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.

XXV. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2 The Bodyes of Saint Kiliam, Saint Colman and S. Totnan translated by Saint Boniface.

3 4▪ &c. Their Gests: and Happy Martyr∣dom: and wonderfull discovery of their Relicks.

1. THE same year Saint Boniface with great devotion took up the Bodies of Saint Kilian formerly Bishop of Wirtzburg, Saint Colman a Preist, and Saint Totnan a Dea∣con, all which had come out of their Na∣tive countrey Ireland, to preach the Gospell in Germany, where they were blessed with the Crown of Martyrdom. Their Sacred Bodies, I say, Saint Boniface now took up, to expose them to the veneration of devout Christians, and afterward to bury them more honoura∣bly: a happy presage of the honour himsel•• was shortly after to receive.

2. Now though ••heir Gests doe not pro∣perly belong to our present History: Yet so much interest this piety of Saint Boniface gives us in them, that a breif account of their actions and Martyrdom will not be iudged altogether impertinent here: which wee will collect from a very ancient Anony∣mous Authour in Surius.

3. Saint Kilian,* 1.2 saith he, was born of a Noble Stock in Ireland and from his child∣hood was brought up in learning: But shortly by Gods preventing Grace despising curious study, and worldly enticements, he retired himself into a Monastery where with great perfection he gave himself to Prayer and the observance of Regular Disciplin. Such progresse he made hereby in all piety and vertue, that he was esteemed worthy in due time to be promoted to the Degree of Preist∣hood, and afterward to the Government of his Monastery.

4. The same of his Sanctity being far spread, and drawing very many to see and admire it, the Holy man fearing the ten∣tation of vainglory, began to meditate

how he might retire himself from the knowledge of freinds, and withall the Spi∣rit of Charity to the soules of others, in∣flaming, among so many others in this age, his heart likewise, he took with him certain companions, and passing over into Brittany, he from thence sailed into France: and travelling through severall Regions he entred into Germany as far as Wirtzburg▪ determining there to sow the precious seed of the Gospell. Which that he might doe with better successe, he went to Rome to demand from the See Apostolick, in which at that time Conon sate ••ope, a licence and power to preach to Pagans. And having obtained this toge∣••her with Episcopall dignity, he returned ••o the same place in Germany.

5. At his going to Rome he had left Saint Gallas the famous Abbot, in Germany: and at his return he left Saint Columban in Italy: so that there remained to attend him only Saint Coloman a Preist, and Saint To••an Deacon. And being arrived at Wirtzburg 〈◊〉〈◊〉 found a new Duke there, called Gozbert. Now after he had spent some time in prea∣ching the Gospell with great efficacy, the said Duke sent for him to appear before him, and demanded what New Doctrine that was which he taught. To whom the Holy Bishop freely revealed the Summ of Christian Doctrin touching the Blessed Trinity, the Incarnation of the Son of God, & other neces∣sary Mysteries of our Religion. At that time the Duke, though convinced of the un∣conquerable truth of his Doctrin, yet de∣ferred the acknowledging of it. But not long after seeing the Holy mans perseve∣rance, he came privatly to him to be more perfectly informed, and, forsaking the Ido∣latrous worship of Diana, who had been held in great veneration by him, he gave up his name to Christ, and on the next so∣lemnity of Easter was baptized. Whose example was followed by great multituds of his Subiects in Franconia.

6. Now the said Duke had formerly ta∣ken to wife a Lady named Geilana, who had been maried to his Brother and remai∣ned still a Pagan. The unlawfullnes of which mariage the Holy Bishop delayd to dis∣cover to the Duke, fearing it might be a hindrance to his embracing the Faith. But when he saw him well established therein, he then told him sincerely that such a Ma∣ria••e was forbidden by the Religion he pro∣fessed. The Duke at the hearing of this was much afflicted and astonished for he loved his wife with great passion. Yet his answer was, That he resolved not prefer the love of any creature before God: But t••at at present preparing for an expedition against his enemies, he could not suddenly effect a busines of so great importance: but at his return he would perform his duty.

7. But when these things came to the knowledge of the Duchesse Geilana, her rage was horribly inflamed against the Men of God, and she meditated conti∣nually how to destroy them in her hus∣bands absence, and so as that it might not come to the notice of any. Present∣ly therefore by the Devills suggestion she found two fitt Ministers of her cruelty, who for a certain reward promised to sa∣tisfy her. At this time it hapned on a cer∣tain night that Saint Kilian being not per∣fectly awaked f••om sleep, there appeard to him a certain man in glorious apparell, who said, Freind Kilian, arise, thy labours are almost at an end: there remains onely one conflict more, and then thou thalt come home to mee with victory. Having said this, he presently vanished out of his sight. And the Holy Bishop arising, called to him his two companions, knowing this to have been a divine Visitation, and said to them: My Brethren, Now let us watch, for our Lord is at hand, to knock at our dore: Let us take heed he find us not unprepared. At mid∣night therefore as they were devoutly busy in prayer, the two bloody executio∣nes entred the room: Whom assoon as the Holy Bishop saw, he said to them, Freinds, Wherefore come you hither? Doe you execute what you are commanded, and we will finish our course. Assoon as this was said, they were all three murdred, and buried in the same place: likewise into the same grave were cast their Books and Vestments, that no sign of their death might appear, but it should be thought that they were travel∣led to some other place. The abominable Duchesse likewise made a Stable be built over the place where the Sacred Bodies had been buried, to prevent any sign of what had been done.

8. Shortly after the Duke returning, went to the house where he had left the Holy men: and not finding them, he en∣quired diligently whither they were gone: the Dutches told him, that they being at li∣berty without any restraint, were gone whither they thought good. With this an∣swer the Duke was satisfied, and enquired no further. But not long after one of the Murderers was suddenly possessed by the Devill, and cryed out with a loud voyce, O Kilian, thou pursuest mee terribly, I am consumed with fire: I see over my head a sword dropping with thy blood. Thus roaring out, and tearing his own flesh with his teeth, he from a temporall torment was carried to torments everlasting. The other likewise becoming raging-mad, cast himself on his own sword, and so in despair dyed. At last the execrable Duchesse seeing these things, was seised on and terribly tormented by Devills, and with all her power cryed out, I am iustly tormented, for it was I who sent Murderers to destroy the Holy men. O

Kilian, thou pursuest mee terribly: O Kolo∣man, thou burnst mee: O Totnan, thou addest fewell to the fire. Thus raging and blasphe∣ming, she was so horribly vexed, that the force of many men could scarce hold her: and in the end after intolerable torments, she went to the place of endlesse incon∣ceivable torments.

9. After these things were past, the ge∣nerall report is that the Duke Gozbert was murdred by his own servants, and his Son deprived of the Dukedom, yea and all his kinred and freinds so persecuted by the in∣habitants of the countrey, that they were scarce permitted to live in it. But the cause of all these disorders is not known, whe∣ther it was for their constancy in the true Faith, or some other Motive.

10. The Martyrdom of these holy Saints hapned in the year of Grace six hundred eighty nine,* 1.3 three years after they retur∣ned from Rome. And their name is cele∣brated among Gods Saints on the eighth of Iuly. Their Bodies were discovered to a certain man called Atalongus by his young schollars, who by a Divine im¦pulse cryed out, that three Holy men were buried in such a place. For which Ata∣longus reprehending them, was strook with blindnes, and miraculously recovered his sight, when the ••acred Bodies were taken up From his relation Saint Boniface was informed of these things, who therefore caused them to be honourably removed to another place: And in respect to them pro∣cured the Town of Wirtzburg to be erected into an Episcopall See.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XXV. CH.
• * 1.2

  Ap. S••r. 8. Iulij.
• * 1.3

  Marty. Rom. 8. Iulij.