She was the daughter of count Rigobert and Ursana, related to one
of the kings of Kent in England. In the twentieth year of her age
she was married to Sigefroi, by whom she had five daughters, two of
whom, Gertrude and Deotila, were saints. After her husband’s death,
she put on the veil in the nunnery which she had built at Blangy in
Artois, a little distance from Hesdin. Her daughters Gertrude and
Deotila followed her example. She was persecuted by Roger or Rotgar,
who endeavored to asperse her with king Thierri III. to revenge his
being refused Gertrude in marriage. But this prince, convinced of
the innocence of Bertha, then abbess over her nunnery, gave her a
kind reception, and took her under his protection. On her return to
Blangy, Bertha finished her nunnery, and caused three churches to
be built, one in honor of St. Omer, another she called after St.
Vaast, and the third in honor of St. Martin of Tours. And then, after
establishing a regular observance in her community, she left St.
Deotila abbess in her stead, having shut herself in a cell, to be
employed only in prayer. She died about the year 725. A great part of
her relics are kept at Blangy.[47] See Mabillon, sec. 3, Ben. part.
1, p. 451, Bulteau, Hist. de l’Ordre de St. Benoit, t. 2, l. 4, c.
31, and Baillet on the 4th of July.