The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

* 1.1VII. CHAP.

1.2 S. Cuthbert gives the Religious Veyle to Queen Ermenburga.

3.4. &c. He obtains for a Holy Hermite Herebert, that they should dye at the same time.

8▪ He cures miraculously a sick Lady with Holy Water.

1. WITH what unwillingnes S. Cuth∣bert was drawn out of his solitude to be exalted to the Episcopall Throne,* 1.2 and with what perfection he afterward dischar∣ged his Episcopall function, hath been al∣ready declared. It remains that we relate how the conclusion of his Life was suitable to the beginning and progresse of it.

2. Yet one action of piety more, perfor∣med by him whilst he was Bishop, we will not omitt, which was the consecrating to almighty God the Queen Ermenburga, whose heart it seems Gods holy Spirit had touched with compunction for all the mischeifs done by her to the Holy Arch-bishop Wilfrid. This particular is thus related by S. Beda: Not long after the death of King Egfrid the Ser∣vant of God S. Cuthbert, being thereto requested, came to the Citty Luguballia (or Carlile) there to ordain Preists,* 1.3 and also to give his benediction to the Queen Ermenburga, by conferring on her the Religious habite of Holy conversation.

3. At the same time he was admonished from heaven concerning his approaching death, which he discovered to a devout Her∣mit, to whom he bore a particular affection, and who had been accustomed once a year to repair to him for spirituall comfort and instruction. The circumstances of their last conversation the same devout Authour setts down in the manner following:

[4. There was (saith he) a certain Vene∣rable Preist named Herebert,* 1.4 who for many years before had been ioynd in spirituall freindship to the Holy Bishop.

This man lead a solitary life in a little Island situated in the vast lake out of which the River Derwent flows: and his custome was every year to visit the man of God, & to receive from him documents of piety and salvation. He being

informed that S. Cuthbert was to make some stay in the fore-said Citty, came to him, as his manner had been, with a desire to be more inflamed in heavenly desires by his wholesome exhortations.

5. They being thus mett together, and interchangeably communicating to one another draughts of celestiall wisedome, among other discourses S. Cuthbert said to him, Be mindfull, Brother Herebert, to pro∣pose now to mee whatsoever doubts you de∣sire to be resolved in, for after we are parted, we shall never see one the other in this life. For I am assured that the time of my disso∣lution approaches, and that I shall very shortly putt off this my mortall Tabernacle. The de∣vout Hermite, having heard these words, cast himself at his feet, and with many ••eates and grones said, I beseech you by our Lord, that you will not forsake nor forgett your old companion, but make your petition to the Divine mercy that as we have joyntly served our Lord together on earth, we may likewise together passe out of this world to see his Glory. For you know that I have always been diligent to conform my life to your ad∣monitions, and likewise according to your will to correct what soever faults I have any time committed through ignorance or frailty.

6. Hereupon the Holy Bishop betook him∣self to prayer, and being inwardly taught in Spirit that his petitions were granted by our Lord, he said to him, Arise, dear Bro∣ther, weep no longer, but rather reioyce, for the Divine Clemency has mercifully granted our desires.

7. The truth of this Propheticall promise was really confirmed by the event: for after they were parted they never saw one the other corporally: and in the same mo∣ment of time their Spirits were delivered from their mortall bodies, and by the mi∣nistery of Angells translated to the beatifi∣call vision of God. But the devout Hermite before his death was purified by a tedious and painfull infirmity, which probably hap∣ned to him by a mercifull divine dispensa∣tion, to the end that the torments of a long sicknes might instrumentally supply the defect in which he came short of the holy Bishops merits, that so being made equall in Grace with his pious Intercessour, he might not only in the ••••me moment of time, but with an equall participation, enioy eternall Glory together with him.

8. Among the many miraculous proofes of his Sanctity and favour with God we will here recount onely one, which he perfor∣med during his last Visitation of his Diocese, which is recorded by the same Writer, as fol∣loweth:* 1.5

On a certain day when in Visiting his Province he preached the word of life to the poore countrey-people, and likewise by imposition of hands conferred the Grace of Confirmation on such as had been bapti∣zed, he came to the Village of a certain Count,* 1.6 whose wife at that time lay sick at the point of death. The Count himself mett him in the way, and with bended knees gave thanks to our Lord for his coming, and so conducted him into his house. And when the Venerable Bishop after he had according to the use of strangers, washed his hands and feet, and was sett down, the Count be∣gan to acquaint him with the desperate state of his wife, beseeching him that he would give his benediction to water for sprinck∣ling her: For, (said he) I firmly beleive that either she will thereby by Gods blessing presently recover, or if she dye▪ she will passe from her miserable and tedious paines to eter∣nall rest. The Holy Bishop assented to the mans request, and water being brought▪ he blessed it, and gave it to a Preist, comman∣ding him to sprinckle the sick Lady with it. Who thereupon entred into her chamber, where she lay like one deprived of sence & life, and both sprinckled her face and her bed, yea withall opening her mouth distil∣led a few, dropps into it. The holy Water had no sooner touched her, but, o Wonder∣full! though she was utterly ignorant of what had been done, she presētly recovered a perfect health of body and mind, and de∣voutly blessed our Lord who had sent such holy guests to visit, and restore her to health. And without delay rising up, she herself, like the Mother of S. Peters wife, came to doe service to the Bishop, being the first of the whole family which presented to him a Cup of refection.]

Notes

• * 1.1

  VII. CHA.
• * 1.2

  Sup. c.
• * 1.3

  Bed. in vit. S. Cuth••. c. 28
• * 1.4

  Idem ibid. & l. 4. Hist. c. 29.
• * 1.5

  Id. in vit. S. Cuthb. c. 29.
• * 1.6

  A. D. 687.