The history of the Church of Englande. Compiled by Venerable Bede, Englishman. Translated out of Latin in to English by Thomas Stapleton student in diuinite

How that a light sent downe frō heauen stoode al a whole night vpon king Oswalds reliques: and how that they which were possessed with euill spirites, were healed by the same relikes.

The. 11. Chapter.

OF all other miracles I suppose it must in no wise be left vnwritten, how heauenly a miracle was shewed when king Oswalds bones were found out, and translated to the church wherin they are now reserued. This was done by the industry of the queene of the Marshes, Offride by name, who was his brother Oswines daughter which Oswin after Oswalds raigne came to the croune, as we shall declare in the processe that foloweth. Ther is a famous monastery in the prouince Lindissi named Beardanan,* 1.1 which the same quene and her hus∣band Adilrede did greatly loue, honour, and reuerence, wherin she desyred to lay vp her vncles honorable bones. When the chariot was come, wherin the same bones were brought toward the euening, the men that were in the monastery, would not gladly receiue these bones, into the forsaid monastery: because although they had knowen that he was a blessed man, not∣withstanding forasmuch as he was a forrain borne, and toke vpon him to be their king, they hated him also after his death, like as they did of long time by his lyfe. Wherby it came to pas∣se, that, that same night the relikes that were brought thither, did remaine still without: yet was there a great pauilion stret∣ched out ouer the chariot wherin the relikes were: but the she∣wing of heauenly miracle did manifestly declare, with how great reuerence those bones ought to be receiued of all faith full people. For all that night long a pillour of light, reaching

from that chariot vnto he auen, stoode so, that it was plainly seen in al places almost of the same prouince of Lindisse. Wher∣fore when the morning was come, the brethern of that mona∣stery, who on the day before had denied began now to desyre earnestly, that the same holy relikes, might be laied vp in their house. These bones were after enclosed in a shrine, which they had prouided for that purpose. The shrine also was placed in the church with honour conuenient: And to thend that the holy mans princely personage might alwaie be remembred, they erected ouer his tūbe his standerd, made of gold and pur∣ple: Also whereas the very water wherin they washed his bo∣nes, they poored out into a corner of the vestrey, from that day forward it came to passe, that the earth it selfe, which receiued that holy washing, had also especiall grace to driue awaie diuels from the bodies that were possessed. Furthermore in processe of time, when the forsaide Quene abode in the same monaste∣ry there came to salute her a certaine honorable Abbesse, which liueth vntill this day: her name is Edilhild sister to the blessed man Edelwin and Aldewin, the first of the which was a bishop in the prouince Lindisse, the second was the Abbot of a mona∣stery, the which is called Peartane not far from the place where that Abbesse had her monastery. This abbesse cōmoning with the Quene, after they begā to fal in talke of Oswalde, among o∣ther matters she saied, that she also had seene, on the very same night a light vpon his relikes whiche in height reached vp to heauen. Wherunto the Quene added that many sicke folckes were now healed with the very dust of the pauiment, on the which the water of his wasshing was poured out: Then the Ab∣besse desyred to haue some deale, of the dust geuen her, and as sone as she receiued it, she knit it vp in a cloth, laied it vp in a lit∣le casket, and retourned. Not longe after, when she was in her owne monastery, a certaine straunger came thither, who in the night was wonte diuers times sodenly to be trou∣bled

with a foule sprite, and that most greuously. This geste when he had ben liberally entertayned, after supper went to bedd, and sodenly being possessed with the diuell, began to crye out, to gnash with his teeth, to fome at the mouth, and to cast fourth his body violently, flinging some partes one waye, and some an other. And when no man was able either to hold or to binde him, a seruant ranne, and knocking at the gate tol∣de the abbesse. Who forth with going forth with one of the nunnes, to the place where the brethern laye, she called forth a priest, requiring him to go with her to the pacient. Wher when at their coming they sawe many men present, labouring to ke∣pe downe the partty vexed, and to stay his inordinat motions and yet preuailing nothing, the priest adiured hym, and did what he could for the appeasing of the rage, that this pi∣teous creature was in: but the priest himselfe for ought he could doe auailed the party nothing. At last when it semed ther remained no health,* 1.2 or hope of amendement in the mad∣de body, the Abbesse by and by, remembring the aforesaid dust commaunded forthwith a maide who serued her, to go and bring her a little coffer, wherein the dust was reserued: who going as she was commaunded, as sone as she entred into the court of the house, (in the inward part wherof the mā that was possessed with the euill sprit, was tormented) bringing the sai∣de dust, the person possessed sodenly helde his peace, and layed downe his head, as though he were fallen a sleape: setting eue∣ry part of his body as though he wolde rest. Al they who stode about the patient, were whist, aud being attentiue kept sylen∣ce, carefully looking w••at end the matter would haue. And behold, after a quarter of an houre, or there about, the man that was before disquieted, arose vp all quiet, and with fet∣ching a greate sigth said, euen now, I fele my selfe whole, and now I come to my witte againe. They which stode by de∣maunding how this had happened, he answered: Inconti∣nent

as sone as this virgin, with the little coffer whiche she brought was come nigh to the court of this house, all the wic∣ked sprites that troubled me departed and appeared no mo∣re. Then did the Abbesse geue him a litle piece of that dust. The priest prayed ouer him, and departed. He passed thus, the rest of that night in most quiet rest: neither did he suffer all the night after any trouble or vexation at all.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lincoi∣••eshere.
• * 1.2

  Gregory B. of Nis∣so, brother to S. Basill reporteth of miracles wrought by the du∣ste lying vpon Mar¦tyrs tum∣••••s. In vita Theodori Martyr••s.