BOOK III Contents
I. How King Edwin's next successors lost both the faith or their nation and
the kingdom; but the most Christian King Oswald retrieved both. [A.D. 633]
II. How, among innumerable other miraculous cures wrought by the cross, which King
Oswald, being ready to engage against the barbarians, erected, a certain youth had his
lame arm healed. [A.D. 635]
III. The same King Oswald, asking a bishop of the Scottish nation, had Aidan sent him,
and granted him an episcopal see in the Isle of Lindisfarne. [A.D. 635]
IV. When the nation of the Picts received the Faith. [A.D. 565]
V. Of the life of Bishop Aidan. [A.D. 635]
VI. Of King Oswald's wonderful piety. [A.D. 635]
VII. How the West Saxons received the Word of God by the preaching of Birinus; and of
his successors, Agilbert and Eleutherius. [A. . 635]
VIII. How Earconbert, king of Kent, ordered the idols to he destroyed; and of his
daughter Earcongota, and his kinswoman Ethelberga, virgins, consecrated to God. [A.D. 640]
IX. How miraculous cures have been frequently done in the place where King Oswald was
killed; and how, first, a traveler's horse was restored and afterwards a young girl cured
of the palsy. [A.D. 642]
X. The power of the earth of that place against fire. [A.D. 642]
XI. Of the heavenly light that appeared all the night over the bones of King Oswald,
and how persons possessed with devils were delivered by his bones. [A.D. 697]
XII. Of a boy cured of an ague at St. Oswald's tomb. [A. D. 642]
XIII. Of a certain person in Ireland that was recovered, when at the point of death, by
the bones of King Oswald. [A.D. 642]
XIV. On the death of Paulinus, Ithamar, was made bishop of Rochester in his stead. Of
the wonderful humility of King Oswin, who was cruelly slain by Oswy. [A.D. 642]
XV. How Bishop Aidan foretold to certain seamen a storm that would happen, and gave
them some holy oil to lay it. [A.D. 651]
XVI. How the same Aidan, by his prayers, saved the royal city when fired by the enemy.
[A.D. 651]
XVII. How the post of the church on which Bishop Aidan was leaning when he died, could
not be burnt when the rest of the church was consumed by fire; and of his inward life.
[A.D. 651]
XVIII. Of the life and death of the religious King Sigebert. [A.D. 635]
XIX. How Fursey built a monastery among the East Angles, and of his visions and
sanctity, of which, his flesh remaining uncorrupted after death bore testimony. [A.D. 633]
XX. Honorius dying, Deusdedit is chosen archbishop of Canterbury, of those who were at
that time bishops of the East Angles, and of the Church of Rochester. [A.D. 653]
XXI. How the province of the Midland Angles became Christian under King Peada. [A.D.
653]
XXII. How the East Saxons again received the Faith, which they had before cast off
under King Sigebert, through the preaching of Cedd. [A.D. 653]
XXIII. Bishop Cedd, having a place given him by King Ethelwald, consecrates the same to
our Lord with prayer and fasting. Of his death. [A.D. 659]
XXIV. King Penda being slain, the Mercians received the faith of Christ, and Oswy gave
possessions and territories to God, for building monasteries, in acknowledgment for the
victory obtained. [A.D. 655]
XXV. How the controversy arose about the due time of keeping Easter, with those that
came out of Scotland. [A.D. 652]
XXVI. Colman, being worsted, returned home; Tuda succeeded him in the bishopric; the
state of the church under those teachers. [A.D. 664]
XXVII. Egbert, a holy man of the English nation, led a monastic life in Ireland. [A.D.
664]
XXVIII. Tuda being dead, Wilfrid was ordained, in France, and Chad, in the province of
the West Saxons, to be bishops of the Northumbrians. [A.D. 665]
XXIX. How the priest Wighard was sent from Britain to Rome, to he consecrated
archbishop, of his death there, and of the letters of the apostolic pope giving an account
thereof. [A.D. 665]
XXX. The East Saxons, during a pestilence, returning to idolatry, are immediately
brought back from their error by the Bishop Jaruman. [A. D. 665]
CHAPTER I
HOW KING EDWIN'S NEXT SUCCESSORS LOST BOTH THE FAITH OF THEIR NATION AND THE KINGDOM;
BUT THE MOST CHRISTIAN KING OSWALD RETRIEVED BOTH. [A.D. 633.]
EDWIN being slain in battle, the kingdom of the Deira, to which province his family
belonged, and where he first began to reign, devolved on Osric, the son of his uncle
Elfric, who, through the preaching of Paulin us, had also received the faith. But the
kingdom of the Bernicians for into these two provinces the nation of the Northumbrians was
formerly divided-was possessed by Eanfrid, the son of Etheifrid, who derived his origin
from the royal family of that province. For all the time that Edwin reigned, the sons of
the aforesaid Etheifrid, who had reigned before him, with many of the nobility, lived in
banishment among the Scots or Picts, and were there instructed according to the doctrine
of the Scots, and received the grace of baptism. Upon the death of the king, their enemy,
they returned home, and Eanfrid, as the eldest of them, mentioned above, became king of
the Bernicians. Both those kings, as soon as they obtained the government of their earthly
kingdoms, renounced and lost the faith of the heavenly kingdom, and again delivered
themselves up to be defiled by the abominations of their former idols.
But soon after, the king of the Britons, Cadwalla, slew them both, through the rightful
vengeance of Heaven, though the act was base in him. He first slew Osric, the next summer;
for, being besieged by him in a strong town, he sallied out on a sudden with all his
forces, by surprise, and destroyed him and all his army. After this, for the space of a
year, he reigned over the provinces of the Northumbrians, not like a victorious king, but
like a rapacious and bloody tyrant, and at length brought to the same end Eanfrid, who
unadvisedly came to him with only twelve chosen soldiers, to sue for peace. To this day,
that year is looked upon as unhappy, and hateful to all good men; as well on account of
the apostasy of the English kings, who had renounced the faith, as of the outrageous
tyranny of the British king. Hence it has been agreed by all who have written about the
reigns of the kings, to abolish the memory of those perfidious monarchs, and to assign
that year to the reign of the following king, Oswald, a man beloved by God. This last
king, after the death of his brother Eanfrid, advanced with an army, small, indeed, in
number, but strengthened with the faith of Christ; and the impious commander of the
Britons was slain, though he had most numerous forces, which he boasted nothing could
withstand, at a place in the English tongue called Denises-burn, that is, Denis's-brook.
CHAPTER II
HOW, AMONG INNUMERABLE OTHER MIRACULOUS CURES WROUGHT BY THE CROSS, WHICH KING OSWALD,
BEING READY TO ENGAGE AGAINST THE BARBARIANS, ERECTED A CERTAIN YOUTH HAD HIS LAME ARM
HEALED. [A.D. 635.]
THE place is shown to this day, and held in much veneration, where Oswald, being about
to engage, erected the sign of the holy cross, and on his knees prayed to God that he
would assist his worshipers in their great distress. It is further reported, that the
cross being made in haste, and the hole dug in which it was to be fixed, the king himself,
full of faith, laid hold of it and held it with both his hands, till it was set fast by
throwing in the earth and this done, raising his voice, he cried to his army, "Let us
all kneel, and jointly beseech the true and living God Almighty, in his mercy, to defend
us from the haughty and fierce enemy; for He knows that we have undertaken a just war for
the safety of our nation." All did as he had commanded, and accordingly advancing
towards the enemy with the first dawn of day, they obtained the victory, as their faith
deserved. In that place of prayer very many miraculous cures are known to have been
performed, as a token and memorial of the king's faith; for even te this day, many are
wont to cut off small chips from the wood of the holy cross, which being put into water,
men or cattle drinking thereof, or sprinkled with that water, are immediately restored to
health.
The place in the English tongue is called Heavenfield, or the Heavenly Field, which
name it formerly received as a presage of what was afterwards to happen, denoting, that
there the heavenly trophy would be erected, the heavenly victory begun, and heavenly
miracles be wrought to this day. The same place is near the wall with which the Romans
formerly enclosed the island from sea to sea, to restrain the fury of the barbarous
nations, as has been said before. Hither also the brothers of the church of Hagulstad,
which is not far from thence, repair yearly on the day before that on which King Oswald
was afterwards slain, to watch there for the health of his soul, and having sung many
psalms, to offer for him in the morning the sacrifice of the holy oblation. And since that
good custom has spread, they have lately built and consecrated a church there, which has
attached additional sanctity and honor to that place: and this with good reason; for it
appears that there was no sign of the Christian faith, no church, no altar erected
throughout all the nations of the Bernicians, before that new commander of the army,
prompted by the devotion of his faith, set up the cross as he was going to give battle to
his barbarous enemy.
Nor is it foreign to our purpose to relate one of the many miracles that have been
wrought at this cross. One of the brothers of the same church of Hagufstad, whose name is
Bothelm, and who is still living, a few years since, walking carelessly on the ice at
night, suddenly fell and broke his arm; a most raging pain commenced in the broken part,
so that he could not lift his arm to his mouth for the violence of the anguish. Hearing
one morning that one of the brothers designed to go to the place of the holy cross, he
desired him, at his return, to bring him a bit of that venerable wood, saying, he believed
that with the help of God he might thereby be healed. The brother did as he was desired;
and returning in the evening, when the brothers were sitting at table, gave him some of
the old moss which grew on the surface of the wood. As he sat at table, having no place to
lay up that which was brought him, he put the same into his bosom; and forgetting when he
went to bed to put it by, left it in his bosom. Awaking in the middle of the night, he
felt something cold lying by his side, and putting his hand to feel what it was, he found
his arm and hand as sound as if he had never felt any such pain.
CHAPTER III
THE SAME KING OSWALD, ASKING A BISHOP OF THE SCOTTISH NATION, HAD AIDAN SENT HIM, AND
GRANTED HIM AN EPISCOPAL SEE IN THE ISLE OF LINDISFARNE. [A.D. 635.]
THE same Oswald, as soon as he ascended the throne, being desirous that all his nation
should receive the Christian faith, whereof he had found happy experience in vanquishing
the barbarians, sent to the elders of the Scots, among whom himself and his followers,
when in banishment, had received the sacrament of baptism, desiring they would send him a
bishop, by whose instruction and ministry the English nation, which he governed, might be
taught the advantages, and receive the sacraments of the Christian faith. Nor were they
slow in granting his request; but sent him Bishop Aidan, a man of singular meekness,
piety, and moderation; zealous in the cause of God, though not altogether according to
knowledge; for he was wont to keep Easter Sunday according to the custom of his country,
which we have before so often mentioned, from the fourteenth to the twentieth moon; the
northern province of the Scots, and all the nation of the Picts, celebrating Easter then
after that manner, and believing that they therein followed the writings of the holy and
praiseworthy Father Anatolius; the truth of which every skillful person can discern. But
the Scots which dwelt in the South of Ireland had long since, by the admonition of the
bishop of the Apostolic See, learned to observe Easter according to the canonical custom.
On the arrival of the bishop, the king appointed him his episcopal see in the isle of
Lindisfarne, as he desired. Which place, as the tide flows and ebbs twice a day, is
enclosed by the waves of the sea like an island; and again, twice in the day, when the
shore is left dry, becomes contiguous to the land. The king also humbly and willingly in
all cases giving ear to his admonitions, industriously applied himself to build and extend
the church of Christ in his kingdom; wherein, when the bishop, who was not skillful in the
English tongue, preached the gospel, it was most delightful to see the king himself
interpreting the word of God to his commanders and ministers, for he had perfectly learned
the language of the Scots during his long banishment. From that time many of the Scots
came daily into Britain, and with great devotion preached the word to those provinces of
the English, over which King Oswald reigned, and those among them that had received
priest's orders, administered to them the grace of baptism. Churches were built in several
places; the people joyfully flocked together to hear the word; money and lands were given
of the king's bounty to build monasteries; the English, great and small, were, by their
Scottish masters, instructed in the rules and observance of regular discipline; for most
of them that came to preach were monks. Bishop Aidan was himself a monk of the island
called Hii, whose monastery was for a long time the chief of almost all those of the
northern Scots, and all those of the Picts, and had the direction of their people. That
island belongs to Britain, being divided from it by a small arm of the sea, but had been
long since given by the Picts, who inhabit those parts of Britain, to the Scottish monks,
because they had received the faith of Christ through their preaching.
CHAPTER IV
WHEN THE NATION OF THE PICTS RECEIVED THE FAITH. [A.D. 565]
IN the year of our Lord 565, when Justin, the younger, the successor of Justinian, had
the government of the Roman empire, there came into Britain a famous priest and abbot, a
monk by habit and life, whose name was Columba, to preach the word of God to the provinces
of the northern Picts, who are separated from the southern parts by steep and rugged
mountains; for the southern Picts, who dwell on this side of those mountains, had long
before, as is reported, forsaken the errors of idolatry, and embraced the truth, by the
preaching of Ninias, a most reverend bishop and holy man of the British nation, who had
been regularly instructed at Rome, in the faith and mysteries of the truth; whose
episcopal see, named after St. Martin the bishop, and famous for a stately church (wherein
he and many other saints rest in the body), is still in existence among the English
nation. The place belongs to the province of the Bernicians, and is generally called the
White House, because he there built a church of stone, which was not usual among the
Britons.
Columba came into Britain in the ninth year of the reign of Bridius, who was the son of
Meilochon, and the powerful king of the Pictish nation, and he converted that nation to
the faith of Christ, by his preaching and example, whereupon he also received of them the
aforesaid island for a monastery, for it is not very large, but contains about five
families, according to the English computation. His successors hold the island to this
day; he was also buried therein, having died at the age of seventy-seven, about thirty-two
years after he came into Britain to preach. Before he passed over into Britain, he had
built a noble monastery in Ireland, which, from the great number of oaks, is in the
Scottish tongue called Dearmach- The Field of Oaks. From both which monasteries, many
others had their beginning through his disciples, both in Britain and Ireland; but the
monastery in the island where his body lies, is the principal of them all.
That island has for its ruler an abbot, who is a priest, to whose direction all the
province, and even the bishops, contrary to the usual method, are subject, according to
the example of their first teacher, who was not a bishop, but a priest and monk; of whose
life and discourses some Writings are said to be preserved by his disciples. But
whatsoever he was himself, this we know for certain, that he left successors renowned for
their continency, their love of God, and observance of monastic rules. It is true they
followed uncertain rules in their observance of the great festival, as having none to
bring them the synodal decrees for the observance of Easter, by reason of their being so
far away from the rest of the world; wherefore they only practiced such works of piety and
chastity as they could learn from the prophetical, evangelical, and apostolical writings.
This manner of keeping Easter continued among them for the space of 150 years, till the
year of our Lord's incarnation 715.
But then the most reverend and holy father and priest, Egbert, of the English nation,
who had long lived in banishment in Ireland for the sake of Christ, and was most learned
in the Scriptures, and renowned for long perfection of life, came among them, corrected
their error, and reduced them to the true and canonical day of Easter; the which they
nevertheless did not always keep on the fourteenth moon with the Jews, as some imagined,
but on Sunday, although not in the proper week. For, as Christians, they knew that the
resurrection of our Lord, which happened on the first day after the Sabbath, was always to
be celebrated on the first day after the Sabbath; but being rude and barbarous, they had
not learned when that same first day after the Sabbath, which is now called the Lord's
day, should come. But because they had not laid aside the fervent grace of charity, they
were worthy to be informed in the true knowledge of this particular, according to the
promise of the apostle, saying, "And if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God
shall reveal even this unto you." Of which we shall speak more fully in its proper
place.
CHAPTER V
OF THE LIFE OF BISHOP AIDAN. [A.D. 635.]
FROM the aforesaid island, and college of monks, was Aidan sent to instruct the English
nation in Christ, having received the dignity of a bishop at the time when Segenius, abbot
and priest, presided over that monastery; whence, among other instructions for life, he
left the clergy a most salutary example of abstinence or continence; it was the highest
commendation of his doctrine, with all men, that he taught no otherwise than he and his
followers had lived; for he neither sought nor loved any thing of this world, but
delighted in distributing immediately among the poor whatsoever was given him by the kings
or rich men of the world. He was wont to traverse both town and country on foot, never on
horseback, unless compelled by some urgent necessity; and wherever in his way he saw any,
either rich or poor, he invited them, if infidels, to embrace the mystery of the faith or
if they were believers, to strengthen them in the faith, and to stir them up by words and
actions to alms and good works.
His course of life was so different from the slothfulness of our times, that all those
who bore him company, whether they were shorn monks or laymen, were employed in
meditation, that is, either in reading the Scriptures, or learning psalms. This was the
daily employment of himself and all that were with him, wheresoever they went; and if it
happened, which was but seldom, that he was invited to eat with the king, he went with one
or two clerks, and having taken a small repast, made haste to be gone with them, either to
read or write. At that time, many religious men and women, stirred up by his example,
adopted the custom of fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, till the ninth hour, throughout
the year, except during the fifty days after Easter. He never gave money to the powerful
men of the world, but only meat, if he happened to entertain them; and, on the contrary,
whatsoever gifts of money he received from the rich, he either distributed them, as has
been said, to the use of the poor, or bestowed them in ransoming such as had been wrong.
fully sold for slaves. Moreover, he afterwards made many of those he had ransomed his
disciples, and after having taught and instructed them, advanced them to the order of
priesthood.
It is reported, that when King Oswald had asked a bishop of the Scots to administer the
word of faith to him and his nation, there was first sent to him another man of more
austere disposition, who, meeting with no success, and being unregarded by the English
people, returned home, and in an assembly of the elders reported, that he had not been
able to do any good to the nation he had been sent to preach to, because they were
uncivilized men, and of a stubborn and barbarous disposition. They, as is testified, in a
great council seriously debated what was to be done, being desirous that the nation should
receive the salvation it demanded, and grieving that they had not received the preacher
sent to them. Then said Aidan, who was also present in the council, to the priest then
spoken of, "I am of opinion, brother, that you were more severe to your unlearned
hearers than you ought to have been and did not at first, conformably to the apostolic
rule, give them the milk of more easy doctrine, till being by degrees nourished with the
word of God, they should be capable of greater perfection, and be able to practice God's
sublimer precepts." Having heard these words, all present began diligently to weigh
what he had said, and presently concluded, that he deserved to be made a bishop, and ought
to be sent to instruct the incredulous and unlearned; since he was found to be endued with
singular discretion, which is the mother of other virtues, and accordingly being ordained,
they sent him to their friend, King Oswald, to preach; and he, as time proved, afterwards
appeared to possess all other virtues, as well as the discretion for which he was before
remarkable.
CHAPTER VI
OF KING OSWALD'S WONDERFUL PIETY. [A.D. 635.]
KING OSWALD, with the nation of the English which he governed being instructed by the
teaching of this most reverend prelate, not only learned to hope for a heavenly kingdom
unknown to his progenitors, but also obtained of the same one Almighty God, who made
heaven and earth, larger earthly kingdoms than any of his ancestors. In short, he brought
under his dominion all the nations and provinces of Britain, which are divided into four
languages, viz. the Britons, the Picts, the Scots, and the English. When raised to that
height of dominion, wonderful to relate, he always continued humble, affable, and generous
to the poor and Strangers.
In short, it is reported, that when he was once sitting at dinner, on the holy day of
Easter, with the aforesaid bishop, and a silver dish full of dainties before him, and they
were just ready to bless the bread, the servant, whom he had appointed to relieve the
poor, came in Qn a sudden, and told the king, that a great multitude of needy persons from
all parts were sitting in the streets begging some alms of the king; he immediately
ordered the meat set before him to be carried to the poor, and the dish to be cut in
pieces and divided among them. At which sight, the bishop who sat by him, much taken with
such an act of piety, laid hold of his right hand, and said, "May this hand never
perish." Which fell out according to his prayer, for his arm and hand, being cut off
from his body, when he was slain in battle, remain entire and uncorrupted to this day, and
are kept in a silver case, as revered relics, in St. Peter's church in the royal city,
which has taken Its name from Bebba, one of its former queens. Through this king's
management the provinces of the Deiri and the Bernicians, which till then had been at
variance, were peacefully united and molded into one people. He was nephew to King Edwin
by his sister Acha; and it was fit that so great a predecessor should have in his Own
family so great a person to succeed him in his religion and sovereignty.
CHAPTER VII
HOW THE WEST SAXONS RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD BY THE PREACHING OF BIRINUS; AND OF HIS
SUCCESSORS, AGILBERT AND ELEUTHERIUS. [A.D. 635.]
AT that time, the West Saxons, formerly called Gewissae, in the reign of Cynegils,
embraced the faith of Christ, at the preaching of Bishop Birinus, who came into Britain by
the advice of Pope Honorius; having promised in his presence that he would sow the seed of
the holy faith in the inner parts beyond the dominions of the English. where no other
teacher had been before him. Hereupon he received episcopal consecration from Asterius,
bishop of Genoa; but on his arrival in Britain, he first entered the nation of the
Gewissae, and finding all there most confirmed pagans, he thought it better to preach the
word of God there, than to proceed further to seek for others to preach to.
Now, as he preached in the aforesaid province, it happened that the king himself,
having been catechized, was baptized together with his people, and Oswald, the most holy
and victorious king of the Northumbrians, being present, received him as he came forth
from baptism, and by an alliance most pleasing and acceptable to God, first adopted him,
thus regenerated, for his son, and then took his daughter in marriage. The two kings gave
to the bishop the city called Dorcic, there to settle his episcopal see; where having
built and consecrated churches, and by his labor called many to the Lord, he departed this
life, and was buried in the same city ; but many years after, when Hedda was bishop, he
was translated thence to the city of Winchester, and laid in the church of the blessed
apostles, Peter and Paul.
The king also dying, his son Coinwalch succeeded him in the throne, but refused to
embrace the mysteries of the faith, and of the heavenly kingdom; and not long after also
he lost the dominion of his earthly kingdom; for he put away the sister of Penda, king of
the Mercians, whom he had married, and took another wife; whereupon a war ensuing, he was
by him expelled his kingdom, and withdrew to Anna, king of the East Saxons, where living
three years in banishment, he found and received the true faith, and was baptized; for the
king, with whom he lived in his banishment, was a good man, and happy in a good and pious
offspring, as we shall show hereafter.
But when Coinwalch was restored to his kingdom, there came into that province out of
Ireland, a certain bishop called Agilbert, by nation a Frenchman, but who had then lived a
long time in Ireland, for the purpose of reading the Scriptures. This bishop came of his
own accord to serve this king, and preach to him the word of life. The king, observing his
erudition and industry, desired him to accept an episcopal see, and stay there as his
bishop. Agilbert complied with the prince's request, and presided over those people many
years. At length the king, who understood none but the language of the Saxons, grown weary
of that bishop's barbarous tongue, brought into the province another bishop of his own
nation, whose name was Wini, who had been ordained in France; and dividing his province
into two dioceses, appointed this last his episcopal see in the city of Winchester, by the
Saxons called Wintancestir. Agilbert, being highly offended, that the king should do this
without bis advice, returned into France, and being made bishop of the city of Paris, died
there, aged and full of days. Not many years after his departure out of Britain, Wini was
also expelled from his bishopric, and took refuge with Wulfhere, king of the Mercians, of
whom he purchased for money the see of the city of London, and remained bishop thereof
till his death. Thus the province of the West Saxons continued no small time without a
bishop.
During which time, the king of that nation, sustaining very great losses in his kingdom
from his enemies, at length bethought himself, that as he had been before expelled from
the throne for his infidelity, and had been restored when he received the faith of Christ,
his kingdom, being destitute of a bishop, was justly deprived of the Divine protection.
He, therefore, sent messengers into France to Agilbert, humbly entreating him to return to
the bishopric of his nation. But he excused himself, and affirmed that he could not go,
because he was bound to the bishopric of his own city; however, that he might not seem to
refuse him assistance, he sent in his stead thither the priest Eleutherius, his nephew,
who, if he thought fit, might be ordained his bishop, saying, "He thought him worthy
of a bishopric." The king and the people received him honorably, and entreated
Theodore, then archbishop of Canterbury, to consecrate him their bishop. He was
accordingly consecrated in the same city, and many years zealously governed the whole
bishopric of the West Saxons by synodical authority.
CHAPTER VIII
HOW EARCONBERT, KING OF KENT, ORDERED THE IDOLS TO BE DESTROYED; AND OF HIS DAUGHTER
EARCONGOTA, AND HIS KINSWOMAN ETHELBERGA, VIRGINS, CONSECRATED TO GOD. [A.D. 640.]
IN the year of our Lord 640, Eadbald, king of Kent, departed this life, and left his
kingdom to his son Earconbert, which he most nobly governed twenty-four years and some
months. He was the first of the English kings that of his supreme authority commanded the
idols, throughout his whole kingdom, to be forsaken and destroyed, and the fast of forty
days before Easter to be observed; and that the same might not be neglected, he appointed
proper and condign punishments for the offenders. His daughter Earcongota, as became the
offspring of such a parent, was a most virtuous virgin, always serving God in a monastery
in France, built by a most noble abbess, called Fara, at a place called Brie; for at that
time but few monasteries being built in the country of the Angles, many were wont, for the
sake of monastic conversation, to repair to the monasteries of the Franks or Gauls; and
they also sent their daughters there to be instructed, and delivered to their heavenly
bridegroom, especially in the monasteries of Brie, of Chelles, and Andelys. Among whom was
also Sethrid, daughter of the wife of Anna, king of the East Angles, above mentioned; and
Ethelberga, natural daughter of the same king; both of whom, though strangers, were for
their virtue made abbesses of the monastery of Brie. Sexberga, that king's eldest
daughter, wife to Earconbert, king of Kent, had a daughter called Earcongota, of whom we
are about to speak.
Many wonderful works and miracles of this virgin, dedicated to God, are to this day
related by the inhabitants of that place; but it shall suffice us to say something briefly
of her passage out of this world to the heavenly kingdom. The day of her departure drawing
near, she visited the cells of the infirm servants of Christ, and particularly those that
were of a great age, or most noted for probity of life, and humbly recommending herself to
their prayers, let them know that her death was at hand, as she knew by revelation, which
she said she had received in this manner. She had seen a number of men, all it, white,
come into the monastery, and being asked by her "What they wanted, and what they did
there?" they answered, "They had been sent thither to carry away with them the
gold medal that had been brought thither from Kent." That same night, at the dawn of
morning, leaving the darkness of this world, she departed to the light of heaven. Many of
the brethren of that monastery that were in other houses, declared they had then plainly
heard concerts of angels singing, and the noise as it were of a multitude entering the
monastery. Whereupon going out immediately to see what it might be, they saw an
extraordinary great light coming down from heaven, which conducted that holy soul, set
loose from the bonds of the flesh, to the eternal joys of the celestial country. They add
other miracles that were wrought the same night in the same monastery; but as we must
proceed to other matters, we leave them to be related by those to whom such things belong.
The body of this venerable virgin and bride of Christ was buried in the church of the
blessed protomartyr, Stephen. It was thought fit, three days after, to take up the stone
that covered the grave, and to raise it higher in the same place, and while they did this,
so great a fragrancy of perfume rose from below that it seemed to all the brothers and
sisters there present as if a store of the richest balsams had been opened.
Her aunt also, Ethelberga above mentioned, preserved the glory so pleasing to God, of
perpetual virginity, in great continency of body, but the extent of her virtue became more
conspicuous after her death. Whilst she was abbess, she began to build in her monastery a
church in honor of all the apostles, wherein she desired her hod might be buried; but when
that work was advanced half way, she was prevented by death from finishing it, and buried
in the very place of the church where she had desired. After her death, the brothers
occupied themselves with other things, and this structure was intermitted for seven years,
at the expiration whereof they resolved by reason of the greatness of the work, wholly to
lay aside the building of the church, but to remove the abbess's bones from thence to some
other church that was finished and consecrated; but, on opening her tomb, they found the
body as free from decay as it had been from the corruption of carnal concupiscence, and
having washed it again and put on it other clothes, they removed the same to the church of
St. Stephen, Martyr, whose nativity (or commemoration-day) is celebrated with much
magnificence on the 7th of July.
CHAPTER IX
HOW MIRACULOUS CURES HAVE BEEN FREQUENTLY DONE IN THE PLACE WHERE KING OSWALD WAS
KILLED; AND HOW, FIRST, A TRAVELER'S HORSE WAS RESTORED AND AFTERWARDS A YOUNG GIRL CURED
OF THE PALSY. [A.D. 642.]
OSWALD, the most Christian king of the Northumbrians, reigned nine years, including
that year which is to be held accursed for the brutal impiety of the king of the Britons,
and the apostasy of the English kings; for, as was said above, it is agreed by the
unanimous consent of all, that the names of the apostates should be erased from the
catalogue of the Christian kings, and no date ascribed to their reign. After which period,
Oswald was killed in a great battle, by the same pagan nation and pagan king of the
Mercians, who had slain his predecessor Edwin, at a place called in the English tongue
Maserfield, in the thirty-eighth year of his age, on the fifth day of the month of August.
How great his faith was towards God, and how remarkable his devotion, has been made
evident by miracles since his death; for, in the place where he was killed by the pagans,
fighting for his country, infirm men and cattle are healed to this day. Whereupon many
took up the very dust of the place where his body fell, and putting it into water, did
much good with it to their friends who were sick. This custom came so much into use, that
the earth being carried away by degrees, there remained a hole as deep as the height of a
man. Nor is it to be wondered that the sick should be healed in the place where he died;
for, whilst he lived, he never ceased to provide for the poor and infirm, and to bestow
alms on them, and assist them. Many miracles are said to have been wrought in that place,
or with the earth carried from thence; but we have thought it sufficient to mention two,
which we heard from our ancestors.
It happened, not long after his death, that a man was traveling near that place, when
his horse on a sudden began to tire, to stand stock still, hang down his head, and foam at
the mouth, and, at length, as his pain increased, he fell to the ground; the rider
dismounted, and throwing some straw under him, waited to see whether the beast would
recover or die. At length, after much rolling about in extreme anguish, the horse happened
to come to the very place where the aforesaid king died. Immediately the pain ceased, the
beast gave over his struggles, and, as is usual with tired cattle, turned gently from side
to side, and then starting up, perfectly recovered, began to graze on the green herbage;
which the man observing, being an ingenious person, he concluded there must be some
wonderful sanctity in the place where the horse had been healed, and left a mark there,
that he might know the spot again. After which he again mounted his horse and repaired to
the inn where he intended to stop. On his arrival he found a girl, niece to the landlord,
who had long languished under the palsy; and when the friends of the family, in his
presence, lamented the girl's calamity, he gave them an account of the place where his
horse had been cured. In short, she was put into a cart and carried and laid down at the
place. At first she slept awhile, and when she awaked found herself healed of her
infirmity. Upon which she called for water, washed her face, put up her hair, and dressed
her head, and returned home on foot, in good health, with those who had brought her.
CHAPTER X
THE POWER OF THE EARTH OF THAT PLACE AGAINST FIRE. [A.D. 642]
ABOUT the same time, another person of the British nation, as is reported, happened to
travel by the same place, where the aforesaid battle was fought, and observing one
particular spot of ground greener and more beautiful than any other part of the field, he
judiciously concluded with himself that there could be no other cause for that unusual
greenness, but that some person of more holiness than any other in the army had been
killed there. He therefore took along with him some of that earth, tying it up in a linen
cloth, supposing it would some time or other be of use for curing sick people, and
proceeding on his journey, came at night to a certain village, and entered a house where
the neighbors were feasting at supper; being received by the owners of the house, he sat
down with them at the entertainment, hanging the cloth, in which he had brought the earth,
on a post against the wall. They sat long at supper and drank hard, with a great fire in
the middle of the room; it happened that the sparks flew up and caught the top of the
house, which being made of wattles and thatch, was presently in a flame; the guests ran
out in a fright, without being able to put a stop to the fire. The house was consequently
burnt down, only that post on which the earth hung remained entire and un- touched. On
observing this, they were all amazed, and inquiring into it diligently, understood that
the earth had been taken from the place where the blood of King Oswald had been shed.
These miracles being made known and reported abroad, many began daily to frequent that
place, and received health to themselves and theirs.
CHAPTER XI
OF THE HEAVENLY LIGHT THAT APPEARED ALL THE NIGHT OVER THE BONES OF KING OSWALD, AND
HOW PERSONS POSSESSED WITH DEVILS WERE DELIVERED BY HIS BONES. [A.D. 697.]
AMONG the rest, I think we ought not to pass over, in silence, the heavenly favors and
miracles that were shown when King Oswald's bones were found, and translated into the
church where they are now preserved. This was done by the zealous care of Osthrida, queen
of the Mercians, the daughter of his brother Oswy, who reigned after him, as shall be said
hereafter.
There is a noble monastery in the province of Lindsey, called Beardeneu, which that
queen and her husband Ethelred much loved, and conferred upon it many honors and
ornaments. It was here that she was desirous to lay the venerable bones of her uncle. When
the wagon in which those bones were carried arrived towards evening at the aforesaid
monastery, they that were in it refused to admit them, because, though they knew him to be
a holy man, yet, as he was originally of another province, and had reigned over them as a
foreign king, they retained their ancient aversion to him, even after death. Thus it came
to pass that the relics were left in the open air all that night, with only a large tent
spread over them; but the appearance of a heavenly miracle showed with how much reverence
they ought to be received by all the faithful; for during that whole night, a pillar of
light, reaching from the wagon up to heaven, was seen by almost all the inhabitants of the
province of Lindsey. Hereupon, in the morning, the brethren who had refused it the day
before, began themselves earnestly to pray that those holy relics, so beloved by God,
might be deposited among them. Accordingly, the bones, being washed, were put into a
shrine which they had made for that purpose, and placed in the church, with due honor; and
that there might be a perpetual memorial of the royal person of this holy man, they hung
up over the monument his banner made of gold and purple; and poured out the water in which
they had washed the bones, in a corner of the sacred place. From that time, the very earth
which received that holy water, had the virtue of expelling devils from the bodies of
persons possessed.
Lastly, when the aforesaid queen afterwards made some stay in that monastery, there
came to visit her a certain venerable abbess, who is still living, called Ethelhilda, the
sister of the holy men, Ethelwin and Aldwin, the first of whom was bishop in the province
of Lindsey, the other abbot of the monastery of Peartaneu; not far from which was the
monastery of Ethelhilda. When this lady was come, in a conversation between her and the
queen, the discourse, among other things, turning upon Oswald, she said, that she also had
that night seen a light reaching from the relics up to heaven. The queen thereupon added,
that the very dust of the pavement on which the water that washed the bones had been
spilt, had already healed many sick persons. The abbess thereupon desired that some of the
said dust might be given her, which she tied up in a cloth, and, putting it into a casket,
returned home. Some time after, when she was in her monastery, there came to it a guest,
who was wont often in the night to be on a sudden grievously tormented with an evil
spirit; he being hospitably entertained, and gone to bed after supper, was on a sudden
seized by the Devil, and began to cry out, to gnash his teeth, to foam at the mouth, and
to distort his limbs in a most strange manner. None being able to hold or bind him, the
servant ran, and knocking at the door, acquainted the abbess. She, opening the monastery
door, went out herself with one of the nuns to the men's apartment, and calling a priest,
desired he would go with her to the sufferer. Being come thither, and seeing many more
present, who had not been able, though they endeavored it, to hold the tormented person
and prevent his convulsive motions, the priest used exorcisms, and did all he could to
assuage the madness of the unfortunate man, but, though he took much pains, could not
prevail. When no hopes appeared of easing him, the abbess bethought herself of the dust,
and immediately ordered her servant to go and fetch her the casket in which it was. As
soon as she came with what she had been sent for into the porch of the house, in the inner
part whereof the possessed person was tormented, he was presently were silent, and laid
down his head, as if he had been falling asleep, stretching out all his limbs to rest. All
present were silent, and stood attentive to see the end of the affair. After some time,
the man that had been tormented sat up, and fetching a deep sigh, said, "Now I am
like a sound man, for I am restored to my senses." They earnestly inquired how that
came to pass, and he answered, "As soon as that virgin drew near the porch of this
house, with the casket she brought, all the evil spirits that vexed me departed, and were
no more to be seen." Then the abbess gave him a little of that dust, and the priest
having prayed, he had a very quiet night; nor did he, from that time forward, receive the
least disturbance from his old enemy.
CHAPTER XII
OF A BOY CURED OF AN AGUE AT ST. OSWALD'S TOMB. [A.D. 642.]
SOME time after, there was a certain little boy in the said monastery, who had been
long troubled with an ague; he was one day anxiously expecting the hour that his fit was
to come on, when one of the brothers, coming in to him, said, "Shall I tell you,
child, how you may be cured of this distemper? Rise, go into the church, and get close to
St. Oswald's tomb; stay there quiet, and do not leave it; do not come away, or stir from
the place, till the time that your fit is to go off: then I will go in and fetch you
away." The boy did as he was advised, and the disease durst not affect him as he sat
by the saint's tomb; but fled so absolutely, that he felt it no more, either the second or
third day, or ever after. The brother that came from thence, and told me this, added, that
at the time when he was talking with me, the young man was then still living in the
monastery, on whom, when a boy, that miraculous cure had been wrought. Nor is it to be
wondered that the prayers of that king who was then reigning with our Lord, should be very
efficacious with him, since he, whilst yet governing his temporal kingdom, was also wont
to pray and take more pains for that which is eternal. In short, it is reported, that he
often continued in prayer from the hour of morning thanksgiving till it was day; and that
by reason of his constant custom of praying or giving thanks to God, he was wont always,
wherever he sat, to hold his hands turned up on his knees. It is also given out, and
become a proverb, "That he ended his life in prayer;"for when he was beset with
weapons and enemies, he perceived he must immediately be killed, and prayed to God for the
souls of his army. Whence it is proverbially said, "Lord, have mercy on their souls,
said Oswald, as he fell to the ground." His bones, therefore, were translated to the
monastery which we have mentioned, and buried therein: but the king that slew him
commanded his head, hands, and arms to be cut off from the body, and set upon stakes. But
his successor in the throne, Oswy, coming thither the next year with his army, took them
down, and buried his head in the church of Lindisfarne, and the hands and arms in his
royal city.
CHAPTER XIII
OF A CERTAIN PERSON IN IRELAND THAT WAS RECOVERED, WHEN AT THE POINT OF DEATH, BY THE
BONES OF KING OSWALD. [A.D. 642.]
NOR was the fame of the renowned Oswald confined to Britain, but, spreading the rays of
his healing brightness even beyond the sea, reached also to Germany and Ireland. In short,
the most reverend prelate, Acca, is wont to relate, that when, in his journey to Rome, he
and his bishop Wilfrid stayed some time with Wilbrord, now the holy bishop of the Fresons,
he had often heard him talk of the wonders that had been wrought in that province at the
relics of that most reverend king. And that in Ireland, when, being yet only a priest, he
led a pilgrim's life therein for love of the eternal country, the fame of that king's
sanctity was already spread far and near. One of the miracles, among the rest, which he
related, we have thought fit to insert in our history.
"At the time," said he, "of the mortality which made such great havoc in
Britain and Ireland, among others, the infection reached a certain scholar of the Scottish
race, a man indeed learned in worldly literature, but in no way solicitous or studious of
his eternal salvation; who, seeing his death near at hand, began to fear, lest, as soon as
he was dead he should be hurried away to hell for his sins. He sent for me, who was in
that neighborhood, and whilst he was trembling and sighing, with a mournful voice made his
complaint to me, in this manner: 'You see that my distemper increases, and that I am now
reduced to the point of death. Nor do I question but that after the death of my body, I
shall be immediately snatched away to the perpetual death of my soul, and cast into the
torments of hell, since for a long time, amidst all my reading of divine books, I have
rather addicted myself to vice, than to keep the commandments of God. But it is my
resolution, if the Divine Mercy shall grant me a new term of life, to correct my vicious
habits, and totally to reform my mind and course of life in obedience to the Divine will.
But I am sensible, that I have no merits of my own to obtain a prolongation of life, nor
can I confide in it, unless it shall please God to forgive me, through the assistance of
those who have faithfully served Him. We have heard, and the report is universal, that
there was in your nation a king, of wonderful sanctity, called Oswald, the excellency of
whose faith and virtue is become renowned even after his death by the working of miracles.
I beseech you, if you have any relics of his in your custody, that you will bring the same
to me; in case the Lord shall be pleased, through his merits, to have mercy on me.' I
answered, 'I have indeed some of the stake on which his head was set up by the pagans,
when he was killed, and if you believe, with a sincere heart, the Divine Goodness may,
through the merit of so great a man, both grant you a longer term of life here, and render
you worthy of admittance into eternal life.' He answered immediately, 'That he had entire
faith therein.' Then I blessed some water, and put into it a chip of the aforesaid oak,
and gave it the sick man to drink. He presently found ease, and, recovering of his
sickness, lived a long time after; and, being entirely converted to God in heart and
actions, wherever he came, he spoke of the goodness of his merciful Creator, and the
honour of His faithful servant."
CHAPTER XIV
ON THE DEATH OF PAULINUS, ITHAMAR WAS MADE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER IN HIS STEAD. OF THE
WONDERFUL HUMILITY OF KING OSWIN, WHO WAS CRUELLY SLAIN BY OSWY. [A.D. 642.]
OSWALD being translated to the heavenly kingdom, his brother Oswy, a young man of about
thirty years of age, succeeded him on the throne of his earthly kingdom, and held it
twenty-eight years with much trouble, being harassed by the pagan king, Penda, and by the
pagan nation of the Mercians, that had slain his brother, as also by his son Alfred, and
by his cousin-german Ethelwald, the son of his brother who reigned before him. In his
second year, that is, in the year of our Lord 644, the most reverend Father Paulinus,
formerly bishop of York, but then of the city of Rochester, departed to our Lord, on the
10th day of October, having held the bishopric nineteen years, two months, and twenty-one
days; and was buried in the sacristy of the blessed Apostle Andrew, which King Ethelbert
had built from the foundation, in the same city of Rochester. In his place, Archbishop
Honorius ordained Ithamar, of the Kentish nation, but not inferior to his predecessors for
learning and conduct of life.
Oswy, during the first part of his reign, had a partner in the royal dignity called
Oswin, of the race of King Edwin, and son to Osric, of whom we have spoken above, a man of
wonderful piety and devotion, who governed the province of the Deiri seven years in very
great prosperity, and was himself beloved by all men. But Oswy, who governed all the other
northern part of the nation beyond hee Humber, that is, the province of the Bernicians,
could not live at peace with him; but on the contrary, the causes of their disagreement
being heightened, he murdered him most cruelly. For when they had raised armies against
one another, Oswin perceived that he could not maintain a war against one who had more
auxiliaries than himself, and he thought it better at that time to lay aside all thoughts
of engaging, and to preserve himself for better times. He therefore dismissed the army
which he had assembled, and ordered all his men to return to their own homes, from the
place that is called Wilfaresdun, that is, Wilfar's Hill, which is almost ten miles
distant from the village Called Cataract, towards the north-west. He himself, with only
one trusty soldier, whose name was Tonhere, withdrew and lay concealed in the house of
Earl Hunwald, whom he imagined to be his most assured friend. But, alas! it was otherwise;
for the earl betrayed him, and Oswy, in a detestable manner, by the hands of his
commander, Ethilwin, slew him and the soldier aforesaid, this happened on the 20th of
August, in the ninth year of his reign, at a place called Ingethlingum, where afterwards,
to atone for his crime, a monastery was built, wherein prayers were to be daily offered up
to God for the souls of both kings, that is, of him that was murdered, and of him that
commanded him to be killed.
King Oswin was of a graceful aspect, and tall of stature, affable in discourse, and
courteous in behavior; and most bountiful, as well to the ignoble as the noble; so that he
was beloved by all men for his qualities of body and mind, and persons of the first rank
Came from almost all provinces to serve him. Among other virtues and rare endowments, if I
may so express it, humility is said to have been the greatest, which it will suffice to
prove by one example.
He had given an extraordinarily fine horse to Bishop Aidan, which he might either use
in Crossing rivers, or in performing a journey upon any urgent necessity, though he was
wont to travel ordinarily on foot. Some short time after, a poor man meeting him, and
asking alms, he immediately dismounted, and ordered the horse, with all his royal
furniture, to be given to the beggar; for he was very compassionate, a great friend to the
poor, and, as is were, the father of the wretched. This being told to the king, when they
were going in to dinner, he said to the bishop, "Why would you, my lord bishop, give
the poor man that royal horse, which was necessary for your use? Had not we many other
horses of less value, and of other sorts, which would have been good enough to give to the
poor, and not to give that horse, which I had particularly chosen for yourself?" To
whom the bishop instantly answered, "What is it you say, O king? Is that foal of a
mare more dear to you than the Son of God?" Upon this they went in to dinner, and the
bishop sat in his place; but the king, who was come from hunting, stood warming himself,
with his attendants, at the fire. Then, on a sudden, whilst he was warming himself,
calling to mind what the bishop had said to him, he ungirt his sword, and gave it to a
servant, and in a hasty manner fell down at the bishop's feet, beseeching him to forgive
him; "For from this time forward," said he, "I will never speak any more of
this, nor will I judge of what, or how much of our money you shall give to the sons of
God." The bishop was much moved at this sight, and starting up, raised him, saying,
"He was entirely reconciled to him, if he would sit down to his meat, and lay aside
all sorrow." The king, at the bishop's command and request, beginning to be merry,
the bishop, on the other hand, grew so melancholy as to shed tears. His priest then asking
him, in the language of his country, which the king and his servants did not understand,
why he wept, "I know," said he, "that the king will not live long; for I
never before saw so humble a king; whence I conclude that he will soon be snatched out of
this life, because this nation is not worthy of such a ruler." Not long after, the
bishop's prediction was fulfilled by the king's death, as has been said above. But Bishop
Aidan himself was also taken out of this world, twelve days after the king he loved, on
the 31st of August, to receive the eternal reward of his labours from our Lord.
CHAPTER XV
HOW BISHOP AIDAN FORETOLD TO CERTAIN SEAMEN A STORM THAT WOULD HAPPEN, AND GAVE THEM
SOME HOLY OIL TO LAY IT. [A.D. 651.]
How great the merits of Aidan were, was made manifest by the all-seeing Judge, with the
testimony of miracles, whereof it will suffice to mention three as a memorial. A certain
priest, whose name was Utta, a man of great gravity and sincerity, and on that account
honored by all men, even the princes of the world, being ordered to Kent, to bring from
thence, as wife for King Oswy, Eanfleda, the daughter of King Edwin, who had been carried
thither when her father was killed; and intending to go thither by land, but to return
with the virgin by sea, repaired to Bishop Aidan, entreating him to offer up his prayers
to our Lord for him and his company, who were then to set out on their journey. He,
blessing and recommending them to our Lord, at the same time gave them some holy oil,
saying, "I know that when you go abroad, you will meet with a storm and contrary
wind; but do you remember to cast this oil I give you into the sea, and the wind shall
cease immediately; you will have pleasant calm weather, and return home safe."
All which fell out as the bishop had predicted. For in the first place, the winds
raging, the sailors endeavored to ride it out at anchor, but all to no purpose; for the
sea breaking in on all sides, and the ship beginning to be filled with water, they all
concluded that certain death was at hand; the priest at last, remembering the bishop's
words, laid hold of the phial and cast some of the oil into the sea, which, as had been
foretold, became presently calm. Thus it came to pass that the man of God, by the spirit
of prophecy, foretold the storm that was to happen, and by virtue of the same Spirit,
though absent, appeased the same. Which miracle was not told me by a person of little
credit, but by Cynemund, a most faithful priest of our church, who declared that it was
related to him by Utta, the priest, on and by whom the same was wrought.
CHAPTER XVI
HOW THE SAME AIDAN, BY HIS PRAYERS, SAVED THE ROYAL CITY WHEN FIRED BY THE ENEMY. [A.D.
651.]
ANOTHER notable miracle of the same father is related by many such as were likely to
have knowledge thereof; for during the time that he was bishop, the hostile army of the
Mercians, under the command of Penda, cruelly ravaged the country of the Northumbrians far
and near, even to the royal city; which has its name from Bebba, formerly its queen. Not
being able to enter it by force, or by a long siege, he endeavored to burn it; and having
destroyed all the villages in the neighborhood of the city, he brought to it an immense
quantity of planks, beams, wattles and thatch, wherewith he encompassed the place to a
great height on the land side, and when the wind set upon it, he fired the mass, designing
to burn the town.
At that time, the most reverend Bishop Aidan resided in the isle of Fame, which is
nearly two miles from the city; for thither he was wont often to retire to pray in
private, that he might be undisturbed. Indeed, this solitary residence of his is to this
day shown in that island. When he saw the flames of fire and the smoke carried by the
boisterous wind above the city walls, he is reported, with eyes and hands lifted up to
heaven, to have said, "Behold, Lord, how great mischief Penda does!" Which words
were hardly uttered, when the wind immediately turning from the city, drove back the
flames upon those who had kindled them, so that some being hurt, and all frightened, they
forbore any further attempts against the city, which they perceived was protected by the
hand of God.
CHAPTER XVII
HOW THE POST OF THE CHURCH ON WHICH BISHOP AIDAN WAS LEANING WHEN HE DIED, COULD NOT BE
BURNT WHEN THE REST OF THE CHURCH WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE; AND OF HIS INWARD LIFE. [A.D.
651.]
AIDAN was in the king's country-house, not far from the city of which we have spoken
above, at the time when death separated him from his body, after he had been bishop
sixteen years; for having a church and a chamber there, he was wont often to go and stay
there, and to make excursions to preach in the country round about, which he likewise did
at other of the king's country-seats, having nothing of his own besides his church and a
few fields about it. When he was sick they set up a tent for him close to the wall at the
west end of the church, by which means it happened that he gave up the ghost, leaning
against a post that was on the outside to strengthen. the wall. He died in the seventeenth
year of his episcopacy, the last day of the month of August. His body was thence
translated to the isle of Lindisfarne, and buried in the churchyard belonging to the
brethren. Some time after, when a larger church was built there and dedicated in honor of
the blessed prince of the apostles, his bones were translated thither, and deposited on
the right hand of the altar, with the respect due to so great a prelate.
Finan, who had likewise come from the same monastery of Hii in the Scottish island,
succeeded him, and continued a considerable time in the bishopric. It happened some years
after, that Penda, king of the Mercians, coming into these parts with a hostile army,
destroyed all he could with fire and sword, and burned down the village and church above
mentioned, where the bishop died; hut it fell put in a wonderful manner that the post,
which he had leaned upon when he died, could not be consumed by the ire which consumed all
about it. This miracle being taken notice of, the church was Soon rebuilt in the same
place, and that very post was set up on the outside, as it had been before, to strengthen
the wall. It happened again, some time after, that the same village and church were burned
down the second time, and even then the fire could not touch that post; and when in a most
miraculous manner the fire broke through the very holes in it wherewith it was fixed to
the building, and destroyed the church, yet it could do no hurt to the said post. The
church being therefore built there the third time, they did not, as before, place that
post on the outside as a support, but within, as a memorial of the miracle; and the people
coming in were wont to kneel there, and implore the Divine mercy. And it is manifest that
since then many have heen healed in that same place, as also that chips being cut off from
that post, and put into water, have healed many from their distempers.
I have written thus much concerning the person and works of the aforesaid Aidan, in no
way commending or approving what he imperfectly understood in relation to the observance
of Easter; nay, very much detesting the same, as I have most manifestly proved in the book
I have written, "De Temporibus"; but, like an impartial historian, relating what
was done by or with him, and commending such things as are praiseworthy in his actions,
and preserving the memory thereof for the benefit of the readers; viz. his love of peace
and charity; his continence and humility; his mind superior to anger and avarice, and
despising pride and vainglory; his industry in keeping and teaching the heavenly
commandments; his diligence in reading and watching; his authority becoming a priest in
reproving the haughty and powerful, and at the same time his tenderness in comforting the
afflicted, and relieving or defending the poor. To say all in a few words, as near as I
could be informed by those that knew him, he took care to omit none of those things which
he found in the apostolical or prophetical writings, but to the utmost of his power
endeavored to perform them all.
These things I much love and admire in the aforesaid bishop; because I do not doubt
that they were pleasing to God; but I do not praise or approve his not observing Easter at
the proper time, either through ignorance of the canonical time appointed, or, if he knew
it, being prevailed on by the authority of his nation, not to follow the same. Yet this I
approve in him, that in the celebration of his Easter, the object which he had in view in
all he said, did, or preached, was the same as ours, that is, the redemption of mankind,
through the passion, resurrection and ascension into heaven of the man Jesus Christ, who
is mediator betwixt God and man. And therefore he always celebrated the same, not, as some
falsely imagine, on the fourteenth moon, like the Jews, whatsoever the day was, but on the
Lord's day, from the fourteenth to the twentieth moon; and this he did from his belief of
the resurrection of our Lord happening on the day after the Sabbath, and for the hope of
our resurrection, which also he, with the holy Church, believed would happen on the same
day after the Sabbath, now called the Lord's day.
CHAPTER XVIII
OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE RELIGIOUS KING SIGEBERT. [A.D. 635.]
AT this time, the kingdom of the East Angles, after the death of Earpwald, the
successor of Redwald, was subject to his brother Sigebert, a good and religious man, who
long before had been baptized in France, whilst he lived in banishment, flying from the
enmity of Redwald; and returning home, as soon as he ascended the throne, being desirous
to imitate the good institutions which he had seen a France, he set up a school for youth
to be instructed in literature, and was assisted therein by Bishop Felix, who came to him
from Kent, and who furnished him with matters and teachers after the manner of that
country.
This king became so great a lover of the heavenly kingdom, that quitting the affairs of
his crown, and committing the same to his kinsman, Ecgric, who before held a part of that
kingdom, he Went himself into a monastery, which he had built, and having received the
tonsure, applied himself rather to gain a heavenly throne. Some time after this, it
happened that the nation of the Mercians, under King Penda, made war on the East Angles;
who, finding themselves inferior in martial affairs to their enemy, entreated Sigebert to
go with them to battle, to encourage the soldiers; He refused, upon which they threw him
against his will out of the monastery, and carried him to the army, hoping that the
soldiers would be less disposed to flee in the presence of him, who had once been a
notable and a brave commander. But he, still keeping in mind his profession, whilst in the
midst of a royal army, would carry nothing in his hand but a wand, and was killed with
King Ecgric; and the pagans pressing on, all their army was either slaughtered or
dispersed.
Anna, the son of Eni, of the blood royal, a good man, and father of an excellent family
of children, succeeded them in the kingdom. Of whom we shall speak hereafter; he being
also slain by the same pagan commander as his predecessor had been.
CHAPTER XIX
HOW FURSEY BUILT A MONASTERY AMONG THE EAST ANGLES, AND OF HIS VISIONS AND SANCTITY, OF
WHICH, HIS FLESH REMAINING UNCORRUPTED AFTER DEATH BORE TESTIMONY. [A.D. 633.]
WHILST Sigebert still governed the kingdom, there came out of Ireland a holy man called
Fursey renowned both for his words and actions, and remarkable for singular virtues, being
desirous to live a stranger for our Lord, wherever an opportunity should offer. On coming
into the province of the East Saxons, he was honorably received by the aforesaid king, and
performing his usual employment of preaching the Gospel, by the example of his virtue and
the efficacy of his discourse, converted many unbelievers to Christ, and confirmed in his
faith and love those that already believed.
Here he fell into some infirmity of body, and was thought worthy to see a vision from
God; in which he was admonished diligently to proceed in the ministry of the word which he
had undertaken, and indefatigably to continue his usual watching and prayers; inasmuch as
his end was certain, but the hour of it would be uncertain, according to the saying of our
Lord, "Watch ye therefore, because ye know not the day nor the hour." Being
confirmed by this vision, he applied himself with all speed to build a monastery on the
ground which had been given him by King Sigebert, and to establish regular discipline
therein. This monastery was pleasantly situated in the woods, and with the sea not far
off; it was built within the area of a castle, which in the English language is called
Cnobheresburg, that is, Cnobher's Town; afterwards, Anna, king of that province, and the
nobility, embellished it with more stately buildings and donations. This man was of noble
Scottish blood, but much more noble in mind than in birth. From his boyish years, he had
particularly applied himself to reading sacred books, and following monastic discipline,
and, as is most becoming to holy men, he carefully practiced all that he learned was to be
done.
In short, he built himself the monastery, wherein he might with more freedom indulge
his heavenly studies. There, falling sick, as the book about his life informs us, he fell
into a trance, and quitting his body from the evening till the cock crew, he was found
worthy to behold the choirs of angels, and to hear the praises which are sung in heaven.
He was wont to declare, that among other things he distinctly heard this: "The saints
shall advance from one virtue to another." And again, "The God of gods shall be
seen in Sion." Being restored to his body at that time, and again taken from it three
days after, he not only saw the greater joys of the blessed, but also extraordinary
combats of evil spirits, who by frequent accusations wickedly endeavored to obstruct his
journey to heaven; but the angels protecting him, all their endeavors were in vain.
Concerning which particulars, if any one desires to be more fully informed, that is, with
what subtle fraud the devils represented both his actions and superfluous words, and even
his thoughts, as if they had been written down in a book; and what pleasing or
disagreeable things he was informed of by the angels and saints, or just men who appeared
to him among the angels; let him read the little book of his life which I have mentioned,
and I believe he will thereby reap much spiritual profit.
But there is one thing among the rest, which we have thought may be beneficial to many
if inserted in this history. When he had been lifted up on high, he was ordered by the
angels that conducted him to look back upon the world. Upon which, casting his eyes
downward, he saw, as it were, a dark and obscure valley underneath him. He also saw four
fires in the air, not far distant from each other. Then asking the angels, what fires
those were? he was told, they were the fires which would kindle and consume the world. One
of them was of falsehood, when we do not fulfil that which we promised in baptism, to
renounce the Devil and all his works. The next of covetousness, when we prefer the riches
of the world to the love of heavenly things. The third of discord, when we make no
difficulty to offend the minds of out neighbors even in needless things. The fourth of
iniquity, when we look upon it as no crime to rob and to defraud the weak. These fires,
increasing by degrees, extended so as to meet one another, and being joined, became an
immense flame. When it drew near, fearing for himself, he said to the angel, "Lord,
behold the fire draws near me." The angel answered, "That which you did not
kindle shall not burn you; for though this appears to be a terrible and great fire, yet it
tries every man according to the merits of his works; for every man's concupiscence shall
burn in the fire; for as every one burns in the body through unlawful pleasure, so when
discharged of the body, he shall burn in the punishment which he has deserved."
Then he saw one of the three angels, who had been his conductors throughout both
visions, go before and divide the flame of fire, whilst the other two, flying about on
both sides, defended him from the danger of that fire. He also saw devils flying through
the fire, raising conflagrations of wars against the just. Then followed accusations of
the wicked spirits against him, the defense of the good angels in his favor, and a more
extended view of the heavenly troops; as also of holy men of his own nation, who, as he
had long since been informed, had been deservedly advanced to the degree of priesthood,
from whom he heard many things that might be very salutary to himself, or to all others
that would listen to them. When they had ended their discourse, and returned to heaven
with the angelic spirits, the three angels remained with the blessed Fursey, of whom we
have spoken before, and who were to bring him back to his body. And when they approached
the aforesaid immense fire, the angel divided the flame, as he had done before; but when
the man of God came to the passage so opened amidst the flames, the unclean spirits,
laying hold of one of those whom they tormented in the fire, threw him at him, and,
touching his shoulder and jaw, burned them. He knew the man, and called to mind that he
had received his garment when he died; and the angel, immediately laying hold, threw him
back into the fire, and the malignant enemy said, "Do not reject him whom you before
received; for as you accepted the goods of him who was a sinner, so you must partake of
his punishment." The angel replying, said, "He did not receive the same through
avarice, but in order to save his soul." The fire ceased, and the angel, turning to
him, added, "That which you kindled burned in you; for had you not received the money
of this person that died in his sins, his punishment would not burn in you." And
proceeding in his discourse, he gave him wholesome advice for what ought to be done
towards the salvation of such as repented.
Being afterwards restored to his body, throughout the whole course of his life he bore
the mark of the fire which he had felt in his soul, visible to all men on his shoulder and
jaw; and the flesh publicly showed, in a wonderful manner, what the soul had suffered in
private. He always took care, as he had done before, to persuade all men to the practice
of virtue, as well by his example, as by preaching. But as for the matter of his visions,
he would only relate them to those who, from holy zeal and desire of reformation, wished
to learn the same. An ancient brother of our monastery is still living, who is wont to
declare that a very sincere and religious man told him, that he had seen Fursey himself in
the province of the East Angles, and heard those visions from his mouth; adding, that
though it was in most sharp winter weather, and a hard frost, and the man was sitting in a
thin garment when he related it, yet he sweated as if it had been in the greatest heat of
summer, either through excessive fear, or spiritual consolation.
To return to what we were saying before, when, after preaching the word of God many
years in Scotland [Ireland], he could no longer bear the crowds that resorted to him,
leaving all that he seemed to possess, he departed from his native island, and came with a
few brothers through the Britons into the province of the English, and preaching the word
of God there, as has been said, built a noble monastery. These things being rightly
performed, he became desirous to rid himself of all business of this world, and even of
the monastery itself, and forthwith left the same, and the care of souls, to his brother
Fullan, and the priests Gobban and Dicull, and being himself free from all that was
worldly, resolved to end his life as a hermit. He had another brother called Ultan, who,
after a long monastical probation, had also adopted the life of an anchorite. Repairing
all alone to him, he lived a whole year with him in continence and prayer, and labored
daily with his hands.
Afterwards seeing the province in confusion by the irruptions of the pagans, and
presaging that the monasteries would be also in danger, he left all things in order, and
sailed over into France, and being there honorably entertained by Clovis, king of the
Franks, or by the patrician Erconwald, he built a monastery in the place called
Latiniacum, and falling sick not long after, departed this life. The same Erconwald took
his body, and deposited it in the porch of a church he was building in his town of
Perrone, till the church itself should be dedicated. This happened twenty-seven days
after, and the body being taken from the porch, to be re-buried near the altar, was found
as entire as if he had just then died. And again, four years after, a more decent
tabernacle or chapel being built for the same body to the eastward of the altar, it was
still found free from corruption, and translated thither with due honour; where it is well
known that his merits through the divine operation, have been declared by many miracles.
These things and the incorruption of his body we have taken notice of, that the
sublimeness of this man may be the better known to the readers. All which, whosoever will
read it, will find more fully described, as also about his fellow-laborers, in the book of
his life before mentioned.
CHAPTER XX
HONORIUS DYING, DEUSDEDIT IS CHOSEN ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, OF THOSE WHO WERE AT THAT
TIME BISHOPS OF THE EAST ANGLES, AND OF THE CHURCH OF ROCHESTER. [A.D. 653.]
IN the meantime, Felix, bishop of the East Angles, dying, when he had held that see
seventeen years, Honorius ordained Thomas his deacon, of the province of the Girvii in his
place; and he departing this life when he had been bishop five years, Bertgils, surnamed
Boniface, of the province of Kent, was appointed in his stead. Honorius himself also,
having run his course, departed this life in the year of our Lord 653, on the 30th of
September; and when the see had been vacant a year and six months, Deusdedit, of the
nation of the South Saxons, was chosen the sixth archbishop of Canterbury. To ordain whom,
Ithamar, bishop of Rochester, came thither. His ordination was on the 26th of March, and
he ruled nine years, four months, and two days; when he also died. Ithamar consecrated in
his place Damian, who was of the race of the South Saxons.
CHAPTER XXI
HOW THE PROVINCE OF THE MIDLAND ANGLES BECAME CHRISTIAN UNDER KING PEADA. [A.D. 653.]
AT this time, the Middle Angles, under their Prince Peada, the son of King Penda,
received the faith and sacraments of the truth. Being an excellent youth, and most worthy
of the title and person of a king, he was by his father elevated to the throne of that
nation, and came to Oswy, king of the Northumbrians, requesting to have his daughter
Elfieda given him to wife; but could not obtain his desires unless he would embrace the
faith of Christ, and be baptized, with the nation which he governed. When he heard the
preaching of truth, the promise of the heavenly kingdom, and the hope of resurrection and
future immortality, he declared that he would willingly become a Christian, even though he
should be refused the virgin; being chiefly prevailed on to receive the faith by King
Oswy's son Aifrid, who was his relation and friend, and had married his sister Cyneherga,
the daughter of King Penda.
Accordingly he was baptized by Bishop Finan, with all his earls and soldiers, and their
servants, that came along with him, at a noted village belonging to the king, called At
the Wall. And having received four priests, who for their erudition and good life were
deemed proper to instruct and baptize his nation, he returned home with much joy. These
priests were Cedd and Adda, and Betti and Diuma; the last of whom was by nation a Scot,
the others English. Adda was brother to Utta, whom we have mentioned before, a renowned
priest, and abbot of the monastery of Gateshead. The aforesaid priests, arriving in the
province with the prince, preached the word, and were willingly listened to; and many, as
well of the nobility as the common sort, renouncing the abominations of idolatry, were
baptized daily.
Nor did King Penda obstruct the preaching of the word among his people, the Mercians,
if any were willing to hear it; but, on the contrary, he hated and despised those whom he
perceived not to perform the works of faith, when they had once received the faith,
saying, "They were contemptible and wretched who did not obey their God, in whom they
believed." This was begun two years before the death of King Penda.
But when he was slain, and Oswy, the most Christian king, succeeded him in the throne,
Diuma, one of the aforesaid four priests, was made bishop of the Midland Angles, as also
of the Mercians, being ordained by Bishop Finan; for the scarcity of priests was the
occasion that one prelate was set over two nations. Having in a short time gained many
people to our Lord, he died among the Midland Angles, in the country called Feppingum; and
Ceollach, of the Scottish nation, succeeded him in the bishopric. This prelate, not long
after, left his bishopric, and returned to the island of Hii, which, among the Scots, was
the chief and head of many monasteries. His successor in the bishopric was Trumhere, a
religious man, and educated in the monastic life of the English nation, but ordained
bishop by the Scots, which happened in the days of King Wulfhere, of whom we shall speak
hereafter.
CHAPTER XXII
HOW THE EAST SAXONS AGAIN RECEIVED THE FAITH, WHICH THEY HAD BEFORE CAST OFF UNDER KING
SIGEBERT, THROUGH THE PREACHING OF CEDD. [A.D. 653.]
AT that time, also, the East Saxons, at the instance of King Oswy, again received the
faith, which they had formerly cast off when they expelled Mellitus, their bishop. For
Sigebert, who reigned next to Sigebert surnamed The Little, was then king of that nation,
and a friend to King Oswy, who, when he often came to him into the province of the
Northumbrians, used to endeavor to persuade him that those could not be gods that had been
made by the hands of men; that a stock or a stone could not be proper matter to form a
god, the remains whereof were either burned in the fire, or framed into any vessels for
the use of men, or else were cast out as refuse, trampled on and bruised to dust. That God
is rather to be understood as of incomprehensible majesty and invisible to human eyes,
almighty, eternal, the Creator of heaven and earth, and of mankind; who governs and will
judge the world in righteousness; whose everlasting seat is in heaven, and not in vile and
fading matter; and that it ought in reason to be concluded, that all those who have
learned and obeyed the will of Him by whom they were created, will receive from Him
eternal rewards. King Oswy having often, in a friendly and brotherly manner, said this and
much more to the like effect, at length, with the consent of his friends, he believed, and
after consulting with those about him, and exhorting them, they all agreed and gave their
approbation, and were baptized with him by Bishop Finan; in the king's village above
spoken of, which is called At the Wall, because it is close by the wall with which the
Romans formerly divided the island of Britain, at the distance of twelve miles from the
eastern sea.
King Sigebert, being now become a citizen of the eternal kingdom, returned to the seat
of his temporal kingdom, requesting of Oswy that he would give him some teachers, who
might convert his nation to the faith of Christ, and baptize them. Oswy, accordingly,
sending into the province of the Midland Angles, invited to him the man of God, Cedd, and,
giving him another priest for his companion, sent them to preach to the East Saxons. When
these two, traveling to all parts of that country, had gathered a numerous church to our
Lord, it happened that Cedd returned home, and came to the church of Lindisfarne to confer
with Bishop Finan; who, finding how successful he had been in the work of the Gospel, made
him bishop of the church of the East Saxons, calling to him two other bishops to assist at
the ordination. Cedd, having received he episcopal dignity, returned to his province, and
pursuing the work he had begun with more ample authority, built churches in several
places, ordaining priests and deacons to assist him in the work of faith, and the ministry
of baptizing, especially in the city which, in the language of the Saxons, is called
Ithancestir, as also in that which is named Tilaburg; the first of which places is on the
bank of the Pante, the other on the bank of the Thames, where, gathering a flock of
servants of Christ, he taught them to observe the discipline of regular life, as far as
those rude people were then capable.
Whilst the doctrine of everlasting life was thus, for a considerable time, making
progress, to the joy of the king and of all the people, it happened that the king, at the
instigation of the enemy of all good men, was murdered by his own kindred. They were two
brothers who did this wicked deed; and being asked what had moved them to it, had nothing
else to answer, but that they had been incensed against the king, and hated him, because
he was too apt to spare his enemies, and easily to forgive the wrongs they had done him,
upon their entreaty. Such was the crime for which the king was killed, because he observed
the precepts of the Gospel with a devout heart in which innocent death, however, his real
offence was also punished, according to the prediction of the man of God. For one of those
earls that murdered him was unlawfully married, which the bishop not being able to prevent
or correct, he excommunicated him, and commanded all that would give ear to him not to
enter within his house, nor to eat of his meat. The king made slight of this inhibition,
and being invited by the earl, went to an entertainment at his house, and when he was
going thence, the bishop met him. The king, beholding him, immediately dismounted from his
horse, trembling, and fell down at his feet, begging pardon for his offence; for the
bishop, who was likewise on horseback, had also alighted. Being much incensed, he touched
the king, lying in that humble posture, with the rod he held in his hand, and using his
pontifical authority, spoke thus: "I say to you, forasmuch as you would not refrain
from the house of that wicked and condemned person, you shall die in that very
house." Yet it is to be believed, that such a death of a religious man not only
blotted out his offence, but also added to his merit; because it happened on account of
his pious observance of the commands of Christ.
Sigebert was succeeded in the kingdom by Suidhelm, the son of Sexbald, who was baptized
by the same Cedd, in the province of the East Angles, at the king's countryseat, called
Rendelsham, that is, Rendil's Mansion; and Ethelwald, king of the East Angles, brother to
Anna, king of the same people, was his godfather.
CHAPTER XXIII
BISHOP CEDD, HAVING A PLACE GIVEN HIM BY KING ETHELWALD, CONSECRATES THE SAME TO OUR
LORD WITH PRAYER AND FASTING. OF HIS DEATH. [A.D. 659.]
THE same man of God, whilst he was bishop among the East Saxons, was also wont several
times to visit his own country, Northumberland, to make exhortations. Ethelwald, the son
of King Oswald, who reigned among the Deiri, finding him a holy, wise, and good man,
desired him to accept some land to build a monastery, to which the king himself might
frequently resort, to offer his prayers and hear the word, and be buried in it when he
died; for he believed that he should receive much benefit by the prayers of those who were
to serve God in that place. The king had before with him a brother of the same bishop,
called Celin, a man no less devoted to God, who, being a priest, was wont to administer to
him the word and the sacraments of the faith; by whose means he chiefly came to know and
love the bishop. That prelate, therefore, complying with the king's desires, chose himself
a place to build a monastery among craggy and distant mountains, which looked more like
lurking-places for robbers and retreats for wild beasts, than habitations for men; to the
end that, according to the prophecy of Isaiah, "In the habitations where before
dragons dwelt, might be grass with reeds and rushes; " that is, that the fruits of
good work should spring up, where before beasts were wont to dwell, or men to live after
the manner of beasts.
The man of God, desiring first to cleanse the place for the monastery from former
crimes, by prayer and fasting, that it might become acceptable to our Lord, and so to lay
the foundations, requested of the king that he would give him leave to reside there all
the approaching time of Lent to pray. All which days, except Sundays, be fasted till the
evening, according to custom, and then took no other sustenance than a little bread, one
hen's egg, and a little milk mixed with water. This, he said, was the custom of those of
whom he had learned the rule of regular discipline; first, to consecrate to our Lord, by
prayer and fasting, the places which they had newly received for building a monastery or a
church. When there were ten days of Lent still remaining; there came a messenger to call
him to the king; and he, that the religious work might not be intermitted, on account of
the king's affairs, entreated his priest Cynebil, who was also his own brother, to
complete that which had been so piously begun. Cynebil readily complied, and when the time
of fasting and prayer was over, he there built the monastery, which is now called
Lestingnu, and established therein the religious customs of Lindisfarne, where they had
been educated.
Cedd for many years having charge of the bishopric in the aforesaid province, and of
this monastery, over which he had placed superiors, it happened that he came thither at a
time when there was a mortality, and fell sick and died. He was first buried in the open
air; but in the process of time a church was built of stone in the monastery, in honor of
the Mother of God, and his body interred in the same, on the right hand of the altar.
The bishop left the monastery to be governed after him by his brother Chad, who was
afterwards made bishop, as shall be said in its place. For the four brothers we have
mentioned, Cedd and Cynebil, Celia and Ceadda [Chad], which is a rare thing to be met
with, were all celebrated priests of our Lord, and two of them also came to be bishops.
When the brethren who were in his monastery, in the province of the East Saxons, heard
that the bishop was dead in the province of the Northumbrians, about thirty men of that
monastery came thither, being desirous either to live near the body of their father, if it
should please God, or to die there and be buried. Being lovingly received by their
brethren and fellow soldiers in Christ, all of them died there by the aforesaid
pestilence, except one little boy, who was delivered from death by his father's prayers.
For when he bad lived there a long time after, and applied himself to the reading of
sacred writ, he was informed that he had not been regenerated by the water of baptism, and
being then washed in the laver of salvation, he was afterwards promoted to the order of
priesthood, and proved very useful to many in the church. I do not doubt that he was
delivered at the point of death, as I have said, by the intercession of his father, whilst
he was embracing his beloved corpse, that so he might himself avoid eternal death, and by
teaching, exhibit the ministry of life and salvation to others of the brethren.
CHAPTER XXIV
KING PENDA BEING SLAIN, THE MERCIANS RECEIVED THE FAITH OF CHRIST, AND OSWY GAVE
POSSESSIONS AND TERRITORIES TO GOD, FOR BUILDING MONASTERIES, IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR THE
VICTORY OBTAINED. [A.D. 655.]
AT this time, King Oswy was exposed to the fierce and intolerable irruptions of Penda,
king of the Mercians, whom we have so often mentioned, and who had slain his brother; at
length, necessity compelling him, he promised to give him greater gifts than can he
imagined, to purchase peace; provided that the king would return home, and cease to
destroy the provinces of his kingdom. That perfidious king refused to grant his request,
and resolved to extirpate all his nation, from the highest to the lowest; whereupon he had
recourse to the protection of the Divine goodness for deliverance from his barbarous and
impious foes, and binding himself by a vow, said, "If the pagan will not accept of
our gifts, let us offer them to Him that will, the Lord our God." He then vowed, that
if he should come off victorious, he would dedicate his daughter to our Lord in holy
virginity, and give twelve farms to build monasteries. After this he gave battle with a
very small army against superior forces: indeed, it is reported that the pagans had three
times the number of men; for they had thirty legions, led on by most noted commanders.
King Oswy and his son Aifrid met them with a very small army, as has been said, but
confiding in the conduct of Christ; his other son, Egfrid, was then kept an hostage at the
court of Queen Cynwise, in the province of the Mercians. King Oswald's son Etheiwald, who
ought to have assisted them, was on the enemy's side, and led them on to fight against his
country and uncle; though, during the battle, he withdrew, and awaited the event in a
place of safety. The engagement beginning, the pagans were defeated, the thirty
commanders, and those who had come to his assistance were put to flight, and almost all of
them slain; among whom was Ethelbere, brother and successor to Anna, king of the East
Angles, who had been the occasion of the war, and who was now killed, with all his
soldiers. The battle was fought near the river Vinwed, which then, with the great rains,
had not only filled its channel, hut overflowed its banks, so that many more were drowned
in the flight than destroyed by the sword.
Then King Oswy, pursuant to the vow he had made to our Lord, returned thanks to God for
the victory, and gave his daughter Elfieda, who was scarce a year old, to he consecrated
to Him in perpetual virginity; delivering also twelve small portions of land, wherein
earthly warfare should cease, and in which there should be a perpetual residence and
subsistence for monks to follow the warfare which is spiritual, and pray diligently for
the peace of his nation. Of those possessions six were in the province of the Deiri, and
the other six in that of the Bernicians. Each of the said possessions contained ten
families, that is, a hundred and twenty in all. The aforesaid daughter of King Oswy, thus
dedicated to God, was put into the monastery, called Heruteu, or, "The island of the
Hart," where, at that time, the Abbess Hilda presided, and, two years after, having
acquired a possession of ten families, at the place called Streaneshalch, she built a
monastery there, in which the aforesaid king's daughter was first a learner, and
afterwards a teacher of the monastic life; till, being sixty years of age, the blessed
virgin departed to the nuptials and embraces of her heavenly bridegroom. In that same
monastery, she and her father, Oswy, her mother, Eanfleda, her mother's father, Edwin, and
many other noble persons, are buried in the church of the holy Apostle Peter. King Oswy
concluded the aforesaid war in the country of Loidis, in the thirteenth year of his reign,
on the 15th of November, to the great benefit of both nations; for he both delivered his
own people from the hostile depredations of the pagans, and, having cut off the wicked
king's head, converted the Mercians and the adjacent provinces to the grace of the
Christian faith.
Diuma was made the first bishop of the Mercians, as also of Lindisfarne and the Midland
Angles, as has been said above, and he died and was buried among the Midland Angles. The
second was Ceollach, who, quitting the episcopal office whilst still alive, returned into
Scotland, to which nation he belonged as well as Bishop Diuma. The third was Trumhere, an
Englishman, but taught and ordained by the Scots, being abbot in the monastery that is
called Ingethlingum, and is the place where King Oswin was killed, as has been said above;
for Queen Eanfleda, his kinswoman, in satisfaction for his unjust death, begged of King
Oswy that he would give the aforesaid servant of God a place there to build a monastery,
because he also was kinsman to the slaughtered king; in which monastery continual prayers
should be offered up for the eternal health of the kings, both of him that had been slain,
and of him that caused it to be done. The same King Oswy governed the Mercians, as also
the people of the other southern provinces, three years after he had slain King Penda; and
he likewise subdued the greater part of the Picts to the dominion of the English.
At which time he gave to the above-mentioned Peada, son to King Penda, who was his
kinsman, the kingdom of the Southern Mercians, consisting, as is reported, of 5000
families, divided by the river Trent from the Northern Mercians, whose land contained 7000
families; but that Peada was the next spring very wickedly killed, by the treachery, as is
said, of his wife, during the very time of celebrating Easter. Three years after the death
of King Penda, Immin, and Eafa, and Eadbert, generals of the Mercians, rebelled against
King Oswy, setting up for their king, Wulfhere, son to the said Penda, a youth, whom they
had kept concealed; and expelling the officers of the foreign king, they at once recovered
their liberty and their lands; and being thus free, together with their king; they
rejoiced to serve Christ the true King, that they might obtain the everlasting kingdom
which is in heaven. This king governed the Mercians seventeen years, and had for his first
bishop Trumhere, above spoken of; the second Jaruman; the third Chad; the fourth Winfrid.
All these, succeeding each other regularly under King Wulfhere, discharged the episcopal
duties to the Mercian nation.
CHAPTER XXV
HOW THE CONTROVERSY AROSE ABOUT THE DUE TIME OF KEEPING EASTER, WITH THOSE THAT CAME
OUT OF SCOTLAND. [A.D. 652.]
IN the meantime, Bishop Aidan being dead, Finan, who was ordained and sent by the
Scots, succeeded him in the bishopric, and built a church in the Isle of Lindisfarne, the
episcopal see; nevertheless, after the manner of the Scots, he made it, not of stone, hut
of hewn oak, and covered it with reeds; and the same was afterwards dedicated in honor of
St. Peter the Apostle, by the reverend Archbishop Theodore. Eadbert, also bishop of that
place, took off the thatch, and covered it, both roof and walls, with plates of lead.
At this time, a great and frequent controversy happened about the observance of Easter;
those that came from Kent or France affirming, that the Scots kept Easter Sunday contrary
to the custom of the universal church. Among them was a most zealous defender of the true
Easter, whose name was Ronan, a Scot by nation, but instructed in ecclesiastical truth,
either in France or Italy, who, disputing with Finan, convinced many, or at least induced
them to make a more strict inquiry after the truth; yet he could not prevail upon Finan,
but, on the contrary, made him the more inveterate by reproof, and a professed opposer of
the truth, being of a hot and violent temper. James, formerly the deacon of the venerable
Archbishop Paulinus, as has been said above, kept the true and Catholic Easter, with all
those that he could persuade to adopt the right way. Queen Eanfleda and her followers also
observed the same as she had seen practiced in Kent, having with her a Kentish priest that
followed the Catholic mode, whose name was Romanus. Thus it is said to have happened in
those times that Easter was twice kept in one year; and that when the king having ended
the time of fasting, kept his Easter, the queen and her followers were still fasting, and
celebrating Palm Sunday. This difference about the observance of Easter, whilst Aidan
lived, was patiently tolerated by all men, as being sensible, that though he could not
keep Easter contrary to the custom of those who had sent him, yet he industriously labored
to practice all works of faith, piety, and love, according to the custom of all holy men;
for which reason he was deservedly beloved by all; even by those who differed in opinion
concerning Easter, and was held in veneration, not only by indifferent persons, but even
by the bishops, Hononus of Canterbury, and Felix of the East Angles.
But after the death of Finan, who succeeded him, when Colman, who was also sent out of
Scotland, came to be bishop, a greater controversy arose about the observance of Easter,
and the rules of ecclesiastical life. Whereupon this dispute began naturally to influence
the thoughts and hearts of many, who feared, lest having received the name of Christians,
they might happen to run, or to have run, in vain. This reached the ears of King Oswy and
his son Alfrid; for Oswy, having been instructed and baptized by the Scots, and being very
perfectly skilled in their language, thought nothing better than what they taught. But
Alfrid, having been instructed in Christianity by Wilfrid, a most learned man, who had
first gone to Rome to learn the ecclesiastical doctrine, and spent much time at Lyons with
Dalfin, archbishop of France, from whom also he had received the ecclesiastical tonsure,
rightly thought this man's doctrine ought to be preferred before all the traditions of the
Scots. For this reason he had also given him a monastery of forty families, at a place
called Rhypum; which place, not long before, he had given to those that followed the
system of the Scots for a monastery; but forasmuch as they afterwards, being left to their
choice, prepared to quit the place rather than alter their opinion, he gave the place to
him, whose life and doctrine were worthy of it.
Agilbert, bishop of the West Saxons, above-mentioned, a friend to King Alfrid and to
Abbot Wufrid, had at that time come into the province of the Northumbrians, and was making
some stay among them; at the request of Alfrid, made Wilfrid a priest in his monastery. He
had in his company a priest, whose name was Agatho. The controversy being there started,
concerning Easter, or the tonsure, or other ecclesiastical affairs, it was agreed, that a
synod should be held in the monastery of Streaneshaich, which signifies the Bay of the
Lighthouse, where the Abbess Hilda, a woman devoted to God, then presided; and that there
this controversy should be decided. The kings, both father and son, came thither, Bishop
Colman With his Scottish clerks, and Agilbert with the priests Agatho and Wilfrid, James
and Romanus were on their side; but the Abbess Hilda and her followers were for the Scots,
as was also the venerable Bishop Cedd, long before ordained by the Scots, as has been said
above, and he was in that council a most careful interpreter for both parties.
King Oswy first observed, that it behooved those who served one God to observe the same
rule of life; and as they all expected the same kingdom in heaven, so they ought not to
differ in the celebration of the Divine mysteries; but rather to inquire which was the
truest tradition, that the same might be followed by all; he then commanded his bishop,
Colman, first to declare what the custom was which he observed, and whence it derived its
origin. Then Colman said, "The Easter which I keep, I received from my elders, who
sent me bishop hither; all our forefathers, men beloved of God, are known to have kept it
after the same manner; and that the same may not seem to any contemptible or worthy to be
rejected, it is the same which St. John the Evangelist, the disciple beloved of our Lord,
with all the churches over which he presided, is recorded to have observed." Having
said thus much, and more to the like effect, the king commanded Agilbert to show whence
his custom of keeping Easter was derived, or on what authority it was grounded. Agilbert
answered, "I desire that my disciple, the priest Wufrid, may speak in my stead;
because we both concur with the other followers of the ecclesiastical tradition that are
here present, and he can better explain our opinion in the English language, than I can by
an interpreter."
Then Wilfrid, being ordered by the king to speak, delivered himself thus :- "The
Easter which we observe, we saw celebrated by all at Rome, where the blessed apostles,
Peter and Paul, lived, taught, suffered, and were buried; we saw the same done in Italy
and in France, when we traveled through those countries for pilgrimage and prayer. We
found the same practiced in Africa, Asia, Egypt, Greece, and all the world, wherever the
church of Christ is spread abroad, through several nations and tongues, at one and the
same time; except only these and their accomplices in obstinacy, I mean the Picts and the
Britons, who foolishly, in these two remote islands of the world, and only in part even of
them, oppose all the rest of the universe. When he had so said, Colman answered, "It
is strange that you will call our labors foolish, wherein we follow the example of so
great an apostle, who was thought worthy to lay his head on our Lord's bosom, when all the
world knows him to have lived most wisely." Wilfrid replied, "Far be it from us
to charge John with folly, for he literally observed the precepts of the Jewish law,
whilst the church still Judaized in many points, and the apostles were not able at once to
cast off all the observances of the law which had been instituted by God. In which way it
is necessary that all who come to the faith should forsake the idols which were invented
by devils, that they might not give scandal to the Jews that were among the Gentiles. For
this reason it was, that Paul circumcised Timothy, that he offered sacrifice in the
temple, that he shaved his head with Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth; for no other
advantage than to avoid giving scandal to the Jews. Hence it was, that James said, to the
same Paul, 'You see, brother, how many thousands of the Jews have believed; and they are
all zealous for the law. And yet, at this time, the Gospel spreading throughout the world,
it is needless, nay, it is not lawful, for the faithful either to be circumcised, or to
offer up to God sacrifices of flesh.' So John, pursuant to the custom of the law, began
the celebration of the feast of Easter, on the fourteenth day of the first month, in the
evening, not regarding whether the same happened on a Saturday, or any other day. But when
Peter preached at Rome, being mindful that our Lord arose from the dead, and gave the
world the hopes of resurrection, on the first day after the Sabbath, he understood that
Easter ought to be observed, so as always to stay till the rising of the moon on the
fourteenth day of the first moon, in the evening, according to the custom and precepts of
the law, even as John did. And when that came, if the Lord's day, then called the first
day after the Sabbath, was the next day, he began that very evening to keep Easter, as we
all do at this day. But if the Lord's day did not fall the next morning after the
fourteenth moon, but on the sixteenth, or the seventeenth, or any other moon till the
twenty-first, he waited for that, and on the Saturday before, in the evening, began to
observe the holy solemnity of Easter. Thus it came to pass, that Easter Sunday was only
kept from the fifteenth moon to the twenty-first. Nor does this evangelical and apostolic
tradition abolish the law, but rather fulfil it; the command being to keep the Passover
from the fourteenth moon of the first month in the evening to the twenty-first moon of the
same month in the evening; which observance all the successors of St. John in Asia, since
his death, and all the church throughout the world, have since followed; and that this is
the true Easter, and the only one to be kept by the faithful, was not newly decreed by the
council of Nice, but only confirmed afresh; as the Church History informs us.
Thus it appears, that you, Colman, neither follow the example of John, as you imagine,
nor that of Peter, whose traditions you knowingly contradict; and that you neither agree
with the law nor the Gospel in the keeping of your Easter. For John, keeping the Paschal
time according to the decree of the Mosaic law, had no regard to the first day after the
Sabbath, which you do not practice, who celebrate Easter only on the first day after the
Sabbath. Peter kept Easter Sunday between the fifteenth and the twenty-first moon, which
you do not, but keep Easter Sunday from the fourteenth to the twentieth moon; so that you
often begin Easter on the thirteenth moon in the evening, whereof neither the law made any
mention, nor did our Lord, the Author and Giver of the Gospel, on that day, but on the
fourteenth, either eat the old passover in the evening, or deliver the sacraments of the
New Testament, to be celebrated by the church, in memory of his passion. Besides, in your
celebration of Easter, you utterly exclude the twenty-first moon, which the law ordered to
be principally observed. Thus, as I said before, you agree neither with John nor Peter,
nor with the law, nor the Gospel, in the celebration of the greatest festival."
To this Colman rejoined: "Did Anatolius, a holy man, and much commended in church
history, act contrary to the law and the Gospel, when he wrote, that Easter was to be
celebrated from the fourteenth to the twentieth? Is it to be believed that our most
reverend Father Columba and his successors, men beloved by God, who kept Easter after the
same manner, thought or acted contrary to the Divine writings? Whereas there were many
among them, whose sanctity is testified by heavenly signs and the working of miracles,
whose life, customs, and discipline I never cease to follow, not questioning their being
saints in heaven."
"It is evident," said Wufrid, "that Anatolius was a most holy, learned,
and commendable man; but what have you to do with him, since you do not observe his
decrees? For he, following the rule of truth in his Easter, appointed a revolution of
nineteen years, which either you are ignorant of, or if you know it, though it is kept by
the whole church of Christ, yet you despise it. He so computed the fourteenth moon in the
Easter of our Lord, that according to the custom of the Egyptians, he acknowledged it to
be the fifteenth moon in the evening; so in like manner he assigned the twentieth to
Easter-Sunday, as believing that to be the twenty-first moon, when the sun had set, which
rule and distinction of his it appears you are ignorant of, in that you sometimes keep
Easter before the full of the moon, that is, on the thirteenth day. Concerning your Father
Columba and his followers, whose sanctity you say you imitate, and whose rules and
precepts you observe, which have been confirmed by signs from heaven, I may answer, that
when many, on the day of judgment, shall say to our Lord, 'That in his name they
prophesied, and cast out devils, and wrought many wonders,' our Lord will reply, 'That He
never knew them.' But far be it from me, that I say so of your fathers, because it is much
more just to believe what is good, than what is evil, of persons whom one does not know.
Wherefore I do not deny those to have been God's servants, and beloved by Him, who with
rustic simplicity, but pious intentions, have themselves loved Him. Nor do I think that
such keeping of Easter was very prejudicial to them, as long as none came to show them a
more perfect rule; and yet I do believe that they, if any catholic adviser had come among
them, would have as readily followed his admonitions, as they are known to have kept those
commandments of God, which they had learned and knew.
"But as for you and your companions, you certainly sin, if, having heard the
decrees of the Apostolic See, and of the universal church, and that the same is confirmed
by holy writ, you refuse to follow them; for, though your fathers were holy, do you think
that their small number, in a corner of the remotest island, is to be preferred before the
universal church of Christ throughout the world? And if that Columba of yours (and, I may
say, ours also, if he was Christ's servant), was a holy man and powerful in miracles, yet
could he be preferred before the most blessed prince of the apostles, to whom our Lord
said, 'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it, and to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of
heaven?'"
When Wufrid had spoken thus, the king said, "Is it true, Colman, that these words
were spoken to Peter by our Lord?" He answered, "It is true, O king " Then
says he, "Can you show any such power given to your Columba?" Colman answered,
"None." Then added the king, "Do you both agree that these words were
principally directed to Peter, and that the keys of heaven were given to him by our
Lord?" They both answered, "We do." Then the king concluded, "And I
also say unto you, that he is the door-keeper, whom I will not contradict, but will, as
far as I know and am able, in all things obey his decrees, lest, when I come to the gates
of the kingdom of heaven, there should be none to open them, he being my adversary who is
proved to have the keys." The king having said this, all present, both great and
small, gave their assent, and renouncing the more imperfect institution, resolved to
conform to that which they found to be of better.
CHAPTER XXVI
COLMAN, BEING WORSTED, RETURNED HOME; TUDA SUCCEEDED HIM IN THE BISHOPRIC; THE STATE OF
THE CHURCH UNDER THOSE TEACHERS. [A.D. 664.]
THE disputation being ended, and the Company broken up, Agilbert returned home. Colman,
perceiving that his doctrine was rejected, and his sect despised, took with him such as
would not comply with the Catholic Easter and the tonsure (for there was much controversy
about that also), and went back into Scotland, to consult with his people what was to be
done in this case. Cedd, forsaking the practices of the Scots, returned to his bishopric,
having submitted to the Catholic observance of Easter. This disputation happened in the
year of our Lord's incarnation 664, which was the twenty-second year of the reign of King
Oswy, and the thirtieth of the episcopacy of the Scots among the English; for Aidan was
bishop seventeen years, Finan ten, and Colman three.
When Colman was gone back into his own country, God's servant, Tuda, was made bishop of
the Northumbrians in his place, having been instructed and ordained bishop among the
Southern Scots, having also the ecclesiastical tonsure of his crown, according to the
custom of that province, and observing the Catholic time of Easter. He was a good and
religious man, but governed his church a very short time; he came out of Scotland whilst
Colman was yet bishop, and, both by word and example, diligently taught all persons those
things that appertain to the faith and truth. But Eata, who was abbot of the monastery of
Melrose, a most reverend and meek man, was appointed abbot over the brethren that stayed
in the church of Lindisfarne when the Scots went away; they say, Colman, upon his
departure, requested and obtained this of King Oswy, because Eata was one of Aidan's
twelve boys of the English nation, whom he received when first made bishop there, to be
instructed in Christ; for the king much loved Bishop Colman on account of his singular
discretion. This is the same Eata, who not long after, was made bishop of the same church
of Lindisfarne. Colman carried home with him part of the bones of the most reverend Father
Aidan, and left part of them in the church where he had presided, ordering them to be
interred in the sacristy.
The place which he governed shows how frugal he and his predecessors were, for there
were very few houses besides the church found at their departure; indeed, no more than
were barely sufficient for their daily residence; they had also no money, but cattle; for
if they received any money from rich persons, they immediately gave it to the poor; there
being no need to gather money, or provide houses for the entertainment of the great men of
the world; for such never resorted to the church, except to pray and hear the word of God.
The king himself, when opportunity offered, came only with five or six servants, and
having performed his devotions in the church, departed. But if they happened to take a
repast there, they were satisfied with only the plain and daily food of the brethren, and
required no more; for the whole care of those teachers was to serve God, not the world-to
feed the soul, and not the belly.
For this reason the religious habit was at that time in great veneration; so that
wheresoever any clergyman or monk happened to come, he was joyfully received by all
persons, as God's servant; and if they chanced to meet him upon the way, they ran to him,
and bowing, were glad to be signed with his hand, or blessed with his mouth. Great
attention was also paid to their exhortations; and on Sundays they flocked eagerly to the
church, or the monasteries, not to feed their bodies, but to hear the word of God; and if
any priest happened to come into a village, the inhabitants flocked together to hear from
him the word of life; for the priests and clergymen went into the village on no other
account than to preach, baptize, visit the sick, and, in few words, to take care of souls;
and they were so free from worldly avarice that none of them received lands and
possessions for building monasteries, unless they were compelled to do so by the temporal
authorities; which custom was for some time after observed in all the churches of the
Northumbrians. But enough has now been said on this subject.
CHAPTER XXVII
EGHERT, A HOLY MAN OF THE ENGLISH NATION, LED A MONASTIC LIFE IN IRELAND. [A.D. 664.]
IN the same year of our Lord's incarnation, 664, there happened an eclipse of the sun,
on the third of May, about ten o'clock in the morning. In the same year, a sudden
pestilence also depopulated the southern coasts of Britain and afterwards extending into
the province of the Northumbrians, ravaged the country far and near, and destroyed a great
multitude of men. To which plague the aforesaid priest Tuda fell a victim, and was
honorably buried in the monastery of Pegnaleth. This pestilence did no less harm in the
island of Ireland. Many of the nobility, and of the lower ranks of the English nation,
were there at that time, who, in the days of the Bishops Finan and Colman, forsaking their
native island, retired thither, either for the sake of Divine studies, or of a more
continent life; and some of them presently devoted themselves to a monastical life, others
chose rather to apply themselves to study, going about from one master's cell to another.
The Scots willingly received them all, and took care to supply them with food, as also to
furnish them with books to read, and their teaching, gratis.
Among these were Etheihun and Eghert, two youths of great capacity, of the English
nobility. The former of whom was brother to Ethelwin, a man no less beloved by God, who
also afterwards went over into Ireland to study, and having been well instructed, returned
into his own country, and being made bishop in the province of Lindsey, long governed that
church worthily and creditably. These two being in the monastery which in the language of
the Scots is called Rathmelsigi, and having lost all their companions, who were either cut
off by the mortality, or dispersed into other places, fell both desperately sick of the
lame distemper, and were grievously afflicted. Of these, Egbert (as I was informed by a
priest venerable for his age, and of great veracity, who declared he had heard those
things from his own mouth), concluding that he was at the point of death, went out of his
chamber, where the sick lay, in the morning, and sitting alone in a convenient place,
began seriously to reflect upon his past actions, and, being full of compunction at the
remembrance of his sins, bedewed his face with tears, and prayed fervently to God that he
might not die yet, before he could make amends for the offences which he had committed in
his infancy and younger years, or might further exercise himself in good works. He also
made a vow that he would, for the sake of God, live in a strange place, so as never to
return into the island of Britain, where he was born; that besides the canonical times of
singing psalms, he would, unless prevented by corporeal infirmity, say the whole Psalter
daily to the praise of God; and that he would every week fast one whole day and a night.
Returning home, after his tears, prayers, and vows, he found his companion asleep, and
going to bed himself, began to compose himself to rest. When he had lain quiet awhile, his
comrade awaking, looked on him, and said, "Alas, Brother Eghert, what have you done?
I was in hopes that we should have entered together into life everlasting; but know that
what you prayed for is granted." For he had learned in a vision what the other had
requested, and that his prayer was granted.
In short, Ethelhun died the next night; but Eghert shaking off his distemper, recovered
and lived a long time after to grace the priestly office, which he had received, by his
worthy behavior; and after much increase of virtue, according to his desire, he at length,
in the year of our Lord's incarnation 729, being ninety years of age, departed to the
heavenly kingdom. He led his life in great perfection of humility, meekness, continence,
simplicity, and justice. Thus he was a great benefactor, both to his own nation, and to
those of the Scots and Picts among whom he lived a stranger, by his example of life, his
industry in teaching, his authority in reproving, and his piety in giving away much of
what he received from the bounty of the rich. He also added this to his vow
above-mentioned; during Lent, he would eat but one meal a day, allowing himself nothing
but bread and thin milk, and even that by measure. That milk, new the day before, he kept
in a vessel, and the next day skimming off the cream, drank the rest, as has been said,
with a little bread. Which sort of abstinence he likewise always observed forty days
before the nativity of our Lord, and as many after the solemnity of Pentecost, that is, of
the Quinquagesima.
CHAPTER XXVIII
TUDA BEING DEAD, WILFRID WAS ORDAINED, IN FRANCE AND CHAD, IN THE PROVINCE OF THE WEST
SAXONS, TO BE BISHOPS OF THE NORTHUMBRIANS. [A.D. 665.]
IN the meantime, King Alfrid sent the priest, Wilfrid, to the king of France, to be
consecrated bishop over him and his people. That prince sent him to be ordained by
Agilbert, who, as was said above, having left Britain, was made bishop of the city of
Paris, and by him Wilfrid was honorably consecrated, several bishops meeting together for
that purpose in a village belonging to the king, called Compiegne. He made some stay in
the parts beyond the sea, after his consecration, and Oswy, following the example of the
king his son, sent a holy man, of modest behavior, well read in the Scripture, and
diligently practicing those things which he had learned therein, to be ordained bishop of
the church of York. This was a priest called Ceadda [Chad], brother to the reverend
prelate Cedd, of whom mention has been often made, and abbot of the monastery of
Lestingau. With him the king also sent his priest Eadhed, who was afterwards, in the reign
of Egfrid, made bishop of the church of Ripon. On arriving in Kent, they found that
Archbishop Deusdedit was departed this life, and no other prelate as yet appointed in his
place; whereupon they proceeded to the province of the West Saxons, where Wini was bishop,
and by him the person above-mentioned was consecrated bishop; two bishops of the British
nation, who kept Easter Sunday according to the canonical manner, from the fourteenth to
the twentieth day of the moon, as has been said, being taken to assist at the ordination;
for at that time there was no other bishop in all Britain canonically ordained, besides
that Mini.
Chad, being thus consecrated bishop, began immediately to devote himself to
ecclesiastical truth and to chastity; to apply himself to humility, continence, and study;
to travel about, not on horseback, but after the manner of the apostles, on foot, to
preach the Gospel in towns, the open country, cottages, villages, and castles; for he was
one of the disciples of Aidan, and endeavored to instruct his people, by the same actions
and behavior, according to his and his brother Cedd's example. Wufrid also being made a
bishop, came into Britain, and in like manner by his doctrine brought into the English
Church many rules of Catholic observance. Whence it followed, that the Catholic
institutions daily gained strength, and all the Scots that dwelt in England either
conformed to these, or returned into their own country.
CHAPTER XXIX
HOW THE PRIEST WIGHARD WAS SENT FROM BRITAIN TO ROME, TO BE CONSECRATED ARCHBISHOP, OF
HIS DEATH THERE, AND OF THE LETTERS OF THE APOSTOLIC POPE GIVING AN ACCOUNT THEREOF. [A.D.
665.]
AT this time the most noble King Oswy, of the province of the Northumbrians, and Egbert
of Kent, having consulted together about the state of the English Church (for Oswy, though
educated by the Scots, perfectly understood that the Roman was the Catholic and Apostolic
Church), with the consent of the holy church of the English nation, accepted of a good
man, and fit priest, to be made a bishop, called Wighard, one of Bishop Deusdedit's
clergy, and sent him to Rome to be ordained bishop, to the end that he, having received
the degree of an archbishop, might ordain Catholic prelates for the churches of the
English nation throughout all Britain. But Wighard, arriving at Rome, was cut off by
death, before he could be consecrated bishop, and the following letter was sent back into
Britain to King Oswy-
"To the most excellent Lord, our son, Oswy, king of the Saxons, Vitalian,
bishop, servant of the servants of God. We have received your excellency's pleasing
letters; by reading whereof we understand your most pious devotion and fervent love to
obtain everlasting life; and that by the protecting hand of God you have been converted to
the true and apostolic faith, hoping that as you reign in your nation, so you will
hereafter reign in Christ. Blessed be the nation, therefore, that has been found worthy to
have such a wise king and worshiper of God; forasmuch as he is not himself alone a
worshiper of God, but also studies day and night the conversion of all his subjects to the
Catholic and apostolic faith, to the redemption of his own soul. Who will not rejoice at
hearing such pleasant things? Who will not be delighted at such good works? Because your
nation has believed in Christ the Almighty God, according to the words of the Divine
prophets, as it is written in Isaiah, ' In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which
shall stand for an ensign of the people; to him shall the Gentiles seek.' And again, '
Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people from afar.' And a little after, 'It is a
light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to
restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that
thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth.' And again, 'Kings shall see,
princes also shall arise and worship.' And presently after, 'I have given thee for a
covenant of the people, to establish the earth, and possess the desolate heritages; that
thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show
yourselves.' And again, ' I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold
thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a light of the Gentiles, and for a
covenant of the people; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoner from the prison,
and them that sit in darkness From the prison-house.'
"Behold, most excellent son, how plain it is, not only of you, but also of all the
nations of the prophets, that they shall believe in Christ, the Creator of all things.
Wherefore it behooves your highness, as being a member of Christ, in all things,
continually to follow the pious rule of the prince of the apostles, in celebrating Easter,
and in all things delivered by the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, whose doctrine daily
enlightens the hearts of believers, even as the two heavenly lights, the sun and moon,
daily illumine all the earth."
And after some lines, wherein he speaks of celebrating Easter uniformly throughout all
the world, he adds,-
"We have not been able now to find, considering the length of the journey, a man,
docile, and qualified in all respects to be a bishop, according to the tenor of your
letters. But as soon as such a proper person shall be found, we will send him well
instructed to your country, that he may, by word of mouth, and through the Divine oracles,
with the assistance of God, root out all the enemy's tares throughout your island. We have
received the presents sent by your highness to the blessed prince of the apostles, for an
eternal memorial, and return you thanks, and always pray for your safety with the clergy
of Christ. But he that brought these presents has been removed out of this world, and is
buried at the church of the apostles, for whom we have been much concerned, because he
died here. However, we have ordered the blessed gifts of the holy martyrs, that is, the
relics of the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, and of the holy martyrs, Laurentius, John,
and Paul, and Gregory, and Pancratius, to be delivered to the bearers of these our
letters, to be by them delivered to you. And to your consort also, our spiritual daughter,
we have by the aforesaid bearers sent a cross, with a gold key to it, made out of the most
holy chains of the apostles, Peter and Paul; at whose pious endeavors all the Apostolic
See rejoices with us, as much as her pious works shine and blossom before God.
"We therefore desire your highness will hasten, according to our wish, to dedicate
all your island to Christ our God; for you certainly have for your protector, the Redeemer
of mankind, our Lord Jesus Christ, who will prosper you in all things, that you may bring
together a new people of Christ; establishing there the Catholic and apostolic faith. For
it is written, ' Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things
shall be added to you.' Truly your highness seeks, and shall no doubt obtain, that all
your islands shall be made subject to you, as is our wish and desire. Saluting your
excellency with fatherly affection, we always pray to the Divine Goodness, that it will
vouchsafe to assist you and yours in all good works, that you may reign with Christ in the
world to come. May the Heavenly Grace preserve your excellency in safety!"
In the next book we shall have a more suitable occasion to show you who was found out
and consecrated in Wighard's place.
CHAPTER XXX
THE EAST SAXONS, DURING A PESTILENCE, RETURNING TO IDOLATRY, ARE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT
BACK FROM THEIR ERROR BY THE BISHOP JARUMAN. [A.D. 665.]
AT the same time, the Kings Sighere and Sebbi, though subject to Wulfhere, king of the
Mercians, governed the province of the East Saxons after Suidhelm, of whom we have spoken
above. That province laboring under the aforesaid mortality, Sighere, with that part of
the people that was under his dominion, forsook the mysteries of the Christian faith, and
turned apostate. For the king himself, and many of the Commons and great men, being fond
of this life, and not seeking after another, or rather not believing that there was any
other, began to restore the temples that had been abandoned, and to adore idols, as if
they might by those means be protected against the mortality. But Sebbi, his companion and
co-heir in the kingdom, with his people, very devoutly preserved the faith which he had
embraced, and, as we shall show hereafter, ended his faithful life with much felicity.
King Wulfhere, understanding that the faith of the province was partly profaned, sent
Bishop Jaruman, who was successor to Trumhere, to Correct that error, and restore the
province to the truth. He proceeded with much discretion (as I was informed by a priest
who bore him company in that journey, and had been his fellow laborer in the word), for he
was a religious and good man, and traveling through all the Country, far and near, reduced
both the aforesaid king and people to the way of righteousness, so that, either forsaking
or destroying the temples and altars which they had erected, they opened the churches, and
rejoiced in confessing the name of Christ which they had opposed, being more desirous to
die in Him with the faith of the resurrection, than to live in the filth of apostasy among
their idols. These things being performed, the priests and teachers returned home with
joy.
