dum perveniret, quamvis multum renitens, unanima omnium voluntate superatur, atque ad suscipiendum episcopatus officium collum submittere compellitur; nec tamen statim ordinatio, sed peracta hieme, quæ imminebat, expleta est. Atque ut verbis ejus propheticis per omnia satisfieret, Egfridus post annum Pictorum gladio trucidatur, et Alfridus in regnum frater ejus nothus substituitur, qui non paucis antea temporibus in regionibus Scotorum lectioni operam dabat, ipse ob amorem sapientiæ spontaneum passus exsilium.

CAP. XXV. QUOD ELECTUS AD

EPISCOPATUM

SERVUM COMITIS LANGUENTEM AQUA BENEDICTA

CURAVERIT.

UM ergo electus ad episcopatum vir Domini Cuthbertus suam remeasset ad insulam, atque aliquantulum temporis secretus Domino solita devotione militaret, evocavit eum venerabilis episcopus ejus Eata, atque ad suum colloquium Mailros venire præcepit. Quo expleto colloquio, dum domum redire cœpisset, occurrit illi comes quidam Egfridi regis, rogavitque obnixe, ut ad benedictionem dandam in villulam suam domumque diverteret. Quo cum pervenisset, et gratifico omnium susceptus esset officio, indicavit ei vir de infirmitate famuli sui, Deo,' inquiens, gratias ago, sanctissime pater, quod nos videre nostramque domum intrare dignatus es, et vere credimus quia maximum nobis lucrum et mentis et corporis tuus præstet adventus. Est autem nobis famulus pessima diutius infirmitate cruciatus, et in tantum doloris hodie perductus, ut morienti similior quam languenti appareat. Extrema namque corporis

resisting, he was overcome by the unanimous wish of all, and compelled to submit to undertake the duties of the bishopric; yet the ordination did not take place immediately, but at the termination of the winter which was then beginning. And that his prophecies might be fulfilled in all things, Egfrid was killed the year afterwards in battle with the Picts, and was succeeded on the throne by his illegitimate brother Alfrid, who, a few years before, had devoted himself to literature in Scotland, suffering a voluntary exile, to gratify his love of science.

CHAP. XXV.—HOW, WHEN ELECTED TO THE BISHOPRIC, HE CURED A SERVANT OF ONE OF THE KING'S ATTENDANTS BY MEANS OF HOLY WATER.

WHEN Cuthbert, the man of God, after having been elected to the bishopric, had returned to his island, and for some time had served God in secret with his accustomed devotion, the venerable Bishop Eata called him. and requested him to come to an interview with him at Melrose. The conversation being finished, and Cuthbert having commenced his journey homewards, a certain attendant of King Egfrid met him, and besought him that he would turn aside and give a benediction at his house. When he had arrived there, and had received the grateful salutations of all, the man pointed out to him one of his servants who was infirm, saying, "I thank God, most holy father, that you have thought worthy to enter our house to see us, and, indeed, we believe that your arrival will afford us the greatest profit both of mind and body. For there is one of our servants tormented with the worst infirmity, and is this day afflicted with such great pain that he appears more like a man dying than sick. For his extremities being

parte præmortua, permodicum ore et naribus flatum trahere videtur.' Qui confestim benedixit aquam, et dedit ministro comitis nomine Baldhelmo, qui nunc usque superest, et in ecclesia Lindisfarnensi presbyterii gradum officio tenens moribus implet, virtutesque viri Dei cunctis scire volentibus referre melle dulcius habet, qui et mihi hoc ipsum, quod refero, miraculum narravit. Huic ergo dans aquam benedictam vir Dei, Vade,' inquit, et gustandam præbe languenti.' Qui dictis parens adtulit aquam ægrotanti; quam dum tertio ori ejus infunderet, continuo contra morem se quietum dimisit in soporem; erat enim jam vespertina hora. Qui etiam silentio transegit noctem, et visitanti se domino suo salvus mane apparuit.

CAP. XXVI. — QUALITER IN EPISCOPATU VIXERIT.

USCEPTUM autem episcopatus ordinem venerabilis vir Domini Cuthbertus juxta præcepta et exempla apostolica virtutum ornabat operibus. Commissam namque sibi plebem et orationibus protegebat assiduis, et admonitionibus saluberrimis ad coelestia vocabat, et, quod maxime doctores juvat, ea, quæ agenda docebat, ipse prius agendo præmonstrabat. Eripiebat inopem de manu fortioris ejus, egenum et pauperem a rapientibus eum. Tristes ac pusillanimes consolari, male autem gaudentes ad tristitiam, quæ secundum Deum

dead, he seems only to breathe a little through his mouth and nostrils." Cuthbert immediately blessed some water, and gave it to a servant whose name was Baldhelm, who is still alive and filling the office of presbyter in the bishopric of Lindisfarne, which he adorns by his good qualities. He also has the faculty of relating in the sweetest manner the virtues of the man of God to all who are desirous of knowing, and it was he that told me the miracle which I relate. The man of God, then, giving him the holy water, said, “ Go and give it to the sick man to drink." In obedience to these words he brought the water to the sick man, and when he poured it into his mouth the third time, the sick man, contrary to his usual custom, fell asleep. It was now evening, and he passed the night in silence, and in the morning appeared quite well when his master visited him.

CHAP. XXVI.-OF HIS MANNER OF LIFE IN HIS

BISHOPRIC.

HE venerable man of God, Cuthbert, adorned the office of bishop, which he had undertaken, by the exercise of many virtues, according to the precepts and examples of the Apostles. For he protected the people committed to his care with frequent prayers, and invited them to heavenly things by most wholesome admonitions, and followed that system which most facilitates teaching, by first doing himself what he taught to others. He saved the needy man from the hand of the stronger, and the poor and destitute from those who would oppress them. He comforted the weak and sorrowful; but he took care to recal those who were

est, revocare curabat. Solitam sibi parsimoniam sedulus exercere, et inter frequentiam turbarum monachicæ vitæ rigorem sollicitus observare gaudebat. Esurientibus alimenta, indumenta præbebat algentibus, ceterisque vitæ pontificalis insignibus rite decoratus. incedebat. Cujus internis, id est, animæ virtutibus, ea quoque, quibus foras effulgebat, miraculorum signa testimonium dabant. Ex quibus aliqua breviter memoriæ commendare curavimus.

CAP. XXVII.-QUOMODO INTERITUM EGFRIDI REgis, ET MILITIAE IPSIUS, QUEM PRÆDIXERAT FUTURUM, IN SPIRITU VIDERIT ABSENS.

GITUR dum Egfridus rex ausu temerario exercitum in Pictos duceret, eorumque regna atroci sævitia devastarat, sciens vir Domini Cuthbertus adesse tempus de quo anno præterito interroganti ejus sorori prædixerat, non eum amplius quam uno solum anno esse

victurum, venit ad Lugubaliam civitatem (quæ a populis Anglorum corrupte Luel vocatur), ut alloqueretur reginam, quæ ibidem in monasterio suæ sororis eventum belli exspectare disposuit. Postera autem die deducentibus eum civibus, ut videret moenia civitatis, fontemque in ea miro quondam Romanorum opere exstructum, repente turbatus spiritu, ut stabat super baculum, mœstam faciem deflexit ad terram, rursumque erigens se atque ad cœlum oculos adtollens, ingemuit graviter, et non grandi voce ait, 'Forte modo discrimen factum est certaminis.' At presbyter qui adstabat, intelligens de quo diceret, incauta velocitate ductus respondit, et dixit, Unde scis?' Nolens autem ille amplius de his,