Quiteria

ON ST. QUITERIA, VIRGIN MARTYR,

IN THE AIRE DIOCESE OF VASCONIA.

CRITICAL COMMENTARY.

On the cult and the body in Gaul, for which both the Spaniards and the Lusitanians contend, and on her fabulous Acts, and the true age.

Quiteria the Virgin, Martyr in the Aire diocese of Vasconia (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

As certain as is today S. Quiteria's cult, and was for some preceding centuries, so uncertain are all things, which of the same's age, fatherland, To the more ancient Martyrologists unknown, family, and martyrdom's place in the Gallic and Spanish legendaries, as much printed as manuscript, are read. For neither in the ancient Martyrologies any inscribed the name, nor in the more ancient Passionals parchment Acts are found inserted. Cited indeed is Usuard, but in Molanus in the Additions more recently collected, such however as in so many, which partly we have, partly we have seen of Usuard exemplars, for the uses of various Churches augmented, not yet to us have occurred. Meanwhile, as I said, certain is her cult; and indeed in Vasconia, to which her ascribes Molanus, is seen the town of Mas S. Quiteria, whose church with the title of Concathedral, to the Episcopal of Aire is annexed, and a great of the peoples abundance is frequented, say the Sammarthani tome 2 of Gaul Christian page 15. she is venerated in a church of her name among the Vascones: For the Bishop is Abbot of S. Quiteria; nay also sometimes in custom it was that the Bishops, of Vic-Julien first, then of Aire called, also of S. Quiteria Bishops themselves wrote, says Saussay: and it is proved from the Council of Nogaro celebrated in the year MCCXC, sitting with Amaneus the Bishop of Auch, of Couserans, of Oloron, of Tarbes, of Lescar, of Aire and of S. Quiteria Bishops, where the of Aire and of S. Quiteria

for one and the same is to be presumed to be put, perhaps even better would be absent the conjunction &; certainly not rightly in the margin is noted the of Bazas for S. Quiteria's Bishop to be read; since Vasatum, commonly Bazas, situated is at the Garonne. But this error before had erred Saussay, to Bazas S. Quiteria ascribing. Unless perhaps the most learned of the Councils editors wished to suggest, for the Bishop of S. Quiteria, who not was from the of Aire different, more rightly to be put the of Bazas, equally of the Auch Archbishop a Suffragan. Further of S. Quiteria in that church the cult preserve the frequent benefits, in the mad especially and furious to a sound mind being restored; of which below we shall give a collection some, from the year

MDCXXIIII even to MDCXXXIIII.

[2] The body thither from Spain first to have been brought judged Saussay, where the body by the heretics was dissipated, in the Martyrology of Gaul at this day. Afterward his opinion changed, in that very place to have suffered the Saint he wrote in the Supplement. Of the body he asserted, that to S. Sever a built in that diocese monastery translated it was, where so long it rested in honor, as long as in Gaul the faith of the Fathers flourished. But the bursting forth from hell of the foul of heresy plague, the Calvinists, the more than Turkish rage occupied the monastery, the most sacred of S. Quiteria bones, from the sacristy cast down, into a pyre threw: from which nonetheless by the pious of the faithful emulation partly snatched, collected by the Catholics. half-burned, were hidden, and kept; and at last to P. Anselm Rolle, Superior of the Seminary of Toulouse of the Order of S. Benedict, religiously given as a charge, there by him laid up they were with great veneration.

[3] that also with them to be the Spaniards and the Lusitanians believe. The Spaniards and the Lusitanians, although each think themselves the body to have, in that where first they believe buried to have been place; these with Cardoso in the town and mount Pombeiro four leagues from Coimbra; those from Pseudo-Julian, near Margaliza in the territory of Toledo; neither however anything show of the body. The cult indeed of S. Quiteria among them received they prove from the Breviaries ancient of various dioceses; and from the of Toledo indeed this Collect they bring forth: Grant we beseech almighty God, who Blessed Quiteria with virginity and martyrdom didst adorn, that as by thy virtue she the devil bound, and the petty King with an infinite people converted, so also from the diabolical rage, and from all of infirmity frauds, by her assiduous prayers us mayest thou make to be freed. The Acts founded on the Acts of the 9 daughters of Catillius, Founded is this Prayer on the Acts of that Saint: these moreover, and the other Acts of those who are said to be her sisters, a foundation have in a certain to all common fable, already of old through Spain received, and from this into Vasconia translated, of a certain Catillius the King, whose wife Calsia nine at one birth daughters brought forth, and fearing lest that to her her husband as a reproach should turn, all into the river to be plunged delivered to the midwife Sila: she moreover them delivered to be brought up to Christians; who by their nurses their lineage taught, and to their father the Christians' enemy for the faith's cause brought and recognized, flight into various parts took each one, where at last with Martyrdom they were crowned. Thus of all commonly, from the Sigüenza and Palencia Breviaries, Tamayo at XVIII January.

[4] This foundation laid, the Acts of S. Quiteria thus begin, in the Latin which we have compendia, from the Mss. of the Canons Regular of Rouge-Cloître in Brabant, altogether fabulous to be, of the Carthusians near Coblenz, and of the Böddeken in Westphalia. There was a certain King great above all the Eastern, Catillius by name, having a wife by name Calsia, of the stock of Julian the Emperor. Then, omitted the exposition of the nine daughters and the furtive education, is said of them the chief Quiteria, divinely the faith taught through an Angel still a girl of thirteen, and God on the Orian mount secretly to pray wont; but when she was by her parents to be given in marriage to a young man a certain powerful, by name Germanus, by the counsel of the Angel, leaving the father's royal city Blancagia, with thirty girls and eight boys to have fled into the valley Aufragia, where King Lentimanus ruled, of the Christian faith an apostate, and a treasure from the spoils of churches collected under the Alphianus river hidden had. This when to him the Virgin had indicated, and after various in prison patiently borne prodigies the faith of her divine mission had obtained; she is said himself and his nation whole to Christ to have led back, with the intervention of two who with him were Bishops, Martian and Valentian: then from the mount of Galganus the three-headed beast Carnalia, from their epitome it appears. a demon from the Mount of Ungulus to have driven away, lest anyone they should harm any more; and with BB. Remedius, Simplicius and Columbiana and the rest to have withdrawn into the Columban mount, where was a church to S. Peter the Apostle sacred, and where she serving God from everywhere brought rabid and furious cured. Meanwhile is feigned Germanus the young man, the Saint's suitor, with the King of Blancagia Catellius, and another King Adrian, joined forces having entered Aufragia the valley, occupied the city, Quiteria sought; and when in the Columban mount her to be he had understood, a certain Dormitianus to her slaughter to have sent. He indeed first her beheaded, and saw the raised head whither had ordered the Angel by her own hands carrying; then supervening King Adrian, also King Lentimanus, with the two Bishops, Columbiana the virgin and Romanus Quiteria's companion, and all on the mount gathered slew. In fine a certain Liberatus, in the Valley of Aufragia dwelling, by Angelic admonition to the burial of the Saints and holy women summoned to have ascended the mount, and all in the church of S. Peter to have buried: at whose bodies the miracles growing frequent, Germanus himself converted, his father also converted; and after a long penance on the same mount holily died.

[5] These old figments (of which the Latin source not yet entire it has been allowed to see, the Gallic version from Vasconia we received, the Latin paraphrase, and such things before us also others have judged. by a certain of Nebrija at the beginning of the preceding century composed, exhibits Tamayo) These old figments I say or their epitome, such as to have we said, had seen also the Collector of the Utrecht Legendary, written for the use of the church of S. Martin: but coming to the name of S. Quiteria and the day XXII of May, this only he noted: She is said to have been the daughter of a certain King Catillius, whose wife was said Calfia, of the tribe of Julian the Emperor; who is said to have been martyred in the valley Aufragia, and in the mount Columbiana in the church of S. Peter buried: but because this Legend seems very apocryphal, therefore is it here passed over. Prudently indeed: nor less prudently the most learned man James Sirmond, the epitome seen which our Bolland with the same had communicated, wrote back, far more advisable and to the Church more honorable it seemed to lack ineptitudes of this kind, than them into light to bring forth. But what wouldst thou do? Of others another opinion is. For while fabulous of this kind Legends having got some, the same more castigated and more polished recast, cut off those things which of the impudent fiction the inanity too evident would render circumstances; they effect, that of the whole matter cannot judge the reader, unless admonished from how muddy a fountain drawn are those very things, which now with an appearance more verisimilar are offered. Tamayo also and Cardoso, and their in Spain followers, on the Pseudo-Dexter figments leaning, now correcting in the names something, now for the unknown known and present-day usage names of places substituting, the ambiguity all to take away they believe, and the city Blancagia, Aufragia the Valley, Alphianus or Alisanus the river, Oranus and Columbanus the mounts, to all antiquity unknown, as it were with a finger to point out within their own Spain.

[6] Indeed scarcely I doubt, that just as of the Kings Catellius and Calsia, It came forth with feigned of places and persons names, of Adrian and Germanus, of Lentimanus or Leucianus, of the Bishops also Marcian and Valentian the names gratuitously were fabricated; so also of places the appellations at pleasure were devised such, that by their strangeness of antiquity an appearance to the unskilled might present. This he who in the Acts of S. Quiteria to concoct did, besides the fable of the daughters of King Catellius, by Pseudo-Julian into C. Attilius a man of consular rank and of Lusitania a petty King transformed; seems also before his eyes to have had a certain, no better Legend of S. Severus the Martyr, which we would wish to obtain for the day 1 November; and from those the Alphianus river, and Adrian the King to have received. Certainly in the tables of the founded about the year DCCCCLXXXII Severian monastery, in a town commonly Caput-Vasconiae called, or from the apocryphal of S. Severus M. legend taken, in Peter de Marca in the Proofs to the History of Béarn book 3 chapter 8, and the Sammarthani Tome 4 page 824, the founder of it William Sancius the Count says, that of S. Severus the deeds or Passion inquiring, it was found, how once that monastery had been constructed, and by the Franks destroyed; how namely the King of this country (Vasconia understand) Adrian, after the reintegration of his body, his kingdom and himself wholly to the aforesaid Martyr subjected to the dominion. He indeed the restorer among other things gives, all things which are between the two rivers, from the Alpheanus, which now commonly is called Aturris, even to the Gavasensian: And again in that charter, by which the monastery now founded is subjected to the Apostolic See, the same William Sancius says, it to be situated upon the river Alpheanus. The son also of him, Bernard William the Count, in another donation asserts, that the same most glorious Athlete, Severus, Adrian the King from the error of unbelief, and the whole province to the faith of Christ converted.

[7] Ridiculous therefore they make themselves, who that S. Quiteria's Acts to Spain they might fit, from which itself however it follows that to Vasconia is to be ascribed Quiteria and in them might find Adrian the King of Toledo, their Pseudo-Julian made to write, that the matter was done at Vesetania (for so it pleased to corrupt of Vascitania or Vasconia the too known name, that into Spain it might be transferred) at Vesetania, I say, to none of the ancients known, a Province nearest to the Toledan toward the south; but in a town Adura or Aerea, which now Margaliza is called, over which namely a King presided Leucianus, of the people of Aire and the Carpetani a petty King. But the impostor knew not that the Episcopal in Vasconia city Adura or Aeria, commonly Aire, a manifest indication of the falsehood would give. More with impunity could be feigned, born the Saint in a city of Galicia called Belcagia, which now Bayonne is called: for there is not any region which a city of such a name to itself asserts, or to assert at any time could. Meanwhile from the name of Alfanius, already of old to the Aturris river attributed, manifest it becomes, that of the Legend whatever the author understood Vasconia; and in it placed Anfragia the valley; and Columbanus the mount to say wished, that very one which over Aeria overhangs, and contains the Mas of S. Quiteria, commonly le Mas. But whether Catillius's Royal-seat on this side or beyond the Pyrenees he placed, uncertain it is.

[8] As to the age, to the first of Christ century to bring near the Saint endeavored Pseudo-Julian, when among others, she suffered in the century, not the I whom of Leucianus the tyrant the persecution to defection impelled, he names Julian Bishop of Toledo, of whom he says, that, letters sent by B. Clement, he repented, adding to the same Martial of Tarazona and Valentinus of Valeria: whom he wished to be Marcian and Valentinian

named in the Acts, and the contracted stain to have washed away with their own blood. The Gallic interpretation of the old Acts thus concludes: Here ends the passion of the glorious Virgin S. Quiteria, who was beheaded on the XI Kalends of June, that is the XXI of May, in the year of Grace CCCCLXXVIII. The Acts Mss. Latin shorter in Rouge-Cloître and the Carthusia of Coblenz and Böddeken thus terminate: But suffered S. Quiteria in Vasconia, near the city of Aire, on the eleventh Kalends of June, in the year of the Lord four hundred seventy-seven. Many also languishing, to the sepulcher of her coming, were cured; and everywhere in every necessity devoutly her invoking are heard. At this time, the same Goths, who Spain and Italy, also held the neighboring to them of Gaul regions, in which Vasconia: and the name Quiteria Gothic to be seems, today among the Spaniards still used in the names of Guiterius and Guiteria. but in the 5th or even later, The same origin bear some of the nine sisters' names, Doda, Genivera, Wilgefortis. The silence however of Ado and Usuard of Quiteria makes, that in their age not yet known to have been we believe; and so uncertain altogether remains the conjecture: nor anything else can be said verisimilarly than that by popular tradition she is believed cut down for chastity, at an uncertain time; which also her name Gothic persuades. and the found and by miracles to be celebrated begun body, about the course of the eighth or ninth century, to have been someone, who compiled the Acts, such as we indicated, from his own brain those things devising, and on the simple people's faith confiding: which for old being published and in the Legendaries were received, of better and truer the defect. These therefore omitted, to the miracles, the cult of the Saint among the Vascones proving, I turn.

MIRACLES

from the year MDCXXIIII through a decade written.

From a Notarial Instrument in French.

Quiteria the Virgin, Martyr in the Aire diocese of Vasconia (S.)

FROM THE FRENCH MS.

[9] On Friday, XIX April of the year MDCXXIIII, in the morning, within the Abbatial church of S. Quiteria of the Mas of Aire, Catherine des Dalcheux, The mad cured in the year 1624, 19 April, of the parish of Ysos of the diocese of Dax, at present of the parish of Caudresse near the city of Dax a dweller, daughter of the late Peter des Dalcheux and Margaret de Moura, of years about fifteen, more than two months and a half with a grave seized infirmity, with frenzy and great disturbance of spirit, by God's grace and the intercession of S. Quiteria, after a novena in the said church according to the custom there wont celebrated, went forth thence in mind and body sound; and returned to her house thanks given to God, in the company of Nicholas Dabadie, Sergeant in the parish of Dax; and Natalis de Baseigne, dwellers of the said place of Caudresse, by whom also she had been brought, and who her in this city had awaited from the day of their coming, which was the ninth of this month. Of which thing by me John Cascail Notary Royal, at the petition of Br. John Clement Religious and Sacristan of the said church, this instrument was granted, before Br. John Joly Almoner, Jerome Raoux Chamberlain, Peter Aymar Workman, all Religious professed of the said church; Vital-Peter Puguery and John Damne, merchants and dwellers of the said city, signing together with the aforesaid Dabadie and Clement, (which did not do the said des Dalcheux, to write as she said not knowing) and called for to that by me John Mag. Arnald Cassain Presbyter of the said church.

[10] On Friday XXIIII of the month of May of the year MDCXXIIII, about the seventh of the morning, within the said church Abbatial of S. Quiteria of the Mas of Aire, 24 May, Sampson de Molie a blacksmith, born and dweller of the place Cazaubon in Armagnac of the diocese of Auch, of years XXVII, from a quarter and more with a grave disease and frenzy disturbed, after that for that cause at his house bound he had been a month about whole, was conducted to this church, by Vital de Molie his own brother, and Peter de Pouchalant his servant: and fulfilled in the same church according to custom the novena, through the intercession of God and S. Quiteria he returned to his house well sound in body and spirit, after received in the church of Penance and the Eucharist the sacraments, and rendered to God and S. Quiteria thanks for the received benefit. Of which and the aforesaid all required and granted was by me the present act to Br. John Clement the Sacristan, before Br. Peter Laduc Prior, John Joly Almoner, Raoux Chamberlain, Peter Aymar Workman, Antony Aubriac, all Religious of the said church, and together signing, which did not do the said brothers de Molie nor Pouchalant, because they said that they knew not to write. In each place followed of those subsigning the aforecited names, and finally the Notary himself subjoined, signing John Cascail Notary Royal.

[11] In the same plainly form, with the expression of the witnesses both Religious and Lay, are noted the following all cures, from the same of disturbed mind infirmity: wherefore only the miracle's time and the name of the healed, with the other few circumstances, henceforth here in Latin we shall render. On Sunday XVI of the month of June before noon, 16 June, Peter de Nercain, a sieve-seller, native and dweller of the territory of Grenade in Marsan, of years about XXXII, from two months mad, was brought through John Tincens, John de Nercain, and Bartholomew de Nercain, his nearest consanguineous kin… On the day XXVII of September, 27 Sept. into the chapel where from all time are wont to be brought the furious, and there for nine days to remain and to fast, coming Menjon des Coubiers, a dweller of Vignau in Marsan, brought Bartholda des Coubiers his daughter, of years about XII or XIII; with the same, to a sound mind after the wonted nine-day restored, about to return, and the benefit before the Notary and witnesses about to acknowledge.

[12] likewise in the year 1625 7 May, Similarly on Wednesday and VII May, of the year MDCXXV Joanna de Paramis, of years about XL, wife of John de Touyz, by her husband and her nephew Menigaudus Oupatz, before the nine-day brought, the same in prayer and fastings passed, 14 June, was led back by the same sound… On the day XIIII of June in the year MDCXXV, about the seventh of the morning, before me the Notary and the witnesses called, appeared Bernard de la Bariere, dwelling in the town of S. Macarius in the diocese of Bordeaux, of years about XXXII; saying, that from six or seven months seized with madness, so that at his house he had been with bonds to be constrained, by his brother own James de la Bariere and other consanguineous kin he had been commended to S. Quiteria, a vow made; and hither brought on the IV day of the present month, after the wonted nine-day fast to his sense was restored: and performed the Confession and the Communion, with his own into his native town about to return, the grace to him done he wished by a public Instrument attested to be left. On the day Thursday XVIII September, 18 Sept. Perottus de Peccassi, of years about XXV, born and dwelling in the parish of Sedzère of the province of Béarn, of the diocese of Lescar, went forth of a sound mind partaker from the southern chapel, into which he had been led and bound, on the feast of the Blessed Virgin last past, on the day VIII of this month, by William de Peemilher and William de Peccassi his brothers; because one month before into madness he had fallen, so that no one to him dared to approach: went forth moreover confessed and communicated on the ninth day of his seclusion and abstinence.

[13] and in the year 1626, 5 February, On Thursday V February of the year MDCXXVI personally appeared Simon and Perottonus de Lasbats, brothers, weavers of linen, of the place of Mongu of the diocese of Lescar; and they said that on Monday XXVI January last past, they had brought into this church Bertrina de Pison, mother of Simon and stepmother of Perottinus, of years about LX, frenetic from years three, 24 March, whom, the wonted there nine-day performed to a sound sense restored, they would be leading back home. On the XXIV of the month of March, the same to himself in a similar case professed to have happened a certain John de Therze, a carpenter, of Lagny of the district of Réchou in the diocese of Aire, brought by his wife Bernardina de Hustaillon and son Bernardinus de Therze, before the Prior, Chamberlain, and Workman Religious aforenamed; and also D. Severus Deschars Advocate of the court and John Meney Master surgeon. 11 Sept. On XI September John de Novau, of the place S. Cyricus in Marsan of the territory of Villeneuve, of years about XXVIII, the same for cause led into a chapel, which is at the right to those entering through the greater door, after nine days and as many nights, on the day XXI of the said month sound thence went forth, in the company of Vital de Novau his uncle, and after the Sacraments rightly received home returned.

[14] On Monday IV October of the year MDCXXVII Mag. Antony de Bedora, 4 Oct. Presbyter Vicar of S. Martin de Bonut, in the diocese of Dax, brought hither to the wonted of disturbed mind nine-day, returned sound from that which long he had suffered frenzy, in the company of his friends Stephen de Lauret, Matthew de Bedora, Peter Dernibrolle and Bonnegarda Benvenuti. In the year then MDCXXXIV on Sunday, and in the year 1634, 19 Feb. XIX February, the Noble man D. Godefridus Bafus Esquire, Toparch of Pouy, addressing D. John Joly of the monastery the Prior, said that he had come hither, that he might bring the noble man Charles de Cambis, of the same place Toparch, son of the noble late John de Cambis; for that about two months before, being in the place Preignac called near Langon, he had fallen into mania; but he himself the Lord of Pouy by the suasion of certain ones had vowed him to B. Quiteria; wherefore now D. Prior he asked, that the same he would receive for the novena according to custom to be done. Which assenting was led D. de Cambis into the chapel by the aforesaid Lord of Pouy and his servants two, Daniel la Fargue and Peter Penevet. And when there he had remained and daily Masses had been for him celebrated, the first day of March led forth thence sound he is, and with the same Lord of Pouy and his servants aforenamed home returned, an instrument thereupon being asked.

[15] 18 May, On Thursday XVIII May, before noon, before me the Notary royal constituted John de Commarien, a farmer of Ganyac of the diocese of Dax, said, that three months before the brother of his wife Vincent Labamu, a farmer also himself of the same place, from grief which he had conceived for the death of a little son, by a swine domestic killed, fallen into frenzy, after a vow by the same John and other consanguineous kin made, brought, and the nine-day performed to a sound mind restored, with him sound home returns. 20 May, On Saturday XX May of the same year MDCXXXIIII, before the aforenamed John Cascail, Notary Royal and Secretary of the Chapter of the said church, appeared personally John Guichenec a vintner, of Bascons of the diocese of Aire; attesting, that fifteen days before having fallen sick his wife Catherine de Labac, of years about XXX, suddenly of her mind the use lost: who

this seen he himself the same on Wednesday before the eighth-day vowed to S. Quiteria, and to her church brought: where the nine-day performing in the wonted manner, fasting namely and only bread and water taking once in the day, and drinking of the water of a little fountain gushing near the tomb of the Saint, healed she was; and to a full sense restored, after received the Penance and the Eucharist sacraments she returned to her own, with her aforesaid husband: who an Instrument public of the conferred on her grace to be made asked.

[16] On Wednesday XXVI May of the same year, personally presenting themselves Bernardinus Bordeux, 26 May, Vital Taraube, and Matthew Condier, of the territory of Montréal in Condom, spoke to the Brothers John Joly the Prior, and Simon Deschars the Sacristan, Religious of the aforesaid monastery; and they said, that three years before Bernard Bordeux, legitimate son and natural of Bernardonus, being of age year about XXII, of his mind was thrown, just as also a kinsman of the said Bernardonus Peter Bordeux; in the same house dwelling one year before, so that with disturbed spirit neither knew what he did. Which known the said their consanguineous kin, having heard what here were done wonders, them brought, and obtained that for the nine-day in the church according to custom to be done under the wonted abstinence law they should be received. Placed therefore of them one was in the small chapel at the entrance of the church, and the other in the northern chapel; where they were found peaceably altogether themselves having; and Bernard indeed to a sound mind restored, but Peter, such as before always he had been, innocent. And so Bernard the Sacraments received: and returning the consanguineous kin home both led back, after thanks given and asked of the aforesaid an instrument public.

[17] 1 July, On Saturday, the first of the month of July of the year MDCXXXIIII before five Religious Br. John Joly Prior &c. presented himself Bertrand de Pomiers, a farmer, a dweller of the city of Dax, who said, that from weeks about three, Stephanina Dileu his wife, in spirit more than in body sick, and by him to S. Quiteria offered, on Tuesday, XX June lately elapsed, and the following day hither was brought. After moreover taught himself what was to be done, her in the southern chapel at the entrance through a blacksmith to be bound and to be tied he had caused, and according to custom to fast on bread and water; afterward returning sound he found, and confessed and communicated he led back, in mind so entire, as if disturbed never she had been.

[18] Thus far those Instruments, each, as I said, of each at length written in authentic form, just as them by R. P. Peter de S. Marco of the Feuillants received the Knight at Rouen most noble Lord de Hannivel, and through our P. John Dardes submitted to Bolland, To the last cure attests one who saw and the authentic things sent 7 July. about the beginning of the year MDCXXXV; so that to doubt scarcely I can, that in a similar henceforth manner even to the present time, were noted the cures successively done: which however laboriously from Vasconia to be required to give labor I judged not, for that of the same plainly of form are all, and in the sole nearly names of those cured and of the witnesses different. I end therefore with the same R. P. Peter's Epistle, from the of Tulle of the Feuillants monastery in Limousin given to the aforepraised Lord de Hannivel, on the day VII July in the year MDCXXXIIII in these words: My Lord. I come from the parts of Vasconia, where I visited the church of S. Quiteria; and there I saw a woman rabid, and from two days bound, who nothing of sound reason did or spoke. I returned to her again to see on the seventh day of the novena, when I noted her somewhat to be moved with shame, for that herself bound she saw: but at length the novena finished, of a sound mind partaker she appeared, and confessed and communicated with her consanguineous kin glad she withdrew. She gone away, bound there was a young man, into furies driven through too much by which a certain girl he was perishing of love. But this man was to himself restored on the fourth or fifth day, remained however bound that he might complete the novena. For the confirmation of the aforesaid was written to me from Bordeaux, The miraculous fountain. in the year MDCLXXVI, by of the College there our man notable Francis Cosso, that the fountain of the Saint, which is believed at her prayers to have gushed and today gushes, by a perennial miracle celebrated is, which itself, he says, with my eyes I saw, and infinite men yearly behold. Namely on the very vigil of the Feast, about the third hour, when the first Vespers begin to be sung, that fountain gradually rises and grows by one at least foot geometric: but the day after, toward the end of the second Vespers, in the same manner it decreases, and recovers itself to its former state. With its waters are given to drink men of mind seized, for the whole nine days' interval, in which in the blessed Martyr's temple to a stake they are bound, and so to health they return.

APPENDIX

On the cult of S. Quiteria in Lusitania.

Quiteria the Virgin, Martyr in the Aire diocese of Vasconia (S.)

FROM THE FRENCH MS.

[19] George Cardoso, in his Lusitanian Hagiology at XXX March, She is venerated 30 March in the diocese of Évora. in the first place places the triumph of S. Guiteria the Virgin, who about Montemor, a town of the diocese of Évora, the devoted to Christ virginity keeping, lived solitary in a certain neighboring hill's cave; whence extracted and snatched to the Roman Governor for the cause of the Christian Religion, after various torments, ordered to be cast headlong down a certain rough side of that mountain, the martyrdom's palm with the virginal laurel joined; and by night taken up by the faithful, and buried in that which today the holy Cave is called, is invoked there, especially in the time of raging diseases; and very many of that region women, in regard of her, Guiterias are called: there also is shown a marble, with which to her neck tied cast headlong, her spirit to have breathed out is believed. In the Notes professes Cardoso that he follows the author P. Lewis dos Anjos, in the Garden of Portugal num. 7, distinguishing her from another Saint of the same name, who is venerated in the diocese of Braga; to whom however the common people apply the same Acts, which of the of Aire for cause first to have been feigned altogether we believe.

as of another, treats Cardoso: and says from the popular tradition of the citizens of Pombeiro, commonly Pombeiro four leagues from Coimbra, to be believed she lived on a mount of the same name; beheaded moreover near the village of Sardanella in the valley Adafoga, which the river Alba waters; whence the raised head into the mount she bore to the church of S. Peter, which round to have been the remaining even now ruins testify. And so the aforesaid Acts thus he explains, that the Mount Columbarius into Pombeiro, the Aufragia valley into Adafoga, the river Alfanius into Alba, by popular usage are by naming changed. The tradition moreover he confirms by an apparition, made as is alleged to a girl a certain a shepherdess, before years not many (wrote moreover Cardoso after the year MDCLX) who was ordered to admonish the inhabitants, that upon the ruins of the aforesaid church in her honor a hermitage they should construct; where equally as in the other, there where beheaded she is thought of old constructed, more to those invoking her be bestowed divinely benefits. But all these things else to us prove not, than of one and the same S. Quiteria, who among the people of Aire is venerated, also in this kingdom in various places the cult: whose unknown origin gave occasion of her Passion to Lusitania to be ascribed, favoring especially the fables of Catillius the King and his daughters at Belcagia in Galicia born, since Belcagium it pleased to Galicia to ascribe.

[21] But is invoked by the Lusitanians Quiteria, just as in the Notes writes the same Cardoso, against straits and palpitations of the heart, and of rabid dogs the bites, likewise at Alenquer, where her miraculous image. with a manifold of miraculous benefits effect: which also experience the limits of Alenquer the inhabitants, in a place S. Quiteria de Meca called, on account of her there most ancient image: before which a blessed bread the very rabid dogs from the rage heals, after it has been dipped in a lamp before the said image burning. It is handed down moreover that that image was miraculously found. For when shepherds certain in that region kept their flocks, they are said from afar to have seen in a certain thornbush an immense splendor; to which nearer approaching, they saw it to proceed from a beautiful certain image of S. Quiteria, as indicated the name subscribed. They of the whole thing the indication soon bore to the Prior of our Lady de Varsea, who the clergy and people accompanying coming to the place, the said image sought, and found festively and joyfully bore to his church. But it a little after by itself returned to the place of the apparition aforesaid; whence when it was understood God to wish that she there be venerated, erected soon a church was. This moreover by the course of a longer time into ruin inclining, restored was in the year MDLXVIIII. It is established besides, that the pestilence raging through all Lusitania, in that place no one alone with the common plague was touched, the benefit doubtless to be referred to the powerful of the holy Virgin intercession.

[22] These things Cardoso; to which similar I would rather read in Tamayo, for proving the peculiar cult of the Saint in various of Spain places, than the ill defended and worse interpolated of the old Legend fables. Saussay also feigns two in Gaul. These as he did not avoid Saussay, so also augmented, by doubling at XXII of May the Quiterias Saints; of whom one suffered in Vasconia, of the other likewise in the village of Aufragia who from the city of Bayeux in Neustria sprung, under Trajan the Prince a notable of faith contest consummated. Thus he from Belcagia, seems to have made Bayeux; and because in the Chartres territory under the Deanery of Beauce is found a parish Ausfargis named, persuaded that of name to have flowed from Aufragia, in the Passion of S. Quiteria celebrated, this new figment he adorned.

[23] But converted this into his own matter the Bishop of Tarragona Didacus, for facilitating the faith of a double Quiteria, of whom one to the Spaniards be proper, and of her passion a companion had, Companions of martyrdom add some. not Marcian (as is written in the Acts) but Martial Bishop of Tarragona, by Julian-Peter named. To him therefore the sacred honors in his diocese to be instituted he contends, a little book in his opinion's confirmation in Spanish published, about the year MDCLXIII, with the title of a Brief Discourse; which little book also he sent to Bolland ours, with added letters, by which vehemently he tries his suffrage to win. But avoided he, lest he should subscribe to the new under Julian of Toledo's name fictions; which even therefore we abominate the more, because Prelates in Spain not a few, pious indeed more than cautious, they have led, that the cult ecclesiastical they should decree to many, who I do not say to Spain nothing pertain, (that indeed would be lighter) but not even proved indeed can be in the nature of things to have been. This indeed also to be understood we wish, of S. Columbina the Virgin, S. Leucianus the King, S. Valentinian the Bishop, Romanus, Columbanus, and Simplicius, who all as Martyrs are inscribed

in the Lusitanian Hagiology, the Spanish Martyrology of Tamayo having followed; in which the same, besides Columbina, noted at this day are found, and indeed Leucianus; with peculiar Acts, by Tamayo composed and excerpted from the Passion of S. Quiteria, to us too uncertain, that from it a Saint any we should receive, from elsewhere unknown.