What is the history behind Saint Agnes Fountain in the Christmas Carol Good King Wenceslas?

Answer 1

Saint Agnes

(flourished 4th century, Rome; feast day January 21) Legendary Christian martyr, the patron saint of girls. According to tradition, she was a beautiful virgin who turned away all suitors, declaring that she could have no spouse but http://www.answers.com/topic/jesus-christ. The rejected suitors informed Roman officials that she was a Christian, and she was punished by being exposed in a brothel. There she was left miraculously unharmed; the only man who attempted to violate her was struck blind, and she healed him with prayer. She was later murdered during the persecutions ordered by http://www.answers.com/topic/diocletian. But all this is irrelevant because the saint being referred to in the carol is St Agnes of Bohemia, not St Agnes of Rome. According to http://www.catholic.org St. Agnes of Bohemia died March 2, 1282 while Wenceslas died in 935 A.D. The carol was written durning 19th century and recalls a living miracle of Wenceslas, where a page in the service of Wenceslas is warmed by the heat of his footprints while following him on the night after Christmas, commonly called Boxing Day.