From his native Ireland, after being ordained a priest, St. Gobain passed into France out of a desire more perfectly to consecrate himself to God. He withdrew into the great forest near the river Oise where at the distance of two leagues from the river and from Premontre, he built himself a cell and afterwards, with the help of the people, a stately church which was consecrated under the patronage of St. Peter (now called St. Gobain). King Clotaire III (656-670) had bestowed on him the ground and continued exceedingly to honor him. Here the saint served God in watching, fasting and prayer till certain barbarians from the north of Germany, out of hatred to his holy profession, cut off his head. St. Gobain is famous for the manufacture of large crystal glasses which are not blown but run and afterwards sent to Paris by the river to be polished and finished.