t's spirit of compunction,
and said, that when he recited the psalms alternately with him, the holy
man used to go out thirty times in a night as if for some necessity, but
he saw it was to abandon himself a few moments to spiritual consolation,
with which he overflowed at prayer, or to sighs and tears which he was
not able to contain. Romuald sent to the counts of the province of
Marino, to beg a little ground whereon to build a monastery. They
hearing Romuald's name, offered him with joy whatever mountains, woods,
or fields he would choose among them. He found the valley of Castro most
proper. Exceeding great was the fruit of the blessed man's endeavors,
and many put themselves with great fervor under his direction. Sinners,
who did not forsake the world entirely, were by him in great multitudes
moved to penance, and to distribute great part of their possessions
liberally among the poor. The holy man seemed in the midst of them as a
seraph incarnate, burning with heavenly ardors of divine love, and
inflaming those who heard him speak. If he travelled, he rode or walked
at a distance behind his brethren, reciting psalms, and watering his
cheeks almost without ceasing with tears that flowed in great abundance.

The saint had always burned with an ardent desire of martyrdom, which
was much increased by the glorious crowns of some of his disciples,
especially of St. Boniface. At last, not able to contain the ardor of
his charity and desire to give his life for his Redeemer, he obtained
the pope's license, and set out to preach the gospel in Hungary, in
which mission some of his disciples accompanied him. He had procured two
of them to be consecrated archbishops by the pope, declining himself the
episcopal dignity; but a violent illness which seized him on his
entering Hungary, and returned as often as he attempted to proceed on
his intended design, was a plain indication of the will of God in this
matter; so he returned home with seven of his associates. The rest, with
the two archbishops, went forward, and preached the faith under the holy
king, St. Stephen, suffering much for Christ, but none obtained the
crown of martyrdom. Romuald in his return built some monasteries in
Germany, and labored to reform others; but this drew on him many
persecutions. Yet all, even the great ones of the world, trembled in his
presence. He refused to accept either water or wood, without {375}
paying for it, from Raynerius; marquis of Tuscia