worfe, fo that when the Day return'd, he could fcarce rife or go alone. Being in this weak Condition, a good Thought came into his Mind, which was to go to the Church, the best he could, to the Tomb of the most Reverend Father Cuthbert, and there on his Knees, to beg of the Divine Goodness, either to be deliver'd from that Disease, if it were for his good, or if the Divine Providence had ordain'd him longer to lye under the fame for his Punishment, that he might bear the Pain with Patience and a compos'd Mind. He did as he had thought, and fupporting his weak Limbs with a Staff, enter'd the Church, where proftrating himself before the Body of the Man of God, he with a pious Intention, pray'd, that through his Interceffion, our Lord might be propitious to him. Falling as it were afieep at his Prayers, he felt, as he was afterwards wont to relate, as it were a large and broad Hand touch his Head, where the Pain lay, and by that Touch, all the Part of his Body which had been affected with the Diftemper, deliver'd from the Weaknefs, and reftor'd to Health down to his Feet. Then awaking, he rofe up in perfect Health, and returning Thanks to God for his Recovery, told the Brothers what had happen'd to him; and to the Joy of them all, return'd the more zealous, as if he had been chaftiz'd, to the Service he was wont before carefully to perform. The very Garments which had been on Cuthbert's Body, dedicated to God, either whilft living, or after he was dead, were not exempt from the Virtue of performing Cures, as may

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be

be seen in the Book of his Life and Miracles, by fuch as fhall read it.

CHA P. XXXII.

Of one cur'd of a Diftemper in his Eye at the Relicks of St. Cuthbert.

OR is that to be pafs'd over in Silence, which being perform'd by his Relicks three Years ago, was told me by the Brother himfelf, on whom it was wrought. This happen'd in the Monaftery, which being built near the River Dacore, has taken its Name from the fame, over which, at that Time, the Religious Man Suidbert prefided as Abbat. In that Monastery was a Youth whofe Eyelid had a great Swelling on it, the which growing daily, threatned the Lofs of the Eye. The Surgeons apply'd their Medicines to ripen it, but in vain. Some faid it was to be cut off; others oppos'd it for fear of worfe Confequences. The Brother having long labour'd under that Uneafinefs, and feeing no human Means likely to fave his Eye, but that on the contrary, it grew daily worfe; it happen'd that he was cur'd on a fudden, through the Divine Goodness, by the Relicks of the holy Father Cuthbert; for when the Brethren found his Body uncorrupted, after having been many Years bury'd, they took fome Part of the Hair, which they might, at the Requeft of Friends, give or fhow, in Teftimony of the Miracle.

One

One of the Pricfts of that Monaftery, call'd Thrydred, who is now Abbat there, had a fmall Part of thefe Relicks by him at that Time. He one Day in the Church, having open'd the Box of Relicks, to give fome Part to a Friend that begg'd it, it happen'd that the Youth who had the diftemper'd Eye, was then in the Church: The Priest having given his Friend as much as he thought fit, delivered the reft to the Youth to put it into its Place. He being mov'd by wholsome Instinct, having receiv'd the Hairs of the holy Head, clapp'd them to the Sore Eyelid, and endeavour'd for fome Time by the Application of them to foften and abate the Swelling. This done, he again laid the Relicks into the Box, as he had been order'd, believing that his Eye would foon be cur'd by the Hairs of the Man of God, which had touch'd it; nor did his Faith difappoint him. It was then, as he is wont to relate it, about the fecond Hour of the Day; but he being busie about other Things that belong'd to that Day, about the 6th Hour of the fame, touching his Eye on a fudden, found it as found with the Lid, as if there never had been any Swelling or Deformity on it.

The End of the Fourth Book.

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THE

376

XL XL X THRR FL FL

THE

Ecclefiaftical Hiftory

OF THE

English Nation.

BOOK V.

CHAP. I.

How Oidilwald, Succeffor to Cuthbert, leading an Eremitical Life, quell'd a Tempeft, the Brethren being in Danger

at Sea.

HE Venerable Man Ethelwald, who having receiv'd the Prieftly Degree in the Monastery call'd Inhrypum, had, by Actions worthy of the fame, fanctify'd it, fucceeded the Man of God, Cuth

bert, in the Exercife of a folitary Life, which he had exercifed before he was Bishop, in the

Ile of Farne. For the more certain Demonftration of the Life he led, and his Merit, I will relate one Miracle of his, which was told me by one of the Brothers for and on whom the fame was wrought; viz. Guthfrid, the venerable Servant and Prieft of CHRIST, who, afterwards, a's Abbat, presided over the Brethren of the fame Church of Lindisfarn, in which he had been educated. I came, fays he, to the Iland of Farne, with two other Brothers, to Speak with the moft Reverend Father Ethelwald. Having been refresh'd with his Difcourfe, and returning home, after taking his Blessing; on a fudden, when we were in the midst of the Sea, the jair Weather that was wafting us over was difturb'd, and there enfu'd fo great and difmal Tempeft, that neither the Sails nor Oars were of any ufe to us, nor had we any thing to expect but Death. After long struggling with the Wind and Waves to no effect, looking behind us to see whether it were practicable at leaft, to recover the Inland from whence we came, we found our felves on all Sides fo infefted with the Storm, that there remain'd no Hopes of efcaping. But looking out as far as we could fee, we obferv'd the most beLoved Father of God, Oidilwald, come out of his lurking Place, fixing his Eyes on us; for he hear→ ing the Noife of the Storm and raging Sea, was come out to fee what was become of us. When he beheld us in Diftrefs and Despair, he bow'd his: Knees to the Father of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, to pray for our Life and Safety; and his Prayer being ended, the Swelling Sea was affwag'd, fo that the dreadful Storm ceafing on all fides, a fair Wind attended us to the very Shore. Being landed, and having dragg'd on Ground the

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