dicted that he should be a Bishop. However the Confecration was not appointed immediately; but after the Winter, which was then at hand, it was perform'd at Eafter in the City of York, and in the Prefence of the aforefaid King Ecgfrid; feven Bishops meeting to that Function, among whom Theodore, of bleffed Memory, was Primate. He was firft eleated Bishop of the Church of Hagulftad, in the Place of Tunberht, who had been depos'd from the Epifcopal Dignity. But, in regard, that he chofe rather to be plac'd over the Church of Lindisfarn, in which he had been conver fant, it was thought fit that Eata returning to the See of the Church of Hagulftad, to which he had been firft ordain'd, Cuthbert should take upon him the Government of the Church of Lindisfarn. He, following the Example of the Apostles, became an Ornament to the Epifcopal Dignity by his virtuous A&ions; for he both protected the People committed to his Charge by conftant Prayer, and excited them by most wholfome Admonitions to Heavenly Practices; and, which is the greateft Help in Teachers, he firft fhow'd in his Behaviour what he taught was to be perform'd by others; for he was much inflam'd with the Fire of Divine Charity; modest in the Virtue of Patience; most diligently intent on devout Prayers, and affable to all that came to him for Comfort. He thought it equivalent to Praying, to afford the infirm Brethren the Help of his Exhortations, well knowing that he who faid, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, faid likewife, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thyfelf.

was alfo remarkable for penitential Absti

nence

nence, and always intent upon Heavenly Things, through the Grace of Compunction. Laftly, when he offer'd up to God the Sacrifice of the faving Victim, he recommended his Defire to God, not with a loud Voice, but with Tears drawn from the bottom of his Heart. Having spent two Years in his Bishoprick, he return'd to his Inland and Monaftery, being advertis'd by a Divine Oracle, that the Day of his Death, or rather of that which only is to be call'd Life, was drawing near; as he, at that Time, with his ufual Simplicity, fignify'd to fome Perfons, tho' in Terms that were fomewhat obfcure, which were neverthelefs afterwards plainly understood; but to others he alfo declar'd the fame openly.

CHA P. XXIX.

How St. Cuthbert, foretold to the Anchoerite, Hereberht, that bis Death was at band.

T

HERE was a certain Prieft, venerable for the Probity of his Life and Manners, call'd Hereberht, who had long been united with the Man of God, (Cuthbert,) in the Bonds of Spiritual Friendship. This Man leading a folitary Life in the Ifland of that great Lake, from which that River Derwent flows, was wont to vifit him every Year, and to receive from him Spiritual Advice. He hearing that

Bishop

Bifhop Cuthbert was come to the City of Cari life, repair'd thither to him, according to Cuftom, being defirous to be still more and more inflam'd in Heavenly Defires, through his wholfome Admonitions; whilst they alternatively entertain❜d one another with the Delights of the Celestial Life, the Bishop, among other Things, faid, Brether Hereberht, remember at this Time to ask me all the Questions you would have refolv'd, and Say all you defign; for we fhall fee one another no more in this World. For I am fure that the Time of my Diffolution is at hand, and I fhall Speedily lay down this Tabernacle. He hearing these Words, fell down at his Feet, and fhedding Tears, with a Sigh, said, I beseech you by our Lord, not to for fake me; but that you remember your most faithful Companion, and intreat the Supreme Goodness, that as we fer'd him together upon Earth, we may depart together to fee his Blifs in Heaven. For you know that I have always endeavour'd to live according to your Directions, and whatsoever Faults I have committed, either through Ignorance or Frailty, I have presently Submitted to be corrected according to your Will. The Bishop apply'd himself to Prayer, and having prefently had Intimation in the Spirit, that he had obtain❜d what he begg'd of our Lord, he faid, Rife, Brother, and do not weep, but rejoice, becaufe the Heavenly Goodness has granted what we defir'd. The Event prov'd the Truth of this Promife and Prophecy, for after their parting at that Time, they no more faw one another corporally; but their Souls quitting their Bodies, on the very fame Day, that is, on the 13th Day of the Kalends of April, they were immediately again

united in the beatifical Vifion, and tranflated to the Heavenly Kingdom by the Miniftry of Angels. But Hereberht was firft prepar'd by a tedious Sicknefs, through the Difpenfation of the Divine Goodnefs, as may be believ'd, to the end, that if he was any thing inferior in Merit to the Bieffed Cuthbert, the fame might be made up by the chaftizing Pain of a long Sicknefs; that being thus made equal in Grace to his Interceffor, as he departed out of the Body at the very fame Time with him, so he might be receiv'd into the like and fame Seat of Eternal Blifs. The most Reverend Father dy'd in the Ifle of Farne, earnestly intreating the Brothers, that he might also be bury'd in that fame Place, where he had ferv'd God a confiderable Time. However, at length yielding to their Intreaties, he confented, to be carry'd back to the Ifle of Lindisfarn, and there bury'd in the Church. That being done accordingly, the venerable Bishop Wilfrid, held the Epifcopal See of that Church one Year, till fuch Time as one was chofen to be ordain'd in the room of Cuthbert. Afterwards Eadbert was confecrated, a Man renowned for his Knowledge in the Divine Writings, as alfo for keeping the Divine Precepts, and chiefly for Almfgiving; fo that, according to the Law, he every Year gave the tenth Part, not only of four footed Beafts, but also of all Corn and Fruit, as also of Garments to the Poor.

CHA P. XXX.

How St. Cuthbert's Body was found altogether uncorrupted after it had been bury'd eleven Tears; and how his Succef for in the Bishoprick departed this World not long after.

T

HE divine Difpenfation defigning to make known, in how much Glory the Man of God, Cuthbert, liv'd after Death, his fublime Life having been before his Death fignaliz'd by the Tokens of frequent Miracles, when he had been bury'd eleven Years, put it into the Minds of the Brethren to take up his Bones, expecting, as is ufual with dead Bodies, to find all the Flefh confum'd and reduc'd to Afhes, and the reft dry'd up, and intending to put the fame into a new Coffin, and to be laid in the fame Place, but above the Pavement, for the Honour due to him. Having acquainted Bishop Eadberht with their Defign, he confented to it, and order'd that the fame fhould be done on the Anniversary of his Depofition. They did fo, and opening the Grave, found all the Body whole, as if it had been alive, and the Joints being pliable, much more like one afleep than a dead Perfon; befides, that all the Vestments the Body had on, were not only found, but wonderful for their Freshnefs and Glofs. The Brothers feeing this, with

much