¹ After the departure of the blessed man Fursey, the storm that he had foreseen in spirit raged upon the overseas lands. For after the most Christian King Anna was driven out, the monastery that Fursey had built there was attacked by the pagans, the monks were scattered, and all their possessions were plundered. The abbot Foillan, the uterine brother of the aforementioned man, was taken into custody and would have been put to death if not for the intervention of the divine hand. When news arrived of the impending return of the aforementioned King Anna, the pagans were terrified, and thus, for the sake of many, Foillan was saved.

² The monks were ransomed from captivity, the holy relics were recovered, and the sacred liturgical vessels along with the books were loaded onto a ship. Finally, Foillan himself departed for the lands of the Franks, where he and his companions were received by the noble Erchinoald in the same place where the blessed Fursey had been buried.

³ Not long after, they were expelled by the patrician, who despised foreign monks. However, they were received with great honour by the most devout servant of God, Idoberga, also called Ita, and by her daughter, the sacred virgin of Christ, Gertrude. Even Grimoald, the ruler, rejoiced in welcoming these holy men. In the estate named Bebrona, after the river that flows through it, they established a monastery for religious monks in proper order, with the aforementioned servant of God, Ita, providing all necessary support.

⁴ It happened that after the aforementioned servant of God had distributed many alms in various places, consoled the poor, received many pilgrims with great kindness, fed the hungry, clothed those who were cold, sheltered travelers, offered immense gifts for divine worship, and strengthened a community of holy virgins along with the noblewoman mentioned above in the Lord, she departed for the heavenly kingdom.

⁵ The man of God, Foillan—whom we have previously mentioned—then set out on a journey for the benefit of the flock entrusted to him. On the eve of the feast of the most holy martyr Quintinus, he celebrated the solemn Mass in the church of Nivelles. He pleaded with the elder brothers that, should he happen to die along the way, his body should be sought out by the brothers who laboured with him, as an act of charity. After bidding farewell to all, he departed.

⁶ That very night, he was led astray by a wicked man along remote paths. Entering the dwelling of a certain village inhabited by evildoers, they were received with deceptive hospitality. The companions of the blessed man, suspecting the inhabitants, remained watchful throughout the night. When the morning praises had been completed, the saint spoke kindly to the locals. Then, after prayer, he lay down to rest, addressing his companions, none of whom suspected any evil from the people there.

⁷ But then, wicked men arose, having gathered others from elsewhere, and they murdered the holy man. They also killed his companions alongside him. When the blessed man called out in thanksgiving to God, they cut off his venerable head so that his voice would no longer be heard. Then, in a nearby shelter where a herd of pigs was kept, they dug a pit and, stripping and mutilating the bodies, buried all four of them together in that vile place.

⁸ And so, the matter remained hidden for many days, because they had sent their clothes, horses, and all their possessions away, selling them to distant inhabitants. However, when they failed to appear at the appointed assembly, their brothers, moved by charity and concern, searched for them, making inquiries wherever they could.

⁹ But the aforementioned virgin of Christ, Gertrude, pleading with the Lord through fasting and prayers, sent messengers throughout the surrounding areas. Through this, she brought to light what had been shrouded in darkness, and thus, on the seventy-seventh day after their passing, the sacred bodies were found. This number is mystically noted in many places throughout Divine Scripture.

¹⁰ They were discovered on the very day when the blessed Fursa, their brother, departed from the body to the Lord. The recovered bodies were then solemnly carried on the shoulders of the clergy and the people, with candles and torches shining, accompanied by antiphons and spiritual songs, and were honourably transported throughout the night to the monastery of Nivelles.

¹¹ There, the venerable man, Bishop Dido of Poitiers, and the noble Grimald were present. The lords of the house, having arrived on that very day to visit the holy places, were divinely warned about the arrival of the sacred bodies. For as the bishop rested after the morning praises, he was asked in a dream what he was doing and was commanded to hasten at once to meet the blessed Haelia.

¹² Rising immediately and inquiring of his attendant what was happening, he heard from him that the venerable bodies had arrived. At once, the venerable man went forth to meet them, overwhelmed with many tears. After completing his prayer, he began to praise the Lord, and together with the most reverend aforementioned nobleman, he received the sacred burden of the venerated bodies, carrying them upon their own shoulders.

¹³ They were taken to the monastery of the holy virgins, and from there, after taking some relics, they were reverently transported with psalms and hymns to their own monastery. Noblemen from all around came to meet them, carrying the bodies upon their shoulders with the highest honour, and they were solemnly placed in a most renowned location, known by another name, Fossa. There, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the benefits of prayers are bestowed, now and forever. Amen.