CHAP. XXX.1 [A.D. 686.-HOW HE CURED A DAMSEL OF PAIN IN HER HEAD AND

SIDE BY ANOINTING HER WITH OIL.

4

§ 50. AND not unlike to this was another miraculous cure, wrought by the venerable prelate, Cudberct, as related by many witnesses who were present, among whom there was the religious priest Aediluald,' then the minister of the servant of God, but now abbat of the monastery of Mailros. For as Cudberct, according to his wont, was passing through the people and teaching them, he came to a certain town," in which there was a small number of nuns, who through fear of a barbarian army, had fled thither from their monastery, and to whom the man of God had a little time before given this place as a residence. One of these virgins, who was a kinswoman of Aediluald, the aforenamed priest, was oppressed with a grievous illness, and for a whole year had suffered from intolerable pains in her head and her whole side, so that her case was considered desperate by the physicians. When they who had come with him had informed the man of God of her case, and had besought him for her recovery, Cudberct, taking pity on her wretched state, anointed her with consecrated oil. And immediately, from that hour, she began to revive, and in a few days was restored to perfect health.

CHAP. XXXI. [A.D. 686.]-How A SICK MAN WAS HEALED BY BREAD WHICH HAD

BEEN BLESSED BY HIM.

§ 51. NOR should we pass over in silence another miracle which we know of a certainty was wrought by the virtue of this venerable man, although in his absence. We have made mention already of Hildmer, an officer whose wife had been freed from an unclean spirit by the man of God. This same officer fell afterwards into a very grievous illness, so that, his trouble increasing daily, he was confined to his bed, and appeared to be gradually reduced to the point of death. Several of his friends assembled to comfort him in his sickness; and as they sat down by the bed on which he lay, one of them suddenly happened to mention that he had a loaf with him, which Cudberct, the man of the Lord, had lately given him, after having bestowed on it the grace of his benediction : "And I verily believe," he said, "that were Hildmer to taste of this, it would prove a remedy; provided the slowness of our faith did not prevent it." Now they were all laymen, but devout persons. Then each turning to the other confessed that they believed without any doubt that he might be cured by the com

1 Vit. Anon. § 33; Vit. Metr. cap. xxiv.

2 He became bishop of Lindisfarne in 724. See Eccl. Hist. § 395; Acta SS. mens. Feb. ii. 604.

3 We learn from the anonymous legend that the name of this place was Bedesfeld.

Possibly the army of the Picts, who had so recently killed the king of Northumbria.

5 Vit. Metr. cap. xxv. This is an addition to the narrative of the anonymous Lindisfarne legend.

6 Namely, in chapter xv. § 23.

munion of this blessed bread. And filling a cup with water, they put into it a little piece of that loaf, and gave it him to drink. And as soon as that taste of water, which was sanctified by the bread, reached his bowels, the pain of his inside entirely departed, and the wasting away of his outward limbs ceased; and not long after, he was restored to robust health. And the speed of so unexpected a cure deservedly stirred up the hearts not only of himself and his friends, but also of all who saw or heard of it, to praise the holiness of the servant of Christ, and to marvel at the virtue of his faith unfeigned.

CHAP. XXXII.1 [A.D.686.]-How HE RECALLED TO LIFE, BY PRAYER, A DYING YOUTH

WHO WAS BROUGHT TO HIM WHEN HE WAS ON A JOURNEY.

§ 52. ONCE, also, as this most holy pastor of the Lord's flock was going round his sheepfold, he came to a mountainous and wild district, with the view of giving the imposition of hands to those who were there assembled to meet him, at a certain point, from the many hamlets which were widely scattered over the country. As, however, there was neither a church, nor any place in the mountains fitted to receive the bishop and his attendants, tents were therefore erected by the wayside; and by cutting down branches from the neighbouring forest, each man built a booth, such as he best could, for himself, wherein to abide. Here the man of God preached the Word, for two days, to the crowds that flocked to hear him, and by the imposition of hands, ministered the grace of the Holy Ghost to those who had been lately regenerated in Christ: when, lo! there suddenly appeared some women carrying on a litter a young man, wasted with a long and grievous sickness; and setting him down at the outlet of the forest, they sent to ask of the bishop leave to bring him that he might receive his blessing. And when the youth had been brought to Cudberct, and he found how grievously he was afflicted, he ordered all to withdraw to a distance. And having recourse to his wonted arms of prayer, he gave him his blessing; and forthwith the malady-which the anxious skill of physicians could not effect with their compounded drugs,—was entirely driven away. And rising up the same hour, and being refreshed with food, the youth gave thanks to God, and returned to the women who had carried him thither. And thus it came to pass that they who had carried him sorrowfully sick to Cudberct, returned home rejoicing with him, he also rejoicing in sound health, and all exulting in joy.

CHAP. XXXIII. [A.D. 686.]—How, IN A TIME OF MORTALITY, HE RESTORED A DYING CHILD IN SOUND HEALTH TO ITS MOTHER.

§ 53. Ar the same time a pestilence having suddenly arisen in these parts, it produced so great a mortality, that in towns which had formerly been large, and in estates, and in villages once filled

1 Vit. Anon. § 34; Vit. Metr. cap. xxvi.

2 The anonymous legend relates this incident with some additional particulars as to persons and places. 3 Vit. Anon. § 35; Vit. Metr. cap. xxvii.

In conse

with inhabitants, few, yea sometimes not one remained. quence of this, the most holy bishop with great diligence visited his diocese, and was unceasing in the ministry of the Word, and in bringing needful consolation to the scanty number of the survivors. And when he arrived at a certain village,1 and had given the aid of exhortation to all whom he found there, he said to his priest, "Do you think that any one remains in these parts, who may require our visitation and conversation? or, having visited all who are sick, may we now pass on to others?" The priest, on looking round, saw a woman standing afar off, who, a little before, having lost one son by death, held in her arms his brother, now at the point of dying, and by the tears which furrowed her cheeks she gave proof at once of her past and present affliction. As soon as he had pointed her out to the man of God, Cudberct went towards her, and giving his blessing, he kissed the child, and said to its mother, "Fear not, neither be sad for this your child shall recover, and live; neither shall any other of your house henceforth die of this mortal pestilence.' Το the truth of which prophecy, the mother herself, together with her son, who lived for a long time after, gave testimony.

CHAP. XXXIV.2 [A.D. 686.]-HOW HE SAW THE SOUL OF A CERTAIN PERSON TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN WHO WAS KILLED BY FALLING FROM A TREE.

§ 54. MEANWHILE, as Cudberct, the man of God, was conscious beforehand of his own approaching death, he now resolved in his mind to lay down the care of his pastoral office, and to return to a solitary life: there to shake off all external solicitude, and to await, amid the free employment of prayer and psalmody, the day of his death, or rather of his life in heaven. Nevertheless, he desired first to make a complete visitation, not only of his diocese, but also of all the other dwellings of the faithful, in order to confirm all with the needful word of exhortation; and having done so, to return to be refreshed in the joy of his long-desired solitude. Whilst he was thus engaged, being invited by the most noble and most holy virgin of Christ, the abbess Aelflaede, (whom I have mentioned above,") he came to the property of her monastery, for the purpose of there seeing her and talking with her, and for dedicating a church; for the estate contained no inconsiderable number of the servants of Christ. And as they sat at table at the hour of refection, Cudberct suddenly turned away his mind from the carnal feast to the contemplation of spiritual things. The limbs of his body were loosed from their functions, the colour of his face changed, his eyes were unusually astounded, and the knife which he held in his hand dropped on the table. And when his priest, who was standing by and ministering, saw this, leaning towards the abbess, he said softly, "Ask the bishop what he has just now seen;

1 Here again Beda has omitted details which are valuable.

2 Vit. Anon. § 39; Vit. Metr. cap. xxxi.

3 See chapters xxiii. and xxiv. § 38-41.

4 The Lindisfarne monk furnishes us with the name of the monastery; it was called Osingadun.

for I know that not without cause his trembling hand has dropped the knife, and his countenance is changed: for he sees something spiritual, which the rest of us cannot see." And immediately turning towards him, "I beseech you," she said, "my lord bishop, tell me what you have seen just now; for not without cause has your wearied hand dropped the knife which it was holding." Cudberct, however, endeavoured to dissemble that he had seen anything secret, and answered playfully, "Do you think that I am able to eat the whole day? surely I ought to rest a little while now." But as she urgently adjured and besought him to reveal the vision, "I have seen," he replied, "the soul of a certain holy person borne up by the hands of angels to the joys of the kingdom of heaven." Again she said, "From what place was he taken?" He replied, From your monastery;" and on her proceeding to ask the name of the person, he said, "To-morrow, when I am celebrating mass, you yourself shall tell me his name." On hearing this, she forthwith sent to her greater monastery, to see who had been lately snatched away from the body. But the messenger, finding all safe and well there, set out next morning to return to his mistress, and on the road he met some persons who were carrying in a cart the body of a deceased brother to be buried; and asking who it was, he was told, that it was one of the shepherds, a man of good life, who incautiously climbing a tree, had fallen down, and was so much injured that he expired at the very time on which the man of God had seen him borne up to heaven. And returning, he related to the abbess what had happened, and she immediately went to the bishop, who was then dedicating the church, and with womanlike astonishment, as if about to relate some extraordinary circumstance, "I pray you," she said, "my lord bishop, remember during mass the soul of my servant Haduuald," for that was the man's name, "who died yesterday, by falling from a tree." Then it appeared manifestly to all how mightily the manifold spirit of prophecy was present in the heart of the holy man, since he could not only see as present the secret departure of the man's soul, but could also foretell that this fact should afterwards be communicated to himself by others.

CHAP. XXXV.1 [A.D. 686.]—How BY TASTING WATER HE GAVE IT THE FLAVOUR OF WINE.

§ 55. AFTER this, having completed his visitation of the mountainous districts in order, he came to the monastery of virgins which, as we noticed above,' was situated not far from the mouth of the river Tyne, where he was honourably received by the religious and (according to the estimation of the world) the most noble servant of Christ, the abbess Uerca. And after they had

1 This narrative does not occur either in the anonymous legend or in Beda's own metrical narrative. He tells us, towards the end of the chapter, whence he obtained his information.

2 Namely in chapter iii. § 6.

risen from the noonday rest, Cudberct, feeling thirsty, asked for something to drink. They accordingly asked him what he would have to drink? whether they should bring him wine or beer? Give me water," he said; and they offered him water which they had drawn from the fountain. And having given his benediction and drank a little, he handed it to his priest, who was standing beside him, and he gave it back to the attendant. And having taken the cup, the attendant said:"May I be permitted to drink of the draught of which the bishop has drank?" To which the other replied:" Yea, why may you not?" Now, this man was the priest of the monastery. He drank accordingly, but the water seemed to him to have acquired the flavour of wine; and wishing that a brother who was standing by should be likewise a witness of so great a miracle, he handed him the cup; and when he also had drank of it, the water seemed to his palate also to have acquired the flavour of wine. Now as they looked on one another marvelling, when they found a convenient pause in the conversation, they mutually agreed that, as it seemed to them, they had never tasted better wine; as one of them who afterwards dwelt for no short time in our monastery at the mouth of the river Wear, and who is now buried there in peaceful rest, testified to Ime with his own mouth.

CHAP. XXXVI.' [A. D. 687.]-HOW A TEMPESTUOUS SEA KEPT SEVERAL MONKS PRISONERS, WHO WERE DISOBEDIENT TO HIM.

§ 56. HAVING spent two years' in the government of his diocese, Cudberct, the man of the Lord, knowing in spirit that the day of his departure was at hand, threw off the burthen of the pastoral office, and returned as soon as possible to the strife of a hermit's life, which he loved so well, in order that the flame of his former contrition might more freely consume the thorns of worldly care which had grown up within him. At this time it was his custom more frequently to leave his abode, and converse face to face with the brethren who came to visit him. I will now relate a miracle wrought by him at that time, from which it will more clearly appear how necessary a thing it is to obey holy men, even in those things which they appear somewhat negligently to have commanded. One day, several persons having come to visit him, Cudberct went out to them, and having refreshed them with words of exhortation, he concluded his admonition by saying, "It is now time for me to return to my cell; but as you are disposed to set out, do you first take some food; take this goose, and cook and eat it," (for the goose was hanging against the wall,)" and so, in the name of the Lord, go on board and return home." Having thus spoken, he prayed, and giving his blessing, he returned to his

1 Vit. Anon. § 40; Vit. Metr. cap. xxxii. In neither of these narratives does the incident occur which recounts the punishment of the monks of Lindisfarne. Beda quotes his authority for it at the end of the chapter.

2 These two years are to be calculated from his nomination, not from his consecration. See Pagi, ad an. 687, § 5.