Egwin of Worcester

ON ST. EGWIN, BISHOP OF WORCESTER, IN ENGLAND.

[1] The third Bishop of the Hwicce, now of Worcester, was St. Egwin, or Eguinus -- called by some Edwin, by others Eugenius. He is said to have died on the third day before the Kalends of January, on which day, however, his name is found inscribed in no Calendars of the Saints except the Marian Diary of our Anton Balinghem. The feast of St. Egwin. But on the third day before the Ides of January, Galesinius and Molanus in the Additions to Usuard have this: "At Worcester in England, St. Eguinus, Bishop and Confessor." Wion, Dorganius, and Menardus add: "Distinguished for learning and sanctity." The English Martyrology celebrates him with ^a longer encomium. Ferrarius also mentions him on this day, and again on January 9.

[2] St. Brithwald, Archbishop of Canterbury, ^a contemporary of his about whom we treated on January 9, is said to have written his life. Francis Godwin considers the fragment that we shall give below to be part of the life composed by Brithwald, The life. for he adds: "So far he." But since mention is made there of the ruin of the church of Evesham that happened in the times of Edgar, who acquired the kingdom in the year 959, as Malmesbury maintains -- how could St. Brithwald, who died in 731 according to Godwin himself, have written this? The earlier portions may however have been transcribed from that life whose author is said to have been St. Brithwald. The life that we give here also commemorates many events after Brithwald's time. We described it from the records of the monastery of St. Paul in the forest of Soignes, or Rougevallee, and collated it with the edition of John Capgrave.

[3] St. Egwin is mentioned by William of Malmesbury, book 4 on the Deeds of the English Bishops, Who else wrote about him. where among other things he says: "Why Bede was silent about him, I have not yet been able to discover either by my own efforts or through others -- especially since he went to Rome with Kenred, King of the Mercians, and Offa, King of the East Angles, whose journey the historian did not pass over in silence. Nevertheless, whatever reason may have commanded this silence, it is certain that he was the third Bishop of Worcester." Matthew of Westminster also treats of St. Egwin at the year of Christ 712, Florence of Worcester at the year 708, Ranulph of Chester in book 5, chapter 23, Harpsfield in century 8, chapters 15 and 18, and Clement Reyner in the Historical Disputation on the Antiquity of the Benedictines in England, treatise 1, section 1, paragraph 2.

[4] Egwin wrote the life of St. Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, The writings of Egwin. as we shall say on May 25. He is also reported to have written certain other things, as may be seen in Pitseus. Whether however the book he is said to have written about his apparitions, and the one about the origins of his monastery, are not rather the two privileges, one of which is reported in the life, chapter 2, and the other below, we should not easily say. For St. Brithwald's book on the origin of the monastery of Evesham also seems to us to be none other than the life of St. Egwin. Bale is censured. John Bale, with his habitual love of lying, writes that Egwin erected the monastery of Evesham from its foundations through the beneficence of King Kenred; that soon, in order to be made Bishop of the Hwicce, when efforts had been made both at Rome and elsewhere in the world to have statues placed and venerated in Christian churches, he promoted the matter; "For he had," he says, "certain revelations -- nay rather, as he had affirmed with oaths before Pope Constantine, open visions -- so as to exhibit the image of Mary the Mother of God for public worship in his church." So far Bale. I deliberately omit certain most bitter insults with which, as with elegant ornaments, he seems to have wished to adorn his narrative, lest he not be believed to have renounced monasticism in sufficiently good faith. But neither had the controversy about images yet been stirred anywhere during the lifetime of Pope Constantine, since the impious Isaurian Leo had not yet attained the Empire; nor were the visions made to Egwin about erecting an image of the Mother of God; nor did he contrive these things in order to become bishop, since he had already been bishop for eleven years before the principate of Kenred. I pass over other things which, like these, are refuted by the authority of all writers.

[5] In ^a manuscript codex of the monastery of St. Lawrence of God's-custody, of the Order of St. Benedict, of the English Congregation, the following antiphon and prayer about St. Egwin are found. Antiphon: "Holy Prelate Egwin, loose the chains of our captivity, you who for the love of Christ walked in iron fetters from England all the way to Rome, to the chains of St. Peter; and the key of the fetter, which you threw away in England, you received at Rome from the belly of ^a fish." Verse: "Pray for," etc. Prayer: "Almighty and eternal God, grant us Your servants, Prayer for St. Egwin. through the intercession of Blessed Egwin, Your Confessor and Bishop, pardon to those who ask, the way of salvation to those who seek, and the hall of the heavenly kingdom to those who knock, that with Your help we may be able to arrive at the dwelling of Your eternal majesty. Through," etc.

LIFE.

From manuscripts.

CHAPTER I.

The virtues of St. Egwin: his zeal for penance.

[1] In the times of Kings Ethelred and Kenred, who held the government of the Mercians, St. Egwin's homeland and lineage. in the territory of Worcester there was ^a devout man named Egwin, sprung from the royal line. Placed in adolescence, having set aside the ambition of secular pomp and the pleasure of temporal goods, he sought voluntary poverty for God's sake and devoted himself entirely to ecclesiastical worship and divine offices. Promoted therefore through the individual grades of the ecclesiastical order up to the priesthood, His holy life. he soon converted his whole life to divine contemplation.

[2] When the See of Worcester was bereaved of its Bishop, the clergy cried out and the people demanded His episcopate. that the blessed man, on account of the merit of his holiness, should be elevated to the episcopal dignity. But the blessed Egwin, greatly resisting and struggling, with the King Ethelred consenting along with the clergy and people -- nay, begging and greatly pressing -- was raised to the episcopate of the aforesaid city. And immediately becoming ^a distinguished preacher of the divine word, he devoted himself with every effort to good deeds -- all the more humble the higher the office to which he had been elevated, dear to God and men; and acceptable to the King himself for his prudence, equity, learning, His praiseworthy character. counsel, and every probity: ^a father of orphans, ^a support of widows, and ^a consoler of the desolate. He powerfully refuted those who resisted the sound faith, and gently soothed those who submitted their necks to the sweet yoke of Christ. To the wicked his speech was like ^a goad and like ^a nail driven deep; to the gentle it appeared like oil. Desiring to snatch from the jaws of the devil the peoples newly converted and still savoring much of paganism and deceived in many things by ancient error, and entangled in illicit marriages contrary to the Christian way, His fervent preaching. and wishing to convert them from the error and squalor of old paganism, he often spoke to them about such matters; most harshly rebuking them for the aforesaid crimes and errors and illicit unions, and forbidding them to do such things further, he declared that God condemned these things, beating their stony hearts with frequent thunderclaps of words about the fearful judgment and everlasting torments, arguing, beseeching, rebuking in all patience and doctrine.

[3] But since medicine often aggravates incurable diseases, ^a savage storm of persecution is stirred up by the envious and enemies of the faith, and rages seditiously against the Saint of the Lord; and the populace is armed with false fabrications against his life. He is driven from his bishopric. And so the people, whose life and intention were inclined to evil, seeing that unlawful things were not permitted to them and being unwilling to abandon their accustomed vices -- where they ought to have profited, they instead blazed up in wrath and hatred against the Saint of the Lord and expelled him from his bishopric. Royal jealousy, stirred against him, also permitted this. For not only had an accusation been brought against him before the King, but ^a complaint had also been lodged against him before the Roman Pontiff by his enemies.

[4] Then the man of God, fortified by faith, strengthened by divine consolation, He sets out for Rome. relying on angelic counsel, when he saw himself called to the contest, resolved to go to the Apostolic See for the salvation of the erring people and to annihilate the fabrications of his enemies. For although the man of God knew himself to be innocent before men of the charges laid against him, nevertheless, because he did not deny that he was guilty of sins before God, and also for the sins of his people, he bound his feet with iron fetters He binds his feet with fetters, casting away the key. that could be locked and opened with ^a key, and he threw the key itself into the river called Abdona, in English Avon, and began to journey toward Rome. O man wonderful to all, shaken by no terrors, seduced by no blandishments, conquered by no labors, who amid the afflictions and humiliations of his body neither sought worldly praises nor shunned the gaze of men! O most valiant conqueror of toils, despiser of reproaches, admirable to angels and men, and made ^a spectacle to so many peoples and nations!

[5] And thus, with feet bound in iron, he entered Rome in the sight of the peoples and prostrated himself in prayer in the church of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. When that prayer was completed at great length, he prepared to celebrate the solemn rites of the Mass. He miraculously recovers the key. Meanwhile his servants went to the river to buy food, and having purchased ^a large fish and opened it, the key of the fetters with which the Saint had bound his feet was found in its entrails; and the iron that the English Avon had swallowed, the Roman Tiber exhaled. The key having been brought to the servant of God, submitting to the will of God, in the sight of all he accepted the key and unlocked his chains.

[6] The novelty of so great ^a miracle burst upon all and filled Rome. He who had been thought wretched and guilty was commended as holy and venerable. Who did not vie to see him? He is honored by the Pontiff. Who did not hasten to be blessed by him? The Reverend Pope himself, having learned of the arrival of St. Egwin, having heard of the straits and labors endured by him on the journey, and how almighty God had freed him from his bonds, had him summoned; and as he wished to prostrate himself, he detained him with fitting reverence. He whom he should have blessed, he asked to be blessed and absolved by, and he made him sit beside him. He compelled him to celebrate the solemn rites of the Mass before him; he was frequently admitted to his personal conversation and counsel and was graciously heard. The cause of his controversy and his journey was at length recited before the Supreme Pontiff, discussed, and by every manner of examination settled to his satisfaction; and with the Apostolic blessing and letters he returned to his own See.

[7] Having heard of the miracles and virtues wrought by the holy man, the King rejoiced greatly and restored him to his own See. He educates the King's sons. And he was made not only ^a spiritual father, but also ^a godfather in the flesh with regard to the King's sons; and the King took care to commend his sons to Egwin for instruction in letters and morals.

CHAPTER II.

The foundation of the monastery of Evesham.

[8] In those days there was ^a place in the territory of Worcester, uncultivated and thick with brambles and briars, which by modern peoples is called Evesham. Blessed Egwin sought and obtained this from Ethelred, King of the Mercians. He receives land from the King. Over that forest he also appointed four herdsmen to nourish provisions for the servants of God. One of these, named Eoues, one day advanced into the interior of the forest; and behold, in ^a certain place there stood ^a most beautiful maiden with two other virgins, surpassing all worldly beauty The Blessed Virgin appears to ^a herdsman. and even the splendor of the sun itself by her own radiance and glory, holding ^a book in her hands and chanting celestial canticles with the holy virgins. The man was terrified and dazed by so brilliant ^a vision, and unable to look upon heavenly things, returned home silent and trembling. He took care to report to the holy bishop what he had seen. But the man of God, silently considering the matter, after fasting and prayers, one day with three companions, chanting psalms and devout prayers, went barefoot to the designated place. Leaving his companions at ^a distance, he himself advanced further in, and lying long upon the ground, with groaning and tears he implored the regard of the Redeemer's mercy. When he rose from prayer, three virgins of no less splendor and glory than before Then to Egwin himself. appeared. Of these, the one in the middle was more exalted and shone more splendidly than all, whiter than lilies, more blooming than roses, fragrant with an inestimable odor, also holding ^a book in her hands and ^a golden cross radiating with light. When he considered that this was the Mother of the Lord, the most excellent virgin, as if favoring so pious an estimation, blessed him with the cross she held as he adored her, and with such ^a farewell she vanished.

[9] The holy man, therefore, rejoicing and giving thanks to God, understood that it was the divine will He builds ^a monastery. that that place should be consecrated for the worshipers of God and dedicated to the Blessed Mother of God. For he had vowed amid the various straits of temptation that, if the Lord should prosper his desire, he would build ^a temple to the Lord. He therefore promptly cleared the place, began the work, and brought it to completion. The same Saint also wrote and made known to all the building of the monastery, then called by the name Homme, in these words: "I, Egwin, humble Bishop of the Hwicce, wish to make known to all the faithful of Christ how I first, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, chose this place and built ^a monastery at Homme, in honor of almighty God and holy Mary, the perpetual Virgin. It happened at ^a certain time, On what occasion he founded it. not without the dispensation of the Almighty, that I was led through the labors of many great visions. For which reason it burned in my soul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that I should build ^a place to the praise and glory of almighty God and St. Mary and all the elect of Christ, and also for my own eternal reward, before I should depart from this changeable life. When therefore I was especially flourishing in the days of Ethelred, King of the Mercians, I began to beseech him kindly to deign to grant me the ancient monastery called Fledanburgh. He readily granted what I asked. When King Kenred reigned after him, he bestowed upon God and me, both for the love of God and from the affection of the carnal friendship by which he was deeply bound to me, eighty-four hides in the circuit of the place also called Homme. After ^a short time, the devout Bishop Aldhelm departed to the Lord; learning of this through ^a revelation, I summoned the brethren and clergy, made known to them the passing of the venerable Father, and buried him with honor in the monastery of Malmesbury. After this, I went to Rome with Kenred, King of the Mercians, and Offa, King of the East Angles, and accomplished everything I wished regarding the founding of the monastery."

[10] For it is reported that while on that journey through mountainous and arid regions, he was one day utterly afflicted by hunger, thirst, and fatigue, He draws forth ^a spring by his prayers. as were his companions and ^a great multitude of people. The holy bishop, therefore, being asked by his companions, poured forth prayers to God, and ^a spring of the clearest water immediately gushed from the sand. Taking the loaves and the few provisions he had, he distributed them among the people; and when all had been refreshed, they glorified God in His Saint.

[11] The man of God also brought back from Rome ^a privilege, whose tenor was as follows: Brief of Pope Constantine for that monastery. "Constantine, Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to Brithwald, Primate of the Churches of Britain, greeting and the Apostolic blessing. The venerable man Bishop Egwin, whom your fraternity has twice sent to the Apostolic See, we now send back to you ^a second time, laden with the sheaves of justice, admonishing you to support his efforts in such ^a way as you have known him to have begun from God and to have run in the way of God. Moreover, concerning that vision -- nay, open manifestation -- by which the Blessed Virgin Mary revealed herself to him, we hold it to be equally certain, just as we do not doubt the man's goodness. Finally, we admonish your vigilance to convoke ^a council of all England in those parts where the manifestation is reported to have taken place; to cause bishops and religious persons of the sacred order to assemble there, and to order the nobles of the realm with their lords to be present. To those gathered in the name of the Lord, we announce that the two Kings of England, Kenred and Offa, with whom the said bishop came to the threshold of the Apostles, Various things donated by Kings to the monastery. in the place of the revealed vision, in our presence, with royal liberality bestowed and with Apostolic authority confirmed many gifts from their possessions -- so that there ^a congregation of monks according to the rule of the memorable Father Benedict, which is as yet less well known in those parts, might be established and serve Christ unceasingly. The aforesaid Kings in their own privilege have determined these donations and benefactions by name and have had them confirmed by us. Therefore, beloved brother, by whatever means Christ is proclaimed, seek the gain of Christ, exercise the work of Christ, and when opinions have been promulgated in the council from every side -- both of the divinely revealed vision, and of Apostolic authority, and of royal liberty and donation, and of your own consent and that of the clergy and people -- establish the sheepfold of Christ divinely shown, supported by Apostolic authority, endowed with royal liberality, and sanctioned by the blessing of the clergy and people."

[12] "Moreover, to you and your successors, with the assent of the said Bishop Egwin, we especially enjoin the care of souls of that same Church, It is placed under the Archbishop of Canterbury. so that if -- God forbid -- at any time anyone, ^a usurper and tyrant driven by the devil's impulse, should presume to diminish or attack the sacred place, he may be struck by the sentence of the God-given authority and the blow of anathema, so as not to dare to carry out his intention. But if anything of an adverse nature is found to arise there, let it be referred to the ears of the Supreme Pontiff rather than that the holy place should be unjustly damaged by anyone's secret sentence. We therefore donate that place, which the royal power has bestowed with royal liberty, by the authority of God, of the holy Apostles, and our own, so that no person of whatever rank may presume to impair or diminish what we have established. Whoever destroys this or wickedly contaminates it, let him be accursed; but whoever preserves and increases it, let him be filled with blessings."

[13] "This letter was written in the year of grace 709, in the Lateran church of the Savior, The church is dedicated. at the command and with the confirmation of Constantine, Bishop of the Apostolic See, in the presence and with the confirmation of the Kings of England, Kenred and Offa, at the request of the venerable man Bishop Egwin, before many Archbishops and Bishops, Princes and Nobles of various provinces, with all acclaiming: 'We praise, we grant, and we confirm.' I, Constantine, Bishop of the Roman See, have confirmed these donations and liberties by the sign of the holy Cross. I, Egwin, humble Bishop, have confirmed. I, King Kenred, have ratified. I, King Offa, have consented." And when the place was consecrated by the holy Bishop Wilfrid, the same Wilfrid and Egwin spoke thus before all: "Lord God, who dwell in the heavens and created all things, preserve him who shall keep peace in this place and preserve it. We also command, in the name of almighty God and of all the heavenly powers, that neither King nor Prince, nor any person of any rank, shall diminish this holy place; but let it be, as we desire, ^a well-ordered wall for the flocks and pastors of God, under the authority of its own Abbot, according to the rule of God and St. Benedict. But if -- God forbid -- anyone, driven by the spirit of avarice, should wish to overturn it, let him be judged before the tribunal of God and never come into the remembrance of Christ; but let his name be blotted out forever from the book of the living, and let him be bound with the knots of eternal punishments in hell, unless he repent and make amends in this life." The dedication of this church was made in the year of grace 714.

(Notes ^a through p preserved as scholarly apparatus referencing Cambden, Malmesbury, Capgrave, and other authorities on Evesham, the Avon river, Fledanburgh, Aldhelm's death, Malmesbury monastery, the pilgrimages of Kings Offa and Kenred, Pope Constantine's dates, Wilfrid the younger, and the relationship of Egwin to monastic life before his episcopate.)

(Notes ^a through ^e concerning Evesham monastery, the vision of the Blessed Virgin, the privilege of Egwin, Fledanburgh, and the death of Aldhelm are preserved in the Latin apparatus.)

CHAPTER III.

The visions of St. Egwin, his illness, and death.

[14] The man of God, Egwin, then began to set aside the cares of royal business and to devote himself to the state of the contemplative life, to shine with virtues and miracles, to postpone the cares of the world, Egwin is conspicuous for every virtue. to bear with ^a simple spirit the losses of temporal things, to apply himself to sacred readings, and to chastise his venerable body with vigils and abstinence. For this Bishop Egwin was the holiest of confessors, humble in dress, pleasant in speech, devout in preaching, truthful in judgment, venerable in character, vigilant in prayers, assiduous in reading, pious in affection, and also resplendent with many miracles. For amid the tears and sobs And visions. that he unceasingly poured forth to almighty God day and night, he was often soothed by visions and speeches of angels, and was refreshed by the continual consolations of other saints who had departed from this world.

[15] But the most Blessed Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, he embraced with all his affection and spirit, with all his heart and love, so that she never slipped from his memory The Blessed Virgin often appears to him. and was never absent from his words. By her visitation and consolation the servant of God, Egwin, often refreshed, abandoned all things that belonged to the world and unceasingly practiced the things that belonged to God: he had compassion on the wretched, refreshed the poor, fed the hungry, and unceasingly fulfilled the other works of piety.

[16] Falling at last into ^a prolonged infirmity, he did not cease day or night from divine praises and spiritual canticles, and what he could not do by himself he had others complete on his behalf. Though sick, he heals others' diseases. Above all he saw to the care of the poor and pilgrims; and he bestowed health upon many infirmities with the invocation of the name of the holy Trinity, expelling pains by the touch of his hands and driving demons from possessed bodies. The holy Egwin, since from the first flower of his youth he had always worn ^a hair shirt, He always wears ^a hair shirt. now lying in the harshest ashes, was clothed next to his bare skin with ^a trogulum -- overcoming by bodily mortification and fasting the very debility and infirmity of his flesh.

[17] When Blessed Egwin was wholly devoted to works of charity, he nevertheless applied himself especially to preaching. For near Evesham, at ^a distance of eight miles, was the stronghold of Alcester, then ^a royal estate, The stronghold of the impious is destroyed. whose inhabitants, the more they abounded in the opulence of wealth and abundance of temporal goods, the more they were given to gluttony and luxury, devoted to avarice and cupidity, making themselves unworthy of God's mercy. Coming to this place, Blessed Egwin preached to them the kingdom of God. But that people, without counsel and without prudence and of ^a stiff neck, unwilling to abandon their accustomed vices, refused to heed his warnings. And since that stronghold, surrounded on all sides by woods as it were, was ^a most suitable place for smelting iron and was especially filled with smiths and iron workers, the unbelieving people continuously beat their anvils with iron hammers with such ^a din that the blessed man's words could not be heard and he was forced to withdraw from the stronghold. When the blessed man had left the stronghold, both his ears were still ringing from the concussion -- nay, the confusion -- of hammers and anvils. Raising his eyes to heaven and bending his knees to the ground, he prayed to the Lord against the smith's craft of that stronghold. And behold, suddenly the earth swallowed up the stronghold itself, so that in ^a new one built somewhat over the old, The smith's craft cannot be practiced there. even to the present day, ancient buildings are discovered in the foundations of new houses; for never afterward did anyone rightly practice the smith's craft in that place, nor could anyone wishing to practice it thrive there.

[18] When he had come to the end of his life, having summoned the monks and sons whom he had begotten for God, he said: "I have lived among you, brethren, and I am not ashamed to have lived; for I have done what I could, though what I have done is altogether small. Having admonished his followers, he dies piously. What to do and from what things you ought to turn aside, I have said, in whatever ways I thought it ought to be said. The way of righteousness having therefore been shown, I pray that you may walk in it, and that the shadow of present happiness may not deceive you; for it flees and never remains in the same state. May He Himself, who is the way, the truth, and the life, remove the way of iniquity from you; may He instruct you in the way of His justifications." And so, full of virtues, about the year of the Lord 720, on the third day before the Kalends of January, he departed to the Lord and was buried in the monastery that he had built from the foundations.

CHAPTER IV.

Miracles after death.

[19] After his death, God deigned to work many miracles on his behalf. One who attempts perjury dies miserably. A certain rustic stole part of the land of St. Egwin, and when the judges decreed that on ^a certain day he should come and swear that the land was his, he took dust from his own house and filled his shoes with it, so that he might safely swear that he stood upon his own land. But when he stretched out his hand to swear upon the relics of St. Egwin, being struck on the head by an iron billhook that he carried in his hand -- by some accident I know not what -- he suddenly fell dead to the ground and lost both his life and his land before the eyes of all.

[20] When another man invaded and possessed the land of St. Egwin, One who perjures himself at his relics loses his beard. it was decided by the judgment of the judges that he should acquire the land by swearing with his own hand upon the relics of St. Egwin. He was an aged man, bearded with ^a long beard. Rising therefore, he grasped his own beard in his palm and said: "By this beard, the land is mine, and I shall possess it by hereditary right." He had scarcely uttered the word, and behold, his entire beard, having fallen off before the eyes of all, he threw to the ground as if it had been attached rather than naturally grown. Thus he who had unjustly invaded another's land deserved, by right, to lose his own beard along with the land.

[21] The Bishop of London, Elfward, when ^a very great storm had arisen at sea and he was nearly suffering shipwreck, A storm is calmed by his aid. invoked the help of St. Egwin and the storm was immediately calmed; and with tranquility restored to the sea, he arrived at the desired port with joy.

[22] A certain young man, mute from birth, going to Rome to recover his health, The faculty of speech is given to ^a mute. remained there for three years. And behold, one night someone dressed in white garments appeared to him and said: "Return quickly to your own land and to the sepulchre of St. Egwin; if you wish, you will obtain health." When he had arrived there, the bonds of his tongue having been loosed, he openly spoke words.

[23] Before the coming of the Normans to England, so great ^a frequency of miracles distinguished the monastery of St. Egwin Miracles are frequent on Saturdays. that on almost every Saturday some person afflicted with some infirmity or trouble was deemed worthy to receive ^a welcome remedy through St. Egwin.

[24] A certain monk of Coventry, named Sperculphus, was accustomed to frequent the monastery of St. Egwin on the feasts of the Saints, and to spend the night in prayer. On ^a certain feast of St. Egwin, when he was occupying himself in the church of that Saint in nocturnal vigils and prayers, as was his custom, he was deemed worthy to see an admirable vision with his bodily eyes. For he first saw the lights extinguished by divine power, and the church gradually illuminated by ^a supernal light and irradiated with an incredible splendor. When in terror he had turned his mind and eyes to this spectacle, Saints sing matins and Mass at the altar of St. Egwin. he beheld ^a very great procession of holy spirits approaching, in which certain boys, bearers of lights with candlesticks, went before; then youths followed; after whom elders shining with venerable white hair followed. All these, clothed in white robes, presented ^a wonderful spectacle. After these came one vested in pontifical vestments, whom two elders led on the right and on the left. Approaching therefore the altar of St. Egwin, they began to sing matins. O wonderful thing! Mass is begun and chanted with wonderful sweetness; and when it was finished, that entire company departed in procession just as it had entered.

[25] When the same monk on ^a certain night was keeping vigil in the church of the Mother of God in the same monastery on her feast, with the doors closed, he beheld with inestimable brightness and beauty ^a procession coming in ^a similar manner, St. Egwin appears celebrating Mass while dead. and St. Egwin leading the glorious Mother of God, the Virgin Mary. Arriving therefore at the altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the venerable Bishop Egwin, after matins had been most honorably chanted, began the solemn rites of the Mass. The monk who saw these things, stupefied, said within himself: "What is this? Have I lost my senses? Are not some of these people whom I know to have long since departed from this light?" And approaching secretly to ^a certain one, he inquired who it was for whom the Mass was being chanted. And he replied: "Be silent. Do you not know that our Lord St. Egwin is celebrating the sacred mystery for the Blessed Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary?" And so, when the Mass was completed, two bishops, taking the Queen of heaven on the right and the left, returned in procession in the same order in which they had entered.

FRAGMENT OF ANOTHER LIFE

reported by Francis Godwin from manuscripts.

From various sources.

[1] Egwin, sprung from the royal line, ^a native of Worcester, St. Egwin's first journey to Rome. in the times of Kings Adelred and Kenred of the Mercians, was made Bishop of Worcester. Whence shortly after he was expelled. Having gone to Rome, he was restored to his bishopric by the Pope (before whom he solemnly celebrated Mass).

[2] After his return from Rome, he obtained the place called Aethamne, and afterwards Evesham, from the name of ^a certain herdsman (Eoues) of Blessed Egwin, Various things donated to him by pious Princes. who in ^a certain forest found ^a lost sow about to give birth to ^a litter of seven. From that omen, the place is called Evesham, and the monastery took its name from that. But first King Ethelred gave him the ancient monastery called Fledanburgh, which Egwin gave to the sub-king of the province of the Hwicce in exchange for another monastery called Stratford. Shortly after, from Oswald, the King's brother, he obtained other lands -- namely, thirty hides at Twyford. Afterward the kinsman of Egwin, Kenred, gave him forty-eight other hides in the circuit of the place called Cotham.

[3] The second journey to Rome. Then he set out for Rome with Offa and Kenred to obtain privileges for his monastery. Having obtained these, they returned to England, and ^a general synod was assembled in the place called Alne, at which Berthwald of Canterbury and Wilfrid of York were present; and all those donations were confirmed, with Wilfrid being sent to consecrate the place. After which Egwin established Benedictine monks there. Afterward he died on the third day before the Kalends of January.

EPITAPH OF ST. EGWIN.

Beneath this humble rock lies ^a man most great; and in ^a narrow urn Is enclosed one whom the true fame of fame bears high throughout the world. He drew ^a distinguished lineage; And had excellent manners and accomplished great things: He made the church which they now call Evesham. He enriched the place with lands and ennobled it With much liberty, which held the right of the realm. The entire court of the King wrote and subscribed every kind of document, And the Pope who then governed the Roman See Confirmed it, with his own seal attesting. He departed this life when, as the Sun was passing through Capricorn, The thirteenth day from the middle was rising. He is buried in the monastery that he built. In the times of King Edgar, under Abbot Oswald, the church of Evesham built by Egwin collapsed.

PRIVILEGE OF KINGS KENRED AND OFFA

Concerning the properties donated to the monastery of Evesham. From an old manuscript, published by Clement Reyner.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Since indeed the vicissitude of the passing world daily diminishes by growing and is lessened by expanding, and with the sudden onslaughts of ruin increasing, the end is seen to be near for all, therefore with vain and transitory things the enduring rewards of the heavenly fatherland must be purchased. Why, and what the pious Kings donated. Wherefore I, Kenred, by God's gift King of the Mercians, and I, Offa, by divine permission Governor of the East Angles, for the redemption of our souls, and for the salvation of our predecessors and successors, donate and grant in the place where the Blessed Mary manifested herself to the venerable man Bishop Egwin at Homme, and by the present document we confirm, in honor and reverence of the same Mother of God, sixty-six hides on both sides of the river called Avon: namely, three that are at Homme; one at Leuheauic; seven at Norton; one at Offenham; thirteen at Littleton; one at Addington; eight and ^a half at Badsey; twelve at Bretforton; two and ^a half at Hombourne; seven at Willersey; three at Wickwan; and nine at Bengeworth and Hampton. And by our liberality, as is fitting, and by royal munificence, we donate the aforementioned hides where the manifestation is reported to have taken place, with the other portions previously assigned, by royal liberality, and we give them to almighty God and the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul in perpetuity, free; For what purpose. so that there ^a congregation of monks according to the rule of St. Benedict may be established and serve Christ unceasingly. Moreover, for the greater firmness of our donation, we wish it to come to the knowledge of those present as well as those succeeding in the future by what boundaries the sacred place, which we have bestowed on God with royal liberality, is enclosed and bounded. First from Troyford, etc. We moreover wish and decree in the name of the Lord that the land of five cassati, called Morton, shall enjoy the same liberty in perpetuity; which land I, Kenred, King of the Mercians, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation seven hundred and nine, when I was already preparing to visit the threshold of the Apostles together with the venerable man Egwin, among certain other gifts granted to him for the construction of the monastery, and confirmed in writing under the testimony of many of my magnates. We therefore decree in the name of the Lord, and in the power of the supreme God we command both those living and those who by the Lord's predestination succeed us in perpetuity, that no one dare to render void the statutes of this donation. But if anyone shall have attempted to impair or diminish this gift of our munificence, let his name be blotted out from the book of life. These things were done in the year of the Lord's Incarnation seven hundred and nine, in the Lateran church of the Savior, with Constantine, Bishop of the Roman See, confirming, in the presence of the Kings of England, Kenred and Offa, at the request of the venerable man Bishop Egwin, with many Archbishops and Bishops, Princes, Subscriptions. and Nobles of various provinces, with all acclaiming and saying: "We praise this will and royal liberality, and consent to the donations and liberty." I, Constantine, Bishop of the Roman See, have confirmed these donations and this liberty by this sign of the holy Cross. I, Egwin, humble Bishop, have confirmed. I, King Kenred, have ratified. I, King Offa, have consented.

PRIVILEGE OF ST. EGWIN

Concerning the properties acquired for the monastery of Evesham.

From various sources.

[1] I, Egwin, humble Bishop of the Hwicce, wish to make known to all the faithful of Christ how, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and through the labors of many great visions, it was shown to me that I should first build ^a place to the praise and glory of almighty God and St. Mary and all the elect of Christ, and also for my own eternal reward. The apparition of the Blessed Virgin. When therefore I was especially flourishing in the days of King Ethelred, I sought from him the place called Haum, in which place the holy and perpetual Virgin Mary first appeared to ^a certain herdsman named Eoues, and then also to me, with two virgins, holding ^a book in her hands. I therefore cleared the place and, by the praise and grace of the best God, brought the work I had begun to completion. I wish therefore to show every succeeding generation what possessions I acquired for the aforesaid place, and that I freed those lands from every exaction of all powers, and caused the said exemption to be confirmed with attached authorities and privileges, as well as royal edicts, so that the brethren serving God there according to the rule of St. Benedict might lead their life without disturbance. I also wish to make known the names of the estates, all of which, free and justly acquired, I offered to God and St. Mary.

[2] And so, from King Ethelred I obtained ^a certain monastery called Flendaburch, What he acquired and from whom. which afterward I exchanged for another monastery called Streatford. After ^a short time, from the aforesaid King's brother Oswald, I acquired twenty hides in the place called Troyford. Afterward, when Kenred succeeded to the kingdom, he himself also granted me eighty-four hides on both sides of the river called Avon. A certain young man named Athericus granted me eight hides; and the venerable priest Walter gave me another eight hides. And so, with God's favor, in ^a short time I acquired one hundred and twenty hides for the aforesaid Church of Christ, as is written and confirmed in the charters of the Church, and set forth in the book of land and its boundaries, which Bishop Brichtwold wrote and dictated at the command of the Roman Pontiff, with the consent of the Princes of all England. These are the names of the estates which, as stated above, I acquired: Evesham, Benyagutth, Hampton, Baddesey, Wicke, Hambourne, Bradforton, Willersley, Wythley, Sambourne, Kinwarton, Greater and Lesser Salford, Ambresley, Ulbeory, Morton, Buckton, Meleygaresbery, Tittlestromp, Greater Snella, Mayeldesbeordy, and also Sildswyk. All these lands, as I have said, I acquired free from all claim, and offered them to the holy Church of God.

[3] Whoever therefore shall presume to impair, diminish, or contaminate the place that Apostolic dignity and royal power have donated with royal liberty, and we donate by the authority of God and the holy Apostles, let him be judged before the tribunal of Christ and never come into the remembrance of Christ, unless he repent and amend in this life. But whoever shall preserve and increase it, let him be filled with blessings. So be it. Amen. This charter was written in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 714. Subscriptions. I, Egwin, by the sign of the holy Cross. I, King Kenred, have subscribed. I, Offa, have confirmed by the sign of the Cross. I, Archbishop Brichtwold, have subscribed. I, Oswald, brother of the King, have confirmed.