Place alfo as Abbat; for from ancient Times, the Bishop was wont to refide there with his Clergy, and the Abbat with his Monks, who were likewife under the Care of the Bishop; becaufe Aidan, who was the first Bishop of the Place, being himself a Monk, brought Monks thither, and fettled the Monaftical Profeffion there; as the blefled Father Auguftin is known to have done before in Kent, the most Reverend Pope Gregory writing to him, as has been faid above, to this Effect. But in regard that your Brotherhood, having been inftructed in Monaftical Rules, muft not live apart from your Clergy in the Church of the English, which has been lately, through the Help of God, converted to the Faith; you must therefore establish that Course of Life, which was among our Anceftors in the Primitive Church, among whom, none call'd any thing that he poffefs'd his own; but all things were in common to them.

CHAP. XXVIII.

How the fame St. Cuthbert, being an Anchorite, by his Prayers obtained a Spring in a dry Soil, and had a Crop of Seed fown by himself out of Seafon.

C

UTHBERT afterwards advancing in his devout Intentions, arriv'd at the fecret Silence of Eremitical Contemplation. But forafmuch as we have feveral Years fince writ

ten

ten enough of his Life and Virtues, both in heroick Verfe and Profe, it may fuffice at prefent only to mention this, that when he was about to repair to the Ifland, he made this Proteftation to the Brothers, faying; If it fball pleafe the Divine Goodness to grant me, that I may live in that Place by the Labour of my Hands, I will willingly refide there; but if not, I will, by God's Permiffion, very foon return to you. The Place was quite deftitute of Water, Corn, and Trees; and being infefted by evil Spirits, very inconvenient for human Habitation; but it became in all refpects habitable, at the De fire of the Man of God; for upon his Arrival, the wicked Spirits withdrew. When he had there, after expelling the Enemies, with the Affiftance of the Brethren, built himself a fmall Dwelling, with a Trench about it, and the neceflary Cells, and an. Oratory; he order'd the Brothers to dig a Pit in the Floor of the Dwelling, the Ground being hard and ftony, wherein no Hopes appear'd of any Spring. They having done accordingly, upon the Faith and Request of the Servant of God, the next Day it appear'd full of Water, which to this Day affords Plenty of it's heavenly Gift to all that refort thither. He alfo defired that all Inftruments for Husbandry might be brought him, and fome Wheat; and having fown the fame at the proper Season, nothing either Stalk, or fo much as a Leaf fprouted from it by the next Summer. Hereupon, the Brethren visiting him according to cuftom, he ordered Barley to be brought him, in cafe it were either the Nature of the Soil, or the Divine Will, that fuch Grain should rather

grow

grow there. Having fow'd that in the fame Field as it was brought him, after the proper Time of fowing, and confequently without any likelihood of its coming to good, a plentiful Crop immediately coming up, afforded the Man of God the with'd for Suftenance by his own Labour. When he had there ferv'd God in Solitude many Years, the Trench which encompafs'd his Habitation being fo high, that he could from thence fee nothing but Heaven, to which he so ardently afpir'd, it hapned, that a great Synod being aflembled in the Prefence of King Ecgfrid, near the River Alne, at a Place call'd Adtwiford, which fignifies At the two Fords, in which Archbishop Theodore, of blessed Memory, prefided; Cuthbert was, by the unanimous Confent of all chofen Bishop of the Church of Lindisfarne. There being no drawing of him from his Monaftery by many Meflengers and Letters fent to him; at last the aforefaid King himfelf, with the most holy Bifhop Trumwin, and other religious and great Men, pafs'd over into the Island. Many alfo of the Brothers of the fame Ifle of Lindiffarn aflembled together to the fame Purpofe; they knelt, all conjur'd him by our Lord, shed Tears and intreated,till they drew him, shedding fweet Tears in like manner from his Retreat, and forc'd him to the Synod. Being arriv'd there, after much Oppofition, he was overcome by the unanimous Refolution of all prefent, and compell'd to fubmit to take upon him the Epifcopal Dignity. Being chiefly prevail'd upon by the mention, that Boifil, the Servant of God, when he had prophetically foretold all Things that were to befal him, had alfo pre

dicted that he should be a Bishop. However the Confecration was not appointed immediately; but after the Winter, which was then at hand, it was perform'd at Eafter in the City of York, and in the Prefence of the aforefaid King Ecgfrid; feven Bishops meeting to that Function, among whom Theodore, of bleffed Memory, was Primate. He was firft eleated Bishop of the Church of Hagulftad, in the Place of Tunberht, who had been depos'd from the Epifcopal Dignity. But, in regard, that he chofe rather to be plac'd over the Church of Lindisfarn, in which he had been conver fant, it was thought fit that Eata returning to the See of the Church of Hagulftad, to which he had been firft ordain'd, Cuthbert should take upon him the Government of the Church of Lindisfarn. He, following the Example of the Apostles, became an Ornament to the Epifcopal Dignity by his virtuous A&ions; for he both protected the People committed to his Charge by conftant Prayer, and excited them by most wholfome Admonitions to Heavenly Practices; and, which is the greateft Help in Teachers, he firft fhow'd in his Behaviour what he taught was to be perform'd by others; for he was much inflam'd with the Fire of Divine Charity; modest in the Virtue of Patience; most diligently intent on devout Prayers, and affable to all that came to him for Comfort. He thought it equivalent to Praying, to afford the infirm Brethren the Help of his Exhortations, well knowing that he who faid, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, faid likewife, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thyfelf.

nence, and always intent upon Heavenly Things, through the Grace of Compunction. Laftly, when he offer'd up to God the Sacrifice of the faving Victim, he recommended his Defire to God, not with a loud Voice, but with Tears drawn from the bottom of his Heart. Having spent two Years in his Bishoprick, he return'd to his Inland and Monaftery, being advertis'd by a Divine Oracle, that the Day of his Death, or rather of that which only is to be call'd Life, was drawing near; as he, at that Time, with his ufual Simplicity, fignify'd to fome Perfons, tho' in Terms that were fomewhat obfcure, which were neverthelefs afterwards plainly understood; but to others he alfo declar'd the fame openly.

CHA P. XXIX.

How St. Cuthbert, foretold to the Anchoerite, Hereberht, that bis Death was at band.

T

HERE was a certain Prieft, venerable for the Probity of his Life and Manners, call'd Hereberht, who had long been united with the Man of God, (Cuthbert,) in the Bonds of Spiritual Friendship. This Man leading a folitary Life in the Ifland of that great Lake, from which that River Derwent flows, was wont to vifit him every Year, and to receive from him Spiritual Advice. He hearing that

Bishop