of three dayes humbly to implore Gods mercy There was in the house at that time a little Boy lately converted who was taken with the sickness When the second day of Fasting and Prayer was come it hapned that in the morning there appeared unto him the two most blessed and chief Apostles St. Peter and Paul for the boy was innocent and endow'd with the Sacrament of Faith The Apostles saluted him saying Son fear not death for we will this day bring thee to Heaven but thou shalt stay till the Masses be said and after thou hast received the Viaticum or journey-earnest of the body and blood of our Lord thou shalt be convey'd to everlasting joyes Call Eappa the Priest and tell him thus Our Lord hath heard your prayers and looked mercifully upon your fasting there shall not one more dye of the plague in this Monastery and they that are sick shall recover But thou alone said they shalt be set free and go unto the Lord whom thou haft served Tell them it hath pleased God to doe thus for them through the intercession of the dear servant of God King Oswald For on this day was he Martyred by the Infidels and taken up to Heaven Let them look their Book wherein are registred the departed and they shall find it so Let them therefore say Masses through all the Oratories of the Monastery giving thanks as well that their prayer is heard as also in the memory of the said King who formerly was their King and therefore earnestly prayed for them as for those of his Nation And when all the brethren are come together to Church let them be partakers of the heavenly sacrifice and so end their fast All this being related by the boy the Priest enquired after what manner they appear'd He answered They were comely and resplendent in habit and countenance above any he had ever seen the one with the celestial Tonsure the other with a long Beard and they said they were Peter and Paul servants of Christ sent for the defence of the Monastery The Priest believing the words by the Boy seeking in the Records found that Oswald was slain that day calling therefore together the brethren he commanded Masses to be said and that all should communicate after the accustomed manner and also caused a particle of the same sacrifice of the Lords Oblation to be brought to the sick Boy which done he died the same day confirming by his death the truth of the Apostles words for no more but he dyed out of the Monastery By this Vision many were stirred up to pray and call for mercy in adversity as also to use the wholsome help and medicine of fasting And from that time as well in the Monasteries as in very many other places the Birth-day of the said King began yearly to be kept holy with celebration of Masses The 15. Chapter nothing but Civil Affairs Chap. 16. Relates How King Cedwall though not yet Christned bound himself by Vow that if he took the Isle of Wight he would give unto God the fourth part thereof which he perform'd He gave it Wilfrid for the service of our Lord Thus this Island after all the Provinces of Britany was converted Chap. 17. At this time Theodore the Archbishop hearing that the Faith was much opposed at Constantinople by the Heresie of Eutichus and desiring that the English Church which he govern'd might continue free from any such spot gathered an Assembly of many Reverend Priests and Doctours where he found an uniform consent of them in the Catholike Faith Theodore By the grace of God Archbishop of the Isle of Britany and with him sitting the other Bishops at Hetfield c. After debate and conference We have set forth the true Catholike Faith in such sort as our Lord delivered it c. We have received the five holy and general Synods of the blessed and beloved Fathers of God viz. of 318. assembled at Nice against the wicked Arius and his opinions and of 150. at Constantinople against the fond Sect of Macedonins and that at Ephesus the first time of 200. against wicked Nestorius and that of Calcedon of a 130. against Eutichus and at Constantinople the second time where was assembled the fifth Councell against Theodore and others Also we receive the Synod held at Rome in the time of the most holy Pope Martin We worship and glorifie our Lord as those men have done neither adding nor diminishing and we excommunicate with heart and mouth those whom they excommunicate and whom they have received we receive Chap. 18. At this Synod was present and confirm'd the Catholike Faith a Reverend man nam'd John the cheif Chantour of St. Peters and Abbot of the Monastery of St. Martins who was come from Rome by command of Pope Agatho having for his guide the Reverend Abbot Benedict For having built a Monastery in England in honour of the Prince of the Apostles he came to Rome as often before with Ceolfrid his companion in the same work after Abbot and was receiv'd most honourably by the Pope of whom he obtain'd Letters of Priviledge by Apostolike Authority as he knew King Egfrids will was by whose liberal gift he had erected it He brought this John with him into England to teach the Abbeyes the yearly course and order of singing as it was taught at St. Peters in Rome which he did teaching the Chantours and Choristers of the Abbey the order and form of singing and reading committing to writing thosethings which appertain'd to the celebration of the high Feasts and Holy-dayes through the year which have been hither kept in the same Abbey and are now in all places copied out They came to hear him from all the Monasteries of the Province and many invited him to come unto them He had in charge from the Apostolike Pope diligently to observe what Faith the Church of England profest and bring him word thereof to Rome So the Copy of the foresaid Synod was given to him to carry to Rome wherein the Catholike Faith was found sound and uncorrupt but in his return he died His body for the love he bore to St. Martine whose Monastery he govern'd was honourably buried at Towers Neverthelesse the Copy of the Catholike Faith was brought to Rome and joyfully received by the See Apostolike Chap. 19. King Egfrid took to wife Ediltrude daughter of the King of the East-Saxons yet she remain'd twelve years a Virgin as Bishop Wilfrid a man of holy memory did inform me enquiring purposely thereof because some doubted it And that such things may be done in our time as formerly as Histories witness we may not question This also was a signe of the divine Wonder that the body of the same Virgin being buried remain'd uncorrupt which shews she ever lived untoucht And t is well known she long besought the King that she might
resorting to that place where King Oswald shed his bloud were there cured Chap. 11. Among other miracles I cannot omit to relate what hapned when King Oswalds bones were translated to the Church where they now are When towards Evening the Charriot was come wherein the bones were they of the Monastery of Beandaman were unwilling to receive them for although they had known him for a blessed man yet by reason he was a Forreigner born and had subdued them by Conquest they hated his memory So it fell out that the Reliques remain'd abroad all night yet was there a great Pavilion extended over the Chariot where the Reliques were But a Miracle from heaven declared with how great reverence those Bones were to be receiv'd of all faithfull people for all night long a pillar of light stood reaching from the Chariot wherein they were unto Heaven clearly beheld almost in all places of the Province which made the Brethren of the Monastery now earnestly desire that those holy Reliques might be laid up in their House They were therefore enclos'd in a shrine and placed with honour in the Church The water wherewith his bones were washt being poured out in a corner of the Vestry from that day forward the earth which receiv'd it had a speciall virtue in driving Devils out of possest bodies An Abbesse who is yet alive desir'd some of the Earth to be given her upon which this water was poured out and with it returned home It hapned that a stranger came to her Monastery who was wont to be vext with an unclean Spirit and at night began to foame gnash his teeth and rage no body being able to hold him The Abbess repaires to that quarter where the Men lodg'd and calling the Priest went with him to the Patient Where the Priest began to say the exorcisme That not sufficing the Abbess commanded her Maid to go bring her the little cabbinet wherein that Earth we spoke of was reserv'd As soon as the Maid was come with it from the Nunns quarter into the Court of that House where the possess'd Person was he grew silent and began to rest and as it were sleep and soon after rising up he said I feel my self whole They asked him how this came to pass And he answered As soon as this Virgin with the Cabinet which she brought approch't the Court of the House all the wicked Spirits that molested me departed Then the Abbess gave him of that dust and the Priest saying some Prayers he past over the night most quietly and was perfectly freed Chap. 12. In the same Monastry a little Boy had been long sick of an ague and was expecting his fit when one of the Brethern comming in said My Son I le tell thee how thou mayest be cured rise and go sit thee down at the Tombe of Oswald and be sure thou stirrest not thence till the howre be over in which thy fit useth to leave thee then I will come and bring thee forth The Boy did so and his Ague durst not presume to seize upon him at the Tombe of the Saint That this hapned thus a Brother who came from thence told me adding how at that very hower the youth was living in that Monastery who was thus cured by Miracle It is not to be wondred that the Prayers of that King now in Heaven may obtain much of God who having a Temporall Kingdome accustomed himself to continuall Prayer even died praying for as he was slain he prayed to God for the Soules of his Souldiers whereupon arose that old Proverbe God have mercy on their souls quoth Oswald when he dyed himself Chap. 13. The Reverend Bishop Acca used to tell how he heard Willebrord that holy Bishop of Frizeland report what had been done abroad by the wonderous Reliques of this Vertuous King A certain Scholler careless in his life being at the point of death with great remorse of his sins made a purpose if he recovered to amend saying If God of his mercy grant me to escape death I resolve to mend my life yet I know I have deserv'd no truce except by the help of such as have faithfully served God he of his mercy will pardon mee We have heard there hath been a King of wonderfull holiness called Oswald the Excellency of whose Faith and Vertue even after his death was well known by working frequent Miracles I beseech you speaking to the standers by if you have any of his Reliques bring me them It may be God will have mercy on me through his Merits to whom I made answer saith Willebrord I have of the tree whereupon his head was stuck after he was slain and if thou wilt beleeve assuredly God by the Merits of so worthy a Person may grant thee longer life Who answering he did believe I blest saith Willebrord some water casting into it a shiver of the said Oake giving it the sick man to drink and forthwith he recovered and reform'd his life and living long after declar'd to all men the favour of our Maker and the glory of his servant Chap. 14. Relates how Oswin was slain by Osway where afterward in satisfaction for the sin there was a Monastery built wherein daily Prayers were offered up to God for Redemption of both the Kings souls the Murderer and murdered It Relates also the admirable Vertue of King Oswin how Aidan the Bishop foretold his death and twelve days after died himself Chap. 15. Relates How God by many Miracles declared to the world how worthy a Man Aidan the Bishop was and how Vtta a Priest being sent into Kent to fetch Eansled King Edwins Daughter the Bishop at his setting forth blessing him gave him hallowed oile saying I know that at your taking ship you will have a Tempest But remember to cast into the sea this oile that I give you All which hapning as Aidan had foretold the Priest takeing the oile cast of it into the sea and immediately there ensued a Calme This I had saith Bede from the faithfull relation of Cinimond Priest of our Church who said he had it from Vtta himself to whom this hapned Chap. 16. Relates How by the Prayers of Aidan Bishop the fire which the Enemy had defigned to burne a Towne besieg'd returned upon themselves making them quit the siege Chap. 17. Relates How the Vertuous Bishop Aidan departed this life the 17th year of his Bishoprick Not long after a Church being dedicated to the honour of the most blessed Prince of the Apostles his bones were translated thither and placced on the right side of the Altar with much honor as he deserved When King Penda set fire on the Church that Post onely whereunto this holy Bishop leaned at his death could by no force of fire be consum'd The Miracle being known and spread abroad the Church was again built but the like hapned the second time
to serve the Altar whereof five were Bishops of eminent sanctity One of them called Ostfor when he had in both Monasteries diligently followed the reading of Scripture desirous of further perfection came into Kent to Archbishop Theodore he went also to Rome which at that time was counted a thing of great vertue As for Hilda after seven years extraordinary patience in sickness she died Her death was revealed by a manifest vision in another Monastery There was a certain Nun called â—egu who had served our Lord in Monasticall conversation and virginity thirty years and more This Nun taking her rest in the dormitary heard suddenly the bell ring which was wont to call them up to prayers when any of them departed this world and opening her eyes she saw the roof and all above full of lights and the soul of the said handmaid of God in that light carried into heaven accompanied by Angels Hereupon she rose and went to the Virgin that was governesse of the Monastery and told her that the Mother of them all Hilda was departed and with a great company of Angels ascended to Heaven then she made the Sisters rise and go to Church willing then to say prayers Psalms for the soul of their Mother At break of day came the Brethren to bring word of her departure but they shewed they knew it before It is reported that in the same Monastery where the Handmaid of Christ died one of these vow'd Virgins had her departing shewed her in a vision beholding her sonl going with the Angels to heaven whilest she was at that time with other handmaids of Christ in the remote places of the Monastery were such as were newly come to Religion were wont to be tried in a place a part the time of their probation till instructed in the rule and order they were admitted to the fellowship of the rest Chap. 24. Contains the vertues of one Cednom and relates how he became a Monk and how the night before he died he desired him who serv'd the sick to prepare him a lodging in that place where those who lay a dying used to be lodged commonly called the infirmary who wondering thereat he not seeming near death did notwithstanding what he desired About midnight he enquired whether they had the Eucharist within And receiveing it he askt How nigh the hour was that the brethren should rise to perform their nightly Laudes they answered not far off Then quoth he let us expect that hour being come signing himself with the sign of the holy Cross sleeping a while he dyed becoming a Prophet of his own death Chap. 25. Relates How the Monastery of Virgins in Colloden now call'd Coldingham in the marches of Scotland was burnt How also in the same Monastery one named Adaman led a very devout life in chastity abstinence and prayer so that he did neither eat nor drink except on Sunday and Thursday and often times past over whole nights in Watching and prayer Having in his youth committed a grievous sin it often occurring to him he resorted unto a Priest confest his sin unto him and desired his counsel how to escape the wrath of God The Priest when he heard his offence said A great wound requires a greater cure give thy self to Fasting and Prayer to the end thou mayest find God merciful to thee But he out of excessive grief desiring forth with to be absolv'd from his sins said I am young and strong therefore whatsoever you impose I will perform to be saved although it be to passe the whole night in Prayer and the whole week in abstinence T is too much said the Priest it sufficeth you to fast two or three dayes at once do this a while then returning unto me I will declare unto thee how thou mayest persist in doing Pennance Some unexpected cause calling this Priest into Ireland he departed this life But Adaman ever after kept this manner of fasting The latter part of this Chapter recounts the vision of one who appearing to Adaman said Thou and many others have need to redeem your sins by good works foretelling him the ruine was to befall that Monastery for neglect of due observance which after hapned This Giles a most Reverend Priest told me who then lived in that Monastery Chap. 26. Relates chiefly the Revolution of civil affaires and some few other passages little to our purpose Chap. 27. Relates How Cuthbert a Holy man being consecrated Bishop of Lindis-ferne lived a solitary life many yeares in great continency and how first in the Monastery of Mailrose he was an humble scholler to Boisel a man of great vertue and of a Prophetick Spirit He learned of him the Scriptures and example of good workes His Master dying Cuthbert was made Head of the Monastery and brought many to a regular life He often went out into the villages to preach the way of truth to them that went astray For it was the custome of England at that time that when any Clergy-man or Priest came forth they all flock about him to hear the Word diligently hearkening and more willingly following in works what they heard None hid the secrets of his heart from him but all plainly declared in Confession what they had done because they imagined these things were not concealed from him as he commanded so did they blot out their sins Confest with worthy fruits of Pennance He was remov'd from the Monastery of Mailrose after he had many years excell'd there in great signes of vertue to Lindisfern to teach the Brethren the observance of regular discipline Aidan first Bishop of that place was a Monk and did there place and begin Monastical life and conversation joyning it with his Episcopal Function even as the blessed Father Augustine had done in Kent Chap. 28. After this Cuthbert encreasing in merits past further and led an Anachorets life The place he made choice of being hanted with spirits and destitute of Water Corn and Trees he by his prayers chasing them away made habitable He commanded the brethren to dig where the earth was hardest and stoniest and by his prayers obtain'd such plenty of water that it sufficeth all to this very day He commanded also Barley to be sown in a season most improper and yet he reaped a plentifull crop T is related further How at the Synod of Atwiford he was compell'd to take the Office of a Bishop and that which forced him was that the servant of God Boisell who with a prophetick spirit foretold many things had prophesied that he should be Bishop He was famous for abstinence and strictnes of life When he offered the wholesome Sacrifice to God it was with tears from the bottome of his heart Having spent two years in his Episcopal Function he return'd to his Monastery admonisht from God of the day of his death which he declared to some in obscure
words though afterward plainly understood To others he openly manifested the same Chap. 29. Relates How Herebert a Priest of great perfection and friend to Cuthbert led a solitary life to whom Cuthbert revealing his own death he fell downe at his feet requesting him to obtaine that he might passe to Heaven with him Cuthbert having made his prayer told him his request was granted The event confirmed the Prophesie for they died both upon one day Chap. 30. God being pleas'd to manifest in how great glory Cuthbert lived after his death whose godly life cxcelled in many Miracles inspired the Brethren a eleven years after to remove his bones Opening the Tombe they found the body all whole as if it were alive the 〈◊〉 joynts sinues pliable the garments also seemed fresh and resplendent They went to the Bishop who was then in a solitary place incompast with the sea For there was he wont alwayes to keep the time of Lent and forty dayes also before Christmas in devotion abstinence and tears They brought him part of the Clothes that were about the Holy body which he received as an acceptable present and kissing them with great affection rejoyceth to hear of such Miracles His successor of great vertue Eadbert was laid in Cuthberts grave in which place Miracles done in restoring the sick do witness the vertuous lives of them both Chap. 31. Relates How one was cured of a Palsie at Cuthberts Tombe The Clothes also wherewith the Holy body was clad either in his life or after his death did not want the gifts of healing the sick Chap. 32. Relates How another was cured at St. Cuthberts reliques of a great sore in his eie The Monks had taken some of Cuthburts haire of his head for reliques to shew and give And as soon as part thereof was applied to thesore the partie was healed The Fifth Book Chap. 1. Relate◠How Edilwald Cuthberts successor in a solitary life alaid by prayer a great tempest at Sea wherein some of his Brethren were in danger Gutfrid saith Bede a faithfull servant of Christ who was one of the Company and after Abbot of Lindesferne declared it to me When we had said Gutfrid talkt with him much to our comfort having askt blessing we hastned home Soon after a great tempest arose Edilwald falling on his knees prayed to God to deliver us and suddenly the storme ceast and we came safe to land As soon as we were ashore the Tempest and storme began again and lasted all that day to give us to understand that the calme was given us by God at the prayers of the Holy man After his decease he was buried in St. Peter the Apostles Church Chap. 2. John Famous for integrity and purity of life was made Bishop of Hagulstad of whom his familiar acquaintance were wont to report many strange Miracles wrought at severall times cheifly Berethun who is now Abbot a man most Reverend and faithfull in his relations of which I thought fit to record some There is a private abode neer a Church-yard of St. Michael the Arch-Angell hither this holy man was wont to retire himself to pray especially in time of Lent The time being now at hand he gave command to seek out some begger towards whom he might exercise his charity They brought him one who was dumbe One week of Lent being past he call'd the dumb begger to him and bidding him put out his tongue made the signe of the Crosse upon it and then bad him speak whereupon he spoke after the Bishop all that he suggested and so perfectly recovered his speech Note that this John is he who was called John of Beverlay whence Godwin saith Bede was much to blame if these things be not true For he knew him and took holy Orders of him and lived in his Diocess Chap. 3. Relates How the said Bishop coming to a Monastery in a Town call'd Vetade where Hereburge was Abbesse she told him that one of the Nuns of the Convent was very sick and lay pining and languishing away And she besought the Bishop to go in and blesse her which he did saying prayers over her and departing blest her As we were taking our leave saith Abbot Berecht the swelling went away and the Maide was delivered from danger Chap. 4. Relates How an Earle sent his sick Lady some of the water which the said Bishop had hollowed in the dedication of a Church willing her to drink of it and wash the greived part which done saith Abbot Berecht she rose so whole and sound that she served us at the table Chap. 5. Another time when the holy Bishop had dedicated a Church an Earle called Addi intreated him to come to his House where one of his family lay so desperatly sick that his Coffin was already prepared hoping that if he had but laid his hands upon him and blessed him he should be better The Bishop enters makes his prayer blesses him saying God send you whole son Then sitting down at Table the partie sent for a Cup of wine which the Bishop blessed and sent him As soon as he drank it he arose a sound man put on his apparel came to the Table saying that he desired to eat and drink with them he sat down eat drank and was as merry as any at the Table and lived many yeares after a sound man This Miracle the Abbot Berecht said he had from those who were present Chap. 6. Herebald A faithfull servant of Christ now Abbot of a monastery was heard to say as touching John the Bishops worth I have had experience in many others but especially in my self as whom he in a manner forced from death to life by his prayer and benediction for having been sore bruised with a fall I was healed by the Bishops intercession When for age the Bishop could not preach he consecrated his Chaplin Wilfrid Arch-Bishop of Yorke and himself retiring into a Monastery there ended his dayes Chap. 7. Cedwell King of the tumultuous after he had raigned two years for hope of an eternall kingdome forsook his owne and went to Rome He thought it a singular glory to be regenerated at the holy Apostles Tombes by the Sacrament of Baptisme hoping soon after to passe to eternall life which hapned as he desired He was baptised on Easter eve An. 689 and wearing yet the robes of Innocency fell fick and died Whom the Pope at his Baptisme nam'd Peter that he might beare the holy name of the Prince of the Apostles whose Tombe he came to see with great devotion many hundred miles Hun succeeded him who having been King seven and thirty years leaving his Kingdome went to the Tombes of the Apostles in Rome having an earnest desire to live a Pilgrime on Earth for a time neer those Holy places that so he might deserve the better to be