the heart to condemn and revile his memory? I have not. In the old life of Count Gerald, it is said, "Fertur enim quod parentes illius modestiam atque religionem veluti qua dam hæreditoria dote sibi tenuerint. Generatio rectorum benedicatur *." We often see little children given to anger, and envy, and vengeance. "At in puero Geraldo dulcedo quædam animi cum verecundia." After being instructed in the chaunt and in grammar, when he became a youth he grew expert at arms, and would vault upon his horse with ease. Though engaged in military exer◄ cises, still he studied hard according to the Scripture. "Melior est sapientia quam vires." He soon became acquainted with the whole volume of the holy Scriptures. His parents dying, he succeeded to his territories, but no pride followed: he only lamented that he had to be occupied too often in worldly affairs; he now considered all his vassals as his pupils and wards. In all his wars, though valiant to the utmost, he never wounded any one, nor was himself wounded; and, by God's grace, his sword was never dyed in human blood. Other men are valiant, and generous, but for the world's sake. Opus vero Geraldi lucidum est, quoniam de simplicitate cordis metitur." The ancient deceiver of the ways of youth laid his snares for Gerald, but he had learned to fly by prayer to the bosom of divine piety, and to counteract them by the grace of Christ. He was remarkable for abstemiousness at table, and for devotion at the divine offices, which he used to attend before day-break. He used himself to recite the whole Psalter every day. He was a beautiful person; of perfect innocence in morals; the elegance of his body. adorning the sweetness of his mind; no harsh or unseemly word ever escaped him; he was not only himself sober, but he took care that all his people and guests should be; so that none rose up from his table either dizzy or yet sad: he never broke his fast till tierce. Seats for the poor

and tables were placed before him, that he might see they were well fed. Nor was the number fixed, but all comers were welcome; and all this he did, believing that he relieved Christ. So he provided them with meat, and clothes, and shoes; at time of meals, once a day, he ob

De Vita S. Geraldi I. Bibliothec. Cluniacens.

served the greatest sanctity and reverence. Three days in the week he abstained from meat. There was always free access to him, and his benevolence was known far and wide; and when he heard of dissensions among the common people, he would have mass celebrated to pray for them. The only shadow of injustice to be laid to his charge was his seeming to lean always to the side of the poor and the weak; but he was a simple, and a firm, and a just man, and he would execute justice, hoping too, as for the criminals, "ut crimen, quod impunitum remanere non potest, temporali supplicio luant." "In quolibet pietatis opere se modificabat, ut ipsa ejus pietas non nimia videri posset." He was often reproached that he suffered himself to be injured by low persons, without shewing proper spirit and anger; his peasants and clergy loved him as a father; they would bring him presents of wax, which he would receive as vast presents; yet he would not burn it for his use, but had it employed at the altar. He often used fir larchwood torches, and would always have a light burning in his chamber, that he might read at intervals about the love of Christ. Deservedly he was loved by all, for he loved all, and he was called Gerald the Good. According to the Apostles' precept," sobriè et piè et justè conversatus est." The holy Bishop Gaubert was most familiar and dear to him: with him he often conversed, and said how he wished to go to Rome, and how he desired to enter a religious order; but the bishop persuaded him to remain in the world, that he might continue to defend and comfort the poor peasants. So he sacrificed himself for the love of his neighbour, but secretly he took the tonsure, and made a journey to Rome, and on his return built a great monastery and church: he lamented bitterly the want of piety and innocence in men. Yet he was unwilling to be always reproaching them, so he prayed that almighty God would give them peace, and he had mass celebrated to pray for it, continually repeating with Ezekiel, "O Domine, fiat tantum pax et veritas in diebus meis:"—and, again, "O quantum deficit sanctus!" Good monks are like angels, he would say, but if to secular desires they fall, then are they like the apostate angels. It appeared from all his words and deeds. that he had no love for the world, and that he panted after

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heaven. At supper he had lessons read aloud. When ever he commenced any action, he repeated some holy verse, doing all things according to the apostolic precept. Sometimes, when he was with few persons, as if lost in meditation, some tears would be seen to fall from him, so that it was clear his mind was elsewhere fixed, and had no present consolation. "Et sicut olim Columba Noë, cum foris non invenisset ubi requiesceret, ad arcum et ad ipsum Noë redibat, sic iste vir inter hujus sæculi fluctus ad secretum cordis recurrens, in Christi delectatione quiescebat." At night he used to remain alone after the office, and enjoy internal peace. He used to go to Rome every second year, and it was a happy journey for all the poor of the countries through which he passed. When would Count Gerald come? was the usual question of the mountaineers who inhabited the passages of the great St. Bernard. Many wonders and miracles are recorded to have been wrought through his means. "Illis sane," concludes the worthy abbot, qui amore ejus piè tenentur, eumque discreta dilectione venerantur, opera justitiæ quæ exercuit, magis placent. The greatest of his miracles," he con tinues, was his not trusting in riches: we will, therefore, praise him, for he wrought such miracles. And now his outward man began to fail, while the inward was renewed day by day; he became blind, and continued so for seven years, that the man of God might be proved in this world of sorrow and, therefore, he gave thanks to God that he was worthy to suffer as a son: and so he gave himself up to constant prayer. Two years before he died, he built a great church, and procured many relicks of saints. And now his sickness came on to death, and so he cried, "Subvenite, sancti Dei." He sent for Amblard, a holy bishop, to fortify him for his passage; and he gave orders respecting his funeral. And now the report of his state drew crowds of clergy, monks, nobles, poor people weeping and praying. O good Gerald, what a loss to the world, when you depart! The father of the poor, the defender of widows, the comforter of the miserable? and so they lamented at his death. O truly happy death. O happy man, who raised on high in secular power, injured no one, oppressed no one. He heard mass to the last, and would be carried into his oratory. He expired sweetly on

the 6th feria, at Complins, with the words "subvenite, sancti Dei."

But the first ages of the Church furnish us with instances still more calculated to astonish the moderns. St. Fabiola, in the fourth century, a descendant of the great Fabius, prostrated himself at the gate of the Lateran church with the public penitents, till he was reconciled according to the canons. In the abbey church of St. Germain des Près at Paris, in the chapel of St. Margue rite, which had been granted to the noble family of Douglas, I have seen the tomb of William, the seventeenth earl, who died in 1611. He had been bred in the new religion, which was preached in that age; but coming to France in the reign of Henry III., he was converted by sermons at the Sorbonne. Having abjured these errors, he returned to Scotland. Though full of piety towards God, and of fidelity towards his king, he was persecuted for the Catholic faith, and was given his choice either of a prison or banishment. He preferred the latter, and returned to France, where he ended his days in the practice of great devotion. He was so given to prayer, that he used to attend at the canonical hours of the abbey church, and he used even to rise at midnight, though the doors of the abbey were always shut at matins. He died greatly honoured and reverenced by all classes, in the 57th year of his age

*

Let us take an instance from an old romance. When King Perceforest was about to knight his son Bethis, and his nephew, he thus addressed them. "Celluy qui veult entrer en ung ordre, soit en religion, ou en marriage, ou en chevalerie ou en quelque estat que ce soit, il doit premierement son cueur et sa conscience a nectoyer et purger de tous vices et remplir et adorner de toutes vertus : et avoir ung ardent desir de perseverer jusques en fin pour l'amour de Dieu souverain. Mes enfans, lavez vos cueurs et vos consciences de toutes ordures par vraye repentance et par pitieuse oraison et faictes priers au Dieu souverain, Quant le roi eut ce dit les trois jouvenceaulx se mirent a genoulx et le roy aussi devant ung autel qui estoit devant eux, et aorerent ung grant espece tant que le roy sceut

See Hist. de l'Abbaye de St. Germain des Près. p. 215,

que la foiblesse de nature faisoit faillir devotion." Then rising up, he taught them that there was but one God. "Mes enfans, si vous craignez Dieu toutes choses du monde vous cremiront, et si Dieu ne craignez vous craigndrez toutes les choses que vous verrez." Then he gives them counsel to all virtue. "Beau fils, on doit vivre pour deux choses, c'est a son honneur et a son saulvement: a ton pareil soyez ung et a ton seigneur humble, et a tous ceulx qui sont soubs toy soyez loyal justicier. Et aymez ton Createur dessus tous. Par ma foy belle chose est de Prince sachant et layde chose est de ignorant et perilleuse pour son pays. Celluy qui cognoist bien son Createur ne peut avoir mauvaise fin. Qui ne se peut vaincre il n'a droit de vaincre autruy. Beau fils, toute chose se passe fors aymer Dieu." There is a passage in one of the letters of Sobi eski to his queen, which is expressive of great piety. 66 What you are in habits of doing during the elevation at mass, displeases and grieves me exceedingly. We must submit to the will of God, and ask for nothing but what may please Him. So, in the name of God, to whom you address your prayer, I require you to desist from the future, and to conform yourself in all things to his holy will. I shall have no peace till I see you more obedient to the will of God than to mine *." Again, after thanking her for having caused the prayers of forty hours to be said for him, and begging that they may be continued, he describes the horrible state of his diseased army, and observes, "You may judge how the spectacle afflicts me. Nevertheless, God be praised, and may his will be done."

The Moors of Grenada had such confidence in the honour of Peter King of Arragon, that their king refused to take any precaution when the former was fitting out a great armament, since he had a treaty of five years with him; and he said, "The house of Arrogan is the house of God, of faith, and of honour." When the King of Arragon came to die, it was on the festival of St. Martin, having made his devout confession, and received the sacraments, having caused his will to be read aloud, ordering his body to be buried in the monastery of the Holy Cross, after taking leave of the queen and the infantas, giving

⚫ Lett. 12.