Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman, Gallican, and Belgian Martyrologies. Usuardus, Notker, &c. Authority: — A Life in Snrius, apparently by Fulbert (d. 1029), who wrote by order of Bishop Gerard of Cambrai.] On the death of Aldebert, bishop of Cambrai, the people elected in his room Autbert, of whose early life nothing is known. He received sacred unction on March 21, 633, from the hands of Leudegast, metropolitan of Rheims, assisted by Atholus of Laon, and S. Acharius of Noyon. His virtues soon made him illustrious, and Dagobert I. was wont to listen with respect to his exhortations, and put them in practice when convenient.
Among those youths who were intrusted to his charge to train for the Church, by parents who were overburdened with younger sons, was one named Landelin, who had no real vocation for the clerical life. He was impatient at the restraints, disgusted with the routine, and indisposed to embrace a life of celibacy. He accordingly ran away from S. Autbert, and as he dared not return to his parents, who were only eager to get rid of him, he joined a party of freebooters, called himself Morosus, and led a life the reverse of that to which he had been constrained in the school of the bishop.
One of his companions died, and after the funeral Morosus or Landelin dreamed that he saw him in the torments of hell, and heard that he was himself to share the fate of his comrade unless he returned to Autbert He at once deserted his band, and went back to his master, and to the gravity and monotony of his former life. He afterwards became abbot of Crespin, and is numbered with the saints (June 15). S. Ghislain founded his monastery at Ursidongus about this time. Prejudiced persons endeavoured to dispose Autbert to regard Ghislain with suspicion, but he said, “ Let us not judge strangers, let us prove the spirits whether they be of God,” and he sent for S. Ghislain. He was so well satisfied with the sincerity and earnestness of the stranger, that he offered to consecrate his church for him. And when the church was completed he went to it with S. Amandus and gave the new building episcopal consecration. Among those present at the dedication was Madelgar, a noble, who then resolved to devote himself to God. He went shortly after to Cainbrai, and received the tonsure [shaving part of the head as a sign of entering the clergy or monastic life] from the hands of the bishop; after which he retired to a monastery 5. Judoc.
he built at Hautmont. His wife, S. Waltrudis, followed his example, and built a religious house at Ch&teau-Lieu, now called Mons.
S. Aldegund, the sister of S. Waltrudis, learning that S. Amandus and S. Autbert would be together one day at Hautmont, presented herself before the two bishops, and implored them to give her the veil. They consented, and she founded Maubeuge.