ON SAINT ERKENWALD,
BISHOP OF LONDON AND ABBOT OF CHERTSEY IN ENGLAND.
YEAR 693
PrefaceErkenwald, Abbot of Chertsey and Bishop of London, in England (Saint)
[1] It is the common consensus of writers that Saint Erkenwald was sprung from royal stock, but great discord meanwhile concerning his father: whom Harpsfeld with Capgrave, the abbreviator of the Life, and the author of the Anglican Martyrology, whether son of Anna, King of the East Angles would have to be Offa, King of the East Angles; but Speed and Alford, of the same people, King Anna. Alford, about to confirm his opinion, and reciting from Huntingdon that Anna was "a most excellent man and the father of most excellent offspring," but from Malmesbury that he was "happy in the numerousness of glorious progeny," cites Bede for himself, saying: "When he had said in book 3: 'Anna of royal race became his successor to the kingdom, a most excellent man and father of most excellent offspring; of whom in the following in due time we must speak.' And then in book 4 he treats of Erkenwald and his sister Saint Ethelburga." The question, because its defense comes especially from conjecture, we leave in the middle. John Brompton, Abbot of Jervaulx of the Cistercian Order, and many writers of English affairs, while enumerating the holy offspring of King Anna, make no mention of Saint Erkenwald.
[2] he founds two monasteries, Barking and Chertsey Founder here of two monasteries, he built one for men, one for women. Over the latter, in the county of Essex, as the first with the dignity of Abbess, presided Saint Ethelburga, sister of Saint Erkenwald, called Barking; the former, near the Thames on the island of Surrey, called Chertsey, was founded in the year 666. Thus the Chertsey monuments of the Anglican Monastic teach, not a few dissenting concerning the origin of the foundation: in which before the tables of the foundation the following prologue is prefixed: "In the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 666, in the year 666 while the glorious King of the English Egbert was reigning, the house of Chertsey was founded by Frithwald, and by the venerable Father Erkenwald, whose life and conversation is read to have been so most holy, that searching out the riches of heavenly glory in the inner man, he put behind him all fleeting and secular things. Now he had a sister named Ethelburga, whom he had so inflamed with heavenly disciplines, that she as a virgin, and in life and morals and conversation most holy, strove to please God in all things. Therefore, the pomps of the world being renounced, for love of heavenly glory they transferred earthly dignity and ample patrimony into a divine and ecclesiastical inheritance. Whence from the single affection of both, the illustrious Brother himself, namely Erkenwald, before his pontificate, stood forth as the primitive founder of two illustrious monasteries; and each, namely his own and his sister's, with divine family and abundance of things and regular discipline he established. His own, in the region of Surrey on the river Thames, in the place which is called Chertsey, that is, the island of Cerotis, most celebrated still flourishes with its plantations; where the same Father of monks shone forth first with most holy conversation. But Ethelburga's, in the province of the East Saxons, in the place which is called Barking: in which also the same most kindly parent first shone in the sacred community of virgins, and each offered the first-fruits of monastic souls unto the stars." Thus the prologue: to which the subjoined tables of the foundation testify that Frithwald, under-king of the province of the Surreyans for Wulfar King of the Mercians, for the increase of the said monastery gave estates to Saint Erkenwald, and committed to his discipline his own son. Of the foundation of each of the just-said monasteries, Bede treats also in book 4 chapter 6.
[3] he is consecrated Bishop of London in the year 675. Saint Erkenwald had founded the monasteries before he was consecrated Bishop of London by Saint Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury, which most assign to the year 675. Bede in the cited place speaks thus: "Then for the East Saxons, over whom at that time Sebbe and Sighere, whom we have mentioned above, were rulers, he established Erkenwald Bishop in the city of London. Of which man indeed both in the Bishopric and before the Bishopric the life and conversation is said to have been most holy, as even now the signs of heavenly virtues are an indication. For even today his horse-litter in which he, being sick, used to be carried, preserved by his disciples, does not cease to heal many who are feverish, or weary with any other trouble. Not only, however, are the sick placed under the same litter or laid against it cured; but also splinters cut from it and brought to the sick are wont to bring them a speedy remedy."
[4] he dies about the year 693. It is probable that Saint Erkenwald died about the year of Christ 693, contrary to what the author of the Anglican Martyrology thought, assigning his blessed exit to the year 665. For Saint Ina, King of the West Saxons, whose Life we gave on February 6, in the year 692, in these words prefaces that he used him as counselor for framing his laws: "I Ine by the grace of God King of the West Saxons, by the exhortation and teaching of Cenred my father, and Headda my Bishop, and Erkenwald my Bishop, and all my Aldermen and elders and wise men of my kingdom, and a great assembly of the servants of God, solicitous for the salvation of our souls and the state of my kingdom, have established" etc. To the same effect is, that Brihtwald, successor to Saint Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury about the year 690, in the year 693 consecrated several Bishops, and among them Waldherus, successor of Saint Erkenwald: moreover William of Malmesbury writes in book 3 On the Deeds of the Pontiffs in Saint Wilfrid, that Saint Erkenwald in the year 690 was present at Saint Theodore in his last moments, and received his last confession.
[5] commemoration in the Martyrologies The sacred remains of the body, buried in the church of Saint Paul in London, as Westminster testifies, were in the year 1148 raised to a worthier place of the temple. The name of Saint Erkenwald is given by the Anglican Missal of the Jumièges monastery, written six hundred years ago; and the Calendar of the same monastery compiled from various Missals and Breviaries has thus: "At London the deposition of Saint Erkenwald Bishop and Confessor." In the Sarum Missal of the year 1504 the feast of translation to be held on November 14 is added. Moreover in many Martyrologies bearing the name of Usuard, on this day of April he is found inscribed. We have the Life edited in the collection of John Capgrave, which is called the New Anglican Legend, and perhaps was written or polished by Goscelin, the Bertinian monk, who (as was shown on February 2, where we treated of Saint Lawrence Archbishop of Canterbury §1) about the year 1100 crossed into England at the request of Saint Anselm; that, as he had done in his Sithiu monastery near Saint-Omer in Belgium, so also there, he might partly compose anew, partly polish the long before composed Lives of Saints. But we do not presume from mere conjecture to prefix anyone's name to the Lives, especially while we are ignorant whether the original text is held entire and unaltered everywhere in Capgrave. The Life is moreover brief; and as happens in matters of great antiquity, of not most certain credit: but the history of translations and miracles which is subjoined to the Life, as it was nearer to the author's knowledge, so approaches closer to meriting credit. We have a certain Ms. Benedictine calendar, in which Saint Erkenwald Bishop of London is placed on January 29, whose singular reason we do not know how to divine.
ACTS
From John Capgrave.
Erkenwald, Abbot of Chertsey and Bishop of London, in England (Saint)
BHL Number: 2602
FROM CAPGRAVE.
CHAPTER I.
Birth of Saint Erkenwald, Saint Ethelburga his sister, certain miracles.
[1] "In ancient times, when the kingdom of England, by the favor of God, had not yet been salutarily united under the helm of one King, but was scattered divided into eight a governments of Kings, from the noble stock of the Albions, of Offa King of East Anglia, Saint Erkenwald sprung from Offa King of East Anglia, though strenuous, yet darkened by pagan errors, two bright luminaries came forth by divine nod, namely Erkenwald, afterwards to be Abbot of Chertsey, then Bishop of London; and Ethelburga, afterwards to be Abbess of the monastery of nuns of Barking; deriving their origin from that part of England which is called b Lindsey, in the castle or village formerly called Stallington. Erkenwald therefore, God inspiring, was devoted to the Christian Religion: and at the time when c Blessed Augustine, with Mellitus and his colleagues, was destined for England, in the year of grace 596, to preach the word of God, given to Saint Mellitus for instruction; and to convert the people to the Catholic faith; the boy of holy disposition Erkenwald attached himself to the teaching of the Bishop Saint Mellitus, to be happily instructed in faith, morals, and doctrine.
[2] "Ethelburga d, however, his sister, by God's disposing, followed in her brother's footsteps, whom God the pitier of all had destined to be His spouse. whose footsteps Saint Ethelburga followed, In the very beginnings of her life He conferred on her baptismal grace, the name Ethelburga being imposed on her, that as a rose from thorns, a faithful one from the unfaithful, as a chosen virgin she might come forth, about to bear the odor of sanctity to posterity. Envying her good beginnings, the ancient enemy stirred her father Offa, still unbelieving, but to be faithful in future, into such a fury against his daughter, that from her parent he became her cruelest persecutor. Wonderful thing! In so great savagery of the father the heart of the tender girl remains immovable in the good purpose; and hiding her sanctity from her parents, without their knowledge and sight, she betook herself more secretly to the chapel in which she had received the washing of regeneration; there with frequent sighs and afflictions invoking God, that He would not permit her chastity to be violated by carnal corruption. she chooses virginity before marriage. But as her girlish age grew, when her father, according to the custom of the world, wished to deliver her to marital union; she utterly refused, detesting carnal embraces as poison, since from her childhood she had chosen the Lord Jesus Christ as her spouse. Wherefore not sustaining her father's frequent pressings in this matter, she left her father and country, content with the company of one simple handmaid, who should follow in her footsteps."
[3] Saint Erkenwald founds two monasteries, "But Saint Erkenwald, desiring with all his vows to withdraw himself and his said sister from the vanities and enticements of the world, that he might totally occupy his mind in divine contemplation in holy Religion, thirty-three years having elapsed from the coming of the holy Father Augustine into England, at his own expenses, from the goods which came to him by right of inheritance, after he had founded and endowed the house of Chertsey for himself; he founded the house of Barking on land which he found unfruitful; and he procured it to be endowed with more ample revenues through the Kings and Princes of the land; and thus before he was called by divine disposition to the Pontificate f of the Church of London and consecrated by Saint Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury, he led his earthly dignity and ample patrimonies to be transferred into a divine and ecclesiastical inheritance. When therefore Blessed Ethelburga, to preserve her virginity for God, on account of paternal persecution, had endured labors, vigils, and fasts, various afflictions and wants, while traveling, for the love of her spouse Jesus Christ; with the Holy Spirit as guide she had come to Barking, destined by God and preordained through her brother Erkenwald. With the Saint himself attending to the building of the house for nuns there and for his said sister, about to serve God; when the workmen of the said house were measuring their g timber, to be adapted in various places for the fitness of the work; one beam was found, very necessary to the work, shorter than the others, and therefore less fit for the building. and with his sister he makes the beam longer for the building: But the man of all sanctity Erkenwald and his sister devoted to God Ethelburga, seizing the dry beam in their hands, drew it out in length, until it was equal to the others: which miracle indeed was commonly known and publicly spread.
[4] "The house itself being completed, when the oft-mentioned virgin had determined to pass to the Regular state, she, under the teaching of Saint Hildelith, because at that time there was no monastery of nuns in England; Saint Erkenwald sent for a certain religious lady, illustrious in morals, and sufficiently instructed in the liberal arts, Hildelith h by name, from parts beyond the sea, to whom he handed over his sister Ethelburga, to be imbued with Regular observances and the summits of letters. But the venerable girl, is created Abbess. of good disposition and illustrious genius, easily grasped the doctrine of so great a teacher and firmly committed it to memory, so much so that she transcended her teacher and all her fellow disciples in virtues, and was made Mother and Abbess of the whole congregation.
[5] "A certain noble citizen of London had a daughter, indeed much beautiful and of beautiful appearance, Lame, but she limped, and her parents judged it more wholesome, that she be dedicated to the colleges of nuns, and educated in ecclesiastical disciplines. When therefore she had been committed to the venerable Alwina, Abbess of the Berking church, with daily prayers she frequented the sepulchre of Saint Ethelburga the Virgin, sister of Blessed Erkenwald, founder of the same place; and that she might obtain a straight step, with groan, with tears, with bent knees she earnestly prayed; promising God a life of celibacy and without spot for all time. And when the faithful virgin asked often, and very often struck the palace of heaven with humble prayer, vowing chastity, she obtained the effect of her desire. For the spouse of Christ Ethelburga appeared at night time addressing her thus: 'Daughter, lay aside your sorrow, because your health now draws near: [at the sepulchre of Saint Ethelburga, with Saint Erkenwald appearing, she is healed.] only be mindful that you invoke my brother Erkenwald frequently for your intercession, because you shall be rendered safe by his aiding merits.' When she had at dawn explained such a vision to her sisters, by the exhortations of all, she was more than usually vigilant in fastings and prayers. Not much time therefore having passed, while the nuns were chanting the matin praises about the tomb of the Blessed Virgin Ethelburga, such a sweet sleep crept over the eyes of the same limping handmaid of Christ, that she could not resist at all. But while she slept in a shadowed place, not far from the sepulchre, behold the holy Pontiff Erkenwald, with angelic face, appeared to her, and having paternally consoled her, took her hand, saying: 'In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, rise; and as Peter and John raised the lame man, so you also be raised.' Which having been said, at once waking and rising, she cried out, saying: 'Most holy Father Erkenwald, have mercy, have mercy.' Meanwhile, while she is being restored to integrity, such a crash was heard by those standing by, as if a dry hedge were being broken. But when the nuns learned the event in order, with unanimous voice they devoutly praised the Lord glorious in His Saints."
NOTES.
CHAPTER II.
Death and burial of Saint Erkenwald, his sepulchre preserved from fire by divine power, translation of the body.
[6] Saint Erkenwald shines with many miracles before and after his death, "The glorious Confessor of the Lord Blessed Erkenwald, Bishop of London, before his passing pleased God by the testimony of many miracles. For when the end of his life was now drawing near, as he was being led to preach to the people, on account of the weakness of his body, in a horse-litter of two wheels; it happened that one of the wheels fell off by accident, only the other remaining on the cart. Not knowing therefore, In a cart which one wheel holds up, he is borne unhurt. those who were with the Saint, the event of this matter, but going with usual course on their way; at length, wondrous to say, they saw the vehicular cart against custom going upon only one wheel: all wonder at the power of God, openly recognizing in so great a miracle the sanctity of the man.
[7] At his touch many are healed: "After his passing to the heavenly things, many feverish and other sick, touching or kissing his litter, were fully healed. But also to absent sick, through splinters cut from it and brought to them, sudden health often came. Now at that time there was at Barking a monastery of holy women, he dies in the Barking monastery, which the aforesaid holy man had prepared in honor of God and of holy Mary, that he might stay in that place for the sake of devotion. It pleased the Most High happily to call his beloved from this vale of misery to the seat of His glory: Saint Erkenwald therefore, filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, having called his own to himself truly foretold the day of his death, and to the very end of his life eagerly comforted all standing by with the word of saving life. which at his death is filled with heavenly fragrance. But that holy soul going out from the body, and being borne to the heavens by Angelic hands, so great a sweetness of fragrance remained, that it filled the whole house in which the body lay, with wondrous sweetness, and excited the hearts of all to the praise of God and to the devotion of his Saint.
[8] "After this therefore, hearing of the Blessed man's passing, the Clergy and people come to Barking from London, that with the greatest honor they might commend the body of their Pontiff to due burial. The body is carried by the Clergy to London, Placing that precious treasure in a bier, reverently prepared for this, with the most sacred Relics they proceeded toward London. But when they had come with the holy body to a certain water which is called Ilford; they find the said water miraculously so swollen out of its proper place, that for them wishing to cross, the usual way was not open. Setting down therefore the holy body in the place first named, they asked with devout prayers that it be divinely shown to them what they should do or where they should go. Therefore at the exhortation of a certain religious man, divinely inspired, a devout prayer having been made by the faithful to God; behold the power of God was at once shown to the devout men. For suddenly they see that great water divided into two parts, and with dry foot through the middle of the river they proceeded with the holy body. with the waters of the river which was to be crossed departing: And so the river having been passed, the tapers which had been beside the body before extinguished, without any human effort were kindled from heaven: so that at one and the same time the very elements, namely fire and water, might give testimony of his sanctity: and because the body of the blessed Pontiff while he still lived was full of all virtues and spiritual graces, therefore at his death, as many as touched the bier in which he lay, were by the mercy of God healed from whatever infirmity they were held by. he is buried in the temple of Saint Paul. Now in the city of London there was a church consecrated in honor of Blessed Paul, in which, because it was the cathedral, the Clergy and people handed over for burial the body of the holy Pontiff. That reverend body lay also for many years in the ground, under a wooden case near the Lord's altar, indecently covered with a cloak of little price: but because the holy man was worthy of double honor in heaven and on earth, the Lord did not allow His faithful servant in so humble a place any longer to lie hidden.
[9] A huge fire at London, "It also happened in the time of Maurice Bishop of London, before the feast of Saint John the Baptist, that in the same city suddenly, for the vengeance of evil men, a very great fire arose a: for at the western gate, about the middle hour of the night, a copious fire was kindled; whose flame spread on all sides, by the just judgment of God, burned the whole city up to the eastern gate. The citizens being roused and troubled at so horrible a spectacle, could scarcely flee with their lives, leaving wickedly acquired wealth to the flames. by which, the temple being burned, Meanwhile indeed, with the fire growing, the church of Blessed Paul is burned, and all things which were in it
were consumed with fire; and behold there was no longer any consolation of the people, but the sorrow and groaning of all, because they believed themselves to have lost the holy Relics of their church, with every hope of grace set aside. But when the inflamed church fell entire, and liquefied lead ran down on all sides, and the bier of this Saint by God's grace remained entire among all these things; his sepulchre remains unhurt, such great joy suddenly arose among the people, that the former sorrow was committed to oblivion in the newness of so great a miracle, by which God is declared wonderful in the Saints. But with the people running together, and greatly strengthened by the miracle done; they recognize the aforesaid things, which had happened for their correction, to have so come about by the merits of their Pontiff: for the citizens of London knew that from then on God's vengeance had justly been raised against them; because they had behaved toward their Shepherd and mediator with God, as sons of ingratitude. The good God willed therefore by this one and the same miracle both to exalt his Saint, whom they called the head of Britain, and to forewarn the ignorance of imprudent men for the future.
[10] with two Bishops and others running up to the miracle, "After some days, the flame stirred up in the Lord's fury now being mitigated, the citizens enter the church, as they could, seeking anything by chance remaining from the burned Relics. When all had entered the said church, behold at the same time are there two Pontiffs, namely of London and b Winchester, with Priests and Clerics and other ministers of various Orders, so that the certainty might be proved by their testimony. But all these approaching the tomb of Saint Erkenwald, which was very wonderful, found all things safe and entire; and that the leaden liquid and the live coals had lost the force of their power. Besides these things also a certain large beam, inflamed by fire, had been found lying for a long time upon the aforesaid little cloak, with which that reverend sepulchre was covered. O how wondrous to see! All things round about were reduced to ashes, nor was there anything which could be burned, which the fire did not consume: and yet neither the thread of the cloak placed over the sepulchre lost its nature or changed color. The peoples therefore run hither and thither, admiring unheard-of spectacles, and for the perpetual praise of this Saint giving thanks to God. These things were done at London under Maurice, then Bishop of London, in the rule of the first Norman King William, in the year of grace 1087, in the month of June, on the seventh day. with a new temple built, the body is deposited in another place:
[11] "In the newness therefore of this miracle the oft-mentioned Bishop began another church from the foundations, a work indeed, as seemed to many, unable to be completed, yet if it could be completed, the honor and grace of London. The crypts at length having been completed, he ordered the body of the most holy Erkenwald to be placed there. When therefore Maurice had gone the way of all flesh, Richard the first, a venerable man, took up the care of the rule: a man, I say, prudent and strenuous, conspicuous for nobility and morality: this one indeed wondrously increased the walls of the begun church, and also acquired at his own expense very great squares around the same church, which before had been occupied by the houses of laymen, and surrounded them with a very strong wall c around; and with many other benefits he enlarged the Church of London. At last by divine providence, he was shaken by infirmity d for five years and more, and thus at last, the worldly man being left, rested in perpetual peace e. The chair being vacant for one year, Gilbert, who was called f Universal, summoned from Auxerre g the city of Gaul, happily ascended it; this one indeed, surpassing in letters and wisdom, and also in authority and frugality before his Episcopate, had leveled the hump of the imperfect old man, and had perfectly composed the leveled work with a roof placed on top. But what or how much, having taken up the Episcopal burden, he conferred on his Church, and of what integrity he was, is not for this work to narrate.
[12] "Because of the immense merits of Saint Erkenwald, spread abroad through the frequent tokens of miracles, to whose custody the people violently breaking in, which the providence of God deigned to do, for the salvation of the faithful to the praise of His Saint, it was laid upon certain monasteries of the English, that astonished by the fame of the miracles, they wished to steal the body of the Saint at night; whence in the silence of the dead of night, not a few men broke the doors of the crypts in which the same Saint was buried, and coming up to the doors of the altar, with temerous audacity they presumed to break them. By the noise of whom, waking up a certain one then leaving his boyhood, he is put to flight by the voice of one boy: who alone with two clerics, occupying the place of the Guards, was spending the night in the church, so drove out of their mind that whole multitude with his cries, that struck by divine judgment, at the voice of so small a man, with hurried course they went back through the gate by which they had come. By these tumults therefore crying out at the entrance of the upper church, and with the ringing of the bell calling help, they could not indeed apprehend those; but for so great an animadversion they kept watch there until morning. But morning coming, eight Priests were delegated as guardians of so venerable a treasure, until on the third day, in a safer place, meanwhile prepared, the Saint's Relics should be enclosed.
[13] "All things therefore duly performed, with crosses and tapers, he is solemnly translated to a safer place: Priests also awaiting so venerable a service, with a Procession and Litanies they came to the tomb of the Pontiff Erkenwald. His wooden little case being raised, the body was found with the same protections of seals, by which long before it had been protected. At length by divine providence so great a concourse of peoples was made, that with those being at the doors resisting with all their strength, they struck out those very doors with their bolts and posts; and not defrauded of their desire, they beheld so ineffable a Sacrament. These things having been done, the holy devotion of the faithful decreed that the body of the glorious Pontiff should be translated with worthy reverence to a more honorable place. On the appointed day, on which the said solemnity was to be celebrated, there came together Pontiffs and Clerics, specially summoned to perform so magnificent a mystery. And when the leaden chest, in which it had first lain, with the holy body was carried to the place newly prepared for it, it was found, through the ignorance of the artisan, which, being too narrow, is divinely enlarged: that that vessel with the body was greater in length and breadth than the sepulchre now prepared. And behold, when all who were there were much saddened for so great a negligence; suddenly by the power of God a greater opening was made in the stone, so that the hardness of the stone gave place to the most holy Relics; which those who were there affirmed had once happened to his most holy Sister Ethelburga.
[14] "The most holy body of Erkenwald was therefore translated and with so great piety deposited in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 1148 h, on the 14th day of the month of November. In whose translation, besides that which is written above, many other miracles shone forth, which are omitted because of the tedium of some: one was seen in the eyes of all in a certain Canon of the same church present, and at the same time various diseases are cured. then strongly suffering from fever; another in a certain absent boy, already for half a year and more sick unto death: the present is aided by the Saint's presence; but the absent, by a sprinkling of dust from the wood on which the Saint had lain. But one devoted to God, as soon as he gave the collected dust with water to the sick person, he entirely escaped his infirmity. It was also added, that if a thin fuming of incense, found by him in the same wooden place, had filled the nostrils of the sick, as though by a compelling incense, it drove away the whole disease."
NOTES
CHAPTER III.
Fire extinguished by the merits of Saint Erkenwald, diseases cured, those profaning his feast punished.
[15] "After this, however, that his Translation might appear acceptable to God and venerable to men, the clemency of the Savior added to show a certain new miracle. It happened one year, on the feast of his Translation, that in the city of London a great and horrible fire was suddenly raised, The Saint keeps fire from the London temple. which spreading on all sides burned a great part of the city; but with the flame approaching the church of Saint Paul, many of the citizens sensibly saw one clad in Pontifical vestments, and holding a standard in his hand, standing above the said church, and omnipotently defending it from peril on every side. This therefore, most beloved Brethren, is our singular shepherd, and special patron, Blessed Erkenwald the Bishop, whose virtues and merits, besides these which have been said, no one's tongue now suffices to narrate.
[16] "a At the time when the body of the same holy aforesaid Bishop was still kept in the crypt in a sarcophagus, the vault of the same crypt was to be painted. Meanwhile, with the circle of a year revolved, the solemnity of the same holy Father Erkenwald dawned: no one celebrated Mass there on that day; the altar was uncovered, on account of the instruments raised, fit for the office of the painter; an innumerable multitude of both sexes gathered at the oratory, wishing to pray and bringing offerings and lights, but the entrance was not open to them: for the painter had bolted the door, that he might adorn that very vaulted ceiling with colors. But while he more diligently drew forth the colors, he was suddenly destitute of strength, he chastises the painter of his sepulchre because he impeded the feast. and seized by a sudden pain, fell as if lifeless. When he was thus tormented for a long time, behold the aforesaid Bishop, adorned with the Pontifical infula, came; and severely flogged him with the Pastoral staff, recapitulating his negligence, namely that on that day he had obstinately worked, and that he had shut out the people. This vision and chastisement became known to many, after he had recovered from that infirmity.
[17] "When a certain woman, for the silver bier to be prepared, in which the body of Saint Erkenwald was to be placed, that she might offer something there, with devout mind was going
in preference; by her husband she was sharply rebuked, another offered troublesome to one wishing to offer anything for his wife that she could not fulfill what she had proposed. On the following night that unhappy man is seized by grave pain of the kidneys; and so bitterly was he vexed by a dire collection of humors for not a few days, that in the judgment of the physicians he turned to despair. But because Paul says, "The unbelieving man shall be sanctified by the faithful woman," 1 Cor. 7:14 behold in the silence of the dead of night Saint Erkenwald appeared in dreams to the woman, and with certain revelation fully taught her, that without any procrastination she should more readily animate her husband, that he should command himself to be carried to the Saint's mausoleum. And so morning being made, whom, brought to his Sepulchre, he heals: by the admonition of his wife, that man, sustained on the shoulders of servants, is led humble and devout to the basilica of Saint Paul; where, with the aid of the oft-mentioned Pontiff, having received the health of his sickness, he is made his own man; and he who had come aided by others' feet, returns on his own to his own home.
[18] "A certain silversmith, named Eustace, when he had very often worn the threshold of the house in which the bier of Saint Erkenwald was being made, where there was the wooden sepulchre to be covered with silver and gold, in which the limbs of Saint Erkenwald would be placed; A certain one blaspheming against the Saint at once, with madness growing, the wretch began to bring forth not only some unseemly things over the aforementioned wooden little place, but also with rash audacity, the wooden fabric having been raised, to hide within in the manner of the holy body resting, and to say: 'I am Erkenwald, bring me gifts, ask help from me; prepare the silver bier for me.' When the unhappy man with hoarse throat had been making such a racket, seized with a grave disease he dies. seized with grave infirmity, he is cast out by those standing by, and led lamentably to his own place, within a few days he expired. Clearly he had obstinately spurned the miracles and sanctity of Blessed Erkenwald; whence he stirred up the searcher of hidden judgment to strike him.
[19] likewise another profaning his feast "A certain artisan in the city of the holy Pontiff, with others keeping the day as a festival, himself tried to exercise his accustomed work. For he seized his knife, quickly ascended, and deliberately began to scrape a skin. It happened meanwhile that fellow citizens were passing through, hastening to the temple of God for the honor of Saint Erkenwald, where they might entreat their patron reigning in heaven with God, that in the cause of the last examination he should not fail them, who should sweetly recall his memory and glory. But when they had perceived that the furrier, putting aside the divine works, had presumed to attend to human ones, some of them grieved for their perishing brother, but some insulted him as a sacrilegious man; nor were lacking those who with fraternal affection tried to recall the transgressor from his illicit daring. But with their admonitions very long drawn out, he remained in the begun work, worthy of death. For it was little for him that he should neglect his friends wholesomely exhorting him, he added also that for admonition he would thrust mockery and derision upon his neighbors again and again. Thus therefore the wicked man paid the penalty for the pious instruction which the friendly people had in vain bestowed on him.
[20] a captive is freed from prison: "A certain captive, by royal command in fetters, hastened to go to the church on the day on which the festivity of Saint Erkenwald was celebrated; and entering, began thus: 'God, whom no one asks in vain except the vain one, b empty my nativity: God, illuminator of minds, illuminate me by your piety, that I may be able to pray for what is expedient for me, and to ask and obtain things pleasing to you.' When the guards were seeking him praying in this manner, it was announced to them that the man whom they were seeking had come to the solemn joy of the festivity of Saint Erkenwald, and had not wished to hide, but in the sight of the faithful stood at the altar, and with eyes and hands raised high to the Lord was praying more intently. Then the guards, now joyful at finding the captive, now moved by his escape, set a course to the temple of God, and proposed to bring back their charge not without penalty. But with the guards entering and intending to seize the man, the chains were broken with the greatest crash; and the legs of the praying captive, with the admiration of all who were there, were loosed. But when the rumor of the miracle came to the Bishop, he made words about the miracle to the people; and whom Saint Erkenwald had deigned to release, he strictly forbade that the aforesaid man be injured by the guards. But how great the exultation of the people that followed, and how great praise to God and to His beloved Erkenwald was brought forth, no one's eloquence can utter, no ingenuity can conceive.
[21] "With the solemnity of the glorious Pontiff now approaching, according to the custom of the Church it was announced to all living in the territory, that, secular pursuits laid aside, on the day which the most holy Father's passage to paradise marked, they should come to the church of Christ, a certain one profaning his feast suddenly dies. and with their prayers and the merits of so great a patron Erkenwald, labor to obtain the necessities of both body and soul. And behold a certain wretch, loaded with a heavy burden, met a certain minister of the church, and, having unloaded himself against the wall of the monastery, began to stand still, c paying no attention to what anyone was saying. The aforesaid minister began to speak to him with words of pious admonition: 'Who are you, wretched man, who, needing God's mercy and that of Saint Erkenwald more than other men, and with others keeping the festival to pray to God and His beloved Erkenwald, you alone do not attend?' Who boldly answered: 'Does Erkenwald wish to feed me, if by his grace I begin to omit my trade? It would be ridiculous if, having deserted my office, I should expect my food from your Patron. Go therefore, and have your holy days and your chantings with your Erkenwald without envy, and leave the work of brave men to us cowards.' Thus he, as if put to flight, having truly with all speed lifted up the load which he had set down opposite the sepulchre of Saint Erkenwald outside the monastery, so turned away, so proceeded on the way beside himself, that at the head of the sepulchre of a certain dead man, striking his foot, he fell forward upon his own head, and shaken and extinguished by his own fall. So the people recognized that the unhappy man, through disobedience and petulance of words, had merited death by the sentence of the highest Judge, and had incurred a sudden one; while he so loved himself and his own, that, mocking correction, he had spread grave contumely against the Saints of God.
[22] "A certain venerable woman, Benedicta by name, at the bier of the Saint was daily begging pardon, and what nature had withheld, a dried-up hand is healed, was demanding to obtain by the prayers of Erkenwald. For two very bad things had happened to her from birth, that, besides the dried-up hand which she bore as if still nourished in the womb of her mother, a concreted mass of the fist and the entire gluing together of the fingers placed under the thumb, denied the use of the hand utterly: moreover she said she was Italian, d born at Marcillac e in the province of Lyons, and for receiving health had traveled almost to the extreme nations of men, where the Christian Religion had penetrated, with weary foot. Oh how ineffable the depth of God's secrets! Whom the whole world with its relics renounced, divine providence reserves for Erkenwald, that Britain may recognize God more wondrous in His Saints. O Blessed Erkenwald, the Princes of the Apostles Peter and Paul bring to you, send their nursling to you, that you may appear more glorious, and London may better venerate and worship you. What more? On a certain day when the aforesaid woman, as is the manner of religion, not under the gaze of men but hidden in the corners of the church, was knocking at the ears of the highest Artificer; God the knower of hidden things, at the demanding of Erkenwald's merits, lifts with his hand of mercy the hand of the supplicant. But while she more prolongedly with more earnest care demanded at the Saint's tomb; the nerves, which from too great a constriction of themselves, had been exiled from the vivacity of the animal, the fingers being restored to order, suddenly return to their natural course; and the life-giving juice fit for use, and the natural filling of the veins and pores, restore the limb; the dried-up hand is moistened, and the nervous solidity is loosed; natural vigor by a miracle expels the defect, and the rotted hand feels its usual function; the distinction of the fingers by the prayers of Erkenwald wonders at that which the nature of the pregnant woman had let go in the womb: Erkenwald restores the forgotten rights of nature, while he restores the human limb to the creature.
[23] "In the time of Stephen f King of the English, there was a certain youth, named William, who from Gaul for the sake of exercising business had entered the borders of London, suddenly deprived of all motion and sense, and in the presence of the most holy body of Erkenwald, on the day of his solemnity, was standing among the people. And so, with the Procession completed, among the others the aforementioned man returned to the lodgings assigned to him: and while in the middle among his feasting companions, and as if then inferior to none, he reclined at table; suddenly he is shaken with so atrocious and worst infirmity, that you would judge the man g cataleptic, and would suppose rather death than danger. From that very despair the sign of our Lord Jesus Christ is set up before the lowest: the Priest, as is the custom of the faithful, is brought rather for the funeral, than for the visitation of the sick; and all things duly performed, those who were there, now wearied with tedium, were rather gaping for his death than his being so badly tormented. through a companion he is commended to the saint, Nor yet was there any of the citizens standing by who would implore the power of Erkenwald. The neighbors of Erkenwald are indeed silent, where the one from over the sea was not silent; the citizens forget, what the one born of the Gallic race recognized. Certainly a certain one of the sick man's companions suddenly leaps to his feet; what he had heard before about the virtues of the wondrous Bishop, no deaf hearer, raises up; that the sick man should give his whole self, move his whole self, commit himself wholly to the prayers of the holy Pontiff, he advises, praising the divine nod: he runs swiftly, touches the eyes of the blind with waxen eyes; and hastening, coming on horseback before the most holy body, upon the spear which was projecting he diligently placed the same eyes. Wondrous matter? A man of good counsel touches the foul eyes with wax, and our most precious illuminator Erkenwald, the shadow being removed, restores the light of the eyes: and he is restored to himself. and the sick man, who before seemed a maniac, now naturally in all his limbs had recovered the usual course. O man, absolved from the perdition of soul and body by the prayers of Erkenwald! When those who were there asked how he was, he is said to have given such a response: 'I through Blessed Erkenwald, who was dead, now live; who had been deprived of light, now see: and certainly I felt his venerable fingers deigningly placed upon the eyes deprived of light; and this is a sign for you: bring that Cross here.' Which being brought and seized, he drew out the needle which was sewing the cross and the shaft of the cross, and again with all seeing, at the first stroke i filled the hole."
NOTES.
CHAPTER IV.
Certain other benefits afforded by God to men by the merits of Saint Erkenwald.
[24] "At the same times a certain sick youth and one seized by atrocious infirmity, are healed a sick youth, after he had lain a very long time before the sepulchre of the oft-mentioned Bishop, with health recovered cried out before all: 'I give you thanks, Erkenwald, who came here sick, and now with your helping clemency sound and safe, I can go out wherever I shall wish.' Nor is this to be passed over, a blind girl, that in those days a certain matron with tears led with her her own daughter, deprived of the light of either eye, to the sepulchre of the most precious body, in the presence of many; and at once, prayer being completed, the girl evidently obtained sudden illumination, with all marveling.
[25] "At the same time a copious multitude of sick was asking at the tomb of the Saint remedies of health; among whom a certain venerable Cleric, of a certain great name, a widely known, in hope of receiving health, with all who knew him wondering, A sick physician, placed himself in the middle: for since he was a physician, and could not cure himself by himself or through others, refreshed by the odor of the miracles of the holy Pontiff; at length strengthened by the advent of faith, he committed himself wholly to heavenly medicine; he awaits the mercy of God also in vigils, his health, fastings, and prayers; and before the most holy body begs God with tears, that he may merit to obtain both the pardon of his crimes and the remedies of his illness. What more? On the third day after the evening hour, there appeared by the power of God and the merit of the Saint the aforementioned sick man, aided by the prayers of Erkenwald, nay restored to former health, and thus proclaiming the proclamations of this in the presence of all: 'Let all the Clergy and people know, me a few hours ago, with deadly infirmity heavily pressing, to have been so incapable of myself, that I had not only lost the offices of my hands, but lacked the supports of all my limbs: now with the merits of our Saint intervening, health being recovered, I am so strong, that not only can I eat or drink, or exercise the other natural senses of the body; but also with the incredible power of God with my own strength I can mount a horse, and ride wherever I please.'
[26] A boy from school fleeing from fear of punishment to his sepulchre, "A certain boy, of tender age, seduced by the slippery game of his peers, forgot both the threats of his schoolmaster and his own lesson. But on the following day, when the time for saying it back was at hand; and fear before the eyes, from ignorance of the lesson, occupied his boyish memory; what he should do he found nothing safe, who could neither say back the lesson, nor find a remedy for the master's wrath. After many anxieties of heart, therefore, it came into the mind of the boy, that by flight he might avoid the punishment by the prayers of someone. He rose quickly, fled, and came to the church in which the body of Saint Erkenwald rests. But the aforementioned master, entering the schools in his usual manner, and not finding the boy, when he perceived that he had fled, soon came to the place where the boy lay before the sepulchre, praying humbly to the Saint. Meanwhile, the master being resolute to inflict animadversion, it pleased him to hear the boy reciting; so that from just reason, as often as he caught him failing in his lesson, so often he would redouble blows on him. O now unhappy boy, unless he quickly has Erkenwald the most merciful liberator! And in a wondrous way, and thence taken away, when many kinds of liberation were available to the Saint, he chose the mode which most agreed with the boy's study and the master's purpose. Therefore by the prayers and merits of the illustrious Doctor Erkenwald, wisdom was present to the boy, which opens the mute mouth and makes the tongues of infants eloquent: it was present, I say, and divinely taught him what he had heard from none of his masters before. perfectly repeats the lesson which he did not know: For when the boy was compelled to bring forth the lesson without a book; not only what his master had given, he said back without obstacle or help; but also that which his instructor was about to give, with the master stunned, he recited from memory and long. Then the schoolmaster at last returning to his heart, put down his anger, and granted pardon of flight to the boy, and heavily condemned himself, that he had drawn the boy away from the Saint, and had not shown honor worthy of so great a Patron.
[27] "There was a certain stranger from parts beyond the sea, Baldwin by name and known to several Londoners, who was intolerably anxious from the fire of fevers: brought thither sick, he sought everywhere the coolness of a cure, but could not find it. One day, therefore, while the ministers of the Church of the Doctor of the gentiles, at the festivity b of Saint Erkenwald were devoutly chanting to the honor of God, he devoutly begged to be led to his tomb; hoping, as it happened, that health would be restored to him through his merits. When he had been brought, beside the entrance of the choir very weary and sick he sat down and fell asleep. While sleeping he saw standing by him an elegant man, with a Pastoral staff, clad in garments whiter than snow and priestly; mitered with the infula, as Bishops about to celebrate Mass are vested, who inquired what he had or why he had come. The sick man answered: 'Lord, a troublesome passion of fevers wearies me and continually tortures me; he is healed by the Saint appearing to him, and that I might obtain a remedy, I have fled to the port of salvation and to the sepulchre of the Saint, whose solemnity is celebrated today.' The Saint says to him: 'Let it be done to you as you wish, and as you have believed': then indeed in the manner of a cross, before and behind, to the right and to the left, softly and sweetly pressing his head, he departed, the sign of the holy Cross having been impressed on his forehead. He himself the fever-stricken now healthy, still floating in sleep, cried out: 'Lord, Lord, have mercy on me, and lighten my pain.' And being awakened, as the Deacon began the Gospel, he rose with his own strength, and offered an oblation; and prostrated on the ground gave thanks, and the same happened to his companion, and after Mass returned home sound. But hearing this, his companion, weighed down with the same disease, at the same hour carried, came between the hands of his own to the sepulchre of the Blessed man; and with his help was healed in the same manner.
[27] "A girl of the citizens of London, for many days was languishing wearied with fever, nor could she be restored by any kind of healing; but the most merciful Lord deigned to confer on her the remedy of this disease. A fever-sick girl is healed, warned by a similar apparition, For his beloved Erkenwald at night seemed to stand by her, and to speak to her thus: 'Long have you been baked in the furnace of this trial, not because you have stained your life with any criminal sin, but that in the future with the rod of correction you may strive to tame youthful pettishness, and imitate mature morals: for tomorrow hasten to visit my sepulchre; and there praying to our Lord Jesus Christ you shall be freed from this chain of weakness.' She indeed trembling, when she wished to ask his name, excessive fear made her tongue-tied. The servant of God perceiving this, added: 'I am called Erkenwald, having a sepulchre on the right side of the altar of Saint Faith c Virgin and Martyr, where when you come believing firmly, you shall be healed.' When her father and mother had learned this dream in the morning, with her herself telling it, made very glad and praising God, at the same hour supporting their daughter in their arms, they led her; and as the holy Bishop had taught, placed her next to his mausoleum. And when in the point of a moment she was dissolved in sleep, at once the sickness of all pain was emptied, and she returned sound in her whole body.
[28] Another weak girl "A certain daughter devoted to God, from the parts of Lincoln, of elegant form, was flogged with the lash of weakness, and at length entirely lost the office of hearing. Her parents, struck by the heavy lightning of grief, hired physicians, that she might be restored to health; but the art and subtlety of physicians there could find no efficacy. They determined to try divine help, and to lead her round the thresholds of the Saints, that with multiplied intercessors she might be cured. This being done, when she could nowhere recover health of body, at last she was led before the tomb of our venerable Patron Bishop Erkenwald. There, while sleeping, when she awoke, with her ears opened and matter running out drop by drop, she was restored to former health, to the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. d
[29] "To the hand of a certain woman scissors had stuck, so that with hand closed and fingers clenched to the palm, one of the rods was held, grasped, the other extended outside over the fingers, the bow of the scissors being over the index finger. She had been thus afflicted for three years: and a woman having a contracted hand. warned at length in dreams, she set out for London, to receive the remedy of her weakness. Therefore instant in fastings, vigils, and prayers, a certain man appeared to her in dreams in pontifical habit and carriage, advising that she should enter the church of Blessed Paul, and before the case of the holy Pontiff Erkenwald experience the clemency of divine power in her cure. The woman believed, rose; and while in the morning she sought the church, prostrated before the mausoleum of the aforesaid Pontiff, she awaited the help of divine mercy. But while the mysteries of the Procession were being performed, she had already risen from prayer, and standing before the case of the holy Pontiff Erkenwald, strove to pray with hands raised and eyes: meanwhile with many looking on, the hand was opened, with the fingers separated a little from the palm; the iron was separated little by little from the flesh, and one of the little rods drawn back from the other, the scissors fell from her hand before the altar; and afterwards gradually she is fully cured, to the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."