fame Mother, either inftructing or reproving the young ones. For the perfecting of whofe Virtue in Infirmity, according to the Apostle, fhe was fuddenly feiz'd with a most grievous Diftemper, under which, through the good Providence of our Redeemer, fhe fuffer'd very much for the space of nine Years; to the end, that whatfoever fullying of Vice had amidst her Virtues, either through Ignorance or Neglect, fix'd upon her, might all be confum'd in the Fire of long Tribulation. This Perfon going out of her Chamber one Night just at the first Dawn of the Day, plainly faw as it were an Human Body, which was brighter than the Sun, wrapp'd up in a Sheet,lifted up on high; being taken out of the House, in which the Sifters us'd to refide. Then looking earnestly what it was that drew up the Likeness of the glorious Body fhe beheld, the perceiv'd it was drawn up as it were by brighter Cords of Gold, till entring into the open Heavens, it could no longer be feen by her. Reflecting on this Vifion, fhe made no doubt but that fome one of the Congregation would foon die, whose Soul would be lifted up to Heaven by the good Works perform'd, as it were by golden Cords. The which accordingly hapned; for but a few Days after, the beloved of God, Edilburg, Mother of that Congregation was deliver'd out of the Prifon of the Flesh; whofe Life is known to have been fuch, that no Perfon who knew her ought to question but that the Heavenly Kingdom was open to her, when the departed this World.

There

There was alfo in the fame Monaftery a a certain Nun, noble as to this World, and much nobler in the Love of the World to come; who had for many Years been fo difabled in all her Body, that she could not of herself move any one Limb. She being inform'd that the venerable Abbeffes Body was carry'd into the Church, till it could be bury'd, defir'd to be carry'd thither, and to be bow'd down towards it after the manner of one praying. Which being done, fpeaking to her as if the had been living, fhe intreated her, that fhe would obtain of the Mercy of our compaffionate Creator, that she might be deliver'd from fuch great and lafting Pains; nor was it long before the was heard; for being taken out of the Flesh twelve Days after, fhe exchang'd her Temporal Afflictions for an eternal Reward. When the abovemention'd Servant of CHRIST, Torchgyth had continu'd in this Life three Years after the Death of that Lady, fhe was fo far spent with the Distemper we mention'd before, that her Bones could fcarce hang together; and at laft, when the Time of her Diffolution was at hand, the not only loft the Use of her other Limbs, but even of her Tongue; which having continu'd three Days, and as many Nights, and being on a fudden reliev❜d by a fpiritual Vifion, fhe open'd her Mouth and Eyes, and looking up to Heaven, began thus to direct her Difcourfe to the Vision fhe faw, Your coming is very acceptable to me, and you are welcome Having fo faid fhe was filent a while, as it were waiting the Anfwer of the Perfon The faw and fpoke to. Then as fomewhat dif pleas'd,fhe faid, I cannot bear this with Satisfaction.

The

Then paufing awhile, the faid again, If it canpoffibly be to day, I beg the Delay may not be long. And holding her Peace a fhort while, the concluded thus, If it is pofitively fo decreed, and the Refolution cannot be alter'd, I beg that it may be no longer deferr'd than this next Night. Having fo faid, and being ask'd by thofe about her, to whom she talk'd, With my most dear Mother Ethilburg, said she. By which they understod, that she was come to acquaint her, that the Time of her Departure was at hand. For, as fhe had defir'd, after one Day and Night, being deliver'd from the Bonds of the Flesh and her Infirmity, the enter'd the Joys of eternal Sal

vation.

CHAP. X.

How a blind Woman praying in the Buryal Place of that Monaftery, was reftor'd to her Sight.

ILDELID, the devout Servant of God

Hucceeded Ethilburga in the Office of Ab

befs, and prefided over that Monastery many Years, that is, to a very great Age, with extraordinary Conduct, in the Obfervance of regular Difcipline, and in the Care of providing all Things for the publick Ufe, She by reafon of the Streightnefs of the Place where the Monaftery is built, having thought fit that the Bones of the Male and Female Servants of CHRIST, which had been there bury'd, should

be

be taken up, and all of them tranflated into the Church of the Bleffed Mother of God, and interr'd in one Place; whofoever will read it, may find in the Book from which we have gather'd thefe Things, how often a Brightness of Heavenly Light was feen there, and a Fragrancy of wonderful Odour fmelt, and what other Miracles wrought. However, I think it by no means fit to pass by the miraculous Cure, which the fame Book informs us was wrought at that Buryal Place of the Congregation de dicated to God. There liv'd in that Neigh bourhood a certain Earl, whofe Wife being feiz'd with a Dimness in her Eyes, at length the fame daily increafing, came to fuch an height, that she could not fee the least Glimpse of Light. Having continu'd fome Time confind under this Night of Darkness, on a fudden fhe bethought herself that he might recover her loft Sight, if being carry'd to the Monaftery of the Nuns, fhe fhould pray there for the fame, at the Relicks of the Saints. Nor did the lofe any Time in performing what she had thought of; for being conducted by her Maids to the Monaftery, which was very near, profeffing that fhe had perfect Faith that fhe fhould be there heal'd, he was led into the buryal Place. And having long pray'd there on her Knees, did not fail to be heard; for rifing from Prayer, before fhe went out of the Place, the receiv'd the Grace of defir'd Sight; and having been led thither by her Servants, return'd home joyfully without Help; as if fhe had loft her Sight to no other End, than that fie might make it appear, how great

Light the Saints enjoy'd in Heaven, and how great the Power of their Virtue was.

CHA P. XI.

How Sebbi King of that fame Province ended bis Life in Monaftical Converfation.

A

T that Time, as the fame little Book informs us, Sebbi, a Man much devoted to God, of whom mention has been made above, govern'd the Kingdom of the Eaft-Saxons. He was much addicted to religious Actions, frequent Prayer, and pious Alms; preferring a private and Monaftical Life before all the Wealth and Honours of his Kingdom, which fort of Life he would also long before have undertaken, had not the pofitive Temper of his Wife refus'd to be divorc'd from him; for which reafon many were of Opinion, (as has been often faid,) that a Perfon of fuch a Difpofition ought rather to have been made a Bishop than a King. When he had been thirty Years a King, as a Soldier of the Heavenly Kingdom, he fell into a violent Sickness, of which he dy'd, and admonish'd his Wife, that they should then at least jointly devote themselves to the Service of God, fince they could no longer enjoy, or rather ferve the World. Having with much Difficulty obtain'd this of her, he repair'd to Waldhere, Bishop of the City of London,