316 MONASTERY OF BARKING. [IV P 105 7 FERETRVM CABALLARIVM horse-litter h a 16 of Ceolfrid etiam cum ad hoc per infirmitatem deueniret ut equitare non ualens feretro caballario ueheretur. 22 23 RECTE VIVENDO ET PIE CONSVLENDO p 27 1 2 n. VII 5 10 THE HE monastery of Barking was made famous by many heavenly signs. One of these Beda relates. At the time of the mortality which has been so often mentioned, the disease first attacked the monks and many of the brethren died. It then spread to the sisters and the 15 mother of the congregation asked anxiously of those who were sick in what place they would desire to be buried if they should be taken from the world. From them she had no answer, but one night after matins were ended and these handmaids of Christ had gone out of the oratory, a bright light came down from heaven and resting on a spot to 20 the south of the monastery marked that place out as divinely appointed for the burial-place. This radiance was greater than the light of day, and was noticed by one of the brethren as making its way through the chinks of the doors and windows, and he spake of it on the following morning. P 105 26 HOC 1 19. 30 SAEPE DICTAE CLADIS P 79 1 4 n. p 88 1 2. p 94 1 28. 19. h a 8 end. 118 25 P 106 4 VIRORVM 1 1. p 34 1 13. p 39 1 3. p 40 16. Whitby under Hild was a seminary of bps p 137. IV 23—25. (an abuse of the practice 30 ep ad Ecgb c 7). uita Cuthb 34. 35. The abbess Eangyth (AD 719— 722) writes to Wynfrith (Bonif ep 14 p 67 Jaffé) of her weighty responsibility uniuersarum commissarum animarum promiscui sexus et aetatis. conc Nic II 787 c 20 forbids double monasteries (cf Bever pand can I 325-327. so Leunclauius ius gr lat 1 432). Greg ep x 25 applauds 35 Ianuarius for declining to establish a monastery for men adjoining to a nunnery. Patrick separated the sexes AA SS 17 Mar 11 562 92. Patr conc 1 9 in Labbe III 1478. cf O'Conor rer hibern scr II 164 the first 7] DOUBLE MONASTERIES. 317 order of saints admitted women in monasteries, the second excluded them. The earliest double monastery certainly known in Europe is that founded at Poitiers by Radegunde (Mabillon ann OSB 1 124. AA SS OSB 1 334), who seems to have borrowed the institution from 5 Britain. Gall founded a double monastery on the lake of Constance (Lecointe ann 622 n 9. Gallia Chr v 970), Fara one at Faremoutier A D 614 (Beda III 8. Mabillon ann I 304 305. 321), Amat at Remiremont in 620 (Mabillon ibid 315), Ado at Jouarre in 630 (Mabillon AA SS O B saec II P 487), Salaberga at Leon in 640 (Mabillon ann 379). When Willi10 bald, abbat of Heidenheim, died, his sister Walburg succeeded him (A D 761). Fridolin founded a double monastery at Sickingen AD 568 (AA SS 6 Mar I 430). conc Hispal 11 618 c 11 nunneries to be governed by monks; the nuns to make the habits worn by the monks on whom they depend. Varin also names the double monasteries of Marchiennes, 15 Maubeuge, Nivelle (all due to Amand), those of Camelaria, Chelles, Durin (Durivum Mabillon AA SSI 374. 686. ann 1 149), Fontevrauld, Hasnon, Hohenbourg, Niedemunster, Pellemoutier, St-Etienne, Sainte-Vaudru, Notre-Dame de Soissons, Tuffiacum. cod Iustinian 1 3 44 (=43) and nouell 133 c 3 and 5 strict separation of the sexes (even in death). So 20 conc Agde AD 506 c 28 (Labbe IV 1388). Varin (in mém prés par div savants à l'acad les inscr sér I tom v (2) Par 1858 pp 165—205) derives these double monasteries from the east, and finds them in Spain, in Gaul circa 550-650, more especially north of the Loire among the Franks during the seventh century, and in Britain. Lingard 1 192—6. 25 Pagi 664 24 (end) says of the monastery of Nivelle in his days: 'capitulum utriusque sexus in quo canonicae uirgines nobilissimae digniorem locum obtinent et penes abbatissam eiusdem ciuitatis dominium est'. Capgrave in Alford 683 2. 30 P 106 6 qvo LOCI cf ubique gentium, πoû yûs. 12 MATVTINAE LAVDIS P 411 22 n. p 144 1 31. Martene de ant mon rit I c 3. Sharon Turner AS 1117 16. 13 FRATRVM 1 4 n. nouella 133 3 monks not to be buried with 15 LVX P 34 1 17 n. Baronius 657 26. LINTEVM Agnelli uita 35 Ioannis I (Migne CXI 735a) an abbat reviving from a trance, being asked the reason of it, replied: 'si dixero uobis, mors me consumet'. tunc palam omnibus eum pontifex interrogauit, eius quae causa accidit tibi. et ille respondens dixit: 'mortuus est Leonatus statim et uidi animam eius in linteo lucidissimo ab angelo in caelum deferri 318 PROPHETIC VISION OF THE DYING. [IV alacri uultu'. His word proved true: Leonatus expired at the very instant of the abbat's trance, and he himself died eight days afterwards. LINTEVM MAGNVM the expression is from the Vulgate (Acts x 11) concerning Peter's vision: uas quoddam uelut linteum magnum. VIII 5 IN N this same monastery a little boy of about three years old was brought up by the sisterhood. This child being seized with the plague, just before his death called out three times the name of Ead- 10 gyd one of the sisters. That virgin being attacked the very same day died before the close of it and followed the child who had called her to the kingdom of heaven. Another sister when stricken with same disease, begged that the lamp which was burning near her should be extinguished, for she felt 15 the house filled with so bright a light, that the other light seemed dim. When her companions did not comply with her request, she again declared that the light of the lamp was not her light. She then told them how a certain man of God, who had died that year, had appeared to her, and told her that on the morrow she should enter into eternal 20 light. And at the break of day she died. P 107 2 EODEM P 105 l 19. 5 MEDITARI to learn his lessons. Any mother would resolve Dr Hussey's doubt (who reads medicari) 'quales essent meditationes trimuli infantis dicant qui meditari scribere uolunt'. Or Chaucer's 25 "litel clergeoun" in the Prioresses Tale, who says of the Alma redemptoris: Now certes, I wol do my diligence To conne it al, er Cristemasse is went.' 6 CLAMAVIT called. 10 VOCABAT on the prophetic vision ascribed to the dying see 'Two lives of N Ferrar Cambr 1855' 60 61 n. Baronius 657 27 Maximus foretells the day of his own death. Greg dial 1 8 Anastasius and others summoned in order by a voice from heaven. 30 35 15 MINISTRABANT care of sick in monasteries Martene de ant mon rit v 9 §§ 86-88. 9] DEATH OF AEDELBURGA. 319 P 107 17 ALIQVIS=quisquam 1 23. 626 41. 20 LVCE p 106 1 15 n. St Peter appears in light Baron 29 VERITAS VISIONIS C 29 n. 5 B IX UT when the mother of the congregation, Aedilburga, was to die, a wondrous vision was seen by one of the sisters whose name was Torctgyd. This holy woman had been a great help to Aedilburga in the discipline of the younger sisters. But at length she had fallen sick, 10 and had been ill for nine years. On a certain night, when she had gone forth from her chamber, she beheld a human body, shining brighter than the sun, and wrapt in fine linen, being carried up to heaven by cords which seemed brighter than gold. She knew by this that some one of their number was to be taken to heaven for the good works which 15 she had done. And before many days had passed Aedilburga fell sick and died and none can doubt that the entrance into the heavenly country was opened to her at her departure. When the body of the holy mother was brought into the church to await its burial, one of the nuns, of noble birth and still more noble 20 through holiness of life, having been long bed-ridden and unable to move, asked that she might be brought close to the dead body, and speaking as though to one alive she prayed the mother to obtain for her a speedy release from her pains. Her prayer was heard, and twelve days afterwards she died. 25 Torctgyd lived three years longer than Aedilburga, and became attenuated and so weak that she could not speak. When she had lain speechless for three days and three nights, she began to converse as if beholding a vision, and asked earnestly that her release from the body might not be delayed beyond the next night. When she was asked by 30 those about her, with whom she had been conversing, she answered "With my dearest mother Aedilburga." They then knew that the mother had come from heaven to tell her of the time of her departure. And when one day and one night had passed, Torctgyd entered into the enjoyment of eternal bliss. 35 P 108 2 MATER c 6 end. " 9 IVXTA perfect in weakness. APOSTOLVM 2 Cor. xii 9 my strength is made 320 VISIONS OF ANGELS. [IV P 108 1.8 DOMO IN QVA SORORES PAVSARE SOLEBANT p 140 6 IN ECCLESIAM DELATVM Benedict and St Maur were carried into the church, that they might die there. 5 So of the body of St Bridget. "It was carryed to the monastery of Seynt Laurence, and a nonne of the sayde monastery which for febleness and great sykeness that she had in her stomake by the space of II yerys kepte her bedde well nere all that tyme, with great peyn rose fro hyr bed and with helpe came to the beer IO and cessyd not to praye... and in the mornynge she had more helth of hyr bodye thenne she prayed for." See Myroure of oure Ladye pref p LVIN EETS. 20 AGERETVR 'went on:' the paralysis continued. VISIONE 20 p 107 1 29. 22 COEPIT LOQVI so of St Kentigern (uita SK c 43) when he was almost too feeble to speak: sanctus autem senex ex uisione et uisitatione angelica confortatus et quasi aetatis et infirmitatis oblitus robustiorque effectus iam instantis beatitudinis quasdam primitias 25 praegustabat, et cum angelo tanquam amicissimo et familiarissimo mutua colloquia conserebat. 23 BENE VENISTI ' vous êtes le bien-venu,' 'welcome to you.' 24 RESPONSVM so the paralytic Seruulus (Greg dial IV 14) knowing that his end was near, sent for the religious strangers whom he 30 entertained, and bade them sing psalms in prospect of his end. He joined their song, but uoces psallentium repente compescuit cum terrore magni clamoris, dicens: 'tacete, numquid non auditis quantae resonent laudes in caelo?' et dum ad easdem laudes quas intus audierat, aurem cordis intenderet, sancta illa anima carne soluta est. 35 29 PARVM 1 23 parumper. 1 27 modicum. V 19 (p 208 1 6S) cum parum consedissent. 32 CVM QVO entirely supersedes quocum during the silver age. P 110 3 NVNTIARE VENISSET p 22 1 19 n. |