Curiosities of Olden Times

and after his death worshipped him, wrote one of these lives. He had heard from the lips of Nicolas the account of his childhood and youth, and he faithfully recorded what he heard. Theref

Adalfert of Trani, also an eye-witness of what he describes; thus there is

About this time he took it into his head to cry incessantly, night and day, "Kyrie eleison!" The mother scolded and beat him, thinking that she might have too much even of a good thing. But as he did not m

ttled himself into it, living on roots and berries; and climbing to dizzy heights, spent h

arce a shred covered his nakedness, his feet

, and pursue his admirable course of conduct. The monks of Sterium brought him into the church and endeavoured to exorcise the demon, first with prayers, and afterwards with kicks and blows. Nicolas rushed from the gates of the church shrieking, "Kyrie eleison!" He was brought back and shut up in a tower, with a slab of stone against the door, to keep him in. During the night the sleep of the monks was broken by the muffled cries of "Kyrie eleison!" issuing from the old tower. A thunderstorm burst over the monastery at midnight, and Ni

apher Bartholomew thinks he must have swarmed up a sunbeam-reached the dome,

and made sleep impossible. They came forth in great excitement. One, by order of the hegumen, or abbot, took a stout stick, and ascendin

mongst ourselves, better instructed, it is customary to suffocate those who have been bitten by a mad dog-an atrocious custom-lest they should bite and hurt others, and this is rega

las, drew him down to the shore, threw him into a boa

es, and swimming ashore, reached land before the monks, and mo

hut of logs and wattled branches for his residence. One day he descended to his mother's house and carried off a hatchet, a knife, and a saw, and a

t the wild gestures and cries of Nicolas, that he refused to remain more than a

ar at their doors. The lonely traveller hastily flung him an offering, glad to escape so easily. On one occasion Nicolas waylaid the steward of the monastery of Sterium, and arresting the horse

village where the steward slept that night. Then, stealing to his bedside in the

watch-dogs were let loose, and Nicolas fled from th

his religious emotions found noisy vent, to the confusion of the singers and the distraction of the congregation. Nicolas was much distressed at the treatment he had received; he cried bitterly, and then

r he cut short with his own hands, and whom he disguised in male costume. But the parents of the damsel, anxious at her loss, made search for her, and found her, to their dismay and disgust, in

s native land was an afterthought. He had formed this discreditable connection, and the couple were escaping when caught by the parents and brought before the magistrates. Nicolas was tried for

e met Brother Bartholomew, who was so edified by his frantic piety and the odour of sanctity w

rt, however, Nicolas cried, "Kyrie eleison!" and jumped overboard. Every one on board

e safely, and declared that he had seen a beautiful l

Virgin, when Nicolas, who had walked for some time gravely in the train, suddenly

d the people; "this strange fellow is no

to bow before it. He refused. Then the people fell on him wit

enduring insult and suffering wrongfully. Perhaps, as a Greek, Nicolas was unaccustomed to images other than pictures; perhaps he did not understand the language of his assail

s usual cry. He spent the alms given to him in the purchase of apples, which he carried in a pouch at his

named John and Rumtipert seized Nicolas, and binding him hand and foot, locked him into a room of their hou

driven out of the city. Nicolas went forth triumphantly bearing his cross, shouting, "Kyrie eleison!" followed by a train of capering boys roaring,

and continued to astonish and edify the

vants. Nicolas rushed before his horse brandishing his cross and howling, "Kyrie eleis

eavily ironed; but at midnight he broke off his

ray, and not to sleep, thought Nicolas. But the prelate differed from him in opinion, and sent his servants to dislodge Nicolas. He returned to his post, and continued his monotonous howls. The bishop

1094, carrying his cross and distributing apples among th

what he meant by his eccentric conduct. The crazy fellow replied, "Our Lord Jesus Christ bade us tak

ithout waiting for the end of it, bounded out of the hall to the head of the steps leading into the stre

und the city, making the streets resound with his monotonous appe

ck at Trani. There was hardly an inhabitant of the city who did not visit his sickbed, that he might he

dormitory of the hospital where he lay, bearing the cross, and vociferating, "Kyrie eleison!" Night and day the dormitory was crowded, and the e

ls began to believe they had been miraculously healed of diseases at his tomb. He appeared in visions, cured cripples, uttered forebodings. The Archbishop of Trani made formal investigation into the miracles, after the manner of ecclesiastical investigations, and pronounced them genuine. Trani

qual gravity, by special bull, canonised this pitiable fool, and hoaxed Christendom into worshipping a man in whose career no single spark of godliness appears; a man dr