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she said, "Shall we call for something to drink? Yes, said I, and right glad am I, if you can.
When the cup was brought, and we had both drunk, she said, As soon as the bishop had said the
prayer for me and given me his blessing and had gone out, I immediately began to mend; and though
I have not yet recovered my former strength, yet all the pain is quite gone both from my arm, where
it was most burning, and from all my body, as if the bishop had carried it away with him;
notwithstanding the swelling of the arm still seems to remain. But when we departed thence, the
cure of the pain in her limbs was followed by the assuaging of the grievous swelling; and the maiden
being thus delivered from pains and death, returned praise to our Lord and Saviour, in company
with His other servants who were there.
CHAP. IV. How he healed a thegn s wife that was sick, with holy water.
THE same abbot related another miracle, not unlike the former, of the aforesaid bishop. "Not
very far from our monastery," he said, "to wit, about two miles off, was the township of one Puch,
a thegn, whose wife had lain sick of a very grievous disease for nearly forty days, insomuch that
for three weeks she could not be carried out of the chamber where she lay. It happened that the
man of God was, at that time, called thither by the thegn to consecrate a church; and when that was
done, the thegn desired him to come into his house and dine. The bishop declined, saying that he
must return to the monastery, which was very near. The thegn, entreating him more earnestly,
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vowed he would also give alms to the poor, if so be that the bishop would vouchsafe to enter his
house that day and break his fast. I joined my entreaties to his, promising in like manner to give
alms for the relief of the poor, if he would but go and dine at the thegn s house, and give his blessing.
Having at length, with much difficulty, prevailed, we went in to refresh ourselves. The bishop had
sent to the woman that lay sick some of the holy water, which he had blessed for the consecration
of the church, by one of the brothers who had come with me, ordering him to give her some to
drink, and wash that part of her where he found that her pain was greatest, with some of the same
water. This being done, the woman immediately got up whole and sound, and perceiving that she
had not only been delivered from her long sickness, but at the same time had recovered the strength
which she had lost for so great a time, she presented the cup to the bishop and to us, and continued
serving us with meat and drink as she had begun, till dinner was over; following the example of
the blessed Peter s wife s mother, who, having been sick of a fever, arose at the touch of our Lord s
hand, and having forthwith received health and strength, ministered to them."
CHAP. V. How he likewise recalled by his prayers a thegn s servant from death.
AT another time also, being called to consecrate the church of a thegn named Addi, when he
had performed the required duty, he was entreated by the thegn to go in to one of his servants, who
lay dangerously ill, insomuch that having lost all use of his limbs, he seemed to be at the point of
death; and moreover the coffin had been made ready wherein to bury him after his death. The thegn
urged his entreaties with tears, earnestly beseeching him that he would go in and pray for the servant,
because his life was of great moment to him; and he believed that if the bishop would lay his hand
upon him and give him his blessing, he would soon mend. So the bishop went in, and saw him very
near death, and by his side the coffin in which he was to be laid for his burial, whilst all mourned.
He said a prayer and blessed him, and going out, spake the wonted words of comfort, "Good health
be yours and that speedily." Afterwards, when they were sitting at table, the servant sent to his lord,
desiring that he would let him have a cup of wine, because he was thirsty. The thegn, rejoicing
greatly that he could drink, sent him a cup of wine, blessed by the bishop; and, as soon as he had
drunk it, he immediately got up, and, shaking off the heaviness of his infirmity, dressed himself
and went forth, and going in to the bishop, saluted him and the other guests, saying that he also
would gladly eat and drink with them. They bade him sit down with them at table, greatly rejoicing
at his recovery. He sat down, ate and drank and made merry, and behaved himself like the rest of
the company; and living many years after, continued in the same health which he had gained. The
aforesaid abbot says this miracle was not wrought in his presence, but that he had it from those
who were present.
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CHAP. VII. How Caedwalla, king of the West Saxons, went to Rome to be baptised; and his
successor Ini, also devoutly journeyed to the same threshold of the holy Apostles. [688 A.D.]
In the third year of the reign of Aldfrid, Caedwalla, king of the West Saxons, having most
vigorously governed his nation for two years, quitted his crown for the sake of the Lord and an
everlasting kingdom, and went to Rome, being desirous to obtain the peculiar honour of being
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