of Hamaye. Mabillon, AA.SS. O.S.B., Sæc. ii. 984, ed. 1669. AA.SS., May 12. Sanderus, Hag. Flandriæ. Le Mire, Fasti Bonqnet, iii. 621.
St. Gertrude (5), or Gertruy, V. Abbess of Nivelle. O.S.B. + c. 658 or 664. Patron of Nivelle, Gertruydenberg, Landau, Breda, Bergen-on-Zoom; of pilgrims and travellers; of cats; against rats, mice, and particularly field mice; against fever; invoked for good quarters on a journey. With St. Joseph (March 19) she protects seeds that are sown on her day. Fine weather on her day is of good omen for the gardens and fields.
Represented as an abbess, with rats and mice running up her pastoral staff and her cloak, or at her feet. These are sometimes to be seen in the pictures of another Benedictine abbess, St. Gertrude (13) the Great (13th century), but they have been transferred, by mistake, to her from St. Gertrude, of Nivelle, whose proper attribute they are.
Pepin, of Landen, the first of the three famous Pepins, was mayor of the palace to three kings in succession—Clothaire II. (613) and Dagobert I. (628), kings of France; and Sigebert II. (638), king of Austrasia only. Pepin is conspicuous among the men of his time for his ability and integrity. His wife was St. Ida (3), a lady of rank and virtue equal to his own. They had three children — Grimoald, afterwards mayor of the palace, St. Begga, and St. Gertrude.
Landen was in Brabant, in the kingdom of Austrasia, over which Pepin ruled, in the king's name. Nivelle was part of his estate, and belonged, after his death, to his widow and younger daughter.
Gertrude was a child, old enough to have learnt some lessons of piety, and young enough to have learnt little else, when Pepin, the duke, invited Dagobert, the king, to dine. A goodly company assembled to feast with the duke and his royal guest, and among them two of the king's courtiers, father and son, whose wealth and power placed them on an equality with the lord of Landen. During the feast the elder of these two asked the king and the duke to give the youngest daughter of the latter in marriage to his son. Dagobert thought it a good match in a worldly aspect; and willing to be gracious, he requested Pepin to send for the young lady and her mother. Presently the duchess appeared leading her little daughter. The king took upon himself to make his friend's proposal to Gertrude. Showing her the boy who aspired to her hand, he said, "Look at this fine fellow, dressed in silk and covered with gold: will you have him for your husband?" The child, instead of being pleased or flattered, appeared to be filled with rage and indignation, and declared with an oath that she would neither marry the youth in question nor any other mortal man, but that her Lord Jesus Christ should be her only Love and Master. The young man was much discomfited, but from that hour her parents knew by Whom she was beloved and Who had chosen her.
A few years after this occurrence Pepin died. Ida was inconsolable. Her son and elder daughter were provided for, but she knew not what to do with herself and Gertrude, who was now a beautiful girl with a large estate. She consulted St. Amandus, who advised her to build a double monastery at Nivelle, and there devote herself, her daughter, and her worldly goods to the service of God. She followed his advice. Before the monastery was quite ready for their reception—haunted by the fear that the world and its votaries would take possession of Gertrude in spite of her care—she took a knife and cut off her beautiful long hair, shaving her head after the pattern of a crown. Gertrude rejoiced that she should be found worthy to wear a crown for her Lord's sake on earth, as a token that she should receive an immortal crown from Him in heaven. As soon as all was duly arranged, Ida installed her daughter as first abbess, she herself being one of the nuns, and assisting Gertrude with her advice. Gertrude delighted to entertain pilgrims and pious travellers, and by this means often received sacred books or relics from Rome, or information and instruction in religious matters from those who were
