CHAP. XXVIII.1 [A.D. 686.]—How HE FORETOLD HIS DECEASE TO HEREBERCT, THE ANCHORITE; AND HOW THE LATTER, THROUGH CUDBERCT'S PRAYER, OBTAINED

PERMISSION TO ACCOMPANY HIM IN DEATH.

§ 48. AND not long after this, the same servant of the Lord, Cudberct, being invited to the same city of Lugubalia, arrived there in order to consecrate some priests, and at the same time to give his benediction to the queen, who was to receive the habit of holy religion from his hands. Now there was a priest of venerable life, by name Hereberct, who had been for a long time united in the bonds of spiritual friendship with the man of God. This man led a solitary life, in an islands of the vast lake from which the river Derwent takes its source; and he was wont to come every year to receive. from Cudberct the admonitions of everlasting salvation. On hearing that his friend was tarrying in the city, he joined him there, as was his custom, in the hope of being more and more inflamed to heavenly desires by his wholesome exhortations. And while these two were mutually giving each other to drink from the cup of heavenly wisdom, Cudberct said, amongst other things:"Bethink you, brother Hereberct, of anything you may have need to ask me, and speak to me about it; for after we shall have departed the one from the other, we shall never meet again in this world, nor see each other with the eyes of the flesh. For I am assured that the time of my dissolution is not far off, and the laying aside of this my tabernacle is at hand." On hearing this, Hereberct fell at his feet, and, pouring forth tears, he said mournfully, “I beseech you by the Lord, do not leave me, but bear in mind me your companion, and beg of the mercy of heaven, that, as we have served Him on earth, we may pass together in like manner, to behold his brightness in heaven. For you know how I have always endeavoured to live by the command of your mouth, and that in whatsoever thing I have offended through ignorance or frailty, that I have in like wise striven to correct at the good pleasure of your will." The bishop bowed down in prayer, and forthwith being taught in spirit that he had obtained what he had sought from the Lord," Rise, my brother," he said, "and weep not, but rejoice greatly, for the Divine Mercy has granted that thing which we have asked of Him." The subsequent issue of events confirmed both his promise and the truth of his prophecy for after separating from each other, they never saw each other again in the flesh; and departing from the body at one and the same moment of time, their spirits were presently united to each other in the beatific vision, and were in like manner translated by the ministry of angels to the kingdom of heaven. But Hereberct required to be first refined by long infirmity, and this, perhaps, by the dispensation of our Lord's mercy, that the continual pain of long sickness might supply whatever deficiency of merit he might have in comparison with the blessed Cudberct; so that he being equalled in

1 Vit. Anon. § 38; Vit. Metr. cap. xxx.

2 See Hist. Eccl. IV. xxix. § 350.

3 See Camd. Brit. col. 1005, 1006.

:

grace to his intercessor, they both might depart together at the same hour, and on one and the same day be thought worthy to be admitted to one and the like seat of everlasting blessedness.

CHAP. XXIX.1 [A.D. 686.]—How HE CURED THE Wife of an EARL BY BLESSED WATER, WHICH HE SENT BY HIS PRIEST.

§ 49. Now, as he was one day going round his diocese, wherein he was bountifully distributing counsels of salvation to the rustic inhabitants of divers cottages and villages, as well as laying his hands on the lately baptized, that they might receive the grace of the Holy Ghost, he came to the mansion of a certain earl, whose wife was lying sick, as if at the point of death. And this nobleman, coming out to meet him, gave thanks to God, on his knees, for his arrival, and leading him in, welcomed him with kind hospitality. And after the usual hospitable rite of washing his hands and feet had been performed, and the prelate had sat down again, the earl began to tell him of the hopeless illness of his wife, and besought him to bless some water wherewith to sprinkle her: "For I believe," he said, "that presently, by the gift of God, she will either be restored to health, or, if she is to die, that she will pass from death to everlasting life, and, by dying, receive more speedily the recompense of her sad and long-continued trouble." The man of God readily assented to his request, and blessing some water that was brought to him, he gave it to a priest, commanding him to sprinkle the sick person with it. And entering into her bed-chamber, in which she lay like one half dead, the priest sprinkled her and her bed, and opening her mouth, he poured in a portion of the salutary draught; and, oh wondrous event, and astounding above measure! as soon as the consecrated water touched the sick woman, who was quite insensible of what had been applied to her, she was restored so completely to health, both of mind and body, that coming immediately to her perfect intellect, she blessed the Lord, and gave thanks to Him, who vouchsafed to send such and so great guests to visit and cure her. And without delay, rising up in sound health, she ministered to the ministers of her recovered health. And it was a goodly sight to behold, how she who had escaped the cup of death, by the blessing of the bishop, should be the first of all so noble a family to offer the cup of refreshment to him. Wherein she imitated the example of the mother-in-law of the apostle Peter, who, on being cured of a fever by our Lord, forthwith rising up, ministered to Him and his disciples. [Matt. viii. 14, 15.]

1 Vit. Anon. § 32; Vit. Metr. cap. xxiii. In the former narrative several additional particulars are recorded.

CHAP. XXX. [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. 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.3 [A.D. 686.]—HOW, IN A TIME OF MORTALITY, HE RESTORED A DYING CHILD IN SOUND HEALTH TO ITS MOTHER.

§ 53. At 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.

? 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,' 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." To 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.

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

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