would willingly comply with his request, if before. The inhabitants of Prague met him, the practice of his religious family would be on his arrival, with great joy, and promised agreeable to him; he told him that the house obedience to his directions; but they soon in which he and his people lived, was given forgot their promises, and relapsed into their to them by those of Mount Cassino; and former vices, which obliged him, a second therefore it might not be safe for him to re- time, to leave them, and return to his monceive one that had left that community, but astery. Nevertheless, the archbishop of he advised him to return to Rome, and apply Mentz sent another deputation to Rome, and to Leo, an abbot of his acquaintance there, desired that his suffragan might be again or to whom he gave him a letter of recommen- dered back to his diocese. Gregory V., who dation. Adalbert went to Rome, where he was then pope, commanded him to return to found Leo, who, after putting his virtue and Prague; and, with great reluctance, he courage to proper trials, conducted him to obeyed. the pope, and, with the consent of that pon

The Bohemians, however, did not look tif, and the whole college of cardinals, gave upon him as before, but deemed him the him the habit on Holy Thursday in the year censor of their faults, and the enemy of their 990. We have already said, that he had pleasures, and threatened him with death been attended only by three select persons upon his arrival; but not having him yet in ever since he had the pope's advice for re- their power, they murdered several of his signing his bishopric: two of them now left relations, plundered their estates, and set him; but the third, who was his brother, fire. to their houses. Adalbert had intelliGaudentius, followed his example, and en- gence of these outrageous proceedings, and gaged in the same community. Adalbert, did not judge it prudent to proceed on his full of humility, took a particular pleasure journey. He therefore went to the duke of in the lowest employments of the house, and Poland, who had a particular respect for tived an excellent pattern of Christian sim- him, and engaged that prince to sound the plicity and obedience, Bohemians in regard to his return; but could The archbishop of Mentz, the metropoli- get no better answer from that wretched tan, being exceedingly afflicted at the disor- people, than "that they were sinners, hardders in the church of Prague, and wishing ened in iniquity; and Adalbert a saint, and for the return of the bishop, with whose re- consequently not fit to live among them; for treat he was not, for some time, acquainted, which reason he was not to hope for a tolerafter five years' absence, heard that Adal- able reception at Prague." The bishop bert was at Rome, when he sent a deputa- thought this message discharged him from tion to the pope, to press his return to his any further concern for that church, and be diocese. The pope summoned a council to gan to direct his thoughts to the conversion consider of the deputation, and after a warm of infidels; for which purpose he repaired to dispute between the monks and deputies, the Dantzic, where he converted and baptized latter carried their point, and Adalbert was many, which so enraged the Pagan priests, ordered to return to his diocese; but, at the that they fell upon him, and dispatched him same time, had permission to quit his charge with darts, on the 23d of April, A. D. 997 again, if he found his flock as incorrigible as

BOOK IV.

PERSECUTIONS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES, FROM THE ELEVENTH TO THE SIXTEENTH

CENTURY.

SECTION I.

Persecutions in the Eleventh Century.

ACCOUNT OF ARCHBISHOP ALPHAGE. land, was obliged to interpose, and he conALPHAGE, archbishop of Canterbury, came secrated Alphage to the vacant bishopric, to from a considerable family in Gloucester- the general satisfaction of all concerned in shire, and received an education suitable to the election.

his birth. His parents were Christians, and The behavior of Alphage was a proof of Alphage inherited all their virtues. He his being equal to the dignity of his vocation. was prudent, humble, pious, and chaste; and Piety flourished in his diocese; unity. was made a rapid progress both in polite litera- established among his clergy and people; tore and theological learning. In order to and the conduct of the church of Winchesbe more at leisure to contemplate the beau- ter made the bishop the admiration of the ties of divine history, he determined to re- whole kingdom. Dunstan had an extraordinounce his fortune, quit his home, and be-nary veneration for Alphage, and when at come a recluse. He accordingly retired to the point of death, made it his ardent request a monastery of Benedictines, at Deerhurst, to God, that he might succeed him in the in Gloucestershire, and soon after took the see of Canterbury; which accordingly haphabit. Here he lived with the utmost tem- pened, though not till about eighteen years perance, and spent the greatest part of his after Dunstan's death. In the course of that time in prayer. But not thinking the aus- period, the metropolitan church was governterities he underwent in this monastery suffi- ed by three successive prelates; the last of ciently severe, he retired to a lonely cell whom was Alfric; upon whose decease, in near Bath, and lived in a manner still more 1006, Alphage was raised to the see of Canrigid; but some devout persons finding out terbury. The people belonging to the diohis retreat, his austere life soon became the cese of Winchester were too sensible of the subject of conversation in the neighboring loss they sustained by his translation, not villages, whence many flocked to him, and to regret his removal to Canterbury. begged to be taken under his pastoral care. Consenting to their importunities, he raised a monastery near his cell, by contributions of several well-disposed persons; formed his When Alphage had governed the see of new pupils into a community, and placed a Canterbury about four years with great repuprior over them. Having prescribed rules tation, the Danes made an incursion into for their regulation, he again retired to his England. Ethelred, who then reigned, was cell, fervently wishing to pass the remainder a prince of a very weak mind, and pusillanof his days in religious security; when the following affair again drew him from his re

treat.

Soon after, he was made archbishop, he went to Rome, and received the pall from pope John XVIII.

imous disposition. Being afraid to face the enemy himself, and too irresolute to furnish others with the means of acting, he suffered his country to be ravaged with impunity, and the greatest depredations to be committed by

The see of Winchester being vacant by the death of Ethelwold, a dispute arose respecting a successor, to that bishopric. The the enemy. clergy had been driven out of the cathedral Upon this occasion, the archbishop Alphfor their scandalous lives, but were admitted age acted with great resolution and humaniagain by king Ethelred, upon certain terms ty; he went boldly to the Danes, purchased of reformation. The monks, who had been the freedom of several whom they had made introduced upon their expulsion, looked upon captives; found means to send food to others, themselves as the chapter of that church; whom he had not money enough to redeem, and hence arose a violent contest between and even made converts of some of the them and the clergy who had been re-ad- Danes: but the latter circumstance made mitted, about the election of a bishop; while the Danes, who still continued Pagans, both parties were vigorously determined greater enemies to him than they would upon supporting their own man. This dis otherwise have been, and they were deterpute at last ran so high, that Dunstan, arch- mined to be revenged on him. Edrie, an bishop of Canterbury, as primate of all Eng-English malcontent and traitor, gave the

Danes every encouragement, and assisted Canterbury by Ethelnoth, the archbishop of them in laying siege to Canterbury. When that province.

GERARD, A VENETIAN.

the design of attacking that city was known, many of the principal people made a precipitate flight from it, and would have persuaded Gerard, a Venetian, having devoted him. Alphage to follow their example; but he self to the service of God from a youth, enwould not listen to such a proposal; assured tered into a religious house for some time, them he could not think of abandoning his and then determined to visit the Holy Land flock at a time when his presence was more On arriving in Hungary, he became ac necessary than ever, and was resolved to quainted with Stephen, the king of that hazard his life in their defence. While he country, who acted the parts of prince and was employed in assisting his people, Can- preacher, and not only regulated his subjects terbury was taken by storm; the enemy by wholesome laws, but taught them religious poured into the town, and destroyed all duties. Finding Gerard qualified to instruct that came in their way. The monks en- his people, he tried to detain him in his king deavored to detain the archbishop in the dom; and, at length, founding several church, where they hoped he might be safe. churches, he made Gerard bishop of that of But his concern for his flock made him Chonad. Here the new bishop had a very break from them, and run into the midst of difficult task to perform, the people of his the danger. On this occasion he addressed diocese being accustomed to idolatry. The the enemy, begging the people might be bishop, however, assiduous in his zeal for the saved, and that he alone might be their vic- salvation of his flock, labored to bring them tim. The barbarians seized him, tied his to a sense of their duty, and soon had the hands, insulted and abused him, and obliged pleasure to find that his endeavors were not him to remain on the spot till his church was unsuccessful, for his sweetness of disposition burnt, and the monks massacred. They then won greatly upon the people. His success decimated all the inhabitants, both ecclesi- was not confined to his own diocese, but exastics and laymen, leaving only every tenth tended to the adjacent country, where many person alive so that they put 7236 persons became converts to the pure faith of Christ. to death, and left only four monks and 800 Wherever the faith made its way by his laymen alive after which they confined the ministry, he took care to establish ecclesias archbishop in a dungeon, where they kept tical discipline for the preservation of rehim for several months. During his confine-ligion, and made several useful regulations ment, they proposed to him to purchase his in the public service of the church. His exliberty with the sum of 30001. and to per- emplary conduct was as instructive as his suade the king to procure their departure exhortations, and did much to convince his out of the kingdom with a farther sum of converts of the truth and dignity of their new 10,000l. Alphage's circumstances not al- profession. He was remarkable for an un lowing him to satisfy the exorbitant demand, common tenderness for the poor, especially they bound him, and put him to severe tor- such as were sick, or incapable of following ments, to oblige him to discover the treasure their accustomed employments. During the of his church. But he remaining inflexible, life of Stephen, Gerard received every asthey remanded him to prison again, confined sistance which that excellent monarch coula him six days longer, and then taking him afford him; but on his demise, his nephew with them to Greenwich, brought him to Peter, who succeeded him, was of so differtrial. Here he exhorted them to forsake ent a temper, that Gerard was greatly pertheir idolatry, and embrace Christianity. plexed. At length, the tyranny of Peter This so enraged them, that the soldiers exasperated his subjects so much, that they dragged him out of the camp, and beat him deposed him, and placed Ouvo on the throne. unmercifully. Alphage bore this treatment They, however, soon found that they had patiently, and even prayed for his persecu- changed from bad to worse; for Ouvo proved tors. One of the soldiers, who had been a greater monster of cruelty than his predeconverted, and baptized by him, was greatly cessor. At Easter, Ouvo repaired to Chonad, afflicted that his pains should be so lingering, in order to receive the crown from the hands as he knew his death was determined on: of Gerard. When he arrived, the other prehe, therefore, in a kind of barbarous com- lates of the kingdom, who were assembled, passion, cut off his head, and thus put the assured the prince of their affection for his finishing stroke to his martyrdom. This person, and promised to concur in his corohappened on April 19, A. D. 1012, on the nation; but Gerard refused to pay that comvery spot where the church of Greenwich, pliment to a public and malicious enemy; which is dedicated to him, now stands. After and told him, that he could not look on Peter's his death, his body was thrown into the exclusion as regular, and consequently should Thames, but being found the next day, it not proceed to do any thing to the prejudice was buried in the cathedral of St. Paul's, by of his title; he then told him, that if he perthe bishops of London and Lincoln: from sisted in his usurpation, the Divine Proviwhence it was, in the year 1023, removed to dence would soon put an end to his life and

reign. Ouve, growing more insupportable contrary reason, viz. his want of years; as than his predecessor, was brought to the being then only 36 years old, he deemed scaffold, in the year 1044; upon which Peter that too early a time of life for a man to unwas recalled, and placed on the throne a dertake the important care of a diocese. second time; but his deposition and retire- Lambert, however, made him his substitute ment had made no alteration in his temper, upon various occasions, and dying on Noso that he was again deprived of the royal vember 25, 1071, all concerned in the choice dignity in less than two years... of a successor declared for Stanislaus: but,

An offer was then made of the crown to he declined the acceptance for the same reaAndrew, son of Ladislaus, cousin-german of son as before. At length the king, clergy, Stephen, upon condition that he would em- and nobility, unanimously joined in writing ploy his authority in extirpating the Christian to pope Alexander II. who, at their entreaty, religion out of Hungary. The ambitious sent an express order that Stanislaus should prince came into the proposal, and promised accept the bishopric. He then obeyed, and to do his utmost in re-establishing the idola- exerted himself to the utmost: in improving trous worship of his ancestors. Gerard, being his flock.. He was equally careful with reinformed of this impious bargain, undertook spect both to clergy and laity, kept a list of to go to Andrew, and persuade him to with- all the poor in his diocese, and by feeding draw his promise. He accordingly set out, the hungry, clothing the naked, and adminattended by three other prelates, full of zeal istering remedies to the sick, he proved himfor religion: but as they were about to cross self not only the godly pastor, but the phythe Danube, they were stopped by a party sician and benefactor of the people. of soldiers posted there by a nobleman, re- Bolislaus the Second, king of Poland, had markable for his aversion to the. Christian many good qualities, but giving way too religion, and to Stephen's memory. They much to his passions, he committed many were attacked with a shower of stones, cru- enormities, till, from being deemed a good elly beaten, and at length dispatched with king, he at last acquired the appellation of lances. Their martyrdoms happened in the CRUEL. The nobility were shocked at his year 1045.

STANISLAUS.

conduct, and the clergy saw his proceedings with grief; but Stanislaus alone had the courage to tell him of his faults. The king Stanislaus, bishop of Cracow, was of an was greatly exasperated at this freedom; but illustrious family. The piety of his parents awed by the virtues of the bishop, he diswas equal to their opulence, and they ren-sembled his resentment, and appearing to be dered their wealth subservient to all the pur- convinced of his errors, promised to reform poses of benevolence. Stanislaus was their his conduct. He, soon after, attempted the only child: he possessed a penetrating genius, chastity of a married lady, who, rejecting his retentive memory, and solid understanding; offers with disdain, he violated her by force. hence study became his amusement. His This iniquitous act greatly incensed the disposition was not inferior to his abilities; nobility; they assembled, and, calling the and he voluntarily gave himself, in the dawn clergy to their assistance, entreated Peter, of youth, to such austerities as might have archbishop of Gresne, to remonstrate to the acquired reputation for a hermit. In process king on the impropriety of his conduct. The of time, he was sent to a seminary of learn- archbishop, however, declined the task; for ing in Poland, and afterwards to the univer- though virtuous, he was timid. Several other sity of Paris; here he remained several prelates imitated his example, and Stanislaus years, and then returned to his own country, was, as before, the only one who had courwhere, on the demise of his parents, he be- age and zeal sufficient to perform what he came possessed of a large fortune, of which looked upon as an indispensable duty. He, he devoted the greater, part to charitable therefore, put himself at the head of a numuses. His views were now solely directed ber of ecclesiastics, noblemen, and gentleto the ministry; but he remained for some men, and solemnly addressed the king on the time undetermined whether he should em- heinousness of his crime. Bolislaus, viobrace a monastic life, or engage among the lently irritated, threatened the prelate withi secular clergy. He was at length persuaded his severest vengeance; but Stanislaus, unto the latter by Lambert Zula, bishop of intimidated by his menaces, visited him twice Cracow, who gave him holy orders, and made more, and remonstrated with him in a simihim a canon of his cathedral. In this ca- lar manner, which increased his wrath. pacity he lived in a most exemplary manner, The nobility and clergy, finding that the and performed his duties with unremitting admonitions of the bishop had not the desired assiduity. Lambert was charmed with the effect upon the king, thought proper to inmany virtues which so particularly distin- terpose. The nobility entreated the bishop guished Stanislaus, and would fain have re- to refrain from any further exasperating a signed his bishopric to him, alleging as a monarch of so ferocious a temper; and the reason his great age; but Stanislaus abso- clergy endeavored to persuade the king not lutely refused to accept of the see, for the to be offended with Stanislaus for his chari.

SEVERAL MONASTERIES ERECTED BY

BONIFACE.

light of the gospel; but at the time that Boni- many that would willingly have been Chr face arrived there, it had made little progress. tians only by halves; they were ready enou His first exertions, therefore, were to bring to acknowledge Christ, but did not care the corrupted Christians back to the purity of adhere strictly to his precepts: and so the gospel; and having completed this pious were so far deluded, as to worship a lar work with great assiduity, and hearing that oak-tree, which was dedicated to Jupite Radbord, whom he formerly in vain attempted This tree Boniface ordered to be cut dow to convert, was dead, he repaired to Utrecht, when the Pagans, finding that Jupiter d to assist Willebrod, the first bishop of that not take any notice of those who had d city. During the space of three years, these stroyed it, owned the weakness of their pr worthy pastors labored, in conjunction, in tended deity, and desired to be baptized. extirpating idolatry and propagating the Being naturally diffident of his own abi faith; and so far succeeded, that most of the ties, Boniface had frequent recourse to su people received baptism, and many of the persons as he thought might be of service Pagan temples were converted into Chris-him in his present difficult station. Po tian churches. At this time Willebrod being Gregory, and Daniel, his old diocesan, we very infirm, thought he could not do better his most considerable counsellors; but by t than to appoint Boniface to succeed him; care of the bishop of Winchester, he receiv but this the English missionary absolutely from England numerous missionaries. refused, saying, he could not stay so long in any place, as he had many evangelical labors to perform. Willebrod, on hearing this, consented to his departure; and Boniface re- In the year 731, Gregory the Third su paired to Hesse, where he brought to a know- ceeded to the papal chair, upon whose acce ledge of the truth two brothers, who, though sion Boniface sent persons to Rome, to a they called themselves Christians, were sunk quaint him with the success of his labo into most of the errors of Paganism. They, testifying his obedience, and desiring assi however, became such sincere converts, that ance in some difficulties which occurred they gave their estate to Boniface, who, in- his mission. The pope not only answer stead of applying its revenues to his own the message by assuring him of the co use, built and endowed a religious commu- munion and friendship of the see of Rom nity with them; after which he proceeded but, as a mark of respect, sent him the p to Saxony, where he converted some thou- lium, granted him the title of archbishop, sands to the Christian faith. After exerting metropolitan of all Germany, and empower himself in this new field with prodigious him to erect new bishoprics. Boniface, success about a year, he dispatched one of consequence, not only erected new bish his companions to Rome, with an account of rics, but built several monasteries. He th what he had done; upon which Gregory II. made a third journey to Rome, in 738, wh sent him a letter, desiring him to repair to Gregory, who had much affection for hi that city; and he set out for Rome. On his detained him there the greatest part of arrival, the bishop gave him all marks of es- year. teem and affection, and was resolved not to At length having left Rome, he set let him return to his labors without the epis- for Bavaria, upon the invitation of Odi copal character, that he might pursue them duke of that country, to reform some abu with more authority, and to greater advan- introduced by persons who had never tage. He was accordingly consecrated on ceived holy orders.

the last day of November, 723; from which At this time Bavaria had only one bish time he took upon himself the name of Boni- he, therefore, pursuant to his commis face. from Rome, erected three new bishopr On being thus qualified for forming his one at Saltzburg, a second at Freisigen, new church, he left Rome, having with him a third at Ratisbon, and thus all Bavaria ( six letters from the pope; one to Charles divided into four dioceses. This regula Martel; a second to all bishops, priests, was soon after confirmed by the pope. dukes, counts, &c.; a third to the clergy and He next established four other bishop people under his more immediate direction; viz. at Erfurt, Barabourg, Wurtzburgh, a fourth to the five princes of Thuringia, and Achstat.

their Christian subjects; a fifth to the Pa- In the year 741, Gregory the Third gans in their dominions; and a sixth to the succeeded in the popedom by Zachary, whole body of Saxons. The purport of all confirmed Boniface in his power, and these was, to recommend him to the protec- proved of all he had done in Germany, tion of the Christian powers, and exhort the ing him at the same time archbisho Pagans to hear him, and quit their errors Mentz, and metropolitan over thirteen and superstition. oprics. He did not, however, lose his plicity, or forget his innocence, in his siastical dignity.

Having made many converts in different parts, he returned to his mission in Germany, and was very successful, though he met with

During the ministry of this prelate,