* 1.1XXIII. CHAP.
1.2. &c. The Gests and Martyrdom of S. Livinus.
1. ABout this time hapned the Martyrdom of S. Livinus, who though not born in Brittany, may yet challenge a place in this History.* 1.2 The Summary of his Life is thus described by Aubert Miraeus: Livinus was born of a noble race in Scotland (he means, Ireland.) His Teachers were first a worthy Preist called Benignus, afterward the Great S. Augu∣stin first Bishop of England, by whom also he was baptised The same Holy Bishop exalted him like∣wise to the Order of Preisthood: in the dis∣charge of which Office he behaved himself so worthily that not long after the Scotts (or Irish) chose him for their Arch-bishop But he after a while, leaving his Vicar in Scotland a man of eminent Sanctity, called Silvanus, who was his Arch-deacon, being moved with the zeale of propagating the Gospell in other Countreys, took, with him three of his Disciples, Folian, Helias and Kilian, sailed into Flanders, and entring into a Monastery at Gant lately built by the Holy Bishop S. Amand, he was there kindly enter∣tained by the Abbot Floribert, and his Brethren. Three years before that S. Bavo had been there buried at whose monument great miracles were wrought: And for this reason S. Livinus stayd there thirty days, celebrating Masse continually upon his Sepulcher.
2. After this departing from thence to exe∣cute the Office of preaching, he by his instru∣ctions, example and Miracles converted a world of Infidels to the Faith of Christ. But certain im∣pious persons, who hated our Lord and all piety, perceiving such great multitudes brought by the Holy Bishop to a Religious life, and a contempt of their former Vices and Errours, persecuted him wonderfully. Neither did they desist from their malice, till having seised upon him, they cut out his tongue, which they cast to be devou∣red by doggs: Which notwithstanding was mira∣culously restored to him. Yet not mollified with this, they at last, having wounded him grei∣vously in severall places, murdred him at Escha a village in Flanders, in the year of Grace six hundred thirty three, or as some reckon, the year following.
3. This S. Livinus is to be distinguished from another (almost) of the same name, called Levinus, or Lebvinus, a companion of S. Willebrord and S. Suibert: who likewise finished his Life by Martyrdom neer Gant, and is stiled the Apostle of Daventre. But he was a Saxon, as we shall declare toward the end of this Century. Whereas S. Livinus of whom we now treat, was an Irishman.* 1.3 His Memory is celebrated in the English and Gallican Martyrologes, on the twelfth of De∣cember.