Baring-Gould’s sources: Galilean and Treves Martyrologies. Usuardus, Greven, Wyon, and The first, compiled from an earlier life, now lost, about 964. The second, an amplification of the first life. The third, a condensation of the second. The chronology in these lives needs correction, as they are misleading. They state that Hildulf succeeded Milo in the bishopric of Treves. Milo, son of S. Leodwin, former bishop of Treves, was gored by a boar, and died in 753. We are also told that Pepin, father of fnly M*1 £ Hildulf Charlemagne, was king, and assisted at the election of S. Hildulf. Pepin reigned from 751 to 768. The writer of the first Life found in the MS. he used, that Hildulf lived at the time of Pepin. He concluded this must be Pepin, son of Charles Martel. His authority did not state whom he succeeded. He, therefore, knowing the date of Milo, inserted Hildulf after him. The writers of the other two Lives followed servilely. But this is a mistake. We are told that S. Hildulf translated the body of S. Maximus, and from a life of that Saint, written in 839, we learn that this translation took place before the times of Milo and Pepin. We are told alsb that S. Hildulf baptised the infant Odilia, daughter of Ethic, duke of Elsass. From charters and grants of Chilperic II. and Thierry (65a — 691), with the signature of Ethic, we can fix his date. We are also told that S. Hildulf and S. Deodatus were friends, and met every year; that S. Deodatus died before S. Hildulf. Now S. Deodatus died in 679. The mistake has arisen from the writers of all these lives taking Pepin of Herstall for Pepin, son of Charles Martel. Hildulf succeeded S. Numerian, in 666, whea Pepin of Herstall was mayor of the palace. Pepin only became king of Austrasia in 678, and died in 7x4.] S. Hildulf was bom of a noble family in Noricum, and was educated at Ratisbon, with his brother Erard, where he received clerical orders.

On the death of S. Numerian, bishop of Treves [Trier in Germany], in, or about, the year 666, Hildulf was talked of as his successor. Thereupon the Saint fled to a solitary place, near the Danube, 1 but was discovered, and brought to Treves, where he was unanimously elected bishop, and his appointment confirmed by the king.

He lived a life of singular asceticism, macerating his body, and devoting all his time to prayer for the care of his diocese. But the anxieties of his charge were distasteful to a spirit loving tranquillity, and he determined to desert his post, and retire into the forests and hills of the Vosges, and live alone with God, his own soul, and untamed nature. In vain did the people implore him to remain; in 671, he resigned his mitre and crosier, and settled at a place he called the Middle Monastery, or Moyen-Mofltier, 1 The writer of the first life says he fled into Istria j but this is evidently absurd. The river Istei^-the Danube— is meant, unquestionably. between those of S. Dife, Bon-Mofttier, S^nones, and Estival He is said to have formed a warm attachment for S. Deodatus, abbot of Jointures, afterwards called S. Did And once a year the abbots met to converse together, and enjoy the sight and society of each other. This friendship lasted eight years, and when S. Deodatus died, the charge of both monasteries devolved, by the expressed wish of S. Deodatus, on S. Hildulf, who, in memory of their loving meetings, allowed the monks of Jointures and those of Moyen-Motitier, to meet once a year, for affectionate discourse. Deodatus is said to have appeared in vision to his friend before his death, to warn him that the time of his departure was at hand.

The relics [the bodily remains of a saint, or objects they used, kept with honor] of S. Hildulf are preserved to this day, in the monastery church, now converted into a parish church; but the silver shrine which enclosed them before the Revolution has disappeared.