by Bede
The event established the truth of this promise and prophecy, for after their parting, they never again saw one another in the flesh; but their spirits quitting their bodies on one and the same day, to wit, the 20th of March, were immediately united in fellowship in the blessed vision, and together translated to the heavenly kingdom by the ministry of angels. But Herebert was first wasted by a long-continued infirmity, through the dispensation of the Lord’s mercy, as may be believed, to the end that if he was in any wise inferior in merit to the blessed Cuthbert, that which was lacking might be supplied by the chastening pain of a long sickness, that being thus made equal in grace to his intercessor, as he departed out of the body at one and the same time with him, so he might be accounted worthy to be received into the like abode of eternal bliss.
The most reverend father died in the isle of Farne, earnestly entreating the brothers that he might also be buried there, where he had served no small time under the Lord’s banner. But at length yielding to their entreaties, he consented to be carried back to the isle of Lindisfarne, and there buried in the church. This being done, the venerable Bishop Wilfrid held the episcopal see of that church one year, till such time as a bishop should be chosen to be ordained in the room of Cuthbert. Afterwards Eadbert was ordained, a man renowned for his knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, as also for his observance of the heavenly precepts, and chiefly for almsgiving, so that, according to the law, he gave every year the tenth part, not only of four-footed beasts, but also of all corn and fruit, as also of his garments, to the poor.
CHAP. 30
Uolens autem latius demonstrare diuina dispensatio, quanta in gloria uir Domini Cudberct post mortem uiueret, cuius ante mortem uita sublimis crebris etiam miraculorum patebat indiciis, transactis sepulturae eius annis XI, inmisit in animo fratrum, ut tollerent ossa illius, quae more mortuorum consumto iam et in puluerem redacto corpore reliquo sicca inuenienda putabant; atque in nouo recondita loculo in eodem quidem loco, sed supra pauimentum dignae uenerationis gratia locarent. Quod dum sibi placuisse Eadbercto antistiti suo referrent, adnuit consilio eorum, iussitque, ut die depositionis eius hoc facere meminissent.’ Fecerunt autem ita, et aperientes sepulchrum, inuenerunt corpus totum, quasi adhuc uiueret, integrum et flexibilibus artuum conpagibus multo dormienti quam mortuo similius; sed et uestimenta omnia, quibus indutum erat, non solum intemerata, uerum etiam prisca nouitate et claritudine miranda parebant. Quod ubi uidere fratres, nimio mox timore perculsi, festinarunt referre antistiti, quae inuenerant. Qui tum forte in remotiore ab ecclesia loco refluis undique pelagi fluctibus cincto, solitarius manebat. In hoc etenim semper quadragesimae tempus agere, in hoc XL ante dominicum natale dies in magna continentiae, orationis, et lacrimarum deuotione transigere solebat; in quo etiam uenerabilis praedecessor eius Cudberct, priusquam insulam Farne peteret, aliquandiu secretus Domino militabat.
A dtulerunt autem ei et partem indumentorum, quae corpus sanctum ambierant, quae cum ille et munera gratanter acciperet, et miracula libenter audiret, nam et ipsa indumenta quasi patris adhuc corpori circumdata miro deosculabatur affectu, ‘Noua,’ inquit, ‘indumenta corpori pro his, quae tulistis, circumdate, et sic reponite in arca, quam parastis. Scio autem certissime, quia non diu uacuus remanebit locus ille, qui tanta miraculi caelestis gratia sacratus est; et quam beatus est, cui in eo facultatem quiescendi Dominus totius beatitudinis auctor atque largitor praestare dignabitur.’ Haec et huiusmodi plura ubi multis cum lacrimis et magna conpunctione antistes lingua etiam tremente conpleuit, fecerunt fratres, ut iusserat; et inuolutum nouo amictu corpus, nouaque in theca reconditum, supra pauimentum sanctuarii posuerunt.
Nec mora, Deo dilectus antistes Eadberct morbo correptus est acerbo, ac per dies crescente, multumque ingrauescente ardore langoris, non multo post, id est pridie Nonas Maias, etiam ipse migrauit ad Dominum; cuius corpus in sepulchro benedicti patris Cudbercti ponentes, adposuerunt desuper arcam, in qua incorrupta eiusdem patris membra locauerant. In quo etiam loco signa sanitatum aliquoties facta meritis amborum testimonium ferunt, e quibus aliqua in libro uitae illius olim memoriae mandauimus. Sed et in hac historia quaedam, quae nos nuper audisse contigit, superadicere commodum duximus.
Chap. XXX.
How his body was found altogether uncorrupted after it had been buried eleven years; and how his successor in the bishopric departed this world not long after. [698 a.d.]
In order to show forth the great glory of the life after death of the man of God, Cuthbert, whereas the loftiness of his life before his death had been revealed by the testimony of many miracles, when he had been buried eleven years, Divine Providence put it into the minds of the brethren to take up his bones. They thought to find them dry and all the rest of the body consumed and turned to dust, after the manner of the dead, and they desired to put them into a new coffin, and to lay them in the same place, but above the pavement, for the honour due to him. They made known their resolve to Bishop Eadbert, and he consented to it, and bade them to be mindful to do it on the anniversary of his burial. They did so, and opening the grave, found all the body whole, as if he were still alive, and the joints of the limbs pliable, like one asleep rather than dead; besides, all the vestments in which he was clothed were not only undefiled, but marvellous to behold, being fresh and bright as at the first. The brothers seeing this, were struck with a great dread, and hastened to tell the bishop what they had found; he being then alone in a place remote from the church, and encompassed on all sides by the shifting waves of the sea. There he always used to spend the time of Lent, and was wont to pass the forty days before the Nativity of our Lord, in great devotion with abstinence and prayer and tears. There also his venerable predecessor, Cuthbert, had for some time served as the soldier of the Lord in solitude before he went to the isle of Farne.
They brought him also some part of the garments that had covered the holy body; which presents he thankfully accepted, and gladly heard of the miracles, and he kissed the garments even, with great affection, as if they had been still upon his father’s body, and said, “Let new garments be put upon the body, in place of these you have brought, and so lay it in the coffin which you have prepared; for I know of a surety that the place will not long remain empty, which has been hallowed with so great grace of heavenly miracles; and how happy is he to whom the Lord, the Author and Giver of all bliss, shall vouchsafe to grant the privilege of resting therein.” When the bishop had made an end of saying this and more in like manner, with many tears and great compunction and with faltering tongue, the brothers did as he had commanded them, and when they had wrapped the body in new garments, and laid it in a new coffin, they placed it above the pavement of the sanctuary. Soon after, Bishop Eadbert, beloved of God, fell grievously sick, and his fever daily increasing in severity, ere long, that is, on the 6th of May, he also departed to the Lord, and they laid his body in the grave of the blessed father Cuthbert, placing over it the coffin, with the uncorrupted remains of that father. The miracles of healing, sometimes wrought in that place testify to the merits of them both; of some of these we have before preserved the memory in the book of his life. But in this History we have thought fit to add some others which have lately come to our knowledge.
CHAP. 31
Erat in eodem monasterio frater quidam, nomine Badudegn, tempore non pauco hospitum ministerio deseruiens, qui nunc usque superest, testimonium habens ab uniuersis fratribus, cunctisque superuenientibus hospitibus, quod uir esset multae pietatis ac religionis, iniunctoque sibi officio supernae tantum mercedis gratia subditus. Hic cum quadam die lenas siue saga, quibus in hospitale utebatur, in mari lauasset, rediens domum, repentina medio itinere molestia tactus est, ita ut corruens in terram, et aliquandiu pronus iacens, uix tandem resurgeret. Resurgens autem sensit dimidiam corporis sui partem a capite usque ad pedes paralysis langore depressam, et maximo cum labore baculo innitens domum peruenit.
Crescebat morbus paulatim, et nocte superueniente grauior effectus est, ita ut die redeunte uix ipse per se exsurgere aut incedere ualeret. Quo affe
ctus incommodo, concepit utillimum mente consilium, ut ad ecclesiam, quoquo modo posset, perueniens, intraret ad tumbam reuerentissimi patris Cudbercti, ibique genibus flexis supplex supernam pietatem rogaret, ut uel ab huiuscemodi langore, si hoc sibi utile esset, liberaretur; uel, si se tali molestia diutius castigari diuina prouidente gratia oporteret, patienter dolorem ac placida mente sustineret inlatum. Fecit igitur, ut animo disposuerat, et inbecilles artus baculo sustentans intrauit ecclesiam; ac prosternens se ad corpus uiri Dei, pia intentione per eius auxilium Dominum sibi propitium fieri precabatur; atque inter preces uelut in soporem solutus, sentit, ut ipse postea referre erat solitus, quasi magnam latamque manum caput sibi in parte, qua dolebat, tetigisse, eodemque tactu totam illam, quae langore pressa fuerat, corporis sui partem, paulatim fugiente dolore, ac sanitate subsequente, ad pedes usque pertransisse. Quo facto, mox euigilans sanissimus surrexit, ac pro sua sanitate Domino gratias denuo referens, quid erga se actum esset, fratribus indicauit; cunctisque congaudentibus, ad ministerium, quod sollicitus exhibere solebat, quasi flagello probante castigatior, rediit.
Sed et indumenta, quibus Deo dicatum corpus Cudbercti, uel uiuum antea, uel postea defunctum uestierant, etiam ipsa a gratia curandi non uacarunt, sicut in uolumine uitae et uirtutum eius quisque legerit, inueniet.
Chap. XXXI.
Of one that was cured of a palsy at his tomb.
There was in that same monastery a brother whose name was Badudegn, who had for no small time ministered to the guests of the house, and is still living, having the testimony of all the brothers and strangers resorting thither, of being a man of much piety and religion, and serving the office put upon him only for the sake of the heavenly reward. This man, having one day washed in the sea the coverings or blankets which he used in the guest chamber, was returning home, when on the way, he was seized with a sudden infirmity, insomuch that he fell to the ground, and lay there a long time and could scarce at last rise again. When he got up, he felt one half of his body, from the head to the foot, struck with palsy, and with great trouble made his way home by the help of a staff. The disease increased by degrees, and as night approached, became still worse, so that when day returned, he could scarcely rise or walk alone. Suffering from this trouble, he conceived the wise resolve to go to the church, as best he could, and approach the tomb of the reverend father Cuthbert, and there, on his knees, humbly beseech the mercy of God that he might either be delivered from that disease, if it were well for him, or if by the grace of God it was ordained for him to be chastened longer by this affliction, that he might bear the pain which was laid upon him with patience and a quiet mind.
He did accordingly as he had determined, and supporting his weak limbs with a staff, entered the church. There prostrating himself before the body of the man of God, he prayed with pious earnestness, that, through his intercession, the Lord might be propitious to him. As he prayed, he seemed to fall into a deep sleep, and, as he was afterwards wont to relate, felt a large and broad hand touch his head, where the pain lay, and likewise pass over all that part of his body which had been benumbed by the disease, down to his feet. Gradually the pain departed and health returned. Then he awoke, and rose up in perfect health, and returning thanks to the Lord for his recovery, told the brothers what had been done for him; and to the joy of them all, returned the more zealously, as if chastened by the trial of his affliction, to the service which he was wont before to perform with care.
Moreover, the very garments which had been on Cuthbert’s body, dedicated to God, either while he was alive, or after his death, were not without the virtue of healing, as may be seen in the book of his life and miracles, by such as shall read it.
CHAP. 32
Nec silentio praetereundum, quod ante triennium per reliquias eius factum, nuper mihi per ipsum, in quo factum est, fratrem innotuit.
Est autem factum in monasterio, quod iuxta amnem Dacore constructum ab eo cognomen accepit, cui tunc uir religiosus Suidberct abbatis iure praefuit. Erat in eo quidam adulescens, cui tumor deformis palpebram oculi fedauerat; qui cum per dies crescens oculo interitum minaretur, curabant medici hunc adpositis pigmentorum fomentis emollire, nec ualebant. Quidam abscidendum esse docebant, alii hoc fieri metu maioris periculi uetabant. Cumque tempore non pauco frater praefatus tali incommodo laboraret, neque inminens oculo exitium humana manus curare ualeret, quin per dies augesceret, contigit eum subito diuinae pietatis gratia per sanctissimi patris Cudbercti reliquias sanari. Nam quando fratres sui corpus ipsius post multos sepulturae annos incorruptum reppererunt, tulerunt partem de capillis, quam more reliquiarum rogantibus amicis dare, uel ostendere in signum miraculi possent.
Harum particulam reliquiarum eo tempore habebat penes se quidam de presbyteris eiusdem monasterii nomine Thruidred, qui nunc ipsius monasterii abbas est. Qui cum die quadam ingressus ecclesiam, aperuisset thecam reliquiarum, ut portionem earum roganti amico praestaret, contigit et ipsum adulescentem, cui oculus languebat, in eadem tunc ecclesia adesse. Cumque presbyter portionem, quantam uoluit, amico dedisset, residuum dedit adulescenti, ut suo in loco reponeret. At ille salubri instinctu admonitus, cum accepisset capillos sancti capitis, adposuit palpebrae languenti, et aliquandiu tumorem illum infestum horum adpositione conprimere ac mollire curabat. Quo facto, reliquias, ut iussus erat, sua in theca recondidit, credens suum oculum capillis uiri Dei, quibus adtactus erat, ocius esse sanandum. Neque eum sua fides fefellit. Erat enim, ut referre est solitus, tunc hora circiter secunda diei. Sed cum alia, quaeque dies illa exigebat, cogitaret et faceret, inminente hora ipsius diei sexta, repente contingens oculum ita sanum cum palpebra inuenit, ac si nil umquam in eo deformitatis ac tumoris apparuisset.
Chap. XXXII.
Of one who was lately cured of a disease in his eye at the relics of St. Cuthbert.
Nor is that cure to be passed over in silence, which was performed by his relics three years ago, and was told me lately by the brother himself, on whom it was wrought. It happened in the monastery, which, being built near the river Dacore, has taken its name from the same, over which, at that time, the religious Suidbert presided as abbot. In that monastery was a youth whose eyelid was disfigured by an unsightly tumour, which growing daily greater, threatened the loss of the eye. The physicians endeavoured to mitigate it by applying ointments, but in vain. Some said it ought to be cut off; others opposed this course, for fear of greater danger. The brother having long laboured under this malady, when no human means availed to save his eye, but rather, it grew daily worse, on a sudden, through the grace of the mercy of God, it came to pass that he was cured by the relics of the holy father, Cuthbert. For when the brethren found his body uncorrupted, after having been many years buried, they took some part of the hair, to give, as relics, to friends who asked for them, or to show, in testimony of the miracle.
One of the priests of the monastery, named Thruidred, who is now abbot there, had a small part of these relics by him at that time. One day he went into the church and opened the box of relics, to give some part of them to a friend who asked for it, and it happened that the youth who had the diseased eye was then in the church. The priest, having given his friend as much as he thought fit, gave the rest to the youth to put back into its place. But he having received the hairs of the holy head, prompted by some salutary impulse, applied them to the diseased eyelid, and endeavoured for some time, by the application of them, to abate and mitigate the tumour. Having done this, he again laid the relics in the box, as he had been bidden, believing that his eye would soon be cured by the hairs of the man of God, which had touched it; nor did his faith disappoint him. It was then, as he is wont to relate, about the second hour of the day; but while he was occupied with other thoughts and business of the day, on a sudden, about the sixth hour of the same, touching his eye, he found it and the eyelid as sound as if there never had been any disfigurement or tumour on it.
LIBER QUINTUS — BOOK V
CHAP. 1
Successit autem uiro Domini Cudbercto in exercenda uita solitaria, quam in
insula Farne ante episcopatus sui tempora gerebat, uir uenerabilis Oidiluald, qui multis annis in monasterio, quod dicitur Inhrypum, acceptum presbyteratus officium condignis gradu ipse consecrabat actibus. Cuius ut meritum, uel uita qualis fuerit, certius clarescat, unum eius narro miraculum, quod mihi unus e fratribus, propter quos et in quibus patratum est, ipse narrauit, uidelicet Gudfrid, uenerabilis Christi famulus et presbyter, qui etiam postea fratribus eiusdem ecclesiae Lindisfarnensis, in qua educatus est, abbatis iure praefuit.
‘Ueni,’ inquit, ‘cum duobus fratribus aliis ad insulam Farne, loqui desiderans cum reuerentissimo patre Oidilualdo; cumque allocutione eius refecti, et benedictione petita domum rediremus, ecce subito, positis nobis in medio mari, interrupta est serenitas, qua uehebamur, et tanta ingruit tamque fera tempestatis hiems, ut neque uelo neque remigio quicquam proficere, neque aliud quam mortem sperare ualeremus. Cumque diu multum cum uento pelagoque frustra certantes, tandem post terga respiceremus, si forte uel ipsam, de qua egressi eramus, insulam aliquo conamine repetere possemus, inuenimus nos undiqueuersum pari tempestate praeclusos, nullamque spem nobis in nobis restare salutis Ubi autem longius uisum leuauimus, uidimus in ipsa insula Farne egressum de latibulis suis amantissimum Deo patrem Oidilualdum iter nostrum inspicere. Audito etenim fragore procellarum ac feruentis oceani exierat uidere, quid nobis accideret; cumque nos in labore ac desperatione positos cerneret, flectebat genua sua ad patrem Domini nostri Iesu Christi pro nostra uita et salute precaturus. Et cum orationem conpleret, simul tumida aequora placauit; adeo ut, cessante per omnia saeuitia tempestatis, secundi nos uenti ad terram usque per plana maris terga comitarentur. Cumque euadentes ad terram, nauiculam quoque nostram ab undis exportaremus, mox eadem, quae nostri gratia modicum siluerat, tempestas rediit, et toto illo die multum furere non cessauit; ut palam daretur intellegi, quia modica illa, quae prouenerat, intercapedo quietis, ad uiri Dei preces nostrae euasionis gratia caelitus donata est.’