Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman, Liege, and Prague Martyrologies. Cologne Martyrology on May 13th, that of Utrecht on May 9th. Brussels, Tournai, and Bruges Breviaries on October 12th. Authorities: — A metrical life by Roswytha (d. cca. 984), but this is based on the “ Vita S. Genulphi,” written about 915. This life was written after the Norman incursions, in which the early monuments were destroyed, consequently the writer was obliged to rely on popular tradition. Gengulf or Gengulphus is in French Gengoul, or Ginguiy in English Gingo, and in German Golf.] The story of S. Gengulf is sadly obscured by fable, but it is not difficult to distinguish the facts of his history from the romantic as well as the coarse additions which have 1 “ Sing, ray tongue, the glorious battle,” Hymn for Passion Sunday. been made to it by popular fancy, in its transmission from month to mouth, through one hundred and fifty years. He is said to have been a nobleman of Burgundy, high in favour with Pepin the Short, whom he accompanied in his wars. The king highly valued him for his integrity and for his valour, and when engaged in war made him sleep in his tent, as his trustiest friend and guard. One night, says the legend, the lamp that hung in the tent above the head of Gengulf kindled of itself. The king rose from his bed, and blew it out, but almost instantly it kindled again. He blew it out again, and again it rekindled, and when this was repeated the third time, Pepin felt satisfied that the circumstance was not without its significance, and that it portended the sanctity of the sleeper beneath. A stranger story is that he bought a beautiful spring of water at Bassigny, and on reaching his castle at Varennes, ! he struck his staff into the ground, and forthwith the fountain boiled up there, leaving its source at Bassigny dry. This is no doubt a popular tradition made to account for the drying up of one spring and the bursting out of another. 1 It is, however, by no means improbable that Gengulf may have sunk a well and tapped a copious spring at Varennes.1 Gengulf s wife was false to him; when he was absent at court, or with the army, she associated with a man whom she passionately loved. Rumours of his wife’s infidelity reached Gengulf, and instead of dealing rigorously with her, he drew her one day into the garden, and very tenderly mentioned to her what he had heard, expressed his pain at ' receiving such evil reports, and his readiness to disbelieve if she would satisfy him with frankness, that they were 1 A chapel was built over this fountain, which welled up in the crypt. The chapel is now a private house, the crypt a cellar, and the spring of water has been drained off.

…without foundation. She indignantly denied the charge of infidelity. “Well, my wife/' said Gengulf, according to the popular story, “here is this clear cold fountain, thrust in thine arm. If thou art innocent it will not hurt thee. If thou art guilty God shall judge.” She plunged in her arm, and was scalded.

Then Gengulf separated from her, but still he would not put in force the severe laws against adulteresses, but rather hoped to reclaim her, at least to penitence, by his gentleness. He gave her one of his estates, and allotted to her a comfortable annual revenue. He had loved and trusted her, and now his heart broke, and he lived a grave, sad, retired life, praying with many tears for himself, and for her who had been his wife, and distributing large alms to the poor.

The wicked woman could not endure the restraint of being still nominally the wife of Gengulf, and she and her paramour determined to make away with him, that they might marry, and take his large possessions. Accordingly one night the adulterer contrived to enter the castle1 of the man he had injured, to penetrate into his bed-chamber, where he found him sleeping, with his sword hung above his bed. The murderer took down the sword, and prepared to strike. At the same moment Gengulf opened his eyes, and threw up his arm, so that the sword glanced aside and wounded him on the thigh. The murderer threw down the weapon, and escaped before Gengulf could give the alarm. The wound, however, was mortal, and he died shortly after, on May nth.2 The body was brought by his aunts Wiltrudis and 1 Gengulf was then in his castle of Avallon on the Cussin, between Auxerre and An tun.

3 It is impossible, even in Latin, to give the account of the miraculfcfc.5 punishments inflicted on the murderer and the wife. [May ii.

Wilgisa to Varennes; but was afterwards translated to Langres, where some few fragments saved from the Revolutionary fury remain. Others at Florennes, near Namur.