Saint (The), Kang-he, of China, who assumed the name of Chin-tsou-jin (1653, 1661-1722).
St. Aldobrand, the noble husband of Lady Imogine, murdered by Count Bertram, her quondam lover.—C. Maturin, Bertram (1816).
St. Alme (Captain), son of Darlemont, a merchant, guardian of Julio, count of Harancour. He pays his addresses to Marianne Franval, to whom he is ultimately married. Captain St. Alme is generous, high-spirited, and noble-minded.—Thomas Holcroft, The Deaf and Dumb (1785).
St. Andre, a fashionable dancing-master in the reign of Charles II.
St. Andre’s feet ne’er kept more equal time.
Dryden, MacFlecknoe (1682).
St. Asaph (The dean of), in the court of Queen Elizabeth.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (1821).
St. Basil Outwits the Devil. (See [Sinner Saved].)
St. Botolph (The Prior of). Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).
St. Cecili, Cecily, or Cecile (2 syl.), the daughter of noble Roman parents, and a Christian. She married Valirian. One day, she told her husband she had “an aungel ... that with gret love, wher so I wake or slepe, is redy ay my body for to kepe.” Valirian requested to see this angel, and Cecile told him he must first go to St. Urban, and, being purged by him “fro synne, than [then] schul ye see that aungel.” Valirian was accordingly “cristened” by St. Urban, returned home, and found the angel with two crowns, brought direct from paradise. One he gave to Cecile and one to Valirian, saying that “bothe with the palme of martirdom schullen come unto God’s blisful feste.” Valirian suffered martydom first; then Almachius, the Roman prefect, commanded his officers to “brenne Cecile in a bath of flammês red.” She remained in the bath all day and night, yet, “sat she cold, and felte of it no woe.” Then smote they her three strokes upon the neck, but could not smite her head off. She lingered on for three whole days, preaching and teaching, and then died. St. Urban buried her body privately by night, and the house he converted into a church, which he called the church of Cecily.—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“The Second Nun’s Tale,” 1388).
St. Christopher, a native of Lycia, very tall, and fearful to look at. He was so proud of his strength that he resolved to serve only the mightiest, and went in search of a worthy master. He first entered the service of the emperor; but one day, seeing his master cross himself for fear of the devil, he quitted his service for that of Satan. This new master he found was thrown into alarm at the sight of a cross; so he quitted him also, and went in search of the Saviour. One day, near a ferry, a little child accosted him, and begged the giant to carry him across the water. Christopher put the child on his back, but found every step he took the child grew heavier and heavier, till the burden was more than he could bear. As he sank beneath his load, the child told the giant he was Christ, and Christopher resolved to serve Christ and Him alone. He died three days afterwards, and was canonized. The Greek and Latin churches look on him as the protecting saint against floods, fire, and earthquake.—James de Voragine, Golden Legends, 100 (thirteenth century).