ABBEY OF ST. WANDRILLE.
In reply to the Vicar of Ecclesfield (No. 24. p. 382.), I am sorry to say that the "Chronicle of the Abby of St. Wandrille," to which I alluded (No. 21. p. 338.), contains nothing relating to the subject of his inquiry. The Abbey of Fontanelle, or St. Wandrille, was founded A.D. 645; and this chronicle contains a very concise account of a few only of its abbots and most celebrated members, down to the year 834: written, it is supposed, by a cotemporary of Ansegisus, the last abbot therein mentioned. It is followed by an appendix containing a compilation from a book on miracles wrought in the translation of the body of St. Wilfran, by an "eye-witness," which also recounts incidentally some of the acts of the abbots of St. Wandrille to the year 1053. Acheri speaks of persons who had been long engaged in collecting memorials of the history of this abbey up to the time of his writing, 1659. Whether these have ever been published, I have not the means at this moment of ascertaining. Some account of this abbey, with views of its ruins, will be found in that splendid work, Voyages dans L'Ancienne France, by Nodier, &c., vol. i.
The following notes from this chronicle may not be without interest, as showing an early connection between the abbey and this country, and our attachment to the See of Rome.
Chapter V. is devoted to the praise of BAGGA, a monk and presbyter of this abbey, who is said to have been "ex Britanniâ Oceani insula Saxonico ex genere ortus." He died, and was buried in the abbey, between the years 707 and 723; on which occasion the Abbot Benignus is said to have exclaimed, "O signifer fortissime Christi militiæ BAGGA, nunc mercedem laborum lætus accipis tuorum. Deprecare ipsum benignum Dominum, ut unà tecum mereamur gaudere consortiis justorum per ævum." Here is a prayer not for, but to the dead.
During the presidency of AUSTRULPHUS (ch. 13.), which began in 747 and ended in 753, a certain receptacle, in the form of a small pharos, was driven ashore in the district of Coriovallum, which contained a very fair copy of the four Gospels, beautifully written in Roman characters on the purest vellum; and part of the precious jaw of St. George the Martyr, as well as a portion of the "health-bearing" wood of the true cross, duly labelled. The acquisition of this treasure was of course ascribed to the immediate interposition of God. And as about the same period the head of St. George was discovered at Rome, through the intervention of Pope Zachary, it was conjectured that this pontiff had given the wonder-working relic to some venerable men from Britain, a country described as being "always on the most intimate footing (maximè familiares) with the Apostolic See;" and that, these being wrecked on their voyage home, or through some other adventure, the said treasure was providentially driven ashore at Coriovallum.
Chapter XV. gives us an account of GERVOLDUS, who ruled this abbey eighteen years, dying A.D. 806. He had been ambassador from Charlemagne to Offa, King of Mercia. The son of Charlemagne demanded the daughter of Offa in marriage, who refused his consent, unless his own son should receive the hand of Bertha, the daughter of the French king. Charles, in consequence, inhibited the subjects of Offa from trading on the French coast. This inhibition was, however, withdrawn through the mediation of the Abbot Gervoldus, who seems to have been in great favour with Charles.
I need hardly say, that throughout the chronicle there is a tolerable sprinkling of the marvellous. I give you the following as a warning to all dishonest bell-founders.
The pious builder of a church being desirous, according to custom, of putting a bell in the turret, engaged a skillful craftsman to carry into effect his design. This man, "at the instigation of the devil," stole some of the metal with which he had been furnished for the work; and the bell was, in consequence, mis-shapen and of small size. It was, however, placed in the turret; but, as a divine punishment for his crime, whenever the bell was struck, the dishonest founder was thereupon seized with frenzy, uttering strange words and barking like a dog!
GASTROS.