146 PAINTED GLASS WINDOW IN MORLEY CHURCH, DERBYSHIRE. 



mountable obstacle in the way of Conon's suit ; but in this she 

 was quite mistaken, for the ambassadors took back such a tale of 

 her marvellous beauty and accomplishments, that a directly con- 

 trary effect was the result ; for Conon was ready to agree to any- 

 thing. Accordingly the king, his father, issued a proclamation ; 

 and in a very short time the required number of maidens presented 

 themselves at his court. The princess Ursula received them with 

 gladness and talked to them so nicely that she persuaded all those 

 who had not been baptised to be so at once ; and her words in- 

 spired them all with so much zeal that they agreed to follow her 

 wheresoever she might lead them. She then sent for prince 

 Conon, and explained to him how she had seen a vision in which 

 she had been enjoined to make a pilgrimage to Rome with her 

 companions, and told him that he was to remain with her father 

 until their return. 



All these maidens then embarked on board a fleet which had 

 been prepared for them ; and as they took no sailors with them, 

 it is not at all surprising that after some time they found them- 

 selves at Cologne instead of at Rome. This, however, the 

 chronicler says was brought about in a providential way, in order 

 that she might see another vision in which she is told that she and 

 her companions should shortly suffer martyrdom near Cologne. 



This seems to have afforded them considerable satisfaction, and 

 they set out for Rome overland, crossing the Alps into Italy, and 

 having endured many vicissitudes, they at length arrived at the 

 sacred city. 



At that time Cyriacus was Bishop of Rome, and he was at first 

 much puzzled and finally delighted with Ursula and her com- 

 panions, whom he honourably lodged and entertained during 

 their stay. In the meantime, the son of Agrippinus became 

 impatient at the long absence, and lack of tidings of his bride. 

 He at once set out in quest of her, and curiously enough arrived 

 in Rome at the same time as Ursula and her companions ; they 

 met and after some conversation he was induced to be baptised 

 by Cyriacus, at the same time changing his name to Etherius, and 

 resigning all claim to the hand of Ursula, he decided to seek with 



