ST. ELISABETH 259 Some of Elisabeth's writiDgs contain gross anachronisms. Therefore some later writers have supposed them to be spurious; but Preger and others con- sider them genuine. A letter to St. Hildegard is of undoubted authenticity ; in it she complains of the circulation of a letter fixing the end of the world, and wrongly attributed to her. Elisabeth's writings are in six books ; the first and second are separate visions ; the third, begun in 1156, is entitled Liber Viarum Dei; the rest are revela- tions and letters. One of Eckbert's sermons is extant; also a letter written about her, during her life, by her nephew, Simon, a clerk of Schonau. Preger refers to a book, BevelcUwnea SS. Virginum Hildegardia et Mizahethse ScJuBnaugiensis Ordinis S, Benedicti, ex- antiquis monumentis edita). Col. Agr. 1028. B.M, Papebroch, ilAiSiS., from her Life by her brother. Preger, Deutsche Mystik, Baillet, Fte«, " St. Ursule." B. Elisabeth (lO), of Bohemia. 1 2th century. Prioress of the PrsBmon- stratensian convent of Duxovia. Sister of B. Amabiua. Chanowski, Bohemia Pia. St Elisabeth (ll), Nov. 19. 1207- 1231. Princess of Hungary. Landgra- vine of Thuringia. 3rd O.S.F. Patron of the poor. Hepresented : (1) with her lap full of roses ; ^2^ surrounded by cripples and beggars ; (3) praying, wearing a crown and royal robes, the Wartburg in the distance ; (4) holding two crowns in her hands, or three crowns on an open book. At the beginning of the 13th century, Hermann, landgrave of Thuringia and Hess, and count palatine, was one of the most renowned princes of Germany ; he was related to the illustrious houses of Bohemia, Austria, and Bavaria, and distinguished for his generosity, justice, learning, and piety. Walter von der Yogelweide, the greatest poet of this period, has immortalized his virtues and accompli shments. In 1207 the master minstrel, Kling- sohr, came to Hermann's castle — the Wartburg, the residence of the sovereigns of Thuringia, above Eisenach — to decide a contest between six celebrated German poets. While there, he declared that ho saw a brilliant star rise in Hungary and shine from there to Marburg, and from Marburg illumine the whole world. This he interpreted to mean that a daughter was bom that night to the King of Hungary, who should be given in marriage to the son of Duke Her- mann, and in whom holiness should gladden and console all Christendom. Hungary at this time was governed by Andrew II., famous for his wars against the infidel nations round his frontier, and still more for his generosity towards the Church and the poor. His beautiful wife Gertrude was the daughter of Berchtold, duke of Meran, Carinthia, etc., and sister of St. Hedwio (3), duchess of Silesia. Elisabeth, the daughter of Andrew and Gertrude, was bom in 1207, and from her cradle showed that she was destined to be an honour to her sex and family. Holy names were the first words she uttered, and her first lessons were prayers. From the time of her birth the wars in which Hungary had been engaged ceased, as well as the internal dissensions which had pre- viously convulsed the kingdom. Every one remarked the coincidence of this peace and prosperity with the birth of an infant of such precocious piety ; and when, later on, the promises of her early years were so strikingly fulfilled, the Hungarians loved to think that no royal child had ever brought so many gifts to her country. Duke Hermann, meanwhile, having heard of the birth of the princess and the many tokens of devotion which she had already shown, was exceedingly desirous to see Elingsohr's prediction accomplished. Accordingly he des- patched to Hungary a numerous com- pany of nobles and ladies to ask the hand of Elisabeth, now four years old, for his son Louis, and to bring her with them to Thuringia. The princess was confided with many prayers into the hands of Walter of Varila, one of the nobles, who swore that he would always be devoted to her — a promise he faithfully
