persuasion of D. Iosephus Antelmius, Canon & Official of Fréjus, by whose benefit we received it together with the aforesaid old breviary, through the hands of our P. Carolus Faber staying at Avignon & busying himself for our cause with all whom he knew to be able to confer something to illustrate the glory of the Saints in this work. But the Bull is itself of this kind.

[4] Nicolaus of Albano & Franciscus of Praeneste, Bishops; Antonius of the title of S. Praxedis, Petrus of the title of S. Eusebius, Adrianus of the title of S. Sabina, to the Callian church Scaramutia of the title of S. Cyriacus in the Baths, & Aloisius of the title of S. Clement Presbyters; Ludovicus of S. Maria in Cosmedin, Marcus of S. Maria in Vialata, & Amaneus of S. Nicolas in Tullian Prison Deacons, by the divine mercy of the most holy Roman Church Cardinals, to all & each of Christ's faithful, who shall inspect the present letters, eternal salvation in the Lord. The more frequently we induce the minds of the faithful to works of charity, the more salubriously do we consult the salvation of their souls. Desiring therefore that the parochial church, perhaps Priory, called of B. Mary of Callian, of the diocese of Fréjus, to which (as we received) our beloved in Christ Venerable man Bartholomaeus Delphinus, Precentor of the church of Aix, & of the said parochial church Prior or Rector, or perpetual administrator of its fruits & revenues, bears singular devotion, be frequented with congruous honors, & by Christ's faithful continually venerated, & in its structures & buildings duly repaired, conserved & maintained, also with books, chalices, lights, ornaments ecclesiastical, & other things necessary there for divine cult, decently fortified; & that Christ's faithful there the more willingly for the cause of devotion may flow to the same, & to the repair, conservation, maintenance, & fortification of this kind their hands more promptly extend as helpers, that thence there with the gift of heavenly grace more abundantly they may feel themselves refreshed; we Cardinals aforesaid, namely each of us through himself, to the supplications of the said Bartholomew, to us about this humbly extended, inclined, of almighty God's mercy & of the blessed Peter & Paul His Apostles' authority confiding, to all & each of Christ's faithful of either sex, truly penitent & confessed, on the feast of S. Maxima and others, who shall the said church on each, namely of S. Maxima (with whose Relics this very church, as is asserted, is decorated) of the Nativity of S. John the Baptist, & of the Assumption of B. Mary the Virgin, & of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, also of S. Honoratus's festivities & days, from first Vespers to second Vespers inclusive, devoutly shall have visited yearly, & to the aforesaid their hands shall have extended as helpers, for each festivity & aforesaid days on which they shall have done it, a hundred days from the penances enjoined on them now in the Lord we relax, the present perpetual to last in future times: in faith of which we have ordered our letters of this kind to be made, giving Indulgences in the year 1519. & with the appending of our seals to be fortified. Given at Rome in our houses, in the year from the nativity of the Lord one thousand five hundred nineteenth, on the seventh day indeed of the month of January, of the Pontificate of the most holy in Christ Father & Lord our, Lord Leo by Divine providence Pope the tenth, in the sixth year.

Io. Balteri

[5] Who first here is named Nicolaus of Albano, of the family of the Genoese Fieschi by Alexander VI first created Cardinal Presbyter of the title of S. Prisca, then made Archbishop of Ravenna in the year 1516; Who are these? by the Sammartani in Christian Gaul among the Bishops of Fréjus fifty-eighth is reckoned, & is called perpetual Administrator of the Churches of Fréjus & Toulon in the year 1510 named, & also of the Provostship of Pinerolo. To him therefore, as to his Ordinary he had recourse Bartholomaeus Prior of Callian, & by his favor obtained, that the others in their own name should also augment the desired Indulgences: therefore first here he signs before Franciscus Soderinus, made Cardinal in the same creation with him, from the Albano church the lowest among the Cardinalitial churches in rank, to the more sublime Praeneste elevated in the year 1516, afterwards also Bishop of Ostia. Antonius de Monte S. Sabini, from the creation of Iulius II Cardinal Presbyter of the title of S. Vitalis, to the title of S. Praxedis by Leo X was translated, then Archbishop of Siponto, afterwards by five titles of Cardinalitial Episcopates, that is all except Ostia, was successively augmented. Petrus de Accoltis, from the same creation of Iulius II, having obtained the title of S. Eusebius, although shunning dignities the Bishopric of Ancona he had resigned; nevertheless titles of many churches in Spain, Gaul, Belgium, Italy, & finally the Archbishopric of Ravenna he was forced to accept, thence in the Order of Cardinal Bishops to the Albanan, Praenestine & Sabine throne elevated. Hadrianus Gouffier the Gaul, four years before by Leo X named

Cardinal of the title of SS. Peter & Marcellinus, recently to the title of S. Sabina had transferred. Scaramuccia Trivultius of Milan, gifted with Purple in the same creation, remained always in that S. Cyriacus title which he first received. The same did Aloysius de Rubeis the Florentine, from the same creation of Leo X. Indeed also Ludovicus of Aragon, son of Ferdinand I King of Aragon, although already from the year 1497 under Alexander VI having obtained the Diaconate of S. Maria in Cosmedin, never took care to ascend higher: but his colleague Marcus Cornelius the Venetian, since up to here he had persisted in the Diaconal order, with the title of S. Mary in Via-lata, to the Presbyteral afterwards transgressing, obtained the title of S. Mark, & finally Bishop of Albano & Praeneste was called. The aforesaid two's colleague also was this last named Amaneus de Alebreto, of John King of Navarre brother, & in the first title of S. Nicolas in Carcere also persisted himself.

[6] Furthermore among the Days, on which the Indulgence is given, in the first place is expressed S. Maxima's festivity, as of the place's Patron primary, last of S. Honoratus, Saint Maxima herself, namely Bishop of Arles who is venerated XVI January, as Patron secondary, & before the patronage of S. Maxima was assumed perhaps once primary, namely before with miracles increasing at the body & cult of S. Maxima, under the appellation of this name to be celebrated the church had begun (as we note has more frequently happened) or even larger had been built & consecrated anew. Uncertain furthermore the conjecture remains, whether in the village Callidianum she lived & died the Saint; or indeed in the coastal one, which we said above, of her name in the place she conversed & deceased her body translated there is; with the monastery, which there had existed, destroyed & desolated, at the first perhaps incursions of the Saracens made on those shores in the VII century of Christ. Ludovicus du Four of our Society notable in this age in the College of Avignon Theologian (whom you would marvel in the Bibliotheca of our writers, commonly believed sister of S. Torpes; even after the most recent revision of Sotuel, omitted) in the Life of S. Leontius Bishop of Fréjus and Martyr, treating of his Episcopal See chap. 5 toward the end thus speaks: Almost S. Maxima the Virgin had escaped me… unless to me the title of the Supreme Pontiff had recalled her to memory. That she was born and educated among the Fréjusois to me would persuade to doubt the modesty of virgins, who content with native soil seek the solitude of home or chamber, & shun wandering peregrinations, as full of dangers & insidious snarers of modesty; unless of S. Torpes the sister tradition, fixed in the minds of all, & from ancient age to us transmitted, made her; which to reject does not please. There is venerated S. Torpes, notable Martyr under Nero, on the following day; & his body placed in a little ship is said by Angelic guidance to have landed at the Port of the Gulf, & by Celerina the Senatress received & buried, to have shone with notable miracles. Where Sinus is taken antonomastically for the Sinus of Provence, just as the very region by the name of Provence as if proper is called, contend the Gauls, against the Spaniards, this praise to themselves from S. Torpes's reception arrogating. In which contention truth to stand with the Gauls although it is verisimilar; not for that reason however verisimilar becomes such kindred, supported by no authority, but deserves to be despised as a fiction of the light crowd, always prone to combine the most disparate things, on the occasion of nearby or joined cult.

[7] With similar levity certain Hermits Augustinian of the same parts, having recently received power of venerating among the Saints of their Order Maxima the Virgin, by some wrongly confused with Maxima the African, the maidservant of a certain Vandal in Africa, illustrious for the glory of confession under King Geinseric, about whom Victor in book 1 says, that by the tyrant dismissed, mother of many Virgins of God, to him also in no way unknown was: recently, I say, Augustinian Hermits some have presumed on the sole similarity of name to found a conjecture, that because Hunericus, Geiseric's son, all monasteries of men & holy maidens to the Gentiles, that is the Moors, with their inhabitants ordered to be given (as in book 5 of the same Victor is said) fled this Maxima into Gaul with the Virgins subject to her, & there the day XVI May by her death consecrated. But I know not whether it deserves to be numbered among conjectures somehow tolerable. Not because another day is assigned to her, namely XVI October, by Usuard & Ado & others following them (for this was done by mere chance, on the occasion of the Martyrs CCLXX in Africa long before having suffered on such a day, according to the most ancient tables of all Martyrologies, which are ascribed to S. Jerome) but because there is no appearance, that Victor heard anything about Maxima's flight into Gaul, than which by far it is more verisimilar that she never set foot out of Africa; but with Hunneric dying at the end of the year 484 & the persecution ceasing, the dispersion of the holy Virgins she gathered into one of the desolate monasteries of Africa itself, & this was made known to Victor, in the third year after Hunneric's death & peace given back to the Catholics, writing his history at Constantinople, as his illustrator Chiffletius wishes, & whatever in Africa was being done studiously inquiring from those coming back and forth.

[8] & worse it is said she was sister of S. Augustine. Furthermore if by little tolerable conjecture is said, that in Gaul this Maxima died & merited cult; much less tolerable will be the more inept other one, by which some of the same Hermits (as is written to me) assert, that she who at Callian is venerated, was the sister of S. Augustine. Because this not even of that one can be presumed, whom Victor so praises, that he seems to say, that since with the Italian booty after Rome was captured in the year 455, she came into the hands of a certain Vandal, & that at quite tender age inasmuch as she was still a maiden & beautiful in body when with the youth Martinianus betrothed to her & his two brothers she fled from him, of whose entire house she ruled as if economist: for this supposes a faithful servitude of many years, within which she had entered such favor of her masters. So that of her not yet thirty years' flight to a monastery & the illustrious confession that followed this, does not seem to have happened before the year 470; when S. Augustine in the year 430, when he died, had reached the 76th year of his age, with mother Monica, in the year 389 having died, surviving for full forty years. And here I had set the end of doing, when behold from Fréjus is brought the letter of the above-praised D. Iosephus Antelmius, there in the Cathedral church Canon, explaining many things, which I had into fewer contracted; adding many things also, on the family of S. Maxima & the place of her dwelling making, which I had not yet known, which the already refuted most empty conjectures more overturn: wherefore the same word for word and almost integral to be added here I judged: with the addition of the Act or verbal Process of the most recent Translation of Relics, which the same from the French to be made into Latin he ordered, & with his subscription & seal as Official general fortified as authentic, III Nones of January of this year 1680.

LETTER OF D. I. ANTELMIUS

On the cult & country of S. Maxima.

Maxima, Virgin, of Callidianum in the diocese of Fréjus in Provence (S.)

FROM MSS.

[9] As I was meditating to write to your Paternity, most Reverend Father, Equivocation from the name of Forum-Julii, there came to me a letter of R. P. Faber, by which to me the same counsel had been given, on the occasion of those which from your part I received recently, by which the deeds and acts of S. Maxima the Virgin, all which in this province are found, to be communicated was demanded; since those at present you prepare for the press. Late indeed I received the aforesaid R. Father's letter: for which about the middle of April given at Avignon, on the Nones of June only to me were rendered; whence also my delay to be excused I trust, that perhaps not so hastily, as the matter demanded, my answer to this you have had. But lest greater procrastination be made, I gather now, & here insert in cluster, those which in my notes about holy Maxima as annotations I had set aside. Meanwhile of your part shall it be these all to weigh according to the balance of the exquisite judgment in which you abound; to which truly both to subject what I think, & to hold what it shall define I shall always glory. Therefore about S. Maxima of Fréjus difficulty alone is moved from the similar patronymic of the cities. For because there is among the Carni a city decorated with this name, & the Martyrologies all relate that S. Maxima at Forum-Julii is venerated without other more express designation; rightly it seems to be doubted, whether this city is Forum-Julii in our Phocensian Province, or Forum-Julii in Italy. And given that in both places S. Maxima obtains veneration; considering only the present state of things, nothing certain in one more, than the other part to gather perhaps will be allowed: but if further inquiry of the part be made, & deeper investigation of antiquity, for us all things to militate so far will be seen.

[10] it is removed by the addition of the Village Calidianus, For, that I may first stand on the words of Ado, which other Martyrologies use; when he besides Forum-Julii, the nearest village, which is called Calidianus, designates, where S. Maxima rests & is venerated; should be demonstrated, in Italy & in the vicinity of the Fréjus city a village of this name, called Calidianus; for as long as among them it shall be desired, this above her in moment shall prevail with us, that we point him out in the Fréjus diocese, & not far from the city. Indeed not yet in the Italian tract of Fréjus have I observed Calidianus, & unless my eyes deceive me, in the most exact geographical map of Antonio Magino I did not see Calidianus in the diocese of Aquileia or Udine: which however is principal in the matter about which is treated. But even if there were a Village Calidianus there, its antiquity and fame however will not show those, such as we from nearly seven hundred years shall confirm. Namely Calidianum, or Calidianus village was at the beginning of the XI century, of great name, decorated with the title of Principate: for 700 years having its own Princes, & the Princes of Calidianum among the Nobles & Magnates of the Province eminent were. For Guillelmus I Count of Provence sought their affinity, & his daughter Emmagarda to Hugo the Prince in matrimony joined, & lands many in dowry assigned, of which the same spouses by pious donation, some portion conceded to the Lerins monastery about the thirtieth year of the running XI century, of which donation a fragment is had in the Lerins Chronology p. 2 page 152, more fully expressed with the Historians of Provence. To him succeeded Fulco Dodo, of whom frequent memory exists under the name of supreme Lord & Prince of Callian, toward the end of the same century. Of the same Principate the name through subsequent centuries was most flourishing, & today is: for that Calidianum tract is heard with us & is called le Callianez, under which many & notable towns are inscribed.

[11] Hence is given enough to gather, that, if the Calidianum Principate was of such celebrity about the tenth century; besides which, no other knew Ado, Ado, who flourished toward the end of the ninth & these times touched, in which in the mouth of fame were the Princes of Calidianum, no other place & village could understand,

than that which was in Provence, when he wrote first that Maxima in the Calidianus village had died. Which if he had learned that the holy Virgin in Italy had completed mortality, in a town of the same name (since he could not have escaped that in the Phocensian Province, nearest Vienne in which Ado lived, another notable castle of this name to be reckoned), with another designation he would have expressed the matter, nor would have arisen henceforth the equivocation, & it would have been plainer to say: At Forum-Julii in Italy of S. Maxima &c. Again Petrus de Natalibus, country a Venetian, Bishop of Equilo, who the matters of his country could not be ignorant, Ado to the word followed: whence, if then, that is about the year 1470 in which he flourished, two towns of this name he had known, doubtless he would have spoken otherwise. Which indeed he must necessarily have known, if (which to me from V. Cl. Henricus de Suares noble citizen of Avignon, most knowledgeable of paternal antiquity, asserted R. P. Faber) that Petrus the Venetian, his book on the Lives of Saints at Avignon elaborated. For thus neither those things which his country, in which the Episcopate of Esculo, or Equilo, subject to the Venetian Metropolis, & Petrus de Natal. he obtained; nor those which were singular of the Province in which he was writing, could be unknown to him: that therefore he indistinctly designated the Calidianum village, is argument, that no other from that one which is in our Province he understood.

[12] But on these things a little more I delay, Reverend Father, because also among ours is the tradition, that S. Maxima died in a Castle or village by the sea of the Sambracitan gulf, from her name still called; & which now possesses the family de Grasse, thence however on account of fear of pirate incursions, by the Princes of Calidianum dominating that tract were extracted, & to Calidianum castle translated. Hence Calidianum's Toparchs the same S. Maxima from their lineage born wish. For those who today from this stock origin to lead glory, & those who in truth in the past century this Dynasty obtained (these moreover whom from Grassa we name, in French de la maison de Grasse, illustrious indeed & of proven antiquity from the year 1100, as is to be seen with the historians of Provence) as if by continued tradition of elders to posterity, that S. Maxima from a common stock origin led constantly hold. And so high in the minds of his people that sat, that, when on the occasion of incoming wars the dead remains of the blessed Virgin had been translated to the city; Ludovicus de Grassa, great Senechal of Provence & Vice-governor, about the year 1517 to Fréjus with military hand, with six thousand foot or horse (which were the troops of Provence over which he presided) entered, & by force extracted the holy Body to the Village Calidianum carried back; from this single cause so inflamed, that she from his own lineage sprung, & of the same was Tutelary. In whose opinion's support, S. Maxima as his own Family member he venerates. I saw in the chest of relics of the holy Virgin, which by command of the Most Illustrious Antistes Antonius Benedictus de Clermont was opened in the year elapsed, a certain little chest, in which was placed a certain part of her furniture: which chest is outwardly marked with the shield of the family of Grassa, which consists of two crimson chevrons in golden field, & with the insignia of the city of Fréjus, which are a silver cross in red field, with sewn the head of the shield decorated with three lilies of France. I observed besides, recently turning aside into the castle of Cabris of the Diocese of Grasse or Antibes, whose dominion possesses Lord J. de Grassa, a most ancient painted image of S. Maxima, with one hand a palm, with the other a seal with the insignia of the family of Grassa exhibiting. And this image is preserved in the hall of the same Toparch's house. Which even if the faith of this Family they do not everywhere prove; that at least they evince, that S. Maxima, not as foreign, but as a popular figure & fellow-countryman from many centuries back was known to have been; & that for certain ought to be held, that the Princes of Calidianum or their posterity, or who from them right in this village obtained, S. Maxima who there was reported to have died, as Patroness & Tutelary took up.

[13] But how in the city & diocese the cult of the holy Virgin is most ancient, in few words now it pleases to weigh. And first I note that her memory is had in the chartularies of the Chapter, her ancient memory in the chartularies, in a certain instrument of permutation between the Provost of Fréjus & the Abbot of Lerins held, by which the aforesaid Abbot in the year 1232, with the consent of the Monks, cedes to the Chapter of Fréjus whatever has the Lerins monastery in the holding of Fréjus, of Pojetum, of Roccabruna & of S. Maxima, & of the castle of Miramarsi, which individual territories around the gulf of Fréjus or Sambracitan lie between; so that no suspicion can be, that the holding of S. Maxima here expressed, is other than this parish on the seashore, which from her is called commonly S. Maxime. While Reverend Yours hears that territory of S. Maxima then was occupied by the Lerinois, perhaps by this thought it will be struck with me, that this was from those lands, which Hugo Prince of Calidianum to the Lerins monastery had given before nearly two hundred years. Truly, as I said, constant is the tradition that tract to the Princes of Calidianum once belonged, and thence strongly would be confirmed, that the sacred body of S. Maxima there resting was rightly by the same Lords to another place, secure from maritime infestations, carried back. But whatever about that conjecture be, that is established, that the holy Virgin's name & memory in the XIII century in our diocese flourished from our & Lerins chartularies. most ancient ruins, And to these even older monuments are at hand. For toward the West, twenty miles from the city, exists a most ancient Basilica, with great ruins of buildings, where a monastery was constantly reported to have been, under S. Maxima's invocation, with broad lands of greatest revenue endowed around it; whence the appendage of the Priesthood or Priory of the parochial Church of Cannet is formed, from which, in any case very fat, a certain canon of grain yearly to the Archdeacon of Fréjus is bound to pay the Rector of the parish. Furthermore that little chapel, nearly fallen by extreme antiquity, before seven hundred years constructed easily will judge, whoever shall see: which all things in these times also more ancient cult of the holy Virgin in our region sufficiently betray.

[14] What remains, in the Church of Fréjus the same veneration is not more recent. Reverend Y. has already seen in our Breviary, of which an exemplar to R. P. Faber the same to be sent I had handed over, that S. Maxima's festivity is assigned on XVII Kalends of June under semi-double rite, which day from the indicated in the Roman Martyrology & others does not differ. He shall have observed also her invocation in the Litanies inserted in the aforesaid Breviary; & Litanies. but most ancient I have come upon recently in the Archive of the Chapter, in MS. parchment codex of best note, which is inscribed (but by a more recent hand) directorium of the Church of Fréjus, that in it are arranged the Offices of greater solemnity. Although however that codex of hoary antiquity seems, & before five hundred years written; the Litanies however to those in another parchment sewn show greater antiquity: for in majuscule character, & this in many on account of antiquity obliterated, are written. In these the venerable memory of S. Maxima in this order is read. S. Maria Magdalene, S. Perpetua, S. Felicitas, S. Agatha, S. Agnes, S. Lucia, S. Cecilia, S. Scholastica, S. Maxima, S. Tecla, S. Christina, S. Margarita, S. Catharina, S. Fides, all SS. Virgins, all SS. Widows & Continent. Thus the aforesaid Litanies: which from another chapter to me also seem most ancient, that neither in the holy Martyrs or Confessors there invoked are enunciated any, who after the X century have flourished, as also of the holy Virgins can be observed. For S. Francis's name was subjected, & thus also to the margin by another hand written most recently. S. Maxima's therefore memory flourishing voluntarily is reported in the Church of Fréjus about the tenth century: & even from this alone, unless it were established from Usuard & Ado, sufficiently could it be gathered, that she died long before the invasion of the Saracens into Provence, that is before the year 890, in which at the gulf Sambracitan that citadel, most notorious for robberies, called Fraxinetum, they built: indeed even before that time, if she died here, that elsewhere has been translated her body.

[15] Furthermore since in those unfortunate times the Church of Fréjus lost all its documents in the conflagration of the city, which by the Saracens with iron & fire was so devastated, no Acts of the Life are now found: that to nothing it is said to have been reduced, with only the name of the Bishopric in it remaining (which are the words of an authentic red document preserved in the Episcopal archive, & with Antonius de Ruffy & Sammartani, if I am not mistaken, inserted) it is no wonder if the Acts of the blessed Virgin in its chartularies are desired. I have inquired diligently at Calidianum in the course of the visitation of D. Bishop; in whose retinue, as Official of Fréjus the parts sustaining, I was present. But neither in the chest, in which are preserved her Relics, which with greatest sedulity for an entire hour I rolled; nor among the documents of the prior parochial Church, which to me readily were communicated, have I obtained anything about her deeds, beyond the autograph of the Bull, of which to Reverend Yours already copy I had made. I hear with you a transcript of that diploma to be of great authority, & rightly indeed: for (which also to observe is fitting) who first among ten Cardinals, granting indulgence, is named Nicolaus of Albano, that was Nicolaus de Flisco Bishop of Fréjus, who that Church, of which he had been Provost & Vicar General under Urban brother or paternal uncle, ruled from the year 1495, & the parts of most vigilant Pastor executed; & who therefore matters of his diocese, which he had often visited, thoroughly knew. Whence when created Cardinal, with other Colleagues, Indulgences he grants in the year 1519, for the parochial Church of Callian, which is said to be decorated with the relics of S. Maxima, the matter he expounds, which through himself he knew: & if then about it had been doubted, in no wise that grace would the most religious man have imparted, by doctrine, piety, & expertise of things commended by all historians.

[16] that she was Abbess is not established: There are who assert that S. Maxima, in the Sambracitan gulf, where exists the village & church under her invocation, ruled for many years a society of Virgins, shown for this reason the ruins of a larger monastery, in the villa of a certain rustic, where have been observed recently of a certain dormitory and cells the traces, which only of those leading common life could be habitations: in which opinion the parish-priest of the church, quite a diligent investigator of these things so concedes, that for it as for altar & hearths he militates, & me to it confirming by some monuments of writing often invites. But even if about a monastery, there once founded, with him & with others I agree: not however to me hitherto has it been proved, that there the blessed Virgin

presided, & that this rather of Virgins than of Men's Asceterium existed. today's cult of her in the Cathedral of Fréjus, Wherefore in the edition of the Codex proper of the Saints of the Church of Fréjus, to whose elaboration by Bishop & Clergy I had been Set Over, I preferred to leave the Acts of S. Maxima's life intact, & to the common of Virgins, her Office to assign, than these and other entirely uncertain things to publish. I obtained however, that under double rite she be celebrated, when to the Antistes, opening the chest of her relics, I was the author, that from it a certain notable part of them in the Cathedral to be deposited he should pluck out; which he also did. We have therefore now one of her ribs, with other particles of her sacred bones. Beyond the aforesaid parochial Church of Callidianum; & another parochial of S. Maxima, in the village from her name, on the seashore; & the basilica & priesthood of S. Maxima of Cannet, commonly le Canet; I do not find in the Province villages or churches from her named. For the village which on the chorographical map of Provence, near the town of Forcalquier, is inscribed S. Maxime, ought of S. Maximus the Bishop to be understood, & is so understood. In the diocesan Churches' chartularies however, which in the course of the Visitation sedulously I examined, S. Maxima's memory I noted in a very ancient Calendar of the Collegiate Church of Barjols, commonly Barjols (where the body of S. Marcellus Bishop of Die rested) founded by Rayambaldus Bishop of Arles in the year 1061, & the Collegiate of Barjols, where her festivity is assigned also on XVII Kalends of June.

[17] These are altogether, the things which hitherto in reading have come to mind, most learned Father: & by these whether of letters, or of buildings monuments S. Maxima ours we recognize; & as a kinswoman the noble stock of Grassa, we as a popular figure invoke, from most constant & above all memory tradition. I do not know whether more proven things have the Italians, who her likewise make their own. Truly into none have I fallen, against these things nothing the Italians produce. who with any authority would prove the deed: & the same Ferdinandus Ughellus, who in this century described sacred Italy, & whose work as old monuments of Churches, whatever exist, he should investigate, sufficiently demanded, while about the Fréjus city & College of Canons there constituted he speaks quite at length, says indeed, that it was illustrated by the death of S. Maxima, but only with the Roman Martyrology's words confirms his opinion: which truly argues that that Church no better title for this has. But it has perhaps happened, that R. Y. who from all peoples old documents conducting to her purpose inquires, of S. Maxima certain things communicated by the Fréjus Italians (if any however they have) shall have obtained, which truly I would much desire; that with both parties heard, she might judge between us & them, & by contradiction, as they say, define, lest afterwards into this opinion which she shall give anyone dare to rise up, & move the limits, which she shall have set: which truly that I have in no way attempted to go, on account of that science, perspicacity, & other notable gifts of mind, treating sacred history becoming, by which to her & the Venerable Master, of study, of labor & of glory leader, eminent I know, & at the beginning attested & making the end again attest. We do not wish, as piously in his manner said Augustine in book on true religion chap. 55, that there be religion to us in our phantasms: for better is whatever true, than every whatever can be feigned at will: better is true straw, than light formed by empty thought, according to the will of one suspecting. May God O. M. supply, that an immense work, arduous & untried, to the greater glory of His name with such your praise, with such utility of the Christian Republic undertaken, & to the half-completed center, absolve be able: may He renew like an eagle his youth, & make him with those a part, whose glory with such care & felicity he promotes. I in the meantime, small imitator of huge examples, the Sparta which I have obtained shall busy myself to adorn; this is, the recension of the Saints of the Church & diocese of Fréjus, for your sake begun, according to my measure shall I hasten to perfect; whereby I might be known to you always more to all obeisances toward your Paternity, whom I deeply venerate, most prepared. Forum-Julii V Id. June A. D. 1679.

TRANSLATION

Made in the year 1643, & signed by an authentic instrument.

Maxima, Virgin, of Callidianum in the diocese of Fréjus in Provence (S.)

FROM MSS.

[18] Vicar of Fréjus We Andreas Leget, Presbyter, in sacred Theology Licentiate, perpetual Vicar of the Cathedral Church of the city of Fréjus, Commissary delegated by the Reverend in Christ Father D. D. Petrus de Camellin, Bishop & Lord of Fréjus, make known by the power to us made through the decree given this present year 1643 & on XIX February, by this subscription confirmed Petrus Bishop of Fréjus, & below Benoist Graphiarius; at the instance & requisition of the Consuls or Syndics of the town of Calidianum, from the city of Fréjus to the aforesaid town to have proceeded, on the day XV May of the same year; 16 May & on the next day, that is XVI of the same month, on which recurs the feast day of Holy Maxima, with the same Syndics requiring, to the parochial church we to have betaken; where after the most sacred sacrifice of Mass, there celebrated by us, in the presence of D. D. Antonius Tardieu Presbyter Parish-priest or Prior, of Joannes Guerin, of Petrus Digne of Barjamonensis Presbyters, serving the parochial church, of Henricus Aubanellus Presbyter of Calidianum, of Fredericus de Villanova Presbyter & Prior of the town of Cipieres; with also there standing were Alexander & Claudius de Villanova brothers Knights of the Order of holy John of Jerusalem, Demoiselle Francisca de Villanova, Lady de Turretis near Vence of the Nerusii, & also of the castle of Calidianum; Demoiselle Francisca de Villanova, Lady of Broves & Calidianum. before many witnesses, Demoiselle Claudia de Grassa, Lady of Clumans & Calidianum; Petrus Castillon, I. V. D. Judge of the present town; Joannes Bellissen, Royal Notary, son of the late Antonius, Lieutenant or Pro-judge; Petrus Bouge, Syndic; Paulus Castillon & Antonius Issaurat, Assessors; Antonius Baudoüin, formerly receiver Royal; Jacobus Leget, Petrus Felix, & Andreas Senequier, Estimators of estates, & ordinary Counsel Assessors; Joannes Canety, Royal Notary; Joannes Bellissen, Surgeon; also Joannes Bellissen, Royal Notary son of the aforesaid Joannes; Henricus Bellissen, carder; Andreas & Antonius Spitalier, Brothers; Antonius Merle, Joannes Baudoüin, Joannes Bouge, locksmith; Petrus & Henricus Bellissen brothers, & others from the chief townsmen; we opened the cabinet, fortified with iron bars, in the chapel of Holy Maxima.

[19] In which when we had found a sealed casket, & had brought to the major altar, the chest of S. Maxima opened with the accustomed ceremonies duly observed; the aforesaid casket we unsealed, in which the bones & sacred relics of Holy Maxima soon to be remembered we found. And first a little box of round figure, in which we found a certain white linen quite ample, on which little box's border are painted as if insignia, an Eagle, wooden box, in which was a white shroud, with a little rib, or some bony particle: another small linen with little ribbons, of red, green, saffron colors: a certain small textile, of cotton-silk neatly worked with needle: also a little chest, in which was found a certain written paper, which to read we could not, with a certain bone particle, recognizes & enumerates each item placed within wrapped in many silk cloths: which little chest is fortified with its lid, on whose middle is painted a lily flower, & above the insignia of the city of Fréjus, which exhibit two Chevrons, & the insignia of the town of Calidianum. Which linens, shrouds, ribbons, bones or relics in the said boxes detected we enclosed in the same, as before to be preserved. And continually in the same casket the rest of Holy Maxima's bones, or sacred relics, conspicuous to us were: namely bones of two tibias, as many hips, also the spine of the back entire, two scapulas, a single rib, the calvaria, & many particles of the head, of which some in part bruised, others to certain teeth adhering, of all of which the enumeration made by us, proceeded to 250 bones, in no way in that count are comprehended the bones above expressed.

[20] & he transfers them into a new casket And those sacred Relics, exposed to the sight of the standing people, were soon enclosed with the two designated boxes in a new casket, elaborated at the expenses of the University; & this recent casket, by us closed & with crystalline glass on the front part adorned, in the same cabinet of the chapel of the same holy Virgin reverently we deposited. Furthermore the key by which the casket itself is closed to the aforesaid Petrus Bouge Syndic we entrusted: of the two however, attached to the cabinet covered with iron bars, one to the aforesaid D. Tardieu Parish-priest, the other to the same Petrus Bouge was committed, that they should duly preserve them. And a little after in the general procession, accustomed to be made on account of the festivity of Holy Maxima celebrity, the same casket with solemn pomp & due honor & reverence was carried, & after this in the accustomed cabinet placed, & the keys by the Parish-priest & Syndic afore-named were received. In whose all things' fuller faith, with an instrument made on the whole matter. we Vicar & Commissary with D. D. Parish-priest, Presbyters, Lords, Ladies, Judge, Syndic, & others above expressed of the chiefs of Calidianum, these acts or verbal process subscribed, & with Balthazar Baudoüin Royal Notary of Calidianum's subscription we caused to be fortified. There follow then the subscriptions of each, for which is the attestation of the interpreter conceived in these words: I Josephus Vairas Presbyter, in the Episcopal Seminary of Fréjus under the title of S. Leontius Reader of sacred Theology, testify, that I from the commission & mandate of R. D. Official General of Fréjus the Acts of the Translation of S. Maxima the Virgin, in the Archive of Ecclesiastical insinuations preserved, from the French to the Latin word for word sincerely have rendered: at Fréjus on the tenth day of December in the year 1679.

ON S. CARENTOCUS OR CERNATHUS

BISHOP ABBOT IN WALES AND IRELAND.

CENT. V.

Carentocus, or Cernatus, Abbot in Wales & Ireland (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

In Wales, formerly called Britannia secunda or Cambria, toward the South, on the British sea is a province, formerly Ceretica, now nearly called the County of Cardigan, Life drawn out by Dugdale from a Cottonian Ms. as we more fully expounded on the Kalends of March before the Life of S. David Bishop of Menevia, sprung from the royal stem there: from which also, but somewhat earlier, there arose S. Carentocus; to the Hibernians, when among them later in sanctity he flourished, Cernathus. Whose life from the Cottonian Library's MS. codices drew out, & for us to be transcribed took care, the best & most learned old man Wilhelmus Dugdale of Warwick, supreme through England King, as they call, of Arms, well having deserved of his country by the edition of the Antiquities of Warwick, & of the monuments of the Pauline among the Londinians church, & other books of this kind, but especially of the great three volumes, under the title of Monasticon Anglicanum; whose even sole frontispiece considered will appear, how well of the Catholic religion, although he not yet a Catholic, he thinks. Namely above the head of SS. Gregory

and Augustine, Apostles of England, on the one side ancient Faith & Piety is placed, to be known by the fruits; on the other Antiquity, raising her head among the clouds, receives light from old codices; below indeed on one side a suppliant before the altar a pious King, to God & the Church endows & builds monasteries; on the other an impious King, with proud mouth thundering, Thus I will, & of monasteries despoiled & desolated by his command the ruins with threatening sceptre standing displays: which moreover ought to please all more, declares the lemma taken from Ovid's Metamorphosis.

--- Not all things has greater age, Which we should flee.

The same when at the beginning of the first volume he had treated of the first institution of monks, commending the antiquity of the institute and sanctity from the opinion of the Ancients, to the same volume then he judged worth the trouble to subjoin, what about the subversion of monasteries even the Reformed Neoterics have judged, as they namely wish to be called.

[2] the contracted is in Capgrave, This Dugdale therefore, having received notice of our work and the praised proposal, in the highest & with most useful studies occupied age, first what he knew useful to us with a prolix catalogue indicated; then what we signified to be lacking from it in our Museum he caused to be transcribed, & among other various Lives of Saints, also of S. Carentocus, that very one which Ioannes of Tinmouth had transcribed somewhat more contractedly, & Ioannes Capgrave had brought to light, whence our Michael Alfordus took it & re-printed it in the Annals of the British Church on the year 480 no. 7. for what reason here it is placed. The same Camden in his Apparatus of Britain & Usher chap. 17 on the beginnings of British Churches page 847, allege: nor little do they seem to grant to it, although they were not ignorant, that itself, as nearly all other Lives of Welsh & Hibernian Saints, was written by an author of far later age, from the tradition of the people, accustomed to add not a little appearance of fabulosity even to most true things, clothing them in an utterly insipid manner & with plainly fatuous circumstances. Hence it happens that such Lives we insert into our work not otherwise, than as to be read with great indulgence toward the most simple peoples, & only so long to be tolerated, as more certain & more worthy of reading monuments are lacking, from which some notice of those Saints might be drawn; since to this at least they serve, that the public ancient veneration of them in the people, obscured by superinduced clouds of heresies, they may make to shine again with posterity, & about the place and time, in which they lived & died, sometimes the curious & pious reader they may instruct.

[3] Thus in the very beginning of this Life is said To all men believing in God a venerable solemnity, Cult on 16 May, when into heaven was assumed B. Carentocus: in the end however that he proceeded into the island of Ireland (from his native Ceretica country namely) & was buried on XVII Kalends of June: which day of his cult also assigns the Sarisburian Martyrology in Colganus, in the Appendix to the Acts of S. Patrick chap. 4 no. 8, adding that he was nephew on the sister Darerca's side, which would not easily persuade us, considering each one's birth-place, far from each other distant, & condition of family too disparate. Richardus Witfordus in the Martyrology printed in English about the year 1526 also reports Carantacus on the day XVI May; that it is wonderful that Ioannes Wilsonus in the prior edition of the English Martyrology omitted S. Carentocus, in the later deferred to the following XVII May. As regards his age, it is said in the Life that in those times, (in which namely S. Carentocus accompanied S. Patrick into Ireland) the Scotti overcame Britain thirty years before the birth of S. David, He passed into Ireland with S. Patrick not in the year 413 which since we have judged should be referred to the year 445, the consequence would be, that the said Saints' entry into the Island pertains to the year 413. But this little moves us, who in the Appendix to the Life of S. Patrick on XVII March §4, showed that not to be trusted is that XXX years' span, which in designating the Chronology of their Saints so frequently is used by the Hibernians, gratuitously assuming it convicted in many. Patrick went indeed in that year according to us into Ireland, or 433 but alone; & the barbarians stopping their ears to his preaching, he returned whence he had come, considering greater power needed by him, which before the year 433 he did not obtain. Therefore Usher refers these things hither. But neither then more than nine companions did S. Patrick lead into Ireland; Since therefore it is said about him & Carentocus in this one's Life, that many Clerics walked with them, so that it behooved both from each other to be separated; to that, rather, but 445. in which S. David was born, year I shall defer Carentocus's entry into Ireland: because then, as in the Chronotaxis of Patrician history I said, returning from the Roman excursion Patrick, preached in Western Britain, ordained monasteries, & many auxiliary companions in the Hibernian harvest drew with himself.

[4] It is to be noted furthermore, that he who reduced this life into the form of a sermon, as we have it, for the festivity of the Saint, took away its whole exordium, & composed a certain proper shorter one. The same however, or those who described the Cottonian Codex, the older exordium, lest it perish, placed at the end: which not at all to be followed by him judged the Tinmouthian, restored it again to its place, but prudently omitted the series of generations, drawn through twenty steps unto Belus son of Anna, his fabulous genealogy. which they say is cousin of Mary the Virgin. We the Tinmouthian's example shall thus follow, that neither the latter exordium do we omit, nor expunge anything, that more manifest might become the sincerity of our judgment; & better may discern the reader, what & how far is credible: who at least for amusement of mind will see a specimen of Hibernian and Welsh ingenuities in inventing genealogies; which today still their poets with such supercilium intone, as if they were pouring forth mere oracles, deceiving the ears of credulous crowd, & squeezing the purses of those, to whom it is sweet from so many ages to have their ancestors recensed, great and not at all truer reproaches of their family they shall hear from the same, if their bestowing hand they shall draw back.

LIFE

Suspect of much fabulosity.

From a MS. of the Cottonian Library at London, under the effigy Vespasian A 14. fol. 90.

Carentocus, or Cernatus, Abbot in Wales & Ireland (S.)

BHL Number: 1562, 1563

FROM A MS.

OLDER EXORDIUM.

[1] Fabulous genealogy of grandfather Cuneda At a certain time was a man by name Keredic. A King was this man, & had many sons: of whom one was Carentocus by name, son of Keredic, Mak Cuneda, Mak Ethern, Mak Patern, Pes a Ludant, Mak Tacit, Mak Kein, Mak Guorchem, Mak Doli, Mak Gurdoli, Mak Donni, Mak Guordonni, Mak Amguoloie, Mak Amguerit, Mak Omnid, Mak Dubunn, Mak Britguenin, Mak Eugen, Mak Aballath, Mak Canabeth, Mak Beli, & Anna his mother, whom they say is Cousin of Mary the Virgin. Cuneda therefore had sons: Tipipann firstborn, who died in the region ^b Mann Gudodin, & sons, & his father Cuneda came not here & his brothers: but Meriann his son divided the possessions of his father among his brothers. Second Ismael, third Kumann, fourth Dunann, fifth Keredic, sixth Abalach, seventh Emmann, eighth Dogmaile, ninth Etern. This is their boundary, from the river which is called ^c Donbyr duiu, to another river which is called Guonn: & they held very many regions in western Britain. Keredic however held Kereditia, & from him it is named. And after he had held it, came ^d Scotti, & fought with them, & occupied all regions. Of these one Keredik father of Carentocus: But Keredic was old. And the elders said to him, Old you are, Lord, you cannot fight, you must ordain one King from your sons. Who is the elder? He said to them Karentoc. They said; He must be King. But Karentoc loved more the heavenly King than the earthly kingdom, & his Lord's will than human favor: & he after he heard, took flight, lest they find him. But first he bought a better & came into a place which is called Guerit-Carantanc, & remained there for some time, & wished there to pray to God. And when he was there & wished to work, came a Dove, drew everything that fell from the staff daily. who having dismissed the kingdom lived in the desert. And he said; Lord, where does it draw? And he resolved in mind: I will go, & see where it draws this. And he arose, where it went, through forest, through pass. Came the Dove, descended in the place where the church is today, & dismissed there. And he saw & said: Here it behooves me to be, because God willed: & remained for some space, where to God devoted he paid thanks.

LATER EXORDIUM.

[2] Venerable is the solemnity of this day, to all men believing in God, when assumed into heaven was B. Carentocus, son of Cereticus: who was raised by parents close to Christ, according to worldly dignity: for it is easy to lead his generation to Mary mother of the Lord, than which no one among the Kings of Britons is held higher. But to earthly kingdoms to tend he did not wish.

HISTORY OF THE LIFE.

[3] From the years of childhood he had innocence, & afterwards he went into the cave Edilo, & read Canonical lessons of the new & old Law. Then he proceeded to the island of Ireland, with Patrick going before. They however met together unanimously, & ^f were collated unanimously, as is said, Behold how good & how delightful it is for brothers to dwell as one. Ps. 132, 1. & with S. Patrick crossing into Ireland Counsel however they made between themselves how they should act: & they said that they should be separated one to the left, & the other to the right; because many Clerics walked with them ^g… And Carentocus proceeded to the right side, ^h Patrick however to the left, & they said that they should meet one time in the year. In those times ⁱ the Scotti overcame Britain; the names of whose Leaders, ^k Briscus, Thubaius, Machleves, Auxatus thirty years before the birth of S. David son of ^l Sant. Well Carentocus was received in Ireland: for it is not difficult for God to lead His servants. The Angel of the Lord accompanied with him in the figure of a dove: he shines with miracles, & changed his name in their language to Cernath: & churches & cities were exalted under his name in the region ^m Legen. And wherever he went, virtues & innumerable prodigies he did. By God's nod he healed many thousands of men, filled with various pains, the blind, lame, lunatic, & similar to these: whom God enriched with the highest seats & rewards, to reign with the happy princes of the heavens.

[4] The Blessed Cernach's works ⁿ are read in Ireland

throughout the entire country, just as are read at Rome the prodigies and perfect life of B. Peter the Apostle. He is equated with the Apostles, as is read; Go, teach all nations: And the grace which was given to the Apostles, & with Apostolic virtue. in him was fulfilled. Whatever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven, & whatever you shall bind upon earth shall be bound also in heaven. Such therefore is to be feared & adored, who is powerful in the high throne from good work, & powerful to save bodies on earth, from all languors. Strong he was & faithful, in peace ministering: for in a wonderful way he was similar to the Angels; under the presence of the sun a strong soldier, marvelous, spiritual, the highest Abbot, longanimous instructor of fidelity, announcing just things to all the just, herald of the heavenly kingdom. He lived for many years: to the unbelievers crimes of sins he forgave, that all might merit to sit in the highest of heaven, returning thanks to God: & prayers through each day & innumerable nights he poured forth, most fervent, holy, & most salutary. This is to God dear Cernacus: for the conversion of the Hibernians. helped indeed from heaven & enriched divinely with great gifts of God, of whom no death piously did to men. He found indeed grace, with great labor sought, pious & most pure, signed through the parable of a most luminous lamp; when as Pastor of the Church he wonderfully held the golden Ecclesiastical candelabra. O most light Pastor! O ^o Bishop, holy & most chaste, following Peter's works in the Apostolic See, & Paul in doctrine, leading many regions to the faith. Thus Carentocus led the Regions of the Hibernians, ensnared in the nets [p] of the magicians, honored by their Kings.

[5] And afterwards [q] he came again to his own Region Kereditia, Returned to Britain, to his cave with many Clerics: & there he did many virtues, which no one can enumerate. And Christ gave him an honorable altar from on high, of which no one understood the color. And afterwards he came to the Sabrina [r] river that he might sail, & cast the altar [s] into the sea, which also went before, where God willed him to come. In those times Cato [t] & Arthur were reigning in that country, dwelling in Diudraithov: & Arthur came going around to find a serpent, most powerful, huge, terrible, which had devastated twelve parts of the field [v] Carrum. And Carentocus came & saluted Arthur: he is said the noxious serpent of the fields, who rejoicing received the blessing from him. And Carentocus asked Arthur, whether he had heard, where his altar had landed. And Arthur responded: If I shall have a price, I shall announce to you. And he said, What price do you ask? He responded: That you bring forth the serpent which is near to you, & we may see if you are a servant of God. Then B. Carentocus proceeded & prayed to the Lord. And forthwith came the serpent with great noise, like a calf running to its mother; & inclined his head before the servant of God, like a servant obedient to his Lord, humble in heart & gentle in eyes. And he sent his stole around his neck, & led him as a lamb, nor did he raise his wings nor claws: & his neck was, as the neck of a bull of seven years. called to himself, Which scarcely could be encircled by the stole. Then they proceeded together to the citadel, & saluted [x] Cato. And well were they received by him. And he led that serpent into the middle of the hall, & fed him before the people, & they tried to kill him. He did not let him be killed, because he said that from the word of God he had come, that he might destroy the sinners, who in Carrum were, & that he might show the strength of God through him. And afterwards he proceeded outside the gate of the citadel, to have driven away by word, & Carentocus released him, & ordered him, that departing he should harm no one, nor return more. And he went out, & remained, just as the ordination of God before said. And he received the altar, which Arthur had thought to make into a table, but whatever was placed upon it, was thrown far. And the King asked from him, that he might receive Carrum into eternal deed [y]: & afterwards he built a church there.

[6] Afterwards came a voice to him from heaven, that he should send the altar into the sea. Then Cato sent Arthur, that he should inquire about the altar; & it was announced to them, that in the mouth [z] of Guellit it had landed, & the King said: Likewise give him twelve parts of the field, where the altar had been found. Afterwards came Carentocus, & built there a church & it was called the City [aa] Carrov. But came a voice to him from heaven & said, that he should go into exile & leave his family. Here innumerable are buried in that city, & finally died in Ireland. nor are their names named, & he alone proceeded to the island of Ireland, & was buried on XVII Kal. of June in his city preclare & best of all his cities, which is called the city [bb] Chernacli. And he migrated in peace: & peace he left, & peace he found, as is read; Blessed the peaceful, because they shall be called sons of God. And again the Prophet says: Precious in the sight of the Lord, the death of His Saints. He was mindful that the carnal substance of this world is fragile: all things, although now they are beautiful, yet corruptible. To Zabulus he was greatly contrary, gaining many men. O truly blessed life! O worthy of the gifts of God! O truly blessed man! in whom guile was not, judging no one, despising no one, returning evil to no one for evil. Often he wept for the blasphemers, who remains without stain, with joy & glory, among the troops of Angels, in ages of ages. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.

p. Of these Magicians you will read many things in the Life of S. Patrick.

q. Alfordus in the year 489 no. 7 says, that Carentocus for thirty years sowed the faith in Ireland: & cites Capgrave's words, in which nothing else is said, than that thirty years before the birth of S. David Carentocus in Ireland began to converse.

r. Sabrina, commonly Severn, flowing through regions to the East of Wales, & between Monmouth & Gloucester Counties going under the sea.

s. So many Hibernian & Welsh Saints are praised for miracles, wrought on an altar floating on waters, that this matter cannot but be suspect.

t. Of Cato I have read nothing elsewhere: Arthur, by all writers most celebrated King of the Britons, in what time he began to reign is altogether ambiguous; his death most place in the year 542, & wish him as a youth in the year 493 to have fought at Mount Badonicum: wherefore Alfordus thinks that the beginning of his reign can be deferred to the year 508. It behooves therefore that the Britons find another Arthur, who could in Carentocus's return have reigned in some part of Wales. Since however we have above touched on the family fatuity in inventing genealogies, see also in Alfordus on the year 508 no. 8 how it is said that Arthur drew origin through his mother from that noble decurion Joseph of Arimathea, who buried the Lord: for they write, that Helanis nephew of Joseph begot Josue, Josue begot Aminadab, Aminadab begot Castellors, Castellors begot Mavael, Mavael begot Lambord son, who begot Igerna, from whom King Uterpendracon begot the noble & famous King Arthur.

v. Skinner in the latter part of his Etymological work alleges Camden, in the Paralipomena page 116 saying, that Car to the Britons signifies Marsh or Alder-grove: Car otherwise everywhere City is translated in proper names of places.

x. It seems therefore that Arthur's father was Cato: if truly these two ever reigned: therefore a little below, where the copy wrongly had, sent Cato Arthur, the correction which Dugdale had applied to the latter name, I transferred to the prior name & wrote Cato.

y. By Graphia I understand, public Instruments, or notarial as we now say.

z. Guellit mouth, is it where now is called Kidwellye in the County of Carmarthen? between the mouths of the Tobius & Logorius rivers, terminating the Kidwely hundred?

aa. Carew city, in the county of Devon is placed by Skinner; but here seems to be noted another of the same name in Wales.

bb. I would wish to learn from the Hibernians, whether such a city is known among them. Colganus in

the Appendix after the Life of S. Kieran 5 March chap. 4 from two Carnechs, whom the Hibernian fasts name, that one who is venerated 16 May, & lived in the time of S. Patrick, says in the church of Tulen in Media has his veneration, & elsewhere calls him Bishop of Tubene: then from the Calendar of Cassel adds, British by origin, in the island of S. Baithenus to be buried. But Alfordus in the Index of Saints, asserts that the same called the village Caranton, in the Somerset country.