, and a cross placed upon his grave. So great numbers
were in a short time brought to the faith, that the cross of Christ was
triumphantly planted in all the twelve tribes into which the inhabitants
of South-Gothland were divided. The fountain near the mountain of
Ostrabo, since called Wexiow, in which St. Sigefride baptized the
catechumens, long retained the names of the twelve first converts,
engraved on a monument. King Olas was much pleased with the accounts he
heard of the man of God, and many flocked from remote parts, out of mere
curiosity to hear his doctrine, and to see him minister at the altar,
admiring the rich ornaments of linen, and over them of silk, which he
wore in celebrating the divine mysteries, with a mitre on his head, and
a crosier, or pastoral staff, in his hand. Also the gold and silver
vessels which he had brought with him for the use of the altar, and the
dignity and majesty of the ceremonies of the Christian worship,
attracted their attention. But the sublime truths of our religion, and
the mortification, disinterestedness, zeal, and sanctity of the
apostolic missionaries, engaged them to give them a favorable reception,
and to open their eyes to the evidence of the divine revelation. St.
Sigefride ordained two bishops, the one of East, the other of West
Gothland, or Lingkoping, and Scara. The see of Wexiow he continued
himself to govern so long as he lived. His three nephews, Unaman, a
priest, and Sunaman and Wiaman, the one a deacon, the other a subdeacon,
were his chief assistants in his apostolic labors. Haring intrusted the
administration of his see of Wexiow to Unaman, and left his two brothers
to assist and comfort him, the saint himself set out to carry {418} the
light of the gospel into the midland and northern provinces. King Olas
received him with great respect, and was baptized by him, with his whole
court and his army. St. Sigefride founded many churches, and consecrated
a bishop of Upsal, and another of Strengues. The former of these sees
had been founded by St. Anscharius, in 830, and the bishop was declared
by pope Alexander III., in 1160, metropolitan and primate of the whole
kingdom. During the absence of our saint, a troop of idolatrous rebels,
partly out of hatred of the Christian religion, and partly for booty,
plundered the church of Wexiow, and barbarously murdered the holy pastor
Unaman and his two brothers. Their bodies they buried in the midst of a
forest, where they h