some time a happy
retreat, which he forsook to preach to sinners the obligation of doing
penance, and to invite all men to the happy state of divine love. After
discharging this apostolical function for several years, he retired to
the southwest part of Britain into the abbey of Glastenbury, where he
died and was buried in 512. William of Malmesbury[2] and John Fordun[3]
mention his prophecies and miracles. See F. Alford, an. 512. Dom
Lobineau, Saints de Bret. p. 72. Dom Morice, Hist. de Bret. t. 1, in the
notes.

Footnotes:
1. Mr. Gale has cleared up the dispute about the two Gildases, and
demonstrates this to have been a distinct person from the former,
which is also proved by Dom Lobineau and Dom Morice.
2. Gul. Malmesb. de Antiq. Glast.
3. Scoti-chron. c. 22.

On this day is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology, ST. SABINIANUS of
TROYES in CHAMPAGNE, a martyr of the third century. His festival is kept
at Troyes on the 24th. See Bollan. 29th Jan. p. 937. Tillem. Hist. des
Emp, t. 3, p. 541.

Also, ST. SULPICIUS, surnamed SEVERUS, Bishop of Bourges in 591. See
Greg. Tour. Hist. Franc. l. 6, c. 39. Gall. Christ. and Ben. XIV. Pref.
in Mart. Rom.

JANUARY XXX.

ST. BATHILDES, QUEEN OF FRANCE.

From her life written by a contemporary author, and a second life, which
is the same with the former, except certain additions of a later date,
in Bollandus and Mabillon, sec. 4, Ben. p. 447, and Act. Sanct. Ben. t.
2. See also Dubois, Hist. Eccl. Paris, p. 198, and Chatelain. Notes on
the Martyr. 30 Jan. p. 462. See Historia St. Bathildis et Fundationem
ejus, among the MS. lives of saints in the abbey of Jumieges, t. 2. Also
her MS. life at Bec, &c.

A.D. 680.

ST. BATHILDES, or BALDECHILDE, in French Bauteur, was an English-woman,
who was carried over very young into France, and there sold for a slave,
at a very low price, to Erkenwald, otherwise called Erchinoald, and,
Archimbald, mayor of the palace under King Clovis II. When she grew up
he was so much taken with her prudence and virtue, that he committed to
her the care of his household. She was no ways puffed up, but seemed
{311} the more modest, more submissive to her fellow-slaves, and always
ready to serve the meanest of them in the lowest offices. King Clovis
II. in 649 took her for his royal consort, with the applause of his
princes and whole kingdom: such was the renown of her extraordinary
endowments. This unexpected elevation, which would