Bifhop Cuthbert was come to the City of Cari life, repair'd thither to him, according to Cuftom, being defirous to be still more and more inflam'd in Heavenly Defires, through his wholfome Admonitions; whilst they alternatively entertain❜d one another with the Delights of the Celestial Life, the Bishop, among other Things, faid, Brether Hereberht, remember at this Time to ask me all the Questions you would have refolv'd, and Say all you defign; for we fhall fee one another no more in this World. For I am fure that the Time of my Diffolution is at hand, and I fhall Speedily lay down this Tabernacle. He hearing these Words, fell down at his Feet, and fhedding Tears, with a Sigh, said, I beseech you by our Lord, not to for fake me; but that you remember your most faithful Companion, and intreat the Supreme Goodness, that as we fer'd him together upon Earth, we may depart together to fee his Blifs in Heaven. For you know that I have always endeavour'd to live according to your Directions, and whatsoever Faults I have committed, either through Ignorance or Frailty, I have presently Submitted to be corrected according to your Will. The Bishop apply'd himself to Prayer, and having prefently had Intimation in the Spirit, that he had obtain❜d what he begg'd of our Lord, he faid, Rife, Brother, and do not weep, but rejoice, becaufe the Heavenly Goodness has granted what we defir'd. The Event prov'd the Truth of this Promife and Prophecy, for after their parting at that Time, they no more faw one another corporally; but their Souls quitting their Bodies, on the very fame Day, that is, on the 13th Day of the Kalends of April, they were immediately again

united in the beatifical Vifion, and tranflated to the Heavenly Kingdom by the Miniftry of Angels. But Hereberht was firft prepar'd by a tedious Sicknefs, through the Difpenfation of the Divine Goodnefs, as may be believ'd, to the end, that if he was any thing inferior in Merit to the Bieffed Cuthbert, the fame might be made up by the chaftizing Pain of a long Sicknefs; that being thus made equal in Grace to his Interceffor, as he departed out of the Body at the very fame Time with him, so he might be receiv'd into the like and fame Seat of Eternal Blifs. The most Reverend Father dy'd in the Ifle of Farne, earnestly intreating the Brothers, that he might also be bury'd in that fame Place, where he had ferv'd God a confiderable Time. However, at length yielding to their Intreaties, he confented, to be carry'd back to the Ifle of Lindisfarn, and there bury'd in the Church. That being done accordingly, the venerable Bishop Wilfrid, held the Epifcopal See of that Church one Year, till fuch Time as one was chofen to be ordain'd in the room of Cuthbert. Afterwards Eadbert was confecrated, a Man renowned for his Knowledge in the Divine Writings, as alfo for keeping the Divine Precepts, and chiefly for Almfgiving; fo that, according to the Law, he every Year gave the tenth Part, not only of four footed Beafts, but also of all Corn and Fruit, as also of Garments to the Poor.

CHA P. XXX.

How St. Cuthbert's Body was found altogether uncorrupted after it had been bury'd eleven Tears; and how his Succef for in the Bishoprick departed this World not long after.

T

HE divine Difpenfation defigning to make known, in how much Glory the Man of God, Cuthbert, liv'd after Death, his fublime Life having been before his Death fignaliz'd by the Tokens of frequent Miracles, when he had been bury'd eleven Years, put it into the Minds of the Brethren to take up his Bones, expecting, as is ufual with dead Bodies, to find all the Flefh confum'd and reduc'd to Afhes, and the reft dry'd up, and intending to put the fame into a new Coffin, and to be laid in the fame Place, but above the Pavement, for the Honour due to him. Having acquainted Bishop Eadberht with their Defign, he confented to it, and order'd that the fame fhould be done on the Anniversary of his Depofition. They did fo, and opening the Grave, found all the Body whole, as if it had been alive, and the Joints being pliable, much more like one afleep than a dead Perfon; befides, that all the Vestments the Body had on, were not only found, but wonderful for their Freshnefs and Glofs. The Brothers feeing this, with

much Amazement hafted to tell the Bishop what they had found; he being then alone in a Place remote from the Church, all encompass'd by the Sea. There he always us'd to spend the Time of Lent; there he was wont to continue forty Days before the Birth of our Lord, in great Devotion of Abstinence, Prayer and Tears. There alfo his venerable Predeceffor Cuthbert had fome Time ferv'd God in private, before he went to the Ifle of Farne. They brought him fome Part of the Garments that had cover'd the Holy Body; the which Prefents he thankfully accepting, and attentively liftning to the Miracles, for he with wonderful Affection kifs'd thofe Garments, as if they had been still upon his Father's Body, he said, Let the Body be put into new Garments, in lieu of these you have brought, and fo lay it into the Coffin you have provided; for I am meft certain, that Place will not long remain empty, having been fanctify'd with fo many Miracles of Heavenly Grace; and how happy is he, to whom our Lord, the Author and Giver of all Blifs, fhall grant the Privilege of lying in the Jame. The Bifhop having faid this and much more, with many Tears, and extraordinary Compunction, the Brothers did as he had com→ manded them, and when they had dress'd the Body in new Garments, and laid it in a new Coffin, they plac'd it on the Pavement of the Sanctuary. Soon after the beloved Bishop of God, Eadberht, fell grievously fick, and his Distemper daily increafing, in a fhort Time, that is, the Day before the Nones of May, he alfo departed to our Lord; and they laying his Body in the Grave of the Holy Father Cuthbert, plac'd the Coffin over it, with the Bb 2

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uncorrupted Remains of that Father. The Miracles fometimes wrought in that. Place teftify the Merits of them both; fome of which we have formerly preferv'd the Memory of in the Book of his Life; and have thought fit to add one more in this History, which we hapned lately to hear.

CHA P. XXXI.

Of one that was cur'd of a Palfey at the Tomb of St. Cuthbert.

TH

HERE was in that fame Monastery a Brother, whofe Name was Beaduthegen, who had for a confiderable Time ferv'd the Guests, and is ftill living, having the Testimony of all the Brothers and Strangers resorting thither, of being a Man of much Piety and Religion, and ferving the Office put upon him only for the fake of the Heavenly Reward. This Man having on a Day wash'd the Mantles or Garments he wore in the Hofpital, in the Sea, as he was returning home, about half Way, was feiz'd with a fudden Diftemper in his Body, infomuch, that falling down, and having lain fome Time, he could scarce rife again. Being got up, he felt one half of his Body, from the Head to the Foot taken with the Palfy, and with much Difficulty got home, by the help of a Staff. The Diftemper increas'd by Degrees, and Night coming on was ftill worke