ON ST. BIRNSTAN, BISHOP OF WINCHESTER IN ENGLAND,
IN THE YEAR 933.
COMMENTARIUS PRAEVIUS
Birnstan, bishop of Winchester. (S.)
BY C. D. S.
[1] The Vita of St. Birnstan, written before the twelfth century, The ancient text of the Vita of St. Birnstan *, still unpublished, has been preserved for us, so far as we know, by a single codex of the British Museum, marked Lansdowne 436, of parchment, written in the fourteenth century, fol. 111b–113a. This, copied in his own hand and, after a collation had been made, diligently corrected, was sent to us by the most learned man John Morris, of the Society of Jesus, who has often deserved very well of our work. That this Vita was composed not later than the beginning of the twelfth century is shown by the abridgment of it which William of Malmesbury presented in the Gesta pontificum Anglorum Book II, §75 (ed. Hamilton, p. 163)., which work he completed in the year 1125 Ibid., §278 (p. 442).. From that abridgment chiefly drew what they narrated of St. Birnstan Thomas Rudborne in his Historia maior Wintoniensis In Wharton, Anglia sacra (London 1691), p. 212., Francis Godwin in his work De praesulibus Angliae Ed. Richardson (Cambridge 1743), p. 209. and Michael Griffith or Alford in the Annales ecclesiae Anglicanae Vol. III (Liège 1663), at the year 932 (p. 254) and at the year 965 (p. 336).. Both monuments, namely the ancient Vita and the abridgment handed down by William of Malmesbury, we shall publish below.
[2] of no very certain authority. It is easy to conjecture that the anonymous writer was some cleric of Winchester; and that the same applied himself to composing the Vita at the end of the tenth century, a little after the body of St. Birnstan was raised, is suggested by the words which we have learned by the truthful report of the faithful Vita, chap. 1, before the middle., by which he seems to appeal to the testimony of those who had associated with the holy bishop. And yet more than one error committed by him stands in the way of that twofold conclusion. For he seems not to have noted accurately enough in what year Birnstan died Cf. below, no. 3.; and he narrates that he was raised to the pontifical chair after the death of Frithestan Cf. below, no. 4.; and finally among the successors of Birnstan he has passed over Brihthelm, who sat next before St. Æthelwold Cf. below, annotation d.. Certainly he must be said not to have inquired very diligently into particulars.
[3] Birnstan sat less than three years, According to the writer of the Vita, Birnstan departed to the realms above on the day before the nones of November, in the nine hundred and thirty-fifth year from the incarnation of the Lord, after he had vigorously governed the church of Winchester for four years Chap. 3, at the end.. But this chronology is contradicted by a document of special authority, namely the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which was begun at the end of the ninth century and then continued by contemporary writers through the course of time Cf. ed. B. Thorpe, preface p. VIII–XII.. In it these things are read which concern our Birnstan Ibid., vol. I, p. 200; ed. Petrie, Monumenta historica Britannica, p. 383.:
A. 931. In this year Byrnstan was ordained bishop of Winchester on the fourth day before the kalends of June, and held the episcopate two years and a half.
A. 932. In this year Frythestan, bishop of Winchester, died.
A. 933. In this year… Bishop Byrnstan died at Winchester on the feast of All Saints.
Therefore, since this testimony seems rather to be trusted, it must be established that St. Birnstan sat at Winchester from 29 May of the year 931 to 1 November of the year 933. Unless you prefer, with Florence of Worcester Cf. the following number. and others who followed him, to read 932 and 934 for the years 931 and 933, as perhaps was read in some codices of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Cf. ed. Thorpe, preface p. XVIII, toward the middle..
[4] made bishop while his predecessor was still living. From the entries in the Chronicle cited it is established that Birnstan was consecrated bishop while Frithestan his predecessor was still among the living, which the writer of the Vita did not know nor did William of Malmesbury indicate, but Florence of Worcester, a little earlier than William, distinctly marked it, who in his Chronicle, at the year 932, says: Frithestan, bishop of Winchester, a man of outstanding holiness, having ordained the religious man Birnstan in the episcopate in his place, resided at Winchester …; and at the year 933: St. Frithestan died; and finally at the year 934: St. Birnstan, bishop of Winchester, died In Petrie, Monumenta historica Britannica, p. 573.. After Florence, other English chroniclers noted the same at the same years: Simeon of Durham, Roger of Hoveden, the Flores historiarum, etc.
[5] The elevation of his body about the year 975. The elevation of the body of St. Birnstan performed by St. Æthelwold, his fourth successor, who sat from the year 963 to the year 984 Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Florence of Worcester, William of Malmesbury, etc., is recorded among the ancients only by the anonymous writer of the Vita and by William of Malmesbury. Alford In the place cited above. ties it to the year 965, but, as it seems, on no foundation. Nay rather, since in the apparition preceding it St. Swithun is brought in, who is commended daily by manifest tokens of signs as being how near and familiar to the supernal Emperor for the merits of his life Vita, chap. 4., that elevation seems altogether to have taken place at some time after the translation of St. Swithun, from which he began
to grow bright with miracles, that is, after the year 971 Acta Sanctorum, vol. I of July, p. 328..
[6] His memory in the sacred calendars. The memory of St. Birnstan at the 4th of November is celebrated by the Auctaria of the martyrology of Usuard, the Rosweyd one (twelfth century), the Altemps one (thirteenth century) and the Brussels one (beginning of the fifteenth century), and likewise by a certain English martyrology composed before the year 1225 Cited in Stanton, A menology of England and Wales (London, 1887), pp. 526, 680. and the Norwich one of the fifteenth century Cited ibid., pp. 526, 681.; and besides these by two calendars of the tenth or of the beginning of the eleventh century In T. Hampson, Kalendarium medii aevi, vol. I, pp. 432, 445., a third for the use of the New Minster at Winchester in the middle of the eleventh century Stanton, op. cit., pp. 526, 675.15., three written in the twelfth century Ibid., pp. 677.47 and 675.11; Hampson, in the volume cited, p. 459. and finally one copied in the fourteenth century Stanton, p. 679.95.. — It is superfluous to review the more recent martyrologies which commemorate St. Birnstan at the 4th of November; of which let it suffice to have indicated the Irish one of Donegal.
Annotation* Otherwise Brinstanus, Briostanus, Birnstanus
LIFE OF ST. BIRNSTAN BY AN ANONYMOUS AUTHOR
Birnstan, bishop of Winchester. (S.)
BHL Number: 1365
From the codex of the British Museum, Lansdowne 436. — Cf. Commentarius praevius, no. 1.
Here begins the account of St. Brinstan, bishop of Winchester.
St. Birnstan, bright with virtues, especially hospitality, Chap. 1m. The venerable man Brinstan, in the time of the glorious king Æthelstan, in the city of Winchester, after the death of the holy and blessed Frithestan, bishop of the same see a, having obtained the pontifical office, strove to conform himself wholly to Christ, the true and eternal pontiff, by the showing forth of good works. For he was, according to the truthful etymology of his name, a living stone for performing every good work, set alight with the spiritual fire of divine love b, firm in faith, strong in patience, gentle in humility, overflowing in charity; severe in rebuking, eager in exhorting; toward the needy and the wretched also kind and bountiful, incomparable in piety. Of him this one memorable thing is related, which we have learned by the truthful report of the faithful, that this same father, while he flourished in many virtues, was nevertheless above all devoted to the works of hospitality and mercy. For he established before the gate of that same city a hospice, where, gathering all the pilgrims and guests arriving from various parts, and receiving them as Christ in his members, he rejoiced with the highest exultation, and took eager delight in serving them. For the blessed man knew how great is the virtue of hospitality, of mercy and of compassion: since many accustomed to these offices have received angels as guests and have by this merited great grace from almighty God. And so this blessed man, not unmindful of the Lord's command, and of that memorable command by which the Saviour himself humbly bowed down even to washing the feet of his disciples and left to his followers examples of great humility, appointed twelve poor men apart, and also a thirteenth in place of the name of Christ: whom every day he would serve spiritually in the washing of feet and hands or in the ministering of food, and to whom he would render the services of humanity *. To the sallow also and the despicable and those worn down by the various afflictions of diseases he frequently attached himself, and, setting aside all episcopal ambition, he rejoiced to be mingled in their company. O blessed man, most worthy of every kind of praise, who, while he was enriched with temporal advantages, lest he should be deprived of heavenly delights, distributed his own goods for the uses of the poor, that [his] justice might remain for ever and ever and his horn be exalted in glory. For he wished to retain nothing on earth, but distributed everything to the needy, that he might be united forever in heaven to him who, though he was rich, became poor for our sake. So, then, the devout prelate, filled with the spiritual gift of the virtues, setting little store by earthly treasures, temporal wealth and riches, bestowed them on the poor, providing and preparing for himself necessary help in due time.
Chapter two.
by priestly zeal Amid these things the venerable prelate daily offered sacrifice to the Lord, and immolated himself on the altar of his heart by constant contrition: and he showed forth the temple of his body, filled with fasts, intent on prayers, dedicated by the privilege of chastity, as a worthy dwelling for the Holy Spirit. No cunning of the ancient enemy could prevail over him who resolved to be fortified with spiritual arms, retaining the prudence of serpentine astuteness and not neglecting the simplicity of the dove. He admonished those under him to despise earthly things *, to yearn for heavenly things and to beware of the snares and ambushes of the enemy, and, watching at every hour, to await the coming of the Redeemer. He taught how great an evil is pride, which cast the angels down from heaven, how great a virtue humility, which leads men to the fellowship of the Godhead. Before all things he exhorted them to hold the concord of charity, without which nothing good is accomplished, and in which all the divine commandments are fulfilled. So, discoursing on each and every vice, he set against them the medicines of the virtues, and by unceasingly exhorting the flock subject to him he strove to lead it to eternal joys, as much by word as by example.
Chapter three.
and by piety toward the dead. And the man of God's care was not only to benefit the living; nay, he was accustomed also to pray more urgently for the souls of the dead. By night also, for the salvation of souls, having driven away fear, he was eager to go round the cemeteries alone and to repeat psalms. When one day he was doing this, and, having completed everything, added: May they rest in peace, he heard voices as if of an infinite army from the tombs answering Amen. This was the more marvellous in that it is uncommon, that the dead held converse with the man, lest he should grow weary of an office which he heard was pleasing to so many souls. St. Brinstan, therefore, adorned with manifold flowers of the virtues, vigorously governed the flock committed to him, and supplicated the Lord more attentively for the salvation of the sheep. But the devout Lord, providing a place in everlasting glory for so very vigilant a shepherd and so faithful and provident a steward of his household, calls him away from labor and from this corruptible flesh, to confer on him a mansion of eternal light. And because for him to live was Christ and to die an everlasting gain, he ardently desired to behold face to face him whom he had long beheld through a glass and in a riddle. And so, when the day of his calling came, after he had performed the Maundy for the poor of Christ in his usual manner, struck by a sudden illness, among those whom he had faithfully served as God, He dies devoutly. on the day before the nones of November he commended his spirit to the Lord, and from the whirlwinds and storms of this world departed to the haven of eternal rest, in the nine hundred and thirty-fifth year from the Lord's incarnation, in the eighth indiction, while the most victorious king of the English Æthelstan was wielding the scepter of the kingdom, in the eleventh year of his reign c. Blessed Brinstan was therefore buried in the same church of St. Peter which he himself, by God's disposing, vigorously governed for four years. And thus, called away from this light by the supreme Shepherd, he merited to be joined in heaven to the college of the elect pontiffs.
Chapter four.
When he appears after death and requests it, his annual festival is instituted. When he, then, had been translated to the heavenly kingdoms, the venerable Ælfheah succeeded in the episcopate, and then Ælfsige. When he was taken from this life, St. Æthelwold was raised to the pontifical summit d. When he, among other works of holiness, honored annually and festively the memory of his predecessors, the holy prelates of the see of Winchester, except that of St. Brinstan, he merited to be taught by a revelation of this kind of how great merit that same father was with God. For the divine clemency did not delay to make known the merit and glory of its servant, lest a most perfect man, adorned with the titles of all virtues, should seem to incur at least some small fault in anything against him who is the praise, the ornament and the glory of his saints. For one night, when blessed Æthelwold, in his usual manner, was keeping vigil alone in divine praises in the oratory of holy Mary, Mother of God, and was applying himself most intensely to devout prayers, suddenly he sees standing before him men of the priestly order, crowned with pontifical fillets and exceedingly bright of aspect. And when he could scarcely look at them for the brightness of their countenance, one of them, who stood nearer to him, greeting him most courteously, said: Peace be to you, dearest brother Æthelwold, our fellow bishop. Then he said: Who are you, lord, and who are these? And he said: I am Brinstan, once bishop of this see. This one who stands first is St. Birinus, a Roman by nation, who, sent by Pope Honorius to these parts to preach, converted a very great people of the English to Christ, and after the course of a praiseworthy life merited the fellowship of the angels. The other is blessed Swithun, the special patron of this city, who is commended daily by manifest tokens of signs as being how near and familiar to the supernal Emperor for the merits of his life. As, then, you now see me with these at present, so believe for certain that I shall be their companion in the eternal happiness of the saints. Why, then, am I excluded from the commemoration of those whose fellow citizen in glory the divine clemency has deigned to make me? When these things had been said, they were at once taken from his eyes. St. Æthelwold, therefore, instructed by the divine revelation, when morning came, having gathered the monks and clerics together, related in order all that he had seen, and instituted the festival of blessed Brinstan to be celebrated every year in perpetuity. His body, a little after, translated from the earth, was honorably laid away among the sacred relics of the church.
Here ends the account of St. Brinstan, bishop and confessor.
ANNOTATA.
* The codex has impendetur
* The codex has contemptione.
* The codex has quidem
* The codex has sentisse
ABRIDGMENT OF THE LIFE OF ST. BIRNSTAN
Birnstan, bishop of Winchester. (S.)
From William of Malmesbury, Gesta pontificum Anglorum, book II.
Birstan ruled the episcopate for only four years. We have received that he was of the purest holiness; that daily, with unremitting assiduity, he sang Mass for the repose of the dead; that by night, having driven away fear, he was accustomed to go round the cemeteries alone, and repeated psalms for the salvation of souls. When on one occasion he was doing this, and, having completed everything, added: May they rest in peace, he heard voices as if of an infinite army from the tombs answering Amen. This was the more marvellous in that it is uncommon, that the dead held converse with a living man, lest he should grow weary of an office which he heard was pleasing to so many souls. The same, a most ardent executor of the Lord's example, every day, with witnesses removed, washed the feet of the needy, setting before them a table and food, and no less, for the instruction of those who served, wiping away the leavings. When the service was finished and the poor dismissed, he would remain there for many hours, given, as is believed, to prayers. One day, then, entering according to his custom, without having been troubled beforehand by any sickness
or trouble, he suddenly, unknown to all, lost the breath of life. His dependants, who knew his custom, since they believed that then too he was occupied in prayers, allowed him to lie there the whole day; but on the following dawn, bursting in, they find a corpse without life. He was therefore mourned, and given burial. But the citizens, because they saw that he had been cut off by death, blotted out all memory of him in silence, not knowing what is written: He cannot die badly who has lived well; and: The just man, by whatever death he be overtaken, shall be in refreshment. The divine righteousness corrected this, a long time afterwards, when Æthelwold had succeeded. To him, accustomed at the beginning of the night to keep watch before the relics of the saints, three persons appeared standing by, not in ecstasy, but plainly while awake. Of whom the one in the middle was heard to utter these words: I am Birstan, once bishop of this city; this one, pointing to the one on the right, is Birinus, the first preacher; that one, and he pointed to the one on the left, is Swithun, the special patron of this church and city. And know that just as you see me here with them in the present, so with them in heaven I enjoy no unequal glory. Why, then, am I defrauded of the honor of mortals, who am magnified by the fellowship of the heavenly spirits? He had finished, and having vanished into the air with his companions, his precious memory being set before the people of the province, he thenceforth won every kind of veneration.