St Marculf is associated in later legends with St Helier, although that only comes into the much later Life of Helier which dates from the 10th century, around 400 years after the time of St Helier, and has scant historical merit.
Legends of St Marculf and the Seas
By Philip Ahier
"While St. Marculf stayed in Jersey there was a devastating raid upon it by the Northmen, which produced dire terror upon the few inhabitants thereof. Owing to the absence of any semblance of resistance, the greater part of the population hid themselves in grottos and caves.
"The chroniclers (i.e. the writers of the lives of the Saints) related that one set of raiders consisted of no less than 3,000 men, but in all probability there were fewer. Be that as it may, St. Marculf prevented a party of Islanders from fleeing; mustering a little army, he put himself at their head; astonished at his insuperable valour, they followed him. His courage, and his energy gave them new life, and marching with them, he cheered them on to win a glorious victory against their oppressors.
" 'Arm yourselves, keep more closely together, stand firm, and Heaven will come to your aid,' said the intrepid monk to them. `Remember how Pharaoh's great army was engulfed in the Red Sea while pursuing the Israelites, then you will behold your redoubtable enemies, scattered and annihilated.' "
"Hurling themselves with all their strength upon the pirates, they routed and overthrew them, because, being taken unawares of an unforseen attack, the latter hurriedly betook themselves to their boats at the moment when, it is said, a furious tempest arose and burst upon them, scattered their ships, flung them upon the rocks and swamped them."
The above has been freely translated from Mr. J. Le Bas' account given in the "Almanach de la Chronique de Jersey" for 1888 (pp. 162-163). He says his authorities were G. Dupont and Mons. L'Abbe Le Canu. This legend also appears in the "Acta Sanctorum" compiled by the Bollandists, and in Pigeon's "Saints ,du Diocese de Coutances," quoted by the Rev. G. R. Balleine in his "Biographical Dictionary of Jersey." (pp. 638-644).
Mr. Le Bas seems to have combined all the possible versions into one compact whole. From Pigeon's "Saints" we learn that "the Lord of the Island when he heard of the great victory of the Islanders over the pirates, gave the Saint half of the Island and here he built a monastery, in which he placed monks to form a Household of God." (B.D.J., p.. 638).
Mr. Balleine comments on this legend as follows:—
"The Pirate story is practically the same as the one told of St. Magloire in Sark. He too encouraged the natives to resist. He too received from the Lord of the Island half the land as a gift. He too built there (in Sark) a monastery. The legends of the two saints with somewhat similar names, have clearly become entangled. So the whole incident (of the Pirates) may belong to Sark." (B.D.J., p. 639).
The Biography of St. Marculf is given by Mr. Balleine in B.D.J., pp. 643-646.
A second legend relates of St. Marculf, which I have not seen elsewhere, is given by Mr. Le Bas in the same "Almanach," (p. 163):—
"One day as St. Marculf was seated on the seashore, in deep meditation, a woman of ravishing beauty appeared to him as she, siren-like, leapt out of the sea-water; her long tresses fluttering at the whim of zephyrs, her clothes streaming with the ocean spray, her eyes sparkling and beaming with impassioned and seductive love. In a voice throbbing, plaintive, tender, and sorrow¬ful, she asked for aid.
"Said she to him tearfully: 'I am a poor shipwrecked woman, have compassion on my misfortune, the relentless sea has flung me upon your hospitable Island; grant me hospitality by giving me nourishment to appease my ravenous appetite and some water to quench my insatiable thirst.'
"Without saying a word, St. Marculf turned towards the entrance of his humble cottage and consecrating some bread with the Sign of the Cross, held it towards the pretended shipwrecked woman and said: 'If you are what you appear to be, take the bread which I have blessed in the name of Jesus Christ.'
"On hearing the Honoured Name, a transformation occurred in her figure; her features became hideous and livid, her form became converted into a phantom which vanished, while the Saint heard in the sea, a great noise as if a burning fire had been plunged therein."
“St. Marculf returned to the Monastery to celebrate Easter week and related the above story to his fellow-monks.”
By Philip Ahier
"While St. Marculf stayed in Jersey there was a devastating raid upon it by the Northmen, which produced dire terror upon the few inhabitants thereof. Owing to the absence of any semblance of resistance, the greater part of the population hid themselves in grottos and caves.
"The chroniclers (i.e. the writers of the lives of the Saints) related that one set of raiders consisted of no less than 3,000 men, but in all probability there were fewer. Be that as it may, St. Marculf prevented a party of Islanders from fleeing; mustering a little army, he put himself at their head; astonished at his insuperable valour, they followed him. His courage, and his energy gave them new life, and marching with them, he cheered them on to win a glorious victory against their oppressors.
" 'Arm yourselves, keep more closely together, stand firm, and Heaven will come to your aid,' said the intrepid monk to them. `Remember how Pharaoh's great army was engulfed in the Red Sea while pursuing the Israelites, then you will behold your redoubtable enemies, scattered and annihilated.' "
"Hurling themselves with all their strength upon the pirates, they routed and overthrew them, because, being taken unawares of an unforseen attack, the latter hurriedly betook themselves to their boats at the moment when, it is said, a furious tempest arose and burst upon them, scattered their ships, flung them upon the rocks and swamped them."
The above has been freely translated from Mr. J. Le Bas' account given in the "Almanach de la Chronique de Jersey" for 1888 (pp. 162-163). He says his authorities were G. Dupont and Mons. L'Abbe Le Canu. This legend also appears in the "Acta Sanctorum" compiled by the Bollandists, and in Pigeon's "Saints ,du Diocese de Coutances," quoted by the Rev. G. R. Balleine in his "Biographical Dictionary of Jersey." (pp. 638-644).
Mr. Le Bas seems to have combined all the possible versions into one compact whole. From Pigeon's "Saints" we learn that "the Lord of the Island when he heard of the great victory of the Islanders over the pirates, gave the Saint half of the Island and here he built a monastery, in which he placed monks to form a Household of God." (B.D.J., p.. 638).
Mr. Balleine comments on this legend as follows:—
"The Pirate story is practically the same as the one told of St. Magloire in Sark. He too encouraged the natives to resist. He too received from the Lord of the Island half the land as a gift. He too built there (in Sark) a monastery. The legends of the two saints with somewhat similar names, have clearly become entangled. So the whole incident (of the Pirates) may belong to Sark." (B.D.J., p. 639).
The Biography of St. Marculf is given by Mr. Balleine in B.D.J., pp. 643-646.
A second legend relates of St. Marculf, which I have not seen elsewhere, is given by Mr. Le Bas in the same "Almanach," (p. 163):—
"One day as St. Marculf was seated on the seashore, in deep meditation, a woman of ravishing beauty appeared to him as she, siren-like, leapt out of the sea-water; her long tresses fluttering at the whim of zephyrs, her clothes streaming with the ocean spray, her eyes sparkling and beaming with impassioned and seductive love. In a voice throbbing, plaintive, tender, and sorrow¬ful, she asked for aid.
"Said she to him tearfully: 'I am a poor shipwrecked woman, have compassion on my misfortune, the relentless sea has flung me upon your hospitable Island; grant me hospitality by giving me nourishment to appease my ravenous appetite and some water to quench my insatiable thirst.'
"Without saying a word, St. Marculf turned towards the entrance of his humble cottage and consecrating some bread with the Sign of the Cross, held it towards the pretended shipwrecked woman and said: 'If you are what you appear to be, take the bread which I have blessed in the name of Jesus Christ.'
"On hearing the Honoured Name, a transformation occurred in her figure; her features became hideous and livid, her form became converted into a phantom which vanished, while the Saint heard in the sea, a great noise as if a burning fire had been plunged therein."
“St. Marculf returned to the Monastery to celebrate Easter week and related the above story to his fellow-monks.”
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