ted. When Osric died, however, the chiefdom fell to Wulfbert, a
fierce warrior, who was determined to annihilate by fire and bloodshed
any faith that had taken root among his subjects. In daily peril of
their lives, Kolgan and his monks stayed on, knowing that if they
deserted their post the last light of Christianity in the district
would flicker out. One day a cowherd, who had been cured of a dangerous
wound at the little settlement, came running to warn the brethren that
Wulfbert and a band of armed men were advancing against them; and he
besought them at once to flee into the woods. Kolgan marshalled his
trembling companions, and, giving them the altar vessels to carry into
a place of safety, sent them straightway to seek refuge in the vast
forest that stretched ever northward and westward beyond the dominion
of the Saxons.

"He himself was determined to remain. He knew that many of those who
were coming with Wulfbert had, in Osric's time, been converts, either
openly or secretly, of the Church; and he hoped, even at the eleventh
hour, that he might recall their lost allegiance. Alone, with a cross
uplifted in his hand, he stood at the door of the monastery to meet the
Norsemen. The fierce band paused in amazement at the sight of his
temerity; it was something those savage men had not known before. The
swift rush through the battlefield of the warrior who hoped by
slaughter to gain Valhalla, they could understand; but this calm
courage in the face of death was beyond their experience. Kolgan seized
the opportunity of the moment's respite to appeal to them in the name
of the Trinity, and thundered out a denunciation against those who
forsook the Faith. A few trembled, but Wulfbert, rallying his ranks,
cried: 'Cowards! Are ye afraid of the empty words of an unarmed
priest?' and rushing forward, he struck the first blow with his
battle-axe.

"Kolgan fell where he stood, the little settlement was plundered and
ravaged, and for the time it seemed as though his work had been of no
avail. But brighter days were in store for the Church; slowly and
gradually Christianity had begun to spread, not only from Celtic, but
from Saxon sources, and before many years were past Wulfbert himself
had accepted baptism. The monastery was by his special desire rebuilt
in honour of St. Kolgan, and became afterwards one of the greatest
centres of learning in the west country. For nine hundred years it
flourished, till at last it was suppre