The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

XXIII. CHAP.* 1.1

1 2.3. &c. The Names of these Holy Vir∣gins: Their Sacred Relicks dispersed all the world over. Names of Churches where they are Venerated.

1. THE fame of this Tragedy in which was display'd the extremity of savage cruelty in men, and miraculous courage in Virgins, was no sooner spread abroad in the world, but that all countreys and Churches became suitours to be enrich'd with a por∣tion of their sacred Relicks, which have been spread through Germany, Gaule, Italy, Brit∣tany yea Asia, Africk, and of late India it self: So exactly was fullfill'd the Canticle of S. Vrsula and her Associats mention'd by Gil∣das, Thou, O God, hast given us as sheep to be devoured, and hast disperst us among the Nations.

2. Not above ten years after this glorious Martyrdom, that is, about the year of Grace four hundred sixty three (saith Hermannus Fleien one of the Canons of Colen) Solinus, nam'd by others Aquilinus, Arch-Bishop of that Citty (as we find in our ancient Re∣cords) out of reverence to the Memory of these holy Virgins, enclosed with walls the sacred place of their Martyrdom, in which was erected a Church consecrated to their cheif Captain S. Vrsula, which remains to this day: by the accesse of which place the Citty of Colen was so much enlarg'd. He also took out of the ground, as carefully as he could, their sacred bones, which he reverently again buried in chests hewn out of stone.

3. Neither did Brittany long delay to te∣stify her veneration to these her blessed countrey-women. A witnes whereof is a well known Town call'd Maidenhead. For thus writes Camden: The Thames, saith he, winds back to a little town formerly call'd Southlington,* 1.2 but afterward Maidenhead, from the Supersti∣tious reverence there given to the head of I know not what holy Virgin, one of the eleaven thou∣sand Brittish Martyrs, which under the conduct of S. Vrsula returning from Rome into their coun∣trey, were martyrd by Attila, call'd the Scourge of God, near Colen in Germany. Thus he cen∣sures the piety of a world of devout Empe∣rours, Kings, Princes, Bishops and Doctours of Gods Church in all ages.

4. A volume might be written if we should ••eap up all testimonies which a world of Churches have given of their veneration to these Holy Martyrs. Therefore we will only here sett down a Catalogue of such of their Names as have escaped oblivion: And there∣to adjoyn the Churches where many of them are venerated, in regard their Holy Relicks repose there.

5. S. Vrsula for orders sake divided that innocent Army into certain Squadrons. First then she gave a generall authority over all under her to these Virgins, S. Cordula, S. Eleutheria, S. Florentia and S. Pinnosa. Next she assign'd the care & inspection of a thou∣sand to each of these following, S. Benedicta, S. Benigna, S. Carpophora, S. Celindes, S. Cle∣mentia, S. Columba, S. Lata, S. Lucia, S. Odilia, S. Sapientia and S. Sybylla. After which these particular Virgins names are recorded: Saint Agnes, S. Antonina, S. Areaphila, S. Babcaria, S. Baldina, S. Candida, S. Caraduméa, S. Chri∣stina, S. Columbina, S. Corona, S Cunera, Saint Deodata, S. Flora, S. Florina, S. Florentina, S. Grata, S. Honorata, S. Honoria, S. Hostia, S. Languida; S. Margarita, S. Margaria, S. Oliva, S. Panpheta. S. Panefrides, S. Pavia, S. Paulina, S. Pharanina, S. Pisona, S. Sam∣baria, S. Sancta, S. Semibaria, S. Terentia, S. Valeria.

6. The Body of S. Vrsula her self is still preserv'd at Colen: but her Head was transla∣ted to Paris:* 1.3 where the illustrious Colledge of Sorbon acknowledges her their Patronesse. At S. Denys in France there is a commemoration of Panefredis, Secunda, Semibaria, Florina and Valeria, companions of S. Vrsula, whose relicks repose there. At Huy in Germany is celebrated the Translation of S. Odilia, famous for frequent mi••acles. In Flanders the Mona∣stery of Marcian possesses some part of the Body of S. Cordula. The Monastery of Good Hope belonging to the Premonstratenses enjoy the Relicks of S. Terentia, S. Marguarita, S. Baldina, S. Samburia and S. Margaria, transla∣ted thither when Reinaldus was Arch-Bishop of Colen. The Monastery of S. Martin in Torn••y glories in the Bodies of S. Honorata & Florina, and some part of the Relicks of S. Vrsula. The Monastery of S. Amand in Pa∣bula preserves the Bodies of three of these Virgins, whose names are unknown. At Andain in Arduenna repose the Bodies of S. Grata S. Hostia and S. Areaphila. A Hospi∣tal in Tornay possesses S. Languida. At Arras the Bodyes of S. Beata and S. Sancta are said to repose in the Cathedrall Church. Four of these Holy Virgins are celebrated at the Monastery of S. Bertin in S. Aumar. At the Church of S. Salvius the Relicks of S. Pavia and S. Ca∣radumea are venerated. The Norbertins at Vicoine possesse the Bodies of S. Corona, S. Pha∣ranina, S. Babcaria S. Margarita, another S. Margarita, S. Benedicta, S. Cordula, S. Samba∣ria, S. Deodata, S. Panpheta and S. Christina. The Canons of Tungres venerate the Heads of S. Pinnosa and S. Oliva. The Nunnes of Mays venerate the Relicks of S. Paulina, S. Floren∣tina and eight other Holy Virgins compa∣nions of S. Vrsula. In the town of Rhenen in the Diocese of Vtrecht is celebrated the me∣mory of S. Cunera: which holy Virgin in our Martyrologe is said to have been withdrawn from the slaughter by a certain noble Matron, in whose house she was awhile conceal'd: but being discover'd had her neck broken. But the Belgick Writers say that she in com∣passion was by a certain Noble man privately taken from the rest, and conveyed to his house: Where his Lady conceiving a furious jealousy against her, with the help of her Mayd murdred her, and hid her body in the stable: into which the Lords horses at his return would by no means enter: And here∣by was discovered his Ladies crime. The Nunnes of Saint Belian honour the Body of S. Honoria, translated thither above three hundred years since.

7. In Spain likewise at Pobletum in Cata∣lonia rests the Body of S. Columbina: And at Dertosa are venerated the Relicks of S. Can∣dida. Moreover as Mendoza testifies, in all the Religious Houses of the Iesuits through all Portugall some parts of the Bodies of these Virgin-Martyrs are reverently repos'd: and the Feast of S. Vrsula and her companions is after a particular manner solemnis'd over all that Kingdome. Lastly a Father of the same Society named F. Gomez,* 1.4 caried with him into the East Indies a Sacred Head of one of these Virgins: by whose intercession the ship and passengers were freed from an otherwise unavoydable danger.

8. We will conclude this Narration with a passage of the learned Thomas Bozius who treating of the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and her companions,* 1.5 writes thus, How great a measure of Christian fortitude hath been im∣planted in the hearts of the women of that Nor∣thern Island since the time that S. Eleutherius Bishop of Rome sent into Brittany S. Fugatius and S. Damianus Romans; may be evidently seen from this one example: For from all anti∣quity of the Church through the whole world cannot be produced an Example equalling the vertue and courage of these Holy Virgin-Mar∣tyrs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XXIII. CH
• * 1.2

  Camden. in Atrebat.
• * 1.3

  Martyrolog. Gallican. 22. Octob.
• * 1.4

  Hist. Societ. l. 5. ••. 19.
• * 1.5

  Bosius design. Eccles. l. 22. c. 3.