376

XL XL X THRR FL FL

THE

Ecclefiaftical Hiftory

OF THE

English Nation.

BOOK V.

CHAP. I.

How Oidilwald, Succeffor to Cuthbert, leading an Eremitical Life, quell'd a Tempeft, the Brethren being in Danger

at Sea.

HE Venerable Man Ethelwald, who having receiv'd the Prieftly Degree in the Monastery call'd Inhrypum, had, by Actions worthy of the fame, fanctify'd it, fucceeded the Man of God, Cuth

bert, in the Exercife of a folitary Life, which he had exercifed before he was Bishop, in the

Ile of Farne. For the more certain Demonftration of the Life he led, and his Merit, I will relate one Miracle of his, which was told me by one of the Brothers for and on whom the fame was wrought; viz. Guthfrid, the venerable Servant and Prieft of CHRIST, who, afterwards, a's Abbat, presided over the Brethren of the fame Church of Lindisfarn, in which he had been educated. I came, fays he, to the Iland of Farne, with two other Brothers, to Speak with the moft Reverend Father Ethelwald. Having been refresh'd with his Difcourfe, and returning home, after taking his Blessing; on a fudden, when we were in the midst of the Sea, the jair Weather that was wafting us over was difturb'd, and there enfu'd fo great and difmal Tempeft, that neither the Sails nor Oars were of any ufe to us, nor had we any thing to expect but Death. After long struggling with the Wind and Waves to no effect, looking behind us to see whether it were practicable at leaft, to recover the Inland from whence we came, we found our felves on all Sides fo infefted with the Storm, that there remain'd no Hopes of efcaping. But looking out as far as we could fee, we obferv'd the most beLoved Father of God, Oidilwald, come out of his lurking Place, fixing his Eyes on us; for he hear→ ing the Noife of the Storm and raging Sea, was come out to fee what was become of us. When he beheld us in Diftrefs and Despair, he bow'd his: Knees to the Father of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, to pray for our Life and Safety; and his Prayer being ended, the Swelling Sea was affwag'd, fo that the dreadful Storm ceafing on all fides, a fair Wind attended us to the very Shore. Being landed, and having dragg'd on Ground the

Small

Small Veffel that brought us, the Storm, which had ceas'd a fhort Time for our fake, immediately return'd, and continually rag'd during that whole Day; to the end it might plainly appear, that the Small Intermiffion there had been, had been given from Heaven, at the Requeft of the Man of God, for us to escape. That Man of God remain'd in the Ifle of Farne twelve Years, and dy'd there; but was bury'd in the Church of St. Peter and Paul, in the Ifle of Lindisfarne, by the Bodies of the aforefaid Bishops. Thefe Things happen'd in the Days of King Alfred, who rul'd the Nation of the Northumbrians eighteen Years after his Brother Ecgfrid.

How the Bishop John cur'd a Dumb Man by Bleffing bim,

N the Beginning of the aforefaid Reign,

IN

the Bishop Eata dying, John, an holy Man, took upon him the Prelacy of the Church of Hagulftad, of whom, thofe that familiarly knew him, are wont to tell many Miracles; and more particularly, the most Reverend, and fincere Man, Berhthum, once his Deacon, now Abbat of the Monaftery call'd Inderwood, that is, in the Wood of the Deiri; fome whereof we have thought fit to tranfmit to Pofterity. There is a certain private Mansion, enclos'd with a thin Wood, and a Trench, not far

from the Church of Hagulftad, that is, about a Mile and an half diftant, and parted from it by the River Tine, having a burying Place dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, where the Man of God us'd frequently, as occafion offer'd, and particularly in Lent, to refide with a few Companions. Being come thither once at the beginning of Lent, to ftay, he commanded his Followers to find out fome poor Perfon labouring under any grievous Infirmity, or Want, whom he might keep with him during thofe Days, by way of Alms; for fo he was wont always to do. There was in a Village not far off, a certain Dumb Youth, known to the Bifhop, for he often us'd to come into his Prefence to receive Alms, and who had never been able to fpeak one Word. Besides, he had fuch a scabby fcall'd Head, that no Hair ever grew on the Top of it, but only fome scattering Hairs about it. The Bifhop caus'd this Man to be brought, and a little Cottage to be made him within the Enclosure of the Manfion, where he might receive a daily Allowance from him. When one Week of Lent was over, the next Sunday he caus'd the poor Man to come in to him, whom he order'd to put his Tongue out of his Mouth and fhew it him; then laying hold of his Chin, he made the Sign of the Crofs on his Tongue, directing him to draw it back into his Mouth and to fpeak. Saying, Pronounce fome Word; fay, Gea, which in the Tongue of the Angles, is the Word of Affirming and Confenting, that is, les. His Tongue being loofed, he presently faid what he was order'd. The Bifhop then pronounc'd the Names of the Letters; fay, A,

he

he did fo; fay, b, which he alfo did. Having nam'd all the Letters after the Bishop, he farther put Syllables and Words to him, which being alfo repeated by him, he commanded him to utter whole Sentences, and he did it. Nor did he ceafe all that Day and the next Night, as long as he could keep awake, as they who were prefent report, to talk fomething, and to exprefs his private Thoughts and Will to, others, which he could never do before; after the Manner of the Cripple, who, being heal'd by the Apostles Peter and John, ftood up leaping, and walk'd, and went with them into the Temple, walking, and skipping, and praifing the Lord, rejoicing to have the Ufe of his Feet, which he had fo long wanted. The Bishop rejoicing at his recovery of Speech, order'd the Phyfician to take in Hand the Cure of his fcall'd Head. He did so, and the Bishop's Bleffing and Prayers forwarding the Succefs, a good Head of Hair grew, as the Flesh was heal'd. Thus the Youth had a good Afpect, a ready Utterance, and a beautiful Head of Hair, who had been before deform'd, poor, and dumb. Thus rejoicing at his Recovery, the Bifhop offering to keep him in his Family, he rather chofe to return home.

CHA P. III.

How the fame Bishop John, by his Prayers, beal'd a fick Maiden.

T

HE fame Berhthum told another Miracle of the Bifhop's. When the most Reverend Man Wilfrid, after a long Banifh