ON SAINT GUTHLAC, PRESBYTER,
Anchorite at Crowland in England.
A.D. 714.
PrefaceGuthlac, Presbyter, anchorite, at Crowland in England (Saint)
BY G. H.
Among the more illustrious anchorites of the Western Church eminent was Saint Guthlac, sprung from the royal stock of the Mercians among the Anglo-Saxons; whom, born about the year of Christ 673, Saint Guthlac born in the year 673 the Western region of the said kingdom received and educated into a strenuous man; and saw for eight or nine years handling arms with the neighboring Britons or Cambrians, dwelling in present-day Wales, and bringing back frequent victories from his enemy. At the age of twenty-four, entered the monastery in the year 697 about the year 697, to become a soldier of Christ, he lived in the ancient monastery of Repton, commonly called Reppington, in the county of Chester, situated among the ancient Coritani, and ennobled by the burial of very many Kings. Two years having been spent there, loving anchoretic life, he withdrew to the island of Crowland, situated in the Eastern dominion of the Mercians, Anchorite at Crowland in the year 699 and in this time assigned to the county of Lincoln: where after fifteen years had passed, famous for virtues and miracles, he died on the 11th day of April, on Wednesday of Paschal week, in the year 714. died in the year 714 How, however, the following year 715 is given below in the Life will be more conveniently explained there. At that time Coelred the King, son of Saint Ethelred, presided over the kingdom of the Mercians; to whom after two years Ethelbald succeeded, as Saint Guthlac, appearing to him after death, had most truly foretold.
[2] The Life of Saint Guthlac was written a few years after his death by a contemporary author, Felix a contemporary wrote the Life from certain knowledge who asserts in the Prologue that he wrote "nothing about so great a man without most certain inquiry into the deeds done, and painted the same orthodemy as he had heard from suitable witnesses dictating, whom he indicates." The author's name was Felix, and he calls himself "a vernacular of the Catholic Congregation." Nicholas Harpsfield in the English Ecclesiastical History, 8th century chapter 19, treats of Saint Guthlac, not however a monk of Crowland and writes that Felix, the author of his Life, was a monk of Crowland; as do Michael Alford in the Annals of the Anglo-Saxon Church, for the year 714 no. 5, and generally more recent writers, following the most mendacious apostate Bale, who asserts that Felix of Crowland was famous in the year 730, and moreover wrote a book On the Deeds of the Abbots of Crowland; to whom later writings are wrongly attributed though only Kenulph was first presiding over the recently built monastery. To this, the same Bale says that Felix wrote of the Translation of the same Guthlac, book 1, with this beginning: "Raise your ears, dearest ones." Which history of the Translation we give below, but it happened in the first year of King Stephen and of Christ 1136. Nor are these things enough for Bale, but he adds that the same Felix wrote of the miracles of the same Guthlac, one book with this opening: "At a certain time of joyful recollection." Which miracles also we give below, and they occurred at the end of the 11th century and in the 12th century, indeed the 12th year of King Stephen is indicated, that is of Christ 1147. Finally, he asserts that an Epitome of the Life of Guthlac was written by the same Felix with this beginning: "The Life of Blessed Guthlac the Confessor," which we also have in manuscript and prepared for the press we omit, in whose preface the author says that he wrote it at the command of the venerable Goffrid, others Godefrid, that is about the year 1130 or even later. John Pits, On the Illustrious Writers of England, for the year 730, copies all the same things from Bale, and does not seem to have had or inspected any treatise of Felix.
[3] The author of the epitome indicated is Orderic Vitalis, born in England, monk of the monastery of Uticum or Saint Évroul in the Norman diocese of Lisieux, nor is he Saint Felix, Bishop of the East Angles who inserted the same epitome into his Ecclesiastical History, carried down to the year 1140; and he asserts that he went to England and stayed five weeks at Crowland; and, according to the understanding of the monks of Crowland, he writes that "the deeds of the most holy anchorite Guthlac were published by a certain Felix, Bishop of the East Angles, Burgundian by nation." But that Felix, inscribed among the Saints, departed life in the year 654, that is about nineteen years before Saint Guthlac was born. We illustrated the Acts of Saint Felix on March 8. Orderic Vitalis seems to have been led into this error with the Crowland monks, because the author inscribed this Life to Alfwald, King of the East Angles, but the Life was dedicated to their King by some subject of his and relates that he was most beloved to him, beyond the other grades of royal Primates; and that, obeying his commands and the orders of his excellent love, he set forth the text of the present document, "the vernacular of the Catholic Congregation." These things certainly no monk of Crowland would have written, when, as Felix asserts in no. 39 below, King Ethelbald had built the sepulchre of Saint Guthlac "with wondrous structures of ornaments, for the veneration of the divine power"; indeed, as will be clear from Ingulph below, the same King had established the Crowland monastery itself at royal expense, or had even begun to construct it: of which royal magnificence he would have necessarily made mention, if he had been a monk there. Whoever therefore this Felix was, he seems to have lived in the kingdom of the East Angles; who, as Ingulph says, "sets forth clearly, brightly, and in order all things of the life and miracles of Saint Guthlac."
[4] Published from the MSS This Life, hitherto unpublished, we have prepared for the press, received from the most ancient MS codex of the monastery of Saint Bertin at Saint-Omer, where Goscelin or Gotselin lived as a monk about the year 1100, and collected very many Lives of Saints, illustrated various ones, or even corrected them with a more cultivated style. That this Life of Saint Guthlac was left in its primitive style we know, both from the style and from another MS Life sent to us by the English Benedictines of Douai, with which we collated part of it; Compendia of Orderic Vitalis also from various compendia made from it. Of these we have one from the same Douai MSS, and, as we said, we had prepared it for the press: we have passed it over, however, both because we afterwards found that it was made by Orderic Vitalis, and inserted into his Ecclesiastical History, and also because it is published among the ancient Writers of the History of Normandy by André du Chesne. Another compendium was published by John Capgrave in the Legend of England, and Laurence Surius on this 11 April. of Capgrave and Surius It had perhaps occurred to me that it had been composed by William of Ramsey, monk of Crowland about the year 1180, because he is said to have written various Lives of Saints: was it William of Ramsey's? but Bale and Pits assert that he composed the Life of Saint Guthlac in heroic verse, which we have not seen. Another compendium of the Life is said to have been written by Peter of Blois, Archdeacon of Bath, and to have flourished in the year 1160. Its beginning is cited by Molanus in these words: "Because the deeds of illustrious men." Saint Guthlac is mentioned frequently by other writers of England, Malmesbury, Worcester, Westminster Durham, Westminster, who also has an illustrious compendium of this Life; of Brompton from which John Brompton copied very many things into his Chronicle.
[5] Analects are published from Ingulph We omit enumerating more recent writers, who drew their things chiefly from Surius and Capgrave: we pass to those who touched on things that occurred after the times of the aforesaid writer Felix: among whom the chief is Ingulph, Abbot of Crowland, in his History or Description compiled from the times of the building of the Crowland monastery, from which, preserving his own words, we have excerpted Analects which chiefly confer knowledge of the cult, Relics, and miracles of Saint Guthlac. History of the Translation and miracles To these we subjoin the history of the translation made in the year 1136, and join the miracles chiefly wrought in the 12th century by the merits of Saint Guthlac: which we give from the MSS sent to us from Douai and communicated by the English Benedictines: but by what author they are written is not known. From all of which the ancient cult shown to Saint Guthlac is clear. We were in 1662 in the monastery of Jumièges, and we found there an English MS Missal donated by Archbishop Robert of Canterbury about the year 1050, in which a table is prefixed indicating Paschal time from the year 1000 itself. In this Missal the cult and veneration of Saint Guthlac is prescribed on this 11 April: and from the Martyrologies and his patronage is implored in the attached Litanies. In the old MS Martyrology of Utrecht of the collegiate church of Saint
Mary, very many English Saints are reverenced, and on this 11 April the following is handed down: "In Britain, the deposition of Saint Guthlac, Confessor of Christ and Anchorite, who for Christ bore many unheard-of torments from malignant spirits, at last overcoming their machinations, in excellent way of life migrated to the Lord." He is commemorated in the most ancient Calendar prefixed to the Ecclesiastical Computus manuscript of Bede, and in various Martyrologies, both manuscript and printed. Likewise in Greven and Molanus in additions to Usuard. Also in the English Martyrology, and in the monastic ones of Wion, Menardus, Dorganus, Edward Maihew, and Bucelinus. Colgan treats of Saint Guthlac on February 5 at the Life of Saint Indract, as if he had received infused knowledge at his sepulcher. But we then rejected this, and showed that Saint Guthlac died eighty or more years before Saint Indract.
LIFE by the contemporary author Felix.
From a very old MS of Saint Bertin, collated with the Achery edition.
Guthlac, Presbyter, anchorite, at Crowland in England (Saint)
BHL Number: 3723
BY FELIX FROM THE MSS
ProloguePROLOGUE TO KING ETHELBALD.
[1] a To the Lord of lords my lord, most dearly beloved to me beyond the other grades of royal primates, Athelwald the King, rightly ruling the reins of the East Angles, Felix, b vernacular of the Catholic congregation, greeting of perpetual prosperity in Christ. Obeying your commands, I have undertaken to construct the little book which you commanded to be composed about the life of Father Guthlac of blessed memory, a text woven with the simple withes of words, without the imprudence of forwardness. The author excuses the slenderness of his style I have offered it with this confidence, beseeching that if in any way (as I think will be the case) a faulty discourse should strike the ears of the learned Reader, he may regard the letter at the top of the page asking pardon. I urge him also to remember that the kingdom of God consists not in eloquence of words but in constancy of faith; and let him know that salvation was preached to the world not by Orators but by Fishermen; let him also remember the saying of Saint Jerome, who thought it a ridiculous thing to restrict the words of the heavenly oracle under the rules of Donatus the Grammarian. But if perhaps anyone imputes to the high-mindedness of our animosity the undertaking of this work, when there are many other English book-writers, whose streams of ingenuity flow purely, liquidly, and clearly through the flower-beds of Rhetoric among the meadows of literature, who could have composed more excellently and brilliantly, let him know that we have begun this little work not so much out of c willingness as out of obedience. Therefore, O Reader, whoever you are, favor the wishes of my labor. If also, as is customary, and reproves detractors in the manner of a detractor, you should grow angry, take care, lest where you think there is light, you be blinded by darkness, that is, lest while you reprehend right things, you be darkened by the darkness of ignorance. For it is the custom of the blind, when they walk in light, to think they err in darkness: for they do not know light, but always wander in darkness. Blindness in part, in the Scriptures, is ignorance, as the Apostle says: "Blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles should come in." Rom. 11:25 The origin indeed of all evil comes from ignorance. Wherefore I admonish you, Reader, not to reprehend others' things, lest by others, as it were, you be reprehended as a stranger. But lest a prolix defense of sentence trouble the sense of readers and cloud it, stopping our ears to the pestiferous incantations of detractors, as if having crossed the waters of a vast gulf, let us bend the style to the life of Saint Guthlac, and proceed as to the port of life.
[2] Since, therefore, you have demanded of me that I should write for you of the life or conversation of Saint Guthlac, He reports things received from suitable witnesses how he began, what was his purpose before, or what end of life he had, just as from those dictating, the suitable witnesses whom you know, I have heard, avoiding the mode of adding and diminishing, I have painted the same d orthodemy. For the advantage of this utility I thought this little book should be made, that for those who know, it might be a note for recalling the memory of so great a man; but for those who are ignorant, it might make it known as the sign of a broadly opened road. For I have not presumed to write anything about so great a man without a most certain inquiry into the deeds done, nor at last to give those things which I have written to certain persons to be written carefully, without the most subtle caution of undoubted witnesses; but rather diligently inquiring, however much I have written, I have investigated it from a certain most reverend Abbot e Wilfrid, and from a Presbyter of pure conscience, Wilfrid the Abbot, Cissa the Presbyter, and others as I think, f Cissa, or also from others, who having conversed longer with the man of God, in part knew his life. Therefore, however much I shall have touched on with my style about the orthonomy of his life, consider that I have heard the least things of great ones, a few of many. For I do not doubt that those dictators could not have known all his deeds, nor do I glorify myself in having copied down from them everything they dictated.
[3] But that the account of so great a man and of so great a name may be completed, as his miracles everywhere shone forth, inquire, He promises a book of miracles that with each relating what they know to those inquiring, g the matter of the following little book may be gathered. Therefore, obeying the commands of your excellent love, I have arranged the text of the present document as I could; leaving the greater part to the greater authors of knowledge, I set the beginning at the beginning, the end at the end. h
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER I.
Illustrious family, wonderful birth, baptism, education. Military life, then monastic.
[4] There was, then, in the days of a Ethelred King of the Angles, a certain man of the excellent b Mercian stock, Guthlac an Angle, of royal stock surnamed Penwall, whose mansion in the parts of the Middle c Angles was richly endowed with a flow of diverse things. The progeny of this man, through the most noble names of illustrious Kings, ran in an ordered sequence from ancient origin from d Icles. When, therefore, he was flourishing in the verdant vigor of youthful age, having chosen for himself a contemporary virgin among the companies of noble girls, with the laws of marriage decreed, he took to wife one by name Tetthe, who from the earliest days of her rudimentary life strove to live in girlish modesty.
[5] He is marked by a heavenly prodigy Several courses of time having rolled by, in which they had given themselves to the conditions of conjugal right, it happened, human nature compelling it, that conceiving, she became pregnant. When the courses of the months and e weeks had passed, and the time of bearing drew near, and her womb, ignorant of birth pains, was vexed by unknown violence, suddenly a divine prodigy, a portent of heavenly oracle, was seen by those standing round and flocking together from everywhere. For the pious Almighty, foreknowing the future, to whom all present things are present, sent forth a seal of manifesting his soldier, for the sign of eternal remembrance.
[6] When therefore the f time of birth had come, marvelous to say! behold a human hand, shining with the splendor of saffron-red brightness, The one born is illuminated from heaven from the ethereal clouds of Olympus to the gibbet of a certain Cross, before the door of the house in which the holy mother was bringing forth the little boy of future nobility, seemed extended. When with unusual astonishment all were striving to run to see the miracle, behold suddenly, with the door of the said house sealed, the hand withdrawn into the airs of heaven departed. Amazed at this new prodigy, all who were present, prostrating themselves in the place of the holy apparition, suppliant with bowed faces, magnified the Lord of glory.
[7] All marveling When the prayers were finished, running to one another they began to turn over what might be this new thing which had raised a scruple in very many. While they therefore with immense astonishment were comparing many things among themselves in various conversations, behold from the nearby hall, where the said infant was being born, a woman running with immense swiftness was crying: "Stand firm, because a man is born for this world of future glory." But others hearing these things, said that it had been from divine presage, to manifest the glory of the one being born. But others, by conjectures of more sagacious sentiment, began to affirm that this one from divine dispensation was predestined to the rewards of perpetual beatitude. There was therefore a great crowd of those wondering, so much so that the wandering rumor of that miracle, before the honey-flowing stars of the sun should sink in the western limits, filled almost all the bounds of the Middle Angles.
[8] Baptized, he receives the ancestral name Then, after twice four courses of days had passed, when he had been brought near to the sacred little waves of the saving bath, from the appellation of that Tribe which they call "Guthlacingas," he received as from heavenly counsel the proper name Guthlacus, which, by the composition of the quality, agreed with the consequent merits. For as those skilled in that people relate, in the tongue of the Angles this name appears to consist of two wholes, that is, "Guth" and "Lac," which in the brightness of the Roman tongue sounds "g Belli-munus," "War's Gift": because that man, by warring against vices, had received the rewards of eternal beatitude, with the triumphal band of perpetual life, according to the Apostle saying: "Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been tried he shall receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those that love him." James 1:12
[9] In boyhood After, therefore, in the spiritual waters of the sacred font, with the divine power governing, he had washed away the delicts of his parents, the infant of wondrous h talent was imbued in his father's hall with the noble disciplines of the ancients. Therefore, having crossed the times of his infancy, when he was trying childishly to speak, he was of no trouble to parents or nurses, or to the companies of peer children. He did not imitate the wantonness of boys, He avoids vices nor the chattering prattle of matrons, nor vain tales of the common people, nor the i silly wailings of country folk, nor the lying trifles of parasites, nor the various croakings of various birds, as that age is wont, He learns virtue but excelling in excellent sagacity, with cheerful face, sincere mind, gentle soul, simple countenance, in piety toward parents,
in obedience to elders, in love to his foster-brothers; seducing no one, rebuking no one, scandalizing no one, rendering evil to no one for evil, he behaved with equanimity. For there was in him a brightness of spiritual light shining forth, so that through all things to all men, what he was to become might be shown.
[10] As a youth he accustoms himself to arms: Therefore when the strength of his adolescence had grown, and in his youthful breast an outstanding love of dominion began to burn; then, remembering the strong deeds of the heroes of old, as if waking from sleep, with mind changed, gathering troops of followers, he turned himself to arms: and when he had laid waste with fire and sword the cities and villages, hamlets and castles of those opposing him, and had gathered immense spoils from the assembled companions of various peoples scraped together from every side; then, as if taught by divine counsel, he was returning a third part of the gathered treasure to its possessors. So when k about eight years' courses had passed, in which with frequent crashes of devastation they had accomplished famous destruction of their persecutors and opposing enemies; at last, with their strength exhausted, after so many spoils, slaughters, and plunders, those whom arms had worn down, weary, rested.
[11] Thereupon seized by a better prompting And so, when the aforesaid man of blessed memory Guthlac, amid the doubtful events of rolling time and the dark clouds of murky life, was being tossed in the whirlpools of the surging world; one night, when he was yielding his weary limbs to their wonted rest, and in his accustomed manner, with his mind wandering anxiously, meditating intently on mortal things; wondrous to tell! suddenly, as though struck in the breast, a spiritual flame began to kindle all the inward parts of the aforesaid man. For when he contemplated the miserable ends and shameful life's term of the ancient Kings of his stock through past ages, and also considered with watchful mind the fleeting riches of the world and the contemptible glory of temporal life; then there was shown to him an imagined form of his own death; and shuddering with careful mind at the inevitable end of brief life, he thought daily of his course to the end, nay also remembered that he had heard, "Let not your flight be in winter or on a Sabbath." Matt. 24:20 While he thought on these and other like things, behold, suddenly, at the prompting of the divine will, he vowed himself to be in the future a servant of Christ, if he should preserve his life until the morrow. So when the dark shadows of night were shaken off, and the sun had begun its fiery rising to wearied mortals, at which the morning birds pipe with eager l beak; he deserts his companions then rising from the rustic m bed, he drew up his clothed limbs, and signing the recess of his heart with the saving seal, commanded those accompanying him to choose another guide for their journey, for he said that he had dedicated himself to divine servitude. Hearing this, his companions, struck with immense astonishment, entreated him with suppliant pleas not to begin what he was saying; but he, scorning their prayers, remained unmoved in what he had begun. For so did the kindling of divine grace blaze in him, with homeland and parents that he despised not only the reverence of his royal noble bearing, but also scorned his parents and homeland and the companions of his youth. in the 24th year of his age. For when he had completed the twenty-fourth n year of his age, renouncing secular pomps, he held fixed in Christ the hope of undoubted faith.
[12] He is admitted into the monastery of Ripadum. Thereupon having begun the journey, leaving all his possessions, he came to the monastery which in the English tongue is called o Ripadum; in which he received the mystical tonsure of Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles, under an Abbess named [p] Oelfryd; and then having received the [q] clerical habit, he strove to expiate his past sins. For from the time when he received the sign of the Apostolic tonsure, he tasted no draught of any intoxicating liquor or of any delicate drink, except at the time of Communion. For this reason therefore he was held in harsh hatred by all the [r] Brothers dwelling there; but, approving the sincerity of his life and the modesty of his serene mind, he turned the minds of all into the affection of his love. Austere to himself, lovable to others, For he was outstanding in form, chaste in body, fair in face, devout in mind, beloved in aspect, imbued with wisdom, flourishing in countenance, endowed with prudence, gentle in conversation, modest in temperance, robust in inward fortitude, stable in the censure of justice, patient with long-suffering, firm in patience, submissive in humility, solicitous in charity: for so did wisdom adorn in him the beauty of all virtues, that according to the Apostle his speech always shone seasoned with the salt of divine grace. Col. 4:6
[13] He devotes himself to letters and virtues. For when, being taught letters, he had preferred to learn the song of the Psalms, then divine grace watered abundantly with dewy showers of heavenly dew the fruitful inward parts of the aforementioned man. And by the most excellent providing teachers and with the help of the grace of supernal piety, he was instructed in sacred letters and monastic disciplines. Therefore having been imbued with psalms, canticles, hymns, prayers, and Ecclesiastical customs for two years, he strove to imitate the particular virtues of each of those dwelling with him. For the obedience of one, the humility of another; the patience of this one, the longsuffering of that; the abstinence of these, the sincerity of both, the temperance of all, the suavity of all; and to speak more briefly, he imitated the virtues of all in all things.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
The eremitic life of Saint Guthlac on the island of Crowland. The snares of demons nobly overcome.
[14] Going to live in the eremitical life, When therefore twenty-four months' circles had run their course, during which under the clerical habit he led a life of immense moderation, he was meditating to seek the hermitage with a zealous mind of excellent solicitude. For while he was reading of the solitary life of the ancient monks, yet with the recess of his heart enlightened, he burned with eager mind to seek the hermitage. And without more ado, after the intervening courses of some days, with the lawful good-will of his seniors, he proceeded to find a solitude on the journey he had begun toward eternal prosperity. There is in the parts of the Middle Angles of Britain a most bitter marsh of immense size, which beginning from the banks of the river a Gronta, not far from the castle which they call by the name of Gronte, with now pools, now b quagmires, sometimes with dark mists and waters poured forth, and with frequent groves of intervening islands, and with the winding turns of its c shores, extends from south to north in a very long tract to the sea. When therefore the aforesaid man of blessed memory Guthlac had come to know the uncultivated places of that vastest hermitage, aided by heavenly helps, he proceeded by the most direct path of the track. It happened therefore, when he inquired from the nearest inhabitants about the experience of that solitude, and when they narrated many of the uncultivated places of that spacious hermitage; behold, a certain one of those standing there, by name d Tatwinus, asserted that he had known a certain island in the hidden parts of a remoter hermitage, which many had tried to inhabit, but had lost because of the unknown monsters of the hermitage and the terrors of diverse forms. to the island of Crowland he is carried: Hearing which, the man of blessed memory Guthlac earnestly asked that place to be shown to him by the narrator. He, consenting to the commands of the man of God, having seized a fishing skiff, through impassable tracks, between the edges of the foul marsh, with Christ as his fellow-traveller, came to the aforesaid island, which in the tongue of the English is called Crowland, which before on account of the solitude of the remoter hermitage remained uncultivated and unknown. No settler was able to dwell there alone before the servant of Christ Guthlac, on account indeed of the phantasms of demons dwelling there: in which the man of God Guthlac, despising the enemy, and aided by heavenly help, began to dwell alone amid the shady groves of the solitude. e Therefore having loved the hidden location of that place, as if given to him by God, he vowed with resolute mind to spend all the days of his life there.
[3] He revisits his companions, And so remaining there for some days, considering all things of that place with diligent investigation, he began to turn it over, to come to the conversation of his companions, whom the love of an outstanding fraternity joined to him in the bosom of the Catholic congregation: for he had left them without farewell: he resolved to commend himself to them, once more saluted. Meanwhile the morrow's light had begun to rise for wearied mortals, when going forth from there he began to return. So with thrice-thirty f days' courses intervening, [whence he returns into the hermitage with four companions, on the very feast of St. Bartholomew:] that he might commend his companions with brotherly salutations, to the aforesaid place as to the dwelling of a paternal inheritance, with two boys accompanying him, he returned from whence he had come. Then, the journey finished, on the ninth day of the Kalends
of September, on which the solemnity of Saint Bartholomew is wont to be celebrated, by whose support by divine providence he had begun all the beginnings of inhabiting the hermitage, he came to Crowland. He was therefore about twenty-six years old, when amid the cloudy groves of the remoter hermitage, with heavenly help, he proposed to be a soldier of the true God. Then, girded with spiritual arms against the snares of the foulest enemy, the shield of faith, the breastplate of hope, the helmet of chastity, the bow of patience, the arrows of psalmody, strengthening himself in battle-line, he snatched them up: for he was of such great confidence, that amid the torrid troops of Tartarus he would cast himself, despising the enemy. O how admirable is the indulgence of divine mercy, and how greatly to be glorified the providence of paternal love, and how greatly to be praised is the predestination of the Godhead, how inscrutable are the judgments of the eternal Judge, as the Apostle confirms: "How inscrutable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" Rom. 11:33 For as he led that excellent Doctor of the Gentiles on his way to Damascus, whom before the ages he had predestined to announce the Gospel of his Son, with a heavenly voice out of the darkness of the error of the Jews; so also he led Guthlac of holy memory, from the swollen whirlpool of the surging world, from the crooked bends of the mortal age, from the dark jaws of the decadent world, to the perpetual warfare of beatitude, to the path of the right journey, to the prospect of the true light: and not only did he bless him with the famous veneration of the present age, but he established the joy of perennial glory for eternal beatitude, as the Apostolic truth declared: "Whom he predestined, them he also called; and whom he called, them he glorified." Rom. 8:30
[16] Therefore, that I may begin to write of Saint Guthlac's solitary life, as I proposed; as I heard from his frequent visitors Wilfrid and Cissa, in the same order in which I learned, I will take care to narrate the same things. He sets up a hut: There was therefore in the said island a hillock heaped up with rustic turfs, which formerly the greedy frequenters of the solitude for the sake of acquiring gain had dug out and cut open, in whose side there seemed to be as it were a cistern: in which the man of blessed memory Guthlac, having placed a hut above it, began to dwell. His unchangeable rule of life was this: that from that time when he began to inhabit the hermitage, he used no woolen, no linen vestment, nor the coverings of any other delicate cloth; but in skin garments he spent all the days of his solitary life. Therefore the temperance of his daily life was so great, he is clothed in skin garments: that from that time when he began to inhabit the hermitage, except for a piece of barley bread and a draught of muddy water, after the setting of the sun he fed on no other food of any kind. For when the sun declined to the western bounds, then with thanksgiving he tasted the little rations of mortal life.
[17] Nearly broken in spirit by the devil tempting him, At this same time, when the aforesaid man of blessed memory Guthlac had begun to live as a hermit, when on a certain day according to his accustomed manner he was intent on psalms and canticles, then the ancient enemy of the human race, like a roaring lion, through the vast spaces of the aether, accompanied by foul spirits, turned new arts in his new breast. For while he tried all the forces of his wickedness with his cunning mind, then as if from an extended bow he hurled with all his strength the venom-flowing arrow of despair, until fixed in the shield in the mind of Christ's soldier it hung. Meanwhile, as the poisonous dart poured in the juice of its dark venom, then Christ's soldier disturbed in all his senses, began to despair of what he had begun; and turning his troubled mind hither and thither, he knew not on what alone he should settle. For when he meditated that his former committed crimes had been of immense weight, then it seemed to him that they could not be washed away from him: to such an extent did he begin to despair, that he thought he had begun an infinite task and unbearable burden. Then Christ's servant, through the changes of three days, knew not whither to turn himself: but on the third day, in the following night, when the most valiant soldier of Christ with strong mind was applying himself to pestilential meditations, as if in a prophetic spirit he began to sing: "In my tribulation I called upon the Lord." Psalm 17:7 And behold, Blessed Bartholomew, the faithful helper, He is animated by St. Bartholomew. in the morning vigils immediately offered himself before his eyes: nor did sleep deceive him, but openly he recognized the countenance of the resplendent Heaven-dweller. Therefore the aforesaid man, like a soldier fighting among close ranks, when he had perceived that heavenly help of Angelic light had arrived; immediately, with the clouds of wicked thoughts shaken off, with the recess of his troubled heart enlightened, as with a triumphal voice he sang, saying: "The Lord is my helper, and I shall look upon my enemies." Psalm 117:7 Then Saint Bartholomew, standing before him, began to comfort him with spiritual precepts, promising him that he would come as helper in all tribulations. But Saint Guthlac, hearing and believing these things of his most faithful friend, filled with spiritual joy, fixed unshakeable faith of outstanding strength in the Lord Jesus. For from the triumphant success of his first contest, with strong breast he strengthened his hope of future victory: for from that time never again did g the devil take up against him the arms of despair; because these, once broken by him, could no longer prevail against him.
[18] Also on a certain day, while he was meditating on the daily regulation of his manner of life, suddenly before him, as if falling from the air, two devils in human habit, with savage countenances, presented themselves; Then he plays with his tricks: and as if with familiar confidence they began to speak with him, saying: "We have experienced you, and have known the strength of your faith, and approving the perseverance of your patience as invincible, we have taken up arms of various arts against you: therefore we strive to desist from further assaulting you; and not only do we not wish to break up the rules of your resolve, but we will teach you the conversations of the ancient hermits. For Moses and Elijah, and the Savior himself of the human race, of Elijah, Moses, and Christ urging fasting, first of all ascended to the heights of fasting: but also those famous monks dwelling in Egypt slew the vices of human infirmity with the sword of abstinence. And therefore, if you wish to wash away the crimes formerly committed, to kill those imminent; afflict your flesh with scourges of abstinence, and break the insolence of your soul with fasting throats. For the more in this world you are broken, the more for eternity you are consolidated; and the more in the present you are afflicted, the more in the future you will rejoice: for when you have lain prostrate in fasting, then exalted before God you are raised up. Therefore the fasting should not be of two or three days, or the daily abstinence of gluttony; or that he eat only on the 7th day, but a vigorous chastisement of seven days is fasting. For just as in six days the Lord formed the creation of the world, and on the seventh day rested; so it is also fitting for man to be reformed in spirit through the creation of fasting for six days, and on the seventh day by eating to give rest to the flesh." Hearing these things, Blessed Guthlac rising up was singing: "Let my enemies be turned back." Psalm 55:10 Hearing which, the crafty enemy, like smoke, vanished from his face into the empty airs: but he, despising the devilish teaching, lest any place of consenting to them should be seen in him, then taking up a piece of barley bread he began to eat his daily food. But the malignant spirits understanding themselves to be despised, with tearful shout, with mournful howling, with various sighs lamenting, filled the places far and wide with sorrowful complaints. Then the man of God, having perceived the contest everywhere with the [*] prize, despised the phantasms of the unclean spirits.
[19] About the same time, with few days' courses intervening, when Guthlac of blessed memory, vigilant in his accustomed manner, Poorly received by the demons, stood persevering in unremitting prayers at the deep hour of a certain night; behold, suddenly he saw his whole cell filled with the foulest throngs of unclean spirits. For the door lay open to them coming in from every side: for to those entering through the clefts and crannies neither the joinings of the doors nor the holes of the lattices denied entrance; but bursting forth from heaven and earth, they covered the space of all the air with dusky clouds. For they were fierce in aspect, terrible in form, with great heads, long necks, lean face, pallid visage, squalid beard, hispid ears, grim forehead, savage eyes, foul mouth, horse-teeth, flame-vomiting throat, twisted jaws, wide lip, horrisonous voices, burnt hair, thick cheek, lofty breast, scabby thighs, knotty knees, crooked legs, swollen ankle, averted soles, gaping mouth, hoarse-sounding cries: for so were they heard shuddering with immense howlings, that they filled almost the whole interval from heaven to earth with clanging bellows. He is dragged through the marshes: And without delay rushing and bursting into the house and cottage, quicker than said, they led the aforesaid man, with his limbs bound, outside his little cell, and having led him forth they plunged him into the miry waters of the foul marsh: then carrying him through the roughest places of the marsh, they dragged him with his limbs' joints torn asunder among the densest thickets of brambles. Among these things, when they had spent a great part of the shadowy night in those afflictions, they made him stand still a little, commanding him to depart from the hermitage. He with fixed mind, at last answering as with a prophetic mouth sang: "The Lord is at my right hand lest I be moved." Psalm 15:8 And taking him up again, they began to beat him as with iron scourges. But when after innumerable kinds of torments, after the blows of iron scourges, they saw him with unmoved mind, robust faith, remaining in what he had begun, with horrid rustlings of wings, through the cloudy spaces of the cold air, they began to carry him upward. When therefore he had come to the steep summits of the air, horrible to tell! behold, the northern region of the sky was seen to grow black with the darkness of dusky black clouds: for you could see the innumerable wings of unclean spirits coming to meet him from thence. So, with their troops joined together into one, with immense outcry turning their journey into the light airs, they led the aforementioned servant of Christ Guthlac even to the nefarious i jaws of Tartarus. He is led to see the pains of hell, But he, beholding the smoking troops of surging hell, forgot all the torments which he had previously suffered from the malignant spirits, as though he himself were not suffering them: for not only did you see there the fire-vomiting whirlpools of the wavering swelling up, but also sulphurous eddies mixed with icy hail, seemed with globose sprays almost to touch the stars: the malignants indeed running through the dark caverns of the glowing abysses, with miserable report tortured the souls of the unjust with various kinds of tortures. Therefore the man of God Guthlac, when he shuddered at innumerable kinds of torments, the troops of his attendants as with one mouth cried out to him, saying: "Behold, power has been given us to thrust you into these pains, and there in the torment of the most atrocious gehennas we have been commissioned to torture you with various tortures. Lo the fire as though he were to be cast into them he is terrified: which you have kindled in your crimes is ready to consume you: lo the fiery gates of Erebus open before you with yawning jaws: now the Stygian entrails wish to devour you, for you the whirlpools of summer Acheron also gape with horrible jaws." But as they were saying these and many other such things, the man of God, despising their threats, with unmoved senses, with stable soul, with sober mind answering, said: "Woe to you, sons of darkness, seed of Cain, cinders of ash. If it is within your power to deliver me to those pains, lo I am ready: why with false-vomiting breasts
do you put forth empty threats?" But as they were girding themselves to thrust him into the gehennas of the torments at hand, behold Saint Bartholomew, with immense splendor of heavenly light, again protected by St. Bartholomew, breaking through the shadows of the dark night with infused light, from the ethereal seats of radiant Olympus offered himself before them, clothed in golden brightness. But the malignant spirits, not enduring the brightness of the heavenly splendor, began to gnash, tremble, flee, fear. But Saint Guthlac, perceiving the arrival of his most faithful helper, rejoiced with spiritual gladness. he is led back, Then Saint Bartholomew commands the troops of attendants that they should lead him back to his own place with great quietness, without any trouble of offense. Without delay, obeying the Apostolic commands, quicker than said they perform the orders. For carrying him back with great sweetness, as with most quiet rowing of wings, so that neither in a chariot nor in a ship could he be led more gently, they flew aloft. But when they had come to the spaces of mid-air, and he is refreshed with sweet song: the sound of men psalmodizing was heard fittingly, saying: "The saints shall go from strength to strength." Psalm 83:8 Therefore as dawn approached, when the sun had driven away the night shadows from the sky, the aforesaid athlete of Christ, having gained a triumph over his enemies, in the same state from which before he had been transported, offering thanks to Christ, stood fixed. Then when he was rendering matins praises to the Lord Jesus in his usual manner, turning his eyes a little aside, he saw on the left standing two attendants lamenting, known to him above the others; whom when he had asked why they had wept, they answered: "We lament our powers everywhere broken by you, and we weep for our inertia against your strength: for we neither dare to touch you, nor to approach you." Saying these things, like smoke they vanished from his face.
[20] It happened in the days of k Coenred King of the Mercians, when the Britons, the hostile enemies of the Saxon race, In the guise of Britons, he puts demons hostile to him to flight. were disturbing the English nation with wars, plunders, and public devastations; one night at cockcrow time, when according to his accustomed manner the man of blessed memory Guthlac was applying himself to the vigils of prayers, suddenly, while he was being oppressed by a sort of dreaming drowsiness, it seemed to him that he heard the shouts of a tumultuous throng. Then more quickly than said, roused from light l sleep, he went out of the little cell where he was sitting, and standing with erect ears, he recognized the words of the British people speaking and their companies approaching the dwellings: for in the past courses of other times he had been an exile among them, so that he was able to understand their [*] jangling speech. And without delay, striving to come to the dwellings through the marshy places, he saw at almost the same moment all the houses burning with overcoming flame; but they, intercepting him, began to lift him into the air with the sharp points of spears. Then indeed the man of God, at last perceiving the thousand-fold forms of the thousand arts of the deceitful enemy, as if with prophetic mouth sang the first verse of the sixty-seventh Psalm: "Let God arise," and the rest. Which being heard, more quickly than said, at the same moment all the troops of demons, like smoke, vanished from his face.
[21] He detects the snares of Beccelinus. After not much time, when the man of venerable life Guthlac was triumphing often in contending against the snares of the slippery enemy; behold the devil, finding his strength broken, began to turn new cunning against him under a poisoned breast. For there was a certain Cleric, by name m Beccelinus, who voluntarily offered himself to become the servant of so great a man, and proposed to live chastely for God under his disciplines: into whose inward parts the malignant spirit entered, and began to puff him up with the pestilential haughtiness of vain glory: and then after he had seduced him with the swollen blasts of empty haughtiness, he also began to urge him, that taking up a deadly sword he should kill his lord, under whose disciplines he had begun to live for God; proposing this to his mind, that if he could destroy him, he would afterwards have his place with the great veneration of Kings and Princes. On a certain day therefore, when the aforesaid Cleric, as he was wont, after the courses of twenty days had come to shear n the man of God Guthlac; the same, vexed with huge madness, with an immense desire thirsting for the blood of the man of God, undoubtingly succeeded to kill him. Then holy Guthlac of God, to whom the Lord constantly manifested the foreknowledge of future things, having learned the offense of the new crime, began to question him saying: "O my Beccelinus, why do you conceal the ancient enemy under your dull breast? why do you not vomit out the pestilential waters of the bitter venom? For I know that you are deceived by the malignant spirit: therefore confess by turning from them the disgraceful meditations, which the hostile accuser of the human race has inserted into you." Then he, when he had understood himself to be seduced by the malignant spirit, prostrating himself at the feet of the holy man Guthlac, having confessed his fault with a tearful voice, humbly prayed for pardon. And so the man of blessed memory Guthlac not only indulged the pardon of his fault, but also promised to come as his helper in future tribulations. But since above, how much the same venerable Guthlac prevailed against the open and savage diabolic snares, we have explained, now also what he prevailed against the feigned frauds of the malignant spirits, we shall expound.
[22] About the same times, when the man often mentioned on a certain night was persevering in unceasing prayers in his accustomed manner, he thought the whole island on which he dwelt was trembling round about with immense sound: then after a small interval of time had followed, He laughs at the terrors of demons. behold suddenly as if the clatter of rushing flocks with great quaking of the earth, he heard approaching the house. And without delay, he saw them bursting into the house from every side, o various figures of various monsters entering. For a roaring lion, with bloody teeth threatened with rabid bite; a bull however bellowing, digging the ground with his hooves, fixed his bloody horn in the ground; then a bear grinding, shifting its arms with strong blows, promised beatings; also a serpent stretching forth its scaly necks, showed the signs of its dark venom: and to conclude with a brief speech, a boar grunting, a wolf howling, a horse neighing, a deer [p] croaking, a serpent hissing, an ox bleating, a raven cawing, to disturb the true soldier of the true God, shrieked with horrible-sounding voices. And so the holy servant of Christ, his heart armed with the saving sign, despising all these kinds of phantasms, using these words said: "O most wretched Satan, manifest are your powers. Do you not now imitate the neighings, gruntings, and cawings of wretched beasts, you who before tried to make yourself like the eternal God? Therefore I command you in the name of Jesus Christ, who damned you from heaven, to desist from this tumult." and put to flight by the name of Jesus And without delay quicker than said, all the phantasms withdrew into the empty airs.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
The familiar approach of birds and fish. Future things foretold. Those possessed by demons liberated.
[23] A little paper of his guest carried off by a raven It happened also in the course of a certain time, when a certain other servant of God had come to converse with the man of God Guthlac, that he began to dwell some days on the aforesaid island. But on a certain day, writing a certain parchment, when he had finished his writing, going out of the house; while he was applying himself to prayers in a certain oratory, behold a certain raven, an inhabitant of the same island, entering the house of the said guest, as he saw the little paper there, seized it with rapid beak. But the said guest, when he had by chance turned his eyes outdoors, saw the bird flying carrying the paper in its mouth: immediately when he discovered that his paper was missing, he recognized that it had been taken by the raven-bird. Then by chance at the same hour Saint Guthlac was coming out of the oratory: who when he saw the said Brother seized by sudden sadness, began to console him, promising him that with the help of Almighty God his paper could be recovered for him, without whose power not a leaf of a tree falls away, he predicts that it is to be recovered, nor does one sparrow fall to the ground. Meanwhile the bird is seen flying far to the south, and bending its course among the marshy reeds of the marsh, suddenly it hid itself as if vanishing from their sight. But Saint Guthlac, bearing firm faith with firm breast, commanded the said Brother that he should board a small boat placed in the nearby port, and go among the dense clusters of reeds to where the way would show itself to him.
he should go on. But he obeying the commands of the holy man, and he suggests the manner: by whatever track led him, he proceeded: who when he had come to a certain pool situated not far from the said island, he sees not far off in the middle plain of the pool one reed standing with curved top, which was everywhere shaken by the trembling waters of the pool: on whose summit he saw an evenly-placed piece of paper, hanging in balance, as if placed by a human hand. Marvellous to tell! it seemed not to be touched by the nearby waves. But that Brother, snatching the paper from the reed, with great wonder giving thanks to God, conferring his reverence of strong faith upon the venerable man of God Guthlac for what had happened, going forth thence, returned home: but the said servant of Christ Guthlac confirmed that what had happened was not of his own merit, but of the divine mercy.
[24] Kind to insolent ravens, There were therefore on the above-mentioned island two raven birds, whose hostile wickedness was such that whatever they could break, plunge, tear, snatch, or contaminate, without any reverence for anything they destroyed. For as though entering the house like familiar a geese, they plundered like wicked robbers whatever they could find inside or out. The aforementioned servant of God, enduring their various injuries, with long-suffering and pious heart he tolerated them; so that not only in men should an example of his patience be shown, but also in birds and beasts it should be manifest. For the grace of his outstanding charity was abundant toward all, birds and fish of their own accord approaching, he feeds: to such an extent that the birds of the uncultivated solitude and the wandering fish of the muddy marsh, at his voice, as to a shepherd, came swiftly swimming and flying: for from his hand they were wont to take food, as the nature of each required. Not only however did the animals of earth and air obey his commands, indeed even water and air itself obeyed the true servant of the true God. For he who faithfully and with undivided spirit serves the Author of all creatures, it is not to be wondered at if every creature serves at his commands and wishes: and frequently therefore we lose our dominion over the creature subject to us, because we neglect to serve the Lord Creator of all, according to that: "If you will obey me and hear me, you shall eat the good things of the earth." Isa. 1:19; Matt. 17:19 Again: "If your faith abounds as a grain of mustard seed," and the rest.
[25] It is also right to explain a certain spiritual miracle of the most blessed servant of God Guthlac. he assigns a nest to the swallows familiar with him: For it happened on a certain day, when a certain venerable man, named Wilfrid, who had long been joined to the man of God Guthlac by the covenant of spiritual friendship, was speaking with him as was his custom; by chance two swallows, suddenly entering the house, singing, as though with great joy, a song with the winding bird's beak of their flexible throat, as if they had come to their accustomed seats, placed themselves without hesitation upon the shoulders of the man of God Guthlac, and then chattering with songlike voices, perched upon his arms, knees, and breast. But Wilfrid stupefied, having obtained leave to speak, began to question him, why the birds of the uncultivated solitude, unaccustomed to human approach, had such confidence in drawing near. But Saint Guthlac answered in turn: "Have you not read that he who is joined to God in pure spirit, all things in God are joined to him; and he who denies to be known by men, seeks to be known by wild beasts, and to be frequented by Angels? for he who is frequented by men, cannot be frequented by Angels." Then taking a certain b little window-shelf, he placed a stalk in it: which when the birds saw, as if imbued with the noted sign, they began to build there. And when as it were the space of an hour had passed, having gathered bits together they had founded a nest, Saint Guthlac rising, beneath the vault of the roof where he sat placed the shelf; but the birds, as if having obtained the little place of their own dwelling, began to remain there: for they did not presume without the lawful good-will of the man of God to choose a place for themselves for nesting, but in each year, seeking a sign of lodging, they came to the man of God. Let it therefore be absurd to no one to learn from birds the form of obedience, since Solomon says: "Go, thou sluggard, imitate the ant, consider her ways, and learn wisdom." Prov. 6:6
[26] He is visited by the exile Ethelbald: Nor do I think that a certain miracle of providence of the aforesaid man should be passed over in silence. For there was at the same time a certain exile of the illustrious Mercian people, by name c Ethelbald, who once, as was his wont, preferring to visit the man of God, accompanied by the aforesaid Wilfrid, having obtained a raft came as far as the aforesaid island. But Wilfrid leaping from the prow of the raft to the land, left both his gloves in the stern: and then coming to the conversation of the holy man, after they had mutually saluted each other, among other discourses of conversation, the above-mentioned man of blessed memory Guthlac, to whom the Lord was wont to show absent things, as though inflated with the spirit of prophecy, when he had sat at home and could see nothing except the vestibule of the house, suddenly began to ask the others, whether they had left anything in the boat. Answering him, Wilfrid said that he had left there his two gloves by forgetfulness. He knows that his gloves were taken by ravens, and has them restored: But he said that his ravens had then taken possession of the gloves, as the outcome of the thing proved. And without delay going out of the house, they saw the black thief of the raven brood, on the top of a certain hut, tearing the glove with wicked beak. But Saint Guthlac restrained the bird with gentle speech, as if he were conscious of his crime: and the bird leaving the glove on the top of the hut, as in flight flew into the western airs. But Wilfrid had the glove brought back from the top of the roof by the tip of a rod, and then finding that it had been through the power of such a great man, solicitous about the loss of the other glove, began to grieve that it should be restored to him as also that one: and the man of God, perceiving that he was bearing the loss of the matter heavily with a sick mind, began to console him with playful speech, promising him that it was of God's possibility that the lost thing could be quickly recovered for him, if their faith had not wavered. And no more words had passed, when behold three Brothers having struck the signal stood before the port of the said island, to whom, quicker than said, Saint Guthlac, as was his custom, went forth with cheerful countenance; for the grace of outstanding charity always shone in his mouth and face. Having saluted the Brothers, immediately one of them, bending his head to him and begging pardon, confessed that by chance on the way he had found a certain glove fallen from the hooked feet of a raven, and showed him the glove. Guthlac slightly smiling, took the glove from his hand; and admiring the kindness of divine mercy, with spirit speaking gave thanks; and then having saluted them, as he had before promised, returned the glove to Wilfrid.
[27] A man vexed by a malign spirit, for four years, It was also at about the same times, in the territories of the East Angles, a certain young man, by name d Huvetred, of illustrious (as they say) offspring; who when he was rendering the laws of daily piety to his parents, on a certain day sitting at home, suddenly that wicked spirit began to attack him. And he was vexed by such immense madness that he tore his own limbs with wood, iron, nails, and teeth, as best he could: for not only did he tear himself with cruel madness, but also lacerated with the bites of his wicked mouth all whom he could touch. In such a manner however he began to rage, that no one dared to restrain or bind him. For on a certain time, a multitude having been gathered, when some tried to bind him, having seized a sharp [*] double-axe with e deadly blows he laid three men's bodies on the ground and forced them to die. And when through twice-two years' courses he had been laid waste by the dread plague of madness, and his strength was wasting away in a f lean, dried-up body; then at last he was led by his parents to the sacred seats of the Saints, that by Priests and Bishops he might be washed in the sacred fonts. But since none of them could extinguish the pestilential poison of the deadly spirit, at last, having tried and rejected the marks of all remedies, they returned home. But on a certain day when the sad parents desired their son's death rather than life, a rumor flew that a certain hermit sat on the island of Crowland in the midst of the marsh, whose renown filled far and wide almost all the borders of Britain with various kinds of virtues: which being known, at morning they prepare to lead the vexed one there with sure counsel. Therefore, when the darkness of shady night was shaken off, and the sun had brought forth its golden rising, leading the vexed one with bound limbs, they began to go the begun journey. But as evening came on, when they had turned their journey thither, they led the night on a certain island not far from Crowland; and then at sunrise coming to the port of the said island, they demanded converse with so great a man, having struck the signal. But he according to his wont growing warm with the ardor of outstanding charity, offered himself before them: and when they explained their cause from the beginning, the man of God having pity on the solicitude of the parents and the labors of the vexed humanity, as with paternal heart began to be propitious to them. Immediately seizing the hand of the vexed one, he led him into his oratory: after three days of fasting and prayer and there for three continuous days fasting, on bent knees began to pray: but on the third day, the sun already risen, he washed him with the waters of the sacred font, and breathing upon his face the spirit of salvation, drove all the g force of the malignant spirit from him. But he, as one who is led from the waves of the surging whirlpool to the port, he restores to his former health: drawing long sighs from the bottom of his breast, understood himself to have been restored to the former health of salvation: for from that time until the day of his departure he suffered no trouble of disquiet from the unclean spirit.
[28] At another time, when a certain companion of the said exile Ethelbald, named h Egga, He restores Egga to sound mind. was miserably attacked by the most violent violence of the unclean spirit, so that he knew not what he was, or where he sat, or what he was about to do (the vigor of his body and limbs, however, remained unharmed: but the faculty of speaking, disputing, and understanding was entirely lacking) on a certain day his relatives, fearing that perpetual madness would come upon him, led him to the threshold of the aforesaid man Guthlac: and immediately as he girded himself with his girdle, he perceived that all madness had been taken from him, and his mind restored to him whole: also always girding himself with that girdle, up to the last day of his life, he suffered no trouble from Satan.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER IV.
Future and absent things known and indicated by Saint Guthlac through a prophetic spirit.
[29] To an Abbot, after permission had been given for 2 Clerics to go elsewhere, Amid these things the man of God Guthlac began also to flourish with the spirit of prophecy, to foretell future things, to narrate absent things to those present. For on some days, when a certain Abbot, as was his wont, had proposed to come for conversation with the said man; the journey begun, two of his ministers, pretending the necessity of a certain cause, asked the Abbot's permission to turn off on another road, because the cause compelled them. He, having granted them permission, proceeded where he intended: and then when he had come to converse with the man of God Guthlac, while they intoxicated each other with draughts of the divine Scriptures, Saint Guthlac among other things began to ask him, saying: "Why did those two Clerics (whom he named), as they were wont, not wish to accompany you here?" The Abbot said that they, having obtained permission by the necessity of another cause, had turned off on another road. But Saint Guthlac, to whom the Lord presented absent things by divine inspiration, smiling a little with lowered forehead, turned his face aside. But the Abbot, when he had perceived that it was presented otherwise to the man of God, beseeching in the name of Jesus to show clearly what seemed to him about them, suppliantly asked. But Guthlac, yielding to the suppliant entreaties of his friend, he indicates their drunkenness at a widow's, their meal and conversation: who was joined to him with spiritual faith in Christ, began to lay out their journey to him in order. For he said that they had turned aside to the house of a certain widow, and while it was not yet the third hour, they had begun to be intoxicated a amid the delicate couches of the widow. Not only therefore did the man of God narrate their journey from the beginning, but even explained their meal and words in order, showing them. For it was not otherwise presented to him by the divine numen than as in Elisha the knowledge of the theft committed by Gehazi, with the Lord manifesting it, was shown: so greatly did the spirit of divine grace prevail in him, that he perceived absent things, and judged future things as present. The Abbot therefore, having received the salutary documents of the venerable man Guthlac, migrated by a returning course home. But when, as they were wont, the said two Clerics met the Abbot's service, he ordered all to depart from the house except those two; and while he sat in the house, he asked by them where they had stayed yesterday. They with feigned heart said they had stayed at the house of some friend of theirs. But the Abbot said another had told him that they had been in the house of the widow, whom he named by her own name: which being forced they confessed: they contradicting with the greatest impudence denied his words. But the Abbot, restraining their impudence, by showing the known signs, ordered them to confess their guilt. But they, when they could not kick against the known signs, at last pressing themselves to the ground, confessed their journey in the same order, in which the man of God had narrated before.
[30] There came also about these days from a certain monastery two Brothers, that they might hear the words of teaching of Saint Guthlac: he reveals flasks hidden by the monks, for at that time the fame of so great a man was wandering everywhere notable. Then when they had come to the island, having with them two b small flasks filled with ale, by plan they hid them on the way under a certain marshy gravel, so that when returning they might refresh their journey with that provision. And when the aforesaid Brothers were enjoying the venerable man's discourse, and when he warned them with salutary precepts; with cheerful face smiling lightly, with playful speech among other things he asked them saying: "Why, little sons, did you not wish to carry here the two little flasks, which you hid under the shade of rustic turf?" Hearing which, they stricken with immense amazement, prostrating themselves on the ground, asked pardon for the crime they had committed. But Saint Guthlac, lifting up their necks, indulged pardon, granted peace, blessed their journey.
[31] About the same times there flocked to the man of God Guthlac many of various orders and ranks, and many flocking to him. Abbots, Brothers, Counts, rich men, the vexed, the poor, not only from the nearest borders of the Mercians, but even from the remote parts of Britain, drawn indeed by the fame of his virtues; whom either bodily illness, or infestation of unclean spirits, or profession of committed errors, or other crimes by which the human race is washed, either the variety of each or necessity compelled, hoping to be consoled by a man of such sanctity. Nor did vain hope deceive them: for no sick person returned from him without a remedy, no vexed one without healing, no sad one without joy, no weariness without exhortation, no sorrow without consolation, no anxiety without counsel: but flourishing with true charity, with unanimity he bore the labors of all with all. It happened therefore, when all from diverse parts were flocking for various reasons to the conversation of so great a man; among others there came a certain Count of the said exile Ethelbald, by name Obba, for conversation with the blessed man Guthlac: and when on another day he was traversing certain thorny places, c without a path walking through rustic fields, he rushed upon a certain thorn, hidden under the herbs of the uncultivated earth, which fixing its point in the sole of his foot, breaking to the heel, pierced the whole structure of his foot. from a thorn fixed in his foot miserably languishing, He then against his strength continuing his begun journey, with labor came to the aforesaid island, where the man of God was dwelling: and when he had spent one night there, with swelling tumor half of his body from the loins to the sole swelling, troubled him with the affliction of a new pain to such an extent, that he could neither sit, nor stand, nor lie down. For with the frame of his limbs boiling, from the inmost marrows of the bones he was being cooked by an immense burning, so that he seemed more like a dying man than a languishing one. When this was announced to the man of God Guthlac, he ordered him to be led to him; and then when he narrated the cause of his trouble from the beginning, the man of God Guthlac taking off his d sheepskin garment, in which he was wont to pray, wrapped it around him. And immediately, quicker than said, after he had perceived himself clothed with the garment of so great a man, in that same moment the little thorn, as an arrow sent from a bow, was at once thrust out from his foot, until it stuck far off as though cast: and at the same hour all the violence of the swelling fever, he heals by putting his own garment on him departed from all the joinings of his limbs. And immediately rising, with his foot restored, he began to walk: and the next day, having spoken to the man of God Guthlac, who was awaiting the loss of his whole body from the languor of one limb, with cheerful spirit without any trouble of ill-health he went on. Then all who were present as witnesses of the virtue, wondering at the strength of the man of God's faith, rendered glory to the Lord.
[32] Not to be passed over in silence is a certain miracle of the prescient providence of the venerable man Guthlac, to whom by divine gift it had been granted, that he should see the words of absent ones as though written, and should know the thoughts of those present as though spoken. For when a certain Bishop, by name e Hedda, as if imbued with heavenly counsel, had once come for conversation with the venerable man Guthlac, [A certain man in the presence of Bishop Hedda boasts that he will test Guthlac's virtue,] he had in his retinue a librarian named Wigfrid: who when he was riding among the other ministers of the Bishop, some of them before him began to wonder at the virtues and miracles of the holy man Guthlac; others disputed the austerity of his life and perseverance and the virtues done by him, unheard of from any other before; others breaking forth, doubted by whose power those miracles which he performed came: but Wigfrid boasted that he could discern and know whether he was a cultivator of divine religion or a simulator of pseudo-sanctity, if he had ever seen him. For he said that he had dwelt among the peoples of the Scots, and had there seen pseudo-anchorites, simulators of various religions, whom he had discovered to foretell future things and do other virtues by whatever name he knew not. He also narrated that there had been others there, cultivators of true religion, flourishing with many signs and virtues, whom he was frequently wont to address, see, and frequent: from the experience of whom he promised that he could discern the religion of others. Therefore when the aforesaid Bishop had come to the conversation of the venerable man of God Guthlac, fraternal salutations completed, they began to sprinkle each other with the dew of the Evangelical nectar. There was in the man of God Guthlac such a brightness of divine grace, that whatever he preached seemed to be uttered as from an Angelic mouth: there was in him such an affluence of wisdom, by him a Priest consecrated, that whatever he said he confirmed with examples of the divine Scriptures. Therefore the aforesaid Bishop, after he had enjoyed his conversation, and had tasted his precepts of wisdom sweeter than honey; behold suddenly in the middle of the speech, with bowed neck as a suppliant, he began to adjure him to receive the Priestly office through him. But Guthlac, not wishing to resist the petition of the Bishop, quickly prostrating himself on the ground, promised that he would obey his will. But the Bishop, rising with exulting spirit, having first consecrated the church, consecrated a faithful Priest to the most high God. Therefore, the services of the consecration being completed, while dining he narrates what the other had boasted. at the request of the supreme Pontiff, contrary to his usual practice, the man of God was compelled to come to dinner that day. Therefore, with the meals set out after they had begun to dine, Saint Guthlac looking at the said Brother Wigfrid sitting far off, said: "O Brother Wigfrid, how does that Cleric now seem to you, about whom you promised yesterday to judge?" Wigfrid wondering at these things, immediately rising prostrates himself wholly to the ground with his whole mind, and suppliantly asking pardon confesses that he has sinned. With all who were present wondering, they began to be stupefied with each other: but holy Guthlac said: "Prove each other, inquiring if anyone announced these things to me." The consecration therefore of the island of Crowland, and the establishment of Blessed Guthlac in the priestly office, took place in autumn time, counted back five days from the day on which the Mass of Saint Bartholomew is wont to be celebrated.
[33] To Egburga sending a sarcophagus he predicts his successor, At another time with the circles of time passing on, the most reverend Virgin of Christ's virgins and spouses Abbess g Egburga, daughter of King Aldulf, was sending to the venerable man Guthlac of sublime merits a leaden sarcophagus and a linen cloth wrapped in it, in which she asked the man of God to be wrapped after death, adjuring him by the terrible name of the supernal King, and raising herself to the gibbet of the Lord's Cross, in token of the suppliant's deprecation with extended palms, that the man of God receive that gift for the aforesaid purpose, through a messenger of another faithful Brother commanding, that he make this token before him, she sent with suppliant request. She added also that from him he should be asked
who would be the future heir of that place after his death. When he had gratefully received the faithful gift of the holy Virgin, concerning what was asked he is reported to have answered that the heir of that place was among a pagan people, and had not yet come to the laver of baptism: but he said that soon it was to be. Which he said with a spirit of providence, the outcome of the future matter proved. For the same Cissa, who now in our times possesses the seat of the man of God Guthlac, after years (as he himself is wont to narrate) received the laver of baptism in Britain.
[34] Nor am I loath to relate a certain spiritual presage from the prophetic breast of the aforesaid man Guthlac. To Ethelbald the restoration of the Kingdom. For at a certain time, when the exile whom we mentioned above, Ethelbald, was being tossed hither and thither in various nations, with King Ceolred persecuting him; on another day with his strength and that of his men failing amid doubtful perils, after his exhausted powers had failed, at last he came to converse with i the holy man Guthlac, as was his wont: so that when human counsel had failed, the divine might be at hand. As he was speaking with the blessed man Guthlac, the man of God, as if an interpreter of a divine oracle, began to unfold in order what was to come to him, saying: "O my boy, I am not without knowledge of your labors, I am not ignorant of your miseries from the beginning of life; therefore, pitying your calamity, I prayed the Lord to come to your aid in his mercy, and he heard me, and has granted you the dominion of your people, and has set you as Prince of the peoples, and will bring the necks of your enemies under your heel, and you will possess their possessions, and those who hate you will flee from your face, and you will see their backs, and your sword will conquer your adversaries. And therefore be comforted, because the Lord is your helper; be patient," said the Saint to Ethelbald, "lest you incline into counsel which cannot be established. Not in plunder nor in rapine will the kingdom be given to you, but from the hand of the Lord you will obtain it: wait for him whose days shall fail, because the hand of the Lord will oppress him, whose hope is set in evil, and his days will pass like a shadow." As he said these and similar things, from that time Ethelbald placed his hope in the Lord: nor did vain hope deceive him: for in the same order and composition all things which the man of God had foretold, not otherwise, came to pass, as the present outcome of the present thing has proven.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER V.
Illness, death, burial: finding of the uncorrupted body. Apparition made to Ethelbald: The blind man given sight.
[35] But since the human race from the beginning of mortal misery runs daily to the end, with the times changing generations and kingdoms change, to which terminus lord and servant, learned and unlearned, young and old are sunk by equal condition: and though we are separated by merits, punishments, and rewards; yet to all of us the same exit remains. For as death is in Adam, After 15 years of solitary life he dies, so also in all it will hold sway: for whoever has tasted the savor of this life, cannot avoid bitterness. It happened therefore amid these things, after Guthlac beloved of God had led a solitary life with devoted service to the supernal King for three times five years' courses; behold the Lord Jesus, when he wished to take his servant from the laborious servitude of this life to the rest of perpetual beatitude; on a certain day, when he was persevering in prayers in his oratory, a sudden stirring of his inward parts seized him: and immediately when the man of God had perceived himself seized by the sudden infirmity of a dire languor, immediately he recognized the hand of the Lord sent to him. Then he began to prepare himself with exulting spirit for the joys of the perennial kingdom: on the fourth feria after Easter, for seven days he was worn down by the dire illness, on the eighth day he came to the last. Indeed on the fourth feria before Easter he began to be sick: and again on the eighth day, the fourth feria, also on the fourth dawn of the Paschal feast, his illness ended, he migrated to the Lord. Dwelling with him at this time was one Brother, named Beccelinus, by whose relation we have described these things about the death of the man of God Guthlac: who when on the day of the beginning of the trouble had come to him, he began, as was his wont, to ask the man of God about other things. But he answering slowly, at length with speech drew a sigh. on the foretold day, To whom the Brother himself said: "My lord, what new thing has happened to you? or perhaps this night has some trouble of infirmity touched you?" And he: "Yes," he said, "a trouble has touched me this night." Who again asking him, said: "Do you know, my Father, the cause of your infirmity, or what end you think there will be of this troublesome illness?" To whom the man of God answering said: "My son, the cause of my languor is that from these limbs the spirit is to be separated; but the end of my infirmity will be the eighth day, on which having finished the course of this life I must be dissolved and be with Christ: for it is expedient, the burden of the flesh laid aside, to follow the Lamb of God." Having heard these things, the said Brother, weeping and groaning, with frequent rivulets of tears watered his sad cheeks: whom the man of God consoling said: "My son, do not admit sadness; for it is not a labor to me to come into eternal rest to my Lord, whom I have served." He was therefore of such great faith, that he judged death, which to all mortals seems to be feared and dreaded, as rest or reward of labor. Meanwhile, the courses of four days having passed, the day of Easter came: the Mass having been celebrated at Easter on which the man of God rising against his strength, having offered the sacrifice of the Lord's Body and the libation of Christ's Blood, began to evangelize the Word of God to the said Brother: who testifies that never before, nor since, has he heard from anyone's mouth such great depth of knowledge. Then when the seventh day of his infirmity came, the said Brother visited him about the sixth hour, and found him lying in the corner of his oratory against the altar: but he did not then speak with him, because the weight of infirmity had taken away the faculty of speaking. Finally, as he begged that he leave his words with him before he should die; the man of God, when he had lifted his weary shoulders a little from the wall, sighing said: "My son, because the time now approaches, attend to my last commands. After the spirit shall have left this little body, go to my sister Pega, and tell her, that for this reason I have avoided her sight in this world, that for eternity before our Father in everlasting joy we may see each other. You will also say that she should place my body in the sarcophagus, his burial having been arranged and wrap it in the winding-sheet, which Ecgburh sent me. I did not wish as a youth to cover my body with any linen covering: but for the love of the dear Virgin of Christ, who sent me these gifts, I took care to reserve them for wrapping my body." Hearing these things, the said Brother, beginning said: "I beseech you, my Father, because I understand your infirmity, and hear that you are about to die, tell me one thing which formerly I dared not ask you, long troubled: for from the time when I began to dwell with you, Lord, I heard you speaking evening and morning I know not with whom. Therefore I adjure you, that you do not leave me anxious about this matter after your death." Then the man of God, after an interval of time, breathing said: "My son, do not be troubled about this matter, which I did not wish as a youth to reveal to any man, now to you I shall manifest. From the second year, when I had begun to inhabit this hermitage, the Lord always sent morning and evening the Angel of my consolation to my conversation, who showed me the mysteries, which it is not lawful for a man to narrate: who relieved the hardness of my labor with heavenly oracles, who showed me absent things as if presenting them as present. O son, keep these words of mine, and announce them to no other, except Pega or b Ecgbert the anchorite, if it should ever happen that you come into conversation with him, who alone knows these things to have been so." He had said, and bending his neck to the wall, he drew long sighs from the depth of his breast, and his spirit being refreshed again when he breathed a little, as the fragrance of a honey-flowing flower seemed to proceed from his mouth: so that the whole house in which he sat, he filled with a nectareous odor. But on the following night, when the said Brother was applying himself to nocturnal vigils, he saw the whole house shining with fiery brightness from the middle of the night until dawn. But at sunrise, the man of God with his limbs lifted a little as if rising, began to speak with the above-mentioned Brother, saying: "My son, prepare yourself, proceed on your journey; now me now
the time compels to be dissolved from these limbs, and with the terms of this life finished, would rather to be carried up in spirit to infinite joys." He spoke, and extending his hands to the altar, fortified himself with the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, and having received the viaticum he dies. and with his eyes lifted to heaven and his hands extended, he sent forth his soul to the joys of perpetual exultation, in the year from c the Incarnation of Our Lord seven hundred d and fifteen. Meanwhile the said Brother suddenly sees the house filled with the splendor of heavenly light, and a tower as if fiery raised from earth to heaven: in the year 715, to us 714, in comparison with whose splendor, though then the sun stood in mid-heaven, it seemed to grow pale as a lamp in the day. Also by angelic songs the space of all the air was heard resounding: that island also you could perceive being infused with the fragrant breaths of various aromas.
[36] Then the above-mentioned Brother, trembling with immense dread, being unable to sustain the coruscation of the outstanding splendor, By his sister Pega his body is buried, having seized a little boat left the port, and then, according to what the man of God had commanded, he proceeded on the begun journey. Coming also to the holy virgin of Christ Pega, he narrated to her all the fraternal commands in order. She having heard these things, as though fallen into a precipice, pressing herself to the ground, grew withered to the marrow from the trouble of immense sorrow, her tongue was silent, her lip was mute, and in all vital vigor as lifeless she vanished. But after an interval of time, as if wakened from sleep, drawing long sighs from the depth of the fibers of her breast, she gave thanks to the will of the Almighty. But on the next day, according to the commands of the blessed man, coming to the island, they found the whole place and all the houses as if filled with the odor of ambrosia. But she, the servant of God, for the space of three days commended the fraternal spirit with divine praises to heaven: on the third day, according to his command, they buried the happy limbs covered with earth in his oratory.
[37] After 12 months found incorrupt. But divine piety wishing to show more widely how great glory the holy man lived in after his death, whose life before his death, by sublime and frequent signs of miracles shone far and wide among peoples, tribes, and nations; added also a sign of eternal commemoration. For twenty-four months' orbits having passed from his burial, the Lord put into the mind of his sister, that she should replace her brother's body in another sepulcher. Therefore having gathered Brothers, Bishops, and Priests, and also others of Ecclesiastical ranks, on the day of his exit opening the sepulcher, they found the body wholly intact, as if he were still alive: and with the supple bending of the limbs, much more like one sleeping than dead he seemed. But also all the garments in which he was wrapped, were not only unprofaned, but even shone with ancient newness and former brightness. When those who were present saw this, at once trembling they stood amazed, so that they could scarcely speak, scarcely dared to look on the miracle, and scarcely knew themselves what they were doing. When the servant of Christ Pega saw this, moved by spiritual joy, she wrapped the sacred body with reverence of divine praises in the winding-sheet, which Ecgbert the anchorite, while he was living, sent for this purpose: but also she did not place the sarcophagus in the earth, but rather placed it as a memorial, which now we see built by King Ethelbald with wondrous structures of ornaments, in honor of the divine power; where the triumphal body of so great a man, placed in a mausoleum afterwards adorned by the King. until the course of today's time, happily rests; through whose intercession, whoever shall knock with entire faith, shall obtain the indulgence of divine mercy.
[38] O man of blessed memory! O master of divine grace! O vessel of election! O physician of salvation! O herald of truth! His eulogy, O treasure of wisdom! O how great gravity, O how great dignity was there in his words and conversations! how alert, how effective was he in discerning causes! how prompt and easy in resolving questions of the Scriptures! how with unremitting service he had served God to such an extent that never in his mouth except Christ, never in his heart except piety, nothing in his soul except charity, nothing except peace, nothing except mercy, nothing except indulgence remained. No one saw him angry, no one exalted, no one proud, no one moved, no one grieving: but one and the same always remaining, gladness in his face, grace in his mouth, sweetness in his mind, prudence in his breast, humility in his heart he displayed, so that to known and unknown he seemed to be beyond human nature.
[39] When therefore the said exile Ethelbald, dwelling in distant regions, He appears to Ethelbald grieving for his death, had heard of the death of the holy Father Guthlac, who before had been his only refuge and consolation of his labors; seized by sudden sadness he came to his body, hoping in the Lord that he would give him some refreshment of his labor through the intercession of the holy man Guthlac. Who when he had come to his sepulcher, weeping said: "My Father, you know my miseries; you were always my helper; while you were alive I did not despair in anxieties, you were with me in many perils: through you I called upon the Lord, and he delivered me. Now to where shall I turn my face? whence will be help for me, or who will console me? and who, best Father, will console me if you abandon me? In you I was hoping, now hope has deceived me." Speaking these and many other things, he threw himself on the ground; and praying as a suppliant, he watered his whole face with frequent streams of tears. As the nocturnal shadows approached, when in a certain little cottage, in which before while Guthlac was living he was wont to lodge, spending the night, he tossed his sad mind hither and thither. A little time being passed there in nocturnal prayers, when he was yielding his eyes to light sleep; suddenly waking, he saw the whole little cell, in which he was resting, shining round about with the splendor of immense light: and when he was terrified by the unknown vision, immediately he beheld Blessed Guthlac, standing before him, clothed in angelic splendor, saying to him: "Do not fear, be strong, because God is your helper: therefore I have come to you, because the Lord through my intercession has heard your prayers. Do not be sad, for the days of your misery are past, and he foretells the kingdom to him. and the end of your labors is now come: for before the sun shall have rolled through twice six courses its yearly orb, you shall rule with the scepter of the kingdom." Not only, as is said, did he prophesy the Kingdom to him, but also the length of his days and the end of his life he manifested to him in order. But he on the contrary said: "Lord, what sign will there be to me, that all things shall so come to pass?" Guthlac answered: "This will be a sign to you: when the morning day shall come, before the third hour shall come, to those who dwell in this place, whence they do not hope, comforts of food shall be given." Saying these things, the light, which had appeared before him, withdrew from his eyes. And without delay the things said were followed by effects: for before the third hour of the day had approached, they heard the signal struck in the port, and they saw men bringing them unhoped for comforts. From this he remembering all the things that had been said to him, with undoubted hope believed the future things would be, and fixed inseducible faith in the oracles of the man of God: nor did faith deceive him. For from that time until the present day, the crowned felicity of his kingdom, through the following times, grew from day to day.
[40] Nor did the signs of virtues and healings fail, A blind man at his tomb receives light. which the Lord through him while living gave to men, through the invocation of his intercession to cease shining everywhere and being present up to this day: that he who while living did not wish to lift himself with pompous rumors of virtues, of what merit or of what strength he was, might be shown after his death through the many trophies of miracles. For there was a certain householder in the province of g Wissa, whose eyes, after twice six months' courses had obtained the light of seeing, were being covered with the dark clouds of a cataract, so that he could not distinguish the lights of shining day from the darkness of dark night. When, after rejecting the helps of pigments of healing, he despaired of safety, and found perpetual loss of light to be imminent to him; at last having found salutary counsel, he asked to be led to the most sacred body of the man of God Guthlac, saying: "I know certainly and trust, that if any of the things consecrated by him shall touch my lights, I shall soon be healed, and he will restore to me the sight of my eyes." His friends did as he had asked; and they led him to the port of the island of Crowland, and having ascended a ship and come to the island, they asked for converse with the venerable Virgin of Christ Pega: who knowing the undoubted hope of his fervent faith, allowed him to be led into the oratory, where the body of blessed Guthlac reclined. She therefore taking a part of the sticky salt, before consecrated by Saint Guthlac, with a light scraping cast it into h covering water: and finally as that water dropped drop by drop within the eyelids of the blind man, marvelous to tell! at the first touch of the first drop, the clouds of blindness being thrust out, light infused into his eyes was restored: for before the salutary water was infused into the eyelids of the other eye, he was telling in order whatever was in the house; and confessed that sight had been given to him at the same moment. Then after grace through the grace of his forehead unclosed windows long closed; he recognized the light found which once he had lost, the returning course making him a leader to those leading him. From there where he drew light from the fountain of light, he went whence he had come, not thus returning as he was: and he saw those seeing, whom before he had denied to see, paying worthy thanks to God, which no one knows how not to render. i
ANNOTATIONS.
APPENDIX,
by the author Orderic, from the relation of Ansgot the Subprior of Crowland.
Guthlac Presbyter, anchorite, of Crowland in England (St.)
[1] Many therefore oppressed by various infirmities, having heard the rumors of the miracles of blessed Guthlac, approach marshy Crowland, Ethelbald builds the Monastery of Crowland. where the holy body rests, and having obtained integral health by his prayers they give thanks to God. King Ethelbald moreover, as he had learned that his blessed consoler was shining with miracles, joyfully sought the place of his burial, and those things which he had already given to the blessed man, having obtained the kingdom, he granted perennially to those serving him. For at a certain time, when the same King, for the sake of visiting his Patron, before he migrated, went to Crowland, and the man of God demanded that a quiet dwelling in the same island be granted to him by him, he granted five miles to the east, that is to the ditch which is called Asendic, and three to the west, and five to the north, and absolved it by all means from all secular tribute and custom: and thence he confirmed a charter, signed with his seal, in the presence of his Bishops and Chief men. And because the marshy soil of Crowland, as the very name implies (for Crowland signifies "crude," that is, muddy land), could not sustain a stone mass; the said King caused huge oak posts of an innumerable multitude to be fixed in the ground, and ordered firm earth to be carried by boats through nine miles by water from Upolanda, that is, from the upper land, and mixed with the marshes: and so a stone Basilica (because St. Guthlac was content with a wooden oratory) he began and completed. Then he gathered religious men there, founded a monastery, enriched the place with ornaments and estates and other riches, for the honor of God and the holy Anchorite, whom he greatly loved, for the sweet consolation, which from him while he was exiled many times he had received. And so he loved that same place all his life, nor ever after the first establishment, which the same King made, did the seat of Crowland lack the habitation of religious monks to this day, at the granting of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns God, throughout all ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
* Ord. Upplonda.
ANALECTA Excerpts from the History by a Ingulph, Abbot of Crowland.
Guthlac Presbyter, anchorite, Crowland in England (St.)
FROM INGULPH'S HISTORY.
[1] King Ethelbald, on account of the miracles of St. Guthlac, King Ethelbald, as he learned that his blessed consoler was shining with miracles, joyfully and devoutly sought the place of his burial: and those things which he had promised to the said man of God still living before, having now obtained the kingdom he fully performed. For having quickly summoned a certain monk of famous religion from b Evesham, by name Kenulph, that he might gather a monastery there, he granted, gave, and confirmed built the monastery of Crowland, to him and to those serving God perpetually, and he absolved the whole island of Crowland from all revenue and secular custom: and thence c his charter, in the presence of d the Bishops and Princes of his kingdom, he established secure… And because the marshy soil of Crowland (as the name itself indicates, for it signifies crude and muddy earth) could not sustain a stone mass; the said King had huge oak and alder posts of innumerable multitude fixed in the ground, and ordered firm earth to be carried from nine miles by water from Uplanda, that is from the upper land, by boats, and mixed with the marshes: and so a stone (because St. Guthlac was content before with a wooden oratory) basilica he began and completed, where his wooden oratory had been: founded a monastery, enriched that place with ornaments and estates and other riches, and most tenderly loved that same place in his whole Life. Nor ever after the first foundation, which the same King established and made, did the monastery of Crowland lack the habitation of religious monks, to this very day.
[2] Also on the same island at those times there were several leading the hermit life, there lived as hermits his disciples Cissa, who clinging to the man of God with holy familiarity as long as he lived, like the infirm to a physician, in his instruction and example they gathered frequent salvation of the soul. Of whom one was newly converted to the Catholic faith, noble by birth, once powerful in worldly matters, by name Cissa, who leaving all things followed his Lord Christ. Another was Bettelinus, the most familiar servant of the said Father. Bettelenus, Egbert, Tat-Winus, The third was Egbert, the one who knew his secrets above others. The fourth was Tatwin, once his guide and helmsman to the same island. All of whom in single little cottages, not far from the oratory of the holy Father Guthlac, by the permission of the above-mentioned Abbot Kenulph, had separate dwellings until the end of life. But holy Pega, and St. Pega his sister 4 leagues distant. the sister of our holy Father Guthlac, soon after the turning of the first year from his death, leaving there in the hands of Abbot Kenulph the scourge of St. Bartholomew and her brother's psalter, with some other Relics; returned by ship to her cell, distant from the oratory of her said brother by four leagues in the western region…
[3] But the said King Ethelbald, with his monastery of Crowland completed and fully consummated, to promote the holy Church, everywhere through his kingdom, With King Ethelbald slain in the year 356 (756) and to emancipate other monasteries of religious men and women with dignities and privileges, continually directed his mind… And when he had reigned for forty-one years, according to the prophecy of the holy Father Guthlac, having entered upon war less providently, at Seggeswold, by the tyrant Bernred he was killed… and at Ripadium, that is Ripedum, at that time a most celebrated monastery, there succeed Offa, he was buried, leaving the kingdom of the Mercians to the grandson of his cousin, namely to Offa son of Dignifert, son of e Anulph, son of Osmodus, son of Loppa, son of Pibba, father of King Penda, with the consent of all the chiefs of all Mercia… who confirmed the monastery of Crowland by f his charter to the Lord Patrick Abbot of Crowland, (by whom the privilege is confirmed in the year 793) who had succeeded Kenulph its first Abbot, in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ seven hundred ninety-three. Egbert. Moreover, in the very next year, with the said King Offa having died on the 4th of the Kalends of August, his son Egbert succeeded to the glory of the kingdom, and reigned one hundred forty-one days, and seized by disease he died.
To whom the magnificent man and happy in holy offspring, Kenulph, as successor, Kenulph, eyewitness of the miracles of St. Guthlac, in peace, piety, and justice for twenty-six years most gloriously held the helms of the kingdom… To him related by blood, Siward, the third Abbot of the monastery of Crowland, and a most familiar confessor of much religion, obtained from the royal munificence a charter of this sort… "Know all and each, that the Lord has glorified his Saint with most celebrated signs and brilliant prodigies, the most blessed Confessor of Christ Guthlac, corporeally resting in the monastery of Crowland, and (as I and my Queen in our pilgrimage recently saw with our own eyes) daily more brightly with new and innumerable miracles, coruscating for the notice of the whole world. Whence by the counseling and moving of the same venerable Father, Lord Wilfred Archbishop of Canterbury, then the companion of our pilgrimage, the said monastery of Crowland… I have taken into the protection of my custody. he gives privilege to those pilgrimaging to his tomb, in the year 806. Moreover I wish all pilgrims approaching there for the sake of devotion, and departing with the sign of St. Guthlac in their hoods or caps, to be free and loosed from all passage and toll, wherever they shall come, perennially throughout the whole kingdom of Mercia. But also the alms given to God and to St. Guthlac, and to the said monastery and to the monks serving God in it, in perpetual possession I grant, confer, and confirm, in the year of the Incarnation of Christ eight hundred six…"
[4] King Kenulph of the Mercians in the year of Christ the Lord 819 made the end of his temporal life, and left his son St. Kenelm, there succeed Kenelm g a boy of seven years, as heir of the kingdom… After whose Martyrdom Ceolwolph his paternal uncle, Ceolwolph and others: brother of King Kenulph, succeeded… whom having been expelled, Bernulph, and Ludican… With the tyrants having been soon removed, by the consent of all Witlas was raised to be King, and reigned thirteen years…
He afterwards made a charter, h containing most beautiful privileges, for the said monastery of Crowland in the year 833 in these words: "…I wish also and command, that whoever in my kingdom shall be found guilty of whatever, and bound by the laws, if he shall flee to the said monastery, Witlas gives asylum to guilty ones fleeing to St. Guthlac, in the year 833, and before the Abbot of the said monastery, who shall be at the time, invoking the grace of the most holy Confessor Guthlac, there corporeally resting, shall have sworn to him everlasting fidelity and service; safe and secure, under the protection of the Abbot and his monks, in whatever service throughout the whole island of Crowland they shall place him, as in an asylum or in my own chamber, let him enjoy my peace and impunity; and let none of my ministers dare any further to pursue him, nor in any way to trouble him, under the penalty of the loss of his right foot, whoever in my kingdom shall attempt to violate this my privilege in any way…" This King Witlas persevered most constantly until his death in the love he yearly pilgrims to him. which he had conceived for the monastery of Crowland: so that every year of his life, at least once, he would visit the shrine of St. Guthlac with much compunction, and would offer some precious and notable jewel…
[5] King Witlas died in the thirteenth year of his reign, and was buried in the monastery of Ripadium: whom his brother Bertulph succeeded in the kingdom, and he reigned likewise thirteen years. This man passing through Crowland, whatever his brother Witlas or other Kings of the Mercians had with open hand bestowed as jewels, King Bertulph plunders the goods of Crowland, for the ornament of the holy Church, all together with all the money,
which he could find in the monastery, most wickedly plundered. In some compensation nevertheless for the money plundered, he made a charter containing many privileges for Crowland of his lands and liberties in these words: "…for Witlas the late King, my brother and predecessor, and for the redemption of my sins, with the common counsel and free consent of all the Magnates of my kingdom, he gives immunity throughout the whole kingdom in the year 851, I grant to God and to his most blessed Confessor St. Guthlac, and to your most sacred monastery of Crowland, that throughout my whole kingdom of Mercia, the Abbot, Monk, and lay brother of your sacred monastery, who now are, or who after you shall succeed in the future after you, there to serve the Lord, for whatever business they shall proceed, they may freely make and conduct for themselves the servants of their journey from fugitives, in whose presence of the said Abbot, monk, or lay brother everywhere throughout my kingdom, as in their church of Crowland, they may remain safe and secure, and from all peril entirely immune and unharmed, under mutilation of the more beloved limb, if anyone shall rashly violate this privilege of mine in any way…"
[6] I also confirm to you and to your successors, the rule of St. Benedict under your habit both now professed and to be professed after you, he confirms the rule of St. Benedict, your principal Church of Crowland, in which the venerable Relics of the most holy Confessor of Christ and your Patron B. Guthlac, corporally entombed, happily await the last resurrection: and the whole adjoining island… as the separate seat of your Abbey, as the special situation of your monastery I deliver… This is the inheritance of the Lord, the dowry of the Church of Christ, the throne of St. Mary and the Blessed Apostle Bartholomew, the most sacred sanctuary of St. Guthlac and his monks, and the monastery most free from all earthly service, the special alms of the most Illustrious Kings, perpetual dwelling of the Saints, and possession specially appropriated by the common counsel of the kingdom to religious men, and for the frequent miracles of the most holy Confessor among the vineyards of Engaddi always fruitful mother of balsam, and by the privileges of Kings in the solitude of Bosor city of grace and salvation to all the penitent… I also confirm to God and to St. Guthlac and to your sacred monastery, from the house of Fregisti the church of Langtost.
[7] Thus then six times with the same formula, "I confirm to God and to St. Guthlac," are established the illustrious gifts offered to the same monastery, with this end he says, "that we may continually deserve to obtain in our necessities the grace of the most blessed Confessor of Christ St. Guthlac, corporally resting with you, he implores the patronage of St. Guthlac, continually in our necessities. Therefore in the year of the Incarnation of Christ 851, on the sixth feria, in the week of Easter, this royal chirograph of mine I have established with the sign of the holy Cross… I Bertulph King of the Mercians beseech the divine majesty, that through the intercession of his most holy Confessor Guthlac and of all his Saints, he may remit to me and to all my people my sins; and he asserts his miracles to be manifest. and as through his manifest miracles he has deigned to show us his mercy; so over the Pagan enemies of his own he may deign to give victory in every contest, and after the fragile course of the present life glory everlasting in the company of his Saints. Amen."
[8] God made in this Council, to the honor of his most holy Confessor Guthlac, a most celebrated miracle, by which the devotion of the whole land to performing pilgrimage to Crowland, now more than usual tepid, might thenceforth become most frequent, and through all roads from all provinces be rendered daily revived. For when all England was being worn down this year by a certain disease, With a difficult paralysis raging through England, like a paralysis, the nerves of men, women, and infants with sudden and excessive cold, with the veins harder than usual rising, with no prevailing remedy of cloths reversed, and especially with the arms and hands of men made useless and totally dried up (Which disease, going before, as its most certain messenger, an intolerable pain thus preoccupied the sickening limb) it happened in this Council that many both great and small labored under the said discomfort. And when the affairs of the kingdom were to be proposed, the Lord Ceolnoth Archbishop of Canterbury, who was vexed with the said disease, openly counseled that the divine affairs ought first to be proposed, and thus human affairs, with the grace of Christ favoring, could attain a prosperous end. With all assenting, when the Lord Siward Abbot was being sought… and for his extreme old age was not present, King Bertulph himself, by the merits of St. Guthlac they are healed remembering the complaint of the Church of Crowland, in the presence of the Council the injuries, often inflicted on the Lord Siward Abbot and his monastery of Crowland by the foolish fury of their adversaries, openly set forth, Ceolnoth Archbishop of Canterbury, and ordered that a remedy be applied, to be decreed by common counsel. When therefore this business was in mid-discussion… behold the Lord Ceolnoth Archbishop of Canterbury with loud voice cried out that from his disease he was sound and safe, by the merits of the most holy Confessor of Christ the most blessed Guthlac, whose affairs were then being handled in their hands. Many other most powerful men in the said Council cried out likewise, other Bishops and Magnates, both Pontiffs and Magnates, that they had suffered from the said disease, but now by the grace of God and the merits of most holy Guthlac they felt no pain from the aforesaid disease in any of their limbs: and all to visiting the most sacred tomb of the most holy Guthlac at Crowland, by devout pilgrimage, as quickly as they could, by most strict vow then bound their consciences.
[9] Wherefore the Lord King Bertulph commanded k the Bishop of London (who contracted by the said disease now proclaimed with the greatest joy that he had been healed) to take the privilege of Crowland into his hands, Bishop of London, and to honor his physician St. Guthlac with his chirograph, as the Council should establish. Which was done. Therefore in the subscriptions of the royal chirograph, Archbishop Ceolnoth of Canterbury confesses himself sound and whole; l St. Swithun Bishop of Winchester rejoices in the Lord's miracles; m Alstan of Sherborne and n Orckenwald of Lichfield, Bishops, give thanks for the gains of the Church; and o Rethun Bishop of Leicester, promises himself to be a servant of St. Guthlac, as long as he lives: and all the chief men of the whole Council with most ardent affection obey the royal benevolence toward St. Guthlac in all things. With innumerable peoples of the sick therefore flocking daily from the whole land to the most sacred tomb of St. Guthlac, and with due devotion imploring divine grace through the merits of the most holy Confessor, and with the Lord opening to all the most abundant fountain of saving medicine, and often in one day 100 so that on one day sometimes more than a hundred paralytics of this kind were healed; Abbot Siward was enriched beyond measure…
[10] With Bertulph King of the Mercians having died, Beorred succeeded to the kingdom: in whose time the venerable Father, the Lord Siward full of days and decrepit, having most strenuously administered the Pastoral office for sixty-two years, died: to whom in the office of Abbot of the Crowland monastery the Lord Theodore succeeded. In his time the Danes everywhere through the land taking plunder, most devastated Northumbria and Mercia;… and at Nottingham in the year of the Lord 866 they wintered… and in the year 871 a few young men scarcely escaping, on the next night following entered the Crowland monastery, With the Danes approaching in the year 871 announcing at the door of the church the slaughter of the Christians with mournful and tearful wailing. With all therefore confused by the message, the Abbot retaining with him the older monks and a few infants, The Relics of St. Guthlac translated to the forest of Ancarig. commanded all the stronger and younger, having taken with them the sacred Relics, namely the most sacred body of St. Guthlac, his scourge and psalter, and other chief jewels… to flee into the nearest marshes and there to wait the outcome of the war. Who with great sadness of their hearts obeying the orders, with a boat loaded with the aforesaid Relics and monuments of the Kings… came to the wood of Ancarig, adjoining their island toward the south: and with Brother Toret the anchorite, and other brothers then dwelling there, they stayed for four days, in number thirty: of whom ten were Priests, the rest of lower ranks…
[11] But in the monastery putting on themselves the sacred vestments, both Abbot and all the others, and gathered in the choir, they complete the regular Hours of the divine office, and afterwards the Psalter of David entirely: then the Abbot himself celebrated the great Mass, and Brother Elfgetus Deacon ministered, Theodore the Abbot is killed by the Danes with the rest of the Monks, Brother Savin Subdeacon and Brothers Egelred and Walric, boy candle-bearers. And when the Mass was completed and the Abbot and his said ministers had communicated in the sacred mysteries, with the Pagans rushing into the church, the venerable Abbot upon the holy altar by the hand of the most cruel King Osketul, a true Martyr and Christ's victim is immolated. The ministers standing around all were beheaded by the barbarians: old men and infants beginning to flee from the choir, captured and with the hardest torments, to show the treasures of their church, were examined and slain: the Lord Asker Prior in the vestry, the Lord Lechtwin the Subprior in the refectory: whom Brother Turgar an infant of ten years, most beautiful in face and form of body, Turgar the boy saved, having followed with inseparable step into the refectory, when he saw his elder killed, most insistently begged to die together and be killed together with him. But the younger Count Sidrock, moved with mercy upon the boy, stripped him of his cowl, and having given him a Danish tunic ordered him everywhere to follow his footsteps: and so of all the elders and juniors remaining in the monastery he alone was saved…
[12] But the Danes all the sarcophagi of the Saints, who in high marble tombs around the shrine of the holy Father Guthlac on his right and left rested, he sees the bodies of the Saints with the church and monastery burning: with knives and hoes broke open, namely on the right the tomb of St. Cissa the Priest and anchorite, and the tomb of St. Bettelm, man of God and once minister of St. Guthlac, also the tomb of St. Tatwin, once guide to Crowland and helmsman of St. Guthlac… but when they did not find the expected treasures, exceedingly indignant, all the bodies of the Saints miserably drawn together into one heap, having set fire to them on the third day of their arrival with the church and all the buildings of the monastery, that is on the 7th of the Kalends of September, they most lamentably burned. Finally on the fourth day with innumerable herds of animals and beasts of burden they migrated toward Medeshamsted (Peterborough)… Afterwards Brother Turgar, having escaped by flight into the nearby forest, and walking through the whole night, at earliest dawn entered Crowland. [having returned he reports to others returning from the forest, all that had been done.] Whom when they saw sound and whole, they were somewhat comforted: but hearing from him in what places both their Abbot, and the other elders and their brethren killed lay, and how all the sepulchers of the Saints had been broken up, and all the monuments and their sacred volumes with the bodies of the Saints had been burned, they were all struck with inestimable sorrow, and lamentation and weeping was made for a very long time. At last… they consulted each other about the choosing of a new Pastor among them: and the election being held, the venerable Father Godric by the consent of all, though unwilling and much resisting, at last was made Abbot…
[13] But Beorred King of the Mercians, having drawn together a very great army, Other goods are plundered by the Kings of the Mercians. distributed certain lands of the monastery of St. Guthlac
of Crowland to his stipendiary soldiers, some he confiscated for himself. And although the venerable Father Godric by often repeating expended many sweats upon the King and his ministers, and very often showed the charters of the donors, and the confirmations of Kings, together with his own chirograph; yet always reporting nothing but empty words, at length he despaired entirely of the purpose of his business… In the year 874 Beorred King of the Mercians, seeking Rome, in a few days having died, was buried there in the school of the English: to whom succeeded a certain one of the servants of Beorred, Ceolwulph, English by birth, but barbarous in impiety… Whence among many evils which he did, even imposing on the venerable Abbot of Crowland Godric and his wretched Brothers a tribute of a thousand pounds, he almost annihilated the monastery of Crowland. Who at last having been deposed, with a miserable end ended his life.
[14] The kingdom of the Mercians also at this moment of time, Under the Kings of the West Saxons, with their King Alfred prevailing against the Danes, was associated with the kingdom of the West Saxons, and unto the present day thenceforth united… To King Alfred succeeded in the kingdom his son Edward, and to this one his firstborn son Athelstan… This one taking Godric the Abbot of Crowland, oppressed by long old age, and his other seven brethren into his court, proposed to restore the monastery of Crowland: but prevented by premature death, he left to his brothers the undertaking to be perfected. His brother Edmund succeeded him. In the same year Godric Abbot of Crowland died: whom two old men followed: of the others one sought the monastery of Winchester, another the monastery of Malmesbury. But the holy trinity of three brothers remaining in the monastery of Crowland trusted in the Lord… three monks only dwell in Crowland: King Edmund was killed by a certain robber, to whom his brother Edred, the third son of King Edward, succeeded.
[15] In the second year of this kingdom, Turketul the venerable Chancellor took a journey toward York through the monastery of Crowland. When he had planned to pass through, under Edred Turketul the Chancellor visits the relics of St. Guthlac, the three said venerable elders of that monastery meeting him, with much supplication, as the day was now drawing toward evening, compelled him to enter in to them: and leading him to prayer in their little oratory, which in a certain corner of the ruined church they had built, showing the Relics of the most holy Confessor Guthlac, expounded the whole history of their desolation. But he moved with inestimable piety, he consoles the monks, most devoutly listened to all things… and much pitying the misery of so great a monastery, commanded his servants to leave sufficient victuals to the elders until his return, he helps with alms: and ordered a hundred shillings to be distributed for buying other necessities… Returning through Crowland he came back and led by the holy Spirit turned aside to the said elders; and having given twenty pounds of silver to the said elders, he returned to his Lord the King: and a friendly conference having been held… he promised that he would become a monk there, and with most devoted mind asked that royal favor would attend his purpose… he becomes a monk A few days having then passed, coming with the King to Crowland, soon to Winchester and Malmesbury he sent messengers for the two brethren: who with rejoicing and alacrity returned to their monastery. Therefore on the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, when the venerable Turketul, having put aside the secular habit, had taken up the monastic schema among the aforesaid five elders, and Abbot of Crowland, he was also presented with the pastoral staff by the King, and by Cedwulph, Bishop of Dorchester, was blessed in the ecclesiastical manner…
[16] Then with expenses taken from the King's treasury, in a short time the church was built, he restores the church and monastery, and the cloister with other necessary offices constructed… On the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary in the year 948, when all the Magnates of the kingdom had gathered at London, King Edred gave to the Lord Turketul the Abbot and his monks the monastery of Crowland, through his charter in these words: "…Be it known to all of you, that through the devout suggestion of my beloved Cleric and kinsman Turketul, he obtains confirmation of privileges in the year 948. made to me about the repair, restoration, and liberty of the most sacred Church and monastery of Crowland, in which are laid up the Relics of St. Guthlac, Confessor and anchorite, I grieved not a little and had compassion, both for the depopulation of the holy mother Church, and for the diminution of spiritual benefits, imposed for the souls of my progenitors through works of mercy multiply and frequently…" Another privilege is sanctioned, to the honor of God, and the relief of the holy mother Church, and the reverence of St. Guthlac Confessor, again in the year 966. in the presence of the King, his Prelates, and Nobles gathered at London in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 966, in the Octave of Pentecost, in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul… He names the largest bell St. Guthlac. The Lord Turketul had caused one very large bell to be made, by the name Guthlac, which when composed with the other bells, made a marvelous harmony: nor was there then such consonance of bells in all England.
In the year 1032 King Cnut confirmed all the churches and chapels, lands and tenements, liberties King Cnut confirms the privileges. and privileges, with which King Edred endowed, gave, and enriched the monastery of Crowland, to the honor of God and of St. Guthlac his Confessor, corporally resting in it.
ANNOTATIONS.
TRANSLATION OF ST. GUTHLAC.
From English MSS.
Guthlac Presbyter, anchorite, of Crowland in England (St.)
BHL Number: 3731, 3732
FROM MS.
PROLOGUE.
[1] Lift up, dearest ones, your ears, all who have not received the name of God in vain, who confess that you are faithful; and take in through the pipes of your ears by hearing that which is reported; and store within the chamber of your mind, how great and what things our Lord daily, through his venerable servant Guthlac, works as signs and wonders: which although they are done beyond number, and exceed the memory of men; The author excuses his slenderness: yet constrained by the brevity of time, as far as the strength of our slenderness may suffice, I will touch upon the least of great things, very few of many. But what am I so little a one, while our predecessors, illustrious men, princes of all eloquence, perfectly instructed in every teaching, gathering grapes from his life's sanctity, from the multiplicity of his miracles, an abundant and fruitful vineyard, from the fruitful olive in the house of God have plucked a little fruit. Nor is it wonderful? For who shall be able to unfold his virtues and great deeds? What voice will be able to explain the marks performed through him? Hence I am pressed by a twofold anxiety; on the one hand, the dullness of our sense and the rusticity of our speech prohibiting us from this present little work, because it is written, "Seek not things above thee; and search not into things above thy strength"; on the other hand, the command of a pleasant Fraternity urging us on, which to contradict and oppose is reckoned as a crime. Eccli. 3:22 A burdensome weight is imposed, pressed as I am in sense, impeded in speech, and terrified by the duty. But I trusting in the Lord, to whom the two mites of the widow were acceptable; encouraged by that authority, since often treasure is committed to earthen vessels, and strengthened by the Evangelical truth, "Think not how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you"; I in some manner presume to illuminate the sun with torches, to number the sands of the sea. Matt. 10:19 And again: "To you has been committed a talent; trade while I come; and you shall be to me more than gold and sapphires." With God neither is the less eloquent despised, nor the eloquent praised; nor is the unlearned rejected, or the taught cast off: in whose examination age does not prejudge knowledge; but what the dignity of life and the equality of morals commends. Therefore you who seek the truth of the matter, not the smoothness of words, do not seek in the present sickled methods of sentences, nor polished flatteries of words, which the weakness of our little wit does not possess: yet which, if it were needful, he promises simple truth he who made the mute one use the rational office of the human tongue, could easily furnish, and supply a torrent of eloquence and polished eloquence. But it often happens, that while the writer seeks the pomp of eloquence, he hides the truth with the paint of words. But, as a certain one of the Doctors says, "Where the theme is honest, there is no need to capture benevolence, nor to paint the cause with rhetorical figures." Since moreover truth does not seek corners, but pleases through itself; the dress of the outward hearers is to be set aside; while I strive only to this, that from the sentence truth may shine, and in the speech brevity may be measured. For while no acquisition of favor, no presumption or arrogance of elation, but the suggestion of an inseparable society compels to the urgency of the present business; whatever shall be found solecized, less grammatically, less charming; charity (which alone blushes at the name of difficulty, briefly to be explained, which bears all things) promises pardon and correction: but what is fittingly or honestly spoken, urbanely and elegantly, comes from the gift of him who said, "For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father." Matt. 10:20 Therefore not considering the person of our slenderness; nor on account of the thorns which produce, despise the rose which is produced; nor on account of the basket, let the sweetness of honey grow sour: but attend to the great deeds of so great a Patron: let the example of imitation, the mirror of good action, be conformed in all. Nevertheless, since we all cannot all things; and unheard-of miracles. certain as from a meadow I have been pleased to pluck flowers, whose odor is as of a full field, which the Lord has blessed; and new and unheard-of miracles unknown to readers, which may edify hearers, to the praise and honor of our Savior and of his venerable
St. Guthlac, to bring forth into public view.
CHAPTER I.
History of the translated body of St. Guthlac. Some miracles done at the time.
[2] For the worthy recollection of the singular celebrity of this day, on which we solemnize the Translation of the kindly father Guthlac; let us invoke the Holy Spirit who dwells in him, that he who bestowed virtues upon him, may grant us speech for narrating them. But since we judge ourselves less fit for so great a mystery; let us implore the grace of Jesus Christ, by whose prompting all the exercises of piety are accomplished. Therefore at a certain juncture of time, when the venerable college of cenobites, in the place where the distinguished body of St. Guthlac rests, soldiering for God, shone with much light of humility and devotion; the fervor of true charity had inflamed all to behold his holy Body. Abbot Waldevus being asked by his monks, Hence panting with the highest desire, as though thirsting for the desired waters, with humble speech to Abbot a Waldevus, at that time governing the charge of Pastor, knocking at the door of his clemency, they filially addressed him: for they said, "It is by no means fitting, pious Father, that the venerable Relics of our Patron Guthlac be covered with a common turf, that the body of St. Guthlac be elevated be enclosed in a muddy little vessel, whom the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, illuminates with all the brightness of his majesty: but his bones are to be reverently raised and loftily venerated on earth, whose patronage we trust will avail us in heaven." Whom the said Abbot, recognizing to be pricked by the spur of such charity, and burning with such zeal for God toward the man of God Guthlac; said: "That love, by which our mind is knit to you, blushes to bring forth a rebuff to your just petition. Far be it then in so great a mystery of divine operation, that by withstanding I should sadden your sincerity: rather persevering in this devotion, provided divine assistance be at hand, let us undertake a worthy purpose. But we do this fittingly, if affected by fasts, insisting on prayers, he proclaims a three day fast: we obtain from God: for thus the holy Fathers sanctioned great mysteries, dedicated worthy sacraments, with Christ sanctifying fasting. By this Elijah was carried to heaven in a fiery chariot, Daniel unharmed in the den from the feeding of the lions; by this Moses was made the bearer of the typical Decalogue of the law; John, dipping the victim of the world in the waters, is adorned with garlands heaped up with thirty-fold fruit."
[3] 4 monks selected, A three-day abstinence from food therefore having been declared, and, in the spirit of purity and with a contrite soul, the urgency of prayers; there are chosen out of the whole company of the Brothers apart four Brothers, fit for the office of so great divinity; whom the authority of all approves, life commends, age excuses, who have promised to present themselves as a chaste virgin to the one Husband Christ. Who, as far as was lawful, resisting, opposing the excuse of their fragility, accusing themselves unworthy of so great a mystery, submit their necks with fear and trembling to the work enjoined: for faith gave confidence, certain that all things are possible to him who believes. But the Abbot instructing them with admonitions, raising them with constancy, rendering them most certain by faith, said: "I trust, Brothers, that Christ's piety, at his invocation, will not regard all sins; but what the faith of the believer asks, he will confer." The evening time of the day having come, at which the fast was to be concluded, the prescribed Brothers, in the twilight of night, with heavy step, with quiet silence, advance to the sepulcher of the blessed man, psalmodizing in mind and spirit; not that sweetness of voice, but affection of mind is sought: they gird themselves to the work: where keeping watch in prayers, they examine with the highest study from every side the humble and lowly place of his repose, how in what manner, for rolling away the stone, a more convenient entrance might be opened. And when laboring for a long time without result, they did not sweat with axe and hatchet, nor with the hoes of diggers, nor with frequent pounding of hammers; about cockcrow, a light, as lightning intolerable to the eyes, for about half an hour shone forth; and with great light arising which terrified the minds of all, and covered their sight. They nonetheless, strengthened by faith, suspected that this was a sign of divine regard, and not in vain: for God regarded the prayers of the humble, and did not spurn the prayers of the poor; lest the long time of human intolerance seem slow, they remove the stone: but the help of God follow, who says, "In an accepted time I have heard thee." 2 Cor. 6:2 For immediately they pierce the stone by digging, they loosen and break the fastenings and joinings: and so the little place having been cleared of rubbish, they find the desired and incomparable treasure. They enter the tomb of the man of God, they ascend into the bed of his couch, where he had given sleep to his eyes, They find the sacred Body, slumber to his eyelids, rest to his temples, until he should find a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. Prostrate, therefore, they adore God in the place where his feet stood; with their hands they handle the sacred bones, they embrace and kiss them. At once far sweeter most sweetly fragrant: than the cinnamon shrub produces, than bursts forth from the shrubs of balsam, the honeyed sweetness of sweet-smelling fragrance, whose odor surpasses all aromatics, burst forth.
[4] As they exulted with spiritual gladness, one of them, running as quickly as possible, announces the thing to all the Brothers, who in the monastery were chanting the morning synaxis praises, with a voice raised to heaven exclaiming: "Rejoice, Brothers, again and again I say, the rest of the monks being called accede, rejoice: we have found the precious treasure, for which we thirsted; and the pearls of the holy Relics, which we sought." Who soon with eyes and hands raised to heaven, in spiritual melody offer praises to God: and with the lit groups of candles in the honor of fragrant incense, proceeding in festive order, illuminate the sepulcher; and examine the found clods of the holy Body (O singular joy! O gladness above gladness!) and wondrously for joy they convert song into lamentation, and instruments into the voices of mourners. Eagerly subjecting their necks to so worthy a burden, and that they deposit on the altar of St. Mary: they raise up the mausoleum, and with the highest reverence place it before the altar of Blessed Mary; that there they might wait, until the Prelate of august memory b Alexander, Father of all virtues and ornaments, pattern of sanctity, illustrious in speech, blessed in life, should be present for so great mysteries: for it would not be fitting, that without his presence they should fulfill such magnificent offices of divine operation. Therefore the said Abbot, the Bishop is summoned: with honest company of the Brothers, willed to go to the Bishop; and thus with humble speech addressed him: "By divine consultation, holy Father, we have raised up the mausoleum of Blessed Guthlac, we have looked within upon his precious relics, and have transferred them up to the monastery. Hence we implore your clemency in God, and God for you, that you may obtain the summit of the supreme Pontificate, possess the kingdom of David, ascend the rule of Solomon, if you will deign to be present at such great mysteries." To whose prayers the serene face of his majesty, the propitious ears, the kind speech, promised a hearing; but the dignity at that time begged for favor. But from the occasion of Pastoral care being under obligation to the condescension of many, he was compelled to incline to the affairs of seculars: nevertheless as quickly as he could be freed from the official doings, as if invited to a banquet, he gladly hastened his approach.
[5] Meanwhile, what the Lord was pleased to show for the heap of praise of his servant Guthlac, should not be covered with silence. A certain religious woman, by name Gumulda, was dwelling outside the cell of the monks; who studied to be more beautiful in the honor of life than in the appearance of body; who had consecrated herself to God as in mind, so in habit. This one rising at midnight to confess to God, was accustomed duly to be present at the matins praises of the monks, that through all days and nights she might dedicate constant prayers and wakeful vigils: for her perseverance inspired a certain curiosity in others, that they might draw not a little of advantage from such great devotion. But on the same night, when the vigils were being held at the sepulcher of St. Guthlac, During the vigils at the sacred Body a great light appears: the cloudy air had covered the sky with clouds, and had covered the lands with foul darkness; so that no way was passable to the traveller, no crossing of the street was permitted, nor was there anywhere free facility of proceeding: for neither moon nor stars gave lights to the world. When an outstanding star, like a globe of fire, shining with rosy brightness, like the sun rising in the morning, scattering fiery rays in four directions, like lightning penetrating every gaze, appeared: which inclining downward from the high region of the pole on a straight eastern track, extended even to the sepulcher of St. Guthlac; and so it came to pass, that every cloud being wiped away, a glad day brighter than usual illuminated the lands. O wondrous novelty, and worthy of amazing wonder! For as the preceding star led the Magi to Christ's cradle; so now starry brightness becomes for the handmaid of Christ a guide of the journey to the accustomed studies of divine piety, as if it were the sixth hour of the day, openly showing the threshold of the monastery. Many of both sexes also bore witness to the said woman of such a trace; because so they affirmed they had seen. O great and illustrious glory of this Saint, whose praiseworthy merit the Omnipotent willed to be shown with such a sign!
[6] To these it seems worthy to relate, that a certain woman of good conversation, within the capacity of the monastery, was living on the leftovers which remained over from the refectory of the Brothers: to whom on the surface of the foot a tumor had arisen, which momentarily creeping to the upper parts, with grievous corruption was cooking the whole body outwardly, grievously vexed by a tumor of the foot, is healed: and in the marrows besieged with various pain was hiding a vast conflagration, so that besieged on every side with anguish, no powers sufficed for endurance. For it was a disease, which men call "iniquitous," taking its name from the thing; because it neither is human, nor is it wont to be cured by men. Who when she had known, that the monks were celebrating vigils at the mausoleum of Blessed Guthlac; that same night brought within the monastery, she prostrates herself in prayer. But a more bitter pain urged her at night, so that she could neither stand nor walk. Where when obtaining pardon and mercy from God, by the intercession of Blessed Guthlac, in the wakeful night wearying her voice and speech with prayer; the Lord by his accustomed piety moved over her anguish, in the twinkling of an eye mitigated all her trouble. For indeed the tumor burst in the middle, with the pustules perforated on the surface; and with the purulent passages opened, the livid moisture with virulent gore began to boil forth in waves from the veins of the putrefied wound. And without delay: her bases and soles were consolidated, and the former use and agility of her nerves and joints is restored.
[7] After some days the venerable Prelate, with honest men and authentic persons of both orders, and the chief men of the whole Diocese, came to the oft-said monastery. At whose coming the Brothers sweep the monastery with brooms, purge the pavements of rubble, with all things adorned, clothe the walls with tapestries and curtains, strip the shrines and little boxes, adorn the epistyles with ivory and silver little boxes, distinguish the altars with silk hangings with gold woven on them above. The Brothers had summoned from every side their neighbors and friends, to congratulate for the drachma found: among whom was present the Abbot of worthy memory c Rodbis of Thorney, a river of eloquence, Abbots and others hastening together, fenced by constancy of faith and the dowry of many virtues. But also the Abbot of pious remembrance d Walther of Ramsey, Patron of sacred religion, strenuous in the rigor of justice, the banner of ecclesiastical observance: and Edward, Prior of the same place, distinguished in life and morals, who afterwards for the holiness of life and equity of morals was appointed e Abbot in the monastery of St. Guthlac, strenuously fought for God:
but also the man of great gravity, chief of the provincial Priors, f William, Prior of Ely. Therefore all things being completed which were fitting for so great a mystery; a gathering of Abbots, Priests, and Monks being united, The Body is translated, with innumerable people of both sexes, they translated that most precious clod of the body, openly revealed to all, to a more eminent place of the monastery, with various torches of candles going before, and the banners of the holy Cross, with censers vaporing incense. A monk of great esteem went before, with the sacred Head borne before. bearing the head of the man of God within a little pyx, distinguished with crystals and pearls. But all following, singing the praises of the divine canticles in sweet modulation, and with various choirs of tongues returning consonant clamor, with the ringing organs of the hymns which are sung to the praise of the eternal King, all applauded with highest favor. For as it was greatly joyful, that the Church had received its Advocate; so it was greatly delightful, that such a people had merited such a Patron.
[8] This also, to the praise of the kindly Father Guthlac, I judge should be made known to memory, that a certain architect of the same monastery, Alwold by name, a pestilential suffering with long intolerable languor, namely a dizziness of the head, at intervals tormented him into madness; He is healed from a dizziness of the head as if mad: so that from the injury of the brain he suffered at intervals the absurdity of discretion, and the stain of silliness. He obtained from the Bishop with pure devotion of mind, that he should place on his neck above the shrine with the head of St. Guthlac. Which as soon as it was done, all the pain and bitterness of his head vanished, so that thereafter he lived all his life with a sound brain, unharmed by the former suffering. The Masses' solemnities having been duly celebrated by the Bishop in such great praises, the body is replaced in a new monument, they happily placed the venerable body in a new monument, consecrated by him, worthy for the repositing of so great a Confessor, at the Eastern part of the altar: placing a lamp upon a candlestick, that it may shine for all who are in the house: where daily his celebrated memory is honored, when the aromas of the holy Masses are burned on the golden altar, where the glorious pledges of various Saints are laid up. Sealing the stone, with sweet fragrance smelling with retaining-bands and iron fillets they secured so great a treasure: whence a fragrance of sweet-smelling sweetness flowed forth, as if the whole church were filled with the flowers of various aromas and drops of balsam. But over the stone a certain decurio, Robert de Guardineto, a veteran of wondrous gravity, lover of all religious, having hired the chief goldsmiths and jewelers, with polished art of elaborate sculpture g constructed a repa suspended on high: which of various metals and kinds of wood compacted together, clothed with plates of gold and silver, and with outstanding adornment: adorned with crystals and various gems, he enriched as to this day it appears to human sight. Where Almighty Lord works the signs of various virtues, restoring sight to the blind, walking to the lame, hearing to the deaf, he shines with miracles. reason to the possessed, use of limbs to the withered, the order of words to the mute. Which if anyone wished to relate, the day, I think, would fail sooner than speech.
[9] This translation of blessed Guthlac was made in the year from his transit h 422, from the Incarnation of Christ 1136, in the first year of the reign of King Stephen i, This translation was made in the year 1136 with William presiding as Archbishop of Canterbury. Which day, through the revolution of each year, with a certain prerogative and privilege of love festive and beyond others votive, for the sanctity of so great a mystery, yearly to be recalled with highest veneration is honored. Let us therefore also unanimously exult all on the outstanding day of our solemnity: let us celebrate the festal day, not with human elation, but with divine devotion: let us reform in ourselves the example of this Saint, who from a robber of the nations was made a herald of God, for his wondrous sanctity, from a persecutor of peoples a contemplator of the heavenly Jerusalem; who with peoples laid low, houses burned, property taken away, sold all things, and made himself friends of the mammon of iniquity; who withdrew fleeing and remained in the solitude, saying with the Prophet, "Woe is me, for my sojourning is prolonged": for he sighed for the land flowing with milk and honey, where he believed he should see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living; which neither eye has seen, nor ear has heard, which he possesses with perennial glory. Ps. 119:5 In the military service of this world he labored, that in the future he might be crowned: he exchanged the gold-roofed shining for the vileness of formless mud: generous in lineage, lofty in riches and nobility, he laid down all, and now has received a hundredfold and eternal life. He was the least of all, that he might be greater than all; but the more he threw himself down, the more he was exalted by Christ: he was hidden, and not hidden: he fled glory, and glory was earned: he sowed carnal things, that he might reap spiritual: he gave earthly things, that he might take heavenly; he yielded brief things, that he might exchange for eternal things: he consummated his course, kept the faith; therefore he enjoys the crown of justice, and follows the Lamb wherever he goes. O wondrous exchange! he wept, that he might always rejoice; the broken cisterns he scorned, that he might find the living fountain: clothed in haircloth, now he is covered with white garments, saying with the Prophet: "Thou hast torn my sackcloth, Lord, and hast encompassed me with joy." Ps. 29:12 Let us honor therefore, Brothers, the Relics of the Saints, that we may adore him whose servants we have been made; let us honor the Saints, that the honor of the servants may redound to the Lord, of whom he himself says: "He that receives you, receives me": who is glorious in his Saints, with whom may he place us in the heavenly fatherland, and with the elect enrich us with eternal glory, who is blessed unto the ages of ages. Matt. 18:5 Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
At the invocation of St. Guthlac provision is sent down from heaven and an unjust usurper is punished by sudden death.
[10] At a certain time of pleasant memory Abbot Ingulph, a Father of great sanctity, of immense virtue in himself, of clear estimation among the people, had taken up the Pastoral care and the rule of souls, in the house of God and of St. Guthlac, by divine sanction. Who having received the Abbot's office, intent inwardly on God alone in his cell, Abbot Ingulph a holy man implicated in no secular involvement, neither day nor night ceased from converse with God and prayers; and striving for the progress of his inner man and of the flock committed to him (as it is written of him who ought to preside over the disciples) all good and holy things by works rather than by words he taught; pursuing with all the purity of mind that divine thing, which is above every mind. Whence a certain Brother, outwardly fit for human cares and conversations, and a hospitable man, he had appointed to minister to the arriving Brothers and hosts and pilgrims: who as the father of the whole congregation, would supply the constituted provision to all without trouble and offense. Whom by the force of obedience, with all the provision consumed, and by the edict of his authority he had bound, that he should receive poor men and pilgrims as Christ in them; so that no one should suffer a refusal upon being asked, if it could be; let him send no one away from the cell without viaticum, but should provide what would be necessary: who fulfilled the enjoined work with glad effect. But on a certain day whatever he had prepared for eating of human food for the Brothers, he had distributed to any arriving visitors, so that of any kind of food nothing was left; which he soon told the Abbot, affirming that he had nothing of food or bread in the storeroom or outside, or material from which to make, what he might set before at the meal of the Brothers. "Let your industry therefore, Father, provide, what in the crisis of such great peril we should do: for the hour of the meal is now approaching. For because of the importunity of the time and the difficulty of the road, the weight established for the food of the Brothers, our bearers cannot deliver by any vehicle." The sun was at that time in Aquarius; from the North the horror-bearing North wind was blowing hard; the frozen marsh of the bituminous island, and with ice impeding access, had entangled access or departure to travellers for the peril of the journey; with the wintry frost the river's gravel (for the b Welland slips there) constrained with ice hanging, showed itself altogether unfit.
[11] Learning this the Abbot entered the oratory, prostrated on his knees before the cancelli of St. Father Guthlac, before the Relics with the Brothers insisting on prayer everywhere around, groaning and sighing, intently fixed his eyes on heaven; and thus the great sadness of the Brothers, consoling with the consequent joy of the visitation, said: of St. Guthlac "Do not, little sons, he consoles his monks: wholly give yourselves to mourning or sadness: for as the Savior, our sins demanding it, has either forgotten or been angry with us; so again appeased by piety he will have mercy, and will grant us the desired breasts of benefits; for it by no means becomes you to distrust. The Savior's promise is, who said, 'If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed; you shall say to this mountain, remove.' Matt. 17:19; John 16:23 And again: 'Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give you: ask, and you shall receive.' I trust in the Lord, that c he will provide food sufficiently, according to the word of the Wise man, 'The Lord will not slay the soul of the just with famine.' Prov. 10:3 He himself indeed says: 'Be not solicitous what you shall eat, or drink; your Father knoweth that you have need of these things. Matt. 6:31 Seek the kingdom of God and his justice; and all these things shall be added unto you.' If therefore we seek the kingdom of God, let us not think at all about bodily food. It is written: 'Cursed is he who shall first seek the refreshment of the body, rather than of the soul.' Therefore brothers, let us pray, psalm, render the office, that we may attain what we desire." Having said these things, tears succeed to prayer, sobs occupy the voice, the tongue is impeded by weeping, and in the midst
of his effort speech is interrupted by groans. But he prayed thus: "Most glorious Father Guthlac, in whose veneration we here gather and serve; he invokes the patronage of St. Guthlac, for us, I ask, in the heavens may you be an intercessor at the ears of divine piety; obtain that Christ be appeased to us, whom we believe to be angry for our sins; render him favorable to us, whom we do not doubt to be most pious; that he who knows human infirmity cannot subsist without the use of foods, may this day grant us daily bread. If any wrath there be; let him strike me the useless Pastor, lest the sheep of the flock committed to me be scattered and perish."
[12] O manifold ineffable mercy of God! For when they had spent the whole night in constant vigils in prayers and weepings, and had chanted the Psalms with contrite heart; in the morning after d the night-labor, the Lord having pity and become helper, comforted his servants through an Angelic sound. For when in the first synaxis of the day they were assembled to psalm to God in the oratory; in the edge of the cell a voice from on high was made, by the Angelic voice they are comforted: which with prolonged sound cried, saying: "Come, bring the monks food; come, prepare food for the Brothers to eat." And in a short moment, the voice which had been sent, fell silent. Which having been heard, the Abbot, having called the Cellarer and some ministers with him, sent them there. Who going through the roughness, wherever the voice had been made, and they receive 4 sacks filled with grain and flour: found four sacks, two filled with grain, two stuffed with flour. These burdens soon placing on their shoulders with joy, multiplying thanks to God, they returned to the monastery with the little sacks; that from this provision, which had been sent by God, they might prepare food for the use of the Brothers. But all who merited to see from God the votive miracle, compunct of heart, and converted from all emptiness of mind, in a short time became more devout and much better. O how beautiful a spectacle that day presented! wherefore in each week a solemn Mass is celebrated. It was the fifth feria, on which day since God had visited his servants anguished for food from heaven, and had enriched them with the gift of divine grace by the obtaining of Blessed Guthlac; the aforesaid Abbot of holy memory, in the honor of God and of the same Father Guthlac, established the solemnities of Masses to be celebrated in Copes and Dalmatic Tunics, with the lighted lights of candles, and the aromatics of incense, and the organs of spiritual melody, with all reverence of praise. Which institution and custom until the present, with the course of each week unfolded, on the fifth feria, with the highest honor, is preserved, to the praise and glory of the name of God, which is blessed from this now, and for every age.
[13] Since I have once begun, let me again speak of my Lord and Advocate Blessed Guthlac, although I am base and unworthy, the last of the rejected; for it is useless to pass over in silence and not to commit to writing so many and so great his splendid great deeds: which because they are not noted in writing, are buried by many a memory, and effaced from the notice of very many. e Therefore among other Prelates, who in the house of God and of Blessed Guthlac, shining round about like golden candelabra, wondrously glowed, Abbot f Hulchetellus was held as the most approved; under Abbot Hulchetel from the beginnings of his holy conversion, longing with most fervent zeal for spiritual contemplation; who, that he might be a monk in deed and name, walked solitary, as if dead to the world, that he might live to God. Having undertaken the Pastoral care of souls to be ruled, he strove to be free for God alone and his office, rather than to be implicated in the tumults of secular affairs. But since, as Blessed Gregory testifies, no one can devoutly persist in the monastic rule, and at the same time serve ecclesiastical affairs; lest he should incur the loss of holy contemplation, he made himself a stranger from all external action and care; and that he might more quietly and solicitously keep watch over the flock committed to him, he distributed the property and estates of the church, with his estates leased out to be held and guarded, under a yearly rent. Among whom a certain peasant but very rich, Asford by name, obtained a certain little plot in the meadow, to be held by him yearly under an established rent. Then the aforesaid Abbot, having entered the way of all flesh, after he had happily migrated to the Lord, Abbot Ingulph was appointed successor in his place; Abbot Ingulph asks it back: excellent in reverence of morals and sanctity of life; who excellently trained in both lives, moderated with equanimity both the rod and the staff. This one in the house of God strove to repair the broken, to perfect the imperfect, to join the divided, to recollect what was badly dispersed, as much in estates as in other possessions: but also he insisted that the little plot be returned to him by the said Asford, and restored to his own dominion. But he, claiming it as his own right, unjustly asserted that it had been given to him under a pledge made, and to be held by hereditary right.
[14] A suit therefore having arisen over this matter between them, with the aforesaid Abbot attacking, and Asford defending and denying; after the case had been ventilated for a long time before the provincial elders and leading men, [at last they are cited to a determined place and day peremptory; where, with famous Judges present, and the Justices g of the country placed present, the controversy was to be decided with a lawful end. But the Abbot meanwhile and the whole congregation of Brothers persevering in prayers, incessantly supplicated God and Blessed Guthlac, that they should not allow any judgment to burden their house, any loss to be incurred. But Asford, conscious to himself of fraud and lying, not leaning on the equity of the law, but trusting in riches, and corrupting the judges with gifts, and in the cunning of deceits with which he was full, had so blinded and corrupted the minds of the Judges and Justices, by gifts given and promising greater things, that whatever way the law was, they would undoubtedly adjudge the land to Asford. But the Lord, who rejects the counsels of the peoples, with an unheard-of miracle dissipated the judgment of the wicked. For when to the appointed place he was migrating to discuss the suit with his accomplices, by sudden death he is punished, his horse falling headlong to the ground, with his neck broken he expired by the occasion of sudden death. Seeing which, those who were present, stupefied at the divine vengeance, feared lest they should incur a similar thing for conniving with iniquity. Who immediately prostrated at the knees of the Abbot, confessing themselves to have sinned, to be guilty, and asking pardon; the said land to the church of St. Guthlac and the Abbot, according to his good pleasure, with an oath confirming, lest at any time it should be made void, they adjudged. But he, the suit being ended and the land fully restored, what was his, the transgression and crime committed, mercifully forgave them; and so cheerful returned to his own. But O miracle in miracle! For when the body of the deceased, in a bier, as is the custom, arranged, friends and clients were bringing to the Peterborough monastery, and the bier of the deceased is broken. where he was to be buried, passing by where the meadow under dispute had been (for along the side of it the road led) the bier h with the corpse falling to the earth, was broken in pieces; so that thus the divine vengeance by the obtaining of Blessed Guthlac might appear more evident to all, to whom be praise and glory through ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
Blindness contracted, and taken away. Fire sent, dementia cured, by the merits of St. Guthlac.
[15] That also, among the other great things done by God through his servant Guthlac, I would think opportune to relate; since a certain steward of the church of St. Nicholas a of Spalding, acting in the office of Prior, The Prior of Spalding, was infesting the house of St. Guthlac with the immensity of a perverse mind; and was troubling the Brothers dwelling in it, by suing the right of the church and the foundation of the possessions very often: for with a certain absurdity of indiscretion, his intolerable audacity, iniquitously molesting the church of St. Guthlac panting rather after fraudulent subtleties and caution of pleading, than trusting in the equity of justice and sincerity of truth, had vexed the church and its adjacencies, and had diminished its ornaments by false pretenses. But these things it is better to pass over in silence, than to bring into the midst. For as it does not accord with the condition of monastic profession to decline from the rectitude of law, and to bend from the path of truth; so it does not befit any wickedness of mind, by any troubles of injuries to offend the supernal charity, to disinherit Confraters by any weakness of cupidity or envy. But to speak more modestly of him, and be silent about what the church of Blessed Guthlac and its inhabitants endured from him; he persisted on false suggestions of false men, importunately rather than opportunely, as he afterwards confessed. Dogs rather than men surrounded him: they ate his bread, and supplanted him with deceits. When the controversy had been agitated for a long time, before the examination of relatives and leading men of the province favoring the parts of both churches; at last on the peremptory day they came to the place, which in the Roman tongue sounds "Lake of the Monks": which is the boundary and end between the fields of both churches, with a certain distinction marking and certifying the tenures and extensions on both sides. Where with the matter, nor wishing to acquiesce in any concord, with innumerable people of both ages hearing and seeing, favoring the parties of both churches, having been variously agitated; when by no caution of pleaders, nor by the prayers of friends could he be persuaded, to acquiesce in fraternal peace and concord; like a schismatic and pestilent man he contumaciously withdrew.
[16] O ineffable vengeance of divine piety, how sudden, how stupefying with all novelty of admiration! For while, with his accomplices surrounding him, still burning with anger, he was returning toward his cell; God who justifies the impious, sent upon him the manifest mark of his indignation. he is punished with blindness: For with his eyes gradually growing dim, he is deprived of sight, bereft. What more? Greatly blinded, before he entered the threshold of his house, with the lamp of his body extinguished, he became entirely blind. For many times God here scourges the perverse, that the smitten may be converted. Yet when through the succession of time he had grieved heavily to be deprived of sight; returning to himself, he remembered that his heart was not right with God, nor had he been held faithful in his testament: and so being led by penance, but in the basilica of St. Guthlac recognizing his fault he dissolved wholly in tears. And paying attention to the just judgment of divine vengeance, that for the injuries and losses inflicted on the servants of St. Guthlac
he was being whipped; seizing a little boat he came to Crowland, with a votive offering of a candle: and there in the basilica of Blessed Guthlac prostrated at the feet of the Brothers, recognizing his fault, he openly confessed that he had sinned, that he had acted insolently, that with deceitful suggestion he had caused suit and disquiet. From thence with his whole body prostrated before the little place of the holy man Guthlac, embracing his precious Relics in his arms, mournfully lamenting, he implored pardon, groaning crying with the Prophet: "Wash me, Lord, from my iniquity, and from my sin cleanse me. Psalm 50:4 For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is against me. For indeed from the rest I promise and pledge that I will abandon my ancient foolishness and customary insolence and wickedness of mind." Marvelous thing! as soon as pardon of all unjust calumny was indulged by the Brothers, whom undeservedly he had vexed, he recovers sight. and prayer was made solemnly by the church for him, in the spirit of humility and contrite heart, by fraternal intercession to God and to St. Guthlac, suddenly their prayer was heard. For Almighty God, whose willing is as though it had been done, by the obtaining of Blessed Guthlac, strove to restore the light of his eyes with such speed, that without any distinction; what before was the privation of vision, was believed to be the habit of the same; so that one and the same could be contended simultaneously to be capable of two opposites. Which being done, the land long placed under suit, quiet and released, without any reclamation, he restored and resigned to the church of St. Guthlac in perpetuity. At last having received the blessing, with kisses given on both sides under the covenant of peace and love, he cheerfully returned to his own, rendering the gifts of thanks to God; whose ineffable mercy works so many kinds of miracles. Amen.
[17] In the middle parts of England, a certain little village, in the country's idiom having obtained the name of Cavae, is situated on the border of the river Humber, which is of great name and celebrated fame, and frequent for those crossing, filled with fish, impetuous, swelling, rising from below, bears sweet waters into the sea. In this a certain peasant possessed a household plot and a few pieces of ground for new cultivation; and his expenses and means being exhausted, eating his bread in sweat, by the gain of his hands he provided victuals for himself. But at a certain course of passing time (as he himself by truthful assertion, with many neighbors allegation of constant faith, declared) he had nourished a pig about two years old, in hope of future usefulness, and with pods and mast and mash he had fattened it, that it being sold for a fitting price, from some portion he might alleviate the hunger of his food; and from some he might pay the yearly pension to the Lord, whose dominion he served. A peasant devoted to St. Edmund the Martyr He was wont every year in the unfolding of the year, with sincere tenor of love, to visit the glorious Martyr b Edmund, with an offering acquired by the labor of his hands: on which journey he was bringing to the most holy Father Guthlac a small but votive gift; whom with spiritual devotion above all other Saints, and to St. Guthlac, by a certain prerogative and privilege of love, he venerated, loved, and as helper and patron in things to be done he invoked; and yearly, as though bound by a rent, from a portion of his substance he made offering. But the more wicked anguish of adversity had shaken this one, the stepmother of happiness, who always interjects something bitter into human affairs: for there was to him a certain fellow-villager, whom cupidity dominated and the insatiate love of having, who had wasted away at others' successes. This one in the same village from the Lord had taken up the office of Praetor, or rather, let me say, of crier; who burst out into such a rage of avarice, until from the assaults of raging cupidity he came even to thefts. For that son of iniquity, under the silence of dark night, the pig fraudulently taken from him by the Praetor by theft. having loosened the fastening from the little cottage, fraudulently led away the said pig by stealth, and hiding it secretly in his barn, enclosed it, that there as if in a safer hidden hostelry he might keep it, until the opportunity of time should suit the place, that he might butcher it. But in the morning, when the poor man learned that his sow had been stolen, "Ah irreparable loss!" he exclaimed; and doubling his complaints, waters his face with outpoured tears, and with anxious investigation he goes around the neighborhood, wearying rumor with speech, wherever from anyone any notice of the theft might be indicated to him. At last from the urgings of some by the report, or taught by signs and conjectures; the said Praetor, at first he asks it back modestly, indicating nothing of the discrimination of theft, thus groaning he addresses: "O Lord and friend, that pig of mine, which I had fed with diligent care, with the fastening broken removed itself from our sight; but if by you or by any of your retinue it can be returned to me, a fitting exhibition of the one recompensing will respond to you as a reward." To whom he: "I am affected with no little amazement of wonder, that you ask me of such unknown things; who indeed, if any certainty of the things asked were given me, I would lay it open to you before mutually interrogating." Again holding him suspect for certain reasons and nods, then before witnesses; with the presence of the neighbors admitted along with him he addresses him thus: "It has been indicated to me by many, that my pig, at night taken by theft, either by you or by someone of yours can be restored to me; which if it be done, I shall be ready at your good pleasure, prepared for obedience, whatever I can, it will serve your honor." Who bearing these words with gravity on account of the bystanders, burst forth into these voices: "Unhappy little thief, why do you impute such a crime to me or to my servants? but I and as many as are of my country, have lived from mothers' breasts immune from all crime."
[18] Then the poor man added a few things: "Since no caution of pleading will be able to be persuaded by me to you, that it be returned; I will publicly bring you before the judicial examination before the tribunal." Then the Praetor: "Unless you quickly come back from your insolence, I will seek your blood with my own hand. but in vain." Who after many insults inflicted, after various injuries imposed, threatened that, as though a convicted thief, according to the sentence of robbery, he would have him suspended on the gibbet. To these the poor man: "Since deprived of means, destitute of human help, I will obtain divine help, and to St. Guthlac my Patron I will expose the complaint, he invokes St. Guthlac, in whose mercy is the safest refuge." Soon with bent knee, with hands raised to heaven, he used this prayer: "Redeemer of the human race, and author of eternal salvation, God who searches hearts and reins, who knows all things before they come to pass; who art just, and just thy judgment; who guardest strangers, and takest up orphans; who doest judgment for those suffering injury: by the prayers and merits of St. Guthlac my Patron, to whom thou hast given to foreknow things said and done in absence by the prophetic spirit, to overcome the attacks of demons, to put to flight various troubles of pains; grant me effective supplication, and by his obtaining in the present theft show the power of thy virtue; that it may be to others as a sign of correction, and seeing, they may glorify thee and St. Guthlac. and soon with the barn of the thief burned." Marvelous thing! scarcely was the prayer completed, when the barn, containing the said pig within itself, was surrounded by flames on every side. O worthy vengeance of God! For so vehemently and suddenly were all things melted into ashes and embers, that they were said to be laid waste by the flame-vomiting conflagrations of ethereal lightning: he receives the pig unharmed. for not even the least bar is preserved plucked from anyone unburnt; but the pig, after the manner of the Chaldeans unharmed in the burning furnace, among all the fervors of the coals with his skin untouched, uncontaminated is found.
[19] In the year of the reign of King Stephen 12, a certain decurio, a soldier of great audacity, Reginald of Cornwall, was serving in the dominion and honor of Count c Gilbert of Ghent, and in his expeditions for a time was performing his military training. But when that Count, journeying in the overseas parts, had borrowed no small sum of money from merchants; Reginald for the debts of the Count given as hostage, he handed over the same Reginald to their power as bail and hostage: to whom being received into his country and into his own, about the payment of the debt there was no mention, of Reginald's redemption no or last question. Reginald long awaiting his Lord's embassy, and obtaining no relief, grieved heavily: and as he was an exile and outcast, entangled in others' usuries and interest, he interposed his faith wherever he could, about to return to England, and extorted his departure from them. Who returned to his country, within the perils of the sea tossed by turbid storms, tormented by fasts and hunger, worn down by fear, and with his whole mind dissolved (for indeed the force of the moved element moved his brain, frequent nausea exacted his stomach) and thus destitute of all strength, enervated in all his limbs, he falls into sickness and madness: he fell into a most grievous sickness, so that he could no longer walk. But at the castle of Cambridge obtaining a little boat with utensils, through the long tract of sea he was carried toward home: but he was naturally a seized one, and very often labored with phrenetic foolishness. And as he approached more and more to Crowland, in droves phrenesis emerged, rage boiled up. What more? Now snatched into reprobate sense, he vomited forth portents of words, now reluctant to the sailors, he is scarcely prevented from by rolling submerging the ship. But when they had come within the village, unwilling and long resisting they led him into the house of a certain man, who gave credit to the narration: where the fury so raged, that scarcely any one dared to stay with him within the house. But one of the servants, drawing water with a basin (for at the door of the house flows the Welland) without cessation sprinkled his whole body, believing the burning of the fury could be extinguished by such cooling. O deadly insanity! But when by the monks of that place he was being dragged to the basilica of St. Guthlac, he is dragged to the church of St. Guthlac. at his shouting the whole monastery resounded. d O how many attendants he inflicted injuries upon! how often, if he caught any urged on by him, with a canine tooth's bite like a wolf he devoured! The little processional cross, presented to his sight in memory of Christ's passion and death, unless quickly it had been wrung from his claws, he would have broken to small pieces. and seems to be healed. How often the immensity of rage stirred him to slaughter his nephew! e
ANNOTATIONS.
ON BLESSED RAYNER THE SOLITARY
at Osnabrück in Westphalia.
PrefaceRayner the Solitary, at Osnabrück in Westphalia (Bl.)
G. H.
[1] When from two hundred years ago the art of printing began to grow throughout Europe, there were various men eminent in learning and piety, who to amplify the honor of the Saints published various Acts of the Saints, and not only of some Saints in particular,
but generally of any Saints they made into collections. So Boninus Mombritius of Milan published two illustrious volumes on the Saints: His Life formerly published, and another in lower Germany collected the histories of very many Saints; of which we know two editions, one from Cologne of the year 1483, the other from Louvain of the year 1485. In this at folio 53 and the following are contained the Acts of St. Reyner the Confessor, Solitary in the city of Osnabrück, as the title is written. Which things translated thence about him we give here, to us also in manuscript by the Lord Bernard Schenckinck, Scholastic of Osnabrück and Canon of Minden, have been transmitted. The same Life of the said Reyner, but contracted, from MS was published by Franciscus Haraeus in the Lives of the Saints on this April 11, and he calls him Blessed.
[2] In the MS Florarium of Saints the memory of this man on this April 11, on which he died, is assigned in these words: "In the city of Osnabrück of Blessed Reyner the Solitary and Confessor." Memory in the Martyrologies. Greven the Carthusian of Cologne, in the Auctuarium of Usuard published in the year 1515 and 1521, adorns him with this eulogy: "Likewise of blessed memory Reyner the Solitary, who enclosed at the Church of Osnabrück, shone forth greatly in life and miracles." Which things by the same phrase are described and published by Molanus in the additions to Usuard, Gelenius in the Cologne Calendars, and Canisius in the German Martyrology. Ferrarius in the General Catalogue has these things: "At Osnabrück in Germany of St. Raynerius the Solitary." In the same way with the title of Saint he honors him Peter Cratepol, in his booklet on the Saints of Germany, where on page 130 he writes thus: "St. Reyner in the church of Osnabrück shone with miracles in life and in death." The same things the same Cratepol repeats in the Annals of the Bishops of Osnabrück, His age. in Bishop 12 Warmod. But Reyner lived much later under Gerbard of Lippe, and by him in his enclosure was established in the time of Pope Innocent III, who sat from the year 1198 until 1216. He lived however enclosed for 22 years, having died according to Haraeus about the year 1237, when the said Gerbard, by others Gerard, was living as Archbishop of Bremen, translated to this See from Osnabrück: in whose time the Life of Blessed Rayner is seen to have been first written, by an author almost contemporary, as Haraeus judges.
[3] Arnold Wion, citing only Molanus and Cratepol, inscribes in his monastic Martyrology of the Benedictine Order Rayner the Solitary; Whether he belongs to the Benedictines? they followed the footsteps of Wion, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus, who also cites his Benedictine Annals. Present with him in sickness were the Friars Preachers, and at his death Ernest Prior of the Preachers of Bremen, John Dean of Osnabrück, and others; nor is any mention anywhere made of the Benedictine Order. John vande Velde in his Westphalian Calendars, not yet published, on this day mentions St. Reyner of Osnabrück. No Ecclesiastical Office is made of him. In the year 1652 were published, by the authority and order of Franz Wilhelm of Ratisbon and Osnabrück (afterwards Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church) the proper Offices of the Church and diocese of Osnabrück, but without any mention of this Solitary Rayner: which is a sign that in his honor no Ecclesiastical Office hitherto has been celebrated. Nevertheless, some yearly memory, and indeed by vow, is wont to be made by the Canons, in the same manner and rite as of deceased Bishops, the Life indicates: but what this manner was, we have not yet learned. Moreover Osnaburg or Osnabrük is a most notable city of Westphalia, and an Episcopal one.
LIFE
From MS and ancient edition.
Rayner the Solitary, at Osnabrück in Westphalia (Bl.)
BHL Number: 7083
FROM MS.
[1] Blessed Reyner, the faithful servant of God, from childhood inflamed with the zeal of devotion, lived so innocently and praiseworthily, that the light divinely conferred on him shone before all the men with whom he conversed: and what he had as diligent meditation in the precepts of God, from the abundance of his heart all his conversation was in the precepts of the Most High. Who in manly age, Enclosed at Osnabrück for 22 years: useful to all. under Pope Innocent III, through the venerable Father Gerberd Archbishop of Bremen, then Bishop of Osnabrück, with much devotion and reverence was enclosed in an enclosure, beside the door of the greater Church of Osnabrück. In which for twenty-two years he lived so contemplatively, that in him was found fulfilled the saying of the Apostle: "Our conversation is in heaven." Phil. 3:20 They know it also and bear witness, not only religious, but also many laity, who by his words and examples less devout were stirred to devotion, but the more devout to greater devotion. Even seculars, the powerful and given to the world, whom with much simplicity he was wont to warn, and for their vanities and insolences with much gentleness to rebuke, were corrected at his simple admonition.
[2] But the blessed man Reyner wore on his flesh a military coat-of-mail, and over the coat-of-mail a garment of very coarse sackcloth, from which inwardly he sustained the greatest and constant inconvenience. He is clothed with a coat-of-mail and iron chains, Over which he had another covering of iron chains, cross-latticed in the manner of a net, very heavy, which a tunic of baser cloth covered: but in the winter time, necessity compelling, he used a pellice of skins, under which nevertheless his body rarely or never was warmed. Besides the above-mentioned burdens, his limbs, as much as he could, he had weighed down with individual iron pieces: for he had loaded his neck, arms, breast, legs individually, in memory of the Passion of Christ. not with single but with many chains and other iron pieces, which even now at his sepulcher are found and shown. Moreover he punished his little toes with iron and hair rings. And when he was asked by one, why he did these things, he answered: "As our Lord Jesus Christ in all his limbs suffered for me, so I also would wish to suffer in all my limbs."
[3] At no time, however much infirm, did he feed on flesh or dairy, nor even on fish, except on the chief feasts; and difficultly then with the counsel of his Priest did he use fish. He fasts most strictly: On Sundays he ate of one dish, namely vegetables and garlic, on the third feria and fifth similarly; but on the second feria, fourth, and Sabbath, with bread and ale; on the sixth feria and Vigils and Ember days with simple rye bread and water content he was. Even to eat wheat bread on workdays seemed to him too delicate.
[4] Under the aforesaid burdens, supported by divine help, above what the human heart can comprehend, he labored in prayers in this manner. He pours forth very many prayers, Every day the Hours of the day, of the Holy Spirit, and of the Blessed Virgin, and also the Psalter and Vigils and other special prayers, which for his familiars living and deceased he was wont to make, he fulfilled in his own way. About which he was detained for so long, that even in the summertime, when the days are longer, scarcely was there time for him to eat. On account of which also he rarely put himself to sleep: but wherever sleep caught him, there sitting he rested. Nevertheless he had a bed, in which he had placed some wood crosswise, and a mat above, on which he was wont to lie; so that not even the time of rest might be without merit. At his head in place of a pillow he had the hardest wood, and sleeps on a hard bed. in which he had made a hollow, which could contain only his head. In time of infirmity scarcely compelled by his Confessor was he induced to place a little straw under his head. And if sometimes in time of infirmity, by the precept of his Superior, he ate dairy or fish, after recovering bodily health he abstained from the said foods for as many days.
[5] But he kept silence with such solicitude that he rarely spoke, except with religious or very familiar friends; He strictly keeps silence, knowing that of every idle word an account is to be rendered on the day of judgment. Wherefore that he might beware of superfluous words, he held a stone in his mouth; which, lest beyond need or utility from human frailty he should bring forth anything, imposed silence on him. He was also wont to indicate to men by nods and signs what things were necessary to him, but few or none understood his signs: on account of which also very often in his necessities he had want, so that sometimes for several days he remained without all food, because without great necessity he did not speak, except on feast and solemn days. And those words which on the said days either in the honor of God or for the correction of his neighbor he spoke, on the next day he confessed, fearing he had brought them forth less usefully. And because he acknowledged a fault where there was no fault, he was very solicitous about confession. He confessed every Sunday and on other feasts, when he prepared himself to receive the Body of the Lord: he often confesses: which he was wont to receive with much devotion. He confessed also every second feria, fourth, and sixth. But his confession was about very small or trivial things, as about negligences and dreams, which to himself however he reputed great and difficult. Also on each day of work, not only with bent knees, but also with his whole body prostrated, he prayed three hundred times to the Lord. Sometimes also he had labored with his knees, because a certain corrupt and gross flesh had grown out of his knee; not however on this account, although he suffered much, did he cease from genuflection. He chastised also his body, where it could be touched, not with rods but with straps: in which he had tied knots, which by his Confessor were found bloody, and grievously chastises the body. when compelled he showed him the straps.
[6] But when the Lord had decreed to put an end to such labors, the time of his death was divinely revealed to him. Who beginning to enter the way of all flesh, when for some days he had lain in bed, the enclosure being opened, the Convent of the church, with certain Friars Preachers and other Religious, with due reverence, sick he is strengthened with the last Sacraments. placed upon him the Sacrament of extreme Unction, administering it to him. Which when he had received with his much and accustomed devotion, in the same devotion, even until the time of his death he remained possessed of his mind in all things. He dies on April 11. Present at his agony and glorious death were Ernest, Prior of the Friars Preachers of Bremen, with his companion, John Dean of Osnabrück, and several other Clerics and religious laymen. On the 3rd of the Ides of April therefore he happily migrated to the Lord.
[7] He shines with miracles. But when the servant of God had now breathed out his spirit with the said ones present; Hermann a Canon and Priest of the greater church was suffering such pain of teeth, that from the mind's pain madness was feared: who with his jaw placed above the jaw of the dead man, from the present vehement pain, by the merits of the man of God, was mercifully liberated at once. A certain woman, finding her child drowned in the waters, began with lamentation to cry out, and to invoke divine help and the suffrage of Brother Reiner, together with her other faithful neighbors. And behold the boy, who at summer time about the ninth hour had been drowned,
found about vespers, by the merits of the servant of God revived.
The Prioress of Querenheim, of the Order of St. Augustine, was freed from the stone by the merits of St. Reyner.
A certain man hurt by the bite of a spider had come to such pain, that he could scarcely speak, and from the vehemence of the poison swollen feared to die. Whose brother asked those who were around the sick man, to entreat God and Brother Reyner for him, and to vow, if he should be restored to health, that he would visit his sepulcher with five companions. He also urged the sick man to devotion with signs and shouts: for he had been almost deaf before the infirmity for a long time. The vow being made, it seemed to the sick man that a certain Religious, as if an Enclosed one, came to him: whose even footstep as he approached he heard: who touched with his hand the neck of the sick man, very swollen, hard, yet without pain, saying: "You are restored to health." And so it was done. For he at once received the hearing which he had long lacked; and the pain of the swelling from the poison quieted. A certain nun held a needle in her mouth, which by chance slipped into her throat: from which when she was greatly tormented, she began with her companions to invoke the help of St. Reyner. And behold, through the way which it had entered, the needle miraculously went out. The Canons also of the Church of Osnabrück, placed in a certain necessity, vowed to God and to Brother Reyner, that if from the same necessity they should be freed, every year they would solemnly make his memory, as of a Bishop. Immediately therefore the vow being made, all things which they desired prosperously happened to them. Many other miracles also done by him and written down, for the sake of brevity, because they are as it were innumerable, know here to be omitted.
April 2 — April 12
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