E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Pancras (St.).
Patron saint of children. He was a noble Roman youth, martyred by Diocle’tian at the age of fourteen (A.D. 304). (See NICHOLAS.)
1
St. Pancras, in Christian art, is represented as treading on a Saracen and bearing either a stone and sword, OF a book and palm-branch. The allusions are to his hatred of infidelity, and the implements of his martyrdom.
