Messingham, Florilegium insulae sanctorum (Paris, 1624) — additions to the Life of St Gall, and the Life of St Magnus of Füssen by the monk Theodorus. Latin text with heavy OCR wear; translated into modern British English.

From the Martyrology of St Notker #

On the same day (that is, the seventeenth before the Kalends of November [16 October]) among the Alamanni — who are also called Suevi — beside the Rhaetian Alps, is festally celebrated the deposition or passing, or the birthday to eternal life, of the most blessed Gall, confessor. He, born in the island of Ireland which lies between Britain and Spain, kindled by the warmth of divine love, journeyed as a pilgrim through Gaul with his master and abbot Columbanus, and entered Alemannia. Coming into the wilderness which lies between the Alps, the Rhine and the shore of the Lake of Brigantium, when Father Columbanus sought Italy he was detained by sickness; and when the divine hand had cured him — for it desired him — and he had recovered health, longing to lead a solitary life he lived in the secret places of the wilderness, free for God yet not idle. King Sigebert, then, hearing that he lived in the public possessions, ordered a deed of confirmation to be made, that the holy man should hold by authority the place he inhabited; and giving him talents of gold and silver, commanded Duke Cunzo that, if he should wish to become a dweller in the solitude, he should furnish him a store of comforts for building a cell. The athlete of God, then, about to build a spiritual edifice, abiding in frugality, prayers and vigils, recalled the people from the error of idolatry, broke their idols, and commended his preaching to his hearers by the effect of signs. The number of which — since a book of his life and virtues is everywhere had and read, and since they are even today increased by miracles — we here pass over for the present, recording only this: that the divine goodness made blessed Gall the apostle of the Alamannic people; and the nation which he found wrapped in paganism he, that skilled traveller of God’s path, imbued with the truth of faith and led back from the darkness of ignorance to the sun of justice who is Christ; and the place which he found inaccessible to human nature and beset only by beasts, serpents and demons, he cleared of its foes and presented as a dwelling to the Godhead. And it is to be watched with the utmost care and feared, lest the tabernacle of God which the holy man raised by divine demonstration and with much sweat, and which was sequestered by royal authority into the lot and portion of God’s inheritance, be assailed by any rashness of human presumption; lest human greed seize what was purged by the madness of demons and the savagery of beasts. Lastly — what the unbent bows of the unrighteous have shot forth being past — let no human unquiet there presume to molest what has been set at rest.

[From the same martyrology], inserted on the sixteenth before the Kalends of November [17 October] #

On the same day is the translation of St Gall, and the dedication of the very beautiful basilica built for him between the two mounts Otmach and Amansberg — having to the south the river Sitter and to the north the river Necker. Which place is named from the blessed one’s own name, the Monastery of St Gall. Where, the Lord declaring his virtues’ merits, the blind are enlightened, hearing is given to the deaf, the maimed are suffered to work, many are set free by the loosening of their tongues, steps are made straight for the lame, the energumens are freed from wicked spirits; sufferers from the fever and the flux are raised up by gracious healing, the griefs of the aching are stilled by tried medicine, and the expulsion of the other infirmities is there wrought likewise.

From the third book of Theodore [of Pavia] On the Lives of Illustrious Men, chapter 71 #

Gall the abbot, born in Ireland of renowned parents and delivered to St Columbanus as a disciple, was instructed by him in secular letters and, having become his monk, was promoted to the priesthood.

Verses of Ratpert on the feast of St Gall #

Most holy athlete of God, you who did overcome the darts of the enemy, Gaul — for whom you did leave the bounds of your land — see, this most holy day of your shines upon our souls, which your first coming led to the stars. Journeying from the East, you did illumine the western parts, giving the light of heavenly doctrine to the peoples; you who did not cease to breathe the faith — nor did you keep silence where the head refused to have faith. Here where you did deign to turn aside your frail limbs, there you did everywhere open the pastures of Christ’s praise. Departing hence you were made a most acceptable victim, since for the saints’ sake you did dwell with the saints themselves; you did come to the Father’s right hand to receive these temporal honours, driving far hence whatever might oppose. you did expel the foe, filling the place with the sweet savour of Christ; your body remaining, your spirit sought the stars. Lo, today you have received the palm of merit after your contests; protect us today. are you, shining above the stars, receive the prayers of your servants who now jubilate to you with devoted heart; and propitiously look upon the noble pledge venerating you — your renowned body, blessed Gall. And what we sing, kindly expiate, holy one; in all things be present as ruler to your own. Hence let us utter praises to the Lord, Three and One, who makes us now have such a patron. Amen.

[Fragment — the end of the fish miracle] #

Which beholding, and giving thanks to God, they took up the three fish they had found and presented them to the venerable father. But he had known by the Holy Spirit that the Lord had prepared the meal for him, and with thanksgiving they took the food; and after the meal they again gave thanks to their Creator. Which beholding, Magnoaldus, following blessed Gall, promised with joyful mind that he would share their sustenance and would serve Christ the Lord for ever.

The Life of St Magnus, Confessor #

[The opening chapters are wanting in the text as printed; it begins thus —]

[Chapter Two — heading] #

How blessed Columbanus delivered the monastic habit to Magnoaldus, and how, on account of a miraculous deed, he was called by syncope “Magnus.”

Chapter Three #

When the holy man Columbanus had received him in obedience into his blessed hands and given him a name according to his own magnificence, saying: “May the Lord make you great in wisdom and skill, you who are called Magnoaldus by a great name,” he added moreover: “Know all the ministries of the monastery, for which you shall have the surname ‘Magnoaldus.’” And when he had been made a monk, he delivered to him the key of the cellarer’s office. God at once opened His will towards the blessed Magnoaldus in the miracle that was wrought. For when the hour of refection drew near, and the minister of the refectory, a boy named Sonarius, essayed to administer the ale, he carried to the cellar the vessel they call a typus and set it before the vessel in which the ale was stored; and, the tap being opened, he suffered it to run into the typus. Which same Sonarius, being quickly called by the father’s authority at Magnoaldus’s command — but he, forgetting in the flame of his ardour for obedience to watch the running ale, ran with swift pace to the blessed man, holding the tap in his hand, and set it before the eyes of blessed Magnoaldus, Columbanus and Gall seeing and beholding it. And after the man of God had promised him what he had commanded, he asked him: “What is it, then, that you have in your hand?” And he, beholding the tap and remembering his negligence, returned quickly to the cellar, supposing that there was nothing in the vessel into which the ale had been running. Entering therefore he saw that the ale had risen above the typus — that as great as was the crown of the vessel’s rim beneath the typus, so much had it mounted on high, so that it appeared like a crown, and not the least drop had fallen to the ground. Beholding such a miracle, he went to the dwelling of blessed Magnoaldus, telling him all that had befallen and what he had seen. He, stricken with fear and not knowing what to do, went hastily to Wandalenus the priest — whom taking with him he led to the cellar, and found all things according to the boy Sonarius’s account. Then falling at his feet he spoke thus: “My lord priest, what shall we say to the lord father Columbanus if he hears these things?” And he answered: “Not so, brother; it is the mercy of Christ that is celebrated in so great a man, our father.” And with quickened step they both went, and came to the feet of Columbanus and told him all that had befallen. To whom Columbanus said: “My brethren, this has not been done by my merits, but by the intercession of the man of God Magnoaldus.” He, hearing this, prostrated himself at the master’s feet and said: “Lord father, do not say this; I know that this was done for your merits, not mine.” Blessed Columbanus answered: “Peace, brother; I know truly, for I saw my angel going before you when you called Sonarius — who, making the sign of the cross over the typus, made the ale stand in the manner of a crown, as you saw.” O great gift of the divine power, which deigned to confer such grace even upon His neophyte servant, that already you are called “Great” among the brethren! At these things Magnoaldus kept silence, giving thanks to God in his heart for His great mercy.

Chapter Four — How the bear at St Magnus’s bidding guarded the apples #

So at a certain time, when the blessed Columbanus and Gall were keeping their bodies in fasting under a certain rock amid the wilderness’s wastes, and could take no food save wild apples, there came one day a bear, and began to pluck the necessary food and to tear down the apples with its mouth here and there. And when the hour of refection had come, they said to blessed Magnoaldus: “Brother, we know there are better apples there; go and fetch us the wonted measure of apples.” And when he had gone and spied the bear among the thick shrubs, wishing to fill his lap he was greatly afraid. At length, taking courage in the Lord, he said to the beast: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, stay a little while, until I gather the apples which are to be borne to our fathers; and then I will give you a share of them to eat.” Wondrous obedience of the wild beast — forgetting its savagery it stood still, holding its head bowed down. Then he, parting the shrubs and the brambles which bore the apples with a rod, chose a share of those which by the man’s command were the better, to be borne for his use, and gave another share to the beast to eat, saying: “Eat you these; the rest keep for the use of blessed Columbanus.” And the beast was of such obedience that it dared not eat anywhere of the share forbidden it, but contented itself with the apples permitted and assigned to it in the separated portion of the shrubs. On another day Magnoaldus, again seeking apples, found them safe and well preserved; and giving thanks to God he said to the beast: “In the Lord’s name, do this daily.” And the obedient beast without doubt preserved the apples safe, so long as the man of God lived in that place.

Chapter Five — How the birds submitted to be taken at St Magnus’s bidding #

On a certain day again the Lord, giving food to His disciples, made such a store of birds come to them that they filled the whole place most abundantly. And blessed Magnoaldus, seeing this, understood that through the father’s and his own merits these things were poured forth on them from God, and he said to blessed Gall: “Bid the father take these birds for the work of the brethren, if it please him, since the foods are given by God.” When Gall had said this, blessed Columbanus said: “You Magnoaldus, who in the Lord’s name bade the bear keep the apples for our work — do now according to your name a great work: obtain from God that these flying things remain until they be taken by the brethren for their necessary uses.” He, marvelling how the deed concerning the beast had been revealed to the blessed man, dared not question him; but at his bidding, prostrating himself in prayer, he prayed together with blessed Columbanus and Gall. And the abbot, raising himself, said to Magnoaldus: “Arise, bid them take the birds.” Magnoaldus arose and, giving thanks to the Creator, began to take the birds with the rest of the brethren. A wonder, truly wondrous and stupendous! The birds were taken, as the father’s command had been, nor did they essay to depart on winged flight until blessed Magnoaldus said: “If it please our father, we have birds enough for three days; it is good that they depart.” And so he bade the troops of birds go; and those that remained took flight and departed. Nor did divine mercy fail to send through good men dwelling round about a store of grain, by the hands of the happy Gall and Magnoaldus, to blessed Columbanus from the neighbouring towns.

Chapter Six — The pilgrimage of the saints Columbanus, Gall and Magnus, and how they came to the lake of Zürich #

Meanwhile there came a purpose into his mind that he should go to the borders of the Slavs and illuminate their blind minds with the evangelical light, and open to them, wandering from the first, the way of truth. And when he had narrated these things to the blessed Gall and Magnoaldus, that he wished so to set forth, blessed Gall said to Magnoaldus: “Brother, what seems it to you concerning this journey of our abbot?” He answered: “Lord deacon, in the first place let the Lord’s will be sought out, and afterwards, if you deem it worthy, let us set forth.” Hearing this, blessed Columbanus bade a three days’ farer be held, and that the Lord’s mercy be implored without ceasing to show them His will. And on the third night the angel of the Lord appeared to them three in a vision, and in a small circuit — as a page of the world is described by a stylus — showed them the frame of the world’s circle. “You see,” he said, “that the whole world remains a desert; tell Columbanus to go to the right or the left wherever he chooses, that he may eat the fruit of his labour — it is not his work to hasten there.” Hearing this, Father Columbanus understood likewise that it had been shown him in the vision that there was no ready progress of faith in that nation; and so he remained in the place, only the coming of his master Magnoaldus awaited, who was also in Magnus’s service — until a road to Italy should be opened. Meanwhile an immeasurable strife arose between King Theoderic and Theodebert, each vaunting himself in the strength of his peoples. In the middle of which the man of God came to Theoderic; who received him and his most gladly into his seats and within his borders, and gave them the choice of seeking by trial whatever place might please him and his to dwell in. And from the blessed men Gall and Magnoaldus — who had already explored the spaces of the places — he heard that there was a praiseworthy place within the borders of Germany, situated in Alemannia about the Rhine: a town of old destroyed, which he called Brigantium [Bregenz]; which they without doubt deemed it settled that he should obtain from the king, together with a part of the forest lying beside the town itself, where they had found places apt for abiding.

The king therefore gave them, according to the petition of the saints Columbanus, Gall and Magnoaldus, the aforementioned town, and the places that were within the forest — but not many; for they had been able to find there few things apt for the building of a cell. And so sailing through the deep Rhine they came to Mainz, and were there furnished with necessaries by the bishop of that place — as is recorded in the Life of blessed Columbanus. And they came to the aforementioned town and, abiding there, awaited the outcome of the matter between Theoderic and Theodebert. And blessed Gall, with blessed Magnoaldus and the brethren who had come from Luxeuil — the abbot being left behind — entered the forest as though on spoil of enemies; and going here and there through it, compassing various places, they found within the bounds of that forest places comely and fitting for the dwelling of God’s servants, and nations near on every side to be had for the preaching. They returned again to the man of God, praising the places they had found; to whom the man of God said: “Since we are to abide there for a season, let us build a cell until the Lord gives us opportunity of proceeding into Italy.” They went to the place — that is, round the lake of Zürich — and from there pressing on to an old ruined place which is called Arbon, they lived there and built a cell, awaiting the outcome between Theoderic and Theodebert. While these things were being done, a strife arose between Theoderic and Theodebert beside the Castrum Tulbiacense [Zülpich]; and there, battle being joined, an immense multitude of men perished on either side — yet Theodebert, defeated, fled. And in that hour in which the battle was joined at Zülpich, the man of God Columbanus — his disciples Gall and Magnoaldus working with the rest of the brethren who had come from Luxeuil — sat upon a bough of a decayed oak and read a book. Sleep suddenly overcame him, and sleeping he saw what was being done between the two kings. Awaking, he calls the minister Magnoaldus and shows him the kings’ bloody battle, sighing that much human blood was being shed.

Magnoaldus answered, prostrate at the master’s feet: “And I too, lord father, lay overcome by sleep beneath a fir tree; and it seemed to me that they had conflict between themselves — and, seizing a staff, I wished to strike Theoderic and to defend Theodebert, but a certain form forbade me, saying: “It is not necessary for you to be troubled, since the Lord will speedily vindicate your master from him in the burning of fire.” And at once waking I was hastening to come to you here and to narrate this vision, when you called me.” While they both wondered at these visions, another minister standing by, named Eunocus, said with rash attempt: “My father, you ought by your prayers to give aid to Theodebert, that he might vanquish and expel our common enemy Theoderic.” To whom blessed Columbanus said: “Foolish and foreign to religion is the counsel you administer; for the Lord does not so will — He who bade us pray for our enemies.” And Magnoaldus said: “Truly, lord, your holiness judges well of this, since it must be in the just judge’s arbitration what shall come of these things.” Now Theoderic, having pursued Theodebert, took him and sent him to his grandmother Brunhilda; and she, having made him a cleric, bade him be killed by most impious men. Theoderic, dwelling near the city of Zülpich, was struck by God and died amid the burning of blazing fire; and blessed Columbanus was vindicated from heaven. Moreover Clothar, gathering an army, received the bounds of the kingdom which were held under his sway, and slew Sigebert — who wished to resist him — with Theoderic’s five sons; and Brunhilda, taken and bound to the tails of unbroken horses, he miserably bereaved of life; and he himself thereafter alone obtained the monarchy of three kingdoms — knowing, indeed, that in this deed the prophecy of the man of God had been fulfilled. Therefore he also wished blessed Columbanus to be enriched with great honours; but he, spurning earthly honours, left Gaul and Germany and entered Italy, where he was received by Agilulf, king of the Lombards — who gave him the choice of dwelling within Italy in whatever place he wished. And how he left his disciples Gall and Magnoaldus in Alemannia is not to be doubted to have been done by God’s counsel.

Chapter Seven — The passage of St Columbanus into Italy, and how Magnoaldus was left in Alemannia in St Gall’s company; and how Columbanus was called by God #

So leaving those places, they came about the lake of Zürich; and coming to the head of the place itself, which is called Tuggen, they came from there to the place Brigantium, which then was called Constantia — to the aforementioned cell which they had built there — preaching to the people to worship Christ and to break in pieces the vain and deaf idols. For which cause the people, enflamed with devilish zeal on account of the idols cast down and broken in pieces, began to deal with the prince Sigebert that they might expel them from their borders. And the devil wrought this by his art, that the people which had begun to admit the light through the preaching of the blessed men, might be occupied with the ancient darkness when the splendour of their holiness departed. The holy men, therefore, taking it ill that they were being expelled from the beloved seat, took common counsel and resolved to seek Italy — leaving blessed Gall and Magnoaldus with certain other clerics, saying thus: “For God, whom we serve, will send His angel with us, who will lead us to Agilulf king of the Lombards, where, his clemency preparing human affections, we shall find an abiding-place full of peace; but do be of good courage, brethren.” Therefore when the time of departing was at hand, a sudden fever assailed blessed Gall — for which cause, rolling himself at his abbot’s feet and declaring that he laboured under a violent sickness, he said he could not accomplish the purposed journey. But he, supposing that he was slow to essay the longer labour from love of the place where his labours had been accomplished, said to him: “I know, brother, that it is now burdensome for you to be wearied with wandering for my labours’ sake; yet I declare to you who are about to part from me, that you presume to celebrate no mass while I live in the body.” And when he had given him licence to remain by himself, he entered on the way of departing. Hearing this, Magnoaldus, prostrate at his feet, said: “Lord father, what will you have me do? If you leav him, he will be without help; yet let me follow if you will — as Peter followed the Lord, leaving his own things.” Blessed Columbanus answered him: “I know that you, Magnoaldus, shall be great, and shall gain for God very much from the eastern peoples; therefore I do not wish you to proceed with me, but I leave you, and Theodorus our most faithful — to wait on Gall’s needs, that you may serve his recovery with all diligence. But I tell you, Magnoaldus, what I would have you be, and how you shall abide with him. For it shall come to pass that after a certain number of days you shall receive the office of the diaconate from the bishop of Constance. So I will that you abide with Gall until the time come that I shall depart hence. And so, if it can be that — I being sick, and the Holy Spirit revealing it to you — you can come to me, it is welcome to me; or otherwise, when it has been revealed to you that I am dead — in whatever way it be, the Lord granting — hasten with speed to my sepulchre, and from there take my letter and my cambutta, which you shall bring back to Gall, that he may be absolved by my judgement. And I announce to you that, Gall being dead, after three years his sepulchre shall be wasted by robbers, you and Theodorus looking on. And when this has been done, his sepulchre being restored, continue your journey to the place where we have heard that St Hilary the bishop bade a dragon to be slain by the devil. There, the Lord aiding, converting very many to the faith of Christ, you shall win their souls for the Lord; and you shall have there the name given you by the Lord, and shall be called by the people Illuminatus — for the sake of the faith which you are about to preach. For there demons shall meet you, bringing many evils upon you; but be you strengthened in the Lord.” With these words he set forth.

Chapter Eight — How St Gall built a cell in the wilderness with the help of Magnus #

After his departure also, Gall, putting his nets and his drag-net upon a boat, came with his two clerics, Magnoaldus and Theodorus, to Wandalenus the priest; and being received by him, and his necessaries prepared with all diligence, he was tended by Magnoaldus and Theodorus. And after some days had passed, the Lord bestowing healing — who is the true physician — he began to take food, and so by the increments of the time of recovery, strengthened to his pristine health, he was restored. And the blessed and happy man, freed from so great a langour, began to labour among the people, that he might show them the way of truth and drive off the sicknesses of souls by his holy preaching. And enquiring of a certain deacon named Hiltibold, who knew all the paths of that wilderness, he found a spacious place, beautiful in its level ground and well fitted for abiding — encompassed round about with high mountains and with a torrent flowing excellently; but full of wild beasts and monsters and serpents, and also of demoniacal habitations. Taking therefore with him his two disciples, blessed Magnoaldus and Theodorus, he came to the place itself; and grace co-operating by his holy intercessions and his great following at his heels, that place was cleansed of beasts and worms and of the demoniacal habitations. And a cell being made, they began to dwell there and to serve God. And blessed Magnoaldus — the demons having been expelled from there by St Gall — went up into the mountain which is called He…berg, and there finding a bear, commanded it to depart in the Lord’s name; and at once, hearing his voice, it departed. Reporting this secretly therefore to blessed Gall, they gave thanks together to the Lord, who saves them that hope in Him.

Chapter Nine — How St Gall freed a duke’s daughter from a demon, and how blessed Magnoaldus dispensed her the food of obedience to the fathers #

Meanwhile it was announced to them that Gaudentius — [the passage is damaged: they continued with tears and prayers for the repose of the departed]. At length, not many days after, a letter of a certain duke named Gunzo was brought to blessed Gall, begging that he would hasten as quickly as he could to him; and coming, free his only daughter, who was possessed by a malign spirit. But he altogether forbade that he was worthy to do such a thing, and so he would not come. Again and again the said duke, beseeching him by legates to hasten his journey, made known that the girl was now continually vexed, and had endured until that day without food; and unless he quickly came, she would without doubt breathe out her spirit with the devil. Hearing these things therefore, blessed Gall, prostrate in prayer, prayed for a long while; and trusting in God’s mercy and pity, taking with him his two disciples Magnoaldus and Theodorus, he set forth and came to the duke. Giving thanks to the Lord therefore, and seeing the girl deeply troubled by the malign spirit — while blessed Magnoaldus prayed, blessed Gall commanded the demon in the Lord’s name to depart; and it departed in the likeness of a very black bird, with a great stench. And the same hour, taking the girl’s hand, he raised her up; and she arose whole, and he restored her to her mother with joy. And the Lord manifested in this sign of what merit blessed Gall and Magnoaldus were — following the pattern of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. For as Peter, while the apostle Paul prayed, commanded the demons who bore Simon Magus in the air to let him go — and he, being released, fell and all his bowels were poured out, and he died and was led down to hell with the demons: so also these — blessed Magnoaldus praying and St Gall commanding — the demon departed from the girl. And when these things had been wrought, the Lord assenting, the duke bade great gifts be offered, and moreover asked that he would deign to take the very degree of the pontificate. To whom the blessed man answered: “See, this is my deacon, and to me most beloved, Magnoaldus — who heard this thing which my master blessed Columbanus forbade me: that I should not use the office of the altar unless permitted by him while he lived. Therefore I cannot take up the burden of this government which you offer; yet if you wish this to be done without doubting, sustain me meanwhile until I send my present companion with my letter to my abbot — and, this being heard, with the bishop of Constance’s licence he should go to blessed Columbanus.”

[Chapters Ten–Eleven — wanting in the numbering] #

[Only the end of the episode survives in the text:] …that with the licence of the bishop of Constance he should go to blessed Columbanus; and having learned that he had migrated from this life —

Chapter Twelve — Of the passing of St Columbanus, and how blessed Gall knew it by the Holy Spirit and received the letter of absolution #

On a certain day, when after the labour of the office of the brethren they had returned to their seats to rest, at the first dawn the man of God called his deacon Magnoaldus and said to him: “Prepare the ministry of the sacred oblation, that I may celebrate the divine mysteries without distraction.” And he said: “are you, my father, about to celebrate?” To whom he said: “In the vigils of this night I knew by a vision that my lord and father Columbanus had migrated from the straits of this life to the heavens; for whose repose therefore I intend to offer the saving victim.” And the signal being struck, they entered the oratory and, prostrate in prayer, began to say masses, unceasingly making petition for the commemoration of blessed Columbanus. The office of sacred devotion being ended, the venerable Gall said to blessed Magnoaldus the deacon: “Son, let it not seem grievous to you — go, take the road and seek Italy; and when you come to the monastery which is named Bobbio, enquire diligently what has been done concerning my abbot. Note therefore the day and the hour, that if you learn that he is dead, you may know whether the vision be founded in truth. All these things, then, diligently investigating, on your return you shall report to me.” The deacon, prostrate at the master’s feet, complained that the way was unknown to him. But the blessed man admonished him with a bland voice not to fear: “Go,” he said, “and the Lord shall direct your steps.” Strengthened by this consolation for God’s gift, his foster-child took the road, and receiving the viaticum of blessing entered eagerly upon the way — mindful of blessed Columbanus’s prophecy, that he was to come to his sepulchre in Italy and take his cambutta and absolve St Gall thereby. And when he came to the monastery as he wished, he found that all things had so come to pass as had been revealed to his father in the vision. He remained there one night, and received from the brethren the letter to blessed Gall containing the venerable passing of Columbanus; and they delivered to him likewise Columbanus’s staff, which they commonly call the cambutta, by the hand of the deacon — saying that their holy abbot before his passing had commanded that by this most beloved pledge Gall should be absolved. And being dismissed by them he hastened his journey, and prosperously in all things on the eighth day came to the holy father, bringing back the letter — the token of absolution. The letter being read, blessed Gall poured forth most abundant tears, and, the brethren being gathered, disclosed the causes of his grief. Then they celebrated the memory of so great a father with prayers and saving supplications.

Chapter Thirteen — Of the death of St Gall, and how blessed Magnus at his obsequies called John bishop of Constance #

Meanwhile blessed Magnoaldus abiding with St Gall for sixteen years after the journey to Italy had been accomplished — in the sixteenth year, seeing him grow sick and languish with the constriction of fevers, sent a messenger to John, bishop of the church of Constance, inviting him to blessed Gall, who was now sorely detained by the infirmity of fevers. The bishop, hearing that he was sick, began to hasten quickly into those parts. And when Bishop John now drew near to the town of Arbon, blessed Gall, sorely wearied by the force of the fevers — his ninety-five years of age fulfilled, in a good old age — that soul was loosed from the flesh and freed from the prison of the world. The aforementioned bishop therefore, hearing that the blessed man had departed from this light, weeping and wailing came to the place where the holy body lay. And the obsequies of the holy man being accomplished — which blessed Magnoaldus completed with prayer — they set the bier with the holy body upon unbroken horses, and let them go without bridle or guide where the Lord should command. And the unbroken horses, bearing the bier gently and declining neither to the right nor to the left, came by a straight road to the cell which the man of God had built for himself. And when they had come before the oratory they stood still; and the bier being set down, his disciples Magnoaldus and Theodorus, raising up the holy body, brought it into the church and set it before the altar; then, together with the bishop making fitting prayers, they buried him. And the bishop returning to his own, there remained blessed Magnoaldus and Theodorus, and also others — a most fair company, not many in number — to guard the holy man’s body.

Chapter Fourteen — Of the violation of St Gall’s sepulchre, and how the brethren were flogged, wounded and despoiled and left #

So after three years — that the prophecy of blessed Columbanus might be fulfilled, which he had foretold to blessed Magnoaldus should come to pass concerning St Gall’s sepulchre — Otvinus, the worst of dukes, and Erchonaldus, a prefect like him, gathering a multitude of people, besieged the monastery itself; and breaking the doors with drawn swords, they carried off all that they found there in gold and silver and the dearer vessels; and entering the oratory they broke open blessed Gall’s sepulchre, thinking that a great treasure was hidden there. But when they found nothing in it save the remaining bones of blessed Gall buried, they slew all whom they found, except blessed Magnoaldus and Theodorus — whom also they left, flogged and wounded and despoiled, lying in the open air.

Chapter Fifteen — How Bishop Josjo of Constance gave Magnus vestments and food #

Hearing these things — that the sepulchre of St Gall had been violated — a certain bishop of the church of Constance named Josjo was quickly hastened into those parts; and coming there he found the monastery desolate and all things laid waste, and blessed Magnoaldus and Theodorus wounded — who wished to restore the holy body’s relics to the tomb but had not the strength. Then the aforementioned bishop, moved with pity over them, comforted them greatly; and the sacred body of the Lord’s Gall he laid again with his clerics venerably with psalms and hymns and other prayers in the same sepulchre, and filled up the trench with earth. Giving therefore a blessing to the two brethren Magnoaldus and Theodorus, he bestowed on them of his own vestment, and furnishing them food gave them licence to set forth where the Lord should appoint for them a way of going.

Chapter Sixteen — How Othmar received the monastery of St Gall as a bishopric, and how St Magnus and Theodorus came by divine guidance to the place of Brigantium #

He [Josjo] moreover afterwards summoned Othmar — the renowned man who had escaped by flight — and commended the place to him, until Pippin, who at that time was called Major-domo, should ask what he wished to be done concerning that monastery. But divine vengeance came upon Erchonaldus, the leader of that crime, and upon Otvinus. For not long after, Pippin sent a copious army to lay waste the province of the Alamanni and to subject it to his sway and the Franks’. And when the whole land was filled with the hostile incursion, Otvinus and Erchonaldus — not knowing where they should turn — slew themselves with the sword; so that the divine vengeance wrought upon them might be shown by manifest signs. And Magnoaldus and Theodorus prostrated themselves together in prayer, imploring the Lord’s mercy that He would dispose their journey according to His will into the parts of the East — lest they should seem to depart fraudulently and leave the blessed father’s body. Mindful moreover of blessed Columbanus’s prophecy, who said that blessed Magnoaldus should come into the eastern wilderness — where St Hilary the bishop of the city of Toulouse bade a dragon to be slain by the devil, when he converted the region to the faith. And on the following night it was shown to blessed Magnoaldus in a vision that he should proceed confidently, the Lord ever willing to be present to him in aid. So when morning came they gave themselves again more attentively to prayers, that the Lord would show them a way and a fitting road, how He would have them go there. And at midday there came a certain priest of that same district, Tozzo by name, who had long heard the fame of blessed Gall, and for that cause came to his sepulchre for prayer — bearing a burning wax-taper in his hand, which taper he had brought there in wondrous wise: namely, when he set forth by night the taper burned and could by no means be quenched by the wind; but when the day dawned, the light was withdrawn from that same taper. And when Magnoaldus and Theodorus saw him coming with the taper burning, they met him, marvelling greatly; and they asked him from which he came. And he set forth in order from which he was, and how it had been revealed to him that he should visit blessed Gall’s sepulchre — no, that those whom he should find there wished to set forth into the parts of the East, and that he himself on the journey should guide them until they came to the desired place. They, hearing these things, prostrated themselves in prayer, rendering thanks to the Lord who had deigned to show them such a guide, that He suffered them not to wander through the narrow way. Then at last they received the priest and, kissing him, led him into the church to blessed Gall’s sepulchre; and prayer being made, they led him into their guest-house, giving him what necessaries they could, and choosing him as their fellow-traveller. And so the aforementioned priest, passing the night with them — in the morning, praying before blessed Gall’s sepulchre and blessing God and bidding farewell to the brethren who were there — they set forth together, taking the way beside the Lake of Brigantium as far as the place which is called Brigantium, and there they dwelling two days.

Chapter Seventeen — How St Magnus enlightened a blind man at Brigantium #

While they dwelling there, a certain blind man who was very well known to the people of that district met blessed Magnoaldus, begging food of him. He, remembering the apostolic sentence, said: “I am not worthy to compare myself to the dignity of him who said: ‘Silver and gold have I none’; but in His name who gave him power to do what he did and to enlighten the blind — I beseech that your eyes be opened that you may see, and that you may be able to acquire food by labouring with your hands.” And saying this he touched the man’s eyes with his own spittle; and at once blood bursting from his eyes, they were opened. And he, seeing, fell at his feet and said: “Lord, since you are ‘Great’ [Magnus] — and that is your name — I must follow you wherever you go.” He answered: “If you will serve the Lord, then follow me.” And so after this sign they set forward, and the healed blind man — Tozzo by name [i.e. their priest-guide was also named Tozzo; the healed man likewise followed] — followed them as a guide of the journey.

Chapter Eighteen — How St Magnus slew the serpent at Campidona #

So after certain days they came to the place which is called Campidona [Kempten], where they found a very fair town, but deserted in safety. Then blessed Magnoaldus asked the priest how that place was called, and the river which flowed by there. He answered: “That place is much visited by the inhabitants of this land and is called Campidona; but they have not dared to abide here even one night, on account of the various kinds of worms which are here. And the river is called the Ilar [Iller], which has turned many men to grief rather than to joy. But it behoves us to pass over quickly, lest the worms perceive us here; since if they perceive us they make a great onset upon us to devour us — for they have devoured very many men who have come here for hunting, not suffering them even to abide here one night.” Blessed Magnoaldus answering said: “Truly our Lord Jesus Christ has power likewise to cast these worms out of this place, as He had to cast out bears and wolves and the other beasts and worms, and demons also, by the prayer of the Lord and of our master Gall, out of the place which he himself chose for the building of a cell. It behoves us therefore, the Lord permitting, to abide here this night.” And he said to Theodorus: “Brother, it is your to pray and to implore the Lord’s mercy that He grant us aid for the casting out of the worms from this place, and the demons which lurk in them — since we purpose, God willing, to build a place here; and so let us pray together that the Lord deign to hear us and to cleanse this place, which is uninhabitable by men for the terror of the worms.” And saying this they prostrated themselves in prayer. And while they prayed, there issued from the town a great worm, which is called Boas; and making an onset upon the blessed men lying in prayer — the priest Tozzo who led them, seeing it, cried with a loud voice, saying: “Woe is me that I have brought you here!” and, turning to flight, he hastened with him who had been blind to a tree, that they might save themselves. So blessed Magnoaldus and Theodorus, trusting in God’s mercy — Magnoaldus, Theodorus praying, made the sign of the holy cross before him; and seizing the cambutta which he had received from blessed Gall, and the cross which he carried with him, he set out to meet the worm, and said: “I command you in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ that you lie here dead, and that the devil which lurks in you slay you.” And when he had said this he struck it with the cambutta on the head; and at once it burst in the middle and died. And the other worms which were dwelling in the town and about that same town were all turned to flight and appeared no more. And so the place was cleansed; and they dwelling there one week, rendering thanks to the Lord who had deigned to hear them.

Chapter Nineteen — How blessed Magnoaldus was called not Magnoaldus but Magnus #

Theodorus therefore, when he saw so great a sign done by the Lord and blessed Magnoaldus, arose and, lifting his hands to heaven, said: “Almighty God, who have made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, to You I render thanks; You I invoke, You I adore; to You I sing praises — who have deigned to free us from so great a peril and from such a devouring of worms.” And when he had said this he ran to Magnoaldus and, bending his knees, kissed his feet and said: “Truly you shall no more be called Magnoaldus but Magnus, since the Lord has conferred on you so great grace that through you this place should be pacified — not only from worms but also from demons.” To this blessed Magnoaldus said: “Do not say so, brother; I am not ‘Great’, but the least servant of the servants of God. For your prayers were heard by God, and so not by my merits but by God’s command these worms have departed.”

Then he called their fellow-traveller Tozzo: “Come, and let us purge this place which the Lord wills to prepare for the building of cells.” And Tozzo, when he saw them both unhurt, coming down from the tree to which he had fled — and with him who had been blind — prostrated themselves at their feet and said: “Truly the Lord is in this place, who has conferred such grace on blessed Magnus that with his cambutta he has wrought so great an unheard-of wonder. Now therefore I will faithfully lead you through desolate and narrow places even to the place which you have chosen for abiding; since I see so great a power granted you by God that by your merits these various places may be purified, and that which now is uninhabitable may, the Lord granting, be made habitable.” Blessed Magnus answering said: “Let us abide this present week here and build a little oratory, that the people of this land may learn what great mercy the Lord has deigned to confer on them in this place.” And they dwelling there that same week. And Tozzo ran through the neighbouring places known to him to the men who lived there, and proclaimed this sign. And they came to that place and brought sufficient food, marvelling greatly at so great a virtue of God; and very many through the preaching of blessed Magnus were converted to the faith and baptised by the priest Tozzo; and giving thanks to God they dwelling there, cultivating that land — passing those three days in prayer by night, but labouring by day.

Chapter Twenty — Of the council of the demons, and their expulsion by St Magnus #

Now when on the third night, the dawn of day arising, they wished to celebrate the morning praises, suddenly demons flying in the air and yelling with great uproar and roaring uttered voices — as though making an onset upon Tozzo the priest — crying: “You enemy of our elder and our foe, why have you brought this man with his companion here, who will drive both us and our members — through whom we used to gain many souls — out of this place? Now their master Gall once drove us out with his witcheries, nor has that man, invoking the Lord’s name, ceased to conquer us; and this one now has us not only wounded by his own self, but even in our members with the terrible name Adonai he has us wounded and driven out.” Hearing this, the said priest Tozzo, affrighted — yet arming himself with the sign of the holy cross — ran hastily to the man of God and showed him what he had seen and heard. Then the good and chosen warrior of God, together with Theodorus, prostrated himself in prayer, and besought the Lord with such words, saying: “Almighty God, ineffable and inestimable, who according to Your mercy, not according to our merits, have deigned to pluck us from the members of demons and from their deadly poisons — receive with gentle hearing these prayers of ours, as you did receive those of our master Gall; and bid these demons forsake this place, that it may be sanctified in honour of Your name.” And when they had done this daily, rising from prayer and going out of the oratory, they heard them crying and yelling and saying: “You Magnus, bear not names in your head [i.e. you carri names of power], and with the Trinity you bring us many evils! And you Theodorus, what have you to do with us? A day will come when you shall not have Magnus with you; and then with evil spirits we will come against you in various shapes, stirring up the men of that land against you.” And holy Magnus answering said: “Wretched ones, confess whether you know the holy Trinity of God.” And they said: “We know that it is ineffable and immense.” And blessed Magnus said: “Now then, since you confess the holy Trinity, I command you — not by my merits but by the immense power of the Trinity — that departing from this place you go into the desert mountains where the Lord shall will, and that you have no more power of returning here.” At this voice the demons at once said: “Alas, what shall we do here? We have another Gall here; this Gall is worse than the former, since he with his cock-crows drives out both us and our members alike, nor does he let us to remain in the wilderness.” And from that day forth they so utterly departed and were turned to flight that they never appeared there again; and it happened that from that day all men were suffered to dwell in that place in quiet.

Chapter Twenty-One — How blessed Magnus left Theodorus at Campidona and himself set forth to the place which is called Fauces #

These things being done, blessed Magnus the deacon said to Theodorus: “Thanks be to God, brother, that the demons have departed. Now it is good that this place, being kept and built up, should be sanctified — that the people of this place who shall hereafter come may come here to worship rather than to hunt.” Theodorus answering said: “My lord, according to your command I do it; but when I shall hear that you have settled in the place chosen for you by God, I will come to you and visit you.” And saying these things and kissing each other in farewell, blessed Magnus set forth — taking with him his fellow-traveller and guide of the journey, Tozzo the priest — leaving with Theodorus the blind man who had received his sight. And so, entering on the journey and crossing the river, he went by a straight path as the traveller led him; and so they came to the place which is called Epa…um [Epfach / Abodiacum], and found there the bishop of the holy church of Augsburg, named Wikterp. Tozzo therefore — because of the acquaintance which he had with the bishop — went before blessed Magnus and came to the said bishop and narrated to him all things concerning the holy man which he had seen and heard. And the said bishop asked of what origin he was. And the priest answered: “Lord, as I have heard from Theodorus, who is now left at Campidona, he is of the province of Vosges [i.e. the western region, his native land being Gaul].” And when the bishop heard the good fame, he received him kindly and began to speak with him; and he dwelling with him a few days, enquiring of him daily concerning blessed Columbanus and Gall and their journeys and conversation and the end of their life, and concerning the virtues which they wrought. Then he asked him where his will was to go. Blessed Magnus answering said: “The Lord disposing, I am bound for the place which is called Fauces [Füssen], where beside the springs of the river Lech — where a dragon once was — which St Hilary the bishop bade to be slain by the devil; that, the Lord assenting, whatever good I can I may there build up. Now therefore let your paternity determine what your will is for me to do, since I must act with a ready mind according to the Lord’s direction — for the Lord has revealed to me through you. I am now old and worn, and I desire in my last time to visit that place and prepare it for serving God, following the example of my lords Columbanus and Gall.” To this Bishop Wikterp answered: “That place is very narrow and uninhabitable, and various beasts already dwell there — bears, wild boars and very many wolves; and for their multitude the lord king Pippin holds that forest for his hunting. Also very many worms of various kinds dwell there.” Blessed Magnus, taking up the strains of the Good Shepherd, said: “Father, my masters Columbanus and Gall had this same ministry — that when they came to such places, our Lord Jesus Christ cast out the beasts of various kinds and the worms, at their prayer, at once from those places. So likewise I believe that God’s mercy will not let them to remain in that place until I come there.” And Bishop Wikterp assented to his words, and gave them provisions and food — granting him Tozzo the priest as fellow-traveller and guides of the journey — who were to conduct them to the place destined for them by God.

Chapter Twenty-Two — How blessed Magnus at the place called Caput Equi slew a dragon #

And when they came to the place which is called Caput Equi [Rosshaupten — “Horses’ Head”], there lay in a certain narrow place a great dragon, which suffered no man to pass by that way. So when blessed Magnus was now near that same place he said to Tozzo the priest: “Brother, let us build us a tabernacle here to abide this night; and let us pray to God that He will deign to cast out the present member of the devil from this place, and to grant us passage to proceed.” They did therefore as he had commanded, and dwelling there. And in that night blessed Magnus ceased not to pray and to implore the Lord’s mercy that He would deign to overthrow the dragon. And about midnight, blessed Magnus arising said to Tozzo: “[will you come with me? — lest when I have brought you there you be devoured by it.]” To this the holy man: “If God be for us, who is against us? Let us go therefore confidently, since He who delivered Daniel from the lake of lions can pluck me also from the hand of this beast.” And when he had said this he put blessed bread into his satchel, and taking with his hand pitch and resin — and the cambutta of St Gall and the cross hanging on his neck — he went, and said: “Almighty God, who have led me forth from a far region — Yourself send Your angel with me, as to Your servant Tobias, who may free me from the mouth of this dragon and show us a place apt for the desired habitations.” And saying this he armed himself with the sign of the holy cross, and put of the blessed bread into his mouth and a little water; and so he came to the place where the dragon lay, leaving all his companions in the tabernacle save only the guide of the journey. And when the dragon saw him, it at once arose, making an onset upon him. He, having in his hand the pitch and resin, cast it into its mouth, saying: “Help me, O Lord my God.” And when he had said this, the dragon at once began to burn and died. And when he who was with him saw this done, he arose hastily and came to the companions and said: “Arise, come and see — this man Magnus has slain a dragon!” They arose therefore and found blessed Magnus lying in prayer and rendering thanks to the Lord — who was worthy, for that what he had begun in divine love he commended to the Lord in instant prayer: since the Lord, as through the mouth of the blessed bishop Hilary He had bidden the devil slay a dragon, so also through the hands of so great a man made his fellow perish. And when they saw the dragon slain, they went down to the rock from which the same dragon had essayed to make its onset upon the holy man. And the priest Tozzo said: “We render thanks to You, Lord, who have deigned to show us such a man and so great things — that by his merits these places may be purified and made habitable which before were useless.”

Chapter Twenty-Three — Of the church which blessed Magnus built, and how Bishop Wikterp of Augsburg at Magnus’s petition dedicated the cell of St Magnus #

So prayer being made, they passed that narrow place and came by the way beside the river Lech to a beautiful place which had no name — but the level ground was good. And blessed Magnus the deacon had a cross hanging on his neck, in which were contained relics of the blessed Mother of God Mary, and of the wood of the holy cross, and of the holy martyrs Maurice and his companions, and also of the blessed confessors Columbanus and Gall. He found therefore above the aforementioned river a very comely and fair place, in which place there stood a very beautiful fruit-bearing tree; and he hung his little cross on that same tree, and called Tozzo — [and with God’s consent he began to build a place for himself to dwell in], leaving the aforementioned priest Tozzo in the church to guard the people that should come there; and he called that place Synagoga — that is, a congregation of peoples. When therefore, about midday, he was pressing toward the little place for the sake of a quieter life and was resting in the aforementioned place, the demons on the neighbouring mountain, with a great noise rushing from the mountain’s summit, called out as though with one voice — some in the deep of the river Lech, as though by name — and to Tozzo the priest; and they prostrated themselves in prayer together before the little cross. Then the venerable man blessed Magnus poured forth prayers in this manner: “Lord Jesus Christ, who for the salvation of the human race did deign to be born of a virgin and to die — despise not my prayer, but let us to build in this place an oratory in honour of Your Mother, and prepare here a habitation fit for Your services.” And prayer being ended, they began to build the foundation and built the church. Which being built, they invited Bishop Wikterp to come and dedicate it to the Lord and to blessed Mary. The said bishop therefore came to that place, marvelling greatly how they could have proceeded there save by God’s grace; and he dedicated the church in honour of God’s mother Mary and of Maurice Christ’s martyr. And they began there to minister the divine offices to Christ’s praise. So when the fame of the virtues which the Lord deigned to show through the merits of His confessor to them that sought Him far and wide around had stirred the multitudes of the peoples, they began from every side with ready devotion to flock together to beg the great father’s suffrages; and they named that same place, in memory of his dignity, the Cell of St Magnus — and enriched it with many donations of substance and possessions.

Chapter Twenty-Four — How blessed Magnus expelled the demons from the place which is called Fontes, and built an oratory; and how Bishop Wikterp of Augsburg dedicated it #

And when these things had been done by the largess of the faithful — the place being built and the church constructed — the blessed man withdrew because of the multitude of the peoples, and went to the neighbouring places which are called Fontes [the Springs], that he might there have familiar quiet. [There the demons held council:] “Arise,” said they, one to another, from the mountain, “arise to our aid, that we may drive out this stranger, the worst of men, from these seats — since after the manner of his Gall he has broken our images and turned away the people that followed us, and slain our wolves and dragons. Let the injury which we suffer move you, and with joined forces let us utterly drive out the present common enemy from our borders.” The others answered in turn from the deep: “Alas, what do tell us of your straits? We perceive our own calamities already — for his angel already presses us in the deep, and we dare neither come out of the deep nor touch anything of his, since at the invocation of the Lord’s name an angel scourges us with fiery scourges and compels us to depart. Therefore we can profit neither you nor ourselves — for this warrior is so strong that not even the shadow of his garment can be overcome by our valour.” Hearing these things, the man of God blessed Magnus armed himself on every side with the sign of the holy cross and said to them: “In the name of my Lord Christ, not for my merits but by the merits of blessed Gall, Christ’s confessor, I adjure you to depart from this place, nor henceforth presume either to abide here or to do harm to any.” And with these words he returned in haste to the church of St Mary which they had built, and narrated to Tozzo the priest all that he had heard in that place. And when they wished to sing the vesper office, the dire voices of the demons were heard through the mountain summits, as of them departing and fleeing the place in terror. And God’s servants hearing this prostrated themselves in prayer, rendering praises and thanks to the Lord who had deigned to free them from the ambush of the malign spirits. And on the following day blessed Magnus with the priest Tozzo returned to the aforementioned place, and there they began to build a very beautiful oratory; and Bishop Wikterp being summoned at Tozzo’s call dedicated that same oratory in honour and under the name of the Holy Saviour.

Chapter Twenty-Five — How King Pippin at the intercession of Bishop Wikterp of Augsburg bestowed the monastery of blessed Magnus, which is called Fauces, with royal gifts #

So when the fame of the virtues which the Lord deigned to show in that place through the merits of His confessor was made known to the venerable bishop, he commended to his memory certain religious clerics for his discipleship — who, kindled with divine love, for the courses of twenty-five years rendered him services to Christ’s praise, obeying his command day and night, at hours and moments. Leaving therefore with the venerable father what was necessary for those dwelling there, the aforementioned Bishop Wikterp set forth to the glorious king Pippin — who at that time ruled all Germany and Gaul — bearing with him blessed Columbanus’s letter which he had once sent to Lothar, praying for the holy men Gall and Magnus dwelling in his kingdom, that he would benignly foster them for the Lord’s love and grant them fitting places in his gift as should be expedient; but this Lothar could in no wise fulfil because of the infestations of various enemies of God. The aforementioned king, therefore — for the love and petition of his brother Karlomann, who for God’s sake, leaving the temporal pomp of royal glory, had betaken himself to a monastery — and by the largess of his almsgiving, and likewise through the petition of the said bishop, deigned to exalt that place in some solace. And when the glorious prince had received the letter, pricked by the brotherly petition he began diligently to enquire what manner of place it was which the said bishop had asked for. Then his duke named Cunzo, of the provinces of Swabia and Bavaria, answering said: “Truly, lord king, that place is slight indeed in wealth, but most excellent for hunting if the hindrance of the worms were away — since very many deer, does and kids dwell there, and also a very great multitude of bears and wolves.” Then the bishop began to narrate the virtues of the blessed man — how with the Lord’s help he slew the dragon, and the other virtues which the Lord deigned to show in those places through his merits and prayers, and how that place was cleansed of worms. Hearing this, the glorious king Pippin, much moved in mind, said: “In truth I have learned that although a place be slight in wealth, yet for the merits of one man it may be celebrated in far-spread fame — as we have heard that place now is where the body of blessed Gall seems to rest.” He enquired therefore of the aforementioned Cunzo how he might find in the neighbouring places men of that same district who were bound to render yearly tributes to the royal revenues; and he found in that same neighbourhood a district which is called Geltinstein, paying him tributes every year. Among the rest therefore of the gifts of his munificence which he bestowed on the blessed man, he gave him all that forest, with the boundary of the firmity which he caused to be written in his letter, and the tributes which should yearly be brought from the aforementioned district — that for the remembrance of his benefits it might remain there perpetually; and lest any of his successors should gainsay so great a good, he caused to be written a letter of his firmity and, as is the custom of kings, to be strengthened with the circumspection of caution — that henceforward both he himself, while he lived, and all the places included in that boundary in the same forest, should by royal tradition — without the violence of any — be held by the aforementioned Bishop Wikterp and all his successors under their authority, for St Mary and for St Afra. And Bishop Wikterp, adorned with these solaces of royal power and exalted with honours and enriched with the best gifts granted to blessed Magnus by King Pippin, returned joyfully to his country — delivering those things to the blessed man with all diligence, and giving him power to establish in the place commended to him every order of canonical life, for the supplying of the watches of blessed Mary and of St Afra. From that time that place, receiving the beginning of holiness from the blessed man Magnus, and being augmented and exalted by the pontiffs of Augsburg, has not ceased to extend the name of Christ even to this day.

Chapter Twenty-Six — How Wikterp and Theodorus saw a most splendid crown descending from the clouds upon the head of St Magnus #

These things being accomplished, when Theodorus — who was dwelling at the town of Kempten — heard that blessed Magnus had been established in the place which the Lord had appointed, he began to hasten into those parts to see how and in what wise, the Lord assenting, he dwelling in those places. And when he had come to him, saluting and kissing each other’s eyes and hands, Theodorus narrated to him the innumerable things he had suffered from the pagans of Kempten — yet how, although he had sustained so many injuries and calamities from them, he had built a little church there upon the bank of the Iller; which he begged that Magnus would obtain from Bishop Wikterp — that he, proceeding there, might consecrate that same basilica to the Lord in honour of His mother St Mary. They both came, therefore, to the place which is called Eptathens [probably the midway site, later ‘Buching’?], and found there the aforementioned bishop sitting in that oratory and praying. So when they had presented themselves to him, blessed Abbot Magnus narrated to him concerning Theodorus — how with great labour he had built a church in the place of Kempten, and how he prayed that the bishop would hasten there and consecrate that church to the Lord. Hearing this the venerable bishop answering said to them: “I will first tell you, who are come, what I was thinking — and in fitting time, the Lord assenting, let us set forth. Truly, dearest father Magnus, sitting here I was thinking how Almighty God so holds you magnified — that in that place of yours, for the multitude of His miracles, I might summon you, on the coming feast of the seventh month [September], to the priesthood’s dignity; and that with the heavenly graces favouring I might promote you.” And blessed Magnus, inclining his head, said: “Why do you allege this obedience, father, to the scales of my sins? I see myself stinking with negligences and sloth; therefore my life is not such that your loving paternity can promote me to so great a dignity. Therefore do not cast away our prayer for my sins; but, provoked by the Lord’s commands, begin the healthful journey and open the way of truth to them that desire it. Afterwards, to your unworthy servant, when it shall please your paternity, bestow the second gift of your benignity — lest I seem to refuse the things which are disposed by the Lord over me, His servant.” And as he said this, there appeared to them both — Bishop Wikterp and Theodorus — a most splendid crown adhering to his head, descending in the manner of a wheel from the clouds about him. And the bishop, rising, embraced him and kissed his eyes and mouth, and said: “Almighty God, who by the power of His majesty has deigned to condescend to you such virtue that for His love you did forsake your country and keep His precepts — may He cause you to keep and exalt the place destined for you by Him, the grace of the Holy Spirit co-operating with you.” Theodorus answered: “Amen.” To this again the bishop said: “This place is called by God Eptathens, since it stands midway between the monastery of St Afra and your cell. Know therefore that by my direction I desire this inheritance to remain to St Mary and to St Afra — that this place may be as it were a mediator between our successors, your monastery and the city of the church of St Augsburg.” These things being said, the venerable bishop arose and set forth to the town of Kempten; and blessed Magnus went down with him together with Theodorus, and they came to the town. And a multitude of the people being convoked on the day of the church’s solemn dedication, the venerable man Bishop [Wikterp] refreshed the hearers’ hearts with the sweetness of preaching; and so by his command blessed Magnus clothed the people’s hearts with such light of wisdom concerning the things he had seen that he was heard with the greatest congratulation, and was adorned by the order of all with ineffable veneration. And so, abiding there with thanksgiving, and the people armed with the blessing of so great a father, and the kiss of peace being given by the bishop, they returned to their own — the venerable bishop and the most holy abbot leaving Theodorus to guard the church of the men of Kempten.

Chapter Twenty-Seven — How blessed Magnus, while the priest Liuto sought ore, was shown a bear on Mount Sauling #

Blessed Magnus therefore dwelling in his monastery which he had prepared for himself at Fauces for twenty-five years; and God wrought great virtues there through him — enlightening the blind, giving hearing to the deaf, casting out demons from many, giving walking to them that limped. And so he taught the people and converted them to the faith of Christ and to His credence — leaving the vain and deaf idols and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover God through his prayer showed veins of iron in the mountains round about. And after he had received the sacerdotal benediction — while he went about the neighbouring hills, exploring and beholding very many places apt for dwelling — on a certain day, ascending into the high mountain which is called Sauling, he found there very many bears abiding in the greatest fierceness. But prayer being made they began to approach before him, made so gentle that they went before him like oxen before the neatherd. And the holy man prostrated himself in the figure of a cross upon the ground and poured out prayers devoutly to the Lord, that He would grant some help to the people dwelling in that district for the acquiring of provisions. Meanwhile one bear, drawing near to him, began with great gentleness to show him with its foot a great fir-tree — as though signifying that beneath that tree there lay a store of iron veins. When the man of God saw this he said to the beast: “I command you in the Lord’s name to go to that fir and — since we have neither sword nor mattock wherewith we might cut its roots — in the Lord’s name pluck it up with your feet and teeth, breaking its roots, that the Lord may show us His will for the help of the people of this land.” At his command therefore the beast, turning, began to break the tree’s roots and to crush them with its teeth, until the tree itself, dug up by the bear, fell root and all — and so various veins of iron were shown for the taking. Then the most benign man, giving thanks to God, taking bread from the satchel which he had with him, gave it to his servant [the bear], and thus commanded it: “In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, eat this bread, and follow me; and bring this man whom I shall show you to that place without any hurt, defending him from other beasts if they shall wish to hurt him.” And this being done, it was to have its dwelling in common with the other beasts in the mountains and hills round about — so that it should hurt no man nor their cattle. And with these words the blessed man Magnus returned to his cell; and the bear followed him like a dog which follows its master. When therefore he drew near to the cell, he called his man, Liuto by name, and bade him come and bring with him an axe and a mattock and a hatchet; and commended him to the bear and said: “Bring this man safe and unhurt to that place which the Lord has shown us; and beware lest he suffer any hurt from the other beasts.” The beast therefore, turning obedient to his command, began to go before the man and to open the way and show the path. And so it brought him unhurt to the place where the tree had fallen, suffering no other beast to approach him — until the man, digging, filled his little pack; and it brought him back by the same paths even to the man of God’s cell. This done, the bear returned to the forest. And the man prostrated himself at blessed Magnus’s feet and said: “Truly, lord, now I know and am certain that the Lord is altogether with you — since the beasts of the wilderness obey you as Jesus Christ. For the bear so foresaw and guarded me that it suffered not even the other beasts to approach me.” And he said to him: “Beware diligently lest you tell this to any while I live; but prepare the path for the other men as the bear has led you — that they may know the way of going there and, the Lord assenting, may from there have provision of provisions and other necessaries to be acquired through themselves.” From that day therefore the various veins of iron in that place and round about were made known to the inhabitants of that land — which by blessed Magnus’s merits remain even to the present day.

Chapter Twenty-Eight — Of blessed Magnus’s last sickness and obsequies, and of the sarcophagus provided from a heap of stones #

And when the twenty-five years had run on, and the Lord had deigned to exalt and enlarge that place through so great a man’s merits — Bishop Wikterp having died on the fourteenth before the Kalends of May [18 April], Tozzo was by blessed Magnus’s election to the honour of the pontificate, and now for many years has been devoted to King Pippin. But the twenty-five years being fulfilled, the blessed father began to be sick and to languish with the infirmity of fevers. He sent therefore to Theodorus his companion, who at that time was dwelling in the cell of Kempten, and summoned him to hasten and visit him — and by his visitation to resolve their sure friendship. Hearing this, Theodorus, with the greatest commotion at so great a man’s sickness and with a grieved mind, quickly set forth into those parts, taking with him what he knew to be suitable for one labouring in sickness. And coming to the aforementioned cell he found the blessed man cast down in the greatest infirmity; he sent quickly to Bishop Tozzo, making known to him that he should hasten — and that he should come to visit so great a patron before he departed this mortal light. When the said bishop heard this he quickly set forth into those parts and came to the blessed man’s monastery. And when Tozzo the bishop saw the patron Magnus labouring in the greatest infirmity, he began to weep and to say: “Alas, alas, beloved father and excellent teacher — in these perils you leav me as it were an orphan.” To this the blessed man Magnus said: “Weep not, venerable bishop, though you see me labouring in these storms of worldly perturbations — since I trust in God’s mercy that my soul shall rejoice in the liberty of immortality. Yet I beseech you not to cease aiding me, a sinner, and my soul with your holy prayers.” Amid these words, blessed Magnus, labouring for thirteen days — the twenty-six years of his dwelling in that monastery being fulfilled, and the seventy-third year of his age — on the Lord’s holy day, on the eighth before the ides of September [6 September], commending himself to the Lord and to the venerable pontiff, in a good old age, about the ninth hour of that Lord’s day, rendered his holy soul to God, freed from the prison of this life. And the bishop and Theodorus weeping before his little bed — a voice was heard: “Come, Magnus, come; receive the crown which the Lord has prepared for you.” Hearing this voice therefore, Tozzo said to Theodorus: “Let us cease to weep, brother — since it behoves us rather to rejoice over his soul received into immortality at this sign that was heard, than to make lamentation. But let us go to the church and study to offer saving victims to the Lord for our dearest friend.” So the service of brotherly commemoration being ended, they both found a most excellent stone sarcophagus — built in ancient times by a certain duke named Ansertho, who also built the castle and likewise called it Ansertho after his own name — in which no one had been placed, nor any sepulchre made. Purging therefore that sarcophagus, they took up the holy body and laid it away in the place where the father himself had built his oratory; and they covered it with earth — setting his life, written on his head and full of virtues, under the authority of Theodorus.

Chapter Twenty-Nine — The profession of the monk Theodorus, that he faithfully wrote the life of blessed Magnus #

I therefore, Theodorus, monk of the monastery of St Gall — by the command of Bishop Tozzo, even as I learned of the conversation of so great a man together with blessed Columbanus from the monk Theodegisel of St Columbanus’s community, and as I myself saw with my eyes and heard with my ears — and afterwards, what he did when left in the cell of Kempten, afterwards from the aforementioned venerable Bishop Tozzo I learned very many of his virtues: but I have not taken care to write them all in my epitaph — and to set them written at his head in the sepulchre; so that in future times, when the Lord revealing his holy body shall have been found — as, the Lord assenting, those who shall then be pastors and rectors of holy church shall have found it just and worthy — they may so correct the things that are to be corrected and amend the things that are to be amended; nor let them disdain to intercede for me, Christ’s servant — that, supported by the prayers of so great a patron, my soul may proceed into everlasting rest.

Chapter Thirty — How Bishop Tozzo always augmented the monastery of St Magnus in his necessities #

Then indeed the venerable Bishop Tozzo, after the death of the blessed patron Magnus — as best he could — ever guarded that monastery with his own guardians, governing it according to the place’s means; granting and disposing the things which were bound by right to pertain to that same monastery; guarding the holy body with dainties and divine offices and lights even to his own death — who, surviving five years and three months after blessed Magnus’s departure, on the seventeenth before the Kalends of February [16 January], ended his mortal life; having before his death granted his inheritance to blessed Magnus’s sepulchre with firmity and stipulation according to the law of the Alamanni, and having himself been buried by his clergy under testimony of the church of Augsburg in that same inheritance.

Chapter Thirty-One — How after the death of King Pippin the monk Theodorus came to St Othmar, and narrated all the things that had befallen concerning blessed Magnus #

At length after the death of the glorious King Pippin, his sons contending, War was made in the duchy of Bavaria, and Gotfrid in the government of the Alamanni. And so a great sedition arising — the Bavarians and Alamanni devastating and plundering and spoiling all things which stood in the marches of the two kingdoms — Theodorus, the faithful monk of St Gall and Magnus, was in no wise able to guard the place of Kempten, because of the various persecutions and oppressions of evil men, and of the pagans of that place, against his own and himself. For which cause, leaving that place, he set forth to the monastery of St Gall and found the blessed Othmar, provost of that same monastery — a man now of ripe and advanced age, but full of the Lord’s grace and the Holy Spirit and imbued with divine virtues — and narrated to him all the things which had befallen concerning blessed Magnus, Christ’s confessor, and concerning the place of Kempten, and concerning the very great persecution which he had suffered from pagans and from evil Christians. Hearing this, blessed Othmar — grieving and sorrowing both for so great a persecution and also for his own, which he was then suffering from the worst of counts, Warin and Ruadheri, who at that time administered the care of all Alamannia — sent there a certain one of his brethren, Berthgozus, an excellent and most prudent monk, with four other monks, to guard that place until, the Lord aiding, peace should be restored and the place exalted again by King Charles; suffering Theodorus to abide in the monastery of blessed Gall even to his death.

Chapter Thirty-Two — How King Charles through Bishop Simpert of Augsburg rebuilt the monastery of St Magnus and the destroyed altars #

So King Charles, being consolidated and confirmed in the province of Gaul, restoring and rebuilding the churches which had been desolated by evil invaders, subdued all Germany under his empire — the princes possessing Germany being slain. And when he had heard of blessed Othmar’s monastery [St Gall], and of its destruction brought even to the end of its days — and likewise of the monastery of Kempten, no of the city of Augsburg, namely the monastery of St Afra — and that the cell of St Magnus was left destroyed and desolate, he was pricked in heart and began again to rebuild and exalt those churches. And he appointed a bishop, Simpert by name, in that city; and gave after the manner of kings, by the precept of firmity, to the aforementioned places all that his predecessor Pippin had bestowed — and moreover added very many things. And Bishop Simpert, entering upon his see, set forth to Augusta Vendelicorum [Augsburg]; and for thirty years he ruled that church, restoring the basilica of St Afra and restoring the monastery of St Magnus; and he united the parish on both banks of the river Lech — by the authority of the Lord Leo, then pope, and the confirmation of the lord Charles, now made emperor — in both realms together, the Lord favouring.

Chapter Thirty-Three — Of the translation of blessed Magnus’s body by Bishop Lanto of Augsburg #

In what manner therefore the body of blessed Magnus was found — and among the other virtues which the Lord deigned to reveal through his merits before his sepulchre — what great virtue was then found in the body is not to be passed in silence. And Bishop Simpert being dead, his successor Lanto received the pastoral charge in the bishopric. But since he was permitted to rule that church in this honour no more than seven years, he could in no wise exalt anything of the things which should have been raised — not as much as he would, because of his progeny which he had present, from the things which he had laid up for that church. And his times being fulfilled and seven years passed, his successors who were set in that holy church first began to build the church of blessed Magnus from the foundations; and the others afterwards, the prelates following — as they could they likewise built it, yet it was not permitted to be brought to the perfection of the work.

Here ends the Life of St Magnus the Confessor.

Testimonies concerning St Magnus #

From Notker’s Martyrology, on the eighth before the ides of September [6 September]: At Füssen, St Magnus the confessor, disciple and companion of St Gall and his comrade of most holy life.

From Trithemius: Magnus the monk and disciple of St Gall — abbot, as is said, at Faucibus [Füssen] — a holy man and beloved of God, shone with many miracles in his life, as is read in his Acts which are diligently written. Having obtained from God a great grace of preaching, he converted the hearts of many peoples to the divine love. He flourished in the year of the Lord 660. And he died in the seventieth year of his age, on the eighth before the ides of September. — Thus far Trithemius, book De viris illustribus ordinis S. Benedicti, chapter 107.

Who Theodorus was, suffice it to hear from this same Life of St Magnus, whose writer was the monk Theodorus, an eyewitness of the things he records. Mozelorus on Theodorus: “He governed the monastery stirred up at Kempten until St Magnus should fulfil his life. But when afterwards the empire of two kings contending brought the battle-line into those parts, he returned to the monastery of St Gall; and being received by St Othmar, who then presided over the monastery — and five other brethren being sent there in his stead, of whom Berthgozus was chief (in whose place this Theodorus is here read) — he passed the rest of his life in the same monastery under the same St Othmar in great holiness, and passed to God with the good opinion of all; and he was buried in the monastery — not yet, so far as I know, enrolled among the saints.” — Thus far Mozelorus.