{dience to his directions; but they socn forgot their promises, and relapsed into their former vices, which obliged him, a second time, to leave them, and return to his monastery.

The archbishop of Mentz sent another deputation to Rome, and desired that his suffragan might be again ordered back to his diocese. Gregory V. who was then pope, commanded him to return to Prague; and he obeyed, though with great reluct

practice of his religious family would be to his diocese; but, at the same time, had agreeable to a stranger; besides which, he permission to quit his charge again, if he told him that the house in which he and his { found his flock as incorrigible as before. people lived was given to them by those of { The inhabitants of Prague met him, on his Mount Cassino; and therefore it might not arrival, with great joy, and promised obebe safe for him to receive one that had left that community. When Nilus had thus excused himself, he advised him to return to Rome, and apply himself to Leo, an abbot of his acquaintance there, to whom he gave a letter of recommendation. Adalbert went to Rome, where he found Leo, who, before he would admit him, put his virtue and courage to proper trials, by speaking roughly to him, and giving him a terrible account of the labors and severities of the state in which he desired to engage. But,ance. finding his resolution was not moved or weakened by the prospect of the most austere mortifications, he conducted him to the pope, and, with the consent of that pontiff and the whole college of cardinals, gave him the habit on Holy Thursday in the year 990. We have already said that he had been attended only by three select persons ever since he had the pope's advice for re-estates, and set fire to their houses. signing his bishopric; two of them left him now; but the third, who was his own brother Gaudentius, followed his example, and engaged in the same community. Adalbert, full of the most profound humility, took a particular pleasure in the lowest employments of the house, and lived here an excellent pattern of Christian simplicity and obedience.

The Bohemians, however, did not look upon him as before, but deemed him the censor of their faults, and the enemy to their pleasures, and threatened him with death upon his arrival; but not having him yet in their power, contented themselves with falling on his relations, several of whom they murdered, plundered their

Adalbert had intelligence of these outrageous proceedings, and could not judge it prudent to proceed on his journey. He therefore went to the duke of Poland, who had a particular respect for him, and engaged that prince to sound the Bohemians in regard to his return; but could get no better answer from that wretched people, than that "they were sinners, hardened in The archbishop of Mentz, as a metro- iniquity; and Adalbert a saint, and consepolitan, was exceedingly afflicted at the dis-quently not fit to live among them; for orders in the church of Prague, and wished which reason he was not to hope for a for the return of the bishop, with whose re-tolerable reception at Prague." The bishtreat he was not, for sometime, acquainted. op thought this message discharged him At length, after five years' absence, he heard that Adalbert was at Rome, when he sent a deputation to the pope to press his return to his diocese. The pope summoned a council to consider of the deputation, and after a warm dispute between the monks and deputies, the latter carried their point, and Adalbert was ordered to return' April, A. D. 997.

from any further concern for that church, and began to direct his thoughts to the conversion of infidels; to which end he repaired to Dantzic, where he converted and baptized many, which so enraged the pagan priests, that they fell upon him and despatched him with darts, on the 23d of

PERSECUTIONS IN THE ELEVENTH CENTURY.

remainder of his life in religious security; when the following affair once more drew him from his retreat :

LPHAGE, archbishop of Canterbury, was descended from a considerable family in Gloucestershire, The see of Winchester being vacant by and received an education the death of Ethelwold, it was no easy suitable to his illustrious matter to agree upon the choice of a sucbirth. His parents were worthy Christians, cessor to that bishopric. The clergy had and Alphage seemed to inherit all their been driven out of the cathedral for their virtues. He was prudent and humble, scandalous lives, but were admitted again pious and chaste: he made a rapid progress by King Ethelred, upon certain terms of both in polite literature and scripture learn-reformation. The monks, who had been ing, and was, at once, the admired scholar, introduced upon their expulsion, looked and devout Christian: he strove to make upon themselves as the chapter of that the arts useful to the purposes of life, and church; and hence arose a violent contest to render philosophy subservient to the between them, and the clergy who had been cause of religion. In order to be more at readmitted, about the election of a bishop; leisure to contemplate the divine perfec-while both parties were hot, and vigoroustions, he determined to renounce his fortune, ly set upon promoting each their own man quit home, and become a recluse. He ac- This dispute at last ran so high, that Dun cordingly retired to a monastery of Bene-stan, archbishop of Canterbury, as primate dictines, at Deerhurst, in Gloucestershire, of all England, was obliged to interpose in and soon after took the habit. the affair, who consecrated Alphage to the

Considering that the principal business vacant bishopric, to the general satisfaction of a Christian was to subdue his passions, of all concerned in the election, or interand mortify his appetites, he lived with the {ested in the affair.

cation. Piety flourished in his diocese; unity was established among his clergy and people; and the church of Winchester recovered its lustre in such a manner, as made the bishop the admiration of the whole kingdom.

utmost temperance, and spent the greatest Alphage's behavior was a sufficient proof part of his time in prayer. But not think-of his being equal to the dignity of his voing the austerities he underwent in this monastery sufficiently severe, he retired to a lonely cell near Bath, and lived in a manner still more rigid and mortifying. Here he thought to remain unknown, but some devout persons finding out his retreat, his austere life soon became the subject of conversation in the neighboring villages, where many flocked to him, and begged to be taken under his pastoral care. He yielded to their importunities, raised a monastery near his cell, by the contributions of several well-disposed persons; formed his new pupils into a community, and placed a prior over them. Having prescribed rules for their regulation, he again retired to his beloved cell, fervently wishing to pass the

Dunstan had an extraordinary veneration for Alphage, and when at the point of death, made it his ardent request to God, that he might succeed him in the see of Canterbury; which accordingly happened, though not till about eighteen years after Dunstan's death. In the course of that period the metropolitan church was governed by three successive prelates; the last of whom was Alfrick; upon whose decease, in 1006, Al. phage was raised to the see of Canterbury.

90

THE CHRISTIAN MARTYROLOGY.

The people belonging to the diocese of when his presence was more necessary Winchester were the only persons who did than ever, and was resolved to hazard his not sincerely rejoice at his promotion; for life in their defence, at this calamitous they were too sensible of the loss they sus- juncture. While he was employed in astained by his translation, not to regret hissisting and encouraging his people, Canremoval to Canterbury.

Soon after his being made archbishop he went to Rome, and received the pall from Pope John XVIII., and after his return to England, labored assiduously to introduce the best regulations into the church.

terbury was taken by storm; the enemy poured into the town, and destroyed all that came in their way, by fire and sword. The monks did what they could to detain the archbishop in the church, where they hoped he might be safe. But his concern for his After ALPHAGE had governed the see of flock made him break from them, and run Canterbury about four years, with great rep- into the midst of the danger. He had the utation to himself, and benefit to his peo-courage to address the enemy, and offer ple, the Danes made an incursion into himself to their swords, as more worthy England. Ethelred, who then reigned, their rage than the people: he begged they was a prince of very weak understanding, might be saved, and that they would disand pusillanimous disposition. Too fear-charge their whole fury on him. They acful to face the enemy himself, and too ir-cordingly seized him, tied his hands, inresolute to furnish others with the means sulted, and abused him in a rude and barof acting in his stead, he suffered his coun-barous manner; and obliged him to remain try to be ravaged with impunity, and the greatest depredations to be committed, at the option of his enemies.

on the spot till his church was burnt, and the monks massacred. They then decimated all the inhabitants, both ecclesiastics, and laymen, leaving only every tenth person alive: so that they put 7,236 persons to death, and left only four monks, and 800 laymen alive after which they confined the archbishop in a dungeon, where they kept him close prisoner for several months.

The archbishop Alphage, upon this trying occasion, acted with great resolution and humanity: he went boldly to the Danes, purchased the freedom of several whom they had made captives; found means to send a sufficient quantity of food to others, whom he had not money enough to redeem, During his confinement, they proposed to and even made converts of some of the him to redeem his liberty with the sum of Danes but the latter circumstance made £3,000 and to persuade the king to purchase the Danes, who still continued pagans, their departure out of the kingdom with a greater enemies to him than they would further sum of £10,000. Alphage's cirotherwise have been, and determined them cumstances would not allow him to satisfy to be revenged on him for occasioning a the exorbitant demand: they bound him, change in the sentiments of their compan- and put him to severe torments, to oblige ions. Edric, an English malecontent, and him to discover the treasure of his church; an infamous traitor, gave the Danes every upon which they assured him of his life encouragement, and even assisted them in and liberty. The prelate knew, that what laying siege to Canterbury. When the de- they insisted on was the inheritance of the sign of attacking this city was known, poor, not to be thrown away upon the barmany of the principal people made a preci-barous enemies of the Christian religion; pitate flight from it, and would have per- and therefore persisted in refusing to give suaded Alphage to follow their example. But he, like a good pastor, would not listen to such proposal; he assured them he could {not think of abandoning his flock, at a time

them any account of it. They remanded. him to prison again, confined him six days? longer, and then taking him with them to Greenwich, brought him to a trial there.

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pleasure to find that his endeavors were not unsuccessful, for his sweetness of disposition won upon the people so much, that they could not help believing one whom they loved, or of placing a confidence in the doctrines of a man they had such great reason

to reverence.

He still remained inflexible with respect to the church treasures; but exhorted them to forsake their idolatry, and embrace Christianity. This so greatly incensed the Danes, that the soldiers dragged him out of the camp, and beat him unmercifully. Alphage bore this usage patiently, and even prayed for his persecutors. One of the soldiers, who had been converted and baptized by him, was greatly afflicted, that his pains should be so lingering, as he knew his death was determined on; he, therefore, with the fury of a desperate zeal, and a kind of barbarous compassion, cut off his head, and thus put the finishing stroke to his martyrdom, on April 19, A. D. 1012. This transaction happened on the very spot where the church at Greenwich, which is dedicated to him, now stands. After his death his body was thrown into the Thames, but being found the next day, it was buried in the cathedral of St. Paul's by the bishops of London and Lincoln; whence itligion, that raised him above the weaknesses was, in the year 1023, removed to Canterbury by Æthelmoth, the archbishop of that province.

His conquests over idolatry were not confined to his own diocese, but extended to the adjacent country, where his doctrines successfully spread, and many became converts to the pure faith of Christ. Wherever the faith made its way by his ministry, he took care to establish ecclesiastical discipline for the preservation of religion, and made several useful regulations in the public service of the church. His exemplary conduct was at least as instructive as his sermons and exhortations, and went a great way in convincing his converts of the truth and dignity of their new profession for who could doubt of the excellency of a re

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and passions of human nature; and appeared divine, by placing him at a distance from all that flatters or delights the senses? He visited his diocese, and was remarkable for an uncommon tenderness for the poor, especially such as had the misfortune of sickness, or were incapable of following their accustomed employments.

GERARD, a Venetian, devoted himself to the service of God from his tender years; entered into a religious house for some time, and then determined to visit the Holy Land. Going into Hungary, he became acquainted with Stephen, the king of that country, During the life of Stephen, Gerard rewho, at once, acted the parts of prince and ceived every kind of assistance which that preacher, and not only regulated his sub-excellent monarch could afford him; but jects by wholesome laws, but taught them on the demise of Stephen, his nephew religious duties. Finding Gerard every Peter, who succeeded him, was of so difway qualified to instruct his people, heferent a temper, that Gerard was greatly tried, by every means, to detain him in his perplexed during his government. kingdom; and, at length, founding several At length, the tyranny of Peter exasperchurches, he made Gerard bishop of that {ated his subjects so much against him, that Chonad. they deposed him, and placed Ouvo on the Gerard had a very difficult task to per-throne. They, however, soon found, that form; the people of his diocese were fond{they had changed from bad to worse; for of and accustomed to idolatry; and their Ouvo proved a greater monster of cruelty perverseness was equal to their immorality. { than his predecessor. At Easter Ouvo reThe new bishop, however, assiduous in paired to Chonad, in order to receive the his charge, and full of zeal for the salvation crown from the hands of Gerard. When of his flock, labored diligently to bring them he arrived at the place, the other prelates to a sense of their duty. He soon had the of the kingdom, who were assembled on

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that solemn occasion, assured the prince STANISLAUS, bishop of Cracow, was deof their affections for his person, and scended from an illustrious Polish family. promised to concur in his coronation; but The piety of his parents was equal to their Gerard absolutely refused to pay that com- opulence, and the latter they rendered subpliment to a public and malicious enemy; servient to all the purposes of charity and and took the liberty of letting the intruder benevolence. Stanislaus was their only know, that he could not look on Peter's ex-child, and consequently the sole object of clusion as regular, and consequently should their parental affection. When he was of not proceed to do anything to the prejudice a proper age, they employed masters in of his title he then told him, that if he several branches of learning to instruct persisted in his usurpation, the Divine him, and were happy to find, that his rapid Providence would soon put an end to his improvement fully answered their most life and reign. Ouvo growing more insup-sanguine expectations. He had a peneportable than his predecessor, was brought trating genius, retentive memory, and solid to the scaffold in the year 1044; upon understanding; hence study became his which Peter was recalled, and placed on amusement, learning his delight, and books the throne a second time; but his disposi- his beloved companions. Nor was his distion and retirement had made no alteration position inferior to his abilities; he was in his temper, so that he was again depriv-modest, mild, candid, and grave, temperate ed of the royal dignity after two years' pos- in his meals, and moderate in his sleep; he voluntarily gave himself, in the dawn of youth, to such austerities, as might have given reputation to a professed hermit. Having pursued his studies at home for some years, he was sent to a seminary of learning in Poland, and afterward to the university of Paris, that his education might be completed in that celebrated seat of literature. After continuing seven years at Paris, he returned to his own country, and on the demise of his parents became possessed of a plentiful fortune. Sensible that riches constituted no part of a Christian's happiness, any further than as they enabled

session.

Andrew, son of Ladislaus, cousin-german to Stephen, had then a tender of the crown made him, upon condition that he would employ his authority in extirpating the Christian religion out of Hungary. The ambitious prince came into the proposal, and promised to do his utmost in re-establishing the idolatrous worship of his deluded ancestors. Gerard, being informed of this impious bargain, thought his duty obliged him to remonstrate against the enormity of Andrew's crime, and persuade him to withdraw his promise. In this view he undertook to go to that prince, at-him to assist the needy; he devoted most tended by three other prelates, full of a like of his property to charitable uses, retaining zeal for religion. The new king was at only a small portion for his own sustenAlba Regalis, but as the four bishops were going to cross the Danube, they were stop- His views were now solely directed to ped by a party of soldiers posted there by the ministry; but he remained for someorder of a man of quality in the neighbor-time undetermined, whether he should emhood, remarkable for his aversion to the brace a monastic life, or engage among the Christian religion, and to Stephen's memory. { secular clergy. He was at length perThey bore an attack with a shower of stones patiently, when the soldiers proceeding to greater outrages, beat them unmercifully, and at length despatched them with lances. Their martyrdoms happened in the year 1045.

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suaded to the latter by Lambert Zula, bishop of Cracow, who gave him holy orders, and made him a canon of his cathedral. In this capacity he lived in a most pious and exemplary manner, and performed the duties of his function with unremitting