QJottrell Ittiuctaity Elibtarjj Strata, -New Mark BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF HENRY W. SAGE 1891 Cornell University Library PA 8129.S61 M Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://archive.org/details/cu31924026506935 CARMINA VEDASTTNA. COLLECTED AND EDITED BY W. SPARROW SIMPSON, D.D., F.S.A., Sub- Dean and Librarian of S, PauPs Cathedral, One of the Honorary Librarians of His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rector of S. Vedast, London. LONDON: ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. i895- CARMINA VEDASTINA. V2 COLLECTED AND EDITED BY W. SPARROW SIMPSON, D.D., F.S.A., S kb-Dean and Librarian of S. Pau/'s Cathedral, One of the Honorary Librarians of His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rector of S. Vedast, London, *W^£^ LONDON: ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1895. [This impression is limited to 250 copies, of which only a few will be offered for sale. ] SIDNEY YOUNG, Esq^, F.S.A., Master of the Barber Surgeons' Company, IN GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS ENTHUSIASTIC INTEREST IN THE HISTORY OF S. VEDAST, AND OF HIS LABOURS ON MY BEHALF AT ARRAS, I DEDICATE THESE PAGES. INTRODUCTION. In all broad England there are, so tar as I am able to ascertain, only two churches which bear the name of the Aposile of the Atrebates. These are the Church of S. Vedast, in Foster Lane, in the heart of the city of London, and the Church of Tathwell, in Lincolnshire, about three miles from Louth. There was, indeed, a third church under the same invoca- tion at Norwich, about midway between the Castle and the River Wenson, near the Cathedral precinct, and on the edge of the precinct of the Grey Friars ; but the church was destroyed in 1564, and the parish united to that of S. Peter, Permounter- gate. I was presented to the rectory of S. Vedast, in the city of London, in 1882, and, naturally enough, the history of the patron saint at once engaged my attention. Notwithstanding the dedication of the Church, which should have kept him in remembrance, it soon became apparent to me that S. Vedast and his apostolic labours were almost entirely forgotten ; some even went so far as to doubt whether such a person had ever lived. To remedy this state of things, I gave a lecture in the parish on The Life and Legend of S. Vedast, which was printed in 1887. I have devoted much of my all too scanty leisure to further researches on the same subject, and I hope to be able to print some of the results of my labours. The present publication is the first fasciculus. It is an attempt to gather viii Introduction. together all the Vedastine hymns which I have been able to discover in ancient manuscripts or in printed ritual books, and to add to these a few verses from different sources in further illustration of the subject. In the autumn of 1894 I was able to carry out a long- cherished wish, that, namely, of making a pilgrimage to Arras. The Bibliotheque de la Ville formed the principal attraction, scarcely second to which was the delight of visiting the scene of S. Vedast's labours, the heart of the diocese of which he was the first Bishop. Of the i,r 02 manuscripts which the town of Arras now possesses, no less than 857 were written in the monastery of S. Vaast, whose library was ' l'une des plus riches et des mieux composees du nord de la France.' The monks of Arras, as Messieurs Cardevacque and Terninck record (L ' Abbaye de Saint Vaast, iii. 58), were diligent in writing and transcribing, not for their own house alone, but also for a great number of religious houses in their neighbourhood, and even for convents at some considerable distance. These precious manuscripts are care- fully and minutely described in the excellent Catalogue des Manuscrits de la Bibliotheque de la Ville d 'Arras, printed at Arras in i860. The catalogue is enriched by two copious indices — the first, Table alphabetique par nom d'auteurs et par titres; the second, Table par ordre de matieres — exceedingly well arranged. A careful preliminary study of the catalogue enabled me to obtain ready access to its treasures. As regards the texts of the hymns and other poems here printed, I have in every case (with the exception mentioned below) transcribed from the most ancient manuscript at my disposal the text which is here exhibited. I have not en- deavoured to construct a composite text from a comparison of several manuscripts, which is, to my mind, a most unsatis- factory work ; but I have preferred to exhibit the reading of the earliest manuscript, adding in the notes any variations Introduction. ix which seemed worthy of preservation. I have seen with my own eyes the manuscripts cited, save in the case of the three proses numbered IX., X., and XI. These I have taken from Father Dreves' great work (of which it is difficult to speak in too high terms of commendation), the Analecta Hymnica Medii Aevi. The collections of Daniel, Mone, Kehrein, and that of Misset and Weale have been carefully consulted. The numbering of the verses has been added for convenience of reference. No doubt there are many Vedastine hymns, ancient and modern, which have not yet fallen under my notice. May I beg, as a special kindness, that any reader of these pages who meets with a hymn not included in them will be so good as to send me a transcript with a reference to the source from which it is derived? The illustration facing the title-page is a facsimile, exactly the size of the original, of an illumination in a manuscript of the eleventh century in the library at Arras. The verses composed by Rodolphus de Monchy (No. IV. amongst the poems now printed) are framed in a delicately-executed border, the uppermost side of which is formed by the picture here exhibited. The copy very carefully made for me by M. Lavoine preserves with great nicety the character of the original. The picture represents S. Vedast seated on a throne in heaven, a long scroll before him, on which he is tracing char- acters with a pen ; a kind of inverted rainbow guards him. The throne on which the saint is sitting is colourad green, the background behind his figure glows with roseate hues ; the letters which he is tracing on the scroll are lightly indi- cated, but are not legible. The arc of the rainbow is tinted with various lines of gold colour, of red, and of green. Below him sits a scribe, his hood thrown back from his head, writing from the dictation of the saint on the pages of an open book ; the letters are black, with a rubricated initial. The ink-horn x Introduction. on his right is placed in a cup-like stand, its stopper secured by a string. The whole composition is very delicately drawn. My cordial thanks are due to M. Wicquot, librarian of the Bibliotheque de la Ville d'Arras, for the facilities which he afforded for my researches ; to the Rev. Canon Parent, of the Grand Seminaire at Arras, for his generous gift, the Missal and Breviary now in use in that diocese ; to the Prior of the English Benedictines at Douai, for his kindness in sending me a transcript of a prose from the Arras Missal of 1 49 1 ; to Sir John Stainer, Professor of Music in the University of Oxford, for the harmonization of the music of the Flemish hymn ; and to his daughter, Miss Stainer, for the transcription of the Flemish words ; to Dr. G. C. Martin, organist of S. Paul's Cathedral, for translating into modern notation, and for adding harmonies to the ancient melody of the hymn, ' Voce jucunda resonemus omnes ' ; and to my younger son, the Rev. Charles Sparrow Simpson, who accompanied me to Arras, and acted as my secretary during our labours in the library. INDEX LATIN HYMNS. PAGE Annuos, cives, fenovemus hymnos ... 36 Auctor supplicibus annue votis - 13 Ave presul gloriose - - 14 Christe rectorum gloria - - 1 5 Christe salvator hominis ab ore - - - 1 6 Christe totius reparator orbis - - - - 37 Christo hodierna sacrificemus solemnia - - 23 Cui Deus crescit, peritura vani - - - 26 Dexter hue nobis ades, O Vedastc - 38 Felix Vedastus Pontifex - - - l 7 Frustra tuos bona cives - - - 32 Gaudet chorus aecclesiae - - - 18 Lauda, cohors clericalis - - 24 Lethalis umbra pellitur - "34 Magnificantes, pater optime - - r 22 Praeclara Christi carmina - - 19 Quam Deo gratus, procul a tumultu — 27 Qui fugit longe patria relicta - - .- - 27 Qui te beatis coetibus inseris - - 38 Unus Deus, amor unus, Concordia una et caritas - 25 Voce jucunda resonemus omnes - - 20 FRENCH HYMNS. Translations from the Latin of" Santolius Victorinus : Pour qui n'aime que Dieu de l'ardeur la plus vive 29 En quittant tous ses biens, ses parents, sa patrie - - 29 Si le Seigneur appreuve un pieux solitaire - - 30 xii Index. PAGE FLEMISH HYMN. Wee, de woeste Nederlanden 39 Translation of this hymn into French - 4 1 VERSES IN HONOUR OF S. VEDAST. Inscriptions in the ancient Cathedral at Arras, written by Alcuin : Haec domus alma Dei flammis crepitantibus olim 43 Hie Pater egregius Vedastus corpore pausat +5 Pontificalis apex, meritis vivacibus, aram - 4° Verses composed by Rodulphus de Monchy : Hunc ego Rodulphus monachus tantum modo dictus - 47 Verses composed by Alard : Junctus in aethereo, Vedaste, pater pie, regno 4^ Two short Poems : Arthesiis summo splendore Vedastus in oris - 49 Le peaple doux, humain et tres courtois - 49 Prayer to S. Vedast by Evrardus : Scire volens summam deitatem cuncta excreantem - 5° Poem composed by Toussaint de la Salle : Sacra cano, regemque pium qui Francica primus - 5° Verses composed by Gaugericus, hispanus : Amor, timorque, spes, metus, infirmitas - 5^ Verses composed by Petrus Justus Sautel : Dum premit affectos morbus tibi lethifer artus - 57 MUSIC. The Melody and the Harmonies for the Hymn Voce jucunda resonemus omnes - 5 8, 59 The Music of the Flemish Hymn Wee, de woeste Nederlanden - 59 CARMINA VEDASTINA. The hymns numbered I. to VIII. in the present collection are transcribed from a very important manuscript preserved at Arras, entitled Liber Miraculorum et Officii beati Vedasti, Episcopi Atrebatensis, written at S. Vaast at the commence- ment of the eleventh century. A full technical description of the volume from the Catalogue des Manuscrits de la Bibliotheque de la Ville d Arras is given below.* It is written in a clear and beautiful hand, and the text is very pure. The hymns are here printed in alphabetical order. I. Hymnus de Sancto Vedasto, editus ab Haimino metro dactilico tetrametro catalectico. {Arras MS. No. 734, folio jSi.) I. Auctor supplicibus annue votis, Sit haec Christi dies festa beatis ; Hac tristes releva, erumnaf dele, Vedasti meritis gaudeat omnis. * "34. In folio parvo. — Velin blanc, choisi, deteriore en quelques endroits par l'numidite ; trace a la pointe ; longues lines ; commencement du XP siecle ; execution de luxe ; tetes de livres sur feuillets de pourpre avec encadrements peints, ecrits au vermilion ; grandes lettres historiees et dorees ; tetes de chapitres disposes en inscriptions, ecrites en capitales et chargees de vert ou de jaune, ou bien alternees par lettres rouges et vertes ; rubriques en petites capitales melees d'onciales (116 feuillets; manuscrit ecrit a St. Vaast). t ' Erumna 'in MS. ; probably for erumnas. 14 Carmina Vedastina. i. Qui binis tribuit lumina caecis, Multorum tenebras corde revulsit, Claudorumque gradus compede solvit Fecit perque viam ire bcatam. 3. Cum Christi tcnuit sanctus amorem, °i~ P ' I & ■ k ' Siccum vas dedcrat ncctaris unda,* Designatque fides quid pia possit Quod natura negat ilia merctur. 4. Gaude, pangc choros, plcbs vencranda, Qua nunc renitcnt culmina templi, l r i 5 Hie quondam fuerat dira spclunca Psallentumque loca lustra fcrarum. 5. Et terrae specimen et status alter, Sic mores alii turn pia corda ; Laus Christi resonat, error abesto, Vcdasti studiis culta refulgent. 6. Dux sicut populi Israhcl olim Praecessit species mira columnac, Sic scrvum dominus igne vocavit Ut verus petcrct Israhcl altum. 7. Urbs gaude proprio lacta patrono, 1 ■ ~ *V mWh Atrebas reboa carminasf odas ; Si terrent fragihs proclia mundi, Ad muros refuge patris Amandi. 8. Sit Patri domino summa potestas, Jesu Christe tibi gloria perpes, Par culmen tencat Spiritus almus, Virtus una Tribus sit honor unus. Amen. II. In Vigilia Sancti Vedasti ad Vesperas. {Arras MS. No. 734, folio %\b. The music to which this hymn is to be sung is given in the manuscript.) Ave prcsul gloriosc. Ave sidus jam coclcstc, + Dccorans, Vcdastc, coclum ; Nos gubcrna visens humum Quo laetemur triumphantcs, Te patronum venerantcs. This hymn is found as the antiphon at vespers on the Defositio S. Vedasti Episcofi et Confessoris, in the Sloanc MS., No. 2,637, '" the British Museum, * ' Unda' in MS, ; probably for undas, I ' Carminas' in MS. ; probably for carmina. Carmlna Vedastina. 15 III. Hymnus Davini compositus metro iambico tetrametro. {Arras MS. No. ■j^fc/io 80.) 1. [Christe*] Rectorum gloria, Vita, salus, dementia, Fave precamur servulis Agendo festum presulis. 2. Adesto nunc clementius Sancti pulsatus precibus ; Exaudi voces supplicum Donando nexus criminum. 3. Hie sacer fultus plurima Vedastus, Christi gratia, His rediditf digredium, His visuale gaudium : 4. Quibus ut sibi urbica Ultro pateret regia Auspiciis nunc gemmos Ope sanabit miseros. 5. [MJadore namque viteo Vase carente ligneo, Intus superna gratia Amico dedit pocula. 6. Hujus decessu nobili Chori gaudent angelici, Tellus meretj justicio Amaricata nimio. 7. Laus et aeterna gloria Deo Patri et Filio, Sit simul et Paraclyto, In aevitate perpeti. Amen. * The scribe has not inserted the first word of the hymn ; most probably it should be ' Christe.' t ' Redidit ' in MS. ; for reddidit. X I.e., moeret. 1 6 Carmina Vedastina. IV. HyMNUS DE SaNCTO VEDASTO ED1TUS METRO DACTILICO SAPHICO ET PENTAMETRO. {Arras MS. No. 734, folio Tjb.) 1. Christe Salvator hominis ab ore Hostis antiqui superantis Adam, Nostra clementer, Domine, precaraur, Suscipe vota. 2. Multa fecisti meritis tuorum Dona, Vedasto propria dedisti, Nos tui servi tua larga, Christe, Corde rogamus. V 3. Terra Francorum tenebras habebat Horridas ; dempsit radio salutis Viscera nostra pietate Patris Christe refulge. 4. Vultibus caecis pietate motus, Lumina clara dedit ipse sanctus, Lucida fecit tenebrosa corda Ignifer ille. j- 5. Mortifer ursus timidus recessit, Voce Vedasti prohibentis, ultra Terminum scriptum penetrare dirum Omne per aevum. 6. Debiles turbas, solita salute, Reddidit sanas populo vidente ; Multa praeclara, Domino favente, Fortiter egit. 7. Pectore puro pia verba vera Auribus fudit populi fidelis : Auxerat inde numerum piorum Sedibus altis. 8. Obvia veriit radians columna, Splendida coeli comitata plebe, Spiritum purum Domino vocante, Fine beato. 9. Zabulo victo fide cum labore Belliger miles penetravit astra ; Praemia digna obtinet honore Regis in aula. Carmina Vedastina. ij io. Gloria laudis resonet in ore Omnium Patris, genitaeque Prolis, Spiritus sancti pariter resultet Laude perenni. Amen. This hymn is printed amongst the works of Alcuin in Migne's Patrologiae cursus Completus, vol. ci., p. 682, with the title ' Alcuini Hymnus de S. Vedasto' (Ex Lambecio, Annul., torn, i., p. 413). The following various readings are to be noted : Verse 2, line 2, ' Vedasti ' for ' Vedasto.' Verse 3, line 2, 'radios' for ' radio.' Verse 6 is placed before verse 5. Verse 9, line 3, ' praemia digno ' for ' praemia digna,' and the following notes are added : ' Verse 3, line 3. Viscera nostra: Ita quidem in codice, sed de genuina hujus loci lectione nondum mihi satis constat (Lambecius). Forte legendum : Miserans nostri. Verse 9, line 1. Zabulo : Apud vcteres pro diabolo (vide Lambecius). V. Hymnus ab Utmaro epitus metro iambico tetrametro. (Arras MS., No. -]■?,{, folio iob.) 1. Felix Vedastus pontifex, Cujus coelum mens possidet, In terris templum fieri Corpori mandant angeli. 2. Te, pastor alme, petimus, Nobis deposcas veniam, Ut nos superna civitas Perennes cives habeat. 3. Honor, virtus et gloria, Potestas et imperium Sit Trinitati unicae In sempiterno saecula. In the Arras MS., No. 734, this hymn does not form a complete work in itself, but is found as part of the hymn Praeclam Christi carmina (No. VII. in the present collection), following immediately after the fifth verse. Father Guido Maria Dreves, however, prints this hymn in his Analecta Hymnica Medii Aevi (8vo., Leipzig, 1891), Fascic. XI., from three Vedastine Breviaries at Arras, all of the fourteenth century, Nos. 639, 676, 716, and from the Breviarium Cameracense, printed at Paris in 1497. In the last line the Vedastine Breviaries read 'In sempiterno tempore,' and the Cambrai Breviary reads ' Constans aeterno tempore.' The hymn is No. 472 in M. Dreves' collection, and it bears the title 'De Sancto Vedasto. Ad Laudes ' The manuscript used in the text is of much earlier date than those used by M. Dreves. 2 1 8 Carmina Vedastina. VI. Hymnus Remigii metro quo supra [i.e., metro iambico TETRAMETRo]. {Arras MS., No. 734-, folio 80.) 1. Gaudet chorus aecclesiae Pollens triumphali die, Votis resultant hymnicis Astra simul et terrea. 2. Vedastus presul inclytus, Aeterni regis nuntius, Post acta vitae insignia Scandit laetus ad supera. 3. Virtutis hie aemeritae Declaratus stipendiis, Caecis refudit lumina, Claudorum gressus dirigens. 4. Implevit idem vacua Dulci Falerno vascula, L. 1 4 . -v, Vas ipse sistens utile -i— Christi repletum gratia. 5. Haec inter ilium fulgida Coeli poscebat regia, Cum mox iturum ad proemia Inguis* columna proderet. 6. Jam nunc, pastor egregie, Audi canentes supplices, Et laudis nostrae victimas Divinum fer ad solium. 7. Purga sordes peccaminum, Reddens quietem temporum, Nosque solutos saeculo Apta perenni gaudio. 8. Laus, honor, virtus. It is difficult, if not impossible, to identify the author of this hymn. It would be pleasant to think that it was the com- position of S. Remi, by whom S. Vedast was ordained. Their close and intimate association is well known to every reader of the fascinating history of the baptism of Clovis. But it is impossible to arrive at such a conclusion if we accept the * ' Inguis ' in MS., for ' ignis.' Carmina Vedastina. 19 chronology of the Bollandists, for S. Remigius died in 530, S. Vedast about the year 540 ; ten years, that is, after the death of S. Remi.* There were, indeed, others who bore the same name. The twenty-ninth Bishop of Rouen, who died about 772, and the twenty-third Bishop of Strasburg, who died in 803, were both named Remigius or Remedius. Either of these prelates, or any other person bearing this name, may have written the hymn. There is not sufficient evidence to permit of a decision. VII. Hymnus ab Utmaro editus metro iambico tetrametro. {Arras MS., No. 734, folio %ob.) 1. Praeclara Christi carmina Digno pangentes jubilo Vedasti summi praesulis Festa devote colimus. 2. Cujus doctrina coelitus Multis collata profuit, Larvales fugans tenebras Verbo fideque radians. 3. Signis virtutum plurimis r ' Pollens doctor egregius Caecis videre praestitit Et claudis gressum reddidit. 4. Dulcis in patre karitas, Haustum vini nectareum ! v Enoforo sicco dedit, j_jll^ Quo laetus hospes rediit. • - " 3> 5. Migrantem hinc ad patriam Laus excepit angelica Et viri sancti meritum Ignis columna prodidit. 6. Honor, virtus, et gloria, Potestas et imperium Sit Trinitati unicae In sempiterna saecula. * Acta Sanctorum, February, VI., pp. 793, 794,- 796. 2 o Carmina Vedastina. After the fifth verse of this hymn in the Arras MS., No. 734, follow the three verses of the hymn Felix Vedastus fontifex, already printed (No. V. in this collection). I have divided the one hymn into two parts because it is so divided in later liturgical MSS. at Arras. M. Dreves prints the hymn (Analecta Hymnica Medii Aevi, Fascic. XL, No. 471) with the title ' De Sancto Vedasto. Ad Nocturnum.' His text is formed from three Vedastine Breviaries of the fourteenth century, Nos. 639, 676, and 905, at Arras. There are no various readings of any importance. The words * caritas ' and ' enophoro ' in verse 4 do not follow the ancient spelling ; but this is scarcely worth notice. After verse 5, M. Dreves adds the following verse (not found in the text of MS. No. 734) : Honor, virtus, et gloria, Potestas et imperium Sit Trinitati unicae In sempiterna saecula. VIII. Hymnus cujus supra [i.e., Haimini] de Sancto Vedasto METRO DACTILICO SAPHICO PENTAMETRO EDITUS. (Arras MS., No. 734, folio 79.) 1. Voce jocunda resonemus omnes Laudibus sacris studium ferentes Atrebatensem modolando patrem Laude Vedastum. 2. Hie pius pastor gregis atque jutor, Lux fuit caecis baculusque claudis, Signaque fecit paradysiaca 1'1> L > Plurima terris. 3. Obvio caeco comes ipse regis Lumen ablatum citius rependit, Unde cernentes meruere cordis Sumere lumen. 4. Summa virtutum viguit per ipsum, Caritas, cunctum superans carisma, Vase nam sicco dederat amico Gaudia vitis. Carmina Vedastina. 21 , 5- Lustra beluarum dedit angelorum Esse concentum Dominique templum Ac decachordo reboare psalmo Noctc dieque. 6. Laus Deo Patri genitaeque Proli Et tibi, compar utriusque semper Spiritus alme, Deus unus omni Tempore saecli. ►£« Amen. Of Haiminus, the author of this hymn, some account is given by Valerius Andreas in the Bibliotheca Belgica : ' Hayminus, Ordinis S. Benedicti, monachus ad S. Vedastum in civitate Atrebatensi, reliquit librum de miraculis S. Vedasti^ cujus initium: Sane quae super et oculis probavimus, etc. Legi is per Octavam in choro Basilicae cathedralis Atrebatensis solet. Item sermonem de virtutibus ejusdem Sancti ; incipit : Excitentur, obsecro, filii lucis, corda vestra. Fuit Alcuini discipulus, Caroli Magni condiscipulus. Obiit anno Domini 834.'* The Bollandist editors, however, subjoin to this passage : ' Ubi numeris transversis reponimus annum 843,' for very sufficient reasons then set forth. The treatises above named, the Miracula S. Vedasti auctore Haimino Presbytero and the Sermo Haimini in Natali S. Vedasti de ii parvulis meritis ejus sanatis, are both printed by the Bollandists. f This very pleasing hymn is found in the Acta Sanctorum^ with three variations from the text already given. Verse 2, line I, ' Hie pius pastor gregis atque tutor.' Verse 2, line 3, ' Signa patravit, miserante Christo.' 'Verse 5, line 3, 'psalmum ' for 'psalmo.' I do not notice variations in spelling. In M. Dreves' Jtnalecta Hymnica {Mcdii Aevi, Fascic. XL, this hymn is No. 470, and has the title De Sancto Vedasto. Jtd P'esperas. The text there printed is formed from five manuscripts : a Vedastine Breviary of the thirteenth century, Arras MS., No. 330 ; three Vedastine Breviaries of the fourteenth century, Arras MSS., Nos. 639, 676, 717 ; and a Cambrai Breviary printed at Paris in 1497. The various readings are : * Acta Sanctorum, February, VI., p. 798, column 2. t Ibid., pp. 810, 811, % Ibid., p: 801. 22 Carmina Vedastina. Verse I, ' jucunda, modulando.' Verse 3. line 1, 'obvius.' Verse 5, line I, ' belluarum.' Verse 5, line 3, ' roborare psalmum.' The hymn occurs also in the Sloane MS., No. 2,637, with these variations : Verse 2, line I, ' atque tutor.' Verse 3, line I, 'Et bino ceco comes.' The hymn was in use before the Revolution ; afterwards a hymn in the Office Divin took its place ; but now the hymn is once more in use, for it is found in the Supplement aux Graduel et Antiphonaire Romains pour le Diocese d' Arras, printed at Arras in 1889. The melody to which it is sung is there given ; it will be found in this collection, infra, p. 58. IX. Sequentia de Sancto Vedasto. {Arras MS., No. 888, fourteenth century, etc.) 1. Magnificantes, pater optime, tuam gloriam, 2. b. Quibus, dum vita hac functus es, tua clarificavit merita. 3. b. Dum te implorat caecus in via, ut succurras, tu Deum exoras, 3. a. Dei judicia commode ad nostra adhibemus praeconia. Ergo comitem regis dignitas adsciverat te, pater, ut verba praedicares coelestia properanti ad baptisma. 4. a. Quendam refeceras verbi Dei copia, 5. a. Sed tunc vinum defecerat, Invocasti Deum * * ut in hoc subveniat, # * 6. a. Atrebata tua dum te meruerat, ingrediens portas 7. a. Relicturo arva, 8. a. Columna ignea fit tibi obvia, 9. a. Nunc e coelis nos, Vedaste, pater sancte, visita. Deus audit et annuit, rex credit et plebs exultat. 4. b. Quem corporaliter cibare decreveras. 5. b. Qui de sicco vase larga mox dedit vina. Honorans tua merita 6. b. Caecum illuminas et claudum restauras virtute solita. 7. b. Petituro astra 8. b. Quae rexit ad coelum beatam animam. 9. b. Ac securos ad aeterna perdue tecum gaudia. Carmina Vedastina. 2 3 Edited by M. Dreves, S.J., in his Analecta Hymnica Medii Aevi, Fasc. x., Sequentiae Ineditas, from two fourteenth- century missals in the library at Arras, Nos. 888 A and 882 B, and from a fifteenth-century gradual in the same collection, No. 638 C. In 8. b it is suggested that vexit should take the place of rexit. Strophe 7. et seqq. is wanting in B, as is also line 1 of Strophe 5. b. Mel., Oramus te aeterna spes. X. Sequentia de Sancto Vedasto. In Octava. (drras MS. 888, fourteenth century, etc.) I. Christo hodierna sacrificemus solemnia. 2. a. Atque suas victimas nostra immolent labia. 3. a. Cum magna merita Vedasti nostra celebrent carmina, 4. u. Miraculis in terra, in coelo beatorum gloria, 5. a. Ergo Francorum regi comes factus in via caeco puris precibus obtinet lucis bona ostendens Dei magnalia. 6. a. Attrebatae dum primum portas feliciter intrat divina facturus opera, 7. a. Profanis sacris infecto dum liquori crucis signa dedit dextra, fugit pestis, dissolvuntur vasa virgada. z. b. Intentio devota sacrificii sit ara, 3. b. Quem coelo terraque honorat Deus noster et exaltat : 4. b. Hie servorum cultura, in coelo sanctorum frequentia. 5. b. Item de vase sicco profert vini gaudia, cujus ut cunctis magnae pateat caritatis atque sanctitatis copia. 6. b. Caeco lumen et claudo gressum reddit ac populis jecit iidei fundamenta. 7. b. Igneus splendor ab aethre exporrectus ad culmina pontificis funus observat sancti secumque receptat. 24 Carmina Vedastina. 8. a. Chorus lugubris patrem pia deflerit lacrima, 8. b. Chorus coelestis sed auditus transfert ad astra. 9. a. Sublimis praesul, servos 9. b. Et sordes peccatorum humiles visita lava et super astra 10. Leva et tuos supplices salva. Edited by M. Dreves, loco citato, from two fourteenth- century missals at Arras, Nos. 888 A, and 882 B ; a missal of Tours of the fifteenth century, No. 1 94, C. Strophe 7. a et seqq. wanting in B ; 7. a 2, A reads liquor is ; 7. a 4, A reads fugat; 7. b 1, C reads, Ingens splendor ; after Strophe 10, C reads, Amen dicat concio nostra. Mel., Christi hodierna pangimini. XI. S^QUENTIA DE SaNCTO VeDASTO. (MS. missal of Cambray, fourteenth century.) 1. a. Lauda, cohors clericalis, Cum devotae plebis alis Vedastum pontificem. 2. a. Ad Vedastum properavit, Quern Vedastus perornavit Fidei cum chlamide. 3. a. Isti rege comitante Caecus voce pertonante Acclamat itinere : 4. a. Praesul orat, quod oravit, Ut abdatur impetravit Cordium duritia ; 5. a Antistes Atrebatensis Cunctos signis cum immensis Per regnum Picardiae 6. a. Hie in porta civitatis Caeco, claudo sanitatis Contulit subsidia. 1. b. Ludovicus rex Francorum Bellis ut Allemannorum Fastus fregit apicem, 2. b. Idolatra rex renatus Est devotus Christo datus Propulsa tyrannide. 3. b. Sancte Dei, confer lumen, Ouia potens es acumen Visua restituere 4. b. Caecus mox illuminatur, Rex, plebs fide solidatur Per signi mysteria. 5. b. Reliquias Vandalorum Sordidato9 idolorum Junxic Christi latriae. 6. b. Templa Deo restauravit, Verbum Dei praedicavit Pulsa idolatria. Carmina Vedastina. 25 7. a. Urna meri venenati 7. b. Petra bibunt tit Hebraei, A nefandis aulae dati Prece sic dona Lyaei Per intrantis civitati Vasi sicco sanctus Dei Patris cruce crepuit. Suo caro tribuit. 8. a. Quo per virgam lucis merae 8. b. O Vedaste, praesul bone, Ab hac vita te ciere, Nos consortes in agone Nosti nunc aeterno vere Prece, pastor et patrone, Eruens Christo cohaerere Da nos caeli statione Gaudens coeli curia. Frui cum laetitia. Edited by M. Dreves from Missale MS. Cameracense, sasc. 14, Cod. Cameracens. 123 add. sasc. 15. XII. De Sancto Vedasto. — Prosa. (Missale Atrebatense, Paris, 1491.) Unus Deus, amor una, \sic\ concordia una et caritas. I Unus Deus, amor dilectio unica, singularis caritas. Tantum ea, quae nectit unitas, servat caritas. -^-^ Que dissipant lis et discordia, fugat caritas. Martyria et elemosinas, angelorum hominumque linguas, 5 probat caritas. Major horum et Deo coeterna caritas. Ut Christus vellet carnem sumere, suasit caritas. Ut aulam celi Vedastus intraret, fecit caritas. O Domine, O quem fecit nostra petere ima, insita tibi caritas. O Vedaste, O quem fecit celsam scandere ethram, impensa 10 tibi caritas. Credit cuncta, suffert universa, atque sustinet cuncta caritas. Non est vana, non ambiciosa, nnn querit sua lucra caritas. Est ipsa flama, et lampas, ignis, carbo, caritas. Est Pater, et est Patris doxa, flamen sacrum caritas. Monas trias caritas. Amen. 15 This prose is taken from the Arras Missal printed in 1491. There is no title-page. The first page has a large woodcut occupying two -thirds of the page ; then follows ' Incipit Missale,' etc., and the Introit Ad Te levavi. The colophon : 'Ad laude dei oipotentis ejusq3 btissime matris v'ginis Marie et olm sctor' et sactar'. Ad usu eccl'ic attrebatefi. istar exemplaris emendatissimi 26 Carmina Vedastina. ritus dicte eccl'ie poptime cStinentes hoc Isigne sacri missalis opus. Anno Icarnationis dfiice M° cccc° xci° Kalendis octobris parisii arte impressona per Johannem de prato finem accepit.' The proses are collected at the end of the Missal, after the Masses, and before the Benedictiones, which conclude the volume. A version of this curious prose is found in Kehrein's Lateinische Sequenzen des Mittelalters, No. 717, for use in festo S. Stephani, printed from a Liege Missal of 1513. The principal variations are these : 1. Unus amor et una concordia, una est et charitas. 2. Unum Deum amat dilectio una, singularis charitas. 5. praestat charitas. 6. Manent tria : fides, spes, charitas ; major horum extat coaeterna Deo charitas. 7. Ut Christus nostram vellet gestare formam, suasit charitas. 8. Ut coeli claram Stephanus intret aulam, facit charitas. 15. Monas trinas est charitas. The prose appears in the same form in Daniel's Thesaurus Hymnologicus, v., p. 176, from which, indeed, Kehrein takes it. XIII. Sancto Vedasto Episcopo Attrebatensi. VI. Februarii. Cui Deus creBcit, peritura vani Cuncta decrescunt simulacra mundi, More torrentis fugitivus illi Praeterit Orbis. Nil domus splendor, nee ope6 avitae, Blanda nee flexit juvenem voluptas ; Quos Fides monstrat superos Vedastus Ambit honores. Ne quid in dulci Patria retardet, Et suos inter, nimis Aula mentem Blandiens frangat, fugit in remotas Providus oras. Quam salutaris fuga ! quam profundo Jussa decreto ! reget ilk Reges, Et jugo Christi fera corda subdi Nescia subdet. >/ Carmina Vedastina. 27 Summa laus Patri, genitoque Verbo, Et tibi compar, utriusque nexus, Qui Sacerdotes Deus intus ungis, Spiritus alme. XIV. Qui fugit long&patria relicta, Saeculi pompam male blandientem, Hie sacris Reges monitis, et omnem Imbuet aulam. Ut redit victor spoliis superbus Post triumphatas ClodovaeuB Urbes : Jam Deo victus, prope noster, ardet Rite doceri. Primu6 occurris, tua fama prodit Hoc pium munu6 tibi deBtinatur. Jura qui nuper dabat Imperator Ipse subibit. Regium pectus tumidum triumpho Gaudet irrisae Crucis in trophaeo Arma deponit novus ille Christi Miles ab hoste. Quis tibi sensus fuit, 6 Vedaste ? Dum fugis Reges / cupidus latere, Te vocant Reges, cupiunt doceri Teque Magistro, Dum petit Rhemos, per iter docebas ; A tuo Princeps pius ore pendet, Instar Eunuchi docilis, fuisti Tuque Philippus. Signa non verbis manifesta desunt Nam diem caeco dedit ut videret, Principis caeci tenebras superno Lumine pellit. Rex novus velis penitus remotis, Solis aeterni jubar intuetur. Atra nox cedit,' procul obstinatus Exulat error. XV. Quam Deo gratus, procul a tumultu Qui, sibi quando vacat, et saluti : Pontifex curas, sibi raptus ipsi, Sustinet omnes. 28 Carmina Vedastina. Intrat hanc Urbcm tcnebris sepultam Belluas audit rabie frementcs Civitas omnis, velut alta sylva Horrida dumis. Prisca divini monumenta cultus Barbarae gentes tulerant ; Vedastus Vana subvertit -simulacra, Divum Diruit aras. Redditur caeco sua lux, ct auris Redditur surdo, sua lingua muto ; Imparl qui vix pede claudus ibat, Ambulat aequo. Luce coelesti melius fugabat Mentibus noctem, simul ora muta, Et Deo surdas reserabat aures : Omnia quanta ! Civium terror, ferus hospes Urbis, Ursus immani latitabat antro, Imperas Praesul, tremit imperantis Bellua vocem. E specu flecti docilis profundo Exit oblitus feritatis ursus ; Gestiunt cives, sonat urbs recenti Laeta triumpho. Praesulis faustum fuit illud omen EfFeras mentes malus occuparat Daemon, ut ccdat jubet, efficaci Voce fugatur. Regis accumbens epulis Vedastus Fregit impresso Crucis ilia signo Vasa Fanorum, quibus est litatum, Impia vasa. Tota Gens, Praesul, mod6 Christiana, Se tibi debet ; Fidei jacentis Prisca coelesti rediviva rorc Scmina surgant. These three hymns, Nos. XIII., XIV., and XV., are taken from a volume entitled ' Hymni Sacri et Novi Autore Santolio Victorino. Editio novissima. In qua Hymni omnes, quos Autor usque ad mortem concinuerat, reperiuntur. Parisiis, Apud Dionysium Thierry, via. Jacobea, sub signo Urbis Lutetiae. mdcxcviii. Cum privilegio Regis.' Carmina Vedastina. 29 The first edition of these hymns seems to have been issued some nine years earlier than the Editio Novissima here em- ployed, for after the Privilege du Roy occurs this sentence : ' Acheve d'imprimer pour la premiere fois le 30. Juin 1689.' XVI. Hymne de S. Vaast ou Saint Vedaste Ev:eque d'Arras. VI. Fevrier. Pour qui n'aime que Dieu de l'ardeur la plus vive, II n'est rien ici-bas dont son coeur soit tente : Le monde est un torrent, une ombre fugitive, Dont il connoit la vanite. Vedaste peu sensible a sa propre opulence, Resiste constamment aux charmes des plaisirs ; Les celestes grandeurs etoient, des son enfonce, L'unique objet de ses desirs. Pour que rien ne s'oppose a sa vertu parfaite, II renonce aux attraits d'une brillante Cour ; II quitte son pays, et veut dans la retraite, Prodiguer a Dieu son amour. O prudente retraite ! ou le Dieu qui l'appelle, Pour le salut d'un Prince, y forme son esprit ! Sa voix doit triompher du coeur d'un Roi rebelle, Et le soumettre a Jesus-Christ. Gloire au Pere Eternel, au Fils dont la doctrine Eclaire notre esprit, et console nos cceurs ; Meme gloire a l'Esprit, dont l'onction Divine, Nous consacre de saints Pasteurs. XVII. Autre Hymne. En quittant tous ses biens, ses parents, sa patrie, Vedaste est a couvert du monde, et de ses traits ; Mais on l'entend tonner contre l'idolatrie Et de Princes, et des sujets. Tout couvert des lauriers qui brillent sur sa tete, Clovis, aux ennemis, vient d'imposer la loi ; Et deja ce heros, Seigneur, est ta conquete, Eclaire, et confirme sa foi. 3° Carmina Vedastina. Le ciel, a ta vertu, donne la preference, Vedaste, cet emploi dans tes mains est remis ; Le Roi qui soumet tout a son obeissance, A tes le£ons sera soumis. Ce Prince encor tout fier des fruits de sa victoire, Vient meler son triomphe a celui de la croix : Nouveau soldat du Christ, il depose sa gloire Aux pieds de ce maitre des Rois. Saint Pretre, quel dessein avoit pu le conduire A quitter pour jamais la Cour, et ses plaisirs ? Un Prince encor payen t'appelle pour l'instruire, Vole seconder ses desirs. Tel cet officier* d'un Reine payenne Ecoutoit un Ap6tre avec avidite : Telle est, du grand Clovis, a ta lecon chretienne, L'admirable docilite. Tu soutiens tes discours par Peclat des miracles ; Tu touches un aveugle, il voit dans le moment ; Et le Prince eclaire, surmonte les obstacles, Qui formoient son aveuglement. II ressent tout a coup l'effet de ta priere, Du Soleil de justice, il fixe la splendeur; Les ombres de la nuit font place a la lumiere, Qui vient dissiper son erreur. Gloire au Pere Eternel, au Fils dont la doctrine Eclaire notre esprit, et console nos coeurs ; Meme gloire a l'Esprit, dont l'onction Divine, Nous consacre de saints Pasteurs. XVIII. Autre Hymne. Si le Seigneur appreuve un pieux solitaire, Qui n'a de son salut que l'unique fardeau, Qu'il estime un Prelat, qui dans son ministere, Se consacre aux soins d'un troupeau ! Vedaste, dans Arras, entend fremir la rage, D'un peuple enseveli dans la nuit de l'erreur : Quelle ville ! (grand Dieu) c'est un autre sauvage, Ou le Saint est saisi d'horreur. L'Eunuque de la Reine de Candale, instruit par l'Ap6tre Saint Philippe. Carmina Vedastina. 31 Des temples, autrefois, consacres a ta gloire, .Seigneur, ils ont d£truits les restes pr^cieux ; Mais Vedaste, attentif a venger ta memoire, Brise les autels des faux Dieux. Sur tous les afflige's, ses dons vont se repandre ; L'aveugle sent ses yeux s'eclaircir sous sa main ; Le muet parle au sourd, etonne" de l'entendre ; Le boiteux va d'un pas certain. Le Saint opere encore de plus grandes merveilles, Le flambeau de la foi dissipe leur erreur. Que de bouihes alors ; que de chastes oreilles, S*uvrent a. la loi du Seigneur. Dans le sein de la ville, une bete cruelle, Causoit aux habitants le plus terrible effroi ; Mais cedant tout a coup a la voix qui l'appelle, L'ours tremble, et rampe devant toi. De son antre profond, sortant sans resistance Cet ours n'exhale plus le feu de sa fureur ; Et le peuple charme de cette delivrance, Exalte son liberateur. Ce trait, pour notre Saint, fut d'un heureux presage, Le demon les avoit captive's sous ses loix ; Vedaste lui commande, et l'esprit plein de rage Est force de fuir a sa voix. Le Roi, dans un repas, fit placer sur sa table Les vases destines au culte des faux Dieux, D'un seul signe de croix, le Prelat respectable, Les mit en poudre sous ses yeux. Ce peuple, saint Pasteur, doit a ta vigilance, De sa naissante foi l'inestimable bien Fais revivre a jamais cette sainte semence, Que tu repandis dans son sein. Gloire au Pere Eternel, au Fils dont la doctrine Eclaire notre esprit, et console nos cceurs ; Meme gloire a l'Esprit, dont l'onction Divine, Nous consacre de saints Pasteurs. These three hymns, Nos. XVI., XVII., and XVIII., are translations of Hymns Nos. XIII., XIV., and XV., and are taken from a volume entitled ' Hymnes de Santeuil, traduites en vers Franpis. Par I. P. C. P. D. A Paris, chez J. Barbou, rue S. Jacques, proche la fontaine S. Benoit, aux Cigognes. MDCCLX.' 3 2 Carmina Vedastina. A MS. note on the front fly-leaf is as follows : ' Cette traduction superieure a celle de Saurin est de J. Poupin cure Prieur d'Auxon, puis chanoine de la Cathedrale de Troyes.' Elie Saurin's translation of Santeul's hymns is contained in a volume dedicated to Madame de Maintenon : Traduction en vers Francois des Hymnes de Monsieur de Santeul, Chanoine regulier de Saint Victor. 12°, Paris, 1 69 1. Saurin describes Santeul's Latin hymns as worthy of the Augustan age ; and M. Santeul expresses himself as being satisfied with Saurin's version, for he says : ' Je suis tres-oblige a l'Auteur de la Traduction de mes Hymnes ; je la reconnois comme une copie parfaite de l'Original.' De Santeul, de Saint Victor, It may be added that M. Poupin (who dedicates his work to Madame la Dauphine) speaks of the version of the late ' M. l'Abbe Saurin de l'Academie Royal de Nimes ' ; states that three editions of it were issued before 1699, but that it was now nearly forgotten ; and adds, moreover, that it did not include thirty-three of Santeul's hymns. Amongst the omitted hymns are those to S. Vedast. XIX. Sequentia de Missa in Festis S. P. Vedasti Episcopi ET CONFESSORIS. 1. Frustra tuos, bona, cives Fugis, et Vedaste, lates, Terra procul hospite. 2. Comitatur fugientem, Fama sequax et latentem : Teque prodit ubique, 3. Hoste Victor triumphato, Se sibi rex ipse, Christo Victus, ultro subjicit. \. Ambo Remos dum petitis, Fingis pectus institutis, Per te Christum induit. Carmina Vedastina. 33 5. Pendet ab ore docentis, Instar eunuchi fidelis, Tu Philippus aderas. 6. Illic caeco reddis lucem Ac illico regis mentem, Quo splendore recreas. 7. Plebi nocte sub profunda, Quam lux ipse tu, jucunda, Praesul factus advenis. S. Urbs vastata dumis horret, Fide vulsa pejor haeret, Aspris error animis. 9. Ut affulges, mox fugatur, Prisca fides revocatur, Domus Dei restauratur, Quae nova fit civitas, 10. Ex immani specu pulsus, Te jubente cedit ursus, Cum fera gentis, quod majus, Exulat et feritas. 1 1. Quis pastoris pandat curas, Quis amoris artes miras ? Totum te das ovibus. 12. Summis gratus imos foves, Ut Christo lucreris omnes, Omnia sis omnibus. 13. Crescit amor, totus langues, Jam vix capit pectus ignes, Evolant cum anima. 14. Migrat ecce, stupent cuncti, Flagrans seu jubar, attolli Sublimem in aethera. 15. Cursu qui coelos flammeo Petis : O dilecte Deo, Tua duplex sit mens nobis : En trahe nos post te votis, Ad coelum quo raperis. 16. Tu qui sidus praesulum, Dei fulges ante thronum, Lucem mitte, vibra faces, Ure corda, lustra mentes, Igne quo nunc ureris. Amen. Alleluia. 34 Carmina Vedastina. For this hymn I am indebted to the great kindness of the Rev. Canon Parent, of the Grand Seminaire at Arras, who transcribed it for me with his own hand from a loose printed sheet of a mass of S. Vedast which he discovered in a Missale ad usum Benedictinorum printed at Douai in 1729. The mass differs from any now in use. Canon Parent, I am informed, does not know of any other copy. XX. Sequentia in Festo Depositions S. Vedasti, Episcopi et hujus Diocoesis Patroni Secundarii. (From the ZMtuale Parisiense cum Propria Atrebatensi. Quarto. Paris, 1841.) 1. Lethalis umbra pellitur Lux redit : somno surgite : Fatale vinclum solvitur ; Vos, O redempti, plaudite 2. Quas Vandali reduxerant, Umbras Vedastus expulit ; Quae Vandali injecerant, Vincla Vedastus .abstulit. 3. Celsis natus honoribus, Honores prudens despicit : Amplis redundat opibus, Opes invisas abjicit. 4. Exul latere voluit : (Sibi timet humilitas.) An virtus diu latuit ? An latet alta civitas ? 5. En tua, disce, munia : Reges ipsos erudies ; Et corda subdi nescia Christi jugo subjicies. 6. Sat Chlodovaeus restitit : A te doceri postulat. Doces : (ut Deus astitit !) Nox cedit ; error exulat. 7. Sed quanta seges operum Fidem Atrebas exuit ; In omne genus scelerum Idololatra proruit. Carmina Vedastina. 35 8. Nil dura corda civium, Horrens nil movet civitas. Quo non, servatrix ovium, Quo non impellit caritas I 9. Intus movente Numine Christum Vedastus praedicat, Sparso salutis semine, Quam ampla messis emicat ! 10. Verba quot signis astruit ! Caeco sua lux redditur ; Claudo pedem restituit ; Salus aequo refunditur. 1 1. Vos Atrebates, dicite Ut fana, deos verteret j Ut lingua potens divite Deo rebelles subderct, 12. Ouos dura gens induerat Mores ferinos exuit ; Infida, quem exuerat, Christum docilis induit. 13. Multis partam sudoribus Prolem, Pater, ne deseras ! O Vedaste, clientibus Opem e coelo conferas ! 14. Piis aequa laboribus Qui jam refulges gloria, (3 Vedaste, clientibus Coeli precare gaudia. Amen, This hymn is also found in the Office Divin complet, en Latin et en Franfais, a fusage Diocese a" Arras, printed at Arras, but without a date. The Approbation, however, pre- fixed to the volume is dated May 30, 1827. It is signed by the Bishop of Arras, Hugues-Robert-Jean-Charles de la Tour dAuvergne-Lauraguais. It is also printed in the Eucologe (franpais-latin) du Diocese d Arras, contenant YOffice du tous les Dimanches et Fetes de l' Annee, avec approbation, printed at Lille, in 1845. In both these books the hymn is entitled a Prose. 36 Carmina Vedastina. The four hymns which follow next in order, Nos. XXI. to XXIV., are taken from the Breviarium Atrebatense, printed in Paris in 1834, in four volumes 8vo.* XXI. In I. Vesperis. (Breviarium Atrebatense, 1834.) 1. Annuos, cives, renovemus hymnos ; Orta jam splendet sacra lux Vedasto : Praesulis tanti memores canamus Corde triumphos. 2. Nil domus splendor, nee opes avitae, Blanda nee flexit juvenem voluptas ; Quos fides monstrat superos Vedastus Ambit honores. 3. Ne quid in dulci patria retardet, Et suos inter, nimis aula mentem Blandiens frangat, fugit in remotas Providus oras. 4. Quam salutaris fuga ! quam profundo Jussa decreto ! reget ille reges ; Et jugo Christi fera corda, subdi Nescia, subdet. 5. Ut redit victor, spoliis superbus, Post triumphatos Clodoveus hostes, Jam Deo victus, prope noster, ardet Rite doceri. 6. Primus occurris ; tua fama prodit : Hoc pium munus tibi destinatur. Jura qui nuper dabat Imperator, Ipse subibit. 7. Dum petit Remos, per iter docebas ; A tuo Princeps pius ore pendet, Instar Eunuchi docilis, fuisti Tuque Philippus, 8. Signa non verbis manifesta desunt : Nam diem caeco dedit ut videret ; Principis caeci tenebras et omnis Depulit aulae. * Breviarium Atrebatense jussu illustrissimi ac reverendissimi in Christo Patris, D.D., Hugonis-Roberti-'Joannis-Caroli de Latour-T)' diuversne-Laura- guais vulgatum. Carmina Vedastina. 37 9. Praepotens regum moderator, unus In tribus regnans, mentis Vcdasti, Supplicem coetum pius ad superna Dirige regna. Amen. This hymn is also found in the Eucologe du Diocese d Arras already referred to. XXII. Ad Officium Noct. (Breviarium Atrebatense, 1834.) 1. Christe totius reparator orbis Mitte quem nosti fidei ministrum. Nostra quid mortis sedet urbs sepulta Jugiter umbris ? j. En Deo tandem fideique plenus Advolat Praesul ; Deus ipse Dux est : Orcus infrendet : resonant Olympi Atria plausu. 3. Intrat hanc urbem nimis heu ! dolendam, Nulla jam veri monumenta cultus ; Efferas mentes vetus occupavit Altius error. 4. Spiritu fcrvens hominem Deumque Intonat Christum ; simulacra vertit. Fert diem ; vulsis meliora spinis Semina mandat. 5. Asserit magnis sua dicta factis. Imperat : caecus jubar intuetur ; Exilit claudus, loquiturque mutus, Surdus et audit. 6. Inde nostrorum pietas parentum Prisca defluxit ; maneat superstes, Fracta nee longo minuends aevi Concidat actu. 7. Summa laus Patri, Genitoque summa, Et tibi compar, utriusque vinclum : Fac tuis vivat, Deus, in ministris Pristina virtus. Amen. 2 8 Carmina Vedastina. XXIII. Ad Laudes. (Breviarium Atrebatense, 1834.) 1. Dexter hue nobis ades, O Vedaste ! Te tui rursus celebrare certant ; Quos, Pater, Christo fide-parturisti, Annue natis. 2. O pias dicat quis amoris artes ! Ut trahat Christo, subigatque corda, Sponte demissa gravitate, sese Omnibus aptat. 3. Fronte non asper facilis, benignus, Voce non sola docet ; ipsa vultus Blanda majestas pietatis almum Afflat amorem. 4. Erigit tristes, inopesque pascit, Vestit ac nudum, miseretur aegri ; Divitum mensas, fidei futurus Praeco nee horret. 5. Quos docet nondum stabiles alumnos, Firmat exemplis, animatque factis ; Monstrat, accensa face, quae tenenda Sit via coelo. 6. His fides tandem remeavit oris : Templa ponuntur, reparantur arae ; Quas furor stravit, pietas vicissim Excitat aedes. 7. Quae fuit vivo tibi cura, Praesul, Hanc, licet vectus super astra, serves ; Et tuam, nostrae bone tutor urbis, Respice gentem. 8. Laus sit aeternae Triadi per aevum, Quae Patri nostro superos honores Largiens, nobis tribuat perennis Gaudia vitae. Amen. XXIV. Ad II. Vesperas. {Breviarium Atrebatense, 1834.) 1. Qui te beatis coetibus inseris, Quos linquis orbos, respice coelitus, < Vedaste ; clemens O tuorum Sume preces, gemitus clientum. Carmina Vedastina. 39 2. Quiesce, duris functe laboribus ; Vertuntur arae, numina corruunt ; Victo rebelli corde, caecis Vera dies rediviva lucet. 3. Jam cedit ultro, jam patiens jugi, Ponit Sicamber colla ferocia ; Sacras piandus, te docente, Intrat ovans Clodoveus undas. 4. Quae te premebant, solvere vinculis, Quem vanus error luserat, Atrebas ; Gaudes reperta veritate, Subdis amans fera corda Christo. 5. Vedaste, noster Pastor, Apostolus Ames vocari ; sedibus e tuis Tuere prolem ; te magistrum, Teque pattern studet aemulari. 6. Sit summa Patri, summaque Filio, Tibique compar gloria, Spiritus ; Qui dura solvis, da perennes Concipiant nova corda flammas. Amen. This hymn is found in the Office Divin and in the Eucologe, of the diocese of Arras, both already referred to in these pages XXV. Flemish Hymn to S. Vedast. VAN DEN HEYLIGEN VEDASTUS. 1 . Wee, de woeste Nederlanden, Wee de ryken daer ontrent ; Nog gestelt in duyvels banden, Nog van Christi kerk vervremt ; Maer Vedastus is verschenen Als een fakkel in den nacht, En net heydendom verdwenen, Heeft verlooren syne kragt. Den franschen vorst, Naer 't doopsel dorst, En verwinner in den stryt, Door Vedastus ook verwonnen, Christi waere wet belydt. 2. 't Atregt, in een opperstede, Heeft hy synen stoel gestelt ; En syn leer met wonderhedcn Was ook dikwils vergeselt. 4o Carmina Vedastina. Goden, beelden, helsche geesten, Zyn gerloden op zyn woort. Schim gedrojten, wildc beesten, Hebben syne stemm' gehoort. De Blinde lien, Het ligt aensien ; Kreupel krygen hunnen gank ; En de stomme, die nu spreken, Singen God den heere dank. 3. Maer 't geluk der ingeseten, Een geluk van meer gewigt, Was het waer geloop te weten En naer siel te syn verligt ; Was nu vry van alle afgodcn Op den regten weg te staen, Om 't aenhooren Gods geboden En naer 't hemelryk te gaen. Ook naederhant Heeft Vlaenderlant Sig tot 't Christendom bekeert ; En den grooten man Vedastus Wort als leeraer daer geeert. 4. Hontschoot, Renegels en Belle Sveken nyt in dankbaerheyt ; Hebben stadt en kerk gestellen Synen naeme toegeseyt. Overheden en gemeente Sien met groot genoegen aen Nu een deel van syn gebeente op hun pronkantaeren staen. Den yver groeyt ; De kerke bloeyt ; en door heel het belsch gebiet, Den verheven man Vedastus Vrugten van syn arbeyt siet. 5. En nu ook de sondagschoole, Tot het onderwys der jeugt, Is u vadcr toebevolen, Is in uwen naem verheugt. Hout den helschen beir gebonden, Onder uwen bisschops voet ; En bewaert ons van de wonden Die syn felle bete doet. Dit dankbaer liet, De schole u biet, En wysingen vol van vreugt : Wilt met zegen onderstennen Die ons stieren tot de deugdt. Carmlna Vedastina. 4 1 The popular devotion to S. Vedast has found expression in this vernacular hymn in Flemish, consisting of five verses of thirteen lines each. It is printed by Mons. E. de Cousse- malcer in his Chants Populaires des Flamands de France (8vo., Gand., 1856). I do not understand the Flemish tongue, and as some of my readers may be equally unfortunate, I think it well to subjoin M. de Coussemaker's translation. ' Cantique en l'honneur de St. Vaast. ' Qu'elle etait malheureuse notre Neerlande, alors qu'avec toute la region d'alentour, elle etait encore barbare, soumise au joug du demon et privee de temples Chretiens ! Mais S'. Vaast a paru comme un flambeau dans la nuit, et le paganisme a perdu son empire. Le monarque franc, victorieux dans les batailles, fut converti par S*. Vaast ; il recut le bapteme et confessa la foi du Christ. ' II fixa son siege dans la ville d'Arras ; des miracles accompagnaient souvent ses predications. A sa parole, on voyait tomber les faux dieux les idoles et les simulacres de l'enfer. Spectres, monstres, betes feroces obeirent a sa voix ; les aveugles voient la lumiere ; les boiteux retrouvent leur marche ; les muets recouvrent la voix, chantant la louange de Dieu. 3- ' Mais le bonheur, le veritable bonheur des habitants de la contree fut d'avoir connu la vraie foi, cette consolation des ames ; ce fut d'etre delivres du culte des faux dieux et de se trouver sur le chemin des commandements de Dieu et du salut eternel. Aussi, bient6t la Flandre se convertit au christianisme, et S*. Vaast fut honore comme l'apotre du pays. 4- ' Hondschoote, Renegelst et Bailleul, rivalisant de reconnaissance, ont mis leur ville et leur eglise sous le patronage de son nom. Les autorites et le peuple voient maintenant avec satisfaction une partie de ses ossements places sur leurs plus beaux autels. Ce zele s'accroit, l'eglise prospere et dans tous les etats beiges le grand S*. Vaast voit le fruit de ses labeurs. 5- ' Et maintenant aussi l'ecole dominicale, cet asile de la jeunesse, vous est consacree, 6 saint patron, et est placee sous l'egide de votre nom. Enchainez a vos pieds l'ours de l'enfer et sauvez-nous de ses cruelles morsures. L'ecole vous adresse ce cantique de reconnaissance, que nous chantons, tous avec allegresse. Etendez vos benedictions sur ceux qui nous conduisent dans le chemin de la vertu.' 42 Carmina Vedastina. The music to which the Flemish words are sung will be found at p. 59 infra. M. de Coussemaker adds a valuable note : ' Nous avons trouve ce cantique dans le manuscrit appartenant a l'ecole dominicale de Bailleul, dite de St. Vaast. II y est chante a diverses epoques de l'annee et notamment a la fete de ce saint, qui est le patron d'une des eglises paroissiales de la meme ville. Les noms d'Hondschoote, de Renegelst, et de Bailleul, mentionnes dans cette piece, indiquent son origine locale et expliquent sa popularite. La melodie que nous donnons ici, nous a ete chantee par une des anciennes eleves de cette ecole. Elle ne parait pas appartenir a une epoque plus reculee que le commencement du XVIII 6 siecle.' Bailleul, according to the guide books, is some forty-nine miles from Calais, on the road to Lille : a curious and picturesque Flemish town, with 13,276 inhabitants, largely engaged in the production of hand-made lace. Hondschoote is eight miles to the east of Bergues, which is five miles from Dunkirk. It is reached by diligence from Bergues, and is a small town of 3,464 inhabitants at the present time, though formerly it had a population of 20,000. POEMS. The short series of Latin verses which follow are taken from ancient manuscripts in the library at Arras, mostly of the eleventh century, with one or two later compositions. The first, second, and third are ascribed to our own Alcuin. Born of noble Northumbrian parents about the year 735, he was the hereditary representative of the noble house from which sprung S. Willibrord, the apostle of the Frisians. He was brought up from infancy in the school founded by Archbishop Egbert, in connection with the Church of York. Here he received instruction from the Archbishop, himself Carmina Vedastina. 43 the disciple and friend of Bede, and from Ethelbelirt, the master of the school, who was made Archbishop in 767. He became proficient in secular as well as in ecclesiastical learning. He twice visited Rome, returning in 790 to Northumbria. Ethelred endeavoured in vain to retain him at his Court ; but Alcuin hastened back to Tours, where he governed the monastery of S. Martin, although still a ' deacon, and here he died.* His Life of S. Vedast is printed in the Acta Sanctorum, Feb., VI., pp. 803-809. The poems numbered I., II., and III. are found in the eleventh century manuscript, of which so much use has been already made. They form part of a series of verses (in which they are numbered XLL, XLIL, and XLIII.) under the general heading : In Ecclesia Sancti Vedasti in pariete scribendum. Other inscriptions following these three are intended to be placed on or near the altars of the following Saints : S. Martin, S. Dionysius and his companions, SS. Remigius and Auduinus, SS. Lantbertus and Richarius, SS. Gregory and Jerome, SS. Benedict and Scholastica, SS. Cosmas and Damian, the Holy Virgins, the Holy Cross, SS. Mary and Clement, SS. John and Matthew, SS. Piatus and George, SS. Laurence, John and Paul. The inscriptions which belong to the Church of S. Vedast are numbered XLI.-LXV. I. De Ecclesia Sancti Vedasti a Radone abbate renovata. {Arras £MS., No. 734, folio 91.) Haec domus alma Dei flammis crepitantibus olim Arsit, et in cineres tota redacta fuit ; Sed miserante Deo, Rado venerabilis abba Construxit melius, ac renovavit earn. * These particulars are taken, often in the precise words of the writer, from the biographical notice of Alcuin, contributed to the Dictionary of Christian Biography by the Bishop of Oxford. 44 Carmina Vedastina. Plurima praesenti domui ornamenta ministrans, 5 Exornans totam muneribusque sacris. Cancellos aras voluit vestire metallis, Vedasti fabricans sarcophagumque Patris. Pallia suspendit parietibus atque lucernas, Addidit, ut fieret lumen in aede sacrum. 10 Officiis Domini fecit quoque vasa sacrata Argento, nee non aurea tota quidem. Induit altaris speciosa veste ministros, Ut foret egregium semper ubique decus. Omnia mellifluo Christi devotus amore 15 Restaurans opera, vir pius, in melius. Pro quo quisque legas titulos, rogitare menento, Adjuvit utque ilium gratia summa Dei. Abbot Radon was the eleventh abbot of the Abbey of S. Vaast, at Arras, from 795 to 815. He was ' grand - referendaire de la couronne et chancelier de Charlemagne, avait ete elu abbe en 795 par le suffrage unanime de la communaute. Aussi ce prelat, dont les chroniqueurs mentionnent la piete aussi profonde qu'eclairee, put reparer les degats causes a l'eglise du monastere par l'incendie de 783 ; de plus il contribua a la solennite du culte rendu a Saint Vaast. en decorant son sanctuaire, en embellisant son autel de beaux ornements, et en rendant l'eglise plus vaste et plus grandiose, sans negliger 1'administration interieure.' o o ' Radon intimement lie avec le celebre Alcuin, precepteur du monarque Fran^ais, l'engagea a rediger une nouvelle vie de Saint Vaast, d'apres les documents anciens et les biographies que Ton possidait deja, mais que Ton regardait comme defec- tueuses.'* These passages show the connection between Alcuin and Radon, and explain the circumstances under which the verses were written. The fire of 795 appears to have been exceedingly destruc- tive, for the Abbot Radon ' fut oblige de la reconstruire de fond en comble.'f The writers just cited go on to say that * V Abbaye de Saint-Vaast, par MM. Adolphe de Cardevacque etAuguste Terninck. 4to., Arras, 1865. I., p. 55. I Ibid,, III., pp. 90, 91. Carmina Vedastina. 45 the chronicles and writings of Alcuin ' poete et religieux du monastere,' testify to the greatness and beauty of his work. ' Les autels etaient enrichis de metaux, le tombeau de Saint Vaast etait orne de lames d'or et d'argent, et les murs etaient recon- verts d'elegantes tapisserie. Radon suspendit des lampes dans les nefs et dans le sanctuaire, il fit confectionner des vases sacres en or et en argent, et acheta de riches ornements pour les officiants.' As a note to this passage our poem is printed, as, indeed, it was also at the place first cited. In the Acta Sanctorum (February, VI., p. 809, column 2) are found these verses : * Versus dlcuini ad Radonem dbhatem. Noli, quaeso, Pater, munuscula spernere nostra. Parvula si videas, magna haec dilectio mittit.' They are printed at the end of Alcuin's Adhortatio ad imi- tandas virtutes S. Vedasti in Actis descriptis* II. Ad Corpus Sancti Vedasti. {Arras MS., No. 734, folio 91.) Hie Pater egregius Vedastus corpore pausat, Cujus honore sacro haec domus alma micat. Fulcitur tanti meritis per saecla patroni, Per quern multa Deus signa salutis agit. Qui sacra celsitroni vivens vestigia Christi, 5 Lingua, mente, manu namque secutus erat. Multiplicavit opes bis quinis forte talentis, Nee data marsupiis lucra ligavit iners. Audiet idcirco vocem mox judicis almi : Intra nunc Domini gaudia sancta tui. 10 In the Acta Sanctorum (p. 809, column 2) these verses are entitled Epitaphium S. Vedasti. In the Abbe Destombes' Les Vies des Saints et des Personnes d'une eminente piete des Dioceses de Cambrai et d' Arras (4 vols., i2mo., Douai, 1868, i. 212) is a translation of this Epitaph into French : * See also the Acta Sanctorum, p. 797. 46 Carmina Vedastina. Ici repose le corps de Saint Vaast, notre illustre pere, Dont la gloire immortelle embellit cette demeure. Elle est fondee pour des siecles, sous l'auguste patronage De celui par qui Dieu opera beaucoup d'ceuvres de salut. Toute sa vie il marcha sur les traces sacrees de Jesus-Christ ; Sa bouche, son coeur, sa main, tout lui fut consacre : II multiplia les dix talents que Dieu lui donna, Et ne les enfouit point apres les avoir recus. C'est pourquoi il entendra cette parole du juge misericordieux : Entrez maintenant dans les joies de votre Seigneur. III. Ad aram Sancti Vedasti. {Arras MS., No. 734, folio 91.) Pontificalis apex, meritis vivacibus, aram Vedastus sanctus hanc regit ipse Pater. Hanc abbas humilis vestivit Rado metallis, In Domini laudem ductus amore Patris. These three poems, Nos. I., II. and III., are printed amongst Alcuin's works in the Abbe Migne's Patrologiae cursus com- fletus (torn, ci., p. 741), with the heading, 'Carmina. Inscrip- tiones variae in Ecclesia S. Vedasti.' The learned editor does not appear to have seen the Arras MS. cited above, for he writes : ' Cur carmina sequentia ad Ecclesiam Sancti Vedasti pertinere censeamus, causa est, quod non initio solum, sed et in medio occurrat mentio de Radone Abbate illius monasterii.' The Arras MS. determines the question. To the first of the poems the Abbe Migne appends the following note, which is equally decisive : ' Hoc carmen emendavimus ex editione celeberrimi Lambecii (torn, ii., Comment. Bibl. Caesar., p. 414 ; novae editionis, torn, i., p. 643). In Cod. Vindobonensi his versibus praefigitur titulus : In Ecclesia Sancti Vedasti in pariete scribendum. Ubi notari vult idem Lambecius, non hie legi scriptum, sed scribendum ; nempe quod pervetustus ille Codex Caesareus prius est exaratus quam epigramma hoc parieti ecclesiae Sancti Vedasti inscriptum est.' A careful collation of the Arras text here printed with the Abbe Migne's version gives the following various readings. In Poem I. : Line 1, Alma: Henschen leg. alta. Line 2, Fait: Lambecius, ruit. Carmina Vedastina. 47 Line 3, Rado : Radon. Venerabilis : Quercet, miscrabilis. Line 7, Cancellos: Lambecius, cancellos ; but canccllis is printed. Line 16, Opera: Quercet, opere. Line 17, Rogitare : Queraet, cogitarc. In Poem II. : Line 5, Celsithroni for celsitroni. Line 8, Marsupii for marsupiis. And to line 8 the following note is appended : Ligavit triers ; vera haec est, ait Lambecius loc. cit. et genuina hujus loci lectio ; non autem ut in editione Quercetani : lucra ligavit opes; vel in codicibus MSS. quibus RR. PP. Bollandus et Henschenius usi sunt : lucri migravit opes. IV. Verses composed by Rodulphus de Monchy. (Jrr.is MS., No. 860, folio I.) Hunc ego Rodulphus Monachus tan turn modo dictus, Nomine, non merito, sed fretus praesule Christo, Conscripsi librum coelesti dogmatc plenum. Nee grave sit cuiquam libri si lucra capescam. Magnum pro libro certe quia pignus habebo. 5 Quod pignus, sodes ? Quod pignus ? Jam modo nosccs. Cum librum scribo, Vedastus ab ethcre summo Respicit e coelis, notat et quot grammata nostris. Depingam calamis, quot aretur pagina sulcis, Quot folium punctis, hinc hinc lacerctur acutis ; 10 Tuncque favens operi nostro, nostroque labori, Grammata quot, sulci quot sunt, quot deniquc puncti, Inquit, in hoc libro, tot crimina jam tibi dono Hancque potestatem dat Christus habere perhennem. Nee labor iste tibi, frater, jam proderit uni, 1 5 Sed pro quibuscumque velis detur pars magna laboris, Hec merces opcris, quam dat scriptoribus ipsis Sanctus Vedastus, pater optimus, atque benignus. Hac mercede librum perscripsi sedulus istum. Quern si quis tollat, tellus huic ima dchiscat, 20 Vivus ut infernum petat amplis ignibus atrum. Fiat. Fiat. This poem is inscribed on the recto of the first leaf of the Arras MS., No. 860 : ' Sur le recto folio primo, un frontispice encadre, dessine a la plume, et dans l'encadrement des vers latins assez curieux 48 Carmina Vedastina. composes par Rodulphus de Monchy. Audessus de cette piece de vers est represente saint Vaast, parlant du haut de ciel au scribe place sous lui.' It is a finely-executed manuscript, and the figures both of S. Vaast and of the scribe are very carefully drawn. An accurate copy of this interesting drawing will be found in the frontispiece. The description of the manuscript (from the Catalogue) is given in the note.* V. Verses composed by Alard. {Arras MS., No. 616, folio 2.) Junctus in aethereo, Vedaste, pater pie, regno, His licet aeterno regi trans omnia pulchro, Cernis servorum tamen hie pia vota tuorum, Nee tanti donum quantum scis pendere votum ; Tu memor ergo tui non dedigneris Alardi 5 Esse. Sed hunc modicum cum voto suscipe librum. Cum capis librum, cum libro mox cape servum Omnibus ut vitiis purges, des munera lucis. Cum mors ingruerit et cum clamata jacebit Materies, misero mihi tunc, pie Presul, adesto. 10 These verses are taken from the Arras MS., No. 616 ; a fine manuscript of S. Augustine's Confessions, and of his Liber de vera religione. ' Au' recto folio deux, on lit dix vers, par un nomme Alard, qui a ecrit ce manuscrit, addresses a St. Vaast.' It is a manuscript of the commencement of the eleventh century, f * No. 860. S. Hieronymi Commentarius in Libro Psalmorum. In folio quadrato ; velin fort et blanc ; trace a la pointe ; deux colonnes ; XI e siecle ; grandes lettres ornees dans le style roman ; rubriques en onciales et capitales romaines ; initiales en vert mineral et en rouge de plomb ; 135 feuillets ; manuscrit ecrit a St. Vaast. t In folio quadrato ; velin gratte, tres beau et tres fort ; trace a la pointe ; deux colonnes ; tetes de livres en capitales romaines ; rubriques au rouge de plomb ; grandes lettres a la plume, ornees de vert, dans le style roman ; 75 feuillets. Carmina Vedast ina. 49 The verses are printed in the official Catalogue, where the first word of the second line appears as Sis. The initial letter of the line was not inserted by the original scribe : a later, but still ancient, hand has written the letter H. On this account, to present an exact transcript of the earliest text which I could procure, I have printed His in the text, though Sis gives the better sense. Over the word materies, in the last line, an ancient, probably contemporary, hand has written, ' S. [i.e., scilicet] mei corporis.' VI. A Short Poem on S. Vedast. (Jrras MS., No. 380, last leaf.) Arthesiis summo splendore Vedastus in oris Fulget, et eterni nomen honoris habet, Dogmate celesti Christ: exornavit ovile. Plebs, cole tam sanctum, relligiosa, patrem VII. French Verses by ' le mesme Autheur.' {Arras MS., No. 380, last leaf.) Le peaple doux, humain & tres courtois, Siege tenant es limites d'Arthois, De tel honeur tousieurs sainct Vadz venire Comme s'il fut son patron et vrai pere ; Car il donna de charitable main Du ciel luisant le salutaire pain. These short compositions, Nos. VI. and VII., are found on the last leaf of the Arras MS., No. 380.* The manuscript contains the life and miracles of S. Vedast, of which the editor of the Catalogue observes : ' Sur les derniers feuillets sont quelques miracles ajoutes a * In folio mediocri ; velin blanc, sali par l'usage ; trace a l'encre pourpre ; XIV e siecle ; grande ecriture gothique ; initiales festonnees rouges et bleues ; 25 feuillets. 4 50 Carmina Vedastina. une epoque posterieure, et qui ne sont pas imprimes dans les Bollandistes, le dernier est date de 1339.' Immediately after the French verses is written : ' Beatus Vedastus Episcopus Atrebatensis per Grimaul Pont 1584.' VIII. Prayer to S. Vedast. {Arras MS., No. 903, last leaf. Eleventh century.) Scire volens summam deitatem cuncta excreantem Ter quinos hinc, lector, habes ex ordine libros Quos Augustinus, claro sermone retexens, Edidit insignis rethor studio vehementi. Ergo, Vedaste, favens scriptoris, suscipe munus Evrardi, poscens regnum miserando polorum. The manuscript from which these verses are taken contains the Tractatus Sancti Augustini de Trinitate, to which the writer alludes. On the last leaf is a design representing S. Vedast, executed contemporaneously with the volume itself, and beneath this representation are the verses now printed. IX. EXTRAIT DU MANUSCRIT No. 58 DE LA BlBLIOTHfeQUE d'Arras. {Vedastiados libri, Panagii Salii Audomarensis.) Liber Primus. Sacra cano, regemque pium qui Francica primus Sceptra Deo addixit, Christoque in regna vocato Impia purgatis exclusit numina terris. Multum illi valuere preces lacrymaeque decorae Conjugis auditae caelo : multum ipse Vedastus. Profuit, aeterne pandens mysteria vitae, Errorem evolvens, et vulgus inane Deorum. Spiritus O patris natique aeterna voluntas Sancte veni, felixque animis illabere nostris. Da memorare quibus Regem rationibus o!im Vir gratus superis, a relligione nefanda Ad veros ritus traduxerit : et quibus inde Auspiciis actus, varias penetrant ad urbes Artesiaeque solum ; quanto recidiva, labore Carmina Vedastina. 5 1 Moenia condiderit sparsis Atrebatibus utque Rexerit hunc populum et parvi Critienis ad amncm Fundarit cellam, que nunc se mole minaci Extulit ad coelum, caput inter nubila condit, Atque Vedastinum servat per secula nomen. Clodoveus ovans jam sub sua jura fluentem Quinquebat* Rhenum, profligatasque potentes Germanorum acies, Christo duce et auspice Christo Signaque Teutonicis Victor referebat ab oris. Multa movens animo diversus ab agmine princeps Ibat, et ingentes agitabat pectore curas. Eventus omnes, pugnataque in ordine secum Bella recensebat reputans : sic comminus hostem Aggredimur : sic pugna fuit, sic terruit hostes Acer agens victos multo cum sanguine Francos. Sic perii oppressus miser, aut periisse putavi. Sic vovi, sic me certo mea vota Deusque Eripuit letho, medioque ex hoste recepit Ad socios, victis sic in precordia virtus Atque animus rediit melior : sic vicimus ipsi Aspirante Deo, voti reus insuper angor. Nam Deus ille Deus mea quem Clotildis adorat, Cujus opem expertus vivo, victorque triumpho, Nescio quod numen, qua religione colendum Adveniat? que sacra sibi, quos poscat honores. Urbs antiqua fuit Leucorum in vallibus imis, Quam fama est regem Hostilium dum occurrere tentat Viribus atque armis Belgarum, ubi castra locabat Instituisse, suo finxisse que nomine Tullum. Exiguis illic tectis et paupere cella Vivebat casta sub religione Vedastus, Cui studium execrari Aras Phebique Jovisque Et quecumque Deum larve, et simulata vigebant. ***** Sed postquam summosque duces, primosque suorum Dimisit, fandique aptissima tempora vidit, Et vacuam sine teste domum, qua parte sedebat Aureus exurgit gradiens, dextraque Vedastum Protinus apprensum verbis compellat amicis : Hue ades, o felix, nee enim mihi jurgia tecum Aut rixe, aut lesa de maj estate Deorum Ipse reum questor te sub mea tecta vocari. There is in the British Museum a printed copy of the Vedastiados of some special interest, for on the title-page is a * Quinquebat. Quinquare = lustrare, purgare. To expiate, to purify by religious rites. 52 Carmina Vedastina. written dedication of this copy in the author's own very legible hand: ' Panagius Salius Stephano Clavo dedit Autor ejus et hac propria sunt monimenta manu.' On the back of the title* is a quaint portrait of the author ; below it are four lines ' In Imaginem Auctoris ' by A. Meier ; and on one of the leaves is the curious anagram : PANAGIUS SALIUS. AGNUS, APIS SILVA. The poem seems to have been a good deal revised and altered from the Arras MS., if that is indeed the earliest form, as seems very probable. I proceed to note- a few variations between the MS. and the printed text : After verse 19 occur nine lines of dedication to Abbot Sarrazin. Verse 21. — The unusual word ' Quinquebat ' disappears, and ' Linquebat ' takes its place. Verse 22. — The Virgilian, ' Christo duce et auspice Christo,' gives place to ' Voto non viribus usus.' And in the second selected passage verses 2-4 run thus : ' Quam fert fama Ducem Hostilia de gente profectum Adversum Belgas posuisse, ubi castra locabat, Et proavi Tulli finxisse a nomine Tullum.' The whole poem is an important contribution to Vedastine literature, and it seems worth while to give the author's own summary of the contents of his work. Argumentum libri frimi. — Clodoveus rex Francorum victoria de Germanis reportata in Galliam redit. Et primum Tullum Austrasiae urbem venit, illic que votum est solicitus .(venerat autem Germanico proelio, si victor esset, se relicta deorum vana superstitione Christianam religionem amplexurum) consulit Vedastum sacerdotem illique solum et voti causas exponit, narrat a principio quibus conditionibus et pactis Clotildin uxorem duxerit, nempe si ipse Christianismum profiteretur. Turn uxoris pietatem commemorat, unius filii mortem alterius periculum, bellum Germanorum, et quo discrimine in illo sit versatus, victoriam demum suam post Christum vocatum. Tandem petit de diis sententiam. Vedastus Dei naturam explicat, docet Deum esse * The title is : ' Panagii Salii Audomarensis Vedastiados seu Galliae Christianae libri quinque. Duaci. Ex Officina Ioannis Bogardi, 1591.' Ouarto, 14.6 numbered pages + 4 unnumbered leaves. (Press mark, 1 1403 I. +6.) Carmina Vedastina. 53 unum, aetcmum, immortalcm, sub scnsum non cadentcm omnipotcntcm, optimus maximus ideamquc boni ct pulcri. Rejecit Deos antiquac im- pietatis Saturnum, Jovem, Neptunum, Plutonem, etc. Causas adfert Idololatrias, illius inconstantiam, constantiam autem verae religionis quae in paucis mansit ab Adamo, Noe, Abraham, per toturn populum Israel, usque ad Christum qui ipsam adimplevit. His auditis Rex Christianac doctrinae adhaeret, et Rcmos adirc instituit ut a Remigio expiari possit. Interea id consilii dissimulat paratquc convivium. Argumentum libri secundi. — Rcgi in somnis apparet Christi imago misc- randum in modum crucnta et laccra, et qualis in cruce fuit, cumque ilia Angelus bcllicum signum ferens, quod Rex acceptum a Christo munus Auri- flammam vocat. Vedastus dc crucis admirabili virtute disserit, historiamquc Constantini commcmorat. Rex Cruccm albam sibi Francisque pro dis- crimine militari assumit. Aurelius ad Clotildin Reginam mittitur. Bellum paratur in Virduncnses, sed rex illis parcit victus precibus Euspicii sacerdotis cc Vedasti. Clotildis ad Remos vcnit, et illic cum Remigio Regem expectat. Vedastus in pontc Axonae in finibus Remorum coram Rege, et regio exercitu cacco homini oculos restituit. Vaticinatur futurum ut reges Cliristiani Franci gutturalcm morbum* alias incurabilcm, sola manus appositione curent. Venitur ad Remos. Occurrunt Rsgi Clotildis et Remigius. Rex ad suam nobilitatem orationcm habet, illamque hortatur ut secum Christianam religionem amplecti vclit. Cui postquam persuasit, magna pompa templum petit, et a Remigio, virtute Baptismi, cxpiatur. Ungitur chrismate divinitus oblato. Argumentum libri tertii. — Rcgi jam per Baptismum expiato occurrit Ercmita fcrens scutum in quo picta erant lilia aurea. Illud Regi tradit, ct a Christo missum cxponit. Rex statim bufonibus rejectis (quae sua erant prima insignia) lilia assumit. Remigius Regem admonet officii, afflatus furore divino vaticinatur et canit fata Franciae. Hinc Rex discedens Vedastum Remigio commendat : Vedastus agit cum Remigio. Deus Raphaelem ad Rcmigium mittit, cui imperat ut Vedastum ad Atrebates mittat Episcopum. Vedastus Atrebates petit. Ad portas urbis caecum ct claudum sanat. Dcscribitur urbs vctus, ct pcne diruta, barbaries gentis et feritas. Ursus Vedasti imperio parct, et sylvas mansuetus repetit. Comius senior narrat calamitateni ct cvcrsionem urbis per tempora Hunorum, et de ncce Diogenis. Vedastus plebem dispersam ferarum more convocat. In concione eos hor- tatur ut civiliorem vitac cultum sequantur, ad urbem sibi instaurandam excitct, persuadct. Templum D. Virgini dddicatur. Urbs nova excitatur. Argumentum libri quarti. — Instaurata urbe Vedastus curat leges et jura antiquata restitui, scnatum legi, Magistratusque crcari, cellas Mercurio et Dianac positas destrui, ccllam suburbanam sibi per data otia contemplationi secessum aedificari. In ilia somno divino corripitur. In somnis Angelum videt, auditque ventura sibi praedicentem, honoresque futuros illius celiac, quae autoribus Autberto primum Episcopo, deinde Theodorico Rege, et Vindiciano Pontifice summum incrementum sit acceptura. Eodem Angelo monstrantc vidct seriem omnium Abbatum Vedastinorum ab Hatta usque Probably the King's Evil is intended. 54 Carmina Vedasfina. ad Joannem Saracenum, eorumque res gerendas cognoscit. Tandem, Ora- toribus Bellovacis interpellantibus, a somno excitatur. Argumentum libri quinti. — Corbides unus ex oratoribus Bellovacorum suae legationis causas exponit. Vedastus Bellovacorum urbem aditurum se pollicetur. Revertuntur Deprecatores. Ipse cellam sutiurbanam, in- somniorum memor locum sepulturae sibi decernit. Ad Bellovacos tendit per Ambianos et Velocasses. In Velocassibus occurrit Paternus veteranus eques, Clodovaei quondam Regis domesticus, qui ilium hospitio excipit. Petit consilium a Vedasto, quo facto maxime beatatn vitam consequi possit. Vedastus suadet, ut Xenodochium extruat : nihil enim liberalitate et miseri- cordia in pauperes Deo gratius esse. Aegre assentitur Paternus, quippe nimis attentus ad rem. Vedastus virgam tiliae, quo scipione utebatur, jam aridam humi figit, et hoc facto Xenodochii extructionem firmat, si virga ilia tracto humore revirescat et succrescat in arborem. Pactionem subito fides secuta est, virga reviruit, arbor enata est, et ex arbore ingens silva. Vedastus Bratuspantium ad Bellovacus venit, populum in Christiana religione con- firmat, Pontificemque i His Dominicum attribuit. A Clotilde ad Parisios advocitur. Lutetiam petit, ubi Genovefam mortuam lugeri intelligit. Clotildis curas illi suas exponit. Earn consolatur Vedastus. Genovefam sepelit. A rege Clotario ad coenam invitatur. Prodigium facit, tandemque domum se recipit. It is impossible to resist the temptation of adding one other specimen of the poem, the very graphic description of the gift of the Sainte Ampulle at the baptism of Clovis. Liber II., p. 64. Jamque uncturus erat sacrato Chrismate Regem (Pontifices hoc Chrisma vocant quod vulgus olivum), Sed dum vas aperit quo promere Chrisma volebat, Horret, nil olei in sicco jam vase repertum, Quod tamen ante sacro plenum pinguebat olivo. Prodigio stupet, et turbari sacra veretur. ***** Dumque haec judicia inter se contraria mussant, Ecce alis subito geminis librata Columba Visa per exiguam se Templo inferre fenestram. Vas fictum in cymbam rostro portabat in unco. Ilia ubi ter circum populum volitavit et ora, Remigio illapsa est, ejus dextraque resedit, Et pronum praetendit onus, quo lenitur illic Deposito, in coelum pennis ablata refugit, Attonitum populum linquens, monstroque silentem. Remigius vase, et divino munere laetus (Namque Dei agnovit famulum, qui venerat ales, Et vas attulerat coelo delapsus ab alto), Inde oleum sumit, peragitque ex ordine sacra; Inque caput lympham, conceptaque verba profundit : Carmina Vedastina. 55 Qui postquam perfectus honos, et sacra quicrunt, Jam lituique tubaeque canunt, jam gaudia totis Accendit populus studiis, plausumque frequentat, Concitaque ingentem resonant delubra per urbem. Messieurs de Cardevacque and Terninck, in their important monograph upon the Abbey of S. Vaast,* observe that ' Saint Vaast n'a pas eu seulement ses biographes et ses panegyristes, il a eu aussi ses poetes. U existe une epopee latine peu connue, mais assez remarquable, intitulee la V'edastiade. Antoine Meyer, 1'un de nos ecrivains les plus distingues du xvi e siecle, publia en 1580 un poeme en trois chants sous ce titre singulier : Hours 011 la vie de saint Vaast.' In the Arras Library there is a manuscript copy of the former poem.f I am indebted to Monsieur A. Lavoine for the transcript of a portion of the work (sufficient to give a general idea of its merits), which forms the present section of the Poemata. I have not seen the original manuscript. I have not been so fortunate as to see a copy of Meier's Ursus. It is not to be found in the library at Arras. Messieurs de Cardevacque and Terninck give its title-page thus : ' Antonii Meyeri Ursus, sive de rebus divi Vedasti, episcopi Atrebatensis, libri iii., in 8 vo - Lutetise apudCarolum Roger, 1 580. L'ouvrage est dedie a Jean Sarrazin, abbe de Saint-Vaast.' In the list of the men of letters who were contemporary with Jean Sarrazin, seventy-sixth Abbot of S. Vaast, 1578- 1 598, are enumerated Toussaint de la Salle and Antoine Meyer ; and here it is said that the former, ' Panagius Salius de Saint Omer, lui envoya avec une dedicace, un poeme intitule : ' Vedastiados, Calliopesacka ad amplissimum virum Joan- nem Sarracenum, abbatem Vedastinum picridum Mecenatem renatum. Vol. in 4"- 27 pages. Arras. G. de la Riviere, * VAbbaie dc Saint-l'ajst, I. 21. t MS. No. 58. Panngii Sa/ii Andomaremis l r ediistiados libri qulr.que. In folio ; papier ; denture batarde du XVI e siecle ; 42 feuillets. t UJbbate de Snint-I'anst, I. 286. 56 Carmina Vedastina. I am not able to determine, from the materials before me, whether this work is a second edition of that printed in Douai in 1 591. It will have been observed that A. Meier, no doubt the author of the Ursus, wrote the quatrain below the portrait of Toussaint de la Salle, or, to use the Latinised form of his name, Panagius Salius. X. Versus in laudem S. Vedasti. {Arras MS., No. 493.) Amor, timorque, spes, metus, infirmitas, Ardorque mentis, quo trasids ? Hue me rapit Fervens voluntas, at metus flammam avocat : Illuc amor ducit, sed impotens meos Supplantat ausus musa. Spirant intimae Fibrae Vedastum, Galliae lumen, Deus, Famemque mundi : vix tamen laetam ratem Mari aestuoso credere audiam. Sed i Exprome musa quamquam in primoribus Labris sedebat, exeat fausta alite Leves in auras : si modo faves meis, Vedaste, caeptis. Sed faves, vide, faves. The Arras MS. No. 493, is entitled ' Aliquot versus in laudem S. Vedasti ' ; a quarto volume, on paper, ' ecriture batarde du XVII e siecle ; 16 feuillets. Pour dedicace: ' Ad Reverendissimum D. Abbatem sancti Vedasti Maecenatem suum, Philippum Kavrel, Gauguericus hispanus.' The volume contains a series of thirteen poems, of which the specimen above printed will probably suffice ; it is the first of the series. Here follows a list of the subjects of the verses : 1. Ad Sanctum Vedastum. 2. Nativitas S. Vedasti. 3. Vedasto jam nato. 4. Vedasti quaerimonia de Galliae infidelitate. 5. A lecto quaeritur quod Gallia S. Vedasti laborc ad fidem sit conversa. Carmina Vedastina. $j 6. De caeco illuminato a S. Vedasto in ponte Axome.* 7. De Sancto Vedasto Atrebatum obligente. 8. De Templo Beatae Mariae Atrebati a S. Vedasto constructo. 9. De Sella Mercurii et Dianae a S. Vedasto excisa. 10. De prodigio in mensis a S. Vedasto functo. 11. De columna ignis quae mortem S. Vedasti praecurrebat. 12. Ad P. Hubum se satis meruisse. 13. Ad reverendissimum S. Vedasti abbatem Philippum Kaurelle Maecenatem suum. Philippe de Caverel was the seventy-seventh abbot of S. Vaast, 1 598-1636, and was one of the most distinguished of the dignified ecclesiastics who have occupied the abbatial throne. A full account of him will be found in U Abb aye de Saint Vaast, par MM. Adolphe de Cardevacque et Auguste Terninck.f It is to him that Gaugericus, the Spaniard, dedicates his verses. J XL Verses by Petrus Justus Sautel. (Printed in his 'Annus Sacer Poeticus,' Vol. I., p. 63.) VI. Februarii. S. Vedastus Episcopus Atrebatensis, cuius obitum insistens tecto columna ignea praenuntiauit, Dvm premit affectos morbus tibi lethifer artus, Insedit Laribus pendula flamma tuis. Solemnes succendit faces in funera, Praesul, Ignis enim cineres nuntiat iste tuos. Sautel's work is well known. It will suffice to say that the Annus Sacer Poeticus was printed in two duodecimo volumes, in Paris, in 1665. * In the short life of S. Vedast printed in the Memoires de l' Academic a" Arras, 1886, the river is called Axona (p. 211), that is, the Aisne. t Vol. II., pp. S-18. J The fourth Bishop of Cambrai, Gaugericus, or S. Gery, a native of Yvoy, in Luxembourg, bore the same somewhat unusual name (Gallia Christiana, III. 4). 58 Carmina Vedastina. THE MUSIC OF TWO OF THE HYMNS. By the great kindness of two friends, learned in the heaven-sent art, I am able to add the music to which two of the hymns should be sung. Taking these hymns in chronological order the first will be No. VIII. in the present collection : ' Voce jucunda resonemus omnes.' Here will be found, in the ancient notation, the melody to which the hymn is set in the Supplement aux Graduel et Antiphonaire Romains pour le Diocese d' Arras, printed at Arras in 1889, and then a transcription of this melody into modern notation with delightful harmonies added by Dr. Martin, the Organist of S. Paul's Cathedral, who is always ready, with generous kindness, to help the searcher after that musical lore in which he is so great a proficient. 3:g |-«cji»-"- +F-* ^3E Vo - ce ju-cun - da re-son-e-mus oni nes — , , nm _ IB - «T m 1 _M_ * ■ ■ m 1 ■ 1* ™ :£ >» ■ 1 1 1 I Laud - i bus sa-cris stu di - um fe - ren tes J^ PC A-tre-ba-ten-seni mo du-lan-do pa-trem Lau - - de Ve-das - turn. A. Here follows the same melody harmonised : Carmina Vedastina. 59 7J==t & — o—& mf Vo — d: r ce ju &> ^ -9 I cun - da S — ;H— & — 2 — <.,-,-; _ = g =g- -©-- re - so - ne - mus 22: J- I I _.Z2_ :g3". £2 - -9>- J 9- -9- _~22_ :J2Z O" -55- nes. ^-9'"- ! ITS _ffi -9*P ™=£f Lau - di-bus sa-cris stu - di - um fer - en -, tes A - tre-ba - ten - sem. 1 J- ■&■-&- &- 9- G- - 1 rail, e dim. fp. -=}-&_- -&- -&- -9- -9- 9- - g-<=?.- izgiS=g-_d. ■p—O-^TTSr du-lan - do pa trem Lau - - de Ve - das -9- turn. - -S-P* "lArf f— niF ^ I |J I I I Pi J. > I I 111 Carmhia Vedast'ma. —• — p - i -p-T-^-| i r- r - J ;--*rT-,- | » dim. i i r^, BE I ' i u ' ' f f i ki i i i ^^i — j -ff-l — -- m — 1 *-m- r-^-i — i — > ,*t~ / ! > n r N -f-J-S -f-— y - j St* •_= >• * _r o -m i 4 , V| T Ti:? ! M ■^ -- i ii i i. i i i i i i :t=q3- dim. •-$=*- cres. \ i i litre: -#— # S=J- I / I I ■^ : .d. J.J.JLW 2 * if- iM T Carmina Vedastina. 6 1 As has been already said (page 42), the melody of the hymn was taken by M. de Coussemaker from the lips of an old pupil of the Ecole dominicale at Bailleul. He considers it to belong to the beginning of the eighteenth century, and this is probably the earliest date that can be assigned to it. Sir John Stainer, the Professor of Music in the University of Oxford, and formerly Organist of S. Paul's Cathedral, has harmonised the melody for me, catching exactly the spirit of the original, and producing a hymn tune which might well serve for a Processional. With the usual generosity of their profession, these eminent musicians present me with the result of their labours to brighten the pages of this tractate. Elliot Stock, Paternoster Row t London.