read of many miracles ascribed to her holiness in his book that penned her life,." "The hamlet of Stowforde, did some time belong to the Duchy of Lancaster. In this place was Hieretha, patroness of Chittlehampton, born, who, as the legend of her life makes mention, suffered the next year after Thomas Becket, in the reign of King Henry II., in which history the names of her parents are set downm." The Church of Chittlehampton still retains its dedi. cation in her honour.

S. Ursula, V. M., A.D. 383. The singularly extravagant legend connected with this saint and her army of virgins, was extensively popular throughout Europe early in the middle ages, and though the details vary in different versions, they all agree in the main incident of S. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins being martyred by the pagans near Cologne. The most circumstantial legend given in extenso would be too long for our limits, and rather than abridge it we refer our readers to Mrs. Jamieson's beautiful, interesting, and instructive work, where it is given in detail". We select a version less generally known and received, but making even greater claims upon our credulity :

"At Cullen (Cologne) in higher Germany the passion of S. Ursula, virgin and martyr, daughter to Dionocus, king of Cornwall, who togeather with an

1 Leland's Itinerary.

n Sacred and Legendary Art, 1st Series.

m Ibid.

eleven thousand other British virgins (as ancient authors do recount) being shipped at London, to passe over into France, to be maried there to two legions of British soldiers, unto whome Maximus, that was by them chosen emperour, had given the countrey of Armorica, were by a contrary wynd driven down to the mouthe of the river of Rhene (Rhine), and there neere unto Cullen (Cologne) were all slayne by the barbarous Hunnes and Pictes in defence of their virginity, about the yeare of Christ three hundred fourscore and three. Most of their bodyes were brought to Cullen, and there interred

with great honour and veneration, and their memoryes celebrated upon this day throughout the Christian world. There was afterwards a goodly Church built in Cullen in their honour, called the Church of the Holy Virgins, which always hath byn had in such reverence among the inhabitants, that they never buried any other body there, neyther will the ground or earth of that Church receyve any other body, no,

8 URSULA,

not the corpes of yong infants newly baptized, but, as it were vomiting them up againe in the night, they

will be cast above ground, as hath oftentymes byn tried"." Representations of S. Ursula are very common in the Churches in this country, and generally she is a majestic figure, surrounded by several diminutive virgins, who are often sheltered beneath her ample ermine mantle, which is opened wide to display them. Being of royal birth, she is usually crowned, but not always, and frequently holds one or more arrows, the instruments of the martyrdom, in her hand; sometimes the attendant virgins are omitted, and sometimes the arrows, and occasionally she carries a small pennon with a cross upon it. She was with her companions commemorated on October

21st.

S. Uthnoe. Perran-Uthnoe Church, Cornwall, is thus dedicated.

S. Uvell is commemorated at Withiel Church, Cornwall.

S.Vedast, B., A.D. 539. Was a native of Aquitaine, but early left his country and friends, and retired into solitude at Lorraine. He was very instrumental with S. Remigius in converting to Christianity Clovis, the first Christian king of France, and upon his recommendation he was by S. Remigius consecrated Bishop of Arras, over which see he presided forty years with great ability and piety. He is commemorated in the Church of Rome on February 6th. The Churches in England named after him are Tathwell, Lincolnshire,

• English Martyrologe, p. 288.

and one in Foster lane, London.

He is repre

sented as a Bishop, near him is a wolf with a goose in its mouth, which he is said to have rescued from it.

S. Veronica. This touching and poetical legend is at least as old as the eighth century, but was rejected by the Church in the eleventh. Some accounts make S. Veronica the niece of King Herod; others say that she was the woman who was cured by touching the hem of our Saviour's garment, and who when our Saviour was toiling with His cross up to Calvary, wiped the drops of heavy perspiration from His brow with her veil, and received it back stamped with a perfect likeness of His features, which likeness was styled the "Vera Icon," or true image, and was given as a name to the traditional personage spoken of in the legend. A likeness of our Saviour stamped on linen is kept in S. Peter's at Rome, and is still shewn as the Vera Icon, or identical napkin used by S. Veronica. She is always represented holding a napkin with the

S. VERONICA,

from a MS. in the Bodleian Library.

sacred features drawn upon it, and was commemorated on Shrove Tuesday.

S. Vigor is commemorated in the dedication of the Churches of Fulbourne, Cambridgeshire, and Stratton-on-Fosse, Somerset.

S. Vincent. See January 22nd, p. 39.

S. Walston, C., A.D. 1016. Was a native of Bawburgh, near Norwich, and of a rich and honourable family: at the early age of twelve he renounced all his worldly wealth, and became an agricultural labourer at Taverham, where he died in the act of mowing. He was the peculiar patron of the East Anglian farmers, "all mowers and scythe followers seeking him once in the year." His body was miraculously transported to Bawburgh, where many wonderful cures are reported to have taken place at his shrine, and the Church still retains its dedication in his name. He was commemorated on May 30th, and is usually represented with a scythe in his hand, sometimes crowned, and occasionally with calves near him.

S. Wandragesilaus. The Church of Bixley, Norfolk, is thus dedicated.

S. Wennap is commemorated at the Church of Gwennap, Cornwall.

S. Wendreda is commemorated in the dedication of Lee chapel, Devon, and of March Church, Cambridgeshire.

S. Wendron, or S. Wendrove, C. The Church and