Ethelbert

ON ST. ETHELBERT,

KING OF THE EAST ANGLES.

THE YEAR DCCXCIII

PREVIOUS COMMENTARY.

On his cult, church, translation, the Life by Brompton and Giraldus with a varied style transcribed.

Ethelbert, King of the East Angles (St.)

G. H.

In the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy there had been a kingdom of the East Angles, which in St. Ethelbert the King, of whom here we treat, by Offa King of the Mercians slain in the year DCCXCIII, had its end; Sacred cult yet afterward there reigned St. Edmund, with martyrdom afflicted on November XX in the year DCCCLXX. His sacred memory is inscribed in the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck about the year MCCCCXC printed in these words: In England of St. Ethelbert the King and Martyr. But Grevenus in the Supplement of Usuard, about the year MDXV and MDXXI printed, in the first place adds: Of Athelbert King of England and Martyr. His feast is inscribed in the Calendar prefixed before the Enchiridion of the Church of Salisbury, with prayers and images filled, and in the year MDXXXIII printed. John Molanus, in the Additions to Usuard in the year MDLXXIII reprinted, these things has: At Hereford of St. Athelbert, King of East England and Martyr. There followed then the more recent ones. Camden among the Silures places the County of Hereford, and of its city Hereford's origin and increase thus writes: When the Saxon Heptarchy was grown up it is believed first to have shone forth: by Edward the Elder, as some write, The church at Hereford dedicated to him. constructed: nor indeed older of it was made mention. For the Britons, before the name of Hereford became known, the place Trefawith from beeches, and Henford from an ancient way, and the Saxons themselves Fernleg from Flints called. The increases, unless I am mistaken, the greatest to religion, and to Ethelbert of the East Angles the King's martyrdom, it owes. Who when the nuptials of the daughter of Offa King of the Mercians he sought; by Quendreda, Offa's wife, who rather of the East Angles the empire, than the honest condition of her daughter sought, by ambush nefariously taken away, and to the Martyrs' catalogue inserted, a temple here for himself had by Milfrid the Regulus built: which with Episcopal at once adorned dignity, into the highest grew opulence, by the munificence first of the Mercians, then of the West-Saxon Kings. Thus far that.

[2] In the MS. Florarium of the Saints is indicated on this XX of May, In England the translation of Athalbert King and Martyr: The body translated, namely to the said Hereford. There remained erected there when (as writes Florence of Worcester in his Chronicle) Griffin of the Welsh, and Algar the Count, against St. Edward the King, a copious army gathered, and the bounds of the English about to depopulate, the Hereford province entered; and in the year 1055 burned. and the English taking flight they pursued, four hundred or five hundred of them slew, and many wounded. Then victory obtained King Griffin and Count Algar Hereford entered, and the seven Canons, who defended the leaves of the principal basilica, being slain; and the monastery, which the true Christ-worshipper Prelate Aethelstan had constructed, with all its ornaments and the Relics of St. Aethelbrecht King and Martyr, and of other Saints burned, and some of the citizens slain and many captivated, the city also spoiled and burned, with the abundance of booty enriched they returned. Thus Worcester, which plainly the same things have Simeon of Durham in his history of the Deeds of the Kings of the English, and Roger Hoveden in the former part of his Annals, who St. Agelbert the King and Martyr call him.

[3] The Acts in Capgrave and Brompton His Acts double are extant, and from other older ones taken: of these some are published in the Legend of John Capgrave, others inserted in the Chronicle under the name of John Brompton printed among the X Writers of the English History: which last here we give, some among the Annotations from the earlier ones observed. The Chronicle of Brompton is brought even to the year MCC, therefore four after the slaying of St. Ethelbert centuries, from various authors and in an encomiastic style written. From this William Dugdale in volume 3 of the English Monasticon page 150 derives the origin of the Cathedral Church of Hereford, the adduced words which below at number 1 are had. Then page 181 he publishes a charter of Edward the King, by which to the Hereford Presbyters at St. Ethelbert's monastery immunity is granted, and page 187 are brought forth privileges, to the honor of the same St. Ethelbert made. Besides those which I said printed to be had Acts, the Life of the King and Martyr Aethelbert by Giraldus digested, another MS. by the author Giraldus. from an old Codex of the Library Cottonian at Lyons, under the figure of Vitellius E 7 to be found, to be transcribed for us took care the aforepraised William Dugdale, with a proem, which begins, If anyone truly of delights the garden. That it is for the use of the Choir, in a more verbose style deduced we understand, while we read praised in the same proem the grace of our Martyr and King Aethelbert, whose today the solemnities festively we celebrate. But when Giraldus the author thou readest, do not think the Cambrian, with writings about Ireland books, which about the year MCLXXXX he published known and in the year MDCLXI by Gratianus Lucius the Irishman laboriously refuted (for his style is much more chastised and succinct) but a later of that name some Hereford Canon, who though at the end he professes, that the Life of St. Aethelbert with miracles, with long circumlocutions before and in a rude discourse heaped, by the instance of his Fellow-canons much more briefly and lucidly explained, yet is much more prolix than Brompton, of whom elsewhere almost the very words he has, so that it appears from the same source both to have taken. Wherefore acquiescing in Brompton's context, from Giraldus we shall take.

LIFE

From the Chronicle published under the name of John Brompton.

Ethelbert, King of the East Angles (St.)

BHL Number: 2630

FROM MSS.

CHAPTER I.

St. Ethelbert's virtues, the journey to Offa King of the Mercians.

[1] After King Anna, Adelherus his brother in the kingdom of East Anglia succeeded: who in a war, After other Kings of which the author he himself was against Oswin King of Northumbria, with the perfidious Penda of his brother Anna the slayer being, with his soldiers was slain. To him Athelwold, Athelwulf, Alfwold, Berna, and Adelred Kings in the kingdom of East Anglia successively reigned. But Adelred, the last of the said Kings of East Anglia, being dead; Ethelbert his son the only and heir, a from the study of letters suddenly to the cares of lands snatched, to his father succeeds St. Ethelbert, with the vow of all and unanimous desire into the kingdom's throne is sublimated. This King Ethelbert, these and such testimonies of Scripture with himself recollecting, The greater thou art, humble thyself,

in all things; Be humbled under the mighty hand of God; He who humbles himself shall be exalted; and that from the blessed Virgin's canticle, He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble; humility in his heart specially and especially he rooted, and it as of the other virtues the foundation in himself he placed. Eccli. 3, 20., 1 Pet. 5, 6., Luc. 14, 11., Luc. 1, 52. Besides recalling, and by reason of his name attending, that from ruling a King is called; a humble man, because himself first, then the people to him subject he ought to rule; the pious King, clement and merciful, to the ward and orphan calumny to be done, and innocent blood to be shed not permitting, in doubtful cases to absolve than to condemn more prone by far he was. clement and merciful, But in certain and by sentence condemned ones always the penalty to mitigate prepared, grieving very much, as often as grief or penalty on anyone to inflict by the vigor of justice he was held; rejoicing on the contrary nor moderately exulting, as often as rewards to confer and benefits to scatter he could.

[2] But coming to him, to the royal dignity now elevated, loving virginity, as well the Nobles of his kingdom as the Prelates, about a wife to be taken and royal offspring to be raised, him first in private, then openly and publicly approached. He indeed, who from boyhood fixed in his mind and rooted had had, the virginity of his body to God to dedicate, and dreading the troubles of matrimony: and the hundredfold fruit to await, as much and as long as he could, refused altogether, deferred and declined. He had read also, and both from the Ethical as the Theological pages had it known, of matrimonies how great are the burdens. He had read besides of foolish women the slothfulness, of the deformed the disgust, of the beautiful and noble the haughtiness and pride, the adulteries, mostly offspring uncertain or evidently another's, the nobles persuading and among the secrets of bed and chamber domestic bitternesses, troubles and anxieties, wraths, brawls, grave jealousies and suspicions. He had read these things, I say, and from these had gathered, that breasts indeed, in which these reign, little have of peace, but very much of perturbation. Further their assaults at length growing strong, since opportunely they pressed and importunely, knowing that against all to be wise as to be foolish is, knowing also that, Do all things with counsel, and after the deed thou shalt not repent; although hardly and unwilling, their finally wills to be obeyed by him he judged and decreed, fearing however. Eccli. 32, 24. This reason him chiefly had induced to consent, that if the kingdom on his account at some time perhaps an heir should lack, hostile by that occasion incursions, ruin likewise and extermination to suffer it could b.

[3] he consents to the daughter of Offa the King Coming to him at length the Count Oswald, who among his Counsellors to him in faith and familiarity was chief: and him about c Offa of the Mercians King's, a man in the Western bounds of the island magnificent, daughter only and legitimate to be taken, with instance great secretly approached. He indeed, although unwilling to declinations of this kind of counsels, answered, himself with his mother yet surviving and the kingdom's Nobles thereupon shortly counsel to take. Whom on a certain day being convoked, of all almost the assent with Oswald's counsel agreed. his mother resisting. The mother alone, either because of daughters more attentively, than of sons, mothers the marriages to ripen are wont; or rather with a mind presaging of evils, that utterly dissuaded. Ethelbert however, a good and just man, lest by a womanly counsel to his land's Primates pertinaciously to resist he should seem; that he would obey their wills himself granted.

[4] About to go into Mercia, Mass in the morning devoutly, as is usual, and diligently heard, and the grace of the Holy Spirit invoked; with a great retinue, and royal as was fitting apparatus, the journey he seized without delay. But when his horse to mount he had to, the earth under his feet, with of all the bystanders the greatest admiration and terror, he is terrified by an earthquake, as if an earthquake being made, trembled a while, and shaken rested. He indeed casting on the Lord his care, and to Him revealing his way, who does not forsake those hoping in Him, immovable altogether and undaunted, the journey to undertake by no means dreaded. And when and so black darkness the travelers suddenly covered, that neither themselves to each other, nor any way now to see they were able: until by the pious of the holy King Ethelbert prayers and devout supplications the solar rays were restored. For he cried to the Lord, and to the ground prostrate, humbly said: Make known to me, O Lord, the way in which I should walk: for to thee I have lifted up my soul. Psal. 14, 8. Nor wonder if signs, which at the death of Christ appeared, before the death of this member of Christ and of the same beloved one, the same presaging, happened. The earth indeed, as if the crime abhorring which now impended, was moved: but the sun obscured, as if it should not see, its face averted. Or, that earthquake, the earth's and kingdom's commotion and desolation (which from the birth of Ethelbert, through many years' courses under Reguli and tyrants, even to King Edmund's times lasted) openly could signify; the sun indeed its light withdrawing, him from this light shortly to be withdrawn, by a manifest indication declared.

[5] When therefore a longer journey making, to a village in the kingdom of the Mercians, which the South Villa by the inhabitants was called, now he had come; the day to evening verging, there to pass the night resolving, in a country place tents to be pitched he ordered. and a nocturnal vision: But he had sent before men discreet and eloquent, with royal gifts and presents, which both a King to give and a King to receive with honor it would befit, his coming and the cause of his coming to Offa the King announcing. But that same night, when his members wearied with labor to sleep he had given; visions terrible very he saw. For it seemed him to see the whole of his royal hall's top from the highest downward the roof to fall, and the horns of his chamber, in which to rest he was wont, both roof and walls, by a sudden fall to the earth falling to be crushed: and certain other things no less d horrible he saw, which the Count Oswald to him by the King related, for consoling and serving's sake, to interpret more benignly was busy. He indeed silently all things considering and undauntedly, himself and his cause wholly to God committed.

[6] but by the return of the messengers refreshed, But the next day returned to him the messengers, both his own and from Offa the King transmitted, who to him of coming security with the King's grace and benevolence brought back; sent before also first the chariots, then the pack-saddled beasts and baggage and many sumpters, with of the serving men both footmen namely and horsemen crowds, he himself with a band of Soldiers most beautifully encompassed; in a competent order followed. After the long therefore of the way labors, to Offa's court he proceeds, when to the court of Offa King Ethelbert came; the fame of so great a coming being divulged, the virgin Althrida, Offa the King's daughter, from on high through a window of solace, King Ethelbert a young man the gates entering, and his Soldiers began diligently in the womanly manner, in that in which they entered order, to behold. Which done, to her mother the girl returned, the young man's form, the youth's elegance, the illustrious Nobles, the notable Soldiers, the retinue and incomparable apparatus, both the things seen, and perhaps than the things seen greater, to her to relate began.

ANNOTATIONS.

When in the discipline of letters he had advanced, not with the allurements of pleasures his mind to entangle he cared, but in prayers and alms and the other good works with all solicitude he sweated. His coeval ones to games exercised, he himself in the church to converse rejoiced. At last an adolescent made, and of his father bereaved, to the kingdom's throne is sublimated. Alford the year assigns 749, and celibate says he lived in the kingdom 44 years.

There came therefore to him at some time among the nobles of his kingdom a man great and powerful, the Count Guerro, admonishing and counselling, that of South Britain the King Egeon's daughter, to whom the name Seledrida, the only namely of the lately deceased father daughter and heir, to himself in matrimony he should join; that by that occasion namely as it were two kingdoms into one might come together this the daughter, who to my father always unfaithful being, so him with many frauds, so many perjuries to deceive was wont? as a man crafty, perfidious, and cunning: who also his mind so had instructed, that nothing to him in mind less was than not to lie, nothing right except wrong, nothing fair beside iniquitous seemed. Thou knowest, Guerro, that as in trees the vice of the root, so in men and the other animals naturally into the offspring to descend are wont the vices of the parents or virtues. Of the vices therefore of women and virtues, not of the riches and possessions is to be inquired; of the parents' morals also, rather than honors, is to be investigated. Fortune's indeed gifts to be changed often we see and transferred; nature truly to the roots adheres, which its own found, fortune knows to leave heirs.

the Consuls and Tribunes of my kingdom in my kingdom near me to stand, where many discourses with them being had, fell from the highest top the whole top of my royal house, and the horns of my chamber plucked up fell. My mother these present contemplated, and wailing wept, her tears indeed falling were as drops of blood running down to the earth. Then I beheld a tree most beautiful in my dwelling grow up, very tall, with branches and leaves wonderfully expanded and comely, to the likeness of no tree in beauty to be compared: at whose roots certain ones of their own accord set themselves, who this with all the effort of their fierceness cut: from which shaking a certain torrent of blood flowed out, which toward the East with great impulse its course to extend hastened. In the contemplation indeed of the same excellent vision, a column of light from the South than the sun more splendid I saw to rise: and those wondering who were present and stupefied all, to heaven even, with flame-vomiting rays following, to ascend. But I was and I deemed myself that tree lightly to be able to embrace, if to my strength

or to my power some occasion should lie open of embracing. At length by the oarage of my feathers tempered, with swift flight the upper parts of the column of light I ascend. But when on the highest top of it I had sat, and the clear luminaries, which that highest of all Prince God in the firmament placed, with the whole of my eyes' gaze attentive I contemplated; I heard voices on high of celestial harmony mingling concords: with whose nectared sweetness delighted, or to the sweetness of the melody more and more intent, by sleep I was loosed. But when some interpreted, which he himself of his own death interprets, him in power and glory than the Kings past more powerful and more excellent to be future; the King said: The faith indeed of the revelation another shall have proof, and of a greater interpretation far higher attains to the act. Easy perhaps to us today to the tyrant shall lie open the entrance: but unknown is the liberty of returning. The sentence which over me has been predefined by God, with a glad mind and spontaneous patiently I await. But to us it seems, that fall of the house, from the highest top falling, the desolation of the kingdom to signify, after his slaying: the horns indeed of the chamber by falling to the ground broken, the strength is of the principality of them, by the death of their Prince trodden down by enemies and into nothing reduced. The bloody tears of the mother, the griefs of the heart are, and the passions which for the loss of her son without intermission she bore. The tree tall and long, the King's person designates; whose top, with branches and leaves dense into a wide expanse, the breadth of holy virtues portends, by which the Saints' life is adorned. more clearly explained. Those who cut down the tree, the slayers of the blessed Martyr were. The torrent of blood from the cut-down tree, the blood of the Martyr innocently shed is believed to be: which to the East its course directed, when the innocence of his death to God in heaven, that vengeance it might receive, cried. The column of light, which even to heaven extended, the brightness of his good works is expressed. That he himself a bird he saw in beauty singular, whose wings at the extremity were golden; signifies his spirit with twin wings of virtues, the love namely of God and of neighbor surrounded, shining with the splendor and light of good works, by which to the highest top of the bright column to be raised, and to attain it could to the glorious vision of the eternal majesty of God. He heard also voices in heaven of celestial glory, to the joys of eternal felicity inviting him.

CHAPTER II.

The ambush built by the Queen. The slaying. The burial.

[6] Which heard, and in mind a long while anxiously revolved, the Queen with womanly full as much cunning as malice, The Queen about to lead the King from his consent King Offa her husband the same night with words of this kind addressed. Mature to thee, O King, in this juncture and very mature is needed counsel. Thou knowest that the East Angles' tyrants the Mercians' peoples from of old to rule desire: thou knowest the ancient enmities of the nations, and the mutual mostly subjections of kingdoms. I am deceived if not this young man more ambition, than love hither has brought: under of a wife to be taken the pretext, and of a cloaked friendship's color, the occasion of thy old age caught, Not therefore for taking, but for seducing's cause, armed men, but more truly of an enemy the image he bears. But be it, that our daughter he take, and for this chiefly cause into these parts he has come; she makes Ethelbert suspect to him then by a certain right of succession and inheritance, which now him as it were with an heir would touch, for thy death daily he would pant; and the whole to himself, which in peace now thou possessest, continually to seek, and in all ways to acquire would not cease. A scourge therefore to thee, O King, thou buildest, and a disgrace thou preparest, if such for thyself thou establish thou avoid not, or at least under so great a plotter and successor timidly and trepidly hereafter thou shalt reign: and that Eastern servitude through thee, which God forbid, into these free bounds shall be introduced. Further if a repulse having suffered and offended he depart, no less peril without doubt, O King, thou shalt incur: of your lands namely the entrances and exits now he knows, an explorer needing not another's. Of thy age the defect and our infirmities he has considered: the occasion of confusion and repulse he will pretend, and war on you straightway he may declare, and persuades he be slain: and to your extermination or death he will hasten. Into these therefore perplexities the coming of this guest us has led: whence it is necessary, that either thy through him shortly destruction approach, or through thee his mature destruction be ordained. And the Queen's discourse finished, after long sighs, the King at length into these words burst forth: Straits on every side grave thy speech to us, O Queen, depicts: The nobles persuading the same from which I see indeed and evidently understand, that hence to us peril, thence turpitude likewise is at hand. And when at length of the death of King Ethelbert at the suggestion of the Queen it was treated, called to counsel the Nobles few and private, and by womanly industry to favor first allured, all into the sentence of death consented: provided however that it far from the military of the same crowds, and secretly and without tumult could be done.

[7] There leaped forth therefore into the midst a man of blood, to crime every prepared, whose name a Guymbertus; who on account of the familiarity once in the house of his father, to whom he ministered, with that young man contracted, himself better than another the crime that to be able to bring into effect promised. Who the reward straightway being fixed, Guymbertus the traitor and the money received, the lodging of King Ethelbert fraudulently approached, admonishing and counselling him, and on the part of the King announcing, that to him at once private and without military noise, the business for which he had come to his wish about to dispatch, he should come. For the King's infirmity and debility, as in deceit he asserted, the tumults and crowds of men refused. But the young man Ethelbert the King, because nothing of depravity ever he had devised or accomplished, nothing hence at all of depravity suspecting, him from his lodging fraudulently he draws out faith to the words he gave: and with his sword alone girt, the traitor leading innocent altogether and immaculate, the victim the lictor, the sacrifice the executioner, the lamb the wolf, to the King's palace even and the place of his death under nocturnal silence followed. Coming therefore they to a by-way, to so great a crime more apt, and for this provided, leaping out Guymbertus's accomplices, Ethelbert the King is taken and bound: and to him the name of the Lord continually invoking, and his spirit into the hands of God commending, his own drawn sword the head Guymbertus cruelly cut off, and slew him and it with gore steeped to the King and Queen at once presented. From the life therefore of this world snatched was Ethelbert, lest malignity his good understanding should change, and fiction his soul deceive. He was snatched, I say, lest of the hundredfold fruit the glory and of virginity the honor, which always he sought, by any of the world's contagion he should be defrauded. And as certain other relate histories, on the young King Ethelbert, in form notable, wanton eyes the incestuous Queen wife of Offa cast: whom because by no means to consent she could incline, as a second Putiphar's wife, another Joseph in Ethelbert finding, as vengeance: and so the mother her daughter envying, and on account of the repulse of so great a man as if confounded very much blushing, the life of the holy man with a cruel death, by womanly malice, resolved to terminate. Since as in Ecclesiasticus is read, There is not a head wickeder than the head of a serpent, and there is not a wrath above the wrath of a woman. Eccli. 25, 22, & 26, And in the same, Short is the malice of a man above the malice of a woman. He suffered therefore the holy King Ethelbert, Virgin at once and Martyr, the palm victorious both bearing off, on the XIII Kalends of June, 20 May. by whose merits and prayers God in diverse parts of England miracles many and various works.

[8] Althrida the betrothed predicts vengeance, Having heard therefore the Prince's fall so unhoped, Altrida the Virgin revealing it, the soldiers of King Ethelbert to their own returned, the same Virgin with a prophetic spirit filled, to her mother as by a divine commination future predicted. And first of her son Egfrid through Of the Queen herself by a base death shortly about to die, and beyond three months not about to live, and before her death by demons to be seized, and her tongue with her own teeth to gnaw. Which all things, and to the hermitage of Croyland she withdraws, as had been predicted, afterward came to pass. The Virgin therefore Althrida, who also according to some is called Alfrida, the chastity of her body to God vowing, to the marshes of Croyland, as to a hermitage, took care finally to transfer herself; where to contemplation utterly and devotion given, with a long tunic clothed, in all sanctity of life she remained: choosing rather to be abject in the house of the Lord, than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners b.

[9] The head therefore of the holy King Ethelred being cut off, the body to be borne with the head King Offa ordered, and on the bank of a river in the County of Hereford, which Lugg c is called, secretly without the knowledge of man to be buried. When therefore the ministers the body on a bier had placed, Ethelbert buried of so great lightness it was found, that the lightness itself a great for a miracle and of bearing the facility the impious also attendants had d. And when to the destined place they had come, the body with the head, according to King Offa's edict, to an ignoble burial and to so great a man unfitting they delivered. But because it was not God's will, that so holy a body there should be hidden; a column of light than the sun more splendid that same night from its sepulchre to heaven even extended, with a column of light he is honored. which sparks and rays coruscating, as all in a circle devouring, followed.

ANNOTATIONS.

Winebertus, who in the house of his father 12 years educated and nourished had been, and after his death in Ethelbert's service for some while had sweated.

below Brompton number 13: then from Asser he describes the wickednesses and unhappy end of the other daughter Edburga, which in him to read it will be permitted.

others running forward, in the earth rolled it: nearly the same has Giraldus.

CHAPTER III.

The translation of the body to Hereford. Miracles. The church constructed.

[10] Brithfrid admonished by St. Ethelbert, But on the third night, the blessed King Ethelbert to a certain noble and very rich man, Brithfrid by name, in his bed resting, appeared; commanding him,

that the body dug up to the place, which Stratusway was called, he should carry, and near a monastery in the same place situated, it lay up with honor, and deliver to burial; and his name and the cause of his death to him he set forth. Awakened from sleep, as his eyes that man opened, the whole with a heavenly light house he beheld illuminated; and the holy man, who had appeared to him, with all the splendor of brightness to have disappeared. These things seen and heard, and his companion Egmund, rising Brithfrid from his chamber, with no moderate joy rejoiced, manifold to the Divine majesty, that him with so great a vision it had illumined, thanks with his inmost heart poured: and a companion joined to himself, a partner of the labor and the reward, and a worthy man, whose name Egmund, to the place together they came: and the dug-up body, with their own hands decently washed, and with a royal sheet afterward clothed, the body they carry off, in a certain little cart they bore out. Which done, when of the royal body glad very and exhilarated they had been, for the head however not yet found a sadness not the least they had. But prayers to the Lord in common poured, the head not far from the body, where it was not hoped, God revealing, was found, and at once to the body in the bier placed. And when the bier toward the place destined they followed; it happened that on the head, from the cart to the ground perchance fallen, a certain one for eleven years of the eyes' office deprived, by chance struck, and at once of the desired light the joy recovered. Who forthwith the head raising, and to God and St. Ethelbert with raised, and a blind man enlightened on the way voice giving thanks, the cart at once followed: and when a little he had proceeded, to Brithfrid and Egmund, who wearied with the journey a little rested, congratulating he came; and the head by them lost, and by him miraculously found, to the same restoring, the matter done and the light's grace, through the excellent Martyr's merits recovered, to them set forth rejoicing. Which heard, Brithfrid and Edmund with the greatest filled joy, God, who so wonderful is in His Saints, and great in all His works, to glorify ceased not. And so proceeding even to the place foreshown, at Hereford they bury him there the body most holy honorably they buried, in a place namely, which then in English Fernleg, in Latin interpreted The Forest of the happy one, was called, but in our times by the fellow-provincials Hereford is named.

[11] And a Asser the historian and true relater of the deeds of King Alfred, says, that increasing, around the Martyr's sepulchre places, the signs of virtues and prodigies; King Offa two Bishops, in whom especial faith he had, to investigate of those events the certitude, to Fernleg, which now Hereford is called, sent. Cured of a trembling of the head But it happened then, that a certain powerful man and magnificent, who of the bounds of Lidbury north and of Mont-Gomery and of the other parts of those lands most ample was lord, to the same place at the same hour, for the cause of recovering health from a certain affliction, with which he was vexed, through the merits of the Martyr had come. For he suffered a continual concussion of the head, whence also from the event of the same affliction upon him, having gotten a surname, Eywin Head-shaker was called. Who when by night the same at the sepulchre of the holy King Ethelbert with vigils and obsecrations devoutly and humbly served; at length by divine disposition, his head let down a little he fell asleep. But from sleep after a little awakened, and everywhere looking around, he asked of his men, where was that good man, who his head so liberally in his lap had held sleeping. But when an answer he had received that no one they had seen; that he had recovered health he felt, because after that sleep his head quietly and without any enormous motion now he governed; and at once rising, to God and the Martyr Ethelbert Lidbury north with all entirely its appurtenances with laudable munificence he bestowed, saying: Because the thing under heaven, which most I desired, Lidbury to him he offers: namely health, conferred on me the notable Martyr, therefore by me with that thing which on earth most I loved, Lidbury namely, worthy he is in perpetuity to be remunerated. But this first of all lands, as they assert, was, which to Blessed Ethelbert were conferred.

[12] But King Offa of these and other virtues and prodigies many now certain, his pride to so great humility and penitence reduced, Offa the King various lands adds, that the tenth part of all his things to the holy Church he gave; and as is reported, by the example of other faithful provoked, lands very many around Hereford to the Martyr conferred, which also the Hereford Church even to this present day holds. The monastery also of St. Alban, and certain other excellent he is reported through England to have founded convents and enriched: and so at last having venerated, and many there, by the Church's counsel, and to Rome having set out he holily dies: for the cause of penitence excellently done, to the correction of life and worthy compunction grace cooperating by signs and miracles he was provoked. For, as is said commonly, that tax, which Romepeny or Peterspeny is called, to God and Bl. Peter and the Lord Pope, who then was, and his successors first he conferred for perpetual and gave.

[13] c He being dead Egfrid his son scarcely for and so was fulfilled, what prophetically Althrida or Alfrida had predicted, that after the slaying of the Martyr Ethelbert by three by no means years over the Mercians' peoples he would rule. By these and such signs Bl. Ethelbert from day to day more became known, until the Mercians' King d Milefrid the sanctity of the man of God by spreading fame learned. Milefrid of the slaying and miracles instructed, Who also a certain Bishop of his, a man simple and holy, in whose diligence very much he trusted, to the place destined; ordering of the death of the Martyr and the cause, and of the miracles and signs, there by the merits of the same by God declared, by a prudent investigation the certitude to bring back. Which done the innocent King's destruction, which he learned, and the great deeds of God many, and not only those which he heard, but also those, which there with his eyes he beheld, to his Prince he announced. Milefrid therefore the King these things heard, although in remote parts of his kingdom then of time he acted, a church he constructs: money to the same place much being transmitted, an excellent church of stone structure to the praise and honor of the Blessed Martyr from the foundations began, and for devotion the Lord helping perfected: and in the same place first of all Kings dignity sublimated, a Bishop he constitutes. which with lands very many and estates ample, with palls of all-silk and ornaments excellent, with royal, as long as he lived, munificence to enrich indeed ceased not.

[14] After St. Ethelbert, with the laurel of martyrdom in the flower of his youth, as has been said, crowned, The kingdom of the East Anglians is disturbed. the kingdom of East Anglia for some years with commotion and desolation under Reguli and tyrants, even to the coming of St. Edmund the King, disturbed lasted. Because that kingdom now the Kings of Wessex, now the Kings of Kent in dominion held, now to one or to several it gave: whence sometimes one King there was, sometimes many Reguli. The last however of the English f St. Edmund under the King of Wessex there reigned, who from Saxony coming, at Bury into King of East Anglia is crowned … Whom slain Godric the Dane there reigned. Afterward the Danes the kingdom divided diminished, and it was under them until to King Edward for the greatest part subjected it was: and so at last that kingdom of East Anglia, to the dominion of Wessex came.

ANNOTATIONS.

a Asser of Menevia, Bishop of Sherborne, wrote the deeds of Alfred, the King from his nativity in the year 849 even to his death, which happened in the year 900; dead himself, as writes a certain his Continuator, in the year 909. But what here of the miracles of the holy King are narrated are wanting all in Camden, who to that Asser the first place gave among the old Writers of England in the Frankfurt edition of the year 1602.

He seems in place of Witlas, in the year 826 from the kingdom driven, to have ruled; and therefore in the Catalogue of the Kings of the Mercians omitted. Consult what below in the Chronicle of Brompton column 778 are read.

e Nay from the year 680 to have been an Episcopal See at Hereford, and Putta the first Bishop, others set down. But of any his Successor nothing is known: so that from this time the Episcopate seems established.

MIRACLES

From the Life by Giraldus in the MS. of the Cottonian Library.

Ethelbert, King of the East Angles (St.)

BHL Number: 2626

FROM MSS.

[15] Just as our Lord and Savior, dearest, the Bl. Martyr Aethelbert at his sepulchre with miracles and prodigies glorified: The church shines with miracles, so also in diverse and remote parts of the kingdom him long with signs coruscating evidently to extol He ceased not. There is indeed a village in the East Saxons' province, to which the name Bellus-campus (Beauchamp) interpretation gave. In whose estate anciently a certain wooden basilica is constructed, and in the honor and praise of the blessed Martyr Aethelbert by the Lord dispensing happily erected. In this so great things has worked Christ and even to this present to work has not ceased, that the whole Eastern region with signs and virtues there done once was illustrated, and a firm of faith grace cooperating strength received. For it is handed down, and by the old fellow-provincials' and authentic testimony certain is held, that Blessed Aethelbert, where in one night into a tree had grown that rod, when to Offa of the Mercians the King his journey he had seized, in the same beautiful plain passed the night and there for one night's space his tents fixed were. But there was in the same place a certain rod slender and delicate, growing from the earth, with most tender still to the soil roots leaning: but at the top with branches and leaves few covered, to which perchance a certain tent's horn with ropes was tied. But the next day, the sun newly risen, so great and such a tree was found as if in full strength with a hundred years' courses fixed there roots it had grown. Nor wonderful indeed, and if perchance wonderful, not vehemently however to be astonished at, if the Lord from a sprig so small, to which the Saint's tent had been fastened: for His Soldier's glory, under one night's space so great from nothing created; and who the rod of His elect Moses, for showing His power, into a serpent changed; and again the serpent into a rod turned, the red the same sea divided; and who under one night's time the rod of Aaron to be in leaf and to flower and almonds

to bear commanded. Many indeed in the Scriptures, as says Jerome, incredible thou shalt find, nor likely, which nonetheless yet are true. Nothing indeed against the Lord of nature prevails nature: nor detest ought, but admire and venerate the Creator's works any creature.

[16] From the same tree a cross is formed, But when had heard the religious of that kingdom men, the blessed Aethelbert among the impious nations now with Martyrdom crowned, of the same tree in the manner of the Lord's Cross a wood to set up venerable. Where very many, through the faith's devotion and the Martyr's merits, a saving remedy obtained. It was fixed therefore that in the same place, in which the glorious King's and Christ's soldier invincible fixed before they knew to have been the tent, and a basilica there was erected; to which daily the devout people running together with the Clergy, God and their blessed Martyr with assiduous prayers, hymns and canticles glorified. There were buried there in succeeding time many Saints' Bodies, who in that season, in which Saint Edmund a suffered and a little after, death for Christ bore; the barbarians' fierceness rushing in through the island, and the Pagans' filthiness and savagery, which the place twice moved, twice divinely restored, all things which Christ's had been devastating for a time long. But the Lord at length regarding His people, peace through Britain to the Church b restored, hereditary touched, the saving wood from its place removing, in a green plain a certain before his door to be set he made: he had decreed also the blessed Martyr's basilica to the same place to transfer. But that Cross in its place, the same night, the divine virtue restored. Which in the morning learned, that man the wood to be carried back again made: the third time the remover with blindness he punishes, but also by the same miracle the day following consternated he was astonished, and yet with his mind pertinaciously obstinate, when to the same now a third time to be removed he came, before he plucked it away, of the eyes blindness by divine vengeance he was struck. By whose misfortune's chance penitence led, Confession to a Presbyter made, by contrition likewise and compunction so without delay he was corrected, that himself never to so great a crime thereafter to be about to consent, and himself the blessed Martyr's church and that Cross supremely about to venerate, with a firm pledge he promised: and prostrate on the ground before the Cross his body, not before he rose, and on account of the miracles it is frequented. than through God's grace the light of his eyes health granted he received. But this miracle through the province heard, and so great vengeance divinely given, began in so great veneration the place to be held; that a great from the surrounding villages, and also from more remote places, with oblations and alms, to the aforesaid Cross, concourse was made of peoples; and before the same devoutly watching and praying, of health for the most part gifts received. Infants also and boys, in cradles brought, through the blessed Martyr's suffrages in the faith of their parents and devotion, everywhere from peril are freed: the fever-stricken indeed, as by a special miracle, so great and so efficacious nowhere of places grace obtain.

[17] A tapestry thence having stolen within the wall he is held There happened in the same Church a notable miracle, which among the rest by its novelty not to be kept silent. For there was a certain tapestry, once to the church faithfully offered: which when a certain robber by night to draw out and to carry out strove, and through a hole made under the door where he entered: and when with the theft likewise to go out he prepared, his head with his shoulders now put out, the remaining part within lying, the wall itself with so great a weight pressed his body, that neither outside in any way to proceed, nor within to go back he could. But his wife, having suspect her husband's delay, her son to seek his father sent out: until it grows light. to whom at length there found no at all of liberation help to afford he prevailed. But the parishioners when to the church the next day in the morning with their wonted devotion had come, the robber so miraculously compressed and apprehended greatly admiring, and him to draw out wishing, without difficulty any him by himself freely to go out, as he had entered before, were astonished. And so it came to pass that Bl. Aethelbert's merits the province whole praised, and from sacrilegious daring by so evident a vengeance's example the rashness of the depraved was bridled.

[18] In the country of the East Anglians to which Statesella of the blessed A shoemaker violating the feast with a hurt eye is punished. Aethelbert through individual years very more celebrated is held, a certain poor man by the shoemaker's art his life leading (since of a worn brow is need, nor at anything ashamed provided that he live) the solemnity by no means keeping, for fulfilling his necessity the wretch to his wonted work solicitous attended. Whom when his wife about this excess oftener argued, he at length toward her by the fury of anger moved, while less for this to his work, and more he attended to the reproof, his right unhappily eye with the shoemaker's needle perforated. Who at once the Saint's help imploring, to the church of the same with as much as he could haste hastened; and there by confession corrected and compunction, poured for some while before the altar devout prayers, and on that very altar oblations exposed, the longed-for with the admiration of many health recovered.

[19] There remained on the confine of the same place, in which the Martyr's Church had been constructed, A blaspheming soldier against the Saint a certain man Vitalis by name, who from the Norman race sprung had been. He our Martyr, with an innate among the English honor and veneration reputing, his wife, on a certain day of her purification to another church to go made, and there the solemn rites for the victim of her expiation to offer. Which completed returning Vitalis, when the house of a soldier of probity exceptional, whose name Godiscalcus, perchance he had entered, the lady of the house of the same, Lecelma called, because the Church of St. Aethelbert with so temerarious contempt to decline he had presumed, instantly argued. He indeed, with an insane spirit grim and as into madness turned, Sooner, he said, my wife the mangers of my oxen to adore I would compel, than him whom thou preachest Aethelbert. And that said at once that most wretched man by a sudden fall to the ground fell, is suddenly extinguished. and before all miserably expired. From which it is plain, that His Saints the Lord to be venerated wills on earth, whom He Himself also worthy of veneration judges in the heavens. It is plain also, that God is not an accepter of persons. But of every nation, of every condition, who believes in Him, shall not be confounded: for the same is Lord of all, rich toward all who invoke Him: with whom there is no distinction of Jew and Greek, but of every nation whoever shall invoke the name of the Lord shall be saved. The Life therefore of St. Aethelbert, with the old miracles, with long however circumlocutions and a rude discourse heaped, by the instance of our Fellow-canons, more briefly much and more lucidly we have explained; new miracles and to our days nearer e of the same Saint merits, in the Hereford Church God being author wrought, when by witnesses worthy of faith to us they shall be offered, the Lord being propitious about to treat.

ANNOTATIONS.

b In the year 887 a treaty between Alfred King of the English, and Gurmund the Dane coalesced: which again broken, a firmer quiet under the same Alfred in the year 898 began to be.